bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local ageing effects of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies due to accelerated durability testing
Authors: Koprek M. , Schlumberger R. , Wachtel C. , Wilhelm F. , Messerschmidt M. , Scholta J. , Hölzle M.
Published: November 2022

Accelerated durability test (ADT) protocols are useful tools to reduce testing time and development costs of automotive polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks. Established accelerated stress tests allow comparing individual cell components. However, such tests in general do not allow drawing reliable conclusions on the expected lifetime for a complete stack. In this work, we examine the influence of combined stressors on the ageing behavior of individual cell components operated on stack level. We combine known main stressors for mobile fuel‐cell operation such as dynamic load, temperature and humidity cycling or hydrogen/air fronts during start‐up to develop a new accelerated test protocol. It was applied to an automotive 5‐cell short stack for 460 operating hours (OpH). A second stack was operated in a reference long‐term test for 2300 OpH. Several in situ characterization techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, and recording the local current density distribution were employed. In addition, post‐mortem analyses, such as focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy imaging, was applied in order to better understand the degradation mechanisms. The results presented here provide an excellent basis for the further development of a new ADT protocol, which will accelerate ageing processes in the fuel cell in a realistic way, i.e. leading to similar degradation characteristics as in long term testing.
Influence of the oceanic crust structure on marine magnetic anomalies: Review and forward modelling
Authors: Hu Yuewei , Zhang Jianli , Jiang Zhaoxia , Li Yuanjie , Li Sanzhong
Published: November 2022

Marine magnetic anomaly strips are important for plate tectonic studies, thereby promoting the development of the geoscience revolution. Most previous studies typically consider a lava layer with vertical polarity boundaries as a simplified magnetic source layer. However, it cannot accurately explain the observed magnetic anomaly data; thus, complex oceanic crusts with multiple magnetic source layers, such as lava, dike, and gabbro layers, and various polarity boundary dip angles should be considered. To date, there is a lack of systematic understanding about how the dike and gabbro layers affect the total marine magnetic anomalies, particularly the effect of lava layers with different boundary inclinations on the intensity and polarity boundary of the magnetic anomaly. This study aimed to confirm the significance of these factors. Hence, we systematically simulated and analysed the magnetic anomaly characteristics with different inclination and magnetization settings for each layer using the forward modelling method and determined the impact of the complexity of the magnetic structure of the oceanic crust on the magnetic anomaly. Our results showed that the contributions of the dike and gabbro layers to the magnetic anomalies was up to 10%–30% and cannot be ignored. Moreover, the polarity transition point may shift with the inclination of the lava, dike, and gabbro layers but is insensitive to the magnetization of each layer. This study emphasizes the significance of the dike and gabbro layers and the inclination variations of different layers, which should be thoroughly studied. This study facilitates a reasonable interpretation of the magnetic structure of the oceanic crust and further refines the boundary of the magnetization zone with alternative polarity.
Bilateral axillo‐breast approach robotic total thyroidectomy in a 5‐year‐old patient with intractable Graves' disease
Authors: Lee Ja Kyung , Choi Jee‐Hye , Kim Woochul , Yu Hyeong Won , Kim Su‐jin , Chai Young Jun , Choi June Young , Kim Jae Hyun , Lee Kyu Eun
Published: November 2022

Robotic thyroid surgeries in children are gaining popularity due to cosmetic advantages, but most previous studies include patients of school‐age or older. We hereby introduce our case of a 5‐year‐old patient with Graves' disease to show key differences and similarities between pediatric and adult bilateral axillo‐breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomies. Despite the small body, no additional working space was needed and the flap creation was performed as similarly done in adults. The anatomy was not much different, except that the parathyroid tissues were easily identified due to low body fat, and the prominent thymus covered most of the level VI area. The patient did not experience postoperative complications such as hypoparathyroidism or vocal cord palsy. Postoperative wounds showed excellent results with minimal scars. BABA robotic thyroidectomy can be performed safely in pediatric patients and may be considered an alternative option for conventional open thyroidectomy in children.
Dietary fiber chemical structure determined gut microbiota dynamics
Authors: Meng Xin , Zheng Jun , Wang Fengqiao , Zheng Jie , Yang Dong
Published: November 2022

Precision modulation of gut microbiota requires elucidation of the relation between dietary fiber intake and gut microbe dynamics. However, current studies on this aspect are few due to many technical limitations. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to minimize the complicated host–microbial factors and to find the relation between dietary fiber chemical structures and gut microbiota dynamics. The Allium schoenoprasum polysaccharide (AssP) structure was elucidated and used as the complex dietary fiber against the simple fiber inulin. In vitro bacterial growth and genome analysis indicated that AssP supports bacterial growth better than inulin, while in vivo gut microbiota analysis of C. elegans fed with AssP showed that microbiota richness increased significantly compared with those fed with inulin. It is concluded that the more complex the dietary fiber chemical structure, the more gut bacteria growth it supports. Together with the community bacterial interactions that alter their abundances in vivo, these factors regulate gut microbiota synergistically.
TECHNIQUES OF SELF‐TUNING
Authors: Wellstead P. E. , Zanker P.
Published: November 2022

