Equivalent Units Research Articles

A Feature-Extraction-Based Lightweight Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Networks Adaptive Computing Model for Container Terminal Liner Handling Volume Forecasting

The synergy of computational logistics and deep learning provides a new methodology and solution to the operational decisions of container terminal handling systems (CTHS) at the strategic, tactical, and executive levels. Above all, the container terminal logistics tactical operational complexity is discussed by computational logistics, and the liner handling volume (LHV) has important influences on a series of terminal scheduling decision problems. Subsequently, a feature-extraction-based lightweight convolutional and recurrent neural network adaptive computing model (FEB-LCR-ACM) is presented initially to predict the LHV by the fusion of multiple deep learning algorithms and mechanisms, especially for the specific feature extraction package of tsfresh. Consequently, the container-terminal-oriented logistics service scheduling decision support design paradigm is put forward tentatively by FEB-LCR-ACM. Finally, a typical large-scale container terminal of China is chosen to implement, execute, and evaluate the FEB-LCR-ACM based on the terminal running log around the indicator of LHV. In the case of severe vibration of LHV between 2 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 4215 TEUs, while forecasting the LHV of 300 liners by the log of five years, the forecasting error within 100 TEUs almost accounts for 80%. When predicting the operation of 350 ships by the log of six years, the forecasting deviation within 100 TEUs reaches up to nearly 90%. The abovementioned two deep learning experimental performances with FEB-LCR-ACM are so far ahead of the forecasting results by the classical machine learning algorithm that is similar to Gaussian support vector machine. Consequently, the FEB-LCR-ACM achieves sufficiently good performance for the LHV prediction with a lightweight deep learning architecture based on the typical small datasets, and then it is supposed to overcome the operational nonlinearity, dynamics, coupling, and complexity of CTHS partially.

The impact of COVID-19 on the sensitivity of D-dimer for pulmonary embolism.

ObjectiveThis study seeks to evaluate the test characteristics of D‐dimer for pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a concurrent diagnosis of COVID‐19. We hypothesized that the sensitivity of D‐dimer for PE at current institutional cut points would be similar to those without COVID‐19.MethodsThis is a multicenter retrospective observational cohort study across five urban and suburban EDs in the same health care system. The electronic health record was queried for all computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) studies from December 1, 2019, to October 22, 2020. All ED patients who underwent CTPA had D‐dimer and COVID‐19 testing completed in a single encounter were included in the study. Baseline demographics were obtained. Test characteristics of D‐dimer for PE were calculated for patients with and without COVID‐19. Additionally, receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed for two different D‐dimer assays.ResultsThere were 1158 patient encounters that met criteria for analysis. Performance of D‐dimer testing for PE was similar between COVID‐19–positive and –negative patients. In COVID‐19–positive patients, the sensitivity was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 87.6%–100%), specificity was 11.9% (95% CI = 7.9%–17.1%), and negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. In COVID‐19–negative patients the sensitivity was 97.6% (95% CI = 91.5%–99.7%), specificity was 14.4% (95% CI = 12.1%–17%), and NPV was 98.3% (95% CI = 93.8%–99.6%). For assay 1 the area under the curve (AUC) for COVID‐19–positive patients was 0.76 (95% CI = 0.68–0.83), and for COVID‐19–negative patients, 0.73 (95% CI = 0.69–0.77). For assay 2, AUC for COVID‐19–positive patients was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.77–0.92), and for COVID‐19–negative patients, 0.80 (95% CI = 0.77–0.84). Inspection of the ROC curve for assay 1 revealed that 100% sensitivity was maintained up to a threshold of 0.67 FEU (fibrinogen equivalent units; from 0.50 FEU) with an increase in specificity to 29% (from 18.7%), and for assay 2, 100% sensitivity was maintained up to a threshold of 662 D‐dimer units (DDU; from 230 DDU) with an increased specificity to 59% (from 6.1%).ConclusionResults from this multicenter retrospective study did not find a significant difference in sensitivity of D‐dimer for PE due to concomitant COVID‐19 infection. Further study is required to determine if PE can safely be excluded based on D‐dimer results alone in patients with suspected or proven COVID‐19 or if adjusted D‐dimer levels could have a role in management.

