bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiometabolic Effects of High‐Intensity Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Exercise after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Solinsky Ryan , Mercier Hannah , Picard Glen , Taylor J. Andrew
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The prevalence of cardiometabolic disease following spinal cord injury is known to be high. However, it is unknown whether engaging in high‐intensity exercise, which is advocated by recent guidelines, is beneficial or feasible for these individuals.

Objective

To assess the effects of high‐intensity, whole‐body exercise on the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Design

Combination of a randomized controlled trial and an open label intervention study of functional electrical stimulation legs plus arms rowing.

Setting

Outpatient academic rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

Forty individuals with spinal cord injury, with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairments scales A‐D and neurological levels of injury C1‐T12.

Intervention

Six months of high‐intensity, hybrid‐functional electrical stimulation rowing.

Main Outcome Measures

Change in VO2max, serum lipids, and insulin resistance, prevalence of cardiometabolic disease.

Results

Individuals averaged 42.1 ± 22.0 minutes of hybrid‐functional electrical stimulation rowing a week over an average of 1.69 sessions per week over the 6 months of intervention. This amounted to an average of 170.9 ± 100 km rowed, at a mean heart rate of 82.7% of individualized maximum. Only one of 40 individuals met current exercise guidelines for the full 6 months. VO2max increased significantly (P < .001), yet prevalence of cardiometabolic disease did not change significantly (decrease from 22.5% to 20%, P = .70). Hemoglobin A1c did decrease significantly over this time (P = .01), although serum lipids and fasting glucose/insulin levels were unchanged. In exploratory subanalyses assessing individuals injured ≤12 months, those with more chronic injuries decreased their triglyceride‐to‐high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (P = .04), a marker of cardiac mortality. Stratifying by neurological level of injury, individuals with paraplegia had worsened low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) level (P = .02) and total cholesterol‐to‐HDL ratio (P = .04) over the 6‐month intervention.

Conclusions

Sustained high‐intensity exercise with hybrid functional electrical stimulation rowing does not decrease the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease after spinal cord injury.
Biodegradable polymers as carriers for tuning the release and improve the herbicidal effectiveness of Dittrichia viscosa plant organic extracts
Authors: Serino Nadia , Boari Angela , Santagata Gabriella , Masi Marco , Malinconico Mario , Evidente Antonio , Vurro Maurizio
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

The organic extracts (OEs) of Dittrichia viscosa, a ruderal plant common in the Mediterranean regions, proved to have herbicidal properties. In order to improve OE effectiveness and to develop novel eco‐friendly bioherbicidal products, different amounts of OE were included in poly(butylene succinate)‐ and polycaprolactone‐based films (PBS and PCL, respectively). Particular attention was given to the study of interactions between the polymers and OEs, with a deep spotlight concerning the influence of OEs on structural, morphological and thermal properties of both polymers, in order to assess the OE releasing kinetics from the matrices and its tuned herbicidal action against seeds.

RESULTS

The bioassays carried out on Lepidium sativum and Phelipanche ramosa seeds evidenced a more controlled and effective OE release by PBS than PCL, and a longer lasting efficacy by the polymers with a higher OE content. The chemical–physical analyses were performed on films before and after biological assays. The thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that OE was a thermal stabilizer of the polymer; the presence of OE and polymer separated degradative kinetics suggested that only a partial and functional miscibility between polymers and OE occurred. The morphological analysis confirmed the good OE dispersion between PBS and PCL molecular chains. Infrared spectroscopy highlighted the enhanced hydrolysed structure of the doped polymers after the bioassays. These outcomes well matched the quantitative information outlined by release kinetics.

DISCUSSION

The use of biodegradable polymers allows the effectiveness and tuning of the release of the formulated bioactive compounds to be improved. The easy‐to‐obtain and easy‐to‐formulate OE could become a suitable and environmentally friendly instrument in weed management programmes.
Tailorable Dielectric Performance of Niobium‐Modified Poly(hydridomethylsiloxane) Precursor‐Derived Ceramic Nanocomposites
Authors: Thiyagarajan Ganesh Babu , Koroleva Ekaterina , Filimonov Alexey , Vakhrushev Sergey , Kumar Ravi
Published: October 2020

The low‐frequency dielectric behavior of in situ crystallized and stabilized nanocrystalline t‐NbO2 in amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramic nanocomposites derived from niobium‐modified poly(hydridomethylsiloxane) (PHMS) is reported. Commercially available PHMS is modified using Nb(OC2H5)5 via chemical and mechanical mixing route. It is observed that the synthesis route and heat‐treatment temperatures significantly affect the crystallization of the ceramic phases, where c‐NbC and t‐NbO2 in amorphous SiOC are formed through chemical and mechanical modification route, respectively. The variation in dielectric permittivity and loss at room temperature with respect to ceramic phases is comprehensively investigated. In contrast to amorphous SiOC ceramics derived from PHMS (ε′ = 100.0 at 1 Hz), t‐NbO2 in amorphous SiOC ceramic exhibits colossal dielectric permittivity (ε′ = 5.0 × 105 at 1 Hz) with low loss (tan δ < 3.0). This is attributed to an interfacial charge polarization and in situ growth of insulator/semiconductor/insulator ceramic phases in amorphous SiOC ceramic nanocomposites.
Accurate, simple equation for saturated vapour pressure over water and ice
Authors: Ambaum Maarten H. P.
Published: October 2020

