bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indigenous Medicinal Plants as Biofilm Inhibitors for the Mitigation of Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Ampofo Elikplim Kwesi , Amponsah Isaac Kingsley , Asante-Kwatia Evelyn , Armah Francis Ackah , Atchoglo Philip Kobla , Mensah Abraham Yeboah
Published: October 2020

The majority of indigenes in the rural areas of Ghana use herbal medicines for their primary health care. In this study, an ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to document medicinal plants used by traditional healers in the Ejisu-Juaben district in the Ashanti region of Ghana to treat infections and to further investigate the antibiofilm formation properties of selected plants in resisting pathogenic bacteria. Seventy medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners for the treatment of skin infections and wounds were documented from the ethnobotanical survey. Forty out of the seventy plants were collected and their methanol extracts evaluated for antimicrobial activity by the agar diffusion assay. Extracts that showed antibacterial activity were tested for biofilm inhibitory activity, and the most active plant was subsequently purified to obtain the active constituents. Biofilm formation was significantly mitigated by petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Holarrhena floribunda stem bark. Bioassay-guided fractionation of an alkaloidal extract prepared from the methanol fraction led to the isolation of three steroidal alkaloids, namely, holonamine, holadienine, and conessine. The isolated compounds demonstrated varying degrees of biofilm formation inhibitory properties. The current study reveals that screening of indigenous medicinal plants could unravel potential leads to salvage the declining efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Holarrhena floribunda stem bark extract has strong biofilm formation inhibition properties, which could be attributed to the presence of steroidal alkaloids.
The Digital Abutment Check: An Improvement of the Fully Digital Workflow
Authors: Hinz Sebastian , Ellmann Daniel , Wegner Christian , Bömicke Wolfgang , Bensel Tobias
Published: October 2020

By using modern digitalization techniques, an existing denture can be digitized and aid the provision of a new implant-supported denture according to a fully digital workflow. This includes fully navigated implant surgery and results in an immediately provided prosthetic restoration. However, even with the current digital workflow, it is challenging to achieve a definitive prosthetic restoration in a single treatment session. In order to achieve a definitive denture in as few treatment sessions as possible, we have implemented the digital abutment test. This test modified the existing data set and determined the final restoration. In the present case, the preexisting maxillary removable complete denture was converted into a fixed immediate restoration using the fully digital workflow. The workflow is divided into two treatment phases, each with three treatment sessions, where part of the second phase involves an innovative digital abutment check. The illustrated case shows an effective use of current digital possibilities. Special attention was also paid to a minimally invasive course of therapy.
Three‐Dimensional Physical Similarity Simulation of the Deformation and Failure of a Gas Extraction Surface Well in a Mining Area
Authors: Fu Junhui , Sun Haitao , Wen Guangcai , Li Rifu
Published: October 2020

Surface well deformation and failure in a mining area are a key issue challenging the surface well gas extraction technique. To provide information for the design of gas extraction surface wells in mining areas, the deformation and failure of surface wells with different materials under the influence of mining‐induced rock movement were analyzed based on a three‐dimensional physical similarity simulation and key strata theory. The research findings reveal that the fractures in the overlying strata had an elliptic‐parabolic shape. The stope center was the highest point in the fracture zone. Horizontal shear deformation was most likely to occur in the thick strata (horizontal shear deformation could be larger if they were key strata) with large strength and stiffness near the intersection between the fracture surface of the overlying strata and the surface well. Due to the shear force and bending moment of the key strata, the surface well deformed into an S‐shape. In addition, the surface well was vulnerable to shear deformation in the key strata. The surface well deformation did not weaken from bottom to top due to rock movement. Instead, it was subject to the influence of the rupture strength of the key strata. The surface well above the key strata was prone to tensile strain‐compressive strain transition. In contrast, an abrupt change in the compressive strain occurred in the surface well below the key strata where tensile failure may occur. Moreover, a mechanical model of the surface well during the movement of the key strata was established according to the characteristics of the surface well deformation. The test results provide important information on the design optimization of surface wells and high‐risk area protection in mining areas.
Study of the Protection of Aluminum Alloy Surfaces by a Graphene-Modified Fluorocarbon Anticorrosive Coating
Authors: Wang Peng , Cai Dayong
Published: October 2020

Graphene-modified anticorrosion coatings have become a hot spot in the field of metal protection due to the large-scale promotion of aluminum alloys, which are prone to corrosion in marine and atmospheric environments. The protection of aluminum alloy surfaces by a graphene-modified anticorrosive coating was explored in this study by applying a graphene-modified anticorrosive coating to an aluminum alloy surface to test its resistance to corrosion. Dispersion-treated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was used to modify the epoxy resin and fluorocarbon resin. It was found, by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the microstructure of the coating made by the Raman Spectroscopy Institute, that the addition of rGO could effectively improve the porosity of the epoxy primer, and the electrochemical workstation was able to resist the graphene-modified anticorrosive coating. The corrosion performance was quickly characterized, the polarization curve and the AC impedance curve were fitted, and it was found that the self-corrosion current density (

