bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heusler‐Verbindungen
Authors: Kroder Johannes , Fecher Gerhard H. , Felser Claudia
Published: April 2021

Mit mehr als 1000 bekannten Mitgliedern bilden Heusler‐Materialien eine große Gruppe an intermetallischen Verbindungen. Trotz ihrer verhältnismäßig einfachen kubischen Kristallstruktur zeigen sie eine enorme Vielzahl an physikalischen Effekten. Gründe hierfür sind sowohl ihre große Anzahl als auch die Einstellmöglichkeiten durch Substitution und Wärmebehandlung. Viele der Eigenschaften einer Heusler‐Verbindung, wie Halbleitung oder das magnetische Moment, lassen sich zudem durch einfaches Abzählen der Valenzelektronen vorhersagen. Während in den letzten Jahrzehnten vor allem die Anwendung als Thermoelektrika und in der Spintronik erforscht wurde, rücken neuerdings die topologischen Eigenschaften der Heusler‐Verbindungen in den Fokus.
Urine cytology findings in patients with biopsy‐confirmed urothelial carcinoma in situ with plasmacytoid features
Authors: Nichols Meredith M. , Reynolds Jordan P. , McKenney Jesse K. , Nicolas Marlo M. , McIntire Patrick J. , Policarpio‐Nicolas Maria Luisa C.
Published: April 2021

Background

Urine cytology is an important screening tool in the diagnosis of high‐grade urothelial carcinoma. Diagnosis in urine samples follows criteria outlined by The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS). However, cytologic characteristics of the recently described urothelial carcinoma in situ with plasmacytoid features (P‐CIS) have not been described, and it is unknown whether they conform to TPS criteria for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma. This study was aimed at better characterizing possibly unique cytologic features of P‐CIS.

Methods

The authors collected urine cytology specimens from patients with subsequent bladder biopsy–proven P‐CIS. Specimens were re‐reviewed according to the TPS criteria. The proposed cytologic features of P‐CIS (eccentric, enlarged, and hyperchromatic nuclei) were evaluated; this included the reproducibility of 3 cytopathologists for the proposed cytologic features.

Results

Seventy‐four urine specimens from 18 patients with P‐CIS–diagnosed bladder biopsies were identified. The TPS diagnoses of the 74 urine cytology specimens were as follows: negative for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 26), atypical urothelial cells (n = 26), suspicious for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 12), and high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 10). Only 7 urine specimens met the proposed cytologic criteria for P‐CIS, and they had TPS diagnoses of negative for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 1), atypical urothelial cells (n = 3), and high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 3). The κ interobserver agreement ranged from poor to fair.

Conclusion

The features of P‐CIS on urine cytology are subtle and infrequently reproducible and often do not meet the TPS criteria for diagnosis as high‐grade urothelial carcinoma. In specimens that do not meet TPS criteria for high‐grade urothelial carcinoma, P‐CIS cytology in isolation would be best classified as atypical urothelial cells.
Significance of Oil‐Red‐O positive macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosing E‐cigarettes or vaping product use‐associated lung injury: A case series
Authors: Niu Shuang , Colon Glorimar Rivera , Molberg Kyle , Chen Hao , Carrick Kelley , Yan Shirley , Sarode Venetia , Lucas Elena
Published: April 2021

Background

Lipid‐laden macrophages detected by Oil‐Red‐O (ORO) stain in fresh bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens have been proposed as a potential diagnostic marker for E‐cigarettes or vaping product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI). However, studies are few, and the sensitivity and specificity of the test have not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods

We performed ORO stain on fresh BAL specimens from six confirmed EVALI and 36 non‐EVALI patients. After semi‐quantitative analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of ORO‐positive macrophages (OPM) for detection of EVALI were calculated.

Results

No significant difference in cytomorphology or raw macrophage count was observed between EVALI and non‐EVALI groups (49% vs 55% of all nucleated cells). However, with ORO stain, all EVALI specimens (6/6) showed a high percentage (≥50% of all macrophages) of OPM (mean 87%), and large (≥25% of host macrophage nuclear size) lipid droplets (mean 42%), while the majority of non‐EVALI specimens showed a low percentage of OPM (32/36, mean 10%), and small lipid droplets (34/36, mean 6%). The differences between the two groups in both high OPM and large lipid droplet rates are statistically significant (P < .0001 for both comparisons). The combined sensitivity and specificity of high OPM and large lipid droplets for diagnosing EVALI were 100% and 94%, respectively.

Conclusion

In BAL specimens obtained from patients with clinically suspected EVALI, a high percentage of OPM with large lipid droplets showed high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of EVALI and may serve as a potentially useful tool in the evaluation of vaping‐related lung injury, improving diagnostic accuracy.
The real Nemo movie: Description of embryonic development inAmphiprion ocellarisfrom first division to hatching
Authors: Salis Pauline , Lee Shu‐hua , Roux Natacha , Lecchini David , Laudet Vincent
Published: April 2021

Background

Amphiprion ocellarisis one of the rare reef fish species that can be reared in aquaria. It is increasingly used as a model species for Eco‐Evo‐Devo. Therefore, it is important to have an embryonic development table based on high quality images that will allow for standardized sampling by the scientific community.

