bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the bond strengths of restorative materials to primary tooth dentin treated with different pulpotomy techniques
Authors: Bolukbasi Basak , Kucukyilmaz Ebru
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of different pulpotomy techniques on the primary tooth dentin and to evaluate the effects of these pulpotomy methods on the shear bond strength of restorative materials to primary tooth dentin. Two hundred and forty dentin specimens were distributed randomly to the study groups as; control, ferric sulphate, Biodentine®, Nd:YAG laser, photobiomodulation, and atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP). After the application of pulpotomy methods, samples were again randomly divided to two restorative materials (glass hybrid and composite resin) (n = 20) and shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed. Then, 12 new dentin specimens were prepared for all groups for surface analysis. Surface examination (n = 12) and fracture analyses (n = 240) were carried out with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Statistical significance range was accepted as α <.05 for all data. A statistically significant difference was obtained among all study groups for glass hybrid material as well as composite material (p <.05). While the highest mean SBS value was obtained with Nd:YAG laser (7.58 ± 0.60 MPa), the lowest value was observed with Biodentine® (6.70 ± 0.91 MPa; p = .001) for glass hybrid material. For composite material, the highest mean SBS value was calculated for Nd:YAG laser (13.79 ± 1.24 MPa), while the lowest value was obtained with ferric sulphate (10.17 ± 1.45 MPa; p = .001). Fracture modes were mainly adhesive and mixed type according to SEM analysis. Moreover, morphological changes were observed with SEM on the dentin surfaces of ferric sulphate, Biodentine® and Nd:YAG laser. Within the limitations of this study, Nd:YAG laser increased the shear bond strength values in groups of composite resin.

Research Highlights

In this article, we report the results of the shear bonding strength test of two restorative materials (glass‐hybrid vs. composite resin) to primary tooth dentin following the application of five different pulpotomy techniques (ferric sulfate, Biodentine®, Nd:YAG laser, photobiomodulation, and atmospheric pressure cold plasma) were reported. This article will contribute to the literature that there are considerably limited researches concerning the bond strength of glass hybrid to primary dentin and also atmospheric pressure cold plasma in pulpotomies. The SEM examination was performed in two stages in this study; the morphological changes in both treated dentin surfaces and the surfaces of the samples subjected to the shear bond strength test.
Use of chlorhexidine to eradicate oropharyngeal SARS‐CoV‐2 in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Huang Y. Hanna , Huang Jong T.
Published: March 2021

As public distribution of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is underway, prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) relies on minimizing spread. In this study, chlorhexidine gluconate was investigated as a topical antimicrobial agent against SARS‐CoV‐2. This was a randomized, prospective cohort study using chlorhexidine as an oral rinse and posterior oropharyngeal spray in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. The primary outcome was presence or absence of laboratory‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 in the oral and oropharyngeal cavities after 4 days of chlorhexidine use and standard of care (study group) or standard of care only (control group). SARS‐CoV‐2 was eliminated from the oropharynx in 62.1% of patients who used chlorhexidine as an oral rinse, versus 5.5% of the control group patients. Among patients who used a combination of oral rinse and oropharyngeal spray, 86.0% eliminated oropharyngeal SARS‐CoV‐2, versus 6.3% of control patients. Chlorhexidine is a simple and safe addition to current COVID‐19 prevention guidelines and may play a significant role in reducing disease spread.
Contribution of climate/meteorology to winter haze pollution in the Fenwei Plain, China
Authors: Zhao Zhijun , Liu Shaw Chen , Liu Run , Zhang Ziyin , Li Yanzi , Mo Huisi , Wu Yanxing
Published: March 2021

In recent years, anthropogenic emissions in the Fenwei Plain (FWP) have decreased; however, haze pollution remains a serious issue. This study explored the possible reasons for this enduring problem in terms of climate and meteorology. Firstly, the contribution of climate and meteorology to haze pollution in the FWP was quantified using a best fit model and differences in key meteorological parameters were analysed over several time periods. Key climate factors were identified using a relative importance test and correlation analysis, and the adjusted optimal subset model (AOSM) was used to predict the number of winter haze days for the entire winter and for individual winter months, respectively. Results showed that the average minimum contribution (CONave) of climate/meteorology to winter haze pollution was 24.3% from 1984 to 2016 and the modulating role of climate and meteorological conditions increased significantly after 2010 (CONave = 55.8%). This was attributed to a significant decrease (increase) in sea level pressure and surface wind speed (500 hPa geopotential height and surface temperature) in the FWP. The explained variance (R2) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the models for the entire winter period were 88% and 3.54 days, respectively. For predictions in November, December, January, and February, the R2 was above 71% and the MAE was below 1.83 days. Furthermore, independent predictions for 2018 showed that the bias in the monthly models was lower by 5 days compared to the entire winter model. The results of a recycling independent test indicated that all the models evaluated had excellent stability, proving that the climate factors chosen by the AOSM do affect haze pollution in the FWP.
A new sustainable dividend policy and valuation model: Decreasing growth rate model
Authors: Kudar Alibey , Sayılgan Güven
Published: March 2021

In this study, we offer an alternative growth rate model for a company to be able to sustain its dividend policy. In the model we propose, there is an increase in the periodic amount of dividends every period on an equal basis, but the growth rate of dividends decreases every period. That's why we named the model “Decreasing Growth Rate Model”. The model we proposed is explained in a simple hypothetical example.
Olfaction in Neuropathologically Defined Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Shill Holly A. , Zhang Nan , Driver‐Dunckley Erika , Mehta Shyamal , Adler Charles H. , Beach Thomas G.
Published: March 2021

Background

Hyposmia is characteristic of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLBs), whereas progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) typically has normal sense of smell. However, there is a lack of pathologically confirmed data.

