bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling, analysis, and simulation of X-shape quasi-zero-stiffness-roller vibration isolators
Authors: Mao Xiaoye , Yin Mengmeng , Ding Hu , Geng Xiaofeng , Shen Yongjun , Chen Liqun
Published: July 2022

Existing quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) isolators are reviewed. In terms of their advantages, a novel X-shape QZS isolator combined with the cam-roller-spring mechanism (CRSM) is proposed. Different from the existing X-shape isolators, oblique springs are used to enhance the negative stiffness of the system. Meanwhile, the CRSM is used to eliminate the gravity of the loading mass, while the X-shape structure leaves its static position. The existing QZS isolators are demonstrated and classified according to their nonlinearity mechanisms and classical shapes. It is shown that the oblique spring can realize negative stiffness based on the simplest mechanism. The X-shape has a strong capacity of loading mass, while the CRSM can achieve a designed restoring force at any position. The proposed isolator combines all these advantages together. Based on the harmonic balance method (HBM) and the simulation, the displacement transmissibilities of the proposed isolator, the X-shape isolators just with oblique springs, and the X-shape isolators in the traditional form are studied. The results show that the proposed isolator has the lowest beginning isolation frequency and the smallest maximum displacement transmissibility. However, it still has some disadvantages similar to the existing QZS isolators. This means that its parameters should be designed carefully so as to avoid becoming a bistable system, in which there are two potential wells in the potential energy curve and thus the isolation performance will be worsened.
Working with Complexity in the Context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study of Global Health Partnerships
Authors: Karakulak Özgü , Stadtler Lea
Published: July 2022

Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) have become a major driver to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, managing MSPs is difficult because of the multiple complexities they involve. We seek to contribute to a better understanding of how MSPs cope with these complexities by exploring the MSP scope. In our study of four global health MSPs, we find that a function-oriented scope in terms of focusing on a single intervention helped filter the relevant external and internal complexities, whereas an issue-oriented scope focused on addressing the health issue with multiple interventions magnified the complexities. As a result, the latter MSPs became overwhelmed and self-absorbed, while the former MSPs managed to remain outward-looking and sustain their collaborative energy and support. On this basis, we identify three mechanisms through which the MSP scope either helped or hampered the ability to cope with complexity, and we discuss the theoretical and practical implications for MSPs addressing the SDGs.
Cartoon-texture evolution for two-region image segmentation
Authors: Antonelli Laura , De Simone Valentina , Viola Marco
Published: July 2022

Two-region image segmentation is the process of dividing an image into two regions of interest, i.e., the foreground and the background. To this aim, Chan et al. (SIAM J Appl Math 66(5):1632–1648, 2006) designed a model well suited for smooth images. One drawback of this model is that it may produce a bad segmentation when the image contains oscillatory components. Based on a cartoon-texture decomposition of the image to be segmented, we propose a new model that is able to produce an accurate segmentation of images also containing noise or oscillatory information like texture. The novel model leads to a non-smooth constrained optimization problem which we solve by means of the ADMM method. The convergence of the numerical scheme is also proved. Several experiments on smooth, noisy, and textural images show the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Video Game Use, Aggression, and Social Impairment in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Davis Konnor , Iosif Ana-Maria , Nordahl Christine Wu , Solomon Marjorie , Krug Marie K.
Published: July 2022

We used parent report data to investigate video game playing, aggression, and social impairment in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Parents of autistic adolescents were more likely to report that their child plays video games as a hobby compared to parents of adolescents with typical development and also reported that their children spent more time playing video games. For autistic participants, we found no differences in aggression levels or social impairment when comparing players versus non-players. However, playing video games “more than average,” as compared to “average” was associated with greater aggression and greater social impairment on “awareness” and “mannerisms” subscales. Future studies should focus on how type of video game(s) played is associated with these clinically important variables.
A rhythm-aware serious game for social interaction
Authors: Carnovalini Filippo , Rodà Antonio , Caneva Paolo
Published: July 2022

Making music with others is both an artistic act and a social activity. Music therapists can leverage the social aspects of music to increase the well-being of their patients by interacting with them musically, improvising rhythms and melodies together on shared musical instruments. This activity requires highly trained professionals and is therefore expensive for the clients. We propose a serious game that can help people without musical training interact by collaboratively creating a rhythm using MIDI drum pads. The gaming system analyzes the rhythm in real-time and adds musical feedback that is synchronized to what the users play, enhancing the aesthetical experience that is crucial to the musical interaction and its therapeutic effects. We assessed our system through quantitative metrics showing its capability of following a user-established tempo. Test players also completed a questionnaire, which showed they found the experience pleasant and engaging, and that the musical augmentation was helpful to their interaction.
Ameliorating alkaline dispersive subsoils with organic amendments: Are productivity responses due to nutrition or improved soil structure?
Authors: Uddin Shihab , Williams Stephanie Watts , Aslam Naveed , Fang Yunying , Parvin Shahnaj , Rust Josh , Van Zwieten Lukas , Armstrong Roger , Tavakkoli Ehsan
Published: July 2022

Background and aims

Alkaline dispersive subsoils are characterised by multiple physicochemical constraints that limit plant water and nutrient acquisition. Subsoil amelioration through organic amendments (OAs) requires significant financial investment. Whereas large yield responses can result following amelioration, sometimes small or even negative yield responses can occur, resulting in a significant net financial loss for the farmer. For farmers to feel confident in investing in subsoil amelioration better prediction of the likely yield improvement is required and to achieve this an understanding of the underlying mechanisms such as nutritional and non-nutritional drivers, and the longevity of benefits are required. Our study aimed to ascertain the drivers of yield improvements from subsoil amelioration with OAs.

