bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political relations and bilateral tourism demand: The case of China and Japan
Authors: Su Jen‐Je , Pham Tien Duc , Dwyer Larry
Published: November 2021

Political relations between countries can potentially affect and be affected by bilateral visitor flows. Applying various modified Granger causality tests, this article uses Japan and China as a case study of the possible bi‐directional linkages between tourism demand and political relations. Findings suggest that country relations do influence visitor flows, but not vice versa. The influence is statistically strong regarding visitor flows from China to Japan, but is weak and insignificant in the opposite direction, although this relationship appears to be time‐varying and strengthening recently. This article concludes with a discussion of policy implications and some suggestions for further research.
Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) Measurement by Emergency Medicine Residents in Patients Suspected of Pulmonary Emboli
Authors: Karimialavijeh Ehsan , Khaksar Afshin , Pishgahi Ghasem , Sadat Hashemi Mozhgan , Jalali Alireza
Published: November 2021

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the ability of emergency medicine (EM) residents to measure tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) by M‐Mode ultrasound.

Methods

Four EM residents with prior focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) experience participated in 10 hours of hands‐on training and then performed TAPSE measurements in adult patients at high risk of having pulmonary emboli (PE) between December 2020 and April 2021. Patients underwent bedside echocardiography by cardiology residents, and a CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) was performed to confirm the diagnosis. The agreement between EM and cardiology residents was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Sixty‐six patients were included (mean age = 58.7 ± 16.7 years), of which 28 patients (42.8%) had positive CTPA. The mean TAPSE, measured by EM residents was 16.36 ± 1.59 mm in the PE positive group and 21.68 ± 2.87 mm in the PE negative group (P‐value = <.0001). The mean ± SD TAPSE, measured by cardiology residents, was 17.7 ± 1.98 mm in the PE group and 22.5 ± 3.6 mm in the PE negative group (P‐value = <.0001). There was significant agreement between EM and cardiology residents in terms of measuring TAPSE (ICC = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80–0.95). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of TAPSE for diagnosing PE revealed that TAPSE, measured by EM residents, had a high level of accuracy (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.93, 95% CI, 0.878–0.99).

Conclusions

EM residents can perform M‐Mode TAPSE measurement in suspected PE cases after 10 hours of hands‐on training. TAPSE measurement should be added to routine FOCUS protocols, especially when there is suspicion of PE.
The Application of Texture Feature Analysis of Rectus Femoris Based on Local Binary Pattern (LBP) Combined With Gray‐Level Co‐Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) in Sarcopenia
Authors: Tang Xinyi , Yang Yujia , Huang Li , Qiu Li
Published: November 2021

Objectives

In order to detect the changes in muscle texture of sarcopenia and to explore a new method of ultrasound assessment of muscle changes in sarcopenia.

Methods

we used the local binary pattern (LBP) combined with gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) method to extract and quantitatively analyze the texture information of the rectus femoris of different people, and initially verified the robustness of this method to image gain changes. We recruited young volunteers, elderly volunteers without sarcopenia, and elderly volunteers with sarcopenia in this cross‐sectional study. We scanned the rectus femoris and extracted their muscle texture features.

Results

We found that when ultrasonographic gain varied from 40% to 70%, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of contrast, entropy, and homogeneity were 0.989, 0.973, and 0.989, respectively. Body mass index was significantly related to contrast (r = 0.285, P < .05), and age had a significant correlation with contrast and homogeneity (r = −0.259 and r = 0.269, P < .05). The elderly volunteers with sarcopenia had the highest entropy (0.363 [0.342–0.403]) and homogeneity (2.203 [2.162–2.277]) in the texture of the rectus femoris among the three groups, and at the same time had the lowest contrast (44.583 [43.492–47.399]), and all P < .05.

Conclusion

LBP combined with GLCM can be a stable method for extracting muscle texture features. At the same time, the contrast, entropy, and homogeneity of the rectus femoris of the elderly with sarcopenia were significantly different from those of the young volunteers and the elderly without sarcopenia, suggesting the texture features of rectus femoris are potential parameters for evaluating muscle function and pathological changes.
Beneficial effects of livestock exclusion on tree regeneration, understory plant diversity, and soil properties in semiarid forests in Iran
Authors: Moradi Mostafa , Jorfi Mohammad Reza , Basiri Reza , Yusef Naanaei Sedigheh , Heydari Mehdi
Published: November 2021

