bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential effect of malnutrition between patients hospitalized with new‐onset heart failure and worsening of chronic heart failure
Authors: Matsumura Koichiro , Teranaka Wakana , Taniichi Masanao , Otagaki Munemitsu , Takahashi Hiroki , Fujii Kenichi , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Nakazawa Gaku , Shiojima Ichiro
Published: March 2021

Aims

We aimed to investigate the differences in the prevalence, severity, and prognostic impact of malnutrition between patients with new‐onset heart failure (HF) and worsening of chronic HF.

Methods and results

In older (≥60 years) hospitalized patients with acute HF, malnutrition was assessed according to the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). A score <92 was defined as malnutrition. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint, including cardiac death or rehospitalization for HF. Among 210 patients, 37% (52/142) of patients with new‐onset HF and 31% (21/68) of patients with worsening of chronic HF had malnutrition (P = 0.41). The GNRI classification was comparable between the two groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed a significant difference in the incidence of the composite endpoint in patients with new‐onset HF (GNRI < 92 vs. GNRI ≥ 92: 50% vs. 32%, P = 0.007), but not in patients with worsening of chronic HF (GNRI < 92 vs. GNRI ≥ 92: 67% vs. 68%, P = 0.91). The adjusted Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that a GNRI of <92 was an independent prognostic factor for the composite endpoint in patients with new‐onset HF only.

Conclusions

Among older hospitalized patients with acute HF, the prevalence and severity of malnutrition were comparable between the two categories of patients. Malnutrition was an independent prognostic factor in patients with new‐onset HF, while clinical prognosis was poor in patients with worsening of HF, irrespective of malnutrition. The prognostic impact of malnutrition differs between new‐onset HF and worsening of chronic HF.
Modelling the response of a double‐barred sandy beach system to time‐varying wave angles
Authors: Nnafie A. , Driessen A.S. , de Swart H.E. , Price T.D.
Published: March 2021

Sandy beaches typically have one or more shore‐parallel bars with superimposed smaller‐scale three‐dimensional (3D) bars. Knowledge of their morphodynamic behaviour under more realistic wave conditions is limited. This study investigates the response of beaches with two shore‐parallel bars to sinusoidally time‐varying angles of incidence, using a non‐linear morphodynamic model. Different periods and amplitudes of this sinusoidal variation are considered, as well as different time‐mean wave angles. For time‐invariant and normally incident waves, results show that alongshore rhythmic 3D bars form in the domains of inner and outer shore‐parallel bars. The 3D bars in the inner domain are coupled at half the outer‐bars wavelength. This phase coupling breaks up when the wave angle varies in time. Initially, regular 3D bars form in the inner domain (free behaviour), which become irregular when 3D bars develop in the outer domain (forced behaviour). The heights of the 3D bars oscillate with time, reaching maximum values when the forcing period is comparable to the system adjustment time scale (∼ 10–20 days). For a time‐varying wave angle around an oblique mean, alongshore migrating 3D bars emerge in both inner and outer domains. In contrast, for an oblique (constant) wave angle, 3D bars only form in the inner domain and they hardly migrate alongshore. For any forcing period, the dominant response period of the oscillating bar heights is at half the forcing period when waves are (on average) normally incident, and it equals the forcing period when waves are on average obliquely incident. Compared with time‐invariant angles, heights of inner and outer 3D bars are (on average) smaller and larger, respectively, when the angle varies with time, particularly for forcing periods in the order of the system adjustment time scale. Increasing the amplitude of the time‐varying wave angle weakens bar growth. Explanations of these results are also provided.
A territory‐wide study on the factors associated with recurrent asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalization in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Ka Pang , Ko Fanny Wai San , Ling Kwun Cheung , Cheung Pik Shan , Chan Lee Veronica , Chan Yu Hong , Lo Yi Tat , Ng Chun Kong , Lui Macy Mei‐sze , Yee Kwok Sang Wilson , Tseng Cee Zhung Steven , Tse Pak Yiu , Wong Mo Lin Maureen , Choo Kah Lin , Lam Wai Kei , Wong Chun Man , Ho Sheng Sheng , Lun Chung Tat , Lai Christopher Kei Wai
Published: March 2021

Background

The real‐world relationships between the demographic and clinical characteristics of asthma patients, their prehospitalization management and the frequency of hospitalization due to asthma exacerbation is poorly established.

Objective

To determine the risk factors of recurrent asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalizations and evaluate the standard of baseline asthma care.

Methods

A territory‐wide, multicentre retrospective study in Hong Kong was performed. Medical records of patients aged ≥18 years admitted to 11 acute general hospitals from January 1 to December 31, 2016 for asthma exacerbations were reviewed.

