bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digera muricata (L.) Mart. mediated synthesis of antimicrobial and enzymatic inhibitory zinc oxide bionanoparticles
Authors: Ashraf Naheed , Sumrra Sajjad H. , Assiri Mohammed A. , Usman Muhammad , Hussain Riaz , Aziz Farooq , Hussain Ajaz , Ghaffari Muhammad Abuzar , Qaisar Muhammad Naeem , Imran Muhammad , Irfan Ahmad
Published: August 2021

Herein, we report a simple and ecofriendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) employing Digera muricata along with bioassay studies of synthesized NPs. The ZnO NPs obtained were indicated by a colour change from yellow to almost faint yellow giving whitish tinge and supported by the appearance of UV-Vis band at 373 nm and were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The FT-IR spectrum confirmed the presence of biomolecules fabricated on ZnO NPs as indicated by the absorption bands at 1,378 for C–O  cm−1, and ZnO NPs were also evident from the absorption bands at 440 and 670 cm−1, the former being the result of symmetric vibration of hexagonal ZnO and the latter belonged to a very weak vibration of ZnO. Its surface morphology was confirmed by SEM, and the zinc and oxygen bonds were confirmed by EDX analysis giving sharp signals for Zn and oxygen with At% of 17.58 and 30.49, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was determined by the agar well diffusion method against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using imipenem and miconazole as standards. The results reflected that ZnO NPs enhanced the activity of plant extracts against all employed algal (E. coli, S. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, S. aureus, and B. subtilis) and fungal (T. mentogrophytes, E. floccosum, A. niger, M. canis, and F. culmorum) strains. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts were enhanced by the formation of ZnO NPs. The results indicated that Digera muricata extract contains effective reducing agents for green synthesis of Digera muricata fabricated ZnO NPs, which are more potent antimicrobial than the plant extract and showed almost similar inhibition against lipoxygenase, i.e., the IC50 value of 83.82 ± 1.15, comparable to the standard.
Near-infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging can aid in the prediction and mapping of polyploid acacia hybrid wood properties in tree improvement programs
Authors: Viet Dang Duc , Ma Te , Inagaki Tetsuya , Kim Nguyen Tu , Tsuchikawa Satoru
Published: August 2021

Acacia, including Acacia hybrids, are some of the most important species grown as part of the Vietnamese wood industry. Rapid methods to identify the variations in the wood properties of Acacia hybrids however, are a currently lacking and creating limits for their breeding programs. In this study, nine Acacia hybrid clones, including those that were diploid, triploid, and tetraploid were evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). The standard normal variate (SNV) and second derivative (SP2D) were applied to compare the performances of NIR and HSI using partial least square regression. The HSI images were acquired at wavelengths from 1033 to 2230 nm and the SNV and SP2D described the variations in the wood properties. The NIR predicted the wood physical properties better than HSI, while they provided similar predictions for the mechanical properties. The mapping results showed low densities around the pith area and high densities near the bark. They also revealed that the air-dry moisture content changed at different positions within a disk and was dependent on its position within the tree. Overall, NIR and HSI were found to be potential wood property prediction tools, suitable for use in tree improvement programs.
PTEN protein expression has role in predicting disease-free-interval in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Shafiee Mohamad Nasir , Lim Wei Keith , Poh Shwen Shi Cheryl , Mohamed Yasin Ira Adila , Azemi Aina Fatini , Zakaria Muhammad Luqman , Hannaan Abdul Hafizz Abdul Muzhill , Mustangin Muaatamarulain , Chandralega Kampan Nirmala , Abd Aziz Nor Haslinda , Md Zain Reena Rahayu
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To determine the significance of tumour PTEN protein expression in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) and it is correlation with tumour characteristics.

Methods

A total of 30 eligible archived paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 61 EEC cases (January 2015–December 2017) were retrieved from the Histopathology Laboratory in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) following institutional ethic approval. For PTEN protein detection, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed and the data was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters.

Results

Fourteen samples (46.7%) showed positive PTEN protein expression, while 16 (53.3%) were negative. The mean age was 62.00 ± 9.51 years old, while the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.28 ± 7.16 kg/m2. There was no significant difference between age (p=0.27, 95% CI: −10.98 to 3.21) and BMI (p=0.67, 95% CI: −4.30 to 6.58) with PTEN protein expression. There were significant correlation between PTEN protein expression with myometrial invasion (p=0.010), but not with lymphovascular space invasion (p=0.743), grade (p=0.532), stage (p=0.733) and CA-125 level (p=0.47). The higher stage correlates with the presence of LVSI (p=0.002). PTEN positive associated with longer disease-free-interval (p=0.025), but not improving the overall survival (p=0.38)

Conclusions

Positive PTEN protein expression correlates with less myometrial invasion.
Lefty A is involved in sunitinib resistance of renal cell carcinoma cells via regulation of IL-8
Authors: Cui Ning , Han Qiang , Cao Qizhen , Wang Kejun , Zhou Xujia , Hou Pingzhi , Liu Chao , Chen Lungang , Xu Lin
Published: August 2021

