bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The aversive value of pain in human decision‐making
Authors: Slimani Hocine , Rainville Pierre , Roy Mathieu
Published: November 2021

Background

In order to decide between avoiding pain or pursuing competing rewards, pain must be assigned an abstract value that can be traded against that of competing goods. To assess the relationship between subjectively perceived pain and its value, we conducted an experiment where participants had to accept or decline different intensities of painful electric shocks in exchange of monetary rewards.

Methods

Participants (n = 90) were divided into three groups that were exposed to different distributions of monetary rewards. Monetary offers ranged linearly from $0 to $5 or $10 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, and exponentially from $0 to $5 in group 3. Pain offers ranged from pain detection to pain tolerance thresholds. The value of pain was assessed by identifying the indifference points corresponding to a 50% chance of accepting a certain level of pain for a given monetary reward.

Results

The value of pain increased quadratically as a function of the anticipated pain intensity and was found to be relative to the mean and standard deviation of monetary offers. Moreover, decision times increased as a function of the intensity of accepted painful stimulations. Finally, inter‐individual differences in psychological traits related to harm avoidance and persistence influenced the value of pain.

Conclusions

This is the first demonstration that the value of pain follows a curvilinear function and is relative to the mean and standard deviation of competing monetary rewards. These new observations significantly contribute to our understanding of how pain is assigned value when making decisions between avoiding pain and obtaining rewards.

Significance

This work provides a description of the pain value function indicating how much people are willing to pay to avoid different intensities of pain. We found that the function was curvilinear, suggesting that the same unit of subjective pain has more value in the high vs. low pain range. Moreover, the pain value was influenced by the experimental manipulation of the rewards distribution and of the inter‐individual differences in harm avoidance and persistence. Altogether, the present study provides a detailed account of how subjectively experienced pain is assigned value.
Speciation of aluminum phases at the Hanford Site
Authors: Westesen Amy , Peterson Reid
Published: November 2021

Treatment of the tank waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington State is one of the largest environmental challenges facing the world today. Disposition of the insoluble solids poses the greatest hurdle to achieving long‐term stabilization of the tank waste. The single largest component of the insoluble solids is aluminum. An assessment of the characterization of this waste has identified that the aluminum is roughly split into thirds between sodium aluminate, gibbsite, and boehmite mineral phases. The largest single source of aluminum in the Hanford tank farms is associated with the tanks located in the southwest corner of the site. These tanks contain relatively high concentrations of aluminum such that the mass of insoluble solids present could be reduced by up to 90% through caustic leaching of the materials in these tanks. Performing such leaching processes would enable the recovery of waste from several leak‐prone single‐shell tanks in that area.
Technology adoption by primary care physicians
Authors: Iversen Tor , Ma Ching‐to Albert
Published: November 2021

We study primary care physicians' prevention and monitoring technology adoption. Physicians' adoption decisions are based on benefits and costs, which depend on payment incentives, educational assistance, and market characteristics. The empirical study uses national Norwegian register and physician claims data between 2009 and 2014. In 2006, a new annual comprehensive checkup for Type 2 diabetic patients was introduced. A physician collects a fee for each checkup. In 2013, an education assistance program was introduced in two Norwegian counties. We estimate adoption decisions by fixed‐effect regressions, and two‐part and hazard models. We use a difference‐in‐difference model to estimate the education program impact. Fixed‐effect estimations and separate analyses of physicians who have moved between municipalities support a peer effect. The education program has a strongly positive effect, which is positively associated with a physician's number of diabetic patients, and the fraction of physician‐adopters in the same market.
First external validation of the FLIPI‐L score in a single‐center series of patients with follicular lymphoma
Authors: Mozas Pablo , Rivero Andrea , Rivas‐Delgado Alfredo , Correa Juan Gonzalo , Condom Maria , Nadeu Ferran , Giné Eva , Delgado Julio , Villamor Neus , Campo Elías , Magnano Laura , López‐Guillermo Armando
Published: November 2021

The FLIPI‐L has recently been proposed as a novel prognostic index in follicular lymphoma (FL), combining FLIPI and the presence of lymphopenia. In our single‐center validation in 381 FL patients, lymphopenia was less frequent than in the original publication and thus the distribution of risk categories was different. Although it was not able to properly predict time to first treatment, FLIPI‐L performed slightly better than FLIPI alone in the prediction of response, early relapse, progression‐free and overall survival, and histological transformation. This new tool or others encompassing parameters from the microenvironment might improve upon the prognostic ability of classical scores.
Accelerated Fourier ptychographic diffraction tomography with sparse annular LED illuminations
Authors: Zhou Shun , Li Jiaji , Sun Jiasong , Zhou Ning , Chen Qian , Zuo Chao
Published: November 2021

