bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The epistemic value of deliberative democracy: how far can diversity take us?
Authors: Benson Jonathan
Published: April 2021

This paper contributes to growing debates over the decision-making ability of democracy by considering the epistemic value of deliberative democracy. It focuses on the benefits democratic deliberation can derive from its diversity, and the extent to which these benefits can be realised with respect to the complexities of political problems. The paper first calls attention to the issue of complexity through a critique of Hélène Landemore and the Diversity Trumps Ability Theorem. This approach underestimates complexity due to its reliance on an ‘oracle assumption’ and this is shown to highlight more general difficulties for applying the benefits of diversity to the realities of political problems. The paper then develops a new model of deliberation—based on an relationship between cognitive diversity and diminishing returns to cognitive type—which does not involve an oracle assumption and can therefore support the epistemic value of deliberative democracy even for complex problems. The benefits of diversity are also argued to be better realised though sortition than either democratic elections or epistocracy, pointing to the value of deliberation between randomly selected citizens. Finally, and contrary to past work, the new account suggests that diversity cannot alone establish the superiority of democratic deliberation over all non-democratic alternatives, and that it is insufficient to mount a purely epistemic argument for deliberative democracy. The paper therefore furthers our understanding of the epistemic value of deliberative democracy by clarifying when and to what extent diversity is a benefit to political problem solving.
Influence of Steel Surface Composition on ZDDP Tribofilm Growth Using Ion Implantation
Authors: Ueda Mao , Kadiric Amir , Spikes Hugh
Published: April 2021

This paper examines the influence of steel surface composition on antiwear tribofilm formation by ion-implanting typical steel alloying elements, Ni, Mo, Cr, V and W, into AISI 52100 bearing steel surfaces. Such implantation changes the chemical composition of the steel surface but has relatively little effect on its mechanical properties or topography. The behaviour of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) antiwear additive was studied. The study employs a ball on disc tribometer with ability to monitor tribofilm development and a range of analytical tools including STEM-EDX, XPS and FIB-TEM to analyse the formed tribofilms. It was found that Ni implantation promotes ZDDP tribofilm formation while Mo and Cr implantation deters tribofilm growth. V and W implantation do not significantly change tribofilm formation. Results on the influence of ZDDP concentration on tribofilm formation rate with different implanted metals suggest that one important mechanism by which steel composition influences tribofilm formation may be by controlling the extent of ZDDP adsorption. This study shows the importance of steel surface composition on ZDDP response and also demonstrates a powerful way to study and potentially improve the tribological performance of machine components via a combination of lubricant formulation and surface modification.
Agency and Choice in Evolution
Authors: Delafield-Butt Jonathan
Published: April 2021

Denis Noble has produced a succinct analysis of the ‘Illusions of the Modern Synthesis’. At the heart of the matter is the place of agency in organisms. This paper examines the nature of conscious agent action in organisms, and the role of affects in shaping agent choice. It examines the dual role these have in shaping evolution, and in the social worlds of scientists that shape evolutionary theory. Its central claim follows Noble, that agency is central to the structure of organisms, and raises careful consideration for the role animal agency and affective evaluations in biology, and in biologists.
Student Development in Logical Reasoning: Results of an Intervention Guiding Students Through Different Modes of Visual and Formal Representation
Authors: Bronkhorst Hugo , Roorda Gerrit , Suhre Cor , Goedhart Martin
Published: April 2021

Due to growing interest in twenty-first-century skills, and critical thinking as a key element, logical reasoning is gaining increasing attention in mathematics curricula in secondary education. In this study, we report on an analysis of video recordings of student discussions in one class of seven students who were taught with a specially designed course in logical reasoning for non-science students (12th graders). During the course of 10 lessons, students worked on a diversity of logical reasoning tasks: both closed tasks where all premises were provided and everyday reasoning tasks with implicit premises. The structure of the course focused on linking different modes of representation (enactive, iconic, and symbolic), based on the model of concreteness fading (Fyfe et al., 2014). Results show that students easily link concrete situations to certain iconic referents, such as formal (letter) symbols, but need more practice for others, such as Venn and Euler diagrams. We also show that the link with the symbolic mode, i.e. an interpretation with more general and abstract models, is not that strong. This might be due to the limited time spent on further practice. However, in the transition from concrete to symbolic via the iconic mode, students may take a step back to a visual representation, which shows that working on such links is useful for all students. Overall, we conclude that the model of concreteness fading can support education in logical reasoning. One recommendation is to devote sufficient time to establishing links between different types of referents and representations.
Occupational exposure of librarians to mold spores and metal particles: a real-time case study
Authors: Baldelli Alberto , Couch Brett , Loosley Benjamin , Bartlett Karen
Published: April 2021