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most frequent malignancy within urological oncology. Sunitinib has been used as the standard of treatment for first-line RCC therapy. Understanding mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in RCC cell is important for clinical therapy and drug development. We established sunitinib resistant RCC cells by treating cells with increasing concentrations of sunitinib and named resistant cells as RCC/SR. Lefty A, an important embryonic morphogen, was increased in RCC/SR cells. Targeted inhibition of Lefty via its siRNAs restored the sensitivity of renal resistant cells to sunitinib treatment. It was due to that si-Lefty can decrease the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in RCC/SR cells. Knockdown of IL-8 abolished Lefty-regulated sunitinib sensitivity of RCC cells. Mechanistically, Lefty can regulate IL-8 transcription via activation of p65, one major transcription factor of IL-8. Collectively, our present revealed that Lefty A can regulate sunitinib sensitivity of RCC cells of via NF-κB/IL-8 signals. It indicated that targeted inhibition of Lefty might be a potent approach to overcome sunitinib resistance of RCC.
The variable of gender and its interplay with mother tongue in the humor and laughter of bilingual couples
Authors: Ang-Tschachtli Silja
Published: August 2021

The variables of gender and mother tongue are usually considered independently in humor research. This article aims to explore the role of gender and its interplay with mother tongue in the production, reception, and assessment of humor among 10 bilingual, bicultural couples. It investigates whether the gender patterns commonly observed are also evident in these couples’ conversations, namely that women laugh more than men (Mehu, Marc & Robin I. M. Dunbar. 2008. Naturalistic observations of smiling and laughter in human group interactions. Behaviour 145(12). 1747–1780.), that women laugh more about men than the reverse (Jefferson, Gail. 2004. A note on laughter in ‘male-female’ interaction. Discourse Studies 6. 117–133. DOI:10.1177/1461445604039445.), and that men produce more humorous utterances than women do (Ross, Elaina M. & Jeffrey A. Hall. 2020. The traditional sexual script and humour in courtship. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 33(2). 197–218. DOI:10.1515/humor-2019-0017.). On average, the female bilinguals produced 29.6% more laughter pulses and laughed 7.4% more frequently, and their laughter episodes were consistently longer than their partners’. However, the participants’ mother tongue was found to have a stronger influence on their production and reception of laughables than their gender, and the native speakers produced more successful laughables, despite their partners’ high level of L2 proficiency. Interestingly, the couples’ self-assessments often did not match their actual laughing behavior and appeared to be clearly gendered; no couple considered the female partner to be funnier, and several men even questioned their partner’s sense of humor, while male humor was often praised.
Degradation of pharmaceutical antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) by photocatalysis process using sol-gel based titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Authors: Parmar Nitesh , Srivastava Jitendra Kumar
Published: August 2021

This study is an attempt to the removal of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic from simulated wastewater using a photocatalytic process. The photocatalytic process was carried out in a photocatalytic reactor in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully prepared in a laboratory scale using sol-gel method with titanium-isopropoxide (TTIP) as titanium precursor. Prepared material was found very effective to the removal of CIP antibiotic. The maximum removal efficiency of 87.95% of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solution was achieved at the pH 5, catalyst doze of 40 mg L−1 with initial concentration of ciprofloxacin 5 mg L−1, and the reaction time of 100 min additionally; material characterization of TiO2 was presented in detail in terms of XRD, SEM, UV, and FTIR. It has been found that at the optimum condition the total operating cost indicated for the removal of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solution is 786.56 (INR/kg of CIP removal). This technique demonstrated that photocatalytic reaction in presence of TiO2 nanoparticles is well applicable to treat pharmaceutical wastewater.
Nonlinear stability and numerical simulations for a reaction–diffusion system modelling Allee effect on predators
Authors: Capone Florinda , Carfora Maria Francesca , De Luca Roberta , Torcicollo Isabella
Published: August 2021

A reaction–diffusion system governing the prey–predator interaction with Allee effect on the predators, already introduced by the authors in a previous work is reconsidered with the aim of showing destabilization mechanisms of the biologically meaning equilibrium and detecting some aspects for the eventual oscillatory pattern formation. Extensive numerical simulations, depicting such complex dynamics, are shown. In order to complete the stability analysis of the coexistence equilibrium, a nonlinear stability result is shown.
Positive radial solutions for Dirichlet problems involving the mean curvature operator in Minkowski space
Authors: He Zhiqian , Miao Liangying
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we study the number of classical positive radial solutions for Dirichlet problems of type
(P)

