bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Filling the gap: A thorough investigation for the genetic diagnosis of unsolved polyposis patients with monoallelic MUTYH pathogenic variants
Authors: Dell’Elice Anastasia , Cini Giulia , Fornasarig Mara , Armelao Franco , Barana Daniela , Bianchi Francesca , Casalis Cavalchini Guido Claudio , Maffè Antonella , Mammi Isabella , Pedroni Monica , Percesepe Antonio , Sorrentini Italo , Tibiletti Mariagrazia , Maestro Roberta , Quaia Michele , Viel Alessandra
Published: October 2021

Backgrounds

MUTYH‐associated polyposis (MAP) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by biallelic pathogenic variants (PV) of the MUTYH gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic causes of unexplained polyposis patients with monoallelic MUTYH PV. The analysis focused on 26 patients with suspected MAP, belonging to 23 families. Ten probands carried also one or more additional MUTYH variants of unknown significance.

Methods

Based on variant type and on the collected clinical and molecular data, these variants were reinterpreted by applying the ACMG/AMP rules. Moreover, supplementary analyses were carried out to investigate the presence of other variants and copy number variations in the coding and promoter regions of MUTYH, as well as other polyposis genes (APC, NTHL1, POLE, POLD1, MSH3, RNF43, and MCM9).

Results

We reclassified 4 out of 10 MUTYH variants as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, thus supporting the diagnosis of MAP in only four cases. Two other patients belonging to the same family showed a previously undetected deletion of the APC gene promoter. No PVs were found in the other investigated genes. However, 6 out of the 18 remaining families are still interesting MAP candidates, due to the co‐presence of a class 3 MUTYH variant that could be reinterpreted in the next future.

Conclusion

Several efforts are necessary to fully elucidate the genetic etiology of suspected MAP patients, especially those with the most severe polyposis/tumor phenotype. Clinical data, tumor molecular profile, family history, and polyposis inheritance mode may guide variant interpretation and address supplementary studies.
Analysis of volumetric internal erosion in cohesionless soils: Model, experiments and simulations
Authors: Gelet Rachel , Kodieh Alaa , Marot Didier , Nguyen Ngoc‐Son
Published: October 2021

A hydro‐mechanical continuous model that accounts for volumetric internal erosion (otherwise called suffusion) is developed based on experimental observations and data to fill the gap between laboratory testing and field applications. The model is proposed based on the mixture theory applied to a two‐phase four‐species porous medium. The erodible soil is partitioned in two phases: one solid phase and one fluid phase. The solid phase is composed of non‐erodible grains and erodible particles. The fluid phase is composed of water and fluidized particles. The modelling of internal erosion is contributed directly by mass transfer from the solid phase towards the fluid phase. Two mass transfer relationships are considered, the power‐based relationship and the energy‐based relationship, and a calibration procedure for all material parameters is proposed. Both relationships assume that the power dissipated by the flow controls the kinetics of suffusion and that detachment prevails upon self‐filtration. Both relationships predict reasonably experimental data for several experimental tests on a gap‐graded cohesionless soil tested under various hydraulic loading paths. The model has been numerically solved with the finite element method and its predictions are next compared with the experimental results of a physical model of dike. The model along with the energy‐based relationship reproduces well the final amount of eroded mass. The spatial distributions of the total water head and the final percentage of fines are also smoothly reproduced.
A possibility of polaron vortex magnet of polypyrrole prepared in virus liquid crystal
Authors: Goto Hiromasa , Komaba Kyoka , Eguchi Naoto , Toyofuku Masanori , Nomura Nobuhiko
Published: October 2021

Polypyrrole‐biological composites were synthesized by electrochemical polymerization and chemical–electrochemical sequential polymerization as a double‐step polymerization using the fd phage of a linear‐shaped virus matrix that is safe for humans. The composites obtained exhibited fibrous and dendritic structures similar to neural networks. Electron spin resonance (ESR) revealed antiferromagnetic behavior against Pauli's paramagnetism of conductive polymers. The composites exhibited a structure similar to that of neural networks and exhibited helical antiferromagnetism‐like behavior, which is created by the charge carrier “chiralions” as helical polarons of the conducting polymer in helical form, suggesting a polaron vortex magnet.
Internal structure of a large, complex rock glacier and its significance in hydrological and dynamic behavior: A case study in the semi‐arid Andes of Argentina
Authors: Villarroel Cristian Daniel , Ortiz Diana Agostina , Forte Ana Paula , Tamburini Beliveau Guillermo , Ponce David , Imhof Armando , López Andrés
Published: October 2021

