bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A kinetic study of the reduction of tetrachloroaurate(III) ions by the cyano complexes of iron(II), tungsten(IV) and molybdenum(IV)
Authors: Swarts Jannie C. , Dennis C. Robert , Basson Stephen S.
Published: November 2023

The kinetics of the reduction of tetrachloroaurate(III) by the cyano complexes of Fe(II), W(IV) and Mo(IV) have been studied in aqueous acidic medium. The reactions of Fe(CN)64− and W(CN)84− display first-order kinetics in both [AuCl4−] and [M(CN)n4−] (M = Fe and n = 6, W and n = 8) while [H+] has a retarding effect on the reaction rate for both the Fe and W reactions. An acid dissociation constant, Ka1, for the Fe(CN)64− reaction has been established kinetically to be Ka1 = (9.1 ± 0.5) × 10−3 M (pKa1 = 2.04) at µ = 1.2 M while the previously unknown Ka1 for the W(CN)84− reaction was found to be Ka1 = 0.33 ± 0.09 M (pKa1 = 0.48). Alkali metal cations such as Na+ and Cs+ and denoted as (cat+) accelerate the reaction. Some reactions were performed under second order (stoichiometric) conditions while other were performed under pseudo-first order conditions; rate constants utilizing these two techniques were mutually consistent. From the acid dependence and variation of the ionic strength of the reaction medium and the Bronsted-Bjerrum equation it has been established that AuIIICl4− and H(cat+)M(CN)n2− (M = Fe and n = 6 or M = W and n = 8) are the reactive species during the course of the reactions. The reaction between Mo(CN)84− and AuCl− is first order in [AuCl−] and second order in Mo(CN)84−. Reactions were performed under stoichiometric conditions and kinetic data was treated with a third order integrated rate law. The reaction is independent of [H+] and [cat+]. From the retarding effect of Cl− and Mo(CN)83− on the rate of the AuIIICl4− reduction, it is concluded that the molecular formula of the intermediate gold(II) species en route to AuICl2− is AuIICl3−. Activation parameters for all three reactions have been obtained from the Eyring equation.

It was concluded that all three reactions follow the same mechanism but that the reverse reaction in the equilibrium between the intermediate gold(II) species, AuIICl3−, and the product MoV(CN)83− is only significant in the MoIV(CN)84− reduction of AuIIICl4−. This was also the cause for Mo(CN)84− showing a second order dependency.

Graphical abstract
Joinder Mechanism in International Commercial Arbitration: A Trend in the Digital Age?
Authors: Wang Jiawen
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the phenomenal development and application of technology have given rise to new means and forms of international commercial dispute resolution. In particular, in the post-COVID era, the demand for efficient, flexible and cost-saving dispute resolution methods has increased significantly. Therefore, technology-enabled digital methods such as online arbitration, have become more widely accepted and applied. At the same time, globalisation has turned international commercial disputes increasingly complex, which often involves the interests of third parties. According to data released by arbitral institutes, about 40% of arbitration cases worldwide involve more than two parties. As there is an increasing number of multi-party arbitration cases, multi-party dispute resolution mechanisms have played a more prominent role in such circumstances. Digitalisation and globalisation have facilitated multi-party projects, but they have also inevitably increased risks in multi-party disputes. For instance, arbitration is a business-friendly process, but the consensual nature of arbitration does not easily accommodate multi-party disputes. Although digitalisation in the conduction of arbitrations has made it more efficient and increased the access of multi-party commercial disputes to resolution, it still has not helped arbitration overcome the basis of party’s consent. This paper will examine the joinder mechanism in international commercial arbitration, focusing on its interaction with traditional theories and principles of arbitration, the joinder provisions in the rules of several leading arbitral institutions (e.g. ICC, LCIA, HKIAC and SCAI), and the value of the joinder mechanism in the context of digitalisation.
Food availability and population parameters for squirrels differ even in neighbouring urban parks
Authors: Wist Bianca , Dausmann Kathrin H.
Published: November 2023

Some species occur in higher densities in cities than in natural habitats, despite the variety of urban stressors. Urban fragments can be extremely heterogeneous though, and species’ responses might vary between urban patches. However, only few studies examine mammalian populations from different fragments in the core of cities, where stressors are at their maximum. The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is highly abundant in urban green spaces and readily makes use of supplemental food sources. We examined natural and supplemental food sources as well as squirrel populations in three small parks in an urban core. We found pronounced differences in natural and supplemental food availability between the parks. Squirrel population densities were generally higher at all three urban sites when compared to a geographically close located natural forest, but with variation between the parks. The squirrel density in the smallest park in the summer season was 42 times higher (index of minimum number alive: 8.8 individuals/ha) than in the forest, whereas it was only 20 or respectively 16 times higher in the two other parks. Individuals from the park with the highest population density had access to the highest amount of supplemental food sources. However, side effects from non-natural food items, e.g., related to nutrition, also need to be taken into consideration and might counteract the advantages of supplemental food sources. This study shows that urban effects can vary even at the smallest scale between nearby urban habitat patches and this needs to be considered when drawing conclusions about the effects of urbanisation and deciding about conservation actions.
Death comes but why: A multi-task memory-fused prediction for accurate and explainable illness severity in ICUs
Authors: Chen Weitong , Zhang Wei Emma , Yue Lin
Published: November 2023