Methods

In a controlled environment, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Scepter) plants were grown until maturity in a Solonetz amended with (i) poultry litter (PL; 20 t ha−1), and (ii) NPKS nutrients and (iii) model organic carbon (MOC) with equivalent amounts of nutrients and total carbon contained in the PL, and (iv) NPKS + MOC. Control (no amendments) and gypsum (5 t ha−1) were included as district practices. Before planting, amendments were applied as a vertical band at 20 – 40 cm depth and pre-incubated. Plant biomass, grain yield, root biomass, and physicochemical properties of the soil associated with the amendment band were quantified at harvest.

Results

Compared to the control, wheat grain yield was increased by 30% for PL, 43% for NPKS + MOC, and 61% for NPKS, but no differences in yield were detected for MOC or gypsum. The lower yield increase by PL than NPKS with or without MOC was likely due to the readily available form of plant nutrients in the inorganic fertilisers vs slower mineralisation of nutrients from the OAs. Improvement in soil physicochemical properties following amelioration of alkaline dispersive subsoil resulted in better root proliferation and subsoil water use. Grain yield showed a positive correlation with root biomass in the subsoil layers.

Conclusions

In the short-term (one crop cycle), organic amendments improved soil’s non-nutritional physical and chemical properties but had no additional nutritional effect on wheat grain yield compared to inorganic fertiliser application. Longer-term studies are needed to determine the legacy effect of the nutritional contribution in conjunction with the improvement of soil structure from the OAs in alkaline dispersive subsoils.
Long swings in the growth of government expenditure: an international historical perspective
Authors: Gallegati Marco , Tamberi Massimo
Published: July 2022

Adopting an international historical perspective, this study aims to identify the main empirical regularities in the long-run growth pattern of government expenditure. The application of parametric and non-parametric analyses to a sample of developed countries observed over the period 1880–2018 allows us to detect two main findings. The first is that, beyond the long-term growth of government expenditures in absolute terms, there is evidence for three expansionary long waves corresponding to the booms before and during the twentieth century’s two world wars, along with the ‘golden age of public sector intervention’. The latter refers to the decline in cross-country heterogeneity in the trends and composition of absolute growth of government expenditure since the 1960s. The ‘ratchet phenomenon’ in the pre-WWII period and the shift in ideological focus from market to government failures in the last decades of the twentieth century provide explanations that complement Wagner’s law and are consistent with the observed long-term evolution of the growth of government expenditure.
Automated semi-quantitative amyloid PET analysis technique without MR images for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Imabayashi Etsuko , Tamamura Naoyuki , Yamaguchi Yuzuho , Kamitaka Yuto , Sakata Muneyuki , Ishii Kenji
Published: July 2022

Objective

Although beta-amyloid (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) images are interpreted visually as positive or negative, approximately 10% are judged as equivocal in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, we aimed to develop an automated semi-quantitative analysis technique using 18F-flutemetamol PET images without anatomical images.

Methods

Overall, 136 cases of patients administered 18F-flutemetamol were enrolled. Of 136 cases, five PET images each with the highest and lowest values of standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) of cerebral cortex-to-pons were used to create positive and negative templates. Using these templates, PET images of the remaining 126 cases were standardized, and SUVr images were produced with the pons as a reference region. The mean of SUVr values in the volume of interest delineated on the cerebral cortex was compared to those in the CortexID Suite (GE Healthcare). Furthermore, centiloid (CL) values were calculated for the 126 cases using data from the Centiloid Project (http://www.gaain.org/centiloid-project) and both templates. 18F-flutemetamol-PET was interpreted visually as positive/negative based on Aβ deposition in the cortex. However, the criterion "equivocal" was added for cases with focal or mild Aβ accumulation that were difficult to categorize. Optimal cutoff values of SUVr and CL maximizing sensitivity and specificity for Aβ detection were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis using the visual evaluation as a standard of truth.

Results

SUVr calculated by our method and CortexID were highly correlated (R2 = 0.9657). The 126 PET images comprised 84 negative and 42 positive cases of Aβ deposition by visual evaluation, of which 11 and 10 were classified as equivocal, respectively. ROC analyses determined the optimal cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity for SUVr as 0.544, 89.3%, and 92.9%, respectively, and for CL as 12.400, 94.0%, and 92.9%, respectively. Both semi-quantitative analyses showed that 12 and 9 of the 21 equivocal cases were negative and positive, respectively, under the optimal cutoff values.

