bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic radiation torque on a particle in a fluid: An angular spectrum based compact expression
Authors: Gong Zhixiong , Baudoin Michael
Published: November 2020

In this work, a set of compact analytical formulas is derived expressing the three-dimensional acoustic radiation torque (ART) exerted on a particle of arbitrary shape embedded in a fluid and insonified by an arbitrary acoustic field. This formulation enables direct computation of the ART from the angular spectrum based beam shape coefficients introduced by Sapozhnikov and Bailey [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133, 661–676 (2013)] and the partial wave coefficients. It is particularly well suited to determine the ART exerted on a particle when the acoustic field is known in a source plane.
Immediate Effects of Limb Rotational Kinesio Tape Application on Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test Scores
Authors: Dittmer Alyssa , Tomchuk David , Fontenot David R.
Published: November 2020

Context: Rounded shoulder posture is a common problem in the athletic population. Recently Kinesio tape has been utilized to improve balance, proprioception, and posture. However, the literature has been unable to provide definitive answers on the efficacy of Kinesio tape use. Objective: To determine the immediate effect of the limb rotational Kinesio tape application on the dynamic balance and proprioception of the shoulder measured by the Y-Balance Upper Quarter Test (YBT-UQ) in male collegiate athletes. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory.Participants: Nineteen healthy male collegiate National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics athletes (including rodeo, baseball, football, and soccer) with a mean age of 19.8 (1.4) years. Interventions: Subjects were randomized into Kinesio tape and non-Kinesio tape groups. The limb rotational Kinesio tape application was applied to the Kinesio tape group, while the non-Kinesio tape group received no intervention. Each group performed the YBT-UQ, which requires reaching in 3 directions in a push-up position, before and after the randomized intervention on a single day. Main Outcome Measures: The variables of interest included the maximum reach distance in each of the 3 directions and the composite score for both trials between the Kinesio tape and non-Kinesio tape groups. Each score was normalized against the subject’s limb length. Results: No statistically significant improvements in any YBT-UQ scores were observed following either the Kinesio tape or non-Kinesio tape intervention. Conclusions: Applying the limb rotational Kinesio tape technique did not improve immediate YBT-UQ scores in a male collegiate athletic population with rounded shoulder posture. The use of Kinesio tape to improve immediate closed kinetic chain function in male collegiate athletes with rounded shoulder posture cannot be supported.
Comparison of the Graston Technique® With Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization for Increasing Dorsiflexion Range of Motion
Authors: Bush Holly M. , Stanek Justin M. , Wooldridge Joshua D. , Stephens Stephanie L. , Barrack Jessica S.
Published: November 2020

Context: Limited dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) is commonly observed in both the athletic and general populations and is a predisposing factor for lower extremity injury. Graston Technique® (GT) is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), used commonly to increase ROM. Evidence of the long-term effects of GT on ROM is lacking, particularly comparing the full GT protocol versus IASTM alone. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of 6 sessions of the GT or IASTM compared with a control (CON) group for increasing closed-chain DF ROM. Design: Cohort design with randomization. Setting: Athletic training clinic. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 23 physically active participants (37 limbs) with <34° of DF. Participants’ limbs were randomly allocated to the GT, IASTM, or CON group. Intervention: Participants’ closed-chain DF ROM (standing and kneeling) were assessed at baseline and 24–48 hours following their sixth treatment. Participants in the CON group were measured at baseline and 3 weeks later. The intervention groups received 6 treatments during a 3-week period, whereas the CON group received no treatment. The GT group received a warm-up, instrument application, stretching, and strengthening of the triceps surae. The IASTM group received a warm-up and instrument application. Main Outcome Measures: Closed-chain DF was assessed with a digital inclinometer in standing and kneeling. Results: A significant difference between groups was found in the standing position (P = .03) but not in kneeling (P = .15). Post hoc testing showed significant improvements in DF in standing following the GT compared with the control (P = .02). Conclusions: The GT significantly increases ankle DF following 6 treatments in participants with DF ROM deficits; however, no differences were found between GT and IASTM. The GT may be an effective intervention for clinicians to consider when treating patients with DF deficits.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Oral Fluid Obtained Using a Rapid Collection Device
Authors: MacMullan Melanie A. , Chellamuthu Prithivi , Mades Aubree , Das Sudipta , Turner Fred , Slepnev Vladimir I. , Ibrayeva Albina
Published: November 2020

Current commercially available methods for reliably detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain expensive and inaccessible due to the need for whole-blood collection by highly trained phlebotomists using personal protective equipment (PPE). We have evaluated an antibody detection approach using the OraSure Technologies oral antibody collection device (OACD) and their proprietary SARS-CoV-2 total antibody detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
External forcing mechanisms controlling the North Atlantic coastal upwelling regime during the mid-Holocene
Authors: Hernández Armand , Cachão Mário , Sousa Pedro , Trigo Ricardo M. , Luterbacher Jürg , Vaquero José M. , Freitas Maria C.
Published: November 2020

