bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Appraisal of cavity hot-wire probes for wall-shear-stress measurements
Authors: Perez Adalberto , Örlü Ramis , Talamelli Alessandro , Schlatter Philipp
Published: September 2022

Flush-mounted cavity hot-wire probes have emerged as an alternative to classical hot-wire probes mounted several diameters above the surface for wall-shear stress measurements. They aim at increasing the frequency response and accuracy by circumventing the well-known issue of heat transfer to the substrate that hot-wire and hot-film probes possess. Their use, however, depends on the assumption that the cavity does not influence the flow field. In this study, we show that this assumption does not hold, and that turbulence statistics are modified by the presence of the cavity with sizes that are practically in use. The mean velocity and fluctuations increase near the cavity while the shear stress decreases in its surroundings, all seemingly stemming from the fact that the no-slip condition is not present anymore and that flow reversal occurs. Overall, the energy spectra and the probability density function of the wall shear stress fluctuations indicate a change of nature of turbulence by the presence of the cavity.
3D objects reconstruction from frontal images: an example with guitars
Authors: Beacco Alejandro , Gallego Jaime , Slater Mel
Published: September 2022

This work deals with the automatic 3D reconstruction of objects from frontal RGB images. This aims at a better understanding of the reconstruction of 3D objects from RGB images and their use in immersive virtual environments. We propose a complete workflow that can be easily adapted to almost any other family of rigid objects. To explain and validate our method, we focus on guitars. First, we detect and segment the guitars present in the image using semantic segmentation methods based on convolutional neural networks. In a second step, we perform the final 3D reconstruction of the guitar by warping the rendered depth maps of a fitted 3D template in 2D image space to match the input silhouette. We validated our method by obtaining guitar reconstructions from real input images and renders of all guitar models available in the ShapeNet database. Numerical results for different object families were obtained by computing standard mesh evaluation metrics such as Intersection over Union, Chamfer Distance, and the F-score. The results of this study show that our method can automatically generate high-quality 3D object reconstructions from frontal images using various segmentation and 3D reconstruction techniques.
Novelty detection and orienting: effects on skin conductance and heart rate
Authors: Zimmer Heinz , Richter Fabian
Published: September 2022

In a repetition-change paradigm it was explored whether the skin conductance response (SCR) and the heart rate (HR) response similarly reflect involuntary and voluntary orienting. Seven orienting stimuli, consisting of six contextually novel stimuli and one novel change, were presented to 144 participants. In order to evoke voluntary orienting, the signal value of the contextually novel stimuli was manipulated by task instruction. Results suggest that the SCR is a manifestation of the involuntary orienting response (iOR). The HR, however, showed a non-uniform pattern of response and turned out to be susceptible to voluntary orienting. While it responded to the last orienting stimulus, the novel change, with a clear-cut deceleration, the response to the first orienting stimulus had a polyphase structure and was sensitive to repetition and signal value. The HR response is, thus, of limited value as an indicator of the iOR because of its striking susceptibility to voluntary orienting.
Hydrodynamic limit of simple exclusion processes in symmetric random environments via duality and homogenization
Authors: Faggionato Alessandra
Published: September 2022

We consider continuous-time random walks on a random locally finite subset of $$\mathbb {R}^d$$

R

d

with random symmetric jump probability rates. The jump range can be unbounded. We assume some second-moment conditions and that the above randomness is left invariant by the action of the group $$\mathbb {G}=\mathbb {R}^d$$

G
=

R

d

or $$\mathbb {G}=\mathbb {Z}^d$$

G
=

Z

d

. We then add a site-exclusion interaction, thus making the particle system a simple exclusion process. We show that, for almost all environments, under diffusive space–time rescaling the system exhibits a hydrodynamic limit in path space. The hydrodynamic equation is non-random and governed by the effective homogenized matrix D of the single random walk, which can be degenerate. The above result covers a very large family of models including e.g. simple exclusion processes built from random conductance models on $$\mathbb {Z}^d$$

Z

d

and on crystal lattices (possibly with long conductances), Mott variable range hopping, simple random walks on Delaunay triangulations, random walks on supercritical percolation clusters.
Round-Competitive Algorithms for Uncertainty Problems with Parallel Queries
Authors: Erlebach Thomas , Hoffmann Michael , de Lima Murilo Santos
Published: September 2022

In computing with explorable uncertainty, one considers problems where the values of some input elements are uncertain, typically represented as intervals, but can be obtained using queries. Previous work has considered query minimization in the settings where queries are asked sequentially (adaptive model) or all at once (non-adaptive model). We introduce a new model where k queries can be made in parallel in each round, and the goal is to minimize the number of query rounds. Using competitive analysis, we present upper and lower bounds on the number of query rounds required by any algorithm in comparison with the optimal number of query rounds for the given instance. Given a set of uncertain elements and a family of m subsets of that set, we study the problems of sorting all m subsets and of determining the minimum value (or the minimum element(s)) of each subset. We also study the selection problem, i.e., the problem of determining the i-th smallest value and identifying all elements with that value in a given set of uncertain elements. Our results include 2-round-competitive algorithms for sorting and selection and an algorithm for the minimum value problem that uses at most $$(2+\varepsilon ) \cdot \mathrm {opt}_k+\mathrm {O}\left( \frac{1}{\varepsilon } \cdot \lg m\right) $$

