bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a Winner–Loser Gap for WTA in Subthreshold. Resolution Performance Revisited
Authors: Marinov Corneliu A. , Costea Ruxandra L.
Published: July 2022

The paper pioneers a thorough mathematical approach for the Lazzaro variant of the W(inner) T(ake) A(ll) maximum rank and amplitude analog selector. Two exact levels of output which split the maximum and determine the resolution, are found for the first time. At the input, a list of currents$$\left( I_{1},I_{2},\ldots ,I_{N}\right) $$I1,I2,…,INfrom a large family$${{\mathcal {L}}}$$Lwith smallest relative distance$$\Delta $$Δon a$$\left[ 0,I_{M}\right] $$0,IMscale is applied. To distinguish the largest current$$I_{w}$$Iw(the winner) from the second largest$$I_{l}$$Il(the loser), the paper proposes two decision levels,$${\overline{D}}$$D¯and$${\underline{D}}$$D̲, for the output voltage list$$\left( U_{1},U_{2},\ldots ,U_{N}\right) $$U1,U2,…,UN. The upper level$${\overline{D}}$$D¯is surpassed only by the$$U_{w}$$Uwwinner and encodes the winning rankw. All other ranks are placed under the lower level$${\underline{D}}$$D̲. Two rigorously treated optimization problems with inequality constraints lead to the identification of two input lists that yield the levels$${\overline{D}}$$D¯and$${\underline{D}}$$D̲as outputs. They are valid for processing any list in the$${\mathcal {L}}$$Lfamily. The index$$\left( {\overline{D}}-{\underline{D}}\right) /U_{M}$$D¯-D̲/UM—“the output resolution”—expresses how large the gap between the first and the second component on the$$\left[ 0,U_{M}\right] $$0,UMscale is. It exceeds “the input resolution,” i.e., the similar index$$\Delta /I_{M}$$Δ/IMat the input and the two depend monotonically on each other. Widely commented numerical examples are presented.
Detection of enterovirus RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with the presence of the predisposing allele of the type 1 diabetes risk gene IFIH1 and with disease stage
Authors: Sioofy-Khojine Amir-Babak , Richardson Sarah J. , Locke Jonathan M. , Oikarinen Sami , Nurminen Noora , Laine Antti-Pekka , Downes Kate , Lempainen Johanna , Todd John A. , Veijola Riitta , Ilonen Jorma , Knip Mikael , Morgan Noel G. , Hyöty Heikki , Peakman Mark , Eichmann Martin
Published: July 2022

Aims/hypothesis

Enteroviral infection has been implicated consistently as a key environmental factor correlating with the appearance of autoimmunity and/or the presence of overt type 1 diabetes, in which pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells are destroyed by an autoimmune response. Genetic predisposition through variation in the type 1 diabetes risk gene IFIH1 (interferon induced with helicase C domain 1), which encodes the viral pattern-recognition receptor melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), supports a potential link between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We used molecular techniques to detect enterovirus RNA in peripheral blood samples (in separated cellular compartments or plasma) from two cohorts comprising 79 children or 72 adults that include individuals with and without type 1 diabetes who had multiple autoantibodies. We also used immunohistochemistry to detect the enteroviral protein VP1 in the pancreatic islets of post-mortem donors (n=43) with type 1 diabetes.

Results

We observed enhanced detection sensitivity when sampling the cellular compartment compared with the non-cellular compartment of peripheral blood (OR 21.69; 95% CI 3.64, 229.20; p<0.0001). In addition, we show that children with autoimmunity are more likely to test positive for enterovirus RNA than those without autoimmunity (OR 11.60; 95% CI 1.89, 126.90; p=0.0065). Furthermore, we found that individuals carrying the predisposing allele (946Thr) of the common variant in IFIH1 (rs1990760, Thr946Ala) are more likely to test positive for enterovirus in peripheral blood (OR 3.07; 95% CI 1.02, 8.58; p=0.045). In contrast, using immunohistochemistry, there was no correlation between the common variant in IFIH1 and detection of enteroviral VP1 protein in the pancreatic islets of donors with type 1 diabetes.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our data indicate that, in peripheral blood, antigen-presenting cells are the predominant source of enterovirus infection, and that infection is correlated with disease stage and genetic predisposition, thereby supporting a role for enterovirus infection prior to disease onset.

Graphical abstract
Sustainable development of rural areas: a dynamic model in between tourism exploitation and landscape decline
Authors: Iannucci Gianluca , Martellozzo Federico , Randelli Filippo
Published: July 2022

This work investigates how to prevent sustainable tourism from turning into over-tourism dynamics. As a matter of fact, the former has shown to be capable of bringing profit to traditional rural activities (i.e. agriculture), the tourism sector, the environment and the cultural heritage of a region; whereas the latter, more often than not, harms and brings detriment to the natural landscape. Hereof, landscape heritage is a fundamental resource at the base of both rural tourism (RT) and traditional rural activities, and it is reasonable that to adequately support RT a certain degree of built-up growth (i.e. new accommodation facilities and cognate areas) is somewhat needed. However, we want to problematize that these dynamics shall be carefully calibrated and appropriately regulated in a non-conflictual way. We modeled that: (i) land can be either devoted to RT-hosting facilities or agriculture; (ii) RT impacts landscape resources more harmfully, thus diminishing profitability of both sectors. We also posit a policy instrument to preserve landscape resources, financed through RT revenues. The analysis shows that if no policy is applied, over-RT is ineluctable. Conversely, with such a policy instrument it is possible to determine an economic space where all rural economic activities peacefully coexist, and landscape impacts are minimized.
Asymptotic Expansion of the Elastic Far-Field of a Crystalline Defect
Authors: Braun Julian , Hudson Thomas , Ortner Christoph
Published: July 2022

Lattice defects in crystalline materials create long-range elastic fields which can be modelled on the atomistic scale using an infinite system of discrete nonlinear force balance equations. Starting with these equations, this work rigorously derives a novel far-field expansion of these fields. The expansion is computable and is expressed as a sum of continuum correctors and discrete multipole terms which decay with increasing algebraic rate as the order of the expansion increases. Truncating the expansion leaves a remainder describing the defect core structure, which is localised in the sense that it decays with an algebraic rate corresponding to the order at which the truncation occurred.
Degradation Reduces Microbial Richness and Alters Microbial Functions in an Australian Peatland
Authors: Birnbaum Christina , Wood Jennifer , Lilleskov Erik , Lamit Louis James , Shannon James , Brewer Matthew , Grover Samantha
Published: July 2022

Peatland ecosystems cover only 3% of the world’s land area; however, they store one-third of the global soil carbon (C). Microbial communities are the main drivers of C decomposition in peatlands, yet we have limited knowledge of their structure and function. While the microbial communities in the Northern Hemisphere peatlands are well documented, we have limited understanding of microbial community composition and function in the Southern Hemisphere peatlands, especially in Australia. We investigated the vertical stratification of prokaryote and fungal communities from Wellington Plains peatland in the Australian Alps. Within the peatland complex, bog peat was sampled from the intact peatland and dried peat from the degraded peatland along a vertical soil depth gradient (i.e., acrotelm, mesotelm, and catotelm). We analyzed the prokaryote and fungal community structure, predicted functional profiles of prokaryotes using PICRUSt, and assigned soil fungal guilds using FUNGuild. We found that the structure and function of prokaryotes were vertically stratified in the intact bog. Soil carbon, manganese, nitrogen, lead, and sodium content best explained the prokaryote composition. Prokaryote richness was significantly higher in the intact bog acrotelm compared to degraded bog acrotelm. Fungal composition remained similar across the soil depth gradient; however, there was a considerable increase in saprotroph abundance and decrease in endophyte abundance along the vertical soil depth gradient. The abundance of saprotrophs and plant pathogens was two-fold higher in the degraded bog acrotelm. Soil manganese and nitrogen content, electrical conductivity, and water table level (cm) best explained the fungal composition. Our results demonstrate that both fungal and prokaryote communities are shaped by soil abiotic factors and that peatland degradation reduces microbial richness and alters microbial functions. Thus, current and future changes to the environmental conditions in these peatlands may lead to altered microbial community structures and associated functions which may have implications for broader ecosystem function changes in peatlands.
Newly developed cement–ground granite scraps composite for solidification/stabilization of radioactive wastes: characterization and evaluation of the mechanical durability
Authors: Eskander Samir B. , Bayoumi Talat A. , Tawfik Magda E. , Mansour Hazem
Published: July 2022

The core objective of the present study is to develop an added value cement–granite composite (CGC) based on granite (G) scraps and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The granite scraps were collected, washed, ground, sieved, and the finest powder was used as an inorganic admixture for developing the CGC. Plain water was added to the granite–cement powder and thoroughly mixed. The obtained pastes were casted for 28 days prior to their physical, structural, thermal characterizations and their mechanical evaluation. Factors assumed, mostly, to affect the final properties of the CGC blocks, e.g. granite/cement and water: cement ratios were studied. The reached monolith cement–granite composite has many advantages, e.g. lower density, very low water absorption percentage, acceptable compressive strength values and significant radiation and thermal stability. Based on the experimental data reached it could be stated that: for its economical advantages, where the one of its basic components is a waste. In addition to the acceptable mechanical traits of the developed composite, it can be candidate properly as an inert matrix for some radioactive wastes containment, for application in many field including: construction sector (interior and exterior of household walls, floor tiles, etc.), and for many others. The environmental reward due to management the accumulated problematic solid granite scraps is, certainly, a gain.
Understanding the Adjusted Rand Index and Other Partition Comparison Indices Based on Counting Object Pairs
Authors: Warrens Matthijs J. , van der Hoef Hanneke
Published: July 2022

In unsupervised machine learning, agreement between partitions is commonly assessed with so-called external validity indices. Researchers tend to use and report indices that quantify agreement between two partitions for all clusters simultaneously. Commonly used examples are the Rand index and the adjusted Rand index. Since these overall measures give a general notion of what is going on, their values are usually hard to interpret. The goal of this study is to provide a thorough understanding of the adjusted Rand index as well as many other partition comparison indices based on counting object pairs. It is shown that many overall indices based on the pair-counting approach can be decomposed into indices that reflect the degree of agreement on the level of individual clusters. The decompositions (1) show that the overall indices can be interpreted as summary statistics of the agreement on the cluster level, (2) specify how these overall indices are related to the indices for individual clusters, and (3) show that the overall indices are affected by cluster size imbalance: if cluster sizes are unbalanced these overall measures will primarily reflect the degree of agreement between the partitions on the large clusters, and will provide much less information on the agreement on smaller clusters. Furthermore, the value of Rand-like indices is determined to a large extent by the number of pairs of objects that are not joined in either of the partitions.
Is new always better: comparison of the femoral neck system and the dynamic hip screw in the treatment of femoral neck fractures
Authors: Schuetze Konrad , Burkhardt Jakob , Pankratz Carlos , Eickhoff Alexander , Boehringer Alexander , Degenhart Christina , Gebhard Florian , Cintean Raffael
Published: July 2022

Background

Hip fractures in the elderly population are common and the number of patients is rising. For young and geriatric patients with undisplaced fractures osteosynthesis is the primary type of treatment. The dynamic hip screw (DHS) is around for many years and proved its value especially in displaced fractures. Since 2018 the femoral neck system (FNS) is available as an alternative showing promising biomechanical results. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical results of the FNS and compare it to the DHS.

Materials and methods

Patients older than 18 years with Garden I–IV fractures that were treated with osteosynthesis in a level 1 trauma center were included in the study. Between January 2015 and March 2021, all patients treated with FNS (1-hole plate, DePuy-Synthes, Zuchwil, Switzerland) or DHS (2-hole plate, DePuy-Synthes, Zuchwil, Switzerland) for proximal femur fractures were included in the study. Closed reduction was achieved using a traction table. All operations were carried out by experienced orthopedic trauma surgeons. Primary outcome measures were rate of implant failure (cut out) and surgical complications (hematoma, infection). Secondary outcome measures were Hb-difference, length of hospital stay and mortality.

Results

Overall, 221 patients were included in the study. 113 were treated with FNS, 108 with DHS. Mean age was 69 ± 14 years. There were 17.2% Garden I, 47.5% Garden II, 26.7% Garden III and 8.6% Garden IV fractures. No difference between the groups for age, body mass index (BMI), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), time to surgery, Pauwels and Garden classification, rate of optimal blade position or tip apex distance was found. FNS showed lower pre- to postoperative Hb-difference (1.4 ± 1.1 g/l vs. 2.1 ± 1.4 g/l; p < 0.05), shorter operating time (36.3 ± 11.6 min vs. 54.7 ± 17.4 min; p < 0.05) and hospital stay (8.8 ± 4.3 d vs. 11.2 ± 6.8 d; p < 0.05). Surgical complications (FNS 13.3% vs. DHS 18.4%, p > 0.05), rate of cut out (FNS 12.4% vs. DHS 10.2%, p > 0.05) and mortality (FNS 3.5%; DHS 0.9%; p > 0.05) showed no difference between the groups. Logistic regression showed that poor blade position was the only significant predictor for cut out and increased the risk by factor 7. Implant related infection (n = 3) and hematoma/seroma (n = 6) that needed revision was only seen in DHS group.

Conclusion

FNS proved to be as reliable as DHS in all patients with hip fractures. Not the type of implant but blade positioning is still key to prevent implant failure. Still due to minimal invasive approach implant related infections and postoperative hematomas might have been prevented using the FNS.
Treatment of snoring using a non-invasive Er:YAG laser with SMOOTH mode (NightLase): a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Picavet Valerie A. , Dellian Marc , Gehrking Eckard , Sauter Alexander , Hasselbacher Katrin
Published: July 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of a non-invasive 2940 nm Er:YAG treatment with SMOOTH mode in reducing snoring in adult patients and to compare its efficacy and safety to sham treatment in a randomized controlled trial setting. 

Methods

40 primary snoring patients (≥ 18 year, AHI < 15e/h, BMI ≤ 30) were randomized to receive either 3 sessions NightLase or sham laser treatment. The main outcome measures were Snore Outcomes Survey (SOS), the Spouse/Bed Partner Survey (SBPS), a visual analogue snoring scale (bed partner) and a visual analogue pain scale.

Results

NightLase was well tolerated, no local anaesthesia was required (mean VAS pain score in NightLase group = 3.0 ± 1.7). No complications occurred. SOS, SBPS and VAS snoring scores improved in the NightLase group (33.7 ± 14.1 to 56.2 ± 16.1) (35.0 ± 17.1 to 61.5 ± 16.4) and (7.9 ± 2.0 to 4.7 ± 2.8) while no changing in the sham group (32.2 ± 14.5 vs 32.1 ± 13.0) (36.7 ± 12.1 vs 34.7 ± 12.7) (8.1 ± 1.7 vs 8.0 ± 1.6), respectively.

Conclusions

NightLase is a safe, minimal invasive treatment that significantly reduced snoring compared to sham treatment.
Lithium and boron diffusivity and isotopic fractionation in hydrated rhyolitic melts
Authors: Spallanzani Roberta , Koga Kenneth T. , Cichy Sarah B. , Wiedenbeck Michael , Schmidt Burkhard C. , Oelze Marcus , Wilke Max
Published: July 2022

Lithium and boron are trace components of magmas, released during exsolution of a gas phase during volcanic activity. In this study, we determine the diffusivity and isotopic fractionation of Li and B in hydrous silicate melts. Two glasses were synthesized with the same rhyolitic composition (4.2 wt% water), having different Li and B contents; these were studied in diffusion-couple experiments that were performed using an internally heated pressure vessel, operated at 300 MPa in the temperature range 700–1250 °C for durations from 0 s to 24 h. From this we determined activation energies for Li and B diffusion of 57 ± 4 kJ/mol and 152 ± 15 kJ/mol with pre-exponential factors of 1.53 × 10–7 m2/s and 3.80 × 10–8 m2/s, respectively. Lithium isotopic fractionation during diffusion gave β values between 0.15 and 0.20, whereas B showed no clear isotopic fractionation. Our Li diffusivities and isotopic fractionation results differ somewhat from earlier published values, but overall confirm that Li diffusivity increases with water content. Our results on B diffusion show that similarly to Li, B mobility increases in the presence of water. By applying the Eyring relation, we confirm that B diffusivity is limited by viscous flow in silicate melts. Our results on Li and B diffusion present a new tool for understanding degassing-related processes, offering a potential geospeedometer to measure volcanic ascent rates.
Elevated inflammatory biomarkers and poor outcomes in intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Bader Edward R. , Pana Tiberiu A. , Barlas Raphae S. , Metcalf Anthony K. , Potter John F. , Myint Phyo K.
Published: July 2022

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a reactive neuroinflammatory response. However, it remains unclear if circulating inflammatory biomarkers are associated with adverse outcomes in ICH. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cohort study using a prospectively maintained stroke register in the United Kingdom to assess the prognostic value of admission inflammatory biomarkers in ICH.

Methods

The Norfolk and Norwich Stroke and TIA Register recorded consecutive ICH cases. The primary exposures of interest were elevation of white cell count (WCC; > 10 × 109/L), elevation of c-reactive protein (CRP; > 10 mg/L), and co-elevation of both biomarkers, at the time of admission. Modified Poisson and Cox regressions were conducted to investigate the relationship between co-elevation of WCC and CRP at admission and outcomes following ICH. Functional outcome, multiple mortality timepoints, and length of stay were assessed.

Results

In total, 1714 ICH cases were identified from the register. After adjusting for covariates, including stroke-associated pneumonia, co-elevation of WCC and CRP at admission was independently associated with significantly increased risk of poor functional outcome (RR 1.08 [95% CI 1.01–1.15]) and inpatient mortality (RR 1.21 [95% CI 1.06–1.39]); and increased 90-day (HR 1.22 [95% CI 1.03–1.45]), and 1-year mortality (HR 1.20 [95% CI 1.02–1.41]). Individual elevation of WCC or CRP was also associated with poor outcomes.

Conclusions

Elevated inflammatory biomarkers were associated with poor outcomes in ICH. This study indicates that these readily available biomarkers may be valuable for prognostication and underscore the importance of inflammation in ICH.
SALUS—a non-inferiority trial to compare self-tonometry in glaucoma patients with regular inpatient intraocular pressure controls: study design and set-up
Authors: Oldiges Kristina , Steinmann Maren , Duevel Juliane Andrea , Gruhn Sebastian , Diener Raphael , Leclaire Martin Dominik , Al-Nawaiseh Sami , Eter Nicole ,   on behalf of the SALUS study group, Greiner W. , Behm B. , Kisielinski D. , Schwarze K. , Meyer F. , Warkentin S. , Hammerschmidt R. , Luzius M. , Berlage T. , Becker M. , Charles A. , Heitkaemper R. , Weingarten B. , Boeker T. , Hermel M. , Kaskel-Paul S. , Kohlhaas M. , Alnawaiseh M. , Brücher V. C. , Czapski P. , Holtrup L. , Merté R.-L. , Storp J. J. , Treder M. , Zimmermann J. A.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The SALUS study aims to improve the healthcare situation for glaucoma patients in Germany. In order to detect diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations, inpatient monitoring of IOP in an eye hospital for a minimum of 24 h is the current standard. SALUS assesses the benefits of a new form of outpatient care, where IOP can be measured by the patients themselves at home using a self-tonometer. This approach should promote the patient’s health competence and empowerment within the healthcare system while reducing treatment costs.

Methods

The SALUS study is a randomized controlled, open non-inferiority trial, alongside an economic analysis, determining whether outpatient monitoring of IOP with self-tonometry is at least as effective as current standard care and would reduce treatment costs. Participants (n = 1980) will be recruited by local ophthalmologists in the area of Westphalia-Lippe, Germany, and randomized to receive 7-day outpatient or 24-h inpatient monitoring. Participants in both study arms will also receive 24-h blood pressure monitoring. Furthermore, patient data from both study groups will be collected in an electronic case file (ECF), accessible to practitioners, hospitals, and the study participants. The primary endpoint is the percentage of patients with IOP peaks, defined as levels 30% above the patient-specific target pressure. Data will also be collected during initial and final examinations, and at 3, 6, and 9 months after the initial examination.

Results

The study implementation and trial management are represented below.

Conclusion

SALUS is a pioneering prospective clinical trial focused on the care of glaucoma patients in Germany. If SALUS is successful, it could improve the healthcare situation and health literacy of the patients through the introduction of various telemedical components. Furthermore, the approach would almost certainly reduce the treatment costs of glaucoma care.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04698876, registration date: 11/25/2020.

DRKS-ID: DRKS00023676, registration date: 11/26/2020.
The influence of stereoscopic vision on surgical performance in minimal invasive surgery—a substudy of the IDOSP-Study (Influence of 3D- vs. 4 K-Display Systems on Surgical Performance in minimal invasive surgery)
Authors: Gietzelt Caroline , Datta Rabi , Busshoff Jana , Bruns Thomas , Wahba Roger , Hedergott Andrea
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study is a secondary analysis of the IDOSP trial published in the Annals of Surgery 2020. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of stereo acuity on surgical performance in a laparoscopic training parkour with 3D- versus 4 K-2D-display technique.

Methods

The surgical performance of medical students (MS), non-board-certified surgeons (NBC), and board-certified surgeons (BC) was compared using 3D- versus 4 K-2D-display technique at a training parkour in a randomized cross-over trial. Stereo acuity was tested by TNO and Titmus Stereo tests.

Results

Eighty-nine participants were included in this sub-trial. The median stereo acuity for all participants, measured with the Titmus test, was 25 s arc, with TNO test 30 s arc. Higher quality stereo vision, measured with the Titmus test, correlated significantly with a reduced parkour time (r = 0.26, p = 0.02) and error (r = 0.21, p = 0.048) with the 3D screen. The TNO test did not correlate significantly with parkour performance. There was no statistically significant correlation between parkour time nor error and stereo acuity using the 4 K system (p > 0.457 respectively). Higher age showed a significant correlation with lower stereo acuity measured with TNO (r = 0.21, p = 0.014), but not with the Titmus test (r =  − 0.7, p = 0.39). Seven percent of the group “NBC and BC” showed reduced stereo acuity > 120 s arc with the Titmus test and 3% with the TNO test.

Conclusion

High-quality stereo vision is of utmost importance for surgical skills using a 3D-display system. This was most obvious for MS and for tasks that place particularly high demands on hand–eye coordination. The Titmus test was more precise than the TNO test to predict the benefit of a 3D monitor system. Experience and fine motor skills could partly compensate for a poorer stereo acuity.

Trial registration

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (trial number: NCT03445429, registered February 26, 2018).
On the emergence of the in–out effect across trials: two items do the trick
Authors: Topolinski Sascha , Boecker Lea , Löffler Charlotte S. , Gusmão Beatriz , Ingendahl Moritz
Published: July 2022

Individuals prefer letter strings whose consonantal articulation spots move from the front of the mouth to the back (e.g., BAKA, inward) over those with a reversed consonant order (e.g., KABA, outward), the so-called in–out effect. The present research explores whether individuals hold an internal standard or scheme of consonant order that triggers this effect. If this were the case, the in–out effect should already occur in one-trial between-subjects designs. If not, the in–out effect should emerge over the course of trials in within-subjects designs. In Experiments 1a–e (1b–e preregistered; total N = 2973; German, English, and Portuguese samples) employing a one-trial between-subjects design, no in–out effect was found. In Experiment 2 (N = 253), employing within-subjects designs with either 1, 5, 10, 30, or 50 trials per consonant order category (inward vs. outward), the in–out effect was absent in the first trial, but already surfaced for the first 2 trials, reached significance within the first 10 trials and a solid plateau within the first 20 trials. Of the four theoretical explanations, the present evidence favors the fluency/frequency and letter-position accounts and is at odds with the eating-related embodiment and easy-first accounts.
Association of growth with neurodevelopment in extremely low gestational age infants: a population-based analysis
Authors: Gerull Roland , Huber Eva , Rousson Valentin , Ahrens Olaf , Fumeaux Celine J. Fischer , Adams Mark , Tolsa Cristina Borradori , Neumann Roland P. , Bickle-Graz Myriam , Natalucci Giancarlo ,   for the Swiss Neonatal Network & Follow-up Group
Published: July 2022

To assess the association between postnatal growth and neurodevelopment at the age of 2 years in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGAN, < 28 weeks’ gestation). Retrospective population-based cohort study including all live born ELGAN in 2006–2012 in Switzerland. Growth parameters (weight, length, head circumference, body mass index) were assessed at birth, at hospital discharge home, and 2-year follow-up (FU2). Unadjusted and adjusted regression models assessed associations between growth (birth to hospital discharge and birth to FU2) and neurodevelopment at FU2. A total of 1244 infants (mean GA 26.5 ± 1.0 weeks, birth weight 853 ± 189 g) survived to hospital discharge and were included in the analyses. FU2 was documented for 1049 (84.3%) infants. The mean (± SD) mental and a psychomotor development index at 2FU were 88.9 (± 18.0) and 86.9 (± 17.7), respectively. Moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment was documented in 23.2% of patients. Changes of z-scores between birth and discharge and between birth and FU2 for weight were − 1.06 (± 0.85) and − 0.140 (± 1.15), for length − 1.36 (± 1.34), and − 0.40 (± 1.33), for head circumference − 0.61 (± 1.04) and − 0.76 (± 1.32) as well as for BMI 0.22 (± 3.36) and − 0.006 (± 1.45). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses showed that none of the four growth parameters was significantly associated with any of the three outcome parameters of neurodevelopment. This was consistent for both time intervals.

