bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recurrent reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption (RIME) in two adolescents triggered by several distinct pathogens including SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza A
Authors: Song Amy , Nicholson Cynthia , Maguiness Sheilagh
Published: September 2021

Reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption (RIME) was proposed as new terminology to encompass postinfectious mucocutaneous eruptions. The term includes all postinfectious mucocutaneous eruptions such as the widely reported Mycoplasma pneumoniae‐induced rash and mucositis (MIRM). Very few reports in the literature regarding recurrent RIME are found. We present two adolescent cases of recurrent RIME that involve SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza A where the latter is a newly reported infectious trigger; in both patients, the initial episode was likely triggered by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection.
Pediatric hematidrosis – A case report and review of the literature and pathogenesis
Authors: Shafique David A. , Hickman Alexandra W. , Thorne Amy , Elwood Hillary R. , Zlotoff Barrett J.
Published: September 2021

Hematidrosis is a disorder in which blood‐tinged fluid exudes from uninjured skin or mucosa. It is often classified as an eccrine sweat disorder, though the precise mechanism—including involvement of sweat glands—has yet to be proven. In contemporary case reports, hematidrosis appears most frequently in the pediatric population, with 83% of cases in the literature since 2008 occurring in individuals 18 years old or younger. We present here a case of a 10‐year‐old girl with hematidrosis followed by a review of the literature, with an emphasis on the features of this condition in the pediatric population.
Experience using dupilumab for pediatric atopic dermatitis at a tertiary care c enter: Inadequate response and adverse events
Authors: McKenzie Paige L. , Rangu Sneha , Treat James R. , Castelo‐Soccio Leslie
Published: September 2021

Background/Objective

Dupilumab is highly effective in treating atopic dermatitis (AD). However, some patients experience difficulties with dupilumab therapy, such as inadequate clinical response, failure to achieve long‐term disease control, or adverse events (AEs). Our objective is to assess inadequate response and AEs occurring in children on dupilumab therapy for AD.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of children on dupilumab for AD. Collected variables included patient demographics, medical histories, and dupilumab therapy characteristics. Response analysis was conducted in those with ≥3 months of dupilumab therapy: primary poor responders were defined as those whose EASI scores did not decrease by >50%, and secondary poor responders were those who initially responded but had significant AD flares while on therapy.

Results

We included 200 patients on dupilumab for AD in our cohort; 192 received ≥3 months of therapy and were included in our response analysis. Twelve children experienced inadequate primary response, and 4 were secondary poor responders. Four of these 16 children discontinued therapy due to inadequate response.

The most common dupilumab‐associated AEs were facial erythema (n = 24, 12.0%) and injection‐site reactions (n = 24, 12.0%). Female sex was significantly associated with experiencing injection‐site reactions, and prior hospitalization was significantly associated with HSV infection on dupilumab. Eight patients discontinued therapy due to an AE.

Conclusion

A small but significant number of patients experienced treatment difficulties while on dupilumab. The risk of inadequate response to dupilumab and dupilumab‐associated AEs should be discussed thoroughly with patients and their families prior to initiation.
Isotretinoin‐induced visual hallucinations in a patient with acne vulgaris
Authors: Demirci Saadet Elif
Published: September 2021

Oral isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne. However, psychiatric side effects are noted, including a few cases of psychosis and mania triggered by isotretinoin. In this report, we present a case of visual hallucinations due to isotretinoin. In our case, with the discontinuation of isotretinoin, the hallucinations regressed and no other cause was found.
Telemedicine in monitoring pediatric LT patients before and during COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Musaoğlu Mirac , Yuksel Muhammed , Mizikoglu Ozlem , Arikan Cigdem
Published: September 2021

Background

The delivery of healthcare services by telemedicine decreases costs of traveling for patients, is less time‐consuming, and most importantly permits the connection between highly skilled specialists and patients. However, whether the use of telemedicine (text messaging) for LT patients was affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic is unknown.

Methods

We collected data (following consent from patients and parents) from 57 patients (33 male/24 female) with a median age of 47 (IQR: 9–91) months, whom we followed up with text messaging between September 2019 and September 2020, spanning the 6 months prior to COVID‐19 and during this period.

Results

In total, 723 text message mediated consultations occurred during this period, henceforth simply referred to as “messages.” Three hundred and twenty‐eight (45%) messages occurred during the 6 months up to the start of the pandemic. Following the COVID‐19 outbreak, the number of messages increased to 395 (55%). The three most common reasons of messaging were post‐liver‐LT follow‐up messages (n = 215/723, 29.7%), consultations for drug use (n = 157/723, 21.7%), and medication prescriptions (n = 113/723, 15.6%). Protocol biopsy discussions (n = 33/723, 4.6%) and fever (n = 27/723, 3.7%) were among others (vaccination, rash, diarrhea, cough, fatigue, acne). During the COVID‐19 outbreak, only post‐LT follow‐up messages increased significantly to 132/395 (33%) from 83/328 (25%) (p‐value: .02).