Characterization of Nonphysician Health Care Workers’ Burnout and Subsequent Changes in Work Effort

Burnout is a pervasive, unrelenting problem among health care workers (HCWs), with detrimental impact to patients. Data on the impact of burnout on workforce staffing are limited and could help build a financial case for action to address system-level contributors to burnout. To explore the association of burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in work effort over 24 months in a large cohort of nonphysician HCWs. This longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and community-based hospitals and health care facilities in the Midwest among nonphysician HCWs who responded to 2 surveys from 2015 to 2017. Analysis was completed November 25, 2020. Burnout, as measured by 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and professional satisfaction. The main outcome was work effort, as measured in full-time equivalent (FTE) units, recorded in payroll records. Data from 26 280 responders (7293 individuals aged 45-54 years [27.8%]; 20 263 [77.1%] women) were analyzed. A total of 8115 individuals (30.9%) had worked for the organization more than 15 years, and 6595 individuals (25.1%) were nurses. After controlling for sex, age, duration of employment, job category, baseline FTE, and baseline burnout, overall burnout (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.38-1.70; P < .001), high emotional exhaustion at baseline (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.39-1.71; P < .001), and high depersonalization at baseline (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.21-1.62; P < .001) were associated with an HCW reducing their FTE over the following 24 months. Conversely, satisfaction with the organization at baseline was associated with lower likelihood of reduced FTE (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.65-0.83; P < .001). Findings were similar when emotional exhaustion (OR per 1-point increase, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.16; P < .001), depersonalization (OR per 1-point increase, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14; P < .001) and satisfaction with the organization (OR per 1-point increase, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79-0.88; P < .001) were modeled as continuous measures. Nurses represented the largest group (1026 of 1997 nurses [51.4%]) reducing their FTE over the 24 months. This cohort study found that burnout and professional satisfaction of HCWs were associated with subsequent changes in work effort over the following 24 months. These findings highlight the importance of addressing factors contributing to high stress among all HCWs as a workforce retention and cost reduction strategy.

Multi-source information fusion based on factor graph in autonomous underwater vehicles navigation systems

PurposeThis paper aims to present a multi-source information fusion algorithm based on factor graph for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) navigation and positioning to address the asynchronous and heterogeneous problem of multiple sensors.Design/methodology/approachThe factor graph is formulated by joint probability distribution function (pdf) random variables. All available measurements are processed into an optimal navigation solution by the message passing algorithm in the factor graph model. To further aid high-rate navigation solutions, the equivalent inertial measurement unit (IMU) factor is introduced to replace several consecutive IMU measurements in the factor graph model.FindingsThe proposed factor graph was demonstrated both in a simulated and vehicle environment using IMU, Doppler Velocity Log, terrain-aided navigation, magnetic compass pilot and depth meter sensors. Simulation results showed that the proposed factor graph processes all available measurements into the considerably improved navigation performance, computational efficiency and complexity compared with the un-simplified factor graph and the federal Kalman filtering methods. Semi-physical experiment results also verified the robustness and effectiveness.Originality/valueThe proposed factor graph scheme supported a plug and play capability to easily fuse asynchronous heterogeneous measurements information in AUV navigation systems.

Association Between COVID-19 Outcomes and Patient Characteristics: A Study in an Inner-City Community Hospital.