This paper presents an analysis of the internal structure, hydrogeology and dynamics of a large, complex, multilobate and multiroot rock glacier combining electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), hydrochemical data and differential interferometry synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR). The rock glacier consists of a series of overlapping lobes that represent different advancing stages with different degrees of conservation. The ERT surveys characterize the active layer and the upper part of the permafrost layer, the latter showing a heterogeneous geometry and electrical resistivity values ranging from 7 to 142 kΩm. Hydrochemical data argue for both the existence of different disconnected water flow pathways inside the rock glacier and the remarkable ionic concentrator effect of this landform. The horizontal displacement from October 2014 to April 2017 shows greatest magnitudes in the upper sector of both tongues, reaching speeds of up to 150 cm/year. The active frontal sector shows a displacement rate of 2–4.5 cm/year. This study contributes to knowledge of the material properties of rock glaciers, which are considered to represent important reservoirs/water resources, and their influence on the distribution of mountain permafrost, hydrology, and dynamics. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, the possible influence of the metal content of the ground on the resistivity values recorded for mountain permafrost is highlighted for the first time.
Screening of differentially expressed proteins in placentas from patients with late‐onset preeclampsia
Authors: He Andong , Wang Jingyun , Yang Xiaofeng , Liu Jia , Yang Xuesong , Wang Guang , Li Ruiman
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe disease that endangers the safety of mothers and fetuses worldwide. In the absence of specific treatments, more studies on novel predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for PE are required.

Experimental design

Data‐independent acquisition proteomics, with five biological replicates, was used to investigate the protein expression profiles of placental tissues from patients with PE and normal pregnant women.

Results

In total, 52 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, 34 of them were upregulated and 18 downregulated. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that PE was associated with multiple GO terms and KEGG pathways. Arginase‐1 (ARG1), ferritin light chain (FTL), and RNA cytidine acetyltransferase (NAT10) were identified as hub proteins, which were further validated in placental tissues and maternal plasma by western blot and ELISA.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

FTL expression was significantly lower in the placental tissues and early and late pregnancy plasma of patients with PE compared to that in normal pregnant women. This study is the first to propose that FTL may be a potential predictive and diagnostic biomarker for PE; it provides a proteomics insight for understanding the pathological mechanism of this disease.
On designing efficient sequential schemes to monitor non‐normal processes
Authors: Riaz Muhammad , Khaliq Qurat‐Ul‐Ain , Abid Muhammad , Arshad Irshad Ahmad
Published: October 2021

The process monitoring techniques play an essential role to improve the overall performance of processes. The control chart is an essential monitoring tool used to detect changes in the process parameters. The Shewhart charts are famous for detecting larger shifts, while exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts are famous for detecting small‐to‐moderate shifts. The separate control schemes are required for the quick identification of the changes in the process parameters because sometimes testing is too expensive or time taking and a practitioner may not afford any kind of defects or loss. With this motivation, the dynamic feature of this article is to introduce an efficient sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) decision‐based Tukey CUSUM design. The performance of the proposal is judged by using several run lengths (RLs) performance measures such as average, median, standard deviation, and percentile RLs. Based on the comparative analysis, it is revealed that the proposed chart offers more sensitivity towards the changes in process location than its competitor's charts for several probability models. The study proposal may find applications in packaging, manufacturing, decision‐making, finance and economics modeling, image processing and automation. A case study from steel rods manufacturing is included to demonstrate the application of the proposed design.
Dual fault‐tolerant control for a class of stochastic systems with partial loss‐of‐control effectiveness
Authors: Liu Lei , Xie Guo , Qian Fucai , Guo Xiaohong , Ma Xuehui
Published: October 2021

Loss‐of‐control effectiveness is a common fault in the engineering field. In the existing adaptive fault‐tolerant control algorithms, observers and Lyapunov functions are often used to estimate fault parameters. However, they can only ensure the convergence of fault parameters as time goes to infinity. This leads to the fact that the controller can only play a better fault‐tolerant role in the steady‐state process, and cannot guarantee the system performance in the transient state. Therefore, a dual fault‐tolerant control (DFTC) algorithm is proposed for a class of stochastic systems with partial loss‐of‐control effectiveness. The algorithm introduces a fault‐tolerant objective on the basis of the control objective. By establishing a new objective function, the controller is forced to have the characteristics of active learning to improve the transient performance of the fault system. An example simulation verifies the validity of DFTC. The simulation results show that DFTC can drive the system to the desired output, especially when partial loss‐of‐control efficiency occurs in the system, it can learn the unknown parameters actively, quickly, and accurately, which is significantly better than the conventional control based on the certainty equivalence principle and improves the reliability of the system.
Camera traps with white flash are a minimally invasive method for long‐term bat monitoring
Authors: Krivek Gabriella , Schulze Brian , Poloskei Peter Zs. , Frankowski Karina , Mathgen Xenia , Douwes Aenne , van Schaik Jaap
Published: October 2021

