bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hormonal factors in association with lung cancer among Asian women: A pooled analysis from the International Lung Cancer Consortium
Authors: Jin Kexin , Hung Rayjean J. , Thomas Sera , Le Marchand Loic , Matsuo Keitaro , Seow Adeline , Shen Hongbing , Kok Woon‐Puay , Yuan Jian‐Min , Wu Ming , Li Liming , Zhao Jin‐Kou , Zhang Zuo‐Feng
Published: November 2020

Two thousand sixty‐four lung cancer cases and 5342 controls were evaluated in this International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) pooled analysis on estrogen‐related hormonal factors and lung cancer in Asian women. Random effect of study site and fixed effect of age, smoking status, comprehensive smoking index and family history of lung cancer were adjusted for in the multivariable logistic regression models. We found that late onset of menarche conferred elevated odds of lung cancer with adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05, 1.45) for 17 years or older, compared to 14 years or younger. Late onset of menopause at 55 years old or older was associated with lung cancer with OR = 1.24 (95% CI = 1.02, 1.51). Nonnatural menopause was associated with an OR of 1.39 (95% CI = 1.13, 1.71). More live births showed reversed association with lung cancer (ORs of 5 or more live births: 0.71 (95% CI = 0.60, 0.84), compared to 0‐2 live births (Ptrend < 0.001). A later first child delivery seemed associated with an increased susceptibility: OR of 21 to 25 years old: 1.23 (95% CI = 1.06, 1.40), 26 or older: 1.27 (95% CI = 1.06, 1.52), Ptrend = .010). The use of oral contraceptives appeared to be protective with an OR of 0.69 (95% CI = 0.57, 0.83). Stronger for adenocarcinoma than squamous cell carcinoma, these relationships were not clearly modified by smoking status, probably because of lower prevalence of smoking. This is a first and largest pooling study of lung cancer among Asian women and the results suggested potential roles of hormone‐related pathways in the etiology of this disease.
Do female managers perform better? Evidence from Italian manufacturing firms
Authors: Castiglione Concetta , Infante Davide , Smirnova Janna
Published: November 2020

The aim of the paper is to test whether the presence of females on boards of directors influences firms productivity. The analysis is conducted on a large sample of Italian manufacturing firms extracted from the Analisi Informatizzata delle Aziende database for the years 2004 and 2012. Our results show that firm productivity is positively influenced by the presence of women managers in both post and pre‐crisis periods, revealing that peculiar features of female human capital matter in running manufacturing firms. The productivity differential is found to depend on geographical localization. Female managed firms located in the North–West regions significantly increase the positive firm productivity differential of the geographical area, while firms located in the South and Islands reduce the firm differential productivity gap registered by the area. Further investigation shows that female and mixed managed firms result to be more productive than male only managed firms. In the light of our findings we discuss the importance of policies that provide incentives for female inclusion in leading position of the firms.
Enhancing parental reflective functioning through early dyadic interventions: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Barlow Jane , Sleed Michelle , Midgley Nick
Published: November 2020

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) is an important predictor of infant attachment, and interventions that target parent–infant/toddler dyads who are experiencing significant problems have the potential to improve PRF. A range of dyadic interventions have been developed over the past two decades, some of which explicitly target PRF as part of their theory of change, and some that do not explicitly target PRF, but that have measured it as an outcome. However, no meta‐analytic review of the impact of these interventions has been carried out to date. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of dyadic interventions targeting parents of infant and toddlers, in improving PRF and a number of secondary outcomes. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted in which key electronic databases were searched up to October 2018. Eligible studies were identified and data extracted. Data were synthesised using meta‐analysis and expressed as both effect sizes and risk ratios. Six studies were identified providing a total of 521 participants. The results of six meta‐analyses showed a nonsignificant moderate improvement in PRF in the intervention group (standardised mean difference [SMD]: –0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] [–0.97, 0.04]) and a significant reduction in disorganised attachment (risk ratio: 0.50; 95% CI [0.27, 0.90]). There was no evidence for intervention effects on attachment security (odds ratio: 0.71; 95% CI [0.19, 2.64]), parent–infant interaction (SMD: –0.10; 95% CI [–0.46, 0.26]), parental depression (SMD: –1.55; 95% CI [–3.74, 0.64]) or parental global distress (SMD: –0.19, 95% CI [–3.04, 22.65]). There were insufficient data to conduct subgroup analysis (i.e. to compare the effectiveness of mentalisation‐based treatment with non‐mentalization‐based treatment interventions). Relational early interventions may have important benefits in improving PRF and reducing the prevalence of attachment disorganisation. The implications for future research are discussed.
Robust tuning and sensitivity analysis of stochastic integer andfractional‐order PIDcontrol systems: application ofsurrogate‐basedrobustsimulation‐optimization
Authors: Parnianifard Amir , Fakhfakh Mourad , Kotti Mouna , Zemouche Ali , Wuttisittikulkij Lunchakorn
Published: November 2020

