bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust and Accurate Trust Establishment Scheme for Wireless Sensor Network
Authors:   University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, NANGUE Audrey , TAGNE Elie FUTE , TONYE Emmanuel
Published: December 2020

The success of the mission assigned to a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) depends heavily on the cooperation between the nodes of this network. Indeed, given the vulnerability of wireless sensor networks to attack, some entities may engage in malicious behavior aimed at undermining the proper functioning of the network. As a result, the selection of reliable nodes for task execution becomes a necessity for the network. To improve the cooperation and security of wireless sensor networks, the use of Trust Management Systems (TMS) is increasingly recommended due to their low resource consumption. The various existing trust management systems differ in their methods of estimating trust value. The existing ones are very rigid and not very accurate. In this paper, we propose a robust and accurate method (RATES) to compute direct and indirect trust between the network nodes. In RATES model, to compute the direct trust, we improve the Bayesian formula by applying the chaining of trust values, a local reward, a local penalty and a flexible global penalty based on the variation of successful interactions, failures and misbehaviors frequency. RATES thus manages to obtain a direct trust value that is accurate and representative of the node behavior in the network. In addition, we introduce the establishment of a simple confidence interval to filter out biased recommendations sent by malicious nodes to disrupt the estimation of a node's indirect trust. Mathematical theoretical analysis and evaluation of the simulation results show the best performance of our approach for detecting on-off attacks, bad-mouthing attacks and persistent attacks compared to the other existing approaches.
Malware Classification with Improved Convolutional Neural Network Model
Authors:   Dept. of CSE, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Sangli, Maharashtra, India, Lad Sumit S. , Adamuthe Amol C.
Published: December 2020

Malware is a threat to people in the cyber world. It steals personal information and harms computer systems. Various developers and information security specialists around the globe continuously work on strategies for detecting malware. From the last few years, machine learning has been investigated by many researchers for malware classification. The existing solutions require more computing resources and are not efficient for datasets with large numbers of samples. Using existing feature extractors for extracting features of images consumes more resources. This paper presents a Convolutional Neural Network model with pre-processing and augmentation techniques for the classification of malware gray-scale images. An investigation is conducted on the Malimg dataset, which contains 9339 gray-scale images. The dataset created from binaries of malware belongs to 25 different families. To create a precise approach and considering the success of deep learning techniques for the classification of raising the volume of newly created malware, we proposed CNN and Hybrid CNN+SVM model. The CNN is used as an automatic feature extractor that uses less resource and time as compared to the existing methods. Proposed CNN model shows (98.03%) accuracy which is better than other existing CNN models namely VGG16 (96.96%), ResNet50 (97.11%) InceptionV3 (97.22%), Xception (97.56%). The execution time of the proposed CNN model is significantly reduced than other existing CNN models. The proposed CNN model is hybridized with a support vector machine. Instead of using Softmax as activation function, SVM performs the task of classifying the malware based on features extracted by the CNN model. The proposed fine-tuned model of CNN produces a well-selected features vector of 256 Neurons with the FC layer, which is input to SVM. Linear SVC kernel transforms the binary SVM classifier into multi-class SVM, which classifies the malware samples using the one-against-one method and delivers the accuracy of 99.59%.
Case-Based Reasoning Framework for Malaria Diagnosis
Authors:   School of Computing, Ethiopian Institute of Technology-Mekelle, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia, Addisu Eshetie Gizachew , Boltena Abiot Sinamo , Amare Samson Yohannes
Published: December 2020

Malaria is life threatening disease in Ethiopia specifically in Tigray region. Having common symptoms with other diseases makes it complex and challenging to diagnose effectively. In this paper case based reasoning framework for malaria diagnosis has been designed to diminish the challenges faced by inexperienced practitioners during malaria diagnosis and to solve the problem on shortage of health professionals. The required knowledge for this study was collected through interview and document analysis from domain experts, malaria patient history cards and other related relevant documents. In the case acquisition process the manual format of cases makes the process too challenging. Decision tree is used to model the acquired knowledge. The case structure was then constructed using the selected most determinant attributes. Machine learning approach is applied to select the most relevant features. Feature-vector case representation technique is applied to represent the collected malaria cases. Jcolibri programming tool integrated with Eclipse and Nearest Neighbor retrieval algorithm are used to design the framework. To the end based on the results we can say that the machine learning approach can be used to select most relevant attributes in diseases having several common symptoms and designing case-based diagnosis frameworks could overcome the main problems observed in health centers of Tigray. As an artifact the framework is evaluated by statistical analysis, comparative evaluation, user evaluation and other evaluation techniques. Averagely 79 % precision, 89 % recall, 91.4% accuracy and 78.8% domain expert’s evaluation was the results scored.
Managing Data Diversity on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
Authors:   GC Woman University Sialkot / Department of Computer Science & Information Technology, Pakistan, Mehmood Iram , Anwar Sidra , AneezaDilawar  , IsmaZulfiqar  , Abbas Raja Manzar
Published: December 2020

