bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MIL‐100(Fe) Supported Pt−Co Nanoparticles as Active and Selective Heterogeneous Catalysts for Hydrogenation of 1,3‐Butadiene
Authors: Liu Lili , Han Zhixuan , Lv Yifan , Xin Chunling , Zhou Xiaojing , Yu Lei , Tai Xishi
Published: February 2022

Superior catalytic performance for selective 1,3‐butadiene (1,3‐BD) hydrogenation can usually be achieved with supported bimetallic catalysts. In this work, Pt−Co nanoparticles and Pt nanoparticles supported on metal–organic framework MIL‐100(Fe) catalysts (MIL=Materials of Institut Lavoisier, PtCo/MIL‐100(Fe) and Pt/MIL‐100(Fe)) were synthesized via a simple impregnation reduction method, and their catalytic performance was investigated for the hydrogenation of 1,3‐BD. Pt1Co1/MIL‐100(Fe) presented better catalytic performance than Pt/MIL‐100(Fe), with significantly enhanced total butene selectivity. Moreover, the secondary hydrogenation of butenes was effectively inhibited after doping with Co. The Pt1Co1/MIL‐100(Fe) catalyst displayed good stability in the 1,3‐BD hydrogenation reaction. No significant catalyst deactivation was observed during 9 h of hydrogenation, but its catalytic activity gradually reduces for the next 17 h. Carbon deposition on Pt1Co1/MIL‐100(Fe) is the reason for its deactivation in 1,3‐BD hydrogenation reaction. The spent Pt1Co1/MIL‐100(Fe) catalyst could be regenerated at 200 °C, and regenerated catalysts displayed the similar 1,3‐BD conversion and butene selectivity with fresh catalysts. Moreover, the rate‐determining step of this reaction was hydrogen dissociation. The outstanding activity and total butene selectivity of the Pt1Co1/MIL‐100(Fe) catalyst illustrate that Pt−Co bimetallic catalysts are an ideal alternative for replacing mono‐noble‐metal‐based catalysts in selective 1,3‐BD hydrogenation reactions.
Oil spills adsorption and cleanup by polymeric materials: A review
Authors: Haridharan Neelamegan , Sundar Dhivyasundar , Kurrupasamy Lakshmanan , Anandan Sambandam , Liu Chen‐Hua , Wu Jerry J.
Published: February 2022

Oil spills are environmental disasters that impact human, plants, and wild life, such as birds, fish, and mammals. This article has comprehensively reviewed the progress made in oil spills remediation especially by polymeric adsorbents. Various methodologies involved in oil sorption using porous polymer network and its recovery are thoroughly discussed. In addition, new concepts and development in synthesizing sponge, fiber, graft, and crosslinked polymer networks are also collected briefly and future perspectives are suggested. With their unique physical and mechanical properties coupled with their very high surface area and small pore sizes, polymer‐based adsorbents can be used as advanced materials for cleaning up oil spills.
Improved water flux in optimized electrospun polysulfone/nanoclay membranes
Authors: Vahedi Mehran , Sherafat Zahra , Bagherzadeh Elham
Published: February 2022

Water crisis is undoubtedly one of the main global challenges and water membranes can be used to tackle this issue. In this study, electrospun polysulfone (PSU)/nanoclay membranes were fabricated. The fabrication process was optimized to achieve desirable fibers using response surface methodology, considering nanoclay concentration, electrospinning feeding rate, and voltage as the influencing factors on the membrane properties. SEM images was used to determine the average fiber diameter and imperfection factor of the fibrous composites and their hydrophilicity was assessed based on their water contact angle (CA) values. A suitable model was proposed for each property to predict its variation with the influencing parameters. The results showed that the voltage and feed rate are directly related to the average fiber diameter and CA of the membranes. Moreover, introducing hydrophilic nanoclay to the membranes improved their wettability. The optimum properties were achieved in the membrane containing 5.63 wt% nanoclay, which was electrospun at a feed rate and voltage of 0.7 mL/h, and 16 kV, respectively. Comparing the mechanical properties and water flux performance of pure PSU membranes with the optimal sample confirmed that the presence of nanoclay improved the mechanical strength and toughness of the membranes and enhanced the attainable water flux.
Charge transfer complexes as dual thermal/photo initiators for free‐radical frontal polymerization
Authors: Gary Daniel P. , Ngo Douglas , Bui Amber , Pojman John A.
Published: February 2022