−
d
i
v

∇
u

1
−
|
∇
u

|

2

=
λ
f

(

u

)

 
in

B

1

,

u
=
0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

on

∂

B

1

,

$$\left\{\begin{aligned}\hfill & -\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{v}\left(\frac{\nabla u}{\sqrt{1-\vert \nabla u{\vert }^{2}}}\right)=\lambda f\left(u\right)\quad \text{in} {B}_{1},\hfill \\ \hfill & u=0\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \text{on} \partial {B}_{1}, \hfill \end{aligned}\right.$$

where λ is a positive parameter,

B

1

=

{

x
∈

R

N

:
|
x
|
<
1

}

${B}_{1}=\left\{x\in {\mathbb{R}}^{N}:\vert x\vert {< }1\right\}$

, f : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) is a continuous function. Using the fixed point index in a cone, we prove the results on both uniqueness and multiplicity of positive radial solutions of (P).
Tongue stretching: technique and clinical proposal
Authors: Buscemi Andrea , Coco Marinella , Rapisarda Alessandro , Frazzetto Giulia , Di Rosa Daniela , Feo Salvatore , Piluso Marta , Presente Lilia Paola , Campisi Santi Scirè , Desirò Paolo
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The tongue is an organ with multiple functions, from sucking to phonation, from swallowing to postural control and equilibrium. An incorrect position or mechanics of the tongue can causes sucking problems in the newborn or atypical swallowing in the adult, with repercussions on the position of the head and neck, up to influencing upright posture and other problems. Tongue dysfunctions are quite frequent (10–15%) in the population. For the manual therapist, this frequency indicates one to two subjects every 30 patients. Exercises have been proposed to improve the tone and strength of the swallowing muscles but the results are not so clear in the literature. The aim of this study is to describe and provide a tongue muscle normalization technique that helps the manual therapist in the treatment of problems related to it.

Methods

The literature has been investigated through pubmed, Google scholar of the last 10 years, the keywords used and combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR, are: “tongue, tongue habits, tongue diseases, taste disorder, neck pain, posture, postural balance, atypical swallowing, muscle stretching exercise, tissue expansion, soft tissue therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment”.

Results and Conclusions

The technique is possible to be executed even in a sitting position, in the case the patient is unable to assume a supine position, the subject should provides immediate feedback that allows the therapist to understand if the technique has been correctly executed. The simplicity of execution and application of the technique makes it a possible and immediate therapeutic tool in the clinical setting.
Brandom and Quine on Perspectivally HybridDe ReAttitude Ascription: A Solution to a Problem in the Explanation of Action
Authors: Crawford Sean
Published: August 2021

InMaking it ExplicitRobert Brandom claims that perspectivally hybridde reattitude ascriptions explain what an agent actually did, from the point of view of the ascriber, whether or not that was what the agent intended to do. There is a well-known problem, however, first brought to attention by Quine, but curiously ignored by Brandom, that threatens to undermine the role ofde reascriptions in the explanation of action, a problem that stems directly from the fact that, unlikede dictoascriptions, they permit the attribution of inconsistent attitudes to agents. I propose a solution to the problem which I believe is consistent with Brandom’s approach to the nature of intentionality and the explanation of action.
Flat morphological operators from non-increasing set operators, I: general theory
Authors: Ronse Christian
Published: August 2021

Flat morphology is a general method for obtaining increasing operators on grey-level or multivalued images from increasing operators on binary images (or sets). It relies on threshold stacking and superposition; equivalently, Boolean max and min operations are replaced by lattice-theoretical sup and inf operations.

In this paper we consider the construction a flat operator on grey-level or colour images from an operator on binary images that is not increasing. Here grey-level and colour images are functions from a space to an interval in ℝ
m
or ℤ
m
(m ≥ 1). Two approaches are proposed. First, we can replace threshold superposition by threshold summation. Next, we can decompose the non-increasing operator on binary images into a linear combination of increasing operators, then apply this linear combination to their flat extensions. Both methods require the operator to have bounded variation, and then both give the same result, which conforms to intuition. Our approach is very general, it can be applied to linear combinations of flat operators, or to linear convolution filters.

Our work is based on a mathematical theory of summation of real-valued functions of one variable ranging in a poset.

In a second paper, we will study some particular properties of non-increasing flat operators.
Estimating drift and minorization coefficients for Gibbs sampling algorithms
Authors: Spade David A.
Published: August 2021

Gibbs samplers are common Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms that are used to sample from intractable probability distributions when sampling directly from full conditional distributions is possible. These types of MCMC algorithms come up frequently in many applications, and because of their popularity it is important to have a sense of how long it takes for the Gibbs sampler to become close to its stationary distribution. To this end, it is common to rely on the values of drift and minorization coefficients to bound the mixing time of the Gibbs sampler. This manuscript provides a computational method for estimating these coefficients. Herein, we detail the several advantages of the proposed methods, as well as the limitations of this approach. These limitations are primarily related to the “curse of dimensionality”, which for these methods is caused by necessary increases in the numbers of initial states from which chains need be run and the need for an exponentially increasing number of grid points for estimation of minorization coefficients.
Political Equality and Political Sufficiency
Authors: Blau Adrian
Published: August 2021