J

corr

) of the graphene-modified anticorrosive coating was the smallest (

1.190
×

10

−
7

 
A
/
c

m

2

) when 0.6% of rGO was added; the impedance modulus (

∣
Z
∣

) was the largest (104), the capacitive reactance arc radius was the largest, and the coating resistance was the largest after fitting (15517 Ω). When 0.8% of rGO was added, the dispersion coefficient was large, and it had a good physical insulation performance. The main reason for the reduction of the corrosion resistance was that the agglomeration of rGO made the aluminum alloy matrix and the external corrosive environment form a highly conductive circuit, thereby accelerating the corrosion of the aluminum alloy matrix.
Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Based on Lattice Spring Model
Authors: Zhao Kaikai , Jiang Pengfei , Feng Yanjun , Sun Xiaodong , Cheng Lixing , Zheng Jianwei
Published: October 2020

Hydraulic fracturing has been extensively employed for permeability enhancement in low-permeability reservoirs. The geometry of the hydraulic fracture network (HFN) may have implications for the optimization of hydraulic fracturing operations. Various parameters, including the in situ stress, treatment parameters (injection rate and fluid viscosity), and orientation of natural fractures (NFs), can significantly affect the interactions between hydraulic fracture (HF) and NFs and the final HFN. In this study, a lattice-spring code was employed to determine the impact of various parameters on the geometry of the HFN. The modelling results indicated that with a large stress difference, the global orientation of the fracture propagation was restricted to the direction of maximum principal stress, and the number of fracture branches was reduced. The geometry of the HFN changed from circular to elliptical. In contrast, with an increase in the fluid viscosity/injection rate, the evolution of the geometry of the HFN exhibited the opposite trend. The global orientation of HF propagation tended to remain parallel to the direction of maximum principal stress, regardless of the branching and tortuosity of the fracture. The variations in the ratio of tensile fracture (HF) to shear fracture (shear slip on NF) can be significant, depending on the stress state, treatment parameters, and preexisting NF network, which determine the dominant stimulation mechanism. This study provides insight into the HF propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs.
The Mechanisms of Sijunzi Decoction in the Treatment of Chronic Gastritis Revealed by Network Pharmacology
Authors: Wang Ting , Feng Yuyin , Wang Hesong , Huo Guiyang , Cai Yanan , Wang Li , Yuan Kai , Huang Guangrui
Published: October 2020

Chronic gastritis is characterized by inflammation in the gastric mucosa with a vicious circle in inflammatory cells and inflammatory mediators. Stomach adenocarcinoma would occur in the metaplastic gastric mucosa of chronic gastritis. Sijunzi decoction is a famous classical formula for the treatment of chronic gastritis. Although previous studies revealed some functions of Sijunzi decoction in treating chronic gastritis, the underlying mechanisms have not been illustrated clearly. In this study, we used network pharmacology to investigate the mechanism of Sijunzi decoction in treating chronic gastritis. Firstly, online datasets TCMSP, SWISS, and DisGeNET were used to investigate the functional mechanism of Sijunzi decoction against chronic gastritis and 18 genes were identified as targets of Sijunzi decoction in chronic gastritis. These 18 genes can be categorized into immunologically related genes and cancer‐related genes. GO analysis showed that the 18 target genes were mainly enriched in angiogenesis, nitric oxide biosynthetic process, ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, cellular response to drug, and MAPK cascade. So, Sijunzi decoction alleviated chronic gastritis by inhibiting the local inflammatory response. Furthermore, we also investigated the impact of Sijunzi decoction on the peripheral blood leukocytes with our own RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data of 11 chronic superficial gastritis patients. 102 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing RNA‐seq data of chronic superficial gastritis patients with healthy control groups. After performing a functional analysis on 102 DEGs and Sijunzi decoction potential targets and taking the intersection of these pathways, we found that platelet activation, angiogenesis, and pathways in cancer were candidate target pathways regulated by Sijunzi decoction. Thus, Sijunzi decoction also alleviates chronic gastritis by suppressing inflammatory response of peripheral blood leukocytes. Our results showed that Sijunzi decoction can ameliorate the local gastric inflammation and inflammations in peripheral blood leukocytes and might also reduce the incidence of stomach cancer in chronic gastritis.
Study on Reutilization of Pyrolytic Residues of Oily Sludge
Authors: Tang Chao , Guan Jiaojiao , Xie Shuixiang
Published: October 2020