Objective

The objective is to study hyposmia in pathologically confirmed PSP patients and compare to PD patients and nondegenerative controls.

Methods

We studied autopsied subjects in the Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders who had antemortem olfactory testing and a neuropathological diagnosis of either PD, PSP, or control.

Results: This study included 281 cases. Those with neuropathologically confirmed PSP (N = 24) and controls (N = 174) had significantly better sense of smell than those with PD (N = 76). Although most PSP patients had normal olfaction, there were some with hyposmia, resulting in an overall reduced sense of smell in PSP compared to controls. The sensitivity of having PSP pathologically in those presenting with parkinsonism and normosmia was 93.4% with a specificity of 64.7%. Cases with both PSP and PD pathologically had reduced sense of smell similar to PD alone (N = 7). Hyposmic PSP patients had significantly higher Lewy body burden not meeting criteria for additional PD/DLB diagnosis.

Conclusions

Pathologically confirmed PD had reduced olfaction compared with PSP or controls. In the setting of parkinsonism in this sample, the presence of normosmia had high sensitivity for PSP. Hyposmia in PSP suggests the presence of additional Lewy body pathology. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Methods of tunable diode laser absorption saturation spectroscopy to gas sensing under optically thick conditions
Authors: Nie Wei , Xu Zhenyu , Rao Gangfu , Lin Xiao , Lu Jidong , Dong Meirong , Kan Ruifeng
Published: March 2021

The absorption saturation under optically thick conditions will bring difficulties to laser spectroscopy gas sensing. We report the spectrum two wings reconstruction method and the transmitted laser intensity fitting method for tunable diode laser absorption saturation spectroscopy gas absolute measurements under optically thick conditions, and used the modified Lambert Beer's law to calculate methane concentration based on the incomplete spectrum of absorption saturation. The maximum deviation between the experimental measurement results and the standard methane concentration is about 4.7%, which verifies the feasibility of these new methods and also show that they have great potential for expanding the gas sensing range of a single absorption line.
Development, spread and impact of primary care and musculoskeletal communities of practice to assist rapid translation of evidence into practice
Authors: Stevenson Kay , Sarigiovannis Panos , Finney Andrew G. , Cottrell Elizabeth , Lewis Rachael , Edwards John James , Hadley‐Barrows Tina , Thomson Kirsty , Reay Hannah , Dziedzic Krysia S.
Published: March 2021

Background

Embedding research into practice is challenging. Barriers include: a shortage of time, lack of understanding of the evidence and a poor support in the clinical setting. A community of practice (CoP) model has been used to address these issues. Three ‘Evidence into Practice’ groups use a CoP model to assist the rapid translation of evidence into practice in primary and secondary care settings. We describe how a CoP model supports the functions, operations and outputs of three ‘Evidence into Practice Groups’.

Method

A CoP model is used to engage a broad range of clinicians, researchers, managers, patients and librarians in the complex process of acquiring research knowledge and then translating knowledge into practice. The CoP principles of Domain, Community and Practice are used to describe three ‘Evidence into Practice Groups’ who cater for different elements of the care and academic sector and engage a range of professional groups. This includes primary and secondary care engaging professionals such as general practitioners (GP), practice nurses, allied health professionals, researchers and librarians. All groups are clinically led, academically supported and follow similar processes to identify the best evidence and translate it into practice. As the groups reflect the context in which they work they have different operational arrangements for example frequency and time of meetings.

Results

The CoP model enabled three ‘Evidence into Practice Groups’ over time to: engage over 180 clinical and academic staff; answer 130 clinical questions; improve clinical care, gain funding for two randomised controlled trials (enrolled over n = 7000 participants) and identify areas for further research, quality improvement audit and training.