In a university library, activities typical of librarians, such as unpacking boxes, removing books from the shelves, dusting, packing boxes, cataloguing, conservation and repair, photocopying, setting materials for class, and walking in a main hallway, were found to reduce indoor air quality through the production of airborne mold spores, metal dusts, and particulate matter of different size bins. Analyzing three libraries, the activity of conservation generated 9000 spores/m3 of mold spores, nearing the exposure limit of 104 spores/m3 reported for Penicillium sp., and silver nanoparticles of about 15 µg/m3, that over 8 h would exceed the occupational exposure limit of 0.19 µg/m3. For none of the activities, the levels of particulate matter with a diameter lower than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) did not exceed the 8-h time weight average limits of exposure. However, by analyzing the 5th percentile of the real-time PM10 data, values of about 1.5 mg/m3, which is concerning for occupational exposure. Measuring real-time exposures of PM could generate an estimation of levels of mold spores and metal dusts in libraries. We demonstrate a high Spearman’s rank correlation (0.70) between the 5th percentile of PM with a diameter lower than 1 µm and different metals. A high linearity (R2 = 0.85) is obtained between the total average of PM with a diameter lower than 10 µm and mold spores/m3.
DNA Methylation in Ovarian Tumors—a Comparison Between Fresh Tissue and FFPE Samples
Authors: Oliveira Douglas V.N.P. , Hentze Julie , O’Rourke Colm J. , Andersen Jesper B. , Høgdall Claus , Høgdall Estrid V.
Published: April 2021

Among women, ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most severe forms of malignancy, accounting for a low 5-year survival rate, of approximately 52%. Early symptoms are unspecific and hence hard to detect. The origin of OC and its subtypes are still unclear, underlying the need for efficient diagnostic biomarkers. In that regard, epigenetics studies are emerging in cancer diagnostics, with encouraging outcomes. Among them, DNA methylation profiling has shown that the origins of the cancer epigenome are associated with molecular factors that are crucial to carcinogenesis, such as regulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Furthermore, those events have been detected in abnormal cell morphology before neoplastic formation, indicating its potential crucial use in the OC diagnostics in the future. Nonetheless, studies are limited, and whether methylation analysis can be performed optimally in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) preparations of OC cases is still elusive. In the present report, we investigated the performance of DNA methylation analysis in FFPE samples, compared to their matched fresh frozen tissue in a small cohort of OC samples. We found that the overall DNA methylation profile in FFPE tissue showed high concordance to that found in fresh frozen tissue, and accounting for the small cohort size, the differentially methylated sites found primarily in frozen tissue, compared to benign samples, were also reproducible in FFPE. Overall, by using samples from our current clinical setting of tissue preservation, these preliminary observations might provide insights into the clinical use of FFPE tissues in methylation studies without critically compromising the outcome.
An experimental study on autologous transplantation of fresh ovarian tissue in sheep
Authors: Cheng Hongyan , Ye Xue , Zhu Honglan , Li Yi , liang Xudong , Chang Xiaohong , Cui Heng
Published: April 2021

Objective

To investigate current autologous transplantation methods and sites of ovarian tissues in sheep.

Methods

Sheep ovaries were resected. Ovarian cortices were sliced and transplanted orthotopically into the ovarian mesangial latum and heterotopically into the greater omentum and under groin skin. The grafts were removed two months after transplantation and examined to evaluate the survival of follicles (hematoxylin-eosin staining) and help determining feasible graft sites and transplantation methods.

Results

Graft nodules were found in the transplanted sites. HE staining of the grafts showed that multipleprimordial follicleswere able to survive in the grafts on both sides of the ovarian mesangial latum, the right side of the greater omentum, and the left inguinal subcutaneous tissue. Secondary or cystic follicles were found in almost all of the grafts.

Conclusion

The ovarian mesangial latum, the greater omentum and the inguinal subcutaneous tissue can be used as autologous transplantation sites, where sheep ovarian tissue can survive and the follicles grow and develop in good condition.
Analysis of the clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes of seven cases of pregnancy luteoma discovered incidentally at cesarean section
Authors: Shen Junhua , Tang Lanlan , Huang Genping , Bai Xiaoxia , Li Baohua , Wang Zhengping
Published: April 2021

Objective

In this study, we summarize the clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes of patients with pregnancy luteomas that were identified incidentally at cesarean section in our hospital. We also provide a review of the existing literature relating to this condition.

Methods

A total of seven cases of pregnancy luteoma were enrolled from our hospital into this retrospective study between March 2013 and February 2018. We then evaluated the clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes of these patients.

Results

All seven patients with pregnancy luteomas found incidentally during Cesarean sections at term as a result of obstetric indications. These masses were unilateral and ranged from 2 to 10 cm in size. All patients underwent partial ovariectomies or oophorocystectomy due to presumptive benign ovarian tumors. Two patients had gestational diabetes and one patient had gestational hypertension. One patient developed hirsutism and a deepened voice. Of the seven newborns, three were girls and four were boys. Physical examinations of the newborns were normal and no virilization was detected among the infant girls.

Conclusion

Pregnancy luteoma may be more common than expected. Better strategies are now needed to educate obstetricians about the clinical features of pregnancy luteoma so that they can avoid unnecessary surgery.
Evaluation of an interactive virtual surgical rotation during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Byrnes Yasmeen M. , Luu Neil N. , Frost Ariel S. , Chao Tiffany N. , Brody Robert M. , Cannady Steven B. , Rajasekaran Karthik , Shanti Rabie M. , Newman Jason G.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To evaluate medical student and attending surgeon experiences with a novel interactive virtual Otolaryngology ‐ Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) medical student elective during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Study Design

A virtual OHNS elective was created, with three components: (1) interactive virtual operating room (OR) experience using live‐stream video‐conferencing, (2) telehealth clinic, (3) virtual didactics.

Setting

OHNS Department at the University of Pennsylvania (May 2020 to June 2020).

