bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethanol by Cu3Sn Catalyst
Authors: Shang Longmei , Lv Ximeng , Zhong Lixiang , Li Shuzhou , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: December 2021

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction to ethanol suggests a potential strategy to reduce the CO2 level and generate valuable liquid fuels, while the development of low‐cost catalysts with high activity and selectivity remains a major challenge. In this work, a bimetallic, low‐entropy state Cu3Sn catalyst featuring efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethanol is developed. This low‐entropy state Cu3Sn catalyst allows a high Faradaic efficiency of 64% for ethanol production, distinctively from the high‐entropy state Cu6Sn5 catalyst with the main selectivity toward producing formate. At an industry‐level current density of −900 mA cm−2, the Cu3Sn catalyst exhibited excellent stability for over 48 h in a membrane‐electrode based electrolyzer. Theoretical calculations indicate that the high ethanol selectivity on Cu3Sn is attributed to its enhanced adsorption of several key intermediates in the ethanol production pathway. Moreover, the life‐cycle assessment reveals that using the Cu3Sn electrocatalyst, an electrochemical CO2‐to‐ethanol electrolysis system powered by wind electricity can lead to a global warming potential of 120 kgCO2‐eq for producing 1 ton of ethanol, corresponding to a 55% reduction of carbon emissions compared to the conventional bio‐ethanol process.
Low‐Cost Fabrication of Sb2S3 Solar Cells: Direct Evaporation from Raw Stibnite Ore
Authors: Zeng Yiyu , Wu Jie , Sun Kaiwen , Huang Jialiang , Li Linhong , Sha Chuhan , Yao Yin , Lai Yanqing , Green Martin , Liu Fangyang , Hao Xiaojing
Published: December 2021

Antimony sulfide is an emerging 1D nontoxic Earth‐abundant photovoltaic material with favorable wide bandgap as a suitable top‐cell candidate for multijunction tandem solar cells. However, the current fabrication technology for Sb2S3 solar cells relies heavily on a high‐purity Sb2S3 source, which limits its large‐scale deployment. Therefore, it is attractive to fabricate the Sb2S3 solar cells directly from the raw stibnite source, which can be cost effective by avoiding the complicated, costly purification and refinement process of the stibnite ore, while reducing process‐emitted pollution. Herein, high‐quality Sb2S3 films (thickness: ≈1 μm) by the vapor transport deposition of raw stibnite ore powder are obtained, followed by a sulfurization process to remove the surface oxides and facilitate alkali element redistribution. In this way, the particle size is increased from ≈500 nm to ≈1.5 μm, the carrier concentration of the Sb2S3 film is increased from ≈1015 to ≈1016 cm−3, and the power conversion efficiency of Sb2S3 solar cell is increased by more than two times. Through the elemental distribution analysis, it is found that it is the redistribution of alkali elements introduced from the natural stibnite ore that induces the grain growth, contributes toward defect suppression, and leads toward enhanced device performance.
Architecture of a time‐sensitive provisioning system for cloud‐native software
Authors: Venkateswaran Sreekrishnan , Bauskar Adwait , Sarkar Santonu
Published: December 2021

Application development paradigms and composition of technology services are decisively moving in the direction of hybrid and multi clouds. Enterprises are stitching new cloud‐native business models that leverage containerized multi‐tier microservice architecture, heterogeneity of cloud deployment models, and diversity of cloud providers. Scalability and resiliency are key components of this new world architecture, but these are also functions of the predictability of provisioning the underpinning compute instances on cloud. Thus, a major challenge to surmount before complex multicloud aware applications can be designed is the problem of unpredictable latencies associated with the provisioning of compute services on cloud. In the first part of this article, we develop a technique for time‐sensitive provisioning of virtual compute on demand, while also allowing deprovisioning on demand. Using the technique we propose, a cloud broker will be able to operate on a pool of reserved instances sourced from cloud providers and multiplex them profitably across cloud customers with associated provisioning time guarantees, but without usage commitment restrictions. We articulate this challenge in the form of theReserved Instance Allocation Problem(RIAP), which we first prove to be NP‐hard. We then design a heuristic‐based method to solve the intractable RIAP in polynomial time. We evaluate the effectiveness of our heuristic‐based mechanism through a combination of deep simulations and practical validation on mainstream public clouds. We demonstrate that our algorithm consistently yields a high profit‐to‐investment ratio for a broker who seeks to operate a commerce of virtual machines with time‐sensitive provisioning. In the second part of this article, we tackle the problem of unpredictable provisioning latencies in bare metal commerce. We build and evaluate an allocation model to calculate optimal supporting bare metal inventory to maximize cost‐sensitive fulfillment of bare metal provisioning requests in a time‐sensitive manner.
Nutzung von Routinedaten aus Notaufnahmen zur Surveillance von Suizidversuchen und psychiatrischen Notfällen
Authors: Schlump Carmen , Thom Julia , Boender T. Sonia , Wagner Birte , Diercke Michaela , Kocher Theresa , Ullrich Alexander , Grabenhenrich Linus , Greiner Felix , Zöllner Rebecca , Mauz Elvira , Schranz Madlen
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund

Die Häufigkeit von Suizidversuchen ist ein zentraler Indikator der psychischen Gesundheit der Bevölkerung und daher Gegenstand der Mental Health Surveillance am Robert Koch-Institut. Da bisher keine Datenquellen systematisch zur kontinuierlichen Erfassung von psychiatrischen Notfällen – zu denen Suizidversuche zählen – herangezogen werden, wird die Nutzung von Routinedaten aus Notaufnahmen zu diesem Zweck geprüft.

