bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the effects on cardiovascular events between use of metformin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors as the first-line hypoglycaemic agents in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a claims database analysis
Authors: Nishimura Rimei , Takeshima Tomomi , Iwasaki Kosuke , Aoi Sumiko
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To compare the risk of cardiovascular events from the initiation of therapy between metformin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) as first-line therapy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study using two claims databases.

Setting

The MDV database (provided by Medical Data Vision) comprised data from acute care hospitals, and the JMDC database (provided by JMDC) comprised data from individuals covered by health insurance societies.

Participants

Those who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at ≥18 years, prescribed metformin or DPP-4i as the first-line hypoglycaemic agent, had medical records of ≥6 months before the index prescription and had available glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) data for the period, including the index date and 30 days before it (defined as the baseline) were included. Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and/or a history of myocardial infarction (MI) or cerebrovascular diseases were excluded.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The outcomes were cumulative risks from Kaplan-Meier curves or HRs of patients prescribed metformin compared with DPP-4i. The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of MI or stroke associated with hospitalisation. Patient demographics, prescribed drugs and laboratory test values of HbA1c and estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline were adjusted. The study period starting from the index included treatment after initial monotherapy.

Results

Overall, 2089 and 6686 patients in the MDV database and 1506 and 3635 in the JMDC database were prescribed metformin and DPP-4i, respectively. The HR of the primary endpoint was 0.879 with no statistical significance (95% CI 0.534 to 1.448, p=0.613) in the MDV database, while it was significantly lower, 0.398 (95% CI 0.213 to 0.742, 0.004) in the JMDC database.

Conclusions

Patients who received metformin as first-line therapy may have reduced cardiovascular events than those receiving DPP-4i. This study conforms to previous Japanese database studies, despite the consideration of its limitation being an observational design.
Impact of major disease outbreaks in the third millennium on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights in low and/or middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review protocol
Authors: Akbarialiabad Hossein , Shidhaye Rahul , Shidhaye Pallavi , Cuijpers Pim , Weaver Marcia R , Bahrololoom Mina , Kiburi Sarah , Njuguna Irene N , Taghrir Mohammad Hossein , Kumar Manasi
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of young people continue to present a high burden and remain underinvested. This is more so in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where empirical evidence reveals disruption of SRHR maintenance, need for enhancement of programmes, resources and services during pandemics. Despite the importance of the subject, there is no published review yet combining recent disease outbreaks such as (H1N1/09, Zika, Ebola and SARS-COV-2) to assess their impact on adolescents and youth SRHR in LMICs.

Methods and analysis

We will adopt a four-step search to reach the maximum possible number of studies. In the first step, we will carry out a limitedpreliminary search in databases for getting relevant keywords (appendix 1). Second, we will search in four databases: Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase and PsycINFO. The search would begin from the inception of the first major outbreak in 2009 (H1N1/09) up to the date of publication of the protocol in early 2022. We will search databases using related keywords, screen title & abstract and review full texts of the selected titles to arrive at the list of eligible studies. In the third stage, we will check their eligibility to the included article’s reference list. In the fourth stage, we will check the citations of included papers in phase 2 to complete our study selection. We will include all types of original studies and without any language restriction in our final synthesis. Our review results will be charted for each pandemic separately and include details pertaining to authors, year, country, region of the study, study design, participants (disaggregated by age and gender), purpose and report associated SRHR outcomes. The review will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline (PRISMA-ScR).

Patient and public involvement

Patients or public were not involved in this study.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical assessment is not required for this study. The results of the study will be presented in peer-reviewed publications and conferences on adolescent SRHR.
Epidemiology of COVID-19 and effect of public health interventions, Chennai, India, March–October 2020: an analysis of COVID-19 surveillance system
Authors: M Jagadeesan , Ganeshkumar Parasuraman , Kaur Prabhdeep , Masanam Sriramulu Hemalatha , Sakthivel Manikandanesan , Rubeshkumar Polani , Raju Mohankumar , Murugesan Lakshmidevi , Ganapathi Raajkumar , Srinivasan Mahalakshmi , Sukumar Aswini , Ilangovan Kumaravel , Reddy Madhusudhan , Shanmugam Divyadharshini , Govindasamy Prakash , Murhekar Manoj
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To describe the public health strategies and their effect in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic from March to October 2020 in Chennai, India.

Setting

Chennai, a densely populated metropolitan city in Southern India, was one of the five cities which contributed to more than half of the COVID-19 cases in India from March to May 2020. A comprehensive community-centric public health strategy was implemented for controlling COVID-19, including surveillance, testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine. In addition, there were different levels of restrictions between March and October 2020.

Participants

We collected the deidentified line list of all the 192 450 COVID-19 cases reported from 17 March to 31 October 2020 in Chennai and their contacts for the analysis. We defined a COVID-19 case based on the real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) positive test conducted in one of the government-approved labs.

