bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Parathyroid Autofluorescence Signals in Different Types of Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Berber Eren , Akbulut Serkan , Avci Seyma , Isiktas Gizem
Published: January 2022

Background

There are scant data in the literature regarding whether parathyroid autofluorescence (AF) signal patterns vary based on the etiology of hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to compare AF signals of parathyroid glands across different etiologies of hyperparathyroidism.

Methods

As a prospective institutional review board‐approved study between 2016 and 2019, AF intensities and heterogeneity indexes (HIs) of parathyroid glands in patients who underwent parathyroidectomy using AF were calculated and compared using Chi‐square, Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U, and logistic regression tests.

Results

Of the total of 183 patients, 127 patients had sporadic classic primary hyperparathyroidism, 30 patients had sporadic normohormonal primary hyperparathyroidism, 10 patients had sporadic normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism, 12 patients had tertiary hyperparathyroidism, and 4 patients had familial primary hyperparathyroidism related to multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A. There were no statistical differences in AF signals of abnormal parathyroid glands in classic, normohormonal or normocalcemic sporadic hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid glands in patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism were similar in intensity, but more homogenous compared to those in sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism.

Conclusions

The pattern of AF exhibited by abnormal parathyroid glands was similar across different spectrums of primary hyperparathyroidism, in accordance with observations in the literature. However, parathyroid glands in tertiary hyperparathyroidism were more homogeneous, despite exhibiting a similar intensity of AF compared to those in sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism. These differences should be kept in mind when using the AF pattern as an adjunct to visual assessment in parathyroid exploration.
Individual variability in patterns and dynamics of fecal gluten immunogenic peptides excretion after low gluten intake
Authors: Coto Laura , Sousa Carolina , Cebolla Angel
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Determination of Gluten Immunogenic Peptides (GIP) in feces is a direct tool for gluten exposure detection. The sensitivity of GIP detection methods for cases of unintentional low gluten intakes is unknown. We studied the interindividual variability in the kinetic of excretion under homogeneously controlled dietary conditions, and the sensitivity of fecal GIP tests after low amounts of punctual gluten ingestions.

Methods

Participants (n = 20) followed the same gluten-free menu for 12 days in which two separated doses of gluten (50 mg and 2 g) were ingested and all the depositions were collected. GIP from stool samples were analyzed by ELISA and lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) tests.

Results

Most participants had detectable GIP after 50 mg and 2 g gluten ingestions using ELISA test (72.2% and 95%, respectively), whereas the LFIA test showed less sensitivity (22.2% and 80%, respectively). GIP were detected at higher either frequency or concentration in the range of 12–36 h after 50 mg intake, and 12–84 h after 2 g consumption. Considering this period, diagnostic sensitivity of GIP detection after a single 50 mg ingestion may be significatively increased analyzing three stool samples per individual. High variability among participants was found in the time and amount of GIP excretion; however, some individuals showed common patterns for both gluten intakes.

Conclusion

Sporadic gluten exposure detection may require several fecal samples to achieve level of sensitivity above 90%. Interindividual variability in the dynamic of GIP excretion may suggest patterns of gluten metabolism.
Multisensory integration of musical emotion perception in singing
Authors: Lange Elke B. , Fünderich Jens , Grimm Hartmut
Published: January 2022

We investigated how visual and auditory information contributes to emotion communication during singing. Classically trained singers applied two different facial expressions (expressive/suppressed) to pieces from their song and opera repertoire. Recordings of the singers were evaluated by laypersons or experts, presented to them in three different modes: auditory, visual, and audio–visual. A manipulation check confirmed that the singers succeeded in manipulating the face while keeping the sound highly expressive. Analyses focused on whether the visual difference or the auditory concordance between the two versions determined perception of the audio–visual stimuli. When evaluating expressive intensity or emotional content a clear effect of visual dominance showed. Experts made more use of the visual cues than laypersons. Consistency measures between uni-modal and multimodal presentations did not explain the visual dominance. The evaluation of seriousness was applied as a control. The uni-modal stimuli were rated as expected, but multisensory evaluations converged without visual dominance. Our study demonstrates that long-term knowledge and task context affect multisensory integration. Even though singers’ orofacial movements are dominated by sound production, their facial expressions can communicate emotions composed into the music, and observes do not rely on audio information instead. Studies such as ours are important to understand multisensory integration in applied settings.
Downstream competition and profits under different input price bargaining structures
Authors: Buccella Domenico , Fanti Luciano
Published: January 2022

In a vertically related duopoly with input price bargaining, this paper re-examines the downstream firms’ profitability under different market competition degrees. It is shown the rather counterintuitive result that downstream firms earn highest profits with semi-collusion, whose level depends on the upstream bargaining structures, the relative parties’ bargaining power, and the parameters measuring the degree of product differentiation in the downstream market. Concerning social welfare, the key result is that policymakers can tolerate some degree of collusion with decentralized bargaining structures; centralized structures advise for a more procompetitive policy.
Delirium in geriatric patients
Authors: Iglseder Bernhard , Frühwald Thomas , Jagsch Christian
Published: January 2022

