bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognizing Determinants to Smallholders’ Market Orientation and Marketing Arrangements: Building on a Case of Dairy Farming in Rural Kenya
Authors: Wangu James , Mangnus Ellen , van Westen A. C. M. (Guus)
Published: May 2021

Smallholder commercialization is central to international development policy and practice. As a result, several arrangements to foster market linkages are being implemented. Especially popular are farmers’ organizations, which are believed to be owned, controlled, and financed by smallholders. As such, their design is considered inclusive given every household in a community is theoretically allowed to become a member, and the governance and management structure encourage participatory decision-making. However, even in the context in which farmers’ organizations are actively promoted, a notable proportion of smallholders may not be able to engage in market-oriented production or may opt for the existing alternative marketing arrangements, as dictated by individual households’ socioeconomic characteristics. Focusing on the case of smallholder farming in Olenguruone, Nakuru county, Kenya, where a donor funded dairy farmers’ cooperative marketing arrangement is promoted alongside existing marketing opportunities, the present research investigated the factors that determine smallholders’ commercial farming orientation and marketing arrangements. It employed a case study approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods for a more complete empirical inquiry. The findings demonstrate that irrespective of the external support provided through marketing opportunities such as farmer organizations, smallholders’ engagement in commercial farming and marketing is dictated by the socioeconomic attributes and market perceptions that are heterogeneous among households in a smallholder community.
Different(ial) Human Use of Coastal Landscapes: Archaeological Contexts, Chronology, and Assemblages of El Teniente Bay (31° S, Chile, South America)
Authors: Méndez César , Nuevo-Delaunay Amalia , Grasset Sebastián , Maldonado Antonio , Seguel Roxana , Troncoso Andrés , Talep Claudia , Villalón Daniela
Published: May 2021

Coastal landscapes of the Pacific coast of South America are regarded as bountiful biomes, as they are zones on the fringes of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Ecosystems. Cumulative research shows an almost uninterrupted presence of mobile hunter-fisher-gatherer communities throughout the Holocene in North-Central Chile (29°–32° S). However, local-scale differences reveal the variability that is concealed by this broad characterization. Recent research in El Teniente Bay (31° S) shows few sites and occupations suggestive of low occupational redundancy as well as reduced archaeological assemblages, indicating limited activities in this landscape. However, several occupations date to the middle Holocene, a period when discontinuities in human occupations in response to adverse environmental conditions have been suggested on regional and supraregional scales. The main occupations detected at El Teniente are interpreted as a response to such conditions and in the context of changes in land use. Despite the spottiness of the archaeological record of El Teniente Bay, it is important in terms of its chronology and the differing trends in the use of space in comparison to other areas that have been the focuses of research. This paper addresses the archaeological record of El Teniente Bay and discusses its implications for human land use in the wider area of the coast of North-Central Chile.
Analysis of Factors Influencing the Urban Carrying Capacity of the Shanghai Metropolis Based on a Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) Model
Authors: Cao Xiangyang , Shi Yishao , Zhou Liangliang , Tao Tianhui , Yang Qianqian
Published: May 2021

With the rapid development of urban economy and the continuous expansion of urban scale, the limitations of urban carrying capacity begin to appear. For the sustainable development of the city, more and more scholars are paying attention to the research onurban carrying capacity. Basedon the continuous research of the authors’ research group over the past ten years, this paper uses a multiscale geographically weighted regression model and method to explore the impact of geographical location, floor area ratio, public transportation, residents’ consumption level, the density of high-tech enterprises, and the ecological environment on the carrying capacity of the Shanghai metropolis. The results show that (1) the impact of geographical location on the bearing capacity decreases from downtown to the outer areas and from the northeastern area to the southwestern area of Shanghai. (2) On the whole, the elasticity of the average floor area ratio to the urban carrying capacity is 0.52%. In different regions, most of the central urban areas have exceeded the optimal average plot ratio. With an increase in the average plot ratio, the urban carrying capacity presents a downward trend. Other sample areas generally did not reach the average optimal plot ratio, especially the southwestern area of Shanghai. With an increase in the average plot ratio, the urban carrying capacity of this area improved significantly. (3) The elasticity of public transportation convenience to the urban carrying capacity is 0.23%; that is, the average increase in the urban carrying capacity is 0.23% for every 1% increase in public transportation convenience. The elasticity of residents’ consumption level is −0.18%; in other words, every 1% increase in residents’ consumption level will reduce the urban carrying capacity by 0.18% on average. The elasticity of the density of high-tech enterprises is 0.08%; hence, when the density of high-tech enterprises increases by 1%, the urban carrying capacity increases by 0.08% on average. Lastly, the elasticity of the eco-environmental status index is 0.17%; that is, every 1% increase in the eco-environmental status index increases the urban carrying capacity by 0.17% on average.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II and Ischemic Stroke—A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Åberg Daniel , Åberg N. David , Jood Katarina , Redfors Petra , Blomstrand Christian , Isgaard Jörgen , Jern Christina , Svensson Johan
Published: May 2021

