bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of profitable networks of biogas plants in Chile
Authors: Casas R. , Casas F. , Bustos J.
Published: May 2021

Locations for profitable biogas plant networks for the generation of electric power were investigated. A population-based location algorithm was developed. Using information regarding biogas power and plants cost found in the literature, together with data on the location and number of dairy cows of 572 farms in southern Chile, economic analises were made. Each farm was evaluated as a potencial location for a biogas plant, both alone and as part of different combinations. The algorithm starts with a population of one-plant combinations and generates new iterations by inserting additional biogas plants as long as the NPV increases. In each iteration, only a diverse subset of the combinations is selected. This approach is compared to the application of the ArcGIS Network Analyst (NA) function for the set cover problem, usually employed in the literature for biogas plant network location problems. Using the technical parameters for the operation of biogas plants found in the literature, we show that the proposed algorithm gives better results than the NA algorithm in terms of profit. Biogas plant networks were obtained for different scenarios of biomass availability (40–80%), energy sale prices (90–100 USD/MWh) and transport costs (0.3–0.4 USD/tkm). The results indicate that 18 of the 572 farms would be good candidates to site a biogas plant in at least one of the scenarios. A maximum of eight farms appear in a scenario with 80% of biomass availability and a transport cost of 0.3 USD/tkm. This solution reaches a NPV of USD 3,538,394, which exceeds by more than 70% the USD 2,075,057 obtained with the solution retrieved by the NA function. As the algorithm presented obtained better results than the ArcGIS network analyst, it can be used as an appropriate design tool for biogas plant networks.
The effect of different deicing solutions on the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixture
Authors: Abdi Kordani Ali , Seifi Seyed Hani , Ghasemzadeh Tehrani Hossein , Shirini Bahram
Published: May 2021

The present research studies the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium acetate on asphalt pavement to reduce the damage caused by moisture on asphalt pavement in winter. To prevent the stripping problem in asphalt, Nano-Zycotherm with three quantities corresponding to 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% weight of bitumen is used in this study. Under the saturated condition with the above solutions, the indirect tensile test performs by applying a freeze–thaw cycle as a means to measure the amount of moisture susceptibility. The results indicate that the asphalt mix containing 0.3% Nano-Zycotherm has a higher indirect tensile strength and tensile strength ratio than asphalt mix containing 0.1% and 0.2% Nano-Zycotherm. Accordingly, Magnesium chloride solution is the most effective deicing material to improve the indirect tensile strength and durability of asphalt pavements when faced with moisture and ice.

Article highlights

The presence of Nano-Zycotherm in asphalt leads to its increased resistance against stripping.

The use of Sodium chloride and potassium acetate deicing solutions causes some damages in asphalt.

Considering different solutions, magnesium chloride has the best performance against asphalt stripping.
Covariant functions of characters of compact subgroups
Authors: Ghaani Farashahi Arash
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a systematic study for abstract harmonic analysis on classical Banach spaces of covariant functions of characters of compact subgroups. Let G be a locally compact group and H be a compact subgroup of G. Suppose that $$\xi :H\rightarrow \mathbb {T}$$

ξ
:
H
→
T

is a character, $$1\le p<\infty$$

1
≤
p
<
∞

and $$L_\xi ^p(G,H)$$

L
ξ
p

(
G
,
H
)

is the set of all covariant functions of $$\xi$$
ξ
in $$L^p(G)$$

L
p

(
G
)

. It is shown that $$L^p_\xi (G,H)$$

L
ξ
p

(
G
,
H
)

is isometrically isomorphic to a quotient space of $$L^p(G)$$

L
p

(
G
)

. It is also proven that $$L^q_\xi (G,H)$$

L
ξ
q

(
G
,
H
)

is isometrically isomorphic to the dual space $$L^p_\xi (G,H)^*$$

L
ξ
p

(
G
,
H
)

∗

, where q is the conjugate exponent of p. The paper is concluded by some results for the case that G is compact.
Outdoor air pollution and the onset and exacerbation of asthma
Authors: Madaniyazi Lina , Xerxes Seposo
Published: May 2021

Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been consistently associated with asthma. In this study, we reviewed the epidemiological studies published within the last 5 years on the association between outdoor air pollution and exacerbation and onset of asthma. A large number of studies have been published within the last 5 years. Short‐term exposure to outdoor air pollution is associated with exacerbation of pre‐existing asthma, manifested as worsening of symptoms and increasing of asthma‐related emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Furthermore, increasing evidence suggests that long‐term exposure to outdoor air pollution can result in onset of asthma. Children are more susceptible to outdoor air pollution. Future studies should be conducted to explore the mechanisms underlying the association between air pollutants and onset of asthma, including gene involvement. In addition, disentangling the effect of a mixture of air pollutants and identifying the key components of air pollution will complete the existing evidence. More importantly, a better understanding is required on the future impact of air pollution on asthma under a changing climate.
Committed to Better Outcomes: Reducing Infection after Surgery Across the Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network
Authors: Jackson Timothy D. , Beath Tricia , Ahmad Nancy , Arsenault Pierrette Price , Maeda Azusa , Schramm David , Moloo Husein , Nathens Avery
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND:

In 2015, the Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network was established to create a community of practice for Ontario hospitals to improve surgical quality. A provincial campaign to decrease postsurgical infections was launched in 2017.

