bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of ischemic stroke drug clinical trials in mainland China from 2005 to 2021
Authors: Bo Chunrui , Wang Tianqi , Hou Chengbei , Han Jinming , Chen Lixia , Zhang Huixue , Wang Lihua , Li Hongyan
Published: June 2022

Background

To assess the temporal changes in the characteristics of ischemic stroke drug clinical trials conducted in mainland China in 2005–2021.

Methods

A statistical analysis of registered clinical trials on ischemic stroke was performed using the platform of the Center for Drug Evaluation of China National Medical Products Administration, the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, and ClinicalTrials.gov websites.

Results

From January 1, 2005 to August 1, 2021, a total of 384 registered drug clinical trials on ischemic stroke were identified in mainland China. Over time, the number of trials gradually increased each year, with a significant growth in 2014, from 16 in 2013 to 42 in 2014. Phase IV trials (31.8%) accounted for the majority, followed by phase II (16.4%), phase I (10.9%), and phase III (8.6%). In terms of sponsorship, the proportion of investigator‐initiated trials (IITs) (60.7%) was higher than industry‐sponsored trials (ISTs) (39.3%). Additionally, trials involving traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) (36.2%) accounted for the largest proportion, followed by trials involving antithrombotic therapy (19.5%) and cerebral protection agents (16.7%). Furthermore, over the past 17 years, the number of leading drug clinical trial units for ischemic stroke in mainland China has continuously increased. The leading principal units from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Liaoning accounted for the majority of the trials (67.4%).

Conclusion

In the past 17 years, great progress has been made in the research and development (R&D) of drugs and clinical trials for ischemic stroke in mainland China. The most extensive progress was observed in TCMs, antithrombotic therapy, and cerebral protection agents. More clinical trials are needed to confirm whether the newly developed drugs can improve the clinical efficacy of ischemic stroke. Simultaneously, more pharmaceutical R&D efforts of innovative drugs are warranted.
L2 listening: An intervention study of instructional approaches
Authors: Toapanta Jesús
Published: June 2022

This intervention study was conducted to assess the effects of three instructional approaches to L2 listening. That is, a metacognitive pedagogical cycle, an awareness‐raising approach which combined reflections and short discussions of factors associated with successful L2 listening, and an approach that incorporated vocabulary as a prelistening activity and guiding questions during the listening session. This study embraces the need for intervention studies that identify what works best. It addresses methodological flaws in previous studies and concerns associated with long‐term effects. L2 listening was measured before and after the intervention at pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest. The overarching research question was concerned with whether or not there are significant differences in L2 listening between and within the groups. The results indicate that guiding learners through a process that develops metacognitive knowledge and regulatory skills is an effective way of teaching listening. The results also offer preliminary evidence of long‐term effects.
Spawning overlap of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus and Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius in the coastal Yellow Sea: A prey–predator interaction
Authors: Zhang Wenchao , Ye Zhenjiang , Tian Yongjun , Yu Haiqing , Ma Shuyang , Ju Peilong , Watanabe Yoshiro
Published: June 2022

Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius and Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus are typical predator and prey species, respectively, with high commercial values in the China seas. However, the interspecific interaction, particularly the relationship between the two species during early life stages, is unclear. Here, based on ichthyoplankton surveys in the coastal Yellow Sea during 2013–2018, we analyzed the relationship between the two species based on egg occurrence and abundance in the context of species interaction. Spawning optimal temperature were examined for anchovy (13.0–18.0°C) and mackerel (15.0–20.0°C) based on egg occurrences and abundances in relation to sea surface temperature. We confirmed the peak spawning periods (May and June) and primary spawning areas (Haizhou Bay) for both mackerel and anchovy based on spatiotemporal distributions of two species eggs. Mackerel showed a high spawning overlap with anchovy, and anchovy egg abundance were also higher in overlap areas. Anchovy egg abundance may be more important for mackerel spawning than environmental variables, suggesting the significance of prey for predators during early recruitment. The temperature also has important effects on mackerel spawning and could be a threshold affecting mackerel spawning activity. Mackerel might have evolved a spawning strategy of short‐term spawning timed to coincide with the peak spawning of anchovy in the coastal Yellow Sea. These results highlight the effects of interspecific relationships on spawning strategy of anchovy and mackerel in the coastal Yellow Sea and may provide some insights for early recruitment studies of piscivorous fishes in the context of the match–mismatch hypothesis.
Putting experts in their place: Achieving policy impact as an outsider‐academic in civil service reforms in Slovakia
Authors: Sedlačko Michal , Staroňová Katarína
Published: June 2022

