bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photobiomodulation: An Effective Approach to Enhance Proliferation and Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Osteoblasts
Authors: Da Silva Daniella , Crous Anine , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: March 2021

Osteoporosis is regarded as the most common chronic metabolic bone condition in humans. In osteoporosis, bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have reduced cellular function. Regenerative medicine using adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation can promote the growth and strength of new bones, improve bone stability, and reduce the risk of fractures. Various methods have been attempted to differentiate ADSCs to functioning specialized cells for prospective clinical application. However, commonly used therapies have resulted in damage to the donor site and morbidity, immune reactions, carcinogenic generation, and postoperative difficulties. Photobiomodulation (PBM) improves ADSC differentiation and proliferation along with reducing clinical difficulties such as treatment failures to common drug therapies and late initiation of treatment. PBM is a noninvasive, nonthermal treatment that encourages cells to produce more energy and to undergo self-repair by using visible green and red and invisible near-infrared (NIR) radiation. The use of PBM for ADSC proliferation and differentiation has been widely studied with multiple outcomes observed due to laser fluence and wavelength dependence. In this article, the potential for differentiating ADSCs into osteoblasts and the various methods used, including biological induction, chemical induction, and PBM, will be addressed. Likewise, the optimal laser parameters that could improve the proliferation and differentiation of ADSC, translating into clinical success, will be commented on.
A Low‐Complexity and High‐Decoding Performance Scheme for the MIMO‐SCMA System
Authors: Ge Wenping , Zhang Haofeng , Qian Shiqing , Ma Lili , Zhang Gecheng
Published: March 2021

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) has been proposed to obtain high capacity and support massive connections. When combined with the multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) techniques, the spectrum efficiency of the SCMA system can be further improved. However, the detectors of the MIMO‐SCMA system have high computational complexity. For the maximum likelihood (ML) detection, though it is optimal decoding algorithm for the MIMO‐SCMA system, the detection complexity would grow exponentially with the number of both the antennas and users increase. In this paper, we consider a space‐time block code (STBC) based MIMO‐SCMA system where SCMA is used for multiuser access. Besides, we propose a low‐complexity utilizing joint message passing algorithm (JMPA) detection, which narrowing the range of superimposed constellation points, called joint message passing algorithm based on sphere decoding (S‐JMPA). But for the S‐JMPA detector, the augment of the amount of access users and antennas leads to the degradation of decoding performance, the STBC is constructed to compensate the performance loss of the S‐JMPA detector and ensure good bit error rate (BER) performance. The simulation results show that the proposed method achieves a close error rate performance to ML, JMPA, and a fast convergence rate. Moreover, compared to the ML detector, it also significantly reduces the detection complexity of the algorithms.
How Can a Multidisciplinary Approach Improve Prognosis of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas of Extremities?
Authors: Mazti Asmae , El Idrissi Mohamed , El Ibrahimi Abdelhalim , Maaroufi Mustapha El , El Koubaiti Ghizlane , Bouhafa Touria , El Fakir Samira , Arifi Samia , Mrini Abdelmajid , Chbani Laila
Published: March 2021

Soft-tissue sarcomas are malignant tumors that require good management within specialized centers. Our study aims to assess the benefit of handling these kinds of tumors using the Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM) approach. The current paper details this approach through a prospective study that has lasted for 42 months in the HASSAN II University Hospital Center, Fez, Morocco. During this research work, 116 cases were selected with an average age of 53 years. In 95.7% of the cases, it was found that the lower limb was the most frequent tumor type (78.4%). Also, ninety-two (92) patients (79.3%) have had a prior biopsy. Ninety-nine (99) patients (85.3%) have received a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) before surgery. Sixty-three (63) patients were operated on, including R0 resection used for 37 patients, R1 used for 21 patients, and R2 used for five patients. As a result, liposarcomas were the most frequent type (30.1%), followed by synovial sarcomas (14.6%), leiomyosarcomas (9.5%), ewing sarcoma (8.6), and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (7.7%). In addition, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used for 36 patients. The other 22 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The overall survival rate was 60.56 months, which proves a significant improvement, thanks to the multidisciplinary meeting approach. Conclusion. The conducted investigation has shown that using MDM for managing soft-tissue sarcomas of extremities improves the patients’ survival rate. Moreover, results have proven MDM might allow optimal treatment regarding less local recurrence and metastasis.
A Novel Stimulation Protocol for Poor-Responder Patients: Combining the Stop GnRH-ag Protocol with Letrozole Priming and Multiple-Dose GnRH-ant: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Orvieto Raoul , Nahum Ravit , Aizer Adva , Haas Jigal , Kirshenbaum Michal
Published: March 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether the combined Stop GnRH-agonist (GnRH-ag), letrozole priming, and multiple-dose GnRH-antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol may improve in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle in poor ovarian responders (PORs). Design: This was a historical cohort, proof of concept study under tertiary setting at University affiliated Medical Center. Patients: Five PORs fulfilling the POSEIDON Group 4 criteria were included. Main Outcome Measures: Number of oocytes retrieved, number of top-quality embryos (TQEs), and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) variables were the main outcome measures. Results: The combined Stop GnRH-ag, letrozole priming, and multiple-dose GnRH-ant COH protocol revealed significantly higher number of follicles >13 mm on the day of hCG administration and higher number of oocytes retrieved, with non-significantly more TQEs and a reasonable clinical pregnancy rate. Conclusions: The combined Stop GnRH-ag, letrozole priming, and multiple-dose GnRH-ant COH protocol is a valuable tool in the armamentarium for treating POSEIDON Group 4 patients. Further large prospective studies are needed to elucidate its role in POR and to identify the specific characteristics of women (before initiating ovarian stimulation) that will aid both fertility specialists’ counseling and their patients in adjusting the appropriate COH protocol.
Gastro Update Europe 2020
Authors: Tytgat Guido N.J.
Published: March 2021

