bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consensus for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: UK practical guidelines
Authors: Phillips Mary E , Hopper Andrew D , Leeds John S , Roberts Keith J , McGeeney Laura , Duggan Sinead N , Kumar Rajesh
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is a finding in many conditions, predominantly affecting those with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and acute necrotising pancreatitis. Patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency can experience gastrointestinal symptoms, maldigestion, malnutrition and adverse effects on quality of life and even survival.

There is a need for readily accessible, pragmatic advice for healthcare professionals on the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Methods and analysis

A review of the literature was conducted by a multidisciplinary panel of experts in pancreatology, and recommendations for clinical practice were produced and the strength of the evidence graded. Consensus voting by 48 pancreatic specialists from across the UK took place at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Pancreatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland annual scientific meeting.

Results

Recommendations for clinical practice in the diagnosis, initial management, patient education and long term follow up were developed. All recommendations achieved over 85% consensus and are included within these comprehensive guidelines.
Establishing and operating a ‘virtual ward’ system to provide care for patients with COVID-19 at home: experience from The Gambia
Authors: Wariri Oghenebrume , Okomo Uduak , Cerami Carla , Okoh Emmanuel , Oko Francis , Jah Hawanatu , Bojang Kalifa , Susso Bubacarr , Olatunji Yekini , Nkereuwem Esin , Akemokwe Fatai Momodou , Jobe Modou , Agboghoroma Orighomisan Freda , Kebbeh Bunja , Sowe Ghata , Gilleh Thomas , Jobe Naffie , Usuf Effua , Clarke Ed , Brotherton Helen , Forrest Karen
Published: June 2021

Health systems in sub-Saharan Africa have remained overstretched from dealing with endemic diseases, which limit their capacity to absorb additional stress from new and emerging infectious diseases. Against this backdrop, the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic presented an additional challenge of insufficient hospital beds and human resource for health needed to deliver hospital-based COVID-19 care. Emerging evidence from high-income countries suggests that a ‘virtual ward’ (VW) system can provide adequate home-based care for selected patients with COVID-19, thereby reducing the need for admissions and mitigate additional stress on hospital beds. We established a VW at the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a biomedical research institution located in The Gambia, a low-income west African country, to care for members of staff and their families infected with COVID-19. In this practice paper, we share our experience focusing on the key components of the system, how it was set up and successfully operated to support patients with COVID-19 in non-hospital settings. We describe the composition of the multidisciplinary team operating the VW, how we developed clinical standard operating procedures, how clinical oversight is provided and the use of teleconsultation and data capture systems to successfully drive the process. We demonstrate that using a VW to provide an additional level of support for patients with COVID-19 at home is feasible in a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa. We believe that other low-income or resource-constrained settings can adopt and contextualise the processes described in this practice paper to provide additional support for patients with COVID-19 in non-hospital settings.
Australian doctors are more engaged than UK doctors: why is this the case?
Authors: Long Paul W , Spurgeon Peter , Loh Erwin , Mazelan Patti , Barwell Fred
Published: June 2021

Background

Despite reports highlighting the need for greater medical engagement and the benefits of being widely understood, very little information is available on the status of medical engagement in Australia, and how this compares to the UK. Answering this question will no doubt assist training bodies, curriculum designers and policy makers better understand relevant issues.

Methods

The medical engagement questionnaire (MES) was emailed to all medical staff working at 159 UK National Health Service Trusts and 18 health service organisations in Australia. The questionnaire consists of 30 predetermined items seeking responses using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results

Overall, doctors in the Australian dataset are slightly more engaged, or more positive, than their UK colleagues. Good interpersonal relationships was the only variable that UK doctors scored more positively than their Australian counterparts. At the lower end of the responses, that is the least engaged, we found this even more apparent. Where doctors in Australia are less disengaged, that is still more positive than the UK colleagues.

Conclusion

While the profiles of medical engagement vary at the sites and also across the MES and subscales, the data illustrate that overall doctors in Australia feel valued and empowered, and they have purpose and direction and work in a collaborate culture. At the most disengaged end of the scale, Australian doctors are markedly less disengaged than their UK counterparts. There may be numerous factors that influence and change how engaged doctors are in both countries. The most prominent of these are appear to be working conditions and lifestyle, driven by funding and other economics issues. This research is likely to be of great interest to regulators and training bodies in both countries.
Low relative diffusion weighted image signal intensity can predict good prognosis after endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Kishi Fumihisa , Nakagawa Ichiro , Park HunSoo , Kotsugi Masashi , Myouchin Kaoru , Motoyama Yasushi , Nakase Hiroyuki
Published: June 2021

Background

It is vital to identify a surrogate last-known-well time to perform proper endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke; however, no established imaging biomarker can easily and quickly identify eligibility for endovascular thrombectomy and predict good clinical prognosis.

Objective

To investigate whether low relative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal intensity can be used as a predictor of good clinical outcome after endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods

We retrospectively identified consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with endovascular thrombectomy within 24 hours of the last-known-well time and achieved successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b). Relative DWI signal intensity was calculated as DWI signal intensity in the infarcted area divided by DWI signal intensity in the contralateral hemisphere. Good prognosis was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90 days after stroke onset (good prognosis group).