Fourier ptychographic diffraction tomography (FPDT) is a recently developed label‐free computational microscopy technique that retrieves high‐resolution and large‐field three‐dimensional (3D) tomograms by synthesizing a set of low‐resolution intensity images obtained with a low numerical aperture (NA) objective. However, in order to ensure sufficient overlap of Ewald spheres in 3D Fourier space, conventional FPDT requires thousands of intensity measurements and consumes a significant amount of time for stable convergence of the iterative algorithm. Herein, we present accelerated Fourier ptychographic diffraction tomography (aFPDT), which combines sparse annular light‐emitting diode (LED) illuminations and multiplexing illumination to significantly decrease data amount and achieve computational acceleration of 3D refractive index (RI) tomography. Compared with existing FPDT technique, the equivalent high‐resolution 3D RI results are obtained using aFPDT with reducing data requirement by more than 40 times. The validity of the proposed method is experimentally demonstrated on control samples and various biological cells, including polystyrene beads, unicellular algae and clustered HeLa cells in a large field of view. With the capability of high‐resolution and high‐throughput 3D imaging using small amounts of data, aFPDT has the potential to further advance its widespread applications in biomedicine.
Toward the development of portable light emitting diode‐based polarization spectroscopy tools for breast cancer diagnosis
Authors: Kamal Arif Mohd , Pal Uttam M. , Kumar Adithya , Das Gunabhi Ram , Pandya Hardik J.
Published: November 2021

A robust, affordable and portable light emitting diode‐based diagnostic tools (POLS‐NIRDx) using a polarization‐sensitive (linear as well as circular polarization) technique were designed and developed to quantify the degree of linear polarization (DOLP), degree of circular polarization (DOCP). The study was performed on malignant (invasive ductal carcinoma) and adjacent normal ex‐vivo biopsy tissues excised from N = 10 patients at the operating wavelengths of 850 and 940 nm. The average DOLP and DOCP values were lower for malignant than adjacent normal while operating at 850 and 940 nm. The highest accuracy was observed for DOLP (100%) and DOCP (80%) while operating at 850 nm, which reduced (80% for DOLP and 65% for DOCP) at 940 nm. This pilot study can be utilized as a differentiating factor to delineate malignant tissues from adjacent normal tissues.
Computer‐aided simulation of infrared spectra of ethanol conformations in gas, liquid and in CCl4 solution
Authors: Katsyuba Sergey A. , Gerasimova Tatiana P. , Spicher Sebastian , Bohle Fabian , Grimme Stefan
Published: November 2021

The recently developed efficient protocol combining implicit and explicit, accurate quantum‐mechanical modeling of the condensed state (Katsyuba et al., J. Chem. Phys. 155, 024507 [2021]) is used to describe the IR spectra of liquid ethanol and its solutions in CCl4. The relative abundance of the anti and gauche conformers of ethanol is shown to increase from ~40:60 in the gas phase to ~55:45 in the liquid phase. In spite of a moderate impact of media effects on the conformational composition of the liquid, the solvent strongly influences vibrational frequencies, IR intensities, and normal modes of each conformer, producing qualitatively different spectra compared to the gas phase and CCl4 solution. Further, these solvent effects affecting IR frequencies and intensities depend not only on the conformation of the solvated molecule but also on the solvating species. Nevertheless, vibrational frequencies of anti and gauche conformers of liquid ethanol and its several isotopomers practically coincide with each other. Convenient liquid‐state conformational markers in the fingerprint region of IR spectra are revealed for the hydroxyl‐deuterated species: CH3CH2OD, CH3CHDOD, CH3CD2OD, and CD3CD2OD.
Genetic counseling students' and recent graduates' attitudes toward psychiatric illness
Authors: Girod Rebecca , Thompson Patricia , Davis Claire
Published: November 2021

Due to the high prevalence of mental illness in the general population, genetic counselors are likely to encounter patients with mental illness in practice, regardless of specialty. However, previous studies have shown that recent graduates of genetic counseling programs do not feel comfortable discussing mental illness in clinical encounters. One possible explanation for this discomfort is stigma toward mental illness, a well‐documented phenomenon both in society and in the healthcare field. Previous studies of this phenomenon in genetic counselors and trainees have relied on self‐report measures and are vulnerable to social desirability bias. We sought to gain a holistic understanding of attitudes toward mental illness held by genetic counseling trainees by measuring implicit and explicit biases. This study assessed 141 responses from genetic counseling students and recent graduates from master's graduate programs across North America. They were asked to complete a survey, which included a demographic questionnaire, a scale that has been validated for use for a variety of healthcare professionals (Nordt et al. 2006, Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32, 709), measuring explicit attitudes toward those with depression and schizophrenia (i.e., social distance and stereotype endorsement), and an implicit association test. Mean scores on the social distance and stereotype endorsement scales were higher for schizophrenia than depression, indicating higher levels of explicit bias toward the former than the latter. Participants held slightly significant implicit bias toward individuals with either physical or mental illness. These data suggest that unconscious or implicit bias may not contribute to unpreparedness to address psychiatric disorders in clinical practice that has been previously reported by new graduates. Therefore, genetic counseling trainees may be receptive to clinically relevant education pertaining to mental illness. These results could inform the curriculum of genetic counseling programs and facilitate provision of services to this population.
Two siblings with galactose mutarotase deficiency: Clinical differences
Authors: Yazici Havva , Canda Ebru , Altınok Yasemin Atik , Ucar Sema Kalkan , Coker Mahmut
Published: November 2021