Frontal polymerization is a process in which a localized reaction zone propagates from the coupling of thermal transport and the Arrhenius rate dependence of an exothermic polymerization; monomer is converted into polymer as the front passes through an unstirred medium. Herein we report the first study of charge transfer complexes (CTCs) as photo/thermal initiators for free‐radical frontal polymerization. Front velocity was studied as a function of mole ratio between an aromatic amine, such as dimethyl‐p‐toluidine or dimethylaniline, and an iodonium salt. It was found that the front velocity reached a maximum at a certain mole ratio of amine to iodonium salt. The velocity remained constant upon increasing the ratio of amine to iodonium salt past this critical ratio. Fronts were also studied using N‐phenyl glycine as an electron donor, but its utility was limited by low solubility. Lastly, the steric and electronic effects of the iodonium salt and counter anion were explored. It was found that CTCs using iodonium salts with less nucleophilic anions gave higher front velocities. In terms of intrinsic reactivity, the CTC composed of N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐toluidine and bis[4‐(tert‐butyl)phenyl]iodonium tetra(nonafluoro‐tert‐butoxy)aluminate gave the highest front velocity per molal of iodonium salt.
The gut commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis LX10 contributes to defending against Nosema bombycis infection in Bombyx mori
Authors: Zhang Xiancui , Feng Huihui , He Jintao , Liang Xili , Zhang Nan , Shao Yongqi , Zhang Fan , Lu Xingmeng
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Microsporidia, a group of obligate intracellular fungal‐related parasites, have been used as efficient biocontrol agents for agriculture and forestry pests due to their host specificity and transovarial transmission. They mainly infect insect pests through the intestinal tract, but the interactions between microsporidia and the gut microbiota of the host have not been well demonstrated.

RESULTS

Based on the microsporidia–Bombyx mori model, we report that the susceptibility of silkworms to exposure to the microsporidium Nosema bombycis was both dose and time dependent. Comparative analyses of the silkworm gut microbiome revealed substantially increased abundance of Enterococcus belonging to Firmicutes after N. bombycis infection. Furthermore, a bacterial strain (LX10) was obtained from the gut of B. mori and identified as Enterococcus faecalis based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis. E. faecalis LX10 reduced the N. bombycis spore germination rate and the infection efficiency in vitro and in vivo, as confirmed by bioassay tests and histopathological analyses. In addition, after simultaneous oral feeding with E. faecalis LX10 and N. bombycis, gene (Akirin, Cecropin A, Mesh, Ssk, DUOX and NOS) expression, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide levels, and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity showed different degrees of recovery and correction compared with those under N. bombycis infection alone. Finally, the enterococcin LX protein was identified from sterile LX10 fermentation liquid based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the results revealed that E. faecalis LX10 with anti‐N. bombycis activity might play an important role in protecting silkworms from microsporidia. Removal of these specific commensal bacteria with antibiotics and utilization of transgenic symbiotic systems may effectively improve the biocontrol value of microsporidia. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Reusable Nano Catalysed Synthesis of Heterocycles: An Overview
Authors: Sonawane Harshad R. , Deore Jaydeep V. , Chavan Pravin N.
Published: February 2022

The field of reusable nano‐catalysts has grown rapidly over the last decade. Recently, transition metal catalysed organic reactions have attracted considerable interest from the pharmaceutical and organic chemistry fields. Synthetic procedures based on such heterogeneous nanocatalysts are easier, less expensive, non‐toxic, and eco‐friendly, producing only the most desirable products in higher yields and allowing for easy catalyst separation. Heterogeneous nano‐catalysts were highly preferred over homogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds due to their effective separation processes for both products and catalysts. According to recent studies, nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the production of heterocyclic compounds. Heterogeneous catalysts are widely used in a variety of organic reactions due to their high surface‐to‐volume ratio. Most importantly, after the reaction is complete, easy magnetic separation of the catalyst minimises the requirement for catalyst filtration. Additionally, magnetic NPs, particularly supported magnetic nanocatalysts, have garnered considerable interest in both academic and industrial research due to their effectiveness as alternatives to traditional materials, their ease of separation via an external magnet, and their high degree of chemical stability in a variety of organic and inorganic solvents. To reach its depth, this review is focused on the most recent examples, their preparation, synthetic strategies and recycling studies of highly excited catalytic systems used for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds.
Structure and Low‐temperature Performance of Waste Graphite Used in Lithium‐ion Battery Anode
Authors: Dong Wei , Wang Wenbo , Shen Ding , Sun Wen , Zhao Mingyuan , Meng Lingqiang , Yang Shaobin , Zhu Xuanyi , Chi Hailong , Dong Liang
Published: February 2022

Graphite is a very important mineral resource and strategic resource. With the continuous decrease of graphite resources consumption, the recycling of graphite is getting more and more attention. In this work, lithium‐ion battery anode materials were prepared from discarded high‐purity graphite crucibles by crushing, shaping, purification and coating processes, and structural and electrochemical properties of materials were investigated, as well as the low‐temperature charging and discharging performance.The results show that, the initial discharge capacity of TCH sample is 419.4 mAh/g, and the initial coulombic efficiency is 80.4 %. The initial coulombic efficiency reached 88.1 % and the capacity is 345.9 mAh/g after 100 cycles, when the coating amount was 10 wt%. The initial coulombic efficiency, polarization and low temperature properties of carbon coating materials are obviously improved.First‐principles calculations reveal that the reason for the improvement of electrochemical performanceduetothe coating reduces the Li‐ion diffusion barrier.
Electrolyte Engineering Enables High Performance Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Yanyan , Wang Zhijie , Yang Fuhua , Liu Sailin , Zhang Shilin , Mao Jianfeng , Guo Zaiping
Published: February 2022

Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) feature high safety, low cost, environmental‐friendliness, and promising electrochemical performance, and are therefore regarded as a potential technology to be applied in large‐scale energy storage devices. However, ZIBs still face some critical challenges and bottlenecks. The electrolyte is an essential component of batteries and its properties affect the mass transport, energy storage mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and side reactions of ZIBs. The adjustment of electrolyte formulas usually has direct and obvious impacts on the overall output and performance. In this review, advanced electrolyte strategies are overviewed for optimizing the compatibility between cathode materials and electrolytes, inhibiting anode corrosion and dendrite growth, extending electrochemical stability windows, enabling wearable applications, and enhancing temperature tolerance. The underlying scientific mechanisms, electrolyte design principles, and recent progress are presented to provide a better understanding and inspiration to readers. In addition, a comprehensive perspective about electrolyte design and engineering for ZIBs is included.
Exposure to neonicotinoids and serum testosterone in men, women, and children
Authors: Mendy Angelico , Pinney Susan M.
Published: February 2022

Neonicotinoids are the most used pesticides in the world and, despite being harmful to honeybees, they are considered safe for mammals. However, they have been associated with decreasing testosterone levels in several experimental animal models. In the present study, we aimed to determine the association of urinary neonicotinoids with serum testosterone in humans. We analyzed data on 2014 male and female participants to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2015 and 2016 aged 6 or older. In linear regression adjusted for age and potential confounders, serum total testosterone was 37.78% lower with 10‐fold increase in urinary total neonicotinoids (95% CI: −58.82, −6.00), 20.81% lower with 10‐fold increase in urinary 5‐hydroxy‐imidacloprid (95% CI: −34.94, −3.62) and 25.01% lower with 10‐fold increase in urinary n‐desmethyl‐acetamiprid (95% CI: −39.80, −6.58) among males. Serum free androgen index (FAI) was also decreased with higher urinary n‐desmethyl‐acetamiprid. In females, serum total testosterone was 32.91% lower with 10‐fold increase in urinary total neonicotinoids (95% CI: −54.93, −0.13), 21.32% lower with 10‐fold increase in urinary 5‐hydroxy‐imidacloprid (95% CI: −29.31, −12.42) and 15.42% lower with urinary detection of 5‐hydroxy‐imidacloprid (95% CI: −22.80, −7.34). FAI was likewise reduced with higher urinary levels of 5‐hydroxy‐imidacloprid and N‐desmethyl‐acetamiprid. In conclusion, this study using a sample representative of the US population is the first to report that exposure to neonicotinoids is associated with decreased serum testosterone levels in humans. However, future prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Where do we stand now regarding treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders? Considerations in using magnetoelectric nanoparticles as an innovative approach
Authors: Pardo Marta , Khizroev Sakhrat
Published: February 2022

Almost 1000 million people have recently been diagnosed with a mental health or substance disorder (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). Psychiatric disorders, and their treatment, represent a big burden to the society worldwide, causing about 8 million deaths per year (Walker et al., 2015). Daily progress in science enables continuous advances in methods to treat patients; however, the brain remains to be the most unknown and complex organ of the body. There is a growing demand for innovative approaches to treat psychiatric as well as neurodegenerative disorders, disorders with unknown curability, and treatments mostly designed to slow disease progression. Based on that need and the peculiarity of the central nervous system, in the present review, we highlight the handicaps of the existing approaches as well as discuss the potential of the recently introduced magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs) to become a game‐changing tool in future applications for the treatment of brain alterations. Unlike other stimulation approaches, MENPs have the potential to enable a wirelessly controlled stimulation at a single‐neuron level without requiring genetic modification of the neural tissue and no toxicity has yet been reported. Their potential as a new tool for targeting the brain is discussed.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Cardiovascular Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Neurological Disease
Orthoperiodato Rhodium(III) Complex as a Possible Key to Catalytic Oxidation of Organic Dyes
Authors: He Huanyu , Albrecht Ralf , Ruck Michael
Published: February 2022

Light yellow, air‐sensitive single‐crystals of the rhodium(III) orthoperiodato K8[Rh(IO6)2]OH ⋅ 3H2O were synthesized starting from Rh2O3 and KIO4. The reaction was carried out in a potassium hydroxide hydroflux with a molar water‐base ratio of 1.8 at 200 °C. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed a triclinic crystal structure (space group
). The most striking feature of the structure is the [Rh(IO6)2]7− anion, a linear sequence of three face‐sharing octahedra. It can be interpreted as a rhodium(III) cation coordinated by two orthoperiodato groups. A water molecule and a hydroxide ion form an associate (H3O2)−. Together with other water molecules, they connect the [Rh(IO6)2]7− anions via hydrogen bridges to form layers. Upon heating, the compound first loses its crystal water, then the iodine is gradually reduced before evaporating during the final decomposition step, which results in K0.63RhO2. In K8[Rh(IO6)2]OH ⋅ 3H2O, the unusually short RhIII−IVII distance of only 276.38(1) pm should allow direct charge transfer in the [Rh(IO6)2]7− anion. An electron‐poor rhodium cation, accessible from the side, could be the active center in the rhodium‐catalyzed oxidation of unsaturated organic molecules by periodate.
CP violation in the rare Higgs decays via exchange of on-shell almost degenerate Majorana neutrinos, $$ H\to {v}_k{N}_j\to {v}_k{\mathrm{\ell}}^{-}U\overline{D} $$ and $$ H\to {v}_k{N}_j\to {v}_k{\mathrm{\ell}}^{+}\overline{U}D $$
Authors: Cvetič Gorazd , Kim C. S. , Zamora-Saá Jiberto
Published: February 2022