Results

There were 2280 patients with 3154 admissions (36.7% male, median age 66.0 [interquartile range: 48.0–81.0] years, 519 had ≥2 admissions). Among them, 1830 (80.3%) had at least one asthma‐associated comorbidity, 1060 (46.5%) and 885 (38.9%) of patients had Accident and Emergency Department (AED) attendance and hospitalization in the preceding year, respectively. Patients with advancing age (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.003 for every year increment), a history of AED visits or hospitalization (IRR: 1.018 and 1.070 for every additional episode, respectively) for asthma exacerbation in the preceding year, the presence of neuropsychiatric (IRR: 1.142) and gastrointestinal (IRR: 1.154) comorbidities were risk factors for an increasing number of admissions for asthma exacerbation. For patients with ≥2 admissions, 17.1% were not prescribed inhaled corticosteroid and only 44.6% had spirometry checked before the index admission. Asthma phenotyping was often incomplete, as assessment of atopy (total serum immunoglobulin E level and senitization to aeroallergens) was only performed in 30 (5.8%) patients with ≥2 admissions.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Improving asthma care, especially in elderly patients with a prior history of urgent healthcare utilization and comorbidities, may help reduce healthcare burden. Suboptimal management before the index admission was common in patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbations. Early identification of patients at risk and enhancement of baseline asthma management may help to prevent recurrent asthma exacerbation and subsequent hospitalization.
Inside Cover
Authors: Nishizawa Nozomi , Al‐Qadi Bassam , Kuchimaru Takahiro
Published: March 2021

Cancer identification in vivo using circularly polarized light scattering with spin‐polarized light‐emitting diodes (spin‐LEDs) integrated at the tip of an endoscopic biopsy apparatus. Circularly polarized light emitted from a spin‐LED device impinges on a biological tissue, and the scattered light is detected at some spin‐LEDs on the apparatus. Polarization states of the scattered light provide valuable information for differentiating cancer tissues concealed in healthy tissues.

Further details can be found in the article by Nozomi Nishizawa, Bassam Al‐Qadi, and Takahiro Kuchimaru (e202000380).

image
Exercise Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: A Review
Authors: Trankle Cory R. , Canada Justin M. , Jordan Jennifer H. , Truong Uyen , Hundley W. Gregory
Published: March 2021

While pharmacologic stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a robust noninvasive tool in the diagnosis and prognostication of epicardial coronary artery disease, clinical guidelines recommend exercise‐based testing in those patients who can exercise. This review describes the development of exercise cardiovascular MRI protocols, summarizes the insights across various patient populations, and highlights future research initiatives.

Level of Evidence

5

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Career Services in the Post‐COVID‐19 Era: A Paradigm for Career Counseling Unemployed Individuals
Authors: Drosos Nikos , Theodoroulakis Menelaos , Antoniou Alexander‐Stamatios , Rajter Iva Cˇernja
Published: March 2021

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has caused unprecedented economic disruption and unemployment worldwide, threatening to become both a financial and a humanitarian crisis. Prolonged labor market recession and an acute rise of unemployment are expected. The main question for career counselors will be how to provide effective career counseling to unemployed people in the post‐COVID‐19 world, where they may face many other unemployment‐related problems. In this article, we suggest application of a holistic intervention model of career counseling for unemployed people that was designed to address the consequences of the acute financial recession in Greece.
Effects of online brand communities on millennials' brand loyalty in the fashion industry
Authors: Ozuem Wilson , Willis Michelle , Howell Kerry , Helal Guida , Ranfagni Silvia , Lancaster Geoff
Published: March 2021

Online brand communities are gaining traction in the development of marketing strategy, but it is unclear how the dominant group of users, the millennials, is being targeted with the prevailing and varying customer loyalty programs. Grounded in understanding that loyalty is seen and understood differently by people who participate in online brand communities, this study is based on a constructivist perspective combined with hermeneutic methodology and embedded case study research strategy to examine how online brand communities activate multidimensional customer loyalty intentions. Empirical data were generated through 45 in‐depth interviews of millennials. The analysis proposes a framework that categorizes customer loyalty into ambassador loyalists, public‐voting loyalists, loveless loyalists, and mercenary loyalists. Each stream contains one additional subcategory mediated by consumer levels of participation in online brand communities. This study contributes to existing literature. Unlike extant studies, it specifically argues that customers' loyalty intentions in online brand communities depend on the individuals and context, and it categorizes loyalty into different levels. Practical steps by which companies may utilize these categories and theoretical implications for wider consideration are proposed.
Mass spectrometry and the cellular surfaceome
Authors: Pauwels Jarne , Fijałkowska Daria , Eyckerman Sven , Gevaert Kris
Published: March 2021

The collection of exposed plasma membrane proteins, collectively termed the surfaceome, is involved in multiple vital cellular processes, such as the communication of cells with their surroundings and the regulation of transport across the lipid bilayer. The surfaceome also plays key roles in the immune system by recognizing and presenting antigens, with its possible malfunctioning linked to disease. Surface proteins have long been explored as potential cell markers, disease biomarkers, and therapeutic drug targets. Despite its importance, a detailed study of the surfaceome continues to pose major challenges for mass spectrometry‐driven proteomics due to the inherent biophysical characteristics of surface proteins. Their inefficient extraction from hydrophobic membranes to an aqueous medium and their lower abundance compared to intracellular proteins hamper the analysis of surface proteins, which are therefore usually underrepresented in proteomic datasets. To tackle such problems, several innovative analytical methodologies have been developed. This review aims at providing an extensive overview of the different methods for surfaceome analysis, with respective considerations for downstream mass spectrometry‐based proteomics.
Molecular Weight Distribution in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Propylene Oxide Catalyzed by Double Metal Complex: A Model Simulation
Authors: Zhao Jing , Li Bo‐Geng , Fan Hong
Published: March 2021