We present and assess a simple equation for saturated vapour pressure over water and ice. The equation does not rely on an explicit integration of the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, but instead uses the equality of the Gibbs functions of the vapour and the liquid or ice in equilibrium. The resulting equation is simple, physically consistent with standard thermodynamic assumptions, uses only basic physical parameters, and is at least as accurate as commonly used empirical fits. It is further shown that the finite volume of liquid water has a negligible effect on the vapour pressure. The main variation from accurate tabulated data results from the variation of vapour and liquid isobaric heat capacities. Nevertheless, it is shown that, for the purpose of accurate calculation of saturated vapour pressure, this can usually be ignored.
Observations regarding Lake Sturgeon spawning below a hydroelectric generating station on a large river based on egg deposition studies
Authors: Gillespie Mark A. , McDougall Craig A. , Nelson Patrick A. , Sutton Thomas , MacDonell Donald S.
Published: October 2020

Spawning behaviour of the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in large rivers is poorly understood, complicating the approach to fish‐friendly hydroelectric design and mitigation. In 2006, dam safety concerns prompted the need to modernize the spillway infrastructure of the 100‐year old Pointe du Bois Generating Station on the Winnipeg River, Manitoba. The associated regulatory process provided an opportunity to study Lake Sturgeon spawning in a location characterized by water depths >5 m, high velocities, and hydraulic instability. Over six spawning periods (2007–2012), a wide range of flow conditions occurred, and spawning was documented using egg mats in both the powerhouse tailrace and downstream of the spillway rapids. Herein, we consider “….the preferential utilization by sturgeon of certain ranges of the physical variables studied, but within habitats considered favourable for the reproduction of the species” conclusion forwarded by La Haye et al. as our working hypothesis. Overall, 27,362 of 30,085 (90.1%) Lake Sturgeon eggs were captured during the primary spawning intervals, defined based on 6‐day annual periods encompassing the date of peak deposition. Of the 2,200 mats retrieved, 74.4% captured 0 eggs, 12.0% captured 1–5 eggs, 5.2% captured 6–25 eggs, 6.1% captured 26–99 eggs, and just 2.2% captured ≥100 eggs (high‐yield). Data were examined in relation to status‐quo habitat variables (depth, velocity, and substrate), as well as two additional variables hypothesized to have predictive power: distance from physical and/or energetic barriers and hydraulic complexity. Distance‐based analyses revealed upstream to downstream redistribution of eggs via flow. Spawning (as inferred based on high‐yield mats) was spatially discrete during each spawning period as opposed to well‐distributed among habitats broadly considered to be suitable for the species. We suggest that the current‐edges located proximal to physical and/or energetic barriers (i.e., at the upstream extent of usable habitat) drive Lake Sturgeon spawning site selection in large rivers, and advise caution prior to making fine‐scale inferences when only small quantities of Lake Sturgeon eggs are captured.
Clover plot: Versatile visualization in nonparametric classification*
Authors: Dvořák Jiří , Hudecová Šárka , Nagy Stanislav
Published: October 2020

A versatile visualization tool that aggregates several classification techniques is proposed and studied. In the clover plot we combine four complementary classifiers—the depth‐depth plot, the bagdistance plot, an approach based on the illumination, and the classical diagnostic plot based on Mahalanobis distances. An interactive R implementation of this tool, including several model examples of its use, is freely available online.
A Single‐Source Precursor Route toward Small‐Sized Nickel Particles Embedded into SiO2 Sheet as Magnetic Separable Catalyst
Authors: Xue Mei , Ma Ruyun , Zhou Xiaoguang , Tian Chungui
Published: October 2020

A single‐source precursor route is presented to prepare small‐sized Ni particles (∼5 nm) uniformly embedded into SiO2 sheet (Ni/SiO2). The synthetic process involved the coordination of APTES (3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane) with Ni2+ to form Ni−Si precursor in high yield, followed by pyrolysis under NH3 atmosphere. During the heating, the Si component in the Ni−Si precursor was transformed into SiO2, which could restrict the in‐situ generated Ni from aggregation, resulting in the formation of the small‐sized Ni particles. Small size is conducive to promoting the catalytic performance, and meanwhile SiO2 protection plays a vital role in improving stability. During aromatic nitro reduction, Ni/SiO2 shows excellent catalytic performance, which can be separated conveniently by an external magnet after use. The route is indicative of designing other catalysts protected by SiO2 due to the versatile coordination ability of APTES with other metal ions (Fe, Co, Cu, etc).
Recent Advances in 1,2,4‐Triazole Scaffolds as Antiviral Agents
Authors: El‐Sebaey S. A.
Published: October 2020

