bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Write Head Movement On Magnetic Spin Domain Reversal of Nanocube Co/Pd Alloy Material Using Micromagnetic Simulation
Authors: Baskoro Ilham Heru , Lestari Merinda
Published: March 2021

An analysis of the effect of the write head movement on the reversal time of the domain spin with magnetic Co/Pd on the magnetic recording layer has been carried out through micromagnetic simulation. The magnetic recording layer is modeled in the form of cubes (nanocubes) which consists of 5 domain spin. The write head, which is a transduser, moves along the domain spin to write data in the form of magnetic spins, which represent the bits on the magnetic recorder perpendicular. The results of this simulation are a profile of changes in the total magnetic field and reversal time of the domain spin when writing magnetic data for 6 nanoseconds. The calculation used in this study is an analytical calculation regarding the reversal time of the magnetic domain spin of the Co/Pd alloy material. The formulation for calculating the reversal time of domain-spin magnetization is a combination of graphical analysis and analytical calculations with visualization of the magnetic spin configuration that consisting of 5 domains spin. This simulation was carried out using the finite element method and obtained a saturation 5 field value of the magnetic alloy Co/Pd (Hs) material of 2.5 x 105 A/m and a write head (Hwh) field that 6 must be applied to the magnetic recording layer in order to reverse the uniform domain spin is 7.3 x 106 A/m. Each size of the domain spin requires a different write head, the smaller the nanocube size, the greater the write head field applied to the magnetic recording layer. Meanwhile, the effective write head 6 field amplitude that is suitable for the 20 nm domain spin is 8.3 x 106 A/m. A significant change in the total field occurs when the domain spin reverses 3 times in the first domain spin (n1), the third domain spin (n3) and the fifth domain spin (n5). The total field value when t=0.42 ns ( first domain spin reversal) is 73.69376 A/m, then the total field at t=0.42 ns (third domain spin reversal) is 3443.197 A/m and the current total field t=0.42 ns (fifth domain spin reversal) of 5480.696 A/m.
Analysis Curie Temperature and Hysteresis La0,7Sr0,3MnO3 with Micromagnetic Simulation
Authors: Febiantoro Muhamad Rony , Rohman Lutfi , Sutisna Sutisna
Published: March 2021

Simulation reseach has been carried out to obtain the characteristic of material La0,7Sr0,3MnO3. The simulation method used atomistic of magnetic materials. Simulations were carried out using Vampire software Micromagnetic simulation were determine Curie temperature and Hysterisis Curve. The monte carlo algorithm was used in this reseach. Simulation were carried out by variation nanocube size 22 nm, 27 nm, and 32 nm. The simulation result show, Curie temperature show in 27 nm have the biggest value and stuck in that value. The characteristics of the Hysterisis curve 32 nm bigger than the others.From the simulation, it is found that the between the temperature and Hysteris curve. More temperature value, the smaller the Hysterisis curve.
Mídias sociais e bibliotecas na produção científica dos Estados Unidos
Authors: França Maira Nani , Grossi Angela Maria , Pacios Ana R.
Published: March 2021

Introdução: Como organizações responsáveis por disponibilizarem informações precisas e atualizadas, as bibliotecas estão continuamente experimentando novos recursos tecnológicos e remodelando seus serviços para atender expectativas de seus usuários. No início do século XXI, as mídias sociais surgiram como mais uma oportunidade para eles se conectarem a esses espaços e acessarem seus recursos informacionais. Objetivo: Diante disso, este estudo busca identificar as características de investigações sobre mídias sociais e bibliotecas na produção científica estadunidense, de modo a acompanhar sua evolução e apontar tendências. Metodologia: Para tanto, optou-se pela pesquisa descritiva, de natureza qualiquantitativa, fundamentada na análise de domínio, proposta por Hjørland. O corpus é constituído por 69 artigos, publicados em periódicos científicos da Ciência da Informação dos EUA. Nesse sentido, constatou-se que a temática mídias sociais e bibliotecas tem sido discutida no contexto observado desde 2006, principalmente no âmbito das bibliotecas universitárias. Resultados: Identificou-se, ainda, uma possível comunidade epistêmica em formação. Por sua vez, o conceito Library 2.0 surgiu como uma das contribuições teóricas que influenciou bibliotecários e impactou serviços realizados no segmento. Além da Ciência da Informação, o conhecimento produzido sobre o interdomínio analisado circula por vários campos, como Comunicação Social, Educação, Ciência da Computação, Sociologia, dentre outros. Fora o termo Web 2.0, redes sociais é o mais usado por essa comunidade discursiva, embora mídias sociais se destaque como uma tendência. Há também uma predisposição para pesquisas de aplicações práticas, seguida de estudos teóricos. Conclusão: Foram identificados termos emergentes e representantes do interdomínio analisado ainda não contemplados nos principais tesauros utilizados por pesquisadores da área.
Os riscos do uso dos meios digitais de comunicação não oficiais nas Universidades Federais
Authors: Presser Nadi Helena , Lima José Alexandre Laurentino de , Silva Eli Lopes da
Published: March 2021

