bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating effect of metallic ions on aggregation behavior of β-amyloid peptides by atomic force microscope and surface-enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Xie Yang , Yu Lin , Fu Yuna , Sun Heng , Wang Jianhua
Published: December 2021

Background

Excessive aggregation of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) is regarded as the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Exploring the underlying mechanism regulating Aβ aggregation remains challenging and investigating aggregation events of Aβ in the presence and absence of metallic ions at molecular level would be meaningful in elucidating the role of metal cations on interactions between Aβ molecules. In this study, chemical self-assembled monolayer (SAM) method was employed to fabricate monolayer of β-amyloid peptides Aβ42 on gold substrate with a bolaamphiphile named 16-Mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA). Firstly, the samples of gold substrate (blank control), the MHA-modified substrate, and the Aβ42-modified substrate were detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to track the self-assembly process. Aggregation behaviors of Aβ42 before and after metallic ions (Zn2+, Ca2+, Al3+) treatment were monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the interaction between Aβ42 and metallic ions (Zn2+, Ca2+, Al3+) was investigated by surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS).

Results

The XPS spectra of binding energy of gold substrate (blank control), the MHA-modified substrate, and the Aβ42-modified substrate are well fitted with the corresponding monolayer’s composition, which indicates that Aβ42 monolayer is well formed. The recorded surface morphology of different experimental groups obtained by AFM showed markedly different nanostructures, indicating occurrence of aggregation events between Aβ42 molecules after adding metal ions to the solution. Compared to the control group, the presence of metallic ions resulted in the increased size of surface structures on the observed 3D topography. Besides, the intermolecular rupture force of Aβ42 increased with the addition of metallic ions. Further study by SERS showed that the Raman strength of Aβ42 changes significantly after the metal cation treatment. A considerable part of the amide bonds interacts with metal cations, leading to a structural change, which is characterized by the weakened β-fold Raman peak.

Conclusion

The AFM imaging results suggest that aggregation events occurred between Aβ42 molecules with the addition of metal cations. In addition, the results of force tests indicate that the presence of metallic ions could promote adhesion between Aβ42 molecules, which is likely to be the trigger for aggregation behavior of Aβ42. Furthermore, the effect of metallic cations on the conformational change of Aβ42 studied by SERS supported the results obtained by AFM. Taken together, the results showed that the presence of substoichiometric metal cations promotes aggregation behavior between Aβ42 molecules on the substrate at pH 7.4.
A systematic review on the modifications of extracellular vesicles: a revolutionized tool of nano-biotechnology
Authors: Raghav Alok , Jeong Goo-Bo
Published: December 2021

Background

Tailoring extracellular vesicles (EVs) can bequeath them with diverse functions and efficient performance in nano-biotechnology. Engineering and modification of EVs improves the targeted drug delivery efficiency. Here, we performed systematic review of various methods for EVs modifications.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for available articles on EVs modifications (up to March 2021). In total, 1208 articles were identified and assessed, and then only 36 articles were found eligible and included.

Results

Six studies demonstrate the application of click chemistry, seven studies used co-incubation, two studies used chemical transfection, four studies implicated electroporation and sonication approach for modification of EVs. Moreover, two studies utilized microfluidics as suitable approach for loading cargo into EVs, while eight studies showed freeze–thaw method as feasible for these biological nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Freeze–thaw approach is found to be convenient and popular among researchers for performing modifications in EVs for the purpose of targeted drug delivery loading. Clinical-grade EVs production with good clinical practices (GCPs) is challenging in the current scenario. More studies are needed to determine the best suitable approach for cargo loading of EVs that may be exploited for research and therapeutic use.

Graphical Abstract
Decoupling approximation of P- and S-wave phase velocities in orthorhombic media
Authors: Li Bowen , Stovas Alexey
Published: December 2021

Characterizing the kinematics of seismic waves in elastic orthorhombic media involves nine independent parameters. All wave modes, P-, S1-, and S2-waves, are intrinsically coupled. Because the P-wave propagation in orthorhombic media is weakly dependent on the three S-wave velocity parameters, they are set to zero under the acoustic assumption. The number of parameters required for the corresponding acoustic wave equation is thus reduced from nine to six, which is very practical for the inversion algorithm. However, the acoustic wavefields generated by the finite-difference scheme suffer from two types of S-wave artifacts, which may result in noticeable numerical dispersion and even instability issues. Avoiding such artifacts requires a class of spectral methods based on the low-rank decomposition. To implement a six-parameter pure P-wave approximation in orthorhombic media, we have developed a novel phase velocity approximation approach from the perspective of decoupling P- and S-waves. In the exact P-wave phase velocity expression, we find that the two algebraic expressions related to the S1- and S2-wave phase velocities play a negligible role. After replacing these two algebraic expressions with the designed constant and variable, respectively, the exact P-wave phase velocity expression is greatly simplified and naturally decoupled from the characteristic equation. Similarly, the number of required parameters is reduced from nine to six. We also derive an approximate S-wave phase velocity equation, which supports the coupled S1- and S2-waves and involves nine independent parameters. Error analyses based on several orthorhombic models confirm the reasonable and stable accuracy performance of our phase velocity approximation. We further derive the approximate dispersion relations for the P-wave and the S-wave system in orthorhombic media. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the corresponding P- and S-wavefields are free of artifacts and exhibit good accuracy and stability.
Deletion of PTP1B From Brain Neurons Partly Protects Mice From Diet-Induced Obesity and Minimally Improves Fertility
Authors: Ancel Caroline M , Evans Maggie C , Kerbus Romy I , Wallace Elliot G , Anderson Greg M
Published: December 2021

