bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Approaches on PCL/macaíba biocomposites ‐ mechanical, thermal, morphological properties and crystallization kinetics
Authors: Siqueira Danilo D. , Luna Carlos B. B. , Araújo Edcleide M. , Barros Ana B. S. , Wellen Renate M. R 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBiocomposites based on macaíba shell (MS) and Polycaprolactone (PCL) were melting processed in this work; seeking better compatibility between PCL, MS was chemically treated with maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), in addition, PCL‐g‐MA was used as compatibilizer. The biocomposites' performance was evaluated through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), contact angle, water absorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the tensile experiments were executed according to ASTM D638 and the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was performed from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scans using Pseudo‐Avrami, Ozawa, and Mo models. Chemical treated and compatibilized biocomposites presented better tensile behavior with no significant changes in the thermal stability. Higher HDT was verified on PCL/MS biocompounds due to the MS hardening effect, whereas higher contact angle and water absorption were computed for PCL/MS most due to new ways origin for the water get in as provided by MS. Related to crystallization kinetics Ozawa as displayed in the Appendix S1 failed to fit PCL/MS kinetics whereas Pseudo‐Avrami and Momay be safely used form processing purposes. Summing up, PCL/MS biocomposites were carefully investigated and gathered information may be promptly used in sundry applications as well as be added to the literature database.
Effect of an interventional educational wheelchair program on medical students' understanding of manual wheelchair use
Authors: Gilbert Courtney , Hsieh Shelly , Donovan Jayne , Dyson‐Hudson Trevor , Cabarle Mary , Granger Syndi , Kirshblum Steven 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited literature exploring the benefits of interactive wheelchair educational programs in medical student curricula.ObjectiveTo identify the effect of an educational interactive wheelchair program on medical students' understanding of wheelchair use. Researchers hypothesized that the program would increase understanding.DesignRepeated‐measures survey study with postintervention comparison.SettingInpatient acute rehabilitation center.ParticipantsOut of 123 eligible fourth‐year medical students on a mandatory physical medicine and rehabilitation clerkship, 79 students participated.InterventionAll participants underwent a 2‐hour educational wheelchair program consisting of (1) a disability lecture; (2) a video on the importance of proper wheelchair type and fit, wheelchair prescription, as well as recreational wheelchair use; and (3) an interactive wheelchair experience.Main Outcome MeasuresPre‐ and postsurvey Likert scale questions measured medical students' understanding of four main areas: (1) impact of manual wheelchair use, (2) challenges of manual wheelchair use, (3) manual wheelchair skills, and (4) wheelchair etiquette.ResultsA two‐tailed sign test demonstrated a highly significant increase from pre‐ to postsurvey scores in each survey section (P < .001). Presurvey and postsurvey mean scores for impact of manual wheelchair use, challenges of manual wheelchair use, manual wheelchair skills, and wheelchair etiquette survey sections were 3.9 and 4.4, 3.1 and 4.4, 2.4 and 4.4, and 2.5 and 4.0, respectively.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that an interactive educational wheelchair program effectively increases medical students' understanding of manual wheelchair use. The addition of an educational interactive wheelchair program to medical student curricula is recommended to improve medical students' understanding of manual wheelchair use and its impact on users.
Association of prostate cancer polygenic risk score with number and laterality of tumor cores in active surveillance patients
Authors: Xu Jianfeng , Isaacs William B. , Mamawala Mufaddal , Shi Zhuqing , Landis Patricia , Petkewicz Jacqueline , Wei Jun , Wang Chi‐Hsiung , Resurreccion W. Kyle , Na Rong , Bhanji Yasin , Novakovic Kristian , Walsh Patrick C. , Zheng S. Lilly , Helfand Brian T. , Pavlovich Christian P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundProstate cancer (PCa) is characterized by its tendency to be multifocal. However, few studies have investigated the endogenous factors that explain the multifocal disease. The primary objective of the current study is to test whether inherited PCa risk is associated with multifocal tumors in PCa patients.MethodsSubjects in this study were PCa patients of European ancestry undergoing active surveillance at Johns Hopkins Hospital (N = 805) and NorthShore University HealthSystem (N = 432). The inherited risk was measured by genetic risk score (GRS), an odds ratio‐weighted and population‐standardized polygenic risk score based on known risk‐associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. PCa multifocality was indirectly measured by the number and laterality of positive tumor cores from a 12‐core systematic biopsy.ResultsIn the combined cohort, 35.7% and 66.3% of patients had ≥2 tumor cores at the initial diagnostic biopsy and on at least one subsequent surveillance biopsy, respectively. For tumor laterality, 7.8% and 47.8% of patients had bilateral tumor cores at diagnostic and surveillance biopsies, respectively. We found, for the first time, that patients with higher numbers of positive cores at diagnostic and surveillance biopsies, respectively, had significantly higher mean GRS values; p = .01 and p = 5.94E−04. Additionally, patients with bilateral tumors at diagnostic and surveillance biopsies, respectively, had significantly higher mean GRS values than those with unilateral tumors; p = .04 and p = .01. In contrast, no association was found between GRS and maximum core length of tumor or tumor grade at diagnostic/surveillance biopsies (all p > .05). Finally, we observed a modest trend that patients with higher GRS quartiles had a higher risk for tumor upgrading on surveillance biopsies. The trend, however, was not statistically significant (p > .05).ConclusionsThe associations of GRS with two measurements of PCa multifocality (core numbers and laterality) provide novel and consistent evidence for the link between inherited PCa risk and multifocal tumors.