Predicting the severity of an illness is crucial in intensive care units (ICUs) if a patient‘s life is to be saved. The existing prediction methods often fail to provide sufficient evidence for time-critical decisions required in dynamic and changing ICU environments. In this research, a new method called MM-RNN (multi-task memory-fused recurrent neural network) was developed to predict the severity of illnesses in intensive care units (ICUs). MM-RNN aims to address this issue by not only predicting illness severity but also generating an evidence-based explanation of how the prediction was made. The architecture of MM-RNN consists of task-specific phased LSTMs and a delta memory network that captures asynchronous feature correlations within and between multiple organ systems. The multi-task nature of MM-RNN allows it to provide an evidence-based explanation of its predictions, along with illness severity scores and a heatmap of the patient’s changing condition. The results of comparison with state-of-the-art methods on real-world clinical data show that MM-RNN delivers more accurate predictions of illness severity with the added benefit of providing evidence-based justifications.
A novel paradigm for observational learning in rats
Authors: Rautio Ida V. , Holmberg Ella Holt , Kurup Devika , Dunn Benjamin A. , Whitlock Jonathan R.
Published: November 2023

The ability to learn by observing the behavior of others is energy efficient and brings high survival value, making it an important learning tool that has been documented in a myriad of species in the animal kingdom. In the laboratory, rodents have proven useful models for studying different forms of observational learning, however, the most robust learning paradigms typically rely on aversive stimuli, like foot shocks, to drive the social acquisition of fear. Non-fear-based tasks have also been used but they rarely succeed in having observer animals perform a new behavior de novo. Consequently, little known regarding the cellular mechanisms supporting non-aversive types of learning, such as visuomotor skill acquisition. To address this we developed a reward-based observational learning paradigm in adult rats, in which observer animals learn to tap lit spheres in a specific sequence by watching skilled demonstrators, with successful trials leading to rewarding intracranial stimulation in both observers and performers. Following three days of observation and a 24-hour delay, observer animals outperformed control animals on several metrics of task performance and efficiency, with a subset of observers demonstrating correct performance immediately when tested. This paradigm thus introduces a novel tool to investigate the neural circuits supporting observational learning and memory for visuomotor behavior, a phenomenon about which little is understood, particularly in rodents.
Heritage culture and national identity trajectories: Relations to classroom cultural diversity climate and socioemotional adjustment for adolescents of immigrant descent
Authors: Juang Linda P. , Schwarzenthal Miriam , Schachner Maja K.
Published: November 2023

Adolescents’ heritage culture and national identities are potential developmental assets for socioemotional adjustment. The school context can support the development of such identities. Therefore, the aims of our study are to (1) identify patterns of heritage and national identity trajectories across mid-adolescence, (2) test whether they are predicted by classroom cultural diversity climate, and (3) test whether they are linked to socioemotional adjustment. Adolescents of immigrant descent in Germany (N = 431, 50.3% female, Mage = 12.36 at T1) filled out surveys at the beginning (T1) and end of 7th grade (T2), and end of 8th grade (T3). Using latent growth mixture models, three trajectories were identified, which had stable, moderate national identities but varied in heritage identity: “high decreasing heritage identity”, “moderate stable identities”, and “low increasing heritage identity”. At the classroom level (but not individual level) diversity climate at T1 predicted a “moderate stable identities” trajectory, compared to a “low increasing heritage identity” trajectory. Further, adolescents in the “moderate stable identities” trajectory reported higher life satisfaction at T3 compared to those in the “low increasing heritage identity” trajectory. Overall, the findings suggest heterogeneity in identity trajectories with implications for socioemotional adjustment.
Bortolini’s Bellah and Bellah’s Bortolini: A Reading of an Ethical Biography
Authors: Stelmach Harlan
Published: November 2023

An ethical biography entails assessing four major elements, the narrated author, the narrating author, the text and the reader. In each instance of engagement, fidelity to the truth of the other is essential. It is at these interpretive moments that ethics becomes an issue in terms of interpretative awareness, faithfulness and the impact on the interpreters. Is it inevitable in an ethical biography that personal transformations will occur? Using theoretical work on the genre of biography by Frédéric Regard, the author illustrates Regard’s theories by applying Bortolini’s A Joyfully Serious Man (AJSM). To accomplish this, he takes a personal approach. Personal in how he gives evidence of Bortolini’s journey with the writing of AJSM. Personal, in how he appreciates Bortolini’s ability to write about Bellah’s life as grist for Bellah’s theoretical work. Personal in how his reading of the biography affected him. The author seeks to portray biography as a complex scholarly art that advances ideas and the human project itself.
The Role and Implications of Shamanism in Korean Disaster Management
Authors: Ha Kyoo-Man
Published: November 2023

