bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Dynamic Impact on Universal Breakaway Steel Post
Authors: Mehrmashhadi Javad , A. Pajouh Mojdeh , Reid John D.
Published: January 2020

A closed guardrail system, known as “bullnose” guardrail system, was previously developed to prevent out-of-control vehicles from falling into the elephant trap. The bullnose guardrail system originally used Controlled Release Terminal (CRT) wood posts to aid in the energy absorption of the system. However, the use of CRT had several drawbacks such as grading and the need for regular inspections. Universal Breakaway Steel Post (UBSP) was then developed by the researchers at Midwest Roadside Safety Facility as a surrogate for CRT. In this study, the impact performance of UBSP on the weak-axis and strong-axis was studied through numerical modeling and component testing (bogie testing). A numerical model was developed using an advanced finite element package LS-DYNA to simulate the impact on UBSP. The numerical results were compared to experimental data. Further research on soil models was recommended. The numerical model will be used to investigate other applications for UBSP such as the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) long span system, guardrail end terminal designs, or crash cushions.
Effects of Absorbed Moisture Content on the Impact Response of Specially-Orthotropic Composite Plates
Authors: Ahmad Furqan , Abbassi Fethi , Miran Sajjad
Published: January 2020

This paper addresses the hygroscopic effects on the impact response of specially-orthotropic carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite plates under low-velocity impact loading. The material used in this study is Toray T800/3900 which is consist of carbon fibers and epoxy resin. For different percentage of moisture content by weight in the composite plates, low-velocity impact tests were done by using the 8-ply unidirectional [UD] and cross-ply [CP] composite plates with newly designed mini-drop tower testing machine. To study the hygroscopic effects, specimens were impacted by constant weight of impactor (3.44 Kg) with fixed impact height of 0.70 m corresponding to 23.62 J impact energy. The experiments were carried out on plates with dimension of 125 mm × 125 mm × 1.5 mm for simply supported boundary conditions. All UD composite plates were broken into two parts, but the impactor bounces back after hitting the top layer of the CP composite plate for all conditions. The strength of the UD composite plates decreased with increase of moisture contents, but with the increased of moisture contents, a small change was observed in the peak force, time to peak force values and absorbed energy for the CP composite plates. The large size damage areas were observed for wet plates as compared to dry plates. Absorbed moisture contents also have effect on the impactor velocity and impactor displacement.
Flexible Valveless Pump for Bio Applications
Authors: Naghdi Masoud , Farzbod Farhad , Goggans Paul M.
Published: January 2020

In electromechanical actuators Lorentz force law is used to convert electrical energy into rotational or linear mechanical energy. In these conventional electromechanical actuators, rigid wires conducts the electrical current and as such the types of motion generated by these actuators are limited. Recent advances in liquid metal alloys permit designing electrical wires that are stretchable. These flexible wires have been used to fabricate various flexible connections, sensors and antennas. However, there have been very little efforts to use these stretchable liquid metal wires as actuators. Building upon our previous work in this area, we have made a flexible pump which can be used in bio applications. In this design we placed a flexible polymeric substrate filled by liquid metal Galinstan between two permanent magnets. Since the pump should convey the biological cells suspended along the fluid flow, utilizing check valves may increase the risk of clog in the inlet or outlet. Therefore, our design is based on the nozzle/diffuser concept. This new pump can be considered as a peristaltic and valve-less mechanical pumps which utilizes the Lorentz force law as the actuating mechanism.
Assessment and Characterization of Hybrid Mesoporous Material MCM With Titanium Dioxide for Water Treatment
Authors: Xu Jiajun
Published: January 2020

In the current study, a new method was developed to synthesize the hybrid mesoporous material with metallic oxides, MCM-48 with TiO2, at an improved efficiency and reduced cost. The results have shown an over 95% adsorption efficiency for trace metals for the hybrid MCM-48 with TiO2 materials, and a significantly improved maximum adsorption capacity compared to pure MCM-48. Its unique hybrid structured allows the polluted water to pass through the strong yet highly permeable structure of mesoporous material, while gives enough time for the pollutants to react with the TiO2 infused on the porous structure so that the polluted water can be treated without introducing secondary pollutants. The microstructures of the MCM-48 with and without TiO2 are characterized using SEM with EDS and Porosimiter. The effectiveness of wastewater treatment is measured using Inductively Couple Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The significant improvements observed here is likely due to the infused TiO2 to the base MCM-48 structure, which also agree with the authors’ previous finding. It is noticed that, while the higher concentration of TiO2 has a positive impact on the adsorption of trace metals, the higher concentration of Ti source does not necessarily yield significantly higher concentration of TiO2 in the final product. Future study is needed to further explore this hybrid mesoporous material for other pollutants treatment, and to obtain a further understanding of its mechanisms.
Carpal Tunnel Injury in Automobile Collisions
Authors: Wiechel John , Morr Douglas , Boggess Brian , Amenson Tara
Published: January 2020