In the healthcare industry, the Internet of Medical Services (IOMT) plays a vital role throughout the increasing performance, reliability, and efficiency of an electronic device. Healthcare is also characterized as being complicated due to its highly diverse and large number of shareholders. Data diversity refers to the continuum of various types of elements in the data. The integration of data is difficult where different sources can adopt different identification for the same entity, but there is no explicit connection. Researches are contributing to a digitized Health care system through interconnections available medical resources and health care services. This Research presents the contribution of IoT to people in the field of Healthcare, highlighting the issues in different data integration, analysis of the existing algorithms and models, applications, and future challenges of IoT in terms of healthcare medical services. Big data analytics that incorporates millions of fragmented, organized, and unstructured sources of data will play a key role in how health care will be delivered in the future.
Essential aspects for the administration of blood components in hospitalized patients: A narrative literature review
Authors: Abarca Rozas Bastian , Vargas Urra Jocelyn , Dadlani Mahtani Pavan , Widerström Isea Jorge , Mestas Rodríguez Manuel
Published: December 2020

Introduction Transfusion medicine develops and disseminates guidelines that govern the optimal conditions for transfusion. The purpose of this article is to review the current evidence on the use of blood components. Methods We searched PubMed, Scholar Google, ScienceDirect, SciELO and Cochrane web portals, as well as official documents published in the Chilean Society of Hematology. Articles from the last ten years were included, of which 42 were appropriate for this narrative literature review. Conclusion First of all, there is a controversy between two types of strategies regarding the practice of red blood cell transfusion: a liberal strategy and a restrictive strategy. Second, for the management of coagulopathies, clotting times do not reflect the true ability of patients to clot. Third, to reverse the effect of coumadin, the administration of vitamin K would suffice over the use of fresh frozen plasma. Fourth, the use of physiological triggers could help define the best time for a transfusion.
The key factors of the US strategic culture
Authors: Glišić Darko
Published: December 2020

The US strategic foreign and security action is fundamentally conditioned by the need to preserve and enhance its own political, economic, and especially military power and influence on the international system and to protect the vital national interests. The US strategic culture is primarily reflected in the following: the strong and persistent belief of the US political elites that the real and long-term security and prosperity of the US can be ensured solely by expanding, and in no way diminishing, its sphere of foreign policy influence; the clear and constant efforts of the US political elite to establish and maintain the US foreign policy position as an undisputed regional and global (military) hegemon; insisting on the unrestricted freedom of action and retaining the sovereign right to unilateral, offensive military action of the US in international disputes and in the event of a threat to its national interests; clearly stated intentions to act decisively, proactively and preventively (militarily) in counteracting potential threats to the US national security and interests, away from its shores, and before they are fully materialized; aspirations of decision-makers, political and military elites to find and implement simple and fast solutions to complex problems in the external environment; the almost complete absence of policies and strategies that involve the planning and conduct of wars with limited political objectives; a firm and undivided belief of the entire nation in the exceptionalism and "omnipotence" of the state, which in turn contributes to the development and preservation of the tendency of the US political elites to set unrealistic and maximalist goals before the nation and its foreign policy.
Strategic culture in the geopolitical interpretation of transit and transition
Authors: Knežević Miloš
Published: December 2020

The author explains and proves that in epochal changes at the crossroads of centuries and millennia, there are two similar, but in many ways different processes: transit and transition. Transit means the passage of some parts of the state through a complex and unique state in the direction of international independence. From an empirical perspective, transit proceeds in two ways: peacefully or in a conflict or. Transit is, in fact, another name for separation or secession. Transit secession in one state shapes several independent states. In that sense, transit is the exteriorization of national politics, its internationalization and geopoliticization. Although it manifests dramatically, tragically and catastrophically in the secession conflict, in the theoretical discourse of social, national and state changes, transit is covered by the process of transition. Therefore, the author recognizes three approaches to the relationship between transit and transition: transit that is partially differentiated from transition; transit that is fully differentiated from transition and transit equated to transition. The author advocates a clear and principled distinction between the phenomenon of transit and the phenomenon of transition. Finally, the paper emphasizes the chronopolitical moment of geopolitical metamorphoses in which transit precedes and in many ways determines the later transition. Transition as a socio-economic process, i.e. the political-economic structural transformation of the socialist into the capitalist society cannot be sufficiently understood without understanding the previous events of transit. It is precisely the Yugoslav case of the disintegration of a complex state that could be instructive for the current EU integration, and also certain multinational and mononational states that face the danger of extreme regionalism, autonomy and separatism.
Perspectives on internationalism in Geography
Authors: Meadows Michael E.
Published: December 2020