Results

49 patients were included in the analysis. Relative DWI signal intensity was significantly lower in the group with good prognosis than in the those with poor prognosis (median (IQR) 1.32 (1.27–1.44) vs 1.56 (1.43–1.66); p<0.01), and the critical cut-off value for predicting good prognosis was 1.449 (area under the curve 0.78). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed association of good prognosis after endovascular thrombectomy with low relative DWI signal intensity (OR=6.84; 95% CI 1.13 to 41.3; p=0.04).

Conclusions

Low relative DWI signal intensity was associated with good prognosis after endovascular thrombectomy. Its ability to predict good clinical outcome shows potential for determining patient suitability for endovascular thrombectomy.
Nautilus-assisted coil embolization for a complex AcomA wide-necked aneurysm in the setting of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Sirakov Alexander , Matanov Svetozar , Bhogal Pervinder , Sirakov Stanimir
Published: June 2021

Numerous devices and sophisticated strategies have been developed to further increase the number of aneurysms amenable to endovascular treatment.1–4 Despite the superfluity of available neurovascular armamentarium, wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms can still pose a significant technical challenge to the treating clinician.5–7 Neck bridging is a conceptually new approach, which provides increased occlusion rates with lower recurrence and complications rates.8–10 The Nautilus (EndoStream Medical) is an intrasaccular bridging device intended to assist in coil embolization of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms. This CE-marked device, available in various sizes, consists of flexible-layers, and is a nitinol-based, detachable implant. The device is delivered through a standard microcatheter with a minimal 0.0165" inner diameter and is fully radiopaque and completely resheathable.

Owing to its unique ‘tornado’ like shape the device entirely reconstructs the aneurysmal neck, which facilitates the following coil embolization. In this video 1, we demonstrate the use of Nautilus - assisted coil embolization for a complex anterior communicating artery (AcomA) wide-necked aneurysm in the setting of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Video 1
Protocol-dependence of middle cerebral artery dilation to modest hypercapnia
Authors: Al-Khazraji Baraa K. , Buch Sagar , Kadem Mason , Matushewski Brad J. , Norozi Kambiz , Menon Ravi S. , Shoemaker J. Kevin
Published: June 2021

There is a need for improved understanding of how different cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) protocols affect vascular cross-sectional area (CSA) to reduce error in CVR calculations when measures of vascular CSA are not feasible. In human participants, we delivered ∼±4 mm Hg end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PETCO2) relative to baseline through controlled delivery, and measured changes in middle cerebral artery (MCA) CSA (7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)), blood velocity (transcranial Doppler and Phase contrast MRI), and calculated CVR based on a 3-minute steady-state (+4 mm Hg PETCO2) and a ramp (−3 to +4 mm Hg of PETCO2). We observed that (1) the MCA did not dilate during the ramp protocol (slope for CSA across time P > 0.05; R2 = 0.006), but did dilate by ∼7% during steady-state hypercapnia (P < 0.05); and (2) MCA blood velocity CVR was not different between ramp and steady-state hypercapnia protocols (ramp: 3.8 ± 1.7 vs. steady-state: 4.0 ± 1.6 cm/s/mm Hg), although calculated MCA blood flow CVR was ∼40% greater during steady-state hypercapnia than during ramp (P < 0.05) with the discrepancy due to MCA CSA changes during steady-state hypercapnia. We propose that a ramp model, across a delta of −3 to +4 mm Hg PETCO2, may provide an alternative approach to collecting CVR measures in young adults with transcranial Doppler when CSA measures are not feasible.

Novelty: We optimized a magnetic resonance imaging sequence to measure dynamic middle cerebral artery (MCA) cross-sectional area (CSA). A ramp model of hypercapnia elicited similar MCA blood velocity reactivity as the steady-state model while maintaining MCA CSA.
Understanding the climate impacts on decadal vegetation change in northern Alaska
Authors: Harris Jacob A. , Hollister Robert D. , Botting Timothy F. , Tweedie Craig E. , Betway Katlyn R. , May Jeremy L. , Barrett Robert T.S. , Leibig Jenny A. , Christoffersen Hana L. , Vargas Sergio A. , Orejel Mariana , Fuson Tabatha L.
Published: June 2021

