Search

Survivors of COVID-19 are susceptible to diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse psychological health, which may be exacerbated by their experiences of fear and the impact of the pandemic itself. This study aims to identify distinct fear and impact patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic among survivors through latent profile analysis (LPA) and examine the associations of fear and impact patterns with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and HRQoL. A total of 5,890 Vietnamese COVID-19 survivors completed the COVID-19 Impact Battery– Disability Scale (CIB-D), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCoV-19 S), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for PTSS, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) for HRQoL. Four distinct groups of fear and impact were identified: “Fearful and highly impacted” (26.8%), “moderately impacted yet not fearful” (22.9%), “less impacted and less fearful” (18.6%), and “mildly impacted and neutral” (31.7%). Survivors who were “less impacted and less fearful” exhibited significantly higher HRQoL scores (regression coefficient, B: 10.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.0 − 11.7), both in terms of physical (B: 12.0; 95%CI: 11.1 − 12.9) and mental health (B: 19.4; 95%CI: 9.6 − 11.1), and lower PTSS levels (B: -24.5; 95%CI: -25.8 − -23.3) compared to those who were “highly impacted and fearful”. It is imperative to acknowledge the intricate association between fear, impact, and mental health to comprehensively address the diverse needs of this distinct population post-COVID-19. These findings provide insights for designing interventions and support mechanisms for COVID-19 survivors.

This article presents a load-independent zero-current switching (ZCS) parallel-resonant inverter with a constant output current. The proposed inverter features constant-current output inherently without the need for any control method. Moreover, ZCS is achieved despite load variations, ensuring high power efficiency even at MHz-order switching frequencies. We conduct a comprehensive circuit analysis of the proposed inverter and provide a step-by-step parameter design method for achieving load-independent conditions. Additionally, a 25 W, 1 MHz prototype of the proposed inverter was implemented. In the circuit experiment, constant current output and ZCS were achieved across the entire range of load variations, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed load-independent inverter.

Coffee pulp, the major by‐product of the beverage industry, is considered as an environmental threat, but also possesses high amounts of bioactive compounds. The extraction of these compounds by using conventional methods and solvents usually accompanies impurities. Here, an aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) was optimized to extract and purify polyphenols from coffee pulp. Key affecting factors include phase system composition (ethanol and ammonium sulfate), extraction time and temperature while the quality of product was evaluated based on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA). The final optimized conditions were at 50 °C for 60 min using the ATPS of ethanol 37.7% (w/w) and ammonium sulfate 25% (w/w). TPC and AA at the optimal conditions were 434.63 ± 25.40 mg GAE/g dw and 622.71 ± 9.65 mg TE/g dw, respectively, which were higher than the results of the extract only used ethanol as the extraction solvent. The results showed that ATPS was a valuable method to extract and purify coffee bioactive compounds.

Inverse 1-center problem on a network is to modify the edge lengths or vertex weights within certain bounds so that the prespecified vertex becomes an (absolute) 1-center of the perturbed network and the modifying cost is minimized. This paper focuses on the inverse 1-center problem on a weighted tree with uniform cost of edge length modification, a generalization for the analogous problem on an unweighted tree (Alizadeh and Burkard, Discrete Appl. Math. 159, 706–716, 2011). To solve this problem, we first deal with the weighted distance reduction problem on a weighted tree. Then, the weighted distances balancing problem on two rooted trees is introduced and efficiently solved. Combining these two problems, we derive a combinatorial algorithm with complexity of O(n2) $O(n^{2})$to solve the inverse 1-center problem on a weighted tree if there exists no topology change during the edge length modification. Here, nis the number of vertices in the tree. Dropping this condition, the problem is solvable in O(n2c) $O(n^{2}\mathbf {c})$time, where c $\mathbf {c}$is the compressed depth of the tree. Finally, some special cases of the problem with improved complexity, say linear time, are also discussed.

This article presents an analysis and design of a load-independent (LI) series resonant (SR) power amplifier with constant current (CC) output, along with its application for an MHz wireless power transfer (WPT) system. A novel inverse Class E power amplifier is introduced, which essentially produces a sinusoidal output current even with a low-$Q$ SR filter. Besides, the proposed amplifier achieves zero-current switching and CC output simultaneously, regardless of the load resistance. The LI operation is obtained for a specific set of component values, whose design conditions are clarified analytically in this article. The experiment was carried out with a WPT system incorporating the proposed amplifier as a transmitter and the Class D rectifier as a receiver. Although the input reactance of the Class D rectifier changed against dc-load variations due to the parasitic capacitances, the proposed amplifier showed consistent CC operation by using the low-$Q$ SR filter. Also, the proposed WPT system maintained a low total harmonic distortion of the transmission current over the wide load range, even with the low-$Q$ output filter. The prototype WPT system with the proposed amplifier achieved 88% power-delivery efficiency with 60 W output power at 3.39 MHz transmission frequency. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of the proposed amplifier.

