bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energizing periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) with bismuth and cerium for photo‐degrading methylene blue and methyl orange in water
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Imran Khan Muhammad , Elboughdiri Noureddine , Ghernaout Djamel , ur Rehman Aziz
Published: January 2021

This work reported an efficient catalyst to reduce the organic pollutants by using an energetic periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) supported with bismuth (Bi‐PMOS) and cerium (Ce‐PMOS). PMOS support was designed through co‐condensation of sodium silicate and 3‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane on polysorbate templates. The resultant PMOSs were fabricated with bismuth and cerium oxides to formulate Bi‐PMOS and Ce‐PMOS, respectively. These materials showed photo‐degradations of methylene blue (MB, 74.7% and 41.1% with Bi‐PMOS and Ce‐PMOS, respectively) and methyl orange (MO, 53.2% and 39.4% with Bi‐PMOS and Ce‐PMOS, respectively). Such efficient photo‐degradations were attributed to the precise doping of metallic nodes of Bi2O3 and CeO2 on the porous structure of PMOS with high surface area. The results also showed that Bi and Ce were more effective in PMOS support for photo‐degradation of dyes as the support provides more lifetime to photo‐generated electron–hole pairs than other materials. Moreover, active reusability and high degradation efficiencies of Bi‐PMOS and Ce‐PMOS proved them better analytical tools to reduce organic pollutants under visible lights.

Practitioner points

The oxides of bismuth and cerium have impressive photocatalytic characteristics.

New material energizing mesoporous organosilica with bismuth and cerium for photo‐degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange in water.

The use of an efficient catalyst to reduce the organic pollutants by using an energetic periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) supported with bismuth (Bi‐PMOS) and cerium (Ce‐PMOS).
On the quantization of Seiberg-Witten geometry
Authors: Haouzi Nathan , Oh Jihwan
Published: January 2021

Abstract

We propose a double quantization of four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 Seiberg-Witten geometry, for all classical gauge groups and a wide variety of matter content. This can be understood as a set of certain non-perturbative Schwinger-Dyson identities, following the program initiated by Nekrasov [1]. The construction relies on the computation of the instanton partition function of the gauge theory on the so-called Ω-background on ℝ4, in the presence of half-BPS codimension 4 defects. The two quantization parameters are identified as the two parameters of this background. The Seiberg-Witten curve of each theory is recovered in the flat space limit. Whenever possible, we motivate our construction from type IIA string theory.
Biochemical control after adjuvant radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a unicentric, retrospective analysis
Authors: Zaharie Alexandru-Teodor , Moll Matthias , Goldner Gregor
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate the biochemical no evidence of disease (bNED) and late side effects after adjuvant radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients.

Methods

Patients (n = 85) treated with external beam radiotherapy between 1997 and 2013 following radical prostatectomy (RPE) with pathological tumour stage pT2c with positive surgical margins or pT3 and pT4 tumours with or without positive margins who presented with a postoperative and a preradiation prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level below 0.1 ng/ml. The mean dose applied was 66 Gy with conventional fractionation (4 field box-technique). No androgen deprivation therapy was administered, and patients with incomplete data (missing Gleason score, pT stage, or PSA values postoperatively and/or prior to radiation at the presentation at our department) have been excluded from the analysis. Biochemical recurrence was defined as reaching a PSA level > 0.2 ng/ml during follow-up and bNED rates were assessed. In addition, patients were divided into two groups according to the Roach formula for predicting the risk of pelvic node involvement at a cut-off value of 15%. Late urogenital and gastrointestinal side effects (EORTC/RTOG) were assessed.

Results

After a median follow-up of 60 months the bNED rate was 88% at 5 years and 72% at 10 years for all patients. Patients with low risk of lymph node involvement (group < 15%) had a 5 year and 10 year bNED of 97% and 85%, while patients with high risk of positive lymph node involvement (group > 15%) showed corresponding bNED rates of 77% and 52%, respectively. A significant difference according to the Roach stratification was detected (p ≤ 0.002). Late urogenital (UG) and gastrointestinal (GI) grade ≥ 2 side effects were detected in 10% and 15%, respectively.

Conclusion

Postoperative radiotherapy with an average dose of 66 Gy to the prostatic fossa following RPE provides excellent tumour control rates with acceptable side effects. Patients with a higher risk of positive lymph nodes (> 15%) according to the Roach formula show significant worse tumour control rates.
Auswirkungen der SARS-CoV‑2-Pandemie auf die universitäre Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde im Bereich der Forschung, Lehre und Weiterbildung
Authors: Stöver T. , Dazert S. , Plontke S. K. , Kramer S. , Ambrosch P. , Arens C. , Betz C. , Beutner D. , Bohr C. , Bruchhage K.-L. , Canis M. , Dietz A. , Guntinas-Lichius O. , Hagen R. , Hosemann W. , Iro H. , Klussmann J. P , Knopf A. , Lang S. , Leinung M. , Lenarz T. , Löwenheim H. , Matthias C. , Mlynski R. , Olze H. , Park J. , Plinkert P. , Radeloff A. , Rotter N. , Rudack C. , Bozzato A. , Schipper J. , Schrader M. , Schuler P. J. , Strieth S. , Stuck B. A. , Volkenstein S. , Westhofen M. , Wolf G. , Wollenberg B. , Zahnert T. , Zenk J. , Hoffmann T. K.
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

Ab Frühjahr 2020 kam es zur weltweiten Verbreitung von SARS-CoV‑2 mit der heute als erste Welle der Pandemie bezeichneten Phase ab März 2020. Diese resultierte an vielen Kliniken in Umstrukturierungen und Ressourcenverschiebungen. Ziel unserer Arbeit war die Erfassung der Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf die universitäre Hals-Nasen-Ohren(HNO)-Heilkunde für die Forschung, Lehre und Weiterbildung.