STUDY DESIGN:

Thirty hospitals implemented activities related to the campaign from April 2018 to March 2019. The community of practice was used to disseminate suggested change ideas in each area. Self-reported data from participating hospitals and collaborative-wide aggregate risk-adjusted data from the American College of Surgeons NSQIP were reviewed to determine the impact of the campaign on the rates of postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and pneumonia.

RESULTS:

A total of 24, 8, and 2 hospitals selected SSIs, UTIs, and pneumonia, respectively, as their targets for improvement. Three hospitals selected both SSIs and UTIs, 1 hospital selected SSIs and pneumonia, and 1 hospital selected all 3 indicators as targets. Self-reported data demonstrated that the rates of SSIs and UTIs decreased significantly post campaign from 4.87% to 3.99% (p < 0.0001) and from 3.65% to 1.25% (p = 0.007), respectively. Pneumonia rates also decreased from 1.27% to 1.05%. Overall rates of SSIs, UTIs, and pneumonia across all Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network hospitals were reduced from 3.4%, 1.29%, and 0.88% to 3.37%, 1.14%, and 0.84%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

The 1-year campaign resulted in a clinically significant reduction in the rates of SSIs and UTIs, as well as a trend for decrease in pneumonia incidence among participating hospitals. Using a flexible approach with priority setting and leveraging the community of practice for dissemination of change ideas is an effective way of sustaining quality improvement activities.
Depicting Properties’ Properties
Authors: KULVICKI JOHN
Published: May 2021

Little has been said about whether pictures can depict properties of properties. This article argues that they do. As a result, resemblance theories of depiction must be changed to accommodate this phenomenon. In addition, diagrams and maps are standardly understood to represent properties of properties, so this article brings accounts of depiction closer to accounts of diagrams than they had been before. Finally, the article suggests that recent work on perceptual content gives us reason to believe we can perceive properties of properties.
Luther and Paradox: Justification, Ethics, and the New Finnish School of Interpretation
Authors: Wood-House Nathan D.
Published: May 2021

Given his insistence on the dual temporal and spiritual spheres in which Christians live in the tension of freedom and service to others, Martin Luther's theological ethics prove paradoxical. This conundrum unfolds at the intersection of Luther's doctrine of justification and consequent Christian freedom (1520), and his doctrine of two kingdoms, which elucidates the complex world in which we live (1523). How is one to live in service to the neighbor as an unconditional subject, love enemies, and uphold justice? This article explores the New Finnish School interpretation of Luther's doctrine of justification as theosis in order to elucidate the Reformer's convoluted ethics. We may ultimately understand Luther's tensive position in terms of the believer's soul united to Christ, thereby becoming a Christ to others albeit, simul justus et peccator, imperfectly. This more fully accounts for Luther's appreciation for the ethical contingencies faced by Christians in everyday life.
Eat and Die: The Last Meal of Sacrificed Chimú Camelids at Huanchaquito-Las Llamas, Peru, as Revealed by Starch Grain Analysis
Authors: Cagnato Clarissa , Goepfert Nicolas , Elliott Michelle , Prieto Gabriel , Verano John , Dufour Elise
Published: May 2021

This article reconstructs the final diet of sacrificed domestic camelids from Huanchaquito-Las Llamas to understand whether feeding was part of the ritual practice. The site is situated on the northern coast of Peru and is dated to the fifteenth century AD (Late Intermediate period; LIP). It was used by the Chimús to kill and bury a large number of camelids, mostly juveniles. We reconstructed the final meal of 11 of the sacrificed individuals by analyzing starch grains derived from the associated gut contents and feces. The starch grains were well preserved and allowed for the determination of five plant taxa. The comparison with previously published and new stable isotope analyses, which provide insights into long-term diet, indicates that the Chimús managed their herds by providing maize as fodder and allowing them to graze on natural pasture; yet they reserved special treatment for sacrificial animals, probably bringing them together a few hours or days before the sacrificial act. We show for the first time the consumption of unusual food products, which included manioc, chili peppers, and beans, as well as cooked foods. Our study provides unique information on Chimú camelid ritual and herding practices.
Aeolian sediments in paleowetland deposits of the Las Vegas Formation
Authors: Goldstein Harland L. , Springer Kathleen B. , Pigati Jeffrey S. , Reheis Marith C. , Skipp Gary L.
Published: May 2021

The Las Vegas Formation (LVF) is a well-characterized sequence of groundwater discharge (GWD) deposits exposed in and around the Las Vegas Valley in southern Nevada. Nearly monolithologic bedrock surrounds the valley, which provides an excellent opportunity to test the hypothesis that GWD deposits include an aeolian component. Mineralogical data indicate that the LVF sediments are dominated by carbonate minerals, similar to the local bedrock, but silicate minerals are also present. The median particle size is ~35 μm, consistent with modern dust in the region, and magnetic properties contrast strongly with local bedrock, implying an extralocal origin. By combining geochemical data from the LVF sediments and modern dust, we found that an average of ~25% of the LVF deposits were introduced by aeolian processes. The remainder consists primarily of authigenic groundwater carbonate as well as minor amounts of alluvial material and soil carbonate. Our data also show that the aeolian sediments accumulated in spring ecosystems in the Las Vegas Valley in a manner that was independent of both time and the specific hydrologic environment. These results have broad implications for investigations of GWD deposits located elsewhere in the southwestern U.S. and worldwide.
Oxygen isotopes in terrestrial gastropod shells track Quaternary climate change in the American Southwest
Authors: Rech Jason A. , Pigati Jeffrey S. , Springer Kathleen B. , Bosch Stephanie , Nekola Jeffrey C. , Yanes Yurena
Published: May 2021

Recent studies have shown the oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O) of modern terrestrial gastropod shells is determined largely by the δ18O of precipitation. This implies that fossil shells could be used to reconstruct the δ18O of paleo-precipitation as long as the isotopic system, including the hydrologic pathways of the local watershed and the gastropod systematics, is well understood. In this study, we measured the δ18O values of 456 individual gastropod shells collected from paleowetland deposits in the San Pedro Valley, Arizona that range in age from ca. 29.1 to 9.8 ka. Isotopic differences of up to 2‰ were identified among the four taxa analyzed (Succineidae,Pupilla hebes,Gastrocopta tappaniana, andVallonia gracilicosta), with Succineidae shells yielding the highest values andV.gracilicostashells exhibiting the lowest values. We used these data to construct a composite isotopic record that incorporates these taxonomic offsets, and found shell δ18O values increased by ~4‰ between the last glacial maximum and early Holocene, which is similar to the magnitude, direction, and rate of isotopic change recorded by speleothems in the region. These results suggest the terrestrial gastropods analyzed here may be used as a proxy for past climate in a manner that is complementary to speleothems, but potentially with much greater spatial coverage.
Does an inflammatory diet affect mental well-being in late childhood and mid-life? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Lycett Kate M. , Wijayawickrama Disna J. , Liu Mengjiao , Grobler Anneke , Burgner David P. , Baur Louise A. , Liu Richard , Lange Katherine , Wake Melissa , Kerr Jessica A.
Published: May 2021

Inflammatory diets are increasingly recognised as a modifiable determinant of mental illness. However, there is a dearth of studies in early life and across the full mental well-being spectrum (mental illness to positive well-being) at the population level. This is a critical gap given that inflammatory diet patterns and mental well-being trajectories typically establish by adolescence. We examined the associations of inflammatory diet scores with mental well-being in 11–12-year-olds and mid-life adults. Throughout Australia, 1759 11–12-year-olds (49 % girls) and 1812 parents (88 % mothers) contributed cross-sectional population-based data. Alternate inflammatory diet scores were calculated from a twenty-six-item FFQ, based on the prior literature and prediction of inflammatory markers. Participants reported negatively and positively framed mental well-being via psychosocial health, quality of life and life satisfaction surveys. We used causal inference modelling techniques via generalised linear regression models (mean differences and risk ratios (RR)) to examine how inflammatory diets might influence mental well-being. In children and adults, respectively, a 1sdhigher literature-derived inflammatory diet score conferred between a 44 % (RR 95 % CI 1·2, 1·8) to 57 % (RR 95 % CI 1·3, 2·0) and 54 % (95 % CI 1·2, 2·0) to 86 % (RR 95 % CI 1·4, 2·4) higher risk of being in the worst mental well-being category (i.e. <16th percentile) across outcome measures. Results for inflammation-derived scores were similar. BMI mediated effects (21–39 %) in adults. Inflammatory diet patterns were cross-sectionally associated with mental well-being at age 11–12 years, with similar effects observed in mid-adulthood. Reducing inflammatory dietary components in childhood could improve population-level mental well-being across the life course.
Effects of water deficiency on preference and performance of an insect herbivore Ostrinia furnacalis
Authors: Duan M.Y. , Zhu H. , Wang H. , Guo S.Y. , Li H. , Jiang L.L. , Li X.T. , Xie G. , Ren B.Z.
Published: May 2021

With further climate change still expected, it is predicted to increase the frequency with plants will be water stressed, which subsequently influences phytophagous insects, particularly Lepidoptera with limited mobility of larvae. Previous studies have indicated that oviposition preference and offspring performance of Lepidoptera insects are sensitive to drought separately. However, the integration of their two properties is not always seen. Here, we evaluated changes in oviposition selection and offspring fitness of a Lepidoptera insect under three water-stressed treatments using a model agroecosystem consisting of maize Zea mays, and Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis. Results found that female O. furnacalis preferred to laying their eggs on well-watered maize, and then their offspring tended to survive better, attained bigger larvae mass, and developed more pupae and adults on the preferred maize. Oviposition selection of O. furnacalis positively correlated with height and leaf traits of maize, and offspring fitness positively related with water content and phytochemical traits of hosts. Overall, these results suggest that oviposition choice performed by O. furnacalis reflects the maximization of offspring fitness, supporting preference–performance hypothesis. This finding further highlights that the importance of simultaneous evaluation of performance and performance for water driving forces should be involved, in order to accurately predict population size of O. furnacalis under altered precipitation pattern.
Individual- and community-level factors associated with underweight and overweight among women of reproductive age in Bangladesh: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Kamal S. M. Mostafa
Published: May 2021

The co-existence of under- and overweight at population level around the globe is well documented. However, this has yet to be explored using suitable statistical techniques in the context of Bangladesh. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for being underweight and overweight or obese compared with normal weight in ever-married non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years in Bangladesh using data from the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2014. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression (MLMLR) and quantile regression models were fitted to examine the associations of socioeconomic and individual-, household- and community-level factors on the nutritional status of women as measured by BMI. Overall, the prevalences of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese women were 19%, 58%, 19% and 4%, respectively, in 2014. The MLMLR analysis revealed that women of young age, widowed/divorced/separated, having a larger family size and children aged ≤5 years in the household, currently amenorrhoeic and members of non-government organizations were at significantly increased risk of being underweight; those of older age, having higher parity, more educated, frequently watched TV and non-poor were more likely to be overweight or obese relative to normal BMI. Women from more affluent communities and urban areas were more likely to be overweight or obese relative to normal BMI than their counterparts from less-affluent and rural communities. Women’s nutritional status was found to be heterogeneous across the regions of the country. The findings indicate that, along with individual-level factors, community-level characteristics are also important in explaining women’s BMI in Bangladesh. The issue of under- and overweight or obesity among women in Bangladesh requires the immediate adoption of a public health policy for its mitigation. When developing intervention programmes, important determinants and uniform development of regions should be taken into consideration to combat the dual burden of under- and overweight among women in Bangladesh.
Exploring the determinants of regional health governance modes in the Global South: A comparative analysis of Central and South America
Authors: Agostinis Giovanni , Parthenay Kevin
Published: May 2021

What explains the variation in how states collectively deal with public health challenges across different regions? We tackle this puzzle by comparing the regional health governance efforts pursued within the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). We show that Central America's health governance has been driven by external actors, whereas South America's was driven by states within the region, and remained insulated from external actors’ influence. We argue that the explanation for such variation lies in the interplay of state capacity and regional leadership. In Central America, weak state capacity combined with the absence of a regional leader willing to provide governance resources. This opened up space for external actors to contribute actively to regional health governance, complementing the governance of Central American governments. In South America, Brazil's regional leadership mobilised neighbouring states’ capacities by promoting a South-South cooperation agenda based on intra-regional exchanges among national health bureaucracies, which, however, proved vulnerable to intergovernmental conflicts. Through the comparison of Central and South America, the article bridges the gap between global health governance scholarship and comparative regionalism, providing new insights on the determinants and effects of regional health governance modes in the Global South.
Pandemics and the role of culture
Authors: Vrdoljak Ana Filipa , Bauer Alexander A.
Published: May 2021

Pandemics creep up on us slowly, and without our suspecting, while we are distracted. Likewise, human experience shows that they recede gradually and without our noticing. For those in the eye of its storm—those that experience their devastating impact firsthand without the hope of an end in sight—they touch and shape their daily lives and their societies, in big and small ways. History shows, that across millennia, pandemics throw a harsh light on existing cleavages in societies and shortcomings in their organization; fuel deliberation, agitation, and the search for new ideas; and accelerate or bring about change. There is no reason to believe the effect of the pandemic that is presently affecting every continent will not follow a similar path.
The baths at Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria as a foundation of Constantine the Great? Reconsidering the inscribed mark ΦΛ ΑΝΤ
Authors: Kordas Anna Urszula
Published: May 2021

This article aims to reconsider the inscribed marks on reused Ionic capitals found within the area of the baths at Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria. The marks ΦΛ ΑΝΤ are reconstructed as the name of a prefect of Egypt, Flavius Antonius Theodorus (337 and 338 CE). This connection, as well as reconsideration of the archaeological evidence, provides precise clues to the dating of the baths’ foundation. Column capitals of earlier date, which were reused in the baths and inscribed with the name of the prefect of Egypt, suggest this official's involvement in supplying building material for the construction. This evidence provides an opportunity to reconsider the duties of the prefect of Egypt in the 4th c. CE.
Neuropsychological Profile of Intellectually Gifted Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bucaille Aurélie , Jarry Christophe , Allard Justine , Brochard Sylvain , Peudenier Sylviane , Roy Arnaud
Published: May 2021

Objective:

The term intellectually gifted (IG) refers to children of high intelligence, which is classically measured by the intelligence quotient (IQ). Some researchers assume that the cognitive profiles of these children are characterized by both strengths and weaknesses, compared with those of their typically developing (TD) peers of average IQ. The aim of the present systematic review was to verify this assumption, by compiling data from empirical studies of cognitive functions (language, motor skills, visuospatial processing, memory, attention and executive functions, social and emotional cognition) and academic performances.

Method:

The literature search yielded 658 articles, 15 of which met the selection criteria taken from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses model. We undertook a qualitative summary, to highlight any discrepancies between cognitive functions.

Results:

IG children exhibited better skills than TD children in a number of domains, including attention, language, mathematics, verbal working memory, shifting, and social problem solving. However, the two groups had comparable skills in visuospatial processing, memory, planning, inhibition, and visual working memory, or facial recognition.

Conclusion:

Although IG children may have some strengths, many studies have failed to find differences between this population and their TD peers on many other cognitive measures. Just like any other children, they can display learning disabilities, which can be responsible for academic underachievement. Further studies are needed to better understand this heterogeneity. The present review provides pointers for overcoming methodological problems and opens up new avenues for giftedness research.
A treatment planning study comparison between supine and prone position for different lung tumour locations using CyberKnife TPS
Authors: Akasaka Hiroaki , Mizonobe Kazufusa , Oki Yuya , Uehara Kazuyuki , Harada Aya , Miyazaki Shuichiro , Kitatani Keiji , Yabuuchi Tomonori , Ishihara Takeaki , Miyawaki Daisuke , Nakayama Masao , Mukumoto Naritoshi , Yada Ryuichi , Nakaoka Ai , Kubota Hikaru , Kawaguchi Hiroki , Seno Satoshi , Sasaki Ryohei , Mayahara Hiroshi
Published: May 2021

Aim:

CyberKnife is the most advanced form of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) system that uses a robotic arm to deliver highly focused beams of radiation; however, a limitation is that it only irradiates from ceiling to floor direction. In patients with posterior lungs tumour who are positioned supine, normal lung tissue may suffer undesirable radiation injuries. This study compares the treatment planning between the prone set-up and the supine set-up for lung cancer in CyberKnife SBRT to decrease normal lung dose to avoid radiation side effects.

Materials and methods:

A human phantom was used to generate 108 plans (54 for prone and 54 for supine) using the CyberKnife planning platform. The supine and prone plans were compared in terms of the dosimetric characteristics, delivery efficiency and plan efficiency.

Results:

For posterior targets, the area of low-dose exposure to normal lungs was smaller in the prone set-up than in the supine set-up. V10 of the lungs was 7·53% and 10·47% (p < 0·001) in the anterior region, and 10·78% and 8·03% (p < 0·001) in the posterior region in the supine and prone set-up plans, respectively.

Conclusions:

The comparison between the prone set-up and the supine set-up was investigated with regard to target coverage and dose to organs at risk. Our results may be deployed in CyberKnife treatment planning to monitor normal tissue dose by considering patient positioning. This may assist in the design of better treatment plans and prevention of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients.
Efficacy and toxicity hypofractionated radiotherapy for centrally located non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Janjua Tanzeel , Sun Fei , Clarke Katy , Dickinson Pete , Franks Kevin , Arunsingh Moses , Teo Mark , Jain Pooja
Published: May 2021

Aim:

Centrally located early-stage non-small cell lung cancer in patients who are unfit for surgery are treated with fractionated radiotherapy. We present the outcomes of a moderately hypofractionated accelerated dose regimen of 50 Gy in 15 fractions from a single centre in the UK.

Materials and methods:

Electronic case notes and radiotherapy records of lung cancer patients treated between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score was used to evaluate comorbidities. Mean lung doses and percentage of lung receiving more than 20 Gy were calculated for all patients. Survival outcomes were estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves.

Results:

Fifty-three patients were included in the study; the median follow-up was 20.2 months. 87% of patients had stage I disease. There was no 30-day post-treatment mortality. Ninety-day mortality rate after radiotherapy was 3.8%. Grade 2 pneumonitis was seen in five patients while no grade 3 or 4 pneumonitis was observed. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 18.5 months and 28.2 months, respectively. The estimated 1 and 2 years PFS were 62.3% and 41.3%, respectively, and OS were 77.4% and 56.6%, respectively. Worsening performance status was associated with worse survival on cox regression analysis. Disease relapsed in 36% of patients. 7.5% of patients with relapsed disease had infield recurrence.

Findings:

50 Gy in 15 fractions radiotherapy for central early-stage lung cancer is a feasible choice that requires further randomised trials.
Learning Chinese: Walter A. Taylor, an American Architect in China (1923–27)
Authors: Burette Stephanie
Published: May 2021

The American architect Walter A. Taylor, who was an Episcopal missionary in China from 1923 to 1927, intended to ‘desig[n] churches and other buildings that were Chinese and belonged to China’.2Taylor found himself at a crossroads, between Christian architecture in his home country, the USA, which was experiencing a time of transition, and the birth of the Chinese Republic and its strong rejection of Western hegemony. This article investigates how Taylor tried to undertake his task, where he found inspiration and what this indigenized architecture looked like. I argue that, although his work aimed at participating in the shift towards indigenization, it bore the signs of Chinese culture as seen through the eyes of a Westerner and imperialism.
Assessing the Ethos of Anglican Primary Schools in Wales: The Student Voice Project
Authors: Francis Leslie J. , Lankshear David W. , Eccles Emma L.
Published: May 2021

Since the Anglican Church in England and Wales began to build schools long before the state developed machinery to do so, around a quarter of all primary schools remain connected with the Anglican Church. The church school inspection system maintains that Anglican schools have a distinctive ethos. The Student Voice Project argues that school ethos is generated by the implicit collective values, beliefs and behaviours of the students, and was designed to give explicit voice to the students in response to six specific areas of school life identified by the Anglican school inspection criteria as relevant to school ethos. Drawing on data provide by 8,111 year-five and year-six students attending Church in Wales primary schools, the present study reports on the six ethos measures and on significant differences reported by female and male students, and by year-five and year-six students.
Wunsch und Erleben von Partizipation für Kinder und Jugendliche in der stationären Psychiatrie
Authors: Zerbe Paul-Simon , Schulz Eberhard , Dixius Andrea , Körner Mirjam
Published: May 2021