In the present work, method of moments is used to model the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polypropylene glycol (PPG) produced with ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide catalyzed by double metal complex (DMC), and an explicit expression about the polydispersity index (PDI) of PPG is obtained. The simulated results indicate that decreasing the initial concentration ratio of monomer to total chains (K1) or increasing the rate constant ratio of chain transfer to propagation (K2) leads to smaller PDI. Reducing the concentration of DMC can induce larger PDI. When the PPG's initial PDI (i.e., PDI of initiator) increases, PDI of the final PPG grows up linearly. However, with the increase of monomer conversion, PDI increases first and then decreases, that is, there is a critical conversion. The possible lack of chain transfer at the beginning of polymerization and the insufficient chain transfer caused by increased K1, decreased concentration of catalyst, and decreased K2 will cause larger PDI, namely, broad MWD.
15N hyperpolarisation of the antiprotozoal drug ornidazole by Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange in aqueous medium
Authors: Iali Wissam , Moustafa Gamal A. I. , Dagys Laurynas , Roy Soumya S.
Published: March 2021

Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) offers a cost‐effective route to boost nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal by several orders of magnitude by employing readily available para‐hydrogen as a source of hyperpolarisation. Although 1H spins have been the natural choice of SABRE hyperpolarisation since its inception due to its simplicity and accessibility, limited spin lifetimes of 1H makes it harder to employ them in a range of time‐dependent NMR experiments. Heteronuclear spins, for example, 13C and 15N, in general have much longer T1 lifetimes and thereby are found to be more suitable for hyperpolarised biological applications as demonstrated previously by para‐hydrogen induced polarisation (PHIP) and dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP). In this study we demonstrate a simple procedure to enhance 15N signal of an antibiotic drug ornidazole by up to 71,000‐folds with net 15N polarisation reaching ~23%. Further, the effect of co‐ligand strategy is studied in conjunction with the optimum field transfer protocols and consequently achieving 15N hyperpolarised spin lifetime of >3 min at low field. Finally, we present a convenient route to harness the hyperpolarised solution in aqueous medium free from catalyst contamination leading to a strong 15N signal detection for an extended duration of time.
Modified TiO2@graphene oxide and montmorillonite synergistically enhanced multifunctional nanocomposite films
Authors: Zhang Jingding , Zhang Ling , Li Chunzhong
Published: March 2021

The application of polymers in packaging is still limited due to the problems of poor gas barrier and flame retardant properties. Herein, a modified TiO2 (m‐TiO2)@graphene oxide (GO)/montmorillonite (MMT) filler‐reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based nanocomposite films with excellent gas barrier, flame retardant, and mechanical properties is fabricated through a simple method of solution casting. In this system, GO and MMT act as bricks, PVA sticks them together like glue, and they together form a brick‐wall structure. By adding these fillers, the oxygen permeability rate (Po2) of this film is 0.48 × 10−18 cm3•cm/(cm2•s•Pa), less than that of pure PVA film by 97%, and the water vapor permeability rate () of the nanocomposite film is 1.21 × 10−13 g•cm/(cm2•s•Pa), less than that of pure PVA film by 86%. In addition, the flame retardant properties of m‐TiO2@GO/MMT/PVA nanocomposite films are excellent, which self‐extinguishes as long as the flame taken away, different from pure PVA film, which is completely burned. Moreover, the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films are also significantly improved. The nanocomposites with environment‐friendly raw materials, simple manufacturing processes, and excellent performance should have good applications in the packaging and coating industries.
Chinese versions of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire: Psychometric properties, measurement invariance across gender and cultures
Authors: Lai Catie C. W. , Boag Simon
Published: March 2021

Associations between unmet interpersonal needs and different aspects of suicide have been observed in both Western and non‐Western cultures using the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ). However, measurement invariance is a prerequisite for comparing differences between culturally different groups, and to date, no studies have examined measurement invariance of INQ across cultures. This study aimed to (a) validate Chinese versions of the INQ, (b) assess measurement invariance across gender for the Chinese INQ, (c) assess measurement invariance across Australian and Chinese cultures for the INQ, and (d) comprehensively assess the association of interpersonal needs with suicide ideation. A sample of 469 Australian undergraduates and a sample of 854 Chinese undergraduates were used in this study. For testing measurement invariance across gender, the sample of Chinese undergraduates was split by gender into the Chinese male and Chinese female samples. Five versions of INQ (10‐, 12‐, 15‐, 18‐ and 25‐item) were tested. The 10‐ and 15‐item Chinese INQ demonstrated adequate psychometric properties through various analyses (i.e., reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling) and also demonstrated measurement invariance across gender via multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. The 10‐item INQ demonstrated measurement invariance across Australian and Chinese cultures. Of the two interpersonal factors, only perceived burdensomeness was significantly associated with suicide ideation. Multigroup structural equation modeling demonstrated that perceived burdensomeness may be a greater risk factor of suicide among Australian undergraduates than among Chinese undergraduates. Practical and theoretical contributions of this study are discussed.
Machine Learning‐Aided Crystal Facet Rational Design with Ionic Liquid Controllable Synthesis
Authors: Lai Fuming , Sun Zhehao , Saji Sandra Elizabeth , He Yichuan , Yu Xuefeng , Zhao Haitao , Guo Haibo , Yin Zongyou
Published: March 2021

