bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOT PATENTS BUT TRADEMARKS-BASED PATH OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LATECOMERS: EVIDENCE FROM THE KOREAN DATA
Authors: KANG RAEYOON , JUNG TAEHYUN , LEE KEUN
Published: February 2020

In contrast to the vast literature on verifying the importance of formal R&D activities measured as patent registrations, this paper explores the possibility of not patent but trademark-driven path of latecomer firms’ technological development. The study is motivated by the evidence from the Korean data showing the existence of two groups of sectors where firms in the one group tended to file more trademarks than patents. We find that in the first group of sectors, like food, apparel, and pharmaceuticals, trademarks have been the most applied form of the IPRs with a much larger number of their registrations than patents from the initial stage of development until recently, whereas in the second group of sectors, like electronics and automobiles, the main IPR form has been patents. Regressions on the determinants about this bifurcation find that the trademark groups are those sectors involving more tacit knowledge and/or domestic market orientation associated with slow progress in technological capabilities. The results are important because it implies the existence of alternative path of economic development by the latecomer firms in different sectors, beside the patent-driven path which is already verified in Kim et al. ( 2012 ). Appropriate intellectual property protection and economic growth in countries at different levels of development. Research Policy, 41(2), 358–375, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2011.09.003 .
Extraction of Bridge Frequencies Inclusive of the Higher Modes by the ESMD Using the Contact-Point Response
Authors: Yang Y. B. , Xiong F. , Wang Z. L. , Xu H.
Published: February 2020

An effective procedure is proposed for extracting bridge frequencies including the higher modes using the vehicle collected data. This is enabled by the use of the contact-point response, rather than the vehicle response, for processing by the extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition (ESMD). The intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) so decomposed are then processed by the FFT to yield the bridge frequencies. A systematic study is conducted to compare the proposed procedure with existing ones, while assessing the effects of various parameters involved. The proposed procedure was verified in the field for a two-span bridge located at the Chongqing University campus. It was confirmed to perform better than the existing ones in extracting bridge frequencies inclusive of the higher modes. The following are the reasons: (1) the ESMD is more efficient than the EMD in that remarkably less IMFs are generated; (2) the modal aliasing problem is largely alleviated, which helps enhancing the visibility of bridge frequencies in general; and (3) the contact-point response adopted is free of the vehicle frequency, which makes the higher frequencies more outstanding and detectable.
Efficient Adaptive Procedure for Buckling Analysis of Skeletal Structures
Authors: Rungamornrat Jaroon , Watcharakorn Nidvichai , Nguyen Thai Binh , Keawsawasvong Suraparb , Bui Tinh Quoc , Nguyen Chung Van
Published: February 2020

An efficient numerical technique is proposed for determining the buckling load of two-dimensional skeletal structures. The key formulation is based upon the principle of stationary total potential energy and the solution procedure follows the concept of Rayleigh–Ritz approximation. A crucial aspect of the proposed technique is to supply the adaptivity to the solution space allowing the accurate representation of the buckled shape via a simple iterative scheme. The bases of such solution space are constructed in an elementwise fashion using the exact, closed-form buckled shape. An element axial force contained in the element shape functions is chosen as an adaptive parameter and the exact buckled shape of each element is achieved when such adaptive parameter converges to the element buckling load. In this study, various effects including the lateral restraints, shear deformation, and material nonlinearity are taken into account, and this, as a result, allows plane frames with/without lateral bracings, columns resting on elastic foundations, inelastic columns, and those with shear deformation to be treated. Results from an extensive numerical study have indicated that the proposed technique yields highly accurate buckling loads, comparable to the analytical and reference solutions, without the mesh refinement. In addition, a relatively low number of iterations is required to achieve the converged buckling load.
Isotropic Lifshitz scaling in four dimensions
Authors: Zappalà Dario
Published: February 2020

The presence of isotropic Lifshitz points for a [Formula: see text]-symmetric scalar theory is investigated with the help of the Functional Renormalization Group. In particular, at the supposed lower critical dimension [Formula: see text], evidence for a continuous line of fixed points is found for the [Formula: see text] theory, and the observed structure presents clear similarities with the properties observed in the two-dimensional Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless phase.
Geomorphic response of a mountain gravel-bed river to an extreme flood in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Authors: Fieman Dina M. , Attal Mikaël , Addy Stephen
Published: February 2020

This study uses the 2015 ‘Storm Frank’ flood on the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, to assess the impact of extreme events on river dynamics. The Storm Frank flood (>200 year recurrence interval) caused significant local morphological change that was concentrated in the middle portion of the 140 km long river and overall net degradation that primarily occurred through lateral adjustment processes. Although the flood did not cause widespread change in channel planform, morphological change at the reach scale (<1 km) was significant. Bank scour resulted in channel expansion and lateral migration as well as widespread aggradation on existing gravel beds. The HEC-RAS and CAESAR–Lisflood models were used to determine the impact of morphological changes from the Storm Frank flood on a series of future hypothetical floods. The results show that inundation is highly influenced by the degree of morphological change for moderate floods, but not for high magnitude ones. In-channel scour and bank erosion can lead to an increase in channel capacity, thereby decreasing inundation. Conversely, where conveyance capacity is decreased by aggradation, flood risk inherently increases. The impact of these changes was great for a five-year return period flood, but minimal for a magnitude flood comparable to that of Storm Frank. Our modelling results also reveal that the inundation model is sensitive to the grain size and channel bed roughness input parameters, as these parameters impact flow discharge and flood hydraulics. Accurate determination of sediment parameters and degree of morphological change is therefore critical in flooding modelling and flood hazard management.