The distinction between equality and sufficiency, much discussed in the distributive justice literature, is here applied to democratic theory. Overlooking this distinction can have significant normative implications, undermining some defences and criticisms of political equality, as I show by discussing the work of three prominent democratic theorists: Thomas Christiano, David Estlund, and Mark Warren. Most importantly, Christiano sometimes defends egalitarian conclusions using sufficientarian premises, or worries about inequality in situations where insufficiency is also part of the problem; inequality above the level of sufficiency is not always as troubling. Estlund makes the reverse error. He attacks rather than defends political egalitarianism, but insufficiency seems to explain some of his concerns. Nonetheless, I show that political egalitarians may need to specify a sufficientarian threshold, to avoid levelling-down objections. Democratic theorists should thus take seriously the distinction between political equality and political sufficiency. More generally, political theorists and philosophers should be aware of omitted variable bias and interaction effects due to conceptual stretching arising from under-theorised distinctions in their thought experiments.
Single-nanoantenna driven nanoscale control of the VO2 insulator to metal transition
Authors: Bergamini Luca , Chen Bigeng , Traviss Daniel , Wang Yudong , de Groot Cornelis H. , Gaskell Jeffrey M. , Sheel David W. , Zabala Nerea , Aizpurua Javier , Muskens Otto L.
Published: August 2021

The ultrafast concentration of electromagnetic energy in nanoscale volumes is one of the key features of optical nanoantennas illuminated at their surface plasmon resonances. Here, we drive the insulator to metal phase transition in vanadium dioxide (VO2) using a laser-induced pumping effect obtained by positioning a single gold nanoantenna in proximity to a VO2 thermochromic material. We explore how the geometry of the single nanoantenna affects the size and permittivity of the nanometer-scale VO2 regions featuring phase transition under different pumping conditions. The results reveal that a higher VO2 phase transition effect is obtained for pumping of the longitudinal or transversal localized surface plasmon depending on the antenna length. This characterization is of paramount importance since the single nanoantennas are the building blocks of many plasmonic nanosystems. Finally, we demonstrate the picosecond dynamics of the VO2 phase transition characterizing this system, useful for the realization of fast nano-switches. Our work shows that it is possible to miniaturize the hybrid plasmonic-VO2 system down to the single-antenna level, still maintaining a controllable behavior, fast picosecond dynamics, and the features characterizing its optical and thermal response.
Crystal structure of 2,2′-(butane-1,4-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(4-methoxyphenol), C20H24N2O4
Authors: Orang’o Daniel M. , Onani Martin O. , Tarus Paul K. , Lutta Samuel T. , Lalancette Roger A.
Published: August 2021

C20H24N2O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 11.0474(3) Å, b = 6.0853(2) Å, c = 13.9881(4) Å, β = 104.271(2)°, V = 911.36(5) Å3, Z = 2, R

gt
(F) = 0.0290, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0728, T = 100(2) K.
Metrological and quality concepts in analytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)
Authors: Hibbert David Brynn , Korte Ernst-Heiner , Örnemark Ulf
Published: August 2021

Recommendations are given for metrological terminology in analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry is defined, and concepts related to laboratory practice are termed and defined. Recommendations are given concerning the terminology of quality assurance in analytical chemistry. Terms draw on the extensive quality literature, particularly from ISO.
Experimental study on mechanical properties and microstructures of steel fiber-reinforced fly ash-metakaolin geopolymer-recycled concrete
Authors: Xu Zhong , Huang Zhenpu , Liu Changjiang , Deng Xiaowei , Hui David , Deng Yuting , Zhao Min , Qin Libing
Published: August 2021

Geopolymer cementitious materials and recycled aggregate are typical representatives of material innovation research in the engineering field. In this study, we experimentally investigated a method to improve the performance of geopolymer-recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC). The recycled concrete aggregates and steel fiber (SF), fly ash (FA), metakaolin (MK), and sodium silicate solution were used as the main raw materials to prepare fiber-reinforced geopolymer-recycled aggregate concrete (FRGRAC). First, the orthogonal test was carried out to study the GRAC, and the optimal mix proportion was found. Second, building on the optimal mix proportion, the effects of the SF content on the slump, 7 and 28 days compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of FRGRAC were further studied. Finally, the microscopic mechanism of FRGRAC was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study results indicate that the slump continues to decrease as the fiber content increases, but the compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength increase to a certain extent. Through SEM analysis, it is found that SF restrains the development of cracks and improves the strength of concrete.
Post-stroke recrudescence—a possible connection to autoimmunity?
Authors: Akamatsu Yosuke , Chaitin Hersh J. , Hanafy Khalid A.
Published: August 2021

Early recanalization of the occluded vessel is the only efficient intervention that improves outcome after ischemic stroke. In contrast, interventions for chronic issues facing stroke patients are limited. Recent clinical and preclinical studies have shown a correlation between upregulated immune responses to brain antigens and post-stroke recrudescence (PSR), post-stroke fatigue (PSF), and dementia (PSD); all of which are associated with poor long-term stroke outcome. Recent retrospective studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between the onset of PSR and acute infection during acute stroke, suggesting some adaptive immune system mediated pathology. This review will discuss the mechanisms and epidemiology of PSR based on the current clinical and pre-clinical evidence. Accordingly, PSR does appear correlated with populations that are prone to autoimmunity, infection, and subsequent triggers, which corroborate autoimmune responses to self-brain antigens as an underlying mechanism. Moreover, PSR as well as PSF and PSD seem to be partly explained by the development of a neuro-inflammatory response to brain antigens. Therefore, the future of improving long-term stroke outcome could be bright with more accurate pre-clinical models focusing on the role of adaptive immune-mediated post stroke neuroinflammation and more clinical studies of PSR.
On recurrent properties of Fisher--Wright's diffusion on (0,1) with mutation
Authors: Sineokiy Roman , Veretennikov Alexander
Published: August 2021