Crystallographic facets in a crystal carry interior properties and proffer rich functionalities in a wide range of application areas. However, rational prediction, on‐demand customization, and accurate synthesis of facets and facet junctions of a crystal are enormously desirable but still challenging. Herein, a framework of machine learning (ML)‐aided crystal facet design with ionic liquid controllable synthesis is developed and then demonstrated with the star‐material anatase TiO2. Aided by employing ML to acquire surface energies from facet junction datasource, the relationships between surface energy and growth conditions based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm are unveiled, enabling to develop controllable facet synthetic strategies. These strategies are successfully verified after applied for synthesizing TiO2 crystals with custom crystal facets and facet junctions under tuning ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] experimental conditions. Therefore, this innovative framework integrates data‐intensive rational design and experimental controllable synthesis to develop and customize crystallographic facets and facet junctions. This proves the feasibility of an intelligent chemistry future to accelerate the discovery of facet‐governed functional material candidates.
Data stream analysis: Foundations, major tasks and tools
Authors: Bahri Maroua , Bifet Albert , Gama João , Gomes Heitor Murilo , Maniu Silviu
Published: March 2021

The significant growth of interconnected Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) devices, the use of social networks, along with the evolution of technology in different domains, lead to a rise in the volume of data generated continuously from multiple systems. Valuable information can be derived from these evolving data streams by applying machine learning. In practice, several critical issues emerge when extracting useful knowledge from these potentially infinite data, mainly because of their evolving nature and high arrival rate which implies an inability to store them entirely. In this work, we provide a comprehensive survey that discusses the research constraints and the current state‐of‐the‐art in this vibrant framework. Moreover, we present an updated overview of the latest contributions proposed in different stream mining tasks, particularly classification, regression, clustering, and frequent patterns.

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Key Design Issues in Data Mining

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Motivation and Emergence of Data Mining
Fractional black p-branes on orbifold ℂn/ℤn
Authors: Nitta Muneto , Uzawa Kunihito
Published: March 2021

Abstract

The recent discovery of an explicit solution of a black hole on the resolved orbifold ℂn/ℤnmakes it possible to investigate the existence ofp-branes on the orbifold. In particular, it is possible with reasonable precision to verify the prediction that an M2-brane on ℂ4/ℤ4 in eleven dimensions and a D3-brane on ℂ3/ℤ3in ten dimensions have a family of blackp-branes on the orbifold ℂn/ℤn. These solutions are extremal and have regular horizonsS2n−1/ℤnwithout any naked singularity, with near horizon geometries AdSp+2×S2n−1/ℤn.
Einführung digitaler Lehre im Fach Psychiatrie als Reaktion auf COVID-19: eine vergleichende Evaluation zur Präsenzlehre
Authors: Besse Matthias , Wiltfang Jens , Belz Michael , Signerski-Krieger Jörg
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund

Aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie musste die klassische universitäre Präsenzlehre kurzfristig auf ein digitales Format für das Sommersemester 2020 (SoSe20) umgestellt werden. Am Beispiel der psychiatrischen Klinik der Universitätsmedizin Göttingen sollten der Lernzuwachs und die inhaltliche Bewertung vergleichend zwischen beiden Lehrformen evaluiert werden, um die Qualität der Umstellung beurteilen zu können.

Material und Methoden

Insgesamt 350 Studierende beurteilten die von ihnen besuchte Präsenzlehre (WiSe18/19 bis WiSe19/20) bzw. die neu etablierte digitale Lehre (SoSe20) im Rahmen einer standardisierten Lehrevaluation. Sie machten hierbei Angaben zu ihrem persönlichen Lernzuwachs in 7 psychiatrischen Kernbereichen und bewerteten die jeweilige Lehrform inhaltlich auf 8 Dimensionen. Zudem gaben sie ihren durchschnittlichen Zeitaufwand an.

Ergebnisse

Die Studierenden schätzten ihren Lernzuwachs in der digitalen Lehre auf allen Dimensionen mindestens gleichwertig zur Präsenzlehre bzw. signifikant besser in den Teilbereichen „Psychotherapie“ sowie „Schizophrenie“ ein. Trotz eines signifikant erhöhten zeitlichen Aufwandes wurde die digitale Lehre auf allen Dimensionen inhaltlich gleichwertig oder besser („Selbstständiges Aufarbeiten von Lernzielen“, „Format der Vorlesung“) eingeschätzt. Bei der Vorbereitung auf die berufliche Praxis zeigten sich die Studierenden bez. der digitalen Lehre skeptisch.

