bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ProSight Annotator: Complete control and customization of protein entries in UniProt XML files
Authors: Greer Joseph B. , Early Bryan P. , Durbin Kenneth R. , Patrie Steven M. , Thomas Paul M. , Kelleher Neil L. , LeDuc Richard D. , Fellers Ryan T.
Published: March 2022

The effectiveness of any proteomics database search depends on the theoretical candidate information contained in the protein database. Unfortunately, candidate entries from protein databases such as UniProt rarely contain all the post‐translational modifications (PTMs), disulfide bonds, or endogenous cleavages of interest to researchers. These omissions can limit discovery of novel and biologically important proteoforms. Conversely, searching for a specific proteoform becomes a computationally difficult task for heavily modified proteins. Both situations require updates to the database through user‐annotated entries. Unfortunately, manually creating properly formatted UniProt Extensible Markup Language (XML) files is tedious and prone to errors. ProSight Annotator solves these issues by providing a graphical interface for adding user‐defined features to UniProt‐formatted XML files for better informed proteoform searches. It can be downloaded from http://prosightannotator.northwestern.edu.
Safe from “harm”: The governance of violence by platforms
Authors: DeCook Julia R. , Cotter Kelley , Kanthawala Shaheen , Foyle Kali
Published: March 2022

A number of issues have emerged related to how platforms moderate and mitigate “harm.” Although platforms have recently developed more explicit policies in regard to what constitutes “hate speech” and “harmful content,” it appears that platforms often use subjective judgments of harm that specifically pertains to spectacular, physical violence—but harm takes on many shapes and complex forms. The politics of defining “harm” and “violence” within these platforms are complex and dynamic, and represent entrenched histories of how control over these definitions extends to people's perceptions of them. Via a critical discourse analysis of policy documents from three major platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube), we argue that platforms' narrow definitions of harm and violence are not just insufficient but result in these platforms engaging in a form of symbolic violence. Moreover, the platforms position harm as a floating signifier, imposing conceptions of not just what violence is and how it manifests, but who it impacts. Rather than changing the mechanisms of their design that enable harm, the platforms reconfigure intentionality and causality to try to stop users from being “harmful,” which, ironically, perpetuates harm. We provide a number of suggestions, namely a restorative justice‐focused approach, in addressing platform harm.
Mechanically tough dry‐free ionic hydrogel microfibers swollen in aqueous electrolyte prepared by microfluidic devices
Authors: Fitria Gea , Yoon Jinhwan
Published: March 2022

Soft conducting materials in the shape of microfibers with various functional geometries are crucial for soft electronics. To develop highly stretchable conducting microfibers, a microfluidic method is used to prepare hydrogels in a double‐network structure. Based on the coagulation of chitosan in cold water and simultaneous photopolymerization and photocrosslinking of N‐isopropylacrylamide and N‐diethylacrylamide, long microfibers with controlled uniform diameters can be obtained at the junction of a coaxially aligned microchannel device. After further reinforcement of the chitosan chain and exchange of the medium of the hydrogel microfiber with an aqueous electrolyte of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, the prepared ionic hydrogel exhibits high conductivity and stretchability and dry‐free properties. Owing to its mechanical robustness and ionic conductivity, we envision a highly stretchable soft electrode with the prepared ionic hydrogel microfiber that can be stretched up to 900%. This fiber has potential for applications in soft electronics and wearable devices.
177Lu‐PSMA radioligand therapy effectiveness in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sadaghiani Mohammad S. , Sheikhbahaei Sara , Werner Rudolf A. , Pienta Kenneth J. , Pomper Martin G. , Gorin Michael A. , Solnes Lilja B. , Rowe Steven P.
Published: March 2022

Background

An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis of relevant studies to evaluate the effectiveness of prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐targeted endoradiotherapy/radioligand therapy (PRLT) in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Methods

A systematic search was performed in July 2020 using PubMed/Medline database to update our prior systematic review. The search was limited to papers published from 2019 to June 2020. A total of 472 papers were reviewed. The studied parameters included pooled proportion of patients showing any or ≥50% prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) decline after PRLT. Survival effects of PRLT were assessed based on pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of the overall survival (OS) according to any PSA as well as ≥50% PSA decline after PRLT. Response to therapy based on ≥50% PSA decrease after PRLT versus controls was evaluated using Mantel‐Haenszel random effect meta‐analysis. All p values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Results

A total of 45 publications were added to the prior 24 studies. 69 papers with total of 4157 patients were included for meta‐analysis. Meta‐analysis of the two recent randomized controlled trials showed that patients treated with 177Lu‐PSMA 617 had a significantly higher response to therapy compared to controls based on ≥50% PSA decrease. Meta‐analysis of the HRs of OS according to any PSA decline and ≥50% PSA decline showed survival prolongation after PRLT.

Conclusions

PRLT results in higher proportion of patients responding to therapy based on ≥50% PSA decline compared to controls. Any PSA decline and ≥50% PSA decline showed survival prolongation after PRLT.