International collaboration in science in general continues to grow and the discipline of Geography is increasingly becoming internationalized. Although there are many benefits to internationalism and, indeed, it is essential if we are to address major global challenges, there is debate as to whether or not existing power relations contribute to cementing unevenness and inequity among the global community of geographers. This is reflected in academic publication practices which clearly advantage particular communities over others. In this essay, I offer some thoughts on the nature of internationalism and its influence on representation in the global geographical community. Important constraints to greater inclusivity are highlighted and the role of the International Geographical Union in potentially offsetting some of the apparent inequities is discussed. The paper concludes with some thoughts as to what is needed if internationalism is to help reduce rather than accentuate such imbalances.
Influence of “Nicoflok” Polymer-Mineral with Portland Cement on Granular Soils and Recycled Asphalt Material
Authors: Baroughi Mahdi Zirak , Rezaei Amir Hassan , Katebi Hooshang
Published: December 2020

In road construction projects, due to the high volume of soil materials, the costs of supplying and transporting high-quality materials are very high, they may also include the crossing between different geotechnical lands with different types of soils and soil stabilization used to modify resistance characteristics of soil materials in different layers of the road. Addition of a stabilizing agent can improve the properties of aggregates and subgrade soils. In this study, the effect caused by the combined action of polymer-mineral composition “Nicoflok” and cement stabilization on the strength characteristics and durability of local materials, adopted from under-construction Ilkhchi highway project, was investigated. In addition, the effects of stabilizers on the recycled asphalt materials was studied to assess the possibility of using them in the pavement structure. Samples with 0, 0.5, 0.9 and 1.3 percent of Nicoflok combined with varying percentages of cement content were made and CBR tests were conducted after curing. Strength degradation of samples under 50 cycles of freeze-thaw was also investigated. The results show that addition of cement- Nicoflok admixture to the subgrade soil considerably increases CBR values, which leads to reduction of the required material amount. The efficiency of this polymer with Portland cement depends on several factors, such as the amount of cement, curing time, size and shape of soil grains. The optimum dosage of Nicoflok was 0.9% mixed with 1% cement. Stabilizing the base and recycled asphalt materials with cement and Nicoflok also improves the long-term performance of the pavement.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment for Road Pavement Materials and Reconstruction Technologies
Authors: Riekstins Arturs , Haritonovs Viktors , Straupe Verners
Published: December 2020

With limited funding and a desire to reduce environmental impact, there is a lot of pressure on road Authorities to develop decision making policy to manage better, build and maintain the road network sustainability. One of the solutions is to use various life cycle analyses. Numerous tools are available for different analyses, but they usually evaluate the construction from one perspective (economical, environmental, or social). Therefore, it was decided to develop a tool, which combines economic (Life Cycle Cost Analysis) and environmental (Life Cycle Assessment) analyses. The given study presents the methodology of the self-developed calculation program, which compare full-depth road constructions. Paper also shows shortcomings when calculation does not include all life cycle processes. In this study, five different road pavement constructions and reconstruction plans were compared. The difference between these pavements was in the layer thickness, recycled asphalt content in asphalt layers and the use of cement or fly ash in the road base layers. The results showed that the full depth reclamation technology in comparison to the full-depth removal and replacement reduce emissions by 60% and costs by 50%.
Determining Soil Moisture Content and Material Properties with Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
Authors: Latvala Juha , Luomala Heikki , Kolisoja Pauli
Published: December 2020

This study utilised static triaxial and dynamic cone penetration tests to examine the identification of changes in strength in soil materials as a result of an increase in moisture content. The applicability of a light dynamic cone penetrometer device in railway environments was also studied. On a broader scale, the aim was to find an investigation method suited to field locations that identify low-quality or persistently moist materials directly from the structure. The triaxial tests found an apparent increase in shear strength when the water content dropped below 7%. Based on the series of laboratory tests, the dynamic cone penetrometer reacted strongly to material density, but the impact of moisture content was also evident. Furthermore, the results showed that dynamic cone resistance is a reasonably unfeasible metric for assessing the structural quality of materials consisting primarily of sand, due to the number of factors affecting the resistance. In the laboratory tests, the lowest dynamic cone resistances were measured in the material with the highest structural quality.
Technology challenges of 14 T whole-body superconducting MRI magnets —A target of high-field superconducting magnet technology for large scale applications in next decade
Authors: Jiang Xiao-Hua , Xue Peng , Huang Wei-Can , Li Ye ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China,   Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a brief review of the development trend of superconducting magnets in large scale applications towards high magnetic fields, depending on and pushing the Nb3Sn wire technics' continuous improvement. The focus is on analysis of the technology challenges of 14 T whole-body superconducting magnets. Using the Bonze Nb3Sn wires and on the base of a combination design of Nb3Sn and NbTi coils, an electromagnetic conception design of a 14 T whole-body MRI magnet is presented, and the thermal stability and quench protection are analyzed by simulations. The critical issues on stress, joints as well as shimming of 14 T whole-body superconducting magnets are also discussed. According to the results, this paper believes: 1) Nb3Sn wires are of the first important issue for 14 T whole-body superconducting magnets—the Bonze Nb3Sn wire is of the best choice but the performance specifications of the current products need to be improved further to match the requirements; 2) quench protection of 14 T whole-body superconducting magnets is one of the most complicated technics that covers design of the copper to superconductor (Cu/SC) ratio, coordination of the operating current and coil inductances, subdivisions of passive protection circuits and quench triggering control of active protection, as well as the stray field limitation during the transient process.
Carl Claubergs metode for sterilisering uten operasjon
Authors: Ruyter Knut
Published: December 2020

