bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The “Screening Index” to Select Building-Scale Heating Systems
Authors: Deng Yimin , Dewil Raf , Baeyens Jan , Ansart Renaud , Zhang Huili
Published: December 2020

Buildings are increasingly considered as a key to de-carbonize the economy, with improvements in their energy efficiency and in their heating systems as primary targets. The heating systems have a moderate lifespan, are renewed more frequently, and the integration of renewable energy sources is increasingly important. The energy selecting problem is a strategic issue. Several parameters should be included in the decision making such as technology, economy, environment, social benefits and others. An objective and quantitative decision is essential to select the optimal heating schemes. To develop such multi-criteria assessment, the present study combines the improved AHP and grey relational TOPSIS, together with the use of linear and non-linear combination weighing. It results in a quantitative comprehensive assessment, called “Screening index” model. Based on the evaluation elements, the optimal single or hybrid energy route option can be selected, as illustrated in a case study. The index can help users, system manufacturers, builders and even governments to select the most appropriate heating schemes.
Spatial Distribution and Contamination Status of Copper and Chromium in Transshipment Area, Sichang Island, Thailand
Authors: Maklai S , Srithongouthai S
Published: December 2020

Surface sediments were sampled at 22 locations in marine transshipment area in order to evaluate the distribution pattern, contamination status and ecological risk of Cu and Cr. The results of the metals distribution demonstrated that high concentrations of both Cu and Cr were found in the transshipment area, while lower concentrations were observed at the reference sites. Likewise, there were significant differences between the transshipment area and the reference site, indicating these were consequences of different outputs and activities. For comparison of the guidelines, concentrations of Cu and Cr were in a range that biological effects occasionally occur. Based on EF, concentrations of Cu and Cr indicated minor contamination. Also, all of the entire study area had low ecological risk.
Economics of Rural Domestic Biogas Development: Applying Spatial Analysis to Evaluate Profitability
Authors: Meidiana C , Purnamasari YE , Dinanti D
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to calculate the profitability of communal anaerobic digester (AD) development in rural area. For that purpose, spatial cluster analysis is used to determine the cluster size and location for low affordability of non-biogas farmers to construct individual anaerobic digester. Cluster size is characterized by the number of households and the spatial proximity among the cluster member, while cluster location is determined by the land suitability. The potential energy production for each cluster is calculated afterwards as it may be distributed to non-farmer households. Meanwhile, the economics of communal (AD) is estimated using the Net Present Value, the Internal Return Rate, the Payback, and the Profitability as Return/Investment Ratio. As a result of the study, we have attained energy values ranging between 193,026.6 (MJ/yr) and 649,510.2 (MJ/yr). The BCR varies for both communal and individual AD which is 1.57 – 1.61 and 1.28 – 1.46, respectively. Furthermore, the calculation shows that Net Present Value, Internal Return Ratio, Payback, and profitability is US$ 12,112, 18%, 4.3 years and 110% respectively.
Visualizing the Intellectual Structure of Risk Management in Renewable Energy Projects
Authors: Xue J , Yue G Y
Published: December 2020

The development of renewable energy (RE) is the evident solution to satisfy the increasing demand of sustainable development while respecting the environment and ensuring a green economic growth. RE is a highly complex emerging research field with fragmental and diversified traits. However, the massive generation of risk was increasingly threatening the sustainable development of RE projects. This paper fills this gap via a systematic and quantitative review. In order to identify and visualize the intellectual structure and research opportunities, we conducted the scientometric analysis method from dynamic and evolutionary perspective. A total of 448 articles published from 1997-2018 were collected to construct the knowledge map and comprehensive framework for RM. This study contributes to the existing RM-RE knowledge by visualizing the intellectual structure and presenting a comprehensive knowledge framework.
Transitioning the Swedish building sector toward reuse and circularity
Authors: Gerhardsson H , Lindholm C L , Andersson J , Kronberg A , Wennesjö M , Shadram F
Published: December 2020

A transition toward a circular building sector, in which built-in construction products with remaining technical life are reused, would decrease the amount of waste generated, improve resource utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the built environment. Based on this premise, this study (1) identifies key barriers to the increased reuse of high-quality construction products in the Swedish building sector and, based on these barriers (2) presents a set of new working practices that enable reuse in building and deconstruction projects. The study uses an explorative research approach based on data from ten case studies of Swedish building and deconstruction projects, semi-structured interviews and a survey conducted with key building-sector stakeholders. The results identify a lack of knowledge and an immature market as key barriers that must be removed in order to enable increased reuse in the Swedish building sector. Key working practices identified as solutions for increased reuse are (1) materials inventories, (2) targets for reuse, (3) circular building design, (4) planning for reuse, (5) incentives for reuse in procurement and (6) long-term documentation strategies enabling future reuse.
Reptiles of the Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve, Russia
Authors: Bakiev A G , Gorelov R A , Klenina A A
Published: December 2020