The Arctic is experiencing rapid climate change. This research documents changes to tundra vegetation near Atqasuk and Utqiaġvik, Alaska. At each location, 30 plots were sampled annually from 2010 to 2019 using a point frame. For every encounter, we recorded the height and classified it into eight groupings (deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs, forbs, graminoids, bryophytes, lichens, litter, and standing dead vegetation); for vascular plants we also identified the species. We found an increase in plant stature and cover over time, consistent with regional warming. Graminoid cover and height increased at both sites, with a 5-fold increase in cover in Atqasuk. At Atqasuk, the cover and height of shrubs and forbs increased. Species diversity decreased at both the sites. Year was generally the strongest predictor of vegetation change, suggesting a cumulative change over time; however, soil moisture and soil temperature were also predictors of vegetation change. We anticipate that plants in the region will continue to grow taller as the region warms, resulting in greater plant cover, especially of graminoids and shrubs. The increase in plant cover and accumulation of litter may negatively impact non-vascular plants. Continued changes in community structure will impact energy balance and carbon cycling and may have regional and global consequences.
Optimization of investment casting parameters for reduction of shrinkage porosity in nickel-based superalloy castings by Taguchi method
Authors: Zhang Peng , Liu Guohuai , Wang Ye , Wu Shiping , Wang Zhaodong
Published: June 2021

In order to improve the castings quality of nickel-based superalloy in investment casting process, especially to reduce the shrinkage porosity, the processing parameters were optimized by numerical simulation and Taguchi method. The effects of processing parameters, such as pouring temperature, pouring time and mold shell preheating temperature, on the shrinkage porosity in the turbine nozzle investment castings prepared by K477 nickel-based superalloy were investigated. The results show that the effects of the mold shell preheating temperature, pouring temperature and pouring time are main influencing factors in turn, which are verified by the evaluation of signal-to-noise ratio and the analysis of variance. Further, based on the processing optimization, a K477 alloy turbine nozzle without shrinkage porosity was prepared with the optimized parameters: pouring temperature of [Formula: see text], mold shell preheating temperature of [Formula: see text] and pouring time of 14 s, respectively.
Analysis of vibration characteristics of elastic metamaterial sandwich beam
Authors: Shu Haisheng , Xu Yongchun , Mu Di , Wang Xiaotian , Wang Yu
Published: June 2021

Elastic metamaterials (EMs) are a new kind of artificial composite medium composed of complex micro-structural elements, which have unique dynamic properties and elastic wave regulation ability that their constituent materials do not possess. The existing researches on EMs mainly focus on wave characteristics in two-dimensional and three-dimensional infinite domains. However, actual EM structures are always in the form of finite structures such as rods, beams and plates, so it is more important for engineering applications to understand and master their natural and forced vibration characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an effective simplified solution method and framework with certain accuracy for the vibration analysis of such structures. In the early stage, we have studied the natural and forced vibration characteristics of EM beams from this point of view, and presented a simplified solution process. In this paper, a kind of sandwich beam structure with EMs as the core is further constructed, the simplified solution process is extended to such more practical model analysis, and the free and steady forced vibration analysis processes of the finite-size sandwich beam are given. The vibration characteristics different from the traditional sandwich beam are investigated, and some interesting and useful phenomena are revealed, including the absence of natural frequencies within bandgap (BG), the gathering of natural frequencies in the vicinity of band edges, and the particular modal correspondence before and after BG. Then, the corresponding formation mechanisms are explained from the perspective of wave propagation.
Content-Based Video Retrieval Using Integration of Curvelet Transform and Simple Linear Iterative Clustering
Authors: Bommisetty Reddy Mounika , Khare Ashish , Khare Manish , Palanisamy P.
Published: June 2021

Video is a rich information source containing both audio and visual information along with motion information embedded in it. Applications such as e-learning, live TV, video on demand, traffic monitoring, etc. need an efficient video retrieval strategy. Content-based video retrieval and superpixel segmentation are two diverse application areas of computer vision. In this work, we are presenting an algorithm for content-based video retrieval with help of Integration of Curvelet transform and Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (ICTSLIC) algorithm. Proposed algorithm consists of two steps: off line processing and online processing. In offline processing, keyframes of the database videos are extracted by employing features: Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and color moments (CM) and on the extracted keyframes superpixel generation algorithm ICTSLIC is applied. The superpixels generated by applying ICTSLIC on keyframes are used to represent database videos. On other side, in online processing, ICTSLIC superpixel segmentation is applied on query frame and the superpixels generated by segmentation are used to represent query frame. Then videos similar to query frame are retrieved through matching done by calculation of Euclidean distance between superpixels of query frame and database keyframes. Results of the proposed method are irrespective of query frame features such as camera motion, object’s pose, orientation and motion due to the incorporation of ICTSLIC superpixels as base feature for matching and retrieval purpose. The proposed method is tested on the dataset comprising of different categories of video clips such as animations, serials, personal interviews, news, movies and songs which is publicly available. For evaluation, the proposed method randomly picks frames from database videos, instead of selecting keyframes as query frames. Experiments were conducted on the developed dataset and the performance is assessed with different parameters Precision, Recall, Jaccard Index, Accuracy and Specificity. The experimental results shown that the proposed method is performing better than the other state-of-art methods.
The compressed zero-divisor graphs of order 4
Authors: Monastyreva A. S.
Published: June 2021

