bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platelet‐rich plasma in treatment of scar, atrophy, and sulcus: Short‐ and long‐term results
Authors: Woo Peak
Published: September 2023

Objective

Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is rich in growth factors and is easily obtained from blood samples. Long‐term data after PRP injection into the larynx should be improved. This study reports the short‐term (3 months) and long‐term (12 months) voice results after PRP injection.

Materials and Methods

Sixty‐three patients with scars (n = 34), sulcus vocalis (n = 17), recalcitrant nodules (n = 5), atrophy (n = 4), or a combination of these (n = 3) were included (158 injections; median follow‐up = 12.3 months). Stroboscopy, voice handicap index (VHI‐10), and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia (CSID) before and after treatment (3 months) and at 12 months were tabulated.

Results

VHI‐10 changed from 19.5 to 14 at 3 months and 21 to 15 in the long term. The CSID scores improved from 31 to 21 in the short term and 31 to 26 in the long term (p < 0.001, paired t‐test). Patients reported improved vocal effort and stamina with slight VHI or CSID score changes. Stroboscopy revealed improved closure and mucosal waves. Patients with severe dysphonia were less likely to improve compared to those with mild to moderate dysphonia. Some patients showed short‐term improvements and then deteriorated back to baseline CSID over time (p < .05, paired t‐test).

Conclusion

Both short‐ and long‐term improvements in voice following PRP injection have been reported. Patients with mild‐to‐moderate dysphonia had better outcomes. PRP injection is an alternative treatment for patients with mild‐to‐moderate dysphonia due to vocal fold scarring, sulcus, and atrophy.

Level of evidence

II Prospective case series treatment.
Multi‐Energy X‐Ray Linear‐Array Detector Enabled by the Side‐Illuminated Metal Halide Scintillator
Authors: Ran Peng , Yao Qingrui , Hui Juan , Su Yirong , Yang Lurong , Kuang Cuifang , Liu Xu , Yang Yang (Michael)
Published: September 2023

Conventional scintillator‐based X‐ray imaging typically captures the full spectral of X‐ray photons without distinguishing their energy. However, the absence of X‐ray spectral information often results in insufficient image contrast, particularly for substances possessing similar atomic numbers and densities. In this study, an innovative multi‐energy X‐ray linear‐array detector is presented that leverages side‐illuminated X‐ray scintillation using the emerging metal halide Cs3Cu2I5. The negligible self‐absorption characteristic not only improves the scintillation output but is also beneficial for improving the energy resolution for the side‐illuminated scintillation scenarios. By exploiting Beer's law, which governs the absorption of X‐ray photons with different energies, the incident X‐ray spectral can be reconstructed by analyzing the distribution of scintillation intensity when the scintillator is illuminated from the side. The relative error between the reconstructed and measured X‐ray spectral is < 5.63%. This method offers an additional energy‐resolving capability for X‐ray linear‐array detectors commonly used in computed tomography (CT) imaging setups, surpassing the capabilities of conventional energy‐integration approaches, all without requiring extra hardware components. A proof‐of‐concept multi‐energy CT imaging system featuring eight energy channels is successfully implemented. This study presents a simple and efficient strategy for achieving multi‐energy X‐ray detection and CT imaging based on emerging metal halides.
Stochastic‐offset‐enhanced restricted slice excitation and 180° refocusing designs with spatially non‐linear ΔB0 shim array fields
Authors: Zhang Molin , Arango Nicolas , Arefeen Yamin , Guryev Georgy , Stockmann Jason P. , White Jacob , Adalsteinsson Elfar
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Developing a general framework with a novel stochastic offset strategy for the design of optimized RF pulses and time‐varying spatially non‐linear ΔB0 shim array fields for restricted slice excitation and refocusing with refined magnetization profiles within the intervals of the fixed voxels.

Methods

Our framework uses the decomposition property of the Bloch equations to enable joint design of RF‐pulses and shim array fields for restricted slice excitation and refocusing with auto‐differentiation optimization. Bloch simulations are performed independently on orthogonal basis vectors, Mx, My, and Mz, which enables designs for arbitrary initial magnetizations. Requirements for refocusing pulse designs are derived from the extended phase graph formalism obviating time‐consuming sub‐voxel isochromatic simulations to model the effects of crusher gradients. To refine resultant slice‐profiles because of voxelwise optimization functions, we propose an algorithm that stochastically offsets spatial points at which loss is computed during optimization.

Results

We first applied our proposed design framework to standard slice‐selective excitation and refocusing pulses in the absence of non‐linear ΔB0 shim array fields and compared them against pulses designed with Shinnar‐Le Roux algorithm. Next, we demonstrated our technique in a simulated setup of fetal brain imaging in pregnancy for restricted‐slice excitation and refocusing of the fetal brain.

