bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increases of negative affect following daily hassles are not moderated by neuroticism: An ecological momentary assessment study
Authors: Mey Lara Kristin , Chmitorz Andrea , Kurth Karolina , Wenzel Mario , Kalisch Raffael , Tüscher Oliver , Kubiak Thomas
Published: May 2020

The occurrence of daily hassles is associated with increased subsequent levels of negative affect. Neuroticism has been found to exacerbate this effect. So far, most research used single‐item measures for the assessment of daily hassles or relied on daily diary studies. This study aimed to examine the interrelations of daily hassles, negative affect reactivity, and neuroticism in daily life employing an extensive inventory of daily hassles. Seventy participants (18–30 years; M = 23.9 years, 59% female) completed a 4‐week smartphone‐based ecological momentary assessment study reporting the occurrence and perceived strain of daily hassles as well as negative affect at five semi‐random signals between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Multilevel analyses revealed significant associations between elevated levels of negative affect and higher cumulative daily hassle strain ratings per signal in concurrent and time‐lagged analyses. Contrary to our expectations, there was no moderation by neuroticism on these associations. The results suggest that daily hassles can accumulate in their impact on mood in daily life and exert a prolonged effect on negative affect. The absence of a significant moderation by neuroticism may be interpreted in the light of methodological specifics of this study.
Turning Waste into Treasure: Regulating the Oxygen Corrosion on Fe Foam for Efficient Electrocatalysis
Authors: Liu Xupo , Gong Mingxing , Xiao Dongdong , Deng Shaofeng , Liang Jianing , Zhao Tonghui , Lu Yun , Shen Tao , Zhang Jian , Wang Deli
Published: May 2020

Iron corrosion causes a great damage to the economy due to the function attenuation of iron‐based devices. However, the corrosion products can be used as active materials for some electrocatalytic reactions, such as oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, the oxygen corrosion on Fe foams (FF) to synthesize effective self‐supporting electrocatalysts for OER, leading to “turning waste into treasure,” is regulated. A dual chloride aqueous system of “NaCl‐NiCl2” is employed to tailor the structures and OER properties of corrosion layers. The corrosion behaviors identify that Cl− anions serve as accelerators for oxygen corrosion, while Ni2+ cations guarantee the uniform growth of corrosion layers owing to the appeared chemical plating. The synergistic effect of “NaCl‐NiCl2” generates one of the highest OER activities that only an overpotential of 212 mV is required to achieve 100 mA cm−2 in 1.0 m KOH solution. The as‐prepared catalyst also exhibits excellent durability over 168 h (one week) at 100 mA cm−2 and promising application for overall water splitting. Specially, a large self‐supporting electrode (9 × 10 cm2) is successfully synthesized via this cost‐effective and easily scale‐up approach. By combining with corrosion science, this work provides a significant stepping stone in exploring high‐performance OER electrocatalysts.
Chiral Ligand‐Free, Optically Active Nanoparticles Inherently Composed of Chiral Lattices at the Atomic Scale
Authors: Yang Lin , Liu Junjun , Sun Peng , Ni Ziyue , Ma Yicong , Huang Zhifeng
Published: May 2020

Bulk metals lack chirality. Recently, metals have been sculptured with metastable chirality varying from the micro‐ to nano‐scale. The manipulation of molecular chirality could be novelly performed using metals composed of chiral lattices at atomic scales (i.e., chiral nanoparticles or CNPs) if one could fundamentally understand the interactions between molecules and the chiral metal lattices. The incorporation of chiral ligands has been generally adapted to form metal CNPs. However, post‐fabrication removal of chiral ligands usually causes relaxation of the metastable chiral lattices to thermodynamically stable achiral structures, and thus the coexisting chiral ligands will unavoidably disturb or screen the interactions of interest. Herein, a concept of metal CNPs that are free of chiral ligands and consist of atomically chiral lattices is introduced. Without chiral ligands, shear forces applied by substrate rotation along with the translation of incident atoms lead to imposing the metastable chiral lattices onto metals. Metal CNPs show not only the chiroptical effect but the enantiospecific interactions of chiral lattices and molecules. These two unique chiral effects have resulted in the applications of enantiodifferentiation and asymmetric synthesis. Prospectively, the extension in composition space and constituent engineering will apply alloy CNPs to enantiodiscrimination, enantioseperation, bio‐imaging, bio‐sensing, and asymmetric catalysis.
Mechanical Cues Regulating Proangiogenic Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells through YAP‐Mediated Mechanosensing
Authors: Bandaru Praveen , Cefaloni Giorgia , Vajhadin Fereshteh , Lee KangJu , Kim Han‐Jun , Cho Hyun‐Jong , Hartel Martin C. , Zhang Shiming , Sun Wujin , Goudie Marcus J. , Ahadian Samad , Dokmeci Mehmet Remzi , Lee Junmin , Khademhosseini Ali
Published: May 2020

Stem cells secrete trophic factors that induce angiogenesis. These soluble factors are promising candidates for stem cell–based therapies, especially for cardiovascular diseases. Mechanical stimuli and biophysical factors presented in the stem cell microenvironment play important roles in guiding their behaviors. However, the complex interplay and precise role of these cues in directing pro‐angiogenic signaling remain unclear. Here, a platform is designed using gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels with tunable rigidity and a dynamic mechanical compression bioreactor to evaluate the influence of matrix rigidity and mechanical stimuli on the secretion of pro‐angiogenic factors from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Cells cultured in matrices mimicking mechanical elasticity of bone tissues in vivo show elevated secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of representative signaling proteins promoting angiogenesis, as well as increased vascularization of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with a supplement of conditioned media from hMSCs cultured across different conditions. When hMSCs are cultured in matrices stimulated with a range of cyclic compressions, increased VEGF secretion is observed with increasing mechanical strains, which is also in line with the enhanced tubulogenesis of HUVECs. Moreover, it is demonstrated that matrix stiffness and cyclic compression modulate secretion of pro‐angiogenic molecules from hMSCs through yes‐associated protein activity.
A More Efficient Fenton Oxidation Method with High Shear Mixing for the Preparation of Cellulose Nanofibers
Authors: Duan Linjuan , Liu Rongrong , Li Qun
Published: May 2020

A more efficient Fenton oxidation method with high shear mixing for the preparation of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is investigated. The Fenton reaction is the reaction between Fe2+ and H2O2 to produce a series of free radicals that leads to oxidation of the cellulose. With the new technology, the Fe2+ is preloaded into the kraft pulp by a high shear refining method to realize in situ oxidation of cellulose fibers. It is found that the carbonyl content in the fibers using high shear mixing process is 149.79 μmol g−1 when the dosage of hydrogen peroxide is 0.08 g/g (weight of dry fibers), compared to the 126.40 μmol g−1 of fiber without high shearing when the dosage of hydrogen peroxide is 0.15 g/g, which indicates that the new Fe2+ pre‐loading process has higher oxidation efficiency with lower H2O2 consumption compared with traditional Fe2+ preloading process. The 13C NMR results show that the C2, C3, and C6 hydroxyl groups are oxidized to aldehyde and carboxyl groups, which is beneficial to increase the electrostatic repulsion between fibers and facilitate the subsequent homogenization treatment. The obtained CNF is uniform in size and slightly lower in thermal stability.
Long noncoding RNA H19 acts as a miR‐340‐3p sponge to promote epithelial‐mesenchymal transition by regulating YWHAZ expression in paclitaxel‐resistant breast cancer cells
Authors: Yan Lei , Yang Shuo , Yue Cheng‐Xu , Wei Xin‐Yu , Peng Wei , Dong Zheng‐Yuan , Xu He‐Nan , Chen Su‐Lian , Wang Wen‐Rui , Chen Chang‐Jie , Yang Qing‐Ling
Published: May 2020

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer‐related death in women worldwide and one of the most prevalent malignancy. In recent years, increasing evidence had illuminated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve as critical factors in multiple tumor progression, including BC. Emerging references had indicated that the lncRNA H19 acts as significant roles in tumor progression and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and biological roles of H19 in BC invasion, metastasis and EMT are still unclear. In this study, it was detected that the expression level of H19 was increased in BC paclitaxel‐resistant (PR) cells subline (MCF‐7/PR) in comparison with MCF‐7 parental cells. In vitro, there were demonstrated that H19 overexpression promoted BC cells proliferation, metastasis, invasion and EMT procedures, and suppressed cells apoptosis. Whereas, H19 suppression resulted in the contrary biological effects. Besides, bioinformatics tools and dual‐luciferase reporters assays indicated that miR‐340‐3p could act as a potential target gene of H19, the underlying mechanism studies proved that H19 could act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) via competitively binding miR‐340‐3p to promote BC cell proliferation, metastasis and EMT by regulating tyrosine 3‐monooxygenase/tryptophan 5‐monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ) and potentiate the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in BC cells. In summary, our findings demonstrated that H19 could act as a ceRNA in BC progression, metastasis and EMT through modulating miR‐340‐3p/YWHAZ axis and activating the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, indicating that H19 might act as an underlying therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for BC therapy.
Nodular panniculitis in a cat with high alpha tocopherol concentration in serum
Authors: Steffl Martin , Nautscher Nadine , Kröpfl Alexander , Granvogl Michael
Published: May 2020

A 5‐year‐old male neutered domestic shorthair cat suffered from recurrent solitary nodules in different subcutaneous body regions. Nodules were surgically removed and each time histopathological diagnosis was fat necrosis and fibrosing to pyogranulomatous panniculitis. After the second surgery the alpha (α)‐tocopherol concentration in serum of the cat was examined and the result (21 mg/L) exceeded the upper limit of the reference interval (3–11 mg/L). Vitamin E amount in diet fed solely in the past was checked as studies have shown that vitamin E amounts in food significantly influence vitamin E concentrations in serum. For comparative purposes, α‐tocopherol concentrations were determined in sera of healthy control cats. Additionally, vitamin E amount in wet food from different manufacturers was analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The results showed that the diet did not have higher vitamin E amounts compared to other diets. All control cats had similar high serum α‐tocopherol concentrations. We conclude that panniculitis can occur despite high serum α‐tocopherol concentrations in cats. Further studies are needed to redefine reference values of α‐tocopherol in serum of cats.
Patientenregister für Seltene Erkrankungen in Deutschland: Konzeptpapier der Strategiegruppe „Register“ des Nationalen Aktionsbündnisses für Menschen mit Seltenen Erkrankungen (NAMSE)
Authors:   NAMSE-Register-Strategiegruppe, Storf Holger , Stausberg Jürgen , Kindle Gerhard , Quadder Bernd , Schlangen Miriam , Walter Maggie C. , Ückert Frank , Wagner Thomas O. F.
Published: May 2020

