bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Global Middle Ages
Authors: Heng Geraldine
Published: November 2021

The Global Middle Ages: An Introduction discusses how, when, and why a 'global Middle Ages' was conceptualized; explains and considers the terms that are deployed in studying, teaching, and researching a Global Middle Ages; and critically reflects on the issues that arise in the establishment of this relatively new field of academic endeavor. An Introduction surveys the considerable gains to be had in developing a critical early global studies, and introduces the collaborative work of the Cambridge Elements series in the Global Middle Ages.
Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Berera Arjun , Del Debbio Luigi
Published: November 2021

Designed for a two-semester advanced undergraduate or graduate level course, this distinctive and modern textbook provides students with the physical intuition and mathematical skills to tackle even complex problems in quantum mechanics with ease and fluency. Beginning with a detailed introduction to quantum states and Dirac notation, the book then develops the overarching theoretical framework of quantum mechanics, before explaining physical quantum mechanical properties such as angular momentum and spin. Symmetries and groups in quantum mechanics, important components of current research, are covered at length. The second part of the text focuses on applications, and includes a detailed chapter on quantum entanglement, one of the most exciting modern applications of quantum mechanics, and of key importance in quantum information and computation. Numerous exercises are interspersed throughout the text, expanding upon key concepts and further developing students' understanding. A fully worked solutions manual and lecture slides are available for instructors.
Regulatory Restrictions Across U.S. Protein Supply Chains
Authors: Staples Aaron J. , Chambers Dustin , Melstrom Richard T. , Malone Trey
Published: November 2021

Food regulations protect consumer health, mitigate environmental concerns, and promote animal welfare, but they can also hinder innovation, limit entrepreneurship, and generate higher consumer prices. This study examines the number of federal and state regulatory restrictions affecting the beef, pork, poultry, sheep, goat, and seafood industries, including processing, wholesale distribution, and retail sales. We also examine state regulatory heterogeneity associated with animal protein products. Our results suggest that protein supply chains have become subject to tens of thousands of regulatory constraints over the past half-century. We also find substantial heterogeneity in the number of state restrictions associated with animal production, indicative of large differences in the amount of administrative law across states. Results highlight that the patchwork approach of U.S. food policy creates overlapping, cumbersome guidelines for manufacturers, and given the interconnectivity of modern food supply chains, the framework can create additional hurdles for interstate commerce.
Long-Term Prevalence of Disaster-Related Deep Vein Thrombosis in Minamiaso Village After the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Onishi Hidenori , Yamamura Osamu , Tsubouchi Hiromasa , Hirobe Takeshi , Kosugi Ikuko , Enomoto Soichi , Yamamoto Tami , Daitoku Satoshi , Satou Naomi , Chiba Hiroshi , Kai Yutaka , Hashimoto Yoichiro , Hamano Tadanori , Terasawa Hidekazu
Published: November 2021

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among evacuees in Minamiaso, a village which was temporarily isolated after the earthquakes, from the acute to recovery phase after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes (GLIDE no: EQ-2016-000033-JPN).

Methods:

This prospective study, which was approved by Fukui University Medical Research Ethics Committee (approval no. 20160024 and 20160089), enrolled 181 evacuees (73.9 ± 11.6 y) who participated in a series of 3 DVT screenings using portable ultrasound machines conducted over 19 mo. All participants completed a questionnaire before the screenings, and none of the participants attended all 3 screenings. Data analysis was performed using EZR version 1.41.

Results:

The DVT prevalence was 14.3% (79.4 ± 8.2 y) at first screening of evacuees staying in shelters and 18.5% (71.5 ± 13.1 y) and 12.2% (72.8 ± 10.9 y) in second and third screenings of evacuees staying in temporary housing, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age ≥75 y and alcohol consumption as independent risk factors in the entire cohort and in patients aged ≤74 y, respectively.

Conclusions:

A high DVT prevalence over a long time period of 19 mo was observed where survivors were temporarily isolated after the disaster.
A criterion for normality of analytic mappings
Authors: Marković Marijan
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we give a generalization and improvement of the Pavlović result on the characterization of continuously differentiable functions in the Bloch space on the unit ball in $\mathbb {R}^{m}$. Then, we derive a Holland–Walsh type theorem for analytic normal mappings on the unit disk.
Duration of stenting with Montgomery T-tubes in severe laryngotracheal stenosis: does it matter?
Authors: Muraleedharan M , Ramavat A S , Bakshi J , Mohindra S , Nayak G , Goel A
Published: November 2021

Objective

Laryngotracheal stenosis management remains largely discretionary in surgical practice. Duration of stenting remains variable following open reconstruction procedures in absence of clearly established differences. The current study evaluates successful decannulation after short-term periods compared with longer periods.

Method

A comparative study over 18 months evaluated differences in successful decannulation between short- and long-term stent groups. Patients with grade II, III or IV laryngotracheal stenosis were placed on Montgomery T-tube for a short-term period (n = 15), and decannulation rates were compared with age-, sex- and diagnosis-matched patients (n = 15) from historical cases with long-term stent placement.

