bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of liquid column atomization by annular dual-nozzle gas jet flow
Authors: Choi Daehyun , Byun Jungwon , Park Hyungmin
Published: June 2022

The atomization of a water column by a gas jet flow (Reynolds number

$\sim O(10^{4}\unicode{x2013}10^{5})$

) issued from a two-stage annular nozzle is investigated experimentally. Varying the nozzle geometry, the momentum flux ratio of the upper and lower jets, and the water flow rate, we measure the processes of atomization with high-speed imaging, analysed analytically into four regimes. In the bulk atomization regime, the atomization is driven by the lower jet, but it is forced to occur earlier by the stronger upper jet before the water column reaches the lower jet in the droplet atomization regime. Interestingly, the size of the atomized droplets remains unaffected by the momentum flux ratio of upper to lower jets. The atomization process is governed by the Rayleigh–Taylor instability, by which the estimated droplet size agrees well with the measurement. In the backflow regime, a strong reverse flow is induced to force a substantial portion of atomized droplets to be drawn backward to the nozzle; a floating liquid column regime is captured transitionally, i.e. the column stagnates near the lower nozzle when the water flow rate is very low. To understand the mechanisms of each regime, the single-phase jet flow is measured separately using particle image velocimetry, and implemented into the control volume analysis with which we predicted analytically and validated the conditions for the occurrence of each regime. It is found that the acceleration of gas flow (velocity gradient) experienced by the falling water is the key parameter to drive the atomization.
Experimental investigation of inertial fibres and disks in a turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Baker Lucia J. , Coletti Filippo
Published: June 2022

We study experimentally the behaviour of negatively buoyant disks and fibres in a turbulent boundary layer. The regime is relevant to the transport of natural sediment or plastic particles in water, with density ratio

$\rho _p/\rho _f \sim O(1)$

, major axis lengths

$D_p^+ \sim 50$

, friction Stokes numbers

$\mbox { {St}}^+ \sim O(10)$

and friction Reynolds number

$\mbox { {Re}}_\tau = 620$

. The translational and rotational motion, as well as concentration and dispersion, are compared with those of spheres of similar inertia. Disks and fibres both oversample high-speed fluid near the wall, in agreement with particle-resolved numerical simulations. Fibres tend to orient mostly in the streamwise direction while disks maintain their symmetry axis quasi-normal to the wall. This alignment is more stable for disks than for fibres: the latter undergo strong tumbling near the wall in response to the mean shear and turbulent fluid velocity fluctuations, whereas the former wobble about their preferential wall-normal orientation. The translational and rotational accelerations indicate that, despite the nominal relaxation times being similar, the disks are slower than the fibres in responding to wall turbulence. For both, wall contact causes strong and intermittent tumbling. The concentration profiles follow Rouse–Prandtl theory over a limited portion of the boundary layer, deviating near the wall and in the outer region. This is largely due to the non-uniform settling velocity, which decreases steeply approaching the wall for all particle types. This is, in turn, a consequence of the reduced particle diffusivity, which closely matches the profile of the eddy viscosity.
Enabling collaborative dynamic capabilities in strategic communities: Firm- vs. network-centric perspectives
Authors: Jucevičius Giedrius , Jucevičienė Rita
Published: June 2022

This conceptual paper focuses on the importance of extending thecollaborative dynamic capabilities(C-DCs) view and its emphasis on the boundary spanningstrategic communities(SCs) fromfirm-centric to thenetwork-centric perspective. The C-DC view is an original theoretical perspective that offers a good explanation of corporate-level transformations in the context of cross-sectoral convergence. Although the focus of prevailing research on large firms as cornerstones of SCs is valid, it does not fully capture the more complex dynamics that take in the horizontal networks of firms. We show that C-DC and SC theoretical perspectives can be adapted to the context of regional industrial clusters and contribute to their strategic renewal. The paper conceptualizes the different challenges and nature of leadership that prevail in SC-based firms networks. It also presents the different enabling aspects of collaborative DCs (with regard to trust building, co-specialization and capability synthesis) in firm- vs. network-centric environments.
The Limits of Value Transparency in Machine Learning
Authors: Nyrup Rune
Published: June 2022

Transparency has been proposed as a way of handling value-ladenness in machine learning (ML). This article highlights limits to this strategy. I distinguish three kinds of transparency: epistemic transparency, retrospective value transparency, and prospective value transparency. This corresponds to different approaches to transparency in ML, including so-called explainable artificial intelligence and governance based on disclosing information about the design process. I discuss three sources of value-ladenness in ML—problem formulation, inductive risk, and specification gaming—and argue that retrospective value transparency is only well-suited for dealing with the first, while the third raises serious challenges even for prospective value transparency.
“War Trauma” and the Politics of PTSD during and after the Wars of Yugoslav Succession
Authors: Antić Ana
Published: June 2022

This article explores how the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder was developed and debated during the wars of Yugoslav succession 1991–1995. It focuses on the rich, wide-ranging, and complex psychiatric and psychotherapeutic discussions of war trauma in the post-Yugoslav space, arguing that arguments about PTSD became a site for expressing political tensions, controversies, and anxieties that could not otherwise be addressed or identified.

