bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoscale Morphological Characterization of Coordinated Binder and Solid Electrolyte Interphase in Silicon‐Based Electrodes for Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Huet Lucas , Moreau Philippe , Dupré Nicolas , Devic Thomas , Roué Lionel , Lestriez Bernard
Published: August 2022

The physical crosslinking of polymeric binders through coordination chemistry significantly improves the electrochemical performance of silicon‐based negative electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy is used to probe the nanoscale morphology of such electrodes. This technique reveals the homogeneous coordination of carboxylated binder with Zn cations and its layering on the silicon surface. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed after the first cycle is denser with Zn‐coordinated binder and preferentially observed on binder‐depleted zones. The superiority of coordinated binders can be attributed to their capacity to better stabilize the electrode and the SEI layer due to improved mechanical properties. This results in a lower SEI impedance, a higher first cycle coulombic efficiency, and a 40% improvement of capacity retention after 50 cycles for highly loaded electrodes of over 6 mAh cm–2.
Scheduling algorithms for truly heterogeneous hierarchical fog networks
Authors: Kaur Amanjot , Auluck Nitin
Published: August 2022

Fog computing has emerged as a viable framework for processing delay sensitive applications. Modern applications consist of latency‐sensitive and latency‐tolerant jobs, leading to fog architectures that are often multi‐tiered/hierarchical. FiFSA (hierarchical first fog scheduling algorithm) and EFSA (hierarchical elected fog scheduling algorithm) are capable of scheduling both online and batch jobs on hierarchical fog‐cloud architectures. We consider heterogeneity in computing capacity—both among fog devices in separate layers, and among fog devices in the same layers. In general, online jobs with modest cpu requirements are scheduled on lower tier fog devices, and batch jobs with significant cpu requirements are scheduled on higher tier‐fog nodes, or the cloud data center (cdc). FiFSA assigns jobs to the first fog device with sufficient spare capacity. EFSA employs a MinMin heuristic that assigns jobs to the fog device that results in minimum completion time, while considering fog load. The performance of the proposed algorithms has been evaluated on a real‐life workload trace, using both simulation scenarios and a prototype testbed. FiFSA and EFSA offer an improvement of 19% to 70% in completion times and an improvement of 42% to 72% in system cost over other comparable algorithms.
Effect of Reheating Temperatures on Hot Ductility and Precipitation Behavior of Low‐Carbon Steels
Authors: Sadeghi Fazlollah , Zargar Tahereh , Lahino Muhamad Rasyad Arkan , Kim Hyeju , Kwon Sang-Hum , Heo Yoon-Uk , Lee Jae Sang , Yim Chang Hee
Published: August 2022

The influence of reheating temperatures on hot ductility is investigated in two Ni‐, Mo‐, and Cu‐containing low‐carbon steels. The effects of solution treatment conditions at 1623, 1673 K, and remelting at 1803 K on the reduction in area (RA) are analyzed. The results show an RA trough in the range of 973–1173 K in all experimental conditions. At 973 K, which is close to the Ae3 temperature of both steel grades, ductility drop is caused by the formation of the thin ferrite film at the prior austenite grain boundary. Higher RA values are achieved after reheating to 1623 K, mainly due to smaller austenite grain size by the action of preformed precipitation throughout the matrix. In contrast, increased reheating temperatures result in relatively poor RA values because of the large austenite grain size due to the dissolution of preformed precipitate and reprecipitation at the grain boundaries during cooling. A comparison between two steel grades shows that better ductility at 973 K is achieved in low Ni‐containing steel due to the relatively thick ferrite film. The effects of alloy composition and preformed precipitate's existence on hot ductility are further discussed based on the matrix strengthening and reprecipitation behavior.
Effects of Zirconium on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of High‐Strength Low‐Alloy Steels under Quenched or Tempered Conditions
Authors: Wang Feng , Zheng Xueping , Long Jun , Zheng Kaihong , Zheng Zhibin
Published: August 2022

The effects of zirconium (Zr) on the microstructure, inclusions, Vickers hardness, impact toughness, and tensile properties of quenched and tempered high‐strength low‐alloy (HSLA) steels are investigated. The results show that the addition of Zr is beneficial to the refinement of the grain size of HSLA steels under the two heat treatment conditions. When the Zr content is 0.2 wt%, the average grain size of the steel is the smallest. The main inclusions in Zr‐containing HSLA steels are Zr–O and Zr–O–Mn–S, and the distribution of inclusions in HSLA steels is the most uniform when the Zr content is 0.04 wt%. The addition of an appropriate amount of Zr improves the Vickers hardness of HSLA steels under two heat treatment conditions. In terms of impact toughness, the increase of Zr content is beneficial to improving the room‐temperature impact energy of HSLA steels under two heat treatment conditions, but the improvement of the impact properties of tempered HSLA steels is limited. For tensile properties, the addition of 0.04 wt% Zr is beneficial to increasing the strength of quenched or tempered HSLA steels.
Qualitative prediction of Thymoquinone in the high‐performance liquid chromatography optimization method development using artificial intelligence models coupled with ensemble machine learning
Authors: Usman Abdullahi Garba , Işik Selin , Abba Sani Isah
Published: August 2022

