bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DC traction power substation using eighteen-pulse rectifier transformer system
Authors: Toh Chuen Ling , Tan Chee Wei
Published: December 2021

Twelve-pulse rectification system had been widely integrated in today’s DC traction power sub-station (DC-TPSS). This configuration had successfully mitigated low order harmonic distortion. As some research findings had confirmed that the dc voltage and current ripple factors may further minimize by increasing the number of rectification pulses to 18, 24, or 36. This paper had presented a simulation study to investigate the prospect of implementing an eighteen-pulse rectification system in a DC-TPSS. The theory of phase-shifting transformer used to produce an 18-pulse rectifier is presented with simulation verification. Simulation result shows that 3.69% of grid current distortion index is recorded without installing any filters. In addition, the dc voltage and current ripple may also be further reduced for about 30% compared to a conventional twelve-pulse rectification system.
Enhancing performance of grid-connected photovoltaic systems based on three-phase five-level cascaded inverter
Authors: Ahmad Marwan E. , Numan Ali. H. , Mahmood Dhari Y.
Published: December 2021

Multilevel inverters play an important role in power converters due to their good advantages. The cascaded H-bridge inverter is one of the most prominent and most suitable multilevel inverters in PV systems. Each H-bridge has a separate photovoltaic (PV) array as an independent direct current (DC) source. This paper introduces a three-phase cascaded H-bridge inverter with five levels connected to the grid to improve the performance and efficiency of the photovoltaic system. In the proposed system, each PV group has MPPT to extract the maximum power point from the PV group at certain irradiation and temperature and also to mitigate the mismatch that causes in the imbalance transmitted power from inverter to the main grid. The proposed control scheme with modulation compensation was used, and the system was simulated in MATLAB/Simulink with two different scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed connection in minimizing the total harmonic distortion (THD) to acceptable limit, low overshoot, and fast-tracking to the desired value.
A new direct current circuit breaker with current regeneration capability
Authors: Lumen S. M. Sanzad , Kannan Ramani , Yahaya Nor Zaihar
Published: December 2021

Direct current (DC) power systems are becoming very popular due to better control ability and equipment reliability thanks to the continuous development of power electronics. A DC circuit breaker (DCCB) used for current interruption in a DC network is a major part of the system. It plays the vital role of isolating networks during fault clearing as well as during normal load switching. Breaking the DC current is a major challenge as it does not have any natural zero crossing points like the AC current has. In addition, energy stored in the network inductances during normal operation opposes the instantaneous current breaking. Hence, all the conventional DC circuit breaker topologies use lossy elements to dissipate this stored energy as heat during the current breaking operation. However, it is possible to store this energy and reuse it later by developing an improvised topology. In this paper, the prospects of energy recovery and reuse in DC circuit breakers have been studied, and a new topology with regenerative current breaking capability has been proposed. This new topology can feed the stored energy of the network back into the same network after breaking the current and thus can improve the overall system efficiency.
Enhanced controller for a four-leg inverter operating in a stand-alone microgrid with unbalanced loads
Authors: Ayoubi Effat , Miveh Mohammad Reza , Ghadimi Ali Asghar , Bagheri Sajad
Published: December 2021

Stand-alone low voltage (LV) microgrids supplying small local loads far from the utility grid are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to a total reliance on the centralized utility grid. In most of LV microgrids, three-phase four-wire distribution systems are used to supply both single- and three-phase loads. Unequal distribution of loads can result in voltage unbalance problems. The use of the four-leg inverter is one of the best solutions for providing a neutral current path and compensating unbalanced load conditions in stand-alone LV microgrids. This paper proposes a fast control technique to compensate unbalanced voltage conditions for a four-leg inverter operating in a stand-alone LV microgrid. The suggested technique provides the current controller’s orthogonal component without introducing any additional dynamics or distortions. The major benefits of the recommended per-phase control technique over conventional orthogonal signal generation (OSG) methods are enhanced steady-state and dynamic performances as well as independency to the system parameters. Several simulation results are provided to confirm the superior performance of the suggested methods.
Improving the performance of photovoltaic module during partial shading using ANN
Authors: Hashim Hadi Fakhir , Kareem Marwah M. , Al-Azzawi Waleed Khalid , Ali Adnan H.
Published: December 2021