Reproductive dysfunction in women has been linked to high caloric diet (HCD)-feeding and obesity. Central resistance to leptin and insulin have been shown to accompany diet-induced infertility in rodent studies, and we have previously shown that deleting suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, which is a negative regulator of leptin signaling, from all forebrain neurons partially protects mice from HCD-induced infertility. In this study, we were interested in exploring the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is a negative regulator of both leptin and insulin signaling, in the pathophysiology of HCD-induced obesity and infertility. To this end, we generated male and female neuron-specific PTP1B knockout mice and compared their body weight gain, food intake, glucose tolerance, and fertility relative to control littermates under both normal calorie diet and HCD feeding conditions. Both male and female mice with neuronal PTP1B deletion exhibited slower body weight gain in response to HCD feeding, yet only male knockout mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance compared with controls. Neuronal PTP1B deletion improved the time to first litter in HCD-fed mice but did not protect female mice from eventual HCD-induced infertility. While the mice fed a normal caloric diet remained fertile throughout the 150-day period of assessment, HCD-fed females became infertile after producing only a single litter, regardless of their genotype. These data show that neuronal PTP1B deletion is able to partially protect mice from HCD-induced obesity but is not a critical mediator of HCD-induced infertility.
Growth Hormone-induced STAT5B RegulatesStarGene Expression Through a Cooperation With cJUN in Mouse MA-10 Leydig Cells
Authors: Hébert-Mercier Pierre-Olivier , Bergeron Francis , Robert Nicholas M , Mehanovic Samir , Pierre Kenley Joule , Mendoza-Villarroel Raifish E , de Mattos Karine , Brousseau Catherine , Tremblay Jacques J
Published: December 2021

Leydig cells produce androgens that are essential for male sex differentiation and reproductive function. Leydig cell function is regulated by several hormones and signaling molecules, including growth hormone (GH). Although GH is known to upregulate Star gene expression in Leydig cells, its molecular mechanism of action remains unknown. The STAT5B transcription factor is a downstream effector of GH signaling in other systems. While STAT5B is present in both primary and Leydig cell lines, its function in these cells has yet to be ascertained. Here we report that treatment of MA-10 Leydig cells with GH or overexpression of STAT5B induces Star messenger RNA levels and increases steroid hormone output. The mouse Star promoter contains a consensus STAT5B element (TTCnnnGAA) at −756 bp to which STAT5B binds in vitro (electrophoretic mobility shift assay and supershift) and in vivo (chromatin immunoprecipitation) in a GH-induced manner. In functional promoter assays, STAT5B was found to activate a −980 bp mouse Star reporter. Mutating the −756 bp element prevented STAT5B binding but did not abrogate STAT5B-responsiveness. STAT5B was found to functionally cooperate with DNA-bound cJUN. The STAT5B/cJUN cooperation was only observed in Leydig cells and not in Sertoli or fibroblast cells, indicating that additional Leydig cell–enriched transcription factors are required. The STAT5B/cJUN cooperation was lost only when both STAT5B and cJUN elements were mutated. In addition to identifying the Star gene as a novel target for STAT5B in Leydig cells, our data provide important new insights into the mechanism of GH and STAT5B action in the regulation of Leydig cell function.
Stem Cells and Organs-on-chips: New Promising Technologies for Human Infertility Treatment
Authors: Tahmasbpour Marzouni Eisa , Stern Catharyn , Henrik Sinclair Andrew , Tucker Elena Jane
Published: December 2021

Having biological children remains an unattainable dream for most couples with reproductive failure or gonadal dysgenesis. The combination of stem cells with gene editing technology and organ-on-a-chip models provides a unique opportunity for infertile patients with impaired gametogenesis caused by congenital disorders in sex development or cancer survivors. But how will these technologies overcome human infertility? This review discusses the regenerative mechanisms, applications, and advantages of different types of stem cells for restoring gametogenesis in infertile patients, as well as major challenges that must be overcome before clinical application. The importance and limitations of in vitro generation of gametes from patient-specific human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) will be discussed in the context of human reproduction. The potential role of organ-on-a-chip models that can direct differentiation of hiPSC-derived primordial germ cell-like cells to gametes and other reproductive organoids is also explored. These rapidly evolving technologies provide prospects for improving fertility to individuals and couples who experience reproductive failure.
Physical Activity, Coronary Artery Calcium, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Authors: GERMAN CHARLES A. , FANNING JASON , SINGLETON MATTHEW J. , SHAPIRO MICHAEL D. , BRUBAKER PETER H. , BERTONI ALAIN G. , YEBOAH JOSEPH
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Although the inverse relationship between physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well established, observational studies suggest that very high levels of PA may be harmful. This study sought to understand the relationship between PA, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and cardiovascular outcomes among individuals at different levels of risk.