Conclusions

Our proposed framework for optimizing RF pulse and time‐varying spatially non‐linear ΔB0 shim array fields achieve high fidelity restricted‐slice excitation and refocusing for fetal MRI, which could enable zoomed fast‐spin‐echo‐MRI and other applications.
The Next Crisis: Nonprofit Leadership Exodus
Authors: Putnam‐Walkerly Kris
Published: September 2023

Nonprofit leaders are exhausted. Many were planning to leave even before the start of 2020. There were the white boomers trying to retire, the young leaders of color trying to navigate cultures not ready to put them in power, and the many in‐between “ready to cry uncle” because of the never‐ending steep uphill climb.
Realizations of the generalized adaptive cross approximation in an acoustic time domain boundary element method
Authors: Schanz Martin
Published: September 2023

In acoustics, the boundary element method (BEM) is much more common compared to elasticity. This is driven by the applications, which are in acoustics very often radiation problems causing trouble in finite element or finite volume methods. Nevertheless, for a time domain calculation, still an efficient BE formulations is lacking. We consider the time domain BEM for the homogeneous wave equation with vanishing initial conditions and given Dirichlet boundary conditions. The generalized convolution quadrature method (gCQ) developed by Lopez‐Fernandez and Sauter is used for the temporal discretisation. The spatial discretisation is done classically. Essentially, the gCQ requires to establish boundary element matrices of the corresponding elliptic problem in Laplace domain at several complex frequencies. Consequently, an array of system matrices is obtained. This array of system matrices can be interpreted as a three‐dimensional array of data, which should be approximated by a data‐sparse representation. The adaptive cross approximation (ACA) can be generalized to handle these three‐dimensional data arrays. Adaptively, the rank of the three‐dimensional data array is increased until a prescribed accuracy is obtained. On a pure algebraic level, it is decided whether a low‐rank approximation of the three‐dimensional data array is close enough to the original matrix. Hierarchical matrices are used in the two spatial dimensions and the third dimension are the complex frequencies. Hence, the algorithm makes not only a data sparse approximation in the two spatial dimensions but detects adaptively how much frequencies are necessary for which matrix block.
Mechanical and vibration behavior of surface‐modified titanium sheet interleaved with woven basalt/flax fiber metal laminates
Authors: Kirubakaran Ramraji , Kaliyamoorthy Rajkumar , Munusamy Rajesh , Annamalai Bhaskar
Published: September 2023

In fiber metal laminates (FMLs), the order in which fibers with different natural properties are stacked is very important for making materials that absorb vibrations and have good mechanical properties for structural applications. Hence, the present study focuses on the mechanical and vibration characteristics of FML designed with multi‐order energy‐absorbing flax fiber and high‐strength basalt fiber stacking covered with titanium sheets. The fabricated FMLs were designed with titanium/basalt fiber laminate (Ti/B), titanium/flax fiber laminate (Ti/F) and titanium/multi‐order‐flax‐basalt fiber laminate. The mechanical characteristics including tensile, flexural, and impact strength; and vibration characteristics of prepared FMLs were investigated. The higher tensile and flexural strength were revealed in an FML consisting of basalt layers (Ti/B) laminate than the flax core part (Ti/F) due to the strongness of basalt fiber, increasing the capability of load‐bearing of composites. Ti/B FML showed a maximum tensile strength and flexural strength of 412 and 450 MPa. Furthermore, flax fiber absorbs more energy, so the flax layer's inbuilt structure increases energy absorption during impact and vibration testing. Ti/F exhibits the highest impact strength (427.8 kJ/m2) and Ti/B exhibits the lowest impact strength (312.5 kJ/m2) because flax fibers are more ductile than basalt fibers, increasing the toughness of the FML. Ti/F FML structure, the greatest natural frequency of modes 1, 2, and 3 (549.03, 715.07, and 956.15 Hz) was observed. Natural fiber hybridization designed for FML, such as the Ti/B/F laminate, improved mechanical and vibration properties, making it suitable for structural applications.

Highlights

Fiber metal laminates were designed with titanium/flax/basalt.

FMLs stacked composites significantly affect the mechanical properties.

The basalt fiber, increases the capability of load‐bearing of FMLs.

The damping of FMLs increases with the increase in flax fiber layers.

Flax‐basalt fibers stacked FMLs produce tunable impact and vibration energy.
Service intensity of community mental health outreach among people with untreated mental health problems in Japan: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Iwanaga Mai , Yamaguchi Sosei , Sato Sayaka , Nakanishi Kiyoaki , Nishiuchi Erisa , Shimodaira Michiyo , So Yugan , Usui Kaori , Fujii Chiyo
Published: September 2023

Aim

This study aimed to clarify the association between treatment status (untreated or treated) at the start of community mental health outreach services and service intensity.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Tokorozawa City mental health outreach service users' data. Treatment status at the start of service (exposure variable) and the service intensity (outcome variables) were taken from clinical records. Poisson regression and linear regression analyses were conducted. The frequency of medical or social service use 12 months after service initiation was also calculated. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (No. A2020‐081).