Conclusions

This semi-quantitative analysis technique using 18F-flutemetamol-PET calculated SUVr and CL automatically without anatomical images. Moreover, it objectively and homogeneously interpreted positive or negative Aβ burden in the brain as a supplemental tool for the visual reading of equivocal cases in routine clinical practice.
ASXL1 mutations with serum EPO levels predict poor response to darbepoetin alfa in lower-risk MDS: W-JHS MDS01 trial
Authors: Morita Yasuyoshi , Nannya Yasuhito , Ichikawa Motoshi , Hanamoto Hitoshi , Shibayama Hirohiko , Maeda Yoshinobu , Hata Tomoko , Miyamoto Toshihiro , Kawabata Hiroshi , Takeuchi Kazuto , Tanaka Hiroko , Kishimoto Junji , Miyano Satoru , Matsumura Itaru , Ogawa Seishi , Akashi Koichi , Kanakura Yuzuru , Mitani Kinuko
Published: July 2022

Darbepoetin alfa (DA) is used to treat anemia in lower-risk (IPSS low or int-1) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, whether mutations can predict the effectiveness of DA has not been examined. The present study aimed to determine predictive gene mutations. The primary endpoint was a correlation between the presence of highly frequent (≥ 10%) mutations and hematological improvement-erythroid according to IWG criteria 2006 by DA (240 μg/week) until week 16. The study included 79 patients (age 29–90, median 77.0 years; 52 [65.8%] male). Frequently (≥ 10%) mutated genes were SF3B1 (24 cases, 30.4%), TET2 (20, 25.3%), SRSF2 (10, 12.7%), ASXL1 (9, 11.4%), and DNMT3A (8, 10.1%). Overall response rate to DA was 70.9%. Multivariable analysis including baseline erythropoietin levels and red blood cell transfusion volumes as variables revealed that erythropoietin levels and mutations of ASXL1 gene were significantly associated with worse response (odds ratio 0.146, 95% confidence interval 0.042–0.503; p = 0.0023, odds ratio 0.175, 95% confidence interval 0.033–0.928; p = 0.0406, respectively). This study indicated that anemic patients who have higher erythropoietin levels and harbor ASXL1 gene mutations may respond poorly to DA. Alternative strategies are needed for the treatment of anemia in this population. Trial registration number and date of registration: UMIN000022185 and 09/05/2016.
Regioisomeric Polymer Semiconductors Based on Cyano-Functionalized Dialkoxybithiophenes: Structure–Property Relationship and Photovoltaic Performance
Authors: Bai Qingqing , Huang Jun , Guo Han , Ma Suxiang , Yang Jie , Liu Bin , Yang Kun , Sun Huiliang , Woo Han Young , Niu Li , Guo Xugang
Published: July 2022

Cyano substitution is vital to the molecular design of polymer semiconductors toward highly efficient organic solar cells. However, how regioselectivity impacts relevant optoelectronic properties in cyano-substituted bithiophene systems remain poorly understood. Three regioisomeric cyano-functionalized dialkoxybithiophenes BTHH, BTHT, and BTTT with head-to-head, head-to-tail, and tail-to-tail linkage, respectively, were synthesized and characterized in this work. The resulting polymer semiconductors (PBDTBTs) based on these building blocks were prepared accordingly. The regiochemistry and property relationships of PBDTBTs were investigated in detail. The BTHH moiety has a higher torsional barrier than the analogs BTHT and BTTT, and the regiochemistry of dialkoxybithiophenes leads to fine modulation in the optoelectronic properties of these polymers, such as optical absorption, band gap, and energy levels of frontier molecular orbitals. Organic field-effect transistors based on PBDTBTHH had higher hole mobility (4.4 × 10−3 cm2/(V·s)) than those (ca. 10−4 cm2/(V·s)) of the other two polymer analogs. Significantly different short-circuit current densities and fill factors were obtained in polymer solar cells using PBDTBTs as the electron donors. Such difference was probed in greater detail by performing space-charge-limited current mobility, thin-film morphology, and transient photocurrent/photovoltage characterizations. The findings highlight that the BTHH unit is a promising building block for the construction of polymer donors for high-performance organic photovoltaic cells.

Graphical abstract
Cerebellar Dysfunction as a Source of Dystonic Phenotypes in Mice
Authors: Brown Amanda M. , van der Heijden Meike E. , Jinnah H. A. , Sillitoe Roy V.
Published: July 2022

There is now a substantial amount of compelling evidence demonstrating that the cerebellum may be a central locus in dystonia pathogenesis. Studies using spontaneous genetic mutations in rats and mice, engineered genetic alleles in mice, shRNA knockdown in mice, and conditional genetic silencing of fast neurotransmission in mice have all uncovered a common set of behavioral and electrophysiological defects that point to cerebellar cortical and cerebellar nuclei dysfunction as a source of dystonic phenotypes. Here, we revisit the Ptf1aCre/+;Vglut2flox/flox mutant mouse to define fundamental phenotypes and measures that are valuable for testing the cellular, circuit, and behavioral mechanisms that drive dystonia. In this model, excitatory neurotransmission from climbing fibers is genetically eliminated and, as a consequence, Purkinje cell and cerebellar nuclei firing are altered in vivo, with a prominent and lasting irregular burst pattern of spike activity in cerebellar nuclei neurons. The resulting impact on behavior is that the mice have developmental abnormalities, including twisting of the limbs and torso. These behaviors continue into adulthood along with a tremor, which can be measured with a tremor monitor or EMG. Importantly, expression of dystonic behavior is reduced upon cerebellar-targeted deep brain stimulation. The presence of specific combinations of disease-like features and therapeutic responses could reveal the causative mechanisms of different types of dystonia and related conditions. Ultimately, an emerging theme places cerebellar dysfunction at the center of a broader dystonia brain network.
LncRNAs as epigenetic regulators of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Ma Yan , Di Yang , Li Qiuyue , Zhan Qilin , He Xiaomeng , Liu Shanshan , Zou Heng , Corpe Christopher , Chen Litian , Wang Jin
Published: July 2022

Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality because of tumor metastasis. Activation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway has been confirmed to be an important driver of pancreatic cancer progression from initiation to metastasis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to exert essential physiological functions in pancreatic cancer progression by regulating the EMT program. In this review, we have summarized the role of EMT-related lncRNAs in human pancreatic cancer and the potential molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs can be vital epigenetic regulators of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Specifically, EMT-activating transcription factors (EMT-TFs) regulate EMT via TGF-β/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin, and JAK/STAT pathways. In addition, the interaction between lncRNAs and HIF-1α and m6A RNA methylation also have an impact on tumor metastasis and EMT in pancreatic cancer. This review will provide insights into lncRNAs as promising biomarkers for tumor metastasis and potential therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer.
NLRP3 Inflammasome Overactivation in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Díaz-García Elena , Nanwani-Nanwani Kapil , García-Tovar Sara , Alfaro Enrique , López-Collazo Eduardo , Quintana-Díaz Manuel , García-Rio Francisco , Cubillos-Zapata Carolina
Published: July 2022

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is an uncommon and severe subtype of stroke leading to the loss of many years of productive life. We analyzed NLRP3 activity as well as key components of the inflammasome cascade in monocytes and plasma from 28 patients with aSAH and 14 normal controls using flow cytometry, western blot, ELISA, and qPCR technologies. Our data reveal that monocytes from patients with aSAH present an overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which results in the presence of high plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, gasdermin D, and tissue factor. Although further research is needed, we propose that serum tissue factor concentration might be a useful prognosis biomarker for clinical outcome, and for Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy and cerebral vasospasm prediction. Remarkably, MCC-950 inhibitor effectively blocks NLRP3 activation in aSAH monocyte culture and supresses tissue factor release to the extracellular space. Finally, our findings suggest that NLRP3 activation could be due to the release of erythrocyte breakdown products to the subarachnoid space during aSAH event. These data define NLRP3 activation in monocytes from aSAH patients, indicating systemic inflammation that results in serum TF upregulation which in turns correlates with aSAH severity and might serve as a prognosis biomarker for aSAH clinical outcome and for cerebral vasospasm and Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy prediction.
Remaining useful life prediction for rolling bearings based on similarity feature fusion and convolutional neural network
Authors: Nie Lei , Zhang Lvfan , Xu Shiyi , Cai Wentao , Yang Haoming
Published: July 2022

As a critical content of condition-based maintenance (CBM) for mechanical systems, remaining useful life (RUL) prediction of rolling bearing attracts extensive attention to this day. Through mining the bearing degradation rule from operating data, the deep learning method is often used to perform RUL prediction. However, due to the complexity of operating data, it is usually difficult to establish a satisfactory deep learning model for accurate RUL prediction. Thus, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) prediction method based on similarity feature fusion is proposed. In this paper, the similarity features are extracted based on the correlation between statistical features and time series. After sensitive feature screening, eligible features are applied to develop a health indicator (HI), which can be used to define the bearing failure stages and reduces the complexity of the CNN model. Subsequently, a one-dimensional CNN is established to predict the RUL of bearing, and the HI is utilized to train the prediction model. The proposed approach is verified by FEMTO bearing datasets and IMS bearing datasets. And the experimental results reveal the superiority and effectiveness of the feature fusion-based CNN method in constructing HI and accurate RUL prediction.
Autonomous adaptive control of manufacturing parameters based on local regression modeling
Authors: Takayanagi Masayoshi , Yoshino Mutsumi , Kikuchi Genta , Kanke Tomoko , Suzuki Noriyuki
Published: July 2022

The demand for the autonomous adaptive control of manufacturing lines has been growing to realize productivity improvement and carbon neutrality. We propose a methodology to realize the autonomous control of product quality under the existence of effects from non-measurable parameters. By local linear regression modeling with temporal neighborhood data, a single manufacturing parameter is selected by the obtained regression coefficients. Simulation results demonstrated that the straightforward multiple regression modeling often resulted in unstable control behavior with vibrations in product quality. We tested three approaches (scaling the amount of control, introduction of control interval, and semiparametric regression modeling for regression) to cope with the unstable behavior. The semiparametric regression model exhibited the best performance in realizing the stable control by correctly selecting the control target parameter with the additional non-linear term, that compensates the time-dependent non-measurable parameters.
Zum Tod von Erwin Faul: Ein „Steuermann“ für die ersten Jahrzehnte der modernen deutschen Politikwissenschaft
Authors: Molt Peter
Published: July 2022

