bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive evaluation of wheat operation during COVID-19 outbreak in Pakistan.
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Shahzad , Cui Lifeng , Ijaz Muhammad , Ubaid Saima
Published: January 2021

The whole world is confronting under extreme danger from COVID-19 pandemic. Which spread rapidly including an agro-based developing state like Pakistan. Right now this year "Rabi" crop season has safely ended during this pandemic. Wheat-crop operations are depended on environmental conditions and different operational safety measures. Farmworkers are the key individuals, as they are exposed to various environmental, health, safety, biological, and respiratory hazards. Due to COVID-19, there are about more than three thousand (3000) mortalities and one hundred eight thousand (18, 0000) plus persons have been effected, however this number increases further rapidly. The key purpose of this review-study is to highlight the timely adopted safe strategies and their impacts on the yield of wheat along with farmworkers under some Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) during wheat operations, enabling food security, self-sustainably and securing of farmers in the context of COVID-19. Various actions have been taken worldwide, but a developing state like Pakistan with minimum resources, has made well-organized planning and strategies to sustain the production of wheat with public awareness. We highlighting government efforts to-combat this fatal pandemic, where it has directly impacted the crop yield and also the economy of the state. Whereas, especially during this period, uplifting of economy through agriculture sector, needs to overcome the same management deficiencies from other sectors. Pakistani Government has adopted and implemented different key steps for fighting against COVID-19 include: i. Government command along with incentive approach, ii. Mutual coordination among stakeholders, local governments, and farmers, iii. Continuous inspection setup, and iv. Provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Comparison of Morphine and Clonidine as Adjuncts to Bupivacaine in Spinal Anaesthesia- A Double Blind Randomised Control Trial
Authors: Sukhthanker Dattaraj Satish Sinai , Menezes Yvonne , Kanekar Bhagyashri Ramnath , George Minu
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Spinal anaesthesia is a preferred choice for infraumbilical surgery. Various drugs have been added intrathecally to augment analgesia in the postoperative period. Morphine an opiate was among the first to be introduced. More recently the alpha-2 agonist Clonidine. Aim: To compare Clonidine and Morphine as adjuncts to bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia on the quality of the block, the duration of postoperative analgesia, haemodynamic changes and complication. Materials and Methods: In this randomised double blind controlled study, one hundred patients between age 20-40 years of age and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 and 2 undergoing lower limb Orthopaedic procedures were studied to compare the effect of preservative free morphine (100 mcg) (Group BM) and clonidine (30 mcg) (Group BC) as an adjunct to 0.5% bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia. Group BM received a mixture of 2.6 mL (13 mg) of hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) with 0.1 mL of preservative free Morphine and 0.1 mL 0.9% saline. Group BC received a mixture of 2.6 mL (13 mg) of hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) with 0.2 mL of clonidine (30 mcg).Total volume of solution in both the groups was 2.8 mL. The groups were compared for the onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade. Duration of analgesia, Sedation, Haemodynamic variations viz., Pulse rate, blood pressure and complications. Data obtained was analysed using Student t-test, Pearson chi-square test and ANOVA as appropriate. Results: Onset of sensory block was faster and duration of the sensory as well as motor block was more after addition of Clonidine (30 μg) to bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia. The duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly prolonged to 10-13 hours in patients receiving Bupivacaine and morphine combination as compared to 6-8 hours noted in patients receiving Bupivacaine and Clonidine only. Incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, shivering, nausea and vomiting was not statistically significant. None of the patients in both groups showed any other side effects like respiratory depression, hypoxia, excessive sedation or any other spinal consequences. Conclusion: Clonidine improves the quality of spinal anaesthesia in terms of faster onset of sensory block and longer duration of sensory as well as motor block compared to morphine, when added as an adjunct. However, the duration of postoperative analgesia was prolonged more with the addition of Morphine compared to Clonidine.
Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Immunobullous Diseases: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal
Authors: Parajuli Sudip , Vidhan Jyoti , Pokhrel Dinesh Binod , Paudel Upama
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Rituximab is effective and safe treatment of immunobullous disorders. There are variations in doses of drugs used in different studies and uncertainties on when to use it along with use of adjuvant therapies. Efficacy and safety of this drug has not been described in Nepalese population till date. Dermatologists have hesitation in starting this drug in immunobullous diseases because of lack of data on efficacy and safety. Aim: To assess the efficacy and side effects of Rituximab therapy in treating immunobullous disorders in Nepalese patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with immunobullous diseases treated with Rituximab in Dermatological ward of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal from May 2018 to August 2019. Data were analysed for duration of disease and treatment received before Rituximab therapy, duration of steroid used before Rituximab, adverse effects due to prolonged steroid use, time to remission from 1st Rituximab pulse, duration of remission, relapse, duration of steroid and adjuvant drug used post 1st pulse and adverse effects associated with Rituximab. SPSS version 20 was used for data entry and descriptive statistics was used for analysis of the data. Results: Nine patients (Pemphigus Vulgaris-8 (PV-8), Bullous Pemphigoid-1 (BP-1) were treated with Rituximab. Seven were treated for refractory disease not controlled by conventional therapy and two received Rituximab as first-line therapy. The patients were under follow-up for 15-60 weeks (mean 31.89±15.62 weeks). Out of these nine patients, eight were free of lesions in one to eight weeks (mean 5.125±2 weeks) of first pulse. One patient with Oral Pemphigus had persistence of old lesions, however there were no new cutaneous lesions after first pulse. Adverse effects were seen in four patients that included infusion reaction in one and infection in three. There was relapse in one patient at last follow-up. Conclusion: Rituximab is efficacious and is safe in treating immunobullous disorders in Nepalese Population.
Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Lichen Planus Patients- A Comparative Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ramesh A , Deepavarshini P
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Lichen Planus (LP) is an idiopathic and chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin and the mucous membranes, and studies have proven its association with increased risk for Cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Subclinical atherosclerosis and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) are strong predictors of CV risk. Aim: The primary aim of this study was the evaluation of Common Carotid artery mean Intima-Media wall Thickness (CIMT) and AIP which are predictors of CV risk in patients with LP. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with LP and fifty age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) matched healthy controls (from the general population without the disease) were included in the study. CIMT was measured using ultrasound. Lipid profile was calculated by biochemical analysis. AIP was calculated from lipid profile using validated formula. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0 software. Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients had significantly higher CIMT. A 28% of patients had subclinical atherosclerosis compared to 2% of controls (p<0.001). Dyslipidemia was detected in 42% of patients and only 10% of controls (p<0.001). AIP was significantly elevated in LP patients compared to controls (p<0.001). A 36% of patients had high CV risk according to AIP versus 8% of controls. The 80% of controls had low CV risk versus 48% of patients (p<0.001). Conclusion: LP patients were found to have increased CV risk. CIMT, lipid profile and AIP can serve as important diagnostic markers of CV risk. Educating the patients about such a risk will enable them to follow lifestyle modifications so as to prevent further complications and morbidity.
Comparison of Two Doses of Chloroprocaine for Spinal Anaesthesia in Brachytherapy Procedures: A Randomised Clinical Study
Authors: Sugandarajappa Shashidhar Gowdra , Sneha N , Ranganath Namrata
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Subarachnoid block is a widely used anaesthetic technique for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. Commonly used local anaesthetics are with longer duration of action and delayed recovery. Chloroprocaine is good choice for day care procedures because of its reliable action, faster resolution of block and earlier discharge time. Aim: To compare the minimum effective dose of chloroprocaine for spinal anaesthesia in brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 140 carcinoma cervix patients of ASA class I and II of age group 18 to 60 years were randomly divided into two groups of 70 each. They were posted for elective brachytherapy procedure under subarachnoid block. Group A patients received 2 mL of chloroprocaine (20 mg) and Group B patients received 3 mL of chloroprocaine (30 mg). Parameters like onset of sensory and motor blocks, maximum level of sensory block, time for two segment regression, duration of block and haemodynamic parameters were studied for the duration of procedure. Data were analysed using SAS 9.2, SPSS 15.0 software version. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was carried out. Results on continuous measurements are presented as mean±SD (min-max) and results on categorical measurements are presented in number (%). Significance was assessed at 5% level of significance. Results: Patients in both the groups were comparable with respect to the demographic characteristics. There were statistically significant differences in time for onset of motor blockade, duration of motor and sensory blockade, time for two segment regression which were shorter in chloroprocaine 20 mg (group A) compared to chloroprocaine 30 mg (group B). Haemodynamic variations and incidence of side-effects were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Subarachnoid 2-chloroprocaine (30 mg) provides adequate duration and density of spinal anaesthesia for brachytherapy procedures as compared with 20 mg 2-chloroprocaine.
Mechanical Manipulation of a Fiber‐Optical Microprobe Fabricated from Oxide Glasses with Magnetic Force Response
Authors: Ding Yicong , Tanaka Katsuhisa , Wondraczek Lothar
Published: January 2021