Zagros forests in western Iran have been impacted by severe fuelwood removal, traditional agricultural systems, non‐timber products removal, and livestock grazing. These conditions have led to the forest area diminishing from 10 to 6 million hectares over the last six decades. This study was conducted to understand the consequences of livestock exclusion on understory plant diversity, forest tree regeneration, and soil physicochemical properties in semiarid forests. We selected four neighbouring areas, including those subject to livestock exclusion and to grazing, in the Zagros oak forests of Iran. Ten randomized sampling plots (400 m2) were established, and all plant species were recorded in each area. A soil physicochemical analysis indicated a significant improvement in soil nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and organic matter in the livestock exclusion area compared to the grazing area. The Shannon–Wiener diversity and species richness was also significantly higher in the livestock exclusion areas compared to the grazed. Grazing tolerant species likePoa bulbosawere abundant in grazing areas, while palatable and nitrogen‐fixing species disappeared. The tree regeneration rate was significantly higher in the exclusion areas compared to the grazing areas, and its values were 0.079 and 0.006 per square metre in the exclusion and grazing areas, respectively. The results of the present study provided evidence that exclusion had a significant effect on improving soil chemical properties, understory plant diversity index, and sapling regeneration. However, the regeneration rates were still low, and therefore, livestock exclusion alone may not be enough to promote forest restoration. Therefore, to better understand plant diversity and tree regeneration in the Zagros forests, livestock exclusion and other factors such as soil seed bank and socio‐economic status of people should be considered.
Collectivism fosters preventive behaviors to contain the spread of COVID‐19: Implications for social marketing in public health
Authors: Cho Hyewon , Guo Yafei , Torelli Carlos
Published: November 2021

Apart from personal‐ and societal‐level factors, we propose that collectivism also plays a role in the spread of COVID‐19. Results from six studies using both secondary datasets and laboratory experiments conducted in two different countries demonstrate that collectivism is: (a) negatively associated with the spread of COVID‐19 and (b) positively associated with the self‐importance/expectation to engage in widely publicized behaviors to prevent the spread of the disease, as well as with greater likelihood to vaccinate against COVID‐19. Finally, the higher likelihood of people high (vs. low) in collectivism to engage in preventive behaviors is driven by their belief that others consider it important to engage in such behaviors. The effects were robust and emerged by measuring collectivism both at the country level and at the individual level. We conclude by proposing features of public health campaigns likely to elicit compliance behavior to control the spread of COVID‐19.
Insights into the bacterial community composition of farmed Caulerpa lentillifera: A comparison between contrasting health states
Authors: Kopprio Germán A. , Luyen Nguyen D. , Cuong Le Huu , Duc Tran Mai , Fricke Anna , Kunzmann Andreas , Huong Le Mai , Gärdes Astrid
Published: November 2021

The bacterial communities of Caulerpa lentillifera were studied during an outbreak of an unknown disease in a sea grape farm from Vietnam. Clear differences between healthy and diseased cases were observed at the order, genus, and Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) level. A richer diversity was detected in the diseased thalli of C. lentillifera, as well as the dominance of the orders Flavobacteriales (phylum Bacteroidetes) and Phycisphaerales (Planctomycetes). Aquibacter, Winogradskyella, and other OTUs of the family Flavobacteriaceae were hypothesized as detrimental bacteria, this family comprises some well‐known seaweed pathogens. Phycisphaera together with other Planctomycetes and Woeseia were probably saprophytes of C. lentillifera. The Rhodobacteraceae and Rhodovulum dominated the bacterial community composition of healthy C. lentillifera. The likely beneficial role of Bradyrhizobium, Paracoccus, and Brevundimonas strains on nutrient cycling and phytohormone production was discussed. The bleaching of diseased C. lentillifera might not only be associated with pathogens but also with an oxidative response. This study offers pioneering insights on the co‐occurrence of C. lentillifera‐attached bacteria, potential detrimental or beneficial microbes, and a baseline for understanding the C. lentillifera holobiont. Further applied and basic research is urgently needed on C. lentillifera microbiome, shotgun metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and metabolomic studies as well as bioactivity assays are recommended.
Rural–urban financial inclusion: Implications on the cost sustainability of microfinance lenders
Authors: Mia Md Aslam , Sangwan Sunil , Hussain A. H. M. Belayeth , Malim Nurhafiza Abdul Kader
Published: November 2021

Despite the higher demand for credit among the rural poor, many commercial banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) are averse towards microfinancing activities in rural areas due to their high‐cost implication compared to urban areas. Therefore, this study empirically investigates the effect of rural and urban financial inclusion on the cost sustainability of MFIs. To this end, a globally representative sample of 1729 MFIs' data covering the period 2008–2018 were analyzed. Contrary to the orthodox perception, our overall result revealed that lending in rural areas is more cost‐efficient than in urban areas, even after considering various proxies and endogeneity issues.
Development, validation, qualification, and dissemination of quantitative MR methods: Overview and recommendations by the ISMRM quantitative MR study group
Authors: Weingärtner Sebastian , Desmond Kimberly L. , Obuchowski Nancy A. , Baessler Bettina , Zhang Yuxin , Biondetti Emma , Ma Dan , Golay Xavier , Boss Michael A. , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Keenan Kathryn E. , Hernando Diego ,   the ISMRM Quantitative MR Study Group
Published: November 2021