In [E. V. Zhuravlev and A. S. Monastyreva, Compressed zero-divisor graphs of finite associative rings, Siberian Math. J.  61(1) (2020) 76–84.], we found the graphs containing at most three vertices that can be realized as the compressed zero-divisor graphs of some finite associative ring. This paper deals with associative finite rings whose compressed zero-divisor graphs have four vertices. Namely, we find all graphs containing four vertices that can be realized as the compressed zero-divisor graphs of some finite associative ring.
EXITING POVERTY THROUGH SELF-EMPLOYMENT: THE GRAMEEN MODEL AND ROTATING CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS AS ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES
Authors: LIGHT IVAN
Published: June 2021

Self-employment in the informal sector keeps poor people alive, but it rarely enables them to exit poverty. To exit poverty through self-employment, poor people require monetary and non-monetary resources which they overwhelmingly lack. To escape this dilemma, the owners of survivalist business firms need to band together in order to assemble a minimal resource base on the strength of which they can together upgrade their partnership. Because resources are scarce in poverty populations, this task is exceptionally hard to accomplish. Rotating credit and savings associations (ROSCAs) can enable individuals to exit poverty through self-employment, but ROSCAs only work in the most-resourced, upper tier of a poverty population. In the lower tier, Grameen model banks inject organizational, educational, and financial resources that enable impoverished individuals to exit poverty by upgrading a survivalist business.
AMBIDEXTROUS INNOVATION IN STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES IN INDIA: THE ROLE OF NEW ENTRANTS, TECHNOLOGICAL DISCONTINUITY, AND KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS
Authors: SAXENA NAVIN KUMAR , DAS SATYASIBA
Published: June 2021

This study examines the effects of competitive pressure by new entrants and technological discontinuity on the strategic innovations adopted by incumbent state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in India. Due to government ownership, these firms are dominant players domestically and their market leadership is challenged by new entrants. Technological discontinuity challenges technology leadership. Incumbent firms develop knowledge networks by working with partners, suppliers, and buyers. The incumbent firms must strike a balance between the exploitation of current technology and the exploration of new technology. This study aims to understand the effect of new entrants and technological discontinuity on the exploitation and exploration strategies of Indian SOEs in the manufacturing sector. The quantitative analysis is carried out using partial least squares structural equation modeling. For Indian SOEs, the technological discontinuity does affect exploitation and exploration, but new entrants have no such effect. The study confirms the moderating effect of knowledge networks on exploitation.
Research on the Optimization Design of the Acoustic Stealth Shape of a Bottom Object
Authors: Li Bing , Zhou Fulin , Fan Jun , Wang Bin , Peng Zilong
Published: June 2021

This paper presents an optimal design method for the acoustic stealth shape for a bottom object with relatively lower echo strength (ES), based on the physical acoustics method (PAM) and genetic algorithm (GA). Specifically, the performance of the PAM was evaluated with acoustic scattering from a Manta-like object, using two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric calculation method. In the optimization method, GA, the object shape represented by the Bernstein polynomial, grid topology acquired by using the MATLAB-COMSOL module and the scattering calculation are combined into a process. The optimization objective function is given as the weighting function of the ES of the bottom object with different grazing angles and frequencies. Finally, the two optimal shapes of the bottom object under different conditions are given, in which the ES and the angle detection rate after optimization are greatly reduced. This optimal method provides guidance for the lower ES shape design of bottom targets.
Review of The Foundations of Computability Theory (Second Edition) by Borut Robič
Authors: Galinkin Erick
Published: June 2021

Computability theory forms the foundation for much of theoretical computer science. Many of our great unsolved questions stem from the need to understand what problems can even be solved. The greatest question of computer science, P vs. NP, even sidesteps this entirely, asking instead how efficiently we can find solutions for the problems that we know are solvable. For many students both at the undergraduate and graduate level, a first exposure to computability theory follows a standard sequence on data structures and algorithms and students often marvel at the first results they see on undecidability - how could we possibly prove that we can never solve a problem?

This book, in contrast with other books that are often used as first exposures to computability, finite automata, Turing machines, and the like, focuses very specifically on the notion of what is computable and how computability theory, as a science unto itself, fits into the grander scheme. The book is appropriate for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in computer science or mathematics who are interested in theoretical computer science. Robič sidesteps the standard theoretical computer science progression - understanding finite automata and pushdown automata before moving into Turing machines - by setting the stage with Hilbert's program and mathematical prerequisites before introducing the Turing machine absent the usual prerequisites, and then introducing advanced topics often absent in introductory texts. Most chapters are relatively short and contain problem sets, making it appropriate for both a classroom text or for self-study.
Review of Ideas that Created the Future
Authors: Gasarch William
Published: June 2021

What are the most important papers in computer science? What are the most important 46 papers in computer science? Yikes! Far more than 46 seem to qualify. Picking out the top 46 papers in computer science is the task that befallen Harry Lewis (henceforth Harry). I suspect it was both a burden (gee, which ones to omit?) and a joy (Wow, these papers are insightful!). He used two (probably more) criteria that helped him cut it down (1) he prefers short readable papers to long unreadable ones (don't we all!), and (2) no paper past 1980 (arbitrary but firm cutoff). There were also absurd financial constraints based on how much the rights to republish a paper costs. In some cases a paper that is available online for free cost too much to put into a book. See my comment on Turing's 1936 paper.