This paper studies two processes of civil service reform in Slovakia during the period of 2014–2015 in order to reflect on the involvement of an ‘outsider‐academic’ and her strategies to achieve policy impact. The context of such involvement are multi‐level processes permeated by political interests and poor on evidence, which favour strategic interests, bargaining and political pressure and contestation (the mode of ‘powering’) and a mode of legal‐based ‘puzzling’ as opposed to a conceptual, intellectual search for solutions friendly towards outside academics—and achieving only incremental results. We theorise on the success of these strategies (including helping serendipity, throwing ideas to see what sticks, mobilising allies, anchoring a non‐binding concept, and finding and developing long‐term connections) and sketch analogies and differences between the position of an outsider‐academic and a policy entrepreneur. We rely on auto‐ethnographic data and documentation of the work of the committees involved and their outputs.
“I don't feel like I'm a person”: Nursing knowledge of transgender care through the lens of transgender people
Authors: Mikovits John C.
Published: June 2022

Aims

One aim of this study was to discover and understand the perceptions of healthcare delivery for transgender people who have had interactions with nurses while receiving care. An additional purpose of this study was to identify if these perceptions of nursing knowledge have an influence on transgender individuals seeking future healthcare.

Design

Qualitative, interpretive description.

Methods

Recruitment of participants and interviews took place between September and November 2020. Confidentiality and protection of human participants was prioritized, and data analysis concluded in early 2021.

Results

Ten participant interviews were completed until data saturation were determined. One overarching theme and five supporting themes were constructed from data. Based on participant experiences, these themes reflect transgender peoples' perceptions of nursing knowledge of transgender care and how these perceptions impact seeking future healthcare.

Conclusion

Experiences that shaped transgender peoples' perceptions of nursing knowledge of transgender care varied depending on the locations of these services and the experience and understanding of registered nurses. These findings highlight the perceptions that transgender people have of registered nurses' knowledge of transgender care and the influence that those perceptions have on them seeking future healthcare.

Impact

This research aimed to fill a gap in the literature viewing registered nurses' knowledge of transgender care through the lenses of transgender participants. These findings indicate the need to advance the nursing profession to provide equitable, nonjudgmental care to transgender people to minimize the health disparities that they continue to face.
Trade‐offs in defence to pathogen species revealed in expanding nematode populations
Authors: Ordovás‐Montañés María , Preston Gail M. , Hoang Kim L. , Rafaluk‐Mohr Charlotte , King Kayla C.
Published: June 2022

Many host organisms live in polymicrobial environments and must respond to a diversity of pathogens. The degree to which host defences towards one pathogen species affect susceptibility to others is unclear. We used a panel of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode isolates to test for natural genetic variation in fitness costs of immune upregulation and pathogen damage, as well as for trade‐offs in defence against two pathogen species, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We examined the fitness impacts of transient pathogen exposure (pathogen damage and immune upregulation) or exposure to heat‐killed culture (immune upregulation only) by measuring host population sizes, which allowed us to simultaneously capture changes in reproductive output, developmental time and survival. We found significant decreases in population sizes for hosts exposed to live versus heat‐killed S. aureus and found increased reproductive output after live P. aeruginosa exposure, compared with the corresponding heat‐killed challenge. Nematode isolates with relatively higher population sizes after live P. aeruginosa infection produced fewer offspring after live S. aureus challenge. These findings reveal that wild C. elegans genotypes display a trade‐off in defences against two distinct pathogen species that are evident in subsequent generations.
qPCR screening for Yersinia ruckeri clonal complex 1 against a background of putatively avirulent strains in Norwegian aquaculture
Authors: Riborg Andreas , Gulla Snorre , Strand David , Wiik‐Nielsen Jannicke , Rønneseth Anita , Welch Timothy J. , Spilsberg Bjørn , Colquhoun Duncan J.
Published: June 2022

Although a number of genetically diverse Yersinia ruckeri strains are present in Norwegian aquaculture environments, most if not all outbreaks of yersiniosis in Atlantic salmon in Norway are associated with a single specific genetic lineage of serotype O1, termed clonal complex 1. To investigate the presence and spread of virulent and putatively avirulent strains in Norwegian salmon farms, PCR assays specific for Y. ruckeri (species level) and Y. ruckeri clonal complex 1 were developed. Following extensive screening of water and biofilm, the widespread prevalence of putatively avirulent Y. ruckeri strains was confirmed in freshwater salmon hatcheries, while Y. ruckeri clonal complex 1 was found in fewer farms. The formalin‐killed bacterin yersiniosis vaccine was detected in environmental samples by both PCR assays for several weeks post‐vaccination. It is thus important to interpret results from recently vaccinated fish with great care. Moreover, field studies and laboratory trials confirmed that stressful management procedures may result in increased shedding of Y. ruckeri by sub‐clinically infected fish. Analysis of sea water sampled throughout thermal delousing procedures proved effective for detection of Y. ruckeri in sub‐clinically infected populations.
Between autonomy and heteronomy: Navigating peasant and indigenous organizations in contemporary Bolivia
Authors: Guimarães Alice Soares , Wanderley Fernanda
Published: June 2022