Results

Of 89 people, 37 (42%) were untreated. Family members in the untreated group were more likely to be targets or recipients of services than in the treated group (b = 0.707, p < 0.001, Bonferroni‐adjusted p < 0.001). Compared to the treated group, the untreated group received fewer services themselves (b = −0.290, p = 0.005), and also fewer services by telephone (b = −0.252, p = 0.012); by contrast, they received more services at the health center (b = 0.478, p = 0.031) and for family support (b = 0.720, p = 0.024), but these significant differences disappeared after Bonferroni adjustment. At least 11% of people in the untreated group were hospitalized and 35% were outpatients 12 months after service initiation.

Conclusion

Family involvement may be a key service component for untreated people. The service intensity with and without treatment may vary by service location.
Experimental validation of two constitutive models for numerical simulation on the extrusion of rubber blends
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhang Xuesong , Yang Minghao , Li Yongchao , Yang Qi , Gong Jiawei , Gao Xueqin
Published: September 2023

Numerical simulation plays a crucial role in polymer processing. This paper analyzes the extrusion of two rubber blends using the Bird–Carreau viscous model and the Phan‐Thien–Tanner (PTT) viscoelastic model. The study found that wall slip phenomena occurred in both rubber blends when the apparent shear stress exceeded the critical value. Under these conditions, the physical parameters of the two constitutive models, along with the wall slip parameters that describe the degree of rubber sliding, were obtained. This information provided a theoretical basis for the numerical simulation of the extrusion process. The PTT model was found to be superior to the Bird–Carreau rheological model in predicting the rheological behavior of die swell, velocity field, and pressure field distribution in the extrusion process of the two rubber blends.

Highlights

Based on the numerical simulation analysis of the capillary extrusion process, we designed a more feasible method for fitting the physical parameters of the constitutive equation and parameters of the Navier slip model and established the foundation for the subsequent numerical simulation of extrusion processing.

Phan‐Thien–Tanner model is proved to be the best candidate for predicting the extrusion of rubber blends with high Mooney viscosity, including die swell, velocity, and pressure distribution.

Demonstrates that wall slip is an important factor in rubber extrusion.

Combining simulation results with experimental data improves the accuracy and predictability of the simulation.
Assignment of product ions produced from ciguatoxin‐3C provides a deep insight into the fragmentation mechanism of polycyclic ether compounds
Authors: Ukai Ryogo , Uchida Hideaki , Sugaya Kouichi , Onose Jun‐ichi , Yasumoto Takeshi , Abe Naoki
Published: September 2023

Rationale

Marine polycyclic ethers have drawn attention owing to their unique chemical structures and involvement in food poisoning and fish killing. To study structural diversity, we performed a structural assignment of product ions produced from a representative ladder‐shaped polycyclic ether, ciguatoxin‐3C, and elucidated the mechanism of generation.

Methods

The product ions used for the structural assignment were produced from a precursor ion [M + H]+ using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, by employing an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source.

Results

Three charged sites were considered at both terminals of a molecule. Typical charge‐remote fragmentation was produced at the respective charge sites, yielding a hybrid spectrum. C–C bonds bordering two ethers could cleave and trigger the fission of two other bonds. Prominent ions indicating the serial loss of water molecules resulted from the simultaneous deprivation of ethereal oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The resultant double bonds formed long chains of conjugated polyenes, which stabilized charge via resonance.

Conclusions

Three alternative charge sites produce a hybrid spectrum. The simultaneous fission of three bonds was explained. For the first time, intense ions due to serial dehydration were explained by the elimination of ether oxygen atoms and the subsequent conjugation of double bonds. All product ions were considered by the structural features of polycyclic ether that facilitates the formation of conjugated polyenes.
Spontaneous haemothorax as a complication of Kassabach‐Merritt phenomenon (KMP) in a‐2‐years old female child: A case report
Authors: Cesilia Citra , Ridar Elmi , Hatta Hariadi , Makmur Andreas , Wiwit Ade FW , Melinda Nataprawira Heda
Published: September 2023

Kasabach‐Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare condition that is associated with two rare vascular tumours: Kapossiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA). A 2‐year‐old girl presented to our emergency room with a haemangioma and respiratory distress. The patient had a violaceous, palpable mass in the right upper chest since she was 5 months old. Severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, and hypofibrinogenemia were found. Chest x‐ray revealed massive pleural effusion in the right hemithorax. Chest computed tomography (CT) scanning revealed right pleural effusion, multiple destructions of bilateral ribs and multiple osteopenia of thoracic vertebrae. Chest CT angiography revealed a vascular mass in the sternum region. Based on clinical, laboratory and imaging findings, the diagnosis of KMP was established. Clinical, consumptive coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia were resolved by prednisone (3 mg/kg/day) and vincristine (1 mg/body surface area in m2/week) as an adjunct. Unfortunately, she had spontaneous rebleeding and died before the biopsy was done.
Adaptive critic control with multi‐step policy evaluation for nonlinear zero‐sum games
Authors: Li Xin , Wang Ding , Wang Jiangyu , Qiao Junfei
Published: September 2023