Camera traps are an increasingly popular survey tool for ecological research and biodiversity conservation, but studies investigating their impact on focal individuals have been limited to only a few mammal species. In this context, echolocating bats are particularly interesting as they rely less on vision for navigation, yet show a strong negative reaction to constant illumination. At hibernacula, camera traps with white flash could offer an efficient alternative method for monitoring threatened bat species, but the potential negative impact of white flash on bat behavior is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of camera traps emitting white flash at four hibernation sites fitted with infrared light barriers, infrared video cameras, and acoustic recorders over 16 weeks. At each site, the flash was turned off every second week. We quantified whether flash affected (1) nightly bat passes using generalized linear mixed models, (2) flight direction of entering bats using permutational multivariate analyses, and (3) latency of the first echolocation call after the camera trap trigger using randomization tests. Additionally, we quantified and corrected for the potential impact of confounding factors, such as weather and social interactions. Overall, white flash did not influence short‐ or long‐term bat activity, flight direction or echolocation behavior. A decrease in nightly bat activity was observed with an increasing proportion of hours with rain. Moreover, flight direction was affected by the presence of other bats, likely due to chasing and avoidance behavior. Our findings highlight the potential of camera traps with white flash triggered by infrared light barriers as a minimally invasive method for long‐term bat population monitoring and observation of species‐specific phenology. Such automated monitoring technologies can improve our understanding of long‐term population dynamics across a wide range of spatial‐temporal scales and taxa and consequently, contribute to data‐driven wildlife conservation and management.
Nano‐Assemblies of a Synthetic Peptide: Illuminating Aggregation Potential, Amyloidogenicity and Cytotoxicity
Authors: Samui Satyabrata , Biswas Soumi , Muniyappa K. , Naskar Jishu
Published: October 2021

Protein misfolding and subsequent generation of amyloid fibrils are associated with a wide range of diseases e. g. Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, type II diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and many others. Aromatic amino acid residues of polypeptide/protein are supposed to play a critical role in formation and stabilization of amyloid fibrils. Herein, we report a synthetic peptide, ALYLV (peptide 1), corresponding to B14‐18 of insulin, that forms nanofibrillar aggregates upon self‐association in aqueous medium. Staining with congo red (CR) and thioflavin t (ThT) establish that these organized nano‐assemblies are amyloidogenic in nature. Interestingly, the structural modification of peptide 1 replacing the centrally located tyrosine residue with valine, ALVLV (peptide 2), significantly reduces the assembly propensity as well as the amyloidogenicity of peptide 2 compared to peptide 1. MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cell survival assay reveals the cytotoxicity of the aggregated peptides on HeLa cells upon 48 h of exposure. Overall, the study explores the aggregation potential, amyloidogenicity, and cytotoxicity of a hotspot of insulin and pinpoints the role of aromatic amino acid residue in amyloidosis. This outcome also illuminates the peptide nano‐assemblies for various biotechnological applications.
Synthesis of Dithiacrown Ethers and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity
Authors: Dao N. T. , Nguyen D. T. , Nguyen L. M. , Tran V. T. T. , Do T. T. , Le A. T.
Published: October 2021

New derivatives of thiacrown ethers were synthesized based on the domino reaction of 1,5‐bis(2‐formylphenthio)‐3‐oxapentane with ketones containing active methylene group and ammonium acetate. After 24 hours at moderate temperature, the reaction afforded new substances containing both polyether chain S(CH2)2−O−(CH2)2−S and heterocyclic piperidone. Particularly when benzyl acetoacetate was used, the three ‐ component reaction provided a final tetrahydropyridine derivative product containing enamine fragment instead of piperidone as expected. Physico‐chemical methods of analyses including IR, 1H &13C‐NMR and HRMS were used to clarify these structures. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of five novel derivatives were evaluated on four cancer cells including HeLa (HeLa cervical cancer), Hep‐G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), Lu‐1 (human lung adenocarcinoma) and Vero cell. The result showed the potential application of these compounds in terms of biological activity.
On the relation between architectural smells and source code changes
Authors: Sas Darius , Avgeriou Paris , Pigazzini Ilaria , Arcelli Fontana Francesca
Published: October 2021

Although architectural smells are one of the most studied type of architectural technical debt, their impact on maintenance effort has not been thoroughly investigated. Studying this impact would help to understand how much technical debt interest is being paid due to the existence of architecture smells and how this interest can be calculated. This work is a first attempt to address this issue by investigating the relation between architecture smells and source code changes. Specifically, we study whether thefrequencyandsizeof changes are correlated with the presence of a selected set of architectural smells. We detect architectural smells using the Arcan tool, which detects architectural smells by building a dependency graph of the system analyzed and then looking for the typical structures of the architectural smells. The findings, based on a case study of 31 open‐source Java systems, show that 87% of the analyzed commits present more changes in artifacts with at least one smell, and the likelihood of changing increases with the number of smells. Moreover, there is also evidence to confirm that change frequency increases after the introduction of a smell and that the size of changes is also larger in smelly artifacts. These findings hold true especially in Medium–Large and Large artifacts.
Mitarbeiterbefragung nach Einführung der elektronischen Patientenakte FIDUS an der Universitätsaugenklinik des Saarlandes
Authors: Maamri Amine , Fries Fabian N. , Spira-Eppig Corinna , Eppig Timo , Seitz Berthold
Published: October 2021

Ziel

Ziel der Studie war es, die Zufriedenheit der Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter der Universitätsaugenklinik des Saarlandes mit der elektronischen Patientenakte FIDUS zwischen Dezember 2016 und September 2020 zu vergleichen, nachdem sie im Januar 2016 eingeführt worden war.

