bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐healing corrosion‐resistant coatings based on fluorinated alkyl silane microcapsules
Authors: Ma Conghuan , Li Jiahong , Wang Jianyu , Bian Da , Zhao Yongwu
Published: October 2022

In this study, microcapsules are prepared by in situ polymerization using the repairing agent fluorinated alkyl silane (FAS) as the core material and urea‐formaldehyde as the covering shell. Self‐healing coatings (FEP coatings) with repairing ability in water are prepared by adding FAS microcapsules in an epoxy resin matrix. The morphology, composition, and thermal properties of the microcapsules are studied. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to study the barrier properties and self‐healing properties of the coating. The results show that FEP coating has good self‐healing ability, with the semiquantitative index of 105 Ω·cm2, which is greater than that of pure epoxy coating (EP coating). This is because that FAS leaked from the microcapsules reacts with water molecules to form a dense water‐insoluble film, which blocks the contact of corrosive ions with the substrate and inhibits the progress of metal corrosion. Moreover, the scratch width and depth results of the FEP coating after self‐healing also confirm the formation of the new film by FAS.
Academic procrastination using social media: A cross‐sectional study with middle school students on the buffering and moderator roles of self‐control and gender
Authors: Üztemur Servet , Dinç Erkan
Published: October 2022

Temporary school lockdowns and physical distancing practices due to the Covid‐19 pandemic have led to the risk of problematic social media use (PSU) in students who need to socialize. The effect of PSU on students' academic commitment and the mechanisms that moderate this effect spark interest in researchers. For this reason, the present study sought answers to the following two research questions: (a) Whether PSU positively predicts academic procrastination (AP), (b) Whether this relation is moderated by self‐control and gender. Employing the additive multiple moderation model, the study was carried out with 370 Turkish middle school students (female: 65.1%, Mage: 12.82). The findings indicate that PSU positively affects AP. The positive effect of PSU on AP is higher in boys than in girls. Self‐control acts as a buffering moderator in the positive effect of PSU on AP. As students' self‐control levels increase, the positive effect of PSU on AP weakens. Self‐control plays a greater role as a buffering moderator in girls than in boys. Regarding the context of middle school students' PSU and AP, the results extend the literature, which states that boys tend to act more impulsively. Also, this study adds new empirical evidence to the literature regarding the importance of high levels of self‐control in minimizing the negative effects of PSU, which has become more common among middle school students after the Covid‐19 pandemic, on AP.
Asthma as a comorbidity in COVID‐19 pediatric ICU admissions in a large metropolitan children's hospital
Authors: Schroeder Jonathan C. , Sharron Matthew P. , Wai Kitman , Pillai Dinesh K. , Rastogi Deepa
Published: October 2022

Rationale

Children contribute to 5% of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19)‐related hospitalizations in the United States. There is mounting evidence suggesting childhood asthma is a risk factor for severe disease. We hypothesized that asthma is associated with longer length of stay (LOS) and need for respiratory support among children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with COVID‐19.

Methods

We reviewed 150 charts of children and young adults with a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2polymerase chain reaction test admitted to the PICU at Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC between 2020 and 2021. We recorded demographics, anthropometrics, past medical history, clinical course, laboratory findings, imaging, medication usage, respiratory support, and outcomes. Functional Status Scale (FSS), which measures an Intensive Care Unitpatient's physical function, was used to characterize children with multiple comorbidities; FSS and obesity were included as covariates in multivariate analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v25.0.

Results

Sixty‐Eight patients ages 0–21 years met inclusion criteria. Median age was 14.9 years, 55.9% were female, median Body Mass Index percentile was 62, and 42.6% were African American. Compared with those without asthma, patients with asthma averaged longer LOS (20.7 vs. 10.2 days, p = 0.02), with longer PICU stay (15.9 vs. 7.6 days, p = 0.033) and prolonged maximum respiratory support (8.3 vs. 3.3 days, p = 0.016). Adjusted for obesity and poor physical function (FSS > 6), asthma remained a significant predictor of hospital LOS, PICU LOS, and days on maximum respiratory support.

Conclusion

Asthma can cause severe disease with prolonged need for maximum respiratory support among children with COVID‐19.
To B or not to B. The rationale for quantifying B‐lines in pediatric lung diseases
Authors: Parri Niccolò , Allinovi Marco , Giacalone Martina , Corsini Iuri
Published: October 2022