Diskussion

Eine kurzfristige pandemiebedingte Umstellung der Präsenzlehre hin zur digitalen Lehre führte in der hier vorliegenden vergleichenden Evaluation nicht zu einem Qualitätsverlust. Mit Blick auf die spätere praktische ärztliche Tätigkeit sollten in zukünftigen Kurrikula neben der klassischen Präsenzlehre auch digitale Lehrangebote ergänzend verankert werden.
Update cerebellum and cognition
Authors: Jacobi Heike , Faber Jennifer , Timmann Dagmar , Klockgether Thomas
Published: March 2021

There is now robust evidence that the cerebellum—apart from its well-established role in motor control—is crucially involved in a wide spectrum of cognitive and affective functions. Clinical and neuropsychological studies together with evidence from anatomical studies and advanced neuroimaging have yielded significant insights into the specific features and clinical relevance of cerebellar involvement in normal cognition and mood.
Performance of international prognostic indices in plasmablastic lymphoma: a comparative evaluation
Authors: Hertel Nadine , Merz Hartmut , Bernd Heinz-Wolfram , Bernard Veronica , Künstner Axel , Busch Hauke , von Bubnoff Nikolas , Feller Alfred C. , Witte Hanno M. , Gebauer Niklas
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive B-cell malignancy with a heterogenous clinical and prognostic spectrum, determined by multiple factors, including age, HIV- and MYC-status. While there exist several validated scoring systems for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which incorporate basic clinical features (age, lactate dehydrogenase, sites of (extranodal) involvement, stage and performance), none of these have been systematically assessed in PBL.

Methods

We determined the (age-adjusted; aa)-International Prognostic Index (IPI), revised IPI (R-IPI), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network IPI (NCCN-IPI) in a comprehensive multi-center cohort (n = 78) of PBL patients. Further, all indices were comparatively investigated for model quality and concordance.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed significant prognostic capabilities for all indices, all of which identified a subgroup with favorable outcome. Discriminatory power between patients with less benign prognosis and especially refractory disease exhibited significant variability. Subsequently, stratified models for each risk score were compared employing corrected Akaike’s information criterion (cAIC) and Harrel’s concordance index (c-index). Here, the NCCN-IPI outperformed both IPI and R-IPI regarding c-index with ambiguous cAIC results, underlining its clinical utility and suggesting it for preferential use in clinical practice.

Conclusion

Our current observations support the use of the IPI and its enhanced derivatives in PBL patients. There is, however, a distinct requirement for novel prognostic tools to better delineate subgroups at risk for early relapse or refractory disease as well as late relapse. A comprehensive molecular characterization of a clinically annotated cohort of PBL patients is therefore urgently warranted.
Es EILD – Anforderungen an die Publikation freier Lerneinheiten (OER) im Fach Datenbanken
Authors: Rakow Thomas C. , Faeskorn-Woyke Heide , Saatz Inga Marina , Knolle Harm
Published: March 2021

Kompetenzen auf dem Gebiet der Datenbanken gehören zum Pflichtbereich der Informatik. Das Angebot an Lehrbüchern, Vorlesungsformaten und Tools lässt sich jedoch für Lehrende oft nur eingeschränkt in die eigene Lehre integrieren. In diesem Aufsatz schildern wir unsere Erfahrungen in der Nutzung (frei) verfügbarer und der Entwicklung eigener digitaler Inhalte für grundlegende Datenbankveranstaltungen. Die Präferenzen der Studierenden werden mittels Nutzungsanalysen und Befragungen ermittelt. Wir stellen die Anforderungen auf, wie die nicht selten aufwendig herzustellenden digitalen Materialien von Lehrenden in ihre Lehr- und Lernumgebungen integriert werden können. Als konstruktive Antwort auf diese Herausforderung wird das Konzept EILD zur Entwicklung von Inhalten für die Lehre im Fach Datenbanken vorgestellt. Die Inhalte sollen in vielfältigen Lernszenarien eingesetzt werden können und mit einer Creative Commons (CC) Lizenzierung als OER (open educational resources) frei zur Verfügung stehen.
Improved performances of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics by seed induced crystallization
Authors: Zhao Ting , Lian Mei-Mei , Qin Yi , Zhu Jian-Feng , Kong Xin-Gang , Yang Jian-Feng
Published: March 2021

Self-reinforced lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5, LD) glass-ceramics were hot pressing sintered by introducing 5 wt% Li2Si2O5 crystal seeds into two different glass compositions of SiO2-Li2O-P2O5-ZrO2-Al2O3-K2O-La2O3 (7C LD) and SiO2-Li2O-K2O-La2O3 (4C LD). The results show that the seeds play an important role in the crystallization inducement, and microstructural and property improvement of the glass, especially for the glass powder without the nucleating agent of P2O5. The microstructure features a wider bimodal grain size distribution with large rod-like crystals epitaxially grown along the seeds and small crystals nucleated from the glass powder itself, contributing to the improvement of the performance especially the fracture toughness. The specimen of 4C LD glass with the addition of 5 wt% Li2Si2O5 seeds exhibited the best comprehensive properties with a good flexural strength (396±7 MPa), improved fracture toughness (3.31±0.19 MPa·m1/2), and comparable translucency as IPS e.max. This research provides a new idea and method for the improvement of the fracture toughness of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics without affecting its aesthetic appearance, and lays the foundation for its clinical applications.
A simulation study of the effect of post-combustion amine-based carbon-capturing integrated with solar thermal collectors for combined cycle gas power plant
Authors: Ayyad Amir , Abbas Ayman , Elminshawy Nabil
Published: March 2021