A one-dimensional Fisher–Wright diffusion process on the interval

(
0
,
1
)

{(0,1)}

with mutations is considered. This is a widely known model in population genetics. The goal of this paper is an exponential recurrence of the process, which also implies an exponential rate of convergence towards the invariant measure.
Bühler’s organon model of communication: a semiotic analysis of advertising slogans
Authors: Safavi Sarvenaz
Published: August 2021

This article investigates the member units of sign systems used in contemporary Iranian advertising slogans according to the Organon Model introduced by Karl Bühler. In dealing with this subject, the writer introduces Bühler’s Organon Model and provides a short definition of the term advertising slogan. The next part of this article shows the three types of conative functions with regard to such slogans. The corpus of this study is the slogan of a hundred contemporary Iranian advertising messages used in Iranian markets which have not been studied from a semiotic perspective. The result of this research shows the tendencies of Iranian advertising messages to lean towards the descriptive type of conative function.
Pain and executive function: no association between remote exercise-induced hypoalgesia and cognitive inhibition in pain-free participants
Authors: Gajsar Hannah , Meyer Marcel , Hasenbring Monika I. , Vaegter Henrik B.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Cognitive inhibition, which denotes the ability to suppress predominant or automatic responses, has been associated with lower pain sensitivity and larger conditioned pain modulation in humans. Studies exploring the association between cognitive inhibition and other pain inhibitory phenomena, like exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), are scarce. The primary aim was to explore the association between cognitive inhibition and EIH at exercising (local) and non-exercising (remote) muscles after isometric exercise. The secondary aim was to explore the association between cognitive inhibition and pressure pain sensitivity.

Methods

Sixty-six pain-free participants (28.3 ± 8.9 years old, 34 women) completed two cognitive inhibition tasks (stop-signal task and Stroop Colour-Word task), a 3-min isometric wall squat exercise, and a quiet rest control condition with pre- and post-assessments of manual pressure pain thresholds at a local (thigh) and a remote site (shoulder). In addition, cuff pressure pain thresholds, pain tolerance and temporal summation of pain were assessed at baseline.

Results

No association was found between remote EIH and cognitive inhibition (Stroop interference score: r=0.12, [−0.15; 0.37], p=0.405, BF01=6.70; stop-signal reaction time: r=−0.08, [−0.32; 0.17], p=0.524, BF01=8.32). Unexpectedly, individuals with worse performance on the Stroop task, as indicated by a higher Stroop interference score, showed higher local EIH (r=0.33; [0.10; 0.53], p=0.007, BF01=0.29). No associations were observed between pain sensitivity and any of the cognitive inhibition performance parameters.

Conclusions

The present findings do not support previous evidence on positive associations between exercise-induced hypoalgesia and cognitive inhibition, as well as baseline pain sensitivity and cognitive inhibition.
Zur Funktion der Stimme in Psychotherapie und Liturgie-Annäherungen
Authors: Lewandowski Ludwig
Published: August 2021

Es wird die Bedeutung der Stimme für den psychotherapeutischen und liturgischen Erfahrungsraum aufgezeigt. In ihrer prosodisch-semantischen Bandbreite fungiert die menschliche Stimme zum An- und Herbeirufen des Anderen und ermöglicht/verhindert Beziehung und Kontakt. Säkulare wie spirituelle Beziehungserfahrungen werden erleichtert, wenn dasWieder Stimme zu einer Passung mit den Beziehungserwartungen des Patienten/des Gottesdienstbesuchers beiträgt. Im taktvollen, prosodisch stimmigen Wechselspiel von Reden und Schweigen, das ein Gefühl persönlichen Angesprochenseins hinterlässt, werden säkulare wie spirituelle Beziehungserfahrungen ermöglicht und im günstigen Fall auch geheilt.
A (4,4)-connected zinc(II) coordination polymer constructed with the flexible 2-carboxy phenoxyacetate ligand: synthesis, conformation alteration and fluorescent properties
Authors: Li Jun-Xia , Zhang Tian , Chen He-Jun , Du Zhong-Xiang
Published: August 2021