The number of shamans, as a category of disaster management stakeholders, has significantly increased in Korea. However, the role of shamans in mitigating the psychological impact of disasters has not been adequately studied. This research explores how to improve the role of shamanism in the field of Korean disaster management toward the ultimate goal of mitigating the psychological impact of disasters. Descriptive content analysis is used to systematically compare the secularism approach with the psychological impact mitigation approach by considering professional shamans, community leaders, educators and researchers, and disaster victims. The most significant finding is that Korea needs to supplement its current secularism approach with the psychological impact mitigation approach. Asian nations could benefit from insights on the significance of behavioral change, cultural competency, neo-shamanism, and multiple networks. The value of this study lies in its more rigorous investigation of Korean shamanism in relation to disaster management compared with previous works.
Concentration, spatial distribution, and source apportionment of heavy metals in agricultural soils from the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xiao Fangjing , Cui Xiaomei , Zhao Yuanzhao , Fu Jianjie , Yu Tao , Bu Duo , Zhang Qiangying
Published: November 2023

In this study, 112 agricultural topsoil samples were collected from the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB) and its two tributaries, and the concentrations, spatial distribution, source apportionment, and potential ecological risk of eight heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and As) were analyzed. The mean concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As, Hg and Pb were 33.91, 28.21, 86.93, 109.04, 73.58, 0.12, 21.49 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. Except for Pb, the concentration of heavy metals in soil exceeded the corresponding local background values, but did not exceed the national soil pollution risk screening values. In terms of spatial distribution, it showed that the heavy metals were enriched in the Nianchu River, and followed by Lhasa River and YZRB mainstream. Furthermore, the ecological risks were ordered as Hg > Cd > As > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cr > Zn, and the potential ecological risk index of the YZRB fell in the range of moderate ecological risk. The high-risk areas were in the facility agriculture fields of the Nianchu River, which was mainly related to agricultural activities. In addition, the positive matrix factorization results showed traffic, agricultural activities, natural weathering of the parent minerals, and atmospheric transport sources were the four sources in soils of the YZRB. This work will provide a scientific reference to develop appropriate pollution control measures and facility farmlands management in the YZRB of Tibetan Plateau.
MURA: a Multipurpose Underwater Robotic Arm mounted on Kalypso UUV in aquaculture
Authors: Vasileiou Marios , Manos Nikolaos , Kavallieratou Ergina
Published: November 2023

Underwater vehicles utilized in net cages at aquaculture facilities are commonly utilized for the purpose of examining the deterioration of nets and the accumulation of biofouling. The implementation of a robotic system for repairing damages has the potential to decrease the expenses associated with employing divers while reducing the risk of their injury. This study details the development, fabrication, and simulation of a cost-effective subaquatic manipulator, denoted as MURA, which can be seamlessly incorporated into submersible vehicles. The Kalypso unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is utilized in this study. MURA exhibits a high degree of modularity, enabling seamless alteration of the end-effector tool. Additionally, its low-cost nature renders it a viable option for integration with any underwater vehicle. Three end-effectors were subjected to testing, one designed for the purpose of disposing fish morts, another intended for removing litters from net cages in fisheries, and a third for repairing net tears. This study outlines the MURA design, including the arm’s fabrication and constituent components. In addition, the modeling of the manipulator is presented accompanied by a water flow simulation of the three manipulators. Ultimately, the experimental findings are analyzed and evaluated. These include the field experiments performed at Kefalonia fisheries, along with the duration to complete each task. For instance, the capture of fish morts typically necessitates approximately 30 s, encompassing the entire process from initial targeting to actual capture. In a similar vein, the procedure of mending tears in a net necessitates an approximate duration of 70 s on average, encompassing the stages of initial identification and subsequent detachment. The suggested design exhibits adaptability and durability while upholding affordability when utilized in aquaculture.
Preliminary investigation of the use of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. as a Cd accumulator in contaminated Mediterranean soils: the relationships among cadmium (Cd) soil fractions and plant Cd content
Authors: Papadimou S. G. , Barbayiannis Ν. , Golia E. E.
Published: November 2023

