bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Untersuchung zur Ausbreitung und Entwicklung der alveolären Echinokokkose in Deutschland, 1992–2018
Authors: Kwiedor Isabelle , Kratzer Wolfgang , Schlingeloff Patrycja , Schmidberger Julian
Published: December 2021

Ziel der Studie Die alveoläre Echinokokkose (AE) ist eine seltene Parasitose verursacht durch den Erreger Echinococcus multilocularis. In vielen Ländern wird ein Anstieg der Fallzahlen beobachtet. Ziel der Arbeit ist die Untersuchung der aktuellen Prävalenz und der Veränderung des geographische Verteilungsmusters.

Methodik Die Datenerhebung erfolgte retrospektiv für den Zeitraum 1992–2018 anhand der registrierten Fälle im nationalen Erkrankungsregistern für die AE in Deutschland. Die statistische Analyse erfolgte mittels dem statistischen Auswertungssystem SAS Version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C., USA).

Ergebnisse Das Untersuchungskollektiv von n=569 Patienten umfasste n=322 (56,59%) Frauen und n=247 (43,40%) Männer. Das mittleres Durchschnittsalter der Patienten mit alveolärer Echinokokkose bei Erstvorstellung betrug 53,90±17,54 Jahre (Median: 56,00 Jahre). Die Moran’s I Teststatistik ergab für den Zeitraum 1992–2018 eine positive räumliche Autokorrelation entsprechend einer heterogenen Verteilung der Erkrankungsfälle in Deutschland (I=0,4165; Z=10,9591, p=0,001). Für den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum (1992–2018) konnte ein Anstieg der alters- und geschlechtsspezifischen Prävalenz ermittelt werden. Die Gesamtprävalenz im Zeitraum 1992–2018 lag bei 0,71 Erkrankungsfälle pro 100 000 Einwohner. Die Ermittlung der Prävalenz für den Zeitraum 1992–2018 ergab für Männern 0,31 Fälle, für Frauen 0,40 Fälle pro 100 000 Einwohner. Im Zeitraum von 1992–1996 waren in 11/16 (68,8%) Bundesländern (Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein und Thüringen) noch keine AE-Fälle registriert worden. Die Auswertung zeigt jüngst ein vermehrtes vorkommen von Fällen in den Bundesländern Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz und Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Schlussfolgerungen Die Analyse zeigt einen Anstieg der Prävalenz sowie zunehmend vermehrt Erkrankungsfälle außerhalb der klassischen Hauptendemiegebiete Baden-Württemberg und Bayern.
Mit Aromatherapie die Stimmung aufhellen
Authors: Gündling Andrea
Published: December 2021

Ätherische Öle können Körper und Geist beleben. Es gibt vielfältige Möglichkeiten, wie sie zur Anwendung kommen.
Emotionsarbeit im Arbeitsfeld der niedrigschwelligen Drogenhilfe: Bedeutung und Gestaltung von Emotionsregulation in eskalativen Interaktionsprozessen mit der Einrichtungsklientel
Authors: Fais Jürgen
Published: December 2021

Die vorliegende Publikation befasst sich mit der Emotionsarbeit im Kontext der niedrigschwelligen Drogenhilfe.

Zunächst wird das Emotions-Regulations-Modell nach Alicia Grandey vorgestellt, um dieses dann auf das Arbeitsfeld der niedrigschwelligen Drogenhilfe zu übertragen. Zwei praktische Fallbeispiele veranschaulichen diese theoretischen Ausführungen.

Dabei wird deutlich, dass sowohl die Klientel als auch die Mitarbeiter in den Einrichtungen der niedrigschwelligen Drogenhilfe Emotionsarbeit betreiben und dabei so manchen Widrigkeiten entgegenarbeiten müssen. So hat die Klientel unter anderem mit Traumata und deren Folgen oder dem Einfluss psychoaktiver Substanzen zu kämpfen, während die Mitarbeiter Emotionsanforderungen (display rules) der Organisation zu erfüllen haben sowie durch die permanente Konfrontation mit Leid und Elend häufig Überforderungsreaktionen zeigen.

Die entstehende kommunikative und emotionale Dysbalance muss durch Emotionsregulation von beiden Parteien immer wieder konfiguriert werden, um sich sicher und erfolgreich miteinander verständigen zu können.
Tyrosin plus Vitamin C – ein mögliches nutritiv-präventives Konzept beim Morbus Parkinson im Frühstadium
Authors: Bruchelt Gernot , Kuçi Zyrafete , Schmidt Karlheinz
Published: December 2021

Zur Therapie der Parkinson-Erkrankung wird meist die Vorstufe des Dopamins, L-DOPA, eingesetzt, was allerdings längerfristig zu einem vermehrten oxidativen Stress führen kann. Daher erscheint es sinnvoll, mit der DOPA-Therapie verzögert zu beginnen. Ein nutritiv-präventives Ernährungskonzept könnte einerseits die endogene Dopamin-Produktion fördern und gleichzeitig den oxidativen Stress reduzieren.
Avaliação dos ligamentos acromioclavicular, coracoclaviculares e coracoclavicular medial na luxação acromioclavicular
Authors: Filho Rômulo Brasil , Freitas Marcelo Mamede de , Nunes Rafael Henrique Rangel , Tenor Junior Antonio Carlos , Costa Miguel Pereira da , Roberto Rodrigo de Araújo
Published: December 2021

Objetivo Estudar a anatomia do ligamento coracoclavicular medial e avaliar a contribuição do ligamento acromioclavicular, coracoclaviculares e coracoclavicular medial na estabilidade da articulação acromioclavicular.

