bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘What matters to you?'—a qualitative study on the views of nursing home residents with dementia regarding the health care they receive
Authors: Nygaard Agnete , Halvorsrud Liv , Grov Ellen Karine , Bergland Astrid
Published: June 2021

Aims and Objective

This study's aim is to examine what matters to nursing home residents with dementia by exploring their perceptions of nursing home health care through the conceptual lens of person‐centred care.

Background

Dementia is a major contributor to nursing home placement. To understand the meaning of living with dementia, the inclusion of persons with dementia in research studies is essential.

Methods

In total, 35 in‐depth qualitative interviews were conducted with people who have dementia and live in nursing homes. A thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. Checklist for qualitative studies: Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) https://www.equator‐network.org/reporting‐guidelines/coreq/

Results

The analysis revealed one overarching theme with four sub‐themes. Different matchings of person‐centred care and routines in health care being the overarching theme. The four sub‐themes were as follows: (a) understanding of the interplay between disabilities and ageing; (b) participating based on one's own preferences and needs; (c) incongruence between the person with dementia's preferences and needs and health‐care support; and (d) working conditions: the relationship between residents and health‐care providers. Despite the substantive focus of researchers on person‐centred care and the positive impact on the nursing home health care of those who receive it, the results showed that nursing home residents still want more person‐centred care.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the incongruence between general routines and individual preferences and needs, as well as the demand to operationalise the person‐centred dimensions of health‐care behaviour in nursing homes, must be resolved. Health care in nursing homes must focus on enabling residents to participate in daily activities and sustain their personhood and sense of self.

Relevance to clinical practice

Based on the residents' statements, the results contribute to the fields of dementia education, health‐care provision and policy‐making and may be used to achieve person‐centredness and governance.
COVID‐19 risk mitigation behaviors among rural and urban community‐dwelling older adults in summer, 2020
Authors: Probst Janice C. , Crouch Elizabeth L. , Eberth Jan M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Risk mitigation behaviors are important for older adults, who experience increased mortality risk from COVID‐19. We examined these reported behaviors among rural and urban community‐dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

Methods

We analyzed public use files from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, which fielded a COVID survey from June to October, 2020, restricted to community‐dwelling adults (n = 2,982). Eight behaviors were studied: handwashing, avoid touching face, mask wearing, limiting shopping, avoiding restaurants or bars, limiting gatherings, avoiding contact with those outside the household, and distancing. Residence was defined as urban (metropolitan county) or rural (nonmetropolitan county). Difference testing used Chi Square tests, with an alpha level of P = .05. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios.

Results

Rural residents constituted 18.8% (± Standard Error 3.6%) of the study population. In bivariate comparisons, rural older adults were less likely to report 5 of 8 studied behaviors: keep 6‐foot distance (rural: 88.3% ±1.0%, urban 93.2% ±.08%), limit gatherings (rural 87.5% ±1.8%; urban 91.6% ±0.8%), avoid restaurants/bars (rural 85.3% ±1.9%, urban 89.6% ±0.8%), avoid touching face (rural 83.1% ±2.3%, urban 88.6%, 0.8%), and avoid contact with those outside the household (rural 80.4% ±2.4%, urban 86.2% ±1.0%). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, only maintaining a 6‐foot distance remained lower among rural older adults (AOR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42‐0.81).

Conclusions

Within older adults, reported compliance with recommended behaviors to limit the spread of COVID‐19 was high. Nonetheless, consistent rural shortfalls were noted. Findings highlight the need for rural‐specific messaging strategies for future public health emergencies.
Efficacy of a micronized, nanocrystal fenofibrate formulation in treatment of hyperlipidemia in dogs
Authors: Munro Matthew J. L. , Hulsebosch Sean E. , Marks Stanley L. , Gilor Chen
Published: June 2021

Background

Safe, effective, and readily available drug therapies are required for the management of hyperlipidemia and its associated complications in dogs.

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of a micronized, nanocrystal formulation of fenofibrate (Tricor) in the treatment of hyperlipidemia in dogs.

Animals

Ten client‐owned dogs with primary (n = 7) and secondary (n = 3) hyperlipidemia. All dogs had hypertriglyceridemia at baseline; 3 dogs also had hypercholesterolemia.

Methods

Prospective dose‐escalation study. Dogs were treated with fenofibrate orally once daily in up to 3 cycles of 21 days each. Fenofibrate dose was increased at the end of each cycle if hypertriglyceridemia persisted and adverse effects were not documented. Complete blood count, biochemistry, and urine protein:creatinine ratio were collected serially. Baseline (T0) parameters were compared to time of maximal reduction in serum triglyceride concentrations (T1) and reported as median (range).