BackgroundIt has been shown that certain hematological conditions, such as lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia, are associated with increased severity and mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, a majority of the previous data came from large institutional centers with high academic output. We aimed to explore the association between patient’s characteristics, hematological parameters, and outcomes in admitted persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at our community hospital in an inner city.MethodsThis study is a retrospective chart review designed to evaluate the potential associations between demographic and clinical characteristics of our patient population and their outcomes when testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The study population included patients hospitalized in the Saint Francis Medical Center from January 2020 to September 2020. This pilot study included 50 out of the 275 hospitalized patients with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during this timeframe. Data collection from the patient’s chart included age, sex, comorbidities, admission complete blood cell count, and use of Remdesivir, steroids, and plasma. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included the need for mechanical ventilation and ICU admission.ResultsIn this pilot study, there was an overall mortality rate of 32% (16 out of 50 patients). Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of 3 points or above was present in 87.5% of the patients in the mortality group versus 41.1% in patients who survived (p = 0.0021). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between males and females after adjusting for other variables with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.19 (95% CI 0.02-1.80, p = 0.09). There were no statically significant differences in mortality between Caucasians, non-Hispanic, Black, and Latinx patients (p = 0.466). Admission platelets were lower in the mortality group with a mean of 157.7 ± 43.23 (Thou/ul) versus 250.06 ± 93.95 (Thou/ul) in the survivors (p = 0.0005). Admission white blood cell count in the mortality group was lower than the survivor group with an average of 5.93 ± 2.58 (Thou/ul) versus 9.3 ± 4.14 (Thou/ul) (p = 0.0039), respectively. The plasma D-dimer level of 3 mg/L fibrinogen equivalent unit (FEU) or higher was associated with increased mortality. There was no association of C-reactive protein (CRP) with mortality (p = 0.93 and p = 0.54, respectively); however, the CRP level revealed an association with ICU admission (p = 0.03). The use of steroids, Remdesivir, and plasma did not have a statistically significant effect on mortality, ICU admission, or sepsis in our study.ConclusionIn this study, older age, higher CCI, and plasma D-dimer level of 3 mg/L FEU or higher were associated with higher mortality among COVID-19 patients. White blood cell count and platelet count were significantly lower in the mortality group in comparison to the survivor group. However, there was no statistical difference in lymphocyte count between the mortality group and the survivor group. COVID-19 patients with thrombocytopenia or serum CRP level of 15 mg/dL or higher were more likely to be admitted to ICU.

Life cycle impact assessment of biofuels derived from sweet sorghum in the U.S.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of the production of a range of liquid biofuels produced from the combination of fermenting sorghum stalk juice (bioethanol) and the pyrolysis/hydrotreatment of residual bagasse (renewable gasoline and diesel). Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was performed on a farm-to-wheels system that included: (i) sorghum farming, (ii) juice extraction, (iii) juice fermenting, (iv) bagasse pretreatment, (v) bagasse thermochemical treatment (pyrolysis, hydroprocessing, and steam reforming), and (vi) typical passenger vehicle operation. LCIA results were compared to those of petroleum fuels providing the equivalent functional unit—cumulative kilometers driven by spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) vehicles utilizing either renewable gasoline or ‘bioE85—a blend of bioethanol and renewable gasoline,’ and a compression ignition direct injection (CIDI) vehicle utilizing renewable diesel produced from 76 tons of harvested sweet sorghum (1 ha).ResultsSweet sorghum biofuels resulted in a 48% reduction climate change impact and a 52% reduction in fossil fuel depletion. Additionally, reduced impacts in ozone depletion and eutrophication were found (67% and 47%, respectively). Petroleum fuels had lower impacts for the categories of non-carcinogenic health impact, smog, respiratory effects, and ecotoxicity, showing tradeoffs between sorghum and petroleum fuels.ConclusionOverall, sorghum biofuels provide advantages in environmental impact categories including global warming potential, fossil fuel depletion and eutrophication, showing potential for sorghum as a promising second-generation feedstock for fuel.

Implementation of formal prescription guidelines reduces the economic cost of unused opioids after orthopedic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prior literature has reported on the concerning emergence of opioid overprescribing, yet there remains a lack of knowledge in understanding the cost of waste of this over-prescription and underconsumption of opioids. As such, further investigating the cost of waste of opioids following orthopedic surgery is of interest to patients, providers, and payors. In one of the largest private orthopedic practices in the United States, opioid prescribing and consumption patterns were tracked prior to, and after the implementation of, formal prescription guidelines. OBJECTIVES: To (1) establish the cost of waste of unused opioids before the implementation of formal prescription guidelines and (2) examine how the cost of unused opioids may be reduced after implementation of formal internal prescription guidelines. METHODS: Two separate phases (Phase I and Phase II) were implemented at different time intervals throughout a two-year period. Implementation of prescription guidelines occurred between Phases I and II, and data from Phase I (pre-implementation) was compared to that from Phase II (postimplementation). Data collection included type, dosage, quantity of opioids prescribed and consumed after elective outpatient procedures in ambulatory surgery centers, in addition to patient interviews/surveys within two weeks after surgery to measure consumption. From these data, the cost of waste was calculated by taking the total cost of prescribed opioids (sum of each prescription × Average Wholesale Price (AWP) minus 60%) per 1,000 patients, and subtracting the total cost of consumed opioids per 1,000 patients, calculated in a similar manner. Further analysis was performed to describe differences in the cost of waste of individual opioids between each of the phases. RESULTS: In Phase I, prior to implementation of formal internal prescription guidelines, there was a sizable cost of waste of unused opioids (per 1,000 patients, AWP minus 60%) of $11,299.51. The cost of waste in Phase II, after implementation of formal internal prescription guidelines, was $6,117.12, which was a significant decrease of 45.9% ($5,182.39) from Phase I (P < 0.001). Furthermore, both the average number of morphine equivalent units prescribed and consumed per patient decreased from Phase I to Phase II (294.6 vs 187.8, P < 0.001; and 144.9 vs 96.0, P < 0.001, respectively). Finally, in describing individual medications, there was a significant decrease in cost of waste (per 1,000 patients, AWP minus 60%) between Phases I and II for- Hydrocodone with APAP 5/525 mg (P< 0.001), Oxycodone CR 10 mg (P< 0.001), Morphine CR 15 mg (P=0.001), and Tramadol 50 mg (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that there is a significant cost of waste associated with differences in prescribed versus consumed opioids following elective orthopedic surgery. This cost of waste was significantly reduced following the introduction and implementation of formal prescription guidelines. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded internally by Revo Health and Twin Cities Orthopedics. Giveans reports consulting fees from Medtrak, Inc., and Superior Medical Experts. The other authors have nothing to disclose.