Photovoltaic (PV) panels have drawback of having their peak power reduced when clouds or shade are present. Furthermore, it is only available while the sun shine. Nearby structures, plants, bird droppings, and other obstacles shade operating photovoltaic (PV) devices, effectively reducing the incident solar radiation produced by the modules. When these PV panels are exposed to partial shading, their power efficiency is reduced. A neural network with a kind of artificial neural network is used in the suggested hybrid method (ANN). The key focus of this article is to use environmental effects dependent on partial shading to get the maximum performance from a solar system. The suggested hybrid solution is tested in the MATLAB/Simulink working platform using partial shading test cases, and the efficiency is compared to other approaches. Additionally, the best options for the suggested procedure, current, voltage, and power are examined.
Ischemic-Trained Monocytes Improve Arteriogenesis in a Mouse Model of Hindlimb Ischemia
Authors: Falero-Diaz Gustavo , Barboza Catarina de A. , Pires Felipe , Fanchin Maeva , Ling Jingjing , Zigmond Zachary M. , Griswold Anthony J. , Martinez Laisel , Vazquez-Padron Roberto I. , Velazquez Omaida C. , Lassance-Soares Roberta M.
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Monocytes, which play an important role in arteriogenesis, can build immunologic memory by a functional reprogramming that modifies their response to a second challenge. This process, called trained immunity, is evoked by insults that shift monocyte metabolism, increasing HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor)-1α levels. Since ischemia enhances HIF-1α, we evaluate whether ischemia can lead to a functional reprogramming of monocytes, which would contribute to arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischemia.

Methods and Results:

Mice exposed to ischemia by 24 hours (24h) of femoral artery occlusion (24h trained) or sham were subjected to hindlimb ischemia one week later; the 24h trained mice showed significant improvement in blood flow recovery and arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischemia. Adoptive transfer using bone marrow-derived monocytes (BM-Mono) from 24h trained or sham donor mice, demonstrated that recipients subjected to hindlimb ischemia who received 24h ischemic-trained monocytes had remarkable blood flow recovery and arteriogenesis. Further, ischemic-trained BM-Mono had increased HIF-1α and GLUT-1 (glucose transporter-1) gene expression during femoral artery occlusion. Circulating cytokines and GLUT-1 were also upregulated during femoral artery occlusion.Transcriptomic analysis and confirmatory qPCR performed in 24h trained and sham BM-Mono revealed that among the 15 top differentially expressed genes, 4 were involved in lipid metabolism in the ischemic-trained monocytes. Lipidomic analysis confirmed that ischemia training altered the cholesterol metabolism of these monocytes. Further, several histone-modifying epigenetic enzymes measured by qPCR were altered in mouse BM-Mono exposed to 24h hypoxia.

Conclusions:

Ischemia training in BM-Mono leads to a unique gene profile and improves blood flow and arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischemia.
2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines
Authors: Lawton Jennifer S. , Tamis-Holland Jacqueline E. , Bangalore Sripal , Bates Eric R. , Beckie Theresa M. , Bischoff James M. , Bittl John A. , Cohen Mauricio G. , DiMaio J. Michael , Don Creighton W. , Fremes Stephen E. , Gaudino Mario F. , Goldberger Zachary D. , Grant Michael C. , Jaswal Jang B. , Kurlansky Paul A. , Mehran Roxana , Metkus Thomas S. , Nnacheta Lorraine C. , Rao Sunil V. , Sellke Frank W. , Sharma Garima , Yong Celina M. , Zwischenberger Brittany A.
Published: December 2021

Aim:

The executive summary of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions coronary artery revascularization guideline provides the top 10 items readers should know about the guideline. In the full guideline, the recommendations replace the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery guideline and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines. This summary offers a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization, as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2019 to September 2019, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, CINHL Complete, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2021, were also considered.

Structure:

Recommendations from the earlier percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft surgery guidelines have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians in caring for patients undergoing coronary revascularization. This summary includes recommendations, tables, and figures from the full guideline that relate to the top 10 take-home messages. The reader is referred to the full guideline for graphical flow charts, supportive text, and tables with additional details about the rationale for and implementation of each recommendation, and the evidence tables detailing the data considered in the development of this guideline.
Crime, Security, and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Political Ecologies of International Conservation
Authors: Duffy Rosaleen
Published: December 2021

This article takes a political ecology approach to understanding the integration of conservation with security in tackling the illegal wildlife trade. It builds on political ecology debates on militarization by connecting it to the dynamics of global environmental politics, specifically the discursive and material support from donors, governments, and conservation nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The combined effects of a highly competitive funding environment and security concerns of governments has produced a context in which NGOs strategically invoke the idea of the illegal wildlife trade as a security threat. For donors and governments, tackling the illegal wildlife trade is a means through which they can address security threats. However, this has material outcomes for marginalized peoples living with wildlife, including militarization, human rights abuses, enhanced surveillance, and law enforcement.
Model Compression for Domain Adaptation through Causal Effect Estimation
Authors: Rotman Guy , Feder Amir , Reichart Roi
Published: December 2021