Galactose mutarotase (GALM) deficiency is an inherited metabolic disease caused by the deficiency of the first enzyme in the Leloir pathway. GALM deficiency was first reported in 2018. To date, eight cases have been reported. We are presenting two siblings with GALM deficiency; one patient presented with cataracts and her brother was asymptomatic. We evaluated the first case due to a cataract at 3 months old. She had elevated galactose and galactose‐1‐phosphate and normal galactose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) activity. Genetic analysis and other laboratory and clinical findings excluded galactokinase‐1 (GALK1) and UDP‐galactose 4′‐epimerase (GALE) deficiencies. She had a homozygous mutation p. Gly277Arg (c.829G>A) in the GALM (NM_138801) gene. She was 3 years old at the last visit, and her physical examination was normal, except for cataracts. The same mutation was found to be homozygous in the patient's asymptomatic sibling during family screening. He had normal blood galactose and galactose‐1‐phosphate. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the whole galactose metabolism in terms of GALM deficiency in patients with cataracts.
An autonomous buoy system for observing spring freshet plumes under landfast sea ice
Authors: Laney Samuel R. , Okkonen Stephen
Published: November 2021

An ice buoy system was developed to measure oceanographic properties of freshwater plumes that occur in Arctic coastal oceans under landfast sea ice during the spring freshet. By implanting such systems into sea ice weeks or months in advance of the freshet event, sensors can be located immediately underneath the sea ice layer in situ at depths that riverine freshwater will occupy later when the freshet arrives. This observing approach is modular, can accommodate a wide range of sensors, is designed intentionally for use in remote regions, and can be readily deployed in any nearshore region that can be accessed by snowmachine. The buoy system incorporates an integral floatation collar that allows it to continue sampling as the coastal ocean becomes progressively ice free in the months after the freshet event. Automated sampling and telemetry via a satellite data network provide near‐real‐time observations of the timing and character of under‐ice freshet plumes. An assessment study was done with an array of these ice buoy systems, outfitted with basic hydrographic and optical sensors and deployed in advance of the 2018 and 2019 freshets in landfast sea ice near the mouths of three coastal rivers in Stefansson Sound, Alaska.
Whole exome sequencing identified a rare WT1 loss‐of‐function variant in a non‐syndromic POI patient
Authors: Wang Yingchen , Chen Qing , Zhang Feng , Yang Xi , Shang Lingyue , Ren Shuting , Pan Yuncheng , Zhou Zixue , Li Guoqing , Fang Yunzheng , Jin Li , Wu Yanhua , Zhang Xiaojin
Published: November 2021

Background

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a highly heterogeneous disease, and up to 25% of cases can be explained by genetic causes. The transcription factor WT1 has long been reported to play a crucial role in ovary function. Wt1‐mutated female mice exhibited POI‐like phenotypes.

Methods and Results

In this study, whole exome sequencing (WES) was applied to find the cause of POI in Han Chinese women. A nonsense variant in the WT1 gene: NM_024426.6:c.1387C>T(p.R463*) was identified in a non‐syndromic POI woman. The variant is a heterozygous de novo mutation that is very rare in the human population. The son of the patient inherited the mutation and developed Wilms’ tumor and urethral malformation at the age of 7. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines, the novel variant is categorized as pathogenic. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that the WT1 variant could produce a truncated WT1 isoform in vitro.

Conclusions

A rare heterozygous nonsense WT1 mutant is associated with non‐syndromic POI and Wilms’ tumor. Our finding characterized another pathogenic WT1 variant, providing insight into genetic counseling.
Optimal operation of a grid‐connected battery energy storage system over its lifetime
Authors: Kordonis Ioannis , Charalampidis Alexandros C. , Haessig Pierre
Published: November 2021

This paper deals with the optimal control of grid‐connected Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) operating for energy arbitrage. An important issue is that BESSs degrade over time, according to their use, and thus they are usable only for a limited number of cycles. Therefore, the time horizon of the optimization depends on the actual operation of the BESS. We focus on Li‐ion batteries and use an empirical model to describe battery degradation. The BESS model includes an equivalent circuit for the battery and a simplified model for the power converter. In order to model the energy price variations, we use a linear stochastic model that includes the effect of the time‐of‐the‐day. The problem of maximizing the revenues obtained over the BESS lifetime is formulated as a stochastic optimal control problem with a long, operation‐dependent time horizon. First, we divide this problem into a finite set of subproblems, such that for each one of them, the State of Health (SoH) of the battery is approximately constant. Next, we reformulate approximately every subproblem into the minimization of the ratio of two long‐time average‐cost criteria and use a value‐iteration‐type algorithm to derive the optimal policy. Finally, we present some numerical results and investigate the effects of the energy loss parameters, degradation parameters, and price dynamics on the optimal policy.
Sensing, feeling, thinking: Relating to nature with the body, heart and mind
Authors: Pramova Emilia , Locatelli Bruno , Valdivia‐Díaz Merelyn , Vallet Améline , Quispe Conde Yésica , Djoudi Houria , Colloff Matthew J. , Bousquet François , Tassin Jacques , Munera Roldan Claudia
Published: November 2021