Groundwater chemistry: a case study of the Mesta River Basin

The present study describes the hydrochemistry of ground waters found in the Mesta River Basin, located in the south-western part of Bulgaria. The groundwater’s composition can be expressed as follows: Ca2+ &gt; Na+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; K+; Ca2+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; Na+ &gt; K+ in equivalent units for the cations, and HCO3– &gt; SO42– &gt; Cl– in equivalent units for the anions. The chemical composition of the studied groundwater can be described as calcium-bicarbonate. The calcium ions make up from 17.90% to 38.62% (30.18% on average), and the bicarbonate ions make up from 35.30% to 48.98% (43.70% on average) of all ions. Taken together, the calcium and bicarbonate ions make up from 61.44% to 87.60% (73.88% on average) of all ions. The groundwater itself is of slightly alkaline nature, having pH of 7.3 to 8.6, and TDS of 67 mg/l to 611 mg/l. One groundwater sample from the Mesta River catchment area was found to be of the low-mineralized type (TDS = 193 mg/l) alkaline water (pH = 9.8) in the Mesta Lowlands – the Banichan groundwater mineral source. The water can be described as sodium-bicarbonate, with sodium ions making up to 93.5% of the cations, and bicarbonate ions – 69.6% of the anions. Out of all ions, the sodium ions were found to be 48%, and the bicarbonate ions – 33.86%. The sequence of ions is in the following order: Na+ &gt; Ca2+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; K+, and HCO3– &gt; Cl– &gt; SO42– &gt; CO32–.

Key Performance Indicators Analysis for Quay Container Crane Performance Assessment (Case Study at Jakarta International Container Terminal)

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span lang="PT-BR"&gt;PT Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) is the largest container port in Indonesia. Currently, JICT capacity is 2.5 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per year, it continues to strive to improve international services and is supported by adequate container loading and unloading equipment. The requirement to establish common standards in different types of container port equipment and identify performance indicators to assess the performance of container handling equipment has increased. Although the Quay Container Crane (QCC) operating system may be different at each container terminal, there are similarities in its main movements, namely: Main Hoist, Trolley, Gantry, and Boom. By knowing the clock metric for each movement, it is possible to determine the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that has been adopted and assess the performance of the Quay Container Crane (QCC). The results of the study identified that the value of MMBF (Mean Move Between Failures) decreased due to the accumulation of long-lasting heavy load operations, while the number of maintenance activities for machine parts and working hours continued to increase. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) as a management tool can guide QCC inspections and the results can provide useful insights for improving the performance of equipment and container loading and unloading operations in the future.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Optimization of a Composition Microprogram Control Unit with Elementary Circuits