On behalf of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Quantitative MR Study Group, this article provides an overview of considerations for the development, validation, qualification, and dissemination of quantitative MR (qMR) methods. This process is framed in terms of two central technical performance properties, i.e., bias and precision. Although qMR is confounded by undesired effects, methods with low bias and high precision can be iteratively developed and validated. For illustration, two distinct qMR methods are discussed throughout the manuscript: quantification of liver proton‐density fat fraction, and cardiacT1. These examples demonstrate the expansion of qMR methods from research centers toward widespread clinical dissemination. The overall goal of this article is to provide trainees, researchers, and clinicians with essential guidelines for the development and validation of qMR methods, as well as an understanding of necessary steps and potential pitfalls for the dissemination of quantitative MR in research and in the clinic.
DeepSENSE: Learning coil sensitivity functions for SENSE reconstruction using deep learning
Authors: Peng Xi , Sutton Bradley P. , Lam Fan , Liang Zhi‐Pei
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To improve the estimation of coil sensitivity functions from limited auto‐calibration signals (ACS) in SENSE‐based reconstruction for brain imaging.

Methods

We propose to use deep learning to estimate coil sensitivity functions by leveraging information from previous scans obtained using the same RF receiver system. Specifically, deep convolutional neural networks were designed to learn an end‐to‐end mapping from the initial sensitivity to the high‐resolution counterpart. Sensitivity alignment was further proposed to reduce the geometric variation caused by different subject positions and imaging FOVs. Cross‐validation with a small set of datasets was performed to validate the learned neural network. Iterative SENSE reconstruction was adopted to evaluate the utility of the sensitivity functions from the proposed and conventional methods.

Results

The proposed method produced improved sensitivity estimates and SENSE reconstructions compared to the conventional methods in terms of aliasing and noise suppression with very limited ACS data. Cross‐validation with a small set of data demonstrated the feasibility of learning coil sensitivity functions for brain imaging. The network learned on the spoiled GRE data can be applied to predict sensitivity functions for spin‐echo and MPRAGE datasets.

Conclusion

A deep learning‐based method has been proposed for improving the estimation of coil sensitivity functions. Experimental results have demonstrated the feasibility and potential of the proposed method for improving SENSE‐based reconstructions especially when the ACS data are limited.
Multi‐band‐ and in‐plane‐accelerated diffusion MRI enabled by model‐based deep learning in q‐space and its extension to learning in the spherical harmonic domain
Authors: Mani Merry , Yang Baolian , Bathla Girish , Magnotta Vincent , Jacob Mathews
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To propose a new method for the recovery of combined in‐plane‐ and multi‐band (MB)‐accelerated diffusion MRI data.

Methods

Combining MB acceleration with in‐plane acceleration is crucial to improve the time efficiency of high (angular and spatial) resolution diffusion scans. However, as the MB factor and in‐plane acceleration increase, the reconstruction becomes challenging due to the heavy aliasing. The new reconstruction utilizes an additional q‐space prior to constrain the recovery, which is derived from the previously proposed qModeL framework. Specifically, the qModeL prior provides a pre‐learned representation of the diffusion signal space to which the measured data belongs. We show that the pre‐learned q‐space prior along with a model‐based iterative reconstruction that accommodate multi‐band unaliasing, can efficiently reconstruct the in‐plane‐ and MB‐accelerated data. The power of joint reconstruction is maximally utilized by using an incoherent under‐sampling pattern in the k‐q domain. We tested the proposed method on single‐ and multi‐shell data, with high/low angular resolution, high/low spatial resolution, healthy/abnormal tissues, and 3T/7T field strengths. Furthermore, the learning is extended to the spherical harmonic basis, to provide a rotational invariant learning framework.

Results

The qModeL joint reconstruction is shown to simultaneously unalias and jointly recover DWIs with reasonable accuracy in all the cases studied. The reconstruction error from 18‐fold accelerated multi‐shell datasets was <3%. The microstructural maps derived from the accelerated acquisitions also exhibit reasonable accuracy for both healthy and abnormal tissues. The deep learning (DL)‐enabled reconstructions are comparable to those derived using traditional methods.

Conclusion

qModeL enables the joint recovery of combined in‐plane‐ and MB‐accelerated dMRI utilizing DL.
Spatiotemporal Variability of Fishery-Dependent Indices for the Declining Louisiana Southern Flounder Fishery
Authors: Smith David R. , Dance Michael A. , West Joe , Midway Stephen R.
Published: November 2021

In recent years, management agencies across the Gulf of Mexico and southern U.S. Atlantic have recognized Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma as a declining fish stock. Population declines in coastal Louisiana are exhibited by indices of recruitment and biomass, which have reached levels that present management concerns. To develop a better understanding of this declining fishery, we examined fishery-dependent data collected by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ recreational angler harvest survey (referred to as “LA Creel”). Data were modeled using generalized additive models to estimate temporal components of recreational Southern Flounder landings in both seasonality and trend. Over the study period (2014–2019), recreational landings exhibited a declining trend statewide. Strong seasonal peaks in the fall occurred statewide and regionally in every coastal management zone (i.e., estuary). Understanding the current fishery with the fine-scale resolution provided by the LA Creel survey can be used to help guide future management decisions in the pursuit of a sustainable management strategy inclusive of fishery-dependent information.
Family‐based interventions for preventing overweight or obesity among preschoolers from racial/ethnic minority groups: A scoping review
Authors: Wang Xiran , Ammerman Alice , Orr Colin J.
Published: November 2021

Objective

This scoping review aimed to synthesize the published literature on family‐based childhood obesity prevention interventions from 2015 to 2021 that focused on children 2–5 years of age from racial and/or ethnic minority households.