The cultural ecosystem services (CES) construct has evolved to accommodate multiple worldviews, knowledge systems and conceptualizations of nature and values, including relational and mental health values.

Cultural ecosystem services research and practice has mostly focused on cognitive ways of constructing and expressing intangible values of, and relationships with, nature. But our non‐material relationships with nature are not exclusively cognitive: sensory and affective processes are fundamental to how we build, enact and experience these relationships.

Building on the core ideas of relational values, embodied experiences and connectedness with nature, we present a simple framework to explore the sensory, affective and cognitive dimensions of human–nature interactions, as well as the settings and activities that frame them.

We demonstrate its use in a case study in the Peruvian Andes, where we applied an inductive, exploratory approach to elicit personal imageries and imaginings related to nature, place and recreation. The narratives shared were rich with symbolism and personal sensory experiences, emotions and memories, which the interviewees linked with general assertions about people, place and nature.

We discuss the usefulness of such a perspective for CES research, and for human well‐being, environmental justice and landscape management.
Using thrombocytopenia modeling to investigate the mechanisms underlying platelet depletion induced by pan‐proteasome inhibitors
Authors: Lignet Floriane , Becker Andreas D. , Gimmi Claude , Rohdich Felix , El Bawab Samer
Published: November 2021

Pan‐proteasome inhibitors (pPIs) significantly improve outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma; however, their indiscriminate inhibition of multiple proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits causes diverse toxicities, including thrombocytopenia. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the platelet depletion induced by the pPIs bortezomib, carfilzomib, and ixazomib. An established thrombocytopenia model was adapted for each compound (bortezomib, ixazomib, and carfilzomib) to compare the following two pharmacodynamic mechanisms: a reversible inhibition of new progenitor cell formation (the myelosuppression model) and a reversible effect on the function of megakaryocytes to bud new platelets (platelet formation model). Bortezomib, ixazomib, and carfilzomib plasma concentration profiles and platelet counts were extracted from the literature. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and thrombocytopenia models were developed to predict the PK of these drugs and to describe their effects on proliferating cells and platelet budding. The PK models reproduced the exposure of the three compounds at steady state well compared with those reported in the literature. Both the platelet formation and myelosuppression models seemed able to describe the platelet depletion caused by bortezomib, ixazomib, and carfilzomib. Estimated structural parameters in the myelosuppression model were in the range of the values reported in the literature, whereas the mean transit time estimated with the platelet formation model was 3‐fold to 10‐fold higher than the highest reported value. The model of drug‐induced myelosuppression yielded estimates of structural parameters in the range of those previously reported. The platelet formation model captured the temporal variation reported in clinical studies.
Alnustone inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma via ROS‐ mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K axis
Authors: Wang Linlin , Cheng Li , Ma Li , Ahmad Farooqi Ammad , Qiao Gan , Zhang Yuxi , Ye Hanlin , Liu Minghua , Huang Jianlin , Yang Xiaohui , Lin Xiukun , Cao Shousong
Published: November 2021

Alnustone, a diarylheptane compound, exhibits potent growth inhibition against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) BEL‐7402 cells. However, the underlying mechanisms associated with its anticancer activity remain unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the anticancer effect of alnustone against several human cancers focused on HCC and the possible associated mechanisms. The results showed that alnustone significantly inhibited the growth of several cancer cells by CCK‐8 assay. Alnustone markedly induced apoptosis and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in BEL‐7402 and HepG2 cells. Alnustone inhibited the expression of proteins related to apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathways and generated ROS production in BEL‐7402 and HepG2 cells. Moreover, N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC, a ROS inhibitor) could significantly reverse the effects of alnustone on the growth inhibition of BEL‐7402 and HepG2 cells and the expression of proteins related to apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, alnustone significantly inhibited tumor growth of HepG2 xenografts, obviously induced apoptosis in the tumor tissues and improved the pathological condition of liver tissues of mice in vivo. The study provides evidence that alnustone is effective against HCC via ROS‐mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway and the compound has the potential to be developed as a novel anticancer agent for the treatment of HCC clinically.
Degradation analysis on trend gamma process
Authors: Wang Yi‐Fu , Huang Yufen , Liao Wei‐Chieh
Published: November 2021