Recent improvements in the predictive quality of natural language processing systems are often dependent on a substantial increase in the number of model parameters. This has led to various attempts of compressing such models, but existing methods have not considered the differences in the predictive power of various model components or in the generalizability of the compressed models. To understand the connection between model compression and out-of-distribution generalization, we define the task of compressing language representation models such that they perform best in a domain adaptation setting. We choose to address this problem from a causal perspective, attempting to estimate the average treatment effect (ATE) of a model component, such as a single layer, on the model’s predictions. Our proposed ATE-guided Model Compression scheme (AMoC), generates many model candidates, differing by the model components that were removed. Then, we select the best candidate through a stepwise regression model that utilizes the ATE to predict the expected performance on the target domain. AMoC outperforms strong baselines on dozens of domain pairs across three text classification and sequence tagging tasks.1
How a “Hunt for Homosexuals” in 1987 Ultimately Contributed to a Real Change in Emancipation for Gay Men Serving in the Armed Forces of the Netherlands
Authors: Müller Jaus
Published: December 2021

In 1974, the Netherlands became the first country in the world that no longer forbade gay men from joining the military. It took other Western countries much longer to do the same. From the outside, therefore, it looked as though the liberal country of the Netherlands took a leading position in 1974 regarding the inclusion of people with different sexual orientations in the military. That does not mean, however, that gay service members had an easy time after 1974. The situation hardly changed for the better. This article argues that the dominant view of the Netherlands as a liberal country that was the first to allow gay people into the army in 1974 is in need of revision.
Dropping the Base: Why Does Follis Production at Constantinople Appear to Cease for 24 Years between 842–866?
Authors: Vrij Maria
Published: December 2021

This article considers a period of Byzantine numismatic history where production at its main mint, in Constantinople, appears to cease altogether for at least 24 years, and arguably 26 or more years. It almost needs no stating that this is extraordinarily unusual in the numismatic record, and yet the topic has never been covered in more than a paragraph before. In this article, based upon my paper of the same title given to the International Congress of Byzantine Studies in Nicosia in January 2020, I will explore the problem, setting it in its historical context and contrasting this cessation with others that scholars are aware of. I will argue that the pause in production was not accidental and can neither be explained in the context of the monetary contraction of the late seventh to early ninth centuries, nor by archaeological quirk. Rather, I will contend that this apparent cessation was a deliberate policy of the Empress Theodora and the regency council for Michael III, and that its subsequent continuation under the Caesar Bardas was perhaps more incidental, until the coronation of Basil brought the drive to restart production in Michael and Basil’s names.
Conlarium sichuanense sp. nov., on Ficus virens from Sichuan Province, China
Authors: ZHANG TIAN , LIU NING-GUO , LI WEN-LI , LIU JIAN-KUI
Published: December 2021

A new hyphomycetous species, Conlarium sichuanense was found on dead branches of Ficus virens (Moraceae) from a terrestrial habitat in Sichuan Province, China. The new species has sporodochial colonies on natural substate, with micronematous conidiophores and muriform, brown and subglobose to irregular-shaped conidia. The phylogenetic analysis based on combined LSU, ITS and SSU sequence data showed that Conlarium sichuanense clustered together with C. aquaticum and C. thailandense and presented as a distinct lineage. A detailed, illustrated description and comparison with related Conlarium species are provided.
Ascomycetes from the relic forest of Oreomunnea mexicana, Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: VALENZUELA RICARDO , RAYMUNDO TANIA , REYES PAMELA , GUZMÁN-GUILLERMO JORGE , ACOSTA SALVADOR , RAMÍREZ-MARTÍNEZ JULIO CESAR , LUNA-VEGA ISOLDA
Published: December 2021

La Esperanza is an Oaxacan relic area of the Tertiary, dominated by the big tree Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae). The forest is part of the priority region for the conservation of La Chinantla and constitutes one of the most conserved Mexican tropical montane cloud forests. We studied the Ascomycetes fungi and found 63 species, of which 32 are new records for Oaxaca. Ascocoryne inflata, Calyculosphaeria macrospora, Cercophora costaricensis, Chaetosphaeria ellisii, Coccomyces limitatus, Lasiosphaeria ovina, Leptogidium dendriscum, Marthamyces quadrifidus, Stereocaulon didymicum and Thelonectria lucida are new records for Mexico. Xylaria was the most diverse genus with 12 species. The most abundant species were Xylaria arbuscula and Lachnum apalum. The main growth habit was lignicolous. The tropical montane cloud forest of La Esperanza has unique characteristics allowing great taxonomic diversity of Ascomycetes.
Typification of the name Genista micrantha Gómez Ortega (Leguminosae)
Authors: MEDINA LEOPOLDO , AEDO CARLOS
Published: December 2021

As a consequence of the ongoing studies that we are carrying out about the Spanish botanist Casimiro Gómez Ortega, we have reviewed the nomenclatural history of Genista micranta and we propose the typification of this name on a drawing as well as an epitype collected at the same locality of the locotypic indication, as there are no other materials that clearly could serve for this purpose.
Dr Claude Massin (25/08/1948—04/09/2021), in Memoriam
Authors: SAMYN YVES
Published: December 2021