Material und Methoden

Die Direktorinnen und Direktoren der 39 Universitäts-HNO-Kliniken in Deutschland wurden mithilfe einer strukturierten Online-Befragung zu den Auswirkungen der Pandemie im Zeitraum von März bis April 2020 auf die Forschung, Lehre und die Weiterbildung befragt.

Ergebnisse

Alle 39 Direktorinnen und Direktoren beteiligten sich an der Umfrage. Hiervon gaben 74,4 % (29/39) an, dass es zu einer Verschlechterung ihrer Forschungstätigkeit infolge der Pandemie gekommen sei. Von 61,5 % (24/39) wurde berichtet, dass pandemiebezogene Forschungsaspekte aufgegriffen wurden. Von allen Kliniken wurde eine Einschränkung der Präsenzlehre berichtet und 97,5 % (38/39) führten neue digitale Lehrformate ein. Im Beobachtungszeitraum sahen 74,4 % der Klinikdirektoren die Weiterbildung der Assistenten nicht gefährdet.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse geben einen Einblick in die heterogenen Auswirkungen der Pandemie. Die kurzfristige Bearbeitung pandemiebezogener Forschungsthemen und die Einführung innovativer digitaler Konzepte für die studentische Lehre belegt eindrücklich das große innovative Potenzial und die schnelle Reaktionsfähigkeit der HNO-Universitätskliniken, um auch während der Pandemie ihre Aufgaben in der Forschung, Lehre und Weiterbildung bestmöglich zu erfüllen.
Discrete adjoint aerodynamic shape optimization using symbolic analysis with OpenFEMflow
Authors: Elham Ali , van Tooren Michel J. L.
Published: January 2021

The combination of gradient-based optimization with the adjoint method for sensitivity analysis is a very powerful and popular approach for aerodynamic shape optimization. However, differentiating CFD codes is a time consuming and sometimes a challenging task. Although there are a few open-source adjoint CFD codes available, due to the complexity of the code, they might not be very suitable to be used for educational purposes. An adjoint CFD code is developed to support students for learning adjoint aerodynamic shape optimization as well as developing differentiated CFD codes. To achieve this goal, we used symbolic analysis to develop a discrete adjoint CFD code. The least-squares finite element method is used to solve the compressible Euler equations around airfoils in the transonic regime. The symbolic analysis method is used for exact integration to generate the element stiffness and force matrices. The symbolic analysis is also used to compute the exact derivatives of the residuals with respect to both design variables (e.g., the airfoil geometry) and the state variables (e.g., the flow velocity). Besides, the symbolic analysis allows us to compute the exact Jacobian of the governing equations in a computationally efficient way, which is used for Newton iteration. The code includes a build-in gradient-based optimization algorithm and is released as open-source to be available freely for educational purposes.
Stability and recovery issues concerning chondroitin sulfate disaccharide analysis
Authors: Tóth Gábor , Pál Domonkos , Vékey Károly , Drahos László , Turiák Lilla
Published: January 2021

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a widely studied class of glycosaminoglycans, responsible for diverse biological functions. Structural analysis of CS is generally based on disaccharide analysis. Sample preparation is a key analytical issue in this case. However, a detailed study on the stability and recovery of CS-derived species has been lacking so far. We have found that for solvent exchange, in general, vacuum evaporation (SpeedVac) is much preferable than lyophilization. Moreover, in the case of aqueous solutions, higher recovery was experienced than in solutions with high organic solvent content. Storage of the resulting disaccharide mixture in typical HPLC injection solvents is also critical; decomposition starts after 12 h at 4 °C; therefore, the mixtures should not be kept in the sample tray of an automatic injector for a long time. The study, therefore, lays down suggestions on proper sample preparation and measurement conditions for biologically derived chondroitin sulfate species.
„Gaming“ im Kindesalter
Authors: Wernicke Jennifer , Montag Christian
Published: January 2021

Hintergrund

Viele Kinder spielen Computer- und Videospiele („Gaming“). Doch übermäßiges Gaming kann sich zu einer „Gaming Disorder“ entwickeln, deren Ursachen nicht vollständig geklärt sind. Unter anderem werden elterliches Gaming und das Vorliegen einer Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit‑/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) bei Kindern als Einflussfaktoren diskutiert.

Ziel der Arbeit

Es wurde untersucht, ob i) Zusammenhänge zwischen elterlichem und kindlichem Gaming bestehen, ii) Gaming und Tendenzen zur ADHS bei Kindern miteinander assoziiert sind, und iii) diese Assoziationen durch das Gaming-Verhalten der Eltern moderiert werden.