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is emerging as adjunct tool to be used during clinical assessment. Among the different hallmarks of LUS, B‐lines are well known artifacts, which are not correlated with identifiable structures, but which can be used for pathological classification. The presence of multiple B‐lines is a sonographic sign of lung interstitial syndrome. It has been demonstrated in adults that there is a direct correlation between the number of B‐lines and the severity of the interstitial involvement of lung disease. Counting B‐lines is an attempt to enrich the clinical assessment and clinical information, beyond obtaining a simple dichotomous answer. Semiquantitative or quantitative B‐line assessment has been shown to correlate with fluid overload and demonstrated prognostic implications in specific neonatal and pediatric conditions. LUS with quantitative B‐lines assessment is promising. Current evidence allows for quantification of B‐lines in a limited number of neonatal and pediatric diseases.
Impact Safety Improvement of High Explosives Through the Use of Internal Cavity Design
Authors: Xiao Zhaofei , Thornhill Ryan , Arora Hari , Warren Robert , Belblidia Fawzi
Published: October 2022

This study offers improved safety design guidelines for high explosives (HE), creating impact insensitive geometries, capitalising on the potential for additive layer manufacturing techniques. There are numerous safety concerns when considering energetic materials and HEs, the primary concern, subject of this work, is the risk of unplanned detonation from impact. There are multiple potential causes for unplanned detonation due to impact; one of which is the impact from a high‐speed foreign object. Despite this substantial risk, the problem has not been publicly addressed by means of adjusting the design of the charge itself. Therefore, investigations into the internal design of the charge were executed, whereby the inclusion of various sized and shaped voids are assessed, to establish their effect upon the reactivity of the HE. Using computational modelling, allows for numerous designs to be assessed and developed, and the impact sensitivity of the charge to be tested across a range of scenarios. The proposed validated computational model enables designs to be optimised in a safe and efficient manner, reducing the number of physical tests required, and thus minimising time, cost and the environmental impact.
Underwater Performance Analysis of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Samantaray Manas R. , Rana Naba Kr. , Ghosh Dhriti S. , Chander Nikhil
Published: October 2022

Herein, perovskite solar cells are fabricated and tested in underwater conditions in the laboratory. The fabricated perovskite solar cell (PSC) shows an efficiency of 14.29% outside water. It demonstrates an impressive power density of 10.49 and 11.88 mW cm−2at a depth of 10 cm in seawater and deionized (DI) water environment, respectively. Compared with commercial silicon solar cells, PSCs are less affected by the water depth level due to their wide bandgap. The quantum efficiency measurement studies show that the perovskite solar cell is quite unaffected over the 400–800 nm wavelength in underwater environment. On the other hand, the spectral response of silicon solar cell is significantly hampered in the infrared region (700–1050 nm) due to light absorption by water. Absorption peaks of water correspond to the observed dips in quantum efficiency spectra of solar cells, indicating that light absorption due to water is primarily responsible for the decrease in photocurrent and electrical performance in underwater conditions.
Design and Functional Test of Transistor Inverter Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol and Graphene Oxide Electrolyte
Authors: Guo Liqiang , Wang Weilin , Li Zhiyuan , Dong Qian , Han Hui , Zhang Zhongqiang , Cheng Guanggui , Ding Jianning , Xue Qing
Published: October 2022

Eco‐friendly “green” electronics are attracting increasing interest in recent years. For example, neural prostheses, nerve implants, drug delivery devices, and diagnostic electronics, as well as some green materials (paper, silk, and polysaccharides) with bioabsorbable and biocompatible transistors, load inverters, and other devices. Here, biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO) electric double‐layer (EDL) transistors are prepared on glass substrates. PVA film treated with GO solution is used as a gate dielectric. Oxide EDL transistors show good performance. A resistive load inverter is also constructed, which shows full swing characteristics and high voltage gain at low operating voltage. The waveform conversion is realized, including the conversion from sine wave to rectangular wave, and the conversion from noise signal to two‐bit output. In addition, PVA/GO transistors can be easily dissolved in water. The proposed PVA/GO oxide transistors may have potential applications in “green” portable devices.
Negative Shannon Information Hides Networks
Authors: Luo Ming‐Xing
Published: October 2022

Shannon information is defined for characterizing the uncertainty information of classical probabilistic distributions. As an uncertainty measure it is generally believed to be positive. This holds for any information quantity from two random variables because of the polymatroidal axioms. However, it is unknown why there is negative information for more than two random variables on finite dimensional spaces. It is first shown that the negative tripartite Shannon mutual information implies specific Bayesian network representations of its joint distribution. Then it is shown that the negative Shannon information is obtained from general tripartite Bayesian networks with quantum realizations. This provides a device‐independent witness of negative Shannon information. Finally the result is extended for general networks. The present result shows new insights in the network compatibility from non‐Shannon information inequalities.
Micromodel of a Gas Diffusion Electrode Tracks In‐Operando Pore‐Scale Wetting Phenomena
Authors: Kalde Anna M. , Grosseheide Maren , Brosch Sebastian , Pape Sharon V. , Keller Robert G. , Linkhorst John , Wessling Matthias
Published: October 2022

Utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a resource for carbon monoxide (CO) production using renewable energy requires electrochemical reactors with gas diffusion electrodes that maintain a stable and highly reactive gas/liquid/solid interface. Very little is known about the reasons why gas diffusion electrodes suffer from unstable long‐term operation. Often, this is associated with flooding of the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) within a few hours of operation. A better understanding of parameters influencing the phase behavior at the electrolyte/electrode/gas interface is necessary to increase the durability of GDEs. In this work, a microfluidic structure with multi‐scale porosity featuring heterogeneous surface wettability to realistically represent the behavior of conventional GDEs is presented. A gas/liquid/solid phase boundary was established within a conductive, highly porous structure comprising a silver catalyst and Nafion binder. Inoperando visualization of wetting phenomena was performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Non‐reversible wetting, wetting of hierarchically porous structures and electrowetting were observed and analyzed. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) enabled the observation of reactions on the model electrode surface. The presented methodology enables the systematic evaluation of spatio‐temporally evolving wetting phenomena as well as species characterization for novel catalyst materials under realistic GDE configurations and process parameters.
Kidney‐Targeted Nanoparticles Loaded with the Natural Antioxidant Rosmarinic Acid for Acute Kidney Injury Treatment
Authors: Li Jiajia , Duan Qijia , Wei Xiaona , Wu Jianping , Yang Qiongqiong
Published: October 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical disease with high morbidity and mortality, and with a lack of effective drugs for treatment. Oxidative stress is very important in the occurrence and progression of AKI, and antioxidants use is one of the promising treatments. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a ubiquitous natural polyphenol with powerful antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. Due to its inherent characteristic with poor water solubility and inferior bioavailability, its clinical application is impeded. Hence, the authors design a nanoparticle for effectively delivering RA, which is a chemical complex of RA and fourth‐generation poly‐amidoamine‐based amphiphilic polymer (G4‐PAMAM). The nanoparticle is modified with l‐serine due to the specific interaction between kidney injury molecule–1 (Kim‐1) and serine, which eventually generates a promising AKI kidney–targeting nanoparticle (S‐G‐R). The S‐G‐R is rapidly cumulated and long‐term retained in ischemia‐reperfusion–induced AKI kidneys, especially in the damaged renal tubular cells. The S‐G‐R exhibits more excellent antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects in vitro and has a more outstanding ability to improve the renal function, repair damaged renal tissue, and decrease oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptosis of tubular cells in vivo. Overall, this study might develop a safe and effective targeting strategy for the therapy of AKI.
Virtual Vector Optimal Selection Strategy for NPC Three‐Level Grid‐Tied Converter with Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control
Authors: Wu Zhenjun , Xie Huan , Wu Jie , Pan Chao
Published: October 2022

Virtual vector is applied in neutral‐point‐clamped (NPC) three‐level converter finite control set model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) strategy due to its good performance of less current ripples and high power efficiency. However, in the process of adding virtual vectors, some redundant virtual vectors will be selected. Excessive virtual vector will increase the computational burden and affect grid‐tied current performance. A virtual vector optimal selection strategy for model predictive control to determine the vectors is proposed. The strategy calculates the fluctuation of grid‐tied current through theoretical analysis. Based on the analysis of amplitude fluctuation of grid‐tied current, the graphics of coverage angle visualization can be obtained under different virtual vector. The angle of the required virtual vectors is obtained through the graphics of coverage angle visualization. The number of virtual vector can be determined when the error current angle range covers the entire vector graph. The proposed control strategy was compared with the conventional control strategies, including excessive virtual vectors or with no any virtual vector. Experimental results show that the proposed control strategy can significantly reduce THD, grid‐tied current error and computational burden. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, virulence gene profile and molecular typing of Campylobacter species isolated from poultry meat samples
Authors: Hadiyan Maryam , Momtaz Hassan , Shakerian Amir
Published: October 2022

Background

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most significant Campylobacter species responsible for severe gastrointestinal disorders. Raw poultry meat is considered a source of Campylobacter transmission to the human population.

Objectives

The present study was aimed to assess the prevalence rate, antibiotic resistance properties, virulence characters and molecular typing of C. jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from raw poultry meat samples.

Methods

Three hundred and eighty raw poultry meat samples were collected and analysed for the presence of Campylobacter spp. using the microbial culture. Species identification was done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Disk diffusion was developed to assess the antimicrobial resistance pattern of isolates. The distribution of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes was determined by PCR. Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus‐PCR was used for molecular typing.