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) regulates prenatal brain development, but the role in adult brain function and injury is unclear. Here, we determined whether serum levels of IGF-II (s-IGF-II) are associated with mortality and functional outcome after ischemic stroke (IS). The study population comprised ischemic stroke cases (n = 492) and controls (n = 514) from the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS). Functional outcome was evaluated after 3 months and 2 years using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and additionally, survival was followed at a minimum of 7 years or until death. S-IGF-II levels were higher in IS cases both in the acute phase and at 3-month follow-up compared to controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The lowest quintile of acute s-IGF-II was, compared to the four higher quintiles, associated with an increased risk of post-stroke mortality (median follow-up 10.6 years, crude hazard ratio (HR) 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56–3.49, and fully adjusted HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.02–2.61). In contrast, crude associations with poor functional outcome (mRS 3–6) lost significance after full adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, s-IGF-II was higher in IS cases than in controls, and low acute s-IGF-II was an independent risk marker of increased mortality.
An Engineered Maturation Cleavage Provides a Recombinant Mimic of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Capsid Assembly-Disassembly
Authors: Newman Joseph , Rowlands David J. , Tuthill Tobias J.
Published: May 2021

Picornavirus capsids are assembled from 60 copies of a capsid precursor via a pentameric assembly intermediate or ‘pentamer’. Upon completion of virion assembly, a maturation event induces a final cleavage of the capsid precursor to create the capsid protein VP4, which is essential for capsid stability and entry into new cells. For the picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), intact capsids are temperature and acid-labile and can disassemble into pentamers. During disassembly, capsid protein VP4 is lost, presumably altering the structure and properties of the resulting pentamers. The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of recombinant “assembly” and “disassembly” pentamers. We generated recombinant versions of these different pentamers containing an engineered cleavage site to mimic the maturation cleavage. We compared the sedimentation and antigenic characteristics of these pentamers using sucrose density gradients and reactivity with an antibody panel. Pentamers mimicking the assembly pathway sedimented faster than those on the disassembly pathway suggesting that for FMDV, in common with other picornaviruses, assembly pentamers sediment at 14S whereas only pentamers on the disassembly pathway sediment at 12S. The reactivity with anti-VP4 antibodies was reduced for the 12S pentamers, consistent with the predicted loss of VP4. Reactivity with other antibodies was similar for both pentamers suggesting that major antigenic features may be preserved between the VP4 containing assembly pentamers and the disassembly pentamers lacking VP4.
Advances in Cereal Crop Genomics for Resilience under Climate Change
Authors: Zenda Tinashe , Liu Songtao , Dong Anyi , Duan Huijun
Published: May 2021

Adapting to climate change, providing sufficient human food and nutritional needs, and securing sufficient energy supplies will call for a radical transformation from the current conventional adaptation approaches to more broad-based and transformative alternatives. This entails diversifying the agricultural system and boosting productivity of major cereal crops through development of climate-resilient cultivars that can sustainably maintain higher yields under climate change conditions, expanding our focus to crop wild relatives, and better exploitation of underutilized crop species. This is facilitated by the recent developments in plant genomics, such as advances in genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation, as well as gene editing technologies, which have increased the availability of high-quality reference genomes for various model and non-model plant species. This has necessitated genomics-assisted breeding of crops, including underutilized species, consequently broadening genetic variation of the available germplasm; improving the discovery of novel alleles controlling important agronomic traits; and enhancing creation of new crop cultivars with improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and superior nutritive quality. Here, therefore, we summarize these recent developments in plant genomics and their application, with particular reference to cereal crops (including underutilized species). Particularly, we discuss genome sequencing approaches, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association (GWAS) studies, directed mutagenesis, plant non-coding RNAs, precise gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9, and complementation of crop genotyping by crop phenotyping. We then conclude by providing an outlook that, as we step into the future, high-throughput phenotyping, pan-genomics, transposable elements analysis, and machine learning hold much promise for crop improvements related to climate resilience and nutritional superiority.
Oxidized LDL Modifies the Association between Proteinuria and Deterioration of Kidney Function in Proteinuric Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Roumeliotis Stefanos , Georgianos Panagiotis I. , Roumeliotis Athanasios , Eleftheriadis Theodoros , Stamou Aikaterini , Manolopoulos Vangelis G. , Panagoutsos Stylianos , Liakopoulos Vassilios
Published: May 2021