Conclusion

The CoP model encourages the rapid translation of evidence into practice by engaging staff to identify areas of clinical concern in their own context, thereby stimulating their interest and involvement. This creates a meaningful link between research and practice. Clinical leadership and the CoP model ensure that practice change is quick and efficient. This model can be replicated at scale. Consideration needs to be given to the key ingredients to achieve impact.
The role of transparency and professional assistance in regional financial management in the Indonesian regional governments
Authors: Masdar Rahma , Furqan Andi Chairil , Masruddin Masruddin , Meldawaty Lucyani
Published: March 2021

This study aims to analyze the extent of the role of transparency and professional assistance, particularly by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) in the management of regional finances toward the implementation of follow‐up audit recommendations. Using data from provincial, city, and district governments in Indonesia in 2014–2016 in Indonesia, with a final sample of 1494 observations. The results of the study indicate that the level of transparency can play a role in increasing the level of suitability of the implementation of follow‐up audit recommendations that have been given by external auditors (the Supreme Audit Board/BPK) to the Regional Governments in Indonesia. However, although at the Provincial Government level, a positive influence was found on the existence of BPKP's assistance on the follow‐up of audit recommendations, this did not apply at the district and city level, because it was found that districts and cities that received BPKP assistance had lower audit recommendations compared to districts and cities that do not get BPKP assistance. The results of this study have implications for the strategies and policies (discretion) of Local Government officials in order to improve the suitability of the implementation of follow‐up audit recommendations. Therefore, the Central Government needs to encourage and facilitate increased transparency and implementation of follow‐up audit recommendations to the Regional Government, to optimize the achievement of governance reform goals in Indonesia, especially in order to realize accountability in regional financial management.
Field study of audience experience in contemporary circus: An exploratory study on the impact of audience's expertise
Authors: Szubielska Magdalena , Ho Robbie
Published: March 2021

This study took place during a contemporary circus festival to investigate the audience experience of contemporary circus street performances. Specifically, we explored the impact of expertise on audience experience (emotion, intellect, novelty, place, interaction, and technique) and performance evaluation (liking and self‐perceived understanding). Based on the participants’ self‐report frequency of previous attendance of contemporary circus and current skill level in contemporary circus, we divided a sample of 349 adult audience members into three groups: low expertise, medium expertise, and high expertise. Expertise had a significant effect on audience experience; the high‐expertise participants were more intellectually stimulated than both the medium‐ and low‐expertise participants. Expertise had negligible effect on performance evaluation, but we note that performance reception could have been based on different interpretation styles; that is, more literal in participants lower in expertise and more metaphoric in participants higher in expertise. Finally, we found a clear positive association between audience experience and performance evaluation.
Dynamic effects on organic reactivity—Pathways to (and from) discomfort
Authors: Tantillo Dean J.
Published: March 2021

Recent computational studies highlighting the importance of accounting for dynamic effects on organic reactivity are discussed, accompanied by descriptions of the factors that led the author to pursue these projects.
UK non‐medical CD prescribing law: permissive or restrictive?
Authors: Gallagher Cathal T
Published: March 2021

Current guidance on non‐medical prescribing of controlled drugs (CDs)is a misinterpretation of the law as written. Over four years after obtaining the legal right to prescribe Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs, therapeutic radiographer and paramedic independent prescribers are still being advised that they cannot do so by their professional regulator. This has arisen from one government department believing this needs to be permitted by legislation originating from another. The latter department is not usually concerned with healthcare provision and has not acted as the former believes is necessary. Independent prescribers, their professional bodies and their regulators should be made aware of this, so they can effectively lobby government to act.
A novel method based on unbiased correlations tests for covariate selection in nonlinear mixed effects models: The COSSAC approach
Authors: Ayral Géraldine , Si Abdallah Jean‐François , Magnard Claude , Chauvin Jonathan
Published: March 2021

Building a covariate model is a crucial task in population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in order to understand the determinants of the interindividual variability. Identifying a good covariate model usually requires many runs. Several procedures have been proposed in the past to automatize this task. The most commonly used is Stepwise Covariate Modeling (SCM). Here, we present a novel stepwise method based on statistical tests between individual parameters sampled from their conditional distribution and the covariates. This strategy, called the COnditional Sampling use for Stepwise Approach based on Correlation tests (COSSAC), makes use of the information contained in the current model to choose which parameter‐covariate relationship to try next. This strategy greatly reduces the number of covariate models tested, while retaining on its search path the models improving the log‐likelihood (LL). In this article, we detail the COSSAC method and its implementation in Monolix, and evaluate its performance. The performance was assessed by comparing COSSAC to the traditional SCM method on 17 representative data sets. For the large majority of cases (15 out of 17), the final covariate model is identical (11 cases) or very similar (4 cases with LL differences less than 3.84) with both procedures. Yet, COSSAC requires between 2 to 20 times fewer runs than SCM. This represents a decisive speed up, especially for models that take long to run and would not be tractable using the SCM method.
New Low‐Energy Crystal Structures in ZrO2 and HfO2
Authors: Kersch Alfred , Falkowski Max
Published: March 2021

From first principles, the energy and volume of metastable phases of and are calculated. At low energy, two inequivalent, nonpolar, orthorhombic phases of the same space group Pbca number P61 are found.
Theaflavin alleviates oxidative injury and atherosclerosis progress via activating microRNA‐24‐mediated Nrf2/HO‐1 signal
Authors: Zeng Jie , Deng Zhihui , Zou Yixin , Liu Chang , Fu Hongjuan , Gu Yi , Chang Hui
Published: March 2021