This paper aims to make a trade‐off between performance and robustness in stochastic control systems with probabilistic uncertainties. For this purpose, we develop a surrogate‐based robust simulation‐optimization approach for robust tuning and analyzing the sensitivity of stochastic controllers. Kriging surrogate is combined with robust design optimization to construct a robust simulation‐optimization model in the class of dual response surfaces. Randomness in simulation experiments due to uncertainty is analyzed through bootstrapping technique by computing confidence regions for the estimation of Pareto frontier. Results confirmed a proper trade‐off between the model's performance with the measure of expected Integral Squared Error (ISE) and robustness against uncertainty in the plant's physical parameters. Finally, the proposed method is evaluated in terms of accuracy, computational cost, and simplicity particularly in comparison with some common existed techniques in the tuning of the Proportional‐Integral‐Derivative (PID) and Fractional‐Order PID (FOPID) controllers.
Surface modification of coconut shell activated carbon for efficient solid‐phase extraction of N‐nitrosodimethylamine from water
Authors: Astuti Maryani Paramita , Jasemizad Tahereh , Padhye Lokesh P.
Published: November 2020

A practical and cheap methodology in modifying commercial coconut shell activated carbon for solid‐phase extraction of N‐nitrosodimethylamine in water was developed through an understanding of activated carbon surface chemistry. In comparison with commercial activated carbon, extraction recoveries by activated carbon treated with sulfuric acid decreased by 50%, while those of activated carbon heated at 800°C improved by more than 100%. Acid treatment increased the oxygen content on the carbon's surface. In contrast, heat treatment decreased the surface oxygen content, resulting in a more hydrophobic surface, which favoured adsorption and extraction of N‐nitrosodimethylamine. The influence of different activated carbon sizes, amount of modified activated carbon, and pH on the N‐nitrosodimethylamine recoveries was assessed and compared with the commercial solid‐phase extraction cartridge. The recommended amount of powder activated carbon treated at 800°C was 3 g to yield an optimum recovery of 130%, which was superior to the commercial solid‐phase extraction cartridges. The method validation results confirmed the high accuracy, reproducibility, and precision of the method. The study indicated that chemisorption plays a significant role in the adsorption of N‐nitrosodimethylamine on activated carbon, and the optimization of its surface chemistry can enhance N‐nitrosodimethylamine adsorption/extraction from water.
Long‐Term Stability and Safety of the Soundbridge Coupled to the Round Window
Authors: Sprinzl Georg Mathias , Schoerg Philipp , Muck Stefanie , Jesenko Max , Speiser Sophie , Ploder Marlene , Edlinger Stefan Herwig , Magele Astrid
Published: November 2020

Objective

The objective of the study was to demonstrate the long‐term outcomes of patients implanted with the active middle ear implant (AMEI) Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) through coupling the floating mass transducer (FMT) to the round window (RW).

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated the short‐ and long‐term clinical performance (audiological outcomes) and safety (revisions/explantations) of the VSB coupled to the RW between 2013 and 2019 at the St. Pölten University Hospital, Austria. For the outcome analysis, the sample was divided into a short‐term examination group followed up for less than 12 months (<12 months) and a long‐term examination group followed up for more than 12 months (>12 months). Cumulative survival outcomes were separately analyzed for subjects with and without cholesteatoma.

Results

46 patients with an average long‐term follow‐up period of 31.43 months (13–75 months) were investigated. Complications requiring revision surgery were reported in total in seven patients with cholesteatoma (15.2%) and none in subjects without cholesteatoma (0%). Residual hearing was not affected by VSB surgery. Word understanding on the Freiburger monosyllabic speech test improved significantly at 65 dB (P < .0001) and 80 dB (P < .0001), and these outcomes were stable for long‐term follow up.

Conclusion

The VSB coupled to the RW is a safe implantation method for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. Hearing improvement was stable for the long‐term follow‐up up to 74 months. The revision rates are directly related to the underlying pathology of cholesteatoma (with radical cavity); thus, this special cohort requires additional counseling on potential complications.

Level of Evidence

4 (Case‐series) Laryngoscope, 131:E1434–E1442, 2021
Copolymerize Conventional Vinyl Monomers to Degradable and Water‐Soluble Copolymers with a Fluorescence Property
Authors: Yang Hongjun , Zhang Jiadong , Song Yiye , Jiang Li , Jiang Qimin , Xue Xiaoqiang , Huang Wenyan , Jiang Bibiao
Published: November 2020

In the copolymerization of acrylamide (Am) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), the initial product is a carbon chain polymer with hydroxyl and amide side groups. However, in the present work, these two conventional vinyl monomers are combined into a degradable heterochain copolymer by using a phosphazene base, t‐BuP4, as a catalyst. NMR not only confirms that the backbone of the resulting copolymer is composed of ester–ether units and amide units but also suggests that the resulted secondary amide group retains an active hydrogen and can further react with another olefin, which would result in branching or gelation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows a signal indicating decomposition at 205–509 °C, verifying the uniform composition of the sample. More interestingly, the synthesized copolymer can dissolve in water and exhibits aggregation‐enhanced emission (AEE). Additionally, the aqueous copolymer solution has a high selectivity and sensitivity for Ba2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ cations. Hence, it is believed that this method for constructing degradable polymers may offer innovative insights into polymer synthesis and application.
Thiol‐Bromo Click Reaction for One‐Pot Synthesis of Star‐Shaped Polymers
Authors: Beyer Valentin Peter , Cattoz Beatrice , Becer Caglar Remzi
Published: November 2020

Star‐shaped polymers have unique physical properties and they are sought after materials in industry. However, the ease of synthesis is essential for translation of these materials into large‐scale applications. Herein, a highly efficient synthetic method to prepare star‐shaped polymers by combination of Cu‐mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization (Cu‐RDRP) and thiol‐bromo click reaction is described. Well‐defined linear and block polymers with a very high bromine chain end fidelity are obtained via Cu‐RDRP and subsequently react with multi‐functional thiol compounds. High coupling efficiencies of larger than 90% are obtained owing to the quick and efficient reaction between thiols and alkyl bromides. Moreover, the arms of the obtained star‐shaped polymers are linked via thioether bonds to the core, making them susceptible for oxidative degradation.
Mechanochromism in Structurally Colored Polymeric Materials
Authors: Clough Jess M. , Weder Christoph , Schrettl Stephen
Published: November 2020

Mechanochromic effects in structurally colored materials are the result of deformation‐induced changes to their ordered nanostructures. Polymeric materials which respond in this way to deformation offer an attractive combination of characteristics, including continuous strain sensing, high strain resolution, and a wide strain‐sensing range. Such materials are potentially useful for a wide range of applications, which extend from pressure‐sensing bandages to anti‐counterfeiting devices. Focusing on the materials design aspects, recent developments in this field are summarized. The article starts with an overview of different approaches to achieve mechanochromic effects in structurally colored materials, before the physical principles governing the interaction of light with each of these materials types are summarized. Diverse methodologies to prepare these polymers are then discussed in detail, and where applicable, naturally occurring materials that inspired the design of artificial systems are discussed. The capabilities and limitations of structurally colored materials in reporting and visualizing mechanical deformation are examined from a general standpoint and also in more specific technological contexts. To conclude, current trends in the field are highlighted and possible future opportunities are identified.
Analysis ofq‐fractional implicit boundary value problems having Stieltjes integral conditions
Authors: Zada Akbar , Alam Mehboob , Riaz Usman
Published: November 2020

In this article, we make analysis of the implicitq‐fractional differential equations involving integral boundary conditions associated with Stieltjes integral and its corresponding coupled system. We are using some sufficient conditions to achieve the existence and uniqueness results for the given problems by applying the Banach contraction principle, Schaefer's fixed point theorem, and Leray–Schauder result of cone type. Moreover, we present different kinds of stability such as Hyers–Ulam stability, generalized Hyers–Ulam stability, Hyers–Ulam–Rassias stability, and generalized Hyers–Ulam–Rassias stability using the classical technique of functional analysis. At the end, the results are verified with the help of examples.
Compact electron spin resonance skin oximeter: Properties and initial clinical results
Authors: Cristea David , Wolfson Helen , Ahmad Rizwan , Twig Ygal , Kuppusamy Periannan , Blank Aharon
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Skin oxygen level is of significance for the diagnosis and treatment of many clinical problems, such as chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Furthermore, skin oxygen levels can be correlated to arterial oxygen partial pressure, thereby revealing potentially dangerous conditions such as hyperoxia (too much oxygen), which may occur in ventilated neonates. Traditionally, skin oxygen levels are measured using electrochemical methods and, more recently, also by fluorescence lifetime techniques. These approaches suffer from several drawbacks, rendering them suboptimal. The purpose of this work is to develop an electron spin resonance (ESR) ‐based method for monitoring oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in skin tissue.

Methods

A compact sensor for pulsed ESR is designed and constructed. Our ESR‐based method makes use of a unique exogenous paramagnetic spin probe that is placed on the skin in a special partially sealed sticker, and subsequently measuring its signal with the compact pulsed ESR sensor that includes a miniature magnet and a small S‐band (~2.3 GHz) microwave resonator. The inverse of the spin‐spin relaxation time (1/T2) measured by ESR is shown to be linearly correlated with pO2 levels.

Results

The sensor and its matching sticker were tested both in vitro and in vivo (with human subjects). Measured skin pO2 levels reached equilibrium after ~2‐3 h and were found to be comparable to those measured by continuous‐wave (CW) ESR using a large electromagnet.

Conclusions

A compact pulsed ESR sensor with a matching paramagnetic sticker can be used for pO2 monitoring of the skin tissue, similar to large bulky CW ESR systems.
Offloading framework for computation service in the edge cloud and core cloud: A case study for face recognition
Authors: Muslim Nasif , Islam Salekul , Grégoire Jean‐Charles
Published: November 2020

A fast rate of progress has allowed the proliferation of smartphones and eased their extensive presence in people's daily life. However, low processing speed and limited battery capacity have hindered improvements in the smartphone's computational capabilities. Offloading computational tasks to the cloud could solve this problem by enabling users to access these services over the Internet. Edge cloud computing has been recognized as an emerging field within the cloud computing paradigm, where computation servers are situated at the edge of the Internet to reduce network delay and traffic. Nevertheless, offloading tasks to the cloud is not always beneficial due to variable network conditions and increased processing costs. In this paper, a deep reinforcement learning‐based offloading framework has been presented that provides smartphones with the ability to make decisions for local processing in the smartphone or to offload processing tasks to the cloud (edge and/or core). Thus, a smartphone can minimize the combination of the processing time, energy consumption, and monetary cost and maximize the accuracy of face recognition as well. Simulation results under synthetic scenarios show that the proposed offloading framework can effectively adapt to the dynamic cloud computing and networking environment.
The Effect of Mentoring on School Attendance and Academic Outcomes: A Randomized Evaluation of the Check & Connect Program
Authors: Guryan Jonathan , Christenson Sandra , Cureton Ashley , Lai Ijun , Ludwig Jens , Schwarz Catherine , Shirey Emma , Turner Mary Clair
Published: November 2020

In response to budget problems, many urban school systems reduced resources for getting students to come to school, such as truancy officers. Chicago, for instance, in 1991, went from 150 truancy officers down to a total of zero. Is that a good idea? In this study, we explore the effects of increased support by a pro‐social adult, or “social capital,” delivered through a structured student monitoring and mentoring program called Check & Connect (C&C). We carried out a large‐scale randomized controlled trial with C&C in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to students in grades 1 to 8. Program participation decreased absences in grades 5 to 7 by 4.2 days, or 22.9 percent, but had no detectable effects on students in grades 1 to 4. We also did not find statistically significant effects on learning outcomes such as test scores or GPA, or any detectable spillovers to other students within the schools where the program was administered. The modest impacts per dollar spent, compared to previous evidence on either low‐cost “nudges” or relatively intensive, higher‐cost interventions, raise the possibility that, for very disadvantaged students, there may be decreasing returns that are then followed by increasing returns to program intensity for the problem of student disengagement.
Rear interface engineering of kesterite Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells by adding CuGaSe2 thin layers
Authors: Giraldo Sergio , Fonoll‐Rubio Robert , Jehl Li‐Kao Zacharie , Sánchez Yudania , Calvo‐Barrio Lorenzo , Izquierdo‐Roca Victor , Pérez‐Rodríguez Alejandro , Saucedo Edgardo
Published: November 2020

Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film technology has been thoroughly investigated during the last decade as a promising solution in the field of low‐cost, sustainable, and environmental‐friendly photovoltaic technologies. However, despite efforts to boost kesterite solar cells performance by numerous strategies, the efficiencies remain stagnant around 13%. Some commonly observed issues in this technology refer to recombination events due to the likely presence of defects and, largely in line with the latest, the presence of voids and poor morphologies at the rear interface. This work, partly inspired by the copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technology and the use of wide‐bandgap Ga‐rich region as back surface field (BSF), focuses on an innovative approach using ultrathin CuGa layers at the rear interface to promote the formation of wide‐bandgap CuGaSe2, acting as an efficient electron reflector or BSF, and to function as an effective interlayer improving the kesterite crystallinity at the back interface. Kesterite Cu2ZnSnSe4 devices fabricated with added CuGa layers show a general increase in photovoltaic parameters and a significantly enhanced collection efficiency compared with reference devices without CuGa. This strategy proves to be successful, for not only passivating but also for improving the Mo/kesterite interface morphology, preventing to a large extent the presence of voids at the back region of the absorber.
Influence of Particle Size of Explosive on Ignition Mechanism Under Low Velocity Impact
Authors: Guo Hongfu , Zhang Fan , Zhao Chengzhong , Zhang Zhao , Yuan Baohui
Published: November 2020

Drop‐weight impact experiments are performed on different particle size Octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX) granular explosives. The drop‐weight impact machine is equipped with the high‐speed photographic systems for obtaining a mechanical‐chemical image of the impact process. The experimental image shows that the small particles of 700 μm have melted for a long time and over a large area during the loading process. HMX particle size affects the ignition mechanism. For a single particle, the ignition mechanism changes from friction to viscous heating with the decrease of particle size. The ignition mechanism of 6000 μm and 1800 μm HMX particles is friction work. The ignition mechanism of HMX small particles of 700 μm includes friction work and viscous heat under drop weight impact.
Potential of algal metabolites for the development of broad‐spectrum antiviral therapeutics: Possible implications in COVID‐19 therapy
Authors: Sangtani Rimjhim , Ghosh Atreyee , Jha Hem C. , Parmar Hamendra Singh , Bala Kiran
Published: November 2020

Covid‐19 pandemic severely affected human health worldwide. Till October 19, 2020, total confirmed patients of COVID‐19 are 39,944,882, whereas 1,111,998 people died across the globe. Till to date, we do not have any specific medicine and/or vaccine to treat COVID‐19; however, research is still going on at war footing. So far vaccine development is concerned, here it is noteworthy that till now three major variants (named A, B, and C) of severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) have been recognized. Increased mutational rate and formation of new viral variants may increase the attrition rate of vaccines and/or candidate chemotherapies. Herbal remedies are chemical cocktails, thus open another avenue for effective antiviral therapeutics development. In fact, India is a large country, which is densely populated, but the overall severity of COVID‐19 per million populations is lesser than any other country of the world. One of the major reasons for the aforesaid difference is the use of herbal remedies by the Government of India as a preventive measure for COVID‐19. Therefore, the present review focuses on the epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of COVID‐19 and explores algal metabolites for their antiviral properties.
Exponential stability analysis of neural networks with a time‐varying delay via a generalized Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional method
Authors: Li Xu , Liu Haibo , Liu Kuo , Li Te , Wang Yongqing
Published: November 2020

As is known to all that the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional (LKF) method plays a significant role in deriving exponential stability criteria of neural networks with a time‐varying delay. However, when the LKF method is adopted, the condition that a functional is required for a neural network with a delay varying in a delay interval is so strong that it may be hard to be satisfied and lead to a conservative criterion. Therefore, a generalized LKF method is proposed by weakening the strong condition in this paper. Then, new exponential stability criteria are derived via applying the proposed method. Finally, the effectiveness of the derived criteria is verified by two numerical examples.
Vanadium Hexacyanoferrate Derived V‐Fe‐K Mixed Oxides as Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yuan Xuting , Li Xing
Published: November 2020

A new facile solvothermal method has been designed to fabricate a cyanide‐metal framework compound of vanadium hexacyanoferrate@rGO, which was then thermally converted into a three‐dimensional cubic structure of C/Fe2O3/K3V5O14. In this work, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) provides strength via a rich network structure for particles, enabling changes to the microstructure after calcination. The beneficial features of this nanostructure enhance its structural integrity to limit structural collapse during Li+ insertion/extraction. This has allowed the electrochemical performance of the C/Fe2O3/K3V5O14 electrode to be significantly improved. The electrode shows a reversible capacity of 322.6 mAh g−1 at a current density of 500 mA g−1 and high, unprecedented rate capabilities, delivering average capacities of 570, 456, and 343 mAh g−1 at 100, 200, and 500 mA g−1, respectively. These results indicate that these newly developed compounds can be promising anode materials for high‐performance LIBs.
Tax policy implications for a two‐engine growing economy
Authors: Wang Wei‐Neng , Liu Chia‐Ying , Chang Juin‐Jen
Published: November 2020

In an endogenous growth model with two engines of R&D and capital, we investigate the environment of “inclusive growth” for tax reallocations (tax increases or tax credits) to gain broader benefits in terms of promoting the overall GDP growth without an increase in income inequality. Our results show that a tax increase in the capital‐good sector can result in inclusive growth, boosting overall growth and reducing income inequality, provided that the status quo tax rate is not too high. Surprisingly, tax credits are not able to achieve such inclusive growth. While the GDP growth rises, a tax credit in the R&D sector not only increases income inequality but also decreases the aggregate employment, if the labor mobility cost between the final‐good and R&D/capital‐good sectors is relatively low. This provides a caution to policymakers given the fact that research tax credits have served as a common incentive to strengthen the R&D environment.
Adaptive Capacity to Mitigate Climate Variability and Food Insecurity of Rural Communities Along River Tana Basin, Kenya
Authors: Karienye David , Macharia Joseph
Published: November 2020

Climate variability is one of the leading natural threats and a root cause of food insecurity in the developing world, more so in Africa. It is a major impediment to the accomplishment of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Vision 2030 and Big Four agenda in the Kenyan context. The rise in occurrence and brutality of extreme events resulting from variability of climate including prolonged flooding and drought has become more pronounced in the relatively drier areas. This chapter presents a synthesis about rural communities in Garissa and Tana River Counties, Kenya. The key environmental conditions that face the rural communities in the two counties are prolonged drought and recurrent flooding events. The two conditions have resulted in various challenges facing the communities in these regions through low agricultural production (food and pastures), poor infrastructure, human displacement, and the resultant extreme poverty, overall food insecurity, and tough livelihoods. The problems have been exacerbated by lack of capacity by most of the community members to cushion themselves against these impacts. However, as the conditions continue to manifest themselves, the community members have also identified adaptive mechanisms that are best suited in the region including planting drought-resistant crop varieties, diversifying their livelihoods, embrace sustainable land use, and made efforts to plant trees. We, therefore, conclude that integrated information sharing including early warning alongside affordable and appropriate technologies and crop insurance could be an entry point in cushioning the local communities in the arid and semiarid lands (ASALs) against the extreme weather conditions experienced in the region.
Breaking supersymmetry with pure spinors
Authors: Legramandi Andrea , Tomasiello Alessandro
Published: November 2020

Abstract

For several classes of BPS vacua, we find a procedure to modify the PDEs that imply preserved supersymmetry and the equations of motion so that they still imply the latter but not the former. In each case we trace back this supersymmetry-breaking deformation to a distinct modification of the pure spinor equations that provide a geometrical interpretation of supersymmetry. We give some concrete examples: first we generalize the Imamura class of Mink6 solutions by removing a symmetry requirement, and then derive some local and global solutions both before and after breaking supersymmetry.
$$ T\overline{T} $$ and $$ J\overline{T} $$ deformations in quantum mechanics
Authors: Chakraborty Soumangsu , Mishra Amiya
Published: November 2020

Abstract

In this paper, we continue the study of $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

deformation in d = 1 quantum mechanical systems and propose possible analogues of $$ J\overline{T} $$
J