Supplementary material
: Peak discharge and rainfall during the 2015 Storm Frank storm, parameters used in the hydrological model CAESAR–Lisflood and sediment budget statistics of each DEM of difference threshold are available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4847946

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Early Career Research collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/SJG-early-career-research
Five Challenges in Cloud-enabled Intelligence and Control
Authors: Abdelzaher Tarek , Hao Yifan , Jayarajah Kasthuri , Misra Archan , Skarin Per , Yao Shuochao , Weerakoon Dulanga , Årzén Karl-Erik
Published: February 2020

The proliferation of connected embedded devices, or
the Internet of Things
(IoT), together with recent advances in machine intelligence, will change the profile of future cloud services and introduce a variety of new research problems, both in cloud applications and infrastructure layers. These problems are centered around empowering individually resource-limited devices to exhibit intelligent behavior, both in sensing and control, thanks to a judicious utilization of cloud resources. Cloud services will enable learning from data, perform inference, and execute control, all with assurances on outcomes. This article discusses such emerging services and outlines five resulting new research directions towards enabling and optimizing intelligent, cloud-assisted sensing and control in the age of the Internet of Things.
An Urban Mobility Model with Buildings Involved
Authors: Zheng Zimu , Wang Feng , Wang Dan , Zhang Liang
Published: February 2020

Urban Mobility Models (UMMs) are fundamental tools for estimating the population in urban sites and their spatial movements over time. Most existing UMMs were developed primarily in 2D. However, we argue that people’s movements and living patterns involve 3D space, i.e., buildings, which can heavily affect the accuracy of UMMs. In this article, we for the first time conduct a comprehensive study on the impacts of buildings on human movements and the effect on UMMs. We innovatively capture the impacts by developing a Semi-absorbing Urban Mobility model (SUM) and theoretically prove its properties on its difference from that of previous UMMs. We also show that calibrating our original SUM may need a large number of parameters. As such, we develop two SUM extensions with a substantially reduced number of parameters, making calibration practical. Our evaluation also demonstrates that, as a basis for supporting mobile applications in an intracity and hourly scale, the SUM is far superior to previous UMMs. In a case study, we also show that the performance of the resource allocation scheme in a cellular network substantially improves by using SUM, with a reduction in the packet loss probability of 3.19 times.
The Osteocyte: New Insights
Authors: Robling Alexander G. , Bonewald Lynda F.
Published: February 2020

Osteocytes are an ancient cell, appearing in fossilized skeletal remains of early fish and dinosaurs. Despite its relative high abundance, even in the context of nonskeletal cells, the osteocyte is perhaps among the least studied cells in all of vertebrate biology. Osteocytes are cells embedded in bone, able to modify their surrounding extracellular matrix via specialized molecular remodeling mechanisms that are independent of the bone forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Osteocytes communicate with osteoclasts and osteoblasts via distinct signaling molecules that include the RankL/OPG axis and the Sost/Dkk1/Wnt axis, among others. Osteocytes also extend their influence beyond the local bone environment by functioning as an endocrine cell that controls phosphate reabsorption in the kidney, insulin secretion in the pancreas, and skeletal muscle function. These cells are also finely tuned sensors of mechanical stimulation to coordinate with effector cells to adjust bone mass, size, and shape to conform to mechanical demands.
Insert Zn2+ in Tetrahedral Sites of Bi-metal Zn-Co Spinel Oxides with High Oxygen Catalytic Performance for Liquid and Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries
Authors: Xu Nengneng , Nie Qi , Liu Jiawen , Huang Haitao , Qiao Jinli , Zhou Xiao-Dong
Published: February 2020

Nowadays, it is very challenging to develop a low-cost, highly active and stable bi-functional catalyst for accelerating oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reaction during the charge and discharge process of zinc-air battery. Herein, we successfully design a novel bi-metal oxide hybrid catalyst (ZnCo2O4-CNT) by inserting Zn ions. Benefiting from the robust synergetic effects between porous ZnCo2O4 and CNTs, the high conductivity and the unique nanostructure, the ZnCo2O4-CNT shows lots of accessible active sites and improved reactants and electrons transfer. As expected, the hybrid shows higher ORR and OER performances with larger limited diffusion current density (5.72 mA cm−2) and lower OER over-potential (0.49 V) than Pt/C and other ZnCo2O4-CNT samples. In addition, rechargeable zinc-air battery assembled with the bi-functional catalyst exhibits a high power density of 249.4 mW cm−2, a strong discharge durability and charge-discharge stability of 240 cycles. Notably, the flexible zinc-air battery also shows good battery performances with high power density and good flexibility. Hence, exploiting efficient bi-functional catalytic materials with excellent ORR and OER performance and assembling flexible devices will improve the development of current zinc-air batteries battery industry.
Establishing Performance Baselines for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Electrolytes
Authors: Anderson Grace C. , Pivovar Bryan S. , Alia Shaun M.
Published: February 2020