Introdução: Analisa os riscos de uso dos meios digitais de comunicação não oficiais na unidade acadêmica de educação a distância de uma universidade federal. Objetivo: Especificamente, identifica os riscos que possam impactar nos processos de recuperação e uso da informação; analisa a magnitude e o impacto desses riscos; seleciona respostas para eles, por meio de controles e outras ações; e, por fim, propõe ações para monitorar e coordenar os processos e os resultados do gerenciamento de riscos. Metodologia: Metodologicamente é uma pesquisa do tipo diagnóstico, descritiva e documental. A técnica do grupo de discussão foi a técnica adotada de coleta de dados. Na análise e interpretação dos dados, o modelo selecionado foi o recomendado por Tribunal de Contas da União, que compreende várias etapas, como está especificado ao longo deste artigo. Resultados: Os resultados apontaram a existência de riscos e medidas a serem tomadas para tratá-los foram apresentadas. Conclusão: Usar provedores de e-mail não oficiais, usar o WhatsApp  e redes sociais para envio, recebimento e armazenamento de informações oficiais e armazenar arquivos oficiais em repositórios on-line foram os principais riscos identificados.
O comportamento de busca de pós-graduandos em engenharia
Authors: Rocha Etiene Siqueira , Casarin Helen de Castro Silva
Published: March 2021

Introdução/Objetivo: Estudo do comportamento informacional de pós-graduandos dos cursos de Engenharia de Produção, Mecânica, Aeroespacial e Naval e Oceânica, que compõem a área da Engenharia III da CAPES, analisando as formas de busca e obtenção de informação utilizadas pelos pós-graduandos e comparando o comportamento informacional dos sujeitos entre as subáreas incluídas no estudo. Metodologia: Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram discentes de 20 programas de pós-graduação com nota igual ou superior a cinco na avaliação da Capes. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário eletrônico com 15 questões. Utilizou-se o software SPSS para verificação da existência de correlação entre o comportamento de busca ativo, passivo e seleção das fontes de informação. Resultados: Os resultados indicam que os pós-graduandos buscam informação principalmente de forma ativa. Eles apresentam dificuldades na interação com as bases de dados, não costumam elaborar estratégias de busca utilizando palavras-chave e operadores booleanos. As fontes de informação mais utilizadas foram os periódicos científicos, livros, teses e dissertações. A comparação dos resultados entre as quatro áreas não revelou diferença significativa, o que sugere que, apesar das especificidades de cada subárea, os pós-graduandos possuem comportamento informacional semelhante. Conclusão: Concluiu-se que as especificidades da Engenharia têm pouca influência no comportamento informacional dos alunos.
Actinomicose em receptor de transplante renal: relato de caso e revisão da literatura
Authors: Macedo Isabela Orieta de Oliveira , Amorim Francisco Daniel Bezerra , Girão Evelyne Santana , Silva Sonia Leite , Fernandes Paula Frassinetti Castelo Branco Camurça , Oliveira Claudia Maria Costa
Published: March 2021

A actinomicose é uma doença rara, infecciosa, granulomatosa crônica, progressiva, e causada, na maioria dos casos, pela bactéria Gram-positiva e anaeróbia Actinomyces israelii. A doença pode assemelhar-se a outros processos infecciosos e até mesmo neoplásicos, dificultando seu diagnóstico e comprometendo o êxito terapêutico, e às vezes evoluindo para sérias complicações. Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente de 54 anos, transplantada renal há 4 anos, apresentando uma lesão em região hipotenar na mão direita. Foi realizada investigação com exames de imagem e biópsia, tendo como diagnóstico actinomicose cutânea primária. O objetivo desse trabalho é discutir sobre uma patologia rara e de localização incomum, em uma paciente imunossuprimida, ressaltando a importância do diagnóstico precoce e preciso para o sucesso terapêutico.
Evaluation of the e-Learning Utilization as a Learning System in Higher Education Institution
Authors: Hasanah Uswatun , Hidayat Syahroni , Kumoro Danang Tejo
Published: March 2021

This study aims to evaluate the use of technology to support teaching and learning activities. Lecturers and students have applied e-learning to teach subjects. The purpose of this evaluation is to measure the success of the use of STMIK Bumigora e-learning by using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) approach, which is an approach that can explain user behavior towards the use of technology. Evaluation of the use of e-learning is formulated into a model based on the TAM model, while SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) is used for data analysis. Based on the measurement analysis in this study, several factors  most influenced the effectiveness of e-learning, namely the usage tutorial for users, ICT facilities related to the Ease of accessing the internet network. Meanwhile, in structural analysis, it was found that attitudes toward the use and perceived usefulness were strongly correlated with real use factors. The actual use is a real condition of the use of e-learning measured by the frequency and duration of time in using the technology, which is influenced by the user's belief in accepting the existence of e-learning in STMIK Bumigora and user beliefs related to the benefits when using it. Therefore, attitudes toward the use and perception of usefulness are the main determining factors in measuring the frequency and duration of e-learning use.
Doppler Shift Effect at The Communication Systems with 10 GHz around Building
Authors: Eska Andrita Ceriana
Published: March 2021