Introduction. The control unit coordinating interaction of all other blocks of a digital system is one of the central blocks and is a sequential circuit. As a rule, when synthesizing control unit circuits, the problem arises of reducing hardware costs. Methods for solving this problem depend on features of both the architecture of the control unit and the elemental basis. Purpose. The main goal of this work is to reduce hardware costs and power consumption of control units of digital systems by taking into account features of the element base of the control unit and rational organization of addressing microinstructions. FPGA (field-programmable logic array) microcircuits, widely used for the implementation of modern digital systems, were chosen as an elementary basis. Methods. Methods of set theory, synthesis of automata, and software modeling as well as the library of standard automata and FPGA Virtex-7 from Xilinx were used for assessment the effectiveness of solving the problem. Results. The paper proposes a method for optimizing the circuit of the microinstruction addressing unit based on splitting the set of outputs of elementary linear operator circuits, which is based on the idea of double coding of states. The proposed method, under certain conditions, makes it possible to reduce the number of levels in the microinstruction addressing circuit to two. Conclusion. Studies have shown that double coding of states can increase performance, reduce hardware costs (the number of LUTs and their interconnections) and power consumption in Mealy’s circuitry. Based on these results, it can be expected that, with the number of conditions exceeding the number of LUT inputs, the proposed approach will improve the characteristics of the composition microprogram control unit in comparison with the equivalent control unit U1.

Weighted Dual Approach to an Equivalent Stiffness-based Load Transfer Model for Jacked Open-ended Pile

This paper presents a new equivalent stiffness-based load transfer model for an open-ended pipe pile. The main idea of this model is to replace the sum of unit stiffnesses corresponding with external and internal unit skin frictions in the basic differential equation of load transfer by a weighted average of equivalent unit stiffnesses using a dual approach of equivalent replacement. The contribution of external and internal skin frictions to equivalent unit stiffnesses is evaluated by normalized dimensionless weighting coefficients in the form of average value with the penetration depth. Application of new load transfer model to a jacked open-ended pile concerning semi-empirical models of external and internal unit skin frictions leads to corresponding explicit expressions of weighting coefficient. A computational example of a jacked open-ended pile is carried out. It is shown that the proposed equivalent stiffness-based load transfer model is an effective tool for analyzing behaviors of the open-ended pile in considering the soil plugging effect.

Continuous Platelet Transfusion As a Potential Desensitization Regimen in HLA Class I Alloimmune-Mediated Platelet Refractoriness

Background: The development of HLA antibodies is responsible for 4-8% of platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). The presence of HLA antibodies is a clinical complication that is generally managed by the selection of products that are negative for the antigens cognate to the patient's antibodies. Often, this selection is facilitated by targeted recruitment of donors with known HLA types. However, for very broadly HLA-alloimmunized patients, compatible products may be exceedingly scarce or completely unavailable, precluding the ability to consistently provide products the patient will likely increment to and benefit from. Here we describe a case of a patient with severe aplastic anemia (platelet count chronically <1 K/uL) and platelet transfusion refractoriness secondary to broad HLA-alloimmunization (98% PRA). HLA compatible products were unavailable due to the patient's rare HLA type and breadth of antibodies, and attempts at procuring compatible products via multiple national agency searches were unsuccessful. Thus, the patient could only be supplied with HLA incompatible products, which yielded insufficient post-transfusion platelet corrected-count increments (CCI). Her course was eventually complicated by multifocal intracranial hemorrhages, necessitating ICU admission with aggressive platelet transfusion support, immune-targeting therapy consisting of IVIg, and aminocaproic acid and recombinant activated factor VIIa.Methods: A continuous platelet infusion, or “platelet drip,” was employed in order to provide platelet transfusion support in the face of her severe thrombocytopenia with profound refractoriness. This consisted of consecutive transfusions of 4-6 equivalent unit apheresis platelet products (“doses”) transfused over 4 hours with a 15 minute post-transfusion CBC obtained from Q8 to Q12 hours to assess platelet increments. This ultimately resulted in 24-30 equivalent unit platelet product infusions/day.Results: Two days into the continuous platelet infusion, the patient began incrementing appropriately to occasional platelet products (CCI>>5) and, consequently, the infusions were able to sustain a platelet count >10K/uL, with a range of 20-70 K/uL, over the subsequent week. The improved counts, along with the patient's improved clinical condition and stable imaging findings showing resolving intracranial hemorrhages, allowed the transfusion support to be goal-directed targeting a prophylactic platelet threshhold of 10K/uL. Continued monitoring of the patient's CCIs enabled the identification of permissive antigens (i.e., allogeneic platelets with HLA antigens predicted to be incompatible with the patient's serum by solid-phase testing but were found to result in satisfactory increments); this knowledge allowed progressive widening of her permissive donor pool and enabled continued prophylactic support as needed. After three weeks the patient was able to be discharged from the ICU.Subsequent HLA class I antibody screens using flow-cytometry based single antigen bead (SAB) technology revealed progressive decrease in the patient's mean fluorescence intensity for most of her antibody specificities, with the majority of her class I A antibodies falling to undetectable or near-undetectable levels (while previously >5000 MFI). Simple regression analysis (RStudio 1.0.153, R version 3.4.1) was used to test to how level of exposure to individual HLA platelet antigens (as measured by the number of doses with a given antigen) affected subsequent MFI levels. The results of the regression indicate that pre MFI and exposure explain 70.6% of the variance (R2=0.706, F(2,78)=93.7, p=<2.2e-16). It was found that exposure is a significant predictor of decreased MFI (b=-107.20, p=0.01422). High initial MFI was strongly associated with high subsequent MFI (b=0.75, p= <2.2e-16).Conclusions: This data raises the possibility that large bolus platelet infusions could not only be of immediate therapeutic benefit in patients with HLA-alloimmune-mediated platelet refractoriness, but may also accelerate the evanescence of the responsible antibodies. Further research is warranted to explore this possibility, and to ascertain the potential magnitude of this effect in comparison to competing factors such as natural evanescence and/or B-cell immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Affordable oral health care: dental biofilm disruption using chloroplast made enzymes with chewing gum delivery.