Delirium is the most common acute disorder of cognitive function in older patients. Delirium is life threatening, often under-recognized, serious, and costly. The causes are multifactorial, with old age and neurocognitive disorders as the main risk factors. Etiologies are various and multifactorial, and often related to acute medical illness, adverse drug reactions, or medical complications. To date, diagnosis is clinically based, depending on the presence or absence of certain features. In view of the multifactorial etiology, multicomponent approaches seem most promising for facing patients’ needs. Pharmacological intervention, neither for prevention nor for treatment, has been proven effective unanimously. This article reviews the current clinical practice for delirium in geriatric patients, including etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prevention, and outcomes.
Calculating earthquake damage building by building: the case of the city of Cologne, Germany
Authors: Nievas Cecilia I. , Pilz Marco , Prehn Karsten , Schorlemmer Danijel , Weatherill Graeme , Cotton Fabrice
Published: January 2022

The creation of building exposure models for seismic risk assessment is frequently challenging due to the lack of availability of detailed information on building structures. Different strategies have been developed in recent years to overcome this, including the use of census data, remote sensing imagery and volunteered graphic information (VGI). This paper presents the development of a building-by-building exposure model based exclusively on openly available datasets, including both VGI and census statistics, which are defined at different levels of spatial resolution and for different moments in time. The initial model stemming purely from building-level data is enriched with statistics aggregated at the neighbourhood and city level by means of a Monte Carlo simulation that enables the generation of full realisations of damage estimates when using the exposure model in the context of an earthquake scenario calculation. Though applicable to any other region of interest where analogous datasets are available, the workflow and approach followed are explained by focusing on the case of the German city of Cologne, for which a scenario earthquake is defined and the potential damage is calculated. The resulting exposure model and damage estimates are presented, and it is shown that the latter are broadly consistent with damage data from the 1978 Albstadt earthquake, notwithstanding the differences in the scenario. Through this real-world application we demonstrate the potential of VGI and open data to be used for exposure modelling for natural risk assessment, when combined with suitable knowledge on building fragility and accounting for the inherent uncertainties.
Grafting nanocellulose with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and chitosan as additive for enhancing recycled OCC pulp fibres
Authors: Li Ao , Xu Dezhong , Zhang Mengnan , Wu Shengzhong , Li Yu , Sun Weisheng , Zhou Yonghui , Madyan Omar Abo , Fan Mizi , Rao Jiuping
Published: January 2022

This paper develops a novel paper additive for effectively recycling old corrugated container (OCC) by functionalizing nanocellulose (NC) with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and chitosan (CS), and investigate the reinforcing mechanisms and effect of the developed additive on the physical properties of recycled OCC pulp handsheets. The tensile, tear and burst index, air permeability, tensile energy absorption (TEA), and drainage performance of the recycled OCC handsheets are examined. Fourier transform infrared FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used for the chemical and microstructure characterization of both NC based additives and paper from recycled OCC pulp. The results show that functional groups on the NC based additive, such as carboxyl, amino and hydroxyl groups, can bond with the hydroxyl groups on the recycled OCC fibres to generate a chemical bond. This leads to an increase in the crosslinks and bonding area between the fibres, which increases their tensile strength and improves their recycling rate. SEM shows that the paper with NC based additives had tighter inter-fibre bonds and smaller paper pore structure. Addition of 0.3% NC-DTPA-CS additive results in optimal properties of the recycled OCC paper with an increase by 31.64%, 22.28% and 36.6% of tensile index, tear index, burst index respectively, and the air permeability decreases by 36.92%.

Graphical Abstract
Pore Scale Numerical Modelling of Geological Carbon Storage Through Mineral Trapping Using True Pore Geometries
Authors: Payton Ryan L. , Sun Yizhuo , Chiarella Domenico , Kingdon Andrew
Published: January 2022

Mineral trapping (MT)is the most secure method of sequestering carbon for geologically significant periods of time. The processes behind MT fundamentally occur at the pore scale, therefore understanding which factors control MT at this scale is crucial. We present a finite elements advection–diffusion–reaction numerical model which uses true pore geometry model domains generated from $$\upmu$$
μ
CT imaging. Using this model, we investigate the impact of pore geometry features such as branching, tortuosity and throat radii on the distribution and occurrence of carbonate precipitation in different pore networks over 2000 year simulated periods. We find evidence that a greater tortuosity, greater degree of branching of a pore network and narrower pore throats are detrimental to MT and contribute to the risk of clogging and reduction of connected porosity. We suggest that a tortuosity of less than 2 is critical in promoting greater precipitation per unit volume and should be considered alongside porosity and permeability when assessing reservoirs for geological carbon storage (GCS). We also show that the dominant influence on precipitated mass is the Damköhler number, or reaction rate, rather than the availability of reactive minerals, suggesting that this should be the focus when engineering effective subsurface carbon storage reservoirs for long term security.

Article Highlights

The rate of reaction has a stronger influence on mineral precipitation than the amount of available reactant.