This article analyses the Bolivian rural actors' projects and practices of autonomy. Autonomy is a polysemic concept and concrete projects—and their manifestations—of collective autonomy can only be defined, discussed, and evaluated based on specific understandings attributed to the notion by different collectivities. The authors explore the meanings of autonomy for indigenous and peasant agents in contemporary Bolivia, and to what extent their capacity to advance collective projects of autonomy was enhanced or hindered under Morales' government (2006–2019). The article's focus is the unfolding of these projects in relation to two of the main institutions of modern societies: state and market. The Bolivian case provides insights for the complexities that surround the concept of autonomy and its constant tension with heteronomy.
Regional aspects of immigration‐related changes in political preferences
Authors: Mehic Adrian
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates how right‐wing populist voting following the 2015 refugee wave was affected by regional characteristics, using data from a quasi‐natural experiment in Sweden. The results suggest that voting outcomes are heavily dependent on pre‐influx municipal characteristics. In localities with strong anti‐immigration sentiments during the 1990s refugee wave, as well as in areas with high crime rates before the refugee wave, there is a positive relationship between immigration rates and anti‐immigration voting. However, the immigration‐related increase in the nationalist vote is significantly smaller in depopulation areas. These polarizing effects on voting are exacerbated when considering immigration of young males.
Sooty mould caused by Capnodium alfenasii on Azadirachta indica
Authors: Mesquita Naasoom Luiz Santos , Santos Armínio , de Oliveira Rafael José Vilela , Soares Poliana Prates de Souza , de Novaes Quelmo Silva , Bezerra José Luiz
Published: June 2022

In October 2020, sooty moulds were found covering the leaves of neem trees (Azadirachta indica) in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. Sooty moulds usually grow on honeydew secreted by insects. However, in this observation, insects were not visible on the sooty mould‐infected plants. Rather, the sooty mould grew on the host secretions. Inoculation was performed to confirm the ability of the fungus to grow on host nectaries. Based on the morphological features and phylogenetic analysis, Capnodium alfenasii was identified as the sooty mould agent. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of this fungus on neem plants.
Current and historical factors drive variation of reproductive traits in unisexual mosses in Europe: A case study
Authors: Boquete María Teresa , Varela Zulema , Fernández José Angel , Calleja Juan Antonio , Branquinho Cristina , Chilà Antonina , Cronberg Nils , Cruz de Carvalho Ricardo , Aleixo Cristiana , Estébanez‐Pérez Belén , Fernández‐González Verónica , Baselga Andrés , Gómez‐Rodríguez Carola , González‐Mancebo Juana María , Leblond Sebastien , Martínez‐Abaigar Javier , Medina Nagore G. , Núñez‐Olivera Encarnación , Patiño Jairo , Retuerto Rubén , Vázquez‐Arias Antón , Vanderpoorten Alain , Zechmeister Harald G. , Aboal Jesús Ramón
Published: June 2022

Unisexual bryophytes provide excellent models to study the mechanisms that regulate the frequency of sexual versus asexual reproduction in plants, and their ecological and evolutionary implications. Here, we determined sex expression, phenotypic sex ratio, and individual shoot traits in 242 populations of the cosmopolitan moss Pseudoscleropodium purum spanning its whole distributional range. We tested whether niche differentiation, sex‐specific differences in shoot size, and biogeographical history explained the spatial variation of reproductive traits. We observed high levels of sex expression and predominantly female‐biased populations, although both traits showed high intraspecific variation among populations. Sex expression and sex ratio were partly explained by current macroscale environmental variation, with male shoots being less frequent at the higher end of the environmental gradients defined by the current distribution of the species. Female bias in population sex ratio was significantly lower in areas recolonized after the last glacial maximum (recent populations) than in glacial refugia (long‐term persistent populations). We demonstrated that reproductive trait variation in perennial unisexual mosses is partially driven by macroscale and historical environmental variation. Based on our results, we hypothesize that sexual dimorphism in environmental tolerance and vegetative growth contribute to sex ratio bias over time, constraining the chances of sexual reproduction, especially in long‐term persistent populations. Further studies combining genetic analyses and population monitoring should improve our understanding of the implications of the intraspecific variation in the frequency of sexual versus asexual reproduction in bryophyte population fitness and eco‐evolutionary dynamics.
Spiritual care in Australian general practice nursing: An interpretive descriptive study
Authors: Schreiber Christine , Verrall Claire , Whitehead Dean
Published: June 2022

Spiritual care as an aspect of holistic or person‐centered care has been well documented. Studies on spirituality and spiritual care in nursing have taken place in various countries and contexts. Studies about spiritual care from the nurse perspective in the primary healthcare setting of Australian General Practice are not evident. Using an interpretive description study design, data about views on spirituality, spiritual care experiences, and descriptions about any spiritual care provided were collected from eight practice nurses. Four themes were drawn from the findings: the personal importance of spirituality and spiritual care to nurses and patients, spiritual care as an aspect of person‐centered care, spiritual care practices, and barriers and enablers to addressing spiritual needs. Participants identified that practice nurses require improved education about spirituality to adequately address spiritual needs as expressed by patients, as well as the tools to be able to provide spiritual care. They also identified that documentation templates used in general practice should include prompts to address spiritual and/or religious needs.
Revisiting the nursing metaparadigm: Acknowledging technology as foundational to progressing nursing knowledge
Authors: Johnson Elizabeth , Carrington Jane M.
Published: June 2022