Manufactures always face a big challenge to obtain the sufficient reliability information for high‐quality products when only a relatively short time period is available for an internal life testing. Fortunately, if QCs exists, whose degradation over time can be related to reliability, an approach is suggested to collect sufficient degradation data for estimating the product's lifetime distribution more accurately. In numerical applications, the gamma process (GP) is commonly used when the degradation path is strictly increasing. However, in some circumstances, the GP is not able to successfully capture the degradation path. One resolution to tackle this problem is to consider the random effect into the GP model. In this paper, we propose a trend gamma process (TGP), which integrated the merits of trend function into a GP model, as an alternative approach to overcome this obstacle. The proposed TGP model is a generalized formulation of GP model, and it is attempted to transform a monotonic stochastic process into a GP. The results based on simulation studies and real data examples illustrate that our proposed TGP model is suitable for widely use when the degradation path is monotonically increasing.
Intrinsically Honeycomb‐Patterned Hydrogenated Graphene
Authors: Song Yang , Qian Kai , Tao Lei , Wang Zhenyu , Guo Hui , Chen Hui , Zhang Shuai , Zhang Yu‐Yang , Lin Xiao , Pantelides Sokrates T. , Du Shixuan , Gao Hong‐Jun
Published: November 2021

Since the advent of graphene ushered the era of 2D materials, many forms of hydrogenated graphene have been reported, exhibiting diverse properties ranging from a tunable bandgap to ferromagnetic ordering. Patterned hydrogenated graphene with micron‐scale patterns has been fabricated by lithographic means. Here, successful millimeter‐scale synthesis of an intrinsically honeycomb‐patterned form of hydrogenated graphene on Ru(0001) by epitaxial growth followed by hydrogenation is reported. Combining scanning tunneling microscopy observations with density‐functional‐theory (DFT) calculations, it is revealed that an atomic‐hydrogen layer intercalates between graphene and Ru(0001). The result is a hydrogen honeycomb structure that serves as a template for the final hydrogenation, which converts the graphene into graphane only over the template, yielding honeycomb‐patterned hydrogenated graphene (HPHG). In effect, HPHG is a form of patterned graphane. DFT calculations find that the unhydrogenated graphene regions embedded in the patterned graphane exhibit spin‐polarized edge states. This type of growth mechanism provides a new pathway for the fabrication of intrinsically patterned graphene‐based materials.
In Situ Magnetic Alignment of a Slurry of Tandem Semiconductor Microwires Using a Ni Catalyst
Authors: Gulati Saumya , Mulvehill Matthew C. , Pishgar Sahar , Spurgeon Joshua M.
Published: November 2021

Slurries of semiconductor particles individually capable of unassisted light‐driven water‐splitting are modeled to have a promising path to low‐cost solar hydrogen generation, but they have had poor efficiencies. Tandem microparticle systems are a clear direction to pursue to increase efficiency. However, light absorption must be carefully managed in a tandem to prevent current mismatch in the subcells, which presents a possible challenge for tandem microwire particles suspended in a liquid. In this work, a Ni‐catalyzed Si/TiO2 tandem microwire slurry is used as a stand‐in for an ideal bandgap combination to demonstrate proof‐of‐concept in situ alignment of unassisted water‐splitting microwires with an external magnetic field. The Ni hydrogen evolution catalyst is selectively photodeposited at the exposed Si microwire core to serve as the cathode site as well as a handle for magnetic orientation. The frequency distribution of the suspended microwire orientation angles is determined as a function of magnetic field strength under dispersion with and without uplifting microbubbles. After magnetizing the Ni bulb, tandem microwires can be highly aligned in water under a magnetic field despite active dispersion from bubbling or convection.
Solar‐Initiated Frontal Polymerization of Photothermic Hydrogels with High Swelling Properties for Efficient Water Evaporation
Authors: Liang Yunzheng , Bai Yuting , Xie An-Quan , Mao Jian , Zhu Liangliang , Chen Su
Published: November 2021

Hydrogel‐based photothermal materials for enhanced solar water evaporation have drawn increasing attention due to their unique hierarchical nanostructure, reduced latent heat, and high evaporation rate. However, the laborious preparation process and high energy consumption restrict the on‐site applicability and immediacy, seriously obstructing practical application of hydrogel evaporators. Herein, a low‐cost hydrogel evaporator ($1.85 m−2) with high swelling ratio (≈2445%) prepared via solar‐initiated frontal polymerization (FP) is demonstrated. Solar‐initiated FP based on solar thermal technology not only realizes the field rapid hydrogel polymerization without extra energy input and complicated equipment, but also achieves the homogeneous interconnected macroporous structure to enhance water uptake (≈70 times evaporator weight) and light absorption (≈1% transmittance and ≈2% reflectance). Due to the lower vaporization enthalpy, the evaporator presented an evaporation rate of 2.42 kg m−2 h−1 with a light‐to‐vapor efficiency of ≈92.8% under 1 sun. More importantly, the high swelling ratio imparts the hydrogel evaporator with 2700% and 900% expansion in volume and surface area, resulting in a dramatically promoted solar evaporation rate compared with non‐swelling photothermic materials. This feasible approach realizes the all‐process solar thermal utilization, from material synthesis to final application, which would be significant for sustainable freshwater production in remote/off‐grid areas.
Integrating competency modeling in talent management: Framework for implications in a disruptive environment
Authors: Shet Sateesh V. , Bajpai Ankita
Published: November 2021

This research explores the challenges encountered in integrating competency modeling (CM) in talent management (TM) and proposes a framework for this integration. Using CM practices and TM implementation perspectives, a framework was developed for integrating CM in TM. Furthermore, this research used a multiple cross‐case study design approach involving organizations practicing CM. In‐depth interviews with practicing HR managers helped identify the challenges and issues related to CM integration in TM. To address these challenges, a framework involving multiple alignments with TM was developed. The dimensions of this alignment comprise functionality, information system, capability, governance, and contextual integration. The integration aspects of CM in TM, which have been discussed in detail, will assist researchers and practitioners.
Nasal adenocarcinoma: Diagnosis and treatment in a pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculi)
Authors: Silvetti Sergio
Published: November 2021

A 10‐year‐old male Rex rabbit was seen for unilateral epiphora and increased sneezing repeatedly over a 21‐month period. Initial radiographic imaging was unremarkable, but the right tear duct was consistently obstructed preventing flushing. After recurrence of the initial signs and the failure of the medical treatments, a computed tomography scan highlighted the extent of the lesion and enabled the planning of the surgical intervention. The case was managed with a dorsal rhinotomy approach, a technique well described in dogs and rabbits. Following histology, a diagnosis of a low‐grade nasal adenocarcinoma was made. Cases of recurrent rhinitis that are poorly responsive to medical treatments should be approached in a more aggressive diagnostic way to confirm or rule out anatomical abnormalities of the nasal cavities, even without clear signs of purulent or haemorrhagic discharge.
Establishing the functional relevancy of white matter connections in the visual system and beyond
Authors: Grotheer Mareike , Kubota Emily , Grill-Spector Kalanit
Published: November 2021

For over a century, researchers have examined the functional relevancy of white matter bundles. Consequently, many large-scale bundles spanning several centimeters have been associated in their entirety with specific brain functions, such as language or attention. However, these coarse structural–functional relationships are at odds with modern understanding of the fine-grained functional organization of human cortex, such as the mosaic of category-selective regions in ventral temporal cortex. Here, we review a multimodal approach that combines fMRI to define functional regions of interest within individual’s brains with dMRI tractography to identify the white matter bundles of the same individual. Combining these data allows to determine which subsets of streamlines within a white matter bundle connect to specific functional regions in each individual. That is, this approach identifies the functionally defined white matter sub-bundles of the brain. We argue that this approach not only enhances the accuracy of interpreting the functional relevancy of white matter bundles, but also enables segmentation of these large-scale bundles into meaningful functional units, which can then be linked to behavior with enhanced precision. Importantly, this approach has the potential for making new discoveries of the fine-grained functional relevancy of white matter connections in the visual system and the brain more broadly, akin to the flurry of research that has identified functional regions in cortex.
The remarkably frequent use of EQ-5D in non-economic research
Authors: Wang Aimin , Rand Kim , Yang Zhihao , Brooks Richard , Busschbach Jan
Published: November 2021

Introduction

EQ-5D is an instrument which has been utilized for a variety of purposes, including in health-economic appraisals as an input into quality-adjusted life year (QALY) calculations. Indeed, it is the most-widely applied instrument for health-economic appraisal worldwide, and is recommended for use in QALY calculations by many national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies. There is also a growing body of evidence for its usefulness in a variety of settings other than economic appraisals, but such use has not been well-documented. This study addresses this issue and documents how EQ-5D has been applied in both the non-economic and economic contexts.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched using the terms ‘EQ-5D’, ‘EQ-5D AND cost’, and ‘EQ-5D AND cost AND QALY’ from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2019. We concentrated on 2019 publications for more detailed analyses. All the data collected for 2019 were downloaded and collected in EndNote. For 2019 only, we classified economic and non-economic use based on the inclusion of ‘cost’. We also checked by manual inspection whether the search terms were suitable in correctly identifying economic and non-economic use. Variants of the non-economic use of EQ-5D were classified as follows: (a) as a quality of life outcome measure; (b) as a tool for methodological research; (c) methodological issues of EQ-5D itself; (d) comparisons with other quality of life questionnaires; (e) mapping studies; (f) value sets; (g) alongside costs but no QALY calculated; and (h) other.