In a fully connected pore network preferential flow pathways still form which results in uneven precipitate distribution.

A pore network tortuosity of <2 is recommended to facilitate greater carbon mineralisation.
Effectiveness of selected issues related to used tyre management in Poland
Authors: Przydatek Grzegorz , Budzik Grzegorz , Janik Małgorzata
Published: January 2022

This paper discusses interactions between the generation, collection and recovery of used tyres while considering an indicator of their mass accumulation per area in Poland. Notably, this study aimed to assess selected issues related to used tyre management efficiency from 2008 to 2018 based on European Union and national regulations. Within 11 years, over 5 million Mg of used tyres was introduced into the domestic market—exceeding the amount required for 50 million registered vehicles. It was demonstrated that a significant tyre waste management process involved the recovery of 47% of all tyres, which was almost entirely correlated with the total volume of tyres. Only the growth trend for generated tyres was considered significant, and the rarely used indicator of the accumulation of used tyres per area exhibited an uneven accumulation of used tyres, with the highest amount being 48.06 Mg km−2 in a region with a small area but a significant volume of waste tyres. Therefore, the management of used tyres requires action in the country to optimally increase this form of waste collection while consolidating the development, gathering and processing infrastructure in the context of further minimising environmental pressure and increasing the efficiency of their use by considering the 4R principle.
Postoperative Leckagen im Gastrointestinaltrakt – Diagnostik und Therapie
Authors: Loske G. , Hornoff S. , Mende M. , Müller C. , Faiss S.
Published: January 2022

Postoperative Leckagen nach Ösophagus‑, Magen- oder Kolon- bzw. Rektumchirurgie stellen schwerwiegende chirurgische Komplikationen mit einer hohen Morbidität und Mortalität dar. Leckagen werden zumeist durch eine Kombination aus klinischer Beobachtung, Infektionsparametern sowie endoskopischen und schnittbildgebenden Verfahren diagnostiziert. Die Therapie ist bei intraperitonealen Leckagen chirurgisch, bei retroperitonealen bzw. mediastinalen Leckagen in einem interdisziplinären Setting überwiegend interventionell endoskopisch. Hier stehen der Defektverschluss durch die Abdichtung mittels selbstexpandierender gecoverter Stents mit gleichzeitiger externer extraluminaler Drainage sowie der Defektverschluss mit simultaner innerer Drainage und endoskopischer Unterdrucktherapie als vorrangige Methoden zur Verfügung.
Endogenous viral mutations, evolutionary selection, and containment policy design
Authors: Mellacher Patrick
Published: January 2022

How will the novel coronavirus evolve? I study a simple epidemiological model, in which mutations may change the properties of the virus and its associated disease stochastically and antigenic drifts allow new variants to partially evade immunity. I show analytically that variants with higher infectiousness, longer disease duration, and shorter latent period prove to be fitter. “Smart” containment policies targeting symptomatic individuals may redirect the evolution of the virus, as they give an edge to variants with a longer incubation period and a higher share of asymptomatic infections. Reduced mortality, on the other hand, does not per se prove to be an evolutionary advantage. I then implement this model as an agent-based simulation model in order to explore its aggregate dynamics. Monte Carlo simulations show that a) containment policy design has an impact on both speed and direction of viral evolution, b) the virus may circulate in the population indefinitely, provided that containment efforts are too relaxed and the propensity of the virus to escape immunity is high enough, and crucially c) that it may not be possible to distinguish between a slowly and a rapidly evolving virus by looking only at short-term epidemiological outcomes. Thus, what looks like a successful mitigation strategy in the short run, may prove to have devastating long-run effects. These results suggest that optimal containment policy must take the propensity of the virus to mutate and escape immunity into account, strengthening the case for genetic and antigenic surveillance even in the early stages of an epidemic.
Rechte Radikalisierung und Deradikalisierung – Perspektiven in der psychologischen Beratung. Zum Film „Skin“ von Guy Nattiv
Authors: Hagemann Alexander , Lehmann Nathalie , Marsh Kim
Published: January 2022

Vor dem Hintergrund des Films „Skin“ von Guy Nattiv (2018) wird ein Einblick in die Dynamiken von Radikalisierungsprozessen gegeben unter Einbeziehung einer multifaktoriellen Perspektive. In einem zweiten Schwerpunkt werden die Gelingens- und Rahmenbedingungen von Deradikalisierungsprozessen erörtert. Der Beitrag schließt mit der Darstellung eines Beratungsansatzes zur Deradikalisierung.
Effect of Inclusion and Filtration on Grain Refinement Efficiency of Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Yang Jiawei , Xu Yijiang , Bao Sarina , Akhtar Shahid , Tundal Ulf , Tjøtta Stig , Li Yanjun
Published: January 2022