Results

Triglycerides normalized in all dogs (T0 = 662 mg/dL [189‐2391]; T1 = 113 mg/dL [81‐132];P = .002). Fenofibrate dose at T1 = 6.4 mg/kg PO q24h (range, 2.2‐13.5). T1 was achieved at 3 (n = 4), 6 (n = 4), and 9 (n = 2) weeks. Serum cholesterol concentrations decreased in 9 of 10 dogs. Quiet demeanor and firm stools in 1 dog were the only reported adverse reactions. Fenofibrate administration resulted in a significant reduction in median alkaline phosphatase activity (P = .049).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Over 21 to 63 days, TriCor was effective in the management of primary and secondary hyperlipidemia in dogs.
The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the International Community
Authors: Ghadbian Najib
Published: June 2021

This article analyzes the problematics of the international community's response to the Syrian refugee crisis: patterns of displacement, including the lack of attention to basic needs, the limited economic opportunities in host countries, the conditions facing Syrian refugee children, the risk involved in migration, and the challenge of adapting to host societies. The article then elucidates the series of failures of the international community to address the causes of this displacement, despite efforts by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international institutions to alleviate suffering. It traces the humanitarian mismanagement to political divisions in the international community, including the failure of Arab states, the Iranian intervention, and the role of the United Nations, Russia and the United States in aggravating the displacement. The article provides policy recommendations for international actors in order to honor their commitments to hosting refugees and addresses the political requirements for a lasting solution.
A case of rheumatoid meningitis with elevated antibody titer indices of anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and anti‐galactose‐deficient IgG antibody
Authors: Nakamura Masashi , Haryu Shin‐ya , Kameyama Masayuki , Sato Ken‐ichi , Sasaki Tatsuya , Nakashima Ichiro
Published: June 2021

Rheumatoid meningitis (RM) is a rare central nervous system manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A meningeal biopsy is useful for diagnosis but is invasive and not very sensitive. We report about a patient with RM who was diagnosed using indices of anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody and anti‐galactose‐deficient IgG antibody (carbohydrate in rheumatoid factor [CARF]) and who had refused to undergo biopsy. The patient's antibody titer indices of anti‐CCP antibody and CARF were 21.01 and 4.44, respectively. The patient's symptoms and abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging improved after steroid therapy. Antibody titer indices of the anti‐CCP antibody and CARF can be used to diagnose RM in cases where biopsy is unavailable.
Phenotypic integration does not constrain phenotypic plasticity: differential plasticity of traits is associated to their integration across environments
Authors: Matesanz Silvia , Blanco‐Sánchez Mario , Ramos‐Muñoz Marina , de la Cruz Marcelino , Benavides Raquel , Escudero Adrián
Published: June 2021

Understanding constraints to phenotypic plasticity is key given its role on the response of organisms to environmental change. It has been suggested that phenotypic integration, the structure of trait covariation, could limit trait plasticity. However, the relationship between plasticity and integration is far from resolved.

Using a database of functional plasticity to drought of a Mediterranean shrub that included 20 ecophysiological traits, we assessed environmentally‐induced changes in phenotypic integration and whether integration constrained the expression of plasticity, accounting for the within‐environment phenotypic variation of traits. Furthermore, we provide the first test of the association between differential trait plasticity and trait integration across an optimum and a stressful environment.

Phenotypic plasticity was positively associated with phenotypic integration in both environments, but this relationship was lost when phenotypic variation was considered. The similarity in the plastic response of two traits predicted their integration across environments, with integrated traits having more similar plasticity. Such variation in the plasticity of traits partly explained the lower phenotypic integration found in the stressful environment.

We found no evidence that integration may constitute an internal constraint to plasticity. Rather, we present the first empirical demonstration that differences in plastic responses may involve a major reorganization of the relationships among traits, and challenge the notion that stress generally induces a tighter phenotype.
Hallux Valgus Correction Comparing Percutaneous Oblique Osteotomy and Open Chevron Osteotomy at a 2‐year Follow‐up
Authors: Guo Chang‐jun , Li Chun‐guang , Li Xing‐chen , Xu Yang , Cai Ming , Xu Xiang‐yang
Published: June 2021

Objective

This study aimed to compare the percutaneous oblique osteotomy (POO) and the open chevron osteotomy technique for correction of hallux valgus deformity at a 2‐year follow‐up.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing operative correction of hallux valgus using one of two techniques (POOvsopen chevron osteotomy) from 2014 to 2018. Forty eight feet (41 patients) that underwent the POO was compared with 64 feet (58 patients) that underwent open chevron osteotomy. The hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal‐Interphalangeal scores (AOFAS‐HMI) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at the 1, 2‐year follow‐up. The Manchester–Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at the 2‐year follow‐up. The VAS score was collected preoperatively and on 2 weeks,1 year and 2‐year follow‐up.