Nine reptile species inhabited on the five sites in the Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve, these are Emys orbicularis, Eremias arguta, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Coronella austriaca, Elaphe dione, and Vipera renardi. Lacerta agilis is the only abundant species. Over the last 20-25 years, the abundance of at least three species (Emys orbicularis, Zootoca vivipara, Natrix natrix) has decreased in some clusters of the reserve.
Mild formation of core–shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation
Authors: Liu Zeyang , Zhang Hongyong , Zhan Zhen , Nan Haochen , Huang Nan , Xu Tao , Gong Xiaohua , Hu Chengzhi
Published: December 2020

Internal gelation has been an important sol-gel route for the preparation of spherical microgel for drug delivery, cell therapy, or tissue regeneration. Despite high homogeneity and permeability, the internal gelated microgels often result in weak mechanical stability, unregular interface morphology and low cell survival rate. In this work, we have extensively improved the existing internal gelation approach and core–shell hydrogel microcapsules (200–600 μm) with a smooth surface, high mechanical stability and cell survival rate, are successfully prepared by using internal gelation. A coaxial flow-focusing capillary-assembled microfluidic device was developed for the gelation. Rapid gelling behavior of alginate in the internal gelation makes it suitable for producing well-defined and homogenous alginate hydrogel microstructures that serve as the shell of the microcapsules. 2-[4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) was used in the shell stream during the internal gelation. Thus, a high concentration of acid in the oil solution can be used for better crosslinking the alginate while maintaining high cell viability. We further demonstrated that the gelation conditions in our approach were mild enough for encapsulating HepG2 cells and 3T3 fibroblasts without losing their viability and functionality in a co-culture environment.
Advances in thermal conductivity for energy applications: a review
Authors: Zheng Qiye , Hao Menglong , Miao Ruijiao , Schaadt Joseph , Dames Chris
Published: December 2020

Thermal conductivity is a crucial material property for a diverse range of energy technologies, ranging from thermal management of high power electronics to thermal insulation for building envelopes. This review discusses recent advances in achieving high and low thermal conductivity (k) as relevant for energy applications, from high-kheat spreaders to low-kinsulation. We begin with a brief introduction to the physics of heat conduction from both theoretical and computational perspectives. The heart of the review is a survey of recent advances in high- and low-kmaterials. The discussion of good heat conductors for thermal management includes inorganics and polymers in both bulk and low dimensional forms. For insulators, the discussion covers the effects of chemical composition, crystal structure, and defects and porosity. Promising areas for future research in both fundamental materials science and engineering technologies are noted.
Dapagliflozin Does Not Affect Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Papadopoulou Eirini , Theodorakopoulou Marieta P , Loutradis Charalampos , Tzanis Georgios , Tzatzagou Glykeria , Kotsa Kalliopi , Zografou Ioanna , Tsapas Apostolos , Karagiannis Asterios , Sarafidis Pantelis
Published: December 2020

Background

Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors decrease the incidence of cardiovascular events, renal events, and death in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dapagliflozin on short-term BPV in patients with T2DM.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 85 patients with T2DM. Subjects were randomized to dapagliflozin 10 mg/day or placebo for 12 weeks. All participants underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring with Mobil-O-Graph-NG device at baseline and study-end. SD, weighted SD (wSD), coefficient of variation, average real variability (ARV), and variation independent of mean were calculated for the 24-hour, daytime and nighttime periods.

Results

Dapagliflozin reduced 24-hour brachial BP compared with placebo. From baseline to study-end 24-hour brachial BPV indexes did not change with dapagliflozin (SBP-ARV: 11.51 ± 3.45 vs. 11.05 ± 3.35; P = 0.326, SBP-wSD: 13.59 ± 3.60 vs. 13.48 ± 3.33; P = 0.811) or placebo (SBP-ARV: 11.47 ± 3.63 vs. 11.05 ± 3.00; P = 0.388, SBP-wSD: 13.85 ± 4.38 vs. 13.97 ± 3.87; P = 0.308). Similarly, no significant changes in BPV indexes for daytime and nighttime were observed in any group. At study-end, no between-group differences were observed for any BPV index. Deltas (Δ) of all indexes during follow-up were minimal and not different between groups (SBP-wSD: dapagliflozin: −0.11 ± 3.05 vs. placebo: 0.12 ± 4.20; P = 0.227).

Conclusions

This study is the first to evaluate the effects of an SGLT-2 inhibitor on short-term BPV in T2DM, showing no effect of dapagliflozin on all BPV indexes studied.