The methods of Carl Clauberg for sterilization of women without surgery: A research ethics journey: from a new ethic for doctors and nurses via clinical research in Auschwitz to lawsuit in Schleswig

During a recent visit to Auschwitz I was surprised to learn how little I knew about the clinical research done by professor Carl Clauberg and how scarce the references are in the education of health professionals and in the field of research ethics. Clauberg’s research aimed at developing the most effective «methods and means» to make women permanently sterile. The method was to be the preferred procedure for mass sterilization of all women of inferior value, be they Jewish or Slavic or regarded as degenerate. The encounter with block 10 in Auschwitz was the start of a research ethics journey through archives in Auschwitz and Schleswig to see if there were any explanations to the evildoing of doctors and nurses and to the difficulties of prosecuting evil – it was also a reminder about how easy we can be influenced by external forces and what it takes to withstand them.
α‐Diazo Sulfonium Triflates: Synthesis, Structure, and Application to the Synthesis of 1‐(Dialkylamino)‐1,2,3‐triazoles
Authors: Li Xiangdong , Golz Christopher , Alcarazo Manuel
Published: December 2020

The one‐pot synthesis of a series of sulfonium salts containing transferable diazomethyl groups is described, and the structure of these compounds is elucidated by X‐ray crystallography. Under photochemical conditions, reaction of these salts with N,N‐dialkyl hydrazones affords 1‐(dialkylamino)‐1,2,3‐triazoles via diazomethyl radical addition to the azomethine carbon followed by intramolecular ring closure. The straightforward transformation of the structures thus obtained into mesoionic carbene–metal complexes is also reported and the donor properties of these new ligands characterized.
Circular braided glass fiber/epoxy composites with helical architecture (coil spring) fabricated by plaster‐sacrificial compression molding for structural automotive applications
Authors: Kim Sung Jun , Shin Jungkyu , Kim Jae Gwan , Park Kwang‐Hoon , Jang Keon‐Soo
Published: December 2020

Various approaches to reduce the weight of electronics and automobile devices have been explored. For instance, an alternative polymer was utilized to replace metals. In the present study, a new circular braided glass fiber/epoxy composite (braid angle: 45°, fiber: 48 vol%) with a helical structure was fabricated as a model coil spring for weight reduction. A plaster‐sacrificial compression mold was especially designed to fabricate helical composites without voids. The spring design was validated by the experimental results of torsional tests. Plastic deformations of the epoxy resin were measured using creep tests to eliminate high‐temperature plastic deformation (HTPD) of the composites. Pre‐strain applied thermal aging was utilized to remove HTPD. Mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated. The mechanism of mechanical failure was found to be the interfacial failure. For preparation of uncured prepreg, resin permeability was measured to a range of 10−10 m2. Resin transfer in the glass fiber‐braided textiles occurred due to the combination of viscous and diffusional flow mechanisms. Based on the results in this study, the facilely designed coil spring composite can be used for various applications, especially automotive parts.
Design, synthesis, in silico, and in vitro evaluation of 3‐phenylpyrazole acetamide derivatives as antimycobacterial agents
Authors: Gaikwad Nikhil B. , Nirmale Krishna , Sahoo Santosh K. , Ahmad Mohammad N. , Kaul Grace , Shukla Manjulika , Nanduri Srinivas , Das Gupta Arunava , Chopra Sidharth , Yaddanapudi Madhavi V.
Published: December 2020

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the most dangerous pathogens affecting immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients worldwide. Novel molecules, which are efficient and can reduce the duration of therapy against drug‐resistant strains, are an urgent unmet need of the hour. In our current study, a series of new 2‐(3‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)acetamide and N′‐benzylidene‐2‐(3‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)acetohydrazide derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antimycobacterial potential. The biological evaluation revealed that 6b, 6m, 6l, 7a, and 7k exhibited selective and potent inhibitory activity against Mtb. Furthermore, compounds 6m and 7h were found to be nontoxic to Vero cells with CC50 of greater than 20 and 80 mg/ml, respectively, and exhibited promising selectivity indices (SI) of greater than 666 and 320, respectively. All derivatives exhibited excellent ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties in silico. Also, all the derivatives were found compliant with Lipinski's rule of five, showing their druggability profile. Molecular docking insights of these derivatives have shown outstanding binding energies on the mycobacterial membrane protein large transporters. These results indicate that this scaffold may lead to a potential antimycobacterial drug candidate in the discovery of antitubercular agents.
Controlling the Selectivity of Supported Ru Nanoparticles During Glycerol Hydrogenolysis: C−O vs C−C Cleavage
Authors: Guadix‐Montero Susana , Santos Hernandez Alba , Lei Nian , Morgan David J. , He Qian , Wang Aiqin , Zhang Tao , Roldan Alberto , Sankar Meenakshisundaram
Published: December 2020