It is well known that the filtration efficiency of ceramic foam filters (CFF) on aluminum melt can be significantly reduced by the addition of grain refiner particles under a high inclusion load. Also, it is usually considered that the filtration process has little impact on grain refinement efficiency. In this work, the influence of inclusions and filtration on the grain refinement effect of AA 6060 alloy has been studied. This was done through TP-1 type solidification experiments where the aluminum melt prior to and after the filter during a pilot-scale filtration test was investigated. In the experiments, 80 PPi CFFs were used to filtrate aluminum melt with an ultra-high inclusion load and two addition levels of Al–3Ti–1B master alloys. It is found that both inclusions and filtration significantly reduce the grain refinement efficiency of the grain refiner master alloys. A detailed characterization of the used filters shows that the reduction of grain refinement efficiency is due to the strong adherence of TiB2 particles to the oxide films, which are blocked by the CFF during filtration. A grain size prediction model based on deterministic nucleation mechanisms and dendritic growth kinetics has been applied to calculate the solidification grain size and estimate the loss of effective grain refiner particles during filtration. It is shown that due to the strong adherence between TiB2 particles and oxide films in the melt, the high addition level of aluminum chips also has an influence on reducing the grain refinement efficiency of aluminum melt without filtration. The results of this study extended our understanding of the behavior and performance of inoculant particles in CFF and their interactions with the inclusions.
The Janus kinase inhibitor (baricitinib) suppresses the rheumatoid arthritis active marker gliostatin/thymidine phosphorylase in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes
Authors: Joyo Yuji , Kawaguchi Yohei , Yonezu Hiroki , Senda Hiroya , Yasuma Sanshiro , Shiraga Hiroo , Nozaki Masahiro , Aoyama Mineyoshi , Asai Kiyofumi , Murakami Hideki , Waguri-Nagaya Yuko
Published: January 2022

Gliostatin/thymidine phosphorylase (GLS/TP) is known to have angiogenic and arthritogenic activities in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The novel oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor baricitinib has demonstrated high efficacy in RA. However, the effect of baricitinib on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), a key component of invasive synovitis, has not been still elucidated. This study investigated whether GLS/TP production could be regulated by JAK/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling in FLSs derived from patients with RA. FLSs were cultured and stimulated by interferon (IFN)γ in the presence of baricitinib. Expression levels of GLS/TP were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunocytochemistry. Phosphorylation of STAT proteins was investigated by Western blot. In cultured FLSs, GLS/TP mRNA and protein levels were significantly induced by treatment with IFNγ and these inductions were suppressed by baricitinib treatment. Baricitinib inhibited IFNγ-induced STAT1 phosphorylation, while JAK/STAT activation played a pivotal role in IFNγ-mediated GLS/TP upregulation in RA. These results suggested that baricitinib suppressed IFNγ-induced GLS/TP expression by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling, resulting in the attenuation of neovascularization, synovial inflammation, and cartilage destruction.
Quantifying occurrence of deformation bands in sandstone as a function of structural and petrophysical factors and their impact on reservoir quality: an example from outcrop analog of Productive Series (Pliocene), South Caspian Basin
Authors: Alkhasli Shahriyar , Zeynalov Gasham , Shahtakhtinskiy Aydin
Published: January 2022

Deformation bands (DB) are known to influence porosity and permeability in sandstones. This study aims to predict the occurrence of DB and to quantify their impact on reservoir properties based on field measurements in the steeply dipping limb of a kilometer-scale fold in Yasamal Valley, western South Caspian Basin. An integrated approach of characterizing bands and their effect on reservoir properties included measurements of natural gamma radioactivity and permeability using portable tools, along with bed dip and the count of DB across distinct facies. A set of core analyses was performed on outcrop plugs with and without bands to estimate the alteration of rock properties at the pore scale. Interpretation of outcrop gamma-ray data indicates the absence of bands in Balakhany sandstones containing shale volume greater than 18% for unconsolidated and 32% for calcite-rich facies. A high amount of calcite cement appears to increase the number of DB. A poor, positive trend between bed dip and DB concentration was identified. We show that net to gross, defined as the thickness fraction of sandstone bound by mudstones, is among the parameters controlling the occurrence of bands. Samples containing a single DB show a 33% and 3% decrease in permeability and porosity, respectively, relative to the host rock. We reveal a new set of lithological and petrophysical factors influencing DB occurrence. This study offers a direct tool that can be applied in subsurface reservoir analogs to predict the occurrence and concentration of DB and estimate their influence on rock properties.
Application of Mathematical Modeling in Prediction of COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics
Authors: AlArjani Ali , Nasseef Md Taufiq , Kamal Sanaa M. , Rao B. V. Subba , Mahmud Mufti , Uddin Md Sharif
Published: January 2022