A new binary ZnII coordination polymer, [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)]
n
(2D-Zn) has been prepared by a 120 °C hydrothermal reaction of zinc(II) sulfate heptahydrate and 2-carboxy phenoxyacetic acid (2-H2cpa) in the presence of potassium hydroxide. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the ZnII ion is located in a deformed ZnO6 octahedron bonded by one water and three 2-carboxy phenoxyacetate (2-cpa) ligands. The 2-cpa exhibits pentadentate double bridging chelate-μ
3 coordination mode and connects adjacent ZnII ions to generate a corrugated (4,4)-connected layer structure. The structures, conformation of 2-cpa and photoluminescence spectra for 2D-Zn have been carefully analyzed and compared with its two closely related compounds ̶ 1D [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)]
n
(1D-Zn) and mononuclear [Zn(2-cpa)(H2O)3] (0D-Zn). The results showed that the conformation of 2-cpa in 2D-Zn has the maximum alteration and the corresponding fluorescence emission peak of 2D-Zn has the largest red-shift of 62 nm compared with that of free 2-H2cpa.
Feasibility Study of Locally Excavated Soil in Foamed Cement Mixture as Backfill Material for Abutments of Railway Bridges
Authors: Minh Le Tri Ho , Lee Tack-Woo , Seo Jung-Woo , Park Dae-Wook
Published: August 2021

The varying stiffness of materials surrounding a railway bridge abutment section has caused concern for rapid deterioration. Particularly on the transition toward the bridge approach, a significant contributing factor to the bad experience is the consolidation of the backfill material used. The objective of this study is to conduct experimental research utilizing locally available soil in a lightweight foamed concrete mixture as an alternative sustainable solution. The new technique combines the merits of the self-leveling air foam and the early strength attainment of portland cement concatenate into a flowable soil mixture. To attain this objective, the properties of the flowable soil mixture are tested by using various laboratory experiments. Furthermore, a numerical simulation was utilized to evaluate the performance of the backfill material under cyclic train loads compared with the conventional cement-treated base. The test results suggested that air foam content noticeably improves the self-leveling of backfill material, however, it should be controlled at lower than 20 % to ensure sufficient strength gain. Adding more cement content and lowering the usage of air foam not only shortens the setting time to less than 12 h and enhances the compressive strength up to 1.45 MPa, but it also reinforces the frost resistance of the lightweight foamed soil mixture. In addition to the numerical simulation, the test results reveal that the new material provides great settlement resistance and can withstand vibration load for a railway track system. The elastic displacement can be reduced up to 21 % (2 mm), and the plastic settlement can be lower to more than 60 % (6 mm) under 10,000 cyclic loads. In general, the application of lightweight foamed soil mixture as a backfill material for railway bridge approach poses a green and sustainable alternative solution.
The Effect of Nanocoatings on Critical Heat Flux (CHF) under Pool Boiling Conditions
Authors: Reddy Sadhgun , Narayan Prabhu K. , Vignesh Nayak U.
Published: August 2021

The effect of nanomaterial coating on heat transfer characteristics of a copper substrate during pool boiling with distilled water (>99.9 %) was studied. The peak on the pool boiling curve between nucleate and transition boiling is termed the critical heat flux. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene were used to obtain coatings on the copper substrate. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure. The results showed enhanced critical heat flux for the coated substrates. Graphene-coated copper showed the highest critical heat transfer characteristics compared with that on bare and multi-walled carbon nanotube-coated substrates. The study has significant implications for the enhancement of heat transfer during quench heat treatment.
Questions of the mathematical modeling of the progression of coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Urmanova Yulduz Makhkamovna , Mukhtarova Shakhnoza Shokirjonovna , Ortikali Tursunkulov , Mukhtarova Margarita Zairganovna , Ugli Kholikov Farkhod Jamoliddin
Published: August 2021

