bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are cancer patients with high depressive symptom levels able to manage these symptoms without professional care? The role of coping and social support
Authors: Bickel Esmée A. , Fleer Joke , Ranchor Adelita V. , Schroevers Maya J.
Published: February 2022

Objective

Around 25% of cancer patients experiences depressive symptoms. However, the majority does not receive formal psychological care because patients often prefer managing symptoms alone or with informal social support. Previous research has shown that adaptive coping and social support can indeed be effective in managing relatively mild depressive symptoms. However, higher depressive symptom levels rarely improve without psychological treatment. This longitudinal study examined how and to what extent coping and social support are related to reductions in depressive symptoms in cancer patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

Methods

Respondents were diagnosed with cancer in the past five years, experienced high depressive symptom levels (PHQ‐9 ≥ 10) and were not receiving psychological care at baseline. We collected data with self‐report questionnaires (including PHQ‐9, brief COPE and Social Support List) at two assessments, taken three months apart.

Results

Although depressive symptoms decreased significantly between baseline and follow‐up, the average level at follow‐up was still moderate to severe. Patients using less avoidant coping, specifically less substance use, were more likely to report a reduction of depressive symptoms. We found no significant beneficial effects of approach coping and social support (coping) on the course of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

A significant group of cancer patients with high levels of depressive symptoms do not seem able to effectively manage depressive symptoms by themselves, especially those more likely to avoid dealing with their symptoms. Cancer patients can be educated about avoidant coping and its possible detrimental effects, as well as being informed about possibilities of psychosocial services.
Neighbor interactions and settlement intentions of African Migrants in urban China: A case study of Guangzhou
Authors: Tan Yiming , Xue Desheng , Zhang Bo
Published: February 2022

The presence of African migrants in Chinese cities has attracted extensive scholarly interest. While several studies have noticed a decline in the population of African migrants in Guangzhou along with the recent changes of policies on immigration control, the present study casts new light to the currently remaining African migrants in Guangzhou who are less susceptible to the strict immigration control measures and are more likely to be socially included due to the recent favorable policies. It attempts to investigate what factors can further motivate their willingness to stay permanently in the city, and draws attention to the effects of neighbor interactions given their importance for the African communities in China as recently uncovered. Empirical data on 468 respondents were derived from a questionnaire survey conducted in the Xiaobei area of Guangzhou. Through descriptive and multivariate analyses of the determinants of settlement intentions, the present study finds that neighbor interactions affect the settlement intentions of the two major groups of African migrants, namely overseas students and businessmen, in quite different ways. Better affective neighbor relations are conducive to stronger settlement intentions for businessmen, while such an effect is found insignificant for the overseas students. The present study contributes new insights to the literature on settlement intentions by highlighting the importance of neighborhood supporting systems. It also has the potential to encourage new avenues for further research on the settlement intention of foreign populations in urban China, who are confronted with the constantly changing policy environment on immigration control.
Organic Semiconductor–Insulator Blends for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Zhang Zhuoqiong , Shi Run , Amini Abbas , So Shu Kong , Cheng Chun
Published: February 2022

Extensive progress has been made on the application of organic semiconductors (OSCs) in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs); however, low reproducibility and poor stability of OSCs have limited their industrial applications. One potential strategy to overcome these limitations is to blend OSCs with insulating commodity polymers. The resultant bicomponent blends can be used to fabricate OFETs with low cost, high performance, and long‐time retention. In addition, insulator blending is also identified as a facile and effective approach to enhance the OSC properties, with some unexpected features even superior to neat OSCs. Herein, the present advances of OSCs/insulator blends in the OFET configuration are reviewed. The perspectives on the intrinsic properties of insulator blends, including morphology and trap elimination, are presented for the purpose of strategic device optimization. Accordingly, the effect of different insulator components on device performance is also discussed.
Model‐free robust adaptive integral sliding mode impedance control of knee–ankle–toe active transfemoral prosthesis
Authors: Wu Zhengen , Chen Yawei , Geng Yanli , Wang Xirui , Xuan Bokai
Published: February 2022

Background

Wearing appropriate active prosthesis is the guarantee of daily life for amputees. Normally the controller of the traditional active transfemoral prosthesis is designed based on the mathematical model. The modelling error and the external interference will reduce the control accuracy of the system and make the prosthesis unable to operate in the desired trajectory.

Methods

Firstly, combined with time delay estimation (TDE), a model‐free robust integral sliding mode impedance controller is designed. This method not only suppress the impedance error, but also eliminate the nonlinear relationship and disturbance in the dynamic model. Secondly, an adaptive law is proposed to update the controller gain, which provide stable control effect. Thirdly, the stability of prosthesis closed‐loop system is proved by Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, the motor torque is used to drive each joint, and Matlab/Simscape is used to verify the prosthesis control system.

Results

From the result of the simulation experiment, the control method has a good tracking effect on each joint. The root mean square error and mean absolute errors of each joint's angle tracking error are 0.6123°, 1.9976°, 0.5574° and 0.2635°, 1.8175°, 0.4796°. Compared with the controller without adaptive gain and impedance control, the control effect is improved, and the plantar pressure of amputees is closer to the sound side.