This research described the Doppler shift effect for the communication systems. The mobile station moves with various velocities around the building’s environment. Doppler’s shift influences the communication systems. The frequency communication was used 10 GHz and its influenced by atmospheric attenuation. This research consisted of propagation with LOS and NLOS conditions, mobile station velocity variation, height buildings variation, and transmitter power variation. This research described frequency maximum at Doppler shift, coherence time, and signal to noise ratio. More increase Doppler shift of coherence time caused signal noise ratio to decrease.
Performance Analysis of CRC-Polar Concatenated Codes
Authors: Sari Lydia , Assiddiq U.P. Masagus M. Ikhsan , Alam Syah , Surjati Indra
Published: March 2021

Polar code has been proven to obtain Shannon capacity for Binary Input Discrete Memoryless Channel (BIDMC) and its use has been proposed as the channel coding in 5G technology.  However, its performance is limited in finite block length, compared to Turbo or LDPC codes.  This research proposes the use of various CRC codes to complement Polar codes with finite block length and analyses the performance based on Block Error Rate (BLER) to Es/N0 (dB).  The CRC codes used are of degrees 11 and 24, with 3 different polynomial generators for each degree. The number of bits in the information sequence is 32. The list sizes used are 1, 2, 4, and 8. Simulation results show that the concatenation of CRC and Polar codes will yield good BLER vs Es/N0 performance for short blocks of codeword, with rates 32/864 and 54/864.  Concatenating CRC codes with Polar codes will yield a BLER performance of 10-2 with Es/N0 values of -9.1 to -7.5  dB when CRC codes of degree 11 is used, depending on the SC list used. The use of CRC codes of degree 24 enables a BLER performance of 10-2 with Es/N0 values of -7 to -6 dB when the SC list used is 1 or 2.  The use of CRC codes of degree 24 combined with SC list with sizes 4 or 8 will improve the BLER performance to 10-2 with Es/N0 values of -8 to -7.5 dB
Demineralized Dentine Material Membrane As Barrier Membrane for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Soesilawati Pratiwi , Yuliati Yuliati , Nastiti Agnes Paramitha , Abu Kasim Noor Hayaty
Published: March 2021

Mandibular critical size defect (CSD) due to pathological conditions, trauma, and congenital disease can not heal spontaneously and predominantly filled with fibrous tissue. Therefore, a Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) combined with bone grafting can be performed. The researchers considered using Demineralized Dentin Material Membrane (DDMM) from bovine dentine as an alternative GBR. This study aimed to determine the amount of fibroblast and collagen density after DDMM and bone graft implantation on CSD. Thirty-six Rattus norvegicus rats were used as samples. Mandibular bone defect 5x5 mm was made, then filled with bone graft and covered with Bovine Pericardium Collagen Membrane (BPCM) in the control group and DDMM in the treatment group. Six samples were sacrificed on 7, 14, and 21 days post-surgical for histology examination. There were no significant differences in the amount of fibroblast and collagen density (p-value > 0,05). The amount of fibroblast is lower and the collagen density is higher in treatment group. DDMM has microporosity to prevent connective tissue ingrowth and dentine tubules to allow growth factors release. DDMM and bone graft implantation can reduce the amount of fibroblasts and increase collagen density of CSD which potentially being used as a CSD alternative treatment for bone regeneration.
Indirect Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopic Determination of Acrylamide in Coffee Using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression
Authors: Rief Vera , Felske Christina , Scharinger Andreas , Krumbügel Katrin , Stegmüller Simone , Breitling-Utzmann Carmen M. , Richling Elke , Walch Stephan G. , Lachenmeier Dirk W.
Published: March 2021

Acrylamide is probably carcinogenic to humans (International Agency for Research on Cancer, group 2A) with major occurrence in heated, mainly carbohydrate-rich foods. For roasted coffee, a European Union benchmark level of 400 µg/kg acrylamide is of importance. Regularly, the acrylamide contents are controlled using liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This reference method is reliable and precise but laborious because of the necessary sample clean-up procedure and instrument requirements. This research investigates the possibility of predicting the acrylamide content from proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra that are already recorded for other purposes of coffee control. In the NMR spectrum acrylamide is not directly quantifiable, so that the aim was to establish a correlation between the reference value and the corresponding NMR spectrum by means of a partial least squares (PLS) regression. Therefore, 40 commercially available coffee samples with already available LC-MS/MS data and NMR spectra were used as calibration data. To test the accuracy and robustness of the model and its limitations, 50 coffee samples with extreme roasting degrees and blends were additionally prepared as test set. The PLS model shows an applicability for the varieties C. arabica and C. canephora, which were medium to very dark roasted using drum or infrared roasters. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) is 79 µg/kg acrylamide (n=32). The PLS model is judged as suitable to predict the acrylamide values of commercially available coffee samples. On the other hand, very light roasts containing more than 1000 µg/kg acrylamide are currently not suitable for PLS prediction.
The Putative RNA-Binding Protein Nrp1 Promotes the Loading of Kinesin-14/Klp2 to the Mitotic Spindle and Is Sequestered Into Heat-Induced Protein Aggregates in Fission Yeast
Authors: Yukawa Masashi , Ohishi Mitsuki , Yamada Yusuke , Toda Takashi
Published: March 2021

