bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Future precipitation changes in three key sub-regions of East Asia: the roles of thermodynamics and dynamics
Authors: Li Jiao , Zhao Yang , Chen Deliang , Kang Yanzhen , Wang Hui
Published: November 2021

Previous studies have projected an increase in future summer precipitation across East Asia (EA). This study investigates the relative contributions of thermodynamic and dynamic components to future precipitation changes in three key sub-regions of EA where the maximum centers of the historical precipitation are located (the tropical region, East China, and the Japan and Korea sector), and analyzes the causes of the changes in thermodynamic and dynamic components. Outputs from 30 climate models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) are used. From these, the five best-performing models for historical summer precipitation climatology for EA are selected. The future summer precipitations in the three sub-regions over the near- to mid-term (2020–2069) and the long-term (2070–2095) are then examined using the multi-model ensemble mean of the five models selected (MMM05). The projections were driven by four combined scenarios of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and forcing levels of the Representative Concentration Pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). The results show that long-term precipitations under SSP5-8.5 are greater than those under the other scenarios across all sub-regions. After the 2070s under SSP5-8.5, a marked precipitation intensification is identified in all three sub-regions, but with different rates of increase. The projected precipitation increase is primarily attributed to the thermodynamic component, while the dynamic component related to circulation changes is relatively weak. Further analysis indicates that the pattern of the thermodynamic component in the three sub-regions is dominated by the climatological upward motion, mediated by an increase in moisture.
Postmortem fluorescence angiography of the explanted human heart
Authors: Lux Constantin , Klinger Miriam , Sauer Patrick , Verhoff Marcel A. , Kettner Mattias
Published: November 2021

Within the scope of this technical report, the feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent agent for postmortem angiography of the heart is tested. The study included 4 deceased persons with no respective medical history of heart diseases. The basic patterns of findings in ICG fluorescence angiography associated with healthy hearts are presented. The method can easily be integrated into a workflow without restricting the macroscopic or histologic diagnostics. This paper represents the fundamental technical and analytical basis for upcoming studies concerning the possibilities and limitations of fluorescence angiography in the diagnosis of heart pathology.
Consistent coupling of positions and rotations for embedding 1D Cosserat beams into 3D solid volumes
Authors: Steinbrecher Ivo , Popp Alexander , Meier Christoph
Published: November 2021

The present article proposes a mortar-type finite element formulation for consistently embedding curved, slender beams into 3D solid volumes. Following the fundamental kinematic assumption of undeformable cross-section s, the beams are identified as 1D Cosserat continua with pointwise six (translational and rotational) degrees of freedom describing the cross-section (centroid) position and orientation. A consistent 1D-3D coupling scheme for this problem type is proposed, requiring to enforce both positional and rotational constraints. Since Boltzmann continua exhibit no inherent rotational degrees of freedom, suitable definitions of orthonormal triads are investigated that are representative for the orientation of material directions within the 3D solid. While the rotation tensor defined by the polar decomposition of the deformation gradient appears as a natural choice and will even be demonstrated to represent these material directions in a$$L_2$$L2-optimal manner, several alternative triad definitions are investigated. Such alternatives potentially allow for a more efficient numerical evaluation. Moreover, objective (i.e. frame-invariant) rotational coupling constraints between beam and solid orientations are formulated and enforced in a variationally consistent manner based on either a penalty potential or a Lagrange multiplier potential. Eventually, finite element discretization of the solid domain, the embedded beams, which are modeled on basis of the geometrically exact beam theory, and the Lagrange multiplier field associated with the coupling constraints results in an embedded mortar-type formulation for rotational and translational constraint enforcement denoted asfull beam-to-solid volume coupling(BTS-FULL) scheme. Based on elementary numerical test cases, it is demonstrated that a consistent spatial convergence behavior can be achieved and potential locking effects can be avoided, if the proposed BTS-FULL scheme is combined with a suitable solid triad definition. Eventually, real-life engineering applications are considered to illustrate the importance of consistently coupling both translationalandrotational degrees of freedom as well as the upscaling potential of the proposed formulation. This allows the investigation of complex mechanical systems such as fiber-reinforced composite materials, containing a large number of curved, slender fibers with arbitrary orientation embedded in a matrix material.
On the convergence rate of the Kačanov scheme for shear-thinning fluids
Authors: Heid Pascal , Süli Endre
Published: November 2021

We explore the convergence rate of the Kačanov iteration scheme for different models of shear-thinning fluids, including Carreau and power-law type explicit quasi-Newtonian constitutive laws. It is shown that the energy difference contracts along the sequence generated by the iteration. In addition, an a posteriori computable contraction factor is proposed, which improves, on finite-dimensional Galerkin spaces, previously derived bounds on the contraction factor in the context of the power-law model. Significantly, this factor is shown to be independent of the choice of the cut-off parameters whose use was proposed in the literature for the Kačanov iteration applied to the power-law model. Our analytical findings are confirmed by a series of numerical experiments.
CMR-derived myocardial strain analysis differentiates ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy—a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Vietheer Julia , Lehmann Lena , Unbehaun Claudia , Fischer-Rasokat Ulrich , Wolter Jan Sebastian , Kriechbaum Steffen , Weferling Maren , von Jeinsen Beatrice , Hain Andreas , Liebetrau Christoph , Hamm Christian W. , Keller Till , Rolf Andreas
Published: November 2021

Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal, circumferential, and radial motion can be measured using feature tracking of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images. The aim of our study was to detect differences in LV mechanics between patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) who were matched using a propensity score-based model. Between April 2017 and October 2019, 1224 patients were included in our CMR registry, among them 141 with ICM and 77 with DCM. Propensity score matching was used to pair patients based on their indexed end-diastolic volume (EDVi), ejection fraction (EF), and septal T1 relaxation time (psmatch2 module L Feature tracking provided six parameters for global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain with corresponding strain rates in each group. Strain parameters were compared between matched pairs of ICM and DCM patients using paired t tests. Propensity score matching yielded 72 patients in each group (DCM mean age 58.6 ± 11.6 years, 15 females; ICM mean age 62.6 ± 13.2 years, 11 females, p = 0.084 and 0.44 respectively; LV-EF 32.2 ± 13.5% vs. 33.8 ± 12.1%, p = 0.356; EDVi 127.2 ± 30.7 ml/m2 vs. 121.1 ± 41.8 ml/m2, p = 0.251; native T1 values 1165 ± 58 ms vs. 1167 ± 70 ms, p = 0.862). There was no difference in global longitudinal strain between DCM and ICM patients (− 10.9 ± 5.5% vs. − 11.2 ± 4.7%, p = 0.72), whereas in DCM patients there was a significant reduction in global circumferential strain (− 10.0 ± 4.5% vs. − 12.2 ± 4.7%, p = 0.002) and radial strain (17.1 ± 8.51 vs. 21.2 ± 9.7%, p = 0.039). Our data suggest that ICM and DCM patients have inherently different myocardial mechanics, even if phenotypes are similar. Our data show that GCS is significantly more impaired in DCM patients. This feature may help in more thoroughly characterizing cardiomyopathy patients.
Effect of Embedded Careers Education in Science Lessons on Students’ Interest, Awareness, and Aspirations
Authors: Kang Jingoo , Salonen Anssi , Tolppanen Sakari , Scheersoi Annette , Hense Jonathan , Rannikmäe Miia , Soobard Regina , Keinonen Tuula
Published: November 2021

In the last decades, secondary school students have indicated a low interest in science and a lack of awareness of authentic science careers that may impede their aspiration to work in science-related fields in future. To raise students’ aspirations, several studies used context-based approaches, but few integrated career aspects into the school curricula. Accordingly, this study aimed to promote lower secondary school students’ interest in and awareness of science careers by introducing science career-related scenarios reflected in a real-world context as embedded careers education in science lessons. In this study, we explored the effect of the interventions on students’ interest, awareness, and aspirations towards science careers using Estonian, Finnish, and German datasets. According to the results, the students participating in the project indicated a higher interest in science, aspiration towards science careers, and awareness of future careers than those who did not experience the embedded science career interventions. Also, the results showed that when students got more information about science careers at school, their interest in science was more easily transferred to their aspirations in science studies and careers. Thus, this result emphasizes the importance of fostering awareness of science careers at lower secondary schools in order to inspire young learners to engage in science studies and works in future.
In situ extraction (milking) of the two promising Botryococcus braunii strains Showa and Bot22 under optimized extraction time
Authors: Kleinert Christian , Griehl Carola
Published: November 2021

In situ extraction or “milking” of microalgae is a promising approach to reduce downstream costs in order to produce low-value substances such as lipids from microalgae in an economical way. Due to its ability to secrete high amounts of long-chain hydrocarbons to an extracellular matrix, the green microalga Botryococcus braunii is suitable for the process of in situ extraction as the cost intensive steps of harvesting, dewatering, and cell disruption could be omitted. Based on a previous study investigating various B. braunii strains in terms of growth, lipid accumulation, and solvent compatibility, the B. braunii strains Showa and Bot22 (both B race) were identified as potential candidates for the process of in situ extraction. In order to prove the suitability of these two strains for the process of in situ extraction, this study first determined the optimal extraction time using short-term in situ extraction over 7 days at different starting biomass concentrations of 1.5 and 2.5 g L−1. Furthermore, both strains were treated applying the optimal extraction time in long-term in situ extractions for 30 days to confirm the results from the short-term extractions. The results indicate a strain-dependent optimal extraction time of 300 min day−1 for strain Showa and 200 min day−1 for strain Bot22. During long-term in situ extraction for 30 days, hydrocarbon productivity was 16.99 mg L−1 day−1 (10.53 mg gDW−1 day−1) for strain Showa and 14.53 mg L−1 day−1 (10.48 mg gDW−1 day−1) for strain Bot22. Furthermore, a direct correlation between hydrocarbon productivity achieved by in situ extraction and the hydrocarbon concentration in the biomass of the respective strain could be established. It could be shown that the consideration of the effective extraction time and the phase boundary area is required to calculate an extraction system independent value for the comparison of different extraction setups.
How One can Repair Non-integrable Kahan Discretizations. II. A Planar System with Invariant Curves of Degree 6
Authors: Schmalian Misha , Suris Yuri B. , Tumarkin Yuriy
Published: November 2021