Nearshore upwelling along the eastern North Atlantic margin regulates regional marine ecosystem productivity and thus impacts blue economies. While most global circulation models show an increase in the intensity and duration of seasonal upwelling at high latitudes under future human-induced warmer conditions, projections for the North Atlantic are still ambiguous. Due to the low temporal resolution of coastal upwelling records, little is known about the impact of natural forcing mechanisms on upwelling variability. Here, we present a microfossil-based proxy record and modeling simulations for the warmest period of the Holocene (ca. 9–5 ka) to estimate the contribution of the natural variability in North Atlantic upwelling via atmospheric and oceanic dynamics. We found that more frequent high-pressure conditions in the eastern North Atlantic associated with solar activity and orbital parameters triggered upwelling variations at multidecadal and millennial time scales, respectively. Our new findings offer insights into the role of external forcing mechanisms in upwelling changes before the Anthropocene, which must be considered when producing future projections of midlatitude upwelling activity.
Supplemental Material: Age and deposition of the Fort Crittenden Formation: A window into Late Cretaceous Laramide and Cenozoic tectonics in southeastern Arizona
Authors: Caylor Emilia A. , al. et
Published: November 2020

Maximum depositional ages, Lu-Hf, AFT, and AHe data.
Whole-genome sequencing as part of national and international surveillance programmes for antimicrobial resistance: a roadmap
Authors:   NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Genomic Surveillance of AMR
Published: November 2020

The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and lack of novel alternative treatments have been declared a global public health emergency by WHO. The greatest impact of AMR is experienced in resource-poor settings, because of lack of access to alternative antibiotics and because the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains may be higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Intelligent surveillance of AMR infections is key to informed policy decisions and public health interventions to counter AMR. Molecular surveillance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can be a valuable addition to phenotypic surveillance of AMR. WGS provides insights into the genetic basis of resistance mechanisms, as well as pathogen evolution and population dynamics at different spatial and temporal scales. Due to its high cost and complexity, WGS is currently mainly carried out in high-income countries. However, given its potential to inform national and international action plans against AMR, establishing WGS as a surveillance tool in LMICs will be important in order to produce a truly global picture. Here, we describe a roadmap for incorporating WGS into existing AMR surveillance frameworks, including WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, informed by our ongoing, practical experiences developing WGS surveillance systems in national reference laboratories in Colombia, India, Nigeria and the Philippines. Challenges and barriers to WGS in LMICs will be discussed together with a roadmap to possible solutions.
Health of transgender men in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Scheim Ayden , Kacholia Vibhuti , Logie Carmen , Chakrapani Venkatesan , Ranade Ketki , Gupta Shaman
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Despite the rapid growth of research on transgender (trans) health globally, the extent of research on trans men and other transmasculine persons assigned the female sex at birth remains unclear. We, therefore, conducted a scoping review on trans men’s health in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

The review included peer-reviewed articles and conference abstracts, and grey literature published from 1 January 1999 to 5 July 2019 in English, French, Hindi or Spanish and reporting original quantitative and/or qualitative data on the health of trans men or transmasculine persons living in LMIC. Studies were excluded if they did not disaggregate data for trans men or if they only described surgical techniques or laboratory values.

Results

We included 53 studies (42 peer-reviewed and 11 grey literature) from 19 LMIC. Most were conducted in higher-middle-income countries (n=12) and in Latin America (n=16, 30.2%), the Middle East (n=14, 26.4%) or Sub-Saharan Africa (n=12, 22.6%) and published in 2014 or later (n=44, 83.0%). Approximately half of studies used quantitative methods (52.8%, n=28), of which 64.3% (n=18) had fewer than 50 participants and 14.2% (n=4) had over 150. Across study designs, social determinants of health and gender-affirming care were the most commonly represented domains (49.1% and 47.1% of studies respectively), with common themes including gender-based violence, coercion and discrimination as well as unprescribed hormone use. Other domains represented included mental health (32.1%), sexual and reproductive health (24.5%), general healthcare access (18.9%), physical health (9.4%) and substance use (9.4%).

Conclusion

Greater inclusion and disaggregation of trans men and transmasculine persons in global health research is needed to support sex- and gender-based analyses of trans health. Community-based research approaches and theoretically driven research may help to increase the relevance and rigour of such research. Funders should invest in research on trans men’s health in LMIC.
Assessment of postoperative gastrointestinal motility in colorectal surgery: a study with the Motilis 3D-transit system
Authors: Nors Jesper , Klinge Mette Winther , Sommer Thorbjørn , Laurberg Søren , Krogh Klaus , Funder Jonas Amstrup
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Postoperative recovery following colorectal surgery remains impaired by severe complications including postoperative ileus (POI). Human studies of POI have been limited by a lack of safe and easy-to-use objective methods. Motilis 3D-transit is a completely ambulatory, minimally invasive system whereby electromagnetic capsules are followed by external sensors during their passage of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the 3D-transit system in a surgical setting.

