bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensor digitorum brevis bulk and associations with fibular motor nerve conduction amplitude
Authors: Levin Josh , Lowe Anita , Tamura Lyndly , Miller Emily , Koltsov Jayme , Kenrick Anthony , Barrette Kevin , Richardson James
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Prior work demonstrates that fibular compound motor action potential (CMAP) amplitude <4.0 mV predicts impairment of ankle proprioceptive precision and increased fall risk. Extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) inspection may present a simple clinical surrogate for CMAP amplitude.

Objective

(1) To estimate the inter‐rater reliability of assessment of EDB bulk. (2) To determine whether inspection of EDB bulk is associated with fibular CMAP amplitude.

Design

Prospective inter‐rater reliability study.

Setting

Academic center outpatient Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation electromyography (EMG) clinics.

Participants

Fifty‐two adult participants (102 feet).

Main Outcome Measures

(1) Inter‐rater reliability of assessment of EDB bulk. (2) Mean fibular CMAP amplitude. (3) A binary measure of fibular CMAP amplitude at/above or below a 4.0 mV threshold.

Results

Inter‐rater reliability of EDB bulk grading was moderate (kappa: 0.65 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48‐0.82]). The mean CMAP value was 5.9 ± 2.2 mV when bulk was normal, 3.4 ± 2.1 mV when diminished, and 0.6 ± 0.9 mV when atrophied. A multivariable analysis demonstrated that EDB bulk, distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP), and lumbar radiculopathy were all associated with CMAP amplitude. The sensitivity and specificity of grading muscle bulk as normal versus abnormal in detecting CMAP amplitude above or below 4.0 mV were 0.86 (95% CI 0.78‐0.94) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.54‐0.88), respectively. An atrophied EDB was a highly specific indicator that CMAP amplitude was abnormal (<4.0 mV) in 100% of cases (8/8).

Conclusions

EDB bulk was associated with fibular CMAP amplitude. Atrophy was a highly specific indicator for CMAP amplitude below 4.0 mV. Evaluation of EDB bulk may represent a quick and easy clinical surrogate marker for CMAP amplitude and distal neuromuscular impairment.
Amine‐functionalized natural zeolites prepared through plasma polymerization for enhanced carbon dioxide adsorption
Authors: Wahono Satriyo K. , Dwiatmoko Adid A. , Cavallaro Alex , Indirathankam Sathish C. , Addai‐Mensah Jonas , Skinner William , Vinu Ajayan , Vasilev Krasimir
Published: April 2021

Solution‐based amine absorption technologies have been widely applied for CO2capture, but they have several drawbacks. This paper reports on the synthesis of the first solid‐state amine adsorbent prepared through a simple plasma polymerization and deposition on physicochemically modified natural mordenite–clinoptilolite zeolite. The plasma deposition of amine polymer under certain conditions resulted in a significant increase in surface area‐weighted CO2adsorption capacity as the natural zeolite. The strength of the interaction between CO2and the adsorbent was weaker for the plasma polymer‐modified zeolite than without the plasma coating, which may facilitate regeneration. Both indications make the amine plasma polymer‐based zeolite adsorbent a good candidate for CO2adsorption and separation.
Who decides what ‘normal’ is?
Authors: Zacarese Lawrence M.
Published: April 2021

By the time you read this, we will have surpassed the one‐year mark of the start of the COVID‐19 global pandemic, and many of us will have returned to campus. That will undoubtedly look different across the nation and around the world. Depending on where you are, local infection rates, lockdown protocols, and everyday life vary greatly.
Human impact and ecosystemic health at Lake Baikal
Authors: Brown Kate Pride , Gerber Alina , Bedulina Daria , Timofeyev Maxim A.
Published: April 2021

Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia is the deepest and (by volume) largest lake on Earth. Among the most ancient lakes, it is home to thousands of endemic species. Lake Baikal is well‐known for its water purity, especially its dominant deep‐water layers, which consist of pristine, drinking‐quality water and is inhabited by unique endemics with enormous biodiversity. But some coastal sites of this giant lake (mainly localized in isolated shallow bays and littoral zones close to settlements and industrial sites) are suffering from an environmental crisis that threatens the water's quality and the ecosystem it supports. As part of the global ecosystem, Lake Baikal is already facing significant impacts from global climate change, which, in turn, increase the risks and consequences of local anthropogenic effects. Although the lake is protected by federal law, human activities are nevertheless having a growing negative impact on its ecosystem. Political, economic, and social factors result in cascading natural consequences in water quality, coastal sustainability, pollution sinks, water level management, forest maintenance, fire control and biodiversity. While Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known and valued around the world, it remains vulnerable to worsening threats that must be addressed if humanity is to preserve this unique ecosystem and its endemic species into the future.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Science of Water > Water Quality