In this study, three various artificial intelligence‐based models were employed including two non‐linear namely; Hammerstein–Wiener, the neuro‐fuzzy model, and a trivial linear multi‐linear regression analysis for the qualitative prediction of Thymoquinone in high‐performance liquid chromatography optimization method development. Various parameters which include mobile phase composition, flow rate, and concentration of the standard are used as the independent variables. Whereby, the Thymoquinone retention time is simulated to be the dependent variable. The predicted and experimental results were further estimated by using dual indices to assess the performances, which include the determination coefficient as the goodness of fit and mean squared error. The obtained results depicted the promising capacity of the non‐linear models; Hammerstein–Wiener and neuro‐fuzzy model over multi‐linear regression analysis. For the ensemble machine learning techniques, the results obtained from the non‐linear ensemble paradigm (neuro‐fuzzy ensemble) showed its ability in boosting the efficiency of the single model's performance up to 28%. The results illustrated the robustness and validity of the artificial intelligence‐based models and further confirmed the potential of ensemble techniques for the prediction of Thymoquinone.
Mechanical behavior of Glass fiber‐reinforced polymer‐timber‐steel tube‐concrete composite columns under axial compression
Authors: Zhang Fubin , Xie Shaofeng , Xiao Jianzhuang , Singh Amardeep , Xu Jing , Fang Hai
Published: August 2022

This paper proposes a novel glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP)‐timber‐steel tube‐concrete composite column (GTSC) that combines an outer steel tube with GFRP fabric reinforcement, an inner timber core, and concrete for the rest of the space. The mechanical behavior of eight specimens of novel composite columns was investigated considering diameters of timber cores, layer numbers, and angles of GFRP laminates. The results showed that as the size of the timber core increased from 0 to 50 mm, the ductility and the energy dissipation capacity of the composite column maximum increased by 61.5% and 63.4%, respectively. Conversely, the ultimate load carrying capacity and stiffness decreased. It was also found that the timber core weakened the strength of the confined concrete. However, timber core reduced the weight of columns, which slowed down the reduction of the ultimate load carrying capacity of per unit GTSCs, with the stiffness remains unchanged. GFRP laminates with an angle of 60° provide the best stiffness and ductility, and the layer numbers of GFRP has a positive effect on GTSC's mechanical performance. In addition, an analytical model was proposed based on the ultimate equilibrium method, which accounts for the ultimate bearing capacity of GTSC based on the influence of timber. Analyses revealed a good correlation between analytical and experimental results.
Intelligent Diagnosis Method of Power Equipment Faults Based on Single‐Stage Infrared Image Target Detection
Authors: Zheng Hanbo , Ping Yuan , Cui Yaohui , Li Jinheng
Published: August 2022

With the rapid expansion of the scale of the power grid, the efficiency of fault diagnosis has been severely challenged by the large amount of inspection image data generated by intelligent devices such as drones and inspection robots. In order to improve the efficiency of fault diagnosis for power equipment in substations, a new method for intelligently diagnosing different types of faults in power equipment is proposed. For circuit breakers and insulators, YOLOv4 is selected as the target detection model. To improve the detection performance of the YOLOv4 model, this paper improves it: the Cross Stage Partial (CSP) structure is introduced in the Spatial Pyramid Pooling (SPP) module of the neck of the YOLOv4 model. The experimental results show that after using the optimal learning rate decay strategy, the mAP and frames per second (FPS) of the improved YOLOv4 model are better than the original YOLOv4 and PP‐YOLO model. Finally, an intelligent diagnosis terminal system for power equipment faults is developed. Through the target recognition and rapid extraction of equipment temperature, the intelligent diagnosis of thermal faults of equipment is realized. This method is especially suitable for accurate fault diagnosis of more power equipment, and has potential huge applicability in the field of power equipment diagnosis. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Liver dysfunction and energy storage mobilization in traíra, Hoplias malabaricus (Teleostei, Erythrinidae) induced by subchronic exposure to toxic cyanobacterial crude extract
Authors: Paulino Marcelo Gustavo , Rossi Priscila Adriana , Venturini Francine Perri , Tavares Driele , Sakuragui Marise Margareth , Moraes Gilberto , Terezan Ana Paula , Fernandes João Batista , Giani Alessandra , Fernandes Marisa Narciso
Published: August 2022