Oxide glasses incorporating large amounts of paramagnetic ion species are well known to exhibit magnetic functionality: through the specific choice of ion, such glasses may simultaneously exhibit magnetic force response and high or low magneto‐optical performance, adapted to target applications as optically active or passive component, respectively. Herein, glasses based on heavy doping of manganese, terbium, or thulium into aluminosilicate matrices are considered for magnetic force manipulation. Optical fiber fabricated from such glasses can be used as a magnetoresponsive probe, where an external magnetic field is used for precise, noncontact positioning, and distance manipulation at nanometer resolution. The ability to independently tailor force response and Faraday rotation efficiency enables a very broad range of applications, from active magnetic field sensing, optical switching and modulation to passive light delivery, near‐field optical sensing, force sensing, and mechanical manipulation.
Tetraimido Sulfuric Acid H2S(NtBu)4—Valence Isoelectronic to H2SO4
Authors: Jung Jochen , Münch Annika , Herbst‐Irmer Regine , Stalke Dietmar
Published: January 2021

The valence isoelectronic imido analog H2S(NtBu)4(1) of sulfuric acid H2SO4was synthesized, isolated, and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and high‐resolution X‐ray charge density analysis. The latter reveals strongly polarized Sδ+−Nδ−bonds with virtually no double bond character. The easy‐to‐polarize S−N bonds are an advantageous and versatile feature of sulfur nitrogen ligands, which enables them to adapt to different electron requirements of various metal cations.
The topographic and systematic anatomy of the alpaca stomach
Authors: Vater Anke Lisa , Zandt Elisabeth , Maierl Johann
Published: January 2021