The fundamental ideas and methodology of self‐tuning control are discussed in a non‐theoretical manner. The underlying theme used to link the work is that self‐tuners are not completely automatic methods of determining a control law. In other words, it is accepted that self‐tuners have to be tuned. Our aim here is to give guidance on the manner and nature of this self‐tuning.
Bridging the gap between laboratory and applied research on response‐independent schedules
Authors: Ingvarsson Einar T. , Fernandez Eduardo J.
Published: November 2022

In 1948, Skinner described the behavior of pigeons under response‐independent schedules as “superstitious,” and proposed that the responses were reinforced by contiguous, adventitious food deliveries. Subsequently, response‐independent schedules have been of interest to both basic and applied researchers, first to understand the mechanisms involved, and later, as “noncontingent reinforcement” (NCR) to reduce undesirable behavior. However, the potential superstitious effects produced by these schedules have been challenged, with some researchers arguing that antecedent variables play a significant role. This paper examines the evidence for adventitious reinforcement from both laboratory and applied research, the results of which suggest that antecedent, nonoperant functions may be important in fully understanding the effects of NCR. We propose an applied‐basic research synthesis, in which attention to potential nonoperant functions could provide a more complete understanding of response‐independent schedules. We conclude with a summary of the applied implications of the nonoperant functions of NCR schedules.
Effect of simulated body fluid formulation on orthopedic device apatite‐forming ability assessment
Authors: Nguyen Alexander K. , Nelson Sarah B. , Skoog Shelby A. , Jaipan Panupong , Petrochenko Peter E. , Kaiser Aric , Lo Linh , Moreno Jose , Narayan Roger J. , Goering Peter L. , Kumar Girish
Published: November 2022

Integration of native bone into orthopedic devices is a key factor in long‐term implant success. The material‐tissue interface is generally accepted to consist of a hydroxyapatite layer so bioactive materials that can spontaneously generate this hydroxyapatite layer after implantation may improve patient outcomes. Per the ISO 22317:2014 standard, “Implants for surgery – In vitro evaluation for apatite‐forming ability of implant materials,” bioactivity performance statements can be assessed by soaking the material in simulated body fluid (SBF) and evaluating the surface for the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer; however, variations in test methods may alter hydroxyapatite formation and result in false‐positive assessments. The goal of this study was to identify the effect of SBF formulation on bioactivity assessment. Bioglass® (45S5 and S53P4) and non‐bioactive Ti‐6Al‐4V were exposed to SBF formulations varying in calcium ion and phosphate concentrations as well as supporting ion concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction evaluation of the resulting hydroxyapatite layers revealed that SBF enriched with double or quadruple the calcium and phosphate ion concentrations increased hydroxyapatite crystal size and quantity compared to the standard formulation and can induce hydroxyapatite crystallization on surfaces traditionally considered non‐bioactive. Altering concentrations of other ions, for example, bicarbonate, changed hydroxyapatite induction time, quantity, and morphology. For studies evaluating the apatite‐forming ability of a material to support bioactivity performance statements, test method parameters must be adequately described and controlled. It is unclear if apatite formation after exposure to any of the SBF formulations is representative of an in vivo biological response. The ISO 23317 standard test method should be further developed to provide additional guidance on apatite characterization and interpretation of the results.
The vertical excitation energies and a lifetime of the two lowest singlet excited states of the conjugated polyenes from C2 to C22: Ab initio, DFT, and semiclassical MNDO‐MD simulations
Authors: Fatková Kateřina , Cajzl Radim , Burda Jaroslav V.
Published: November 2022

Electronic excited states in the series of polyene molecules were explored. Optimal ground‐state geometry was used for the evaluation of vertical excitation energies. Results of a chosen set of functionals were compared to post‐HF methods (EOM‐CCSD, NEVPT2, CASPT2, and MRCI). In addition, the semiempirical OM2/MNDO method using MRCISD computational level was confronted with the above‐mentioned techniques. Despite the fact that the first excited state has a significant double‐excitation character some functionals were able to qualitatively determine the correct state order (where the lowest excited state has a character). The most successful functionals in transition energies predictions were PBE, TPSS and BLYP in Tamm‐Dancoff approach (TDA), which had the smallest root‐mean‐square deviation (RMSD) scoring towards the experimental values. Regarding RMSD scoring, the OM2/MNDO method performed fairly well, too. Besides absorption spectra, lifetimes of the first two excited states were estimated based on a stochastic approach exploring a swarm of OM2/MNDO hopping dynamics using the Tully fewest switch algorithm for each molecule. The longest lifetime of the first excited state (S1) was found for decapentaene (about 5 ps). Further elongation of the conjugated chain caused a mild decrease of this value to ca 1.5 ps for docosaundecaene.
Inflammation‐based prognostic scoring system for predicting the prognosis of advanced small cell lung cancer patients receiving anlotinib monotherapy
Authors: Chen Tian , Tang Mengqiu , Xu Xiaoyu , Liang Gaofeng , Xiang Zhenfei , Lu Yi , Wang Chen , Shen Weiyu
Published: November 2022

Background

According to the randomized multicenter phase II trial (ALTER1202), anlotinib has been approved as a third‐line therapy for advanced small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC). Some studies showed the predictive function of inflammatory markers, including neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) in the different cancers treated with anti‐vascular targeting drugs. However, none of the studies showed the roles of NLR, PLR, and LMR in SCLC patients receiving anlotinib. Thus, our objective was to establish a scoring system based on inflammation to individuate patient stratification and selection based on NLR, PLR, and LMR.