Pyrolytic residues of oily sludge are a kind of hazardous solid waste produced by high-temperature pyrolysis of oily sludge, which still contains a certain amount of mineral oil; improper disposal can cause secondary pollution. In order to reutilize the pyrolytic residues of oily sludge, the pyrolytic carbon in pyrolytic residues is recovered by a combination of physical flotation and chemical separation, and they are used for the treatment of oilfield wastewater and adsorption of oil. The results showed that the purity of the pyrolytic carbon is 95.93%; many pores of different sizes are distributed on the surface, with mainly mesoporous distribution. Specific surface area, pore volume, and average pore diameter reach 454.47 m2/g, 0.61 cm3/g, and 6.91 nm, respectively. Adsorption effect of pyrolytic carbon on COD and oil in oilfield wastewater is better than that of activated carbon at the same condition. With regard to adsorption on diesel and crude oil, the initial instantaneous adsorption rate of pyrolytic carbon is 3.8 times and 1.86 times faster than that of activated carbon, respectively. When pyrolytic carbon reaches saturated adsorption, cumulative adsorption of activated carbon on diesel and crude oil is much lower than that of pyrolytic carbon.
Prevalence of Antibodies to Simbu Serogroup Viruses in Cattle in Sudan
Authors: Hussien Mohammed O. , Alfaki Shima H. , Enan Khalid A. , Gafar Rana A. , Elhassan Amira M. , Taha Khalid M. , El Hussein Abdel Rahim M.
Published: October 2020

The Simbu serogroup is one of the serogroups that belong to the Orthobunyavirus genus of the family Peribunyaviridae. Simbu serogroup viruses are transmitted mainly by Culicoides biting midges. Meager information is available on Simbu serogroup virus infection in ruminants in Sudan. Therefore, in this study, serological surveillance of Simbu serogroup viruses in cattle in seven states in Sudan was conducted during the period from May, 2015, to March, 2016, to shed some light on the prevalence of this group of viruses in our country. Using a cross-sectional design, 184 cattle sera were collected and tested by a commercial SBV ELISA kit which enables the detection of antibodies against various Simbu serogroup viruses. The results showed an overall 86.4% prevalence of antibodies to Simbu serogroup viruses in cattle in Sudan. Univariate analysis showed a significant association (

p
=
0.007

) between ELISA seropositivity and states where samples were collected. This study suggests that Simbu serogroup virus infection is present in cattle in Sudan. Further epizootiological investigations on Simbu serogroup viruses infection and virus species involved are warranted.
The Stochastic Evolution Game of Knowledge Sharing in the Infrastructure PPP Supply Chain Network
Authors: Li Huimin , Wang Fuqiang , Wang Lunyan , Su Limin , Zhang Chengyi
Published: October 2020

Due to the complexity and randomness of environmental change, the knowledge-sharing behavior of members in the PPP supply chain will be affected by random disturbance factors. Traditional evolutionary game models cannot describe this effect. In this study, Gaussian white noise is introduced into the stochastic evolutionary game model of PPP supply chain knowledge sharing. The numerical simulation of the model is carried out to analyze the influence of parameter changes on the strategy selection of enterprise groups. The result shows that the strong knowledge power enterprise group is more sensitive with the variation of parameters than that of the weak knowledge power enterprise group. However, the weak enterprise group has a more vital willingness to share knowledge. Incentive measures can increase the knowledge-sharing benefits and promote the strong knowledge powerful enterprise group toward the sharing strategy. Increasing the mutual trust coefficient, reducing the sharing cost, and improving the enterprise’s transformation ability will help both sides to evolve into the sharing strategy more quickly. This study would have significance for PPP project performance and industry innovation.
Research on Plastic Zone Evolution Law of Surrounding Rock of Gob-Side Entry Retaining under Typical Roof Conditions in Deep Mine
Authors: Wu Jingke , Dong Yun , Jiang Yang , Yang Yushun , Sun Huasheng , Yin Deyu , Gu Wenhu
Published: October 2020

To solve the control problem of the surrounding rock of gob-side entry retaining under typical roof conditions in deep mines, we conduct theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and actual measurements. Starting from the plastic zone of the surrounding rock, the serious damage area, the degree and scope of damage, and the dynamic evolution process of the surrounding rock of the gob-side entry retaining are systematically analyzed under four typical roof conditions in deep mines; the expansion and evolution laws of the plastic zone of the surrounding rock are expounded; and a key control technology is proposed. The results indicate that (1) the plastic failure of surrounding rock was concentrated mainly on the coal side and on the floor, especially in the filling body. The plastic zone of the surrounding rock of the gob-side entry retaining with the thick immediate roof was widely distributed and deep, but the plastic failure of the filling body was not obvious. The plastic failure of the surrounding rock of the gob-side entry retaining with the compound roof was mainly concentrated on the roof, filling body, and floor of the filling area. (2) According to the typical roof conditions of the deep gob-side entry retaining, the order of the degree of damage to the surrounding rock was as follows: thick immediate roof, compound roof, thin immediate roof, and thick-hard roof. (3) A “multisupport structure” control system is proposed for the gob-side entry retaining in a deep mine, including measures for enhancing the bearing performance of the anchorage system, increasing the strength of the cataclastic coal-rock mass, enhancing the bearing capacity of the filling body, and increasing the bearing capacity on the tunnel side. The proposed technology was applied to the deep gob-side entry retaining project in the east area of Panyi Mine, and it effectively fulfilled the reuse requirements of gob-side entry retaining in deep mines.
Passive Observer of Activities for Aging in Place Using a Network of RGB-D Sensors
Authors: Payandeh Shahram , Park Jim
Published: October 2020

