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Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) rind extract has abundant anthocyanins and phenolic contents which have numerous medicinal properties. It has to be concentrated before being used as additives in food industries. However, the bioactive compounds in the rind extracts are thermolabile and concentration method involved heating is not advisable. Therefore, this study proposes non-thermal sequential ultrafiltration-nanofiltration to concentrate the rind extracts. Polyethersulfone ultrafiltration (PES10) and commercial nanofiltration (NF270) membranes with nominal molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 20 kDa and 0.4 kDa were used to concentrate the rind extract obtained from three different solvents, i.e., 10% ethanol, and 10% ethanol acidified with 0.25 M ascorbic acid and citric acid. The filtration process was conducted at transmembrane pressure of 2 and 5 bar, respectively, for 4 h and the changes of density, turbidity, pH, total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA) and total phenolic content (TPC) in the rind extract were recorded. Rejection towards TMA and TPC was above 75% for UF and 86% for NF. Irrespective of the solvents used, density was increased after 4 h of UF and NF, while the pH remains unchanged. Although acidified solvents enhanced the release of anthocyanin and phenolic contents during extraction, but they lowered membrane permeability due to fouling. Rind extracts obtained using acidified solvents had lower concentration efficiency and required higher energy as compared to non-acidified solvents in both UF and NF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-based nanofibers are a versatile material with broad applications, including wound-healing/dressing biomaterials, food packing, water treatments, sensors, and energy storage materials. In this work, a cellulose acetate (CA) nanofiber membrane obtained from the electrospinning process was hydrolyzed to a regenerated cellulose (RC) nanofiber membrane. The RC nanofiber membrane coupled with Reactive Orange 4 (RO4) as the dye ligand was used in the purification of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from the disrupted baker's yeast in a single step. The optimal pH and the immobilized dye density for MDH adsorption were at pH 7.5 and ~ 520 mg dye/g membrane, respectively. The maximum equilibrium binding capacity for MDH was 3985.65 U/g, and the surface reaction was the main rate-limiting step for MDH transport to the nanofiber membrane throughout the adsorption process. The purification of the MDH process was performed by using a membrane contactor (i.d. 25 mm) in a flow system. An elution solution (pH 5) made of 10 mM NADH and 0.1 M NaCl resulted in high efficiency of MDH elution, recording a recovery yield of 89% and a purification factor of 78 folds. Similar performance of MDH purification was obtained using a larger membrane contactor (i.d. 47 mm), thereby proving the linear scalability of the purification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, pectin was extracted from Cissampelos pareira (Krueo Ma Noy) leaves by facile, green extraction at room temperature. The C. pareira pectin structure was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and the pectin had an intrinsic viscosity of 6.1 dL/g. The extracted C. pareira leaf pectin was used to prepare pectin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films that were crosslinked with 0–64 wt% succinic acid (SA), and the films were compared for their mechanical, antioxidant, and potential biodegradability properties. Incorporation of SA produced thicker pectin/PVA films with a higher surface hydrophobicity. The pectin/PVA film without SA (PEC–PVA) was crosslinked as confirmed with FTIR spectroscopy, which was improved by addition of SA. Addition of large amounts of SA, however, resulted in phase separation, which reduced visible light transparency and mechanical properties. The film containing 16% SA (PEC–PVA–16SA) had the highest tensile strength of 9.4 MPa and Young's modulus of 53.4 MPa. All films showed antioxidant release via DPPH scavenging activity, which was enhanced in food simulants with higher ethanol concentrations (10, 30, and 50% w/w). The film PEC–PVA–16SA had the highest DPPH scavenging activity of 84% in 50% w/w ethanol. Upon soil burial, all films showed more than 50% weight loss within 7 days, which gradually increased up to 28 days soil burial. The FTIR spectra after soil burial confirmed that pectin and SA were removed from the films whereas PVA remained. These results suggest that pectin/PVA films prepared from C. pareira leaf pectin can be used as biodegradable food packaging with antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity is strongly indicated because diversifying selection may lead to the emergence of novel variants resistant to naturally acquired or vaccine-induced immunity. To monitor New York City (NYC) for the presence of novel variants, we deep sequence most of the receptor binding domain coding sequence of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from the New York City wastewater. Here we report detecting increasing frequencies of novel cryptic SARS-CoV-2 lineages not recognized in GISAID's EpiCoV database. These lineages contain mutations that had been rarely observed in clinical samples, including Q493K, Q498Y, E484A, and T572N and share many mutations with the Omicron variant of concern. Some of these mutations expand the tropism of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses by allowing infection of cells expressing the human, mouse, or rat ACE2 receptor. Finally, pseudoviruses containing the spike amino acid sequence of these lineages were resistant to different classes of receptor binding domain neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. We offer several hypotheses for the anomalous presence of these lineages, including the possibility that these lineages are derived from unsampled human COVID-19 infections