Controlling the selectivity of a reaction by rational designing of catalyst is an important and challenging topic in catalysis research. In this article, we report a strategy to tune the product selectivity during aqueous phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol using gaseous H2. Ru/TiO2 is an active catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol, however it promotes the hydrogenolysis of C−C bonds resulting in large quantities of C2 and C1 products. On the other hand, Pd/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 catalysts are very selective for the hydrogenolysis of C−O bonds producing mainly C3 products (1,2 and 1,3 propanediols), however they are much less active compared to the Ru catalysts. In this article, we report that by combining Ru with Pt or Pd in a bimetallic nanoparticle, we can develop new catalysts that are both active and selective for C−O hydrogenolysis. A physical mixture of two monometallic catalysts does not show this enhanced selectivity for C−O hydrogenolysis, proving that intimate mixing of the two metals in a nanoparticle is crucial to tune the selectivity. All the monometallic and bimetallic catalysts have been characterised by microscopic and spectroscopic methods to understand their structural features. DFT studies were also done to rationalise the observed difference in the catalytic properties between monometallic and bimetallic catalysts.
Platinum(II) Complexes of Tridentate ‐Coordinating Ligands Based on Imides, Amides, and Hydrazides: Synthesis and Luminescence Properties
Authors: Puttock Emma V. , Sturala Jiri , Kistemaker Jos C. M. , Williams J. A. Gareth
Published: December 2020

Five Pt(II) complexes are described in which the metal ion is bound to anionic
‐coordinating ligands. The central, deprotonated N atom is derived from an imide Ar−C(=O)−NH−C(=O)−Ar {PtL1–2Cl; Ar=pyridine or pyrimidine}, an amide py−C(=O)−NH−CH2−py {PtL3Cl}, or a hydrazide py−C(=O)−NH−N=CH−py {PtL4Cl}. The imide complexes PtL1–2Cl show no significant emission in solution but are modestly bright green/yellow phosphors in the solid state. PtL3Cl is weakly phosphorescent. PtL4Cl is formed as a mixture of isomers, bound through either the amido or imino nitrogen, the latter converting to the former upon absorption of light. Remarkably, the imino form displays fluorescence in solution, λ0,0=535 nm, whereas the amido shows phosphorescence, λ0,0=624 nm, τ=440 ns. It is highly unusual for two isomeric compounds to display emission from states of different spin multiplicity. The amido‐bound PtL4Cl can act as a bidentate
‐coordinating ligand, demonstrated by the formation of bimetallic complexes with iridium(III) or ruthenium(II).
Rolling back the gains: Maternal stress undermines pregnancy health after Flint's water switch
Authors: Danagoulian Shooshan , Jenkins Derek
Published: December 2020

Environmental disasters impact disadvantaged communities disproportionately both through the epidemiological challenge of exposure, but also by undermining the progress of public health efforts. This paper studies changes to smoking cessation, breastfeeding, and weight gain during pregnancy in the period following the switch in water supply in Flint, Michigan, in April 2014. As the switch resulted in immediate and significant deterioration in water quality, eventually leading to its contamination with lead, we estimate a 10.5 percentage point increase in smoking and a 2.1 percentage point decrease in breastfeeding. We show evidence that these changes in maternal behavior are linked to increased stress due to changing water quality. We estimate that the increase in smoking alone is responsible for most of the increase in incidence of low birthweight among infants in Flint, resulting in $700 additional costs per birth. Increased smoking during pregnancy and lower breastfeeding rates in Flint roll back years of public health efforts, resulting in lifetime higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer for mothers in the community.
Daily investor sentiment, order flow imbalance and stock liquidity: evidence from the Chinese stock market
Authors: Yin Haiyuan , Wu Xingying , Kong Sophie X
Published: December 2020

We examine whether and how investor sentiment affects stock liquidity in the Chinese stock market. Utilizing big data mining techniques, we excavate posted texts of a large stock forum and devise daily investor sentiment indicators. While examining the relationship between investor sentiment and stock liquidity, we also test whether order flow imbalance, attributed to investor sentiment, is the channel where investor sentiment delivers its impact on stock liquidity. We find that investor sentiment correlates positively with stock liquidity, and order flow imbalance is proven as an intermediary in this process. This positive correlation is stronger in a bear market than in a bull one. Additionally, liquidity sensitivity is higher for firms with higher book‐to‐market ratio, larger size and lower risk. When the market is less regulated, such as relaxed short‐selling restrictions, liquidity sensitivity also rises.
Occupational exposure to pesticides in female tea garden workers and adverse birth outcomes
Authors: Kumar Shashi Nandar , Vaibhav Kumar , Bastia Banajit , Singh Vishwajeet , Ahluwalia Meenakshi , Agrawal Usha , Borgohain Deepa , Raisuddin Sheikh , Jain Arun Kumar
Published: December 2020