(
2
+
ε
)

·

opt
k

+
O

1
ε

·
lg
m

query rounds for every $$0<\varepsilon <1$$

0
<
ε
<
1

, where $$\mathrm {opt}_k$$

opt
k

is the optimal number of query rounds.
An isogeometric finite element formulation for frictionless contact of Cosserat rods with unconstrained directors
Authors: Choi Myung-Jin , Klinkel Sven , Sauer Roger A.
Published: September 2022

This paper presents an isogeometric finite element formulation for nonlinear beams with impenetrability constraints, based on the kinematics of Cosserat rods with unconstrained directors. The beam cross-sectional deformation is represented by director vectors of an arbitrary order. For the frictionless lateral beam-to-beam contact, a surface-to-surface contact algorithm combined with an active set strategy and a penalty method is employed. The lateral boundary surface of the beam is parameterized by its axis and cross-sectional boundary curves with NURBS basis functions having at least$$C^2$$C2-continuity, which yields a continuous surface metric and curvature for the closest point projection. Three-dimensional constitutive laws of hyperelastic materials are considered. Several numerical examples verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed beam contact formulation in comparison to brick element solutions. The lateral contact pressure distribution of the beam formulation is in excellent agreement with the contact pressure of the brick element formulation while requiring much less degrees-of-freedom.
The transfer accuracy of digital and conventional full-arch impressions influenced by fixed orthodontic appliances: a reference aid–based in vitro study
Authors: Schlenz Maximiliane Amelie , Klaus Katharina , Schmidt Alexander , Wöstmann Bernd , Mersmann Marco , Ruf Sabine , Bock Niko Christian
Published: September 2022

Objectives

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of fixed orthodontic appliances (FOAs) on the transfer accuracy of full-arch impressions by five intraoral scanners (IOSs): CS3600, Primescan, Trios 4, Medit i500, Emerald S, and one conventional alginate impression (CAI).

Materials and methods

To compare the data with the actual model situation, an established reference aid–based method was applied. A test model with human teeth was used and modified for each testing group, resulting in five different settings: natural teeth (group A), metal brackets without/with wire (groups B/C), ceramic brackets without/with wire (groups D/E). A total of 300 (n = 12 × 5 × 5) scan datasets of IOSs were analyzed using a 3D software (GOM Inspect) and 60 (n = 12 × 5) plaster casts of CAI were measured with a coordinate measurement machine. The deviations between the reference aid and the impressions were determined.

Results

For all groups with brackets (B to E), IOSs showed a higher transfer accuracy compared to CAI, even for long-span distances. However, some significant differences between the IOSs were observed (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this in vitro study, IOSs can be recommended for impressions with and without FOAs, even if CAI showed the smallest average deviations in settings without FOAs.

Clinical relevance

IOSs are widely used in orthodontics and the current study demonstrated that their use enables fast impression taking even in settings with fixed orthodontic appliances. In addition, for these settings, the transfer accuracy is higher than with conventional alginate impressions. Nevertheless, a re-investigation in a clinical setting should be performed to verify the current in vitro findings.
Nonparametric identification and estimation of all-pay auction and contest models
Authors: Shakhgildyan Ksenia
Published: September 2022

In this paper, I study the nonparametric identification and estimation of multi-unit all-pay auctions of incomplete information. First, I consider the setting where multiple goods are allocated among several risk-neutral participants with independent private values (IPV). I prove the nonparametric identification of the model and derive two different consistent estimators of the distribution of bidder valuations. The first estimator is based on the classical structural approach similar to that of Guerre et al. (Econometrica 68(3):525–574, 2000). The second estimator, instead, allows estimation of the quantile function of the bidders’ valuations directly using the quantile density of the bids. Monte Carlo simulations show good small sample property under various assumptions of the number of players and goods. Next, I consider a variety of model extensions: the case of affiliated private values (APV), asymmetric players, the addition of random noise, as well as the case of risk-averse bidders. In contrast to all other scenarios, I prove that the general model with risk-averse bidders is not identified even in the semi-parametric case in which utility function is restricted to belong to the class of functions with constant absolute risk aversion (CARA). On the other hand, I show that the model with risk aversion can be identified if the distribution of valuations is restricted to having fixed support.
Effective utilization of service vessels in fish farming: fleet design considering the characteristics of the locations
Authors: Slette Hans Tobias , Asbjørnslett Bjørn Egil , Fagerholt Kjetil , Lianes Ingeborg Margrete , Noreng Maren Theisen
Published: September 2022

Effective utilization of service vessels in sea-based fish farming requires that the vessels are suited to the operating environments at the fish farms. This paper presents a methodology for assessing service vessel fleet performance when serving a network of farms with different metocean conditions. Fleet performance is defined as the ability to perform operations requested by the fish farms, in due time. An optimization for simulation approach is employed, implementing a routing and scheduling heuristic developed for aquaculture service vessels. A case study was performed assessing the performance of two different fleets serving a set of 21 fish farms. The variation in local metocean conditions between the farms, and how weather changes in time, challenges the operability of the aquaculture infrastructure and the effective routing and scheduling of the vessels. Hence, the results show that proper fleet composition in this context improves fleet performance. Fleet performance is substantially higher when fleet composition, routing, and scheduling is based on the specific weather conditions.
Acyl-Ghrelin Attenuates Neurochemical and Motor Deficits in the 6-OHDA Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Rees Daniel , Beynon Amy L. , Lelos Mariah J. , Smith Gaynor A. , Roberts Luke D. , Phelps Lyndsey , Dunnett Stephen B. , Morgan Alwena H. , Brown Rowan M. , Wells Timothy , Davies Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2022

The feeding-related hormone, acyl-ghrelin, protects dopamine neurones in murine 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-based models of experimental Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the potential protective effect of acyl-ghrelin on substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) dopaminergic neurones and consequent behavioural correlates in the more widely used 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat medial forebrain bundle (MFB) lesion model of PD are unknown. To address this question, acyl-ghrelin levels were raised directly by mini-pump infusion for 7 days prior to unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into the MFB with assessment of amphetamine-induced rotations on days 27 and 35, and immunohistochemical analysis of dopaminergic neurone survival. Whilst acyl-ghrelin treatment was insufficient to elevate food intake or body weight, it attenuated amphetamine-induced circling behaviour and SNpc dopamine neurone loss induced by 6-OHDA. These data support the notion that elevating circulating acyl-ghrelin may be a valuable approach to slow or impair progression of neurone loss in PD.

Graphical abstract
An Ecological Exploration into the Agency of Four Former Early Childhood Teachers
Authors: Ciuciu Jessica
Published: September 2022

Issues of Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) shortages, recruitment, and retention are of concern in many nations, with ECT attrition being a contributing factor. Simultaneously, scholars argue that neoliberal influences are restricting the agency of ECTs. This article explores the relationship between ECT attrition and agency by re-examining narratives shared by four individuals who chose to leave early childhood teaching in Victoria, Australia. Through an analytical framework grounded in ecological systems, I delve into how agency was experienced in relation to the incidents that led participants to leave the profession at the individual, micro-, meso-, exo-, macro-, and chrono-systems. The findings suggest that upon entering the profession, participants had anticipated and found the need to advocate for their professional aspirations. Notably, their relationships with colleagues, particularly management and leadership, either afforded or constrained their agency. Other system factors influencing their agency, and reasons for leaving the profession, include the everyday busyness of teaching, educator-child ratios, and working conditions as defined by their employment entitlements. I argue that early childhood managers and leaders act as agency gatekeepers and concur with scholars who suggest a need to reimagine early childhood education and care as a public good, and to reconsider current hierarchical structures. This article aims to initiate further research concerned with the agency of ECTs and how they are or can be supported to not only remain but thrive within in the profession.
Dots on the Map: Issues in the Archaeological Analysis of Site Locations
Authors: Jochim Michael A.
Published: September 2022

The analysis of site locations is an important component of archaeological research. Recent advances in this topic include the use of ecological models such as the ideal free distribution and its variants, which predict site locations under various conditions in relation to criteria that promote the greatest adaptive success. Such models can face problems in determining such criteria and especially their relative importance. Another approach, which can be used in conjunction with these models, uses the concept of decision trees to infer the relative ranking and the hierarchy of the role of different criteria in the actual locational decisions underlying site placement. Examples from ethnography and European archaeology demonstrate this approach and additionally allow the consideration of another issue, the contexts in which site function and location are likely to be strongly correlated.
Facial expression analysis in a wild sporting environment
Authors: Santana Oliverio J. , Freire-Obregón David , Hernández-Sosa Daniel , Lorenzo-Navarro Javier , Sánchez-Nielsen Elena , Castrillón-Santana Modesto
Published: September 2022

The scientific community and mass media have already reported the use of nonverbal behavior analysis in sports for athletes’ performance. Their conclusions stated that certain emotional expressions are linked to athlete’s performance, or even that psychological strategies serve to improve endurance performance. This paper examines the portrayal of well-known emotions and their relationship to the participants of an ultra-distance race in a high-stake environment. For this purpose, we analyzed almost 600 runners captured when they passed through a set of locations placed along the race track. We have observed a correlation between the runners’ facial expressions and their performance along the track. Moreover, we have analyzed Action Unit activations and aligned our findings with the state-of-the-art psychological baseline.
Discrete choice modeling with anonymized data
Authors: Balac Milos , Hörl Sebastian , Schmid Basil
Published: September 2022

This paper presents an approach to estimate mode-choice models from spatially anonymized revealed preference travel survey data. We propose an algorithm to find a feasible sequence of activity locations for each individual that minimizes the maximum error of each trip’s Euclidean distance within the activity chain. The synthetic activity locations are then used to create unchosen alternatives within the choice set for each individual. This is followed by the mode-choice model estimation. We test our approach on three large-scale travel surveys conducted in Switzerland, Île-de-France, and São Paulo. We find that our methodological approach can reconstruct activity locations that accurately match trip Euclidean distances but with location errors that still provide location protection. The discrete mode-choice models estimated on the synthetic locations perform similarly, in terms of goodness of fit and prediction, to the ones obtained from the observed activity locations.
Reminiscences of Robert Paul Levine (1927–2022)
Authors: Rochaix Jean-David
Published: September 2022

I present my personal reminiscence of Paul Levine—a highly innovative scientist who did seminal work in photosynthesis. He was among the first to initiate and use a genetic approach toward photosynthesis. He greatly helped in establishing the green unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a powerful model system not only for understanding the function of the photosynthetic apparatus but also for studying its biogenesis and regulation. During the period he spent at Harvard, he made several ground-breaking contributions such as identifying and establishing the order of some components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain as well as determining their genetic origin. He trained many students and post-doctoral fellows several of whom later became prominent in this field and in other areas of plant science.
Phonological and orthographic processing in basic literacy adults and dyslexic children
Authors: Kolinsky Régine , Tossonian Méghane
Published: September 2022

The aim of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that, compared to typically reading children matched on regular word reading, adults with basic literacy (either adult literacy students or adult basic education students) struggle on phonologically demanding tasks but are relatively performant on orthographic demanding tasks, and hence present a performance pattern similar to that of dyslexic children. Using various reading and phoneme awareness tests, we therefore compared the adults to both typically reading children from Grades 3 and 4 and dyslexic children, these two groups being matched to the adults on regular word reading. The dyslexic children were also compared to either chronological age- or reading level-matched children. The hypothesis was only partly supported by the data, as results depended on the subgroup of adults considered. While the literacy students presented poorer phoneme awareness and a somewhat stronger length effect in reading than the dyslexic children, the basic education students outperformed the latter on irregular word reading. The adults, and in particular the literacy students, also relied frequently on orthography in a complex phoneme awareness task. Taken together, these results suggest that adults with basic literacy rely more on visual memory than both dyslexic and typically reading children. This opens the question of whether the peculiar profile of these adults is intrinsic to adult literacy acquisition or is related to the way they are taught and trained to read and write. The results also highlight the need for better characterization of subgroups of adults with basic literacy.
Truth pluralism without domains
Authors: Gamester Will
Published: September 2022

Truth pluralists say that truth-bearers in different “discourses”, “domains”, “domains of discourse”, or “domains of inquiry” are apt to be true in different ways – for instance, that mathematical discourse or ethical discourse is apt to be true in a different way to ordinary descriptive or scientific discourse. Moreover, the notion of a “domain” is often explicitly employed in formulating pluralist theories of truth. Consequently, the notion of a “domain” is attracting increasing attention, both critical and constructive. I argue that this is a red herring. First, I identify the theoretical role for which pluralists appeal to domains, which is to answer what I call the “Individuation Problem”: saying what determines the way in which a particular truth-bearer is apt to be true. Second, I argue that pluralists need not appeal to domains for this purpose. I thus conclude that, despite the usual way of glossing the view, there is no role for the notion of a “domain” to play in the pluralist’s theory of truth. I argue that this defuses the “Problem of Mixed Atomics” and allows the pluralist to sidestep potentially intractable disputes about the nature of domains.
Has the side-effect effect been cancelled? (No, not yet.)
Authors: Sytsma Justin , Bishop Robert , Schwenkler John
Published: September 2022

A large body of research has found that people judge bad foreseen side effects to be more intentional than good ones. While the standard interpretation of this Side-Effect Effect (SEE) takes it to show that the ordinary concept of intentionality is influenced by normative considerations, a competing account holds that it is the result of pragmatic pressure to express moral censure and, thus, that the SEE is an experimental artifact. Attempts to confirm this account have previously been unsuccessful, but Lindauer and Southwood (Am Philos Q 58(2):181–186, 2021) present a study that appears to provide support for it, by cancelling the SEE. We are not convinced. Here, we detail three studies testing their interpretation. The results indicate that it is the purported cancellation, rather than the SEE, that is an experimental artifact.
Metabolites derived from fungi and bacteria suppress in vitro growth of Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi, a major threat to the global chestnut industry
Authors: Silva-Campos Matias , Callahan Damien L. , Cahill David M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Chestnut rot caused by the fungus Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi is a disease present in the world’s major chestnut growing regions. The disease is considered a significant threat to the global production of nuts from the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). Conventional fungicides provide some control, but little is known about the potential of biological control agents (BCAs) as alternatives to manage the disease.

Objective

Evaluate whether formulated BCAs and their secreted metabolites inhibit the in vitro growth of G. smithogilvyi.

Methods

The antifungal potential of BCAs was assessed against the pathogen through an inverted plate assay for volatile compounds (VOCs), a diffusion assay for non-volatile compounds (nVOCs) and in dual culture. Methanolic extracts of nVOCs from the solid medium were further evaluated for their effect on conidia germination and were screened through an LC–MS-based approach for antifungal metabolites.

Results

Isolates of Trichoderma spp., derived from the BCAs, significantly suppressed the pathogen through the production of VOCs and nVOCs. The BCA from which Bacillus subtilis was isolated was more effective in growth inhibition through the production of nVOCs. The LC–MS based metabolomics on the nVOCs derived from the BCAs showed the presence of several antifungal compounds.

Conclusion

The results show that G. smithogilvyi can be effectively controlled by the BCAs tested and that their use may provide a more ecological alternative for managing chestnut rot. The in vitro analysis should now be expanded to the field to assess the effectiveness of these alternatives for chestnut rot management.
Pilot-scale feasibility study for the stabilization of coal tailings via microbially induced calcite precipitation
Authors: Rodin Sarah , Champagne Pascale , Mann Vanessa
Published: September 2022

Sustainable long-term solutions to managing tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are integral for mines to operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The long-term storage of subaqueous tailings can pose significant safety, environmental, and economic risks; therefore, alternative containment strategies for maintaining geochemical stability of reactive materials must be explored. In this study, the physical and geochemical stabilization of coal tailings using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) was evaluated at a laboratory pilot scale. Three application techniques simulated commonly used agricultural approaches and equipment that could be deployed for field-scale treatment: spraying on treatment solutions with irrigation sprinklers, mixing tailings and treatment solutions with a rototiller, and distributing treatment solutions via shallow trenches using an excavator ripper. Test cells containing 1.0 × 1.0 × 0.5 m of tailings were treated with ureolytic bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii) and cementation solutions composed of urea and calcium chloride for 28 days. Penetrometer tests were performed following incubation to evaluate the extent of cementation. The spray-on application method showed the greatest strength improvement, with in an increase in surface strength of more than 50% for the 28-day testing period. The distribution of treatment solution using trenches was found to be less effective and resulted in greater variability in particle size distribution of treated tailings and would not be recommended for use in the field. The use of rototilling equipment provided a homogenous distribution of treatment solution; however, the disruption to the tailings material was less effective for facilitating effective cementation. Bacterial plate counts of soil samples indicated that S. pasteurii cultures remained viable in a tailings environment for 28 days at 18 °C and near-neutral pH. The treatment was also found to stabilize the pH of tailings porewater sampled over the 28-day incubation period, suggesting the potential for the treatment to provide short-term geochemical stability under unsaturated conditions.
Veterinary antimicrobials in cattle feedlot environs and irrigation conveyances in a high-intensity agroecosystem in southern Alberta, Canada
Authors: Sura Srinivas , Larney Francis J. , Charest Jollin , McAllister Tim A. , Headley John V. , Cessna Allan J.
Published: September 2022

The South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB) is considered one of the most intensively farmed regions in Canada, with high densities of livestock and expansive areas of irrigated cropland. We measured concentrations of seven veterinary antimicrobials (VAs) in 114 surface water samples from feedlot environs and 219 samples from irrigation conveyances in the SSRB. Overall, detection frequencies in feedlot environs were 100% for chlortetracycline (CTC) and tetracycline (TC), 94% for monensin (MON), 84% for tylosin (TYL), 72% for lincomycin (LIN), 66% for erythromycin (ERY), and 23% for sulfamethazine (SMZ). For irrigation conveyances, detection frequencies for CTC and TC remained high (94–100%), but dropped to 18% for ERY, 15% for TYL, 10% for MON, and 4% for SMZ. Lincomycin was not detected in irrigation conveyance water. Maximum concentrations of VAs ranged from 1384 µg L−1 (TC) to 17 ng L−1 (SMZ) in feedlot environs while those in irrigation conveyances were 155 ng L−1 (TC) to 29 ng L−1 (ERY). High detection frequencies and median concentrations of VAs in both feedlot environs and irrigation conveyances were associated with high amounts of precipitation. However, an irrigation district (ID) with high livestock density (Lethbridge Northern) did not exhibit higher concentrations of VAs compared to IDs with less livestock, while levels of VAs in irrigation conveyances were less influenced by the degree of surface runoff. The ubiquity of CTC and TC in our study is likely a reflection of its widespread use in intensive livestock operations. Additional investigation is required to link environmental concentrations of VAs with livestock densities and increase our understanding of potential antimicrobial resistance in high-intensity agroecosystems.
Effect of repeated intakes of a neonicotinoid insecticide on the foraging behaviours of Apis mellifera in field trials
Authors: Girolami Vincenzo , Toffolo Edoardo Petrucco , Mazzon Luca , Zampieri Francesca , Lentola Andrea , Giorio Chiara , Tapparo Andrea
Published: September 2022

Evaluating the effects of neonicotinoids on forager bees in conditions as near as possible to those in nature presents a considerable challenge. Tackling this challenge is, however, necessary to establish their negative side effects on these pollinators. For instance, it is still under debate the mechanism by which bees seem to recognize low-level contaminations of neonicotinoid insecticides in nectar and pollen of the flowers they visit and limit collection to protect themselves and their hive from a possible intoxication. In this study, we propose an experimental system that involves the use of foragers in free flight foraging repeatedly on artificial feeders containing a sucrose solution contaminated with clothianidin, as well as foragers feeding at adjacent control feeders, allowing us to observe changes in their foraging activity. The progressive disappearance of foragers from the contaminated feeders became increasingly clear and rapid with the increase in clothianidin concentration. The lowest concentration at which we observed an effect was around 10 µg/L, which corresponds to the maximum residual concentration (10 ng/g) observed in pollen and nectar of flowers close to open fields sown with seeds coated with insecticides. At the highest concentrations tested (80 µg/L), there was an almost total abandonment of the feeders. The estimated quantity of contaminated sucrose solution collected by foragers showed an almost linear relationship inversely proportional to clothianidin concentration, whilst the estimated quantity of insecticide collected by a forager increased and then stabilised at the highest concentrations tested of 40 and 80 µg/L. Irregular mortality was not observed in front of the hives, furthermore, foragers did not show evident memory of the position of the treated units in the trials on the 2 consecutive days. The decrease in foraging activity in the presence of a few µg/L of insecticide in the sucrose solution appears to limit the introduction of elevated amounts of toxic substances into the hives, which would have serious consequences for the young bees and the brood. At the same time, in the absence of an alternative energy source, even reduced feeding of the hive can compromise colony health.
Cellular heterogeneity and repolarisation across the atria: an in silico study
Authors: Elliott Jordan , Mainardi Luca , Rodriguez Matas Jose Felix
Published: September 2022

Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and the susceptibility to reentries can be impacted by the repolarization across the atria. Studies into atrial fibrillation ignore cell-to-cell heterogeneity due to electrotonic coupling. Recent studies show that cellular variability may have a larger impact on electrophysiological behaviour than assumed. This paper aims to determine the impact of cellular heterogeneity on the repolarization phase across the AF remodelled atria. Using a population of models approach, 10 anatomically identical atrial models were created to include cellular heterogeneity. Atrial models were compared with an equivalent homogenous model. Activation, APD90, and repolarization maps were used to compare models. The impact of electrotonic coupling in the tissue was determined through a comparison of RMP, APD20, APD50, APD90, and triangulation between regional atrial tissue and the single cell populations. After calibration, cellular heterogeneity does not impact atrial depolarization. Repolarization patterns were significantly impacted by cellular heterogeneity, with the APD90 across the LA increasing due to heterogeneity and the reverse occurring in the RA. Electrotonic coupling caused a reduction in variability across all biomarkers but did not fully remove variability. Electrotonic coupling resulted in an increase in APD20 and APD50, and reduced triangulation compared to isolated cell populations. Heterogeneity also caused a reduction in triangulation compared with regionally homogeneous atria.

Graphical abstract
Ecological ceiling and social floor: public support for eco-social policies in Sweden
Authors: Khan Jamil , Emilsson Kajsa , Fritz Martin , Koch Max , Hildingsson Roger , Johansson Håkan
Published: September 2022

In this article, we investigate public support for eco-social policies combining goals of social justice and ecological sustainability. Eco-social policies contribute both to providing a social floor or redistributing resources to where they are needed and to respecting an ecological ceiling by keeping human activities within ecological limits. We discuss five such policies and highlight arguments for and against defining them as eco-social policies: a maximum income, a wealth tax, a basic income, a working time reduction and a meat tax. Asking what the social and individual determinants of supporting these policies are, we use 2020 data from a representative survey in Sweden containing information about how respondents evaluate the policies. We run regression analyses to estimate the effects on these evaluations and test for socio-economic, knowledge-based and value-based factors. Results show that (1) in Sweden a working time reduction is the most supported eco-social policy; (2) political left orientation increases support for all five eco-social policies; (3) socio-economic factors have effects on wealth tax, maximum income and working time reduction; and (4) knowledge-based factors are more associated with the meat tax. Thus, socio-economic and knowledge-based models have the most significance for policies that could be understood as being either social or environmental, while value-based models have significance across potentially perceived policy divides and hence to a greater extent explain support for policies targeting an ecological ceiling and a social floor.
Management of AKI in Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Regner Kevin R. , Kanduri Swetha Rani , Velez Juan Carlos Q.
Published: September 2022

Purpose of Review

The development of acute failure of the kidneys in the context of decompensated cirrhosis represents one of the most challenging scenarios in clinical medicine due to the severity and complexity of the coexistence of those 2 illnesses. Thus, managing those cases can be cumbersome.

Recent Findings

While the state of advanced cirrhosis and portal hypertension can lead to a unique type of acute kidney injury (AKI)—hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-1)—a number of other etiologies can cause AKI, such as prerenal or cardiorenal insults, acute tubular injury, and other parenchymal entities. As a result, medical management of AKI in cirrhosis should be dictated by the driving cause of AKI.

Intravenous albumin is the preferred volume expander for hypovolemic states. Decongestive therapies are indicated in tense ascites-associated abdominal compartment syndrome and/or cardiorenal syndrome type 1. Vasoconstrictor therapy aimed to a specific rise in mean arterial pressure constitutes the cornerstone of the management of HRS-1. Most tubular causes of AKI are managed with supportive care, whereas other tubulointerstitial and glomerular conditions may warrant other interventions such as drug discontinuation, immunosuppression, or antimicrobial/antiviral therapy. Ultimately, AKI unresponsive to medical management may progress, and patients may ultimately necessitate renal replacement therapy (RRT) to sustain life. However, RRT must be carefully considered in this patient population taking in consideration eligibility for liver transplantation, life expectancy, risks and morbidity associated with RRT, and patients’ wishes and those of their families or support network.
Classification of Level of Consciousness in a Neurological ICU Using Physiological Data
Authors: Gomez Louis A. , Shen Qi , Doyle Kevin , Vrosgou Athina , Velazquez Angela , Megjhani Murad , Ghoshal Shivani , Roh David , Agarwal Sachin , Park Soojin , Claassen Jan , Kleinberg Samantha
Published: September 2022

Background

Impaired consciousness is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and an individual’s degree of consciousness is crucial to determining their care and prognosis. However, there are no methods that continuously monitor consciousness and alert clinicians to changes. We investigated the use of physiological signals collected in the ICU to classify levels of consciousness in critically ill patients.

Methods

We studied 61 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 178 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from the neurological ICU at Columbia University Medical Center in a retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data. The level of consciousness was determined on the basis of neurological examination and mapped to comatose, vegetative state or unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS), minimally conscious minus state (MCS−), and command following. For each physiological signal, we extracted time-series features and performed classification using extreme gradient boosting on multiple clinically relevant tasks across subsets of physiological signals. We applied this approach independently on both SAH and ICH patient groups for three sets of variables: (1) a minimal set common to most hospital patients (e.g., heart rate), (2) variables available in most ICUs (e.g., body temperature), and (3) an extended set recorded mainly in neurological ICUs (absent for the ICH patient group; e.g., brain temperature).

Results

On the commonly performed classification task of VS/UWS versus MCS−, we achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) in the SAH patient group of 0.72 (sensitivity 82%, specificity 57%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.81) using the extended set, 0.69 (sensitivity 83%, specificity 51%; 95% CI 0.59–0.78) on the variable set available in most ICUs, and 0.69 (sensitivity 56%, specificity 78%; 95% CI 0.60–0.78) on the minimal set. In the ICH patient group, AUROC was 0.64 (sensitivity 56%, specificity 65%; 95% CI 0.55–0.74) using the minimal set and 0.61 (sensitivity 50%, specificity 80%; 95% CI 0.51–0.71) using the variables available in most ICUs.

Conclusions

We find that physiological signals can be used to classify states of consciousness for patients in the ICU. Building on this with intraday assessments and increasing sensitivity and specificity may enable alarm systems that alert physicians to changes in consciousness and frequent monitoring of consciousness throughout the day, both of which may improve patient care and outcomes.
Monotone continuous dependence of solutions of singular quenching parabolic problems
Authors: Díaz Jesus Ildefonso , Giacomoni Jacques
Published: September 2022

We prove the continuous dependence, with respect to the initial datum of solutions of the “quenching parabolic problem”$$\partial _{t}u-\Delta u+\chi _{\{u>0\}}u^{-\beta }=\lambda u^{p}$$∂tu-Δu+χ{u>0}u-β=λup, with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions, when$$\beta \in (0,1),p\in (0,1],\lambda \ge 0$$β∈(0,1),p∈(0,1],λ≥0and$$\chi _{\{u>0\}}$$χ{u>0}denotes the characteristic function of the set of points (x, t) where$$u(x,t)>0$$u(x,t)>0. Notice that the absorption term$$\chi _{\{u>0\}}u^{-\beta }$$χ{u>0}u-βis singular and monotone decreasing which does not allow the application of standard monotonicity arguments.
Cannabidiol’s Multifactorial Mechanisms Has Therapeutic Potential for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: a Review
Authors: Henry Nicholas , Fraser Justin F. , Chappell Joseph , Langley Tamra , Roberts Jill M.
Published: September 2022