This research explores how Yugoslav psychiatrists tailored the language of PTSD to their own particular clinical and political needs, infusing it with local assumptions and experiences, often radically changing its original meaning and intentions in the process. Moreover, the article engages with discourses of psychological trauma in Eastern Europe and the socialist world, which remains a neglected topic. It examines how the post-WWII and socialist-era psychiatric discourse and silences were reinterpreted and worked into the psychiatric-political attempts to make sense of the wars of Yugoslav succession.
Whose rules? Whose power? The Global South and the possibility to shape international peacekeeping norms through leadership appointments
Authors: Harig Christoph , Jenne Nicole
Published: June 2022

International organisations reflect global power configurations and as such, are deemed to reproduce global inequalities. Nevertheless, they also represent opportunities for the Global South to challenge the global stratification of power, for instance by providing personnel to international agencies and bureaucracies. This article examines the role of leadership personnel from the Global South in implementing robust peacekeeping mandates.

Given that states from the Global South have often been hesitant to support the use of force internationally, can leadership positions in peace operations help these states to influence norms at the implementation level? We develop a conceptual understanding of individuals’ role in implementing norms and apply the framework to military force commanders from Brazil, India, and Rwanda. The analysis demonstrates that appointments provide an opportunity for norm contestation, but do not necessarily guarantee such influence. Under certain circumstances, we find that military force commanders can actually undermine their governments’ preferences. However, the relation between force commanders’ practices and their country of origin's policy stance is complex and influenced by a variety of different factors that merit further investigation.
Distribution and habitat use of the Madagascar Peregrine Falcon: first estimates for area of habitat and population size
Authors: SUTTON LUKE J. , DE ROLAND LILY-ARISON RENE , THORSTROM RUSSELL , MCCLURE CHRISTOPHER J. W.
Published: June 2022

Accurately demarcating distributions of biological taxa has long been at the core of ecology. Yet our understanding of the factors defining species range limits is incomplete, especially for tropical species in the Global South. Human-driven threats to the survival of many taxa are increasing, particularly habitat loss and climate change. Identifying distributional range limits of at-risk and data-limited species using Species Distribution Models (SDMs) can thus inform spatial conservation planning to mitigate these threats. The Madagascar Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus radamais the resident sub-species of the Peregrine Falcon complex distributed across Madagascar, Mayotte, and the Comoros Islands. There are currently significant knowledge gaps regarding its distribution, habitat preferences, and population size. Here, we use penalized logistic regression and environmental ordination to identify Madagascar Peregrine Falcon habitat in both geographic and environmental space and propose a population size estimate based on inferred habitat. From the penalized logistic regression model, the core habitat area of the Madagascar Peregrine Falcon extends across the central and northern upland plateau of Madagascar with patchier habitat across coastal and low-elevation areas. Range-wide habitat use in both geographic and environmental space indicated positive associations with high elevation and aridity, coupled with high vegetation heterogeneity and >95% herbaceous landcover, but general avoidance of areas >30% cultivated land and >10% mosaic forest. Based on inferred high-class habitat from the penalized logistic regression model, we estimate this habitat area could potentially support a population size ranging between 150 and 300 pairs. Following IUCN Red List guidelines, this subspecies would be classed as ‘Vulnerable’ due to its small population size. Despite its potentially large range, the Madagascar Peregrine Falcon has specialised habitat requirements and would benefit from targeted conservation measures based on spatial models to maintain viable populations.
Incumbent Party Reelection in Australia, Canada, and the United States: An Exponential Decay Model
Authors: Heggen Richard J. , Cuzán Alfred G.
Published: June 2022

Exponential functions, widely used in the physical sciences, also have been used to model political phenomena. To our knowledge, however, this tool has not been used to replicate the electoral survival of the government or administration in several democracies. This article reports that an exponential survival model is a good fit for the reelection rate of the party that controls the executive office in states, territories, or provinces in three countries: Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Everywhere and Nowhere: Information Literacy in the Political Science Classroom
Authors: Thornton Stephen , Atkinson Douglas B.
Published: June 2022

Recent research suggests that many faculty members believe that their students are lacking the information literacy (IL) skills needed to be successful in their college career. Reports also suggest that there is a broader issue about the uncertain position of IL in the university curriculum. This article uses data from a worldwide survey of political science faculty to better understand how widespread this perception is, what is being done about this perceived problem, and what steps can be taken to encourage faculty to implement IL training in the classroom. We find that faculty believe that there is a problem but many are not explicitly teaching IL as part of their courses. We also find that faculty members who have received IL training are far more likely to include it in their courses. This leads us to suggest that IL training should be provided at the faculty level, which will have positive downstream effects on the IL training that students receive. We also contend that IL deserves a more prominent place in the university curriculum.
THE EDIFYING DISCOURSES OF ADAM SMITH: FOCALISM, COMMERCE, AND SERVING THE COMMON GOOD
Authors: Matson Erik W.
Published: June 2022

