bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Spray Solution Quantity on Microstructural and Optical Properties of In2O3 Thin Films Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Deokate Ramesh J.
Published: August 2020

Highly textured indium oxide (In2O3) thin films are produced by chemical spray pyrolysis method onto glass substrates. The impact of film thickness on the structural, morphological, and optoelectronic properties of In2O3 thin films are investigated. The effect of film thickness on microstructural properties like grain size, lattice constants, dislocation density, and strain of the films are reported. X‐Ray diffraction study reveals that the thin films have a cubic structure with favored (222) plane. The morphological study shows the spherical and uninterrupted distribution of grains. The typical transmittance of the In2O3 thin films, measured in the 300–1100 nm wavelength. The optical properties show that direct band gap value improved from 3.35–3.52 eV with film thickness. The best results are shown with 352 nm film thickness which has direct band gap of 3.49 eV, minimum sheet resistance of 80 Ω/□, lowest resistivity of 4 × 10−3 Ω. cm, maximum carrier concentration 6.1 × 1020 cm−3, mobility 29.55 cm2 V−1 s−1 and highest figure of merit is achieved (12.110−2 □/Ω). The results exhibited the 60 mL spray solution quantity of In2O3 films is suitable for device application.
Studies on Real and Imaginary Part of Permeability for Sm–Dy Substituted Mg Ferrite
Authors: Kumbhar R. N. , Shinde Tukaram J. , Ghodake Jeevan S.
Published: August 2020

The ferrite samples having composition Mg[(Sm)0.5(Dy)0.5]xFe2‐xO4, in which x varies from 0.05 to 0.3 in steps of 0.05 have been prepared by using combustion method. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure in addition of ortho‐ferrite phase due to substitution of rare earth ions. The initial permeability and complex permeability of toroid samples are calculated by measuring the values of inductance and Q‐factor. It is seen that initial permeability and real part of initial permeability increases with increase in Samarium(Sm)–Dysprosium (Dy) rare earth element in magnetium (Mg) up to x = 0.15 and thereafter it decreases. The composition Mg[(Sm)0.5(Dy)0.5]0.15Fe1.85O4 show low loss factor and initial permeability becomes higher as compared to other prepared rare earth content samples.
Electrochemical Synthesis of CuS Thin Film for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Kadam Sukhdev Luxman , Bulakhe Ravindra Nathuji , Kadam Rupali Ashok , Yewale Manesh Ashik
Published: August 2020

In present research, walnut like copper sulfide is prepared via a facile single‐step potentiostatic electrodeposition method on conducting stainless steel substrate. The walnut like morphology of copper sulfide thin film lies of microplates and further microplates converted to nanogranuals, by means of a change in deposition time and thickness. Copper sulfide thin film electrode reveals a specific capacitance of 132 F g−1 at 50 mA cm−2. The film thickness changes with deposition time. The films acquire maximum thickness of 610 nm for 25 min of deposition. X‐ray diffraction analysis revels that the CuS thin films is polycrystalline in nature and the crystallite size is 29 nm. The peak at 612 cm−1 in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra confirms the formation of CuS. The wettability study shows the hydrophilic nature, the contact angle of water with CuS electrode is 66°, and the charge transfer resistance of CuS electrode is 7.78 Ω.
Non‐Invasive Diabetic Sensor Based on Cellulose Acetate/Graphene Nanocomposite
Authors: Yempally Swathi , Hegazy Sara Mohamed , Aly Aaliah , Kannan Karthik , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar
Published: August 2020

Metabolic changes or pathological disorders are a promising tool for non‐invasive medical diagnosis, occurring in human exhaled breath as a measurement of volatile organic compounds, such as the exhaled acetone quantities in expressions of monitoring of diabetes. Basis of acetone recognition and non‐invasiveness are the most apparent physiognomies of the arrangement. The patient's breath samples are collected beforehand and then passed through the container before the reaction with the sensors and the final result data are put out on the screen at regular intermissions. A conductive composite based on cellulose acetate and thermally reduced graphene are prepared to fabricate the highly selective acetone sensor (especially for the diabetics. In the panorama of future developments of devices investigating real breath samples, a complex occurrence is studied with down to 1 ppm of acetone, ethanol, and methanol (mixed with water) with a sufficiently good signal to noise ratio and is worth inspecting.
Ultrasonic Investigation of DrugZingiber officinalewith Metal Ions as a Function of Concentration
Authors: Nalle Pallavi B. , Shinde Sangita U. , Thakare N. B. , Padghan Prafull P.
Published: August 2020

In the present study, the molecular association between (metal ions) ZnCl2and extracted form of drugZingiber officinaleis investigated by ultrasonic investigation. The density (ρ), ultrasonic velocity (U), and viscosity (η) of an ethanolic extract of drug with metal ions of different concentrations (number of moles of drug = 0.7009, 1.4018, 2.1027, 2.8036, and 3.5045) at 2 MHz are measured through ultrasonic interferometer. From experimental parameters, various acoustic parameters such as adiabatic compressibility (β), intermolecular free length (Lf), specific acoustic impedance (Z) are calculated. This study proves the molecular association is present in liquid mixture system and such study is helpful for pharmacological applications of drugs.
Variation of Particle Size with Copper Content in Copper Cobalt Ferrite
Authors: Karande Subash S. , Kavale Mahendra S. , Pushpanjali Gurubasappa M. , Karche Bhanudas R.
Published: August 2020