Proteinuria is characterized by low accuracy for predicting onset and development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) because it is not directly associated with molecular changes that promote DKD, but is a result of kidney damage. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) reflects oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, both underlying the development of proteinuria and loss of kidney function in DKD. We aimed to investigate whether ox-LDL modifies the association between proteinuria and progression of DKD in a cohort of 91 patients with proteinuric DKD and diabetic retinopathy, followed for 10 years. The primary endpoint was a combined kidney outcome of eGFR decline ≥30% or progression to end-stage kidney disease. After the end of the study, we considered the percentage change of eGFR over time as our secondary outcome. Proteinuria was associated with both outcomes, and ox-LDL amplified the magnitude of this link (p < 0.0001 for primary and p < 0.0001 for secondary outcome, respectively). After adjustment for duration of diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease and serum albumin, ox-LDL remained a significant effect modifier of the association between proteinuria and eGFR decline over time (p = 0.04). Our study shows that in proteinuric DKD, circulating ox-LDL levels amplified the magnitude of the association between proteinuria and progression of DKD.
Correlation of GAA Genotype and Acid-α-Glucosidase Enzyme Activity in Hungarian Patients with Pompe Disease
Authors: Gal Aniko , Grosz Zoltán , Borsos Beata , Szatmari Ildikó , Sebők Agnes , Jávor Laszló , Harmath Veronika , Szakszon Katalin , Dezsi Livia , Balku Eniko , Jobbagy Zita , Herczegfalvi Agnes , Almássy Zsuzsanna , Kerényi Levente , Molnar Maria Judit
Published: May 2021

Pompe disease is caused by the accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes due to a deficiency of the lysosomal acid-α-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme. Depending on residual enzyme activity, the disease manifests two distinct phenotypes. In this study, we assess an enzymatic and genetic analysis of Hungarian patients with Pompe disease. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with Pompe disease were included. Enzyme activity of acid-α-glucosidase was measured by mass spectrometry. Sanger sequencing and an MLPA of the GAA gene were performed in all patients. Twenty (83.33%) patients were classified as having late-onset Pompe disease and four (16.66%) had infantile-onset Pompe disease. Fifteen different pathogenic GAA variants were detected. The most common finding was the c.-32-13 T > G splice site alteration. Comparing the α-glucosidase enzyme activity of homozygous cases to the compound heterozygous cases of the c.-32-13 T > G disease-causing variant, the mean GAA activity in homozygous cases was significantly higher. The lowest enzyme activity was found in cases where the c.-32-13 T > G variant was not present. The localization of the identified sequence variations in regions encoding the crucial protein domains of GAA correlates with severe effects on enzyme activity. A better understanding of the impact of pathogenic gene variations may help earlier initiation of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) if subtle symptoms occur. Further information on the effect of GAA gene variation on the efficacy of treatment and the extent of immune response to ERT would be of importance for optimal disease management and designing effective treatment plans.
Investigation of Binary Liquids in Unstable States—An Experimental Approach
Authors: Igolnikov Alexander , Rutin Sergey , Skripov Pavel
Published: May 2021

In this article, we present a methodology for conducting measurements based on pulse heating of a wire probe in partially soluble binary liquids. These liquids, which can be rapidly transferred to the region of unstable states above the diffusional spinodal, are novel research objects for the thermophysics of extreme states. Using the example of aqueous solutions of polypropylene glycol and glycol monobutyl ether having a lower critical solution temperature, the key hypothesis of the study on the general measurability of the properties of unstable solutions has been confirmed. The characteristic heating times from 1 to 15 milliseconds corresponded to the thickness of the heated layer comprising a few micrometers. The pressure was varied from units of MPa to 100 MPa. The conditions for the transition from measurements on pure components to those on solutions are formulated. The characteristic thermal patterns of the decay of unstable states depending on pressure and heating rate are revealed. The general possibility of using partially soluble binary liquids as a promising coolant in processes involving powerful local heat release is demonstrated.
New Regression Models Based on the Unit-Sinh-Normal Distribution: Properties, Inference, and Applications
Authors: Martínez-Flórez Guillermo , Tovar-Falón Roger
Published: May 2021

In this paper, two new distributions were introduced to model unimodal and/or bimodal data. The first distribution, which was obtained by applying a simple transformation to a unit-Birnbaum–Saunders random variable, is useful for modeling data with positive support, while the second is appropriate for fitting data on the (0,1) interval. Extensions to regression models were also studied in this work, and statistical inference was performed from a classical perspective by using the maximum likelihood method. A small simulation study is presented to evaluate the benefits of the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters. Finally, two applications to real data sets are reported to illustrate the developed methodology.
Quantum-Inspired Differential Evolution with Grey Wolf Optimizer for 0-1 Knapsack Problem
Authors: Wang Yule , Wang Wanliang
Published: May 2021