It is trite to say that automobile collisions cause injury due to mechanical force application to the body. It is also understood that carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating condition which is caused by mechanical forces applied to the structures of the wrist. With the increased incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in the 1990’s, automobile accidents have been identified as a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Such relationship is often based on a patient’s complaints after the accident and lack of complaint before the accident. Regardless of the patient’s complaint history, a mechanical relationship between the forces present in the accident and the injury must exist. A number of vehicle accident configurations are investigated, and the forces applied to the vehicle occupant’s wrist are identified. The directions and magnitudes of these forces are discussed with respect to their relationship to carpal tunnel syndrome. This analysis shows that in low energy collisions (delta V < 16 kph,10 mph) the forces necessary to cause carpal tunnel syndrome are not present. Other accident situations can cause carpal tunnel syndrome with a prerequisite being sufficient magnitude of force applied directly to the wrist.
A DNS Study on Roughness-Induced Transition in Oscillating Pipe Flow by Employing Overset Methodology
Authors: Abdulrasool Ali A. , Lee Yongho
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we model a circular pipe with wavy inner wall, for the purpose of studying the role of surface roughness in a purely oscillating flow. Overset-grid technique is utilized for two combined flow domains, and the interpolation process within the shared zone is validated with the exact laminar flow solution for long-time oscillation. Direct numerical simulations are performed at different flow conditions, taking advantage of the overlapping capability of the spectral element method. All simulations begin with zero initial conditions, and periodic boundary conditions are applied at the two ends of the pipe with different roughness heights. The internal pipe roughness modeled by the overset meshes operates as a triggering mechanism for transition to turbulence, and the critical Reynolds number based on the Stokes thickness and the centerline velocity amplitude is determined to be 223.5 at the Stokes number of 10. The results confirm that the periodic turbulence bursts react to the presence of the roughness with different levels of turbulence intensity among the four Stokes numbers presented herein. Additionally, friction losses are calculated and compared with three cases of the existing experimental results for smooth and rough walls.
Effects of dynamic change in fetuin-A levels from the first to the second trimester on insulin resistance and gestational diabetes mellitus: a nested case–control study
Authors: Jin Chuyao , Lin Lizi , Han Na , Zhao Zhiling , Liu Zheng , Luo Shusheng , Xu Xiangrong , Liu Jue , Wang Haijun
Published: January 2020

Objective

To examine the effects of dynamic change in fetuin-A levels before the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on insulin resistance and GDM.

Research design and methods

A total of 135 women with GDM and 135 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) women with matched age (±2 years old) and gestational age at taking the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were included in this nested case–control study. Fasting venous blood samples were collected at the prenatal visit of the first trimester and during OGTT of the second trimester. Plasma concentration of fetuin-A and insulin was determined.

Results

The plasma fetuin-A concentration in women with GDM was significantly higher than NGT controls in both the first trimester (medians: 403.0 pg/mL vs 273.4 pg/mL; p<0.05) and the second trimester (medians: 475.7 pg/mL vs 290.8 pg/mL; p<0.05) and notably increased from the first to the second trimester. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the change in fetuin-A concentration was associated with the changes in fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance, and HOMA of β-cell function (HOMA-β) (p<0.05). The highest quartile of the increase in fetuin-A concentration from the first to the second trimester was associated with a higher risk of developing GDM compared with the lowest quartile (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.37).

Conclusions

The dynamic change in fetuin-A levels was associated with the changes in insulin resistance and β-cell function from the first to the second trimester, and was associated with an increased risk of the development of GDM, indicating that fetuin-A could be a biomarker to predict the risk of GDM.

Trial registration number

NCT03814395.
Establishment of a road traffic trauma registry for northern Sri Lanka
Authors: Gobyshanger Thayasivam , Bales Alison M , Hardman Claire , McCarthy Mary
Published: January 2020

Road traffic injuries are a neglected global public health problem. Over 1.25 million people are killed each year, and middle-income countries, which are motorising rapidly, are the hardest hit. Sri Lanka is dealing with an injury-related healthcare crisis, with a recent 85% increase in road traffic fatality rates. Road traffic crashes now account for 25 000 injuries annually and 10 deaths daily. Development of a trauma registry is the foundation for injury control, care and prevention. Five northern Sri Lankan provinces collaborated with Jaffna Teaching Hospital to develop a local electronic registry. The Centre for Clinical Excellence and Research was established to provide organisational leadership, hardware and software were purchased, and data collectors trained. Initial data collection was modified after implementation challenges were resolved. Between 1 June 2017 and 30 September 2017, 1708 injured patients were entered into the registry. Among these patients, 62% were male, 76% were aged 21–50, 71.3% were motorcyclists and 34% were in a collision with another motorcyclist. There were frequent collisions with uncontrolled livestock (12%) and with fixed objects (14%), and most patients were transported by private vehicles without prehospital care. Head (n=315) and lower extremity (n=497) injuries predominated. Establishment of a trauma registry in low-income and middle-income countries is a significant challenge and requires invested local leadership; the most challenging issue is ongoing funding. However, this pilot registry provides a valuable foundation, identifying unique injury mechanisms, establishing priorities for prevention and patient care, and introducing the concept of an organised system to this region.
Multistate programme to reduce catheter-associated infections in intensive care units with elevated infection rates
Authors: Meddings Jennifer , Greene M Todd , Ratz David , Ameling Jessica , Fowler Karen E , Rolle Andrew J , Hung Louella , Collier Sue , Saint Sanjay
Published: January 2020

Background

Preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains challenging in intensive care units (ICUs).