Post-combustion carbon capture with solvent designed to sequestrate carbon from power plant is a promising and well-known technology. However, a vital drawback is the reduction of the power plant output due to the energy required to separate captured CO2 from the solvent, known as a re-boiler duty. In this paper, two configurations were simulated and economically examined to mitigate the re-boiler duty and power loss from the 495 MW West Damietta power plant, Egypt. The first approach is to increase carbon concentrations in the feed to carbon capture plant by recycling part of exhaust gas back to the combustion chamber with different ratios (0%–35%), the second approach is implementing parabolic-trough solar collectors to handle the reboiler load instead of low-pressure steam extracted from the power plant. Both power and CO2 capturing plants were simulated using Aspen Hysys. Parabolic trough solar collector plant was simulated using system advisor model software. The results revealed that increasing carbon content led to a remarkable decrease in reboiler duty by up to around 20%. It was also found that integrating the solar plant with thermal storage system highly improved the optimum production compared to plant without thermal storage. Carbon increase also affected the levelized cost of energy which had 1.39% reduction and 6% decrease in carbon cost of avoidance using 35% recirculation ratio.
Associations of media use and early childhood development: cross-sectional findings from the LIFE Child study
Authors: Schwarzer Clarissa , Grafe Nico , Hiemisch Andreas , Kiess Wieland , Poulain Tanja
Published: March 2021

Background

Excessive media usage affects children’s health. This study investigated associations between children’s and mother’s media use, parent–child interactions, and early-childhood development outcomes.

Methods

Two hundred and ninety-six healthy 2–5-year-old preschoolers (52.4% male, mean age = 3.5 years) and 224 mothers from the LIFE Child cohort study were analyzed. Screen times and parent–child interactions were assessed using standardized parental questionnaires. Developmental skills were investigated using the standardized development test ET 6-6-R.

Results

High screen times in children (>1 h/day) were significantly associated with lower percentile ranks in cognition (b = −10.96, p < 0.01), language (b = −12.88, p < 0.01), and social–emotional skills (b = −7.80, p = 0.05). High screen times in mothers (>5 h/day) were significantly associated with high media use by children (OR = 3.86, p < 0.01). Higher parent–child interaction scores were significantly associated with better body motor (b = 0.41, p = 0.05), cognition (b = 0.57, p < 0.01), language (b = 0.48, p = 0.02), and social–emotional outcomes (b = 0.80, p < 0.01) in children.

Conclusions

Public health strategies should seek to educate caregivers as competent mediators for their children’s media habits, with focus on the need for children to have frequent parent–child interactions.

Impact

High media usage in children is related to poorer cognition, language, and social–emotional skills.

More frequent parent–child interactions are associated with better body motor, cognition, language, and social–emotional skills in children.

High level of media use in mothers is not directly related to children’s development outcomes but is directly related to high media usage of children.

Public health strategies should seek to raise media awareness and management in both parents and children.
Data-driven control of complex networks
Authors: Baggio Giacomo , Bassett Danielle S. , Pasqualetti Fabio
Published: March 2021

Our ability to manipulate the behavior of complex networks depends on the design of efficient control algorithms and, critically, on the availability of an accurate and tractable model of the network dynamics. While the design of control algorithms for network systems has seen notable advances in the past few years, knowledge of the network dynamics is a ubiquitous assumption that is difficult to satisfy in practice. In this paper we overcome this limitation, and develop a data-driven framework to control a complex network optimally and without any knowledge of the network dynamics. Our optimal controls are constructed using a finite set of data, where the unknown network is stimulated with arbitrary and possibly random inputs. Although our controls are provably correct for networks with linear dynamics, we also characterize their performance against noisy data and in the presence of nonlinear dynamics, as they arise in power grid and brain networks.
T-cell CX3CR1 expression as a dynamic blood-based biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Yamauchi Takayoshi , Hoki Toshifumi , Oba Takaaki , Jain Vaibhav , Chen Hongbin , Attwood Kristopher , Battaglia Sebastiano , George Saby , Chatta Gurkamal , Puzanov Igor , Morrison Carl , Odunsi Kunle , Segal Brahm H. , Dy Grace K. , Ernstoff Marc S. , Ito Fumito
Published: March 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized treatment for various cancers; however, durable response is limited to only a subset of patients. Discovery of blood-based biomarkers that reflect dynamic change of the tumor microenvironment, and predict response to ICI, will markedly improve current treatment regimens. Here, we investigate CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), a marker of T-cell differentiation, as a predictive correlate of response to ICI therapy. Successful treatment of tumor-bearing mice with ICI increases the frequency and T-cell receptor clonality of the peripheral CX3CR1+CD8+ T-cell subset that includes an enriched repertoire of tumor-specific and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, an increase in the frequency of the CX3CR1+ subset in circulating CD8+ T cells early after initiation of anti-PD-1 therapy correlates with response and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Collectively, these data support T-cell CX3CR1 expression as a blood-based dynamic early on-treatment predictor of response to ICI therapy.
Efficient and bright warm-white electroluminescence from lead-free metal halides
Authors: Chen Hong , Zhu Lin , Xue Chen , Liu Pinlei , Du Xuerong , Wen Kaichuan , Zhang Hao , Xu Lei , Xiang Chensheng , Lin Chen , Qin Minchao , Zhang Jing , Jiang Tao , Yi Chang , Cheng Lu , Zhang Chenglong , Yang Pinghui , Niu Meiling , Xu Wenjie , Lai Jingya , Cao Yu , Chang Jin , Tian He , Jin Yizheng , Lu Xinhui , Jiang Lang , Wang Nana , Huang Wei , Wang Jianpu
Published: March 2021