The knapsack problem is one of the most widely researched NP-complete combinatorial optimization problems and has numerous practical applications. This paper proposes a quantum-inspired differential evolution algorithm with grey wolf optimizer (QDGWO) to enhance the diversity and convergence performance and improve the performance in high-dimensional cases for 0-1 knapsack problems. The proposed algorithm adopts quantum computing principles such as quantum superposition states and quantum gates. It also uses adaptive mutation operations of differential evolution, crossover operations of differential evolution, and quantum observation to generate new solutions as trial individuals. Selection operations are used to determine the better solutions between the stored individuals and the trial individuals created by mutation and crossover operations. In the event that the trial individuals are worse than the current individuals, the adaptive grey wolf optimizer and quantum rotation gate are used to preserve the diversity of the population as well as speed up the search for the global optimal solution. The experimental results for 0-1 knapsack problems confirm the advantages of QDGWO with the effectiveness and global search capability for knapsack problems, especially for high-dimensional situations.
On New Classes of Stancu-Kantorovich-Type Operators
Authors: Vasian Bianca Ioana , Garoiu Ștefan Lucian , Păcurar Cristina Maria
Published: May 2021

The present paper introduces new classes of Stancu–Kantorovich operators constructed in the King sense. For these classes of operators, we establish some convergence results, error estimations theorems and graphical properties of approximation for the classes considered, namely, operators that preserve the test functions e0(x)=1 and e1(x)=x, e0(x)=1 and e2(x)=x2, as well as e1(x)=x and e2(x)=x2. The class of operators that preserve the test functions e1(x)=x and e2(x)=x2 is a genuine generalization of the class introduced by Indrea et al. in their paper “A New Class of Kantorovich-Type Operators”, published in Constr. Math. Anal.
The Pedagogical Knowledge Deployed by a Primary Mathematics Teacher Educator in Teaching Symmetry
Authors: Pascual Mª Isabel , Montes Miguel , Contreras Luis Carlos
Published: May 2021

Although the knowledge required by mathematics teacher educators is a relatively recent area of research, there has been significant progress in the field over the last few years. The classic distinction of a teacher’s knowledge into content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge prompts us to reflect in this regard on what should constitute the content of primary teacher education programmes, and how the educator might mediate this content to make it accessible to their prospective teachers. This paper aims to contribute to this progress through a study into the work of Lucas, a teacher educator, during the course of a training session with prospective primary teachers. Critical observation of the video recording brought to the fore salient teaching situations on the topic of symmetry, which led us to explore the pedagogical content knowledge deployed in the session through a guided interview with the educator. Analysis of extracts from this interview enabled us to identify three main categories of this PCK: knowledge about how to teach programme content; knowledge about the characteristics of prospective primary teachers’ learning; and knowledge about the standards and norms of primary teacher education programmes.
Derivative-Free King’s Scheme for Multiple Zeros of Nonlinear Functions
Authors: Behl Ramandeep , Bhalla Sonia , Martínez Eulalia , Alsulami Majed Aali
Published: May 2021

There is no doubt that the fourth-order King’s family is one of the important ones among its counterparts. However, it has two major problems: the first one is the calculation of the first-order derivative; secondly, it has a linear order of convergence in the case of multiple roots. In order to improve these complications, we suggested a new King’s family of iterative methods. The main features of our scheme are the optimal convergence order, being free from derivatives, and working for multiple roots (m≥2). In addition, we proposed a main theorem that illustrated the fourth order of convergence. It also satisfied the optimal Kung–Traub conjecture of iterative methods without memory. We compared our scheme with the latest iterative methods of the same order of convergence on several real-life problems. In accordance with the computational results, we concluded that our method showed superior behavior compared to the existing methods.
Machine Learning-Based Detection Technique for NDT in Industrial Manufacturing
Authors: Niccolai Alessandro , Caputo Davide , Chieco Leonardo , Grimaccia Francesco , Mussetta Marco
Published: May 2021

Fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) is a well-assessed non-destructive test method used in manufacturing for detecting cracks and other flaws of the product under test. This is a critical phase in the mechanical and aerospace industrial sector. The purpose of this work was to present the implementation of an automated inspection system, developing a vision-based expert system to automate the inspection phase of the FPI process in an aerospace manufacturing line. The aim of this process was to identify the defectiveness status of some mechanical parts by the means of images. This paper will present, test and compare different machine learning architectures to perform the automated defect detection on a given dataset. For each test sample, several images at different angles were captured to properly populate the input dataset. In this way, the defectiveness status should be found combining the information contained in all the pictures. In particular, the system was designed for increasing the reliability of the evaluations performed on the airplane part, by implementing proper artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to reduce current human operators’ effort. The results show that, for applications in which the dataset available is quite small, a well-designed feature extraction process before the machine learning classifier is a very important step for achieving high classification accuracy.
Systems of Simultaneous Differential Inclusions Implying Function Containment
Authors: Antonino José A. , Miller Sanford S.
Published: May 2021