Outcome measures

The primary outcomes of interest were incidence of COVID-19 per million population, case fatality ratio (CFR), deaths per million, and the effective reproduction number (Rt). We also analysed the surveillance, testing, contact tracing and isolation indicators.

Results

Of the 192 450 RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Chennai from 17 March to 31 October 2020, 114 889 (60%) were males. The highest incidence was 41 064 per million population among those 61–80 years. The incidence peaked during June 2020 at 5239 per million and declined to 3627 per million in October 2020. The city reported 3543 deaths, with a case fatality ratio of 1.8%. In March, Rt was 4.2, dropped below one in July and remained so until October, even with the relaxation of restrictions.

Conclusion

The combination of public health strategies might have contributed to controlling the COVID-19 epidemic in a large, densely populated city in India. We recommend continuing the test-trace-isolate strategy and appropriate restrictions to prevent resurgence.
Comparison and determination of factors associated with smoking status, smoking knowledge, attitude and practice (S-KAP) between smoke-free and non-smoke-free campuses in public universities in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mohmad Shazwani , Ismail Aniza , KS Hayati , Hassan Noraryana , Imran Arfah Mahani , Hamzah Nur Faezah , Wan Mohd Zain Wan Azrin Izani
Published: March 2022

Objectives

We compared the smoking prevalence, smoking knowledge, attitudes and practices (S-KAP) between smoke-free campuses (SFCs) and non-SFCs (NSFCs) and determined the associated factors of smoking status and S-KAP.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Settings

The research was conducted in four public universities in Malaysia; two SFCs and two NSFCs.

Participants

Students and staff from SFCs (n=1063) and NSFCs (n=1040).

Main outcome measures

Compared the smoking prevalence, S-KAP between SFCs and NSFCs and determined the associated factors.

Results

The prevalence of smokers among the SFC and NSFC respondents was 5.2% and 6.7%, respectively. University type and smoking attitude were significantly related (p=0.02). At the SFCs, the factors associated with becoming a smoker were male gender (p<0.001), monthly income ≥RM3000 (p=0.02), positive smoking attitude (p=0.003) and positive smoking practice (p<0.001); at NSFCs, the associated factors were male gender (p<0.001), low smoking knowledge (p=0.004), positive smoking attitude (p=0.001) and practice (p<0.001). The factors associated with good smoking knowledge were female gender (SFCs: p=0.001; NSFCs: p=0.004), and monthly income ≥RM3000 (NSFCs: p=0.02). Male respondents were likely to have positive smoking attitudes (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001) and negative smoking practices (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, smoking prevalence, knowledge and practice were not much different between SFCs and NSFCs. However, there was a significant relationship between university type and smoking attitude due to the existence of the SFC policy likely rendering smoking a less acceptable social norm. Continual education programmes on smoking harms and smoking cessation strategies are highly recommended to aid the SFC policy in preventing secondhand smoke in universities.
Rationale and design for comparison of non-compliant balloon with drug-coating balloon angioplasty for side branch after provisional stenting for patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions: a prospective, multicentre and randomised DCB-BIF trial
Authors: Gao Xiao-Fei , Ge Zhen , Kan Jing , Kong Xiang-Quan , Wang Yan , Qiu Chun-Guang , Tresukosol Damras , He Yu-Quan , Wu Qiang , Li Ji-Fu , Yuan Hai-Tao , Shen Chengxing , Chen Xiang , Munawar Muhammad , Hanif Bashir , Santoso Teguh , Shin Eun-Seok , Sheiban Imad , Ye Fei , Zhang Jun-Jie , Chen Shao-Liang
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Provisional stenting using drug-eluting stent is effective for simple coronary bifurcation lesions. Kissing balloon inflation using conventional non-compliant balloon is the primary treatment of side branch (SB) after main vessel (MV) stenting. Drug-coating balloon (DCB) is reported to be associated with less frequent clinical events in in-stent restenosis and small vessel disease. The importance of DCB in bifurcation treatment is understudied. Accordingly, this trial is designed to investigate the superiority of DCB to non-compliant balloon angioplasty for SB after provisional stenting in patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods and analysis

The DCB-BIF trial is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, superiority trial including 784 patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions. Patients will be randomised in a 1:1 fashion to receive either DCB or non-compliant balloon angioplasty if SB diameter stenosis >70% after MV stenting. The primary endpoint is the composite of major adverse cardiac event at the 1-year follow-up, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) or clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. The major secondary endpoints include all-cause death, periprocedural MI, spontaneous MI, clinically driven target vessel revascularisation, in-stent restenosis, stroke and individual component of the primary endpoint. The safety endpoint is the risk of stent thrombosis.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol and informed consent have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of all participating centres. The written informed consent for participation in the trial will be obtained from all participants. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated at conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04242134.
Effects of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex versus motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a study protocol
Authors: Huang Maomao , Luo Xi , Zhang Chi , Xie Yu-Jie , Wang Li , Wan Tenggang , Chen Ruyan , Xu Fangyuan , Wang Jian-Xiong
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Neuropathic pain is one of the common complications of spinal cord injuries (SCI), which will slow down the recovery process and result in lower quality of life. Previous studies have shown that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex (M1) can reduce the average pain and the most severe pain of neuropathic pain after SCI. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) area is a common target of rTMS. Recently, a few studies found that rTMS of DLPFC may relieve the neuropathic pain of SCI. Compared with the M1 area, the efficacy of rTMS treatment in the DLPFC area in improving neuropathic pain and pain-related symptoms in patients with SCI is still unclear. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the non-inferiority of rTMS in the DLPFC vs M1 in patients with neuropathic pain after SCI, in order to provide more options for rTMS in treating neuropathic pain after SCI.