Methods

Six medical students from the University of Pennsylvania; five attending otolaryngologists. Two surveys were designed and distributed to participating medical students and attending surgeons. Surveys included 5‐point Likert scale items, with 1 indicating “not at all” and 5 indicating “very much so”.

Results

Response rate was 100% for both surveys. Students on average rated the educational value of the telehealth experience as 4.2 ± 1.2, and the virtual OR experience as 4.0 ± 0.6. Most students (n = 5, 83%) indicated that they had enough exposure to faculty they met on this rotation to ask for a letter of recommendation (LOR) for residency if needed, while attending surgeons had an average response of 3.0 ± 1.0 when asked how comfortable they would feel writing a LOR for a student they met through the rotation. A majority of students (n = 4, 67%) felt they connected enough with faculty during the rotation to ask for mentorship. Half the students (n = 5, 50%) indicated that the rotation allowed them to evaluate the department's culture either “extremely well” or “somewhat well”.

Conclusions

Overall, participating students described this innovative virtual surgical rotation as an educationally and professionally valuable experience. With the continued suspension of visiting student rotations due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, this virtual model may have continued relevance to medical education.
Air‐Water Exchange and Gas‐Particle Partitioning of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Coral Reef Areas of the South China Sea
Authors: Feng Ziyue , Wang Chenglong , Zhang Chuchu , Wang Wanzhi , Wang Jiajia , Li Yali , Zou Xinqing
Published: April 2021

In this study, we collected gas, particulate, and surface water‐dissolved phase samples from 16 sites in the South China Sea from March 21 to April 12, 2018. Thereafter, all the samples were analyzed for the air‐water exchange and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Thus, it was observed that the overall PAH concentrations in the water and gas phases were 8.0 ± 5.5 ng/L and 41.3 ± 24.7 ng/m3, respectively. Back trajectory simulation showed that the air masses in the South China Sea primarily originated from mainland China during the heating period, and air‐water exchange analysis showed net deposition from air to water, with fluxes ranging from −5.53 to −89.72 ng/m2/d. Further, the logarithmic gas‐particle partitioning coefficient (logKp) of the PAHs regressed linearly with the logarithmic subcooled liquid vapor pressure (log P0 L), with an average slope of −0.3 ± 0.13.
Fate of Pollution Emitted During the 2015 Indonesian Fire Season
Authors: Park Mijeong , Worden Helen M. , Kinnison Douglas E. , Gaubert Benjamin , Tilmes Simone , Emmons Louisa K. , Santee Michelle L. , Froidevaux Lucien , Boone Chris D.
Published: April 2021

The El Niño‐driven fire season in Indonesia in September–October 2015 produced the largest fire emissions on record since NASA's EOS satellites started making observations of tropospheric pollutants from space. In this study, measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) on Terra and the Microwave Limb Sounder are used to characterize the anomalously high CO emitted during the 2015 Indonesian fire season transported into the tropical upper troposphere and stratosphere. The satellite measurements indicate that CO emitted from wildfires was transported into the upper troposphere with time lags up to ∼2 months and continued to be transported into the stratosphere, which resulted in higher concentrations of CO extending up to ∼20 hPa by the end of 2016. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) measured by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE‐FTS) confirms that anomalously high HCN emitted from the same wildfires was also transported into the tropical stratosphere and persisted throughout 2017. Simulations of CO from the Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM‐chem) show a significant increase in CO concentrations in the troposphere in October 2015. However, comparisons between CAM‐chem and MOPITT CO suggest that the model underestimates the amount of CO even with doubled emissions of CO in October 2015. Both the satellite measurements and the model simulations show that the pollution emitted from the wildfires over Indonesia was transported to and persisted in the tropical stratosphere much longer than the previous El‐Niño driven fire events due to unprecedented amount of the fire emissions.
Dynamics of Subsurface Migration of Water on the Moon
Authors: Reiss P. , Warren T. , Sefton‐Nash E. , Trautner R.
Published: April 2021

We investigate the dynamics of a water pumping mechanism driven by temperature variations in the lunar subsurface. The thermal environment at three polar sites and three sites in the Clavius region was simulated, taking into account local terrain and scattered radiation. A separate heat and mass transfer model was used to simulate depth‐dependent, temperature‐dependent, and pressure‐dependent properties of the lunar subsurface. The results suggest that diurnally varying heat fluxes create suitable conditions for water migration at many sites across the lunar surface. Enabled by a constant supply to the lunar surface, water molecules typically migrate a few centimeters deep via the formation of distinct concentration peaks, and a downward flux driven by the repeated desorption and resorption. With a constant supply rate of 10−15 kg/(m2 s), the quantity of adsorbed water stored at Ga timescales reaches values on the order of 10−10 to 10−7 mol/m2 at the investigated sites. Based on our results, we present a new relation for the water migration depth that takes into account the ratios of surface temperatures. The results of a sensitivity analysis show that the desorption activation energy is a dominant factor for the quantity and depth of water migration. In addition to long‐term accumulation of subsurface adsorbate, the model shows that temporarily captured water at shallower depths can be released during the lunar day at quantities of up to several µg m−2. This, as well as exposure of shallow water disturbed by impacts, may be a relevant source for surface water in illuminated areas.
Stratigraphy and Volumes of the Units Within the Massive Carbon Dioxide Ice Deposits of Mars
Authors: Alwarda R. , Smith I. B.
Published: April 2021

The south polar layered deposits of Mars contain a massive CO2 ice reservoir formed during periods of low planetary obliquity and partial atmospheric collapse. Within the reservoir are bounding layers (BLs) that are believed to consist entirely of water ice and modify CO2 ice stability during periods of higher obliquity and insolation. Here we use three‐dimensional data from the Shallow Radar instrument to extend and update past mapping efforts of the reservoir in order to evaluate its internal structure and mass distribution. By mapping the entirety of each BL as two distinct reflectors, we provide individual volumetric calculations of the multiple CO2 units for the first time (146, 1,472, and 5,493 km3) and discover a new, smaller unit (12 km3). Our volumetric measurements provide critical parameters to understanding past climatic states and climatological modeling, including the magnitude of atmospheric collapse and rebound over three separate events. We also provide updated thickness and areal extent measurements of BL1 (31 ± 5 m, 1,001 km2), BL2 (32 ± 9 m, 5,415 km2) and BL2+3 (42 ± 12 m, 4,232 km2), with maximum thickness of ∼80 m. By mapping the entirety of the BLs, we find novel radar observations, attainable only in 3D, which support previous interpretations that both BL are composed of water ice. Our novel measurements will support climatological studies of Mars’ atmosphere in the past 500 kyr.
Deep North Atlantic Last Glacial Maximum Salinity Reconstruction
Authors: Homola Kira , Spivack Arthur J. , Murray Richard W. , Pockalny Robert , D'Hondt Steven , Robinson Rebecca
Published: April 2021

We reconstruct deep water‐mass salinities and spatial distributions in the western North Atlantic during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 19–26 ka), a period when atmospheric CO2 was significantly lower than it is today. A reversal in the LGM Atlantic meridional bottom water salinity gradient has been hypothesized for several LGM water‐mass reconstructions. Such a reversal has the potential to influence climate, ocean circulation, and atmospheric CO2 by increasing the thermal energy and carbon storage capacity of the deep ocean. To test this hypothesis, we reconstructed LGM bottom water salinity based on sedimentary porewater chloride profiles in a north‐south transect of piston cores collected from the deep western North Atlantic. LGM bottom water salinity in the deep western North Atlantic determined by the density‐based method is 3.41–3.99 ± 0.15% higher than modern values at these sites. This increase is consistent with: (a) the 3.6% global average salinity change expected from eustatic sea level rise, (b) a northward expansion of southern sourced deep water, (c) shoaling of northern sourced deep water, and (d) a reversal of the Atlantic's north‐south deep water salinity gradient during the LGM.
Identification of Dominant Hydrological Mechanisms Using Bayesian Inference, Multiple Statistical Hypothesis Testing, and Flexible Models
Authors: Prieto Cristina , Kavetski Dmitri , Le Vine Nataliya , Álvarez César , Medina Raúl
Published: April 2021

In hydrological modeling, the identification of model mechanisms best suited for representing individual hydrological (physical) processes is of major scientific and operational interest. We present a statistical hypothesis‐testing perspective on this model identification challenge and contribute a mechanism identification framework that combines: (i) Bayesian estimation of posterior probabilities of individual mechanisms from a given ensemble of model structures; (ii) a test statistic that defines a “dominant” mechanism as a mechanism more probable than all its alternatives given observed data; and (iii) a flexible modeling framework to generate model structures using combinations of available mechanisms. The uncertainty in the test statistic is approximated using bootstrap sampling from the model ensemble. Synthetic experiments (with varying error magnitude and multiple replicates) and real data experiments are conducted using the hydrological modeling system FUSE (7 processes and 2–4 mechanisms per process yielding 624 feasible model structures) and data from the Leizarán catchment in northern Spain. The mechanism identification method is reliable: it identifies the correct mechanism as dominant in all synthetic trials where an identification is made. As data/model errors increase, statistical power (identifiability) decreases, manifesting as trials where no mechanism is identified as dominant. The real data case study results are broadly consistent with the synthetic analysis, with dominant mechanisms identified for 4 of 7 processes. Insights on which processes are most/least identifiable are also reported. The mechanism identification method is expected to contribute to broader community efforts on improving model identification and process representation in hydrology.
The Influence of Local and Nonlocal Factors on Soil Water Content in a Steep Forested Catchment
Authors: Jarecke Karla M. , Bladon Kevin D. , Wondzell Steven M.
Published: April 2021

Surface topography can influence flow pathways and the location of runoff source areas and water transport in steep headwater catchments. However, the influence of topography on spatial patterns of residual soil moisture is less well understood. We measured soil volumetric water content (VWC) on 14 dates at 0–30 and 30–60 cm depth at 54 sites on a steep, 10 ha north‐facing forested slope in the west‐central Cascades Mountains of Oregon, USA. Spatial patterns in VWC were persistent over time, and contrary to expectations VWC at 30–60 cm depth was greater on divergent than convergent slopes, especially during wet periods (R2 = 0.27, p < 0.001). Vegetation characteristics were assessed for all VWC monitoring locations and soil properties were determined for 13 locations as local factors that affect spatial patterns in VWC. Mean VWC over all dates was negatively correlated to gravimetric rock content (R2 = 0.28, p = 0.03) and positively correlated to water storage at field capacity (R2 = 0.56, p < 0.01). The variability in rock content in quick‐draining soils influenced soil‐water retention, and by extension, created spatially heterogenous but temporally persistent patterns in VWC. While spatial patterns were persistent, they were not easily explained by surficial topography in a steep, mountainous landscape with rocky, well‐drained soils. Further research is needed to understand if combined soil‐terrain metrics would be a more useful proxy for VWC than terrain‐based wetness metrics alone.
Sediment Particle Velocity and Activity During Dune Migration
Authors: Terwisscha van Scheltinga Renske C. , Coco Giovanni , Friedrich Heide
Published: April 2021

The processes underlying sediment transport mechanics are still debated. Here, we present novel ensemble particle bedload measurements, obtained with high‐frequency imaging of particle velocities and activity over various bedform migration stages. We show that the bedload particle flux quickly responds to the unsteady non‐uniform flow over the bed. Mean particle velocity linearly increases over the dune slopes towards the crest. In contrast, particle activity exhibits a power law increase over the dune slopes, with the top layer almost saturating in the saltation regime. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal variability of particle motion over dune slopes is high. For lower flow, spatial and temporal variability from small‐scale topography, such as superposed bedforms, spurs, and irregular crestlines, are shown to be important for quantifying sediment dynamics. With increasing flow, however, the cross‐stream particle velocities increase significantly, influenced by the large‐scale dune topography (transverse slopes). Overall, variability in the particle flux increases with both flow strength and frequency of turbulent events. For the mean particle flux over the dune slopes, however, differences between neighboring dunes are large, which are attributed to dune topography variations and flow acceleration. The presented insights are essential to validate numerical simulations of sediment dynamics in three‐dimensional flow conditions over dune beds.
Influence of Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (AgMAR) and Stratigraphic Heterogeneities on Nitrate Reduction in the Deep Subsurface
Authors: Waterhouse Hannah , Arora Bhavna , Spycher Nicolas F. , Nico Peter S. , Ulrich Craig , Dahlke Helen E. , Horwath William R.
Published: April 2021

Agricultural managed aquifer recharge (AgMAR) is a strategy whereby surface water is used to intentionally flood croplands to recharge underlying aquifers. However, nitrate (NO3−) contamination in agriculturally intensive regions poses a threat to groundwater resources under AgMAR. We use a reactive transport model to understand the effects of AgMAR management strategies (i.e., by varying the frequency, duration between flooding events, and amount of water) on NO3− leaching to groundwater under different stratigraphic configurations and antecedent moisture conditions. We examine the potential of denitrification and nitrogen retention in deep vadose zone sediments (∼15 m) using variable AgMAR application rates on two‐dimensional representations of differently textured soils, soils with discontinuous bands/channels, and with preferential flow paths characteristic of agricultural fields. Simulations indicate finer textured sediments, alone or embedded within/adjacent to high flow regions, are important reducing zones providing conditions needed for denitrification. Simulation results suggest that applying water all‐at‐once rather than in increments transports higher concentrations of NO3− deeper into the profile, which may exacerbate groundwater quality. This transport into deeper depths can be aggravated by wetter antecedent soil moisture conditions. However, applying water all‐at‐once also increases denitrification within the vadose zone by promoting anoxic conditions. We conclude that AgMAR can be designed to enhance denitrification in the subsurface and reduce NO3− leaching to groundwater, while specifically accounting for lithologic heterogeneity, antecedent soil moisture conditions, and depth to the water table. Our findings are potentially relevant to other systems that experience flooding inundation such as floodplains and dedicated recharge basins.
Blood protein profiles related to preterm birth and retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Danielsson Hanna , Tebani Abdellah , Zhong Wen , Fagerberg Linn , Brusselaers Nele , Hård Anna-Lena , Uhlén Mathias , Hellström Ann
Published: April 2021

Background

Nearly one in ten children is born preterm. The degree of immaturity is a determinant of the infant’s health. Extremely preterm infants have higher morbidity and mortality than term infants. One disease affecting extremely preterm infants is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a multifactorial neurovascular disease that can lead to retinal detachment and blindness. The advances in omics technology have opened up possibilities to study protein expressions thoroughly with clinical accuracy, here used to increase the understanding of protein expression in relation to immaturity and ROP.

Methods

Longitudinal serum protein profiles the first months after birth in 14 extremely preterm infants were integrated with perinatal and ROP data. In total, 448 unique protein targets were analyzed using Proximity Extension Assays.

Results

We found 20 serum proteins associated with gestational age and/or ROP functioning within mainly angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, bone regulation, immune function, and lipid metabolism. Infants with severe ROP had persistent lower levels of several identified proteins during the first postnatal months.

Conclusions

The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between longitudinal serum protein levels and immaturity and abnormal retinal neurovascular development. This is essential for understanding pathophysiological mechanisms and to optimize diagnosis, treatment and prevention for ROP.

Impact

Longitudinal protein profiles of 14 extremely preterm infants were analyzed using a novel multiplex protein analysis platform combined with perinatal data.

Proteins associated with gestational age at birth and the neurovascular disease ROP were identified.

Among infants with ROP, longitudinal levels of the identified proteins remained largely unchanged during the first postnatal months.

The main functions of the proteins identified were angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, immune function, bone regulation, lipid metabolism, and central nervous system development.

The study contributes to the understanding of longitudinal serum protein patterns related to gestational age and their association with abnormal retinal neuro-vascular development.
Alterations of core structural network connectome associated with suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder patients
Authors: Liu Xinyi , He Cancan , Fan Dandan , Zang Feifei , Zhu Yao , Zhang Haisan , Zhang Zhijun , Zhang Hongxing , Xie Chunming
Published: April 2021

Suicide ideation (SI) is a most high-risk clinical sign for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, whether the rich-club network organization as a core structural network is associated with SI and how the related neural circuits are distributed in MDD patients remain unknown. Total 177 participants including 69 MDD patients with SI (MDDSI), 58 MDD without SI (MDDNSI) and 50 cognitively normal (CN) subjects were recruited and completed neuropsychological tests and diffusion-tensor imaging scan. The rich-club organization was identified and the global and regional topological properties of structural networks, together with the brain connectivity of specific neural circuit architectures, were analyzed. Further, the support vector machine (SVM) learning was applied in classifying MDDSI or MDDNSI from CN subjects. MDDSI and MDDNSI patients both exhibited disrupted rich-club organizations. However, MDDSI patients showed that the differential network was concentrated on the non-core low-level network and significantly destroyed betweeness centrality was primarily located in the regional non-hub regions relative to MDDNSI patients. The differential structural network connections involved the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the corpus callosum were incorporated in the cognitive control circuit and default mode network. Finally, the feeder serves as a potentially powerful indicator for distinguishing MDDSI patients from MDDNSI or CN subjects. The altered rich-club organization provides new clues to understand the underlying pathogenesis of MDD patients, and the feeder was useful as a diagnostic neuroimaging biomarker for differentiating MDD patients with or without SI.
Detection of trace amounts of insoluble pharmaceuticals in water by extraction and SERS measurements in a microfluidic flow regime
Authors: Burtsev Vasilii , Erzina Mariia , Guselnikova Olga , Miliutina Elena , Kalachyova Yevgeniya , Svorcik Vaclav , Lyutakov Oleksiy
Published: April 2021

Microfluidic extraction and subsequent SERS measurements are proposed for online detection of trace amounts of poorly water-soluble pharmaceuticals in relevant kinds of water-based solutions.
DNA–polymer conjugates via the graft-through polymerisation of native DNA in water
Authors: Arkinstall Lucy A. , Husband Jonathan T. , Wilks Thomas R. , Foster Jeffrey C. , O'Reilly Rachel K.
Published: April 2021

The direct, graft-through, ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of unprotected DNA macromonomers is reported.
Brightfield and fluorescence in-channel staining of thin blood smears generated in a pumpless microfluidic
Authors: Dogbevi Kokou S. , Gordon Paul , Branan Kimberly L. , Ngo Bryan Khai D. , Kiefer Kevin B. , Mertens-Talcott Susanne U. , Grunlan Melissa A. , Coté Gerard L.
Published: April 2021

Effective staining of peripheral blood smears which enhances the contrast of intracellular components and biomarkers is essential for the accurate characterization, diagnosis, and monitoring of various diseases such as malaria.
Hydrogel based lipid-oligonucleotides: a new route to self-delivery of therapeutic sequences
Authors: Benizri Sébastien , Gaubert Alexandra , Soulard Charlotte , Gontier Étienne , Svahn Isabelle , Rocchi Palma , Vacher Gaëlle , Barthélémy Philippe
Published: April 2021

Lipid-oligonucleotide conjugates self-assemble to form entangled pearl-necklace networks stabilizing gels. Owing to these properties, the oligonucleotide sequences exhibit a prolonged release after subcutaneous administration.
A GLUT1 inhibitor-based probe significantly ameliorates the sensitivity of tumor detection and diagnostic imaging
Authors: Liu Shengnan , Song Weijie , Cui Yujun , Sun Ziru , Huang Zhenhua , Gao Qingzhi
Published: April 2021

GLUT1 inhibitor based fluorescent probe ameliorates the sensitivity of tumour detection.
Charge injection phenomena at the contact interface between (5,10,15,20-tetramethylporphyrinato)cobalt(ii) and 2,5-difluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane single crystals
Authors: Takahashi Yukihiro , Ishida Kenshiro , Matsuno Sarasa , Kurokawa Masashi , Shimada Takuro , Harada Jun , Inabe Tamotsu
Published: April 2021

Charge transfer phenomena occurring at the contact interface of heterogeneous organic crystals are investigated. About 10% more charge was injected into the crystal interface by the contact, which largely increased the surface conductivity.
Recent advances in excited state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism-based solid state fluorescent materials and stimuli-responsive fluorescence switching
Authors: Gayathri Parthasarathy , Pannipara Mehboobali , Al-Sehemi Abdullah G. , Anthony Savarimuthu Philip
Published: April 2021

Substitutional change and controlling intra and intermolecular interactions of ESIPT molecules resulted in realizing multifunctional fluorescence properties.
Effect of the conformer distribution on the properties of amorphous organic semiconductor films for organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Sukegawa Yoshihito , Sato Kaito , Fujiwara Wataru , Katagiri Hiroshi , Yokoyama Daisuke
Published: April 2021

By comparison of three structural isomers of OLED materials, the conformer distribution in amorphous organic semiconductor films is found to be a key factor determining micro/macroscopic amorphousness and affecting thermal and electrical properties.
Environment-controlled water adsorption at hydroxyapatite/collagen interfaces
Authors: Vaissier Welborn Valerie
Published: April 2021

Water contributes to the structure of bone by coupling hydroxyapatite to collagen over the hierarchical levels of tissue organization.
Quinizarin: a large aromatic molecule well suited for atomic layer deposition
Authors: Hansen Per-Anders , Nilsen Ola
Published: April 2021

Quinizarin is a well-suited molecule for obtaining strongly colored materials by atomic layer deposition.
Al2O3/CuI/PANI nanocomposite catalyzed green synthesis of biologically active 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives
Authors: Kohli Sahil , Rathee Garima , Hooda Sunita , Chandra Ramesh
Published: April 2021

The fabricated material Al2O3/CuI/PANI facilitates the synthesis of 2-substitued benzimidazoles.
Syntheses, structure and properties of a new series of organic–inorganic Hg-based halides: adjusting halogens resulted in huge performance mutations
Authors: Yang Can , Liu Xian , Teng Chunlin , Wu Qi , Liang Fei
Published: April 2021

Three new mixed organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have been developed to demonstrate the regulating role of halogens in their physical properties.
Machine learning-assisted development of organic photovoltaics via high-throughput in situ formulation
Authors: An Na Gyeong , Kim Jin Young , Vak Doojin
Published: April 2021

A new research method based on process innovation combined with digital technologies is pioneered for printed electronics.
Operando structure degradation study of PbS quantum dot solar cells
Authors: Chen Wei , Guo Renjun , Tang Haodong , Wienhold Kerstin S. , Li Nian , Jiang Zhengyan , Tang Jun , Jiang Xinyu , Kreuzer Lucas P. , Liu Haochen , Schwartzkopf Matthias , Sun Xiao Wei , Roth Stephan V. , Wang Kai , Xu Baomin , Müller-Buschbaum Peter
Published: April 2021

A long-range order shifting to a short-range order of the QDs is found at the burn-in stage of solar cell.
l-Threonine upregulates the expression of β-defensins by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressing SIRT1 expression in porcine intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Chenxi , Yang Yang , Gao Nan , Lan Jing , Dou Xiujing , Li Jianping , Shan Anshan
Published: April 2021

The study explores the effects of l-threonine on regulating β-defensin expression, alleviating LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage and reducing inflammatory cytokine expression in porcine intestinal epithelial cell lines (IPEC-J2).
Protein acidification and hydrolysis by pepsin ensure efficient trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis
Authors: Rivera del Rio Andrea , Keppler Julia K. , Boom Remko M. , Janssen Anja E. M.
Published: April 2021

Proteolysis of bovine serum albumin by trypsin.
Potential of natural products as radioprotectors and radiosensitizers: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Yi Juanjuan , Zhu Jiaqing , Zhao Changcheng , Kang Qiaozhen , Zhang Xiaomiao , Suo Keke , Cao Nana , Hao Limin , Lu Jike
Published: April 2021

Natural products can be used as natural radiosensitizers and radioprotectors, showing promising effects in cancer treatments in combination with radiotherapy, while reducing ionizing radiation damage to normal cells.
Synthesis of performance-advantaged polyurethanes and polyesters from biomass-derived monomers by aldol-condensation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural and hydrogenation
Authors: Chang Hochan , Gilcher Elise B. , Huber George W. , Dumesic James A.
Published: April 2021

Synthetic platform for production of biomass-derived monomers and performance-advantaged polymers with renewability, upgradability, and economic viability.
Electrochemical upgrading of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural over oxygen vacancy-rich NiCoMn-layered double hydroxides nanosheets
Authors: Liu Biying , Xu Shaojun , Zhang Man , Li Xin , Decarolis Donato , Liu Yuqian , Wang Yuchen , Gibson Emma K. , Catlow C. Richard A. , Yan Kai
Published: April 2021

Rational design of low-cost and active electrocatalysts is crucial for upgrading of biomass-derived chemicals.
AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as catalysts for hydrogen generation from formic acid under ambient temperature
Authors: Al-Nayili Abbas , Albdiry Mushtaq
Published: April 2021

Monometallic Au and Pd, and bimetallic AuxPdy (x/y mole ratio Au/Pd: 3 : 1, 1 : 1 and 1 : 3) catalysts supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been synthesised by the sol-immobilization method.
Synthesis of large-area monolayer and few-layer MoSe2 continuous films by chemical vapor deposition without hydrogen assistance and formation mechanism
Authors: Yan Hui , Yu Tong , Li Heng , Li Zhuocheng , Tang Haitao , Hu Hangwei , Yu Hao , Yin Shougen
Published: April 2021

Large-area continuous MoSe2 films have been synthesized by APCVD method without the assistance of hydrogen. The theory was proposed to account quantitatively for the formation behavior of the MoSe2 films.
Ultrasmall amphiphilic zeolitic nanoreactors for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water
Authors: Jing Wendan , Li Hui , Xiao Peiwen , Liu Bolun , Luo Jianhui , Wang Runwei , Qiu Shilun , Zhang Zongtao
Published: April 2021