Conclusion: In the present population-based cohort of ELGAN, neither growth between birth and hospital discharge nor between birth and FU2 were significantly associated with neurodevelopment at age of 2 years.

What is Known:• Studies assessing the association between growth and neurodevelopment in extremely low gestational age newborns (28 weeks’ gestation) show conflicting results.

What is New:• Neither growth between birth and hospital discharge nor between birth and corrected age of 2 years were significantly associated with neurodevelopment at age of 2 years.• The role of postnatal growth as a predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome during infancy might be smaller than previously assumed.
VRP in urban areas to optimize costs while mitigating environmental impact
Authors: Cerrone Carmine , Sciomachen Anna
Published: July 2022

Nowadays, the need to think about sustainable mobility, both goods and people, is widely recognized. For this reason, many recent papers have moved in this direction. In this context, particular attention is now devoted to urban mobility, mainly from a smart city perspective. The present work focuses on sustainable urban freight distribution and proposes a variant of the VRP, which presents some innovative aspects. The goal is to minimize the routes’ cost components, including traveling and external costs due to environmental issues, depending on the chosen vehicles and the different urban streets to cross. In addition, restrictions on the maximum duration of each route to ensure frequent sanitation of vehicles used for deliveries, as required from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, are imposed. The distribution network is modeled by a weighted digraph for which some properties are proved. To face the problem, we present a mixed-integer linear programming model, a math-heuristic associated with it, and a memetic algorithm approach. The results of the reported computational experimentation with random instances specifically tailored for the problem show the efficiency of the proposed methods. Further, test cases based on data of the distribution network of two B2C companies operating in the city of Genoa, Italy, proved the effective application of the proposed methods in the direction of sustainable urban distribution plans.
Geochemical and zircon U-Pb geochronological constraints on late mesozoic Paleo-Pacific subduction-related volcanism in southern Vietnam
Authors: Nong Anh T.Q. , Hauzenberger Christoph A. , Gallhofer Daniela , Skrzypek Etienne , Dinh Sang Q.
Published: July 2022

Late Mesozoic volcanic rocks comprising mainly basalt and basaltic-andesite to dacite occur in south-central Vietnam (Dalat zone) and to a lesser extent in southwestern Vietnam (Bay Nui area). Mineral and whole-rock chemistry indicate a calc-alkaline affinity for samples in the Dalat zone and a high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic affinity for rocks in the Bay Nui area. Mineral characteristics and variation diagrams of selected elements suggest that fractional crystallization dominated during magma differentiation. The Bay Nui volcanic rocks generally are more enriched in potassium and LILEs (large-ion lithophile elements) than volcanic rocks from the Dalat zone, which may indicate a more evolved nature or crustal assimilation. The similar chemical characteristics and eruption/emplacement age range of volcanic and plutonic rocks (ca. 90–110 Ma) of equal silica concentration indicate that the magma feeding the volcanic eruptions had the same source as that of the plutonic rocks. The observed mineral and whole-rock compositions with enrichment in LILEs, depletion in HFSEs (high field strength elements), and noticeably negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies are characteristic for arc signatures. Zircon U-Pb geochronological data for the volcanic rocks indicate an age range of 95–105 Ma for the eruption. These geochemical and geochronological data link this Late Mesozoic volcanism with continental arc magmatism driven by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific beneath eastern Indochina. Zircon xenocrysts with a likely magmatic origin cluster around 350 Ma and 250 Ma, indicating two earlier magmatic events most likely related to the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys beneath western Indochina and the subsequent Indosinian orogeny.
Mental sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic in children with and without complex medical histories and their parents: well-being prior to the outbreak and at four time-points throughout 2020 and 2021
Authors: Ehrler Melanie , Hagmann Cornelia F. , Stoeckli Alexandra , Kretschmar Oliver , Landolt Markus A. , Latal Beatrice , Wehrle Flavia M.
Published: July 2022

The objective of this study is to understand the long-term mental sequelae for families over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic by longitudinally investigating the well-being of children with and without complex medical histories and their parents. Well-being of 200 children (between 7 and 18 years of age; 73 typically developing, 46 born very preterm, 73 with complex congenital heart disease) and 175 of their parents was assessed prior to and during the first (April–May 2020), second (October–November 2020), third (April–May 2021), and fourth wave (October–November 2021) of the pandemic with standardized questionnaires. Linear mixed models were used to investigate longitudinal changes in child and parent well-being compared to before the pandemic. Social and COVID-19-specific determinants were investigated as predictors of impaired well-being. To illustrate clinical relevance, the proportion of children and parents scoring > 1 SD below normative mean/median was reported. Compared to before the pandemic, child proxy-reported well-being was lower during the first but not the second, third, and fourth waves. Child self-reported well-being was not lower during the pandemic compared to before. Parent well-being dropped during the first wave and remained low throughout the subsequent waves. Proxy-reported child and self-reported parent well-being was lower in families with sparse social support and poor family functioning. Parents of typically developing children reported lower well-being than parents of children born very preterm or with a complex congenital heart disease. In November 2021, 20% of children (both self- and proxy-report) and 24% of parents scored below the normal range compared to 11% (child self-report), 10% (child proxy-report), and 16% (parent self-report), respectively, before the pandemic. The pandemic continues to impact the well-being of parents of school-aged children with and without complex medical histories more than 1 year after its outbreak. Children’s well-being was specifically affected during the first wave of the pandemic and has recovered thereafter. Families with sparse social support and poor family functioning are particularly at risk for compromised well-being and support should be provided to them.
Public perception of transitioning to a low-carbon nation: a Malaysian scenario
Authors: Wong Fadhli Wong Mohd Hasan , Foley Aoife , Del Rio Dylan Furszyfer , Rooney David , Shariff Shahidah , Dolfi Andrea , Srinivasan Geetha
Published: July 2022

Efforts such as the Glasgow United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties 26, the Paris Agreement (Paris agreement, United Nations, Paris, 2015) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are supporting the drive to protect the planet from global warming by ensuring sustainable development. The oil and gas industry, as key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, must transition to more sustainable energy solutions and play their part in reducing these emissions. Currently, oil and gas companies are implementing technical solutions to achieve net zero carbon emissions. The energy transition from fossil fuel reliance has also happened by exploiting alternative renewable energy sources to meet global energy demand such as wind, solar, biogas and bioderived feedstocks. This net zero energy transition will require a fair and just transition for all in society, and to implement this, it is crucial for those working in the oil and gas industry to understand the technologies needed, the importance of carbon policies and their roles. This research presents a modified Delphi study of employees in Malaysia's national oil and gas company to understand their perceptions towards a net-zero carbon future. The paper briefly reviews Malaysia's low-carbon policy plans, its current carbon dioxide accounting balance, and identifies potential technologies for decarbonisation to set the scene for the modified Delphi study. The results indicated that the national oil and gas company has both the capabilities and the financial resources to significantly contribute towards Malaysia transitioning to a carbon neutral nation. This can be achieved by implementing advanced technologies complementing with nature-based solutions to realise net zero carbon emissions. This study also portrays the confidence that the portfolio of solutions should be executed through a coordinated effort to maximise the outcome and minimise the financial impact in terms of economical sustainability. Implementation of activities towards this energy transition will require significant social commitment, and hence, gauging their perception towards this journey is key objective of this paper.

Graphical abstract
Tidal dissipation from free drift sea ice in the Barents Sea assessed using GNSS beacon observations
Authors: Vasulkar Amey , Verlaan Martin , Slobbe Cornelis , Kaleschke Lars
Published: July 2022

One of the major challenges facing global hydrodynamic tidal models is the modelling of the interaction between sea ice and tides in high-latitude waters. Recent studies have shown strong seasonal correlation between sea ice and tides. Hence, it is important to accurately model the effect of sea ice in a tidal model. Presence of sea ice leads to a frictional dissipation of tides. Most models either completely ignore sea ice or partly include it by assuming a fixed sea ice cover (landfast ice). However, sea ice can also be drifting and the nature of dissipation between drifting sea ice and tides is partly unknown. We assess the dissipation of tides due to free drift sea ice. In the absence of wind, this is negligible in the deeper and open ocean. For the shallow water regions, however, this dissipation is unknown. Here, we evaluate this dissipation for the Spitzbergen Shelf region using a beacon dataset showing strong free drift subdaily sea ice oscillations and a physics based point ice model. Two analyses were done which compared the model and observed motion. The analyses showed that for winds speeds below 8m/s and with low subdaily signals, the subdaily free drift sea ice motion is strongly connected to the tides and that the frictional dissipation is low. In the context of global tide and storm surge models, the dissipation from free drift sea ice on tides should be evaluated based on the region (deep ocean or shallow water) and existing wind conditions. In the presence of strong winds the dissipation between free drift sea ice and air can be significant on a subdaily scale even if there are no subdaily signals in the wind itself.
Ferric Oxide Colloid: Towards Green Nano-Fertilizer for Tomato Plant with Enhanced Vegetative Growth and Immune Response Against Fusarium Wilt Disease
Authors: Elbasuney Sherif , El-Sayyad Gharieb S. , Attia Mohamed S. , Abdelaziz Amer M.
Published: July 2022

Global food crisis due to climate change, pandemic COVID-19 outbreak, and Russia-Ukraine conflict leads to catastrophic consequences; almost 10 percent of the world’s population go to bed hungry daily. Narrative solution for green agriculture with high vegetation and crop yield is mandatory; novel nanomaterials can improve plant immunity and restrain plant diseases. Iron is fundamental nutrient element; it plays vital role in enzyme activity and RNA synthesis; furthermore it is involved in photosynthesis electron-transfer chains. This study reports on the facile synthesis of colloidal ferric oxide nanoparticles as novel nano-fertilizer to promote vegetation and to suppressFusariumwilt disease in tomato plant. Disease index, protection percent, photosynthetic pigments, and metabolic indicators of resistance in plant as response to induction of systemic resistance (SR) were recorded. Results illustrated that Fe2O3NPs had antifungal activity againstF.oxysporum. Fe2O3NPs (at 20 µg/mL) was the best treatment and reduced percent disease indexes by 15.62 and gave highly protection against disease by 82.15% relative to untreated infected plants. Fe2O3NPs treatments in either (non-infected or infected) plants showed improvements in photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, and antioxidant enzymes activity. The beneficial effects of the synthesized Fe2O3NPs were extended to increase not only photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes contents but also the activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enzymes of the healthy and infected tomato plants in comparison with control. For, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities it was found that, application of Fe2O3NPs (10 µg/mL) on challenged plants offered the best treatments which increased the activities of POD by (34.4%) and PPO by (31.24%). On the other hand, application of Fe2O3NPs (20 µg/mL) on challenged plants offered the best treatments which increased the activities of CAT by (30.9%), and SOD by (31.33%).
First Hard X-Ray Imaging Results by Solar Orbiter STIX
Authors: Massa Paolo , Battaglia Andrea F. , Volpara Anna , Collier Hannah , Hurford Gordon J. , Kuhar Matej , Perracchione Emma , Garbarino Sara , Massone Anna Maria , Benvenuto Federico , Schuller Frederic , Warmuth Alexander , Dickson Ewan C. M. , Xiao Hualin , Maloney Shane A. , Ryan Daniel F. , Piana Michele , Krucker Säm
Published: July 2022

The Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) is one of six remote sensing instruments on-board Solar Orbiter. The telescope applies an indirect imaging technique that uses the measurement of 30 visibilities, i.e., angular Fourier components of the solar flare X-ray source. Hence, the imaging problem for STIX consists of the Fourier inversion of the data measured by the instrument. In this work, we show that the visibility amplitude and phase calibration of 24 out of 30 STIX sub-collimators has reached a satisfactory level for scientific data exploitation and that a set of imaging methods is able to provide the first hard X-ray images of solar flares from Solar Orbiter. Four visibility-based image reconstruction methods and one count-based are applied to calibrated STIX observations of six events with GOES class between C4 and M4 that occurred in May 2021. The resulting reconstructions are compared to those provided by an optimization algorithm used for fitting the amplitudes of STIX visibilities. We show that the five imaging methods produce results morphologically consistent with the ones provided by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO/AIA) in UV wavelengths. The $\chi ^{2}$

χ
2

values and the parameters of the reconstructed sources are comparable between methods, thus confirming their robustness.
Atrial conduction velocity mapping: clinical tools, algorithms and approaches for understanding the arrhythmogenic substrate
Authors: Coveney Sam , Cantwell Chris , Roney Caroline
Published: July 2022

Characterizing patient-specific atrial conduction properties is important for understanding arrhythmia drivers, for predicting potential arrhythmia pathways, and for personalising treatment approaches. One metric that characterizes the health of the myocardial substrate is atrial conduction velocity, which describes the speed and direction of propagation of the electrical wavefront through the myocardium. Atrial conduction velocity mapping algorithms are under continuous development in research laboratories and in industry. In this review article, we give a broad overview of different categories of currently published methods for calculating CV, and give insight into their different advantages and disadvantages overall. We classify techniques into local, global, and inverse methods, and discuss these techniques with respect to their faithfulness to the biophysics, incorporation of uncertainty quantification, and their ability to take account of the atrial manifold.

Graphical abstract
Tuber Yield, Quality and Infestation Levels of Potato Genotypes, Resistant to the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne chitwoodi
Authors: Teklu Misghina G. , Schomaker Corrie H. , Been Thomas H. , Molendijk Leendert P.G.
Published: July 2022

As part of developing a routine potato cultivars resistance test to Meloidogyne chitwoodi, both the effect of nematode density (Pi) and pot size on growth, tuber yield, quality and tuber infestation level were studied in glasshouse conditions. The study was carried out in four experiments using cv. Desiree as control and seven genotypes with a single resistance gene to M. chitwoodi and 1 genotype, with resistance to Globodera pallida. Plants were inoculated with ranges of Pi from 0.0625 to 256 J2 (g dry soil)−1 in log series. Haulm height, tuber yield, starch dry matter content (SDC) and tuber quality were recorded. Additionally, harvested tubers of experiment 2 were stored for 240–300 days to estimate actual tuber infestation at planting when used as seed in a subsequent season. Haulm height was positively affected with increasing Pi’s and negatively with decreasing pot size. The yield was not affected in four out of seven genotypes with resistance to M. chitwoodi; they can be considered as tolerant, having a relative minimum yield, m = 1. Three genotypes and cv. Desiree showed relative minimum yield, m< 0.8, the latter varying between 0.67 and 0.80 over experiments and pot sizes. The reduction of SDC equalled that of yield indicating that M. chitwoodi had no extra effect on starch content. Quality, expressed as tuber-knot index (TKI), used for accepting ware potatoes for processing, was below 10 for all genotypes, except for 2011M1. The TKI values of cv. Desiree and genotype MDG2 were > 20 and are not accepted for processing. The fraction of clean tubers of the resistant genotypes had significantly increased to 91% compared to < 8% for cv. Desiree and MDG2. Tuber infestation, expressed to number of juveniles per gram dry soil of cv. Desiree after storage, showed no regression with the Pi and averaged 0.35 J2 (g dry soil)−1, while all tested genotypes provided ca. 0.002 J2 (g dry soil)−1.