Results

Campylobacter species were isolated from 6.25% of examined samples. C. jejuni and C. coli contamination rates were found to be 57.44% and 48.14%, respectively. C. jejuni strains harboured the highest resistance rate against serythromycin (42.59%), ampicillin (38.88%), ciprofloxacin (33.33%), chloramphenicol (31.48%) and tetracycline (31.48%). C. coli isolates harboured the highest resistance rate against ampicillin (73.07%), ciprofloxacin (73.07%), erythromycin (65.38%) and chloramphenicol (50%). AadE1 (44.44%), blaOXA‐61 (42.59%) and tet(O) (35.18%) were the most commonly detected resistance genes in C. jejuni and cmeB (34.61%) and blaOXA‐61 (34.61%) were the most commonly detected among C. coli strains. The most frequent virulence factors among the C. jejuni isolates were flaA (100%), ciaB (100%), racR (83.33%), dnaJ (81.48%), cdtB (81.48%), cdtC (79.62%) and cadF (74.07%). The most frequent virulence factors among the C. coli isolates were flaA (100%), ciaB (100%), pldA (65.38%) and cadF (61.53%).

Conclusions

The majority of C. jejuni and C. coli strains had more than 80% similarities in their ERIC‐PCR pattern, which may show their common source of transmission. The role of goose and quebec meat samples as reservoirs of virulent and antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter spp. was determined.
The effectiveness of antler point restrictions to achieve management goals
Authors: Cain Rebecca L. , Williams David M. , Porter William F.
Published: October 2022

Stakeholder input is part of the decision‐making process in wildlife management but reaching a decision that satisfies everyone may be impractical when stakeholders are divided on a particular issue or regulation. Antler point restrictions for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are intended to protect yearling males from harvest by hunters. Still, stakeholders debate the value of using antler restrictions to achieve harvest goals. In 2013, Michigan implemented antler point restrictions in 12 counties in the northwest area of the state. Using a series of piecewise regressions and annual harvest data from 23 counties in Michigan, we tested the hypotheses that antler point restrictions caused a change in the age structure of harvested male deer (H1), antlerless harvest (H2), and hunter numbers (H3). We found support for H1, but we did not find support for the other hypotheses. Based on our results, antler point restrictions would be a useful tool where the management goal is to advance the age structure of the male segment of the white‐tailed deer harvest. However, we found no evidence that implementing antler point restrictions would help managers increase the antlerless harvest or recruit more hunters to the area. Therefore, managers might consider using antler point restrictions to reduce the harvest of yearling males, but these regulations are unlikely to have notable or lasting impacts on antlerless harvest or hunter numbers.
Bi(III) stable in the coordination compounds with XeF2 as a ligand
Authors: Tramšek Melita , Goreshnik Evgeny , Tavčar Gašper
Published: October 2022

Main group trivalent metal canter is added to the diverse family of coordination compounds with XeF2 as a ligand for the first time. [Bi(XeF2)3](BiF6)3 can be prepared by the direct reaction between BiF3, BiF5 and XeF2 in anhydrous HF as solvent. The compound is stable at room temperature under inert conditions. In the compound, the same metal is found in two oxidation states: Bi(III) and Bi(V). [Bi(XeF2)3](BiF6)3 crystalizes in hexagonal space group P
2 c at 150 K with a=10.3296(5) Å, b=10.3296(5) Å, c=12.1775(7) Å. The metal centre Bi(III) is coordinated with nine F atoms. Six F atoms from BiF6 units are located in the corners of the trigonal prism, while the rectangular faces of the trigonal prism are capped with F atoms from three XeF2 ligands. The Bi(III) centres are connected via Bi(V)F6 units into the three dimensional network. All three XeF2 ligands are non‐bridging.
Conclusion: Towards Excellence in Research, Learning and Teaching Public Policy
Authors: Aiyede E. Remi , Muganda Beatrice
Published: October 2022

This chapter establishes and underscores the salience of the central claims of the chapters of the book, the skills and abilities the readings support as part of the research and public policy programmes. It begins by examining the travails of the effort to promote evidence-informed policy making from the 1950s in the build-up to independence, through the period of central planning, fiscal crisis and recession, structural adjustment, and the entrance and proliferation of independent think tanks. It shows that after a lull during the periods of dictatorship and the shrinking of the democratic space, the liberalisation and democratisation process from the 1990s onwards has rekindled consciousness and interest in promoting evidence-informed policy making. African countries have become part of the evidence revolution indicated by the establishment of national policy evaluation systems across the continent. The chapters together constitute essential materials for understanding various aspects and dimensions of policy making in Africa with emphasis on quality research and excellence in both teaching and learning of the graduate programmes in public policy.
Governance and Politics of Public Policy in Africa
Authors: Aiyede E. Remi
Published: October 2022

This chapter analyses the interconnections among the concepts of governance, politics and public policy and examines the political and governance issues around policy making in Africa. It explores the concepts of “public policy”, “Politics” and “governance” and their inter-relationship. It then elaborates the main features of the governance context of policy making and the formal governance institutions of policy making: the arms of government and the models and systems of government. It also describes policy roles of the party and electoral systems as frameworks of democratic governance. It explores public policy instruments and actors in the policymaking process as well as the informal dimensions of politics and public policy making.
Environmental conditions for the successful development of Salpa thompsoni (Tunicata: Thaliaceae) blastozooids and embryos in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
Authors: Słomska Angelika Wanda , Panasiuk Anna
Published: October 2022

Numerous studies have revealed that large numbers of gelatinous invertebrates, Salpa thompsoni, are reported more often in high-latitude Antarctic waters (> 60°S) than were reported in data obtained from the early twentieth century. Previously published studies also suggested that this tunicate may form a small subpopulation in cold shelf Antarctic waters. However, many researchers claim that harsh environmental conditions inhibit the reproduction and development of this species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine S. thompsoni blastozooids and the development ability of their embryos within different zones of the eastern and western parts of the Southern Ocean. The samples used in this study were collected from two transects, (I) between the Weddell Sea and coastal waters of South Africa and (II) between South America and the South Shetland Islands (Drake Passage) during the summer season of 2009/2010. The presented results showed that the highest likelihood for the presence of mature salps is observed under both in the conditions considered favorable that are characterized for mid-latitude areas as well as those observed at higher latitudes in the Antarctic zone (60°S) of the Southern Ocean. This work indicated that the prevailing environmental conditions in the Antarctic zone were distinguished by the highest diversity of embryo development stages and the densest salp aggregations. Our work revealed evidence for dualistic environmental preferences, while blastozooid development and embryo fertilization were equally successful at lower temperatures and low chl-a concentrations as well as when these variables reached higher values. This study expands the knowledge about environmental preferences and provides evidence for flexibility of salp reproduction, which allows it to adapt to various environmental conditions of the Southern Ocean.
Analysis of Target Data-Dependent Greedy Kernel Algorithms: Convergence Rates for f-, $$f \cdot P$$- and f/P-Greedy
Authors: Wenzel Tizian , Santin Gabriele , Haasdonk Bernard
Published: October 2022

Data-dependent greedy algorithms in kernel spaces are known to provide fast converging interpolants, while being extremely easy to implement and efficient to run. Despite this experimental evidence, no detailed theory has yet been presented. This situation is unsatisfactory, especially when compared to the case of the data-independent P-greedy algorithm, for which optimal convergence rates are available, despite its performances being usually inferior to the ones of target data-dependent algorithms. In this work, we fill this gap by first defining a new scale of greedy algorithms for interpolation that comprises all the existing ones in a unique analysis, where the degree of dependency of the selection criterion on the functional data is quantified by a real parameter. We then prove new convergence rates where this degree is taken into account, and we show that, possibly up to a logarithmic factor, target data-dependent selection strategies provide faster convergence. In particular, for the first time we obtain convergence rates for target data adaptive interpolation that are faster than the ones given by uniform points, without the need of any special assumption on the target function. These results are made possible by refining an earlier analysis of greedy algorithms in general Hilbert spaces. The rates are confirmed by a number of numerical examples.
Influence of boreal spring sea surface temperature anomalies over the tropical South Atlantic on the Meiyu onset
Authors: Zhang Shaoyu , Liu Yimin , Sheng Chen , Ma Tingting
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the impact of boreal spring tropical South Atlantic surface sea temperature anomalies (TSA-SSTA) on the anticyclone over the western North Pacific (WNPAC) and the Meiyu onset date (MOD) based on reanalysis data and numerical experiments. The results indicate an intimate linkage between the MOD and TSA-SSTA, in which warmer spring TSA-SSTA are associated with an earlier MOD and vice versa, and the underlying mechanism is identified. Warm TSA-SSTA can trigger a Gill-type response and anomalous equatorial Walker circulation, which leads to anomalous upward motion and latent heating over the Maritime Continent. This anomalous condition over the Maritime Continent strengthens local Hadley circulation accordingly accompanied by anomalous descending motion over the western North Pacific. This descending motion reduces the local rainfall and enhances the equatorward northerly wind at low level. Further analysis reveals that local Sverdrup positive feedback between the anomalous diabatic cooling owing to reduced rainfall and the lower-level equatorward northerly wind is critical for sustaining the well-developed anomalous WNPAC. The abundant water vapor transport embedded in the northwestern flank of the anomalous WNPAC eventually favors an earlier MOD. Atmospheric conditions corresponding to cold TSA-SSTA produce the opposite effect. The spring TSA-SSTA can therefore prominently communicate with the subsequent East Asian MOD via the aforementioned mechanism, and the spring TSA-SSTA can be interpreted as a precursor signal of the East Asian MOD.
Comorbidities and clinical outcomes in adult- and juvenile-onset Huntington’s disease: a study of linked Swedish National Registries (2002–2019)
Authors: Furby Hannah , Moore Suzanne , Nordstroem Anna-Lena , Houghton Richard , Lambrelli Dimitra , Graham Sophie , Svenningsson Per , Petersén Åsa
Published: October 2022

Background

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare, neurodegenerative disease and its complex motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms exert a lifelong clinical burden on both patients and their families.