The plant Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. has been used in a preliminary study to investigate its phytoremediation potential in moderately and heavily Cd-polluted Greek soils. For this purpose, a pot experiment was carried out using four soil treatments, two from agricultural and two from urban areas, contaminated with 3 and 30 mg of Cd per kg of soil. The modified Bureau of Community Reference (BCR) fractionation method was used to determine Cd levels in the soil fractions. The water-soluble, available-DTPA extractable, total and pseudo-total concentrations of Cd were also evaluated and attempts to find relationships between Cd soil fractions and Cd levels in the parts of the cultivated plants were made. Significant correlations among Cd soil fractions, Cd plant parts, and soil physicochemical parameters were obtained and discussed. High Cd translocation and accumulation rates were observed mainly in the root and the lower part of the stems, while in flowers and seeds no Cd was detected, leading to the conclusion that the high-value product contained in the seeds maintains its quality and is free of contaminants. The results are satisfactory indicating Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. as a promising plant for remediation practices in Cd-contaminated Mediterranean soils, promoting the principles of circular economy.
Mitigating soil water deficit using organic waste compost and commercial water retainer: a comparative study under semiarid conditions
Authors: Zgallai Hatem , Zoghlami Rahma Inès , Annabi Mohamed , Zarrouk Olfa , Jellali Salah , Hamdi Helmi
Published: November 2023

Semiarid regions have particularly been confronted with climate change effects reflected by the consistent decrease of rainfall and increase of evapotranspiration. This drought stress constitutes the main constraint for agricultural production improvement, which is aggravated by the fact that strategic (field) crops are mostly grown under rainfed systems. Therefore, the objective of this field study was to improve soil water retention by the application of two conditioners namely, an organic waste compost (DS) and a synthetic water-retaining hydrogel (WS). These amendments were applied to an agricultural soil for the cultivation of fodder maize under normal and deficit irrigation regimes. Advanced analysis showed a general disruption of plant growth parameters under water stress. However, both amendments attenuated this negative effect with respect to control by improving soil water status. More precisely, the measured soil water tension at the start of the dry season was the lowest in presence of DS (48 centibars), followed by WS (61 centibars), then unamended soil (83 centibars). Besides, compost application resulted in higher moisture (13.3%), nitrogen (0.36%), and organic matter (0.56%) in soil than the synthetic hydrogel at the end of the field experiment. Soil and plant characterization highlighted the combined effect of water deficit and conditioner type. Indeed, the consistent increase of soil water content in the presence of DS and WS improved all the addressed plant parameters when compared with untreated soil. Infrared thermal imaging showed that canopy temperature was lower in presence of both amendments while dry biomass yield increased by 38% when water supply was limited. Nevertheless, the long-term sustainability of the soil system appears to be better maintained in the presence of the organic waste compost. The latter has the added advantage of improving soil fertility in contrast to inert polymers.
Hyperthyroidism therapy: What can decision support systems already achieve?
Authors: Benninger Thomas , Theiler-Schwetz Verena , Pilz Stefan , Trummer Christian , Reichhartinger Markus
Published: November 2023

Currently, only a few theoretical support systems exist for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. They are typically not practically applicable and solely focus on Graves’ disease. The recently developed DigiThy software framework can be used to assist physicians for methimazole dose titration during the treatment of Graves’ disease. In this study, a pool of 60 virtual patients was created to compare physicians’ individual treatment approaches by 8 different physicians and students (including three colleagues, unexperienced with care of Graves’ disease) with the decision support system DigiThy in terms of already defined performance indices. These indices are used to assess the deviation of FT4 from the reference range throughout the treatment. The computer aided treatment algorithms outperformed the usual care approach according to different prespecified criteria for treatment success. Two out of the three unexperienced colleagues improved their treatment success over time, i.e. with more patients treated. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the DigiThy software may be a useful tool for use as a decision support system in routine care of patients with Graves’ disease, while also serving as an effective training tool for the education of physicians. Randomized controlled studies are required before implementation of DigiThy in daily clinical practice.
Thermally induced Fe2O3 spikes decorated Ag/Fe2O3 nanocomposite fabrication for anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activities
Authors: Hossain Md. Kaium , Mishra Anshuman , Tiwari Aanshi , Pant Bishweshwar , Dey Shaikat Chandra , Tiwari Ayushi , Saha Otun , Rahaman Md. Mizanur , Shukla Yogesh R. , Tiwari Ashutosh , Ashaduzzaman Md.
Published: November 2023

