bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the construct validity of a soccer-specific virtual reality simulator using novice, academy, and professional soccer players
Authors: Wood G. , Wright D. J. , Harris D. , Pal A. , Franklin Z. C. , Vine S. J.
Published: April 2020

Virtual reality (VR) provides the potential for immersive and engaging training solutions for improving sport performance. However, if VR training is to be adopted and used in an effective and evidence-based fashion, a more rigorous assessment of the validity of the simulation is required. Construct validity is the degree to which the simulation provides an accurate representation of core features of the task. In the context of sport, if the training drills in the VR environment are a true representation of the skills needed in the real world, then those that excel at the sport in the real world should also excel in the virtual one. In this experiment, we examined the construct validity of a soccer-specific VR simulator by recruiting professional, academy, and novice players. Seventeen participants in each group completed four VR soccer drills, and the VR software provided scores relating to performance and process (e.g., passing accuracy, composure, reaction time, and adaptability). Based on these scores, an algorithm gave a diagnostic score relating to the predicted ability of the player. Results showed that this VR platform successfully differentiated between participants of differing skill levels. These results provide some support for the construct validity of this VR simulator and suggest at least partial overlap between the perceptual-cognitive and motor skills needed to perform well across ‘real’ and virtual environments. Further work is needed to explore the validity and fidelity of the simulation before its adoption as a training device can be fully endorsed.
Technology for the People? Humanity as a Compass for the Digital Transformation
Authors: Franke Thomas , Zoubir Mourad
Published: April 2020

How do we define what technology is for humans? One perspective suggests that it is a tool enabling the use of valuable resources such as time, food, health and mobility. One could say that in its cultural history, humanity has developed a wide range of artefacts which enable the effective utilisation of these resources for the fulfilment of physiological, but also psychological, needs. This paper explores how this perspective may be used as an orientation for future technological innovation. Hence, the goal is to provide an accessible discussion of such a psychological perspective on technology development that could pave the way towards a truly human-centred digital transformation.
Digitalisierung und die Zukunft der Arbeit
Authors: Arntz Melanie , Gregory Terry , Zierahn Ulrich
Published: April 2020

Durch eine rasant wachsende Rechenleistung können immer mehr Tätigkeiten, die bislang dem Menschen vorbehalten schienen, mittels Maschinen und Algorithmen automatisiert werden. Dieser technologische Wandel hat eine öffentliche Debatte über mögliche Arbeitsplatzverluste und eine drohende Massenarbeitslosigkeit entfacht. Solche Hiobsbotschaften sind aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht aus vier Gründen deutlich überzogen: Erstens werden die technologischen Potenziale zur Automatisierung von Jobs vielfach deutlich überschätzt. Zweitens wird noch lange nicht jedes Automatisierungspotenzial tatsächlich in der betrieblichen Praxis genutzt. Drittens verhindert eine sich immer wieder flexibel anpassende Arbeitsteilung zwischen Mensch und Maschine vielfach Arbeitsplatzverluste. Und viertens setzt Automatisierung Kompensationsmechanismen frei, die dem ursprünglichen Verdrängungseffekt entgegenwirken. Ein Ende der Arbeit ist daher trotz stetig wachsender technischer Möglichkeiten nicht in Sicht, auch wenn dieser tiefgreifende Strukturwandel Arbeitskräfte vor neue Herausforderungen stellt.
Ergot infection in winter rye hybrids shows differential contribution of male and female genotypes and environment
Authors: Kodisch Anna , Wilde Peer , Schmiedchen Brigitta , Fromme Franz-Joachim , Rodemann Bernd , Tratwal Anna , Oberforster Michael , Wieser Franz , Schiemann Andrea , Jørgensen Lise Nistrup , Miedaner Thomas
Published: April 2020

