bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transient analysis of three‐dimensional dynamic interaction between multilayered soil and rigid foundation
Authors: Han Zejun , Yang Linqing , Fang Hongyuan , Zhang Jin
Published: May 2020

The study of dynamic soil‐structure interaction is significant to civil engineering applications, such as machine foundation vibration, traffic‐induced vibration, and seismic dynamic response. The scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is a semi‐analytical algorithm, which is used to solve the dynamic response of a three‐dimensional infinite soil. It can automatically satisfy the radiation boundary condition at infinity. Based on the dynamic stiffness matrix equation obtained by the modified SBFEM, a continued fraction algorithm is proposed to solve the dynamic stiffness matrix of layered soil in the frequency‐domain. Then, the SBFEM was coupled with the finite element method (FEM) at the interface to solve the dynamic stiffness matrices of the rigid surface/buried foundation. Finally, the mixed‐variable algorithm was used to solve the three‐dimensional transient dynamic response of the foundation in the time domain. Numerical examples were performed to verify the accuracy of the proposed algorithm in solving the dynamic stiffness matrix of the infinite domain in the frequency domain and the dynamic transient displacement response of the foundation in the time domain. Compared with the previous numerical integration technique, the dynamic stiffness matrix in the frequency domain calculated by using the proposed algorithm has higher accuracy and higher efficiency.
An epidemiological study of a patient population, triage category allocations and principal diagnosis within the emergency centres of a private healthcare group in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Dippenaar Enrico
Published: May 2020

Aim

To describe, compare and correlate the number of patients seen, their demographics, triage category allocations and principal diagnosis in four emergency centres; to better understand the patient population and triage practices in this setting.

Design

An observational, cross‐sectional, epidemiological study.

Methods

Electronic medical records were retrospectively evaluated from patients triaged in each of the four emergency centres over six months. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient demographics and variance between triage category allocations.

Results

A total of 56,984 patient records were captured, with an equal gender split and the workforce being the largest patient population (20–50 years). Acute upper respiratory infection was the most prolific diagnosis, and lower acuity triage categories were allocated the most. There were inconsistencies in the application of triage systems between the emergency centres, the most obvious being the variance in triage system selection and application.
Badger vaccination in England: Progress, operational effectiveness and participant motivations
Authors: Benton Clare H. , Phoenix Jess , Smith Freya A. P. , Robertson Andrew , McDonald Robbie A. , Wilson Gavin , Delahay Richard J.
Published: May 2020

In 2010 a vaccine was licensed for use in badgers in the United Kingdom to reduce the severity of Mycobacterium bovis infection, and hence the risks of onward transmission to cattle. National legislation was enacted to allow its deployment by lay persons, but the efficiency and feasibility of badger vaccination has been the subject of ongoing debate.

We conducted quantitative analysis on badger vaccination records and undertook interviews and participant observation on a sample of vaccination project participants in order to investigate (a) progress in the deployment of badger vaccination in England, (b) the trapping efficiency and coverage achieved by non‐government groups, (c) motivations of participants involved in vaccination projects and (d) barriers to wider implementation.

Between 2010 and 2015 the number and distribution of vaccine deployment projects increased substantially, spreading from two to 17 English counties.

Estimates of badger trapping efficiency for non‐government groups did not differ from those achieved by highly experienced government operatives. Our estimate of vaccine coverage (i.e. the average proportion of the target badger population vaccinated during an operation) was 57% (range 48%–63%).

Interviews and participant observation revealed a range of motivations among individuals involved in badger vaccination including disease control, demonstration of an alternative to badger culling and personal or professional development. Barriers to wider adoption of badger vaccination expressed by interviewees related primarily to a perceived lack of confidence among farmers and landowners in the effectiveness of badger vaccination for bTB control, but also to the limited availability of funding.

Our study suggests that badger vaccination led by non‐governmental groups is practically feasible, and may achieve levels of coverage consistent with disease control benefits. Wider uptake of badger vaccination across England might potentially be achieved by addressing the knowledge gap of the effect of badger vaccination on cattle TB, working closely with farmers and vets to better communicate the evidence base (in order to increase confidence in badger vaccination as a viable disease management approach), and by increased financial support for new initiatives and the scaling up of existing projects.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
A spatial analysis of childhood cancer and industrial air pollution in a metropolitan area of Colombia
Authors: Valbuena‐Garcia Ana Maria , Rodriguez‐Villamizar Laura Andrea , Uribe‐Pérez Claudia Janeth , Moreno‐Corzo Feisar Enrique , Ortiz‐Martinez Rafael Gustavo
Published: May 2020

Background

Air pollutants are considered carcinogenic to humans. In some European countries, an association between industrial air pollution and childhood cancer has been established. This relationship has not been addressed in Latin America, despite the spatial variability of air pollutants that may limit the extrapolation of the results to other geographical areas.

Objective

To conduct a spatial analysis of the relationship between childhood cancer and proximity to industrial sources of air pollution in a metropolitan area of Colombia.

Methods

Incident cases of childhood cancers were obtained from the Population‐based Cancer Registry of the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga during 2000‐2015. Local and focused cluster tests were used for the detection of spatial clusters, and the Poisson multivariable model was used to evaluate the combined effects of spatial variables.