Solution-processed metal-halide perovskites are emerging as one of the most promising materials for displays, lighting and energy generation. Currently, the best-performing perovskite optoelectronic devices are based on lead halides and the lead toxicity severely restricts their practical applications. Moreover, efficient white electroluminescence from broadband-emission metal halides remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate efficient and bright lead-free LEDs based on cesium copper halides enabled by introducing an organic additive (Tween, polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate) into the precursor solutions. We find the additive can reduce the trap states, enhancing the photoluminescence quantum efficiency of the metal halide films, and increase the surface potential, facilitating the hole injection and transport in the LEDs. Consequently, we achieve warm-white LEDs reaching an external quantum efficiency of 3.1% and a luminance of 1570 cd m−2 at a low voltage of 5.4 V, showing great promise of lead-free metal halides for solution-processed white LED applications.
pHmScarlet is a pH-sensitive red fluorescent protein to monitor exocytosis docking and fusion steps
Authors: Liu Anyuan , Huang Xiaoshuai , He Wenting , Xue Fudong , Yang Yanrui , Liu Jiajia , Chen Liangyi , Yuan Lin , Xu Pingyong
Published: March 2021

pH-sensitive fluorescent proteins (FPs) are highly advantageous for the non-invasive monitoring of exocytosis events. Superecliptic pHluorin (SEP), a green pH-sensitive FP, has been widely used for imaging single-vesicle exocytosis. However, the docking step cannot be visualized using this FP, since the fluorescence signal inside vesicles is too low to be observed during docking process. Among the available red pH-sensitive FPs, none is comparable to SEP for practical applications due to unoptimized pH-sensitivity and fluorescence brightness or severe photochromic behavior. In this study, we engineer a bright and photostable red pH-sensitive FP, named pHmScarlet, which compared to other red FPs has higher pH sensitivity and enables the simultaneous detection of vesicle docking and fusion. pHmScarlet can also be combined with SEP for dual-color imaging of two individual secretory events. Furthermore, although the emission wavelength of pHmScarlet is red-shifted compared to that of SEP, its spatial resolution is high enough to show the ring structure of vesicle fusion pores using Hessian structured illumination microscopy (Hessian-SIM).
Minimally invasive delivery of therapeutic agents by hydrogel injection into the pericardial cavity for cardiac repair
Authors: Zhu Dashuai , Li Zhenhua , Huang Ke , Caranasos Thomas G. , Rossi Joseph S. , Cheng Ke
Published: March 2021

Cardiac patches are an effective way to deliver therapeutics to the heart. However, such procedures are normally invasive and difficult to perform. Here, we develop and test a method to utilize the pericardial cavity as a natural “mold” for in situ cardiac patch formation after intrapericardial injection of therapeutics in biocompatible hydrogels. In rodent models of myocardial infarction, we demonstrate that intrapericardial injection is an effective and safe method to deliver hydrogels containing induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiac progenitor cells or mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes. After injection, the hydrogels form a cardiac patch-like structure in the pericardial cavity, mitigating immune response and increasing the cardiac retention of the therapeutics. With robust cardiovascular repair and stimulation of epicardium-derived cells, the delivered therapeutics mitigate cardiac remodeling and improve cardiac functions post myocardial infarction. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of minimally-invasive intrapericardial injection in a clinically-relevant porcine model. Collectively, our study establishes intrapericardial injection as a safe and effective method to deliver therapeutic-bearing hydrogels to the heart for cardiac repair.
Predictive learning as a network mechanism for extracting low-dimensional latent space representations
Authors: Recanatesi Stefano , Farrell Matthew , Lajoie Guillaume , Deneve Sophie , Rigotti Mattia , Shea-Brown Eric
Published: March 2021

Artificial neural networks have recently achieved many successes in solving sequential processing and planning tasks. Their success is often ascribed to the emergence of the task’s low-dimensional latent structure in the network activity – i.e., in the learned neural representations. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that a means for generating representations with easily accessed low-dimensional latent structure, possibly reflecting an underlying semantic organization, is through learning to predict observations about the world. Specifically, we ask whether and when network mechanisms for sensory prediction coincide with those for extracting the underlying latent variables. Using a recurrent neural network model trained to predict a sequence of observations we show that network dynamics exhibit low-dimensional but nonlinearly transformed representations of sensory inputs that map the latent structure of the sensory environment. We quantify these results using nonlinear measures of intrinsic dimensionality and linear decodability of latent variables, and provide mathematical arguments for why such useful predictive representations emerge. We focus throughout on how our results can aid the analysis and interpretation of experimental data.
Staphylococcus aureus induces an itaconate-dominated immunometabolic response that drives biofilm formation
Authors: Tomlinson Kira L. , Lung Tania Wong Fok , Dach Felix , Annavajhala Medini K. , Gabryszewski Stanislaw J. , Groves Ryan A. , Drikic Marija , Francoeur Nancy J. , Sridhar Shwetha H. , Smith Melissa L. , Khanal Sara , Britto Clemente J. , Sebra Robert , Lewis Ian , Uhlemann Anne-Catrin , Kahl Barbara C. , Prince Alice S. , Riquelme Sebastián A.
Published: March 2021

Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent human pathogen that readily adapts to host immune defenses. Here, we show that, in contrast to Gram-negative pathogens, S. aureus induces a distinct airway immunometabolic response dominated by the release of the electrophilic metabolite, itaconate. The itaconate synthetic enzyme, IRG1, is activated by host mitochondrial stress, which is induced by staphylococcal glycolysis. Itaconate inhibits S. aureus glycolysis and selects for strains that re-direct carbon flux to fuel extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis and biofilm formation. Itaconate-adapted strains, as illustrated by S. aureus isolates from chronic airway infection, exhibit decreased glycolytic activity, high EPS production, and proficient biofilm formation even before itaconate stimulation. S. aureus thus adapts to the itaconate-dominated immunometabolic response by producing biofilms, which are associated with chronic infection of the human airway.
Author Correction: High-latitude biomes and rock weathering mediate climate–carbon cycle feedbacks on eccentricity timescales
Authors: De Vleeschouwer David , Drury Anna Joy , Vahlenkamp Maximilian , Rochholz Fiona , Liebrand Diederik , Pälike Heiko
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21827-8
Blood pressure variability is related to faster cognitive decline in ischemic stroke patients: PICASSO subanalysis
Authors: Kim Yerim , Lim Jae-Sung , Oh Mi Sun , Yu Kyung-Ho , Lee Ji Sung , Park Jong-Ho , Kim Yong-Jae , Rha Joung-Ho , Hwang Yang-Ha , Heo Sung Hyuk , Ahn Seong Hwan , Lee Ju-Hun , Kwon Sun U.
Published: March 2021

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity risks; however, its association with cognitive decline remains unclear. We investigated whether higher BPV is associated with faster declines in cognitive function in ischemic stroke (IS) patients. Cognitive function was evaluated between April 2010 and August 2015 using the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment in 1,240 Korean PICASSO participants. Patients for whom baseline and follow-up cognitive test results and at least five valid BP readings were available were included. A restricted maximum likelihood–based Mixed Model for Repeated Measures was used to compare changes in cognitive function over time. Among a total of 746 participants (64.6 ± 10.8 years; 35.9% female). Baseline mean-MMSE score was 24.9 ± 4.7. The median number of BP readings was 11. During a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, mean baseline and last follow-up MMSE scores were 25.4 ± 4.8 vs. 27.8 ± 4.4 (the lowest BPV group) and 23.9 ± 5.2 vs. 23.2 ± 5.9 (the highest BPV group). After adjusting for multiple variables, higher BPV was independently associated with faster cognitive decline over time. However, no significant intergroup difference in cognitive changes associated with mean systolic BP was observed. Further research is needed to elucidate how BPV might affect cognitive function.
Bayesian Optimization of Bose-Einstein Condensates
Authors: Bakthavatchalam Tamil Arasan , Ramamoorthy Suriyadeepan , Sankarasubbu Malaikannan , Ramaswamy Radha , Sethuraman Vijayalakshmi
Published: March 2021

Machine Learning methods are emerging as faster and efficient alternatives to numerical simulation techniques. The field of Scientific Computing has started adopting these data-driven approaches to faithfully model physical phenomena using scattered, noisy observations from coarse-grained grid-based simulations. In this paper, we investigate data-driven modelling of Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs). In particular, we use Gaussian Processes (GPs) to model the ground state wave function of BECs as a function of scattering parameters from the dimensionless Gross Pitaveskii Equation (GPE). Experimental results illustrate the ability of GPs to accurately reproduce ground state wave functions using a limited number of data points from simulations. Consistent performance across different configurations of BECs, namely Scalar and Vectorial BECs generated under different potentials, including harmonic, double well and optical lattice potentials pronounces the versatility of our method. Comparison with existing data-driven models indicates that our model achieves similar accuracy with only a small fraction ($$\frac{1}{50}$$

1
50

th) of data points used by existing methods, in addition to modelling uncertainty from data. When used as a simulator post-training, our model generates ground state wave functions $$36 \times $$

36
×

faster than Trotter Suzuki, a numerical approximation technique that uses Imaginary time evolution. Our method is quite general; with minor changes it can be applied to similar quantum many-body problems.
Synthesis of tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles using HMTA-BAIL@MIL-101(Cr) as a superior heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Abdollahi-Basir Mohammad Hossein , Mirhosseini-Eshkevari Boshra , Zamani Farzad , Ghasemzadeh Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2021

A one-pot three component reaction of benzaldehydes, 1H-tetrazole-5-amine, and 3-cyanoacetyl indole in the presence of a new hexamethylenetetramine-based ionic liquid/MIL-101(Cr) metal–organic framework as a recyclable catalyst was explored. This novel catalyst, which was fully characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, BET, and TEM exhibited outstanding catalytic activity for the preparation of a range of pharmaceutically important tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles with good to excellent yields in short reaction time.