Conclusions

We found that the pandemic resulted in an increase in the total number of text message mediated consultations and specifically for the use of post‐LT follow‐up. Messaging was effective for post‐LT follow‐ups and all patients were at least satisfied.
Factors associated with the utilization of community assessment models among Japanese nurses
Authors: Shiomi Misa , Yoshioka‐Maeda Kyoko , Kotera Sayaka , Ushio Yuko , Takemura Kazuko
Published: September 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to identify factors related to the practical utilization of community health needs assessment (CHNA) models that public health nurses (PHNs) learned in their fundamental education.

Design

A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted via postal mail.

Sample

We randomly selected 630 public health institutes in Japan. The participants were 3397 full‐time novice and mid‐level PHNs.

Measurements

The questionnaire included the participants’ basic personal information, six items regarding the perception of CHNA with a 4‐point Likert scale, learned models in their undergraduate education, their utilization in practical settings, and the reasons for their answer in narrative form.

Results

There were 951 valid responses. The results of logistic regression showed that the significant positively factors with model utilization were perception of CHNA as “not troublesome” or “not impossible as they learned,” continuing education with 5 years of experience, and identification of the learned model in continuing education. Furthermore, the results of text mining showed the reasons for non‐utilization of the model included being “busy” and having a lack of “opportunity.”

Conclusions

This study showed the associated factors with rare utilization of a learned model for PHNs. These findings may suggest improvement of continuing education and development of an appropriate assessment model.
Photosensitized Protein Damage by DiethyleneglycoxyP(V)tetrakis(p‐n‐butoxyphenyl)porphyrin Through Electron Transfer: Activity Control Through Self‐aggregation and Dissociation
Authors: Hirakawa Kazutaka , Yoshida Mami , Hirano Toru , Nakazaki Jotaro , Segawa Hiroshi
Published: September 2021

DiethyleneglycoxyP(V)tetrakis(p‐n‐butoxyphenyl)porphyrin (EGP(V)TBPP) forms a self‐aggregation in an aqueous solution, and the photoexcited state of this molecule was effectively deactivated. Association with human serum albumin (HSA), a water‐soluble protein, causes dissociation of the self‐aggregation, resulting in recovery of the photosensitizer activity of EGP(V)TBPP. Under visible light irradiation, EGP(V)TBPP photosensitized HSA oxidation. The photosensitized singlet oxygen–generating activity of EGP(V)TBPP was confirmed by near‐infrared emission measurement. A singlet oxygen quencher, sodium azide, partially inhibited the HSA photodamage; however, the quenching effect was estimated to be 57%. Another 43% of the HSA photodamage could be explained by the electron transfer mechanism. The redox potential of EGP(V)TBPP and the calculated Gibbs energy of electron transfer from tryptophan to photoexcited EGP(V)TBPP demonstrated the possibility of HSA oxidation through electron extraction. Fluorescence lifetime measurements of EGP(V)TBPP verified the electron transfer from HSA. The photosensitizer activity of EGP(V)TBPP can be controlled through an association with biomolecules, such as protein, and the electron transfer–mediated biomolecule photooxidation plays an important role in photodynamic therapy under hypoxia.
Inferior T cell immunogenicity of a Plasmodium berghei model liver stage antigen expressed throughout pre‐erythrocytic maturation
Authors: Gibbins Matthew P. , Müller Katja , Matuschewski Kai , Silvie Olivier , Hafalla Julius Clemence R.
Published: September 2021

Sporozoite antigens are the basis of a number of malaria vaccines being tested, but the contribution of antigens expressed during subsequent liver stage development to pre‐erythrocytic stage immunity is poorly understood. We previously showed that, following immunisation with radiation attenuated sporozoites (RAS), a model epitope embedded in a sporozoite surface protein elicited robust CD8+ T cell responses, whilst the same epitope in a liver stage antigen induced inferior responses. Since RAS arrest early in their development in host hepatocytes, we hypothesised that extending parasite maturation in the liver could considerably improve the epitope‐specific CD8+ T cell response. Here, we employed a late liver stage arrested parasite model, azithromycin prophylaxis alongside live sporozoites, to increase expression of the model epitope until full liver stage maturation. Strikingly, this alternative immunisation strategy, which has been shown to elicit superior protection, failed to improve the resulting epitope‐specific CD8+ T cell responses. Our findings support the notion that liver stage antigens are poorly immunogenic and provide additional caution about prioritising antigens for vaccine development based solely on immunogenicity.
Interactions of gall‐formers and leaf‐chewers on a tropical tree fern: evidence for non‐repulsion and co‐occurrence between insect guilds
Authors: de Farias R. P. , da Costa L. E. N. , de Arruda E. C. P. , de Oliveira A. F. M. , Cornelissen T. , Mehltreter K.
Published: September 2021

Host plant selection by herbivores is driven by a complex array of cues, including leaf traits and previous leaf damage. Herbivore‐associated cues to host selection at the plant and leaf scale aid understanding of mechanisms responsible for host preference that might translate into increased performance, as well as processes structuring herbivore populations mediated by interactions. We investigated how changes induced by a galling insect in the tropical fern Cyathea phalerata act as repellent or attractant cues for sawfly feeding and the effects of leaf size on herbivory levels.