Cells form a bipolar spindle during mitosis to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. Proper spindle architecture is established by a set of kinesin motors and microtubule-associated proteins. In most eukaryotes, kinesin-5 motors are essential for this process, and genetic or chemical inhibition of their activity leads to the emergence of monopolar spindles and cell death. However, these deficiencies can be rescued by simultaneous inactivation of kinesin-14 motors, as they counteract kinesin-5. We conducted detailed genetic analyses in fission yeast to understand the mechanisms driving spindle assembly in the absence of kinesin-5. Here we show that deletion of the nrp1 gene, which encodes a putative RNA-binding protein with unknown function, can rescue temperature sensitivity caused by cut7-22, a fission yeast kinesin-5 mutant. Interestingly, kinesin-14/Klp2 levels on the spindles in the cut7 mutants were significantly reduced by the nrp1 deletion, although the total levels of Klp2 and the stability of spindle microtubules remained unaffected. Moreover, RNA-binding motifs of Nrp1 are essential for its cytoplasmic localization and function. We have also found that a portion of Nrp1 is spatially and functionally sequestered by chaperone-based protein aggregates upon mild heat stress and limits cell division at high temperatures. We propose that Nrp1 might be involved in post-transcriptional regulation through its RNA-binding ability to promote the loading of Klp2 on the spindle microtubules.
Cooperative Functioning of Unconscious and Consciousness From Theory of Open Quantum Systems
Authors: Khrennikov Andrei
Published: March 2021

We present the mathematical model of cooperative functioning of unconscious and consciousness. The model is based on the theory of open quantum systems. Unconscious and consciousness are treated as bio-information systems. The latter plays the role a measurement apparatus for the former. States of both systems are represented in Hilbert spaces. Consciousness performs measurements on the states which are generated in unconscious. This process of unconscious-conscious interaction is described by the scheme of indirect measurements. This scheme is widely used in quantum information theory and it leads to the theory of quantum instruments (Davis-Lewis-Ozawa). Our approach is known as quantum-like modeling. It should be sharply distinguished from modeling of genuine quantum physical processes in biosystems, in particular, in the brain. In the quantum-like framework, the brain is a black box processing information in the accordance with the laws of quantum theory. During the last 10-15 years this framework has been actively used in cognition, psychology, decision making, social and political sciences. The quantum-like scheme of unconscious-consciousness functioning has already been explored for sensation-perception modeling.
Wargaming Future National Security Threats Posed by Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases
Authors: Canyon Deon
Published: March 2021

The emergence of existing and novel vector-borne disease pathogens is highly unpredictable because there are so many possible causal factors of sociological, ecological, biological, behavioral and political origin. Traditional data-driven forecasting tools have limited use in circumstances featuring low-probability crises for which trend data is unreliable and non-predictive. Commercial and security sectors have been quick to adopt various forms of wargames to address this gap and provide intelligent insights on possible outcomes in the short, mid and long term future. The lack of commitment and action against vector-borne diseases by governments and local authorities requires a new approach that presents risk in terms of potential actions, possible outcomes and resulting consequences.
Intelligent Identification Method of Sedimentary Microfacies Based on DMC-BiLSTM
Authors: Luo Ze Ren , Zhou Yang , Li Yu Xing , Guo Liang , Tuo Juan Juan , Xia Xia Li
Published: March 2021

Sedimentary microfacies division is the basis of oil and gas exploration research. The traditional sedimentary microfacies division mainly depends on human experience, which is greatly influenced by human factor and is low in efficiency. Although deep learning has its advantage in solving complex nonlinear problems, there is no effective deep learning method to solve sedimentary microfacies division so far. Therefore, this paper proposes a deep learning method based on DMC-BiLSTM for intelligent division of well-logging—sedimentary microfacies. First, the original curve is reconstructed multi-dimensionally by trend decomposition and median filtering, and spatio-temporal correlation clustering features are extracted from the reconstructed matrix by Kmeans. Then, taking reconstructed features, original curve features and clustering features as input, the prediction types of sedimentary microfacies at current depth are obtained based on BiLSTM. Experimental results show that this method can effectively classify sedimentary microfacies with its recognition efficiency reaching 96.84%.
The North Karelia Project (1972–1997) and the Origins of the Community Approach to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Authors: Jauho Mikko
Published: March 2021

Community-based risk factor modification is today an established approach to chronic disease control and public health practice. This article analyzes the shaping of the North Karelia Project (NKP), an early and influential formulation of the community approach that focused on coronary heart disease prevention in Finland. Instead of targeting only high-risk individuals, NKP aimed to change the culture of the local community. On the basis of archival material and interviews, I first trace the multiple origins of the notion of community in NKP, which combined “internal” factors (local risk factor distribution, the role given to the social environment in chronic disease prevention) and “external” influences (regional origin of the initiative, World Health Organization and national policy concepts of community control and primary health care). Second, I describe the shape of the community intervention in NKP. The project foregrounded social relationships as a way to educate the public and influence norms guiding individual behaviors while subordinating environmental changes of a more structural nature.
Direct Anterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty with Subtrochanteric Shortening Osteotomy
Authors: Grieco Preston W. , Villa Jesus M. , Pannu Tejbir S. , Higuera Carlos A. , Riesgo Aldo M.
Published: March 2021

Case:

A patient with Aitken type A proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD) and significant limb length discrepancy managed with total hip arthroplasty making use of a novel technique that features a direct anterior approach (DAA) and a subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy.