Adam Smith’s discourses aim to encourage mores, practices, and public policies in service to the common good, or that which a universally benevolent spectator would approve of. The Wealth of Nations illustrates how in pursuing our own happiness within the bounds of prudence and commutative justice, we may be said, literally or metaphorically, to cooperate with God in furthering the happiness of humankind. The Theory of Moral Sentiments elaborates an ethic, here called “focalism,” that instructs us to proportion our beneficent efforts to our knowledge and ability. The relationship between political economy and focalism is bidirectionally reinforcing. In one direction, the ethic of focalism contributes to the moral authorization of self-love, thereby invigorating and dignifying honest commercial activities. In the other direction, the insights of political economy reinforce the ethic of focalism by elaborating how through prudent commerce and focal beneficence, we cooperate, even if only metaphorically, in a grand social enterprise.
Comparison of text preprocessing methods
Authors: Chai Christine P.
Published: June 2022

Text preprocessing is not only an essential step to prepare the corpus for modeling but also a key area that directly affects the natural language processing (NLP) application results. For instance, precise tokenization increases the accuracy of part-of-speech (POS) tagging, and retaining multiword expressions improves reasoning and machine translation. The text corpus needs to be appropriately preprocessed before it is ready to serve as the input to computer models. The preprocessing requirements depend on both the nature of the corpus and the NLP application itself, that is, what researchers would like to achieve from analyzing the data. Conventional text preprocessing practices generally suffice, but there exist situations where the text preprocessing needs to be customized for better analysis results. Hence, we discuss the pros and cons of several common text preprocessing methods: removing formatting, tokenization, text normalization, handling punctuation, removing stopwords, stemming and lemmatization, n-gramming, and identifying multiword expressions. Then, we provide examples of text datasets which require special preprocessing and how previous researchers handled the challenge. We expect this article to be a starting guideline on how to select and fine-tune text preprocessing methods.
The Re-Emergence of “People of Color”
Authors: Starr Paul
Published: June 2022

The social category “people of color” has been born twice from the mixing of peoples in the United States. This article seeks to explain the category’s emergence and varied boundaries in the late 1700s and early 1800s, its decline in the mid-1800s, and its re-emergence and spread in a related meaning of enlarged scope since the 1970s. In both phases, “people of color” has served as a bridging identity across racial lines for those not included among whites; both times it has served primarily as a term of respect, not abuse. The category’s revival has rested on a contested people-of-color equation—the equating of other minorities with Black people—and has come in four stages: 1) the advent of a new configuration of governmentally recognized minorities in the 1960s and 1970s; 2) the adoption of “people of color” as a collective identity for those groups, initially among Black, progressive, and feminist activists; 3) the polarized diffusion of “people of color” in the media; and 4) the emergence among activists of second thoughts about the category “people of color” as insufficiently specific. The article concludes with a brief discussion of whether the traditional color line is being redrawn as a people-of-color line.
Debt restrictions and municipal indebtedness in American cities: evidence from the Roaring Twenties
Authors: Gunter Samara , Siodla James
Published: June 2022

Widespread municipal defaults in the late 19th century prompted U.S. states to pass laws restricting the amount of debt cities could incur. These restrictions generally did not bind until the 1920s, when suburban growth spurred local governments to invest in infrastructure, most of which was financed by bonds. We study the relationship between several major debt restrictions – debt limits, supermajority voting referenda, and debt exceptions – and municipal indebtedness in the Roaring Twenties. We find that cities that faced more restrictive debt rules were less indebted by 1929. We also find that debt limits reduced the amount of capital spending in cities during the 1920s and 1930s, while stricter voting rules reduced the likelihood of municipal default in the 1930s. These rules thus determined not only the degree of debt accumulation in early 20th century cities, but also their infrastructure investment and financial health.
When trust is not enough. A longitudinal analysis of political trust and political competence during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland
Authors: Kestilä-Kekkonen Elina , Koivula Aki , Tiihonen Aino
Published: June 2022

In this study, we explored the longitudinal relationship of political trust and subjective political competence during the COVID-19 outbreak. We also examined how levels of political trust and political competence were associated with compliance with COVID-19 recommendations. We used three-wave panel data including 2,205 observations (N = 735) to study changes within and between individuals from 2017 to 2020. The last round of the survey was conducted at the peak of the first wave of COVID-19. The measures included political trust, subjective political competence, political interest, multiple background variables, and measures for compliance with the social distancing recommendations. We found that Finns’ political trust increased significantly during the first wave of COVID-19. The between-individuals analysis suggested that political competence was negatively associated with trust. The results also indicated that citizens’ compliance with COVID-19 recommendations was directly linked to political trust but depended also on the interaction between competence and trust.
Circular monopole filtering antenna with improved sideband selectivity and in-band impedance using circular-stub-load resonator
Authors: Yang Hailong , Zhang JinSheng , Li Xuping , Li Rongji , Zhang Yunqi , Li Yapeng , Song Xueyan , Shi Xiaomin
Published: June 2022