Results

Both groups achieved significant correction of the hallux deformity. The HVA in the POO group during the follow‐up period were 12.5 ± 2.22 and 17.9 ± 9.31, respectively, and in the open chevron group were 14.1 ± 6.78 and 14.8 ± 7.83, respectively. The IMA in the POO group during the follow‐up period were 7.61 ± 1.63 and 6.94 ± 1.53, respectively, and in the open chevron group were 6.89 ± 3.06 and 6.97 ± 2.95, respectively. Postoperative MOXFQ scores in all domains were significantly improved in both groups, however there was no significant difference in the improvement of any domain between POO and open groups at a 2‐year follow‐up. The AOFAS HMI scores in the POO group during the follow‐up period were 86.5 ± 10.7 and 85.2 ± 13.8, respectively, and in the open chevron group were 88.2 ± 10.8 and 79.5 ± 23.7, respectively. The VAS scores in the POO group during the follow‐up period were 2.00 ± 0.98, 2.00 ± 0.99 and 1.55 ± 1.11, respectively, and in the open chevron group were 5.51 ± 1.45, 2.56 ± 2.88 and 2.56 ± 2.88 respectively. The 1‐year and 2‐year follow‐up outcomes between POO and open groups showed no significant difference regarding AOFAS HMI scores and VAS scores, however the POO group showed statistically significant improvement of VAS scores in the postoperative 2 weeks (P< 0.001). There was no statistical significance between the POO and open group in terms of complications rates (8.3%vs12.5%,P= 0.480).

Conclusion

The POO technique is reliable and shows a comparable outcome to the open chevron osteotomy. However, the POO technique shows significantly less pain in the first 2 weeks after surgery.
Electroanatomic voltage mapping for tissue characterization beyond arrhythmia definition: A systematic review
Authors: Zoppo Franco , Gagno Giulia , Perazza Luca , Cocciolo Andrea , Mugnai Giacomo , Vaccari Diego , Calzolari Vittorio
Published: June 2021

Three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction by means of electroanatomic mapping (EAM) systems, allows for the understanding of the mechanism of focal or re‐entrant arrhythmic circuits, which can be identified by means of dynamic (activation and propagation) and static (voltage) color‐coded maps. However, besides this conventional use, EAM may offer helpful anatomical and functional information for tissue characterisation in several clinical settings. Today, data regarding electromechanical myocardial viability, scar detection in ischaemic and nonischaemic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle dysplasia (ARVC/D) definition are mostly consolidated, while emerging results are becoming available in contexts such as Brugada syndrome and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) implant procedures. As part of an invasive procedure, EAM has not yet been widely adopted as a stand‐alone tool in the diagnostic path. We aim to review the data in the current literature regarding the use of 3D EAM systems beyond the definition of arrhythmia.
One‐Pot Highly Efficient Synthesis of N‐Enrich Graphene Quantum Dots as a Photocatalytic Platform for NAD+/NADP+ Reduction
Authors: Gupta Shivani , Yadav Rajesh K. , Gupta Abhishek Kumar , Yadav Balchand , Singh Ajeet , Pandey Brijesh K.
Published: June 2021

An efficient photocatalytic regeneration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) has been carried out by two‐electron reduction and protonation of NAD+/NADP+, induced by photons in the visible light region. This functional artificial photosynthetic counterpart of the complete energy‐trapping occurring in natural photosystem I (PS I) is achieved with nitrogen‐enrich graphene quantum dot (N‐EGQD) as the light‐harvesting photocatalyst. In buffer aqueous solution, this compound photo catalytically recycles a rhodium hydride complex of the type [Cp*Rh(bpy)H]+ (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) which can mediate hydride transfer processes leading to nucleotide co‐factor reduction. Very promising yields of 73.31%/78.45% of NADH/NADPH with the excellent thermal stability of N‐EGQD photocatalyst is observed. Thus, in this work, an efficient light‐harvesting photocatalyst is synthesized for the regeneration of nicotinamide cofactor that has pharmaceuticals application.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation Using Topical and Superhydrophobic Sensitizer Techniques: A Perspective from Diffusion in Biofilms†
Authors: Tonon Caroline Coradi , Ashraf Shoaib , Alburquerque José Quílez , de Souza Rastelli Alessandra Nara , Hasan Tayyaba , Lyons Alan M. , Greer Alexander
Published: June 2021

This review describes nanoparticle and dye diffusion in bacterial biofilms in the context of antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI). aPDI requires the diffusion of a photosensitizer (Sens) into the biofilm and subsequent photoactivation of oxygen for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that inactivate microbes. Molecular diffusion in biofilms has been long investigated, whereas this review is intended to draw a logical link between diffusion in biofilms and ROS, a combination that leads to the current state of aPDI and superhydrophobic aPDI (SH‐aPDI). This review should be of interest to photochemists, photobiologists and researchers in material and antimicrobial sciences as is ties together conventional aPDI with the emerging subject of SH‐aPDI.
Prognostic effect of coexisting TP53 and ZFHX3 mutations in non‐small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Zhang Tongyan , Shang Bin , Li Yaqiong , Cao Zhixin , Wang Hui
Published: June 2021