Am 27. Dezember 2020 ist Erwin Faul, der letzte Zeitzeuge der Anfangsjahre der deutschen Politikwissenschaft verstorben. Er war Mitarbeiter von Alfred Weber und Dolf Sternberger am INSOSTA der Universität Heidelberg und verfasste eine der ersten Forschungsarbeiten zur Machtgewinnung Hitlers. Seit 1960 war er für fast 20 Jahre zuerst Chefredakteur und dann Herausgeber der Politischen Vierteljahresschrift (PVS) und 16 Jahre lang Vorstandsmitglied der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft (DVPW). 1983 wurde er Gründungsmitglied der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Politikwissenschaft (DGfP). Erwin Faul leistete einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Beginn der Politikwissenschaft in Deutschland.
Nahrungsergänzungsmittel und die Schilddrüse – ein Update zur Supplementierung von Mikronährstoffen
Authors: Deischinger Carola , Krebs Michael , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra
Published: July 2022

Schilddrüsenhormone steuern direkt und indirekt viele metabolische Vorgänge, welche für Wachstum, Entwicklung und Stoffwechsel entscheidend sind. Ein essenzieller Mikronährstoff für die Schilddrüsenhormonproduktion ist Jod, welches einen Bestandteil der Schilddrüsenhormone Triiodthyronin (T3) und Thyroxin (T4) bildet. Österreich ist aufgrund der geografischen Lage für Jodmangel prädisponiert. Jodmangel kann speziell in der Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit problematisch sein, weshalb in dieser Population eine Jodsupplementation empfohlen wird. Selen trägt in der Form der Aminosäure Selenocystein als Bestandteil von Dejodinasen einen maßgeblichen Teil zur Funktion der Schilddrüse, zum Beispiel bei der Umwandlung zwischen aktiven und inaktiven Formen von Schilddrüsenhormonen, bei. Die bisher vorhandenen klinischen Daten deuten insgesamt auf ein beachtliches Potenzial von Selensupplementation bei Hypothyreose oder Autoimmunerkrankungen der Schilddrüse hin. Für andere Vitamine und Mineralstoffe wie Zink, Magnesium, Eisen, Vitamin D und C ist die derzeitige Studienlage unzureichend, um eine Empfehlung auszusprechen. Zusammenfassend ist neben der bereits in Leitlinien empfohlenen Behandlung von Jodmangelzuständen auch eine gezielte Selensupplementation für bestimmte Patientenpopulationen möglicherweise sinnvoll.
Large-time behavior of solutions of parabolic equations on the real line with convergent initial data III: unstable limit at infinity
Authors: Pauthier Antoine , Poláčik Peter
Published: July 2022

This is a continuation, and conclusion, of our study of bounded solutions u of the semilinear parabolic equation $$u_t=u_{xx}+f(u)$$

u
t

=

u

xx

+
f

(
u
)

on the real line whose initial data $$u_0=u(\cdot ,0)$$

u
0

=
u

(
·
,
0
)

have finite limits $$\theta ^\pm $$

θ
±

as $$x\rightarrow \pm \infty $$

x
→
±
∞

. We assume that f is a locally Lipschitz function on $$\mathbb {R}$$
R
satisfying minor nondegeneracy conditions. Our goal is to describe the asymptotic behavior of u(x, t) as $$t\rightarrow \infty $$

t
→
∞

. In the first two parts of this series we mainly considered the cases where either $$\theta ^-\ne \theta ^+$$

θ
-

≠

θ
+

; or $$\theta ^\pm =\theta _0$$

θ
±

=

θ
0

and $$f(\theta _0)\ne 0$$

f
(

θ
0

)
≠
0

; or else $$\theta ^\pm =\theta _0$$

θ
±

=

θ
0

, $$f(\theta _0)=0$$

f
(

θ
0

)
=
0

, and $$\theta _0$$

θ
0

is a stable equilibrium of the equation $${{\dot{\xi }}}=f(\xi )$$

ξ
˙

=
f

(
ξ
)

. In all these cases we proved that the corresponding solution u is quasiconvergent—if bounded—which is to say that all limit profiles of $$u(\cdot ,t)$$

u
(
·
,
t
)

as $$t\rightarrow \infty $$

t
→
∞

are steady states. The limit profiles, or accumulation points, are taken in $$L^\infty _{loc}(\mathbb {R})$$

L

loc

∞

(
R
)

. In the present paper, we take on the case that $$\theta ^\pm =\theta _0$$

θ
±

=

θ
0

, $$f(\theta _0)=0$$

f
(

θ
0

)
=
0

, and $$\theta _0$$

θ
0

is an unstable equilibrium of the equation $${{\dot{\xi }}}=f(\xi )$$

ξ
˙

=
f

(
ξ
)

. Our earlier quasiconvergence theorem in this case involved some restrictive technical conditions on the solution, which we now remove. Our sole condition on $$u(\cdot ,t)$$

u
(
·
,
t
)

is that it is nonoscillatory (has only finitely many critical points) at some $$t\ge 0$$

t
≥
0

. Since it is known that oscillatory bounded solutions are not always quasiconvergent, our result is nearly optimal.
Molecular Chaperone HSPA2 Distribution During Hyaluronic Acid Selection in Human Sperm
Authors: Gómez-Torres María José , Huerta-Retamal Natalia , Sáez-Espinosa Paula , Robles-Gómez Laura , Avilés Manuel , Aizpurua Jon
Published: July 2022