Results

Here we provide high‐resolution time‐lapse videos to accompany a detailed description of embryonic development inA ocellaris. We describe a series of developmental stages and we define six broad periods of embryogenesis: zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, and organogenesis that we further subdivide into 32 stages. These periods highlight the changing spectrum of major developmental processes that occur during embryonic development.

Conclusions

We provide an easy system for the determination of embryonic stages, enabling the development ofA ocellarisas a coral reef fish model species. This work will facilitate evolutionary development studies, in particular studies of the relationship between climate change and developmental trajectories in the context of coral reefs. Thanks to its lifestyle, complex behavior, and ecology,A ocellariswill undoubtedly become a very attractive model in a wide range of biological fields.
Organocatalytic Enantioselective Intramolecular (Hetero)Michael Additions in Desymmetrization Processes
Authors: Escolano Marcos , Gaviña Daniel , Torres Javier , Díaz‐Oltra Santiago , del Pozo Carlos
Published: April 2021

The organocatalytic enantioselective desymmetrization reaction by means of an intramolecular (hetero)Michael addition is a useful strategy for the creation of complex carbo‐ and heterocycles with the generation of multiple stereocenters in a very simple manner. The intramolecular addition of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles to prochiral substrates bearing electronically deficient olefins takes place in the presence of organocatalysts, such as chiral primary and secondary amines, NHCs, ureas, thioureas, and BINOL phosphoric acid derivatives, reaching high levels of diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. The main bottleneck of this methodology is the design and synthesis of the starting materials, which compromises its application. To date, the majority of examples are related to the use of 1,4‐cyclohexanedione derivatives.
Hybrid Materials Based on Conducting Polymers for Nitrite Sensing: A Mini Review
Authors: Salhi Ouissal , Ez‐zine Tarik , El Rhazi Mama
Published: April 2021

Well‐known as a hazardous compound, nitrite constitute a real threat to the public health. So, there is a pressing need to detect and quantify them in different matrix. Even though conventional analytical methods can be used to address this issue, electrochemistry allows a fast, sensitive, and efficient analysis. Conducting polymers continue to raise great interest among scientific communities due to their properties. Moreover, their combination with carbon nanomaterials, or metallic nanoparticles improves their properties, and provides great results. In this paper, we will focus on some revealing works devoted to the electrochemical detection of nitrite using this kind of materials.
Recent trends and emerging challenges in two‐dimensional materials for energy harvesting and storage applications
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Bilal , Fatima Urooj
Published: April 2021

By itself, the physics of two‐dimensional (2D) materials are often fascinating. All the atoms of these elemental 2D materials are exposed to the surface, making it relatively easier to tune the structure and physical properties of the materials using surface treatments. The discovery of graphene has sparked a flurry of research into graphene‐related 2D materials such as silicene, germanene (a hexagonal network of silicon and germanium), stanene, borophene, and a zoo of other 2D materials. In this article, the discussion is on the 2D materials, the synthesis methods of the 2D materials, and the energy applications of the 2D materials.
The Systems Evaluation Protocol for evaluation planning
Authors: Urban Jennifer Brown , Hargraves Monica , Buckley Jane , Archibald Thomas , Hebbard Claire , Trochim William M.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we present a comprehensive integrative approach to evaluation planning based on Relational Systems Evaluation (RSE). We describe the major implementation approaches and the tools and resources that support evaluation planning in RSE embodied in the Systems Evaluation Protocol (SEP), a step‐by‐step guide to the tasks that every evaluation should address. The SEP provides both a conceptual framework for thinking about evaluation and a set of specific methods and tools that expand awareness of the influences of multiple parts of complex systems. The SEP is implemented through a partnership approach, joining evaluators and program professionals in an iterative, phased approach to evaluation planning, which also often emphasizes evaluation capacity building (ECB) as an intentional goal. This paper provides a practice‐oriented overview of the specific steps comprising the three stages outlined in the SEP: preparation, model development, and evaluation plan development.
Entropy analysis of nanofluid magnetohydrodynamic convection flow past an inclined surface: A numerical review
Authors: Vedavathi N. , Dharmaiah Gurram , Abdul Gaffar Shaik , Venkatadri Kothuru
Published: April 2021

A numerical investigation is conducted to review the entropy study of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convection nanofluid flow from an inclined surface. In evaluating the thermophoresis and Brownian motion impacts, Buongiorno's model is applied to nanofluid transfer. Using Keller's implicit box technique, the governing partial differential conservation equations and wall and free stream boundary conditions are made into the dimensionless form and solved computationally. For different thermos physical parameter values, the numerical results are discussed both graphically and numerically. Verification of the present code with previous Newtonian responses is also included. To analyze the variability in fluid velocity, temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction, entropy, Bejan number, shear stress rate, wall heat, and mass transfer rates, graphical and tabulated results are reported. The study suggests applications in the manufacturing of nanomaterial fabrication, and so on.
In the twilight zone—The head morphology of Bergrothia saulcyi (Pselaphinae, Staphylinidae, Coleoptera), a beetle with adaptations to endogean life but living in leaf litter
Authors: Luo Xiao‐Zhu , Hlaváč Peter , Jałoszyński Paweł , Beutel Rolf Georg
Published: April 2021