Methods

PA and CAC were assessed in 6777 baseline participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Total PA in MET-minutes per week was categorized into quartiles, and CAC was categorized as “low risk” (<100 Agatston units; n = 5180) and “high risk” (≥100 Agatston units; n = 1597). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier curves were generated to understand relationships between PA and CAC with CVD and all-cause mortality.

Results

In low-risk participants in the highest PA quartile, there was a decrease in the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CVD (HR, 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.56–0.94) and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57–0.84) compared with those in the lowest PA quartile. In high-risk participants in the highest PA quartile, there was a decrease in the adjusted HR for all-cause mortality (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.47–0.74) compared with those in the lowest PA quartile. High PA was not associated with an increased risk of either outcome, regardless of CAC category, sex, or race/ethnicity.

Conclusions

Our research suggests that there is no increased risk associated with high levels of PA, even among individuals at high risk of CVD.
The Rise of the Machines: Automation, Horizontal Innovation, and Income Inequality
Authors: Hémous David , Olsen Morten
Published: December 2021

We build an endogenous growth model with automation (the replacement of low-skill workers with machines) and horizontal innovation (the creation of new products). Over time, the share of automation innovations endogenously increases through an increase in low-skill wages, leading to an increase in the skill premium and a decline in the labor share. We calibrate the model to the US economy and show that it quantitatively replicates the paths of the skill premium, the labor share, and labor productivity. Our model offers a new perspective on recent trends in the income distribution by showing that they can be explained endogenously. (JEL D31, E25, J24, J31, O33, O41)
Endogenous Separations, Wage Rigidities, and Unemployment Volatility
Authors: Carlsson Mikael , Westermark Andreas
Published: December 2021

We show that in microdata, as well as in a search and matching model with flexible wages for new hires, wage rigidities of incumbent workers have substantial effects on separations and unemployment volatility. Allowing for an empirically relevant degree of wage rigidities for incumbent workers drives unemployment volatility as well as the volatility of vacancies and tightness to that in the data. Thus, the degree of wage rigidity for newly hired workers is not a sufficient statistic for determining the effect of wage rigidities on macroeconomic outcomes. This finding affects the interpretation of a large empirical literature on wage rigidities. (JEL E24, J23, J31, J41, J63)
How Sticky Wages in Existing Jobs Can Affect Hiring
Authors: Bils Mark , Chang Yongsung , Kim Sun-Bin
Published: December 2021

We consider a matching model of employment with flexible wages for new hires but sticky wages within matches. Unlike most models of sticky wages, we allow effort to respond if wages are too high or too low. In the Mortensen-Pissarides model, employment is not affected by wage stickiness in existing matches. But it is in our model. If wages of matched workers are stuck too high, firms require more effort, lowering the value of additional labor and reducing hiring. We find that effort’s response can greatly increase wage inertia. (JEL E24, J23, J31, J41, M51)
Capital Controls for Crisis Management Policy in a Global Economy
Authors: Davis J. Scott , Devereux Michael B.
Published: December 2021

Capital controls may be justified as a policy to combat a financial crisis. But for large economies, capital controls may have substantial spillovers to the rest of the world. We investigate the case for capital controls in a large open economy, when domestic financial constraints may bind during a crisis. When the crisis country is indebted, it must trade off the desire to tax inflows to improve the terms of trade and tax outflows to ease financial constraints. This trade-off renders noncooperative use of capital controls ineffective as crisis management policy. Effective use of capital controls for crisis management requires international cooperation. (JEL F23, F38, F41, G01, H21, H25)
The Organic Roots of Conatus in Early Greek Thought
Authors: Kirby Christopher
Published: December 2021

The focus of this paper will be on the earliest Greek treatments of impulse, motivation, and self-animation – a cluster of concepts tied to the hormē-conatus concept. I hope to offer a plausible account of how the earliest recorded views on this subject in mythological, pre-Socratic, and Classical writings might have inspired later philosophical developments by establishing the foundations for an organic, wholly naturalized approach to human inquiry. Three pillars of that approach which I wish to emphasize are: practical intelligence (i.e., a continuity between knowing and doing), natural normativity (i.e., a continuity between human norms and the environment), and an ontology of philosophical dialectic (i.e., a continuity between the growth of human understanding and the growth of physis).
El derecho ante la inteligencia artificial. A propósito de lo dispuesto en el art. 80.5 del Convenio Colectivo Nacional de la Banca.
Authors: Fernández Villarino Roberto
Published: December 2021

