bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New perspectives of the cardiac cellular landscape: mapping cellular mediators of cardiac fibrosis using single-cell transcriptomics
Authors: Krstevski Crisdion , Cohen Charles D. , Dona Malathi S.I. , Pinto Alexander R.
Published: December 2020

Single-cell transcriptomics enables inference of context-dependent phenotypes of individual cells and determination of cellular diversity of complex tissues. Cardiac fibrosis is a leading factor in the development of heart failure and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with no effective treatment. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers a promising new platform to identify new cellular and molecular protagonists that may drive cardiac fibrosis and development of heart failure. This review will summarize the application scRNA-seq for understanding cardiac fibrosis and development of heart failure. We will also discuss some key considerations in interpreting scRNA-seq data and some of its limitations.
Multifaceted roles of long non-coding RNAs in triple-negative breast cancer: biology and clinical applications
Authors: Rajagopal Taruna , Talluri Srikanth , Venkatabalasubramanian Sivaramakrishnan , Dunna Nageswara Rao
Published: December 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous breast cancer subtype that lacks targeted therapy due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Moreover, TNBC was shown to have a poor prognosis, since it involves aggressive phenotypes that confer significant hindrance to therapeutic treatments. Recent state-of-the-art sequencing technologies have shed light on several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), previously thought to have no biological function and were considered as genomic junk. LncRNAs are involved in various physiological as well as pathological conditions, and play a key role in drug resistance, gene expression, and epigenetic regulation. This review mainly focuses on exploring the multifunctional roles of candidate lncRNAs, and their strong association with TNBC development. We also summarise various emerging research findings that establish novel paradigms of lncRNAs function as oncogenes and/or tumor suppressors in TNBC development, suggesting their role as prospective therapeutic targets.
Wind power interval forecasting based on adaptive decomposition and probabilistic regularised extreme learning machine
Authors: Qi Mohan , Gao Hongjun , Wang Lingfeng , Xiang Yingmeng , Lv Lin , Liu Junyong
Published: December 2020

The uncertainty of wind power brings great challenges to large‐scale wind power integration. The conventional point forecasting of wind power is difficult to meet the demand of power grid planning and operation. A novel two‐stage short‐term hybrid wind power interval forecasting model is proposed in this study. In the first stage, the original wind power data is automatically decomposed and divided into three different classes based on the data preprocessing method combining variational mode decomposition with sample entropy. In the second stage, the prediction model is established using the probabilistic regularised extreme learning machine (PRELM) and particle swarm optimisation (PSO). In view of the different characteristics of the subseries in the above three classes, prediction intervals (PIs) are constructed for each subseries. A novel interval evaluation index is used as the objective function of PSO to optimise the PRELM output weight matrix to find the optimal PIs. Also the prediction results of each subseries are reconstructed to obtain the final wind power prediction results. The numerical results based on actual wind power data show that the proposed model shows better performance compared with other methods and can effectively improve the prediction accuracy.
System start‐up of DC PV power collection network: scenario‐driven coordination strategies and implementation
Authors: Hu Hao , Zhu Miao , Li Xiuyi , Cai Xu
Published: December 2020

Based on the two‐stage‐type configuration of direct current (DC) photovoltaic (PV) power collection network, the key issues of coordination start‐up and operation mode switching for the converters in different stages are investigated thoroughly in this study. With the assistance of start‐up resistors on low‐voltage DC (LVDC) side, the asynchronous start‐up, master–slave synchronous start‐up and droop synchronous start‐up for the first‐stage maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converters are proposed along with the corresponding inter‐stage coordination scheme. Besides, two start‐up strategies for the second‐stage DC step‐up converter are proposed with the considerations of different scenarios. According to the proposed scenario‐driven coordination strategies, the start‐up of DC collection network could be realised without relying on real‐time communication. The principles, logical flow and parameter design methods of the proposed scenario‐driven coordination start‐up strategies are explained in details while a comparative study is performed. The correctness and effectiveness of the proposed strategies have been verified by the system simulation. The work of this study could be beneficial for the future engineering applications of DC PV generation and integration.
Combined economic emission based resource allocation for electric vehicle enabled microgrids
Authors: Umoren Ifiok Anthony , Shakir Muhammad Zeeshan
Published: December 2020

As electric vehicles (EVs) are currently under‐utilised, the features of deploying EVs as distributed energy resources (DERs), based on an EV as a service (EVaaS) framework, are exploited and a resource allocation scheme is proposed for optimum association of dispersed EVs with critical load for demand fulfilment in microgrids. The proposed approach is based on a combined economic emission (CEE) optimisation model where both energy costs and carbon emissions are taken into account. The CEE optimisation problem is then formulated as a bi‐objective optimisation problem, considering a number of practical constraints, such as energy demand, cost budget, emission limit and charging station limit. Carbon price is introduced to convert the bi‐objective problem into a single objective function. The authors included EV battery degradation cost to ensure EV owners are not worse off after EVaaS participation. The feasibility of the proposed model is demonstrated in simulation studies. The approach has been extended to evaluate the trade‐off between EVaaS and conventional DERs. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed resource allocation scheme.
Improved near optimal angular quadratures for polarised radiative transfer in 3D MHD models
Authors: Jaume Bestard Jaume , Štěpán Jiří , Trujillo Bueno Javier
Published: December 2020