To attenuate the effect of disturbances on control performance, a multi‐step adaptive critic control (MsACC) framework is developed to solve zero‐sum games for discrete‐time nonlinear systems. The MsACC algorithm utilizes multi‐step policy evaluation to obtain the solution of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaac equation, which is faster than that of the one‐step policy evaluation. The convergence rate of the MsACC algorithm is adjustable by varying the step size of the policy evaluation. In addition, the stability and convergence of the MsACC algorithm are proved under certain conditions. In order to realize the MsACC algorithm, three neural networks are established to approximate the control input, the disturbance input, and the cost function, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of the MsACC algorithm is verified by two simulation examples, including a linear system and a nonlinear plant.
Formation Mechanism of a Hierarchically Porous Carbon Based on Soybean Hull Residues and Its Adsorption Performance
Authors: Ma Zhiyan , Zhang Yaping , Huang Yijun , Wang Rongmin , Wang Zeyuan , He Yufeng
Published: September 2023

Soybean residue has caused pollution to the environment due to high output. Herein, in order to reutilization soybean residue, a novel soybean hulls residue based hierarchically porous carbon was prepared by one‐step carbonization‐activation, and its structure and micromorphology were characterized by SEM, FT‐IR, Raman, TEM, BET and XPS. Based on results of characterization, which illustrated typical hierarchically pore structure with pore sizes are 1000 nm, 300 nm and 1.4 nm. The specific surface area and total pore volume were corresponded to 1455.41 m2/g and 0.731 cm3/g, respectively. And the pore‐forming mechanism was discussed in raw materials is a pyrolysis process. Furthermore, it was found that adsorption capacity of dye could got to 625 mg/g in 30 min when the adsorbent was 0.05 g. In summary, the soybean hulls residue based hierarchically pore material with large surface area and rich in pore structure, which will exhibit excellent performance towards wastewater treatment.
A Facile Aerobic Calcination Synthesis of Porous Oxygen‐Doped g‐C3N4 with High Adsorption Performance and Efficient Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Xu Xiwei , Huang Zhenxiong , Chen Bohong , Chen Xiaoping
Published: September 2023

In this study, porous oxygen‐doped graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) was successfully prepared via a facile aerobic calcination method using urea as the precursor. By adjusting the heating rate, the micro structural and the optical properties of this material were investigated. A series of characterizations indicate that the low heating rate is conducive to obtaining the g‐C3N4 possessing layered porous structure and large specific surface area. Meanwhile, it was found that narrower band gap (2.48 eV) and more effective carriers separation efficiency (2.54 ns) can be achieved by introducing oxygen dopants into the g‐C3N4, which is beneficial to the improvement of the photocatalytic performance. Additionally, the methylene blue (MB) wastewater degradation experiment was explored by using the porous oxygen‐doped g‐C3N4. It was demonstrated that the g‐C3N4 synthesized at low heating rate shows superior efficiency (99.1 %) for MB wastewater degradation treatment than the one synthesized at high heating rate (92.6 %). Thus, the porous oxygen‐doped g‐C3N4 obtains at low heating rate by aerobic calcination approach exhibits superior efficiency for dyeing wastewater treatment.
VO2 Nanoparticles‐Based Thermochromic Smart Windows
Authors: Zhou Yang , Zhao Sisi , Qi Simeng , Liu Yinping , Chen Neng , Wang Lulu , Niu Yingchun , Xu Quan
Published: September 2023

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has reversible metal‐to‐insulator phase transitions (MIT) under thermal stimuli, which is a traditional and widely studied material for thermochromic smart window applications. Current research interests in VO2 materials design focused on decreasing phase change temperature (τc), increasing both luminous transmittance (Tlum) and solar modulating ability (▵Tsol). This review focuses on strategies for improving the thermochromic properties of VO2, including elemental doping to composite materials, improving the solar energy modulation ability, ameliorating color, elevating phase change efficiency, increasing durability, and enhancing energy efficiency. The challenges and opportunities of VO2 nanoparticles‐based thermochromic smart windows are discussed in the outlook section.
eAOM: Extended agent‐oriented modeling as an alternative methodology for blockchain enabling application development
Authors: WaiShiang Cheah , Ten LiBin Michelle , Phang Eaqerzilla , Jali Nurfauza bt , Khairuddin Muhammad Asyraf bin
Published: September 2023