Objective

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for ICUs aimed to reduce CLABSI and CAUTI in units with elevated rates.

Methods

Invited hospitals had at least one adult ICU with elevated CLABSI or CAUTI rates, defined by a positive cumulative attributable difference metric (CAD >0) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Targeted Assessment for Prevention strategy. This externally facilitated programme implemented by a national project team and state hospital associations included on-demand video modules and live webinars reviewing a two-tiered approach for implementing key technical and socioadaptive factors to prevent catheter infections, using principles and tools based on the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program. CLABSI, CAUTI and catheter use data were collected (preintervention 13 months, intervention 12 months). Multilevel negative binomial models assessed changes in catheter-associated infection rates and catheter use.

Results

Of 366 recruited ICUs from 220 hospitals in 16 states and Puerto Rico for two cohorts, 280 ICUs completed the programme including infection outcome reporting; 274 ICUs had complete outcome data for analyses. Statistically significant reductions in adjusted infection rates were not observed (CLABSI incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.75, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.08, p=0.13; CAUTI IRR=0.79, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.06, p=0.12). Adjusted central line utilisation (IRR=0.97, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.00, p=0.09) and adjusted urinary catheter utilisation were unchanged (IRR=0.98, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.01, p=0.14).

Conclusion

This multistate programme targeted ICUs with elevated catheter infection rates, but yielded no statistically significant reduction in CLABSI, CAUTI or catheter utilisation in the first two of six planned cohorts. Improvements in the interventions based on lessons learnt from these initial cohorts are being applied to subsequent cohorts.
Cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death registries: a systematic review of global coverage
Authors: Paratz Elizabeth Davida , Rowsell Luke , Zentner Dominica , Parsons Sarah , Morgan Natalie , Thompson Tina , James Paul , Pflaumer Andreas , Semsarian Christopher , Smith Karen , Stub Dion , La Gerche Andre
Published: January 2020

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major global health problem, accounting for up to 20% of deaths in Western societies. Clinical quality registries have been shown in a range of disease conditions to improve clinical management, reduce variation in care and improve outcomes.

Aim

To identify existing cardiac arrest (CA) and SCD registries, characterising global coverage and methods of data capture and validation.

Methods

Biomedical and public search engines were searched with the terms ‘registry cardio*’; ‘sudden cardiac death registry’ and ‘cardiac arrest registry’. Registries were categorised as either CA, SCD registries or ‘other’ according to prespecified criteria. SCD registry coordinators were contacted for contemporaneous data regarding registry details.

Results

Our search strategy identified 49 CA registries, 15 SCD registries and 9 other registries (ie, epistries). Population coverage of contemporary CA and SCD registries is highly variable with registries densely concentrated in North America and Western Europe. Existing SCD registries (n=15) cover a variety of age ranges and subpopulations, with some enrolling surviving patients (n=8) and family members (n=5). Genetic data are collected by nine registries, with the majority of these (n=7) offering indefinite storage in a biorepository.

Conclusions

Many CA registries exist globally, although with inequitable population coverage. Comprehensive multisource surveillance SCD registries are fewer in number and more challenging to design and maintain. Challenges identified include maximising case identification and case verification.

Trial registration number

CRD42019118910.
Managing the Hidden Costs of Coordination
Authors: Maguire Laura M.D.
Published: January 2020

Some initial considerations to control cognitive costs for incident responders include: (1) assessing coordination strategies relative to the cognitive demands of the incident; (2) recognizing when adaptations represent a tension between multiple competing demands (coordination and cognitive work) and seeking to understand them better rather than unilaterally eliminating them; (3) widening the lens to study the joint cognition system (integration of human-machine capabilities) as the unit of analysis; and (4) viewing joint activity as an opportunity for enabling reciprocity across inter- and intra-organizational boundaries.
How Privacy Concerns, Trust and Risk Beliefs, and Privacy Literacy Influence Users' Intentions to Use Privacy-Enhancing Technologies
Authors: Harborth David , Pape Sebastian
Published: January 2020

Due to an increasing collection of personal data by internet companies and several data breaches, research related to privacy gained importance in the last years in the information systems domain. Privacy concerns can strongly influence users' decision to use a service. The Internet Users Information Privacy Concerns (IUIPC) construct is one operationalization to measure the impact of privacy concerns on the use of technologies. However, when applied to a privacy enhancing technology (PET) such as an anonymization service, the original rationales do not hold anymore. In particular, an inverted impact of trusting and risk beliefs on behavioral intentions can be expected. We show that the IUIPC model needs to be adapted for the case of PETs. In addition, we extend the original causal model by including trusting beliefs in the anonymization service itself as well as a measure for privacy literacy. A survey among 124 users of the anonymization service Tor shows that trust in Tor has a statistically significant effect on the actual use behavior of the PET. In addition, the results indicate that privacy literacy has a negative impact on trusting beliefs in general and a positive effect on trust in Tor.
Enabling Laboratory Medicine in Primary Care Through IT Systems Use
Authors: Raymond Louis , Paré Guy , Maillet Éric
Published: January 2020