Métodos Foram dissecados 26 ombros de 16 cadáveres frescos, posicionados em decúbito dorso-horizontal, com um coxim de 15 cm de altura entre as escápulas. Realizou-se uma via deltopeitoral estendida proximal e medialmente. Realizou-se dissecção por planos e identificação dos ligamentos. Realizou a medida da distância acromio-clavicular e coracoclavicular usando pontos previamente demarcados com paquímetro milimetrado. Em seis dessas amostras foi realizado estudo biomecânico. Seccionando, nesta ordem, o ligamento acromioclavicular, os coracoclaviculares e o ligamento coracoclavicular medial com uma força cefálica de 20N foi aplicada na clavícula lateral. Foi medida a distância acromio-clavicular e coracoclavicular em cada uma das etapas de secção dos ligamentos.

Resultados A média de comprimento do ligamento coracoclavicular medial foi de 48,9mm e a média de largura, de 18,3mm no lado direito. No esquerdo, a média de comprimento foi de 48,65mm e a média da largura, 17,3mm. Após a secção dos ligamentos acromioclaviculares, coracoclaviculares, com a secção do ligamento coracoclavicular medial houve aumento estatisticamente significativo da distância córaco-clavicular e um deslocamento posterior da escápula.

Conclusão O ligamento coracoclavicular medial é uma estrutura ligamentar verdadeira, presente em todos os ombros dissecados. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o ligamento coracoclavicular medial encontra-se relaxado com a escápula em protração e tenso com a escápula em retração e segundo nossos resultados participa tanto da estabilidade vertical quanto da estabilidade horizontal da articulação acromioclavicular.
Pé torto congênito – O método Ponseti é a solução definitiva?
Authors: Cordeiro Felippi Guizardi , Macedo Rodrigo Sousa , Massa Bruno Sérgio Ferreira , Grangeiro Patricia Moreno , Godoy-Santos Alexandre Leme , Fernandes Túlio Diniz
Published: December 2021

O pé torto congênito é uma das deformidades mais comuns ao nascimento. A inadequação ou ausência do tratamento provoca sérias limitações aos portadores desta condição. O tratamento inicial pelo método Ponseti garante resultados funcionais superiores a outras modalidades de tratamento propostas anteriormente, porém as recidivas e os pés negligenciados ainda são um desafio na atualidade. O entendimento da fisiopatologia da doença, da anatomia e biomecânica local e uma minuciosa avaliação clínica e radiológica dos pacientes são imprescindíveis para entendermos o limite do método e escolhermos o melhor tratamento.
Effectiveness of Counseling for Infertile Couples on Women's Emotional Disturbance: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Sorkhani Tayebeh Mokhtari , Ahmadi Atefeh , Mirzaee Moghaddameh , Habibzadeh Victoria , Alidousti Katayoun
Published: December 2021

Objective The psychosocial burden of infertility among couples can be one of the most important reasons for women's emotional disturbance. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of counseling on different emotional aspects of infertile women.

Methods The present randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 couples with primary infertility who were referred for treatment for the first time and did not receive psychiatric or psychological treatment. Samples were allocated to an intervention group (30 couples) and a control group (30 couples) by simple randomization. The intervention group received infertility counseling for 6 45-minute sessions twice a week, and the control group received routine care. The Screening on Distress in Fertility Treatment (SCREENIVF) questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention. Samples were collected from November to December 2016 for 3 months. For the data analysis, we used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States) software, version 19.0, and the paired t-test, the independent t-test, the Mann-Whitney test, the Wilcoxon test, and the Chi-squared test.

Results The mean age of the participants was 33.39 ± 5.67 years. All studied couples had primary infertility and no children. The mean duration of the couples' infertility was 3 years. There was a significant difference regarding depression (1.55 ± 1.92; p < 0.0001), social support (15.73 ± 3.41; p < 0.0001), and cognitions regarding domains of fertility problems (26.48 ± 3.05; p = 0.001) between the 2 groups after the intervention, but there was no significant difference regarding anxiety (25.03 ± 3.09; p = 0.35).

Conclusion The findings showed that infertility counseling did not affect the total score of infertile women' emotional status, but improved the domains of it except, anxiety.
Acute Abdomen—A Clinical Presentation of MIS-C in Children
Authors: Gün Emrah , Kendirli Tanıl , Botan Edin , Demir Berrin , Ergün Ergun , Özdemir Halil , Fitoz Ömer Suat , Ciftci Ergin , Tutar Ercan
Published: December 2021

Objective Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is characterized by persistent fever, systemic hyperinflammation, and multiple-organ dysfunction. There are a few reports about MIS-C presenting with acute abdomen. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for MIS-C-related acute abdomen and appendicitis.

Methods This was a retrospective study conducted between April 2020 and October 2020 in our pediatric intensive care unit in Turkey. Patients between the ages of 1 month and 18 years who presented with acute abdomen and were ultimately diagnosed with MIS-C were included.