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Kinder haben ein Recht auf Mitbestimmung. Welche Phasen und Bereiche von Mitbestimmung innerhalb der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie besonders relevant sind, wurde nur selten empirisch untersucht. Somit ist es Ziel der vorliegenden Studie, den Wunsch und das Erleben von Beteiligung für verschiedene Dimensionen der stationären Behandlung in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie differenziert zu betrachten. Methode: Es wurde eine prospektive multizentrische Fragebogenerhebung durchgeführt. Das Erhebungsinstrument umfasste 100 Fragen, zusammengefasst in 16 Skalen, zum Wunsch und Erleben von Beteiligung innerhalb verschiedener Phasen (Information, Deliberation, Entscheidung), Bereiche (Behandlung, Klinikalltag, Persönliche Freiheiten) und Partizipation im weiteren Sinne (Respekt, Vertrauen). Die Daten wurden deskriptiv und inferenzstatistisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: 81 Kinder und Jugendliche aus fünf psychiatrischen Kliniken nahmen an der Studie teil. Insgesamt wünschen sie sich mehr Beteiligung als sie erleben. Je höher die Stufe der Beteiligung, desto größer die Differenz zwischen Wunsch und Erleben. Für Entscheidungen zur Kommunikation mit Familie und Freunden ist der Wunsch nach Beteiligung besonders hoch. Die deutlichste Differenz zwischen Wunsch und Erleben zeigte sich im respektvollen und vertrauensvollen Umgang mit den Kindern und Jugendlichen. Für weibliche Patienten ist diese Differenz noch größer als für männliche. Schlussfolgerung: Partizipation ist mehr als Aufklärung bei Behandlungsentscheidungen. Besonders bei höheren Stufen von Beteiligung und bei Entscheidungen zur Kommunikation mit Familie und Freunden besteht noch Potenzial für den Einbezug der Kinder und Jugendlichen. Ein respekt- und vertrauensvoller Umgang mit den Patientinnen und Patienten, unabhängig von Alter, Geschlecht und Erkrankung, sind dabei die Grundlage.
Pangea Migration
Authors: Le Pichon Xavier , Jellinek Mark , Lenardic Adrian , Şengör A. M. Celal , İmren Caner
Published: May 2021

We confirm the proposition of Le Pichon et al (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018TC005445) that Pangea was ringed by a hemispheric subduction girdle from its formation 400 Ma to its dispersal 100 Ma. We quantify the northward migration, that we attribute to True Polar Wander (TPW), of its axis of symmetry, between 400 and 150 Ma, from southern latitudes to the equatorial zone. The spatial stabilizing within the equatorial zone of the axis of symmetry in a fixed position with respect to the lower mantle was marked by alternating clockwise and counterclockwise oscillations between 250 and 100 Ma that we relate to tectonic events. A subduction girdle is predicted to set up lateral temperature gradients from the relatively warm sub‐Pangean mantle to a cooler sub‐oceanic mantle. Over time, this effect acts to destabilize the Pangea landmass and its associated subduction girdle. Quantitatively, a scaling theory for the stability of the subduction girdle against the mantle overturn constrains the maximum magnitude of sub‐Pangean warming before breakup to be order 100 °C, consistent with constraints on the Pacific‐Atlantic oceanic crustal thickness differences. Our predictions are in line with the recent analyses of the Jurassic‐Cretaceous climate change and with the existing models for potential driving forces for a TPW oscillation of Pangea across the equator. The timing and intensity of the predicted sub‐Pangean warming potentially contributed to the enigmatically large Siberian Traps and CAMP flood basalts at 250 Ma and 201 Ma, respectively.
Moment Tensors of Ring‐Faulting at Active Volcanoes: Insights Into Vertical‐CLVD Earthquakes at the Sierra Negra Caldera, Galápagos Islands
Authors: Sandanbata Osamu , Kanamori Hiroo , Rivera Luis , Zhan Zhongwen , Watada Shingo , Satake Kenji
Published: May 2021

