The present work aims to provide reliable estimates of extreme discharge flows and their probability of occurrence. Such estimates are important for the assessment of the associated hydrological risk of hydraulic infrastructures, such as bridges and dams, in the design process as well as during their operations. The hydrological modeling herein developed was applied to estimate the design floods approaching the new Hintze Ribeiro bridge, in the north of Portugal. It proposes a statistical analysis of the maximum annual streamflow data by using a flood frequency analysis technique. The data series were subject to a reliability analysis and the specific modeling assumptions, required for the study, were appropriately given and tested. An extrapolation technique of the missing instantaneous discharge data was herein derived. Such technique was validated by two distinct methods. The estimations are accurate with a mean deviation of 7.2% relative to the observed data. A set of probabilistic models were considered and the models’ performance verified by the goodness-of-fit tests and Q-Q plots. The model and the parameter uncertainties were taken into account. Model uncertainties were addressed by comparing the estimated design floods through selecting the best fitting probability model (MS) with the approach that considered the distribution functions which fit well the data (MM). On the other hand, the computed flow rates were estimated with 95% of confidence to reduce the inherent parameter uncertainties. An additional accuracy assessment of the parametric approaches was performed through a comparative analysis of such design floods with the ones retrieved by application of the non-parametric Kernel density estimate (KDE). The MM approach showed a lower discrepancy (18.5%) to KDE estimates, when compared with the MS results. A sensitivity analysis of the associated hydrological risks was also undertaken.

A 33-year-old male admitted with sudden and spontaneous painless left infraorbital swellings after forceful nose-blowing. He was diagnosed orbital emphysema with orbital floor blow-out fracture. This case shows that forceful nose-blowing can cause orbital floor fracture and subcutaneous orbital emphysema by rapid increase in pressure in the upper airways.

This is a response to the Letter to Editor received regarding the article “The effect of patient obesity on extracorporeal membrane oxygenator outcomes and ventilator dependency.” We aim to address the authors’ comments regarding the relationship between BMI and survival after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

La contaminazione dei suoli dovuta ai metalli pesanti rende sempre più spesso necessario intervenire mediante azioni di messa in sicurezza e bonifica per salvaguardare la salute dell’uomo e dell’ambiente naturale. Nella pratica esistono numerose tecniche e tecnologie di bonifica, ognuna con finalità e limiti differenti. La letteratura scientifica mostra come i trattamenti di solidificazione/stabilizzazione (S/S) ex situ presentino buone prestazioni in termini di costi/benefici e questo fa si che risultino un buon investimento per l'operatore che deve commissionare un intervento di risanamento ambientale. Il caso studio preso in esame si concentra su una tecnologia ex situ, che prevede il trattamento di un suolo contaminato da metalli pesanti e acque reflue,  mediante un legante chimico di nuova generazione chiamato SPC (un superfosfato e ossido di calcio a base idrossiapatite).  

Mitral valve abscess is a well-known complication of infective endocarditis, often requiring surgical treatment. Usually, the most typical localization is postero-lateral mitral annulus or mitral-aortic curtain at the base of the anterior leaflet in aortic valve endocarditis. We describe a 64-year-old male diagnosed with the abscess on the free margins of the mitral leaflets secondary to concomitant vertebral osteomyelitis. A favorable resolution of the abscess during the intravenous dual antibiotic therapy is presented.

In 1891 Georg Cantor published his Diagonal Argument which, he asserted, proved that the real numbers cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers.In this paper we will see how by varying the initial conditions of the demonstration we can use Cantor’s method to produce a one-to-one correspondence between the set of natural numbers and the set of infinite binary decimals in the open interval \((0, 1)\).

Needle embolization in intravenous drug users to the lung is rarely reported in the literature. The management of these patients is controversial. We presented a male patient aged 33-year-old who presented with a broken needle in the left arm after trial of self-drug injection. During the trial to retrieve the needle, the needle embolized to the lung. Chest X-ray showed the needle in the right lower lobe, and the chest CT scan confirmed the diagnosis. The patient complained of non-specific right-side chest pain that was controlled with analgesics. The patient was managed conservatively and was discharged on antiplatelet therapy. After the 6-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with no complication.