This book is a collection of the 46 most important papers in computer science, in the opinion of Harry, relative to some constraints. The complete list is at the end of the review. While I am sure many readers will think why isn't X in the list, or why is X in the list, or I never heard of X, I suspect that 2/3 of the people reading this review will agree with 2/3 of the papers on the list. I would urge people to read the book AND THEN have an intelligent debate about which papers should or should not be in it.
Distributed Computability
Authors: Raynal Michel
Published: June 2021

As today Computer Science is more and more (driven) consumed by its applications, it becomes more and more important to know what is and what is not computable. For a long time now, this has been relatively well understood in sequential computing. But today the computing world becomes more and more distributed, and consequently more and more applications are distributed. As a result, it becomes important, or even crucial, to understand what is distributed computing and which are its power and its limits. This article is a step in this direction from an agreement-oriented and fault-tolerance perspective.
Preparation and Characterization of Lauric–Myristic Acid/Expanded Graphite as Composite Phase Change Energy Storage Material
Authors: Zhou Dongyi , Yuan Jiawei , Xiao Xianghua , Liu Yicai
Published: June 2021

Lauric acid (LA) and myristic acid (MA) were used to prepare a binary eutectic mixture. The expanded graphite (EG) was used as the carrier, and the lauric–myristic acid/expanded graphite (LA–MA/EG) composite phase change material was prepared by physical adsorption method. The microstructure, chemical structure, and thermal properties of LA–MA/EG were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal conductivity measurement. The experimental results have shown that the maximum mass ratio of the binary eutectic mixture in the LA–MA/EG composite phase change energy-storing material was 92.2%, and there was physical mixing and has no chemical reaction between LA–MA and EG. The fusion point temperature of LA–MA/EG was 33.4°C, the solidification point temperature was 33.8°C, and the latent heat was 171.1 J/g, which was suitable for building energy storage field. After several thermal cycles, the change of the fusion point and potential heat of the composite phase change materials were very small, and it still has good energy storage performance.
Sustained Auditory Attentional Load Decreases Audiovisual Integration in Older and Younger Adults
Authors: Ren Yanna , Hou Yawei , Huang Jiayu , Li Fanghong , Wang Tao , Ren Yanling , Yang Weiping
Published: June 2021

The modulation of attentional load on the perception of auditory and visual information has been widely reported; however, whether attentional load alters audiovisual integration (AVI) has seldom been investigated. Here, to explore the effect of sustained auditory attentional load on AVI and the effects of aging, nineteen older and 20 younger adults performed an AV discrimination task with a rapid serial auditory presentation task competing for attentional resources. The results showed that responses to audiovisual stimuli were significantly faster than those to auditory and visual stimuli (AV>V≥A, allp<0.001), and the younger adults were significantly faster than the older adults under all attentional load conditions (allp<0.001). The analysis of the race model showed that AVI was decreased and delayed with the addition of auditory sustained attention (no_load>load_1>load_2>load_3>load_4) for both older and younger adults. In addition, AVI was lower and more delayed in older adults than in younger adults in all attentional load conditions. These results suggested that auditory sustained attentional load decreased AVI and that AVI was reduced in older adults.
Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO/Sepiolite Composite Materials
Authors: Li Chao , Li Huijuan , He Guicheng , Lei Zhiwu , Wu Wenyuan
Published: June 2021

Photocatalytic technology is a widely used water treatment method, whose efficiency can be increased by developing a suitable photocatalyst fabrication procedure. In this study, five different synthesis methods were utilised for the preparation of novel ZnO/sepiolite photolytic composites, namely, sol‐gel method, hydrothermal reduction, hydrolytic precipitation, powder sintering, and impregnation‐reduction. The obtained photocatalysts were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The differences between the applied photocatalyst preparation methods and the reasons for these differences were discussed, and the photocatalytic activities of the prepared composite materials were compared. The obtained results revealed that the physical structure, chemical properties, and photocatalytic performance of the composite produced by the sol‐gel method were superior to those of the materials fabricated by the other four methods. Moreover, this material also exhibited high photocatalytic stability, while its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye proceeded via a quasi‐first‐order reaction. The prepared composites have broad application prospects in photocatalysis and can be potentially used for treating environmental pollutants.
Investigation of Newly Diagnosed Drug-Naive Patients with Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Revealed the Cleaved Peptide Tyrosine Tyrosine (PYY 3-36) as a Specific Plasma Biomarker of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Balog Jozsef A. , Kemeny Agnes , Puskas Laszlo G. , Burcsar Szilard , Balog Attila , Szebeni Gabor J.
Published: June 2021