Accurate angular quadratures are crucial for the numerical solution of three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer problems, especially when the spectral line polarisation produced by the scattering of anisotropic radiation is included. There are two requirements for obtaining an optimal quadrature and they are difficult to satisfy simultaneously: high accuracy and short computing time. By imposing certain symmetries, we were recently able to derive a set of near optimal angular quadratures. Here, we extend our previous investigation by considering other symmetries. Moreover, we test the performance of our new quadratures by numerically solving a radiative transfer problem of resonance line polarisation in a 3D model of the solar atmosphere resulting from a magneto-hydrodynamical simulation. The new angular quadratures derived here outperform the previous ones in terms of the number of rays needed to achieve any given accuracy.
LIFELINE: The program for the simulation of the X-ray line profiles in massive colliding wind binaries
Authors: Mossoux E. , Rauw G.
Published: December 2020

Aims.The study of the X-ray line profiles produced by massive colliding wind binaries is a powerful tool for the characterisation of the stellar winds. We built a self-consistent program for the computation of line profiles named LIFELINE. The resulting theoretical profiles can be compared to the line profile that will be observed with future high-resolution X-ray spectrographs to retrieve the characteristics of the stellar winds generating them.

Methods.We considered a grid of 780 O-type binaries and computed, for each of them, the wind velocity distribution of each star, taking the impact of the radiation pressure and gravity force of the companion star into account. We then computed the characteristics of the wind shock region and followed the emitted photons towards the observer to compute their absorption. Finally, the Fe K line profiles near 6.7 keV were constructed from the distribution of the photons as a function of the radial velocities of their emitting region. LIFELINE can be used to compare the theoretical line profiles to the observed ones or to compute theoretical profiles for a new binary system.

Results.We highlight the results for three systems. While the line profiles created in adiabatic wind collision regions are quite simple, the line profiles arising from regions in the radiative regime, as found in short-period binaries, are more sophisticated notably because of the Coriolis effect on the shape of the shock. The predicted differences in line morphology between systems with different wind properties are quite significant, allowing a detailed comparison between the theoretical profiles and those that will be observed with future high-resolution X-ray spectrometers.
Catalytic condensation of phenol with formaldehyde into BPF on recyclable anchoring sulfuric acid
Authors: Li Hui , Cao Xi , He Huiting , Liu Jian , Xiang Weijian , She Jialuo , Yin Dulin
Published: December 2020

A novel solid-acid catalyst (PVC-EDA-SO4H) based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were prepared after amination of Ethylenediamine (EDA) and anchorage of sulfuric acid. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, Element analysis, Chemical titration and Thermal analysis, the results indicated that the sulfuric acid was successfully anchored on PVC. The PVC-EDA-SO4H showed excellent catalytic performance for the synthesis of bisphenol F, and achieved almost high yield and selectivity (94%) of BPF under the mind reaction conditions. Meanwhile, exhibited excellent reusability without the significant loss after six cycles via simple filtration.
Effects of different of salt-reducing formulas on the quality characteristics of clam sausage
Authors: Bu Ying , Xu Wenting , Zhu Wenhui , Li Xuepeng , Su Laijin
Published: December 2020

In this paper, Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus and Nemipterus virgatus surimi were used as raw materials, and the effects of different salt-reducing formulas on the characteristics of low-sodium clam meat sausage was studied. The results showed that there was not significantly different in texture properties (except T1) and gel properties among each groups, and the groups treated with 50% KCl instead of 50% NaCl significantly decreased the sodium content. The addition of lysine, F1 (atmospheric clam enzymatic hydrolysate lyophilized powder), F2 (ultrahigh pressure clam enzymatic hydrolysate lyophilized powder) and MRPF1 (Maillard Reaction products of F1) increased the sensory acceptance, taste perception and decreased bitterness, astringency. On the premise of adding F1, F2 and MRPF1, it is feasible to add 50% KCl instead of 50% NaCl in clam sausage. The results demonstrated that adding MRPF1 can better improve people’s salty perception, reduce the amount of sodium and increase delicate flavor in clam meat sausages.
Configuration and Stability of HF/SF6 and HF/N2 Standard Gases
Authors: Zhang Shiling
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the analysis methods of HF components in two background series of nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride were established and optimized. The uncertainty contribution in the weighing process was evaluated. The configuration of HF/SF6 and HF/N2 standard gases was established, that is, the packaging volume was 4L and 8L, and the content range of HF component was (50-100)×10-6 mol/mol. Then, the stability of the value of the standard gas is investigated, that is, the stability of the value with time and pressure, the fixed value and performance investigation. The relative expanded uncertainty of two series HF standard gas prediction is less than 6% (k=2).
Preparation and spectroscopic properties of Ca2MgTeO6:Tm3+ blue-emitting tellurate phosphors
Authors: Jiang Sumeng , Zeng Fanhua , Liu Hui , Duan Yan , Deng Bin
Published: December 2020