Conclusions

Comparing the results of different controllers, the adaptive integral sliding mode impedance controller with TDE can better track the expected angles of each joint. The gait is more normal. The walking performance of the prosthesis wearers is improved.
Spy in the sky: a method to identify pregnant small cetaceans
Authors: Cheney Barbara J. , Dale Julian , Thompson Paul M. , Quick Nicola J.
Published: February 2022

Data on sex ratios, age classes, reproductive success and health status are key metrics to manage populations, yet can be difficult to collect in wild cetacean populations. Long‐term individual‐based studies provide a unique opportunity to apply unoccupied aerial system (UAS) photogrammetry to non‐invasively measure body morphometrics of individuals with known life history information. The aims of this study were (1) to compare length measurements from UAS photogrammetry with laser photogrammetry and (2) to explore whether UAS measurements of body width could be used to remotely determine pregnancy status, sex or age class in a well‐studied bottlenose dolphin population in Scotland. We carried out five boat‐based surveys in July and August 2017, with concurrent photo‐identification, UAS and laser photogrammetry. Photographs were measured using bespoke programmes, MorphMetriX for UAS photos and a Zooniverse project for laser photos. In total 64 dolphins were identified using photo‐ID, 54 of which had concurrent UAS body length and 47 with laser body length measurements. We also measured body widths at 10% increments from 10% to 90% of body length for 48 individuals of known sex, age class and/or pregnancy status. There was no significant difference in the length of individuals measured with UAS and laser photogrammetry. Discriminant analyses of the body width–length (WL) ratios expected to change during pregnancy, correctly assigned pregnancy status for 14 of the 15 females of known pregnancy status. Only one pregnant female was incorrectly assigned as not pregnant. However, our results showed that length and body width cannot accurately allocate these bottlenose dolphins to sex or age class using photogrammetry techniques alone. The present study illustrates that UAS and laser photogrammetry measurements are comparable for small cetaceans and demonstrates that UAS measurements of body WL ratio can accurately assign pregnancy status in bottlenose dolphins.
Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Using the Biomass of Aspergillus niger to Impart Cotton Fabric with Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Rilda Yetria , Rinaldi Rifki , Syukri Syukri , Armaini Armaini , Refinel Refinel , Agustien Anthoni , Pardi Hilfi
Published: February 2022

The biosynthesis of ZnO is performed through enzymatic mechanisms for controlling the particle size and morphology with using the sol‐gel method. Furthermore, this method utilizes a stabilizer obtained from the cell biomass of Aspergillus niger mold in order to yield homogeneous and consistent products. The evaluation of functional, morphological, and antibacterial activities was carried out at pH 6.0‐13.0. The analysis FT‐IR showed the interaction of hydroxyl groups, aromatic rings, as well as N−H and O−Zn‐O compounds at a wavenumber of 401–584 cm−1. The XRD and SEM characterizations showed that ZnO structure and crystal phase were hexagonal wurtzite at dimensions of 36.2 ‐ 45.4 nm. The differences in pH also influenced the dimensions, morphology, and antimicrobial activity. ZnO with a pH of 8.0 was characterized by FESEM‐EDAX, based on the analysis of morphological uniformity. This characterization obtained rod and cube structures, with atomic ratios of Zn=61.5 % and O=38.5 %. The UV‐DRS spectrum showed that the optical band gap with a value of Eg=3.00–3.11 eV. The differences in morphology further distinguished antibacterial properties on textile fibers, through the use of the Gram ‐ and + bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus), with inhibition zones of 17–21 mm and 21–25 mm, respectively. Therefore, ZnO is classified as a very strong antibacterial material than amoxicillin, with an inhibition zone of 13.6 mm.
Molecular Solar Thermal Systems towards Phase Change and Visible Light Photon Energy Storage
Authors: Xu Xingtang , Wang Guojie
Published: February 2022

Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems have attracted tremendous attention for solar energy conversion and storage, which can generate high‐energy metastable isomers upon capturing photon energy, and release the stored energy as heat on demand during back conversion. However, the pristine molecular photoswitches are limited by low storage energy density and UV light photon energy storage. Recently, numerous pioneering works have been focused on the development of MOST systems towards phase change (PC) and visible light photon energy storage to increase their properties. On the one hand, the strategy of simultaneously capturing isomerization enthalpy and PC energy between solid and liquid can not only offer high latent heat, but also promote the development of sustainable energy systems. On the other hand, the efficient photon energy storage in the visible light range opens a tremendously fascinating avenue to fabricate MOST systems powered under natural sunlight. Here, the recent advances of MOST systems towards PC and visible light photon energy storage are systematically summarized, the most promising advantages and current challenges are analyzed, and emerging strategies and future research directions are proposed.
Effect of temperature and moisture on the bond strength betweenfiber reinforced polymerlaminates and cement‐based mortar substrates
Authors: Imani Jajarmi Peyman , Tavakkolizadeh Mohammadreza , Youssefi Abbas
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the results of pull‐off and twist‐off tests on bond strength between fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and cement‐based mortar substrate and is carried out to investigate the effect of moisture and temperature at the time of installation. In the field of fracture mechanics, it is common to classify the pull‐off and twist‐off tests as mode‐I and mode‐II fractures, respectively. A total of 27 specimens were prepared and 243 tests were conducted. In order to evaluate the significance of each factor and their interactions, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. Results revealed that surface moisture content and temperature significantly affect the adhesion of the two materials and bond strength. ANOVA confirmed that these two parameters have great influence on bond strength between FRP and cement‐based mortar, although compressive strength and total porosity of substrate were not statistically significant. To estimate the bond strength by considering the effective parameters and based on the collected experimental data, new and more accurate relations were proposed using nonlinear regression techniques.
Development of an innovative metallic damper for concentrically braced frame systems based on experimental and analytical studies
Authors: Ghamari Ali , Kim Changhyuk , Jeong Seong‐Hoon
Published: February 2022