The gastric anatomy of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is adapted to the physiological process of ruminating and the degradation of plant cell wall contents to a great extent. Most alpaca husbandries consist of only few animals and with the still increasing number of alpacas worldwide the number of persons who are responsible for these animals is increasing as well. Despite this, little research has been done with regard to the clinical anatomy of the stomach of alpacas. Six animals were used for dissection. The vascular system of two alpacas was injected with latex milk to illustrate the course of the blood supply to the viscera. One stomach was used to prepare formalin‐fixed preparations. The stomach consisted of three compartments (C1–C3) and showed two sacculated areas in C1 and another comb‐like system in C2. The compartments were lined by a smooth mucosa. Only the deep cells of C2 were lined by a papillated mucosa. The main blood supply was provided by the coeliac artery which was divided into the hepatic artery and the left gastric artery, supplying abdominal organs like liver, spleen, pancreas, and the initial part of the duodenum. Literature research on the llama stomach showed that the alpaca stomachs that were used resembled each other to a very large degree. The specific design of the stomach together with its related functions and physiological processes confirm that the evolution of Tylopoda and Ruminantia took place in parallel and not in homology.
A study of open clusters Frolov 1 andNGC7510 usingCCD UBVphotometry and GaiaDR2astrometry
Authors: Yontan Talar , Bilir Selçuk , Ak Tansel , Akbulut Burcu , Canbay Remziye , Banks Timothy , Paunzen Ernst , Ak Serap , Bostancı Zahide Funda
Published: January 2021

We present reddening, photometric metallicity, age, and distance estimates for the Frolov 1 and NGC 7510 open clusters based on charge‐coupled device (CCD)UBVphotometric andGaiadata. Photometric observations were collected using the 1‐m telescope of the TÜBİTAK National Observatory.Gaiadata release 2 (DR2) proper motion data in the direction of two groupings were used to identify cluster membership. We determined mean proper motion values of (μαcosδ,μδ) = (− 3.02 ± 0.10, − 1.75 ± 0.08) and (−3.66 ± 0.07, −2.17 ± 0.06) mas year−1for Frolov 1 and NGC 7510, respectively. We used two‐color diagrams to obtainE(B − V) color excesses for Frolov 1 and NGC 7510 of 0.65 ± 0.06 and 1.05 ± 0.05 mag, respectively. We derived the photometric metallicity of Frolov 1 as [Fe/H] = 0.03 ± 0.03 dex and adopted a solar metallicity for NGC 7510. Based on these reddening and metallicities, we determined the distance moduli and ages of the clusters by fitting stellar tracks and isochrones with the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code (PARSEC) isochrones to the cluster color–magnitude diagrams. Isochrone‐fitting distances for Frolov 1 and NGC 7510 are 2, 864 ± 254 and 2, 818 ± 247 pc, respectively, which correspond to the ages 35 ± 10 Myr and 18 ± 6 Myr. We also calculated meanGaiadistances and compared them with those given in the literature and in this study, concluding that our results are in good agreement with previous work. Finally, we calculated the mass function slopes and found them to beX = −1.21 ± 0.18 for Frolov 1 andX = −1.42 ± 0.27 for NGC 7510.
Magnetic field effect on early universe events
Authors: Piccinelli Bocchi Gabriella
Published: January 2021

An outlook of different aspects of the incidence of magnetic fields on early universe events is presented. The events we will focus on include inflation and the electroweak phase transition. The guideline of the study is mainly the effect of the magnetic field on the effective potential of phase transitions and the decay process of the field leading the phase transition. We will consider both weak and strong magnetic field approximations, since this issue seems to make some important differences in the results. Besides presenting the results of our working group, we will also discuss other works that can be found in the literature.
Guar gum based hydrogel as controlled micronutrient delivery system: Mechanism and kinetics of boron release for agricultural applications
Authors: Thombare Nandkishore , Mishra Sumit , Shinde Reshma , Siddiqui M. Z. , Jha Usha
Published: January 2021

A boron loaded super‐absorbent hydrogel (BLSAH) was developed through in situ incorporation of boron (B) in a guar gum‐based hydrogel and characterized with FTIR, thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling studies, showing maximum absorption up to 356 g/g. The release pattern of B from the BLSAH and its kinetics was studied in water as well as soil. The B release pattern of the BLSAH was also compared with the commercial B fertilizer, boronated single super phosphate (bSSP). The BLSAH, following the Fickian mechanism, released 38% B, as compared with 51% of the bSSP, during the incubation period of 30 days in soil. The half‐life period for the BLSAH (96.25 days) in soil was almost triple that of the bSSP's half‐life (33.32 days), which is indicative of the slow and controlled release of B from the BLSAH. Thus, owing to its sustained nutrient release ability, the synthesized BLSAH exhibited wide potential for applications in agriculture sector.
Nonviral gene delivery to T cells with Lipofectamine LTX
Authors: Harris Emily , Zimmerman Devon , Warga Eric , Bamezai Anil , Elmer Jacob
Published: January 2021