Method

We included 12 patients as a substudy of the randomised double blind controlled Stimulation of the Autonomic Nervous System In Colorectal Surgery by perioperative nutrition (SANICS)-II trial undergoing elective segmental colonic resection with primary anastomosis at Aarhus University Hospital and Randers Regional Hospital, Denmark. To study region-specific motility, three electromagnetic capsules were administered. One was taken 3 hours before surgery, the next was taken 1 hour before surgery, while the third was placed distal to the anastomosis during surgery. Total and regional GI transit times as well as time until first propulsive colonic contraction were determined.

Results

All patients tolerated the setup well with no adverse events related to the 3D-transit system. Large variations were found in total GI transit time (26.7–127.6 hours), gastric emptying (0.07–>106.9 hours), small intestinal (1.2–58.4 hours) and colorectal transit time (14.3–>118.1 hours). Time from end of surgery to first propulsive movement in the colon varied from 3.9 to 85 hours. No correlation was found between parameters of GI motility and tolerance of an oral diet or recovery of bowel function.

Conclusion

The 3D-transit system allows safe assessment of GI motility in patients operated with segmental colonic resections and primary anastomosis for colorectal cancer. Postsurgical motility varies significantly between patients.
COVID-19 in pregnancy: the foetal perspective—a systematic review
Authors: Dube Rajani , Kar Subhranshu Sekhar
Published: November 2020

Objective

We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the available literature to determine the effects of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women from the foetal perspective by estimation of mother to child transmission, perinatal outcome and possible teratogenicity.

Methods

Data sources: eligible studies between 1 November 2019 and 10 August 2020 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, LitCovid, Google Scholar, EBSCO MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, MedRXiv, BioRXiv and Scopus collection databases. English language case reports, case series and cohort studies of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed pregnant women with data on perinatal outcome, congenital anomalies and mother to child transmission were analysed.

Results

38 case reports, 34 cohort and case series describing 1408 neonates were included for evidence acquisition of mother to child transmission. 29 case reports and 31 case series and cohort studies describing 1318 foetuses were included for the evaluation of perinatal outcome and congenital anomalies. A pooled proportion of 3.67% neonates had positive SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA nasopharyngeal swab results and 7.1% had positive cord blood samples. 11.7% of the placenta, 6.8% of amniotic fluid, 9.6% of faecal and rectal swabs and none of the urine samples were positive. The rate of preterm labour was 26.4% (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.03 with p=0.03) and caesarean delivery (CS) was 59.9% (OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.03 with p=0.002). The most common neonatal symptom was breathing difficulty (1.79%). Stillbirth rate was 9.9 per 1000 total births in babies born to COVID-19 mothers.

Conclusion

Chances of mother to child transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is low. The perinatal outcome for the foetus is favourable. There is increased chances of CS but not preterm delivery.The stillbirth and neonatal death rates are low. There are no reported congenital anomalies in babies born to SARS CoV-2 positive mothers.
Acupuncture for postprostatectomy incontinence: a systematic review
Authors: Chen Huan , Liu Yu , Wu Jiani , Liang Fanrong , Liu Zhishun
Published: November 2020

Background

Postprostatectomy incontinence (PPI) is a clinically significant condition that is caused by surgery of prostate. Study showed that electroacupuncture can reduce urine leakage among women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but few was known about its efficacy and safety for men with PPI. This study aims to conduct a systematic review to evaluate efficacy and safety of acupuncture for men with PPI compared with other non-surgical treatment.

Methods

Seven databases were searched for all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for men with PPI up to August 2020. Risks of bias of included studies were assessed using RevMan V.5.3. Narrative analysis was conducted.

Results

Seven studies with 830 men with PPI were included in the review. Studies showed that acupuncture can significantly improve score of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form for men with urgent urinary incontinence (UUI) when compared with medicine (p<0.05). It showed a significant better overall response rate when acupuncture was combined with solifenacin for men with UUI (p<0.05), or with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) (p<0.001), or with PFMT and medicine together for men with UUI or SUI (p<0.01), compared with control groups. No adverse event was reported in the studies. However, the quality of evidences was considered low generally.

Conclusion

The results showed that acupuncture could be beneficial for men with PPI when applied alone or as an adjunction to other conservative therapies and medicines, however, the quality of evidence was considered low and inconclusive in this review.