Theaflavin (TF) in black tea has been shown to have significant antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory capacity; however, the effects and the underlying mechanism of TF on atherosclerosis (AS) remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the effects and the potential mechanism of TF on AS progression in vivo and in vitro. ApoE−/− mice were administrated with high fat diet (HFD) or HFD + TF (5 or 10 mg, i.g.) for 12 weeks. The results indicated that TF administration effectively decreases the serum lipid levels and the production of MDA in HFD‐fed mice. Meanwhile, TF promotes the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH‐Px) and inhibits the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and the process of histological alterations in the aorta. In vitro, TF pretreatment could protect against cholesterol‐induced oxidative injuries in HUVEC cells, decreasing the level of ROS and MDA, maintaining the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Further study revealed that TF upregulates Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, TF increases the level of microRNA‐24 (miR‐24), and miR‐24 inhibition markedly compromises TF‐induced Nrf2 activation and protective effects. In conclusion, the present study indicated that theaflavins may achieve the anti‐atherosclerotic effect via activating miR‐24‐mediated Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway.
Optimization of the parallel semi‐Lagrangian scheme based on overlapping communication with computation in the YHGSM
Authors: Jiang Tao , Wu Jianping , Liu Zhaoyang , Zhao Wenpeng , Zhang Yongshun
Published: March 2021

The Yi‐he global spectral model (YHGSM) is a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model developed by the National University of Defense Technology, China. The YHGSM has two optimization techniques that have recently been adopted for the on‐demand communication version of the semi‐Lagrangian scheme: one‐sided communication and an adaptive strategy for the maximum wind speed. However, the limitation of the original model is that the computation and communication cannot be performed simultaneously, resulting in a waste of resources. This article addresses this limitation by dividing the array to be interpolated into three independent subarrays. The communication and interpolation operations for each subarray are rearranged into three groups. This allows the overlap of the communication with computation between different groups. In addition, by adjusting the synchronization operations, the degree of overlap is further increased. In the optimized scheme, the per‐step overhead of the interpolation phase is greatly reduced, and its speedup decreases first and increases afterwards with the increase of the number of cores. Therefore, when the number of cores is large, the benefits from overlapping the communication with computation will be more substantial.
Distributed auditing protocol for blockchain‐based transactions using a distributed signature
Authors: Banaeian Far Saeed , Imani Rad Azadeh
Published: March 2021

Data privacy is a developing issue in the cyberspace. Users who send something through a public network want their data to be kept confidential. Service providers, in like manner, need to store valid data and avoid storing invalid data. Auditing protocols provide data validity and prevent the storing of invalid data. However, some problems including cooperation with a malicious auditor to register invalid data, deleting registered data, obtaining private data by service providers, and attacks to the network's point of failure still exists. This paper presents a blockchain‐based protocol to audit transactions transferred on a blockchain called theDA‐DSprotocol. The blockchain is applied in theDA‐DSprotocol to provide immutability for stored data and distribute the network's point of failure. A distributed signature based on the ElGamal cryptosystem is applied in this paper for auditors and the ElGamal‐based encryption algorithm to provide transaction confidentiality since the ElGamal cryptosystem does not provide key escrow. Therefore, users join the network have a security against privileged insider adversaries. In theDA‐DSprotocol, each confidential transaction is audited, off‐chain, by all auditors. The audited transaction is then sent to the central authority for verification, and the central authority submits the audited transaction on the blockchain if the verification process is done successfully. Finally, in this paper, a security analysis of theDA‐DSprotocol is provided in the random oracle (RO) model. Subsequently, the performance was compared with other recently proposed auditing protocols, the result of which has shown that it higher efficiency.
Trends in men's feet
Authors: Gee Edward
Published: March 2021

Foot and ankle surgery is a dynamic and growing area of orthopaedic surgery, with novel treatments and increased understanding of injuries, their prevention and treatment. The expansion in the range of foot and ankle surgery means that increasingly treatment can be tailored to each individual patient's needs.
A Prototype Insecticide Applicator and Quality Control Monitoring for Plague Management on Prairie Dog Colonies
Authors: Tripp Daniel W. , Emslie Alexis C. , Sack Danielle A. , Zieschang Matt
Published: March 2021

Plague causes declines in native wildlife populations including those of prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.) and endangered black‐footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). The infusion of insecticides into prairie dog burrows is a vector control method regularly used to suppress or prevent plague transmission by fleas. Detailed methods on how insecticide application equipment (dusters) is calibrated or how the quality of application is monitored are not regularly reported. We describe a new prototype duster and compare its performance to commercially available equipment using quality‐control monitoring procedures. We infused 0.05% deltamethrin (dust) into burrows of Gunnison's and black‐tailed prairie dogs (C. gunnisoni, C. ludovicianus) in Colorado in 2014–2017. The prototype and commercial dusters distributed a similar amount of dust ( = 5.39 and 5.29 g/burrow, respectively; t(797) = −0.83, P = 0.4). However, the prototype dusters required less operation time to dispense dust than the commercial dusters ( = 1.0 sec vs. 7.69 sec/burrow; t(481) = 49.2, P ≤ 0.001). If we applied a standard operating time of 5 sec to all commercially available units, 60% (20 of 34) would fail to dispense ≥4 g of dust. The prototype dusters were more consistent in their dust output, with all units (12 of 12) dispensing ≥4 g of dust with an operation time of only 1 sec. Controlled and accurate application of insecticide is difficult to achieve if quality‐control monitoring and equipment calibration are not conducted. The efficacy of vector control is likely only as effective as the quality and precision of the application of the insecticide itself. When evaluating plague management outcomes, it is important to consider if some observed limitations of efficacy are caused by the failure of the management tool or the failure of managers to effectively use the tool. Future work to calibrate the prototype dusters to dispense larger target doses and performance testing with other insecticide formulations is needed. Additional modifications to adapt the prototype dusters for use on ATV‐mounted platforms may increase the utility of the equipment. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
Fiducial qT resummation of color-singlet processes at N3LL+NNLO
Authors: Becher Thomas , Neumann Tobias
Published: March 2021