Various novel Ca2MgTeO6:Tm3+ blue-emitting tellurate materials were synthesized via solid-state reaction. The structure and phase purity of prepared Ca2MgTeO6:xTm3+ (x = 0.0025-0.10 mol) were examined by X-ray powder diffraction. The Ca2MgTeO6:Tm3+ phosphors emit blue emission at 359 nm excitation. The optimum doping concentration was 0.02 mol. The concentration quenching mechanism in the Ca2MgTeO6 host was due to the electric dipole-dipole interaction. The The CIE chromaticity coordinates of Ca2MgTeO6:Tm3+ phosphors located in the blue region. These results validated the Ca2MgTeO6:Tm3+ tellurate phosphor can be used as good blue-emitting candidate for W-LEDs.
Electrochemical behaviors of graphene decorated sulfurized polyurethane foam-based ultra-microporous carbon
Authors: Zhou Xianxian , Li Min , Ge Chao , Liu Shibin
Published: December 2020

Polyurethane foam is a typical commercial polymer with a large production quantity and its waste needs to be recycled. This work reports a facile method to prepare ultra-microporous carbon from the polyurethane foam (PUF) waste and use it as a reservoir to impregnate sulfur for Li-S batteries. The raw PUF was carbonized and then activated with KOH. By controlling the activation temperatures, four carbon materials (PUFC-T) with different textures and N-doping levels were obtained. PUFC-800 shows the highest BET surface area, microporous volume, and quaternary N and pyridine N-oxide species. The electrochemical test results showed that higher microporous volume is beneficial to increase the uniform distribution of sulfur, as a result, the cycle stability and rate capacity is improved significantly. A large reversible capacity of 542 mAh g-1 can be retained at a large current of 0.5 C after 200 cycles with high sulfur loading of 70%.
The Luminescent Property of Magnetic Polymers and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Li Zeren
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the generation mechanism, influencing factors and application of the luminescent properties of magnetic polymers are reviewed. In practical applications, magnetic polymers exhibit a variety of unique luminescent properties, including photoluminescence, electroluminescence and thermoluminescence. There are many factors affecting the luminescent properties of different kinds of magnetic polymers, including the types of magnetic centers, the properties of metal ions, the charge transfer between metal ions and ligands, and the influence of functional groups on the main and side chains of the polymers. This paper explains the luminescent properties of magnetic polymers from the aspects of generation mechanism and influencing factors.
Fracture analysis of the circulating pump bolts
Authors: Jiang Chengjun , Wang Wei , Zou Xiaohui , Wang Jifeng
Published: December 2020

The microstructure, micrograph of the fracture sections and the alloy elements distribution of the fractured flange-connecting bolts of 3# circulating pump in a power plant were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy, the optical microscopy and the electron probe microanalysis. The results showed that the failed bolts’ material is not the design material, and failure of the bolts is due to the stress corrosion crack propagation of the bolts’ austenitic material by chloride ions in seawater.
Chemically/Magnetically Dual-Responsive Nanoparticles for Multipurpose Colorimetric Sensor
Authors: Liu Wei , Liu Xuefeng , Ren Jiabao , Cui Chen , Xu Shujie
Published: December 2020

Magnetically responsive colloidal photonic crystals can change their structural color according to the external magnetic field, which has been widely studied in recent years. However, due to lack of recognition ability towards non-magnetic analytes, these photonic crystals can be applied to constructing a sensor only when an additional stimuli responsive unit is involved. To address this problem, we used a functional protein to modify the magnetically responsive colloidal particles to construct chemically/magnetically dualresponsive nanoparticles. For a proof of concept research in this manuscript, we modified the colloidal particles with streptavidin, and the as obtained nanoparticles were used to detect biotinylated protein via a binding and assembling strategy, which is impossible for conventional photonic crystal sensors. Not only qualitative and quantitative detections were achieved, but also the average diameters of the biotinylated protein were correctly estimated. These results have demonstrated a multipurpose detection feature of our proposed colorimetric sensor.
Analysis of the multi-level battery management system functional index system weight
Authors: Chen Mingsheng , Ming Zhimao , Liu Guixiong , Zhang Yu
Published: December 2020