We find a novel one-parameter family of integrable quadratic Cremona maps of the plane preserving a pencil of curves of degree 6 and of genus 1. They turn out to serve as Kahan-type discretizations of a novel family of quadratic vector fields possessing a polynomial integral of degree 6 whose level curves are of genus 1, as well. These vector fields are non-homogeneous generalizations of reduced Nahm systems for magnetic monopoles with icosahedral symmetry, introduced by Hitchin, Manton and Murray. The straightforward Kahan discretization of these novel non-homogeneous systems is non-integrable. However, this drawback is repaired by introducing adjustments of order $$O(\epsilon ^2)$$

O
(

ϵ
2

)

in the coefficients of the discretization, where $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
is the stepsize.
Would you Bribe your Lecturer? A Quasi-experimental Study on Burnout and Bribery in Higher Education
Authors: Weißmüller Kristina S. , De Waele Lode
Published: December 2021

Bribery is a complex and critical issue in higher education (HE), causing severe economic and societal harm. Traditionally, most scholarship on HE corruption has focused on institutional factors in developing countries and insights into the psychological and motivational factors that drive HE bribery on the micro-level mechanisms are virtually non-existent. To close this research gap, this study investigates the connection between study-related burnout and university students’ willingness to offer bribes to their lecturers to pass important exams. Conducting a vignette-based quasi-experimental replication study with 624 university students in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands we find that university students in three countries differentiate sharply between different shades of bribery and that a majority accept using emotional influence tactics to pass (failed) exams. In contrast, offering a helping hand or money (i.e., darker shades of bribery) to their lecturer was less acceptable. Study-related burnout is associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in these darker shades of bribery and students’ commitment to the public interest is but a weak factor in preventing unethical behavior. In summary, this study provides solid empirical evidence that university students are likely to use emotional influence tactics violating both the ethical codes of conduct and the formalized bureaucratic procedures of HE examination, particularly if they suffer from study-related burnout. However, the accelerating effect of burnout on bribery is conditional in that it only holds for darker shades of bribery. HE institutions may benefit from implementing the four-eye principle and from launching awareness campaigns that enable lecturers to better recognize these tactics and engage students in creating a transparent environment for testing, grading, and collaboration that is resistant to bribery.
A de Rham decomposition type theorem for contact sub-Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Grochowski Marek
Published: November 2021

In this paper we prove a result which can be regarded as a sub-Riemannian version of de Rham decomposition theorem. More precisely, suppose that (M, H, g) is a contact and oriented sub-Riemannian manifold such that the Reeb vector field $$\xi $$
ξ
is an infinitesimal isometry. Under such assumptions there exists a unique metric and torsion-free connection on H. Suppose that there exists a point $$q\in M$$

q
∈
M

such that the holonomy group $$\Psi (q)$$

Ψ
(
q
)

acts reducibly on H(q) yielding a decomposition $$H(q) = H_1(q)\oplus \cdots \oplus H_m(q)$$

H

(
q
)

=

H
1

(
q
)

⊕
⋯
⊕

H
m

(
q
)

into $$\Psi (q)$$

Ψ
(
q
)

-irreducible factors. Using parallel transport we obtain the decomposition $$H = H_1\oplus \cdots \oplus H_m$$

H
=

H
1

⊕
⋯
⊕

H
m

of H into sub-distributions $$H_i$$

H
i

. Unlike the Riemannian case, the distributions $$H_i$$

H
i

are not integrable, however they induce integrable distributions $$\Delta _i$$

Δ
i

on $$M/\xi $$

M
/
ξ

, which is locally a smooth manifold. As a result, every point in M has a neighborhood U such that $$T(U/\xi )=\Delta _1\oplus \cdots \oplus \Delta _m$$

T

(
U
/
ξ
)

=

Δ
1

⊕
⋯
⊕

Δ
m

, and the latter decomposition of $$T(U/\xi )$$

T
(
U
/
ξ
)

induces the decomposition of $$U/\xi $$

U
/
ξ

into the product of Riemannian manifolds. One can restate this as follows: every contact sub-Riemannian manifold whose holonomy group acts reducibly has, at least locally, the structure of a fiber bundle over a product of Riemannian manifolds. We also give a version of the theorem for indefinite metrics.
Ionic liquids as boundary additives in water-based and PAO lubricants
Authors: Wijanarko Wahyu , Khanmohammadi Hamid , Espallargas Nuria
Published: November 2021