In recent years, severe viral infections have emerged, and antiviral chemotherapeutic agents are not adequately effective in curing these infections, leading to serious human diseases and loss of life. Consequently, a novel antiviral is urgently needed, which undoubtedly essential for the therapy of various fatal and debilitating viral infections. 1,2,4‐Triazole derivatives occupy a pivotal position in modern medicinal chemistry and have been incorporated in numerous clinical drugs, including antiviral drugs. To my best knowledge, there are few review articles exclusively handling 1,2,4‐triazole scaffold with the antiviral potential. This review aims to figure out recent perspectives and advances of 1,2,4‐triazole nucleus roles in various kinds of antiviral agents over the past decade, with some examples of rational design and some structure‐activity relationships. This review will hopefully provide perception into especially powerful compounds as lead structures and help in the rational design and development of novel 1,2,4‐triazole‐based compounds with strong anti‐virus efficacy.
A New Magnetically Retrievable Porous Supported Catalyst for The Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Coupling Reaction
Authors: Rahimi Leila , Mansoori Yagoub , Nuri Ayat , Esquivel Dolores
Published: October 2020

Magnetic mesoporous silica composite (MNP@SiO2‐SBA) was obtained via embedding magnetite nano‐particles (MNPs) between SBA‐15 channels. It was functionalized with N‐(3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)picolinamide (TMSP‐PCA) and then complexed with Pd(II). The obtained supported Pd(II) catalyst (MNP@SiO2‐SBA‐PCA) was characterized by conventional methods. The prepared magnetic catalyst showed high activity in the Suzuki‐Miyaura reaction under optimal reaction conditions, including solvent, amount of catalyst, base, and temperature. Aryl bromides and iodides showed better results than aryl chlorides. Phenylboronic acid showed enhanced reactivity in compared with 4‐methylphenylboronic acid, and the catalyst exhibited a noticeable stability and re‐used several times after magnetic separation.
Color Tunable Self‐Trapped Emissions from Lead‐Free All Inorganic IA‐IB Bimetallic Halides Cs‐Ag‐X (X = Cl, Br, I)
Authors: Zhang Zixu , Zhao Ruoting , Teng Shiyong , Huang Keke , Zhang Lijun , Wang Dayang , Yang Wensheng , Xie Renguo , Pradhan Narayan
Published: October 2020

Multi‐metallic halides of group IA and IB metals are emerged as a new class of color tunable emitters. While chalcogenides and perovskites are extensively studied, these families of materials are little explored. In comparison, herein, lead and cadmium free bimetallic Cs‐Ag‐X (X = Cl, Br, I) halides are reported where the larger ion Ag+ helped in incorporating all the halide ions which in turn tune their emission color in spanning from 397 nm (violet) to 820 nm (near infrared) as a function of their composition. The synthesis method adopted here is the solvent free ball milling of respective halides of Cs and Ag and took the record shortest time and in bulk scale. From decay lifetimes, emissions from these bimetallic halides are found as a result of fast recombination of self‐trapped excitons, which exhibited not only reasonably high quantum yield in the range of 17–68% but also excellent stability to air and moisture under ambient conditions. These also show wide Stokes shift with relatively longer decay lifetimes ranging above the exciton and below the surface trap or dopant induced emissions of inorganic semiconductors, indicating a new class of materials having unique identity of their optical behaviors.
Modification of Starches with Different Amylose/Amylopectin Ratios Using the Dual Approach with Hydroxypropylation and Subsequent Acid Thinning—III: Impacts on Gel Characteristics
Authors: Ulbrich Marco , Flöter Eckhard
Published: October 2020

Starches with different amylose (AM)/amylopectin (AP) ratios (waxy potato: WxPS, regular potato: PS, high AM corn: HACS) are subjected to hydroxypropylation (HP, two levels) and subsequent acid‐thinning (AT) to produce dual modified samples. Pastes of the starch samples (native; single modification: HP and AT, respectively; dual modification) are prepared by pressure cooking to two different starch concentrations (C) (6% and 9% w/w) and systematically investigated especially in terms of light transmittance (T) and specific gel characteristics after long‐term cold storage (168 h at 5.5 ± 1.5 °C). The data are evaluated statistically (i.a. analysis of variance, ANOVA) and significant effects are identified. Indeed, the gel strength correlates positively with the AM content of the starch and C, but the HP eliminates the ability of the starch to gel in most cases. The improved Tgel due to HP is accompanied by extensive loss of mechanical strength in most cases, which is not compensated by the partial molecular degradation via AT. Hence, a synergistic effect of both modifications is not revealed. The synergistic implementation of a starch with the desired properties by preparing mixtures is not revealed during the present examinations.
From Orientations to Outcomes: Articulating a Comprehensive and Systematic Approach to Preparing Future Higher Education Instructors
Authors: von Hoene Linda M.
Published: October 2020

This chapter presents the history of GSI development as a field and lays out a broad vision for preparing future higher education instructors that moves from voluntary, piecemeal activities to coordinated, outcomes‐based certification.
Preparing Inclusive Educators Through Transformative Learning
Authors: Daniels Tazin , Schoem Shana
Published: October 2020

This chapter describes a transformative model for preparing graduate student instructors in any discipline to design and teach inclusive courses through a social justice framework.
Effects of lighting variability on locomotion in posterior cortical atrophy
Authors: Yong Keir X. X. , McCarthy Ian D. , Poole Teresa , Ocal Dilek , Suzuki Ayako , Suzuki Tatsuto , Mengoudi Kyriaki , Papadosifos Nikolaos , Boampong Derrick , Tyler Nick , Frost Chris , Crutch Sebastian J.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Clinical reports describe patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibiting atypical adaptive walking responses to the visual environment; however, there is limited empirical investigation of such behaviors or factors modulating their expression. We aim to evaluate effects of lighting‐based interventions and clinical presentation (visual‐ vs memory‐led) on walking function in participants with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and typical AD (tAD).

Methods

Participants with PCA (n = 10), tAD (n = 9), and healthy controls (n = 12) walked to visible target destinations under different lighting conditions within two pilot repeated‐measures design investigations (Experiment 1: 32 trials per participant; Experiment 2: 36 trials per participant). Participants walked to destinations with the floorpath interrupted by shadows varying in spatial extent (Experiment 1: no, medium, high shadow) or with different localized parts of the environment illuminated (Experiment 2: target, middle, or distractor illuminated). The primary study outcome for both experimental tasks was completion time; secondary kinematic outcomes were proportions of steps identified as outliers (Experiment 1) and walking path directness (Experiment 2).

Results

In Experiment 1, PCA participants overall demonstrated modest reductions in time taken to reach destinations when walking to destinations uninterrupted by shadows compared to high shadow conditions (7.1% reduction [95% confidence interval 2.5, 11.5; P = .003]). Experiment 2 found no evidence of differences in task performance for different localized lighting conditions in PCA participants overall. Neither experiment found evidence of differences in task performance between conditions in tAD or control participants overall. Completion time in both patient groups was longer relative to controls, and longer in PCA relative to tAD groups.

Discussion

Findings represent a quantitative characterization of a clinical phenomenon involving patients misperceiving shadows, implicating dementia‐related cortico‐visual impairments. Results contribute to evidence‐based design guidelines for dementia‐friendly environments.
A novel finite volume scheme for hyperbolic conservation laws
Authors: Xu Mingtian
Published: October 2020

It is well known that the conventional shock capturing schemes for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws yield oscillatory solutions near discontinuities when the mesh is not fine enough. In this article, an improved finite volume scheme (IFVS) is proposed to simulate hyperbolic conservation laws. In this scheme, some weighting coefficients are introduced to discretize the convection term. By eliminating the truncation error of the numerical scheme, the weighting coefficient and the ratio of space step to time step are determined analytically. Theoretical and numerical results show that although the same computational stencil as the classical finite volume method (FVM) is employed to divide the computational domain and the simple explicit forward difference is used to discretize the time derivative, the proposed IFVS can achieve almost the same accuracy as the exact solution for the scalar hyperbolic conservation laws. Furthermore, for the hyperbolic conservation laws involving shocks, the numerical solutions obtained by the IFVS do not show any unphysical oscillations even a very coarse mesh is utilized to divide the computational domain, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis showing that the IFVS is unconditionally stable.
A cubic deformation of ABJM: the squashed, stretched, warped, and perturbed gets invaded
Authors: Cesàro Mattia , Larios Gabriel , Varela Oscar
Published: October 2020

Abstract

A superpotential deformation that is cubic in one of the chiral superfields of ABJM makes the latter theory flow into a new $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal phase. This is holographically dual to a warped AdS4×wS7 solution of M-theory equipped with a squashed and stretched metric on S7. We determine the spectrum of spin-2 operators of the cubic deformation at low energies by computing the spectrum of Kaluza-Klein (KK) gravitons over the dual AdS4 solution. We calculate, numerically, the complete graviton spectrum and, analytically, the spectrum of gravitons that belong to short multiplets. We also use group theory to assess the structure of the full KK spectrum, and conclude that $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supermultiplets cannot be allocated KK level by KK level. This phenomenon, usually referred to as “space invaders scenario”, is also known to occur for another AdS4 solution based on a different squashed S7.
The Racetrack Oval Frame Vault of Villa Borromeo in Cassano d’Adda
Authors: Stanga Chiara
Published: October 2020

The paper describes the analysis of the oval frame vault of the ballroom of Villa Borromeo in Cassano d’Adda (Milan), one of the most important, yet not deeply studied, countryside villas of the Adda family. The vault is a particular example of a frame vault on an oval plan, where the main elements that characterize the space are the skene arches and the curved lunettes. The article sheds light on the constructive and geometric genesis of this particular type of vaulting, which was a common construction practice of architects and builders in the Modern Age in Northern Italy. The analysis of the vault geometries and construction techniques is carried out through a geometric and photogrammetric survey, the elaboration of drawings, and a 3D model.
German energy transition (Energiewende) and what politicians can learn for environmental and climate policy
Authors: Rechsteiner Rudolf
Published: October 2020

The German Energiewende (energy transition) started with price guarantees for avoidance activities and later turned to premiums and tenders. Dynamic efficiency was a core concept of this environmental policy. Out of multiple technologies wind and solar power—which were considered too expensive at the time—turned out to be cheaper than the use of oil, coal, gas or nuclear energy for power generation, even without considering externalities. The German minimum price policy opened doors in a competitive way, creating millions of new generators and increasing the number of market participants in the power sector. The fact that these new generators are distributed, non-synchronous and weather-dependent has caused contentious discussions and specific challenges. This paper discusses these aspects in detail and outlines its impacts. It also describes Swiss regulations that successfully launched avoidance technologies or services and asks why exactly Pigou's neoclassical economic approach to the internalization of damage costs (externalities) has rarely worked in policy reality, while sector-specific innovations based on small surcharges have been more successful. Based on the model of feed-in tariffs, a concept for the introduction of low-carbon air traffic is briefly outlined.

Graphic Abstract
Situational Judgement Test als Unterrichtsmethode für die kritische Diskussion zu wissenschaftlicher Praxis und Fehlverhalten
Authors: Klemmt Chantal , König Sarah
Published: October 2020

Wissenschaftskompetenz ist eine Schlüsselqualifikation für jede ärztliche Tätigkeit und sollte ebenso wie die Auseinandersetzung mit Entscheidungsprozessen von Beginn an ins Medizinstudium integriert werden. Ziel der Studie war, die Themen der guten wissenschaftlichen Praxis und des wissenschaftlichen Fehlverhaltens zu vermitteln. Ferner wurde durch die methodische Intervention „Gruppendiskussion“ eine Reflexion im Kontext der wissenschaftlichen Angemessenheit herbeigeführt. Hierfür wurde der Situational Judgement Test (SJT) von den Studierenden (N = 743) (individuell und in der Gruppe) bearbeitet, und dessen Resultate wurden mit den Antworten von Expert/innen/en (N = 23) verglichen. Nach der Gruppendiskussion näherten sich die Ergebnisse in der Verteilung und Reihenfolge den Antwortmöglichkeiten der Expert/innen/en an. Jedoch tendierten die Studierenden signifikant häufiger zu jenen Antworten, die hilfesuchende, passive und verantwortungsübertragende Optionen bedeuteten. Insgesamt hat sich der SJT als didaktische Intervention bewährt. Die Studierenden setzten sich aktiv mit den Themen auseinander, eine Diskussion konnte angeregt und das eigene Verhalten kritisch reflektiert werden.
On the combination of water emergency wells and mobile treatment systems: a case study of the city of Berlin
Authors: Stallkamp Christoph , Diehlmann Florian , Lüttenberg Markus , Wiens Marcus , Volk Rebekka , Schultmann Frank
Published: October 2020

A shortage of water leads to severe consequences for populations. Recent examples like the ongoing water shortage in Kapstadt or in Gloucestershire in 2007 highlight both the challenges authorities face to restore the water supply and the importance of installing efficient preparedness measures and plans. This study develops a proactive planning approach of emergency measures for possible impairments of water supply systems and validates this with a case study on water contamination in the city of Berlin. We formulate a capacitated maximal covering problem as a mixed-integer optimization model where we combine existing emergency infrastructure with the deployment of mobile water treatment systems. The model selects locations for mobile water treatment systems to maximize the public water supply within defined constraints. With the extension to a multi-objective decision making model, possible trade-offs between the water supply coverage and costs, and between the coverage of differently prioritized demand points are investigated. Therefore, decision makers benefit from a significantly increased transparency regarding potential outcomes of their decisions, leading to improved decisions before and during a crisis.
Revisiting climate change effects on winter chill in mountain oases of northern Oman
Authors: Buerkert Andreas , Fernandez Eduardo , Tietjen Beke , Luedeling Eike
Published: October 2020

For centuries, traditional high-altitude oases in Oman have depended on the cultivation of deciduous fruit trees. This study explores the effects of climate change on winter chill (estimated as Chilling Hours—CH and Chill Portions—CP), a prerequisite to overcoming dormancy and initiating flowering, in three Omani oases. The results are compared with findings from an earlier study which reported a decrease in the numbers of CH in high-elevation oases by an average of 1.2–9.5 CH year−1between 1983 and 2008. Location-specific weather data were obtained by merging 15 years of in situ recordings with 28 years of observations from an official weather station near the top of the investigated watershed. Between 1991 and 2018, scenarios of the past few decades show chill reductions by 75, 35 and 18% when estimated in CP at the oases of Masayrat ar Ruwajah (1030 m a.s.l.), Qasha’ (1640 m a.s.l.), and Al ‘Ayn (1900 m a.s.l.), respectively. Over the course of the twenty-first century, the lowest-elevation oasis at Masayrat ar Ruwajah is projected to lose virtually all winter chill, whereas, despite significant chill losses, conditions are expected to remain viable for some of the currently grown species in the higher-elevation oases. These projected changes will compromise the cultivation of temperate fruit trees in the near future, affecting the sustainability of Omani oases. Our methods support results from earlier work performed at these locations and provide an updated procedure for assessing climate change effects on temperature-dependent systems.
Chronic endometritis and altered embryo implantation: a unified pathophysiological theory from a literature systematic review
Authors: Buzzaccarini Giovanni , Vitagliano Amerigo , Andrisani Alessandra , Santarsiero Carla Mariaflavia , Cicinelli Rossana , Nardelli Claudia , Ambrosini Guido , Cicinelli Ettore
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Chronic endometritis (CE) is a frequent hysteroscopic and histological finding which affects embryo transfer implantation during IVF-ICSI cycles. In particular, CE impairs proper decidualization and, subsequently, implantation. Although this correlation has been clearly clarified, a pathophysiological explanation assembling all the studies performed has not been elucidated yet. For this reason, we have structured a systematic review considering all the original articles that evaluated a pathological element involved in CE and implantation impairment.

Methods

The authors searched electronic databases and, after screening, collected 15 original articles. These were fully scanned and used to create a summary pathway.

Results

CE is primarily caused by infections, which lead to a specific cytokine and leukocyte pattern in order to prepare the uterus to fight the noxa. In particular, the immunosuppression requested for a proper semi-allogenic embryo transfer implantation is converted into an immunoreaction, which hampers correct embryo implantation. Moreover, endometrial vascularization is affected and both irregular vessel density and luminal thickening and thrombosis reduce what we have first identified as endometrial flow reserve. Finally, incorrect uterine wave propagation could affect embryo contact with decidua.

Conclusion

This is the first summary of evidence on CE pathophysiology and its relationship with infertility. Understanding the CE pathophysiology could improve our knowledge in embryo transfer success.
A deep learning approach to building an intelligent video surveillance system
Authors: Xu Jie
Published: October 2020

Recent advances in the field of object detection and face recognition have made it possible to develop practical video surveillance systems with embedded object detection and face recognition functionalities that are accurate and fast enough for commercial uses. In this paper, we compare some of the latest approaches to object detection and face recognition and provide reasons why they may or may not be amongst the best to be used in video surveillance applications in terms of both accuracy and speed. It is discovered that Faster R-CNN with Inception ResNet V2 is able to achieve some of the best accuracies while maintaining real-time rates. Single Shot Detector (SSD) with MobileNet, on the other hand, is incredibly fast and still accurate enough for most applications. As for face recognition, FaceNet with Multi-task Cascaded Convolutional Networks (MTCNN) achieves higher accuracy than advances such as DeepFace and DeepID2+ while being faster. An end-to-end video surveillance system is also proposed which could be used as a starting point for more complex systems. Various experiments have also been attempted on trained models with observations explained in detail. We finish by discussing video object detection and video salient object detection approaches which could potentially be used as future improvements to the proposed system.
An untargeted metabolomics strategy to measure differences in metabolite uptake and excretion by mammalian cell lines
Authors: Wright Muelas Marina , Roberts Ivayla , Mughal Farah , O’Hagan Steve , Day Philip J. , Kell Douglas B.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

It is widely but erroneously believed that drugs get into cells by passing through the phospholipid bilayer portion of the plasma and other membranes. Much evidence shows, however, that this is not the case, and that drugs cross biomembranes by hitchhiking on transporters for other natural molecules to which these drugs are structurally similar. Untargeted metabolomics can provide a method for determining the differential uptake of such metabolites.

Objectives

Blood serum contains many thousands of molecules and provides a convenient source of biologically relevant metabolites. Our objective was to detect and identify metabolites present in serum, but to also establish a method capable of measure their uptake and secretion by different cell lines.

Methods

We develop an untargeted LC-MS/MS method to detect a broad range of compounds present in human serum. We apply this to the analysis of the time course of the uptake and secretion of metabolites in serum by several human cell lines, by analysing changes in the serum that represents the extracellular phase (the ‘exometabolome’ or metabolic footprint).

Results

Our method measures some 4000–5000 metabolic features in both positive and negative electrospray ionisation modes. We show that the metabolic footprints of different cell lines differ greatly from each other.

Conclusion

Our new, 15-min untargeted metabolome method allows for the robust and convenient measurement of differences in the uptake of serum compounds by cell lines following incubation in serum. This will enable future research to study these differences in multiple cell lines that will relate this to transporter expression, thereby advancing our knowledge of transporter substrates, both natural and xenobiotic compounds.
A comprehensive evaluation of two sample treatment procedures for the determination of emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants in biota
Authors: Tolosa Imma , Huertas David , Choyke Sarah , Sander Sylvia , Aminot Yann
Published: October 2020

Two different sample preparation protocols for the determination of 37 emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in marine tissues were compared with regards to extraction recovery, lipid removal efficiency, repeatability, reproducibility, and ability to measure sub-ng g−1 (dry weight) concentrations in marine biota. One method involved a purification step using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) followed by a HPLC fractionation step on a Partisil amino-cyano normal phase (GPC-Partisil procedure) and the other more traditional method was based on sulphuric acid treatment followed by silica column fractionation (H2SO4-silica procedure). The samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Sample fractionation in both methods enabled unique sample preparation procedures to isolate the GC from the LC amenable compounds. Both methods could remove > 99% of the lipids which was necessary prior to GC- and LC-MS/MS analyses. The majority of the target compounds (70%) had acceptable recoveries between 60–120% for both methods. However, the sulphuric acid treatment resulted in the degradation of the TBP-AE and the silica column fractionation resulted in the loss of BEH-TEBP and the elution of PBB-Acr and TBBPA-BME in the unsuitable fraction. High recoveries of DBE-DBCH (α+β), EHTBB, BTBPE, BEH-TEBP, and PBB-Acr were attributed to matrix effects, suggesting the need to use isotope-labelled surrogate standards of the target compounds. The optimisation of the silica column chromatography, GPC, and Partisil fractionation is described and discussed to afford easy implementation of the method. The method using GPC followed by Partisil fractionation is more efficient and more reproducible than the sulphuric acid-silica procedure. The application of this method to marine biota reference materials revealed the presence of relatively high concentrations of DBE-DBCH isomers and BDE-47 in fish samples. The method detection limits comply with the recommendations of the European Commission.
Salinization of Alpine rivers during winter months
Authors: Niedrist Georg H. , Cañedo-Argüelles Miguel , Cauvy-Fraunié Sophie
Published: October 2020

Human-induced (i.e., secondary) salinization affects aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. While agriculture or resource extraction are the main drivers of secondary salinization in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, the application of deicing road salt in winter can be an important source of salts entering freshwaters in cold regions. Alpine rivers are probably affected by salinization, especially in highly populated mountain regions, although this remains to be explored. In this study, we analyzed multi-year conductance time series from four rivers in the European Alps and demonstrated that the application of deicing road salt is linked to peaking rivers’ salinity levels during late winter/early spring. Especially in small catchments with more urban surfaces close to the rivers, conductance increased during constant low-flow periods in late winter and was less correlated with discharge than in summer. Thus, our results suggest that small rivers highly connected to urban infrastructures are prone to considerable salinity peaks during late winter/early spring. Given the low natural level of salinities in Alpine rivers, the aquatic biodiversity might be significantly affected by the recorded changes in conductance, with potential consequences on ecosystem functioning. Thereby, we urge the research community to assess the impact of secondary salinization in Alpine rivers and call for an implementation of management practices to prevent the degradation of these pristine and valuable ecosystems.
Why statistical testing and confidence intervals should not be used in comparative life cycle assessments based on Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: von Brömssen Claudia , Röös Elin
Published: October 2020

In the last years, it has been suggested to use statistical inferential methods, such as hypothesis testing or confidence intervals, to compare different products, services, or systems within comparative life cycle assessments based on Monte Carlo simulation results. However, the use of statistical inferential methods in such settings is fundamentally incorrect and should not be continued. In this article, we explain why and look closer at some related topics.
Die Mobilitätswende als Auslöser einer tief greifenden Transformation des „Modell Deutschland“?
Authors: Haas Tobias
Published: October 2020

Das „Modell Deutschland“ hat sich in der Vergangenheit als überaus stabil erwiesen. Gleichwohl steht aktuell die Automobilindustrie, die zentrale Branche des deutschen Kapitalismusmodells, vor tief greifenden Transformationen, deren genaue Konturen sich jedoch nur erahnen lassen. Der Beitrag diskutiert aus einer regulationstheoretischen Perspektive die sich abzeichnenden Veränderungen und argumentiert, dass die internationale Einbettung des „Modell Deutschland“ nicht nur im Hinblick auf die aktuelle Doppelkrise des liberalen Kapitalismus, sondern auch im Hinblick auf die materiell-stoffliche Dimension des deutschen Exportmodells von zentraler Bedeutung ist. Darüber hinaus bedarf es eines präziseren Verständnisses der Rekonfiguration der automobilen Wertschöpfungsketten, die sich durch Digitalisierung und neue Mobilitätsdienstleistungen sowie eine Veränderung der Rohstoffbedarfe und industrieller Fertigungsprozesse im Zuge der Elektrifizierung des Antriebsstrangs verändern und sowohl das Lohnverhältnis als auch die Unternehmensformen stark beeinflussen.
Precipitation Kinetics and Morphology of Grain Boundary Carbides in Ni-Base Superalloy Haynes 282
Authors: Joseph C. , Persson C. , Hörnqvist Colliander M.
Published: October 2020

Precipitation of grain boundary carbides in a mill-annealed Haynes 282 in the temperature range 650 °C to 1120 °C was investigated. The kinetics of M23C6was significantly faster than that of M6C. With increasing aging temperature, the morphology changes from continuous film to an interconnected brick wall structure and finally to discrete particles. No morphological changes were observed with aging time. Serrated grain boundaries formed during aging around 750 °C. The solvus temperature for both M23C6and M6C was approximately 1100 °C.
Buckling of Multiple Intersecting Spherical Shells Under Uniform External Pressure
Authors: Zhang Jian , Li Shengqiu , Cui Weicheng , Xiang Kai , Wang Fang , Tang Wenxian
Published: October 2020

This study explored the buckling of multiple intersecting spherical shells. A three-segment spherical shell was designed using the theory of deformation coordination; the design was compared with that of a volume-equivalent cylindrical shell and ring-ribbed cylindrical shell. The numerical results indicated that the buckling capacity of the three-segment spherical shell was superior to those of the other two cylindrical shells. To validate our numerical approach, three laboratory-scale shell models were fabricated. Each model was accurately measured and slowly tested in a pressure chamber; thus, the tested shells were studied numerically. The experimental collapse modes agreed well with numerical results, and the collapse load of the three-segment pressure shell was considerably higher than that of the two cylindrical shells.
Continuous extracorporeal treatments in a dialysis patient with COVID-19
Authors: Nihei Yoshihito , Nagasawa Hajime , Fukao Yusuke , Kihara Masao , Ueda Seiji , Gohda Tomohito , Suzuki Yusuke
Published: October 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is now a major global health threat. More than half a year have passed since the first discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2), no effective treatment has been established especially in intensive care unit. Inflammatory cytokine storm caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported to play a central role in COVID-19; therefore, treatments for suppressing cytokines, including extracorporeal treatments, are considered to be beneficial. However, until today the efficacy of removing cytokines by extracorporeal treatments in patients with COVID-19 is unclear. Herein, we report our experience with a 66-year-old male patient undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis who became critically ill with COVID-19 and underwent several extracorporeal treatment approaches including plasma exchange, direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column and continuous hemodiafiltration. Though the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) repeatedly and subacute cerebral infarction and finally died for respiratory failure on day 30 after admission, these attempts appeared to dampen the cytokine storm based on the observed decline in serum IL-6 levels and were effective against ARDS and secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. This case suggests the significance of timely initiation of extracorporeal treatment approaches in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
The role of previously undocumented data in the assessment of medical trainees in clinical competency committees
Authors: Tam Jennifer , Wadhwa Anupma , Martimianakis Maria Athina , Fernando Oshan , Regehr Glenn
Published: October 2020

Introduction The clinical competency committee (CCC) comprises a group of clinical faculty tasked with assessing a medical trainee’s progress from multiple data sources. The use of previously undocumented data, or PUD, during CCC deliberations remains controversial. This study explored the use of previously undocumented data in conjunction with documented data in creating a meaningful assessment in a CCC.

Methods An instrumental case study of a CCC that uses previously undocumented data was conducted. A single CCC meeting was observed, followed by semi-structured individual interviews with all CCC members (n = 7). Meeting and interview transcripts were analyzed iteratively.

Results Documented data were perceived as limited by inaccurate or superficial data, but sometimes served as a starting point for invoking previously undocumented data. Previously undocumented data were introduced as summary impressions, contextualizing factors, personal anecdotes and, rarely, hearsay. The purpose was to raise a potential issue for discussion, enhance and elaborate an impression, or counter an impression. Various mechanisms allowed for the responsible use of previously undocumented data: embedding these data within a structured format; sharing relevant information without commenting beyond one’s scope of experience; clarifying allowable disclosure of personal contextual factors with the trainee pre-meeting; excluding previously undocumented data not widely agreed upon in decision-making; and expecting these data to have been provided as direct feedback to trainees pre-meeting.

Discussion Previously undocumented data appear to play a vital part of the group conversation in a CCC to create meaningful, developmentally focused trainee assessments that cannot be achieved by documented data
Resistance spot welding with variable electrode force—development and benefit of a force profile to extend the weldability of 22MnB5+AS150
Authors: Wohner M. , Mitzschke N. , Jüttner S.
Published: October 2020

Compared with conventional steels, press-hardened steels with an aluminium-silicon coating have a smaller welding range, which is resulting in reduced process stability. For this reason, an analytical methodology is required, which can optimise the welding parameters and extend the welding range significantly. Consequently, most publications focus on the variation of welding time and welding current at a constant electrode force. This paper deals with the design of a force profile to improve weldability and joint quality. The basis for this investigation is the identification of significant characteristic values by the recorded process signals.
Preparation of polyaniline/graphene coated wearable thermoelectric fabric using ultrasonic-assisted dip-coating method
Authors: Amirabad Reza , Ramazani Saadatabadi Ahmad , Siadati M. Hossein
Published: October 2020

The use of thermoelectric fabrics for powering wearable devices is expected to become widespread soon. A thermoelectric fabric was prepared by coating nanocomposite of polyaniline/graphene nanosheets (PANI/GNS) on a fabric. Four samples of the fabric containing different wt% of GNS (0.5, 2.5, 5, and 10) were prepared. To characterize the samples, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (AT-FTIR) spectra, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements were used. The electrical conductivity increased from 0.0188 to 0.277 S cm−1 (from 0.5 to 10 wt% of the GNS in PANI/GNS nanocomposite). The maximum coefficient of Seebeck was 18 µV K−1 with 2.5 wt% GNS at 338 °C. The power factor improvement was from 2.047 to 3.084 μW m−1 K−2 (0.5–2.5 wt% GNS).

Graphic abstract