Methods

NLR, PLR, and LMR and their variations were calculated in 53 advanced SCLC patients receiving anlotinib as a third‐ or further‐line treatment at Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. Kaplan–Meier curves were plotted. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were used to identify predictors of survival.

Results

Disease control rate was related to pre‐NLR, pre‐PLR, pre‐LMR, post‐NLR elevation, post‐PLR elevation, and post‐LMR elevation. The multivariate analysis determined post‐NLR elevation, pre‐PLR > 240.56, and pre‐LMR ≤1.61 to be independently associated with progression‐free survival, not overall survival. The inflammation‐based prognostic scoring system demonstrated favorable predictive ability from the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC: 0.791, 95% CI: 0.645–0.938).

Conclusions

Post‐NLR variation, pre‐PLR, and pre‐LMR were independent prognostic factors for PFS in advanced SCLC receiving anlotinib monotherapy. The inflammation‐based prognostic scoring system can accurately predict effectiveness and survival.
Diagnostic performance of microscopic stool examination in Campylobacter infection performed by different medical specialties
Authors: Hirose Yumi , Akashi Yusaku , Sun Yu , Notake Shigeyuki , Ueda Atsuo , Kato Daisuke , Muramatsu Shino , Ishikawa Hiroichi , Suzuki Hiromichi
Published: November 2022

Background

Microscopic examination of stool samples can contribute to the early diagnosis of Campylobacter gastroenteritis. However, it is unclear whether the diagnostic performance is reliable when performed by physicians.

Methods

This prospective study included fresh stool samples collected from patients with gastroenteritis between August 2018 and March 2020. The samples were used for microscopic examination through Gram staining. Two physicians, a clinical laboratory technician, and microbiologists performed the examinations. In addition, antigen tests (QuickNavi‐Campylobacter; Denka Co., Ltd.) were evaluated for the samples collected between May 2019 and March 2020. Infection with Campylobacter spp. was confirmed when stool cultures or polymerase chain reaction tests provided positive results.

Results

Microscopic examination was performed on 205 samples, of which 46 (22.4%) were positive for Campylobacter spp. For the microscopic examination, the sensitivity and specificity were 53.5% and 98.1% for physician A, 46.7% and 96.2% for physician B, 63.0% and 100% for the clinical laboratory technician, and 67.4% and 100% for microbiologists, respectively. The antigen testing was evaluated in 131 of the 205 samples and showed a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 99.0%.

Conclusions

Microscopic examination of the stool samples showed high specificity. The sensitivity when the examinations were performed by the physicians was insufficient. The rapid antigen tests can reliably detect Campylobacter spp. in stool samples.
(Un)Modeling the Way: Reflecting on the Complexity of the Leadership Educator Identity for Culturally Relevant Facilitation
Authors: Maia Ana C.
Published: November 2022

A leadership educator's identity development is central to the Culturally Relevant Leadership Learning (CRLL) and socially just leadership process. Understanding one's own social and leadership identities is foundational to how an educator approaches (or avoids approaching) the five CRLL contextual dimensions (Bernard Jones et al., 2016; Milem et al., 2005). The educator identity exploration allows for the individual to ask themselves important questions to consider issues of power and privilege that inherently influence the learning environment. The current piece details how to deconstruct and reconstruct one's own identities by (un)modeling the way – empowering non‐dominant voices and ways of leading in the learning environment. It also showcases powerful tools for educators to foster an inclusive CRLL environment.
Hedonic plasticity of vegan burger patty in implicit or explicit reference frame conditions
Authors: Kim Seulgi , Chung Seo‐Jin
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND

The vegan food market is one of the fastest growing markets worldwide for ethical, environmental, and health reasons. However, vegan food is still relatively unfamiliar to Korean consumers. Their liking for vegan burger patties is in the early phase of development; thus, it is necessary to place the patties in an appropriate context or ‘frame’.

RESULTS

We investigated consumer (n = 269) liking for vegan patty under different frame conditions. The implicit frame condition was manipulated by evaluating a target sample along with four other vegan or meat samples. Consumers were further divided into two explicit groups that were exposed to or not exposed to a video clip on ethical food consumption before evaluating the samples. A control group evaluated the target sample only. The results showed that the implicit frame formed during the sample evaluation had a stronger influence than the explicit frame created by the video clip. Perceived familiarity with the target vegan patty drastically decreased when evaluated with other meat samples and negatively influenced the liking for it.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that the type of samples evaluated sequentially together with the target vegan burger patty within the same session had a greater effect on the target sample than the information provided explicitly. To introduce the target vegan burger patty effectively to consumers who are relatively new to the vegan food product category such as Koreans, it is suggested that the product should be positioned under the category of vegan foods rather than the category of conventional burger patties. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Corrosion behavior of three heat‐resistant steels for turbine system in steam at 600°C and 20 MPa
Authors: Li Quande , Guo Tingshan , Liang Zhiyuan
Published: November 2022

The corrosion behavior of KT5916, 2Cr11Mo, and Co3W3 in high‐temperature and high‐pressure steam at 600°C, and 20 MPa were investigated. The kinetic weight gain curves of KT5916 and Co3W3 nearly followed a parabolic law. Oxide scale exfoliation was found in all steels. The oxide layer structural distribution of the three heat‐resistant steels was Fe3O4 layer and FeCr2O4 layer from the gas side to the substrate side, and the critical criterion for the formation of Fe2O3 oxide was 509.3°C. Under the influence of growth stress, the oxide film of the three heat‐resistant steels experienced a stable oxide layer, coarsening of oxide, pulverization of oxide, and exfoliation of oxide in high‐temperature and high‐pressure steam environments.
Serum lncRNAs, NBAT‐1, and FOXCUT signature in hepatocellular carcinoma developed on top of chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Ali Marwa A. , Shaker Olfat G. , Ezzat Eman M. , Eid Hanaa M. , Ali Doaa Y. , Hassan Essam A. , Elsayed Dalia H. , Abozaid Eman R. , Abdelaleem Omayma O.
Published: November 2022

Background

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a universal health problem responsible for 8.2% of all cancer deaths. Numerous risk factors were documented to be contributed to HCC development with viral hepatitis C ranking as the major predisposing factor in Egypt. The presence of a detectable amount of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the circulation is linked to the development and spread of tumors. LncRNAs NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT expression levels were used as genetic markers for the detection of gastrointestinal tract cancers. We hypothesized that serum expression levels of NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT are new biomarkers for HCC that are related to laboratory and pathological markers.

Patients and Methods

This study included 165 hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐related HCC Egyptian patients, 180 HCV‐infected noncancer patients, and 180 healthy controls, the serum expression levels of NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT were measured by using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

This study's results include that medians (inter‐quartile range [IQRs]) of NBAT‐1 in HCC and HCV patients were (1.9 [0.87−4.94], 10.01 [7.34−13.29] respectively) which exhibited significantly higher expression than controls, while the medians (IQRs) of FOXCUT in HCC and HCV patients were (0.15 [0.04−0.52], 6.42 [2.49−10.10], respectively) that exhibited significantly lower expression than controls regarding HCC patients but significantly higher expression than controls regarding HCV patients. In comparing serum fold changes of NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT between HCC patients and HCV patients; we obtained significantly higher levels of target genes in HCV patients (p < 0.001) than in HCC patients. Also, a positive correlation was detected between NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT in HCC group (r = 0.262, p = 0.001) and in HCV group (r = 0.937, p < 0.001). Higher serum NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT were significantly associated with better clinical and laboratory data of the disease. Multivariate regression analysis showed that FOXCUT was an independent predictor for HCC among HCV patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study cited that NBAT‐1 and FOXCUT could be considered new diagnostic serum biomarkers for HCC on top of HCV.
Juvenile‐Onset Huntington's Disease in Peru: A Case Series of 32 Patients
Authors: Vishnevetsky Anastasia , Cornejo‐Olivas Mario , Sarapura‐Castro Elison , Inca‐Martinez Miguel , Rabinowitz Danielle , Milla‐Neyra Karina , Mazzetti Pilar , Bird Thomas
Published: November 2022

Background

Juvenile‐onset Huntington's Disease (JoHD) or Huntington's disease (HD) with age of onset ≤20 years, is a rare clinical entity that often differs phenotypically from adult HD and represents only 1–15% of total HD cases.

Objective

To characterize the genetic and clinical characteristics of 32 JoHD patients seen in a Peruvian Neurogenetics clinic from 2000–2018.

Methods

This study is a retrospective clinical and genetic review. The clinical database in Lima, Peru was searched for HD patients seen in clinic between 2000 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were: (1) genetically confirmed disease; and (2) HD age of onset ≤20 years, according to the documented medical history.

Results

Among 475 patients with genetically confirmed HD in the database, 32 patients (6.7%) had symptom onset at ≤20 years. Among JoHD patients with a known transmitting parent (30 of 32), paternal transmission accounted for 77% of cases. Anticipation was higher with paternal transmission compared to maternal transmission (27.5 ± 11.5 vs. 11.3 ± 7.1 years). Overall expanded CAG repeat length ranged from 44 to 110, with a mean length of 65.6 ± 15.4, and 14 (44%) cases had repeat length under 60. Of the 32 patients included in the study, 25 had detailed clinical symptomatology available, and many patients had unique clinical features such as prominent sleep disturbance (60% of patients), or parkinsonism (73%).

Conclusions

This large case series of JoHD patients characterizes the Peruvian JoHD population, reports on unique familial relationships in JoHD, and highlights the varied symptomatic presentation of this rare disease.
A survey of Indian physiotherapists′ clinical practice patterns and adherence to clinical guidelines in the management of patients with acute low back pain
Authors: Ganesh G. Shankar , Khan Abdur Raheem , Khan Ashfaque
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) exist for the management of non‐specific low back pain (LBP). The objective of this study is to evaluate if Indian physiotherapists' follow CPGs when treating patients with acute LBP.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey using an online questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, views, and opinion about acute LBP and CPGs, and management strategies of a clinical vignette presenting a patient with acute LBP.

Results

Responses from 328 physiotherapists were included in this study. Eighty‐one percent of respondents indicated familiarity with CPGs for LBP and 75.3% (n = 328) respondents indicated that their intervention choices aligned with guidelines to at least some extent. Participants with post‐graduate and doctoral degrees were more accustomed to CPGs than those with bachelor's degrees (p < 0.01). There were significant differences in clinical practice (p < 0.01) between therapists who expressed familiarity with guidelines and those who were not, as well as those with and without post‐graduate and doctoral degrees.

Conclusion

In general, the study showed adherence to guidelines; however, there were areas that did not align with established evidence, especially referral for radiology and use of electrical modalities.
Citric acid functionalized reduced graphene oxide containing bio‐based waterborne polyester thermoset as an excellent anticorrosive material
Authors: Dutta Geeti Kaberi , Karak Niranjan
Published: November 2022

Protection of metal surfaces from corrosion by environmentally friendly coating is found to be an interesting and useful research topic. In this milieu, the authors presented an environment friendly bio‐based waterborne polyester thermoset as an anticorrosive organic coating. The polyesters comprise renewable resource based citric acid, dimer acid and glycerol along with citric acid functionalized reduced graphene oxide. Three different compositions of the polyester were produced by varying the amount (0.1, 0.5, and 1 weight%) of functionalized reduced graphene oxide. The structural and morphological attributes of these polyesters were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopic, scanning electron microscopic, and transmission electron microscopic studies. The thermosets of the resinous polyesters were obtained by curing them with bio‐based glycerol containing epoxy and fatty acid modified poly(amido amine). The thermosets exhibited high tensile strength (18.68–26.94 MPa), elongation at break (176%–471%), toughness (22.74–86.5 MJ/m3), thermal stability (up to 222°C), biodegradability and chemical resistance. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies clearly revealed excellent corrosion resistance (impedance of the order of 107 ohm cm2 and highest phase angle of 88.2°) of the mild steel coated plates. Thus, the formulated polyester thermosets could be used as a promising environment friendly high performing anticorrosive material.
Association between meal frequency with others and psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tsuji Rikako , Nishi Daisuke , Sasaki Natsu , Akiyama Hiroto , Kuroda Reiko , Tsuno Kanami , Imamura Kotaro , Kawakami Norito
Published: November 2022

Aim

Previous studies evaluated the association between eating alone and mental health mainly in older people and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dinner frequency with others and psychological distress during the COVID‐19 outbreak among the Japanese working population.

Methods

Data were acquired from a prospective online cohort study (the Employee Cohort Study in the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan) conducted in February 2021 as a cross‐sectional design. Dinner frequency with others was categorized into five groups: “almost daily,” “4–5 times per week,” “2–3 times per week,” “once per week,” and “less than once per week,” setting them as a predictor variable. Modified Poisson regression was performed to calculate the prevalence ratio of psychological distress with multiple imputation for missing data. Global fear and worry about COVID‐19 were adjusted as a covariate.

Results

A total of 1171 participants completed the questionnaire. Respondents who ate dinner with others “almost daily” had the least psychological distress than those who ate with others “4–5 times,” “2–3 times,” and “once per week” in the crude model (prevalence ratio (95% CI): 1 [reference], 1.34 [1.08–1.67], 1.40 [1.15–1.69], 1.44 [1.12–1.85], respectively). The association was comparable after adjusting for global fear and worry about COVID‐19.

Conclusions

Among those who ate dinner with others at least once a week, those who ate with others “almost daily” had the least psychological distress. The association was comparable after adjusting for global fear and worry about COVID‐19. Further study is needed on why those who eat with others less than once a week may have a lower prevalence ratio of having mental distress.
Quantum computers: sensitive in their young days
Authors: Wengenmayr Roland
Published: November 2022

Shrouded in myths, powerful and sensitive: Prof Jens Eisert, physicist at the Freie Universität Berlin, explains how quantum computers work and how far their development has progressed.
Liver cirrhosis in Japan: Future global trends in the era of progressive antiviral therapy
Authors: Enomoto Hirayuki , Takashima Tomoyuki , Nishimura Takashi , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Ikeda Naoto , Yuri Yukihisa , Okamoto Mamiko , Yoshihara Kohei , Yoshioka Ryota , Kawata Shoki , Ota Shogo , Nakano Ryota , Shiomi Hideyuki , Iijima Hiroko
Published: November 2022

In Japan, viral hepatitis is the main cause of chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. Due to the availability of highly effective antiviral drugs in combination with antihepatitis measures, Japan has become one of the most successful countries in the world with regard to hepatitis virus elimination. In Japan, there are many elderly patients who have been infected with hepatitis C virus for a long time, and antihepatitis measures have been in place since the 2000s. Thus, the medical situation in Japan is expected to reflect the future situation in other countries where hepatitis countermeasures have been recently initiated and the infected population is aging. Our nationwide survey clarified the changes in the etiologies of liver cirrhosis in Japan. Although viral hepatitis remains a major cause of liver cirrhosis in Japan, nonviral cirrhosis is suggested to increasingly contribute to the etiologies of liver cirrhosis, as opposed to viral hepatitis‐related liver cirrhosis. The changing etiology of liver cirrhosis in Japan may help to predict future global trends in chronic liver diseases.
Aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity risk in the cystic fibrosis population: The utility of large‐scale screening
Authors: Lopes Jaime , Vidal‐Folch Noemi , Lundquist Patrick , Schimmenti Lisa A. , Demirel Nadir , Dean Vicki , Olson Janelle , Auth Tom , Butz Malinda , Reed Katelyn , Wylam Mark , Balcom Jessica , Boczek Nicole J. , Hasadsri Linda
Published: November 2022

Background

MT‐RNR1 variants are a well‐known cause of aminoglycoside‐induced hearing loss (AIHL). Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) routinely receive aminoglycosides and are at high risk of AIHL. However, genetic testing before treatment is not routinely performed due to perceived rarity of risk, and cost ineffectiveness with traditional technologies.

Aim

Assess the utility of large‐scale screening for AIHL risk in the CF population, using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a novel and scalable low‐cost molecular technique.

Methods

Using a clinically validated ddPCR assay, we performed retrospective testing on 122 and prospective testing on 32 individuals with CF for the two most common pathogenic variants associated with AIHL, MT‐RNR1 m.1555 A > G and m.1494 C > T. Our study screened the largest known cohort of pediatric cases of CF (94/154) for these specific alterations.

Results

We identified two individuals positive for MT‐RNR1 m.1555 A > G and no positives for m.1494 C > T. Of 32 prospective cases, 17 had aminoglycoside exposure. The positive case in our prospective group recently began inhaled tobramycin and denied hearing issues. The clinician adjusted to care for both the patient and sibling with CF (not included in cohort) who is presumed positive for m.1555 A > G due to the nature of mitochondrial inheritance.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the utility of pretreatment screening in the cystic fibrosis population for AIHL risk using ddPCR, a scalable and robust testing methodology at a fraction of the cost as compared to other sequencing‐based methods. Therefore, the use of large‐scale screening for AIHL risk in the cystic fibrosis community should be re‐visited.
Metamagnetism and Magnetocaloric Properties in a van der Waals Antiferromagnet CrOCl
Authors: Das Bikash , Ghosh Subrata , Kundu Tanima , Paramanik Rahul , Maity Sujan , Palit Mainak , Das Soumik , Kumar Hazra Pabitra , Maji Poulomi , Ghosh Anudeepa , Datta Subhadeep
Published: November 2022

Herein, the anisotropic magnetic properties of 2D van der Waals (vdW) insulator, chromium oxychloride (CrOCl), are presented. Temperature‐dependent bulk magnetization reveals a paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase transition at ≈14 K (Néel temperature, TN) while cooling. From the magnetic field‐dependent magnetization study (M–H) at low temperature, a first‐order field‐induced (at or above 40 kOe) metamagnetic transition from antiferromagnetic to ferrimagnetic state has been observed. Noticeably, switching of the easy plane (ab‐plane) of the magnetization to the c‐axis can be identified above 29 kOe. Moreover, in the vicinity of TN, under an applied magnetic field, magnetic entropy change (ΔSM) can be estimated as 4.31 J kg−1 K−1 for H//c. The results evoke further experiments on charge/spin transport properties of few‐layer CrOCl in the nanoelectronic circuit framework for understanding the connection between crystallographic deformation and metamagnetism.
Benchmarking the Role of Particle Statistics in Quantum Reservoir Computing
Authors: Llodrà Guillem , Charalambous Christos , Giorgi Gian Luca , Zambrini Roberta
Published: November 2022

Quantum reservoir computing is a neuro‐inspired machine learning approach harnessing the rich dynamics of quantum systems to solve temporal tasks. It has gathered attention for its suitability for NISQ devices, for easy and fast trainability, and for potential quantum advantage. Although several types of systems have been proposed as quantum reservoirs, differences arising from particle statistics have not been established yet. In this work, the ability of bosons, fermions, and qubits are assessed and compared to store information from past inputs by measuring linear and nonlinear memory capacity. While, in general, the performance of the system improves with the Hilbert space size, it is shown that also the information spreading capability is a key factor. For the simplest reservoir Hamiltonian choice, and for each boson limited to at most one excitation, fermions provide the best reservoir due to their intrinsic nonlocal properties. On the other hand, a tailored input injection strategy allows the exploitation of the abundance of degrees of freedom of the Hilbert space for bosonic quantum reservoir computing and enhances the computational power compared to both qubits and fermions.
Scientific reasoning skills predict topic‐specific knowledge after participation in a citizen science project on urban wildlife ecology
Authors: Bruckermann Till , Greving Hannah , Schumann Anke , Stillfried Milena , Börner Konstantin , Kimmig Sophia E. , Hagen Robert , Brandt Miriam , Harms Ute
Published: November 2022

In citizen science (CS) projects, citizens who are not professional scientists participate in scientific research. Besides serving research purposes, CS projects provide participants opportunities for inquiry‐based learning to promote their topic‐specific knowledge and scientific reasoning skills. Previous research suggests that participants need scientific reasoning skills to engage in scientific activities and to learn from inquiry in CS projects. Participants' scientific reasoning skills, therefore, might enhance the resulting topic‐specific knowledge at the end of a CS project. On the other hand, scientific reasoning skills themselves are a learning outcome of CS projects. Hence, they might play a double role in CS projects: as a learning outcome and as a prerequisite for acquiring knowledge. In the informal education context of CS, it has not yet been investigated whether scientific reasoning skills predict topic‐specific knowledge or vice versa. To address this question, the research presented here used a cross‐lagged panel design in two longitudinal field studies of a CS project on urban wildlife ecology (N = 144 participants). The results indicated that participants' scientific reasoning skills positively influenced their topic‐specific knowledge at the end of the project, but not vice versa. Extending previous research on individual learning outcomes of CS projects, the results showed that inquiry‐based learning in CS projects depends on certain prerequisites, such as participants' proficiency in scientific reasoning. We discuss the implications for future research on inquiry‐based learning in CS projects and for further training of CS participants in acquiring scientific reasoning skills.
Interaction between heterogeneous thermal stratification and wakes of wind turbine arrays
Authors: Nakao Keisuke , Hattori Yasuo
Published: November 2022