Conclusion:

Although the current description of the shortening osteotomy is for PFFD, it is versatile enough to allow its application in other hip pathologies requiring subtrochanteric shortening in the setting of total hip arthroplasty. The authors believe that the description of this case report and surgical technique may be an option for the experienced DAA surgeon.
A Generalized Solution to the Point-to-Target Problem Using the Minimum Curvature Method
Authors: Sawaryn Steven J.
Published: March 2021

An explicit solution to the general 3D point-to-target problem based on the minimum curvature method has been sought for more than four decades. The general case involves the trajectory's start and target points connected by two circular arcs joined by a straight line with the position and direction defined at both ends. It is known that the solutions are multivalued, and efficient iterative schemes to find the principal root have been established.

This construction is an essential component of all major trajectory construction packages. However, convergence issues have been reported in cases where the intermediate tangent section is either small or vanishes and rigorous mathematical conditions under which solutions are both possible and are guaranteed to converge have not been published. An implicit expression has now been determined that enables all the roots to be identified and permits either exact or polynomial-type solution methods to be used. Most historical attempts at solving the problem have been purely algebraic, but a geometric interpretation of related problems has been attempted, showing that a single circular arc and a tangent section can be encapsulated in the surface of a horn torus. These ideas have now been extended, revealing that the solution to the general 3D point-to-target problem can be represented as a 10th-order self-intersecting geometric surface, characterized by the trajectory's start and end points, the radii of the two arcs, and the length of the tangent section.

An outline of the solution's derivation is provided in the paper together with complete details of the general expression and its various degenerate forms so that readers can implement the algorithms for practical application. Most of the degenerate conditions reduce the order of the governing equation. Full details of the critical and degenerate conditions are also provided, and together these indicate the most convenient solution method for each case. In the presence of a tangent section, the principal root is still most easily obtained using an iterative scheme, but the mathematical constraints are now known. It is also shown that all other cases degenerate to quadratic forms that can be solved using conventional methods.

It is shown how the general expression for the general point-to-target problem can be modified to give the known solutions to the 3D landing problem and how the example in the published works on this subject is much simplified by the geometric, rather than algebraic treatment.
Subfoveal Scleral Thickness is Associated With Peripheral Retinal Changes in High Myopia in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Shi Tingkun , Chen Shirong , Chen Haoyu
Published: March 2021

Background This study aims to identify the risk factors in peripheral retinal changes (PRC) associated with high myopes among children and adolescents.Methods This is a cross-sectional study on children and adolescents diagnosed with high myopia. The subjects involved underwent a series of ocular examinations, including the dilated fundus examination for PRC and the swept-source optical coherence tomography for foveal retinal, choroidal and scleral thickness measurement. Then, the variables were compared among the eyes with high risk, low risk, and no PRC. Spearman correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between the parameters and the extent of PRC. Logistic regression was performed to identify the potential risk factors.Results A total of 117 eyes from 117 subjects were recruited. The prevalence of PRC was 57.3% (67 eyes), while that of high-risk PRC was 22.2% (26 eyes). A number of significant differences were observed in the mean subfoveal scleral thickness, spherical equivalent refraction, and axial length among the eyes with high-risk, low-risk, and no PRC (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.048, respectively). Compared with spherical equivalent (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and axial length (r = 0.18, p = 0.05), subfoveal scleral thickness exhibited higher correlation coefficient with PRC (r=-0.38, p < 0.01). Subfoveal scleral thickness and spherical equivalent refraction were identified as the independent risk factors for both PRC and high-risk PRC.Conclusion It was demonstrated that there was a correlation between subfoveal scleral thickness and PRC. The eyes with thinner subfoveal scleral thickness carried a higher risk of PRC.
Long term outcome of early vitrectomy in non-diabetic, non-traumatic patients with acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and vitreous hemorrhage
Authors: Lorusso Massimo , Ferrari Luisa Micelli , Bordinone Marco Antonio , Sborgia Giancarlo , Iaculli Cristiana , Alessio Giovanni , Ferrari Tommaso Micelli , Boscia Francesco
Published: March 2021