In order to identify index system property of battery management system, index system reconstruction and index weights reassignment are performed based on industrial and national standards, using multi-the analytic hierarchy process. The result shows that: compared to vehicle industry standard of seventeen technical indexes, new national standard have thirty-three indexes. And index system is rebuilt as two layers, where the first layer includes five indexes. By using of judge matrix, characteristic vector and consistent verify, all indexes weight and their consequences are confirmed. In the first layer, the index of performance of estimation, calculation and diagnose shows the maximum weight of 0.4283, and electrical adaptability has the minimum weight of 0.0710.
Study on energy-saving diagnosis evaluation mode of boiler system
Authors: Xu Xiao , Liu Rujie , Liu Zheng
Published: December 2020

Efficiency and energy consumption of boiler systems are affected by many factors. Firstly, the idea of boiler system being divided into different level subsystems is put forward, and the evaluation model of boiler efficiency and energy consumption is established. Secondly, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to judge the matrix of the evaluation model’s influence weight on the overall target. The model can be used to guide the energy saving diagnosis and analysis of boiler system. Compared with the key factors, the energy saving potential is analyzed from the aspects of economy, energy saving and environmental protection.
2D modeling of the human ear using the equivalent mechanical impedance
Authors: Chahbi Aziz , Assif Safaa , Faiz Adil , Hajjaji Abdelowahed
Published: December 2020

Several mass–spring–damper models have been developed to study the response of the human body parts. In such models, the lumped elements represent the mass of different body parts, and stiffness and damping properties of various tissues. The aim of this research is to develop a 2D axisymmetric model to simulate the motion of the human tympanic membrane. In this contribution we develop our model using aComsol Multiphysics softwareto construct a 2D axisymmetric objects, the acoustic structure interaction between the ear canal (field of propagation of the acoustic wave) and the structure of ear (skin, cartilage, bone, tympanic membrane) was solved using finite elements analysis (FEA). A number of studies have investigated the motion of the human tympanic membrane attached to the ossicular chain and the middle ear cavity. In our model, the tympanic annular is assumed to be fixed and the loading of what comes behind the tympanic membrane as the ossicular chain, while middle ear cavity and cochlea were replaced by the equivalent mechanical impedance of a spring mass damper system. The obtained results demonstrate that the maximum displacements of the umbo are obtained at the frequency range of 0.9–2.6 kHz, the sound pressure gain had the shape of peak with a maximum at 2–3 kHz frequency range. The umbo displacement depends on the damping coefficient d, and the sound pressure at the tympanic membrane was enhanced compared to that at the ear canal entrance.
Natural Convection in Inclined Porous Square Enclosure
Authors: Belazizia Abdennacer , Benissaad Smail , Abboudi Said
Published: December 2020

Steady, laminar, natural convection flow in porous square enclosure with inclination angle is considered. The enclosure is filled with air and subjected to horizontal temperature gradient. Darcy- Brinkman-Forchheimer model is considered. Finite volume method is used to solve the dimensionless governing equations. The physical problem depends on five parameters: Rayleigh number (Ra =103-106), Prandtl number (Pr=0.71), Darcy number (Da=0.01), inclination angle φ=(0°-227°), porosity of the medium (ε=0.7) and the aspect ratio of the enclosure (A=1). The main focus of the study is on examining the effect of Rayleigh number on fluid flow and heat transfer rates. The effect of inclination angle is also considered. The results including streamlines, isotherm patterns, flow velocity and the average Nusselt number for different values of Ra and φ. The obtained results show that the increase of Ra leads to enhance heat transfer rate. The fluid particles move with greater velocity for higher thermal Rayleigh number. Also φ affects the fluid motion and heat transfer in the enclosure. Velocity and heat transfer are more important when φ takes the value (30°).
Nanofluid convection taking into account the Soret effect and its impact on heat transfer and fluid flow
Authors: Mhamdi Ibtissem , Oueslati Fakhreddine S. , Bennacer Rachid
Published: December 2020

The present study is a numerical simulation of natural convection in nanofluids, within in a square cavity differentially heated, to identify the fluid flow and heat transfer by considering the Soret effect during which a temperature gradient in a binary mixture gives rise to a concentration gradient. The governing equations solved numerically using the finite element method following the use of COMSOL Multiphysics. The effects of various parameters, the Rayleigh number, the nanoparticle concentration and the type of nanofluid are analyzed. Our simulations reveal that the heterogeneity of the nanofluid, which is generated by the Soret effect, increases the heat transfer.
Hygrothermal Behavior of Earth-Based Materials: Experimental and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Saidi Meriem , Soukaina Cherif Amel , Sediki Ezeddine , Zeghmati Belkacem
Published: December 2020

Bio-based building materials such as earth bricks are attracting renewed interest throughout the world due to their thermal and environmental properties.

In this work, a numerical study of the hygrothermal behavior of building walls consist of compressed earth bricks (CEB) and stabilized earth bricks (SEB) was performed. A two-dimensional Luikov model for evaluating the temperature and the moisture migration in porous building materials was proposed. The coupled heat and moisture transfer problem was modeled. The governing equations of a mathematical model were solved numerically with the finite difference method. Input parameters in the model and their dependency on stabilizers content were determined by laboratory experiments.

