bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An investigation of the use of the multifunctional particle ‑le by second language learners of Mandarin
Chinese
Authors: Li Xiaoshi , Bayley Robert , Zhang Xinye , Cui Yaqiong
Published: June 2022

The most widely studied aspect marker in Chinese is ‑le. In addition to functioning as a
perfective aspect marker to indicate action completion, it can also serve as a sentence final particle to indicate a currently
relevant state. It is obligatory in some situations but optional in others. And, because both types of ‑le
can be sentence final, the picture is even more complicated. Most studies of ‑le in Chinese as a second
language (L2) have been conducted in a generative framework; this study is the first from a sociolinguistic variationist
perspective, with native speaker data as the baseline, to investigate how learners of L2 Chinese use ‑le in
oral discourse and the factors that influence their use. The data were collected from informal conversations and elicited
narratives spoken by 20 high-intermediate and advanced L2 Chinese speakers resulting in more than 4,000 tokens. Factors
explored include verb complement type, position of ‑le, optionality, verb type, serial verb relationship,
discourse context, sentence type, native language, gender, length of residence, and proficiency level. The results show that
verb complement type, optionality, and position of ‑le are the main constraints and that learners use
-le at a lower rate than native speakers.
Production and evaluation of sociolinguistic variation in Mandarin Chinese among children in Singapore
Authors: Starr Rebecca Lurie
Published: June 2022

Singapore Mandarin is traditionally characterized by non-standard features arising from southern Chinese dialect
influence. However, as English expands as a home language in Singapore, children’s Mandarin exposure is increasingly limited
to formal school settings. The situation is further complicated by rising immigration from Mainland China and the presence of
Mainland teachers in the education sector. This study investigates how local and expatriate children in Singapore acquire and
evaluate Mandarin variation in this complex landscape. Expatriates attending international schools are found to orient towards
Mainland varieties, while expatriates in local schools acquire more local usage patterns, but do not demonstrate
sociolinguistic knowledge comparable to Singaporean peers. These findings suggest that transnational migration and language
shift are prompting changes in Singapore Mandarin.
Spanish rhotic variation and development in uninstructed immersion
Authors: Escalante Chelsea , Wright Robyn
Published: June 2022

Perhaps due to the salient differences between English and Spanish rhotics, there has been a robust discussion
regarding the acquisition of Spanish taps and trills by first language (L1) English speakers. Previous studies that have
explored rhotic development have suggested that while there is a significant increase in accuracy of producing taps and trills
as Spanish proficiency level increases (Face 2006; Olsen 2012), even advanced learners or learners with intense exposure to the language still face
difficulty in producing the trill (Major 1986; Reeder 1998). Despite the contributions of previous studies, it remains unclear how learners develop the tap and
trill in real time (as opposed to apparent time), to what extent the two rhotic sounds develop differently, and the role of
additional linguistic and extralinguistic factors apart from phonological context and exposure. This study contributes to the
discussion of Spanish rhotic development by tracking uninstructed L1 English learners in an Ecuadorian immersion setting for
one year, providing an analysis of development in real time. By applying variationist methodology using the mixed-effects
model Rbrul (Johnson 2009), we explore the role of phonological
context, lexical stress, word class, cognate status, target word syllables, proficiency, exposure, speech style, and
individual differences in the development of native-like taps and trills. We find that phonological context, word class,
exposure, and speech style significantly condition tap production, while there are no significant predictors found for trill
production. Furthermore, we see that target tap production accuracy grows throughout the year-long stay abroad, but target
trill production shows no improvement.
Variation in choice of prepositions with place names on the French L1–L2 continuum in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Rehner Katherine , Mougeon Raymond , Mougeon Françoise
Published: June 2022

This study examines the use of prepositions à (‘in/to’), au (‘in the/to the’),
and en (‘in/to’) with place names across the French first-language – second-language continuum in Ontario,
Canada. The study draws on speech corpora collected among seven groups of students who use French and English to varying
extents in daily life. Choice of expected prepositions in French is determined by complex rules reflecting a place name’s
category and morphological and phonological properties, while in English it reflects the ‘+/– motion’ feature of the verb. The
findings reveal that rates of expected preposition use are influenced to varying extents by the relative difficulty of the
prepositions, the students’ position on the continuum, their individual use of French, and their susceptibility to the
influence of inter-systemic transfer.
Differential IL-12 signaling induces human natural killer cell activating receptor-mediated ligand-specific expansion
Authors: Shemesh Avishai , Pickering Harry , Roybal Kole T. , Lanier Lewis L.
Published: June 2022