Contamination of ergot (Claviceps purpurea) in grains continues to be a problem in outcrossing plants like rye, especially in years of favorable infection (cold, rainy) conditions.
The problem is not the yield loss, but the contamination of the grains by toxic alkaloids leading to strict critical values within the European Union. This study was conducted to (1) partition the variation of genotype, inoculation treatments and environment for ergot infection of 12 winter rye genotypes, (2) the effect of varying proportions of a non-adapted restorer gene on ergot, and to (3) reveal within the genotype the relative importance of male pollen fertility and female receptivity on the ergot reaction of single crosses bearing different restorer genes. In total, 12 rye genotypes and two factorial crossing designs with each of five female and four male lines differing in their restorer genes were tested by artificial infection in up to 16 environments in four European countries. High and significant genotypic variation regarding the ergot severity and pollen-fertility restoration were observed. Furthermore significant general combining ability and specific combining ability variances and interactions with environment were obtained. The pollen-fertility restoration of the male had by far the highest importance for ergot severity, the female component, however, also revealed a significant effect. In conclusion, selecting for superior restoration ability is the most promising way on the short term, but there are also possibilities to improve the maternal site in future breeding programs.
On Rigid Minimal Spaces
Authors: Boroński Jan P. , Činč Jernej , Foryś-Krawiec Magdalena
Published: April 2020

A compact space X is said to be minimal if there exists a map $$f:X\rightarrow X$$

f
:
X
→
X

such that the forward orbit of any point is dense in X. We consider rigid minimal spaces, motivated by recent results of Downarowicz, Snoha and Tywoniuk (J Dyn Differ Equ, 29:243–257, 2017) on spaces with cyclic group of homeomorphisms generated by a minimal homeomorphism, and results of the first author, Clark and Oprocha (Adv Math, 335:261–275, 2018) on spaces in which the square of every homeomorphism is a power of the same minimal homeomorphism. We show that the two classes do not coincide, which gives rise to a new class of spaces that admit minimal homeomorphisms, but no minimal maps. We modify the latter class of examples to show for the first time existence of minimal spaces with degenerate homeomorphism groups. Finally, we give a method of constructing decomposable compact and connected spaces with cyclic group of homeomorphisms, generated by a minimal homeomorphism, answering a question in Downarowicz et al.
COVID-19
Authors: Schmitt Caroline
Published: April 2020

COVID-19 stellt die Soziale Arbeit vor neue und alte Herausforderungen. Die Pandemie macht den Ausschluss marginalisierter Personengruppen und globale Ungleichheiten besonders sichtbar. Der Beitrag versteht die Corona-Pandemie als „Katastrophe“ und stellt erste Überlegungen dazu an, wie Soziale Arbeit ihren gesellschaftlichen Auftrag angesichts von COVID-19 ausgestalten und sich nachhaltig in der Katastrophenhilfe verankern kann.
The difference model of disability: A change in direction for vocational rehabilitation practice
Authors: Breen Jonathon S. , Forwell Susan
Published: April 2020

Vocational rehabilitation provides guidance and support to individuals with disabilities entering the workforce. Employment plans include considerations of goals, the job market, and pre-existing or trainable skills on the part of job seekers. This process also includes an understanding of the social forces that affect employment goals. Current models of disability include the medical, social, and embodiment models. Each is cognitively based and assumes an element of responsibility or blame, that is, respectively, focused on the individual with a disability, the community, or a combination of these two factors. The difference model of disability offers an alternative understanding of disability by providing an affect-based framework that eliminates the premise of blame. This conceptualization of disability provides a new approach to vocational rehabilitation.
How peer support can assist job-seekers with a disability move into work
Authors: Dorstyn Diana , Murphy Gregory , Potter Elizabeth , Craig Ashley
Published: April 2020

Anecdotally, there are frequent reports that peer-facilitated initiatives can be successfully used in employment services. However, in Australia, there is little information about how to effectively deliver peer support. In this paper, we discuss how peer-based interventions might be used to supplement formal return-to-work services and contribute to positive job-seeking outcomes. We illustrate the potential of vocational peer support using a real situation involving a young adult who successfully returned to work soon after sustaining a traumatic injury. Future research should explore the inclusion of various peer support structures and formats as a component of other employment services, to help people with long-term conditions and disabilities achieve a range of vocational outcomes and to guide practice in this area.
Impact of work injury on early retirement among older Australian workers
Authors: Mok Irene
Published: April 2020

