bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation, Pricing, and Enrollment in a Health Insurance “Public Option”: Evidence From Washington State's Cascade Care Program
Authors: SEN ADITI P. , SINGH YASHASWINI , MEISELBACH MARK K. , EISENBERG MATTHEW D. , ANDERSON GERARD F.
Published: November 2021

Policy Points

Policymakers considering introduction of a health insurance “public option” to lower health spending and reduce the number of uninsured can learn from Washington State, which offered the nation's first public option (“Cascade Care”) through its state exchange in 2021.

This article examines insurer participation, pricing, and enrollment in the Washington public option. The public option was the lowest‐premium standard silver plan in 9 of the 19 counties in which it was offered.

Cascade Care is available solely through private insurers. Voluntary participation of these insurers and uncertainty about the willingness of providers to participate may have hindered greater premium reductions and enrollment in the public option's first year.

Context

State and federal policymakers considering introduction of a health insurance “public option” can learn from Washington State, which established the nation's first public option, with coverage beginning in January 2021. Public option plans were offered voluntarily by private insurers through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange and were subject to state‐mandated plan design and payment requirements.

Methods

We used plan data from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, linked to data from the US Census Bureau, the American Hospital Association, and InterStudy. We compared geographic availability and premiums of, and enrollment in, public option and non–public option plans, as well as characteristics of counties where the public option was available and counties where the public option was the lowest‐premium plan.

Findings

At least one public option plan was available in 19 of 39 counties and was the lowest‐premium option in 9 of the 19 counties where it was available. Five insurers offered public option plans, including one new entrant to the state and one new entrant to the Exchange. While public option availability was more common in counties where the Exchange was bigger and more competitive, public option plans had the lowest premium in smaller, less competitive counties. In the first year, 1% of enrollees selected the public option, in part due to automatic reenrollment of the majority of returning enrollees in their 2020 plan.

Conclusions

Public option plans offered a low‐premium choice in counties that otherwise had fewer affordable plans, but voluntary participation of insurers and providers and accompanying uncertainty about participation hindered widespread and substantial premium reductions. States should consider tying public option participation by insurers and providers to other state programs and using decision support tools to promote active enrollment. Federal policymakers can support state efforts while considering establishment of a national public option.
Digital clock drawing test metrics in older patients before and after endoscopy with sedation: An exploratory analysis
Authors: Buckley Richard A. , Atkins Kelly J. , Silbert Brendan , Scott David A. , Evered Lisbeth
Published: November 2021

Background

In the postoperative period, clinically feasible instruments to monitor elderly patients' neurocognitive recovery and discharge‐readiness, especially after short‐stay procedures, are limited. Cognitive monitoring may be improved by a novel digital clock drawing test (dCDT). We screened for cognitive impairment with the 4 A Test (4AT) and then administered the dCDT pre and post short‐stay procedure (endoscopy). The primary aim was to investigate whether the dCDT was sensitive to a change in cognitive status postendoscopy. We also investigated if preoperative cognitive status impacted postendoscopy dCDT variables.

Methods

We recruited 100 patients ≥65 years presenting for endoscopy day procedures at a single metropolitan hospital. Participants were assessed after admission and immediately before discharge from the hospital. We administered the 4AT, followed by both command and copy clock conditions of the dCDT. We analysed the total drawing time (dCDT time), as well as scored the drawn clock against the established Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) criteria both before and after endoscopy.

Results

Linear regression showed higher 4AT test scores (poorer performance) were associated with longer postoperative dCDT time (β = 5.6, p = 0.012) for the command condition after adjusting for preoperative baseline dCDT metrics, sex, age, and years of education.

Conclusion

Postoperative dCDT time‐based variables slowed in those with baseline cognitive impairment detected by the 4AT, but not for those without cognitive impairment. Our results suggest the dCDT, using the command mode, may help detect cognitive impairment in patients aged >65 years after elective endoscopy.
Festivalization of Rigor: Productive Masti [Playfulness] at a Pharmacy College in India
Authors: Mathew Leya
Published: November 2021

This paper documents play in the context of technoscience education in India. Drawing on data from an ethnography of a pharma college, it describes youthful, pedagogic, and professional play. Youthful masti subverted rigor. At the college, it was amplified into a festival and monetized by social networking sites. Pedagogic and professional play could subvert and rescue rigor. The ubiquity of play and its diverging directions show how play opened life and learning to capitalist extraction.
Novel combination biologic therapy for recalcitrant psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a medically complex patient
Authors: Hanna Sarah , Youssef Peter , Lowe Patricia
Published: November 2021

For patients who do not achieve adequate disease control on biologic monotherapy, or monotherapy with an oral‐systemic agent such as methotrexate, combination biologic therapy may be considered. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case assessing the safety and efficacy of the combination of an interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) inhibitor (risankizumab) with a tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) inhibitor (golimumab) in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. After twelve months of treatment with risankizumab and golimumab, our patient experienced a significant improvement in his psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis without any adverse effects to date.
The self in a time of constant connectivity
Authors: WALTER ANNA‐MARIA
Published: November 2021