Ionic liquids have been widely discussed as potential lubricants, however, their properties make them also very good potential candidates as lubricant additives (e.g., friction modifiers and anti-wear). In this work, the tribological study of two ionic liquids (tributylmethylphosphonium dimethylphosphate (PP), and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (BMP)) as lubricant additives has been performed on stainless steel (AISI 316L) exposed to polar (water-glycol) and non-polar (polyalphaolefin) based lubricants under boundary lubricating conditions. The performance of these ionic liquids as lubricant additives has been compared to a classical organic friction modifier (dodecanoic acid (C12)). The water-glycol lubricant formulated with the two ionic liquids showed friction values higher than the same base lubricant formulated with dodecanoic acid, however, opposite results were observed for polyalphaolefin (PAO). A detailed surface chemical analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed differences in the passive/tribofilm thickness and chemical composition of the stainless steel surface tested in all lubricants. In the case of the polar lubricant additivated with ionic liquids, the tribochemical reaction accompanied by a tribocorrosion process led to the formation of an unstable passive/tribofilm resulting in high friction and wear. However, in the absence of tribocorrosion process (polyalphaolefin base lubricant), the tribochemical reaction led to the formation of a stable passive/tribofilm resulting in low friction and wear. A detailed surface and subsurface investigation of the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy equipped with a focused ion beam (SEM-FIB) showed that high wear rates resulted in thicker recrystallization region under the wear track surface. Among all lubricant additives tested in this work, BMP in non-polar lubricant media showed the best tribological performance.
Stigmatisierungserfahrungen strafrechtlich verurteilter Männer im Reintegrationsprozess. Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Längsschnittstudie in der Schweiz
Authors: Zahradnik Franz
Published: November 2021

Strafrechtlich verurteilte Personen machen während einer Freiheitsstrafe sowie nach der Entlassung häufig Stigmatisierungserfahrungen, die den Reintegrationsprozess herausfordern und durchkreuzen können. Auf der Grundlage von Längsschnittinterviews mit strafrechtlich verurteilten Männern in der Schweiz werden deren subjektive Erfahrungen in Hinblick auf Stigmatisierung, die sie über mehrere Jahre hinweg in unterschiedlichen sozialen Kontexten gemacht haben, sowie ihre Verarbeitungsweisen derselben untersucht. In der kategorialen Auswertung des Gesamtsamples zeigt sich eine Korrespondenz von gehäuften Stigmatisierungserfahrungen und tendenziell sich stabilisierenden Reintegrationsverläufen. Es deutet sich an, dass gerade diejenigen, die eine ausgeprägte Reintegrationsorientierung zeigen, Situationen mit Stigmatisierungspotenzial etwa im Bereich der Arbeits- und Wohnungssuche nicht von vornherein auszuweichen versuchen, sondern diesen aktiv entgegentreten. Die dauerhafte Bewältigung solch herausfordernder und teils diskreditierender Situationen ist aber voraussetzungsvoll und gelingt nicht allen interviewten Männern gleichermaßen. Des Weiteren wird herausgearbeitet, welche Stigmatisierungserfahrungen die Interviewten in unterschiedlichen sozialen Kontexten und Phasen des Reintegrationsprozesses machen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass Stigmatisierungen nicht immer offen zutage treten, sondern von den Interviewten häufig antizipiert werden. Aktenkundige Stigmaeigenschaften hingegen werden dann offensichtlich, wenn ein Strafregisterauszug vorgelegt werden muss. Die damit verbundene Diskriminierung aber bleibt auf der Interaktionsebene zumeist verdeckt.
Representing Uncertainty in Physical Security Risk Assessment
Authors: Lichte Daniel , Witte Dustin , Termin Thomas , Wolf Kai-Dietrich
Published: November 2021

The importance of (physical) security is increasingly acknowledged by society and the scientific community. In light of increasing terrorist threat levels, numerous security assessments of critical infrastructures are conducted in practice and researchers propose new approaches continuously. While practical security risk assessments (SRA) use mostly qualitative methods, most of the lately proposed approaches are based on quantitative metrics. Due to little evidence of actual attacks, both qualitative and quantitative approaches suffer from the fundamental problem of inherent uncertainties regarding threats and capabilities of security measures as a result from vague data or the usage of expert knowledge. In quantitative analysis, such uncertainties may be represented by, e.g., probability distributions to reflect the knowledge on security measure performance available. This paper focuses on the impact of these uncertainties in security assessment and their consideration in system design. We show this influence by comparing the results of a scalar evaluation that does not take into account uncertainties and another evaluation based on distributed input values. In addition, we show that the influence is concentrated on certain barriers of the security system. Specifically, we discuss the robustness of the system by conducting quantitative vulnerability assessment as part of the SRA process of an airport structure example. Based on these results, we propose the concept of a security margin. This concept accounts for the uncertain knowledge of the input parameters in the design of the security system and minimizes the influence of these uncertainties on the actual system performance. We show how this approach can be used for vulnerability assessment by applying it to the initially assessed configuration of the airport structure. The results of this case study support our assumptions that the security margin can help in targeted uncertainty consideration leading to reduced system vulnerability.
Compassion fatigue in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant healthcare providers: An integrative review
Authors: Berger Rebecca S. , Wright Rebecca J. , Faith Melissa A. , Stapleton Stacie
Published: December 2021

Objective

Compassion fatigue (CF), which includes burnout and secondary traumatic stress, is highly prevalent among healthcare providers (HCPs). Ultimately, if left untreated, CF is often associated with absenteeism, decreased work performance, poor job satisfaction, and providers leaving their positions. To identify risk factors for developing CF and interventions to combat it in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant (PHOB) HCPs.