A total of 274 Australian workers aged 45 years and above completed a Work, Retirement, and Health Survey. Results indicated that older workers with work injury have significantly lower expected retirement age compared to those without work injury. The results also indicated that this pattern is still apparent among intrinsically work motivated older workers with high score on self-reported work centrality. Older workers with work injury appear more vulnerable to premature retirement, which has significant negative social and economic consequences for workers, employers, and rehabilitation professionals. It also appears there is a complex relationship between ageing and work injury and the need for rehabilitation professionals to consider work injury prevention strategies for older workers.
Existence results for the Kudryashov–Sinelshchikov–Olver equation
Authors: Coclite Giuseppe Maria , di Ruvo Lorenzo
Published: April 2020

The Kudryashov–Sinelshchikov–Olver equation describes pressure waves in liquids with gas bubbles taking into account heat transfer and viscosity. In this paper, we prove the existence of solutions of the Cauchy problem associated with this equation.
Maternal conjugated linoleic acid consumption prevented TAG alterations induced by a high-fat diet in male adult rat offspring
Authors: González Marcela Aída , Lavandera Jimena , Gerstner Carolina , Fariña Ana Clara , Saín Juliana , Bernal Claudio Adrián
Published: April 2020

Maternal nutritional programming by a high-fat (HF) diet is related to hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis in offspring. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) might ameliorate impaired hepatic lipid homoeostasis; therefore, the aim was to investigate the potential preventive effect of maternal CLA consumption on TAG metabolism alterations induced by HF diets in adult male rat offspring receiving or not receiving CLA. Female Wistar rats were fed a control (C) diet, HF diet or HF diet supplemented with CLA (HF+CLA) for 4 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, for 9 weeks, male offspring of C or HF rats continued with the same diets as their mothers (C/C or HF/HF groups, respectively) and male offspring of HF+CLA rats were fed HF or HF+CLA diets (HF+CLA/HF or HF+CLA/HF+CLA groups, respectively). Nutritional parameters, serum and liver TAG levels, the TAG secretion rate (TAG-SR) and the activities as well as gene expression of key hepatic enzymes involved in TAG regulation were assessed. The most interesting results were that maternal CLA decreased epididymal white adipose tissue weight and prevented serum and liver TAG accumulation induced by a HF diet in adult male offspring receiving or not receiving CLA. The prevention of liver steatosis in HF+CLA/HF+CLA and HF+CLA/HF offspring was associated with an increased hepatic TAG-SR. Overall, this study provides evidence that maternal CLA consumption programmes TAG regulation and in this way contributes to lowering lipid levels in tissues and preventing liver steatosis in particular.
Self-reported food intake decreases over recording period in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Whybrow Stephen , Horgan Graham W. , Macdiarmid Jennie I.
Published: April 2020

From 2008, the UK’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) changed the method of dietary data collection from a 7-d weighed diary to a 4-d unweighed diary, partly to reduce participant burden. This study aimed to test whether self-reported energy intake changed significantly over the 4-d recording period of the NDNS rolling programme. Analyses used data from the NDNS years 1 (2008/2009) to 8 (2015/2016) inclusive, from participants aged 13 years and older. Dietary records from participants who reported unusual amounts of food and drink consumed on one or more days were excluded, leaving 6932 participants. Mean daily energy intake was 7107 kJ (1698 kcal), and there was a significant decrease of 164 kJ (39 kcal) between days 1 and 4 (P < 0·001). There was no significant interaction of sex or low-energy reporter status (estimated from the ratio of reported energy intake:BMR) with the change in reported energy intake. The decrease in reported energy intake on day 4 compared with day 1 was greater (P < 0·019) for adults with higher BMI (>30 kg/m2) than it was for leaner adults. Reported energy intake decreased over the 4-d recording period of the NDNS rolling programme suggesting that participants change their diet more, or report less completely, with successive days of recording their diet. The size of the effect was relatively minor, however.
Physiological and yield response in maize in cohesive tropical soil is improved through the addition of gypsum and leguminous mulch
Authors: Moura E. G. , Hallett P. D. , Mooney S. J. , Silva F. R. , Macedo V. R. A. , Aguiar A. C. F.
Published: April 2020