Ubiquitous mobile phones have transformed not just our modes of communication but our self‐perception. In facilitating a direct personal connection, be it via a call, a text message, or social media, they present the unprecedented challenge of synchronicity, in which users must simultaneously navigate different social contexts and plural identities. In the area of Gilgit, northern Pakistan, young women in particular struggle with social scrutiny of their mobile phone use, given the latter's potential to facilitate illicit relationships. They counter such threats to their moral integrity by consciously limiting their range of interlocutors. They invoke “trust” and curate a more transparent, congruent version of themselves as pious yet competent and sophisticated digital users. This allows them to creatively adapt new technologies and, most importantly, to implement and promote an Islamically sanctioned form of courtship. By prompting processes of individuation, mobile phones paradoxically restrict the enactment of plural selves yet allow for creative improvisations. [personhood, self, trust, digital technology, mobile phone, gender, Islam, Gilgit‐Baltistan, Pakistan]
Mapping theme trends and knowledge structures of dignity in nursing: A quantitative and co‐word biclustering analysis
Authors: Liu Yujia , Li Xiaohan , Ma Li , Wang Yanjie
Published: November 2021

Aim

The present study aims to explore the research hot spots, development trends and knowledge structure of dignity in the nursing field.

Design

Quantitative and co‐word biclustering analysis were used.

Methods

Articles on dignity care published from 01 Jan 2011 to 31 Dec 2020, were retrieved from PubMed. The extracted Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were quantitatively analysed using Bibliographic Item Co‐occurrence Matrix Builder software. To determine the hot spots, a biclustering analysis was completed using gCluto1.0 software. A strategic diagram and a social network analysis (SNA) were used to reveal trends in the theme and knowledge structure.

Results

In the parameters of the retrieval strategy, a total of 1977 papers were included in the present study. Amongst all the extracted MeSH terms, 27 high‐frequency MeSH terms were identified, and the hot spots were grouped into five categories. These were namely dignity in: (1) dementia care, (2) palliative care, (3) older people care, (4) healthcare and (5) clinical nursing. In the strategic diagram, the study of dignity in clinical nursing was active and should become an emerging field of research in the near future.

Conclusions

Based on the co‐word biclustering of dignity care over the past 10 years, five hot spots were identified, and it was predicted that research on dignity in clinical nursing would be the main trend in future studies. Amongst the five themes it was interesting to note that dignity in dementia and palliative care are core priorities to which scholars should pay more attention.

Impact

In recent years, dignity‐conserving care has been highly valued, however, there are few relevant bibliometric articles that can be referenced on this topic. The present study was considered to offer novel insights into research on dignity in nursing and could be a reliable reference point for researchers when launching new projects.
Developmental features of Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, from the late leptocephalus to the yellow eel stages: an early metamorphosis to the eel‐like form and a prolonged transition to the juvenile
Authors: Hatakeyama Rui , Sudo Ryusuke , Yatabe Takashi , Yamano Keisuke , Nomura Kazuharu
Published: November 2021

Organogenesis of Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) was investigated histologically from the late leptocephalus to the yellow eel stages. Early organogenesis, such as the formation of inner ears and the appearance of round blood cells that might be larval erythrocytes, had already begun at the late leptocephalus stage. During the first developmental phase (M1–M3 stages) of metamorphosing into early glass eels (G1 stage), the formation of gills and lateral muscles progressed conspicuously with a drastic body shape change from leaf‐like to eel‐like. In contrast, obvious regression in oesophageal muscle and pancreas occurred during metamorphosis. Formation of lateral line canals advanced continuously until the yellow eel stage. When the second developmental phase was initiated at the G1 stage, cone photoreceptor cells appeared, and the formation of oesophageal, stomach and intestinal muscles was initiated. Differentiation of gastric glands began at 1 week after metamorphosis. Erythrocytes increased continuously in density in glass eels and elvers (G1–E2 stages), and the morphological features of cone cells and olfactory epidermal cells became clearer with stage progression. In early elvers (E1 stage), the swimbladder initiated inflation, the stomach fully expanded and the rectal longitudinal fold changed to a circle. Swimbladder gas glands appeared in late elvers (E2 stage). In the yellow eels (juvenile stage), almost all organ structures were formed. These observations indicate that the organogenesis of A. japonica is ongoing after metamorphosis into glass eels, and the M1–E2 stages are considered to be a homologous phase to first metamorphosis, which is a transformation from the larval to the juvenile stages in other teleosts. In comparison to conger eels, the completion of the body shape change to eel‐like occurs at the G1 stage, when organogenesis is still in progress, being followed by a prolonged duration of the G1–E2 stages before reaching the yellow eel juvenile stage, which may be a unique characteristic that is related to the early migratory life history of A. japonica.
Usability of the COPE Index in the assessment of subjective caregiving burden of family caregivers of older people: A cross‐sectional Study
Authors: Doroszkiewicz Halina , Sierakowska Matylda
Published: November 2021

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usability of the COPE Index in the assessment of subjective caregiving burden of family caregivers providing care for older people in their home environment.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 110 family caregivers. The criterion of including caregivers in the study was their provision of care at home for an older person who needed and received regular long‐term nursing care in their home environment. The study was carried out using the COPE Index questionnaire in assessing the situation of family caregivers. The study was reported according to the STROBE checklist.