There is a current imperative to reveal more precisely the molecular pathways of early onset of systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs). The investigation of newly diagnosed drug-naive SAD patients might contribute to identify novel disease-specific and prognostic markers. The multiplex analysis of 30 plasma proteins in 60 newly diagnosed drug-naive SADs, such as RA (rheumatoid arthritis,

n
=
31

), SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus,

n
=
19

), and SSc (systemic scleroderma,

n
=
10

) patients, versus healthy controls (HCs,

n
=
40

) was addressed. Thirty plasma cytokines were quantified using the Procarta Plex™ panel. The higher expression of IL-12p40, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, M-CSF, IL-4, NTproBNP, IL-17A, BMP-9, PYY (3-36), GITRL, MMP-12, and TNFRSF6 was associated with RA; IL-12p40, M-CSF, IL-4, GITRL, and NTproBNP were higher in SLE; or NTproBNP, PYY (3-36), and MMP-12 were increased in SSc over HCs, respectively. The cleaved peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY 3-36) was elevated in RA (

361.6
±
47.7

 pg/ml) vs. HCs (

163.96
±
14.5

 pg/ml,

mean
±
SEM

,

∗

∗

∗

p
=
4
×

10

−
5

). The CI (95%) was 268.05-455.16 pg/ml for RA vs. 135.55-192.37 pg/ml for HCs. The elevated PYY (3-36) level correlated significantly with the increased IL-4 or GITRL concentration but not with the clinical scores (DAS28, CRP, ESR, RF, aMCV). We are the first to report cleaved PYY (3-36) as a specific plasma marker of therapy-naive RA. Additionally, the multiplex plasma protein analysis supported a disease-specific cytokine pattern in RA, SLE, and SSc, respectively.
QiShenYiQi Pill Improves Myocardial Hypertrophy Caused by Pressure Overload in Rats
Authors: Lv Shichao , Wang Qiang , Wu Meifang , Li Meng , Wang Xiaojing , Xu Ling , Zhang Junping
Published: June 2021

Pressure-overloaded myocardial hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart failure (HF), arrhythmia, and even sudden death. It is reported that QiShenYiQi pill (QSYQ) is widely used in the treatment of CVDs and can prevent pathological hypertrophy of myocardium, but its specific mechanism is still unclear. In this study, a rat model of myocardial hypertrophy was established through the pressure overload caused by abdominal aortic constriction in Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into model group, valsartan group, and QSYQ group, and sham-operated animals served as the control group. At the 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, the general morphology of the heart, myocardial collagen content, collagen volume factor (CVF), collagen type I, collagen type III, myocardial pathological changes, and the expression of ANP, β-MHC, TGF-β1, and CTGF were analyzed, respectively, in order to explore the possible effect of QSYQ on the mechanism of myocardial hypertrophy. We observed that QSYQ could effectively improve myocardial hypertrophy in pressure-overloaded rats, which was related to the regulatory mechanism of TGF-β1 and CTGF.
[Retracted] Extraction of Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Jiangnan Urban Landscape under the Influence of Geomorphology
Authors: Wang Shuhua , Qin Anhua
Published: June 2021

This paper presents an in‐depth study and analysis of the spatial distribution of urban landscapes in Jiangnan cities under the influence of geomorphology and extracts the characteristics to explore the construction mechanism from the perspective of spatial functionality based on the analysis of the process and content of landscape construction. The construction of cities and ponds originated from political influence, environmental constraints, and architectural techniques; the landscape pattern of the combined shape and complementary potential originated from the creation of various types of gardens in various dynasties; the complementary planning of landscape, the traffic creation of the plain and water network, and the production factors of agriculture and sanitation influenced the construction of the countryside landscape; the traditional view of feng shui, poetry and painting, the eight scenes of the city and countryside, and other humanistic intentions influenced the overall situation of the town and the landscape. This paper extracts and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of Jiangnan city landscape from several perspectives, and the results can clearly show the distribution of landscape features under the influence of geomorphology and can give the best layout suggestions. From the perspective of spatial variability, the main features of traditional landscape construction in Jiangnan are analyzed through three levels: the characteristics of the process of humanized landscapes evolving into natural landscapes, the comparative analysis of similarities and differences in the construction of cities and towns, and the characteristics of the system of regional landscape construction. Finally, the changes in the landscape pattern of the region under the influence of globalization are analyzed through the changing characteristics of landscape architecture.
Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Have Lower Levels of Antibody to Heat-Stressed Fibroblast Derived Proteins, versus Normal Subjects
Authors: Aghamajidi Azin , Khameneh Hesam Babaei , Amirjamshidi Narges , Jalali Seyed Farzad , Akhavan-Niaki Haleh , Khafri Soraya , Mousavi Seyedeh Narges , Golpour Monireh , Mehri Maryam , AmrollahMostafazadeh
Published: June 2021