IL-12 is an essential cytokine involved in the generation of memory or memory-like NK cells. Mouse cytomegalovirus infection triggers NK receptor-induced, ligand-specific IL-12–dependent NK cell expansion, yet specific IL-12 stimulation ex vivo leading to NK cell proliferation and expansion is not established. Here, we show that IL-12 alone can sustain human primary NK cell survival without providing IL-2 or IL-15 but was insufficient to promote human NK cell proliferation. IL-12 signaling analysis revealed STAT5 phosphorylation and weak mTOR activation, which was enhanced by activating NK receptor upregulation and crosslinking leading to STAT5-dependent, rapamycin-sensitive, or TGFβ-sensitive NK cell IL-12–dependent expansion, independently of IL-12 receptor upregulation. Prolonged IL-2 culture did not impair IL-12–dependent ligand-specific NK cell expansion. These findings demonstrate that activating NK receptor stimulation promotes differential IL-12 signaling, leading to human NK cell expansion, and suggest adopting strategies to provide IL-12 signaling in vivo for ligand-specific IL-2–primed NK cell–based therapies.
Boron nitride materials as emerging catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkanes
Authors: Xu Chenyang , Ge Cong , Sun Dandan , Fan Yining , Wang Xue-Bin
Published: June 2022

Light olefins (C2–C4) play a crucial role as basic ingredients in chemical industry, and oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes to olefins has been one of the popular routes since the shale gas revolution. ODH of light alkanes has advantages on energy-and-cost saving as compared with traditional direct dehydrogenation, but it is restricted by its overoxidation which results in the relatively low olefin selectivity. Boron nitride (BN), an interesting nanomaterial with an analogous structure to graphene, springs out and manifests the superior performance as advanced catalysts in ODH, greatly improving the olefin selectivity under high alkane conversion. In this review, we introduce BN nanomaterials in four dimensions together with typical methods of syntheses. Traditional catalysts for ODH are also referred as comparison on several indicators—olefin yields and preparation techniques, including the metal-based catalysts and the non-metal-based catalysts. We also surveyed the BN catalysts for ODH reaction in recent five years, focusing on the different dimensions of BN together with the synthetic routes accounting for the active sites and the catalytic ability. Finally, an outlook of the potential promotion on the design of BN-based catalysts and the possible routes for the exploration of BN-related catalytic mechanisms are proposed.
Excitation-independent deep-blue emitting carbon dots with 62% emission quantum efficiency and monoexponential decay profile for high-resolution fingerprint identification
Authors: Savaedi Soheyla , Soheyli Ehsan , Zheng Guangsong , Lou Qing , Sahraei Reza , Shan Chongxin
Published: June 2022

Reaching emissive nanomaterials at short wavelengths with a high quantum efficiency (QE) is an attractive task for researchers. This is more demanding in carbon dots (CDs) with diverse applications that usually emit photons at wavelengths around 450–620 nm. In this study, deep blue-emissive doped-CDs (d-CDs) with high photoluminescence (PL) QE up to 62% and excitation-independent properties were prepared via a short-time microwave irradiation method. The prepared CDs showed simultaneous amorphous and crystalline features, with average sizes of 4.75 nm and bright emission color located at 422 nm. It was found that the presence of sulfur-related dopant levels plays a key role in emission properties in such a way that the PL signal drops significantly in the absence of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) as a dopant source. On the other hand, the trisodium citrate dihydrate (TSC) was selected as a carbon source to form the main carbon skeleton without it no emission was recorded. Monoexponential-fitted recombination trend with an average lifetime of about 10 ns also confirmed excellent PL emission properties with uniform energy levels and minimized defect-contributing recombinations. The practical use of the as-prepared N, S-doped CDs was assessed in fingerprint detection indicating a bright and clear scheme for both core and termination regions of the fingerprint. Simplicity, cost-effectiveness, high-product yield, low toxicity, along with high/stable PL quantum efficiency in deep-blue wavelengths, and demonstrated ability for fingerprint purposes, support the prospective application of these dual doped-CDs for sensing and bioimaging applications.
Extraordinary mechanical performance in charged carbyne
Authors: Guo Yong-Zhe , Wang Yong-Heng , Huang Kai , Yin Hao , Gao En-Lai
Published: June 2022

Carbyne, the linear chain of carbon, promises the strongest and toughest material but possesses a Peierls instability (alternating single-bonds and triple-bonds) that reduces its strength and toughness. Herein, we computationally found that the gravimetric strength, strain-to-failure, and gravimetric toughness can be improved from 74 GPa⋅g−1⋅cm3, 18%, and 9.4 kJ⋅g−1 for pristine carbyne to the highest values of 106 GPa⋅g−1⋅cm3, 26%, and 19.0 kJ⋅g−1 for carbyne upon hole injection of +0.07 e/atom, indicating the charged carbyne with record-breaking mechanical performance. Based on the analyses of the atomic and electronic structures, the underlying mechanism behind the record-breaking mechanical performance was revealed as the suppressed and even eliminated bond alternation of carbyne upon charge injection.
A phase processor used in terahertz interferometer for tokamak
Authors: Xu L.F. , Shi P.W. , Yang Z.C. , Yang B. , Zhao J. , Jian Y. , Yang J.X.
Published: June 2022