PROSPERO registration number

This study has been registered at PROSPERO system with ID No. CRD42019091164.
Model for predicting the variation of shear stress in unsaturated soils during strain-softening
Authors: Yang Xiuhan , Vanapalli Sai K.
Published: November 2020

Several of the geotechnical structures constructed with unsaturated soils undergo a large deformation prior to reaching failure conditions (e.g., progressive failure of a soil slope). During this process, the shear stress in soils typically increases initially and then reduces with an increase in the shear strain. The prediction of the stress–strain relationship is critical for reasonable interpretation of the mechanical behavior of those geo-structures that undergo large deformation. This paper introduces a model based on the disturbed state concept (DSC) to predict the variation of shear stress in unsaturated soils during the strain-softening process under consolidated drained triaxial compression condition. In this model, the apparent stress–strain relationship is formulated as a weighted average of a hyperbolic hardening response extending the pre-peak state stress–strain curve and a linear response extending the critical state stress–strain curve with an assumed disturbance function as the weight. The prediction procedure is described in detail and the proposed model is validated using several sets of published data on unsaturated soils varying from coarse- to fine-grained soils. Finally, a comprehensive error analysis is undertaken based on an index of agreement approach.
Coexisting behaviors of a fraction-order novel hyperbolic-type memristor Hopfield neuron network based on three neurons
Authors: Ding Dawei , Luo Jun , Shan Xiangyu , Hu Yongbin , Yang Zongli , Ding Lianghui
Published: November 2020

The activation function of human neurons is usually regarded as a monotonically differentiable function with upper and lower bounds. Considering the mathematical properties of the hyperbolic tangent function, the activation function can be simulated by a hyperbolic tangent function. In this paper, a fraction-order novel hyperbolic-type memristor Hopfield neuron network (FHMHNN) based on three neurons is proposed, which is achieved using a hyperbolic-type memristor synapse-coupled weight to substitute a coupling-connection weight. The equilibrium points and stability analysis of the FHMHNN are discussed in detail, and the types of generating attractor are determined. Furthermore, the coexisting behaviors of the FHMHNN are described by bifurcation diagram, phase diagram and time diagram. Numerical results show that the FHMHN presents complex dynamical transition, evolving from periodic to chaotic and finally to a stable point with the changes of the memristor coupling weight and inner parameter of the hyperbolic-type memristor. It should be emphasized that the coexisting oscillation behaviors of the FHMHNN under different initial conditions will appear for different inner parameters of the memristor. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are basically consistent, revealing that the FHMHNN has the globally coexisting behavior of the asymmetric attractors.
A Novel Heterogeneous Wireless Network Selection Algorithm Based on INFAHP and IGRA
Authors: YU HEWEI , GUO MEIYUAN , YU JINGXI
Published: November 2020

In the research of heterogeneous wireless network access selection algorithm, the method used for setting network attribute parameter weights is usually simple: using one of the subjective or objective weighting methods: Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Entropy, etc. As a result, the network selection results are incomprehensive. In this paper, we propose a new selection algorithm based on the combination of Intuitionistic Normal Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (INFAHP) and Improved Grey Relation Analysis (IGRA), which has been proved to be a new Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) method based on the combination of subjective and objective weights. This algorithm expresses the semantic importance of the intuitionistic normal fuzzy number and calculates the subjective weight of network attributes using INFAHP while obtaining the objective weight using Coefficient of Variation (CV) at the same time. The final weights are integrated by subjective and objective weights. After that, the candidate networks can be sorted using IGRA. The proposed algorithm can get the more comprehensive weights of the network attributes by integrating the subjective and objective weights. Simulation results show that our algorithm can reduce the ratio of network handovers by 25% in average in the four traffic classes and improve the ping-pong effect effectively, so as to better meet users’ demands for QoS.
Adaptive Amplifier for a Test Vehicle Moving Over Bridges: Theoretical Study
Authors: Yang Y. B. , Wang Z. L. , Shi K. , Xu H. , Yang J. P.
Published: November 2020

A vibration amplifier is first proposed for adding to a test vehicle to enhance its capability to detect frequencies of the bridge under scanning. The test vehicle adopted is of single-axle and modeled as a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) system, which was proved to be successful in previous studies. The amplifier is also modeled as a single-DOF system, and the bridge as a simple beam of the Bernoulli–Euler type. To unveil the mechanism involved, closed-form solutions were first derived for the dynamic responses of each component, together with the transmissibility from the vehicle to amplifier. Also presented is a conceptual design for the amplifier. The approximations adopted in the theory were verified to be acceptable by the finite element simulation without such approximations. Since road roughness can never be avoided in practice and the test vehicle has to be towed by a tractor in the field test, both road roughness and the tractor are included in the numerical studies. For the general case, when the amplifier is not tuned to the vehicle frequency, the bridge frequencies can better be identified from the amplifier than vehicle response, and the tractor is helpful in enhancing the overall performance of the amplifier. Besides, the amplifier can be adaptively adjusted to target and detect the bridge frequency of concern. For the special case when the amplifier is tuned to the vehicle frequency, the amplifier can improve the vehicle performance by serving as a tuned mass damper, as conventionally known. This case is of limited use since it does not allow us to target the bridge frequencies. Both bridge damping and vehicle speed are also assessed with their effects addressed.
Predictive sets
Authors: Chandgotia Nishant , Weiss Benjamin
Published: November 2020