An important problem in complex analysis is to determine properties of the image of an analytic function p defined on the unit disc U from an inclusion or containment relation involving several of the derivatives of p. Results dealing with differential inclusions have led to the development of the field of Differential Subordinations, while results dealing with differential containments have led to the development of the field of Differential Superordinations. In this article, the authors consider a mixed problem consisting of special differential inclusions implying a corresponding containment of the form D[p](U)⊂Ω⇒Δ⊂p(U), where Ω and Δ are sets in C, and D is a differential operator such that D[p] is an analytic function defined on U. We carry out this research by considering the more general case involving a system of two simultaneous differential operators in two unknown functions.
Using Linguistic VIKOR and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps to Select Virtual Reality Games Development Project
Authors: Huang Shu-Fen
Published: May 2021

In the entertainment industry, providing games to players is a main business activity with a long history. There are various kinds of game types such as the computer game, web game, pocket game, mobile game developed for play. Virtual reality is a new technology which can integrate into the computer or mobile for generating virtual reality games. The goal of this study is to develop a framework to evaluate and select the virtual reality games development project. In the proposed framework, Linguistic VIKOR is integrated with fuzzy cognitive maps to select the project. For readers to understand the proposed method, a case study has been introduced to evaluate the project based on the proposed method. Finally, the conclusion and future research are discussed as an ending.
A Survey on Domination in Vague Graphs with Application in Transferring Cancer Patients between Countries
Authors: Rao Yongsheng , Chen Ruxian , Wu Pu , Jiang Huiqin , Kosari Saeed
Published: May 2021

Many problems of practical interest can be modeled and solved by using fuzzy graph (FG) algorithms. In general, fuzzy graph theory has a wide range of application in various fields. Since indeterminate information is an essential real-life problem and is often uncertain, modeling these problems based on FG is highly demanding for an expert. A vague graph (VG) can manage the uncertainty relevant to the inconsistent and indeterminate information of all real-world problems in which fuzzy graphs may not succeed in bringing about satisfactory results. Domination in FGs theory is one of the most widely used concepts in various sciences, including psychology, computer sciences, nervous systems, artificial intelligence, decision-making theory, etc. Many research studies today are trying to find other applications for domination in their field of interest. Hence, in this paper, we introduce different kinds of domination sets, such as the edge dominating set (EDS), the total edge dominating set (TEDS), the global dominating set (GDS), and the restrained dominating set (RDS), in product vague graphs (PVGs) and try to represent the properties of each by giving some examples. The relation between independent edge sets (IESs) and edge covering sets (ECSs) are established. Moreover, we derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for an edge dominating set to be minimal and show when a dominance set can be a global dominance set. Finally, we try to explain the relationship between a restrained dominating set and a restrained independent set with an example. Today, we see that there are still diseases that can only be treated in certain countries because they require a long treatment period with special medical devices. One of these diseases is leukemia, which severely affects the immune system and the body’s defenses, making it impossible for the patient to continue living a normal life. Therefore, in this paper, using a dominating set, we try to categorize countries that are in a more favorable position in terms of medical facilities, so that we can transfer the patients to a suitable hospital in the countries better suited in terms of both cost and distance.
A Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma Patient with Exudative Retinal Detachment Secondary to Choroid Metastasis as Initial Presentation—A Case Report
Authors: Feng Kathy-Ming , Chen Yi-Hao , Chen Jiann-Torng , Lin Li-Fan , Tsai Wen-Chiuan , Chen Ching-Long
Published: May 2021

Choroid metastasis is the initial presentation of pleomorphic carcinoma (PC) of the lung. PC is classified as poorly differentiated non-small cell lung carcinoma. It has a tendency to metastasize early and has a poor response to chemotherapy, which often results in poor prognosis. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a one-month history of deteriorating vision in the left eye. Fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and B-scan sonography demonstrated choroidal metastasis of the left eye. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) revealed a tumor with increased uptake in the left upper lung. Subsequent bronchoscopic biopsy confirmed a pleomorphic carcinoma of the lungs. Choroid metastasis as an initial presentation of PC in the lung is rare. Usually, it represents the late course of disseminated disease with hematogenous spread. Prompt diagnosis is imperative for patients to immediately initiate treatment.
A History of Burn Care
Authors: Kamolz Lars-Peter , Hartmann Bernd
Published: May 2021

Burn injuries are still one of the most common and devastating injuries in humans and the treatment of major burns remains a major challenge for physicians worldwide [...]
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Ayurvedic Herbal Preparations for Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Gyawali Dinesh , Vohra Rini , Orme-Johnson David , Ramaratnam Sridharan , Schneider Robert H.
Published: May 2021