The nursing metaparadigm, as described by Fawcett in 1984, includes human, health, nursing, and the environment, all of which support theory development by giving direction to our focus as a scientific body. Nursing scientists make their mark in biotechnological applications, mobile health, informatics, and human factors research. We give voice to the patient through design feedback and incorporating technological advancements in our evolving nursing knowledge; however, we have not formally acknowledged technology in our metaparadigm. To continue patient‐centered care in this age where machines are enmeshed in daily human life, we propose technology must be a domain of the metaparadigm to continue advancing nursing science and knowledge. In this paper, we propose a separate domain of technology within the metaparadigm to challenge nurses to consider approaches within their research and practice of how technology will impact patient care and their personal development within the profession. A technology‐specific domain within the metaparadigm also is a signal to other bodies of science of our willingness and ability to run at pace with novel, exciting new discoveries while adding our perspective. Nurses may become active agents in novel developments rather than passive adopters, continuing our legacy of patient advocacy through new knowledge generation. Emerging and continuing nurse leadership has set the stage for the next era of nurse‐led innovation and technology development, which provides an opportunity to embed technology as a core aspect of the nursing metaparadigm.
The Spreading of the Black Lives Matter Movement Campaign: The Italian Case in Cross‐National Perspective*
Authors: Della Porta Donatella , Lavizzari Anna , Reiter Herbert
Published: June 2022

Following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and inspired by the actions of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, in June 2020 a wave of protest events spread across Europe as well. Based on in‐depth interviews with key informants involved in the BLM campaign and a systematic mapping of protest events, the article analyses the diffusion of the Black Lives Matter movement campaign in Italy. We investigate the conditions for the diffusion, by considering the resonance of the protests in a time of backlash and pandemic; the channels of diffusion, namely mechanisms of thin diffusion linked to the instantaneous exchange of protest content; and the effects of diffusion, in terms of recontextualization of ideas and narratives from the United States to the Italian context, the emergence of new antiracist organizations and intersectional frames that point at Italian colonialism and structural racism.
Export structure, import demand elasticity and export stability
Authors: Zhou Hua , Fan Jiachen
Published: June 2022

This paper optimises the definition and measurement method of export stability and analyses the impact of export structure on export stability. The main results show that (1) an increase in the export share appears to reduce the export stability of goods, by changing the importer's elasticity of import demand; (2) exporters can reduce the impact of export structure on the export stability of goods by increasing the technical complexity of export products, improving the trade freedom level and signing free trade agreements (FTA) with importers; (3) export share has a negative impact on the export stability of services; and (4) the development of intra‐industry trade (IIT) in services and the digitisation of services can reduce the impact of export structure on the export stability of services. The results can provide a reference for the management of export instability against the background of export specialisation.
Effectiveness of a fluid immersion simulation system in the acute post‐operative management of pressure ulcers: A prospective, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Joshi Chitang J. , Carabano Miguel , Perez Laura C. , Ullrich Peter , Hassan Abbas M. , Wan Rou , Liu Jing , Soriano Rachna , Galiano Robert D.
Published: June 2022

The fluid immersion simulation system (FIS) has demonstrated good clinical applicability. This is the first study to compare surgical flap closure outcomes of FIS with an air‐fluidised bed (AFB), considered as standard of care. The success of closure after 14 days post‐op was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were incidences of complications in the first 2 weeks after surgery and the rate of acceptability of the device. Thirty‐eight subjects were in the FIS group while 42 subjects were placed in the AFB group. Flap failure rate was similar between groups (14% vs. 12%; p = 0.84). Complications, notably dehiscence and maceration, were significantly higher in the FIS group (40% vs. 17%; p = 0.0296). The addition of a microclimate regulation device (ClimateCare®) to FIS for the last 43 patients showed a significant decrease in the rate of flap failure (71% vs. 16%; p = 0.001) and incidence of complications (33% vs. 0%; p = 0.011). There was no statistically significant difference between the FIS and air‐fluidised bed (AFB) in the rate of acceptability (nurse acceptance: 1.49 vs. 1.72; p = 0.8; patient acceptance: 2.08 vs. 2.06; p = 0.17), which further illustrates the potential implementation of this tool in a patient‐care setting. Our results show that the use of ClimateCare® in combination with FIS can be a better alternative to the AFB in surgical closure of pressure ulcers.
Economic Effects of Macao’s Integration with Mainland China: A Causal Inference Study
Authors: Echevarría Cruz A. , Hasancebi Serhat , García-Enríquez Javier
Published: June 2022