Nanoparticle size polycrystalline aluminium substituted copper cobalt ferrite samples CuxCo1‐xFe2‐2yAl2yO4 (where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0; y = 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25) have been prepared by standard ceramic technique. The effects of aluminium and copper on structural properties of cobalt ferrite are studied. A universal testing machine as well as Archimedes’ method is applied for determining the physical properties of the samples. Phase formation is investigated using x‐ray diffraction, infrared absorption technique, and scanning electron microscope technique. The size of particle raises with the increase in concentration of Al3+ content. The particle size occurs in the nano range 50–100 nm. The particle size is a very important parameter in terms of ferrite.
Optical Characterization of Chalcone‐Doped PMMA Thin Films for Photonic Applications Using Spectroscopic Technique of Drop Casting Method
Authors: Sharma Kalpana , Melavanki Raveendra , Yallur Basappa C. , Kusanur Raviraj , Patil N. R. , Shelar Vikas M. , Singh Diksha , Rosario Jones , Hussaini Qurban , A Mohan. , Thampan Arun Varma
Published: August 2020

Thin films of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) and chalcone prepared via drop casting method is reported here. The newly synthesized chalcone derivative namely 1‐(3‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐3‐(4‐nitro‐phenyl)‐propanone (C2) is used to dope the films with different concentrations. The prepared films are transparent so they are studied for applications in photonics. Optical characterization of the samples is done through different spectroscopy techniques. Absorption spectra of the samples is obtained using UV–vis spectrophotometer. Other significant optical parameters such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, and band gap energies are calculated from the absorption spectra. The doping effect is observed on emission spectra that is obtained using fluorescence spectrophotometer. Also, FTIR spectra of the doped films is obtained and compared with the pure compound to notice changes in the peak values and intensity of the peaks. The present work is done to study the effect of doping on optical properties and figure out the application of samples in photonics.
Enhanced LPG Sensitivity for Electron Beam Irradiated Al‐ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Vattappalam Sunil C. , Thomas Deepu , Ponnamma Deepalekshmi , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar , Pasha S. K. Khadeer , Deshmukh Kalim
Published: August 2020

Al doped and un‐doped ZnO thin films are coated on glass substrate by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique with varying doping concentrations of Al from 3 to 7 at%. The samples are annealed at 450 °C for 1 h in the air. The structural and morphological analysis of the samples are carried out using XRD and SEM. The samples are irradiated with high energy electron beam at a dosage of 5 kGy and its sensing properties are explored. It is observed that the irradiated samples show an enhanced sensitivity to liquefied petroleum gas than that of unirradiated samples at the same doping concentration. The higher response and recovery time of irradiated samples are compared with unirradiated samples. The maximum sensitivity (S = 0.35) with faster recovery time of 25 s is observed for the 7% doped Al‐ZnO thin irradiated film.
A Study on the Complex Formation of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate), Poly(Vinyl Chloride) and Their Blend with Lithium Perchlorate Using FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Ranjana Patil Anitha Bhimarao , Sundaresan B.
Published: August 2020

Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the polymer‐salt complexes of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride), and the salt lithium perchlorate is analyzed for different compositions. The functional group analysis reveals that polymers PMMA and PVC form stable complexes with LiClO4. A systematic analysis of the FTIR spectrum of the polymer blend‐salt complexes brings out the inference that the system with equal composition of PMMA and PVC, 37.5 wt% each, is found to show a better complex formation with 25 wt% of LiClO4. The peak positional change of C═O group of PMMA is analyzed critically to identify the complex‐forming behavior of polymer blend.
Levodopa/Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Long‐Term Outcome in Parkinson's Disease: Focus on Dyskinesia
Authors: Fabbri Margherita , Zibetti Maurizio , Calandra‐Buonaura Giovanna , Contin Manuela , Sambati Luisa , Mohamed Susan , Romagnolo Alberto , Berchialla Paola , Imbalzano Gabriele , Giannini Giulia , Rizzone Mario G. , Artusi Carlo Alberto , Cortelli Pietro , Lopiano Leonardo
Published: August 2020

Background

Levodopa‐carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) treatment has shown variable effect on dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective

To identify PD patients who are likely to have troublesome dyskinesia under LCIG treatment and describe the pharmacokinetic‐dynamic profile and dyskinesia phenomenology of those patients.

Methods

PD patients were assessed for clinical and therapeutic variables, before LCIG treatment (T0) and at last outpatient visit (T1). Sub‐groups of patients with and without “troublesome dyskinesia” (UPDRS IV, item 33 ≥2), matched for disease and LCIG treatment duration, underwent a pharmacokinetic‐dynamic assessment.

