bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microstructural Changes and In Vitro Digestibility of Maize Starch Treated with Different Calcium Compounds Used in Nixtamalization Processes
Authors: Roldan‐Cruz Cesar , Garcia‐Diaz Samuel , Garcia‐Hernandez Angeles , Alvarez‐Ramirez Jose , Vernon‐Carter E. Jaime
Published: September 2020

Maize starch dispersions (5 g/100 mL water) are treated with Ca(OH)2 (0.2 g/100 g starch), emulating the traditional nixtamalization process, and with CaCl2 or Ca(CO)3 (1.0g/100 g starch) salts, emulating ecological nixtamalization processes. The effect of these calcium compounds upon the in vitro digestibility of maize starch is evaluated in comparison to an untreated starch dispersion used as control. The Ca(OH)2 treatment significantly increases the rapidly digestible starch (RDS) fraction (from ≈33 to 64%) and significantly decreases the slowly digestible starch (SDS) fraction (from ≈63 to 30%), while both salt treatments lead to significant decreases in the RDS fraction (from ≈33 to 17%) and significant increases in the SDS fraction (from ≈63 to 76%), and resistant starch (RS) fraction (from ≈2.8 to 6.8%), compared to the untreated control. The mechanisms responsible for causing changes in the digestible starch fractions are not fully elucidated. Optical micrographs and different analytical methods (rheology, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance) are used to explore the molecular organization of untreated and the different calcium‐treated samples. It is found that the disruption of insoluble remnants (ghosts) by alkali treatment and the formation of calcium‐mediated cross‐linking structures play an important role in the in vitro digestibility and microstructural changes of maize starch.
Suitable pretreatment process for rice husk ash towards dosage optimization and its effect on properties of cementitious mortar
Authors: Kameshwar Patel , Athira Gopinath , Bahurudeen Abdulsalam , Nanthagopalan Prakash
Published: September 2020

Pretreatment processes on rice husk ash (RHA) influence its properties and in turn, the performance of concrete. However, most of the available literature captures only the influence of the RHA usage in concrete without focusing on the systematic pretreatment process and optimization of RHA dosage on physical and chemical perspective. Further, the replacements were done on weight basis, leading to higher binder volume and inaccuracies in the performance evaluation. The main objective of the present study is to adopt adequate pretreatment process and to systematically optimize the RHA dosage (vol. %) towards better strength and durability properties. Hence, the current study focuses on understanding the nature of RHA through characterization, followed by suitable pretreatment processes for enhancing the properties of RHA. The enhancement in the chemical activity of the treated RHA was assessed through pozzolanic activity tests (strength activity index, lime consumption test, and soluble silica). Based on the physical properties (particle size, surface area, and packing density), chemical characteristics (strength activity index) and the energy required, the grinding time (30 min) was optimized rationally. The optimized dosage of RHA (20% by vol.) was evaluated for its performance through fresh, mechanical, and durability properties. From the results, it is evident that adequate pretreatment, along with systematically optimized RHA dosage yields enhanced performance in concrete properties.
A prickly puzzle: Generic delimitations in theCarduus‐Cirsiumgroup (Compositae: Cardueae: Carduinae)
Authors: Ackerfield Jennifer , Susanna Alfonso , Funk Vicki , Kelch Dean , Park Daniel S. , Thornhill Andrew H. , Yildiz Bayram , Arabaci Turan , Dirmenci Tuncay
Published: September 2020

Generic delimitations within the cosmopolitanCarduus‐Cirsiumgroup (i.e., “thistles”) have a long history of taxonomic confusion and debate. We present the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the group to date to test generic limits, reconstruct the evolution of pappus type, and elucidate the role of chromosomal evolution. We offer two solutions for the recognition of monophyletic genera: (1) consolidate all taxa into one large genus (CarduusorCirsium), or (2) recognize each major clade as a genus (Carduus,Cirsium,Eriolepis,Notobasis,Picnomon,Silybum, andTyrimnus). Under the second proposal, the cryptic genusEriolepisis segregated fromCirsium, and the AfricanCarduusare included withinCirsium. The best diagnosable morphological character to delimit the genera is pollen type, which is not practical in field‐based application. We caution that prior to implementing either solution, a thorough, comprehensive morphological analysis of all current members ofCirsiumsect.Epitrachys(= genusEriolepis) be completed. Future morphological studies may find additional achene or leaf surface characters that could be used for practical field identification of the segregate genera. The data show that the plumose pappus state is symplesiomorphic for the group, with one transition to barbellate pappus, likely followed by a reversal to its ancestral state as the group colonized Eurasia. The data are consistent with a North African origin in the region of the Mediterranean and a single colonization event to North America. An ancestral chromosome state ofn= 17 is hypothesized for the group, and a descending dysploidy series inCarduusis hypothesized to correspond with the aridification of the Mediterranean region. TheCarduus‐Cirsiumgroup highlights the difficulty of delimiting morphologically similar, cryptic genera.
Passive load alleviation on wind turbine blades from aeroelastically driven selectively compliant morphing
Authors: Cavens Wolf D. K. , Chopra Abhishek , Arrieta Andres F.
Published: September 2020

Load alleviation control is highly desirable to reduce penalties associated with the added structural mass required to withstand rare load scenarios. This is particularly true for wind turbine designs incorporating long‐span blades. Implementation of compliance‐based morphing structures to modify the lift distribution passively has the potential to mitigate the impact of rare, but integrally threatening, loads on wind turbine blades while limiting the addition of actuation and sensing systems. We present a novel passive load alleviation concept based on a morphing flap exhibiting selective compliance from an embedded bistable element. A multifidelity, aeroelastic tool is used to study the shape adaptability of a morphing flap indicating that passive changes from high lift generation to load alleviation configurations can be achieved by exploiting the energy of the flow. This mechanism offers a method to reduce catastrophic peak loads potentially, thus offering the possibility to lower the overall structural weight of wind turbine blades.
An Analysis of Government Communication in the United States During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Recommendations for Effective Government Health Risk Communication
Authors: Kim Do Kyun David , Kreps Gary L.
Published: September 2020

Governments throughout the world can learn many critical lessons from examining instances of ineffective communication with the public during the global coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic. Ineffective government communication has resulted in a great deal of public confusion and misunderstanding, as well as serious errors in responding to this evolving health threat, leading to disastrous health and social outcomes for the public and prolonging the pandemic, especially within the United States. This article uses systems theory as a template for analyzing government communication in the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic, providing governments with recommendations for establishing effective health risk communication strategies for use with the public. The communication strategies offered here promote the delivery of relevant, accurate, and sensitive information to key public groups, minimizing communication noise to guide desirable coordinated actions. These communication strategies can be applied locally, nationally, and internationally.
Generic dijet soft functions at two-loop order: uncorrelated emissions
Authors: Bell Guido , Rahn Rudi , Talbert Jim
Published: September 2020

Abstract

We extend our algorithm for automating the calculation of two-loop dijet soft functions to observables that do not obey the non-Abelian exponentiation theorem, i.e. to those that require an independent calculation of the uncorrelated-emission contribution. As the singularity structure of uncorrelated double emissions differs substantially from the one for correlated emissions, we introduce a novel phase-space parametrisation that isolates the corresponding divergences. The resulting integrals are implemented in SoftSERVE 1.0, which we release alongside of this work, and which we supplement by a regulator that is consistent with the rapidity renormalisation group framework. Using our automated setup, we confirm existing results for various jet-veto observables and provide a novel prediction for the soft-drop jet-grooming algorithm.
Unbiased least-squares modification of Stokes’ formula
Authors: Sjöberg Lars E.
Published: September 2020

As the KTH method for geoid determination by combining Stokes integration of gravity data in a spherical cap around the computation point and a series of spherical harmonics suffers from a bias due to truncation of the data sets, this method is based on minimizing the global mean square error (MSE) of the estimator. However, if the harmonic series is increased to a sufficiently high degree, the truncation error can be considered as negligible, and the optimization based on the local variance of the geoid estimator makes fair sense. Such unbiased types of estimators, derived in this article, have the advantage to the MSE solutions not to rely on the imperfectly known gravity signal degree variances, but only the local error covariance matrices of the observables come to play. Obviously, the geoid solution defined by the local least variance is generally superior to the solution based on the global MSE. It is also shown, at least theoretically, that the unbiased geoid solutions based on the KTH method and remove–compute–restore technique with modification of Stokes formula are the same.
Identifying normal mammograms in a large screening population using artificial intelligence
Authors: Lång Kristina , Dustler Magnus , Dahlblom Victor , Åkesson Anna , Andersson Ingvar , Zackrisson Sophia
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify normal mammograms in a screening population.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 9581 double-read mammography screening exams including 68 screen-detected cancers and 187 false positives, a subcohort of the prospective population-based Malmö Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial, were analysed with a deep learning–based AI system. The AI system categorises mammograms with a cancer risk score increasing from 1 to 10. The effect on cancer detection and false positives of excluding mammograms below different AI risk thresholds from reading by radiologists was investigated. A panel of three breast radiologists assessed the radiographic appearance, type, and visibility of screen-detected cancers assigned low-risk scores (≤ 5). The reduction of normal exams, cancers, and false positives for the different thresholds was presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

If mammograms scored 1 and 2 were excluded from screen-reading, 1829 (19.1%; 95% CI 18.3–19.9) exams could be removed, including 10 (5.3%; 95% CI 2.1–8.6) false positives but no cancers. In total, 5082 (53.0%; 95% CI 52.0–54.0) exams, including 7 (10.3%; 95% CI 3.1–17.5) cancers and 52 (27.8%; 95% CI 21.4–34.2) false positives, had low-risk scores. All, except one, of the seven screen-detected cancers with low-risk scores were judged to be clearly visible.

Conclusions

The evaluated AI system can correctly identify a proportion of a screening population as cancer-free and also reduce false positives. Thus, AI has the potential to improve mammography screening efficiency.

Key Points

• Retrospective study showed that AI can identify a proportion of mammograms as normal in a screening population.

• Excluding normal exams from screening using AI can reduce false positives.
Impact of cardiac magnetic resonance on the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a 10-year experience with over 1000 patients
Authors: Śpiewak Mateusz , Kłopotowski Mariusz , Ojrzyńska Natalia , Petryka-Mazurkiewicz Joanna , Miłosz-Wieczorek Barbara , Mazurkiewicz Łukasz , Grzybowski Jacek , Bilińska Zofia , Witkowski Adam , Marczak Magdalena
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To assess the value of cardiac MRI in comparison to echocardiography in consecutive patients with previously diagnosed and new suspected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods

All MRI studies of patients with HCM or suspected disease performed at our centre within a 10-year time period were evaluated. Initial diagnoses (echocardiography-based) and final (MRI-based) diagnoses were compared in subgroups, and the discrepancies were recorded.

Results

A total of 1006 subjects with HCM or suspected HCM were identified (61% males, 39% females; median age, 49.1 years; interquartile range, 34.9–60.4). In 12 (2.2%) out of 550 patients with known HCM, MRI indicated a diagnosis other than HCM, including but not limited to the subaortic membrane (n = 1, 8.3%) or mild left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 5, 41.7%). Among all patients with suspected HCM (n = 456), MRI diagnosis was different from HCM in 5.3% (n = 24) of patients. In an additional 20.4% of patients (n = 93), no significant hypertrophy was present. In total, among patients with suspected HCM, MRI led to clear HCM diagnosis in 204 (44.7%) patients. Among patients with a history of uncontrolled hypertension suspected of having HCM, MRI aided in identifying cardiomyopathy in 47.9% of patients. This subgroup contained the largest proportion of patients with an ambiguous diagnosis, namely, 29.6% compared with 13.8% in the remaining groups of patients with suspected HCM (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

In a small but important group of patients with ultrasound-based HCM, cardiac MRI can diagnose previously unknown conditions and/or refute suspected cardiomyopathy. The diagnostic yield of MRI when compared to echocardiography in patients suspected of having HCM is 44.7%.

Key Points

• Out of 550 patients previously diagnosed with echocardiography but without magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as having hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), we diagnosed a different disease in 12 (2.2%) patients using MRI.

• Among patients with suspected HCM based on echocardiography, MRI led to clear HCM diagnosis in 44.7% of patients.

• In patients with a history of uncontrolled hypertension suspected, based on an echocardiogram, of having HCM, MRI aided in identifying cardiomyopathy in 47.9% of patients. This subgroup contained the largest proportion of patients with an ambiguous diagnosis.
Experimental visualization of aerodynamic sound sources using parallel phase-shifting interferometry
Authors: Tanigawa Risako , Yatabe Kohei , Oikawa Yasuhiro
Published: September 2020

Aerodynamic sound is one of the causes of noise in high-speed trains, automobiles, and wind turbines. To investigate the characteristics of aerodynamic sound generation, measurements around the sound sources are required. Aerodynamic sound is typically measured using microphones. However, microphones cannot capture the near-field of aerodynamic sound because they become new noise sources inside the air flow. To observe the aerodynamic sound near-field, we performed two-dimensional visualization of aerodynamic sound using an optical method. The optical method used in this research, parallel phase-shifting interferometry (PPSI), can detect the pressure within the measurement area as variations of the phase of light. PPSI can therefore visualize the pressure fields. We visualized both the sound pressure and flow components of the sound generated by flow around a square cylinder and flat plates. The visualized pressure fields are provided as animations in the online resources. Analysis of the sound and flow component time variations confirmed the correlations between them.

Graphic abstract
Differential clinical impact of chronic total occlusion revascularization based on left ventricular systolic function
Authors: Kook Hyungdon , Yang Jeong Hoon , Cho Jae Young , Jang Duck Hyun , Kim Min Sun , Lee Juneyoung , Lee Seung Hun , Joo Hyung Joon , Park Jae Hyoung , Hong Soon Jun , Kim Je Sang , Lee Hyun Jong , Choi Rak Kyeong , Choi Young Jin , Park Jin Sik , Song Young Bin , Choi Jin-Ho , Hahn Joo-Yong , Gwon Hyeon-Cheol , Lim Do-Sun , Choi Seung-Hyuk , Yu Cheol Woong
Published: September 2020

Background

The effect of chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization on survival remains controversial. Furthermore, data regarding outcome differences for CTO revascularization based on left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) are limited.

The differential outcomes from CTO revascularization in patients with preserved LVSF (PLVSF) versus reduced LVSF (RLVSF) were assessed.

Methods

A total of 2,173 CTO patients were divided into either a PLVSF (n = 1661, Ejection fraction ≥ 50%) or RLVSF (n = 512, < 50%) group. Clinical outcomes were compared between successful CTO revascularization (SCR) versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) within each group. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or non-fatal myocardial infarction. Inverse probability of treatment weighting for endpoint analysis and a contrast test for comparison of survival probability differences according to LVSF were used.

Results

Patients with RLVSF had a mean 37% ejection fraction (EF) and 19% had EF < 30%. The median follow-up duration was 1,138 days. Regardless of LVSF, the primary endpoint incidence was significantly lower in patients treated with SCR [RLVSF: 29.7% vs. 49.7%, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.62, p < 0.0001; PLVSF 7.3% vs. 16.9%, HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.54–0.93, p = 0.0019], which was mainly driven by a reduction in cardiac death. The difference in survival probability was greater and became more pronounced over time in patients with RLVSF than with PLVSF (1-year, p = 0.197; 3-years, p = 0.048; 5-years, p = 0.036).

Conclusions

SCR was associated with better survival benefit than OMT regardless of LVSF. The benefit was greater and became more significant over time in patients with RLVSF versus PLVSF.

Graphic abstract
The plate body: 3D ultrastructure of a facultative organelle of alveolar epithelial type II cells involved in SP-A trafficking
Authors: Mühlfeld Christian , Wrede Christoph , Molnár Viktor , Rajces Alexandra , Brandenberger Christina
Published: September 2020

Plate bodies are facultative organelles occasionally described in the adult lungs of various species, including sheep and goat. They consist of multiple layers of plate-like cisterns with an electron dense middle bar. The present study was performed to elucidate the three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of this organelle and its presumed function in surfactant protein A (SP-A) biology. Archived material of four adult goat lungs and PFA-fixed lung samples of two adult sheep lungs were used for the morphological and immunocytochemical parts of this study, respectively. 3D imaging was performed by electron tomography and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Immuno gold labeling was used to analyze whether plate bodies are positive for SP-A. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of plate bodies in three of four goat lungs and in both sheep lungs. Electron tomography and FIB-SEM characterized the plate bodies as layers of two up to over ten layers of membranous cisterns with the characteristic electron dense middle bar. The membranes of the plates were in connection with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and showed vesicular inclusions in the middle of the plates and a vesicular network at the sides of the organelle. Immuno gold labeling revealed the presence of SP-A in the vesicular network of plate bodies but not in the characteristic plates themselves. In conclusion, the present study clearly proves the connection of plate bodies with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of a vesicular network as part of the organelle involved in SP-A trafficking.
Impact of geostatistical reconstruction approaches on model calibration for flow in highly heterogeneous aquifers
Authors: Siena Martina , Riva Monica
Published: September 2020

Our study is aimed at assessing the extent at which relying on differing geostatistical approaches may affect characterization of the connectivity of geomaterials (orfacies) and, in turn, model calibration outputs in highly heterogeneous aquifers. We set our study within a probabilistic framework, by relying on a numerical Monte Carlo (MC) approach. The reconstruction of the spatial distribution of geomaterials and flow simulations are patterned after a field scenario corresponding to the aquifer system serving the city of Bologna (Northern Italy). Two collections of MC realizations of facies distributions, conditional on available lithological data, are generated through two alternative geostatistically-based techniques, i.e., Sequential Indicator and Transition-Probability simulation. Hydraulic conductivity values of the least- and most-conductive facies are estimated within each MC simulation in the context of a Maximum Likelihood (ML) approach by considering available piezometric data. We provide evidence that the choice of the facies reconstruction technique (1) impacts the degree of connectivity of facies whose proportions are close to the percolation threshold while (2) is not sensibly affecting the connectivity associated with facies whose proportions are much larger than the percolation threshold. By relying on the unique (lithological and hydrological) data-set at our disposal, we also explore the performance of ML-based model identification criteria to (1) discriminate amongst competitive facies reconstruction geostatistical models and (2) quantify the (posterior probabilistic) weight associated with each model. We then show that ML-based model averaging provides estimates of hydraulic heads which are slightly more in agreement with available data when compared to the best-performing realization in the T-PROGS set than considering its counterpart associated with the SISIM-based collection.
Mortality and thermal environment (UTCI) in Poland—long-term, multi-city study
Authors: Kuchcik Magdalena
Published: September 2020

The aim of the study was to establish to what extent extreme thermal conditions have changed and how they affected mortality, and what conditions favor lower mortality rates or conversely, higher mortality rates. Heat/cold exposure was measured with the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Daily mortality and meteorological data for 8 large Polish cities (Białystok, Gdańsk, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Poznań, Warszawa, and Wrocław) in the period 1975–2014 were analyzed. Generalized additive models were used to investigate the relationship between UTCI and mortality, and TBATS models were used for the evaluation of time series UTCI data. Most of the cities experienced a clear and statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05 decrease in cold stress days of 0.8–3.3 days/year and an increase in the frequency of thermal heat stress days of 0.3–0.6 days/year until 1992–1994. There was a clear difference as regards the dependence of mortality on UTCI between cities located in the “cooler” eastern part of Poland and the “warmer” central and western parts. “Cool” cities were characterized by a clear thermal optimum, approx. in the range of 5–30 °C UTCI, changing slightly depending on cause of death, age, or sex. For UTCI over 32 °C, in most of the cities except Gdańsk and Lublin, the relative risk of death (RR) rose by 10 to 20%; for UTCI over 38 °C, RR rose to 25–30% in central Poland. An increase in mortality on cold stress days was noted mainly in the “cool” cities: RR of total mortality increased even by 9–19% under extreme cold stress.
Long-term feasibility of the new sutureless excimer laser-assisted non-occlusive anastomosis clip in a pig model
Authors: de Boer B. , van Doormaal T. P. C. , Tulleken C. A. F. , Regli L. , van der Zwan A.
Published: September 2020

Background

High flow bypass surgery can be a last resort procedure for patients suffering from complex neurovascular pathology. Temporary occlusion of a recipient artery in these patients could result in debilitating neurological deficits. We developed a sutureless, mechanical anastomotic connection device, the SELANA clip (Sutureless Excimer Laser-Assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis clip: SEcl). In the present study, we aim to determine the long-term non-inferiority of the SEcl technique compared with historical data of the conventional ELANA anastomosis technique.

Methods

A total of 18 SEcl bypasses were created on the carotid artery in a porcine model in 6 different survival groups. Mean application times, flap retrieval rates, hemostasis, patency, flow, endothelialization, and remodeling were assessed.

Results

The mean application time of the SEcl anastomoses was 15.2 ± 9.6 min, which was faster compared with the conventional ELANA anastomoses. The flap retrieval rate of the SEcl anastomoses was 86% (32/37). Direct hemostasis was achieved in 89% (33/37) SEcl anastomoses. Patency in all surviving animals was 94% (17/18). Bypass flow after six months was 156.5 ± 24.7 mL/min. Full endothelialization of the SEcl pins was observed after 3 weeks.

Conclusion

The SEcl technique is not inferior to the ELANA technique regarding patency, flap retrieval rate, flow, and endothelialization. On the basis of a significantly shorter application time and superior hemostasis, the SEcl technique could be preferable over the ELANA technique. A pilot study in patients is a logical next step based on our current results.
African League Against Rheumatism (AFLAR) preliminary recommendations on the management of rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Akintayo Richard Oluyinka , Bahiri Rachid , El Miedany Yasser , Olaosebikan Hakeem , Kalla Asgar Ali , Adebajo Adewale Olukayode , Migowa Angela Nyangore , Slimani Samy , Koussougbo Ouma Devi , Kawther Ben Abdelghani , Akpabio Akpabio Akanimo , Ghozlani Imad , Dey Dzifa , Hassan Waleed A. , Govind Nimmisha , Makan Kavita , Mohamed Abdelgaffar , Genga Eugene Kalman , Ghassem Mohamed Khattry Ahmed , Mortada Mohamed , Hamdi Wafa , Wabi Moudjib O. , Tikly Mohammed , Ngandeu-Singwe Madeleine , Scott Christian
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

A task force comprising of 25 rheumatologists from the 5 regions of the continent was formed and operated through a hub-and-spoke model with a central working committee (CWC) and 4 subgroups. The subgroups championed separate scopes of the clinical questions and formulated preliminary statements of recommendations which were processed centrally in the CWC. The CWC and each subgroup met by several virtual meetings, and two rounds of voting were conducted on the drafted statements of recommendations. Votes were online-delivered and recommendations were pruned down according to predefined criteria. Each statement was rated between 1 and 9 with 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 representing disagreement, uncertainty and agreement, respectively. The levels of agreement on the statements were stratified as low, moderate or high according to the spread of votes. A statement was retired if it had a mean vote below 7 or a ‘low’ level of agreement.

Results

A total of 126 initial statements of recommendations were drafted, and these were reduced to 22 after the two rounds of voting.

Conclusions

The preliminary statements of recommendations will serve to guide the clinical practice of rheumatology across Africa amidst the changing practices and uncertainties in the current era of COVID-19. It is recognized that further updates to the recommendations will be needed as more evidence emerges.Key Points• AFLAR has developed preliminary recommendations for the management of RMDs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.• COVID-19 is an unprecedented experience which has brought new concerns regarding the use of some disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and these recommendations seek to provide guidelines to the African rheumatologists.• Hydroxychloroquine shortage has become rampart across Africa as the drug is being used as prophylaxis against COVID-19 and this may necessitate a review of treatment plan for some patients with RMDs.• Breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible if a woman is positive for SARS-CoV-2 as there is currently no evidence that the infection can be transmitted through breast milk.
Four different assessment practices: how university teachers handle the field of tension between professional responsibility and professional accountability
Authors: Jedemark Marie , Londos Mikael
Published: September 2020

Various efforts have been made in higher education in Sweden to meet the demand for more transparent governance and increased efficiency and quality. The purpose of this article is to investigate how university teachers handle standardized models for assessment and examination and orientate in this field of tension between professional responsibility and professional accountability. This study examines school-based courses in teacher education programs at a university and is based on observations from 20 seminars, 10 interviews with university teachers, and 11 focus group interviews with 55 students. The results show that university teachers interpret governing documents in different ways leading to a lack of equivalence. Within one course, four assessment practices are identified: governance as confirmation, governance with need for reinforcement, governance as distrust, and governance as others’ responsibility. This study reveals the variation in university teachers’ professional assessment practices that challenge and interplay with the context of a curriculum in different ways. Aspects of the university teachers’ professional obligation are under tension in the context of a more pronounced accountability. University teachers’ professional assessment practices emerges as fragmented in terms of what professional responsibility includes and what professional discretion involves.
Smoking inequality across genders and socio-economic positions. Evidence from Italian data
Authors: Di Novi Cinzia , Jacobs Rowena , Migheli Matteo
Published: September 2020

There has been a dearth of literature on smoking inequalities, in spite of its contribution to health inequalities. We exploit Italian individual-level data from repeated cross-sections of the annual household survey, “Aspects of Daily Life,” that was part of the Multipurpose Survey carried out by the Italian National Statistical Office (ISTAT) for the period 1999–2012 to identify the main socio-demographic characteristics that determine smoking inequalities. We use the Concentration Index to identify in which groups smoking is relatively more prevalent. We find that, among men, pro-rich inequality is driven by members of the lower socio-economic positions, while we observe the opposite for women. We encourage policymakers to address the issue of smoking inequalities, which the current policies have largely disregarded.
Hierarchical porous poly(l-lactic acid)/SiO2 nanoparticles fibrous membranes for oil/water separation
Authors: Lu Zihan , Zia Qasim , Meng Jinmin , Liu Ting , Song Jun , Li Jiashen
Published: September 2020

A two-step strategy has been developed to introduce silica nanoparticles into highly porous poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were firstly synthesized and then modified to be hydrophobic. After PLLA/SiNPs composite fibrous membranes were electrospun and collected, they were re-crystallized by acetone at room temperature for a few minutes. With the re-arrangement of PLLA chains, the nano-/micro-electrospun fibres were transformed from non-porous ones to be porous ones with high surface area. Consequently, SiNPs that were completely covered by PLLA before acetone treatment showed up at the fibre surface. Higher PLLA crystallization also enhanced the Young’s modulus and tensile strength (420 and 8.47 MPa) of the composite membrane. However, incorporation of SiNPs into porous PLLA membranes reduced their modulus and tensile strength (280.66 and 5.92 MPa), but an increase in strain to fracture (80.82%) was observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam SEM, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were applied to confirm the presence of SiNP in PLLA fibres. The presence of SiNPs inside and outside fibres enhances the hydrophobicity of PLLA/SiNPs nano-fibrous membrane as the water contact angle is greater than 150°. The oil absorption of these porous composite membranes was also tested using four different oils, which can reach the highest absorption capacity when the weight ratio of PLLA and SiNPs is 1:1. The flux of prepared membranes was investigated, and results indicated that SiNPs-loaded membrane effectively enhanced the flux (5200 Lm−2 h−1).
Relationships Between Religiosity and Naturally Occurring Social Interaction
Authors: Nezlek John B.
Published: September 2020

For 2 weeks, participants (282 US collegians) used a diary technique to describe the social interactions they had each day. These descriptions included how enjoyable the interaction was, how confident they felt, and how intimate the interaction was. They also completed a measure of Allport’s Intrinsic–Extrinsic religious orientation, the Christian Orthodoxy scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. A series of multilevel modeling analyses found that enjoyment and confidence in social interaction were positively related to the Extrinsic Personal factor of the IE scale, whereas intimacy of interactions was not related to any of these measures. These relationships remained after controlling for orthodox beliefs and depression. These results suggest that the extent to which people find comfort in religious beliefs and practices (e.g., prayer) is positively related to the quality of their daily social experiences.
Longitudinal Linkages Between Father and Mother Autonomy Support and Adolescent Problem Behaviors: Between-Family Differences and Within-Family Effects
Authors: Vrolijk Paula , Van Lissa Caspar J. , Branje Susan J. T. , Meeus Wim H. J. , Keizer Renske
Published: September 2020

Despite existing evidence on negative associations between parental autonomy support and children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behavior, it is difficult to draw conclusions on the effect that parents’ autonomy support has on children’s problem behavior. This study contributed to the existing literature by unraveling the temporal ordering of parental autonomy support and adolescent problem behavior. In addition, this study examined whether these linkages differed by parent’s sex, child sex, and reporter of autonomy support. Data of 497 adolescents (mean age at T1 = 13.03 years, percentage male = 56.9) and their parents from six annual waves of the Dutch study Research on Adolescent Development And Relationships (RADAR) were used. The results showed that stable differences between families explained most linkages between autonomy support and problem behavior. Adolescents with fewer problem behaviors have fathers (both child- and parent-reported) and mothers (only child-reported) who are more autonomy supportive. The results did not differ between boys and girls. The findings suggest that prior studies may have overstated the existence of a causal effect of parental autonomy support on adolescent problem behavior.
Lightweight U-Net for cloud detection of visible and thermal infrared remote sensing images
Authors: Zhang Jiaqiang , Li Xiaoyan , Li Liyuan , Sun Pengcheng , Su Xiaofeng , Hu Tingliang , Chen Fansheng
Published: September 2020

Accurate and rapid cloud detection is exceedingly significant for improving the downlink efficiency of on-orbit data, especially for the microsatellites with limited power and computational ability. However, the inference speed and large model limit the potential of on-orbit implementation of deep-learning-based cloud detection method. In view of the above problems, this paper proposes a lightweight network based on depthwise separable convolutions to reduce the size of model and computational cost of pixel-wise cloud detection methods. The network achieves lightweight end-to-end cloud detection through extracting feature maps from the images to generate the mask with the obtained maps. For the visible and thermal infrared bands of the Landsat 8 cloud cover assessment validation dataset, the experimental results show that the pixel accuracy of the proposed method for cloud detection is higher than 90%, the inference speed is about 5 times faster than that of U-Net, and the model parameters and floating-point operations are reduced to 12.4% and 12.8% of U-Net, respectively.
Objective consequentialism and the plurality of chances
Authors: Wroński Leszek
Published: September 2020

I claim that objective consequentialism (OC) faces a problem stemming from the existence in some situations of a plurality of chances relevant to the outcomes of an agent’s acts. I suggest that this phenomenon bears structural resemblance to the well-known Reference Class problem. I outline a few ways in which one could attempt to deal with the issue, suggesting that it is the higher-level chance that should be employed by OC.
Opioid and neuroHIV Comorbidity – Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Fitting Sylvia , McRae MaryPeace , Hauser Kurt F.
Published: September 2020

With the current national opioid crisis, it is critical to examine the mechanisms underlying pathophysiologic interactions between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and opioids in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent advances in experimental models, methodology, and our understanding of disease processes at the molecular and cellular levels reveal opioid-HIV interactions with increasing clarity. However, despite the substantial new insight, the unique impact of opioids on the severity, progression, and prognosis of neuroHIV and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are not fully understood. In this review, we explore, in detail, what is currently known about mechanisms underlying opioid interactions with HIV, with emphasis on individual HIV-1-expressed gene products at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. Furthermore, we review preclinical and clinical studies with a focus on key considerations when addressing questions of whether opioid-HIV interactive pathogenesis results in unique structural or functional deficits not seen with either disease alone. These considerations include, understanding the combined consequences of HIV-1 genetic variants, host variants, and μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and HIV chemokine co-receptor interactions on the comorbidity. Lastly, we present topics that need to be considered in the future to better understand the unique contributions of opioids to the pathophysiology of neuroHIV.
Heavy metal content and health risk assessment of a South-eastern Nigeria River
Authors: Anyanwu Emeka Donald , Nwachukwu Emeka David
Published: September 2020

An enormous deficiency lag exists in the demand and supply of potable water in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. The people have to pay lots of money to get potable water from water vendors, and those who cannot afford to pay patronize other unwholesome sources. Ossah River, one of the local drinking water sources, was studied to assess the heavy metal content and health risk assessment vis-a-vis its suitability for human consumption. Eight (8) heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Pb, Fe, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni) were assessed between January and June 2018 in 3 stations, using atomic absorption spectrometer, and compared with Nigerian drinking water standards. Some of the heavy metals evaluated exceeded standards and warranted health risk assessment. Health risk assessment for all the stations indicated that there is no particularly dangerous single heavy metal, but their cumulative effect, indicated by the hazard index (HI). HI for all the stations highly exceeded threshold value (1). This calls for concern for both adults and children exposed to the water through ingestion. The heavy metal contamination observed was geogenic, exacerbated by anthropogenic activities.
Erratum to: ‘Clinical impact of PSMA PET in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer; a review of the literature’
Authors: Wondergem Maurits , van der Zant Friso M. , Broos Wouter A. M. , Knol Remco J. J.
Published: September 2020

In the article ‘Clinical impact of PSMA PET in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer; a review of the literature’ (Tijdschrift voor Urologie, October 2020), the column headings of Tab. 3 are missing. The complete table is presented …
Basal roughness of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet in relation to flow speed and basal thermal state
Authors: Eisen Olaf , Winter Anna , Steinhage Daniel , Kleiner Thomas , Humbert Angelika
Published: September 2020

Basal motion of ice sheets depends in part on the roughness and material properties of the subglacial bed and the occurrence of water. To date, basal motion represents one of the largest uncertainties in ice-flow models. It is that component of the total flow velocity that can change most rapidly and can, therefore, facilitate rapid variations in dynamic behaviour. In this study, we investigate the subglacial properties of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet by statistically analysing the roughness of the bed topography, inferred from radio-echo sounding measurements. We analyse two sets of roughness parameters, one derived in the spatial and the other in the spectral domain, with two roughness parameters each. This enables us to compare the suitability of the four roughness parameters to classify the subglacial landscapes below the ice sheet. We further investigate the relationship of the roughness parameters with observed surface flow velocity and modelled basal temperatures of the ice sheet. We find that one of the roughness parameters, the Hurst exponent derived in the spatial domain, coincides with the thermal condition at the base of the ice sheet for slow flow velocities and varies with flow velocity.
Immediate smoothing and global solutions for initial data inL1×W1,2in a Keller–Segel system with logistic terms in 2D
Authors: Lankeit Johannes
Published: September 2020

This paper deals with the logistic Keller–Segel model\[ \begin{cases} u_t = \Delta u - \chi \nabla\cdot(u\nabla v) + \kappa u - \mu u^2, \\ v_t = \Delta v - v + u \end{cases} \]in bounded two-dimensional domains (with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions and for parameters χ,κ∈ ℝ andμ> 0), and shows that any nonnegative initial data (u0,v0) ∈L1×W1,2lead to global solutions that are smooth in$\bar {\Omega }\times (0,\infty )$.
Beneficial effect on serum cholesterol levels, but not glycaemic regulation, after replacing SFA with PUFA for 3 d: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Gaundal Line , Myhrstad Mari C. W. , Leder Lena , Byfuglien Marte Gjeitung , Gjøvaag Terje , Rud Ida , Retterstøl Kjetil , Holven Kirsten B. , Ulven Stine M. , Telle-Hansen Vibeke H.
Published: September 2020

Replacing intake of SFA with PUFA reduces serum cholesterol levels and CVD risk. The effect on glycaemic regulation is, however, less clear. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the short-term effect of replacing dietary SFA with PUFA on glycaemic regulation. Seventeen healthy, normal-weight participants completed a 25-d double-blind, randomised and controlled two-period crossover study. Participants were allocated to either interventions with PUFA products or SFA products (control) in a random order for three consecutive days, separated by a 1·5-week washout period between the intervention periods. Glucose, insulin and TAG were measured before and after an oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, fasting total cholesterol, NEFA and plasma total fatty acid profile were measured before and after the 3-d interventions. Fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, and TAG levels and fasting levels of NEFA and plasma fatty acid profile did not differ between the groups. However, replacing dietary SFA with PUFA significantly reduced total cholesterol levels by 8 % after 3 d (P = 0·002). Replacing dietary SFA with PUFA for only 3 d has beneficial cardio-metabolic effects by reducing cholesterol levels in healthy individuals.
China, India, and the social construction of technology in international society: The English School meets Science and Technology Studies
Authors: Stroikos Dimitrios
Published: September 2020

In recent years, there has been a growing scholarly interest in how International Relations theory can contribute to our understanding of the impact of technology on global politics, underpinned mainly by an engagement with Science and Technology Studies (STS). However, less attention has been paid to the ways in which international society shapes technology. Building on sociological and historical studies of science and technology, this article outlines one way through which international society has constituted technology by developing a synthetic account of the emergence of technological advancement as a ‘standard of civilisation’ in the nineteenth century that differentiated the ‘society of civilised states’ from non-European societies, with a particular focus on China and India. In doing so, this article also highlights how this process has had a powerful and enduring influence on Chinese and Indian conceptions about science and technology. Thus, by shifting the focus from how technology shapes global politics to how international society shapes technology, this article provides new insights into the relationship between technology, power, and modernity in an interdisciplinary context. It also offers a new way of thinking about the complex dynamics of today's global politics of technology.
Forest Dialect
Authors: Straw Michelle
Published: September 2020

The Forest of Dean (henceforth Forest) is one of the lesser known English Royal Forests. The area is considered locally to be a special place with a distinctive dialect. The Forest lies at the intersection of three regions: South East Wales, West Country, also known as the South West, and the West Midlands. The Forest is situated between two rivers: the River Severn to the East separates it from the rest of Gloucestershire; the River Wye to the West separates it from Wales. National borders and physical boundaries seem to play an important role in identity construction. ‘Identities matter most’ (Llamas & Watt, 2010: 17) to those communities ‘at the physical margins of the nation state’ (Llamas, 2010: 225). Such communities may engage in practices that differentiate their dialect and situate it at the centre of their own region.