bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A review on COVID-19 transmission, epidemiological features, prevention and vaccination
Authors: Zhang Yuqin , Wu Gonghua , Chen Shirui , Ju Xu , Yimaer Wumitijiang , Zhang Wangjian , Lin Shao , Hao Yuantao , Gu Jing , Li Jinghua 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused hundreds of millions of infections and millions of deaths over past two years. Currently, many countries have still not been able to take the pandemic under control. In this review, we systematically summarized what we have done to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspectives of virus transmission, public health control measures, to the development and vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines. As a virus most likely coming from bats, the SARS-CoV-2 may transmit among people via airborne, faecal-oral, vertical or foodborne routes. Our meta-analysis suggested that the R0 of COVID-19 was 2.9 (95% CI: 2.7–3.1), and the estimates in Africa and Europe could be higher. The median Rt could decrease by 23–96% following the nonpharmacological interventions, including lockdown, isolation, social distance, and face mask, etc. Comprehensive intervention and lockdown were the most effective measures to control the pandemic. According to the pooled R0 in our meta-analysis, there should be at least 93.3% (95% CI: 89.9–96.2%) people being vaccinated around the world. Limited amount of vaccines and the inequity issues in vaccine allocation call for more international cooperation to achieve the anti-epidemic goals and vaccination fairness.
Second-order topological phases in C
4v
-symmetric photonic crystals beyond the two-dimensional Su-Schrieffer–Heeger model
Authors: Chen Yafeng , Lan Zhihao , Zhu Jie 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Second-order photonic topological insulators (SPTIs) with topologically protected corner states provide a unique platform for realizing the robust manipulation of light in lower dimensions. Previous SPTIs proposed in C
4v
-symmetric lattices are mainly based on the two-dimensional (2D) Su-Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model consisting of an even number of sites in the unit cell. Moreover, second-order topological phases within high-order band gaps are rarely explored. Here, we propose a new principle of SPTIs beyond the 2D SSH model, which is realized in C
4v-symmetric lattices consisting of an odd number of sites in the unit cell. The midgap-gap-ratios of these odd-order band gaps, from the first-order to the nineteenth-order with step of two-order, are maximized by the method of topology optimization. Second-order topological phases are successfully created within these sizeable band gaps and highly localized corner states are observed. Our work offers a new route for exploring high-order topological states in photonics and other classical systems.
High-performance optical beam steering with nanophotonics
Authors: Lin Sam , Chen Yixin , Wong Zi Jing 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe ability to control and steer optical beams is critical for emerging technologies. Among these are light detection and ranging (LiDAR), laser display, free space communication, and single pixel imaging. Improvements in these areas promise enhanced 3D data collection capabilities, orders of magnitude increase in wireless data rate, less expensive cameras, and ever more immersive virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) consumer electronics. Bulk mechanical or liquid crystal devices are conventionally utilized platforms that achieve optical beam steering, but they are bulky and limited in speed and reliability. Instead, chip-scale photonic platforms offer faster and more elegant mechanisms to manipulate light, capable of minimizing device size, weight, and power. Additionally, a critical device metric is its far field resolution, which influences fine feature detection in imaging applications, laser display quality, and signal power and fidelity of free space communication links. Strong light matter interaction achieved with nanophotonic approaches generally makes devices smaller and more efficient, yet ultimately these effects must be scaled to suitable aperture sizes to maintain good resolution. Recent years have seen rapid development in these performance characteristics, spurred by research on active metasurfaces, slow light waveguides, and waveguide phased arrays, with different architectures encountering unique tradeoffs between device complexity, resolution, and speed, in attempting to achieve groundbreaking values for all three. We review these diverse emerging nanophotonic approaches that aspire to achieve high-performance optical beam steering.
Components’ Exchanges between Recycled Materials and Asphalt Binders in Asphalt Mixes
Authors: Deef-Allah Eslam , Abdelrahman Magdy , Ragab Mohyeldin 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The focus of this study was to explore the components’ exchanges between recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) or reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and virgin asphalt binders (VABs) in the asphalt mixes and to establish their effect on the rutting resistance of the extracted asphalt binders (EABs). Twelve plant mixes and twelve field mixes were gathered as examples of four Superpave mixes containing RAP or RAS. The plant mixes were reheated and compacted in the lab. The field mixes were collected as cores within 2 weeks after the ending of the construction process. The exchanged components were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and with the asphalts’ components analyses. The FTIR indexes for the EABs from the plant mixes showed more aging components than the FTIR indexes for the EABs from the field mixes. More asphaltenes plus resins and fewer saturates plus aromatics were observed for the EABs from the plant mixes when compared twith the EABs from the field mixes. The FTIR spectra of the EABs from plant mixes containing RAS showed the styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) components, which were not observed for the field mixes’ EABs. The SBS polymeric components in the EABs from the plant mixes formed three-dimensional network structures that increased the EABs’ stiffness and elasticity characteristics. These components evolved the rutting resistances of EABs. Reheating the plant mixes in the lab before the compaction process increased the blending and components’ exchanges between RAP/RAS and VABs.
New Optimized Mechanism for Linking a Hydraulic Actuator to the Elbow Joint of an Upper Arm Exoskeleton
Authors: Holl Eva 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Many occupational activities require heavy load lifting. The presented upper limb exoskeleton provides support for such lifting processes. Actuation is performed by a hydraulic system. Hydraulics is selected because of its unrivaled force density to satisfy the central demands on exoskeletons for a high wearing comfort: low weight and small distance to the body. The demand for high wearing comfort requires a slim construction beside the arm where the hydraulic actuator is integrated. The hydraulic power is transferred from the power unit at the back to the differential cylinder beside the limb. Through the novel mechanism, a compact transfer of the linear cylinder motion to a rotary joint motion is enabled, and a lightweight construction is possible. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to a crank on the exoskeleton arm, and the piston rod hinge of the cylinder guides along a line at the upper arm and is connected via a connection rod to a second crank, which is also part of the lower arm. This system of kinematics achieves a low crank length, which is a major compactness requirement. The optimized kinematic structure defines the basic architectural structure on which the full exoskeleton construction is developed. The supply of the hydraulic cylinder is connected by hoses to the components placed in the backpack. The electro-hydraulic actuator consists of a speed variable electric motor and a constant displacement pump, which generates the cylinder pressure. A low-pressure accumulator and pressure sensors are connected to the closed hydraulic circuit. Only the elbow motion is supported by an actuator; the other exoskeleton joints are passive and transmit parts of the load to the backpack frame. Motion control is done by the wearer. The measured electromyography sensor signal is adjusted by desired percentage, and the control system generates a proportional torque on the elbow joint.
A Computational Model of Direction Selectivity in Macaque V1 Cortex Based on Dynamic Differences between On and Off Pathways
Authors: Chariker Logan , Shapley Robert , Hawken Michael , Young Lai-Sang 
Published: March 2022