Methods and analysis

We will recruit 50 subjects with neuropathic pain after SCI. They will be randomly assigned to the DLPFC- rTMS and M1-rTMS groups and be treated with rTMS for 4 weeks. Except for the different stimulation sites, the rTMS treatment programmes of the two groups are the same: 10 Hz, 1250 pulses, 115% intensity threshold, once a day, five times a week for 4 weeks. VAS, simplified McGill Pain Questionnaire, Spinal Cord Injury Pain Date Set, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Hamilton Anxiety Scale will be evaluated at baseline, second week of treatment, fourth week of treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment. And VAS change will be calculated.

Ethics and dissemination

The Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University has approved this trial, which is numbered KY2020041. Written informed consent will be provided to all participants after verification of the eligibility criteria. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2000032362.
Diagnostic value and safety of thoracoscopic pleural biopsies in pleural exudative effusions of unknown origin, including follow-up
Authors: Deschuyteneer Evan Patrick , De Keukeleire Tom
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Pleural exudative effusions without diagnosis after initial work up are a frequent problem in any respiratory division. Several ways to obtain pleural biopsy exist. Thoracoscopy is one of the most frequently used. Differential diagnosis mainly exists out of malignant pleuritis, tuberculosis, nonspecific pleuritis and rarely systemic or autoimmune disease. We performed a retrospective data analysis of our almost 10-year period experience, the first Belgian data to be published.

Methods

We performed a retrospective data analysis of all patients with unexplained pleural exudates who underwent diagnostic medical thoracoscopy under general anaesthesia in our respiratory department during the period 2006–2015. We report on diagnoses made, sensitivity and specificity, safety of thoracoscopy and follow-up of patients after thoracoscopy.

Results

131 patients underwent diagnostic medical thoracoscopy during the inclusion period. 44.3% (n=58) of the patients were diagnosed with malignant pleuritis, 45.0% (n=59) with nonspecific pleuritis, 7.6% (n=10) with tuberculous pleuritis and some with other benign conditions. Complications are comparable to other data published. Six months follow-up of patients with non-specific pleuritis reveal 8.5% (n=5) of these patients to have malignant pleuritis, and another 8.5% (n=5) with infectious or other benign conditions.

Conclusion

Medical thoracoscopy under general anaesthesia for diagnostic work up of pleural exudates of unknown origin generally has a high diagnostic yield. It is generally safe, certainly compared with the information it delivers. During follow-up, minority of patients with nonspecific pleuritis will prove to be malignant in origin, benign or autoimmune disease related.
Cancer pharmacomicrobiomics: targeting microbiota to optimise cancer therapy outcomes
Authors: Ting Nick Lung-Ngai , Lau Harry Cheuk-Hay , Yu Jun
Published: March 2022

Despite the promising advances in novel cancer therapy such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), limitations including therapeutic resistance and toxicity remain. In recent years, the relationship between gut microbiota and cancer has been extensively studied. Accumulating evidence reveals the role of microbiota in defining cancer therapeutic efficacy and toxicity. Unlike host genetics, microbiota can be easily modified via multiple strategies, including faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics and antibiotics. Preclinical studies have identified the mechanisms on how microbes influence cancer treatment outcomes. Clinical trials have also demonstrated the potential of microbiota modulation in cancer treatments. Herein, we review the mechanistic insights of gut microbial interactions with chemotherapy and ICIs, particularly focusing on the interplay between gut bacteria and the pharmacokinetics (eg, metabolism, enzymatic degradation) or pharmacodynamics (eg, immunomodulation) of cancer treatment. The translational potential of basic findings in clinical settings is then explored, including using microbes as predictive biomarkers and microbial modulation by antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modulations and FMT. We further discuss the current limitations of gut microbiota modulation in patients with cancer and suggest essential directions for future study. In the era of personalised medicine, it is crucial to understand the microbiota and its interactions with cancer. Manipulating the gut microbiota to augment cancer therapeutic responses can provide new insights into cancer treatment.
Equity impact of participatory learning and action community mobilisation and mHealth interventions to prevent and control type 2 diabetes and intermediate hyperglycaemia in rural Bangladesh: analysis of a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pires Malini , Shaha Sanjit , King Carina , Morrison Joanna , Nahar Tasmin , Ahmed Naveed , Jennings Hannah Maria , Akter Kohenour , Haghparast-Bidgoli Hassan , Khan A K Azad , Costello Anthony , Kuddus Abdul , Azad Kishwar , Fottrell Edward
Published: March 2022

Background

A cluster randomised trial of mHealth and participatory learning and action (PLA) community mobilisation interventions showed that PLA significantly reduced the prevalence of intermediate hyperglycaemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the incidence of T2DM among adults in rural Bangladesh; mHealth improved knowledge but showed no effect on glycaemic outcomes. We explore the equity of intervention reach and impact.