Important problems remain regarding the efficiency and quality of laboratory testing in primary care. In view of this, a significant function of electronic medical record (EMR) systems is to enable the practice of laboratory medicine by primary care physicians. The present study aims to deepen our understanding of the nature and extent of physicians' use of EMR and other laboratory information exchange systems for patient management and care within the laboratory testing process. We conducted a survey of 684 Canadian family physicians. Results indicate that physicians use 84 percent of the laboratory functionalities available in their EMR system. The two most important impacts are the ability to gain time in the post-analytical phase and to take faster action in this same phase as they follow-up on their patients' test results. Physicians who perceive to benefit most from their EMR use are those who make the most extensive use of their system. Extended use of an EMR system allows primary care physicians to better ascertain and monitor the health status of their patients, verify their diagnosis assumptions, and, if their system includes a clinical decision support module, apply evidence-based practices in laboratory medicine.
How Enterprises Adopt Agile Forms of Organizational Design
Authors: Gerster Daniel , Dremel Christian , Brenner Walter , Kelker Prashant
Published: January 2020

The question of how to increase speed and flexibility in times of digital disruption is essential to almost any company. While previous research mainly addresses agility in the context of information systems development, as form for organizing startups or "born digital" companies, little knowledge exists about the adoption of agile practices and structures at established enterprises. With an exploratory study of fifteen global cases, we aim at examining how established enterprises adopt and scale agile forms of organizational design. We found that (1) agile forms of organizational design are currently adopted by enterprises at large scale, (2) agile forms of organizational design are adopted not only by IT, but successively also by business units and in contexts outside information systems development, and (3) while Spotify's organization serves as a widespread template for a fully agile unit, enterprises adapt and fine-tune this template according to their needs and scale. We identified three additional models for fully agile forms of organizational design where a fully agile unit with cross-product support is the most frequently observed model.
Clinically Relevant Tissue Scale Responses as New Readouts from Organs-on-a-Chip for Precision Medicine
Authors: Guenat Olivier T. , Geiser Thomas , Berthiaume François
Published: January 2020

Organs-on-chips (OOC) are widely seen as being the next generation in vitro models able to accurately recreate the biochemical-physical cues of the cellular microenvironment found in vivo. In addition, they make it possible to examine tissue-scale functional properties of multicellular systems dynamically and in a highly controlled manner. Here we summarize some of the most remarkable examples of OOC technology's ability to extract clinically relevant tissue-level information. The review is organized around the types of OOC outputs that can be measured from the cultured tissues and transferred to clinically meaningful information. First, the creation of functional tissues-on-chip is discussed, followed by the presentation of tissue-level readouts specific to OOC, such as morphological changes, vessel formation and function, tissue properties, and metabolic functions. In each case, the clinical relevance of the extracted information is highlighted.
Hypoxia and Innate Immunity: Keeping Up with the HIFsters
Authors: Colgan Sean P. , Furuta Glenn T. , Taylor Cormac T.
Published: January 2020

Recent years have witnessed an emergence of interest in understanding metabolic changes associated with immune responses, termed immunometabolism. As oxygen is central to all aerobic metabolism, hypoxia is now recognized to contribute fundamentally to inflammatory and immune responses. Studies from a number of groups have implicated a prominent role for oxygen metabolism and hypoxia in innate immunity of healthy tissue (physiologic hypoxia) and during active inflammation (inflammatory hypoxia). This inflammatory hypoxia emanates from a combination of recruited inflammatory cells (e.g., neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes), high rates of oxidative metabolism, and the activation of multiple oxygen-consuming enzymes during inflammation. These localized shifts toward hypoxia have identified a prominent role for the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in the regulation of innate immunity. Such studies have provided new and enlightening insight into our basic understanding of immune mechanisms, and extensions of these findings have identified potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize recent literature around the topic of innate immunity and mucosal hypoxia with a focus on transcriptional responses mediated by HIF.
Early response of the parathyroid gland to withdrawal of a calcimimetic compound in uremic rats
Authors: Mizobuchi Masahide , Ogata Hiroaki , Koiwa Fumihiko , Honda Hirokazu
Published: January 2020

