bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial Effects of Fenugreek, Wheat and Hot Red Pepper Seeds and Their Germs Extract on Inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae Growth
Authors: Youssef Nesrine H. , Sabra Mayada A.
Published: April 2021

Aims: The work investigated the effects of plant seeds such as fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.), and hot red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) which are traditionally used as natural food preservatives or at least to minimize the used concentrations of artificial preservative, meantime to serve as antibacterial agents against certain positive and negative gram bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterobacter cloacae Enk1 LT592256 and the effectiveness of using germinated seeds in reducing bacterial growth.

Study Design: The experiments were designed as one way completely randomized design.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were carried out at the Regional Center for Food and Feed (RCFF), Agricultural Research Center, and Faculty of Agriculture Saba Basha, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Methodology: The living bacterial cells in each treatment was estimated after 5 days of incubation at 25°C the total viable bacterial counts were determined using the plate count agar method. Microbial numbers in all samples were determined using serial dilutions also, determine the total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and total phenol contents of the tested seeds and their germs.

Results: Our results demonstrated that the maximum number of S. aureus bacteria in 10-1 on wheat germinated seeds extract at 1000 µl that is 290 CFU and the maximum number of E. cloaceae was 370 CFU was found in wheat non-germinated seeds at 500µl concentration, however, the highly inhibitory concentration of S. aureus 1000 µl was realized using non-germinated red pepper seeds extract (97.9%) and (92.9%) in the case of E. cloaceae bacteria. The maximum inhibition percentage was found with red pepper non-germinated seeds for (S. aureus) it was (97.9%) and for the (E. cloaceae) was (92.9%) under the concentration 1000 µl. The results showed that germs extract was less effective as an antibacterial agent than seed extract. S. aureus was more susceptible than E. cloacae. The use of hot red pepper seeds extracts then fenugreek extract was highly effective in reducing the growth of both the tested bacteria.

Conclusion: Hot pepper and fenugreek extracts can be used as natural alternative preventives to control food poisoning diseases. Non Germinated seeds are  most effective against studied bacteria growth.
Programmed Size‐Changeable Nanotheranostic Agents for Enhanced Imaging‐Guided Chemo/Photodynamic Combination Therapy and Fast Elimination
Authors: Cheng Guohui , Zong Wei , Guo Haizhen , Li Fuyan , Zhang Xu , Yu Peng , Ren Fuxin , Zhang Xinlu , Shi Xiaoen , Gao Fei , Chang Jin , Wang Sheng
Published: April 2021

An ideal nanotheranostic agent should be able to achieve efficient tumor accumulation, retention, and fast elimination after its theranostic functions exhausts. However, there is an irreconcilable contradiction on optimum sizes for effective tumor retention and fast elimination. Herein, a programmed size‐changeable nanotheranostic agent based on polyprodrug‐modified iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and aggregation‐induced emission photosensitizer is developed for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided chemo/photodynamic combination therapy. The nano‐sized theranostic agents with an initial diameter of about 90 nm can accumulate in tumor tissue through passive targeting. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, large aggregates of IONPs are formed, realizing enhanced tumor retention and MR signal enhancement. Under the guidance of MRI, light irradiation is applied to the tumor site for triggering the generation of reactive oxygen species and drug release. Moreover, after chemo/photodynamic combination therapy, the large‐sized aggregates are re‐dispersed into small‐sized IONPs for fast elimination, reducing the risk of toxicity caused by long‐term retention. Therefore, this study provides a promising size‐changeable strategy for the development of nanotheranostic agents.
Second‐order sliding mode control of wind turbines to enhance the fault‐ride through capability under unbalanced grid faults
Authors: Tahir Khalfallah , Allaoui Tayeb , Denai Mouloud , Mekhilef Saad , Belfedal Cheikh , Doumi M'hamed
Published: April 2021

The integration of wind generation to the grid is growing rapidly across the world. As a result, grid operators have introduced the so‐called grid codes (GC), which nowadays include a range of technical conditions and requirements, which wind generators must fulfill. Among these, the low‐voltage ride through (LVRT) is a requirement for wind turbines to stay connected to the grid and continue to operate during the disturbance. In this study, a control structure, combining inertial kinetic energy storage with a crowbar circuit, is proposed to enhance the ride through capability of a wind turbine generator (WTG) based on a wound‐field synchronous generator (WFSG) under unsymmetrical voltage dips. For the grid‐side converter (GSC), a decoupled double synchronous reference frame (DDSRF) d‐q current controller is used. Furthermore, a second‐order sliding mode controller (SOSMC) with super‐twisting (ST) algorithm is proposed for the GSC and the machine‐side converter (MSC) to improve the response speed and achieve an accurate regulation of the dq‐axis current components simultaneously. The main objectives of the GSC are to achieve a balanced, sinusoidal current and smooth the real and reactive powers to reduce the influence of the negative‐sequence voltage. A series of simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme in improving the LVRT capability of the WFSG‐driven wind turbine and the power quality of the system under unbalanced grid voltage conditions.
Impact of Solvent and Their Contaminants on Pd/C Catalyzed Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Coupling Reactions
Authors: de Lambert de Boisjan Alexandre , Allemann Christophe , Fadini Luca
Published: April 2021