Results Seven patients with a median age of 12.5 (interquartile range 10.5–13) years were enrolled. Four were females. The most frequent symptoms were fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three patients had involvement of the appendix that required surgical intervention. All pathology reports were compatible with appendicitis. The other patients also had an acute abdomen. One patient had malignant hyperthermia during induction of anesthesia, so surgery was postponed and medical management was commenced. The clinical picture regressed with immunomodulation. All patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids. Four patients with acute abdomens improved with immunomodulation, and surgery was not needed.

Conclusion MIS-C may present with an acute abdomen. Immunomodulation should be considered instead of surgery if the clinical course is not complicated.
Triatleta com múltiplas fraturas por estresse nos membros inferiores: Relato de um caso e revisão da literatura
Authors: Mendes Junior Adriano Fernando , Tabet Caio Gomes , Mendes Samuel Lopes , Abreu Marcus da Matta , Figueirêdo Nathália Carvalho de
Published: December 2021

Fraturas por estresse recorrentes num mesmo atleta são raras. Apresentamos o caso de uma triatleta que sofreu múltiplas fraturas por estresse na tíbia bilateral, na fíbula direita e no colo femoral esquerdo. O tratamento conservador foi instituído em todos os episódios, com repouso, redução da carga de treino e reabilitação fisioterápica. Foi identificada como fator de risco a síndrome da deficiência energética relativa no esporte, com distúrbio alimentar, sobrecarga de treino e osteopenia. Mesmo que seja raro, múltiplas fraturas por estresse podem ocorrer em mulheres triatletas, nas quais é importante avaliar os fatores de risco associados à biomecânica, nutrição e ao treinamento para arquitetar um programa de prevenção e tratamento efetivos.
Association of Overweight and Consistent Anovulation among Infertile Women with Regular Menstrual Cycle: A Case-control Study
Authors: Giviziez Christiane Ricaldoni , Sanchez Eliane Gouveia de Morais , Lima Yanna Andressa Ramos de , Approbato Mário Silva
Published: December 2021

Objective It has been suggested that excess body weight could represent a risk factor for infertility outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of overweight and anovulation among infertile women with regular menstrual cycles.

Methods We conducted a retrospective case-control study with consistently anovulatory patients undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. The patients were stratified into normal weight (body mass index [BMI]: 18.5–24.9kg/m2) and overweight (BMI: 25.0–29.9kg/m2).Those with polycystic ovary syndrome or obesity were excluded. The groups were matched for age, duration of infertility, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thydroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol levels.

Results Overweight was significantly associated with anovulation, when using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for anovulation: progesterone levels > 5.65 ng/ml and ultrasonography evidence of follicle collapse (odds ratio [OR]: 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI95%]: 1.04–6.98).

Conclusion Body mass index above the normal range jeopardizes ovulation among non-obese infertile women with regular menstrual cycles.
Perinatal Outcomes and Factors Associated with Ethnic Group in cases of Preterm Birth: the Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth in Brazil
Authors: Fernandes Karayna Gil , Souza Renato Teixeira , Passini Renato , Tedesco Ricardo Porto , Cecatti José Guilherme
Published: December 2021

Objective To investigate the characteristics of women who had preterm birth (PTB) and related outcomes according to ethnicity.

Methods A secondary analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil. Women who had PTB were classified by self-report as white and non-white. Clinical, pregnancy, and maternal data were collected through postpartum interviews and reviews of medical charts. The sociodemographic, obstetric and clinical characteristics of the women, as well as the mode of delivery and the neonatal outcomes among different ethnic groups were compared through a bivariate analysis.

Results Of the 4,150 women who had PTB, 2,317 (55.8%) were non-white, who were more likely: to be younger than 19 years of age (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.01–1.09); to be without a partner; to live on low income; to have lower levels of schooling; to have ≥ 2 children; to perform strenuous work; to be from the Northeastern region of Brazil rather than the from Southern region; to have a history of ≥ 3 deliveries; to have an interpregnancy interval < 12 months; to have pregnancy complications such as abortion, PTB, preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), and low birth weight; to initiate antenatal care (ANC) visits in the second or third trimesters; to have have an inadequate number of ANC visits; to be under continuous overexertion; to smoke in the first and second or third trimesters; and to have anemia and gestational hypertension. The maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ between the groups, except for the higher rate of low birth weight (73.7% versus 69.0%) in infants born to non-white women, and the higher rate of seizures (4.05% versus 6.29%) in infants born to white women.