A set [Formula: see text] is called predictive if for any zero entropy finite-valued stationary process [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] is measurable with respect to [Formula: see text]. We know that [Formula: see text] is a predictive set. In this paper, we give sufficient conditions and necessary ones for a set to be predictive. We also discuss linear predictivity, predictivity among Gaussian processes and relate these to Riesz sets which arise in harmonic analysis.
In Vivo Kinematics of the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint During Flexion and Abduction
Authors: Tada Kaoru , Tachiya Hiroshi , Kurosawa Akihiro , Nakada Mika , Matsuta Masashi , Murai Atsuro , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: November 2020

Background: Despite the movement of the thumb carpometacarpal joint has been studied, many unclarified points remain regarding the movement of this joint. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo kinematics of the thumb carpometacarpal joint during flexion and abduction using computed tomography images.

Methods: The subjects were 9 healthy males. Computed tomography images were obtained in 4 equally-divided positions from maximum extension to maximum flexion, and maximum adduction to maximum abduction of the thumb. A three-dimensional model was constructed from these images, and the models of each position were superimposed with reference to the trapezium. The amount of angular change around the bone axes of first metacarpal bone and rotation axes were evaluated.

Results: We found that the first metacarpal bone showed relatively simple behavior during abduction. However, during flexion, it exhibited a particular movement in which the amount of angular change of the metacarpal bone with respect to the trapezium rapidly increased with deep flexion.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the thumb carpometacarpal joint exhibits a special movement during flexion, especially deep flexion.
Along the cow path
Authors: Slotkin Alexander
Published: November 2020

Technical communication and user experience studies traditionally uphold Western onto-epistemological distinctions between technical users and objects. Recent calls for the inclusion of cultural approaches to technical communication, however, have asked scholars to consider the influence cultural knowledge has on communication design. This article takes up these calls by reading technical documentation through new materialist and Indigenous ways of knowing. Using a prominent Jewish cemetery in Gainesville, Florida as a case study, this article treats technical artifacts and subjects as co-constitutive, arguing for the cultural and material agency of technical documentation design in mediating and shaping user experience.
On the Construction of Web NER Model Training Tool based on Distant Supervision
Authors: Chou Chien-Lung , Chang Chia-Hui , Lin Yuan-Hao , Chien Kuo-Chun
Published: November 2020

Named entity recognition (NER) is an important task in natural language understanding, as it extracts the key entities (person, organization, location, date, number, etc.) and objects (product, song, movie, activity name, etc.) mentioned in texts. However, existing natural language processing (NLP) tools (such as Stanford NER) recognize only general named entities or require annotated training examples and feature engineering for supervised model construction. Since not all languages or entities have public NER support, constructing a tool for NER model training is essential for low-resource language or entity information extraction. In this article, we study the problem of developing a tool to prepare training corpus from the Web with known seed entities for custom NER model training via distant supervision. The major challenge of automatic labeling lies in the long labeling time due to large corpus and seed entities as well as the concern to avoid false positive and false negative examples due to short and long seeds. To solve this problem, we adopt locality-sensitive hashing (LSH) for various length of seed entities. We conduct experiments on five types of entity recognition tasks, including Chinese person names, food names, locations, points of interest (POIs), and activity names to demonstrate the improvements with the proposed Web NER model construction tool. Because the training corpus is obtained by automatic labeling of the seed entity–related sentences, one could use either the entire corpus or the positive only sentences for model training. Based on the experimental results, we found the decision should depend on whether traditional linear chained conditional random fields (CRF) or deep neural network–based CRF is used for model training as well as the completeness of the provided seed list.
Real-Time Monitoring of Electrochromic Memory Loss of Layered α-MoO3 Nanoplates
Authors: Felix A. A. , Barbosa M. S. , Bueno P. R. , Orlandi M. O.
Published: November 2020

Combined in situ cyclic electrochemical and UV–vis spectroscopic methods were employed to monitor the memory loss of electrochromic properties of layered α-MoO3 nanoplates. The time-resolved characteristics of this in situ study allowed for the quantification of changes in charge and optical densities as a function of electrochemical potential over time. Lithium ions trapped in the crystalline lattice of α-MoO3 during the bleaching process, along with the irreversible reduction of Mo6+ to Mo5+, govern the memory loss responsible for the degradation of the electrochromic properties. These experiments demonstrated the existence of a saturation limit of the structural charge insertion that effectively contributes to the electrochromic performance of α-MoO3 nanoplates. The study improves the understanding of electrochromic memory loss and the degradation mechanism and suggests a two-step electrochemical reaction that controls the electrochromic activity of the α-MoO3 phase.
Electrochemomechanical Modeling and In Situ Measurement of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides-Based Electrochemical Actuators
Authors: Ji Liang , Cao Hongyu , Shen Shengping
Published: November 2020

