bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FlexParser—The adaptive log file parser for continuous results in a changing world
Authors: Rücker Nadine , Maier Andreas
Published: January 2022

Any modern system writes events into files, called log files. Those contain crucial information which are subject to various analyses. Examples range from cybersecurity, intrusion detection over usage analyses to trouble shooting. Before data analysis is possible, desired information needs to be extracted first out of the semi‐structured log messages. State‐of‐the‐art event parsing often assumes static log events. However, any modern system is updated consistently and with updates also log file structures can change. We call those changes “mutation” and study parsing performance for different mutation cases. Latest research discovers mutations using anomaly detection post mortem, however, does not cover actual continuous parsing. Thus, we propose a novel and flexible parser, calledFlexParser, which can extract desired values despite gradual changes in the log messages. It implies basic text preprocessing followed by a supervised Deep Learning method. We train a stateful LSTM on parsing one event per data set. Statefulness enforces the model to learn log message structures across several examples. Our model was tested on seven different, publicly available log file data sets and various kinds of mutations. Exhibiting an average F1‐Score of 0.98, it outperforms other Deep Learning methods as well as state‐of‐the‐art unsupervised parsers.
A facile, scalable, high stability Lithium metal anode
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Chen Xin , Hou Wang , Ye Beirong , Zhang Yongqi , Xia Xinhui , Wang Jinshu
Published: January 2022

Li has garnered enormous attention for next‐generation Li metal batteries owing to its remarkable theoretical capacity. Unfortunately, as an anode, Li suffers from serious safety issues and fast capacity fading due to the formation of Li dendrites, which hinders the practical application of Li anode. Herein, a LiAlO2‐PVDF composite modification layer is fabricated on the surface of Li metal to enhance its stability and electrochemical performance. Benefitting from the synergetic effects of high Li+ conductivity, high Li+ transference number, excellent mechanical properties, superior chemical durability, and compactness of the modification layer, the LiAlO2‐PVDF@Li electrode delivers an ultra‐long lifespan and a high capacity retention rate in the LiAlO2‐PVDF@Li│LiFePO4 full cell. The proposed strategy provides a new alternative anode for Li metal batteries with high performance and scalable production.
Surgical correction of feline uterine prolapse
Authors: de Lima Alexandria , Wickramasinghe Chandika
Published: January 2022

A female domestic shorthair cat of unknown age, weighing 2.9 kg, was presented with a single horn of the uterus protruding through the vulva. The cat had a history of recent parturition, delivering four kittens, and was mildly dehydrated and generally stable. The exposed uterine tissue was congested and oedematous, with areas of devitalization and necrosis. Manual reduction of the prolapsed uterus was unsuccessful because of severe oedema. The protruding uterus was amputated, and a midline laparotomy was performed for staged ovariohysterectomy. Postoperatively, the cat appeared healthy with no vulval discharge and no recurrence of clinical signs. This case report demonstrates the different methods involved in the correction of a uterine prolapse.
The gluon Regge trajectory at three loops from planar Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Del Duca Vittorio , Marzucca Robin , Verbeek Bram
Published: January 2022

Abstract

We compute the three-loop leading-colour corrections to the Yang-Mills Regge trajectory and gluon impact factor. Conjecturing that, in analogy with $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills (SYM), in a suitable scheme Nc-subleading terms are absent from the three-loop Regge trajectory, we understand our result as the first computation of the pure gauge, or nf = 0, part of the QCD three-loop Regge trajectory. The results are presented both for the bare and renormalised amplitudes and are consistent with predictions from infrared factorisation along with reproducing known results in planar $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM through a maximal weight truncation. We also include the dependence on a Regge factorisation scale to facilitate future applications in BFKL theory at next-to-next-to leading logarithmic accuracy.
Amino Acid Specificity of Ancestral Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Prior to the Last Universal Common Ancestor Commonote commonote
Authors: Furukawa Ryutaro , Yokobori Shin-ichi , Sato Riku , Kumagawa Taimu , Nakagawa Mizuho , Katoh Kazutaka , Yamagishi Akihiko
Published: January 2022

Extant organisms commonly use 20 amino acids in protein synthesis. In the translation system, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) selectively binds an amino acid and transfers it to the cognate tRNA. It is postulated that the amino acid repertoire of ARS expanded during the development of the translation system. In this study we generated composite phylogenetic trees for seven ARSs (SerRS, ProRS, ThrRS, GlyRS-1, HisRS, AspRS, and LysRS) which are thought to have diverged by gene duplication followed by mutation, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor. The composite phylogenetic tree shows that the AspRS/LysRS branch diverged from the other five ARSs at the deepest node, with the GlyRS/HisRS branch and the other three ARSs (ThrRS, ProRS and SerRS) diverging at the second deepest node. ThrRS diverged next, and finally ProRS and SerRS diverged from each other. Based on the phylogenetic tree, sequences of the ancestral ARSs prior to the evolution of the last universal common ancestor were predicted. The amino acid specificity of each ancestral ARS was then postulated by comparison with amino acid recognition sites of ARSs of extant organisms. Our predictions demonstrate that ancestral ARSs had substantial specificity and that the number of amino acid types amino-acylated by proteinaceous ARSs was limited before the appearance of a fuller range of proteinaceous ARS species. From an assumption that 10 amino acid species are required for folding and function, proteinaceous ARS possibly evolved in a translation system composed of preexisting ribozyme ARSs, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor.
Affective lability and social functioning in severe mental disorders
Authors: Høegh Margrethe Collier , Melle Ingrid , Aminoff Sofie R. , Olsen Stine Holmstul , Lunding Synve Hoffart , Ueland Torill , Lagerberg Trine Vik
Published: January 2022

Social functioning is impaired in severe mental disorders despite clinical remission, illustrating the need to identify other mechanisms that hinder psychosocial recovery. Affective lability is elevated and associated with an increased clinical burden in psychosis spectrum disorders. We aimed to investigate putative associations between affective lability and social functioning in 293 participants with severe mental disorders (schizophrenia- and bipolar spectrum), and if such an association was independent of well-established predictors of social impairments. The Affective Lability Scale (ALS-SF) was used to measure affective lability covering the dimensions of anxiety-depression, depression-elation and anger. The interpersonal domain of the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) was used to measure social functioning. Correlation analyses were conducted to investigate associations between affective lability and social functioning, followed by a hierarchical multiple regression and follow-up analyses in diagnostic subgroups. Features related to premorbid and clinical characteristics were entered as independent variables together with the ALS-SF scores. We found that higher scores on all ALS-SF subdimensions were significantly associated with lower social functioning (p < 0.005) in the total sample. For the anxiety-depression dimension of the ALS-SF, this association persisted after controlling for potential confounders such as premorbid social functioning, duration of untreated illness and current symptoms (p = 0.019). Our results indicate that elevated affective lability may have a negative impact on social functioning in severe mental disorders, which warrants further investigation. Clinically, it might be fruitful to target affective lability in severe mental disorders to improve psychosocial outcomes.
Quantifying test-retest reliability of repeated objective attentional measures in Lewy body dementia
Authors: Elder Greg J. , Colloby Sean J. , Firbank Michael J. , Taylor John-Paul
Published: January 2022

Objective cognitive impairment is a feature of Lewy body dementia (LBD), and computerised attentional tasks are commonly used as outcome measures in interventional trials. However, the reliability of these measures, in the absence of interventions, are unknown. This study examined the reliability of these attentional measures at short-term and longer-term follow-up stages. LBD patients (n = 36) completed computerised attentional tasks [simple and choice reaction time, and digit vigilance (SRT, CRT, DV)] at short-term (Day 0–Day 5) and longer-term (4 and 12 weeks) follow-up. Intra-class correlations (ICCs) were calculated to assess test–retest reliability. At short-term, the reciprocal SRT, CRT and DV mean reaction time to correct answers, the reciprocal DV coefficient of variation, and reciprocal power of attention (PoA) all showed excellent levels of reliability (all ICCs > 0.90). The reciprocal PoA showed the highest level of reliability (ICC = 0.978). At longer-term follow-up, only the reciprocal PoA had excellent levels of reliability (ICC = 0.927). Reciprocal SRT, CRT and DV reaction time to correct answers, and the CRT coefficient of variation values, showed good levels of test–retest reliability (ICCs ≥ 0.85). Contrary to expectations, most attentional measures demonstrated high levels of test–retest reliability at both short-term and longer-term follow-up time points. The reciprocal PoA composite measure demonstrated excellent levels of test–retest reliability, both in the short-term and long-term. This indicates that objective attentional tasks are suitable outcome measures in LBD studies and that the composite PoA measure may offer the highest levels of reliability.
Anchorless risk or released benefit? An updated view on the ADAM10-mediated shedding of the prion protein
Authors: Mohammadi Behnam , Song Feizhi , Matamoros-Angles Andreu , Shafiq Mohsin , Damme Markus , Puig Berta , Glatzel Markus , Altmeppen Hermann Clemens
Published: January 2022

The prion protein (PrP) is a broadly expressed glycoprotein linked with a multitude of (suggested) biological and pathological implications. Some of these roles seem to be due to constitutively generated proteolytic fragments of the protein. Among them is a soluble PrP form, which is released from the surface of neurons and other cell types by action of the metalloprotease ADAM10 in a process termed ‘shedding’. The latter aspect is the focus of this review, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview on (i) the relevance of proteolytic processing in regulating cellular PrP functions, (ii) currently described involvement of shed PrP in neurodegenerative diseases (including prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease), (iii) shed PrP’s expected roles in intercellular communication in many more (patho)physiological conditions (such as stroke, cancer or immune responses), (iv) and the need for improved research tools in respective (future) studies. Deeper mechanistic insight into roles played by PrP shedding and its resulting fragment may pave the way for improved diagnostics and future therapeutic approaches in diseases of the brain and beyond.
Sensorimotor adaptation in VR: magnitude and persistence of the aftereffect increase with the number of interactions
Authors: Wähnert Svetlana , Gerhards Alexander
Published: January 2022

In both prism and virtual reality experiments, it has been observed that visual displacement leads to an adaptation of the sensorimotor system. A characteristic of adaptation is the occurrence of the aftereffect, which is the spatial deviation of the movements in the direction opposite to the visual displacement. Prism adaptation experiments have shown that a higher number of interactions lead to an increased magnitude and persistence of the aftereffect. The aim of the present study was to investigate this relationship in virtual reality. After baseline measurement, the virtual environment was displaced visually. During this adaptation phase, the participants performed either zero, five, or thirty-five pointing movements. Afterwards, all participants performed the pointing movements without the visual displacement in the virtual environment. Performing five pointing movements during the adaptation phase was already sufficient to produce an aftereffect. With thirty-five pointing movements, both magnitude and persistence of the aftereffect increased. These results replicate studies of prism adaptation. Considering this, we briefly discuss the suitability of virtual reality as a research tool to study prism adaptation.
Modelling of adsorption technologies for controlling indoor air quality
Authors: Grande Carlos A.
Published: January 2022

Technologies for control of indoor air quality are very important to ensure that health and comfort conditions are attained in closed environments. The indoor air quality market is fertile ground for adsorption technologies, both at larger industrial scale and for residential uses. The common strategy to design adsorption technologies considers constant inlet conditions, while for most indoor air control applications, the inlet conditions will change because of the partial removal of the contaminant. This work presents a generic modelling approach, where the adsorption technology is coupled with the indoor environment to be controlled. This approach enables a tailored and more accurate process design and additionally, it can also assist in the physical location of the removal unit and sensors to control its operation. Two different examples of application of this methodology are provided: control of CO2 in tightly closed environments and "peak shaving" of water vapor in bathrooms.
A station-data-based model residual machine learning method for fine-grained meteorological grid prediction
Authors: Zhou Chuansai , Li Haochen , Yu Chen , Xia Jiangjiang , Zhang Pingwen
Published: January 2022

Fine-grained weather forecasting data, i.e., the grid data with high-resolution, have attracted increasing attention in recent years, especially for some specific applications such as the Winter Olympic Games. Although European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) provides grid prediction up to 240 hours, the coarse data are unable to meet high requirements of these major events. In this paper, we propose a method, called model residual machine learning (MRML), to generate grid prediction with high-resolution based on high-precision stations forecasting. MRML applies model output machine learning (MOML) for stations forecasting. Subsequently, MRML utilizes these forecasts to improve the quality of the grid data by fitting a machine learning (ML) model to the residuals. We demonstrate that MRML achieves high capability at diverse meteorological elements, specifically, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. In addition, MRML could be easily extended to other post-processing methods by invoking different techniques. In our experiments, MRML outperforms the traditional downscaling methods such as piecewise linear interpolation (PLI) on the testing data.
Effectiveness of digital education shifting model on high school students’ engagement
Authors: Aldhafeeri Fayiz M. , Alotaibi Asmaa A.
Published: January 2022

Digital learning has often been criticized due to its lack of student engagement, which results from the physical absence of teachers and the lack of direct communication with their students. Critics of digital education have also pointed out that students’ disengagement is a major factor behind this education format’s inability to positively impact all stakeholders. This can be frustrating for the students themselves and may result in poor educational outcomes. Therefore, digital learning is regarded as a temporary arrangement and not a potential replacement for face-to-face education because of shortcomings that can lead to disengagement among students. To test the validity of this belief, we conducted an experimental study on 245 female Kuwaiti students. We trained teachers in the digital education shifting (DES) model. Following this model, we placed emphasis on student–teacher communication, cooperation among students, and enhanced the principles of digital learning. We asked the trained teachers’ students to respond to a self-assessed student engagement checklist survey to measure their engagement during online classes. We found that the students of the experimental group performed better on various parameters of observable and internal engagement compared to control group students. Contrary to general belief, we proved that the innovative DES approach can indeed make digital learning more engaging, effective, and a viable alternative or at least an aligned and integrated form for conventional education in the long run.
COVID-19 and mental health: a longitudinal population study from Norway
Authors: Hvide Hans K. , Johnsen Julian
Published: January 2022

Existing research has found adverse short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, but longer-term effects have been less documented. Using newly released register data on all general practitioner consultations in Norway through 2020 (about 14 million consultations in total), we find that during the spring and early summer 2020, the number of psychological cases initially increased relative to prior years, but then fell back towards the level of prior years during the summer 2020. In early September 2020, the number of cases accelerated, a pattern that held up through December 2020, so that the gap between 2020 and prior years became largest end-of-year. Our findings suggest that the accumulated adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health far exceeds the short-term effects. The effects are particularly strong for females and for residents in urban areas.
Distribution of orbits of geometrically finite groups acting on null vectors
Authors: Tamam Nattalie , Warren Jacqueline M.
Published: January 2022

We study the distribution of non-discrete orbits of geometrically finite groups in$${\text {SO}}(n,1)$$SO(n,1)acting on$${\mathbb {R}}^{n+1}$$Rn+1, and more generally on the quotient of$${\text {SO}}(n,1)$$SO(n,1)by a horospherical subgroup. Using equidistribution of horospherical flows, we obtain both asymptotics for the distribution of orbits for the action of general geometrically finite groups, and we obtain quantitative statements with additional assumptions.
Clinical Outcome and Underlying Genetic Cause of Functional Terminal Complement Pathway Deficiencies in a Multicenter UK Cohort
Authors: Shears Annalie , Steele Cathal , Craig Jamie , Jolles Stephen , Savic Sinisa , Hague Rosie , Coulter Tanya , Herriot Richard , Arkwright Peter D.
Published: January 2022

Background

Terminal complement pathway deficiencies often present with severe and recurrent infections. There is a lack of good-quality data on these rare conditions. This study investigated the clinical outcome and genetic variation in a large UK multi-center cohort with primary and secondary terminal complement deficiencies.

Methods

Clinicians from seven UK centers provided anonymised demographic, clinical, and laboratory data on patients with terminal complement deficiencies, which were collated and analysed.

Results

Forty patients, median age 19 (range 3–62) years, were identified with terminal complement deficiencies. Ten (62%) of 16 patients with low serum C5 concentrations had underlying pathogenic CFH or CFI gene variants. Two-thirds were from consanguineous Asian families, and 80% had an affected family member. The median age of the first infection was 9 years. Forty-three percent suffered meningococcal serotype B and 43% serotype Y infections. Nine (22%) were treated in intensive care for meningococcal septicaemia. Two patients had died, one from intercurrent COVID-19. Twenty-one (52%) were asymptomatic and diagnosed based on family history. All but one patient had received booster meningococcal vaccines and 70% were taking prophylactic antibiotics.

Discussion

The genetic etiology and clinical course of patients with primary and secondary terminal complement deficiency are variable. Patients with low antigenic C5 concentrations require genetic testing, as the low level may reflect consumption secondary to regulatory defects in the pathway. Screening of siblings is important. Only half of the patients develop septicaemia, but all should have a clear management plan.
Accuracy of a point-of-care blood lactate measurement device in a prehospital setting
Authors: Walther Louise Houlberg , Zegers Floor , Nybo Mads , Mogensen Christian Backer , Christensen Erika Frischknecht , Lassen Annmarie Touborg , Mikkelsen Søren
Published: January 2022

Point-of-care blood lactate is a promising prognostic biomarker of short-term mortality risk. Portable lactate meters need validation in the prehospital setting before widespread implementation and it is unknown whether the mode of sampling (arterial, capillary or venous) matters. This study aims to compare the StatStrip Xpress Lactate Meter’s (SSX) accuracy to a validated blood gas analyser, ABL90 FLEX (ABL90), in arterial samples in the prehospital environment and to determine if lactate levels measured in venous and capillary blood samples are sufficiently accurate compared to arterial lactate levels. Patients with arterial samples drawn by the prehospital anaesthesiologist for any reason were eligible for inclusion. Simultaneously, three blood samples (arterial, capillary and venous) were analysed on SSX and arterial blood on ABL90. Measurements of agreements were evaluated by Lin’s concordance correlations coefficient (CCC) and Bland–Altman Plots. One-hundred-and-eleven patients were included. SSX showed good accuracy compared to ABL90 in arterial samples with a CCC of 0.92 (95% CI 0.90–0.94). Compared to the arterial samples measured on ABL90, venous samples analysed on SSX showed higher agreement than capillary samples analysed on SSX with CCCs of 0.88 (95% CI 0.85–0.91) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.85), respectively. Bland–Altman plots showed that SSX lactate measurements in arterial, venous and capillary blood samples all had systematically negative biases compared to ABL90. We conclude that the SSX is accurate in our prehospital setting. Venous samples should be preferred over capillary samples, when arterial samples cannot be obtained.
What Might Machines Mean?
Authors: Green Mitchell , Michel Jan G.
Published: January 2022

This essay addresses the question whether artificial speakers can perform speech acts in the technical sense of that term common in the philosophy of language. We here argue that under certain conditions artificial speakers can perform speech acts so understood. After (§1) explaining some of the issues at stake in these questions, we (§2) elucidate a relatively uncontroversial way in which machines can communicate, namely through what we call verbal signaling. But verbal signaling is not sufficient for the performance of a speech act. To explain the difference, we (§3) elucidate the notion of a speech act developed by Austin (How to Do Things with Words, 1962) in the mid-twentieth century and then discuss Strawson’s ("Intention and Convention in Speech Acts", 1964) influential proposal for how that notion may be related to Grice’s ("Meaning", 1957) conception of speaker meaning. We then refine Strawson’s synthesis in light of Armstrong’s ("Meaning and Communication", 1971) reconceptualization of speaker meaning in terms of objectives rather than intentions. We next (§4) extend this conception of speech acts to the cases of recorded, proxy, and conditional speech acts. On this basis, we propose (§5) that a characteristic role for artificial speakers is as proxies in the performance of speech acts on behalf of their human creators. We (§6) also consider two objections to our position, and compare our approach with others: while other authors appeal to notions such as “quasi-assertion,” we offer a sharp characterization of what artificial speakers can do that does not impute intentions or similarly controversial powers to them. We conclude (§7) by raising doubts that our strategy can be applied to speech acts generally.
Inhibition of nuclear factor κB in the lungs protect bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice
Authors: Thakur Devaang , Taliaferro Olivia , Atkinson Madeleine , Stoffel Ryan , Guleria Rakeshwar S. , Gupta Sudhiranjan
Published: January 2022

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating condition with limited therapeutic avenues. The pathogenicity of pulmonary fibrosis constitutes involvement of cellular proliferation, activation, and transformational changes of fibroblast to myofibroblasts. It is a progressive lung disease and is primarily characterized by aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the lungs with poor prognosis. The inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis is suggested because of release of several cytokines; however, the underlying mechanism remains undefined. A genetic model is the appropriate way to delineate the underlying mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods and results

In this report, we have used cc-10 promoter based IκBα mutant mice (IKBM, an inhibitor of NF-κB) which were challenged with bleomycin (BLM). Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, the IKBM mice showed significant reduction in several fibrotic, vascular, and inflammatory genes. Moreover, we have identified a new set of dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) by miRNA array analysis in BLM-induced WT mice. Among these miRNAs, let-7a-5p and miR-503-5p were further analyzed. Our data showed that these two miRNAs were upregulated in WT-BLM and were reduced in IKBM-BLM mice. Bioinformatic analyses showed that let-7a-5p and miR-503-5p target for endothelin1 and bone morphogenic receptor 1A (BMPR1A), respectively, and were downregulated in WT-BLM mice indicating a link in pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusion

We concluded that inhibition of NF-κB and modulation of let-7a-5p and miR-503-5p contribute a pivotal role in pulmonary fibrosis and may be considered as possible therapeutic target for the clinical management of lung fibrosis.
Nonlinear Semigroups Built on Generating Families and their Lipschitz Sets
Authors: Blessing Jonas , Kupper Michael
Published: January 2022

Under suitable conditions on a family (I(t))t≥ 0 of Lipschitz mappings on a complete metric space, we show that, up to a subsequence, the strong limit $S(t):=\lim _{n\to \infty }(I(t 2^{-n}))^{2^{n}}$
S
(
t
)
:
=

lim

n
→
∞

(
I
(
t

2

−
n

)
)

2

n

exists for all dyadic time points t, and extends to a strongly continuous semigroup (S(t))t≥ 0. The common idea in the present approach is to find conditions on the generating family (I(t))t≥ 0, which can be transferred to the semigroup. The construction relies on the Lipschitz set, which is invariant under iterations and allows to preserve Lipschitz continuity to the limit. Moreover, we provide a verifiable condition which ensures that the infinitesimal generator of the semigroup is given by $\lim _{h\downarrow 0}\tfrac {I(h)x-x}{h}$

lim

h
↓
0

I
(
h
)
x
−
x

h

, whenever this limit exists. The results are illustrated with several examples of nonlinear semigroups such as robustifications and perturbations of linear semigroups.
Using a combined bio-ecological and capability perspective to understand inclusive education in South Africa
Authors: Kern Anwynne
Published: January 2022

Inclusive educational practices have been adopted worldwide to address inequalities endemic to education systems. In South Africa, the process toward inclusion commenced in October 1996 and was realized in 2001 with the Education White Paper 6. However, the implementation of inclusion in South Africa has been marred by challenges. These challenges have largely been examined through an ecosystemic theoretical lens offering insight into the contextual challenges facing inclusion but does not adequately explore the role that the person involved in the implementation and their specific dispositions play in the enactment of inclusion. This article argues that, to better understand the challenges individuals face with implementing inclusion, a broader lens integrating bio-ecological theory and the capability approach is needed. This integration highlights the need to look at a complexity of issues to understand what is valued, as competing values, and the choices between these will influence the implementation of inclusion.
Understanding the role of cross-language transfer of phonological awareness in emergent Hindi–English biliteracy acquisition
Authors: Patel Priyanka , Chatterjee Singh Nandini , Torppa Minna
Published: January 2022

This study examined within and cross-language relations, and specifically, the role of phonological awareness (PA) skills in reading among young Hindi-speaking children (L1) who were learning to read English (L2) in Delhi, India. Data was collected from 143 children in Grades 1 and 2 using measures validated for this population. The analyses examined the associations between L1 and L2 PA and decoding, both within and across the two languages. The results showed that PA skills within each language significantly predicted decoding in that language. Furthermore, there was evidence of cross-language transfer with Hindi PA significantly predicting English word reading even after controlling for English PA. English PA also significantly predicted Hindi decoding, however, these effects decreased once Hindi PA was added to the model. These findings emphasize the important role that both L1 and L2 PA plays in reading among emergent Hindi–English bilinguals. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings on literacy instruction in India are discussed.
What do analyses of city size distributions have in common?
Authors: Cottineau Clémentine
Published: January 2022

In this article, I conduct a textual and contextual meta-analysis of the empirical literature on Zipf's law for cities. Combining citation network analysis and bibliometrics, this meta-analysis explores the link between publication bias and reporting bias in the multidisciplinary field of quantitative urban studies. To complement a set of metadata already available, I collect the full-texts and reference lists of 66 scientific articles published in English and construct similarity networks of the terms they use as well as of the references and disciplines they cite. I use these networks as explanatory variables in a model of the similarity network of the distribution of Zipf estimates reported in the 66 articles. I find that the proximity in words frequently used by authors correlates positively with their tendency to report similar values and dispersion of Zipf estimates. The reference framework of articles also plays a role, as articles which cite similar references tend to report similar average values of Zipf estimates. As a complement to previous meta-analyses, the present approach sheds light on the scientific text and context mobilized to report on city size distributions. It allows to identified gaps in the corpus and potentially overlooked articles. It confirms the relationship between publication and reporting biases.
Accounting for quality in data integration systems: a completeness-aware integration approach
Authors: Daraio Cinzia , Di Leo Simone , Scannapieco Monica
Published: January 2022

Ensuring the quality of integrated data is undoubtedly one of the main problems of integrated data systems. When focusing on multi-national and historical data integration systems, where the “space” and “time” dimensions play a relevant role, it is very much important to build the integration layer in such a way that the final user accesses a layer that is “by design” as much complete as possible. In this paper, we propose a method for accessing data in multipurpose data infrastructures, like data integration systems, which has the properties of (i) relieving the final user from the need to access single data sources while, at the same time, (ii) ensuring to maximize the amount of the information available for the user at the integration layer. Our approach is based on a completeness-aware integration approach which allows the user to have ready available all the maximum information that can get out of the integrated data system without having to carry out the preliminary data quality analysis on each of the databases included in the system. Our proposal of providing data quality information at the integrated level extends then the functions of the individual data sources, opening the data infrastructure to additional uses. This may be a first step to move from data infrastructures towards knowledge infrastructures. A case study on the research infrastructure for the science and innovation studies shows the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Evaluation of Galdakao-modified Valdivia position in endoscopic management of malignant ureteric obstruction
Authors: Emam Ahmed , Elmoazen Mohamed , Shabayek Mohamed , Zriek Amr M. , Gad Hany Hamed
Published: January 2022

Background

Malignant ureteric obstruction (MUO) due to pelvic malignancies is challenging for endourological management and carries high failure rates for retrograde cystoscopic ureteric stenting.

Methods

We adopted Galdakao-modified Valdivia (GMV) position in the management of MUO in an operating room equipped with a C-arm fluoroscopy unit and an ultrasound device. We prospectively studied the added value of this approach in 50 cases who failed retrograde ureteric stenting.

Results

Thirty-seven (74%) cases were done under a high level of spinal anesthesia. Mean operative time was 62 min. Antegrade ureteric stenting succeeded in 45/50 (90%) patients who failed retrograde ureteric stenting. GMV position facilitated simultaneous retrograde and antegrade management of MUO. Eight patients (16%) underwent auxiliary cystoscopic procedures to reduce the mass over the ureteric orifice (UO) guided by antegrade methylene blue or over a probing antegrade guidewire. Nephrostomy tube was inserted in the same setting in 16/50 (32%) cases. Antegrade flow of contrast to the bladder (P < 0.001) and ureteric kinks rather than tight stenosis or infiltration of UO (P = 0.014) were significantly associated with the success of antegrade ureteric stenting. No major complications were encountered.

Conclusion

GMV position is an ideal choice for management of MUO as it allows simultaneous access to the lower and the upper urinary systems to accomplish ureteric stenting either in a retrograde or an antegrade fashion as well as the ability to insert a nephrostomy tube in the same setting, thus shortening the inpatient care and this should be the standard of care in cases with MUO.
Direct Measurement of the Transverse Modulus of Carbon Fibres
Authors: Wong S. , Pierlot A. P. , Abbott A. M. , Schutz J. A.
Published: January 2022

Background

The transverse compressive properties are integral to fully utilizing the high performing mechanical properties of carbon fibres (CF). Direct measurements of transverse properties of CFs are difficult.

Objective

A system that directly measures transverse compressive modulus (ET) by utilizing interference speckle patterns to measure sub-pixel resolutions is presented.

Methods

The compression data from an isotropic glass fibre was fitted using an elastic contact mechanics model. An initial section was observed, which was not readily fitted using the model and was systematically removed, resulting in an ET of 82 GPa, comparable to the reported longitudinal tensile modulus (EL) of 86 GPa.

Results

The response of Ag wire to cyclic compression was measured, with the behaviour consistent with a material undergoing typical cyclic stress–strain into a stable hysteretic loop. Several CFs were compressed and an inversely proportional relationship between ET and EL was observed. Transverse compressive moduli of 8.2 (0.8), 6.5 (0.7), 4.3 (0.3), and 2.1 (0.4) were obtained for Toray T300 and Mitsubishi Pyrofil HS40, Pyrofil TR50S, and Dialead K13312, respectively (numbers in parenthesis are standard deviations).

Conclusion

Hysteresis was observed for some of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based CFs and a method for ensuring an accurate fitting of CFs, including hysteretic load/unload curves, was proposed.
Assessment of urban river water pollution with urbanization in East Africa
Authors: Chen Sophia Shuang , Kimirei Ismael Aaron , Yu Cheng , Shen Qiushi , Gao Qun
Published: January 2022

Anthropogenic pollution plays an important part in deteriorating the water quality of rivers all over the world, especially in urban areas of Africa where water quality monitoring is still seriously constrained by the limited test facility and capability. In this study, for evaluating the impact of urbanization on the river water quality, we investigated four typical urban rivers of Tanzania through the upper-urban-down gradient assessment approach and analyzed by water quality index (WQI) and statistical methods. The physicochemical indices monitored in these rivers revealed that the contents of those indicators of TN, TP, PO43−, NH4+, CODMn, and NO3− were accumulated significantly in the lower reaches of the cities, which indicated the life-type pollution characteristics in such urban rivers of Africa. The following main conclusions are achieved from this study. The water quality of 30% of the investigated river sections is in the medium to good status based on the subjective WQI with sensory factors included. Moreover, the sections with obvious water quality decline are mainly limited to the river segments within the urban central area, and severe pollution of water bodies is closely related to large cities, indicating an increasing pollution tendency with the quickly growing population. Therefore, to help formulate water pollution control policies in response to the rapid urban expansion in African countries, it is necessary to adopt an economical and feasible method to carry out early monitoring of surface water quality timely.
Die Netzwerkanalyse und der Umgang mit ihren Forschungsergebnissen. Eine kritische Replik zum Beitrag von Nico Sonntag
Authors: Ötsch Walter Otto , Hirte Katrin , Pühringer Stephan
Published: January 2022

In der Untersuchung von sozialen Netzwerken werden Beziehungen zwischen sozialen Akteuren (z.B. Personen, Institutionen, Organisationen) adressiert und nach dem Charakter dieser Beziehungen gefragt. Dieser Beziehungscharakter interessiert vor allem dann, wenn die Akteure in diesen Netzwerken gemeinsame inhaltliche Ausrichtungen entwickeln, die performativ in die Gesellschaft hineinwirken. Da in solchen Netzwerkanalysen die relevanten Akteure benannt und deren Denkausrichtungen eruiert werden, bergen sie einerseits ein aufklärerisches Potenzial. Andererseits sind sowohl die Forschenden als auch die Scientific Community beim Umgang mit diesen Forschungsergebnissen angehalten, die Netzwerkbeziehungen und die inhaltlichen Ausrichtungen der Akteure*innen als mehr oder weniger manifeste und prozessierende aufzufassen, anstatt diese bewusst oder unbewusst zu reifizieren. In der vorliegenden Replik setzen wir uns kritisch mit dem in dieser Zeitschrift veröffentlichten Vorwurf Nico Sonntags auseinander, wir wären bei unserer Analyse von ordoliberalen Netzwerken in Deutschland oberflächlich und intransparent vorgegangen, suggerierten die Realität eines kollektiv agierenden marktfundamentalen Netzwerkes und hätten damit womöglich sogar einem Verschwörungsdenken Vorschub geleistet.
What drives passion? An empirical examination on the impact of personality trait interactions and job environments on work passion
Authors: Breu Annika , Yasseri Taha
Published: January 2022

Passionate employees are essential for organisational success as they foster higher performance and exhibit lower turnover or absenteeism. While a large body of research has investigated the consequences of passion, we know only little about its antecedents. Integrating trait interaction theory with trait activation theory, this paper examines how personality traits, i.e. conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism impact passion at work across different job situations. Passion has been conceptualized as a two-dimensional construct, consisting of harmonious work passion (HWP) and obsessive work passion (OWP). Our study is based on a sample of N = 824 participants from the myPersonality project. We find a positive relationship between neuroticism and OWP in enterprising environments. Further, we find a three-way interaction between conscientiousness, agreeableness, and enterprising environment in predicting OWP. Our findings imply that the impact of personality configurations on different forms of passion is contingent on the job environment. Moreover, in line with self-regulation theory, the results reveal agreeableness as a “cool influencer” and neuroticism as a “hot influencer” of the relationship between conscientiousness and work passion. We derive practical implications for organisations on how to foster work passion, particularly HWP, in organisations.
Operando electrochemical SERS monitors nanoparticle reactions by capping agent fingerprints
Authors: Wonner Kevin , Murke Steffen , Alfarano Serena R. , Hosseini Pouya , Havenith Martina , Tschulik Kristina
Published: January 2022

Nanomaterials are frequently employed in daily life goods, including health, textile, and food industry. A comprehensive picture is lacking on the role of the capping agents, added ligand molecules, in case of nanoparticle reactions and degradation in aqueous solutions, like surface waters or biofluids. Here, we aim to elucidate the capping agent influence on nanoparticle reactivity probing two commonly employed capping agents citrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Their influence on silver nanoparticle (AgNP) transformation is studied, which is particularly important due to its application as an antimicrobial agent. We induce oxidation and reduction processes of AgNPs in halide solutions and we monitor the associated transformations of particles and capping agents by spectro-electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Raman bands of the capping agents are used here to track chemical changes of the nanoparticles under operando conditions. The sparingly soluble and non-plasmon active silver salts (AgBr and AgCl) are formed under potential bias. In addition, we spectroscopically observe plasmon-mediated structural changes of citrate to cis- or trans-aconitate, while PVP is unaltered. The different behavior of the capping agents implies a change in the physical properties on the surface of AgNPs, in particular with respect to the surface accessibility. Moreover, we showcase that reactions of the capping agents induced by different external stimuli, such as applied bias or laser irradiation, can be assessed. Our results demonstrate how SERS of capping agents can be exploited to operando track nanoparticle conversions in liquid media. This approach is envisaged to provide a more comprehensive understanding of nanoparticle fates in complex liquid environments and varied redox conditions.
Thymidine Kinase 2 and Mitochondrial Protein COX I in the Cerebellum of Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 31 Caused by Penta-nucleotide Repeats (TTCCA)n
Authors: Aoki Hanako , Higashi Miwa , Okita Michi , Ando Noboru , Murayama Shigeo , Ishikawa Kinya , Yokota Takanori
Published: January 2022

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31), an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia with Purkinje cell degeneration, is caused by a heterozygous 2.5–3.8 kilobase penta-nucleotide repeat of (TTCCA)n in intron 11 of the thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) gene. TK2 is an essential mitochondrial pyrimidine-deoxyribonucleoside kinase. Bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations of TK2 lead to mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS) in humans through severe (~ 70%) reduction of mitochondrial electron-transport-chain activity, and tk2 knockout mice show Purkinje cell degeneration and ataxia through severe mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase subunit I (COX I) protein reduction. To clarify whether TK2 function is altered in SCA31, we investigated TK2 and COX I expression in human postmortem SCA31 cerebellum. We confirmed that canonical TK2 mRNA is transcribed from exons far upstream of the repeat site, and demonstrated that an extended version of TK2 mRNA (“TK2-EXT”), transcribed from exons spanning the repeat site, is expressed in human cerebellum. While canonical TK2 was conserved among vertebrates, TK2-EXT was specific to primates. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that both TK2 mRNAs were preserved in SCA31 cerebella compared with control cerebella. The TK2 proteins, assessed with three different antibodies including our original polyclonal antibody against TK2-EXT, were detected as ~ 26 kilodalton proteins on western blot; their levels were similar in SCA31 and control cerebella. COX I protein level was preserved in SCA31 compared to nuclear DNA-encoded protein. We conclude that the expression and function of TK2 are preserved in SCA31, suggesting a mechanism distinct from that of MDS.
Stability of Hepatitis E Virus After Drying on Different Surfaces
Authors: Wolff Alexander , Günther Taras , Johne Reimar
Published: January 2022

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 is mainly transmitted by consumption of contaminated food produced from infected animals. However, transmission via contaminated surfaces has also to be considered. Here, the genotype 3c strain 47832c was dried on steel, wood, plastics and ceramics, stored at 23 °C or 3 °C for up to 8 weeks and remaining infectivity was titrated on cell culture. During the drying process, only a mean 0.2 log10 decrease of HEV infectivity was observed. At 23 °C, remaining infectious virus was detected until week 4 on most surfaces, but HEV was completely inactivated (> 4 log10 decrease) after 8 weeks. At 3 °C, HEV was detectable up to 8 weeks on most surfaces, with an average 2.3 log10 decrease. HEV showed the highest stability on plastics, which was lower on ceramics and steel, and lowest on wood. The addition of bovine serum albumin mimicking high protein load had only a slight stabilizing effect. In conclusion, HEV shows a high stability against drying and subsequent storage on different surfaces. Strict application of hygienic measures during food production is therefore crucial in order to prevent HEV persistence on surfaces and subsequent cross-contamination.