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors associated with CVD. Due to a growing body of research on side effects and long-term impacts of conventional CVD treatments, focus is shifting towards exploring alternative treatment approaches such as Ayurveda. However, because of a lack of strong scientific evidence, the safety and efficacy profiles of such interventions have not been well established. The current study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to explore the strength of evidence on efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic herbs for hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Literature searches were conducted using databases including Medline, Cochrane Database, AMED, Embase, AYUSH research portal, and many others. All randomized controlled trials on individuals with hypercholesterolemia using Ayurvedic herbs (alone or in combination) with an exposure period of ≥ 3 weeks were included, with primary outcomes being total cholesterol levels, adverse events, and other cardiovascular events. The search strategy was determined with the help of the Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group. Two researchers assessed the risk of each study individually and discrepancies were resolved by consensus or consultation with a third researcher. Meta-analysis was conducted using the inverse variance method and results are presented as forest plots and data summary tables using Revman v5.3. Results: A systematic review of 32 studies with 1386 participants found randomized controlled trials of three Ayurvedic herbs, Allium sativum (garlic), Commiphora mukul (guggulu), and Nigella sativa (black cumin) on hypercholesterolemia that met inclusion criteria. The average duration of intervention was 12 weeks. Meta-analysis of the trials showed that guggulu reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels by 16.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 13.96 to 2.61; p-value = 0.02) and 18.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 34.07 to 3.48; p = 0.02), respectively. Garlic reduced LDL-C by 10.37 mg/dL (95% C.I. −17.58 to −3.16; p-value = 0.005). Black cumin lowered total cholesterol by 9.28 mg/dL (95% C.I. −17.36, to −1.19, p-value = 0.02). Reported adverse side effects were minimal. Conclusion: There is moderate to high level of evidence from randomized controlled trials that the Ayurvedic herbs guggulu, garlic, and black cumin are moderately effective for reducing hypercholesterolemia. In addition, minimal evidence was found for any side effects associated with these herbs, positioning them as safe adjuvants to conventional treatments.
Evaluation of Choroidal Melanoma Vascularization by Color Doppler Flow Imaging: An Option for Follow-Up Tumor Control Assessment after CyberKnife®?
Authors: Kaak Cinja , Kakkassery Vinodh , Scheef Björn O. , Zschoche Marco , Rommel Felix , Hildebrandt Guido , Emmert Steffen , Junghanß Christian , Guthoff Rudolf F. , Jünemann Anselm M. , Walter Uwe
Published: May 2021

Background and Objectives: Thus far, tumor control for choroidal melanoma after teletherapeutic radiation is clinically difficult. In contrast to brachytherapy, the tumor height does not necessarily have to shrink as a result of teletherapy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate tumor vascularization determined by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) as a possible approach for monitoring the therapy response after teletherapy of choroidal melanoma. Materials and Methods: A single-center retrospective pilot study of 24 patients was conducted, all of whom had been diagnosed with choroidal neoplasm, treated and followed up. Besides tumor vascularization, the following parameters were collected: age, gender, tumor entity, location, radiation dose, knowledge of relapse, tumor height, radiation-related complications, occurrence of metastases, visual acuity in logMAR. Results: The level of choroidal melanoma vascularization markedly decreased in all included subjects after treatment with the CyberKnife® technology. Initially, the level of vascularization was 2.1 (SD: 0.76 for n = 10); post-therapeutically, it averaged 0.14 (SD: 0.4). Regarding the tumor apex, CDFI sonography also demonstrated a significant tumor regression (mean value pre-therapeutically: 8.35 mm—SD: 3.92 for n = 10; mean value post-therapeutically: 4.86 mm—SD: 3.21). The level of choroidal melanoma vascularization declined in the patient collective treated with ruthenium-106 brachytherapy. The pre-therapeutic level of vascularization of 2 (SD: 0 for n = 2) decreased significantly to a level of 0 (mean: 0—SD: 0). The tumor height determined by CDFI did not allow any valid statement regarding local tumor control. In contrast to these findings, the patient population of the control group without any radiation therapy did not show any alterations in vascularization. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the determination of the tumor vascularization level using CDFI might be a useful and supplementary course parameter in the follow-up care of choroidal melanoma to monitor the success of treatment. This especially applies to robot-assisted radiotherapy using CyberKnife®. Further studies are necessary to validate the first results of this assessment.
Expert Group Recommendations on the Effective Use of Bolus Insulin in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Chawla Rajeev , Mukherjee Jagat Jyoti , Chawla Manoj , Kanungo Alok , Shunmugavelu Meenakshi Sundaram , Das Ashok Kumar
Published: May 2021

Evidence suggests a major contribution of postprandial glucose (PPG) excursions to the increased risk of micro- and macro-vascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Administration of bolus insulin remains a very effective therapeutic option for PPG control. The aim of this expert group recommendation document was to provide practical and easy-to-execute guidelines for physicians on the appropriate use of bolus insulin in the management of T2DM. A panel of key opinion leaders from India reviewed and discussed the available clinical evidence and guideline recommendations on the following topics: (1) optimum control of PPG; (2) choice of bolus insulin; and (3) special situations and practical considerations. The expert panel critically analyzed the current literature and clinical practice guidelines and factored their rich clinical experience to develop a set of nine expert group recommendations for the effective use of bolus insulin. These recommendations will not only result in a more evidence-based application of bolus insulin in the clinical setting but also trigger further research and provide a valuable base for the development of future guidelines on the use of bolus insulin in the management of individuals with T2DM.
Influence of Ceramic Membrane Surface Characteristics on the Flux Behavior of a Complex Fermentation Broth
Authors: Maguire Nicolas A. P. , Ebrahimi Mehrdad , Fan Rong , Gießelmann Sabine , Ehlen Frank , Schütz Steffen , Czermak Peter
Published: May 2021