In the context of anti-cellular catalytic permutations, the development of thermally-induced nanotechnology is of great importance. In this study, iron oxides (Fe2O3) decorated silver (Ag) core–shell nanocomposite was prepared using a green thermal decomposition process without using any additional chemicals. The nanocomposite was characterized for its composition, phase interactions, morphology, and stability using spectroscopic, thermogravimetric, and microscopic techniques. The resultant nanocomposite were also investigated against different types of bacteria and cancer cell lines. Both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella spp., E. coli, and Pseudomonas) growth was inhibited by the Ag/Fe2O3 nanocomposite. The highest 19 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI) was found for Staphylococcus aureus by the combined effect of Ag and Fe2O3. The antibiofilm efficacy of the prepared nanocomposites showed biofilm destruction of 82.56% Staphylococcus aureus and 51.06% Klebsiella spp. Furthermore, the nanocomposite resulted in 80–90% death of Hela and BHK-21 cells but displayed lower cell toxicity in the case of the Vero cell line. This pathway of nanocomposites preparation with particle surface engineering would open new doors in the fields of nanobiotechnology and nanobiomedical applications.
Neuroadaptive Incentivization in Healthcare using Blockchain and IoT
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Singh Rajiv Ranjan , Chatterjee Indranath , Sharma Nikita , Rana Vaishali
Published: November 2023

Financially incentivizing health-related behaviors can improve health record outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Blockchain and IoT technologies can be used to develop safe and transparent incentive schemes in healthcare. IoT devices, such as body sensor networks and wearable sensors, etc. connect the physical and digital world making it easier to collect useful health-related data for further analysis. There are, however, many security and privacy issues with the use of IoT. Some of these IoT security issues can be alleviated using Blockchain technology. Incorporating neuroadaptive technology can result in more personalized and effective therapies using machine learning algorithms and real-time feedback. The research investigates the possibilities of neuroadaptive incentivization in healthcare using Blockchain and IoT on patient health records. The core idea is to incentivize patients to keep their health parameters within standard range thereby reducing the load on healthcare system. In summary, we have presented a proof of concept for neuroadaptive incentivization in healthcare using Blockchain and IoT and discuss various applications and implementation challenges.
Accelerated Care of Patients with Hip Fractures is Associated with Lower Risk of Delirium and Infection, and a Shorter Length of Hospital Stay: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level One Evidence
Authors: Shah P. , Wilson E. , Chen B. , Clement N. D.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the impact of time to surgery on patient mortality, peri-operative complication rates and length of stay following a hip fracture using level one data.

Data Sources

Multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline (Ovid), and Cochrane Library) were searched using terms for “hip fracture” and the intervention “early surgery”. Results were filtered to only included randomised controlled trials in the English language published from the year 2000.

Study Selection

All results were imported into Covidence and screened by two separate reviewers with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. Studies were included if they reported data on the relationship between time to theatre and at least one of the outcome measures (mortality, peri-operative complications, and length of stay in hospital). Three papers were finalised to include in this review.

Data Extraction

Once selected, each paper had a bias assessment completed by two separate reviewers using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. Any conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer.

Data Synthesis

Data from each paper were inputted into RevMan5 for analysis. Approximated sample mean and standard deviation were collected from each paper and included for analysis. RevMan5 was then used to generate forest plots and report data on relative risk and mean difference.

Conclusions

This review has shown that accelerated care of patients with hip fractures was associated with lower risks of delirium and infection, and a shorter length of hospital stay. However, the effect of time to surgery on patient mortality is not clear, as the standard care group had a lower mortality than expected for the population at risk and had surgery on average within 24-h of presentation.
Optimal city carbon emissions in China from a theoretical perspective
Authors: Chen Qianli , Mao Xuxin , Hu Fangfang
Published: November 2023

Cities are the main spaces to study a low-carbon economy. This paper introduces basic concepts covering “tolerance of planning carbon emissions,” “inevitable carbon emissions” and “excessive carbon emissions,” then discusses the problem with optimal city carbon emissions under the condition of tolerance. Theoretical analysis and scenario analysis were employed. First, according to optimal allocation theory of resources, we discuss how optimal society carbon emissions take place. Then, the deviation of optimal city carbon emissions was explored and analyzed, which was mostly caused by the missing price of carbon emissions allowance, excessive carbon emissions, and so on. Third, we analyzed optimal city carbon emissions under different conditions, in which different types of tolerance were included. Results show that theoretical investigations on optimal city carbon emissions provide relative ideas for determining control index and optimizing control countermeasures. Policy implications include improving the control index of city carbon emissions through environment enhancement, setting a reasonable control index of city carbon emissions under the consideration of the relationship between city economy and its environment, and establishing trading allowance and compensation mechanism of city carbon emissions, etc.
Flemish Textile Workers in England, 1331–1400
Authors: Pajic Milan
Published: November 2023

In the fourteenth century, with the encouragement of King Edward III, textile workers from the Low Countries – predominantly Flanders but also Brabant – settled in England. Using extensive and original resources from both sides of the English Channel, Milan Pajic argues that the exponential growth of the English textile industry was due to the skill and influence of Flemish immigrants, challenging interpretations from a section of economic historians in the latter half of the twentieth century who concluded that immigrants did not contribute to the economic development of England. The book explores the geography of immigration, the reasons behind the movement of people, and the varied social encounters with local populations. In so doing it uncovers an important and vibrant history which provides essential historical context for contemporary debates on the free movement of people.
Mixed methods evaluation of handshake antimicrobial stewardship on adult inpatient medicine floors
Authors: Neuner Elizabeth A. , Atkinson Andrew , Ilges Dan , Krekel Tamara , Ritchie David J. , Bewley Alice F. , Durkin Michael J. , Hsueh Kevin , Sayood Sena
Published: November 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of handshake antimicrobial stewardship on medicine floors at a large tertiary care hospital.