Abstract

We present a framework forqTresummation at N3LL+NNLO accuracy for arbitrary color-singlet processes based on a factorization theorem in SCET. Our implementation CuTe-MCFM is fully differential in the Born kinematics and matches to large-qTfixed-order predictions at relative order$$ {\alpha}_s^2 $$αs2. It provides an efficient way to estimate uncertainties from fixed-order truncation, resummation, and parton distribution functions. In addition toW±,ZandHproduction, also the diboson processesγγ, Zγ, ZHandW±Hare available, including decays. We discuss and exemplify the framework with several direct comparisons to experimental measurements as well as inclusive benchmark results. In particular, we present novel results forγγandZγat N3LL+NNLO and discuss in detail the power corrections induced by photon isolation requirements.
Testing CP properties of extra Higgs states at the HL-LHC
Authors: Antusch Stefan , Fischer Oliver , Hammad A. , Scherb Christiane
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Extra Higgs states appear in various scenarios beyond the current Standard Model of elementary particles. If discovered at the LHC or future colliders, the question will arise whether CP is violated or conserved in the extended scalar sector. An unambiguous probe of (indirect) CP violation would be the observation that one of the extra Higgs particles is an admixture of a CP-even and a CP-odd state. We discuss the possibility to discover scalar CP violation in this way at the high-luminosity (HL) phase of the LHC. We focus on the Two-Higgs Doublet Model of type I, where we investigate its currently allowed parameter region. Considering a benchmark point that is compatible with the current constraints but within reach of the HL-LHC, we study the prospects of determining the CP property of an extra neutral Higgs state H via the angular distribution of final states in the decay H→$$ \tau \overline{\tau} $$
τ

τ
¯

. The analysis is performed at the reconstructed level, making use of a Boosted Decision Tree for efficient signal-background separation and a shape analysis for rejecting a purely CP-even or odd nature of H.
Deep learning jet modifications in heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Du Yi-Lun , Pablos Daniel , Tywoniuk Konrad
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Jet interactions in a hot QCD medium created in heavy-ion collisions are conventionally assessed by measuring the modification of the distributions of jet observables with respect to the proton-proton baseline. However, the steeply falling production spectrum introduces a strong bias toward small energy losses that obfuscates a direct interpretation of the impact of medium effects in the measured jet ensemble. Modern machine learning techniques offer the potential to tackle this issue on a jet-by-jet basis. In this paper, we employ a convolutional neural network (CNN) to diagnose such modifications from jet images where the training and validation is performed using the hybrid strong/weak coupling model. By analyzing measured jets in heavy-ion collisions, we extract the original jet transverse momentum, i.e., the transverse momentum of an identical jet that did not pass through a medium, in terms of an energy loss ratio. Despite many sources of fluctuations, we achieve good performance and put emphasis on the interpretability of our results. We observe that the angular distribution of soft particles in the jet cone and their relative contribution to the total jet energy contain significant discriminating power, which can be exploited to tailor observables that provide a good estimate of the energy loss ratio. With a well-predicted energy loss ratio, we study a set of jet observables to estimate their sensitivity to bias effects and reveal their medium modifications when compared to a more equivalent jet population, i.e., a set of jets with similarinitialenergy. Finally, we also show the potential of deep learning techniques in the analysis of the geometrical aspects of jet quenching such as the in-medium traversed length or the position of the hard scattering in the transverse plane, opening up new possibilities for tomographic studies.
The Worldwide Epidemiology of Acute Appendicitis: An Analysis of the Global Health Data Exchange Dataset
Authors: Wickramasinghe Dakshitha P. , Xavier Chrisjit , Samarasekera Dharmabandhu N.
Published: March 2021

Background

This study aims to describe the worldwide epidemiology and changing disease trends of acute appendicitis (AA).

Methods

Epidemiological data on the incidence of AA and deaths were collected from the Global Health Data Exchange repository from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified by age, sex and Socio‐Demographic Index (SDI).