Methods

An integrative review was conducted. Controlled vocabulary relevant to neoplasms, CF, pediatrics, and HCPs was used to search PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, and Web of Science MEDLINE. Inclusion criteria were the following: English language and PHOB population. Exclusion criteria were the following: did not address question, wrong study population, mixed study population where PHOB HCPs were only part of the population, articles about moral distress as this is a similar but not the same topic as CF, conference abstracts, and book chapters.

Results

A total of 16 articles were reviewed: 3 qualitative, 6 quantitative, 3 mixed methods, and 4 non research. Three themes were explored: (1) high-risk populations for developing CF, (2) sources of stress in PHOB HCPs, and (3) workplace interventions to decrease CF.

Significance of results

PHOB HCPs are at high risk of developing CF due to high morbidity and mortality in their patient population. Various interventions, including the use of a clinical support nurse, debriefing, support groups, respite rooms, and retreats, have varying degrees of efficacy to decrease CF in this population.
Insomnia with physiological hyperarousal is associated with lower weight: a novel finding and its clinical implications
Authors: Ren Rong , Zhang Ye , Yang Linghui , Sanford Larry D. , Tang Xiangdong
Published: November 2021

Previous studies on the association of insomnia with body mass index (BMI) have been controversial. Physiological hyperarousal, the key pathological mechanism of insomnia, may be an important reason for different findings. We explored whether insomnia with physiological hyperarousal measured by the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is associated with body-weight differences. A total of 185 normal sleepers and 440 insomniacs were included in this study. Insomnia was defined by standard diagnostic criteria with symptoms lasting ≥6 months. All subjects underwent one night of laboratory polysomnography followed by a standard MSLT. We used the median MSLT value (i.e., ≥14 min) to define physiological hyperarousal. BMI was based on measured height (cm) and weight (kg) during the subjects’ sleep laboratory visit. BMI > 25 kg/m2 was defined as overweight, while BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 was defined as underweight. After controlling for confounders, the odds of lower weight rather than overweight were significantly increased among insomnia patients with increased MSLT: insomnia with MSLT 14–17 min and MSLT > 17 min increased the odds of lower weight by approximately 89% (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.00–4.85) and 273% (OR = 3.73, 95% CI 1.51–9.22) compared with normal sleepers, respectively. In contrast, insomnia in patients with MSLT 11–14 min and 8–11 min was not different from normal sleepers in terms of body weight. Insomnia associated with physiological hyperarousal, the most severe phenotype of chronic insomnia, is associated with higher odds of lower weight and underweight compared with normal sleepers. This is a novel finding consistent with previous physiologic data and has significant clinical implications.
Exposure and risk characterizations of ochratoxins A and aflatoxins through maize (Zea mays) consumed in different agro-ecological zones of Ghana
Authors: Kortei Nii Korley , Annan Theophilus , Kyei-Baffour Vincent , Essuman Edward Ken , Okyere Harry , Tettey Clement Okraku
Published: December 2021

Mycotoxin contamination of foodstuffs is a serious food safety concern globally as the prolonged ingestion of these toxins has the tendency to worsen the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed at estimating ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin (AF) levels above international (European Food Safety Authority, EFSA) and local (Ghana Standards Authority, GSA) standards as well as the health risks associated with the consumption of maize (n = 180) sampled from six (6) regions representing the agro-ecological zones of Ghana. OTA and AF were measured with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Fluorescence detector. Out of the 180 samples analyzed for total aflatoxins (AFtotal), 131/180 tested positive and 127 (70.50%) exceeded the limits of EFSA and ranged 4.27–441.02 µg/kg. While for GSA, 116 (64.44%) of samples exceeded this limit and ranged between 10.18 and 441.02 µg/kg. For OTA, 103/180 tested positive and 94 (52.22%) of samples between the range 4.00–97.51 µg/kg exceeded the tolerable limit of EFSA, whereas 89 (49.44%) and were in the range of 3.30–97.51 µg/kg exceeded the limits of GSA. Risk assessment values for total aflatoxins (AFtotal) ranged between 50 and 1150 ng/kg bw/day, 0.4–6.67, 0–0.0323 aflatoxins ng/kg bw/day and 1.62–37.15 cases/100,000 person/year for Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Margin of Exposure (MOE), Average Potency, and Cancer Risks respectively. Likewise, ochratoxin (OTA) values were in the ranges of 8.6 × 10–3–450 ng/kg bw/day, 0.05–2059.97, 0–0.0323 ochratoxins ng/kg bw/day and 2.78 × 10–4–14.54 cases/100,000 person/year. Consumption of maize posed adverse health effects in all age categories of the locations studied since the calculated MOE values were less than 10,000.
Active single cell encapsulation using SAW overcoming the limitations of Poisson distribution
Authors: Link Andreas , McGrath John S. , Zaimagaoglu Mustafa , Franke Thomas
Published: December 2021