This contribution provides an overview of the scientific career of the late Dr Claude Massin (1948–2021), listing his scientific activities (academic career, participation to and organization of expeditions and scientific conferences, publications) as well as the taxa he described as new to science and the eponyms that were dedicated to him. The scientific career of Claude Massin is briefly sketched against the background of the personal family-life.
Predicting Flood Property Insurance Claims over CONUS, Fusing Big Earth Observation Data
Authors: Yang Qing , Shen Xinyi , Yang Feifei , Anagnostou Emmanouil N. , He Kang , Mo Chongxun , Seyyedi Hojjat , Kettner Albert J. , Zhang Qingyuan
Published: December 2021

Each year throughout the contiguous United States (CONUS), flood hazards cause damage amounting to billions of dollars in homeowner insurance claims. As climate change threatens to raise the frequency and severity of flooding in vulnerable areas, the ability to predict the number of property insurance claims resulting from flood events becomes increasingly important to flood resilience. Based on random forest, we develop a flood property Insurance Claims model (iClaim) by fusing records from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including building locations, topography, basin morphometry, and land cover, with data from multiple sources of hydrometeorological variables, including flood extent, precipitation, and operational river-stage and oceanic water-level measurements. The model utilizes two steps—damage level classification and claim number regression—and subsampling strategies designed accordingly to reduce overfitting and underfitting caused by the flood claim samples, which are unevenly distributed and widely ranged. We evaluate the model using 446,446 grid samples identified from 589 flood events occurring from 2016 to 2019 over CONUS, overlapping 258,159 claims out of a total of 287,439 NFIP records of the same period. Our rigorous validation yields acceptable performance at the grid/event, county/event, and event accumulative level, with R2 over 0.5, 0.9, and 0.95, respectively. We conclude that the iClaim model can be used in many application scenarios, including assessing flood impact and improving flood resilience.
Seasonality in Arctic Warming Driven by Sea Ice Effective Heat Capacity
Authors: Hahn Lily C. , Armour Kyle C. , Battisti David S. , Eisenman Ian , Bitz Cecilia M.
Published: December 2021

Arctic surface warming under greenhouse gas forcing peaks in winter and reaches its minimum during summer in both observations and model projections. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain this seasonal asymmetry, but disentangling these processes remains a challenge in the interpretation of general circulation model (GCM) experiments. To isolate these mechanisms, we use an idealized single-column sea ice model (SCM) that captures the seasonal pattern of Arctic warming. SCM experiments demonstrate that as sea ice melts and exposes open ocean, the accompanying increase in effective surface heat capacity alone can produce the observed pattern of peak warming in early winter (shifting to late winter under increased forcing) by slowing the seasonal heating rate, thus delaying the phase and reducing the amplitude of the seasonal cycle of surface temperature. To investigate warming seasonality in more complex models, we perform GCM experiments that individually isolate sea ice albedo and thermodynamic effects under CO2 forcing. These also show a key role for the effective heat capacity of sea ice in promoting seasonal asymmetry through suppressing summer warming, in addition to precluding summer climatological inversions and a positive summer lapse-rate feedback. Peak winter warming in GCM experiments is further supported by a positive winter lapse-rate feedback, due to cold initial surface temperatures and strong surface-trapped warming that are enabled by the albedo effects of sea ice alone. While many factors contribute to the seasonal pattern of Arctic warming, these results highlight changes in effective surface heat capacity as a central mechanism supporting this seasonality.

Significance Statement

Under increasing concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases, the strongest Arctic warming has occurred during early winter, but the reasons for this seasonal pattern of warming are not well understood. We use experiments in both simple and complex models with certain sea ice processes turned on and off to disentangle potential drivers of seasonality in Arctic warming. When sea ice melts and open ocean is exposed, surface temperatures are slower to reach the warm-season maximum and slower to cool back down below freezing in early winter. We find that this process alone can produce the observed pattern of maximum Arctic warming in early winter, highlighting a fundamental mechanism for the seasonality of Arctic warming.
Human Performance of Novice Schedulers for Complex Spaceflight Operations Timelines
Authors: Marquez Jessica J. , Edwards Tamsyn , Karasinski John A. , Lee Candice N. , Shyr Megan C. , Miller Casey L. , Brandt Summer L.
Published: December 2021

Objective

Investigate the effects of scheduling task complexity on human performance for novice schedulers creating spaceflight timelines.

Background

Future astronauts will be expected to self-schedule, yet will not be experts in creating timelines that meet the complex constraints inherent to spaceflight operations.

Method

Conducted a within-subjects experiment to evaluate scheduling task performance in terms of scheduling efficiency, effectiveness, workload, and situation awareness while manipulating scheduling task complexity according to the number of constraints and type of constraints.