The entire world has been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 since early 2020. Human carriers are largely the spreaders of this new disease, and it spreads much faster compared to previously identified coronaviruses and other flu viruses. Although vaccines have been invented and released, it will still be a challenge to overcome this disease. To save lives, it is important to better understand how the virus is transmitted from one host to another and how future areas of infection can be predicted. Recently, the second wave of infection has hit multiple countries, and governments have implemented necessary measures to tackle the spread of the virus. We investigated the three phases of COVID-19 research through a selected list of mathematical modeling articles. To take the necessary measures, it is important to understand the transmission dynamics of the disease, and mathematical modeling has been considered a proven technique in predicting such dynamics. To this end, this paper summarizes all the available mathematical models that have been used in predicting the transmission of COVID-19. A total of nine mathematical models have been thoroughly reviewed and characterized in this work, so as to understand the intrinsic properties of each model in predicting disease transmission dynamics. The application of these nine models in predicting COVID-19 transmission dynamics is presented with a case study, along with detailed comparisons of these models. Toward the end of the paper, key behavioral properties of each model, relevant challenges and future directions are discussed.
Microdosing as a Potential Tool to Enhance Clinical Development of Novel Antibiotics: A Tissue and Plasma PK Feasibility Study with Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Oesterreicher Zoe , Eberl Sabine , Wulkersdorfer Beatrix , Matzneller Peter , Eder Claudia , van Duijn Esther , Vaes Wouter H. J. , Reiter Birgit , Stimpfl Thomas , Jäger Walter , Nussbaumer-Proell Alina , Marhofer Daniela , Marhofer Peter , Langer Oliver , Zeitlinger Markus
Published: January 2022

Background and Objective

In microdose studies, drug pharmacokinetics is measured in humans after administration of subtherapeutic doses. While previous microdose studies focused primarily on plasma pharmacokinetics, we set out to evaluate the feasibility of microdosing for a pharmacokinetic assessment in subcutaneous tissue and epithelial lining fluid.

Methods

Healthy subjects received a single intravenous bolus injection of a microdose of [14C]ciprofloxacin (1.1 µg, 7 kBq) with (cohort A, n = 9) or without (cohort B, n = 9) a prior intravenous infusion of a therapeutic dose of unlabeled ciprofloxacin (400 mg). Microdialysis and bronchoalveolar lavage were applied for determination of subcutaneous and intrapulmonary drug concentrations. Microdose [14C]ciprofloxacin was quantified by accelerator mass spectrometry and therapeutic-dose ciprofloxacin by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

The pharmacokinetics of therapeutic-dose ciprofloxacin (cohort A) in plasma, subcutaneous tissue, and epithelial lining fluid was in accordance with previous data. In plasma and subcutaneous tissue, the dose-adjusted area under the concentration–time curve of microdose ciprofloxacin was similar in cohorts A and B and within an 0.8-fold to 1.1-fold range of the area under the concentration–time curve of therapeutic-dose ciprofloxacin. Penetration of microdose ciprofloxacin into subcutaneous tissue was similar in cohorts A and B and comparable to that of therapeutic-dose ciprofloxacin with subcutaneous tissue-to-plasma area under the concentration–time curve ratios of 0.44, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively. Penetration of microdose ciprofloxacin into epithelial lining fluid was highly variable and failed to predict the epithelial lining fluid penetration of therapeutic-dose ciprofloxacin.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the feasibility of microdosing for pharmacokinetic measurements in plasma and subcutaneous tissue. Microdosing combined with microdialysis is a potentially useful tool in clinical antimicrobial drug development, but its applicability for the assessment of pulmonary pharmacokinetics with bronchoalveolar lavage requires further studies.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03177720 (registered 6 June, 2017).
Motion intensity modeling and trajectory control of upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robot based on multi-modal information
Authors: Wang WenDong , Zhang JunBo , Wang Xin , Yuan XiaoQing , Zhang Peng
Published: January 2022

The motion intensity of patient is significant for the trajectory control of exoskeleton robot during rehabilitation, as it may have important influence on training effect and human–robot interaction. To design rehabilitation training task according to situation of patients, a novel control method of rehabilitation exoskeleton robot is designed based on motion intensity perception model. The motion signal of robot and the heart rate signal of patient are collected and fused into multi-modal information as the input layer vector of deep learning framework, which is used for the human–robot interaction model of control system. A 6-degree of freedom (DOF) upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robot is designed previously to implement the test. The parameters of the model are iteratively optimized by grouping the experimental data, and identification effect of the model is analyzed and compared. The average recognition accuracy of the proposed model can reach up to 99.0% in the training data set and 95.7% in the test data set, respectively. The experimental results show that the proposed motion intensity perception model based on deep neural network (DNN) and the trajectory control method can improve the performance of human–robot interaction, and it is possible to further improve the effect of rehabilitation training.
Multi-label feature selection based on fuzzy neighborhood rough sets
Authors: Xu Jiucheng , Shen Kaili , Sun Lin
Published: January 2022