The aim of this work was to understand if solvent contaminants can interfere in Suzuki’s cross‐coupling reactions and if it can explain the lack of robustness in industrial processes. For this purpose, several parameters were tested on the industrial model reaction between 2‐bromonaphthalene and phenylboronic acid catalyzed by Pd/C. Best results were obtained using THF as solvent. Traces of the precursors of the used solvents, such as 2,3‐dihydrofurane or maleic anhydride (100–300 ppm related to the solvent) strongly poisoned the reaction, decreasing the conversion significantly. This means that to ensure robust production, solvent quality must be analyzed at the ppm level. Fortunately, addition of triphenylphosphine can circumvent the catalyst poisoning.
Spectral simulation to investigate the effects of nanoparticle diameter and nanolayer on the ferrofluid flow over a slippery rotating disk in the presence of low oscillating magnetic field
Authors: Acharya Nilankush
Published: April 2021

This article explores the impacts of the solid–liquid interfacial layer and nanoparticle diameter on the unsteady ferrous‐water nanoliquid flow over a spinning disk. The existence of velocity slip is presumed on the disk. Additionally, the low oscillating magnetic field effect is included to extract the hydrothermal consequences of the problem. Shliomis theory has been presented to verbalize the foremost equations of the mentioned flow problem. The similarity transformation renders the dimensionless equations. Spectral quasilinearization technique along with the residual error profile is presented to resolve the converted equations. An adequate number of pictures and tables are portrayed to improve the parametric study of the problem. Several streamlines, isotherms, contour plots, and three‐dimensional figures are presented to disclose the hydrothermal integrity of the nanofluidic transport. Effective magnetization parameter produces 4.67% skin frictional increment. Heat transport declines for nanoparticle diameter but is enhanced for nanolayer conductivity ratio. The presence of an oscillating magnetic field always promotes heat transference as compared with the absence of the oscillating field. The nanolayer conductivity ratio conveys the highest 8.69% heat transport rate, whereas the magnetization factor provides the lowest, 1.79%. It has novel applications in magnetic drug targeting, hard disk scaling, magnetic resonance imaging, spin coating, lubrication, and so forth.
Fluorescent Labelling of Cell Surface Proteins on a Solid Support
Authors: Adler Sean , Motiei Leila , Mankovski Naama , Cohen Hagai , Margulies David
Published: April 2021

A method for decorating bacteria with synthetic receptors while they are attached to a solid support is described. This approach involves two steps. First, E. coli expressing a His‐tagged outer membrane protein C (His‐OmpC) are attached to a monolayer of DNA duplexes appended with a tri‐nitrilotriacetic acid (tri‐NTA) group. The remaining His‐tags, which are not involved in the interaction with the monolayer, can then be modified with additional tri‐NTA‐appended duplexes that bear different functionalities. By labelling the surface‐bound bacteria with an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) appended with a fluorescent dye and by turning off its emission using a complementary, quencher‐bearing strand, we demonstrate the versatility of this approach, as well as a means to modify cell membrane proteins on a solid support using simple self‐assembly processes.
COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance in pregnant women
Authors: Goncu Ayhan Sule , Oluklu Deniz , Atalay Aysegul , Menekse Beser Dilek , Tanacan Atakan , Moraloglu Tekin Ozlem , Sahin Dilek
Published: April 2021

Objective

To determine vaccine acceptance and hesitancy attitudes toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccines in pregnant women.

Methods

Three hundred pregnant women were surveyed face to face with 40 questions. Sociodemographic characteristics, vaccination history, perception of risk for the COVID‐19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and acceptance of and attitude toward future COVID‐19 vaccination were prospectively evaluated.

Results

Among all participants, 111 (37%) stated their intent to receive the vaccine if it were recommended for pregnant women. Most common refusal reasons were lack of data about COVID‐19 vaccine safety in pregnant populations and possibility of harm to the fetus. There was a weak positive correlation between COVID‐19 vaccine acceptancy and number of school‐age children. Pregnant women in the first trimester expressed higher acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination than those in the second and third trimesters.