This paper is about neural mechanisms of direction selectivity (DS) in macaque primary visual cortex, V1. We present data (on male macaque) showing strong DS in a majority of simple cells in V1 layer 4Cα, the cortical layer that receives direct afferent input from the magnocellular division of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Magnocellular LGN cells are not direction-selective. To understand the mechanisms of DS, we built a large-scale, recurrent model of spiking neurons called DSV1. Like its predecessors, DSV1 reproduces many visual response properties of V1 cells including orientation selectivity. Two important new features of DSV1 are (1) DS is initiated by small, consistent dynamic differences in the visual responses of OFF and ON Magnocellular LGN cells, and (2) DS in the responses of most model simple cells is increased over those of their feedforward inputs; this increase is achieved through dynamic interaction of feedforward and intracortical synaptic currents without the use of intracortical direction-specific connections. The DSV1 model emulates experimental data in the following ways: (1) most 4Cα Simple cells were highly direction-selective but 4Cα Complex cells were not; (2) the preferred directions of the model's direction-selective Simple cells were invariant with spatial and temporal frequency (TF); (3) the distribution of the preferred/opposite ratio across the model's population of cells was very close to that found in experiments. The strong quantitative agreement between DS in data and in model simulations suggests that the neural mechanisms of DS in DSV1 may be similar to those in the real visual cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMotion perception is a vital part of our visual experience of the world. In monkeys, whose vision resembles that of humans, the neural computation of the direction of a moving target starts in the primary visual cortex, V1, in layer 4Cα that receives input from the eye through the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). How direction selectivity (DS) is generated in layer 4Cα is an outstanding unsolved problem in theoretical neuroscience. In this paper, we offer a solution based on plausible biological mechanisms. We present a new large-scale circuit model in which DS originates from slightly different LGN ON/OFF response time-courses and is enhanced in cortex without the need for direction-specific intracortical connections. The model's DS is in quantitative agreement with experiments.
Bronchiolitis Management and Unnecessary Antibiotic Use Across 3 Canadian PICUs
Authors: Almadani Ahmed , Noël Kim C. , Aljassim Nada , Maratta Christina , Tam Ingrid , Papenburg Jesse , Quach Caroline , Thampi Nisha , McNally James D. , Lefebvre Marie-Astrid , Zavalkoff Samara , O’Donnell Shauna , Jouvet Philippe , Fontela Patricia S. 
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES
To describe the patient characteristics, clinical management, and infectious etiology in critically ill children with bronchiolitis. The secondary objective was to determine the association between antibiotic use and hospital length of stay among patients without concomitant bacterial infections.