During fertilization, sperm hyaluronidase activity is essential for spermatozoa to successfully penetrate the hyaluronic acid-enriched extracellular matrix of the cumulus cells. Since molecular chaperones, as the heat shock protein A2, are typically involved in bringing hyaluronic acid receptors to the cell surface, here we evaluated the presence and spatial location of HSPA2 on human spermatozoa based on its hyaluronic acid binding capacity. This study included 16 normozoospermic sperm samples from volunteering donors. The location of HSPA2 was studied in cells before and after 1-h incubation under capacitating conditions, as well as in spermatozoa selected according to their ability of binding to hyaluronic acid. Our results showed no significant differences in HSPA2 immunofluorescent cells before and after 1 h of incubation in capacitating conditions. Nevertheless, after hyaluronic acid selection, the percentage of HSPA2-labelled cells increased significantly, indicating that the interaction with hyaluronic acid may induce the unmasking of HSPA2 epitopes. Furthermore, after swim-up and hyaluronic acid selection, spermatozoa presented a highly immunostained equatorial band with a homogeneous fluorescence throughout the acrosomal region. This distribution has been previously suggested to have important implications in male fertility. Noteworthy, a homogeneous fluorescence among the acrosomal region with a more intense labelling at the apical region was observed only in hyaluronic acid bound sperm cells, which may be associated with primary gamete recognition. Our findings suggest that the hyaluronic acid selection technique and HSPA2 biomarker should be considered candidates to complement the classic seminal analysis before recommending an appropriate assisted reproduction technique.
TT3.1: a journey to protect chloroplasts upon heat stress
Authors: Li Jin-Yu , Liu Jian-Xiang
Published: July 2022

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple crop that feeds over half the world’s population. High temperature stress is a great threaten to sustainable agriculture and leads to yield loss and impaired grain quality in major crops. Rice is sensitive to heat stress at almost all the growth stages and the molecular mechanisms underlying responses to heat stress in rice is emerging. Through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, a recent study conducted by Zhang et al. shows that one genetic locus Thermo-tolerance 3 (TT3) contains two genes that are required for thermotolerance in rice. The TT3.1–TT3.2 genetic module in rice links the plasma membrane to chloroplasts to protect chloroplasts from heat stress damage and increases grain yield under heat stress conditions. This breakthrough provides a promising strategy for future breeding of high temperature resilient crops.
Antiemetic Strategies in Patients Who Undergo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Yuda Sayako , Fuji Shigeo , Savani Bipin , Gatwood Katie S.
Published: July 2022

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an integral part of the treatment strategy in patients with a hematological disorder. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is still an issue in patients who undergo HSCT. While several guidelines for the antiemetic therapy against CINV have been published, there is no detailed information about appropriate antiemetic drugs for each conditioning regimen in HSCT. Various studies reported that the triplet of 5-HT3RA, NK1RA, and dexamethasone appears useful in HSCT. However, each antiemetic has unique adverse effects or interactions with specific drugs. Here, we review the literature relating to clinical trials on the prevention of CINV, and summarize the information to clarify the benefit of antiemetic regimens.
Falls among older patients with total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Masarwa Rawan , Yonai Yaniv , Paz Inbar , Steinfeld Yaniv , Natan Merav Ben , Berkovich Yaron
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Few studies have attempted to identify the prevalence of falls after TKA and their risk factors in older patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of falls in patients with TKA as well as sociodemographic and medical factors that increase the risk of falling in older patients.

Methods:

One-hundred-eighty-seven older patients aged 65 and older, who had undergone TKA, were retrospectively interviewed within a year from hospitalization.

Results:

Of the 187 patients who underwent TKA in the last year, 26.7% sustained a fall. The mean time after TKA was eight months. This study reveals that older patients with a higher number of comorbidities, a higher number of medications, and suffering from depression, are at a higher risk of falls following TKA.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of falls was 26.7% following TKA. Older patients with a higher number of comorbidities, who take a higher number of medications, and suffer from depression, are at a higher risk of falling following TKA.

Level of evidence:

IV, retrospective cohort study.

Highlights
Leidenfrost flows: instabilities and symmetry breakings
Authors: Yim E. , Bouillant A. , Quéré D. , Gallaire F.
Published: July 2022

Leidenfrost drops were recently found to host strong dynamics. In the present study, we investigate both experimentally and theoretically the flow structures and stability inside a Leidenfrost water drop as it evaporates, starting with a large puddle. As revealed by infrared mapping, the drop base is warmer than its apex by typically 10 

$^{\circ }$

C, which is likely to trigger bulk thermobuoyant flows and Marangoni surface flows. Tracer particles unveil complex and strong flows that undergo successive symmetry breakings as the drop evaporates. We investigate the linear stability of the base flows in a non-deformable, quasi-static, levitating drop induced by thermobuoyancy and the effective thermocapillary surface stress, using only one adjustable parameter. The stability analysis of nominally axisymmetric thermoconvective flows, parametrized by the drop radius