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Non-planar form factors of generic local operators via on-shell unitarity and color-kinematics duality
Authors: Lin Guanda , Yang Gang
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Form factors, as quantities involving both local operators and asymptotic particle states, contain information of both the spectrum of operators and the on-shell amplitudes. So far the studies of form factors have been mostly focused on the large Nc planar limit, with a few exceptions of Sudakov form factors. In this paper, we discuss the systematical construction of full color dependent form factors with generic local operators. We study the color decomposition for form factors and discuss the general strategy of using on-shell unitarity cut method. As concrete applications, we compute the full two-loop non-planar minimal form factors for both half-BPS operators and non-BPS operators in the SU(2) sector in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM. Another important aspect is to investigate the color-kinematics (CK) duality for form factors of high-length operators. Explicit CK dual representation is found for the two-loop half-BPS minimal form factors with arbitrary number of external legs. The full-color two-loop form factor result provides an independent check of the infrared dipole formula for two-loop n-point amplitudes. By extracting the UV divergences, we also reproduce the known non-planar SU(2) dilatation operator at two loops. As for the finite remainder function, interestingly, the non-planar part is found to contain a new maximally transcendental part beyond the known planar result.
Managementstrategie für den Massenanfall von Erkrankten/Infizierten in Alten- und Pflegeheimen im Kontext der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Schreiber Wolfgang , Wolf Philipp , Bigalke Nicole , Bigalke Marc U. , Graf Bernhard M. , Dittmar Michael S.
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund

Während der Corona Virus Disease-2019(COVID-19)-Pandemie sind gehäuft Ausbrüche in stationären Pflege- und Betreuungseinrichtungen zu beobachten, die die ambulanten Strukturen überfordern und zu einer rettungsdienstlichen Großschadenslage aufwachsen. Standardisierte einsatztaktische Vorgaben wie für den Massenanfall von Verletzten (MANV) fehlen.

Methoden

Anhand eines konkreten Fallberichts und der Literatur stellen die Autoren eine Managementstrategie für den Massenanfall von Erkrankten bzw. Infizierten (MANE/MANI) während der Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus‑2(SARS-CoV‑2)-Pandemie vor und grenzen diese zur MANV-Einsatztaktik ab.

Ergebnisse

Das Vorgehen bei MANI lässt sich in 3 Phasen einteilen und beginnt mit der akuten Gefahrenabwehr mit Sichtung, Stabilisierung kritischer Patienten und Transport der hospitalisierungspflichtigen Patienten. In Phase 2 werden die Betriebsbereitschaft der Einrichtung gesichert oder die Bewohner anderweitig untergebracht, falls das Personal in relevantem Ausmaß infiziert oder in Quarantäne ist. Die 3. Phase markiert die Rückkehr zum Regelbetrieb.

Diskussion

Phase 1 orientiert sich an MANV-Grundsätzen, Phase 2 am Krankenhauskrisenmanagement. Die Vermeidung einer Evakuierung der Bewohner zur Entlastung der Krankenhäuser stellt dabei ein wichtiges Einsatzziel dar. Mangelnde Einsatz- und Übungspraxis mit derartigen Lagen, die begrenzte Anwendbarkeit von etablierten Vorsichtungsalgorithmen sowie der hohe Koordinationsbedarf stellen die Führungskräfte vor Herausforderungen.

Schlussfolgerung

Das vorgestellte Phasenmodell stellt einen praktikablen, ganzheitlichen Ansatz zum erweiterten notfallmedizinischen Management von MANI-Einsatzlagen dar.
Außergewöhnliche Berufsallergien durch Nahrungsmittel tierischen Ursprungs
Authors: Dickel H.
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund

Die Nahrungsmittelwirtschaft zählt zu den Hochrisikobereichen für arbeitsbedingte allergische Sofortreaktionen an der Haut (Kontakturtikaria, Kontakturtikariasyndrom, Proteinkontaktdermatitis) mit oder ohne respiratorische Symptome (allergische Rhinitis, allergisches Asthma) durch Proteine tierischen Ursprungs.

Fragestellung

Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über allergene Meerestier- und Fleischproteine und deren klinische und beruflich Relevanz in verschiedenen Tätigkeitsbereichen.

Material und Methode

Es erfolgten die Aufbereitung von aktuellem Wissen sowie eine ergänzende selektive Literaturrecherche.

Ergebnisse

Nach dem irritativen Handekzem ist die Proteinkontaktdermatitis eine häufige Berufsdermatose unter Beschäftigten mit Kontakt zu Meerestieren und Fleisch. Fischer, Köche und Metzger sind an erster Stelle betroffen. Noch vor den Fischen zählen Krusten- und Weichtiere zu den häufigsten Auslösern von in Einzelfällen auch vital bedrohlichen Nahrungsmittelallergien. Demgegenüber ist eine primäre Fleischallergie selten. Rindfleisch unter den Säugetieren und Hühnerfleisch unter den Vögeln sind die häufigsten Auslöser.

Schlussfolgerungen

Bei allen Beschäftigten mit allergischen Sofortreaktionen an der Haut und/oder den Atemwegen, die gegenüber Proteinen tierischen Ursprungs am Arbeitsplatz exponiert sind, sollte frühzeitig eine sorgfältige allergologische Abklärung durchgeführt werden. Spielt heute die spezifische Ig(Immunglobulin)E-Bestimmung bei der Diagnosesicherung eine zentrale Rolle, wird es in Einzelfällen von großer Bedeutung sein, das angeschuldigte Nativmaterial in die Hauttestungen einzubeziehen. Die Krankheitsverläufe sind allgemein durch eine schlechte Prognose und häufige Berufswechsel charakterisiert.
Theoretical and experimental investigations of mechanical vibrations of hot hammer forging
Authors: Saberi Saeid , Fischer Jochen , Stockinger Martin , Tikal Ralph , Afsharnia Reza
Published: April 2021

The characterization of mechanical vibrations in a hammer forging process is a tremendously important parameter for machine design and production engineering. The dynamic response of a forging hammer to the reaction forces is affected by material behaviour, time, spring-damper system and foundation. In this research firstly, the effect of mass ratio and coefficient of restitution on the forging efficiency were theoretical characterized. The interesting influence of anvil initial velocity on the forging efficiency is also analytically presented. The mechanical vibrations of a LASCO HO U-315 hammer were experimentally investigated. Two steel grades a S355 and a 42CrMo4 were used to forge trial parts. The velocity of the ram and acceleration of the anvil during a hot die forging process were measured using a laser velocity meter type LSV-2000-45. The influences of forging time, coefficient of restitution, energy loss and time interval (delay) between blows on the efficiency of the forging process were examined. The energy loss before die contact was determined to be approximately 10%. The investigations also showed that a variation of the time interval between blows within the usual range has no effect on the intensity of the vibrations of the anvil nor on the energy loss of the hammer. The dependence of the free damped vibrations of the anvil on machine stiffness, damper coefficient and mass of machine has been confirmed. Additionally, the loss of energy due to hammer movement as well as the free damped mechanical vibrations of the anvil were theoretically analysed in order to verify the experimental findings. Theoretical analysis showed an anvil initial velocity of approximately 0.2 m/s results in a 4% increase of forging efficiency. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results was observed.
Das Projekt rechtsmedizinische Leichenschau in Frankfurt am Main – Erste Leichenschau vs. Sektionsergebnisse
Authors: Plenzig S. , Holz F. , Kettner M. , Verhoff M. A. , Birngruber C. G.
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund

In Frankfurt am Main (~750.000 Einwohner) wird die erste Leichenschau im Auftrag der Polizei tagsüber durch einen dafür eingerichteten rechtsmedizinischen Dienst vorgenommen. Nachts und am Wochenende führen diese Tätigkeit Ärzte des ärztlichen Bereitschaftsdienstes (ÄBD) der kassenärztlichen Vereinigung durch.

Material und Methoden

Für das Jahr 2019 wurden die im Rahmen dieser ersten Leichenschauen ausgestellten Leichenschauscheine hinsichtlich der attestierten Todesart ausgewertet und die Ergebnisse mit denen einer ggf. im Nachgang durchgeführten Sektion, inklusive Zusatzuntersuchungen, verglichen. Von den Ärzten des ÄBD konnten 461 Leichenschauen in die Auswertung eingeschlossen werden, davon erfolgte in 76 Fällen eine Obduktion. Im Nachgang der 364 rechtsmedizinischen Leichenschauen wurden 78 Obduktionen durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Veränderungen in der Todesart nach Sektion ergaben sich für die Leichenschauen des ÄBD in 57, bei den rechtsmedizinischen Leichenschauen in 49 Fällen, wobei insbesondere eine bei Leichenschau attestierte ungeklärte Todesart in einen natürlichen Tod spezifiziert werden konnte. Nach der Obduktion fanden sich bei den rechtsmedizinischen Leichenschauen 8 Fälle, bei denen des ÄBD 19 Fälle eines nichtnatürlichen (statt weiterhin ungeklärten) Todes. Bei den rechtsmedizinisch beschauten Fällen änderte sich zudem nach der Sektion in einem Fall die Todesart von natürlich zu nichtnatürlich, bei denen des ÄBD kam es in einem Fall zu einer Änderung von nichtnatürlich zu natürlich.

Diskussion

Die Veränderung bzw. Spezifizierung der Todesart nach der Sektion beider Kollektive verdeutlicht, wie wichtig eine Steigerung der Sektionsrate wäre, und dass auch bei professioneller Durchführung der Leichenschau das Erkennen der Todesart Probleme bereitet.
SARS-CoV‑2-Zufallsentdeckungen bei Hamburger Todesfällen: ein epidemiologisches Monitoring während des dynamischen Infektionsgeschehens im Frühjahr 2020
Authors: Klein Anke , Langenwalder Felicia , Heinrich Fabian , Meißner Kira , Schröder Ann Sophie , Püschel Klaus , Ondruschka Benjamin , Lütgehetmann Marc , Heinemann Axel
Published: April 2021

Hintergrund

Im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie sind Inzidenz und Mortalität entscheidende Determinanten, um Ausbreitungsdynamik und Gefahrenpotenzial zu beurteilen. Untersucht wird, ob ein systematisches mikrobiologisches Monitoring von Todesfällen eine relevante Untererfassung der Mortalität aufzeigen kann, und ob sich ggf. eine Sterbekohorte zuvor nicht erfasster Fälle von einer Hellfeldkohorte unterscheidet (Soziografie, Todesursache).

Methode

Es erfolgte eine systematische Reverse-Transkriptase(RT)-qPCR(quantitative Polymerasekettenreaktion)-Testung von Verstorbenen in zentralen Leichenhallen in Hamburg (Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Krematorium) auf eine SARS-CoV‑2-Infektion mittels Nasen-Rachen-Abstrich über 8 Wochen ab Auftreten pandemiebezogener Todesfälle mit vergleichender Analyse der Hell- und Dunkelfeldkollektive.

Ergebnisse

Unter insgesamt 1231 verdachtsunabhängig getesteten Verstorbenen lag bei 29 Fällen (2,4 %) eine zuvor nicht bekannte SARS-CoV‑2-Infektion vor. In der ersten Phase der Pandemie überwogen Zufallsentdeckungen unter unklaren und nichtnatürlichen Todesfällen in der Rechtsmedizin, die vermehrt jüngere Altersgruppen, v. a. aus häuslicher Umgebung, umfassten. Im Krematorium zeigten sich mit weiterem Verlauf zunehmend Zufallsentdeckungen bei Todesfällen aus stationären Pflegeinstitutionen. Das Gesamtkollektiv wies soziodemografisch keine signifikanten Unterschiede zu einem Vergleichskollektiv bekannter/registrierter SARS-CoV‑2-assoziierter Todesfälle auf. In der Dunkelfeldkohorte war die Todesursache COVID-19 signifikant seltener.

Schlussfolgerung

Ein systematisches verdachtsunabhängiges PCR-basiertes Monitoring von Todesfällen ermöglicht eine vollständigere Erfassung von SARS-CoV‑2-positiven Sterbefällen insbesondere im nichtklinischen Sektor. Durch die Erfassung eines Dunkelfelds, das einer Routineleichenschau bislang entgeht, kann ein präventiver epidemiologischer Beitrag geleistet werden.
Alternative exon splicing and differential expression in pancreatic islets reveals candidate genes and pathways implicated in early diabetes development
Authors: Rehman Sayeed ur , Schallschmidt Tanja , Rasche Axel , Knebel Birgit , Stermann Torben , Altenhofen Delsi , Herwig Ralf , Schürmann Annette , Chadt Alexandra , Al-Hasani Hadi
Published: April 2021

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has a strong genetic component. Most of the gene variants driving the pathogenesis of T2D seem to target pancreatic β-cell function. To identify novel gene variants acting at early stage of the disease, we analyzed whole transcriptome data to identify differential expression (DE) and alternative exon splicing (AS) transcripts in pancreatic islets collected from two metabolically diverse mouse strains at 6 weeks of age after three weeks of high-fat-diet intervention. Our analysis revealed 1218 DE and 436 AS genes in islets from NZO/Hl vs C3HeB/FeJ. Whereas some of the revealed genes present well-established markers for β-cell failure, such as Cd36 or Aldh1a3, we identified numerous DE/AS genes that have not been described in context with β-cell function before. The gene Lgals2, previously associated with human T2D development, was DE as well as AS and localizes in a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for blood glucose on Chr.15 that we reported recently in our N2(NZOxC3H) population. In addition, pathway enrichment analysis of DE and AS genes showed an overlap of only half of the revealed pathways, indicating that DE and AS in large parts influence different pathways in T2D development. PPARG and adipogenesis pathways, two well-established metabolic pathways, were overrepresented for both DE and AS genes, probably as an adaptive mechanism to cope for increased cellular stress. Our results provide guidance for the identification of novel T2D candidate genes and demonstrate the presence of numerous AS transcripts possibly involved in islet function and maintenance of glucose homeostasis.
Correction to: Assessment of Polygala paniculata (Polygalaceae) characteristics for evolutionary studies of legume–rhizobia symbiosis
Authors: Tokumoto Yuji , Hashimoto Kayo , Soyano Takashi , Aoki Seishiro , Iwasaki Wataru , Fukuhara Mai , Nakagawa Tomomi , Saeki Kazuhiko , Yokoyama Jun , Fujita Hironori , Kawaguchi Masayoshi
Published: April 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-021-01295-3
Whole-Body Teleoperation and Shared Control of Redundant Robots with Applications to Aerial Manipulation
Authors: Coelho Andre , Sarkisov Yuri , Wu Xuwei , Mishra Hrishik , Singh Harsimran , Dietrich Alexander , Franchi Antonio , Kondak Konstantin , Ott Christian
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces a passivity-based control framework for multi-task time-delayed bilateral teleoperation and shared control of kinematically-redundant robots. The proposed method can be seen as extension of state-of-the art hierarchical whole-body control as it allows for some of the tasks to be commanded by a remotely-located human operator through a haptic device while the others are autonomously performed. The operator is able to switch among tasks at any time without compromising the stability of the system. To enforce the passivity of the communication channel as well as to dissipate the energy generated by the null-space projectors used to enforce the hierarchy among the tasks, the Time-Domain Passivity Approach (TDPA) is applied. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated through its application to the DLR Suspended Aerial Manipulator (SAM) in a real telemanipulation scenario with variable time delay, jitter, and package loss.
Lenvatinib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC): a retrospective controlled study
Authors: Fu Zhigang , Li Xiaowei , Zhong Jiaming , Chen Xiaoxia , Cao Kunkun , Ding Ning , Liu Li , Zhang Xiaoli , Zhai Jian , Qu Zengqiang
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To compare the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with lenvatinib and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus TACE only in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).