METHODS
Retrospective cohort study including patients ≤2 years old with bronchiolitis admitted to 3 Canadian pediatric intensive care units between 2016 and 2018.

RESULTS
We included 372 patients with a median age of 2.1 months (interquartile range 1.2–6.6) and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score 3.0 (interquartile range 0–3.0). Initial ventilatory management included high flow nasal cannula (28.2%) and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (53.7%), of which 41.9% and 87.5%, respectively, did not require escalation of ventilatory support. Chest radiographs (81.7%) and respiratory virus testing (95.4%) were performed in most patients; 14.0% received systemic steroids. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 61.3% patients, and 7.5% had a culture-positive concomitant bacterial infection. Of 258 (69.4%) patients with a viral infection, only 45.3% received antibiotics. In this group, antibiotic use beyond 72 hours was not associated with hospital length of stay (ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 0.97–1.34).

CONCLUSIONS
High flow nasal canulae and noninvasive ventilation are commonly used in severe bronchiolitis. Despite contrary evidence, steroids and antibiotics were also frequently used. Evidence-based guidelines specific to children with severe bronchiolitis are needed to improve the care delivered to this patient population.
Are owned dogs or stray dogs more prepared to diseases? A comparative study of immune system gene expression of perforin and granzymes
Authors: Temizkan Mehmet Cevat , Sonmez Gonca 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Stray dogs are inevitably exposed to more infections than owned dogs living indoor. However, no studies have investigated whether the immune system gene expression differs between owned dogs kept in better care conditions and stray dogs living outside. To investigate this, blood samples were taken from 90 dogs (45 owned and 45 stray dogs) that were checked and confirmed as healthy. By using qPCR, the amples were analyzed for the expression of the perforin, granzyme A and granzyme B genes, which are associated with the activation of apoptotic pathways in the immune system. We found that the perforin and granzyme A gene expression levels were higher in stray dogs although the differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, a 2.81 times higher and a notable difference (P < 0.001) was found in the expression level of granzyme B gene in stray dogs. These results indicate that the immune system in stray dogs might be more prepared for diseases than that of the owned dogs and the granzyme B gene plays a more dominant role in the immune response than granzyme A and perforin.
Detection of AmpC and ESBL-producing Enterobacterales isolated from urinary tract infections in Tunisia
Authors: Ben Hassena Amal , Guermazi-Toumi Sonda , Gdoura-Ben Amor Maroua , Saidani Mabrouka , Tlili Sonia , Khannous Lamia , Gdoura Radhouane , Siala-Trigui Mariam 
Published: March 2022

AbstractUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent human infections in community and hospitals. This study aimed to determine the distribution of bacterial uropathogens among urinary tract infections diagnosed within the regional hospital Houcine Bouzaiene (Gafsa, South West Tunisia) during a survey of 54 days from the 8th of November to the 31st of December 2017.Enterobacteralesstrains were tested for antimicrobial resistance by disk diffusion method and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production was tested by double-disc synergy test. Strains were further subjected to a molecular assessment of ESBL and AmpC β-lactamase production by PCR.Overall, 173 bacterial isolates were studied, out of which 91.3% wereEnterobacterales.Escherichia coliwas the dominant pathogen, followed byKlebsiella pneumoniae. High to moderate resistance rates were observed, ranging from 66% to 90.7% for penicillins, from 6.7% to 18.6% for cephalosporins and from 16.2% to 25.4% for fluoroquinolones.Enterobacteraleswith decreased susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins (3rd GC) carried several resistance genes:blaCTX-M group 1 and group 9, and ACC and FOX AmpC β-lactamase genes. Overall, ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamases were detected in 57% and 14% of the 3rd GC-resistant isolates, respectively.This study proved the high potential ofK. pneumaniaespecies to develop resistance against commonly used antibiotics. Thus, rigorous monitoring of the antibiotic resistance of clinical pathogens have to be implemented in Tunisia. Our results are very relevant to evaluate efficiency of the Tunisian therapeutic strategies against UTIs and adapt them to the emerging problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Analytical model and Monte Carlo simulations of polymer degradation with improved chain cut statistics
Authors: Hoffmann Falk , Machatschek Rainhard , Lendlein Andreas 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe degradation of polymers is described by mathematical models based on bond cleavage statistics including the decreasing probability of chain cuts with decreasing average chain length. We derive equations for the degradation of chains under a random chain cut and a chain end cut mechanism, which are compared to existing models. The results are used to predict the influence of internal molecular parameters. It is shown that both chain cut mechanisms lead to a similar shape of the mass or molecular mass loss curve. A characteristic time is derived, which can be used to extract the maximum length of soluble fragments l of the polymer. We show that the complete description is needed to extract the degradation rate constant k from the molecular mass loss curve and that l can be used to design polymers that lose less mechanical stability before entering the mass loss phase.
Graphical abstract
Momordica charantia L. improves airway hyperresponsiveness and suppresses inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma
Authors: Lopes Frota Clara do Prado , Castro Ribeiro Alessa , Alvarenga Calil Filho Marco Túlio , De Freitas Morel Lucas Junqueira , Zambelli Ramalho Leandra Naira , Amaral Jéssica Cristina , Taleb Contini Silvia Helena , Braulio da Fonseca Vanessa Maciel , Carvalho Borges Marcos de , Soares Pereira Ana Maria , Carmona Fabio 
Published: March 2022

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Momordica charantia L. (“bitter melon”, Cucurbitaceae) leaves (MCHA) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. Balb/c mice were sensitized twice and challenged for 4 alternate days with OVA and then treated with MCHA (500 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days.
Methods: Control groups received treatment with normal saline or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) on the same day. We assessed in vivo bronchial hyperresponsiveness and ex-vivo inflammation and mucus production in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), lung homogenates, and lung tissue.
Results: MCHA significantly improved airway hyperresponsiveness near baseline levels. MCHA administration significantly improved airway and lung inflammation, demonstrated by decreased total and inflammatory cells in BAL, lower levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in lung homogenate, and fewer inflammatory cells in lung tissue. Additionally, MCHA significantly diminished goblet cells in lung tissue.
Conclusions: Administration of a hydroethanolic extract of M. charantia leaves was effective in treating OVA-induced asthma in an animal model.
Kriterien für die Strukturanalyse von Steuerungscode
Authors: Puntel Schmidt Philipp , Fischer Juliane , Neumann Eva-Maria , Vogel-Heuser Birgit , Witte Martin , Bengel Matthias , Felger Markus 
Published: March 2022