$R$

, yields the most unstable, thus, dominant, azimuthal modes (of wavenumber

$m$

). Our theory predicts well the radii

$R$

for the mode transitions and cascade with decreasing wavenumber from

$m=3,\, m=2$

, down to

$m=1$

(the eventual rolling mode that entails propulsion) as the drop shrinks in size. The effect of the escaping vapour is not taken into account here, which may further destabilize the inner flow and couple to the liquid/vapour interface to give rise to motion (Bouillant et al. Nat. Phys., vol. 14 (12), 2018, pp. 1188–1192; Brandão & Schnitzer Physical Review Fluids, vol. 5 (9), 2020, 091601).
Skew brownian motion and complexity of the alps algorithm
Authors: Roberts Gareth O. , Rosenthal Jeffrey S. , Tawn Nicholas G.
Published: July 2022

Simulated tempering is a popular method of allowing Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms to move between modes of a multimodal target density
$\pi$
. Tawn, Moores and Roberts (2021) introduces the Annealed Leap-Point Sampler (ALPS) to allow for rapid movement between modes. In this paper we prove that, under appropriate assumptions, a suitably scaled version of the ALPS algorithm converges weakly to skew Brownian motion. Our results show that, under appropriate assumptions, the ALPS algorithm mixes in time
$O(d [\log d]^2)$
or O(d), depending on which version is used.
Discontinuation of antipsychotics in individuals with first-episode schizophrenia and its association to functional outcomes, hospitalization and death: a register-based nationwide follow-up study
Authors: Stürup Anne Emilie , Nordentoft Merete , Jimenez-Solem Espen , Osler Merete , Davy Josefine Winther , Christensen Thomas Nordahl , Speyer Helene , Albert Nikolai , Hjorthøj Carsten
Published: July 2022

Background

Discontinuation of antipsychotic medication may be linked to high risk of relapse, hospitalization and mortality. This study investigated the use and discontinuation of antipsychotics in individuals with first-episode schizophrenia in relation to cohabitation, living with children, employment, hospital admission and death.

Methods

Danish registers were used to establish a nationwide cohort of individuals ⩾18 years with schizophrenia included at the time of diagnosis in1995–2013. Exposure was antipsychotic medication calculated using defined daily dose and redeemed prescriptions year 2–5. Outcomes year 5–6 were analysed using binary logistic, negative binomial and Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

Among 21 351, 9.3% took antipsychotics continuously year 2–5, 38.6% took no antipsychotics, 3.4% sustained discontinuation and 48.7% discontinued and resumed treatment. At follow-up year 6, living with children or employment was significantly higher in individuals with sustained discontinuation (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.53–2.56 and OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.91–3.54), non-sustained discontinuation (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.48 and 2.04, 95% CI 1.64–2.53) and no antipsychotics (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.69–2.38 and 5.64, 95% CI 4.56–6.97) compared to continuous users. Individuals with non-sustained discontinuation had more psychiatric hospital admissions (IRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10–1.47) and longer admissions (IRR 1.68, 95% CI 1.30–2.16) year 5–6 compared to continuous users. Mortality during year 5–6 did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

Most individuals with first-episode schizophrenia discontinued or took no antipsychotics the first years after diagnosis and had better functional outcomes. Non-sustained discontinuers had more, and longer admissions compared to continuous users. However, associations found could be either cause or effect.
Research in foreign language teaching and learning in China (2012–2021)
Authors: Lei Lei , Qin Jie
Published: July 2022

This article reviews selected research on foreign language teaching and learning published in local, high-impact journals in China over the past ten years (2012–2021). A bibliometric analysis was conducted to elicit the most frequently researched topics in the field, which were grouped into four categories, that is, language learning and use, language pedagogy, language learners and teachers, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language approaches/theories, and a number of sub-categories. This was then followed by an in-depth and critical review of 71 studies corresponding to those categories and sub-categories. The review concluded with a discussion of inadequacies and recommendations for future research. It is hoped that a review on the experience of Chinese practitioners and researchers’ efforts to promote foreign language education may contribute to language teaching research and development in the international field.
COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the World Health Organization African region: status at end June 2022 and way forward
Authors: Impouma Benido , Mboussou Franck , Farham Bridget , Makubalo Lindiwe , Mwinga Kasonde , Onyango Adelheid , Sthreshley Lisa , Akpaka Kalu , Balde Thierno , Atuhebwe Phionah , Gueye Abdou Salam , Zawaira Felicitas , Rees Helen , Cabore Joseph , Moeti Matshidiso
Published: July 2022

In October 2021, the WHO published an ambitious strategy to ensure that all countries had vaccinated 40% of their population by the end of 2021 and 70% by mid-2022. The end of June 2022 marks 18 months of implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in the African region and provides an opportunity to look back and think ahead about COVID-19 vaccine set targets, demand and delivery strategies. As of 26 June 2022 two countries in the WHO African region have achieved this target (Mauritius and Seychelles) and seven are on track, having vaccinated between 40% and 69% of their population. By the 26 June 2022, seven among the 20 countries that had less than 10% of people fully vaccinated at the end of January 2022, have surpassed 15% of people fully vaccinated at the end of June 2022. This includes five targeted countries, which are being supported by the WHO Regional Office for Africa through the Multi-Partners' Country Support Team Initiative. As we enter the second semester of 2022, a window of opportunity has opened to provide new impetus to COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the African region guided by the four principles: Scale-up, Transition, Consolidation and Communication. Member States need to build on progress made to ensure that this impetus is not lost and that the African region does not remain the least vaccinated global region, as economies open up and world priorities change.
Profiling ponded soil surface in saturated seepage into drain-line sink: Kalashnikov’s method of lateral leaching revisited
Authors: KACIMOV A. R. , OBNOSOV YU. V.
Published: July 2022