Microcystins (MC) are hepatotoxic for organisms. Liver MC accumulation and structural change are intensely studied, but the functional hepatic enzymes and energy metabolism have received little attention. This study investigated the liver and hepatocyte structures and the activity of key hepatic functional enzymes with emphasis on energetic metabolism changes after subchronic fish exposure to cyanobacterial crude extract (CE) containing MC. The Neotropical erythrinid fish, Hoplias malabaricus, were exposed intraperitoneally to CE containing 100 μg MC‐LR eq kg−1 for 30 days and, thereafter, the plasma, liver, and white muscle was sampled for analyses. Liver tissue lost cellular structure organization showing round hepatocytes, hyperemia, and biliary duct obstruction. At the ultrastructural level, the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum exhibited disorganization. Direct and total bilirubin increased in plasma. In the liver, the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) increased, and the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased; AST increased in plasma. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were unchanged in the liver, muscle, and plasma. Glycogen stores and the energetic metabolites as glucose, lactate, and pyruvate decrease in the liver; pyruvate decreased in plasma and lactate decreased in muscle. Ammonia levels increased and protein concentration decreased in plasma. CE alters liver morphology by causing hepatocyte intracellular disorder, obstructive cholestasis, and dysfunction in the activity of key liver enzymes. The increasing energy demand implies glucose mobilization and metabolic adjustments maintaining protein preservation and lipid recruitment to supply the needs for detoxification allowing fish survival.
Role of autophagy in lysophosphatidylcholine‐induced apoptosis in mouse Leydig cells
Authors: Zeng Lin , Ma Bingchun , Yang Si , Zhang Meijuan , Wang Jinglei , Liu Mengling , Chen Jiaxiang
Published: August 2022

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a major class of glycerophospholipids ubiquitously present in most tissues, plays a dominant role in many diseases, while it is still unknown about the potential mechanism of LPC affecting the testicular Leydig cells. In the present study, mouse TM3 Leydig cells in vitro were treated with LPC for 48 h. LPC was found to significantly induce apoptosis and oxidative stress of mouse TM3 Leydig cells; while inhibition of oxidative stress by N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, an inhibitor of oxidative stress, could rescue the induction of apoptosis, indicating that LPC induced apoptosis of mouse TM3 Leydig cells via oxidative stress. Interestingly, LPC was showed to inhibit autophagy; however, induction of autophagy by rapamycin significantly alleviated the induction of apoptosis by LPC. Taken together, oxidative stress was involved in LPC‐induced apoptosis of mouse TM3 Leydig cells, and autophagy might play a protective role in LPC‐induced apoptosis.
Equine placental extract supplement as a night barking remedy in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Authors: Amano Tatsuya , Ikeda Takashi , Yamaguchi Makiko , Kakehi Nobuhisa , Hanada Keizo , Watanabe Tsuyuko , Tahara Kentarou , Hirano Eiichi
Published: August 2022

With the aging of pet dogs, there has been an increasing trend in senility‐related diseases; additionally, cognitive disorders accompanied by abnormal behaviours are a major burden for owners. Recently, there have been a series of consultations regarding the fact that night barking, which is an abnormal behaviour, remarkably interferes with the owner's sleep and adversely affects the owner's quality of life. However, there has been no effective solution to this problem. In this study, three aged pet dogs diagnosed with dementia were administered an equine placental extract (eqPE) as pet supplement, which has been shown in laboratory models to improve cognitive function. Consequently, night barking ceased 1 week after the administration of eqPE in case 2 and it was observed to decrease in the other two dogs. Furthermore, night barking disappeared 2 and 3 weeks after the administration of eqPE in cases 1 and 3, respectively. No recurrence or exacerbation of night barking was observed in the three cases treated with the eqPE, and no adverse events were observed. These results suggest that eqPE may be useful for improving night barking in pet dogs with dementia, and it is expected to be a new treatment method.
On Monotonicity Detection in Simplicial Branch and Bound over a Simplex
Authors: Casado L. G. , G.-Tóth B. , Hendrix E. M. T. , Messine F.
Published: August 2022