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with advanced‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The relationship between TP53 mutation and prognosis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. We aimed to identify advanced‐stage NSCLC patients harboring TP53 mutation who would benefit from ICI treatment. Gene mutations and tumor mutational burden (TMB) data of NSCLC patients who received at least one dose of ICI therapy at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2013 and 2017 were extracted from the cBioPortal online platform. Gene clustering analyses were performed for patients with short and long overall survival (OS). The top ten significantly different mutated genes were identified. Furthermore, we analyzed the different OS of coexisting TP53 and other significantly different mutated genes to identify NSCLC patients with TP53 mutations who would benefit from immunotherapy. A total of 350 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these a total of 219 (62.6%) patients were found to harbor TP53 mutations, whereas 131 (37.4%) had wild‐type TP53. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between TP53 mutated or wild‐type NSCLC patients who underwent ICI treatment. However, coexisting TP53 and ZFHX3 mutations were independent prognostic factors. Higher somatic TMB (highest 20% in each histology) and combination of anti‐CTLA‐4 and anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 therapy were also associated with longer OS in multivariate analysis. Coexisting TP53 and ZFHX3 mutations are independent prognostic factors for advanced‐stage NSCLC patients undergoing ICI treatment. These findings could help identify patients harboring TP53 mutations that would benefit from ICI treatment.
Stable inverse probability weighting estimation for longitudinal studies
Authors: Avagyan Vahe , Vansteelandt Stijn
Published: June 2021

We consider estimation of the average effect of time‐varying dichotomous exposure on outcome using inverse probability weighting (IPW) under the assumption that there is no unmeasured confounding of the exposure–outcome association at each time point. Despite the popularity of IPW, its performance is often poor due to instability of the estimated weights. We develop an estimating equation‐based strategy for the nuisance parameters indexing the weights at each time point, aimed at preventing highly volatile weights and ensuring the stability of IPW estimation. Our proposed approach targets the estimation of the counterfactual mean under a chosen treatment regime and requires fitting a separate propensity score model at each time point. We discuss and examine extensions to enable the fitting of marginal structural models using one propensity score model across all time points. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate adequate performance of our approach compared with the maximum likelihood propensity score estimator and the covariate balancing propensity score estimator.
The effect of non‐point‐of‐care haemostasis management protocol implementation in cardiac surgery: A systematic review
Authors: Boxma Reinier P. J. , Garnier Robert P. , Bulte Carolien S. E. , Meesters Michael I.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This systematic review aims to outline the evidence on the implementation of a non‐point‐of‐care (non‐point‐of‐care [POC]) haemostasis management protocol compared to experience‐based practice in adult cardiac surgery.

Background

Management of coagulopathy in cardiac surgery is complex and remains highly variable among centres and physicians. Although various guidelines recommend the implementation of a transfusion protocol, the literature on this topic has never been systematically reviewed.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 till May 2020.

Results

A total of seven studies (one randomised controlled trial [RCT], one prospective cohort study, and five retrospective studies) met the inclusion criteria. Among the six non‐randomised, controlled studies, the risk of bias was determined to be serious to critical, and the one RCT was determined to have a high risk of bias. Five studies showed a significant reduction in red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and/or platelet transfusion after the implementation of a structural non‐POC algorithm, ranging from 2% to 28%, 2% to 19.5%, and 7% to17%, respectively. One study found that fewer patients required transfusion of any blood component in the protocol group. Another study had reported a significantly increased transfusion rate of platelet concentrate in the haemostasis algorithm group.

Conclusion

Owing to the high heterogeneity and a substantial risk of bias of the included studies, no conclusion can be drawn on the additive value of the implementation of a cardiac‐surgery‐specific non‐POC transfusion and haemostasis management algorithm compared to experience‐based practice. To define the exact impact of a transfusion protocol on blood product transfusion, bleeding, and adverse events, well‐designed prospective clinical trials are required.
Nonepithelial ovarian cancers
Authors: Baker‐Rand Holly , Edey Katharine
Published: June 2021

Key content

Nonepithelial ovarian cancers (NEOCs) are rare forms of ovarian cancer, including malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCTs), sex cord‐stromal tumours (SCSTs) and ovarian sarcoma.

Tumour markers including alpha‐fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin, lactate dehydrogenase and inhibin can be useful in aiding preoperative diagnosis of malignant ovarian masses.

NEOCs are staged using a similar classification to epithelial ovarian tumours; however, the staging system for male germ cell tumours is considered a more useful prognostic tool.

These tumours can occur at any age; however, many present in the reproductive years, and fertility‐sparing treatments are often required.

Advanced‐stage MOGCTs and SCSTs are managed with debulking surgery and platinum‐based adjuvant chemotherapy, with the regimen of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin being most widely used.

Learning objectives

To understand the classification and pathology of NEOCs.

To describe the role of tumour markers in diagnostic criteria and to be aware of the FIGO staging classifications and their prognostic use.

To understand management protocols and follow‐up regimens.