Multi-label feature selection, a crucial preprocessing step for multi-label classification, has been widely applied to data mining, artificial intelligence and other fields. However, most of the existing multi-label feature selection methods for dealing with mixed data have the following problems: (1) These methods rarely consider the importance of features from multiple perspectives, which analyzes features not comprehensive enough. (2) These methods select feature subsets according to the positive region, while ignoring the uncertainty implied by the upper approximation. To address these problems, a multi-label feature selection method based on fuzzy neighborhood rough set is developed in this article. First, the fuzzy neighborhood approximation accuracy and fuzzy decision are defined in the fuzzy neighborhood rough set model, and a new multi-label fuzzy neighborhood conditional entropy is designed. Second, a mixed measure is proposed by combining the fuzzy neighborhood conditional entropy from information view with the approximate accuracy of fuzzy neighborhood from algebra view, to evaluate the importance of features from different views. Finally, a forward multi-label feature selection algorithm is proposed for removing redundant features and decrease the complexity of multi-label classification. The experimental results illustrate the validity and stability of the proposed algorithm in multi-label fuzzy neighborhood decision systems, when compared with related methods on ten multi-label datasets.
A Novel Notion of Local and Nonlocal Deformation-Gamuts to Model Elastoplastic Deformation
Authors: Desai Shivang
Published: January 2022

Localization and nonlocalization are characterized as a measure of degrees of separation between two material points in material’s discrete framework and as a measure of unshared and shared information, respectively, manifested as physical quantities between them, in the material’s continuous domain. A novel equation of motion to model the deformation dynamics of material is proposed. The shared information between two localizations is quantified as nonlocalization via a novel multiscale notion of Local and Nonlocal Deformation-Gamuts or DG Localization and Nonlocalization. Its applicability in continuum mechanics to model elastoplastic deformation is demonstrated. It is shown that the stress–strain curves obtained using local and nonlocal deformation-gamuts are found to be in good agreement with the Ramberg–Osgood equation for the material considered. It is also demonstrated that the cyclic strain hardening exponent and cyclic stress–strain coefficient computed using local and nonlocal deformation-gamuts are comparable with the experimental results as well as the theoretical estimations published in the open literature.
Effects of traffic signal coordination on the safety performance of urban arterials
Authors: Yue Rui , Yang Guangchuan , Zheng Yichen , Tian Yuxin , Tian Zong
Published: January 2022

Urban traffic congestion and crashes have been considered by city planners as critical challenges to the economic development of the city. Traffic signal coordination, which connects a series of signals along an arterial by various coordination methodologies, has been proved as one of the most cost-effective means of reducing traffic congestion. In this regard, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) or Transportation Management Centers (TMC) have included signal timing coordination in their strategic plans. Nevertheless, concerns on the safety effects of traffic signal coordination have been continuously raised by both transportation agencies and the public. This is mainly because signal coordination may increase the travel speed along an arterial, which increases the risk and severity of traffic collisions. To date, there is neither solid evidence from the field to support the concern, nor theoretical-level models to analyze this issue. This research aims to investigate the effects of traffic signal coordination on the safety performance of urban arterials through microsimulation modeling of two traffic operational conditions: free signal operation and coordinated signals, respectively. Three urban arterials in Reno, Nevada were selected as the simulation testbed and were coded in the PTV VISSIM software. The simulated trajectory data were analyzed by the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) to estimate the number of traffic conflicts. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for various traffic demand levels. Results show that under unsaturated conditions, traffic signal coordination could reduce the number of conflicts in comparison with the free signal operation condition. However, under oversaturated conditions, no significant difference was found between coordinated and free signal operations. Findings from this research indicate that traffic signal coordination has the potential to reduce the risk of crashes on urban arterials under unsaturated conditions.
Water reuse in the food industry
Authors: Bailone R. L. , Borra R. C. , Fukushima H. C. S. , Aguiar L. K.
Published: January 2022

Due to the significant growing demand for water, it is urgent to those in the food industry to consider a more rational and sustainable use of such a scarce natural resource. This chapter highlights alternative food processing methods that contemplate recycling and reusing water. Based on a systematic literature review, it highlights the adoption of cleaner production methods. The chapter focus on the meat and fresh produce sectors where evidence shows that water sustainability related methods is the most needed. Suggestions are proposed to minimize water waste through the treatment of effluents and decrease the impact of effluent pollution on the environment. In so doing, clear environmental and economic benefits could be achieved through the reduction of costs and value-adding to the final product. Yet, the implementation of Cleaner Production Methods would require support from the industry, policymakers, and consumers to encourage the recycling and reuse of water.
Missed Training, Collateral Damage from COVID 19?
Authors: Stirparo Giuseppe , Bellini Lorenzo , Fagoni Nazzareno , Compatti Salvatore , Botteri Marco , Villa Guido Francesco , Sironi Stefano , Signorelli Carlo , Sechi Giuseppe Maria , Zoli Albero
Published: January 2022

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a total lockdown was enforced all over Italy starting on March 9, 2020. This resulted in the shrinking of economic activities. In addition, all formal occupational security-training courses were halted, among them the 81/08 law lectures and Basic Life Support-Defibrillation (BLS-D) laypersons training courses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on BLS-D laypersons training courses in the Lombardy region.

Methods:

BLS-D training courses records for the Lombardy region were analyzed. The analysis was conducted from 2016 to 2020 as part of the Hippo project.

Results:

In the period between 2017 and 2019, BLS-D trained laypersons kept increasing, moving from 53500 trained individuals up to 74700. In 2020, a stark reduction was observed with only 22160 individuals trained. Formal courses were not halted completely during 2020. Still, in the months available for training, the number of individuals enrolled showed a sharp 50% reduction.