This paper establishes baseline performance of several platinum group metal (PGM) and non-PGM catalysts in alkaline oxygen evolution (OER). As OER catalyst development efforts increase, there is a need to standardize testing and baseline performance to compare catalysts between different studies, better direct materials development, and understand how performance improvements translate to the device. Of the catalysts tested, metals tend to have higher half-cell activity than their fully oxidized counterparts. In single-cells, however, metal activities approach oxides, likely due to the elevated temperature, higher potential, and longer time needed to condition membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) relative to rotating disk electrodes (RDEs). In RDEs, cobalt (Co) and ruthenium nanoparticles are the most OER active. Due to high ruthenium dissolution rates, however, iridium (Ir) is used as a PGM baseline. Activity differences between materials in RDE (Ir 320 A g‒1, Co 12 A g‒1 at 1.55 V) further appear to translate to MEAs (Ir 1370 A g‒1, Co 101 A g‒1 at 1.5 V), indicating that half-cell testing can be useful in the early stages of catalyst development to predict kinetics at the device-level.
Effective Parameterization of PEM Fuel Cell Models—Part I: Sensitivity Analysis and Parameter Identifiability
Authors: Goshtasbi Alireza , Chen Jixin , Waldecker James R. , Hirano Shinichi , Ersal Tulga
Published: February 2020

This two-part series develops a framework for effective parameterization of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell models with limited and non-invasive measurements. In the first part, a systematic procedure for identifiability analysis is presented, where a recently developed model is analyzed for the sensitivity of its output predictions to a variety of structural and fitting parameters. This is achieved by conducting local analyses about several points in the parameter space to obtain sensitivities that are more representative of the entire space than the local values estimated at a single point, which are commonly used in the literature. Three output predictions are studied, namely, cell voltage, resistance, and membrane water crossover. It is found that the cell voltage is sensitive to many of the model parameters, whereas the other model predictions demonstrate a sparser sensitivity pattern. The results are further analyzed from the perspective of collinearity of parameter pairs and it is shown that many of the parameters have similar impact on voltage predictions, which diminishes their identifiability prospects. Lastly, the sensitivity results are utilized to analyze parameter identifiability. The least squares cost Hessian is shown to have an eigenvalue spectrum evenly spanned over many decades and the resulting identifiability challenges are discussed.
Molybdenum Carbide Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia from Nitrogen: Activity and Stability
Authors: Ramaiyan Kannan P. , Ozden Sehmus , Maurya Sandip , Kelly Daniel , Babu Siddharth K. , Benavidez Angelica , Garzon Fernando G. , Kim Yu Seung , Kreller Cortney R. , Mukundan Rangachary
Published: February 2020

Ammonia production has increased from few thousand tons in 1908 to above 200 million tons per year today, revolutionizing the fertilizer industry thanks to the Haber-Bosch (HB) process. However, the HB process is highly energy intensive consuming about 1.4% of fossil energy generated worldwide and releasing 1.87 tons of CO2per ton of ammonia produced. This further reduces ammonia’s scope as a carrier fuel for the hydrogen economy. Hence, finding alternative energy efficient ways to synthesize ammonia is important from more than one perspective. Ammonia synthesis from its constituent nitrogen and hydrogen gases is mainly hampered by the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) due to the strong N≡N bond (945 kJ mol−1). Electrochemical synthesis (ES) routes in this regard offer a milder approach. However, ES of ammonia under different temperatures, utilizing different electrolytes and catalysts has not yet reliably produced ammonia at viable rates and efficiencies. We report an origami-like Mo2C cathode catalyst for NRR that achieved a maximum synthesis rate of 2.16 × 10−11mol cm−2s−1and a faradaic efficiency of 1.8% at 30 °C using Nafion-212 as electrolyte. Origami-like morphology containing numerous kinks appears to improve electrocatalytic activity and show a promising route for fabricating NRR catalysts with higher catalytic activity.
Degraded Hyaluronic Acid-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Nie Wan , Zhang Baolin , Yan Xianjia , Su Lichao , Wang Sheng , Han Guihua , Han Dong
Published: February 2020

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) conjugated with hyaluronic acid (HA) functional groups have potential applications as cell targeting materials. However, SPIONs incubated with high-molecular weight HA can result in severe agglomeration. In this work, we found that when modified with degraded HA (hyaluronan oligosaccharides (oHAs)), the nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed with small hydrodynamic sizes, and the oHA-modified SPIONs exerted minimal cytotoxicity. With the same functional groups as HA, the oHA-modified SPIONs may have various biomedical applications.
Particle Motion and Chaos
Authors: Zhou Zhenhua , Wu Jian-Pin
Published: February 2020

