In this paper, we consider the existence of periodic solutions for feedback control coupled systems on networks (FCCSNs) by a novel approach, which is made up of the continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory, Kirchhoff’s matrix tree theorem in graph theory, Lyapunov method, and some analysis skills. As an application of our approach, the existence and global asymptotic stability of periodic solutions for feedback control coupled oscillators on networks are investigated. Finally, an example and its numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of our results.

This paper is devoted to finding the numerical solution for a class of nonlinear two-dimensional distributed-order time-fractional diffusion equation. A finite difference scheme is used to discretize the problem in the time direction. Then, a collocation approach based on the alternative Legendre polynomials is employed to solve the discretized nonlinear problem. The numerical algorithm is fully described and convergence analysis of the method is evaluated. Finally, some numerical implementations are provided to highlight the convergence rate and the flexibility of this approach.

Current study investigates thermal-hydraulic performances of turbulent forced hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer inside a parabolic through solar collector equipped with turbulators. The main aim of present work is to simulate and investigate the effects of different Reynolds numbers and geometrical parameters on thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the system to achieve the maximum PEC value. The heat transfer fluid is water-based MWCNT-Al2O3 (80%:20%) hybrid nanofluid which makes a Newtonian nanofluid. The RANS equations with the shear-stress (SST) k–ω turbulence model have been employed for modeling the turbulence regime. Based on obtained results, usage of turbulators leads to higher thermal diffusion because of destroying the laminar sub layer, increasing heat transfer surface and convection heat transfer. For θ=180°, the maximum values of average Nusselt number (Nuave) are achieved during all studied range of Reynolds numbers followed by θ=90° and θ=0°, respectively. For HO=15mm, the maximum values of Nuave are achieved followed by HO=10mm and HO=5mm, respectively. The model with HO=5mm has not the maximum Nuave; but, it has lower pressure drop than HO=15mm. For BO=1000mm, the maximum values of Nuave are achieved followed by BO=800mm and smooth channel, respectively. Furthermore, for δ=60°, the maximum Nuave are achieved followed by δ=40° and δ=20°, respectively. For model δ=40° the maximum values of PEC are achieved followed by smooth channel, δ=20° and δ=60°, respectively. The parabolic through solar collector model with θ=180°, HO=15, BO=1000mm, δ=40° and bO=20mm filled with hybrid nanofluid suggested as the optimum model in the present investigation.

Reviewers: Matthew Helm1, Sara Allen1, Ariana Myers2, Hana Zand Karimi3, Carolina Mazo-Molina4, and Steven R. Scofield1, 2USDA-ARS, Crop Protection and Pest Control Research Unit, West Lafayette, INDepartment of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, INDepartment of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, INBoyce Thompson Institute for Plant Science Research, Ithaca, NY

Superior vena cava (SVC) isolation improves outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, right phrenic nerve (PN) injury is a major complication of this procedure. Repeated SVC isolation was performed due to recurrence of SVC-triggered AF. The right atrium (RA)-SVC activation map revealed that the propagation broke through the gap at the PN site from the RA to the SVC. To avoid PN injury, the SVC was isolated by making longitudinal lines on both sides of the PN in a cranial direction. This novel approach of SVC isolation may be an effective therapeutic option to prevent PN injury.

Background Nodo-ventricular(NV) fiber-related reentrant tachycardias are so rare that most of them were reported by case, while few reports have summarized their common and individual features. Objectives To clarify the electrophysiological mechanism of supra-ventricular tachycardias (SVT) related to concealed NV fibers. Methods and Results We studied the intra-cardiac electrograms during electrophysiological study of 3 cases of SVT concerning concealed NV fibers. Maneuvers including ventricular entrainments, His bundle refractory period ventricular stimuli, adenosine triphosphate injection and so on were done for differential diagnosis before ablation. Among these patients, one had AVNRT with a bystander NV fiber, the other 2 had NV fiber-mediated orthodromic reentrant tachycardias (NVRT). VA dissociation were observed during SVT in all with antegrade His bundle conduction sequence. His bundle refractory period ventricular stimuli reset tachycardias with resetting of the H-H interval advancing the V-V interval, suggesting the existence of an accessory pathway. The cycle length of an NVRT prolonged during the status of functional right bundle branch block. Multiple QRS fusion morphologies during ventricular entrainments on a fixed site could be observed. Conclusions Concealed NV fibers can mediate orthodromic SVT or be a bystander of AVNRT. V-A dissociation usually occur during such SVTs. An NV fiber not only expresses the characteristics of an AP, but also the characteristics of the AV node. Multiple QRS fusion morphologies during ventricular entrainments or His bundle refractory period ventricular stimuli on a fixed site can discriminate NV fibers from NF fibers.

Abstract Background: Gliomas, characterized by aggressiveness and invasiveness, remain incurable after conventional therapies. The molecular mechanisms driving the progression and maintenance of glioma are still poorly understood. Methods: PDIA4 expression was analyzed via Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) which data were from TCGA and GTEx databases. We estimated the prognostic value of PDIA4 using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model. The functional enrichment analysis was done by using cluster Profiler package in R language, including gene ontology (GO) analysis comprised of cellular component (CC), molecular function (MF), and biological process (BP), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. In addition, correlation between PDIA4 and immunity were analyzed by Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, RNA extraction and Real-time RT-PCR. Results: In this study, we identified PDIA4 was highly expressed in gliomas and closely correlated with poor prognosis. The association with IDH1 and different patterns of gliomas also indicates the potential biological processes that PDIA4 involves in the development of tumor. Mechanistically, PDIA4 interacts with multiple immunological components to promote an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Conclusions: Our results confirm PDIA4 is an efficient biomarker of gliomas, with implications for prognosis and therapeutic strategies. Keywords: PDIA4, glioma, prognosis, biomarker, immune cells

ARR4 has been associated with X-linked, female-limited, high myopia. However, using exome sequencing (ES) in a Southern Chinese family, we identified the first hemizygous high myopia case in a male patient. A novel truncated mutation (ARR4: c.569C>G, p.S190*), which co-segregated with the disease phenotype in affected members, was identified in this family. Because the proband’s father was a hemizygote for the ARR4 variant, the present study demonstrated a case where high myopia caused by ARR4 is not X-linked, female-limited. This implied that a complicated X-linked inheritance pattern may exist for ARR4. Thus, the results of this study expanded the variant spectrum in ARR4 and provided additional information for genetic counseling, prenatal testing and diagnosis. Moreover, we characterized the pathogenic role of ARR4 c.569C>G (p.S190*) and demonstrated that the mutant protein accumulated under ER stress and was degraded by the proteasome.

This study assessed the in vitro accuracy, precision, specificity, and measurement uncertainty of BACtrack®'s line of smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers. At the 0.080 g/210L ethanol vapor concentration the measurement uncertainty was determined to be ± 0.013, 0.004, and 0.006 g/210L for the Pro, C8, and C6 respectively at the 95% coverage interval. The analyzers showed an apparent ethanol response to isopropanol, and methanol, but not to acetone. BACtrack®'s smartphone-connected breath alcohol analyzers showed the ability to measure vaporous ethanol with confidence in the results.

Based on statistical damage theory and macroscopic experimental phenomena, the damage constitutive model for fiber reinforced concrete under uniaxial tension is established. Firstly, the damage evolution mechanism of concrete under uniaxial tension is discussed in detail by using the improved parallel bar system (IPBS). It is assumed that there are two kinds of damage evolution process of fracture and yield on a meso-scale, which ultimately determines the macroscopic nonlinear stress-strain behavior of concrete. Yield damage mode reflects the potential mechanical capacity (adjustment capacity of force skeleton in microstructure) of materials and plays a key role in the whole process. Evolutionary factor is introduced to reflect the development of the potential mechanical capacity of materials. Two characteristic states, the peak nominal stress state and the critical state, are distinguished. The whole deformation-to-failure process is divided into uniform damage and local breach phases by the critical state. Subsequently, it is assumed that the two kinds of damage evolution follow the independent triangular probability distribution, which could be represented by four characteristic parameters. Through the analysis of the variation law of the above parameters, the influence of fiber content on the initiation and propagation of micro-cracks and the damage evolution of concrete would be revealed. The validity of the proposed model is verified by two sets of test data of steel fiber reinforced concrete. The results show that, the addition of fiber changes the composition of microstructure, restricts the initiation and expansion of microcracks, and also changes the damage evolution process on meso-scale. When only the fiber content is changed, the shape of the macroscopic nominal stress-strain curve will show a good law of similarity. Meanwhile, the characteristic parameters representing the two types of damage evolution on meso-scale, have obvious linear variation law. The relations among physical mechanism, mesoscopic damage evolution mechanism and macroscopic nonlinear mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced concrete are discussed.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is a rare aggressive disease. We report a case of G-CSF-producing UCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Target-capture sequencing results indicate that G-CSF-producing UCC is genetically distinct from other UCCs, warranting further research to establish specific treatment strategies.

Aims: To correlate the HPV genotypes with recurrence of disease and malignant transformation. Methods: A prevalence cross-sectional study. The tumour tissue was isolated from the paraffin-embedded tissue (PET). The DNA was extracted from the tissue using the QiAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). Gel electrophoresis was performed to determine the presence of genomic DNA. HPV detection and genotyping were carried out using SACACE HPV High Risk and Low Risk Typing Real-TM kit (SACACE, Italy). Two different types of kits were used, that is HPV 6,11 Real-TM and HPV 16,18 Real-TM kits. Results: A total of 44 patients, 36 were male and 8 were female with a ratio of 5:1. 61.4% was Malay, 22.7% was Chinese, 11.4% Indian 4.5% other races. 15 out of 44 patients had HPV positive (34%). The recurrence rate of positive HPV infection compared to negative HPV was not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation of HPV 16 and 18 infection with malignant transformation (p<0.05). A high detection rate of a high-risk HPV type (67%) was observed in patients with inverted papilloma with malignant transformation. Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV in inverted papilloma is 34%. Our result supports that HPV infection is an aetiological factor in sinonasal inverted papilloma. A high-risk HPV plays a role in the oncogenesis of sinonasal inverted papilloma. Further studies should be conducted to further elaborate this relationship.

Background and Purpose: Resurgence in the use of chloroquine as a putative treatment for COVID-19 has seen recent cases of fatal toxicity due to unintentional overdoses. Protocols for the management of poisoning recommend diazepam, although there are uncertainties in its pharmacology and efficacy in this context. The aim was to assess the effects of diazepam in experimental models of chloroquine cardiotoxicity. Experimental Approach: In vitro experiments involved cardiac tissues isolated from rats and incubated with chloroquine, alone, or in combination with diazepam. In vivo models of toxicity involved chloroquine administered intravenously to pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats and rabbits. Randomised, controlled interventional studies in rats assessed diazepam, clonazepam and Ro5-4864 administered: (i) prior, (ii) during, and (iii) after chloroquine; and the effects of diazepam: (iv) at high dose, (v) in urethane-anaesthetised rats, and (vi) co-administered with adrenaline. Key Results: Chloroquine decreased the developed tension of left atria, prolonged the effective refractory period of atria, ventricular tissue and right papillary muscles, and caused dose-dependent impairment of haemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters. Cardiac arrhythmias indicated impairment of atrioventricular conduction. Studies (i), (ii) and (v) showed no differences between interventions and control. Diazepam increased heart rate in study (iv) and, as with clonazepam, also prolonged the QTc interval in study (iii). Combined administration of diazepam and adrenaline in study (vi) improved cardiac contractility but caused hypokalaemia. Conclusion and Implications: Neither diazepam, nor other ligands for benzodiazepine binding sites, protect against or attenuate chloroquine cardiotoxicity. However, diazepam may augment the effects of positive inotropes in reducing chloroquine cardiotoxicity.

Kommerell diverticulum (KD) is a rare cardiovascular malformation, which is usually diagnosed after birth. To our knowledge, there is no report of prenatal diagnosis of KD so far. Here we present a case of RAA, KD with ALSA prenatally. We confirmed the prenatal diagnosis with a new modified cardiovascular casting technique, which perfectly demonstrated the cardiovascular malformations of the fetus. Our case demonstrates that the modified cardiovascular casting technique can distinctly delineated correlations and spatial structure of heart and cardiac vessels, and this new approach of casting combined with clinical diagnosis may have a role in postnatal diagnosis and clinical teaching.

Bosutinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). TKIs are associated with pulmonary complications but are rarely described with bosutinib. Here, we report the first description of bosutinib-induced interstitial lung disease and pleural effusion, which resolved after the discontinuation of bosutinib.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a factor that causes an increase in mortality and morbidity. Therefore, predicting post-CABG AF development is important for treatment management. In this study, we investigated the value of the ratio E/(Ea × Sa) as a combined systolic-diastolic index in predicting post-CABG AF development. Methods: This prospective study included 102 patients who underwent only isolated coronary bypass. Preoperative demographic features, biochemical and hematological parameters, and the electrocardiographic data of all patients were recorded. The E/(Ea × Sa) indices were calculated from the echocardiographic measurements. Those who retained their postoperative sinus rhythm were defined as group 1, and those who developed AF were defined as group 2. Results: Group 2 had significantly higher lateral (group 1: 1.14 ± 0.61 vs. group 2: 1.47 ± 0.87; p = 0.02), medial (group 1: 1.61 ± 0.70 vs. group 2: 1.99 ± 0.91; p = 0.02), and mean (group 1: 1.30 ± 0.58 vs. group 2: 1.62 ± 0.74; p = 0.001) E/(Ea×Sa) indices than group 1. In the univariate analysis, age, CHA2DS2-VASc score, sPAP, and mean E/(EaxSa) index were found to be significant predictors of post-CABG AF development. However, only the mean E/(EaxSa) index was found to be a significant predictor of post-CABG AF development in the multivariate analysis (OR: 2.31 95% CI 1.02–5.24; p = 0.04). Conclusions: The combined systolic-diastolic index predicted the development of post-CABG AF.

Tissue engineering (TE) constitutes a multidisciplinary scientific discipline focused on the construction of artificial tissues to regenerate end-stage organs. The impact of TE has led to a clinical revolution since novel therapies are available to attend several conditions. In this sense, its onset has supposed the communication of innovative discoveries in the age of social and mass media. This study aims to evaluate the global online dimension of TE from 2012 to 2018 by using data from the Web of Science (WoS) and Altmetrics. We have analysed 23,719 documents through descriptive and statistical methodologies. First, the descriptive analysis showed the evolution of TE original articles in five online platforms (Twitter, Patents, Facebook, Mendeley readers and News) and compared the most relevant TE documents ranked by their traditional and alternative metrics of impact. Secondly, we carried out a correlation and factorial analysis and then constructed a linear regression model to define a mathematical equation for the prediction of future TE citations counts from Altmetric scores. The obtained results suggest a growing presence of TE in the online social web and the feasibility in the context of global science to anticipate TE traditional academic impact by using social media

Migration of sternal wires into vital structures is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. While a few cases have been reported, the sternal wires were broken in those cases. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple, non-broken migrated sternal wires stabbing vascular grafts. A 65-year-old woman with a long history of treatment for extended aortic pathology, which included replacement of the aortic root (Bentall procedure, coronary artery reconstruction with Piehler technique), aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta, as well as thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR), underwent mitral valve replacement due to severe mitral regurgitation under third median sternotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was followed as an outpatient. Two years after the surgery, she complained of anterior chest discomfort. Computed tomography (CT) revealed hemorrhaging around the vascular grafts in the mediastinum and migration of several non-broken sternal wires into the vascular grafts. We suspected graft injury due to the sternal wires, and open repair by reopening the sternotomy incision was performed. During redo sternotomy, massive bleeding occurred, so cardiopulmonary bypass was urgently established via femoral cannulation, and her body temperature was brought down. After careful dissection, tearing of the grafts at both the ascending aorta and left coronary artery was found under circulatory arrest with moderate hypothermia. Polypropylene sutures were placed to control bleeding.

Background and purpose: intrinsic Xase (iXase) is the final and rate-limiting enzyme complex in the intrinsic coagulation pathway, which may be the target for anticoagulation and anti-thrombosis with lower bleeding tendency. A depolymerized fucosylated glycosaminoglycan (dHG-5) with molecular weight of 5.2 kDa was prepared from sea cucumber Holothuria fuscopunctata, showed promising druggability as an anticoagulant targeting iXase. Like heparin, the drug candidate dHG-5 is composed of a series of oligosaccharides. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify these oligosaccharides’ structures and contents in dHG-5, and their contribution to the pharmacological activities of dHG-5. Experimental approach: These oligosaccharides’ structures were confirmed by 2D NMR and MS spectra. The coagulation factor inhibition and factor IXa-binding activities were analyzed by chromogenic substrates and BLI, respectively. Anticoagulation was evaluated by clotting time. Antithrombotic activity and bleeding risk were evaluated by deep venous thrombosis model and tail-bleeding model, respectively. Key results: Our data revealed that 1) the nine purified oligosaccharide components were homologous and shared the common formula, which accounted for about 95% of dHG-5, 2) the relationships of anti-iXase, f.IXa-binding, APTT-prolonging and antithrombotic activity potenies (y) and oligosaccharides’ molecular weight (x) fitted well with power function (y = a × x b), 3) the activity potencies of dHG-5 were approximately equivalent to the weighted average sum of those of its oligosaccharides, 4) dHG-5 showed antithrombotic activity with low bleeding tendency and predictable pharmacodynamics characteristic. Conclusion and Implications: dHG-5 has antithrombosis with low bleeding tendency, and clear chemical composition and pharmacological properties, which makes a good preparation for the clinical study.

Increasing evidence indicates that hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage are not only mediated by hemodynamic injury but that inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology and contributes to the deleterious consequences of this disease. The complement system is an ancient part of innate immunity comprising multiple serum proteins and cellular receptors that protect the host from a hostile microbial environment and maintain tissue and cell integrity through the elimination of altered or dead cells. As an important effector arm of innate immunity, it plays also central roles in the regulation of adaptive immunity. Innate and adaptive immune responses have been identified as crucial players in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage. Thus, complement activation may drive the pathology of hypertension and hypertensive injury through its impact on innate and adaptive immune responses aside from direct effects on the vasculature. Indeed, recent experimental data strongly support a role for complement in all stages of arterial hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage. The remarkably similar clinical and histopathological features of malignant nephrosclerosis and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is driven by complement activation, suggest also a role for complement also in the development of malignant nephrosclerosis. We herein review the role of complement proteins in hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage.

We use recent plot-level panel data from Tanzanian smallholder farmers to investigate maize yield responses to inorganic fertilizer under variable soil carbon conditions. Unlike many prior studies which consider total carbon measurements, we focus on active soil carbon, which is the component that most influences key soil functions, such as nutrient cycling and availability. Active soil organic carbon is found to strongly influence maize yield response to nitrogen fertilizer. These results highlight important sources of variation in the returns to fertilizer investments across plots and smallholder farmers in the region. When farmgate prices for maize and fertilizer are incorporated into calculations of economic returns, we find that the profitability of fertilizer use is strongly dependent upon farmgate price ratio assumptions: under our most optimistic agronomic response estimates, 71% of farmer plots have an average value-cost ratio (AVCR) greater than 1.5 at a maize-nitrogen price ratio of 0.15. That share drops to 30% at a price ratio of 0.12 and 2% at a price ratio of 0.09. Our findings provide insights into the intertwined biophysical and economic underpinnings of low levels of fertilizer use in Tanzania and elsewhere in the region. Raising active carbon stocks in smallholder systems may be a strategic priority in many areas for incentivizing greater use of inorganic fertilizer, reversing land degradation, and achieving sustainable agricultural intensification.

Cotton is one of the most important raw materials for textile and clothing production. Compared with some synthetic polymer fibers, the main drawback of cotton fibers is its poor mechanical properties and its high flammability, and therefore it cannot be used for special textiles. Cotton fabrics treated with modern flame-retardant and reinforcement finishes often cannot meet rigid military specifications. polypyrrole-Magnesium oxide (ppy-MgO) and polypyrrole-Magnesium oxide-Carbon nanotube (ppy-MgO-CNT) composites were prepared with various weight ratios by in-situ chemical polymerization method. 1, 2, 3, 4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) was used as cross-linking agent in presence of sodium hypophosphite (SHP). The composite sol was coated on cotton fabric using pad-dry-cure technique. The coated cotton fabrics were characterized by SEM, EDAX, XRD, UV-DRS and FT-IR analysis and tested for flame retardant and UPF application. It was found that ppy-MgO-CNT composite was found to be efficient.

As the global population continues to shift into cities, urban hydrologic systems are becoming increasingly important drivers of overall water quality. Engineered waterways and impervious surfaces strongly influence baseline flow, peak flow, and the transport of pollutants in the urban environment. Between May 2016 -- May 2019, we systematically measured water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and the concentrations of nitrate-N, ammonia-N, and orthophosphate in the South Platte River in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado, USA. We found that the overall water quality of the river decreased through the study area. In addition, there appear to be several hotspots with consistently poor water quality. While it is beyond the scope of this paper to determine the specific sources of the hotspots, it seems likely that wastewater treatment facilities contribute to elevated pollution levels. We also found that water quality was strongly influenced by season. Decreased natural flows during the late fall and winter lead to higher concentrations of nutrients and lower dissolved oxygen levels. Most of the samples collected in this study had nutrient levels that were out of compliance with state regulations for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations while dissolved oxygen and temperature levels were better than threshold values. Urban hydrologic systems are complex and improving water-quality may be difficult. However, tightening of water-quality standards could result in positive changes to this system.

Debottlenecking and estimating fouling in a clarifier piping system was analyzed and modified. The existing clarifier piping system fitting data was gathered for the real-world operation from the field. This data was used in Applied Flow Technology (AFT). The two piping roughness factor cases tested were roughness of 0.0005 ft and fouling of 1 inch. The AFT Fathom results showed that without piping modifications and specifying fouling of 1 inch, flow cannot be established due to insufficient driving force for liquid movement. The measured field flow data confirmed that the reduced clarifier capacity was due to high pressure losses in the system. It was found that the existing clarifier nozzle was inadequately designed originally, and replacing the nozzle showed an increase in the clarifier capacity due to reduced air entrainment. These modifications were further adapted in the plant expansion and operations were validated using the actual plant data.