Aging in place is a notion which supports the independent living of older adults at their own place of residence for as long as possible. To support this alternative living which can be in contrast to various other types of assisted living options, modes of monitoring technology need to be explored and studied in order to determine a balance between the preservation of privacy and adequacy of sensed information for better estimation and visualization of movements and activities. In this paper, we explore such monitoring paradigm on how a network of RGB-D sensors can be utilized for this purpose. This type of sensor offers both visual and depth sensing modalities from the scene where the information can be fused and coded for better protection of privacy. For this purpose, we introduce the novel notion of passive observer. This observer is only triggered by detecting the absence of movements of older adults in the scene. This is accomplished by classifying and localizing objects in the monitoring scene from both before and after the detection of movements. A deep learning tool is utilized for visual classification of known objects in the physical scene followed by virtual reality reconstructing of the scene where the shape and location of objects are recreated. Such reconstruction can be used as a visual summary in order to identify objects which were handled by an older adult in-between observation. The simplified virtual scene can be used, for example, by caregivers or monitoring personnel in order to assist in detecting any anomalies. This virtual visualization can offer a high level of privacy protection without having any direct visual access to the monitoring scene. In addition, using the scene graph representation, an automatic decision-making tool is proposed where spatial relationships between the objects can be used to estimate the expected activities. The results of this paper are demonstrated through two case studies.
Analyzing Design Considerations for Disassembly of Spent Nuclear Fuel during Head-End Process of Pyroprocessing
Authors: Kim Young-Hwan , Cho Yung-Zun
Published: October 2020

We have developed a practical-scale dry disassembling process to dismantle PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) spent nuclear fuel assembly in the order of several tens of kilograms of heavy metal/batch to supply rod-cuts (cladding tube and UO2 pellets) for mechanical decladding process. Dry head-end disassembling process has advantages over the wet head-end process because of the lower risk of proliferation and treatment of spent fuel with relatively high heat and radioactivity. This study describes the main design considerations for the disassembling process of the spent nuclear fuel assembly during the dry head-end process. The down-ender, dismantling, extraction, and cutting technologies are analyzed and models have been designed for testing. The purpose of dry head-end disassembly process is to test the main device performance and to obtain scale-up data for practical-scale disassembling. With this in mind, design considerations were analyzed based on remoteness, and basic verification tests were performed. However, the authors used simulated fuel, instead of the actual spent fuel, owing to a lack of joint determination. In addition, in the present study, we did not consider the heat generated from minor actinides or the radioactivity of the fission product; these aspects will be considered in a future study. During the basic test performed in this study, a simulated assembly was completely disassembled using new methods, such as dismantling, extraction, and cutting processes. The practical-scale dry disassembling technology can be tested using scale-up data for reuse of the spent fuel.
Research on Urban Traffic Signal Control Systems Based on Cyber Physical Systems
Authors: Zhang Li-li , Zhao Qi , Wang Li , Zhang Ling-yu
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we present a traffic cyber physical system for urban road traffic signal control, which is referred to as UTSC-CPS. With this proposed system, managers and researchers can realize the construction and simulation of various types of traffic scenarios, the rapid development, and optimization of new control strategies and can apply effective control strategies to actual traffic management. The advantages of this new system include the following. Firstly, the fusion architecture of private cloud computing and edge computing is proposed for the first time, which effectively improves the performance of software and hardware of the urban road traffic signal control system and realizes information security perception and protection in cloud and equipment, respectively, within the fusion framework; secondly, using the concept of parallel system, the depth of real-time traffic control subsystem and real-time simulation subsystem is realized. Thirdly, the idea of virtual scene basic engine and strategy agent engine is put forward in the system design, which separates data from control strategy by designing a general control strategy API and helps researchers focus on control algorithm itself without paying attention to detection data and basic data. Finally, considering China, the system designs a general control strategy API to separate data from control strategy. Most of the popular communication protocols between signal controllers and detectors are private protocols. The standard protocol conversion middleware is skillfully designed, which decouples the field equipment from the system software and achieves the universality and reliability of the control strategy. To further demonstrate the advantages of the new system, we have carried out a one-year practical test in Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. The system has been proved in terms of stability, security, scalability, practicability and rapid practice, and verification of the new control strategy. At the same time, it proves the superiority of the simulation subsystem in the performance and simulation scale by comparing the different-scale road networks of Shunyi District in Beijing and Weifang City in Shandong Province. Further tests were conducted using real intersections, and the results were equally valid.
The Relationship of Functional Status of Cortisol, Testosterone, and Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome in Male Schizophrenics
Authors: Han Yi , Ji Haifeng , Liu Li , Zhu Yuncheng , Jiang Xixi
Published: October 2020