The commonly used phase processing techniques include coherence method, zero-crossing comparison method and FFT method. Due to the influence of noise, amplitude modulation and frequency modulation, these phase processing methods are easy to cause errors, thus affecting the measurement accuracy. In this paper, a phase processor based on all-phase fast Fourier transform is developed. The principle of the phase processing algorithm is analyzed, and the implementation process of the algorithm on FPGA is described. The effectiveness of the method is tested under different conditions. The experimental results show that the standard deviation of phase processing is 0.387° when the signal is sampled simultaneously under 90% AM modulation. When asynchronous sampling and 50% FM, the phase processing error is 0.371°. This phase processer has been used to the terahertz interferometer of the HL-2M device, the phase change of the output signal of the interferometer can be accurately processed when the plasma density changes dramatically, and the loss of phase processing information can be effectively avoided in the plasma diagnosis process. Based on the technical research proposed in this paper, a more accurate phase processing reference scheme is provided for plasma diagnosis of interferometer.
Investigation of BGA underfill process based on multipositional computed tomography
Authors: Hasn S. , Pichotka M. , Dusek K. , Vavrik D.
Published: June 2022

In this paper, defect inspection related to an epoxy
underfilling process between integrated circuits (ICs) and printed
circuit boards (PCBs) is presented utilizing the data fusion of
multipositional computed tomography (DFMCT). The work aims to verify
the existence of underfilling epoxy which was not possible utilizing
standard computed tomography due to strong metal artifacts created
by ball grid array (BGA) packages. By interpreting the results
obtained from the scanned samples, we were able to correlate the
excess epoxy defects and the success of the underfilling process. We
present the data fusion approach as an alternative method when
traditional metal artifact reduction methods would be
insufficient. The study was commenced by making a proper
radiographic simulation using aRTist simulation software. The
simulation enabled us to choose the right mounting positions which
produce less metal artifacts for the experimental study. The DFMCT
was achieved by acquiring multiple computed tomographic scans at
different sample orientations. The reconstructed volumes were then
aligned, and the fused volume was obtained by combining the
corrected data and suppressing the disrupted data of the
reconstructed volumes.
Green Sahara tipping points in transient climate model simulations of the Holocene
Authors: Hopcroft Peter O , Valdes Paul J
Published: June 2022

The ‘Greening’ and subsequent desertification of the Sahara during the early to mid-Holocene is a dramatic example of natural climate change. We analyse a suite of simulations with a newly palaeo-conditioned configuration of the HadCM3 coupled model that is able to capture an abrupt desertification of North Africa during this time. We find that this model crosses a threshold of moisture availability for vegetation at around 6000 years before present. The resultant rapid reduction in vegetation cover acts to reduce precipitation through moisture recycling and surface albedo feedbacks. Precursor drying events which are not directly forced also indicate that the model is close to a critical moisture level. Similar precursor-like events appear in a Holocene record from the East of the continent, hinting that the natural system may resemble some of the properties of this model simulation. The overall response is not fundamentally altered by the inclusion of solar irradiance variations or volcanic eruptions. The simulated timing of the abrupt transition is mostly controlled by orbital forcing and local positive feedbacks, but it is also modulated to some extent by the state of the atmosphere and ocean. Comparisons with proxy records across North Africa show good agreement with the model simulations, although the simulations remain overly dry in the East. Overall, a threshold response may present a useful model of the real transition, but more high-resolution palaeoclimate records would help to discriminate among the predictions of climate models.
Quantum statistical mechanics of vortices
Authors: Manton N S
Published: June 2022

The asymptotic partition function for quantized abelian Higgs vortices at high temperature T is found to leading and subleading order, and from this the equation of state of the vortex gas is derived, including the first quantum correction. It is assumed that the Hamiltonian is proportional to the Laplace–Beltrami operator on the moduli space of static N-vortex solutions. The partition function is calculated using the total volume and total scalar curvature of the moduli space.
Study of solid municipal waste accumulation rates in penitentiary facilities in Perm Krai during the pandemic of 2020
Authors: Sereda T G , Kostarev S N , Novikova (Kochetova) O V , Ivanova I E
Published: June 2022

Preventing the release of hazardous substances from waste into the environment is the most important environmental safety objective of municipal waste management. Uncontrolled dumping in landfills has a negative impact on the environment, being a source of harmful chemical and biological substances in the ground and surface waters, atmospheric air and soil, creating a certain threat to the health and life of the population. At present, the environmental problem associated with the collection and disposal of solid municipal waste (MSW) and is relevant not only for civil organisations, but also for institutions of the penitentiary system. The volume of MSW flows needs to be constantly updated, and therefore an average annual waste generation rate needs to be determined. The research described in the article was carried out during four seasons of 2020 at the facilities of the penal and correctional system of Perm Krai, on the example of remand prisons. The methodology for performing calculations based on the current regulatory documents is presented: methodological recommendations on issues related to the determination of MSW accumulation standards, approved by Order No. 524 of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation dated July 28, 2016 and the Russian Government Decree No. 269 dated April 4, 2016 "On determining the accumulation standards for solid municipal waste". As a result of the work, the average daily and average annual volumes and masses of waste generated per person were determined. Fluctuations in waste generation during the four seasons were insignificant.
Methods and means of control and diagnostics of technological units in the treatment of industrial wastewater based on optoelectronic and hollow light guides
Authors: Alimova N B , Khaitova A R , Khusanov A M , Ergashev E O
Published: June 2022