Methods

Intervention reach and primary outcomes of intermediate hyperglycaemia and T2DM were assessed through interview surveys and blood fasting glucose and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance tests among population-based samples of adults aged ≥30 years. Age-stratified, gender-stratified and wealth-stratified intervention effects were estimated using random effects logistic regression.

Results

PLA participants were similar to non-participants, though female participants were younger and more likely to be married than female non-participants. Differences including age, education, wealth and marital status were observed between individuals exposed and those not exposed to the mHealth intervention.

PLA reduced the prevalence of T2DM and intermediate hyperglycaemia in all age, gender and wealth strata. Reductions in 2-year incidence of T2DM of at least 51% (0.49, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.92) were observed in all strata except among the oldest and least poor groups. mHealth impact on glycaemic outcomes was observed only among the youngest group, where a 47% reduction in the 2-year incidence of T2DM was observed (0.53, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.00).

Conclusion

Large impacts of PLA across all strata indicate a highly effective and equitable intervention. mHealth may be more suitable for targeting higher risk, younger populations.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN41083256.
Differential role of HLA-A and HLA-B, C expression levels as prognostic markers in colon and rectal cancer
Authors: Michelakos Theodoros , Kontos Filippos , Kurokawa Tomohiro , Cai Lei , Sadagopan Ananthan , Krijgsman Danielle , Weichert Wilko , Durrant Lindy G , Kuppen Peter J K , R Ferrone Cristina , Ferrone Soldano
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression levels with the clinical course of many malignancies reflects their crucial role in the recognition and elimination of malignant cells by cognate T cells and NK cells. In colorectal cancer, results regarding this association are conflicting. The potential pathogenetic and therapeutic implications of this association prompted us to perform a large patient-level pooled analysis assessing the role of the expression level of HLA class I loci gene products in colon and rectal cancer.

Experimental design

Included studies provided patient-level data on HLA class I expression levels determined by immunohistochemistry on surgical specimens. Expression levels of the HLA class I loci gene products (HLA-A, HLA-B/C) were correlated with common genetic events and survival.

Results

Data from 5 studies including 2863 patients were used. In the 1620 colon cancer patients, lower HLA-A, HLA-B/C and total HLA class I expression levels were associated with microsatellite instability (p=0.044, p=0.008 and p=0.022, respectively), higher frequency of BRAF mutations (p<0.001, p=0.021 and p<0.001, respectively) and lower frequency of KRAS mutations (p=0.001, ns and p=0.002, respectively). In the 1243 rectal cancer patients, HLA-A expression was higher in tumors treated with neoadjuvant radiation (p=0.024). High HLA-B/C, but not HLA-A, expression level was an independent predictor of favorable overall survival in colon (p=0.006) and rectal (p<0.001) cancer.

Conclusions

T-cells and HLA-B/C antigens, rather than NK cells and HLA-A antigens, likely play an important role in controlling colon/rectal cancer growth. Colon/rectal cancer patients may benefit from strategies that upregulate HLA-B/C and trigger or enhance T cell immunity.
Constructing a South Asian cardiovascular disease: a qualitative analysis on how researchers study cardiovascular disease in South Asians
Authors: Kawano Bradley
Published: March 2022

Background

Debates on the use of race in biomedical research have typically overlooked immigrant groups outside of the black-white racial dichotomy. Recent biomedical research on South Asians and cardiovascular disease provides an opportunity to understand how scientists define race and interpret racial health disparities from an underexamined perspective.

Purpose

To examine how researchers in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study defined a South Asian population, and then compared health differences between South Asians and other populations.

Methods

Qualitative content analysis was performed on eleven articles from August 2013 to January 2021 that directly compared the South Asian cohort in MASALA to four other groups. The MASALA study design article was also included in this analysis. Articles were analysed for how South Asians were defined, and for how health differences between South Asians and other populations were studied and discussed.

Results

Researchers in MASALA were neither clear nor precise in defining South Asians as either an ancestral group or ethnic group. Their studies also prioritised investigating genetic and molecular causes of the cardiovascular health disparity between South Asians and other populations and failed to examine possible social factors.