Ethical issues

Patients of reproductive age risk infertility if preoperative diagnosis is incorrect and more extensive surgery involving bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy is performed.
A Critical Review of Network‐Based and Distributional Approaches to Semantic Memory Structure and Processes
Authors: Kumar Abhilasha A. , Steyvers Mark , Balota David A.
Published: June 2021

Some of the earliest work on understanding how concepts are organized in memory used a network‐based approach, where words or concepts are represented as nodes, and relationships between words are represented by links between nodes. Over the past two decades, advances in network science and graph theoretical methods have led to the development of computational semantic networks. This review provides a modern perspective on how computational semantic networks have proven to be useful tools to investigate the structure of semantic memory as well as search and retrieval processes within semantic memory, to ultimately model performance in a wide variety of cognitive tasks. Regarding representation, the review focuses on the distinctions and similarities between network‐based (based on behavioral norms) approaches and more recent distributional (based on natural language corpora) semantic models, and the potential overlap between the two approaches. Capturing the type of relation between concepts appears to be particularly important in this modeling endeavor. Regarding processes, the review focuses on random walk models and the degree to which retrieval processes demand attention in pursuit of given task goals, which dovetails with the type of relation retrieved during tasks. Ultimately, this review provides a critical assessment of how the network perspective can be reconciled with distributional and machine‐learning‐based perspectives to meaning representation, and describes how cognitive network science provides a useful conceptual toolkit to probe both the structure and retrieval processes within semantic memory.
At4g29530 is a phosphoethanolamine phosphatase homologous to PECP1 with a role in flowering time regulation
Authors: Tannert Martin , Balcke Gerd Ulrich , Tissier Alain , Köck Margret
Published: June 2021

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are the most abundant phospholipids in membranes. The biosynthesis of phospholipids occurs mainly via the Kennedy pathway. Recent studies have shown that through this pathway, choline (Cho) moieties are synthesized through the methylation of phosphoethanolamine (PEtn) to phosphocholine (PCho) by phospho‐base N‐methyltransferase. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the phosphoethanolamine/phosphocholine phosphatase1 (PECP1) is described as an enzyme that regulates the synthesis of PCho by decreasing the PEtn level during phosphate starvation to avoid the energy‐consuming methylation step. By homology search, we identified a gene (At4g29530) encoding a putative PECP1 homolog from Arabidopsis with a currently unknown biological function in planta. We found that At4g29530 is not induced by phosphate starvation, and is mainly expressed in leaves and flowers. The analysis of null mutants and overexpression lines revealed that PEtn, rather than PCho, is the substrate in vivo, as in PECP1. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐coupled mass spectrometry analysis of head group metabolites shows an increased PEtn level and decreased ethanolamine level in null mutants. At4g29530 null mutants have an early flowering phenotype, which is corroborated by a higher PC/PE ratio. Furthermore, we found an increased PCho level. The choline level was not changed, so the results corroborate that the PEtn‐dependent pathway is the main route for the generation of Cho moieties. We assume that the PEtn‐hydrolyzing enzyme participates in fine‐tuning the metabolic pathway, and helps prevent the energy‐consuming biosynthesis of PCho through the methylation pathway.
Experimental Investigation of Turbulence Effects on Aerodynamics Noise of Channeled NACA 0012 Airfoil
Authors: Mohammad Hussein K. , Ibraheem Latif , Kilchyk Viktor , Shrestha Bade
Published: June 2021

Wind power is rapidly growing worldwide as renewable and clean energy of choice due to its competitiveness in cost and technology advancement. However, as the wind turbines grow, the aerodynamic noise generated from the rotating blades is becoming a major concern that limits the use of wind turbines, especially near residential housing areas. Significant low sleep quality has been reported within 2 km of wind turbine locations that is becoming a problem for wider use of wind energy. Generally, continuous exposure to 85–90 dB noise causes permanent hearing loss in humans. To reduce the aerodynamic noise, channeled blades were implemented in this work to damp the airflow turbulence that causes the aerodynamic noise. Samples of different diameter sizes and angles of inclinations with respect to the cord have been tested and compared to a regular unchanneled blade. Noise measurements have been carried out using low-frequency microphones with frequencies ranging between 0 and 10,000 Hz. While turbulence measurements were performed using a hot-wire anemometer. The measured noise around the blades ranged between 20 and 70 dB up to 600 Hz has been proven to be directly related to turbulence intensity. The best low noise blade design was recommended based on noise measurement.
Resonance Risk and Mode Shape Management in the Frequency Domain to Prevent Squeak and Rattle
Authors: Bayani Mohsen , Wickman Casper , Krishnaswamy Aswin Dhananjai , Sathappan Chidambaram , Söderberg Rikard
Published: June 2021