Results

We included 53 PD patients. After a mean of 51.7 ± 34.1 months of LCIG treatment, “off‐time” was significantly reduced, whereas, dyskinesia duration/disability did not change. The multivariate regression model, adjusted for LCIG treatment duration, showed that being female increases the risk of presenting troublesome dyskinesia at T1 (odds ratio [OR] = 9.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4–37.4) that was also significantly associated to longer off periods at T1 (OR= 4.4; 95% CI = 1.1–14.3). Female patients showed a higher risk for a higher dyskinesia score at T1 (sum of the items 32 and 33: P = 0.001). Patients with troublesome dyskinesia showed a tendency for a lower motor benefit and the appearance of more severe dyskinesia despite similar levodopa plasma concentration.

Conclusion

Dyskinesia should be carefully monitored in patients undergoing LCIG, with particular caution for female patients. Whether combined clinical and pharmacodynamic assessments could be helpful to manage patients with troublesome dyskinesia under LCIG treatment needs further evaluation in a larger group of patients.
Price versus quantity in a duopoly with network externalities under active and passive expectations
Authors: Nakamura Yasuhiko
Published: August 2020

This study examines the endogenous choice of strategic contracts in a duopoly composed of firms that produce goods with network externalities with some sort of compatibility. We adopt two types of expectations—active and passive—as consumers' expectations for each firm's equilibrium market share. In addition, we take into account the managerial case and entrepreneurial case with and without separation between ownership and management, as firms' internal structures. We derive the properties in the Cournot competition and the Bertrand competition as the equilibrium market structures under both passive and active expectations under imperfectly compatibility of networks.
Application of bile acids for biomedical devices and sensors
Authors: Baker Kayla , Sikkema Rebecca , Zhitomirsky Igor
Published: August 2020

The objective of this mini‐review is to describe the recent advances and applications of bile acids (BAs) for manufacturing biomedical devices and sensors. The biological origin and unique multifunctional properties of BAs are key factors for novel biomedical applications. BAs are used for solubilization of drugs and the development of advanced devices for controlled drug delivery. BAs outperform many commercial dispersants in the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and hydrophobic polymers. They also exhibit unique gel‐forming and film‐forming properties, which are used for the development of biosensors and functionalization of implant materials. Especially important is the possibility of bile acid gel synthesis for controlled release of drugs and other functional molecules. Electrodeposition of BAs films and composites is emerging as a new area of technological interest. The discovery of BAs mediating the biomineralization phenomena allows the development of biomedical implants with enhanced bioactivity and biocompatibility. Bile acids are used as efficient biocompatible reducing and capping agents for the synthesis of inorganic particles and their functionalization for application in biosensors and antimicrobial coatings. The progress in the modification of biopolymers with BAs and development of BAs derivatives paves the way for the fabrication of advanced implants and sensors.
Heat shock protein 60 and cardiovascular diseases: An intricate love‐hate story
Authors: Krishnan‐Sivadoss Indumathi , Mijares‐Rojas Iván A. , Villarreal‐Leal Ramiro A. , Torre‐Amione Guillermo , Knowlton Anne A. , Guerrero‐Beltrán C. Enrique
Published: August 2020

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the result of complex pathophysiological processes in the tissues comprising the heart and blood vessels. Inflammation is the main culprit for the development of cardiovascular dysfunction, and it may be traced to cellular stress events including apoptosis, oxidative and shear stress, and cellular and humoral immune responses, all of which impair the system's structure and function. An intracellular chaperone, heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is an intriguing example of a protein that may both be an ally and a foe for cardiovascular homeostasis; on one hand providing protection against cellular injury, and on the other triggering damaging responses through innate and adaptive immunity. In this review we will discuss the functions of HSP60 and its effects on cells and the immune system regulation, only to later address its implications in the development and progression of CVD. Lastly, we summarize the outcome of various studies targeting HSP60 as a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular and other diseases.
Novel heterozygous truncating titin variants affecting the A‐band are associated with cardiomyopathy and myopathy/muscular dystrophy
Authors: Rich Kelly A. , Moscarello Tia , Siskind Carly , Brock Guy , Tan Christopher A. , Vatta Matteo , Winder Thomas L. , Elsheikh Bakri , Vicini Leah , Tucker Brianna , Palettas Marilly , Hershberger Ray E. , Kissel John T. , Morales Ana , Roggenbuck Jennifer
Published: August 2020

Background

Variants in TTN are frequently identified in the genetic evaluation of skeletal myopathy or cardiomyopathy. However, due to the high frequency of TTN variants in the general population, incomplete penetrance, and limited understanding of the spectrum of disease, interpretation of TTN variants is often difficult for laboratories and clinicians. Currently, cardiomyopathy is associated with heterozygous A‐band TTN variants, whereas skeletal myopathy is largely associated with homozygous or compound heterozygous TTN variants. Recent reports show pathogenic variants in TTN may result in a broader phenotypic spectrum than previously recognized.