Objective

To describe the clinical burden and natural history of HD.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study used data from the linked Swedish national registries to describe the occurrence of comorbidities (acute and chronic), symptomatic treatments and mortality in an incident cohort of individuals who either received the first diagnosis of HD above (adult onset HD; AoHD) or below (juvenile-onset HD; JoHD) 20 years of age, compared with a matched cohort without HD from the general population. Disease burden of all individuals alive in Sweden was described during a single calendar year (2018), including the occurrence of key symptoms, treatments and hospitalizations.

Results

The prevalence of HD in 2018 was approximately 10.2 per 100,000. Of 1492 individuals with a diagnosis of HD during 2002 and 2018, 1447 had AoHD and 45 had JoHD. Individuals with AoHD suffered a higher incidence of obsessive–compulsive disorder, acute psychotic episodes, pneumonia, constipation and fractures compared with matched controls. Individuals with JoHD had higher incidence rates of epilepsy, constipation and acute respiratory symptoms. Median time to all-cause mortality in AoHD was 12.1 years from diagnosis. Patients alive with HD in Sweden in 2018 displayed a pattern of increased clinical burden for a number of years since diagnosis.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the significant and progressive clinical burden in individuals with HD and presents novel insights into the natural history of JoHD.
Impact of a diverting ileostomy in total mesorectal excision with primary anastomosis for rectal cancer
Authors: Hol Jeroen C. , Burghgraef Thijs A. , Rutgers Marieke L. W. , Crolla Rogier M. P. H. , van Geloven Anna A. W. , de Jong Gabie M. , Hompes Roel , Leijtens Jeroen W. A. , Polat Fatih , Pronk Apollo , Smits Anke B. , Tuynman Jurriaan B. , Verdaasdonk Emiel G. G. , Consten Esther C. J. , Sietses Colin
Published: October 2022

Background

The role of diverting ileostomy in total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer with primary anastomosis is debated. The aim of this study is to gain insight in the clinical consequences of a diverting ileostomy, with respect to stoma rate at one year and stoma-related morbidity.

Methods

Patients undergoing TME with primary anastomosis for rectal cancer between 2015 and 2017 in eleven participating hospitals were included. Retrospectively, two groups were compared: patients with or without diverting ileostomy construction during primary surgery. Primary endpoint was stoma rate at one year. Secondary endpoints were severity and rate of anastomotic leakage, overall morbidity rate within thirty days and stoma (reversal) related morbidity.

Results

In 353 out of 595 patients (59.3%) a diverting ileostomy was constructed during primary surgery. Stoma rate at one year was 9.9% in the non-ileostomy group and 18.7% in the ileostomy group (p = 0.003). After correction for confounders, multivariate analysis showed that the construction of a diverting ileostomy during primary surgery was an independent risk factor for stoma at one year (OR 2.563 (95%CI 1.424–4.611), p = 0.002). Anastomotic leakage rate was 17.8% in the non-ileostomy group and 17.2% in the ileostomy group (p = 0.913). Overall 30-days morbidity rate was 37.6% in the non-ileostomy group and 56.1% in the ileostomy group (p < 0.001). Stoma reversal related morbidity rate was 17.9%.

Conclusions

The stoma rate at one year was higher in patients with ileostomy construction during primary surgery. The incidence and severity of anastomotic leakage were not reduced by construction of an ileostomy. The morbidity related to the presence and reversal of a diverting ileostomy was substantial.
Tissue integration and biodegradation of soft tissue substitutes with and without compression: an experimental study in the rat
Authors: Bienz Stefan P. , Vaquette Cedryck , Ioannidis Alexis , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Jung Ronald E. , Ivanovski Sašo , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To analyze the influence of compression on tissue integration and degradation of soft tissue substitutes.

Material and methods

Six subcutaneous pouches in twenty-eight rats were prepared and boxes made of Al2O3 were implanted and used as carriers for soft tissue substitutes: a collagen matrix (MG), two volume-stable collagen matrices (FG/MGA), and a polycaprolactone scaffold(E). The volume-stable materials (FG/MGA/E) were further implanted with a twofold (2) and a fourfold (4) compression, created by the stacking of additional layers of the substitute materials. The samples were retrieved at 1, 2, and 12 weeks (10 groups, 3 time points, n = 5 per time point and group, overall, 150 samples). The area fraction of infiltrated fibroblasts and inflammatory cells was evaluated histologically. Due to within-subject comparisons, mixed models were conducted for the primary outcome. The level of significance was set at 5%.

Results

The area fraction of fibroblasts increased in all groups over time. At 12 weeks, the densely compressed materials FG4 (1.1%), MGA4 (1.7%), and MGA2 (2.5%) obtained lower values as compared to the other groups, ranging between 4.7 (E2) and 6.5% (MG). Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between groups FG4 vs MG/FG2/E/E4 as well as between MGA4 vs MG/FG2/E/E4 and E vs MGA2.