Blockchain applications are gradually receiving wide acceptance as a transformative technology that could potentially bring a reformation in the industry. Blockchain handles sensitive data through cryptography, consensus mechanism, transaction immutability, and peer‐to‐peer network to manage decentralized data features. In addition to ensuring operational efficiency, blockchain development is a complex and challenging process, which warrants further exploration. In an attempt to reduce the complexity of the development, various software methodologies have been introduced to support the development of blockchain applications systematically. It has been found that those methodologies introduced structured processes that are not suitable for software models. Moreover, all models are generic and do not take into blockchain concept as first‐class entities. Hence, there is a gap in extending and transforming the current blockchain modeling and practices when developing a blockchain application. This paper introduces a new insight and innovative methodology for blockchain‐based application development through extended agent‐oriented modeling (eAOM) to discover blockchain opportunities and contribute to the growth of the technology. With eAOM, the blockchain modeling processes start with requirement elicitation, computation independent modeling, early identification of blockchain use case, platform independent modeling, and platform specific model. A walkthrough example of a blockchain application, “win a fortune games” has showcased the feasibility of eAOM in modeling blockchain enabling application development in a systematic manner. A usability analysis is conducted among novice students to test the usability of eAOM versus original AOM in modeling blockchain application development. From the findings, 44% of the students managed to capture more than 80% of blockchain requirements through eAOM. On the other hand, 51% of the students scored between 20% and 60% of the blockchain requirement, and only 5% of the students failed to model blockchain requirements through eAOM. The results reveal the usage of the eAOM to model blockchain‐enabled application comprehensively.
Dry Heat Treatment of Finger Millet Starch for Thin Films—Studies on Physicochemical, Mechanical, and Barrier Properties
Authors: Gautam Naina , Garg Sangeeta , Yadav Shashikant
Published: September 2023

This research work aims to investigate the impact of dry heat treatment (DHT) on the morphological, structural, and physicochemical properties of native finger millet starch (FMS), with the goal of enhancing its applicability in thin films. The influence of DHT on FMS is examined through various parameters, including moisture content, amylose content, ash content, swelling power, and solubility. Subsequently, a sequential evaluation is conducted to assess the morphology, structural and thermal stability, film thickness, water vapor permeability, water solubility, and mechanical properties of thin films produced from both FMS and DHT‐modified FMS. Regarding the modification of FMS, the solubility of FMS exhibits improvement, while amylose content, swelling, ash, and moisture content exhibit a decline. Thin films fabricated using DHT‐modified FMS displays enhanced homogeneity and continuity, devoid of cracks and holes typically observed in native FMS‐based thin films. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, water solubility, and water vapor permeability of the films are also improved as a result of the DHT treatment.These results demonstrate that DHT can be useful for enhancing the physical and chemical properties of high amylose finger millet starch for its applications in edible films and coatings.
Whole‐genome versus per‐chromosome targeted recombination: Simulations and predicted gains in maize with an integer programming model
Authors: Cameron John N. , Bernardo Rex
Published: September 2023

Per‐chromosome targeted recombination, with one to two recombinations at specific marker intervals on each chromosome, doubles the predicted genetic gains in biparental populations. We developed an integer programing model to identify where a fixed number of targeted recombinations should occur across the whole genome, without restrictions on the number of targeted recombinations on each chromosome. We compared whole‐genome and per‐chromosome targeted recombination in 392 biparental maize (Zea mays L.) populations and in simulation experiments. For yield, moisture, test weight, and a simulated trait controlled by 2000 quantitative trait loci (QTL), predicted gains were 8%–9% larger with 10 targeted recombinations across the entire genome than with one targeted recombination on each of the 10 chromosomes. With whole‐genome targeted recombination, the number of recombinations on a given chromosome was correlated (r = 0.76–0.91) with the chromosome size (in cM). Simulation results suggested that previous results on gains from targeted recombination relative to nontargeted recombination were too optimistic by around 20%. Because the underlying QTL are unknown, studies on targeted recombination have relied on genomewide marker effects as proxies for QTL information. The simulation results indicated a 25% (for 10 recombinations) to 33% (for 20 recombinations) reduction in response due to the use of genomewide marker effects as proxies for QTL information. Overall, the results indicated that the integer programming model we developed is useful for increasing both the predicted and true gains from targeted recombination, but the predicted gains are likely to overestimate the true gains.
FERPA meets COVID: Contact tracing
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: September 2023

I'm taking a slight U‐turn this month. Instead of continuing with the topic of school officials “messing up” by inappropriately disclosing education records, I thought it would be timely to discuss the disclosure of education records as a result of this COVID‐19 pandemic.
Answer students’ questions anytime, using technology they embrace
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: September 2023

Providing good information that's easy to access is key to the success of any organization, said Lenord McGownd, Assistant Registrar for Communications at Ozarks Technical Community College. OTCC's chancellor wanted a way to answer students’ questions in the format they wanted in the time frame they expected. That's why the institution implemented a chatbot.
Histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses of foetuses from a female dog naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum – Case report
Authors: Heil Ana Carina , de Melo Lima Waterloo Mateus , Guerra Juliana Mariotti , Ferreira Ana Maria Reis , da Silva Leite Juliana
Published: September 2023

