bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution and impact of COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes: population analysis in 189 care homes in one geographic region
Authors: Burton Jennifer K , Bayne Gwen , Evans Christine , Garbe Frederike , Gorman Dermot , Honhold Naomi , McCormick Duncan , Othieno Richard , Stevenson Janet , Swietlik Stefanie , Templeton Kate , Tranter Mette , Willocks Lorna , Guthrie Bruce
Published: July 2020

Background: COVID-19 has had large impact on care-home residents internationally. This study systematically examines care-home outbreaks of COVID-19 in a large Scottish health board.

Methods: Analysis of testing, cases and deaths using linked care-home, testing and mortality data for 189 care-homes with 5843 beds in a large Scottish Health Board up to 15/06/20.

Findings: 70 (37.0%) of care-homes experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, 66 of which were in care-homes for older people where care-home size was strongly associated with outbreaks (OR per 20-bed increase 3.50, 95%CI 2.06 to 5.94). There were 852 confirmed cases and 419 COVID-related deaths, 401 (95.7%) of which occurred in care-homes with an outbreak, 16 (3.8%) in hospital, and two in the 119 care-homes without a known outbreak. For non-COVID related deaths, there were 73 excess deaths in care-homes with an outbreak, but no excess deaths in care-homes without an outbreak, and 24 fewer deaths than expected of care-home residents in hospital. A quarter of COVID-19 related cases and deaths occurred in five (2.6%) care-homes, and half in 13 (6.9%) care-homes.

Interpretation: The large impact on excess deaths appears to be primarily a direct effect of COVID-19, with cases and deaths are concentrated in a minority of care homes. A key implication is that there is a large pool of susceptible residents if community COVID-19 incidence increases again. Shielding residents from potential sources of infection and rapid action into minimise outbreak size where infection is introduced will be critical in any wave 2.

Funding: Not externally funded.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of the product of the ring-opening reaction of a dihydrobenzoxazine: 6,6′-[(cyclohexylazanediyl)bis(methylene)]bis(2,4-dimethylphenol)
Authors: Wannapaiboon Suttipong , Hanlumyuang Yuranan , Chansaenpak Kantapat , Pinyou Piyanut , Veranitisagul Chatchai , Laobuthee Apirat , Wattanathana Worawat
Published: July 2020

In the title unsymmetrical tertiary amine, C24H33NO2, which arose from the ring-opening reaction of a dihydrobenzoxazine, two 2,4-dimethylphenol moieties are linked by a 6,6′-(cyclohexylazanediyl)-bis(methylene) bridge: the dihedral angle between the dimethylphenol rings is 72.45 (7)°. The cyclohexyl ring adopts a chair conformation with the exocyclic C—N bond in an equatorial orientation. One of the phenol OH groups forms an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond, generating anS(6) ring, and a short intramolecular C—H...O contact is also present. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules intoC(10) chains propagating along the [100] direction. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the title compound confirms the presence of these intra- and intermolecular interactions. The corresponding fingerprint plots indicate that the most significant contacts in the crystal packing are H...H (76.4%), H...C/C...H (16.3%), and H...O/O...H (7.2%).
A review and historical development of analytical techniques to predict aircraft spin and recovery characteristics
Authors: Malik Bilal , Masud Jehanzeb , Akhtar Suhail
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a literature review on analytical research on the prediction of aircraft spin and recovery characteristics, as it progressed from the early years of aviation to current state of the art spin technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

Aerodynamic model development approaches that have been generally used in past spin studies are presented. Past contributions in application of these analytical techniques to predict spin and recovery characteristics on various fighters, general aviation and airliners are discussed, thus providing useful reference for researchers embarking aircraft spin research. An overview of the development of spin prevention and spin recovery technologies to mitigate stall/spin susceptibility is presented.

Findings

The challenges associated with the presented techniques that prompt possible future research directions are discussed.

Originality/value

Despite considerable progress in the recent years, no comprehensive review on the analytical and computational research techniques to predict aircraft post-stall/ spin characteristics has been undertaken in the recent years.
Regulatory changes and audit fees: the moderating effect of overlapping directorship and financial reporting quality
Authors: Abdulmalik Salau Olarinoye , Che-Ahmad Ayoib
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study examines the contemporaneous changes in the reporting regime in Nigeria by investigating the effect of regulatory changes on audit fees as well as the moderating effect of overlapping directorship and financial reporting quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilises a longitudinal sample of 409 firm-year observations, from 2008 to 2013, of nonfinancial companies listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. The study uses the general method of moments (GMM) to control for endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The results reveal that, without the moderating effect of overlapping directorship and financial reporting quality, the relationship between regulatory changes and audit fees is positive but weak, which suggests that regulatory changes drive cost. Similarly, the interaction of overlapping directorship did not reverse the positive relationship, which suggests the perceived risk associated with overlapping directorship. However, the improvement in financial reporting quality reverses the relationship, as evidenced by the negative and significant coefficient on the interacted terms.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights about committee membership overlap to regulatory authorities concerning the weakness of the monitoring ability of such committees.