Methods

Here we report the results of a multisite study that characterized the phenotypes of probands with variants in TTN. We investigated TTN genotype‐phenotype correlations in probands with skeletal myopathy and/or cardiomyopathy. Probands with TTN truncating variants (TTNtv) or pathogenic missense variants were ascertained from two academic medical centers. Variants were identified via clinical genetic testing and reviewed according to the American College of Medical Genetics criteria. Clinical and family history data were documented via retrospective chart review. Family studies were performed for probands with atypical phenotypes.

Results

Forty‐nine probands were identified with TTNtv or pathogenic missense variants. Probands were classified by clinical presentation: cardiac (n = 30), skeletal muscle (n = 12), or both (cardioskeletal, n = 7). Within the cardioskeletal group, 5/7 probands had heterozygous TTNtv predicted to affect the distal (3’) end of the A‐band. All cardioskeletal probands had onset of proximal‐predominant muscle weakness before diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, five pedigrees support dominant transmission.

Conclusion

Although heterozygous TTNtv in the A‐band is known to cause dilated cardiomyopathy, we present evidence that these variants may in some cases cause a novel, dominant skeletal myopathy with a limb‐girdle pattern of weakness. These findings emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary care for patients with A‐band TTNtv who may be at risk for multisystem disease.
Global synchronization of fractional‐order and integer‐order N component reaction diffusion systems: Application to biochemical models
Authors: Mesdoui Fatiha , Shawagfeh Nabil , Ouannas Adel
Published: August 2020

This study considers the problem of control and synchronization between fractional‐order and integer‐order, N‐components reaction‐diffusion systems with nonidentical coefficients and different nonlinear parts. The control scheme is designed using the Lyapunov direct method. The results are exemplified by two significant biochemical models, namely, the fractional‐order Lengyel‐Epstein model and the Gray‐Scott model. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, numerical simulations are performed in one and two space dimensions using Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM).
Low‐power inductorless wideband SFBB balun low noise amplifier with noise reduction and third‐order transconductance optimization
Authors: Tiwari Shashank , Mukherjee Jayanta
Published: August 2020

This article presents an inductorless wideband balun low noise amplifier (LNA), which uses noise reduction and linearity optimization techniques at low supply voltages. The proposed self forward body biased LNA uses inverter type amplifier structure as input stage for impedance matching while output stages are noise reduction stages, which partially cancel the noise of the input stage. In addition to noise reduction, transistors are biased near‐zero third‐order transconductance region to maximize third‐order input‐referred intercept point (IIP3) performance at low supply voltages. The LNA, implemented in 180 nm RFCMOS technology, is evaluated at 1 and 0.9 V supply voltages to show low voltage operation. It shows a maximum voltage gain of 19.7 dB with a minimum noise figure of 2.7 dB and a maximum 3‐dB bandwidth that spans from 300 MHz to 1.83 GHz. The minimum achieved IIP3 at 0.9 V supply voltage is −1.7 dBm. The circuit draws a maximum current of 10.36 mA from 1 V power supply and occupies an area of 0.08 mm2.
Resistance‐loaded miniaturized dual‐layer Vivaldi antenna for plasma reflection diagnosis
Authors: Zhao Chengwei , Li Xiaoping , Yang Min , Sun Chao
Published: August 2020

An ultra‐wideband (UWB) resistance‐loaded Vivaldi antenna is proposed in this letter. The antenna is in the form of a dual‐layer Vivaldi, sandwiching the feeding strip in the middle, thus avoiding excessive interference to the feeding strip and the H‐plane pattern is more symmetrical. By adding 100‐Ω resistors to Vivaldi, the impedance characteristics of the low frequency can be significantly improved. In addition, by the introduction of serrate on the Vivaldi, the current path can be changed, which improves the pattern and increases the gain. To verify the design, the antenna substrate plate was processed and measured with the size of 0.5λL × 0.36λL, where λL is the wavelength of the low frequency. From the measured results, the proposed antenna achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 8:1 from 2.0 to 16.3 GHz with a return loss more than 10 dB. Moreover, the measured gain of the antenna is 4 to 11 dBi, and the radiation pattern is very stable over the entire frequency bandwidth.
Compact MIMO antenna using stepped impedance resonator‐based metasurface for 5G and WIFI applications
Authors: Wang Zhan , Dong Yuandan
Published: August 2020

A compact metasurface‐based multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna using the stepped impedance resonator (SIR) for 5G and WIFI applications is investigated in this article. The SIR patch unit‐cells are periodically etched on the two sides of a thin PCB substrate. As a result, the metal‐insulator‐metal (MIM) capacitor as the series left‐hand (LH) capacitor is introduced into the right‐handed transmission line (RH‐TL). Besides, the RH inductor could be easily adjusted through the SIR patch. Based on the dispersion relation of the metamaterial‐inspired SIR TL, a compact metasurface antenna is proposed and analyzed. A 3‐cell MIMO antenna with a reduced oversize of 0.48 λ0 × 1.34 λ0 × 0.05 λ0 (with λ0 being the free‐wavelength at 4.7 GHz.) for WIFI application is proposed and fabricated. Good agreement between measurement and simulation has been observed. Wide impedance bandwidth (covering 4.68‐5.75 GHz, 20.5%) and good isolation (all below −25 dB) are achieved. The measured peak gain and radiation efficiency are greater than 7.8 dBi and 90%, respectively. Owing to a compact antenna configuration, wide bandwidth (covering both 5G sub‐6GHz and WIFI bands), good radiation performance, and an easy fabrication process, this antenna is well suited for 5G or/and 5 GHz WIFI application in the base station.
86 to 94GHzlow lossCMOSbalanced resistive mixer using an asymmetric broadside coupler and delay lines
Authors: Kim Jihoon
Published: August 2020