The concept of exploiting proven monotonicity for dimension reduction and elimination of partition sets is well known in the field of Interval Arithmetic Branch and Bound (B &B). Part of the concepts can be applied in simplicial B &B over a box. The focus of our research is here on minimizing a function over a lower simplicial dimension feasible set, like in blending and portfolio optimization problems. How can monotonicity be detected and be exploited in a B &B context? We found that feasible directions can be used to derive bounds on the directional derivative. Specifically, Linear Programming can be used to detect the sharpest bounds.
On the NLO QCD corrections to gluon-initiated ZH production
Authors: Degrassi Giuseppe , Gröber Ramona , Vitti Marco , Zhao Xiaoran
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We compute the QCD corrections at next-to-leading order for the process gg → ZH, including both the virtual two-loop terms and real-emission contributions. The two-loop box diagrams in the virtual corrections are approximated analytically over the complete phase space, combining the results of an expansion in the limit of small transverse momentum and an expansion in the regime of high energy. We obtain both inclusive and differential results for the cross section. We find that the NLO QCD corrections are of the same size as the LO contribution up to ZH invariant masses close to 1 TeV, but they increase significantly when higher energies are considered, due to a class of real-emission diagrams in which the Z boson is radiated from an open quark line. Finally, we estimate the uncertainty due to the renormalization scheme used for the top-quark mass both on the total and differential cross section.
Boosting mono-jet searches with model-agnostic machine learning
Authors: Finke Thorben , Krämer Michael , Lipp Maximilian , Mück Alexander
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We show how weakly supervised machine learning can improve the sensitivity of LHC mono-jet searches to new physics models with anomalous jet dynamics. The Classification Without Labels (CWoLa) method is used to extract all the information available from low-level detector information without any reference to specific new physics models. For the example of a strongly interacting dark matter model, we employ simulated data to show that the discovery potential of an existing generic search can be boosted considerably.
Definition and evolution of transverse momentum dependent distribution of twist-three
Authors: Rodini Simone , Vladimirov Alexey
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We present an in-depth analysis of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) distributions of twist-three. In particular, we focus on evolution equations, symmetry relations, parameterization, interpretation, small-b asymptotic behaviour and the structure of singularities. The starting point of discussion are the correlators with the definite TMD-twist. By considering suitable combinations of these correlators, we introduce physical TMD distribution of twist-three that can be used for practical applications. We also establish relations with generic TMD distribution of twist-three, and demonstrate that their evolution equations are autonomous in the large-Nc limit.
A first glance to the kinematic moments of B → Xcℓν at third order
Authors: Fael Matteo , Schönwald Kay , Steinhauser Matthias
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We study the impact of third-order QCD corrections for several kinematic moments of the inclusive semileptonic B decays, to first order in the 1/mb expansion. We consider the first four moments of the charged-lepton energy ER spectrum, the total leptonic invariant mass q2 and the hadronic invariant mass $$ {M}_X^2 $$

M
X
2

. No experimental cuts are applied. Our analytic results are obtained via an asymptotic expansion around the limit mb ~ mc. After converting the scheme for the bottom mass to the kinetic scheme we compare the size of higher QCD corrections to the contributions from 1/$$ {m}_b^2 $$

m
b
2

and 1/$$ {m}_b^3 $$

m
b
3

power corrections and to the relative uncertainties.
Unitary Vertex Algebras and Wightman Conformal Field Theories
Authors: Raymond Christopher , Tanimoto Yoh , Tener James E.
Published: August 2022

We prove an equivalence between the following notions: (i) unitary Möbius vertex algebras, and (ii) Wightman conformal field theories on the circle (with finite-dimensional conformal weight spaces) satisfying an additional condition that we call uniformly bounded order. Reading this equivalence in one direction, we obtain new analytic and operator-theoretic information about vertex operators. In the other direction we characterize OPEs of Wightman fields and show they satisfy the axioms of a vertex algebra. As an application we establish new results linking unitary vertex operator algebras with conformal nets.
Thinking like a Lawyer—Human Rights and Their Association with the Plastic Surgeon of Today
Authors: Knoedler Leonard , Oezdemir Berkin , Moog Philipp , Prantl Lukas , Broer P. Niclas , Knoedler Christoph , Rieger Ulrich M. , Perl Markus , von Isenburg Sarah , Gassner Ulrich M. , Obed Doha , Haug Valentin , Panayi Adriana C. , Knoedler Samuel
Published: August 2022

Plastic surgeons are trained to perform a wide repertoire of surgeries—ranging from standard local procedures to highly specialized operations. Therefore, plastic surgeons treat a plethora of clinical presentations and address multiple patient needs. Their daily workflow is increasingly entwined with legal topics. The concrete legal interpretation falls within the remit of legal experts. However, by understanding the legal basics of selected surgical procedures, plastic surgeons may generate synergies in patient care and clinical practice. The legal situation is to be elucidated based on the German Basic Law (GBL) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Level of Evidence V

"This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266."
Laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing liver resection for large (≥ 50 mm) colorectal metastases
Authors: Aghayan Davit L. , d’Albenzio Gabriella , Fretland Åsmund A. , Pelanis Egidijus , Røsok Bård I. , Yaqub Sheraz , Palomar Rafael , Edwin Bjørn
Published: August 2022

Background

Traditionally, patients with large liver tumors (≥ 50 mm) have been considered for anatomic major hepatectomy. Laparoscopic resection of large liver lesions is technically challenging and often performed by surgeons with extensive experience. The current study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncologic safety of laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing liver resection in patients with large colorectal metastases.

Methods

Patients who primarily underwent laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing liver resection (less than 3 consecutive liver segments) for colorectal liver metastases between 1999 and 2019 at Oslo University Hospital were analyzed. In some recent cases, a computer-assisted surgical planning system was used to better visualize and understand the patients’ liver anatomy, as well as a tool to further improve the resection strategy. The surgical and oncologic outcomes of patients with large (≥ 50 mm) and small (< 50 mm) tumors were compared. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for survival.