Since working voltages are much higher than water electrolysis voltage, traditional ionic electroactive polymers (IEAPs) such as ionomeric polymer-metal composites and conjugated polymers still face the great challenges like back relaxation, leakage and evaporation of electrolyte. Newly developed transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)-based IEAP, which can be driven by the voltage as low as 0.3 V, becomes a promising candidate to overcome those challenges. Herein, an electrochemomechanical model, coupling ions intercalation and chemical reaction, is proposed for the first time to explain the mechanism of TMDs-based IEAPs. To further validate the model, molybdenum disulfide/Aluminum electrochemical actuators (EAs) are fabricated. Then chemical and mechanical performance of the EAs are recorded in situ during actuation. A good agreement is achieved by comparing theoretical and experimental results. A model study is performed to predict the effects of scan rate, working temperature and PH value of the electrolyte on curvature evolution. Results show that scan rate and temperature can hardly influence curvature amplitude while PH value of the electrolyte greatly affects curvature evolution. Moreover, response rate of EAs increases with scan rate. An optimal thickness ratio of 0.5 is also found for bilayered EAs. This study paves a new way for promoting the development of TMDs-based IEAPs.
Nanosized Magnesium doped Copper Chromites Spinel Particles Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Batool Kiran , Rani Malika , Younus Ayesha , Mehmood Arshad , Azam Sikander , Haq Bakhtiar Ul , Shafique Rubia , Akhtar Naseem , Khan Wilayat , Alshahrani Thamraa
Published: November 2020

Magnesium doped copper chromites spinel nanoparticles (Cu1−xMgxCr2O4) where x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 is synthesized by sol-gel method and characterized by different techniques like EDS, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and Photoluminense. Various parameters affecting the sample techniques like temperature and Concentrations. The crystal phase of CuCr2O4 is tetragonal having a space group is 121/amd. We calcined at 750 °C temperature. Its lattice parameters are 6.0341 and 7.7888, which is very close to the reported ones. XRD tells us about the crystal size and dislocation density of samples. Four peaks observed in UV spectra of CuCr2O4 that occurs at different regions, bandgap obtained for the parent sample is 5.02 eV, and when we doped Magnesium then the bandgap changes and becomes 4.17 eV. Similarly, SEM results show that pure copper chromite structure is tetragonal and after doping the other compounds the structure changes according to characteristics of Nanoparticles. In PL spectra four peaks are obtained one at 347 nm, 380 nm, 500 nm and the other is at 600 nm. According to Raman, shift property two peaks are obtained with different wavelengths like 1306 cm−1 and 1465 cm−1. ED’s results clearly show that copper chromites Nanoparticles successfully synthesized and when we doped Magnesium in copper chromite, the best results are observed.
Long noncoding RNA LINC00982 upregulates CTSF expression to inhibit gastric cancer progression via the transcription factor HEY1
Authors: Zheng Lei , Cao Junlin , Liu Lijie , Xu Hongmei , Chen Lanlan , Kang Liying , Gao Liming
Published: November 2020

We identified LINC00982 as a promising antitumor target for the treatment of patients with gastric cancer. We also determined a regulatory network involved in the pathophysiology of gastric cancer wherein LINC00982 could bind to HEY1 to impair its binding to cathepsin F (CTSF) promoter and hence promote CTSF expression, which aids in better understanding of molecular mechanisms related to gastric tumorigenesis.
Development and Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid Dosage Forms and Its Derivatives
Authors: Feng Anjie , Yang Shanjing , Sun Yue , Zhang Li , Bo Fumin , Li Lingjun
Published: November 2020

Oleanolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound that exists widely in medicinal herbs and other plants. Because of the extensive pharmacological activity, oleanolic acid has attracted more and more attention. However, the structural characteristics of oleanolic acid prevent it from being directly made into new drugs, which limits the application of oleanolic acid. Through the application of modern preparation techniques and methods, different oleanolic acid dosage forms and derivatives have been designed and synthesized. These techniques can improve the water solubility and bioavailability of oleanolic acid and lay a foundation for the new drug development. In this review, the recent progress in understanding the oleanolic acid dosage forms and its derivatives are discussed. Furthermore, these products were evaluated comprehensively from the perspective of characterization and pharmacokinetics, and this work may provide ideas and references for the development of oleanolic acid preparations.
Dynamical System Analysis of a Lassa Fever Model with Varying Socioeconomic Classes
Authors: Onah Ifeanyi Sunday , Collins Obiora Cornelius
Published: November 2020

Lassa fever is an animal-borne acute viral illness caused by Lassa virus. It poses a serious health challenge around the world today, especially in West African countries like Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. In this work, we formulate a multiple-patch Lassa fever model, where each patch denotes a socioeconomic class (SEC). Some of the important epidemiological features such as basic reproduction number of the model were determined and analysed accordingly. We further investigated how varying SECs affect the transmission dynamics of Lassa fever. We analysed the required state at which each SEC is responsible in driving the Lassa fever disease outbreak. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to determine the importance of model parameters to the disease transmission and prevalence. We carried out numerical simulation to support our analytical results. Finally, we extend some of the results of the 2-patch model to the general

n

-patch model.
Experimental Study on Load Bearing Characteristics of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Lining in the Soft Surrounding Rock Tunnel
Authors: Cui Guang-yao , Qi Jia-suo , Wang Dao-yuan
Published: November 2020