Results

Thirty patients were included. There was no difference between the two groups at baseline. Nine patients (30 per cent) were successfully decannulated, and there was no difference in rates of decannulation between the two groups (p = 0.8). Granulations at the proximal end of tube (38.7 per cent), superior migration of tube (16.1 per cent) and dysphonia (12.9 per cent) were common complications.

Conclusion

Decannulation was not more successful after placing Montgomery T-tubes for longer periods of time when compared with removal within the first three months. Early removal after proper case selection and planning may be considered for a successful outcome in laryngotracheal stenosis.
There's more to consider than knowledge and belief
Authors: Sobel David M.
Published: November 2021

Phillips et al. present a number of arguments for the premise that knowledge is more basic than belief. Although their arguments are coherent and sound, they do not directly address numerous cases in which belief appears to be a developmental precursor to knowledge. I describe several examples, not necessarily as a direct challenge, but rather to better understand their framework.
Representation and misrepresentation of knowledge
Authors: Gerken Mikkel
Published: November 2021

I argue for three points: First, evidence of the primacy of knowledge representation is not evidence of primacy of knowledge. Second, knowledge-oriented mindreading research should also focus on misrepresentations and biased representations of knowledge. Third, knowledge-oriented mindreading research must confront the problem of the gold standard that arises when disagreement about knowledge complicates the interpretation of empirical findings.
Knowledgeisbelief – and shaped by culture
Authors: Bender Andrea , Gatewood John B.
Published: November 2021

Phillips and colleagues claim that the representation of knowledge is more basic than the representation of belief, presupposing them to be categorically distinct mental states with distinct evolutionary purposes. We argue that the relationship between the two is much more complex, is further shaped by culture and language, and leaves its mark on manifestations of theory of mind and teaching.
Representing knowledge, belief, and everything in between: Representational complexity in humans and other apes
Authors: Durdevic Kresimir , Krupenye Christopher
Published: November 2021

Building on Phillips and colleagues' case for the primacy of knowledge, we advocate for attention to diversity in mentalizing constructs within, as well as between, knowledge and belief. Ultimately, as great apes and other animals show, the development and evolution of theory of mind may reflect a much greater range of incremental elaborations of representational or computational complexity.
Are Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated with Worse Cognitive Function in Older Adults?
Authors: Halpin Amy B. , MacAulay Rebecca K. , Boeve Angelica R. , D’Errico Lisa M. , Michaud Sahvannah
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with an increased risk for dementia, but this relationship and modifying factors are poorly understood. This study is the first to our knowledge to comprehensively examine the effect of ACE on specific cognitive functions and measures associated with greater risk and resiliency to cognitive decline in independent community-dwelling older adults.

Methods:

Verbal/nonverbal intelligence, verbal memory, visual memory, and executive attention were assessed. Self-report measures examined depression, self-efficacy, and subjective cognitive concerns (SCC). The ACE questionnaire measured childhood experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

Results:

Over 56% of older adults reported an adverse childhood event. ACE scores were negatively associated with income and years of education and positively associated with depressive symptoms and SCC. ACE scores were a significant predictor of intellectual function and executive attention; however, these relationships were no longer significant after adjusting for education. Follow-up analyses using the PROCESS macro revealed that relationships among higher ACE scores with intellectual function and executive attention were mediated by education.

Conclusions:

Greater childhood adversity may increase vulnerability for cognitive impairment by impacting early education, socioeconomic status, and mental health. These findings have clinical implications for enhancing levels of cognitive reserve and addressing modifiable risk factors to prevent or attenuate cognitive decline in older adults.
Patient and public involvement in a UK National Institute for Health Research Programme Grant for Applied Research: experiences from the Chronic Headache Education and Self-management Study (CHESS)
Authors: Nichols Vivien , Pearce Gemma , Ellard David R , Evans Simon , Haywood Kirstie , Norman Chloe , Potter Rachel , Sandhu Harbinder , Stewart Kimberley , Underwood Martin , Patel Shilpa
Published: November 2021

Background:

Patient and public involvement (PPI) plays a crucial role in ensuring research is carried out in conjunction with the people that it will impact upon. In this article, we present our experiences and reflections from working collaboratively with patients and public through the lifetime of an National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) programme grant; the Chronic Headache Education and Self-management Study (CHESS) which took place between 2015 and 2020.

PPI over the course of CHESS:

We worked closely with three leading UK migraine charities and a lay advisory group throughout the programme. We followed NIHR standards and used the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public checklist. We consulted our PPI contacts using a variety of methods depending on the phase of the study and the nature of the request. This included emails, discussions, and face-to-face contact.

PPI members contributed throughout the study in the programme development, in the grant application, ethics documentation, and trial oversight. During the feasibility study; in supporting the development of a classification interview for chronic headache by participating in a headache classification conference, assessing the relevance, and acceptability of patient-reported outcome measures by helping to analyse cognitive interview data, and testing the smartphone application making suggestions on how best to present the summary of data collected for participants. Due to PPI contribution, the content and duration of the study intervention were adapted and a Delphi study with consensus meeting developed a core outcome set for migraine studies.