Pesticides are globally used to eliminate pests from crops and plants. The increased use of pesticides has posed a serious threat to human health. This study evaluates the effects of pesticide exposure on pregnancy outcomes in tea garden workers (TGW). The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood of TGW and housewives (HWs). The placental structure and expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α were also analyzed in TGW and HW groups delivering low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) babies. A significantly decreased AChE activity was observed in maternal blood and cord blood in TGW as compared with HW in the LBW group. However, it did not change significantly in the NBW group (p < .05). The adjusted regression analysis of birth outcomes (birth weight, head circumference, infant's length, and ponderal index) revealed a significant and positive association with the levels of AChE activity in maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood in TGW (p < .05). The histological analysis showed significantly higher placental syncytial knots, chorangiosis, fibrinoid deposition, necrosis, and stromal fibrosis in the LBW group of TGW. Microinfarction, increased fibrinoid deposition, and atypical villi characteristics, such as mushroom‐like structures, were observed during scanning electron microscopy along with increased HIF‐1α expression in placental tissues of TGW exposed to pesticides. Results suggest that occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy may decrease AChE activity and cause in utero pathological changes accompanied by an increased HIF‐1α expression, which also contributes to placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction.
Using nutrient transport data to characterize and identify the presence of surface inlets in regions with subsurface drainage
Authors: Flores Luke , Bailey Ryan T. , Harmel R. Daren
Published: December 2020

Surface inlets route ponded surface water into subsurface drainage networks and are prevalent throughout North America. Despite serving as a nutrient loss pathway, contributing to downstream water quality degradation, surface inlets are thought to be underreported in drainage studies within the literature. Previous studies have demonstrated the footprint that surface inlets have on nutrient transport and drainage effluent but are site specific and focused on individual events. Moreover, although their ubiquitous presence is assumed, no regional surface inlet database exists. To this end, a structured review was undertaken with two goals. First, the MANAGE Drain Load database, consisting of nearly 1,500 site‐years of drainage and nutrient data, was analyzed to determine distinctions between areas with and without surface inlets. The median annual total phosphorus (TP) load was greater at site‐years with surface inlets (0.40 kg ha−1) than site‐years without (0.21 kg ha−1). The opposite emerged for dissolved nitrogen (DN) loads as site‐years with surface inlet had a smaller median annual load (3.3 kg ha−1) than site‐years without (23.0 kg ha−1). This relationship is attributed to immobile TP being transported primarily through overland flow and routed to subsurface drains via surface inlets and to relatively more mobile DN being subsurface driven, bypassed in settings with surface inlets. No statistical differences were found in annual drainage or ratios of particulate P to TP between site‐years with and without surface inlets. Second, a logistic regression model was developed that predicts the presence of surface inlets within MANAGE. Eighteen percent of site‐years and 21% of sites were predicted to have surface inlets.
Propofol versus midazolam for sedation during radiofrequency ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kanogawa Naoya , Ogasawara Sadahisa , Ooka Yoshihiko , Inoue Masanori , Wakamatsu Toru , Yokoyama Masayuki , Maruta Susumu , Unozawa Hidemi , Iwanaga Terunao , Sakuma Takafumi , Fujita Naoto , Koroki Keisuke , Kanzaki Hiroaki , Maeda Takahiro , Kobayashi Kazufumi , Kiyono Soichiro , Nakamura Masato , Kondo Takayuki , Saito Tomoko , Motoyama Tenyu , Suzuki Eiichiro , Nakamoto Shingo , Tawada Akinobu , Chiba Tetsuhiro , Arai Makoto , Kanda Tatsuo , Maruyama Hitoshi , Kato Jun , Takemura Ryo , Nozaki‐Taguchi Natsuko , Shiroh Isono , Yokosuka Osamu , Kato Naoya
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim

Standardization of the sedation protocol during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is needed. This randomized, single‐blind, investigator‐initiated trial compared clinical outcomes during and after RFA using propofol and midazolam, respectively, in patients with HCC.

Methods

Few‐ and small‐nodule HCC patients (≤3 nodules and ≤3 cm) were randomly assigned to either propofol or midazolam. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS) (1 mm = not at all satisfied, 100 mm = completely satisfied). Sedation recovery rates 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after RFA were evaluated based on Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scores; full recovery was defined as a MOAA/S score of 5.

Results

Between July 2013 and September 2017, 143 patients with HCC were enrolled, and 135 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group. Compared with midazolam, propofol exhibited similar median procedural satisfaction (propofol: 73.1 mm, midazolam: 76.9 mm, P = 0.574). Recovery rates 1 and 2 h after RFA were higher in the propofol group than in the midazolam group. Meanwhile, recovery rates observed 3 and 4 h after RFA were similar in the two groups. The safety profiles during and after RFA were almost identical in the two groups.