This narrative review summarizes a selection of clinically important novel gastrointestinal developments, presented and discussed at the virtual Gastro Update Europe. The selected topics, fully referenced, reflect what the distinguished faculty considered of vital importance to be communicated to the astute busy gastro-hep clinician who is eager to stay abreast of important novel developments. Whenever appropriate, a personal comment or addition was added to further raise the educational value of this review. Given its narrative character, statements and conclusions are largely expert opinion based. A full reference list of the lectures is included.
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty and Bowman Layer Transplantation: An Anatomic Review and Historical Survey
Authors: Parker Jack , Dockery Philip , Preda-Naumescu Ana , Jager Martine , van Dijk Korine , Dapena Isabel , Melles Gerrit
Published: March 2021

For nearly a century, the definitive treatment of many corneal dystrophies and ectactic disorders was limited to penetrating keratoplasty, but over the past 2 decades, a surge of surgical innovation has propelled the treatment of many corneal diseases to more targeted approaches with significantly better visual outcomes. Anterior stromal diseases were first changed through endothelial-sparing techniques, such as deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, but have more recently transitioned to stromal-sparing approaches. Ultraviolet corneal crosslinking strengthens the cornea and halts progression of keratoconus in >90% of cases. Intracorneal ring segment and corneal allogenic ring segment implantation offer methods to flatten ectatic corneas. However, Bowman layer transplantation – inlay and more recently onlay techniques – has shown promise for treating advanced keratoconus and preventing keratoplasty. The advent of endothelial keratoplasty radically changed the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction, and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty specifically offers an average postoperative visual acuity of 20/25 (0.8) with only 8.8% of grafts requiring retransplantation in the first 5 years. Here, we review the rapid innovations for surgical treatment of corneal diseases, spanning from endothelial keratoplasty and endothelial regeneration to anterior lamellar keratoplasty and stromal augmentation, highlighting key steps which may be moving us closer to a “postkeratoplasty” world.
Investigating Error in Written English Sentences: A case study Indonesia EFL Students
Authors: Sunandar Ahmad , Susanti Ratna
Published: March 2021

This research was conducted to find out the students’ gram-matical errors in writing and focused on the types of errors found in 20 writ-ten sheets of students’ descriptive text given as a part of the assignment of the second semester of Polytechnic Indonusa Surakarta majoring in Medical Records Program Study.Method: This research used qualitative research to collect empirical data from the students’ written works. Results: In this re-search, it was found that 1) in investigating types of grammatical errors in students’ written works, it can be inferred that there are 417 errors that oc-curred in students’ written works. It was found 40 types of grammatical er-rors in this study. 2) In figuring out how mother tongue interference effects on students’ written works. It was found 66 or 15.83% was caused by mother tongue interference or interlingual errors. Errors due to mother tongue in-terference were categorized into three: (i) word-by-word translation, it was found 14 or 21% errors, (ii) using Indonesian construction in English, it was counted 21 or 32%, (iii) using adjectives as main verbs, 31 or 47% errors were found. 3) In revealing why such errors occur in students’ written works. We found two general causes of errors in students’ written works. Conclu-sions: The total grammatical errors found in students’ written works were 417 errors, 351 (84.17%) errors were caused by intralingual errors, and 66 (15.83%) errors were caused by interlingual errors.
Applied K-Nearest Neighbors (KKN) on Dust Suppression Prototype
Authors: Nurhasan Agung Kurniawan , Widodo Hendro Agus , Adhitya R. Y. , Atmoko Rachmad Andri
Published: March 2021