Background. The cross‐sectional study is aimed at investigating the relationship between cortisol, testosterone, and metabolic characteristics among male schizophrenics. Methods. 174 patients were grouped based on their risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) into the non‐MetS, high‐risk‐MetS (HR‐MetS), or MetS groups. Metabolic indices (body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) were associated with cortisol and testosterone levels using correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to associate the correlations between the WHO Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL–BREF) score and the five metabolic indices. Results. The WHOQOL–BREF score for the non‐MetS group significantly differed from the scores of the HR‐MetS and MetS groups. The triglyceride level was positively correlated with the cortisol level, while all five metabolic indices were negatively correlated with testosterone level. Stepwise regression analysis produced a model predicting WHOQOL–BREF scores with four variables including MAP, intelligence quotient (IQ), FBG, and age. The correlation analysis then showed that there was a weak linear correlation between the testosterone level and all five metabolic indices. Conclusions. Among the five metabolic indices, the risks of hypertension and hyperglycemia are correlated with the quality of life in male schizophrenics rather than those of obesity or hyperlipidemia.
Bogdanov–Takens Bifurcation in a Shape Memory Alloy Oscillator with Delayed Feedback
Authors: Wang Jinbin , Ma Lifeng
Published: October 2020

This work is focused on a shape memory alloy oscillator with delayed feedback. The main attention is to investigate the Bogdanov–Takens (B-T) bifurcation by choosing feedback parameters

A

1,2

and time delay

τ

. The conditions for the occurrence of the B-T bifurcation are derived, and the versal unfolding of the norm forms near the B-T bifurcation point is obtained by using center manifold reduction and normal form. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the system also undergoes different codimension-1 bifurcations, such as saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, and saddle homoclinic bifurcation. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to verify the analytic results.
Therapeutic Benefit in Allergic Dermatitis Derived from the Inhibitory Effect of Byakkokaninjinto on the Migration of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Authors: Yamamoto Takeshi , Zhang Yue , Kigasawa Ai , Hayashi Shusaku , Kadowaki Makoto
Published: October 2020

Dendritic cells (DCs) are well known to be essential immunocytes involved in innate and adaptive immunity. DCs are classified as conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Recently, the accumulation of pDCs in inflamed tissues and lymphoid tissues has been considered to be a possible contributing factor in the development of immunological diseases, but little is known about the pathophysiological roles of pDCs in immunological diseases. To date, many studies have demonstrated that many kinds of Kampo formulas can regulate immunological reactions in human immune diseases. Thus, we screened Kampo formulas to identify an agent that inhibits pDC migration. Furthermore, we investigated the therapeutic effects of these formulas on a murine DNFB‐induced allergic contact dermatitis model. Bone marrow‐derived pDCs (BMpDCs) were derived from the bone marrow cells of BALB/c mice in a culture medium with Flt3 ligand. The effects of Kampo formulas on BMpDC migration were evaluated by assessing the number, velocity, and directionality of BMpDCs chemotaxing toward the more concentrated side of a chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) gradient. The Kampo formulas that exerted inhibitory effects on pDC migration were orally administered to DNFB‐induced allergic contact dermatitis model mice. Byakkokaninjinto reduced the number of migrated BMpDCs and suppressed the velocity and directionality of BMpDC migration in a chemotaxis assay. Gypsum Fibrosum and Ginseng Radix, which are components of byakkokaninjinto, obviously suppressed the velocity of BMpDC migration. Furthermore, Gypsum Fibrosum significantly suppressed the directionality of BMpDC migration. In DNFB‐induced allergic contact dermatitis model mice, byakkokaninjinto markedly abrogated ear swelling in late‐phase allergic reactions. In conclusions, byakkokaninjinto, which has an inhibitory effect on pDC migration, was able to prevent the occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis, suggesting that pDCs were involved in the onset of allergic contact dermatitis in the mouse model. Therefore, byakkokaninjinto is anticipated to be a therapeutic agent for disorders related to pDC migration.
Biomarkers of Unfavorable Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Successful Recanalization by Endovascular Thrombectomy
Authors: Zang Nailiang , Lin Zhenzhou , Huang Kaibin , Pan Yue , Wu Yanan , Wu Yongming , Wang Shengnan , Wang Dongmei , Ji Zhong , Pan Suyue
Published: October 2020

Background: We aimed to identify plasma markers of unfavorable outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after recanalization by endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Methods: From November 2017 to May 2019, we prospectively collected 61 AIS patients due to anterior large vessel occlusion who achieved recanalization by EVT. Plasma samples were obtained between 18 and 24 h after recanalization. Unfavorable outcomes included futile recanalization at 90 days and overall early complications within 7 days after EVT. Results: After adjustment for age and initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tenascin-C, thioredoxin, ADAMTS13, and gelsolin were independently associated with both futile recanalization and overall early complications significantly (all p < 0.05), while C-reactive protein (CRP) was independently associated with overall early complications (p = 0.031) but at the limit of significance for futile recanalization (p = 0.051). The baseline clinical model (BCM) (including age and initial NIHSS) demonstrated discriminating ability to indicate futile recanalization (area under the curve [AUC] 0.807, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.693–0.921) and overall early complications (AUC 0.749, 95% CI 0.611–0.887). BCM+MMP-9+thioredoxin enhanced discrimination (AUC 0.908, 95% CI 0.839–0.978, p = 0.043) and reclassification (net reclassification improvement [NRI] 67.2%, p < 0.001) to indicate futile recanalization. With respect to overall early complications, BCM+MMP-9+tenascin-C, BCM+MMP-9+CRP, BCM+MMP-9+ADAMTS13, BCM+tenascin-C+ADAMTS13, and BCM+CRP+ADAMTS13, all improved discrimination (AUC [95% CI]: 0.868 [0.766–0.970], 0.882 [0.773–0.990], 0.886 [0.788–0.984], 0.880 [0.783–0.977], and 0.863 [0.764–0.962], respectively, all p < 0.05 by the DeLong method) and reclassification (NRI 59.1%, 71.8%, 51.1%, 67.4%, and 38.3%, respectively, all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The increased levels of MMP-9, tenascin-C, CRP, thioredoxin, and decreased levels of ADAMTS13 and gelsolin were independent predictors of futile recanalization in AIS patients after recanalization by EVT.
Virtuelle klinische Studien: Perspektiven in der Dermatologie
Authors: Ali Zarqa , Zibert John Robert , Thomsen Simon Francis
Published: October 2020