Objective: Evaluate the etiologies for dense vitreous hemorrhage in pseudophakic, non-diabetic and non-traumatic adults with acute PVD and the efficiency of early vitrectomy treatment.Methods: The study included 93 eyes of 93 patients and it consisted in the evaluation of etiologies of vitreous hemorrhage: retinal tears, retinal occlusion (RVO), choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). A comparison of initial visual acuity versus final visual acuity post vitrectomy is performed.Results: The mean time between symptom onset and surgery was 6.9 days. The most common etiologies observed during this study were: retinal tear (63.4%), vein occlusion (18.3%), CNV (9.7%) and PVD (8.6%). Following early vitrectomy treatement, VA significantly improved from 1.673 LogMAR to 0.220 LogMAR. In addition, the incidence of retinal tears identified preoperatively by ocular ecography were 13, but it improved to 46 during surgery.Conclusion: Retinal tears, RVO, CNV and PVD were the most common causes of dense vitreous hemorrhage. Early vitrectomy has a good outcome with improvement on visual acuity and we also observed during surgery retinal tears not efficiently identified by ultrasound preoperatively.
Does Environmental Pollution hurt Agricultural Productive Efficiency? A New Evidence using ARDL and Wavelet Coherence Approaches
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Iqbal Hafiz Arslan , Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday
Published: March 2021

Environmental change daunts the aptitude to ensure global food security. The greatest significant threat to world fronting is how to mitigate environmental pollution without sacrificing agricultural productivity. The sharp rise in carbon dioxide emissions and global warming is altering the agriculture productivity's patterns as its vulnerability can be sensed by farmers. The spillover impact of climatic changes predicted to be great but differs by area and crop. This research fulfills the unprecedented need of adopting robustness methods to quantify the impact of CO2 emissions, agriculture labor, land, feeds, and fertilizers on agriculture productivity over five decades-long data structured in time-series. The fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS), wavelet transform coherence (WTC) method, and gradual shift causality, tools have been espoused to observe the dynamic linkage in the long-term and short-run. The ARDL bound test confirms long-term co-integrated relation among the indicators. Furthermore, there is evidence of positive association between agriculture productivity and regressors which is also supported by the wavelet coherence outcomes. The Gradual shift causality test present a uni-directional causal link from all determinants to agriculture productivity which illustrates that all the regressors can significantly predict agriculture productivity. So, policies need to be formulated to explore a practical expansion approach with efficient use of fertilizers and feeds at an optimum level, in addition to environmental protection by encouraging public and private investment in agricultural research.
A Feasibility Study of a Pro-Based, Clinical Pharmacist-Led Symptom Monitoring and Management Intervention To Improve Adherence to Breast Cancer Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy
Authors: Neuner Joan , Weil Elizabeth , Fergestrom Nicole , Stolley Melinda , Kamaraju Sailaja , Oxencis Carolyn , Winn Aaron , Laud Purushottam , Flynn Kathryn E.
Published: March 2021

Background Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for breast cancer reduces mortality, but one-third to one-half of patients discontinue it early or are nonadherent. We developed a pilot single-site study of patients with evidence of early nonadherence to AET to assess the feasibility of a novel intervention targeting symptom and medication management.Methods: Subjects with prescription fill records showing nonadherence were enrolled in a single arm, clinical pharmacist-led, pre-post feasibility study. Automated reminders were sent by email or text with a link to symptom monitoring assessments weekly for 1 month and monthly until 6 months. Clinical oncology pharmacists used guideline-based symptom management and other medication management tools to support adherence and ameliorate symptoms reported on the assessments. Patient-reported outcome assessments included physical, mental, and social health domains, and self-efficacy to manage symptoms and medications. Feasibility outcomes included completion of symptom reports and pharmacist recommendations.Results Of nineteen nonadherent patients who completed initial assessments, 18 completed all final study procedures, with 14 completing assessments and no patient missing > three. All 18 patients reported at least one of three symptom types, and the majority reported attempting pharmacist recommendations. Patient-reported measures of physical, mental and social health, as well as self-efficacy improved, and 44% of the patients became adherent.Conclusions: An intervention to utilize pharmacists in an oncology practice systematically monitor and manage symptoms shows promise to reduce symptoms, enhance support and self-efficacy, and improve adherence to AET. Implications for Cancer Survivors: If future larger studies confirm these pilot findings, the intervention could improve patient symptoms and adherence.
Significance of Tumor Infiltrating Immune Cells (TIICs) in Endometrial carcinoma: A Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Hu Qing , Wang Jun , Ge Lina , Wu Ying
Published: March 2021