The pselaphine Bergrothia saulcyi shows features seemingly linked with life in deep soil layers, such as greatly reduced and non‐functional compound eyes, a sensorium of long tactile setae, long appendages, and flightlessness. However, the tiny beetles occur in forest leaf litter, together with a community of beetles with wings and well‐developed eyes. We hypothesize that B. saulcyi moves into deep soil under dry conditions, and returns to upper layers when humidity increases again. Despite the evolutionary cost of a reduced dispersal capacity, this life strategy may be more efficient and less hazardous than moving to different habitats using flight and the visual sense in an environment periodically drying out. We also discuss cephalic features with potential phylogenetic relevance. Plesiomorphies of B. saulcyi include the presence of anterior tentorial arms, well‐developed labral retractors, and a full set of extrinsic maxillary and premental muscles. Apomorphic cephalic features support clades Protopselaphinae + Pselaphinae, and Pselaphinae. A conspicuous derived condition, the clypeo‐ocular carina, is a possible synapomorphy of Batrisitae and genera assigned to Goniaceritae. A complex triple set of cephalic glands found in B. saulcyi is similar to a complex identified in the strict myrmecophile Claviger testaceus (Clavigeritae). It is conceivable that glands linked with food uptake in free‐living pselaphines were genetically re‐programmed in ancestors of inquilines, to enable them to appease the host ants. We suggest that behavioral studies are necessary to understand the poorly known life habits of B. saulcyi. Additional information is required to explain why a species with irreversibly reduced visual sense and other adaptations typical of endogean or cave‐dwelling beetles was only collected from the upper leaf litter layer.
Multiple trajectories of grassland fragmentation, degradation, and recovery in Russia's steppes
Authors: Prishchepov Alexander V. , Myachina Ksenia V. , Kamp Johannes , Smelansky Ilya , Dubrovskaya Svetlana , Ryakhov Roman , Grudinin Dmitriy , Yakovlev Ilya , Urazaliyev Ruslan
Published: April 2021

Over the 20th century, the Eurasian steppes underwent drastic land‐cover changes. Much progress was made studying cropland expansion and the post‐1990 (i.e., post‐Soviet) agricultural land abandonment in Eurasia. However, the alteration of steppe landscapes may include other disturbances, such as oil and gas development, formal and informal roads and garbage dumps, which were not systematically documented. Considering the example of the steppe Orenburg Province in Russia, we reconstructed agricultural land‐cover change dynamics using Landsat and Sentinel‐2 imagery from 1990 to 2018. Furthermore, we used very high‐resolution imagery and assessed the patterns and determinants of other steppe landscape anthropogenic disturbances. Our study showed that, despite steppe recovery due to widespread cropland abandonment from 1990 to 2018, the steppes, including the recovered steppe patches, underwent fragmentation due to informal roads, oil and gas development, shrub encroachment, garbage dumps and quarries, as well as abandonment of settlements and buildings. Only 6.4% of the sampled 7859 1×1 km blocks in 2018 showing grassland extent had no documented disturbances. The mapped disturbances occurred primarily near settlements and roads, while some disturbances occurred in remote areas. Given the accessibility of steppes, our study calls for a urgent need to systematically document alternatives to agricultural land uses in the steppes of Eurasia and other parts of the global grassland biome.
Choice of pricing and advertising schemes for a two‐sided platform
Authors: Zhou Yongyi , Zhang Yulin , Goh Mark
Published: April 2021

This paper examines the pricing and choice of advertising schemes for a two‐sided platform considering two business models, each with two advertising schemes. In the “1‐n” model, the prices on the provider side are the same in the two schemes; however, the price in the “1‐1“ model is always higher under the “HA” scheme. The results suggest that the preferred choice for the platform regarding the advertising schemes is the same as that in the two models. We extend our model in several directions and draw some management insights for a two‐sided platform for the platform operator.
Detoxification of Oral Exposure to Benzo(a)pyrene by Lactobacillus plantarum CICC 23121 in Mice
Authors: Liu Jinxia , He Huan , Xu Mengfan , Wang Tao , Dziugan Piotr , Zhao Hongfei , Zhang Bolin
Published: April 2021

This study's previous work showed that the carcinogen and mutagen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) can be adsorbed by Lactobacillus cells in vitro. However, in vivo BaP detoxification by lactic acid bacteria has not yet been investigated. The present study evaluates the effects of orally administered Lactobacillus plantarum CICC 23121 in BaP‐treated mice. Oral administration of 50 mg kg−1 BaP perturbed the intestinal microflora, caused Proteobacteria to predominate, and severely damaged DNA. However, oral administration of 5 × 1010 CFU mL−1 CICC 23121 in BaP‐treated mice enhances fecal BaP excretion from 181.70 ± 1.04 µg/(g∙h) to 271.47 ± 11.71 µg/(g∙h) after 6 h. Fecal BaP excretion reaches up to 280.66 ± 22.97 µg/(g∙h) after the first 4 days of orally administered CICC 23121 and decreased to 94.31 ± 2.64 µg/(g∙h) by day 11. Intestinal microbiota are restored and Firmicutes predominates. CICC 23121 alleviates BaP‐induced DNA damage and reduces tail length from 56.37 ± 5.31  to 39.69 ± 4.27 µm. Therefore, oral CICC23121 consumption is a promising strategy for reducing BaP toxicity in mice. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first report to demonstrate in vivo that Lactobacillus cells can detoxify BaP.
Processing composites reinforced with wood fibers into an ultra‐strong structural materials
Authors: Tang Qiheng , Zou Miao , Wang Shuangyong , Fang Lu , Guo Wenjing
Published: April 2021