Conclusion

The present study reported low acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination in a sample of pregnant women. Concern about vaccine safety was the major reason for hesitancy. Identifying attitudes among priority groups will be useful for creating vaccination strategies that increase uptake during the current pandemic.
Dual inhibition of MEK1/2 and MEK5 suppresses the EMT/migration axis in triple‐negative breast cancer through FRA‐1 regulation
Authors: Hoang Van T. , Matossian Margarite D. , La Jacqueline , Hoang Kristine , Ucar Deniz A. , Elliott Steven , Burks Hope E. , Wright Thomas D. , Patel Saloni , Bhatt Akshita , Phamduy Theresa , Chrisey Douglas , Buechlein Aaron , Rusch Douglas B. , Nephew Kenneth P. , Anbalagan Murali , Rowan Brian , Cavanaugh Jane E. , Flaherty Patrick T. , Miele Lucio , Collins‐Burow Bridgette M. , Burow Matthew E.
Published: April 2021

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a clinical challenge due to the aggressive nature of the disease and a lack of targeted therapies. Constitutive activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway has been linked to chemoresistance and metastatic progression through distinct mechanisms, including activation of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) when cells adopt a motile and invasive phenotype through loss of epithelial markers (CDH1), and acquisition of mesenchymal markers (VIM, CDH2). Although MAPK/ERK1/2 kinase inhibitors (MEKi) are useful antitumor agents in a clinical setting, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved MEK1,2 dual inhibitors cobimetinib and trametinib, there are limitations to their clinical utility, primarily adaptation of the BRAF pathway and ocular toxicities. The MEK5 (HGNC: MAP2K5) pathway has important roles in metastatic progression of various cancer types, including those of the prostate, colon, bone and breast, and elevated levels of ERK5 expression in breast carcinomas are linked to a worse prognoses in TNBC patients. The purpose of this study is to explore MEK5 regulation of the EMT axis and to evaluate a novel pan‐MEK inhibitor on clinically aggressive TNBC cells. Our results show a distinction between the MEK1/2 and MEK5 cascades in maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype, suggesting that the MEK5 pathway may be necessary and sufficient in EMT regulation while MEK1/2 signaling further sustains the mesenchymal state of TNBC cells. Furthermore, additive effects on MET induction are evident through the inhibition of both MEK1/2 and MEK5. Taken together, these data demonstrate the need for a better understanding of the individual roles of MEK1/2 and MEK5 signaling in breast cancer and provide a rationale for the combined targeting of these pathways to circumvent compensatory signaling and subsequent therapeutic resistance.
Androgen receptor activation decreases proliferation in thyroid cancer cells
Authors: Jones Melanie E. , O'Connell Timmy J. , Zhao Hong , Darzynkiewicz Zgibniew , Gupta Anvita , Buchsbaum Joseph , Shin Edward , Iacob Codrin , Suslina Nina , Moscatello Augustine , Schantz Stimson , Tiwari Raj , Geliebter Jan
Published: April 2021

The American Cancer Society predicted more than 52 000 new cases of thyroid cancer in 2020, making it the most prevalent endocrine malignancy. Due to the approximately threefold higher incidence of thyroid cancer in women, we hypothesize that androgens and/or androgen receptors play a protective role and that thyroid cancer in men represents an escape from androgen‐mediated cell regulation. The analysis of androgen receptor (AR) expression in patient tissue samples identified a 2.7‐fold reduction in AR expression (p < 0.005) in papillary thyroid cancer compared with matched, normal tissue. An in vitro cell model was developed by stably transfecting AR into 8505C undifferentiated thyroid cancer cells (resulting in clone 84E7). The addition of DHT to the clone 84E7 resulted in AR translocation into the nucleus and a 70% reduction in proliferation, with a shift in the cell cycle toward G1 arrest. RNASeq analysis revealed significant changes in mRNA levels associated with proliferation, cell cycle, and cell cycle regulation. Furthermore, androgen significantly decreased the levels of the G1‐associated cell cycle progression proteins cdc25a CDK6 CDK4 and CDK2 as well as increased the levels of the cell cycle inhibitors, p27 and p21. The data strongly suggest that DHT induces a G1 arrest in androgen‐responsive thyroid cancer cells. Together, these data support our hypothesis that AR/androgen may play a protective, antiproliferative role and are consistent with younger men having a lower incidence of thyroid cancer than women.
Pandemics and education: A historical review
Authors: Spielman Andrew I. , Sunavala‐Dossabhoy Gulshan
Published: April 2021

Major pandemics have tremendous effects on society. They precipitated the early decline of the Western Roman Empire and helped spread Christianity. There are countless such examples of infectious diseases altering the course of history. The impact of epidemics on education however is less well documented. This present historical account of the past 800 years looks specifically at how some aspects of education were shaped from the early medieval epidemics such as leprosy and the Black Plague to the Spanish Flu and COVID‐19. Leprosy changed religious education, and the Black Plague may have contributed to the rise of medical schools, hospitals, public health education, and led to the implementation of lazarettos and the quarantine. The smallpox epidemic helped usher in public health education for immunization, while the 1918 Spanish Flu precipitated the rise of education by correspondence, and recently COVID‐19 has catapulted remote digital learning to the forefront of higher education.
Light and scanning electron microscopic study of genus Echinochloa species inhabited in Pakistan
Authors: Shaheen Shabnum , Harun Nidaa , Hussain Khadim , Sharifi‐Rad Javad , Shahid Muhammad Naveed , Ashfaq Muhammad , Sonia Romisha , Ahmad Mushtaq , Khan Farah
Published: April 2021