Results

In total 587 patients met the inclusion criteria (large tumor group, n = 59; and small tumor group, n = 528). Median tumor size was 60 mm (range, 50–110) in the large tumor group and 21 mm (3–48) in the small tumor group (p < 0.001). Patient age and CEA level were higher in the large tumor group (8.4 μg/L vs. 4.6 μg/L, p < 0.001). Operation time and conversion rate were similar, while median blood loss was higher in the large tumor group (500 ml vs. 200 ml, p < 0.001). Patients in the large tumor group had shorter 5 year overall survival (34% vs 49%, p = 0.027). However, in the multivariable Cox-regression analysis tumor size did not impact survival, unlike parameters such as age, ASA score, CEA level, extrahepatic disease at liver surgery, and positive lymph nodes in the primary tumor.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing resections for large colorectal liver metastases provide satisfactory short and long-term outcomes.

Graphical abstract
Reliability of a three-dimensional spinal proprioception assessment for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Lau Kenney Ki-Lee , Kwan Kenny Yat-Hong , Cheung Jason Pui-Yin , Chow Wang , Law Karlen Ka-Pui , Wong Arnold Yu-Lok , Chow Daniel Hung-Kay , Cheung Kenneth Man-Chee
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Although it is evident that some patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have proprioceptive deficit in peripheral joints, knowledge on the proprioceptive function of the deformed spine is limited. Nonetheless, spinal proprioception in AIS may be affected three-dimensionally, prior studies only focussed on evaluating peripheral proprioception in single plane. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel spinal proprioception assessment using three-dimensional motion analysis in patients with AIS.

Methods

Participants were included if they had a primary diagnosis of AIS who did not receive or failed conservative treatments. Three trunk repositioning tests involving flexion-extension, lateral-flexion, and axial-rotation were conducted. A three-dimensional kinematics of the trunk was used as the outcome measures. The proprioceptive acuity was quantified by the repositioning error. The intra-examiner and test-retest reliability were analysed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Fifty-nine patients with AIS were recruited. Regarding the trunk flexion–extension test, the single measure ICC showed moderate reliability (0.46) and the average measures ICC demonstrated good reliability (0.72). As for the trunk lateral-flexion test, the reliability of single measure and average measures ICC was moderate (0.44) and good (0.70) reliability, respectively. For the trunk axial-rotation test, the single measure ICC indicated fair reliability (0.32), while the average measures ICC showed moderate reliability (0.59).

Conclusion

This is the first study to evaluate the reliability of novel three-dimensional spinal proprioception assessments in patients with AIS. The trunk flexion-extension repositioning test may be preferable clinical test given its highest reliability.
Effect of time-dependent ibuprofen administration on the post operatory after impacted third molar extraction: a cross-over randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pérez-González Fabián , Abusamak Mohammad , Sáez-Alcaide Luis Miguel , García-Denche Jesus Torres , Marino Faleh Ahmad Tamimi
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To evaluate time-dependent administration of ibuprofen in a lower third molar extraction model.

Methods

Eleven patients requiring bilateral surgical removal of lower third molars were recruited and randomized into a blinded crossover randomized controlled trial. For 3 days after surgery, the control group was prescribed ibuprofen 400 mg every 8 h. On the other hand, the experimental group received also ibuprofen 400 mg at breakfast and lunch, replacing the dinner intake with a placebo. Pain measurements (Visual Analog Scale from 0 to 10) were recorded at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Facial swelling and trismus were also measured at baseline, 24, and 72 h postoperatively.

Results

Postoperative swelling and pain perception did not show significative difference between the control and experimental groups at 24, 48, and 72 h. Trismus was significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental group at 72 h postoperatively (p = 0.008). Rescue medication consumption seemed to be comparable between groups.

Conclusion

Eliminating night time ibuprofen might be insignificant for pain control after third molar extraction.
Does diagnostic testing always decrease antibiotics prescriptions?
Authors: Antoñanzas F. , Juárez-Castelló C. A. , Rodríguez-Ibeas R.
Published: August 2022

Background

Empiric prescription to treat infectious diseases in community care settings has caused antibiotics to be overprescribed, increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To reduce antibiotics prescription, the use of point-of-care diagnostic testing (POCT) has been suggested.

Methods

We present a stylized static theoretical economic model to analyse whether the use of POCT always decreases antibiotics prescriptions. We consider the interaction of a group of doctors who differ in their level of concern about AMR when prescribing with a firm selling a POCT, and we characterize the price set by the manufacturer and doctors’ decision to employ POCT.

Results

We found that the number of antibiotics prescriptions is not always lower. This result depends on the distribution of the doctors’ concern about AMR as there is a proportion of doctors who use POCT and then prescribe antibiotics while other doctors change their prescribing behaviour after using POCT and stop giving antibiotics to patients who do not benefit from them. When the proportion of patients who need antibiotic treatment is higher than the proportion of doctors who use POCT and stop prescribing unnecessary antibiotics, the number of antibiotics prescriptions is larger. Our analysis also shows that the use of POCT improves health outcomes.