Results

The mean result of assessment of negative impact of care in the studied group of caregivers was 16.5 ± SD 3.0, positive impact of care – 10.4 ± SD 2.8 and the quality of support – 9.2 ± SD 1.8. A higher level of caregiving burden was found in 58.2% caregivers. The vast majority of the caregivers were women (83.6%). The care was most often provided by the elderly people's children (51.0%), less often by spouses (17.0%), siblings (10.0%), grandchildren (10.0%) and paid caregivers (10.0%).

Conclusion

The COPE Index proved to be a useful instrument for routine application in home environment to identify care deficits. Greater caregiving burden of family caregivers of disabled older persons was associated with a higher number of nights devoted to care, growing limitations on professional life, choice to provide care, the caregiver's emotional state, the lack of support in the caregiving role, support from family members and the state of cognitive functions of the care recipient.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study may help identify and characterise the profile of family caregivers who are at risk of caregiving burden, and can be used to apply well‐designed activities aimed at reducing their suffering and providing them support.
Fully Digital Workflow for Fabrication of A 3D Printed Ear Stent for Auricular Keloids: A Technique Article
Authors: Nejat Amir H , Hamdan Suleiman , Abrego Isaias , Lindsey John T , Vitter Roger
Published: November 2021

Keloids are skin lesions which result from an aberration in the physiological healing process marked with overgrowth of collagen fibers. Keloid of the ear is cosmetically challenging and has an increased chance of re‐growth. To minimize recurrence, pressure therapy in combination with other treatment forms has been used. Various techniques have been used to fabricate a passive or active stent. This report presents a fully digital workflow to fabricate an ear stent after intralesional excision and skin autografting of an extensive recurrence of a keloid lesion of the left ear involving the helix, antihelix, scapha, and conchal bowl.
The impact of illness intrusiveness and overparenting on depressive symptoms in parents of youth with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Baudino Marissa N. , Roberts Caroline M. , Edwards Clayton S. , Gamwell Kaitlyn L. , Tung Jeanne , Jacobs Noel J. , Grunow John E. , Chaney John M.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management creates significant caregiver demands that can interfere with parents' ability to engage in a number of role functions (i.e., illness intrusiveness) well into their child's adolescence, potentially resulting in excessive or misdirected parenting (i.e., overparenting). Disruptions and limited access to routine and valued activities (e.g., family, work, and leisure) due to IBD and excessive parenting may result in parents neglecting their own personal and emotional self‐care needs, increasing their risk for depressive symptoms. To explore these associations, the present study examined parents' experience of illness intrusiveness and subsequent overparenting as serial mediators in the association between disease severity and parent depressive symptoms.

Design and methods

Participants were 146 caregivers of adolescents with IBD from an outpatient pediatric gastroenterology clinic. During a scheduled outpatient visit, parents completed measures of illness intrusiveness, overparenting, and depressive symptoms. Pediatric gastroenterologists provided ratings of disease severity.

Results

Several direct and indirect associations were observed among the modeled variables. Notably, mediation analysis revealed a significant disease severity → illness intrusiveness → overparenting → depressive symptoms serial indirect effect.

Conclusions

Parents' experience of greater IBD‐induced lifestyle disruptions is associated with increased overparenting and a heightened risk for depressive symptoms.

Practice implications

Parents should be encouraged to establish and maintain a healthy balance between parenting and self‐care/role function activities, especially during adolescence when greater youth autonomy and independence are crucial. These types of clinical efforts may reduce the likelihood of parents experiencing depressive symptoms, and have the added benefit of improving adolescent IBD self‐management.
Trouble with social cohesion: The geographies and politics of COVID‐19 in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Lewis Nicolas , Morgan John
Published: November 2021

In September 2020, the Centre for Informed Futures (Koi Tū) attributed the success of New Zealand's response to the great lockdown of March 2020 as a triumph of social cohesiveness. In this commentary we examine the use of terms such as ‘society’, ‘resilience’, ‘nation’ and ‘social cohesion’ in the light of the spread of the Delta variant, and the importance of geography and politics. We conclude that there is a need for a critical engagement with widely touted ideas of social cohesion.
Cross‐sectional relation of long‐term glucocorticoids in hair with anthropometric measurements and their possible determinants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: van der Valk Eline , Abawi Ozair , Mohseni Mostafa , Abdelmoumen Amir , Wester Vincent , van der Voorn Bibian , Iyer Anand , van den Akker Erica , Hoeks Sanne , van den Berg Sjoerd , de Rijke Yolanda , Stalder Tobias , van Rossum Elisabeth
Published: November 2021

Background

Long‐term glucocorticoids (HairGC) measured in scalp hair have been associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐hip‐ratio (WHR) in several cross‐sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the magnitude, strength, and clinical relevance of these relations across all ages.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42020205187) searching for articles relating HairGC to measures of obesity. Main outcomes were bivariate correlation coefficients and unadjusted simple linear regression coefficients relating hair cortisol (HairF) and hair cortisone (HairE) to BMI, WC, and WHR.