: El proceso de implementación de la inteligencia artificial y los algoritmos en el ámbito de la gestión de los recursos humanos y de las relaciones de trabajo, está generando un profundo debate jurídico en torno a cuestiones tales como la eficiencia de los procesos y decisiones o el grado de intervención humana. También el alcance de la información que recibe el trabajador en este proceso y los riesgos de discriminación derivados del mismo. En el presente estudio, abordaremos dicho debate analizando el alcance del art. 80.5 del Convenio de la Banca, que introduce una regulación de las garantías de los procesos de decisión empresarial basados exclusivamente en la gestión artificial de datos sin la intervención humana. Esta regulación podría suponer un avance en términos de transparencia y gobernanza respecto a la escasa e incompleta regulación específica sobre esta materia existente actualmente, con un elevado predominio de la normativa de softlaw
Tendenzen zu einer geschlechtsneutralen Rechtssprache in Deutschland, Österreich und der Slowakei
Authors: Ďuricová Alena
Published: December 2021

TENDENCIES TOWARDS GENDER – THE EQUITABLE LEGAL LANGUAGE IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND SLOVAKIA The article focuses on a special feature of legal language – its prevailing “masculine“ character. An initial theoretical outline of this peculiarity is followed by a comparative linguistic analysis of using masculine and feminine forms in German and Slovak legal terms. Our linguistic analysis is based on the comparison of legal texts collected from the author´s translation practice. The research has been conducted from the perspective of translatology and it presents examples documenting translation solutions with regard to issues of the gender equality in legal language.
Cryptoassets as Contemporary Threats to the Economic Security of the Country
Authors: Charatynowicz Jacek
Published: December 2021

Aim: The aim of this article is to present the conclusions of a research conducted in the area of identifying threats to the economic interests of the state related to the trading of cryptoassets, as well as the presentation of legal solutions functioning in the cryptoasset environment and possible remedial actions to be taken by the state authorities competent in this regard. Introduction: Due to the technological features, undefined legal status, regulatory and organizational risks of this instrument, the threats related to the trading of cryptoassets are one of the most important current threats from the point of view of the economic security of the country. They are identified both by domestic and foreign financial market supervision authorities, tax and law enforcement authorities, and those dealing with counteracting money laundering and the financing of the terrorists. The article presents the identified risk areas, legal regulations in the field of trading in these assets, and regulatory perspectives. An attempt was also made to describe the actions necessary to be taken to mitigate the threats. Methodology: In this work, theoretical research was used, such as: analysis of literature, on legal and strategic studies as well as industry literature, synthesis, generalization and inference. In addition, analysis was carried out of the legal acts related to the regulation of the market of cryptoassets, international strategic documents describing this market and the Polish financial supervision. Draft legal acts of a legislative nature were also presented. Conclusions: The market of cryptoassets is subject to constant legal, organizational and institutional transformations. Its socio-economic environment is also changing. Due to the characteristics of cryptoassets, their dispersed and unregulated nature, institutions of this market, both entities participat - ing in transaction brokerage, as well as natural persons, can be used for money laundering, concealing property from various forms of crime. However, the identified vulnerabilities do not pose a significant threat to the economic security of the country – they are of a sectoral nature. The relevant state institutions undertake specific activities in order to counteract threats, both of a legal, institutional and organizational nature. Keywords: cryptoassets, threats to economic security, legal regulations in the area of cryptoassets, counteracting money laundering and financing of terrorism, mitigation of threats related to cryptoassets Type of article: review article
Road Accidents Involving Motorcyclists in the Practice of Emergency Medical Teams – Statistical Analysis of the Effects of Motorcycle Accidents on Polish Roads in 2019
Authors: Musiał Paweł
Published: December 2021