We recorded gall abundance, damage by chewers, leaf size, plant nutritional quality, phenolic concentration and leaf anatomical traits between galled and non‐galled leaf samples.

Galled samples contained less N, higher levels of phenolics and higher C/N ratio. However, leaf‐chewing damage did not differ between galled and non‐galled leaves. The gall structure was avoided by chewers, as it had high concentrations of phenolics, lignification and suberization. Larger leaves sustained higher gall abundance, but leaf size did not have a significant effect on chewer damage. A co‐occurrence index calculated for both guilds indicated that galls and chewers exhibited a distribution that did not differ from random, reinforcing that the two guilds on C. phalerata do not show patterns of repulsion such as those maintained by interspecific competition.

Sawflies dismissing chemical cues indicate that the increase in phenolics caused by galling insects does not generate increased protection of the galled pinnules. Our results highlight ferns as key resources for herbivores and as a potential plant group to study new research avenues on plant–insect interactions.
Forest understorey plant responses to long‐term experimental warming, light and nitrogen addition
Authors: Govaert S. , Vangansbeke P. , Blondeel H. , De Lombaerde E. , Verheyen K. , De Frenne P.
Published: September 2021

Climate change, eutrophication and intensified forest management are affecting forest understorey plants, a major component of forest biodiversity. The main impacts of these drivers have often been studied, but we lack a good understanding of how key understorey species are affected by potential interactive effects of these drivers and which species drive community changes.

Here we assessed the responses of 15 species occurring in the understorey of a deciduous temperate forest to experimental warming, light addition and enhanced nitrogen inputs in permanent plots surveyed for 9 years. We analysed vegetation cover and key functional traits (plant height, specific leaf area and reproductive traits) at the species level and identified the species driving community change with principal response curves (PRC).

Light addition and warming, and to a lesser extent also nitrogen addition, had profound effects on cover and functional traits. Many species showed directional change over time, and this change can either be strengthened or weakened by treatments, indicating the importance of long‐term monitoring. Against expectations, we observed few interactions between treatments. Species responses to treatments were related to ecological strategies (generalistsversusforest specialist). Generalists, such asRubus fruticosus, benefitted from the warming and light treatments and outcompeted forest specialists.

This might ultimately lead to biotic homogenization. Since the treatment effects of light and warming were additive, keeping the canopy closed will only mitigate, but not stop, the effects of global warming on the forest understorey plants.
Effects of elevated CO2 concentration and nitrogen addition on foliar phosphorus fractions of Mikania micranatha and Chromolaena odorata under low phosphorus availability
Authors: Zhang Lingling , Luo Xianzhen , Lambers Hans , Zhang Guihua , Liu Nan , Zang Xiaowei , Xiao Meijuan , Wen Dazhi
Published: September 2021

Invasive plants rapidly spread in habitats with low soil phosphorus (P) availability and have triggered a sharp decline in the diversity of native species. However, no studies have explored how widespread invasive species acclimate to low soil P availability via changing foliar P fractions, especially under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and nitrogen (N) deposition. Here, an open‐top chamber experiment was conducted to explore the effect of nutrient addition and elevated [CO2] on leaf traits and foliar functional P fractions (i.e., Pi, metabolite P, lipid P, nucleic acid P, and residual P) of two aggressive invasive species (Mikania micranatha and Chromolaena odorata). We found that foliar N/P ratios were more than 20, and P addition significantly increased plant biomass. Both results indicated P‐limited plant growth at our studied site. Elevated [CO2], N and N + P addition greatly increased plant biomass, photosynthetic rates, and photosynthetic P‐use efficiency (PPUE) in invasive species, but PPUE decreased with increasing P addition. Nitrogen addition slightly decreased the concentration of leaf total P, decreased foliar residual P, but increased metabolite P concentrations in invasive species. Similar changes in foliar P fractions were found under N + P addition. Phosphorus addition increased foliar P concentrations, which was strongly correlated with an increase in metabolite P concentrations in invasive species. Elevated [CO2] alleviated these effects and increased PPUE. The present results suggest that future elevated [CO2] and N deposition allow the invasive species to acclimate to low soil P availability and support their successful invasion by greatly reducing P allocation to non‐metabolite foliar P fractions (i.e., nucleic acid P and residual P) to meet their demand of metabolite P for photosynthesis and exhibit a high PPUE.
Perceiving faces through reconnection‐colored glasses after social exclusion: Evidence from N100
Authors: ZHU MIN , QIAN HAOYUE , ZHANG PENGCHENG , GAO XIANGPING
Published: September 2021