Material und Methoden

Es beurteilten 249 Eltern (n = 244 Frauen; Alter: 34,94 ± 4,88 Jahre) das eigene Gaming-Verhalten und das ihrer Kinder (n = 105 Mädchen, n = 144 Jungen; Alter: 5,72 ± 2,18 Jahre) mit dem Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). Mithilfe der Diagnose-Checkliste Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit‑/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (DCL-ADHS) wurden ADHS-Tendenzen der Kinder im Fremdbericht erfasst.

Ergebnisse

Gaming der Eltern und Kinder waren voneinander abhängig (χ2(1) = 15,52, p < 0,001). Die GDT-Werte der Eltern und Kinder korrelierten positiv (Jungen: ρ = 0,34, p = 0,029; Mädchen: ρ = 0,35, p = 0,047). Computerspielende Kinder hatten keine höheren ADHS-Tendenzen als Kinder, die nicht spielten, doch bei spielenden Jungen korrelierten Tendenzen zu Impulsivität (ρ = 0,23, p = 0,028) und bei spielenden Mädchen Tendenzen zu Unaufmerksamkeit (ρ = 0,38, p = 0,008) mit dem GDT-Wert. Elterliche GDT-Werte verstärkten den Zusammenhang zwischen dem GDT-Wert und der Impulsivität bei Kindern i. Allg.

Schlussfolgerung

Eltern können durch ihr eigenes Gaming-Verhalten möglicherweise das ihrer Kinder beeinflussen. Besonders bei Kindern mit einer ADHS muss problematisches Gaming frühzeitig erkannt werden, um der Entstehung einer Gaming Disorder vorbeugen zu können. Die vorgestellten Ergebnisse bedürfen längsschnittlicher Überprüfungen in größeren und heterogeneren Stichproben.
Percutaneous Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasonography combined with in vitro verification for detection and characterization of sentinel lymph nodes in early breast cancer
Authors: Hao Yunxia , Sun Yan , Lei Yutao , Zhao Hongmei , Cui Ligang
Published: January 2021

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of percutaneous Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound and in vitro verification for identification sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and diagnosis of metastatic SLNs in patients with early breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Sixty-eight patients with early BC were enrolled finally. After the induction of general anesthesia, 0.4 ml of Sonazoid (SNZ), a new second-generation tissue-specific ultrasound contrast agent (UCA), mixed with 0.6 ml of methylene blue, was injected intradermally. The lymphatic vessels and connected SLNs were immediately observed and marked. After being resected, these SLNs were soaked in saline water and examined still in the mode of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in vitro. This procedure could ensure that all the enhanced nodes had been removed as much as possible. The numbers of SLNs detected by UCA and blue dye were recorded. The enhancement patterns of SLNs were compared with the final pathological results.

Results

SLNs detection rate by SNZ-CEUS was 100%, which was higher than that by blue dye (95.59%). CEUS identified a median of 1.5 nodes, while blue dye identified a median of 1.9 nodes per case (p = 0.0012). When homogeneous high perfusion and complete annular high perfusion were regarded as negative nodes, the sensitivity and negative predictive value were 92.31% and 96.79% respectively, while the specificity was 84.21%.

Conclusions

Percutaneous SNZ-enhanced ultrasonography combined with in vitro verification is a feasible and reliable method for SLNs identification intraoperatively. Enhancement patterns can be helpful in determining the status of SLNs.

Key Points

• CEUS with percutaneous injection of Sonazoid can successfully identify SLNs with the rate of 100% in early breast cancer patients, higher than 95.59% of blue dye.

• Sonazoid, with high affinity with reticuloendothelial cells, increases the imaging time of SLNs and facilitates biopsy intraoperatively better than Sonovue as a lymphatic tracer.

• Homogenous high and complete annular high perfusions have a sensitivity of 92.31% and a negative predictive value of 96.79% in the prediction of uninvolved SLNs.
Can local treatment prolong the sensitivity of metastatic prostate cancer to androgen deprivation or even prevent castration resistance?
Authors: Niklas Christina , Saar Matthias , Nini Alessandro , Linxweiler Johannes , Siemer Stefan , Junker Kerstin , Stoeckle Michael
Published: January 2021

Purpose

A number of observational clinical studies suggest that prior primary tumor treatment favorably influences the course of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), but its mechanisms of action are still speculative. Here, we describe the long-lasting sensitivity to various forms of androgen deprivation in patients after radical prostatectomy (RP) for locally advanced PCa as one potential mechanism.

Methods

A consecutive series of 115 radical prostatectomies after inductive therapy for T4 prostate cancer was re-analyzed, and long-term survival, as well as recurrence patterns and responses to different forms of hormonal manipulation, were assessed.

Results

The estimated biochemical response-free, PCa-specific, and overall survival rates after 200 months were 20%, 65%, and 47% with a median overall survival of 156 months. The majority of patients, although not cured of locally advanced PCa (84/115), showed long-term survival after RP. PCa-specific and overall survival rates of these 84 patients with biochemical recurrence were 61% and 44% at 150 months. Long-term sensitivity to ADT was found to be the main reason for the favorable tumor-specific survival in spite of biochemical recurrence.