Prevention of pollution of water bodies by wastewater, as well as protection of surface waters from pollution by wastewater are the most important tasks facing modern society. In the field of industrial wastewater treatment, there are many models of single processes.

This article highlights some issues of development and research of individual designs of optoelectronic transducers based on hollow light guides. The principles of construction, mathematical models, questions of errors of optoelectronic converters based on hollow light guides are outlined and devices of information and measuring equipment and automation made on the basis of hollow light guides with moving elements are given. The types and frequencies of optical volcanic waves for the treatment of industrial wastewater based on optoelectronic and polycoxic fibers are presented. And also the issues of diagnosing technological units in the treatment of industrial wastewater and the state of optoelectronic converters based on fiber and hollow light guides are considered. Currently, the problem of wastewater treatment is one of the most important in industrial ecology. Therefore, the development of new more efficient methods and means of wastewater treatment of production using waste products of enterprise waste is currently especially relevant.
Results of a pilot experiment-study with continuous monitoring of the atmosphere over an industrial enterprise
Authors: Logunova O S , Kabanova V V , Kocherzhinskaya Yu V , Ataullayev Sh N
Published: June 2022

One of the problems of the modern world is to ensure a favorable environmental situation in the field of functioning of large industrial enterprises. Information about the state of the atmosphere over industrial single-industry towns is the most indicative in this period of time. The purpose of the experimental study is to collect and preliminary process information with continuous monitoring of the atmosphere over the enterprise of the metallurgical industry. To collect information, the device of the model was used: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10. As shooting points, the places from which the atmosphere over the metallurgical enterprise can be observed are selected. The paper highlights the need for environmental monitoring, considers ways to collect information in monitoring the atmosphere, methods of pre-processing images to improve their quality and subsequent analysis using computer vision. Parts of the maps of the city of Magnitogorsk with the shooting points and angles marked on them are presented. The course of monitoring the atmosphere over an industrial enterprise is described. The influence of weather conditions on the course of monitoring was revealed. The results of the study of the state of the atmosphere are recorded in the form of photo and video streams.
Innovative approach to the development of hydroponic green feeds
Authors: Kalandarov P I , Abdullaeva D A
Published: June 2022

This article discusses the results of a study on the cultivation of hydroponic green feed in the laboratory, the main purpose of the study is to study the effect of humidity on the root system of the green mass, to increase the timing and dependence of the increment on temperature and humidity. The experience of using automation elements in order to develop recommendations for the implementation of automation systems and computerization of a hydroponic installation using a programmable microcontroller is analyzed. Taking into account the problems of growing green mass for use as feed for the agricultural sector, the issues of photosynthesis are considered, the results obtained and methods for measuring the concentration of free hydrogen ions in water (pH) are shown, for these purposes the water quality was monitored using Sensorex sensors, the issues of sprouting are described, as well as measuring the moisture content of the root part of the green mass and the devices used for this purpose. The article concludes that the results of the research are based on the use of various innovative solutions, this is a system of transition to digital agriculture, as a result of growing hydroponic green feeds using automation elements to control and manage the receipt of primary initial state information. This, in turn, will allow the agricultural sector to be fully automated, free up useful areas of land, increase yields and reduce production costs.
Microaggregate Composition as a Factor of Variability in the Physical Properties of Gray Forest Soils in Western Siberia
Authors: Kayugina S , Eremin D
Published: June 2022

The aim of the study was to study the variability of the microaggregate composition of the soil profile of virgin gray forest soils in the western part of the West Siberian Lowland. 330 soil sections were studied, covering all subtypes of gray forest soils. Empirical data were processed using mathematical methods of variation statistics. The results of the research showed that the humus horizon of light gray forest soils is characterized by good water resistance of microaggregates - the dispersity factor on average for the sample is 14.6%, the variation is small (Cv = 19%). Gray forest soils in the humus horizon have, on average, a dispersity factor of 12.2%. This subtype, in comparison with light gray soils, has a higher variability of the dispersity factor (Cv = 24%), which is due to the variety of combinations of soil formation factors, mainly relief and vegetation. The dispersity factor of the humus horizon of dark gray forest soils averages 7.9% for the sample, which is typical for medium structured soils; the variation is estimated as small (Cv = 18%). The microaggregate composition of gray forest soils is characterized as satisfactory throughout the entire soil profile, which makes it possible to improve structure formation during agricultural development and maintain the optimal structural-aggregate composition for a long time. The results obtained can be used in the development of an adaptive-landscape system of agriculture.
Intake and fixation of organic carbon in grain agrophytocenosis of Western Siberia
Authors: Demin E
Published: June 2022