Clinical trials registration

Trial Number NCT02887677.
Offspring desertion with care? Chick mortality and plastic female desertion in Snowy Plovers
Authors: Kupán Krisztina , Székely Tamás , Cruz-López Medardo , Seymour Keeley , Küpper Clemens
Published: December 2020

Offspring desertion is often a plastic behavioral strategy that requires precise timing as the termination of parental care may have profound consequences for the fitness of parents and offspring. However, the decision process involved with termination of care is still poorly understood. Snowy Plovers Charadrius nivosus show highly flexible brood care with some females deserting the brood early and re-mate, whereas others provide extended care until the young are independent. Using a dynamic modeling framework, we investigated the effect of multiple factors on the decision-making process of female brood care in Ceuta, Mexico over a 7-year period. Females were more likely to stay with larger broods, while their probability of care was lower at the beginning of the season, when re-mating opportunities are higher than later in the season. Offspring condition at hatching did not influence the length of female care. Chick death and offspring desertion frequently coincided, suggesting that deteriorating offspring condition may trigger female desertion. Females deserted broods with high survival prospects when their absence did not impact negatively chick survival. Conversely, females deserted broods with low survival prospects when chick mortality despite female care reduced the value of the brood and re-mating was still possible. This suggests that female Snowy Plovers are sensitive to the needs and the value of their broods and adjust their parental care strategy accordingly. Taken together, we conclude that offspring desertion is a highly plastic behavior that allows females to maximize their reproductive success in a stochastic environment.
Multigene editing: current approaches and beyond
Authors: Peng Hui , Zheng Yi , Zhao Zhixun , Li Jinyan
Published: December 2020

CRISPR/Cas9 multigene editing is an active and widely studied topic in the fields of biomedicine and biology. It involves a simultaneous participation of multiple single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to edit multiple target genes in a way that each gene is edited by one of these sgRNAs. There are possibly numerous sgRNA candidates capable of on-target editing on each of these genes with various efficiencies. Meanwhile, each of these sgRNA candidates may cause unwanted off-target editing at many other genes. Therefore, selection optimization of these multiple sgRNAs is demanded so as to minimize the number of sgRNAs and thus reduce the collective negative effects caused by the off-target editing. This survey reviews wet-laboratory approaches to the implementation of multigene editing and their needs of computational tools for better design. We found that though off-target editing is unavoidable during the gene editing, those disfavored cuttings by some target genes’ sgRNAs can potentially become on-target editing sites for some other genes of interests. This off-to-on role conversion is beneficial to optimize the sgRNA selection in multigene editing. We present a preference cutting score to assess those beneficial off-target cutting sites, which have a few mismatches with their host genes’ on-target editing sites. These potential sgRNAs can be prioritized for recommendation via ranking their on-target average cutting efficiency, the total off-target site number and their average preference cutting score. We also present case studies on cancer-associated genes to demonstrate tremendous usefulness of the new method.
Dual-Factor Representation of the Environmental Context in the Retrosplenial Cortex
Authors: Miller Adam M P , Serrichio Anna C , Smith David M
Published: December 2020

The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is thought to be involved in a variety of spatial and contextual memory processes. However, we do not know how contextual information might be encoded in the RSC or whether the RSC representations may be distinct from context representations seen in other brain regions such as the hippocampus. We recorded RSC neuronal responses while rats explored different environments and discovered 2 kinds of context representations: one involving a novel rate code in which neurons reliably fire at a higher rate in the preferred context regardless of spatial location, and a second involving context-dependent spatial firing patterns similar to those seen in the hippocampus. This suggests that the RSC employs a unique dual-factor representational mechanism to support contextual memory.
The Spectrum of Tuberculosis Disease in an Urban Ugandan Community and Its Health Facilities
Authors: Kendall Emily A , Kitonsa Peter J , Nalutaaya Annet , Erisa K Caleb , Mukiibi James , Nakasolya Olga , Isooba David , Baik Yeonsoo , Robsky Katherine O , Kato-Maeda Midori , Cattamanchi Adithya , Katamba Achilles , Dowdy David W
Published: December 2020

Background

New, sensitive diagnostic tests facilitate identification and investigation of milder forms of tuberculosis (TB) disease. We used community-based TB testing with the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay (“Ultra”) to characterize individuals with previously undiagnosed TB and compare them to those from the same community who were diagnosed with TB through routine care.

Methods

We offered community-based sputum Ultra testing to adult residents of a well-defined area (population 34 000 adults) in Kampala, Uganda, via door-to-door screening and venue-based testing, then used detailed interview and laboratory testing to characterize TB-positive individuals. We compared these individuals to residents diagnosed with pulmonary TB at local health facilities and a representative sample of residents without TB (controls).

Results

Of 12 032 residents with interpretable Ultra results, 113 (940 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 780–1130] per 100 000) tested positive, including 71 (63%) positive at the lowest (trace) level. A spectrum of TB disease was observed in terms of chronic cough (93% among health facility–diagnosed cases, 77% among residents with positive community-based Ultra results at levels above trace, 33% among trace-positive community participants, and 18% among TB-negative controls), TB symptom prevalence (99%, 87%, 60%, and 38%, respectively), and C-reactive protein (75th percentile: 101 mg/L, 28 mg/L, 6 mg/L, and 4 mg/L, respectively). Community-diagnosed cases were less likely than health facility–diagnosed cases to have human immunodeficiency virus coinfection or previous TB. The specificity of Ultra was 99.4% (95% CI, 99.2%–99.5%) relative to a single spot sputum culture.