This report presents anatomo‐histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses of an asymptomatic female dog naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and her four pups. In addition to routine serological tests, the mother's positivity was confirmed by real‐time PCR of a bone marrow sample; the placenta and ovaries, however, were negative with the same analysis. The pups presented no positivity in any of the techniques used. It is suggested that the gestational period and factors related to the female's immunological condition cause greater variability in the occurrence of vertical infection.
The potential use of natural expanded perlite as a flame retardant additive for acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene based composites
Authors: Çelen Utku , Balçik Tamer Yasemin , Berber Hale
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to reveal the effect of expanded perlite (EP) additive as a flame retardant for acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) copolymer based composites. Before composite preparation, fine powdered EP was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopic analyses. Also, maleic anhydride grafted ABS (MAH‐g‐ABS) with a grafting degree of 3.9 wt% was synthesized and used as a polymeric compatibilizer. ABS/EP composites with different ratios of EP were prepared by a continuous one‐step melt mixing method. Thermogravimetric and morphological analysis, tensile tests, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL‐94 vertical burning tests of the composite materials were investigated. EP significantly decreased the decomposition rate of ABS and promoted char formation. EP provided a UL‐94 V‐1 flammability rating with great fire resistance and self‐extinguishing properties to the ABS matrix without any melt dripping. The LOI of ABS was greatly improved, reaching a value of 28.5% by adding only 5 phr EP. Zinc borate (ZB) also played a significant role in enhancing thermal stability and flame retardancy by creating a good synergism with EP. The composite containing 5 phr ZB showed a flame retardant grade of UL‐94 V‐0 and an LOI value of 27.5%.

Highlights

Flame retardant ABS/EP composites were successfully prepared by melt mixing.

The EP ratio of 10 phr provided the highest resistance to flammability.

ZB showed good synergy with EP in enhancing the flame retardancy of ABS.

ABS/EP10/ZB‐5 composite had a UL‐94 V‐0 rating with an LOI value of 27.0%.

This study proved the potential use of natural EP as a flame retardant filler.
Kapitel 21. Bildung und Wissenschaft für ein klimafreundliches Leben
Authors: Bohunovsky Lisa , Keller Lars
Published: September 2023

Dieses Kapitel baut auf Literatur zu Bildung und Wissenschaft (BUW) für nachhaltige Entwicklung und Klimawandel auf. Dabei wird auf Konzepte fokussiert, die Bildung in den Vordergrund stellen. Wissenschaft wird als Zusammenspiel von Forschung und Lehre gesehen. Insofern werden auch Aspekte von Forschung für ein klimafreundliches Leben aufgegriffen, wobei dies bewusst nicht der Schwerpunkt des Kapitels ist.Auch die Bewertung der Frage, welche Dimension der Rolle der Strukturen von BUW für ein klimafreundliches Leben zugeschrieben werden kann, bleibt ungeklärt. Insbesondere scheinen es die “Strukturen in den Köpfen” der beteiligten Menschen zu sein, die letztlich Denk- und Handlungsmuster erzeugen, die Nachhaltigkeit und Klimafreundlichkeit behindern oder begünstigen.
On a Conjecture About Higgs Bundles and Some Inequalities
Authors: Bruzzo Ugo , Graña Otero Beatriz , Hernández Ruipérez Daniel
Published: September 2023

We briefly review an open conjecture about Higgs bundles that are semistable after pulling back to any curve, and prove it in the rank 2 case. We also prove some results in higher rank under suitable additional assumptions. Moreover, we establish a set of inequalities holding for H-nef Higgs bundles that generalize some of the Fulton–Lazarsfeld inequalities for numerically effective vector bundles.
Retinal inflammation in murine models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes with diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Dharmarajan Subramanian , Carrillo Casandra , Qi Zhonghua , Wilson Jonathan M. , Baucum Anthony J. , Sorenson Christine M. , Sheibani Nader , Belecky-Adams Teri L.
Published: September 2023

Aims/hypothesis

The loss of pericytes surrounding the retinal vasculature in early diabetic retinopathy underlies changes to the neurovascular unit that lead to more destructive forms of the disease. However, it is unclear which changes lead to loss of retinal pericytes. This study investigated the hypothesis that chronic increases in one or more inflammatory factors mitigate the signalling pathways needed for pericyte survival.

Methods

Loss of pericytes and levels of inflammatory markers at the mRNA and protein levels were investigated in two genetic models of diabetes, Ins2Akita/+ (a model of type 1 diabetes) and Leprdb/db (a model of type 2 diabetes), at early stages of diabetic retinopathy. In addition, changes that accompany gliosis and the retinal vasculature were determined. Finally, changes in retinal pericytes chronically incubated with vehicle or increasing amounts of IFNγ were investigated to determine the effects on pericyte survival. The numbers of pericytes, microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells in retinal flatmounts were determined by immunofluorescence. Protein and mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were determined using multiplex ELISAs and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The effects of IFNγ on the murine retinal pericyte survival-related platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) signalling pathway were investigated by western blot analysis. Finally, the levels of cell death-associated protein kinase C isoform delta (PKCδ) and cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) in pericytes were determined by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry.

Results

The essential findings of this study were that both type 1 and 2 diabetes were accompanied by a similar progression of retinal pericyte loss, as well as gliosis. However, inflammatory factor expression was dissimilar in the two models of diabetes, with peak expression occurring at different ages for each model. Retinal vascular changes were more severe in the type 2 diabetes model. Chronic incubation of murine retinal pericytes with IFNγ decreased PDGFRβ signalling and increased the levels of active PKCδ and CC3.