Quantum computing hardware in the cloud: Should a computational chemist care?
Authors: Rossi Alessandro , Baity Paul G. , Schäfer Vera M. , Weides Martin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWithin the last decade much progress has been made in the experimental realization of quantum computing hardware based on a variety of physical systems. Rapid progress has been fuelled by the conviction that sufficiently powerful quantum machines will herald enormous computational advantages in many fields, including chemical research. A quantum computer capable of simulating the electronic structures of complex molecules would be a game changer for the design of new drugs and materials. Given the potential implications of this technology, there is a need within the chemistry community to keep abreast with the latest developments as well as becoming involved in experimentation with quantum prototypes. To facilitate this, here we review the types of quantum computing hardware that have been made available to the public through cloud services. We focus on three architectures, namely superconductors, trapped ions and semiconductors. For each one we summarize the basic physical operations, requirements and performance. We discuss to what extent each system has been used for molecular chemistry problems and highlight the most pressing hardware issues to be solved for a chemistry‐relevant quantum advantage to eventually emerge.
Acute Kidney Injury Successfully Treated with Autologous Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor-mobilized Peripheral Blood CD34-Positive Cell Transplantation: A first-in-Human Report
Authors: Suzuki Hiroyuki , Ohtake Takayasu , Tsukiyama Toshitaka , Morota Marie , Ishioka Kunihiro , Moriya Hidekazu , Mochida Yasuhiro , Hidaka Sumi , Sato Tsutomu , Asahara Takayuki , Kobayashi Shuzo 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
A 36-year-old man with severe acute kidney injury (AKI) was admitted to Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Japan. He was diagnosed with refractory hypertension based on a severely elevated blood pressure of 224/116 mmHg and retinal, cardiac, and brain damage revealed by electrocardiogram, fundoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Although hemodialysis was withdrawn following strict blood pressure control by an angiotensin receptor blocker, severe kidney insufficiency persisted. Therefore, we performed an autologous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood CD34-positive cell transplantation. Collected CD34-positive cells were directly infused to both renal arteries. The patient's general condition was unremarkable after intervention, and the serum creatinine level gradually improved to 2.96 mg/dL 23 weeks after cell therapy. Although transient fever and thrombocytosis were observed after intervention, no major adverse events were observed. This patient is the first case in a phase I/II clinical trial of autologous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood CD34-positive cell transplantation for severe AKI with a CD34-positive cell dose-escalating protocol (trial number jRCTb030190231).
Charging stations‐oriented electric vehicle charging strategy based on battery characteristics
Authors: Sun Lei , Chen Yanfeng , Li Wenlong , Deng Qingxu 
Published: May 2021

SummaryIn recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) receive intensive attention due to their environment‐friendly nature and outstanding energy efficiency. However, there are still obstacles in EVs' popularity. Battery related issues are most concerned from users' perspective. While the evolution in battery technology may help to address the aforementioned problems eventually, other solutions are in urgent demand for the time being. In this paper, we propose an innovative charge scheduling method that could significantly improve EV users' charging experience with the nowadays battery technology. Specifically, the proposed method takes into account the characteristics of the batteries to be charged as well as the constraints of the external power grid; thus, a plan can be devised for efficiently allocating the power of the charging station to the EVs through cyber‐physical system. Our method prioritizes jobs based on their marginal utilities to maximize user satisfaction with limited power resource. The power allocation in our method is managed globally and constrained by specific rules to avoid waste or overload in the power grid. Lastly, we simulate several power scheduling methods in charging stations, which validates that the user satisfaction under our method is higher than that of other traditional method.