Conclusions:

The involvement of the public and patients in CHESS has allowed us to shape its overall design, intervention development, and establish a core outcome set for future migraine studies. We have reflected on many learning points for the future application of PPI.
Care needs and care consumption in psychosis: a 4-year longitudinal analysis of guideline concordant care
Authors: Roebroek L. , Bruins J. , Roe D. , Delespaul P. ,   PHAMOUS investigators, de Jong S. , Boonstra A. , Visser E. , Castelein S.
Published: November 2021

Aims

People with psychotic disorders receive mental healthcare services mainly for their psychiatric care needs. However, patients often experience multiple physical or social wellbeing-related care needs as well. This study aims to identify care needs, investigate their changes over time and examine their association with mental healthcare consumption and evidence-based pharmacotherapy.

Methods

This study combined annually obtained routine outcome monitoring (ROM) data with care consumption data of people with a long-term psychotic illness receiving treatment in four Dutch mental healthcare institutes between 2012 and 2016. Existing treatment algorithms were used to determine psychiatric, physical and social wellbeing-related care needs based on self-report questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and physical parameters. Care consumption was measured in hours of outpatient mental healthcare consumption per year. Generalised estimating equation models were used to calculate odds ratios of care needs and their associations with time, mental healthcare consumption and medication use.

Results

Participants (n = 2054) had on average 7.4 care needs per measurement and received 25.4 h of care per year. Physical care needs are most prevalent and persistent and people with more care needs receive more mental healthcare. Care needs for psychotic symptoms and most social wellbeing-related care needs decreased, whereas the chance of being overweight significantly increased with subsequent years of care. Several positive associations were found between care needs and mental healthcare consumption as well as positive relations between care needs and evidence-based pharmacotherapy.

Conclusions

This longitudinal study present a novel approach in identifying care needs and their association with mental healthcare consumption and pharmacotherapy. Identification of care needs in this way based on ROM can assist daily clinical practice. A recovery-oriented view and a well-coordinated collaboration between clinicians and general practitioners together with shared decisions about which care needs to treat, can improve treatment delivery. Special attention is required for improving physical health in psychosis care which, despite appropriate pharmacotherapy and increasing care consumption, remains troublesome.
A calorie-restricted diet enriched with tree nuts and peanuts reduces the expression of CX3CR1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Ghanavati Matin , Nasrollahzadeh Javad
Published: November 2021

Abstract: Background: The modification of the gut microbiome has been proposed to alter immune response which is a key driver in low-grade inflammation as well as metabolic markers. This study was conducted to determine the effects of a low-calorie diet with and without nuts on some gut bacterial abundance, metabolic markers, and gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in stable coronary artery disease patients with overweight or obesity. Methods: Overweight or obese patients with stable coronary artery disease of both genders were randomly allocated to a nut-free calorie-restricted diet as 25% of energy deficit (CRD) or a CRD enriched with 39–60 g/d of mixed nuts (CRDEN) for 8 weeks (32 patients in CRD and 35 patients in CRDEN). Mixed nuts consisted of equal amounts of unsalted pistachios, almonds, and peanuts. Microbiota analysis was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method on feces collected before and after the intervention, using primers targeting 16S ribosomal DNA of 4 different bacterial genera, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus. We examined the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, adiponectin as well as expression of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) in PBMCs. Results: A significant reduction in expression of CX3CR1 (p=0.04) and a tendency to lower expression of TLR4 in PBMCs (p=0.06) was observed in the CRDEN group at the end of the study compared to the CRD group. The abundance of fecal Prevotella also tended to increase in CRDEN compared to the CRD group (p=0.06). Plasma insulin and adiponectin had no significant changes. There was a positive correlation between fecal Prevotella abundance and plasma adiponectin at baseline (r=0.315, p=0.015) and the end of the study (r=0.380, p=0.003). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the inclusion of mixed tree nuts and peanuts in a low-calorie diet for 8 weeks led to a lower CX3CR expression in PBMCs in a cohort of overweight or obese patients with stable CAD. This finding provides another beneficial effect of diet supplemented with nuts on factors associated with inflammation. Trial registration: this clinical study has been registered at the clinical trial registration center (clinicaltrial.gov): NCT04078919 on September 6, 2019.
Einbezug von Mitarbeitenden, Bewohnenden und Angehörigen in die digitale Transformation im stationären Altersbereich
Authors: Seifert Alexander , Thilo Friederike J.S.
Published: November 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Stationäre Alterseinrichtungen durchlaufen derzeit einen digitalen Transformationsprozess. Doch wer sind die Entscheidungsträger dieses Transformationsprozesses? Ziel: Ziel der Studie war es zu erforschen, ob und wie Mitarbeitende, Bewohnende und deren Angehörige in die Bereitstellung technischer Lösungen in schweizerischen Alterseinrichtungen einbezogen werden. Methoden: Über eine standardisierte Onlinebefragung wurden die Leitungspersonen von 466 stationären Alterseinrichtungen in der gesamten Schweiz befragt. Ergebnisse: Die Mehrheit der befragten Leitungspersonen sah in der Nutzung technischer Lösungen mehr Vor- als Nachteile. Allerdings zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass zwar 52 % der hier befragten Personen die Mitarbeitenden, aber nur 11 % ihre Bewohnenden und nur 8 % deren Angehörige in die Entscheidung für oder gegen eine Technikanschaffung einbeziehen. Dieser Einbezug hängt vom bisherigen Technikeinsatz ab und dem Spielraum, den die Leitungspersonen im Hinblick auf eine Technikentscheidung selbst haben. Schlussfolgerungen: Es zeigt sich, dass die Bewohnenden und deren Angehörige kaum in Entscheidungsprozesse eingebunden werden. Dies kann dazu führen, dass die digitale Transformation in der Organisation letztendlich nur von einer Person, der Leitungsperson, abhängt und die Wünsche jener Personengruppen, die von diesen technischen Innovationen unmittelbar betroffen sind, bei solchen Entscheidungen vernachlässigt werden.
Neuropsychologische Störungen und Symptome einer somatischen Belastungsstörung als mögliche Langzeitfolgen nach einer COVID-19-Infektion
Authors: Bodenburg Sebastian
Published: November 2021