Steam power plants that use coal as fuel have serious problems during operation. Before heading to the combustion process, coal is stored in an open field area. However, this results in fine particles of coal dust being exposed to wind and polluting the surrounding environment. The purpose of this study is to minimize the impact of pollution from coal dust by using the dust suppression tool. The tools that have been run manually or conventionally can be operated automatically to facilitate the operator in controlling dust suppression without the need to go to the field. This research proposes a prototype dust suppression equipped with dust and temperature sensors, the sensor data is a representation of the condition of the coal storage area which is processed using the K-Nearest Neighbors method to classify whether the condition of the storage area is normal or dusty. When conditions are dusty, the pump activates and directs bursts of water at the coal to minimize dust. In the application of the K-Nearest Neighbors method, center point 1 is obtained for normal conditions, with a dust density of 0.4353 mg / m3 and a temperature of 27.5818 °C. Whereas center point 2 for dusty conditions has a dust density of 2,374 mg / m3 and a temperature of 28.2667 °C. From 40 testing data in real-time, a success rate of 87.5% was obtained.
O colonialismo informal da Egiptologia: da missão francesa ao Estado de segurança
Authors: Langer Christian
Published: March 2021

Esta contribuição é uma revisão crítica da história colonial da Egiptologia. Ele traça o desenvolvimento do campo desde seus primeiros dias sob o colonialismo europeu e a competição geopolítica intraeuropeia até o advento do controle egípcio nos tempos atuais. A exploração do passado do Egito antigo foi enquadrada como parte de uma missão civilizadora por meio da qual a Europa arrancaria o Egito das garras da dominação otomana e restauraria a terra à sua antiga grandeza, e também como um veículo para os interesses ocidentais no Nordeste da África. Por meio da Bíblia cristã e do antigo domínio grego e romano, o Egito foi posicionado como uma forma inicial de civilização ocidental, portanto, reforçando as reivindicações europeias sobre a área e possibilitando a apropriação da história egípcia. Estudiosos europeus, ao promoverem a ideia do antigo Egito como um paraíso perdido e paternalista, criaram uma estrutura ocidentalizada e um enquadramento e centro-ocidental para seu estudo, que ainda hoje inspira os padrões de produção do conhecimento, o qual pode ser identificado na produção acadêmica dos centros geográficos e nas línguas primárias em que são produzidos. Os egípcios, cada vez mais autônomos desde a descolonização formal na década de 1950, posteriormente adotaram e mantiveram as práticas estabelecidas quando o controle formal sobre o passado egípcio passou para suas mãos. As narrativas coloniais da antiguidade foram usadas para apoiar o turismo como uma economia vital e passaram a servir ao nacionalismo egípcio e à legitimação das relações de poder existentes, enquadrando a história egípcia como um contínuo do governo do homem forte. O artigo traça essa transição do colonialismo formal para o informal ao discuti-la a partir de conceitos descoloniais, tal como a matriz colonial de poder.
Fracture Risks in Patients Treated With Different Oral Anticoagulants: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Huang Huei‐Kai , Peng Carol Chiung‐Hui , Lin Shu‐Man , Munir Kashif M. , Chang Rachel Huai‐En , Wu Brian Bo‐Chang , Liu Peter Pin‐Sung , Hsu Jin‐Yi , Loh Ching‐Hui , Tu Yu‐Kang
Published: March 2021

Background

Evidence on the differences in fracture risk associated with non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and warfarin is inconsistent and inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the fracture risk associated with NOACs and warfarin.

Methods and Results

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception until May 19, 2020. We included studies presenting measurements (regardless of primary/secondary/tertiary/safety outcomes) for any fracture in both NOAC and warfarin users. Two or more reviewers independently screened relevant articles, extracted data, and performed quality assessments. Data were retrieved to synthesize the pooled relative risk (RR) of fractures associated with NOACs versus warfarin. Random‐effects models were used for data synthesis. We included 29 studies (5 cohort studies and 24 randomized controlled trials) with 388 209 patients. Patients treated with NOACs had lower risks of fracture than those treated with warfarin (pooled RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77–0.91;
P
<0.001) with low heterogeneity (
I
2
=38.9%). NOACs were also associated with significantly lower risks of hip fracture than warfarin (pooled RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81–0.98;
P
=0.023). A nonsignificant trend of lower vertebral fracture risk in NOAC users was also observed (pooled RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54–1.01;
P
=0.061). Subgroup analyses for individual NOACs demonstrated that dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban were significantly associated with lower fracture risks. Furthermore, the data synthesis results from randomized controlled trials and real‐world cohort studies were quite consistent, indicating the robustness of our findings.

Conclusions

Compared with warfarin, NOACs are associated with lower risks of bone fracture.
Association of Social Network Characteristics With Cardiovascular Health and Coronary Artery Calcium in South Asian Adults in the United States: The MASALA Cohort Study
Authors: Shah Nilay S. , Huffman Mark D. , Schneider John A. , Khan Sadiya S. , Siddique Juned , Kanaya Alka M. , Kandula Namratha R.
Published: March 2021

Background

South Asian adults have worse cardiovascular health (CVH) and more coronary artery calcium compared with other race/ethnicities. The impact of the social environment has not been examined as a potential driver of CVH or coronary artery calcium in this population. We evaluated associations of social network characteristics with CVH and coronary artery calcium in South Asian American adults to inform strategies for CVH promotion in this at‐risk population.