Methoden

Um diese Studie durchzuführen, hat das FIDUS-Team der Universitätsaugenklinik des Saarlandes einen Fragebogen erstellt. Dieser wurde im Dezember 2016 und im September 2020 an alle Beteiligten verteilt: ärztliches Personal, Pflege- und Verwaltungspersonal. Der Bogen enthielt 19 Fragen, die auf einer Skala von 0 für („stimme nicht zu“) bis 10 („stimme vollständig zu“) zu beantworten waren.

Ergebnisse

Die Anzahl der Teilnehmenden hatte von 60 (44 %) auf 89 (64 %) zwischen 2016 und 2020 deutlich zugenommen. Davon waren 23 (25,8 %) dem ärztlichen und 27 (30,3 %) dem pflegerischen Personal zuzuordnen, 12 (13,4 %) waren Verwaltungsbereich, 16 (17,9 %) in einem sonstigen Arbeitsverhältnis, und 11 (12,3 %) machten keine Angabe. Im Jahr 2020 haben 75,6 % der Befragten auf der Skala mit „10“ zugestimmt, dass die Einführung der elektronischen Patientenakte der richtige Schritt war, im Vergleich zu 36,7 % im Jahr 2016 (p < 0,001). Die Höchstbewertung, dass „die Akteneinträge mit dem Computer schneller zu schreiben sind als handschriftlich“, lag bei 38 % im Jahr 2020 vs. 25 % im Jahr 2016 (p < 0,001). Im Jahr 2020 befürworteten 61,6 % der Befragten vollständig die Einführung der papierlosen Patientenaufklärung als nächsten Schritt.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Zufriedenheit mit der elektronischen Patientenakte FIDUS hat sich im Jahr 2020 im Vergleich zu 2016 signifikant verbessert. Das gilt insbesondere für die bessere Übersichtlichkeit der Akte und die schnelleren Arbeitsabläufe. Allerdings scheint noch Optimierungsbedarf im Detail zu bestehen.
Correction of GRACE measurements of the Earth’s moment of inertia (MOI)
Authors: Ren Diandong , Leslie Lance M. , Huang Ying , Hu Aixue
Published: October 2021

The widely used 15-year Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data sets do not conserve global total mass. They have a spurious decreasing trend of ~ 280 Gt/year. Various regions contribute differently to the global total mass loss error, with the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) generating ~ 10% of the error alone. Atmospheric parameters from reanalysis datasets drive a well-tested ice model to generate mass variation time series over the GrIS for 2002–2015. Because shorter timescale spikes of ~ 10–30 Gt in GRACE measurements are physically based, only the overall trend of ~ 30 Gt/year requires correcting. A more accurate mass loss rate estimate for 2002–2015 is ~ 120 Gt/year, considerably below previous estimates. With the water redistribution to lower latitudes and other effects from a warming climate, the nontidal Earth moment of inertia (MOI) also increases. After rectification, the GRACE measured mass redistribution shows a steady, statistically robust (passed a two-tailed t-test at p = 0.04 for dof = 15) rate of MOI increase reaching ~ 10.1 × 1027 kg m2/year, equivalent to a 10.91 μs/year increase in the length of a day, during 2002–2017.
Revision surgery for chronically discharging mastoid cavities: mastoid obliteration with canal wall reconstruction versus non-obliteration surgery
Authors: van der Toom Hylke F. E. , van der Schroeff Marc P. , Molenaar Tim L. , Metselaar Mick , van Linge Anne , Vroegop Jantien L. , Pauw Robert J.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the surgical results of revision canal wall down (CWD) surgery for chronically discharging mastoid cavities and to compare the non-obliteration approach to mastoid obliteration with canal wall reconstruction.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study. All adult patients (≥ 18 years) who underwent revision surgery for chronically draining mastoid cavities between January 2013 and January 2020 were included. Primary outcome measures included the dry ear rate, complications and postoperative hearing.

Results

79 ears were included; 56 ears received revision CWD with mastoid obliteration and posterior canal wall reconstruction and 23 ears received CWD without mastoid obliteration. The dry ear rate at the most recent outpatient clinic visit (median 28.0 months postoperative) was significantly higher in the obliteration group with 96.4% compared to 73.9% for the non-obliteration group (p = .002). There were no differences in audiological outcome and incidence of complications between the two techniques.

Conclusion

We show that in our study population revision CWD surgery with mastoid obliteration and posterior canal wall reconstruction is superior to revision CWD surgery without mastoid obliteration in the management of chronically discharging mastoid cavities. In the obliteration group, a dry ear was achieved in 96.4% as this was 73.9% in the non-obliteration group. We found no differences in audiological outcome and in incidence of complications between the two techniques.
The age-specific differences in histopathological tumor characteristics and TNM classification of breast carcinomas in Quality assured mamma diagnostic (QuaMaDi) program in the state of Schleswig–Holstein in Germany
Authors: Kramp L.-J. , Mathiak M. , Behrens H.-M. , Schäfer F. W. , van Mackelenbergh M. , Röcken Christoph
Published: October 2021

Background

We explored the hypothesis that high-quality standards in diagnostic mammography can lead to an early diagnosis of breast cancers and identifies at risk populations outside screening programs. The histopathological features and distribution of the TNM classification were examined in relation to patient age in a large group of women with breast cancers participating in the Quality Assured Mamma Diagnostic (QuaMaDi) program of the state of Schleswig–Holstein.