Cellular stress response plays an important role in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD). Inhibition of cellular stress may provide a novel clinical approach regarding the diagnosis and treatment of CAD. Fibroblasts constitute 60-70% of cardiac cells and have a crucial role in cardiovascular function. Hence, the aim of this study was to show a potential therapeutic application of proteins derived from heat-stressed fibroblast in CAD patients. Fibroblasts were isolated from the foreskin and cultured under heat stress conditions. Surprisingly, 1.06% of the cells exhibited a necrotic death pattern. Furthermore, heat-stressed fibroblasts produced higher level of total proteins than control cells. In SDS-PAGE analysis, a 70 kDa protein band was observed in stressed cell culture supernatants which appeared as two acidic spots with close pI in the two-dimensional electrophoresis. To evaluate the immunogenic properties of fibroblast-derived heat shock proteins (HSPs), the serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) was measured by ELISA in 50 CAD patients and 50 normal subjects who had been diagnosed through angiography. Interestingly, the level of anti-HSP antibody was significantly higher in non-CAD individuals in comparison with the patient’s group (

p
<
0.05

). The odds ratio for CAD was 5.06 (

95
%
CI
=
2.15
‐
11.91

) in cut-off value of 30 AU/mL of anti-HSP antibody. Moreover, ROC analysis showed that anti-HSP antibodies had a specificity of 74% and a sensitivity of 64%, which is almost equal to 66% sensitivity of exercise stress test (EST) as a CAD diagnostic method. These data revealed that fibroblast-derived HSPs are suitable for the diagnosis and management of CAD through antibody production.
Multiple Nontrivial Solutions for a Nonlocal Problem with Sublinear Nonlinearity
Authors: Shi Zhigao , Qian Xiaotao
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we study the following nonlocal problem

−

a
−
b

∫

Ω

 

∇
u

2

d
x

Δ
u
=
λ
u
+
f

x

u

p
−
2

u
,

x
∈
Ω
,

u
=
0
,

x
∈
∂
Ω
,

where

a
,
b
>
0

are constants,

1
<
p
<
2

,

λ
>
0

,

f
∈

L

∞

Ω

is a positive function, and

Ω

is a smooth bounded domain in

ℝ

N

with

N
≥
3

. By variational methods, we obtain a pair of nontrivial solutions for the considered problem provided

f

∞

is small enough.
Analysis of Control Characteristics and Design of Control System Based on Internal Parameters in Doubly Fed Variable‐Speed Pumped Storage Unit
Authors: Zhao Guopeng , Zhang Yongxin , Ren Jiyun
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the control strategies and their characteristics when applied to the doubly‐fed variable‐speed pumped storage unit in generating mode and pump mode are discussed. The composition of doubly fed variable‐speed pumped storage unit is introduced, and the mathematical model of every component is proposed. Two control strategies of the unit are introduced. One is the power priority control strategy and the other is the speed priority control strategy. Then, the control block diagrams of the two control strategies in the generating mode and the pump mode are established, and the parameters of the unit in each control strategy are designed. The two control strategies are simulated in power generation and pumping conditions. Finally, the conclusion that power priority strategy has a better effect on power control is obtained.
Impact of Enterprise Financing Constraints on Labor Income Share Based on Internet of Things Data Analysis Technology
Authors: Zhang Mengting , Xu Wei , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2021

Although the Chinese economy has developed rapidly since the reform and opening up, the income distribution gap is widening year by year. The final social income distribution pattern is highly dependent on the primary distribution pattern. Therefore, the changing trend and influencing factors of labor income share have become the focus of academic research and the focus of government attention. Based on this, this article proposes enterprise financing based on Internet of Things data analysis technology. Studies on the impact of restraints on labor income shares will help further research on the impact of corporate financial restraints on future labor income shares. Based on the financial data reports published in the CCER database and the company’s IPO prospectus and annual report, this paper discusses whether the company’s key business products belong to the Internet of Things’ key technology application categories. Take 226 IoT companies as the research objects of this article, and conduct a secondary screening. The final survey sample is used to investigate the impact of corporate funding constraints on labor income share. Tests have proved that among the 179 resource‐based enterprises undergoing transformation, 109 enterprises have undergone intraindustry transformation, accounting for 48.23% of the overall sample and 60.89% of the sample of transformed enterprises. Downstream expansion makes the business industry expand. This shows that funding constraints have a negative impact on labor income share. This is primarily the result of the impact of the long‐term debt‐to‐asset ratio on labor income share.
[Retracted] Big Data‐Based E‐Commerce Transaction Information Collection Method
Authors: Yan Bingwen , Wu Chunqiong , Yu Rongrui , Yu Baoqin , Shi Nafang , Zhou Xiukao , Yu Yanliang
Published: June 2021

With the rapid development of e‐commerce industry, online shopping has become a craze. With the rapid growth of transaction volume on e‐commerce platforms, a large amount of transaction data has been accumulated. From the transaction information of these users, a lot of very valuable information can be mined, such as the defects of products and the actual needs of users. In view of the existing e‐commerce transaction information collection method is not mature, in this paper, the electric business platform system architecture planning and design increases the function management module. In this paper, a new Naive Bayes model is established by using HBase distributed database instead of traditional database. Based on the optimization and extraction of the important transaction information in the product, the dataset of e‐commerce transaction information is updated. Through the efficiency test of the collection method, the information scalability ability test, and the accuracy test, the important context was sorted out after integration, the sources of trading information were sorted out, and the data analysis of the collected information was conducted to optimize the information collection method and verify the feasibility of the method.
[Retracted] Investigation on Dielectric Properties of Press Board Coated with Epoxy Resin, Quartz, and Rice Husk Ash
Authors: S. Banumathi , T. S. Karthik , M. Sasireka , Ramaswamy Kiran , J. Vishnu , M. K. Yuvan , R. R. Kavin , S. Sathish Kumar
Published: June 2021