Methods and Results

Using data from the MASALA (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America) cohort study, multinomial and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate associations of participant social network size and density, proportion of network who are kin or South Asian ethnicity and reported health of participant's identified social network members (“alters”), with participant CVH and presence of coronary artery calcium. The 699 MASALA participants included were mean age 59.2 (SD, 9.2) years and 42.9% women. After adjustment, a 1‐person larger social network size was associated with 13% higher odds of ideal CVH (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01–1.27). Reporting an alter with high blood pressure was associated with lower odds of ideal CVH (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29–0.88), and reporting an alter with high cholesterol was associated with lower odds of ideal CVH (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30–0.94).

Conclusions

Social network characteristics are associated with CVH in South Asian American adults. Engaging social networks may help promote CVH in this population.
The Level of Processing Modulates Visual Awareness: Evidence from Behavioral and Electrophysiological Measures
Authors: Jimenez Mikel , Poch Claudia , Villalba-García Cristina , Sabater Lucía , Hinojosa José Antonio , Montoro Pedro R. , Koivisto Mika
Published: March 2021

The level of processing hypothesis (LoP) proposes that the transition from unaware to aware visual perception is graded for low-level (i.e., energy, features) stimulus whereas dichotomous for high-level (i.e., letters, words, meaning) stimulus. In this study, we explore the behavioral patterns and neural correlates associated with different depths (i.e., low vs. high) of stimulus processing. The low-level stimulus condition consisted of identifying the color (i.e., blue/blueish vs. red/reddish) of the target, and the high-level stimulus condition consisted of identifying stimulus category (animal vs. object). Behavioral results showed that the levels of processing manipulation produced significant differences in both the awareness rating distributions and accuracy performances between tasks, the low-level task producing more intermediate subjective ratings and linearly increasing accuracy performances and the high-level task producing less intermediate ratings and a more nonlinear pattern for accuracies. The electrophysiological recordings revealed two correlates of visual awareness, an enhanced posterior negativity in the N200 time window (visual awareness negativity [VAN]), and an enhanced positivity in the P3 time window (late positivity [LP]). The analyses showed a double dissociation between awareness and the level of processing hypothesis manipulation: Awareness modulated VAN amplitudes only in the low-level color task, whereas LP amplitude modulations were observed only in the higher level category task. These findings are compatible with a two-stage microgenesis model of conscious perception, where an early elementary phenomenal sensation of the stimulus (i.e., the subjective perception of color) would be indexed by VAN, whereas stimulus' higher level properties (i.e., the category of the target) would be reflected in the LP in a later latency range.
Ballots and Bullets: Electoral Violence and Gubernatorial Elections in Oyo State, Nigeria, 2007–2015
Authors: Abebiyi Oluwashina Moruf
Published: March 2021

This article is an empirical study of the causal factors of electoral violence in gubernatorial elections in Oyo state from 2007 to 2015 and its implications on the state’s democratisation process. The methodology is qualitative, drawing data from primary and secondary sources. Data were analysed using content analysis. The article adopted political clientelism and patronage as the theoretical framework. Findings revealed that the nature of politics based on clientelism and patronage and the politicisation of leadership tussle of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were among the factors responsible for violence in the state during the period of the study. It is recommended that the establishment of a Joint Security Consultative Council can help in securing future elections.
TVET Offering Institutions’ Perceptions on TVET Education: The Case of Zimbabwe
Authors: Makochekanwa Albert , Mahuyu Joburg
Published: March 2021

The study examined the perceptions of TVET offering institutions on TVET education in Zimbabwe. The research answered the following three questions: (i) What were the TVET institutions’ views toward technical and vocational education and training in Zimbabwe? (ii) What were the challenges faced by TVET institutions in providing TVET programmes? And (iii) How could TVET activities be enhanced in TVET institutions? To answer these questions, the study adopted the quantitative research paradigm and made use of a descriptive survey research design. The questionnaire was employed as the instrument for collecting data, and was used to get data from 55 government TVET institutions as well as several private institutions. The study found out that perception of community and various stakeholders on TVET educations was diametrically distributed as 50% viewed it negatively while 50% perceived it positively. A number of challenges were enumerated that bedevilled TVET education system in Zimbabwe. Associated recommendations were provided, not only to directly deal with some of the challenges, but also to improve and enhance the overall system.
A new species of Cephalaeschna Selys, 1883 (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) from Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India, with notes on C. acanthifrons Joshi & Kunte, 2017 and C. viridifrons (Fraser, 1922)
Authors: DAWN PROSENJIT
Published: March 2021