Methods

A PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and setting) framework was used to guide the development of the research question, search strategy, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. To be included, the study must have been a randomized controlled trial or quasi‐experimental trial that enrolled participants 2–5 years of age and their caregivers who identified as being from a racial and/or ethnic minority group in the United States. The study must have also examined a family‐based intervention that incorporated components to prevent childhood obesity (i.e., fruits and vegetable intake, parental responsive feeding, physical activity), be conducted in a remote (i.e., online, text, mail), home, community, primary care setting, or early childhood education institution setting, and report on body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), BMI z‐score, anthropometric measures (weight, waist circumference, fat mass, etc.), changes in health behaviors, or increase in nutritional knowledge.

Results

Fourteen individual studies were identified. Most interventions used multiple components for promoting nutritional knowledge and behavioral changes among families. Eight interventions included culturally tailored components targeting four aspects: (1) language barriers, (2) food choices, (3) relationships between family members, and (4) rapport building.

Conclusions

There is limited research in this field focusing on children from racial and/or ethnic minority groups. Future efforts should invest in developing culturally appropriate interventions for these groups.
Isomorphic dynamics in national action plans on antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Rubin Olivier , Munkholm Louise
Published: November 2021

The article investigates isomorphic dynamics in the development and implementation of national action plans (NAPs) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) following the World Health Assembly's adoption of a Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015. Through a nested approach, we conduct a quantitative cross‐country analysis of this policy process with particular emphasis on form (the NAP design) and function (their implementation). The qualitative component consists of three illustrative examples from Japan, Myanmar, and Denmark, which represent different types of responses to this internationally driven policy process. The analysis reveals tendencies of isomorphic mimicry characterized by a clear rift between the drafting of NAPs and their implementation, particularly in low‐income and lower‐middle‐income countries. Interestingly, there is also evidence of typically high‐income member states with substantial leverage deviating from global guidelines when compiling their NAPs—a trend we term “isomorphic posturing.” We argue that both types of isomorphic behaviors inhibit global harmonization around best practices and conclude that the mismatch between policy design and policy implementation in the AMR field can best be solved by establishing international, legally binding agreements that adhere to the benefit principle and individualized responsibilities.
Short‐term creep properties and creep model of wood‐plastic composites
Authors: Zhao Longlong , Wei Yang , Zhang Guo Wei , Xi Fei
Published: November 2021

Wood‐plastic composites (WPC) were produced by a two‐step extrusion process, and the mechanical properties like strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson's ratio of WPC were investigated. Twenty‐four hours uniaxial tensile and compressive creep experimental tests under four stress levels of 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% were completed. The results show that whether tensile or compressive creep, 15% and 30% stress levels are low‐stress levels and 60% is high. When the stress level is 60%, brittle fracture occurs in 2.6 h for the tensile creep test, while it arises in 16.6 h for the compressive experiment. The Findley model can predict the creep behavior of WPC at high, medium, and low‐stress levels, and the fractional‐order model has the highest fitting degree for the creep properties at high‐stress levels.
Neuroprotective properties of ethanolic extract of Citrus unshiu Markovich peel through NADPH oxidase 2 inhibition in chemotherapy‐induced neuropathic pain animal model
Authors: Jang Aelee , Choi Go‐Eun , Kim Yoo‐Jeong , Lee Gil‐Hyun , Hyun Kyung‐Yae
Published: November 2021

The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant effect of Citrus unshiu Markovich (CUM) extract in neuronal cell lines under oxidative stress and to investigate the effect of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) on the nociceptive response in a preclinical mice model. We tested the inhibition of H2O2 in Neuro2A cells treated with CUM. Experimental animals were treated with oxaliplatin to induce CINP, and then administered oral CUM for 4 weeks in order to observe the effect of CUM. Animals were evaluated weekly for thermal hyperalgesia and digital motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) isolated from each animal were evaluated through immunochemical and western blot analysis for nerve damage, inflammatory response, and expression of redox signaling factors. The main mechanisms were determined to be decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production due to the inhibition of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2). To determine the functional role of NOX2 in CINP, we administrated CUM into NOX2‐deficient mice with neuropathic pain. Therefore, we suggest that CUM controls the expression levels of inflammatory factors in CINP via NOX2 inactivation. This study demonstrated that a complementary medicine such as CUM might be a potential novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of CINP.
Andrographolide: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical trials and pharmaceutical researches
Authors: Zeng Bin , Wei Ailing , Zhou Qiang , Yuan Minghao , Lei Kelu , Liu Yushi , Song Jiawen , Guo Li , Ye Qiang
Published: November 2021