High‐performance composites reinforced with natural fibers are next‐generation structural materials due to their recyclability and light weight. Manufacturing composites with high strength has been a challenge. Here, we describe the manufacture of novel composites reinforced with wood fibers using densification by hot‐pressing and fixing by curing reaction with phenolic resin. This composite with 1.4 g/cm3 had high mechanical properties, high water stability, and aging‐resistance, and exhibited a flexural strength and internal bonding strength of 102.4 and 7.5 MPa, respectively. The strength and modulus are 1.5–6.0 and 1.3–28.1 times higher than those of most of the wood fibers reinforced composites. After immersing in water for 24 h, the water absorption and thickness swelling are only 1.3% and 0.8%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope characterization indicates that the cell wall is totally collapsed and became complete densification. And the collapsed cells are fixed by phenolic resin. This production strategy for the composites was shown to be universally effective for various species of natural fibers. These novel wood fiber‐reinforced composites were suitable for commercial manufacture in the current production line, making them a low cost and high‐performance alternative to automotive and aerospace industries.
New‐user and prevalent‐user designs and the definition of study time origin in pharmacoepidemiology: A review of reporting practices
Authors: Luijken Kim , Spekreijse Judith J. , van Smeden Maarten , Gardarsdottir Helga , Groenwold Rolf H. H.
Published: April 2021

Background

Guidance reports for observational comparative effectiveness and drug safety research recommend implementing a new‐user design whenever possible, since it reduces the risk of selection bias in exposure effect estimation compared to a prevalent‐user design. The uptake of this guidance has not been studied extensively.

Methods

We reviewed 89 observational effectiveness and safety cohort studies published in six pharmacoepidemiological journals in 2018 and 2019. We developed an extraction tool to assess how frequently new‐user and prevalent‐user designs were reported to be implemented. For studies that implemented a new‐user design in both treatment arms, we extracted information about the extent to which the moment of meeting eligibility criteria, treatment initiation, and start of follow‐up were reported to be aligned.

Results

Of the 89 studies included, 40% reported implementing a new‐user design for both the study exposure arm and the comparator arm, while 13% reported implementing a prevalent‐user design in both arms. The moment of meeting eligibility criteria, treatment initiation, and start of follow‐up were reported to be aligned in both treatment arms in 53% of studies that reported implementing a new‐user design. We provided examples of studies that minimized the risk of introducing bias due to unclear definition of time origin in unexposed participants, immortal time, or a time lag.

Conclusions

Almost half of the included studies reported implementing a new‐user design. Implications of misalignment of study design origin were difficult to assess because it would require explicit reporting of the target estimand in original studies. We recommend that the choice for a particular study time origin is explicitly motivated to enable assessment of validity of the study.
What does the Detroit tests of learning abilities, fifth edition measure? Revelations from a hierarchical exploratory factor analysis
Authors: McNulty Richard J. , Floyd Randy G.
Published: April 2021

This study examined the factor structure of the Detroit Tests of Learning Abilities, Fifth Edition (DTLA‐5) using principal axis factoring, multiple factor extraction criteria, and the Schmid–Leiman orthogonalization procedures not utilized by test publishers. Results suggest that the publisher's six‐factor structure model was over factored. Although there is support for five group factors and a hierarchical general factor that correspond with some of the test's most reliable composites, there was no evidence warranting a distinction between the test's hypothesized Reasoning Abilities and Processing Abilities domains or separation of Acquired Knowledge and Verbal Comprehension subdomains. Some test users may prefer to interpret the four DTLA‐5 subdomains that correspond to some of our basic findings in a profile indicating intra‐individual strengths and weaknesses. Based on our hierarchical factor analysis and omega statistics, we believe that the DTLA‐5 should be interpreted as a measure of psychometric g and not used to examine intra‐individual strengths and weaknesses for most test‐takers.
Upper Ordovician Thylacocephala (Euarthropoda, Eucrustacea) from Bohemia indicate early ecological differentiation
Authors: Van Roy Peter , Rak Štěpán , Budil Petr , Fatka Oldřich
Published: April 2021