We present a simple microfluidic dropmaker using surface acoustic waves to enhance cell encapsulation improving single cell loading.
Neural keyword confidence estimation for open‐vocabulary keyword spotting
Authors: Liu Zuozhen , Li Ta , Zhang Pengyuan
Published: November 2021

Despite the recent prevalence of keyword spotting (KWS) in smart home, open‐vocabulary KWS remains a keen but unmet need among the users. Conventional open‐vocabulary KWS systems are difficult to obtain a high wake‐up rate and low false alarms simultaneously due to the lack of specific data for model optimisation. In this letter, a light‐weight neural keyword confidence estimation module (KCEM) for the second detection part in the open‐vocabulary KWS system is proposed, which utilises the transformer structure to calculate the confidence by fusing the keyword embedding and the acoustic feature obtained from the KWS model. KCEM method is evaluated on a self‐collected open‐vocabulary KWS test set, yielding equally efficient performance compared with typical confidence estimation methods, a reduction in false reject rate by 34% and 29% relative under clean and noisy conditions, respectively, at 0.04 false alarms per hour.
GBAZ segregation thickness and solute concentration effect on the mechanical properties in polycrystalline Ag‐doped Cu alloy
Authors: Zhu Dasheng , Zhang Feng , Li Guo , Ma Yinzhong
Published: November 2021

Utilising molecular dynamics simulation, the effect of segregation thickness and solute concentration on the mechanical properties of poly‐crystalline Ag‐doped Cu alloy are explored. The alloying atoms are dispersed randomly nearby grain boundaries with equidistant offset method. The dispersed domains are restricted in grain boundary affect zone. The uniaxial tensile simulation results indicate that dispersed alloying atoms exert a negative effect on the tensile behaviours of Ag‐doped Cu alloy and its peak stress decreases as the increasing of segregation thickness and solute concentration. Moreover, the corresponding tensile deformation mechanisms are analysed according to the observed dislocation activities and structure evolutions.
Single electricity market forecasting and energy arbitrage maximization framework
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed A.Raouf , Best Robert J. , Liu Xueqin , Morrow D. John
Published: November 2021

The rapid deployment of renewable‐based generation to meet the net‐zero carbon targets has affected the wholesale energy paradigm. In the island of Ireland, the Single Electricity Market (SEM) aims to deliver high levels of supply security, reliability, and transparency through multiple markets with different trading time frames and clearing procedures. This paper proposes a powerful methodology to maximize the revenues from the participation in the SEM. A forecasting model of four successive stages based on neural networks is proposed to predict the demand and system marginal prices of the SEM ex‐ante markets. An energy arbitrage optimization framework is proposed for battery energy storage systems (BESS) to maximize the arbitrage profits. The methodology efficacy is validated by achieving 91.1% selling accuracy, 97.9% buying accuracy, and 85.1% energy arbitrage net accuracy of the ideal case where the SEM data is perfectly‐known for three consecutive months. Furthermore, the BESS degradation is evaluated and a cost‐benefit analysis is introduced to evaluate the economic feasibility of BESS participating in the SEM ex‐ante markets. The results reveal that the participation of BESS in the SEM solely is not profitable, however, under stacked revenues arrangement, the proposed methodology can be applied to boost the BESS revenues.
A two‐phase non‐inverting buck‐boost converter for an RL load
Authors: Liao Hsuan , Chen Jiann‐Fuh
Published: November 2021

There is an increase in renewable energy sources, which are regarded as current sources, where DC‐DC converters are widely used which require more suitable loads for driving current type loads. This paper uses a duality approach to show that the converter circuit can apply to the current type loads without too much voltage variation. It illustrates the derived steps for a conventional buck converter by using graph formation. To validate the duality approach, five original switching converters are detailed. A current source with an R‐L load (CSRL) converter is used for current‐based applications, such as electrical motors, electromagnetic relays, or light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). This study proposes a two‐phase non‐inverting buck‐boost converter with an R‐L load which is suitable for driving current‐based applications. The design procedure and steady‐state analysis are presented. SIMPLISTM software is used to simulate the topologies. This method for operation mode and formula derivation is like in voltage type circuit structures, and this study has sufficient mathematical analysis capabilities. For demonstration, a 650 W VSRL converter is implemented to verify the feasibility of the method. The corresponding circuit topology of the conventional circuit can be illustrated by using the duality approach rapidly.
Characterization of Different Forms of Kava (Piper methysticum) Products by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Mamallapalli Jessica , Kanumuri Siva Rama Raju , Corral Pedro , Johnston Edward , Zhuang Chunlin , McCurdy Christopher R. , Mathews Carol A. , Sharma Abhisheak , Xing Chengguo
Published: November 2021

