bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Preparedness Among Emergency Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study in France
Authors: Casalino Enrique , Bouzid Donia , Ben Hammouda Arsalene , Wargon Mathias , Curac Sonja , Hellmann Romain , Choquet Christophe , Ghazali Daniel Aiham
Published: September 2020

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate hospital and emergency department (ED) preparedness in France facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid growth epidemic-phase, and to determine the link between preparedness and responsiveness.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, from March 7 to March 11, 2020, all heads of ED departments in France were contacted to answer an electronic survey, including 23 questions. Quality, Organization, Training, Resources, Management, Interoperability, and Responsiveness were evaluated by calculating scores (10 points). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare scores. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multifaceted regression analysis were performed between Responsiveness and dimensions scores.

Results:

A total of 287 of 636 French EDs were included (45.1%). Calculated scores showed (median): Quality 5.38; Organization 6.4; Training 4.6; Resources 4.13; Management 2.38; Interoperability 4.0; Responsiveness 6.25; seasonal influenza score was 5. Significant differences between scores as a function of hospital and ED main characteristics were found. Furthermore, we found significant correlations (P< 0.01) between Responsiveness and all preparedness dimensions. Organization (adjusted-R20.2897), Management (aR20.321), and Interoperability (aR20.422) were significantly associated with Responsiveness.

Conclusions:

Preparedness in all its dimensions is low, indicating vulnerability. Preparedness and responsiveness face a certain and ongoing risk are close linked, and that Organizational, Management, and Interoperability dimensions are main determinants.
COVID-19: Second Wave or Multiple Peaks, Natural Herd Immunity or Vaccine – We Should be Prepared
Authors: Moghnieh Rima , Abdallah Dania , Bizri Abdul Rahman
Published: September 2020

Between December 31, 2019, and August 30, 2020 (date of this article), the novel coronavirus and its corresponding infection, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), increased to more than 25 million cases, and 843 158 deaths have been registered. Countries around the world have been affected, albeit in different levels and intensities.

Despite implementations of preventive public health measures, most countries are seriously preparing for 1 or more waves. The threat of this surge is likely to persist until herd immunity is acquired either by natural infection or through vaccination. However, given the time frame needed for herd immunity to occur and the low probability that a vaccine will be available on a global scale by the coming fall and winter seasons, contingency preparedness plans should be established and put in place for the coming days or months. These plans should help mitigate new peaks of the pandemic while relaxing the social isolation rules, patient, public health, and hospital levels.

In this article, we discuss recommendations that practicing physicians and public health agencies should provide to individuals, especially those at risk of infection, to take and implement pre-emptive measures in anticipation of the potential next peak of the pandemic.
No Epistemic Norm or Aim Needed
Authors: Bergamaschi Ganapini Marianna
Published: September 2020

Many agree that one cannot consciously form a beliefjustbecause one wants to. And many also agree this is a puzzling component of our conscious belief-forming processes. I will look at three views on how to make sense of this puzzle and show that they all fail in some way. I then offer a simpler explanation that avoids all the pitfalls of those views, which is based instead on an analysis of our conscious reasoning combined with a commonly accepted account of the concept of belief. I conclude that no epistemic norm or aim is actually needed to explain why we cannot deliberatively believe whatever we want.
REINVENTING THE COUNTER-REFORMATION IN MARIAN ENGLAND, 1553–1558
Authors: SMITH FREDERICK E.
Published: September 2020

Over the last thirty years, historians have made several important contributions to our understanding of the short but dramatic restoration of Catholicism in 1550s England. United by a shared rejection of the hitherto dominant interpretation of Mary I's reign as a retrograde and unfortunate interlude in the history of the English Reformation, so-called ‘revisionists’ have convincingly argued that Mary in fact presided over a remarkably dynamic and innovative revival of Catholicism. Whilst this scholarship has been extremely valuable in tackling the teleological assumption that Marian Catholicism was predestined to fail, this review suggests that the revisionist programme continues to be preoccupied by somewhat ill-conceived and unhelpful questions about how ‘successful’ Mary's church was in providing for a Catholic future. Such questions demonstrate just how far the historiography of Marian religion continues to operate within a framework still subtly shaped by sixteenth-century, confessionally charged polemic. This review suggests that, rather than debates about ‘successes’ or ‘failures’, we need to start working outwards from the valuable findings of revisionists regarding the dynamism of Marian religion, exploring their broader implications for how we understand the long-term development of Catholicism in England, as well as the Marian church's place within European Christendom more broadly.
Fasciola hepaticainfection in cattle and the use of simulation models for endemic areas
Authors: Molento M.B. , Dutra L.H. , Pritsch I.C. , Garbin V.P. , Pereira A.M. , Gavião A. , Gabriel A.L. , de Sousa R.S. , Viana J.G.A.
Published: September 2020