Social exclusion motivates individuals to selectively reconnect with others, in which face categorization plays an important role. However, it remains unknown how reconnection possibility interacts with perception at the very early stage of face categorization. To address this issue, after social exclusion or social inclusion priming, participants were instructed to select one person from two gender‐matched strangers as a future “coworker” (with high reconnection possibility; the left one is a future “stranger,” with low reconnection possibility) for another ostensible task, and then complete an orientation judgment task of self‐face, coworker face and stranger face, with event‐related brain potential (ERP) recordings. Results showed that excluded participants produced larger N100 to future coworker face than to stranger face, but no such difference was found among included participants. Compared with included participants, excluded participants produced significantly larger N100 to future coworker face. Moreover, N100 elicited by future coworker face was significantly negatively correlated with rating scores of exclusion only for social excluded participants. These findings indicate that social reconnection desire may contribute to the biased face perception which facilitates face categorization of socially excluded people.
Passive and active suicidal ideation among left‐behind children in rural China: An evaluation of intrapersonal and interpersonal vulnerability and resilience
Authors: Liu Richard T. , Lawrence Hannah R. , Burke Taylor A. , Sanzari Christina M. , Levin Rachel Y. , Maitlin Carly , Paszek Claudia , Zhu Xiangru
Published: September 2021

Objective

Although theoretical conceptualizations of suicide hold that passive and active suicidal ideation are etiologically distinct, existing research observing this distinction is modest, with most prior studies focusing exclusively on active ideation. Understanding processes associated with passive ideation is clinically important insofar as passive ideation may precede active ideation, and thus serve as an earlier intervention target prior to potential onset of suicidal behavior. We aimed to evaluate intrapersonal and interpersonal vulnerability and resilience factors for passive ideation and differentiating passive from active ideation.

Method

Left‐behind adolescents in rural China (n = 371) were assessed for passive and active ideation, depressive symptoms, rumination, grit, peer support, and peer victimization.

Results

Overall, 15.9% of the sample endorsed passive ideation without active ideation, and 17.8% endorsed active ideation. In multivariate analyses, rumination and grit differentiated left‐behind children with passive ideation from those with no ideation. Depressive symptom severity predicted active ideation among adolescents with passive ideation.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that rumination and grit may characterize passive ideation. Although passive and active ideation may differ modestly in vulnerability and resilience factors, depressive symptoms may be important to monitor among those with passive ideation and have not yet experience active ideation.
Generational identities: Historical and literary perspectives
Authors: Kingstone Helen
Published: September 2021

Discussions of generational identities need to take into account their long and non‐linear history. Our present focus on intergenerational inequity Baby‐Boomers vs. Millennials disregards the much more complex history of this social identity. This paper by a historian and literary scholar teases apart (1) the diachronic and synchronic meanings of ‘generation’, (2) the difference between ‘a generation in itself’ from ‘a generation for itself’ that has a social identity, and (3) generational identities that are claimed from within or ascribed from without. This paper places the question of how generational change takes place into historical context, showing that while generational identities came to focused attention during the First World War, they arguably began a century earlier, in the upheavals of the French Revolution and worldwide Napoleonic Wars. Nineteenth‐century intellectual movements were often generation‐conscious, though these identities did not translate across the social spectrum. The paper emphasises the intersectional nature of any generational taxonomy in relation to class, gender, race and national context, drawing brief examples from independence‐era Jamaica, post‐Soviet Russia, and mid‐twentieth‐century UK and USA. A final section highlights the value of ‘intergenerational’ approaches over those that emphasize a ‘generation gap’.
SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody responses in solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Zervou Fainareti N. , Ali Nicole M. , Neumann Henry J. , Madan Rebecca Pellett , Mehta Sapna A.
Published: September 2021

Antibody responses among immunocompromised solid organ transplant recipients (SOT) infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) may be diminished compared to the general population and have not been fully characterized. We conducted a cohort study at our transplant center to investigate the rate of seroconversion for SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibodies among SOT recipients who were diagnosed with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and underwent serum SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. The 61 patients who were included in the final analysis underwent initial SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG testing at a median of 62 days (Interquartile range 55.0–75.0) from symptom onset. Note that, 51 of 61 patients (83.6%) had positive SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG results, whereas 10 (16.4%) had negative IgG results. Six (60%) out of 10 seronegative patients underwent serial IgG testing and remained seronegative up to 17 weeks post‐diagnosis. Use of belatacept in maintenance immunosuppression was significantly associated with negative IgG antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2 both in univariate and multivariate analyses (Odds ratio 0.04, p = .01). In conclusion, the majority of organ transplant recipients with COVID‐19 in our study developed SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies. Further longitudinal studies of the durability and immunologic role of these IgG responses and the factors associated with lack of seroconversion are needed.
Cytochrome P450‐catalyzed biosynthesis of furanoditerpenoids in the bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
Authors: Muchlinski Andrew , Jia Meirong , Tiedge Kira , Fell Jason S. , Pelot Kyle A. , Chew Lisl , Davisson Danielle , Chen Yuxuan , Siegel Justin , Lovell John T. , Zerbe Philipp
Published: September 2021