There are several forms of kava (Piper methysticum) products available for human consumption, and many factors are known to influence their chemical compositions and therefore their pharmacological properties. Because of the increased popularity of kava intake, a rigorous characterization of their content diversity is prerequisite, particularly due to its known potential to cause hepatotoxicity. To understand the composition diversity of kavalactones and flavokavains in commercial kava products, we developed a UPLC-MS/MS-based analytical method for the quantification of six kavalactones (kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin and desmethoxyyangonin) and two flavokavains (flavokavains A and B) and analyzed their contents in 28 different kava products in the form of capsules, tinctures, traditional aqueous suspensions and dried powders. Our results demonstrated a great variation in terms of the total and relative abundance of the analyzed kavalactones and flavokavains among the analyzed kava preparations. More importantly, the kavalactone abundance in the product label could differ up to 90% from our experimental measurements. Therefore, more rigorous and comprehensive quality control of kava products is required with respect to the content of individual kavalactones and flavokavains. Accurate content information is essential to understand the pharmacological properties and safety of different kava products.
In Vitro Cytotoxic and Leishmanicidal Activity of Isolated and
Semisynthetic ent-Pimaranes from Aldama arenaria
Authors: de Oliveira Adriana da Silva Santos , Conrado Gabrielly Galdino , Grazzia Nathalia , Miguel Danilo Ciccone , Franchi Júnior Gilberto Carlos , Garcia Vera Lúcia
Published: November 2021

Two pimaranes ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (1) and
ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol (2), isolated from
Aldama arenaria, and six semi-synthetic derivatives methyl ester of
the ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (3),
ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (4), acetate of
ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (5),
ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol succinic acid (6), acetate of
ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol (7),
ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol succinic acid (8) were
evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activities to childhood leukemia
cell lines and leishmanicidal activity against the parasite Leishmania
amazonensis. Among these compounds, 1 to 6 presented
moderate cytotoxic activity, with compound 4 being the most active
(GI50 of 2.6 µM for the HL60 line) and the derivatives 7
and 8 being inactive. Against the parasite Leishmania amazonensis,
the most promising derivative was the acetate of
ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (5), with EC50 of
20.1 µM, selectivity index of 14.5, and significant reduction in the parasite
load. Pimarane analogues 1, ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid,
and 2, ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol, presented different
activities, corroborating the application of such molecules as prototypes for
the design of other derivatives that have greater cytotoxic or leishmanicidal
potential.
Episiotomy: Evolution of a Common Obstetric Practice at a Public Hospital
Authors: Dillon Shena J. , Nelson David B. , Spong Catherine Y. , McIntire Donald D. , Leveno Kenneth J.
Published: December 2021

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the rate and impact of episiotomy on maternal and newborn outcomes before and after restricted use of episiotomy.

Study Design This population-based observational study used an obstetric database of all deliveries since 1990 that has been maintained with quality checks. Inclusion criteria were vaginal deliveries at ≥37 weeks. Exclusion criteria included fetal malformations, multifetal gestations, or fetal deaths known on arrival to Labor and Delivery. The primary outcomes of interest were episiotomy, perineal lacerations, and newborn outcomes. To evaluate the impact of restrictive episiotomy, data from 1990 to 1997 (35% overall episiotomy rate) were compared with data from 2010 to 2017 (2.5% overall episiotomy rate). Univariable analysis of maternal and infant outcomes were performed comparing the two-time epochs with the Pearson's Chi-squared test.

Results Overall, 268,415 women met inclusion criteria and 49,089 (18.2%) had an episiotomy. The rate of episiotomy decreased from 37% of deliveries in 1990 to 2% in 2017. A total of 82,082 deliveries occurred in the 1990 to 1997 epoch and 57,183 in 2010 to 2017. Indicated use of episiotomy was associated with a significant decrease in third and fourth degree lacerations. Immediate newborn condition (5-minute Apgar's score ≤3 and umbilical artery pH <7.1) and neonatal outcomes (intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH] grade 3/4, positive culture sepsis, neonatal seizures, and neonatal demise) were not significantly different.

Conclusion Selective, indicated use of episiotomy compared with routine was associated with lower rates of third/fourth-degree lacerations with no change in neonatal outcomes. The common obstetric practice of routinely performing episiotomy, presumably to prevent perineal trauma, proved untrue when analyzed over almost three decades.

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Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Stage 1 Hypertension in Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Norton Elizabeth , Shofer Frances , Schwartz Hannah , Dugoff Lorraine
Published: November 2021

Objective To determine if women who newly met criteria for stage 1 hypertension in early pregnancy were at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes compared with normotensive women.

Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who had prenatal care at a single institution and subsequently delivered a live infant between December 2017 and August 2019. Women with a singleton gestation who had at least two prenatal visits prior to 20 weeks of gestation were included. We excluded women with known chronic hypertension or other major maternal illness. Two groups were identified: (1) women newly diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension before 20 weeks of gestation (blood pressure [BP]: 130–139/80–89 on at least two occasions) and (2) women with no known history of hypertension and normal BP (<130/80 mm Hg) before 20 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; secondary outcomes were indicated preterm birth and small for gestational age. Generalized linear models were used to compare risk of adverse outcomes between the groups.