Although concentrically braced frames (CBFs) possess high lateral stiffness and strength, the buckling of compressive members indicates that a system does not have appropriate ductility. Therefore, CBF is not a successful system for high seismic regions. Comprehensive studies have been performed on this drawback concerning CBF systems. The use of a metallic damper is considered an appropriate method to enhance the behavior of CBFs. While metallic dampers improve the hysteretic behavior of the CBF, they impose additional costs on the structures. Therefore, in this study, a steel damper, which is economical and straightforward to construct and replace after a severe earthquake, was developed. The proposed damper was investigated experimentally and numerically. In addition, a parametric study was performed to evaluate the effect of the three types of damper mechanisms (shear, shear‐flexural, and flexural) with three types of buckling (elastic, inelastic, and plastic) on the behavior of the proposed damper. The experimental results, as well as the numerical results, indicate that the shear damper exhibits better performance than the other dampers in terms of strength and stiffness. Except in the case where the shear damper is accompanied by plastic buckling, it has a higher energy dissipation capability. In addition, a flexural damper with elastic buckling cannot be considered as an energy‐dissipating device because of the fracturing of the damper due to displacement near the elastic zone. Fundamental relationships were used to predict the behavior of these dampers, and these predictions showed good agreement with the finite element results.
Designing the mid‐transition: A review of medium‐term challenges for coordinated decarbonization in the United States
Authors: Grubert Emily , Hastings‐Simon Sara
Published: February 2022

Decarbonizing the energy system is critical for addressing climate change. Given the dominance of fossil fuels in the energy system, decarbonization requires rapid and significant industrial transition of the energy supply at scale. This includes explicit and coordinated plans not only for zero carbon phase‐in, but for fossil carbon phase‐out. Even very rapid decarbonization will likely take decades, leading to a medium‐term future where the conventional, fossil‐based energy system coexists with a new, zero‐carbon energy system. Each imposes operational constraints on the other: what we call the mid‐transition. Notably, this coexistence means that the new, zero‐carbon system will develop under fossil carbon system constraints. The mid‐transition will therefore likely require specific analytical metrics designed to support decision making under dynamic and uncertain conditions. Many aspects of transition will be felt, and shaped, directly by individuals because of our direct interactions with energy systems. Even rare missteps are likely to have significant and potentially system design‐relevant impacts on perception, political support, and implementation. Comparisons of the new system to the old system are likely to rest on experience of a world less affected by climate change, such that concerns about lower reliability, higher costs, and other challenges might be perceived as inherent to zero‐carbon systems, versus energy systems facing consequences of climate change and long‐term underinvestment. This review assesses and evaluates medium‐term challenges associated with the mid‐transition in the United States, emphasizing the need for explicit planning for joint and coordinated phase‐in and phase‐out.

This article is categorized under:

The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Decarbonizing Energy and/or Reducing Demand
Detecting RNA–RNA interactome
Authors: Singh Suman , Shyamal Sharmishtha , Panda Amaresh C.
Published: February 2022

The last decade has seen a robust increase in various types of novel RNA molecules and their complexity in gene regulation. RNA molecules play a critical role in cellular events by interacting with other biomolecules, including protein, DNA, and RNA. It has been established that RNA–RNA interactions play a critical role in several biological processes by regulating the biogenesis and function of RNA molecules. Interestingly, RNA–RNA interactions regulate the biogenesis of diverse RNA molecules, including mRNAs, microRNAs, tRNAs, and circRNAs, through splicing or backsplicing. Structured RNAs like rRNA, tRNA, and snRNAs achieve their functional conformation by intramolecular RNA–RNA interactions. In addition, functional consequences of many intermolecular RNA–RNA interactions have been extensively studied in the regulation of gene expression. Hence, it is essential to understand the mechanism and functions of RNA–RNA interactions in eukaryotes. Conventionally, RNA–RNA interactions have been identified through diverse biochemical methods for decades. The advent of high‐throughput RNA‐sequencing technologies has revolutionized the identification of global RNA–RNA interactome in cells and their importance in RNA structure and function in gene expression regulation. Although these technologies revealed tens of thousands of intramolecular and intermolecular RNA–RNA interactions, we further look forward to future unbiased and quantitative high‐throughput technologies for detecting transcriptome‐wide RNA–RNA interactions. With the ability to detect RNA–RNA interactome, we expect that future studies will reveal the higher‐order structures of RNA molecules and multi‐RNA hybrids impacting human health and diseases.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses In Vitro and In Silico

RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems
Fabricating a ZIF‐8@Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)/PVDF mixed matrix composite membrane for separation of ethanol from aqueous solution via vapor permeation
Authors: Yang WeiPing , Su Xing , Zheng Tucai , Zhang Qingqiu , Jiao Jiacai , Meng Lingbin , Qing Weihua , Zhai Chi
Published: February 2022

To date, vapor permeation (VP) technology has been attracted increasing attentions in ethanol fermentation process, in which the improvement of membrane performance is critical. In this study, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF‐8) was successfully synthesized and chosen as incorporating nanofillers for fabrication of mixed matrix membrane (MMMs) using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the matrix. A simple modified “prime” method with higher viscosity of coating solution was implemented for preventing agglomeration of ZIF‐8 during membrane preparation process. A thin ZIF‐8@PDMS layer of 5.4 μm was obtained and firmly coated on a PVDF porous substrate to form the robust composite membrane structure. The chemical structure, morphologies, surface properties, and solvent uptakes of the resultant membrane were investigated compared with pristine PDMS/PVDF membrane. The VP performance for separation of ethanol/water binary solution in the concentration range of fermentation broth (1∼7 wt %) were tested and discussed by comparison of the ZIF‐8@PDMS/PVDF MMM and pristine PDMS/PVDF membrane. The trans‐membrane flux, separation factor, ethanol permeability, and membrane selectivity were all promoted by the embedded ZIF‐8 nanofillers.
Thermoelectric Properties of p‐ and n‐type Eu5Sn2As6
Authors: Devlin Kasey P. , Gomez Braulio , Kauzlarich Susan M.
Published: February 2022

Eu5Sn2As6 is a Zintl phase crystalizing in the orthorhombic space group Pbam with one‐dimensional chains of corner‐shared SnAs4 tetrahedra running in the c‐direction. Eu5Sn2As6 has an impressive room temperature Seebeck of >100 μV/K and < – 100 μV/K at 600 K crossing from p‐ to n‐type at 650 K. The maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, for Eu5Sn2As6 is small (0.075), comparable to that of the Zintl phase Ca5Al2Sb6 whose thermoelectric performance was improved by doping Na onto the Ca sites. In this study, we show that the thermoelectric properties of Eu5Sn2As6 can be improved by substituting with K or La. The series Eu5‐xKxSn2As6 provides an increase in maximum zT of 0.22 for x=0.15 due to a decrease resistivity while the onset of bipolar conduction systematically increases in temperature. Upon La substitution, Eu5‐xLaxSn2As6 results in a new n‐type Zintl phase across the temperature range of 300–800 K.
Introducing a New Intrinsic Metric
Authors: Rainio Oona , Vuorinen Matti
Published: February 2022

A new intrinsic metric called the t-metric is introduced. Several sharp inequalities between this metric and the most common hyperbolic type metrics are proven for various domains $$G\subsetneq \mathbb {R}^n$$

G
⊊

R

n

. The behaviour of the new metric is also studied under a few examples of conformal and quasiconformal mappings, and the differences between the balls drawn with all the metrics considered are compared by both computational and analytical means.
Decomposition of Higher-Order Wright Convex Functions Revisited
Authors: Páles Zsolt , Shihab Mahmood Kamil
Published: February 2022

In 2009, Maksa and Páles established an extension of the decomposition theorem of Ng in the context of higher-order convexity notions. They proved that a real function is Wright convex of order n if and only if it can be decomposed as the sum of a convex function of order n and a polynomial function of order at most n. Their proof was based on transfinite tools in the background. The main purpose of this paper is to adopt the methods of a paper of Páles published in 2020 and establish a new and elementary proof for the theorem of Maksa and Páles.
On the classification of unitals on 28 points of low rank
Authors: Tonchev Vladimir , Wassermann Alfred
Published: February 2022

The classification of unitals with parameters 2-(28, 4, 1) according to the 2-rank of their incidence matrices was initiated by McGuire, Tonchev and Ward, who proved that the 2-rank of any unital on 28 points is greater than or equal to 19, and up to isomorphism, there is a unique unital with 2-rank equal to 19. Jaffe and Tonchev investigated the next two 2-ranks, 20 and 21, and showed that there are no unitals on 28 points with 2-rank equal to 20, and there are exactly 4 isomorphism classes of unitals of rank 21. The subject of this paper is the classification of unitals having 2-rank 22, 23 and 24.
Rib fractures in the elderly population: a systematic review
Authors: Hoepelman Ruben J. , Beeres Frank J. P. , Heng Marilyn , Knobe Matthias , Link Björn-Christian , Minervini Fabrizio , Babst Reto , Houwert Roderick. M. , van de Wall Bryan J. M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Multiple rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly patients. There is growing interest in surgical stabilization in this subgroup of patients. This systematic review compares conservative treatment to surgical fixation in elderly patients (older than 60 years) with multiple rib fractures. The primary outcome is mortality. Secondary outcomes include hospital and intensive care length of stay (HLOS and ILOS), duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV) and pneumonia rates.