Purpose: The aim of the article was to analyze motorcycle accidents in Poland on the basis of statistical data from the Polish Police Headquarters from 2019. The author presents the collected data in the form of charts, broken down by causes, the number of events in individual months, and the age of the perpetrators, injured and victims. The work also deals with the issue of dealing with victims of motorcycle accidents as part of first aid and rescue. Introduction: Every year, the number of casualties on Polish roads is increasing. Accidents affect all forms of transport and communication. Modern technologies used in the production of motor vehicles, a number of forms of improving their skills available to drivers offered by training entities and the improving infrastructure of roads in the country predispose to increased traffic on Polish roads. Drivers often lose control of their vehicles, forgetting about the potential dangers of recklessness and irresponsibility. Various types of traffic incidents involving these vehicles then take place. The chances of motorcyclists during traffic accidents, despite the security measures used in helmets and protective clothing, are small. Methodology: The main research tool used during the work on the article was the analysis of data contained in the documentation. The data presented in this study constitute the material entitled Road accidents in Poland in 2019 provided by the General Police Headquarters (KGP) Road Traffic Office. The author has made a statistical analysis of the above-mentioned data to visualize road accidents involving motorcyclists and their consequences. The events in which a motorcyclist was injured and the most common causes of accidents caused by motorcyclists, the age of the perpetrators of accidents – motorcyclists, as well as fatalities and injuries in these road accidents are presented. Conclusions: In 2019, motorcyclists made up a large group of people who died or were seriously injured in road accidents. The number of traffic accidents and the number of killed motorcyclists is greater than 2018. Data analysis allowed to define the most common causes of accidents involving motorcyclists caused by drivers of other vehicles. These include: failure to give right-of-way and incorrect behavior on the road while driving, such as turning, changing lanes or overtaking. On the other hand, the most common causes of accidents caused by motorcyclists are: excessive speed, incorrect overtaking, no safe distance from other vehicles, failure to give right-of-way. Keywords: motorcycle accidents, emergency medical team, multi-organ trauma Type of article: review article
Is the Chinese Anticorruption Campaign Authentic? Evidence from Corporate Investigations
Authors: Griffin John M. , Liu Clark , Shu Tao
Published: December 2021

This paper examines whether the massive Chinese anticorruption campaign ensnares corrupt firms, contains a political component, and reduces corporate corruption. Consistent with the campaign’s stated objectives, investigated executives are more likely to come from Chinese firms with characteristics commonly associated with measures of poor governance, self-dealing, and inefficiencies. However, affiliations with prominent investigated political leaders increase investigation likelihood, while university affiliations with current central leadership decrease investigation likelihood, possibly indicating political partiality. Except for reported entertainment expenditures and chief executive officer pay, there has been little evidence of a substantial overall decrease in measures of potential corporate corruption.

This paper was accepted by Tomasz Piskorski, finance.
False Discovery in A/B Testing
Authors: Berman Ron , Van den Bulte Christophe
Published: December 2021

We investigate what fraction of all significant results in website A/B testing is actually null effects (i.e., the false discovery rate (FDR)). Our data consist of 4,964 effects from 2,766 experiments conducted on a commercial A/B testing platform. Using three different methods, we find that the FDR ranges between 28% and 37% for tests conducted at 10% significance and between 18% and 25% for tests at 5% significance (two sided). These high FDRs stem mostly from the high fraction of true null effects, about 70%, rather than from low power. Using our estimates, we also assess the potential of various A/B test designs to reduce the FDR. The two main implications are that decision makers should expect one in five interventions achieving significance at 5% confidence to be ineffective when deployed in the field and that analysts should consider using two-stage designs with multiple variations rather than basic A/B tests.

This paper was accepted by Eric Anderson, marketing.
Victorious and Hierarchical: Past Performance as a Determinant of Team Hierarchical Differentiation
Authors: To Christopher , Yan Thomas Taiyi , Sherf Elad N.
Published: December 2021

Hierarchies emerge as collectives attempt to organize themselves toward successful performance. Consequently, research has focused on how team hierarchies affect performance. We extend existing models of the hierarchy-performance relationship by adopting an alternative: Performance is not only an output of hierarchy but also a critical input, as teams’ hierarchical differentiation may vary based on whether they are succeeding. Integrating research on exploitation and exploration with work on group attributions, we argue that teams engage in exploitation by committing to what they attribute as the cause of their performance success. Specifically, collectives tend to attribute their success to individuals who wielded greater influence within the team; these individuals are consequently granted relatively higher levels of influence, leading to a higher degree of hierarchy. We additionally suggest that the tendency to attribute, and therefore grant more influence, to members believed to be the cause of success is stronger for teams previously higher (versus lower) in hierarchy, as a higher degree of hierarchical differentiation provides clarity as to which members had a greater impact on the team outcome. We test our hypotheses experimentally with teams engaging in an online judgement task and observationally with teams from the National Basketball Association. Our work makes two primary contributions: (a) altering existing hierarchy-performance models by highlighting performance as both an input and output to hierarchy and (b) extending research on the dynamics of hierarchy beyond individual rank changes toward examining what factors increase or decrease hierarchical differentiation of the team as a whole.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1528 .
Tools, techniques and sources: searching major bibliographic databases
Authors: Matt Holland , Michelle Dutton , Steve Glover
Published: December 2021

This three-part module covers the tools and techniques of searching and sources for research in paramedicine. Part I covers basic search tools and techniques that are widely used in bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE and CINAHL. Part II looks at sources of research and provides you with an approach to searching that are most likely to lead to a successful outcome for your search. Part III takes you through sources of research you might consider after you have searched established sources. There is guidance on how to approach sources critically to avoid junk or predatory publications.
Assessment and examination of the respiratory system
Authors: Squires Eleanor
Published: December 2021

Respiratory complaints are seen regularly in general practice. Eleanor Squires looks at the importance of advanced practitioners carrying out a systematic assessment and examination of a patient with respiratory symptoms