Originality/value

The results of this study contribute to the growing literature on regulatory reform, audit fees and corporate governance. Specifically, the study provides empirical evidence on the effect of committee overlap on audit fees, which, to the best of the researchers' knowledge, has received no empirical attention in the Nigerian context.
Analysis of conditions of the quartz surface photochemical polishing by way of profile optimization
Authors: Kanevskii Vasyl , Kolienov Serhii
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show the possibility of using the quartz regular surface profile in the form of protrusions and troughs of a triangular shape instead of a random surface profile characterized by a Gaussian correlation function when analyzing the electromagnetic field parameters above the quartz surface to determine the conditions of the effective surface subnano-polishing.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical determination of the evanescent field optimal configuration formed near the quartz rough surface coated with an aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite when illuminated from the side of the solution has been considered. The finite-element approach is used to solve the Helmholtz two-dimensional vector equation.

Findings

Conditions of effective photochemical polishing of rough surface with profile in the form of triangular protrusions and troughs to a sub-nanometer level of roughness are found. These optimal conditions are achieved when the light falls normally on the quartz surface and the height of the surface protrusions is small (up to 20 nm).

Originality/value

This paper shows the possibility of simplifying electrodynamic calculations and analyzing an evanescent field near a quartz surface for the purpose of photochemical polishing by replacing the random profile function with a deterministic periodic function. That is, the novelty of this paper, which supplements the works published earlier [Journal of Modern Optics, 67(3) (2020):242–251; Optik, 207 (2020):164438].
A Multi-layer Security approach for DDoS detection in Internet of Things
Authors: Feroz Khan A.B. , G Anandharaj
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the layer wise security issues in IoT and to obtain the effective security mechanism for jamming attack .

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors proposed a multi layer security approach for the detection of DDoS in IoT environment, which protects the smart devices from DDoS, this scheme also reduces the computational cost in the network under mobility condition.

Findings

Even though many works have been done for the security of wireless sensor network (WSN), all works have focused on encryption which depends on the key management strategy. In this study, the authors proposed a multilayer approach to analyze the layer wise security issues and also proposed a threshold-based countermeasure (TBC) for replay attack in each layer.

Originality/value

The results indicate that the proposed algorithm lowers the computational costs and energy consumption than in modern schemes. Also, the proposed research work improves the scalability of sensor networks using the TBC.
Pediatric and geriatric immunity network mobile computational model for COVID-19
Authors: Priya K. Banu , Rajendran P. , M. Sandeep Kumar , J. Prabhu , Rajendran Sukumar , Kumar P.J. , P. Thanapal , Christopher Jabez , R. Jothikumar
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The computational model proposed in this work uses the data's of COVID-19 cases in India. From the analysis, it can be observed that the proposed immunity model decides the recovery rate of COVID −19 patients; moreover, the recovery rate does not depend on the age of the patients. These analytic models can be used by public health professionals, hospital administrators and epidemiologists for strategic decision-making to enhance health requirements based on various demographic and social factors of those affected by the pandemic. Mobile-based computational model can be used to compute the travel history of the affected people by accessing the near geographical maps of the path traveled.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors developed a pediatric and geriatric person’s immunity network-based mobile computational model for COVID-19 patients. As the computational model is hard to analyze mathematically, the authors simplified the computational model as general COVID-19 infected people, the computational immunity model. The model proposed in this work used the data's of COVID-19 cases in India.

Findings

This study proposes a pediatric and geriatric people immunity network model for COVID- 19 patients. For the analysis part, the data's on COVID-19 cases in India was used. In this model, the authors have taken two sets of people (pediatric and geriatric), both are facing common symptoms such as fever, cough and myalgia. From the analysis, it was observed and also proved that the immunity level of patients decides the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients and the age of COVID-19 patients has no significant influence on the recovery rate of the patient.

Originality/value

COVID-19 has created a global health crisis that has had a deep impact on the way we perceive our world and our everyday lives. Not only the rate of contagion and patterns of transmission threatens our sense of agency, but the safety measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus also require social distancing. The novel model in this work focus on the Indian scenario and thereby may help Indian health organizations for future planning and organization. The factors model in this work such as age, immunity level, recovery rate can be used by machine leaning models for predicting other useful outcomes.
Stock market drivers of retail investors’ sentiment – facets and new evidences from India
Authors: Dasgupta Ranjan , Chattopadhyay Sandip
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The determinants of investors’ sentiment based on secondary stock market proxies in many empirical studies are reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study undertakes investor sentiment drivers developed from primary survey measures by constructing an investor sentiment index (ISI) in relation to market drivers to date. This study aims to fill this research gap by first developing the ISI for the Indian retail investors and then examining which of the stock market drivers impacts such sentiment.