The valorization of agro-industrial residues using yeasts as biocatalysts requires efficient methods for biomass separation. Filtration with ceramic membranes is suitable for this task, however, the challenge of flux decline and the unavoidable cleaning must be taken into account. We investigated the filtration of fermentation broth and its components using tubular microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes, and hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membranes, with cut-offs of 30 and 200 nm. The steady-state flux was limited by fouling under comparable wall shear stress conditions but increased when the wall shear stress was higher. Single-component filtration with two 30 nm tubular ultrafiltration membranes, whose average surface roughness ranged from 1.0 to 3.9 µm, showed that smoother surfaces experience less biomass fouling under more intense hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, we showed experimentally and by scanning electron microscopy in filtration with 30 nm tubular membranes that the thickness of the first separation layer is responsible for the degree of irreversible resistance caused by the deposition of organic material in the membrane pores. The thickness of this layer should therefore be minimized without compromising mechanical stability.
Extraction of Nicotine from Tobacco Leaves and Development of Fast Dissolving Nicotine Extract Film
Authors: Kheawfu Kantaporn , Kaewpinta Adchareeya , Chanmahasathien Wisinee , Rachtanapun Pornchai , Jantrawut Pensak
Published: May 2021

Nicotine (NCT), administered in the form of a fast dissolving oral delivery system, can be a potential alternative to nicotine replacement therapy. NCT was extracted by maceration and acid-base extraction methods from Burley tobacco leaves with different stalk positions and extraction yield and NCT content were further determined. The extract with the highest nicotine content was selected for incorporation into a fast dissolving film formulation. The optimized film was evaluated for its physical and mechanical properties, in vitro disintegration, and drug release profile. The results demonstrated that the extract from the upper part of tobacco leaves using the acid-base extraction method had the highest amount of NCT. NCT fast dissolving film consisting of this extract as the active ingredient and HPMC E15 as a film polymer resulted in a homogeneous translucent film with a light brown color. The addition of NCT significantly affected the film properties in terms of weight, disintegration time, tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, and Young’s modulus values. The drug release of NCT fast dissolving film showed a rapid initial release of 80% within three minutes, and its kinetics followed the Higuchi matrix model. The results suggest that these NCT films can be employed in the development of NCT fast dissolving films for clinical use.
Transport of Amino Acids in Soy Sauce Desalination Process by Electrodialysis
Authors: Wang Man , Kuang Shaoping , Wang Xitong , Kang Daihao , Mao Debin , Qian Guanlan , Cai Xiaodan , Tan Ming , Liu Fei , Zhang Yang
Published: May 2021

Soy sauce is a common condiment that has a unique flavor, one that is derived from its rich amino acids and salts. It is known that excessive intake of high-sodium food will affect human health, causing a series of diseases such as hypertension and kidney disease. Therefore, removing sodium from the soy sauce and retaining the amino acids is desirable. In this study, electrodialysis (ED) was employed for the desalination of soy sauce using commercial ion exchange membranes (IEMs). The influence of the current density and initial pH on the desalination degree of the soy sauce was explored. Results showed that the optimal desalination condition for ED was reached at a current density of 5 mA/cm2 and pH of 5, with the desalination degree of 64% and the amino acid loss rate of 29.8%. Moreover, it was found that the loss rate of amino acids was related to the initial concentration and molecular structure. In addition, the amino acid adsorption by IEMs was explored. Results implied that the molecular weight and structure affect amino acid adsorption. This study illustrated that the ED process can successfully reduce the salt content of the soy sauce and retain most of the amino acids without compromising the original flavor.
Application of Fractional Calculus to Modeling the Non-Linear Behaviors of Ferroelectric Polymer Composites: Viscoelasticity and Dielectricity
Authors: Meng Ruifan
Published: May 2021