Results

Each participant ( n = 15) completed a set of scheduling problems. Results showed main effects of the number of constraints and type of constraint on efficiency, effectiveness, and workload. Significant interactions were observed in situation awareness and workload for certain types of constraints. Results also suggest that a lower number of constraints may be manageable by novice schedulers when compared to scheduling activities without constraints.

Conclusion

Results suggest that novice schedulers' performance decreases with a high number of constraints, and future scheduling aids may need to target a specific type of constraint.

Application

Knowledge on the effect of scheduling task complexity will help design scheduling systems that will enable self-scheduling for future astronauts. It will also inform other domains that conduct complex scheduling, such as nursing and manufacturing.
Effect of highly thermally conductive Ag@BN on the thermal and mechanical properties of phthalonitrile resins
Authors: Chen Xinggang , Qu Xiongwei , Chen Jun , Zheng De
Published: December 2021

Ag@BN/phthalonitrile resin composites were prepared using highly thermally conductive BN modified by Ag plating. The effects of different contents of Ag@BN particles on the dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, and thermal conductivity of composites were examined. The results of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses showed that Ag was successfully deposited on the surface of BN. The prepared Ag@BN was subjected to KH550 grafting treatment. With the increase in the content of Ag@BN/KH550, the storage modulus, thermal stability, and thermal conductivity of the composite increased. The storage modulus, decomposition temperature, and thermal conductivity of the Ag@BN/phthalonitrile composite with 20 wt.% Ag@BN/KH550 were 5.0 GPa, 539°C, and 0.80 W/(mK), respectively, which are 1.35, 1.18, and 3.33 times higher than those of pure resin, respectively. The compatibility and dispersibility of BN modified by Ag plating in phthalonitrile resin were effectively enhanced, thereby providing a potential candidate to be used at high-temperature devices with high thermal conductivity.
Measuring Emotion Regulation Skill Use During Treatment: A Promising Methodological Approach
Authors: Nauphal Maya , Curreri Andrew J. , Cardona Nicole D. , Meyer Emily R. , Southward Matthew W. , Sauer-Zavala Shannon
Published: December 2021

Emotion regulation has become ubiquitous in the study of psychopathology and a growing number of treatment outcome studies are collecting data on emotion regulation skill use. However, traditional measures of emotion regulation fail to capture important nuances in emotion regulation processes, their relationship to psychopathology, and how individuals use emotion regulation skills over time and across contexts. Novel methodologies are particularly needed for measuring emotion regulation in the context of treatment studies. In this article, we discuss a proposed methodology, the combination of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and single-case experimental design (SCED), for measuring emotion regulation strategy use in the context of treatment outcome studies. To inform this discussion, we provide a brief overview of common approaches to assessing emotion regulation skill use in the context of treatment outcome research. We then describe the utility of intensive data capture (EMA) in the context of idiographic treatment studies (SCED), present a case study to illustrate the different uses of data collected through EMA in the context of a SCED study, and discuss considerations for implementing this method in clinical practice.
Simulation evaluation of dynamic characteristic identification accuracy of sliding bearing considering test error
Authors: Chen Runlin , Du Chen , Wang Xiaotuan , Zhang Yanchao , Liu Kai
Published: December 2021

Aiming at the dynamic characteristics test bench of sliding bearings, the dynamic model is established. Based on the forward and inverse dynamic problems of the bearing, a simulation evaluation method for the identification accuracy of the sliding bearing dynamic characteristics is proposed and the algorithm is verified. The identification errors of dynamic characteristic coefficients under different excitation frequencies are analyzed, the sensitivities of single frequency excitation method and dual-frequency excitation method to test error are contrastively analyzed, and the influence laws of dynamic characteristic identification accuracy of sliding bearing are evaluated. Based on which the traditional single frequency excitation method has been improved. The dynamic characteristic test should be carried out respectively in the low frequency range and the high frequency range. The main stiffness and cross damping are the average of two tests, the main damping is the identification value in the high frequency, and the cross stiffness is the identification value in the low frequency. That will effectively reduce the impact of test error. The obtained data and laws could support the improvement of the dynamic characteristics test method of sliding bearings and the confirmation of test parameters, thereby the accuracy of dynamic characteristics identification is improved.
Investigating the severity of expressway crash based on the random parameter logit model accounting for unobserved heterogeneity
Authors: Ye Fei , Cheng Wen , Wang Changshuai , Liu Haoxue , Bai Jiping
Published: December 2021