Fasciolosis is a food-borne disease that causes great distress to a range of hosts, including humans. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the liver damage and carcass weight of cattle naturally infected withFasciola hepaticafrom the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, and to (2) determine the distribution of adult flukes in 12,236 cattle liver from RS. The data from these experiments were used to calculate the overall economic loss due toF. hepaticainfection. Eighteen adult Polled Hereford cows were divided into a triclabendazole (TbG) and aF. hepatica-positive group (FhG). For Experiment 1, a generalized linear mixed model revealed a statistical difference in carcass weight (49.8 kg) between TbG and FhG. The Monte Carlo analysis also revealed that the animals’ weight differences were due to the disease. For Experiment 2, the prevalence of infected livers was above 16% (1904/12,236), mostly (20.1%) from the south-west region of RS. The Susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) epidemic model revealed the evolution of the infection using a high infectivity and low recovery rate. Other distinctive scenarios that occur in RS were also established with different rates of infectivity. The economic assessment showed a potential loss of US$45 million to the beef cattle industry of RS, with an overall State cost of US$90.3 million. These novel findings reveal the importance of fasciolosis infection, which can cause a significant health condition and poor animal welfare.
Chronic neuroangiostrongyliasis: case study of chronic presentations in Hawaii
Authors: Meyer Bernard C.
Published: September 2020

This paper describes chronic features of neuroangiostrongyliasis (NAS), a long-term outcome of the disease that has not been adequately described. Current and past literature is predominantly limited to acute manifestations of NAS, and mention of chronic, ongoing clinical symptoms is usually limited to brief notes in a discussion of severe cases. This study investigated the long-term outcomes in ten individuals who were diagnosed with acute neuroangiostrongyliasis in Hawaii between 2009 and 2017. The study demonstrates a significant number of persons in Hawaii sustain residual symptoms for many years, including troublesome sensory paresthesia (abnormal spontaneous sensations of skin experienced as ‘burning, pricking, pins and needles’; also described as allodynia or hyperesthesia) and extremity muscle pains. As a consequence, employment and economic hardships, domestic relocations, and psychological impairments affecting personal relationships occurred. The study summarizes common features of chronic disease, sensory paresthesia and hyperesthesia, diffuse muscular pain, insomnia, and accompanying emotional distress; highlights the frequently unsuccessful endeavours of individuals struggling to find effective treatment; proposes pathogenic mechanisms responsible for prolonged illness including possible reasons for differences in disease presentation in Hawaii compared to Southeast Asia.
Laws of Nature and Individuals
Authors: Dosanjh Ranpal
Published: September 2020

Individuals (like the Earth or a biological species) are often the subject of generalizations of various special sciences. The traditional argument is that there can't be laws about such individuals, since the law statements would have to contain local predicates (refer essentially to a particular time, place, object, or event). Marc Lange argues that, despite local predication, there can be laws about individuals. This paper argues, on the contrary, that there can be no such laws – not because of local predication, but because the laws would discriminate among material systems on non-qualitative grounds. I rely on the principle that qualitatively identical systems under one set of laws must evolve in the same manner. If there could be laws about individuals, nothing would guarantee that the principle is satisfied. My argument is illustrated by a thought experiment inspired by Strawson's massive reduplication argument.
Reassembling Transformations for Robot Manipulators Characterised Using Network Theoretic and Clifford-Algebraic Methods
Authors: Thiruvengadam Sudharsan , Tan Jei Shian , Miller Karol
Published: September 2020

A robotic manipulator’s classical mechanical capabilities are governed by the design parameters (mass, geometry, dimensions, etc.) of its kinematic pairs and its architecture (number of limbs, degrees of freedom, actuation ability, etc.). Using Clifford-Algebraic and network theoretic methods, this work presents a novel-theoretical framework which allows any two robot architectures and design parameters to be mathematically related to one another through combinations of discrete operators or ‘reassembling transformations’. Two theoretical case studies involving a 6R manipulator and Klann linkage are furnished in this work.
Safe Motion Planning Based on a New Encoding Technique for Tree Expansion Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Bouraine Sara , Azouaoui Ouahiba
Published: September 2020

Robots are now among us and even though they compete with human beings in terms of performance and efficiency, they still fail to meet the challenge of performing a task optimally while providing strict motion safety guarantees. It is therefore necessary that the future generation of robots evolves in this direction. Generally, in robotics state-of-the-art approaches, the trajectory optimization and the motion safety issues have been addressed separately. An important contribution of this paper is to propose a motion planning method intended to simultaneously solve these two problems in a formal way. This motion planner is dubbed PassPMP-PSO. It is based on a periodic process that interleaves planning and execution for a regular update of the environment’s information. At each cycle,PassPMP-PSOcomputes a safe near-optimal partial trajectory using a new tree encoding technique based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). The performances of the proposed approach are firstly highlighted in simulation environments in the presence of moving objects that travel at high speed with arbitrary trajectories, while dealing with sensors field-of-view limits and occlusions. ThePassPMP-PSOalgorithm is tested for different tree expansions going from 13 to more than 200 nodes. The results show that for a population between 20 and 100 particles, the frequency of obtaining optimal trajectory is 100% with a rapid convergence of the algorithm to this solution. Furthermore, an experiment-based comparison demonstrates the performances ofPassPMP-PSOover two other motion planning methods (thePassPMP, a previous variant ofPassPMP-PSO, and the input space sampling). Finally,PassPMP-PSOalgorithm is assessed through experimental tests performed on a real robotic platform using robot operating system in order to confirm simulation results and to prove its efficiency in real experiments.
Seed germination of mudflat species responds differently to prior exposure to hypoxic (flooded) environments
Authors: Phartyal Shyam S. , Rosbakh Sergey , Poschlod Peter
Published: September 2020