Conclusion

Patient satisfaction was almost identical in patients receiving propofol and midazolam sedation during RFA. Propofol sedation resulted in reduced recovery time compared with midazolam sedation in patients with HCC. The safety profiles of both propofol and midazolam sedation during and after RFA were acceptable.
Cellular and behavioral basis of cannabinioid and opioid interactions: Implications for opioid dependence and withdrawal
Authors: Mohammadkhani Aida , Borgland Stephanie L.
Published: December 2020

The brain's endogenous opioid and endocannabinoid systems are neuromodulatory of synaptic transmission, and play key roles in pain, memory, reward, and addiction. Recent clinical and pre‐clinical evidence suggests that opioid use may be reduced with cannabinoid intake. This suggests the presence of a functional interaction between these two systems. Emerging research indicates that cannabinoids and opioids can functionally interact at different levels. At the cellular level, opioid and cannabinoids can have direct receptor associations, alterations in endogenous opioid peptide or cannabinoid release, or post‐receptor activation interactions via shared signal transduction pathways. At the systems level, the nature of cannabinoid and opioid interaction might differ in brain circuits underlying different behavioral phenomenon, including reward‐seeking or antinociception. Given the rising use of opioid and cannabinoid drugs, a better understanding of how these endogenous signaling systems interact in the brain is of significant interest. This review focuses on the potential relationship of these neural systems in addiction‐related processes.
Factors predicting efficacy of ethanol lock therapy as catheter salvage strategy for pediatric catheter‐related infections
Authors: Ashkenazi‐Hoffnung Liat , Shecter Naama , De‐Vries Irit , Levy Itzhak , Scheuerman Oded , Yarden‐Bilavsky Havatzelet , Bernfeld Yael , Mor Meirav
Published: December 2020

Aim

Catheter‐related infections are difficult to cure, and failure rates are high. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol lock therapy (ELT) as catheter salvage strategy in children with central‐line‐associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and to identify factors associated with treatment failure.

Methods

Data were collected of all the children who received ELT for treatment of CLABSI during 2013‐2018 due to failure of standard therapy or multiple catheter‐related infections. Univariate and multivariate analyses of risk‐factors for ELT failure were performed. Catheter salvage rates were compared to those achieved using systemic antimicrobials alone in an historical control group.

Results

A total of 123 ELT episodes among 95 patients were analyzed. The majority of patients had underlying hemato‐oncological disorders. Approximately half the episodes occurred in patients with implantable ports. Early and late treatment failure rates of ELT were 16% (20/123) and 7% (9/123), respectively. Overall, successful catheter salvage was achieved in 78% (96/123) of episodes, compared to 54% using systemic antimicrobials alone (P < .001), including mycobacterium, candida, and most staphylococcus aureus infections. Adverse events were reported in 9% (11/123) of episodes and were mostly mechanical. Multivariate analysis identified four risk factors for ELT failure: Gram‐positive bacteria, elevated C‐reactive protein, signs of tunnel infection, and low absolute neutrophil counts.

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of ELT for catheter salvage in children with CLABSI who failed standard therapy or had multiple catheter‐related infections. The identified variables associated with ELT failure may help identify patients who can most benefit from ELT.
Genetic and genomic resources to study natural variation in Brassica rapa
Authors: Lou Ping , Woody Scott , Greenham Kathleen , VanBuren Robert , Colle Marivi , Edger Patrick P. , Sartor Ryan , Zheng Yakun , Levendoski Nathan , Lim Jan , So Calvin , Stoveken Brian , Woody Timothy , Zhao Jianjun , Shen Shuxing , Amasino Richard M. , McClung C. Robertson
Published: December 2020

The globally important crop Brassica rapa, a close relative of Arabidopsis, is an excellent system for modeling our current knowledge of plant growth on a morphologically diverse crop. The long history of B. rapa domestication across Asia and Europe provides a unique collection of locally adapted varieties that span large climatic regions with various abiotic and biotic stress‐tolerance traits. This diverse gene pool provides a rich source of targets with the potential for manipulation toward the enhancement of productivity of crops both within and outside the Brassicaceae. To expand the genetic resources available to study natural variation in B. rapa, we constructed an Advanced Intercross Recombinant Inbred Line (AI‐RIL) population using B. rapa subsp. trilocularis (Yellow Sarson) R500 and the B. rapa subsp. parachinensis (Cai Xin) variety L58. Our current understanding of genomic structure variation across crops suggests that a single reference genome is insufficient for capturing the genetic diversity within a species. To complement this AI‐RIL population and current and future B. rapa genomic resources, we generated a de novo genome assembly of the B. rapa subsp. trilocularis (Yellow Sarson) variety R500, the maternal parent of the AI‐RIL population. The genetic map for the R500 x L58 population generated using this de novo genome was used to map Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for seed coat color and revealed the improved mapping resolution afforded by this new assembly.
The Combination of Exercise and Manual Therapy Versus Exercise Alone in Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Karaborklu Argut Sezen , Celik Derya , Kilicoglu Onder I.
Published: December 2020

Background

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic surgeries in the lower extremity. However, patient dissatisfaction and functional disability are mostly experienced because of pain and limited range of motion (ROM). Although manual therapy is commonly implemented to improve ROM and modulate pain in the management of musculoskeletal disorders, there is a lack of evidence about its clinical effectiveness on postoperative TKA rehabilitation.