An 86 to 94 GHz balanced resistive mixer (BRM) is presented using a 65 nm complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) process. We minimize parasitic losses which are serious at high frequency by adopting symmetric transistor structures. A low loss 180° hybrid is implemented using an asymmetric broadside coupler and delay lines. This allows low‐loss implementation of 86 to 94 GHz BRMs, which represent a conversion loss of 10.3 to 13.0 dB from 86 to 94 GHz of RF frequencies. The balanced designs produce LO‐to‐RF isolations of 32 to 36 dB from 87 to 93 GHz. The proposed CMOS BRM shows competitive results when compared to GaAs‐ or InP‐based balanced resistive mixers having moderate LO power requirements.
Observational study on the evaluation of quality of life in patients affected by enteropathic spondyloarthritis
Authors: Chimenti Maria Sole , Conigliaro Paola , Polistena Barbara , Triggianese Paola , D'Antonio Arianna , Neri Benedetto , Sena Giorgia , Spandonaro Federico , Biancone Livia , Perricone Roberto
Published: August 2020

Background

Enteropathic spondyloarthritis (ESpA) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have high impact on physical and psychological health but health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) has never been evaluated in ESpA patients.

Purpose

Cross‐sectional multidisciplinary study was performed to evaluate HRQoL, state of health, and well‐being in IBD and ESpA patients.

Methods

Consecutive IBD and ESpA outpatients were enrolled. Disease activity, inflammatory parameters, function, and quality of life (EuroQol questionnaire) were assessed at visit time and compared with 12 months ago.

Results

Two hundred fifty‐three IBD patients were evaluated. Ninety‐five patients met inclusion criteria. ESpA was established in 65.3% IBD patients. Most ESpA patients had discreet or good health perception (65.3% and 22.5%, respectively), similar to IBD group (64.6% and 20.7%, respectively). In both groups, no patients had exceptional state of general well‐being. Compared with previous 12 months, ESpA group showed improved state of health in 12% of patients, worsening in 28% and stable state of health in 60%. Similar results were obtained in IBD group. Emotional and psychological problems (anxiety, depression, and feeling of loneliness and isolation) were reported: In ESpA patients, these feelings were observed in 58.1%, 40.57%, and 29% of cases, respectively; IBD patients showed slightly lower percentage. More than half of ESpA and IBD patients reported an embarrassment about their condition and worry about disease's future progression and physical pain.

Conclusions

Well‐being, quality of life, and psychological problems were described in ESpA and IBD patients. Disease management should include also social, mental, and psychological impacts, in terms of QoL.
Adaptive importance sampling for extreme quantile estimation with stochastic black box computer models
Authors: Pan Qiyun , Byon Eunshin , Ko Young Myoung , Lam Henry
Published: August 2020

Quantile is an important quantity in reliability analysis, as it is related to the resistance level for defining failure events. This study develops a computationally efficient sampling method for estimating extreme quantiles using stochastic black box computer models. Importance sampling has been widely employed as a powerful variance reduction technique to reduce estimation uncertainty and improve computational efficiency in many reliability studies. However, when applied to quantile estimation, importance sampling faces challenges, because a good choice of the importance sampling density relies on information about the unknown quantile. We propose an adaptive method that refines the importance sampling density parameter toward the unknown target quantile value along the iterations. The proposed adaptive scheme allows us to use the simulation outcomes obtained in previous iterations for steering the simulation process to focus on important input areas. We prove some convergence properties of the proposed method and show that our approach can achieve variance reduction over crude Monte Carlo sampling. We demonstrate its estimation efficiency through numerical examples and wind turbine case study.
Diffusion tensor distribution imaging of an in vivo mouse brain at ultrahigh magnetic field by spatiotemporal encoding
Authors: Yon Maxime , de Almeida Martins João P. , Bao Qingjia , Budde Matthew D. , Frydman Lucio , Topgaard Daniel
Published: August 2020