Mudflats are exposed for short periods after flood water drawdown. They support fast-growing annual herbs with a ruderal strategy. To optimize their recruitment success, seeds of mudflat species germinate better under fluctuating temperatures, full illumination and aerobic environments that indicate the presence of optimal (non-flooded) conditions for plant growth and development. Here, we hypothesize that prior exposure of mudflat seeds to hypoxic (flooded) environment interferes with the germination process and results in more vigorous germination once aerobic conditions are regained. To test this hypothesis, seeds of five mudflat species were incubated in both aerobic and hypoxic environments at four (14/6, 22/14, 22/22 and 30/22°C) temperature regimes, reflecting different (seasonal) conditions when drawdowns may occur. All species responded positively to four temperature regimes; however, moderate 22/14 and 22/22°C temperatures were optimum for high percentages and rates (speed) of seed germination. Since seeds of four species germinated exclusively under aerobic conditions, they were moved from hypoxic to aerobic conditions. Prior exposure of seeds to hypoxic environment facilitated high percentages, rates and synchronization of germination of Limosella aquatica, Peplis portula and Samolus valerandi seeds compared to incubation under strict aerobic conditions. However, prior exposure to hypoxic environment induced secondary dormancy in non-dormant seeds of Hypericum humifusum but broke dormancy in Lythrum hyssopifolia seeds that otherwise required cold stratification to overcome physiological dormancy. All species that have a narrow ecological niche (strictly occurring in mudflat habitats) showed positive responses to prior exposure to hypoxic environments. In contrast, H. humifusum that has a wide ecological niche (from mudflats to moist sandy grasslands) showed a negative response. We conclude that the hypoxic environment may strongly affect seed germination behaviour once the aerobic environment is regained. The most striking effect is the acceleration of the germination process and, therefore, life cycle supporting the survival in an ephemeral habitat.
Airway Clearance Using Suction Devices in Prehospital Combat Casualty Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jain Priya , Akhter Forhad , Schoppe Austin , Hood R. Lyle , De Lorenzo Robert A.
Published: September 2020

Airway management is at the forefront for combat medics dealing with battlefield trauma. For military service members, compromised airways are the second leading cause of potentially survivable death on the battlefield, accounting for one in ten preventable combat deaths. Effective suction is a critical component of airway clearance. However, currently available devices are too heavy and bulky to be carried by combat medics and are insufficiently powered. The industry has not responded to the need, with companies continuing to produce models using 1970s technology. A literature review was completed with the assistance of a librarian. The databases searched included: Biomedical Research Database (BRD), Computer Retrieval of Information of Scientific Projects (CRISP), Federal Research in Progress (FEDRIP), Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), Pub Med/Medline, and OVID. Additionally, a Google Scholar search was performed to identify nonstandard sources. After screening, a total of 40 articles were used. There were no randomized controlled trials or other high-quality evidence that addressed the issues; there was limited peer-reviewed literature on the use, effectiveness, adverse effects, and safety of suction for use in combat casualty care. A review of the available literature revealed no standards, either proposed, validated, or accepted, for the safety or avoidance of adverse effects for portable suction device use in combat casualty care. Similarly, there are no accepted standards to guide the safe use and anticipated adverse effects of suction for use in prehospital combat or emergency care. Nevertheless, there are meaningful data that can be extracted from the few studies available combined with non-clinical studies, narrative reviews and case reports, and expert opinions.
Hungarian, Jew or Hungarian-Jewish? Parallels and Differences of Two Historians’ Careers
Authors: Dénes Iván Zoltán
Published: September 2020

This article looks at the careers of two school-founding Hungarian historians and university professors, the reconstruction, interpretation and comparison of their perceptions of history, their views on the role of the historiographer, and their opinions on the history of Jews in Hungary. Since both openly professed to be Hungarian Jews, I also try to find out what that meant for them. My interpretive frame follows the ‘speech-act’ approach of the Cambridge contextual school of the history of ideas, the description of notions of meaning/attribution of meaning, and the ‘drama triangle’ (the identification of the traumatized roles of the victim, persecutor and rescuer) in the literature of trauma elaboration.
Exploring resilience capacities with food innovators: a narrative approach
Authors: Lindow Megan , Preiser Rika , Biggs Reinette
Published: September 2020

Non-technical summary

We interviewed grassroots food innovators in South Africa to explore the diverse ways in which their narratives expressed different capacities for resilience, such as dealing with surprise and shaping desirable change. We drew on key resilience themes of rootedness, resourcefulness and resistance (the 3Rs) as lenses through which to view their personal stories and efforts to build resilience and reshape the future. We used narrative and interpretative methods to connect the personal and context-specific experiences of food innovators to the 3Rs, exploring a new approach to uncovering resilience capacities. We suggest that this approach could be usefully employed to understand potential resilience capacities that could help address diverse sustainability challenges around the world.
Algorithmic decomposition for efficient multiple nuclear spin detection in diamond
Authors: Oh Hyunseok , Yun Jiwon , Abobeih M. H. , Jung Kyung-Hoon , Kim Kiho , Taminiau T. H. , Kim Dohun
Published: September 2020