Conclusions:

Laypersons training courses for emergency management are a fundamental component of primary prevention practice. The 81/08 and 158/12 Italian laws have decreed this practice mandatory in the workplace. Following the enforcement of the lockdown and the subsequent interruption of emergency management courses, efforts will be necessary to re-establish and guarantee the high quality training of the pre-pandemic period.
p-Adic estimates of abelian ArtinL-functions on curves
Authors: Kramer-Miller Joe
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this article is to prove a ‘Newton over Hodge’ result for finite characters on curves. LetXbe a smooth proper curve over a finite field$\mathbb {F}_q$of characteristic$p\geq 3$and let$V \subset X$be an affine curve. Consider a nontrivial finite character$\rho :\pi _1^{et}(V) \to \mathbb {C}^{\times }$. In this article, we prove a lower bound on the Newton polygon of theL-function$L(\rho ,s)$. The estimate depends on monodromy invariants of$\rho $: the Swan conductor and the local exponents. Under certain nondegeneracy assumptions, this lower bound agrees with the irregular Hodge filtration introduced by Deligne. In particular, our result further demonstrates Deligne’s prediction that the irregular Hodge filtration would forcep-adic bounds onL-functions. As a corollary, we obtain estimates on the Newton polygon of a curve with a cyclic action in terms of monodromy invariants.
Alcohol use among adolescents in India: a systematic review
Authors: Nadkarni Abhijit , Tu Allison , Garg Ankur , Gupta Devika , Gupta Sonal , Bhatia Urvita , Tiwari Niharika , Heath Anna , Wen Karen , Fernandes Godwin , Velleman Richard
Published: January 2022

Background

Alcohol use is typically established during adolescence and initiation of use at a young age poses risks for short- and long-term health and social outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of the onset, progression and impact of alcohol use among adolescents in India. The aim of this review is to synthesise the evidence about prevalence, patterns and correlates of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in adolescents from India.

Methods

Systematic review was conducted using relevant online databases, grey literature and unpublished data/outcomes from subject experts. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed and applied to screening rounds. Titles and abstracts were screened by two independent reviewers for eligibility, and then full texts were assessed for inclusion. Narrative synthesis of the eligible studies was conducted.

Results

Fifty-five peer-reviewed papers and one report were eligible for inclusion in this review. Prevalence of ever or lifetime alcohol consumption ranged from 3.9% to 69.8%; and prevalence of alcohol consumption at least once in the past year ranged from 10.6% to 32.9%. The mean age for initiation of drinking ranged from 14.4 to 18.3 years. Some correlates associated with alcohol consumption included being male, older age, academic difficulties, parental use of alcohol or tobacco, non-contact sexual abuse and perpetuation of violence.

Conclusion

The evidence base for alcohol use among adolescents in India needs a deeper exploration. Despite gaps in the evidence base, this synthesis provides a reasonable understanding of alcohol use among adolescents in India and can provide direction to policymakers.
Assuming Access to Professional Advice
Authors: Haupt Claudia E.
Published: January 2022

Access to reliable health advice can make the difference between life and death. But good advice is hard to come by. Within the confines of the professional-client or doctor-patient relationship, the First Amendment operates in a way that protects good and sanctions bad advice. Outside of this relationship, however, the traditional protections of the First Amendment prohibit content- and viewpoint discrimination. Good and bad advice are treated as equal. A core assumption of First Amendment theory is the autonomy of speakers and listeners. Another assumption, as this Article demonstrates in the health context, is the availability of access to professional advice. This assumption, however, is erroneous because access to health advice in fact is unevenly distributed.

This Article argues that assuming access to professional advice creates indefensible inequality. Lack of access to expert advice puts some listeners at much higher risk than others. Current First Amendment doctrine is largely unproblematic for those who can afford expert advice, and makes expert advice much costlier where health provider access is needed to obtain good advice. Those who lack access must place a higher degree of trust in widely-available information because they have no more reliable alternative. In other words, First Amendment doctrine places a higher burden on those who can least afford expert advice and who are most dependent on experts in public discourse.
From the Shadows: The Public Health Implications of the Supreme Court’s COVID-Free Exercise Cases
Authors: Parmet Wendy E.
Published: January 2022

This article analyzes the Supreme Court’s “shadow docket” Free Exercise cases relating to COVID-19. The paper highlights the decline of deference, the impact of exemptions, and the implications of the new doctrine for vaccine and other public health laws.
Vaccine Confidence and the Importance of an Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Opel Douglas J. , Larson Heidi J.
Published: January 2022

Parental confidence in vaccines is waning. To sustain and improve childhood vaccine coverage rates, insights from multiple disciplines are needed to understand and address the socio-cultural factors contributing to decreased vaccine confidence and uptake.
The Ethics of Unilateral Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders for COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Ciaffa Jay
Published: January 2022