Thylacocephala is a clade of marine bivalved euarthropods generally considered to belong to Eucrustacea, although their affinities within this group remain unsettled. Detailed thylacocephalan anatomy and tagmosis is poorly known, and the majority of taxa have been described based only on the valves of the carapace. While some thylacocephalans are considered to have been fully nektic, others probably had a nekto‐benthic mode of life. The group makes its last appearance in the Upper Cretaceous of Lebanon, while the previously oldest definite record is from the Silurian of Wisconsin, USA. This paper describes two new thylacocephalans, Pseudoprotozoea irenae gen. et sp. nov. and Bohemiacaris libori gen. et sp. nov. from the Sandbian (Upper Ordovician) Letná Formation of Bohemia (Czech Republic). Apart from the carapaces, both fossils preserve some evidence of the appendages. Remarkably, even though the newly described taxa represent the oldest unequivocal thylacocephalans, their carapaces display several characters most similar to those of Mesozoic groups. Whether these similarities reflect true close relationships and Ordovician origins for these groups or are only the result of convergent evolution is uncertain. Regardless, the new finds show that ecological differentiation between fully nektic and nekto‐benthic lifestyles was probably achieved early in the evolution of Thylacocephala.
Simplified Thermal Computation of a Metal Oxide Varistor Element under a Lightning Impulse Current Injection
Authors: Tanaka Tokuya , Baba Yoshihiro , Tsujimoto Yoshimasa , Tsukamoto Naoyuki
Published: April 2021

A simple thermal computation procedure of a metal oxide varistor (MOV) element, in which an impulse current is injected, is presented. The heat in the MOV, composed of many small cells, is computed with the discretized heat transport equation. At each time step, the injected impulse current is assumed to be distributed uniformly in the MOV. The power per cell is computed from the instantaneous values of injected conduction current density and resultant electric field, the latter of which is obtained with an approximate expression of the nonlinear relation between conduction current density and electric field. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Effect of anaemia and erythrocyte indices on canine glycated haemoglobin
Authors: Oikonomidis Ioannis L. , Tsouloufi Theodora K. , Kritsepi‐Konstantinou Maria , Soubasis Nectarios
Published: April 2021

Background: The major fraction of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) depends on blood glucose concentration and erythrocyte lifespan, and consequently erythrocyte indices may affect HbA1c; our objective was to study this effect in dogs.

Methods: Blood samples from two (healthy and anaemic) age‐ and sex‐matched, normoglycaemic populations were prospectively included. Advia 120 and Capillarys 2 flex‐piercing were used for the haematological and HbA1c analyses, respectively.

Results: Lower mean HbA1c was found in dogs with regenerative (n =8, 0.88 ± 0.58%) and non‐regenerative anaemia (n =12, 1.36 ± 0.56%) compared to healthy ones (n =40, 1.68 ± 0.48%); the difference was significant (p< 0.001) between the healthy dogs and those with regenerative anaemia. HbA1c was significantly correlated (p< 0.05) with red blood cell count (r= 0.506), haemoglobin (r= 0.474), haematocrit (r= 0.467), mean corpuscular volume (r= –0.289), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (r= 0.284), red cell distribution width (r= –0.286) and reticulocytes (rs= –0.542).

Conclusion: Anaemia, particularly if regenerative, can lower HbA1c. The significant correlation between HbA1c and erythrocyte indices likely reflects the effect of erythrocyte turnover on HbA1c.
An unusual presentation of a migrating grass awn in a dog and a review of the imaging modalities used to diagnose and determine the extent of disease
Authors: Keane Shannon , Cassel Nicky , Berke Kara
Published: April 2021

A 1‐year‐old German shorthaired pointer presented for a swelling on the calvarium, lethargy, pyrexia and poor performance during hunting trials. On initial oral examination, a suspected draining tract was noted caudal to tooth 210 according to the modified Triadan system of tooth numbering. Focal ultrasonography aided in identification of an abscess with a grass awn foreign body but was unable to determine the full extent of the pathology accurately. MRI was useful to determine the nature and extent of disease and visualization of the grass awn. The patient underwent surgical removal and debridement and responded well to treatment. Not only does this paper report an unusual migration pattern of a grass awn, it also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the various imaging modalities employed during the diagnostic process.
Perianaesthetic management of a Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis patagonum) undergoing hemilaminectomy for treatment of acute intervertebral disk herniation
Authors: Grace Justin , Zeiler Gareth , Hartman Marthinus , Koeppel Katja , Buck Roxanne
Published: April 2021

A 7.5‐year‐old, 5.6 kg female Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis patagonum) in thin body condition presented for bilateral pelvic limb paresis. Lumbar intervertebral disk extrusion was diagnosed using MRI and neurological examination. Emergency hemilaminectomy was done on the same day of diagnostics. The cavy was premedicated with intravenous (IV) midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and ketamine (5 mg/kg) followed by alphaxalone (to effect) for induction and tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane‐in‐oxygen and an IV constant rate infusion (CRI) of ketamine and lidocaine (both 0.3 mg/kg/h) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg, once). The CRI continued for 24 hours followed by once daily intravenous buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg) and subcutaneous meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg). Recovery was calm. The cavy returned to its preoperative behaviour within hours and began eating soon after anaesthesia. Subjectively, the analgesic plan was successful in mitigating post‐operative pathological pain. This case report discusses the perianaesthetic management for spinal surgery in a cavy.
Correction to: Nature of Science for Social Justice: Why, What and How?
Authors: Hansson Lena , Yacoubian Hagop A.
Published: April 2021

The first chapter “Nature of Science for Social Justice: Why, What and How?” of the book has been converted to open access and is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Data Analytics for Smart Decision-Making and Resilient Systems
Authors: Blau Benjamin , Dinther Clemens van , Flath Christoph M. , Knapper Rico , Rolli Daniel
Published: April 2021