Conclusion Unfavorable conditions were more common in non-whites than in whites. Proper policies are required to decrease inequalities, especially in the context of prematurity, when women and their neonates have specific needs.
Smart transformable nanoparticles for enhanced tumor theranostics
Authors: Chen Jinjin , Jiang Zhongyu , Zhang Yu Shrike , Ding Jianxun , Chen Xuesi
Published: December 2021

The physical morphologies of nanoparticles, especially size and shape, always significantly influence their biological behaviors. In the past, nanoparticles with constant physical morphologies have been widely investigated and applied in tumor theranostics. With the increased in-depth knowledge of tumors and physiological microenvironments, nanoparticles are required to self-adjust their physical morphologies during their circulation in varying physiological microenvironments and when reaching tumor site that possess distinct microenvironments. Therefore, smart transformable nanomaterials, which can alter their morphologies under different physiological conditions, show great potential in advanced tumor theranostics. This review summarizes the influence of nanoparticles' physical morphologies on their biological behaviors under different physiological conditions, highlights the designs of transformable nanoparticles serving as a guideline for their construction, intensively discusses the recent biomedical applications of these smart transformable nanoparticles for tumor theranostics, and also proposes future challenges and perspectives in the development of smart transformable nanoparticles for tumor theranostics.
Longitudinal instability of the proton ignitor beam in a contaminated DT plasma
Authors: Khoshbinfar Soheil , Esmaeilpour Hanieh
Published: December 2021

In this study, in the framework of hydrodynamics and kinetic models, the growth rate of longitudinal instability in a proton beam-DT fuel plasma system with carbon contamination has been numerically studied. Accordingly, the effect of the relative density of impurity ion on the position and height of the two-stream peak has been investigated. It is observed that in the cold fluid model of diluted incident beam regime, an increase in the relative concentration of carbon ions in the admissible ignition interval decreases the instability rapidly. This feature is more noticeable in the context of the kinetic model. Finally, it is concluded that the thermal effects of the igniting plasma, as well as the small fraction of carbon impurities mixed in DT plasma, will suppress the two-stream peak in the proton beam transport faster than usual.
Correlating carrier lifetime with device design and photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Fu Shiqiang , Wang Jiahao , Huang Like , Liu Xiaohui , Zhang Jing , Hu Ziyang , Zhu Yuejin
Published: December 2021

Efficient electron transport layer-free perovskite solar cells (ETL-free PSCs) are promising designs because they offer low-cost, simpler device configuration and greatly promote the large area flexible application of PSCs. Meanwhile, compared to traditional PSCs with ETL, the development of ETL-free PSCs is hindered by their low performance due to serious interfacial energy loss. Herein, we reveal that ETL-free devices with relatively low carrier lifetimes of perovskite films exhibit more substantial photogenerated carrier loss, resulting in a lower electron-injection rate at the FTO (fluorine-containing tin oxide)/perovskite interface, which is mainly responsible for the performance loss. Moreover, we demonstrate that improving the carrier lifetimes of perovskite films can remedy the poor carrier extraction efficiency at the FTO/perovskite interface through three typical perovskite films. Similarly, for all-inorganic perovskite with lower carrier lifetime and hole transport layer-free devices, prolonging carrier lifetime may be an important measure to improve the device performance. Benefiting from this discovery, increasing the carrier lifetime of the perovskite films can counterbalance the inferior device interfaces, endowing the ETL-free PSCs with high performance close to that of the ETL devices. Our research provides insights into ETL-free PSCs and offers opportunities for high-performance ETL-free PSC device design.
A tale of two vectors: A Lanczos algorithm for calculating RPA mean excitation energies
Authors: Zamok Luna , Coriani Sonia , Sauer Stephan P. A.
Published: December 2021

The experimental and theoretical determination of the mean excitation energy, I(0), and the stopping power, S(v), of a material is of great interest in particle and material physics and radiation therapy. For calculations of I(0), the complete set of electronic transitions in a given basis set is required, effectively limiting such calculations to systems with a small number of electrons, even at the random-phase approximation (RPA)/time-dependent Hartree–Fock (TDHF) or time-dependent density-functional theory level. To overcome such limitations, we present here the implementation of a Lanczos algorithm adapted for the paired RPA/TDHF eigenvalue problem in the Dalton program and show that it provides good approximation of the entire RPA eigenspectra in a reduced space. We observe rapid convergence of I(0) with the number of Lanczos vectors as the algorithm favors the transitions with large contributions. In most cases, the algorithm recovers RPA I(0) values of up to 0.5% accuracy at less than a quarter of the full space size. The algorithm not only exploits the RPA paired structure to save computational resources but also preserves certain sum-over-states properties, as first demonstrated by Johnson et al. [Comput. Phys. Commun. 120, 155 (1999)]. The block Lanczos RPA solver, as presented here, thus shows promise for computing mean excitation energies for systems larger than what was computationally feasible before.
Constrained large-eddy simulation of a spatially evolving supersonic turbulent boundary layer at M = 2.25
Authors: Ji Yongchao , Jiang Zhou , Xia Zhenhua , Chen Shiyi
Published: December 2021

A spatially developing supersonic flat plate boundary layer flow at M∞=2.25 is analyzed using the constrained large-eddy simulation (CLES) method. The Reynolds number based on the momentum thickness of the inlet boundary layer is Reθ=3429. The mean and statistical quantities, including mean velocity, mean temperature, and total temperature, are obtained and compared among the present approach, large eddy simulation (LES) with the dynamic Smagorinsky model, detached eddy simulation (DES), and naturally developed direct numerical simulation (ND-DNS). As a result, CLES can predict these mean quantities and statistics more accurately than LES and DES, and the results are in good agreement with the ND-DNS data. This demonstrates that CLES is an effective method for spatially developing supersonic flat-plate boundary layer flows.
Design of a
β
-SiAlON:Eu based phosphor-in-glass film with high saturation threshold for high-luminance laser-driven backlighting
Authors: Xu Jian , Jiang Zhi , Gu Wen , Chen Xinrong , Pang Shiqing , Hu Baofu , Du Baoli , Xu Peng , Dam-Hansen Carsten , Jensen Ole Bjarlin
Published: December 2021

β-Si6−zAlzOzN8−z:Eu2+ (β-SiAlON:Eu) possesses an intense and narrow emission band peaked at ∼530 nm, which makes it a highly suitable green-emitting phosphor for LCD backlight. However, it can hardly be used in high-power laser displays or projectors because of the laser-induced saturation effect. The aim of the present study is to develop a β-SiAlON:Eu based phosphor-in-glass (PiG) film that can withstand high-power density laser irradiation. A facile blade-coating method was employed to fabricate the PiG film. The morphology, quantum efficiency, luminescence spectra, and laser-pumped colorimetric properties of the β-SiAlON:Eu PiG films were investigated. Under excitation of 450 nm, a typical PiG film showed internal quantum efficiency of 58%, which is an acceptable value. The laser-pumped photometric properties of the PiG films were measured in reflection mode. When irradiated with a blue laser, the PiG film attained a high luminous efficacy of 109 lm/W. Furthermore, its saturation threshold reached over 26.4 W/mm2, thus achieving a high lumen density of 1970 lm/mm2 and a high luminous exitance of 1052 lm/mm2. With the above excellent properties, the β-SiAlON:Eu PiG film has great potential for use in high-power and wide-color gamut laser displays or projectors.
Reduced model for capillary breakup with thermal gradients: Predictions and computational validation
Authors: Shukla I. , Wang F. , Mowlavi S. , Guyomard A. , Liang X. , Johnson S. G. , Nave J.-C.
Published: December 2021

It was recently demonstrated that feeding a silicon-in-silica coaxial fiber into a flame—imparting a steep silica viscosity gradient—results in the formation of silicon spheres whose size is controlled by the feed speed [Gumennik et al., “Silicon-in-silica spheres via axial thermal gradient in-fiber capillary instabilities,” Nat. Commun. 4, 2216 (2013)]. A reduced model to predict the droplet size from the feed speed was then derived by Mowlavi et al. [“Particle size selection in capillary instability of locally heated coaxial fiber,” Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 064003 (2019)], but large experimental uncertainties in the parameter values and temperature profile made quantitative validation of the model impossible. Here, we validate the reduced model against fully resolved three-dimensional axisymmetric Stokes simulations using the exact same physical parameters and temperature profile. We obtain excellent quantitative agreement for a wide range of experimentally relevant feed speeds. Surprisingly, we also observe that the local capillary number at the breakup location remains almost constant across all feed speeds. Owing to its low computational cost, the reduced model is therefore a useful tool for designing future experiments.
Experimental demonstration of ultrathin broken-symmetry metasurfaces with controllably sharp resonant response
Authors: Tsilipakos Odysseas , Maiolo Luca , Maita Francesco , Beccherelli Romeo , Kafesaki Maria , Kriezis Emmanouil E. , Yioultsis Traianos V. , Zografopoulos Dimitrios C.
Published: December 2021

Symmetry-protected resonances can be made to couple with free space by introducing a small degree of geometric asymmetry, leading to controllably sharp spectral response. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a broken-symmetry metasurface for the technologically important low millimeter wave spectrum. The proposed metasurface is fabricated on an ultrathin polyimide substrate, resulting in a low loss and flexible structure. Measurements inside an anechoic chamber experimentally verify the theoretically predicted sharp spectral features corresponding to quality factors of several hundreds. The demonstrated sharp response is also observed with the complementary structure, which responds to the orthogonal linear polarization (Babinet's principle). The designed metasurfaces can be exploited in diverse applications favored by a controllably sharp spectral response, e.g., filtering, sensing, switching, and nonlinear applications, in either reflection or transmission mode operation. More generally, the demonstrated fabrication process provides a generic platform for low-cost, large-scale engineering of metasurfaces with minimal substrate-induced effects.
Distinct dynamics of self-propelled bowl-shaped micromotors caused by shape effect: Concave vs convex
Authors: Wang Duo , Guan Dongshi , Su Jinghong , Zheng Xu , Hu Guoqing
Published: December 2021

Although artificial micromotors with unconventional shapes are emerging as a powerful tool in various applications, little research has been undertaken to clarify their propulsion mechanism, especially how the shape effect alters the bubble dynamics and hydrodynamic flows. In this study, we fabricated two types of bowl-shaped micromotors to investigate the distinct dynamics due to the shape effect of concave and convex surfaces, by coating a platinum (Pt) layer on either the concave surface or the convex surface of the micromotor. In the single-bubble propulsion mode at low fuel concentration, the concave-surface-Pt-coated micromotor moved unexpectedly slower than the convex-surface-Pt-coated micromotor, and the bubble growth on the concave surface was also much slower than that on the convex surface. It was elucidated that the confinement effect of the concave surface hindered fuel replenishment and thus the catalytic reaction. We further introduced the Kelvin impulse to explain why the concave shape eventually weakened the propulsion from hydrodynamic jet flows caused by bubble collapse. In the multi-bubble propulsion mode at high fuel concentration, the interaction among bubbles rendered a “more is less” phenomenon—increase in the fuel concentration did not enhance the maximum instantaneous propulsion speed. These findings inspire the development of new manipulation strategies utilizing the unconventional shape effect in micromotors.
Sea-level rise, marine storms and the resilience of Mediterranean coastal wetlands: lessons learned from the Ebro Delta
Authors: Ibáñez Carles , Caiola Nuno
Published: December 2021

Understanding the effects of sea-level rise (SLR) and marine storms on Mediterranean coastal wetlands is crucial to developing adequate climate change adaptation pathways. Because the majority of these systems are in deltaic areas, integrated river basin management (water and sediment discharge) is a must in the design of such pathways. Rising sea levels will tend to gradually flood coastal lagoons and marshes unless there is enough sediment supplied to compensate for the increasing deficit. Although the relationship between climate change and Mediterranean coastal storms is weak or non-existent, their impacts are expected to grow in the context of SLR and coastal squeezing. For example, the most affected Ebro Delta coastal stretches during the Gloria storm (January 2020), one of the most intense ever recorded in the Mediterranean, were those where the beach was narrower and weaker. Hard engineering solutions, such as the construction of dykes, as a protection measure against marine storms are not sustainable under scenarios of climate change and energy scarcity. A management approach based on soft engineering coastal defences and nature-based solutions is the most cost-effective and sustainable in the long run. The adequacy of implementing this kind of solution along the Mediterranean coast is discussed.
The nonlinear feedback dynamics of asymmetric political polarization
Authors: Leonard Naomi Ehrich , Lipsitz Keena , Bizyaeva Anastasia , Franci Alessio , Lelkes Yphtach
Published: December 2021

Significance

Political polarization threatens democracy in America. This article helps illuminate what drives it, as well as what factors account for its asymmetric nature. In particular, we focus on positive feedback among members of Congress as the key mechanism of polarization. We show how public opinion, which responds to the laws legislators make, in turn drives the feedback dynamics of political elites. Specifically, we find that voters’ “policy mood,” i.e., whether public opinion leans in a more liberal or conservative direction, drives asymmetries in elite polarization over time. Our model also demonstrates that once self-reinforcing processes among elites reach a critical threshold, polarization rapidly accelerates. By tying together elite and voter dynamics, this paper presents a unified theory of political polarization.
A systems framework for remedying dysfunction in US democracy
Authors: Wang Samuel S.-H. , Cervas Jonathan , Grofman Bernard , Lipsitz Keena
Published: December 2021

Democracy often fails to meet its ideals, and these failures may be made worse by electoral institutions. Unwanted outcomes include elite polarization, unresponsive representatives, and the ability of a faction of voters to gain power at the expense of the majority. Various reforms have been proposed to address these problems, but their effectiveness is difficult to predict against a backdrop of complex interactions. Here we outline a path for systems-level modeling to help understand and optimize repairs to US democracy. Following the tradition of engineering and biology, models of systems include mechanisms with dynamical properties that include nonlinearities and amplification (voting rules), positive feedback mechanisms (single-party control, gerrymandering), negative feedback (checks and balances), integration over time (lifetime judicial appointments), and low dimensionality (polarization). To illustrate a systems-level approach, we analyze three emergent phenomena: low dimensionality, elite polarization, and antimajoritarianism in legislatures. In each case, long-standing rules now contribute to undesirable outcomes as a consequence of changes in the political environment. Theoretical understanding at a general level will also help evaluate whether a proposed reform’s benefits will materialize and be lasting, especially as conditions change again. In this way, rigorous modeling may not only shape new lines of research but aid in the design of effective and lasting reform.
Entropy-regularized deconvolution of cellular cryotransmission electron tomograms
Authors: Croxford Matthew , Elbaum Michael , Arigovindan Muthuvel , Kam Zvi , Agard David , Villa Elizabeth , Sedat John
Published: December 2021

Significance

Cellular cryo-electron tomography suffers from severely compromised Z resolution due to the missing wedges of information not collected during the acquisition of tilt series. This paper shows that application of entropy-regularized deconvolution to transmission electron tomography substantially fills in this missing information, allowing for improved Z resolution and better interpretation of cellular structures.
Complex pathways and memory in compressed corrugated sheets
Authors: Bense Hadrien , van Hecke Martin
Published: December 2021

Significance

Describing the response of materials is central to physics, yet the complex response of frustrated media—featuring multistep pathways which can be encoded by sequences of switching material bits—is poorly understood. Here we introduce compression of corrugated elastic sheets to experimentally observe and manipulate these bits, their interactions, and their pathways. We apply spatial gradients at the boundaries as a general technique to control the pathways. Besides mechanical memory, where the sheet remembers earlier extremal driving, we observe a pathway where interactions between material bits produce an elementary computation: counting to two. Our work paves the way for controlling material bits in other systems and suggests a tight link between computations and the complex response of frustrated matter.
Polarization, diversity, and democratic robustness
Authors: Bednar Jenna
Published: December 2021

In the Madisonian Constitution, fragmented and overlapping institutions of authority are supposed to manage democracy’s innate rivalry, channeling competition to serve the public interest. This system of safeguards makes democracy more robust: capable of withstanding and, if need be, adapting to challenges posed by a changing problem environment. In this essay, I suggest why affective polarization poses a special threat to democratic robustness. While most scholars hypothesize that polarization’s dangers are that it leads to bimodality and extremism, I highlight a third hypothesized effect: Polarization reduces interest and information diversity in the political system. To be effective, democracy’s safeguards rely upon interest diversity, but Madison took that diversity for granted. Unique among democracy’s safeguards, federalism builds in a repository for diversity; its structure enables differences between national- and state-expressed interests, even within the same party. This diversity can be democracy hindering, as the United States’ history with racially discriminatory politics painfully makes clear, but it can also serve as a reservoir of interest and information dispersion that could protect democracy by restoring the possibility that cross-cutting cleavages emerge.
Staying afloat
Authors: Walters Susan Gary
Published: December 2021

This qualitative study gives an emic account of the experiences of adult L2 learners studying Chinese characters. Using semi-structured interviews and written journals of Americans who have spent time in China, the study uncovers core experiences and common patterns, giving voice to the holistic experience of learners, including affective aspects. The results of the study show that the very complexity of Chinese characters simultaneously attracts and deters learners. Learners experience an ever-growing realization of deeper complexity and greater volume. The struggling that ensues compels learners to actively find strategies to enable them to remain afloat in the learning process: (1) breaking down the complexity, (2) managing the incoming volume, (3) finding satisfaction in using the learning, (4) leading their own learning, (5) making use of resources, and (6) maintaining their learning. Findings from this study suggest practical applications for both L2 learners and teachers of Chinese characters.
Generous and inviting interfaces revisited
Authors: Oberbichler Sarah , Gallner-Holzmann Katharina , Hug Theo
Published: December 2021

For some decades, institutions such as galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (often abbreviated as GLAM institutions) have digitized numerous archival documents and made at least parts of these documents publicly available online. However, there is still a shortage of user-friendly and easily accessible interfaces for various user groups, especially regarding collections based on text sources. After a brief introduction to the research area and the project, this paper discusses a visualization and design study based on a selection of digitized archival material from the Ernst von Glasersfeld estate. We present a conceptual outline of this work and examples concerning discourse mapping, the analysis of argumentative structures as well as some didactical approaches. In so doing, conceptual backgrounds, educational material and design principles are outlined. The paper concludes with critical considerations as regards the limitations of the approaches discussed.
Considerations for predicting climate change implications on future spatial distribution ranges of ticks.
Authors: Raghavan Ram , Ganta Roman
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on spatial distribution models (SDMs) that are essential to producing reliable models of tick distributions, both in the present time and in the future, under climate change scenarios. It highlights the opinion that careful consideration of the methods is necessary in building SDMs, model assumptions, the limitations in predictions and making a careful interpretation of predictions, if possible, supported by field observations.
How tick vectors are coping with global warming.
Authors: Wilke André , Beier John , Otranto Domenico , Benelli Giovanni
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on the impact of global warming on the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs). It also provides future predictions in the prevalence and incidence of TBDs.
Climate change alone cannot explain altered tick distribution across Europe: a spotlight on endemic and invasive tick species.
Authors: Stachurski Frederic , Boulanger Nathalie , Blisnick Adrien , Vial Laurence , Bonnet Sarah
Published: December 2021

The effect of climate on the evolution of tick populations remains difficult to disentangle from other possible causes and undoubtedly varies depending on the region concerned and local tick species. Large-scale, long-term monitoring is, therefore, necessary to accurately assess climatic impact on tick populations. Climate change can alter tick populations, either indirectly by affecting vertebrate host populations or directly by increasing or decreasing their numbers. These ectoparasites, and in particular hard ticks, spend almost their entire life cycle in the external environment, thus climatic conditions influence their activity, viability and distribution. This expert opinion aims to illustrate the impact of climate change, and its association with other variables, on the distribution and abundance of tick populations in Europe using Ixodes ricinus and Hyalomma marginatum as typical examples of endemic and invasive species, respectively.
Climate-driven livestock management shifts and tick populations.
Authors: Titcomb Georgia
Published: December 2021

Climate change can affect all aspects of the tick life cycle, from altering host distributions to modulating tick development and survival. This expert opinion focuses on how humans can greatly affect tick populations via livestock management. This is likely to occur through at least three pathways: (i) by altering host abundance and composition; (ii) via habitat modification due to grazing and trampling; and (iii) by altering tick mortality via tick-control methods. Thus, climate-driven changes to livestock management can profoundly alter tick populations, especially in regions such as eastern and southern Africa, where high livestock density and worsening climate changes are coupled with high tick diversity and abundance.
Potential impacts of climate change on medically important tick species in North America.
Authors: Lynn Geoffrey , Narasimhan Sukanya , Fikrig Erol
Published: December 2021

This chapter focuses on how climate change, together with land use and anthropogenic disturbances, can impact the biology and ecology of medically important ticks as well as the prevalence of tick-borne diseases in North America.
Amblyomma ticks and future climates.
Authors: de Oliveira Stefan Vilges
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses the evidence of how the climate can influence the distribution of ticks of the Amblyomma genus, as well as the prevalence of tick-borne diseases, in climate change scenarios.
Climate and prediction of tick-borne diseases facing the complexity of the pathogen-tick-host triad at northern latitudes.
Authors: Mysterud Atle
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses how warming climates can impact the complex epidemiological cycle involving the pathogen- tick vector-host triad in northern latitudes. It provides evidence and prediction of the climate change impact on the abundance, distribution and population dynamics of both ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Impact of climate change on co-feeding transmission.
Authors: Wu Jian-hong , Zhang Xue
Published: December 2021

Tick-borne pathogen co-feeding transmission is a non-systemic transmission in the tick-host enzootic cycle, through which the host provides a bridge between co-feeding susceptible and infected ticks to facilitate pathogen transmission. Co-feeding transmission requires co-feeding of susceptible ticks in close (both spatially and temporally) proximity to other infected ticks on the bridging host; hence, the contribution of co-feeding transmission to tick-borne pathogen transmission in the tick-host enzootic cycle is highly affected by environmental conditions. This expert opinion focuses on co-feeding transmission and infestation dynamics of ticks under changing climate conditions.
Tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever infections.
Authors: Bente Dennis
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses a group of tick-transmitted viruses that can cause a bonafide haemorrhagic fever in the human incidental host. It also discusses the potential impact of climatic change on virus-vector-host dynamics and on the distribution and intensity of disease.
Climate impact on Lyme borreliosis and its causative agents.
Authors: Rudenko Natalie , Grubhoffer Libor , Golovchenko Maryna
Published: December 2021

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystem disorder with a diverse spectrum of clinical manifestations. It is one of the most frequently recorded tick-borne diseases in the northern hemisphere, caused by selected species of spirochaetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. This expert opinion discusses the impact of global warming and climate change on the abundance and distribution of LB and its causative agents.
The expansion of Japanese Spotted fever and the complex group of spotted fever group Rickettsiae in Japan.
Authors: Sato Megumi , Arai Reiko , Sato Marcello Otake
Published: December 2021

This chapter describes on ticks and spotted fever rickettsial agents isolated and/or detected in Japan and discusses the potential impact of climatic change on their abundance and distribution.
Effect of climate change on mosquito-borne pathogens.
Authors: Turell Michael
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion discusses how global warming and climate change increase the risk of the introduction and severity of mosquito-borne pathogens, including West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus and Zika virus in the western hemisphere.
Impact of climate change on tick-borne diseases of livestock in Pakistan - looking ahead.
Authors: Ghafar Abdul , Gasser Robin , Jabbar Abdul
Published: December 2021

This expert opinion summarizes the current status of ticks and tick-borne diseases of ruminants in Pakistan. It also assesses the evidence of climate change and its likely impact on the abundance and distribution of ticks and the prevalence and intensity of tick-borne diseases affecting livestock in the country.
Tick and tick-borne disease circulation in a changing marine ecosystem.
Authors: McCoy Karen D.
Published: December 2021

This chapter provides information on known tick species from the marine ecosystem and associated infectious agents. It also discusses several possible mechanisms by which current global changes in climate will alter interactions between ticks and their marine hosts, with subsequent consequences for the circulation of infectious agents.
Can plyometric training change the pacing behaviour during 10‐km running?
Authors: do Carmo Everton C. , Barroso Renato , Gil Saulo , da Silva Natalia R. , Bertuzzi Romulo , Foster Carl , Tricoli Valmor
Published: December 2021

The effects of plyometric training (PT) on middle‐ and long‐distance running performances are well established. However, its influence on pacing behaviour is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PT on pacing behaviour. In addition, verify whether the adaptations induced by PT would change ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and/or affective feelings during the race. Twenty‐eight male runners were assigned to two groups: control (C) and PT. PT held two weekly PT sessions for eight weeks. Drop jump (DJ) performance, 10‐km running performance, pacing behaviour, RPE and affective feelings, VO2peak, ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), peak treadmill speed (PTS), and running economy (RE) were measured. For group comparisons, a mixed model analysis for repeated measures, effect size (ES) and 90% confidence interval (90% CI) were calculated for all dependent variables. Significant differences pre‐to‐post was observed for PT group in DP (7.2%; p ≤ 0.01; ES = 0.56 (0.28–0.85)) and RE (4.5%; p ≤ 0.05; ES = −0.52 ((−0.73 to −0.31)) without changes in pacing behaviour. While PT was effective for improving DJ and RE, there is no evidence that pacing behaviour, RPE or affective feelings are directly affected by these adaptations during a 10‐km time trial run.
The angular pattern in the hyperfine structure of Xe I and Kr I atoms
Authors: Blondel C , Drag C
Published: December 2021

Recent reviews of the hyperfine structure of xenon and krypton have highlighted the variety of the values taken by the hyperfine coefficients A and B of these atoms. These variations, as functions of the atomic angular momenta, were however not explained quantitatively. This article shows the simple picture and angular momentum algebra that make it possible to account for the observed trend. The only necessary approximations are to consider the interaction of the outer electron negligible with respect to the coupling of the p
5 core with the nucleus, and to assume that the Racah

(

p

5

)

j

ℓ

[

K

]

J

F

basis, conventionally used for the atomic states of noble gases, makes a fitting description of the hierarchy of their angular momentum couplings. The way the calculation corroborates the apparently erratic values of hyperfine coefficients A and B in Xe I and Kr I shows up as a confirmation of the validity of these approximations.