In nature, carbon plays an important role in the circulation of organic matter in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. To understand the full picture of the farming system impact on carbon dioxide emissions, long-term stationary experiments are needed, which will reduce the influence of weather conditions on changes in organic carbon stocks in soils and develop an optimal model of the crop cultivation system considering the positive balance of organic carbon in soils. The research was carried out from 1995 to 2020 in the grain crop rotation at the station of the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the SAU of the Northern Trans-Urals, near vil. Utyashevo in the Tyumen region. Purpose. The purpose of the research was to establish the effect of increasing doses of mineral fertilizers on the intake and fixation of organic carbon with plant residues in the grain agrophytocenosis in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the Trans-Urals. The refusal to use mineral fertilizers leads to annual losses of organic carbon in the form of CO2 up to 0.6 t/ha. The use of high doses of mineral fertilizers for the planned yield of 5.0 and 6.0 t/ha of grain annually increases the emission of CO2 by 0.4-0.6 t/ha per year. In these variants, the carbon received from plant residues is not fixed in the soil. A positive balance of organic carbon is provided only by the use of doses of mineral fertilizers for the planned yield of 3.0 and 4.0 t/ha of grain, which annually increases the carbon stock in the soil by 0.4-0.6 t/ha, and up to 14-21% is fixed from the incoming organic carbon in the form of plant residues in the soil.
The study on plant-origin functional ingredients and their effect on the cardiovascular system in the conditions of the novel coronavirus infection
Authors: Borisova V L , Stefanova I L
Published: June 2022

The article provides functional properties' overview of vegetable raw materials – flax seeds. The studies' data on the determination of organoleptic parameters, the content and ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids in samples enriched with flax seeds, linseed oil compared to the control sample are presented. Introduction of functional ingredients increased the nutritional value of convenience food. The positive effect of oil flax seeds on the organoleptic characteristics of the developed chopped convenience food was noted. Increasing the proportion of Omega-3 in convenience food and improving the ratio of Omega-3:Omega-6 in the developed convenience food has a positive effect on the protective functions of the body and the activity of the cardiovascular system during the pandemic of coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2).
The efficiency of the use of biological products in cultivation of spring wheat in Western Siberia
Authors: Bobrenko I A , Goman N V , Kormin V P , Popova V I , Boldysheva E P
Published: June 2022

In an experiment on quasi-gleyed agrochernozem in the south of Western Siberia, it was found that biological preparations (biological fertilizers and growth stimulants) are effective when used for spring wheat by seed treatment method. With a yield of 2.41 t/ha in the control variant, the use of biological preparations contributed to the formation of 2.70-2.88 t/ha of grain. The greatest effect is obtained from the use of variants: azotovit + phosphatovit and azotovit + phosphatovit + potassium humate. The use of biofertilizers has a positive effect on the soil nitrate nitrogen and mobile phosphorus content. The use of stimulants did not significantly affect the fertility level. Biological fertilizers and growth stimulants had a positive effect on crop quality indicators. It was revealed that the sum of amino acids increases from 9.24% without fertilizers to the highest 9.81% in the variant with potassium humate.
Remediation of soils contaminated with oil with a biological product with immobilization of bacteria by carriers from local soils
Authors: Boranbayeva A N , Syrlybekkyzy S , Kenzhetayev G Zh , Bayamirova R U , Serikbayeva A K
Published: June 2022

The article shows the effectiveness of the biological product "SHER" developed by "Scientific Industrial Enterprise" AltaiAgroFarm Ltd "(Kazakhstan) on a carrier in the form of screening from local wastes of limestone-shell rock in the process of cleaning soils from oil with a high paraffin content. The results of NGS-sequencing of the consortium of microorganism as part of the probiotic biological product "SHER" established a microbiome of the following type: at the class level 96.15% of all representatives of the consortium were identified as Bacilli, of which 95.69% of bacteria at the order level were identified as Lactobacillales. A method has been developed for immobilizing bacteria of the biological product "SHER" on a carrier in the form of screening out from local waste of shell limestone. Based on the research results, it was established that the immobilization of bacteria of the biological product "SHER" by the carrier in the form of screening of limestone-shell rock showed a high degree of purification of oil-contaminated soil (88.63%). To study the further activity of bacteria, experiments were carried out on the secondary use of the residual stock solution of the biological product "SHER" used in the process of cleaning oil-contaminated soil. The results of experimental studies using residual mother liquor and immobilization by screenings showed the degree of soil purification (45.7%). X-ray spectral analysis determined the elemental composition of the cleaned soil, revealed the presence of a low content of metals: 1.42% Fe and 0.84% Al. It was found that on a carrier in the form of screening out from local wastes of limestone-shell rock, the effectiveness of the biological product "SHER" increases.
A new approach in the identification of antiviral agents and methods for the treatment of the disease sacbrood of bees
Authors: Kalinin A G , Sotnikov A N , Gulyukin M I , Kuleshov K V , Isaev Y G
Published: June 2022