Grass taxonomy is quite problematic and insignificant taxonomic work has been done on Echinochloa with special reference to Pakistan. Therefore, the present study was carried out to provide taxonomic keys for the identification of this genus through microscopic epidermal leaf anatomical parameters. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were done to delimit the different species. Special structures like hook cells, short and long cells, stomata, macro‐ and micro‐hairs, prickles and silica bodies showed a lot of variation among each species. For instance, E. frumentacea can be distinguished from E. walteri by the presence of macro hairs between the veins. Furthermore, E. crus‐galli can be distinguished from E. frumentacea in terms of macro hair size, that is, 45–60 μm and 20–60 μm, respectively. Similarly, E. colona showed marked variations in terms of prickles abundance from E. frumentacea. Overall results of this research reports valuable qualitative and quantitative diagnostic futures for the genus Echinochloa.
Universal access to genetic counseling for women with epithelial ovarian cancer in Nova Scotia: Evaluating a new collaborative care model
Authors: Warias Ashley , Ferguson Meghan , Chamberlain Erin , Currie Lauren , Snow Nicole , Matheson Kara , Penney Lynette S. , Kieser Katharina
Published: April 2021

Women with pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2 have a significantly increased lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The availability of genetic testing to identify BRCA1/2 carriers is imperative to disease prevention and treatment. We evaluated the effectiveness of a new collaborative care model in Nova Scotia, involving the integration of genetic counselors into tumor board rounds, reduction in time allotted for initial genetic counseling appointments from 60 to 45 min, and a standardized dictation template, to increase referral rate for genetic counseling. We also assessed the study cohorts’ preferences on timing for genetic testing. A retrospective chart review was performed on all women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) from 2012 to 2017 (N = 386). Pertinent clinical outcomes were categorized and wait times to different nodes of the clinical pathway assessed. A questionnaire was sent to this same cohort of women to identify preference for the timing of genetic testing (n = 103). The chi‐square and Wilcoxon's rank‐sum tests were used to compare demographic and clinical variables pre‐ and post‐care model implementation. We identified a 48.2% (95% CI: 39.4–56.7, p < .001) increase in referral for genetic counseling following implementation of the new care model. Median time from diagnosis to referral decreased by 74.0 days (p < .001) and median time from referral to first appointment by 54.0 days (p < .001). 56.3% of women desired referral at the time of diagnosis. This care model for women newly diagnosed with EOC in Nova Scotia was successful in increasing referral rates for genetic counseling. Majority of women pursued genetic testing following and favored that referral for genetic counseling be made at the time of diagnosis, highlighting the importance for timely access.
Biosurfactant Production by Bacillus tequilensis ZSB10: Structural Characterization, Physicochemical, and Antifungal Properties
Authors: Cortés‐Camargo S. , Acuña‐Avila P.E. , Arrieta‐Báez D. , Montañez‐Barragán B. , Morato A.I. , Sanz‐Martín J.L. , Barragán‐Huerta B.E.
Published: April 2021

A new biosurfactant was obtained from a moderately halophilic bacterium identified as Bacillus tequilensis ZSB10 that was isolated from a saline water pond located in Tehuacan‐Cuicatlan valley, Mexico. A kinetic analysis of the bacterial growth of the ZSB10 strain showed a maximum growth at 24 h regardless of the initial pH (5, 7.4, and 9). The best results were found at pH = 7.4 in terms of bacterial growth, besides which the produced biosurfactant showed emulsifying and surfactant properties with an emulsification index (E24) and surface tension change (ΔST) of 54 ± 0% and 26 mN m−1, respectively. Extracted ZSB10 crude biosurfactant had a yield of 106 ± 6 mg L−1, an E24 = 58.4 ± 0.2%, and a ΔST = 26 mN m−1 with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 44.82 mg L−1. Also, its structure was characterized by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry as a surfactin, iturin A, and fengycin mixture whose main isoform was leu/ile‐7 C15 surfactin [M + Na]+. Finally, the ZSB10 crude biosurfactant showed antifungal activity against Helminthosporium sp., with a 79.3% growth inhibition and an IC50 of 1.37 mg per disc. Therefore, this biosurfactant could be used as biopesticide.
Nitrogen leaching and grey water footprint affected by nitrogen fertilization rate in maize production: a case study of Southwest China
Authors: Yao Zhi , Zhang Wushuai , Chen Yuanxue , Zhang Wei , Liu Dunyi , Gao Xiaopeng , Chen Xinping
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND

Effective nitrogen (N) management measures are required to control environmental problems caused by N fertilizer use in intensive maize production systems. Soil N losses associated with high precipitation and over‐fertilization in maize production can cause substantial environmental problems, whereas there is a lack of quantitative data and effective study countermeasures. A 2‐year field study was conducted in the subtropical maize production system in Southwest China to quantify N leaching under varying N application rates of 0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 kg N ha−1 yr−1.