In a networked world, companies depend on fast and smart decisions, especially when it comes to reacting to external change. With the wealth of data available today, smart decisions can increasingly be based on data analysis and be supported by IT systems that leverage AI. A global pandemic brings external change to an unprecedented level of unpredictability and severity of impact. Resilience therefore becomes an essential factor in most decisions when aiming at making and keeping them smart. In this chapter, we study the characteristics of resilient systems and test them with four use cases in a wide-ranging set of application areas. In all use cases, we highlight how AI can be used for data analysis to make smart decisions and contribute to the resilience of systems.
Understanding Emotions in Electronic Auctions: Insights from Neurophysiology
Authors: Adam Marc T. P. , Krämer Jan
Published: April 2021

The design of electronic auction platforms is an important field of electronic commerce research. It requires not only a profound understanding of the role of human cognition in human bidding behavior but also of the role of human affect. In this chapter, we focus specifically on the emotional aspects of human bidding behavior and the results of empirical studies that have employed neurophysiological measurements in this regard. By synthesizing the results of these studies, we are able to provide a coherent picture of the role of affective processes in human bidding behavior along four distinct theoretical pathways.
How at the Institute of Information Systems and Marketing One Thing Leads to Another and Eventually Results in a Low-Trade Theorem
Authors: Seifert Stefan
Published: April 2021

This chapter portrays how research topics arise and develop in the creative environment of the research group Information & Market Engineering of the Institute of Information Systems and Marketing at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It is somewhat long-winded in the beginning but identifies then a clear goal. In the following, it strays around several lines of research; touches on the question of why something like forecasting markets, the actual research topic, works at all – without answering it; and finally reaches a result that has little to do with the original objective. Along the way, the chapter provides some insights into the economic theory of double auctions.
More than 20° posterior tilt of the femoral head in undisplaced femoral neck fractures results in a four times higher risk of treatment failure
Authors: Kalsbeek Jorn , van Walsum Ariaan , Roerdink Herbert , Schipper Inger
Published: April 2021

Purpose

In this study, we aimed to determine the correlation between the preoperative posterior tilt of the femoral head and treatment failure in patients with a Garden type I and II femoral neck fracture (FNF) treated with the dynamic locking blade plate (DLBP).

Methods

Preoperative posterior tilt was measured in a prospective documented cohort of 193 patients with a Garden type I and II FNF treated with the DLBP. The correlation between preoperative posterior tilt and failure, defined as revision surgery because of avascular necrosis, non-union, or cut-out, was analyzed.

Results

Patients with failed fracture treatment (5.5%) had a higher degree of posterior tilt on the initial radiograph than the patients with uneventful healed fractures: 21.4° and 13.8°, respectively (p = 0.03). The failure rate was 3.2% for Garden type I and II FNF with a posterior tilt < 20° and 12.5% if the preoperative posterior tilt was ≥ 20°. A posterior tilt of ≥ 20° was associated with an odds ratio of 4.24 (95% CI 1.09–16.83; p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Garden type I and II FNFs with a significant preoperative posterior tilt (≥ 20°) seem to behave like unstable fractures and have a four times higher risk of failure. Preoperative posterior tilt ≥ 20° of the femoral head should be considered as a significant predictor for failure of treatment in Garden type I and II FNFs treated with the DLBP.
Sporulation in solventogenic and acetogenic clostridia
Authors: Diallo Mamou , Kengen Servé W. M. , López-Contreras Ana M.
Published: April 2021

The Clostridium genus harbors compelling organisms for biotechnological production processes; while acetogenic clostridia can fix C1-compounds to produce acetate and ethanol, solventogenic clostridia can utilize a wide range of carbon sources to produce commercially valuable carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones by fermentation. Despite their potential, the conversion by these bacteria of carbohydrates or C1 compounds to alcohols is not cost-effective enough to result in economically viable processes. Engineering solventogenic clostridia by impairing sporulation is one of the investigated approaches to improve solvent productivity. Sporulation is a cell differentiation process triggered in bacteria in response to exposure to environmental stressors. The generated spores are metabolically inactive but resistant to harsh conditions (UV, chemicals, heat, oxygen). In Firmicutes, sporulation has been mainly studied in bacilli and pathogenic clostridia, and our knowledge of sporulation in solvent-producing or acetogenic clostridia is limited. Still, sporulation is an integral part of the cellular physiology of clostridia; thus, understanding the regulation of sporulation and its connection to solvent production may give clues to improve the performance of solventogenic clostridia. This review aims to provide an overview of the triggers, characteristics, and regulatory mechanism of sporulation in solventogenic clostridia. Those are further compared to the current knowledge on sporulation in the industrially relevant acetogenic clostridia. Finally, the potential applications of spores for process improvement are discussed.

Key Points

• The regulatory network governing sporulation initiation varies in solventogenic clostridia.

• Media composition and cell density are the main triggers of sporulation.