Tunnels in soft rock with high ground stress will encounter the problem of large deformation of surrounding rock. The study of new high‐performance tunnel lining materials is of great significance to improve the safety of tunnel excavation in soft rock with high ground stress. In this paper, the bearing characteristics of the plain concrete, the reinforced concrete, and the steel fiber reinforced concrete lining are studied by the indoor model experiment. By extracting the displacement and stress data of typical parts of lining, the bearing characteristics of the steel fiber reinforced concrete lining are analyzed and summarized. The test results show that the initial crack load and ultimate load of the steel fiber reinforced concrete lining are significantly higher than those of the other two materials, and the crack development path is more tortuous, and the number of cracks is greater. Steel fiber can improve the bearing capacity and deformation capacity of the lining structure so that the failure mode of the lining structure changes from brittle shear failure to ductile bending failure. It is concluded that steel fiber reinforced concrete can improve the toughness of lining. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, steel fiber reinforced concrete can completely replace the conventional reinforced concrete as a new lining material for soft rock tunnel. The above research results are of great significance to the design and construction of tunnel lining in the soft surrounding rock.
Secondary Metabolites with Antioxidant Activities for the Putative Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): “Experimental Evidences”
Authors: Silva Jamire M. , Nobre Michelangela S. C. , Albino Sonaly L. , Lócio Lucas L. , Nascimento Agnis P. S. , Scotti Luciana , Scotti Marcus T. , Oshiro-Junior João A. , Lima Maria C. A. , Mendonça-Junior Francisco J. B. , Moura Ricardo O.
Published: November 2020

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that is characterized by progressive loss of the upper and lower motor neurons at the spinal or bulbar level. Oxidative stress (OS) associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and the deterioration of the electron transport chain are factors that contribute to neurodegeneration and perform a potential role in the pathogenesis of ALS. Natural antioxidant molecules have been proposed as an alternative form of treatment for the prevention of age-related neurological diseases, in which ALS is included. Researches support that regulations in cellular reduction/oxidation (redox) processes are being increasingly implicated in this disease, and antioxidant drugs are aimed at a promising pathway to treatment. Among the strategies used for obtaining new drugs, we can highlight the isolation of secondary metabolite compounds from natural sources that, along with semisynthetic derivatives, correspond to approximately 40% of the drugs found on the market. Among these compounds, we emphasize oxygenated and nitrogenous compounds, such as flavonoids, coumarins, and alkaloids, in addition to the fatty acids, that already stand out in the literature for their antioxidant properties, consisting in a part of the diets of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, this review is aimed at presenting and summarizing the main articles published within the last years, which represent the therapeutic potential of antioxidant compounds of natural origin for the treatment of ALS.
Mild Oxidative Stress Reduces NRF2 SUMOylation to Promote Kras/Lkb1/Keap1 Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion
Authors: Xu Jiaqian , Guo Haoyan , Xing Zhengcao , Zhang Wenlong , He Jianli , Cheng Jinke , Cai Rong
Published: November 2020

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a crucial transcription factor for cell adaptation and defense against oxidative stress. NRF2 activation confers Kras/Lkb1/Keap1 (KLK) mutant tumor cells with greater resistance to oxidative insults. We previously reported that SUMOylation at lysine residue 110 is important for the ability of NRF2 to promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance in hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we investigated whether SUMOylation is necessary for the ability of NRF2 to inhibit KLK lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell migration and invasion. Our experiments showed that mild oxidative stress reduced NRF2 SUMOylation, which promoted KLK LUAD cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, NRF2 SUMOylation increased the antioxidant ability of NRF2 and reduced cellular ROS levels, mainly by transcriptionally activating Cat in KLK LUAD cells. With reduced NRF2 SUMOylation, increased ROS acted as signaling molecules to activate the JNK/c-Jun axis, which enhanced cell mobility and cell adhesion, to promote LUAD cell migration and invasion. Taken together, the results of this study reveal a novel signaling process in which reduced NRF2 SUMOylation permits increased KLK LUAD cell migration and invasion under mild oxidative stress.
Comorbidities and Factors Associated with Mortality among Children under Five Years Admitted with Severe Acute Malnutrition in the Nutritional Unit of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda
Authors: Banga Desire , Baren Melvis , Ssonko Namale Vivian , Sikakulya Franck Katembo , Tibamwenda Yves , Banga Claude , Ssebuufu Robinson
Published: November 2020