Design/methodology/approach

The ISI is constructed using the mean scores of eight statements as formulated based on popular direct investor sentiment surveys undertaken across the world. Then, we use the multiple regression approach overall and for top 33.33% (high-sentiment) and bottom 33.33% (low-sentiment) investors based on the responses of 576 respondents on 18 statements (proxying eight study hypotheses) collected in 2016. Moreover, the demography-based classification based investors’ sentiment is examined to make our results more robust and in-depth.

Findings

On an overall basis, the IPO activities/issues and information certainty, trading volume and momentum and institutional investors’ investment activities market drivers significantly and positively impact retail investors is examined. However, only IPO activities/issues and information certainty influences both high- and low-sentiment investors. It is intriguing to report that nature of the stock markets show conflicting results for high- (negative significant) and low- (positive significant) sentiment investors.

Originality/value

The construction of the ISI from primary survey measure is for the first time in Indian context in relation to investigating the stock market drivers influential to retail investors’ sentiment. In addition, hypothesized market drivers are also unique, each representing different fundamental and technical characteristics associated with the Indian market.
Air pollution, auditors' pessimistic bias and audit quality: evidence from China
Authors: Chen Huangyue , Tan Xiaoping , CAO Qun
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether and how air pollution affects auditor behavior and audit quality. Specifically, the authors draw from studies of behavioral economics and psychology to develop a new prediction that air pollution-induced negative mood causes pessimistic bias in auditors’ risk assessments of client firms, which motivates them to put more effort into achieving higher audit quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of Chinese public firms for the period 2013 to 2018 and an ordinary least squares model to examine the effects of air pollution on audit quality.

Findings

The results suggest that auditors exposed to higher levels of air pollution are more likely to put more effort into their audits, resulting in higher audit quality. Furthermore, the impacts of air pollution on audit quality are more pronounced when an auditor has a higher level of education, a major in accounting or a related subject and a position as a partner. A series of identification tests and sensitivity tests further support the main findings.

Practical implications

This study provides deeper insight into how air pollution affects auditors’ decision-making through its effect on mood.

Social implications

The findings have broad potential implications for auditing and other high-skill professions. Because air pollution-induced negative mood is a common occurrence and numerous psychological experiments have demonstrated the potentially adaptive and beneficial role of negative mood in decision-making for professions like auditing that need a more conservative, alert and detail-oriented cognitive style, negative mood may to some extent facilitate decision-making. Professionals may benefit from paying closer attention to the adaptive benefits of different moods.

Originality/value

Few studies empirically discuss the effects of auditors’ psychology on audit outcomes. This study responds to this research gap with analyzes of how air pollution-induced negative mood can affect auditors’ professional judgment and audit outcomes. Further, this study adds to the growing literature that examines how air pollution affects various aspects of the economy and enriches the literature on behavioral economics, providing empirical evidence from a large sample of the effects of an environmental stressor on individual auditors’ professional judgment.
Factors influencing successful hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) implementation in hypermarket stores
Authors: Kuo Shih-Chi , Hsiao Hsin-I
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In Taiwan, hypermarket stores should implement hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) according to regulations. The aim of this study was to investigate key factors influencing successful implementation of HACCP in hypermarket stores that prepare hot meals.

Design/methodology/approach

We used a survey design and thus posted four questionnaires to each of the 136 hypermarket stores in Taiwan (two questionnaires for employees and two for managers). Therefore, a total of 544 questionnaires were posted, and 188 responses were received, yielding a 34.6% response rate.

Findings

Food safety knowledge, teamwork, perceived cost, perceived benefit and leadership were tested. Binary logistic regression results indicated that food safety knowledge and teamwork were key factors related to successful HACCP implementation. Perceived cost, perceived benefit and leadership were not related to successful HACCP implementation. Control variables, such as number of full-time employees and number of products sold, were discovered to be related to successful HACCP implementation.

Originality/value

Overall, the findings of this study can help the hypermarket industry assess its current quality management practices and focus on food safety performance improvement.
Correlation between fatigue response of preformed bend DP600 steel specimen and wheel disc
Authors: Das Bimal , Singh Akhilendra , Paul Surajit Kumar , Arora Kanwer Singh , Shome Mahadev
Published: July 2020

The present aim of this paper is to predict the cornering fatigue life of a wheel disc through a preformed bend DP600 steel specimen. To accomplish this objective, a newly designed preformed specimen with a bend radius equivalent to the weakest section of the wheel disc is fabricated by stamping operation followed by load‐controlled high‐cycle fatigue tests. Finite element (FE) simulation of stamping operation shows that an equivalent strain of 13% is induced to the bend specimen. Preformed bend specimen exhibits less fatigue resistance than the prestrained straight specimen for the same equivalent prestrain. A combined state of loading induces multiaxial stress state, giving rise to asymmetry of stresses along the thickness at the bend root of the DP600 steel specimen. Distribution of equivalent plastic strain and stress triaxiality from FE simulation indicates that fatigue crack occurs at the centre of the inner fibre of the bend root.
Evaluating the respective weights of some facial signs on perceived ages in differently aged women of five ethnic origins
Authors: Flament Frederic , Abric Aurelie , Adam Anne‐Sophie
Published: July 2020

Background

New gratification assessments, after skincare routines or makeup products, could benefit from innovative methods that could predict the culturally based perceptions of age.