Retroviral gene delivery is widely used in T cell therapies for hematological cancers. However, viral vectors are expensive to manufacture, integrate genes in semirandom patterns, and their transduction efficiency varies between patients. In this study, several nonviral gene delivery vehicles, promoters, and additional variables were compared to optimize nonviral transgene delivery and expression in both Jurkat and primary T cells. Transfection of Jurkat cells was maximized to a high efficiency (63.0% ± 10.9% EGFP+ cells) by transfecting cells with Lipofectamine LTX in X‐VIVO 15 media. However, the same method yielded a much lower transfection efficiency in primary T cells (8.1% ± 0.8% EGFP+). Subsequent confocal microscopy revealed that a majority of the lipoplexes did not enter the primary T cells, which might be due to relatively low expression levels of heparan sulfate proteoglycans detected via messenger RNA‐sequencing. Pyrin and HIN (PYHIN) DNA sensors (e.g., AIM2 and IFI16) that can induce apoptosis or repress transcription after binding cytoplasmic DNA were also detected at high levels in primary T cells. Therefore, transfection of primary T cells appears to be limited at the level of cellular uptake or DNA sensing in the cytoplasm. Both of these factors should be considered in the development of future viral and nonviral T cell gene delivery methods.
End‐to‐end collaboration to transform biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing
Authors: Erickson John , Baker Jeffrey , Barrett Shawn , Brady Ciaran , Brower Mark , Carbonell Ruben , Charlebois Tim , Coffman Jon , Connell‐Crowley Lisa , Coolbaugh Michael , Fallon Eric , Garr Eric , Gillespie Christopher , Hart Roger , Haug Allison , Nyberg Gregg , Phillips Michael , Pollard David , Qadan Maen , Ramos Irina , Rogers Kelley , Schaefer Gene , Walther Jason , Lee Kelvin
Published: January 2021

An ambitious 10‐year collaborative program is described to invent, design, demonstrate, and support commercialization of integrated biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology intended to transform the industry. Our goal is to enable improved control, robustness, and security of supply, dramatically reduced capital and operating cost, flexibility to supply an extremely diverse and changing portfolio of products in the face of uncertainty and changing demand, and faster product development and supply chain velocity, with sustainable raw materials, components, and energy use. The program is organized into workstreams focused on end‐to‐end control strategy, equipment flexibility, next generation technology, sustainability, and a physical test bed to evaluate and demonstrate the technologies that are developed. The elements of the program are synergistic. For example, process intensification results in cost reduction as well as increased sustainability. Improved robustness leads to less inventory, which improves costs and supply chain velocity. Flexibility allows more products to be consolidated into fewer factories, reduces the need for new facilities, simplifies the acquisition of additional capacity if needed, and reduces changeover time, which improves cost and velocity. The program incorporates both drug substance and drug product manufacturing, but this paper will focus on the drug substance elements of the program.
Research on the design of analytical communication and information model for teaching resources with cloud‐sharing platform
Authors: Zheng Wang , Muthu BalaAnand , Kadry Seifedine Nimer
Published: January 2021

The recent growth in the adoption by several organizations of cloud computing services has created the challenge to determine their performance of information model. The ability of cloud computing systems to provide the required services in line with the quality of service and service level agreement constraints is a major problem for cloud service providers and consumers. To that end, it is possible to develop the means of ensuring that the desired levels of success are achieved in simulated environments. In the eventual stage of commissioning and running cloud computing, this will reduce the disrupted service and performance degradation problems using analytical communication and information model of cloud technology. However, several modelers and simulators for simulating cloud computing systems are available in conventional research. This paper, therefore, provides a critical assessment with state of the art cloud computing modeling and simulation frameworks. It compares the prominent frameworks of simulation regarding application programming interface features, programming flexibility, operating system requirements, services supported, and licensing needs with 95% reliability. It offers recommendations to the researchers, administrators, and managers of cloud computing systems regarding the choice of the most appropriate framework.
Dust ion acoustic waves in non‐thermal Cairns bi‐Maxwellian plasma
Authors: ul Haq Rashid , Hadi Fazli , Ullah Zakir , Ahmad Zeeshan , Qamar Anisa
Published: January 2021

Using kinetic theory approach, the dispersion relation ωr and Landau damping rate γ for dust ion acoustic waves are investigated numerically and analytically in an unmagnetized collisionless dusty plasma considering Cairns distribution for electrons and ions in stationary dust particles background. The phase velocity and Landau damping rate are calculated in the limits vtd∥ < vti∥ << ω/k << vte∥. The electrons and ions non‐thermality effects are incorporated via the non‐thermality parameter (0 ≤ α < 1). The real frequency ωr and Landau damping rate γ of the mode in Cairns bi‐Maxwellian distributed plasma are graphically shown to depend on plasma parameters namely non‐thermality index α, ion to electron temperature ratio Ti∥/Te∥ and the dust concentration parameter δ (=1 − ηZd).
Connectivity analysis of directed highway vehicular ad hoc networks using graph theory
Authors: Elaraby Samar , Abuelenin Sherif M.
Published: January 2021