Design:

Retrospective observational study.

Setting:

1,278-bed academic hospital.

Patients:

Adults admitted to non-ICU medicine services.

Interventions:

A handshake stewardship team consisting of an infectious diseases (ID) physician and pharmacist reviewed charts of patients receiving antimicrobials on medicine floors without a formal ID consult. Recommendations were communicated in-person to providers and acceptance rates were examined with descriptive statistics. Additional data regarding program perception among providers were obtained via surveys. Antibiotic usage trends were extracted from National Healthcare Safety Network Antimicrobial Use option data and evaluated using an interrupted time-series analysis pre- and post-intervention.

Results:

The overall acceptance rate of interventions was 80%, the majority being recommendations either to discontinue (37%) or de-escalate therapy (28%). Medical residents and hospitalists rated the intervention favorably with 90% reporting recommendations were helpful all or most of the time. There was a statistically significant decrease in vancomycin (78 vs 70 DOT/1,000 d present (DP), p = 0.002) and meropenem (24 vs 17 DOT/1,000 DP, p = 0.007) usage and a statistically significant increase in amoxicillin-clavulanate usage (11 vs 15 DOT/1,000 DP, p < 0.001). Overall antibiotic usage remained unchanged by the intervention, though pre-intervention there was a nonsignificant overall increasing trend while post-intervention there was a nonsignificant decreasing trend in overall usage. There was no change in in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion:

The addition of handshake stewardship with adult medicine services was favorably viewed by participants and led to shifts in antibiotic usage.
Perspectives on research needs in healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship: what’s on the horizon—Part II
Authors: Marschall Jonas , Snyders Rachael E. , Sax Hugo , Newland Jason G. , Guimarães Thais , Kwon Jennie H.
Published: November 2023

In this overview, we articulate research needs and opportunities in the field of infection prevention that have been identified from insights gained during operative infection prevention work, our own research in healthcare epidemiology, and from reviewing the literature. The 10 areas of research need are: 1) Transmissions and interruptions, 2) personal protective equipment and other safety issues in occupational health, 3) climate change and other crises, 4) device, diagnostic, and antimicrobial stewardship, 5) implementation and deimplementation, 6) healthcare outside the acute care hospital, 7) low- and middle-income countries, 8) networking with the “neighbors,” 9) novel research methodologies, and 10) the future state of surveillance. An introduction and chapters 1–5 are presented in part I of the article and chapters 6-10 and the discussion in part II. There are many barriers to advancing the field, such as finding and motivating the future IP workforce including professionals interested in conducting research, a constant confrontation with challenges and crises, the difficulty of performing studies in a complex environment, the relative lack of adequate incentives and funding streams, and how to disseminate and validate the often very local quality improvement projects. Addressing research gaps now (i.e., in the post-pandemic phase) will make healthcare systems more resilient when facing future crises.
Significant influence of fluid viscoelasticity on flow dynamics past an oscillating cylinder
Authors: Hamid Faheem , Sasmal C.
Published: November 2023

This study focuses on numerically investigating the impact of fluid viscoelasticity on the flow dynamics around a transversely forced oscillating cylinder operating in the laminar vortex shedding regime at a fixed Reynolds number of

$Re = 100$

. Specifically, we explore how fluid viscoelasticity affects the boundary between the lock-in and no lock-in regions and the corresponding wake characteristics compared with a simple Newtonian fluid. Our findings reveal that fluid viscoelasticity enables the synchronization of the vortex street with the cylinder motion at lower oscillation frequencies than those required for a Newtonian fluid. Consequently, the lock-in region boundary for a viscoelastic fluid differs from that of a Newtonian fluid and expands in the non-dimensional cylinder oscillation amplitude and frequency parameter space. In the primary synchronization region, the wake of a Newtonian fluid exhibits ‘2S’ (two single vortices) and ‘P+S’ (a pair of vortices and a single vortex) shedding modes. In contrast, a ‘2P’ (two pairs of vortices) vortex mode is observed for a viscoelastic fluid within the same region. To gain a deeper understanding of the differences in the coherent flow structures and their associated frequencies between the two fluids, we employ the data-driven reduced-order modelling technique, known as the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) technique. Utilizing this technique, we successfully extract and visualize the two competing fundamental frequencies (cylinder oscillation and natural vortex shedding frequencies) and their associated flow structures in the case of the no lock-in state, whereas only the dominant cylinder oscillation frequency and associated flow structure in the case of the lock-in state. Furthermore, we propose that the presence of excess strain resulting from the stretching of polymer molecules in viscoelastic fluids leads to a distinct difference in the wake structure compared with Newtonian fluids. This observation aligns with the findings obtained from the