This paper examines several decision-making models that have been proposed to limit the use of CPR for COVID-19 patients. My main concern will be to assess proposals for the implementation of unilateral DNRs — i.e., orders to withhold CPR without the agreement of patients or their surrogates.
Say No to This: Unilateral Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders for Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Leiter Richard E. , Tulsky James A.
Published: January 2022

In this article, we comment on Ciaffa’s article ‘The Ethics of Unilateral Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders for COVID-19 Patients.’ We summarize his argument criticizing futility and utilitarianism as the key ethical justifications for unilateral do-not-resuscitate orders for patients with COVID-19.
Of Athletes, Bodies, and Rules: Making Sense of Caster Semenya
Authors: Winkler Matteo , Gilleri Giovanna
Published: January 2022

This article aims to systematically deconstruct four distinct narratives derived from the case of Caster Semenya v. IAAF (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
Promoting Competition in Drug Pricing: A Review of Recent Congressional Legislation
Authors: Nagar Sarosh , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: January 2022

Brand-name prescription drug manufacturers use various strategies to extend their market exclusivity periods by delaying generic or biosimilar competition. Recent Congressional legislation has targeted four such tactics. We analyze these proposals and assess their likely effect on competition in the U.S. drug market.
EPSILON THEOREMS IN INTERMEDIATE LOGICS
Authors: BAAZ MATTHIAS , ZACH RICHARD
Published: January 2022

Any intermediate propositional logic (i.e., a logic including intuitionistic logic and contained in classical logic) can be extended to a calculus with epsilon- and tau-operators and critical formulas. For classical logic, this results in Hilbert’s
$\varepsilon $
-calculus. The first and second
$\varepsilon $
-theorems for classical logic establish conservativity of the
$\varepsilon $
-calculus over its classical base logic. It is well known that the second
$\varepsilon $
-theorem fails for the intuitionistic
$\varepsilon $
-calculus, as prenexation is impossible. The paper investigates the effect of adding critical
$\varepsilon $
- and
$\tau $
-formulas and using the translation of quantifiers into
$\varepsilon $
- and
$\tau $
-terms to intermediate logics. It is shown that conservativity over the propositional base logic also holds for such intermediate
${\varepsilon \tau }$
-calculi. The “extended” first
$\varepsilon $
-theorem holds if the base logic is finite-valued Gödel–Dummett logic, and fails otherwise, but holds for certain provable formulas in infinite-valued Gödel logic. The second
$\varepsilon $
-theorem also holds for finite-valued first-order Gödel logics. The methods used to prove the extended first
$\varepsilon $
-theorem for infinite-valued Gödel logic suggest applications to theories of arithmetic.
COMPLEXITY OF INDEX SETS OF DESCRIPTIVE SET-THEORETIC NOTIONS
Authors: JOHNSTON REESE , RAGHAVAN DILIP
Published: January 2022

Descriptive set theory and computability theory are closely-related fields of logic; both are oriented around a notion of descriptive complexity. However, the two fields typically consider objects of very different sizes; computability theory is principally concerned with subsets of the naturals, while descriptive set theory is interested primarily in subsets of the reals. In this paper, we apply a generalization of computability theory, admissible recursion theory, to consider the relative complexity of notions that are of interest in descriptive set theory. In particular, we examine the perfect set property, determinacy, the Baire property, and Lebesgue measurability. We demonstrate that there is a separation of descriptive complexity between the perfect set property and determinacy for analytic sets of reals; we also show that the Baire property and Lebesgue measurability are both equivalent in complexity to the property of simply being a Borel set, for
$\boldsymbol {\Sigma ^{1}_{2}}$
sets of reals.
COUNTING SIBLINGS IN UNIVERSAL THEORIES
Authors: BRAUNFELD SAMUEL , LASKOWSKI MICHAEL C.
Published: January 2022

We show that if a countable structure M in a finite relational language is not cellular, then there is an age-preserving
$N \supseteq M$
such that
$2^{\aleph _0}$
many structures are bi-embeddable with N. The proof proceeds by a case division based on mutual algebraicity.
Does Origin Matter? Ethnic Group Position and Attitudes Toward Immigrants: The Case of Russia
Authors: Brunarska Zuzanna , Soral Wiktor
Published: January 2022

This article analyzes the relationship between the relative position of an ethnic group, as measured by its majority/minority status at a subnational level, and attitudes of its members toward immigrants of different origins. Based on the Russian case, it addresses the question whether the effects of in-group majority status within a region on attitudes toward the general category of immigrants hold regardless of out-group origin and, if not, what may drive this variation. Using data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the Higher School of Economics and Bayesian hierarchical structural equation modeling, the study demonstrates that the relative position of an ethnic in-group is of varying importance as a predictor of attitudes toward migrant groups of European versus non-European origin in Russia. A group’s majority status within a region proved to play a role in predicting attitudes toward migrants originating from the “south” (encompassing North and South Caucasus; Central Asia; and China, Vietnam, and Korea) but not toward migrants coming from the “west” (Ukraine and Moldova). We draw on arguments related to the source and the level of threat induced by the out-groups, ethnic hierarchies, and group cues to explain this pattern of results.