SummaryCurrent approaches for oral health care rely on procedures that are unaffordable to impoverished populations, whereas aerosolized droplets in the dental clinic and poor oral hygiene may contribute to spread of several infectious diseases including COVID‐19, requiring new solutions for dental biofilm/plaque treatment at home. Plant cells have been used to produce monoclonal antibodies or antimicrobial peptides for topical applications to decrease colonization of pathogenic microbes on dental surface. Therefore, we investigated an affordable method for dental biofilm disruption by expressing lipase, dextranase or mutanase in plant cells via the chloroplast genome. Antibiotic resistance gene used to engineer foreign genes into the chloroplast genome were subsequently removed using direct repeats flanking the aadA gene and enzymes were successfully expressed in marker‐free lettuce transplastomic lines. Equivalent enzyme units of plant‐derived lipase performed better than purified commercial enzymes against biofilms, specifically targeting fungal hyphae formation. Combination of lipase with dextranase and mutanase suppressed biofilm development by degrading the biofilm matrix, with concomitant reduction of bacterial and fungal accumulation. In chewing gum tablets formulated with freeze‐dried plant cells, expressed protein was stable up to 3 years at ambient temperature and was efficiently released in a time‐dependent manner using a mechanical chewing simulator device. Development of edible plant cells expressing enzymes eliminates the need for purification and cold‐chain transportation, providing a potential translatable therapeutic approach. Biofilm disruption through plant enzymes and chewing gum‐based delivery offers an effective and affordable dental biofilm control at home particularly for populations with minimal oral care access.

Theropod tracks from the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary, Tuchengzi Formation, Chengde, China: Review and new observations

Previously known theropod dinosaur footprints preserved as natural casts in the Tuchengzi Formation, on a rock wall beside the railway in Nanshuangmiao Village, Shangbancheng Town, Chengde City, were originally assigned to ichnogenus Anchisauripus and tentatively attributed to oviraptosaurs. The assemblage was restudied in more detail by examining the entire assemblage of 55 tracks associated with two horizons. The size range of the 27 measured tracks suggests a more diverse grallatorid–eubrontid assemblage and potentially greater diversity of theropod trackmakers. The label Anchisauripus, which has fallen into disuse in some recent literature, implies trackmakers of medium shape and size in the grallatorid–eubrontid morphological spectrum. However, given the presence of other theropod ichnotaxa in the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous strata of the Tuchengzi Formation and time equivalent units we suggest that explicit reference to the Grallator-Anchisauripus-Eubrontes (GAE) plexus, or simply the term Grallator-Eubrontes plexus be confined to Lower Jurassic assemblages as originally defined and intended. Further study centered on the 16 known Tuchengzi assemblages and older theropod ichnfaunas is necessary to confirm or refute the degree to which grallatorid–eubrontid assemblages from these different epochs are similar or convergent. Even if the tracks are morphologically very similar inferences regarding trackmaker identity are problematic because the same theropodan trackmaker species, genera or even families were not present in both epochs.