or that they indicate the presence of a non-human animal reservoir. To monitor the presence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in New York City, Smyth et al. perform deep-sequencing of the receptor binding domain of S protein in wastewater samples and find novel cryptic lineages containing mutations affecting ACE2-tropism and showing decreased neutralization by antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: African men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer (PCa). Given the increasing prevalence of obesity in Africa, and its association with aggressive PCa in other populations, we examined the relationship of overall and central obesity with risks of total and aggressive PCa among African men. Methods: Between 2016 and 2020, we recruited 2,200 PCa cases and 1,985 age-matched controls into a multi-center, hospital-based case–control study in Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. Participants completed an epidemiologic questionnaire, and anthropometric factors were measured at clinic visit. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations of overall and central obesity with PCa risk, measured by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), respectively. Results: Among controls 16.4% were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), 26% and 90% had WC > 97 cm and WHR > 0.9, respectively. Cases with aggressive PCa had lower BMI/obesity in comparison to both controls and cases with less aggressive PCa, suggesting weight loss related to cancer. Overall obesity (odds ratio: OR = 1.38, 95% CI 0.99–1.93), and central obesity (WC > 97 cm: OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.10–2.33; and WHtR > 0.59: OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.24–2.29) were positively associated with D'Amico intermediate-risk PCa, but not with risks of total or high-risk PCa. Associations were more pronounced in West versus South Africa, but these differences were not statistically significant. Discussion: The high prevalence of overall and central obesity in African men and their association with intermediate-risk PCa represent an emerging public health concern in Africa. Large cohort studies are needed to better clarify the role of obesity and PCa in various African populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infection of an avian malaria parasite (Plasmodium gallinaceum) in domestic chickens presents a major threat to the poultry industry because it causes economic loss in both the quality and quantity of meat and egg production. Computer-aided diagnosis has been developed to automatically identify avian malaria infections and classify the blood infection stage development. In this study, four types of deep convolutional neural networks, namely Darknet, Darknet19, Darknet19-448 and Densenet201 are used to classify P. gallinaceum blood stages. We randomly collected a dataset of 12,761 single-cell images consisting of three parasite stages from ten-infected blood films stained by Giemsa. All images were confirmed by three well-trained examiners. The study mainly compared several image classification models and used both qualitative and quantitative data for the evaluation of the proposed models. In the model-wise comparison, the four neural network models gave us high values with a mean average accuracy of at least 97%. The Darknet can reproduce a superior performance in the classification of the P. gallinaceum development stages across any other model architectures. Furthermore, the Darknet has the best performance in multiple class-wise classification, with average values of greater than 99% in accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. It also has a low misclassification rate (< 1%) than the other three models. Therefore, the model is more suitable in the classification of P. gallinaceum blood stages. The findings could help us create a fast-screening method to help non-experts in field studies where there is a lack of specialized instruments for avian malaria diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective removal of heavy metals and soluble microbial products from wastewater is crucial for ensuring a safe environment and good quality human health. The present work investigated the potential of eggshell (ES) waste as an adsorbent for removing heavy metals and soluble microbial products. ES was firstly used to capture heavy metal ions, and the eggshell–metal (ES-M) complex was then applied to remove soluble microbial products (e.g., proteins) from aqueous solution. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was selected as a model protein-based contaminant. The equilibrium and kinetic characteristics of soluble protein removed by ES were evaluated in batch mode involving parameters such as metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+), operating temperatures (277–323 K), and particle size of ES (100–700 µm). The isotherm curves were well-fitted by Langmuir–Freundlich model. As the temperature increased from 277 to 323 K, the maximum binding capacity for BSA increased from 25.22 to 34.28 (mg BSA/g ES-Zn). The negative values of ΔG° indicated the spontaneous nature of the protein adsorption, while the kinetic of protein adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. ES functionalized with heavy metal ions acted as an effective pseudo-chelating adsorbent for the removal of soluble protein from wastewater. Chelates of Zn–BSA found on the ES complexes were found to be highly stable, indicating a minimal possibility of secondary pollution caused by these Zn- and BSA-containing ES complexes. The ES-Zn complex can be potentially used as an adsorbent for removing soluble microbial products in wastewater prior to the membrane filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of parametric and nonparametric statistical modeling methods differs depending on data sufficiency. For sufficient data, the parametric statistical modeling method is preferred owing to its high convergence to the population