Conclusions

Sensitivity to primary or secondary hormonal manipulation was the main reason for the long-term survival of patients who had not been cured by surgery only. The results suggest that treatment of the primary tumor-bearing prostate delays castration-resistant PCa and enhances the effect of hormonal therapies in a previously unknown manner. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms need to be explored in more detailed analyses, which could profoundly impact treatment concepts of locally advanced and metastatic PCa.
Undifferentiated large cell/rhabdoid carcinoma presenting in the intestines of patients with concurrent or recent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): clinicopathologic and molecular analysis of 14 cases indicates an unusual pattern of dedifferentiated metastases
Authors: Agaimy Abbas , Daum Ondrej , Michal Michal , Schmidt Mona W. , Stoehr Robert , Hartmann Arndt , Lauwers Gregory Y.
Published: January 2021

Undifferentiated carcinoma metastatic to the bowel is uncommon in surgical pathology practice and might be confused with primary gastrointestinal carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and others. We present 14 cases of uni- (n = 9) or multifocal (n = 5) undifferentiated large cell/rhabdoid carcinoma presenting in the bowel of patients with concurrent (n = 9) or recent (diagnosed 1 to 25 months earlier; median, 4) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients were 6 females and 8 males, aged 52 to 85 years. Primary NSCLC was verified histologically in 10 cases and by imaging in 4. The undifferentiated histology was present in the lung biopsy in 4/10 patients (as sole pattern in 3 and combined with adenocarcinoma in 1) and was limited to the intestinal metastases in the remainder. PDL1 was strongly expressed in 7/9 cases (CPS: 41 to 100). Loss of at least one SWI/SNF subunit was detected in 7/13 cases (54%). SMARCA2 loss (n = 6) was most frequent and was combined with SMARCA4 loss in one case. PBRM1 loss was observed in one tumor. Successful molecular testing of 11 cases revealed BRAF mutations in 4 (3 were non-V600E variants), KRAS mutations in 3, and wildtype in 4. None had EGFR mutations. Analysis of 4 paired samples revealed concordant KRAS (2) and BRAF (1) mutations or wildtype (1). Our study indicates that undifferentiated carcinoma within the intestines of patients with concurrent/recent NSCLC represents dedifferentiated metastasis from the NSCLC. Recognition of this unusual presentation is cardinal to avoid misdiagnosis with inappropriate therapeutic and prognostic implications.
Universitätslehrgang Rock Engineering for Deep Mines
Authors: Sifferlinger Nikolaus A. , Wagner Horst , Ladinig Tobias , Knoll Birgit , Bertignoll Hanno
Published: January 2021

Unter der Leitung des Lehrstuhls für Bergbaukunde, Bergtechnik und Bergwirtschaft der Montanuniversität Leoben wurde ein zweijähriger Berufsausbildungskurs „Rock Engineering for Deep Mines“ (SafeDeepMining) konzipiert. Dieser zielte darauf ab, den Mangel an hochqualifiziertem Gebirgsmechanik-Experten für tiefe Bergwerke zu beheben, mit dem man die Gesteinsdruckprobleme, die den Abbau tiefer Mineralvorkommen gefährden, effektiv angehen kann. Das erklärte Ziel von „SafeDeepMining“ ist es, Bergbauingenieure, Behördenmitarbeiter und Personal in der Beratung und an Universitäten auf dem neuesten Stand der Technik im Felsbau auszubilden, um die europäische Bergbauindustrie bei der Bewältigung von Gebirgsdruckgefahren zu unterstützen, die ihre zukünftigen Untertagebetriebe bedrohen.
Numerical Analysis of Side-loads Reduction in a Sub-scale Dual-bell Rocket Nozzle
Authors: Cimini M. , Martelli E. , Bernardini M.
Published: January 2021

A calibrated delayed detached eddy simulation of a sub-scale cold-gas dual-bell nozzle flow at high Reynolds number and in sea-level mode is carried out at nozzle pressure ratio NPR = 45.7. In this regime the over-expanded flow exhibits a symmetric and controlled flow separation at the inflection point, that is the junction between the two bells, leading to the generation of a low content of aerodynamic side loads with respect to conventional bell nozzles. The nozzle wall-pressure signature is analyzed in the frequency domain and compared with the experimental data available in the literature for the same geometry and flow conditions. The Fourier spectra in time and space (azimuthal wavenumber) show the presence of a persistent tone associated to the symmetric shock movement. Asymmetric modes are only slightly excited by the shock and the turbulent structures. The low mean value of the side-loads magnitude is in good agreement with the experiments and confirms that the inflection point dampens the aero-acoustic interaction between the separation-shock and the detached shear layer.
Prioritization of Loita Maasai medicinal plants for conservation
Authors: Nankaya Jedidah , Gichuki Nathan , Lukhoba Catherine , Balslev Henrik
Published: January 2021

Medicinal plants provide biodiversity-based ecosystem services including health to many communities around the world and therefore, medicinal plant conservation is vital for sustainability. Here, we identify medicinal plants to be prioritized for conservation among the Loita Maasai who are pastoralists in the extensive East African savannah. A botanical survey and interviews were conducted with 91 villagers; 49 women and 42 men drawn randomly from 45 households. A conservation priority list was developed based on (1) the plant part harvested, (2) the species use value, and (3) its availability. These criteria were evaluated independently for each species on a scale from 1 to 4 and their sum was taken as the species’ score. The score for the species varied from 5 to 9. The higher the total score value of a species, the higher its priority for conservation. Among the medicinal plants used by the community, 20 species were shortlisted as regularly used and found around the village. Out of these, 12 species that had scores above seven were considered top priority for conservation. A total of 1179 use reports were obtained from the villagers and they were placed in 12 use categories as defined in the International Classification of Primary Care system. Plants used to treat digestive system disorder had most use reports (21%), followed by the muscular skeletal disorders (20%). This study identified 12 medicinal plant species that should be given conservation priority to make them available for the wellbeing of the people and sustainability of ecosystem products and services. An assessment of medicinal plants species using standard ecological methods is recommended.
Fathers’ Mental Health and Children’s Aggressive Behaviour A Study Based on Data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)
Authors: Kvalevaag Anne lise , Aβmus Jörg , Biringer Eva
Published: January 2021

The aim of the study was to examine the association between fathers’ prenatal psychological distress and children’s aggressive behaviour in terms of hitting others, and how children’s age, gender and temperament affect this association. The study is based on data from 20,155 fathers and mothers from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Fathers and mothers completed questionnaires at 17 or 18 weeks of gestation and mothers at children’s age 18 months, and 3 and 5 years. Fathers’ prenatal psychological distress was assessed by the 5-item Symptom Checklist (SCL-5), and children’s temperament by 12 items from the Emotionality Activity Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey. Increasing prenatal psychological distress in fathers was associated with an increase of hitting from 18 months to 3 years of age in boys. Children’s temperament did not affect the association between fathers’ prenatal psychological distress and children’s aggressive behaviour.
Occurrence of 222Rn and 226,228Ra in underground water and 222Rn in soil and their mutual correlations for underground water supplies in southern Greater Poland
Authors: Bem Henryk , Długosz-Lisiecka Magdalena , Mazurek-Rudnicka Daria , Szajerski Piotr
Published: January 2021

European Union Council Directive 2013/51/EURATOM recently sets out so-called indicator parameters for: radon, tritium and indicative dose of water intended for human consumption. The aim of this research was to elaborate an effective procedure for determination of radon and radium 226,228Ra isotopes (which are potentially the main contributors to the internal dose from drinking and cooking water) and to find the possible relationships between these radionuclides in underground water reservoirs and 222Rn concentration in the soil gas in their vicinity. The research was performed by applying a non-volatile and water-immiscible scintillation cocktail based on a pure diisopropylnaphthalene (Ultima Gold F: UGF), which allow for efficient radon extraction from 0.5 dm3 of water samples to 20 cm3 of scintillation phase and its direct determination with a detection limit of 5 × 10–3 Bq dm−3. The further preliminary concentration of 3 dm3 of crude water samples by evaporation to 0.5 dm3 samples led to the removal of all unsupported 222Rn activity and allowed the 226Ra determination via equivalent 222Rn detection after one-month samples storage using a low-background Triathler liquid scintillation counter in the α/β separation counting mode. Together with determination of 226Ra isotope in water samples, the simultaneous measurements of 228Ra and 222Rn radionuclides concentrations in water as well as 222Rn activity in the soil gas around the water supply sites were performed. The achieved limit of 226Ra detection was at a very low level of 10–3 Bq dm−3. The measured values of 226Ra concentration in 50 public underground water supply units for the Kalisz district of Poland were relatively low and ranged from below detection limit to 28.5 × 10–3 Bq dm−3 with arithmetic mean and median values of 12.9 and 12.2 × 10–3 Bq dm−3, respectively. Weak correlations were observed between activity concentrations of 226Ra and 222Rn in the crude water samples (R2 = 0.31) and 222Rn in water and its concentration in the nearby soil gas (R2 = 0.48).
Efficacy of bandage contact lens for the management of dry eye disease after cataract surgery
Authors: Wu Xingdi , Ma Yajuan , Chen Xiang , He Suhong , Lin Xueqi , Yu Xuewen , Chen Weijie , Luo Chenqi , Xu Wen
Published: January 2021

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bandage contact lens (BCL) for the management of dry eye disease (DED) after cataract surgery.

Methods

A total of 120 patients (140 eyes) with age-related cataract and DED were enrolled in this study. Patients underwent standard micro-incision phacoemulsification surgeries and were divided into control or BCL groups. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, Ocular Surface Disease Index, keratograph analysis and Schirmer I test were executed, and the levels of tear inflammatory molecules were detected.

Results

In the control group, the NIAvg-BUT and Schirmer I test scores were significantly decreased at 1 week post-operation compared with baseline levels (P = 0.035 and P = 0.009, respectively). In the BCL group, the NIF-BUT and Schemer I test scores were significantly improved at 1 month after operation compared with the control group (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively). Levels of IL-6, IL-8 and ICAM-1 were significantly increased in the control group at 1 month after the operation (P = 0.005, P = 0.038 and P = 0.022, respectively), while there was no difference in the BCL group. The increase in the IL-6 level in the control group was significantly higher compared with that in the BCL group (P = 0.047). In DED patients, there were significant correlations between ocular surface parameters and inflammatory molecules.