Hintergrund: Die Kosten für die Entwicklung eines neuen Medikaments liegen bei etwa 2,6 Milliarden US-Dollar, und mehr als zwei Drittel der Gesamtkosten sind mit der klinischen Testphase verbunden. Hauptursache für Verzögerungen bei klinischen Studien ist die Patientenrekrutierung, und derartige Verzögerungen können für Pharmaunternehmen Umsatzeinbußen von bis zu 8 Millionen US-Dollar pro Tag zur Folge haben. Darüber hinaus ist es schwierig, Probanden in klinischen Studien zu halten, und bis zu 40 % brechen ihre Teilnahme ab. Zur Überwindung dieser Herausforderungen setzen Pharmaunternehmen und Forschungseinrichtungen (z. B. Universitäten) zunehmend ein neu aufkommendes Konzept ein: virtuelle klinische Studien (VCTs), die auf einem Remote (Fern)-Ansatz basieren. Zusammenfassung: Virtuelle klinische Studien (VCTs) (ohne Prüfzentrum) sind eine vergleichsweise neue Methode zur Durchführung klinischer Studien, die die technologischen Möglichkeiten (Apps, Monitoring-Geräte usw.) sowie Internetplattformen (für die Rekrutierung, informierte Einwilligung, Beratung und Ermittlung von Endpunkten und etwaigen Nebenwirkungen) nutzt, um dem Patienten in jeder Phase der klinischen Studie eine Teilnahme in seiner häuslichen Umgebung zu ermöglichen. Untersuchungen zufolge sind VCTs nicht nur operativ durchführbar, sondern auch erfolgreich. Sie weisen höhere Rekrutierungsraten, eine bessere Compliance und geringere Drop-out-Raten auf und sie lassen sich schneller durchführen als herkömmliche klinische Studien. Aufgrund der visuellen Natur dermatologischer Erkrankungen, der relativ einfach durchführbaren virtuellen Beurteilung von Hautkrankheiten sowie der Tatsache, dass Hautkrankheiten häufig nicht lebensbedrohlich sind und selten komplexe Untersuchungen erfordern, sind VCTs für die dermatologische Forschung sehr attraktiv. Zudem ist die korrekte Diagnosestellung auf Grundlage von Fotos und der Symptomatik des Patienten seit jeher Bestandteil der hautärztlichen Routine. Daher sind VCTs in vielfacher Weise wie geschaffen für die Dermatologie. In der folgenden Arbeit beschreiben wir die VCTs und ihre Bedeutung für die dermatologische Forschung.
Enfermedad del coronavirus 2019: la importancia del distanciamiento social
Authors: González Fernando Antonio Ignacio
Published: October 2020

La actual pandemia de la enfermedad de coronavirus 2019 constituye una severa amenaza para las personas y la economía a nivel global. La adopción de medidas tendientes a reducir la velocidad de expansión de la pandemia es fundamental. En este trabajo se busca examinar el potencial impacto de la implementación de medidas de distanciamiento social. En particular, a partir de una reducción en la tasa de reproducción (R0) se examina su impacto sobre la dinámica de infectados y fallecidos.

Se recurre a la utilización de una extensión del modelo SIR estándar, el cual considera explícitamente a aquellas personas infectadas pero que aún no pueden transmitir la enfermedad (expuestos) y aquellos que han fallecido (fallecidos) y una tasa de reproducción decreciente en el tiempo. Este comportamiento de la tasa de reproducción reflejaría la implementación de medidas de distanciamiento a partir de diferentes especificaciones.