• Spores can be used to improve the fermentation process.
Intrauterine hCG application increases expression of endothelial cell–cell adhesion molecules in human
Authors: Bienert Michaela , Habib Pardes , Buck Volker , Classen-Linke Irmgard , Skoblo Roman , Rösing Benjamin
Published: April 2021

Endometrial receptivity is a decisive factor in human reproduction. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is one of the first embryonic signals that precedes the implantation by trophoblast invasion into the endometrium. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials reports a moderate-quality evidence for improved live birth rate for an intrauterine hCG dose ≥ 500 IU. Nevertheless, all hCG endometrial effects are not completely understood. We, therefore, utilized endometrial tissue from 12 patients after estradiol and progesterone treatment with or without intrauterine hCG flushing at the window of implantation (WOI) to analyze cellular composition by measuring marker proteins for stromal, endothelial, epithelial and immune cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that significantly more cells expressed the endothelial adhesion molecules VE-cadherin (CD144) and S-Endo-1 (CD146) after intrauterine hCG administration. In contrast, the endothelial marker CD31 and markers involved in vessel formation (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) remained unchanged in their expression. Similarly, stroma markers (CD73, CD90 and CD105), epithelial markers (Desmocollin-2 and E-Cadherin) and immune cell markers (CD11b, CD45, CD79a and HLA-DR) displayed no alterations in their expression. This finding directs the focus on endothelial adhesion molecules as a potential mechanistically explanation of hCG conveyed increase of embryo implantation and pregnancy rates in women undergoing ART.
Image convolution: a linear programming approach for filters design
Authors: Capobianco Giovanni , Cerrone Carmine , Di Placido Andrea , Durand Daniel , Pavone Luigi , Russo Davide Donato , Sebastiano Fabio
Published: April 2021

Image analysis is a branch of signal analysis that focuses on the extraction of meaningful information from images through digital image processing techniques. Convolution is a technique used to enhance specific characteristics of an image, while deconvolution is its inverse process. In this work, we focus on the deconvolution process, defining a new approach to retrieve filters applied in the convolution phase. Given an imageIand a filtered image$$I' = f(I)$$I′=f(I), we propose three mathematical formulations that, starting fromIand$$I'$$I′, are able to identify the filter$$f'$$f′that minimizes the mean absolute error between$$I'$$I′and$$f'(I)$$f′(I). Several tests were performed to investigate the applicability of our approaches in different scenarios. The results highlight that the proposed algorithms are able to identify the filter used in the convolution phase in several cases. Alternatively, the developed approaches can be used to verify whether a specific input imageIcan be transformed into a sample image$$I'$$I′through a convolution filter while returning the desired filter as output.
Magnetic probe-based microrheology reveals local softening and stiffening of 3D collagen matrices by fibroblasts
Authors: Pokki Juho , Zisi Iliana , Schulman Ester , Indana Dhiraj , Chaudhuri Ovijit
Published: April 2021

Changes in extracellular matrix stiffness impact a variety of biological processes including cancer progression. However, cells also actively remodel the matrices they interact with, dynamically altering the matrix mechanics they respond to. Further, cells not only react to matrix stiffness, but also have a distinct reaction to matrix viscoelasticity. The impact of cell-driven matrix remodeling on matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity at the microscale remains unclear, as existing methods to measure mechanics are largely at the bulk scale or probe only the surface of matrices, and focus on stiffness. Yet, establishing the impact of the matrix remodeling at the microscale is crucial to obtaining an understanding of mechanotransduction in biological matrices, and biological matrices are not just elastic, but are viscoelastic. Here, we advanced magnetic probe-based microrheology to overcome its previous limitations in measuring viscoelasticity at the cell-size-scale spatial resolution within 3D cell cultures that have tissue-relevant stiffness levels up to a Young’s modulus of 0.5 kPa. Our magnetic microrheometers exert controlled magnetic forces on magnetic microprobes within reconstituted extracellular matrices and detect microprobe displacement responses to measure matrix viscoelasticity and determine the frequency-dependent shear modulus (stiffness), the loss tangent, and spatial heterogeneity. We applied these tools to investigate how microscale viscoelasticity of collagen matrices is altered by fibroblast cells as they contract collagen gels, a process studied extensively at the macroscale. Interestingly, we found that fibroblasts first soften the matrix locally over the first 32 hours of culture, and then progressively stiffen the matrix thereafter. Fibroblast activity also progressively increased the matrix loss tangent. We confirmed that the softening is caused by matrix-metalloproteinase-mediated collagen degradation, whereas stiffening is associated with local alignment and densification of collagen fibers around the fibroblasts. This work paves the way for the use of measurement systems that quantify microscale viscoelasticity within 3D cell cultures for studies of cell–matrix interactions in cancer progression and other areas.
Doubly torqued vectors and a classification of doubly twisted and Kundt spacetimes
Authors: Mantica Carlo Alberto , Molinari Luca Guido
Published: April 2021

The simple structure of doubly torqued vectors allows for a natural characterization of doubly twisted down to warped spacetimes, as well as Kundt spacetimes down to PP waves. For the first ones the vectors are timelike, for the others they are null. We also discuss some properties, and their connection to hypersurface orthogonal conformal Killing vectors, and null Killing vectors.
The Scent of Ant Brood: Caste Differences in Surface Hydrocarbons of Formica exsecta Pupae
Authors: Pulliainen Unni , Bos Nick , d’Ettorre Patrizia , Sundström Liselotte
Published: April 2021