Zusammenfassung. Nach einer COVID-19-Infektion können im weiteren Krankheitsverlauf neuropsychologische und komorbide psychische Störungen auftreten. Dabei finden die Langzeitfolgen einer COVID-19-Infektion zunehmend Beachtung. Mit diesem Fallbericht wird eine 36-jährige Patientin vorgestellt, die nach einer COVID-19-Infektion über Störungen kognitiver Funktionen und Symptome einer psychischen Erkrankung klagte. In Anbetracht des bisherigen Forschungsstandes ist es plausibel, dass sie – als Folge der COVID-19-Infektion – an neuropsychologischen Störungen sowie an Symptomen einer körperlichen Belastungsstörung als somatoforme psychische Störung litt. Bei den neuropsychologischen Symptomen standen Einschränkungen der Aufmerksamkeitsleistungen und der exekutiven Funktionen im Vordergrund.
Improving Representation of Tropical Wetland Methane Emissions With CYGNSS Inundation Maps
Authors: Gerlein‐Safdi Cynthia , Bloom A. Anthony , Plant Genevieve , Kort Eric A. , Ruf Christopher S.
Published: November 2021

Wetlands are the single largest source of methane to the atmosphere and their emissions are expected to respond to a changing climate. Inaccuracy and uncertainty in inundation extent drives differences in modeled wetland emissions and impacts representation of wetland emissions on inter‐annual and seasonal time frames. Existing wetland maps are based on optical or NIR satellite data obscured by clouds and vegetation, often leading to underestimates in wetlands extent, especially in the Tropics. Here, we present new inundation maps based on the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) satellite constellation, operating in L‐band that is not impacted by clouds or vegetation, providing reliable observations through canopy and cloudy periods. We map the temporal and spatial dynamics of the Pantanal and Sudd wetlands, two of the largest wetlands in the world, using CYGNSS data and a computer vision algorithm. We link these inundation maps to methane fluxes via WetCHARTs, a global wetland methane emissions model ensemble. We contrast CYGNSS‐modeled methane emissions with WetCHARTs standard runs that use monthly rainfall data from ECMWF re‐analysis (ERA5), as well as the commonly used SWAMPS wetland maps. We find that the CYGNSS‐based inundation maps modify the methane emissions in multiple ways. The seasonality of inundation and methane emissions is shifted by two months because of the lag in wetland recharge following peak rainfall. Both inundation and methane emissions also respond non‐linearly to wet‐season precipitation totals, leading to large interannual variability in emissions. Finally, the annual magnitude of emissions is found to be greater than previously estimated.
WRF Model Parameterization Around the Highland Titicaca Lake
Authors: Mamani Rober , Hendrick Patrick
Published: November 2021

The computational advances and many times the lack of meteorological measurements in some regions of the world impulse the employment of numerical methods for covering this deficiency of data, and the parameterization is a key factor for use and operation of numerical weather prediction models. The Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF) as one of the most important models has been scarcely parameterized in the Bolivian Altiplano and Titicaca Lake. This work evaluates different physics models and focus the parameterization in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes. This study evaluates the performance of land surface, radiation, convective and microphysics models using WRFv3.8.1. The results showed well‐prediction with NOAH, THOMPSON, and RRTMG for land surface, microphysics and radiation schemes, respectively. For the PBL parameterization QNSE, YSU, MYJ, MYNN, and QNSE‐FDDA were evaluated for wind speed, temperature, and mixing ratio. The minimum root mean square error were 2.025 m s−1(QNSE‐FDDA) for wind speed, 1.721 K (YSU) for temperature, and 0.786 g kg−1(MJY) for mixing ratio. In summary, the results have shown that QNSE scheme well‐predicts wind speed and water mixing ratio. However, using FDDA only wind speed and water mixing ratio were improved, and the temperature prediction becomes worse. These results suggest an underprediction of incoming solar radiation due to temperature and water mixing ratio were underestimated near the Titicaca Lake.
Assessing Crack‐Induced Compliance in Low Porosity Rocks Damaged by Thermo‐Hydro‐Chemo‐Mechanical Processes
Authors: Clark A. C. , Vanorio T. , Radostin A. V. , Zaitsev V. Y.
Published: November 2021