Conclusions

Cataract surgery could lead to the development or worsening of DED. The application of BCLs after cataract surgery could stabilize the ocular surface and tear film, improve the corneal healing and reduce the inflammation. Collectively, our findings suggested that proper use of BCLs after cataract surgery played an effective role in the management of DED.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials, NCT04100031. Registered 18 September 2019—retrospectively registered
The influence of depth of anesthesia and blood pressure on muscle recorded motor evoked potentials in spinal surgery. A prospective observational study protocol
Authors: Dulfer Sebastiaan E. , Sahinovic M. M. , Lange F. , Wapstra F. H. , Postmus D. , Potgieser A. R. E. , Faber C. , Groen R. J. M. , Absalom A. R. , Drost G.
Published: January 2021

For high-risk spinal surgeries, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is used to detect and prevent intraoperative neurological injury. The motor tracts are monitored by recording and analyzing muscle transcranial electrical stimulation motor evoked potentials (mTc-MEPs). A mTc-MEP amplitude decrease of 50–80% is the most common warning criterion for possible neurological injury. However, these warning criteria often result in false positive warnings. False positives may be caused by inadequate depth of anesthesia and blood pressure on mTc-MEP amplitudes. The aim of this paper is to validate the study protocol in which the goal is to investigate the effects of depth of anesthesia (part 1) and blood pressure (part 2) on mTc-MEPs. Per part, 25 patients will be included. In order to investigate the effects of depth of anesthesia, a processed electroencephalogram (pEEG) monitor will be used. At pEEG values of 30, 40 and 50, mTc-MEP measurements will be performed. To examine the effect of blood pressure on mTc-MEPs the mean arterial pressure will be elevated from 60 to 100 mmHg during which mTc-MEP measurements will be performed. We hypothesize that by understanding the effects of depth of anesthesia and blood pressure on mTc-MEPs, the mTc-MEP monitoring can be interpreted more reliably. This may contribute to fewer false positive warnings. By performing this study after induction and prior to incision, this protocol provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of depths of anesthesia and blood pressure on mTc-MEPs alone with as little confounders as possible.

Trial registration numberNL7772.
Horizontal Collectivism Moderates the Relationship Between in-the-Moment Social Connections and Well-Being Among Latino/a College Students
Authors: Hussain Maryam , Kho Carmen , Main Alexandra , Zawadzki Matthew J.
Published: January 2021

Sleep problems and poorer well-being may be particularly salient for Latino/a college students as they tend to experience sociocultural adjustments during this transitory time. Social connections, a correlate of health, change moment-to-moment for college students and may be experienced differently for people who more strongly endorse horizontal collectivist cultural values. We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine how in-the-moment social connections influence in-the-moment health, and how horizontal collectivism moderates the moment-to-moment associations. Self-identified Latino/a college students (n = 221) completed a demographic information and cultural values questionnaire and then responded to EMA measures on their social connections, affective and subjective well-being, and sleep for 14 consecutive days. Better in-the-moment social connections associated with better health. Horizontal collectivism moderated some, but not all associations between social connections and health. Social connections are multidimensional and differently predict in-the-moment health among Latino/a college students who more strongly endorse horizontal collectivistic values. We discuss implications for identifying vulnerable well-being moments among this understudied population.
Landscape ecological concepts in planning: review of recent developments
Authors: Hersperger Anna M. , Grădinaru Simona R. , Pierri Daunt Ana Beatriz , Imhof Carole S. , Fan Peilei
Published: January 2021

Context

Landscape ecology as an interdisciplinary science has great potential to inform landscape planning, an integrated, collaborative practice on a regional scale. It is commonly assumed that landscape ecological concepts play a key role in this quest.

Objectives

The aim of the paper is to identify landscape ecological concepts that are currently receiving attention in the scientific literature, analyze the prevalence of these concepts and understand how these concepts can inform the steps of the planning processes, from goal establishment to monitoring.

Methods

We analyzed all empirical and overview papers that have been published in four key academic journals in the field of landscape ecology and landscape planning in the years 2015–2019 (n = 1918). Title, abstract and keywords of all papers were read in order to identify landscape ecological concepts. A keyword search was applied to identify the use of these and previously mentioned concepts in common steps of the planning cycle.

Results

The concepts Structure, Function, Change, Scale, Landscape as human experience, Land use, Landscape and ecosystem services, Green infrastructure, and Landscape resilience were prominently represented in the analyzed literature. Landscape ecological concepts were most often mentioned in context of the landscape analysis steps and least in context of goal establishment and monitoring.

Conclusions

The current literature spots landscape ecological concepts with great potential to support landscape planning. However, future studies need to address directly how these concepts can inform all steps in the planning process.
Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to tandem lesions of the anterior cerebral circulation: a multicentric Italian observational study
Authors: Bracco Sandra , Zanoni Matteo , Casseri Tommaso , Castellano Davide , Cioni Samuele , Vallone Ignazio Maria , Gennari Paola , Mazzei Maria Antonietta , Romano Daniele Giuseppe , Piano Mariangela , Comelli Chiara , Tassi Rossana , Ciceri Elisa Francesca Maria
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesions (TLs) of extracranial Internal Carotid Artery and Anterior Cerebral Circulation are challenging for endovascular treatment (EVT). This study aims to evaluate feasibility, safety and efficacy of EVT for TLs’ AIS, with or without emergent carotid artery stenting (eCAS), in a real-life scenario.

Methods

Retrospective review of prospectively collected non-randomized thrombectomy databases from five stroke centers between 2015 and 2019. Consecutive patients with TLs’ AIS were selected. Clinical, neuroimage and procedure features, as well as antiplatelet therapy regimen, were evaluated. Primary outcome was 90-day mRS ≤ 2. Secondary outcomes included: mTICI score 2b-3, extracranial recanalization, procedural complications, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) and 90-day mortality.