RESULTS

The results indicated that N leaching accounted for 16–38% of N fertilizer input. For farmer practice treatment (360 kg N ha−1 yr−1), N leaching loss was high at 110 kg N ha−1 yr−1and accounted for 31% of the N applied. As an indicator of the ambient water quality pollution, the grey water footprint across all treatments ranged from 376 to 1092 m3 Mg−1, with an average of 695 m3 Mg−1. Reducing N rate to agronomically optimized treatment (180 kg N ha−1 yr−1) significantly decreased N leaching by 77%, and maintained high grain yield of 8.1 Mg ha−1. The grey water footprint was reduced by 52–63% with N rates from 270 or 360 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to 180 kg N ha−1 yr−1.

CONCLUSION

Nitrogen surplus (applied N rate minus N uptake by maize) resulted in higher soil residual nitrate concentration and consequently high N leaching. High precipitation and low soil pH were the main ecological factors leading to high N leaching. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
The evaluation of nonisothermal thermoanalytical kinetics is simplified without the description of heat transfers, such as thermal inertia, which is not negligible, as indicated by Vyazovkin
Authors: Šesták Jaroslav
Published: April 2021

In the field of thermoanalytical kinetics, which is widely used, basic questions arise regarding a possible description of the effect of heat transfer and subsequent thermal inertia. Current practice still uses a simplified interpretation of directly measured data for an inert sample at a constant temperature rise to describe the studied reaction, which leads to a simplified reaction conversion ratio, which is further used for various mathematical processing. The analysis of the introduced rectangular heat pulses and their indication by DTA clearly shows that the effect of thermal inertia is fundamental and not negligible. This is, after all, known from calorimetry, where the integral constant of inertia has historically been used to calibrate the descending temperature, but it cannot generally be applied to the whole temperature process due to its nonlinearity. In the case of parallel processing, for example by gradually increasing the heating rate, the effect of thermal inertia can be partially compensated for each other which have yet to be confirmed. However, for the kinetic analysis of a single peak, it is necessary to adapt to the effect of the thermal delay due to thermal inertia, which, similarly to the measured enthalpy, is tied to the sample size. Of course, it will be up to the researcher to find a solution that also includes the effect of heat transfer and dissipation, which should become the main principle of thermoanalytical methods of the future, as shown by current examples combining thermal processes with their specific kinetics.
When can the effect of thermal inertia be considered negligible?
Authors: Vyazovkin Sergey
Published: April 2021

This paper is a response to Sestak's comments entitled “The evaluation of non‐isothermal thermoanalytical kinetics is simplified without the description of heat transfers, such as thermal inertia, which is not negligible, as indicated by Vyazovkin.” It is stressed that Vyazovkin has never claimed that thermal inertia is generally negligible. Rather, he discussed the conditions, under which its effect on the activation energy can be diminished to the level when it can be neglected. Such conditions are accomplished by diminishing the sample mass and heating rate. The effect of thermal inertia is likely to be brought down to a negligible level by keeping the product of the sample mass and heating rate below 100 mg K min−1 or, better yet, the product of the time constant and heating rate below 2–3 K. The final judgement is to be based on statistical analysis that compares the activation energies derived respectively from the data uncorrected and corrected for thermal inertia. As long as statistical analysis suggests that the difference in the activation energies is statistically insignificant, one can consider the effect of thermal inertia negligible.
Making Smectic Defect Patterns Electrically Reversible and Dynamically Tunable Using In Situ Polymer‐Templated Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Boniello Giuseppe , Vilchez Victoria , Garre Emmanuel , Mondiot Frédéric
Published: April 2021

Shaping liquid crystals (LCs) into arrays of defect patterns enables the design of composite materials with new stimuli‐responsive properties. Self‐assembled defect assemblies that may arise in layered smectic A (SmA) LCs such as focal conic domains (FCDs), exhibit remarkable optical features and abilities for ordering nanoparticles. However, such SmA defect patterns are essentially electrically irreversible, which currently limits their adjustability in a dynamic way. Here, in situ polymerization of the texture of SmA FCDs allows transferring them into more electrically responsive LC phases, such as nematic, making possible a dynamic switch between different textural and optical states of FCDs in a reversible manner with voltage. Moreover, the method readily enables to program the operating temperature range of the polymer/LC composite from its chemical composition, adapting the system to various potential uses. This approach may increment new applications of SmA defect patterns such as voltage‐tunable privacy layers and may further inspire the design of LC‐based nanostructured composite and hybrid materials with new functions that can be dynamically tuned with voltage.
Are Cramér‐Rao lower bounds an accurate estimate for standard deviations in in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy?
Authors: Landheer Karl , Juchem Christoph
Published: April 2021