Specialized diterpenoid metabolites are important mediators of plant–environment interactions in monocot crops. To understand metabolite functions in plant environmental adaptation that ultimately can enable crop improvement strategies, a deeper knowledge of the underlying species‐specific biosynthetic pathways is required. Here, we report the genomics‐enabled discovery of five cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP71Z25–CYP71Z29) that form previously unknown furanoditerpenoids in the monocot bioenergy crop Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Combinatorial pathway reconstruction showed that CYP71Z25–CYP71Z29 catalyze furan ring addition directly to primary diterpene alcohol intermediates derived from distinct class II diterpene synthase products. Transcriptional co‐expression patterns and the presence of select diterpenoids in switchgrass roots support the occurrence of P450‐derived furanoditerpenoids in planta. Integrating molecular dynamics, structural analysis and targeted mutagenesis identified active site determinants that contribute to the distinct catalytic specificities underlying the broad substrate promiscuity of CYP71Z25–CYP71Z29 for native and non‐native diterpenoids.
Black digital outer spaces: Constellations of relation and care on Twitter
Authors: Okoye Victoria Ogoegbunam
Published: September 2021

In this short contribution, I witness the underrepresentation of Black PhD students and scholars in the UK academy, and I reflect on my use of Twitter to build a constellation of connections to Black PhD researchers, academics, and activists to think with and learn with. I write this in the form of a tweet thread, a method of scholarly writing that I learned from Black activists, students, and academics on Twitter, and I use this space to mention meaningful learnings from individuals in my own constellation of connections.
Transition to Turbulence Downstream of a Stenosis for Whole Blood and a Newtonian Analog Under Steady Flow Conditions
Authors: Costa Rayanne Pinto , Simplice Talla Nwotchouang Blaise , Yao Junyao , Biswas Dipankar , Casey David , McKenzie Ruel , Steinman David A. , Loth Francis
Published: September 2021

Blood, a multiphase fluid comprised of plasma, blood cells, and platelets, is known to exhibit a shear-thinning behavior at low shear rates and near-Newtonian behavior at higher shear rates. However, less is known about the impact of its multiphase nature on the transition to turbulence. In this study, we experimentally determined the critical Reynolds number at which the flow began to transition to turbulence downstream of eccentric stenosis for whole porcine blood and a Newtonian blood analog (water-glycerin mixture). Velocity profiles for both fluids were measured under steady-state flow conditions using an ultrasound Doppler probe placed 12 diameters downstream of eccentric stenosis. Velocity was recorded at 21 locations along the diameter at 11 different flow rates. Normalized turbulent kinetic energy was used to determine the critical Reynolds number for each fluid. Blood rheology was measured before and after each experiment. Tests were conducted on five samples of each fluid inside a temperature-controlled in vitro flow system. The viscosity at a shear rate of 1000 s−1 was used to define the Reynolds number for each fluid. The mean critical Reynolds numbers for blood and water-glycerin were 470 ± 27.5 and 395 ± 10, respectively, indicating a ∼19% delay in transition to turbulence for whole blood compared to the Newtonian fluid. This finding is consistent with a previous report for steady flow in a straight pipe, suggesting some aspect of blood rheology may serve to suppress, or at least delay, the onset of turbulence in vivo.
Building a Trustworthy Product-Level Shape-Performance Integrated Digital Twin With Multifidelity Surrogate Model
Authors: Wang Shuo , Lai Xiaonan , He Xiwang , Qiu Yiming , Song Xueguan
Published: September 2021

Digital twin has the potential for increasing production, achieving real-time monitor, and realizing predictive maintenance by establishing a real-time high-fidelity mapping between the physical entity and its digital model. However, the high accuracy and instantaneousness requirements of digital twins have hindered their applications in practical engineering. This article presents a universal framework to fulfill the requirements and to build an accurate and trustworthy digital twin by integrating numerical simulations, sensor data, multifidelity surrogate (MFS) models, and visualization techniques. In practical engineering, the number of sensors available to measure quantities of interest is often limited, and complementary simulations are necessary to compute these quantities. The simulation results are generally more comprehensive but not as accurate as the sensor data. Therefore, the proposed framework combines the benefits of both simulation results and sensor data by using an MFS model based on moving least squares (MLS), named MLS-based multifidelity surrogate (MFS-MLS). The MFS-MLS was developed as an essential part to calibrate the continuous field of the simulation by limited sensor data to obtain accurate results for the digital twin. Then, single-fidelity surrogate models are built on the whole domain using the calibrated results of the MFS-MLS as training samples and sensor data as inputs to predict and visualize the quantities of interest in real time. In addition, the framework was validated by a truss test case, and the results demonstrate that the proposed framework has the potential to be an effective tool to build accurate and trustworthy digital twins.
Microstructure of IN738LC Fabricated Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Menon Nandana , Mahdi Tanjheel Hasan , Basak Amrita
Published: September 2021