Avoiding quality problems in passenger cars, such as squeak and rattle (S&R), has been a remarkable cost-saving consideration. The introduction of electric engines and autonomous driving is expected to further stress the need for quieter cabins. However, the complexity of S&R events has obstructed the practical treatment of these quality issues in the pre-design-freeze phases of product development. In this study, new quantified frequency-domain metrics are proposed to measure the risk of S&R generation in car subsystems. The proposed metrics measure the resonance risk and the mode shape similarity in the critical interfaces for S&R. The calculations are done based on the system response in the frequency domain. Compared with the time-domain evaluation methods, the knowledge about the system excitation levels is not essential and the calculations are more time-efficient. The proposed metrics can be used in design optimization processes to involve S&R attributes in the pre-design-freeze attribute trade-off activities besides other attributes. In this work, these metrics were used in a previously developed two-stage optimization approach to determine the connection configuration in two industrial cases. As compared with the baseline design, the risk for S&R was reduced by improving the system behavior in terms of resonance risk and mode shape similarity. This was achieved by applying adjustments to the location of the fasteners while maintaining the same general connection configuration concept.
Vapor deposition of CsPbBr3 thin films by evaporation of CsBr and PbBr2
Authors: Cleveland Iver J. , Tran Minh N. , Dey Anamika , Aydil Eray S.
Published: June 2021

Thin films of the inorganic halide perovskite, CsPbBr3, find applications in various optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, radiation detectors, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) by coevaporation of CsBr and PbBr2 onto a substrate is a scalable solventless approach to forming high purity large-grained polycrystalline films. Herein, we investigate the effects of deposition temperature, between 26 and 162 °C, and postdeposition annealing, between 250 and 350 °C, on the structure, texturing, and morphology of orthorhombic CsPbBr3 films formed by PVD. All films, regardless of the stable phase at the deposition temperature, transform to orthorhombic upon cooling to room temperature. The films deposited as orthorhombic or tetragonal CsPbBr3 below 130 °C were textured in the orthorhombic structure's ⟨202⟩ direction, while cubic CsPbBr3 films deposited above 130 °C were textured in the orthorhombic structure's ⟨121⟩ direction. This texturing favors the growth of high cation density planes of the stable phase at the deposition temperature. The orthorhombic ⟨202⟩ texturing also dominates after annealing as long as the films have ⟨202⟩ aligned grains before annealing.
Inverse modeling and joint state-parameter estimation with a noise mapping meta-model
Authors: Lesieur Antoine , Mallet Vivien , Aumond Pierre , Can Arnaud
Published: June 2021

This study aims to produce dynamic noise maps based on a noise model and acoustic measurements. To do so, inverse modeling and joint state-parameter methods are proposed. These methods estimate the input parameters that optimize a given cost function calculated with the resulting noise map and the noise observations. The accuracy of these two methods is compared with a noise map generated with a meta-model and with a classical data assimilation method called best linear unbiased estimator. The accuracy of the data assimilation processes is evaluated using a “leave-one-out” cross-validation method. The most accurate noise map is generated computing a joint state-parameter estimation algorithm without a priori knowledge about traffic and weather and shows a reduction of approximately 26% in the root mean square error from 3.5 to 2.6 dB compared to the reference meta-model noise map with 16 microphones over an area of 3 km2.
Impacts of channel fluctuations on least-squares channel estimation in underwater acoustic communications
Authors: Guo Zheng , Song Aijun , Towliat Mohammad , Cimini Leonard J. , Xia Xiang-Gen
Published: June 2021

The time-varying multipath introduces major distortions to transmissions in the underwater acoustic communication channel. Channel estimation is often used as one of the central steps to address such distortions in high-rate communication receivers. The focus of this paper is to quantify the impacts of the channel fluctuations on the performance of the least-squares channel estimator. A metric, channel variation ratio (CVR), is defined to describe the rate of fluctuations in the channel impulse responses. Equations are derived to reveal the direct relationships between the CVR and channel estimation performance, which is measured by the channel estimation mean squared error (MSE) and signal prediction error (SPE). The equations show that both the MSE and SPE increase linearly with the CVR. The MSE and SPE metrics both have an error floor for time-varying impulse responses, even with zero ambient noise. It is confirmed that an optimum estimated channel length, achieving the minimum estimation error, exists for time-varying impulse responses. The truncation effects in the channel estimation are also investigated. Experimental data are used to validate the findings.
Varifocal optical lens using ultrasonic vibration and thixotropic gel
Authors: Sakata Daiko , Iwase Takahiro , Onaka Jessica , Koyama Daisuke , Matsukawa Mami
Published: June 2021

A variable focus optical lens using a thixotropic gel and ultrasonic vibration is discussed. The surface profile of the gel could be deformed via acoustic radiation force generated by ultrasound. A thixotropic gel in which the viscosity was changed by shear stress was employed as a transparent lens material. The thixotropic gel allowed the lens to maintain shape deformation in the absence of continuous ultrasound excitation. The lens had a simple structure with no mechanical moving parts and included an annular piezoelectric transducer, a glass disk, and the thixotropic gel film. The axisymmetric concentric flexural vibration mode was generated on the lens at 71 kHz, which resulted in static surface deformation of the gel via the acoustic radiation force. The preservation rate was investigated after switching off the ultrasonic excitation. There was a trade-off between the preservation rate of the lens deformation and the response time for focusing. The focal length could be controlled via the input voltage to the lens, and a variable-focus convex lens could be realized; the change in the focal length with 4.0 Vpp was 0.54 mm. The optical transmittance of the lens was measured and the transmittance ranged 70%–80% in the visible spectral region.
The Association of Family, Friends, and Teacher Support With Girls’ Sport and Physical Activity on the Island of Ireland
Authors: O’Brien Wesley , Coppinger Tara , Hogan Irene , Belton Sarahjane , Murphy Marie H. , Powell Cormac , Woods Catherine
Published: June 2021

Background: The current study was the largest physical activity (PA) surveillance assessment of youth undertaken in Ireland in recent years. The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of social support, while controlling for age and screen time, on PA and sport participation, across a representative sample of Irish female youth.Methods: A total of 3503 children (mean age: 13.54 [2.05] y) across the island of Ireland participated. Participants completed a previously validated electronic questionnaire while supervised in a classroom setting, which investigated their (1) levels of PA; (2) screen time; (3) community sport participation; and (4) social support (friend, family, and teacher) to be physically active/partake in sport.Results: There were significant differences, with medium and large effect sizes, for social support from friends and family across types of sports participation. Specifically, girls who participated in the most popular team sports, when compared with the most popular individual sports, reported higher social support scores for friends and family structures.Conclusions: Findings from this study confirm the contributing influence of friends and family as sport and PA support networks for girls. Interventions should consider the importance of culturally relevant team sports for PA engagement in female youth.
Exploring Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Time During Outdoor Play at Childcare: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment Study
Authors: Bruijns Brianne A. , Vanderloo Leigh M. , Timmons Brian W. , Tucker Patricia
Published: June 2021

Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) offers many health benefits for preschoolers (2.5–5 y). In childcare, MVPA is predominantly accumulated outdoors, with higher rates purported among children within the first few minutes outside. The Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention included shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; this study sought to explore children’s activity levels during various outdoor play schedules. Methods: During the final week of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention, preschoolers wore an Actical™ accelerometer for 5 days during childcare and staff logged outdoor times. Separate linear mixed effects models were run to explore the effect of the intervention on preschoolers’ physical activity (total and MVPA) and sedentary time during outdoor play. Sex was entered as an interaction effect. Results: Preschoolers (n = 292) were significantly more active in the first 10 minutes outdoors compared with remaining time (P < .0083). For total outdoor time, children in the experimental group engaged in significantly less sedentary time than those in the control group (P < .017), and experimental group boys and girls engaged in higher MVPA than boys and girls in the control group (P < .017). Conclusions: Findings support scheduling more frequent outdoor play sessions in childcare to increase physical activity participation among young children.
Hip Sway in Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis During One-Leg Standing With a Focus on Time Series Data
Authors: Ibara Takuya , Takahashi Makoto , Shinkoda Koichi , Kawashima Mahito , Anan Masaya
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to investigate the hip sway and the relationship between the center of pressure (CoP) and kinematic parameters regarding the time series scaling component α in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) during a one-leg standing task. The scaling exponent α, SD, hip sway maximal acceleration change, and balance performance, which was measured using CoP parameters, were compared between hip OA and control groups during a one-leg standing task. The relationships between balance performance with CoP parameters and kinematic parameters were investigated with the regression analysis. In the hip OA group, the scaling exponent α was smaller in the medial–lateral direction, and the SD and maximal amount of change in hip sway acceleration were larger in the anterior–posterior direction in the hip OA group. In this group, the CoP parameters were significantly associated with α in the medial–lateral direction (negatively) and in the anterior–posterior direction (positively). In the hip OA group, hip sway adaptability in the medial–lateral direction was limited, while the anterior–posterior direction showed greater movement.
Influence of incubation temperature on the microbial reductive dechlorination of 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl in two freshwater sediments
Authors: Wu Q , Bedard D L , Wiegel J
Published: June 2021

Volumn 62, no. 11, p. 4174, Abstract, lines 12 and 13: "para dechlorination was restricted from 18 to 34(deg)C" should read "para dechlorination was restricted to temperatures from 18 to 34(deg)C." [This corrects the article on p. 4174 in vol. 62.].
Contemporary Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Pediatric Osteomyelitis Patients Display Unique Characteristics in a Mouse Model of Hematogenous Osteomyelitis
Authors: Roper Philip M. , Eichelberger Kara R. , Cox Linda , O’Connor Luke , Shao Christine , Ford Caleb A. , Fritz Stephanie A. , Cassat James E. , Veis Deborah J.
Published: June 2021

Osteomyelitis can result from the direct inoculation of pathogens into bone during injury or surgery or from spread via the bloodstream, a condition called hematogenous osteomyelitis (HOM). HOM disproportionally affects children, and more than half of cases are caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
.
Passive immunity in calf rotavirus infections: maternal vaccination increases and prolongs immunoglobulin G1 antibody secretion in milk
Authors: Snodgrass D R , Fahey K J , Wells P W , Campbell I , Whitelaw A
Published: June 2021