In 2017-2019, 40 patients were examined (16 of them men, 24 women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus in combination with IHD, of which 38 patients had a favorable course and 8 with an unfavorable course. For an unfavorable profile, the presence of strokes, mycocardial infarction (fatal, nonfatal), repeated hospitalizations for worsening chronic heart failure (decrease in ejection fraction), repeated surgical interventions (percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting) for the current 3 years was taken into account. The average age of patients was 65.5 years. In total, 119 signs recorded in the first three days from the moment of patient's arrival were analyzed as possible predictors of an unfavorable prognosis. From this whole set, a number of parameters with corresponding values ​​were selected as markers of coronary heart disease, which showed the highest incidence rate in the group of patients with adverse course (NBT) and the highest in the group of patients with favorable course (BT). the most pathognomonic predictors of IHD progression in patients with type 2 diabetes were systolic LV dysfunction (fv <40%), SBP> 160 mm Hg and/or DBP above 100 mm Hg. Art., severe angina pectoris, LVH and ECG signs of myocardial ischemia, persisting upon discharge from the hospital, history of ACVA comorbidity plus DM-2.
Is more dose and skin reaction required when treating early lentigo maligna definitively with radiotherapy? A case series
Authors: Fogarty GB , Hong AM , Rocha L , Vilain RE , Ferguson P , Guitera P
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation (AIMP) is an early form of lentigo maligna (LM) which itself is a precursor to melanoma. It presents commonly on the head and neck where tissue conserving therapies are attractive. When treating LM with imiquimod, dermatologists treat until a certain level of skin inflammation is achieved. Radiation oncologists treat to a set dose of radiation irrespective of the skin reaction at completion. The dose of radiotherapy for AIMP is unknown and these lesions are currently treated in the same manner as LM. Case series: Five immunocompetent patients (average age 80 years) with AIMP or early LM (ELM) on the head and neck region were treated with RADICAL radiotherapy (RT) protocols. All treatment sites were mapped with in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and measured on average 4.0 cm in diameter (range 2.0–6.0 cm). The median RT dose administered was 50 Gray (Gy) [45-54 Gy] in 1.8-2Gy per fraction to the planning target volume (PTV), usually by megavoltage electrons. All patients completed RT. The peak radiation acute skin toxicity observed at any time in all patients was only dry desquamation, equivalent to a grade 2 acute radiation dermatitis reaction by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0. At a median of follow up of 10 months, all patients had biopsy proven recurrence of AIMP (n=3) or LM (n=2). All recurrences were within the RT field. Patients were followed for an average total of five years post salvage treatment (range: 26 - 124 months). Discussion: This series raises questions. First, what radiation dose is required to cure AIMP and ELM? This series suggests that the same dose, if not higher, used in established in-situ disease, is required. Second, should radiation oncologists treat to a grade 3 skin reaction? It may be then advisable to use standard fractionation (2Gy or less) so that the peak RT reaction coincides with the end of treatment and allows for titration and extra dose to be added.
Scalp hair repigmentation in the penumbral region of radiotherapy– a case series
Authors: Prasad Shimon , Dougheney Nicole , Hong Angela , Flood John , Paton Elizabeth , Wong David , Fobarty Gerald B
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Hair colour is determined by varying ratios of black-brown eumelanin and reddish-brown/reddish-yellow pheomelanin. Hair colour change has been reported with cancer therapies. Radiotherapy (RT) usually causes temporary epilation to permanent alopecia. A change in hair colour following radiation is rare and usually results in depigmentation. There has only been one other case reported of repigmentation after RT. Cases: We present five cases of changes to scalp hair pigmentation in the penumbral region in patients treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for skin cancer. Five treated areas across four patients involved repigmentation from grey to black, and there was one case of depigmentation from brown to grey. The latter occurred during immunotherapy administration. For the two cases where recalculation of the dosimetry was possible for three areas, repigmentation changes happened at an average mean dose of 16 Gy (9.3 – 26 Gy) in an average of 26 (25 - 27) fractions; that is, 0.6 Gy per fraction at five fractions per week. Discussion: This series of six areas in five patients of hair colour change in the penumbral region of VMAT to the scalp for skin cancer is the first report of this phenomenon. Repigmentation of scalp hair with RT is rare. Even though rare, the potential for hair colour change may need to be part of the informed consent discussion in patients contemplating this treatment.
Good pasture’s syndrome diagnosed in postpartum period: acute kidney injury severe enough to warrant renal transplant
Authors: Veeramalla Snigdha Rao , Arora Aashima , Thakur Geetika , Ramachandran Raja , Soni Shiv
Published: August 2021

Objective: Goodpasture's syndrome (GPS) is the association of pulmonary haemorrhage with acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from injury by auto-antibodies. Its de novo occurrence in pregnancy is extremely rare with only few cases reported. High risk of mortality and lack of consensus in treatment warrants its reporting. Case report: A 24 year old primigravida, with no history suggestive of renal disease, presented to us in her third trimester with anuria. She was initially managed as sepsis or preeclampsia related AKI. However, even after delivery there was no improvement in kidney function with hemodialysis and she developed hemoptysis. Renal biopsy made a diagnosis of Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane disease. With careful multi-disciplinary treatment, she delivered a live born baby and was discharged under stable condition on hemodialysis, currently awaiting a kidney transplant. Conclusion: This case highlights that the current management for GPS should be revised to improve the outcome of AKI. Also, it determines how important it is for obstetricians to consider whether a pregnancy should be terminated to improve the outcome of AKI in pregnant patients with GPS
Miscibility and thermal properties of poly(vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate)/lamivudine and tenofovir binary blends prepared by hot melt extrusion
Authors: Dias Marcos L , Barbosa Lucyenne S , Anjos Rodrigo B , Baptista Adriana PD , Dantas Fabio ML
Published: August 2021

Preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) by hot melt extrusion (HME) of poly(vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate) (Kollidon) and the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) Lamivudine (3TC) and Tenofovir Disoproxyl Fumarate (TDF) was investigated aiming to study their miscibility and thermal behavior. These two drugs are currently used as drugs in first line treatment of patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In order to predetermine parameters for extrusion and the maximum concentration of API to be used without any recrystallization, binary blends were first processed in the mixing chamber at 130°C using a roller type rotor at 10, 20 and 30 rpm for 7 min, giving rise to ASD of both API, at least up to 20 wt% of the drug. Both 3TC and TDF were then extruded individually with Kollidon in a single screw extruder. HME produced ASD with high concentration of both Kollidon/API combinations, being part of the API soluble in the polymer matrix. From HME, Kollidon/3TC forms ASD in concentration up to 50 wt%, but from 30 wt% 3TC, the ASD has no time stability, showing recrystallization in less than 5 months, while the Kollidon/TDF system forms ASD up to 30 wt% of TDF, but it has aging stability inferior to 4 months.
Grover’s disease: a rare bullous dermatosis spontaneously regressing
Authors: Bouadella Sara
Published: August 2021