Der Nationale Aktionsplan für Menschen mit Seltenen Erkrankungen (SE) enthält 52 konkrete Maßnahmen, u. a. in den Handlungsfeldern Versorgung, Forschung, Diagnose und Informationsmanagement. Mit dem Ziel, langfristig die Qualität und Interoperabilität von nationalen Registern zu erhöhen, sieht Maßnahmenvorschlag 28 die Etablierung einer Strategiegruppe „Register für Seltene Erkrankungen“ vor. Diese Strategiegruppe hat 2016 ihre Arbeit aufgenommen. Sie berichtet hier über Entwicklungen auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene, um Empfehlungen für nationale Initiativen daraus abzuleiten.

Zusätzlich werden die Konsentierung und Implementierung sowie mit der Zeit ggf. die Anpassung eines Minimaldatensatzes zur Verwendung in Registern für Seltene Erkrankungen erläutert. Zusätzlich werden die verwendeten Datenelemente bzw. -schemata in einem sog. Metadata Repository abgebildet. Dieses Positionspapier wurde durch die Strategiegruppe sowie weitere Autoren erarbeitet und innerhalb der Gruppe konsentiert. Es wird als Konzeptpapier zum Aufbau und Betrieb von Registern der Strategiegruppe „Register“ veröffentlicht.
Institutions and other things: critical hermeneutics, postphenomenology and material engagement theory
Authors: Ransom Tailer G. , Gallagher Shaun
Published: May 2020

Don Ihde and Lambros Malafouris (Philosophy and Technology 32:195–214, 2019) have argued that “we are homo faber not just because we make things but also because we are made by them.” The emphasis falls on the idea that the things that we create, use, rely on—that is, those things with which we engage—have a recursive effect on human existence. We make things, but we also make arrangements, many of which are long-standing, material, social, normative, economic, institutional, and/or political, and many of which are supported by various technologies, including AI, more and more. Critical theorists, such as Habermas, have argued that we need a “depth” or critical hermeneutics (one that combines hermeneutical understanding with scientific explanation) to provide a full account of this kind of recursivity. For Habermas, the explanatory aspect of critical hermeneutics has been modeled on neo-Marxist and neo-Freudian theories. We propose a new critical hermeneutical approach that uses the tools of embodied cognitive science, affordance theory, material engagement theory, and the concept of the socially extended mind.
Quantitative adverse outcome pathway (qAOP) models for toxicity prediction
Authors: Spinu Nicoleta , Cronin Mark T. D. , Enoch Steven J. , Madden Judith C. , Worth Andrew P.
Published: May 2020

The quantitative adverse outcome pathway (qAOP) concept is gaining interest due to its potential regulatory applications in chemical risk assessment. Even though an increasing number of qAOP models are being proposed as computational predictive tools, there is no framework to guide their development and assessment. As such, the objectives of this review were to: (i) analyse the definitions of qAOPs published in the scientific literature, (ii) define a set of common features of existing qAOP models derived from the published definitions, and (iii) identify and assess the existing published qAOP models and associated software tools. As a result, five probabilistic qAOPs and ten mechanistic qAOPs were evaluated against the common features. The review offers an overview of how the qAOP concept has advanced and how it can aid toxicity assessment in the future. Further efforts are required to achieve validation, harmonisation and regulatory acceptance of qAOP models.
Playback of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations overcomes psychomotor deficits induced by sub-chronic haloperidol treatment in rats
Authors: Melo-Thomas Liana , Tonelli Luan C. , Müller Christian P. , Wöhr Markus , Schwarting Rainer K. W.
Published: May 2020

Rationale

In rodents, acute haloperidol treatment induces psychomotor impairments known as catalepsy, which models akinesia in humans and is characterized as an animal model of acute Parkinsonism, whereas sub-chronic haloperidol reduces exploratory behavior, which resembles bradykinesia. Haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats can be ameliorated by playback of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV), an emotionally and motivationally relevant appetitive auditory stimulus, representing an animal model of paradoxical kinesia. In a condition like PD where patients suffer from chronic motor impairments, it is paramount to assess the long-term symptom relief in an animal model of Parkinsonism.

Objectives

We investigated whether 50-kHz USV playback ameliorates psychomotor deficits induced by haloperidol in a sub-chronic dosing regimen.

