bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scheduled removal of central venous catheters (CVC) to prevent CVC-related bloodstream infections in patients with hematological disease or autologous stem cell transplantation: a registry-based randomized simulation-study
Authors: Panse Jens , Tölle Daniela , Fiegle Eva , Naendrup Jan-Hendrik , Schmidt-Hieber Martin , Böll Boris , Hentrich Marcus , Teschner Daniel , Schalk Enrico
Published: August 2022

Although not generally recommended, scheduled central venous catheter (CVC) removal is sometimes carried out in order to reduce the CVC-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) incidence. We conducted a simulation for scheduled CVC removal within the multicenter CRBSI registry (SECRECY). Non-tunneled jugular and subclavian CVC in patients with hematological disease or with germ cell tumors (including patients receiving autologous stem cell transplantation [SCT]) were included. Cases were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to either a simulated, scheduled CVC removal after 7, 14, and 21 days, or to non-simulated, unscheduled CVC removal (control group). The primary endpoint was definitive CRBSI incidence for a scheduled CVC removal after 14 days (dCRBSI-D14rmv). Among other, secondary endpoints were definite CRBSI incidence for a scheduled removal after 7 days (dCRBSI-D7rmv) and 21 days ﻿(dCRBSI-D21rmv). Data on 2984 CVC were included. Patients’ median age was 59 (range 16–95) years, 58.8% being male. The vast majority (98.4%) were patients with hematological malignancies. Jugular veins were the main insertion site (93.2%). dCRBSI-D14rmv was 3.10/1000 CVC days as compared to 4.15/1000 CVC days in the control group (p = 0.23). There was a significant difference between dCRBSI-D7rmv (0.86/1000 CVC days) and controls (p < 0.001), but not between dCRBSI-D21rmv (4.10/1000 CVC days) and controls (p = 0.96). Our data suggest that in patients with hematological diseases or autologous SCT recipients scheduled CVC removal after 14 days does not result in a lower CRBSI incidence compared to unscheduled removal.

Trial registration: DRKS00006551, 2014/09/29, retrospectively registered.
Strain sonoelastography in asymptomatic individuals and individuals with knee osteoarthritis: an evaluation of quadriceps and patellar tendon
Authors: Dickson Diane M. , Smith Stephanie L. , Hendry Gordon J.
Published: August 2022

An advanced ultrasound imaging technique, sonoelastography (SE) is used to evaluate tissue elasticity. To determine SE potential to detect pathological-related changes, and characteristics related to tendon pathology we aimed to (1) compare quadriceps and patellar tendon findings in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and asymptomatic older adults (AC), and (2) explore associations between SE, participant characteristics (age, BMI, and leg circumference) and KOA status. 84 participants (47; KOA and 37; asymptomatic older adults) underwent SE examination of quadriceps (distal) and patellar (distal, proximal) tendon in a supine position with the knee bent at 30°. Colour score (CS) and Elasticity Ratio (ER) analysis were performed by a blinded experienced operator using Esaote Mylab 70 XVG Ultrasound equipment. Significantly reduced elasticity in the distal quadriceps (median (IQR) 2(2), 3(1), p = 0.033 for KOA and AC, respectively) and proximal patellar (3(1), 3(0), p = 0.001) tendons and more elastic distal patellar (1.50 (0.55), 1.87 (0.72), p = 0.034) tendons were observed in the KOA group. Significant associations) were identified between SE and participant BMI (Rs = − 0.249–0.750, p < 0.05) and leg circumference (Rs = − 0.260–0.903, p < 0.05). Age, BMI and KOA status, were independent explanatory variables of SE CS findings at the distal quadriceps tendon patellar tendon, proximal patellar tendon and distal patellar tendon, explaining 66%, 81% and 64% of variance, respectively. Age, BMI and KOA status were independent explanatory variables of SE ER findings at the distal patellar tendon explaining 19% of variance. Potentially clinically relevant altered tendon stiffness were observed between individuals with KOA and asymptomatic controls. Key KOA risk factors and participant characteristics explained variance in tendon stiffness. Findings provide context for future studies to investigate the potential for targeted SE detected early clinical management based on associated participant characteristics.
Stability of Boundary Conditions for the Sadowsky Functional
Authors: Freddi Lorenzo , Hornung Peter , Mora Maria Giovanna , Paroni Roberto
Published: August 2022

It has been proved by the authors that the (extended) Sadowsky functional can be deduced as the $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-limit of the Kirchhoff energy on a rectangular strip, as the width of the strip tends to 0. In this paper, we show that this $$\Gamma $$
Γ
-convergence result is stable when affine boundary conditions are prescribed on the short sides of the strip. These boundary conditions include those corresponding to a Möbius band. This provides a rigorous justification of the original formal argument by Sadowsky about determining the equilibrium shape of a free-standing Möbius strip. We further write the equilibrium equations for the limit problem and show that, under some regularity assumptions, the centerline of a developable Möbius band at equilibrium cannot be a planar curve.
Heterogeneity of outcomes within diabetic patients with atrial fibrillation on edoxaban: a sub-analysis from the ETNA-AF Europe registry
Authors: Patti Giuseppe , Pecen Ladislav , Casalnuovo Giuseppina , Manu Marius Constantin , Kirchhof Paulus , De Caterina Raffaele
Published: August 2022

Background

Recent data have suggested that insulin-requiring diabetes mostly contributes to the overall increase of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on warfarin. We evaluated the prognostic role of a different diabetes status on clinical outcome in a large cohort of AF patients treated with edoxaban.

Methods

We accessed individual patients’ data from the prospective, multicenter, ETNA-AF Europe Registry. We compared the rates of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)/systemic embolism, myocardial infarction (MI), major bleeding and all-cause death at 2 years according to diabetes status.

Results

Out of an overall population of 13,133 patients, 2885 had diabetes (22.0%), 605 of whom (21.0%) were on insulin. The yearly incidence of ischemic stroke/TIA/systemic embolism was 0.86% in patients without diabetes, 0.87% in diabetic patients not receiving insulin (p = 0.92 vs no diabetes) and 1.81% in those on insulin (p = 0.002 vs no diabetes; p = 0.014 vs diabetes not on insulin). The annual rates of MI and major bleeding were 0.40%, 0.43%, 1.04% and 0.90%, 1.10% and 1.71%, respectively. All-cause yearly mortality was 3.36%, 5.02% and 8.91%. At multivariate analysis, diabetes on insulin was associated with a higher rate of ischemic stroke/TIA/systemic embolism [adjusted HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.37–3.54, p = 0.0011 vs no diabetes + diabetes not on insulin] and all-cause death [aHR 2.13 (95% CI 1.68–2.68, p < 0.0001 vs no diabetes]. Diabetic patients not on insulin had a higher mortality [aHR 1.32 (1.11–1.57), p = 0.0015], but similar incidence of stroke/TIA/systemic embolism, MI and major bleeding, vs those without diabetes.

Conclusions

In a real-world cohort of AF patients on edoxaban, diabetes requiring insulin therapy, rather than the presence of diabetes per se, appears to be an independent factor affecting the occurrence of thromboembolic events during follow-up. Regardless of the diabetes type, diabetic patients had a lower survival compared with those without diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing was associated with overall survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after rituximab-based treatment: an observational cohort study
Authors: Yang Fei , Zhang Ju , Abraham Anup , Yan Jessie T. , Hammer Richard D. , Prime Matthew S.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study assessed the impact of adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing on treatment selection and overall survival (OS) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) initiated on rituximab-based first line of treatment (1-LOT).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used a nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database, including diagnostic testing information on immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and karyotype analysis that were abstracted from pathology reports or clinical visit notes, where available. The study included patients above 18 years old who were diagnosed with DLBCL between January 2011 and December 2019 and initiated on rituximab-based 1-LOT. Patients were classified into ‘non-adherence,’ ‘partial-adherence’ and ‘complete-adherence’ groups according to the evidence/documentation of a confirmed known result for IHC and molecular profiling tests (FISH and karyotyping) on a selection of the markers prior to the initiation of 1-LOT. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of adherence to diagnostic testing with 1-LOT between R-CHOP and other rituximab-based regimens. Median OS after the start of rituximab-based 1-LOT was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the risk of all-cause death after initiation of 1-LOT by the degrees of adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing.

Results

In total, 3730 patients with DLBCL who initiated on rituximab-based 1-LOT were included. No association was found between adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing and treatment selection of 1-LOT for R-CHOP versus other rituximab-based regimens. Patients with a higher degree of adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing survived longer (median OS at 5.1, 6.9 and 7.1 years for ‘non-adherence,’ ‘partial-adherence’ and ‘complete-adherence’ groups, respectively [log-rank p < 0.001]) and had a decreased mortality risk (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals at 0.83 [0.70–0.99] for ‘partial-adherence’ and 0.77 [0.64–0.91] for ‘complete-adherence’ groups, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients’ adherence to guidelines-recommended diagnostic testing were associated with better survival benefit, reinforcing the need for adoption of diagnostic testing guidelines in routine clinical care.
Triple negative breast cancer: approved treatment options and their mechanisms of action
Authors: Mandapati Aditya , Lukong Kiven Erique
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer worldwide, consists of 4 main subtypes, namely, Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, and Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Triple-negative breast tumors, which do not express estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, account for approximately 15-20% of breast cancer cases. The lack of traditional receptor targets contributes to the heterogenous, aggressive, and refractory nature of these tumors, resulting in limited therapeutic strategies.

Methods

Chemotherapeutics such as taxanes and anthracyclines have been the traditional go to treatment regimens for TNBC patients. Paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin, and epirubicin have been longstanding, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies against TNBC. Additionally, the FDA approved PARP inhibitors such as olaparib and atezolizumab to be used in combination with chemotherapies, primarily to improve their efficiency and reduce adverse patient outcomes. The immunotherapeutic Keytruda was the latest addition to the FDA-approved list of drugs used to treat TNBC.

Results

The following review aims to elucidate current FDA-approved therapeutics and their mechanisms of action, shedding a light on the various strategies currently used to circumvent the treatment-resistant nature of TNBC cases.

Conclusion

The recent approval and use of therapies such as Trodelvy, olaparib and Keytruda has its roots in the development of an understanding of signaling pathways that drive tumour growth. In the future, the emergence of novel drug delivery methods may help increase the efficiency of these therapies whiel also reducing adverse side effects.
The catalytic and structural basis of archaeal glycerophospholipid biosynthesis
Authors: de Kok Niels A. W. , Driessen Arnold J. M.
Published: August 2022

Archaeal glycerophospholipids are the main constituents of the cytoplasmic membrane in the archaeal domain of life and fundamentally differ in chemical composition compared to bacterial phospholipids. They consist of isoprenyl chains ether-bonded to glycerol-1-phosphate. In contrast, bacterial glycerophospholipids are composed of fatty acyl chains ester-bonded to glycerol-3-phosphate. This largely domain-distinguishing feature has been termed the “lipid-divide”. The chemical composition of archaeal membranes contributes to the ability of archaea to survive and thrive in extreme environments. However, ether-bonded glycerophospholipids are not only limited to extremophiles and found also in mesophilic archaea. Resolving the structural basis of glycerophospholipid biosynthesis is a key objective to provide insights in the early evolution of membrane formation and to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of extremophilicity. Many of the glycerophospholipid enzymes are either integral membrane proteins or membrane-associated, and hence are intrinsically difficult to study structurally. However, in recent years, the crystal structures of several key enzymes have been solved, while unresolved enzymatic steps in the archaeal glycerophospholipid biosynthetic pathway have been clarified providing further insights in the lipid-divide and the evolution of early life.
Linear regression with partially mismatched data: local search with theoretical guarantees
Authors: Mazumder Rahul , Wang Haoyue
Published: August 2022

Linear regression is a fundamental modeling tool in statistics and related fields.
In this paper, we study an important variant of linear regression in which the predictor-response pairs are partially mismatched. We use an optimization formulation to simultaneously learn the underlying regression coefficients and the permutation corresponding to the mismatches. The combinatorial structure of the problem leads to computational challenges. We propose and study a simple greedy local search algorithm for this optimization problem that enjoys strong theoretical guarantees and appealing computational performance. We prove that under a suitable scaling of the number of mismatched pairs compared to the number of samples and features, and certain assumptions on problem data; our local search algorithm converges to a nearly-optimal solution at a linear rate. In particular, in the noiseless case, our algorithm converges to the global optimal solution with a linear convergence rate. Based on this result, we prove an upper bound for the estimation error of the parameter. We also propose an approximate local search step that allows us to scale our approach to much larger instances. We conduct numerical experiments to gather further insights into our theoretical results, and show promising performance gains compared to existing approaches.
The fast invasion of Europe by the box tree moth: an additional example coupling multiple introduction events, bridgehead effects and admixture events
Authors: Bras Audrey , Lombaert Eric , Kenis Marc , Li Hongmei , Bernard Alexis , Rousselet Jérôme , Roques Alain , Auger-Rozenberg Marie-Anne
Published: August 2022

Identifying the invasion routes of non-native species is crucial to understanding invasions and customizing management strategies. The box tree moth,Cydalima perspectalis, is native to Asia and was recently accidentally introduced into Europe as a result of the ornamental plant trade. Over the last 15 years, it has spread across the continent and has reached the Caucasus and Iran. It is threateningBuxustrees in both urban areas and forests. To investigate the species’ invasion routes, native and invasive box tree moth populations were sampled, and moth’s genetic diversity and structure were compared using microsatellite markers. Our approximate Bayesian computation analyses strongly suggest that invasion pathways were complex. Primary introductions originating from eastern China probably occurred independently twice in Germany and once in the Netherlands. There were also possibly bridgehead effects, where at least three invasive populations may have served as sources for other invasive populations within Europe, with indication of admixture between the two primary invasive populations. The bridgehead populations were likely those in the countries that play a major role in the ornamental plant trade in Europe, notably Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. All these invasion processes likely facilitated its fast expansion across Europe and illustrate the role played by the ornamental plant trade not only in the moth’s introduction from China but also in the species’ spread across Europe, leading to an invasion with a complex pattern.
‘He’s out of control, I’m out of control, it’s just – I’ve got to do something’: a narrative inquiry of child to parent violence
Authors: Toole-Anstey Chye , Townsend Michelle L , Keevers Lynne
Published: August 2022

Families globally experience child to parent violence (CPV). Stories of CPV have been considered at an individual and collective level to ascertain themes in parents’ accounts to identify enabling and restraining factors for CPV. However, understanding the societal narratives, defined as discourses, which have a multi-directional and entangled relationship with individual recounts of CPV have yet to be investigated. This research utilizes Narrative Inquiry with participatory approaches to explicate the societal narratives within mothers’ recounts of CPV. This analysis, guided by the interactional and discursive view of violence, and response-based practice, identifies societal narratives which set the conditions for what is possible and impossible in relation to CPV. The analysis contributes to understanding the attitudes of minimization and concealment of violence within parents’ accounts of CPV. The mothers’ recounts were constrained and made possible by the ‘good’ mother narrative and narratives of adolescence and gender. This research examines the intra-actions mothers’ recounts have with the societal narratives, and the performance of their roles as (en)actors of the subject positions ‘mother’ and ‘child’. Implications for practice and research include: consideration to practitioner’s views of power and subject positions in a parent and child relationship when working with CPV; and practitioners to be critical of essentialism and gender in working with CPV. This study posits a practical demonstration for using the response-based practice approach in research; and a way of viewing stories which can be incorporated in working with families experiencing CPV.
Aß Pathology and Neuron–Glia Interactions: A Synaptocentric View
Authors: Huffels Christiaan F. M. , Middeldorp Jinte , Hol Elly M.
Published: August 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes the majority of dementia cases worldwide. Early pathological hallmarks include the accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) and activation of both astrocytes and microglia. Neurons form the building blocks of the central nervous system, and astrocytes and microglia provide essential input for its healthy functioning. Their function integrates at the level of the synapse, which is therefore sometimes referred to as the “quad-partite synapse”. Increasing evidence puts AD forward as a disease of the synapse, where pre- and postsynaptic processes, as well as astrocyte and microglia functioning progressively deteriorate. Here, we aim to review the current knowledge on how Aß accumulation functionally affects the individual components of the quad-partite synapse. We highlight a selection of processes that are essential to the healthy functioning of the neuronal synapse, including presynaptic neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic receptor functioning. We further discuss how Aß affects the astrocyte’s capacity to recycle neurotransmitters, release gliotransmitters, and maintain ion homeostasis. We additionally review literature on how Aß changes the immunoprotective function of microglia during AD progression and conclude by summarizing our main findings and highlighting the challenges in current studies, as well as the need for further research.
Partial Lasserre relaxation for sparse Max-Cut
Authors: Campos Juan S. , Misener Ruth , Parpas Panos
Published: August 2022

A common approach to solve or find bounds of polynomial optimization problems like Max-Cut is to use the first level of the Lasserre hierarchy. Higher levels of the Lasserre hierarchy provide tighter bounds, but solving these relaxations is usually computationally intractable. We propose to strengthen the first level relaxation for sparse Max-Cut problems using constraints from the second order Lasserre hierarchy. We explore a variety of approaches for adding a subset of the positive semidefinite constraints of the second order sparse relaxation obtained by using the maximum cliques of the graph’s chordal extension. We apply this idea to sparse graphs of different sizes and densities, and provide evidence of its strengths and limitations when compared to the state-of-the-art Max-Cut solver BiqCrunch and the alternative sparse relaxation CS-TSSOS.
Internal constraints for phenomenal externalists: a structure matching theory
Authors: Dalbey Bryce , Saad Bradford
Published: August 2022

We motivate five constraints on theorizing about sensory experience. We then propose a novel form of naturalistic intentionalism that succeeds where other theories fail by satisfying all of these constraints. On the proposed theory, which we callstructure matching tracking intentionalism, brains states track determinables. Internal structural features of those states select determinates of those determinables for presentation in experience. We argue that this theory is distinctively well-positioned to both explain internal-phenomenal structural correlations and accord external features a role in fixing phenomenology. In addition, we use the theory to shed light on how one comes to experience “missing shades”.
Addition of FFRct in the diagnostic pathway of patients with stable chest pain to reduce unnecessary invasive coronary angiography (FUSION)
Authors: Sharma S. P. , Hirsch A. , Hunink M. G. M. , Cramer M. J. M. , Mohamed Hoesein F. A. A. , Geluk C. A. , Kramer G. , Gratama J. W. C. , Braam R. L. , van der Zee P. M. , Yassi W. , Wolters S. L. , Gürlek C. , Pundziute G. , Vliegenthart R. , Budde R. P. J.
Published: August 2022

Background

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is widely used in the diagnostic work-up of patients with stable chest pain. CCTA has an excellent negative predictive value, but a moderate positive predictive value for detecting coronary stenosis. Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRct) is a non-invasive, well-validated technique that provides functional assessment of coronary stenosis, improving the positive predictive value of CCTA. However, to determine the value of FFRct in routine clinical practice, a pragmatic randomised, controlled trial (RCT) is required. We will conduct an RCT to investigate the impact of adding FFRct analysis in the diagnostic pathway of patients with a coronary stenosis on CCTA on the rate of unnecessary invasive coronary angiography, cost-effectiveness, quality of life and clinical outcome.

Methods

The FUSION trial is a prospective, multicentre RCT that will randomise 528 patients with stable chest pain and anatomical stenosis of ≥ 50% but < 90% in at least one coronary artery of ≥ 2 mm on CCTA, to FFRct-guided care or usual care in a 1:1 ratio. Follow-up will be 1 year. The primary endpoint is the rate of unnecessary invasive coronary angiography within 90 days.

Conclusion

The FUSION trial will evaluate the use of FFRct in stable chest pain patients from the Dutch perspective. The trial is funded by the Dutch National Health Care Institute as part of the research programme ‘Potentially Promising Care’ and the results will be used to assess if FFRct reimbursement should be included in the standard health care package.
A design strategy for water-based noise suppression systems in liquid rocket engines firing tests
Authors: Zolla Paolo Maria , Fiore Matteo , Lapenna Pasquale Eduardo , Bianchi Daniele , Nasuti Francesco
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a streamlined design procedure for water-based noise suppression systems that are applicable to multiple classes of rocket engines. A newly adapted steady quasi-one-dimensional two-phase model is employed to predict the evolution of the exhaust gases interacting with water droplets. Such a model is embedded into a two-step optimization procedure with the objective of finding the most efficient combination of the suppressor operative parameters. This information is then used to design the hardware of the system, which consists in a set of injectors, with the task of producing atomized water jets directed towards the exhaust gases, and a toroidal manifold, with the task of delivering water to the injectors at uniform conditions of pressure and velocity. Finally, the proposed design procedure is applied to a 15 kN thrust class oxygen/methane liquid rocket engine. Technical specifications of the resulting water-based noise suppression system are provided along with a detailed three-dimensional CAD model.
Comparative Study of the Neurotoxic Effects of Pregabalin Versus Tramadol in Rats
Authors: Elsukary Ahmed E. , Helaly Ahmed M. N. Z. , El Bakary Amal A. , Moustafa Maha E. , El-Kattan Mohammad A.
Published: August 2022

In Egypt, both pregabalin and tramadol misuse increased in the last decade. Although many studies have confirmed the neurotoxic effects of tramadol, those of pregabalin are understudied. The aim of the study is to evaluate the neurotoxic effects of pregabalin compared with tramadol. Thirty male albino rats were included in this experimental study, and they were randomly allocated into three equal groups: group I (normal saline), group II (tramadol misuse), and group III (pregabalin misuse). All rats received the commenced drugs for 1 month. Open field tests were performed on the day of scarification, and after that, cortical samples were taken for immunohistochemical analysis and quantification of dopamine receptors’ gene expression. The drug misuse groups showed a significant decrease in weight gain at the end of the study. Open field testing showed the upper hand of controls regarding all of the tested parameters. Tramadol has a more negative impact on the locomotor parameters compared with pregabalin. Both drugs induced relatively low dopamine-1 receptor (D1Rs) expression to dopamine-2 receptors (D2Rs), mimicking the schizophrenia model. Both tramadol and pregabalin were associated with neurotoxic effects in male albino rats. These effects were less noticed with pregabalin. It is suggested that long-term abuse may end in psychosis.
Transcriptome-derived SSR markers for DNA fingerprinting and inter-populations genetic diversity assessment of Atractylodes chinensis
Authors: Ma Shanshan , Zhao Jianhua , Su Wennan , Zheng Jinshuang , Zhang Sai , Zhao Wenjun , Su Shuyue
Published: August 2022

Atractylodes chinensis (fam. Asteraceae) is an important medicinal plant due to its unique pharmacological activity. The species is widely distributed in most areas of northern China. It is difficult to identify different populations of A. chinensis due to their similarity in characteristics. This study was the first investigation to date that assessed the genetic diversity of A. chinensis from different geographical counties of northern China using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Of the 106 SSR primers in the clusters classified in the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis pathway in the transcriptomic database of A. chinensis, ten with high polymorphism were used to analyze the inter-populations genetic diversity and construct DNA fingerprinting of 19 A. chinensis populations. A total of 78 alleles were detected, with an average number of 6.5 alleles per primer. The PIC value ranged from 0.4748 to 0.8918 with a mean of 0.6265. The neighbor-joining tree was used to classify 19 populations of A. chinensis into three clusters. DNA fingerprinting was performed according to these ten SSR markers. The results revealed that geographic origin is not exactly related to genetic diversity, as populations belonging to different provinces are grouped in the same cluster. The results of this study confirm that SSR markers are effective for genetic diversity analysis. The inter-populations genetic diversity and fingerprinting of A. chinensis in this study could provide a scientific basis for species identification and selective breeding.
Indocyanine green fluorescence in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis: a prospective study
Authors: de Groot E. M. , Kuiper G. M. , van der Veen A. , Fourie L. , Goense L. , van der Horst S. , van den Berg J. W. , van Hillegersberg R. , Ruurda J. P.
Published: August 2022

Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) allows for real-time intraoperative assessment of the perfusion of the gastric conduit during esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the implementation of ICG-FA during robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) with an intrathoracic anastomosis. In this prospective cohort study, a standardized protocol for ICG-FA was implemented in a high-volume center in December 2018. All consecutive patients who underwent RAMIE with an intrathoracic anastomosis were included. The primary outcome was whether the initial chosen site for the anastomosis on the gastric conduit was changed based on ICG-FA findings. In addition, ICG-FA was quantified based on the procedural videos. Out of the 63 included patients, the planned location of the anastomosis was changed in 9 (14%) patients, based on ICG-FA. The median time to maximum intensity at the base of the gastric conduit was shorter (25 s; range 13–49) compared to tip (34 s; range 12–83). In patients with anastomotic leakage, the median time to reach the FImax at the tip was 56 s (range 30–83) compared to 34 s (range 12–66) in patients without anastomotic leakage (p = 0.320). The use of ICG-FA resulted in an adaptation of the anastomotic site in nine (14%) patients during RAMIE with intrathoracic anastomosis. The quantification of ICG-FA showed that the gastric conduit reaches it maximum intensity in a base-to-tip direction. Perfusion of the entire gastric conduit was worse for patients with anastomotic leakage, although not statistically different.
Pearson equations for discrete orthogonal polynomials: III—Christoffel and Geronimus transformations
Authors: Mañas Manuel
Published: August 2022

Contiguous hypergeometric relations for semiclassical discrete orthogonal polynomials are described as Christoffel and Geronimus transformations. Using the Christoffel–Geronimus–Uvarov formulas quasi-determinantal expressions for the shifted semiclassical discrete orthogonal polynomials are obtained.
Use of N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) pretreatment to enhance the bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues to methane
Authors: Oliva A. , Tan L. C. , Papirio S. , Esposito G. , Lens P. N. L.
Published: August 2022

Lignocellulosic residues (LRs) are one of the most abundant wastes produced worldwide. Nevertheless, unlocking the full energy potential from LRs for biofuel production is limited by their complex structure. This study investigated the effect of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) pretreatment on almond shell (AS), spent coffee grounds (SCG), and hazelnut skin (HS) to improve their bioconversion to methane. The pretreatment was performed using a 73% NMMO solution heated at 120 °C for 1, 3, and 5 h. The baseline methane productions achieved from raw AS, SCG, and HS were 54.7 (± 5.3), 337.4 (± 16.5), and 265.4 (± 10.4) mL CH4/g VS, respectively. The NMMO pretreatment enhanced the methane potential of AS up to 58%, although no changes in chemical composition and external surface were observed after pretreatment. Opposite to this, pretreated SCG showed increased porosity (up to 63%) and a higher sugar percentage (up to 27%) after pretreatment despite failing to increase methane production. All pretreatment conditions were effective on HS, achieving the highest methane production of 400.4 (± 9.5) mL CH4/g VS after 5 h pretreatment. The enhanced methane production was due to the increased sugar percentage (up to 112%), lignin removal (up to 29%), and loss of inhibitory compounds during the pretreatment. An energy assessment revealed that the NMMO pretreatment is an attractive technology to be implemented on an industrial scale for energy recovery from HS residues.
Punica granatum peel extract mediated green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: structure and evaluation of their biological applications
Authors: Shaban Abdelghany S. , Owda Medhat E. , Basuoni Mostafa M. , Mousa Mohamed A. , Radwan Ahmed A. , Saleh Ahmed K.
Published: August 2022

The green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) mediated fruit peel extract is gaining importance due to its cost-effectiveness and ecofriendly nature. Herein, ZnO-NPs were synthesized using pomegranate peel extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using SEM, TEM-SAID, FT-IR, XRD, and particle size analysis. According to the findings, the ZnO-NPs were agglomerated into spherical and hexagonal shapes with an average diameter of 20 to 40 nm and crystallinity formed. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO-NPs against pathogenic microbes was significant in multiple applications, with 62.5 and 31.25 μg/ml of MIC for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, and 125 and 250 μg/ml of MIC for Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. In addition, ZnO-NPs showed antioxidant activity with IC50 = 240 and 250 μg/ml by DPPH and ABTS, respectively. All concentrations of ZnO-NPs significantly improved the germination of barley seed and shoot height, with the optimum concentration reaching 2 and 12 ppm of ZnO-NPs for both seed germination (90%) and shoot height (6.5), respectively, while the greatest root extension (6 cm) was observed at 2 ppm of ZnO-NPs. The mitotic index increased at lower nanoparticle concentrations and exposure times but declined considerably as the nanoparticle dose and exposure duration increased, until most concentrations reached 100% suppression after 12 h with various chromosomal abnormalities. The researchers were able to create efficient, eco-friendly, and simple multifunctional ZnO-NPs using a green synthetic strategy and, in the process, obtain a better understanding of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of ZnO-NPs in plant cells.
Simulation research of a counter-flow rotary kiln hazardous waste incineration system
Authors: Yang Shiqiao , Kong Qingfeng , Zeng Dewang , Wu Shiliang , Gong Feng , Xiao Rui
Published: August 2022

As industrialization accelerates and the amount of hazardous waste generated gradually increases, the means of disposal of hazardous waste is of increasing concern. In this paper, a 40 t/d counter-flow rotary kiln incineration system owned by a Jiangsu environmental protection company was researched. The software Aspen Plus was used to build the mixed pyrolysis model and the software Fluent was used to build the computational fluid dynamics model of the incineration system. The influence of the calorific value of the hazardous waste, the operating temperature and the air supply on the operational effectiveness of the incineration system were analyzed by varying the simulation conditions. The results show that the SOx and NOx content of the product is lower when the operating temperature is above 800 °C. The incineration system could only operate above 800 °C when the calorific value of the hazardous waste is not less than 1500 kcal/kg. The incineration system operated best at a primary air velocity of 1.5 m/s. The simulation results in this paper serve as a guide for the operation of counter-flow rotary kiln incineration systems.
Interface Formation of Zinc-Rich ZnAlCu Bearing Alloys on Pre-galvanized S355 Steel Substrates in Gravity Die Casting
Authors: Gimmler Steffen , Vroomen Uwe , Bührig-Polaczek Andreas
Published: August 2022

The dependence of the interfacial formation of ZnAlCu alloys on S355 steel substrates on the aluminum content of the alloy and the cooling conditions is investigated for the gravity die casting process. Steel substrates pre-galvanized with ZnAl0.2 as well as with ZnAl5 are used as initial condition. The area fractions of the interfacial phases formed in the process are quantitatively determined by a binarization method and correlated with the compositions and the casting conditions in simple mathematical models. Under the test conditions, especially for hypoeutectic alloy variants with a maximum of 5.5 wt% Al, clear dependencies of the phase fractions in the interfacial formation on the aluminum content, but also on the cooling conditions could be demonstrated. The correlations of the forming phases with the type of pre-galvanization could also be shown over a wide range of compositions and solidification rates.
The enhancement of academic integrity through a community of practice at the North-West University, South Africa
Authors: Verhoef Anné Hendrik , Fourie Mariette , Janse van Rensburg Zander , Louw Henk , Erasmus Mianda
Published: August 2022

This article was motivated by the need to academically frame and share the response of the North-West University (NWU) to the perceived increase of academic dishonesty during Covid-19. Within the ambit of the online (hybrid) teaching and learning approach that became dominant during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NWU established a Community of Practice for Academic Integrity (CoPAI) to enhance Academic Integrity (AI) in a holistic manner. By critically discussing the NWU’s response through their CoPAI, the lessons learned, and strategies developed in the process, the NWU can hopefully assist other Higher Education institutes to progressively enhance AI in the future. This is important, because many contextual shifts in teaching and learning approaches, pedagogy, assessment, and the application of technology, that were enforced in an online mode of delivery during the pandemic, will prevail in future.

In writing this article, we focused on contextualising the NWU CoPAI within current literature on community of practice (CoP) and Academic integrity (AI) and emphasising the unique strategy and holistic nature of this CoPAI. The establishment of the CoPAI is discussed within the appreciative inquiry as methodological framework. This methodology is commonly used by CoPs, but it is particularly relevant to the CoPAI since CoPAI sought answers to all the AI questions that presented itself due to disruptions in the higher education landscape. The appreciative inquiry method allowed for the opportunity to find some answers in a holistic manner. Some of these answers or insights gained through the activities of CoPAI is further discussed in the latter part of the article. In conclusion, some of the outcomes and shortcomings of CoPAI at the NWU are highlighted.

The main finding of this article concluded that the establishment of a CoPAI can enhance AI at HE institutions in a holistic manner. The applicability, relevance, and success of this CoPAI was realised through its holistic approach which included the valorisation of institutional aspects, the engagement and empowerment of lecturers, and the engagement and empowerment of students. This novel and unique approach to promote AI in HE could fill the existing knowledge gap in the South African context, where the establishment of a CoPAI, the application of appreciative inquiry as methodology, and the inclusion of a holistic approach are still absent. It might however also be an example for other HE institutions to follow globally.
From academia to policy makers: a methodology for real-time forecasting of infrequent events
Authors: Krzywicki Alfred , Muchlinski David , Goldsmith Benjamin E. , Sowmya Arcot
Published: August 2022

The field of conflict forecasting has matured greatly over the last decade. Advances in machine learning have allowed researchers to forecast rare political and social events in near real time. Yet the maturity of the field has led to a proliferation of diverse platforms for forecasting, divergent results across forecasts, and an explosion of forecasting methodologies. While the field has done much to establish some baseline results, true, consensual benchmarks against which future forecasts may be evaluated remain elusive, and thus, agreed upon empirical results are still rare. The aim of this work is to address these concerns and provide the field of conflict forecasting with a standardized analysis pipeline to evaluate future forecasts of political violence. We aim to open the black box of the conflict forecasting pipeline and provide empirical evidence on how modeling decisions along all steps of the pipeline affect end results. In this way, we empirically demonstrate best practices that conflict forecasting researchers may utilize in future endeavors. We employ forecasts of targeted mass killings and genocides to support our methodological claims.
Application of power spectral density and the support vector machine to fault diagnosis for permanent magnet synchronous motor
Authors: Zerdani Sara , Elhafyani Mohamed Larbi , Zouggar Smail
Published: August 2022

The present study proposes a new technique for diagnosing the Inter-Turn Stator-Winding fault in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors. Under faulty operating conditions, the system’s model is built while considering specific parameters linked to fault location and sharpness. The proposed fault-detection method is principally based on the Power Spectral Density estimator’s association with the Support Vector Machine. This classifier is used to separate different regions of system performance. It has been trained to associate the Power Spectral Density current’s magnitude and the stator’s current negative sequence with the fault severity. This method has shown exceptional performance as long as it achieves a fault detection rate of 98.5% for different fault severities. Two Power Spectral Density estimators were compared in terms of their ability to extract fault characteristics, namely Burg’s method and Welch’s method. It was concluded from this study that Welch’s has a higher frequency resolution than Burg’s method.
Central and Decentral Aspects of Land Use: Optimizing Public Finance and Payments for Nature in Space by Control Theory
Authors: Nuppenau Ernst-August
Published: August 2022

Payments for eco-system services and nature (words are used synonymously) cannot be treated independently from spatial outlays. We adopt a modified “von Thünen” framework and ask for optimal land allocation in space in case of land rent change and regional preference. Yet, our approach is not circular; rather, we see provision of nature along transport routes (stretches, i.e. within a segment or wedge of circle) and ask whether nature (conservation) should be closer to cities or in the periphery; i.e. in terms of priorities, which are planning variables, nature is reckoned as integrated in farming instead of being a segregated entity. For the conflict of amenities from nature (usually wished closer to cities because of lesser transport costs for citizens) vs. provision at the periphery (because of lower opportunity costs), we develop a model which optionally foresees both nature along cities and in peripheral areas. Hereby, we work on the explicit question of land distribution between the two options in space. Our planning approach optimizes nature shares along a gradient from urban to peripheral areas. Further, we include land price dynamics, in general already very pronounced today in intensively used landscapes around cities, and reference to the situation that land prices close to cities are usually quite a bit higher than in periphery. This requests larger payments, inflicted on overall efficacy of programs. As nature provision conflicts with food provision and provate land use, models should also comprise food needs of cities. Yet, we reckon spatial opportunity costs and costs are minimized. Benefits in space for citizens are also spatially distributed. We suggest using control theory in order to attain a comprehensive analysis for and answer to regional priority setting. Archetypally, an integrated vs. a segregated nature provision concept is pursued; nature becomes relatively arranged in a mixed landscape, and farmers receive payments differently.
Plurilingualism and language and literacy education
Authors: Cross Russell , D’warte Jacqueline , Slaughter Yvette
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we discuss the place of plurilingualism in Language and Literacy Education. The article problematises English-only, monolingual-centric assumptions upon which much of Australia’s current literacy education policy discourse has been based, to instead advancepluriliteraciesas an alternate, more generative lens through which to view literacy learners, literacy learning, and literacy capabilities. The paper begins with tensions inherent in how policy “imagines” learners in Australian schools, and the problem of imposing English-only, monolingual-centric notions of literacy when multilingualism is increasingly more the norm than the exception in many mainstream Australian classrooms. We consider how a pluriliteracy perspective on literacy education offers a more appropriate approach to addressing learners’ developmental literacy needs, with particular attention to students’ identity and agency. Finally, we consider effective implementation of plurilingual approaches to language and learning, with a focus on the intersection of ideology, practice, and policy.
The metaverse as opportunity for architecture and society: design drivers, core competencies
Authors: Schumacher Patrik
Published: August 2022

The thesis is that the metaverse will become a pervasive part of the future internet and will thus become a key arena within which the life of society unfolds. As three-dimensional, immersive virtual world, the metaverse will be designed by architects rather than graphic designers. After 30 years of theoretical speculation and technological advances the internet is finally on the way to transforming in ways envisioned with the concept of ‘cyberspace’. The key analogy is no longer the magazine with separate pages but the city and its seamless web of spaces. The paper argues that this immersive internet delivers a superior, more productive platform for social exchange and communication. Co-location synergies will unfold and order the distribution of sites and enable an intuitive browsing navigation full of discoveries and serendipitous encounters, as well as creating sites for vivid crowd interactions. It is this superiority that will lead to architects taking over from graphic designers as profession owning the design of all online interaction frames. This paper explores the plausibility of this takeover and the attendant expansion of architecture’s competency.