Conclusions/interpretation

We conclude that retinal inflammation is involved in and sustains pericyte loss as diabetic retinopathy progresses. Moreover, IFNγ plays a critical role in reducing pericyte survival in the retina by reducing activation of the PDGFRβ signalling pathway and increasing PKCδ levels and pericyte apoptosis.

Graphical Abstract
Gluteal Complex is important in External Snapping Hip: intraoperative identification of syndrome origin and endoscopic stepwise release–a case series.
Authors: Malinowski Konrad , Mostowy Marcin , Kim Dong Woon , Bawor Michalina , Skowronek Paweł , Hirschmann Michael T. , Pękala Przemysław A. , LaPrade Robert F.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

External snapping hip syndrome (ESHS) was historically attributed to isolated iliotibial band (ITB) contracture. However, the gluteus maximus complex (GMC) may also be involved. This study aimed to intraoperatively identify the ESHS origin and assess the outcomes of endoscopic treatment based on the identified aetiological type.

Methods

From 2008-2014, 30 consecutive patients (34 hips) with symptomatic ESHS cases refractory to conservative treatment underwent endoscopic stepwise “fan-like” release, gradually addressing all known reasons of ESHS: from the isolated ITB, through the fascial part of the GMC until a partial release of gluteus maximus femoral attachment occurred. Snapping was assessed intra-operatively after each surgical step and prospectively recorded. Functional outcomes were assessed via the MAHORN Hip Outcome Tool (MHOT-14).

Results

Twenty seven patients (31 hips) were available to follow-up at 24-56 months. In all cases, complete snapping resolution was achieved intra-operatively: in seven cases (22.6%) after isolated ITB release, in 22 cases (70.9%), after release of ITB + fascial part of the GMC, and in two cases (6.5%) after ITB + fascial GMC release + partial release of GM femoral insertion. At follow-up, there were no snapping recurrences and MHOT-14 score significantly increased from a pre-operative average of 46 to 93(p<0.001).

Conclusion

Intraoperative identification and gradual addressing of all known causes of ESHS allows for maximum preservation of surrounding tissue during surgery while precisely targeting the directly involved structures. Endoscopic stepwise “fan-like” release of the ITB and GMC is an effective, tailor-made treatment option for ESHS regardless of the snapping origin in the patients with possibility to manually reproduce the snapping.
The effect of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser combined casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate for enamel remineralisation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies
Authors: Cheng Lin , Yuan Rui , Fan Hao , Si Minmin , Hao Zhaonan , Feng Zhiyuan
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies was to evaluate the effect of the 2780 nm Er,Cr:YSGG laser combined with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) for enamel remineralisation. The electronic PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched, with no language or date restrictions, up to January 2023. Two reviewers independently performed research information extraction and quality assessment. Continuous variables were analysed by standard mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager (Version 5.4; Rev Man) and Cochrane Collaboration (2020). Finally, four trials were included for meta-analysis. According to the comprehensive results, the effect of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser combined with CPP-ACP on enamel remineralisation was significantly better than that of CPP-ACP alone: surface microhardness (SMD =  − 1.83, 95% CI: [− 2.98, − 0.69], P = 0.002); lesion depth (SMD = 6.63, 95% CI: [4.98, 8.28], P < 0.001). Under the limitations of this meta-analysis, the results show that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser combined with CPP-ACP has a better effect on enamel remineralisation than CPP-ACP alone. The combination of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser and CPP-ACP may be a feasible method to prevent and treat enamel demineralisation.
Leveraging the health equity implementation framework to foster an equity focus in medical education
Authors: Ramadurai Deepa , Shea Judy A.
Published: September 2023

Teaching equitable clinical practice is of critical importance, yet how best to do so remains unknown. Educators utilize implementation science frameworks to disseminate clinical evidence-based practices (EBP). The Health Equity Implementation Framework (HEIF) is one of these frameworks, and it delineates how health equity may be concomitantly assessed and addressed in planning the implementation of an EBP. The HEIF therefore lays a strong foundation to understand and explain barriers and facilitators to implementation through an equity lens, making it well-suited for use by medical educators. Three equity-focused frames of reference within the model include (1) the clinical encounter, (2) societal context, and (3) culturally relevant factors, herein referred to as domains. The HEIF provides a structure for prospective and retrospective assessment of how EBP are taught and ultimately incorporated into clinical practice by trainees, with specific attention to delivering equitable care. We present three examples of common topics in internal medicine, contextualized by the three equity domains of the HEIF. We additionally acknowledge the limitations of this framework as a research tool with complex features that may not be suitable for brief teaching in the clinical environment. We propose a 360-degree learner assessment to ensure implementation of this framework is successful. By encouraging trainees to explore the narrative experiences of their patients and examine their own implicit biases, the HEIF provides a structure to address gaps in knowledge about delivering equitable care.
Unpacking gender mainstreaming: a critical discourse analysis of agricultural and rural development policy in Myanmar and Nepal
Authors: Cheong Dawn D. , Bock Bettina , Roep Dirk
Published: September 2023