Patients and methods

Surgical pathological reports were studied for clinicopathological characteristics, receptor status, molecular subtype and tumor stage. The analysis was conducted by dividing the study population into three age groups: women under 50 years (pre-screening), 50–69 years (peri-screening) and over 70 years (post-screening).

Results

7.111 biopsies and 2.887 resection specimens were included. Breast cancer was diagnosed in 4.241 (59.7%) cases, one fourth of them in women < 50 years. Elderly women (> 70 years) had more well-differentiated, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-negative carcinomas, whereas younger women (< 50 years) tended to have more poorly differentiated, ER negative, and HER2-positive carcinomas. 47% of breast carcinoma were luminal B tumors and were most common regardless of age. 70.4% of resected specimen had pT1 stage. Nodal negative were 71.2%.

Conclusion

In QuaMaDi breast cancer was diagnosed at an early and potentially curable stage of the disease due to high-quality standards in diagnostic mammography. In addition, regardless of age, an increased number of prognostically unfavorable molecular subtypes were detected. Thus, QuaMaDi helps to identify at risk populations. QuaMaDi significantly improves diagnostic mammography and complements mammography screening programs.
Einfluss der Behandlungserwartung auf Pruritus und Hautschmerzen
Authors: Krefting F. , Hölsken S. , Schedlowski M. , Sondermann W.
Published: October 2021

Hintergrund

Patientenerwartungen in Bezug auf den Nutzen einer medizinischen Behandlung stellen eine wichtige Determinante für die Placeboantwort dar. Sie können Entwicklung und Verlauf von Erkrankungen sowie Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit von Therapien maßgeblich beeinflussen. Die Mechanismen, die diese Placebo- und Noceboeffekte vermitteln, wurden bislang am besten auf dem Gebiet der Placeboanalgesie beschrieben. Aber auch in der Dermatologie findet sich eine zunehmende Evidenz dafür, dass verschiedene Symptome wie Schmerzen an der Haut und Pruritus (Jucken) sowie verschiedene dermatologische Erkrankungen durch die Behandlungserwartungen von Patienten moduliert werden können.

Ziel der Arbeit

Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Darstellung der aktuellen Datenlage in Bezug auf den Einfluss von Erwartungseffekten auf dermatologische Symptome wie Pruritus und Hautschmerzen sowie auf verschiedene dermatologische Erkrankungen. Schließlich soll die Bedeutung dieses Themas für Ärzte, die Patienten mit Hautsymptomen behandeln, vermittelt werden.

Material und Methoden

Es handelt sich um eine narrative Übersichtsarbeit.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Eine zunehmende Anzahl von Studien an gesunden Probanden und dermatologischen Patienten zeigt, dass Hautsymptome wie Pruritus und Schmerzen durch die Induktion positiver Erwartungen verringert und durch die Induktion negativer Erwartungen verstärkt werden können. Vorherige Behandlungserfahrungen der Patienten sowie die Qualität und Quantität der Arzt-Patienten-Kommunikation spielen für die Induktion der Behandlungserwartung eine zentrale Rolle.

Schlussfolgerung

Techniken, die darauf abzielen, positive Erwartungseffekte von Patienten mit Hautsymptomen zu maximieren und negative zu minimieren, sollten in die klinische Routine implementiert werden.
A new tunable elastic metamaterial structure for manipulating band gaps/wave propagation
Authors: Wang Zhenyu , Ma Zhaoyang , Guo Xingming , Zhang Dongsheng
Published: October 2021

A one-dimensional mechanical lattice system with local resonators is proposed as an elastic metamaterial model, which shows negative mass and negative modulus under specific frequency ranges. The proposed representative units, consisting of accurately arranged rigid components, can generate controllable translational resonance and achieve negative mass and negative modulus by adjusting the local structural parameters. A shape memory polymer is adopted as a spring component, whose Young’s modulus is obviously affected by temperature, and the proposed metamaterials’ tunable ability is achieved by adjusting temperature. The effect of the shape memory polymer’s stiffness variation on the band gaps is investigated detailedly, and the special phenomenon of intersecting dispersion curves is discussed, which can be designed and controlled by adjusting temperature. The dispersion relationship of the continuum metamaterial model affected by temperature is obtained, which shows great tunable ability to manipulate wave propagation.
Pole Length Influences Performance During On-Snow Skating in Female Cross-Country Skiers
Authors: Torvik Per-Øyvind , van den Tillaar Roland , Bostad Guro , Sandbakk Øyvind
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pole length on performance and technique selection during a simulated skating cross-country (XC) skiing competition on snow in female XC skiers.