In human lysozyme (hLYZ) production by P. pastoris, severe reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation occurred during the cell growth phase when using DO-stat control mode, leading to a limited expression of hLYZ. In this study, a novel periodic dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) control strategy was proposed to solve these problems. This strategy intermittently/periodically switched the cultivation environment from “high DO-low glycerol concentration” (DO-stat control mode) to “low DO-high glycerol concentration” for 4 cycles. With the strategy: (1) the highest cell concentration (~120 g-DCW L-1) with healthy and functional skeleton was achieved at the end of cell growth phase by controlling ROS levels below 48.35 Fluorescence intensity g-DCW-1; (2) cells metabolic activities in the successive induction phase were largely enhanced; (3) hLYZ activity reached the highest level of 2.18×105 IU mL-1, which was about 2-fold than that obtained with the DO-stat control mode, when the same induction strategy was adopted.

Separation and recovery of C2H6 and C3H8 from natural gas is a potentially economical but challenging subject in the petroleum industry. In this work, we report a stable pillared-layer microporous MOF, Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 for the separation of C2H6 and C3H8 from natural gas. Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 remained intact structure after exposure to humid air with RH = 100% for days. Derived from the combination of dense and accessible methyl group and methylene group in the channel, Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 exhibited strong affinity toward C3H8 and C2H6, with remarkably high capacities of 2.80 mmol/g at 1 kPa and 3.37 mmol/g at 5 kPa for C3H8, as well as 2.93 mmol/g at 10 kPa for C2H6. Its IAST selectivities of C3H8/CH4 and C2H6/CH4 reached 274 and 29, respectively. The complete separation of CH4/C2H6/C3H8 ternary mixture on breakthrough experiment demonstrated the great potential on recovery of C2H6 and C3H8 from natural gas through a Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 packed column.

We study a coupled Navier–Stokes–Nernst–Planck–Poisson system arising from electrohydrodynamics in critical Besov-weak-Herz spaces. When the initial value sufficiently small, we prove the existence and uniqueness of global mild solution to the cauchy problem in this spaces for $n\geq3$. The spaces is larger than some other known critical spaces.

We propose a new type of generalized fractional derivatives with respect to (wrt) another function. These new generalized fractional derivatives generalize $\psi$–Caputo, Riemann–Liouville (R–L) wrt another function, Caputo Hadamard wrt another function, R–L Hadamard wrt another function, Caputo, R–L, Caputo Hadamard and R–L Hadamard fractional derivatives. We propose a newly modified Laplace transform for linear $\psi$–Katugampola fractional differential equations (FDEs). Properties of this newly generalized Laplace transform are analyzed. Cauchy problems and mass-spring damper system with $\psi$–Katugampola fractional derivative are solved analytically by means of modified Laplace transform. Finally, a new numerical method is proposed for nonlinear $\psi$–Katugampola FDEs.

In this work two-phase Stefan problem for the cylindrical heat equation is considered. One of the phase turns to zero at initial time. In this case, it is difficult to solve by radial heat polynomials because the equations are singular. The solution is represented in linear combination series of special functions Laguerre polynomial and confluent hyper-geometric function. The free boundary is given and heat flux is found. The numerical and approximate test problem is compared graphically. The undetermined coefficients are founded. The convergence of series proved.

The variational iteration method, which has been considered as a powerful tool to various nonlinear oscillators with initial conditions, is extended to the case of the two-point boundary conditions. Two Lagrange multipliers have to be used in this modification, and their identification is same as that of the traditional one. A generalized equation for a class of highly nonlinear oscillators followed by three examples as special cases of this generalized equation are given to elucidate the effectivity of the method. The solution obtained from this modification not only exhibits outstanding resemblance with the results got numerically but when compared to the results obtained from other established methods it shows better accuracy as well.

This paper is concerned with an initial and boundary value problem of the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible viscous barotropic flow subject to large external potential forces in a half space $R^3_+$ with Navier’s boundary conditions. The global well-posedness of strongsolutions with large oscillations and vacuum is established, provided that the initial energy is suitably small and that the unique steady state is strictly away from vacuum. As a by-product,the stability of stationary solution is obtained.

In this work, we deal with the existence and uniqueness of solutions for some classes of singular integral equations with convolution in the case of non-normal type. To obtain the conditions of Noethericity, we establish the regularity theory of solvability for the equations. By means of the theory of Fourier analysis, we transform such equations into Riemann boundary value problems. The analytic solutions and the conditions of solvability are obtained in class $\{0\}$. In particular, we discuss the asymptotic property of solutions at nodes. Therefore, our work generalizes ones in Refs.[1,2,4,5,11,12,15] and improves the theories of integral equations and the classical Riemann boundary value problems.

In this study, we performed density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP, M052X, M062X, and APFD functionals to investigate substituent effects on the mechanism of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, a classical and effective method for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. The results showed that changing the substituents on the chloroxime compounds affects the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital and consequently, the progress of the reaction. Finally, it provided an effective idea for this kind of reaction in the design of organic synthesis and the necessary theoretical basis for revealing the course of this reaction.

Gross primary production (GPP) is a key component of the forest carbon cycle. However, our knowledge of GPP at the stand scale remains uncertain because estimates derived from eddy covariance (EC) rely on semi-empirical modeling and the assumptions of the EC technique are sometimes not fully met. We propose using the sap flux/isotope method as an alternative way to estimate canopy GPP, termed GPPiso/SF, at the stand scale and at daily resolution. It is based on canopy conductance inferred from sap flux and intrinsic water-use efficiency estimated from the stable carbon isotope composition of phloem contents. The GPPiso/SF estimate was further corrected for seasonal variations in photosynthetic capacity and mesophyll conductance. We compared our estimate of GPPiso/SF to the GPP derived from PRELES, a model parameterised with EC data. The comparisons were performed in a highly instrumented, boreal Scots pine forest in northern Sweden, including a nitrogen fertilised and a reference plot. The resulting annual and daily GPPiso/SF estimates agreed well with PRELES, in the fertilised plot and the reference plot. We discuss the GPPiso/SF method as an alternative which can be widely applied without terrain restrictions, where the assumptions of EC are not met.

As global trade of live animals expands, there is increasing need to assess the risks of invasive organisms, including pathogens, that can accompany these translocations. The movement and release of live baitfish by recreational anglers has been identified as a particularly high-risk pathway for the spread of aquatic diseases in the United States. To provide risk-based decision support for preventing and managing disease invasions from baitfish release, we developed a hazard identification and ranking tool to identify the pathogens that pose the highest risk to wild fish via this pathway. We created a screening protocol and semi-quantitative stochastic risk ranking framework, combining published data with expert elicitation (n=25) and applied the framework to identify high-priority pathogens for the bait supply in Minnesota, USA. Normalized scores were developed for seven risk criteria (likelihood of transfer, prevalence in bait supply, likelihood of colonization, current distribution, economic impact if established, ecological impact if established, and host species) to characterize a pathogen’s ability to persist in the bait supply and cause impacts to wild fish species of concern. The generalist macroparasite Schizocotyle acheilognathi was identified as presenting highest overall threat, followed by the microsporidian Ovipleistophora ovariae, and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus. Our findings provide risk-based decision support for managers charged with maintaining both the recreational fishing industry and sustainable, healthy natural resources. The ranking process, implemented here for a single state case study, provides a standardized conceptual framework that could be applied across jurisdictions to inform risk-based management of the live baitfish pathway.

This study investigates the application of a recently developed construct, the Uniform Trigonometrization Method (UTM), to the singular control problems in chemical engineering. The UTM involves minimal modifications to the original problem, thereby generating near-singular control solutions that can be used for conceptual design and serve as an alternate to direct techniques like nested and simultaneous approaches. Eight classical singular control problems with known analytical solutions and three complex singular control problems from chemical engineering domain are solved in this study. The results obtained using the UTM for these problems are found to match well with the literature and are of higher resolution as compared to the results obtained using a direct pseudospectral based solver. The ability of the UTM to handle complex chemical engineering problems with both singular controls and state path constraints has also been demonstrated in this study.

This research has focused on the chemical reactivity behavior of favipiravir forms and transition states of forms. These compounds are potential drugs for the Ebola virus and have shown its effectiveness for COVID-19. Geometry optimizations have been conducted by using the DFT method with the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method in the gas phase and 4 different solvent environments. Polarized Continuum Model has been used to evaluate the solvent effect on chemical stability and its related properties. Dipole moment, polarizability, and molecular first-order hyperpolarizability of the favipiravir forms were computed for gas and solvent phase. Also, thermodynamic properties such as heat capacity, entropy, and enthalpy of the A3 form of favipiravir at different temperatures were calculated in the gas phase.

Background: Even though rituximab has emerged as the standard of care for management of high risk paediatric burkitt lymphoma(BL) its safety in children from the low-middle income countries(LMICs) remains to be proven. We herein report our experience of using rituximab in patients with BL treated in our institute. Patients and Methods: All patients diagnosed of BL between January-2015 through December-2017 were treated in a risk stratified manner with either modified MCP-842 or modified LMB protocol. Patients with poor response to MCP 842 were shifted to LMB-salvage regimen. In addition, rituximab was given for selected patients of LMB group B or C. Result: Forty-two(49.4%) of 85 analyzed patients with BL received rituximab [Median dose:1500(Range:375-1875) mg/m2]. The incidence of febrile neutropenia(p=0.02), pneumonia(p=0.005), Intensive care unit admissions(p=0.002) and toxic deaths(p=0.04) were higher amongst BL patients who received rituximab. Pneumonia was fatal in 11 of 16(69%) patients who received rituximab. The mortality was 100% for patients who developed recurrent pneumonia after completion of treatment. On multivariate analysis, rituximab continued to be significantly associated with toxic deaths, HR:11.45(95%CI: 1.87-70.07; p=0.008). The addition of rituximab to intensive chemotherapy resulted in an inferior 1-year event free survival (49.4±8.1% vs 79.3±6.5%;p=0.025) and 1-year overall survival (63.1±8.5% vs 91.8± 4.5%;p=0.007). Also, the addition of rituximab did not improve 1-year relapse free survival (78.3±7.3% vs 83.9±6.0%;p=0.817). Conclusion: The potential immunomodulatory effect of rituximab and increased susceptibility to infections in patients from LMICs being treated under resource-constrained situations has to be carefully considered while choosing this drug in the treatment BL.

Background: In this retrospective analysis, we investigate the clinical features and prognosis of 23 infant patients (< 1 year of age) diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: We used clinical data of 23 children diagnosed with infant ALL at the Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, between 1st January 2014 and 30th September 2019. EFS and OS rate curves were computed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. The impact of prognostic factors on outcome was analyzed using the Cox model. Results: The median WBC was 46.14 (6.46–513) × 109/L at initial diagnosis. All 21 patients immunophenotyped by flow cytometry had B-lineage ALL. KMT2A-rearrangement was identified in 72.2% （13/18）patients. Mutation screening for 13 patients indicated 4 patients with KRAS mutations, 4 with TTN mutations, 2 with NOTCH1 mutations, 2 with PTPN11 mutations and 2 with NRAS mutations. Of 12 patients who received chemotherapy, complete remission was achieved for 83.3% patients after one course of remission induction. A total of 3 patients underwent related haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The expected 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 55.6 ± 15.2% and the expected event free survival rate (EFS) was 44.4 ± 15.7%. Univariate analysis revealed WBC > 100 × 109/L at initial diagnosis as a risk factor for poor OS and EFS. Conclusion: Treatment of infant ALL with the standard childhood ALL regimen achieved an OS rate similar to patients with high-risk ALL, and WBC at initial diagnosis may be an important prognostic indicator.

Abstract An ongoing novel highly contagious pneumonia outbreak started in Wuhan, which is sprawling capital of central china’s province, Hubei, at the late December 2019. World Health Organization on February 12, 2020 officially named this disease as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The primary host of SARS-CoV-2 is linked with bat specie however; the intermediate host is still not clear. The COVID-19 spread rapidly across the world because of person-person transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 stimulates both the cellular and humoral immunity mediated by viral specific B and T cells. Cases of COVID-19 infection exhibit several clinical complications for example fever, tiredness and dry cough. Diagnosis are mostly depending on epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestation, and few through the examination of auxiliary tissues. In this review, we have provided a brief introduction of SARS-CoV-2, pathogenesis, diagnosis, immune responses, and treatments and future perspectives.

A new, simple, accurate and specific RP-HPLC stability indicating method for determination of bilastine has been developed and validated. The proposed method has been administrated by C18 BDS Hypersil thermo column (4.6 x 250 mm i.d), 5 µm particle size with a combination of potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer pH 6.0: acetonitrile: methanol (50:25:25) as mobile phase at wave length 220 nm. The retention time has been 3.9 min for bilastine. Calibration plot has been linear over the concentration range 14.4–33.6 µg/ml bilastine with LOD and LOQ of 0.04 and 0.11 µg/ml, severally. The technique has been validated for linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision and robustness. Percent recoveries have been observed near to a hundred percent with slight change. The validated method has been applied for determination of bilastine in Pharma-bilast(R) tablets. The technique could be appropriate for routine evaluation at laboratories.