distribution. Conversely, for insufficient data, the nonparametric method is preferred owing to its high flexibility and conservative modeling of the given data. However, it is difficult for users to select either a parametric or nonparametric modeling method because the adequacy of using one of these methods depends on how well the given data represent the population model, which is unknown to users. For insufficient data or limited prior information on random variables, the interval approach, which uses interval information of data or random variables, can be used. However, it is still difficult to be used in uncertainty analysis and design, owing to imprecise probabilities. In this study, to overcome this problem, an integrated statistical modeling (ISM) method, which combines the parametric, nonparametric, and interval approaches, is proposed. The ISM method uses the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test to determine whether to use either the parametric or nonparametric method according to data sufficiency. The sequential statistical modeling (SSM) and kernel density estimation with estimated bounded data (KDE-ebd) are used as the parametric and nonparametric methods combined with the interval approach, respectively. To verify the modeling accuracy, conservativeness, and convergence of the proposed method, it is compared with the original SSM and KDE-ebd according to various sample sizes and distribution types in simulation tests. Through an engineering and reliability analysis example, it is shown that the proposed ISM method has the highest accuracy and reliability in the statistical modeling, regardless of data sufficiency. The ISM method is applicable to real engineering data and is conservative in the reliability analysis for insufficient data, unlike the SSM, and converges to an exact probability of failure more rapidly than KDE-ebd as data increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of sonication pretreatment condition on Eucheuma cottonii and Gelidium amansii seaweed towards agar extraction wae studied. Four parameters were changed during sonication to investigate the effects on agar yield and quality. These parameters include the time interval, concentration ratio, frequency, and intensity. The highest amount of agar extracted from Eucheuma cottonii species could be obtained from the time interval of 30 min, seaweed weight to solvent volume ratio of 1:20, the frequency of 35 Hz, and the sonication power intensity of 30%. For Gelidium amansii species, the best agar yield also could be obtained from the time interval of 30 min, 1:20 of seaweed weight to water volume ratio, the frequency of 35 Hz, and power intensity of 30%. From the experiment, sonication pretreatment significantly influenced the yield and properties of extracted agar. The sonication with autoclaved seaweed produced agar containing less sulfate content, which is an excellent chemical property for gel electrophoresis applications. The gel strength of sonication with autoclaving for both seaweeds, Eucheuma and Gelidium species was the highest among those by sonication with direct heating, which proved that sonication pretreatment with autoclaving could enhance the physical properties of the agar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may be markedly impaired in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.Objectives: Our objectives were to compare improvements in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary (PSSD) scores between patients receiving guselkumab compared with placebo or adalimumab and to correlate these improvements with skin clearance.Methods: Pooled phase III VOYAGE 1 and VOYAGE 2 data were evaluated through week 24. At baseline, patients were randomized to guselkumab 100 mg, placebo, or adalimumab 40 mg. At week 16, patients receiving placebo switched to guselkumab. Assessment measures included DLQI percent change from baseline, DLQI 0/1, DLQI minimal clinically important difference (MCID), individual domain scores, PSSD symptoms and signs score = 0, DLQI association with PSSD, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).Results: Significantly greater improvements from baseline DLQI were observed with guselkumab versus placebo (weeks 8 and 16) and versus adalimumab (week 24; p < 0.001). The proportion of patients achieving DLQI 0/1 ("no impact") at week 24 was higher with guselkumab than with adalimumab (58.9 vs. 40.2%; p < 0.001), and more patients attained a ≥ 4-point reduction in DLQI (MCID) at this timepoint (p < 0.001). Changes in individual DLQI domains were significantly greater for patients receiving guselkumab than for those receiving adalimumab, and among patients with individual baseline domain scores = 3 or 6 (severest impact), more guselkumab recipients than those receiving adalimumab achieved a score = 0 across all domains at week 24. DLQI 0/1 scores were associated with a PSSD symptom or sign score = 0 (no impact) and greater improvement of PASI and IGA (week 24).Conclusions: Pooled VOYAGE 1/VOYAGE 2 data demonstrated that guselkumab was superior to adalimumab in improving HRQoL, which was associated with greater skin clearance.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02207231 and NCT02207244. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart ship collects various data with large volume, such as voyage, machinery, and weather data. Thus, big data analysis for smart ships is an important technology that can be widely applied to improve ship maintenance, operational efficiency, and equipment life management. In this study, an accurate regression model for the fuel consumption of the main engine by using an artificial neural network (ANN) was proposed by big data analysis including data collection, clustering, compression, and expansion. To obtain an accurate regression model, various numbers of hidden layers and neurons and different types of activation functions were tested in the ANN, and their effects on the accuracy and efficiency of the regression analysis were studied. The proposed regression model using ANN is a more accurate and efficient model to predict the fuel consumption of the main engine than polynomial regression and support vector machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty quantification, which identifies a probabilistic distribution for uncertain data, is important for yielding accurate and reliable results in reliability analysis and reliability-based design optimization. Sufficient data are needed for accurate uncertainty quantification, but data is very limited in engineering fields. For statistical modeling using insufficient data, kernel density estimation (KDE) with estimated bounded data (KDE-ebd) has been recently developed for more accurate and conservative estimation than the original KDE by combining given data and bounded data within estimated intervals of random variables from the given data. However, the estimated density function using KDE-ebd is modeled beyond the domain of random variables due to conservative estimation of the density function with long and thick tails. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes kernel density estimation with hybrid estimated bounded data (KDE-Hebd), which does not violate the domain of the random variables, and uses point or interval estimation of the bounds for generating the bounded data. KDE-ebd often yields too wide bounds for very insufficient data or large variations because it uses only the estimated intervals of random variables. The proposed KDE with hybrid estimated bounded data alternatively selects a point estimator or interval estimator according to whether the estimated intervals violate the domain of the random variables. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated by comparing the estimation accuracy from statistical simulation tests for mathematically derived sample data and real experimental data using KDE, KDE-ebd and KDE-Hebd. As a result, it was demonstrated that KDE-Hebd was more accurate than KDE-ebd without the violation of the domain of random variables, especially for a large coefficient of variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainties of input variables are quantified as probabilistic distribution functions using parametric or nonparametric statistical modeling methods for reliability analysis or reliability-based design optimization. However, parametric statistical modeling methods such as the goodness-of-fit test and the model selection method are inaccurate when the number of data is very small or the input variables do not have parametric distributions. To deal with this problem, kernel density estimation with bounded data (KDE-bd) and KDE with estimated bounded data (KDE-ebd), which randomly generates bounded data within given input variable intervals for given data and applies them to generate density functions, are proposed in this study. Since the KDE-bd and KDE-ebd use input variable intervals, they attain better convergence to the population distribution than the original KDE does, especially for a small number of given data. The KDE-bd can even deal with a problem that has one data with input variable bounds. To verify the proposed method, statistical simulation tests were carried out for various numbers of data using multiple distribution types and then the KDE-bd and KDE-ebd were compared with the KDE. The results showed the KDE-bd and KDE-ebd to be more accurate than the original KDE, especially when the number of data is less than 10. It is also more robust than the original KDE regardless of the quality of given data, and is therefore more useful even if there is insufficient data for input variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For analyzing the statistical performance of physical systems, statistical characteristics of physical parameters such as material properties need to be estimated by collecting experimental data. For accurate statistical modeling, many such experiments may be required, but data are usually quite limited owing to the cost and time constraints of experiments. In this study, a new method for determining a reasonable number of experimental data is proposed using an area metric, after obtaining statistical models using the information on the underlying distribution, the Sequential statistical modeling (SSM) approach, and the Kernel density estimation (KDE) approach. The area metric is used as a convergence criterion to determine the necessary and sufficient number of experimental data to be acquired. The proposed method is validated in simulations, using different statistical modeling methods, different true models, and different convergence criteria. An example data set with 29 data describing the fatigue strength coefficient of SAE 950X is used for demonstrating the performance of the obtained statistical models that use a pre-determined number of experimental data in predicting the probability of failure for a target fatigue life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, aiming at developing a rapid and environmental-friendly process for fabricating CuInGaSe (CIGS) solar cells, we demonstrated the one-step selenization process by using selenium vapor as the atmospheric gas instead of the commonly used HSe gas. The photoluminescence (PL) characteristics indicate that there exists an optimal location with superior crystalline quality in the CIGS thin films obtained by one-step selenization. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) reveals that the Ga lateral distribution in the one-step selenized CIGS thin film is intimately correlated to the blue-shifted PL spectra. The surface morphologies examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) further suggested that voids and binary phase commonly existing in CIGS films could be successfully eliminated by the present one-step selenization process. The agglomeration phenomenon attributable to the formation of MoSe layer was also observed. Due to the significant microstructural improvement, the current-voltage ( J- V) characteristics and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the devices made of the present CIGS films have exhibited the remarkable carrier transportation characteristics and photon utilization at the optimal location, resulting in a high conversion efficiency of 11.28%. Correlations between the defect states and device performance of the one-step selenized CIGS thin film were convincingly delineated by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blade of a wind turbine is a critical component that can be damaged by extreme loads; thus, its structural safety is paramount. Further, because its manufacturing cost comprise a high proportion of overall wind power production cost, its weight should be optimized to save on production and material cost. Much research has been conducted on structural optimization of wind turbine blades; however, focus has only been on exterior design. In this study, we optimize the cross-sectional dimensions of a 5-MW wind turbine blade by performing 3-D fluid analysis of the blade and using the pressure distribution obtained as input loads to find the inner structural shape of its cross section. Subsequent 2-D and 3-D fluid structural analyses conducted to find the maximum stress on the overall blade and its cross sections confirm that the cross section of the blade is minimized and that it is structurally safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accurately analyze behavior of mechanical system, accurate statistical modeling of input variables is necessary by identifying probabilistic distributions of input variables. These distributions are generally determined by applying goodness-of-fit (GOF) tests or model selection methods to the given data on the input variables. However, GOF tests only accept or reject the hypothesis that a candidate distribution is appropriate to represent the given data. The model selection methods determine the best-fit distribution for the given data among various candidate distributions but do not provide any information about the adequacy of using the identified distribution to represent the given data. Therefore, in this paper, a sequential statistical modeling (SSM) method is proposed. The SSM method uses a GOF test to select appropriate candidate distributions from among all possible distributions and then identifies the best-fit distribution from among the selected candidate distributions using a model selection method. The adequacy of the identified best-fit distribution is verified by using an area metric that measures the intersection area between the probability density function (PDF) of the best-fit distribution and the data distribution. This metric can be used to analyze the similarities between the PDFs of the candidate distributions. In statistical simulation tests, it was observed that the SSM method identified correct distributions more accurately and conservatively than the GOF tests or model selection methods alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-line oral therapies for hepatitis B are effective at viral suppression, and treatment can lead to biochemical improvement and histologic regression. Unfortunately, recommended endpoints of treatment such as HBeAg loss and seroconversion may not be durable, with high rates of seroreversion, requiring monitoring, and unfortunately, low rates of HBsAg loss/seroconversion. Additionally, meeting these endpoints requires years or even indefinite administration, leading to concerns regarding cost, side effects, and high rates of nonadherence. This article will review defined endpoints of therapy and their durability, the risks of long-term therapy, and the evolving new therapies aimed at a viral cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducted the spectrum analysis using the response spectrum suggested on the emergency diesel generator room ventilating fan, a ventilation fan for nuclear power plants, in order to examine its structural safety. Furthermore, regarding the structural characteristics of the current base frame, the optimum design was conducted with the help of finite element analyses in order to increase the fundamental natural frequency over the specific frequency level (33Hz). The optimum results were verified through the comparison between the initial model with the optimized one, and the optimum solution could be reflected into the actual design in field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marked room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) was obtained in carbon- and nitrogen-doped rutile $$\hbox {TiO}_2$$ powders. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed the co-existence of considerable densities of states near the Fermi level ( $$E_{\rm F}$$ ) and oxygen vacancies primarily induced by C- and N-doping. Density functional theory calculations showed that the local moments responsible for the observed RTFM in N-doped $$\hbox {TiO}_2$$ were primarily attributed to the partially populated, spin-polarized Ti $$3d$$ band. In addition to the unfilled Ti $$3d$$ band, the spin splitting in C $$2p$$ states near $$E_{\rm F}$$ in C-doped $$\hbox {TiO}_2$$ , which may be induced by the $$p-p$$ interaction between the C impurities and neighboring oxygen ions, results in Stoner band-splitting-type ferromagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:Healthcare delivery now mandates shorter visits with higher documentation requirements, undermining the patient-provider interaction. To improve clinic visit efficiency, we developed a patient-provider portal that systematically collects patient symptoms using a computer algorithm called Automated Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Symptoms (AEGIS). AEGIS also automatically 'translates' the patient report into a full narrative history of present illness (HPI). We aimed to compare the quality of computer-generated vs. physician-documented HPIs.