Los resultados sugieren que las medidas de distanciamiento contribuyen a reducir significativamente la cantidad máxima de infectados activos y fallecidos diarios. Esto es, logran aplanar las curvas de contagios y fallecimientos.
Assessment of pre- and post-operative nutritional status in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery
Authors: Castro Geórgia Alvares de , Castro Vanessa Alvares de , Patin Rose , Nogueira-de-Almeida Carlos Alberto
Published: October 2020

Introduction: The maxillofacial procedures for skeletal deformities are characterized by structural-morphological changes derived from unfavorable genetics with diagnosis performed during craniofacial growth. Orthognathic surgery requires a total restriction on chewing for 60 days, leading to loss of body weight in overweight and obese individuals, as well as in well-nourished patients. Objective: Evaluating the pre- and post-operative nutritional status of patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Material and methods: This is an interventional study. The study group received supplementation with whey protein, L-arginine, L-glutamine, and fatty acid Omega-3, and both groups were assessed in terms of anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The evaluation of soft tissue healing was conducted after surgery. Results: It is possible to infer that the percentage of skeletal muscle mass tends to increase in the intervention group, however, the weight loss was greater (-4.88%). Uric acid increased post-operative in the control group (+37.64%). Conclusion: Oral nutritional supplementation used in the study seems promising for reducing the loss of skeletal muscle mass, but further studies involving a larger number of patients are needed to confirm the results.
Perfil epidemiológico de cirurgias em serviço de urgência e emergência
Authors: Lyra Carlos Alberto Miranda , Dantas Lara Rebeca Correia Franca , Todt Stella Costa , Palmeira Isabella Paiva , Figueiredo Maria Bernadete Galrão de Almeida , Lima Sonia Oliveira
Published: October 2020

Modelo de estudo: Estudo observacional, analítico e transversal. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes do serviço de urgência e emergência de um hospital privado que foram submetidos a cirurgias. Metodologia: Estudo realizado em um hospital privado com análise de prontuários médicos de pacientes de ambos os sexos com idade igual ou superior a 16 anos que entraram no Serviço de Urgência e Emergência da instituição e foram encaminhados para cirurgia, no período de junho a agosto de 2017. Resultados: Analisou-se 104 prontuários, destes 53,84% corresponderam ao sexo masculino com média de idade de 46,03 anos. O tempo médio de internação foi 4,22 dias, com desvio padrão 7,01 dias e a mediana de 2 dias. Aqueles que apresentam comorbidades corresponderam a 70,19%. Houve um óbito de paciente de 83 anos após neurocirurgia com 62 dias de internação (0,96%). A maior gama das cirurgias correspondeu à apendicectomia com 25 procedimentos (43,85%), tempo médio de internação de 2,32 dias e a média de idade de 36,36 anos. Conclusão: Não houve diferença estatística entre os sexos (p=0.23) e a idade média foi de 46 anos com tempo médio de internação de 4 dias. As doenças abdominais e do aparelho locomotor se apresentaram como as principais causas de entrada no serviço de urgência, mantendo o padrão previamente estabelecido na literatura. Das cirurgias por doenças inflamatórias do aparelho digestivo, enfatiza-se a apendicectomia devido à apendicite aguda.
amor que temos é terrívelamor que temos é terrível: os contatos entre as realezas grega e cuxita manifestos na união de Perseu e Andrômeda
Authors: Outeiro Marina Pereira
Published: October 2020

Discorremos acerca dos contatos estabelecidos entre as realezas grega e cuxita –, a partir do mito de Perseu e Andrômeda – retomado na Atenas Clássica, por Eurípides e Sófocles, em suas versões de Andrômeda, e pelos ceramistas que representaram o encontro entre o herói grego e a princesa cuxita. Privilegiamos os aportes teóricos do Gênero e da Arqueologia de Gênero para analisar os papéis atribuídos às mulheres em ambas as sociedades. Para o exame da documentação, textual e imagética, favorecemos o uso da Semiótica e Análise do Conteúdo.
Educação, Gênero e Interseccionalidade na Literatura Augustana
Authors: Barbosa Renata Cerqueira
Published: October 2020

A interseccionalidade é um conceito sociológico que possibilita tratar das questões de gênero de forma mais abrangente, considerando o status social e etnia no processo de construção da imagem feminina nas abordagens relativas aos estudos de gênero em geral, e neste estudo em particular. Este artigo tem por objetivo tratar da educação das mulheres romanas em seu contexto social, levando em conta a produção literária do momento, bem como o entrelaçamento de fatores de discriminação. Aqui será analisada a influência dos círculos literários na publicação dos trabalhos elegíacos de uma mulher em especial: Sulpícia, “a Elegíaca”.
Mudanças climáticas e a construção de cisternas micênicas (1300 a.C.-1200 a.C.)
Authors: Peixoto Gustavo Jorge Peloso
Published: October 2020

Esse artigo aborda a discussão de dados paleoclimáticos no tocante ao final da Idade do Bronze (1300 a.C.-1200 a.C) no Mar Mediterrâneo e sua possível relação com o surgimento de estruturas de captação subterrânea de água (syrinx) em cidadelas micênicas da Argólida. Os dados paleoclimáticos têm sugerido que houve uma diminuição na temperatura desse mar e um consequente período de estiagem. Com base na discussão dos dados paleoclimáticos, vestígios arqueológicos e fontes escritas que tratam da diplomacia no período, analisaremos o modo pelo qual a instabilidade geopolítica e a estiagem podem ter motivado a construção de cisternas subterrâneas em cidadelas micênicas na Argólida.
Pode um deus dar à luz? Msj nos hinos religiosos do império novo egípcio (c. 1539-1077 a.C.): para uma (re)avaliação da “androginia” da divindade criadora
Authors: Pires Guilherme Borges
Published: October 2020