The aim of this article is to explore the importance of carrying out a systematic assessment and examination of a patient with respiratory complaints. History taking using recommended acronyms will be discussed, along with a focus on the most common presentations. Finally, it will discuss a systematic examination of the patient.
Practice nursing: saving the Cinderella service
Authors: Randle Heather
Published: December 2021

Heather Randle discusses why nurses working in general practice feel undervalued and invisible despite working harder than ever during the pandemic
Criterios de calidad de un MOOC basado en la valoración de los estudiantes
Authors: Segovia García Nuria
Published: December 2021

INTRODUCCIÓN. El creciente interés por el aprendizaje abierto y a distancia de los últimos años ha hecho que estudiantes de todo el mundo puedan acceder y aprender a través de cursos gratuitos en línea ofrecidos por conocidas universidades. Sin embargo, a pesar de los potenciales beneficios de los MOOC, sus tasas de abandono son muy elevadas y su calidad general es cuestionable, y actualmente está siendo objeto de un intenso debate. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la opinión de los estudiantes una vez finalizados los MOOC y detectar mejoras que permitan incrementar la calidad de los cursos. MÉTODO. A partir del análisis de diferentes herramientas para medir la calidad de los sistemas de información, como el modelo de DeLone y McLean, se diseñó una encuesta con 16 preguntas cerradas por medio de una escala Likert de 5 puntos y una pregunta abierta. Se obtuvieron 309 respuestas de estudiantes y se utilizó una metodología de análisis mixto a partir de un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) para interpretar los datos cuantitativos y el análisis de contenido como método cualitativo. RESULTADOS. La evaluación resalta la importancia de los factores que inciden directamente en la percepción del estudiante sobre la calidad del servicio prestado y la calidad de la información proporcionada. El análisis cualitativo reveló la importancia que los estudiantes otorgan al contenido práctico. DISCUSIÓN. Estos resultados corroboran las conclusiones de gran parte de los trabajos anteriores en los que se determina la necesidad de desarrollar y difundir modelos metodológicos más activos basados en la práctica y el desarrollo profesional. Además, es necesario reforzar la eficacia y la calidad de la información, proporcionando recursos adicionales y ofreciendo actividades prácticas en las que se expongan ejemplos de aplicación de los contenidos.
Creatividad y alegría. Un estudio Comparativo en el contexto educativo
Authors: López Martínez Olivia , Lorca Garrido Antonio José , De Vicente-Yagüe Jara María Isabel
Published: December 2021

INTRODUCCIÓN. El constructo creatividad ha sido objeto de tantas investigaciones como de seguidores y ataques apasionados. Durante décadas fue utilizado como atributo alusivo a las personas más inteligentes o capaces, si bien los estudios y corrientes actuales posicionan dicho concepto como una variable independiente con respecto al constructo inteligencia. Este trabajo parte de la necesidad de comprobar las diferencias latentes en la alegría en función de los niveles de creatividad, entendiendo la alegría como un factor emocional en el contexto educativo y así conocer el alcance de las emociones positivas en dicho contexto. MÉTODO. La investigación se desarrolló bajo un diseño metodológico cuantitativo, no experimental, comparativo post hoc. La muestra estuvo formada por 727 alumnos con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y 14 años, escolarizados en centros públicos de la Región de Murcia (España), a los cuales se les administraron la prueba de creatividad figurativa de Torrance (Torrance, 1974) y la prueba SCTI-T de alegría (Ruch et al., 1996). RESULTADOS. Los resultados evidencian la existencia de asociaciones significativas entre rasgos de alegría, fluidez, flexibilidad y originalidad. Por su parte, el mal humor coincide con la presencia de bajas puntuaciones en fluidez y flexibilidad. No se evidencian diferencias con respecto a la variable elaboración. DISCUSIÓN. Los resultados obtenidos en este trabajo obligan a reconsiderar el valor de los afectos positivos (en especial, la alegría) como variable descriptiva de la personalidad creativa. Del mismo modo, exigen incorporar algunos de los planteamientos de la psicología positiva a las aulas con el fin de desarrollar la creatividad y la alegría, siendo la escuela un espacio abierto y flexible que permite el desarrollo integral del alumnado.
A New Pediatric Monteggia Fracture Type 4 Variant
Authors: Saleh Ehab S
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Monteggia fracture-dislocations are rare and complex injuries that usually involve a fracture of the proximal ulna associated with a proximal radioulnar and radiocapitellar joint dislocations. These injuries comprise <1% of all pediatric forearm fractures. We report on a pediatric Monteggia fracture-dislocation variant that included an irreducible divergent ulnohumeral joint dislocation, an irreducible anterior radial head dislocation, and a proximal and distal radius and ulna fracture.

Case Report: A 6-year-old female came to our emergency room with a right elbow and forearm pain and deformity after a fall from a slide on the same day. X-rays revealed a divergent ulnohumeral joint dislocation, an anterior radiocapitellar joint dislocation, a proximal radioulnar joint dislocation, and a proximal and distal ulna and radius fracture. Closed reduction under sedation in the emergency room was not successful, with persistent ulnohumeral, ulnoradial, and radiocapitellar joint dislocations. The patient was taken to the operating room the next morning. She underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the proximal ulna fracture with a one-third tubular locking plate, and radial head dislocation open reduction. A stable reduction of the ulnohumeral joint was only possible after the fixation of the proximal ulna fracture. The most stable position for the radiocapitellar joint after its open reduction was at 70o of elbow extension and full forearm supination; the patient was casted in that position for 6 weeks.

Conclusion: Pediatric Monteggia fracture-dislocations are rare and complex childhood fractures, and new variants of this injury can have even more complex presentations. Open reduction and stable internal fixation addressing all components of this injury will lead to an excellent outcome.

Keywords: Pediatric monteggia fracture-dislocation, new type four variant, divergent ulnohumeral joint dislocation, irreducible dislocation.
Modified genetic algorithm for high-efficiency dispersive waves emission at 3 µm
Authors: Wang Zimiao , Ye Feng , Li Qian
Published: December 2021

Mid-infrared dispersive waves generated from supercontinuum generation are of great significance for gas sensing, environmental monitoring, and molecular spectroscopy. But the conversion efficiency of mid-infrared dispersive waves is degraded at longer wavelengths, which limits the application of mid-infrared dispersive waves. Here, we present a genetic algorithm (GA) which is modified by using a simulated binary crossover method and non-uniform mutation process. The modified genetic algorithm (MGA) optimizes the central wavelength, peak power and time duration of the pump to generate high-efficiency dispersive waves at around 3 µm. The conversion efficiency of mid-infrared dispersive waves is increased from 1.5% to 2.29%. These results are useful for gas sensing and environmental monitoring.
Two-dimensional vector bending sensor based on Fabry-Pérot cavities in a multicore fiber
Authors: Oliveira Ricardo , Cardoso Marta , Rocha Ana M.
Published: December 2021

In this work we demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of a temperature insensitive, two-dimensional curvature sensor using a resin based Fabry-Pérot interferometer, constructed using a multicore fiber (MCF). The fabrication simplicity makes this fiber device very attractive compared to the already reported technologies. Furthermore, the sensitivity reached (>400 pm/m-1), 7 times higher than the one reported for fiber Bragg gratings written on a similar MCF. The reconstruction of the amplitude and curvature has been performed for, showing errors lower than 4%. A numerical study has also been developed, allowing us to understand the sensor response at different fiber sensor geometries.
Modeling and optimization of an unbalanced delay interferometer based OPLL system
Authors: Zhang Ling , Xie Weilin , Feng Yuxiang , Meng Yinxia , Bai Yuanshuo , Yang Jiang , Wei Wei , Dong Yi
Published: December 2021

We present and establish a versatile analytical model that allows overall analysis and optimization for the phase noise performance of the delay interferometer based optical phase-locked loop (OPLL). It allows considering any type of lasers with arbitrary frequency noise properties while taking into account the contributions from various practical noise sources, thus enabling comprehensive investigation for the complicated interaction among underlying limiting factors. The quantitative analysis for their evolution along with the change of the delay of the interferometer unveils the resulting impact on the fundamental limit and dynamics of the output phase noise, leading to a well-balanced loop bandwidth and sensitivity thus enabling the overall optimization in terms of closed-loop noise performance. The tendencies observed and the results predicted in terms of coherence metrics in numerical verification with different lasers have testified to the precision and effectiveness of the proposed model, which is quite capable of acting as a design tool for the insightful analysis and overall optimization with guiding significance for practical applications.
Multi-resonant absorptions in asymmetric step-shaped plasmonic metamaterials for versatile sensing application scenarios
Authors: Yu Li , Liang Yuzhang , Gao Huixuan , Kuang Kaili , Wang Qiao , Peng Wei
Published: December 2021

Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted remarkable attention in label-free biosensing detection due to their unprecedented potential of high-sensitivity, miniaturization, multi-parameter, and high throughput screening. In this paper, we propose a plasmonic metamaterial absorber consisting of an asymmetrical step-shaped slit-groove array layer and an opaque gold film, separated by a silica dielectric layer, which demonstrates three-resonant perfect absorption peaks at near-infrared frequencies in an air environment. This is equivalent to three reflection dips due to the opaque gold membrane underneath the structure. Originating from the coupling and hybridization of different plasmonic modes, these three absorption peaks show different linewidths and distinctive excellent sensing performance. The surface lattice resonance (SLR) at the short wavelength range enables an ultra-narrow absorption peak of merely 2 nm and a high bulk refractive index sensitivity of 1605 nm/RIU, but occurring with comparatively low surface sensitivity. Compared to the above-mentioned narrowband SLR mode, the other two absorption peaks, respectively stemming from the coupling between slit-cavity mode and the plasmon resonance of different orders, possess relatively broad linewidths and low bulk refractive index sensitivities, yet outstanding surface sensitivities. The complementary sensing performance among these absorption peaks presents opportunities for using the designed plasmonic metamaterial absorber for multi-parameter detection and various complex application scenarios.
The effect of different levels of pre-damage loading on the strength and structural behavior of CFRP strengthened R.C. beams: Experimental and analytical investigation
Authors: Hamah-Ali Brwa Hamah Saeed , Qadir Mohamed Raouf Abdul
Published: December 2021