Results

In 2019, there were an estimated 17.7 million cases (incidence 228/100,000) with over 33,400 deaths (0.43/100,000). Both the absolute number and the incidence had increased from 1990 to 2019 (+ 38.8% and + 11.4%, respectively). The number of deaths and deaths per 100,000 declined during this period (− 21.8% and − 46.2%, respectively). These trends were largely similar in all 5 SDI groups. There was a significant difference in the incidence of AA between the SDI groups, with low SDI group having the lowest and high SDI group having the highest. The high SDI group had the lowest mortality rate (Kruskall–Wallis test, p < 0.001). The peak incidence was in the 15–19‐year age group. The mortality rate increased exponentially from the third decade of life.

Conclusions

The mortality rate of AA is declining worldwide, while the incidence is increasing. The peak incidence is in the 15–19‐year group.
Challenges and procedures for experiments with steady and unsteady model velocities in a water towing tank
Authors: Jentzsch M. , Schmidt H. -J. , Woszidlo R. , Nayeri C. N. , Paschereit C. O.
Published: March 2021

Challenges for steady and unsteady model motion in a large water towing tank and procedures to overcome them are the focus of the presented work. Some challenges are attributed to experiments conducted in water, whereas others are uniquely ascribed to a towing tank facility. Data convergence and outlier detection are studied based on the phase averaged pressure in order to ensure proper data quality. Pressure measurements are performed with non-surface mounted sensors. Therefore, inertia effects are detrimental when the attached tubing is not fully de-aired. A procedure for de-airing the pressure sensor cavity and its tubing is described. An iterative approach is developed that compensates for nonlinear distortion of the model’s velocity profile. Further, vibration effects are examined by distinguishing mechanical and flow-induced frequencies that scale with the instantaneous model velocity. Sloshing waves are excited, which are a function of the water basin size. The first sloshing mode defines the required sensor offset time in between test cases when prevailing sloshing waves have not fully decayed. This appropriate selection of sensor offset time reduces data scatter and enables a reasonable waiting time in between test cases. A skim plate installed just below the water surface offers a potential solution to alleviate surface wave effects over the model.
Intravenous iron for heart failure with evidence of iron deficiency: a meta-analysis of randomised trials
Authors: Graham Fraser J. , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Ford Ian , Petrie Mark C. , Kalra Paul R. , Cleland John G. F.
Published: March 2021

Background

The recent AFFIRM-AHF trial assessing the effect of intravenous (IV) iron on outcomes in patients hospitalised with worsening heart failure who had iron deficiency (ID) narrowly missed its primary efficacy endpoint of recurrent hospitalisations for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular (CV) death. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether these results were consistent with previous trials.

Methods

We searched for randomised trials of patients with heart failure investigating the effect of IV iron vs placebo/control groups that reported HHF and CV mortality from 1st January 2000 to 5th December 2020. Seven trials were identified and included in this analysis. A fixed effect model was applied to assess the effects of IV iron on the composite of first HHF or CV mortality and individual components of these.

Results

Altogether, 2,166 patients were included (n = 1168 assigned to IV iron;n = 998 assigned to control). IV iron reduced the composite of HHF or CV mortality substantially [OR 0.73; (95% confidence interval 0.59–0.90);p = 0.003]. Outcomes were consistent for the pooled trials prior to AFFIRM-AHF. Whereas first HHF were reduced substantially [OR 0.67; (0.54–0.85);p = 0.0007], the effect on CV mortality was uncertain but appeared smaller [OR 0.89; (0.66–1.21);p = 0.47].

Conclusion

Administration of IV iron to patients with heart failure and ID reduces the risk of the composite outcome of first heart failure hospitalisation or cardiovascular mortality, but this outcome may be driven predominantly by an effect on HHF. At least three more substantial trials of intravenous iron are underway.

Graphic abstract
Management and outcome of true visceral and renal artery aneurysm repair
Authors: Wolk Steffen , Distler Marius , Radosa Christoph , Ehehalt Florian , Bergert Hendrik , Weitz Jürgen , Reeps Christian , Ludwig Stefan
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Visceral and renal artery aneurysms (VAA, RAA) are very rare pathologies. Both surgical and endovascular therapies are discussed as therapeutic options for ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysm repair; we describe our experience in the open and endovascular management of these entities.

Methods

Retrospective database analysis of 60 treated VAA and RAA in 59 patients between 1994 and 2020. Outcome data was descriptively analyzed.

Results

Thirty-seven aneurysms were surgically treated and 23 interventionally. In the total study cohort, we observed a mortality of 1.7% and a morbidity of 18.6%. One major complication occurred. The morbidity was higher after surgical repair in ruptured and non-ruptured cases. The mean aneurysm diameter was 30.5 ± 15.6 mm. Patients with hepatic or pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms presented more often in the stage of rupture, without differences in aneurysm size. The length of hospital stay after endovascular repair was significantly shorter compared to open surgical treatment (7.2 ± 6.9 days versus 11.8 ± 6.7 days, p = 0.014), but only in elective cases. Primary technical success was significantly better in patients that underwent surgical repair in an intention to treat analysis (100% versus 79.3%). The mean follow-up of the cohort was 53.5 months (range 3–207 months).