In the article, based on the results of studies of the effectiveness of the action on the sacbrood virus of bees, it was found that, based on the identification of qualitative signs of infection of the virus under study in the culture of PT cells in the form of the formation of a large number of vacuoles in the cytoplasm, heating to 50-70°C for 10 minutes does not contribute to reducing the virulence of the virus. The death of the virus is observed at a temperature of 100°C for 10 min. The drug BashApiDez (Active substances: hydrogen peroxide 3.5%, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride 1.4%) in a dilution of 1: 100000 is not able to eliminate the infecting ability of SBV. It was also found that the treatment of the sacbrood desease with the drug "Bactopol" does not contribute to its elimination.
Topography dependence of conductivity in electrostrictive germanium sulfide nanoribbons
Authors: Chen Zhangfu , Hoang Anh Tuan , Seo Dongjea , Cho Minhyun , Kim Young Duck , Yang Lianqiao , Ahn Jong-Hyun , Choi Heon-Jin
Published: June 2022

Layered group IV monochalcogenides have garnered considerable attention as a new class of two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials owing to their unique crystal structure and novel physical properties. The present work describes the chemical vapor transport synthesis of single-crystalline GeS nanoribbons. The findings demonstrate that with incrementally applied voltage, electrostrictive deformation and highly vertical current occur more significantly. Additionally, using a 2D fast Fourier transform power spectra, we demonstrate that the horizontal distribution of topography and current is more inhomogeneous than the vertical distribution, and that their monolithic spatial correlation weakens with increasing applied voltage. Moreover, we discovered that electrostrictive deformation has a sizable effect on the monolithic vertical resistance. Furthermore, local hollow positions are more conductive than bulge positions, as demonstrated by the ‘resistor’ model and local current–voltage curve. These findings on layered GeS nanoribbons not only shed light on the topographic and electrical properties of the material but also expand the possibilities for other nanoscale electronic and electromechanical device applications.
Comparative study of pulsed breakdown processes and mechanisms in self-triggered four-electrode pre-ionized switches
Authors: WANG Tianchi , SUN Chuyu , YANG Youheng , WANG Haiyang , XIE Linshen , HUANG Tao , DU Yingchao , CHEN Wei
Published: June 2022

This work investigates the pulsed breakdown processes and mechanisms of self-triggered pre-ionized switches with a four-electrode structure in nitrogen through intensified charge coupled device photographs. The diameter of the trigger plane hole mainly determines the switch’s electric field distribution. Two configurations with minimum and maximum trigger plane holes are adopted for comparison. In the switch with a minimum trigger plane hole, the maximum electric field distributes at the surfaces of the main electrodes. Although charged particles in the triggering spark channel cannot drift out, homogeneous discharges can be stimulated from both the cathode and anode surfaces through ultraviolet illumination. Two sub-gaps are likely to break down simultaneously. In the switch with a maximum trigger plane hole, the maximum electric field locates near the trigger electrodes. Discharges in both sub-gaps initiate from the trigger electrodes in the form of a positive or negative streamer. Due to the lower breakdown voltage and electric field threshold for discharge initiation, the cathode side sub-gap breaks down first. The analysis of two extreme examples can be referenced in the future design and improvement of self-triggered four-electrode switches with different trigger electrode structures.
Formation of honeycomb-Kagome hexagonal superlattice pattern with dark discharges in dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: PAN Yuyang , FENG Jianyu , LI Caixia , DONG Lifang
Published: June 2022

A honeycomb-Kagome hexagonal superlattice pattern with dark discharges is observed in a dielectric barrier discharge system for the first time. The spatiotemporal structure of the honeycomb-Kagome hexagonal superlattice pattern with dark discharges is investigated by an intensified charge-coupled device and the photomultipliers show that it is an interleaving of three different sub-lattices, which are bright-spot, invisible honeycomb lattice, and Kagome lattice with invisible frameworks and dim-spots, respectively. The invisible honeycomb lattices and Kagome lattices are actually composed of dark discharges. By using the optical emission spectra method, it is found that the plasma parameters of the three different sub-lattices are different. The influence of the dark discharges on pattern formation is discussed. The results may have significance for the investigation of the dark discharges and will accelerate the development of self-organized pattern dynamics.
Effectiveness of integrating primary healthcare in aftercare for older patients after discharge from tertiary hospitals—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Ran , Geng Jiawei , Liu Jibin , Wang Gaoren , Hesketh Therese
Published: June 2022

Background

Quality of aftercare can crucially impact health status of older patients and reduce the extra burden of unplanned healthcare resource utilisation. However, evidence of effectiveness of primary healthcare in supporting aftercare, especially for older patients after discharge are limited.