Due to inherent time constraints for in vivo experiments, it is infeasible to repeat multiple MRS scans to estimate standard deviations on the desired measured parameters. As such, the Cramér‐Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) have become the routine method to approximate standard deviations for in vivo experiments. Cramér‐Rao lower bounds, however, as the name suggests, are theoretically a lower bound on the standard deviation and it is not clear if and under what circumstances this approximation is valid. Realistic synthetic 3 T spectra were used to investigate the relationship between estimated CRLBs, true CRLBs and standard deviations. Here we demonstrate that, although the CRLBs are theoretically truly a lower bound on the standard deviation (not an equality) for the problem typically encountered in quantification, they are still an adequate approximation to standard deviation as long as the model perfectly characterizes the data. In the case when the macromolecule basis deviates from the measured macromolecules it was shown that the CRLBs can deviate from standard deviations by approximately 50% for N‐acetylaspartic acid, creatine and glutamate and of the order of 100% or more for myo‐inositol and γ‐aminobutyric acid. In the case when the model perfectly reflects the data the CRLBs are within approximately 10% of standard deviations for all metabolites. The result of the CRLB being within 10% of standard deviations means that, for an accurate model, novel quantification methods such as machine learning or deep learning will not be able to obtain substantially more precise estimates for the desired parameters than traditional maximum‐likelihood estimation.
Provide advocates for respondents as part of student conduct process
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: April 2021

Not many colleges and universities provide advisors or advocates for respondents going through the student conduct process. The new Title IX regulations require institutions to provide both complainants and respondents with the opportunity to select an advisor to represent them through the investigation, hearing, and cross‐examination process. But even when a case doesn't involve Title IX, advocates or advisors can serve a valuable role providing beneficial support, guidance, and education to respondents accused of other types of misconduct. To discover effective strategies for providing advocates or advisors for students accused of academic dishonesty, sexual misconduct or other Title IX violations, or other behavioral misconduct, review the guidance provided by Clayton Bracht, M.Ed., Lead Advocate in Student Advocate Services at the University of Minnesota, during a virtual presentation at the annual conference for the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
Implement collaborative case management system to help boost success for at‐risk students
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: April 2021

When students encounter challenges that might interfere with their success, a campus case management system can play an important role in helping them succeed by coordinating resources that address their well‐being. Case managers can leverage campus partners across disciplines and functional areas to provide holistic care to students struggling with mental health issues or other crises. To help institutions create, maintain, or grow a sustainable and effective case management system, Tom Bennett, Higher Education Recovery Coordinator at Acadia Healthcare, and Carrie Smith, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Care and Outreach at the University of Georgia, and President of the Higher Education Case Managers Association, spoke during a virtual session of Stetson University's Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education.
Make reference checks more valuable to hiring process
Authors: Tolman Steven , Calhoun Daniel W.
Published: April 2021

Although each higher education job search process varies, they typically all require conducting reference  checks as the last step before hiring an applicant.
Selection of within‐run quality control rules for laboratory biomarkers
Authors: Laubender Ruediger Paul , Geistanger Andrea
Published: April 2021

In order to release correct biomarker results of a laboratory test, it is a regulatory requirement to apply quality control standards for controlling analytical errors. Releasing an incorrect test result might lead to wrong diagnosis or treatment of a patient in medical decision‐making. In laboratory medicine, one of the means to control analytical errors is statistical process control procedures proposed by James O. Westgard and his coworkers nowadays known as “Westgard rules.” To judge their performance for discriminating in‐control from out‐of‐control processes, power curves are used. In this article, we describe functions for the power curves of the within‐run Westgard rules. Based on these power curves, we use a benchmark approach for selecting a quality control procedure out of the set of Westgard rules. It is shown that two graphical procedures proposed by Westgard and his coworkers can be reduced to this benchmark approach. Besides, a commonly used measure in laboratory medicine for describing out‐of‐control processes is critically examined revealing the threat of selecting too optimistic quality control rules.
Compact gauge fields on Causal Dynamical Triangulations: a 2D case study
Authors: Candido Alessandro , Clemente Giuseppe , D’Elia Massimo , Rottoli Federico
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We discuss the discretization of Yang-Mills theories on Dynamical Triangulations in the compact formulation, with gauge fields living on the links of the dual graph associated with the triangulation, and the numerical investigation of the minimally coupled system by Monte Carlo simulations. We provide, in particular, an explicit construction and implementation of the Markov chain moves for 2D Causal Dynamical Triangulations coupled to either U(1) or SU(2) gauge fields; the results of exploratory numerical simulations on a toroidal geometry are also presented for both cases. We study the critical behavior of gravity-related observables, determining the associated critical indices, which turn out to be independent of the bare gauge coupling: we obtain in particular ν = 0.496(7) for the critical index regulating the divergence of the correlation length of the volume profiles. Gauge observables are also investigated, including holonomies (torelons) and, for the U(1) gauge theory, the winding number and the topological susceptibility. An interesting result is that the critical slowing down of the topological charge, which affects various lattice field theories in the continuum limit, seems to be strongly suppressed (i.e. by orders of magnitude) by the presence of a locally variable geometry: that may suggest possible ways for improvement also in other contexts.
The neural bases of resilient semantic system: evidence of variable neuro-displacement in cognitive systems
Authors: Jung Je Young , Rice Grace E. , Lambon Ralph Matthew A.
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore an important research goal in cognitive and clinical neuroscience: What are the neurocomputational mechanisms that make cognitive systems “well engineered” and thus resilient across a range of performance demands and to mild levels of perturbation or even damage? A new hypothesis called ‘variable neuro-displacement’ suggests that cognitive systems are formed with dynamic, spare processing capacity, which balances energy consumption against performance requirements and can be resilient to changes in performance demands. Here, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the neural dynamics of the semantic system by manipulating performance demand. The performance demand was manipulated with two levels of task difficulty (easy vs. hard) in two different ways (stimulus type and response timing). We found that the demanding semantic processing increased regional activity in both the domain-specific semantic representational system (anterior temporal lobe) and the parallel executive control networks (prefrontal, posterior temporal, and parietal regions). Functional connectivity between these regions was also increased during demanding semantic processing and these increases were related to better semantic task performance. Our results suggest that semantic cognition is made resilient by flexible, dynamic changes including increased regional activity and functional connectivity across both domain-specific and domain-general systems. It reveals the intrinsic resilience-related mechanisms of semantic cognition, mimicking alterations caused by perturbation or brain damage. Our findings provide a strong implication that the intrinsic mechanisms of a well-engineered semantic system might be attributed to the compensatory functional alterations in the impaired brain.
Material properties and effect of preconditioning of human sclera, optic nerve, and optic nerve sheath
Authors: Park Joseph , Shin Andrew , Jafari Somaye , Demer Joseph L.
Published: April 2021