Methoden

Routinedaten aus 12 Notaufnahmen wurden für den Zeitraum 01.01.2018–28.03.2021 ausgewertet. Syndromdefinitionen für Suizidversuche, psychiatrische Notfälle und psychische Symptomatik wurden als Kombinationen aus Vorstellungsgründen und Diagnosen entwickelt. Fälle wurden alters- und geschlechtsspezifisch sowie im Zeitverlauf dargestellt.

Ergebnisse

Von insgesamt 1.516.883 Notaufnahmevorstellungen wurden 5133 (0,3 %) als Suizidversuche, 31.085 (2,1 %) als psychiatrische Notfälle und 34.230 (2,3 %) als Fälle mit einer psychischen Symptomatik identifiziert. 16,5 % der psychiatrischen Notfälle wurden so als Suizidversuch eingeschätzt. Unter den Suizidversuchen entfallen 53,4 % auf Männer und insgesamt 20,2 % auf die Altersgruppe der 25- bis 34-Jährigen. Alle 3 Syndromdefinitionen können über den gesamten Beobachtungszeitraum Fälle sowie deren zeitliche Variation abbilden.

Fazit

Notaufnahmedaten zeigen Potenzial zur syndromischen Surveillance von Suizidversuchen und psychiatrischen Notfällen und bieten damit einen Ausgangspunkt für weitere Validierung und Analyse. Die Abbildung von Veränderungen in Echtzeit erweitert die bisherigen Forschungsmöglichkeiten zu psychiatrischen Notfällen in Deutschland. Eine systematische Surveillance von Suizidversuchen kann zu einer evidenzbasierten Suizidprävention beitragen.
Einstellung der Allgemeinbevölkerung zur Schweigepflicht von Ärzt:innen und Psychotherapeut:innen bei Patient:innen mit extremistischer Einstellung
Authors: Rau Thea , Mayer Sophia , Fegert Jörg M. , Allroggen Marc
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund

Um extremistische Gewalttaten zu verhindern, wurde in der Vergangenheit immer wieder diskutiert, inwieweit eine allgemeine Aufhebung der ärztlichen Schweigepflicht und der Verschwiegenheitspflichten bei psychologischen Psychotherapeut:innen und Ärzt:innen im Zusammenhang mit extremistischen Einstellungen bei Patient:innen ein sinnvolles Mittel zur Gefahrenabwehr sei. Bislang gibt es keine Untersuchung darüber, ob dies im politischen Diskurs ein mehrheitsfähiges Argument ist, da es keine Befragung zur Einstellung der Allgemeinbevölkerung im Zusammenhang mit religiösem oder politischem Extremismus und Verschwiegenheitspflichten gibt.

Material und Methoden

Anhand einer bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Befragung (n = 2503) wurde die Einstellung der Allgemeinbevölkerung untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Es zeigt sich, dass über die Hälfte der Befragten (58 %) den Schutz vor möglicher Gefährdung durch extremistische Gewalt als wichtiger ansehen als die Einhaltung der Schweigepflicht bei Psychiater:innen und Psychotherapeut:innen. Über die Hälfte (54 %) stimmen dem zu, dass die Möglichkeit zum Bruch der Schweigepflicht grundsätzlich bestehen sollte, wenn Psychotherapeut:innen oder Psychiater:innen von extremistischen Einstellungen bei Patient:innen erfahren. Die Zustimmung war insbesondere dann höher, wenn die Befragten Terrorismus grundsätzlich in einen Zusammenhang mit psychischen Erkrankungen brachten.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse zeigen einerseits die Notwendigkeit, über die Bedeutung der Schweigepflicht als zentrale Grundlage einer Heilbehandlung stärker aufzuklären, andererseits aber auch sehr kritisch Stellung zu beziehen, welche Rolle psychische Erkrankungen tatsächlich bei der Entstehung von extremistischer Gewalt spielen, um eine Stigmatisierung von Betroffenen zu vermeiden.
Female breeding dispersal to higher quality habitats in a philopatric top predator
Authors: Otterbeck Andreas , Lindén Andreas , Gunko Ruslan , Ylinen Eeva , Byholm Patrik
Published: December 2021

Philopatry and monogamy are conventionally viewed as strategies for improving fitness. Many philopatric and monogamous species have, however, been shown to perform breeding dispersal—an exchange of territory (and often also partner) between two breeding seasons. The adaptiveness of breeding dispersal remains controversial, as data remain scarce and sporadic. For the Northern Goshawk, a typically highly philopatric and monogamous forest raptor, pairs breeding in barren forest landscapes produce fewer fledglings than pairs breeding in more productive landscapes. Using data on Finnish breeding female Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) during 1999–2016, we tested the hypotheses that: (1) breeding dispersal is more likely at barren territories, (2) dispersing females move to less barren territories, and (3) breeding dispersal improves the survival of young. About 29% of the female Goshawks in our study performed breeding dispersal, which contrasts to philopatry and suggest that site and partner fidelities show large variation within the species’ breeding range. We found no evidence that territorial landscape barrenness (proxy on habitat quality) affects the probability of breeding dispersal. However, females that dispersed upgraded to less barren territories. Nevertheless, there were no subsequent effects of breeding dispersal on reproductive performance, suggesting no obvious difference in the capability of rearing young at either site. Although dispersal events were directed to less barren habitats, we suggest that female dispersal is not driven by the pursue for more prospersous habitats, rather that those females are forced to move, for whatever reason. In addition to other observed reasons such as female–female competition for mates and loss of the original mate, intense logging of mature forests lowering local food availability and restricting nest site availability were likely a partial cause of increased breeding dispersal.
Solidarity and The Politics of Redress: Structural Injustice, History and Counter-Finalities
Authors: Owen David
Published: December 2021

This paper examines Nuti’s accounts of structural injustice and historical injustice in the light of a political dilemma that confronted Young’s work on structure injustice. The dilemma emerges from a paradox that can be stated simply: justly addressing structural injustice would require that those subject to structural injustice enjoy the kind of privileged position of decision-making power that their being subject to structural injustice denies them. The dilemma thus concerns how to justly address structural injustice. I argue that Nuti’s account is currently unable to provide an adequate theorization of how to address this dilemma because it lacks an account of political solidarity, but also that her account provides important resources for dissolving a dispute between two competing theories of solidarity in a way that facilitates the articulation of an account of political solidarity that is adequate to addressing the political dilemma.
Perceived Vulnerability to Disease, Knowledge and Preventive Behavior Related to COVID-19 in Farsi and Arabic Speaking Refugees
Authors: Kananian Schahryar , Al-Sari Samar , Stangier Ulrich
Published: December 2021

In the face of the worldwide COVIV-19 pandemic, refugees represent a particularly vulnerable group with respect to access to health care and information regarding preventive behavior. In an online survey the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale, self-reported changes in preventive and risk behaviors, knowledge about COVID-19, and psychopathological symptoms (PHQ-4) were assessed. The convenience sample consisted of n = 76 refugees (n = 45 Arabic speaking, n = 31 Farsi speaking refugees) and n = 76 German controls matched with respect to age and sex. Refugees reported a significantly larger fear of infection, significantly less knowledge about COVID-19, and a higher frequency of maladaptive behavior, as compared to the control group. This study shows that refugees are more vulnerable to fear of infection and maladaptive behaviors than controls. Culturally adapted, easily accessible education about COVID-19 may be beneficial in improving knowledge and preventive behaviors related to COVID-19.
Teaching for Emergent Disciplinary Drawing in Science? Comparing Teachers’ and Children’s Ways of Representing Science Content in Early Childhood Classrooms
Authors: Areljung Sofie , Skoog Marianne , Sundberg Bodil
Published: December 2021

This classroom-based study aims to contribute knowledge about children’s opportunities to make use of drawing to make meaning in science. Employing a social semiotic approach to drawing, we examine what ways of representing science content that are (1) made available by the teacher and (2) adopted in children’s drawings. We analysed observation data from 11 science lessons in early childhood classrooms (children aged 3 to 8 years), including the drawings that children made during those lessons (129 drawings in total). Our findings suggest that the semiotic resources that teachers provide have a large impact on how children represent science content in their drawings. Moreover, we interpret that teachers strive to support children’s ‘emergent disciplinary drawing’ in science, since they predominantly provided semiotic resources where the science content was generalised and decontextualised. Finally, we propose that ‘emergent disciplinary drawing’ is incorporated as an element of science pedagogy in ECE practice and ECE teacher education.
A Semantics for Hyperintensional Belief Revision Based on Information Bases
Authors: Bozdag Sena
Published: December 2021

I propose a novel hyperintensional semantics for belief revision and a corresponding system of dynamic doxastic logic. The main goal of the framework is to reduce some of the idealisations that are common in the belief revision literature and in dynamic epistemic logic. The models of the new framework are primarily based on potentially incomplete or inconsistent collections of information, represented by situations in a situation space. I propose that by shifting the representational focus of doxastic models from belief sets to collections of information, and by defining changes of beliefs as artifacts of changes of information, we can achieve a more realistic account of belief representation and belief change. The proposed dynamic operation suggests a non-classical way of changing beliefs: belief revision occurs in non-explosive environments which allow for a non-monotonic and hyperintensional belief dynamics. A logic that is sound with respect to the semantics is also provided.
A new look at Eccaparadoxides (Cambrian, Trilobita) and its biostratigraphic significance
Authors: Geyer Gerd , Landing Ed , Żylińska Anna
Published: December 2021

Eccaparadoxides is a geographically widely distributed trilobite genus that occurs in the middle part of the Cambrian System. However, the systematically important morphologic characteristics that can be used to differentiate taxa are often problematical in their application. A review of the large number (over 30) of significant species or forms assigned to Eccaparadoxides clearly indicates that only the pygidia offer fairly reliable morphologic criteria that can be used taxonomically and phylogenetically. The pygidia allow for recognition of four different morphological groups (pusillus, lamellatus, pradoanus and asturianus) of which the asturianus group can only be questionably assigned to the genus. Species known only from cranidia cannot be assigned to Eccaparadoxides with certainty. This study refines the biostratigraphy for the interval from the upper Wuliuan to the middle Drumian and shows that this interval brackets the range of most Eccaparadoxides species. The genera or subgenera Baltoparadoxides, Rejkocephalus and Macrocerca are evaluated. Eccaparadoxides zelus, E. epimetheus and Eccaparadoxides? hestia are newly proposed species.
When and How to Regulate: Everyday Emotion-Regulation Strategy Use and Stressor Intensity
Authors: Blanke Elisabeth S. , Bellingtier Jennifer A. , Riediger Michaela , Brose Annette
Published: December 2021

Contextual factors shape emotion regulation (ER). The intensity of emotional stimuli may be such a contextual factor that influences the selection and moderates the effectiveness of ER strategies in reducing negative affect (NA). Prior research has shown that, on average, when emotional stimuli were more intense, distraction was selected over reappraisal (and vice versa). This pattern was previously shown to be adaptive as the preferred strategies were more efficient in the respective contexts. Here, we investigated whether stressor intensity predicted strategy use and effectiveness in similar ways in daily life. We examined five ER strategies (reappraisal, reflection, acceptance, distraction, and rumination) in relation to the intensity of everyday stressors, using two waves of experience-sampling data (N = 156). In accordance with our hypotheses, reappraisal, reflection, and acceptance were used less, and rumination was used more, when stressors were more intense. Moreover, results suggested that distraction was more effective, and rumination more detrimental the higher the stressor intensity. Against our hypotheses, distraction did not covary with stressor intensity, and there was no evidence that reappraisal, reflection, and acceptance were more effective at lower levels of stressor intensity. Instead, when examined individually, reflection and reappraisal (like distraction) were more effective at higher levels of stressor intensity. In sum, stressor intensity predicted ER selection and moderated strategy effectiveness, but the results also point to a more complex ER strategy use in daily life than in the laboratory.
Government Cloud Procurement
Authors: McGillivray Kevin
Published: December 2021

In Government Cloud Procurement, Kevin McGillivray explores the question of whether governments can adopt cloud computing services and still meet their legal requirements and other obligations to citizens. The book focuses on the interplay between the technical properties of cloud computing services and the complex legal requirements applicable to cloud adoption and use. The legal issues evaluated include data privacy law (GDPR and the US regime), jurisdictional issues, contracts, and transnational private law approaches to addressing legal requirements. McGillivray also addresses the unique position of governments when they outsource core aspects of their information and communications technology to cloud service providers. His analysis is supported by extensive research examining actual cloud contracts obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. With the demand for cloud computing on the rise, this study fills a gap in legal literature and offers guidance to organizations considering cloud computing.
Losing Black Mothers, Finding Revolutionary Mothering
Authors: Hall K. Melchor Quick
Published: December 2021

My mother is losing her mother to Alzheimer's disease. Although my mother feels loss, I am connecting through my (maternal) grandmother to our ancestors, including a deceased father and paternal grandmother. I am also connecting to a daughter who has lost her mother, through a (maternal) grandmother who, through her loss of memory, is more open to kin networks than my mother. Through deepening connections to my maternal grandmother and to my daughter, I feel I am losing my mother. I look to revolutionary mothering as a way to reconnect shattered bonds and find lost mothers. This article honors the important work of Saidiya Hartman, Dorothy Roberts, and countless revolutionary mothers.
Mental health and conspirasism in health care professionals during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Greece
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N. , Apostolidou Maria K. , Atsiova Marina B. , Filippidou Anna K. , Florou Angeliki K. , Gousiou Dimitra S. , Katsara Aikaterini R. , Mantzari Sofia N. , Padouva-Markoulaki Marina , Papatriantafyllou Evangelia I. , Sacharidi Panagiota I. , Tonia Aikaterini I. , Tsagalidou Eleni G. , Zymara Vasiliki P. , Prezerakos Panagiotis E , Koupidis Sotirios A. , Fountoulakis Nikolaos K. , Konsta Anastasia , Tsapakis Eva Maria , Theodorakis Pavlos N. , Mossialos Elias
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

The aim of the study was to investigate mental health and conspiracy theory beliefs concerning COVID-19 among health care professionals (HCPs).

Material and methods:

During lockdown, an online questionnaire gathered data from 507 HCPs (432 females aged 33.86 ± 8.63 and 75 males aged 39.09 ± 9.54).

Statistical analysis:

A post-stratification method to transform the study sample was used; descriptive statistics were calculated.

Results:

Anxiety and probable depression were increased 1.5–2-fold and were higher in females and nurses. Previous history of depression was the main risk factor. The rates of believing in conspiracy theories concerning the COVID-19 were alarming with the majority of individuals (especially females) following some theory to at least some extend.

Conclusions:

The current paper reports high rates of depression, distress and suicidal thoughts in the HCPs during the lockdown, with a high prevalence of beliefs in conspiracy theories. Female gender and previous history of depression acted as risk factors, while the belief in conspiracy theories might act as a protective factor. The results should be considered with caution due to the nature of the data (online survey on a self-selected but stratified sample).
Group Size and Protest Mobilization across Movements and Countermovements
Authors: HAGER ANSELM , HENSEL LUKAS , HERMLE JOHANNES , ROTH CHRISTOPHER
Published: December 2021

Many social movements face fierce resistance in the form of a countermovement. Therefore, when deciding to become politically active, a movement supporter has to consider both her own movement’s activity and that of the opponent. This paper studies the decision of a movement supporter to attend a protest when faced with a counterprotest. We implement two field experiments among supporters of a right- and left-leaning movement ahead of two protest–counterprotest interactions in Germany. Supporters were exposed to low or high official estimates about their own and the opposing group’s turnout. We find that the size of the opposing group has no effect on supporters’ protest intentions. However, as the own protest gets larger, supporters of the right-leaning movement become less while supporters of the left-leaning movement become more willing to protest. We argue that the difference is best explained by stronger social motives on the political left.
Case study on the dairy processing industries and their wastewater generation in Latvia
Authors: Ekka Basanti , Dejus Sandis , Juhna Talis
Published: December 2021

The objective of the research presented in this Research Communication was to access the environmental impact of the Latvian dairy industries. Site visits and interviews at Latvian dairy processing companies were done in order to collect site-specific data. This includes the turnover of the dairy industries, production, quality of water in various industrial processes, the flow and capacity of the sewage including their characteristic, existing practices and measures for wastewater management. The results showed that dairy industries in Latvia generated in total approximately 2263 × 103 m3 wastewater in the year 2019. The Latvian dairy effluents were characterized with high chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total solids (TS). Few dairy plants had pre-treatment facilities for removal of contaminants, and many lacked onsite treatment technologies. Most facilities discharged dairy wastewater to municipal wastewater treatment plants. The current study gives insight into the Latvian dairy industries, their effluent management and pollution at Gulf of Riga due to wastewater discharge.
Household budget management and women’s position in peasant families in the Polish lands in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Authors: Wilczyńska Elwira
Published: December 2021

This article attempts to answer the question about the position of women in Polish peasant families in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries based on the memoirs of rural women. Contrary to the claim that taking control over the household budget gave women more power on the farm, memoirs of peasant women show that it was rather an additional duty and responsibility. This problem mainly affected low-income families, where income from typically male activities was insufficient, so homemakers supported the family from the female part of the farm: gardening and dairy production. Thus, despite the decisive importance of women’s earnings for the household budget, their power in the family had only a symbolic dimension.
Unions and agricultural protests in inland Spain during the Transition: the example of Burgos province (1975–80)
Authors: Redondo-Cardeñoso Jesús-Ángel
Published: December 2021

This article analyses the creation of unions and the evolution of protests (demonstrations, tractor blockades) instigated by farmers in the province of Burgos, in the interior of northern Spain, during the period following the death of the dictator Francisco Franco known as the Transition (1975–80). The study uses press articles, documentation from the Civil Government and information gathered through personal interviews. The aim of the article is to show that the farmers of the interior of northern Spain – an electorally conservative region – also participated in the citizens’ protests that were the driving force behind the democratisation process in the country during the 1970s.
First experiences with Myval Transcatheter Heart Valve System in the treatment of severe pulmonary regurgitation in native right ventricular outflow tract and conduit dysfunction
Authors: Odemis Ender , Yenidogan Irem
Published: December 2021

The rate of morbidity and mortality related to pulmonary regurgitation and pulmonary stenosis are big concerns after the surgery for CHD. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation has been established as a less invasive technique compared to surgery with promising results according to long-term follow-up of the patients. There are only two approved valve options for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation until now, which are Melody (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn, USA) and Sapien (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Ca, USA). Both valves have limitations and do not cover entire patient population. Therefore, the cardiologists need more options to improve outcomes with fewer complications in a such promising area. Herein, we present a case series applying for pulmonary position in conduits and native right ventricular outflow tract of a new transcatheter valve system Myval ® which is designed for transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures. This is the first patient series in which the use of Myvalv in dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tracts is described, after surgical repair of CHD.
Influenza myocarditis in paediatric patients
Authors: Dolader Paola , Balcells Joan , Gran Ferran
Published: December 2021

Acute myocarditis is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Endomyocardial biopsy and histologic examination are key to an accurate diagnosis. Despite being an uncommon cause, Influenza A and B viruses are a well-documented aetiology. Myocarditis may complicate about 0 to 10% of influenza virus infections (0.4 to 5% in paediatric cases). The clinical presentation varies widely, from ischemic-like chest pain to fulminant myocarditis with acute hemodynamic compromise, requiring mechanical circulatory support, with high mortality in the acute phase. We report a series of paediatric patients with myocarditis due to Influenza virus, to emphasize the importance of considering this uncommon aetiology.
Comparison of Computerised and Pencil-and-Paper Neuropsychological Assessments in Older Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians
Authors: Page Zara A. , Croot Karen , Sachdev Perminder S. , Crawford John D. , Lam Ben C.P. , Brodaty Henry , Miller Amberber Amanda , Numbers Katya , Kochan Nicole A.
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

Computerised neuropsychological assessments (CNAs) are proposed as an alternative method of assessing cognition to traditional pencil-and-paper assessment (PnPA), which are considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing dementia. However, limited research has been conducted with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals. This study investigated the suitability of PnPAs and CNAs for measuring cognitive performance in a heterogenous sample of older, Australian CALD English-speakers compared to a native English-speaking background (ESB) sample.

Methods:

Participants were 1037 community-dwelling individuals aged 70–90 years without a dementia diagnosis from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (873 ESB, 164 CALD). Differences in the level and pattern of cognitive performance in the CALD group were compared to the ESB group on a newly developed CNA and a comprehensive PnPA in English, controlling for covariates. Multiple hierarchical regression was used to identify the extent to which linguistic and acculturation variables explained performance variance.

Results:

CALD participants’ performance was consistently poorer than ESB participants on both PnPA and CNA, and more so on PnPA than CNA, controlling for socio-demographic and health factors. Linguistic and acculturation variables together explained approximately 20% and 25% of CALD performance on PnPA and CNA respectively, above demographics and self-reported computer use.

Conclusions:

Performances of CALD and ESB groups differed more on PnPAs than CNAs, but caution is needed in concluding that CNAs are more culturally-appropriate for assessing cognitive decline in older CALD individuals. Our findings extend current literature by confirming the influence of linguistic and acculturation variables on cognitive assessment outcomes for older CALD Australians.
Pre-pandemic to early-pandemic changes in risk of household food insecurity among Maryland families with children
Authors: Kowalski Alysse J , Kuhn Ann Pulling , Lane Hannah G , Trude Angela CB , Selam Helina , Hager Erin R , Black Maureen M
Published: December 2021

Objective:

The objective was to examine risk and protective factors associated with pre- to early-pandemic changes in risk of household food insecurity (FI).

Design:

We re-enrolled families from two statewide studies (2017–2020) in an observational cohort (May–August 2020). Caregivers reported on risk of household FI, demographics, pandemic-related hardships, and participation in safety net programmes (e.g. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) stimulus payment, school meals).

Setting:

Maryland, USA.

Participants:

Economically, geographically and racially/ethnically diverse families with preschool to adolescent-age children. Eligibility included reported receipt or expected receipt of the CARES stimulus payment or a pandemic-related economic hardship (n 496).

Results:

Prevalence of risk of FI was unchanged (pre-pandemic: 22 %, early-pandemic: 25 %, p = 0·27). Risk of early-pandemic FI was elevated for non-Hispanic Black (adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 2·1 (95 % CI 1·1, 4·0)) and Other families (aRR = 2·6 (1·3, 5·4)) and families earning ≤ 300 % federal poverty level. Among pre-pandemic food secure families, decreased income, job loss and reduced hours were associated with increased early-pandemic FI risk (aRR = 2·1 (1·2, 3·6) to 2·5 (1·5, 4·1)); CARES stimulus payment (aRR = 0·5 (0·3, 0·9)) and continued school meal participation (aRR = 0·2 (0·1, 0·9)) were associated with decreased risk. Among families at risk of FI pre-pandemic, safety net programme participation was not associated with early-pandemic FI risk.

Conclusions:

The CARES stimulus payment and continued school meal participation protected pre-pandemic food secure families from early-pandemic FI risk but did not protect families who were at risk of FI pre-pandemic. Mitigating pre-pandemic FI risk and providing stimulus payments and school meals may support children’s health and reduce disparities in response to pandemics.
Basis for changes in the disease burden estimates related to vitamin A and zinc deficiencies in the 2017 and 2019 Global Burden of Disease Studies
Authors: Hess Sonja Y , McLain Alexander C , Lescinsky Haley , Brown Kenneth H , Afshin Ashkan , Atkin Reed , Osendarp Saskia JM
Published: December 2021

Background:

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study provides estimates of death and disability from eighty-seven risk factors, including some micronutrient deficiencies.

Objectives:

To review methodological changes that led to large differences in the disease burden estimates for vitamin A and Zn deficiencies between the GBD 2017 and 2019 Studies.

Methods:

GBD publications were reviewed; additional information was provided by GBD researchers.

Results:

Vitamin A deficiency prevalence is based on plasma retinol concentration, whereas the estimate for Zn deficiency prevalence uses dietary adequacy as a proxy. The estimated global prevalence of vitamin A deficiency for children aged 1–4 years in the year 2017 decreased from 0·20 (95 % CI 0·17, 0·24) in GBD 2017 to 0·16 (95 % CI 0·15, 0·19) in GBD 2019, while the global prevalence of Zn deficiency did not change between the two studies (0·09 (95 % CI 0·04, 0·17) and 0·09 (95 % CI 0·03, 0·18)). New to 2019 was that meta-analyses were performed using Meta Regression – Bayesian, Regularized, Trimmed, a method developed for GBD. Due to this and multiple other methodological changes, the estimated number of deaths due to vitamin A deficiency dropped from 233 000 (179 000–294 000) to 24 000 (3000–50 000) from GBD 2017 to 2019, and for Zn deficiency from 29 000 (1000–77 000) to 2800 (700–6500), respectively.

Conclusion:

The changes in the estimated disease burdens due to vitamin A and Zn deficiencies in the GBD reports from 2017 to 2019 are due primarily to changes in the analytical methods employed, so may not represent true changes in disease burden. Additional effort is needed to validate these results.
Evaluation of the impact of teaching on delineation variation during a virtual stereotactic ablative radiotherapy contouring workshop
Authors: Slevin Finbar , Rieu Romélie , Beasley Matthew , Speight Richard , Aitken Katharine , Good James , McDonald Fiona , Rackley Thomas , Radhakrishna Ganesh , Haridass Anoop , Murray Louise J. , Tree Alison C. , Henry Ann M.
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

Variation in delineation of target volumes/organs at risk (OARs) is well recognised in radiotherapy and may be reduced by several methods including teaching. We evaluated the impact of teaching on contouring variation for thoracic/pelvic stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) during a virtual contouring workshop.

Materials and methods:

Target volume/OAR contours produced by workshop participants for three cases were evaluated against reference contours using DICE similarity coefficient (DSC) and line domain error (LDE) metrics. Pre- and post-workshop DSC results were compared using Wilcoxon signed ranks test to determine the impact of teaching during the workshop.

Results:

Of 50 workshop participants, paired pre- and post-workshop contours were available for 21 (42%), 20 (40%) and 22 (44%) participants for primary lung cancer, pelvic bone metastasis and pelvic node metastasis cases, respectively. Statistically significant improvements post-workshop in median DSC and LDE results were observed for 6 (50%) and 7 (58%) of 12 structures, respectively, although the magnitude of DSC/LDE improvement was modest in most cases. An increase in median DSC post-workshop ≥0·05 was only observed for GTVbone, IGTVlung and SacralPlex, and reduction in median LDE > 1 mm was only observed for GTVbone, CTVbone and SacralPlex. Post-workshop, median DSC values were >0·7 for 75% of structures. For 92% of the structures, post-workshop contours were considered to be acceptable or within acceptable variation following review by the workshop faculty.

Conclusions:

This study has demonstrated that virtual SABR contouring training is feasible and was associated with some improvements in contouring variation for multiple target volumes/OARs.
Jugendliches Alkoholkonsumverhalten während der COVID-19-Pandemie und die Bedeutung von Achtsamkeit
Authors: Prignitz Maren , Guldner Stella , Nees Frauke ,   IMAC-Mind Konsortium
Published: December 2021

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Kognitive und psychosoziale Faktoren können zu individuellen Veränderungen im Alkoholmissbrauch beitragen und führen im Jugendalter zu einer erhöhten Vulnerabilität. In diesem Kontext spielt die aktuelle COVID-19 Pandemie eine wichtige Rolle. In der aktuellen Studie wird untersucht, ob ein Anstieg negativer Gedanken in der Pandemie einen Risikofaktor für einen erhöhten Alkoholkonsum darstellt und welche Rolle hierbei Achtsamkeit spielt. Methodik: An der Untersuchung nahmen 72 Jugendliche (36 weiblich, Alter 15.13 ± 1.0 Jahre) teil, von denen N = 21 einen Onlinefragebogen vollständig während der ersten Lockdown-Phase der Pandemie (Frühjahr 2020) und dem Übergang in die zweite Welle im Abstand von jeweils 14 Tagen und über 6 Wochen zu ihrem Alkoholkonsum, Kognitionen, Emotionserleben und ihrer sozialen Belastung ausfüllten. Ergebnisse: Während sich der Alkoholkonsum der Jugendlichen im Verlauf der Pandemie nicht signifikant veränderte, zeigten sich deutlichere Veränderungen in den kognitiven und psychosozialen Belastungen der Jugendlichen. Negative Gedanken waren hierbei ein signifikanter Prädiktor für den Alkoholkonsum zu Beginn der zweiten COVID-19-Welle ( b = 1.314, p < .01). Dieser Zusammenhang wurde durch Trait-Achtsamkeit signifikant moderiert ( b = -.283, p < .01). Diskussion: Negative Gedanken scheinen ein wichtiger Faktor für das Alkoholkonsumverhalten im ersten Verlauf der COVID-19 Pandemie zu sein und könnten somit das Risiko eines Alkoholmissbrauchs im weiteren Verlauf der Pandemie deutlich erhöhen. Achtsamkeit scheint solchen negativen Entwicklungen entgegenwirken zu können.
Vorgeburtlicher Androgen- einfluss auf süchtiges Verhalten in der Adoleszenz
Authors: Lenz Bernd , Eichler Anna , Buchholz Verena Nadine ,   IMAC-Mind Konsortium, Fasching Peter A. , Kornhuber Johannes
Published: December 2021

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Im Vergleich zu Frauen konsumieren Männer häufiger Alkohol, Tabak sowie illegale Drogen und sind anfälliger für pathologisches Glücksspiel und süchtiges Internetspielen. Die genannten Geschlechtsunterschiede deuten sich bereits im Adoleszentenalter an. Entsprechendes Konsumverhalten steht mit externalisierenden Auffälligkeiten der Jugendlichen in Zusammenhang. Neben sozialen Einflussfaktoren spielen biologische Faktoren eine zentrale Rolle für die Entstehung dieser Geschlechtsunterschiede. Bereits pränatal beeinflussen Androgene und Östrogene die Entwicklung des Gehirns mit bis ins Erwachsenenalter anhaltenden funktionellen und strukturellen Effekten. Intrauterine Sexualhormonexposition ist mit mütterlichen Risikofaktoren wie Stress und Substanzkonsum assoziiert. Ziel: Diese narrative Übersichtsarbeit diskutiert, welche Bedeutung vorgeburtlicher Androgeneinfluss im Mutterleib für die Entwicklung von süchtigem Verhalten und Selbstregulation im späteren Leben haben könnte. Zu diesem Thema wurden in den letzten Jahren tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen mit direkter Modulation pränataler Androgenisierung und klinische assoziative Studien basierend auf Biomarkern wie dem Zeige-/Ringfingerlängenverhältnis (2D:4D) durchgeführt. Ergebnis: Die aktuelle Studienlage lässt vermuten, dass eine verstärkte Androgenisierung des Gehirns während der intrauterinen Entwicklung das Risiko für süchtiges Verhalten und Selbstregulationsdefizite im späteren Leben erhöht. Abschließend werden Präventionsmöglichkeiten in der Schwangerschaft basierend auf diesem Modell diskutiert und ein kurzer Einblick in die Maternal Health and Infant Development in the Follow-up after Pregnancy and a Mindfulness Intervention Studie gegeben. Diese ist ein Teilprojekt des IMAC-Mind Forschungsverbundes zur Verbesserung der psychischen Gesundheit und zur Verringerung der Suchtgefahr im Kindes- und Jugendalter durch Achtsamkeit.
Slow Particle Remineralization, Rather Than Suppressed Disaggregation, Drives Efficient Flux Transfer Through the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone
Authors: Cram Jacob A. , Fuchsman Clara A. , Duffy Megan E. , Pretty Jessica L. , Lekanoff Rachel M. , Neibauer Jacquelyn A. , Leung Shirley W. , Huebert Klaus B. , Weber Thomas S. , Bianchi Daniele , Evans Natalya , Devol Allan H. , Keil Richard G. , McDonnell Andrew M. P.
Published: December 2021

Models and observations suggest that particle flux attenuation is lower across the mesopelagic zone of anoxic environments compared to oxic environments. Flux attenuation is controlled by microbial metabolism as well as aggregation and disaggregation by zooplankton, all of which shape the relative abundance of differently sized particles. Observing and modeling particle spectra can provide information about the contributions of these processes. We measured particle size spectrum profiles at one station in the oligotrophic Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone (ETNP ODZ) using an underwater vision profiler (UVP), a high‐resolution camera that counts and sizes particles. Measurements were taken at different times of day, over the course of a week. Comparing these data to particle flux measurements from sediment traps collected over the same time‐period allowed us to constrain the particle size to flux relationship, and to generate highly resolved depth and time estimates of particle flux rates. We found that particle flux attenuated very little throughout the anoxic water column, and at some time points appeared to increase. Comparing our observations to model predictions suggested that particles of all sizes remineralize more slowly in the ODZ than in oxic waters, and that large particles disaggregate into smaller particles, primarily between the base of the photic zone and 500 m. Acoustic measurements of multiple size classes of organisms suggested that many organisms migrated, during the day, to the region with high particle disaggregation. Our data suggest that diel‐migrating organisms both actively transport biomass and disaggregate particles in the ODZ core.
Sea Surface Temperature–Salinity Covariability and Its Scale‐Dependent Characteristics
Authors: Kido Shoichiro , Nonaka Masami , Tanimoto Youichi
Published: December 2021

Sea surface temperature and salinity (SST/SSS) are critical to understanding the ocean's role in the climate system. Because seawater density is controlled by temperature and salinity, characterizing the relationship between these two variables is particularly important for oceanography, climate science and other related fields. By analyzing observational data, we provide the first global picture of covariability between SST and SSS and associated physical processes at interannual timescales. A notable feature of such SST‐SSS covariability is its distinct spatial‐scale dependence; at small spatial scales (<1,000 km), their covariability is attributed to fluctuations in ocean currents and the associated heat and salt transport, whereas large‐scale covariability result from combinations of changes in local atmospheric conditions and large‐scale ocean circulations. It is found that the current generation of climate models underestimate such distinct SST–SSS covariations, suggesting that physical processes involving in variations of these variables are not faithfully represented as observed.
A Meandering Lunar Wake Produced by the Pickup of Reflected Solar‐Wind Ions
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhong Jun , Zhang Tianxin , Liu Libo , Cao Jinbin , Fu Suiyan , Wei Yong , Chen Yiding
Published: December 2021

By establishing two solar‐wind convection electric field‐associated coordinate systems, the magnetic and plasma properties in the lunar wake are examined. In the plane perpendicular to the interplanetary magnetic field, all the properties exhibit asymmetric distributions related to the electric field, and they are even periodically modulated every two lunar radii but only along the flank which the electric field points to. Evidences show that the solar‐wind ions, reflected over the dayside lunar magnetic anomalies, have produced these asymmetries and periodical modulations. These ions, undergoing both the electric drift and large‐radius gyration, bypass the Moon body and periodically penetrate into the wake flank, during which they exchange momentum with the refilling solar‐wind plasma, thereby resulting in the oscillations of the plasma and the periodical modulations of the wake.
Modeling Snow Saltation: The Effect of Grain Size and Interparticle Cohesion
Authors: Melo D. B. , Sharma V. , Comola F. , Sigmund A. , Lehning M.
Published: December 2021

The surface of the Earth is snow‐covered at least seasonally over large areas. This snow surface is highly dynamic, particularly under the influence of strong winds. The motion of snow particles driven by the wind not only changes the snow cover but has important consequences for the atmosphere in that it adds mass and moisture and extracts heat. Large scale meteorological and climatological models neglect these surface dynamics or produce conflicting results from too simplified process representation. With recent progress in the detailed understanding of the saltation process, in particular with respect to sand saltation, and the advancement of numerical models, we can systematically investigate the influence of snow properties on saltation. This contribution uses a Large Eddy Simulation model with full surface particle dynamics to investigate how snow cohesion and size distribution influence saltation dynamics and in particular the total mass flux. The model reproduces some known characteristics of the saltation system such as a focus point or a constant near surface particle speed. An interesting result is that cohesion and grain size heterogeneity can increase the overall saltation mass flux at high friction velocities. Moreover, some simplified models agree reasonably well with the simulations for given bed characteristics, while others clearly do not. These results are valid for continuous saltation while intermittent saltation, which often occurs in nature, needs further investigation. In order to successfully parameterize saltation in large scale models, progress must be made in correctly representing snow surface properties in these models, in particular cohesion.