Two boundary value problems are solved for potential steady-state 2D Darcian seepage flows towards a line sink in a homogeneous isotropic soil from a ponded land surface, which is not flat but profiled. The aim of this shaping is ‘uniformisation’ of the velocity and travel time between this surface and a horizontal drain modelled by a line sink. The complex potential domain is a half-strip, which is mapped onto a reference plane. Either the velocity magnitude or a vertical coordinate along the land surface are control variables. Either a complexified velocity or complex physical coordinate is reconstructed by solving mixed boundary-value problems with the help of the Keldysh-Sedov formula via singular integrals, the kernel of which are the control functions. The flow nets, isotachs and breakthrough curves are found by computer algebra routines. A designed soil hump above the drain ameliorates an unwanted ‘preferential flow’ (shortcut) and improves leaching of salinised soil of a cropfield during a pre-cultivation season.
External non-linguistic cues influence language selection during a forced choice task
Authors: Vaughan-Evans Awel
Published: July 2022

This study investigated the effect of external non-linguistic cues on language selection in bilinguals. Participants viewed photographs and stated in which language they would speak to the individuals in those photographs via a button press. These images were manipulated such that external cues (the ‘speak Welsh’ logo, presented in the form of a poster or a lanyard) were present or absent. Participants responded faster and selected Welsh as their language of choice more often in trials that contained a language cue than in trials in which a language cue was absent. Furthermore, trials containing a lanyard had a greater effect on participant performance than trials containing a poster. These results suggest that external cues can influence language selection in bilinguals, and that the perceived reliability of the cue can modulate this effect. These findings have implications for the language selection literature and could inform the development of future language use interventions.
Examining public stigma and expectations of grief following medical aid and dying in the US: A vignette-based experiment
Authors: Singer Jonathan , Breen Lauren J. , Loggers Elizabeth T.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Families bereaved following Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)-related death express concerns about public stigma. As access to MAID expands, research examining MAID is needed, including understanding stigma toward family members. This study examines if stigmatization exists toward bereaved individuals whose family member utilized MAID at differing ages and assess if expectations of grief differ between bereaved individuals whose family member utilized MAID compared to bereaved individuals whose family member died of an illness.

Methods

This study utilized a randomized, between-groups, vignette-based experiment to test the effects of cause of death (MAID vs. illness-related death) and age (28, 38, 70, and 80 years) of the deceased on indicators of public stigma. Participants (N = 428) were recruited from mTURK (Mage = 42.54; SDage = 16.50).

Results

Analyses showed a statistically significant interaction between age and the mode of death (F(7, 400), p = 0.001, $\eta _{\rm p}^2$ = 0.06) and the main effect for age (F(5, 401), p = 0.004, $\eta _{\rm p}^2$ = 0.04) on expectations of grief, whereas emotional reactions and wanting social distance were not significant (p > 0.05). Participants expected more maladaptive grief among family members of 28- and 70-year-olds who died of illness compared to 28- or 38-year-olds who utilized MAID [28-year-old (M = 44.12, SD = 12.03) or 70-year-old (M = 44.32, SD = 10.29) illness-related death vs. 28-year-old (M = 39.3, SD = 11.56; p = 0.01) or 38-year-old (M = 38.71, SD = 11.56; p = 0.007) MAID-related death].

Significance of results

Findings suggest that direct stigma does not exist toward family members of individuals engaging in MAID. The American public may expect that family members of young individuals who utilize MAID are accepting of the death and expect them to experience fewer maladaptive grief symptoms. Future research should investigate differences in bereavement outcomes based on age of bereaved caregivers of individuals engaging in MAID.
An adaptive approach for the detection of contrast targets for the through-wall imaging
Authors: Bivalkar Mandar K. , Pandey Sashwat , Singh Dharmendra
Published: July 2022

Through-wall imaging is capable of detecting various living and non-living things behind the wall. The characteristics of the wall under the investigation, amount of clutter and noise govern the quality and reliability of the image as well as the detection ability of the targets using through the wall imaging system. The characteristics of the wall are not known prior, in the literature only the intensity profile is investigated for the unknown wall characteristics using a single dielectric target and the effect of the wall characteristics on the contrast imaging and impact on time or frequency domain features are not investigated. The target with less dielectric is having less reflectivity; hence its detection in the presence of a high reflective target and a noisy environment becomes difficult. In this paper, to enhance the detection ability of the imaging system attenuation constant (α) of the wall is estimated with the proposed wall parameter estimation methods and used as a normalizing factor. To achieve effective beamforming different weighting strategies are developed and the obtained images are compared with the traditional beamforming. Furthermore, a novel approach to finding the effective rank in the low-rank estimation using a statistical model and multi-objective genetic algorithm is proposed for de-noising.