Conclusions

People with undiagnosed prevalent TB in the community have different characteristics than those diagnosed with pulmonary TB in health facilities. Newer diagnostic tests may identify a group of people with early or very mild disease.
Thalidomide Use for Complicated Central Nervous System Tuberculosis in Children: Insights From an Observational Cohort
Authors: van Toorn Ronald , Solomons Regan S , Seddon James A , Schoeman Johan F
Published: December 2020

Background

Much of the neurological sequelae of central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) is due to an excessive cytokine-driven host-inflammatory response. Adjunctive corticosteroids, which reduce cytokine production and thus dampen the inflammation, improve overall survival but do not prevent morbidity. This has prompted investigation of more targeted immunomodulatory agents, including thalidomide.

Methods

We describe a retrospective cohort of 38 children consecutively treated with adjunctive thalidomide for CNS TB–related complications over a 10-year period.

Results

The most common presenting symptom was focal motor deficit (n = 16), followed by cranial nerve palsies and cerebellar dysfunction. Three of the 38 children presented with large dural-based lesions, manifesting as epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), 4 presented with blindness secondary to optochiasmatic arachnoiditis, and 2 children developed paraplegia due to spinal cord TB mass lesions. Duration of adjunctive thalidomide therapy (3–5 mg/kg/day) varied according to complication type. In children compromised by TB mass lesions, the median treatment duration was 3.9 months (interquartile range [IQR], 2.0–5.0 months), whereas in children with optic neuritis it was 2.0 months (IQR, 1.3–7.3 months) and in EPC it was 1.0 months (IQR, 1–2.5 months). Satisfactory clinical and radiological response was observed in 37 of the children. None of the children experienced rashes, hepatitis, or hematologic derangements or complained of leg cramps.

Conclusions

This study is the largest cohort of adult or pediatric patients treated with adjunctive thalidomide for CNS TB–related complications. The drug has proved to be safe and well tolerated and appears to be clinically efficacious. The potential role of thalidomide or analogues in the treatment of other tuberculous meningitis–related complications requires further exploration.
Paradigm shifts in electrophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Schotten Ulrich , Lee Seungyup , Zeemering Stef , Waldo Albert L
Published: December 2020

Determining the sequence of activation is a major source of information for understanding the electrophysiological mechanism(s) of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the complex morphology of the electrograms hampers their analysis, and has stimulated generations of electrophysiologists to develop a large variety of technologies for recording, pre-processing, and analysis of fibrillation electrograms. This variability of approaches is mirrored by a large variability in the interpretation of fibrillation electrograms and, thereby, opinions regarding the basic electrophysiological mechanism(s) of AF vary widely. Multiple wavelets, different types of re-entry including rotors, double layers, multiple focal activation patterns all have been advocated, and a comprehensive and commonly accepted paradigm for the fundamental mechanisms of AF is still lacking. Here, we summarize the Maastricht perspective and Cleveland perspective regarding AF mechanism(s). We also describe some of the key observations in mapping of AF reported over the past decades, and how they changed over the years, often as results of new techniques introduced in the experimental field of AF research.
Characterizing the arrhythmogenic substrate in personalized models of atrial fibrillation: sensitivity to mesh resolution and pacing protocol in AF models
Authors: Boyle Patrick M , Ochs Alexander R , Ali Rheeda L , Paliwal Nikhil , Trayanova Natalia A
Published: December 2020

Aims

Computationally guided persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF) ablation has emerged as an alternative to conventional treatment planning. To make this approach scalable, computational cost and the time required to conduct simulations must be minimized while maintaining predictive accuracy. Here, we assess the sensitivity of the process to finite-element mesh resolution. We also compare methods for pacing site distribution used to evaluate inducibility arrhythmia sustained by re-entrant drivers (RDs).

Methods and results

Simulations were conducted in low- and high-resolution models (average edge lengths: 400/350 µm) reconstructed from PsAF patients’ late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging scans. Pacing was simulated from 80 sites to assess RD inducibility. When pacing from the same site led to different outcomes in low-/high-resolution models, we characterized divergence dynamics by analysing dissimilarity index over time. Pacing site selection schemes prioritizing even spatial distribution and proximity to fibrotic tissue were evaluated. There were no RD sites observed in low-resolution models but not high-resolution models, or vice versa. Dissimilarity index analysis suggested that differences in simulation outcome arising from differences in discretization were the result of isolated conduction block incidents in one model but not the other; this never led to RD sites unique to one mesh resolution. Pacing site selection based on fibrosis proximity led to the best observed trade-off between number of stimulation locations and predictive accuracy.