Moderate earthquakes (Mw > 5) with moment tensors (MTs) dominated by a vertical compensated‐linear‐vector‐dipole (vertical‐CLVD) component are often generated by dip slip along a curved ring‐fault system at active volcanoes. However, relating their MTs to ring‐fault parameters has been proved difficult. The objective of this study is to find a robust way of estimating some ring‐fault parameters based on their MT solutions obtained from long‐period seismic records. We first model the MTs of idealized ring‐faulting and show that MT components representing the vertical‐CLVD and vertical strike‐slip mechanisms are resolvable by the deviatoric MT inversion using long‐period seismic waves, whereas a component representing the vertical dip‐slip mechanism is indeterminate owing to a shallow source depth. We then propose a new method for estimating the arc angle and orientation of ring‐faulting using the two resolvable MT components. For validation, we study a vertical‐CLVD earthquake that occurred during the 2005 volcanic activity at the Sierra Negra caldera, Galápagos Islands. The resolvable MT components are stably determined with long‐period seismic waves, and our estimation of the ring‐fault parameters is consistent with the ring‐fault geometry identified by previous geodetic studies and field surveys. We also estimate ring‐fault parameters of two earthquakes that took place during the 2018 activity at the caldera, revealing significant differences between the two earthquakes in terms of slip direction and location. These results show the usefulness of our method for estimating ring‐fault parameters, enabling us to examine the kinematics and structures below active volcanoes with ring faults that are distributed globally.
What Are the Different Measures of Mobility Telling Us About Surface Transportation CO2 Emissions During the COVID‐19 Pandemic?
Authors: Gensheimer Johannes , Chen Jia , Turner Alexander J. , Shekhar Ankit , Wenzel Adrian , Keutsch Frank N.
Published: May 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to widespread reductions in mobility and induced observable changes in atmospheric emissions. Recent work has employed novel mobility data sets as a proxy for trace gas emissions from traffic by scaling CO2 emissions linearly with those near‐real‐time mobility data. Yet, there has been little work evaluating these emission numbers. Here, we systematically compare these mobility data sets to traffic data from local governments in seven diverse urban and national/state regions to characterize the magnitude of errors that result from using the mobility data. We observe differences in excess of 60% between these mobility data sets and local traffic data. We could not find a general functional relationship between the mobility data and traffic flow over all the regions and observe higher deviations from using such general relationships than the original data. Finally, we give an overview of the potential errors that come from estimating CO2 emissions using (mobility or traffic) activity data. Future work should be cautious while using these mobility metrics for emission estimates.
Statistical Characteristics of Inertial Gravity Waves Over a Tropical Station in the Western Pacific Based on High‐Resolution GPS Radiosonde Soundings
Authors: He Yang , Zhu Xiaoqian , Sheng Zheng , Zhang Jie , Zhou Lesong , He Mingyuan
Published: May 2021

The characteristics of gravity wave activity in tropical areas have been extensively explored, but at present, less attention has been paid to the activity of inertial gravity waves (IGWs) in the Western Pacific based on in‐situ detection data. Based on the radiosonde data over Guam (13.3°N, 144.4°E) for 6 years (2013–2018), the hodograph method and spectrum analysis are used to analyze the statistical characteristics of IGWs in the troposphere (2–14 km) and stratosphere (18–28 km). The gravity wave (GW) energy in the troposphere has clear annual cycle, with the strongest activity in winter and the weakest in monsoon. In the stratosphere, the periodic variation of wave energy is interrupted due to the 2016 quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) disruption reflected in the zonal wind field. In the troposphere, the quantity of up‐propagating GWs is close to that of the down‐propagating GWs, while in the stratosphere, they are almost up‐propagating GWs. The horizontal propagation direction of GWs is mainly northeast and southwest in both the troposphere and the stratosphere, since the weak background wind field does not produce significant filtering effect. The spectral amplitude based on the normalized temperature perturbation has clear uniform annual variations in the troposphere and stratosphere, which are the largest in winter and the smallest in monsoon. Due to the “saturation” process in the up‐propagating process of GWs, the spectral slope is more negative in the stratosphere.
An Extreme Heat Event Induced by Typhoon Lekima (2019) and Its Contributing Factors
Authors: Zhao Dingchi , Lin Yanluan , Li Yuanlong , Gao Xiaoyu
Published: May 2021

As two prominent natural hazards, tropical cyclone (TC) and heat compound events seem irrelevant on most occasions. TC generally leads to cooling, but could induce extreme heat days (EHD) and heat compound hazard under certain circumstances. An EHD along the southeastern coast of China (SECC) associated with Typhoon Lekima (2019) is documented with its major contributing factors. The formation and intensity of the EHD were found to be closely related to the outer circulation of Lekima by comparing a series of WRF simulations. Via a boundary layer heat budget, we found local sensible heat flux was a necessary, but not sufficient condition for this EHD. Aided by a backward trajectory analysis, we found that upstream surface sensible heat flux, subsidence induced by Typhoon Lekima, and foehn effect due to local topography played approximately equal roles to the occurrence of the EHD. The retreat of regional land‐sea breeze circulation was also beneficial to the appearance of the EHD. Such TC‐heat events might be more overwhelming due to more vigorous TCs with warming in the future.
A Method for Calculating Atmospheric Radiation Produced by Relativistic Electron Precipitation
Authors: Xu Wei , Marshall Robert A. , Tobiska W. Kent
Published: May 2021