Graph theory is a promising approach in handling the problem of estimating the connectivity probability of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). With a communication network represented as graph, graph connectivity indicators become valid for connectivity analysis of communication networks as well. In this article, we discuss two different graph‐based methods for VANETs connectivity analysis showing that they capture the same behavior as estimated using probabilistic models. The study is, then, extended to include the case of directed VANETs, resulting from the utilization of different communication ranges by different vehicles. Overall, the graph‐based methods prove a robust performance, as they can be simply diversified into scenarios that are too complex to acquire a rigid probabilistic model for them.
Positive association between the diversity of symbionts and parasitoids of aphids in field populations
Authors: Hafer‐Hahmann Nina , Vorburger Christoph
Published: January 2021

Parasites and pathogens are crucial in shaping immune systems. Many animals and especially insects have outsourced part of their immune function to protective symbionts. There is good evidence that, akin to immune systems, parasites shape the occurrence and diversity of protective symbionts and that likewise, protective symbionts can shape the occurrence and diversity of parasites. Such a relationship should result in a correlation between symbiont and parasite diversity in nature. Aphids are well known for possessing symbionts that provide specific and effective protection against parasitoid wasps. We compared symbiont and parasitoid diversity across multiple populations of different aphid species of the genus Aphis and their parasitoid wasps. The diversity of protective symbionts and parasitoids was indeed positively associated. Even though this association was very noisy, it is in line with the hypothesis that parasitoids and symbionts promote each other’s diversity.
Cranial nerve palsy caused by metastasis to the skull base in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer: Three case reports
Authors: Yasumizu Yota , Kosaka Takeo , Hongo Hiroshi , Mizuno Ryuichi , Oya Mototsugu
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Skull base metastasis of prostate cancer associated with cranial nerve palsy is rare. We observed three patients with aggressive prostate cancer who experienced cranial nerve palsy.

Case presentation

Case 1 was a 53‐year‐old patient who was treated with carboplatin and etoposide. He noticed sensory abnormalities on his left mouth edge. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed skull base metastasis. Case 2 was a 50‐year‐old patient who received docetaxel. This patient exhibited ptosis of the left eye. Skull base metastasis was detected by magnetic resonance imaging. External beam radiation therapy was performed. Case 3 was a 64‐year‐old patient who was treated with docetaxel. He experienced ptosis of the right eye and diplopia. He was also treated with external beam radiation therapy.

Conclusion

External beam radiation therapy exhibited some efficacy against the symptoms, but skull base metastasis of treatment‐resistant prostate cancer has poor prognosis. Three patients died within 3 months after symptoms occurred with or without external beam radiation therapy.
Solubility product of amorphous magnesium carbonate
Authors: Chang Chun‐Yu , Yang Sheng‐Yu , Chan Jerry C. C.
Published: January 2021

The thermodynamic solubility product of amorphous magnesium carbonate (AMC) was studied at room temperature. The samples had been prepared at pH 8.78 and 9.37, where the particle size was 58 ± 11 nm and 49 ± 9 nm, respectively. Solid‐state NMR measurements showed that the former contained a minute amount of bicarbonate species, whereas we did not detect any for the latter. While the AMC sample prepared at higher pH exhibited a one‐step decomposition at 413°C, the one at lower pH decomposed in two steps at 425 and 510°C. The solubility products of AMC prepared at two pH are statistically identical and the average value is estimated to be 6.3 × 10−6.
E7‐Modified Substrates to Promote Adhesion and Maintain Stemness of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Ge Qunzi , Wang Xuemei , Luo Yu , Zheng Xiaowen , Ma Lie
Published: January 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have drawn great attention in clinical applications due to the self‐renewal ability, multi‐differentiation potential, and low immunogenicity. However, there are challenges in the ex vivo expansion of MSCs, including low efficiency, stemness loss, and safety. Therefore, it is crucial to construct a substrate that can show an alterable affinity to MSCs, and induce efficient cell expansion with minimal stemness loss. In this study, EPLQLKM (E7)‐modified substrates with tunable E7 densities are fabricated on PEGylated substrates. The PEG layer with an average thickness of 1.7 nm shows good antifouling ability. E7‐modified substrates have an improving effect on adhesion and spreading of the rat bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), along with the increase of E7 densities. rBMSCs on E7‐modified substrates maintain the stem cell phenotypes, and shows robust proliferation and multilineage differentiation, especially on the substrates with high E7 densities. In summary, this study provides a novel strategy of E7 functionalization to promote adhesion and maintain stemness of MSCs, which holds great potentials in the functionalization of microcarriers for the expansion of MSCs.
DeepControl: 2DRF pulses facilitating inhomogeneity and B0 off‐resonance compensation in vivo at 7 T
Authors: Vinding Mads Sloth , Aigner Christoph Stefan , Schmitter Sebastian , Lund Torben Ellegaard
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Rapid 2DRF pulse design with subject‐specific inhomogeneity and B0 off‐resonance compensation at 7 T predicted from convolutional neural networks is presented.

Methods

The convolution neural network was trained on half a million single‐channel transmit 2DRF pulses optimized with an optimal control method using artificial 2D targets, and B0 maps. Predicted pulses were tested in a phantom and in vivo at 7 T with measured and B0 maps from a high‐resolution gradient echo sequence.