The thermal heterogeneity between the land and sea might affect the wind patterns within wind farms (WF) located near seashores. This condition was modeled with a large‐eddy simulation of a numerical weather prediction model (Weather Research and Forecasting) that included the wind turbine actuator disk model (ADM). The assumed condition was that the downstream surface temperature was relatively higher (unstably stratified condition) than the neutrally stratified upstream wind. Under this condition, a thermal internal boundary layer (TIBL) was developed from an area where a step‐changed surface temperature was implemented. The combined effect of the wake deficit due to the WF and velocity recovery as a result of enhanced mixing under unstable stratification showed significant modulation of the wind speed at the hub height when local atmospheric stability affected the wind turbine (WT). We show that TIBL height depends on the variables to be evaluated as the threshold. A precise prediction of the TIBL height is beneficial for better estimation of power generation. A prediction model was proposed as an extension of the internal boundary layer (IBL) model for neutral stratification, and the results tracked TIBL development reasonably well. The effects of WFs on surface properties (e.g., friction velocity, heat flux, and Obukhov length) and the tendency of IBL growth were minor. A single WT wake was also assessed under several TIBL developmental stages (i.e., location) and thermal stratification conditions. The standard deviation of the wake deficit increased vertically during the development stage of the TIBL. In contrast, the coefficients in the horizontal and vertical directions were comparable when the WT was deep inside the TIBL.
EEG and ERPs in the Study of Language and Social Knowledge
Authors: Proverbio Alice Mado
Published: November 2022

Event-related potentials (ERPs) represent the ideal methodological approach for investigating the time course of language reading and comprehension processes. In this chapter, various ERP components reflecting orthographic, phonological, semantic, and syntactic processing of written and auditory language are examined. Furthermore, data are shown of how ERPs can reflect stereotypes, prejudices and world knowledge, including people’s social traits and attributes. In particular, several recent neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies are presented investigating the neural underpinnings of ethnic and sex biases (both in male and female individuals).
What Our Eyes Can Tell Us About Our Social and Affective Brain?
Authors: Laurence Paulo Guirro , Lukasova Katerina , Alves Marcus Vinicius C. , de Macedo Elizeu Coutinho
Published: November 2022

The eyes are windows to the soul. This phrase present in the common sense popularly expresses that it is possible to deeply understand people’s minds just by how their eyes behave. This assumption is not that far from reality. Analyzing the eyes of subjects, researchers have answered questions of how people think, remember, pay attention, recognize each other, and many other theoretical and empirical ones. Recently, with the advancement of research in social and affective neuroscience, researchers are starting to look at human interactions and how the individuals’ eyes can relate to their behaviors and cognitive functions in social contexts. To measure individuals’ gaze, a machinery specialized in recording eye movements and pupillary diameter changes is used: a device known as an eye tracker.
Mirror Neurons in Action: ERPs and Neuroimaging Evidence
Authors: Proverbio Alice Mado , Zani Alberto
Published: November 2022

According to V.S. Ramachandran (inaugural ‘Decade of the Brain’ lecture at Society for Neuroscience meeting), ‘mirror neurons are to neuroscience what DNA was to biology’. Their discovery (by Rizzolatti’s group) led to the understanding of how hominids rapidly evolved through imitation and cultural transmission in the last 100,000 years. In this chapter, we will review the role of human mirror neuron system (MNS) in several mental and brain functions including: interacting with the environment, grasping objects, empathy and compassion for others, empathizing, emulation and emotional contagion, observing and imitating, learning sports, motor skills and dance, motor rule understanding, understanding the intentions of others, understanding gestures and body language, lip reading, recognizing actions by their sounds, learning to play a musical instrument. The chapter is enriched with a discussion of possible criticalities and caveats.
Die Anwendung freiheitseinschränkender Maßnahmen bei Menschen mit Demenz
Authors: Ritzi Sebastian
Published: November 2022

In diesem Kapitel soll das Phänomen der Anwendung von FeM bei Menschen mit Demenz in professionellen Sorgebeziehungen abgebildet werden. Dabei bedarf es zunächst einer terminologischen Einordnung und Reflexion des Gegenstandes (Abschn. 2.1), die zudem Klarheit darüber schafft, welche Handlungen konkret gemeint sind, wenn in dieser Arbeit die Rede von FeM ist. Mit der Art und Weise, wie FeM als spezielle Form von Gewalt Anwendung finden, befasst sich der darauffolgende Abschnitt (Abschn. 2.2). Sodann wird auf die verschiedenen Erscheinungsformen von FeM eingegangen (Abschn. 2.3), um in einem weiteren Schritt die empirischen Daten zur Prävalenz von FeM abzubilden. Dabei erfolgt dies aufgrund der Sachlage getrennt nach mechanischen Formen von FeM (Abschn. 2.4) und pharmakologischen Interventionen, mit denen eine Ruhigstellung der Betroffenen einhergehen kann (Abschn. 2.5). Mit den rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen (Abschn. 2.6) sollen ausgewählte verfassungs-, zivil- und strafrechtliche Aspekte der Thematik skizziert werden, um aufzuzeigen, in welchem juristischen Rahmen sich Einschränkungen in die Fortbewegungsfreiheit in Deutschland wesentlich ereignen. Dabei wird bereits die besondere Relevanz verschiedener Begründungsansätze für die Anwendung von FeM bei Menschen mit Demenz anklingen, welchen der darauffolgende Abschnitt (Abschn. 2.7) gewidmet ist. Solche Begründungen sind jedoch, wie sich zeigen wird, auch stets von verschiedenen tieferliegenden Einflussfaktoren geprägt (Abschn. 2.8). Nach der Darstellung derselben erfolgt sodann eine kritische Analyse der möglichen Folgen von FeM (Abschn. 2.9). Das Kapitel 2 schließen eine Übersicht über verschiedene Interventionen zur Vermeidung von FeM (Abschn. 2.10) sowie ein Zwischenfazit (Abschn. 2.11) ab.
Erratum zu: Digitalisierung der Arbeitswelt im Mittelstand 1
Authors: Nitsch Verena , Brandl Christopher , Häußling Roger , Lemm Jacqueline , Gries Thomas , Schmenk Bernhard
Published: November 2022

Die Kapitel 1 und 5 wurden ursprünglich als nicht Open Access-Kapitel veröffentlicht, werden hiermit aber in eine Open Access Publikation unter der CC BY 4.0-Lizenz geändert; die Angabe des Copyright Holders wurde dementsprechend in „©Der/die Autor(en)“ angepasst.
Art as Knowledge Translation
Authors: Boyd Candice P.
Published: November 2022

Beginning with the discipline of geography and its intersections with the humanities, Boyd explores how art has made its way across the academy to the social sciences and health and into science itself. Maintaining a focus on how art has become a vehicle for knowledge translation and exchange, the chapter builds a case for art as geography, especially in the realm of affective knowledge translation.
Staging and Evaluating the ‘Finding Home’ Exhibition
Authors: Boyd Candice P.
Published: November 2022

In this chapter, Boyd describes the staging and evaluation of the ‘Finding Home’ exhibition within the context of university ‘impact agendas’. The notion of societal impact is critiqued before the tasks involved in staging the ‘Finding Home’ exhibition are detailed. The findings from the exhibition’s evaluation, which included 100 visitor surveys and 31 phone interviews with exhibition audiences, are also presented in this chapter. The chapter concludes with reflections on the labour involved in bringing a research exhibition to multiple publics.
Holographic BCFT with a Defect on the End-of-the-World brane
Authors: Miyaji Masamichi , Murdia Chitraang
Published: November 2022

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new gravity dual for a 2d BCFT with two conformal boundaries by introducing a defect that connects the two End-of-the-World branes. We demonstrate that the BCFT dual to this bulk model exhibits a richer lowest spectrum. The corresponding lowest energy eigenvalue can continuously interpolate between $$ -\frac{\pi c}{24\Delta x} $$
−

πc

24
Δ
x

and 0 where ∆x is the distance between the boundaries. This range was inaccessible to the conventional AdS/BCFT model with distinct boundary conditions. We compute the holographic entanglement entropy and find that it exhibits three different phases, one of which breaks the time reflection symmetry. We also construct a wormhole saddle, analogous to a 3d replica wormhole, which connects different boundaries through the AdS bulk. This saddle is present only if the BCFT is non-unitary and is always subdominant compared to the disconnected saddle.
Transient chaos analysis of string scattering
Authors: Hashimoto Koji , Matsuo Yoshinori , Yoda Takuya
Published: November 2022

Abstract

It has long been thought that a highly excited string can be regarded as a black hole: the correspondence principle between strings and a black hole, while recent studies found that black holes are characterized by chaos. This suggests that highly excited strings are the source of the black hole chaoticity. We study the chaoticity of a string amplitude where a tachyon is scattered by a highly excited string. Our strategy to extract the chaos in the amplitude is a generalization of the transient chaos analysis for classical scattering. We look for the fractal structure in the plots of incoming/outgoing scattering angles, where the outgoing angle is defined as the maximum pole of the amplitude. Within our strategy, we could not identify any fractal structure in the scattering data. We also discuss other possible setups and strategies to extract the chaos, hoping that our present work serves as a step toward the formulation of chaos in string scattering amplitudes.
On the number of universal algebraic geometries
Authors: Aichinger Erhard , Rossi Bernardo
Published: November 2022

The algebraic geometry of a universal algebra $${\textbf{A}}$$
A
is defined as the collection of solution sets of systems of term equations. Two algebras $${\textbf{A}}_1$$

A
1

and $${\textbf{A}}_2$$

A
2

are called algebraically equivalent if they have the same algebraic geometry. We prove that on a finite set A with $$|A|$$

|
A
|

there are countably many algebraically inequivalent Mal’cev algebras and that on a finite set A with $$|A|$$

|
A
|

there are continuously many algebraically inequivalent algebras.