Diffusion tensor distribution (DTD) imaging builds on principles from diffusion, solid‐state and low‐field NMR spectroscopies, to quantify the contents of heterogeneous voxels as nonparametric distributions, with tensor “size”, “shape” and orientation having direct relations to corresponding microstructural properties of biological tissues. The approach requires the acquisition of multiple images as a function of the magnitude, shape and direction of the diffusion‐encoding gradients, leading to long acquisition times unless fast image read‐out techniques like EPI are employed. While in previous in vivo human brain studies performed at 3 T this proved a viable option, porting these measurements to very high magnetic fields and/or to heterogeneous organs induces B0‐ and B1‐inhomogeneity artifacts that challenge the limits of EPI. To overcome such challenges, we demonstrate here that high spatial resolution DTD of mouse brain can be carried out at 15.2 T with a surface‐cryoprobe, by relying on SPatiotemporal ENcoding (SPEN) imaging sequences. These new acquisition and data‐processing protocols are demonstrated with measurements on in vivo mouse brain, and validated with synthetic phantoms designed to mimic the diffusion properties of white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid. While still in need of full extensions to 3D mappings and of scanning additional animals to extract more general physiological conclusions, this work represents another step towards the model‐free, noninvasive in vivo characterization of tissue microstructure and heterogeneity in animal models, at ≈0.1 mm resolutions.
Application of enhanced recovery after surgery in total knee arthroplasty in patients with haemophilia A: A pilot study
Authors: Wu Yan , Xue Haipeng , Zhang Wenqiang , Wu Yuhong , Yang Yanwei , Ji Hong
Published: August 2020

Aim

To identify the effect of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and rapid rehabilitation concepts on the outcomes of patients with haemophilia A undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Methods

The primary endpoint was postoperative hospital stay. The secondary endpoints were pain scores, joint function scores, haemoglobin levels at 3 and 7 days after surgery and satisfaction with hospitalization.

Results

Thirty‐two patients were enrolled. Compared with the routine nursing group, the ERAS group showed shorter postoperative hospital stay (14.2 SD 0.8 vs. 16.6 ± 1.3 days, p < .001), smaller amounts of blood transfusion (924 SD 317 vs. 1,263 SD 449 ml, p = .020) and coagulation factors (37,325 SD 5,996 vs. 48,475 SD 8,019 U, p < .001), lower pain scores at 3 (3.3 SD 0.7 vs. 4.3 SD 0.7, p = .002) and 7 (2.3 SD 0.7 vs. 2.8 ± 0.5, p = .015) days, lower hospital for special surgery knee scores at 3 (59.9 SD 7.8 vs. 53.6 SD 5.9, p = .016) and 7 (77.9 SD 6.9 vs. 71.1 ± 7.1, p = .009) days and higher satisfaction with hospitalization (94.3 SD 1.4 vs. 92.7 SD 1.6, p = .004).
An efficient spectral method and rigorous error analysis based on dimension reduction scheme for fourth order problems
Authors: Li Lan , An Jing
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we propose an effective spectral method based on dimension reduction scheme for fourth order problems in polar geometric domains. First, the original problem is decomposed into a series of one‐dimensional fourth order problems by polar coordinate transformation and the orthogonal properties of Fourier basis function. Then the weak form and the corresponding discrete scheme of each one‐dimensional fourth order problem are derived by introducing polar conditions and appropriate weighted Sobolev spaces. In addition, we define the projection operators in the weighted Sobolev space and give its approximation properties, and further prove the error estimation of each one‐dimensional fourth order problem. Finally, we provide some numerical examples, and the numerical results show the effectiveness of our algorithm and the correctness of the theoretical results.
Nonrespiratory Complications and Obesity in Patients Dying with COVID‐19 in Italy
Authors: Onder Graziano , Palmieri Luigi , Vanacore Nicola , Giuliano Marina , Brusaferro Silvio ,   the Italian National Institute of Health COVID‐19 Mortality Group
Published: August 2020

Objective

This study aimed to assess the impact of obesity on nonrespiratory complications in patients dying with coronavirus disease (COVID‐19).

Methods

Medical charts of 3,694 of patients dying with COVID‐19 in Italy were reviewed to extract information on demographics, preexisting comorbidities, and in‐hospital complications leading to death. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the association of obesity with nonrespiratory complications. These analyses were adjusted for age, gender, and number of preexisting comorbidities.

Results

Obesity was present in 411/3,694 (11.1%) patients dying with COVID‐19. Obesity was significantly associated with increased probability of experiencing acute renal failure (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI: 1.04‐1.71) and shock (adjusted OR, 1.54; 95% CI: 1.19‐1.99). The associations of obesity with acute renal failure and shock were stronger in patients aged < 60 years (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI: 1.09‐3.67 and OR, 2.37; 95% CI 1.29‐4.36) than in those aged 60 years or older (adjusted OR, 1.20; 95% CI: 0.90‐1.60 and OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 0.91‐1.65).

Conclusions

In patients dying with COVID‐19 in Italy, obesity is associated with an increased probability of nonrespiratory complications, particularly shock and acute renal failure. These associations seem stronger in younger than in older adults. Strategies should be put in place in patients with COVID‐19 with obesity to prevent these complications.
Validated methods for identifying individuals with obesity in health care administrative databases: A systematic review
Authors: Samadoulougou Sékou , Idzerda Leanne , Dault Roxane , Lebel Alexandre , Cloutier Anne‐Marie , Vanasse Alain
Published: August 2020

Background

Health care administrative databases are increasingly used for health studies and public health surveillance. Cases of individuals with obesity are selected using case‐identification methods. However, the validity of these methods is fragmentary and particularly challenging for obesity case identification.