In the design of the filter antenna, the filter unit with the same structure as the radiation patch not only improves the selectivity of the band edge, but also helps to improve the in-band impedance. In this design, a compact circular monopole filtering antenna with improved sideband selectivity and in-band impedance using a circular-stub-load resonator is proposed. To obtain better sideband selection characteristics and in-band impedance characteristics, and reduce the mismatch problem caused by the introduction of the filter, a branch-loaded filter with the same resonance mode as the antenna radiation patch is designed. In addition, different shape branch loading structures of the bandpass filter are also studied. The experimental results show that when the loading unit of the filter and the radiation structure of the antenna have the same structure, both good in-band impedance characteristics and sideband selectivity characteristics can be obtained from the filter antenna. The antenna reflection coefficient bandwidth is from 3 to 11 GHz (114%), and the maximum reflection coefficient is only −15 dB, showing good in-band impedance characteristics and sideband selection characteristics. The filter antenna realizes the integration of antenna filtering without increasing the size, and the final size of the antenna is 30 × 25 mm2.
Interactions with Standardized Patients to Evaluate Students’ Psychotherapy-Competencies
Authors: Alpers Georg W. , Hengen Kristina M.
Published: June 2022

Abstract. The use of standardized patients (SPs) in the training of prospective practitioners is a well-established didactic tool in medical schools. Only recently have simulations of patients in psychotherapy been introduced into the training of psychologists. By integrating psychotherapy training into university-level master’s programs, German law now requires licensing exams for psychotherapists (i. e., Approbationsprüfung) to include an assessment of therapeutic competencies in simulated interactions with SPs. Yet, it has not been examined whether these simulations are useful for a reliable assessment of competencies in psychotherapy trainees. Also, we need to develop standardized instruments to evaluate competencies in entry-level psychotherapists. As part of a university course, we trained master’s-level students from three cohorts in clinical interviewing techniques (course title: Klinisch-psychologische Gesprächsführung). We analyzed videotaped 20-min sequences of N = 104 students while they interviewed one of N = 38 trained SPs. The students’ task was to interview the SP, conduct a brief case history, and use the interviewing skills they had learned in class. Two independent raters evaluated their psychotherapeutic competencies with an adapted version of the German Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS). Raters evaluated students’ performance on two subscales and the total score with satisfactory interrater agreement (intraclass correlations). In general, students performed well in the interviews: They structured the sessions sufficiently, and their global psychotherapeutic competencies were satisfactory. However, the psychotherapeutic competencies of master’s students fell short of the benchmark derived from experienced psychotherapists. This pilot study provides first evidence that simulated interviews with SPs may be a reliable tool in the assessment of practical competencies in psychotherapy trainees at an early stage of their training. Moreover, we found that the CTS, which has demonstrated validity to quantify competencies of psychotherapists, is applicable and reliable in this training context as well. In sum, this suggests that simulated interviews with SPs may be useful for evaluating psychotherapeutic competencies of psychotherapy trainees.
Motivierende Gesprächsführung mit Simulationspatient_innen lehren und prüfen
Authors: Lück Susanne , Kienle Rolf , Langenbeck Sylke , Sehy Victoria , Freytag Julia
Published: June 2022

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Simulationspatient_innen (SP) werden in der medizinischen Ausbildung zum Erlernen und Prüfen kommunikativer Kompetenzen eingesetzt. Fragestellung: Wie wird Motivierende Gesprächsführung (MI) mit SP an der Charité Berlin gelehrt und geprüft? Methode: MI wird im Modellstudiengang Medizin im 4. Semester gelehrt und im Rahmen einer Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) geprüft. Es wurden Lehr- und Prüfungsevaluationen und die Beobachtungsübereinstimmung erhoben. Die Komplexität von MI erfordert spezielle Methoden für das SP-Training. Ergebnisse: In der Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation gaben 74,5 % der Studierenden und 90 % der Dozierenden an, dass MI-Kompetenzen erworben wurden, in der Prüfungsstation erreichten Studierende einen Leistungsmittelwert von 78 % ( SD = 2.1 %). Die Beobachtungsübereinstimmung lag bei r = .74 ( p = .009), r = .88 ( p < .001) und r = .47 ( p = .091). Die Prüfenden bewerteten die MI-Prüfungsstation überwiegend (sehr) gut. Schlussfolgerungen: MI kann mit SP gelehrt und geprüft werden, birgt aber Herausforderungen für SP-Training und Testkonstruktion.
Glacial Troughs Enhance Shelf/Slope Exchange in the Barotropic Limit
Authors: Hampson Patrick M. , Pringle James M.
Published: June 2022

Glacial troughs are flat‐bottomed, steep‐sided submarine valleys that incise the shelf and significantly alter coastal circulation. We examine how these features drive exchange between the shelf and the slope in the barotropic and linear limits. When the alongshore flow is in the Kelvin‐wave (downwave/downwelling favorable) direction, the troughs move transport from the shelf upwave of the trough to the slope downwave of the trough, diminishing wind‐driven alongshore transport on the shelf downwave of the trough. Conversely, when the alongshore flow is against the Kelvin wave direction (upwave/upwelling favorable), the troughs move transport from the slope downwave of the trough to the shelf upwave of the trough. These cross‐shelf flows are driven by the acceleration and curvature of the flows induced by the narrowing and turning isobaths around the trough, and the bottom friction experienced by these accelerated flows. These dynamics are quantified by examining the along‐isobath evolution of potential vorticity in the model's limits.
A Water Resource Equilibrium Regulation Model Under Water Resource Utilization Conflict: A Case Study in the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Niu Chen , Chang Jianxia , Wang Yimin , Shi Xiaogang , Wang Xuebin , Guo Aijun , Jin Wenting , Zhou Shuai
Published: June 2022