Efficiently detecting and characterizing individual spins in solid-state hosts is an essential step to expand the fields of quantum sensing and quantum information processing. While selective detection and control of a few 13C nuclear spins in diamond have been demonstrated using the electron spin of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, a reliable, efficient, and automatic characterization method is desired. Here, we develop an automated algorithmic method for decomposing spectral data to identify and characterize multiple nuclear spins in diamond. We demonstrate efficient nuclear spin identification and accurate reproduction of hyperfine interaction components for both virtual and experimental nuclear spectroscopy data. We conduct a systematic analysis of this methodology and discuss the range of hyperfine interaction components of each nuclear spin that the method can efficiently detect. The result demonstrates a systematic approach that automatically detects nuclear spins with the aid of computational methods, facilitating the future scalability of devices.
Phase behavior study on gas hydrates formation in gas dominant multiphase pipelines with crude oil and high CO2 mixed gas
Authors: Sayani Jai Krishna Sahith , Pedapati Srinivasa Rao , Lal Bhajan
Published: September 2020

This research is focused on understanding the phase behavior of gas hydrate formation in the gas dominant multiphase pipelines containing mixed gas with high CO2, crude oil, and deionized water. The experimental conditions are in the pressure range of 3–7 MPa with water cut as 20% of the volume. Initially, the effect of high CO2 content in natural gas on the phase boundary conditions of hydrates is studied through simulation (CSMGEM software) and experiments. Later, an additional phase of crude oil was introduced, with 15% of the volume to study the multiphase system. From the experimental analysis, thermodynamic equilibrium conditions were found, and the hydrate-liquid–vapor-equilibrium (HLVE) curves were drawn. The phase behavior is comprehended by comparing the HLVE curves of pure and multiphase systems. It is found that the high CO2 content tends to promote the gas hydrate formation. Based on the results, temperature variance and enthalpy of formation were calculated for the multiphase system. With a difference of 1.32 average temperature variance, the multiphase system exhibits inhibition. A basic statistical regression model was made to predict the gas hydrate formation in multiphase transmission pipelines. This work helps in understanding the effect of a new phase on gas hydrate formation.
Frame overlap Bragg edge imaging
Authors: Busi Matteo , Čapek Jan , Polatidis Efthymios , Hovind Jan , Boillat Pierre , Tremsin Anton S. , Kockelmann Winfried , Strobl Markus
Published: September 2020

Neutron Bragg edge imaging enables spatially resolved studies of crystalline features through the exploitation and analysis of Bragg edges in the transmission spectra recorded in each pixel of an imaging detector. Studies with high spectral resolutions, as is required e.g. for high-resolution strain mapping, and with large wavelength ranges have been largely reserved to pulsed neutron sources. This is due to the fact, that the efficiency for high wavelength resolution measurements is significantly higher at short pulse sources. At continuous sources a large fraction of the available neutrons must be sacrificed in order to achieve high wavelength resolution for a relevant bandwidth e.g. through a chopper system. Here we introduce a pulse overlap transmission imaging technique, which is suited to increase the available flux of high wavelength resolution time-of-flight neutron Bragg edge imaging at continuous neutron sources about an order of magnitude. Proof-of-principle measurements utilizing a chopper with a fourfold repeated random slit distribution of eight slits were performed at a thermal neutron beamline. It is demonstrated, that disentanglement of the overlapping pulses is achieved with the correlation theorem for signal processing. Thus, the Bragg edge pattern can be reconstructed from the strongly overlapping Bragg edge spectra recorded and the results demonstrate the feasibility of the technique.
QbD based Eudragit coated Meclizine HCl immediate and extended release multiparticulates: formulation, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation using HPLC-Fluorescence detection method
Authors: Qazi Faaiza , Shoaib Muhammad Harris , Yousuf Rabia Ismail , Siddiqui Fahad , Nasiri Muhammad Iqbal , Ahmed Kamran , Muhammad Iyad Naeem , Ahmed Farrukh Rafiq
Published: September 2020

