bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arthroscopic iliac crest bone grafting in recurrent anterior shoulder instability: minimum 5-year clinical and radiologic follow-up
Authors: Boehm Elisabeth , Minkus Marvin , Moroder Philipp , Scheibel Markus
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To investigate the clinical and radiologic mid- to long-term results of arthroscopic iliac crest bone-grafting for anatomic glenoid reconstruction in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

Methods

Seventeen patients were evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Clinical [range of motion, subscapularis tests, apprehension sign, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Constant Score (CS), Rowe Score (RS), Walch Duplay Score (WD), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI)], and radiologic [X-ray (true a.p., Bernageau and axillary views) and computed tomography (CT)] outcome parameters were assessed.

Results

Fourteen patients [mean age 31.1 (range 18–50) years] were available after a follow-up period of 78.7 (range 60–110) months. The SSV averaged 87 (range 65–100) %, CS 94 (range 83–100) points, RS 89 (range 30–100) points, WD 87 (range 25–100) points, and WOSI 70 (range 47–87) %. The apprehension sign was positive in two patients (14%). One patient required an arthroscopic capsular plication due to a persisting feeling of instability, while the second patient experienced recurrent dislocations after a trauma, but refused revision surgery. CT imaging showed a significant increase of the glenoid index from preoperative 0.8 ± 0.04 (range 0.7–0.8) to 1.0 ± 0.11 (range 0.8–1.2) at the final follow-up (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Arthroscopic reconstruction of anteroinferior glenoid defects using an autologous iliac crest bone-grafting technique yields satisfying clinical and radiologic results after a mid- to long-term follow-up period. Postoperative re-dislocation was experienced in one (7.1%) of the patients due to a trauma and an anatomic reconstruction of the pear-shaped glenoid configuration was observed.

Level of evidence

IV.
Completing perfect complexes
Authors: Krause Henning
Published: April 2020

This note proposes a new method to complete a triangulated category, which is based on the notion of a Cauchy sequence. We apply this to categories of perfect complexes. It is shown that the bounded derived category of finitely presented modules over a right coherent ring is the completion of the category of perfect complexes. The result extends to non-affine noetherian schemes and gives rise to a direct construction of the singularity category. The parallel theory of completion for abelian categories is compatible with the completion of derived categories. There are three appendices. The first one by Tobias Barthel discusses the completion of perfect complexes for ring spectra. The second one by Tobias Barthel and Henning Krause refines for a separated noetherian scheme the description of the bounded derived category of coherent sheaves as a completion. The final appendix by Bernhard Keller introduces the concept of a morphic enhancement for triangulated categories and provides a foundation for completing a triangulated category.
JZL184, A Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitor, Induces Bone Loss in a Multiple Myeloma Model of Immunocompetent Mice
Authors: Marino Silvia , Carrasco Giovana , Li Boya , Shah Karan M. , Lath Darren L. , Sophocleous Antonia , Lawson Michelle A. , Idris Aymen I.
Published: April 2020

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients develop osteolysis characterised by excessive osteoclastic bone destruction and lack of osteoblast bone formation. Pharmacological manipulation of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), reduced skeletal tumour burden and osteolysis associated with osteosarcoma and advanced breast and prostate cancers. MM and hematopoietic, immune and bone marrow cells express high levels of type 2 cannabinoid receptor and osteoblasts secrete 2-AG. However, the effects of MAGL manipulation on MM have not been investigated. Here, we report that treatment of pre-osteoclasts with non-cytotoxic concentrations of JZL184, a verified MAGL inhibitor, enhanced MM- and RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and size in vitro. Exposure of osteoblasts to JZL184 in the presence of MM cell-derived factors reduced osteoblast growth but had no effect on the ability of these cells to mature or form bone nodules. In vivo, administration of JZL184 induced a modest, yet significant, bone loss at both trabecular and cortical compartments of long bones of immunocompetent mice inoculated with the syngeneic 5TGM1-GFP MM cells. Notably, JZL184 failed to inhibit the in vitro growth of a panel of mouse and human MM cell lines, or reduce tumour burden in mice. Thus, MAGL inhibitors such as JZL184 can exacerbate MM-induced bone loss.
Tissue-specific epigenetic inheritance after paternal heat exposure in male wild guinea pigs
Authors: Weyrich Alexandra , Yasar Selma , Lenz Dorina , Fickel Jörns
Published: April 2020

External temperature change has been shown to modify epigenetic patterns, such as DNA methylation, which regulates gene expression. DNA methylation is heritable, and as such provides a mechanism to convey environmental information to subsequent generations. Studies on epigenetic response to temperature increase are still scarce in wild mammals, even more so studies that compare tissue-specific epigenetic responses. Here, we aim to address differential epigenetic responses on a gene and gene pathway level in two organs, liver and testis. We chose these organs, because the liver is the main metabolic and thermoregulation organ, and epigenetic modifications in testis are potentially transmitted to the F2 generation. We focused on the transmission of DNA methylation changes to naive male offspring after paternal exposure to an ambient temperature increase of 10 °C, and investigated differential methylated regions of sons sired before and after the paternal exposure using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. We detected both a highly tissue-specific epigenetic response, reflected in genes involved in organ-specific metabolic pathways, and a more general regulation of single genes epigenetically modified in both organs. We conclude that genomes are context-specifically differentially epigenetically regulated in response to temperature increase. These findings emphasize the epigenetic relevance in cell differentiation, which is essential for the specific function(s) of complex organs, and is represented in a diverse molecular regulation of genes and gene pathways. The results also emphasize the paternal contribution to adaptive processes.
Genetic and environmental factors of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder: insights from twin studies
Authors: Imamura Akira , Morimoto Yoshiro , Ono Shinji , Kurotaki Naohiro , Kanegae Shinji , Yamamoto Naoki , Kinoshita Hirohisa , Tsujita Takahiro , Okazaki Yuji , Ozawa Hiroki
Published: April 2020

Twin studies of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder have employed epidemiological approaches that determine heritability by comparing the concordance rate between monozygotic twins (MZs) and dizygotic twins. The basis for these studies is that MZs share 100% of their genetic information. Recently, biological studies based on molecular methods are now being increasingly applied to examine the differences between MZs discordance for psychiatric disorders to unravel their possible causes. Although recent advances in next-generation sequencing have increased the accuracy of this line of research, there has been greater emphasis placed on epigenetic changes versus DNA sequence changes as the probable cause of discordant psychiatric disorders in MZs. Since the epigenetic status differs in each tissue type, in addition to the DNA from the peripheral blood, studies using DNA from nerve cells induced from postmortem brains or induced pluripotent stem cells are being carried out. Although it was originally thought that epigenetic changes occurred as a result of environmental factors, and thus were not transmittable, it is now known that such changes might possibly be transmitted between generations. Therefore, the potential possible effects of intestinal flora inside the body are currently being investigated as a cause of discordance in MZs. As a result, twin studies of psychiatric disorders are greatly contributing to the elucidation of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of psychiatric conditions.
Noise-Induced Changes of the Auditory Brainstem Response to Speech—a Measure of Neural Desynchronisation?
Authors: de Boer Jessica , Nuttall Helen E. , Krumbholz Katrin
Published: April 2020

It is commonly assumed that difficulty in listening to speech in noise is at least partly due to deficits in neural temporal processing. Given that noise reduces the temporal fidelity of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) to speech, it has been suggested that the speech ABR may serve as an index of such neural deficits. However, the temporal fidelity of ABRs, to both speech and non-speech sounds, is also known to be influenced by the cochlear origin of the response, as responses from higher-frequency cochlear regions are faster and more synchronous than responses from lower-frequency regions. Thus, if noise caused a reweighting of response contributions from higher- to lower-frequency cochlear regions, the temporal fidelity of the aggregate response should be reduced even in the absence of any changes in neural processing. This ‘place mechanism’ has been demonstrated for non-speech ABRs. The aim of this study was to test whether it also applies to speech ABRs. We used the so-called ‘derived-band’ method to isolate response contributions from frequency-limited cochlear regions. Broadband and derived-band speech ABRs were measured both in quiet and in noise. Whilst the noise caused significant changes to the temporal properties of the broadband response, its effects on the derived-band responses were mostly restricted to the response amplitudes. Importantly, the amplitudes of the higher-frequency derived-band responses were much more strongly affected than those of the lower-frequency responses, suggesting that the noise indeed caused a reweighting effect. Our results indicate that, as for non-speech ABRs, the cochlear place mechanism can represent a potentially substantial confound to speech-ABR-in-noise measurements.
Towards the conservation of Borneo’s freshwater mussels: rediscovery of the endemic Ctenodesma borneensis and first record of the non-native Sinanodonta lauta
Authors: Zieritz Alexandra , Taha Hussein , Lopes-Lima Manuel , Pfeiffer John , Sing Kong Wah , Sulaiman Zohrah , McGowan Suzanne , A.Rahim Khairul Adha
Published: April 2020

The freshwater mussel fauna of Borneo is highly endemic, with at least 11 species being unique to that island. Most of these species have not been recorded for at least 50 years owing to a lack of sampling effort and large-scale habitat destruction and degradation. Surveys conducted in 2016 across much of Malaysian Borneo failed to locate four out of five native species historically recorded in the study area. The present study aimed to determine the diversity and distribution of freshwater mussels of Brunei and adjacent Limbang Division, Malaysia. In 2018, we conducted interviews with locals, recorded environmental data and surveyed mussels at 43 sites, and conducted interviews at a further 38 sites. Only one population of native mussels, i.e. Ctenodesma borneensis, was found in a small tributary of the Limbang River situated in a patch of intact rainforest, representing the first record of this Bornean endemic genus since 1962. In addition, Sinanodonta lauta was found in a pond in Lawas district, representing the first record of this species outside its native East Asian distribution. Our data suggest that C. borneensis can sustain populations in relatively undisturbed habitats and is likely to have suffered population losses across northern Borneo. The first molecular phylogenetic analysis (COI + 28S) including an endemic Bornean freshwater mussel genus revealed that Ctenodesma is phylogenetically divergent from all other previously sampled lineages, rendering it a particularly valuable conservation target.
Belief updating: does the ‘good-news, bad-news’ asymmetry extend to purely financial domains?
Authors: Barron Kai
Published: April 2020

Bayes’ statistical rule remains the status quo for modeling belief updating in both normative and descriptive models of behavior under uncertainty. Some recent research has questioned the use of Bayes’ rule in descriptive models of behavior, presenting evidence that people overweight ‘good news’ relative to ‘bad news’ when updating ego-relevant beliefs. In this paper, we present experimental evidence testing whether this ‘good-news, bad-news’ effect is present in a financial decision making context (i.e. a domain that is important for understanding much economic decision making). We find no evidence of asymmetric updating in this domain. In contrast, in our experiment, belief updating is close to the Bayesian benchmark on average. However, we show that this average behavior masks substantial heterogeneity in individual updating behavior. We find no evidence in support of a sizeable subgroup of asymmetric updators.
Reducing radiation exposure in second-generation cryoballoon ablation without compromising clinical outcome
Authors: Holl Marijn J. , Bhagwandien Rohit E. , Firouzi Mehran , de Ruiter Wouter A. , Szili-Torok Tamas , Yap Sing-Chien
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon (CB) ablation is associated with an increased radiation exposure compared with radiofrequency ablation. Previous studies showed that radiation exposure in CB PVI can be reduced by optimizing the fluoroscopy protocol without comprising acute efficacy and safety. We evaluated the mid-term outcome of a modified fluoroscopy protocol in patients undergoing CB PVI.

Methods

The study population comprised 90 consecutive patients who underwent second-generation CB-based PVI. The first 46 patients underwent CB PVI with conventional fluoroscopy settings (group A, historic control group). In the following 44 patients (group B), a modified fluoroscopy protocol was applied consisting of (1) visualization of degree of PV occlusion only by fluoroscopy (no cine runs); (2) increased radiation awareness. Primary endpoints were the total dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, and freedom from documented recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after a single procedure.

Results

Group B had a lower median DAP (1393 cGycm2 vs. 3232 cGycm2, P < 0.001) and median fluoroscopy time (20 min vs. 24 min, P < 0.001) as compared with group A. The 1-year freedom from documented recurrence of AF after a single procedure was similar among groups (74% in group A vs. 77% in group B, P = 0.71). There were no significant differences between both groups for the secondary endpoints, including procedure duration, proportion of patients with complete electrical isolation, and complications.

Conclusion

Using a modified fluoroscopy protocol and increased radiation awareness, radiation exposure can be significantly reduced in CB PVI with a similar 1-year clinical outcome.
Plasma-Assisted ALD of Highly Conductive HfNx: On the Effect of Energetic Ions on Film Microstructure
Authors: Karwal Saurabh , Verheijen Marcel A. , Arts Karsten , Faraz Tahsin , Kessels Wilhelmus M. M. , Creatore Mariadriana
Published: April 2020

In this work, we report on the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of HfNx thin films by employing CpHf(NMe2)3 as the Hf(IV) precursor and Ar–H2 plasma in combination with external RF substrate biasing as the co-reactant. Following up on our previous results based on an H2 plasma and external RF substrate biasing, here we address the effect of ions with a larger mass and higher energy impinging on HfNx film surface during growth. We show that an increase in the average ion energy up to 304 eV leads to a very low electrical resistivity of 4.1 × 10–4 Ωcm. This resistivity value is achieved for films as thin as ~ 35 nm, and it is an order of magnitude lower than the resistivity reported in literature for HfNx films grown by either CVD or ALD, while being comparable to the resistivity of PVD-grown HfNx films. From the extensive thin film characterization, we conclude that the impinging ions during the film growth lead to the very low electrical resistivity of HfNx films by suppressing the oxygen incorporation and in-grain nano-porosity in the films.
Monitoring the Crosstalk Between the Estrogen Receptor and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 with PET
Authors: Antunes I. F. , Hospers G. A. P. , Sijbesma J. W. A. , Boerema A. S. , van Waarde A. , Glaudemans A. W. J. M , Dierckx R. A. J. O. , de Vries E. G. E. , de Vries E. F. J.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Ovarian cancer (OC) leads to poor survival rates mainly due to late stage detection and innate or acquired resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, efforts have been made to exploit the estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to treat OC. However, patients eventually become resistant to these treatments as well. HER2 overexpression contributes to the acquired resistance to ER-targeted treatment. Trastuzumab treatment, on the other hand, can result in increased expression of ER, which, in turn, increases the sensitivity of the tumors towards anti-estrogen therapy. More insight into the crosstalk between ER and HER2 signaling could improve our knowledge about acquired resistance in ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PET could be used to detect changes in ER expression induced by HER2-targeted treatment in vivo.

Procedures

Male athymic nude mice were subcutaneously (sc) inoculated with 106 SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells (HER2+/ER+). Two weeks after inoculation, tumor-bearing mice were treated intraperitoneally with either vehicle, the HER2 antibody trastuzumab (20 mg/kg, 2×/week), or the HER2-tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib (40 mg/kg, 5 days/week) for 2 weeks. Thereafter, ER expression in the tumor was assessed by PET imaging with 16α-[18F]-fluoro-17β-estradiol ([18F]FES). Tumors were excised for ex vivo ER and HER2 measurement with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results

All treatments led to smaller tumors than vehicle-treated tumors. Higher [18F]FES maximum standardize tumor uptake (SUVmax) was observed in animals treated with trastuzumab (+ 29 %, P = 0.002) or lapatinib (+ 20 %, P = 0.096) than in vehicle-treated controls. PET results were in agreement with ex vivo analyses.

Conclusion

FES-PET imaging can detect changes in ER expression induced by HER2-targeted treatment and therefore can be used to investigate the crosstalk between ER and HER2 in a noninvasive manner.
Bending and vibration of a discontinuous beam with a curvic coupling under different axial forces
Authors: Liu Heng , Hong Jie , Zhang Dayi
Published: April 2020

The transverse stiffness and vibration characteristics of discontinuous beams can significantly differ from those of continuous beams given that an abrupt change in stiffness may occur at the interface of the former. In this study, the equations for the deflection curve and vibration frequencies of a simply supported discontinuous beam under axial loads are derived analytically on the basis of boundary, continuity, and deformation compatibility conditions by using equivalent spring models. The equation for the deflection curve is solved using undetermined coefficient methods. The normal function of the transverse vibration equation is obtained by separating variables. The differential equations for the beam that consider moments of inertia, shearing effects, and gyroscopic moments are investigated using the transfer matrix method. The deflection and vibration frequencies of the discontinuous beam are studied under different axial loads and connection spring stiffness. Results show that deflection decreases and vibration frequencies increase exponentially with increasing connection spring stiffness. Moreover, both variables remain steady when connection spring stiffness reaches a considerable value. Lastly, an experimental study is conducted to investigate the vibration characteristics of a discontinuous beam with a curvic coupling, and the results exhibit a good match with the proposed model.
The Influence of Microstructure on Corrosion Resistance of Mg-3Al-1Zn-15Li (LAZ1531) Alloy
Authors: Dobkowska Anna , Adamczyk-Cieślak Bogusława , Towarek Aleksandra , Maj Piotr , Ura-Bińczyk Ewa , Momeni Mojtaba , Kuc Dariusz , Hadasik Eugeniusz , Mizera Jarosław
Published: April 2020

In this study, the microstructure and corrosion resistance of the as-extruded and as-extruded with subsequent heat treatment Mg-3Al-1Zn-15Li (LAZ1531) alloys have been investigated. The alloys’ microstructures consisted ofα(Mg),β(Li), Θ-MgLi2Al and Mg17Al12. As a result of annealing, theβ(Li) toα(Mg) transformation occurred, and the recrystallization supported the reformation of the Mg17Al12. The electrochemical tests showed that the increased amount ofα(Mg) and higher amount of Mg17Al12in the heat-treated alloy favored reactions and determined it as having better corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt.% NaCl.
A Retrospective Clinical Audit of Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Children with Multiple Disabilities in Comparison with Normal Implantees: A South Indian Experience
Authors: Ganesh Vaishnevy , Ram Bhaskar , Nandhan Raghu , Kameswaran Mohan
Published: April 2020

Aims

Cochlear implantation (CI) is established as a standard remedy for children with congenital bilateral profound hearing loss to attain hearing perception and thereby develop speech and language. A subgroup includes children with multiple disabilities in whom the implant helps to improve their quality of life and also of their families via enhanced communication skills. Cochlear implants today form an integral part of their multi-handicap rehabilitation process.

Material and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out on children with and without multiple handicaps who have received cochlear implantation at the cochlear implant clinic of MERF, Chennai, India over the past decade. Category of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores, Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores, and also Meaningful Auditory-Integration Scale (MAIS) and Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) scores were compared at set time frequencies of 6 months and 12 months post-implantation between the two groups of implanted children.

Results

All the four CAP, SIR, MAIS and MUSS scores showed improvement over time with auditory and speech therapy in both groups of children as reflected by the improvement in their quality of life. The normative group of implantees showed better improvement compared to the group of children with multiple disabilities.

Conclusion

Intensive habilitation is essential especially for children with multiple disabilities who have received cochlear implantation in which their special needs are addressed individually and optimised for the best outcome. The study shows that restoration of the special sense of hearing helps as a remedy to alleviate their other multi-handicaps to a notable extent.
Characterization of Mechanically Pretreated Wheat Straw for Biogas Production
Authors: Victorin Mirjam , Davidsson Åsa , Wallberg Ola
Published: April 2020

Biogas production from wheat straw is one strategy of converting biomass to bioenergy, but pretreatment of the lignocellulosic material is necessary in order to render the substrate biodegradable. In this study, four different mechanical pretreatments of wheat straw were investigated: roll milling, extrusion, pelletization, and hammer milling. The effects of the pretreatments on anaerobic digestion (AD) at 37 °C and on enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) with Cellic CTec2 at 50 °C were analyzed in terms of biochemical methane potential (BMP), maximum daily methane production (DMPmax), and EH yield as amount of released glucan/initial glucan content. Roll milling generated the highest BMP of 287 NmL CH4 gVS−1, an increase of 21% compared with untreated wheat straw. Extrusion provided the highest methane production rate (52 NmL CH4 gVS−1 day−1), the lowest floating capacity, and a high bulk density. It was further concluded that a linear relationship exists between the DMPmax and the EH yield (R2 = 0.768) which for roll-milled size fractioned wheat straw was even stronger (R2 = 0.900) but weaker for mechanically pretreated non-size fractioned straw (R2 = 0.625). Specific surface analysis and EH of 0.25–1-mm particles revealed that mechanical pretreatment most likely affect other physiochemical properties in wheat straw, such as the crystallinity or melting of the outer wax layer, which in turn affects AD and EH processes differently.
Catalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO via Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction: Recent Advances in the Design of Active and Selective Supported Metal Catalysts
Authors: Zhu Min , Ge Qingfeng , Zhu Xinli
Published: April 2020

The catalytic conversion of CO2 to CO via a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction followed by well-established synthesis gas conversion technologies may provide a potential approach to convert CO2 to valuable chemicals and fuels. However, this reaction is mildly endothermic and competed by a strongly exothermic CO2 methanation reaction at low temperatures. Therefore, the improvement in the low-temperature activities and selectivity of the RWGS reaction is a key challenge for catalyst designs. We reviewed recent advances in the design strategies of supported metal catalysts for enhancing the activity of CO2 conversion and its selectivity to CO. These strategies include varying support, tuning metal–support interactions, adding reducible transition metal oxide promoters, forming bimetallic alloys, adding alkali metals, and enveloping metal particles. These advances suggest that enhancing CO2 adsorption and facilitating CO desorption are key factors to enhance CO2 conversion and CO selectivity. This short review may provide insights into future RWGS catalyst designs and optimization.
The Role of Solvent in Tautomer Solvate Crystallization: A Case of 6-Amino-1,3-Dimethyl-5-Nitrosouracil
Authors: Qi Luguang , Jin Yanhui , Li Huina , Dong Yanpeng , Xie Chuang
Published: April 2020

Tautomers are structural isomers that readily interconvert and may exhibit different properties. The effect of solvent on tautomeric equilibria in solution has been a subject of some research. Tautomer solvate is less common, and the role of solvent in the crystallization of tautomer solvate remains an interesting topic. In this work, we used 6-amino-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrosouracil (NAU) as the tautomeric model material, which can present in nitrone–enamine form (Tautomer A) or oxime–imine form (Tautomer B). A solvate with NAU/DMSO ratio of 1:1 was discovered and characterized using single/powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry. The crystal structure of NAU·DMSO was determined for the first time, where only Tautomer A was formed in the tautomeric crystal. Quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamics simulation were conducted to determine the tautomeric form in DMSO solution. Electrostatic potential analysis, radial distribution function analysis, and binding energy suggested possible DMSO–NAU interaction modes and stable tautomer complexes in solution. Tautomer A-containing complexes were found to dominate in solution, as verified by comparing predicted and experimental 1H NMR spectra. Findings reveal that the hydrogen bonding between DMSO and NAU is similar in solution and in NAU–DMSO solvate crystal, which helps preserve the form of Tautomer A during solvate crystallization.
Moiré patterns arising from bilayer graphone/graphene superlattice
Authors: Li Hu , Papadakis Raffaello , Hussain Tanveer , Karton Amir , Liu Jiangwei
Published: April 2020

Moiré patterns from two-dimensional (2D) graphene heterostructures assembled via van der Waals interactions have sparked considerable interests in physics with the purpose to tailor the electronic properties of graphene. Here we report for the first time the observation of moiré patterns arising from a bilayer graphone/graphene superlattice produced through direct single-sided hydrogenation of a bilayer graphene on substrate. Compared to pristine graphene, the bilayer superlattice exhibits a rippled surface and two types of moiré patterns are observed: triangular and linear moiré patterns with the periodicities of 11 nm and 8–9 nm, respectively. These moiré patterns are revealed from atomic force microscopy and further confirmed by following fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are also performed and the optimized lattice constants of bilayer superlattice heterostructure are in line with our experimental analysis. These findings show that well-defined triangular and linear periodic potentials can be introduced into the graphene system through the single-sided hydrogenation and also open a route towards the tailoring of electronic properties of graphene by various moiré potentials.
LETHE: Forgetting and Uniform Interpolation for Expressive Description Logics
Authors: Koopmann Patrick
Published: April 2020

Uniform interpolation and forgetting describe the task of projecting a given ontology into a user-specified vocabulary, that is, of computing a new ontology that only uses names from a specified set of names, while preserving all logical entailments that can be expressed with those names. This is useful for ontology analysis, ontology reuse and privacy. Lethe is a tool for performing uniform interpolation on ontologies in expressive description logics, and it can be used from the command line, using a graphical interface, and as a Java library. It furthermore implements methods for computing logical difference and performing abduction using uniform interpolation. We present the tool together with an evaluation on a varied corpus of realistic ontologies.
Effects of Hypothyroidism and Subclinical Hypothyroidism on Sexual Function: A Meta-Analysis of Studies Using the Female Sexual Function Index
Authors: Wang Yilin , Wang Hongli
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are common metabolic diseases with severe psychological and physiological effects, which may be the risk factors of sexual dysfunction.

Aim

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of hypothyroidism and SCH on female sexual function through systematic literature review.

Methods

Until February 2020, systematic searches were conducted on Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Clinicalkey to obtain eligible studies to report the mean and standard deviation of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in various fields in women with clinical hypothyroidism, SCH, and healthy controls. In accordance with the results of heterogeneity test, a random effect model or fixed effect model was selected to aggregate the scores of each field. The scores of female patients with hypothyroidism and healthy controls were compared using forest plot. Stata (version 15.1) uses meta-analysis.

Main Outcome Measure

Evaluation values of various fields of FSFI in clinical hypothyroidism, SCH, and healthy controls.

Results

This study included 7 studies, including 88 women with clinical hypothyroidism, 337 women with SCH, and 2056 healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, patients with hypothyroidism scored lower in all FSFI dimensions (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain), especially in lubrication. And, only arousal and orgasm decreased in patients with SCH. Hypothyroidism (odds ratio = 3.912, P = .002) rather than SCH (odds ratio = 1.036, P = .886) was a risk factor for female sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism does impair female sexual function to varying degrees. SCH has little effect on female sexual function. It is essential to measure and evaluate the thyroid function of women with sexual dysfunction regularly, which can help clinicians improve sexual function and sexual quality of life.
Personalized nudging
Authors: MILLS STUART
Published: April 2020

A criticism of behavioural nudges is that they lack precision, sometimes nudging people who – had their personal circumstances been known – would have benefitted from being nudged differently. This problem may be solved through a programme of personalized nudging. This paper proposes a two-component framework for personalization that suggests choice architects can personalize both the choices being nudged towards (choice personalization) and the method of nudging itself (delivery personalization). To do so, choice architects will require access to heterogeneous data. This paper argues that such data need not take the form of big data, but agrees with previous authors that the opportunities to personalize nudges increase as data become more accessible. Finally, this paper considers two challenges that a personalized nudging programme must consider, namely the risk personalization poses to the universality of laws, regulation and social experiences, and the data access challenges policy-makers may encounter.
Sites of Resistance: LGBTQI+ Experiences at Trinity Western University
Authors: Shipley Heather
Published: April 2020

Trinity Western University’s Community Covenant has been the subject of public and legal attention with specific reference to a proposed law school. At the heart of much of the contention about the law school, opponents have expressed concern about the provisions in the Covenant that restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ students—their identities and relationships. While much of the focus has been on the potential harm for LGBTQI+ students, and the expectation that law schools uphold Charter values—the voices of queer students and allies have largely been sidelined. This article offers space for LGBTQI+ students, staff and allies to discuss their lived experiences of sexual diversity and the harm facing the queer community at Trinity Western University. As they state, the Covenant is only a part of the issue; the culture it supports is what needs to change.
Racialized, Gendered, and Sensationalized: An examination of Canadian anti-trafficking laws, their enforcement, and their (re)presentation
Authors: Millar Hayli , O’Doherty Tamara
Published: April 2020

In Canada, there are persistent allegations and some empirical evidence suggesting racialized police bias; certain (non-White) groups appear to face over-enforcement as criminal suspects and under-enforcement as victims. Yet, it is challenging to prove or disprove these claims. Unlike other countries, where governments routinely publish police-reported crime and criminal court data identifying the race/ethnicity of criminal suspects and victims, Canada maintains a ban on the publication of such data. In this article, using an intersectional and critical analysis, we examine 127 prosecuted (predominantly domestic sex) trafficking cases and explore related claims of racial and gender bias together with sensationalism in the enforcement of Canadian anti-trafficking in persons laws. Our findings align with other empirical research observing the racially selective identification and prosecution of sex trafficking cases through a heteronormative and gender binary lens. Whether real or perceived, racial—alongside gender, sexuality, economic, citizenship, and occupational—bias has significant adverse consequences for the equality, liberty, security, mobility, labour, and access to justice rights of the Indigenous, Black, Arab/Muslim and other racialized communities being policed. Our data reveal a clear and pressing need to publish race-disaggregated crime and criminal court data and to challenge deeply ingrained stereotypes using various means.
Health and Education Officials’ Perspectives on the Impact of Typhoon Haiyan on Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in the Philippines
Authors: Chernoff Eva , Silverstein Gina , delos Trinos John Paul Caesar R , Veldkamp Peter , Chang Judy C , Belizario Vicente Y
Published: April 2020

Objectives:

In the Philippines, morbidity control of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections is done through mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelmintics to school-age children (SAC). In 2013, the Philippines was devastated by the deadliest cyclone ever recorded, Typhoon Haiyan. The study aimed to understand the impact of Typhoon Haiyan on the MDA of anthelmintics to SAC in the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo in the Philippines from the perspectives of local health and education officials.

Methods:

The study was conducted in the municipalities of Panay and Pilar in Capiz and the municipalities of Estancia and Sara in Iloilo, areas that were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Qualitative, semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with 16 total participants, which included officials of the Department of Health, Department of Education, and concerned local government units. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded in an open, iterative manner. Codes were reviewed to identify patterns and themes.

Results:

Participants described the following themes: (1) their perception that the typhoon had no effect on the MDA program or on resources necessary to complete the program; (2) the program’s simple design allowed for 1-time administration to a pre-assembled population; (3) the program allowed a sense of community cohesiveness; (4) the program served as a vehicle for altruism, particularly regarding helping needy children, in this time of calamity.

Conclusions:

Our informants perceived that the MDA program in Region VI was not affected by Typhoon Haiyan. They attributed the resilience to the program’s simple procedure, attitudes of altruism, program importance, and community cohesiveness. Despite Typhoon Haiyan’s mass destruction of infrastructure and livelihood leading to incredible challenges, mobilization of the community allowed for the continuation and successful implementation of the MDA program. The experience of Region VI may serve as a model for other low- and middle-income countries prone to natural disasters.
Use of Telehealth to Improve Access to Care at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs During the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Authors: Der-Martirosian Claudia , Chu Karen , Dobalian Aram
Published: April 2020

Objectives:

This brief report examines the shift from in-person care to US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) telehealth services during 3 devastating hurricanes in 2017 (Harvey, Irma, and Maria).

Methods:

VA administrative data were used to analyze the number and percentage of telehealth services 30 d pre- and 30 d post- the 2017 hurricanes for 3 hurricane-impacted VA medical centers (VAMCs): Houston (Texas), Orlando (Florida), and San Juan (Puerto Rico).

Results:

All 3 VAMCs remained open during the hurricanes. For the Houston VAMC, during the first week post-Harvey, in-person patient visits decreased while telehealth visits increased substantially. Similarly, for the Orlando VAMC, during the 1-wk post-Irma, telehealth use increased substantially. For the San Juan VAMC, there were many interruptions in the use of telehealth due to many power outages, resulting in a modest increase in the use of telehealth post-Irma/Maria. The most commonly used telehealth services at Houston and Orlando VAMCs during the hurricanes were: primary care, triage, mental health, and home health.

Conclusions:

Telehealth has the potential to improve post-disaster access to and coordination of care. However, more information is needed to better understand how telehealth services can be used as a post-disaster health-care delivery tool, particularly for patients receiving care outside of systems such as VA.
Exploring how design guidelines benefit design engineers: an international and global perspective
Authors: Reimlinger Benedikt , Lohmeyer Quentin , Moryson Ralf , Meboldt Mirko
Published: April 2020

A multitude of design guidelines that are intended to support design engineers with knowledge and information during the embodiment design of physical products have been developed back in the 1980s and 1990s. However, since then, the setting in which products are developed and designed has changed and associated tasks and activities are carried out globally rather than locally. Yet, knowledge on the benefit of such design guidelines and their impact on the performance of multinational design engineers from different regions and with different levels of experience is still lacking. To address this, a mobile eye tracking study has been developed and carried out with 47 differently experienced practitioners from Germany, Eastern Europe and Asia. The results show differences in how design engineers from different regions with different levels of experience may benefit from design guidelines and how design guidelines may impact experts’ and novices’ performance, indicate beneficial ways of using them and point out the kind of information and the way of representation that attracts the most attention within a design guideline. The paper concludes that the improvement and development of design guidelines that are intended to support the embodiment design of physical products is needed and proposes to rethink current engineering design guidelines both content-wise and representation-wise.
Uniform convergence in von Neumann’s ergodic theorem in the absence of a spectral gap
Authors: BEN-ARTZI JONATHAN , MORISSE BAPTISTE
Published: April 2020

Von Neumann’s original proof of the ergodic theorem is revisited. A uniform convergence rate is established under the assumption that one can control the density of the spectrum of the underlying self-adjoint operator when restricted to suitable subspaces. Explicit rates are obtained when the bound is polynomial, with applications to the linear Schrödinger and wave equations. In particular, decay estimates for time averages of solutions are shown.
ON THE COHOMOLOGY OF TORELLI GROUPS
Authors: KUPERS ALEXANDER , RANDAL-WILLIAMS OSCAR
Published: April 2020

We completely describe the algebraic part of the rational cohomology of the Torelli groups of the manifolds$\#^{g}S^{n}\times S^{n}$relative to a disc in a stable range, for$2n\geqslant 6$. Our calculation is also valid for$2n=2$assuming that the rational cohomology groups of these Torelli groups are finite-dimensional in a stable range.
Trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections using statewide population-based surveillance and hospital discharge data, Connecticut, 2010–2018
Authors: Rose Ashley N , Clogher Paula , Hatfield Kelly M , Gokhale Runa H , See Isaac , Petit Susan
Published: April 2020

We compared methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs) captured by culture-based surveillance and MRSA septicemia hospitalizations captured by administrative coding using statewide hospital discharge data in Connecticut from 2010 to 2018. Observed discrepancies between identification methods suggest administrative coding is inappropriate for assessing trends in MRSA BSIs.
Invasive grasses in South Texas rangelands: historical perspectives and future directions
Authors: Wied Justin P. , Perotto-Baldivieso Humberto L. , Conkey April A. T. , Brennan Leonard A. , Mata José M.
Published: April 2020

South Texas is home to a high diversity of species due to its location at the confluence of subtropical, desert, and coastal ecoregions. Historical overgrazing of South Texas rangelands transformed the savanna and prairie to a landscape dominated by woody plants and shrubs interspersed with low seral grass species and bare ground. During the first half of the 20th century, exotic grass species, coupled with the application of industrial agricultural practices appeared to be the future of forage production in South Texas and elsewhere. Several of these exotic species, namely King Ranch bluestem [Bothriochloa ischaemum(L.) Keng], Kleberg bluestem [Dichanthium annulatum(Forssk.) Stapf], Angelton bluestem [Dichanthium aristatum(Poir.) C.E. Hubbard], buffelgrass [Pennisetum ciliare(L.) Link], guineagrass [Urochloa maxima(Jacq.) R. Webster], Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmannianaNees), and Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers.], have escaped pasture cultivation. Additionally, the native grass tanglehead [Heteropogon contortus(L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.] has begun displaying invasive behaviors. The monoculture growth habit of these species simplifies vegetation structure, reduces biodiversity, and decreases habitat for many species of wildlife. These grasses also alter natural fire regimes and nutrient cycling. This landscape-level transformation of vegetation composition and structure requires monitoring to quantify and assess the spatial and temporal distributions of invasive species as a basis to inform management practices. Current advances in remote sensing technologies, such as very high spatial resolution coupled with daily satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles, are providing tools for invasive vegetation monitoring. We provide a synthesis of the natural history of these grasses, including their introductions, an overview of remote sensing applications in South Texas, and recommendations for future management practices.
Top Management Teams’ Academic Experience and Firms’ Corporate Social Responsibility Voluntary Disclosure
Authors: Ma Zhiming , Zhang Hong , Zhong Weiguo , Zhou Kaitang
Published: April 2020

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure is becoming increasingly important for modern corporations. Focusing on voluntary CSR disclosure and drawing on upper echelons theory, we propose that voluntary CSR disclosure is the manifestation of managerial preferences (e.g., managers’ professional ethical values and standards). Specifically, we argue that top executives with an academic background tend to have higher professional and ethical standards than their non-academic counterparts. These standards lead them to act with self-restraint and to perceive CSR disclosure as an opportunity rather than a threat. Compared with non-academic executives, therefore, top executives with an academic background provide stakeholders with more CSR information. Based on a sample of publicly listed firms in China, we find a significant difference in voluntary CSR disclosure between firms led by academic executives and firms without academic top executives. This difference is smaller for firms that are state-owned, firms that are audited by large audit firms, and firms with greater analyst coverage. We contribute to the literature on CSR voluntary disclosure by providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of top management teams’ academic backgrounds.
The green airliner that never was: aerodynamic theory, fuel-efficiency and the role of the British state in aviation technology in the mid-twentieth century
Authors: SPINARDI GRAHAM
Published: April 2020

Two aerodynamic concepts theorized in the early twentieth century – laminar-flow control and flying wings – offer the potential for more efficient aircraft. However, despite compelling advantages on paper and optimistic predictions, the fuel-saving benefits of these technologies have not yet been fully realized. This paper documents British work on these concepts, with a particular focus on laminar-flow control. Faced with an increasingly difficult funding context and a lack of a clear military rationale, these potentially significant advances in aircraft efficiency were stymied by a catch-22: the government was only prepared to provide financial support for the development of an operational prototype if operational performance had already been demonstrated. This case also highlights the challenges faced in the commercial uptake of radical aviation technologies, even when they appear to offer greater efficiency and environmental benefits.