Andrographis paniculata(Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, a renowned herb medicine in China, is broadly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cold and fever, sore throat, sore tongue, snake bite with its excellent functions of clearing heat and toxin, cooling blood and detumescence from times immemorial. Modern pharmacological research corroborates that andrographolide, the major ingredient in this traditional herb, is the fundamental material basis for its efficacy. As the main component ofAndrographis paniculata(Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, andrographolide reveals numerous therapeutic actions, such as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic and so on. However, there are scarcely systematic summaries on the specific mechanism of disease treatment and pharmacokinetics. Moreover, it is also found that it possesses easily ignored security issues in clinical application, such as nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Thereby it should be kept a lookout over in clinical. Besides, the relationship between the efficacy and security issues of andrographolide should be investigated and evaluated scientifically. In this review, special emphasis is given to andrographolide, a multifunctional natural terpenoids, including its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and pharmaceutical researches. A brief overview of its clinical trials is also presented. This review intends to systematically and comprehensively summarize the current researches of andrographolide, which is of great significance for the development of andrographolide clinical products. Noteworthy, those un‐cracked issues such as specific pharmacological mechanisms, security issues, as well as the bottleneck in clinical transformation, which detailed exploration and excavation are still not to be ignored before achieving integration into clinical practice. In addition, given that current extensive clinical data do not have sufficient rigor and documented details, more high‐quality investigations in this field are needed to validate the efficacy and/or safety of many herbal products.
Efficacy of Cuminum Cyminum supplementation on lipid profile and anthropometric parameters: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
Authors: Tavakoli‐Rouzbehani Omid Mohammad , Faghfouri Amir Hossein , Anbari Maryam , Nikpayam Omid , PourMirzaei Olyaei Hadi , Alizadeh Mohammad
Published: November 2021

We aimed to evaluate the effect ofCuminum Cyminum(CC) supplementation on lipid profile and selected anthropometric parameters. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched until May 2021. The random‐effect model was used to study the effect sizes. The sources of heterogeneity were assessed using subgroup analysis and meta‐regression. Publication bias was studied by funnel plots. The GRADE approach was used to assess the overall quality of the evidence.The data from our eight included studies have indicated that CC supplementation can lower body mass index (BMI) (WMD = −0.88 kg/m2; 95%CI: −1.58, −0.18;p= .023) and total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = −3.96 mg/dl; 95%CI: −6.51, −1.04;p=.008). Also, after adjusting for publication bias, CC was shown to be effective in improving waist circumference (WC), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL‐C), and triglycerides (TG) levels. Although, the current evidence has not shown that CC supplementation can affect low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C), our subgroup analysis has indicated that CC supplementation with supplementation length of more than 8 weeks is associated with beneficial effects on LDL‐C.While CC might be a suitable choice in managing BMI and TC, further high‐quality studies are needed to confirm its efficacy in the clinical setting.
Characterising the shape, size, and orientation of cloud‐feeding coherent boundary‐layer structures
Authors: Denby Leif , Böing Steven J. , Parker Douglas J. , Ross Andrew N. , Tobias Steven M.
Published: November 2021

Two techniques are presented for characterisation of cloud‐feeding coherent boundary‐layer structures through analysis of large‐eddy simulations of shallow cumulus clouds, contrasting conditions with and without ambient shear. The first technique is a generalisation of the two‐point correlation function, where the correlation length‐scale as well as the orientation can be extracted. The second technique identifies individual coherent structures and decomposes their vertical transport by the shape, size, and orientation of these objects. The bulk‐correlation technique is shown to capture the elongation and orientation of coherence by ambient wind, but is unable to characterise individual coherent structures. Using the object‐based approach, it is found that the individual structures dominating the vertical flux are plume‐like in character (extending from the surface into cloud) rather than thermal‐like, show small width/thickness asymmetry, and rise near‐vertically in the absence of ambient wind. The planar stretching and tilting of boundary‐layer structures caused by the introduction of ambient shear is also quantified, demonstrating the general applicability of the techniques for future study of other boundary‐layer patterns.
Hybrid‐triggered formation tracking control of mobile robots without velocity measurements
Authors: Yang Junyi , Yu Hao , Xiao Feng
Published: November 2021

This article focuses on solving the leader‐follower formation tracking problem of multiple mobile robots under a hybrid‐triggered mechanism without leader's velocity measurements. Two kinds of networks are considered: the detection network, which enables the relative detections by agents' onboard sensors, and the communication network, which is used to implement the transmissions of local information. The followers are divided into two groups based on their detection capacity of leader's information. By merely sensing the relative information from the leader, the first group of followers implement high gain observers to estimate leader's angular and linear velocities. In the rest followers, the transmitted information and relative detections from neighboring agents are used to estimate leader's velocities and position in a distributed way; after that, event‐triggered observer‐based controllers are proposed to drive the agents toward desirable formation. Periodic event‐triggered mechanisms (PETMs) are used to avoid continuous‐time checking of event‐triggering conditions; and the maximum allowable sampling periods (checking periods and transmission periods) are determined to guarantee the stability of the sampled‐data system. Since PETM is only applied in communication networks, the mechanism used in this work is a hybrid‐triggered one. Moreover, the inter‐sampling (‐checking, ‐transmission) times are allowed to be time‐varying and asynchronous. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and conservativeness of the proposed methods.
Optimal control of probabilistic Boolean control networks: A scalable infinite horizon approach
Authors: Kharade Sonam , Sutavani Sarang , Wagh Sushama , Yerudkar Amol , Del Vecchio Carmen , Singh Navdeep
Published: November 2021