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of an exercise program combined with manual therapy compared with an exercise program only for pain, ROM, function, quality of life, and patient satisfaction outcomes.

Design

A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Setting

Rehabilitation unit of a university hospital.

Participants

Forty‐two patients (68.45 ± 6.3 years) scheduled for unilateral TKA as a treatment of severe osteoarthritis.

Interventions

Joint and soft tissue mobilizations in addition to exercise therapy were provided to the mobilization group (n = 21) while the control group received exercise therapy only (n = 21).

Main Outcome Measures

The outcome measures were numeric pain‐rating scale, knee ROMs, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, 10‐meter walk test (10MWT), 5‐times sit to stand test (5SST), and Short Form‐12 (SF‐12).

Results

Improvements in pain outcomes were significantly higher in the mobilization group than in the control group (P = .001, F [3, 33] = 7.06) and the between‐group difference in change score was 1.3 points (P = .001). Although the between‐group difference in change score was 12.8° for knee flexion at 2 months (P = .001), the overall group‐by‐time interactions were not significant for flexion and extension ROMs (P = .175, F [3, 33] = 1.75 and P = .57, F [2, 34] = 0.56, respectively). Additionally, there were statistically meaningful group‐by‐time interactions on total WOMAC score (P = .006, F [2, 34] = 5.29), 10MWT (P = .002, F [3, 33] = 5.98), and SF‐12 mental component summary (P = .01, F [2, 34] = 4.92) favoring the mobilization group. Also, patient satisfaction was higher in the mobilization group (P = .02).

Conclusions

A structured exercise program combined with manual therapy can be more beneficial in improving pain, function, and patient satisfaction compared to exercise program alone for postoperative TKA patients.
Factors associated with outcome following exercise interventions for Achilles tendinopathy: A systematic review
Authors: Färnqvist Kenneth , Morrissey Dylan , Malliaras Peter
Published: December 2020

Objective

This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on contributing factors influencing outcome following exercise management for Achilles tendinopathy (AT).

Data Sources

Databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to February 2020.

Study Selection

Studies investigating factors (e.g., age, BMI) associated with outcome (e.g., pain and function questionnaires) following exercise interventions for AT were included.

Data Extraction

Data were extracted into a standardized form, including patient demographics, population sample, study type, factors associated with outcome, and outcome measures.

Data Synthesis

Meta‐analysis was planned to be performed, where appropriate. Where data could not be pooled, we summarized the findings descriptively.

Results

Six studies investigating 11 different factors were included; overall the quality of evidence was poor. There was conflicting evidence that imaging measures had an association with a change in VISA‐A outcome. These included signal intensity and tendon size determined by MRI, and Ultrasound Tissue Characterization echopattern. Three studies found that duration of symptoms was not associated with a change in VISA‐A. Also, three studies found that age, and one study found that prior sporting activity level, were not associated with outcome. Baseline pain with activity, baseline VISA‐A, sex, and BMI were inconsistently associated with specific outcomes.

Conclusion

Due to the poor quality of evidence overall, no firm conclusions can be drawn. At best, there was inconsistent evidence that imaging factors, baseline pain and function, BMI, and sex showed some associations with outcomes, but these findings need to be confirmed in more extensive studies.
Study on accident propagation ability of chemical industry park based on mixture degree decomposition algorithm and accident propagation probability
Authors: Wang Zheng , Hu Yiyi , Yang Yanxia , Dong Ran , Song Yuanjin , Jia Xiaoping , Wang Fang
Published: December 2020

In order to better characterize the accident propagation mechanism in chemical industry park (CIP), a method combining mixed degree decomposition (MDD) algorithm with accident propagation probability is proposed to measure the accident propagation ability of nodes in the accident chain network of CIP in this paper. First, the accident chain network model of CIP is established by using complex network theory and the nodes in the network model are layered according to the accident propagation ability based on the MDD algorithm. Second, the accident propagation probability value of each node in the network is defined and calculated according to the characteristic factors of the node itself. Finally, the result of MDD algorithm is combined with the accident propagation probability value by using Euclidean distance formula, the nodes with strong accident propagation ability in the accident chain network of CIP are determined. The case analysis shows that the method has higher discrimination, can effectively measure the accident propagation ability of nodes in the accident chain network of CIP, and better identify the nodes with strong propagation ability.