Results

The Kulldorff's focused test found a significant spatial cluster (P < 0.001) around one industrial agglomerate and the multivariable model results suggests that the distance effect is modified by the directional effect of the wind.

Conclusion

A spatial cluster of incident cases of childhood cancer occurred in the municipality of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Our finding supports the hypothesis that childhood cancer might be related with industrial air pollution exposure in a Latin American city.
Effective enhancement of selectivities and capacities for CO2 over CH4 and N2 of polymers of intrinsic microporosity via postsynthesis metalation
Authors: Ling Honglei , Qazvini Omid T. , Telfer Shane G. , Jin Jianyong
Published: May 2020

A series of metalized C‐PIM‐M (M = Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, PIMs = polymers of intrinsic microporosity) materials were prepared from a carboxyl‐functionalized PIM (C‐PIMs). The C‐PIM‐Na exhibited a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 2.44 mmol/g and extreme low CH4 uptake of 0.28 mmol/g at 273 K and 101 kPa among three metallated PIMs. It showed remarkably high CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 selectivities at both 273 and 293 K due to an advantageous pore‐blocking effect of Na+ cation.
Disclosure of water roles in gliding arc plasma reforming of methanol for hydrogen production
Authors: Lian Hao‐Yu , Liu Jing‐Lin , Li Xiao‐Song , Zhu Ai‐Min
Published: May 2020

To disclose water roles in plasma reforming of methanol for hydrogen production, gliding arc discharge characteristics, optical emission spectra, and reaction behavior are investigated over a water concentration range of 0–95 mol%. It can be concluded that the varied reaction behavior with water concentration derives from three water roles as a homogeneous catalyst, CO oxidant, and side‐product. The former two roles of water are beneficial for hydrogen production. The side‐product role of water, accompanied by hydrocarbons formation, which is disadvantageous to hydrogen production and can be almost fully inhibited by the homogeneous catalysis of water at above 33 mol% H2O. As an oxidant, water conversion is controlled by the thermodynamic equilibrium at the gas temperature of arc.
Effect of Pre‐Strain Aging on the Microdamage Properties of Composite Solid Propellant
Authors: Zhou Dong‐Mo , Wu Han‐Xu , Liu Xiang‐Yang , Zhang Peng‐Jun , Wang Hui‐Yuan
Published: May 2020

Accelerated aging tests under pre‐strain were conducted on HTPB‐based composite solid propellant with the goal of investigating the effect of pre‐strain aging on its microdamage properties. The tensile fracture morphologies, stress‐strain curve and dissipative energy density of propellant samples were analyzed. Results showed that there was no obvious dewetting macroscopically when the pre‐strain was less than 9 %, but the pre‐strain can still cause microdamage of propellant interface. The microdamage of propellant interface can be characterized by the critical dewetting strain, corresponded to pre‐strain by a linear law. The bonding performance between HTPB propellant matrix and solid filler was mainly affected by aging temperature. There was a critical temperature TC, For the HTPB propellant investigated in this study, the TC is between 65 °C and 70 °C. When aging temperature is below TC, there was no significant decrease in the overall levels of dissipated energy density, but decrease began significantly when the aging temperature is above TC.
Detrimental sublethal effects hamper the effective use of natural and chemical pesticides in combination with a key natural enemy of Bemisia tabaci on tomato
Authors: Soares Marianne A , Carvalho Geraldo A , Campos Mateus R , Passos Luis C , Haro Marcelo M , Lavoir Anne‐Violette , Biondi Antonio , Zappalà Lucia , Desneux Nicolas
Published: May 2020

Background

Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) represents one of the greatest threats to agricultural crops. Chemical control is the primary tool used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. However, release of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) on tomato plants is a highly recommended control tactic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial borax plus citrus oil (BCO) product against B. tabaci in the presence and absence of N. tenuis. The synthetic insecticide lambda‐cyhalothrin was used as a positive control. We also evaluated the sublethal effects of BCO on the behavior and predation rate of N. tenuis.

Results

Our results demonstrated that BCO, alone and at its maximum recommended field rate for B. tabaci, was not effective in controlling the pest under laboratory conditions. Application of BCO simultaneous with N. tenuis release did not reduce the increase in the B. tabaci population. Effective control of B. tabaci was achieved using only N. tenuis. However, synthetic lambda‐cyhalothrin pyrethroid, used here as a control, caused high pest mortality and led to on‐site extinction of N. tenuis, which did not occur for insects exposed to BCO. Lambda‐cyhalothrin and BCO significantly affected the foraging behavior of N. tenuis, reducing the predation rate, especially following exposure to lambda‐cyhalothrin.