Results

We includedk = 146 cohorts (n = 34,342 individuals). HairGC were positively related to all anthropometric measurements. The strongest correlation and largest effect size were seen for HairE‐WC: pooled correlation 0.18 (95%CI 0.11–0.24;k = 7;n = 3,158;I2 = 45.7%) and pooled regression coefficient 11.0 cm increase in WC per point increase in 10‐log‐transformed HairE (pg/mg) on liquid‐chromatography‐(tandem) mass spectrometry (LC–MS) (95%CI 10.1–11.9 cm;k = 6;n = 3,102). Pooled correlation for HairF‐BMI was 0.10 (95%CI 0.08–0.13;k = 122;n = 26,527;I2 = 51.2%) and pooled regression coefficient 0.049 kg/m2per point increase in 10‐log‐transformed HairF (pg/mg) on LC–MS (95%CI 0.045–0.054 kg/m2;k = 26;n = 11,635).

Discussion

There is a consistent positive association between HairGC and BMI, WC, and WHR, most prominently and clinically relevant for HairE‐WC. These findings overall suggest an altered setpoint of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis with increasing central adiposity.
The outcome and complications of total parenteral nutrition in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Alsalamah Shoug , Alramyan Rana , Alakel Raghad , Altheyeb Fatema , Alrashed Riyouf , Masuadi Emad , Alyousif Ghadah , Bin Sunaid Faisal F. , Alsultan Abdulrahman , Essa Mohammed F.
Published: November 2021

Background

Nutritional support posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or nasogastric tube feeding (NGT) in pediatric patients is associated with benefits and risks.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the indication of TPN use in our pediatric HSCT patients and its impact on survival and possible related complications.

Results

A total of 228 HSCTs were performed during the study period. TPN was used in 144 patients (63.2%) for a median of 14 days, while 8.8% had NGT feeding and 28% were able to tolerate oral feeding. Severe mucositis was seen in 104 TPN patients (72.2%) in comparison with 22 patients (26.2%) who were on Enteral Nutrition (EN) (p = <.001). Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) was seen in 19 (13.2%) patients who had TPN compared to none in the patients who received EN (p = .001). The majority of patients who had SOS received myeloablative conditioning (MAC) therapy for hemoglobinopathy. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) was seen in 24.8% of TPN patients and 9.1% of non‐TPN patients (p = .01). However, there were no statistically significant differences in chronic GVHD, bacteremia, and patients’ survival between both groups.

Conclusions

TPN is commonly used after pediatric HSCT in cases of severe mucositis. NGT feeding was found to be the least used nutritional support method. SOS and aGVHD were associated more frequently in TPN patients compared to EN patients. This suggests the possible disadvantages of TPN and importance of SOS preventative measures in high‐risk patients.
Oral manifestations of congenital Zika virus infection in children with microcephaly: 18‐month follow‐up case series
Authors: Medina Débora Teixeira , Santos Ana Paula Pires dos , Rodrigues Fernanda Moraes Daniel Fialho , Oliveira Branca Heloisa de
Published: November 2021

Aims

To describe oral manifestations in children born with microcephaly attributed to congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS).

Methods

Data was collected in semiannual intervals from 2017 to 2019, by oral exams of the children and interview with caregivers at a Public Dental Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A single calibrated examiner performed clinical examinations.

Results

Of 38 eligible children, 34 were followed‐up from 12 to 30 months of age, 20 boys and 14 girls. The mean age of emergence of their first primary tooth was 12.4 months (SD = 2.9). By 30 months of age only 14.7% (n = 5) had complete primary dentition. Alteration in the sequence of tooth emergence was observed in 41.1% (n = 14). Radiographic examination demonstrated dental agenesis (14.7% n = 5). Dental developmental alterations (38.2%, n = 13), enamel defects (14.7%, n = 5), eruption cysts/hematoma (23.5%, n = 8), gingival bleeding (55.8%, n = 19), narrow palate, and bruxism (64.7%, n = 22) were also observed. No child had dental caries.