Conventional gender analysis of development policy does not adequately explain the slow progress towards gender equality. Our research analyses the gender discourses embedded in agricultural and rural development policies in Myanmar and Nepal. We find that both countries focus on increasing women’s participation in development activities as a core gender equality policy objective. This creates a binary categorisation of participating versus non-participating women and identifies women as responsible for improving their position. At the same time, gender (in)equality is defined exclusively as a women’s concern. Such discourses, as constitutive practices, produce specific knowledge about rural women and new subjectivities that prescribe and govern them solely as subjects of development. Our research suggests that such a limited discursive practice invisiblises gendered power relations and structural and institutional issues, ultimately slowing progress towards gender equality. We demonstrate the importance of studying policy as discourse, beyond the effectiveness of policies or mainstreaming tools, and call for empirical evidence on the impact of these discourses on women’s subjectivities and lived experiences.
A Review of the Source Characteristics and Physical Mechanisms of Very Long Period (VLP) Seismic Signals at Active Volcanoes
Authors: Konstantinou K. I.
Published: September 2023

Very Long Period (VLP) signals with periods longer than 2 s may occur during eruptive or quiet phases at volcanoes of all types (shield and stratovolcanoes with calderas, as well as other stratovolcanoes) and are inherently connected to fluid movement within the plumbing system. This is supported by observations at several volcanoes that indicate a correlation between gas emissions and VLPs, as well as deformation episodes due to melt accumulation and migration that are followed by the occurrence of VLPs. Moment tensors of VLPs are usually characterized by large volumetric components of either positive or negative sign along with possibly the presence of single forces that may result from the exchange of linear momentum between the seismic source and the Earth. VLPs may occur during a variety of volcanological processes such as caldera collapse, phreatic eruptions, vulcanian eruptions, strombolian activity, and rockfalls at lava lakes. Physical mechanisms that can generate VLPs include the inflation and deflation of magma chambers and cracks, the movement of gas slugs through conduits, and the restoration of gravitational equilibrium in the plumbing system after explosive degassing or rockfalls in lava lakes. Our understanding of VLPs is expected to greatly improve in the future by the use of new instrumentation, such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing, that will provide a much denser temporal and spatial sampling of the seismic wavefield. This vast quantity of data will then require time efficient and objective processing that can be achieved through the use of machine learning algorithms.
A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Characterization of Family Support from Adolescence to Young Adulthood in Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Schiltz Hillary K. , Clarke Elaine , Rosen Nicole , De La Rosa Sofi Gomez , Masjedi Nina , Christopher Kourtney , Lord Catherine
Published: September 2023

Although caregiving responsibilities and need for support persist and evolve across the life course in families with autistic youth or youth with other developmental disabilities (DDs), little is known about support during their child’s adulthood years. Therefore, the present study used a mixed-methods approach to examine change and stability in formal and informal family support across the transition to adulthood. Caregivers of 126 individuals with autism or DDs completed a modified version of the Family Support Scale, including open-ended questions, at five time points from adolescence (age 16) into young adulthood (age 22). Caregivers reported that informal support from family members was the most frequently used, helpful, and valued source of support with relative stability across time. In contrast, the reported helpfulness, use, and value of formal support (e.g., professionals, schools) for caregivers declined over time. Qualitative content analyses revealed characteristics of highly valued support included support type (e.g., instrumental or emotional) and features of the support source (e.g., their understanding). There was a shift to valuing emotional support more than instrumental support over time, especially for caregivers of less able adults. Partnership and dependability emerged as highly valued features of the support source. These findings fit within a social convoy perspective and likely reflect the “service cliff” experienced by autistic individuals or people with DDs and their families. As social networks shrink over time and formal services are less readily available in adulthood, remaining sources of support, particularly from family members, become increasingly important.
Automatic software bug prediction using adaptive golden eagle optimizer with deep learning
Authors: Siva R. , S Kaliraj , Hariharan B. , Premkumar N.
Published: September 2023

In the software maintenance and development process, the software bug detection is an essential problem because it related with the complete software successes. So, the earlier software bug detection is essential to enhance the software efficiency, reliability, software quality and software cost. Moreover, the efficient software bug prediction is a critical as well as challenging operation. Hence, the efficient software bug prediction model is developed in this article. To achieve this objective, optimized long short-term memory is developed. The important stages of the proposed model is preprocessing, feature selection and bug detection. At first the input bug dataset is preprocessed. In preprocessing, the duplicate data instances are removed from the dataset. After the preprocessing, the feature selection is done by Adaptive Golden Eagle Optimizer (AGEO). Here the traditional GEO algorithm is altered by means of opposition-based learning (OBL). Finally, the proposed approach utilizes a long short-term memory (LSTM) based recurrent neural network (RNN) for bug prediction. Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network is a type of recurrent neural network. The promise and NASA dataset are considered as the input for bug prediction. the performance of proposed approach is analysed based on various metrics namely, accuracy, F- measure, G-measure and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC).