bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occupational exposures and respiratory symptoms and lung function among hairdressers in Iran: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Heibati Behzad , Jaakkola Maritta S. , Lajunen Taina K. , Ducatman Alan , Bamshad Zahra , Eslamizad Samira , Shafee Fatemeh , Karimi Ali , Jaakkola Jouni J. K.
Published: January 2021

Objective

Exposures at hairdressers’ work have been reported to lead to an increased risk of several health outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the relations between occupational exposures and respiratory symptoms and lung function among hairdressers in Iran.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare potential respiratory effects among 140 women working as hairdressers to such effects among 140 women working as office workers (administrative personnel). Both groups worked in Shiraz, Iran. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a standard respiratory questionnaire. The questionnaire also inquired about substances used and workspace conditions, including ventilation type. Lung function levels were measured by spirometry.

Results

Respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness were significantly more frequent in hairdressers compared to the reference group (p < 0.05). After controlling for potential confounders, hairdressers had a prevalence ratio (PR) of 2.18 (95% CI 1.26–3.77) for cough, 9.59 (95% CI 1.004–91.73) for wheezing, 2.06 (95% CI 1.25–3.39) for shortness of breath, and 3.31 (95% CI 1.84–5.97) for chest tightness compared to the reference group. Lung function parameters (including VC, FVC, and FEV1) were significantly reduced in hairdressers (p < 0.001). Absence of air conditioning predicted greater reduction in lung function (p < 0.05) in the exposed. Decrease in FVC with normal FEV1/FVC in the exposed group suggested existence of restrictive lung function.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and restrictive lung function impairment among hairdressers in Iran.
Induced secretion system mutation alters rhizosphere bacterial composition in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Authors: Balasubramanian Vimal Kumar , Dampanaboina Lavanya , Cobos Christopher Joseph , Yuan Ning , Xin Zhanguo , Mendu Venugopal
Published: January 2021

Main conclusion

A novel inducible secretion system mutation in Sorghum named Red root has been identified. The mutant plant root exudes pigmented compounds that enriches Actinobacteria in its rhizosphere compared to BTx623.

Favorable plant–microbe interactions in the rhizosphere positively influence plant growth and stress tolerance. Sorghum bicolor, a staple biomass and food crop, has been shown to selectively recruit Gram-positive bacteria (Actinobacteria) in its rhizosphere under drought conditions to enhance stress tolerance. However, the genetic/biochemical mechanism underlying the selective enrichment of specific microbial phyla in the sorghum rhizosphere is poorly known due to the lack of available mutants with altered root secretion systems. Using a subset of sorghum ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant lines, we have isolated a novel Red root (RR) mutant with an increased accumulation and secretion of phenolic compounds in roots. Genetic analysis showed that RR is a single dominant mutation. We further investigated the effect of root-specific phenolic compounds on rhizosphere microbiome composition under well-watered and water-deficit conditions. The microbiome diversity analysis of the RR rhizosphere showed that Actinobacteria were enriched significantly under the well-watered condition but showed no significant change under the water-deficit condition. BTx623 rhizosphere showed a significant increase in Actinobacteria under the water-deficit condition. Overall, the rhizosphere of RR genotype retained a higher bacterial diversity and richness relative to the rhizosphere of BTx623, especially under water-deficit condition. Therefore, the RR mutant provides an excellent genetic resource for rhizosphere-microbiome interaction studies as well as to develop drought-tolerant lines. Identification of the RR gene and the molecular mechanism through which the mutant selectively enriches microbial populations in the rhizosphere will be useful in designing strategies for improving sorghum productivity and stress tolerance.
Ultrastructural observations on the oncomiracidium epidermis and adult tegument of Discocotyle sagittata, a monogenean gill parasite of salmonids
Authors: El-Naggar Mohamed Mohamed , Tinsley Richard C , Cable Jo
Published: January 2021

During their different life stages, parasites undergo remarkable morphological, physiological, and behavioral “metamorphoses” to meet the needs of their changing habitats. This is even true for ectoparasites, such as the monogeneans, which typically have a free-swimming larval stage (oncomiracidium) that seeks out and attaches to the external surfaces of fish where they mature. Before any obvious changes occur, there are ultrastructural differences in the oncomiracidium’s outer surface that prepare it for a parasitic existence. The present findings suggest a distinct variation in timing of the switch from oncomiracidia epidermis to the syncytial structure of the adult tegument and so, to date, there are three such categories within the Monogenea: (1) Nuclei of both ciliated cells and interciliary cytoplasm are shed from the surface layer and the epidermis becomes a syncytial layer during the later stages of embryogenesis; (2) nuclei of both ciliated cells and interciliary syncytium remain distinct and the switch occurs later after the oncomiracidia hatch (as in the present study); and (3) the nuclei remain distinct in the ciliated epidermis but those of the interciliary epidermis are lost during embryonic development. Here we describe how the epidermis of the oncomiracidium of Discocotyle sagittata is differentiated into two regions, a ciliated cell layer and an interciliary, syncytial cytoplasm, both of which are nucleated. The interciliary syncytium extends in-between and underneath the ciliated cells and sometimes covers part of their apical surfaces, possibly the start of their shedding process. The presence of membranous whorls and pyknotic nuclei over the surface are indicative of membrane turnover suggesting that the switch in epidermis morphology is already initiated at this stage. The body tegument and associated putative sensory receptors of subadult and adult D. sagittata are similar to those in other monogeneans.
Higher Hölder regularity for nonlocal equations with irregular kernel
Authors: Nowak Simon
Published: January 2021

We study the higher Hölder regularity of local weak solutions to a class of nonlinear nonlocal elliptic equations with kernels that satisfy a mild continuity assumption. An interesting feature of our main result is that the obtained regularity is better than one might expect when considering corresponding results for local elliptic equations in divergence form with continuous coefficients. Therefore, in some sense our result can be considered to be of purely nonlocal type, following the trend of various such purely nonlocal phenomena observed in recent years. Our approach can be summarized as follows. First, we use certain test functions that involve discrete fractional derivatives in order to obtain higher Hölder regularity for homogeneous equations driven by a locally translation invariant kernel, while the global behaviour of the kernel is allowed to be more general. This enables us to deduce the desired regularity in the general case by an approximation argument.
Schielen oder nicht Schielen? – Strabismus divergens intermittens, eine besondere Schielform
Authors: Resch Ruth E. , Entacher Sigrid
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

Schielen tritt bei ca. 5–7 % der gesunden Kinder auf. Außenschielen ist mit 1,24 % weltweit seltener als Innenschielen. Der Strabismus divergens intermittens stellt mit 40–90 % die häufigste divergente Schielform dar. Das klinische Bild wurde von vielen AutorInnen beschrieben. Dennoch stellt es durch die Variabilität der Befunde eine therapeutische Herausforderung dar.

Material und Methode

Es wurden im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche die Ergebnisse von Studien zum Strabismus divergens intermittens mit Fokus auf klinisches Bild, Untersuchungskriterien und Therapieansätze gesammelt und die Ergebnisse dargestellt.

Resultate

Der Strabismus divergens intermittens zeichnet sich durch eine besondere Binokularsituation und bisher ursächlich nicht vollends geklärte Symptome (Photophobie, Kneifen) aus. Konservative Therapien dienen der Entlastung des visuellen Systems, in vielen Fällen ist aber eine Schieloperation nötig. In der präoperativen Beurteilung ist der Stabilität des Schielwinkels besonderes Augenmerk zu schenken, als Entscheidungshilfe hinsichtlich Schieloperation hat sich der New Castle Control Score bewährt.

Schlussfolgerung

Die klinischen Charakteristika des Strabismus divergens intermittens sind klar beschrieben. Hinsichtlich therapeutischer Ansätze zeigen sich im internationalen Vergleich Unterschiede. Die Bedeutung der Einbeziehung der Eltern („shared decision making“) bei der Beurteilung der Schielhäufigkeit und bei der Operationsentscheidung ist zu betonen.
Articulating bargaining theories: movement, chance, and necessity as descriptive principles
Authors: Laengle Sigifredo
Published: January 2021

The Nash Demand Game (NDG) has been one of the first models (Nash in Econometrica 21(1):128–140, 1953. 10.2307/1906951) that has tried to describe the process of negotiation, competition, and cooperation. This model has had enormous repercussions and has leveraged basic and applied research on bargaining processes. Therefore, we wonder whether it is possible to articulate extensive and multiple developments into a single unifying framework. The Viability Theory has this inclusive approach. Thus, we investigate the NDG under this point of view, and, carrying out this work, we find that the answer is not only affirmative but that we also advance in characterising viable NDGs. In particular, we found foundations describe the distributive Bargaining Theory: the principle of movement and the principle of chance and necessity. Finally, this initial work has many interesting perspectives. The probably most important idea is to integrate developments of the Bargaining Theory and thus capture the complexity of the real world in an articulated way.
Effects and Safety of a Novel Oral Potassium-Lowering Drug-Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yaru , Xu Ruiling , Wang Fanghao , Liu Youxia , Xu Junying , Zhao Na , Cheng Fajuan , Long Lihong , Jia Junya , Lin Shan
Published: January 2021

Background

Oral sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a novel potassium binder capable of achieving a rapid reduction of serum potassium (sK+) and maintaining a long-term normokalemia. We undertook a meta-analysis to summarize and evaluate the effects surrounding SZC in patients with hyperkalemia.

Method

We searched data sources from MEDLINE (from 1950 to Sep 2020), EMBASE (from 1970 to Sep 2020), and the Cochrane Library database (from 1950 to Sep 2020) for eligible studies. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding comparison of therapeutic effects of SZC in hyperkalemia participants were included.

Results

Seven studies, including 1697 patients with hyperkalemia, were analyzed. SZC significantly reduced mean sK+ (−0.42 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.63 to −0.20 mmol/L, p = 0.0001) compared with placebo, with a significantly greater proportion of patients with normokalemia (RR 3.48, 95% CI 1.49 to 8.11, p = 0.004). Subgroup analyses showed that the longer durations of SZC treatment, the greater magnitudes of potassium reduction when compared with those of placebo (p between subgroups = 0.01) at correction phase. Besides, it also demonstrated sK+ tended to decrease more in patients who got longer treatment or larger dosage of SZC at maintenance phase; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Additionally, the drug was equally effective in studies with larger than 50% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or diabetes or patients using renin-angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitor (RAAS) inhibitors (all p < 0.05). The risk of edema (4.30, 1.17 to 15.84; p = 0.03) in SZC group was higher than those of placebo group. No statistically significant differences in the risks of other adverse events were observed between the two groups.

Conclusions

SZC effectively decreased the sK+ level in patients with hyperkalemia within 48 h and had benefits in the long-term control of serum potassium in patients who continued to receive SZC with a favorable safety profile from available data.
The Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexane via In-situ H2O2 Production Over Supported Pd-based Catalysts
Authors: Crombie Caitlin M. , Lewis Richard J. , Kovačič Dávid , Morgan David J. , Slater Thomas J. A. , Davies Thomas E. , Edwards Jennifer. K. , Skjøth-Rasmussen Martin Skov , Hutchings Graham J.
Published: January 2021

The oxidation of cyclohexane via the in-situ production of H2O2 from molecular H2 and O2 offers an attractive route to the current industrial means of producing cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil), key materials in the production of Nylon. The in-situ route has the potential to overcome the significant economic and environmental concerns associated with the use of commercial H2O2, while also allowing for the use of far lower reaction temperatures than those typical of the purely aerobic route to KA oil. Herein we demonstrate the efficacy of a series of bi-functional Pd-based catalysts, which offer appreciable concentrations of KA oil, under conditions where limited activity is observed using O2 alone. In particular the introduction of V into a supported Pd catalyst is seen to improve KA oil concentration by an order of magnitude, compared to the Pd-only analogue. In particular we ascribe this improvement in catalytic performance to the development of Pd domains of mixed oxidation state upon V incorporation as evidenced through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Graphic Abstract
How Potential New Members Approach an Online Community
Authors: Cho Janghee , Wash Rick
Published: January 2021

Online communities, socio-technical systems where people interact with others, depend on new members coming to the community. While the majority of research in online communities relation to the recruitment of new members has focused on new members’ socialization and retention, little work has focused on howpotential new memberswho are not yet a member of the community make the decision on whether they are willing to join in the online community. To understand this initial decision process, we investigated how potential new members build mental models of the online community from their first experience within the community, and how this process impacts the decision to continue participating in the community. We interviewed 31 potential new members of the online communities, Quora and Reddit, to better understand how they evaluate a new community. We found that the process of understanding a community involves orienting toward multiple different aspects of the community, including the content available on the community, the people who are already part of the community, and the technology interface and mechanisms that control the community. Participants who focused on consuming and enjoying content were much more likely to express an interest in future participation in these communities than participants who just evaluated the community, looking at the people in the community or the technology of the community. This extends previous considerations for recruiting new members in online communities. We conclude by discussing how our findings can have broad implications in developing successful online communities and suggesting future research efforts that could help understand potential new members.
Characterization of the pharmacokinetics of entrectinib and its active M5 metabolite in healthy volunteers and patients with solid tumors
Authors: Meneses-Lorente Georgina , Bentley Darren , Guerini Elena , Kowalski Karey , Chow-Maneval Edna , Yu Li , Brink Andreas , Djebli Nassim , Mercier Francois , Buchheit Vincent , Phipps Alex
Published: January 2021

Background: Entrectinib is an oral, CNS-active, potent inhibitor of tyrosine receptor kinases A/B/C, tyrosine kinase ROS proto-oncogene 1, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase approved for use in patients with solid tumors. We describe 3 clinical studies, including one investigating the single/multiple dose pharmacokinetics of entrectinib in patients and two studies in healthy volunteers investigating the absorption/distribution/metabolism/excretion (ADME) of entrectinib, its relative bioavailability, and effect of food on pharmacokinetics. Methods: The patient study is open-label with dose-escalation and expansion phases. Volunteers received entrectinib (100–400 mg/m2, and 600–800 mg) once daily with food in continuous 28-day cycles. In the ADME study, volunteers received a single oral dose of [14C]entrectinib 600 mg. In the third study, volunteers received single doses of entrectinib 600 mg as the research and marketed formulations in the fasted state (Part 1), and the marketed formulation in the fed and fasted states (Part 2). Entrectinib and its major active metabolite M5 were assessed in all studies. Results: Entrectinib was absorbed in a dose-dependent manner with maximum concentrations at ~4 h postdose and an elimination half-life of ~20 h. Entrectinib was cleared mainly through metabolism and both entrectinib and metabolites were eliminated mainly in feces (minimal renal excretion). At steady-state, the M5-to-entrectinib AUC ratio was 0.5 (with 600 mg entrectinib research formulation in patients). The research and marketed formulations were bioequivalent and food had no relevant effect on pharmacokinetics. Conclusions: Entrectinib is well absorbed, with linear PK that is suitable for once-daily dosing, and can be taken with or without food.
The structure and role of lactone intermediates in linkage-specific sialic acid derivatization reactions
Authors: Pongracz Tamas , Verhoeven Aswin , Wuhrer Manfred , de Haan Noortje
Published: January 2021

Sialic acids occur ubiquitously throughout vertebrate glycomes and often endcap glycans in either α2,3- or α2,6-linkage with diverse biological roles. Linkage-specific sialic acid characterization is increasingly performed by mass spectrometry, aided by differential sialic acid derivatization to discriminate between linkage isomers. Typically, during the first step of such derivatization reactions, in the presence of a carboxyl group activator and a catalyst, α2,3-linked sialic acids condense with the subterminal monosaccharides to form lactones, while α2,6-linked sialic acids form amide or ester derivatives. In a second step, the lactones are converted into amide derivatives. Notably, the structure and role of the lactone intermediates in the reported reactions remained ambiguous, leaving it unclear to which extent the amidation of α2,3-linked sialic acids depended on direct aminolysis of the lactone, rather than lactone hydrolysis and subsequent amidation. In this report, we used mass spectrometry to unravel the role of the lactone intermediate in the amidation of α2,3-linked sialic acids by applying controlled reaction conditions on simple and complex glycan standards. The results unambiguously show that in common sialic acid derivatization protocols prior lactone formation is a prerequisite for the efficient, linkage-specific amidation of α2,3-linked sialic acids, which proceeds predominantly via direct aminolysis. Furthermore, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that exclusively the C2 lactone intermediate is formed on a sialyllactose standard. These insights allow a more rationalized method development for linkage-specific sialic derivatization in the future.
Characterization of two cis-acting elements, P1BS and W-box, in the regulation of OsPT6 responsive to phosphors deficiency
Authors: Zhao Qingchun , Luo Zhenzhen , Chen Jiadong , Jia Hongfang , Ai Penghui , Chen Aiqun , Li Yiting , Xu Guohua
Published: January 2021

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major nutrient stresses restricting plant growth. The uptake of P by plants from soil is mainly mediated by the phosphate (Pi) transporters belonging to the PHT1 family. Multiple PHT1 genes from diverse plant species have been shown to be strongly up-regulated upon Pi starvation, however, the underlying mechanisms for the Pi-starvation-induced (PSI) up-regulation have not been well deciphered for most Pi transporter genes. Here, we reported a detailed dissection of the promoter activity of a PSI rice Pi transporter gene OsPT6, using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. OsPT6 promoter could drive GUS expression strongly in both roots and blades of rice plants grown under low P, but not high P. Cis-acting element analysis identified one copy of the P1BS motif and two copies of the W-box motif in OsPT6 promoter. Targeted deletion of the P1BS motif caused almost complete abolition of GUS induction in response to Pi starvation, irrespective of the presence or absence of the W-box motif, Four repeats of the P1BS motif fused to the CaMV35S minimal promoter was sufficient to induce GUS expression responsive to Pi starvation. Targeted deletion of the upstream W-box motif (W1) did not affect the GUS expression activity compared with the full-length OsPT6 promoter, while targeted deletion of the downstream W-box motif (W2) or both of the W-box motifs remarkably reduced the GUS induction rate upon Pi starvation. Our results proposed that the PSI response of OsPT6 was positively regulated by at least two elements, the sole P1BS and the downstream W-box, in its promoter, and the W-box-mediated up-regulation of OsPT6 might be highly dependent on the P1BS motif.
Lights, camera, active! appreciation of active learning predicts positive attitudes towards lecture capture
Authors: Nordmann Emily , Clark Anne , Spaeth Elliott , MacKay Jill R. D.
Published: January 2021

Much has been written about instructor attitudes towards lecture capture, particularly concerning political issues such as opt-out policies and the use of recordings by management. Additionally, the pedagogical concerns of lecturers have been extensively described and focus on the belief that recording lectures will impact on attendance and will reduce interactivity and active learning activities in lectures. However, little work has looked at the relationship between attitudes towards lecture capture and broader conceptions of learning and teaching. In this pre-registered study, we administered the Conceptions of Learning and Teaching scale and a novel lecture capture attitude scale to 159 higher education teachers. We found that appreciation of active learning predicted more positive attitudes towards lecture recordings as an educational support tool, whilst higher teacher-centred scores predicted greater concern about the negative educational impact of recordings. The effects observed were small; however, they are strong evidence against the view that it is instructors who value participatory and active learning that are opposed to lecture capture. Exploratory analyses also suggested that those who did not view recordings as an essential educational resource record fewer of their lectures, highlighting the real-world impact that attitudes can have, and further strengthening the need for staff to be provided with evidence-based guidance upon which to base their teaching practice. Data, analysis code, and the pre-registration are available athttps://osf.io/uzs3t/.
The Impact of Stigma, Autism Label and Wording on the Perceived Desirability of the Online Dating Profiles of Men on the Autism Spectrum
Authors: Brosnan M. , Gavin J.
Published: January 2021

Those seeking romantic relations are increasingly using online dating sites, including young men on the autism spectrum. This study presented dating profiles with and without an explicit label of autism and positive or negative wording to 306 ‘females seeking a male partner’. Participants assessed the men’s dating profiles in terms of perceived attractiveness, trustworthiness and desire-to-date. They also completed a questionnaire on their level of stigmatisation of, and familiarity with, autism. An explicit autism label and positive wording positively impacted perceived attractiveness. With positively worded profiles, those with highly stigmatising views reported decreased desire-to-date when an explicit label of autism was present; those with low levels of stigmatising reported increased desire-to-date when an explicit autism label was present.
WIDOCK: a reactive docking protocol for virtual screening of covalent inhibitors
Authors: Scarpino Andrea , Petri László , Knez Damijan , Imre Tímea , Ábrányi-Balogh Péter , Ferenczy György G. , Gobec Stanislav , Keserű György M.
Published: January 2021

Here we present WIDOCK, a virtual screening protocol that supports the selection of diverse electrophiles as covalent inhibitors by incorporating ligand reactivity towards cysteine residues into AutoDock4. WIDOCK applies the reactive docking method (Backus et al. in Nature 534:570–574, 2016) and extends it into a virtual screening tool by introducing facile experimental or computational parametrization and a ligand focused evaluation scheme together with a retrospective and prospective validation against various therapeutically relevant targets. Parameters accounting for ligand reactivity are derived from experimental reaction kinetic data or alternatively from computed reaction barriers. The performance of this docking protocol was first evaluated by investigating compound series with diverse warhead chemotypes against KRASG12C, MurA and cathepsin B. In addition, WIDOCK was challenged on larger electrophilic libraries screened against OTUB2 and NUDT7. These retrospective analyses showed high sensitivity in retrieving experimental actives, by also leading to superior ROC curves, AUC values and better enrichments than the standard covalent docking tool available in AutoDock4 when compound collections with diverse warheads were investigated. Finally, we applied WIDOCK for the prospective identification of covalent human MAO-A inhibitors acting via a new mechanism by binding to Cys323. The inhibitory activity of several predicted compounds was experimentally confirmed and the labelling of Cys323 was proved by subsequent MS/MS measurements. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of WIDOCK as a warhead-sensitive, covalent virtual screening protocol.
Viscose‐based porous carbon fibers: improving yield and porosity through optimization of the carbonization process by design of experiment
Authors: Breitenbach Stefan , Unterweger Christoph , Lumetzberger Alexander , Duchoslav Jiri , Stifter David , Hassel Achim Walter , Fürst Christian
Published: January 2021

In this study, the production of porous carbon fibers from viscose fibers was investigated. The effects of final carbonization temperature (600–1000 °C) and heating rate (6–600 °C h−1), which determine the carbonization process, on carbon yield, and specific surface area were investigated using a central composite design. The statistical models found were then used to optimize both the yield and the porosity of the carbonized fibers, which are the most important factors for further use as precursors for activated carbon fibers. Despite the contrary effects, porous carbon fibers with a yield of 21.2% could be produced, which at the same time have a specific surface area of 175 m2 g−1. The fibers produced were also characterized by SEM, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, XRD and CHNS analysis.
The influence of board members with foreign experience on the timely delivery of financial reports
Authors: Dobija Dorota , Puławska Karolina
Published: January 2021

This study examines the effect of the presence of foreign experts on a company’s board on the important characteristic of high-quality financial reporting: timeliness. We focus on experts with foreign experience (EFEs) who are board members, in the context of a dual board model. The sample is drawn from the population of Polish nonfinancial firms listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange during 2010–2015. For analysis, we use the generalised method of moments with fixed effects. After controlling for corporate governance and firm characteristics, we find that the presence of EFEs shortens the time necessary to deliver financial reports. Our findings enrich the knowledge on the monitoring role of EFEs in corporate governance, especially in the context of the insider model of corporate governance and a dual board structure. The findings have significant implications for policy formulation and provide evidence that the presence of EFEs on supervisory boards may lead to increased timeliness of financial reporting, thus increasing financial reporting quality.
Velocity and acceleration level inverse kinematic calculation alternatives for redundant manipulators
Authors: Patkó Dóra , Zelei Ambrus
Published: January 2021

For both non-redundant and redundant systems, the inverse kinematics (IK) calculation is a fundamental step in the control algorithm of fully actuated serial manipulators. The tool-center-point (TCP) position is given and the joint coordinates are determined by the IK. Depending on the task, robotic manipulators can be kinematically redundant. That is when the desired task possesses lower dimensions than the degrees-of-freedom of a redundant manipulator. The IK calculation can be implemented numerically in several alternative ways not only in case of the redundant but also in the non-redundant case. We study the stability properties and the feasibility of a tracking error feedback and a direct tracking error elimination approach of the numerical implementation of IK calculation both on velocity and acceleration levels. The feedback approach expresses the joint position increment stepwise based on the local velocity or acceleration of the desired TCP trajectory and linear feedback terms. In the direct error elimination concept, the increment of the joint position is directly given by the approximate error between the desired and the realized TCP position, by assuming constant TCP velocity or acceleration. We investigate the possibility of the implementation of the direct method on acceleration level. The investigated IK methods are unified in a framework that utilizes the idea of the auxiliary input. Our closed form results and numerical case study examples show the stability properties, benefits and disadvantages of the assessed IK implementations.
Computational limitations of affine automata and generalized affine automata
Authors: Hirvensalo Mika , Moutot Etienne , Yakaryılmaz Abuzer
Published: January 2021

We present new results on the computational limitations of affine automata (AfAs). First, we show that using the endmarker does not increase the computational power of AfAs. Second, we show that the computation of bounded-error rational-valued AfAs can be simulated in logarithmic space.
Third, we identify some logspace unary languages that are not recognized by algebraic-valued AfAs. Fourth, we show that using arbitrary real-valued transition matrices and state vectors does not increase the computational power of AfAs in the unbounded-error model. When focusing only the rational values, we obtain the same result also for bounded error. As a consequence, we show that the class of bounded-error affine languages remains the same when the AfAs are restricted to use rational numbers only.
Understanding Early Childhood Science Education: Comparative Analysis of Australian and Finnish Curricula
Authors: Havu-Nuutinen Sari , Kewalramani Sarika , Veresov Nikolai , Pöntinen Susanna , Kontkanen Sini
Published: January 2021

This research is a comparative study of Finnish and Australian science curricula in early childhood education (EC). The study aims to figure out the constructivist components of the science curriculum in two countries as well as locate the similarities and differences in the rationale and aims, contents, learning outcomes, learning activities, teacher’s role and assessment. The curriculum analysis framework developed by Van den Akker (2003) was used as a methodological framework for the curricula analysis. Based on the theory-driven content analyses, findings show that both countries have several components of constructivist curriculum, but not always clearly focused on science education. The Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) integrates children’s science learning within their five specific learning outcomes, whereas the Finnish national core curriculum for early childhood education and care has no defined learning outcomes in general. The Finnish curriculum more clearly than EYLF encompasses science and environmental education as a learning domain, within which children participate in targeted scientific activities to gain procedural knowledge in specific environmental-related concepts. More focus should be turned to the teachers’ role and assessment, which are not determined in science context in both countries. This international comparative study calls for the need of a considered EC curriculum framework that more explicitly has science domains with specifically defined rationale, aims, content areas, learning outcomes and assessment criteria. The implications lie in providing early childhood educators with tangible and theoretically solid curriculum framework and resources in order to foster scientific thinking in young children.
Sulfur Ice Astrochemistry: A Review of Laboratory Studies
Authors: Mifsud Duncan V. , Kaňuchová Zuzana , Herczku Péter , Ioppolo Sergio , Juhász Zoltán , Kovács Sándor T. S. , Mason Nigel J. , McCullough Robert W. , Sulik Béla
Published: January 2021

Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and is known to play a significant role in biological systems. Accordingly, in recent years there has been increased interest in the role of sulfur in astrochemical reactions and planetary geology and geochemistry. Among the many avenues of research currently being explored is the laboratory processing of astrophysical ice analogues. Such research involves the synthesis of an ice of specific morphology and chemical composition at temperatures and pressures relevant to a selected astrophysical setting (such as the interstellar medium or the surfaces of icy moons). Subsequent processing of the ice under conditions that simulate the selected astrophysical setting commonly involves radiolysis, photolysis, thermal processing, neutral-neutral fragment chemistry, or any combination of these, and has been the subject of several studies. The in-situ changes in ice morphology and chemistry occurring during such processing are often monitored via spectroscopic or spectrometric techniques. In this paper, we have reviewed the results of laboratory investigations concerned with sulfur chemistry in several astrophysical ice analogues. Specifically, we review (i) the spectroscopy of sulfur-containing astrochemical molecules in the condensed phase, (ii) atom and radical addition reactions, (iii) the thermal processing of sulfur-bearing ices, (iv) photochemical experiments, (v) the non-reactive charged particle radiolysis of sulfur-bearing ices, and (vi) sulfur ion bombardment of and implantation in ice analogues. Potential future studies in the field of solid phase sulfur astrochemistry are also discussed in the context of forthcoming space missions, such as the NASA James Webb Space Telescope and the ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission.
Investigative Interviews with Suspects and Witnesses: A Survey of Perceptions and Interview Practices Among Malaysian Police
Authors: Chung Kai Li , Ng Magdalene , Ding I Ling
Published: January 2021

Interviewing of suspects, victims, and eyewitnesses contributes significantly to the investigation process. While a great deal is known about the investigative interviewing practices in the United Kingdom and the Nordic region, very little is known about the framework used by Malaysian police officers. A survey was administered to 44 Royal Malaysian Police interviewers serving in the Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) of the Crime Investigation Department. Respondents were asked about the investigative interviewing techniques they use with suspects, witnesses, and victims; how effective they think these techniques are; and the training they had received. Findings revealed that many police officers currently possess limited knowledge of best practice investigative interviewing. More training, feedback, and supervision is needed and desired.
Longitudinal association between autistic traits and affinity for hikikomori in Japanese university students
Authors: Shimono Yuuki , Hasegawa Akira , Tsuchihara Kohei , Tanaka Keisuke , Matsuda Yuko , Kunisato Yoshihiko
Published: January 2021

The affinity for hikikomori represents the desire to be withdrawn, as well as to entertain an empathetic attitude towards withdrawn individuals. It is composed of two subdimensions, the maladaptive desire for hikikomori, and empathy for others with hikikomori. This longitudinal study examined whether autistic traits predicted the affinity for hikikomori. At the baseline assessment, undergraduate and graduate students in Japan (N = 272) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Affinity for Hikikomori Scale in University Students, and measures assessing academic failures and interpersonal conflicts. They also completed all measures excluding the AQ eight weeks later. Structural equation modeling indicated that difficulties in social interaction aspects of autistic traits were positively associated with academic failures at Time 2 even after controlling for academic failures at Time 1. In addition, difficulties in social interaction were positively related to the desire for hikikomori at Time 2 indirectly via academic failures at Time 2 after controlling for the desire for hikikomori at Time 1. Difficulties in social interaction were also directly associated with the increased desire for hikikomori at Time 2. These findings suggest that autistic traits, and especially difficulties in social interaction, are predictors of the maladaptive aspect of the affinity for hikikomori.
Computation of subsurface drain spacing in the unsteady conditions using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)
Authors: Ostad-Ali-Askari Kaveh , Shayannejad Mohammad
Published: January 2021

Artificial neural networks are a tool for modeling of nonlinear systems in various engineering fields. These networks are effective tools for modeling the nonlinear systems. Each artificial neural network includes an input layer, an output layer between which there are one or some hidden layers. In each layer, there are one or several processing elements or neurons. The neurons of the input layer are independent variables of the understudy issue, and the neurons of the output layer are its dependent variables. Artificial neural system, through exerting weight on inputs and by suing an activation function attempts to achieve a desirable output. In this research, in order to calculate the drain spacing in an unsteady state in a region situated in the north east of Ahwaz, Iran with different soil properties and drain spacing, the artificial neural networks have been used. The neurons in the input layer were: Specific yield, hydraulic conductivity, depth of the impermeable layer, height of the water table in the middle of the interval between the drains in two-time steps. The neurons in output layer were drain spacing. The network designed in this research was included a hidden layer with four neurons. The distance of drains computed via this method had a good agreement with real values and had a high precision in compare with other methods.
Micro-fabrication of ceramics: Additive manufacturing and conventional technologies
Authors: Hassanin Hany , Essa Khamis , Elshaer Amr , Imbaby Mohamed , El-Mongy Heba H. , El-Sayed Tamer A.
Published: January 2021

Ceramic materials are increasingly used in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) as they offer many advantages such as high-temperature resistance, high wear resistance, low density, and favourable mechanical and chemical properties at elevated temperature. However, with the emerging of additive manufacturing, the use of ceramics for functional and structural MEMS raises new opportunities and challenges. This paper provides an extensive review of the manufacturing processes used for ceramic-based MEMS, including additive and conventional manufacturing technologies. The review covers the micro-fabrication techniques of ceramics with the focus on their operating principles, main features, and processed materials. Challenges that need to be addressed in applying additive technologies in MEMS include ceramic printing on wafers, post-processing at the micro-level, resolution, and quality control. The paper also sheds light on the new possibilities of ceramic additive micro-fabrication and their potential applications, which indicates a promising future.
Size and temperature effects on dielectric breakdown of ferroelectric films
Authors: Tong Sheng
Published: January 2021

The paper introduces a model of dielectric breakdown strength. The model integrated thermal breakdown and defect models, representing the relationship between the electric field of ferroelectric films and dimensional parameters and operating temperature. This model is verified with experimental results of the lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) films of various film thickness (d = 0.8–3 μm), electrode area (A = 0.0020–25 mm2) tested under a range of operating temperature (T = 300–400 K) with satisfying fitting results. Also learned is a relationship that the recoverable electric energy density is directly proportional to the square of breakdown electric field. This relationship is found viable in predicting the electric energy density in terms of variables of d, A, and T for the PLZT films.
Electrical transport in lead-free Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Suchanicz J. , Kluczewska-Chmielarz K. , Sitko D. , Jagło G.
Published: January 2021

