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OBJECTIVE: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can occur in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is not easy to differentiate MIS-C from severe COVID-19 or Kawasaki disease based on symptoms. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of MIS-C. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed/Medline for case series and reports of MIS-C published until June 20, 2020. From a total of nine articles involving 45 cases, various clinical and laboratory data were extracted. Each target case was evaluated by using different diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The average age at onset of MIS-C was 8.6 years. In 80% of cases, the age of patients ranged from 5 to 15 years. Fever (100%) and shock (82%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Sixty percent of cases met the diagnostic criteria for typical or atypical Kawasaki disease. Biomarkers indicative of inflammation, coagulopathy, or cardiac injury were characteristically elevated as follows: ferritin (mean: 1,061 ng/mL), CRP (217 mg/L), ESR (69 mm/hr), IL-6 (214.8 pg/mL), TNFα (63.4 pg/mL), D-dimer (3,220 ng/mL), PT (15.5 s), troponin I (1,006 ng/L), and BNP (12,150 pg/mL). Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered in all target cases, and inotropic agents were commonly used as well. No case of death was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that MIS-C is a serious condition that presents with fever, rash, as well as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. Although it is challenging to differentiate MIS-C from Kawasaki disease or severe COVID-19, initiation of appropriate treatments through early diagnosis is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing is collective healing to build a community. We, five Vietnamese bodies, enquire, how can individual memories be collective healing to rewrite a better future of education? We borrow Nhat Hanh's philosophy to touch on our suffering to heal and Barad's returning as a multiplicity of processes for reconnecting with the pastpresentfuture. We use the recollection of individual memories to share critical incidents of past experiences to build a collective community for healing purposes. We have demonstrated our deep commitment to creating a resilient system in retelling stories and rewriting for hope for educational change through this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the detailed profiles of blood flow in the right and left pulmonary arteries using 20 MHz pulsed Doppler ultrasound equipment in a lamb model. Fourteen lambs aged four to six weeks were selected. In six lambs, monocrotaline pyrrole was injected parenterally to create pulmonary hypertension (PH group). Eight other lambs served as unaltered controls (control group). The blood flow velocities were sampled in 1mm increments along the anterior - posterior axis of the branch arteries. The maximum velocity of the forward flow in the left pulmonary artery was higher than that in the right pulmonary artery in the control group (71.7 [+ or -] 15.9cm/s vs 60.2 [+ or -] 13.5; p [less than] 0.05). The fastest backward flow was located at the posterior position of the vessel in the right pulmonary artery in the control group. No significant bias in location was shown in the left pulmonary artery. Using indices of P90, acceleration time, P90*AcT, the velocity waveforms in the PH group were compared with those in the control group. In the left pulmonary artery, every index in the control group showed a significantly greater value that in the PH group. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between either group in the right pulmonary artery.

In vitro pulsatile flow visualization studies were conducted to assess the effects of varying radii of curvature of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and main pulmonary artery (MPA) on the flow fields in the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries of a one month lamb pulmonary artery model. Three glass flow-through models were studied; one with no curvature, one with the correct anatomic curvature, and one with an overaccentuated curvature on the RVOT and MPA. All other geometric parameters were held constant. Pulsatile flow visualization studies were conducted at nine flow conditions; heart rates of 70, 100, and 140 bpm, and cardiac outputs of 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 l/min with corresponding mean pulmonary pressures of 10, 20, and 30 mmHg. Changes were observed in the pulmonary flow fields as the curvature of the outflow tract, heart rate and mean pulmonary pressure were varied. An increase in vessel curvature led to an increase in the overall radial nature of the flow field as well as flow separation regions which formed faster, originated further downstream, and occupied more of the vessel area. At higher heart rates, the maximum size of the separation regions decreased, while flow separation regions appeared earlier in the cardiac cycle and grew more quickly. Heart rate also affected the initiation of flow reversal; flow reversal occurred later in the cardiac cycle at lower heart rates. Both heart rate and mean pulmonary pressure influenced the stability of the pulmonary flow field and the appearance of coherent structures. In addition, an increase in mean pulmonary pressure increased the magnitude of reverse flow. These flow visualization observations have directed more quantitative studies such as pulsed Doppler ultrasound and laser Doppler anemometry velocity measurements., The results of in vitro flow visualization studies on the effects of curvature of the right vetricular outflow tract and the main pulmonary artery on the fluid flow patterns in pulmonary artery models of a lamb were discussed. The artery model consists of three glass flow through pulmonary artery models with different radii of curvature as a simulation of the right ventricular outflow tract and main pulmonary artery. The outcomes of the experiment shows that the pulmonary flow field is affected by both geometry and physiology of the arteries.

Critical metals are key raw materials for new generation clean energy production. The extraction of critical metals often follows the difficult processing of primary ores and they are many times recovered as the companion metals. With the depletion of primary reserves, the focus has now shifted to processing the urban mines, like electronic (e‐)waste. Among the different types of e‐waste, the waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are the major reservoir of high‐value critical metals and are usually treated by the traditional pyro‐ and/or hydro‐metallurgical techniques. However, the application of microbial activities in metals recycling is rapidly emerging as a green technology in comparison to smelter or chemical processing. The application of microorganisms (bacteria/fungi) in WPCBs' recycling is being increasingly explored in order to meet the parallel objectives of resource recovery and pollution mitigation. Therefore, the present article assesses the current frontiers in bioleaching of critical metals from WPCBs and contains discussions on process fundamentals, challenges, and perspectives. The applicability of microbial recycling of WPCBs at a higher scale in terms of a circular economy and urban mining notion, the techno‐economic analysis, and environmental sustainability in comparison to the chemical processing route are also discussed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the persistence length of flexible polyelectrolyte chains. Variational theory; Gaussian chain model; Crossover conditions and comparison with simulations; Variation of the electrostatic persistence length of flexible charged polyelectrolytes with K.

Discusses the use of a functional integral formalism to derive the extension of a stiff chain subject to an external force. Calculation of force versus extension curves; Reproduction of experimental results for DNA that is subject to a constant force; Treatment of problems of semiflexible chain in a nematic field.

We derive a mean-field model for a semiflexible chain using a functional integral approach. The resulting model satisfies the global constraint 〈u2(s)〉=1 rather than the hard constraint that u2(s)=1 for all s. The function u(s) is the tangent vector ∂r/∂s, where r(s) represents the conformation of the chain and s is the arc length. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that investigated the magnetic properties of sputtered iron-tantalum alloys. Analysis of the structure and composition range of the amorphous alloy; Determination of the magnetic ordering temperature; Examination of the magnetic hyperfine interaction.

7‐11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK, Purpose of study The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of fosamprenavir/ritonavir (FPV/r) versus efavirenz (EFV), both in combination with abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC), in a [...]