Conclusion

Simulations conducted in meshes with 400 µm average edge length and ∼40 pacing sites proximal to fibrosis are sufficient to reveal the most comprehensive possible list of RD sites, given feasibility constraints.
Frequency domain full-waveform inversion in a fluid-saturated poroelastic medium
Authors: Yang Qingjie , Malcolm Alison
Published: December 2020

Determining subsurface properties is of fundamental importance in exploration seismic imaging. Poroelasticity theory provides an opportunity to extract quantitative fluid- and attenuation-dependent properties from seismic data. Following Pratt’s frequency-domain full-waveform-inversion (FWI) procedure and extending the basic FWI equations from the elastic case to the poroelastic case, we implement poroelastic FWI (PFWI) of fluid-saturated porous media. By analysing the sensitivity kernels of poroelastic parameters, we explain the reason why some parameters are more difficult to recover than others. We also show the analytical and numerical radiation patterns based on which we predict the trade-offs among parameters. In numerical experiments, we invert two models to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed PFWI and to verify our predictions about trade-offs for two-parameter PFWI. Finally, we discuss the various factors that influence the inversion results.
Did the Court of Justice of the European Union Solve the Puzzle by Declaring the Rubik’s Cube Trademark Invalid?
Authors: Kováts Borbála Lili
Published: December 2020

In 1995, the patent protection for the internationally famous Rubik’s Cube expired. Ernő Rubik, the Hungarian inventor of the three-dimensional puzzle, had to find an alternative way to maintain his monopoly on the market and thus had the shape of the Cube registered as a 3D Community trademark in 1996. However, the idea of perpetuating the exclusive rights related to the Rubik’s Cube only proved to be successful for ten years, as in 2006 Simba Toys GmbH & Co. KG, a German competitor of Rubik, filed an application for declaration of invalidity against the 3D Rubik’s Cube trademark. The application was based on the lack of distinctive character, descriptiveness and functionality of the 3D trademark. This was rejected by OHIM. The invalidity case ended up before the Court of Justice of the European Union, upon the appeal of the German competitor. The Court found that the Rubik’s Cube trademarks should have been declared invalid, and transferred the case back to OHIM, which then had to bring a new decision that was in line with the interpretation of the CJEU. The study analyses the two rounds of invalidity proceedings, the key issues which emerged throughout the case, the interpretation of functionality by OHIM and the CJEU, and the legal background and the prospect for 3D shape marks in the EU.
Lay health worker as interventionist training: reflective writing in US family health promotion practice
Authors: Meiers Sonja J , Dyce Evan , Wieland Mark L , Patten Christi , Clark Matthew M , Hanza Marcelo M K , Bronars Carrie , Nigon Julie A , Sia Irene G
Published: December 2020

Lay health worker-led health promotion interventions are well received within racial and ethnic minority communities. Increasing numbers of trained lay health workers will be needed to meet global health goals. The purpose of this process evaluation was to gain insights about how lay health worker as interventionists used theory-based approaches within a nutrition and physical activity health behavior change intervention in a clinical trial enrolling immigrant and refugee families. Data were comprised of ongoing reflective writing statements from four health workers about their implementation of the intervention. Using content analysis three themes emerged: (i) encouraging setting of small, family focused and relevant goals, (ii) being flexible in content delivery and (iii) being personally transformed (i.e. gained a sense of meaning from their experience). Lay health worker interventionist reflections on practice revealed they delivered the intervention within the primacy of the family partnering relationship by attending to unique family needs, and adjusting educational content and goal setting accordingly. Our results provide guidance for training and process evaluation of lay health worker intervention delivery in ethnically and racially diverse populations. Incorporating real-time reflection upon what was learned about skills of facilitating family motivation and family confidence enhanced affective learning and may be useful in future research studies and health promotion practice. The processes identified including setting small goals, flexibility and personal transformation could be considered in future lay health worker-delivered health promotion interventions.
Outcomes of single physician-modified fenestrated stent grafts for endovascular repair of thoracic aortic lesions involving the distal aortic arch
Authors: Zhu Jiechang , Ma Chao , Dai Xiangchen , Wang Zheng , Fan Hailun , Feng Zhou , Luo Yudong , Zhang Yiwei , Hu Fanguo
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to evaluate the outcomes of fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair of thoracic aortic lesions involving the distal aortic arch using single physician-modified stent grafts.

METHODS

This single-centre, retrospective study included 58 consecutive patients (mean age, 57 ± 14 years; 11 women) who underwent fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair for thoracic aortic pathologies involving the distal aortic arch using single physician-modified stent grafts between November 2015 and December 2018. Indications included complicated acute type B dissection or intramural haematoma with an unfavourable proximal landing zone (n = 49), type Ia endoleak subsequent to thoracic endovascular aortic repair due to acute type B dissection (n = 1) and distal arch degenerative aneurysms <15 mm from the left subclavian artery (n = 8).