Traditional wet markets are the main source of fresh food and the largest source of daily nutrient intake for citizens of Hanoi. Nevertheless, due to the lack of traceability and sales registration systems, food flows within these markets remain largely invisible. This makes it challenging to assess the impact of shocks, such as pandemics, on these markets. In this paper, we characterize the impact of COVID-19 by analyzing data from 25 Wi-Fi access points installed in five formally established wet markets. The study timeframe covers a pre-pandemic period from July 2019 to the end of the initial stage of the pandemic in November 2020. While providing free Internet access, data were continuously collected about devices in close vicinity to the access points. Based on this information, we tested five hypotheses about the number, frequency, time, and duration of visits to the markets as well as changes in inter-market activities. The results show that during the shock (February to mid-April 2020) and aftershock (mid-April to July 2020) periods, market actors significantly decreased the total number of market visits (-26% P < 0.001) and the frequency of market visits (up to -47% for very frequent market users, P < 0.001). The number of inter-market visits dropped sharply during the shock period (66% ±17% of the baseline level, P < 0.001), and the peak time for market shopping shifted significantly by 90 min later in the day, P < 0.001. No change was observed in visit duration. Several factors identified in existing literature as affecting consumer behaviors provide possible explanations for the changes observed. We present a set of recommendations to limit the negative impact of the pandemic in terms of food security and livelihoods in Hanoi and to mitigate consumers’ negative perception of wet markets in terms of food safety.

This paper proposes the load-independent (LI) class-E frequency multiplier along with a unified circuit analysis method with the LI class-E amplifier. A circuit-parameter determination strategy is presented to achieve LI operation and maximum power output capability at the rated condition. We designed the class-E amplifier and frequency doubler using the unified analytical expressions. Both the implemented circuits achieved the LI operation, namely constant output voltage amplitude and zero-voltage switching against load variations without any control. The experimental results showed quantitative agreements with the analysis results, namely waveforms and power conversion efficiency, which indicates the validity of the derived analytical expressions and design procedure.

This article presents a design procedure for wireless power transfer (WPT) systems with the load-independent class-E inverter family. The design procedure guarantees that the WPT system will achieve constant output and soft switching in response to load variations without particular control, which can apply not only single-hop single-output but also multihop multioutput WPT system designs. It is analytically explained that a WPT-system output type is determined by properly selecting the inverter, rectifier, and coupling resonant structure. As a concrete design example, we designed the three-hop three-output WPT system for installation into a robot arm. Experimental results exemplified the validity and usefulness of the established procedure.

In this paper, the discrete shear gap (DSG) is for the first time incorporated into the meshfree radial point interpolation method (RPIM) for nonlinear static analysis of functionally graded plates based on Reissner–Mindlin theory. The technique of DSG, originally developed for finite element analysis during the last decades, is re-formulated to be adopted into a meshfree analysis to treat the well-known shear locking issue and to improve accuracy. As one of the rare meshfree scheme that possesses Kronecker delta property, the RPIM allows direct imposition of boundary conditions. Numerical integration is conducted by the Cartesian transformation method (CTM), which enables the possibility to avoid the creation of background cells during numerical integration, making one step further towards a truly meshfree approach, in the sense that there is no discretization of problem domain into sub-domains either in the form of elements or integration cells. For non-linear analysis, the iterative Newton-Raphson scheme is employed. Via various numerical examples, the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach (i.e. RPIM with DSG) is demonstrated and discussed. It is found that the DSG has better performance than other existing techniques used in meshfree RPIM analysis of Reissner–Mindlin plates.

This paper proposes a new fixed-time disturbance observer (FTDOB) based on the fractional-order state observer (FOSOB) and a super-twisting sliding-mode control (STSMC) for a slotless self-bearing motor (SSBM). First, the slotless self-bearing motor with fully embedded disturbances and uncertainties is analyzed, the imperfection of the perturbation sources. Second, a fractional-order state observer was designed to estimate the velocities and accelerations of movement on x-,y-,and ω-axes, respectively. Third, a new concept of fixed-time disturbance observer was proposed for estimating the perturbations on three axes of the bearing motor system. Fourth, the super-twisting sliding-mode control was designed to control the positions and the rotational speed of the bearing motor system. Final, the stability of the proposed algorithms was theoretically verified via the Lyapunov condition. To visually present the effectiveness and originality of the proposed theories, the MATLAB simulation was used to show that the proposed control system consisted small overshoots, small settling times, and stable tracking error values in narrow gaps around zero.