Little is known about changes in parathyroid cells when calcimimetics are withdrawn. We examined the response of parathyroid glands to cinacalcet (Cina) withdrawal in uremic Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-phosphate diet to develop secondary hyperparathyroidism and divided into groups treated with vehicle (UC), Cina, and Cina and maxacalcitol (Maxa), a vitamin D receptor activator (CiNa + Maxa). After 2 wk of treatment, vehicle and Cina were withdrawn and Maxa was continued. Rats were analyzed immediately ( day 0) and 7 days ( day 7) after withdrawal. The Cina and CiNa + Maxa groups had significantly lower parathyroid hormone (PTH) than the UC group on day 0, although PTH in the Cina group reached UC levels on day 7. On day 0, there were significantly more proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells in the UC group compared with normal controls, and this increase was significantly suppressed in the Cina and CiNa + Maxa groups. On day 7, the Cina group, but not the CiNa + Maxa group, showed a significant increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells compared with the UC group. This increase was related to parathyroid cell diameter regression to UC levels, whereas combination treatment maintained diameter suppression. These results indicate that parathyroid growth activity is stimulated by Cina withdrawal, although the PTH level was not further increased. Continuous administration of Cina may be required for optimal control of secondary hyperparathyroidism, and simultaneous use of a vitamin D receptor activator may be advisable during Cina withdrawal.
Early Mobilization Interventions in the Intensive Care Unit: Ongoing and Unpublished Randomized Trials
Authors: Maheswaran Janane , Fromowitz Jake , Goldfarb Michael
Published: January 2020

Background. Critical care societies recommend early mobilization (EM) as standard practice in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. However, there is limited randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence supporting EM’s effectiveness. Our objective was to identify ongoing or completed RCTs assessing EM’s effectiveness in the ICU. Method. We searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry for ongoing or completed but not published RCTs in an ICU setting with objective outcome measures. Results. There were 14 RCTs included in the analysis. All studies were in the general or mixed ICU setting (N=14). Half of the studies (N=7) were small RCTs (<100 projected participants) and half (N=7) were medium-sized RCTs (100–999 participants). Inclusion criteria included mechanical ventilation use or expected use (N=13) and prehospital functional status (N=7). Primary EM interventions were standard physiotherapist-based activities (N=4), cycling (N=9), and electrical muscle stimulation (N=1). Only one study involved nurse-led EM. The most common assessment tool was the 6-minute walk test (N=6). Primary outcome measures were physiological (N=3), clinical (N=3), patient-centered (N=7), and healthcare resource use (N=1). Most studies (N=8) involved post-ICU follow-up measures up to 1-year posthospitalization. There were no studies targeting older adults or people with acute cardiac disease. Conclusion. Identified studies will further the evidence base for EM’s effectiveness. There is a need for studies looking at specific patient populations that may benefit from EM, such as older adults and cardiac patients, as well as for novel EM delivery strategies, such as nurse-led EM.
An Overview of the Green Building Performance Database
Authors: Shen Chenyao , Zhao Kang , Ge Jian
Published: January 2020

Research on how the database method can assist building performance diagnosis has become an important direction of current green building studies. Many research institutions have paid great attention to the building performance database, adopting new technologies to integrate indoor environmental quality and occupant satisfaction with building energy consumption data. This paper introduces and summarizes the data types, collection methods, and applications of current building performance databases, including those in the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Australia, as well as China. In view of the current problems of limited coverage, poor quality, and ineffective application of green buildings in China, this paper proposes a three-dimensional framework for green building performance databases. The collection and optimization methods of green building performance data are also discussed.
Reduced Graphene Oxide/TEMPO-Nanocellulose Nanohybrid-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for the Determination ofMycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Zaid Mohd Hazani Mat , Abdullah Jaafar , Yusof Nor Azah , Wasoh Helmi , Sulaiman Yusran , Noh Mohd Fairulnizal Md , Issa Rahizan
Published: January 2020

A novel peptide nuclide acid (PNA) electrochemical biosensor based on reduced graphene oxide (NH2-rGO)/2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl nanocrystalline cellulose (TEMPO-NCC) for the detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(M. Tuberculosis) is described. In this study, the nanohybrid films NH2-rGO/TEMPO-NCC were immobilized onto screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE) via a simple drop-coating method. The electrochemical characterization of the designed electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Meanwhile, the sensitivity and selectivity of the designed biosensor againstM. tuberculosiswere measured by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The response of the PNA probe-modified (NH2-rGO)/TEMPO-NCC demonstrated that the fabricated biosensor was able to distinguish between complementary, noncomplementary, and one-base mismatch DNA sequences using methylene blue (MB) as the electrochemical indicator. The developed electrochemical biosensor exhibited a linear calibration curve in the concentration range of1×10−8 Mto1×10−13 Mwith the limit of detection of3.14×10−14 M. The developed electrochemical biosensor has also been tested with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product ofM. tuberculosisDNA which has shown successful results in distinguishing between negative and positive samples of M. tuberculosis.
Does Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Provide Better Treatment Outcomes in HIV-Infected Individuals in Northern Ethiopia? A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Atey Tesfay Mehari , Bitew Helen , Asgedom Solomon Weldegebreal , Endrias Asrat , Berhe Derbew Fikadu
Published: January 2020