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 94.8%. The 30-day mortality was 1.7%, and the perioperative ischaemic stroke rate was 1.7%. The incidence of perioperative complications was 10.3%. At a mean follow-up of 26.3 months (range, 7–44), all target vessels were patent. All-cause mortality was 5.2%. Estimated 1-, 2- and 3-year survival was 98.3 ± 1.7%, 96.4 ± 2.5% and 93.2 ± 3.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The single fenestrated stent graft technique is feasible and effective for endovascular repair of thoracic aortic pathologies involving the distal aortic arch.
How close is the nearest node in a wireless network?
Authors: Middleton Amy L L , Járai Antal A , Dawes Jonathan H P , Briggs Keith
Published: December 2020

The ability of small-cell wireless networks to self-organize is crucial for improving capacity and performance in modern communication networks. This paper considers one of the most basic questions: what is the expected distance to a cell’s nearest neighbour in a spatially distributed network? We analyse a model problem in the asymptotic limit of large total received signal and compare the accuracy of different heuristics. We also analytically consider the effects of fading. Our analysis shows that the most naive heuristic systematically underestimates the distance to the nearest node; this is substantially corrected in cases of interest by inclusion of the next-order asymptotic term. We illustrate our theoretical results explicitly or several combinations of signal and path loss parameters and show that our theory is well supported by numerical simulations.
The study of the projective transformation under the bilinear strict equivalence
Authors: Kalogeropoulos Grigoris I , Karageorgos Athanasios D , Pantelous Athanasios A
Published: December 2020

The study of linear time invariant descriptor systems has intimately been related to the study of matrix pencils. It is true that a large number of systems can be reduced to the study of differential (or difference) systems, $S\left ( {F,G} \right )$, $$\begin{align*} & S\left({F,G}\right): F\dot{x}(t) = G{x}(t) \left(\text{or the dual, } F{x}(t) = G\dot{x}(t)\right), \end{align*}$$and $$\begin{align*} & S\left({F,G}\right): Fx_{k+1} = Gx_k \left(\text{or the dual, } Fx_k=Gx_{k+1}\right)\!, F,G \in{\mathbb{C}^{m \times n}}, \end{align*}$$and their properties can be characterized by homogeneous matrix pencils, $sF - \hat{s}G$. Based on the fact that the study of the invariants for the projective equivalence class can be reduced to the study of the invariants of the matrices of set ${\mathbb{C}^{k \times 2}}$ (for $k \geqslant 3$ with all $2\times 2$-minors non-zero) under the extended Hermite equivalence, in the context of the bilinear strict equivalence relation, a novel projective transformation is analytically derived.
Association of Neutrophil Activation, More Than Platelet Activation, With Thrombotic Complications in Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Petito Eleonora , Falcinelli Emanuela , Paliani Ugo , Cesari Enrica , Vaudo Gaetano , Sebastiano Manuela , Cerotto Vittorio , Guglielmini Giuseppe , Gori Fabio , Malvestiti Marco , Becattini Cecilia , Paciullo Francesco , De Robertis Edoardo , Bury Loredana , Lazzarini Teseo , Gresele Paolo ,   COVIR study investigators, Lapenna Maria , D’Abbondanza Marco , Cristallini Stefano , Franco Laura , Saccarelli Luca
Published: December 2020

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is associated with hypercoagulability, which predisposes to venous thromboembolism (VTE). We analyzed platelet and neutrophil activation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their association with VTE.

Methods

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Platelet and leukocyte activation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and matrix metalloproteinase 9, a neutrophil-released enzyme, were measured. Four patients were restudied after recovery. The activating effect of plasma from patients with COVID-19 on control platelets and leukocytes and the inhibiting activity of common antithrombotic agents on it were studied.

Results

A total of 36 patients with COVID-19 and 31 healthy controls were studied; VTE developed in 8 of 36 patients with COVID-19 (22.2%). Platelets and neutrophils were activated in patients with COVID-19. NET, but not platelet activation, biomarkers correlated with disease severity and were associated with thrombosis. Plasmatic matrix metalloproteinase 9 was significantly increased in patients with COVID-19. Platelet and neutrophil activation markers, but less so NETs, normalized after recovery. In vitro, plasma from patients with COVID-19 triggered platelet and neutrophil activation and NET formation, the latter blocked by therapeutic-dose low-molecular-weight heparin, but not by aspirin or dypiridamole.

Conclusions

Platelet and neutrophil activation are key features of patients with COVID-19. NET biomarkers may help to predict clinical worsening and VTE and may guide low-molecular-weight heparin treatment.
Communication in the intensive care unit during COVID-19: early experience with the Nightingale Communication Method
Authors: Shurlock Jonathan , Rudd James , Jeanes Annette , Iacovidou Aphrodite , Creta Antonio , Kanthasamy Vijayabharathy , Schilling Richard , Sullivan Eamonn , Cooke Joanne , Laws-Chapman Colette , Baxter David , Finlay Malcolm
Published: December 2020

Objective

To assess the utility and frequency of use of the Nightingale Communication Method, during the early operational phase of the Nightingale Hospital London (NHL) 4000-bed field hospital’s intensive care unit.

Design

Survey-based cross-sectional assessment.

Setting

The intensive care unit at the Nightingale London hospital.

Participants

Staff working in the clinical area and therefore requiring full personal protective equipment (PPE).

Intervention

Survey of all staff members sampled from a single shift at the Nightingale Hospital. This investigated perceived utility and actual use of identification methods (name and role labels on visors and gowns, coloured role identification tapes) and formal hand signals as an adjunctive communication method.