Fracture geometry, density, and distribution control fluid and thermal transport in low porosity rocks, as well as their seismic attributes. The creation of cracks throughout the matrix can result in large and disparate reductions in P and S wave velocities with negligible porosity development, which breaks the classic velocity‐porosity relationship. Properly interpreting these signatures in seismic surveys from stimulated geothermal, oil, and gas reservoirs or seismogenic areas requires a rock physics model that uses realistic elastic properties of fractures. Conventional models for cracked rocks employ specific inclusion shapes such as spheroids with small aspect ratios. However, all these exhibit the same normal‐to‐shear compliance ratio—regardless of aspect ratio—and therefore impact the bulk and shear moduli in the same qualitative way. As such they are inadequate for describing many of the complementary evolutions of P and S wave velocities that transpire with the generation of cracks. Using a differential model of dimensionless compliances, we analyze published velocities for granite, basalt, and limestone to quantify typical compliance ratios and find that they are often different from those assumed in conventional crack models, which then affects crack density estimates. We also investigate how the total normal and shear compliances change due to certain thermo‐hydro‐chemo‐mechanical processes that generate large crack densities, and conclude that the final ratios often still deviate from that of conventional models. Finally, we demonstrate how the model can be used to describe scatter in both P and S wave velocity‐porosity trends. Implications for energy extraction and seismic monitoring are discussed.
Intercomparison of High‐Resolution SST Climatologies Over the Australian Region
Authors: Hu Yuwei , Beggs Helen , Wang Xiao Hua
Published: November 2021

Sea surface temperature (SST) climatology data sets provide the reference for observations of ocean anomalous events, which may have significant effects on the local marine ecosystem. The representativeness of the SST climatologies of the historical and current ocean surface states is essential to identify and predict anomalous events. Here, we compare five high‐resolution SST climatology data sets around the Australian coast to investigate the uncertainty introduced by the reference SSTs to current estimates of SST anomalies. The data sets studied are (a) 0.05° global daily climatology calculated by this study from the ESA SST Climate Change Initiative (CCI) Analysis v2.0 product (1981–2016); (b) 0.25° global daily climatology for 1981–2016 derived from the NCEI daily AVHRR_OI SST; (c) 0.02° SST Atlas of the Australian Regional Seas (SSTAARS), a pixel‐wise daily climatology for 1992–2016; (d) 0.05° NOAA Coral Reef Watch (CRW) global monthly climatology for 1985–2012; and (e) 0.1° global daily climatology for 1994–2016 derived from the BRAN_2016 ocean reanalysis. The climatology data sets formed from SST CCI analysis v2.0 data are used as the reference to compare data sets (b)–(e) based on the same reference time period and central year. This study indicates that climatologies (a) and (e) would be suitable for use as a reference over the Australian region. However, for smaller spatial scales or where a night‐only SST climatology is required, the 2‐km daily SSTAARS would also be suitable. The feature resolution of the climatology data sets (a) and (e) is significantly coarser than SSTAARS climatology.
Observations and Modeling of Rime Splintering in Southern Ocean Cumuli
Authors: Lasher‐Trapp Sonia , Scott Emma L. , Järvinen Emma , Schnaiter Martin , Waitz Fritz , DeMott Paul J. , McCluskey Christina S. , Hill Thomas C. J.
Published: November 2021

Recent studies have suggested a correct representation of cloud phase in the Southern Ocean region is important in climate models for an accurate representation of the energy balance. Satellite retrievals indicate many of the clouds are predominantly liquid, despite their low temperatures. However, clouds containing high numbers of ice crystals have sometimes been observed in this region and implicated the secondary ice production process called rime splintering. This study re‐examines rime splintering in Southern Ocean cumuli using both a new data set and high‐resolution numerical modeling. Measurements acquired during the Southern Ocean Clouds Radiation Aerosol Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES) provide an evaluation of the amount of ice in shallow cumuli sampled over two days in this region. The measurements sometimes exhibit seven orders of magnitude or more ice particles compared to amounts expected from measurements of ice‐nucleating particles (INP) on the same days. Cumuli containing multiple updrafts had the greatest tendency to contain high ice concentrations and meet the expected conditions for rime splintering. Idealized numerical modeling, constrained by the observations, suggests that the multiple updrafts produce more frozen raindrops/graupel, and allow them to travel through the rime‐splintering zone over an extended period of time, increasing the number of ice particles by many orders of magnitude. The extremely low number of INP in the Southern Ocean thus appears to require special conditions like multiple updrafts to help glaciate the cumuli in this region, potentially explaining the predominance of supercooled cumuli observed there.
Humanistic and socioeconomic burden of COPD patients and their caregivers in Malaysia
Authors: Rehman Anees ur , Muhammad Sohail Ayaz , Tasleem Zermina , Alsaedi Alyaa , Dar Mamoona , Iqbal Muhammad Omer , Rasool Muhammad Fawad , Shah Shahid , Abbas Ghulam , Shakeel Sadia , Hayat Khezar
Published: November 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with substantial humanistic and socioeconomic burden on patients and their caregivers. COPD is expected to be 7th leading cause of disease burden till 2030. The objective of the current study was to assess the humanistic and socioeconomic burden of COPD patients and their caregivers in Malaysia. The burden includes the cost of management of COPD, QOL of COPD patients and their caregivers, work productivity and activity impairment of COPD patients and their caregivers due to COPD. One hundred and fifty COPD patients and their caregivers from the chest clinic of Penang Hospital were included in the study from August 2018 to August 2019. Caregiving cost was estimated using the replacement cost approach, while humanistic and social burden was assessed with the help of health status questionnaires. Overall, 64.66% and 7.1% of COPD patients reported to depend on informal caregivers and professional caregivers respectively. COPD patients reported dyspnoea score as 2.31 (1.31), EQ-5D-5L utility index 0.57 (0.23), CCI 2.3 (1.4), SGRQ-C 49.23 (18.61), productivity loss 31.87% and activity impairment 17.42%. Caregivers reported dyspnoea score as 0.72 (0.14), EQ-5D-5L utility index 0.57 (0.23), productivity loss 7.19% and social activity limitation as 21.63% due to taking care of COPD patients. In addition to the huge direct cost of management, COPD is also associated with substantial burden on society in terms of compromised quality of life, reduced efficiency at the workplace, activity impairment and caregiver burden.
Asymmetric response of the Indian summer monsoon to positive and negative phases of major tropical climate patterns
Authors: Chakraborty Arindam , Singhai Priyanshi
Published: November 2021