Objectives. Early antiretroviral therapy (ART), isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), and isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) are effective strategies for preventing tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The study aimed to determine the effect of IPT on the TB incidence, follow-up CD4+ T cells, and all-cause mortality rate. Participants. Eligible patients on ART (n = 1, 863) were categorized into one-to-two ratios of exposed groups to IPT (n = 621) and nonexposed groups to IPT (n = 1, 242). Exposed groups entered the cohort at their first prescription of IPT, and unexposed groups entered into the study at the first prescription of ART and then followed until the occurrence of the outcome or date of administrative censoring (June 30, 2017). The outcome endpoints were TB incidence, follow-up CD4+ T cells, and all-cause mortality rate. Results. The follow-up CD4+ T cells for the exposed and nonexposed groups were 405.74 and 366.95 cells/mm (World Health Organization (WHO), 2017), respectively, a statistically significant finding (t1861 = −3.770, p<0.0001; Cohen’s d = 0.186). Nine percent of the exposed patients (620 incidence of TB per 100,000 person-years (PYs)) and 21.9% of the nonexposed patients (3160 incidence of TB per 100,000 PYs) developed TB. Mortality rate (per 100,000 PYs) was 440 for the exposed and 1490 for the unexposed patients. Statistically significant determinants of the all-cause mortality were unscheduled follow-up (AHR = 1.601; 95% CI: 1.154–2.222) and unable to work properly (AHR = 2.324; 95% CI: 1.643–3.288). Conclusion. This study demonstrates the effect of IPT in reducing incidence of TB and all-cause mortality rate and improving follow-up CD4+ T cells. Promoting IPT use can help to achieve the TB eradicating national agenda in Ethiopia.
A Variational Method for Multivalued Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Béhi Droh Arsène , Adjé Assohoun
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we investigate the existence of solution for differential systems involving a ϕ−Laplacian operator which incorporates as a special case the well-known p−Laplacian operator. In this purpose, we use a variational method which relies on Szulkin’s critical point theory. We obtain the existence of solution when the corresponding Euler–Lagrange functional is coercive.
Synchronization of a Dual-Mass Vibrating System with Two Exciters
Authors: Liu Yunshan , Zhang Xueliang , Gu Dawei , Jia Lei , Wen Bangchun
Published: January 2020

From the perspective of theoretical derivation, numerical simulation, and engineering application, the vibratory synchronization characteristics of a dual-mass vibrating system driven by two exciters, were studied. The differential motion equations of the total system were calculated using Lagrange’s equations, and the responses of the vibrating system in the steady state were derived by Laplace transform. The synchronization criterion between two exciters was deduced by using the averaging method. Based on the Hamilton principle, the stability criterion of the vibrating system in synchronous states is given. According to the theoretical results, the coupling characteristics between two exciters such as synchronization and stability were analyzed numerically. Some analyses of the numerical simulation of the system were carried out, which fully support the theoretical results. The rotational speed of two exciters, their phase difference, responses, and difference of responses of two rigid bodies were studied quantitatively in the subresonant state and super-resonant state of the system. This paper presents a practical example of vibratory synchronization of a dual-mass system driven by two exciters in engineering.
Neuronavigation-Guided Endoscopic Endonasal Drainage of Pediatric Anterior Cranial Base Epidural and Subdural Empyema
Authors: Touchette Charles J. , Crevier Louis , Weil Alexander G.
Published: January 2020

In children, epidural and/or subdural intracranial empyema can complicate frontal sinusitis or pansinusitis. The standard transcranial approach used to treat epidural or subdural empyema has many drawbacks, but these can be avoided with an endoscopic expanded endonasal approach (EEA). To support the feasibility and advantages of this approach, we report the successful drainage through endoscopic EEA of a bifrontal empyema caused by an intracranial extension of pansinusitis. Our case and the ones previously reported in the literature establish well that endoscopic EEA offers several advantages over the standard craniotomy. Hence, EEA should be considered as an alternative to the transcranial approach when surgically draining anterior skull base empyema resulting from pansinusitis in children.
Coexistence of Pure Red Cell Aplasia and Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia Associated with Thymoma
Authors: Wang Wei , Chen Li-Yan , Zhao Weiwei , Ren Yuyue , Wang Lianjie , Li Xiaoyun , Jiang Yongfang , Gao Haiyan
Published: January 2020

Thymoma is an uncommon neoplasia derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus, which leads to immune dysregulation and is associated with a series of autoimmune diseases. However, the concurrence of these disease entities is rare, and the exact mechanisms of these diseases are still unclear. We have admitted several cases who were diagnosed with thymoma, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and pure red cell aplasia. These cases were the first to report the concurrence of these three disorders. After thymectomy, anaemia improved, haemolytic cells decreased, and haemoglobin was normalized.
Quantitative Assessment of Retinal Capillary Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone Area in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Using OCTA
Authors: Mao Jianbo , Lin Jingjing , Zhu Lin , Liu Chenyi , Yu Xueting , Zhang Caiyun , Chen Yiqi , Zhang Yun , Shen Lijun
Published: January 2020