Results

Pulse prediction by the trained convolutional neural network was done on the fly during the MR session in approximately 9 ms for multiple hand‐drawn regions of interest and the measured and B0 maps. Compensation of inhomogeneity and B0 off‐resonances has been confirmed in the phantom and in vivo experiments. The reconstructed image data agree well with the simulations using the acquired and B0 maps, and the 2DRF pulse predicted by the convolutional neural networks is as good as the conventional RF pulse obtained by optimal control.

Conclusion

The proposed convolutional neural network‐based 2DRF pulse design method predicts 2DRF pulses with an excellent excitation pattern and compensated and B0 variations at 7 T. The rapid 2DRF pulse prediction (9 ms) enables subject‐specific high‐quality 2DRF pulses without the need to run lengthy optimizations.
The effect of maternal position on venous return for pregnant women during MRI
Authors: Hughes Emer J. , Price Anthony N. , McCabe Laura , Hiscocks Suzanne , Waite Lara , Green Elaine , Hutter Jana , Pegoretti Kelly , Cordero‐Grande Lucilio , Edwards Anthony David , Hajnal Joseph V. , Rutherford Mary A.
Published: January 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pregnancy is commonly undertaken in the left lateral tilt (LLT) position to prevent inferior vena cava (IVC) compression and supine hypotensive events, although this may be suboptimal for image quality. The supine position may also have an adverse effect on fetal well‐being. The spinal venous plexus may provide an alternative pathway for venous return in the presence of IVC compression. This study assesses morphology and blood flow of the IVC and spinal venous plexus for pregnant women in LLT and supine positions to ascertain the effect of maternal position on venous return during MRI. Eighty‐two pregnant women underwent phase contrast MRI (PC‐MRI) of the IVC and spinal venous plexus in the supine position; 25 were also imaged in the LLT position. Differences in life monitoring, IVC, spinal venous plexus and total venous return between the two positions were assessed. A linear regression assessed the relationship between flow in the IVC and the spinal venous plexus in the supine position. Increasing gestational age and the right‐sided position of the uterus on IVC and spinal venous plexus venous return were also evaluated. Hypotension symptoms were similar in supine (10%) and LLT (8%) positioning. Supine positioning decreased IVC height (p < 0.004) and flow (p = 0.045) but flow in the spinal venous plexus increased (p < 0.001) compared with the LLT position. Total venous return showed no difference (p = 0.989) between the two positions. Additional measurements of flow in the aorta also showed no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.866). Reduced IVC flow in the supine position was associated with increasing gestational age (p = 0.004) and degree of right‐sided uterine position (p = 0.004). Women in the left lateral decubitus position who then rotated supine had greater flow in the IVC (p = 0.008) and spinal venous plexus (p = 0.029) than those who started supine. For the majority of women, the spinal venous plexus acts as a complementary venous return system for pregnant women in the supine position, maintaining vascular homeostasis. Further study is needed to assess the effects on the health of the fetus.
Design and characterization of a surfactant‐conjugated, long‐acting, balanced GLP‐1/glucagon receptor dual agonist
Authors: Nestor John J. , Zhang Xiaoming , Jaw‐Tsai Sarah , Parkes David G. , Becker Cyrus K.
Published: January 2021

Existing candidates for treating non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogs and previous GLP‐1/glucagon receptor (GLP‐1R/GCGR) dual agonists, do not address the need for substantial weight loss adequately. We sought a more effective, evenly balanced GLP‐1/GCGR dual agonist suitable for weekly administration. We studied a new class of covalent modifiers, glycolipid surfactants, to prolong the duration of action of candidate peptides. Variation of the hydrophobic tail of such surfactant modifications resulted in a wide and tunable range of physical properties and t1/2 values. We selected compound 17, which demonstrated high, evenly balanced potency for activation of human GLP‐1R and GCGRs, return of diet induced obese (DIO) rodents to lean body/liver weight and prolonged duration correlated with high serum albumin binding. We observed a prolonged pharmacodynamic (PD) profile in rodents and pharmacokinetics (PK) in mini‐pigs (t1/2 = 52 hours, mean residence time, MRT = 86 hours), suggesting suitability for weekly dosing. Accordingly, 17 (ALT‐801) was selected for clinical development.
A guide to therapeutic drug monitoring of β‐lactam antibiotics
Authors: Fratoni Andrew J. , Nicolau David P. , Kuti Joseph L.
Published: January 2021