Grover's diseaseis an itchy acantholytic disorder occurring on the trunk of middle-aged men. It is a transient dermatosis of unknown cause manifesting clinically as a papular skin eruption located usually on the anterior chest and abdomen and histologically with dyskeratosis and acantholysis. This disease has occasionally been reported in patients with chronic renal failure, some infections, hematological malignancies, and many other anomalies. We report herein a new case of Grover's disease that developed in a female patient after a fever episode.
Determinants of household residential location choice among informal settlers in Port Harcourt
Authors: Christopher Ledor Deeyah , Chinwennwo P Ohochuku , Stanley N Eke
Published: August 2021

Informal settlements, sometimes called slums, are sites of significant environmental risk in developing cities. Despite its environmental challenges, residents prefer to live in informal settlements rather than planned allocated plots. This paper assesses the determinants of households’ residential location decision in an informal settlement in Port Harcourt in order to gain understanding on what makes individuals consider a particular location in an informal settlement. The study employs a case study approach and uses both indepth face-to-face interviews and structured questionnaires on waterfront households using Cluster sampling to group the settlements into seven (7) zones based on their location in order to capture information on residential location choice decisions of respondents in the informal settlements. In each settlement, we interviewed two households, thereafter questionnaires were administered on 55 respondents’ household by trained graduate students who worked as enumerators. In all a total of 14 interviews were conducted and 385 questionnaires administered. Out of the 385 questionnaires administered, 315 were completed and returned. The results of the survey corroborated by an indebth interview revealed that the growing informality are not limited to income level, but household uses social networks (living close to family or friends), livelihood opportunities, proximity to work, and commuting cost to find accommodation, land for building and support for everyday life in an informal settlement.
Melanoma of vulva in situ, presentation of a case
Authors: Vargas Hernandez Víctor Manuel , Aguilar Victor Manuel Vargas
Published: August 2021

Melanoma in situ (MIS) usually arises from a junctional nevus. Clinically, the lesion appears dark brown pigmented; sometimes almost black is rare in the vulva and as a relatively slow but definite progression towards invasive melanoma. The clinical case of an 80-year-old patient with multiple comorbidities with a pigmented lesion on the vulva is described, where the histopathological study reported an MIS, and the litter is reviewed for better management.
Antenatal detection of aberrant subclavian artery (ARSA) by 4D-volume contrast ?maging in mid-trimester ultrasound exam
Authors: Aygün Elif Ganime
Published: August 2021

Background and Purpose: To report a small series of ARSA (Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery) cases which were diagnosed by 4-D (Dimensional) ultrasound (Volume Contrast Imaging-A Plane) with high definition flow technique. Methods: Clinical data of total 1859 singleton, low risk pregnancies from the hospital database. Total 13 cases with isolated ARSA cases were identified. Results: Total 13 cases with isolated ARSA cases were identified. Median maternal age was 32 years old. Median gestational age at ultrasound exam was 21 weeks. Eleven of thirteen cases were isolated. Case 3 had a muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) and case 6 had an aberrant left subclavian artery. All cases were detected by 4D VCI-A with high definition flow technique successfully. One fetus with ARSA who was misdiagnosed as normal by conventional 2-D ultrasound, 4D VCI-A with high definition flow revealed abnormal courses of the right subclavian artery. Course of azygos vein was discriminated from the ARSA in all cases. Conclusion: 4D VCI-A mode activated with HD-flow (High Definition) is a valuable tool for the investigation of outflow tracts of fetal heart and proximal branches of aorta in midtrimester scans and carries some advantages over conventional 2D sonography combined with High Definition Flow mode.
Challenges affecting couples resorting to Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) in Romania
Authors: Margan Mădălin-Marius , Margan Roxana , Corneluta Fira-Mladinescu , Salomeia Putnoky , Ioana Tuta-Sas , Radu Bagiu , Popa Zoran-Laurențiu , Bernad Elena , Ciuca Ioana Mihaiela , Dehelean Cristina Adriana , Hallal Esther , Vlaicu Brigitha
Published: August 2021

Objective: The aim of this paper is to illustrate the main points of interest regarding the way treatment of infertility impacts the life of couples who struggle with this condition in Romania. The unique aspects and specific challenges regarding social, financial and psychological implications that affect Romanian couples who access specialized treatment for infertility will be thoroughly discussed. Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional research. The sample population included patients who attended specialized infertility treatment (Assisted Reproductive Techniques - ART) in Fertility Clinics from Romania. The study was conducted between 2017 and 2019 and data was gathered through two infertility questionnaires. Results: The questionnaire for women was filled in by 829 female participants who struggled with infertility and resorted to ART and the questionnaire for men was completed by 227 male participants, as partners of the women, some of them as well with fertility issues. We analysed the results regarding all aspects surrounding infertility and ART, such as: psychological implications, impact of stress, access to specialized treatment, costs for treatment. Conclusion: The results showed that couples who struggle with infertility have to deal with high costs for specialized infertility treatments, in addition to stress related to treatment, creating a combination which negatively impacts their future chances of getting a pregnancy.