Main Outcome Measure

Self-reported frequency of use and perceived utility of each communication and personnel identification adjunct.

Results

Fifty valid responses were received (72% response rate), covering all clinical professional groups. Prominent name/role identifications and coloured role identification tapes were very frequently used and were perceived as being highly useful. Formal hand signals were infrequently used and not perceived as being beneficial, with respondents citing use of individual hand signals only in specific circumstances.

Conclusion

PPE is highly depersonalizing, and interpersonal identification aids are very useful. Despite being difficult, verbal communication is not completely prohibited, which could explain the low utility of formal hand signals. The methods developed at the Nightingale hospital have enhanced communication in the critical care, field hospital setting. There is potential for wider application to a variety of healthcare settings, in both the current situation and future pandemic scenarios.
Decoupling the Short- and Long-Term Behavior of Stochastic Volatility
Authors: Bennedsen Mikkel , Lunde Asger , Pakkanen and Mikko S
Published: December 2020

We introduce a new class of continuous-time models of the stochastic volatility of asset prices. The models can simultaneously incorporate roughness and slowly decaying autocorrelations, including proper long memory, which are two stylized facts often found in volatility data. Our prime model is based on the so-called Brownian semistationary process and we derive a number of theoretical properties of this process, relevant to volatility modeling. Applying the models to realized volatility measures covering a vast panel of assets, we find evidence consistent with the hypothesis that time series of realized measures of volatility are both rough and very persistent. Lastly, we illustrate the utility of the models in an extensive forecasting study; we find that the models proposed in this article outperform a wide array of benchmarks considerably, indicating that it pays off to exploit both roughness and persistence in volatility forecasting.
Genetic and Pathological Characteristic Patterns of a Family With Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease
Authors: Zhang Shugang , Gong Qixing , Wu Di , Tian Yun , Shen Lu , Lu Jie , Xu Ligang , Gu Hao , Xu Jianxia , Liu Weiguo
Published: December 2020

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. This study aimed to investigate clinical, imaging, genetic, and dermatopathological characteristics of a family with adult-onset NIID. The proband was a 62-year-old woman with 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Of these, 4 had symptoms of paroxysmal visual field defect, extrapyramidal symptoms, dysautonomia, emotional changes, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic examination revealed no abnormality related to cerebrovascular diseases. More than 200 CGG repeats of FMR1 gene cause fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) whereas repeats of the proband were found 29 times, which excluded FXTAS. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and GC-rich-PCR identified an expanded GGC repeat (with ∼100 repeats) in the 5′ region of NOTCH2NLC in the patient and her 2 younger brothers. Pathological examination found eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions inside adipocytes, fibrocytes, and sweat gland cells. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining revealed positive staining for ubiquitin and p62. The detailed pathological and genetic features of this NIID family provide a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge base of this rare disorder.
Intussusception in a pregnant woman
Authors: Silva Ana Cristina , Moreira Pedro Soares , Simões Vitor Costa , Sampaio Mónica , Santos Marisa Domingues
Published: December 2020

Abdominal pain in a pregnant woman with a history of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the emergency department is challenging. Intussusception is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction after LRYGB and can lead to intestinal necrosis, perforation, sepsis and death. The authors report a case of a 34-week pregnant patient, previously submitted to LRYGB, presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting. A computed tomography scan suggested the presence of ileoileal intussusception. So, an emergent laparotomy was performed with invagination reduction. The postoperative period was uneventful, as well as pregnancy and caesarian performed 4 weeks after surgery. At the 45-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of intussusception.
Hypersequent calculi for non-normal modal and deontic logics: countermodels and optimal complexity
Authors: Dalmonte Tiziano , Lellmann Björn , Olivetti Nicola , Pimentel Elaine
Published: December 2020

We present some hypersequent calculi for all systems of the classical cube and their extensions with axioms ${T}$, ${P}$ and ${D}$ and for every $n \geq 1$, rule ${RD}_n^+$. The calculi are internal as they only employ the language of the logic, plus additional structural connectives. We show that the calculi are complete with respect to the corresponding axiomatization by a syntactic proof of cut elimination. Then, we define a terminating proof search strategy in the hypersequent calculi and show that it is optimal for coNP-complete logics. Moreover, we show that from every failed proof of a formula or hypersequent it is possible to directly extract a countermodel of it in the bi-neighbourhood semantics of polynomial size for coNP logics, and for regular logics also in the relational semantics. We finish the paper by giving a translation between hypersequent rule applications and derivations in a labelled system for the classical cube.
Compact, bulge-dominated structures of spectroscopically confirmed quiescent galaxies at z ≈ 3
Authors: Lustig Peter , Strazzullo Veronica , D’Eugenio Chiara , Daddi Emanuele , Pannella Maurilio , Renzini Alvio , Cimatti Andrea , Gobat Raphael , Jin Shuowen , Mohr Joseph J , Onodera Masato
Published: December 2020