Purpose: To quantitatively assess the retinal capillary vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients compared to healthy subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and determine their correlation with visual acuity (VA). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, case-control study. All subjects were divided into three groups: acute CSC, chronic CSC, and healthy controls. The best-corrected VA test, optical coherence tomography, and OCTA were performed on the same day. In this study, we recorded and compared the main data of FAZ and VD in 3 × 3 mm OCTA images among three groups, also calculated the correlation between OCTA variables and VA in CSC patients. Results: A total of 148 subjects (148 eyes) were included in this study, with 50 eyes in acute CSC, 48 eyes in chronic CSC, and 50 eyes in control groups. The mean age was 50.11 ± 8.14 years. Chronic CSC had the significantly lowest VD both on the superficial and deep retina and the largest FAZ (0.39 ± 0.13 mm2) compared to acute CSC and controls (all p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between acute CSC and controls on VD or FAZ (both p > 0.05). In chronic CSC, both the decreased VD on deep retina and expanded FAZ were correlated with a worse VA (both p < 0.05). Conclusions: OCTA could serve as a reliable tool to evaluate different courses of CSC quantitively. In 3 × 3 mm OCTA images, both decreased VD and expanded FAZ were observed in chronic CSC patients.
The Role of PTEN in Neurodevelopment
Authors: Skelton Patrick D. , Stan Radu V. , Luikart Bryan W.
Published: January 2020

PTEN is a lipid and protein phosphatase that regulates cell growth and survival. Mutations to PTEN are highly penetrant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we briefly review the evidence linking PTEN mutations to ASD and the mouse models that have been used to study the role of PTEN in neurodevelopment. We then focus on the cellular phenotypes associated with PTEN loss in neurons, highlighting the role PTEN plays in neuronal proliferation, migration, survival, morphology, and plasticity.
Angiopoietin-Like Protein 7 and Short-Term Mortality in Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Zhang Chongyu , He Xin , Zhao Jingjing , Cao Yalin , Liu Jian , Liang Weihao , Zhou Yuanyuan , Wang Chao , Xue Ruicong , Dong Yugang , Liu Chen
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Angiopoietin-like protein 7 (ANGPTL7) is involved in extracellular matrix expression and inflammatory responses. However, the prognostic utility of ANGPTL7 among patients with acute heart failure (AHF) remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the association between ANGPTL7 and short-term mortality due to AHF. Methods and Results: Patients with AHF were prospectively studied. Serum levels of ANGPTL7 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Associations between 30- and 90-day mortality and tertiles of ANGPTL7 were assessed by multivariate logistic regression models. The study comprised 142 patients. Median patient age was 68 years, and 69.7% were male. There were 20 deaths within 30 days and 37 deaths within 90 days. Crude rates of 30-day mortality in low, intermediate, and high tertiles of ANGPTL7 were 4.6, 14.6, and 22.9%, respectively. Crude rates of 90-day mortality of corresponding tertiles were 15.2, 25.0, and 37.5%. After adjusting for potential confounders, including NT-proBNP, the high tertile of ANGPTL7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of both 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 6.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41–32.61, p = 0.017) and 90-day mortality (OR: 3.78, 95% CI: 1.38–10.36, p = 0.010) compared with the low tertile of ANGPTL7. Although mortality risk tended to be higher in the intermediate tertile than the low tertile, it did not reach statistical significance (OR: 3.75, 95% CI: 0.73–19.14, p = 0.113 for 30-day mortality; OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 0.66–5.34, p = 0.236 for 90-day mortality). Conclusions: Serum level of ANGPTL7 was independently associated with short-term mortality among patients with AHF.
Utilization of the Intraoperative Mobile AIRO® CT Scanner in Stereotactic Surgery: Workflow and Effectiveness
Authors: Faust Katharina , Schneider Gerd-Helge , Vajkoczy Peter
Published: January 2020

Background: In frame-based stereotactic surgery, intraoperative imaging is crucial. It generally follows a workflow including preoperative MRI and intraoperative frame-based CT. The intraoperative transport of the anesthetized and intubated patient to and from the CT unit can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Here, we report the first 50 patients who underwent stereotactic biopsies using the mobile AIRO® intraoperative CT (iCT) scanner. Methods: A conventional stereotactic frame was mounted to the AIRO® carbon table via carbon adapter. 0°gantry thin-slice iCT was performed. The imaging data were transferred to a conventional stereotaxy working unit. After fusion of the preoperative MRI and AIRO® iCT, the stereotactic system was built based on the iCT, and trajectories were calculated accordingly. Results: The frame-based stereotactic iCT was easy to implement and successfully accomplished in all patients. The MRI/iCT image fusion was feasible in all of the studies. A conclusive histological result was obtained in 46 of the 50 cases included. There was no bleeding complication. Net surgery time was reduced by 38 min, on average. Conclusion: We conclude that the AIRO® system is a safe, easy-to-use, and sufficiently accurate iCT for CT frame-based stereotactic biopsy planning that results in a considerable reduction of surgery time. In the future, it remains to be evaluated if the accuracy rates and intraoperative workflow will permit its application in deep brain stimulation and other functional procedures as well.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy via a Middle Calyx Access Is Effective in the Treatment of Lower Pole Kidney Stones: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Caglayan Volkan , Onen Efe , Avci Sinan , Kilic Metin , Sambel Murat , Oner Sedat
Published: January 2020