Results

Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled (67.8% males; mean age 65.9 ± 12.9 years). We obtained mTICI 2b-3 in 77.1%, extracranial recanalization in 86.8%, 90-day mRS (available in 201/227 cases) ≤ 2 in 49.8%. Procedural complications occurred in 16.7%, SICH in 9.7%; 90-day mortality rate (available in 201/227 cases) was 14.4%. The strongest predictors of good clinical outcome were young age (p < 0.0001), low baseline NIHSS (p = 0.008), high baseline ASPECTS (p < 0.0001), good collateral flow (p = 0.013) and extracranial recanalization (p = 0.001). The most significant predictors of SICH were low baseline ASPECTS (p < 0.0001), occurrence of complications (p < 0.0001) and eCAS (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In our real-life series, the EVT for TLs’ AIS was feasible, safe and effective in improving 90-day functional outcome with acceptable morbi-mortality rates. ECAS increased the risk of SICH, independently from the antiplatelet therapy regimen.
Exterior Powers and Pointwise Creation Operators
Authors: Chiotis Dimitrios , Lykova Zinaida A. , Young N. J.
Published: January 2021

We develop a theory of pointwise wedge products of vector-valued functions on the circle and the disc, and obtain results which give rise to a new approach to the analysis of the matricial Nehari problem. We investigate properties of pointwise creation operators and pointwise orthogonal complements in the context of operator theory and the study of vector-valued analytic functions on the unit disc.
ASCO virtual meeting 2020: highlights head and neck cancer
Authors: Fuereder Thorsten
Published: January 2021

At the ASCO 2020 virtual meeting, multiple clinically relevant studies were presented addressing open questions in the head and neck cancer field: Are de-escalation strategies feasible in low risk patients? What is the appropriate platinum dose in combination with radiotherapy in high-risk patients suffering from locally advanced disease? Is immunotherapy the first line standard of care for all patient in the recurrent/metastatic setting? This article summarizes the most significant head and neck cancer studies presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual meeting and discusses the data in the context of the current literature.
Cancer prehabilitation—a short review
Authors: Crevenna Richard , Palma Stefano , Licht Thomas
Published: January 2021

Cancer prehabilitation uses the pretreatment time period to prevent a treatment-related functional decline and its subsequent consequences, and therefore occurs between the time of cancer diagnosis and the beginning of acute cancer treatment. This intervention has been shown to improve functional status, physical and psychological health outcomes and decrease overall health care costs. Currently there are several unimodal and one multimodal cancer prehabilitation regimens. Unimodal cancer prehabilitation includes exercise only, and multimodal cancer prehabilitation regimens are combinations of different interventions such as exercise, patient information and education, nutrition, psychologic counseling such as psycho-oncology, smoking cessation and reduction of alcohol consumption. Both approaches have the goal to improve physical capacity and mental health and to enable cancer patients to cope with the upcoming stress of the specific cancer-related treatment they need. Furthermore, cancer prehabilitation can support cancer patients to better participate in cancer rehabilitation after cancer treatment and maintain their ability to engage in premorbid activities. A growing body of scientific evidence confirms the importance of cancer prehabilitation. Further research is needed to study effectiveness and efficiency as well as clinical aspects of unimodal and multimodal cancer prehabilitation interventions.
Risikoberichterstattung in der deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft: Eine empirische Untersuchung von Konzernlageberichten
Authors: Dobler Michael , Schwartze Felix
Published: January 2021

Dieser Beitrag untersucht erstmals empirisch die Ausgestaltung und die Determinanten der Risikoberichterstattung von deutschen Versicherungsunternehmen in den obligatorischen Konzernlageberichten nach dem Deutschen Rechnungslegungs Standard Nr. 20 (DRS 20) „Konzernlagebericht“ hinsichtlich ihres Umfangs und ihrer Güte. Die Risikoberichterstattungspraxis erweist sich als heterogen und bleibt trotz beträchtlichem Umfang oft hinter den von DRS 20 vorgesehenen Angaben zurück. Über einen üblichen Size-Effekt hinaus scheinen Umfang und Güte der Risikoberichterstattung von diversen unternehmensspezifischen Einflussfaktoren geprägt zu sein. Wie branchenunabhängig von Dobler (2008) postuliert, erweist sich die Risikoberichterstattungspraxis deutscher Versicherungsunternehmen, trotz ausgeprägter Regulierung, von Publizitätsanreizen getrieben. Die Befunde bergen Implikationen für die Praxis, Regulierung und Forschung im Feld der branchenspezifischen Risikoberichterstattung.
A Probabilistic Fatigue Framework to Enable Location-Specific Lifing for Critical Thermo-mechanical Engineering Applications
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Ritwik , Sangid Michael D.
Published: January 2021