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study with a paired sample design among individuals visiting outpatient adult gastrointestinal (GI) clinics for evaluation of active GI symptoms. Participants first underwent usual care and then subsequently completed AEGIS. Each individual thereby had both a physician-documented and a computer-generated HPI. Forty-eight blinded physicians assessed HPI quality across six domains using 5-point scales: (i) overall impression, (ii) thoroughness, (iii) usefulness, (iv) organization, (v) succinctness, and (vi) comprehensibility. We compared HPI scores within patient using a repeated measures model.Results:Seventy-five patients had both computer-generated and physician-documented HPIs. The mean overall impression score for computer-generated HPIs was higher than physician HPIs (3.68 vs. 2.80; P<0.001), even after adjusting for physician and visit type, location, mode of transcription, and demographics. Computer-generated HPIs were also judged more complete (3.70 vs. 2.73; P<0.001), more useful (3.82 vs. 3.04; P<0.001), better organized (3.66 vs. 2.80; P<0.001), more succinct (3.55 vs. 3.17; P<0.001), and more comprehensible (3.66 vs. 2.97; P<0.001).Conclusions:Computer-generated HPIs were of higher overall quality, better organized, and more succinct, comprehensible, complete, and useful compared with HPIs written by physicians during usual care in GI clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, CuInGaSe (CIGS) thin films were prepared by nanosecond (ns)- and femtosecond (fs)-pulsed laser deposition (PLD) processes. Different film growth mechanisms were discussed in perspective of the laser-produced plasmas and crystal structures. The fs-PLD has successfully improved the inherent flaws, CuSe, and air voids ubiquitously observed in ns-PLD-derived CIGS thin films. Moreover, the prominent antireflection and excellent crystalline structures were obtained in the fs-PLD-derived CIGS thin films. The absorption spectra suggest the divergence in energy levels of radiative defects brought by the inhomogeneous distribution of elements in the fs-PLD CIGS, which has also been supported by comparing photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ns- and fs-PLD CIGS thin films at 15 K. Finally, the superior carrier transport properties in fs-PLD CIGS were confirmed by fs pump-probe spectroscopy and four-probe measurements. The present results indicate a promising way for preparing high-quality CIGS thin films via fs-PLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of this Article contained an error in the Data Availability, in which the accession code for "NCBI's Sequence Read Archive (SRA)" was omitted. These authors contributed equally: Davida S. Smyth, Monica Trujillo, Devon A. Gregory. [Extracted from the article]

Gearbox for wind turbine must be designed to have the sufficient structural strength to sustain the extreme torque and forces transferred from rotor blades. Traditionally, the structural analysis of gearbox has been made using the simplified FEM models in which the contacts between gear teeth are replaced with the equivalent forces acting on the gear shafts, because the consideration of the detailed internal gear transmission system requires a huge number of degrees of freedom. But, the traditional method can neither accurately reflect the gear transmission forces, nor is it preferable for the dynamic analysis. In order to solve these problems, a structural analysis method considering the tooth contact of internal gear system is introduced in this paper. The actual tooth contact between a pair of gears is modeled with spring elements and the spring constants are determined through the stiffness analysis of gear teeth. The current analysis technique is justified through the comparison with the simplified gear system model and applied to the structural analysis of a 2-stage differentialtype gearbox for wind turbine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the concept design stage of an armored vehicle, most design effects focus on firing accuracy, mobility and physical properties of the vehicle which are directly related to the firing power. This paper addresses an optimal design of the suspension unit of a four-wheeled armored vehicle to maximize the mobility performance after firing, which is characterized by the stabilizing time and the vertical acceleration of the driver’s seat after firing. For the numerical analysis and design, a half-car dynamic model consisting of four degrees and four design variables, spring and damping coefficients of suspension and tire is constructed. The response surface functions (RSFs) of both the stabilizing time and vertical acceleration are approximated through the dynamic analysis of the four-degree half-car model. The objective function is defined by a weighted linear combination of the stabilizing time and the vertical acceleration, and the resulting optimization of the vehicle mobility is carried out by the PLBA algorithm. To support the validity of the proposed optimization procedure, illustrative numerical experiments are also performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Genetic Algorithm (GA), an optimization technique based on the theory of natural selection, has proven to be a relatively robust means of searching for global optimum. It converges to the global optimum point without auxiliary information such as differentiation of function. In the case of a complex problem, the GA involves a large population number and requires a lot of computing time. To improve the process, this research used parallel processing with several personal computers. Parallel process technique is classified into two methods according to subpopulation’s size and number. One is the fine-grained method (FGM), and the other is the coarse-grained method (CGM). This study selected the CGM as a parallel process technique because the load is equally divided among several computers. The given design domain should be reduced according to the degree of feasibility, because mechanical system problems have constraints. The reduced domain is used as an initial design domain. It is consistent with the feasible domain and the infeasible domain around feasible