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of the middle calyx access (MCA) and lower calyx access (LCA) in the treatment of lower pole kidney stones. Materials and Methods: The data of patients with isolated lower pole kidney stones who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy via MCA or LCA between 2009 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative parameters of the groups (LCA group and MCA group) were compared. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 601 patients with lower pole kidney stones were included in the study. LCA was performed for the initial tract in 400 patients, and MCA was performed in 201 patients. There were no significant differences in terms of age, gender, laterality, body mass index, previous operation history, stone burden, duration of fluoroscopy, and stone-free rate between the groups. Operation time was significantly longer in the LCA group (p = 0.041). In the LCA group, additional access was required in 50 cases, which was significantly higher than in the MCA group (p = 0.013). Clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRF) were present in 28 patients (7%) in the first group (significantly higher vs. MCA: p = 0.044). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of overall complication and transfusion rates. Conclusions: MCA had superior outcomes in terms of operation time, CIRF rate, hemoglobin drop, and requirement of an additional tract compared to LCA. Further studies evaluating the efficacy of MCA in lower pole kidney stones should be performed to verify our results.
Plasma Permeabilization of Human Excised Full-Thickness Skin by µs- and ns-pulsed DBD
Authors: Gelker Monika , Müller-Goymann Christel C. , Viöl Wolfgang
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is gaining increasing importance as a medical or cosmetic treatment for various indications. The technology is best suited to the treatment of surfaces such as the skin and is already used in wound care and, in exemplary case studies, the reduction of superficial tumors. Several plasma sources have been reported to affect the skin barrier function and potentially enable drug delivery across or into plasma-treated skin. Objective: In this study, this effect was quantified for different plasma sources in order to elucidate the influence of voltage rise time, pulse duration, and power density in treatments of full-thickness skin. Methods: We compared three different dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) as to their permeabilization efficiency using Franz diffusion cell permeation experiments and measurements of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) with full-thickness human excised skin. Results: We found a significant reduction of the TEER for all three plasma sources. Permeation of the hydrophilic sodium fluorescein molecule was enhanced by a factor of 11.7 (low power) to 41.6 (high power) through µs-pulsed DBD-treated skin. A smaller effect was observed after treatment with the ns-pulsed DBD. Conclusions: The direct treatment of excised human full-thickness skin with CAP, specifically a DBD, can lead to pore formation and enhances transdermal transport of sodium fluorescein.
Lectotypifications and new synonyms in Indian Syzygium (Myrtaceae)

Authors: SINGH RAJEEV KUMAR , ARIGELA RAVI KIRAN
Published: January 2020

Three Linnaean names Eugenia jambos, Myrtus caryophyllata and M. zeylanica require second-step lectotypification and are designated here. Fifteen lectotypes and one neotype are also designated for sixteen names of thirteen recognized species of Indian Syzygium. The recently described species Syzygium bournei, S. dhaneshianum and S. lakshmananii are treated here as a new synonym of S. caryophyllatum, S. gardneri and S. montanum respectively.
Validation of the name Rhododendron xishuiense (Ericaceae)

Authors: TONG YI-HUA , YANG CHENG-HUA , XIA NIAN-HE
Published: January 2020

Rhododendron xishuiense C.H.Yang & C.D.Yang in Yang et al. (2012: 95) was described based on material from Xishui, Guizhou, China. In the protologue, Yang et al. (2012) provided a Latin description and cited two collections, C.H. Yang 5784 with flowers and C.H. Yang 7590 with fruits. Both of the collections were deposited in the herbarium of Guizhou Academy of Forestry (GF). However, no type was indicated in the protologue. According to Art. 40.1 & 40.6 of ICN (Turland et al. 2018), it was invalidly published. Here R. xishuiense is validated by reference to the previously published description (Yang et al. 2012) and by designating the specimen with flowers (C.H. Yang 5784) as its holotype.
Novelties in Thismia (Thismiaceae) from South Brazilian Amazon with the description of a new species

Authors: DA SILVA DIEGO FERREIRA , ENGELS MATHIAS ERICH , SOARES-LOPES CÉLIA REGINA ARAÚJO
Published: January 2020

We present novelties in Thismiaceae for the south of the Brazilian Amazon, resulting from botanical expeditions in the north of the Mato Grosso State. The occurrence of four species is recorded: Thismia hyalina; T. melanomitra; T. singeri and a species new to science: T. ribeiroi. These are the first records of the family Thismiaceae, as well as of the genus Thismia and these species for the Mato Grosso State. Thismia melanomitra is a new species for the flora of Brazil and T. singeri is the second record of the species for Brazil. In this study, we also describe and illustrate the new species Thismia ribeiroi.