A new species Cephalaeschna patrai sp. nov. is described from Neora Valley National Park, Darjeeling Himalays as the eighth species of the genus from India. This new species is characterized by bright green markings on overall black body color, black is replaced with brown in female. Anterolateral thoracic stripe separated in two patches connected with a narrow line. The cerci are uniformly broad towards end, without any constriction in the lateral view; tip of the same prominently curved upwards to form blunt tubercle which appears to be projected inwards in the dorsal view. An updated key for all the Indian species is provided here. A short note about the affinities among congenerics distributed across Himalayas (particularly C. acanthifrons Joshi & Kunte, 2017 and C. viridifrons (Fraser, 1922)) is also included.
Molecular characterization of free-living nematodes from Kermadec Trench (Nematoda: Aegialoalaimidae, Xyalidae) with description of Aegialoalaimus tereticauda n. sp.
Authors: LEDUC DANIEL , ZHAO ZENG QI
Published: March 2021

The Kermadec Trench is the world’s fifth deepest trench and extends from approximately 26 to 36°S near the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s North Island. Here, we describe a new species of Aegialoalaimus, a nematode genus with unusual buccal cavity and pharynx morphology, from a site at 9540 metres water depth in Kermadec Trench, and provide the first SSU and D2–D3 of LSU sequences for Aegialoalaimus, Manganonema, Metasphaerolaimus constrictus and Daptonema amphorum. Aegialoalaimus tereticauda n. sp. is characterised by body length 755–864 µm, cephalic sensilla papilliform (< 1 µm long), excretory pore located slightly anterior to posterior bulb in males and slightly anterior to nerve ring in females, arcuate spicules 18–22 µm long, gubernaculum present, precloacal supplements absent, and cylindrical tail 58–64 µm long with rounded tip. Relationships between Aegialoalaimus and Chromadorean orders could not be elucidated based on our SSU analysis; no link could be found with the Plectida, where the Aegialoalaimidae is currently placed, or with the Isolamiida or Cylindrolaimus (Areaolaimida), which share a similar and unusual buccal and pharynx morphology. Our SSU phylogenetic analysis confirms the placement of Manganonema within the Xyalidae, although relationships with other xyalid genera remain unclear. The Sphaerolaimidae formed a clade together with the Monhysteridae, which contradicts the current classification where the Sphaerolaimidae and Xyalidae are classified together into the superfamily Sphaerolaimoidea and the Monhysteridae into the Monhysteroidea. Although limited research has been conducted on the nematode diversity in Kermadec Trench to date, the available data show that half of all invertebrate species known from the trench are nematodes, which highlights the importance of conducting further taxonomic research on this group in hadal environments.
Eubostrichopsis johnpearsei n. gen., n. sp., the first stilbonematid nematode (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) from the US West Coast
Authors: OTT JÖRG A. , PRÖTS PHILIPP
Published: March 2021

A new genus of the marine Stilbonematinae (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) is described from the Pacific coast of the United States of America. The worms inhabit the sulfidic sediment among the roots of the surfgrass Phyllospadix sp. in the rocky intertidal. The ectosymbiotic coat is of a new type for Stilbonematinae. It consists of rod-shaped bacteria pointed at both poles densely attached with one pole to the host cuticle. This is the first report of this symbiotic nematode subfamily from the US West Coast.
High-Performance AlGaN/GaN Enhancement-Mode High Electron Mobility Transistor by Two-Step Gate Recess and Electroless-Plating Approaches
Authors: Chang Ching-Hong , Lin Yue-Chang , Niu Jing-Shiuan , Lour Wen-Shiung , Tsai Jung-Hui , Liu Wen-Chau
Published: March 2021

In this work, an AlGaN/GaN enhancement-mode high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with two-step gate recess and electroless plating (EP) approaches is reported. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy surface analysis are used to analysis the related properties of
the EP-gate structure. A positive threshold voltage Vthof 0.68 V is obtained for the enhancement-mode EP-HEMT. In addition, a traditional HEMT based on thermal-evaporation gate is compared for the demonstration of the studied EP-HEMT with the improved performance, such as
a higher maximum drain saturation current of 228.9 mA/mm, a higher maximum transconductance of 107.2 mS/mm, a lower gate leakage current of 1.2 × 10–7 mA/mm, and a higher ON/OFF drain current ratio of 4.57 × 105.
A Vector Normalized Method-Assisted 3D-QSA2R Model and Its Application in the Molecular Modification of PCBs with Higher Flame Retardancy and Lower Toxicity
Authors: Li Minghao , Li Yu
Published: March 2021