Aims

To determine the facial signs that most influence the perception of age in women of five different ethnic ancestries, assessed by the same ethnical naïve panel.

Patients/Methods

The faces of 1351 women, differently aged (18‐80 years), from five countries (China, France, India, Japan, and South Africa) were photographed under the same standardized conditions in the five countries. Fourteen to 24 facial signs (grouped under five clusters, ie, Wrinkles/Texture, Ptosis/Sagging, Pigmentation disorders, Vascular disorders, and Cheeks skin pores) were focused, and their respective severities were graded using referential Skin Aging Atlases by the same panel of 15 experts and dermatologists. Five naïve panels, all comprising 100 local women, allowed to collect the perceived age, assessed from blind‐coded full‐face photographs.

Results

Although perceived ages and real ages were found highly correlated, their differences vary according to ethnicities, particularly among a large part of Indian and South African women, judged older by about 5 and 7 years, respectively. Results show that the clusters of Wrinkles/Texture and Ptosis/Sagging are predominant factors taken into account in almost all ethnicities, albeit at various extents, reaching almost 100% in French women. Pigmentation disorders appear important secondary factors in Japanese, South African, and Indian women. Vascular disorders, of a difficult grading in darker skin tones, were found of some impact in Japanese and Chinese women. Cheek skin pores were of minor or nil weight in the attribution of age, at the exception of South African women. Regarding facial areas which drive aging perception, it seems the upper‐half face has prevalence for Chinese and Japanese women whereas the lower‐half face has major importance for South African women.

Conclusion

Facial traits are differently perceived as signs of aging according to un‐separable ethnic ancestries and cultural factors.
Credit Rating Inflation and Firms' Investments
Authors: GOLDSTEIN ITAY , HUANG CHONG
Published: July 2020

We analyze credit rating effects on firm investments in a rational bond financing game that features a feedback loop. The credit rating agency (CRA) inflates the rating, providing a biased but informative signal to creditors. Creditors' response to the rating affects the firm's investment decision and thus its credit quality, which is reflected in the rating. The CRA might reduce ex ante economic efficiency, which results solely from its strategic effect: the CRA assigns more firms high ratings and allows them to gamble for resurrection. We derive empirical predictions on the determinants of rating standards and inflation and discuss policy implications.
First genotyping of Trypanosoma cruzi from naturally infected Triatoma juazeirensis, Triatoma melanica and Triatoma sherlocki from Bahia State, Brazil
Authors: Waniek P. J. , Araújo C. A. C. , Jansen A. M. , Costa J.
Published: July 2020

Many previous studies have shown a great phylogenetic and biological variability of Trypanosoma cruzi using different molecular and biochemical methods. Populations of T. cruzi were initially clustered into two main lineages called TcI and TcII by the size of the mini‐exon PCR product. In the present study, 33 isolates derived from three triatomine taxa, which belong to the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex (Triatoma juazeirensis, Triatoma melanica and Triatoma sherlocki); collected in three distinct areas of Bahia state were characterized by PCR. The isolates were identified by the size of the mini‐exon gene, 18S rRNA and 24Sα rRNA amplicons. T. cruzi isolates obtained in sylvatic and intradomiciliar ecotopes, derived from T. juazeirensis and T. melanica, were identified as TcI while the parasites originated from T. sherlocki were characterized as TcI and TcII genotypes, respectively. Those species are present in sylvatic ecotopes but are able to infest intradomiciliar areas. Therefore, it would be important to maintain studies in those localities of Bahia and further investigate the possibilities of Chagas disease transmission. Human disease may occur by any T. cruzi genotype and not only by TcII as it is the case in Amazonia.
High prevalence of triazole‐resistant Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto in an Argentinean cohort of patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Brito Devoto Tomás , Hermida‐Alva Katherine , Posse Gladys , Finquelievich Jorge L. , García‐Effrón Guillermo , Cuestas María L.
Published: July 2020

Background

Triazole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto due to mutations in the cyp51A gene has been widely reported. Data from Argentina, and particularly from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, are limited.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in A. fumigatus sensu stricto recovered from this population.

Methods

Ninety‐three A. fumigatus isolates from 50 CF patients were retrospectively analysed for azole resistance using the standard microbroth dilution method according to CLSI M38‐A2 guidelines. Sequencing analysis of the cyp51A gene and its promoter region was conducted in those isolates displaying high MIC values to itraconazole, voriconazole and/or posaconazole.