Conclusions

Higher levels of compression led to delayed tissue integration. The effect of different compression levels was more distinct when compared to the differences between the materials.

Clinical relevance

All biomaterials demonstrated tissue integration and a minimal concomitant inflammatory reaction. Clinically, it might be more favorable to obtain a sufficient flap release or to reduce the material size to improve the tissue integration processes.
Impacts and economic costs of climate change on Mexican agriculture
Authors: Estrada Francisco , Mendoza-Ponce Alma , Calderón-Bustamante Oscar , Botzen Wouter
Published: October 2022

This study quantifies the impacts of climate change on yields and the corresponding economic losses in six relevant crops that account for 65% of the harvested area in Mexico and are highly relevant in terms of consumption and economic value. The results show that crop yields could decrease considerably during this century, especially in the rainfed management system. Under a high-emission scenario, large reductions in yields are expected by the end of this century for both rainfed and irrigated management systems of maize (42%, 31.4%), rice (51.4%, 41.3%), sorghum (41.1%, 36.6%), soybean (59.1%, 44.9%), wheat (23.3%, 20.0%), and rainfed sugarcane (11.7%). At the national level, the present value of losses in the selected crops amounts to $37,934 million dollars, which represents about twice the current total national agricultural production of Mexico. Rainfed agriculture represents about 69% of these losses and reductions in maize yields account for almost 70% of the total losses. States such as Veracruz, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Jalisco represent half of the total economic losses. However, about 16% of the aggregated losses occur in states with high levels of poverty and subsistence farming like Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero. Climate change will significantly increase the risks that already vulnerable subsistence farmers’ face in the present. Although ambitious mitigation efforts can reduce the estimated impacts in most of the crops, residual damages are considerable, and the prompt implementation adaptation strategies is required.
Reconstruction of the evolution phases of a landslide by using multi-layer back-analysis methods
Authors: Innocenti Agnese , Pazzi Veronica , Borselli Lorenzo , Nocentini Massimiliano , Lombardi Luca , Gigli Giovanni , Fanti Riccardo
Published: October 2022

Back analysis is the most common method to study landslide movements after the event, and it allows us to understand how a landslide evolved along the slope. This paper presents the back-analysis of the Pomarico landslide (Basilicata, Italy) that occurred on January 25th, 2019, on the southwestern slope of the Pomarico hill. The landslide, of rotational clayey retrogressive type—planar sliding, evolved in different phases until it caused a paroxysmal movement in the early afternoon on January 29th, 2019. The landslide caused the collapse of a bulkhead (built at the end of the twentieth century) and of some buildings along the village’s main road. In this paper, a multi-layer back-analysis study is presented, based on the limit equilibrium model (LEM), applying the solution proposed by Morgenstern and Price in Geotechnique 15(1):79–93zh, (1965) and implemented in the freeware software SSAP 2010. The analysis allowed the reconstruction of the entire landslide evolution, using geotechnical parameters obtained from both laboratory and in situ tests, and data from the literature. The application of multilayer back-analysis made it possible to avoid the homogenisation of the layers, modelling the event according to the real conditions present on the slope. The use of the SSAP software made it possible to curb the problem related to the theoretical limitation of the shape of the rupture surfaces, by evaluating independently the friction angle locally and by discarding all those surfaces, which, due to this problem, presented a non-reliable factor of safety (FS) value. The modelling revealed a slope that is highly unstable as the height of the water table changes. The FS calculated under water table conditions close to ground level was less than 1 (FS = 0.98), simulating the first landslide movement (November 2018). The subsequent model reconstructed the critical surface responsible for the January 2019 movement and calculated the FS present on the slope (FS = 1.01). Eventually, the paroxysmal event on January 29th, 2019, was modelled, returning an FS of 0.83, and a sliding surface that sets below the bulkhead, causing its failure. Furthermore, the modelling of the slope in the presence of adequate retaining structures demonstrated the (non-) effectiveness of the retaining wall system represented by the bulkhead. The proposed method of analysis suggests further applications in similar complex multi-layer soil-structure interaction scenarios.
On Resolving Problems with Conditionality and Its Implications for Characterizing Statistical Evidence
Authors: Evans Michael , Frangakis Constantine
Published: October 2022