Conclusion

Children with microcephaly attributed to CZS presented oral manifestations early in life.
An Empirical Study of College English PAD Class Based on Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Mai Xiaoping
Published: November 2021

Motivation is one of the important factors that affect the success of foreign language learning. It determines the participation, consciousness, enthusiasm and persistence of foreign language learners. Based on the self-determination theory, this study conducted a survey of 280 non-English majors from a university in southern China through questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to investigate how college English PAD Class meet the basic psychological needs of students’ autonomy, competence and relatedness. The data of the questionnaire were described and analyzed using SPSS statistical software and the interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis as a method. The results show that PAD Class has a good effect in mobilizing students' initiative in learning, promoting the development of students' thinking ability, and building a harmonious teacher-student relationship. The advanced teaching concept and rigorous teaching design adopted in PAD Class have certain enlightening significance for teaching reform.
A5 noradrenergic‐projecting C1 neurons activate sympathetic and breathing outputs in anaesthetized rats
Authors: Malheiros‐Lima Milene R. , Silva Talita M. , Takakura Ana C. , Moreira Thiago S.
Published: November 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

C1 neurons innervate pontine noradrenergic cell groups, including the A5 region: do A5 noradrenergic neurons contribute to the activation of sympathetic and respiratory responses produced by selective activation of the C1 group of neurons.

What is the main finding and its importance?

The increase in sympathetic and respiratory activities elicited by selective stimulation of C1 neurons is reduced after blockade of excitatory amino acid within the A5 region, suggesting that the C1–A5 pathway might be important for sympathetic‐respiratory control.

Adrenergic C1 neurons innervate and excite pontine noradrenergic cell groups, including the ventrolateral pontine noradrenergic region (A5). Here, we tested the hypothesis that C1 activates A5 neurons through the release of glutamate and this effect is important for sympathetic and respiratory control. Using selective tools, we restricted the expression of channelrhodopsin2 under the control of the artificial promoter PRSx8 to C1 neurons (69%). Transduced catecholaminergic terminals within the A5 region are in contact with noradrenergic A5 neurons and the C1 terminals within the A5 region are predominantly glutamatergic. In a different group of animals, we performed retrograde lesion of C1 adrenergic neurons projecting to the A5 region with unilateral injection of the immunotoxin anti‐dopamine β‐hydroxylase‐saporin (anti‐DβH‐SAP) directly into the A5 region during the hypoxic condition. As expected, hypoxia (8% O2, 3 h) induced a robust increase in fos expression within the catecholaminergic C1 and A5 regions of the brainstem. Depletion of C1 cells projecting to the A5 regions reduced fos immunoreactivity induced by hypoxia within the C1 region. Physiological experiments showed that bilateral injection of kynurenic acid (100 mM) into the A5 region reduced the rise in mean arterial pressure, and sympathetic and phrenic nerve activities produced by optogenetic stimulation of C1 cells. In conclusion, the C1 neurons activate the ventrolateral pontine noradrenergic neurons (A5 region) possibly via the release of glutamate and might be important for sympathetic and respiratory outputs in anaesthetized rats.
The Role of Electrochemistry and Mineralogy in the Geotechnical Behavior of Salinized Soils
Authors: Polivanov Helena , Barroso Emilio Velloso , Porto Rian , Ottoni Felipe Polivanov , Andrade Thayssa Pereira
Published: November 2021

The Atterberg limits are essential information and the first step in soil classification for geotechnical purposes. Established laboratoryprocedures use distilled water in the plasticity and liquid limits determination. However, saline solutions frequently interact with soilsin the construction environment through fluid percolation processes. This work aims to understand the variation of the geotechnicalbehavior of two standard materials with different mineralogical compositions (kaolinitic and smectitic) when affected by NaCl ionicsolutions in different concentrations. The purpose is to simulate different soils in environments with the presence of saline solutions.This paper reports an experimental program in which a kaolinite-rich and a smectite-rich material received NaCl solutions in threedifferent concentrations (0.6 %, 3.5 %, and 15.0 %) and had their Atterberg limits determined under these conditions. Additionally,non-contaminated samples of both materials have had their limits measured using distilled water. Physical characterization testsincluded hygroscopic moisture, grain size distribution, grain density, plastic limit (PL), and liquid limit (LL). These data allowed thedetermination of the Skempton activity index (AI), plasticity index (PI), consistency index (CI), classification of soils in the UnifiedSoil Classification System (USCS), and in the Highway Research Board (HRB) with the group index (GI). Mineralogy was determinedby X-ray diffraction and physical chemistry by measuring pH in H2O and KCl, determining the ΔpH, the point of zero-charge (PZC),and the surface electrical potential (Ψo). The results show that the pH values rise with increasing salinity, while ΔpH, PZC, Ψo, LL,AI, PI, GI decrease with increasing salinity. The PL decreases with the increase in salinity for smectite and increases for kaolinite. TheUSCS and HRB demonstrate that the materials start to behave as fewer plastic materials with increased salinity. It is concluded that thevariations in the physicochemical parameters of the environment control and modify the geotechnical behavior of the fine-grained soils.
Skeletal Kinetic Modeling for the Combustion of Endothermic Hydrocarbon Fuel in Hypersonic Vehicle
Authors: Hui-Sheng Peng , Bei-Jing Zhong
Published: November 2021