Abstract

We investigate rare decays of Higgs via exchange of two almost degenerate heavy on-shell Majorana neutrinos Nj (j = 1, 2): Γ± = Γ(h → νkNj→ νkℓ±π∓), and into the open quark channels Γ± = Γ(h → νkNj→ νkℓ±UD), where UD are two jets of open quarks ($$ \overline{U}D $$

U
¯

D
, or $$ U\overline{D} $$
U

D
¯

, where U = u, c and D = d, s). The related CP violation asymmetry ACP = (Γ−− Γ+)/(Γ− + Γ+) is studied in detail. We take into account the N1-N2 overlap and oscillation effects. We can see that for certain, presently acceptable, range of input parameters, such decays with open quark channels, and their asymmetries, could be detected in the International Linear Collider (ILC).
Magnetic quivers and line defects — On a duality between 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 unitary and orthosymplectic quivers
Authors: Nawata Satoshi , Sperling Marcus , Wang Hao Ellery , Zhong Zhenghao
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Supersymmetric Sp(k) quantum chromodynamics with 8 supercharges in space-time dimensions 3 to 6 can be realised by two different Type II brane configurations in the presence of orientifolds. Consequently, two types of magnetic quivers describe the Higgs branch of the Sp(k) SQCD theory. This is a salient example of a general phenomenon: a given hyper-Kähler Higgs branch may admit several magnetic quiver constructions. It is then natural to wonder if these different magnetic quivers, which are described by 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 theories, are dual theories. In this work, the unitary and orthosymplectic magnetic quiver theories are subjected to a variety of tests, providing evidence that they are IR dual to each other. For this, sphere partition function and supersymmetric indices are compared. Also, we study half BPS line defects and find interesting regularities from the viewpoints of exact results, brane configurations, and 1-form symmetry.
Regularity results for nonlinear Young equations and applications
Authors: Addona Davide , Lorenzi Luca , Tessitore Gianmario
Published: February 2022

In this paper we provide sufficient conditions which ensure that the nonlinear equation $$\mathrm{d}y(t)=Ay(t)\mathrm{d}t+\sigma (y(t))\mathrm{d}x(t)$$

d
y
(
t
)
=
A
y
(
t
)
d
t
+
σ
(
y
(
t
)
)
d
x
(
t
)

, $$t\in (0,T]$$

t
∈
(
0
,
T
]

, with $$y(0)=\psi $$

y
(
0
)
=
ψ

and A being an unbounded operator, admits a unique mild solution such that $$y(t)\in D(A)$$

y
(
t
)
∈
D
(
A
)

for any $$t\in (0,T]$$

t
∈
(
0
,
T
]

, and we compute the blow-up rate of the norm of y(t) as $$t\rightarrow 0^+$$

t
→

0
+

. We stress that the regularity of y is independent of the smoothness of the initial datum $$\psi $$
ψ
, which in general does not belong to D(A). As a consequence we get an integral representation of the mild solution y which allows us to prove a chain rule formula for smooth functions of y.
Surgical stabilization versus nonoperative treatment for flail and non-flail rib fracture patterns in patients with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Prins Jonne T. H. , Van Lieshout Esther M. M. , Ali-Osman Francis , Bauman Zachary M. , Caragounis Eva-Corina , Choi Jeff , Christie D. Benjamin , Cole Peter A. , DeVoe William B. , Doben Andrew R. , Eriksson Evert A. , Forrester Joseph D. , Fraser Douglas R. , Gontarz Brendan , Hardman Claire , Hyatt Daniel G. , Kaye Adam J. , Ko Huan-Jang , Leasia Kiara N. , Leon Stuart , Marasco Silvana F. , McNickle Allison G. , Nowack Timothy , Ogunleye Temi D. , Priya Prakash , Richman Aaron P. , Schlanser Victoria , Semon Gregory R. , Su Ying-Hao , Verhofstad Michael H. J. , Whitis Julie , Pieracci Fredric M. , Wijffels Mathieu M. E.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Literature on outcomes after SSRF, stratified for rib fracture pattern is scarce in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI; Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 12). We hypothesized that SSRF is associated with improved outcomes as compared to nonoperative management without hampering neurological recovery in these patients.