Methods

Multiple databases were searched for comparative studies reporting on conservative versus operative treatment for rib fractures in patients older than 60 years. Both observational studies and randomised clinical trials were considered.

Results

Five observational studies (n = 2583) were included. Mortality was lower in operatively treated patients compared to conservative treatment (4% vs. 8%). Pneumonia rate and DMV were similar (5/6% and 5.8/6.5 days) for either treatment modality. Overall ILOS and HLOS of stay were longer in operatively treated patients (6.5 ILOS and 12.7 HLOS vs. 2.7 ILOS and 6.5 ILOS). There were only minimal reports on perioperative complications. Notably, the median number of rib fractures (8.4 vs. 5) and the percentage of flail chest were higher in operatively treated patients (47% vs. 39%).

Conclusion

It remains unknown to what extent conservative and operative treatment contribute individually to reducing morbidity and mortality in the elderly with multiple rib fractures. To date, the quality of evidence is rather low, thus well-performed comparative observational studies or randomised controlled trials considering all confounders are needed to determine whether operative treatment can improve a patient’s outcome.
Equivalent outcomes in nasal symptoms following microscopic or endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: results from multi-centre, prospective study
Authors: Osborne Charlie , Lewis Daniel , Dixon Ben , Caputo Carmela , Magee Alison , Gnanalingham Kanna , Wang Yi Yuen
Published: February 2022

Background

T
ranssphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the standard approach for resection of pituitary lesions. Historically, this has utilized the microscopic approach (mTSS); however, the past decade has seen widespread uptake of the endoscopic approach (eTSS). The purported benefits of this include improved visualization and illumination, resulting in improved surgical and endocrinological patient outcomes. It is also believed that eTSS results in fewer post-operative nasal symptoms compared to mTSS; however, few papers have directly compared these groups.

Objectives

We sought to compare nasal symptoms after endoscopic uninostril (eTSS-uni), endoscopic binostril (eTSS-bi) and microscopic endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (mTSS).

Methods

The General Nasal Patient Inventory (GNPI) was prospectively administered to 136 patients (71 non-functioning adenomas, 26 functioning adenomas, 39 other pathology) undergoing transsphenoidal surgery at multiple time points (pre-operatively; days 1, 3 and 7–14; months 1, 3 and 6 and 1 year post-operatively). All surgeries were performed by subspecialist pituitary surgeons in three subgroups — mTSS (25), eTSS-uni (74) and eTSS-bi (37). The total GNPI scores (0–135) and subscores for the 45 individual components were compared across three groups assessing for temporal and absolute changes.

Results

Irrespective of surgical approach used, GNPI scores were significantly higher on post-operative day 1 (p < 0.001) and day 3 (p ≤ 0.03) compared to pre-treatment baseline (mixed-effects model). By 1 month post-operatively, however, post-operative GNPI scores were no different from pre-treatment (p > 0.05, mixed-effects model). Whilst the eTSS-uni group demonstrated significantly lower GNPI scores at day 1 post-op compared to the mTSS group (p = 0.05) and eTSS-bi group (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference in post-operative scores between approaches beyond 1–2 weeks post-operatively. Similar results were obtained when the non-functioning tumour group was analysed separately.

Conclusions

Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is well tolerated. Post-operative nasal symptoms transiently worsen but ultimately improve compared to pre-operative baseline. Operative approach (microscopic, endoscopic uninostril or endoscopic binostril) only has a transient effect on severity of post-operative nasal symptoms.
Early post-discharge mortality in CAP: frequency, risk factors and a prediction tool
Authors: Glöckner Verena , Pletz Mathias W. , Rohde Gernot , Rupp Jan , Witzenrath Martin , Barten-Neiner Grit , Kolditz Martin ,   for the CAPNETZ Study Group, Dreher M. , Cornelissen C. , Knüppel W. , Stolz D. , Suttorp N. , Creutz P. , Witzenrath M. , Mikolajewska A. , le Claire A. , Benzke M. , Bauer T. , Krieger D. , Prediger M. , Schmager S. , Kolditz M. , Schulte-Hubbert B. , Langner S. , Rohde G. , Degen O. , Hüfner A. , Hoffmann C. , Welte T. , Freise J. , Barten-Neiner G. , Nawrocki M. , Fuge I. , Freise J. , Naim J. , Kröner W. , Illig T. , Klopp N. , Kroegel C. , Moeser A. , Pletz M. , Schleenvoigt B. , Bahrs C. , Drömann D. , Parschke P. , Franzen K. , Rupp J. , Käding N. , Wouters M. , Walraven K. , Braeken D. , Spinner C. , Buschmann H. , Zaruchas A. , Schaberg T. , Hering I. , Albrich W. , Waldeck F. , Rassouli F. , Baldesberger S. , Panning M. , Wallner M.
Published: February 2022