Results

The first publication found was from 1990. Up to and including 2019, 10,817 publications were identified, of which more than two in three did not contain any reference to costs or QALYs. In 2019, a total of 1409 manuscripts were identified, of which 239 were specifically for EQ-5D-5L.  Four hundred and seven (28.9%) included some form of ‘costs’ and 157 (11.1%) both ‘costs’ AND ‘QALYs’ terms. For EQ-5D-5L, the corresponding numbers were 104 (43.5%) and 29 (12.1%), respectively. After manually checking all the 1409 papers, three were duplicated records, which were omitted. In the remaining 1406 papers, only 40 (2.8%) contained the term ‘cost’, but not ‘cost per QALY’, and only 117 (8.3%) were identifiable as economic evaluations using the term ‘cost per QALY’. Most non-economic use of EQ-5D was as a quality-of-life outcome measure (72.8%). Other applications were: as a tool for methodological research (6.7%); comparison studies (3.7%); EQ-5D methodological issues (3.5%); containing costs but not QALYs (2.8%); mapping (1.3%); value sets (0.4%); and other papers (0.4%).

Conclusions

The majority of the studies retrieved, covering a wide variety of research areas, reported upon the non-economic use of EQ-5D. Despite being the most-used instrument worldwide for QALY calculations, economic appraisal accounted for only a small, but important, part of published use.
Income level and antibiotic misuse: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis
Authors: Mallah Narmeen , Orsini Nicola , Figueiras Adolfo , Takkouche Bahi
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To quantify the association between income and antibiotic misuse including unprescribed use, storage of antibiotics and non-adherence.

Methods

We identified pertinent studies through database search, and manual examination of reference lists of selected articles and review reports. We performed a dose–response meta-analysis of income, both continuous and categorical, in relation to antibiotic misuse. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated under a random-effects random effects model.

Results

Fifty-seven studies from 22 countries of different economic class were included. Overall, the data are in agreement with a flat linear association between income standardized to socio-economic indicators and antibiotic misuse (OR per 1 unit increment = 1.00, p-value = 0.954, p-value non-linearity = 0.429). Data were compatible with no association between medium and high income with general antibiotic misuse (OR 1.04; 95% CI 0.89, 1.20 and OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.82, 1.29). Medium income was associated with 19% higher odds of antibiotic storage (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.07, 1.32) and 18% higher odds of any aspect of antibiotic misuse in African studies (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.00, 1.39). High income was associated with 51% lower odds of non-adherence to antibiotic treatment (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.34, 0.60). High income was also associated with 11% higher odds of any antibiotic misuse in upper-middle wealth countries (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.00, 1.22).

Conclusions

The association between income and antibiotic misuse varies by type of misuse and country wellness. Understanding the socioeconomic properties of antibiotic misuse should prove useful in developing related intervention programs and health policies.
Simulated encounters with a novel competitor reveal the potential for maladaptive behavioural responses to invasive species
Authors: Champneys T. , Ferry K. , Tomkinson S. , Genner M. J. , Ioannou C. C.
Published: November 2021

During the early stage of biological invasions, interactions occur between native and non-native species that do not share an evolutionary history. This can result in ecological naïveté, causing native species to exhibit maladaptive behavioural responses to novel enemies, leading to negative consequences for individual fitness and ecosystem function. The behavioural response of native to non-native species during novel encounters can determine the impact of non-native species, and restrict or facilitate their establishment. In this study we simulated novel encounters between a widespread invasive fish species, the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and a threatened native Manyara tilapia (Oreochromis amphimelas). In the first experiment single adult O. niloticus were presented with a stimulus chamber (a transparent plastic cylinder) which was empty during control trials and contained a pair of juvenile O. amphimelas in stimulus trials. In the second experiment, the reciprocal set up was used, with pairs of juvenile O. amphimelas as the focal species and adult O. niloticus as the stimulus. Both species approached the stimulus chamber more readily during stimulus trials, a behavioural response which would increase the prevalence of interspecific interactions in situ. This included physical aggression, observed from the competitively dominant O. niloticus towards O. amphimelas. Despite an initial lack of fear shown by O. amphimelas, close inspection of the stimulus chamber often resulted in an energetically costly dart response. Under field conditions we predict that naïve native individuals may readily approach O. niloticus, increasing the likelihood of interactions and exacerbating widely reported negative outcomes.
The importance of allochthonous organic matter quality when investigating pulse disturbance events in freshwater lakes: a mesocosm experiment
Authors: Calderó-Pascual Maria , Yıldız Dilvin , Yalçın Gülce , Metin Melisa , Yetim Sinem , Fiorentin Claudia , Andersen Mikkel René , Jennings Eleanor , Jeppesen Erik , Ger Kemal Ali , Beklioğlu Meryem , McCarthy Valerie
Published: November 2021