The optic nerve (ON) is a recently recognized tractional load on the eye during larger horizontal eye rotations. In order to understand the mechanical behavior of the eye during adduction, it is necessary to characterize material properties of the sclera, ON, and in particular its sheath. We performed tensile loading of specimens taken from fresh postmortem human eyes to characterize the range of variation in their biomechanical properties and determine the effect of preconditioning. We fitted reduced polynomial hyperelastic models to represent the nonlinear tensile behavior of the anterior, equatorial, posterior, and peripapillary sclera, as well as the ON and its sheath. For comparison, we analyzed tangent moduli in low and high strain regions to represent stiffness. Scleral stiffness generally decreased from anterior to posterior ocular regions. The ON had the lowest tangent modulus, but was surrounded by a much stiffer sheath. The low-strain hyperelastic behaviors of adjacent anatomical regions of the ON, ON sheath, and posterior sclera were similar as appropriate to avoid discontinuities at their boundaries. Regional stiffnesses within individual eyes were moderately correlated, implying that mechanical properties in one region of an eye do not reliably reflect properties of another region of that eye, and that potentially pathological combinations could occur in an eye if regional properties are discrepant. Preconditioning modestly stiffened ocular tissues, except peripapillary sclera that softened. The nonlinear mechanical behavior of posterior ocular tissues permits their stresses to match closely at low strains, although progressively increasing strain causes particularly great stress in the peripapillary region.
Comparison of renal region, cerebral and peripheral oxygenation for predicting postoperative renal impairment after CABG
Authors: de Keijzer Ilonka N. , Poterman Marieke , Absalom Anthony R. , Vos Jaap Jan , Mariani Massimo A. , Scheeren Thomas W. L.
Published: April 2021

Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are at risk of developing postoperative renal impairment, amongst others caused by renal ischemia and hypoxia. Intra-operative monitoring of renal region tissue oxygenation (SrtO2) might be a useful tool to detect renal hypoxia and predict postoperative renal impairment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the ability of intra-operative SrtO2 to predict postoperative renal impairment, defined as an increase of serum creatinine concentrations of  > 10% from individual baseline, and compare this with the predictive abilities of peripheral and cerebral tissue oxygenation (SptO2 and SctO2, respectively) and renal specific tissue deoxygenation. Forty-one patients undergoing elective CABG were included. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure renal region, peripheral (thenar muscle) and cerebral tissue oxygenation during surgery. Renal region specific tissue deoxygenation was defined as a proportionally larger decrease in SrtO2 than SptO2. ROC analyses were used to compare predictive abilities. We did not observe an association between tissue oxygenation measured in the renal region and cerebral oxygenation and postoperative renal impairment in this small retrospective study. In contrast, SptO2 decrease > 10% from baseline was a reasonable predictor with an AUROC of 0.767 (95%CI  0.619 to 0.14; p = 0.010). Tissue oxygenation of the renal region, although non-invasively and continuously available, cannot be used in adults to predict postoperative renal impairment after CABG. Instead, peripheral tissue deoxygenation was able to predict postoperative renal impairment, suggesting that SptO2 provides a better indication of ‘general’ tissue oxygenation status.