There are few data on mortality after discharge with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Therefore, we evaluated risk factors for 30-day post-discharge mortality after CAP. We included all patients of the prospective multi-national CAPNETZ study between 2002 and 2018 with (1) hospitalized CAP, (2) survival until discharge, and (3) complete follow-up data. The study endpoint was death within 30 days after discharge. We evaluated risk factors including demographics, comorbidities, admission CAP severity, and laboratory values and treatment-related factors in uni- and multivariable analyses. A total of 126 (1.6%) of 7882 included patients died until day 30 after discharge, corresponding to 26% of all 476 deaths. After multivariable analysis, we identified 10 independent risk factors: higher age, lower BMI, presence of diabetes mellitus, chronic renal or chronic neurological disease (other than cerebrovascular diseases), low body temperature or higher thrombocytes on admission, extended length of hospitalization, oxygen therapy during hospitalization, and post-obstructive pneumonia. By addition these factors, we calculated a risk score with an AUC of 0.831 (95%CI 0.822–0.839, p < 0.001) for prediction of post-discharge mortality. Early post-discharge deaths account for ¼ of all CAP-associated deaths and are associated with patient- and CAP-severity-related risk factors. Additional studies are necessary to replicate our findings in independent cohorts. Study registration: NCT 02139163.
Cognitive control in number processing: new evidence from number compatibility effects in task-switching
Authors: Schliephake A. , Bahnmueller J. , Willmes K. , Koch I. , Moeller K.
Published: February 2022

A growing body of research suggests that basic numerical abilities such as number magnitude processing are influenced by cognitive control processes. So far, evidence for number processing being affected by cognitive control processes stems primarily from observed adaptations of numerical effects to stimulus set characteristics (e.g. order or ratio of specific stimulus types). Complementing previous research on adaptation to stimulus set characteristics as an index of influences of cognitive control, the present study employed a task-switching paradigm to examine how cognitive control processes influence number processing. Participants were presented with a two-digit number and had to either judge its parity or compare its magnitude to a standard depending on a preceding cue. We expected numerical congruency effects (i.e. the unit-decade compatibility effect for magnitude comparisons and the parity congruity effect for parity judgements) to be larger in switch trials, as persisting activation of the task set of the preceding trial should increase interference. In contrast to our expectations, both numerical congruity effects were reduced following task switches as compared to repetitions. This interaction of task-switching with numerical congruency effects suggests an influence of cognitive control on basic number processing in form of persisting inhibition of previously abandoned task sets, so that these exert less influence on current number processing demands.
Mandrake: multiagent systems as a basis for programming fault-tolerant decentralized applications
Authors: Christie Samuel H. , Chopra Amit K. , Singh Munindar P.
Published: February 2022

We conceptualize a decentralized software application as one constituted from autonomous agents that communicate via asynchronous messaging. Modern software paradigms such as microservices and settings such as the Internet of Things evidence a growing interest in decentralized applications. Constructing a decentralized application involves designing agents as independent local computations that coordinate successfully to realize the application’s requirements. Moreover, a decentralized application is susceptible to faults manifested as message loss, delay, and reordering. We contribute Mandrake, a programming model for decentralized applications that tackles these challenges without relying on infrastructure guarantees. Specifically, we adopt the construct of an information protocol that specifies messaging between agents purely in causal terms and can be correctly enacted by agents in a shared-nothing environment over nothing more than unreliable, unordered transport. Mandrake facilitates (1) implementing protocol-compliant agents by introducing a programming model; (2) transforming protocols into fault-tolerant ones with simple annotations; and (3) a declarative policy language that makes it easy to implement fault-tolerance in agents based on the capabilities in protocols. Mandrake’s significance lies in demonstrating a straightforward approach for constructing decentralized applications without relying on coordination mechanisms in the infrastructure, thus achieving some of the goals of the founders of networked computing from the 1970s.
Understanding PrEP Acceptability Among Priority Populations: Results from a Qualitative Study of Potential Users in Central Uganda
Authors: Sundararajan Radhika , Wyatt Monique A. , Muwonge Timothy R. , Pisarski Emily E. , Mujugira Andrew , Haberer Jessica E. , Ware Norma C.
Published: February 2022

Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can safely and effectively prevent HIV acquisition in HIV-negative individuals. However, uptake of PrEP has been suboptimal in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of this qualitative study was to identify facilitators of and barriers to PrEP acceptability among target users not taking PrEP. Fifty-nine individuals belonging to Ugandan priority populations participated in a single in-depth interview. Participants perceived themselves as being at high risk for HIV acquisition, and expressed interest in PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy. Two forms of stigma emerged as potential barriers to PrEP use: (1) misidentification as living with HIV; and (2) disclosure of membership in a priority population. Acceptability of PrEP was dampened for this sample of potential PrEP users due to anticipated stigmatization. Mitigating stigma should be a key component of effective PrEP delivery to reach UNAIDS goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Its Impacts in a Cohort of Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia
Authors: Prestage G. , Storer D. , Jin F. , Haire B. , Maher L. , Philpot S. , Bavinton B. , Saxton P. , Murphy D. , Holt M. , Bourne A. , Hammoud M. A.
Published: February 2022

Successful use of biomedical forms of HIV risk-reduction may have predisposed many gay and bisexual men (GBM) to vaccination against COVID-19, which may, in turn, affect their sexual behavior. A total of 622 Australian GBM provided weekly data on COVID-19 vaccination history and sexual behaviour between 17 January 2021 and 22 June 2021. We identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination, and compare sexual behavior before and since vaccination. Mean age was 47.3 years (SD 14.0). At least one-dose vaccination coverage had reached 57.2%, and 61.3% reported that the majority of their friends intended to be vaccinated. Vaccinated men reported a mean of 1.11 (SD 2.10) weekly non-relationship sex partners before vaccination and 1.62 (SD 3.42) partners following vaccination. GBM demonstrated high confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Their sexual activity increased following vaccination suggesting that greater sexual freedom may be a specific motivation for vaccine uptake among some men.
Ethics of AI-Enabled Recruiting and Selection: A Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Hunkenschroer Anna Lena , Luetge Christoph
Published: February 2022

Companies increasingly deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in their personnel recruiting and selection process to streamline it, making it faster and more efficient. AI applications can be found in various stages of recruiting, such as writing job ads, screening of applicant resumes, and analyzing video interviews via face recognition software. As these new technologies significantly impact people’s lives and careers but often trigger ethical concerns, the ethicality of these AI applications needs to be comprehensively understood. However, given the novelty of AI applications in recruiting practice, the subject is still an emerging topic in academic literature. To inform and strengthen the foundation for future research, this paper systematically reviews the extant literature on the ethicality of AI-enabled recruiting to date. We identify 51 articles dealing with the topic, which we synthesize by mapping the ethical opportunities, risks, and ambiguities, as well as the proposed ways to mitigate ethical risks in practice. Based on this review, we identify gaps in the extant literature and point out moral questions that call for deeper exploration in future research.
Fire Test Performance of Eleven PFAS-Free Class B Firefighting Foams Varying Fuels, Admixture, Water Types and Foam Generation Techniques
Authors: Dahlbom Sixten , Mallin Tove , Bobert Magnus
Published: February 2022

The firefighting performance of eleven PFAS-free firefighting foams was evaluated using different fuels (Jet A1, commercial heptane and diesel) and types of water (freshwater and synthetic sea water). Moreover, different firefighting foam generation techniques and application methods were evaluated. The firefighting foams were generated as aspirated foams or as compressed air foams (CAFs). The results for CAF showed a higher performance, with respect to extinction time and burn-back resistance, compared to the foam generated using a UNI 86 nozzle. The CAF was not optimised, indicating a further potential of this foam generation technique. The results indicate that the time to fire knockdown decreases with decreasing foam viscosity. The heat flux was shown to be small, although the entire fuel surface was involved in the fire. The tests showed a dependence on fuel type; different products performed differently depending on the fuel. Tests using sea water showed that addition of salt to the foam solution generally prolonged the extinction time, although for one of the firefighting foams a shorter extinction time was observed. Out of the eleven evaluated PFAS-free products there was no product that outperformed the rest. None of the products in the study met the fire test performance requirements in all the referenced standards. Instead, the products seem to have different niches where they perform best e.g., with different types of fuel or water.
Assessment of activation energy of enthalpy relaxation in sucrose-water system: effects of DSC cycle type and sample thermal history
Authors: Bogdanova Ekaterina , Kocherbitov Vitaly
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study is to critically analyze different methods of calculation of activation energy of relaxation in sucrose-water system from differential scanning calorimetry data. We consider the use of different thermal cycles for calculations together with Moynihan and Kissinger equations. We study the effect of two methods of glass transition temperature determination (half-step and inflection point) on the activation energy values. Along with experimental DSC data, we use the data simulated using Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan model to validate the use of cooling and heating curves and to check the reproducibility of the activation energy calculations. The obtained results show that the thermal cycle with equal cooling and heating rates provides the most reliable data set and the glass transition temperature definition using inflection point rather than half step can be recommended for calculations. Moreover, due to technical reasons, heating rather than cooling scans provide the most reliable results of activation energy calculations. Furthermore, a simple method based on the width of the glass transition region shows reasonable results for single scan experiments. The activation energies of the glass transition in sucrose-water system with different water contents and different thermal histories were studied. Since it is impossible to apply traditional methods based on Moynihan equation for the activation energy evaluation for freeze-dried samples, we propose using another method based on the properties of the recovery peak. Combining the results obtained by different methods, we present a dependence of activation energy in sucrose-water system on water content. The results show that water decreases the activation energy of relaxation process in sucrose matrix.
How does government expenditure impact sustainable development? Studying the multidimensional link between budgets and development gaps
Authors: Guerrero Omar A. , Castañeda Gonzalo
Published: February 2022