Methods

We searched for English articles of randomised controlled trials published between January 2000 and March 2022. All-cause hospital readmission rate and length of hospital stay were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify the relationship between intervention characteristics and the effectiveness on all-cause hospital readmission rate.

Results

A total of 30 studies with 11,693 older patients were included in the review. Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the intervention group had 32% less risk of hospital readmission within 30 days (RR = 0.68, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 0.56–0.84), and 17% within 6 months (RR = 0.83, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 0.75–0.92). According to the subgroup analysis, continuity of involvement of primary healthcare in aftercare had significant effect with hospital readmission rates (P < 0.001). Economic evaluations from included studies suggested that aftercare intervention was cost-effective due to the reduction in hospital readmission rate and risk of further complications.

Conclusion

Integrating primary healthcare into aftercare was designed not only to improve the immediate transition that older patients faced but also to provide them with knowledge and skills to manage future health problems. There is a pressing need to introduce interventions at the primary healthcare level to support long-term care.
Compounding Vulnerability in the Neurocircuitry of Addiction: Longitudinal Functional Connectivity Changes in Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Fede Samantha J , Kisner Mallory A , Manuweera Thushini , Kerich Mike , Momenan Reza
Published: June 2022

Aims

The addiction neurocircuitry model describes the role of several brain circuits (drug reward, negative emotionality and craving/executive control) in alcohol use and subsequent development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Human studies examining longitudinal change using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) are needed to understand how functional changes to these circuits are caused by or contribute to continued AUD.

Methods

In order to characterize how intrinsic functional connectivity changes with sustained AUD, we analyzed rs-fMRI data from individuals with (n = 18; treatment seeking and non-treatment seeking) and without (n = 21) AUD collected on multiple visits as part of various research studies at the NIAAA intramural program from 2012 to 2020.

Results

Results of the seed correlation analysis showed that individuals with AUD had an increase in functional connectivity over time between emotionality and craving neurocircuits, and a decrease between executive control and reward networks. Post hoc investigations of AUD severity and alcohol consumption between scans revealed an additive effect of these AUD features in many of the circuits, such that more alcohol consumption or more severe AUD was associated with more pronounced changes to synchronicity.

Conclusions

These findings suggest an increased concordance of networks underlying emotionality and compulsions toward drinking while also a reduction in control network connectivity, consistent with the addiction neurocircuitry model. Further, they suggest a compounding effect of continued heavy drinking on these vulnerabilities in neurocircuitry. More longitudinal research is necessary to understand the trajectories of individuals with AUD not adequately represented in this study, as well as whether this can inform effective harm reduction strategies.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy interacts with neuritic amyloid plaques to promote tau and cognitive decline
Authors: Rabin Jennifer S , Nichols Emma , La Joie Renaud , Casaletto Kaitlin B , Palta Priya , Dams-O’Connor Kristen , Kumar Raj G , George Kristen M , Satizabal Claudia L , Schneider Julie A , Pa Judy , Brickman Adam M
Published: June 2022

Accumulating data suggest that cerebrovascular disease contributes to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology and progression toward dementia. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a form of cerebrovascular pathology that results from the build-up of β-amyloid in the vessel walls. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy commonly co-occurs with Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the ageing brain and increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia.

In the present study, we examined whether cerebral amyloid angiopathy influences tau deposition and cognitive decline independently or synergistically with parenchymal β-amyloid burden. Secondly, we examined whether tau burden mediates the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cognitive decline. We included data from autopsied subjects recruited from one of three longitudinal clinical–pathological cohort studies: the Rush Memory and Aging Project, the Religious Orders Study and the Minority Aging Research Study. Participants completed annual clinical and cognitive evaluations and underwent brain autopsy. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathology was rated as none, mild, moderate or severe. Bielschowsky silver stain was used to visualize neuritic β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. We used linear regression and linear mixed models to test independent versus interactive associations of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and neuritic plaque burden with tau burden and longitudinal cognitive decline, respectively. We used causal mediation models to examine whether tau mediates the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cognitive decline. The study sample included 1722 autopsied subjects (age at baseline = 80.2 ± 7.1 years; age at death = 89.5 ± 6.7 years; 68% females).