This study is based on the QbD development of extended-release (ER) extruded-spheronized pellets of Meclizine HCl and its comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation with immediate-release (IR) pellets. HPLC-fluorescence method was developed and validated for plasma drug analysis. IR drug cores were prepared from lactose, MCC, and PVP using water as granulating fluid. Three-level, three-factor CCRD was applied for modeling and optimization to study the influence of Eudragit (RL100-RS100), TEC, and talc on drug release and sphericity of coated pellets. HPLC-fluorescence method was sensitive with LLOQ 1 ng/ml and linearity between 10 and 200 ng/ml with R2 > 0.999. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by non-compartmental analysis and results were statistically compared using logarithmically transformed data, where p > 0.05 was considered as non-significant with a 90% CI limit of 0.8–1.25. The AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ of ER pellets were not significantly different with geometric mean ratio 1.0096 and 1.0093, respectively. The Cmax of IR pellets (98.051 ng/ml) was higher than the ER pellets (84.052 ng/ml) and the Tmax of ER pellets (5.116 h) was higher than the IR pellets (3.029 h). No significant food effect was observed on key pharmacokinetic parameters of ER pellets. Eudragit RL100 (6%) coated Meclizine HCl pellets have a potential therapeutic effect for an extended time period.
NOTCH3 signaling is essential for NF-κB activation in TLR-activated macrophages
Authors: López-López Susana , Monsalve Eva María , Romero de Ávila María José , González-Gómez Julia , Hernández de León Natalia , Ruiz-Marcos Francisco , Baladrón Victoriano , Nueda María Luisa , García-León María Jesús , Screpanti Isabella , Felli María Pía , Laborda Jorge , García-Ramírez José Javier , Díaz-Guerra María José M.
Published: September 2020

Macrophage activation by Toll receptors is an essential event in the development of the response against pathogens. NOTCH signaling pathway is involved in the control of macrophage activation and the inflammatory processes. In this work, we have characterized NOTCH signaling in macrophages activated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) triggering and determined that DLL1 and DLL4 are the main ligands responsible for NOTCH signaling. We have identified ADAM10 as the main protease implicated in NOTCH processing and activation. We have also observed that furin, which processes NOTCH receptors, is induced by TLR signaling in a NOTCH-dependent manner. NOTCH3 is the only NOTCH receptor expressed in resting macrophages. Its expression increased rapidly in the first hours after TLR4 activation, followed by a gradual decrease, which was coincident with an elevation of the expression of the other NOTCH receptors. All NOTCH1, 2 and 3 contribute to the increased NOTCH signaling detected in activated macrophages. We also observed a crosstalk between NOTCH3 and NOTCH1 during macrophage activation. Finally, our results highlight the relevance of NOTCH3 in the activation of NF-κB, increasing p65 phosphorylation by p38 MAP kinase. Our data identify, for the first time, NOTCH3 as a relevant player in the control of inflammation.
Effects of different agronomic practices on the selective soil properties and nitrogen leaching of black soil in Northeast China
Authors: Wang Yujun , Gao Hongjun , Xie Zhonglei , Zhang Lifeng , Ma Xiulan , Peng Chang
Published: September 2020

Considering the large amount and high frequency application of concentrated fertilizer nitrogen in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China, the current laboratory/field simulation study aimed to explore the pollution risk of added nitrogen in black soil to groundwater and identify effective measures to prevent and control soil nitrogen leaching with an undisturbed soil column. The results showed that the saturated nitrogen adsorption capacities increased by 1.7%, 7.7% and 18.5% in ploughing, impervious agent (starch grafted polyacrylic acid) addition, and corn straw returning treatments, respectively, relative to the control (no-till). When the collection volume of the leaching solution reached the experimental maximum (4,000 mL), the total amount of nitrogen leaching from the control soil column (i.e., the no-tillage treatment) accounted for more than 50% of the added nitrogen, indicating a great risk of nitrogen pollution in groundwater. Compared with the no-tillage treatment, the amount of nitrogen leaching from the ploughing treatment increased insignificantly, and the amount of nitrogen leaching in the following spring in the corn straw returning treatment increased by 11.2%. The amount of nitrogen leaching decreased by 12.5% in the soil sampled in autumn of the second year. The total amount of nitrogen leaching in the soil with impervious agents decreased by 40.1%. Therefore, the permeability-reducing agent could significantly reduce underground water pollution risk posed by nitrogen leaching.
The number and composition of work hours for attending physicians in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Ray-E. , Yu Tsung-Hsien , Shih Chung-Liang
Published: September 2020

Long work hours among physicians is a worldwide issue in the healthcare arena. Previous studies have largely focused on the work hours of resident physicians rather than those of attending physicians. The purpose of this study was to investigate total work hours and the composition of those work hours for attending physicians across different hospital settings and across different medical specialties through a nationwide survey. This included examining differences in physician workload and its composition with respect to different hospital characteristics, and grouping medical specialties according to the work similarities. A cross-sectional self-reported nationwide survey was conducted from June to September of 2018, and the two questionnaires were distributed to all accredited hospitals in Taiwan. The number of physician work hours in different types of duty shifts were answered by medical specialty in each surveyed hospital. Each medical specialty in a hospital filled only one response for its attending physicians. The findings reveal that the average total work hours per week of an attending physician is around 69.1 h, but the total work hours and their composition of different duty shifts varied among hospital accreditation levels, geographic locations, emergency care responsibilities, and medical specialties. Because of the variance in the number and composition of attending physicians’ work hours, adjusting physician work hours to a reasonable level will be a major challenge for health authority and hospital managers.
Enhanced decontamination of levofloxacin as toxic pharmaceutical residuals from water using CaO/MgO nanorods as a promising adsorbent
Authors: AbuKhadra Mostafa R. , Basyouny Mohamed Gameel , AlHammadi Ali A. , El-Sherbeeny Ahmed M. , Salam Mohamed Abdel
Published: September 2020