Conclusion

The insecticide lambda‐cyhalothrin achieved satisfactory results in suppressing B. tabaci, but was harmful to N. tenuis. Additionally, lambda‐cyhalothrin and BCO affected predator behavior. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
8‐Amido‐BODIPYs: Synthesis, Structure and Optical Properties Illustrating Amine to Amide, Blue to Green Emission
Authors: Saucedo Laura I. , Roacho Robinson I. , Tu Peiyu , Metta‐Magaña Alejandro J. , Belmonte‐Vázquez José L. , Peña‐Cabrera Eduardo , Pannell Keith H.
Published: May 2020

Treatment of 8‐NH2‐BODIPY, 1 a, (BODIPY=boron, difluoro[2‐[(2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ylidene‐κN)methyl]‐1H‐pyrrolato‐κN]‐) with NaH, followed by addition of acylchlorides, R.‐C(=O)Cl, R=CH3, CH2Cl, Ph, produces the corresponding 8‐amido‐BODIPYs, RC(=O)NH‐BODIPYs in good yield, R=Me, 2 (62 %); ClCH2, 3 (52 %); Ph, 4 (74 %). Structural and spectroscopic analyses indicate a lack of N‐lone pair delocalization to the BODIPY core (normally exhibited by the parent 8‐amino‐BODIPYs) as a result of the BODIPY‐NH+=CR‐O− contribution to the amide structure. The new materials 2, 3, and 4 exhibit C8‐N bond lengths significantly longer than the those in related 8‐amino‐BODIPYs, average 1.407 Å vs 1.327 Å; and the N‐Cacyl bond lengths in the region associated with regular amides, average 1.38 Å. This lack of 8‐N‐BODIPY pi interaction results in a significant bathochromic shift in the absorbance spectra (modelled by empirically corrected Time Dependent‐Density Functional Theory (TD‐DFT) calculations) and removes the well‐established blue emission for 8‐amino‐BODIPYs and the new materials revert to the “normal” green emission generally noted for 8‐substituted‐BODIPYs.
Synthesis and Oxidation Reactions of Thiazol‐2‐thione‐fused 1,4‐Dihydro‐1,4‐diphosphinines
Authors: Begum Imtiaz , Schnakenburg Gregor , Streubel Rainer
Published: May 2020

Backbone (Et2N)2P‐substituted thiazol‐2‐thione 2 [(Et2N)2P‐THSMe; THSMe=3‐methylthiazol‐2‐thione‐5‐yl] was employed in a stepwise reaction to access thiazol‐2‐thione‐fused tricyclic 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐diphosphinines 5 a,a’ {–[P(Et2N)THSMe]2; optimization efforts led to excellent yields of 5 a,a’ if LDA was used as the base. The same protocol could be exploited to access P‐Ph derivatives 5 c,c’‐d,d’ {–[P(Ph)THSR]2. Oxidation reactions of 5 a,a’ using H2O2‐urea, sulfur and grey selenium furnished the bis(P‐oxides) 6,6’, bis(P‐sulfides) 7,7’, and bis(P‐selenides) 8,8’, respectively. Reaction of 5 a,a’ with o‐chloranil led stereoselectively to bis(spirophosphorane) derivatives 9,9’.
A Tungstate Chemical Garden
Authors: Pimentel Carlos , Cartwright Julyan H. E. , Sainz‐Díaz C. Ignacio
Published: May 2020

Tungstate chemical gardens have been prepared for the first time. The synthesis was carried out using cobalt(II) chloride and sodium tungstate. The reaction occurred in three steps: chimney formation, swelling, and upwelling of the chemical garden. This result opens the door to a new variety of materials.
Effects of sex, race, ethnicity, and education on online aging research participation
Authors: Ashford Miriam T. , Eichenbaum Joseph , Williams Tirzah , Camacho Monica R. , Fockler Juliet , Ulbricht Aaron , Flenniken Derek , Truran Diana , Mackin R. Scott , Weiner Michael W. , Nosheny Rachel L.
Published: May 2020

Introduction

This study aimed to identify the relationship of sociodemographic variables with older adults participation in an online registry for recruitment and longitudinal assessment in cognitive aging.

Methods

Using Brain Health Registry (BHR) data, associations between sociodemographic variables (sex, race, ethnicity, education) and registry participation outcomes (task completion, willingness to participate in future studies, referral/enrollment in other studies) were examined in adults aged 55+ (N = 35,919) using logistic regression. All models included sex, race, ethnicity, education, age, and subjective memory concern.

Results

Non‐white race, being Latino, and lower educational attainment were associated with decreased task completion and enrollment in additional studies. Results for sex were mixed.

Discussion

The findings provide novel information about engagement in online aging‐related registries, and highlight a need to develop improved engagement strategies targeting underrepresented sociodemographic groups. Increasing registry diversity will allow researchers to refer more representative populations to Alzheimer's and related dementias prevention and treatment trials.
Giving Is More Rewarding Than Taking
Authors: Chen Buyun
Published: May 2020

S, male, born in 1992. The only child in the family. Grade IV intellectual disability. Graduated from a regular school (Shanghai Vocational School of Baoshan District). Started working at Shanghai Papa John’s in 2015. Started working as a warehouse administrator at a 4S car shop in September 2017.
Holography, matrix factorizations and K-stability
Authors: Fazzi Marco , Tomasiello Alessandro
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Placing D3-branes at conical Calabi-Yau threefold singularities produces many AdS5/CFT4 duals. Recent progress in differential geometry has produced a technique (called K-stability) to recognize which singularities admit conical Calabi-Yau metrics. On the other hand, the algebraic technique of non-commutative crepant resolutions, involving matrix factorizations, has been developed to associate a quiver to a singularity. In this paper, we put together these ideas to produce new AdS5/CFT4 duals, with special emphasis on non-toric singularities.
Estrogenic activity of food contact materials—evaluation of 20 chemicals using a yeast estrogen screen on HPTLC or 96-well plates
Authors: Bergmann Alan J. , Simon Eszter , Schifferli Andrea , Schönborn Andreas , Vermeirssen Etiënne L. M.
Published: May 2020

Food contact materials (FCM) may contain complex mixtures of estrogenic chemicals. A yeast estrogen screen performed on high performance thin-layer chromatography plates (planar-YES, P-YES) is promising for analysis of such mixtures, as it could allow for better elucidation of effects compared with established methods in microtiter plates. However, the P-YES has not been directly compared with established methods. We compared the performance of a microtiter plate YES (lyticase-YES, L-YES) to P-YES on silica gel HPTLC plates using 17β-estradiol (E2), 20 chemicals representative of migrants from plastic FCM, and three migrates of coated metal food cans. Effective doses (ED10, ED50) and estradiol equivalencies were calculated for each chemical. Thirteen chemicals had calculable EDs in the L-YES or P-YES, with average EDs 13-fold (range 0.63–36) more potent in P-YES than in the L-YES. Normalized to E2, the median estrogenicity was within 1.5-fold (0.43–8.8) between the assays. Therefore, P-YES was as or more sensitive than L-YES but potencies relative to E2 were comparable between assays. With chromatography, the P-YES detected estrogenicity in coated metal cans, effects that were unmeasurable in L-YES. With the sample preparation methods used in this study, both YES assays are sufficiently sensitive to detect bisphenol A below the specific migration limit for plastic packaging (0.05 mg/kg food). This study demonstrates that P-YES outperforms L-YES because it is more sensitive, provides comparable estradiol equivalents, and circumvents confounding mixture effects. The P-YES will be useful for routine monitoring of FCM and toxicant identification in problematic materials.
Remission of ulcerative colitis flare-up induced by nivolumab
Authors: Iwamoto Maho , Kato Kimitoshi , Moriyama Mitsuhiko , Yamaguchi Kenya , Takahashi Satoru
Published: May 2020

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been used to treat many cancers, but ICIs are rarely administered for malignant tumours coexisting with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods and results

We report a 77-year-old man experiencing an ulcerative colitis (UC) flare-up after receiving nivolumab as third-line therapy for multiple metastases of renal cell carcinoma. Mild UC (proctitis form) had been diagnosed at age 59 years and remission was maintained for 17 years with only a low dose of 5-ASA. After nivolumab treatment, the patient developed diarrhoea, bloody stools and was hospitalised. Computed tomography revealed inflammation involving the entire colon and endoscopy revealed severe UC exacerbation. Histological analysis showed UC findings and also increased crypt apoptosis which is unusual for inflammatory bowel diseases, while being typical of ICI-induced colitis. As with ICI-induced colitis, this exacerbation was strongly suggested to have been caused by nivolumab, although remission was achieved by increasing the 5-ASA dose to 4000 mg without prednisolone.

Conclusion

The administration of ICI for UC is not as yet sufficiently safe and further research is required.
How expensive are post-traumatic stress disorders? Estimating incremental health care and economic costs on anonymised claims data
Authors: Bothe Tim , Jacob Josephine , Kröger Christoph , Walker Jochen
Published: May 2020

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) pose a high burden for individuals and societies. Although prevalence rates are rather low, high co-occurrence rates and overall impairments cause deleterious suffering and significant costs. Still, no long-term data on costs and trends in cost developments are available.

Methods

Claims data from a German research database were analysed regarding direct and indirect costs occurring for individuals with incident diagnoses of PTSD. Results were compared to non-exposed average insurants matched on age and gender. Costs were analysed over a 5-year period from 2 years preceding until 3 years following an incident diagnosis of PTSD.

Results

Overall costs for PTSD account for approximately 43,000 EUR per individual, which is three times higher than costs for non-exposed controls. Of these costs, 59% are caused by mental disorders, 18% specifically by PTSD. In the control group, costs for mental disorders account for 19% of total costs. Costs increase by 142% in the year after an incident diagnosis of PTSD but return to the initial level 2 years later. Still, costs are at least twice as high in every year as in those for the comparison group.

Conclusions

Individuals with PTSD seem to suffer from far more impairments in their general health conditions and incur many more costs than average insurants. Most of these seem to be caused by co-occurring mental disorders and show their maximum in the index year. Nevertheless, as costs decrease to their initial level, treatments seem to have counterbalanced the impairments due to PTSD. Thus, treatments for PTSD can be considered as beneficial and their cost-effectiveness should be further investigated.
Fundamental Theorem of Asset Pricing under fixed and proportional transaction costs
Authors: Brown Martin , Zastawniak Tomasz
Published: May 2020

We show that the absence of arbitrage in a model with both fixed and proportional transaction costs is equivalent to the existence of a family of absolutely continuous single-step probability measures, together with an adapted process with values within the bid-ask intervals that satisfies the martingale property with respect to each of the measures. This extends Harrison and Pliska’s classical Fundamental Theorem of Asset Pricing to the case of combined fixed and proportional transaction costs.
Cardiac imaging procedures and the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations of the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR)
Authors:   Executive Committee of the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR):, Beitzke Dietrich , Salgado Rodrigo , Francone Marco , Kreitner Karl-Friedrich , Natale Luigi , Bremerich Jens , Gutberlet Matthias , Mousseaux Ellie , Nikolaou Konstantin , Peebles Charles , Velthuis Birgitta , Vliegenthart Rozemarijn , Loewe Christian , Emrich Tilman , Luigi Natale , Matthias Gutberlet , Rozemarijn Vliegenthart , Konstantin Nikolaou , Marco Francone , Christian Loewe , Brigitta Velthuis , Rodrigo Salgado , Charles Peebles , Ellie Mousseaux
Published: May 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic currently constitutes a significant burden on worldwide health care systems, with important implications on many levels, including radiology departments. Given the established fundamental role of cardiovascular imaging in modern healthcare, and the specific value of cardiopulmonary radiology in COVID-19 patients, departmental organisation and imaging programs need to be restructured during the pandemic in order to provide access to modern cardiovascular services to both infected and non-infected patients while ensuring safety for healthcare professionals. The uninterrupted availability of cardiovascular radiology services remains, particularly during the current pandemic outbreak, crucial for the initial evaluation and further follow-up of patients with suspected or known cardiovascular diseases in order to avoid unnecessary complications. Suspected or established COVID-19 patients may also have concomitant cardiovascular symptoms and require further imaging investigations. This statement by the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR) provides information on measures for safety of healthcare professionals and recommendations for cardiovascular imaging during the pandemic in both non-infected and COVID-19 patients.
Games of policy and practice: multi-level dynamics and the role of universities in knowledge transfer processes
Authors: Sala Irene , Sobrero Maurizio
Published: May 2020

This paper adopts a multilevel, longitudinal case study approach to analyze universities’ institutional role and their contributions to society. It explores third mission policies and practices enacted within the University of Bologna from 1996 to 2016, presenting a detailed account of their interaction within the university and with regional and national regulatory initiatives. The aim is to highlight the relevance of a joint analysis of three dynamics. The first dynamic relates to how norms and practices oscillate between formal and informal codification and how strategic initiatives, either led from the top down or driven from the bottom up, develop in a non-linear fashion. The second dynamic describes the ways within which the structural definition of roles falls short in providing a full understanding of the changes in policies and attitudes related to knowledge transfer activities and their need to be complemented by a process analysis of the relationships among actors at different levels. The third dynamic relates to how multiple institutional logics evolve and change over time through a combination of dedicated structures and spaces of interaction in which the logics meet, sometimes aligning, sometimes compromising, and sometimes clashing. This three-pronged approach offers a novel contribution to the understanding of how universities interact with close and distant environments and their impacts on society.
Corporate Law Versus Social Autonomy: Law as Social Hazard
Authors: Galanis Michael
Published: May 2020

This article argues that corporate law has become the legal platform upon which is erected a social process impeding society’s capacity to lucidly reflect on its primary ends; in this sense, corporate law is in conflict with social autonomy. This process is described here as a social feedback loop, in the structural centre of which lies the corporation which imposes its own purpose as an irrational social end, i.e. irrespective of its potentially catastrophic social consequences. The article argues that resolving the conflict between corporate law and social autonomy is impossible, because it presupposes a change of social paradigm towards one where corporate law as business organisation law has no obvious fit. This questions the social legitimacy of corporate law, signifies its non-permanence and thus opens up the field for seeking radical alternatives in the future.
Acromegaly, inflammation and cardiovascular disease: a review
Authors: Wolters Thalijn L. C. , Netea Mihai G. , Riksen Niels P. , Hermus Adrianus R. M. M. , Netea-Maier Romana T.
Published: May 2020

Acromegaly is characterized by Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) excess. Uncontrolled acromegaly is associated with a strongly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and numerous cardiovascular risk factors remain present after remission. GH and IGF-1 have numerous effects on the immune and cardiovascular system. Since endothelial damage and systemic inflammation are strongly linked to the development of CVD, and have been suggested to be present in both controlled as uncontrolled acromegaly, they may explain the presence of both micro- and macrovascular dysfunction in these patients. In addition, these changes seem to be only partially reversible after remission, as illustrated by the often reported presence of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular damage in controlled acromegaly. Previous studies suggest that insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction are involved in the development of CVD in acromegaly. Not surprisingly, these processes are associated with systemic inflammation and respond to GH/IGF-1 normalizing treatment.
Towards improving the accuracy of aortic transvalvular pressure gradients: rethinking Bernoulli
Authors: Franke Benedikt , Weese J. , Waechter-Stehle I. , Brüning J. , Kuehne T. , Goubergrits L.
Published: May 2020