In this note, we consider particle falling in the black hole with an additional potential. Following the proposal by Susskind (2018), we study the growth rate of the particle’s Rindler momentum, which corresponds to the growth rate of the operator size in the dual chaotic system. A general analysis near the horizon shows that the growth rate of the particle’s Rindler momentum of the particle falling with a regular potential is the same as that of the particle free falling, which saturates the chaos bound. However, when the potential is singular, the growth rate is suppressed such that it is below the Lyapunov exponent. It implies that the chaos suppression may be captured by an additional singular potential in the gravity side. We further explicitly study a particle falling in hyperscaling violating spacetime to confirm the general analysis results. Finally, we study the particle falling in AdS soliton geometry. It also exhibits a suppression of the growth of the Rindler momentum. It is attributed to that when the repulsive potential is introduced or the black hole horizon is absent, the particle is slowed down, and its trajectory seen by a comoving observer is timelike, which corresponds to a weak chaos system.
Effects of Living High‐Training Low and High on Body Composition and Metabolic Risk Markers in Overweight and Obese Females
Authors: Gao Huan , Xu Jianfang , Zhang Li , Lu Yingli , Gao Binghong , Feng Lianshi
Published: February 2020

This study examined the effects of 4 weeks of living high‐training low and high (LHTLH) under moderate hypoxia on body weight, body composition, and metabolic risk markers of overweight and obese females. Nineteen healthy overweight or obese females participated in this study. Participants were assigned to the normoxic training group (NG) or the LHTLH group (HG). The NG participants lived and trained at sea level. The HG participants stayed for approximately 10 hours in a simulated 2300 m normobaric state of hypoxia for six days a week and trained for 2 hours 3 times a week under the same simulated hypoxia. The interventions lasted for 4 weeks. All groups underwent dietary restriction based on resting metabolic rate. The heart rate of the participants was monitored every ten minutes during exercise to ensure that the intensity was in the aerobic range. Compared with the preintervention values, body weight decreased significantly in both the NG and the HG (−8.81 ± 2.09% and −9.09 ± 1.15%, respectively). The fat mass of the arm, leg, trunk, and whole body showed significant reductions in both the NG and the HG, but no significant interaction effect was observed. The percentage of lean soft tissue mass loss in the total body weight loss tended to be lower in the HG (27.61% versus 15.94%, P = 0.085). Between the NG and the HG, significant interaction effects of serum total cholesterol (−12.66 ± 9.09% versus −0.05 ± 13.36%,) and apolipoprotein A1 (−13.66 ± 3.61% versus −5.32 ± 11.07%, P = 0.042) were observed. A slight increase in serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) was observed in the HG (1.12 ± 12.34%) but a decrease was observed in the NG (−11.36 ± 18.91%). The interaction effect of HDL‐C between NG and HG exhibited a significant trend (P = 0.055). No added effects on serum triglycerides (TGs), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), or APO‐B were observed after 4 weeks of LHTLH. In conclusion, 4 weeks of LHTLH combined with dietary restriction could effectively reduce the body weight and body fat mass of overweight and obese females. Compared with training and sleeping under normoxia, no additive benefit of LHTLH on the loss of body weight and body fat mass was exhibited. However, LHTLH may help to relieve the loss of lean soft tissue mass and serum HDL‐C.
Advanced Data Delivery Strategy Based on Multiperceived Community with IoT in Social Complex Networks
Authors: Luo Jingwen , Wu Jia , Wu Yuzhou
Published: February 2020

With the advent of 5G communication standards, the number of 5G base stations increases steadily, and the number of mobile terminals and IoT (Internet of Things) devices increases sharply, which sharps a large number of IoT devices and forms a complex network. These devices can take as nodes of a community in the opportunistic social network. However, in the environment of traditional opportunistic network algorithm and mass data transmission, information transmission is only carried out at several source nodes in the community, which usually leads to transmission delay, excessive energy consumption, and source node death. Therefore, we propose an effective data delivery based on the multiperceived domain algorithm, which recombines communities based on the correlation degree of nodes, and new communities assist source nodes to transmit information in solving these problems. The comparison between the experiment and the classical opportunistic network algorithm shows that the method has outstanding performance in reducing the resource consumption of data transmission and improving the efficiency of information transmission.
Wedged Sensor in Distress? Lessons Learned from Troubleshooting Dampened Transmitted PA Waveforms of CardioMEMS Device
Authors: Singh Robby , Scarfone Santo , Zughaib Marcel
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with heart failure constituting a large portion of this spectrum. Heart failure patients have 90-day readmission rates of nearly 41% associated with a high expense. Numerous strategies to reduce readmissions have been attempted with the CardioMEMS pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system as one of the more successful ones. As this device becomes used more frequently, it is important to recognize procedural complications. We present of a rare complication where a patient underwent successful device placement and was subsequently found to have dampened waveforms which were due to device migration. Case Report. A 79-year-old male underwent successful CardioMEMS placement due to recurrent heart failure hospitalizations. 6 months later, the transmitted waveforms appeared dampened, and repeat angiography revealed a device that had migrated. Rather than abandoning the device, it was recalibrated and continued to transmit data and helped manage the patient’s heart failure. Conclusion. CardioMEMS is a cost-effective tool to help reduce heart failure hospitalizations. Device migration is a rare complication and can lead to inaccurate data. However, as seen in this case, the device can be successfully recalibrated and can continue to be utilized to help reduce heart failure admissions.
Prediction Method of Cavitation Jet Wave Attenuation Based on Five-Equation Two-Fluid Model
Authors: Fu You , Xie Zhaopeng , Zhao Weiguo
Published: February 2020