Novel MgO/CaO nanocomposite (MgO/CaO NRs) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method using diatomite porous frustules as a substrate under the microwave irradiation. The composite appeared as well crystalline rod-like nanoparticles with 52.3 nm as average particle size and 112.8 m2/g as BET surface area. The synthetic MgO/CaO NRs were addressed as a novel adsorbent for promising removal of levofloxacin (LVX) as pharmaceutical residuals. The adsorption studies revealed effective uptake of levofloxacin by MgO/CaO NRs with theoretical qmax of 106.7 mg/g and the equilibrium time of 720 min considering the best pH value (pH 7). The equilibrium studies highly fitted with the Langmuir model of monolayer adsorption considering the values of Chi-squared (χ2) and determination coefficient. The estimated adsorption energy from Dubinin–Radushkevich (0.2 kJ/mol) signifies physisorption mechanisms that might be coulombic attractive forces considering the kinetic studies. The thermodynamic addressing for the reactions verified their spontaneous and exothermic nature within a temperature range from 303 to 333 K. Additionally, the prepared MgO/CaO NRs show significant recyclability properties to be used in realistic remediation process and its uptake capacity is higher than several studied adsorbents in literature.
Surgical outcomes analysis in patients with uncomplicated acute type A aortic dissection: a 13-year institutional experience
Authors: Lin Chun-Yu , See Lai-Chu , Tseng Chi-Nan , Wu Meng-Yu , Han Yi , Lu Cheng-Hui , Tsai Feng-Chun
Published: September 2020

This retrospective study aimed to clarify the short-term and mid-term outcomes of and prognostic factors for patients who underwent surgical repair for uncomplicated acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Between January 2007 and June 2019, 603 consecutive patients underwent ATAAD repair at our institution. According to patients’ preoperative presentations and imaging studies, uncomplicated ATAAD was found in 276 (45.8%) patients by excluding preoperative complicated factors. Patients with uncomplicated ATAAD were classified into the survivor (n = 243) and non-survivor (n = 33) groups. Clinical features, surgical information, and postoperative complications were compared. Three-year survival and freedom from reoperation rates for survivors were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier actuarial method. The in-hospital surgical mortality rate of uncomplicated ATAAD patients was 11.9%. The non-survivor group had a higher rate of postoperative malperfusion-related complications, and a multivariate analysis revealed that repeat surgery, retrograde cerebral perfusion, and intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support were predictors of in-hospital mortality. In the survivor group, 3-year cumulative survival and freedom from aortic reoperation rates were 89.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 84.8–92.9%) and 83.1% (95% CI 76.8–87.7%), respectively. In conclusion, uncomplicated and complicated ATAAD rates were similar; the short-term and mid-term surgical outcomes in patients with uncomplicated ATAAD were generally acceptable.
Rapid local compression in active gels is caused by nonlinear network response
Authors: Mizuno D. , Tardin C. , Schmidt C. F.
Published: September 2020

Active stiffening and weakening both occur in active gels, which causes local compression that rapidly transmits in large distances.
Fundamental roles of ZnO and ZrO2in the conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene over ZnO–ZrO2/SiO2
Authors: Miyazawa Tomohisa , Tanabe Yusuke , Nakamura Isao , Shinke Yu , Hiza Misao , Choe Yoong-Kee , Fujitani Tadahiro
Published: September 2020

ZnO and ZrO2sites in the ZnO–ZrO2/SiO2catalyst act cooperatively to catalyze different steps of the conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene.
A DFT and microkinetic study of propylene oxide selectivity over copper-based catalysts: effects of copper valence states
Authors: Xiao Tian-Tian , Wang Gui-Chang
Published: September 2020

The development of high-performance copper-based catalysts is critical for the selective oxidation of propylene in both technology and scientific fields.
Hypoxia efficient and glutathione-resistant cytoselective ruthenium(ii)-p-cymene-arylimidazophenanthroline complexes: biomolecular interaction and live cell imaging
Authors: Mondal Ashaparna , Paira Priyankar
Published: September 2020

A series of ruthenium(ii)–arene-2-arylimidazophenanthroline based DNA targeting, cytoselective, hypoxia efficient and glutathione-resistant luminescent anticancer drugs have been developed which are also represented as HeLa cell imaging probes.
Luminescence in external dopant-free scandium-phosphorus vanadate solid solution: a spectroscopic and theoretical investigation
Authors: Kang Fengwen , Du Yongping , Boutinaud Philippe , Sun Guohuan , Wang Xicheng , Lu Jian , Xiao Sanshui
Published: September 2020

Manipulating the high valence secondary P5+/V5+ ions in the external dopant-free Sc(Px,V1−x)O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) solid solution enables resulting in the spectral tuning, enhanced photoluminescence (PL) intensity, and improved thermally induced PL quenching stability.
Iron-catalyzed radical cascade 6-endocyclization of dienes towards fused nitrogen heterocycles initiated by an alkoxycarbonyl radical
Authors: Qiao Shanshan , Qian Peng-Cheng , Chen Fan , Cheng Jiang
Published: September 2020