The present study utilized a random parameter logit (RPL) model to explore the nonlinear relationship between explanatory variables and the likelihood of expressway crash severity. The potential unobserved heterogeneity of data brought by China’s road traffic characteristics was fully considered. A total of 1154 crashes happened on Hang-Jin-Qu Expressway from 2013 to 2018 were analyzed. In addition to the conventional impact factors considered in the past, variables related to road geometry were also introduced, which contributed to expressway accidents significantly. The overall stability of the model estimation was examined by likelihood ratio test. Then, the average elastic coefficient of the significant factors at each severity level was also calculated. Several factors that significantly increase the fatal crash probability were highlighted: rainy/snowy/cloudy weather condition, low visibility (100– m), night without light, wet-skid road surface, being female, aged 41+ years, collision with a rigid barrier and some other obstacles, radius and length of horizontal curve, and longitudinal gradient. The parameters of four factors were random and obeyed normal distribution: night without light, being female, driving experience with 10 + years and with large vehicle responsible. These findings provide insights for better understanding of expressway crash severity. Some countermeasures were proposed about driver education, traffic law enforcement, vehicle and road design, environmental improvement, and so on.
Fixed, Dilated, and Conversing—Unreactive Pupil With Preserved Consciousness Indicating Acutely Rising Intracranial Pressure due to Traumatic Intraparenchymal Contusions: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: McAvoy Malia , Lee Gina , Boop Scott , Greil Madeline E. , Durler Kayla A. , Young Christopher C. , Craft Lindy , Chesnut Randall M. , Wahlster Sarah
Published: December 2021

Patients with fixed and dilated pupils (FDPs) due to rising intracranial pressure (ICP) typically experience a deterioration in consciousness. We describe an exceptional case of a patient with bifrontal contusions who developed worsening edema and a unilaterally FDP while maintaining consciousness and the ability to communicate. A 58-year-old man with history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II presented after being assaulted, with bifrontal contusions and right frontal intraparenchymal hemorrhage. On hospital day 8, his right pupil became fixed (NPi 0) and dilated (4.8 mm). The patient was drowsy, arousable to tactile stimuli, answering questions, oriented to place and time, following commands on his right side, maintaining Glasgow Coma Scale of 14 (E4, V5, M6). He described complete loss of vision and could not identify objects or count fingers. His gaze was dysconjugate with impaired vertical excursion and inability to fully abduct to the right side. Corneal reflexes were intact bilaterally. Hypertonic saline and mannitol produced no improvement in his pupillary exam. Head computed tomography showed worsening midline shift and interval increase in subfalcine herniation related to increased peri-hematoma edema. We performed an emergent right-sided decompressive hemicraniectomy with durotomy and duraplasty. His pupil became reactive 5 hours after surgery. While FDP without deterioration of consciousness has been described due to traumatic subdural and epidural hematomas, we report this unusual constellation as a sign of rising ICP and impeding herniation due to intraparenchymal contusions, highlighting that any pupillary change warrants prompt work-up and intervention.
Clofarabine added to intensive treatment in adult patients with newly diagnosed ALL: the HOVON-100 trial
Authors: Rijneveld Anita W. , van der Holt Bronno , de Weerdt Okke , Biemond Bart J. , van de Loosdrecht Arjen A. , van der Wagen Lotte E. , Bellido Mar , van Gelder Michel , van der Velden Walter J. F. M. , Selleslag Dominik , van Lammeren-Venema Daniëlle , Halkes Constantijn J. M. , Fijnheer Rob , Havelange Violaine , van Sluis Geerte L. , Legdeur Marie-Cecile , Deeren Dries , Gadisseur Alain , Sinnige Harm A. M. , Breems Dimitri A. , Jaspers Aurélie , Legrand Ollivier , Terpstra Wim E. , Boersma Rinske S. , Mazure Dominiek , Triffet Agnes , Tick Lidwine W. , Beel Karolien , Maertens Johan A. , Beverloo H. Berna , Bakkus Marleen , Homburg Christa H. E. , de Haas Valerie , van der Velden Vincent H. J. , Cornelissen Jan J. ,   the Dutch-Belgian HOVON Cooperative group
Published: December 2021

Clofarabine (CLO) is a nucleoside analog with efficacy in relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This randomized phase 3 study aimed to evaluate whether CLO added to induction and whether consolidation would improve outcome in adults with newly diagnosed ALL. Treatment of younger (18-40 years) patients consisted of a pediatric-inspired protocol, and for older patients (41-70 years), a semi-intensive protocol was used. Three hundred and forty patients were randomized. After a median follow-up of 70 months, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 50% and 53% for arm A and B (CLO arm). For patients ≤40 years, EFS was 58% vs 65% in arm A vs B, whereas in patients >40 years, EFS was 43% in both arms. Complete remission (CR) rate was 89% in both arms and similar in younger and older patients. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed in 200 patients (60%). Fifty-four of 76 evaluable patients (71%) were MRD− after consolidation 1 in arm A vs 75/81 (93%) in arm B (P = .001). Seventy (42%) patients proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in both arms. Five-year overall survival (OS) was similar in both arms: 60% vs 61%. Among patients achieving CR, relapse rates were 28% and 24%, and nonrelapse mortality was 16% vs 17% after CR. CLO-treated patients experienced more serious adverse events, more infections, and more often went off protocol. This was most pronounced in older patients. We conclude that, despite a higher rate of MRD negativity, addition of CLO does not improve outcome in adults with ALL, which might be due to increased toxicity. This trial was registered at www.trialregister.nl as #NTR2004.
MPN and thrombosis was hard enough . . . now there's COVID-19 thrombosis too
Authors: Falanga Anna
Published: December 2021