In order to specify the effect of chemical stabilization on the heat and mass transfer within studied materials, average moisture content and temperature were presented as a function of time. Results show that the addition of chemical stabilizers enhances the heat transfer through the earthen materials and reduces their water vapor permeability.
Numerical study of a solar desalination system by humidification-dehumidification
Authors: Saidi Sirine , Ben Radhia Rym , Benhamou Brahim , Nafiri Naima , Ben Jabrallah Sadok
Published: December 2020

The present work represents a numerical study of a solar desalination system that operates on the humidification-dehumidification (HDH) principle. This system consists essentially of a humidifier integrated into a solar collector and a tubular condenser. A mathematical model governing evaporation and condensation in the desalination unit has been elaborated. This model is based on energy and mass balances at the humidifier and the condenser. The work consists essentially of a parametric study to improve the desalination unit production installed at the faculty of sciences of Bizerte, Tunisia.
Heat transfer study of phase change material incorporated into a cavity of a hollow brick during melting
Authors: Souci O.Youcef , Houat Samir , El Ganaoui Mohammed
Published: December 2020

The use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in the building sector is an attractive solution contributing to the reduction of energy consumption as well as the improvement of the thermal comfort. To achieve this objective, it is required to study the complex phenomena of phase changes when PCM incorporated in different types of building materials. In this study, PCM is incorporating in a cavity of hollow brick and check the effect of natural convection during melting process by compared between two cases, the first the case when there is only a pure conduction and for the second case is when natural convection is not neglected in the upper part of this cavity. For the numerical model, the finite element method is using with modification in the specific heat of PCM accounting for the increase amount of energy, in the form of latent heat, needed to melt the PCM over its melting temperature range. The result showed that the effect of natural convection is limited and can represented by using un equivalent thermal conductivity.
Mechanical behaviour of Composites based on Diss and Aflfa fibres in different matrices
Authors: Belkhir Zohra , Merzoud Mouloud , Benazzouk Amar
Published: December 2020

The use of natural fibers in cementitious matrices has an incompatibility, which results considerable retardation of setting and very low resistances during the composite tests with natural crushed Diss, despite the fact that the fibers have considerable tensile strengths, because of the sugars and water- soluble components contained in natural plants. To improve the fibers contribution in cementitious composites, we have carried out a treatment by boiling the natural fibers to extract the substances responsible for the bad connection between fibers and the cement paste. This phenomenon of incompatibility disappears with the use of clay matrix or lime, which allows using the fibers without any treatment. We were able to determine the mechanical behavior of composites in flexion and compression by measuring stresses and deformations. Through our vast experimental program on the composites of natural fibers of Alfa and Diss in different matrices (cement and clay) and different sizes ranging from 2 to 8 cm, we have found: 1) The best resistance in bending and compression are generally reached for the composites with fibers having the dimensions between 4 and 6 cm. 2) The best bending strengths are achieved for composites with cementitious matrices, because of the good adhesion of the fibers to the matrix. 3) The best compressive strengths are achieved for clay matrix composites, which are due to the good compressibility of the clay. 4) The composites of Alfa and Diss fibers presented a very ductile behavior as well in flexion as in compression, contrary to the pure binder paste which has a brittle behavior. 5) The composites obtained have a very low density, which makes it possible to classify them as lightweight materials and have a very ductile behavior, which suggests using these materials as filling in the seismic zones.
Is Vaginal Breech Delivery Still a Safe Option?
Authors: Pulido Valente Maria , Carvalho Afonso Maria , Clode Nuno
Published: December 2020

Objective To determine whether there was any difference in neonatal and maternal outcomes between breech vaginal delivery and cephalic vaginal delivery.

Methods A retrospective, case-control study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2017 in a Portuguese hospital. A total of 26 cases of breech vaginal delivery were considered eligible and 52 pregnant women formed the control group.

Results Induced labor was more frequent in the breech vaginal delivery group (46% versus 21%, p = 0.022). Episiotomy was more common in the breech vaginal delivery group (80% versus 52%, p = 0.014), and one woman had a 3rd degree perineal laceration. Newborns in the study group had a lower birthweight (2,805 g versus 3,177 g, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion The present study showed that breech vaginal delivery at term compared with cephalic presentation was not associated with significant differences in neonatal and maternal morbidity. It also suggests that breech vaginal delivery remains a safe option under strict selection criteria and in the presence of an experienced obstetrician.
Serous Retinal Detachment in Pre-eclampsia: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Raposo Joana Teresa Botelho Vasconcelos , Melo Bruna Carina Da Silva , Maciel Nuno Filipe Bernardo Belo , Leite Sara Dias , Rebelo Óscar Renato Coutinho , Lima Ana Maria Furtado
Published: December 2020

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is an obstetric disease with a multifactorial cause that affects ∼ 5% of pregnant women. Vision can be affected with varying severity, and retinal detachment is a very rare complication. It tends to be bilateral, diagnosed postpartum, and more prevalent in women who are primiparous and/or undergo caesarean delivery. The condition typically resolves completely and rarely causes total visual loss in the affected women. Fluorescence angiographic findings support the hypothesis that retinal detachment in PE is secondary to choroidal ischemia from intense arteriolar vasospasm. The present article is related to a case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman who had PE associated with a progressive blurred vision, diagnosed by ophthalmology as serous macular detachment of the retina.
Do Thyroid Diseases during Pregnancy and Lactation Affect the Nutritional Composition of Human Milk?
Authors: Lopes Fernanda de Oliveira , Soares Fernanda Valente Mendes , Silva Danielle Aparecida da , Moreira Maria Elisabeth Lopes
Published: December 2020

Objective To identify whether the effects of thyroid disease during pregnancy and lactation affect the nutritional composition of human milk.

Methods Systematic review of the scientific literature using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online/MedLine databases to evaluate the association of thyroid diseases during pregnancy and lactation with the nutritional composition of human milk. There was no delimitation by period or by language, and the searches were completed in March 2019. The following descriptors were applied: human milk AND thyroid AND composition, using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol for data search, selection, and extraction. The flowchart proposed for bibliographic search resulted in 12 articles and, of these, four were selected.

Results The articles elected for this review were published between 1976 and 2018. Two studies found significant differences in the nutritional composition of mothers' milk with hypothyroidism or overweight compared with the milk of those without hypothyroidism. Studies have shown that the presence of the disease led to changes in the nutritional composition of human milk, especially a higher concentration of human milk fat.

Conclusion It is extremely important that these women have continuous nutritional follow-up to minimize the impact of these morbidities on the nutritional composition of human milk.
Study of Binaural Auditory Cortical Response in Children with History of Recurrent Otitis
Authors: Oliveira Leticia Sampaio , Oliveira Anna Caroline Silva de , Alcântara Yara Bagali , Vieira Carolina Almeida , Ferreira Dayse Mayara de Oliveira , Chagas Eduardo Federighi Baisi , Frizzo Ana Claudia Figueiredo
Published: December 2020

Introduction Any type of sensory deprivation in childhood resulting from conductive hearing loss may impair the development of peripheral and central auditory pathway structures with negative consequences for binaural processing.

Objective To characterize and compare monoaural and binaural auditory responses in neonates and children without and with a history of recurrent otitis.

Methods The study included participants from 0 to 8 years and 11 months old, in good general health conditions, of both genders, divided into a control group, with no history of otitis, and a study group, with history of recurrent otitis. Cortical potential with speech stimulus /ba/-/da/ was used as collection procedure. The arithmetic calculation of the 512 points of the wave was performed to obtain the grand average of the waves of the subjects in both groups. The Shapiro-Wilk and mixed repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical tests were performed to analyze the group effect, the condition, and the interaction (group versus condition) controlling the effect of the age-sex covariable.

Results There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for all latency values; and for the P1, N1, P2, and N2 latencies, the differences between the groups occurred in the three analyzed conditions (right and left ears and binaural), revealing the influence of sensory deprivation. There were no significant differences in relation to wave amplitudes.

Conclusion There are differences in the cortical potential with speech stimuli and in the binaural interaction component of children with and without history of recurrent otitis.
Comparison of Outcome and Complications in Dogs Weighing Less Than 12 kg Undergoing Miniature Tibial Tuberosity Transposition and Advancement versus Extracapsular Stabilization with Tibial Tuberosity Transposition for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease with Concomitant Medial Patellar Luxation
Authors: Hackett Morgan , St Germaine Lindsay , Carno Margaret-Ann , Hoffmann Daniel
Published: December 2020

Objective The aim of this study was to describe a technique for performing miniature tibial tuberosity transposition and advancement (mTTTA). The secondary objective of this study was to compare the short-term outcome and complications in small breed dogs weighing less than 12 kg undergoing surgical correction of cranial cruciate ligament disease with concurrent medial patellar luxation via either extracapsular stabilization with tibial tuberosity transposition (ECS + TTT) or mTTTA.

Study Design This is a retrospective case comparison study.

Results There was no significant difference in overall outcome between the ECS + TTT group and the mTTTA group when comparing 8-week postoperative radiographic healing scores as well as 2- and 8-week postoperative lameness scores.

Conclusion This study concluded that the mTTTA procedure was feasible and the overall outcome and complications for the dogs that underwent ECS + TTT and those that underwent mTTTA were comparable.
A Combined Surgical Approach for Extensor Hallucis Longus Reconstruction: Two Case Reports
Authors: Duarte Marta , Fradinho Nuno
Published: December 2020

The surgical management of foot tendon injuries is not well-represented in literature. To achieve excellent functional recovery of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon, we aimed at developing a reliable and feasible reconstructive technique.