One of the major issues in systems biology is developing control theory for gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Particularly, an important objective is to develop therapeutic intervention strategies to alter regulatory dynamics of GRNs to avoid undesired or diseased states. Several optimal control strategies have been developed to find therapeutic intervention strategies for small (or medium) sized GRNs modeled as probabilistic Boolean control networks (PBCNs). However, due to the humongous nature of GRNs, we require an optimal control strategy that scales to large systems without posing any constraints on the network dynamics. In this article, we formulate the infinite horizon discounted cost optimal control problem by leveraging the Markov decision process (MDP) based PBCN structure to model GRNs. Further, we design a stationary optimal control strategy, thereby avoiding the states associated with a disease. An augmented state space is defined to facilitate the control design method. By exploiting Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence and the log transformation of the cost function referred to as the desirability function, the optimal control is devised using the path integral (PI) approach. We propose a sampling‐based technique for the approximation of the PI and hence the optimal control of PBCNs. The sampling‐based strategy is amicable to parallel implementation, thereby addressing the optimal control problem of large‐scale PBCNs. Finally, the viability of the results in the article is shown by some illustrative examples.
Competing Paradigms: Employing Quantitative Methods to Operationalize and Validate a Pedagogy of Critical Literacy
Authors: Paul Casey Medlock
Published: November 2021

Although prior research has examined critical literacy through qualitative case studies, no known study has been conducted on a cross‐case mixed‐methods exploration of the practices used to teach critical literacy. Furthermore, in the literature, critical literacy is typically described as a theory rather than a practice. I present the quantitative portion of a mixed‐methods exploratory sequential design study, in which I sought to operationalize and validate the construct of critical literacy as teacher practice and determine the factors of critical literacy instruction. I used findings from the qualitative study to develop an instrument that collected data regarding teachers’ instructional practices, and I used the instrument to quantitatively collect data and determine the factors of critical literacy pedagogy via confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicated a seven‐factor structure: Relevant, Reflexive, Deconstructive, Dialogic, Empowering, Transformative, and Intersectional. Model fit was excellent, indicating that the data were predominantly captured by the seven‐factor structure, thus defining critical literacy theoretically (a combination of postmodernism, poststructuralism, critical theory, culturally relevant teaching, and intersectionality) and through the pedagogical practices represented in the scale items. Understanding how the theories differ quantitatively may allow researchers to continue exploring critical theories and pedagogies quantitatively, as well as provide better theoretical understandings to other postmodern, poststructural constructs. Additionally, the resulting scale provides a quantitative tool that can be used to further current and preservice teachers’ understandings and applications of critical literacy instruction.
BIPSE: A biomarker‐based phase I/II design for immunotherapy trials with progression‐free survival endpoint
Authors: Guo Beibei , Zang Yong
Published: November 2021

A Bayesian biomarker‐based phase I/II design (BIPSE) is presented for immunotherapy trials with a progression‐free survival (PFS) endpoint. The objective is to identify the subgroup‐specific optimal dose, defined as the dose with the best risk‐benefit tradeoff in each biomarker subgroup. We jointly model the immune response, toxicity outcome, and PFS with information borrowing across subgroups. A plateau model is used to describe the marginal distribution of the immune response. Conditional on the immune response, we model toxicity using probit regression and model PFS using the mixture cure rate model. During the trial, based on the accumulating data, we continuously update model estimates and adaptively randomize patients to doses with high desirability within each subgroup. Simulation studies show that the BIPSE design has desirable operating characteristics in selecting the subgroup‐specific optimal doses and allocating patients to those optimal doses, and outperforms conventional designs.
Automatic Skin Disease Diagnosis Using Deep Learning from Clinical Image and Patient Information
Authors: Muhaba K. A. , Dese K. , Aga T. M. , Zewdu F. T. , Simegn G. L.
Published: November 2021

Background

Skin diseases are the fourth most common cause of human illness which results in enormous non-fatal burden in daily life activities. They are caused by chemical, physical and biological factors. Visual assessment in combination with clinical information is the common diagnostic procedure for diseases. However, these procedures are manual, time-consuming, and require experience and excellent visual perception.

Objectives

In this study, an automated system is proposed for the diagnosis of five common skin diseases by using data from clinical images and patient information using deep learning pre-trained mobilenet-v2 model.

Methods

Clinical images were acquired using different smartphone cameras and patient's information were collected during patient registration. Different data preprocessing and augmentation techniques were applied to boost the performance of the model prior to training.