Conclusions

These findings reflect a broader trend in biomedical research in which race and racial health disparities are poorly defined and studied, limiting scientists’ understanding of the relationship between race and health. I propose methodologies to help researchers define populations and design studies without relying on biologically reductive assumptions.
Pulmonary tuberculosis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a pharmacovigilance study
Authors: Zhu Jianhong , He Zhichao , Liang Dan , Yu Xiaoxia , Qiu Kaifeng , Wu Junyan
Published: March 2022

We examined case reports of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) associated pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) using data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database. Disproportionality analysis was performed by using the reporting OR (ROR) with relevant 95% CI. A total of 74 cases of PT related to ICIs therapy were identified. ICIs were significantly associated with over-reporting frequencies of PT (ROR=3.16, 95% CI: 2.51 to 3.98), while the signal was differed between anti-programmed death-1/ligand-1 and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 agents. Most indications were lung cancer (64.9%), the median onset age was 70 years, the median time to onset of PT was 70 days, ICIs were discontinued in most cases (85.2%).
Nationwide indoor smoking ban and impact on smoking behaviour and lung function: a two-population natural experiment
Authors: Strassmann Alexandra , Çolak Yunus , Serra-Burriel Miquel , Nordestgaard Børge G , Turk Alexander , Afzal Shoaib , Puhan Milo A
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Many countries have implemented indoor smoking bans over the past two decades. Although smoking bans have been shown to reduce cardiovascular outcomes, little is known about their impact on respiratory health. This study investigated the impact of a nationwide indoor smoking ban on smoking behaviour and lung function.

Methods

We used repeated cross-sectional data from two large cohorts of the general population comprising 31 807 Swiss and 62 093 Danish adults. We compared associations between smoking ban and smoking prevalence and prebronchodilator lung function trends in Denmark (indoor smoking ban introduced in 2007) and Switzerland (indoor smoking ban introduced in 2010) from 2005 to 2010 using a quasi-experimental study design. We performed difference-in-difference analyses with linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, weight and height.

Results

Denmark had a stronger decrease in active smokers compared with Switzerland. Also, forced expiratory volume in the first second was higher in Danish adults than in Swiss adults: 26 mL (95% CI 2.4 to 49) 1 year, 88 mL (65 to 112) 2 years, and 74 mL (51 to 98) 3 years after smoking ban implementation. Correspondingly, forced vital capacity was higher in Danish adults compared with Swiss adults (80 mL (50 to 109) after 1 year and 126 mL (97 to 155) after two and 3 years). Improvements were observed in both never-smokers and ever-smokers, most pronounced in ever-smokers.

Conclusions

Nationwide indoor smoking ban is associated with less smoking and improved lung function in the general population. Implementing an indoor smoking ban can improve lung function by influencing smoking behaviour and reducing secondhand smoke.
Antifungal activity of [K3]temporin-SHa against medically relevant yeasts and moulds
Authors: Brunet Kévin , Verdon Julien , Ladram Ali , Arnault Simon , Rodier Marie-Hélène , Cateau Estelle
Published: March 2022

Few antifungal agents are currently available for the treatment of fungal infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are natural molecules involved in the innate immune response of many organisms, represent a promising research method because of their broad killing activity. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of a frog AMP, [K3]temporin-SHa, against some species of yeasts and moulds, and to further explore its activity against Candida albicans. MIC determinations were performed according to EUCAST guidelines. Next, the activity of [K3]temporin-SHa against C. albicans was explored using time-killing curve experiments, membrane permeabilization assays, and electron microscopy. Finally, chequerboard assays were performed to evaluate the synergy between [K3]temporin-SHa and amphotericin B or fluconazole. [K3]temporin-SHa was found to be active in vitro against several yeasts with MIC between 5.5 and 45 µM. [K3]temporin-SHa displayed rapid fungicidal activity against C. albicans (inoculum was divided into two in less than an hour and no viable colonies were recovered after 5 h) with a mechanism that could be due to membrane permeabilization. [K3]temporin-SHa was synergistic with amphotericin B against C. albicans (FICI = 0.303). [K3]temporin-SHa could represent an additional tool to treat several Candida species and C. neoformans.
Effects of thermodiffusion on Darcy–Brinkman convection in a rotating binary nanofluid saturating a porous layer
Authors: Gaikwad Sravan Nayek , Surwase Dnyaneshwar Madhavrao
Published: March 2022

In this study, the onset of convection in a rotating horizontal porous layer saturated by a binary nanofluid was theoretically investigated under the influence of thermodiffusion and nanoparticles. To study the onset of convection, the Darcy–Brinkman model was employed for the porous medium, and the thermal Rayleigh number was derived analytically using linear stability analysis. Water–ammonia-based silver, copper, and alumina, three binary nanofluids, were considered, and the effect of nanoparticles on the stability of the system was analysed using addition factor analysis. The Brinkman model for viscosity and Bruggeman model under the mean field approach for thermal conductivity were used to study the impact of nanoparticles. Heat transport was examined by calculating the heat transfer coefficient. The effects of nondimensional parameters involved in binary nanofluids on the onset of convective instabilities are depicted pictorially. The dependence of the size of the convection cells on nondimensional parameters is also discussed. The Darcy–Taylor number decreases the size of convection cells, whereas the Darcy number increases the size of convection cells. The size of the convection cells is independent of the porosity of the medium, Lewis number, volume fraction of nanoparticles, Soret effect of nanoparticles, and the solute in binary nanofluids. Furthermore, the Darcy–Taylor number and porosity have stabilising effects, whereas the Darcy number, volume fraction of nanoparticles, and Lewis number have destabilising effects on the system. Soret effects of nanoparticles and solutes exhibit dual consequences on stability. They stabilise the binary nanofluid layer if δ4 < –1 and destabilise when δ4 > –1. Their effect is immaterial if δ4 = –1.
Neoformation of palygorskite in Calcids of Central Iran
Authors: Amin Peyman , Akhavan Ghalibaf Mohammad
Published: March 2022