Conclusions

We should be very careful when we assert that POCT reduces antibiotics prescriptions as there are situations in which the opposite effect occurs.
Poison frog social behaviour under global change: potential impacts and future challenges
Authors: Schlippe Justicia Lia , Fouilloux Chloe A. , Rojas Bibiana
Published: August 2022

The current and cascading effects of global change challenges the interactions both between animal individuals (i.e. social and sexual behaviour) and the environment they inhabit. Amphibians are an ecologically diverse class with a wide range of social and sexual behaviours, making them a compelling model to understand the potential adaptations of animals faced with the effects of human-induced rapid environmental changes (HIREC). Poison frogs (Dendrobatoidea) are a particularly interesting system, as they display diverse social behaviours that are shaped by conspecific and environmental interactions, thus offering a tractable system to investigate how closely related species may respond to the impacts of HIREC. Here, we discuss the potential impacts of global change on poison frog behaviour, and the future challenges this group may face in response to such change. We pay special attention to parental care and territoriality, which are emblematic of this clade, and consider how different species may flexibly respond and adapt to increasingly frequent and diverse anthropogenic stress. More specifically, we hypothesise that some parents may increase care (i.e. clutch attendance and distance travelled for tadpole transport) in HIREC scenarios and that species with more generalist oviposition and tadpole deposition behaviours may fare more positively than their less flexible counterparts; we predict that the latter may either face increased competition for resources limited by HIREC or will be forced to adapt and expand their natural preferences. Likewise, we hypothesise that human-driven habitat alteration will disrupt the acoustic and visual communication systems due to increased noise pollution and/or changes in the surrounding light environment. We highlight the need for more empirical research combining behavioural ecology and conservation to better predict species’ vulnerability to global change and efficiently focus conservation efforts.
Modeling should be an independent scientific discipline
Authors: Cabot Jordi , Vallecillo Antonio
Published: August 2022

Software modeling started as a paradigm to help developers build better software faster by enabling them to specify, reason and manipulate software systems at a higher-abstraction level while ignoring irrelevant low-level technical details. But this same principle manifests in any other domain that has to deal with complex systems, software-based or not. We argue that bringing to other engineering and scientific fields, our modeling expertise is a win–win opportunity where we can all learn from each other as we all model, but in complementary ways. Nevertheless, to fully unleash the benefits of this collaboration, we must go beyond individual efforts trying to adapt single techniques from one field to another. It requires a deeper reformulation of modeling as a whole. It is time for modeling to become an independent discipline where all fields of knowledge can contribute and benefit from.
Pilot tone-based prospective correction of respiratory motion for free-breathing myocardial T1 mapping
Authors: Ludwig Juliane , Kerkering Kirsten Miriam , Speier Peter , Schaeffter Tobias , Kolbitsch Christoph
Published: August 2022

Objective

To provide respiratory motion correction for free-breathing myocardial T1 mapping using a pilot tone (PT) and a continuous golden-angle radial acquisition.

Materials and methods

During a 45 s prescan the PT is acquired together with a dynamic sagittal image covering multiple respiratory cycles. From these images, the respiratory heart motion in head-feet and anterior–posterior direction is estimated and two linear models are derived between the PT and heart motion. In the following scan through-plane motion is corrected prospectively with slice tracking based on the PT. In-plane motion is corrected for retrospectively. Our method was evaluated on a motion phantom and 11 healthy subjects.

Results

Non-motion corrected measurements using a moving phantom showed T1 errors of 14 ± 4% (p < 0.05) compared to a reference measurement. The proposed motion correction approach reduced this error to 3 ± 4% (p < 0.05). In vivo the respiratory motion led to an overestimation of T1 values by 26 ± 31% compared to breathhold T1 maps, which was successfully corrected to an average difference of 3 ± 2% (p < 0.05) between our free-breathing approach and breathhold data.

Discussion

Our proposed PT-based motion correction approach allows for T1 mapping during free-breathing with the same accuracy as a corresponding breathhold T1 mapping scan.
Biomonitoring and assessment of toxic element contamination in floodplain sediments and soils using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) enzymatic activity measurements: evaluation of possibilities and limitations through the case study of the Drava River floodplain
Authors: Szabó Péter , Jordan Gyozo , Kocsis Tamás , Posta Katalin , Kardos Levente , Šajn Robert , Alijagić Jasminka
Published: August 2022