The transvalvular pressure gradient (TPG) is commonly estimated using the Bernoulli equation. However, the method is known to be inaccurate. Therefore, an adjusted Bernoulli model for accurate TPG assessment was developed and evaluated. Numerical simulations were used to calculate TPGCFD in patient-specific geometries of aortic stenosis as ground truth. Geometries, aortic valve areas (AVA), and flow rates were derived from computed tomography scans. Simulations were divided in a training data set (135 cases) and a test data set (36 cases). The training data was used to fit an adjusted Bernoulli model as a function of AVA and flow rate. The model-predicted TPGModel was evaluated using the test data set and also compared against the common Bernoulli equation (TPGB). TPGB and TPGModel both correlated well with TPGCFD (r > 0.94), but significantly overestimated it. The average difference between TPGModel and TPGCFD was much lower: 3.3 mmHg vs. 17.3 mmHg between TPGB and TPGCFD. Also, the standard error of estimate was lower for the adjusted model: SEEModel = 5.3 mmHg vs. SEEB = 22.3 mmHg. The adjusted model’s performance was more accurate than that of the conventional Bernoulli equation. The model might help to improve non-invasive assessment of TPG.
Methodische Implikationen verschiedener theoretischer Resilienzmodelle
Authors: Bodi-Fernandez Otto , Fernandez Karina
Published: May 2020

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der Frage nach Möglichkeiten der Operationalisierung des Phänomens, das mit dem Begriff Resilienz beschrieben wird. In der bisherigen Forschung wurden verschiedenste Strategien verfolgt, die ebenso vielseitig sind wie die theoretischen Konzepte und Definitionen des Begriffs. Während etwa viele Arbeiten Resilienz als ein relationales Konstrukt verstehen, das eine bestimmte Beziehung von Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren beschreibt, fassen andere Arbeiten Resilienz als eine Persönlichkeitseigenschaft auf, die auch mehr oder weniger direkt gemessen werden kann. Beide Auffassungen erscheinen methodisch nicht miteinander vereinbar. Des Weiteren weisen sie ihre spezifischen Stärken und Schwächen auf. Anhand der Daten eines im Jahr 2013 durchgeführten Kindersurveys will der Beitrag aufzeigen, welche Implikationen sich aus Resilienzkonzepten für empirisches Material ergeben und welche theoretischen Resilienzmodelle in unterschiedlichen Kontexten empirisch beobachtbar sind. Es wird aufgezeigt, dass bei eventuell nachweisbaren Resilienz-Effekten additive Effekte, Mediatoreffekte und Moderatoreffekte differenziert werden sollten. Wenngleich Moderatoreffekte den gängigen Auffassungen von Resilienz am nächsten kommen, bleibt es letztendlich eine analytisch-definitorische Frage, ab wann von Resilienz gesprochen werden kann.
Micromorphological features of soils formed on calcium carbonate–rich slope deposits in the Polish Carpathians
Authors: Kowalska Joanna Beata , Zaleski Tomasz , Mazurek Ryszard
Published: May 2020

Seven soil profiles developed on calcium carbonate–rich slope deposits in the Polish Carpathians were studied in order to: i) determine the micromorphological features of heterogeneous soils formed in a carbonate depositional environment, and ii) track primary and secondary calcium carbonate forms and their distribution in such stratified soils. Three cases of soils with different arrangements of calcium carbonate were distinguished, controlled mostly by slope processes. For instance, the increasing content and random distribution of angular and subangular rock fragments found in the overall soil matrix and the irregular coarse: fine size limit suggested different intensities of accumulation and mixing of soil material transported along the slope. Slope processes, together with the calcium carbonate content, mineralogical characteristics and texture influenced the type and arrangement of the bfabric pattern. The calcium carbonate distribution within the soils, besides the obvious inheritance from parent material, was governed by the translocation and mixing of deposits on slopes. The climatic conditions prevailing in the area favour the development of secondary forms of calcium carbonate. However, only three of the seven studied profiles contained pedogenic forms of calcium carbonate, yet they were distributed randomly. The occurrence, distribution and preservation of secondary carbonates depended on the content of primary calcium carbonate and soil features such as texture. The transported material down the slope may indicate a very low content of primary calcium or lack thereof, hence its pedogenic forms could not be created.
Comparison of management strategies for the charging schedule and all-electric operation of a plug-in hybrid-electric bi-articulated bus fleet
Authors: Dreier Dennis , Rudin Björn , Howells Mark
Published: May 2020

This study developed a real-time optimisation (RTO) model that uses real-world bus operation data, i.e. route-specific and time-specific driving cycles. Potentials for energy savings and all-electric operation were estimated for a plug-in hybrid-electric bi-articulated bus fleet (PLUG scenario) that can be managed according to different management strategies. Five strategies, A to E, were simulated that manage the charging schedule and all-electric operation with different priorities: PLUG-A, prioritise buses for charging by arrival times at the charging station (first come, first served); PLUG-B, prioritise buses for charging by energy intensities of the bus routes; PLUG-C, minimise the total energy use of the bus fleet; PLUG-D, maximise the total all-electric time of the bus fleet; and PLUG-E, maximise the total all-electric distance of the bus fleet. For comparison, a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario with conventional buses and another scenario with hybrid-electric buses (HYB) were simulated. Two weeks of real-world bus operation data from the city of Curitiba in Brazil were used as input data. The study finds that total energy savings of 17% and 27% in the HYB and PLUG scenarios can be achieved compared to the BAU scenario, respectively. Meanwhile, the average shares of the total all-electric time (TAET) and total all-electric distance (TAED) to the total bus fleet operation amount to 20% and 14% in the HYB scenario. Furthermore, both TAET and TAED in the PLUG scenario depend strongly on the chosen strategy amounting to ranges of 21–64% and 17–61%, respectively. Simultaneous maxima were found for strategy D.
Recent progress and current opinions in Brillouin microscopy for life science applications
Authors: Antonacci Giuseppe , Beck Timon , Bilenca Alberto , Czarske Jürgen , Elsayad Kareem , Guck Jochen , Kim Kyoohyun , Krug Benedikt , Palombo Francesca , Prevedel Robert , Scarcelli Giuliano
Published: May 2020

Many important biological functions and processes are reflected in cell and tissue mechanical properties such as elasticity and viscosity. However, current techniques used for measuring these properties have major limitations, such as that they can often not measure inside intact cells and/or require physical contact—which cells can react to and change. Brillouin light scattering offers the ability to measure mechanical properties in a non-contact and label-free manner inside of objects with high spatial resolution using light, and hence has emerged as an attractive method during the past decade. This new approach, coined “Brillouin microscopy,” which integrates highly interdisciplinary concepts from physics, engineering, and mechanobiology, has led to a vibrant new community that has organized itself via a European funded (COST Action) network. Here we share our current assessment and opinion of the field, as emerged from a recent dedicated workshop. In particular, we discuss the prospects towards improved and more bio-compatible instrumentation, novel strategies to infer more accurate and quantitative mechanical measurements, as well as our current view on the biomechanical interpretation of the Brillouin spectra.
Impact of hydrothermal carbonization on combustion properties of residual biomass
Authors: Hansen Lynn J. , Fendt Sebastian , Spliethoff Hartmut
Published: May 2020

In this study, a series of seven residual biomass feedstock was treated by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at temperatures of 180 °C, 210 °C, 240 °C, and 270 °C and residence times of 0.5 h, 2 h, and 4 h. The processed samples were analyzed with focus on properties that are relevant for the combustion of a fuel. Temperature was found to have the highest impact on fuel properties. HTC has a positive effect on the energy density of the material, increasing lower heating values typically by 10–15% at 180 °C and 47–59% at 270 °C. At the same time, mass yield was decreasing for increasing treatment temperature. The hydrothermal treatment was found to have a profound impact on the inorganic composition of the fuels, lowering significantly the alkali metal and chlorine content while increasing silicon and phosphorous concentrations in the ash. These transformations lead to improvements in ash melting temperatures and in molar S/Cl ratio, an indicator commonly used to assess the risk of high-temperature corrosion in biomass combustion. HTC is also expected to have a positive impact on fine particle emissions upon combustion due to lowered concentrations of elements responsible for aerosol formation after HTC treatment. On the other hand, HTC leads to higher nitrogen contents in the fuel, thereby potentially increasing the risk for higher NOx emissions upon combustion of HTC-treated fuels. Overall, HTC clearly shows a positive effect on combustion properties, but the effects are fuel specific and especially interesting for biogenic waste that originates from lignocellulosic material. Applying the criteria of this study, the fuel properties of sewage sludge could not significantly be improved. For feedstock like this, the advantage of utilizing HTC as treatment lies in improved dewatering, storage, and feedstock logistics.
Perceived Stigma Towards Psychological Illness in Relation to Psychological Distress Among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alfayez Dalal Ibrahim , AlShehri Norah Ali
Published: May 2020

Objective

Due to the high prevalence of psychological distress among medical students and its related functional and cognitive implications, this study aimed to investigate the association between perceived stigma and psychological distress, estimate the prevalence of each level of distress among medical students, and determine the independent significant risk factors of outcome variables for each level of psychological distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed that surveyed medical students at King Saud University in 2018. Using the modified and validated stigma scale for receiving psychological help along with Kessler psychological distress scale, the survey measured perceived stigma towards mental illness in relation to the level of psychological distress.

Results

Among the 524 participants, 395 surveys were completed. Participants had a mean age of 21.56 years old, and 53% were female. The overall prevalence of severe psychological distress was 30.7% (N = 161). Furthermore, 25.6% of participants reported experiencing moderate distress (N = 134). Additionally, a significant association was found between females and severe psychological distress. Moreover, family income was significantly associated with severe psychological distress in the extreme lower and upper groups (5000–10,000 SR and above 20,000 SR). Participants with high levels of psychological distress were more likely than those with low levels to agree or strongly agree with 3 out of 10 items related to perceived stigma.