We develop a bottom-up causal framework to study the impact of public spending on high-dimensional and interdependent policy spaces in the context of socioeconomic and environmental development. Using data across 140 countries, we estimate the indicator-country-specific development gaps that will remain open in 2030. We find large heterogeneity in development gaps, and non-linear responses to changes in the total amount of government expenditure. Importantly, our method identifies bounds to how much a gap can be reduced by 2030 through sheer increments in public spending. We show that these structural bottlenecks cannot be addressed through expenditure on the existing government programs, but require novel micro-policies intended to affect behaviors, technologies, and organizational practices. One particular set of bottlenecks that stands out relates to the environmental issues contained in the sustainable development goals 14 and 15.
Integrated Experimental and Thermodynamic Modeling Investigation of Phase Equilibria in the PbO–MgO–SiO2 System in Air
Authors: Abdeyazdan Hamed , Shevchenko Maksym , Hayes Peter C. , Jak Evgueni
Published: February 2022

Magnesium oxide-based refractory materials are used industrially to contain the chemically aggressive slags present in lead smelting systems. In the present study an integrated experimental and thermodynamic modeling approach was taken to provide fundamental information on the chemical reactions taking place in these systems. New experimental phase equilibria and liquidus data were obtained for the PbO–MgO–SiO2 system in air in the temperature range 750 °C to 1740 °C. In the MgO–SiO2 binary, new experimental results were obtained at 1550 °C to 1740 °C and compared to the available thermodynamic data in the literature. The experiments were carried out using the high-temperature equilibration of oxide powder mixtures followed by rapid quenching of the samples. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) was used to determine the compositions of the solid and liquid phases present at equilibrium conditions. Phase equilibria and liquidus isotherms in the cristobalite and tridymite (SiO2), pyroxene (protoenstatite MgSiO3), olivine (forsterite Mg2SiO4), barysilite (Pb8MgSi6O21), massicot (PbO) and periclase (MgO) primary phase fields were measured, and the extent of the high-silica two-liquid immiscibility gap in equilibrium with cristobalite was determined. The experimental results were used to optimize the parameters in a thermodynamic database that was subsequently used to describe this multi-component, multi-phase system and predict the liquidus for the PbO–MgO–SiO2 system. The new data were used to characterize the chemical interactions of magnesia-based refractory with PbO–MgO–SiO2 slags.
Circulating Tumour DNA in Melanoma—Clinic Ready?
Authors: Tivey Ann , Britton Fiona , Scott Julie-Ann , Rothwell Dominic , Lorigan Paul , Lee Rebecca
Published: February 2022

Purpose of Review

Liquid biopsies, including circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), can inform a variety of clinical questions. This review examines the potential role of ctDNA as a clinical tool to inform clinical decision-making from early to late stage cutaneous melanoma.

Recent Findings

In pre-clinical studies, ctDNA has been shown to detect minimal residual disease and molecular relapse; predict and monitor response to therapy; and identify key resistance mechanisms. Here, we examine the potential utility of ctDNA and discuss its limitations for use in patients with melanoma. We present novel clinical trials, which are testing its value as a tool to augment clinical decision-making. Finally, we discuss the steps that are needed to ensure that ctDNA is used optimally in order to improve outcomes for patients with melanoma.

Preclinical studies have shown that ctDNA has huge potential to provide real-time information about disease status in patients with melanoma. It is now time to test it rigorously within clinical trials to assess how it can be optimally used to benefit patients in the clinic.
The association between dispositional mindfulness and empathy among undergraduate nursing students: A multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Ardenghi Stefano , Russo Selena , Luciani Michela , Salvarani Valerio , Rampoldi Giulia , Bani Marco , Ausili Davide , Di Mauro Stefania , Strepparava Maria Grazia
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study was to explore the role of gender, age, and academic year in shaping dispositional mindfulness (DM) and the association between DM facets and empathy dimensions in a sample of undergraduate nursing students. In a multicenter cross-sectional study design, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and socio-demographic questions were administrated to a convenience sample of Italian nursing students. 622 nursing students (82.2% female) participated in the study (response rate = 86.15%). Females had higher levels of Acting with Awareness (p < .001, d = .54) and lower levels of Non-reacting (p < .001, d = .52) facets of DM than males. Older students displayed higher scores on the Observing (r = .112, p = .005) and on the Non-reacting (r = .187, p < .001) FFMQ subscales than younger ones. No statistically significant differences in DM levels between the three academic years were found (ps > .202). After controlling for socio-demographic factors, DM facets were generally positively related to Perspective Taking (βs from .131 to .208, ps < .007) and Empathic Concern (βs from −.156 to .189, ps < .001), whereas negatively related to Personal Distress (βs from −.141 to −.261, ps < .001). Nursing students with higher levels of DM were more able to consider others’ cognitive perspective and to feel compassion, and were less emotionally distressed when facing tense interpersonal situations. Tailored mindfulness interventions might be useful to foster functional empathy within nursing undergraduate programs.