Chemical communication is common across all organisms. Insects in particular use predominantly chemical stimuli in assessing their environment and recognizing their social counterparts. One of the chemical stimuli used for recognition in social insects, such as ants, is the suite of long-chain, cuticular hydrocarbons. In addition to providing waterproofing, these surface hydrocarbons serve as a signature mixture, which ants can perceive, and use to distinguish between strangers and colony mates, and to determine caste, sex, and reproductive status of another individual. They can be both environmentally and endogenously acquired. The surface chemistry of adult workers has been studied extensively in ants, yet the pupal stage has rarely been considered. Here we characterized the surface chemistry of pupae of Formica exsecta, and examine differences among sexes, castes (reproductive vs. worker), and types of sample (developing individual vs. cocoon envelope). We found quantitative and qualitative differences among both castes and types of sample, but male and female reproductives did not differ in their surface chemistry. We also found that the pupal surface chemistry was more complex than that of adult workers in this species. These results improve our understanding of the information on which ants base recognition, and highlights the diversity of surface chemistry in social insects across developmental stages.
Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Elderly Psychiatric Patients: a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Seethaler Magdalena , Just Sandra , Stötzner Philip , Bermpohl Felix , Brandl Eva Janina
Published: April 2021

The study was designed to investigate the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health and perceived psychosocial support for elderly psychiatric patients in a longitudinal design. n = 32 patients with affective or anxiety disorders aged ≥60 years were included. Telephone interviews were conducted in April/May 2020 (T1) and August 2020 (T2). The psychosocial impact (PSI) of the pandemic and psychopathology were measured. Changes between T1 and T2 were examined. Patients’ psychosocial support system six months before the pandemic and at T1/T2 was assessed. We found a significant positive correlation between general PSI and depression as well as severity of illness. General PSI differed significantly depending on social contact. Neither general PSI nor psychopathology changed significantly between T1 and T2. At T1, patients’ psychosocial support systems were reduced as compared to six months before. Patients reported an increase in psychosocial support between T1 and T2 and high demand for additional support (sports, arts/occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy). Elderly psychiatric patients show a negative PSI of the pandemic. They are likely to suffer from an impaired psychosocial situation, emphasizing the importance of developing concepts for sufficient psychosocial support during a pandemic.
Do investors value frequent issuers in securitization?
Authors: Deku Solomon Y. , Kara Alper , Karimov Nodirbek
Published: April 2021

We assess the value of frequent issuers to investors in securitization markets by examining the initial yield spread of 6132 European mortgage-backed securities (MBS), covering a 20-year period between 1999 and 2018. We find that frequent issuers have certification value, and it increases as the credit cycle approaches its peak, as lending standards loosen, and information asymmetries in securitization markets increase. Investors value frequent issuers more favourably on riskier, difficult to evaluate MBS. We find that after the great financial crisis (GFC), investors began to attribute more value to frequent issuers, regardless of MBS credit quality. We also find that in the pre-crisis period, investors required higher yields to compensate for perceived rating shopping, which is not observed after the GFC. Finally, we show that investors expect higher yields on deals closed by subsidiaries of foreign banks.
Do researchers know what the h-index is? And how do they estimate its importance?
Authors: Kamrani Pantea , Dorsch Isabelle , Stock Wolfgang G.
Published: April 2021

The h-index is a widely used scientometric indicator on the researcher level working with a simple combination of publication and citation counts. In this article, we pursue two goals, namely the collection of empirical data about researchers’ personal estimations of the importance of the h-index for themselves as well as for their academic disciplines, and on the researchers’ concrete knowledge on the h-index and the way of its calculation. We worked with an online survey (including a knowledge test on the calculation of the h-index), which was finished by 1081 German university professors. We distinguished between the results for all participants, and, additionally, the results by gender, generation, and field of knowledge. We found a clear binary division between the academic knowledge fields: For the sciences and medicine the h-index is important for the researchers themselves and for their disciplines, while for the humanities and social sciences, economics, and law the h-index is considerably less important. Two fifths of the professors do not know details on the h-index or wrongly deem to know what the h-index is and failed our test. The researchers’ knowledge on the h-index is much smaller in the academic branches of the humanities and the social sciences. As the h-index is important for many researchers and as not all researchers are very knowledgeable about this author-specific indicator, it seems to be necessary to make researchers more aware of scholarly metrics literacy.
Evaluating the higher education productivity of Chinese and European “elite” universities using a meta-frontier approach
Authors: Agasisti Tommaso , Yang Guo-liang , Song Yao-yao , Tran Carolyn-Thi Thanh Dung
Published: April 2021

This research focuses on a sample of European and Chinese elite universities for the period 2011–2015. We adopt a meta-frontier methodology to decompose their overall productivity in three main determinants: (1) technical efficiency compared with contemporaneous technology, (2) change in technical efficiency and (3) technology relative superiority of the two groups of universities. The results reveal different patterns of evolution: Chinese institutions’ productivity grows faster than that of their European counterparts (+ 7.15%/year vs 4.51%/year), however the latter maintain a higher level of technology in efficient production as a group.