Chemical kinetic mechanism plays a vital role in the deep learning of reacting flow in practical combustors, which can help obtain many details of the combustion process. In this paper, a surrogate model and a skeletal mechanism for an endothermic hydrocarbon fuel were developed for further investigations of the combustion performance in hypersonic vehicles: (1) The surrogate model consists of 81.3 mol% decalin and 18.7 mol% n-dodecane, which were determined by both the composition distributions and key properties of the target endothermic hydrocarbon fuel. (2) A skeletal kinetic mechanism only containing 56 species and 283 reactions was developed by the method of “core mechanism + sub mechanism”. This mechanism can be conveniently applied to the simulation of practical combustors for its affordable scale. (3) Accuracies of the surrogate model and the mechanism were systematically validated by the various properties of the target fuel under pressures of 1–20atm, temperatures of 400–1250 K, and equivalence ratios of 0.5–1.5. The overall errors for the ignition and combustion properties are no more than 0.4 and 0.1, respectively. (4) Laminar flame speeds of the target fuel and the surrogate model fuel were also measured for the validations. Results show that both the surrogate model and the mechanism can well predict the properties of the target fuel. The mechanism developed in this work is valuable to the further design and optimization of the propulsion systems.
Homogenization of Surface Energy and Elasticity for Highly Rough Surfaces
Authors: Neffati Dajla , Kulkarni Yashashree
Published: November 2021

Surface energy plays a central role in several phenomena pertaining to nearly all aspects of materials science. This includes phenomena such as self-assembly, catalysis, fracture, void growth, and microstructural evolution among others. In particular, due to the large surface-to-volume ratio, the impact of surface energy on the physical response of nanostructures is nothing short of dramatic. How does the roughness of a surface renormalize the surface energy and associated quantities such as surface stress and surface elasticity? In this work, we attempt to address this question by using a multi-scale asymptotic homogenization approach. In particular, the novelty of our work is that we consider highly rough surfaces, reminiscent of experimental observations, as opposed to gentle roughness that is often treated by using a perturbation approach. We find that softening of a rough surface is significantly underestimated by conventional approaches. In addition, our approach naturally permits the consideration of bending resistance of a surface, consistent with the Steigmann–Ogden theory, in sharp contrast to the surfaces in the Gurtin–Murdoch surface elasticity theory that do not offer flexural resistance.
Increasing Oxygen Uptake in Cross-Country Skiers by Speed Variation in Work Intervals
Authors: Rønnestad Bent R. , Bakken Timo Andre , Thyli Vetle , Hansen Joar , Ellefsen Stian , Hammarstrøm Daniel
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Accumulated time at a high percentage of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) is important for improving performance in endurance athletes. The present study compared the acute physiological and perceived effects of performing high-intensity intervals with roller ski double poling containing work intervals with (1) fast start followed by decreasing speed (DEC), (2) systematic variation in exercise intensity (VAR), and (3) constant speed (CON). Methods: Ten well-trained cross-country skiers (double-poling VO2peak 69.6 [3.5] mL·min−1·kg−1) performed speed- and duration-matched DEC, VAR, and CON on 3 separate days in a randomized order (5 × 5-min work intervals and 3-min recovery). Results: DEC and VAR led to longer time ≥90% VO2peak (P = .016 and P = .033, respectively) and higher mean %VO2peak (P = .036, and P = .009) compared with CON, with no differences between DEC and VAR (P = .930 and P = .759, respectively). VAR, DEC, and CON led to similar time ≥90% of peak heart rate (HRpeak), mean HR, mean breathing frequency, mean ventilation, and mean blood lactate concentration ([La−]). Furthermore, no differences between sessions were observed for perceptual responses, such as mean rate of perceived exertion, session rate of perceived exertion or pain score (all Ps > .147). Conclusions: In well-trained XC skiers, DEC and VAR led to longer time ≥90% of VO2peak compared with CON, without excessive perceptual effort, indicating that these intervals can be a good alternative for accumulating more time at a high percentage of VO2peak and at the same time mimicking the pronounced variation in exercise intensities experienced during XC-skiing competitions.
PRO score: predictive scoring system for visual outcomes after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair
Authors: Cai Louis Z , Lin Jeffrey , Starr Matthew R , Obeid Anthony , Ryan Edwin H , Ryan Claire , Forbes Nora J , Arias Diego , Ammar Michael J , Patel Luv G , Capone Antonio , Emerson Geoffrey Guy , Joseph Daniel P , Eliott Dean , Gupta Omesh P , Regillo Carl D , Hsu Jason , Yonekawa Yoshihiro
Published: November 2021

Background/aims

To compare risk factors for poor visual outcomes in patients undergoing primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair and to develop a scoring system.

Methods

Analysis of the Primary Retinal detachment Outcomes (PRO) study, a multicentre interventional cohort of consecutive primary RRD surgeries performed in 2015. The main outcome measure was a poor visual outcome (Snellen VA ≤20/200).