T
¯

deformation and deformation by a general linear combination of $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

and $$ J\overline{T} $$
J

T
¯

in quantum mechanics. We construct flow equations for the partition functions of the deformed theory, the solutions to which yields the deformed partition functions as integral of the undeformed partition function weighted by some kernels. The kernel formula turns out to be very useful in studying the deformed two-point functions and analyzing the thermodynamics of the deformed theory. Finally, we show that a non-perturbative UV completion of the deformed theory is given by minimally coupling the undeformed theory to worldline gravity and U(1) gauge theory.
Massivste epigastrische Schmerzen bei einem 59-jährigen Patienten
Authors: Welland S. , Janssen C. , Ringe K. I. , Höglinger G. , Manns M. P. , Mederacke Ingmar
Published: November 2020

Abdominelle Schmerzen sind oft Konsultationsanlass in Arztpraxen und Notaufnahmen. Die häufigsten Differenzialdiagnosen lassen sich mit gut verfügbarer, kosteneffektiver und risikoarmer Diagnostik (Laboruntersuchungen, Sonographie, Gastroskopie) bestätigen. Zum Ausschluss seltener Ursachen, wie kleiner solider oder hämatologischer Malignome, Stoffwechselstörungen oder Polyneuropathien unterschiedlichster Genese, kann eine erweiterte Diagnostik erforderlich sein. Im Folgenden stellen wir den Fall eines Patienten mit massivsten epigastrischen Beschwerden infolge einer Neuroborreliose vor und rekapitulieren die diagnostischen Schritte zur Abklärung des abdominellen Schmerzes.
Lattice shells composed of two families of curved Kirchhoff rods: an archetypal example, topology optimization of a cycloidal metamaterial
Authors: Giorgio Ivan
Published: November 2020

A nonlinear elastic model for nets made up of two families of curved fibers is proposed. The net is planar prior to the deformation, but the equilibrium configuration that minimizes the total potential energy can be a surface in the three-dimensional space. This elastic surface accounts for the stretching, bending, and torsion of the constituent fibers regarded as a continuous distribution of Kirchhoff rods. A specific example of fiber arrangement, namely a cycloidal orthogonal pattern, is examined to illustrate the predictive abilities of the model and assess the limit of applicability of it. A numerical micro–macro-identification is performed with a model adopting a standard continuum deformable body at the level of scale of the fibers. A few finite element simulations are carried out for comparison purposes in statics and dynamics, performing modal analysis. Finally, a topology optimization problem has been carried out to change the macroscopic shear stiffness to enlarge the elastic regime and reduce the risk of damage without excessively losing bearing capacity.
The impact of demographic, clinical, genetic, and imaging variables on tau PET status
Authors: Ossenkoppele Rik , Leuzy Antoine , Cho Hanna , Sudre Carole H. , Strandberg Olof , Smith Ruben , Palmqvist Sebastian , Mattsson-Carlgren Niklas , Olsson Tomas , Jögi Jonas , Stormrud Erik , Ryu Young Hoon , Choi Jae Yong ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   for the PREVENT-AD research group, Boxer Adam L. , Gorno-Tempini Maria L. , Miller Bruce L. , Soleimani-Meigooni David , Iaccarino Leonardo , La Joie Renaud , Borroni Edilio , Klein Gregory , Pontecorvo Michael J. , Devous Michael D. , Villeneuve Sylvia , Lyoo Chul Hyoung , Rabinovici Gil D. , Hansson Oskar
Published: November 2020

Purpose

A substantial proportion of amyloid-β (Aβ)+ patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are tau PET–negative, while some clinically diagnosed non-AD neurodegenerative disorder (non-AD) patients or cognitively unimpaired (CU) subjects are tau PET–positive. We investigated which demographic, clinical, genetic, and imaging variables contributed to tau PET status.

Methods

We included 2338 participants (430 Aβ+ AD dementia, 381 Aβ+ MCI, 370 non-AD, and 1157 CU) who underwent [18F]flortaucipir (n = 1944) or [18F]RO948 (n = 719) PET. Tau PET positivity was determined in the entorhinal cortex, temporal meta-ROI, and Braak V-VI regions using previously established cutoffs. We performed bivariate binary logistic regression models with tau PET status (positive/negative) as dependent variable and age, sex, APOEε4, Aβ status (only in CU and non-AD analyses), MMSE, global white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and AD-signature cortical thickness as predictors. Additionally, we performed multivariable binary logistic regression models to account for all other predictors in the same model.

Results

Tau PET positivity in the temporal meta-ROI was 88.6% for AD dementia, 46.5% for MCI, 9.5% for non-AD, and 6.1% for CU. Among Aβ+ participants with AD dementia and MCI, lower age, MMSE score, and AD-signature cortical thickness showed the strongest associations with tau PET positivity. In non-AD and CU participants, presence of Aβ was the strongest predictor of a positive tau PET scan.