A divindade criadora egípcia, predominantemente masculina, tem sido interpretada como andrógina com base, entre outros motivos, no facto de esta executar acções-msj, habitualmente projectadas na esfera feminina. O presente artigo pretende auscultar as diferentes atestações de msj enquanto expressão de um acto cosmogónico nos hinos religiosos do Império Novo egípcio (c. 1539-1077 a.C.). Este exercício exploratório estrutura-se em dois eixos fundamentais: por um lado, a constatação de que nem todas as atestações de msj remetem para um acto biológico e/ou reprodutivo; por outro, a compreensão de que a capacidade (pro)criadora da divindade não a coloca forçosamente no espectro da não-binariedade de género. Para tal, atentar-se-á à distribuição dos determinativos nas diferentes grafias do vocábulo, mas também aos contextos fraseológicos em que o mesmo figura, a partir de uma selecção das fontes que constituem este corpus. Pretende-se assim encetar um entendimento mais matizado do vocábulo e, por extensão, questionar a pertinência do epíteto “andrógino” na caracterização do deus criador.
Chroococcalean blue green algae from the paddy fields of Satara District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Ghadage Sharada Jagannath , Karande Vaneeta Chandrashekhar
Published: October 2020

Blue green algae are the photosynthetic prokaryotes representing a wide distribution in habitat, i.e., temperate, tropical, and polar region.  Paddy fields are the best studied aquatic ecosystems on earth which fulfill all the necessary demands required for blue green algal growth.  Blue green algal role in enhancement of paddy yield has been studied worldwide.  Sustainable utilization of an organism for community use depends on how successfully the ecology of that organism is understood.  Twenty-eight chroococcalean blue green algal taxa were recorded from the study area.  They were taxonomically investigated and found to belong to two families and 11 genera.   The first family Chroococcaceae was the largest family with 10 genera and 26 species while the second family Entophysalidaceae had only one genus and two species.  The genus Gloeocapsa from the family Chroococcaceae exhibited largest species diversity (21.42%), as well as taxa Chlorogloea fritschii of family Entophysalidaceae showed species abundance from the study area.  All heterocystous blue green algal forms are capable of fixation of atmospheric N2.  Many of the non-heterocystous or unicellular blue green algae also have the capacity of N2 fixation.  The taxonomical documentation of chroococcalean blue green algae provide information about such indigenous unicellular blue green algae which will help in the development of niche specific inoculants as biofertilizers for rice fields of the study region.
First record of African Sailfin Flying Fish Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes, 1847) (Beloniformes: Exocoetidae), from the waters off Andaman Islands, India
Authors: Y. Gladston  , S.M. Ajina  , J. Praveenraj  , R. Kiruba-Sankar  , K.K. Bineesh  , S. Dam Roy
Published: October 2020

This study provides the first record of Parexocoetus mento (Valenciennes, 1847) from the waters off Andaman Islands which was previously known to be distributed in the Red Sea; Indo-West Pacific: eastern Africa east to the Marshall Islands and Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia; Mediterranean Sea (Red Sea immigrant).  This report suggests its extension of geographical distribution and addition of one more species to the biodiversity of the Andaman Islands.  Morphometric and morphological data confirmed that the specimens examined from the waters off Andamans Islands are P. mento which is diagnosed from its closely linked relative P. brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) by having the higher dorsal fin reaching up to the origin of upper caudal fin lobe, when depressed vs. extending well beyond the lobe in P. brachypterus, predorsal scales 20 to 24 (vs. 16–20), and dorsal and anal fin with 12–14 rays (vs. 10–11), respectively, in P. mento.
Risk Factors for Incident Stroke and Its Subtypes in China: A Prospective Study
Authors: Qi Wenwei , Ma Jing , Guan Tianjia , Zhao Dongsheng , Abu‐Hanna Ameen , Schut Martijn , Chao Baohua , Wang Longde , Liu Yuanli
Published: October 2020

Background

Managing risk factors is crucial to prevent stroke. However, few cohort studies have evaluated socioeconomic factors together with conventional factors affecting incident stroke and its subtypes in China.

Methods and Results

A 2014 to 2016 prospective study from the China National Stroke Screening and Intervention Program comprised 437 318 adults aged ≥40 years without stroke at baseline. There were 2429 cases of first‐ever stroke during a median follow‐up period of 2.1 years, including 2206 ischemic strokes and 237 hemorrhagic strokes. The multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that age 50 to 59 years (versus 40–49 years), primary school or no formal education (versus middle school), having >1 child (versus 1 child), living in Northeast, Central, East, or North China (versus Southwest China), physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were positively associated with the risk of total and ischemic stroke, whereas age 60 to 69 years and living with spouse or children (versus living alone) were negatively associated with the risk of total and ischemic stroke. Men, vegetable‐based diet, underweight, physical inactivity, hypertension, living in a high‐income region, having Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance, and New Rural Cooperative Medical System were positively associated with the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, whereas age 60 to 69 years was negatively associated with the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusions

We identified socioeconomic factors that complement traditional risk factors for incident stroke and its subtypes, allowing targeting these factors to reduce stroke burden.