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) opens the door to personalized medicine, yet it is infrequently applied to β‐lactam antibiotics, one of the most commonly prescribed drug classes in the hospital setting. As we continue to understand more about β‐lactam pharmacodynamics (PD) and wide inter‐ and intra‐patient variability in pharmacokinetics (PK), the utility of TDM has become increasingly apparent. For β‐lactams, the time that free concentrations remain above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as a function of the dosing interval (%fT>MIC) has been shown to best predict antibacterial effect. Many studies have shown that β‐lactam %fT>MIC exposures are often suboptimal across a wide variety of disease states and clinical settings. A limitation to implementing this practice is the general lack of understanding on how to best operationalize this intervention and interpret the results. The instrumentation and expertise needed to quantify β‐lactams for TDM is rarely available locally, but certain laboratories advertise these services and perform them regularly. Familiarity with the modalities and nuances of antimicrobial susceptibility testing is crucial to establishing β‐lactam concentration targets that meet the relevant exposure thresholds. Evaluation of these concentrations is best accomplished using population PK software and Bayesian modeling, for which a multitude of programs are available. While TDM of β‐lactams has shown an ability to increase the rate of target attainment, there is currently limited evidence to suggest that it leads to improved clinical outcomes. Although consensus guidelines for β‐lactam TDM do not exist in the United States, guidance would help to promote this important practice and better standardize the approach across institutions. Herein, we discuss the basis for β‐lactam TDM, review supporting evidence, and provide guidance for implementation in specific patient populations.
Integral‐type‐observer‐based control with measurement uncertainty and application to two‐wheeled inverted pendulum
Authors: Liang Song , Wang Zaihua
Published: January 2021

To overcome the deficiencies of traditional disturbance observers in the presence of measurement uncertainty, an integral‐type observer‐based control using measured signals is proposed. The integral‐type observer is in terms of an explicit integral‐algebra form of measured signals. As a combination of the integral‐type observer and high‐gain controller, the observer‐based control is a proportional‐integral‐derivative control with special combination of parameters for feedback linearization, simple in structure and easy in implementation. Without the observer, the high‐gain controller alone may not have good control performance, but the proposed observer‐based control works very well in stabilizing the system even when the observer performance is not good enough, due to the use of the high‐gain control. The main results are applied to the control of a two‐wheeled inverted pendulum.
Sustaining a Cleaner Environment by Curbing Down Biomass Energy Consumption
Authors: Danlami Abubakar Hamid , Applanaidu Shri Dewi
Published: January 2021

Environmental degradation, soil erosion, and desertification are some of the consequences of high rate of traditional biomass fuel use by households in developing countries. The critical issues to raise here are how can these households be encouraged to change their energy consumption behavior? What are the factors that cause the rampant use of biomass fuel in developing countries? How and to what extent can these factors be manipulated so that households in developing countries are encouraged to adopt clean energy fuel an alternative to the most widely used biomass fuel? Therefore, this chapter tries to find answer to the above questions raised, by carrying out an in depth analysis of households’ use of biomass fuel in developing countries using Bauchi State, Nigeria, as the case study. Cluster area sampling technique was utilized to generate the various responses, where a total number of 539 respondents were analyzed. The study estimated ordered logit model to analyze the factors that influence the movement of households along the energy ladder from nonclean energy to the cleaner energy. Furthermore, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model was estimated to analyze the impacts of socio-economic, residential, and environmental factors on biomass energy consumption. It was found that age of the household head and his level of education, income, living in urban areas, home ownership, and hours of electricity supply have positive and significant impact on household energy switching from traditional biomass energy use to the cleaner energy. Therefore, policies that will enhance household income and the increase in the availability of cheap cleaner energy will encourage households switching to cleaner energy sources thereby reducing the level of environmental pollution in the study area.
From Durkheim to Machine Learning: Finding the Relevant Sociological Content in Depression and Suicide-Related Social Media Discourses
Authors: Koltai Júlia , Kmetty Zoltán , Bozsonyi Károly
Published: January 2021

The phenomenon of suicide has been a focal point since Durkheim among social scientists. Internet and social media sites provide new ways for people to express their positive feelings, but they are also platforms to express suicide ideation or depressed thoughts. Most of these posts are not about real suicide, and some of them are a cry for help. Nevertheless, suicide- and depression-related content varies among platforms, and it is not evident how a researcher can find these materials in mass data of social media. Our paper uses the corpus of more than four million Instagram posts, related to mental health problems. After defining the initial corpus, we present two different strategies to find the relevant sociological content in the noisy environment of social media. The first approach starts with a topic modeling (Latent Dirichlet Allocation), the output of which serves as the basis of a supervised classification method based on advanced machine-learning techniques. The other strategy is built on an artificial neural network-based word embedding language model. Based on our results, the combination of topic modeling and neural network word embedding methods seems to be a promising way to find the research related content in a large digital corpus.

Our research can provide added value in the detection of possible self-harm events. With the utilization of complex techniques (such as topic modeling and word embedding methods), it is possible to identify the most problematic posts and most vulnerable users.
Resümee und Schlussbetrachtungen
Authors: Störkle Mario
Published: January 2021

In meiner Studie habe ich den Blick auf ein Phänomen der neuen Zuwanderung der Schweiz gelegt und mich mit dem freiwilligen Engagement von Expatriates im Kanton Zug auseinandergesetzt. Dabei habe ich mich zum einen auf die Expatriates selbst konzentriert und herausgearbeitet, welchen Platz Expatriates im Kanton Zug dem Engagement in ihren alltäglichen Lebenswelten einräumen. Anhand von narrativen Interviews mit Expatriates habe ich vier Expatriate-Typen herausgearbeitet, die sich hinsichtlich ihrer Orientierungen zum freiwilligen Engagement unterscheiden.
Ausgangslage und Fragestellung
Authors: Störkle Mario
Published: January 2021