Results

Overall, 14% of isolates displayed high MIC values to at least one azole. Of them, 30.7% had the mutation TR34‐L98H. No mutations in the cyp51A gene or its promoter were found in the remaining non–wild‐type strains. Therefore, other mechanisms associated with azole resistance can be highly prevalent in these isolates.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Latin America reporting azole‐resistant A. fumigatus strains recovered from respiratory secretions of CF patients. Noteworthy, the prevalence of azole resistance in A. fumigatus sensu stricto in the studied Argentinean CF population is alarmingly high.
A metabolite roadmap of the wood‐forming tissue in Populus tremula
Authors: Abreu Ilka N. , Johansson Annika I. , Sokołowska Katarzyna , Niittylä Totte , Sundberg Björn , Hvidsten Torgeir R. , Street Nathaniel R. , Moritz Thomas
Published: July 2020

Wood, or secondary xylem, is the product of xylogenesis, a developmental process that begins with the proliferation of cambial derivatives and ends with mature xylem fibers and vessels with lignified secondary cell walls. Fully mature xylem has undergone a series of cellular processes, including cell division, cell expansion, secondary wall formation, lignification and programmed cell death. A complex network of interactions between transcriptional regulators and signal transduction pathways controls wood formation. However, the role of metabolites during this developmental process has not been comprehensively characterized.

To evaluate the role of metabolites during wood formation, we performed a high spatial resolution metabolomics study of the wood‐forming zone of Populus tremula, including laser dissected aspen ray and fiber cells.

We show that metabolites show specific patterns within the wood‐forming zone, following the differentiation process from cell division to cell death.

The data from profiled laser dissected aspen ray and fiber cells suggests that these two cell types host distinctly different metabolic processes. Furthermore, by integrating previously published transcriptomic and proteomic profiles generated from the same trees, we provide an integrative picture of molecular processes, for example, deamination of phenylalanine during lignification is of critical importance for nitrogen metabolism during wood formation.
Inkjet-printed MoS2-based field-effect transistors with graphene and hexagonal boron nitride inks
Authors: Hossain Ridwan F. , Kaul Anupama B.
Published: July 2020

Field-effect transistors (FETs) are powerful devices in the semiconducting electronics industry and their manufacturing forms the basis of countless electronic devices. Most contemporary FETs rely on inorganic materials, mainly silicon that uses conventional photolithography, etching, and deposition techniques in sophisticated and expensive clean-room environments. An alternative route to fabricating FETs is via inkjet printing that offers the possibility of mass production and working with additively manufactured, low-cost materials, to form high functionality devices with applications in a wide array of fields. Although the inkjet-printed electrode-based sensor is widely reported, the number of all inkjet-printed FETs is still limited. Here, the authors report the design, fabrication, and characterization of an all inkjet-printed FET. Two-dimensional layered materials, such as electrically conducting graphene, semiconducting molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and dielectric-hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), were used to construct the printed FET on an Si/SiO2 substrate. Here, the authors also present the annealing temperature analysis of the drop-cast hBN ink, which provided a clear outlook toward the printed dielectric layer fabrication of the transistor. To have an idea of the leakage current of the FET, the authors inkjet-printed a simple capacitor device first with graphene and hBN inks, which was characterized by using the small-signal impedance technique, capacitance-frequency (C-F), and capacitance-voltage (C-V), where the change in C was measured from F ∼ 1 kHz up to 5 MHz. At low frequency, ∼1 KHz, the maximum capacitance ∼36 pF was found at 20 V.
Attenuation of Dupuytren’s fibrosis via targeting of the STAT1 modulated IL-13Rα1 response
Authors: Akbar Moeed , Garcia-Melchor Emma , Chilaka Sabarinadh , Little Kevin J. , Sood Shatakshi , Reilly James H. , Liew Foo Y. , McInnes Iain B. , Millar Neal L.
Published: July 2020

Targeting STAT pathways may offer previously unidentified approaches in the management of fibrotic disorders.
One-dimensional organic artificial multi-synapses enabling electronic textile neural network for wearable neuromorphic applications
Authors: Ham Seonggil , Kang Minji , Jang Seonghoon , Jang Jingon , Choi Sanghyeon , Kim Tae-Wook , Wang Gunuk
Published: July 2020

We developed 1D multi-synaptic device toward the development of an e-textile neutral network for wearable intelligent applications.
TIP60 K430 SUMOylation attenuates its interaction with DNA-PKcs in S-phase cells: Facilitating homologous recombination and emerging target for cancer therapy
Authors: Gao Shan-Shan , Guan Hua , Yan Shuang , Hu Sai , Song Man , Guo Zong-Pei , Xie Da-Fei , Liu Yike , Liu Xiaodan , Zhang Shimeng , Zhou Ping-Kun
Published: July 2020

TIP60 K430 SUMOylation inactivates DNA-PKcs to facilitate DNA HR repair, and emerging target for radiation and PARPi cancer therapy.
Dynamic 3D meta-holography in visible range with large frame number and high frame rate
Authors: Gao Hui , Wang Yuxi , Fan Xuhao , Jiao Binzhang , Li Tingan , Shang Chenglin , Zeng Cheng , Deng Leimin , Xiong Wei , Xia Jinsong , Hong Minghui
Published: July 2020

A space channel design approach achieves dynamic meta-holography with high frame rate and large frame number.
Update on liver fluke in sheep
Authors: Williams Diana
Published: July 2020

Background: Fasciola hepatica is a common parasite of grazing livestock, which causes considerable economic losses through high levels of morbidity, mortality and reduced productivity. Its prevalence has increased in recent years, probably due to environmental changes.