Macao was a Portuguese colony until 1999, when its sovereignty was transferred to China, initiating its integration process. This article attempts to estimate the consequences of this socio-economic process in terms of per capita gross domestic product (GDP). We build a panel data set spanning 1970 to 2012, with 25 countries, setting 2000 as the initial treatment year for the integration process. The analysis is carried out through two alternative methodologies: the synthetic control method and the panel data approach. The integration treatment had a significant, positive effect on Macao’s per capita GDP. As additional outcome variables, we also analyze the effects of integration on the per capita net inflow of foreign direct investment, the unemployment rate, and the per capita exports and imports of goods and services.
Measuring Agricultural Trade Integration in Southeast Asia
Authors: Bouët Antoine , Elbehri Aziz , Nguyen Duc Bao , Traoré Fousseini
Published: June 2022

This paper offers an evaluation of agricultural trade integration in Southeast Asia. Since the ultimate objective is to provide policy recommendations, the indicators presented include those obtained from a measurement based on trade barriers: tariffs applied on imports, tariffs faced by exports, customs procedures and trade facilitation measures, and nontariff measures. A new estimation of the trade impact of nontariff measures in the agrifood sector is provided, based on refinements to the methodology of Kee, Nicita, and Olarreaga (2009) and Ghodsi, Grübler, and Stehrer (2016a). Globally, the Southeast Asian region appears to be relatively open to the world, but regional integration could be strengthened, particularly in the agriculture and food sectors. Specifically, a convergence of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures and Technical Barriers to Trade measures could achieve more integration.
Hexagonal Ring Origami Assemblies: Foldable Functional Structures With Extreme Packing
Authors: Leanza Sophie , Wu Shuai , Dai Jize , Zhao Ruike Renee
Published: June 2022

Foldable structures have been of great interest due to their ability to reduce in size from deployed to folded state, enabling easier storage in scenarios with space constraints such as aerospace and medical applications. Hexagonal structural components have been of interest, due to their ability to tessellate, or cover without gap, 2D and 3D surfaces. However, the study on effective folding strategies for hexagon-based structures and the hexagon geometry itself is limited. Here, we report a strategy of snap-folding hexagonal rings, to result in folded states with only 10.6% the initial area of a single ring. Motivated by this significant packing, we utilize a combination of experiments and finite element analysis to study effective folding strategies and packing abilities of various 2D and 3D hexagonal ring assemblies, with structures that can be folded to 1.5% and 0.4% of their initial area and volume, respectively. The effect of geometric parameters of hexagonal rings on the mechanical stability of their assemblies is investigated. Additionally, the instabilities of rings can be utilized to facilitate the automatic deployment of folded ring assemblies under small perturbations. Furthermore, an assembly with rigid functional panels is explored to demonstrate the functionality and design space for hexagonal ring assemblies. With such significant demonstrated area and volume changes upon snap-folding, it is anticipated that hexagonal ring assemblies could inspire future aerospace or biomedical designs, where reconfiguration and large packing are required.
Robust Dynamic Balancing of Dual Rotor-Active Magnetic Bearing System Through Virtual Trial Unbalances as Low and High Frequency Magnetic Excitation
Authors: Ranjan Gyan , Tiwari Rajiv , Nemade H. B.
Published: June 2022

This work focuses on in situ residual unbalance estimation of the dual rotor system with the implementation of active magnetic bearing (AMB) as a controller and exciter. The excessive vibration generated due to the presence of residual unbalances limits the operating speed of the system. The compact structure of the dual rotor system provides constraints to the conventional balancing procedure that requires manual addition of the trial unbalances for balancing. In order to overcome the difficulty in balancing of the dual rotor system, an identification algorithm based on the modified influence coefficient method (MICM) is developed for the simultaneous estimation of residual unbalances in both inner and outer rotors with the generation of virtual trial unbalances as magnetic excitation through AMB. The controlling action of AMB attenuates the vibrational response of the system within the required limit and allows the safe operation of the system in the presence of rotor faults and additional excitations. The vibrational responses of the system at the limited locations and the magnitude and phase of the virtual trial unbalances are only required in the MICM for the estimation of unbalances. To numerically illustrate the present methodology, the displacement response is obtained from the developed finite element model of the dual rotor system with discrete disk unbalances and randomly distributed shaft. The robustness of the algorithm in the estimation of residual unbalances is verified with the addition of a different percentage of measurement noises. After balancing, the dual rotor system is found to traverse its critical speed with a less vibrational response.
Experimental and Mechanistic Characterizations of Oil-Based Cement Slurry Flow Behavior Through Fractures in a Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Wang Haiwen , Zhao Zulong , Gao Zhanwu , Ding Yanan , Yang Daoyong
Published: June 2022