The existing theories for the tropical teleconnections to Indian summer monsoon (ISM) are diverse in approaches. As a result, it is impossible to quantify the relative impacts of different tropical climate patterns on ISM, complying with a single physical mechanism. Here, we show that tropical teleconnections to ISM can be explained through net moisture convergence driven by surface pressure (Ps) gradients surrounding the Indian region. The positive and negative phases of major tropical climate patterns modulate these pressure gradients asymmetrically in the zonal and/or meridional directions leading to asymmetric changes in moisture convergence and ISM rainfall (ISMR). Stronger El Nino droughts than La Nina floods are due to greater decreased eastward moisture flux over the Arabian Sea during El Nino than the corresponding increase during La Nina driven by proportionate meridional Ps gradients. While the equatorial Atlantic Ocean’s sea surface temperature in boreal summer and El Nino Southern Oscillation in the preceding winter changes ISMR significantly, moisture convergence anomalies driven by the Indian Ocean Dipole were insignificant. Moreover, while ISMR extremes during ENSO are due to asymmetric changes in zonal and meridional gradients in Ps, non-ENSO ISMR extremes arise due to the zonal gradient in zonally symmetric Ps anomalies.
Effectiveness and tolerability of radiotherapy for patients with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a monocenter analysis
Authors: Hadi I. , Schummer A. , Dreyling M. , Eze C. , Bodensohn R. , Roengvoraphoj O. , Belka C. , Li M.
Published: November 2021

To analyze the effectiveness and toxicities of radiotherapy in indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (iNHL) patients treated in our institution. Patients with iNHL treated with radiotherapy between 1999 and 2016 were included. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and toxicities. PFS, LC, and OS were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method. Log-rank test was used to investigate the differences between subgroups. Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate continuous analysis. Seventy-five patients were identified in our institutional database between 1999 and 2016. Fifty-eight (77.3%) had stage I after Ann-Arbor and 17 patients (22.7%) had stage II. The median follow-up was 87 months (95% CI 72–102 months). Median single dose per fraction was 2.0 Gy (range 1.5–2 Gy) and median total dose was 30.6 Gy (range 16–45 Gy). Radiotherapy was performed in 2D (n = 10; 13.3%), 3D (n = 63; 84.0%) and VMAT (n = 2; 2.7%) techniques, respectively. The median PFS was 14.0 years (95% CI 8.3–19.7 years). The estimated PFS after 5 and 10 years were 73.0% and 65.5% in Kaplan–Meier analysis, respectively. The 5- and 10-year LC were 94.9% and 92.3%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year OS were 88.6% and 73.9%. In univariate analyses of PFS, younger patients (≤ 60 years old) had significantly superior PFS to those older than 60 years old (5-year PFS 81.9% vs. 65.1%, p = 0.021). Dose escalation > 36.0 Gy had no prognostic influence in term of PFS (p = 0.425). Extranodal involvement, stage and histology had no prognostic impact on PFS. Depending on the site of lymphomas, the most common acute side effects were: dermatitis CTCAE° I–II (8.0%), xerostomia CTC° I (8.0%), cataract CTC° I (12.0%) and dry eyes CTC° I–II (14.6%). No adverse event CTC° III was reported. Most acute side effects recovered at 3 to 6 months after radiotherapy except for CTC° I cataract and xerostomia. Local Radiotherapy was highly effective for treatment of early stage iNHL with no serious side effects in our cohort. The most acute CTCAE° I–II side effects recovered 3 to 6 months later. Technique advances seem to have further improved effectiveness and tolerability of radiotherapy.