Results

A total of 1178 cases were included. The mean preoperative and postoperative logMARs were 1.1±1.1 (20/250) and 0.5±0.7 (20/63), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression identified preoperative risk factors predictive of poor visual outcomes (≤20/200), including proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.40), history of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections (1.38; 1.11 to 1.71), >1-week vision loss (1.17; 1.08 to 1.27), ocular comorbidities (1.18; 1.00 to 1.38), poor presenting VA (1.06 per initial logMAR unit; 1.02 to 1.10) and age >70 (1.13; 1.04 to 1.23). The data were split into training (75%) and validation (25%) and a scoring system was developed and validated. The risk for poor visual outcomes was 8% with a total score of 0, 17% with 1, 29% with 2, 47% with 3, and 71% with 4 or higher.

Conclusions

Independent risk factors were compared for poor visual outcomes after RRD surgery, which included PVR, anti-VEGF injections, vision loss >1 week, ocular comorbidities, presenting VA and older age. The PRO score was developed to provide a scoring system that may be useful in clinical practice.
Thermodynamic corrections of Gauss–Bonnet black hole under general uncertainty principle
Authors: Nie Zhenxiong , Liu Yun , Chen Juhua , Wang Yongjiu
Published: November 2021

In this paper, the thermodynamics of Gauss–Bonnet black hole is investigated. We calculate the analytical solutions of corresponding thermodynamic variables, e.g. the Hawking temperature, entropy of the black hole at its event horizon. In addition, we derive the heat capacity to analyze the thermal stability of the black hole. We also compute the rate of emission in terms of photons through tunneling. By adopting a numerical method to analyze their properties, an obvious phase transition behavior is found. Furthermore, according to the general uncertainty principle, we study the quantum corrections to these thermodynamic quantities and obtain the quantum-corrected entropy containing the logarithmic term. At last, we investigate the effects of the Gauss–Bonnet coupling parameter [Formula: see text] and generalized uncertainty principle parameter [Formula: see text] on the thermodynamics of Gauss–Bonnet black hole.
Limit Cycle Bifurcations in a Class of Piecewise Smooth Polynomial Systems
Authors: Cai Meilan , Han Maoan
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we consider the bifurcation problem of limit cycles for a class of piecewise smooth cubic systems separated by the straight line [Formula: see text]. Using the first order Melnikov function, we prove that at least [Formula: see text] limit cycles can bifurcate from an isochronous cubic center at the origin under perturbations of piecewise polynomials of degree [Formula: see text]. Further, the maximum number of limit cycles bifurcating from the center of the unperturbed system is at least [Formula: see text] if the origin is the unique singular point under perturbations.
A Survey of Orthogonal Moments for Image Representation: Theory, Implementation, and Evaluation
Authors: Qi Shuren , Zhang Yushu , Wang Chao , Zhou Jiantao , Cao Xiaochun
Published: November 2021

Image representation is an important topic in computer vision and pattern recognition. It plays a fundamental role in a range of applications toward understanding visual contents. Moment-based image representation has been reported to be effective in satisfying the core conditions of semantic description due to its beneficial mathematical properties, especially geometric invariance and independence. This article presents a comprehensive survey of the orthogonal moments for image representation, covering recent advances in fast/accurate calculation, robustness/invariance optimization, definition extension, and application. We also create a software package for a variety of widely used orthogonal moments and evaluate such methods in a same base. The presented theory analysis, software implementation, and evaluation results can support the community, particularly in developing novel techniques and promoting real-world applications.
Vehicular Edge Computing: Architecture, Resource Management, Security, and Challenges
Authors: Meneguette Rodolfo , De Grande Robson , Ueyama Jo , Filho Geraldo P. Rocha , Madeira Edmundo
Published: November 2021

Vehicular Edge Computing (VEC), based on the Edge Computing motivation and fundamentals, is a promising technology supporting Intelligent Transport Systems services, smart city applications, and urban computing. VEC can provide and manage computational resources closer to vehicles and end-users, providing access to services at lower latency and meeting the minimum execution requirements for each service type. This survey describes VEC’s concepts and technologies; we also present an overview of existing VEC architectures, discussing them and exemplifying them through layered designs. Besides, we describe the underlying vehicular communication in supporting resource allocation mechanisms. With the intent to overview the risks, breaches, and measures in VEC, we review related security approaches and methods. Finally, we conclude this survey work with an overview and study of VEC’s main challenges. Unlike other surveys in which they are focused on content caching and data offloading, this work proposes a taxonomy based on the architectures in which VEC serves as the central element. VEC supports such architectures in capturing and disseminating data and resources to offer services aimed at a smart city through their aggregation and the allocation in a secure manner.
A Comprehensive Survey on Interoperability for IIoT: Taxonomy, Standards, and Future Directions
Authors: Hazra Abhishek , Adhikari Mainak , Amgoth Tarachand , Srirama Satish Narayana
Published: November 2021