In this paper, the seven-equation two-fluid flow model is streamlined to a five-equation numerical calculation method. This method is applied to predict the wave attenuation of the cavitation jet. Compared with 9 different experimental schemes in two separate laboratories, it is found that the velocity flow characteristics are different from normal transient flow when the cavitation jet is formed in the pipeline. Such a difference in velocity flow characteristics will cause changes in the prediction deviation of pressure response time and amplitude. A numerical method for predicting the attenuation of pressure fluctuation with the cavitation jet is presented taken into account these flow characteristics. In this method, the unsteady friction model is opened after the jet wave transmits 3–5 cycles, and the cavitation jet wave attenuation is well simulated. This calculation method could provide a research basis for pipeline leakage, vibration, noise, and other fields that need accurate pressure signals.
The Investigation of a Wealth Distribution Model on Isolated Discrete Time Domains
Authors: Hu Chunhua , Huang Wenyi , Xie Tianhao
Published: February 2020

A wealth distribution model on isolated discrete time domains, which allows the wealth to exchange at irregular time intervals, is used to describe the effect of agent’s trading behavior on wealth distribution. We assume that the agents have different degrees of risk aversion. The hyperbolic absolute risk aversion (HARA) utility function is employed to describe the degrees of risk aversion of agents, including decreasing relative risk aversion (DRRA), increasing relative risk aversion (IRRA), and constant relative risk aversion (CRRA). The effect of agent’s expectation on wealth distribution is taken into account in our wealth distribution model, in which the agents are allowed to adopt certain trading strategies to maximize their utility and improve their wealth status. The Euler equation and transversality condition for the model on isolated discrete time domains are given to prove the existence of the optimal solution of the model. The optimal solution of the wealth distribution model is obtained by using the method of solving the rational expectation model on isolated discrete time domains. A numerical example is given to highlight the advantages of the wealth distribution model.
Reducing the Dynamical Degradation of Digital Chaotic Maps with Time-Delay Linear Feedback and Parameter Perturbation
Authors: Liu Bocheng , Xiang Hongyue , Liu Lingfeng
Published: February 2020

Digital chaotic maps are not secure enough for cryptographic applications due to their dynamical degradation. In order to improve their dynamics, in this paper, a novel method with time-delay linear feedback and parameter perturbation is proposed. The delayed state variable is used to construct the linear feedback function and parameter perturbation function. This method is universal for all different digital chaotic maps. Here, two examples are presented: one is 1D logistic map and the other is 2D Baker map. To show the effectiveness of this method, we take some numerical experiments, including trajectory and phase space analysis, correlation analysis, period analysis, and complexity analysis. All the numerical results prove that the method can greatly improve the dynamics of digital chaotic maps and is quite competitive with other proposed methods. Furthermore, a simple pseudorandom bit generator (PRBG) based on digital Baker map is proposed to show its potential application. The proposed PRBG is completely constructed by the digital chaotic map, without any other complex operations. Several numerical results indicate that this PRBG has good randomness and high complexity level.
Effect of Size and Drying Time on the Rehydration and Sensory Properties of Freeze-Dried Snails (Achatina achatina)
Authors: Achaglinkame Matthew A. , Owusu-Mensah Eric , Boakye Abena A. , Oduro Ibok
Published: February 2020

Snails, a delicacy in most tropical communities, are highly perishable and seasonal. Employed preservative methods are highly temperature dependent, adversely affecting their nutritional value and sensory properties. This study was aimed at determining the effect of size and drying time on the rehydration and sensory properties of freeze-dried snails. Snails were sized into three categories with average weights: 7.59 g (quarter-sized), 14.41 g (half-sized), and 30.71 g (whole), and freeze-dried for 15, 20, and 25 h. The moisture content and percent rehydration of the dried samples were determined by standard methods and sensory properties assessed by an in-house panel of 30 using a 5-point hedonic scale. The moisture content of the fresh and freeze-dried samples ranged from 65.80 to 75.20% and 3.25 to 10.24%, respectively. Freeze-dried samples had higher percent rehydration (27 to 102%) than the control; smoked snails (21 to 32%). Size had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the rehydration ability of the samples with the half-sized and freeze-dried for 15 h samples having the highest. The freeze-dried samples generally had higher consumer preference than the control in all attributes assessed. The findings show that freeze-drying snails (approximate weight of 14.4 g) for 15 h could be a consumer-preferred alternative preservative method for extending the shelf life of snails.
Coronary Artery Spasms Mimicking Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever
Authors: Dandeniya Chathurika L. , Gawarammana Indika B. , Weerakoon Gamini
Published: February 2020