In this paper, techniques have been developed to experimentally and mechanistically describe the oil-based cement slurry (OBCS) flow through fractures in carbonate reservoirs when it is co-injected with a pad fluid. Experimentally, a three-dimensional (3D) physical model is used to simulate flow behavior within fractures in carbonate rocks by using the ultra-fine cement and class G cement with or without pad fluids. The injection pressures of an OBCS flow are measured and recorded as a function of time during the experiments at a constant flowrate, while effects of fracture width (i.e., 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm) and cement type (i.e., the class G cement and the ultra-fine cement) on injection pressure are examined and analyzed. Theoretically, the Navier–Stokes (NS) equations are modified and integrated to obtain the explicit velocity equations of visco-plastic materials in a planar fracture, and to further quantify the injection pressure of the slurry flow as a function of viscosity, flowing distance of the injected slurry, fracture width, and flowrate. It is found from the experimental measurements that the fracture width imposes a much larger impact on injection pressure along the fracture than other parameters. Once slurry is made in contact with water, its injection pressure not only increases rapidly with one or two orders of magnitude or even larger but also is changed from its linear to exponential relationship with time after a certain time. During the linear stage, the injection pressure of ultra-fine cement is smaller than that of the class G cement, while an opposite pattern is yielded during the exponential stage, i.e., the exponent of the injection pressure formula pertaining to the ultra-fine cement is found to be about 1.5 times larger than that of the class G cement. By incorporating the experimentally measured patterns of the slurry distribution within the fracture model, the newly developed mechanistic model has been validated by reproducing the experimental pressure measurements, allowing us to perform reliable characterization of the OBCS flow behavior in a fracture and then to efficiently and accurately predict and optimize its water-plugging performance.
High Efficiency Energy Harvesting Using a Savonius Turbine With Multicurve and Auxiliary Blade
Authors: Dinh Le Anh , Minh Banh Duc , Trinh Chu Duc
Published: June 2022

A new blade configuration is proposed to further increase the performance of a Savonius rotor through a sequence of unsteady two-dimensional (2D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The blade is made by a multicurve and auxiliary profiles for a reduction of the negative drag on the rotor. The flow aspects around the new blade are analyzed and quantitatively compared with that of the conventional and other blade configurations. The results imply a dependency of the rotor performance on the blade shape, demonstrating an appropriate configuration that produces the highest coefficient of torque and power. The newly optimized configuration is recognized with the peak of power coefficient at a tip speed ratio (TSR) of 1.5, which is more than two times higher than the conventional one. This makes the Savonius rotor better applicable to the urban environment. Importantly, this blade significantly increases the power coefficient by 6.3% at TSR < 1.0, known as a typical working condition in rural areas. The present results thus point out a feasible solution for powering the poor-households with no access to the grid and reducing the harmfulness to the environment, with high efficiency in wide operating conditions over the previous designs.
Suppression of Cavitation Instabilities in an Inducer by the Circumferential Groove With Swirl Breakers
Authors: Horiguchi Hironori , Tsubouchi Kota , Toyoshima Masakazu , Sugiyama Kazuyasu
Published: June 2022

A circumferential groove with swirl breakers was designed and its effect on the suppression of cavitation instabilities in an inducer was investigated in experiments. The circumferential groove with the swirl breakers could suppress almost all cavitation instability phenomena effectively and improve suction performance. Observations of flow fields in CFD showed that the swirl breakers reduced the circumferential velocity of the flow near the blade tip at the inlet of the inducer. It was suggested that such a flow pattern succeeded in suppressing cavitation instability phenomena, including pressure fluctuations with high frequencies caused by the interaction of the blades with backflow vortices which were visible as backflow vortex cavities in low suction pressure.
Reviews of Acoustical Patents
Authors: Fulop Sean A.
Published: June 2022

The purpose of these acoustical patent reviews is to provide enough information for a Journal reader to decide whether to seek more information from the patent itself. Any opinions expressed here are those of the reviewers as individuals and are not legal opinions. Patents are available via the internet at the USPTO website.
Numerical prediction of loudness metrics for N-waves and shaped sonic booms in kinematic turbulence
Authors: Carr Alexander N. , Lonzaga Joel B. , Miller Steven A. E.
Published: June 2022

The effects of a kinematic field of velocity fluctuations on the loudness metrics of two waveforms are examined with a three-dimensional one-way propagation solver. The waveforms consist of an N-wave and a simulated low-boom from NASA's X-59 QueSST aircraft. The kinematic turbulence is generated using a von Kármán composite spectrum, which is dependent on a root mean square (rms) velocity and outer scale of the turbulence. A length scale is proposed to account for the effect of the rms velocity and integral scale on the focusing and defocusing of the sonic boom waveform. The probability density function of the location of the first caustic attains a maximum value when the propagation distance is equal to the proposed length scale. Simulation results indicate that for small values of the nondimensional propagation distance, the standard deviation of the loudness metrics increases linearly. The loudness metrics follow a normal distribution within a given range of the nondimensional propagation distance. Results indicate the potential to parameterize the loudness metric distributions by the rms velocity and integral length scale.
Rigorous analysis of the axial acoustic radiation force on a spherical object for single-beam acoustic tweezing applications
Authors: P. Weekers Bart , Rottenberg Xavier , Lagae Liesbet , Rochus Veronique
Published: June 2022