Conclusion

Elective endovascular therapy and open surgery of VAA and RAA are safe procedures with a good periprocedural and long-term outcome. Surgical revascularization showed a better primary technical success but was associated with longer length of hospital stays.
Neue Therapiemöglichkeiten der spinalen Muskelatrophie
Authors: Eisenkölbl Astrid
Published: March 2021

Seit einiger Zeit stehen für die Behandlung der spinalen Muskelatrophie (SMA) Medikamente mit unterschiedlichen Wirkmechanismen zur Verfügung, die den Verlauf der Erkrankung erheblich beeinflussen können. Unbehandelt ist diese neuromuskuläre Erkrankung immer progredient und führt bei der schwersten Verlaufsform SMA Typ 1 meist innerhalb von 24 Monaten zum Tod. Der genetische Defekt liegt auf dem Survival-motor-neuron-1-Gen (SMN1-Gen). Dies führt zu einem Verlust von SMN1-Protein und damit zum Untergang von Motoneuronen. Bei allen Patienten liegt das SMN2-Gen, das nur etwa 10 % funktionstüchtiges Protein bilden kann, in unterschiedlicher Kopienanzahl vor und beeinflusst den klinischen Schweregrad der Erkrankung, wobei fließende Übergänge zwischen den einzelnen Typen zu beobachten sind. Das erste für die SMA zugelassene Medikament ist Spinraza®, ein Antisense-Oligonukleotid, das intrathekal verabreicht wird, das mRNA-Splicing verändert und so zu einer vermehrten Produktion von SMN2-Protein führt. Das zweite zugelassene Medikament ist Zolgensma®. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Genersatztherapie, bei der das SMN1-Gen mittels eines Virusvektors als Einmalinfusion in den Körper eingebracht wird, um dann funktionierendes SMN-Protein zu bilden. Kurz vor der Zulassung steht außerdem Risdiplam®, dies ist ein sogenanntes „small molecule“ und setzt wie Spinraza® am SMN2-Gen an. Der Vorteil besteht in der Möglichkeit der oralen Einnahme. In allen Studien zu diesen Medikamenten wurde gezeigt, dass ein möglichst früher, am besten präsymptomatischer Beginn die besten Ergebnisse in den motorischen Scores für die Patienten erbrachte. Ein Neugeborenen-Screening könnte die betroffenen Kinder noch vor Symptombeginn detektieren.
Risk-aware business process management using multi-view modeling: method and tool
Authors: Thabet Rafika , Bork Dominik , Boufaied Amine , Lamine Elyes , Korbaa Ouajdi , Pingaud Hervé
Published: March 2021

Risk-aware Business Process Management (R-BPM) has been addressed in research since more than a decade. However, the integration of the two independent research streams is still ongoing with a lack of research focusing on the conceptual modeling perspective. Such an integration results in an increased meta-model complexity and a higher entry barrier for modelers in creating conceptual models and for addressees of the models in comprehending them. Multi-view modeling can reduce this complexity by providing multiple interdependent viewpoints that, all together, represent a complex system. Each viewpoint only covers those concepts that are necessary to separate the different concerns of stakeholders. However, adopting multi-view modeling discloses a number of challenges particularly related to managing consistency which is threatened by semantic and syntactic overlaps between the viewpoints. Moreover, usability and efficiency of multi-view modeling have never been systematically evaluated. This paper reports on the conceptualization, implementation, and empirical evaluation of e-BPRIM, a multi-view modeling extension of the Business Process-Risk Management-Integrated Method (BPRIM). The findings of our research contribute to theory by showing, that multi-view modeling outperforms diagram-oriented modeling by means of usability and efficiency of modeling, and quality of models. Moreover, the developed modeling tool is openly available, allowing its adoption and use in R-BPM practice. Eventually, the detailed presentation of the conceptualization serves as a blueprint for other researchers aiming to harness multi-view modeling.
Patient-reported outcomes from the phase II FAST trial of zolbetuximab plus EOX compared to EOX alone as first-line treatment of patients with metastatic CLDN18.2+ gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lordick Florian , Al-Batran Salah-Eddin , Ganguli Arijit , Morlock Robert , Sahin Ugur , Türeci Özlem
Published: March 2021

Background

Zolbetuximab plus first-line EOX (epirubicin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine; ZOL/EOX) significantly prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival in the FAST trial vs EOX alone. We report the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of FAST in patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Patients were randomized to ZOL/EOX or EOX alone. Patients could receive ≤ 8 EOX cycles and remained on zolbetuximab until disease progression. PROs were collected using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-STO22 before drug administration at day 1/cycle 1, day 1/cycle 5, end of EOX treatment, and q12w thereafter until disease progression. Time to deterioration (TTD), defined as the first meaningful worsening from baseline, in the individual QLQ-C30/QLQ-STO22 scores was analyzed. Longitudinal changes in scores from baseline were analyzed using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures (MMRM).