Flame retardants are widely used in many materials and products, and there is a pressing need to enhance the performance of flame retardants while lowering their toxicity. In this paper, using polychlorinated biphenyl flame retardants as an example, a three-dimensional quantitative
structure-double-activity relationship (3D-QSA2R) model, with the double activities of flame retardancy and toxicity, was constructed by introducing a vector normalized method to achieve the goal of environmental risk management and control the sources of chemicals. The results
showed that the 3D-QSA2R model has good robustness and strong predictive ability. PCB-209 was used as a target molecule for the contour map analysis and molecular modification. The comprehensive values (C) of six novel PCB-209 molecules were increased by up to 53.61%. The
physical and chemical parameters (frequency and Gibbs free energy), functional properties (stability and insulation) and the other three POP properties of the novel PCB-209 molecules showed that the Cl atom substitution reaction of PCB209 molecules could occur and exist stably in the environment.
With improvement in stability, the insulation of six novel PCB-209 molecules was not influenced after modification, and the environmental persistence, bioconcentration and long-distance migration of six novel PCB-209 molecules were increased up to 99.47%, 15.29% and 100.9%, respectively. The
flame retardancy and toxicity of the new molecules were verified by Gaussian software and the EPI database, respectively. The single activity verification values of flame retardancy and toxicity followed the trend of C values predicted by the double-activity 3D-QSA2R model
established in this paper. The ratio between the two single activities of the new PCB-209 molecule generally conformed to the weight setting, which satisfies the purpose of setting the weight as the main way to improve the efficacy of flame retardants.
Encapsulation of Ellagic Acid in Di-Block Copolymeric Micelle for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy
Authors: Elbehairi Serag Eldin I. , Alfaifi Mohammad Y. , Shati Ali A. , Fahmy Usama A. , Gorain Bapi , Md Shadab
Published: March 2021

Ellagic acid (EA) is an anticancer agent as evidenced in numerous pre-clinical studies. The clinical application of EA is limited because of its poor aqueous solubility and bioavailability. The present study was designed to formulate polymeric micelles of the drug using poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)-poly
(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) di-block copolymer. The particle size and entrapment efficiency of EA by the polymeric micelle were found to be dependent on the concentration of polymer. Consequently, optimized micellar formulations with 82 ± 7.1 nm size and 45.32 ± 5.43% drug entrapment
were further evaluated for cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic potential in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, A549. EA was toxic to A549 cells, and this cytotoxicity was significantly increased when EA was delivered using a micellar formulation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed
a superior G1 phase arresting potential of the optimized EA-loaded PLGA-PEG micelles (PLGA-PEG-EA-F3), with a concomitant increased apoptotic potential. Further investigation of the mechanism of apoptosis showed a significant overexpression of caspase-3 in A549 cells when treated with PLGA-PEG-EA-F3
compared to free EA. Thus, it can be concluded that the PLGA-PEG polymeric micellar platform for EA could be a potential tool to treat lung cancer.
Application and Mechanical Properties of Polyphenylene Sulfide-Based Composite Organic Materials in Skull Repair
Authors: Nie Sheng , Li Keqin , Zhou Chenhui , Sun Jie
Published: March 2021

For the problem that the metal titanium mesh has major shortcomings in clinical skull repair, poly(lactideglycolide acid) (PLGA) was dissolved in 1,4-dioxane and it was mixed with nano-scale powdery hydroxyapatite (HA) to obtain HA/PLGA. Nano-scale HA/PLGA/PPS composite materials were
obtained by the physical blending method and direct composite method with polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). First, the material characterization of SEM and TEM was carried out during the preparation of the material. The nano-HA/PLGA/PPS composite material was implanted into the skull of patients
with large bone flap decompression. The skull was repaired with isolated bone flaps and shaped nanomaterials. X-ray images, histopathological tests, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of genes related to osteogenic activity were performed on the repaired damaged skull of the patients.
After the operation, the skeleton formed by the prepared material was tested for mechanical indexes such as bending resistance and stretching. The results showed that the particle size of the material produced by direct composite was better, and HA/PLGA can be uniformly filled into the PPS.
Nano-HA/PLGA/PPS composite materials can improve the proliferation ability of MG-63 cells and promote the osteogenic differentiation of the cells. After implantation of the material, the bone tissue healed well after the skull defect, and the mRNA expression of osteogenic related genes (ALP,
Colα(I), IGF-1, OC, TGF-β1) was significantly increased. Post-operational bending strength and tensile strength tests of the implanted repaired skull skeleton show that compared with pure PPS, the addition of HA/PLGA material can increase the rigidity of the material.
The Continental-Scale Soil-Moisture Precipitation Feedback in Europe with Parameterized and Explicit Convection
Authors: Leutwyler David , Imamovic Adel , Schär Christoph
Published: March 2021

Soil moisture atmosphere interactions are key elements of the regional climate system. There is a well-founded hope that a more accurate representation of the soil moisture-precipitation feedback would improve the simulation of summer precipitation on daily to seasonal, to climate time scales. However, uncertainties have persistently remained as the simulated feedback is strongly sensitive to the model representation of deep convection. Here we assess the feedback representation using a GPU-accelerated version of the regional climate model COSMO. We simulate and compare the impact of continental-scale springtime soil-moisture anomalies on summer precipitation at convection-resolving (2.2 km) and convection-parameterizing resolution (12 km). We conduct re-analysis-driven simulations of 10 summer seasons (1999-2008) in continental Europe. While both simulations qualitatively agree on a positive sign of soil moisture-induced precipitation, they strongly differ in precipitation frequency: When convection is parameterized, wetter soil predominantly leads to more frequent precipitation events, and when convection is treated explicitly, they primarily become more intense. The results indicate that the sensitivity to soil moisture is stronger with parameterized convection, suggesting that the land surface-atmosphere coupling may be overestimated. In addition, the feedback’s sensitivity in complex terrain is assessed for soil perturbations of different horizontal scales. The convection-resolving simulations confirm a negative feedback for sub-continental soil moisture anomalies, which manifests itself in a local decrease of wet-hour frequency. However, the intensity feedback reinforces precipitation events at the same time (positive feedback). The two processes are represented differently in simulations with explicit and parameterized convection, explaining much of the difference between the two simulations.
A 20-year analysis of disturbance-driven rainfall on O’ahu, Hawai’i
Authors: Longman Ryan J. , Elison Timm Oliver , Giambelluca Thomas W. , Kaiser Lauren
Published: March 2021