Acoustic tweezers are increasingly utilized for the contactless manipulation of small particles. This paper provides a theoretical model demonstrating the acoustic manipulation capabilities of single-beam acoustic transducers. Analytical formulas are derived for the acoustic radiation force on an isotropic spherical object of arbitrary size, centered on a circular piston, simply supported and clamped radiator in an inviscid fluid. Using these results, the existence of a negative axial force pulling the object closer to the radiator is revealed and explored. These findings offer further insight into the feasibility of trapping objects in the near-field of a single-beam acoustic transducer. The calculations illustrate the trapping capabilities of the different emitters as a function of radiator size, particle size, and distance from the source and highlight the impact of radiator boundary conditions. Manipulation of a cell-like fluid sphere in water and an expanded polystyrene sphere in air are studied in more detail with results that are validated through finite element analysis. The developed theoretical model allows fast evaluation of acoustic radiation forces which could aid in the development of relatively simple and inexpensive contactless manipulation solutions.
Asymmetrical roles of segment and pitch accent in Japanese spoken word recognition
Authors: Katsuda Hironori , Steffman Jeremy
Published: June 2022

This study examines the roles of segment and pitch accent in Japanese spoken word recognition. In a lexical decision task, it replicates the finding of Cutler and Otake [(1999) J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 105(3), 1877–1888] that pitch accent restricts word activation with a more comprehensive, rigorous experimental design. Furthermore, results uncover an asymmetrical role of segment and pitch accent in word recognition in Japanese: words primed by a pitch accent-matching prime are recognized more slowly and less accurately than words primed by a segment-matching prime.
DIRECT-NET: An efficient method to discover cis-regulatory elements and construct regulatory networks from single-cell multiomics data
Authors: Zhang Lihua , Zhang Jing , Nie Qing
Published: June 2022

The emergence of single-cell multiomics data provides unprecedented opportunities to scrutinize the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling cell identity. However, how to use those datasets to dissect the cis-regulatory element (CRE)–to–gene relationships at a single-cell level remains a major challenge. Here, we present DIRECT-NET, a machine-learning method based on gradient boosting, to identify genome-wide CREs and their relationship to target genes, either from parallel single-cell gene expression and chromatin accessibility data or from single-cell chromatin accessibility data alone. By extensively evaluating and characterizing DIRECT-NET’s predicted CREs using independent functional genomics data, we find that DIRECT-NET substantially improves the accuracy of inferring CRE-to-gene relationships in comparison to existing methods. DIRECT-NET is also capable of revealing cell subpopulation–specific and dynamic regulatory linkages. Overall, DIRECT-NET provides an efficient tool for predicting transcriptional regulation codes from single-cell multiomics data.
Gains in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services from the expansion of the planet’s protected areas
Authors: Zeng Yiwen , Koh Lian Pin , Wilcove David S.
Published: June 2022

Protected areas safeguard biodiversity, ensure ecosystem functioning, and deliver ecosystem services to communities. However, only ~16% of the world’s land area is under some form of protection, prompting international calls to protect at least 30% by 2030. We modeled the outcomes of achieving this 30 × 30 target for terrestrial biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and nutrient regulation. We find that the additional ~2.8 million ha of habitat that would be protected would benefit 1134 ± 175 vertebrate species whose habitats currently lack any form of protection, as well as contribute to either avoided carbon emissions or carbon dioxide sequestration, equivalent to 10.9 ± 3.6 GtCO
2
year
−1
(28.4 ± 9.4% of the global nature-based climate-change mitigation potential). Furthermore, expansion of the protected area network would increase its ability to regulate water quality and mitigate nutrient pollution by 142.5 ± 31.0 MtN year
−1
(28.5 ± 6.2% of the global nutrient regulation potential).
Optimization of dynamic soaring in a flap-gliding seabird affects its large-scale distribution at sea
Authors: Kempton James A. , Wynn Joe , Bond Sarah , Evry James , Fayet Annette L. , Gillies Natasha , Guilford Tim , Kavelaars Marwa , Juarez-Martinez Ignacio , Padget Oliver , Rutz Christian , Shoji Akiko , Syposz Martyna , Taylor Graham K.
Published: June 2022