Dengue is an arboviral febrile illness endemic in many tropical and subtropical regions with frequent epidemics. Although most cases are self-limiting, progression into dengue haemorrhagic fever can have dire outcomes. The course can also be complicated by infrequent occurrence of unusual clinical manifestations which are increasingly recognized. We describe the case of a 16-year-old previously healthy girl diagnosed with dengue, who went on to develop severe ischaemic-type central chest pain towards the end of the critical phase of dengue haemorrhagic fever. Urgent investigation revealed acute ST-segment elevations in the high lateral leads of a surface electrocardiogram which completely reverted to normal within 2 hours, associated with elevated cardiac biomarkers but normal findings on transthoracic 2D echocardiography. She was managed with high-dose statins, nitrates, and pain relievers and made an uneventful recovery without any further episodes. The possible explanation for the presentation was focal myocarditis leading to coronary artery spasms.
Current and Emerging Pharmacotherapy for Fibromyalgia
Authors: Tzadok Roie , Ablin Jacob N.
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a pain disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1–5%. It is associated with a variety of somatic and psychological disorders. Its exact pathogenesis is still unclear but is involved with neural oversensitization and decreased conditioned pain modulation (CPM), combined with cognitive dysfunction, memory impairment, and altered information processing. Connectivity between brain areas involved in pain processing, alertness, and cognition is increased in the syndrome, making its pharmacologic therapy complex. Only three drugs, pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran are currently FDA-approved for FM treatment, but many other agents have been tested over the years, with varying efficacy. Areas Covered. The purpose of this review is to summarize current clinical experience with different pharmacologic treatments used for fibromyalgia and introduce future perspectives in developing therapies. Expert Opinion. Future insights into the fields of cannabinoid and opioid research, as well as an integrative approach towards the incorporation of genetics and functional imaging combined with additional fields of research relevant towards the study of complex CNS disorders, are likely to lead to new developments of novel tailor-made treatments for FMS patients.
Normative Values of Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness and Optic Nerve Head Parameters and Their Association with Visual Function in an African Population
Authors: Ocansey Stephen , Abu Emmanuel Kwasi , Owusu-Ansah Andrew , Mensah Shadrack , Oduro-Boateng John , Kojo Rene Abalo , Kyei Samuel , Boadi-Kusi Samuel Bert , Amoah-Smith Obed , Morny Enyam Komla Amewuho , Darko-Takyi Charles , Abraham Carl Halladay , Appiah Nyamekye Benjamin , Ilechie Alex Azuka
Published: February 2020

Purpose. To determine normative values of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters and their association with routine clinical tests such as refractive error (RE), stereoacuity (SA), and contrast sensitivity (CS) in an African population. Methods. In a cross-sectional observational study, 100 normal subjects aged 20 to 78 years were evaluated using the Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 and matched with 200 glaucoma patients. Results. Average (±SD) RNFL thickness for normal subjects was found to be 102.37 ± 7.45 (range, 82–119 microns) compared with 90.74 ± 14.50 found for glaucoma subjects. Females had higher average RNFL values (104.84 ± 6.90) compared with males (99.80 ± 7.18). Significant associations were calculated between quadrant RNFL thickness and SA, SE, and CS (all p<0.05). The mean cup to disc ratio (CDR) was 0.49 ± 0.12, and mean optic disc area (DA) was 2.08 mm2 ± 0.40. Smaller DA was recorded for participants aged 60+ years (1.86 ± 0.25), followed by 40–59 age group (2.01 ± 0.41) and then 20–39 age group (2.19 ± 0.41). Significant associations were calculated between SA and ONH parameters, except rim area (all p<0.01), and RE was significantly associated with DA and average CDR (all p<0.05). Conclusion. RNFL thickness in healthy black Ghanaian population was significantly higher than that reported in other races. The values and associations reported in this study can inform clinical decision on the normal variation in RNFL and optic disc parameters.
Haematological Profile of Adults with Malaria Parasitaemia Visiting the Volta Regional Hospital, Ghana
Authors: Sakzabre Daniel , Asiamah Emmanuel Akomanin , Akorsu Elliot Elikplim , Abaka-Yawson Albert , Dika Noble Dei , Kwasie David Annor , Ativi Emmanuel , Tseyiboe Confidence , Osei George Yiadom
Published: February 2020