Background: Increasing evidence has revealed that tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) are involved in the development of endometrial carcinoma (EC). In this study, we aimed to reveal the significance of 28 TIIC types in the classification and prognosis of EC. Methods: Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to calculate the abundance of the 28 TIIC types in EC patients from TCGA database. A consensus clustering algorithm was used to group the EC patients. Principal component analysis (PCA) algorithms were performed to calculate an ICI score for each sample to predict the sensitivity to ICIs therapy based on the 28 TIIC types.Results: The EC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were classified into two groups (cluster.A and cluster.B) based on the 28 types of TIIC using a consensus clustering algorithm. The patients in the cluster.B group had increased immune cell infiltration, and higher expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes, immune checkpoint molecules, and immune activation-related genes, suggesting that they may be more sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. Differential analysis between cluster.A and cluster.B identified 591 immune-related genes. We validated the immune regulation mechanism based on the 591 immune-related genes using another consensus clustering algorithm. The EC patients were divided into two groups (gene.cluster.A and gene.cluster.B) based on the 591 immune-related genes. The patients in the gene.cluster.B group had increased immune cell infiltration, and higher expression of HLA genes, immune checkpoint molecules, and immune activation-related genes. In addition, we also calculated an ICI score for each patient with EC to predict the sensitivity to ICIs therapy based on the 28 TIIC types using principal component analysis algorithms. Conclusions: In summary, the 28 types of TIIC play non-negligible roles in the development of EC. Our investigation of the 28 types of TIIC may help to guide ICIs treatment strategies for patients with EC.
RNA sequencing analysis reveals the competing endogenous RNAs interplay in resected liver cancer patients who received interferon-alpha therapy
Authors: Wu Yibin , Wang Longrong , Wang Xiaoshuang , Zhao Yiming , Mao Anrong , Zhang Ning , Zhou Jiamin , Pan Qi , Zhu Weiping , Wang Lu
Published: March 2021

Background

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a general therapeutic regimen to be utilized in HCC. However, regulatory mechanisms of IFN-α on competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) level in HCC are rarely understood.
Methods

HCC patients with and without IFN-α treatment were calculated to analyze the expression profile of mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, and circRNA by RNA sequence, and significant differential expression (DE) of these types of RNAs were screened out for the following analysis. A ceRNA regulatory network was constructed to explore effects of IFN-α intervention on HCC. Furthermore, the potential prognostic factors among these DE RNAs were identified.
Results

In total, 60 (0.37%) mRNAs, 23 (0.08%) circRNAs, 15 (0.11%) lncRNAs, and 23 (0.91%) miRNAs were differentially expressed in patients who received IFN-α treatment. A ceRNA regulatory network including a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network which composed of 4 up- and 10 down-regulated circRNAs, 8 up- and 5 down-regulated miRNAs, 28 up- and 9 down-regulated mRNAs, and a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network which composed of 10 up- and 3 down-regulated lncRNAs, 11 up- and 5 down-regulated miRNAs, 28 up- and 10 down-regulated mRNAs was constructed. Gene enrichment and pathway analysis revealed that the ceRNA network was associated with immune-related pathway and corresponding molecular function in patients who accepted IFN-α treatment. Next, we identified 3 most relevant to IFN-α treatment to HCC among these DE RNAs, namely FAM20A,IGFBP4 and MARCH3, as the prognostic factors of HCC. Furthermore, MARCH3 expression was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs) in HCC. MARCH3 expression showed strong correlations with diverse immune marker sets in HCC.
Conclusion

Our data discovered a novel ceRNA network in HCC patients receiving IFN-α therapy, which might lay the foundation for better understand the regulatory mechanism of IFN-α treatment.
Characterization on the P-Associated and Agronomic Traits as Well as Associated Molecular Processes in Wheat Under Pi Deprivation Condition
Authors: Zhao Yingjia , Zhang Yanyang , Lin Ruize , Bai Xinyang , Du Pingping , Xiao Kai
Published: March 2021

Phosphorus (P) acts as one of essential macronutrients and plays critical roles in regulating plant growth, development, and the yield formation capacity of crops. Elucidating the physiological and molecular processes underlying plant P deprivation responses benefit the crop cultivation with high P use efficiency (PUE). In this study, the P-associated and agronomic traits as well as the transcriptome profile were investigated under contrasting P levels combined with deficit irrigation, in two wheat cultivars (i.e., high PUE Shixin 828 and P deprivation sensitive Jimai 518). The deficient-P (DP) treatment decreased the P accumulative amounts, photosynthetic function, and biomass of the plants at various growth stages and reduced the yields with respect to sufficient-P (SP) condition. Although the two cultivars were comparable on growth and P-associated traits as well as yields under SP, Shixin 828 was better on above growth traits and P accumulation and higher on yields than Jimai 518 under DP, suggesting that the high PUE cultivars under DP display enhanced P uptake that positively affects photosynthetic function, biomass production, and productivity of plants under P deprivation conditions. A large quantity of genes with differential expression patterns, including 2948 to be upregulated and 1844 downregulated, were identified based on RNA-seq analysis in the Shixin 828 plants treated with P deprivation. The DE genes are associated with biological process (i.e., metabolic process and cellular process etc.), cellular components (cell body and organelle etc.), and molecular function (binding and catalytic activity), and phytohormone signaling pathways. Transgene analysis on TaZFP1, a gene in ZFP transcription factor family exhibited upregulated expression in the P-deprived plants, validated its role in enhancing P accumulation and plant P starvation adaptation. Our results suggested that plant P deprivation response is underlying modulation of various physiological processes via modification of gene transcription at global level.
Optical detection of the susceptibility tensor in two-dimensional crystals
Authors: Xu Zhemi , Ferraro Davide , Zaltron Annamaria , Galvanetto Nicola , Martucci Alessandro , Sun Luzhao , Yang Pengfei , Zhang Yanfeng , Wang Yuechen , Liu Zhongfan , Elliott Joshua , Marsili Margherita , dell’Anna Luca , Umari Paolo , Merano Michele
Published: March 2021