Nickel-base superalloys are extensively used in the production of gas turbine hot-section components as they offer exceptional creep strength and superior fatigue resistance at high temperatures. Such improved properties are due to the presence of precipitate-strengthening phases such as Ni3Ti or Ni3Al (γ′ phases) in the normally face-centered cubic (FCC) structure of the solidified nickel. Although this second phase is the main reason for the improvements in properties, the presence of such phases also results in increased processing difficulties as these alloys are prone to crack formation. In this work, specimens of IN738LC are fabricated on a Coherent Creator laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) equipment. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are carried out to characterize the deposit region. Metallurgical continuity is achieved in the entire deposit region and the specimens do not show any warpage. However, the specimens show voids (e.g., pores and cracks) in the deposit region. The results show that the percentage void area decreases along the build height direction. The deposited IN738LC shows polycrystalline grains in the entire deposit region as confirmed by XRD and EBSD. The grain size also shows variations along the build direction. In summary, the results open opportunities for academic researchers and small-scale businesses in fabricating high-γ′ nickel-base superalloys on a desktop laser powder bed fusion AM equipment.
A New Experimental Approach for Heat Transfer Coefficient and Adiabatic Wall Temperature Measurements on a Nozzle Guide Vane With Inlet Temperature Distortions
Authors: Bacci Tommaso , Picchi Alessio , Facchini Bruno , Cubeda Simone
Published: September 2021

Modern gas turbines lean combustors allow to limit NOx pollutant emissions by controlling the flame temperature, while maintaining high turbine inlet temperatures. On the other hand, their adoption presents other challenges, especially concerning the combustor–turbine interaction. Turbine inlet conditions are generally characterized by severe temperature distortions and swirl degree, which, in turn, is responsible for very high turbulence intensities. Several past studies have focused on the description of the effects of these phenomena on the behavior of the high pressure stages of the turbine, both considering them as separated aspects, and, in very recent years, accounting for their combined impact. Nevertheless, very limited experimental results are available when it comes to evaluate the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) on the nozzle guide vane (NGV) external surface, since relevant temperature distortions present a severe challenge for the commonly adopted measurement techniques. The work presented in this paper was carried out on a non-reactive, annular, three-sector test rig, made by a combustor simulator and a NGV cascade. Making use of three real hardware burners of a Baker Hughes heavy-duty gas turbine, operated in similitude conditions, it can reproduce a representative swirling flow, with temperature distortions at the combustor–turbine interface plane. This test apparatus was exploited to develop an experimental approach to retrieve reliable HTC and adiabatic wall temperature distributions simultaneously, in order to overcome the known limitations imposed by temperature gradients on state-of-the-art methods for HTC calculation from transient tests. A non-cooled mockup of a NGV doublet, manufactured using low thermal diffusivity plastic material, was used for the tests, carried out using infra-red thermography with a transient approach. In the authors’ knowledge, this presents the first experimental attempt of measuring a NGV HTC in the presence of relevant temperature distortions and swirl.
A Comparison of Different Nanoparticles’ Effect on Fine Migration by Low Salinity Water Injection for Oil Recovery: Introducing an Optimum Condition
Authors: Madadizadeh Ali , Sadeghein Alireza , Riahi Siavash
Published: September 2021

Today, enhance oil recovery (EOR) methods are attracting more attention to increase the petroleum production rate. Some EOR methods such as low salinity water flooding can increase the amount of fine migration and sand production in sandstone reservoirs which causes a reduction in permeability and inflict damages on to the reservoir and the production equipment. One of the methods to control fine migration is using nanotechnology. Nanoparticles (NPs) can reduce fine migration by various mechanisms such as reducing the zeta potential of fine particles’ surfaces. In this paper, three NPs including SiO2, MgO, and Al2O3’s effects on controlling fine migration and sand production were investigated in two scenarios of pre-flush and co-injection using sandpack as a porous media sample. When NPs are injected into the porous media sample, the outflow turbidity and zeta potential of particles decrease. Experiments showed that SiO2 has the best effect on controlling fine migration in comparison with other NPs and it could reduce fine migration 69% in pre-flush and 75% in co-injection. Also, MgO and Al2O3 decreased fine migration 65% and 33% in the pre-flush scenario and 49% and 13% in the co-injection scenario, respectively.
Influence of annealing temperature of nickel oxide as hole transport layer applied for inverted perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen Ka-Te , Hsu Chia-Hsun , Ren Fang-Bin , Wang Can , Gao Peng , Wu Wan-Yu , Lien Shui-Yang , Zhu Wen-Zhang
Published: September 2021

Nickel oxide (NiO) has recently attracted great attention for its use as a hole transport layer (HTL) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this paper, NiO films are fabricated on a silicon wafer and fluorine-doped tin oxide by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) with nickelocene as the metal precursor and oxygen plasma as the coreactant. The effects of the annealing treatment on the film properties at different annealing temperatures are analyzed. The experimental results show that the PEALD-NiO films have a high thickness uniformity and low surface roughness as evaluated by atomic force microscopy measurements. All the PEALD-NiO films have a wide bandgap and high transmittance of ∼80%–85% in the visible light range. The postannealing treatment induces a reduced electrical resistivity owing to crystal structure repair and surface defect reduction. This treatment also leads to a significantly enhanced wettability of the NiO films, facilitating perovskite layer deposition in subsequent device fabrication. Finally, the inverted PSCs based on the NiO HTL with different annealing temperatures demonstrate an enhanced performance of the device as compared to that with unannealed NiO HTL. The 400 °C-annealed PEALD-NiO HTL yields the best cell conversion efficiency, improving from 15.38% for unannealed NiO to 17.31%, demonstrating the potential of PEALD-NiO compact films for applications in inverted PSCs.
Identifying the Russian voiceless non-palatalized fricatives /f/, /s/, and /ʃ/ from acoustic cues using machine learning
Authors: Ulrich Natalja , Allassonnière-Tang Marc , Pellegrino François , Dediu Dan
Published: September 2021