Background. Malaria is known to cause severe health consequences due to its marked effects and alteration on the haematological parameters of infected individuals. This study evaluated the haematological profile of adult individuals infected with the malaria parasite. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted using archived data of malaria positive cases from January 2017 to March 15, 2019. Data retrieved included subjects’ demographics, malaria parasite count, malaria parasite species, and full blood count parameters. A total of 236 malaria positive subjects were included in the study. Results. The study showed that more females were infected with the malaria parasite than males (69.07% and 30.93%, respectively). A total of 87.3% of the study population were infected with Plasmodium falciparum as compared to 12.7% infected with Plasmodium malariae. The commonest haematological abnormalities that were seen in this study were lymphopenia (56.78%), anaemia (55.51%), thrombocytopenia (47.46%), eosinopenia (45.76%), neutropenia (29.24%), monocytosis (21.19%), and leucocytosis (17.37%) in the infected subjects. The mean platelet count of P. falciparum-infected subjects was decreased as compared to the mean platelet count of P. malariae-infected subjects. There was a significant (P value <0.05) decrease in the number of platelet count with every unit increase in parasite density. Conclusion. Study participants infected with malaria demonstrated vital changes in haematological parameters with anaemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, and eosinopenia being the most important predictors of malaria infection especially with P. falciparum species.
CD73 Blockade Promotes Dendritic Cell Infiltration of Irradiated Tumors and Tumor Rejection
Authors: Wennerberg Erik , Spada Sheila , Rudqvist Nils-Petter , Lhuillier Claire , Gruber Sylvia , Chen Qiuying , Zhang Fengli , Zhou Xi K. , Gross Steven S. , Formenti Silvia C. , Demaria Sandra
Published: February 2020

The ability of focal radiotherapy to promote priming of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and increase responses to immunotherapy is dependent on infiltration of the tumor by Batf3-dependent conventional dendritic cell type 1 (cDC1) cells. Such infiltration is driven by radiotherapy-induced IFN type I (IFN-I). Other signals may also modulate cDC1 infiltration of irradiated tumors. Here we found increased expression of adenosine-generating enzymes CD38 and CD73 in irradiated mouse and human breast cancer cells and increased adenosine in mouse tumors following radiotherapy. CD73 blockade alone had no effect. CD73 blockade with radiotherapy restored radiotherapy-induced cDC1 infiltration of tumors in settings where radiotherapy induction of IFN-I was suboptimal. In the absence of radiotherapy-induced IFN-I, blockade of CD73 was required for rejection of the irradiated tumor and for systemic tumor control (abscopal effect) in the context of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4 blockade. These results suggest that CD73 may be a radiation-induced checkpoint, and that CD73 blockade in combination with radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade might improve patient response to therapy.
Proteogenomics Uncovers a Vast Repertoire of Shared Tumor-Specific Antigens in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Zhao Qingchuan , Laverdure Jean-Philippe , Lanoix Joël , Durette Chantal , Côté Caroline , Bonneil Éric , Laumont Céline M. , Gendron Patrick , Vincent Krystel , Courcelles Mathieu , Lemieux Sébastien , Millar Douglas G. , Ohashi Pamela S. , Thibault Pierre , Perreault Claude
Published: February 2020

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), the principal cause of death from gynecologic malignancies in the world, has not significantly benefited from advances in cancer immunotherapy. Although HGSC infiltration by lymphocytes correlates with superior survival, the nature of antigens that can elicit anti-HGSC immune responses is unknown. The goal of this study was to establish the global landscape of HGSC tumor-specific antigens (TSA) using a mass spectrometry pipeline that interrogated all reading frames of all genomic regions. In 23 HGSC tumors, we identified 103 TSAs. Classic TSA discovery approaches focusing only on mutated exonic sequences would have uncovered only three of these TSAs. Other mutated TSAs resulted from out-of-frame exonic translation (n = 2) or from noncoding sequences (n = 7). One group of TSAs (n = 91) derived from aberrantly expressed unmutated genomic sequences, which were not expressed in normal tissues. These aberrantly expressed TSAs (aeTSA) originated primarily from nonexonic sequences, in particular intronic (29%) and intergenic (22%) sequences. Their expression was regulated at the transcriptional level by variations in gene copy number and DNA methylation. Although mutated TSAs were unique to individual tumors, aeTSAs were shared by a large proportion of HGSCs. Taking into account the frequency of aeTSA expression and HLA allele frequencies, we calculated that, in Caucasians, the median number of aeTSAs per tumor would be five. We conclude that, in view of their number and the fact that they are shared by many tumors, aeTSAs may be the most attractive targets for HGSC immunotherapy.
Late Neurological Deterioration after Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A post hoc Analysis of the ATACH-2 Trial
Authors: Okazaki Shuhei , Yamamoto Haruko , Foster Lydia D. , Fukuda-Doi Mayumi , Koga Masatoshi , Ihara Masafumi , Toyoda Kazunori , Palesch Yuko Y. , Qureshi Adnan I.
Published: February 2020

Background: Neurological deterioration (ND) has a major influence on the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); however, factors associated with ND occurring after 24 h of ICH onset are unknown. Methods: We performed exploratory analyses of data from the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage 2 trial, which compared intensive and standard blood pressure lowering treatment in ICH. NDs were captured on the adverse event case report form. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the independent predictors of late ND. Results: Among 1,000 participants with acute ICH, 82 patients (8.2%) developed early ND (≤24 h), and 64 (6.4%) had late ND. Baseline hematoma volume (adjusted OR [aOR] per 1-cm3 increase 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06, p < 0.0001), hematoma volume increase in 24 h (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.23–4.07, p = 0.008), and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH; aOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.32–4.29, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of late ND (vs. no late ND). Late ND was a significant risk factor for poor 90-day outcome (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.82–6.56). No statistically significant difference in the incidence of late ND was noted between the 2 treatment groups. Conclusions: Initial hematoma volume, early hematoma volume expansion, and IVH are independent predictors of late ND after ICH. Intensive reduction in the systolic blood pressure level does not prevent the development of late ND.
Long-Term Outcomes after Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results from the US Neuroendocrine Study Group
Authors: Sahara Kota , Tsilimigras Diamantis I. , Moro Amika , Mehta Rittal , Dillhoff Mary , Heidsma Charlotte M. , Lopez-Aguiar Alexandra G. , Maithel Shishir K. , Rocha Flavio G. , Kanji Zaheer , Abbott Daniel E. , Fisher Alexander , Fields Ryan C. , Krasnick Bradley A. , Idrees Kamran , Smith Paula M. , Poultsides George A. , Makris Eleftherios , Cho Clifford S. , Beems Megan , Endo Itaru , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: February 2020