Undisturbed trade-wind conditions comprise the most prevalent synoptic weather pattern in Hawai’i and produces a distinct pattern of orographic rainfall. Significant total rainfall contributions and extreme events are linked to four types of atmospheric disturbances: cold fronts, Kona lows, upper-tropospheric disturbances, and tropical cyclones. In this study, a 20- year (1990-2010) categorical disturbance time series is compiled and analyzed in relation to daily rainfall over the same period. The primary objective of this research is to determine how disturbances contribute to total wet season rainfall on the Island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. On average, 41% of wet seasonal rainfall occurs on disturbance days. Seventeen percent of seasonal rainfall can be directly attributed to disturbances (after a background signal is removed) and as much as 48% in a single season. The intensity of disturbance rainfall (mm/day) is a stronger predictor (r2 = 0.49; p < 0.001) of the total seasonal rainfall than the frequency of occurrence (r2 = 0.11; p = 0.153). Cold fronts are the most common disturbance type; however, the rainfall associated with fronts that cross the island is significantly higher than rainfall produced from non-crossing fronts. In fact, non-crossing fronts produce significantly less rainfall than under mean non-disturbance conditions 76% of the time. While the combined influence of atmospheric disturbances can account for almost half of the rainfall received during the wet season, the primary factor in determining a relatively wet or dry season/year on O’ahu are the frequency and rainfall intensity of Kona Low events.
Toward Win-win Message Strategies: The Effects of Persuasive Message Content on Retweet Counts During Natural Hazard Events
Authors: Li Yajie , Hughes Amanda Lee , Howe Peter D.
Published: March 2021

Message diffusion and message persuasion are two important aspects of success for official risk messages about hazards. Message diffusion enables more people to receive lifesaving messages, and message persuasion motivates them to take protective actions. This study helps to identify win-win message strategies by investigating how an under-examined factor, message content that is theoretically important to message persuasion, influences message diffusion for official risk messages about heat hazards on Twitter. Using multilevel negative binomial regression models, the respective and cumulative effects of four persuasive message factors, hazard intensity, health risk susceptibility, health impact, and response instruction on retweet counts were analyzed using a dataset of heat-related tweets issued by U.S. National Weather Service accounts. Two subsets of heat-related tweets were also analyzed: 1) heat warning tweets about current or anticipated extreme heat events and 2) tweets about non-extreme heat events. This study found that heat-related tweets that mentioned more types of persuasive message factors were retweeted more frequently, and so were two subtypes of heat-related tweets. Mentions of hazard intensity also consistently predicted increased retweet counts. Mentions of health impacts positively influenced message diffusion for heat-related tweets and tweets about non-extreme heat events. Mentions of health risk susceptibility and response instructions positively predicted retweet counts for tweets about non-extreme heat events and tweets about official extreme heat warnings respectively. In the context of natural hazards, this research informs practitioners with evidence-based message strategies to increase message diffusion on social media. Such strategies also have the potential to improve message persuasion.
The “Parallel Pandemic” in the Context of China: The Spread of Rumors and Rumor-Corrections During COVID-19 in Chinese Social Media
Authors: Song Yunya , Kwon K. Hazel , Lu Yin , Fan Yining , Li Baiqi
Published: March 2021

Although studies have investigated cyber-rumoring previous to the pandemic, little research has been undertaken to study rumors and rumor-corrections during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Drawing on prior studies about how online stories become viral, this study will fill that gap by investigating the retransmission of COVID-19 rumors and corrective messages on Sina Weibo, the largest and most popular microblogging site in China. This study examines the impact of rumor types, content attributes (including frames, emotion, and rationality), and source characteristics (including follower size and source identity) to show how they affect the likelihood of a COVID-19 rumor and its correction being shared. By exploring the retransmission of rumors and their corrections in Chinese social media, this study will not only advance scholarly understanding but also reveal how corrective messages can be crafted to debunk cyber-rumors in particular cultural contexts.
The Grammar of Social Power: Power-to, Power-with, Power-despite and Power-over
Authors: Abizadeh Arash
Published: March 2021