The EU Water Framework Directive requires the monitoring and evaluation of surface water sediment quality based on the assessment of risk posed by contamination on the biotic receptors. Floodplain sediments are important receptors of potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination from the upstream catchment areas, and floodplains host climate-sensitive riverine ecosystems and fertile agricultural areas at the same time. This study investigates the effect of PTE contamination on microbial communities in floodplain sediments and soils using the fast, inexpensive and reliable fluorescein diacetate (FDA) method in order to estimate its applicability for sediment quality monitoring and preliminary toxicity-based risk assessment. Sediment and soil samples were collected from the actively flooded alluvial plain and the river terrace areas along a 130-km stretch of the large Drava River floodplain known to be widely contaminated by historical mining, smelting and the associated industry in the upstream Alpine region. Results of detailed data analysis show that the total microbial activity represented by the measured FDA values is related to PTE (As, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) concentrations, but this relationship shows significant heterogeneity and depends on the spatial location and on the soil properties such as organic matter content, dissolved salt and nutrient content, and it is specific to the toxic elements. Results show that some microbe species appear to be able to adapt to the elevated PTE concentrations in toxic soil micro-environments, over time. Despite the observed heterogeneity of microbial activity, the results revealed a breakpoint in the FDA dataset around the FDA = 3 FC (fluorescein concentration) value suggesting that microbial activity is controlled by thresholds.
Modeling the electronic properties for CNT interacted with ZnO, CuO, and Co3O4
Authors: Taha Walaa M. , Morsy Mohamed , Nada Nadra A. , Ibrahim Medhat A.
Published: August 2022

Because of the wide applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and magic properties of metal oxides, Hartree–Fock quantum mechanical calculations at HF/STO-3G were applied to study the electronic properties of CNTs and their interaction with ZnO, CuO, and Co3O4. Calculations were conducted to calculate HOMO/LUMO bandgap energy ∆E, molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), and total dipole moment (TDM) for CNTs, CNT-Zn-O, CNT-Cu-O, CNT-Co-O, and CNT-O-Zn, CNT-O-Cu, CNT-O-Co following the two mechanisms of interaction as adsorbed and complex state. The calculations show that the interaction of CNTs with metal oxides increases its reactivity where MESP indicated to more distribution charges and an increase in the TDM value after the interaction of CNTs with metal oxides. Where the interaction of CNT-Co-O as adsorbed state has the highest TDM with the lowest bandgap ∆E which confirms that CNT-Co3O4 can be used in sensing devices.
Female entrepreneurial leadership factors
Authors: Aparisi-Torrijo Sofia , Ribes-Giner Gabriela
Published: August 2022

This article presents the foundations, current structure and trend of academic research into leadership factors in female entrepreneurship to provide scholars in the field with an overview of the followed research directions and to explore whether the same traditional patterns are reproduced in gender studies on entrepreneurship and leadership. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis of the Web of Science database from 2000 to 2020 was used. With a performance analysis of variables (e.g. authors, publications, journals and countries), and thanks to scientific mapping, the links among these variables were studied. The results show that the trend of publications increased from 2015, but with little influence and output. The most influential and productive countries are the USA and Spain. 35% of the journals are based in the USA and 25% in England. The most influential ones deal with entrepreneurship, business, management and leadership. Although the foundational base is influenced by the author Ahl, known for calling for new research directions related to women entrepreneurs from a social construction perspective, the most influential articles continue to investigate gender with a dominant male bias. The network analysis reveals cooperation between different countries and authors with the USA dominating. The ambiguity of entrepreneurial leadership field due to the overlap of entrepreneurship and leadership disciplines reveals through the co-citation of journals different specialisation areas: business and entrepreneurship, management and psychology, organisational behaviour. This work provides researchers with an overview that encourages them to overcome the dominant male normative lens from new epistemological perspectives.
From the source to the reservoir and beyond—tracking sediment particles with modeling tools under climate change predictions (Carpathian Mts.)
Authors: Wilk Paweł , Szlapa Monika , Hachaj Paweł S. , Orlińska-Woźniak Paulina , Jakusik Ewa , Szalińska Ewa
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The study tracks spatial and temporal distribution of sediment particles from their source to the deposition area in a dammed reservoir. This is particularly important due to the predicted future climate changes, which will increase the severity of problems with sediment transport, especially in catchments prone to erosion.

Methods

Analyses were performed with a monthly step for two mineral and one mineral/organic sediment fractions delivered from the Carpathian Mts. catchment (Raba River) to the drinking water reservoir (Dobczyce) by combining SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), and AdH/PTM (Adaptive Hydraulics Model/Particle Tracking Model) modules on the digital platform—Macromodel DNS (Discharge Nutrient Sea). To take into account future changes in this catchment, a variant scenario analysis including RCP (representative concentration pathways) 4.5 and 8.5, and land use change forecasts, was performed.

Results

The differences between the two analyzed hydrological units (catchment and reservoir) have been highlighted and showed a large variability of the sediment load between months. The predicted climate changes will cause a significant increase of mineral fraction loads (silt and clay) during months with high flows. Due to the location and natural arrangement of the reservoir, silt particles will mainly affect faster loss of the first two reservoir zones capacities.