Divergent trends of hospitalizations for upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding based on population prescriptions of aspirin, proton pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy
Authors: Guo Chuan‐Guo , Zhang Feifei , Wu Joseph T. , Cheung Ka‐Shing , Li Bofei , Law Simon Y. K. , Leung Wai K. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundWith the increasing use of medications that alter the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), comprising aspirin, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies, the trends of GIB are evolving.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine and predict the trends of GIB and to evaluate the effects of population prescriptions of these medications on GIB incidences.MethodsWe retrieved patients hospitalized for GIB in all public hospitals in Hong Kong between 2009 and 2019. Monthly age‐ and sex‐standardized GIB data were fitted and predicted, based on population prescriptions of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticoagulants, other antiplatelet drugs, PPIs, and H. pylori therapies, using autoregressive integrated moving average model for time series analysis.ResultsThe incidence of upper GIB (UGIB) showed a clear declining trend while lower GIB (LGIB) decreased slightly. Older population (>80 years) had the greatest decline in UGIB but was associated with an increase in LGIB. Prescriptions of PPIs and aspirin increased significantly with time. PPIs prescriptions were negatively associated with UGIB incidence (coefficient log(PPIs) −4.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.69, −3.47). H. pylori eradication in the previous month showed a nonsignificant trend on UGIB (coefficient −0.14; 95% CI: −0.30, 0.02). In contrast, aspirin increased the incidences of UGIB (coefficient 0.06; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.07) and LGIB (coefficient 0.04; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.05). NSAIDs, anticoagulants, and other antiplatelet drugs were not significantly associated with the trend of either UGIB or LGIB. UGIB is predicted to decline continuously but LGIB is projected to rise, particularly with increasing use of aspirin.ConclusionsUGIB incidences were decreasing and had been surpassed by LGIB. Based on population prescriptions of aspirin and PPIs, divergent trends of upper and lower GIB are expected, especially in elderly.
Molecular detection of Theileria sergentii/orientalis/buffeli and Ehrlichia canis from aborted ovine and caprine products in Sardinia, Italy
Authors: Chisu Valentina , Loi Federica , Mura Lorena , Tanda Antonio , Chessa Giovanna , Masala Giovanna 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe economic impact and losses caused by abortion of small ruminants represent an important threat to livestock industry worldwide. Infectious agents are the most commonly causes of small ruminant abortion and many of which pose a serious threat to human health. The management of abortion outbreaks is essential to understand the transmission, prevention and control of the zoonotic diseases. This study aimed to increase the knowledge about the common known zoonotic pathogens causing abortion (Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia abortus and Toxoplasma gondii) circulating in Sardinia. In addition, the occurrence of other infectious agents that, until now, had never been identified in abortion samples and which might be cocirculating during the abortion outbreaks were also considered. In this study, 125 abortion samples collected from 91 small ruminant farms were screened for the presence of Babesia/Theileria spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Chlamydia spp., C. burnetii and T. gondii by PCR analyses and sequencing. This is the first evidence on the presence of Theileria sergenti/orientalis/buffeli group and Eh. canis in 22 (22/125; 18%) and 26 (26/125; 21%) abortion products from small ruminants, respectively. Chlamydia abortus, C. burnetii and T. gondii were also detected in brain, liver, spleen and placentae at 46% (58/125), 34% (42/125) and 2% (2/125), respectively. This study highlights that pathogens with epizootic and zoonotic potential are circulating in the island and could be involved directly or in association with other pathogens as possible cause of ruminant abortion. Further studies are needed to fully assess the impact of Theileria sergenti/orientalis/buffeli group and Eh. canis on ruminant abortion and their real zoonotic risk in the island.
Standardizing digital forensic examination procedures: A look at Windows 10 in cases involving images depicting child sexual abuse
Authors: Horsman Graeme 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAs a topic area, the need for the standardization of operational practices in digital forensics has seen much discussion. There are clear benefits for digital forensics if its procedures can be harmonized including increasing the reliability of the work produced by its practitioners, consistency of practice, and the potential for greater quality control, however, attaining standardization is a difficult task, and further work in this field is required. This work discusses the “standardization challenge” assessing both the need for standardization and the feasibility of achieving it. It is suggested that those actively contributing in this area should consider the development of models for defining operational practice which are offence‐specific, device‐specific and operating system‐specific. To support this proposal, an example standard is offered and discussed which suggests and documents the minimum expected requirements for the examination of Windows 10 devices in cases involving images depicting child sexual abuse.This article is categorized under:
Digital and Multimedia Science > Cybercrime Investigation
Spiky strings in de Sitter space
Authors: Kato Mitsuhiro , Nishii Kanji , Noumi Toshifumi , Takeuchi Toshiaki , Zhou Siyi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
We study semiclassical spiky strings in de Sitter space and the corresponding Regge trajectories, generalizing the analysis in anti-de Sitter space. In particular we demonstrate that each Regge trajectory has a maximum spin due to de Sitter acceleration, similarly to the folded string studied earlier. While this property is useful for the spectrum to satisfy the Higuchi bound, it makes a nontrivial question how to maintain mildness of high-energy string scattering which we are familiar with in flat space and anti-de Sitter space. Our analysis implies that in order to have infinitely many higher spin states, one needs to consider infinitely many Regge trajectories with an increasing folding number.