Methods

In phase 1, distance traveled and number of rearing behavior were assessed in an activity chamber in order to investigate whether sub-chronic haloperidol treatment induced psychomotor impairments. In phase 2, we investigated whether 50-kHz USV playback could overcome these impairments by assessing exploratory behaviors and approach behavior towards the sound source in the 50-kHz USV radial maze playback paradigm.

Results

Sub-chronic haloperidol treatment led to psychomotor deficits since the distance traveled and number of rearing behavior were reduced as compared to saline control group or baseline. These psychomotor impairments were ameliorated during playback of 50-kHz USV, with haloperidol treated rats showing a clear social approach behavior towards the sound source exclusively during playback.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that 50-kHz USV playback induces paradoxical kinesia in rats exhibiting motor deficits after sub-chronic haloperidol, as we previously showed after acute haloperidol treatment.
Correction to: Prevention of Intra‐abdominal Adhesions by Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Fakhradiyev Ildar R. , Almabayev Ydyrys , Saliev Timur , Almabayeva Aygul , Tanabayev Baimakhan , Yergazina Maral , Serikpayev Zhandos , Feril Loreto B.
Published: May 2020

In the original version of this article, Ydyrys Almabayev's, Timur Saliev's, Aygul Almabayeva's, Baimakhan Tanabayev's, Maral Yergazina's, and Zhandos Serikpayev's first and last names were transposed.
Markov frameworks and stock market decision making
Authors: Koppula Kavitha , Kedukodi Babushri Srinivas , Kuncham Syam Prasad
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we present applications of Markov rough approximation framework (MRAF). The concept of MRAF is defined based on rough sets and Markov chains. MRAF is used to obtain the probability distribution function of various reference points in a rough approximation framework. We consider a set to be approximated together with its dynamacity and the effect of dynamacity on rough approximations is stated with the help of Markov chains. An extension to Pawlak’s decision algorithm is presented, and it is used for predictions in a stock market environment. In addition, suitability of the algorithm is illustrated in a multi-criteria medical diagnosis problem. Finally, the definition of fuzzy tolerance relation is extended to higher dimensions using reference points and basic results are established.
Selected arylsulphonyl pyrazole derivatives as potential Chk1 kinase ligands—computational investigations
Authors: Czaja Kornelia , Kujawski Jacek , Kamel Karol , Bernard Marek K.
Published: May 2020

Protein kinases control diversity of biochemical processes in human organism. Checkpoint 1 kinase (Chk1) is an important element of the checkpoint signalling pathways and is responsible for DNA damage repair. Hence, this kinase plays an essential role in cancer cells survival and has become an important target for anticancer agents. Our previous investigations showed that some arylsulphonyl indazole derivatives displayed anticancer effect in vitro. In the present study, in order to verify possibility of interactions of pyrazole and indazole derivatives with Chk1, we focused on the docking of selected tosyl derivatives of indazole and condensed pyrazole1–7to the Chk1 pocket, analysis of interactions involving optimized ligand–protein system using DFT formalism, and estimation of the interaction enthalpy of the ligand–protein complex by applying the PM7 method. The estimation of binding affinity seems to indicate that the indazole 5-substituted with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole4and condensed pyrazoloquinoline derivative7fit the best to the Chk1-binding pocket. The values of the energy of interaction, i.e. the enthalpy change (ΔHint), were between − 85.06 and − 124.04 kcal mol−1for the optimized ligand–Chk1 complexes. The relaxation of the ligands within the complexes azole–protein as well as the distribution of hydrogen contacts between the ligands and kinase pocket amino acids was also analysed using molecular dynamics as a supporting method.
High-quality alternative food reduces cannibalism in the predatory mite Amblyseius herbicolus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Marcossi Ítalo , Fonseca Morgana M. , Carbajal Paola A. F. , Cardoso André , Pallini Angelo , Janssen Arne
Published: May 2020

Predatory mites of the Phytoseiidae family are important biological control agents. Many species of this family are omnivores, i.e., besides on prey, they can feed on plant resources such as nectar and pollen. It has been shown that the addition of alternative food for predators to a crop enhances biological control. However, factors such as food availability and quality can also affect interactions such as cannibalism, and thus influence biological control. We investigated the role of quality of the alternative food in the tendency ofAmblyseius herbicolusto engage in cannibalism, a common ecological interaction in many phytoseiid mite species. Cannibalism on eggs byA. herbicoluswas significantly reduced in the presence of high-quality food (cattail pollen) compared to egg cannibalism without alternative food, whereas this was not the case in the presence of low-quality food (cotton pollen). This suggests that cattail pollen is a high-quality alternative food, not only because it results in increased development and reproduction of predators, but also because it can minimize cannibalism.
Burden and prevalence of prognostic factors for severe COVID-19 in Sweden
Authors: Gémes Katalin , Talbäck Mats , Modig Karin , Ahlbom Anders , Berglund Anita , Feychting Maria , Matthews Anthony A.
Published: May 2020

The World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control suggest that individuals over the age of 70 years or with underlying cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or diabetes are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. However, the prevalence of these prognostic factors is unknown in many countries. We aimed to describe the burden and prevalence of prognostic factors of severe COVID-19 at national and county level in Sweden. We calculated the burden and prevalence of prognostic factors for severe COVID-19 based on records from the Swedish national health care and population registers for 3 years before 1st January 2016. 9,624,428 individuals were included in the study population. 22.1% had at least one prognostic factor for severe COVID-19 (2,131,319 individuals), and 1.6% had at least three factors (154,746 individuals). The prevalence of underlying medical conditions ranged from 0.8% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (78,516 individuals) to 7.4% with cardiovascular disease (708,090 individuals), and the county specific prevalence of at least one prognostic factor ranged from 19.2% in Stockholm (416,988 individuals) to 25.9% in Kalmar (60,005 individuals). We show that one in five individuals in Sweden is at increased risk of severe COVID-19. When compared with the critical care capacity at a local and national level, these results can aid authorities in optimally planning healthcare resources during the current pandemic. Findings can also be applied to underlying assumptions of disease burden in modelling efforts to support COVID-19 planning.
Study of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in patients suffering from ophthalmic disorders using serological and molecular methods
Authors: Saki Jasem , Eskandari Elham , Feghhi Mostafa
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause ocular toxoplasmosis with most complications such as retinal detachment. Toxocara parasite, round worm, found in dogs and cats appears as larva migrans in humans can cause serious ocular complications such as debilitating vision loss.In Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran, T. gondii infection has been reported to be significant but toxocariasis was rare. However, the frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis has not been studied in this area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ocular toxoplasmosis and ocular toxocariasis using serological and molecular methods.

Method

In this case control study, 310 patients were identified by ophthalmologist as ocular toxoplasmosis and then 5 cc of venous blood samples were taken from each of them. Serum samples and buffy coat were prepared and ELISA was used to detect IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and the molecular PCR was used to detect Toxoplasma DNA parasite in buffy coats. ELISA test was used to detect of IgG anti-Toxocara antibodies.

Results

Totally, for ocular toxoplasmosis, 130 (41.93%) of 310 patients were positive by ELISA, of them 121 (39%) IgG positive and nine (2.9%) IgM positive were diagnosed. Of 121 cases with IgG+, 119 (98.35%) were diagnosed with high IgG avidity indicating chronic phase of the infection. For ocular toxocariasis evaluation, antibodies against Toxocara were not detected in any of the samples. By PCR molecular method, 11 out of 310 patients (3.54%) had T. gondii DNA in the blood. In control, in total, 21 cases were detected positive by serology method, which showed a significant difference with the results of the case group(P < 0.05).By PCR method, only three cases showed positive which also indicated significant difference with result of case group (3 vs 9) (P < 0.05). In the control group, also no anti-toxocara antibodies were found.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that T. gondii in Khuzestan province as the etiologic agent of ocular toxoplasmosis and physicians should consider diagnostic methods for identifying the infection when they visit the patients.
Study of early warning for desaturation provided by Oxygen Reserve Index in obese patients
Authors: Tsymbal Ekaterina , Ayala Sebastian , Singh Amrik , Applegate Richard L. , Fleming Neal W.
Published: May 2020

Acute hemoglobin desaturation can reflect rapidly decreasing PaO2. Pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) facilitates hypoxia detection but may not significantly decrease until PaO2 < 80 mmHg. The Oxygen Reserve Index (ORI) is a unitless index that correlates with moderately hyperoxic PaO2. This study evaluated whether ORI provides added arterial desaturation warning in obese patients. This IRB approved, prospective, observational study obtained written informed consent from Obese (body mass index (BMI) kg m−2; 30 < BMI < 40) and Normal BMI (19 < BMI < 25) adult patients scheduled for elective surgery requiring general endotracheal anesthesia. Standard monitors and an ORI sensor were placed. Patient’s lungs were pre-oxygenated with 100% FiO2. After ORI plateaued, general anesthesia was induced, and endotracheal intubation accomplished using a videolaryngoscope. Patients remained apneic until SpO2reached 94%. ORI and SpO2 were recorded continuously. Added warning time was defined as the difference between the time to SpO2 94% from ORI alarm start or from SpO2 97%. Data are reported as median; 95% confidence interval. Complete data were collected in 36 Obese and 36 Normal BMI patients. ORI warning time was always longer than SpO2 warning time. Added warning time provided by ORI was 46.5 (36.0–59.0) seconds in Obese and 87.0 (77.0–109.0) seconds in Normal BMI patients, and was shorter in Obese than Normal BMI patients difference 54.0 (38.0–74.0) seconds (p < 0.0001). ORI provided what was felt to be clinically significant added warning time of arterial desaturation compared to SpO2. This added time might allow earlier calls for help, assistance from other providers, or modifications of airway management.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03021551.
A generalized methodology for multidisciplinary design optimization using surrogate modelling and multifidelity analysis
Authors: Kontogiannis Spyridon G. , Savill Mark A.
Published: May 2020