Das Handhaben von Steuerungscode stellt einen erheblichen Kostenfaktor in Engineering-Projekten dar. Steuerungscodeprojekte sind häufig sehr komplexe und große Projekte, die teils aus hunderttausenden Verknüpfungen und Querverweisen bestehen. Der Entwurf von SPS-Software sollte daher zum Ziel haben, Aktivitäten wie Inbetriebnahme oder Wartung/Erweiterbarkeitzu unterstützen. Die Art und Weise, wie SPS-Code implementiert wird, steht diesen Zielen jedoch häufig entgegen. In diesem Beitrag wird beschrieben, wie sich bekannte Methoden anwenden lassen, um insb. die Struktur von SPS-Code analysieren zu können.
CO2-Neutralität und Energieeffizienz
Authors: Buss Felix , Kalliski Marc , Kochenburger Thomas , Förtsch Dieter , Krämer Stefan 
Published: March 2022

Um Klimaneutralität zu erreichen sind Maßnahmen mit verschiedenen Ansatzpunkten notwendig. Prozesse müssen neu entwickelt und elektrifiziert werden. Besonders in der Übergangsphase müssen die Verbräuche und Emissionen korrekt erfasst werden, damit die neuen Prozesse in Zukunft mit maximaler Effizienz vollautomatisch gefahren werden können. Die Automatisierung und die Digitalisierung, hierbei die Messung von Betriebszuständen und die Kombination verschiedener Datenquellen,spielen eine Hauptrolle in dieser Umsetzung. In diesem Beitrag wird ein Weg geschildert, die Energieeffizienz zu verbessern, die CO2e-Emissionen zu analysieren und mit den richtig priorisierten Maßnahmen die Reduktion der Emission von Treibhausgasen zu erreichen. Die Möglichkeiten und Anforderungen an die Automatisierungstechnik werden in diesem Kontext beleuchtet, damit die Automatisierung weiter als Enabler für die notwendige Verbesserung dienen kann.
Tendency to Circular Economy
Authors: Dongez Nazli , Manisa Kunter , Basdogan Serhat 
Published: March 2022

Urbanization and building production that accelerate with globalization, cause excessive resource consumption and waste generation. The circular economy concept which is a contemporary economy approach, has been developed to solve this environmental and economic problem. The construction sector and architectural practice that provide building production need innovative solutions through the circular economy concept, as they consume different resources and produce waste crises. The circular economy concept is applied with the "adaptive reuse" approach in the field of architecture. One of the important applications of the concept of adaptive reuse is the reuse of architectural elements and materials. However, the relationship between the concept of circular economy and the reuse of architectural elements can be developed by examining several recent projects and its advantages. In this article, it is aimed to examine the relationship of this architectural reuse approach with the circular economy concept and to emphasize its importance. For this purpose, the theoretical perspectives and effects of circular economy were examined in the first part of the article, and the reflections of the circular economy concept on architecture were given in the second part. This section continues with description of the comparative analysis methodology that relates the building life cycle and circular economy principles to examine the architectural projects built as an example of circular economy paradigm. In the third chapter, two architectural sample projects built in China and France were selected and introduced. Being pioneers in their countries in circular economy approaches and the different environmental policies of countries have been effective in the selection of examples from different geographies. The fourth part consists of analyzing the projects according to circular economy parameters using comparative analysis method. In the last section, analysis results show that although China is one of the pioneers in adopting circular economy principles with architectural design and building life cycle, it has been found that France considers circular economy design from a broader perspective. Also, the design approach with circular economy criteria in different stage of building life cycle is gaining momentum over the years through national and local governments and collaborations. It is recommended that technological design systems such as BIM can be developed as integrated cloud systems that can share information from other sectors. Because the building life cycle is not only related to the architecture and construction sector. It is a cyclical system and economy that works with different sectors such as supply and waste management.