In this letter, a new optimization algorithm, the Modified compact Genetic Algorithm (M-cGA) is introduced and applied to the synthesis of thinned arrays. The M-cGA has been derived from the compact Genetic Algorithm (cGA), properly modified and improved by implementing more than one probability vector (PV) and adding suitable learning scheme between these PVs. The so-obtained algorithm has been applied to the optimized synthesis of different-size linear and planar thinned arrays: In all the considered cases, it outperforms not only the cGA, but also the other optimization schemes previously applied to this kind of problem, both in terms of goodness of the solution (minimization of the peak sidelobe level) and of computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes an algorithm for determining the optimal composition which means number of links and section switches in a feeder and placement of automatic switches in a distribution automation system (DAS). A DAS is configured by automatic switches and reclosers on a power distribution line. The composition and placement of switches affect the operational applications of a DAS. More switches lead to better DAS operation but also to increased cost and maintenance. Thus, this paper proposes an approach to determining the optimal composition and placement of automatic switches. Additionally, the proposed algorithm is developed considering various system topologies in a real field. The algorithm was tested on an example power distribution system with eight-feeders and on a real power distribution system operated by KEPCO in Young-Deung-Po and Jeju, South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTi) has several polymorphic variants. Of these, Tia and Tib, which differ by nine amino acids, are the two main types. In this study, differences in KTi proteome between Tia and Tib were investigated using three soybean cultivars and three mutant lines. Two cultivars, Baekwoon (BW) and Paldal (PD), and one mutant line, SW115-24, were Tia type, whereas one soybean cultivar, Suwon115 (SW115), and two mutant lines, BW-7-2 and PD-5-10, were Tib type. Protein from the six soybean lines was extracted and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (non-denaturing PAGE), and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE). By SDS-PAGE, there was no difference between soybean cultivars and mutant lines, except for SW115-24. Western blot analysis revealed that, in comparison with Tia, Tib type accumulated relatively low amounts of KTi. By non-denaturing PAGE, the three soybean lines of Tib type were characterized by slower mobility than the three soybean lines of Tia type. Zymography detected eight distinct zones of trypsin inhibitory activity among which Tia and Tib lacked the fifth and sixth zone, respectively. By two-dimensional native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DN), the spots related to trypsin inhibitory activity showed different mobilities, whereas only one KTi (21.5 kDa) spot was resolved by 2-DE. By two-dimensional zymography (2-DZ), Tib showed a broader activity zone (pI 4-7) in comparison with Tia (pI 4-5). The results indicate that the genotypes with a different type of KTi present different proteomic profiles and trypsin inhibitory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This post hoc analysis investigated the hepatic safety profile of fosampre-navir (FPV) in patients monoinfected with HIV or coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B (HbsAg positive) and/or hepatitis C (anti-HCV antibody positive). Methods: Data were pooled from 7 prospective, randomized clinical trials of FPV. Results: Baseline demographics were generally well-matched between the 205 coinfected (72% HCV, 24% HBV, 3% both) and 1,114 monoinfected patients in this analysis. At baseline, most regimens included ritonavir 100 mg (58%) or 200 mg (38%), and 73% of subjects were ART-naïve. Over 48 weeks, the rate of treatment-related serious adverse events was similar between the coinfected (8%; 16/205) and monoinfected (6%; 62/1114) groups, and the rate of treatment-related grade 2-4 adverse events was higher in the coinfected (38%; 77/205) compared with the monoinfected (29%; 320/1114) group. The percentage of patients with grade 3/4 liver enzyme elevations at any time through week 48 was 14% (ALT) and 12% (AST) in the coinfected group and 1% (both ALT and AST) in the monoinfected group. Median AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) scores decreased by 29% in both groups. Conclusion: Liver enzyme elevations in coinfected patients treated with FPV with or without ritonavir appear generally similar to those reported for other second-generation protease inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5202 compared blinded abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) to tenofovir DF/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) with efavirenz (EFV) or atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected treatment-naive patients, stratified by screening HIV RNA (< or ≥ 10(5) copies/mL). Due to higher virologic failure with ABC/3TC in the high HIV RNA stratum, blinded treatment was stopped in this group, but study follow-up continued for all patients.Methods: Primary endpoints were times to virologic failure, regimen modification, and safety event.Results: In the low HIV RNA stratum, time to virologic failure was similar for ABC/3TC vs TDF/FTC with ATV/r (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76, 2.05) or EFV (HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.77, 1.96), with significantly shorter times to regimen modification for ABC/3TC with EFV or ATV/r and to safety events with EFV. Prior to stopping blinded treatment in the high stratum, higher virologic failure rates were seen with ABC/3TC with EFV (HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.20, 5.05) or ATV/r (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.19, 4.14).Conclusions: In the low HIV RNA stratum, times to virologic failure for ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC were not different with EFV or ATV/r. In the high stratum, virologic failure rate was significantly higher for ABC/3TC than for TDF/FTC when given with either EFV or ATV/r. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a communication technology plays an integral part in a power system, security issues become major concerns. This paper deals with the security problems in the distribution automation system (DAS) which has an inherent vulnerability to cyber attacks due to its high dependency on the communication and geographically widely spread terminal devices. We analyze the types of cyber threats in many applications of the distribution system and formulate security goals. Then we propose an efficient security protocol to achieve these goals. The protocol avoids complex computation of any encryption algorithm, considering resource-constraint network nodes. We also propose a secure key distribution protocol. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed security protocol by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron plasmas with densities of 5×106 cm-3 are trapped in the Lawrence Non-neutral Torus II (LNT II) for times exceeding 1 s. LNT II is a high aspect ratio (R0/a>=10) partially toroidal trap (270° arc, B0=670 G). The m=1 diocotron mode is launched and detected using isolated segments of a fully sectored conducting boundary and its frequency is used to determine the total trapped charge as a function of time. The observed confinement time (≈3 s) approaches the theoretical limit (≈6 s) set by the magnetic pumping transport mechanism of Crooks and O’Neil [Phys. Plasmas 3, 2533 (1996)]. We also present equilibrium modeling and numerical simulations of the toroidal m=1 mode constrained by experimental data. Future work includes the identification of the dominant transport mechanisms via confinement scaling experiments and measurement of the m=2 mode frequency and development of a strategy for making a transition to fully toroidal confinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]