Interdependence across time and length scales is common in biology, where atomic interactions can impact larger-scale phenomenon. Such dependence is especially true for a well-known cancer signaling pathway, where the membrane-bound RAS protein binds an effector protein called RAF. To capture the driving forces that bring RAS and RAF (represented as two domains, RBD and CRD) together on the plasma membrane, simulations with the ability to calculate atomic detail while having long time and large length- scales are needed. The Multiscale Machine-Learned Modeling Infrastructure (MuMMI) is able to resolve RAS/RAF protein–membrane interactions that identify specific lipid–protein fingerprints that enhance protein orientations viable for effector binding. MuMMI is a fully automated, ensemble-based multiscale approach connecting three resolution scales: (1) the coarsest scale is a continuum model able to simulate milliseconds of time for a 1 μm2membrane, (2) the middle scale is a coarse-grained (CG) Martini bead model to explore protein–lipid interactions, and (3) the finest scale is an all-atom (AA) model capturing specific interactions between lipids and proteins. MuMMI dynamically couples adjacent scales in a pairwise manner using machine learning (ML). The dynamic coupling allows for better sampling of the refined scale from the adjacent coarse scale (forward) and on-the-fly feedback to improve the fidelity of the coarser scale from the adjacent refined scale (backward). MuMMI operates efficiently at any scale, from a few compute nodes to the largest supercomputers in the world, and is generalizable to simulate different systems. As computing resources continue to increase and multiscale methods continue to advance, fully automated multiscale simulations (like MuMMI) will be commonly used to address complex science questions.

In location theory, the 1-centdian function is a convex combination of the 1-median and the 1-center functions. We consider the uniform cost reverse 1-centdian problem on networks, where edge lengths are reduced within a given budget such that the 1-centdian function at a prespecified point on the network is minimized. We first prove that the problem on general networks is NP-hard by reducing the set cover problem to it. Then, we focus on the special case of the problem on tree networks. Based on the strategy that we reduce either one edge or several edges simultaneously in each step to obtain an optimal solution, we develop a combinatorial algorithm that solves the corresponding problem on trees in quadratic time.

Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern in modern urban governance, as local governments now extend their responsibilities beyond traditional infrastructure management to safeguard digital systems and citizen data in increasingly digitised smart city environments. Despite the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, there is a concerning gap—i.e., local governments often exhibit a cybersecurity posture that is inadequately prepared to counter the rising cyber threats. This discrepancy underscores the urgency for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges restricting effective cybersecurity in local governmental settings. This paper aims to elucidate these challenges of local governments in a structured framework utilising a systematic literature review method named the PRISMA protocol. The findings reveal that the stakes are high when it comes to cybersecurity for local governments, with the key challenges being financial resource constraints, technological vulnerabilities, human factors, and the regulatory framework. This study recommends improving interdepartmental coordination, adopting relevant policies, and executing targeted cybersecurity training to address these challenges. The study also highlights unconventional approaches to mitigate financial and skill resource limitations, including the utilisation of open-source security tools, outsourcing specific cybersecurity functions, and establishing collaborations with local cybersecurity agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector to obtain expertise and advanced resources. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the critical cybersecurity challenges faced by local governments and provides specific recommendations, equipping urban policymakers, administrators, and researchers with valuable guidance to enhance cybersecurity resilience within this this critical yet understudied research domain.

•Altering cytokinin (CK) contents affects plant phenotype and drought responses.•35S:GmCKX13 Arabidopsisplants have reduced CK profiles, resulting in increased root/shoot ratio and drought tolerance.•RD29A:GmCKX13 Arabidopsisplants show better drought tolerance and yield without growth tradeoff.•GmCKX13is an excellent candidate gene for altering CK profiles in soybeans using stress-inducible promoters.

In this work, we design a fully complex-valued neural network for the task of iris recognition. Unlike the problem of general object recognition, where real-valued neural networks can be used to extract pertinent features, iris recognition depends on the extraction of both phase and magnitude information from the input iris texture in order to better represent its biometric content. This necessitates the extraction and processing of phase information that cannot be effectively handled by a real-valued neural network. In this regard, we design a fully complex-valued neural network that can better capture the multi-scale, multi-resolution, and multi-orientation phase and amplitude features of the iris texture. We show a strong correspondence of the proposed complex-valued iris recognition network with Gabor wavelets that are used to generate the classical IrisCode; however, the proposed method enables a new capability of automatic complex-valued feature learning that is tailored for iris recognition. We conduct experiments on three benchmark datasets - ND-CrossSensor-2013, CASIA-Iris-Thousand and UBIRIS.v2 - and show the benefit of the proposed network for the task of iris recognition. We exploit visualization schemes to convey how the complex-valued network, when compared to standard real-valued networks, extracts fundamentally different features from the iris texture.

In this paper we consider stochastic equilibrium problems involving parameter of probability measures. Employing the fixed point theorem of Knaster, Kuratowski, Mazurkiewicz, and Fan (KKM-Fan), conditions for the existence of solutions to such problems are established. We then propose new metric concepts on the underlying stochastic spaces and study some properties corresponding to these metrics. Afterwards, we study sufficient conditions for the solution mappings of such problems, that are closed, upper (lower) semicontinuous and continuous with respect to the mentioned metrics. Finally, the special cases of stochastic optimization problems are taken into account as the applications.

The microstructures and kinetics of a rich iron ore (TFe= 65.84%) of Na Rua mine, Vietnam, used for the iron production were investigated in this study. Thermal behaviors of iron ores were well-examined by heating microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. After being pelletized and then oxidatively fired at 500–1200 °C for 2 h, the pellets fired at 1200 °C (P1200) displayed a hard and dense structure with a decent compressive strength of 317.9 kg/pellet whereas those fired at 500 °C (P500) had a soft and spongy structure. The reduction of iron pellets conducted in a flow of a 60–100% CO2/Ar gas mixture at 900–1100 °C showed significantly higher efficiency than the reduction using coal. The spongy pellets showed superior performance for the reduction in the CO/Ar gas mixture compared to the dense ones, compatible with the production of sponge iron. When mixed with an amount of coal, P1200 designed for iron production in the blast furnace demonstrated an impressive reduction activity compared to P500 and previous studies. The kinetics of pellet reduction was determined by the diffusion of substances through the solid product layers having the mathematical model of 1-23f-1-f2/3=kt. The microstructures of pellets during the oxidative firing and reduction were also examined by X-ray diffractometry; scanning electronic microscopy; energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; and Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller method.

Human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM‐MSCs) represent promising stem cell therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the results of autologous BM‐MSC administration in T2DM patients are contradictory. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that autologous BM‐MSC administration in T2DM patient is safe and that the efficacy of the treatment is dependant on the quality of the autologous BM‐MSC population and administration routes. T2DM patients were enrolled, randomly assigned (1:1) by a computer‐based system into the intravenous and dorsal pancreatic arterial groups. The safety was assessed in all the treated patients, and the efficacy was evaluated based on the absolute changes in the hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, and C‐peptide levels throughout the 12‐month follow‐up. Our data indicated that autologous BM‐MSC administration was well tolerated in 30 T2DM patients. Short‐term therapeutic effects were observed in patients with T2DM duration of <10 years and a body mass index <23, which is in line with the phenotypic analysis of the autologous BM‐MSC population. T2DM duration directly altered the proliferation rate of BM‐MSCs, abrogated the glycolysis and mitochondria respiration of BM‐MSCs, and induced the accumulation of mitochondria DNA mutation. Our data suggest that autologous administration of BM‐MSCs in the treatment of T2DM should be performed in patients with T2DM duration <10 years and no obesity. Prior to further confirming the effects of T2DM on BM‐MSC biology, future work with a larger cohort focusing on patients with different T2DM history is needed to understand the mechanism underlying our observation. Human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM‐MSCs) represent promising stem cell therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but the results of autologous BM‐MSC admniistration in T2DM patients are contradicted. Our data indicated that autologous BM‐MSC administration was well tolerated in 30 T2DM patients. The potential therapeutic effects of the treatments were observed in patients with less than 10 years of T2DM and a BMI<23, and this finding could be explained by reductions in autologous stem cell phenotypes, including prolonged cell proliferation, reduced metabolic functions, and alterations in mtDNA.

•Antagonistic interaction of CK and MAX2 signaling in plant adaption to drought.•max2mutant is more drought-sensitive, while ahk2 ahk3double mutant is more drought-tolerant.•AHK-MAX2 interaction affects ABA response, ROS balance and leaf hydration under drought.•Trait marker gene expression patterns align with drought tolerance hierarchy of investigated mutants.

Background: Low measured bone mineral density (BMD) in clinical settings is known as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk. Objective: To evaluate the mean BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck and study the correlation between BMD and some associated factors in women aged over 40 years. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional research was performed. The study group included 168 healthy women aged over 40 years having annual health surveillance at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method from June 2017 to May2018. Results: The results recorded that the mean BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck was 0.92±0.2g/cm2 and 0.84±0.15g/cm2, respectively. BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck had a significant positive correlation with height (r=0.353, p<0.001; r=0.394, p<0.001), weight (r=0.435, p<0.001; r=0.414, p<0.001), and BMI (r=0.33, p<0.001; r=0.284, p<0.001), while had a significant negative correlation with age (r=-0.609, p<0.00; r=-0.561; p<0.001), time elapsed since menopause- TESM (r=-0.495, p<0.001; r=-0.523; p<0.001), and number of births given (r=-0.381, p<0.001; r=- 0.268, p<0.001). Conclusion: The mean BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck which had a significant correlation with age, TESM, number of births given, height, weight and BMI were rather high. A targeted future research is suggested to point out a strategy that directly impacts osteoporosis and fracture risks outcomes in healthy Vietnamese women over 40 years of age.

This article uses an integrated approach to solve real-world problems in three areas, namely single machine scheduling, 1-center location on networks and nonrenewable allocation problems. Jobs are stored at vertices and a single machine will be placed in the network. Each job receives an allocation that comes with a specific cost from an expected limited budget. Processing times of jobs are considered continuous functions of the allocation variables multiplied by costs, while release dates are defined as distances from job locations to the machine. We call this problem the scheduling-location problem with job allocation. The goal is to find a location on networks and an allocation to minimize a scheduling objective, makespan. We first consider the problem at a fixed location and propose a combinatorial algorithm that repeatedly solves continuous knapsack problems and runs in quadratic time. Concerning the original problem, we explore some properties of the objective function and develop a polynomial time algorithm to solve it.

Previous studies have demonstrated that sertraline has a positive impact on improving depression; however, data on the prevalence and treatment outcomes of sertraline among patients with comorbid Type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression remain limited.

With the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, my childhood came to a halt. I was 7 years old. Because of my mother's wealth and the fact that my [...]

The use of particulate lost circulation material (LCM) in drilling fluid is a common method for mitigating lost circulation from near-wellbore fractures that develop during subterranean drilling. Fracture width estimation is the center piece of designing the particle size distribution (PSD) of LCM blends. Width estimation of near-wellbore fractures has predominantly been based on assuming axial fracture development from wellbores. However, this assumption is not valid for all wellbore orientations. Shallow vertical and highly inclined or horizontal well sections in a normal subsurface faulting regime may give rise to configurations where drill-induced fractures develop transverse to the wellbore axis. A transverse fracture yields a substantially different width compared to an axial fracture. This study aims to demonstrate the width contrast between the two fracture geometries and the impact that such contrast would have on the LCM blend design. For this purpose, the width of near-wellbore transverse fractures is estimated using a linear elastic fracture mechanics solution to an axisymmetric model of the same. Contrary to the case of hydraulic fractures, the solution must consider the effect of wellbore cavity boundary conditions on the fracture width profile. Two case studies involving horizontal and vertical boreholes are examined. Results indicate that the assumption of axial fracture geometry could lead to substantial underestimation or overestimation of the fracture width depending on the wellbore inclination and magnitudes of the in-situ stress components. Application of the solution in selecting the compositions of blends made from three LCMs is demonstrated. The discrepancy between the LCM blends PSDs obtained based on the axial and transverse models of the wellbore fracture are discussed.

Background Thymoma is a primary tumor derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus, which is commonly seen in the mediastinum. Surgical thymectomy is the radical treatment for thymoma. The recent introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has improved the quality of thymectomy surgery. The clinical characteristics of thymoma and the outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in Vietnamese patients are still lacking. The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of thymoma and to evaluate the early results of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma in Vietnamese patients.Methods All 53 thymoma patients with or without myasthenia gravis who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in Military Hospital 103, Vietnam, from October 2013 to July 2017 were included.Results The mean age was 46.5 7.1 years, and the female/male ratio was 1.2:1. Myasthenia gravis, mostly stage IIA, was present in 84.9% of patients. There was no hospital mortality or major postoperative complication. The mean operative time was 65 min, intensive care unit stay was 22 ± 5 h, and postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 ± 1.7 days.Conclusion Thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma in Vietnamese patients achieved improved cosmesis and was safe for both non-myasthenia gravis and myasthenia gravis patients.

In this study, the size effect of Cu2O nanospheres on femtosecond laser reductive sintering/melting properties for Cu printing is investigated. First, two types of monodispersed Cu2O nanospheres (average sizes of 110 and 250 nm) are prepared using the polyol method. The particle size is significantly affected by the amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone because of the capping of initially-precipitated nanospheres and their aggregations. Both the prepared inks containing nanospheres and reducing agents exhibit the same reaction temperature in thermogravimetry and differential thermal analyses. These results indicate that the size of the nanospheres does not affect the reaction temperature. The small Cu2O nanospheres are well-sintered, whereas the large nanospheres are easily melted by irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses. As both inks possess the same reaction temperature, their printing properties depend on their thermal conductivity. The low thermal conductivity of the large nanosphere ink owing to their small reduced surfaces against volume induces local heating and subsequent melting, and the high thermal conductivity of the small nanosphere ink owing to their large reduced surfaces against volume increases sintering area. The sintered patterns fabricated using the small nanospheres exhibited an electrical conductivity of ∼1.1 × 106S/m, which is 1/50 of pure Cu. These strong size effects of the nanospheres on direct writing demonstrate that mixed sizes of the nanospheres can improve the electrical conductivity of the patterns because of their high density and sufficient thickness.

3GPP has been engaged in further advancing the evolved E-UTRAN and UTRAN based radio access network technologies. NR is the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) endeavor for outlining and standardization of 5G advanced radio access technology. 3GPP has released the first set of 5G NR standards, that is, the non-standalone 5G radio specifications. As LTE technology is massively deployed and broadly accepted, the transition from LTE to 5G is very critical, and it is of maximum importance that the backward compatibility of 5G with LTE is considered. 3GPP has identified several architecture options for 5G. This article gives an overview of the NR architecture options, their deployment scenarios, and the key migration paths. LTE-NR dual connectivity (DC) is presented. This DC scenario is unique in the sense that DC is being endowed for two different generations of 3GPP radio access technologies. We further present the integration of MPTCP with LTE-NR DC and DC-like aggregation, that is, 3GPP-non-3GPP interworking to bring in the advantages of MPTCP in terms of link robustness, reliability and dynamic mapping between the traffic flows and the available paths. Finally, we discuss future research and standardization directions of the next-generation networks.

A major challenge in the study of biomolecular assemblies is to identify reaction coordinates that precisely monitor conformational rearrangements. This is central to the interpretation of single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements, where the observed dynamics depends on the labeling strategy. As an example, different probes of subunit rotation in the ribosome have provided qualitatively distinct descriptions. In one study, changes in fluorescence suggested that the 30S body undergoes a single rotation/back-rotation cycle during the process of mRNA-tRNA translocation. In contrast, an alternate assay implicated the presence of reversible rotation events before completing translocation. For future single-molecule experiments to unambiguously measure the relationship between subunit rotation and translocation, it is necessary to rationalize these conflicting descriptions. To this end, we have simulated hundreds of spontaneous subunit rotation events (≈8°) using a residue-level coarse-grained model of the ribosome. We analyzed nine different reaction coordinates and found that the apparently inconsistent measurements are likely a consequence of ribosomal flexibility. Further, we propose a metric for quantifying the degree of energetic coupling between experimentally measured degrees of freedom and subunit rotation. This analysis provides a physically grounded framework that can guide the development of more precise single-molecule techniques.

AbstractWholly foreign multinational enterprises (WFs), joint-venture multinationals (JVs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs) pay higher wages than domestic private firms in Vietnamese manufacturing. In large samples of medium–large (20+ employees) firms, conditional differentials accounting for worker education and occupation, as well as capital intensity, size, and shares of female workers, were substantially smaller, but positive and significant. Wage levels and differentials varied substantially among industries. Conditional differentials remained positive and significant for WFs and JVs in most of the 11 industries examined, but estimates of SOE-private differentials were insignificant in most industries. Robustness checks using 2007 data yielded similar results.

AbstractWe show there are intermediate P-minimal structures between the semialgebraic and subanalytic languages which do not have definable Skolem functions. As a consequence, by a result of Mourgues, this shows there are P-minimal structures which do not admit classical cell decomposition.

Health literacy has been increasingly recognized as one of the most important social determinants for health. However, an appropriate and comprehensive assessment tool is not available in many Asian countries. This study validates a comprehensive health literacy survey tool European health literacy questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) for the general public in several Asian countries.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is a rare condition characterized by the formation of blood cells outside the bone marrow. It is commonly seen in patients with hematopoietic disorders or chronic anemia. Here, we report the case of a 55-year-old patient who had extramedullary hematopoiesis that manifested as an asymptomatic posterior mediastinal mass. Chest computed tomography showed a 30 × 35-mm mass located on the left side of the D11 vertebra. Laboratory investigations revealed no signs of anemia. The tumor was safely and completely removed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Pathological studies confirmed the extramedullary hematopoiesis nature of the tumor.

3D concrete printing (3DCP) offers solutions for affordable construction including cost minimisation, productivity improvement, and sustainability alignment, as well as being able to tailor products with complex design requirements. Various 3DCP techniques, printable materials, and computational design tools have been developed to meet the requirements of mechanical and structural properties as well as durability. Coupled with parametric design and numerical simulation approach, the 3DCP could enable further construction optimisation, and realisation of complex designs. While major effort is devoted to developing materials and mix designs, limited attention is given to the development of predictive modelling and design optimisation specifically for 3D printing of concrete/mortar from the fresh to the hardening states. The benefit of additive manufacturing in construction is often recognised by the building of highly complex structures obtained from the generative design or structural optimisation processes. Here, various constraints need to be considered, such as overhang angle, printing direction, anisotropic properties of concrete, and printing toolpath optimisation. Continuous improvement in non-deterministic/statistical or machine learning (ML) approach could also lead to the development of a future robust 3DCP simulation tool when data is scarce or limited. This work will provide a snapshot of the current state-of-the-art development of modelling and design optimisation tools for 3D concrete printing.

This study aims to investigate climate change's impact on health and adaptation in Vietnam through a systematic review and additional analyses of heat exposure, heat vulnerability, awareness and engagement, and projected health costs.

We investigated the bonding mechanism of single-layered Cu2O nanospheres (NSs) on Cu thin films. When near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses were focused and irradiated on the Cu2O NS films containing the NSs and reducing agents on Cu thin film-coated Si substrates, single-layered NSs were bonded just above the substrates after rinsing the non-bonded NSs. The minimum pulse energy for the single bonding on the Cu thin film-coated Si substrates was smaller than that on Si substrates. The electromagnetic enhancement was calculated between the Cu2O NSs and Cu thin films by simulating the finite element method. The enhancement was estimated using a transverse mode of the linear polarization of the incident femtosecond laser pulses. The experimental and simulation results indicated that the single-layered NSs were bonded on the Cu thin films by femtosecond laser pulse-induced local heating and melting due to the localized plasmon enhancement between the Cu2O NSs and substrates.

ABSTRACTDaptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic approved for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens and for that of bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Daptomycin failed to meet noninferiority criteria for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, likely due to sequestration in pulmonary surfactant. Many analogues of daptomycin have been generated by combinatorial biosynthesis, but only two displayed improved activity in the presence of bovine surfactant, and neither was as active as daptomycin in vitro. In the present study, we generated hybrid molecules of the structurally related lipopeptide A54145 in Streptomyces fradiaeand tested them for antibacterial activity in the presence of bovine surfactant. Hybrid A54145 nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) biosynthetic genes were constructed by genetic engineering and were expressed in combination with a deletion of the lptImethyltransferase gene, which is involved in the formation of the 3-methyl-glutamic acid (3mGlu) residue at position 12. Some of the compounds were very active against S. aureusand other Gram-positive pathogens; one compound was also highly active in the presence of bovine surfactant, had low acute toxicity, and showed some efficacy against Streptococcus pneumoniaein a mouse model of pulmonary infection.

Three daptomycin-related lipopeptides, A21978C1-3(d-Asn11) (2−4), were purified from the fermentation broth of a recombinant Streptomyces roseosporusstrain. Their chemical structures were determined by analyses of the biosynthetic pathway, chemical transformations, d,l-amino acid quantitation by enantiomer labeling, tandem LC-MS/MS, and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 2−4exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureuswith MIC values of 0.6, 0.3, and 0.15 M, respectively, well correlated to the acyl tail chain length.

Background: The emergence of multi-drug resistant microorganisms presents a critical problem for patients undergoing surgery. Acidic pH, which is produced by oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC), is a broad-spectrum physiological detriment to survival of microorganisms known to cause surgical infections. The purpose of this study was to examine the antimicrobial effect of ORC against antibiotic-resistant organisms.Methods: ORC products were challenged with ATCC reference strains and clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP), and non-resistant ATCC strains of S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Samples of three ORC products (SURGICEL* absorbable hemostat, SURGICEL* Fibrillar absorbable hemostat, and SURGICEL NU-KNIT* absorbable hemostat (registered *Trademark of Ethicon) and identified, respectively, as ORC-R, ORC-F, and ORC-N for this study) were inoculated with challenge organisms in nutrient broth to produce a weight to volume ratio of 15 mg ORC/mL. Plate counts were performed at 0, 1, 6, and 24 h.Results: Antimicrobial activity was seen with all three ORC products against the challenge organisms. Data indicate that antibiotic-resistant microorganisms remain susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of ORC. In testing with nine of 10 bacteria, including four antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates (VRE, MRSA, and PRSP) three-log or greater reductions were seen at 24-h exposure. One ATCC strain of VRE demonstrated some level of resistance to the acidic pH effect. ORC-N showed a three-log reduction with this organism, whereas the reductions with ORC-R and ORC-F were less than one log.Conclusion: Since low pH affects a relatively broad-spectrum of bacteria and does not act in a mechanism-specific manner, as do antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are unlikely to resist the ORC pH effect. Results of this in vitro assessment support the hypothesis that the antimicrobial activity of ORC is effective against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.

Acute stressor exposure can facilitate innate immunity and suppress acquired immunity. The present study further characterized the potentiating effect of stress on innate immunity, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and demonstrated that stress-induced potentiation of innate immunity may contribute to the stress-induced suppression of acquired immunity. The long-term effect of stress on IL-1beta was measured by using an ex vivo approach. Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo, and the IL-1beta response was measured in vitro. Splenocytes, mesenteric lymphocytes, and peritoneal cavity cells had a dose- and time-dependent ex vivo IL-1beta response to LPS. Rats that were exposed to inescapable shock (IS, 100 1.6 mA, 5-s tail shocks, 60-s intertrial interval) and challenged with a submaximal dose of LPS 4 days later had elevated IL-1beta measured ex vivo. To test whether the acute stress-induced elevation in IL-1beta contributes to the long-term suppression in acquired immunity, IL-1beta receptors were blocked for 24 h after stress. Serum anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) immunoglobulin (Ig) was measured. In addition, the acute elevation (2 h post-IS) of splenic IL-1beta in the absence of antigen was verified. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist prevented IS-induced suppression in anti-KLH Ig. These data support the hypothesis that stress-induced increases in innate immunity (i.e., IL-1beta) may contribute to stress-induced suppression in acquired immunity (i.e., anti-KLH Ig).

Acute stressor exposure can facilitate innate immunity and suppress acquired immunity. The present study further characterized the potentiating effect of stress on innate immunity, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and demonstrated that stress-induced potentiation of innate immunity may contribute to the stress-induced suppression of acquired immunity. The long-term effect of stress on IL-1β was measured by using an ex vivo approach. Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo, and the IL-1β response was measured in vitro. Splenocytes, mesenteric lymphocytes, and peritoneal cavity cells had a dose- and time-dependent ex vivo IL-1β response to LPS. Rats that were exposed to inescapable shock (IS, 100 1.6 mA, 5-s tail shocks, 60-s intertrial interval) and challenged with a submaximal dose of LPS 4 days later had elevated IL-1β measured ex vivo. To test whether the acute stress-induced elevation in IL-1β contributes to the long-term suppression in acquired immunity, IL-1β receptors were blocked for 24 h after stress. Serum anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) immunoglobulin (Ig) was measured. In addition, the acute elevation (2 h post-IS) of splenic IL-1β in the absence of antigen was verified. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist prevented IS-induced suppression in anti-KLH Ig. These data support the hypothesis that stress-induced increases in innate immunity (i.e., IL-1β) may contribute to stress-induced suppression in acquired immunity (i.e., anti-KLH Ig).

In Streptomyces, a family of related butyrolactones and their corresponding receptor proteins serve as quorum-sensing systems that can activate morphological development and antibiotic biosynthesis. Streptomyces pristinaespiraliscontains a gene cluster encoding enzymes and regulatory proteins for the biosynthesis of pristinamycin, a clinically important streptogramin antibiotic complex. One of these proteins, PapR1, belongs to a well known family of Streptomycesantibiotic regulatory proteins. Gel shift assays using crude cytoplasmic extracts detected SpbR, a developmentally regulated protein that bound to the papR1promoter. SpbR was purified, and its gene was cloned using reverse genetics. spbRencoded a 25-kDa protein similar to Streptomycesautoregulatory proteins of the butyrolactone receptor family, including scbRfrom Streptomyces coelicolor. In Escherichia coli, purified SpbR and ScbR produced bound sequences immediately upstream of papR1, spbR, and scbR. SpbR DNA-binding activity was inhibited by an extracellular metabolite with chromatographic properties similar to those of the well known γ-butyrolactone signaling compounds. DNase I protection assays mapped the SpbR-binding site in the papR1promoter to a sequence homologous to other known butyrolactone autoregulatory elements. A nucleotide data base search showed that these binding motifs were primarily located upstream of genes encoding Streptomycesantibiotic regulatory proteins and butyrolactone receptors in various Streptomycesspecies. Disruption of the spbRgene in S. pristinaespiralisresulted in severe defects in growth, morphological differentiation, pristinamycin biosynthesis, and expression of a secreted superoxide dismutase.