There are two rival conceptions of power in modern sociopolitical thought. According to one, all social power reduces to power-over-others. According to another, the core notion is power-to-effect-outcomes, to which even power-over reduces. This article defends seven theses. First, agential social power consists in a relation between agent and outcomes (power-to). Second, not all social power reduces to power-over and, third, the contrary view stems from conflating power-over with a distinct notion: power-despite-resistance. Fourth, the widespread assumption that social power presupposes the capacity to overcome resistance is false: social power includes the capacity to effect outcomes with others’ assistance. Fifth, power-with can be exercised via joint intentional action, strategic coordination and non-strategic coordination. Sixth, agential social power is best analysed as a capacity to effect outcomes, with the assistance of others, despite the resistance of yet others. Seventh, power-over and power-with are not mutually exclusive: each can ground the other.
The Syllabus Reconstructed: An Analysis of Traditional and Visual Syllabi for Information Retention and Inclusiveness
Authors: Yarosh Jerrod H.
Published: March 2021

The current research examines whether a visual syllabus aids in information retention compared to a traditional text-based syllabus. The data derive from two lower-division sociology classes, each having a different syllabus format. Utilizing a syllabus quiz during the first week of the class provides the data about whether syllabus format matters. The data suggest the visual syllabus class retained more information given that students exposed to the visual approach scored significantly higher on a quiz than the traditional syllabus class. The current research presents an overview of why visuals may help in information retention with emphasis on the importance of inclusive course material and nontraditional students; an explanation of the data, methods, and analytic procedure followed by the findings; as well as a critical evaluation of and points to consider when creating a visual syllabus.
Association Between Serum Vitamin D Level and Ménière’s Disease
Authors: Bakhshaee Mehdi , Moradi Susan , Mohebi Masoud , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid , Sharifan Payam , Yousefi Razieh , Rezaei Alireza , Rajati Mohsen
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Ménière’s disease (MD) is a well‐known inner ear disease; however, the etiopathogenesis is unknown. Several factors may be involved. Meanwhile, vitamin D is reported to have an important role in inner ear physiology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between vitamin D deficiency and MD.

Study Design

This matched case‐control study compared serum vitamin D levels between patients with definite MD and those without it.

Setting

The study was done between August 2018 and December 2019 at Ghaem University Hospital in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods

Twenty‐eight patients with definite MD were matched with a group of 84 healthy individuals, regarding age, sex, body mass index, and occupation (indoor vs outdoor). The serum level of vitamin D (25‐hydroxyvitamin D3) was measured in both groups.

Results

The mean ± SD vitamin D level was 18.9 ± 9.7 ng/mL in the case group and 25.2 ± 13.7 ng/mL in the control group (P =. 027). There was a significant difference between the case and control groups according to the results of the conditional logistic regression model (P =. 03; adjusted odds ratio, 0.96). In the MD group, 17 (60.7%) patients were vitamin D deficient, 6 (21.4%) insufficient, and only 5 (17.9%) sufficient.

Conclusions

The results of this study show that serum vitamin D level in MD is significantly lower than that of the control group. However, the role of vitamin D supplementation in the management of MD needs further study.

Level of evidence:

4.
Looking forward and looking backward: Economic evaluations and regime support in China
Authors: Zhai Yida
Published: March 2021

It is widely acknowledged that the economic situation is of vital importance for the stability of an authoritarian regime, but it is rarely known how the public’s economic evaluation contributes to such outcomes. This study examines the effects of citizens’ retrospective and prospective evaluations of their household economic situation and the national economy on the level of regime support in China. The findings show that the national economy outweighs household economic conditions in its effects on the public’s support of the regime. However, the gap between evaluations of the national economy and individual economic situations debilitates regime support. The population in different age cohorts has distinct patterns of relationships between retrospective and prospective economic evaluations and regime support. This study elucidates the political-psychological mechanism of the public’s economic evaluation affecting regime support, and the ruling strategy in authoritarian regimes of manipulating this evaluation.
Cuckoo optimization algorithm in reverse logistics: A network design for COVID-19 waste management
Authors: Shadkam Elham
Published: March 2021

Today, reverse logistics (RL) is one of the main activities of supply chain management that covers all physical activities associated with return products (such as collection, recovery, recycling and destruction). In this regard, the designing and proper implementation of RL, in addition to increasing the level of customer satisfaction, reduces inventory and transportation costs. In this paper, in order to minimize the costs associated with fixed costs, material flow costs, and the costs of building potential centres, a complex integer linear programming model for an integrated direct logistics and RL network design is presented. Due to the outbreak of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) at the beginning of 2020 and the consequent increase in medical waste, the need for an inverse logistics system to manage waste is strongly felt. Also, due to the worldwide vaccination in the near future, this waste will increase even more and careful management must be done in this regard. For this purpose, the proposed RL model in the field of COVID-19 waste management and especially vaccine waste has been designed. The network consists of three parts – factory, consumers’ and recycling centres – each of which has different sub-parts. Finally, the proposed model is solved using the cuckoo optimization algorithm, which is one of the newest and most powerful meta-heuristic algorithms, and the computational results are presented along with its sensitivity analysis.