Tropical soils tend to harden during drying due to the generally low content of free-iron and organic carbon, combined with high fine sand and silt proportions. It was hypothesized that the change in soil physical condition induced by the addition of a leguminous mulch in cohesive tropical soil enriched with calcium may mitigate soil hardening through wetting and drying cycles by rain or irrigation, thereby improving the soil rootability. A leguminous mulch was added in different concentrations to a structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium, which then had different irrigation intervals. The treatments were with or without mulch (10 t/ha), with or without added nitrogen (100 kg/ha at 2 intervals) and two irrigation intervals. In 2015 the irrigation intervals were either 4 or 8 days, and in 2016 they were either 6 or 9 days. Two years were used in the attempt to achieve greater differences, as for tested variables, between treatments. Maize planted in these soil treatments was measured for physiological performance, water use efficiency and yield. Mulch used on structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium was found to delay increased penetration resistance from hardening by wet/dry cycles. In this context, an improved soil rootability led to an enlargement of the leaf area index, greater nitrogen uptake and increased CO2 assimilation. This had important physiological consequences due to the positive effect on increased dry matter production and maize yield. In addition, these results suggested that mulch, used with urea, can delay the water supply for 3 or 4 days due to improvements in soil rootability caused by calcium and organic matter interactions. This may be crucial to a region where small intervals without rain are increasingly common due to global climate change. Therefore, due to a greater water use efficiency, this strategy may be a profitable way to increase crop productivity in tropical conditions rather than increasing water and nutrient application alone.
Improved performance of stellarator coil design optimization
Authors: Lobsien Jim-Felix , Drevlak Michael , Kruger Thomas , Lazerson Samuel , Zhu Caoxiang , Pedersen Thomas Sunn
Published: April 2020

Following up on earlier work which demonstrated an improved numerical stellarator coil design optimization performance by the use of stochastic optimization (Lobsien et al., Nucl. Fusion, vol. 58 (10), 2018, 106013), it is demonstrated here that significant further improvements can be made – lower field errors and improved robustness – for a Wendelstein 7-X test case. This is done by increasing the sample size and applying fully three-dimensional perturbations, but most importantly, by changing the design sequence in which the optimization targets are applied: optimization for field error is conducted first, with coil shape penalties only added to the objective function at a later step in the design process. A robust, feasible coil configuration with a local maximum field error of 3.66 % and an average field error of 0.95 % is achieved here, as compared to a maximum local field error of 6.08 % and average field error of 1.56 % found in our earlier work. These new results are compared to those found without stochastic optimization using the FOCUS and ONSET suites. The relationship between local minima in the optimization space and coil shape penalties is also discussed.
Marine n-3 fatty acids and CVD: new insights from recent follow-up studies and clinical supplementation trials
Authors: Bork Christian S. , Mortensen Linda T. , Hjelmgaard Katrin , Schmidt Erik B.
Published: April 2020

Marine n-3 PUFA exert beneficial effects that might inhibit atherosclerosis and reduce vascular disease. Previous studies have, however, reported conflicting results and here we have summarised the early history and the most recent findings from follow-up studies and randomised clinical trials investigating marine n-3 PUFA in relation to the risk of atherosclerotic CVD. Most follow-up studies have suggested that the intake of marine n-3 PUFA may be associated with a lower risk of CVD. Recent studies have also shown that it is important to focus on substitution issues and dietary patterns. Further, the use of gold standard biomarkers of fatty acid exposure such as adipose tissue should be encouraged. Findings from clinical supplemental trials have shown conflicting results and findings from previous meta-analyses and guidelines have generally not supported the use of fish oil supplements for the prevention of CVD. However, a recent meta-analysis including three recent large clinical trials with fish oil supplements reported a moderate beneficial effect on cardiovascular endpoints. Interestingly, results from a large clinical trial (REDUCE-IT) have suggested that supplementation with a high dose of purified EPA ethyl ester for 4⋅9 years significantly and markedly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with CVD and mild hypertriglyceridaemia; findings that need to be confirmed. While it seems appropriate to recommend consumption of fish, particular fatty fish for prevention of CVD, an effect of fish oil supplements is probably at best marginal perhaps apart from patients with hypertriglyceridaemia.
Fractal biomarker of activity in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Knapen Stefan E. , Li Peng , Riemersma-van der Lek Rixt F. , Verkooijen Sanne , Boks Marco P. M. , Schoevers Robert A. , Scheer Frank A. J. L. , Hu Kun
Published: April 2020

Background

The output of many healthy physiological systems displays fractal fluctuations with self-similar temporal structures. Altered fractal patterns are associated with pathological conditions. There is evidence that patients with bipolar disorder have altered daily behaviors.