Advances in knowledge: This is the first meta‐analysis to aggregate the recent randomized controlled trials of PRLT which shows CRPC patients had a higher response to therapy after PRLT compared to controls.
Temporal and spatial patterns in the shifting of otter diet to invasive prey after river damming
Authors: Bedmar Sergio , Blanco‐Garrido Francisco , Delibes Miguel , Clavero Miguel
Published: March 2022

River damming promotes profound changes in aquatic biodiversity, including the facilitation of biological invasions, with subsequent impacts on native communities. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a generalist aquatic predator that often incorporates new prey types when they become available. We studied the short‐ and long‐term effects of river damming on the trophic ecology of the otter across a riverine landscape gradient, from the flooded area to upstream tributaries, focusing on the largest artificial lake of Western Europe. Through the analysis of otter feces (spraints), we describe otter diet composition in 14 sites at different distances from the impounded area in three periods: (i) the pre‐filling phase (i.e., lotic conditions); (ii) the immediate filling phase; and (iii) 16 years after the dam closure. The diet of the otter drastically shifted in the short term, from being dominated by native cyprinids to being mainly composed of invasive species of fish and crayfish. In the long term, the number of invasive species consumed by the otter continued to increase while native fish completely disappeared as prey near the reservoir. Presumably, the construction of the dam generated clear spatial gradients of abundances of native and invasive fish species. These patterns arose in the short term but became accentuated in the long term and were mirrored in otter diet composition. Our results demonstrate the potential of otter diet analyses as a surrogate for the impacts of human alterations on aquatic ecosystems, including those of river damming and the associated facilitation of biological invasions.
A novel dual surface modification on titanium in dental use: Characterization and topography
Authors: Zakir Muhammad , Laiho Taina , Granroth Sari , Kukk Edwin , Chu Chun Hung , Tsoi James Kit‐Hon , Matinlinna Jukka Pekka
Published: March 2022

This laboratory study aimed to compare, contrast, and evaluate the effect of a novel dual surface modification method on the adhesion strength of resin composite cement to titanium. C.p.‐2 grade titanium samples were silica‐coated, etched with HNO3(69vol %) or a blend of HCl (35vol %) and H3PO4 (85vol %), for 1 h at 80°C. Surface roughness was measured by surface roughness profilometry, topographic analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and surface analyses by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Silanization of all specimens was carried out after SEM, EDX, and AFM analysis, before enclosed mold microshear bond strength testing (EM‐μSBS). Adhesion strengths were measured after artificial ageing: 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks by EM‐μSBS testing and failure mode analysis by optical microscopy. Polished titanium was used as a control. The highest surface roughness was observed in titanium samples treated with silica‐coating + HCl‐H3PO4 etching. The elemental composition confirmed the presence of Ti, O, C, with Si and Al in samples treated with silica‐coating. A gradual decrease in EM‐μSBS values was observed in all titanium samples with adhesive and cohesive failure modes. The novel dual surface modification method applied in this study suggests that silica‐coating + HCl‐H3PO4etching strongly affects titanium surface topography and roughness. The presence of Si on silica‐coated surface modified titanium before silanization with an experimental silane has a positive effect on the EM‐μSBS of titanium samples treated with silica‐coating only or silica‐coating + HNO3 etching.
Electrochemistry and Electrocatalytic Activity of Cobaloxime Complexes
Authors: Sowmya Subramanian , Vijaikanth Vijendran
Published: March 2022

Development of clean and renewable energy sources has emerged as one of the major interests due to the environmental issues caused by the fossil fuels. Presently a huge amount of interest has been devoted in developing the cost effective alternative energy sources and hydrogen gas has been considered as one of the substitutes for fossil fuels. Initially noble metals like Platinum was employed as a catalyst for hydrogen generation but they are costly. So, recently first row transition metal based catalysts have been utilized for the production of hydrogen gas since these metals are cost effective and earth copious. Among the first row transition metal catalysts, cobalt complexes in particular cobaloximes have been given importance as capable catalysts for hydrogen production. This review discusses about the recent advances in the electrochemistry and the various approaches employed towards the attachment of the cobaloxime complexes on the electrode surface and their electrocatalytic behaviour.
A highly sensitive and selective molecularly imprinted sensor for direct determination of ultra‐trace Cr(III) in environmental samples
Authors: Ling Jun , Wei Ge , Li Jianping
Published: March 2022

Aiming at the insufficient sensitivity and selectivity of the existing detection methods for trivalent chromium in environmental samples, an efficient strategy is proposed. In this study, the complex Cr(III)‐Oxine was used as the target molecule of the molecularly imprinted sensor. The ligand Oxine was used for the primary recognition of Cr(III), and the molecular imprinted cavities was used for the secondary recognition of Cr(III)‐Oxine, which greatly improved the selectivity of the sensor to Cr(III). At the same time, the high‐efficiency catalytic effect of Cr(III)‐Oxine on the Luminol‐H2O2 system is used to promote the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity, so as to achieve the improving the detection sensitivity of Cr(III). The established method based on the sensor can be used for the detection of Cr(III) in the concentration range of 5×10−10∼5×10−8 mol/L with a detection limit of 1.78×10−10 mol/L.
(N/S)‐TiO2@C‐Nanosphere Anode Materials with Prominent Electrochemistry Performance Synthesized by Pyrolysis of In Situ Coated Polypyrrole
Authors: Wang Yanfeng , Tie Yunfei , Gong Fuzhong , Yang Qifan , Yu Fengqiu
Published: March 2022

Anatase TiO2, as an anode material, has the advantages of good stability, high safety, and low cost; however, the low specific capacity limits its practical application. The strategy of polypyrrole in‐situ coating combined with pyrolysis was adopted in this work to improve its specific capacity. Besides, modified TiO2 composites [((N/S)‐TiO2@C‐shere] co‐doped with nitrogen/sulfur and coated by carbon nanospheres were synthesized. These composites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, BET, and TGA, and their electrochemical performance was studied by the Galvanostatic charge‐discharge test and EIS measurement. The results indicated that when the dosage of pyrrole used was 1 mL, the prepared (N/S)‐TiO2@C‐shere‐1 composite had the maximum discharge specific capacity of 698 mAh g−1 in the 1st cycle and then remained at ∼520 mAh g−1 from the 2nd cycle. It was more than about 3.1 times the actual specific capacity of anatase TiO2 (167.5 mAh g−1) and 1.4 times the theoretical specific capacity of graphite (372 mAh g−1), much higher than that of modified TiO2‐based anode materials reported in references. Moreover, the (N/S)‐TiO2@C‐shere‐1 showed excellent rate capability and ∼100 % coulomb efficiency, exhibiting an excellent application prospect as an anode material of lithium‐ion batteries.
An Electrochemical Biosensing Platform for the SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike Antibody Detection Based on the Functionalised SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike Antigen Modified Electrode
Authors: Liv Lokman , Kayabay Hilal
Published: March 2022

We developed an electrochemical biosensing platform using gold‐clusters, cysteamine, the spike protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) antigen and bovine serum albumin on a glassy carbon electrode able to determine the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike antibody. The developed biosensor could detect 9.3 ag/mL of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike antibody in synthetic media in 20 min in a linear range from 0.1 fg/mL to 10.0 pg/mL. The developed method demonstrated good selectivity in the presence of spike antigens from other viruses. Clinical samples consisting of gargle and mouthwash liquids were analyzed with both RT‐PCR and the developed biosensor system to reveal the sensitivity and specificity of the proposed method. Moreover, the developed method was compared with the lateral flow immunoassay method in terms of sensitivity.
Penetrating Micelle for Reversing Immunosuppression and Drug Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Authors: Chen Qinjun , Wang Qingbing , Wang Yu , Chu Yongchao , Luo Yifan , You Haoyu , Su Boyu , Li Chao , Guo Qin , Sun Tao , Jiang Chen
Published: March 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is on of the most lethal malignant tumors with relatively poor prognosis, characterized with insufficient drug penetration, low immune response and obvious drug resistances. The therapeutic inefficiency is multifactorially related to its specific tumor microenvironment (TME), which is representatively featured as rich stroma and immunosuppression. In this work, a versatile drug delivery system is developed that can coencapsulate two prodrugs modified from gemcitabine (GEM) and a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor (HJC0152), and the gradient pH variation is further sensed in the TME of PDAC to achieve a higher penetration by reversing its surficial charges. The escorted prodrugs can release GEM intracellularly, and respond to the hypoxic condition to yield the parental STAT3 inhibitor HJC0152, respectively. By inhibiting STAT3, the tumor immunosuppression microenvironment can be re‐educated through the reversion of M2‐like tumor associated macrophages (M2‐TAMs), recruitment of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and downregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Furthermore, cytidine deaminase (CDA) and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression can be downregulated, plus the lipid modification of GEM, the drug resistance of GEM can be greatly relieved. Based on the above design, a synergetic therapeutic efficacy in PDAC treatment can be achieved to provide more opportunity for clinical applications.
F3FLUID: A formal framework for developing safety‐critical interactive systems in FLUID
Authors: Singh Neeraj Kumar , Aït‐Ameur Yamine , Mendil Ismail , Méry Dominique , Navarre David , Palanque Philippe , Pantel Marc
Published: March 2022

This paper proposes a unified formal framework, Formal Framework For FLUID (F3FLUID), for the development of safety‐critical interactive systems. This framework is based on the Formal Language of User Interface Design (FLUID) pivot modeling language defined in the FORMEDICIS project, which enables high‐level system requirements for interactive systems to be specified in the FLUID language. This modeling language is specifically designed for handling concepts of safety‐critical interactive systems, including domain knowledge. A FLUID model is used as a source model for the generation of several target models in different modeling languages to support the formal verification methods, such as theorem proving and model checking. In this paper, we use the Event‐B modeling language for checking functional behaviors, user interactions, safety properties, and domain properties. A FLUID model is transformed into an Event‐B model, and then, the Rodin tool is used to check the internal consistency with respect to the given safety properties. We illustrate the operational semantics of the FLUID language, and the transformation strategy of FLUID models into Event‐B models, including the tool development. We use the ProB model checker to analyze the temporal properties and to animate the formalized specification. In addition, an interactive cooperative objects (ICOs) model is derived from the Event‐B model for animation, visualization and validation of dynamic behaviors, visual properties, and task analysis. Finally, an industrial case study, complying with the ARINC 661 standard, Multi‐Purpose Interactive Applications (MPIA), is used to illustrate the effectiveness of our F3FLUID framework for the development of safety‐critical interactive systems.
The mode of operation over time affects the capacitive properties of a packed anode biocapacitor
Authors: Canché‐Dzib Elías , Cercado Bibiana
Published: March 2022

The relationship between bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) and capacitors has been demonstrated through studies of BESs during intermittent operation. This type of BES has been named a microbial biocapacitor. This new energy storage device has been evaluated for short operational periods lasting for hours in most studies, which leaves open the question of long‐term operational feasibility for the biocapacitor. Moreover, the mode of BES operation before operation as a biocapacitor may determine the capacitive properties of the biofilm since activity or inactivity during electrical current production may affect biofilm response. In the present research, the effects of previous operational mode (rest in open circuit vs. potentiostatic current production) and operation time (seven tests in 94 days) on the capacitive properties of a biocapacitor were evaluated with key parameters such as capacitance, cell voltage, and volumetric current density. Correlations among parameters were analyzed to provide predictive equations for the packed anode biocapacitor. The equations showed that the capacitance increased after periods of biocapacitor inactivity and decreased after periods of activity, which led to equivalent variations in current density.
Care transitions intervention reduces ED revisits in cognitively impaired patients
Authors: Shah Manish N. , Jacobsohn Gwen C. , Jones Courtney MC , Green Rebecca K. , Caprio Thomas V. , Cochran Amy L. , Cushman Jeremy T. , Lohmeier Michael , Kind Amy J.H.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

About half of older adults with impaired cognition who are discharged home from the emergency department (ED) return for further care within 30 days. We tested the effect of an adapted Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) at reducing ED revisits in this vulnerable population.

Methods

We conducted a pre‐planned subgroup analysis of community‐dwelling, cognitively impaired older (age ≥60 years) participants from a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of the CTI adapted for ED‐to‐home transitions. The parent study recruited ED patients from three university‐affiliated hospitals from 2016 to 2019. Subjects eligible for this sub‐analysis had to: (1) have a primary care provider within these health systems; (2) be discharged to a community residence; (3) not receive care management or hospice services; and (4) be cognitively impaired in the ED, as determined by a score >10 on the Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration Test. The primary outcome, ED revisits within 30 days of discharge, was abstracted from medical records and evaluated using logistic regression.

Results

Of our sub‐sample (N = 81, 36 control, 45 treatment), 57% were female and the mean age was 78 years. Multivariate analysis, adjusted for the presence of moderate to severe depression and inadequate health literacy, found that the CTI significantly reduced the odds of a repeat ED visit within 30 days (odds ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07 to 0.90) but not 14 days (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.93). Multivariate analysis of outpatient follow‐up found no significant effects.

Discussion

Community‐dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment receiving the CTI following ED discharge experienced fewer ED revisits within 30 days compared to usual care. Further studies must confirm and expand upon this finding, identifying features with greatest benefit to patients and caregivers.
Risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: McGrattan Andrea M. , Pakpahan Eduwin , Siervo Mario , Mohan Devi , Reidpath Daniel D. , Prina Matthew , Allotey Pascale , Zhu Yueping , Shulin Chen , Yates Jennifer , Paddick Stella‐Maria , Robinson Louise , Stephan Blossom C. M. ,   the DePEC team
Published: March 2022

Introduction

With no treatment for dementia, there is a need to identify high risk cases to focus preventive strategies, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) where the burden of dementia is greatest. We evaluated the risk of conversion from mild cognitive ompairment (MCI) to dementia in LMICs.

Methods

Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched from inception until June 30, 2020. The search was restricted to observational studies, conducted in population‐based samples, with at least 1 year follow‐up. There was no restriction on the definition of MCI used as long as it was clearly defined. PROSPERO registration: CRD42019130958.

Results

Ten thousand six hundred forty‐seven articles were screened; n = 11 retained. Of the 11 studies, most were conducted in China (n = 7 studies), with only two studies from countries classified as low income. A qualitative analysis of n = 11 studies showed that similar to high‐income countries the conversion rate to dementia from MCI was variable (range 60%–448%; average follow‐up 37 years [standard deviation = 12]). A meta‐analysis of studies using Petersen criteria (n = 6 studies), found a pooled conversion rate to Alzheimer's disease (AD) of 238% (95% confidence interval = 154%–33.4%); approximately one in four people with MCI were at risk of AD in LMICs (over 30–58 years follow‐up). Risk factors for conversion from MCI to dementia included demographic (e.g., age) and health (e.g., cardio‐metabolic disease) variables.

Conclusions

MCI is associated with high, but variable, conversion to dementia in LMICs and may be influenced by demographic and health factors. There is a notable absence of data from low‐income settings and countries outside of China. This highlights the urgent need for research investment into aging and dementia in LMIC settings. Being able to identify those individuals with cognitive impairment who are at highest risk of dementia in LMICs is necessary for the development of risk reduction strategies that are contextualized to these unique settings.
Activity measurement of arylsulfatase and β‐glucuronidase in activated sludge: HPLC‐based versus classical spectrophotometric method
Authors: Zhao Ke‐meng , Zhong Shu‐shu , Zhang Jun , Zhang Cun‐sheng , Dang Zhi , Liu Ze‐hua
Published: March 2022

Arylsulfatase and β‐glucuronidase are two important enzymes in wastewater and surface water, which play important roles on cleavage of sulfate/glucuronide estrogens. In this work, a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)‐based new method was firstly established for arylsulfatase/β‐glucuronidase with determination of p‐nitrophenyl sulfate (pNPS)/p‐nitrophenyl‐β‐D‐glucuronide (pNPG). The limits of detections (LODs) of the developed method for pNPS and pNPG were 0.164 and 0.098 μM, respectively. Intraday and interday reproducibility expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) values of retention times and peak areas was 0.39%–3.68% and 0.23%–4.74%, respectively. The respective recovery efficiencies of this HPLC‐based method spiking at three different concentrations for p‐nitrophenol (pNP), pNPS, and pNPG in activated sludge were 76.5%–88.1%, 79.2%–93.1%, and 84.2%–96.1%, with RSD below 3.9%. The HPLC‐based method was finally applied to estimate the enzyme activity of arylsulfatase/β‐glucuronidase in one activated sludge system and along which the classical spectrophotometric method was also evaluated. Compared with the classic spectrophotometric analytical method, the HPLC‐based new method could simultaneously measure arylsulfatase/β‐glucuronidase one time, which was convenient and time‐saving. Moreover, the developed method could effectively avoid possible underestimation that the spectrophotometric method might encounter.

Practitioner points

A new HPLC‐based method for activity estimation of arylsulfatase and β‐glucuronidase was developed.

The HPLC‐based method can simultaneously estimate enzyme activity of both arylsulfatase and β‐glucuronidase.

The HPLC‐based method can avoid possible underestimation that spectrophotometric method may encounter.
Analysis of mammal mesopredator scat samples indicates significant predation on the endangered Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis)
Authors: Móré Attila , Mizsei Edvárd , Vadász Csaba , Tóthmérész Béla , Heltai Miklós
Published: March 2022

Animal populations are regulated by multiple factors, e.g. resource availability, diseases and predators. However, these factors can be significantly influenced by anthropogenic effects (e.g. biological invasions, mesopredator release) and either subserve populations or push them towards local extinction. The Hungarian meadow viper Vipera ursinii rakosiensis is an endangered reptile, with only a few surviving populations following recent alterations and fragmentation of their habitats. In Hungary, all documented populations are located within nature conservation areas. Significant practical conservation efforts have been made, including habitat reconstruction and development, as well as ex situ breeding and reintroductions. Nevertheless, the estimated overall population size of Hungarian meadow viper remains very low, and the impact of conservation interventions is practically immeasurable according to low densities. It is hypothesized that predation is the main factor interfering with conservation efforts of the vipers. Here, we analysed the diet of two mammalian predators (European badger and red fox) in a Hungarian meadow viper habitat. We found a high prevalence of viper remains in the processed faecal samples, indicating that a high number of individuals vipers are subject to predation even within a short period of time. We conclude that effective predator control might be necessary to increase the impact of standard conservation measures (e.g. habitat development, ex situ breeding and reintroduction) that target the restoration of Hungarian meadow viper populations.
The Algorithmic Future of Insurance Supervision in the EU: A Reality Check
Authors: Georgosouli Andromachi , Okonjo Jeremmy
Published: March 2022

Recent developments in FinTech and RegTech marked the EU’s pivot towards a digitally driven Capital Markets Union and a concomitant algorithmic turn in EU financial supervision under the leadership of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESMA, EBA, EIOPA). Starting from the premise that the EIOPA’s relevant initiatives are driven from the Authority’s normative and institutional environment as well as the perceived technological affordances of RegTech, this chapter provides a ‘reality check’ of the algorithmic future of EU financial supervision in the field of insurance as an aspect of EU financial markets’ governance. On the one hand, it finds that an important blind-spot in the EIOPA’s agenda is the absence of a concrete plan for a system of digital reporting. On the other hand, it examines what it takes to set up a system of digital reporting. To that end, it focuses on three interrelated issues: The technology that will be required to provide the infrastructure of digital reporting and its limitations, difficulties with the conversion of regulatory content into code, and issues of reporting architecture and governance. The ultimate objective of this chapter is to inform the agenda of the digital transformation of EU financial market oversight in anticipation of future challenges while relevant policy and legal debates are still on-going.
The Influence of Public and Corporate Insurance Law on the Application of Private International Law: Selected Issues
Authors: Fras Mariusz
Published: March 2022

The regime of obligations arising under insurance relationships, as expressed in Art. 7 of the Rome I Regulation is, however, relatively complex. The criticism seems legitimate of academic authors who quite clearly express their negative attitude to the wording of that provision, calling it a “labyrinth” or even “pandemonium of international law.” As a result of the not particularly transparent nature of that regime, it can be doubted if in all situations the “weaker party” was afforded due protection. Negative answer to that question prompts a search for other solutions which allow to achieve the effect of conflict of laws designation of a law giving effect to the postulate of protecting the weaker party to the insurance relationship. The purpose of the study is to indicate, in the first place, the existing criteria of the division into public law and private law in the context of private international law. The second purpose is to analyze the phenomenon of mutual interpenetration of private and public law in the private international law of insurance contracts. The purpose of considerations was to indicate the mutual interpenetration between EU provisions of public and corporate law, as well as the impact of national provisions of the same type on private international law.
A unified approach to Schrödinger evolution of superoscillations and supershifts
Authors: Aharonov Yakir , Behrndt Jussi , Colombo Fabrizio , Schlosser Peter
Published: March 2022

Superoscillating functions and supershifts appear naturally in weak measurements in physics. Their evolution as initial conditions in the time-dependent Schrödinger equation is an important and challenging problem in quantum mechanics and mathematical analysis. The concept that encodes the persistence of superoscillations during the evolution is the (more general) supershift property of the solution. In this paper, we give a unified approach to determine the supershift property for the solution of the time-dependent one-dimensional Schrödinger equation. The main advantage and novelty of our results is that they only require suitable estimates and regularity assumptions on the Green’s function, but not its explicit form. With this efficient general technique, we are able to treat various potentials.
Tuning the structure, optical, and magnetic properties of nanostructured NiMoO4 by nitrogen plasma treatment
Authors: Abdel Maksoud M. I. A. , Abdel Reheem A. M. , Waly S. A. , Fahim Ramy Amer , Ahour A. H.
Published: March 2022

Herein, the nitrogen plasma treatment with different time irradiation (0, 90, 120, and 150 min) is used to tune the structure, optical, and magnetic properties of nanostructured NiMoO4 NMO NPs. The XRD patterns revealed that the crystallinity of NMO samples increases with an increase in the N2 plasma exposure time. The notable reduce in this peak’ intensity for the sample at dose of 120 min may be attributed to the energy dissipated in the defect generation. Also, the crystallite size for NMO samples was found in the range (23.9–26.7) nm. Further, EPR is used to evaluate the impact of the treatment duration on the oxygen vacancy density. The total number of spins rises as plasma irradiation duration increases, revealing that the NMO NPs can be used as a dosimeter for plasma irradiation. The optical bandgap ranged from 2.92 eV to 3.24 eV as the N2 plasma treatment duration changed. The saturation magnetization was enhanced with the rise of plasma treatment time. Furthermore, the Hc increases from 16.67 G for untreated NMO NPs to 128.41 G for N2 plasma-treated NMO NPs for 150 min. The resulted optical and magnetic properties of N2 plasma-treated NMO NPs make it candidate material for photocatalysis applications.
Muscle MRI characteristic pattern for late-onset TK2 deficiency diagnosis
Authors: Domínguez-González Cristina , Fernández-Torrón Roberto , Moore Ursula , de Fuenmayor-Fernández de la Hoz Carlos Pablo , Vélez-Gómez Beatriz , Cabezas Juan Antonio , Alonso-Pérez Jorge , González-Mera Laura , Olivé Montse , García-García Jorge , Moris Germán , León Hernández Juan Carlos , Muelas Nuria , Servian-Morilla Emilia , Martin Miguel A. , Díaz-Manera Jordi , Paradas Carmen
Published: March 2022

Background and objective

TK2 deficiency (TK2d) is a rare mitochondrial disorder that manifests predominantly as a progressive myopathy with a broad spectrum of severity and age of onset. The rate of progression is variable, and the prognosis is poor due to early and severe respiratory involvement. Early and accurate diagnosis is particularly important since a specific treatment is under development. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of lower limb muscle MRI in adult patients with TK2d.

Methods

We studied a cohort of 45 genetically confirmed patients with mitochondrial myopathy (16 with mutations in TK2, 9 with mutations in other nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA] synthesis or maintenance, 10 with single mtDNA deletions, and 10 with point mtDNA mutations) to analyze the imaging pattern of fat replacement in lower limb muscles. We compared the identified pattern in patients with TK2d with the MRI pattern of other non-mitochondrial genetic myopathies that share similar clinical characteristics.