Methods

Nine female XC skiers and biathletes (VO2max 63.6 ± 6.2 mL/min/kg, age 22.9 ± 3.5 years, body height 1.69 ± 0.1 m and body mass 60.8 ± 4.6 kg) completed two 5-km skating time-trail with maximal effort. The athletes had a minimum 4.5 h of rest between the two races, which were performed in a random order: one with self-selected poles (89.0% ± 0.6% of body height) and one with 7.5 cm increased pole length (94.0% ± 0.5% of body height). Speed in set terrain sections was determined and the selection of sub-technique was self-reported immediately after each race based on a detailed review of the entire track.

Results

Skiers performed on average 7.1 ± 7.1 s (P = 0.029) faster with the long poles, with this difference occurring during the first 200 m and in the uphill parts of the track, in which ~ 5% more G3 and ~ 5% fewer G2 sub-techniques were chosen (both P < 0.05). The rating of perceived exertion was 1 ± 0.9 point lower (P = 0.04) and skiing technique was perceived to be ~ 1.2 ± 1.5 points better with long poles (P = 0.038), while the physiological responses (i.e., peak and average heart rate, and blood lactate concentration) did not differ between trials.

Conclusion

In conclusion, poles 7.5 cm longer than self-selected ones improved performance in skating, by enhancing speed in the initial phase (first 200 m) and in the uphill section of the track. In addition, the longer poles induced more use of the G3 skating sub-technique.
Climate change and groundwater resources availability in the Great Limpopo National Park (Mozambique): the current state of knowledge
Authors: Vitale S. , Sappa G. , Andrei F. , Barbieri M.
Published: October 2021

This work outlines a comprehensive study of groundwater resources supply in Mozambique’s Great Limpopo National Park buffer zone in Southern Africa. To protect biological diversity and the water resources supply of dispersed communities of the buffer zone is a crucial problem to fix people in the region and, in the meantime, to boost the development of the Limpopo National Park. This work shows the current state of knowledge about this topic and try to point out some suggestions on technical solutions. Some previous studies concluded that two different main factors make a complex water supply in this area: (i) the rainwater distribution, it is hard to transform the rainwater into groundwater resources available for exploitation, and (ii) the common groundwater resources, rich in elements such as Boron (B), Mercury (Hg), Uranium (U), Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb). The occurrence of these elements is linked to the presence of groundwater with long residence times, unsafe for people’s health. The methodological approach adopted has been to assess the potential infiltration, applying the inverse hydrogeological budget technique, starting from the main outcropping geological units, in the study area. Due to the lack of meteorological data referred to Limpopo National Park, the gauge stations located in the Kruger National Park during the last 64 years have been, on the whole, considered. The target of the study has been to assess the trend of meteorological data and understand how precipitations could affect groundwater recharge and their availability. Without a strategy of biodiversity conservation and sustainable water resources management, they cannot be reached and guaranteed healthy conditions for local dispersed communities. A hydrogeoethical responsible approach is essential to protect biological diversity and hydrosocial cycle framework with integrative ecosystem services and nature-based solutions.
Functional outcome in scapular fracture treatment evaluation with 2-year follow-up in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital
Authors: Martika Windi , Dilogo Ismail Hadisoebroto , Setyawan Riky
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

Standard treatment of scapular fractures is still controversial. There was no consensus for the best indication in surgical management and therapeutic choice of the scapular fracture. This study aim is to evaluate both radiological characteristics and functional outcomes between patients with scapular fracture treated with conservative and operative management.

Methods:

We did a case series study of 19 patients with scapular fractures between 2012 and 2017. Nine patients were treated with open reduction internal fixation and 10 patients were treated conservatively. We evaluated radiological outcome using degree of Glenopolar Angle (GPA), angulation, and medialization through anteroposterior, lateral, and scapular Y projection, functional outcome using DASH scores, and complications in 2-year follow-up.

Result:

The mean patient age was 46.3 ± 18.4 years in the conservative group and 42.7 ± 11.5 years in the operative group. Fracture pattern was classified using Zdravkovic and Damholt (ZD) classification. DASH Score was excellent with 9.5 ± 2.1 points in conservative group and 6.0 ± 2.5 points in operative group with insignificant difference. There was significant difference in GPA and medialization. This is supported by functional outcome of operative group which is higher compared to conservative treatment insignificantly.

Conclusion:

Operative treatment resulted high functional outcome and minimal complications compared to the conservative group. Operative treatment was recommended for scapular fractures that are displaced more than 9 mm and/or angulated more than 40°.

Level of evidence:

II, therapeutic study.
Unsteady Combustor Physics
Authors: Lieuwen Tim C.
Published: October 2021

Explore a unified treatment of the dynamics of combustor systems, including acoustics, fluid mechanics, and combustion in a single rigorous text. This updated new edition features an expansion of data and experimental material, updates the coverage of flow stability, and enhanced treatment of flame dynamics. Addresses system dynamics of clean energy and propulsion systems used in low emissions systems. Synthesizing the fields of fluid mechanics and combustion into a coherent understanding of the intrinsically unsteady processes in combustors. This is a perfect reference for engineers and researchers in fluid mechanics, combustion, and clean energy.
Experiences in Archaeology, Social Justice, and Democratic Principles
Authors: Belcher William R. , Falgout Suzanne , Chinen Joyce , Carriera R. Kalani , Fuller Johanna
Published: October 2021