Conclusions

The increased mobility of finer particles (clay) in the reservoir may be more problematic in the future, mainly due to their binding pollutant properties, and the possible negative impact on drinking water abstraction from the last reservoir zone. Moreover, the study shows that the monthly approach to forecasting the impact of climate change on sediment loads in the reservoir is recommended, instead of a seasonal one.
Metacognitive awareness in relation to university students’ learning profiles
Authors: Tuononen Tarja , Hyytinen Heidi , Räisänen Milla , Hailikari Telle , Parpala Anna
Published: August 2022

The present study aims to deepen our understanding of the relationship between metacognitive awareness and approaches to learning in a multidisciplinary context of higher education using a person-oriented approach. The participants in the present study were 462 third year students of humanities, social sciences and theology. The students filled in a HowULearn questionnaire which included 18 items related to metacognitive awareness and 12 to approaches to learning. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to explore the factor structure of the instruments. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, K-means cluster analysis and One-way ANOVA. The results showed that two dimensions of metacognitive awareness, namely knowledge about cognition and regulation of cognition, emerged from the data. Knowledge about cognition was evaluated higher than regulation of cognition. The results showed that both dimensions of metacognitive awareness were statistically significantly related to a deep approach to learning and organized studying and negatively to an unreflective approach. Furthermore, three learning profiles were identified and they differed in both of these dimensions of metacognitive awareness. More precisely, students representing organized students applying a deep approach had higher scores on knowledge about cognition as well as on regulation of cognition compared with the students representing unorganized studentsapplying a deep approach or those with a dissonant profile. In addition, students representing the dissonant profile had statistically significantly lower scores on knowledge about cognition than those students representing unorganized students applying a deep approach. The present study implies that students with different study profiles need different types of support for the metacognitive awareness of their own learning processes.
Constraints and incentives in the investment regime: How bargaining power shapes BIT reform
Authors: Huikuri Tuuli-Anna
Published: August 2022

States have increasingly started to terminate and renegotiate their bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Dominant explanations have however overlooked the underlying bargaining dynamic of investment treaty negotiations. This paper argues that while states initially in a weaker negotiating position have the strongest incentives to change their existing BITs, their ability to do so is constrained by their bargaining power. Such states become more likely to demand renegotiation or exit dissatisfying BITs if they have experienced sufficient changes in their bargaining power in relation to the treaty partner. This paper identifies observable implications of the weaker states’ incentives and bargaining power constraints for adjusting their bilateral investment treaty commitments. Leveraging a panel dataset on 2,623 BITs ranging from 1962 to 2019, interaction effects between bargaining power and incentives stemming from rationalist and bounded rationality assumptions about states’ decision-making are analyzed in relation to the occurrence of renegotiations and terminations. The paper finds that change in bargaining power in relation to the treaty partner is an important factor underlying the weaker states’ ability to terminate or renegotiate BITs, contributing to the study of investment regime reform and exit from international institutions.
Scale up of reactors for carbon dioxide reduction
Authors: Nattestad Andrew , Wagner Klaudia , Wallace Gordon G.
Published: August 2022

In recent times there has been a great deal of interest in the conversion of carbon dioxide into more useful chemical compounds. On the other hand, the translation of these developments in electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide from the laboratory bench to practical scale remains an underexplored topic. Here we examine some of the major challenges, demonstrating some promising strategies towards such scale-up, including increased electrode area and stacking of electrode pairs in different configurations. We observed that increasing the electrode area from 1 to 10 cm2 led to only a 4% drop in current density, with similarly small penalties realised when stacking sub-cells together.
Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Children and Young Adults
Authors: Ford Maegan , Mauro Michael , Aftandilian Catherine , Sakamoto Kathleen M. , Hijiya Nobuko
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

Due to lack of pediatric-specific data, the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in pediatric, adolescents, and young adults is guided by adult CML evidence-based recommendations. Pediatric CML presents differently than adult CML and is often a more aggressive disease with different biological and host factors, yet there is sparse literature on how to address those differences.

Recent Findings

Over the past two decades, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have changed the way CML is treated. There are currently three FDA-approved TKIs (imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib) for pediatric patients. When choosing which TKI to begin treatment with, there are many factors that should be considered on a case-to-case basis to obtain optimal outcomes. The safety profiles for long-term TKI use in pediatrics require further study. Unlike adults, children are still actively growing during TKI use, and the effect on development can be detrimental. TKI therapy is not recommended during pregnancy with variable but significant risk of fetal abnormalities and miscarriage, warranting counseling for young female patients prior to beginning TKIs. Attempts for treatment-free remission (TFR) by planned TKI cessation in eligible adult patients in deep and sustained molecular remission are now done as a standard of practice. However, data is sparse in the pediatric population. There is currently an ongoing Children’s Oncology Group (COG) study to determine the feasibility of TFR as a treatment goal.

Further research and additional pediatric trials are needed to characterize the unique aspects of CML in children and adolescents and optimize outcomes.