Results

We found a consistent lower limb muscle MRI pattern in patients with TK2d characterized by involvement of the gluteus maximus, gastrocnemius medialis, and sartorius muscles. The identified pattern in TK2 patients differs from the known radiological involvement of other resembling muscle dystrophies that share clinical features.

Conclusions

By analyzing the largest cohort of muscle MRI from patients with mitochondrial myopathies studied to date, we identified a characteristic and specific radiological pattern of muscle involvement in patients with TK2d that could be useful to speed up its diagnosis.
The Impact of Sparse Coding on Memory Lifetimes in Simple and Complex Models of Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Elliott Terry
Published: March 2022

Models of associative memory with discrete state synapses learn new memories by forgetting old ones. In the simplest models, memories are forgotten exponentially quickly. Sparse population coding ameliorates this problem, as do complex models of synaptic plasticity that posit internal synaptic states, giving rise to synaptic metaplasticity. We examine memory lifetimes in both simple and complex models of synaptic plasticity with sparse coding. We consider our own integrative, filter-based model of synaptic plasticity, and examine the cascade and serial synapse models for comparison. We explore memory lifetimes at both the single-neuron and the population level, allowing for spontaneous activity. Memory lifetimes are defined using either a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) approach or a first passage time (FPT) method, although we use the latter only for simple models at the single-neuron level. All studied models exhibit a decrease in the optimal single-neuron SNR memory lifetime, optimised with respect to sparseness, as the probability of synaptic updates decreases or, equivalently, as synaptic complexity increases. This holds regardless of spontaneous activity levels. In contrast, at the population level, even a low but nonzero level of spontaneous activity is critical in facilitating an increase in optimal SNR memory lifetimes with increasing synaptic complexity, but only in filter and serial models. However, SNR memory lifetimes are valid only in an asymptotic regime in which a mean field approximation is valid. By considering FPT memory lifetimes, we find that this asymptotic regime is not satisfied for very sparse coding, violating the conditions for the optimisation of single-perceptron SNR memory lifetimes with respect to sparseness. Similar violations are also expected for complex models of synaptic plasticity.
Learning by doing: an observational study of the learning curve for ultrasonic fundus-first dissection in elective cholecystectomy
Authors: Blohm My , Sandblom Gabriel , Enochsson Lars , Cengiz Yücel , Austrums Edmunds , Abdon Elisabeth , Hennings Joakim , Hedberg Mats , Gustafsson Ulf , Diaz-Pannes Angelica , Österberg Johanna
Published: March 2022

Background

Surgical safety and patient-related outcomes are important considerations when introducing new surgical techniques. Studies about the learning curves for different surgical procedures are sparse. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the learning curve for ultrasonic fundus-first (FF) dissection in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

The study was conducted at eight hospitals in Sweden between 2017 and 2019. The primary endpoint was dissection time, with secondary endpoints being intra- and postoperative complication rates and the surgeon’s self-assessed performance level. Participating surgeons (n = 16) were residents or specialists who performed LC individually but who had no previous experience in ultrasonic FF dissection. Each surgeon performed fifteen procedures. Video recordings from five of the procedures were analysed by two external surgeons. Patient characteristics and data on complications were retrieved from the Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks).

Results

Dissection time decreased as experience increased (p = 0.001). Surgeons with limited experience showed more rapid progress. The overall complication rate was 14 (5.8%), including 3 (1.3%) potentially technique-related complications. Video assessment scores showed no correlation with the number of procedures performed. The self-assessed performance level was rated lower when the operation was more complicated (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results show that dissection time decreased with increasing experience. Most surgeons identified both favourable and unfavourable aspects of the ultrasonic FF technique. The ultrasonic device is considered well suited for gallbladder surgery, but most participating surgeons preferred to dissect the gallbladder the traditional way, beginning in the triangle of Calot. Nevertheless, LC with ultrasonic FF dissection can be considered easy to learn with a low complication rate during the initial learning curve, for both residents and specialists.
CovaDel: a blockchain-enabled secure and QoS-aware drone delivery framework for COVID-like pandemics
Authors: Singh Maninderpal , Aujla Gagangeet Singh , Bali Rasmeet Singh , Batth Ranbir Singh , Singh Amritpal , Vashisht Sahil , Jindal Anish
Published: March 2022

With increase in the use of contactless deliveries during the times such as COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis was to minimize the human presence to reduce the spread of virus. In this regard, drones are one promising alternative to be used as delivery agents. However, security and Quality of Service (QoS) are major concerns while making use of drones for deliveries. In order to secure the drone communication system, we propose, CovaDel: a blockchain-based scheme to secure data transactions for the drone delivery use case that works in a phased manner. The proposed scheme make use of decoupled blockchain architecture to overcome the limited resources capabilities of drones to perform blockchain-based computations. Further, to ensure the QoS adherence, we also propose a QoS-aware communication approach that handles collisions and congestion on the basis of firefly algorithm’s attractiveness parameter (light intensity) received by the drones. Results obtained using a simulated environment verify the efficacy of the proposed scheme on the basis of gas consumed, transaction time, average network throughput, and delay.
Simulation of mid-air images using combination of physically based rendering and image processing
Authors: Hoshi Ayami , Kiuchi Shunji , Koizumi Naoya
Published: March 2022