Optimizing the number of employment subcenters to decentralize a congested city

We present a core-periphery-like multicentric urban spatial equilibrium model to explore the endogenous relationships among traffic congestion, urban population, and job decentralization, and investigate the urban optimization problem with fiscal considerations by optimizing the number of employment subcenters. The solution properties of this model, which is associated with the urban spatial structure, are analytically explored. We then compare four urban fiscal regimes to answer how the city authority should utilize fiscal instruments, such as aggregate differential rent, congestion toll, and revenue redistribution to support the construction of employment subcenters. Our results demonstrate the centralization effect of congestion toll and the decentralization effect of revenue redistribution. Revenue redistribution induces an increasing population in the suburban area, as well as a larger number of employment subcenters. Furthermore, we find that achieving the city authority's fiscal balance may not necessarily enhance the residents' utility level when congestion pricing is not implemented, depending on the unit construction cost of employment subcenters. Nevertheless, it can always improve utility for the residents when the marginal-cost congestion pricing scheme is utilized to eliminate the externality on highways. In addition, the regimes with the city authority's fiscal balance may not necessarily lead to the maximal social welfare, depending on the parameter converting residents' utility level into equivalent monetary units. We also discuss the urban optimization problem by considering a utility improving constraint and the agglomeration from production in the core, and the presence of the optimal urban population.

Design of a free space metamaterial lens based on LC parameters at S-band

A metamaterial lens was designed based on a two-dimensional host transmission line network loaded with inductors and capacitors. The planar negative refractive index (NRI) periodic structure, consisting of a unit cell array with a concave side, works as a curved lens matched to free space operating at S-Band. An equivalent unit cell dispersion relation was developed to determine the transmission characteristics at the operating frequency range. The challenge in the metamaterial lens design is to increase the focal distance. In the simulated system, a high energy level throughout a focal region was observed in the whole frequency range. An equivalent bulky material is used as a resource to reduce computational effort.

Implementation of a comprehensive flavoured tobacco product sales restriction and retail tobacco sales

ObjectiveSan Francisco’s comprehensive restriction on flavoured tobacco sales applies to all flavours (including menthol), all products and all retailers (without exemptions). This study evaluates associations of policy implementation with changes...

Politics of scale: Colossal containerships and the crisis in global shipping

This article addresses overcapacity and crisis in global shipping through the case of the HMM Algeciras, the world's largest containership inaugurated in 2020. When she left the South Korean shipyard where she was built, the HMM Algeciras (with a size of two soccer fields) could carry 24,000 twenty‐foot equivalent units (TEUs) across the world's oceans. By following the mega‐containership's links to two South Korean shipping companies, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Hanjin Shipping, and her connections to a southern European port, the authors unpack some of the current flip sides of global maritime shipping. In this article, the authors argue that the promise of profit and endless growth, which has led to overcapacity in global maritime shipping, is spurred on by what they call ‘false economies of scale’. Claims of the future profitability of colossal containerships are, they argue, state‐driven political performances of scale.

Determination of PCU values for mixed traffic conditions along the hilly road of East Sikkim

The road space in India is shared by different travel modes with different physical dimensions. On top of this, lane disciple is also not followed in India. All these factors influence the evaluation of traffic characteristics, roadway capacity, defining model for traffic flow and other transportation design factors. Passenger car unit (PCU) is a frequently used unit for calculating and expression of heterogeneous traffic volume to a simpler equivalent traffic unit where a passenger car is taken as a standard vehicle and all other classes of vehicle are expressed in terms of the standard car. For the present study, 11 km stretch of NH-10 in East Sikkim was taken into consideration. Data collection was done by video graphic survey. PCUs of different classes of vehicle are estimated using the speed area method by using traffic volume data. The PCU is calculated by multiplying the speed and area ratios of standard cars by the PCU of the subject vehicle type. The methodology adopted in this study is very much suitable for making proper PCU model under different conditions of heterogeneous traffic and road conditions of the study area..

Successful treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenia with cerebral sinus venous thrombosis following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination

Successful treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenia with cerebral sinus venous thrombosis following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination