bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3D‐Druck im Stahlbau – additive Fertigung von Details, Verbindungen und Bauteilen
Authors: Lange Jörg , Feucht Thilo , Erven Maren , Waldschmitt Benedikt , Oechsner Matthias , Klein Marcus , Schudlich Anna‐Katharina
Published: November 2020

Die vollautomatische Fertigung ist in der Stahlbauindustrie angekommen. Zwar gibt es erst sehr wenige Firmen, die Stahlbauteile komplett von Robotern zusammenbauen lassen, aber der Mangel an Facharbeitern verbunden mit einem kontinuierlichen Fortschritt in der Maschinentechnik führt zu einem kontinuierlichen Zuwachs in diesem Bereich. So kann z. B. ein Roboter eine Fußplatte oder eine Steife an eine Stütze halten, während der zweite die Schweißnähte fertigt. Schweißroboter können darüber hinaus mithilfe des 3D‐Druckverfahrens WAAM (Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing) Details (Steifen), Knotenpunkte, Bauteile (insbesondere mit außergewöhnlichen Geometrien) und ganze Bauwerke herstellen. Der Schweißdraht wird hierbei als Druckwerkstoff eingesetzt, sodass es sich im Prinzip um eine Auftragsschweißung handelt. Hierdurch kann nicht nur die Logistik im Fertigungsbetrieb vereinfacht werden, da Steifen oder andere Anschlusselemente nicht mehr vorab zugeschnitten und an den Zusammenbauplatz geliefert werden müssen. Es können sich auch neue, dem Kraftfluss entsprechende Geometrien ergeben. Dadurch wird ein ganz anderes Konstruieren als bisher ermöglicht. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, neben einem kurzen Überblick über das WAAM, einige Fertigungsbeispiele aus Forschungsprojekten des Fachgebiets Stahlbau der TU Darmstadt, sich aus der Optimierung ergebende neue Lösungen für alte Probleme und die erste Brücke, die komplett an ihrem Einsatzort gedruckt wurde.
Testosterone deficiency in men infected with COVID‐19
Authors: Hackett Geoffrey , Kirby Michael
Published: November 2020

As our understanding of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus develops, recent research has highlighted the potential role of testosterone in the severity of illness. Here, the authors explain the role of testosterone in men infected with COVID‐19.
COVID‐19: not just an acute illness
Authors: Miller Alastair
Published: November 2020

Some people with COVID‐19 will need support for physical, emotional and mental symptoms long after they have recovered from the acute phase of the infection. Many of those with so‐called ‘long Covid’ are likely to have a post‐viral condition very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis for which management guidelines and a network of NHS clinics already exist.
Free vibration characteristics of nonlocal viscoelastic nano‐scaled plates with rectangular cutout and surface effects
Authors: Naghinejad Maysam , Ovesy Hamid Reza
Published: November 2020

In the present study, the viscoelastic free vibration behavior of nano‐scaled plates is studied by employing a finite element method based on the two‐phase nonlocal integral theory. Various boundary conditions, surface effects and cutouts have been assumed. The principle of total potential energy is used for developing the nonlocal finite element method, and the classical plate theory is assumed to derive the formulations. By numerically solving the eigenvalue problem, which has been obtained by the variational principle, the complex eigenvalues of free vibration of the viscoelastic nano‐scaled plates are acquired. The current results are compared with those available in the literature and those obtained by commercial finite element software, and the influences of the nonlocal parameter, viscoelastic parameter, geometrical parameters (e.g. cutout and size), surface effects and different boundary conditions on the complex eigenvalues are studied. It is noted that the current method is able to handle quite versatile boundary conditions and geometries like cutouts, which are rather difficult (or impossible) to be tackled by employing other methods available in most researches.
Effective theories as truncated trans-series and scale separated compactifications
Authors: Emelin Maxim
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We study the possibility of realizing scale-separated type IIB Anti-de Sitter and de Sitter compactifications within a controlled effective field theory regime defined by low-energy and large (but scale-separated) compactification volume. The approach we use views effective theories as truncations of the full quantum equations of motion expanded in a trans-series around this asymptotic regime. By studying the scalings of all possible perturbative and non-perturbative corrections we identify the effects that have the right scaling to allow for the desired solutions. In the case of Anti-de Sitter, we find agreement with KKLT-type scenarios, and argue that non-perturbative brane-instantons wrapping four-cycles (or similarly scaling effects) are essentially the only ingredient that allows for scale separated solutions. We also comment on the relation of these results to the AdS swampland conjectures. For the de Sitter case we find that we are forced to introduce an infinite number of relatively unsuppressed corrections to the equations of motion, leading to a breakdown of effective theory. This suggests that if de Sitter vacua exist in the string landscape, they should not be thought of as residing within the same effective theory as the AdS or Minkowski compactifications, but rather as defining a separate asymptotic regime, presumably related to the others by a duality transformation.
A new analysis of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess
Authors: Giunti C. , Ioannisian A. , Ranucci G.
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We present the results of a new analysis of the data of the MiniBooNE experiment taking into account the additional background of photons from ∆+/0 decay proposed in ref. [1] and additional contributions due to coherent photon emission, incoherent production of higher mass resonances, and incoherent non-resonant nucleon production. We show that the new background can explain part of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess and the statistical significance of the MiniBooNE indication in favor of short-baseline neutrino oscillation decreases from 5.1σ to 3.6σ. We also consider the implications for short-baseline neutrino oscillations in the 3+1 active-sterile neutrino mixing framework. We show that the new analysis of the MiniBooNE data indicates smaller active-sterile neutrino mixing and may lead us towards a solution of the appearance-disappearance tension in the global fit of short-baseline neutrino oscillation data.
Mechanisms and therapeutic potential of interactions between human amyloids and viruses
Authors: Michiels Emiel , Rousseau Frederic , Schymkowitz Joost
Published: November 2020

The aggregation of specific proteins and their amyloid deposition in affected tissue in disease has been studied for decades assuming a sole pathogenic role of amyloids. It is now clear that amyloids can also encode important cellular functions, one of which involves the interaction potential of amyloids with microbial pathogens, including viruses. Human expressed amyloids have been shown to act both as innate restriction molecules against viruses as well as promoting agents for viral infectivity. The underlying molecular driving forces of such amyloid–virus interactions are not completely understood. Starting from the well-described molecular mechanisms underlying amyloid formation, we here summarize three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses that have been proposed to drive amyloid–virus interactions. Viruses can indirectly drive amyloid depositions by affecting upstream molecular pathways or induce amyloid formation by a direct interaction with the viral surface or specific viral proteins. Finally, we highlight the potential of therapeutic interventions using the sequence specificity of amyloid interactions to drive viral interference.
Forecasting bankruptcy in the wood industry
Authors: Noga Tomasz , Adamowicz Krzysztof
Published: November 2020

The assessment of a company’s financial condition is an effective tool, which supports the management system. Nowadays a number of models are available, most often multi-branch ones, which are able to predict the financial situation of an enterprise. Models solely intended for just one line of business are a rarity. As far as the wood sector is concerned, no homogenous model suited to the sector has been created. The article aims to present the final stage of research dealing with predicting bankruptcy in the wood sector. The bankruptcy prediction model presented in this paper, called the model for forecasting bankruptcy of wood enterprises (FMWE), has been developed specifically for the wood sector. The process of model construction was presented and the correctness of forecasts built with the use of FMWE was verified. The predictions were based on 1-, 2- or 3-year periods. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the FMWE projections was compared to the 10 most popular bankruptcy prediction models used in Poland. It was observed that in comparison with other prediction models, FMWE predictions for this particular industry indicate greater credibility, up to 90%, for 1-year and 2-year predictions.
Malnutrition as predictor of poor outcome after total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Eminovic Sandra , Vincze Gabor , Eglseer Doris , Riedl Regina , Sadoghi Patrick , Leithner Andreas , Bernhardt Gerwin A.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and correlation with poor post-operative outcome in the elderly undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Hypothesis

Patients with PEM would have inferior post-operative outcome after THA.

Materials and method

We retrospectively evaluated the nutritional status of 220 hospitalized patients undergoing THA, 65 years and older. PEM was assessed using serum albumin and total lymphocyte count (TLC). Studied outcome parameters were length of pre-operative and post-operative stay, complications up to six months after surgery and 12-month mortality. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from medical records from the hospital database.

Results

The prevalence of PEM among patients undergoing THA was 12.3% (27/220). Patients with PEM were significantly older (mean age 81.3 ± 7.0, p < 0.001), had a lower BMI (24.7 ± 4.1 kg/m 2, p = 0.022), and showed more comorbid conditions (mean CCI 2.8 ± 2.0, p = 0.002) compared with well-nourished patients (age 75.6 ± 6.2, BMI 26.8 ± 4.3 kg/m 2, CCI: 1.7 ± 1.7). Length of pre-operative stay differed significantly (p < 0.001) between PEM (median 7, range 1–36 days) and non PEM (median 1, range 1–22 days). In the PEM group, 12 (44.4%) patients had post-operative complications within six months after OP and 15 (7.8%) patients in the non PEM group (HR = 6.3, 95% CI 1.7–23.1).

Conclusion

We observed a higher post-operative complication rate for malnourished patients undergoing elective THA. These results underline the importance of pre-operative nutritional assessment in the elderly. Therefore, serum albumin and TLC are valuable clinical markers of PEM and the post-operative outcome.
Age-dependent increase of treatment-related mortality in older patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma: analysis of outcome, treatment feasibility, and toxicity in 1171 elderly patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma—data from phase II and III trials of the DSHNHL (German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Study Group)
Authors: Zettl Florian , Ziepert Marita , Altmann Bettina , Zeynalova Samira , Held Gerhard , Pöschel Viola , Hohloch Karin , Wulf Gerald G. , Glass Bertram , Schmitz Norbert , Loeffler Markus , Trümper Lorenz
Published: November 2020

In elderly patients (pts) with aggressive B cell lymphoma (aNHL), curative treatment often cannot be administered because of comorbidities and tolerability. We analyzed the influence of age in pts > 60 years receiving the R-CHOP-14 regimen within different prospective DSHNHL trials. Of the RICOVER-60 trial and CHOP-R-ESC trials, 1171 aNHL pts were included in this retrospective analysis of age-dependent event-free survival (EFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). All patients received prophylactic G-CSF, and anti-infective prophylaxis with amphotericin B mouth wash and oral fluorchinolone was optional. In the CHOP-R-ESC trials, prophylaxis was augmented to include mandatory continuous orally administered aciclovir and a pneumocystis prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole as well as oral fluorchinolones during neutropenia. The patient population was separated into 4 age groups (61–65 years, 66–70 years, 71–75 years, and 76–80 years). The results from the RICOVER-60 trial were subsequently confirmed in the following CHOP-R-ESC trials by a multivariate analysis adjusted for IPI factors and gender. Significant differences (p < 0.001) in EFS, PFS, and OS were seen between age groups (RICOVER-60). Hematotoxicity, infections, and TRM increased with age. TRM was significantly elevated in the age group 76–80 years. Therefore, this analysis shows that an age above 75 years defines an especially vulnerable patient population when being treated with chemoimmunotherapy for aNHL. Prophylactic anti-infective drugs are essential and clinically effective in reducing morbidity when treating elderly aNHL pts.
Organisation and content of supervised group exercise for people with axial spondyloarthritis in The Netherlands
Authors: Hilberdink Bas , van der Giesen Florus , Vliet Vlieland Thea , van Weely Salima
Published: November 2020

Supervised group exercise (SGE) is recommended for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Recent literature suggests that its contents and dosage must probably be revised. As a first step towards renewal, this study examined the current SGE organisation and content for people with axSpA in The Netherlands. A pen-and-paper survey was sent to the boards of the 82 local patient associations affiliated with the Dutch Arthritis Society in 2016. One member of each board was asked to complete questions on the nature and organisation of SGE and one of the supervising therapists to complete questions on the SGE supervision and contents. The questionnaire was returned by representatives of 67/82 (82%) local patient associations, of which 17 (25%) provided axSpA-specific SGE (16/17 SGE programmes with both land-based exercise and hydrotherapy and 1/17 with only hydrotherapy). These involved in total 56 groups with 684 participants and 59 supervisors, of whom 54 were physical therapists and 21 had had postgraduate education on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Besides mobility and strengthening exercises and sports (17/17), most programmes included aerobic exercise (10/17), but rarely with heart rate monitoring (1/17), patient education (8/17), periodic assessments (2/17), or exercise personalisation (1/17). In the Netherlands, a quarter of local patient associations organised axSpA-specific SGE, mostly containing land-based exercises combined with sports and hydrotherapy. Most supervisors lacked postgraduate education on RMDs and most programmes lacked intensity monitoring, patient education, periodic assessments, and personalisation, which are needed for optimising exercise programmes according to current scientific insights.
Archeological neuroimmunology: resurrection of a pathogenic immune response from a historical case sheds light on human autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis
Authors: Beltrán Eduardo , Paunovic Manuela , Gebert David , Cesur Emine , Jeitler Markus , Höftberger Romana , Malotka Joachim , Mader Simone , Kawakami Naoto , Meinl Edgar , Bradl Monika , Dornmair Klaus , Lassmann Hans
Published: November 2020

Aim of our study was to identify the target auto-antigen in the central nervous system recognized by the immune system of a unique patient, who died more than 60 years ago from a disease with pathological changes closely resembling multiple sclerosis (MS), following a misguided immunization with lyophilized calf brain tissue. Total mRNA was isolated from formaldehyde fixed and paraffin embedded archival brain tissue containing chronic active inflammatory demyelinating lesions with inflammatory infiltrates rich in B-lymphocytes and plasma cells. Analysis of the transcriptome by next generation sequencing and reconstruction of the dominant antibody by bioinformatic tools revealed the presence of one strongly expanded B-cell clone, producing an autoantibody against a conformational epitope of myelin oligodendrocytes glycoprotein (MOG), similar to that recognized by the well characterized monoclonal anti-MOG antibody 8-18C5. The reconstructed antibody induced demyelination after systemic or intrathecal injection into animals with T-cell mediated encephalomyelitis. Our study suggests that immunization with bovine brain tissue in humans may—in a small subset of patients—induce a disease with an intermediate clinical and pathological presentation between MS and MOG-antibody associated inflammatory demyelinating disease (MOGAD).
Mononeuritis multiplex: an unexpectedly frequent feature of severe COVID-19
Authors: Needham Edward , Newcombe Virginia , Michell Andrew , Thornton Rachel , Grainger Andrew , Anwar Fahim , Warburton Elizabeth , Menon David , Trivedi Monica , Sawcer Stephen
Published: November 2020

The prolonged mechanical ventilation that is often required by patients with severe COVID-19 is expected to result in significant intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) in many of the survivors. However, in our post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic we have found that, as well as the anticipated global weakness related to loss of muscle mass, a significant proportion of these patients also have disabling focal neurological deficits relating to multiple axonal mononeuropathies. Amongst the 69 patients with severe COVID-19 that have been discharged from the intensive care units in our hospital, we have seen 11 individuals (16%) with such a mononeuritis multiplex. In many instances, the multi-focal nature of the weakness in these patients was initially unrecognised as symptoms were wrongly assumed to relate simply to “critical illness neuromyopathy”. While mononeuropathy is well recognised as an occasional complication of intensive care, our experience suggests that such deficits are surprisingly frequent and often disabling in patients recovering from severe COVID-19.
Myopericytoma arising from myopericytosis—a hitherto unrecognized entity within the lung
Authors: Gruber-Moesenbacher Ulrike , Morresi- Hauff Alicia , Behr Katja , Popper Helmut
Published: November 2020

Two cases of myopericytosis combined with pericytoma originating within the lung are reported. These are rare pulmonary tumors. The differential diagnosis for hemangiopericytoma and pericytic tumors with glomus elements is discussed. Both myopericytic lesions mimic other lesions, which are more commonly seen in the lung. Based on the expression of vascular growth factor receptors 2 and 3, an antiangiogenic therapy was suggested for the patient with the myopericytoma. A treatment with an angiogenesis inhibitor resulted in a regression of the tumor, but not the precursor lesion. Probably a more specific therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors for VEGFR2/3 might better control these myopericytic proliferations.
Do direct-access and indirect-access adaptation projects differ in their focus on local communities? A systematic analysis of 63 Adaptation Fund projects
Authors: Manuamorn Ornsaran Pomme , Biesbroek Robbert
Published: November 2020

Recent literature suggests that direct national access to multilateral climate funds could promote climate change adaptation investment that focuses more on the needs of vulnerable local communities when compared to indirect access through multilateral agencies. However, there has been no systematic comparative assessment of the level of community focus of direct-access and indirect-access projects. The lack of a standardized methodology to assess the level of community-focused adaptation has also constrained such comparison. To address this gap, this paper proposes a new framework to assess the level of community focus in adaptation projects, using a combination of financial, participatory, devolutionary, and design for policy adoption and replicability criteria. Using the Adaptation Fund (AF) as a case study, we apply the framework to systematically assess 63 projects approved by the Fund as of May 2017, comprising 22 direct-access and 41 indirect-access projects. We find that direct-access projects are more community-focused than indirect-access projects because they exhibit higher community-oriented financial, participatory, and devolutionary characteristics. We find no difference between the direct-access and indirect-access projects with regard to how they are designed to promote policy adoption and replicability of AF project-financed adaptation actions through policy and geographical mainstreaming. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the pattern of adaptation investment that takes place in developing countries with the support of international adaptation finance under both access modalities. The proposed assessment framework could also inform the development of a standardized methodology to track the delivery of international adaptation finance to the community level.
Aquatic plants and ecotoxicological assessment in freshwater ecosystems: a review
Authors: Ceschin Simona , Bellini Amii , Scalici Massimiliano
Published: November 2020

This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art, limitations, critical issues, and new directions in freshwater plant ecotoxicology. We selected peer-reviewed studies using relevant databases and for each (1) publication year, (2) test plant species, (3) reference plant group (microalgae, macroalgae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, flowering plants), (4) toxicant tested (heavy metal, pharmaceutical product, hydrocarbon, pesticide, surfactant, plastic), (5) experiment site (laboratory, field), and (6) toxicant exposure duration. Although aquatic plant organisms play a key role in the functioning of freshwater ecosystems, mainly linked to their primary productivity, their use as biological models in ecotoxicological tests was limited if compared to animals. Also, toxicant effects on freshwater plants were scarcely investigated and limited to studies on microalgae (80%), or only to a certain number of recurrent species (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Chlorella vulgaris, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum spicatum). The most widely tested toxicants on plants were heavy metals (74%), followed by pharmaceutical products and hydrocarbons (7%), while the most commonly utilized endpoints in tests were plant growth inhibition, variations in dry or fresh weight, morpho-structural alterations, chlorosis, and/or necrosis. The main critical issues emerged from plant-based ecotoxicological tests were the narrow range of species and endpoints considered, the lack of environmental relevance, the excessively short exposure times, and the culture media potentially reacting with toxicants. Proposals to overcome these issues are discussed.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities of Refugees in Germany, France, and Ireland: Multiple Embeddedness Framework
Authors: Harima Aki , Periac Fabrice , Murphy Tony , Picard Salomé
Published: November 2020

Recently, the entrepreneurial potential of refugees has received growing attention from scholars and policymakers. However, the literature on refugee entrepreneurship suffers from the fragmentation of previous research findings, which has been mainly attributed to the fact that refugees have heterogeneous backgrounds. Tackling this challenge, this study conceptualized the framework for the multiple embeddedness of refugee entrepreneurs by applying and extending the concept of mixed embeddedness. Based on 50 semi-structured interviews with refugee entrepreneurs who relocated to Germany, France, and Ireland, we identified six patterns in which refugees’ multiple embeddedness and their actions as entrepreneurial agencies interacted to develop entrepreneurial opportunities: (i) value creation with homeland resources, (ii) acting as transnational middleman minorities, (iii) integration facilitation, (iv) qualification transfers, (v) homeland-problem solving, and (vi) creative innovation. This study contributes to the literature on refugee entrepreneurship by considering multiple contexts in which refugees can be embedded in and by elaborating on the interactions between opportunity structure emerging within the multiple embeddedness, actions, and capabilities of refugees as entrepreneurial agencies.
Making sense of professional enablers’ involvement in laundering organized crime proceeds and of their regulation
Authors: Levi Michael
Published: November 2020

Money laundering has ascended the enforcement and criminological agenda in the course of this century, and has been accompanied by an increased focus on legal professionals as ‘enablers’ of crime. This article explores the dynamics of this enforcement, media and political agenda, and how the legal profession has responded in the UK and elsewhere, within the context of ignoring the difficulties of judging the effectiveness of anti money laundering. It concludes that legal responses are a function of their lobbying power, the determination of governments to clamp down on the toxic impacts of legal structures, and different legal cultures. However, it remains unclear what the effects on the levels and organization of serious crimes for gain are of controls on the professions.
Disaster Risk Management Through the DesignSafe Cyberinfrastructure
Authors: Pinelli Jean-Paul , Esteva Maria , Rathje Ellen M. , Roueche David , Brandenberg Scott J. , Mosqueda Gilberto , Padgett Jamie , Haan Frederick
Published: November 2020

DesignSafe addresses the challenges of supporting integrative data-driven research in natural hazards engineering. It is an end-to-end data management, communications, and analysis platform where users collect, generate, analyze, curate, and publish large data sets from a variety of sources, including experiments, simulations, field research, and post-disaster reconnaissance. DesignSafe achieves key objectives through: (1) integration with high performance and cloud-computing resources to support the computational needs of the regional risk assessment community; (2) the possibility to curate and publish diverse data structures emphasizing relationships and understandability; and (3) facilitation of real time communications during natural hazards events and disasters for data and information sharing. The resultant services and tools shorten data cycles for resiliency evaluation, risk modeling validation, and forensic studies. This article illustrates salient features of the cyberinfrastructure. It summarizes its design principles, architecture, and functionalities. The focus is on case studies to show the impact of DesignSafe on the disaster risk community. The Next Generation Liquefaction project collects and standardizes case histories of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction into a relational database—DesignSafe—to permit users to interact with the data. Researchers can correlate in DesignSafe building dynamic characteristics based on data from building sensors, with observed damage based on ground motion measurements. Reconnaissance groups upload, curate, and publish wind, seismic, and coastal damage data they gather during field reconnaissance missions, so these datasets are available shortly after a disaster. As a part of the education and community outreach efforts of DesignSafe, training materials and collaboration space are also offered to the disaster risk management community.
Individual- and Household-Level Interventions to Reduce Air Pollution Exposures and Health Risks: a Review of the Recent Literature
Authors: Allen Ryan W. , Barn Prabjit
Published: November 2020

Purpose of Review

We reviewed recent peer-reviewed literature on three categories of individual- and household-level interventions against air pollution: air purifiers, facemasks, and behavior change.

Recent Findings

High-efficiency particulate air/arresting (HEPA) filter air purifier use over days to weeks can substantially reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations indoors and improve subclinical cardiopulmonary health. Modeling studies suggest that the population-level benefits of HEPA filter air purification would often exceed costs. Well-fitting N95 and equivalent respirators can reduce PM2.5 exposure, with several randomized crossover studies also reporting improvements in subclinical cardiovascular health. The health benefits of other types of face coverings have not been tested and their effectiveness in reducing exposure is highly variable, depends largely on fit, and is unrelated to cost. Behavior modifications may reduce exposure, but there has been little research on health impacts.

There is now substantial evidence that HEPA filter air purifiers reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations and improve subclinical health indicators. As a result, their use is being recommended by a growing number of government and public health organizations. Several studies have also reported subclinical cardiovascular health benefits from well-fitting respirators, while evidence of health benefits from other types of facemasks and behavior changes remains very limited. In situations when emissions cannot be controlled at the source, such as during forest fires, individual- or household-level interventions may be the primary option. In most cases, however, such interventions should be supplemental to emission reduction efforts that benefit entire communities.
Headache as a Prognostic Factor for COVID-19. Time to Re-evaluate
Authors: Martelletti Paolo , Bentivegna Enrico , Luciani Michelangelo , Spuntarelli Valerio
Published: November 2020

Headache occurs in only about 13% of patients within the cohort of presenting COVID-19 symptoms. The hypothesis that such a painful symptomatic picture could be considered a prognostic factor for COVID-19 positive evolution or its trend of severity, or the co-generation of hyposmia/anosmia and/or hypogeusia/ageusia, needs robust epidemiological data, punctual pathophysiological demonstrations, and a detailed comparative analysis on drug–drug interactions (DDIs).
Reluctant Reception
Authors: Norman Kelsey P.
Published: November 2020

Seeking to understand why host states treat migrants and refugees inclusively, exclusively, or without any direct engagement, Kelsey P. Norman offers this original, comparative analysis of the politics of asylum seeking and migration in the Middle East and North Africa. While current classifications of migrant and refugee engagement in the Global South mistake the absence of formal policy and law for neglect, Reluctant Reception proposes the concept of 'strategic indifference', where states proclaim to be indifferent toward migrants and refugees, thereby inviting international organizations and local NGOs to step in and provide services on the state's behalf. Using the cases of Egypt, Morocco and Turkey to develop her theory of 'strategic indifference', Norman demonstrates how, by allowing migrants and refugees to integrate locally into large informal economies, and by allowing organizations to provide basic services, host countries receive international credibility while only exerting minimal state resources.
Migration-induced transfers of norms: the case of female political empowerment
Authors: Lodigiani Elisabetta , Salomone Sara
Published: November 2020

This paper empirically investigates the effect of transnational migrants on gender equality in the country of origin measured by the share of women enrolled in the lower chamber of National Parliaments. We test for a “migration-induced transfer of norm” using panel data from 1970 to 2010 in 10-year intervals. Total international migration has a positive and significant effect on female political empowerment in countries of origin conditional on the initial female parliamentary participation in both origin and destination countries. Endogeneity issues are taken into account and results are tested under specific geo-political subsamples.
Heterochronic origin of spherical fusulinid foraminifera in the late Paleozoic
Authors: Shi Yukun
Published: November 2020

Heterochrony describes acceleration, displacement, and/or retardation of descendants’ development events compared with ancestral states and has often been cited as an important process to bring about morphological novelty. It was coined one-and-a-half centuries ago and has been discussed by both paleobiologists and biologists frequently ever since. Many types of fossil organisms preserve aspects of their development histories in their bones or shells that have been used for heterochrony analyses, with body size being used as a developmental age indicator, despite questions being raised regarding this practice. For organisms whose hard structures consist of multiple chambers, or that contain growth lines, age information suggested by these structures independently can facilitate ontogenetic modeling. In this way, relations among size, shape, and age can be established to document patterns of morphological development.

Morphological analysis of pseudoschwagerine fusulinids, a fossil foraminifera group that developed a morphologically novel spherical shell, along with their presumptive triticitid ancestors illustrates this approach to heterochrony analysis. Ontogenetic trajectory comparisons of four major pseudoschwagerine genera, as well as those of triticitids, document relations between their shapes, sizes, and developmental ages. A complex of heterochronic patterns, including peramorphic predisplacement, hypermorphosis, and acceleration, characterize pseudoschwagerine development and appear to be responsible for the novel appearance of large, inflated fusiform and spherical tests in these late Paleozoic benthic foraminifera. The morphometric approach employed in this investigation could be applied widely in the quantitative morphological studies of development histories in a variety of other fossil groups.
REPATRIATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS: INDIVIDUAL RIGHT OR STATE PREROGATIVE?
Authors: Spadaro Alessandra
Published: November 2020

This article analyses the decisions of Belgian and Dutch courts concerning the repatriation of the family members of foreign fighters who are now detained in dire conditions in North-East Syria. The article shows that, under international law, these women and children have no individual right to be repatriated by their State of nationality, based on either consular assistance, the extraterritorial applicability of human rights treaties, or the right of return to one's own country. Nonetheless there are good reasons why States should exercise their prerogative to repatriate.
Moment Risk Premia and Stock Return Predictability
Authors: Fan Zhenzhen , Xiao Xiao , Zhou Hao
Published: November 2020

We study the predictive power of option-implied moment risk premia embedded in the conventional variance risk premium. We find that although the second-moment risk premium predicts market returns in short horizons with positive coefficients, the third-moment (fourth-moment) risk premium predicts market returns in medium horizons with negative (positive) coefficients. Combining the higher-moment risk premia with the second-moment risk premium improves the stock return predictability over multiple horizons, both in sample and out of sample. The finding is economically significant in an asset-allocation exercise and survives a series of robustness checks.
Dosimetric comparison of different radiotherapy techniques for the treatment of Retinoblastoma
Authors: Nath Jyotiman , Goswami Pranjal , Medhi Partha Pratim , Sarma Gautam , Kalita Apurba Kumar , Bhattacharyya Mouchumee
Published: November 2020

Aim:

This study aims to compare the dosimetric parameters among four different external beam radiotherapy techniques used for the treatment of retinoblastoma.

Materials and methods:

Computed tomography (CT) sets of five retinoblastoma patients who required radiotherapy to one globe were included. Four different plans were generated for each patient using three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and VMAT using flattening filter free (VMAT-FFF) beam techniques. Plans were compared for target coverage and organs at risk (OARs) sparing.

Results:

The target coverage of planning target volume (PTV) for all the four modalities were clinically acceptable with a V95 of 95 ± 0%, 97·6 ± 1·87%, 99·3 ± 0·5% and 99·17 ± 0·45% for 3DCRT, IMRT, VMAT and VMAT-FFF respectively. The VMAT and IMRT plans had better target coverage than the 3DCRT plans (p = 0·001 and p = 0·07 respectively). IMRT and VMAT plans were also found superior to 3DCRT plans in terms of OAR sparing like brainstem, optic chiasm, brain (p < 0·05). VMAT delivered significantly lower dose to the brainstem and contralateral optic nerve in comparison to IMRT. Use of VMAT-FFF beams did not show any benefit over VMAT in target coverage and OAR sparing.

Conclusion:

VMAT should be preferred over 3DCRT and IMRT for treatment of retinoblastoma owing to better target coverage and less dose to most of the OARs. However, IMRT and VMAT should be used with caution because of the increased low dose volumes to the OARs like contralateral lens and eyeball.
Die COVID-19-Pandemie als Herausforderung für die psychische Gesundheit
Authors: Brakemeier Eva-Lotta , Wirkner Janine , Knaevelsrud Christine , Wurm Susanne , Christiansen Hanna , Lueken Ulrike , Schneider Silvia
Published: November 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die COVID-19-Pandemie als multidimensionaler und potenziell toxischer Stressfaktor führt auch in Deutschland zu psychischen Problemen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung und wird voraussichtlich einen Anstieg der Inzidenz- und Prävalenzraten psychischer Störungen bedingen. In diesem Positionspapier erfolgt daher eine wissenschaftlich differenzierte Betrachtung der psychologischen Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie auf verschiedene Altersstufen sowie psychische Vulnerabilitäten und Störungsbilder, wobei auch Chancen für die psychische Gesundheit und psychotherapeutische Versorgung diskutiert werden. Basierend auf den Befunden werden abschließend u. a. folgende gesundheitspolitische Ziele und Maßnahmen abgeleitet: Implementierung von universellen und indizierten modularen Präventionsangeboten sowie Anpassung der evidenzbasierten Richtlinienpsychotherapien hinsichtlich Bedarf, Inhalt und Modalität. Die Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie stellt aufgrund ihrer ausgewiesenen Expertise im Bereich der psychischen Gesundheit zentrales Wissen für die erfolgreiche Bewältigung der COVID-19-Pandemie zur Verfügung und kann in interdisziplinären und interprofessionellen Kooperationen dazu beitragen, die Herausforderungen für die psychische Gesundheit anzugehen.
Wind and Sand Transport Across a Vegetated Foredune Slope
Authors: Schwarz C. , van Starrenburg C. , Donker J. , Ruessink G.
Published: November 2020

Vegetated foredunes are widespread aeolian landforms along wave‐dominated sandy coasts. In contrast to previous advances in dune erosion during storm surges, there is a little empirical data and understanding of aeolian processes during foredune recovery and growth. Based on a comprehensive data set (airflow, sand transport, topography change, and vegetation cover) collected across a steep (1:2.5, 21.8°), high (20 m) foredune during a windy 5‐week period at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, we demonstrate in agreement with previous studies that shore‐perpendicular winds accelerate by a factor of 3 from dune foot to crest but result in low aeolian mass fluxes that are maximum at the dunefoot, favoring local deposition. In contrast, oblique and alongshore winds up the foredune are accelerated less (or even decelerate) but are important in bringing sand from the dunefoot on to the foredune slope, where it is deposited when vegetation cover exceeds about 50% of the maximum density measured on the dune crest. Moreover, our data suggest that sediment flux at the dune foot is limited by fetch‐induced sediment availability, whereas sediment flux at the dune crest is limited by transport capacity, which depends on the wind velocity and the distance traveled over vegetation. Our study thus highlights the importance of wind direction and vegetation cover to foredune growth and recovery.
Antibacterial effects of platelet-rich fibrin produced by horizontal centrifugation
Authors: Feng Mengge , Wang Yulan , Zhang Peng , Zhao Qin , Yu Shimin , Shen Kailun , Miron Richard J. , Zhang Yufeng
Published: November 2020

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been widely used owing to its ability to stimulate tissue regeneration. To date, few studies have described the antibacterial properties of PRF. Previously, PRF prepared by horizontal centrifugation (H-PRF) was shown to contain more immune cells than leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial effects of PRFs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro and to determine whether the antibacterial effects correlated with the number of immune cells. Blood samples were obtained from eight healthy donors to prepare L-PRF and H-PRF. The sizes and weights of L-PRF and H-PRF were first evaluated, and their antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli were then tested in vitro using the inhibition ring and plate-counting test methods. Flow-cytometric analysis of the cell components of L-PRF and H-PRF was also performed. No significant differences in size or weight were observed between the L-PRF and H-PRF groups. The H-PRF group contained more leukocytes than the L-PRF group. While both PRFs had notable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, H-PRF demonstrated a significantly better antibacterial effect than L-PRF. Furthermore, the antimicrobial ability of the PRF solid was less efficient than that of wet PRF. In conclusion, H-PRF exhibited better antibacterial activity than L-PRF, which might have been attributed to having more immune cells.
Machine learning for suicide risk prediction in children and adolescents with electronic health records
Authors: Su Chang , Aseltine Robert , Doshi Riddhi , Chen Kun , Rogers Steven C. , Wang Fei
Published: November 2020

Accurate prediction of suicide risk among children and adolescents within an actionable time frame is an important but challenging task. Very few studies have comprehensively considered the clinical risk factors available to produce quantifiable risk scores for estimation of short- and long-term suicide risk for pediatric population. In this paper, we built machine learning models for predicting suicidal behavior among children and adolescents based on their longitudinal clinical records, and determining short- and long-term risk factors. This retrospective study used deidentified structured electronic health records (EHR) from the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center covering the period from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2016. Clinical records of 41,721 young patients (10–18 years old) were included for analysis. Candidate predictors included demographics, diagnosis, laboratory tests, and medications. Different prediction windows ranging from 0 to 365 days were adopted. For each prediction window, candidate predictors were first screened by univariate statistical tests, and then a predictive model was built via a sequential forward feature selection procedure. We grouped the selected predictors and estimated their contributions to risk prediction at different prediction window lengths. The developed predictive models predicted suicidal behavior across all prediction windows with AUCs varying from 0.81 to 0.86. For all prediction windows, the models detected 53–62% of suicide-positive subjects with 90% specificity. The models performed better with shorter prediction windows and predictor importance varied across prediction windows, illustrating short- and long-term risks. Our findings demonstrated that routinely collected EHRs can be used to create accurate predictive models for suicide risk among children and adolescents.
Mitochondrial ROS prime the hyperglycemic shift from apoptosis to necroptosis
Authors: Deragon Matthew A. , McCaig William D. , Patel Payal S. , Haluska Robert J. , Hodges Alexa L. , Sosunov Sergey A. , Murphy Michael P. , Ten Vadim S. , LaRocca Timothy J.
Published: November 2020

We have previously identified a shift from TNF-α-induced apoptosis to necroptosis that occurs under hyperglycemic conditions. This shift involves the downregulation or silencing of caspases and concurrent upregulation of necroptotic proteins leading to activation of the necrosome. In addition, under hyperglycemic conditions in vivo, this shift in cell death mechanisms exacerbates neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) brain injury. Here, we identify two major factors that drive the hyperglycemic shift to necroptosis: (1) reactive oxygen species (ROS) and (2) receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1). ROS, including mitochondrial superoxide, led to the oxidation of RIP1, as well as formation and activation of the necrosome. Concurrently, ROS mediate a decrease in the levels and activation of executioner caspases-3, -6, and -7. Importantly, hyperglycemia and mitochondrial ROS result in the oxidation of RIP1 and loss of executioner caspases prior to death receptor engagement by TNF-α. Moreover, RIP1 partially controlled levels of mitochondrial ROS in the context of hyperglycemia. As a result of its regulation of ROS, RIP1 also regulated necrosome activation and caspase loss. Mitochondrial ROS exacerbated neonatal HI-brain injury in hyperglycemic mice, as a result of the shift from apoptosis to necroptosis.
Training confounder-free deep learning models for medical applications
Authors: Zhao Qingyu , Adeli Ehsan , Pohl Kilian M.
Published: November 2020

The presence of confounding effects (or biases) is one of the most critical challenges in using deep learning to advance discovery in medical imaging studies. Confounders affect the relationship between input data (e.g., brain MRIs) and output variables (e.g., diagnosis). Improper modeling of those relationships often results in spurious and biased associations. Traditional machine learning and statistical models minimize the impact of confounders by, for example, matching data sets, stratifying data, or residualizing imaging measurements. Alternative strategies are needed for state-of-the-art deep learning models that use end-to-end training to automatically extract informative features from large set of images. In this article, we introduce an end-to-end approach for deriving features invariant to confounding factors while accounting for intrinsic correlations between the confounder(s) and prediction outcome. The method does so by exploiting concepts from traditional statistical methods and recent fair machine learning schemes. We evaluate the method on predicting the diagnosis of HIV solely from Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs), identifying morphological sex differences in adolescence from those of the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA), and determining the bone age from X-ray images of children. The results show that our method can accurately predict while reducing biases associated with confounders. The code is available at https://github.com/qingyuzhao/br-net.