The conditionality principleCplays a key role in attempts to characterize the concept of statistical evidence. The standard version ofCconsiders a model and a derived conditional model, formed by conditioning on an ancillary statistic for the model, together with the data, to be equivalent with respect to their statistical evidence content. This equivalence is considered to hold for any ancillary statistic for the model but creates two problems. First, there can be more than one maximal ancillary in a given context and this leads toCnot being an equivalence relation and, as such, calls into question whetherCis a proper characterization of statistical evidence. Second, a statisticAcan change from ancillary to informative (in its marginal distribution) when another ancillaryBchanges, from having one known distributionPB, to having another known distributionQB. This means that the stability of ancillarity differs across ancillary statistics and raises the issue of when a statistic can be said to be truly ancillary. It is therefore natural, and practically important, to limit conditioning to the set of ancillaries whose distribution is irrelevant to the ancillary status of any other ancillary statistic. This results in a family of ancillaries for which there is a unique maximal member. This also gives a new principle for inference, the stable conditionality principle, that satisfies the criteria required for any principle whose aim is to characterize statistical evidence.
A simple and low-cost technique to initiate single-spore cultures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi using a superabsorbent polymer
Authors: Paré Louis , Banchini Claudia , Hamel Chantal , Bernier Louis , Stefani Franck
Published: October 2022

Most species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are propagated with a host plant in a pot culture. However, the soil matrix makes it difficult to monitor the establishment and development of the symbiosis. In vitro culturing using Ri T-DNA transformed roots provides a clear medium and a sterile environment which offsets the constraints of the soil matrix. Nevertheless, the sterile conditions and the Ri T-DNA transformed roots provide very different growing conditions compared to a pot culture. Transparent soil based on superabsorbent polymer (SAP) has the potential of combining the advantages of current in vivo and in vitro culture methods without the constraints associated with either technique (opacity and sterility). Here we describe a SAP-based autotrophic culture as an alternative to current in vivo and in vitro culture methods. This system using two-compartment Petri dishes makes it easy to initiate single-spore cultures and to monitor fungal propagation. The SAP-based autotrophic system allowed the establishment of single-spore cultures of seven species (Diversispora varaderana, Funneliformis geosporus, Gigaspora rosea, Racocetra fulgida, Rhizophagus irregularis, R. intraradices and Sclerocystis sp.) from six genera and three families. Cultures were maintained over several months under non-sterile conditions. The Petri dishes avoid the problem of cross contamination and they can be stacked for space optimization. The grains of SAP colonized with new spores were used as inoculum to initiate new cultures in the SAP-based system. The SAP-based autotrophic culture method is a low-cost and low-tech approach, which makes the study of AMF much more accessible.
Recent potential application of rice husk as an eco-friendly adsorbent for removal of heavy metals
Authors: Okoro Hussein K. , Alao Sikirat M. , Pandey Sadanand , Jimoh Ismaila , Basheeru Kazeem A. , Caliphs Zvinowanda , Ngila Jane C.
Published: October 2022

Environmental contamination by heavy metals has continued to be a source of serious concerns to researchers because of its far-reaching implications on the earth as we know it. This is because environmental pollution occasioned by heavy metals (HMs) which are non-biodegradable pose direct or indirect negative effects on environmental health, including that of plants, animals, and humans owing to their increased bioaccumulation in environmental matrices. Wastewater from industries producing chemicals is disposed of directly without proper treatment into the environment. However, HMs enter the food chains and food webs via the air, water, and soil, thereby inducing several diseases and disorders in both humans and animals. The features of rice husk (RH) as novel adsorbent are because it is chemically stable as well as being insoluble in water in addition to its large surface area relative to other agricultural waste products. There is an increasingly high awareness of the roles played by RH in environmental uses or applications for the sequestration of environmentally harmful chemical substances This review summarizes some recent developments in the use of RH and its derivatives as an environmentally friendly adsorbent that is highly suitable for the removal of heavy metal.
Contents and spatial distribution patterns of heavy metals in the hinterland of the Tengger Desert, China
Authors: Wang Zhao , Wei Junjie , Peng Wenbin , Zhang Rui , Zhang Haobo
Published: October 2022

The desert in northern China is one of important sources of loess and one significant source of material for sandstorms in Asia. The sand/dust that is transported from desert when sandstorms occur can destroy the growth of crops, cause serious losses and great harm to the economic construction and life safety, and cause natural environment pollution. Hence, it is very important to deepen the research into heavy metals in surface deposits at vulnerable ecological region of arid land of northern China to guide local industrial and agricultural development and improve environmental protection. In this research, 10 heavy metal elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Th) were tested and analyzed in 33 soil sample sites collected from the hinterland of the Tengger Desert, northern China. The results showed that the average abundance of Th exceeded its background soil value of China by more than 5.2 times, which suggests that the Tengger Desert is polluted by Th. In addition, based on principal component analysis, spatial differentiation, and correlation analysis, we identified the source of element with a coefficient of variation in abundance of greater than 0.5 or exceeding the background soil value of China. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that the sources of heavy metals of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Cd were similar, while those of Th and Zn were different. Moreover, based on the contents and spatial distribution characteristics of those heavy metal elements, we found that the formation of heavy metal elements enrichment areas is caused by industrial pollution, development of irrigated agricultural, geological, and geomorphic conditions, and the sedimentary environment in the study area. Our result can provide information on the environmental background values of soils in the hinterland of the Tengger Desert.