$Q$

-criterion and vorticity transport analysis of the wake.
Forced oscillations of a cylinder in the flow of viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Patel Umang N. , Rothstein Jonathan P. , Modarres-Sadeghi Yahya
Published: November 2023

We investigate the effects of fluid elasticity on the flow forces and the wake structure when a rigid cylinder is placed in a viscoelastic flow and is forced to oscillate sinusoidally in the transverse direction. We consider a two-dimensional, uniform, incompressible flow of viscoelastic fluid at

$Re=100$

, and use the FENE-P model to represent the viscoelastic fluid. We study how the flow forces and the wake patterns change as the amplitude of oscillations,

$A^*$

, the frequency of oscillations (inversely proportional to a reduced velocity,

$U^*$

), the Weissenberg number,

$Wi$

, the square of maximum polymer extensibility,

$L^2$

, and the viscosity ratio,

$\beta$

, change individually. We calculate the lift coefficient in phase with cylinder velocity to determine the range of different system parameters where self-excited oscillations might occur if the cylinder is allowed to oscillate freely. We also study the effect of fluid elasticity on the added mass coefficient as these parameters change. The maximum elastic stress of the fluid occurs in between the vortices that are observed in the wake. We observe a new mode of shedding in the wake of the cylinder: in addition to the primary vortices that are also observed in the Newtonian flows, secondary vortices that are caused entirely by the viscoelasticity of the fluid are observed in between the primary vortices. We also show that, for a constant

$Wi$

, the strength of the polymeric stresses increases with increasing reduced velocity or with decreasing amplitude of oscillations.
Minimum current for detachment of electrolytic bubbles
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Lohse Detlef
Published: November 2023

The efficiency of water electrolysis is significantly impacted by the generation of micro- and nanobubbles on the electrodes. Here molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the dynamics of single electrolytic nanobubbles on nanoelectrodes. The simulations reveal that, depending on the value of current, nucleated nanobubbles either grow to an equilibrium state or grow unlimitedly and then detach. To account for these findings, the stability theory for surface nanobubbles is generalized by incorporating the electrolytic gas influx at the nanobubble's contact line and adopting a real gas law, leading to accurate predictions for the numerically observed transient growth and stationary states of the nanobubbles. With this theory, the minimum current for bubble detachment can also be derived analytically. In the detachment regime, the radius of the nanobubble first increases with time (t) as

$R\propto t^{1/2}$

and then as

$R\propto t^{1/3}$

, up to bubble detachment.
Explaining Recruitment to Extremism: A Bayesian Hierarchical Case–Control Approach
Authors: Cerina Roberto , Barrie Christopher , Ketchley Neil , Zelin Aaron Y.
Published: November 2023

Who joins extremist movements? Answering this question is beset by methodological challenges as survey techniques are infeasible and selective samples provide no counterfactual. Recruits can be assigned to contextual units, but this is vulnerable to problems of ecological inference. In this article, we elaborate a technique that combines survey and ecological approaches. The Bayesian hierarchical case–control design that we propose allows us to identify individual-level and contextual factors patterning the incidence of recruitment to extremism, while accounting for spatial autocorrelation, rare events, and contamination. We empirically validate our approach by matching a sample of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters from nine MENA countries with representative population surveys enumerated shortly before recruits joined the movement. High-status individuals in their early twenties with college education were more likely to join ISIS. There is more mixed evidence for relative deprivation. The accompanying extremeR package provides functionality for applied researchers to implement our approach.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) bilaspurensis Chowhan, Gupta & Khera, 1987 (Eoacanthocephala: Quadrigyridae), the smallest mitochondrial genome in Acanthocephala, and its phylogenetic implications
Authors: Muhammad Nehaz , Li D.-X. , Ru S.-S. , Suleman  , Saood D. , Alvi M.A. , Li L.
Published: November 2023

The phylum Acanthocephala is an important group of parasites with more than 1,300 species parasitizing intestine of all major vertebrate groups. However, our present knowledge of the mitochondrial genomes of Acanthocephala remains very limited. In the present study, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) bilaspurensis (Gyracanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) for the first time based on the specimens recovered from the intestine of common carp Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus (Cyprinidae) in Pakistan. The mitochondrial genome of A. bilaspurensis is 13,360 bp in size and contains 36 genes, representing the smallest mitogenome of acanthocephalans reported so far. The mitogenome of A. bilaspurensis also has the lowest level of overall A+T contents (59.3%) in the mitogenomes of Eoacanthocephala, and the non-coding region 3 (NCR3) lies between trnS2 and trnI, which is different from all of the other acanthocephalan species. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenating the amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods revealed that the family Pseudoacanthocephalidae is a sister to the Arhythmacanthidae rather than the Cavisomatidae, and the families Rhadinorhynchidae and Cavisomatidae showed sister relationships.
Acetazolamide loaded-silver nanoparticles: A potential treatment for murine trichinellosis
Authors: Abdel Hamed E.F. , Taha A.A. , Abdel Ghany S.M. , Saleh A.A. , Fawzy E.M.
Published: November 2023