Methods

A post hoc subgroup analysis of the multicenter, retrospective CWIS-TBI study was performed in patients with TBI and stratified by having sustained a non-flail fracture pattern or flail chest between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2019. The primary outcome was mechanical ventilation-free days and secondary outcomes were in-hospital outcomes. In multivariable analysis, outcomes were assessed, stratified for rib fracture pattern.

Results

In total, 449 patients were analyzed. In patients with a non-flail fracture pattern, 25 of 228 (11.0%) underwent SSRF and in patients with a flail chest, 86 of 221 (38.9%). In multivariable analysis, ventilator-free days were similar in both treatment groups. For patients with a non-flail fracture pattern, the odds of pneumonia were significantly lower after SSRF (odds ratio 0.29; 95% CI 0.11–0.77; p = 0.013). In patients with a flail chest, the ICU LOS was significantly shorter in the SSRF group (beta, − 2.96 days; 95% CI − 5.70 to − 0.23; p = 0.034).

Conclusion

In patients with TBI and a non-flail fracture pattern, SSRF was associated with a reduced pneumonia risk. In patients with TBI and a flail chest, a shorter ICU LOS was observed in the SSRF group. In both groups, SSRF was safe and did not hamper neurological recovery.
A combined experimental and numerical approach that eliminates the non-uniqueness associated with the Johnson-Cook parameters obtained using inverse methods
Authors: Ojal Nishant , Cherukuri Harish P. , Schmitz Tony L. , Devlugt Kyle T. , Jaycox Adam W.
Published: February 2022

Johnson-Cook constitutive model is a commonly used material model for machining simulations. The model includes five parameters that capture the initial yield stress, strain-hardening, strain-rate hardening, and thermal softening behavior of the material. These parameters are difficult to determine using experiments since the conditions observed during machining (such as high strain-rates of the order of$$10^5$$105/sec -$$10^6$$106/sec) are challenging to recreate in the laboratory. To address this problem, several researchers have recently proposed inverse approaches where a combination of experiments and analytical models are used to predict the Johnson-Cook parameters. The errors between the measured cutting forces, chip thicknesses and temperatures and those predicted by analytical models are minimized and the parameters are determined. In this work, it is shown that only two of the five Johnson-Cook parameters can be determined uniquely using inverse approaches. Two different algorithms, namely, Adaptive Memory Programming for Global Optimization (AMPGO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), are used for this purpose. The extended Oxley’s model is used as the analytical tool for optimization. For determining a parameter’s value, a large range for each parameter is provided as an input to the algorithms. The algorithms converge to several different sets of values for the five Johnson-Cook parameters when all the five parameters are considered as unknown in the optimization algorithm. All of these sets, however, yield the same chip shape and cutting forces in FEM simulations. Further analyses show that only the strain-rate and thermal softening parameters can be determined uniquely and the three parameters present in the strain-hardening term of the Johnson-Cook model cannot be determined uniquely using the inverse method. A combined experimental and numerical approach is proposed to eliminate this determine all parameters uniquely.
Postoperative fluid balance and outcomes after Pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective study in 301 patients
Authors: Zhang Hang , Feng Yechen , Suolang Duoji , Dang Chao , Qin Renyi
Published: February 2022

Background

The incidence of postoperative morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is high; however, whether fluid management after surgery affects postoperative morbidity is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether fluid balance in patients undergoing PD is associated with postoperative complications and mortality.

Methods

Data from a computer-based database of patients who underwent PD between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into four quartiles according to their fluid balance at 0–24, 24–48, 48–72, and 72–96 h after surgery. The predefined primary outcome measures were morbidity and mortality rates.

Results

A total of 301 patients were included. The morbidity and mortality rates in the cohort were 56.5% and 3.7%, respectively. The most common complications after PD were postoperative pancreatic fistula (31.9%) and delayed gastric emptying (31.6%). Patients with a higher fluid balance in the 0–24-, 24–48-, and 48–72-h postoperative periods had a higher morbidity rate and longer hospital stay than those with a lower fluid balance (all P < 0.05). Patients with a fluid balance of 4212 mL during the postoperative 0–72 h were most likely to develop complications (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.71 (0.65–0.77), with a sensitivity of 58.24% and a specificity of 77.10%.

Conclusions

Higher postoperative fluid balance seems to be associated with increased morbidity after PD compared to lower fluid balance. Surgeons should pay close attention to the occurrence of complications in patients with a high fluid balance.
Feature-blind fairness in collaborative filtering recommender systems
Authors: Borges Rodrigo , Stefanidis Kostas
Published: February 2022

Recommender systems were originally proposed for suggesting potentially relevant items to users, with the unique objective of providing accurate suggestions. These recommenders started being adopted in several domains, and were identified as generating biased results that could harm the data items being recommended. The exposure in generated rankings, for instance in a job candidate selection situation, is supposed to be fairly distributed among candidates, regardless of their sensitive attributes (gender, race, nationality, age) for promoting equal opportunities. It can happen, however, that no such sensitive information is available in the data applied for training the recommender, and in this case, there is still space for biases that can lead to unfair treatment, named Feature-Blind unfairness. In this work, we adopt Variational Autoencoders (VAE), considered as the state-of-the-art technique for Collaborative Filtering (CF) recommendations, and we present a framework for addressing fairness when having only access to information about user-item interactions. More specifically, we are interested in Position and Popularity Bias. VAE loss function combines two terms associated with accuracy and quality of representation; we introduce a new term for encouraging fairness, and demonstrate the effect of promoting fair results despite of a tolerable decrease in recommendation quality. In our best scenario, position bias is reduced by 42% despite a reduction of 26% in recall in the top 100 recommendation results, compared to the same situation without any fairness constraints.
Liver biopsy for assessment of chronic liver diseases: a synopsis
Authors: Chowdhury Aqib B. , Mehta Kosha J.
Published: February 2022

The world-wide increase in chronic liver disease (CLD) calls for refinement of diagnostic and prognostic measures for early and accurate disease detection and management. Regardless of the aetiology, liver biopsy allows direct visualisation of specimen under the microscope. It facilitates histological evaluation of disease-specific morphological alterations. Thereby, it aids in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of treatment compliance/response. Indeed, with the advent of non-invasive methods, liver biopsy is used less frequently than before, but it is still considered as a gold standard for staging and grading several CLDs. This short review revisits liver biopsy. It highlights the significance of liver biopsy in evaluating CLDs and explains the commonly used Ishak, METAVIR and Batts-Ludwig scoring systems for grading and staging CLDs. The utility of liver biopsy in examining alcohol-related liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is discussed along with the disease-specific alcoholic hepatitis histology score (AHHS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS). Additionally, the review elaborates on the role of liver biopsy in evaluating viral hepatitis, haemochromatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Contextual explanation on the diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MAFLD) is provided. The significance and clinical indications of repeat biopsy are also explained. Lastly, caveats and limitations associated with liver biopsy are reviewed. Essentially, this review collates the application of liver biopsy in assessing various CLDs and provides succinct explanations of the core scoring systems, all under one roof. It is clinically relevant and provides a useful synopsis to budding scientists and hepato-pathologists.
Adult–adult play in captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Authors: Cordoni Giada , Pirarba Luca , Elies Stéphanie , Demuru Elisa , Guéry Jean-Pascal , Norscia Ivan
Published: February 2022

Among African great apes, play is virtually absent between adult lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Here, we report an extremely rare case of adult–adult play observed in the lowland gorilla group housed at La Vallée de Singes (France). We recorded three playful interactions between the silverback and an adult lactating female. Given the diverse causal and functional nature of play, different factors may join in promoting this behaviour. In our group, contrary to what has been shown by previous studies in wild and captive gorillas, adult females spent more time in spatial proximity with the silverback than with other females. Hence, the probability of social interaction (including play) between silverback and adult females was enhanced. Moreover, the motivation of the lactating female to play might be an effect of oxytocin, a hormone that reaches high concentration levels during lactation and that promotes social affiliation. The fact that play invitations were always performed by the female might support this hypothesis. Certainly, we cannot exclude the possibility that the play event is a group idiosyncrasy or an artefact of captivity, even though the subjects never showed abnormal behaviour. Structurally, play sessions showed a suitable degree of pattern variability and switching frequency from one pattern to another. The proportion of offensive patterns was higher in the female during play and in the male during aggression, which conforms to the role reversal play phenomenon. In conclusion, this report confirms that the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. It is likely that under particular physiological or socio-ecological conditions, adult–adult play may be manifested as an “unconventional” part of gorilla social behaviour.
A survey on email visualisation research to address the conflict between privacy and access
Authors: Bartliff Zoe , Kim Yunhyong , Hopfgartner Frank
Published: February 2022

Emails, much like communicative genres such as letters that predate them, are a rich source of data for researchers, but they are replete with privacy considerations. This paper explores the resulting friction between privacy concerns and email data access. Studies of email can often be centred on understanding patterns of behaviour and/or relationships between people or groups, and, as such, embody risks of disclosing private information. This is further amplified in humanities research which is concerned with the individual, their work and the circumstances that influence them. Furthermore, previous studies have expounded upon the benefits of visualisations for researching email data, a method which has been reported both as a path to addressing known concerns, as well as, introducing new concerns in privacy. The spectrum of methodologies leave archivists and curators of email data in a quandary, unable to balance accessibility with privacy. The research presented in this paper contributes a systematic approach to examining the relationship between email visualisation research and privacy. It presents a categorisation of email visualisation attributes, and a graded scale of privacy, to be used in conjunction as a framework for interrogating existing research and their associated email collections. The paper aims to instigate the first steps in concretely situating the extent to which research can take advantage of or is challenged by privacy conscious data management.
Measuring the effective dispersal of an emerging coastal weed, Euphorbia paralias (sea spurge), to help inform its eradication
Authors: Thomson Fiona J.
Published: February 2022

Understanding dispersal and establishment patterns of invasive plant species is critical information to help control and eradicate their populations. Euphorbia paralias, sea spurge, is a highly invasive weed that can be a serious threat to coastal environments. Two recent incursions of E. paralias on New Zealand’s coastline consisted of one reproductive adult surrounded by several hundred juveniles, providing the opportunity to gather effective dispersal distance data for this species. Using these two separate populations effective dispersal distances curves were created for E. paralias. It was found one adult led to the establishment of 213 healthy plants at NZ’s southern-most incursion and 484 healthy plants at the northern-most incursion. All plants were subsequently removed from the site. The maximum effective dispersal distance of 15.8 m on land for E. paralias was larger than would be predicted by the majority of trait-based dispersal distance models and the estimate of ~ 2 m in the literature. These results show that E. paralias can establish large healthy populations, making it a considerable threat to coastal environments. However, populations around an adult plant are fairly concentrated at the very early stages of invasion (90% of offspring < 5.5 m from the adult) providing opportunities to remove the seed bank at incursion sites. Early detection of E. paralias populations using comprehensive surveillance and removal of any new populations (seed and establishing plants) will be essential components for the success in any eradication programme for sea spurge.
Short- and long-term exposure to trace metal(loid)s from the production of ferromanganese alloys by personal sampling and biomarkers
Authors: Markiv B. , Ruiz-Azcona L. , Expósito A. , Santibáñez M. , Fernández-Olmo I.
Published: February 2022

The environmental exposure to trace metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) was assessed near a ferromanganese alloy plant using filters from personal particulate matter (PM) samplers (bioaccessible and non-bioaccessible fine and coarse fractions) and whole blood as short-term exposure markers, and scalp hair and fingernails as long-term biomarkers, collected from volunteers (n = 130) living in Santander Bay (northern Spain). Bioaccessible and non-bioaccessible metal(loid) concentrations in coarse and fine PM from personal samplers were determined by ICP-MS after extraction/digestion. Metal(loid) concentration in biomarkers was measured after alkaline dilution (whole blood) and acid digestion (fingernails and scalp hair) by ICP-MS as well. Results were discussed in terms of exposure, considering the distance to the main Mn source, and sex. In terms of exposure, significant differences were found for Mn in all the studied fractions of PM, As in whole blood, Mn and Cu in scalp hair and Mn and Pb in fingernails, with all concentrations being higher for those living closer to the Mn source, with the exception of Cu in scalp hair. Furthermore, the analysis of the correlation between Mn levels in the studied biomarkers and the wind-weighted distance to the main source of Mn allows us to conclude that scalp hair and mainly fingernails are appropriate biomarkers of long-term airborne Mn exposure. This was also confirmed by the significant positive correlations between scalp hair Mn and bioaccessible Mn in coarse and fine fractions, and between fingernails Mn and all PM fractions. This implies that people living closer to a ferromanganese alloy plant are exposed to higher levels of airborne metal(loid)s, mainly Mn, leading to higher levels of this metal in scalp hair and fingernails, which according to the literature, might affect some neurological outcomes. According to sex, significant differences were observed for Fe, Cu and Pb in whole blood, with higher concentrations of Fe and Pb in males, and higher levels of Cu in females; and for Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in scalp hair, with higher concentrations in males for all metal(loid)s except Cu.
Geotechnical Properties Determination of Thickened Fluid Fine Tailings
Authors: Demoz Alebachew
Published: February 2022

Fluid fine tailings (FFT) comprising clayey-silt solids pose environmental and financial challenges. Currently, mining operators are depositing thickened FFT in deep-pits counting on self-weight consolidation to form stable ground. The motivation of this study is to model the long-term prospects of such deposits utilizing consolidation and direct shear strength measurements. The tests were conducted using scroll decanter centrifuge separated FFT sediment referred to as cake. Drained direct shear tests of the cake gave a linear Mohr–Coulomb failure envelope of 1.2 kPa cohesion intercept and 9° internal friction angle for normal stresses up to 1 MPa. Hydraulic conductivity of the cake was non-linear with normal stress decreasing to 1.7 × 10–11 m/s at 300 kPa. Consolidation results confirmed that the cake exhibits properties similar to those of active clay minerals. The cake compression index is governed by the same relationship as for active clays. The coefficient of consolidation for the cake was nearly constant and had a mean value of 2.25 × 10–3 m2/y, also similar to that of active clays. The void ratio—effective stress—hydraulic conductivity power law empirical relations were used to simulate settlement with a finite-strain model. Numerical results show that the top portion of an FFT deep-pit deposit remains in the liquid state while the lower portion whose maximum solids content converges to 74% is in plastic state. These mean that options that improve hydraulic conductivity and increase the shear strength of the thickened FFT should be integrated prior to final placement in order to create stable ground.
The Mediating Role of Global and Contingent Self-Esteem in the Association Between Emerging Adults’ Perceptions of Family Cohesion and Test Anxiety
Authors: Németh Lilla , Bernáth László
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of family cohesion and self-esteem regarding test anxiety among emerging adults. The study’s hypothesis is that cohesion experienced in a university student’s family of origin predicts test anxiety. The mediating role of self-esteem was tested considering both global self-esteem and contingent self-esteem based on one’s perceived competence. The study also examines whether these associations differ across groups based on gender or residential status. The research questions were investigated using students’ self-reported measures of test anxiety, global self-esteem, contingent self-esteem, and family cohesion. The results, based on data gathered from 487 university students, revealed that global self-esteem was a negative predictor of test anxiety and contingent self-esteem was a positive predictor of test anxiety. These findings indicate that the level and source of self-esteem must be considered regarding test anxiety. Further, adaptive family cohesion impacted test anxiety by increasing global self-esteem and decreasing contingent self-esteem. Although these indirect associations were rather weak, they highlight the impact of the family of origin during emerging adulthood. The pattern of interrelations was similar among men and women, as well as among those living together or apart from their family of origin.
State estimator based on an indirect Kalman filter for a hydraulically actuated multibody system
Authors: Jaiswal Suraj , Sanjurjo Emilio , Cuadrado Javier , Sopanen Jussi , Mikkola Aki
Published: February 2022