Although it is beneficial to use an optical simulator to design a mid-air imaging system, the use of a simulator requires optical knowledge, and it cannot be handled by non-specialists. To create a design assistance system that can be used by non-specialists, we demonstrate three methods: a method for extracting mid-air images and images of stray light from computer graphics rendered images, a method for calculating the visible range of mid-air images, and an evaluation of design parameters. First, a mid-air image and an image of stray light are extracted by considering the differences of images rendered using different numbers of bounces at each camera position, after which the visible range of the mid-air image is calculated. In addition, other parameters, such as the distance between a micro-mirror array plate (MMAP) and the extracted mid-air image, are adjusted in detail and evaluated by considering the visible range of the obtained mid-air image. Moreover, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, the design of the previous research was improved to eliminate images of stray light, and we reduced the size of the existing system. Unlike other conventional approaches, using the visible range of the extracted mid-air images and without the need for a visual check, our proposed method enables the extraction of mid-air images and unwanted light, and the evaluation of optical systems. This technique can be applied to improve the design of optical systems and in the examination of the related applications.
The computation of pairwise stable networks
Authors: Herings P. Jean-Jacques , Zhan Yang
Published: March 2022

One of the most important stability concepts for network formation is pairwise stability. We develop a homotopy algorithm that is effective in computing pairwise stable networks for a generic network formation problem. To do so, we reformulate the concept of pairwise stability as a Nash equilibrium of a non-cooperative game played by the links in the network and adapt the linear tracing procedure for non-cooperative games to the network formation problem. As a by-product of our main result, we obtain that the number of pairwise stable networks is generically odd. We apply the algorithm to the connections model and obtain a number of novel insights.
Correction to: The use of accessibility metadata in e-learning environments: a systematic literature review
Authors: Ingavélez-Guerra Paola , Otón-Tortosa Salvador , Hilera-González José , Sánchez-Gordón Mary
Published: March 2022

The original article has been published with incorrect author affiliation.
Middle Pleistocene Steppe Lion Remains from Grotte de la Carrière (Têt Valley, Eastern Pyrenees)
Authors: Prat-Vericat Maria , Marciszak Adrian , Rufí Isaac , Sorbelli Leonardo , Llenas Manel , Lucenti Saverio Bartolini , Madurell-Malapeira Joan
Published: March 2022

Late Pleistocene cave lions are one of the most iconic species of Northern Hemisphere Quaternary taphocoenoses. Despite their often-scarce record in cave environments, their ubiquitous distribution across Eurasia and North America assemblages attests to their position as top ice-age predators. Nevertheless, the origins of these former large felids, their distribution during the Middle Pleistocene, and their paleoecology during co-existence with the scimitar-toothed cat Homotherium remain debated. Here we describe for the first time an abundant collection of large-sized and stout felid remains from the recently discovered site of Grotte de la Carrière in Eastern Pyrenees, with an estimated age corresponding to MIS 9. Our results highlight the larger size of Middle Pleistocene lions compared to Late Pleistocene ones as well as a trend of decreasing in size, which has been previously stated by other authors. Grotte de la Carrière steppe lions have similar morphological and biometrical parameters to those of other samples from MIS 11–9, being larger and stouter than younger latest Middle Pleistocene-Late Pleistocene forms and slightly smaller than older MIS 15–12 forms.
Vulnerability assessment based on household views from the Dammar Char in Southeastern Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Edris , Khan Md Sabur , Salam Roquia
Published: March 2022

Assessing vulnerability is vital for developing new strategies and improving the existing ones to fulfill contemporary demands toward achieving a disaster-resilient society. Dammar Char is situated in the southeastern (SE) coastal region of Bangladesh that has experienced frequent coastal hazards and disasters throughout the year. The present study has constructed a vulnerability index utilizing the quantitative and qualitative data based on household surveys to evaluate the vulnerability of the people and community of Dammar Char. Data were collected from 180 respondents during November–December 2018. The results demonstrate that, on average, the people living in the studied area have a high vulnerability (value of the vulnerability index 0.7015) to coastal hazards and disasters. The vulnerability level differs from individual to individual based on their gender, educational status, financial capacity, structural strength of houses, perception of the respective hazards and disasters, etc. Females have experienced more vulnerability than their adult male counterparts. The natural vulnerability was higher than socioeconomic and physical vulnerability due to the increase in unpredictable extreme climate-induced coastal events. To combat the adverse impacts of coastal hazards and disasters, the local Dammar Char inhabitants have adopted several adaptation measures. The adapted measures are homestead gardening, working in seasonal day labor, fish drying, rearing sheep, and ducks, constructing plinths for elevating the floor of the house, extensive banana cultivation, and storage of dry foods to reduce their vulnerability.