The mismatch between the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of water resources and recent regional socioeconomic development threatens social stability and sustainable development, particularly in river basins affected by water scarcity. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt a water resource regulation model to address these new challenges. Based on the theory of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the Gini coefficient, in this study, a water resource equilibrium regulation model is constructed from the demand side and applied to the Yellow River Basin (YRB). Different from fairness, equilibrium is a stable state under the influence of diversity of interests and other factors. The results show that the model realizes the spatial and temporal equilibrium regulation of water resources. The water supply assurance rates of ecological and agricultural water users increase significantly to 94.1% and 74.3%, respectively. In particular, in dry years, the rigid demands of water users can be well met, and irreversible losses can be avoided. Compared with Scheme 1987, the proportion of water supply for upstream provinces increases to 42.34%, which will contribute to the balanced development of the basin. This model has the potential to be used in a wide range of applications, providing not only theoretical and technical support for the adjustment of Scheme 1987 in the YRB but also a reference for other governments and water resource management institutions around the world.
Adaptive stress response genes associated with breast cancer subtypes and survival outcomes reveal race-related differences
Authors: Al Abo Muthana , Gearhart-Serna Larisa , Van Laere Steven , Freedman Jennifer A. , Patierno Steven R. , Hwang Eun-Sil Shelley. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Williams Kevin P. , Devi Gayathri R.
Published: June 2022

Aggressive breast cancer variants, like triple negative and inflammatory breast cancer, contribute to disparities in survival and clinical outcomes among African American (AA) patients compared to White (W) patients. We previously identified the dominant role of anti-apoptotic protein XIAP in regulating tumor cell adaptive stress response (ASR) that promotes a hyperproliferative, drug resistant phenotype. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified 46–88 ASR genes that are differentially expressed (2-fold-change and adjustedp-value < 0.05) depending on PAM50 breast cancer subtype. On average, 20% of all 226 ASR genes exhibited race-related differential expression. These genes were functionally relevant in cell cycle, DNA damage response, signal transduction, and regulation of cell death-related processes. Moreover, 23% of the differentially expressed ASR genes were associated with AA and/or W breast cancer patient survival. These identified genes represent potential therapeutic targets to improve breast cancer outcomes and mitigate associated health disparities.
An integrated and robust plant pulse monitoring system based on biomimetic wearable sensor
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Chi , Wu Xinyue , Ping Jianfeng , Ying Yibin
Published: June 2022

Plant wearable sensors have potential to provide continuous measurements of plant physiological information. However, stable and high-fidelity monitoring of plants with glandular hairs and wax is challenging, due to lacking interface adaptability of conventional plant wearable sensors. Here, inspired by adaptive winding plant tendrils, an integrated plant wearable system (IPWS) based on adaptive winding strain (AWS) sensor for plant pulse monitoring was developed. The IPWS consists of three modules, i.e. an AWS sensor, a flexible printed circuit, and a smart phone APP display interface. As the key element, the AWS sensor can adaptively wrap around the tomato stem. Importantly, with the serpentine-patterned laser-induced graphene, the AWS sensor exhibits excellent resistance to temperature interference with a temperature resistance coefficient of 0.17/°C. The IPWS is demonstrated to be stable and high-fidelity monitoring the plant pulse, which can reflect the growth and water state of tomato plant in real time.
Effects of MAO-B inhibitors on non-motor symptoms and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review
Authors: Tsuboi Takashi , Satake Yuki , Hiraga Keita , Yokoi Katsunori , Hattori Makoto , Suzuki Masashi , Hara Kazuhiro , Ramirez-Zamora Adolfo , Okun Michael S. , Katsuno Masahisa
Published: June 2022

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are common among patients with Parkinson’s disease and reduce patients’ quality of life (QOL). However, there remain considerable unmet needs for NMS management. Three monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (MAO-BIs), selegiline, rasagiline, and safinamide, have become commercially available in many countries. Although an increasing number of studies have reported potential beneficial effects of MAO-BIs on QOL and NMS, there has been no consensus. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to provide an up-to-date systematic review of the QOL and NMS outcomes from the available clinical studies of MAO-BIs. We conducted a literature search using the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases in November 2021. We identified 60 publications relevant to this topic. Overall, rasagiline and safinamide had more published evidence on QOL and NMS changes compared with selegiline. This was likely impacted by selegiline being introduced many years prior to the field embarking on the study of NMS. The impact of MAO-BIs on QOL was inconsistent across studies, and this was unlikely to be clinically meaningful. MAO-BIs may potentially improve depression, sleep disturbances, and pain. In contrast, cognitive and olfactory dysfunctions are likely unresponsive to MAO-BIs. Given the paucity of evidence and controlled, long-term studies, the effects of MAO-BIs on fatigue, autonomic dysfunctions, apathy, and ICD remain unclear. The effects of MAO-BIs on static and fluctuating NMS have never been investigated systematically. More high-quality studies will be needed and should enable clinicians to provide personalized medicine based on a non-motor symptom profile.
Global Tonga tsunami explained by a fast-moving atmospheric source
Authors: Omira R. , Ramalho R. S. , Kim J. , González P. J. , Kadri U. , Miranda J. M. , Carrilho F. , Baptista M. A.
Published: June 2022

Volcanoes can produce tsunamis by means of earthquakes, caldera and flank collapses, pyroclastic flows or underwater explosions1–4. These mechanisms rarely displace enough water to trigger transoceanic tsunamis. Violent volcanic explosions, however, can cause global tsunamis1,5by triggering acoustic-gravity waves6–8that excite the atmosphere–ocean interface. The colossal eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano and ensuing tsunami is the first global volcano-triggered tsunami recorded by modern, worldwide dense instrumentation, thus providing a unique opportunity to investigate the role of air–water-coupling processes in tsunami generation and propagation. Here we use sea-level, atmospheric and satellite data from across the globe, along with numerical and analytical models, to demonstrate that this tsunami was driven by a constantly moving source in which the acoustic-gravity waves radiating from the eruption excite the ocean and transfer energy into it by means of resonance. A direct correlation between the tsunami and the acoustic-gravity waves’ arrival times confirms that these phenomena are closely linked. Our models also show that the unusually fast travel times and long duration of the tsunami, as well as its global reach, are consistent with an air–water-coupled source. This coupling mechanism has clear hazard implications, as it leads to higher waves along land masses that rise abruptly from long stretches of deep ocean waters.
Development of a Flame Retardant and an Organohalogen Flame Retardant Chemical Inventory
Authors: Bevington Charles , Williams Antony J. , Guider Colin , Baker Nancy C. , Meyer Brian , Babich Michael A. , Robinson Sayon , Jones Ann , Phillips Katherine A.
Published: June 2022

There have been many attempts to compile comprehensive lists of flame retardants. However, this goal has proven challenging due to the heterogeneity of compounds that can be used as flame retardants coupled with changes in formulation chemistry over time. Flame retardants have been the focus of many recent existing hazard, exposure, and risk assessments. These assessments have been class-based or for individual chemical substances. Here, diverse sets of publicly available data sources from governmental organizations and the open literature were compiled to develop an inventory of chemicals used as flame retardants and organohalogen flame retardants. The chemical substances from these data sources were mapped to appropriate chemical identifiers via manual curation and deduplicated. Despite different data sources containing a large number of overlapping chemical substances, compiling information from multiple data sources was found to increase the breadth of potential flame retardant chemistries. The flame retardant and organohalogen flame retardant inventories were developed as a resource for scientists interested in better understanding properties of flame retardant and organohalogen flame retardant classes.
Chemoautotrophy, symbiosis and sedimented diatoms support high biomass of benthic molluscs in the Namibian shelf
Authors: Amorim K. , Loick-Wilde N. , Yuen B. , Osvatic J. T. , Wäge-Recchioni J. , Hausmann B. , Petersen J. M. , Fabian J. , Wodarg D. , Zettler M. L.
Published: June 2022

The molluscs Lucinoma capensis, Lembulus bicuspidatus and Nassarius vinctus are highly abundant in Namibian oxygen minimum zone sediments. To understand which nutritional strategies allow them to reach such impressive abundances in this extreme habitat we investigated their trophic diversity, including a chemosymbiosis in L. capensis, focussing on nitrogen biochemical pathways of the symbionts. We combined results of bulk nitrogen and carbon (δ13C and δ15N) and of compound-specific isotope analyses of amino acid nitrogen (AAs—δ15NPhe and δ15NGlu), with 16S rRNA gene sequencing of L. capensis tissues and also with exploratory results of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite turnover. The trophic position (TP) of the bivalve L. capensis is placed between autotrophy and mixotrophy, consistent with its proposed symbiosis with sulfur-oxidizing Candidatus Thiodiazotropha sp. symbionts. The symbionts are here revealed to perform nitrate reduction and ammonium uptake, with clear indications of ammonium host-symbionts recycling, but surprisingly unable to fix nitrogen. The TP of the bivalve L. bicuspidatus is placed in between mixotrophy and herbivory. The TP of the gastropod N. vinctus reflected omnivory. Multiple lines of evidences in combination with current ecosystem knowledge point to sedimented diatoms as important components of L. bicuspidatus and N. vinctus’ diet, likely supplemented at times with chemoautotrophic bacteria. This study highlights the importance of benthic-pelagic coupling that fosters the dietary base for macrozoobenthos in the OMZ. It further unveils that, in contrast to all shallow water lucinid symbionts, deeper water lucinid symbionts rely on ammonium assimilation rather than dinitrogen fixation to obtain nitrogen for growth.
Estimating the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany via spline-based hierarchical modelling of death counts
Authors: Wistuba Tobias , Mayr Andreas , Staerk Christian
Published: June 2022