A surgical technique for delayed reconstruction of the EHL tendon, combining an elongation procedure with second toe extensor tendon transfer, is described in this article.

The results of this combined approach for EHL tendon reconstruction were remarkable, since the patients of the two clinical cases reported regained active extension of the hallux after 6 months without any associated complication.

This study represents a step forward in foot surgery, since it describes an alternative technique to manage EHL tendon lesions.
A battery-powered floating current source of 100 A for precise and fast control of magnetic field
Authors: Yang Yu-Meng , Xiao Bo , Ji Wen-Chao , Wang Xuan-Kai , Dai Han-Ning , Chen Yu-Ao , Yuan Zhen-Sheng , Jiang Xiao
Published: December 2020

In various leading-edge ultracold atom experiments in fields such as quantum simulation, quantum computing, and quantum precision measurement, precise and fast control of the magnetic field is important and a current source with a low noise level and high control bandwidth is required. Conventional commercial current sources, even the expensive ones, may not meet the requirements. Here, we present a battery-powered current source (BPCS) solution that has a maximum output of 100 A with a root-mean-square noise of about only 0.35 mA (integrated from 1 Hz to 3 MHz) and a control bandwidth of about 10 kHz. The large output current is sourced from a lead-acid battery, a fluxgate current sensor is used to detect the output current, and fast feedback regulation is done by using an insulated-gate bipolar transistor under the control of an analog proportional-integral controller. The battery power method eliminates the switching noise. A prepulse method is applied to shorten the settling time when the current steps down from a high level to a low level that is close to zero. These features make the BPCS a suitable analog-controlled floating current source for cold-atom experiments such as the preparation of a single 2D quantum gas and optical lattice atomic clocks.
Investigation and validation of the dynamic response of an acoustically levitated particle using the lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Vollmer Blaine , Elke William J. , Sracic Michael W. , Suthar Kamlesh
Published: December 2020

The stable levitation of an analyte sample in an acoustic levitator is a primary requirement for accurate x-ray characterization of its scientific structure. A rigid particle oscillates in an under-damped manner when introduced into the node of established standing acoustic waves. This investigation has employed the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), a computational fluid dynamics technique, for the analysis of such rigid particle dynamics in acoustic levitation. The simulation uses the two dimensional and nine velocity (D2Q9) Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook formulation to levitate a rigid 1.6 mm diameter nylon (ρ = 1150 kg/m3) particle in the air at standard pressure and temperature conditions. The presented work is the first reported simulation of realistic acoustic levitator boundary conditions using the LBM. The simulation can capture the particle–fluid interactions that produce dynamic levitation at less than one-period timescale in the ultrasonic frequency regime. An experiment was conducted by levitating a 1.6 mm-diameter nylon sphere to estimate the oscillations, and the oscillating frequency was found to be 50 Hz. The dynamic simulation results are consistent with experimental results for particle oscillations within the same order of magnitude, indicating that LBM formulation can be successfully used to study acoustic levitation to understand and mitigate particle jitter. The distortion of the acoustic field due to a levitating particle’s presence was also analyzed to demonstrate how the presence of the particle can disrupt adjacent levitating nodes.
Experimental observations of exploding bridgewire detonator function
Authors: Smilowitz L. , Henson B. F. , Remelius D. , Bowlan P. , Suvorova N. , Allison J. , Cardon D. , Freeman M. , Mariam F. , Meijer W. , Morris C. , Neukirch L. , Prestridge K. , Sandstrom M. , Saunders A. , Schurman T. , Tainter A. , Tang Z. , Trouw F. , Tupa D. , Tybo J. , Uliano R.
Published: December 2020

Exploding bridgewire detonators are an industry standard technology used for over 75 years and valued for their precise timing and safety characteristics. Despite widespread use, their functional mechanism remains controversial with both shock and non-shock mechanisms attributed. In this work, we reexamine the bridgewire detonator function with a suite of modern diagnostics and compare these observations with the existing literature. Traditional detonator observations consisted of voltage applied to the bridgewire and time dependent current, integral response measurements such as case motion, and more recently Schlieren imaging of the detonator surface. In this work, we add visible light emission, x-ray transmission, proton radiography, and temperature measurements during detonator function in addition to voltage, current, and function times. The addition of in situ observations of light emission, temperature, and density gives us new insight into the mechanisms of explosive bridgewire detonator function. We see a distinct separation in time, location, symmetry, and velocity of bridgewire output and detonation onset. During the time between bridgewire burst and the initiation of detonation, we observe a temperature ramp in the input pellet. In this paper, we present the suite of measurements and comparisons with the literature on integral response measurements.
Evaluation of current diagnostic methods for COVID-19
Authors: Alpdagtas Saadet , Ilhan Elif , Uysal Ebru , Sengor Mustafa , Ustundag Cem Bulent , Gunduz Oguzhan
Published: December 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), which triggers lung failure, pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction. This enveloped, positive sense and single-stranded RNA virus can be transmitted through aerosol droplets, direct and indirect contacts. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious and has reached a pandemic level in a few months. Since COVID-19 has caused numerous human casualties and severe economic loss posing a global threat, the development of readily available, accurate, fast, and cost-effective diagnostic techniques in hospitals and in any places where humans spread the virus is urgently required. COVID-19 can be diagnosed by clinical findings and several laboratory tests. These tests may include virus isolation, nucleic acid-based molecular assays like real-time polymerase chain reactions, antigen or antibody-based immunological assays such as rapid immunochromatographic tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunofluorescence techniques, and indirect fluorescent antibody techniques, electrochemical sensors, etc. However, current methods should be developed by novel approaches for sensitive, specific, and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 cases to control and prevent this outbreak. Thus, this review will cover an overview and comparison of multiple reports and commercially available kits that include molecular tests, immunoassays, and sensor-based diagnostic methods for diagnosis of COVID-19. The pros and cons of these methods and future perspectives will be thoroughly evaluated and discussed.
Magnetoresistance of epitaxial GdN films
Authors: Maity T. , Trodahl H. J. , Granville S. , Vézian S. , Natali F. , Ruck B. J.
Published: December 2020