Methods

Of the 120 patients enrolled in this study, 60 patients received treatment with TACE only, and 60 patients received TACE plus lenvatinib. We retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and tumor response between the two groups. Both PFS and tumor response were based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Adverse events were analyzed to assess the safety profiles.

Results

The 1-year and 2-year OS rates were significantly higher in the TACE + lenvatinib group (88.4% and 79.8%) than that in the TACE group (79.2% and 49.2%,p = 0.047). A similar PFS benefit was observed in the TACE + lenvatinib group (1-y PFS rate: 78.4% vs. 64.7%, 2-y PFS rate: 45.5% vs. 38.0%,p < 0.001). The best overall objective response rate (ORR) was also better with TACE + lenvatinib treatment (ORR: 68.3% vs. 31.7%,p < 0.001) and disease control rate (DCR) numerically increased in the TACE + lenvatinib treatment (93.3% vs. 86.7%,p = 0.224). Patients’ liver function remained comparable to baseline in the TACE + lenvatinib group. The most common adverse events were decreased albumin (55.0%), hypertension (48.3%) and decreased platelet count (46.7%) in the TACE + lenvatinib group.

Conclusions

Combination treatment with TACE and lenvatinib may significantly improve clinical outcomes over TACE monotherapy with a manageable safety profile for unresectable HCC. The efficacy of the combination treatment should be validated in prospective studies with a large sample size.

Graphical abstract
Machine learning in information systems - a bibliographic review and open research issues
Authors: Abdel-Karim Benjamin M. , Pfeuffer Nicolas , Hinz Oliver
Published: April 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are currently hot topics in industry and business practice, while management-oriented research disciplines seem reluctant to adopt these sophisticated data analytics methods as research instruments. Even the Information Systems (IS) discipline with its close connections to Computer Science seems to be conservative when conducting empirical research endeavors. To assess the magnitude of the problem and to understand its causes, we conducted a bibliographic review on publications in high-level IS journals. We reviewed 1,838 articles that matched corresponding keyword-queries in journals from the AIS senior scholar basket, Electronic Markets and Decision Support Systems (Ranked B). In addition, we conducted a survey among IS researchers (N = 110). Based on the findings from our sample we evaluate different potential causes that could explain why ML methods are rather underrepresented in top-tier journals and discuss how the IS discipline could successfully incorporate ML methods in research undertakings.
Penetration of echinocandins into wound secretion of critically ill patients
Authors: Gasperetti Tiziana , Welte René , Oberacher Herbert , Marx Jana , Lorenz Ingo , Schellongowski Peter , Staudinger Thomas , Burgmann Karin , Eller Philipp , Santner Tobias , Griesmacher Andrea , Pfisterer Hartwig , Eschertzhuber Stephan , Aigner Maria , Joannidis Michael , Bellmann Romuald
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Wound infections caused by Candida are life-threatening and difficult to treat. Echinocandins are highly effective against Candida species and recommended for treatment of invasive candidiasis. As penetration of echinocandins into wounds is largely unknown, we measured the concentrations of the echinocandins anidulafungin (AFG), micafungin (MFG), and caspofungin (CAS) in wound secretion (WS) and in plasma of critically ill patients.

Methods

We included critically ill adults with an indwelling wound drainage or undergoing vacuum-assisted closure therapy, who were treated with an echinocandin for suspected or proven invasive fungal infection. Concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography with UV (AFG and MFG) or tandem mass spectrometry detection (CAS).

Results

Twenty-one patients were enrolled. From eight patients, serial WS samples and simultaneous plasma samples were obtained within a dosage interval. AFG concentrations in WS amounted to < 0.025–2.25 mg/L, MFG concentrations were 0.025–2.53 mg/L, and CAS achieved concentrations of 0.18–4.04 mg/L. Concentrations in WS were significantly lower than the simultaneous plasma concentrations and below the MIC values of some relevant pathogens.

Conclusion

Echinocandin penetration into WS displays a high inter-individual variability. In WS of some of the patients, concentrations may be sub-therapeutic. However, the relevance of sub-therapeutic concentrations is unknown as no correlation has been established between concentration data and clinical outcome. Nevertheless, in the absence of clinical outcome studies, our data do not support the use of echinocandins at standard doses for the treatment of fungal wound infections, but underline the pivotal role of surgical debridement.
Solar photovoltaic-based microgrid hosting capacity evaluation in electrical energy distribution network with voltage quality analysis
Authors: Sharma Arvind , Kolhe Mohan , Kontou Alkistis , Lagos Dimitrios , Kotsampopoulos Panos
Published: April 2021

In this paper, solar photovoltaic hosting capacity within the electrical distribution network is estimated for different buses, and the impacts of high PV penetration are evaluated using power hardware-in-loop testing methods. It is observed that the considered operational constraints (i.e. voltage and loadings) and their operational limits have a significant impact on the hosting capacity results. However, with increasing photovoltaic penetration, some of the network buses reach maximum hosting capacity, which affects the network operation (e.g. bus voltages, line loading). The results show that even distributing the maximum hosting capacity among different buses can increase the bus voltage rise to 9%. To maintain the network bus voltages within acceptable limits, reactive power voltage-based droop control is implemented in the photovoltaic conditioning devices to test the dynamics of the network operation. The results show that implementation of the droop control technique can reduce the maximum voltage rise from 9% to 4% in the considered case. This paper also presents the impact of forming a mesh type network (i.e. from radial network) on the voltage profile during PV penetration, and a comparative analysis of the operational performance of a mesh type and radial type electrical network is performed. It is observed that the cumulative effect of forming a mesh type network along with a droop control strategy can further improve the voltage profile and contribute to increase photovoltaic penetration. The results are verified using an experimental setup of digital real-time simulator and power hardware-in-loop test methods. The results from this work will be useful for estimating the appropriate photovoltaic hosting capacity within a distribution network and implementation of a droop control strategy in power conditioning devices to maintain the network operational parameters within the specified limits.

Highlights

Voltage and line loading constraints’ combination can reduce PV hosting capacity by 50% as compared to only voltage as a constraint.

Implementation of reactive power versus voltage droop control in PV power conditioning device can reduce voltage variation from 9% to 4%.

In a PV integrated electrical energy network, line loading can be reduced by 20% if the network is configured from radial to mesh type.
Total Thyroidectomy vs Thyroid Lobectomy for Localized Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Children: A Propensity-Matched Survival Analysis
Authors: Memeh Kelvin , Ruhle Brian , Alsafran Salman , Vaghaiwalla Tanaz , Kaplan Edwin , Angelos Peter , Keutgen Xavier M.
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines recommend total thyroidectomy (TT) and radioablation for most papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in children. These guidelines have been criticized as aggressive, especially for early-stage PTC, as it likely does not influence patient survival and results in life-long thyroid hormone replacement. We sought to study whether the extent of thyroidectomy (TT vs thyroid lobectomy [TL]) influences overall and disease-specific survival in children with localized PTC.

METHODS:

The National Cancer Database and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries were queried. Patients 18 years or younger with low-risk PTC between 2004 and 2016 were included. Using a 1:1 propensity score matching, patients who underwent TT were matched for age, sex, race, year of diagnosis, and tumor size with a similar cohort of patients who underwent TL. Primary end points were overall survival and disease-specific survival.

RESULTS:

There were 3,500 patients identified as surgically treated for PTC, of which 1,325 patients met inclusion criteria for matching. Three hundred and twenty-six patients were matched. One hundred and sixty-three patients had TT; 140 were female and mean age was 16 years (interquartile range [IQR] 13 to 17 years). One hundred and sixty-three patients had TL; 140 were female and mean age was 16 years (IQR 14 to 17 years). Median follow-up was 5.0 years (IQR 2.8 to 8 years) and 8.3 years (IQR 3.6 to 14.4 years) in the National Cancer Database and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cohorts, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival or disease-specific survival in patients with PTC < 4 cm, regardless of whether patients underwent TT or TL (p = 0.32 for National Cancer Database registry and p = 0.67 for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that the extent of thyroidectomy does not influence survival for pediatric patients with early-stage PTC and that TL might be adequate in this patient population.
Responsiveness of Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue Scales in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Authors: Laberge Luc , Gallais Benjamin , Auclair Julie , Dauvilliers Yves , Côté Isabelle , Mathieu Jean , Gagnon Cynthia
Published: April 2021

Daytime sleepiness and fatigue are prominent symptoms of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) that can be amenable to treatment in the context of randomized controlled trials. No study has yet documented whether self-reported measures of daytime sleepiness and fatigue can detect change over time and the meaning of this change. The aim was to explore indicators of responsiveness to change and interpretability for the Daytime Sleepiness Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale in 115 DM1 prospectively followed patients. Results suggest that these two self-reported questionnaires are sufficiently sensitive to detect changes beyond expected measurement error over time in this population.
Response of the trial innovation network to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Greenberg Rachel G. , Poole Lori , Ford Daniel E. , Hanley Daniel , Selker Harry P. , Lane Karen , Dean J. Michael , Burr Jeri , Harris Paul , Wilkins Consuelo H. , Bernard Gordon , Edwards Terri , Benjamin Daniel K.
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the development and implementation of hundreds of clinical trials across the USA. The Trial Innovation Network (TIN), funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, was an established clinical research network that pivoted to respond to the pandemic.

Methods:

The TIN’s three Trial Innovation Centers, Recruitment Innovation Center, and 66 Clinical and Translational Science Award Hub institutions, collaborated to adapt to the pandemic’s rapidly changing landscape, playing central roles in the planning and execution of pivotal studies addressing COVID-19. Our objective was to summarize the results of these collaborations and lessons learned.

Results:

The TIN provided 29 COVID-related consults between March 2020 and December 2020, including 6 trial participation expressions of interest and 8 community engagement studios from the Recruitment Innovation Center. Key lessons learned from these experiences include the benefits of leveraging an established infrastructure, innovations surrounding remote research activities, data harmonization and central safety reviews, and early community engagement and involvement.

Conclusions:

Our experience highlighted the benefits and challenges of a multi-institutional approach to clinical research during a pandemic.
Network models and sensor layers to design adaptive learning using educational mapping
Authors: Huang Luwen , Willcox Karen E.
Published: April 2021

A network modelling approach to educational mapping leads to a scalable computational model that supports adaptive learning, intelligent tutors, intelligent teaching assistants, and data-driven continuous improvement. Current educational mapping processes are generally applied at a level of resolution that is too coarse to support adaptive learning and learning analytics systems at scale. This paper proposes a network modelling approach to structure extremely fine-grained statements of learning ability called Micro-outcomes, and a method to design sensors for inferring a learner’s knowledge state. These sensors take the form of high-resolution assessments and trackers that collect digital analytics. The sensors are linked to Micro-outcomes as part of the network model, enabling inference and pathway analysis. One example demonstrates the modelling approach applied to two community college subjects in College Algebra and Introductory Accounting. Application examples showcase how this modelling approach provides the design foundation for an intelligent tutoring system and intelligent teaching assistant system deployed at Arapahoe Community College and Quinsigamond Community College. A second example demonstrates the modelling approach deployed in an undergraduate aerospace engineering subject at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to support course planning and teaching improvement.
Morphology analysis of tracks in the aerogels impacted by hypervelocity irregular particles
Authors: Du Ai , Ma Yi , Liu Mingfang , Zhang Zhihua , Cao Guangwei , Li Hongwei , Wang Ling , Si Peijian , Shen Jun , Zhou Bin
Published: April 2021

As an attractive collector medium for hypervelocity particles, combined with outstanding physical properties and suitable compositional characteristics, SiO2 aerogel has been deployed on outer space missions and laser shock-loaded collection experiments. In this paper, impact experiments were conducted to understand the penetration process of irregular grains, irregular Al2O3 grains with two different sizes and speeds (~110 μm@7 km/s, ~251 μm@2.3 km/s) at various density silica aerogels. By classifying the shapes of projectile residues and tracks, the morphology of tracks was analyzed. It was observed that there were several kinds of typical tracks in the penetration of irregular grains, accompanied by residues with the shapes of near-sphere, polyhedron, streamlined body wedge, and rotator. The rotational behavior was demonstrated by the final status of one flake projectile as direct evidence. In addition, there was no obvious relationship between the track length and experimental parameters, which may be caused by the uncertain interaction between aerogels and irregular particles. In addition, it confirmed the existence of fragmentation, melting situation by observing the shape of the impact entrance hole. At the same time, optical coherence tomography was used to observe the detail of tracks clearly, which provided a method to characterize the tracks nondestructively.
On the nature of instabilities in externally perturbed liquid sheets
Authors: Dighe Sandip , Gadgil Hrishikesh
Published: April 2021

The evolution of the interfacial instabilities on a smooth and laminar liquid sheet formed by the oblique impingement of two liquid jets is investigated in the presence of external acoustic forcing. The forced liquid sheet exhibits different instability patterns, such as flapping flag, sinuous breakup and vibrating membrane structure, depending on the forcing frequency. The transition frequencies, where the instability pattern changes, are obtained using the linear theory of sheet instability and are shown to be increasing functions of the jet Weber number. These different instability patterns show distinct growth rate behaviours, which cannot be predicted using a unique theory such as the conventional linear theory of sheet breakup. The dynamics of liquid sheet breakup in the presence of forcing is further assessed with the help of established instability theories. Our measurements show that the sheet thickness distribution plays a major role in dictating the relative influence of different mechanisms on the instability characteristics. All the results are finally consolidated to arrive at the instability regime map on the Weber number versus frequency (

$We$

–

$\tilde {\omega }$

) space to serve as a guideline for adopting a suitable modelling approach.
Figuring Things Out, Morally Speaking
Authors: Zaibert Leo
Published: April 2021

The appeal of the moral principle according to which we should treat like cases alike is so great that it verges on the axiomatic, or on the platitudinous. Recently, however, the principle has been challenged in deeply interesting ways. These ways are interesting because they do not invite skepticism about morality at large, but about the specific claim that what is good (or bad) for an agent in a given situation must be good (or bad) for any other similarly situated agent. I here assess the post-challenge viability of the principle. In a sense, the principle survives, but this is neither an unqualified victory nor an inspiring result. The examination of these matters contains an important (and under-investigated) lesson about the nature of moral experience.
Jellybeans… orJelly, Beans…?5-6-year-olds can identify the prosody of compounds but not lists
Authors: XU RATTANASONE Nan , YUEN Ivan , HOLT Rebecca , DEMUTH Katherine
Published: April 2021

Learning to use word versus phrase level prosody to identify compounds from lists is thought to be a protracted process, only acquired by 11 years (Vogel & Raimy, 2002). However, a recent study has shown that 5-year-olds can use prosodic cues other than stress for these two structures inproduction, at least for early-acquired noun-noun compounds (Yuen et al., 2021). This raises the question of whether children this age can also use naturally-produced prosody toidentifynoun-noun compounds from their list forms in comprehension. The results show that 5-6-year-olds (N = 28) can only identify compounds. Unlike adults, children as a group could not use boundary cues to identify lists and were significantly slower in their processing compared to adults. This suggests that the acquisition of word level prosody may precede the acquisition of phrase level prosody, i.e., some higher-level aspects of phrasal prosody may take longer to acquire.
Crystal structure of levocetirizine dihydrochloride Form I, C21H27ClN2O3Cl2
Authors: Kaduk James A. , Gindhart Amy M. , Blanton Thomas N.
Published: April 2021

The crystal structure of levocetirizine dihydrochloride Form I has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional techniques. Levocetirizine dihydrochloride Form I apparently crystallizes in space group P21/n (#14) with a = 24.1318(21), b = 7.07606(9), c = 13.5205(7) Å, β = 97.9803(4)°, V = 2286.38(12) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure consists of interleaved double columns of cations and anions along the short b-axis. The hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions along this axis. Each protonated nitrogen atom forms a strong N–H⋯Cl hydrogen bond to one of the chloride anions. The carboxylic acid group also forms an H-bond to Cl56, resulting in a ring with a graph set R1,2(10). The centrosymmetric P21/n model for the crystal structure of levocetirizine dihydrochloride is better than the non-centrosymmetric P21 model, even though levocetirizine is a chiral molecule; the sample exhibits weak second-harmonic generation, and three weak peaks which violate the glide plane are observed. The centrosymmetric model is better by statistical, graphical, and energetic measures, as well as by chemical reasonableness. To accommodate the chiral molecule in a centrosymmetric space group, the chiral central carbon atom was disordered over two half-occupied positions, so that each cation site could be occupied by a cation of the correct chirality. A powder pattern from a Le Bail extraction of this synchrotron data set is included in the Powder Diffraction File™ as entry 00-066-1627.
Experiences of political mobilization and popular participation in Milan's working-class neighbourhoods: 1945–1967
Authors: Soresina Marco
Published: April 2021

The years 1945–55 were a period of reconstruction for Italy; the following decade was one of economic growth. An aspect of this transition is analysed here, in relation to the forms of social integration created in working-class neighbourhoods. The case-study focuses on Milan, and the two organizations studied are the consulte popolari (the ‘people's councils’), created by the left in the immediate post-war period, and the ‘social centres’ created in the mid-1950s by the IACP (the Autonomous Institute of Public Housing). Both were attempts to involve the new, outlying suburbs in the city's political life, each of them trying to adapt to different political phases. Both, I would like to suggest, succeeded in achieving certain results.
Uncertainty and the social organization of economic activity
Authors: Emmett Ross B.
Published: April 2021

The last two chapters of Frank H. Knight's Risk, Uncertainty and Profit are seldom cited and frequently ignored. But in those chapters, Knight moves from entrepreneurial judgment and organizational strategies to meet the dilemmas uncertainty presents in a firm to the wider question of how uncertainty affects the social organization of economic activity. Ignoring the concluding chapters of Knight's book means we miss an important part of his early career thoughts on the tradeoffs between free enterprise and the social organization of economic activity. The purpose of the paper is to lay out the perspective on social economic organization that he took in the final two chapters of his first major work against the context of his other contemporary writings.
DEDUCTIVE CARDINALITY RESULTS AND NUISANCE-LIKE PRINCIPLES
Authors: EBELS-DUGGAN SEAN C.
Published: April 2021

Theinjectiveversion of Cantor’s theorem appears in full second-order logic as the inconsistency of the abstraction principle, Frege’s Basic Law V (BLV), an inconsistency easily shown using Russell’s paradox. This incompatibility is akin to others—most notably that of a (Dedekind) infinite universe with the Nuisance Principle (NP) discussed by neo-Fregean philosophers of mathematics. This paper uses the Burali–Forti paradox to demonstrate this incompatibility, and another closely related, without appeal to principles related to the axiom of choice—a result hitherto unestablished. It discusses both the general interest of this result, its interest to neo-Fregean philosophy of mathematics, and the potential significance of the Burali–Fortian method of proof.
QUESTIONS IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL LOGIC
Authors: VAN GESSEL THOM
Published: April 2021

Since Kripke, philosophers have distinguished a priori true statements from necessarily true ones. A statement is a priori true if its truth can be established before experience, and necessarily true if it could not have been false according to logical or metaphysical laws. This distinction can be captured formally using two-dimensional semantics.

There is a natural way to extend the notions of apriority and necessity so they can also apply to questions. Questions either can or cannot be resolved before experience, and either are or are not about necessary facts. Classical two-dimensionalism has no account of question meanings, so it has to be combined with a framework for question semantics in order to capture these observations. It is shown in [14] how two-dimensional semantics can be combined with inquisitive semantics, in which questions are analyzed in terms of information. The present paper investigates the logic of two-dimensional inquisitive semantics, and provides a complete proof system.
GAMES AND CARDINALITIES IN INQUISITIVE FIRST-ORDER LOGIC
Authors: GRILLETTI GIANLUCA , CIARDELLI IVANO
Published: April 2021

Inquisitive first-order logic,InqBQ, is a system which extends classical first-order logic with formulas expressing questions. From a mathematical point of view, formulas in this logic express properties of sets of relational structures. This paper makes two contributions to the study of this logic. First, we describe an Ehrenfeucht–Fraïssé game forInqBQand show that it characterizes the distinguishing power of the logic. Second, we use the game to study cardinality quantifiers in the inquisitive setting. That is, we study what statements and questions can be expressed inInqBQabout the number of individuals satisfying a given predicate. As special cases, we show that several variants of the questionhow many individuals satisfy$\alpha (x)$are not expressible inInqBQ, both in the general case and in restriction to finite models.