Conclusion

We identified several demographic, clinical, and neurobiological factors that are important to explain the variance in tau PET retention observed across the AD pathological continuum, non-AD neurodegenerative disorders, and cognitively unimpaired persons.
Comparison of MRI, [18F]FDG PET/CT, and 99mTc-UBI 29-41 scintigraphy for postoperative spondylodiscitis—a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Paez Diana , Sathekge Mike M. , Douis Hassan , Giammarile Francesco , Fatima Shazia , Dhal Anil , Puri Sunil K. , Erba Paola A. , Lazzeri Elena , Ferrando Rodolfo , Filho Paulo Almeida , Magboo Vincent Peter , Morozova Olga , Núñez Rodolfo , Pellet Olivier , Mariani Giuliano
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Postoperative infection still constitutes an important complication of spine surgery, and the optimal imaging modality for diagnosing postoperative spine infection has not yet been established. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to assess the diagnostic performance of three imaging modalities in patients with suspected postoperative spine infection: MRI, [18F]FDG PET/CT, and SPECT/CT with 99mTc-UBI 29-41.

Methods

Patients had to undergo at least 2 out of the 3 imaging modalities investigated. Sixty-three patients enrolled fulfilled such criteria and were included in the final analysis: 15 patients underwent all 3 imaging modalities, while 48 patients underwent at least 2 imaging modalities (MRI + PET/CT, MRI + SPECT/CT, or PET/CT + SPECT/CT). Final diagnosis of postoperative spinal infection was based either on biopsy or on follow-up for at least 6 months. The MRI, PET/CT, and SPECT/CT scans were read blindly by experts at designated core laboratories. Spine surgery included metallic implants in 46/63 patients (73%); postoperative spine infection was diagnosed in 30/63 patients (48%).

Results

Significant discriminants between infection and no infection included fever (P = 0.041), discharge at the wound site (P < 0.0001), and elevated CRP (P = 0.042). There was no difference in the frequency of infection between patients who underwent surgery involving spinal implants versus those who did not. The diagnostic performances of MRI and [18F]FDG PET/CT analyzed as independent groups were equivalent, with values of the area under the ROC curve equal to 0.78 (95% CI: 0.64–0.92) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64–0.98), respectively. SPECT/CT with 99mTc-UBI 29-41 yielded either unacceptably low sensitivity (44%) or unacceptably low specificity (41%) when adopting more or less stringent interpretation criteria. The best diagnostic performance was observed when combining the results of MRI with those of [18F]FDG PET/CT, with an area under the ROC curve equal to 0.938 (95% CI: 0.80–1.00).

Conclusion

[18F]FDG PET/CT and MRI both possess equally satisfactory diagnostic performance in patients with suspected postoperative spine infection, the best diagnostic performance being obtained by combining MRI with [18F]FDG PET/CT. The diagnostic performance of SPECT/CT with 99mTc-UBI 29-41 was suboptimal in the postoperative clinical setting explored with the present study.
Application of cesium hydroxide monohydrate for ring opening polymerization of monosubstituted oxiranes: characterization of synthesized polyether-diols
Authors: Grobelny Zbigniew , Jurek-Suliga Justyna , Golba Sylwia
Published: November 2020

Cesium hydroxide monohydrate (CsOH·H2O) activated by cation complexing agents, i.e., 18C6 or C222 was applied as initiator of monosubstituted oxiranes polymerization. Propylene oxide (PO), 1,2-butylene oxide (BO), styrene oxide (SO) and some glycidyl ethers were used as monomers. All processes were carried out in tetrahydrofuran solution at room temperature. Such polymers, as PPO-diols, PBO-diols and PSO-diols, are unimodal and have molar masses Mn = 2000–5100. Their dispersities are rather high (Mw/Mn = 1.17–1.33). Moreover, PPO-diols and PSO-diols are not contaminated by monools with unsaturated starting groups. Poly(glycidyl ether)s are, in general, polymodal. For example, poly(isopropyl glycidyl ether)-diols are bi- or trimodal, whereas poly(allyl glycidyl ether)-diols possess two or even six fractions. Molar masses of main fraction are 4200–6400, and the second fraction is much lower, namely 600–2600. Dispersities of some fractions are very low (Mw/Mn = 1.01–1.07). Polymodality of polymers obtained was discussed in terms of the formation of two or more species propagating with different rate constants.

Graphic abstract
Impact of anxiety levels on the perception of pain in patients undergoing office hysteroscopy
Authors: Sorrentino Felice , Petito Annamaria , Angioni Stefano , D’Antonio Francesco , Severo Melania , Solazzo Maria Cristina , Tinelli Raffaele , Nappi Luigi
Published: November 2020

Objective

This study aimed at assessing the impact of anxiety on pain perception during hysteroscopy and to highlight the possible contribution of factors related to pain perception.

Materials and methods

104 women with indication for office hysteroscopy fullfilled anonymous self-report questionnaires during the waiting time, before the procedure. The first self-report questionnaire included general patient information and an overall assessment of the degree of satisfaction with the information received before the procedure. The level of pre-procedural anxiety was measured through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI-Y1 (state anxiety). The perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The intensity of pain during the procedure and 20 min later was assessed with VAS score.

Results

The average waiting time was of 192.33 ± 91 min. 59 patients (56.7%) performed the examination without analgesia while 45 women (43.3%) required analgesia. 28 women (27%) experienced mild pain, 34 (33%) moderate pain and 42 (40%) severe pain. The patients who performed the procedure without analgosedation had an average STAI-Y1 score of 44.81 ± 1.20, compared to women who required analgosedation (average score of 49.40 ± 1.64). The perceived level of stress was also associated with the use of analgosedation. Patients who did not request any anesthetic intervention obtained a PSS average score of 16.66 ± 0.75, compared to the subgroup with anesthesia (score of 19.76 ± 0.90).

Conclusions

Anxiety represents a key element for the success of ambulatory hysteroscopy. The management of anxiety can reduce the request for analgesia with a consequent optimization of time, costs and safety.
Phosphorescence of thermally altered human bone
Authors: Krap Tristan , Busscher Loes , Oostra Roelof-Jan , Aalders Maurice C. G. , Duijst Wilma
Published: November 2020

Bone has photoluminescent characteristics that can aid the analysis of thermally altered human skeletal remains as part of the forensic anthropological investigation. Photoluminescence stands collectively for fluorescence and phosphorescence. Because the difference in lifetime between fluorescence and phosphorescence is usually in the range of nano- to microseconds, it is only possible to visually determine whether bone phosphoresces when the lifetime is long enough to be observed. For this study, a distinction was made between long-decay and short-decay phosphorescence. So far, it was unknown whether (thermally altered) human bone emits long-decay phosphorescence after being illuminated and, thus, whether phosphorescence contributes to the observed photoluminescence. If so, whether the observable phosphorescence is dependent on temperature, exposure duration, surrounding medium, bone type, skeletal element, and excitation light and could aid the temperature estimation of heated bone fragments. In this study, bone samples were subjected to heat in the range of from room temperature to 900 °C for various durations in either air or adipose as surrounding medium. In addition, different skeletal elements of a human cadaver were recollected after cremation in a crematorium. Both sample collections were illuminated with light of different bandwidths and visually inspected for phosphorescence and photoluminescence. The samples were scored by means of a scoring index for the intensity of long-decay phosphorescence and photographically documented. The results show that thermally altered human bone fragments do phosphoresce. The observed phosphorescence is more dependent on temperature than on exposure duration, surrounding medium or skeletal element. Of the used wavelength bands, ultraviolet light provided the most temperature-related information, showing changes in both phosphorescence intensity and emission spectrum. Long-decay phosphorescence and fluorescence with short-decay phosphorescence coincide; however, there are also temperature-dependent differences. It is therefore concluded that phosphorescence contributes to the observable photoluminescence and that the visibly observable phosphorescent characteristics can aid the temperature estimation of cremated human skeletal fragments.
Parameter identification for phase-field modeling of fracture: a Bayesian approach with sampling-free update
Authors: Wu T. , Rosić B. , De Lorenzis L. , Matthies H. G.
Published: November 2020

Phase-field modeling of fracture has gained popularity within the last decade due to the flexibility of the related computational framework in simulating three-dimensional arbitrarily complicated fracture processes. However, the numerical predictions are greatly affected by the presence of uncertainties in the mechanical properties of the material originating from unresolved heterogeneities and the use of noisy experimental data. The objective of this work is to apply the Bayesian approach to estimate bulk and shear moduli, tensile strength and fracture toughness of the phase-field model, thus improving accuracy of the simulations with the help of experimental data. Conventional approaches for estimating the Bayesian posterior probability density function adopt sampling schemes, which often require a large amount of model estimations to achieve the desired convergence, thus resulting in a high computational cost. In order to alleviate this problem, we employ a more efficient approach called sampling-free linear Bayesian update, which relies on the evaluation of the conditional expectation of parameters given experimental data. We identify the mechanical properties of cement mortar byconditioningon the experimental data of the three-point bending test (observations) in an online and offline manner. In the online approach the parameter values are sequentially updated on the fly as the new experimental information comes in. In contrast, the offline approach is used only when the whole history of experimental data is provided once the experiment is performed. Both versions of estimation are discussed and compared by validating the phase-field fracture model on an unused set of experimental data.
Beyond the Economic Gaze: Childbearing During and After Recessions in the Nordic Countries
Authors: Comolli C. L. , Neyer G. , Andersson G. , Dommermuth L. , Fallesen P. , Jalovaara M. , Jónsson A. Klængur , Kolk M. , Lappegård T.
Published: November 2020

During the 2010s, fertility rates fell across the Nordic region. The onset of these declines seems linked to the Great Recession of 2008–2009, but their continuation cannot easily be linked to subsequent economic change. The 1990s, too, brought episodes of economic crises to the Nordic region that were followed by different degrees of fertility decline. In this study, we provide an empirical overview of parity-, age- and education-specific fertility developments in the five Nordic countries in the wake of the economic recessions in 2008 and the early 1990s, respectively. We demonstrate a high degree of heterogeneity in fertility developments across countries after 1990, whereas after 2008, the trends are much more similar across the five countries. Likewise, the educational differences in birth hazards that characterized the developments after 1990 were much smaller in the initial years after 2008–2009. This reversal from heterogeneity to homogeneity in the fertility response to recessions calls for an expansion of theories on the cyclicality of fertility in relation to uncertainty and economic and social change. In our discussion, we consider the role of a set of factors that also incorporates the state, crisis management, and perceptions of economic and welfare uncertainty.