An iron-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization of dienes initiated by an alkoxycarbonyl radical has been developed in the presence of (NH4)2S2O8, leading to a series of fused nitrogen heterocyclic compounds under relatively mild reaction conditions.
Facile synthesis of sulfotyrosine-containing α-conotoxins
Authors: Li Changpeng , He Chunmao
Published: September 2020

A one-pot neopentyl deprotection and oxidative disulfide pairing strategy was developed for the facile synthesis of sulfotyrosine (sY)-containing α-conotoxins (Ctx).
Chitosan-encapsulated manganese ferrite particles bearing sulfonic acid group catalyzed efficient synthesis of spiro indenoquinoxalines
Authors: Lahouti Sepideh , Naeimi Hossein
Published: September 2020

A simply, highly versatile and efficient synthesis of 5-phenyl-spiro [diindeno pyridineindenoquinoxaline]-diones is achieved through five component one pot reaction of ninhydrin, 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,3-indandione and anilines.
Near-infrared polyfluorene encapsulated in poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles with remarkable large Stokes shift
Authors: Joothamongkon Jaruwan , Asawapirom Udom , Thiramanas Raweewan , Jangpatarapongsa Kulachart , Polpanich Duangporn
Published: September 2020

A near-infrared dye encapsulated in poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles have been synthesized. Using Kolliphor® P188 as a surfactant, the stable nanoparticles exhibit strong fluorescence intensity and remarkable large Stokes shift.
Chiral molecules on curved colloidal membranes
Authors: Akram Sk Ashif , Behera Arabinda , Sharma Prerna , Sain Anirban
Published: September 2020

Nematic arrangement on catenoids of different aspect ratios.
Modulation strategies of Cu-based electrocatalysts for efficient nitrogen reduction
Authors: Zhou Hangyan , Xiong Bingyan , Chen Lisong , Shi Jianlin
Published: September 2020

In this review, the rational modulation of Cu-based electrocatalysts is used as a typical example to summarize various design strategies effectively enhancing the ammonia yield and conversion efficiency for the NRR.
Compressible AgNWs/Ti3C2Tx MXene aerogel-based highly sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensor as versatile electronic skins
Authors: Bi Lili , Yang Zhonglin , Chen Liangjun , Wu Zhen , Ye Cui
Published: September 2020

AgNWs/Ti3C2Tx MXene aerogel with well-aligned layer structure was prepared by a directional freezing strategy, and applied to fabricate piezoresistive pressure sensor, which has ultrahigh sensitivity (645.69 kPa−1) and low detection limit (1.25 Pa).
Ultrathin single‐crystalline LiNbO3 film bulk acoustic resonator for 5G communication
Authors: Fang Zijing , Jin Hao , Dong Shurong , Lu Leihe , Xuan Weipeng , Luo Jikui
Published: September 2020

This Letter reports a high‐performance film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) that can be applied in 5G wireless communication. The FBAR has a back‐etched free‐standing structure using an ultra‐thin single‐crystalline lithium niobate (LiNbO3 ) as the piezoelectric film. The thin LiNbO3 was obtained by the smart cut method and FBARs were fabricated by a standard MEMS process. Owing to the superior bulk‐like properties of the single‐crystal thin film, the fabricated FBARs have a resonant frequency of 5.0 GHz, a quality factor above 1800 and an electromechanical coupling coefficient of 2.66%, demonstrating a promising potential of FBAR filters in 5G and future 6G applications.
Fast hybrid dual mode NMPC for a parallel double inverted pendulum with experimental validation
Authors: Gonzalez Oscar , Rossiter Anthony
Published: September 2020

This study presents a novel fast non‐linear model predictive control approach for a parallel double inverted pendulum. The approach uses dual‐mode closed‐loop predictions to obtain numerically robust optimal solutions. Moreover, it uses the real‐time iteration (RTI) scheme to reduce the computational burden and achieve real‐time performance. Furthermore, two main modifications are proposed which significantly improve the performance of the RTI scheme in the presence of large disturbances, namely; additional energy‐based costs, and a hybrid switching scheme. Finally, the approach uses a non‐standard discretised model combined with an online system identification scheme to address parameter uncertainty, and with an extended Kalman filter for state‐estimation. The resulting performance is validated through both simulations and experimental results.
Design and experiment of a magnetic lead screw for the point‐absorbing wave energy conversion system
Authors: Zhao Aqiang , Wu Weimin , Jiang Jiacheng , Zhu Lixun , Lu Kaiyuan , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: September 2020

This study introduces a new structure of the magnetic lead screw (MLS) intended for wave energy conversion (WEC) applications. One of the key challenges in the application of MLS technology for wave energy lies in the manufacturing of its complicated ideal helix. Structural simplification and processing technology are quite essential in promoting the development of the magnet screw. This study proposes a new method for shaping the desired ideal helix in a simple way with parallelly magnetised magnets. This simple structure reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining good force density. The magnets with parallel magnetisation are also easier and cheaper to manufacture than the magnets with radial magnetisation. A prototype is manufactured and tested in the laboratory. In addition, the electromagnetic performance of the new structure is evaluated as compared with the magnet screw with ideal helix using the three‐dimensional finite element analysis, verifying the advantages of the proposed structure.
Provision of inertial response as ancillary service from active distribution networks to the transmission system
Authors: Nozal Álvaro Rodríguez del , Kontis Eleftherios O. , Mauricio Juan M. , Demoulias Charis S.
Published: September 2020