Aim of the article: This article focuses on sheep, highlighting some current issues and offering new insights into how fasciolosis can be better managed in this species.
Right mandibular angle and left comminuted mandibular body fractures stabilised with a combination of an acetabular plate and secured pin intermandibular ventral epoxy resin (SPIVER) frame in a four‐month‐old puppy
Authors: di Virgilio Fabrizio , Bourbos Alexandros , Cinti Filippo , Pisani Guido
Published: July 2020

This case report aimed to describe a surgical technique combining a secured pin intermandibular ventral epoxy resin (SPIVER) frame and an acetabular plate to manage a complex mandibular fracture configuration in a puppy. A four‐month‐old, entire male, German wirehaired pointer was referred for assessment of a combination of recent (three days before hospitalisation) and older traumatic (45 days before hospitalisation) facial injuries inflicted by the dam. CT revealed multiple mandibular and maxillary fractures with complex acute mandibular fractures requiring surgical stabilisation. wo techniques were combined on stabilisation of the mandible: a single acetabular plate 2.7 to repair the mandibular angle fracture and a SPIVER frame to repair the comminuted mandibular fracture. Both fractures healed uneventfully, and the dog had normal jaw function one year postoperatively. Occlusion was not modified compared with the preoperative condition, considering that the patient already had a malocclusion defect due to old lesions. The combination of two different osteosynthesis techniques had satisfactory short‐term and long‐term outcomes in this puppy.
Vectorized Kernel-Based Fuzzy C-Means: a Method to Apply KFCM on Crisp and Non-Crisp Numbers
Authors: Hossein-Abad Hadi Mahdipour , Shabanian Mohsen , Kazerouni Iman Abaspur
Published: July 2020

Kernel methods are a class of algorithms for pattern analysis to robust them to noise, overlaps, outliers and also unequal sized clusters. In this paper, kernel-based fuzzy c-means (KFCM) method is extended to apply KFCM on any crisp and non-crisp input numbers only in a single structure. The proposed vectorized KFCM (VKFM) algorithm maps the input (crisp or non-crisp) features to crisp ones and applies the KFCM (with prototypes in feature space) on them. Finally the resulted crisp prototypes in the mapped space are influenced by an inverse mapping to obtain the prototypes’ (centers’) parameters in the input features space. The performance of the proposed method has been compared with the conventional FCM and KFCM and other new methods, to show its effectiveness in clustering of gene expression data and segmentation of land-cover using satellite images. Simulation results show good accuracy of proposed method in compare to other methods.
Novel Value of Preoperative Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels in the Prognosis of AFP-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Liang-He , Wei-Wei  , Kan Anna , Jie-Mei  , Ling Yi-Hong , Li Shao-Hua , Guo Rong-Ping
Published: July 2020

Background. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is involved in tumor development and progression, but its prognostic value in α-fetoprotein- (AFP-) negative (AFP<25 ng/mL) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains unknown. Methods. A large cohort of 678 patients with AFP-negative HCC following curative resection who had complete data were enrolled in this study. The optimal cutoff value for the preoperative level of GGT was determined by the X-tile program. Independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were also identified. Results. The optimal cutoff values for the preoperative levels of GGT were 37.2 U/L and 102.8 U/L, which were used to divide all patients into three subgroups (group 1, GGT<37.2 U/L (n=211, 31.1%); group 2, GGT≥37.2 and <102.8 U/L (n=320, 47.2%); group 3, GGT≥102.8 U/L (n=147, 21.7%)), with distinct OS times (58.5 vs. 53.5 vs. 44.4 months, P<0.001) and DFS times (47.9 vs. 40.3 vs. 30.1 months, P<0.001). Elevated preoperative GGT levels were associated with an unfavorable tumor burden (larger tumor size, multiple tumors, and microvascular invasion) and were selected as independent predictors of a worse OS (group 2 vs. group 1, HR: 1.73 (1.13-2.65), P=0.011; group 3 vs. group 1, HR: 3.28 (2.10-5.13), P<0.001) and DFS (group 2 vs. group 1, HR: 1.52 (1.13-2.05), P=0.006; group 3 vs. group 1, HR: 2.11 (1.49-2.98), P<0.001) in multivariable analysis. Conclusions. Elevated preoperative GGT levels are associated with an unfavorable tumor burden and serve as an independent prognostic marker for worse outcomes in AFP-negative HCC patients following resection.
Renal Progenitor Cells Have Higher Genetic Stability and Lower Oxidative Stress than Mesenchymal Stem Cells during In Vitro Expansion
Authors: de Freitas Siqueira Silva Elís Rosélia Dutra , Neto Napoleão Martins Argôlo , de Oliveira Bezerra Dayseanny , de Moura Dantas Sandra Maria Mendes , dos Santos Silva Lucilene , da Silva Avelar Alves , de Moura Charlys Rhands Coelho , Júnior Antônio Luíz Gomes , Braz Débora Cavalcante , Costa José Ricardo Freitas , de Carvalho Leite Yulla Klinger , de Carvalho Maria Acelina Martins
Published: July 2020