The present paper describes a probabilistic framework to predict the fatigue life and failure mode under various thermo-mechanical loading conditions. Specifically, inclusion- and matrix-driven competing failure modes are examined within nickel-based superalloys. The critical accumulated plastic strain energy density (APSED) is employed as a unified metric to predict fatigue crack initiation in metals, which is favorable due to the usage of a single unknown parameter and its capability to predict failure across loading conditions and failure modes. In this research, we characterize the temperature-dependent variation of the critical APSED using a Bayesian inference framework and predict the competing failure modes in a coarse grain variant of RR1000 with varying strain range and temperature. The critical APSED appears to decrease along a vertically reflected sigmoidal curve with increasing temperature. Further, (a) the prediction of a failure mode, (b) failure mode associated with the minimum life, and (c) the change in the location associated with the matrix-driven failure mode with increasing temperature and decreasing strain range are consistent with the experimentally observed trends in RR1000, as well as other Nickel-based superalloys, documented in the literature. Finally, for each simulated loading condition, the uncertainty in the fatigue life is quantified as a prediction interval computed based on a$$95\%$$95%confidence level of the critical APSED and the computed APSED from simulations. The overall framework provides a promising step towards microstructural-based fatigue life determination of components and enables a location-specific lifing approach.
Industry 4.0, a revolution that requires technology and national strategies
Authors: Yang Fengwei , Gu Sai
Published: January 2021

Since 2011, when the concepts of Industry 4.0 were first announced, this industrial revolution has grown and expanded from some theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Its practicalities can be found in many fields and affect nearly all of us in so many ways. While we are adapting to new changes, adjustments are starting to reveal on national and international levels. It is becoming clear that it is not just new innovations at play, technical advancements, governmental policies and markets have never been so intertwined. Here, we generally describe the concepts of Industry 4.0, explain some new terminologies and challenges for clarity and completeness. The key of this paper is that we summarise over 14 countries’ up-to-date national strategies and plans for Industry 4.0. Some of them are bottom-up, such as Portugal, some top-down, such as Italy, a few like the United States had already been moving in this direction long before 2011. We see governments are tailoring their efforts accordingly, and industries are adapting as well as driving those changes.
A review of effectiveness of Saudi E-government data security management
Authors: Alharbi Awad Saleh , Halikias George , Rajarajan Muttukrishnan , Yamin Mohammad
Published: January 2021

Security of data has always been a contested issue since the internet became the way of life. The internet and Web 2.0 followed by Web 3.0 have enabled many applications for the use of the citizens. E-government is one of them. Questions have always been raised about the security of data in E-government applications and services. Saudi Arabia is one of the developing countries when it comes to the internet-based services. This paper attempts to review the effectiveness of security policies when dealing with threats and vulnerabilities. We shall study these aspects in the context of Saudi Arabian E-government. E-government, anywhere in the world is a very sensitive area when it comes to ensuring security of the users as well as the corporate data. Breach in security of user data may have catastrophic implications in some cases.
Physicochemical quality monitoring of groundwater for drinking purposes in rural Ujjain, Central India: findings of a 2-year longitudinal study
Authors: Singh Surya , Parashar Vivek , Kalyanasundaram Madhanraj , Khare Shweta , R. Purohit Manju , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia , Diwan Vishal
Published: January 2021

Rampant use of groundwater for drinking purposes in several parts of the world has raised the concern over its quality. Owing to increasing population, overuse, and pollution of surface water sources, the use of groundwater has increased to considerable extent. Despite this, little attention is paid towards the monitoring of groundwater resources to assess their suitability for drinking purposes. To assess the groundwater quality in rural areas of Ujjain District of Madhya Pradesh, India, in order to check its suitability for drinking purpose, water quality analysis was done at seven time points during the two study years in six villages of Ujjain District, Central India. A total of 868 groundwater samples from 124 households were collected, and standard analytical methods were employed for analysis. Overall groundwater quality of the area is good and qualified for drinking. However, occurrence of high amount of dissolved solids (> 800 mg/L) and hardness (> 400 mg/L) is the issue of concern, as long-term use of such water might result in variety of health ailments, such as kidney stones and atopic dermatitis in children. Regular monitoring and long-term surveillance of drinking water sources are necessary to keep track of the changes occurring in the system.
Rheological, EMI and corrosion properties of epoxy coating with nanoparticle and conductive carbon black
Authors: Amorim Alan A. P. O. , Oliveira Marcia G. , Mancini Mauricio C. , Sirqueira Alex S.
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this paper was determining the effects of two nanoparticles additions in a commercial epoxy coating system on rheology characterization. Two kinds of hybrid organic–inorganic silicates (benzytallowdimethylammonium salts with bentonite) were studied, APA, with C14-16 organic chain and, HT, with C2-4 organic chain. A 22 factorial design, with two categorical nanoparticules factors was applied. The experimental data of viscosity were fit to three different rheological constitutive models: Herschell-Bulkley, Carreau-Yasuda and Cross. The best fit was obtained by Herschel-Bulkley model. The APA nanoparticle had substantial changes in yield stress values, but no effect was observed when HT had been isolated. Two thixotropic models were analyzed for the epoxy system, and the better performance was observed for the model with two rheological parameters. The presence of nanoparticule in epoxy coating reduced around 40% the recovery time. The addition of nanoparticules changes the rheological properties of a commercial coating. The X-Rays Diffraction analyses were done to observe the dispersions degree and exfoliations in the epoxy system. The crystalline peak of nanoparticles had lost for all coating formulations. The electromagnetic interference shielding attenuation was 60% in the formulations with high content of both nanoparticles. The APA and HT improved hence, the anticorrosion performance of the epoxy coating for 720 h in chloride solution. Corrosion resistance had the best performance in the coating with high concentration of carbon black and nanoparticles.