Both myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are characterized by an intrinsic thrombotic risk. Little is known about the incidence and the outcome of thrombotic events in patients with MPN infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but common mechanisms of coagulation activation, typical of both disorders, suggest that these patients can be at particularly high risk. To define the best thromboprophylaxis and treatment regimens in both MPN and COVID-19, individual- and disease-specific thrombotic risk factors, bleeding risk, and concomitant specific treatments need to be considered. In this case-based review, an individualized approach is presented in a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring in a man with polycythemia vera (PV). A primary anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis strategy and adjustment of his PV treatment were implemented. However, during the hospital stay, he experienced pulmonary embolism and therapeutic anticoagulation had to be set. Then his condition improved, and discharge was planned. Postdischarge decisions had to be made about the type and duration of venous thromboembolism treatment as well as the management of PV-specific drugs. The steps of our decisions and recommendations are presented.
An interferon-related signature characterizes the whole blood transcriptome profile of insulin-resistant individuals—the CODAM study
Authors: Kalafati Marianthi , Kutmon Martina , Evelo Chris T. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Consortium B. I. O. S. , Blaak Ellen E. , van Greevenbroek Marleen M. J. , Adriaens Michiel
Published: December 2021

Background

Worldwide, the prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance has grown dramatically. Gene expression profiling in blood represents a powerful means to explore disease pathogenesis, but the potential impact of inter-individual differences in a cell-type profile is not always taken into account. The objective of this project was to investigate the whole blood transcriptome profile of insulin-resistant as compared to insulin-sensitive individuals independent of inter-individual differences in white blood cell profile.

Results

We report a 3% higher relative amount of monocytes in the insulin-resistant individuals. Furthermore, independent of their white blood cell profile, insulin-resistant participants had (i) higher expression of interferon-stimulated genes and (ii) lower expression of genes involved in cellular differentiation and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton.

Conclusions

We present an approach to investigate the whole blood transcriptome of insulin-resistant individuals, independent of their DNA methylation-derived white blood cell profile. An interferon-related signature characterizes the whole blood transcriptome profile of the insulin-resistant individuals, independent of their white blood cell profile. The observed signature indicates increased systemic inflammation possibly due to an innate immune response and whole-body insulin resistance, which can be a cause or a consequence of insulin resistance. Altered gene expression in specific organs may be reflected in whole blood; hence, our results may reflect obesity and/or insulin resistance-related organ dysfunction in the insulin-resistant individuals.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the bZIP transcription factors, and functional analysis in response to drought and cold stresses in pear (Pyrus breschneideri)
Authors: Ma Ming , Chen Qiming , Dong Huizhen , Zhang Shaoling , Huang Xiaosan
Published: December 2021

Background

Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in many important biological processes, including cell stretching, histological differentiation, metabolic activity, seed storage, gene regulation, and response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Little is known about the functions, evolutionary history, and expression patterns of basic region-leucine zipper TF family genes in pear, despite the release of the genome of Chinese white pears (“Dangshansuli”).

Results

Overall, 92 bZIP genes were identified in the pear genome (Pyrus breschneideri). Of these, 83 were randomly distributed on all 17 chromosomes except chromosome 4, and the other 9 genes were located on loose scaffolding. The genes were divided into 14 subgroups. Whole-genome duplications, dispersed duplication, and purifying selection for whole-genome duplications are the main reasons for the expansion of the PbrbZIP gene family. The analysis of functional annotation enrichment indicated that most of the functions of PbrbZIP genes were enriched in Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways involved in the abiotic stress response. Next, expression analysis and virus-induced gene silencing results indicated that PbrbZIP genes might play critical roles in response to drought and cold stresses, especially for the genes from subgroups A, C, G, I, and S.

Conclusions

Ninety-two PbrbZIP genes were identified from the pear genome and classified into 14 subgroups. PbrbZIP genes were mainly expanded from whole-genome duplications and dispersed duplications and retained by purifying selection. PbrbZIP genes were induced by cold and drought stresses and played important roles in drought and cold tolerance. These results provided useful information for further increasing the tolerance of pears to stresses and a foundation to study the cold and drought tolerance mechanism of PbrbZIP genes.
Mechanical thrombectomy of COVID-19 DVT with congenital heart disease leading to phlegmasia cerulea dolens: a case report
Authors: Jamshidi Neema , Tan Weiyi , Foote Dingle , Reardon Leigh , Lluri Gentian , Aboulhosn Jamil , Moriarty John , Lin Jeannette
Published: December 2021

Background

COVID-19 and Fontan physiology have each been associated with an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), however little is known about the risks and potential consequences of having both.