Nowadays, traditional synchronous generators are replaced by distributed renewable energy sources (DRESs), which are connected to the grid via power converters. This shift towards non‐synchronous generation leads to low inertia power systems and affects considerably the frequency control procedure. To provide an inertial response and to enhance grid stability, DRESs can be equipped with fast discharging energy storage systems, such as ultracapacitors. This feature allows distribution system operators (DSOs) to provide an inertial response as ancillary service to transmission system operators (TSOs) by coordinating the operation of many DRESs. For this purpose, DSOs should develop tools to quantify and control the provision of inertial response. Towards this objective, in this study, two new methodologies are proposed. The first one aims to evaluate the maximum aggregated inertial capability of active distribution networks (ADNs). The second one aims to dispatch DRESs to provide specific, TSO‐defined, inertial response with the minimum cost. Both methods are tested on a medium voltage grid. Several cases are examined highlighting the impact of different parameters, such as converter limitations, line congestions, on the inertial capability of ADNs. Results indicate that the proposed methods can fully exploit operational limits of ADNs and maximise their inertial capability.
Fragmentation of star-forming filaments in the X-shaped nebula of the California molecular cloud
Authors: Zhang Guo-Yin , André Ph. , Men’shchikov A. , Wang Ke
Published: September 2020

Context. Dense molecular filaments are central to the star formation process, but the detailed manner in which they fragment into prestellar cores is not well understood yet.

Aims. Here, we investigate the fragmentation properties and dynamical state of several star-forming filaments in the X-shaped nebula region of the California molecular cloud in an effort to shed some light on this issue.

Methods. We used multiwavelength far-infrared images from Herschel as well as the getsources and getfilaments extraction methods to identify dense cores and filaments in the region and derive their basic properties. We also used a map of 13CO(2−1) emission from the Arizona 10m Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) to constrain the dynamical state of the filaments.

Results. We identified ten filaments with aspect ratios of AR > 4 and column density contrasts of C > 0.5, as well as 57 dense cores, including two protostellar cores, 20 robust prestellar cores, 11 candidate prestellar cores, and 24 unbound starless cores. All ten filaments have roughly the same deconvolved full width at half maximum (FWHM), with a median value of 0.12 ± 0.03 pc, which is independent of their column densities ranging from <1021 cm−2 to >1022 cm−2. Two star-forming filaments (# 8 and # 10) stand out since they harbor quasi-periodic chains of dense cores with a typical projected core spacing of ~0.15 pc. These two filaments have thermally supercritical line masses and are not static. Filament 8 exhibits a prominent transverse velocity gradient, suggesting that it is accreting gas from the parent cloud gas reservoir at an estimated rate of ~40 ± 10 M⊙ Myr−1 pc−1. Filament 10 includes two embedded protostars with outflows and it is likely at a somewhat later evolutionary stage than filament 8. In both cases, the observed (projected) core spacing is similar to the filament width and significantly shorter than the canonical separation of ~4 times the filament width predicted by classical cylinder fragmentation theory. It is unlikely that projection effects can explain this discrepancy. We suggest that the continuous accretion of gas onto the two star-forming filaments, as well as the geometrical bending of the filaments, may account for the observed core spacing.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the characteristic fragmentation lengthscale of molecular filaments is quite sensitive to external perturbations from the parent cloud, such as the gravitational accretion of ambient material.
The New Generation Planetary Population Synthesis (NGPPS)
Authors: Schlecker M. , Mordasini C. , Emsenhuber A. , Klahr H. , Henning Th. , Burn R. , Alibert Y. , Benz W.
Published: September 2020

Context. Recent observational findings have suggested a positive correlation between the occurrence rates of inner super-Earths and outer giant planets. These results raise the question of whether this trend can be reproduced and explained by planet formation theory.

Aims. Here, we investigate the properties of inner super-Earths and outer giant planets that form according to a core accretion scenario. We study the mutual relations between these planet species in synthetic planetary systems and compare them to the observed exoplanet population.

Methods. We invoked the Generation 3 Bern model of planet formation and evolution to simulate 1000 multi-planet systems. We then confronted these synthetic systems with the observed sample, taking into account the detection bias that distorts the observed demographics.

Results. The formation of warm super-Earths and cold Jupiters in the same system is enhanced compared to the individual appearances, although it is weaker than what has been proposed through observations. We attribute the discrepancy to warm and dynamically active giant planets that frequently disrupt the inner systems, particularly in high-metallicity environments. In general, a joint occurrence of the two planet types requires intermediate solid reservoirs in the originating protoplanetary disk. Furthermore, we find differences in the volatile content of planets in different system architectures and predict that high-density super-Earths are more likely to host an outer giant. This correlation can be tested observationally.