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a major health burden that accounts for approximately 5% of all strokes. The most common cause of a non-traumatic SAH is the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. The most common symptom associated with SAH is a headache, often described as “the worst headache of my life.” Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a major factor associated with patient mortality following SAH and is often associated with SAH-induced cerebral vasospasm (CV). Cannabidiol (CBD) is emerging as a potential drug for many therapeutic purposes, including epilepsy, anxiety, and pain relief. We aim to review the potential use of CBD as a treatment option for post-SAH critically ill patients. Through a literature review, we evaluated the known pharmacology and physiological effects of CBD and correlated those with the pathophysiological outcomes associated with cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although overlap exists, data were formatted into three major categories: anti-inflammatory, vascular, and neuroprotective effects. Based on the amount of information known about the actions of CBD, we hypothesize the anti-inflammatory effects are likely to be the most promising therapeutic mechanism. However, its cardiovascular effects through calcium regulation and its neuroprotective effects against cell death, excitotoxicity, and oxidative stress are all plausible mechanisms by which post-SAH critically ill patients may benefit from both early and late intervention with CBD. More research is needed to better understand if and how CBD might affect neurological and vascular functions in the brain following injury such as subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Ten decadal advances in fungal biology leading towards human well-being
Authors: Mapook Ausana , Hyde Kevin D. , Hassan Khadija , Kemkuignou Blondelle Matio , Čmoková Adéla , Surup Frank , Kuhnert Eric , Paomephan Pathompong , Cheng Tian , de Hoog Sybren , Song Yinggai , Jayawardena Ruvishika S. , Al-Hatmi Abdullah M. S. , Mahmoudi Tokameh , Ponts Nadia , Studt-Reinhold Lena , Richard-Forget Florence , Chethana K. W. Thilini , Harishchandra Dulanjalee L. , Mortimer Peter E. , Li Huili , Lumyong Saisamorm , Aiduang Worawoot , Kumla Jaturong , Suwannarach Nakarin , Bhunjun Chitrabhanu S. , Yu Feng-Ming , Zhao Qi , Schaefer Doug , Stadler Marc
Published: September 2022

Fungi are an understudied resource possessing huge potential for developing products that can greatly improve human well-being. In the current paper, we highlight some important discoveries and developments in applied mycology and interdisciplinary Life Science research. These examples concern recently introduced drugs for the treatment of infections and neurological diseases; application of –OMICS techniques and genetic tools in medical mycology and the regulation of mycotoxin production; as well as some highlights of mushroom cultivaton in Asia. Examples for new diagnostic tools in medical mycology and the exploitation of new candidates for therapeutic drugs, are also given. In addition, two entries illustrating the latest developments in the use of fungi for biodegradation and fungal biomaterial production are provided. Some other areas where there have been and/or will be significant developments are also included. It is our hope that this paper will help realise the importance of fungi as a potential industrial resource and see the next two decades bring forward many new fungal and fungus-derived products.
Carbon stocks and changes in biomass of Mediterranean woody crops over a six-year period in NE Spain
Authors: Funes Inmaculada , Molowny-Horas Roberto , Savé Robert , De Herralde Felicidad , Aranda Xavier , Vayreda Jordi
Published: September 2022

Carbon sequestration and storage in biomass is one of the most important measures to mitigate climate change. Mediterranean woody crops can sequestrate carbon in the biomass of their permanent structures for decades; however, very few studies have focused on an assessment of biomass and carbon sequestration in these types of crops. This study is the first to estimate above- and belowground biomass carbon stock in Mediterranean woody crops through a bottom-up approach in the NE Iberian Peninsula in 2013. Moreover, this is the first time that an assessment of the annual changes in carbon stock in the study area over a six-year period is presented. For this purpose, eight crop- and site-specific equations relating biomass or biometric variables to crop age were calculated. Most of the data were our own measurements, but unpublished data supplied from other authors as well as data from literature were also considered. Census of Agriculture data was used to scale results from individual data up to the municipality level at the regional scale. Results show that in woody cropland in NE Spain the total biomass carbon stock in 2013 was 5.48 Tg C, with an average value of 16.44 ± 0.18 Mg C ha−1. Between 2013 and 2019, although there was a 2.8% mean annual decrease in the area covered by woody crops, the carbon stock in the biomass of these crops increased annually by 3.8% due to the growth of the remaining woody cropland. This new estimation of carbon stocks may contribute to better understand carbon balances and serve as a baseline to global inventories. It may also serve to assess and manage carbon storage as an ecosystem service provided by Mediterranean woody cropland for mitigating climate change and, in combination with adaptive strategies, for supporting a productive and resilient agro-food system.