Results

A multiclass classification accuracy of 97.5%, sensitivity of 97.7% and precision of 97.7% has been achieved using the proposed technique for the common five skin disease. The results demonstrate that, the developed system provides excellent diagnosis performance for the five skin diseases.

Conclusion

The system has been designed as a smartphone application and it has the potential to be used as a decision support system in low resource settings, where both the expert dermatologist and the means are limited.
Development of Electromagnetic Shielding Material from Conductive Blends of Polyaniline/Polystyrene‐isoprene‐styrene Copolymer
Authors: Khalid Hamza , Umer Arslan , Afzal Hafiz Muhammad , Ali Ghulam , Rauf Ali
Published: November 2021

The interference of different electromagnetic waves is considered a major concern in the current era. Various materials serve as potential candidates for shielding, but polymer composites have gained attention due to their superior properties. Polymer composites of poly(styrene‐isoprene‐styrene) (SIS) and polyaniline (PANI) are prepared with the help of solvent casting technique to study electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness. To study the properties of these blends, different techniques were utilized, including FTIR, SEM, XRD. With the help of a conductivity test, the composites have shown improvement in electrical conductivity up to 1.18 Scm−1. Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness was measured within the X‐band by using a vector network analyzer (VNA). The results observed showed an increase in attenuation up to 16dB upon optimum polyaniline concentration. The interaction and dispersion rate of filler is regarded as the primary aspect for enhanced properties. However, the agglomeration caused due to higher content of polyaniline resulted in decreased properties, i. e., 20 wt. % polyaniline.
Graphene Oxide Pickering Emulsion – A Novel Reaction Medium for the Synthesis of 2‐Aminothiazole
Authors: Sadgar Amid L. , Deore Tushar S. , Hase Dattatraya V. , Jayaram Radha V.
Published: November 2021

In the present study, a novel protocol for the synthesis of 2‐aminothiazoles has been developed using a graphene oxide (GO) stabilized Pickering emulsion system. GO was prepared by the modified Hummer's method and characterized with XRD, FTIR, UV‐Visible spectroscopy, TGA and DLS techniques. The size of the o/w emulsion droplets stabilized by GO were determined using a polarized optical microscope. The emulsion system was used for the synthesis of 2‐aminothiazole by Hantzsch reaction. The Reactions were carried out at room temperature and under static condition, without stirring. The application of the reaction system were extended to substituted phenacyl bromides and about 93 % of the corresponding 2‐aminothiazole derivative was obtained in 3 h.
Sorption Behavior of Grafted Porous Microparticles Based on Methacrylic Monomers and Chitosan/Gellan Gum towards Copper(II) and Nickel(II) Ions in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Racovita Stefania , Lungan Maria‐Andreea , Vasiliu Ana‐Lavinia , Vasiliu Silvia , Mihai Marcela
Published: November 2021

The present work investigates the sorption properties of grafted porous microparticles based on glycidyl methacrylate and chitosan/gellan gum for Copper(II) and Nickel(II) ions from the aqueous solutions. Batch sorption studies regarding the effects of various parameters, such as the chemical structure of the microparticles networks, the initial concentration of metal solution, pH value and contact time, were performed. The grafted porous microparticles obtained by suspension polymerization technique and loaded with metal ions were characterized by Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Analysis. The maximum loading capacities were: 41.70 (mg g−1) Copper(II)/39.27 (mg g−1) Nickel(II) for grafted microparticles with chitosan and 35.16 (mg g−1) Copper(II)/31.48 (mg g−1) Nickel(II) for those grafted with gellan, respectively. The equilibrium data were modeled by the Langmuir‐Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin‐Radushkevich isotherm models. The Lagergren, Ho, Elovich and Weber‐Morris particle diffusion models were applied to study the sorption kinetic mechanism. To highlight the efficiencies of the grafted porous microparticles as sorbents, four sorption/desorption cycles were performed. The results indicated that the grafted microparticles based on glycidyl methacrylate and chitosan/gellan gum could be used as sorbents for the removal of Copper(II)/Nickel(II) ions from aqueous solutions.
The History and Prospective of the AOPs for Environmental Applications in Colombia**
Authors: Mueses Miguel A. , Castillo‐Castellón Jullieth V. , Colina‐Marquez José A. , Machuca‐Martínez Fiderman
Published: November 2021