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy interacted with neuritic plaques to accelerate tau burden and cognitive decline. Specifically, those with more severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathology and higher levels of neuritic plaque burden had greater tau burden and faster cognitive decline. We also found that tau mediated the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cognitive decline among participants with higher neuritic plaque burden. In summary, more severe levels of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and higher parenchymal β-amyloid burden interacted to promote cognitive decline indirectly via tau deposition. These results highlight the dynamic interplay between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer’s disease pathology in accelerating progression toward dementia. These findings have implications for Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials and therapeutic development.
Pregabalin improves axon regeneration and motor outcome in a rodent stroke model
Authors: Kugler Christof , Blank Nelli , Matuskova Hana , Thielscher Christian , Reichenbach Nicole , Lin Tien-Chen , Bradke Frank , Petzold Gabor C
Published: June 2022

Ischaemic stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Surviving neurons in the peri-infarct area are able to establish novel axonal projections to juxtalesional regions, but this regeneration is curtailed by a growth-inhibitory environment induced by cells such as reactive astrocytes in the glial scar. Here, we found that the astroglial synaptogenic cue thrombospondin-1 is upregulated in the peri-infarct area, and hence tested the effects of the anticonvulsant pregabalin, a blocker of the neuronal thrombospondin-1 receptor Alpha2delta1/2, in a mouse model of cortical stroke. Studying axonal projections after cortical stroke in mice by three-dimensional imaging of cleared whole-brain preparations, we found that pregabalin, when administered systemically for 5 weeks after stroke, augments novel peri-infarct motor cortex projections and improves skilled forelimb motor function. Thus, the promotion of axon elongation across the glial scar by pregabalin represents a promising target beyond the acute phase after stroke to improve structural and functional recovery.
Integrating earthworm movement and life history through dynamic energy budgets
Authors: Gergs Andre , Rakel Kim , Bussen Dino , Capowiez Yvan , Ernst Gregor , Roeben Vanessa
Published: June 2022

Earthworms are considered ecosystem engineers and, as such, they are an integral part of the soil ecosystem. The movement of earthworms is significantly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and soil properties. As movement may directly be linked to food ingestion, especially of endogeic species like Aporrectodea caliginosa, changes in those environmental factors also affect life history traits such as growth and reproduction.

In our laboratory studies, earthworms showed a decrease in burrowing activity with decreasing moisture levels and, to some extent, the organic matter content. The burrowing activity of earthworms was also affected by temperature, for which the casts produced per earthworm was used as a proxy in laboratory experiments. We integrated changes in earthworm movement and life histories in response to temperature, soil organic matter content and the moisture level, as observed in our experiment and reported in the literature, through dynamic energy budget (DEB) modelling. The joint parametrization of a DEB model for A. caliginosa based on movement and life history data revealed that food ingestion via movement is an integral part of the earthworms’ energy budgets. Our findings highlight the importance of soil properties to be considered in the model development for earthworms. Furthermore, by understanding and incorporating the effect of environmental factors on the physiology, this mechanistic approach can help assess the impact of environmental changes such as temperature rise or drought.
The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS): third Paediatric (Paedi-EUROMACS) report
Authors: de By Theo M M H , Schweiger Martin , Hussain Hina , Amodeo Antonio , Martens Thomas , Bogers Ad J J C , Damman Kevin , Gollmann-Tepeköylü Can , Hulman Michael , Iacovoni Attilio , Krämer Ulrike , Loforte Antonio , Napoleone Carlo Pace , Němec Petr , Netuka Ivan , Özbaran Mustafa , Polo Luz , Pya Yuri , Ramjankhan Faiz , Sandica Eugen , Sliwka Joanna , Stiller Brigitte , Kadner Alexander , Franceschini Alessio , Thiruchelvam Timothy , Zimpfer Daniel , Meyns Bart , Berger Felix , Miera Oliver
Published: June 2022

OBJECTIVES

A third paediatric report has been generated from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). The purpose of EUROMACS, which is operated by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, is to gather data related to durable mechanical circulatory support for scientific purposes and to publish reports with respect to the course of mechanical circulatory support therapy. Since the first report issued, efforts to increase compliance and participation have been extended. Additionally, the data provided the opportunity to analyse patients of younger age and lower weight.

METHODS

Participating hospitals contributed pre-, peri- and long-term postoperative data on mechanical circulatory support implants to the registry. Data for all implants in paediatric patients (<19 years of age) performed from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2020 were analysed. This report includes updates of patient characteristics, implant frequency, outcome (including mortality rates, transplants and recovery rates) as well as adverse events including neurological dysfunction, device malfunction, major infection and bleeding.

RESULTS

Twenty-five hospitals contributed 537 registered implants in 480 patients. The most frequent aetiology of heart failure was any form of cardiomyopathy (59%), followed by congenital heart disease and myocarditis (15% and 14%, respectively). Competing outcomes analysis revealed that a total of 86% survived to transplant or recovery or are ongoing; at the 2-year follow-up examination, 21.9% died while on support. At 12 months, 45.1% received transplants, 7.5% were weaned from their device and 20.8% died. The 3-month adverse events rate was 1.59 per patient-year for device malfunction including pump exchange, 0.7 for major bleeding, 0.78 for major infection and 0.71 for neurological events.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall survival rate was 79.2% at 12 months following ventricular assist device implant. The comparison of survival rates of the early and later eras shows no significant difference. A focus on specific subgroups showed that survival was less in patients of younger age (<1 year of age; P = 0.01) and lower weight (<20 kg; P = 0.015). Transplant rates at 6 months continue to be low (33.2%).