Results

The per protocol population included 143 (ZOL/EOX: 69; EOX: 74) patients. Baseline QLQ-C30 and STO22 scores were comparable between arms and denoted intermediate-to-high quality of life (QoL), intermediate-to-low global health status (GHS) and low symptom burden. Descriptive analyses showed no differences between arms until end of EOX but maintenance therapy with zolbetuximab was associated with better QoL and less symptom burden thereafter. TTD for most scores favored ZOL/EOX over EOX and reached statistical significance for GHS (p = 0.008). MMRM results support TTD findings; no statistically significant differences were observed between arms in any score except for nausea and vomiting (p = 0.0181 favoring EOX).

Conclusions

ZOL/EOX allowed patients to maintain good QoL and low symptom burden for longer than EOX alone.
Molybdenum disulfide and magnesium oxide nanoparticle performance on micropolar Cattaneo-Christov heat flux model
Authors: Reddy M. G. , Shehzad S. A.
Published: March 2021

This article intends to illustrate the Darcy flow and melting heat transmission in micropolar liquid. The major advantage of micropolar fluid is the liquid particle rotation through an independent kinematic vector named the microrotation vector. The novel aspects of the Cattaneo-Christov (C-C) heat flux and Joule heating are incorporated in the energy transport expression. Two different nanoparticles, namely, MoS2 and MgO, are suspended into the base-fluid. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) of the prevailing problem are slackening into ordinary differential expressions (ODEs) via similarity transformations. The resulting mathematical phenomenon is illustrated by the implication of fourth-fifth order Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF) scheme. The fluid velocity and temperature distributions are deliberated by using graphical phenomena for multiple values of physical constraints. The results are displayed for both molybdenum disulphide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles. A comparative benchmark in the limiting approach is reported for the validation of the present technique. It is revealed that the incrementing material constraint results in a higher fluid velocity for both molybdenum disulphide and magnesium oxide nanoparticle situations.
Augmented Lagrangian preconditioners for the Oseen–Frank model of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals
Authors: Xia Jingmin , Farrell Patrick E. , Wechsung Florian
Published: March 2021

We propose a robust and efficient augmented Lagrangian-type preconditioner for solving linearizations of the Oseen–Frank model arising in nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals. By applying the augmented Lagrangian method, the Schur complement of the director block can be better approximated by the weighted mass matrix of the Lagrange multiplier, at the cost of making the augmented director block harder to solve. In order to solve the augmented director block, we develop a robust multigrid algorithm which includes an additive Schwarz relaxation that captures a pointwise version of the kernel of the semi-definite term. Furthermore, we prove that the augmented Lagrangian term improves the discrete enforcement of the unit-length constraint. Numerical experiments verify the efficiency of the algorithm and its robustness with respect to problem-related parameters (Frank constants and cholesteric pitch) and the mesh size.
Large-Eddy Simulations of Pollutant Removal Enhancement from Urban Canyons
Authors: Cintolesi Carlo , Pulvirenti Beatrice , Sabatino Silvana Di
Published: March 2021

Techniques for improving the removal of pollution from urban canyons are crucial for air quality control in cities. The removal mainly occurs at the building roof level, where it is supported by turbulent mixing and hampered by roof shear, which tends to isolate the internal canyon region from the atmospheric flow. Here, a modification of roof infrastructures is proposed with the aim of increasing the former and reducing the latter, overall enhancing the removal mechanisms. The topic is investigated by numerical experiment, using large-eddy simulation to study the paradigmatic case of a periodic square urban canyon at $$ Re=2 \times 10^4$$

R
e
=
2
×

10
4

. Two geometries are analyzed: one with a smooth building roof, the other having a series of solid obstacles atop the upwind building roof. The pollutant is released at the street level. The simulations are successfully validated against laboratory and numerical datasets, and the primary vortex displacement detected in some laboratory experiments is discussed. The turbulence triggered by the obstacles destroys the sharp shear layer that separates the canyon and the surrounding flow, increasing the mixing. Greater vertical turbulent mass fluxes and more frequent ejection events near the upwind building (where pollution accumulates) are detected. Overall, the obstacles lead to a reduction in the pollution concentration within the canyon of about $$34\%$$

34
%

.
Land-grant lessons for Anthropocene universities
Authors: Kopp Robert E.
Published: March 2021

Established amidst the bloodshed of the Civil War, land-grant universities, together with the associated agricultural experiment stations and cooperative extension services, have played a crucial role in democratizing scientific knowledge and addressing intertwined educational, environmental, economic, and democratic challenges within the USA. Indeed, they have arguably pioneered the idea of “usable science.” Today, the urgent challenges of the Anthropocene demand a more robust relationship between scientific research and on-the-ground action, strong networks sharing local lessons globally, and channels for injecting global, long-term perspectives into the noise of short-termism. The land-grant experience provides lessons for “Anthropocene universities” seeking to tackle these challenges, including the importance of (1) establishing or expanding university-based boundary organizations akin to cooperative extension, (2) incentivizing the integration of engagement into the university’s research, teaching, and service missions, (3) centering values of democracy, justice, equity, and inclusion in engagement, and (4) cooperating across institutions and sectors. Given the urgency of fully engaging academic institutions as players and connectors in the real-world challenges of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, there is little time to waste.