Objective

The objectives of this systematic review are to (1) determine the case‐identification methods used to identify individuals with obesity in health care administrative databases and (2) to summarize the validity of these case‐identification methods when compared with a reference standard.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in six bibliographic databases for the period January 1980 to June 2019 for all studies evaluating obesity case‐identification methods compared with a reference standard.

Results

Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria. International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes were the only case‐identification method utilized in selected articles. The performance of obesity‐identification methods varied widely across studies, with positive predictive value ranging from 19% to 100% while sensitivity ranged from 3% to 92%. The sensitivity of these methods was usually low while the specificity was higher.

Conclusion

When obesity is reported in health care administrative databases, it is usually correctly reported; however, obesity tends to be highly underreported in databases. Therefore, case‐identification methods to monitor the prevalence and incidence of obesity within health care administrative databases are not reliable. In contrast, the use of these methods remains relevant for the selection of individuals with obesity for cohort studies, particularly when identifying cohorts of individuals with severe obesity or cohorts where obesity is associated with comorbidities.
Ambidextrous leadership and change‐oriented organizational citizenship behavior: Mediating role of psychological safety
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Ghazanfar Faheem , Hameed Filza , Mujtaba Ghulam , Swati Mudassar Anwar
Published: August 2020

The study aims to empirically test the role of ambidextrous leadership on change‐oriented organizational citizenship behavior through psychological safety (PS). The role of leadership is important in cultivating employee's creative behavior. To test our hypothesized model, we have collected data from the textile industry of Pakistan in which 175 leader‐follower dyads were selected as sample. The data were collected in two‐time lags to avoid social desirability bias. Causal attribution theory was used to test the model and structural equation modeling has been used for data analysis. We have found full mediation of PS in the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and change‐oriented organizational citizenship behavior. Theoretical and managerial implications along with limitations and future direction are discussed.
The impact of technological capability on manufacturing companies: A review
Authors: Al‐Mamary Yaser H. S. , Abdulrab Mohammed , Alwaheeb Mohammed A. , Shamsuddin Alina , Jazim Fawaz
Published: August 2020

Building technological capability (TC) is a long‐term process that must be planned carefully to achieve the desired results. Therefore, companies should increase their effort to maintain technological interactions with other companies and gain competitive advantages. This study aims to review the literature in the field of TC and provide a conceptual framework that highlights the relationship among TC, competitive advantage and manufacturing performance. After reviewing the literature, the researcher found that TC plays an important role in achieving competitive advantage for any company and improving the performance of companies. In addition, most previous studies have focused on TC in manufacturing companies probably due to the fact that manufacturing is currently an extremely important industry in the economy of most countries. TC strongly participates in the production and operation sectors, which are the cornerstones of every manufacturing company. Focusing on TC will play a role in developing the performance of manufacturing companies while gaining competitive advantages and maintaining commercial success in domestic and international markets.
Attaining circular economy through business sustainability approach: An integrative review and research agenda
Authors: Bansal Sanchita , Jain Mansi , Garg Isha , Srivastava Mrinalini
Published: August 2020

In this systematic review, the concept of the circular economy deals with much rigor to gain insights from the viewpoint of business sustainability. The ambivalent nature of the circular economy and business sustainability has led the authors to examine 142 papers from the Web of Science database for review. This study intends to provide a clear understanding of the circular economy concept through the lens of business sustainability. We synthesize the literature in a concrete form for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by presenting a thematic framework. Based on the systematic review, key findings outlining trends and a reflection about the interface of the circular economy principles systematically and categorically identified nine business processes. Based on the analysis, key findings highlight on (a) addressing the synergy between the circular economy principles and business sustainability at the nine categorized business processes, as a systemic and holistic process; (b) future studies to work on developing tools and techniques to effectively measure the practical applicability in integrating the circular economy principles with the business strategies and models, including research methods like empirical research, action, and longitudinal research; and (c) the need to develop approaches and strategies to engage customers and other company stakeholders with the circular business processes adopted. We contribute to the existing body of knowledge by identifying future research agendas to advance in the concerned field of study consistently.
Do firms with environmental concerns give better performance: A systematic literature review
Authors: Bansal Sanchita , Garg Isha , Yadav Anshita
Published: August 2020

The extant literature has examined the role of environmental management practices on performance of the firms. The present study aims to provide a clear understanding of the research into the field using a systematic review methodology using a bibliographic database that is, “Web of Science” within the period 1990–2019. The descriptive findings present the journals in which the research papers are published, the countries where the research took place and the industrial sectors that the reviewed papers have covered. The paper contributes significantly to the existing literature and provides future research agendas in the area. This paper presents an integrated framework consisting of pressures on management decisions, environmental management strategies and performance by various stakeholders. Larger sample could be taken to study the relationship so as to generalize the findings. More comprehensive approach needs to be taken taking into account all the potential variables to eliminate omitted variable bias.
What drives innovation in micro, small, and medium enterprises?
Authors: Kaur Navneet , Kaur Parneet
Published: August 2020

Based on 9,281 firm‐level survey data on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India, this study investigates the firm‐level characteristics, that is, finance, competition, and human capital on innovation. The proxy for innovation is: if the firm has introduced a new product in the market, introduced a new process in the organization, made some changes in the organization structure, or introduced a new marketing method. We find that firms, spending money on formal research and giving time to employees to innovate, have a higher number of competitors, sell at a national level, and have access to overdraft facilities are associated with higher firm innovation. We rely on firm‐level survey data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) for this study.
Studying human–nature relationships through a network lens: A systematic review
Authors: Kluger Lotta C. , Gorris Philipp , Kochalski Sophia , Mueller Miriam S. , Romagnoni Giovanni
Published: August 2020

Understanding the complex interlinkages between humans and nature is crucial for developing strategies to effectively manage natural resources and to enhance resilience of social–ecological systems (SES). Network analysis bears great potential to advance such comprehension of SESs because it allows for identifying and analysing direct and indirect relationships and processes. As a result, the number of network studies in social–ecological research has rapidly grown over the last decade.

This work systematizes existing network approaches for analysing human–nature relationships based on the level of integration of both the social and ecological realms in the network conceptualization.

A structured inductive review of existing empirical network studies exploring a wide range of phenomena at the human–nature interface was conducted, resulting in 138 studies falling into three proposed categories. We examine their network conceptualization and means of analysis, and discuss challenges and potentials of each of the three categories in empirical research.

The study highlights the diversity and creativity with which distinct social and ecological entities are defined to enable the use of a variety of network analytical approaches in SES research.

Demonstrating the increasing recognition of network analysis to describe human–nature relationships since the early 2000s and providing an overview of the many useful conceptual and methodological approaches, this article contributes to systematizing the existing studies and provides practical guidance for network research to help disentangling complex SES.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Electrospun captopril‐loadedPCL‐carbon quantum dots nanocomposite scaffold: Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro studies
Authors: Ghorghi Mina , Rafienia Mohammad , Nasirian Vahid , Bitaraf Fatemeh S. , Gharravi Anneh M. , Zarrabi Ali
Published: August 2020

Electrospinning as an effective and accessible method is known to yield scaffolds with desired physical, chemical, and biological properties for tissue engineering. In the present study, captopril (CP)‐loaded polycaprolactone (PCL)/carbon quantum dots (CQDs) nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated for bone tissue regeneration. The microstructure and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity ratio of scaffolds were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and wettability test, respectively. The results showed that the presence of CQDs and CP in the scaffolds decreased the fiber diameter (1180 ± 281.5‐345 ± 110 nm) and also it led to an increase in the surface hydrophilicity (137°‐0°) of scaffolds. Evaluation of the scaffolds' functional groups was performed using Attenuated Total Reflectance‐Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The ultimate tensile strength of scaffolds was in the range of 6.86 ± 0.00 to 22.09 ± 0.06 MPa. Distribution of CQDs in the scaffolds' fibers was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and fluorescent spectrometer. The cell viability, attachment, proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of scaffolds were assessed in vitro. Based on the overall results, the scaffold containing CQDs and CP led to a significant increase in the cells' proliferation and ALP activity. Therefore, the PCL/CQDs/CP is recommended as a potential nanocomposite scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.
Features of increased malignancy in eosinophilic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Nilsson Helén , Lindgren David , Axelson Håkan , Brueffer Christian , Saal Lao H , Lundgren Jaana , Johansson Martin E
Published: August 2020

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common form of renal cancer. Due to inactivation of the von Hippel–Lindau tumour suppressor, the hypoxia‐inducible transcription factors (HIFs) are constitutively activated in these tumours, resulting in a pseudo‐hypoxic phenotype. The HIFs induce the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and cell survival, but they also reset the cellular metabolism to protect cells from oxygen and nutrient deprivation. ccRCC tumours are highly vascularized and the cytoplasm of the cancer cells is filled with lipid droplets and glycogen, resulting in the histologically distinctive pale (clear) cytoplasm. Intratumoural heterogeneity may occur, and in some tumours, areas with granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm are found. Little is known regarding these traits and how they relate to the coexistent clear cell component, yet eosinophilic ccRCC is associated with higher grade and clinically more aggressive tumours. In this study, we have for the first time performed RNA sequencing comparing histologically verified clear cell and eosinophilic areas from ccRCC tissue, aiming to analyse the characteristics of these cell types. Findings from RNA sequencing were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of biphasic ccRCC. We found that the eosinophilic phenotype displayed a higher proliferative drive and lower differentiation, and we confirmed a correlation to tumours of higher stage. We further identified mutations of the tumour suppressor p53 (TP53) exclusively in the eosinophilic ccRCC component, where mTORC1 activity was also elevated. Also, eosinophilic areas were less vascularized, yet harboured more abundant infiltrating immune cells. The cytoplasm of clear cell ccRCC cells was filled with lipids but had very low mitochondrial content, while the reverse was found in eosinophilic tissue. We herein suggest possible transcriptional mechanisms behind these phenomena. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.