Epoxy resin mixed with rice husk ash and quartz powder increases its dielectric strength. This paper presents the dielectric properties of the press board coated with this epoxy mixture. In this work, the press board, which is used in the transformer, is coated with three components: epoxy resin, rice husk ash, and quartz powder. The nanometer‐sized quartz powder and rice husk ash are mixed in the particular ratio with the epoxy resin. The mixture of epoxy resin, quartz powder, and rice husk ash is coated on both sides of the press board. The dielectric constant, volume resistivity, and Tan Delta (dissipation factor) of the coated press board are compared with the noncoated press board. The results reveal that the coated board is having high dielectric constant and volume resistivity when compared to the noncoated board.
Deep Learning-Based Image Processing for Cotton Leaf Disease and Pest Diagnosis
Authors: M. Azath , Zekiwos Melese , Bruck Abey
Published: June 2021

Cotton is one of the economically significant agricultural products in Ethiopia, but it is exposed to different constraints in the leaf area. Mostly, these constraints are identified as diseases and pests that are hard to detect with bare eyes. This study focused to develop a model to boost the detection of cotton leaf disease and pests using the deep learning technique, CNN. To do so, the researchers have used common cotton leaf disease and pests such as bacterial blight, spider mite, and leaf miner. K-fold cross-validation strategy was worn to dataset splitting and boosted generalization of the CNN model. For this research, nearly 2400 specimens (600 images in each class) were accessed for training purposes. This developed model is implemented using python version 3.7.3 and the model is equipped on the deep learning package called Keras, TensorFlow backed, and Jupyter which are used as the developmental environment. This model achieved an accuracy of 96.4% for identifying classes of leaf disease and pests in cotton plants. This revealed the feasibility of its usage in real-time applications and the potential need for IT-based solutions to support traditional or manual disease and pest’s identification.
Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Immunotherapy Drives Oncolytic Effects and Durable Systemic Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Harper James , Burke Shannon , Travers Jon , Rath Nicola , Leinster Andrew , Navarro Christel , Franks Ruth , Leyland Rebecca , Mulgrew Kathy , McGlinchey Kelly , Brown Lee , Dovedi Simon J. , Koopmann Jens-Oliver , Durham Nicholas M. , Cheng Xing , Jin Hong , Eyles Jim , Wilkinson Robert W. , Carroll Danielle
Published: June 2021

A recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), encoding either a human (NDVhuGM-CSF, MEDI5395) or murine (NDVmuGM-CSF) GM-CSF transgene, combined broad oncolytic activity with the ability to significantly modulate genes related to immune functionality in human tumor cells. Replication in murine tumor lines was significantly diminished relative to human tumor cells. Nonetheless, intratumoral injection of NDVmuGM-CSF conferred antitumor effects in three syngeneic models in vivo; with efficacy further augmented by concomitant treatment with anti–PD-1/PD-L1 or T-cell agonists. Ex vivo immune profiling, including T-cell receptor sequencing, revealed profound immune-contexture changes consistent with priming and potentiation of adaptive immunity and tumor microenvironment (TME) reprogramming toward an immune-permissive state. CRISPR modifications rendered CT26 tumors significantly more permissive to NDV replication, and in this setting, NDVmuGM-CSF confers immune-mediated effects in the noninjected tumor in vivo. Taken together, the data support the thesis that MEDI5395 primes and augments cell-mediated antitumor immunity and has significant utility as a combination partner with other immunomodulatory cancer treatments.
Fatal Case of COVID-19 Pneumonia Associated with Acute Myelopathy
Authors: Hassoun Hayder K. , Radeef Mohammed R. , Aljid Zahra , Allebban Zuhair
Published: June 2021

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus outbreak with multiple system involvement started initially in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is a systemic disorder typically presenting with fever, fatigue, and upper and lower respiratory symptoms, although neurological manifestations are increasingly reported, but pathological mechanisms have yet to be established. The symptoms of infection with COVID-19 are dependent on the patient’s age and underlying medical illness, and on the condition of the immune system. Neurotropic and neuroinvasive capabilities of coronaviruses have been described in humans. We herein report a patient infected with COVID-19 who developed pneumonia associated with acute progressive myelopathy. Neurological examination revealed progressive flaccid areflexic paralysis of lower limbs over 3 days with retention of urine and sensory level at 10th spinal thoracic segment (T10). The patient had a positive nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 at the onset of the neurological symptoms. This case of acute progressive myelopathy adds further evidence of the complications of severe COVID-19 infection, and we are dealing with a virus of unpredictable behavior. Since this virus neurotropism is not clear yet, further investigations should be conducted on the mechanism of possible neurological infection in patients with COVID-19.