In vitro senescence of multipotent cells has been commonly associated with DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. These changes may vary according to the sources of production and the studied lineages, which raises questions about the effect of growing time on genetic stability. This study is aimed at evaluating the evolution of genetic stability, viability, and oxidative stress of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCBMsu) and renal progenitor cells of the renal cortex (RPCsu) of swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) in culture passages. P2, P5, and P9 were used for MSCBMsu and P1, P2, and P3 for RPCsu obtained by thawing. The experimental groups were submitted to MTT, apoptosis and necrosis assays, comet test, and reactive substance measurements of thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), nitrite, reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase. The MTT test curve showed a mean viability of1.14±0.62and1.12±0.54, respectively, for MSCBMsu and RPCsu. The percentages of MSCBMsu and RPCsu were presented, respectively, for apoptosis, an irregular and descending behavior, and necrosis, ascending and irregular. The DNA damage index showed higher intensity among the MSCBMsu in the P5 and P9 passages (p<0.05). In the TBARS evaluation, there was variation among the lines of RPCsu and MSCBMsu, presenting the last most significant variations (p<0.05). In the nitrite values, we identified only among the lines, in the passages P1 and P2, with the highest averages displayed by the MSCBMsu lineage (p<0.05). The measurement of antioxidant system activity showed high standards, identifying differences only for GSH values, in the RPCsu lineage, in P3 (p<0.05). This study suggests that the maintenance of cell culture in the long term induces lower regulation of oxidative stress, and RPCsu presents higher genetic stability and lower oxidative stress than MSCBMsu during in vitro expansion.
Fire Resistance of Composite Beams with Restrained Superposed Slabs
Authors: Lyu Junli , Chen Qichao , Xue Huizhong , Cai Yongyuan , Lyu Jingjing , Zhou Shengnan
Published: July 2020

To investigate the fire resistance of composite beams with restrained superposed slabs, three specimens were tested under uniformly distributed loads in a furnace. The effects of the thickness of the postcast top layer in superposed slabs and the spacing of shear studs on the structural behaviours of composite beams under fire were further examined. During the tests, the temperature distributions of the superposed slabs and steel beams as well as the displacements at their key positions were recorded and analysed. It was found that the temperature of the concrete superposed slabs decreased long their heights from the bottom. The most drastic change of the temperature along the slab cross section was found in the region with a distance of 40 mm to the slab bottom. The concrete superposed slabs could impose restraints to the steel beams due to their incompatible deformations. Cracks were developed on the top surfaces of the specimens and the superposing interfaces between the precast slabs and postcast top layers were not broken. Through the comparisons of different specimens, the spacing of shear studs could have a significant effect on the fire resistance of composite beams, especially for their deformation recovery capacities. In contrast, the effect of the thickness of the postcast top layers was negligible. ABAQUS was employed to simulate the temperature fields and deformation behaviours of composite beam specimens based on a sequenced thermomechanical coupling analysis. The numerical results agreed well with the experiment data, which validated the developed numerical model.
Research Progress on the Pathological Mechanisms of Podocytes in Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Zhang Lili , Wen Zhige , Han Lin , Zheng Yujiao , Wei Yu , Wang Xinmiao , Wang Qing , Fang Xinyi , Zhao Linhua , Tong Xiaolin
Published: July 2020