Background. Mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition remains an immense health concern in the hospitals in developing countries, but its attributes are not completely assessed in various hospital settings. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of mortality, the comorbidities, and factors associated with in-hospital mortality among children under five years of age admitted with severe acute malnutrition at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda. Methods. This was a hospital-based analytical and descriptive prospective cohort study conducted in the nutritional unit of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. A total of 338 children and their caretakers who met the criteria were consecutively enrolled into the study. Descriptive statistics were used to each of the independent factors, and comorbidities were subjected to chi-squared test followed by logistic regression analysis to assess its association incidence of mortality among children. All independent variables with

p

values ≤ 0.05 were entered into a multivariate model for factors and comorbidities independently. Factors and comorbidities with

p

values ≤ 0.05 were considered as associates of mortality among children. Results. Of the 338 children under 5 years of age enrolled, 49 (14.5%) died, although the majority of children were diagnosed with dehydration, 128 (37.9%); pneumonia, 127(37.6%); and malaria, 87(25.7%). Anemia (

aRR
=
2.9

, 95% CI: 1.23-6.62,

p
=
0.01

), bacteremia (

aRR
=
10.0

, 95% CI: 3.62-29.01,

p
=
0.01

), HIV (

aRR
=
4.8

, 95% CI: 1.42-16.30,

p
<
0.01

), TB (

aRR
=
4.3

, 95% CI: 1.28-14.49,

p
<
0.02

), and shock (

aRR
=
60.9

, 95% CI: 9.05-410.28,

p
<
0.01

) were the comorbidities significantly associated with a likelihood of mortality. Conclusions. The mortality among children under 5 years of age admitted with severe acute malnutrition is still high (14.5% versus 5%). The comorbidities are significantly associated with mortality. The clinicians are recommended to follow-up closely patients with severe acute malnutrition and to focus on the critical comorbidities identified.
Molecular-Based Identification of Actinomycetes Species That Synthesize Antibacterial Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Bizuye Abebe , Gedamu Lashitew , Bii Christine , Gatebe Erastus , Maina Naomi
Published: November 2020

Infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria lead to a considerable increase in human morbidity and mortality globally. This requires to search potential actinomycete isolates from undiscovered habitats as a source of effective bioactive metabolites and to synthesis metabolite-mediated antibacterial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The main purpose of the present study was to identify actinomycetes isolated from Thika waste dump soils that produce bioactive metabolites to synthesize antibacterial AgNPs. The synthesis of metabolite-mediated AgNP was confirmed with visual detection and a UV-vis spectrophotometer, whereas the functional groups involved in AgNP synthesis were identified using a FTIR spectrophotometer. The antibacterial activity of the metabolite-mediated AgNPs was tested by a well diffusion assay. Identification of actinomycete isolates involved in the synthesis of antibacterial AgNPs was done based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The visual detection showed that dark salmon and pale golden color change was observed due to the formation of AgNPs by KDT32 and KGT32 metabolites, respectively. The synthesis was confirmed by a characteristic UV spectra peak at 415.5 nm for KDT32-AgNP and 416 nm for KGT32-AgNP. The FTIR spectra revealed that OH, C=C, and S-S functional groups were involved in the synthesis of KDT32-AgNP, whereas OH, C=C, and C-H were involved in the formation of KGT32-AgNP. The inhibition zone results revealed that KDT32-AgNP showed 22.0 ± 1.4 mm and 19.0 ± 1.4 mm against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, whereas KGT32-AgNP showed 21.5 ± 0.7 mm and 17.0 ± 0.0 mm, respectively. KDT32 and KGT32 isolates were identified as genus Streptomyces and their 16S rRNA gene sequences were deposited in the GenBank database with MH301089 and MH301090 accession numbers, respectively. Due to the bactericidal activity of synthesized AgNPs, KDT32 and KGT32 isolates can be used in biomedical applications.
Heterogeneous Network Spectrum Allocation Scheme for Network-Assisted D2D Communications
Authors: Kim Sungwook
Published: November 2020

To meet the drastic growth of mobile traffic, next-generation wireless networks integrate existing technologies such as dual-connectivity (DC) and network-assisted device-to-device (D2D) communications. In this paper, we present a new spectrum allocation scheme for a heterogeneous system, which incorporates both technologies. For the effective collaboration of individual network agents, we employ the ideas of cooperative games, and the spectrum allocation algorithm is implemented as a novel joint-bargaining process. Based on the bargaining solutions of classical Nash, weighted Nash, and Nash bargaining with coalition structure, our three-step interactive approach can leverage the full synergy of different bargaining concepts. Under the dynamic changing HetNet environments, we can take various benefits in a rational way while handling comprehensively the DC-based D2D communication issue and reach an agreement that gives mutual advantage. The main novelty of our proposed scheme is to ensure a relevant tradeoff between conflicting requirements during HetNet operations. Finally, we conduct extensive simulation study and illustrate that the proposed scheme provides a considerable performance improvement by comparison with the existing protocols.