Lead-free Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3(NBT) ceramics were prepared via a conventional oxide-mixed sintering route and their electrical transport properties were investigated. Direct current (DC, σDC) and alternating current (AC, σAC) electrical conductivity values, polarization current (first measurements) and depolarization current, current–voltage (I–U) characteristics (first measurements), and the Seebeck coefficient (α) were determined under various conditions. The mechanism of depolarization and the electrical conductivity phenomena observed for the investigated samples were found to be typical. For low voltages, theI–Ucharacteristics were in good agreement with Ohm’s law; for higher voltages, the observed dependences wereI–U2,I–U4, and thenI–U6. The low-frequency σACfollowed the formula σAC–ωs(ω is the angular frequency andsis the frequency exponent). The exponentswas equal to 0.18–0.77 and 0.73–0.99 in the low- and high-frequency regions, respectively, and decreased with temperature increasing. It was shown that conduction mechanisms involved the hopping of charge carriers at low temperatures, small polarons at intermediate temperatures, and oxygen vacancies at high temperatures. Based on AC conductivity data, the density of states at the Fermi-level, and the minimum hopping length were estimated. Electrical conduction was found to undergo p–n–p transitions with increasing temperature. These transitions occurred at depolarization temperatureTd, 280 ℃, and temperature of the maximum of electric permittivityTmis as typical of NBT materials.
Trends in thyroid function testing, neck ultrasound, thyroid fine needle aspiration, and thyroidectomies in North-eastern Italy
Authors: Dal Maso L. , Panato C. , De Paoli A. , Mattioli V. , Serraino D. , Elisei R. , Zoppini G. , Gobitti C. , Borsatti E. , Di Felice E. , Falcini F. , Ferretti S. , Francisci S. , Giorgi Rossi P. , Guzzinati S. , Mazzoleni G. , Pierannunzio D. , Piffer S. , Vaccarella S. , Vicentini M. , Zorzi M. , Franceschi S. , Fedeli U. ,   for the DEPTH Working Group, Avossa F. , De Palma R. , Vattiato R. , Polverino A. , Vittadello F. , Toffolutti F. , Fanetti G.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Evidence of an increased diagnostic pressure on thyroid has emerged over the past decades. This study aimed to provide estimates of a wide spectrum of surveillance indicators for thyroid dysfunctions and diseases in Italy.

Methods

A population-based study was conducted in North-eastern Italy, including 11.7 million residents (20% of the total Italian population). Prescriptions for TSH testing, neck ultrasound or thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA), surgical procedures, and drugs for hypo- or hyperthyroidism were extracted from regional health databases. Proportions and rates of selected examinations were calculated from 2010 to 2017, overall and by sex, calendar years, age, and region.

Results

Between 2010 and 2017 in North-eastern Italy, 24.5% of women and 9.8% of men received at least one TSH test yearly. In 2017, 7.1% of women and 1.5% of men were prescribed drugs for thyroid dysfunction, 94.6% of whom for hypothyroidism. Neck ultrasound examinations were performed yearly in 6.9% of women and 4.6% of men, with a nearly two-fold variation between areas. Thyroid FNA and thyroidectomies were three-fold more frequent in women (394 and 85 per 100,000) than in men (128 and 29 per 100,000) with a marked variation between areas. Both procedures decreased consistently after 2013.

Conclusions

The results of this population-based study describe recent variations over time and between surrounding areas of indicators of ‘diagnostic pressure’ on thyroid in North-eastern Italy. These results emphasize the need to harmonize practices and to reduce some procedures (e.g., neck ultrasound and total thyroidectomies) in certain areas.
The Use of Tree-Related Microhabitats as Forest Biodiversity Indicators and to Guide Integrated Forest Management
Authors: Asbeck Thomas , Großmann Josef , Paillet Yoan , Winiger Nathalie , Bauhus Jürgen
Published: January 2021

Purpose of the Review

The concept of tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) is an approach to assess and manage multi-taxon species richness in forest ecosystems. Owing to their provision of special habitat features, TreMs are of special interest as a surrogate biodiversity indicator. In particular, in retention forestry, TreMs have gained attention over the past decade as a selection criterion for retained structural elements such as habitat trees. This review seeks to (a) address the suitability of TreMs as biodiversity indicator in the context of retention forestry, (b) summarize drivers of TreM occurrence and the status quo of the implementation of TreM-based retention concepts in forest management, and (c) discuss current and future challenges to the use of TreMs as biodiversity indicator.

Recent Findings

The TreM concept originated in Europe where it is now increasingly implemented. Most studies of the quantity, quality, and diversity of TreMs are focused on tree species from this region, although it is increasingly applied in other contexts. In addition to tree species, tree dimensions and live status have been identified as the main drivers of TreM occurrence. One major remaining research challenge is to verify relationships between the occurrence and abundance of forest-dwelling species from different taxonomic groups and TreMs to improve the evidence basis of this concept and thus increase its integration in forest conservation approaches.

TreMs are not the “silver bullet” indicator to quantify biodiversity of forest dwelling species, but they provide an important tool for forest managers to guide the selection of habitat trees for the conservation of the associated biodiversity.