From 2016 to 2019, the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu conducted archaeological field schools at Honouliuli National Historic Site to teach our students basic archaeological skills. Because the site was the largest Japanese and Japanese American concentration camp on O‘ahu, the field school initiated a program related to social justice and democratic principles for the imprisonment of US citizens and legal residents based on racial and national profiling. The demography of O‘ahu created a special bond to the incarcerees’ stories and the students of Asian and Hawaiian descent. Through field trips, student discussion, and curriculum development, we focused on the pedagogical benefit of experiential learning. Field trips to the National Park Service's World War II Valor in the Pacific Park System on O‘ahu, King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i allowed the students to see and understand the historical context of the Japanese internment from the mid-nineteenth century, with the development of plantations and early colonialism, to the beginning of World War II and the internment of the more than 300 Japanese and Japanese American—as well as European and Okinawan—civilians and the imprisonment of over 4,000 prisoners of war.
Hidden Continuities?: The Avatars of “Judicial Lustration” in Post-Communist Romania
Authors: Iancu Bogdan
Published: October 2021

This Article grapples with the instrumentalization of the past in Romania, in the specific context of “judicial lustration” measures. It argues that decommunization and lustration policies, which could not be pursued in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of state socialism in 1989, were weaponized much later and used in order to advance other purposes. In 2006, an expedited judicial vetting procedure, in the context of the EU-driven fight against corruption, was repurposed by the center-right as a lustration instrument. In the same year, the dismantling of an intelligence service created after 1991 in the Justice Ministry (SIPA) to monitor ‘vulnerabilities’ in the justice system has set in motion a long series of failed attempts to bring closure to the question regarding the service’s archives, fomenting continuities of suspicion until today. More recently, in 2018, a form of ‘mock-judicial lustration’ has been used by the political left to deflect or at least delegitimize repressive anti-corruption policies. The new “lustration procedure” implicitly equated the recent cooperation between prosecutors and intelligence officers, in the context of the fight against corruption, with past practices of collusion between the members of the judiciary and the communist Securitate. These three episodes of ‘dealing with the past’ are reviewed in order to showcase path-dependencies. Such path-dependencies are not linked only with carryovers from or throwbacks to the communist past. Rather, pre- and post-communist deficiencies of modernization, combined more recently with gaps in post-accession monitoring by the EU Commission, create continuities of peripheral instrumentalism. Various narratives, such as decommunization, the fight against graft, judicial reform and the rule of law are used to legitimize short-term consequentialism, evincing a resilient, structural resistance to legislative and legal normativity.
Judicial Populism and the Weberian Judge—The Strength of Judicial Resistance Against Governmental Influence in Hungary
Authors: Bencze Mátyás
Published: October 2021

The Hungarian judiciary has reacted to the political change of recent years in a twofold way. Some judges have resisted political pressure and decided cases according to the law and their conscience, while others, showing the signs of judicial populism, have deferred to the interests of the government. The paper explains the relationship between this twofold behavior and the bureaucratic tradition of the Hungarian justice system. The conclusion is that the bureaucratic model of organization has certain features that can make judges more resistant to political pressure, while other elements of the model can lead to judicial deference. Nonetheless, these latter elements are not necessary components of the ‘Weberian’ justice system.
A proper framework for studying noise from jets with non-compact sources
Authors: Baars Woutijn J. , Murray Nathan E. , Tinney Charles E.
Published: October 2021

A quantitative assessment of the acoustic source field produced by a laboratory-scale heated jet with a gas dynamic Mach number of 1.55 and an acoustic Mach number of 2.41 is performed using arrays of microphones that are traversed across the axial and radial plane of the jet's acoustic field. The nozzle contour comprises a method of characteristics shape so that shock-related noise is minimal and the dominant sound production mechanism is from Mach waves. The spatial topography of the overall sound pressure level is shown to be dominated by a distinct lobe residing on the principal acoustic emission path, which is expected from flows of this kind with supersonic convective acoustic Mach numbers. The sound field is then analysed on a per-frequency basis in order to identify the location, strength, convection velocity and propagation angle of the various axially distributed noise sources. The analysis reveals a collection of unique data-informed polar patterns of the sound intensity for each frequency. It is shown how these polar patterns can be propagated to any point in the far field with extreme accuracy using the inverse square law. Doing so allows one to gauge the kinds of errors that are encountered using a nozzle-centred source to calculate sound pressure spectrum levels and acoustic power. It is proposed that the measurement strategy described here be used for situations where measurements are being used to compare different facilities, for extrapolating measurements to different geometric scales, for model validation or for developing noise control strategies.
Tectonic, hydrogeologic, and climatic controls on Late Holocene dune formation, China Lake basin, Indian Wells Valley, California, USA
Authors: Lancaster Nicholas , Bacon Steven N. , Bullard Thomas F. , Neudorf Christina M. , Keen-Zebert Amanda K. , Decker David L. , Boggs Matthew L.
Published: October 2021