Palygorskite has been reported in alluvial sediments and in soil clays in Central Iran, but it is not known if it is inherited or formed in situ. Here, we sampled Calcids developed from Triassic and Cambrian dolomitic formations in the southwestern part of Yazd and performed soil and clay characterization by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, optical and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analyses. Our results suggested palygorskite neoformation in the calcic soil horizons in Calcids. The soils with aridic soil moisture regime and high Mg concentration, during the formation of a calcic horizon by precipitation of secondary calcite, conditions were suitable for authigenic palygorskite crystals of long size (>10–20 μm) and their stability. In addition, the occurrence of short-size (about 2 μm) palygorskite fibers in the lower gypsic horizon probably resulted from its translocation from the upper horizons. Therefore, such results suggested palygorskite neoformation in the calcic soil horizons in these Calcids of Iran.
Proposed new soil order — Leptosolic order for Canadian System of Soil Classification
Authors: Warren C. James , Saurette Daniel D. , Heck Richard J. , Comeau Louis-Pierre
Published: March 2022

Shallow soils occur throughout the world and are recognized as Leptosols at the highest level in the World Reference Base. These soils are notionally characterized as having a lithic contact close to the soil surface. Within the Canadian System of Soil Classification (CSSC), shallow soils are currently handled at the family level according to the depth at which the lithic contact is encountered. At the series level, these soils are usually designated as a shallow phase of a non-shallow soil series, ignoring the hierarchical structure of the CSSC. Shallow soils occur almost anywhere in Canada where the glacial drift is thin. The presence of bedrock close to the surface impacts drainage, the amount of available moisture, depth for rooting, and has a major influence on soil formation. Consequently, it is proposed that the importance of shallow soils be elevated to the order level, to be consistent with the frequency of their occurrence in the Canadian landscape and for consistency with other soil classification systems of the world. This requires integration at the great group and subgroup levels within all orders of the CSSC, as well as changes to the current formal definition of soil. These proposed modifications include nullifying the minimum 10 cm depth requirement as part of the current definition of soil in the CSSC for closer consistency with ecological land classification and other soil classification systems of the world. Proposed modifications to the current key to the soil orders, great groups, and subgroups are presented and discussed.
Three-dimensional non-relativistic supergravity and torsion
Authors: Concha Patrick , Ravera Lucrezia , Rodríguez Evelyn
Published: March 2022

In this paper we present a torsional non-relativi-stic Chern–Simons (super)gravity theory in three spacetime dimensions. We start by developing the non-relativistic limit of the purely bosonic relativistic teleparallel Chern–Simons formulation of gravity. On-shell the latter yields a non-Riemannian setup with non-vanishing torsion, which, at non-relativistic level, translates into a non-vanishing spatial torsion sourced by the cosmological constant. Then we consider the three-dimensional relativistic $${\mathcal {N}}=2$$

N
=
2

teleparallel Chern–Simons supergravity theory and obtain its non-relativistic counterpart by exploiting a Lie algebra expansion method. The non-relativistic supergravity theory is characterized, on-shell, by a non-vanishing spatial super-torsion, again sourced by the cosmological constant.
A Traffic Sign Detection System Linking Hypothesis Tests and Deep Learning Networks
Authors: Çetinkaya Mert , Acarman Tankut
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient method for traffic sign detection. Our methodology uses deep learning networks introduced for semantic image segmentation and classification of region of interests generated by image segmentation. The region of interests are detected by segmenting the road scene image dataset and hypothesis tests are applied to accept or reject the probability of being a traffic sign in the detected region of interest. For hypothesis tests, color feature, and the location of the traffic sign with respect to the segmented road information is used. The main contribution of our method is the introduction of hypothesis tests that mutually couple two deep learning networks trained by well-known datasets publicly available for benchmarking purposes. To test and evaluate our traffic sign detection system, we use the German traffic sign detection benchmark dataset with a large set of traffic signs and during its training, The cityscapes dataset offering labeled urban scenes is also leveraged by the traffic sign detection system. Our experimental results illustrate the effectiveness performance metrics are reached at 90.81%, 94.76% and 92.74% in precision, recall and F-measure, respectively. The runtime cost is around 0.4[Formula: see text]s for an image on an ordinary laptop computer.
A Missing Generic Local Fold–Fold Bifurcation in Planar Filippov Systems
Authors: Siller Tiago E.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we present a new generic local bifurcation in planar Filippov systems. The new bifurcation presented here is a visible–invisible two-fold bifurcation which does not appear in the list published by Kuznetsov et al. in 2003.
Complexity of Reverse Supply Chain Pricing Game Model Based on Recycler Heterogeneity Behavior
Authors: Li Ting , Yan Dongyun , Lv Yan
Published: March 2022

Recycling and remanufacturing is one kind of production and operation mode in which enterprises maintain harmony and compatibility with the environment. This paper constructs a competition model for the recycling of reverse supply chain considering the behavioral factors of recyclers. In accordance with the definition of the fixed point, we calculate the four equilibrium points of the system and also analyze the local and global stability of the system. Different from former researches, this paper emphasizes on the study of the impact on the long-term operation and profit of the system by those behavioral factors. The study shows that: those behavioral factors of the enterprise, like price adjustment speed, the fairness concern coefficient, and the trade-off coefficient of market share, have significant effects on the size of the stability region. Through some simulation methods like the system’s price bifurcation diagram, maximum Lyapunov exponent, price power spectrum and so on, the characteristics of the system with its chaotic dynamics will be illustrated in this paper. The paper also focuses on the study of the impacts on the system’s profits by heterogeneous behavioral factors. It is furthermore found that once some drastic pricing strategies are being adopted, both the profits of any party and the operating efficiency of the entire system will be damaged.
Codimension-Two Bifurcations and Bifurcation Controls in a Discrete Biological System with Weak Allee Effect
Authors: Zhang Limin , Xu Yike , Liao Guangyuan
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the codimension-two bifurcations and bifurcation controls of a discrete predatory system with weak Allee effect on prey are investigated. After analyzing the qualitative properties of all the fixed points, we explore the existences of 1:2 and 1:3 strong resonances at the unique interior fixed point. Combining the adjoint operator method with an approximate identity transformation, we obtain the normal forms of these strong resonances. Meanwhile, we calculate the approximate expressions of bifurcation curves around the resonance point, which include Neimark–Sacker and period doubling bifurcation curves. And we give the conditions under which these bifurcations are supercritical or subcritical. To study global bifurcations near the resonance point, we use an ordinary differential equation to approximate the original discrete system by the time-one approximation flow theory. In biology, bifurcations and unstable fluctuations may be harmful for the breeding of biological population. Then we extend the hybrid control strategy to control 1:2 and 1:3 strong resonances. Numerical simulations are in good agreement with our theoretical results. By using the MatContM package, we perform numerical bifurcation analyses to further support our theoretical results, in which the bifurcation points and the normal form coefficients are completely consistent with our theories. According to the results, we finally analyze the impact of weak Allee effect on the system. And a reasonable biological explanation is given for these conclusions.
Admissible Perturbations of a Generalized Langford System
Authors: Musafirov Eduard , Grin Alexander , Pranevich Andrei
Published: March 2022

Admissible perturbations refer to the perturbations that do not change the Mironenko reflecting function of the system, which are obtained for an autonomous three-dimensional quadratic generalized Langford system with five parameters. The obtained nonautonomous perturbed systems retain many of the qualitative properties of the original system solutions. In particular, the instability (in the sense of Lyapunov) of the equilibrium point, the presence of a periodic solution and its asymptotic stability (instability) are proved for the perturbed systems. The presence of similar chaotic attractors in the original and perturbed systems is shown by numerical simulation.
Spacetimes with continuous local isotropies
Authors: MacCallum Malcolm A. H.
Published: March 2022

General relativistic spacetimes in which at every point [Formula: see text] in some neighbourhood [Formula: see text] the tangent space [Formula: see text] is invariant under the same continuous subgroup [Formula: see text] of the Lorentz group are considered. Some previously open problems for such spacetimes are discussed and solved, and a comprehensive survey of such spacetimes is provided. For most cases, invariance of the curvature and its first covariant derivative under [Formula: see text] imply the existence of an isometry group in [Formula: see text] containing [Formula: see text] as an isotropy group. In the remaining cases, invariance of second and third derivatives may be required for this implication, and in particular, the necessity of invariance of the third derivative is proved for the locally rotationally symmetric spacetimes discussed by Ellis and by Stewart and Ellis.
Critical phenomena of charged dilatonic black holes through Rényi statistics approach
Authors: El Moumni Hasan , Masmar Karima , Mazzou Safaa
Published: March 2022

In this paper, in order to describe the non-Boltzmannian phase structure of charged dilatonic black holes in the absence of the cosmological constant, we consider the Rényi statistics as an extension of the Boltzmann–Gibbs theory which also satisfies Abe’s formula. This description is achieved by considering such a black hole either as a closed system (canonical ensemble) or as an open system (grand canonical ensemble). Through this study, we find that a Hawking–Page phase transition and a Van der Waals phase portrait appear within the grand canonical ensemble and canonical ensemble, respectively, these transitions are absent in the usual Boltzmann–Gibbs’s description. Furthermore, such phase structures provide another example wherein the thermodynamics associated with a vanishing cosmological constant black holes via Rényi statistics processes the same proprieties as those of asymptotically AdS charged black holes via Gibbs–Boltzmann formalism. This provides more insight into a possible and deep connection between the nonextensive Rényi parameter [Formula: see text] and the cosmological constant [Formula: see text]. Among others, we have addressed a generalization of [C. Promsiri, E. Hirunsirisawat and W. Liewrian, Phys. Rev. D 102 (2020) 064014] to dilaton gravity background and [R. Zhao, H.-H. Zhao, M.-S. Ma and L.-C. Zhang, Eur. Phys. J. C 73 (2013) 2645] to Rényi statistics approach.
Interference Effects of Adjacent High-Rise Building on Wind-Induced Response of Low-Rise Flat Roof Building
Authors: Chen Bo , Qin Mengyi , Du Kun , Yang Qingshan
Published: March 2022

Interference influence of the spacing and height ratio on the modal generalized force and wind-induced response of the low-rise building roof due to one adjacent high-rise building is investigated at three typical wind directions of 0∘, 90∘ and 180∘, where the low-rise building was, respectively, located at the upstream, side-by-side and downstream of the high-rise building. The mean and standard deviation of the modal generalized force of the first vibration mode mainly exhibits reduction effects and amplification effects, respectively, at the wind direction of 0∘ and 90∘ at small building spacing, and first experiences shielding effects and then becomes amplification effects when the height ratio increases at the wind direction of 180∘. The maximum displacement mainly presents reduction effects at the wind direction of 0∘, the interference factor decreases with the increase of the reduced frequency in engineering range, and the minimum interference factor is close to 0.2. At the wind direction of 90∘, the maximum displacement mainly presents amplification effects, these effects are obvious when the spacing ratio is small and the height ratio is large, and the maximum interference factor is close to 2.2 when the reduced frequency is larger than 0.3. At the wind direction of 180∘, the maximum displacement shows significant amplification effects when the building spacing is small and the height ratio is large, the amplification effects gradually weaken and change into shielding effects as the building spacing increases or the height ratio decreases, and the minimum interference factor is close to 0.3. The minimum displacement experiences amplification effects at all three typical wind directions.
A Multi-Excitation Method of Damage Detection in Plate-Like Structure Based on Wavelet Packet Energy
Authors: Yu Yang , Ma Wentao
Published: March 2022

Damage detection technology based on wavelet packet energy has been widely applied to structural health monitoring, especially for one-dimensional structures. With more complex vibration characteristics than one-dimensional structure, two-dimensional structure is common in ship structure. It is a challenge for using wavelet packet energy methods to detect damage in two-dimensional structures. In this study, based on the wavelet packet energy eigenvector, a novel concept of detection index ratio (DIR) is defined to characterize the damage location ability of the excitation force. Based on the above research, a multi-excitation method of damage location in plate-like structures is proposed. In this method, a series of half-sine pulse excitation forces with different frequencies are applied to the structure, and wavelet packet transform (WPT) is used to decompose the vibration response of the intact structure and the damaged structure. The energy ratio changes in frequency bands on all measuring points are taken as the preliminary damage detection index, and the final detection index is obtained by synthesizing the preliminary indexes under various excitation. Moreover, to verify the effect of the proposed method, several tested damage cases are presented. The results show that the proposed method can locate single and multiple damage more accurately and has better noise robustness than the traditional detection method under single excitation.
Thermal–Structural Coupling Analysis for Multiple Honeycomb Plates Connected by Hinges
Authors: Cao Yuteng , Cao Dengqing , He Guiqin , Hao Yuxin , Ge Xinsheng , Liu Lun
Published: March 2022

The dynamical model of multiple honeycomb plates connected by hinges, including the thermal–structural coupling effect, is investigated in this paper. Under the assumption of small deformations and strains, the classical plate theory is used to establish the dynamical model of the honeycomb plate. The Chebyshev polynomial is adopted to describe the deformation of the plate and the linear torsional spring to represent the elastic hinge. Using the Rayleigh–Ritz method, the characteristic equation of the honeycomb sandwich structure is derived, from which the natural frequencies are obtained. Considering the thermal effect of the plate, the thermal–structural coupling dynamical equation is obtained. The thermal conduction in the thickness direction is calculated by the finite difference method. The present model is validated by comparing with the result generated by an equivalent orthotropic plate model established by the finite element (FE) software MSC Patran. The response analysis reveals the important effect of the metal skin and the hinge stiffness on the dynamic characteristics of the honeycomb sandwich structure. Numerical simulations reveal thermal–structural coupling features for the multi-honeycomb-plate structure from the perspective of the change in dynamic characteristics and the distribution of the temperature gradient. The thermal–structural coupling calculation method adopted herein can be used to solve the thermal conduction of the plate. It serves as the theoretical method for analyzing the dynamical behavior of the solar panel subjected to the solar heat.