Dynamic soaring harvests energy from a spatiotemporal wind gradient, allowing albatrosses to glide over vast distances. However, its use is challenging to demonstrate empirically and has yet to be confirmed in other seabirds. Here, we investigate how flap-gliding Manx shearwaters optimize their flight for dynamic soaring. We do so by deriving a new metric, the horizontal wind effectiveness, that quantifies how effectively flight harvests energy from a shear layer. We evaluate this metric empirically for fine-scale trajectories reconstructed from bird-borne video data using a simplified flight dynamics model. We find that the birds’ undulations are phased with their horizontal turning to optimize energy harvesting. We also assess the opportunity for energy harvesting in long-range, GPS-logged foraging trajectories and find that Manx shearwaters optimize their flight to increase the opportunity for dynamic soaring during favorable wind conditions. Our results show how small-scale dynamic soaring affects large-scale Manx shearwater distribution at sea.
High-Throughput Screening Platform To Identify Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis with Potential for the Treatment of Malaria
Authors: Tamaki Fabio , Fisher Fabio , Milne Rachel , Terán Fernando Sánchez-Román , Wiedemar Natalie , Wrobel Karolina , Edwards Darren , Baumann Hella , Gilbert Ian H. , Baragana Beatriz , Baum Jake , Wyllie Susan
Published: June 2022

Artemisinin-based combination therapies have been crucial in driving down the global burden of malaria, the world’s largest parasitic killer. However, their efficacy is now threatened by the emergence of resistance in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Longitudinal 16S rRNA Sequencing Reveals Relationships among Alterations of Gut Microbiota and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Progression in Mice
Authors: Zhuge Aoxiang , Li Shengjie , Lou Pengcheng , Wu Wenrui , Wang Kaiceng , Yuan Yin , Xia Jiafeng , Li Bo , Li Lanjuan
Published: June 2022

This study concentrates on longitudinal alternations of gut microbiota in NAFLD progression and discovers the interrelationships between them. These findings may uncover the role of gut microbiota in NAFLD progression and identify novel noninvasive diagnostic tools for NAFLD based on microbial biomarkers.
Simple and Economical Extraction of Viral RNA and Storage at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Hernandez Sarah , Cardozo Fátima , Myers David R. , Rojas Alejandra , Waggoner Jesse J.
Published: June 2022

RNA extraction methods and ultra-cold storage requirements limit molecular testing for common viruses. We developed a simple, flexible, and economical method that simultaneously addresses these limitations.
Bioturbation Intensity Modifies the Sediment Microbiome and Biochemistry and Supports Plant Growth in an Arid Mangrove System
Authors: Fusi Marco , Booth Jenny Marie , Marasco Ramona , Merlino Giuseppe , Garcias-Bonet Neus , Barozzi Alan , Garuglieri Elisa , Mbobo Tumeka , Diele Karen , Duarte Carlos M. , Daffonchio Daniele
Published: June 2022

Bioturbation is one of the most important processes that governs sediment biocenosis in intertidal systems. By facilitating oxygen penetration into anoxic layers, bioturbation alters the overall sediment biogeochemistry.
Present-Day Practice of Non-Target Chemical Analysis
Authors: Milman B. L. , Zhurkovich I. K.
Published: June 2022

We review the main techniques, procedures, and information products used in non-target analysis (NTA) to reveal the composition of substances. Sampling and sample preparation methods are preferable that ensure the extraction of analytes from test samples in a wide range of analyte properties with the most negligible loss. The necessary techniques of analysis are versions of chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS), yielding individual characteristics of analytes (mass spectra, retention properties) to accurately identify them. The prioritization of the analytical strategy discards unnecessary measurements and thereby increases the performance of the NTA. Chemical databases, collections of reference mass spectra and retention characteristics, algorithms, and software for processing HRMS data are indispensable in NTA.
Surgical excision of bilateral patella stress fractures in an elite marathon runner
Authors: Thompson Joshua W , Radakrishnan Ganan T , Kayani Babar , Haddad Fares
Published: June 2022

Vertical stress fractures of the patella are rare, with only a handful of bilateral cases reported. Stress fractures in the athletic community are often due to repetitive strain and submaximal loading, with minimal recovery time. An Olympic marathon runner in her 30s presented with right anterolateral knee pain. MRI revealed an acutely displaced vertical fracture of the lateral patella. After failure of non-operative treatment, she underwent surgical excision of the fracture fragment and lateral patellofemoral retinacular repair. Despite return to light training pain-free 3 weeks after surgery, she presented 2 months later with a contralateral vertical patella stress fracture. On this occasion, early operative treatment was performed with early return to training and resolution of symptoms.

This is the first reported case of bilateral vertical patellar stress fractures in an athlete treated with excision of the fracture fragment. This is an excellent option for elite athletes who require a quick postoperative recovery, complete resolution of symptoms and early return to preinjury level of sport.
Iatrogenic duodenal diverticular perforation during a right laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a rare complication
Authors: Chew Kenneth Keen Yip , Boot Madison , Jancewicz Stephen , Sowter Steven
Published: June 2022

Duodenal diverticulum perforation is a rare and life-threatening pathology. Perforation secondary to iatrogenic causes is rare, with only 14 cases previously reported. This paper explores a world-first case report on iatrogenic duodenal diverticulum perforation during right laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and a systematic review of all reported cases of duodenal diverticulum perforation in the literature.