We study structural properties of spectroscopically confirmed massive quiescent galaxies at z ≈ 3 with one of the first sizeable samples of such sources, made of ten 10.8 < log (M⋆/M⊙) < 11.3 galaxies at 2.4 < z < 3.2 in the COSMOS field whose redshifts and quiescence are confirmed by Hubble Space Telescope (HST) grism spectroscopy. Although affected by a weak bias toward younger stellar populations, this sample is deemed to be largely representative of the majority of the most massive and thus intrinsically rarest quiescent sources at this cosmic time. We rely on targeted HST/Wide-Field Camera 3 observations and fit Sérsic profiles to the galaxy surface brightness distributions at $\approx {4000}\hbox{-}{\, {\mathring{\rm A}}}$ rest frame. We find typically high Sérsic indices and axis ratios (medians ≈ 4.5 and 0.73, respectively) suggesting that, at odds with some previous results, the first massive quiescent galaxies may largely be already bulge-dominated systems. We measure compact galaxy sizes with an average of $\approx {1.4}\, {\rm kpc}$ at log (M⋆/M⊙) ≈ 11.2, in good agreement with the extrapolation at the highest masses of previous determinations of the stellar mass–size relation of quiescent galaxies, and of its redshift evolution, from photometrically selected samples at lower and similar redshifts. This work confirms the existence of a population of compact, bulge dominated, massive, quiescent sources at z ≈ 3, providing one of the first statistical estimates of their structural properties, and further constraining the early formation and evolution of the first quiescent galaxies.
New observations of NGC 1624−2 reveal a complex magnetospheric structure and underlying surface magnetic geometry
Authors: David-Uraz A , Petit V , Shultz M E , Fullerton A W , Erba C , Keszthelyi Z , Seadrow S , Wade G A
Published: December 2020

NGC 1624−2 is the most strongly magnetized O-type star known. Previous spectroscopic observations of this object in the ultraviolet provided evidence that it hosts a large and dense circumstellar magnetosphere. Follow-up observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope not only confirm that previous inference, but also suggest that NGC 1624−2’s magnetosphere has a complex structure. Furthermore, an expanded spectropolarimetric time series shows a potential departure from a dipolar magnetic field geometry, which could mean that the strongest field detected at the surface of an O-type star is also topologically complex. This result raises important questions regarding the origin and evolution of magnetic fields in massive stars.
Direct geometrical measurement of the Hubble constant from galaxy parallax: predictions for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Authors: Croft Rupert A C
Published: December 2020

We investigate the possibility that a statistical detection of the galaxy parallax shifts due to the Earth’s motion with respect to the cosmic microwave background frame (cosmic secular parallax) could be made by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) or by the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NGRST), and used to measure the Hubble constant. We make mock galaxy surveys that extend to redshift z = 0.06 from a large N-body simulation, and include astrometric errors from the LSST and NGRST science requirements, redshift errors, and peculiar velocities. We include spectroscopic redshifts for the brightest galaxies (r < 18) in the fiducial case. We use these catalogues to make measurements of parallax versus redshift for various assumed survey parameters and analysis techniques. We find that in order to make a competitive measurement it will be necessary to model and correct for the peculiar velocity component of galaxy proper motions. It will also be necessary to push astrometry of extended sources into a new regime, and combine information from the different elements of resolved galaxies. In the Appendix, we describe some simple tests of galaxy image registration that yield relatively promising results. For our fiducial survey parameters, we predict an rms error on the direct geometrical measurement of H0 of $2.8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for LSST and $0.8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for NGRST.
Association of urinary sex steroid hormones with urinary calcium, oxalate and citrate excretion in kidney stone formers
Authors: Fuster Daniel G , Morard Gaétan A , Schneider Lisa , Mattmann Cedric , Lüthi David , Vogt Bruno , Dhayat Nasser A
Published: December 2020

Background

Sex-specific differences in nephrolithiasis with respect to both distribution of prevalence and stone composition are widely described and may be influenced by sex hormones.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between 24-h urinary sex hormone metabolites measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with urinary calcium, oxalate and citrate excretion in a cohort of 628 kidney stone formers from a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland, taking demographic characteristics, kidney function and dietary factors into account.

Results

We observed a positive association of urinary calcium with urinary testosterone and 17β-oestradiol. Positive associations of urinary calcium with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 5α-DH-testosterone, aetiocholanolone, androsterone and oestriol were modified by net gastrointestinal alkali absorption or urinary sulphate excretion. As the only sex hormone, DHEA was inversely associated with urinary oxalate excretion in adjusted analyses. Urinary citrate correlated positively with urinary testosterone. Associations of urinary citrate with urinary androsterone, 17β-oestradiol and oestriol were modified by urinary sulphate or sodium or by sex.

Conclusions

Urinary androgens and oestrogens are significantly associated with urinary calcium and citrate excretion and associations are modified in part by diet. Our data furthermore reveal DHEA as a novel factor associated with urinary oxalate excretion in humans.