The out-of-plane optical constants of two-dimensional materials have proven to be experimentally elusive. Owing to the reduced dimensionality of a monolayer, optical measurements have limited sensitivity to these properties, which are hidden by the optical response of the substrate. Therefore, there remains an absence of scientific consensus on how to correctly model these materials. Theoretical descriptions span from isotropic three-dimensional slabs to two-dimensional surface currents with a null out-of-plane surface susceptibility. Here we perform a smoking gun experiment on the optical response of a single-layer two-dimensional crystal that addresses these problems. We successfully remove the substrate contribution to the optical response of these materials by a step deposition of a monolayer crystal inside a thick polydimethylsiloxane prism. This allows for a reliable determination of both the in-plane and the out-of-plane components of the monolayer surface susceptibility tensor. Our results prescribe one clear theoretical model for these types of material. This work creates opportunities for a precise characterization of the optical properties of two-dimensional crystals in all the optical domains such as the nonlinear response, surface wave phenomena or magneto-optical Kerr effect. Our assay will be relevant to future progresses in photonics and optoelectronics with 2D materials.
TCO and back contact buffer significance to achieve highest open circuit voltage and efficiency of CdTe solar cells
Authors: Ghosh Bablu K. , Saad Ismail , Mahmood Khairul A
Published: March 2021

CdTe thin film (TF) solar cells are most promising in commercial stage photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Cell contacts and interface defects related opto-electrical losses are still vital to limit its further technological benefit. Thin film PV cells voltage and fill factor loss lessening purpose carrier selective back contact selection with band matching interface layers are essential. Beside that buffer and active layer thickness selection is vital for field assisted selective carrier collection. The suitable emitter or buffer layer thickness and band gap matching to the active layer is potential to lessen parasitic absorption and shallow recombination loss. In this purpose SCAPS software based ZnO and SnO2 TCO as well as CdS and CdSe buffer impact are numerically analyzed. The TCO, emitter, back surface field layer and metal contacts effects on electrical performance is studied. In the model, TCO and back contact barrier thickness is shown significant to progress electrical performance. Eventually, open circuit voltage Voc = 0.9757 V and 19.92% efficiency is achieved for 90 nm of ZnTe BSF with ZnO TCO and CdS emitter layer of optimized thickness.
Short-term Outcomes of Herbert Screw Fixation for Isolated Olecranon Fractures in Children: a Single-institution Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Kelai , Sun Dong , Liu Yakun , Liu Jingwei , Wang Zhe , Li Aiwu
Published: March 2021

Background: Although various fixation methods can be used for the treatment of displaced olecranon fractures, there are no clear indications in the current literature regarding which surgical technique should be adopted. In this study, we evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of closed reduction with percutaneous Herbert screw fixation in children with isolated olecranon fractures.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children treated at our center for isolated olecranon fractures (Mayo type IIA) with closed reduction and percutaneous Herbert screw fixation between January 2016 and December 2018. Radiographic assessment of fracture healing was performed 6–8 months postoperatively and included assessment for loss of reduction and maximum length of the ulna. Clinical outcomes included elbow flexion and extension, forearm pronation and supination, short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) score, and complications. The Herbert screws were removed by a second operation.Results: A total of 14 patients with an average age at the time of injury of 11.36 (range, 10–14) years were included. All patients had good radiological and clinical outcomes at 6–8 months postoperatively; all had normal elbow ranges of motion and showed complete bone healing on radiographs. There were no cases of foreign body irritation, implant migration, or osteoarthritis. Premature epiphyseal closure was noted in six patients. The average QuickDASH score was 1.58. Conclusions: Fixation of olecranon fractures with Herbert screws is a safe and easy fixation method in young patients, leading to good functional and radiological results. Nonetheless, determination of the effects of this treatment method on the olecranon ossification center requires long-term follow-up.
Poverty, income inequality, and energy consumption based on EKC hypothesis: Evidence from developed and developing countries
Authors: Akbas Yusuf Ekrem , Lebe Fuat
Published: March 2021

The primary objective of this study is to examine the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy consumption, income inequality, and poverty within the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in 14 developed and ten developing countries over the period 2000–2018. We employed the Fourier unit root test and Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regression (DSUR) estimator to analyze the relationship between these variables. The results show that in developing countries, income inequality, poverty, and energy consumption positively affect CO2 emission. In contrast, in developed countries, there is no significant relationship between these variables. Moreover, we found out that the EKC hypothesis, which suggests an inverted U-shaped relationship between per capita income and CO2 emissions, is valid in developed countries and invalid in developing countries. We determined that the turning points obtained from regression analysis are outside of the sample period in five developing countries (Argentina, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Panama, and Uruguay). These results show that income inequality and poverty can indirectly affect environmental quality by energy consumption in developing countries.