Ferroelectric polymer composites normally show non-linear mechanical and electrical behaviors due to the viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation of polymer matrixes. In this paper, a fractional calculus approach is used to describe the non-linear behavior of ferroelectric polymer composites from both viscoelastic and dielectric perspectives. The fractional elements for viscoelasticity and dielectricity are “spring-pot” and “cap-resistor”, which can capture the intermediate properties between spring and dashpot or capacitor and resistor, respectively. For modeling the viscoelastic deformation, the “spring-pot” equation is directly used as the fractional mechanical model. By contrast, for the dielectricity of ferroelectric polymer composites, which is usually characterized by dielectric constants and dielectric losses, the “cap-resistor” equation is further formulated into the frequency domain by Fourier transform to obtain the fractional order dielectric model. The comparisons with experimental results suggest that the proposed models can well describe the viscoelastic deformation as well as the frequency dependence of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of ferroelectric polymer composites. It is noted that the fractional order dielectric model needs to be separated into two regions at low and high frequencies due to the polarization effect. Additionally, when the dipole relaxations occur at higher frequencies, the proposed model cannot describe the rise of the dielectric loss curve.
Optimization of MCM-41 Mesoporous Material Mixed Matrix Polyethersulfone Membrane for Dye Removal
Authors: Kadhim Rana J. , Al-Ani Faris H. , Alsalhy Qusay F. , Figoli Alberto
Published: May 2021

The aim of this work is the optimization of the operating conditions under which MCM-41-mesoporous material can be incorporated into polyethersulfone (PES)/MCM-41 membranes for nanofiltration (NF) applications. MCM-41 mesoporous material mixed matrix PES membranes have the potential to reduce membrane fouling by organic dye molecules. Process optimization and modeling aim to reduce wasted energy while maintaining high flow during the operation to handle the energy efficiency problems membranes often have. An optimization technique was applied to obtain optimum values for some key parameters in the process to produce a certain amount of flux above the desired values. Response surface methodology (RSM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used as mathematical and statistical analyses to improve the performance of the process on a larger scale. This work investigated the influence of the operating parameters, such as the feed pH values (3–11), MCM-41 content (0–1 wt.%), and the feed dye concentration (10–100 ppm) for each of the two studied dyes, acid black 210 (AB-210) and rose bengal (RB), and their interactions on the PES membrane permeability. The results showed that the PES membrane had the best performance at 64.25 (L·m−2·h−1·bar-1) and 63.16 (L·m−2·h−1·bar-1) for the AB-210 and RB dyes, respectively. An MCM-41 content of nearly 0.8 wt.% in the casting solution, feed dye concentration of 10 ppm for the studied dyes, and feed pH of 3 for the RB dye was found to be the optimal parameters for eliciting the response. The pH had no significant influence on the response for the AB-210 dye, while the pH shows some minor effects on response with the RB dye, and the Pareto chart of the standardized effects on the permeation flux of both dyes using statistically significant at the 5% significance level support these results.
Novel Tensile Test Jig and Mechanical Properties of WC-Co Synthesized by SHIP and HIP Process
Authors: Jo A-Ra , An Ji-Seob , Kim Sun-Hyung , Jeong Myeong-Sik , Moon Young-Hoon , Hwang Sun-Kwang
Published: May 2021

Tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) alloys have various mechanical properties according to their Co content and manufacturing method. High-strength materials such as WC-Co alloys are usually manufactured using various sintering methods. In this study, WC-Co was compared according to the Co content and manufacturing method using the sinter-hot isostatic pressing process. Furthermore, an additional test was performed to investigate the effect of post-hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment on the mechanical properties. To compare tensile strength, threaded end and shoulder end specimens are generally applied in axial tensile testing with hard metals. However, it is extremely difficult to shape WC-Co by machining. A tensile testing jig for a shoulder end specimen is, therefore, proposed. Tensile tests were conducted using the proposed jig, and microstructure, hardness, and impact tests were carried out to compare the mechanical properties. The microstructure evolution was obtained by decreasing the Co content and applying the HIP treatment, resulting in changes in Young’s modulus and strength. The results indicated that the proposed jig of the axial tensile test could be applied to the extremely hard WC-Co, and the mechanical properties of WC-Co could be modified by the Co content and HIP treatment control.
Influence of Direct Energy Deposition Parameters on Ti–6Al–4V Component’s Structure-Property Homogeneity
Authors: Lee Chan Hyeok , Narayana P. L. , Choi Seong-Woo , Reddy N. S. , Kim Jae H. , Kang Namhyun , Hong Jae-Keun
Published: May 2021

Ti–6Al–4V alloy is a typical 3D printing metal, and its application has been expanded to various fields owing to its excellent characteristics such as high specific strength, high corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. In particular, direct energy deposition (DED) has been actively explored in the fields of deposition and the repair of large titanium parts. However, owing to the complicated thermal history of the DED process, the microstructures of the fusion zone (FZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ), and base metal (BM) are different, which results in variations of their mechanical characteristics. Therefore, the process reliability needs to be optimized. In this study, the microstructure and hardness of each region were investigated with respect to various DED process parameters. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was used to correlate the measured characteristics of the FZ, HAZ, and BM of Ti–6Al–4V components with the process parameters. The variation in the mechanical characteristics between the FZ, HAZ, and BM was minimized through post-heat treatment. Heat treatment carried out at 950 °C for 1 h revealed that the microstructure and hardness values throughout the component were homogeneous.