We report magnetoresistance measurements on epitaxial films of the intrinsic ferromagnetic semiconductor GdN electron doped with ∼1020cm−3 to ∼1021cm−3. The magnetoresistance across the temperature range of 10–300 K is dominated by a reduction of spin-disorder scattering in the presence of a magnetic field, imposing a resistance reduction of 27% in a field of 8 T. We show that the magnetoresistance closely follows the magnetic disorder as signaled by the departure of the magnetization from its fully saturated value Ms of 7μB/Gd3+.
Evidence for electron energization accompanying spontaneous formation of ion acceleration regions in expanding plasmas
Authors: Aguirre E. M. , Bodin R. , Yin N. , Good T. N. , Scime E. E.
Published: December 2020

We report experiments conducted in an expanding argon plasma generated in the inductive mode of a helicon source in the Hot hELIcon eXperiment–Large Experiment on Instabilities and Anisotropies facility. As the neutral gas pressure increases, the supersonic ion acceleration weakens. Increasing neutral pressure also alters the radial profile of electron temperature, density, and plasma potential upstream of the plasma expansion region. Langmuir probe measurements of the electron energy probability function (EEPF) show that heating of electrons at the plasma edge by RF fields diminishes with increasing gas pressure, yielding a plasma with a centrally peaked electron temperature, and flat potential profiles at higher neutral pressures. For neutral pressures at which ion acceleration regions develop in the expanding plasma plume, EEPFs reveal electrons with two temperature components.
Field-induced piezoelectricity in SrTiO3 at room temperature determined by interferometric measurement
Authors: Mohammad Amir , Stöcker Hartmut , Mehner Erik , Hanzig Juliane , Meyer Dirk C.
Published: December 2020

Defect engineering is an effective tool to manipulate material properties and produce completely new ones that are symmetry-forbidden in a defect-free crystal. For example, single crystals of SrTiO3 form, as a long-term reaction to external static electric fields, a strained near-surface layer through the migration of oxygen vacancies out of the area beneath the positively charged electrode. It was previously shown that this near-surface phase exhibits pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, which are symmetry-forbidden in centrosymmetric bulk SrTiO3. In the present paper, different approaches have been used to better understand the nature of this reaction. In situ XRD measurements were carried out to investigate the dynamics of the lattice distortion during the formation and relaxation of this phase. Interferometry measurements were carried out to determine the piezoelectric thickness change of the samples and to indirectly investigate the polar property of the unit cell before, during, and after electroformation. We observe the instantaneous formation of a polar strontium titanate unit cell at room temperature, explainable by electrostriction, and the expected additional contribution after a long-term field application.
Electric field tuning of the properties of monolayer hexagonal boron phosphide
Authors: Yarmohammadi Mohsen , Mirabbaszadeh Kavoos
Published: December 2020

External factors are known to significantly modify the properties of low-dimensional materials. Here, we show that a perpendicular electric field can tune the fundamental electrical, thermal, and magnetical features of monolayer boron phosphide (MBP). We use the traditional Boltzmann approach, two-band tight-binding Hamiltonian model, and the Green’s function technique and particularly focus on the bandgap, electronic density of states, electronic heat capacity (EHC), and paramagnetic susceptibility (PMS) of MBP. We clarify the unique role of bias polarity on these quantities. The system undergoes a pseudo-Lifshitz phase transition when the electric field is equal to the pristine bandgap of MBP and accordingly, the massive Dirac fermions become massless. Additionally, the electron–hole symmetry breaking stemming from the variation of the Van Hove singularities with the electric field is discussed. We further show that the modulated electronic phase of the system leads to the tuning of EHC and PMS depending on the electric field direction. We believe that the present results are useful for various logic applications based on MBP.