domain boundary. This parallel process used the Message Passing Interface library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Involvement of the brain is one of the most important complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, its diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of effective imaging methods. We combined three brain imaging modalities - positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET), single-photon emission computed tomography with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO-SPET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- in order to detect brain involvement in SLE. Thirty-seven SLE patients, aged 22-45 years, were divided into three groups. Group I (G1) consisted of ten patients with major neuropsychiatric manifestations; group 2 (G2) consisted of 15 patients with minor manifestations; and group 3 (G3) consisted of 12 patients without manifestations. FDG-PET findings were abnormal in 51% of patients: 90% of G1, 67% of G2 and 0% of G3 patients respectively. HMPAO-SPET findings were abnormal in 62% of patients: 100% of G1, 73% of G2 and 17% of G3 patients respectively. MRI findings were abnormal in 35% of patients: 70% of G1, 40% of G2 and 0% of G3 patients respectively. Grey matter was more commonly involved than white matter; 62% of patients presented with lesions in the cerebral cortex, 27%... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current animal models of thrombotic arterial occlusion are complex and difficult to perform. A more simplified model of thrombotic occlusion with angiographic endpoints and mixed thrombotic composition would be useful to assess the effectiveness of new therapeutic modalities. Methods and results: Femoral arteries in 38 New Zealand White rabbits were cannulated. The animal protocol involved denudation of one iliac artery by stripping with progressively increasing balloon size, followed by inflow arterial occlusion and the addition of thrombin. Cineangiography was performed at baseline and 10 minutes after the procedure to assess TIMI blood flow. Baseline angiography revealed normal TIMI 3 flow in all arteries. A successful angiographic endpoint of TIMI 0 or TIMI 1 blood flow was achieved in only 6 or 46% of 13 rabbits with initial use of the protocol, but was successful in 25 or 100% of a consecutive series of rabbits after the initial or repeat use of the protocol. Importantly, histologic analysis of thrombus revealed a mixture of platelets, erythrocytes, and fibrin. The mean injury index of the internal elastic lamina (IEL) was 40.7 ± 35.16%. No correlation was found between TIMI flow change and intact IEL (R = \s-0.068, p > 0.5). Total procedure time was about 1 hour. Conclusion: This simple and reproducible animal model of arterial occlusion provided a mixed thrombus that is comparable to human thrombus and thus may be useful to assess thrombolytic agents or new coronary interventional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that soybean trypsin inhibitor exerts trophic effects on the exocrine pancreas, resulting in the hypertrophy of acinar cells. Some evidence also exists for hyperplasia in acinar tissue, the ductal epithelium and islet tissue. Rats maintained for 3 weeks on an oral administration of soybean trypsin inhibitor (200 mg/50 ml drinking water) were compared with untreated animals. Significant changes were noted in treated animals ( p<0.01). Trypsin inhibitor-treated rats showed an increase in pancreatic weight (2.33±0.46 g). The volume ratio of acinar, islet and connective tissue as measured by the stereology point-count technique remained the same in both groups. Ductal tissue, however, exhibited an increase in volume ratio, 3.77±4.38% per 2714 μm area of tissue, in trypsin inhibitor-treated animals. All tissue components showed an increase in the experimental animals: acinar (125%), islet (144%), ductal (325%) and connective tissue (94%). Increased size of acinar cell nuclei, as measured by average cord length, 6.20±0.13 μm, and a decreased nuclear density of acinar cells, 28±4.74 per 150 μm area of tissue, indicated hypertrophic changes in these cells of the experimental animals. Using immunohistochemical localization and the point-count technique, a significant fraction of the total pancreatic volume in experimental animals was represented by ducts containing immunoreactive cells. The percent of volume ratio, 0.42±0.15% per 2714 μm area of tissue, was calculated for ducts containing insulin-immunoreactive cells within their epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammalian pancreas, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide have been shown to be present in distinct cell types. The present communication reports that, in rat pancreas, in addition to glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide cell populations, there is a small population of cells which contain both glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide immunoreactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cupriavidus taiwanensis 187 is reportedly efficient in achieving the degradation of phenol and accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This study attempted to optimize the cultivation conditions and fermentation strategies for phenol degradation and PHA accumulation by C. taiwanensis 187. After the cultivation conditions were optimized, the conditions required for achieving phenol degradation (100%) and PHB accumulation (51 mg/L) by C. taiwanensis 187 were identified as 30 °C and 200 rpm, when the cultivation time was around 7 h. The accumulation of PHB was further increased from 72 to 213 mg/L by feeding phenol in three rounds into the fermenter along with the exhaustion of dissolved oxygen, which could totally degrade the phenol at around 1500 mg/L. Production of PHB by C. taiwanensis 187 was confirmed by GC, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR analyses. Each analytical result proved that C. taiwanensis 187 was able to use phenol as the sole carbon source for producing PHB. Finally, these results revealed that the phenol degraded by C. taiwanensis 187 mainly contributed to cell growth rather than PHB accumulation. These results indicated that the strain C. taiwanensis 187 could be used to degrade phenol to obtain usable biological polyesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case demonstrates the use of echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) to determine the size, location, anatomic connection, perfusion and hemodynamic significance of a large tumor in the right atrium. The mass was surgically excised and pathology confirmed an ultimate diagnosis of an interatrial septal aneurysm (ISA). Transesophageal echocardiography enhances the sensitivity of detecting ISA and is the initial test of choice when an ISA is suspected on transthoracic echocardiography. In addition, the use of CCT and CMRI helps further define the anatomy, perfusion and tissue characteristics of the mass. Our case demonstrates the utility of multimodality non-invasive imaging to characterize an unusual tumor leading to a successful surgical treatment and a corresponding pathologic diagnosis of a large, cystic aneurysm of the interatrial septum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological insulators (TIs) are interesting quantum matters that have a narrow bandgap for bulk and a Dirac-cone-like conducting surface state (SS). The recent discovered second Dirac surface state (SS) and bulk bands (BBs) located ~1.5 eV above the first SS are important for optical coupling in TIs. Here, we report on the time-domain measurements of THz radiation generated from TIs n-type Cu0.02Bi2Se3 and p-type Bi2Te3 single crystals by ultrafast optical pulse excitation. The observed polarity-reversal of the THz pulse originated from transient current is unusual, and cannot be reconciled with the photo-Dember effect. The second SS and BBs are found to be indispensable for the explanation of the unusual phenomenon. Thanks to the existence of the second SS and BBs, TIs manifest an effective wide band gap in THz generation. The present study demonstrates that time-domain THz spectroscopy provide rich information of the optical coupling and the electronic structure of TIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-situ dissolution-and-reduction CVD synthesized few-layer graphene on ultra-thin nickel catalyst film is demonstrated at temperature as low as 550 °C, which can be employed to form transmission-type or reflection-type saturable absorber (SA) for mode-locking the erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs). With transmission-type graphene SA, the EDFL shortens its pulsewidth from 483 to 441 fs and broadens its spectral linewidth from 4.2 to 6.1 nm with enlarging the pumping current from 200 to 900 mA. In contrast, the reflection-type SA only compresses the pulsewidth from 875 to 796 fs with corresponding spectral linewidth broadened from 2.2 to 3.3 nm. The reflection-type graphene mode-locker increases twice of its equivalent layer number to cause more insertion loss than the transmission-type one. Nevertheless, the reflection-type based saturable absorber system can generate stabilized soliton-like pulse easier than that of transmission-type system, because the nonlinearity induced self-amplitude modulation depth is simultaneously enlarged when passing through the graphene twice under the retro-reflector design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent valley-contrasting optical selection rules for interband transitions at the K and K′ valleys in monolayer MoS2 have attracted extensive interest. Carriers in these two valleys can be selectively excited by circularly polarized optical fields. The comprehensive dynamics of spin valley coupled polarization and polarized exciton are completely resolved in this work. Here, we present a systematic study of the ultrafast dynamics of monolayer MoS2 including spin randomization, exciton dissociation, free carrier relaxation, and electron-hole recombination by helicity- and photon energy-resolved transient spectroscopy. The time constants for these processes are 60 fs, 1 ps, 25 ps, and ~300 ps, respectively. The ultrafast dynamics of spin polarization, valley population, and exciton dissociation provides the desired information about the mechanism of radiationless transitions in various applications of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides. For example, spin valley coupled polarization provides a promising way to build optically selective-driven ultrafast valleytronics at room temperature. Therefore, a full understanding of the ultrafast dynamics in MoS2 is expected to provide important fundamental and technological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent valley-contrasting optical selection rules for interband transitions at the K and K′ valleys in monolayer MoS2 have attracted extensive interest. Carriers in these two valleys can be selectively excited by circularly polarized optical fields. The comprehensive dynamics of spin valley coupled polarization and polarized exciton are completely resolved in this work. Here, we present a systematic study of the ultrafast dynamics of monolayer MoS2 including spin randomization, exciton dissociation, free carrier relaxation, and electron-hole recombination by helicity- and photon energy-resolved transient spectroscopy. The time constants for these processes are 60 fs, 1 ps, 25 ps, and ~300 ps, respectively. The ultrafast dynamics of spin polarization, valley population, and exciton dissociation provides the desired information about the mechanism of radiationless transitions in various applications of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides. For example, spin valley coupled polarization provides a promising way to build optically selective-driven ultrafast valleytronics at room temperature. Therefore, a full understanding of the ultrafast dynamics in MoS2 is expected to provide important fundamental and technological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]