Results Of the 1,630 women included in the analysis, 1,443 women were normotensive prior to 20 weeks of gestation and 187 women (11.5%) identified with stage 1 hypertension. Women with stage 1 hypertension were at significantly increased risk for any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–3.04) and indicated preterm birth (aRR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.12–3.02). Black women and obese women with stage 1 hypertension were at increased for hypertensive disorder of pregnancy compared with white women and nonobese women, respectively (aRR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11–1.57; aRR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.39–2.06).

Conclusion These results provide insight about the prevalence of stage 1 hypertension and inform future guidelines for diagnosis and management of hypertension in pregnancy. Future research is needed to assess potential interventions to mitigate risk.

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Gestational Weight Gain and Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes for Pregnancies Complicated by Pregestational and Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Kiefer Miranda K. , Adebayo Adesomo , Cleary Erin , Klebanoff Mark , Costantine Maged M. , Landon Mark B. , Gabbe Steven , Frey Heather , Venkatesh Kartik K.
Published: November 2021

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between excess and less than recommended gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with pregestational and gestational diabetes.

Study Design We conducted a secondary analysis of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Consortium on Safe Labor (CSL) study. We included deliveries >23 weeks of nonanomalous singletons with either pregestational or gestational diabetes. The exposure was GWG greater than or less than compared with the U.S. Institute of Medicine recommendations for total pregnancy weight gain per prepregnancy body mass index. Consistent with the 2020 Delphi outcome for diabetes in pregnancy, maternal outcomes included cesarean delivery and preeclampsia and neonatal outcomes included small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), macrosomia >4,000 g, preterm birth <37 weeks, stillbirth, and neonatal death. We modeled both absolute GWG and GWG z-scores, standardized for gestational duration. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, parity, prior cesarean delivery, chronic hypertension, tobacco use, U.S. region, and delivery year.

Results Of 8,322 deliveries (n = 8,087 women) complicated by pregestational or gestational diabetes, 47% were in excess, 27% were within, and 26% were less than GWG recommendations. Deliveries with excess absolute GWG were at higher adjusted odds of cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, LGA, and macrosomia, compared with those within recommendations. Similar results were observed when using standardized GWG z-scores, in addition to higher likelihood of preterm birth and neonatal death. Less than recommended GWG was associated with a lower likelihood of these adverse outcomes but higher SGA. Additionally, less GWG by z-score was associated with a lower likelihood of stillbirth.

Conclusion Excess GWG increases the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with pregestational and gestational diabetes. Less GWG than recommended may decrease this risk.

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Fetal Echocardiogram and Detailed First Trimester Obstetric Ultrasound: ICD-10 Indications
Authors: Bsat Fadi , Fisher Barbra M. , Malisch Trisha , Jain Vanita
Published: November 2021

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and multiple national organizations have published the indications for fetal echocardiogram and for the detailed first trimester obstetric ultrasound. We present the corresponding International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes for those indications.

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Risk Factors for Adverse Maternal Outcomes following Expectantly Managed Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes
Authors: Darling Alice J. , Harris Hailey M. , Zemtsov Gregory E. , Small Maria , Grace Matthew R. , Wheeler Sarahn , Dotters-Katz Sarah K.
Published: November 2021

Objective We sought to characterize the incidence and risk factors associated with developing maternal morbidity following preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.

Study Design Retrospective case–control study of patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes at a single institution from 2013 to 2019 admitted at ≥23 weeks gestational age. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal morbidity which included: death, sepsis, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, acute kidney injury, postpartum dilation and curettage, postpartum hysterectomy, venous thromboembolism, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum wound complication, postpartum endometritis, pelvic abscess, postpartum pneumonia, readmission, and/or need for blood transfusion were compared with patients without above morbidities. Severe morbidity was defined as: death, ICU admission, venous thromboembolism, acute kidney injury, postpartum hysterectomy, sepsis, and/or transfusion >2 units. Demographics, antenatal, and delivery characteristics were compared between patients with and without maternal morbidity. Bivariate statistics and regression models were used to compare outcomes and calculate adjusted odd ratios.

Results Of 361 included patients, 64 patients (17.7%) experienced maternal morbidity and nine (2.5%) had severe morbidity. Patients who experienced maternal morbidity were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to be older, have private insurance, have BMI ≥40, have chorioamnionitis at delivery, and undergo cesarean or operative vaginal delivery when compared with patients who did not experience morbidity. After controlling for confounders, cesarean delivery (aOR 2.38, 95% CI[1.30,4.39]), body mass index ≥40 at admission (aOR 2.54, 95% CI[1.12,5.79]), private insurance (aOR 3.08, 95% CI[1.54,6.16]), and tobacco use (aOR 3.43, 95% CI[1.58,7.48]) were associated with increased odds of maternal morbidity.

Conclusion In this cohort, maternal morbidity occurred in 17.7% of patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. Private insurance, body mass index ≥40, tobacco use, and cesarean delivery were associated with higher odds of morbidity. These data can be used in counseling and to advocate for smoking cessation.

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