bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benthic assemblages are more predictable than fish assemblages at an island scale
Authors: Sandin Stuart A. , Alcantar Esmeralda , Clark Randy , de León Ramón , Dilrosun Faisal , Edwards Clinton B. , Estep Andrew J. , Eynaud Yoan , French Beverly J. , Fox Michael D. , Grenda Dave , Hamilton Scott L. , Kramp Heather , Marhaver Kristen L. , Miller Scott D. , Roach Ty N. F. , Seferina Gisette , Silveira Cynthia B. , Smith Jennifer E. , Zgliczynski Brian J. , Vermeij Mark J. A.
Published: May 2022

Decades of research have revealed relationships between the abundance of coral reef taxa and local conditions, especially at small scales. However, a rigorous test of covariation requires a robust dataset collected across wide environmental or experimental gradients. Here, we surveyed spatial variability in the densities of major coral reef functional groups at 122 sites along a 70 km expanse of the leeward, forereef habitat of Curaçao in the southern Caribbean. These data were used to test the degree to which spatial variability in community composition could be predicted based on assumed functional relationships and site-specific anthropogenic, physical, and ecological conditions. In general, models revealed less power to describe the spatial variability of fish biomass than cover of reef builders (R2 of best-fit models: 0.25 [fish] and 0.64 [reef builders]). The variability in total benthic cover of reef builders was best described by physical (wave exposure and reef relief) and ecological (turf algal height and coral recruit density) predictors. No metric of anthropogenic pressure was related to spatial variation in reef builder cover. In contrast, total fish biomass showed a consistent (albeit weak) association with anthropogenic predictors (fishing and diving pressure). As is typical of most environmental gradients, the spatial patterns of both fish biomass density and reef builder cover were spatially autocorrelated. Residuals from the best-fit model for fish biomass retained a signature of spatial autocorrelation while the best-fit model for reef builder cover removed spatial autocorrelation, thus reinforcing our finding that environmental predictors were better able to describe the spatial variability of reef builders than that of fish biomass. As we seek to understand spatial variability of coral reef communities at the scale of most management units (i.e., at kilometer- to island-scales), distinct and scale-dependent perspectives will be needed when considering different functional groups.
The effect of radiotherapy on fat engraftment for complete breast reconstruction using lipofilling only
Authors: Heine Norbert , Eigenberger Andreas , Brebant Vanessa , Kempa Sally , Seitz Stephan , Prantl Lukas , Kuehlmann Britta
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Lipofilling has been established as a standard technique for contour enhancement following breast reconstruction. However, there is a paucity in current literature regarding the use of this technique for complete reconstruction of the female breast as an alternative to conventional techniques, such as expander or flap-based procedures. In particular, the influence of pre-operative irradiation for successful reconstruction has rarely been examined in published studies. Here, the authors describe their experience with successful fat injection in pre-radiated breasts in comparison with non-pre-radiated patients.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we examined a total of 95 lipofilling treatments on 26 patients (28 breasts). All of them experienced mastectomy following breast cancer; local breast defects after partial resection of the gland were not included in this study. In total, 47 lipofilling procedures in 12 non-irradiated patients (14 breasts) and 48 procedures in 14 irradiated women (also 14 breasts) were performed. Per session, approximately 297 ± 112 cc of adipose tissue was grafted in group A (no radiotherapy) and approximately 259 ± 93 cc was grafted in group B (radiotherapy).

Results

Among the group of women without pre-operative radiation, 71% of breast reconstructions limited to lipofilling only showed constant engraftment of fat tissue with a successful reconstructive result, whereas only 21% of the patients with pre-radiated breasts showed complete reconstruction of the breast with a permanent fat in-growth.

Conclusion

Preoperative radiotherapy significantly impedes successful completion of breast reconstructions planned only by autologous fat transfer. Patients should be selected individually and carefully for complete breast reconstruction using lipofilling only.
BERT’s sentiment score for portfolio optimization: a fine-tuned view in Black and Litterman model
Authors: Colasanto Francesco , Grilli Luca , Santoro Domenico , Villani Giovanni
Published: May 2022

In financial markets, sentiment analysis on natural language sentences can improve forecasting. Many investors rely on information extracted from newspapers or their feelings. Therefore, this information is expressed in their language. Sentiment analysis models classify sentences (or entire texts) with their polarity (positive, negative, or neutral) and derive a sentiment score. In this paper, we use this sentiment (polarity) score to improve the forecasting of stocks and use it as a new “view” in the Black and Litterman model. This score is related to various events (both positive and negative) that have affected some stocks. The sentences used to determine the scores are taken from articles published in Financial Times (an international financial newspaper). To improve the forecast using this average sentiment score, we use a Monte Carlo method to generate a series of possible paths for several trading hours after the article was published to discretize (or approximate) the Wiener measure, which is applied to the paths and returning an exact price as results. Finally, we use the price determined in this way to calculate a yield to be used as views in a new type of “dynamic” portfolio optimization, based on hourly prices. We compare the results by applying the views obtained, disregarding the sentiment and leaving the initial portfolio unchanged.
Near-linear convergence of the Random Osborne algorithm for Matrix Balancing
Authors: Altschuler Jason M. , Parrilo Pablo A.
Published: May 2022

We revisit Matrix Balancing, a pre-conditioning task used ubiquitously for computing eigenvalues and matrix exponentials. Since 1960, Osborne’s algorithm has been the practitioners’ algorithm of choice, and is now implemented in most numerical software packages. However, the theoretical properties of Osborne’s algorithm are not well understood. Here, we show that a simple random variant of Osborne’s algorithm converges in near-linear time in the input sparsity. Specifically, it balances $$K \in {\mathbb {R}}_{\ge 0}^{n \times n}$$

K
∈

R

≥
0

n
×
n

after $$O(m \varepsilon ^{-2} \log \kappa )$$

O
(
m

ε

-
2

log
κ
)

arithmetic operations in expectation and with high probability, where m is the number of nonzeros in K, $$\varepsilon $$
ε
is the $$\ell _1$$

ℓ
1

accuracy, and $$\kappa = \sum _{ij} K_{ij} / ( \min _{ij : K_{ij} \ne 0} K_{ij})$$

κ
=

∑

ij

K

ij

/

(

min

i
j
:

K

ij

≠
0

K

ij

)

measures the conditioning of K. Previous work had established near-linear runtimes either only for $$\ell _2$$

ℓ
2

accuracy (a weaker criterion which is less relevant for applications), or through an entirely different algorithm based on (currently) impractical Laplacian solvers. We further show that if the graph with adjacency matrix K is moderately connected—e.g., if K has at least one positive row/column pair—then Osborne’s algorithm initially converges exponentially fast, yielding an improved runtime $$O(m \varepsilon ^{-1} \log \kappa )$$

O
(
m

ε

-
1

log
κ
)

. We also address numerical precision issues by showing that these runtime bounds still hold when using $$O(\log (n\kappa /\varepsilon ))$$

O
(
log
(
n
κ
/
ε
)
)

-bit numbers. Our results are established through an intuitive potential argument that leverages a convex optimization perspective of Osborne’s algorithm, and relates the per-iteration progress to the current imbalance as measured in Hellinger distance. Unlike previous analyses, we critically exploit log-convexity of the potential. Notably, our analysis extends to other variants of Osborne’s algorithm: along the way, we also establish significantly improved runtime bounds for cyclic, greedy, and parallelized variants of Osborne’s algorithm.
A thermoresponsive valve to control fluid flow in microfluidic paper-based devices
Authors: Iwasaki Wataru , Toda Hiroki , Morita Nobutomo , Motomura Taisei , Fujio Yuki , Takemura Kenshin , Nakanishi Yoshitaka , Nakashima Yuta
Published: May 2022

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have recently attracted the attention of researchers and industry owing to their various advantages. However, µPADs lack a way to control fluid flow; therefore, it is difficult to perform complex immunoassays that use multiple reagents and replace the reagents from the analytical area. We developed a controllable thermoresponsive valve for μPADs by functionalizing a polyvinylidene difluoride porous membrane with plasma-induced graft polymerization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), which is a thermoresponsive polymer that changes its hydrophilic properties near the lower critical solution temperature (LCST; 32 °C). Surface analysis by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the fabricated thermoresponsive valves coated with PNIPAAm. The valve performance was evaluated by sandwiching the thermoresponsive valve between two paper microchannels stacked in a T-shaped paper microfluidic device. The thermoresponsive valve fabricated with a monomer concentration ranging from 2.3 to 3.0 wt% and a polymerization time of 5 h or 2.0 wt% and 20–22 h showed good valve performances. These valves were able to stop the flow at room temperature, and allow the flow by opening within 20 s after heating was initiated using a Peltier element located just under the valve. The valve was successfully closed, thereby stopping the flow, and opened by heating. Although a detailed evaluation of the fluid behavior is necessary, we have demonstrated that our thermoresponsive valve can be opened and closed reversibly by temperature control. We believe that this thermoresponsive valve could potentially be used to control the flow of multiple reagents in µPADs.
On the use of commit-relevant mutants
Authors: Ojdanić Miloš , Ma Wei , Laurent Thomas , Chekam Thierry Titcheu , Ventresque Anthony , Papadakis Mike
Published: May 2022

Applying mutation testing to test subtle program changes, such as program patches or other small-scale code modifications, requires using mutants that capture the delta of the altered behaviours. To address this issue, we introduce the concept of commit-relevant mutants, which are the mutants that interact with the behaviours of the system affected by a particular commit. Therefore, commit-aware mutation testing, is a test assessment metric tailored to a specific commit. By analysing 83 commits from 25 projects involving 2,253,610 mutants in both C and Java, we identify the commit-relevant mutants and explore their relationship with other categories of mutants. Our results show that commit-relevant mutants represent a small subset of all mutants, which differs from the other classes of mutants (subsuming and hard-to-kill), and that the commit-relevant mutation score is weakly correlated with the traditional mutation score (Kendall/Pearson 0.15-0.4). Moreover, commit-aware mutation analysis provides insights about the testing of a commit, which can be more efficient than the classical mutation analysis; in our experiments, by analysing the same number of mutants, commit-aware mutants have better fault-revelation potential (30% higher chances of revealing commit-introducing faults) than traditional mutants. We also illustrate a possible application of commit-aware mutation testing as a metric to evaluate test case prioritisation.
Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) X-Ray Photometer System (XPS): Final Data-Processing Algorithms
Authors: Woods Thomas N. , Elliott Joshua
Published: May 2022

The X-ray Photometer System (XPS) is one of four instruments onboard NASA’s Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) mission. The SORCE spacecraft operated from 2003 to 2020 to provide key climate-monitoring measurements of total solar irradiance (TSI) and solar spectral irradiance (SSI). The XPS is a set of photometers to measure the solar X-ray ultraviolet (XUV) irradiance shortward of 34 nm and the bright hydrogen emission at 121.6 nm. Each photometer has a spectral bandpass of about 7 nm, and the XPS measurements have an accuracy of about 20%. The updates for the final data-processing algorithms for the XPS solar-irradiance data products are described. These processing updates include improvements for the instrumental corrections for background signal, visible-light signal, and degradation trending. Validation of these updates is primarily with measurements from a very similar XPS instrument onboard NASA’s Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere-Energetics-Dynamics (TIMED) mission. In addition, the XPS Level 4 spectral model has been improved with new reference spectra derived with recent XUV observations from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) cubesat.
Evidence of altered fatty acid metabolism in dogs with naturally occurring valvular heart disease and congestive heart failure
Authors: Wilshaw Jenny , Boswood A. , Chang Y. M. , Sands C. J. , Camuzeaux S. , Lewis M. R. , Xia D. , Connolly D. J.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiac condition in adult dogs. The disease progresses over several years and affected dogs may develop congestive heart failure (HF). Research has shown that myocardial metabolism is altered in cardiac disease, leading to a reduction in β-oxidation of fatty acids and an increased dependence upon glycolysis.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate whether a shift in substrate use occurs in canine patients with MMVD; a naturally occurring model of human disease.

Methods

Client-owned dogs were longitudinally evaluated at a research clinic in London, UK and paired serum samples were selected from visits when patients were in ACVIM stage B1: asymptomatic disease without cardiomegaly, and stage C: HF. Samples were processed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and lipid profiles were compared using mixed effects models with false discovery rate adjustment. The effect of disease stage was evaluated with patient breed entered as a confounder. Features that significantly differed were screened for selection for annotation efforts using reference databases.

Results

Dogs in HF had altered concentrations of lipid species belonging to several classes previously associated with cardiovascular disease. Concentrations of certain acylcarnitines, phospholipids and sphingomyelins were increased after individuals had developed HF, whilst some ceramides and lysophosphatidylcholines decreased.

Conclusions

The canine metabolome appears to change as MMVD progresses. Findings from this study suggest that in HF myocardial metabolism may be characterised by reduced β-oxidation. This proposed explanation warrants further research.
Histological and Top-Down Proteomic Analyses of the Visual Pathway in the Cuprizone Demyelination Model
Authors: Almuslehi Mohammed S. M. , Sen Monokesh K. , Shortland Peter J. , Mahns David A. , Coorssen Jens R.
Published: May 2022

A change in visual perception is a frequent early symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), the pathoaetiology of which remains unclear. Following a slow demyelination process caused by 12 weeks of low-dose (0.1%) cuprizone (CPZ) consumption, histology and proteomics were used to investigate components of the visual pathway in young adult mice. Histological investigation did not identify demyelination or gliosis in the optic tracts, pretectal nuclei, superior colliculi, lateral geniculate nuclei or visual cortices. However, top-down proteomic assessment of the optic nerve/tract revealed a significant change in the abundance of 34 spots in high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) gels. Subsequent liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TMS) analysis identified alterations in 75 proteoforms. Literature mining revealed the relevance of these proteoforms in terms of proteins previously implicated in animal models, eye diseases and human MS. Importantly, 24 proteoforms were not previously described in any animal models of MS, eye diseases or MS itself. Bioinformatic analysis indicated involvement of these proteoforms in cytoskeleton organization, metabolic dysregulation, protein aggregation and axonal support. Collectively, these results indicate that continuous CPZ-feeding, which evokes a slow demyelination, results in proteomic changes that precede any clear histological changes in the visual pathway and that these proteoforms may be potential early markers of degenerative demyelinating conditions.
Towards digital organized crime and digital sociology of organized crime
Authors: Di Nicola Andrea
Published: May 2022

As technology has changed people’s lives, criminal phenomena are also constantly evolving. Today’s digital society is changing the activities of organized crime and organized crime groups. In the digital society, very different organized crime groups coexist with different organizational models: from online cybercrime to traditional organized crime groups to hybrid criminal groups in which humans and machines ‘collaborate’ in new and close ways in networks of human and non-human actors. These criminal groups commit very different organized crime activities, from the most technological to the most traditional, and move from online to offline. They use technology and interact with computers for a variety of purposes, and the distinction between the physical and virtual dimensions of organized crime is increasingly blurred. These radical developments do not seem to be accompanied by a new criminological theoretical interpretive framework, with a definition of organized crime that is able to account for the changes that digital society brings to organized crime and generate modern research hypotheses. This article proposes the concept of digital organized crime and the spectrum theory of digital organized crimes, to be embedded within a current, revised sociological theory of the organization of crime and deviance in digital society (a new theory of digital criminal organizing) and argues that the study of digital organized crime will increasingly require a digital sociology of organized crime. Criminologists are called upon to work in this direction.
User requirements for the design of smart homes: dimensions and goals
Authors: Reisinger Michaela R. , Prost Sebastian , Schrammel Johann , Fröhlich Peter
Published: May 2022

The ‘Smart Home’ is a strongly technology-driven field. While user-centered requirements have been reported for specific features, a considerable gap persists for design based on an everyday home context and the social and emotional nature of the home. To address this, we present a user-centered design process to question and expand narrow framings of energy-efficiency and smart control and consider the richness and variety of the domestic context as design space for smart homes. Our three-step investigation employs cultural probing, participatory design fiction, and focus groups to progress from the home context “as-is” towards a blending of values with technological responses. Our findings highlight the home as a complex construct imbued with organically grown practices and individual and collective needs, values, and emotions. Based on empirical, real-user data we present features and system expectations that address this multifaceted overall picture. This paper advises the design process of future smart home solutions in three facets: first, we discuss the value of the design process applied in this study and future possibilities to expand. Second, we show design dimensions, namely time, space, relations, individual factors, and values that allow design for a heterogeneity of users and situations. Third, we derive specific design goals to highlight directions of smart home system design: design for control, low effort, integration, evolvability, identity, sociability, and benefits.
The Language of Compassion: Hospital Chaplains’ Compassion Capacity Reduces Patient Depression via Other-Oriented, Inclusive Language
Authors: Mascaro Jennifer S. , Palmer Patricia K. , Willson Madison , Ash Marcia J. , Florian Marianne P. , Srivastava Meha , Sharma Anuja , Jarrell Bria , Walker Elizabeth Reisinger , Kaplan Deanna M. , Palitsky Roman , Cole Steven P. , Grant George H. , Raison Charles L.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Although hospital chaplains play a critical role in delivering emotional and spiritual care to a broad range of both religious and non-religious patients, there is remarkably little research on the best practices or “active ingredients” of chaplain spiritual consults. Here, we examined how chaplains’ compassion capacity was associated with their linguistic behavior with hospitalized inpatients, and how their language in turn related to patient outcomes.

Methods

Hospital chaplains (n = 16) completed self-report measures that together were operationalized as self-reported “compassion capacity.” Next, chaplains conducted consultations with inpatients (n = 101) in five hospitals. Consultations were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC). We used exploratory structural equation modeling to identify associations between chaplain-reported compassion capacity, chaplain linguistic behavior, and patient depression after the consultation.

Results

We found that compassion capacity was significantly associated with chaplains’ LIWC clout scores, a variable that reflects a confident leadership, inclusive, and other-oriented linguistic style. Clout scores, in turn, were negatively associated with patient depression levels controlling for pre-consult distress, indicating that patients seen by chaplains displaying high levels of clout had lower levels of depression after the consultation. Compassion capacity exerted a statistically significant indirect effect on patient depression via increased clout language.

Conclusions

These findings inform our understanding of the linguistic patterns underlying compassionate and effective chaplain-patient consultations and contribute to a deeper understanding of the skillful means by which compassion may be manifest to reduce suffering and enhance well-being in individuals at their most vulnerable.
A novel and diverse set of SNP markers for rangewide genetic studies in Picea abies
Authors: Mader Malte , Blanc-Jolivet Céline , Kersten Birgit , Liesebach Heike , Degen Bernd
Published: May 2022

We used Double Digest Restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), exome sequencing (exome-seq) and targeted genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to develop new geographically informative nuclear SNP markers in Picea abies. This set of 518 loci consists of 397 loci specifically designed for the geographic differentiation of populations and 121 loci of adaptive markers for drought stress which all were identified from 26 samples in 23 populations distributed over Central Europe. This set of novel markers represents a valuable basis to study the geographic population structure and genetic differentiation of Picea abies in its natural distribution range as well as outside of its native range with a focus on Central Europe.
Functional food characteristics in organic food products—the perspectives of Italian consumers on organic eggs enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Migliore G. , Rizzo G. , Bonanno A. , Dudinskaya E. Cubero , Tóth J. , Schifani G.
Published: May 2022

Innovation in organic food products plays an important role in further developing its competitiveness in the market and meeting the emerging consumers’ needs. However, few studies have analysed consumers’ points of view of innovations on organic food, limited to the change in the natural food composition or the enrichment of the nutritional contents of the product. This study, using experimental auctions, aims to overcome this gap by enriching the knowledge on organic consumers’ preference for organic food with functional characteristics. Specifically, this study analyses the willingness to pay (WTP) of 110 Italian consumers for organic eggs enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), compared to standard organic eggs, and the factors underlying this choice. Findings of the study reveal that over 73% of the sample is willing to pay an average price premium of €0.16 for functional organic eggs. This choice is mainly due to both selfish factors and a high attitude towards the environment. From a theoretical perspective, these findings enrich the literature on consumers of organic food with functional characteristics. At the same time, from a managerial point of view these results could be of interest for those breeding of laying hens that want to innovate and be competitive on the market segment of functional food. Finally, this study also contributes to the political discussions regarding the organic agriculture of the future which may also include health claims.
NebulaStream: Data Management for the Internet of Things
Authors: Zeuch Steffen , Chatziliadis Xenofon , Chaudhary Ankit , Giouroukis Dimitrios , Grulich Philipp M. , Nugroho Dwi Prasetyo Adi , Ziehn Ariane , Mark Volker
Published: May 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) presents a novel computing architecture for data management: a distributed, highly dynamic, and heterogeneous environment of massive scale. Applications for the IoT introduce new challenges for integrating the concepts of fog and cloud computing as well as sensor networks in one unified environment. In this paper, we present early approaches that address parts of the overall problem space. All approaches are incorporated into NebulaStream (NES), our novel data processing platform that addresses the heterogeneity, unreliability, and scalability challenges of the IoT and thus provides efficient data management for future applications.
Prescription-grade crystalline glucosamine sulfate as an add-on therapy to conventional treatments in erosive osteoarthritis of the hand: results from a 6-month observational retrospective study
Authors: Tenti Sara , Veronese Nicola , Cheleschi Sara , Seccafico Iole , Bruyère Olivier , Reginster Jean-Yves , Fioravanti Antonella
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of prescription-grade Crystalline Glucosamine Sulfate (pCGS) as an add-on treatment to conventional therapy, compared to usual therapy alone, in patients with erosive osteoarthritis of the hand (EHOA).

Methods

This 6-month retrospective case–control study included patients with concomitant knee osteoarthritis and symptomatic EHOA. Participants were stratified into two groups based on whether or not pCGS (1500 mg/day) was added to the conventional therapy (education and training in ergonomic principles, exercise and use on-demand of symptomatic drugs) for hand osteoarthritis. Patients were evaluated at baseline, after 3 and 6 months. Primary outcomes were the change from baseline to month 6 in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) hand pain and in Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) score. A set of secondary parameters was also evaluated.

Results

123 patients were included as follows: 67 treated with pCGS in addition to conventional therapy (pCGS Group) and 56 with conventional therapy alone (Control Group). After 6 months a significant difference in VAS and in FIHOA score (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) was observed in favor of pCGS Group. Similar results were found for morning stiffness duration (p < 0.05), health assessment questionnaire (p < 0.01) and physical and mental component score of 36-item short form (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). A significant reduction of symptomatic drug consumption at 3 and 6 months was reported in the pCGS Group (p < 0.001). No serious adverse event was recorded in both groups.

Conclusions

Despite all the limitations inherent to an observational study, our results suggest the potential effectiveness of pCGS, when used in combination with conventional therapy in EHOA. Further randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm these positive findings.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, date of registration: February
2, 2022, NCT05237596. The present trial was retrospectively registered.
Effects of weight loss on bone turnover, inflammatory cytokines, and adipokines in Chinese overweight and obese adults
Authors: Yu D. , Chen W. , Zhang J. , Wei L. , Qin J. , Lei M. , Tang H. , Wang Y. , Xue S. , Dong J. , Chen Y. , Xie L. , Di H.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Plenty of studies have examined the long term effect of weight loss on bone mineral density. This study aimed to explore the effects of 10% weight loss on early changes in bone metabolism as well as the possible influencing factors.

Methods

Overweight and obese outpatients (BMI > 24.0 kg/m2) were recruited from the nutrition clinic and followed a calorie-restricted, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet program. Dietary intake, body composition, serum procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP), β-Crosslaps, PTH, 25(OH) VitD, a series of inflammatory cytokines and adipokines were measured for the participants before starting to lose weight and after 10% weight loss (NCT 04207879).

Results

A total of 75 participants were enrolled and 37 participants achieved a weight loss of at least 10%. It was found that PINP decreased (p = 0.000) and the β-Crosslaps increased (p = 0.035) in female participants. Decreases in PTH (p = 0.001), serum IL-2 (p = 0.013), leptin (p = 0.001) and increases in 25(OH) VitD (p = 0.001), serum ghrelin (p = 0.033) were found in 37 participants after 10% of their weight had been lost. Change in PINP was detected to be significantly associated with change in lean body mass (r = 0.418, p = 0.012) and change in serum ghrelin(r = − 0.374, p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Bone formation was suppressed and bone absorption was increased in female subjects after a 10% weight loss. Bone turnover was found to be associated with lean body mass and affected by the circulating ghrelin level.
Distributed neurodynamic approaches to nonsmooth optimization problems with inequality and set constraints
Authors: Luan Linhua , Wen Xingnan , Qin Sitian
Published: May 2022

In this paper, neurodynamic approaches are proposed for solving nonsmooth distributed optimization problems under inequality and set constraints, that is to find the solution that minimizes the sum of local cost functions. A continuous-time neurodynamic approach is designed and its state solution exists globally and converges to an optimal solution of the corresponding distributed optimization problem. Then, a neurodynamic approach with event-triggered mechanism is considered for the purpose of saving communication costs, and then, the convergence and its Zeno-free property are proved. Moreover, to realize the practical application of the neurodynamic approach, a discrete-time neurodynamic approach is proposed to solve nonsmooth distributed optimization problems under inequality and set constraints. It is rigorously proved that the iterative sequence generated by the discrete-time neurodynamic approach converges to the optimal solution set of the distributed optimization problem. Finally, numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed neurodynamic approaches, and the neurodynamic approach is further applied to solve the ill-conditioned Least Absolute Deviation problem and the load sharing optimization problem.
The world of inorganic pigments
Authors: Pfaff Gerhard
Published: May 2022

Inorganic pigments have been very important substances for human life for thousands of years. They have contributed and continue to contribute to the beautification of our daily life and habitat and to the accentuation and differentiation of objects, and influence thoughts, moods, and feelings. The industrial manufacture of inorganic pigments based on growing chemical and physical knowledge started around 1800. Before that, pigments based on natural materials or manufactured by mostly empirical processes were used. Most of the technically relevant inorganic pigments were developed and first produced on an industrial scale in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Ongoing developments are aiming to improve existing conventional pigments as well as synthesize new, innovative colorants, especially in the classes of effect pigments and functional pigments. The objective of this text is to present comprehensive knowledge about inorganic pigments, including definitions, types of pigments and their properties, historical pigments, modern inorganic pigments, synthesis methods, and applications. It is also intended to show the current status of new pigment developments.

Graphical abstract

Collection of samples of inorganic pigments
Evaluating a Two-Tiered Parent Coaching Intervention for Young Autistic Children Using the Early Start Denver Model
Authors: van Noorden Lauren E. , Sigafoos Jeff , Waddington Hannah L.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Early intervention can improve the outcomes of young autistic children, and parents may be well placed to deliver these interventions. The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention that can be implemented by parents with their own children (P-ESDM). This study evaluated a two-tiered P-ESDM intervention that used a group parent coaching program, and a 1:1 parent coaching program. We evaluated changes in parent use of the ESDM and parent stress, as well as child engagement, communication, and imitation.

Methods

Seven autistic or probably autistic children (< 60 months old) and their parents participated. A multiple-baseline design was used to compare individual changes between Baseline 1, Group Coaching (Tier 1), Baseline 2, and 1:1 Coaching (Tier 2). Parent and child behaviors were analyzed from weekly videos and graphed. Parenting stress was measured.

Results

All parents improved in their use of ESDM strategies after the Tier 1 intervention. Changes in parent fidelity during Tier 2 were mixed, but all parents maintained higher than baseline levels of fidelity. Six parents demonstrated above 75% ESDM fidelity in at least one session. There were positive changes in parent stress levels pre- post-intervention. Positive results were found for most children’s levels of engagement, imitation, and communication. There were significant positive relationships between parent fidelity and both child engagement and child functional utterances.

Conclusions

Group P-ESDM is a promising approach for improving parent fidelity and some child outcomes. Future randomized and controlled studies of group P-ESDM, using standardized outcome measures, are warranted.
COVID-19 and distortions in urban food market in India
Authors: Rajkhowa Pallavi , Kornher Lukas
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we study the effects of the spread of COVID-19 on retail and wholesale prices of urban markets in India, as well as price distortion between markets and the mark-up between retail and wholesale prices. Using fixed-effects panel regression models, we find that with the spread of COVID-19, prices increased for commodities with longer shelf-life such as pulses and processed items, while prices of vegetables such as onions and tomatoes declined substantially at the onset of the pandemic. Further, market distortions increased significantly for most commodities. Pulses experienced large price distortions between markets as well as mark-ups between retail and wholesale prices. We, however, do not see any major price distortions in the market for rice and wheat, which are controlled by Government’s minimum support prices.
X-chromosomale Hypophosphatämie (XLH)/Phosphatdiabetes – Eine lebenslange Erkrankung
Authors: Raimann Adalbert , Kocijan Roland , Mindler Gabriel T.
Published: May 2022

Die X‑chromosomale Hypophosphatämie (X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, XLH, OMIM # 307800) ist eine seltene Erkrankung des Knochenstoffwechsels, die mit einem ausgeprägten Phosphatverlust und oftmals schwerer Beeinträchtigung der Lebensqualität einhergeht. Durch einen bislang noch ungeklärten Pathomechanismus kommt es durch Mutationen in der Endopeptidase PHEX zu einer vermehrten Produktion von Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23). Dieser Hauptregulator des Phosphathaushalts verursacht eine pathologisch erhöhte renale Phosphatausscheidung sowie eine Verminderung der Vitamin-D-Aktivierung. Im Kindes- und Jugendalter zählen Rachitis, Wachstumsstörungen sowie mitunter schwere Beindeformitäten zu den Leitsymptomen. Im Erwachsenenalter kommen neben Beinfehlstellungen frühzeitige Gelenksabnutzungen, Weichteilkalzifikationen, Sehnenansatzentzündungen (Enthesitis) sowie Mineralisationsstörungen des Knochens („Pseudofrakturen“), welche die Lebensqualität erheblich beeinträchtigen können, hinzu. Durch das breite Spektrum der Symptome, die bis zu neurochirurgischen Komplikationen wie Syringomyelie und Chiari-Malformationen führen, ist die frühe Diagnose und Anbindung in einem multidisziplinären Setting für die Betreuung der PatientInnen essenziell.

Die orale Gabe von Phosphatsalzen und aktiven Vitamin-D-Derivaten stellte bis vor Kurzem die wichtigste pharmakologische Behandlungsoption dar, die vor allem bei frühem Beginn zu einer Abschwächung der Symptomatik führen konnte. Seit der Zulassung von Burosumab, einem Antikörper gegen FGF23, steht für die Behandlung von Kindern und adulten PatientInnen mit XLH eine in den Pathomechanismus eingreifende, therapeutische Option zur Verfügung.
Zusammenhang von Belastungen der Lehrpersonen und Eltern mit reaktiver und proaktiver Aggression der Kinder: Bedeutung von Emotionsregulation und kooperativem Verhalten
Authors: Neuenschwander Markus P. , Rösti Ilona , Prieth Vanessa , Bölsterli Janine , Zavery Alafia
Published: May 2022

Emotionsregulation und kooperatives Verhalten in belastenden Situationen spielen eine zentrale Rolle bei der Erklärung von proaktiver und reaktiver Aggression der Kinder. Wie sehr erklären die Emotionsregulation und das kooperative Verhalten den Effekt von Belastungen der Eltern bzw. Lehrpersonen auf die reaktive und proaktive Aggression der Kinder? Ausgewertet wurden querschnittliche Fragebogendaten von Eltern und Lehrpersonen, die N = 158 Kinder mit Verhaltensauffälligkeiten in Kindergarten und Primarstufe einschätzten. Strukturgleichungsmodelle zeigen, dass die Belastung der Eltern bzw. Lehrpersonen mit der Emotionsregulation und dem kooperativen Verhalten indirekt mit der reaktiven und proaktiven Aggression zusammenhängt. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen die Bedeutsamkeit einer frühzeitigen Förderung der Emotionsregulation und des kooperativen Verhaltens.
Design of a renewable hydroxyapatite-biocarbon composite for the removal of uranium(VI) with high-efficiency adsorption performance
Authors: Liao Jun , Xiong Ting , Ding Ling , Xie Ying , Zhang Yong , Zhu Wenkun
Published: May 2022

The hydroxyapatite-loaded swine manure derived-biocarbon was successfully prepared by pyrolysis method for the adsorption of uranium(VI). The results of the adsorption experiments displayed that the adsorption behaviors for uranium(VI) of biocarbon did almost not depend on the interfering ions except Al3+, Ca2+ and CO32−, showing the high selectivity of the composites for uranium(VI). The maximum static and dynamic removal capacity of the hydroxyapatite-biocarbon composites to uranium(VI) were 834.8 and 782.8 mg/g (pH = 3, m/V = 0.1 g/L and T = 298 K), far exceeding other reported biocarbon and hydroxyapatite materials, which indicated that the hydroxyapatite-biocarbon composites possessed an application potential in adsorption. After five cycles of adsorption–desorption processes, the removal efficiency of the hydroxyapatite-biocarbon composite for uranium(VI) was 93.2% (Ci = 5 mg/L, pH = 3, m/V = 0.1 g/L and T = 298 K), revealing that the composite had excellent stability and reusability. Moreover, the capture mechanisms of the hydroxyapatite-biocarbon composite for uranium(VI) included ion exchange and complexation, which was ascribed to the ample active adsorption sites (–OH and PO43−). Therefore, the hydroxyapatite-loaded swine manure derived-biocarbon would be a potential material to effectually separate uranium(VI) from solution.

Graphical abstract
Removal performance, mechanisms, and influencing factors of biochar for air pollutants: a critical review
Authors: Zhao Zhipeng , Wang Bing , Theng Benny K. G. , Lee Xinqing , Zhang Xueyang , Chen Miao , Xu Peng
Published: May 2022

The emission of air pollutants from various industries is a major contributor to environmental pollution. The removal of these pollutants before they are discharged into the environment has become an important means of controlling air pollution. Biochar has attracted increasing attention because of its low cost, high porosity, large specific surface area, abundant surface functional groups, and high removal capacity. The physicochemical properties of biochar are greatly affected by feedstock types, preparation, and modification conditions. For this reason, the capacity and propensity of biochar for removing air pollutants are rather variable. To understand the existing research status and grasp the latest research progress, a systematic review on the removal of different air pollutants by biochar is highly needed. Based on the recent research, this paper systematically analyzes and summarizes the preparation and modification methods of biochar commonly used for the removal of six air pollutants (SO2, H2S, CO2, Hg0, VOCs, and NH3), as well as the removal performance and mechanisms. Then, the potential influencing factors (preparation parameters, physicochemical characteristics of biochar, and removal conditions) are discussed. Finally, the regeneration of biochar, suggestions, and future perspectives are proposed.

Graphical Abstract
Power metallization degradation monitoring on power MOSFETs by means of concurrent degradation processes
Authors: De Gasperi Sergio , Nelhiebel Michael , Haerle Dieter , Baschirotto Andrea
Published: May 2022

An on-chip solution for health monitoring of semiconductor power switches subjected to thermo-mechanical metal fatigue degradation is proposed. The fatigue detection relies on the correlation between the progress of the main failure mechanism, which is critical to the functionality of the device, and a parallel degradation of a non-critical sensing structure using a different mechanism. Both mechanisms are driven by the same cyclic thermo-mechanical load. This study specifically develops a sensing structure for detecting power metallization aging through electrically detectable ratcheting behavior in the routing metal layer underneath. Experiments have been carried out on a dedicated test structure with electrical sensing of the health monitoring structure. Meanwhile, the main degradation progress was observed via scanning electron microscopy in regular intervals. Results show that the proposed approach will reliably work only for detecting degradation driven by repeated high overload events.
Eosinophile Ösophagitis – Update 2022
Authors: Schoepfer Alain M. , Straumann Alex , Safroneeva Ekaterina
Published: May 2022

Die eosinophile Ösophagitis (EoE) wurde erstmals Anfang der 1990er-Jahre beschrieben und hat sich von einer initial seltenen Entität zu einer zunehmend häufigen Erkrankung entwickelt. Aktuell ist etwa einer auf 3000 Einwohner von einer EoE betroffen. Die Diagnose beruht auf folgenden drei Kriterien: 1) der Präsenz von Symptomen ösophagealer Dysfunktion (bei Erwachsenen meist Dysphagie); 2) dem Nachweis von mindestens 15 eosinophilen Granulozyten pro Gesichtsfeld unter dem Mikroskop (bei 400facher Vergrösserung); 3) dem Ausschluss anderer Erkrankungen, welche mit einer ösophagealen Eosinophilie assoziiert sein können. Pathogenetisch liegen der EoE Allergien gegen verschiedene Speisen oder selten auch gegen Aeroallergene zugrunde. Oftmals ist eine EoE mit anderen atopischen Manifestationen wie Asthma, Rhinokonjunktivitis oder Neurodermitis assoziiert. Unbehandelt führt eine EoE im Grossteil der Patienten zu ösophagealen Strikturen, welche das Hauptrisiko darstellen für komplette Speiseimpaktationen, welche in der Folge endoskopisch entfernt werden müssen. Speiseimpaktationen sollen wann immer möglich vermieden werden, da sie zu ösophagealen Perforationen und Aspirationen führen können. Als Therapieoptionen stehen im Ösophagus wirksame topische Steroide zur Verfügung, ferner Protonenpumpenhemmer („off label“), verschiedene Eliminationsdiäten sowie die ösophageale Dilatation im Falle von Stenosen. Für Patienten, welche unzureichend auf die Standardtherapien ansprechen, sind aktuell verschiedene biologische Therapien (monoklonale Antikörper) in Evaluation.
Vulnerability to climate variability of productive livelihoods in the Talgua watershed, Honduras.
Authors: Reyes Sandoval José Trinidad , Serrano Rodríguez Annery
Published: May 2022

This research aims to analyze the vulnerability of productive agricultural livelihoods to the effects of climate variability in the Talgua watershed, Honduras. Information was collected through surveys and interviews with small producers and community leaders. A factor analysis (KMO test value 0.721; Bartlett’s test of sphericity (P > 0.000) was conducted to identify the relevant variables describing productive livelihoods, and vulnerability was analyzed according to the perception of small producers in the area. Coffee, corn and bean crops are the primary productive livelihoods in the area. Smallholders perceive exposure to climatic threats, such as rising temperature trends, rainfall fluctuations, and extreme events affecting crops and reducing yields. Climate adversities are dealt with through soil conservation techniques, planting season management and water harvesting. The predominant productive livelihoods are vulnerable to climate variability, which requires establishing an adaptation strategy with actions and alternatives that allow these families to cope with climate adversities.
Prevalence and Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in the Population of St. Petersburg, Russia
Authors: Parshina Ekaterina V. , Zulkarnaev Alexey B. , Tolkach Alexey D. , Ivanov Andrey V. , Kislyy Pavel N.
Published: May 2022

Background

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of seropositive status for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-IgA, -IgM, and -IgG; its dynamics in connection with restrictive measures during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; and the quantitative dynamics of antibody levels in the population of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Methods

From May to November 2020, a retrospective analysis of Saint Petersburg State University Hospital laboratory database was performed. The database included 158,283 test results of 87,067 patients for SARS-CoV-2 detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody detection of SARS-CoV-2-IgA, -IgM, and -IgG. The dynamics of antibody level was assessed using R v.3.6.3.

Results

The introduction of a universal lockdown was effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. The proportion of seropositive patients gradually decreased; approximately 50% of these patients remained seropositive for IgM after 3–4 weeks; for IgG, by follow-up week 22; and for IgA, by week 12. The maximum decrease in IgG and IgA was observed 3–4 months and 2 months after the detection of the seropositive status, respectively.

Conclusions

The epidemiological study of post-infection immunity to COVID-19 demonstrates significant differences in the dynamics of IgA, IgM, and IgG seropositivity and in PCR test results over time, which is linked to the introduction of restrictive measures. Both the proportion of seropositive patients and the level of all antibodies decreased in terms of the dynamics, and only approximately half of these patients remained IgG-positive 6 months post-infection.