Ultrasmall Pd@amZSM-5 nanoreactors were synthesized via one-step oil bath method, modification–etching–modification strategy and in situ reduction, which had excellent catalytic efficiencies for aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water without alkali.
Superior and stable ferroelectric properties of hafnium-zirconium-oxide thin films deposited via atomic layer deposition using cyclopentadienyl-based precursors without annealing
Authors: Kim Hyo-Bae , Jung Moonyoung , Oh Youkyoung , Lee Seung Won , Suh Dongseok , Ahn Ji-Hoon
Published: April 2021

The superior and stable ferroelectric properties of HZO films deposited via ALD were demonstrated for the first time without a post-thermal process, which can be applied to ferroelectric devices where process temperature constraints are required.
Modification of amyloid-beta peptide aggregation via photoactivation of strained Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes
Authors: Bataglioli Janaina C. , Gomes Luiza M. F. , Maunoir Camille , Smith Jason R. , Cole Houston D. , McCain Julia , Sainuddin Tariq , Cameron Colin G. , McFarland Sherri A. , Storr Tim
Published: April 2021

Photoactivation of a series of Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes leads to ligand exchange and modulation of amyloid-beta peptide aggregation of relevance to Alzheimer's disease.
Dual modulation of lattice strain and charge polarization induced by Co(OH)2/Ni(OH)2 interfaces for efficient oxygen evolution catalysis
Authors: Gu Lin-Fei , Li Cheng-Fei , Zhao Jia-Wei , Xie Ling-Jie , Wu Jin-Qi , Ren Qian , Li Gao-Ren
Published: April 2021

Co(OH)2/Ni(OH)2 heterostructure nanomaterials were constructed by an in situ etching hydrothermal method and exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity due to the dual modulation of lattice strain and charge polarization induced by Co(OH)2/Ni(OH)2 interfaces.
Statics and dynamics of ferroelectric domains in molecular multiaxial ferroelectric (Me3NOH)2[KCo(CN)6]
Authors: Xu Wei-Jian , Romanyuk Konstantin , Zeng Ying , Ushakov Andrei , Shur Vladimir , Tselev Alexander , Zhang Wei-Xiong , Chen Xiao-Ming , Kholkin Andrei , Rocha João
Published: April 2021

Statics and dynamics of ferroelectric domains in molecular perovskite multiaxial ferroelectric (Me3NOH)2[KCo(CN)6].
Stabilisation of central wavelength of erbium‐doped fibre source as part of high‐accuracy fibre optic gyroscopes
Authors: Vostrikov Evgenii , Kikilich Nikita , Zalesskaya Yulia , Aleinik Artem , Smolovik Mikhail , Deyneka Ivan , Meshkovskii Igor
Published: April 2021

The stability of the central wavelength of the erbium‐doped fibre source (EDFS) is one of the most important parameters to ensure the accurate operation of navigation systems based on high‐accuracy fibre optic gyroscopes (FOGs). Herein, the method of stabilisation of the EDFS as a part of the FOG is presented. The main advantage of this method is the possibility of quick and simple matching of temperature‐compensating spectral filters by changing the pump ratio without modifying the optic scheme. The EDFS optic scheme is based on the double‐pass bidirectional pumping configuration. This makes it possible to obtain the world‐class stability of the central wavelength of the EDFS as a component of different devices with the spectral selectivity and set the constant value of the optic power of the output light (OL). Also, this is the first study into the dependence of the temperature coefficient of the central wavelength on the pump ratio. The proposed method allows compensating the spectral characteristics of the FOG, achieving the OL central wavelength stability around 0.7 ppm/°C and the FOG scale factor stability around 0.73 ppm/°C.
Bewegungsförderung bei Patienten
Authors: Hagmann Dana
Published: April 2021

Durch kontinuierliche Forschung und Weiterentwicklung pflegerischer Bewegungskonzepte entstehen Konzeptionen wie das Viv-Arte® Pflegekonzept nach Bauder-Mißbach. Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist, zu evaluieren, wie die Pflegekräfte der Station M2e der Klinik für Innere Medizin I des Universitätsklinikums Ulm dieses Konzept nutzen und umsetzen. Die Forschungsfrage lautet: „Warum wird das Viv-Arte® Pflegekonzept auf der Station M2e von examinierten Pflegekräften nur begrenzt angewendet?“. Die Arbeit beruht auf einem theoretischen und einem praktischen Teil. Im Theorieteil werden zunächst die relevanten Begrifflichkeiten definiert. Für den praktischen Teil werden mittels eines Fragebogens die im Theorieteil dargestellten Grundlagen auf ihre Umsetzung in der Praxis hin untersucht. Dies basiert auf einer hauptsächlich quantitativen Methode. Zudem erfolgt die Darstellung und Interpretation der Ergebnisse mit daraus resultierenden Handlungsempfehlungen für die Station M2e. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Konzept bei kontinuierlicher und richtiger Anwendung positive Effekte auf die Pflegekräfte, die Pflegeempfänger und die Wirtschaftlichkeit eines Klinikums haben. Es wird empfohlen, die Vorteile des Viv-Arte® Pflegekonzepts den Pflegekräften näher zu bringen, deren Vorurteile abzubauen und bestehende Denkweisen zu ändern. Zudem ist eine Zusammenarbeit mit der Stabstelle Bewegungsförderung anzuraten.
Veranstaltungsankündigung
Authors: Bundschu Marion
Published: April 2021

Die Thieme Gruppe schreibt im Jahr 2021 wieder den Förderpreis Nephrologische Pflege aus und stiftet das Preisgeld von 1500 Euro.