In multibody system dynamics, the equations of motion are often coupled with systems of other physical nature, such as hydraulics. To infer the real dynamical state of such a coupled multibody system at any instant of time, information fusing techniques, such as state estimators, can be followed. In this procedure, data is combined from the coupled multibody model and the physical sensors installed on the actual machine. This paper proposes a novel state estimator developed by combining a multibody model with an indirect Kalman filter in the framework of hydraulically driven systems. An indirect Kalman filter that utilizes the exact Jacobian matrix of the plant at position and velocity level is extended for hydraulically actuated systems. The structures of the covariance matrices of the plant and measurement noise are also studied. The multibody system, described using a semi-recursive formulation, and the hydraulic subsystem, described using lumped fluid theory, are coupled using a monolithic approach. As a case study, the state estimator is applied to a hydraulically actuated four-bar mechanism. The state estimator considers modeling errors in the force model because of its uncertainty in modeling. The measurements are obtained from a dynamic model which is considered as the ground truth, with an addition of white Gaussian noise to represent the noise properties of the actual sensors. The state estimator uses four sensor configurations with different sampling rates. For the presented case study, the state estimator can accurately estimate the work cycle and hydraulic pressures of the coupled multibody system. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed state estimator.
Turning machines: a simple algorithmic model for molecular robotics
Authors: Kostitsyna Irina , Wood Cai , Woods Damien
Published: February 2022

Molecular robotics is challenging, so it seems best to keep it simple. We consider an abstract molecular robotics model based on simple folding instructions that execute asynchronously. Turning Machines are a simple 1D to 2D folding model, also easily generalisable to 2D to 3D folding. A Turning Machine starts out as a line of connected monomers in the discrete plane, each with an associated turning number. A monomer turns relative to its neighbours, executing a unit-distance translation that drags other monomers along with it, and through collective motion the initial set of monomers eventually folds into a programmed shape. We provide a suite of tools for reasoning about Turning Machines by fully characterising their ability to execute line rotations: executing an almost-full line rotation of $$5\pi /3$$

5
π
/
3

radians is possible, yet a full $$2\pi$$

2
π

rotation is impossible. Furthermore, line rotations up to $$5\pi /3$$

5
π
/
3

are executed efficiently, in $$O(\log n)$$

O
(
log
n
)

expected time in our continuous time Markov chain time model. We then show that such line-rotations represent a fundamental primitive in the model, by using them to efficiently and asynchronously fold shapes. In particular, arbitrarily large zig-zag-rastered squares and zig-zag paths are foldable, as are y-monotone shapes albeit with error (bounded by perimeter length). Finally, we give shapes that despite having paths that traverse all their points, are in fact impossible to fold, as well as techniques for folding certain classes of (scaled) shapes without error. Our approach relies on careful geometric-based analyses of the feats possible and impossible by a very simple robotic system, and pushes conceptional hardness towards mathematical analysis and away from molecular implementation.
Direct Granule Feeding of Thermal Droplet Deposition 3D Printing of Porous Pharmaceutical Solid Dosage Forms Free of Plasticisers
Authors: McDonagh Thomas , Belton Peter , Qi Sheng
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To develop a new direct granule fed 3D printing method for manufacturing pharmaceutical solid dosage forms with porous structures using a thermal droplet deposition technology.

Methods

Eudragit® E PO was used as the model polymer, which is well-known to be not FDM printable without additives. Wet granulation was used to produce drug loaded granules as the feedstock. The flow and feedability of the granules were evaluated. The physicochemical properties and in vitro drug release performance of the granules and the printed tablets were fully characterised.

Results

Using the method developed by this study, Eudragit E PO was printed with a model drug into tablets with infills ranging from 30–100%, without additives. The drug was confirmed to be molecularly dispersed in the printed tablets. The printing quality and performances of the porous tablets were confirmed to be highly compliant with the pharmacopeia requirement. The level of infill density of the porous tablets had a significant effect on their in vitro drug release performance.

Conclusion

This is the first report of thermal droplet deposition printing via direct granule feeding. The results of this study demonstrated that this new printing method can be used as a potentially valuable alternative for decentralised pharmaceutical solid dosage form manufacturing.