Analysis of patterns of faulting and hydrogeology, stratigraphic and sedimentologic studies, and luminescence dating of aeolian deposits in China Lake basin provide new perspectives on the origins and development of Late Holocene dunes and sand ramps in the seismically active Indian Wells Valley of eastern California. Aeolian dune and sand sheet deposits were sourced from alluvial material derived from granitic rocks of the south-eastern Sierra Nevada and are concentrated in areas with sand-stabilizing phreatophyte vegetation influenced by high groundwater levels along the active oblique-normal Little Lake and Paxton Ranch faults, which locally form barriers to groundwater flow. Three episodes of sand accumulation are recognized (2.1 ± 0.1 to 2.0 ± 0.1 ka, 1.8 ± 0.2 to 1.6 ± 0.2 ka, and 1.2 ± 0.1 to 0.9 ± 0.1 ka) during conditions in which sediment supplied to the basin during periods of enhanced rainfall and runoff was subsequently reworked by wind into dunes and sand ramps at the transition to more arid periods. Understanding the role tectonics plays in influencing the hydrogeology of seismically active lake basins provides insights to accurately interpret landscape evolution and any inferences made on past hydroclimate variability in a region.
The Münster Rising, Memories of Violence, and Perceptions of Dissent in Restoration England
Authors: Crome Andrew
Published: October 2021

This article examines the ways in which the violent Anabaptist rising at Münster in 1533–5 was reinterpreted in Restoration England. Historians have often recognized that the incident was used to attack English Baptists in the seventeenth century, but there has been little systematic exploration of the processes behind this. This article suggests that recollections of Münster in later seventeenth-century England were a species of ‘cosmopolitan memory’ – an internationally shared memory of trauma put to distinctive local uses. References to Münster served as ways for English writers to tie nonconformists to specific acts of religious violence in England, including the Civil Wars and Thomas Venner's 1661 rising in London, without directly recalling these events. Historical discussions of the Münster rising therefore often directly transformed German Anabaptists into Quakers or Fifth Monarchists. Condemnations of the violence in the German city were also used by Congregationalists and Presbyterians to differentiate themselves from Baptists and Quakers and to emphasize their orthodoxy. Some Baptist writers responded by disclaiming their links to continental Anabaptists, while others moved to question the established historiography around the Münster rising. This article demonstrates these points through a range of sources, including sermons, letters, commentaries, controversial literature, and almanacs.
Imperial Thinking and Colonial Combat in the Early Twentieth-Century Italian Army
Authors: Wilcox Vanda
Published: October 2021

Although designed primarily as a national institution, between the 1880s and the First World War the Italian army's military operations were all in the colonial sphere. By 1914, Italy claimed an extensive empire in East and North Africa. How far did imperialism shape Italian military culture and institutions? I identify ‘imperial thinking’ across nine areas of army activity. Italian colonialism relied on a pervasive narrative of Italian benevolence – italiani brava gente – with Italian conduct in war or as imperial rulers portrayed as inherently mild. This was accompanied by a set of anxieties we might term Adwa syndrome: after Italy's defeat by Ethiopia at Adwa in 1896, the Italian army was acutely afraid of possible violent uprisings by the local people. Many army officers expected betrayal and brutality from their colonial enemies or subjects, and acted accordingly. This outlook shaped the army's conduct both in the colonies and when dealing with European adversaries in the First World War. While the army of late Liberal Italy was structurally and doctrinally a national army, it was increasingly imperialist in mindset and outlook, which directly affected its conduct on and off the battlefield.
International comparisons of COVID-19 case and mortality data and the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions: a plea for reconsideration
Authors: Thomson Stephen , Ip Eric C. , Lee Shing Fung
Published: October 2021

International comparisons of the effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) based on national case and mortality data are fraught with underestimated complexity. This article calls for stronger attention to just how extensive is the multifactorial nature of national case and mortality data, and argues that, unless a globally consistent benchmark of measurement can be devised, such comparisons are facile, if not misleading. This can lead to policy decisions and public support for the adoption of potentially harmful NPIs that are ineffective in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and damaging to mental health, social cohesion, human rights and economic development. The unscientific use of international comparisons of case and mortality data in public discourse, media reporting and policymaking on NPI effectiveness should be subject to greater scrutiny.
Tranexamic acid in sinus and nasal surgery: an up-to-date meta-analysis
Authors: Yap D , Shakir A , Hunt A
Published: October 2021

Objective

There are gaps within current meta-analyses looking at the effects of tranexamic acid on sino-nasal surgery. This study aimed to update and summarise all current available evidence on the use of tranexamic acid in sino-nasal surgery.

Method

A literature search was performed using four medical databases, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline and PubMed. Data analysis was performed using dedicated meta-analysis software Review Manager (Revman).

Results

Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. The amount of blood loss and duration of surgery in tranexamic acid groups was statistically lower than placebo for both sinus and nasal surgery. Tranexamic acid improves the surgical field quality in sinus surgery but worsens the field in nasal surgery. Topical or intravenous administration of tranexamic acid in sinus surgery reduces blood loss, duration of surgery and improves the quality of the surgical field.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the use of tranexamic acid in sinus surgery reduces blood loss, decreases surgical duration and improves surgical field quality.