Background: The adoption of spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP) for malignant disease such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) has been controversial. The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of SPDP on outcomes of patients with pNETs. Methods: Patients undergoing a distal pancreatectomy for pNET between 2002 and 2016 were identified in the US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing SPDP versus distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS). Results: Among 621 patients, 103 patients (16.6%) underwent an SPDP. Patients who underwent SPDP were more likely to have lower BMI (median, 27.5 [IQR 24.0–31.2] vs. 28.7 [IQR 25.7–33.6]; p = 0.005) and have undergone minimally invasive surgery (n = 56, 54.4% vs. n = 185, 35.7%; p < 0.001). After PSM, while the median total number of lymph nodes examined among patients who underwent an SPDP was lower compared with DPS (3 [IQR 1–8] vs. 9 [5–13]; p < 0.001), 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were comparable (OS: 96.8 vs. 92.0%, log-rank p = 0.21, RFS: 91.1 vs. 84.7%, log-rank p = 0.93). In addition, patients undergoing SPDP had less intraoperative blood loss (median, 100 mL [IQR 10–250] vs. 150 mL [IQR 100–400]; p = 0.001), lower incidence of serious complications (n = 13, 12.8% vs. n = 28, 27.5%; p = 0.014), and shorter length of stay (median: 5 days [IQR 4–7] vs. 6 days [IQR 5–13]; p = 0.049) compared with patients undergoing DPS. Conclusion: SPDP for pNET was associated with acceptable perioperative and long-term outcomes that were comparable to DPS. SPDP should be considered for patients with pNET.
АКТУАЛЬНІ ПИТАННЯ ДІАГНОСТИКИ І ТАКТИКИ ВЕДЕННЯ ПАЦІЄНТІВ З ГОСТРОЮ РЕСПІРАТОРНОЮ ІНФЕКЦІЄЮ В АМБУЛАТОРНІЙ ПРАКТИЦІ ТА ВИКЛАДАННІ
Authors: Babinets L. S. , Kotsaba Yu. Ya.
Published: February 2020

РЕЗЮМЕ. Гострі респіраторні інфекції (ГРІ) у більшості випадків є амбулаторною патологією, тому питання діагностики й формування тактики ведення пацієнтів на етапі первинної медичної допомоги є важливим завданням медичної освіти і практики.

Мета – на основі опрацювання Європейського клінічного протоколу ведення пацієнтів з гострою респіраторною інфекцією (Хорватія) виділити ключові аспекти, важливі для клінічної практики і медичної освіти.

Результати. Гострі респіраторні інфекції найчастіше є короткочасними сезонними захворюваннями, пацієнти зазвичай одужують без негативних наслідків. ГРІ є тягарем для пацієнта, сім’ї, громади та системи охорони здоров’я через їх поширеність. Більшість ГРІ верхніх дихальних шляхів можна розпізнати на підставі якісно проведеного збору анамнезу і ретельного клінічного обстеження. Подальші діагностичні дослідження необхідні лише в деяких випадках, які чітко регламентовані клінічним протоколом.

Як правило, в кабінеті сімейного лікаря необхідно зосередитись на оцінці локалізації ГРІ, тобто визначити, чи це інфекція верхніх, чи нижніх дихальних шляхів, а також яка найімовірніша причина ГРІ – віруси чи бактерії. Часто непотрібно визначати точну причину ГРІ, оскільки найчастіше це захворювання, які самовиліковуються, тому вони й лікуються в умовах ПМД. Це визначає специфіку клінічного підходу сімейного лікаря до пацієнта з ГРІ, та не впливає на рішення, як лікувати пацієнта.

Діагностичні дослідження призначають лише тоді, коли клінічна картина не є чіткою, а іноді для підтвердження причини інфекції при підозрі на стрептококову інфекцію горла, коли є намір призначити антибіотики згідно із клінічним протоколом.

Висновок. Розбіжність між очікуваннями пацієнтів і професійними рекомендаціями щодо самодопомоги (самолікування), а також призначення антибіотиків і вакцинопрофілактики, може бути врегульована шляхом інтенсивного навчання пацієнтів, ретельного проведення диференційної діагностики, встановленням довіри між пацієнтом та сімейним лікарем у ході консультування і використанням стратегії «очікуй і спостерігай».