In order to investigate the effect of pre-loading damage on the structural performance of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthened Reinforced Concrete (R.C.) beams, experimental and Finite Element Modelling (FEM) investigation was carried out on six R.C. beams. Five of the R.C. beams were damaged up to different levels of strain in the main steel bars before Flexure CFRP strengthening. One of the R.C. beams loaded up to failure and was kept as a control beam for comparison. The experimental results showed that the failure mode of the CFRP strengthened specimen was controlled by CFRP debonding followed by concrete crushing; however, the control beam failed in concrete crushing after yielding the steel bars, which is a ductile failure. The CFRP sheet increases the strength and initial stiffness of the R.C. beams and reduces ductility and toughness. Also, CFRP application increases the first crack and yielding steel bars load by 87.4% and 34.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the pre-damage level does not influence the strength and ductility of the strengthened R.C. beams except for the highest damage levels, which experienced a slight decrease in load capacity and ductility. However, the initial stiffness decreases with increasing pre-damage levels by 40%.

Design guideline ACI 440.2R (2004) predicts the ultimate load capacity marvelously for externally bonded Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) beams compared to the experimental maximum load capacity. The excellent agreement between experimental and FEM results indicates that the constitutive models used for concrete and reinforcement and the cohesive interface model can well capture fracture behavior. However, The FEM analysis predicts the beam to be slightly stiffer and more robust, probably because of the assumed perfect bond between concrete and reinforcement. The developed FEM can be used for further parametric study.
Novel loss functions for ensemble-based medical image classification
Authors: Rajaraman Sivaramakrishnan , Zamzmi Ghada , Antani Sameer K.
Published: December 2021

Medical images commonly exhibit multiple abnormalities. Predicting them requires multi-class classifiers whose training and desired reliable performance can be affected by a combination of factors, such as, dataset size, data source, distribution, and the loss function used to train deep neural networks. Currently, the cross-entropy loss remains the de-facto loss function for training deep learning classifiers. This loss function, however, asserts equal learning from all classes, leading to a bias toward the majority class. Although the choice of the loss function impacts model performance, to the best of our knowledge, we observed that no literature exists that performs a comprehensive analysis and selection of an appropriate loss function toward the classification task under study. In this work, we benchmark various state-of-the-art loss functions, critically analyze model performance, and propose improved loss functions for a multi-class classification task. We select a pediatric chest X-ray (CXR) dataset that includes images with no abnormality (normal), and those exhibiting manifestations consistent with bacterial and viral pneumonia. We construct prediction-level and model-level ensembles to improve classification performance. Our results show that compared to the individual models and the state-of-the-art literature, the weighted averaging of the predictions for top-3 and top-5 model-level ensembles delivered significantly superior classification performance (p < 0.05) in terms of MCC (0.9068, 95% confidence interval (0.8839, 0.9297)) metric. Finally, we performed localization studies to interpret model behavior and confirm that the individual models and ensembles learned task-specific features and highlighted disease-specific regions of interest. The code is available at https://github.com/sivaramakrishnan-rajaraman/multiloss_ensemble_models.
Law of coal caving behind the flexible shield support in pseudo-inclined working face
Authors: Zhan Qinjian , Shahani Niaz Muhammad , Xue Zhicheng , Li Shengqiang
Published: December 2021

Complex boundary conditions are the major influencing factors of coal caving law in the pseudo-inclined working face. The main purpose of this study is to analyze coal caving law of flexible shield support and then to establish the internal relations among coal caving parameters under complex boundary conditions. Firstly, the law of coal caving in different falling modes is simulated physically. Secondly, the coal caving shape, displacement field, and contact force field is simulated. Then, coal caving law and process parameters is analyzed theoretically. Finally, the test was performed in Bai-Ji Mine. The research shows that ellipsoidal ore drawing theory has universal applicability in coal drawing law analysis and parameter optimization. After the Isolated Extraction Zone and Isolated Movement Zone reach the roof, the expansion speed is marked by a short delay, and then, while expanding to the floor, two butted incomplete ellipsoids are formed. There is a time-space difference in coal caving after the support, and some coal will be mined in the next round of coal caving. There are obvious differences in the coal loosening range, displacement field, and contact force field on both sides of the long axis. When the support falls along with the bottom plate, it is more conducive to the release of coal. The test shows that the research is of great significance for optimizing the caving parameters of flexible shield support in the pseudo-inclined working face of the steep seam.