Ten heifers were inoculated on two occasions with an inactivated preparation of tissue culture-grown calf rotavirus, and a further ten heifers received a placebo vaccine. Serum anti-rotavirus antibody titers were significantly increased throughout pregnancy in the vaccinated group. After calving, the mean neutralizing antibody titer of colostral whey in control cows was 100, associated with immunoglobulins A and G1. No antibody was detected in the milk of these cows after the 4th day postpartum. The colostral whey from the vaccinated cows had a mean antibody titer of 20,452; 28 days after calving, the mean milk antibody titer was 320, associated mainly with immunoglobulin G1. Calves were challenged with a large oral inoculum of calf rotavirus at the 7th day of age. There was significant lengthening of the incubation and prepatent periods in calves born to vaccinated dams, but rotavirus-associated diarrhea of equal severity occurred in both groups. Evidence is presented which suggests that rotavirus antibody in milk can protect against a smaller challenge dose. Maternal immunization against rotavirus may be a practical proposition.
Cellular basis for genetically determined enhanced resistance of certain mouse strains to listeriosis
Authors: Sadarangani C , Skamene E , Kongshavn P A
Published: June 2021

The characteristics of the mononuclear phagocytes mediating resistance to infection with Listeria during the early phase (0 to 48 h) of the response have been investigated in genetically determined susceptible (A/J) and resistant (C57BL/6, B10.A/SgSn) strains of mice. Irradiation immediately before infection profoundly enhanced the bacterial growth in the resistant strain, while having no effect in the susceptible strain, over a wide range (3 x 10(3) to 10(5)) of infective doses. This effect of irradiation is demonstrable at low-dose radiation (200 roentgens) and can be reversed by repopulation with 20 x 10(6) syngeneic nucleated bone marrow cells. Administration of dextran sulfate 500 24 h before infection profoundly enhanced the bacterial growth in the susceptible strain, while having much less effect in the resistant strain. Thus, the genetic advantage of the resistant mouse strains to listerial infection, at least during the early phase of the response, appears to be due to a cellular mechanism that is highly radiosensitive and relatively insensitive to dextran sulfate 500. In the susceptible strain, the early protective cellular mechanism is radioresistant and highly dextran sulfate 500 sensitive.
Adoptive transfer of resistance to acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection with T-lymphocyte-enriched spleen cells
Authors: Reed S G
Published: June 2021

Inbred C57BL/10 mice immunized with live culture forms of Trypanosoma cruzi were resistant to acute infection after challenge with bloodstream forms. Splenic leukocytes or serum from immunized mice were transferred to syngeneic recipients 2 days before of 2 days after challenge. Protection was not observed in recipients of serum, although the serum contained high levels of agglutinating antibody. Unfractionated splenic leukocytes from immunized donors conferred partial protection, and preparations enriched for T lymphocytes were significantly more effective than preparations enriched for B lymphocytes. Recipients of T-lymphocyte-enriched spleen cells had significantly higher survival times and significantly lower parasitemias than did recipients of B-lymphocyte-enriched spleen cells.
Type-specific antigens of group A Neisseria meningitidis: lipopolysaccharide and heat-modifiable outer membrane proteins
Authors: Zollinger W D , Mandrell R E
Published: June 2021

The solid-phase radioimmunoassay inhibition method was used to analyze the noncapsular surface antigens of group A Neisseria meningitidis for type specificity. By use of antisera prepared against group A strains, three serologically distinct lipopolysaccharide antigens and five outer membrane protein antigens were identified among group A strains from a variety of geographical origins. Two of the lipopolysaccharide antigens were unique to group A strains while the third was similar to those on strains of other meningococcal serogroups. Fractionation of outer membrane proteins in the presence of 2% sodium deoxycholate followed by quantitative inhibition of the typing reactions with the subfractions revealed that the protein responsible for type specificity was not the principal outer membrane protein, but, most likely, the 31,000-dalton, heat-modifiable outer membrane protein. Thus, although group A strains may share a common principal outer membrane protein, typing is feasible using other surface antigens. In a survey of 82 group A strains, 93% were typable with respect to outer membrane proteins.
Relationship of large hepatitis B surface antigen polypeptide to human serum albumin
Authors: Shih J W , Tan P L , Gerin J L
Published: June 2021

A significant proportion (20 to 40%) of highly purified 22-nm hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles contain human serum albumin (HSA) as demonstrated by specific precipitation of radioiodinated particles by anti-HSA. Preparations of the isolated major HBsAg polypeptides (P-1, P-2, and P-6) were iodinated and analyzed by radiommunoprecipitation for reactivity with rabbit antisera to human plasma proteins. Only the P-6 fraction (molecular weight, 68,000) was precipitated and only by anti-HSA; specific precipitation was observed with guinea pig antisera to P-6 and native HBsAg and goat or rabbit antisera to HSA. Coprecipitation of P-6 with antiserum to HBsAg and with anti-HSA, compared to precipitation with each antiserum alone, indicated that the HBsAg and HSA determinants were on separate molecules. The P-6 polypeptide may represent a precursor protein of the hepatitis B virion.