In den wirtschaftlichen Grossregionen der Schweiz wird das gesellschaftliche Leben zunehmend von internationalen Angestellten und ihren Familien mitgeprägt. Häufig wird für diese Personengruppe die Bezeichnung Expatriates (oder die Kurzform Expats) verwendet. Viele dieser – oftmals von ihren Arbeitgebern in die Schweiz entsendeten – Expatriates arbeiten in global agierenden Grossunternehmen mit internationalem Arbeitsumfeld (Müller-Jentsch 2008: 48ff); so ist auch tendenziell Englisch die vorherrschende Sprache am Arbeitsplatz.
Expatriates oder hochqualifizierte Migrantinnen und Migranten? Wichtige Begriffe und Tatbestände aus der wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Authors: Störkle Mario
Published: January 2021

In der vorliegenden Arbeit interessiere ich mich für die Lebenswelt hochqualifizierter und privilegierter Migrantinnen und Migranten im Kanton Zug, vielfach fällt in diesem Zusammenhang der Begriff der Expatriates (oder die Kurzform Expats). Mein Forschungsinteresse fällt dabei auf eine heterogene Gruppe von Zugewanderten, die in der Regel wirtschaftlich gut bis sehr gut situiert ist und die im Vergleich zu nicht-privilegierten, geringqualifizierten Migrantinnen und Migranten salopp ausgedrückt eher als die „first class“-Migration (vgl. Amit 2007) beschrieben wird. So wird im Alltagsgebrauch häufig zwischen Migrantinnen und Migranten und Expatriates unterschieden (mit Ersteren sind für gewöhnlich die weniger gutsituierten Zugewa0nderten gemeint), obwohl es sich bei Letzteren gleichfalls um Migrantinnen und Migranten handelt (d. h. je nachdem, welche Definition verwendet wird), wenn auch mit anderen Herausforderungen und Bedürfnissen. Aber wer sind die Expatriates nun eigentlich?
Transnationalität und transnationale Migration
Authors: Störkle Mario
Published: January 2021

Der in der vorliegenden Studie erarbeitete, theoretische Rahmen stützt sich auf Ansätze zum Thema Transnationalität bzw. transnationale Migration. (vgl. Dahinden 2009a; Pries 2008; Faist 2008; Kokot 2002; Vertovec 2009) Unter „Transnationalität“ im weitesten Sinne versteht man die multiplen Verbindungen, „die Personen an verschiedenen Orten gleichzeitig und über nationale Grenzen hinweg aufrechterhalten“. (Dahinden 2009a: 17) Migrantinnen und Migranten führen – entsprechend diesem Ansatz – geographisch getrennte Räume zu einem einzigen Aktionsraum – dem transnationalen Raum – zusammen, indem sie sich fortwährend zwischen unterschiedlichen sozialen, politischen, kulturellen und ökonomischen Kontexten hin und her bewegen.
2HDM singlet portal to dark matter
Authors: Cabrera M. E. , Casas J. A. , Delgado A. , Robles S.
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Higgs portal models are the most minimal way to explain the relic abundance of the Universe. They add just a singlet that only couples to the Higgs through a single parameter that controls both the dark matter relic abundance and the direct detection cross-section. Unfortunately this scenario, either with scalar or fermionic dark matter, is almost ruled out by the latter. In this paper we analyze the Higgs-portal idea with fermionic dark matter in the context of a 2HDM. By disentangling the couplings responsible for the correct relic density from those that control the direct detection cross section we are able to open the parameter space and find wide regions consistent with both the observed relic density and all the current bounds.
A model of interacting dark matter and dark radiation for H0 and σ8 tensions
Authors: Choi Gong jun , Yanagida Tsutomu T. , Yokozaki Norimi
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We present a model describing the dark sector (DS) featured by two interactions remaining efficient until late times in the matter-dominated era after recombination: the interaction among dark radiations (DR), and the interaction between a small fraction of dark matter and dark radiation. The dark sector consists of (1) a dominant component cold collisionless DM (DM1), (2) a sub-dominant cold DM (DM2) and (3) a self-interacting DR. When a sufficient amount of DR is ensured and a few percent of the total DM density is contributed by DM2 interacting with DR, this set-up is known to be able to resolve both the Hubble and σ8 tension. In light of this, we propose a scenario which is logically natural and has an intriguing theoretical structure with a hidden unbroken gauge group SU(5)X ⊗ U(1)X. Our model of the dark sector does not introduce any new scalar field, but contains only massless chiral fermions and gauge fields in the ultraviolet (UV) regime. As such, it introduces a new scale (DM2 mass, mDM2) based on the confinement resulting from the strong dynamics of SU(5)X. Both DM2-DR and DR-DR interactions are attributed to an identical long range interaction of U(1)X. We show that our model can address the cosmological tensions when it is characterized by gX = $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10−3)–$$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10−2), mDM2 = $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1)–$$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(100) GeV and TDS/TSM ≃ 0.3–0.4 where gX is the gauge coupling of U(1)X and TDS(TSM) is a temperature of the DS (Standard Model sector). Our model explains candidates of DM2 and DR, and DM1 can be any kind of CDM.