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01347827, first submitted April 27, 2011.
On Sinaĭ Billiards on Flat Surfaces with Horns
Authors: Bruin Henk
Published: April 2021

We show that certain billiard flows on planar billiard tables with horns can be modeled as suspension flows over Young towers (Ann. Math. 147:585–650, 1998) with exponential tails. This implies exponential decay of correlations for the billiard map. Because the height function of the suspension flow itself is polynomial when the horns are Torricelli-like trumpets, one can derive Limit Laws for the billiard flow, including Stable Limits if the parameter of the Torricelli trumpet is chosen in (1, 2).
The evolution of life cycle assessment in European policies over three decades
Authors: Sala Serenella , Amadei Andrea Martino , Beylot Antoine , Ardente Fulvio
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Life cycle thinking (LCT) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are increasingly considered pivotal concept and method for supporting sustainable transitions. LCA plays a relevant role in decision support, for the ambition of a holistic coverage of environmental dimensions and for the identification of hotspots, possible trade-offs, and burden shifting among life cycle stages or impact categories. These features are also relevant when the decision support is needed in policy domain. With a focus on EU policies, the present study explores the evolution and implementation of life cycle concepts and approaches over three decades.

Methods

Adopting an historical perspective, a review of current European Union (EU) legal acts and communications explicitly mentioning LCT, LCA, life cycle costing (LCC), and environmental footprint (the European Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint PEF/OEF) is performed, considering the timeframe from 1990 to 2020. The documents are categorised by year and according to their types (e.g. regulations, directives, communications) and based on the covered sectors (e.g. waste, energy, buildings). Documents for which life cycle concepts and approaches had a crucial role are identified, and a shortlist of these legal acts and communications is derived.

Results and discussion

Over the years, LCT and life cycle approaches have been increasingly mentioned in policy. From the Ecolabel Regulation of 1992, to the Green Deal in 2019, life cycle considerations are of particular interest in the EU. The present work analysed a total of 159 policies and 167 communications. While in some sectors (e.g. products, vehicles, and waste) life cycle concepts and approaches have been adopted with higher levels of prescriptiveness, implementation in other sectors (e.g. food and agriculture) is only at a preliminary stage. Moreover, life cycle (especially LCT) is frequently addressed and cited only as a general concept and in a rather generic manner. Additionally, more stringent and rigorous methods (LCA, PEF/OEF) are commonly cited only in view of future policy developments, even if a more mature interest in lifecycle is evident in recent policies.

Conclusion

The EU has been a frontrunner in the implementation of LCT/LCA in policies. However, despite a growing trend in this implementation, the development of new stringent and mandatory requirements related to life cycle is still relatively limited. In fact, there are still issues to be solved in the interface between science and policy making (such as verification and market surveillance) to ensure a wider implementation of LCT and LCA.
Do Offenders Deserve Proportionate Punishments?
Authors: Duus-Otterström Göran
Published: April 2021

The aim of the paper is to investigate how retributivists should respond to the apparent tension between moral desert and proportionality in punishment. I argue that rather than attempting to show that the term ‘proportionate punishment’ refers to whatever penal treatment the offender morally deserves, retributivists should maintain two things: first, that a punishment is proportionate when it is commensurate to the seriousness of the crime; second, that offenders morally deserve proportionate punishments. This view requires adopting a local theory of desert as opposed to a holistic one. In the second part of the paper, I argue that there are indeed good reasons to adopt a local theory of desert. Once retributivism is seen through the lens of local desert, there is no obvious mistake in saying that offenders morally deserve punishments that are proportionate to the seriousness of their crimes.
Spatially Resolved Forming Mechanisms Detection in Single Point Incremental Forming Using Synchrotron Based Texture Analysis
Authors: Dobecki Mateus , Poeche Alexander , Reimers Walter
Published: April 2021

Despite the ongoing success of understanding the deformation states in sheets manufactured by single-point incremental forming (SPIF), the unawareness of the spatially resolved influence of the forming mechanisms on the residual stress states of incrementally formed sheet metal parts impedes their application-optimized use. In this study, a well-founded experimental proof of the occurring forming mechanisms shear, bending and stretching is presented using spatially resolved, high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction-based texture analysis in transmission mode. The measuring method allows even near-surface areas to be examined without any impairment of microstructural influences due to tribological reactions. The depth-resolved texture evolution for different sets of forming parameters offers insights into the forming mechanisms acting in SPIF. Therefore, the forming mechanisms are triggered explicitly by adjusting the vertical step-down increment Δz for groove, plate and truncated cone geometries. The texture analysis reveals that the process parameters and the specimen geometries used lead to characteristic changes in the crystallites’ orientation distribution in the formed parts due to plastic deformation. These forming-induced reorientations of the crystallites could be assigned to the forming mechanisms by means of defined reference states. It was found that for groove, plate and truncated cone geometries, a decreasing magnitude of step-down increments leads to a more pronounced shear deformation, which causes an increasing work hardening especially at the tool contact area of the formed parts. Larger step-down increments, on the other hand, induce a greater bending deformation. The plastic deformation by bending leads to a complex stress field that involves alternating residual tensile stresses on the tool and residual compressive stresses on the tool-averted side incrementally formed sheets. The present study demonstrates the potential of high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction for the spatially resolved forming mechanism research in SPIF. Controlling the residual stress states by optimizing the process parameters necessitates knowledge of the fundamental forming mechanism action.