Conclusions

Medical students with moderate/severe psychological distress disclosed more concerns regarding stigma, particularly about perceived consequences of their mental health issues being revealed to others. Such opinions could cause physical health problems and decrease quality of life.
Who Writes about Archaeology? An Intersectional Study of Authorship in Archaeological Journals
Authors: Heath-Stout Laura E.
Published: May 2020

Since the 1980s, activist archaeologists have used quantitative studies of journal authorship to show that the demographics of archaeological knowledge production are homogeneous. This literature, however, focuses almost exclusively on the gender of archaeologists, without deeply engaging with other forms of identity or adequately addressing the methodological limitations of assigning binary gender identifications based on first names. This paper rectifies these limitations through an intersectional study of inequities in academic archaeological publications by presenting the results of a survey of authors who published in 21 archaeology journals over a 10-year period (2007–2016). This survey asked them to provide their self-identifications in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The results demonstrate that although there has been an influx of women archaeologists in recent decades, we have not yet reached gender parity. They also show that because many women archaeologists are cisgender, white, and heterosexual, the discipline's knowledge producers remain relatively homogeneous. Furthermore, although there is demographic variation between journals, there is a strong correlation between journal prestige and the percentage of authors who are straight, white, cisgender men. This intersectional study of journal authorship demographics provides a comprehensive perspective on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the discipline of archaeology.
Revisiting Bone Grease Rendering in Highly Fragmented Assemblages
Authors: Morin Eugène
Published: May 2020

Bone grease rendering is a low-return activity well described in the ethnohistorical and ethnographic literature. However, identifying this activity in archaeological contexts is complex because diagnostic criteria are few. The goals of this article are twofold: (1) to provide new experimental data on bone grease manufacture for assemblages associated with severe fragmentation, and (2) to assess how these data can be used to make stronger inferences about skeletal fat processing in the archaeological record. The results presented here show that, despite some variation, several forms of damage appear to be diagnostic of bone grease manufacture, regardless of the degree of fragmentation. The results indicate that extensive pounding produces many fragments that can be identified as deriving from articular ends, which conflicts with the oft-cited notion that articular ends are destroyed “beyond recognition” during this activity. Consequently, assemblages with few epiphyseal remains are not consistent with bone grease rendering, assuming that the comminuted fragments were not burned or discarded off-site after boiling. Because bone grease manufacture produces many small fragments, a close analysis of the indeterminate remains is strongly recommended, as is the use of fine mesh screens (2 mm or smaller) in excavations.
Eventually dendric shift spaces
Authors: DOLCE FRANCESCO , PERRIN DOMINIQUE
Published: May 2020

We define a new class of shift spaces which contains a number of classes of interest, like Sturmian shifts used in discrete geometry. We show that this class is closed under two natural transformations. The first one is called conjugacy and is obtained by sliding block coding. The second one is called the complete bifix decoding, and typically includes codings by non-overlapping blocks of fixed length.
Nutritional vulnerability of early zoeal stages of the invasive shrimp Lysmata vittata (Decapoda: Caridea) in the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Barros-Alves Samara de P. , Almeida Andréa Santos e , Almeida Ariádine Cristine de , Costa Rogério Caetano da , Alves Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues
Published: May 2020

Lysmata vittata is considered an invasive shrimp in the Atlantic Ocean and some characteristics might have contributed to its invasive success, such as its larval nutritional vulnerability during the early stages of development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the early larval stages of the shrimp L. vittata. Ovigerous specimens were captured in an estuarine region of north-eastern Brazil. Zoeae were assigned to two experiments: (1) the point of no return (PNR), consisting of treatments with an increasing number of days of starvation and subsequent days of feeding; and (2) the point of reserve saturation (PRS), consisting of treatments with an increasing number of days of feeding and subsequent days of starvation. Two control groups were considered: continuous starvation (CS) and continuous feeding (CF). Nutritional vulnerability was estimated by the time when 50% of the initially starved larvae (PNR50) lost the ability to moult to the next stage, when 50% of the initially fed larvae (PRS50) were capable of moulting to the next stage. In the CF, the mean development time (±SD) of the larvae that reached stage III was 4.36 ± 0.74 days with a mortality of 70%, and the mean carapace length (±SD) was 0.61 ± 0.04 mm CL. The PNR50 and PRS50 were 2.42 ± 0.14 and 1.32 ± 0.83 days, respectively. The nutritional vulnerability index (PRS50/PNR50 = 0.54) indicates that L. vittata presents intermediate dependence on exogenous food during the early larval stages, which might help our understanding of the invasive potential of this species in the Atlantic Ocean.
Messenger RNAs with large numbers of upstream open reading frames are translated via leaky scanning and reinitiation in the asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Kaur Chhaminder , Kumar Mayank , Patankar Swati
Published: May 2020

The genome of Plasmodium falciparum has one of the most skewed base-pair compositions of any eukaryote, with an AT content of 80–90%. As start and stop codons are AT-rich, the probability of finding upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) is high and parasite mRNAs have an average of 11 uORFs in their leader sequences. Similar to other eukaryotes, uORFs repress the translation of the downstream open reading frame (dORF) in P. falciparum, yet the parasite translation machinery is able to bypass these uORFs and reach the dORF to initiate translation. This can happen by leaky scanning and/or reinitiation.

In this report, we assessed leaky scanning and reinitiation by studying the effect of uORFs on the translation of a dORF, in this case, the luciferase reporter gene, and showed that both mechanisms are employed in the asexual blood stages of P. falciparum. Furthermore, in addition to the codon usage of the uORF, translation of the dORF is governed by the Kozak sequence and length of the uORF, and inter-cistronic distance between the uORF and dORF. Based on these features whole-genome data was analysed to uncover classes of genes that might be regulated by uORFs. This study indicates that leaky scanning and reinitiation appear to be widespread in asexual stages of P. falciparum, which may require modifications of existing factors that are involved in translation initiation in addition to novel, parasite-specific proteins.