A critical review about the evolution of different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) implemented on environmental applications in Colombia (2000‐2020), was developed in this study by means a bibliometric analysis. This country has shown an impressive growth in the last two decades, regarding to the development of AOPs, with promising studies in wastewater treatment based on solar natural light. From this analysis, we found that the heterogeneous photocatalysis (especially the solar photocatalysis) was the most developed AOP in the country, because it was the technology with most studies at pilot‐scale and the only one with a reported real‐scale application. Other AOPs such as: Electrochemical, photo‐Fenton, ultrasound and catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO), have been reported as feasible technologies for wastewater treatment, although at lab‐scale. The bibliometric analysis also showed that the Universidad de Antioquia and Universidad del Valle are the research institutions with the most contributions on AOPs in Colombia. This last institution has the largest number of AOPs’ patents registered in Colombia. In general, AOPs in Colombia have shown a notorious development in the last 20 years; however, the photocatalysis is the only one that has been used with solar energy. The combination of AOPs with biological systems (or other AOPs) show greater effectiveness to remove pollutants than the AOPs operating standalone. Despite the Colombian progress regarding to these technologies’ development, the transfer of AOPs as commercial solutions has been challenging; therefore, possible solutions to these problems were presented in this study in order to achieve a synergistic and efficient evolution.
A Chitosan‐CatalyzedDomino Aldol‐Hetero‐Diels‐Alder Synthesis of Cyclic Heptanoid‐Annulated Pyran Scaffolds
Authors: Atara Hiralben D. , Brahmbhatt Gaurangkumar C. , Parmar Vishalkumar M. , Parmar Narsidas J. , Gupta Vivek K.
Published: November 2021

A chitosan‐catalyzed, domino aldol‐hetero‐Diels‐Alder (DAHDA) reaction has been developed in glycerol after combining 2‐alkenyloxynaphthaldehydes1 a–b/O‐alkenylsalicylaldehydes2 a–b/5‐alkenyl‐sulfanyl‐pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehydes3 a–bwith the poorly enolizable CH activated but‐3‐en‐2‐ones; monobenzalacetone4 a/4‐methoxy‐3‐but‐2‐ene4b/mesityl oxide4cto achieve pyrano [3,4‐c]chromenes5 aa–5 bc,6 aa–6 bc/ thiopyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles7 aa–7 bcall are containing cyclic heptanoid core. The method is highly efficient yielding 91% of the model compound5 aain 8 h at 90 oC. The structural investigation of the aldol intermediate which is isolable gave the important insight into the stereochemical output of the second step hetero‐Diels‐Alder(HDA) reaction. 2D NMR NOESY (nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy) andsingle‐crystal X‐raydiffraction dataof the representative5 aaconfirmed that theE‐aldol intermediate formed initially undergoes HDAreaction via endo‐E‐syn transition state to formcis‐fused product exclusively. Both chitosan and glycerol can be recycled at least five times without the loss of their efficiencies as catalyst and reaction medium respectively. E‐factor (0.15) and EcoScale (77.5 %) valuesof thismethod to afford model DAHDA product5 aareveal key green aspects of the present protocol.
Transition Metal Salt Promoted, Green, and High‐Yield Synthesis of Silver Nanowires for Flexible Transparent Conductive Electrodes
Authors: Sarisozen Sema , Tertemiz Necip A. , Arica Tugce A. , Polat Nahit , Kocabas Coskun , Balci Fadime M. , Balci Sinan
Published: November 2021

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have attracted considerable interest from both academia and industry owing to their excellent electrical, optical, and chemical properties. For large‐scale synthesis of AgNWs, the polyol method involving ethylene glycol, a toxic alcohol, has been widely used. We herein report on a facile, green, high yield, transition metal salt promoted, open atmosphere method for the synthesis of high quality AgNWs in a glycerol‐water mixture. We have shown that transition metal salts have a strong influence on the morphology of AgNWs. Importantly, in the presence of copper(II) chloride, AgNWs with a high aspect ratio of around 400 (length, 36 μm; diameter, 90 nm) were obtained. Additionally, for the first time, we have demonstrated AgNWs based flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) on poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS) treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with a sheet resistance of 34 Ω/sq and transmittance of 91 % at 550 nm. The PSS layer on the PET substrate generated a highly hydrophilic surface, which boosts interaction of AgNWs with the PET surface. We envision that our results would play a significant role both in the synthesis of AgNWs with high aspect ratio and also in designing new rigid and flexible TCEs having high transmittance and low sheet resistance for applications especially in printable solar cells, organic light emitting diodes, and high performance flexible electronics.
Novel and Sustainable Solvent‐Free Synthesis of 2‐Oxazolidinones Using Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica‐Supported Triazolium Ionic Liquids as Highly Active Catalysts
Authors: Rong Qi , Liu Xiao Bing , Chen Chen , Hu Yu Lin
Published: November 2021

Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) supported ionic liquids with high catalytic ability were prepared and tested in synthesis of 2‐oxazolidinones from the three‐component cycloaddition reactions of CO2, aryl amines and epoxide. The functionalized PMO material PMO@TZ‐ILSmCl4 revealed the most excellent catalytic performance than PMO@TZ‐ILLaCl4 during the catalytic synthesis of 2‐oxazolidinones. Different parameters such as catalyst loading, temperature, CO2 pressure and reaction time were also investigated. Good to excellent yields for 2‐oxazolidinones and stable reusability were reached in the CO2 cycloaddition under solvent‐ /ligand‐free conditions. This work provides a useful route to design novel and highly efficient catalytic systems for the transformation of CO2 into other valuable 2‐oxazolidinones.