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is not only an important microvascular complication of diabetes but also the main cause of end-stage renal disease. Studies have shown that the occurrence and development of DN are closely related to morphological and functional changes in podocytes. A series of morphological changes after podocyte injury in DN mainly include podocyte hypertrophy, podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation, podocyte detachment, and podocyte apoptosis; functional changes mainly involve podocyte autophagy. More and more studies have shown that multiple signaling pathways play important roles in the progression of podocyte injury in DN. Here, we review research progress on the pathological mechanism of morphological and functional changes in podocytes associated with DN, to provide a new target for delaying the occurrence and development of this disorder.
Common Laws Driving the Success in Show Business
Authors: Wu Chong , Feng Zhenan , Zheng Jiangbin , Zhang Houwang
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we want to find out whether gender bias will affect the success and whether there are some common laws driving the success in show business. We design an experiment, set the gender and productivity of an actor or actress in a certain period as the independent variables, and introduce deep learning techniques to do the prediction of success, extract the latent features, and understand the data we use. Three models have been trained: the first one is trained by the data of an actor, the second one is trained by the data of an actress, and the third one is trained by the mixed data. Three benchmark models are constructed with the same conditions. The experiment results show that our models are more general and accurate than benchmarks. An interesting finding is that the models trained by the data of an actor/actress only achieve similar performance on the data of another gender without performance loss. It shows that the gender bias is weakly related to success. Through the visualization of the feature maps in the embedding space, we see that prediction models have learned some common laws although they are trained by different data. Using the above findings, a more general and accurate model to predict the success in show business can be built.
Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Energy Dissipation Analysis of Sandstone after High Temperature Cycling
Authors: Ping Qi , Zhang Chuanliang , Sun Hongjian , Han Xu
Published: July 2020

In order to study the effect of high temperature cycling on the physical and mechanical properties of rock materials, a box-type resistance furnace was used to conduct high temperature cycling at 400°C 10 times on sandstone specimens in coal mine, and the impact compression tests under 8 loading rates were carried out using a split Hopkinson bar (SHPB) device. Results showed that, with the increase of cycle times, the gray white sandstone specimen gradually showed reddish brown spots, and the volume of specimen increased, while the mass, density, and longitudinal wave velocity decreased; in addition, the volume increase rate, the mass decrease rate, the density decrease rate, and the longitudinal wave velocity decreased rate with cycle times showed quadratic function relationship. The dynamic compressive stress-strain curve of sandstone specimens subjected to high temperature cyclic action under impact load was obviously different from that under normal temperature. The dynamic elastic modulus was obviously larger than that under static load. The failure mode of dynamic and static specimens showed brittleness and ductility characteristics, respectively. In the SHPB test, the impact pressure, reflected energy, transmitted energy, and absorbed energy of the rock specimen all increased linearly with the increase of incident energy. The dynamic compressive strength, elastic modulus, and strain rate of sandstone specimens were positively correlated with the incident energy, while the dynamic strain showed negative correlation.
ADHD Is Associated with a Higher Risk for Traumatic Events, Self-Reported PTSD, and a Higher Severity of PTSD Symptoms in Alcohol-Dependent Patients
Authors: Luderer Mathias , Reinhard Iris , Richter Agnes , Kiefer Falk , Weber Tillmann
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Alcohol dependence (AD) is frequently associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate whether in patients with AD, ADHD is associated with an increased rate of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and PTSD, with increased PTSD severity and higher impact on daily functioning. Methods: Patients with AD were thoroughly assessed for ADHD during long-term residential treatment. Participants also completed the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS). The PDS is a 49-item self-report instrument that assesses exposure to different PTEs, DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, severity of PTSD, and related functional impairment. Results: Of 341 patients with AD, 66 were diagnosed with ADHD (19%). ADHD was associated with a more frequent exposure to PTEs (88 vs. 65%, p < 0.001). In patients with PTEs (n = 237), odds for PTSD were higher in ADHD versus no-ADHD patients (OR 8.9, 95% CI 3.9–20.5). Furthermore, PTSD severity and functional impairment were increased in ADHD patients. Conclusions: ADHD in patients with AD is associated with a higher frequency of PTEs and PTSD with more severe and more impairing PTSD symptoms. In alcohol-dependent patients with ADHD, regular screening for PTSD should be considered.
Entrevista a Abraham Magendzo Kolstrein sobre educación inclusiva y la enseñanza de los derechos humanos
Authors: Gárate Francisco , López-Andrada Concepción , Ocampo-González Aldo , Pincheira Luis
Published: July 2020

al abordar la enseñanza de los derechos humanos en el contexto de América Latina es necesario situar como !gura relevante al profesor Abraham Magendzo. Durante esta
conversación caracterizada por el análisis del presente, pero también por la memoria y el recorrido histórico de la educación en derechos humanos especialmente en Chile, se destaca la dificultad a la hora de desarrollar proyectos educativos en los que toda la comunidad educativa tome consciencia de la importancia de la materia en derechos humanos. El elemento interdisciplinar y transversal debe ser el motor que canalice estas propuestas desde y para la democracia y la inclusión. El entrevistador se cuestiona de forma principal, acerca de cómo se ha asumido que la educación en derechos humanos debe ser una formación limitada a los sufrientes u oprimidos, cuando debería ser un proceso que alcanzara a toda la ciudadanía. Asimismo, la enseñanza y aprendizaje en Derechos humanos según Magendzo, debería empezar desde edades muy tempranas en los estudiantes, ya que estos están asociados a comportamientos que se reflejarán en las aulas. Finalmente, los desafíos que propone el entrevistado pasan por la formación del profesorado, el compromiso y la búsqueda constante de la rigurosidad en la materia.