Radiation safety in the Earth's atmosphere is of particular importance to our living environment, especially at aviation altitudes. Aviation radiation has been long known to originate primarily from the galactic and solar system: galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic protons. Recent flight measurements by the Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety experiment have uncovered another potential source for aviation radiation: Relativistic Electron Precipitation (REP) from the Van Allen radiation belts. REP can induce radiation at aviation altitudes through bremsstrahlung X‐ray production, which carries radiation down to the stratosphere and even the troposphere. In this study, using a suite of physics‐based Monte Carlo models, we characterize the effective radiation dose produced at altitudes between ground and low‐Earth‐orbit by relativistic precipitation electrons with energies between 100 keV and 10 MeV. We produce a lookup table of atmospheric radiation production that calculates the expected radiation dose for a given precipitation flux, spectrum, and pitch angle distribution. This lookup table provides results that are consistent with X‐ray measurements during radiation belt precipitation by balloon‐borne instruments in the stratosphere, and can be directly used to convert space‐borne measurements of precipitation fluxes into aviation radiation. This study represents our first attempt toward better understanding of REP's role in the atmospheric high‐altitude radiation environment.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of tocilizumab in persons with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Chen Chong-xiang , Hu Fang , Wei Jin , Yuan Le-tao , Wen Tian-meng , Gale Robert Peter , Liang Yang
Published: May 2021

We performed a meta-analysis to determine safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in persons with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Medline using Boolean operators for studies with the terms coronavirus OR COVID-19 OR 2019-nCoV OR SARS-CoV-2 AND tocilizumab. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze data and the modified Newcastle–Ottawa and Jadad scales for quality assessment. We identified 32 studies in 11,487 subjects including three randomized trials and 29 cohort studies with a comparator cohort, including historical controls (N = 5), a matched cohort (N = 12), or concurrent controls (N = 12). Overall, tocilizumab decreased risk of death (Relative Risk [RR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59, 0.93; P = 0.008; I2 = 80%) but not of surrogate endpoints including ICU admission (RR = 1.40 [0.64,3.06]; P = 0.4; I2 = 88%), invasive mechanical ventilation (RR = 0.83 [0.57,1.22]; P = 0.34; I2 = 65%) or secondary infections (RR = 1.30 [0.97,1.74]; P = 0.08; I2 = 65%) and increased interval of hospitalization of subjects discharged alive(mean difference [MD] = 2 days [<1, 4 days]; P = 0.006; I2 = 0). RRs of death in studies with historical controls (RR = 0.28 [0.16,0.49; P < 0.001]; I2 = 62%) or a matched cohort (RR = 0.68 [0.53, 0.87]; P = 0.002; I2 = 42%) were decreased. In contrast, RRs of death in studies with a concurrent control (RR = 1.10 [0.77, 1.56]; P = 0.60; I2 = 85%) or randomized (RR = 1.18 [0.57,2.44]; P = 0.66; I2 = 0) were not decreased. A reduced risk of death was not confirmed in our analyses which questions safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in persons with COVID-19.
Improving the precision of optical metrology by detecting fewer photons with biased weak measurement
Authors: Yin Peng , Zhang Wen-Hao , Xu Liang , Liu Ze-Gang , Zhuang Wei-Feng , Chen Lei , Gong Ming , Ma Yu , Peng Xing-Xiang , Li Gong-Chu , Xu Jin-Shi , Zhou Zong-Quan , Zhang Lijian , Chen Geng , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can
Published: May 2021

In optical metrological protocols to measure physical quantities, it is, in principle, always beneficial to increase photon number n to improve measurement precision. However, practical constraints prevent the arbitrary increase of n due to the imperfections of a practical detector, especially when the detector response is dominated by the saturation effect. In this work, we show that a modified weak measurement protocol, namely, biased weak measurement significantly improves the precision of optical metrology in the presence of saturation effect. This method detects an ultra-small fraction of photons while maintains a considerable amount of metrological information. The biased pre-coupling leads to an additional reduction of photons in the post-selection and generates an extinction point in the spectrum distribution, which is extremely sensitive to the estimated parameter and difficult to be saturated. Therefore, the Fisher information can be persistently enhanced by increasing the photon number. In our magnetic-sensing experiment, biased weak measurement achieves precision approximately one order of magnitude better than those of previously used methods. The proposed method can be applied in various optical measurement schemes to remarkably mitigate the detector saturation effect with low-cost apparatuses.
PRMT6 activates cyclin D1 expression in conjunction with the transcription factor LEF1
Authors: Schneider Lucas , Herkt Stefanie , Wang Lei , Feld Christine , Wesely Josephine , Kuvardina Olga N. , Meyer Annekarin , Oellerich Thomas , Häupl Björn , Seifried Erhard , Bonig Halvard , Lausen Joern
Published: May 2021

The establishment of cell type specific gene expression by transcription factors and their epigenetic cofactors is central for cell fate decisions. Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is an epigenetic regulator of gene expression mainly through methylating arginines at histone H3. This way it influences cellular differentiation and proliferation. PRMT6 lacks DNA-binding capability but is recruited by transcription factors to regulate gene expression. However, currently only a limited number of transcription factors have been identified, which facilitate recruitment of PRMT6 to key cell cycle related target genes. Here, we show that LEF1 contributes to the recruitment of PRMT6 to the central cell cycle regulator CCND1 (Cyclin D1). We identified LEF1 as an interaction partner of PRMT6. Knockdown of LEF1 or PRMT6 reduces CCND1 expression. This is in line with our observation that knockdown of PRMT6 increases the number of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle and decreases proliferation. These results improve the understanding of PRMT6 activity in cell cycle regulation. We expect that these insights will foster the rational development and usage of specific PRMT6 inhibitors for cancer therapy.