The advantages of multidisciplinary design are well understood, but not yet fully adopted by the industry where methods should be both fast and reliable. For such problems, minimum computational cost while providing global optimality and extensive design information at an early conceptual stage is desired. However, such a complex problem consisting of various objectives and interacting disciplines is associated with a challenging design space. This provides a large pool of possible designs, requiring an efficient exploration scheme with the ability to provide sufficient feedback early in the design process. This paper demonstrates a generalized optimization framework with rapid design space exploration capabilities in which a Multifidelity approach is directly adjusted to the emerging needs of the design. The methodology is developed to be easily applicable and efficient in computationally expensive multidisciplinary problems. To accelerate such a demanding process, Surrogate Based Optimization methods in the form of both Radial Basis Function and Kriging models are employed. In particular, a modification of the standard Kriging approach to account for Multifidelity data inputs is proposed, aiming to increasing its accuracy without increasing its training cost. The surrogate optimization problem is solved by a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm and two constraint handling methods are implemented. The surrogate model modifications are visually demonstrated in a 1D and 2D test case, while the Rosenbrock and Sellar functions are used to examine the scalability and adaptability behaviour of the method. Our particular Multiobjective formulation is demonstrated in the common RAE2822 airfoil design problem. In this paper, the framework assessment focuses on our infill sampling approach in terms of design and objective space exploration for a given computational cost.
God’s place in the world
Authors: Collier Matthew James
Published: May 2020

Lewisian theism is the view that both traditional theism and Lewis’s modal realism are true. On Lewisian theism, God must exist in worlds in one of the following ways: (1) God can be said to have a counterpart in each world; (2) God can be said to exist in each world in the way that a universal can be said to exist in worlds (if universals exist), i.e. through transworld identity; (3) God can be said to be a scattered individual, with a part of God existing in each world; and, (4) God can be said to exist in each world, through His existing from the standpoint of each world. In the literature, (1)–(4) have been rejected as viable options. I grant that (1) and (3) are not viable. However, I believe that (2) and (4) have been too hastily rejected. Herein, I develop ways to respond to objections to (2) and (4), and conclude that (4) is a viable option for Lewisian theists.
Entrepreneurial homeworkers
Authors: Kim Nam Kyoon N. , Parker Simon C.
Published: May 2020

Nearly 40% of British self-employees are homeworkers. Using a large representative sample of the UK longitudinal survey data, we explore the determinants of self-employed homeworking, distinguishing between genders. We reject the notion that homeworking is a transitional entrepreneurial state that the self-employed “grow out of”, while establishing that both employer status and business structure play an important role in predicting which self-employed become homeworkers. Our findings also shed light on two outstanding puzzles in entrepreneurship scholarship: why so few of the self-employed create jobs for others, and why on average the self-employed suffer an earnings penalty compared with employees.
Exploring the Bimodal Solar System via Sample Return from the Main Asteroid Belt: The Case for Revisiting Ceres
Authors: Burbine Thomas H. , Greenwood Richard C.
Published: May 2020

Sample return from a main-belt asteroid has not yet been attempted, but appears technologically feasible. While the cost implications are significant, the scientific case for such a mission appears overwhelming. As suggested by the “Grand Tack” model, the structure of the main belt was likely forged during the earliest stages of Solar System evolution in response to migration of the giant planets. Returning samples from the main belt has the potential to test such planet migration models and the related geochemical and isotopic concept of a bimodal Solar System.

Isotopic studies demonstrate distinct compositional differences between samples believed to be derived from the outer Solar System (CC or carbonaceous chondrite group) and those that are thought to be derived from the inner Solar System (NC or non-carbonaceous group). These two groups are separated on relevant isotopic variation diagrams by a clear compositional gap. The interface between these two regions appears to be broadly coincident with the present location of the asteroid belt, which contains material derived from both groups.

The Hayabusa mission to near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (25143) Itokawa has shown what can be learned from a sample-return mission to an asteroid, even with a very small amount of sample. One scenario for main-belt sample return involves a spacecraft launching a projectile that strikes an object and flying through the debris cloud, which would potentially allow multiple bodies to be sampled if a number of projectiles are used on different asteroids. Another scenario is the more traditional method of landing on an asteroid to obtain the sample.

A significant range of main-belt asteroids are available as targets for a sample-return mission and such a mission would represent a first step in mineralogically and isotopically mapping the asteroid belt. We argue that a sample-return mission to the asteroid belt does not necessarily have to return material from both the NC and CC groups to viably test the bimodal Solar System paradigm, as material from the NC group is already abundantly available for study. Instead, there is overwhelming evidence that we have a very incomplete suite of CC-related samples.

Based on our analysis, we advocate a dedicated sample-return mission to the dwarf planet (1) Ceres as the best means of further exploring inherent Solar System variation. Ceres is an ice-rich world that may be a displaced trans-Neptunian object. We almost certainly do not have any meteorites that closely resemble material that would be brought back from Ceres. The rich heritage of data acquired by the Dawn mission makes a sample-return mission from Ceres logistically feasible at a realistic cost. No other potential main-belt target is capable of providing as much insight into the early Solar System as Ceres. Such a mission should be given the highest priority by the international scientific community.
Formulation of non-coaxial plastic dissipation and stress–dilatancy relations for geomaterials
Authors: Tsegaye Anteneh Biru , Benz Thomas , Nordal Steinar
Published: May 2020

Stress–dilatancy theories play a central role in the modeling of the plastic dissipation of geomaterials. There exist several mathematical frameworks for describing the stress–dilatancy behavior of soils. One of the limiting assumptions often introduced is coaxiality between principal directions of stresses and plastic strain increments. However, experimental evidences suggest that this assumption is generally invalid for the deformation behavior of granular materials. In this paper, non-coaxial stress–dilatancy framework is developed first in axis symmetric, plane strain and then for general stress–strain conditions. To facilitate the use of the stress–dilatancy framework for cyclic loading conditions, loading and unloading are explicitly considered in the development of the framework. Furthermore, a possible way of establishing the evolution of the degree of non-coaxiality in plane strain and axis symmetric cases is presented. Then the approach is applied to selected yield functions.
Capital, rules or conflict? Factors affecting livelihood-strategies, infrastructure-resilience, and livelihood-vulnerability in the polders of Bangladesh
Authors: Nath Sanchayan , van Laerhoven Frank , Driessen Peter , Nadiruzzaman Md.
Published: May 2020

Coastal regions are most susceptible to the effects of climate change. To increase infrastructure-resilience of such regions, reduce livelihood-vulnerability of people living in such regions and equip them with appropriate livelihood strategies, governments have invested heavily in coastal infrastructure such as polders. This research is focused on the polders of Bangladesh. The effectiveness of Bangladesh’s polders is disputed. No large-scale, evaluative, quantitative analysis of polders has yet been conducted. There is also only a limited number of evaluative studies on the factors which affect livelihood strategies, livelihood-vulnerability or infrastructure-resilience in polders. Therefore, the research question guiding this research is: What factors affect livelihood strategies, infrastructure-resilience, and livelihood-vulnerability in the polders of Bangladesh? These questions are answered by drawing on propositions from the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) using statistical analysis of a dataset of 137 polders. This dataset has been created from 76 survey-based interviews, secondary research and geo-spatial analysis. It is hypothesized that under different contextual settings, different combinations of livelihood resource endowments, lead to different combinations of livelihood strategies. These combinations of livelihood strategies lead to different outcomes after being moderated by different institutional, and political settings, under different contextual settings. This research demonstrates that various kinds of conflict-related and rule-making variables affect sustainability outcomes. Relationships proposed by the SLA are statistically significant and are generalizable across a large number of heterogeneous sites. Geological, geomorphological, climatic and hydrological conditions also affect livelihood decisions of polder-residents and also affect the condition of polder-infrastructure.
Investigation of beetle species that carry the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle, in China
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Fengmao , Wang Lichao , Li Min
Published: May 2020

In order to found new carriers of pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, beetles were collected from pine wilt disease-affected areas in six provinces in China.
A total of 8830 beetles of 29 species was collected and examined to determine whether they were PWN carriers. Eight species were identified as carriers. Results included the first worldwide report of Monochamus nigromaculatus, Semanotus sinoauster, and Uraecha angusta being carriers of PWN, and the first report from China of Arhopalus rusticus carrying PWN. Monochamus alternatus was commonly collected in all six provinces and was the dominant species in four inland affected areas and A. rusticus was dominant in two coastal affected areas.
The species varied between different neighboring regions in the same province. The distribution of the same species varied considerably over different regions.
Performance enhancement of axial concurrent liquid–liquid hydrocyclone separator through optimization of the swirler vane angle
Authors: Al-Kayiem Hussain H. , Hamza Jaseer E. , Lemmu Tamiru A.
Published: May 2020

Vane angle configuration is considerably affecting the internal flow behavior and separation performance of a concurrent axial inlet liquid–liquid hydrocyclone. This study was carried out to improve the design of the swirl generator by optimizing the vane’s deflection angle in an oil/water axial inlet hydrocyclone separator. Angles ranging from 37° to 75° were examined at various operational conditions, including mixture temperature, mixture flow rate, and water-to-oil ratio. Two analysis techniques have been coupled to achieve the aim. First, design of experiment by the response surface method was utilized to generate a combination of run/boundary conditions of swirler vane angles, inlet mixture temperatures, flow rates, and concentrations. The obtained 15 run/boundary conditions were adopted as cases for computational fluid dynamics simulation to determine the separation efficiency, tangential velocity and pressure drop of each case using ANSYS Fluent software. The optimization results show that the swirl generator with a 45° deflection angle generated slightly higher tangential velocity compared with higher and lower vane deflection angles. The separation efficiency obtained by using the 45° swirl generator was higher than other angles, in spite that the turbulence intensity is slightly higher at 45° compared to other vane angles.
Mesoporous Ce–Zr mixed oxides for selective oxidation of styrene in liquid phase
Authors: Reddy P. R. G. Nallappa , Rao Bolla Govinda , Rao Tumula Venkateshwar , Reddy Benjaram M.
Published: May 2020

This work reports the synthesis of mesoporous Ce1-x-ZrxO2-δ (x = 0.5 and 0.8) mixed oxides with distinct Ce/Zr mole ratio by inverse micelle template method and their catalytic exploration for epoxidation of styrene in isopropanol solvent using TBHP as the oxidant. Among various catalysts investigated, the Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 combination catalyst exhibited best catalytic activity with ~ 98% conversion and ~ 90% selectivity to styrene epoxide. The synthesized Ce–Zr mixed oxide catalysts were characterized by various state-of-the-art techniques. Characterization studies revealed that Ce/Zr mole ratio has an imperative influence on the physicochemical properties such as surface area, oxygen vacancy concentration, and redox nature. Interestingly, catalytic efficiency was significantly improved with the increase of Ce and decrease of Zr content in the Ce–Zr mixed oxides. Catalytic efficiency and distribution of the products for styrene oxidation under various conditions such as reaction time, solvent, temperature, and styrene to TBHP mole ratio were also evaluated. Reusability of the highly active Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 mixed oxide catalyst was also demonstrated.
Molecular identification of slow rusting resistance Lr46/Yr29 gene locus in selected triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivars
Authors: Skowrońska Roksana , Tomkowiak Agnieszka , Nawracała Jerzy , Kwiatek Michał T.
Published: May 2020

Recently, leaf rust and yellow rust caused by the fungi Puccinia triticina Erikss. and P. striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici Eriks and Henn are diseases of increasing threat in triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack, AABBRR, 2n = 6x = 42) growing areas. The use of genetic resistance is considered the most economical, effective and environmentally friendly method to control the disease and minimize the use of fungicides. Currently, breeding programs mainly relied on race-specific Lr and Yr genes (R), but new races of the rust fungi frequently defeat resistance. There is a small group of genes that causes partial type of resistance (PR) that are characterized by a slow epidemic build up despite a high infection type. In wheat slow rusting resistance genes displayed longer latent periods, low infection frequencies, smaller pustule size and less spore production. Slow rusting Lr46/Yr29 gene, located on chromosome 1B, is being exploited in many wheat breeding programs. So far, there is no information about slow rusting genes in triticale. This paper showed significant differences between the results of identification of wheat molecular markers Xwmc44 and csLV46G22 associated with Lr46/Yr29 in twenty triticale cultivars, which were characterized by high levels of field resistance to leaf and yellow rust. The csLV46G22res marker has been identified in the following cultivars: Kasyno, Mamut and Puzon. Belcanto and Kasyno showed the highest resistance levels in three-year (2016–2018), leaf and yellow rust severity tests under post-registration variety testing program (PDO). Leaf tip necrosis, a phenotypic trait associated with Lr34/Yr18 and Lr46/Yr29 was observed, among others, to Belcanto and Kasyno, which showed the highest resistance for leaf rust and yellow rust. Kasyno could be considered to have Lr46/Yr29 and can be used as a source of slow rust resistance in breeding and importantly as a component of gene pyramiding in triticale.
A Six Parameters Beta Distribution with Application for Modeling Waiting Time of Muslim Early Morning Prayer
Authors: Alshkaki Rafid S. A.
Published: May 2020

Beta distribution is a well-known and widely used distribution for modeling and analyzing lifetime data, due to its interesting characteristics. In this paper, a six parameters beta distribution is introduced as a generalization of the two (standard) and the four parameters beta distributions. This distribution is closed under scaling and exponentiation, and has reflection symmetry property, has some well-known distributions as special cases, such as, the two and four parameters beta, generalized modification of the Kumaraswamy, generalized beta of the first kind, the power function, Kumaraswamy power function, Minimax, exponentiated Pareto, and the generalized uniform distributions. Its moments about the origin, moment generating function, incomplete moments, mean deviations, are derived. The maximum likelihood estimation method is used for estimating its parameters and applied to estimate the parameters of the six different simulated data sets of this distribution, in order to check the performance of the estimation method through the estimated parameters mean squares errors computed from the different simulated sample sizes. Finally, two real life data sets, represent the waiting period of Muslim worshipers from the time of entering the mosque till the actual time of starting Alfajir pray in two different mosques, were used to illustrate the usefulness and the flexibility of this distribution, as well as, presents better fitting than the other gamma, exponential, the four parameters beta, and the generalized beta of the first kind distributions
Notice-and-Comment Rulemaking in Comparative Perspective: Some Conceptual and Practical Implications
Authors: BASE Graciela
Published: May 2020

Public participation in administrative rulemaking is typically embodied in notice-and-comment procedures essentially mandating the publication of a proposed rule and an opportunity for the public to submit comments thereon prior to its adoption. This article presents a comparative analysis of the notice-and-comment regimes under the Philippine Administrative Code (PAC) and the United States’ Administrative Procedure Act (APA). In stark contrast to the Philippine legal framework which renders compliance with the notice-and-comment procedure practically discretionary on the part of the agency, the APA prescribes the conduct of notice-and-comment as a general rule, and courts rigorously police agencies’ compliance with the procedure. This article argues that the mandatory (or discretionary) nature of the notice-and-comment mechanism impinges on the efficacy of procedural challenges to administrative rules, the standard of judicial review applied to agency statutory interpretation, and the statutory creation of public norms. The article hopes to inspire a re-evaluation of the Philippine framework while providing valuable lessons to other jurisdictions with similar legal architectures.