This paper shows that machine learning techniques are very successful at classifying the Russian voiceless non-palatalized fricatives [f], [s], and [ʃ] using a small set of acoustic cues. From a data sample of 6320 tokens of read sentences produced by 40 participants, temporal and spectral measurements are extracted from the full sound, the noise duration, and the middle 30 ms windows. Furthermore, 13 mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) are computed from the middle 30 ms window. Classifiers based on single decision trees, random forests, support vector machines, and neural networks are trained and tested to distinguish between these three fricatives. The results demonstrate that, first, the three acoustic cue extraction techniques are similar in terms of classification accuracy (93% and 99%) but that the spectral measurements extracted from the full frication noise duration result in slightly better accuracy. Second, the center of gravity and the spectral spread are sufficient for the classification of [f], [s], and [ʃ] irrespective of contextual and speaker variation. Third, MFCCs show a marginally higher predictive power over spectral cues (<2%). This suggests that both sets of measures provide sufficient information for the classification of these fricatives and their choice depends on the particular research question or application.
Evolution of Multidrug Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum: a Longitudinal Study of Genetic Resistance Markers in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Authors: Imwong Mallika , Suwannasin Kanokon , Srisutham Suttipat , Vongpromek Ranitha , Promnarate Cholrawee , Saejeng Aungkana , Phyo Aung Pyae , Proux Stephane , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Chea Nguon , Miotto Olivo , Tripura Rupam , Nguyen Hoang Chau , Dysoley Lek , Ho Dang Trung Nghia , Peto Thomas J. , Callery James J. , van der Pluijm Rob W. , Amaratunga Chanaki , Mukaka Mavuto , von Seidlein Lorenz , Mayxay Mayfong , Thuy-Nhien Nguyen Thanh , Newton Paul N. , Day Nicholas P. J. , Ashley Elizabeth A. , Nosten Francois H. , Smithuis Frank M. , Dhorda Mehul , White Nicholas J. , Dondorp Arjen M.
Published: September 2021

Increasing resistance in
Plasmodium falciparum
to artemisinins and their artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) partner drugs jeopardizes effective antimalarial treatment. Resistance is worst in the Greater Mekong subregion.
Efficient Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Replication and cccDNA Formation by HBV Ribonuclease H Inhibitors during Infection
Authors: Chauhan Ranjit , Li Qilan , Woodson Molly E. , Gasonoo Makafui , Meyers Marvin J. , Tavis John E.
Published: September 2021

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNase H) is an attractive but unexploited drug target. Here, we addressed three limitations to the current state of RNase H inhibitor development: (a) Efficacy has been assessed only in transfected cell lines. (b) Cytotoxicity data are from transformed cell lines rather than primary cells. (c) It is unknown how the compounds work against nucleos(t)ide analog resistant HBV strains.
Bacterial Small Membrane Proteins: the Swiss Army Knife of Regulators at the Lipid Bilayer
Authors: Yadavalli Srujana S. , Yuan Jing
Published: September 2021

Small membrane proteins represent a subset of recently discovered small proteins (≤100 amino acids), which are a ubiquitous class of emerging regulators underlying bacterial adaptation to environmental stressors. Until relatively recently, small open reading frames encoding these proteins were not designated genes in genome annotations.
A Shift to Human Body Temperature (37°C) Rapidly Reprograms Multiple Adaptive Responses in Escherichia coli That Would Facilitate Niche Survival and Colonization
Authors: Gant Kanegusuku Anastasia , Stankovic Isidora N. , Cote-Hammarlof Pamela A. , Yong Priscilla H. , White-Ziegler Christine A.
Published: September 2021

As one of the first cues sensed by the microbe upon entry into a human host, understanding how bacteria like
E. coli
modulate gene expression in response to temperature improves our understanding of how bacteria immediately initiate responses beneficial for survival and colonization. For pathogens, understanding the various pathways of thermal regulation could yield valuable targets for anti-infective chemotherapeutic drugs or disinfection measures.
Fluorescence Imaging-Based Discovery of Membrane Domain-Associated Proteins in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Rokicki Corelle A. Z. , Brenner James R. , Dills Alexander H. , Judd Julius J. , Kester Jemila C. , Puffal Julia , Sparks Ian L. , Prithviraj Malavika , Anderson Brittany R. , Wade Joseph T. , Gray Todd A. , Derbyshire Keith M. , Fortune Sarah M. , Morita Yasu S.
Published: September 2021

The intracellular membrane domain (IMD) is a membrane subcompartment found in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
cells. Proteomic analysis of purified IMD identified more than 300 proteins, including enzymes involved in cell envelope biosynthesis.
On Some Weevil Taxa of the Subfamily Entiminae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) Described by V. I. Motschulsky from Japan and New Data on the Morphology of the Tribes Cneorhinini and Tanymecini
Authors: Savitsky V. Yu.
Published: September 2021