Trial registration: Local ethics committee of Ludwig-Maximilian-University (LMU) Munich approved this retrospective analysis on the May 7th, 2019 (Nr. 19–137).
Enhanced decomposition of laminated ammonium perchlorate composite
Authors: Wang Shuji , Guo Xueyong , Zhao Wanjun , Fang Hua , Wu Chengcheng , Wang Di
Published: November 2021

In order to improve the thermal decomposition performances of ammonium perchlorate (AP), the laminated AP composite was prepared by ice-template induced self-assembly method. In this study, Iron-Konjac glucomannan (Fe3+-KGM) hydrosol rich in AP was selected as the freezing precursor. Through directional freezing of precursor and recrystallization of AP molecules, the laminated AP composite was obtained. The results showed that the thickness of the lamellar composite structure is about 10 to 30 μm, and the recrystallized AP particles are uniformly dispersed in the gel system. The oxygen bomb test results show that the micro-/nano-layered structure can significantly improve the sample’s combustion heat value. Thermal analyses indicated that with the increasing Fe3+ content, the peak exothermic temperature of lamellar AP composite at different heating rates both showed a decreasing trend. With 10 wt% Fe(NO3)3·9H2O added, the decomposition peak temperature decreased from 433.0 to 336.2 °C at a heating rate of 5 °C/min, and the apparent activation energy (Ea) decreased dramatically from 334.1 kJ/mol to 255.4 kJ/mol. A possible catalytic thermal decomposition mechanism of lamellar AP composite catalyzed by Fe3+ was proposed. This work is beneficial to the structural design of other energetic materials.
A low noise cascaded amplifier for the ultra-wide band receiver in the biosensor
Authors: Daoud Maissa , Ghorbel Mohamed , Mnif Hassene
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the design of an Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Low Noise cascaded Amplifier (LNA) used for biomedical applications. The designed structure uses a technique which is based on the inductances minimization to reduce the LNA surface while maintaining low power consumption, low noise and high stability, linearity and gain. To prove its robustness, this technique was studied theoretically, optimized and validated through simulation using the CMOS 0.18 µm process. The LNA achieves a maximum band voltage gain of about 17.5 dB at [1-5] GHz frequency band, a minimum noise figure of 2 dB, IIP3 of + 1dBm and consumes only 13mW under a 2 V power supply. It is distinguished by its prominent figure of merit of 0.68.
Machine learning approach for the prediction of postpartum hemorrhage in vaginal birth
Authors: Akazawa Munetoshi , Hashimoto Kazunori , Katsuhiko Noda , Kaname Yoshida
Published: November 2021

Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal morbidity. Clinical prediction of postpartum hemorrhage remains challenging, particularly in the case of a vaginal birth. We studied machine learning models to predict postpartum hemorrhage. Women who underwent vaginal birth at the Tokyo Women Medical University East Center between 1995 and 2020 were included. We used 11 clinical variables to predict a postpartum hemorrhage defined as a blood loss of > 1000 mL. We constructed five machine learning models and a deep learning model consisting of neural networks with two layers after applying the ensemble learning of five machine learning classifiers, namely, logistic regression, a support vector machine, random forest, boosting trees, and decision tree. For an evaluation of the performance, we applied the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUC), the accuracy, false positive rate (FPR) and false negative rate (FNR). The importance of each variable was evaluated through a comparison of the feature importance calculated using a Boosted tree. A total of 9,894 patients who underwent vaginal birth were enrolled in the study, including 188 cases (1.9%) with blood loss of > 1000 mL. The best learning model predicted postpartum hemorrhage with an AUC of 0.708, an accuracy of 0.686, FPR of 0.312, and FNR of 0.398. The analysis of the importance of the variables showed that pregnant gestation of labor, the maternal weight upon admission of labor, and the maternal weight before pregnancy were considered to be weighted factors. Machine learning model can predict postpartum hemorrhage during vaginal delivery. Further research should be conducted to analyze appropriate variables and prepare big data, such as hundreds of thousands of cases.
Reciprocal impacts of telomerase activity and ADRN/MES differentiation state in neuroblastoma tumor biology
Authors: Yu Eun Young , Zahid Syed S. , Aloe Sarah , Falck-Pedersen Erik , Zhou Xi Kathy , Cheung Nai-Kong V. , Lue Neal F.
Published: November 2021

Telomere maintenance and tumor cell differentiation have been separately implicated in neuroblastoma malignancy. Their mechanistic connection is unclear. We analyzed neuroblastoma cell lines and morphologic subclones representing the adrenergic (ADRN) and mesenchymal (MES) differentiation states and uncovered sharp differences in their telomere protein and telomerase activity levels. Pharmacologic conversion of ADRN into MES cells elicited consistent and robust changes in the expression of telomere-related proteins. Conversely, stringent down-regulation of telomerase activity triggers the differentiation of ADRN into MES cells, which was reversible upon telomerase up-regulation. Interestingly, the MES differentiation state is associated with elevated levels of innate immunity factors, including key components of the DNA-sensing pathway. Accordingly, MES but not ADRN cells can mount a robust response to viral infections in vitro. A gene expression signature based on telomere and cell lineage-related factors can cluster neuroblastoma tumor samples into predominantly ADRN or MES-like groups, with distinct clinical outcomes. Our findings establish a strong mechanistic connection between telomere and differentiation and suggest that manipulating telomeres may suppress malignancy not only by limiting the tumor growth potential but also by inducing tumor cell differentiation and altering its immunogenicity.
Photoresponsive macrocycles for selective binding and release of sulfate
Authors: Xiong Shenglun , He Qing
Published: November 2021