Trichinellosis is a global food-borne disease caused by viviparous parasitic nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Due to the lack of effective, safe therapy and the documented adverse effects of traditional therapy, this study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acetazolamide-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on murine trichinellosis. Fifty male Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups of ten mice each: Group I, normal control group; Group II, infected with T. spiralis and not treated; Group III, infected and given AgNPs; Group IV, infected and treated with acetazolamide; and Group V, infected and treated with acetazolamide-loaded AgNPs. Mice were infected orally with 250 larvae. The efficacy was assessed by counting T. spiralis adults and larvae, measuring serum total antioxidant capacity, and observing the histopathological and ultrastructural alterations. Acetazolamide-loaded AgNPs treatment exhibited the highest percentage of reduction (84.72% and 80.74%) for the intestinal adults and the muscular larvae of T. spiralis-infected animals, respectively. Furthermore, during the intestinal and muscular phases, the serum of the same group had the best free-radical scavenging capacity (antioxidant capacity), which reduced tissue damage induced by oxidative stress. Histopathologically, the normal intestinal and muscular architecture was restored in the group treated with acetazolamide-loaded AgNPs, in addition to the reduced inflammatory infiltrate that alleviated inflammation compared to infected animals. Our results confirmed the marked destruction of the ultrastructural features of T. spiralis adults and larvae. Acetazolamide-loaded AgNPs are a promising therapy against T. spiralis infection.
Using rational surfaces to improve pellet fuelling in stellarators
Authors: Panadero N. , McCarthy K. J. , Pégourié B. , Carrasco R. , García-Cortés I. , García R. , Hernández-Sánchez J. , Köchl F. , Martínez-Fernández J. , Sakamoto R. ,   the TJ-II team
Published: November 2023

Pellet injection is currently the primary candidate for achieving efficient plasma fuelling, one of the key issues for steady-state operation in large fusion devices. In this paper, pellet injection experiments are performed for several magnetic configurations of the TJ-II stellarator. The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of the role played by rational surfaces in plasmoid drift and deposition profiles in stellarators. The analysis of experimentally observed plasmoid drifts is supported by simulations of such cases made with the HPI2 code. Plasmoid drift is found to be significantly reduced, as in tokamaks, in the vicinity of rational surfaces. This is attributed to the fact that plasmoid external charge reconnection lengths are shorter near rational surfaces, resulting in a more effective damping of the plasmoid drift. Although the effect of plasmoid external currents on the drift is expected to be negligible in stellarators, compared with those caused by plasmoid internal currents, the effect observed in TJ-II is clearly measurable. In addition, simulations show that enhanced drift reductions near rational surfaces lead to significantly different deposition profiles for the magnetic configurations included in this study. This implies that it should be possible to select the magnetic configurations to obtain more efficient pellet fuelling.
Coping strategies for increased wellbeing and mental health among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic – a Swedish qualitative study
Authors: Beckman Linda , Gustavsson Johanna
Published: November 2023

Older adults were particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating significant efforts to avoid contamination. This extraordinary situation posed an increased risk of mental pressure, and the ability to handle stressful situations is affected by several aspects. Therefore, this study aims to explore the coping strategies employed by older adults during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 41 Swedish older adults aged 70–85 participated in phone interviews regarding their experiences with social distancing due to COVID-19. The interviews were conducted between April and May 2020, with nine follow-up interviews conducted in November and December 2020. The findings revealed results that despite the challenging circumstances, the participants demonstrated a strong mindset and resilience. Strategies utilised to improve their wellbeing and manage the situation included following recommendations, accepting the situation and maintaining a positive outlook. The influence of previous experiences on their coping strategies was evident. Additionally, the participants expressed a longing for their relatives and a need to adopt new technologies to manage their everyday lives. The follow-up interviews indicated no significant changes in worry or behaviour; if anything, participants were less worried at the beginning of the pandemic. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on vulnerability among older adults by highlighting the diverse range of coping strategies employed during a prolonged crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It demonstrated that though they are medically vulnerable, they are situationally resilient and, in many ways, well set to handle a challenging situation. During crises, older adults might need practical assistance. On the other hand, they can be a resource regarding mental preparedness during crises. Further research should explore the possibilities of balancing the needs of older adults and, at the same time, viewing them as a resource during long-time crises.