Lectotypes of Cneorhinus viridimetallicus Motschulsky, 1860, C. cuprescens Motschulsky, 1866, C. nodosus Motschulsky, 1860, and Dermatodes carinulatus Motschulsky, 1866 are designated. A new synonymy Catapionus viridimetallicus (Motschulsky, 1860) (= Cneorhinus cuprescens Motschulsky, 1866, syn. n.) and a new combination Scepticus carinulatus (Motschulsky, 1866), comb. n. are established. New data on the morphology of some genera of the tribes Cneorhinini and Tanymecini are presented. The record of Amystax fasciatus Roelofs, 1873 for Kunashir Island is shown to be based on misidentification of Scepticus carinulatus.
Fulminant subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) presented with acute hemiparesis in a 13-year-old girl with perinatally acquired HIV infection
Authors: Vidhale Tushar Ashok , Gupta Hemant R , Prafulla Jaya Rohan , Pustake Manas
Published: September 2021

A 13-year-old girl with perinatally acquired HIV infection was admitted to us with acute onset, right-sided hemiparesis of 30 days duration and right-sided myoclonic jerks of 2 days duration affecting the face, upper and lower limbs. On examination, she exhibited increased tone and a pyramidal pattern of weakness in her right upper and lower limbs, along with spontaneous multifocal myoclonic jerks in the affected area. IgG levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid for measles were significantly elevated. Brain MRI depicted T2-weighted-hyperintensities in the subcortical white matter. The electroencephalogram demonstrated evidence of lateralised long interval periodic discharges. This patient had no past behavioural problems or poor academic performance. This case underlines the fact that, though subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic disease, a rare fulminant form of SSPE might develop acutely and atypically, with an increased proclivity for HIV-infected patients.
Late-onset radiation-induced brachial plexopathy
Authors: Attard Kelly Anne , Vella James Carlos , Chircop Charmaine
Published: September 2021

The late-onset variant of radiation-induced brachial plexopathy is most often seen after treatment for breast or lung cancers. It has an insidious onset, with symptoms noted years after receiving radiotherapy, and the condition gradually continues to deteriorate with time. We present the case of an elderly man who we saw in view of worsening paraesthesias and weakness of his left arm with associated prominent muscle wasting along the left shoulder girdle. Fifteen years prior to this, he had received radiotherapy for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in an 84-year-old woman: a miraculous survival from an aortoduodenal fistula repair
Authors: Tan Nicole , Shi Yi , Xu Dan , Wang Jinsong
Published: September 2021

An 84-year-old woman presented acutely with dizziness, fatigue and a total of 800 mL of fresh per rectum (PR) bleeding. The significant history of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair 5 years ago included multiple episodes of endovascular leak around the stent associated with abscess of left psoas major, left abdominal wall abscess with sinus formation, appendicitis with abscess formation, and acute pancreatic and chronic cholecystitis with multiple gallstones in the 7 months prior to this presentation. During the preceding 7 months, the patient was stabilised with an intravenous proton pump inhibitor, blood transfusions and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) management for the assumed diagnosis of stress ulcers over multiple hospital admissions. Imaging with CT scan of the abdomen made the more accurate diagnosis of acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage caused by a fistula between the distal duodenum and aorta, which was later surgically confirmed. Removal of infected stents and axillobifemoral bypass were performed with a successful recovery.
Cardiac tamponade and massive pleural effusion in a young COVID-19-positive adult
Authors: Johny Dilip , Subramanyam Kodangala , Baikunje Nandakishore , Hosmane Giridhar Belur
Published: September 2021

COVID-19 has a broad spectrum of cardiac manifestations, and cardiac tamponade leading to cardiogenic shock is a rare presentation. A 30-year-old man with a history of COVID-19-positive, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) done 1 week ago and who was home-quarantined, came to the emergency department with palpitations, breathlessness and orthopnoea. His ECG showed sinus tachycardia with low-voltage complexes, chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and left pleural effusion and two-dimensional echocardiography showed large pericardial effusion with features suggestive of cardiac tamponade. He was taken up for emergency pericardiocentesis which showed haemorrhagic pericardial fluid. Intercostal drainage insertion was done for left-sided large pleural effusion. After ruling out all the other causes for haemorrhagic pericardial effusion, the patient was started on colchicine, steroids, ibuprofen and antibiotics to which he responded. Both pericardial and pleural effusions resolved completely on follow-up.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an adult with postacute COVID-19 syndrome
Authors: Wiseman Daniel , Lin John , Routy Jean-Pierre , Samoukovic Gordan
Published: September 2021

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) causing multiorgan failure has been reported as an acute clinical presentation of COVID-19. However, the literature surrounding HLH in the context of a postacute COVID-19 syndrome is limited. This report presents a case of a life-threatening HLH occurring 6 weeks after a pauci-symptomatic COVID-19 infection in a previously healthy adult. A bone marrow aspirate confirmed the HLH and the patient was successfully treated with dexamethasone and etoposide. To our knowledge, this is the first case of HLH occurring as a postacute COVID-19 syndrome following a pauci-symptomatic initial infection.