We consider a retrospective modelling approach for estimating effective reproduction numbers based on death counts during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The proposed Bayesian hierarchical model incorporates splines to estimate reproduction numbers flexibly over time while adjusting for varying effective infection fatality rates. The approach also provides estimates of dark figures regarding undetected infections. Results for Germany illustrate that our estimates based on death counts are often similar to classical estimates based on confirmed cases; however, considering death counts allows to disentangle effects of adapted testing policies from transmission dynamics. In particular, during the second wave of infections, classical estimates suggest a flattening infection curve following the “lockdown light” in November 2020, while our results indicate that infections continued to rise until the “second lockdown” in December 2020. This observation is associated with more stringent testing criteria introduced concurrently with the “lockdown light”, which is reflected in subsequently increasing dark figures of infections estimated by our model. In light of progressive vaccinations, shifting the focus from modelling confirmed cases to reported deaths with the possibility to incorporate effective infection fatality rates might be of increasing relevance for the future surveillance of the pandemic.
Machine learning molecular dynamics simulations toward exploration of high-temperature properties of nuclear fuel materials: case study of thorium dioxide
Authors: Kobayashi Keita , Okumura Masahiko , Nakamura Hiroki , Itakura Mitsuhiro , Machida Masahiko , Cooper Michael W. D.
Published: June 2022

Predicting materials properties of nuclear fuel compounds is a challenging task in materials science. Their thermodynamical behaviors around and above the operational temperature are essential for the design of nuclear reactors. However, they are not easy to measure, because the target temperature range is too high to perform various standard experiments safely and accurately. Moreover, theoretical methods such as first-principles calculations also suffer from the computational limitations in calculating thermodynamical properties due to their high calculation-costs and complicated electronic structures stemming from f-orbital occupations of valence electrons in actinide elements. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, machine-learning molecular-dynamics to theoretically explore high-temperature thermodynamical properties of a nuclear fuel material, thorium dioxide. The target compound satisfies first-principles calculation accuracy because f-electron occupation coincidentally diminishes and the scheme meets sampling sufficiency because it works at the computational cost of classical molecular-dynamics levels. We prepare a set of training data using first-principles molecular dynamics with small number of atoms, which cannot directly evaluate thermodynamical properties but captures essential atomistic dynamics at the high temperature range. Then, we construct a machine-learning molecular-dynamics potential and carry out large-scale molecular-dynamics calculations. Consequently, we successfully access two kinds of thermodynamic phase transitions, namely the melting and the anomalous $$\lambda$$
λ
transition induced by large diffusions of oxygen atoms. Furthermore, we quantitatively reproduce various experimental data in the best agreement manner by selecting a density functional scheme known as SCAN. Our results suggest that the present scale-up simulation-scheme using machine-learning techniques opens up a new pathway on theoretical studies of not only nuclear fuel compounds, but also a variety of similar materials that contain both heavy and light elements, like thorium dioxide.
PI3K/Akt pathway mediates the positive inotropic effects of insulin in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts
Authors: Nakadate Yosuke , Kawakami Akiko , Sato Hiroaki , Sato Tamaki , Oguchi Takeshi , Omiya Keisuke , Matsuoka Toru , Schricker Thomas , Matsukawa Takashi
Published: June 2022

Insulin exerts positive inotropic effects on cardiac muscle; however, the relationship between cardiac contractility and phosphoinositol-3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) activation remains unclear. We hypothesized that the positive inotropic effects of insulin are dose-dependent and mediated via the PI3K/Akt pathway in isolated normal rat hearts. The Institutional Animal Investigation Committee approved the use of hearts excised from rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. The hearts were perfused at a constant pressure using the Langendorff technique. After stabilization (baseline), the hearts were randomly divided into the following four insulin (Ins) groups: 1) Ins0 (0 IU/L), 2) Ins0.5 (0.5 IU/L), 3) Ins5 (5 IU/L), and 4) Ins50 (50 IU/L) (n = 8 in each group). To clarify the role of the PI3K/Akt pathway in insulin-dependent inotropic effects, we also treated the insulin groups with the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (InsW): 5) InsW0 (0 IU/L), 6) InsW0.5 (0.5 IU/L), 7) InsW5 (5 IU/L), and 8) InsW50 (50 IU/L). Hearts were perfused with Krebs–Henseleit buffer solution with or without wortmannin for 10 min, followed by 20 min perfusion with the solution containing each concentration of insulin. The data were recorded as the maximum left ventricular derivative of pressure development (LV dP/dt max). Myocardial p-Akt levels were measured at 3 min, 5 min, and at the end of the perfusion. In the Ins groups, LV dP/dt max in Ins5 and Ins50 increased by 14% and 48%, respectively, 3 min after insulin perfusion compared with the baseline. Tachyphylaxis was observed after 10 min in the Ins5 and Ins50 treatment groups. Wortmannin partially inhibited the positive inotropic effect of insulin; although insulin enhanced p-Akt levels at all time points compared with the control group, this increase was suppressed in the presence of wortmannin. The positive inotropic effect of insulin is dose-dependent and consistent with Akt activation. This effect mediated by high doses of insulin on cardiac tissue was temporary and caused tachyphylaxis, potentially triggered by Akt overactivation, which leads beta 1 deactivation.
Investigation of maternal and perinatal outcome in a population of Iranian pregnant women infected with COVID-19
Authors: Saleh Gargari Soraya , Rahmati Nayyereh , Fateh Reyhaneh , Khandani Ayda , Nikfar Somayeh , Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh
Published: June 2022

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in pregnant women might affect both maternal and neonatal outcomes. Based on the inconsistency between the results of the previous studies and the lack of data about the possible vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, we designed the present study to investigate the maternal and perinatal outcomes in 182 Iranian pregnant women infected with COVID-19. Among 40 PCR tests conducted on neonatal throat samples, 11 tests were positive. Among the assessed women, 22 women needed ICU admission and 30 premature labors occurred. There were significant associations between ICU admission and many parameters such as the presence of dyspnea (P < 0.001), COVID-19-related CT scan findings (P = 0.003), need for a ventilator (P < 0.001), and low O2 saturation (P < 0.001), all of which indicate the critical situation of patients. Notably, the cause of delivery was significantly different in both groups, with labor pain and fetal distress being the most frequent causes of delivery in non-ICU and ICU-admitted patients, respectively. Moreover, delivery route (P = 0.003), frequencies of IUGR (P = 0.042), neonatal death (P = 0.008) and asphyxia (P = 0.016), Apgar score (P = 0.003), and gestational age at delivery (P = 0.009) have been associated with ICU admission. The present investigation exhibits association between the critical situation of pregnant women affected with COVID-19 and some adverse neonatal outcomes.
Fleshy red algae mats act as temporary reservoirs for sessile invertebrate biodiversity
Authors: El-Khaled Yusuf C. , Daraghmeh Nauras , Tilstra Arjen , Roth Florian , Huettel Markus , Rossbach Felix I. , Casoli Edoardo , Koester Anna , Beck Milan , Meyer Raïssa , Plewka Julia , Schmidt Neele , Winkelgrund Lisa , Merk Benedikt , Wild Christian
Published: June 2022

Many coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows, currently experience overgrowth by fleshy algae due to the interplay of local and global stressors. This is usually accompanied by strong decreases in habitat complexity and biodiversity. Recently, persistent, mat-forming fleshy red algae, previously described for the Black Sea and several Atlantic locations, have also been observed in the Mediterranean. These several centimetre high mats may displace seagrass meadows and invertebrate communities, potentially causing a substantial loss of associated biodiversity. We show that the sessile invertebrate biodiversity in these red algae mats is high and exceeds that of neighbouring seagrass meadows. Comparative biodiversity indices were similar to or higher than those recently described for calcifying green algae habitats and biodiversity hotspots like coral reefs or mangrove forests. Our findings suggest that fleshy red algae mats can act as alternative habitats and temporary sessile invertebrate biodiversity reservoirs in times of environmental change.
Metastable intermediate during hIAPP aggregation catalyzed by membranes as detected with 2D IR spectroscopy
Authors: Dicke Sidney S. , Maj Michał , Fields Caitlyn R. , Zanni Martin T.
Published: June 2022

2D IR and 13C18O isotope labeling establish that amyloid formation of hIAPP catalyzed by membranes includes a metastable intermediate with a similar structure at G24A25 in the FGAIL region as the corresponding intermediate in solution.
A liquid metal catalyst for the conversion of ethanol into graphitic carbon layers under an ultrasonic cavitation field
Authors: Kawasaki Hideya , Otsuki Tomoko , Sugino Fumiya , Yamamoto Ken , Tokunaga Tomoharu , Tokura Rintaro , Yonezawa Tetsu
Published: June 2022

Eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) liquid metal acts as a catalyst for the growth of a graphitic carbon layer from ethanol under ultrasonication.
Site-selective iodine atom transfer in fluorinated alkyl iodides via 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer
Authors: Abe Masahiro , Yokoi Yuka , Hirata Aoi , Matsuoka Yumeno , Kimachi Tetsutaro , Inamoto Kiyofumi
Published: June 2022

The direct and selective functionalization of inert C–H bonds via intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) is a powerful tool in organic synthesis. Herein, we designed an efficient iodine atom transfer in fluorinated alkyl iodides via 1,5-HAT.
Chiral CuS nanoparticles and their photothermal properties
Authors: Gu Yarong , Wang Wenhe , Gao Chenqi , Feng Lingyan , Wu Jinbo , Zhao Lijuan
Published: June 2022

Chiral CuS NPs were prepared through a ligand-exchange process and CPL-controlled photothermal performance was realized.
Improvement of the hydrogen storage performance of t-graphene-like two-dimensional boron nitride upon selected lithium decoration
Authors: EL Kassaoui Majid , Lakhal Marwan , Benyoussef Abdelilah , El Kenz Abdallah , Loulidi Mohammed , Mounkachi Omar
Published: June 2022

Lithium decoration enhances the hydrogen storage capacities, reversibility and diffusion kinetics of t-boron nitride monolayer.
A theoretical study of the role of the non-innocent phenolate ligand of a nickel complex in water oxidation
Authors: Fan Ting , Ji Yongfei
Published: June 2022

A new O–O formation pathway for WOC is found.