In the era of Industry 4.0, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) performs the driving position analogous to the initial industrial metamorphosis. IoT affords the potential to couple machine-to-machine intercommunication and real-time information-gathering within the industry domain. Hence, the enactment of IoT in the industry magnifies effective optimization, authority, and data-driven judgment. However, this field undergoes several interoperable issues, including large numbers of heterogeneous IoT gadgets, tools, software, sensing, and processing components, joining through the Internet, despite the deficiency of communication protocols and standards. Recently, various interoperable protocols, platforms, standards, and technologies are enhanced and altered according to the specifications of the applicability in industrial applications. However, there are no recent survey papers that primarily examine various interoperability issues that Industrial IoT (IIoT) faces. In this review, we investigate the conventional and recent developments of relevant state-of-the-art IIoT technologies, frameworks, and solutions for facilitating interoperability between different IIoT components. We also discuss several interoperable IIoT standards, protocols, and models for digitizing the industrial revolution. Finally, we conclude this survey with an inherent discussion of open challenges and directions for future research.
Performance Evaluation of MU-MIMO Transmissions with Joint Interference Constraint in HetNet
Authors: Zhang Wenjian , Jiang Senlin
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we investigate the per-tier outage probability of multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmissions in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) with joint interference constraint. In the tier of cellular cell, user equipment (UE) is required to report measured channel information and the base station (BS) adopts ZF-based precoding MU-MIMO transmission to achieve multiuser diversity gain. With the constraint of cross-tier interference and unpredicted inter-beam interference, we derive the closed-form expression of outage probability of downlink MU-MIMO transmissions. Considering the capacity of nodes in the tier of ad hoc networks, a max-SINR scheduler and codebook-based MU-MIMO transmission are employed. The scheduler selects the best receiving nodes for each beam in predefined codebook according to measured signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), and the transmitting node performs data transmissions using orthogonal beams. In the presence of inter-node interference, inter-beam interference, and cross-tier interference, we obtain the closed-form expression of outage probability of MU-MIMO transmissions when downlink or uplink transmissions occur in cellular cell. Additionally, in case that the outage probability in ad hoc networks should satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirement, a restricted area in cellular cell in which the outage probability in ad hoc networks is not greater than a required threshold is explored. Numerical results show that the unpredictable inter-beam interference in cellular cell degrades the outage probability slightly. The restricted area increases with the outage probability threshold.
An Improved Asymptotic on the Representations of Integers as Sums of Products
Authors: Zhao Wenjia
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we improve the error terms of Chace’s results in the study by Chace (1994) on the number of ways of writing an integer

N

as a sum of

k

products of

l

factors, valid for

k
≥
3

and

l
=
2

, 3. More precisely, for

l
=
2

, 3, we improve the upper bound

N

k
−
1
−

2

k
−
2

/

k
−
1

l
+
1

+
ε

,

k
≥
3

for the error term, to

N

2
−

2
/

2
l
+
1

+
ε

when

k
=
3

and

N

k
−
1
−

4

k
−
2

/

l
+
1

k
+
l
−
2

+
ε

when

k
≥
4

.
Optimization Method of Art Design Resource Scheduling for 6G Network Environment in Colleges and Universities
Authors: Zhou Meng , Yang Dong
Published: November 2021

In order to solve the problem of low flexibility margin of traditional art and design resource scheduling in colleges and universities, an optimization method for art and design resource scheduling in the 6G network environment has been designed. By determining the flexibility margin index of university art and design resource scheduling, the scheduling optimization model is established, the scheduling communication parameters are set for the 6G network environment, the delay of university art and design resource scheduling is perceived, the period of insufficient flexibility is searched, and elimination measures are taken to realize the optimization of university art and design resource scheduling. The experimental results show that the margin of the designed scheduling method is always higher than that of the experimental control group in the same scheduling period, which can solve the problem of low scheduling flexibility margin of traditional methods.
Prediction of Vertical Tail Buffet Using CFD/CSD Coupling Method
Authors: Han Bing , Xu Min
Published: November 2021

The vertical tail buffet induced by the vortex breakdown flow is numerically investigated. The unsteady flow is calculated by solving the RANS equations. The structural dynamic equations are decoupled in the modal coordinates. The radial basis functions (RBFs) are employed to generate the deformation mesh. The buffet response of the flexible tail is predicted by coupling the three sets of equations. The results show that the presence of asymmetry flow on the inner and outer surface of the tail forced the structural deflection offsetting the outboard. The frequency of the 2nd bending mode of the tail structure meets the peak frequency of the pressure fluctuation upon the tail surface, and the resonance phenomenon was observed. Therefore, the 2nd bending responses govern the flow field surrounding the vertical tail. Finally, the displacement of the vertical tail is small, while the acceleration with a large quantitation forces the vertical tail undergoing severe addition inertial loads.