Case presentation

A 51 year old male with tricuspid atresia status post Fontan and extracardiac Glenn shunt, atrial flutter, and sinus sick syndrome presented with phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) of the left lower extremity in spite of supratherapeutic INR in the context of symptomatic COVID-10 pneumonia. He was treated with single session, catheter directed mechanical thrombectomy that was well-tolerated.

Conclusions

This report of acute PCD despite therapeutic anticoagulation with a Vitamin K antagonist, managed with emergent mechanical thrombectomy, calls to attention the importance of altered flow dynamics in COVID positive patients with Fontan circulation that may compound these independent risk factors for developing deep venous thrombosis with the potential for even higher morbidity.
Functions of nonsuicidal self-injury in a Hungarian community adolescent sample: a psychometric investigation
Authors: Reinhardt Melinda , Kökönyei Gyöngyi , Rice Kenneth G. , Drubina Boglárka , Urbán Róbert
Published: December 2021

Background

The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) is a psychometrically valid tool to evaluate the motives of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), but there are a few studies that test gender differences in the factor structure of the measurement. However, several differences across gender were identified in NSSI (e.g., in prevalence, methods, functions). Therefore, our study focused on further analyses of the dimensionality of the ISAS functions.

Methods

Among Hungarian adolescents with a history of NSSI (N = 418; 70.6% girls; mean age was 16.86, SD = 1.45), confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling frameworks were used to test the factor structure of the ISAS part II.

Results

Results support the two-factor structure of the questionnaire. Intrapersonal and interpersonal motivation factors emerged in the whole sample, but this factor structure varied across gender. Among girls, intrapersonal motivation of NSSI was associated with higher loneliness, more inflexible emotion regulation, and a more pronounced level of internalizing and externalizing mental illness symptoms.

Conclusions

Our findings provide sufficiently solid arguments for the need to examine NSSI functionality separately for adolescent girls and boys because there were clear gender differences in the motives underlying NSSI. In addition, precise scanning of patterns of NSSI functions may further help us to identify the most at-risk adolescents regarding self-injury.
Mental health condition of physicians working frontline with COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Aminur , Deeba Farah , Akhter Sadika , Bashar Farzana , Nomani Dilruba , Koot Jaap , Koly Kamrun Nahar , Salah Faysal Bin , Haverlag Kim , Anwar Iqbal
Published: December 2021

Background

The impact of the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic had triggered new challenges for mental health. This quick survey aimed to identify the mental health status of physicians who served the people during COVID-19 in Bangladesh.

Methodology

The cross sectional survey was conducted adopting a quantitative approach and using an online questionnaire through Facebook Platform Group. Data was collected from August-October, 2020, on socio-demographic status, information on COVID-19 and questionnaires about Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). A total of 395 participants were enrolled from all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh.

Result

Our study reported a higher prevalence of depression (55.3%), anxiety (35.2%), and stress (48.4%) among 347 participants. Female physicians were found to have more stress (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.09 – 4.30) compared to the male. Physicians who were previously diagnosed as mentally ill were found to be significantly more depressed (OR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.07 – 11.10) and stressed (OR = 4.22, 95% CI: 1.48 – 12.02) compared to them who did not. Along with that, having a chronic disease, working in non-government and COVID hospitals significantly contributed to poor mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

The study findings denoted that, the mental health of physicians was deeply affected by the pandemic situation. The availability of appropriate mental health support will help foster resilience by giving them the ability and confidence to manage crisis moments like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surgical ciliated cyst after a mandibular surgery: a particular case report and review of the literature
Authors: Lafuente-Ibáñez de Mendoza Irene , Fernández-Reyes Marta , Fernández-Arenas Antonio , Aguirre-Urizar José Manuel
Published: December 2021

Background

Surgical ciliated cyst is a rare clinicopathological lesion that appears in patients who undergo maxillofacial surgery. In this report we present a particular mandibular case and we discuss the etiopathogenesis and clinicopathological features of this pathology after reviewing the current literature, as well as the origin of its respiratory epithelial profile.

Case presentation

The patient is a 67-year-old male with an irregular radiolucency in a previously tooth extracted area of the mandible. The histopathological study revealed a cystic lesion with a connective wall with chronic inflammation, partially lined by a ciliated pseudostratified epithelium. PAS and CK19 stains showed the respiratory characteristics of this epithelium and confirmed the final diagnosis of mandibular surgical ciliated cyst.

Conclusions

Surgical ciliated cyst is an uncommon entity associated with maxillofacial surgical procedures with bone and nasal cartilage grafts. In our case, treatment with growth factors present in platelet-rich plasma could explain the respiratory changes observed in the cystic epithelial lining.”