Extreme precipitation is occurring with greater frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Such events boost the transport of allochthonous organic matter (allo-OM) to freshwater ecosystems, yet little is known about the impacts on dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality and seston elemental stoichiometry, especially for lakes in warm climates. A mesocosm experiment located in a Turkish freshwater lake was designed to simulate a pulse event leading to increased inputs of allo-OM by examining the individual effects of increasing water colour (HuminFeed®, HF), the direct effects of the extra energetic inputs (alder tree leaf leachate, L), and the interactions of the single treatment effects (combination of both sources, HFL), along with a comparison with unmanipulated controls. Changes in the DOM quality and nutrient stoichiometry of the allo-OM treatment additions was examined over the course of the experiments. Results indicated that there was an increase of high recalcitrant DOM components in the HF treatment, in contrast to an increase in less aromatic microbially derived molecules for the L treatment. Unexpectedly, seston C:P ratios remained below a severe P-limiting threshold for plankton growth and showed the same temporal pattern in all mesocosms. In contrast, seston N:P ratios differed significantly between treatments, with the L treatment reducing P-limiting conditions, whilst the HF treatment increased them. The effects of the combined HFL treatment indicated an additive type of interaction and chlorophyll-awas highest in the HFL treatment. Our results demonstrate that accounting for the optical and stoichiometric properties of experimental allo-OM treatments is crucial to improve the capacity to explain extrapolated conclusions regarding the effects of climate driven flooding on freshwater ecosystems in response to global climate change.

Graphical abstract
Bioflocculation of Euglena gracilis via direct application of fungal filaments: a rapid harvesting method
Authors: Bansfield Danielle , Spilling Kristian , Mikola Anna , Piiparinen Jonna
Published: November 2021

The high cost and environmental impact of traditional microalgal harvesting methods limit commercialization of microalgal biomass. Fungal bioflocculation of microalgae is a promising low-cost, eco-friendly method but the range of fungal and microalgal species tested to date is narrow. Here, eight non-pathogenic, filamentous fungi were screened for their ability to self-pelletize and flocculate Euglena gracilis (ca.50 µm motile microalga) in suspension. Self-pelletization was tested under various rotational speeds, and species which formed pellets (Ø > 0.5 cm) were selected for harvesting tests. Filaments of each species were combined with E. gracilis at various ratios based on dry weight. Harvesting efficiency was determined by measuring the change in cell counts over time, and settling of the flocs was evaluated by batch settling tests. Three fungal species, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Penicillium restrictum, were able to reliably flocculate and harvest 62–75% of the microalgae while leaving it unharmed. The results demonstrated that self-pelletization, harvesting, and settling were dependent on the fungal species. The fungi to algae ratio also had significant but contrasting effects on harvesting and settling. In balancing the needs to both harvest and settle the biomass, the optimal fungi to algae ratio was 1:2. The application of fungal filaments to microalgae in suspension produced readily settling flocs and was less time-consuming than other commonly used methods. This method is especially attractive for harvesting microalgal biomass for low-value products where speed, low cost, and cell integrity is vital.
The Importance of the Neighbourhood Environment and Social Capital for Happiness in a Vulnerable District: The Case of the Pajarillos District in Spain
Authors: Somarriba Arechavala Noelia , Zarzosa Espina Pilar , López Pastor Ana Teresa
Published: November 2021

The characteristics of neighbourhoods, their physical and social environment, have been shown to have profound effects on the individual well-being and happiness of their residents. In an effort to help design policies and action plans that enhance well-being in the district, our study seeks to understand how happiness levels among residents in a low-income neighbourhood in Spain are linked to their socio-demographic traits, individual health, relationships with the area, and community, as well as with the physical environment of the neighbourhood. The study is part of a project called "Educa-Pajarillos Sostenible". The project aims to improve the quality of life of the area’s citizens by carrying out a series of actions. One of these actions is an eco-social map of happiness, which involves designing and applying a survey and which serves as a source of analysis for our research. An Ordered Choice Logit econometric model was applied to measure the effect of the happiness of demographic, neighbourhood environment, social capital, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results confirm the importance of variables related to the neighbourhood’s social capital and physical environment as key elements in local residents’ happiness. The findings also indicate that traditional indicators used to measure well-being, such as education or difficulty making ends meet, are not significant.
Learning to Litigate: the Relationship Between Past Litigation Experience and Litigation Outcomes in the Chinese Intellectual Property System
Authors: Vaarst Andersen Kristina , Beukel Karin , Tyler Beverly B.
Published: November 2021

Intellectual property (IP) and the protection of IP is of increasing importance to firms’ competitiveness, and firms must be able to defend their IP when it is infringed upon. In most markets, IP and the defense of IP is a stringent legal process, but in developing markets and markets undergoing changes, this is not necessarily so. The Chinese IP system and protection is comparatively new, and the system is still under development. In this study, we analyze the relationship between firms’ previous litigation experience and litigation outcomes using a sample of 10,211 court cases tried in China between 2001 and 2009. We find that despite litigation being a rare event for most firms, plaintiffs’ prior litigation experience and especially prior successful litigation experience or experience with specific case types is related to their likelihood of a positive outcome. However, plaintiffs’ successful application of prior litigation experience is contingent on the type of litigation case.