This work reports the synthesis of four photoresponsive macrocycles and their selective binding and release of SO42−vialight irradiation.
Stable isomeric layered indium coordination polymers for high proton conduction
Authors: Guo Xiuli , Li Zhenhua , Chen Xiaobo , Liang Dadong , Li Chunguang , Li Guanghua , Wang Li , Shi Zhan , Feng Shouhua
Published: November 2021

Stable isomeric layered indium coordination polymers with different coordinated anionic sites for high proton conduction.
The crystallization morphology and process of stereocomplex crystallites of polylactide under CO2: the effect of H-bonding and chain diffusion
Authors: Li Shaojie , Liao Xia , Liu Feng , Li Guangxian
Published: November 2021

The crystallization of PLA SC under CO2 was in situ investigated for the first time.
A carbon dioxide-promoted three-component Strecker reaction
Authors: Fauziev Ruslan V. , Ivanov Roman E. , Kuchurov Ilya V. , Zlotin Sergei G.
Published: November 2021

A three-component Strecker reaction of aldehydes, amines and KCN has been performed for the first time in supercritical carbon dioxide which acts both as an environmentally benign reaction medium and as a reaction promoter.
Room temperature two terminal tunnel magnetoresistance in a lateral graphene transistor
Authors: de Araujo C. I. L. , Teixeira H. A. , Toro O. O. , Liao C. , Benetti L. C. , Borme J. , Schafer D. , Brandt I. , Ferreira R. , Alpuim P. , Freitas Paulo P. , Pasa A. A.
Published: November 2021

Spin transport is characterized in a lateral graphene transistor. Spin polarized electronic current is much more sensitive to scattering from defects than pure spin current. Here, the defects are controlled by external voltage and temperature variations.
Metal organic complexes as an artificial solid-electrolyte interface with Zn-ion transfer promotion for long-life zinc metal batteries
Authors: Mu Yanlu , Zhou Tianyi , Zhai Zhaoyi , Zhang Shuangbin , Li Dexing , Chen Lan , Ge Guanglu
Published: November 2021

The schematic diagram for the plating/stripping process of Zn. (a) Corrosion, by-products, and Zn dendrites are observed on a bare Zn electrode. (b) The Zn–THBA protective layer endows a dense and dendrite-free plating/stripping morphology.
Modulating the electrocatalytic CO2reduction performances of bismuth nanoparticles with carbon substrates with controlled degrees of oxidation
Authors: Wu Si-Qian , Hao Yu-Chen , Chen Li-Wei , Li Jiani , Yu Zi-Long , Zhu Zhejiaji , Liu Di , Su Xin , Hu Linyu , Huang Hui-Zi , Yin An-Xiang
Published: November 2021

The oxygen-groups on carbon supports are of vital importance for the synthesis and electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction performances of Bi nanoparticles.
Glioma classification framework based on SE‐ResNeXt network and its optimization
Authors: Linqi Jiang , Chunyu Ning , Jingyang Li
Published: November 2021

Aiming at the complexity of the glioma classification process, a classification framework based on SE‐ResNeXt network is proposed to simplify the classification process of benign and malignant of gliomas. In addition, three optimization strategies are adopted to improve the accuracy. Firstly, the MultiStepLR strategy is used to adjust the learning rate dynamically in order to improve the learning ability of the network. Secondly, the one‐hot label is optimized by the label smoothing strategy which can reduce the dependence of the network on the probability distribution of real labels and improve the prediction ability of the network. Finally, the transfer learning process is simplified by the transfer learning strategy on CE‐MRI dataset, and the generalization ability of the network is improved. The experimental results show that the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the proposed method reach 97.45%, 98.35%, 94.93% and 0.9966 for the BraTS2017 dataset, 98.99%, 99.18%,98.33% and 0.9993 for the BraTS2019 dataset, respectively. Compared with the classical networks and other algorithms, the classification framework proposed in this paper has the best performance on glioma classification.
Biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles by Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans for antifungal applications
Authors: Bafghi Mahdi Hosseini , Darroudi Majid , Zargar Mohsen , Zarrinfar Hossein , Nazari Razieh
Published: November 2021

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles can replace the available chemical and physical methods by offering new procedures as green syntheses that have proved to be simple, biocompatible, safe, and cost‐effective. Recently, antifungal resistance has been reported against different species of Aspergillus and Candida opportunistic fungi. Selenium nanoparticles (Se‐NPs) were biosynthesized using standard strains of A. flavus and C. albicans. The presence of NPs was confirmed by UV‐Vis, FT‐IR, FESEM, EDX, XRD, and Zeta potential. Common fungal strains were cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar medium to perform the sensitivity test based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method in duplicate. The utilization of Se‐NPs at concentrations of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 μg/mL or in some strains even more minor than 0.125 μg/mL resulted in zero growth of fungal agents. However, antifungal drugs inhibited their growth at concentrations of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 64 μg/mL itraconazole (ITC). Also, MIC breakpoints for amphotericin B (AMB) and anidulafungin (AFG) were 2 μg/mL for defining resistance in some isolates. Based on the obtained results, biological NPs produced by Aspergillus and Candida at different concentrations exhibited favourable inhibitory effects on the growth of fungal strains.