The Wilson-loop d log representation for Feynman integrals
Authors: He Song , Li Zhenjie , Tang Yichao , Yang Qinglin 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
We introduce and study a so-called Wilson-loop d log representation of certain Feynman integrals for scattering amplitudes in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM and beyond, which makes their evaluation completely straightforward. Such a representation was motivated by the dual Wilson loop picture, and it can also be derived by partial Feynman parametrization of loop integrals. We first introduce it for the simplest one-loop examples, the chiral pentagon in four dimensions and the three-mass-easy hexagon in six dimensions, which are represented by two- and three-fold d log integrals that are nicely related to each other. For multi-loop examples, we write the L-loop generalized penta-ladders as 2(L − 1)-fold d log integrals of some one-loop integral, so that once the latter is known, the integration can be performed in a systematic way. In particular, we write the eight-point penta-ladder as a 2L-fold d log integral whose symbol can be computed without performing any integration; we also obtain the last entries and the symbol alphabet of these integrals. Similarly we study the symbol of the seven-point double-penta-ladder, which is represented by a 2(L − 1)-fold integral of a hexagon; the latter can be written as a two-fold d log integral plus a boundary term. We comment on the relation of our representation to differential equations and resumming the ladders by solving certain integral equations.
A 6-month inhalation toxicology study in Apoe−/− mice demonstrates substantially lower effects of e-vapor aerosol compared with cigarette smoke in the respiratory tract
Authors: Wong Ee Tsin , Szostak Justyna , Titz Bjoern , Lee Tom , Wong Sin Kei , Lavrynenko Oksana , Merg Celine , Corciulo Maica , Simicevic Jovan , Auberson Mehdi , Peric Dariusz , Dulize Remi , Bornand David , Loh Guo Jie , Lee Kyeonghee Monica , Zhang Jingjie , Miller John H. , Schlage Walter K. , Guedj Emmanuel , Schneider Thomas , Phillips Blaine , Leroy Patrice , Choukrallah Mohamed Amin , Sierro Nicolas , Buettner Ansgar , Xiang Yang , Kuczaj Arkadiusz , Ivanov Nikolai V. , Luettich Karsta , Vanscheeuwijck Patrick , Peitsch Manuel C. , Hoeng Julia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCigarette smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Considerable attention has been paid to the reduced harm potential of nicotine-containing inhalable products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). We investigated the effects of mainstream cigarette smoke (CS) and e-vapor aerosols (containing nicotine and flavor) generated by a capillary aerosol generator on emphysematous changes, lung function, and molecular alterations in the respiratory system of female Apoe−/− mice. Mice were exposed daily (3 h/day, 5 days/week) for 6 months to aerosols from three different e-vapor formulations—(1) carrier (propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol), (2) base (carrier and nicotine), or (3) test (base and flavor)—or to CS from 3R4F reference cigarettes. The CS and base/test aerosol concentrations were matched at 35 µg nicotine/L. CS exposure, but not e-vapor exposure, led to impairment of lung function (pressure–volume loop area, A and K parameters, quasi-static elastance and compliance) and caused marked lung inflammation and emphysematous changes, which were confirmed histopathologically and morphometrically. CS exposure caused lung transcriptome (activation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses), lipidome, and proteome dysregulation and changes in DNA methylation; in contrast, these effects were substantially reduced in response to the e-vapor aerosol exposure. Compared with sham, aerosol exposure (carrier, base, and test) caused a slight impact on lung inflammation and epithelia irritation. Our results demonstrated that, in comparison with CS, e-vapor aerosols induced substantially lower biological and pathological changes in the respiratory tract associated with chronic inflammation and emphysema.
Neural Network Identifiability for a Family of Sigmoidal Nonlinearities
Authors: Vlačić Verner , Bölcskei Helmut 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper addresses the following question of neural network identifiability: Does the input–output map realized by a feed-forward neural network with respect to a given nonlinearity uniquely specify the network architecture, weights, and biases? The existing literature on the subject (Sussman in Neural Netw 5(4):589–593, 1992; Albertini et al. in Artificial neural networks for speech and vision, 1993; Fefferman in Rev Mat Iberoam 10(3):507–555, 1994) suggests that the answer should be yes, up to certain symmetries induced by the nonlinearity, and provided that the networks under consideration satisfy certain “genericity conditions.” The results in Sussman (1992) and Albertini et al. (1993) apply to networks with a single hidden layer and in Fefferman (1994) the networks need to be fully connected. In an effort to answer the identifiability question in greater generality, we derive necessary genericity conditions for the identifiability of neural networks of arbitrary depth and connectivity with an arbitrary nonlinearity. Moreover, we construct a family of nonlinearities for which these genericity conditions are minimal, i.e., both necessary and sufficient. This family is large enough to approximate many commonly encountered nonlinearities to within arbitrary precision in the uniform norm.