Methods

To test whether fractal patterns in motor activity are altered in patients with bipolar disorder, we analyzed 2-week actigraphy data collected from 106 patients with bipolar disorder type I in a euthymic state, 73 unaffected siblings of patients, and 76 controls. To examine the link between fractal patterns and symptoms, we analyzed 180-day actigraphy and mood symptom data that were simultaneously collected from 14 patients.

Results

Compared to controls, patients showed excessive regularity in motor activity fluctuations at small time scales (<1.5 h) as quantified by a larger scaling exponent (α1 > 1), indicating a more rigid motor control system. α1 values of siblings were between those of patients and controls. Further examinations revealed that the group differences in α1 were only significant in females. Sex also affected the group differences in fractal patterns at larger time scales (>2 h) as quantified by scaling exponent α2. Specifically, female patients and siblings had a smaller α2 compared to female controls, indicating more random activity fluctuations; while male patients had a larger α2 compared to male controls. Interestingly, a higher weekly depression score was associated with a lower α1 in the subsequent week.

Conclusions

Our results show sex- and scale-dependent alterations in fractal activity regulation in patients with bipolar disorder. The mechanisms underlying the alterations are yet to be determined.
Development and external-validation of a nomogram for predicting the survival of hospitalised HIV/AIDS patients based on a large study cohort in western China
Authors: Yuan Z. , Zhou B. , Meng S. , Jiang J. , Huang S. , Lu X. , Wu N. , Xie Z. , Deng J. , Chen X. , Liu J. , Zhang J. , Wu F. , Liang H. , Ye L.
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to develop and externally validate a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting the survival of hospitalised human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients (hospitalised person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs)). Hospitalised PLWHAs (n = 3724) between January 2012 and December 2014 were enrolled in the training cohort. HIV-infected inpatients (n = 1987) admitted in 2015 were included as the external-validation cohort. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to perform data dimension reduction and select the optimal predictors. The nomogram incorporated 11 independent predictors, including occupation, antiretroviral therapy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, Talaromyces marneffei, hypertension, septicemia, anaemia, respiratory failure, hypoproteinemia and electrolyte disturbances. The Likelihood χ2 statistic of the model was 516.30 (P = 0.000). Integrated Brier Score was 0.076 and Brier scores of the nomogram at the 10-day and 20-day time points were 0.046 and 0.071, respectively. The area under the curves for receiver operating characteristic were 0.819 and 0.828, and precision-recall curves were 0.242 and 0.378 at two time points. Calibration plots and decision curve analysis in the two sets showed good performance and a high net benefit of nomogram. In conclusion, the nomogram developed in the current study has relatively high calibration and is clinically useful. It provides a convenient and useful tool for timely clinical decision-making and the risk management of hospitalised PLWHAs.
Operational risk dependencies
Authors: Kelliher P. O. J. , Acharyya M. , Couper A. , Maguire E. , Nicholas P. , Pang N. , Smerald C. , Stevenson D. , Sullivan J. , Teggin P.
Published: April 2020

This paper explores dependencies between operational risks and between operational risks and other risks such as market, credit and insurance risk. The paper starts by setting the regulatory context and then goes into practical aspects of operational risk dependencies. Next, methods of modelling operational risk dependencies are considered with a simulation study exploring the sensitivity of diversification benefits arising from dependency models. The following two sections consider how correlation assumptions may be set, highlighting some generic dependencies between operational risks and with non-operational risks to assist in the assessment of dependencies and correlation assumptions. Supplementary appendices provide further detail on generic dependencies as well as a case study of how business models can lead to operational risks interacting with other risks. Finally, the paper finishes with a literature review of operational risk dependency papers including correlation studies and benchmark reports.
IF WE SHOULD NOT EAT MEAT ON GROUNDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SHOULD WE HAVE CHILDREN?
Authors: Brockless Adrian
Published: April 2020

The aim of this article is not to make any arguments that oppose veganism or having children or, in any way, to denigrate those who make them. Rather, the intention is twofold: (1) To attack the inconsistency of those who make arguments for veganism in relation to climate change and the natural world, but who omit to make arguments against having children and the problem of rapidly increasing global population on the same grounds. (2) To attack a form of sanctimony which manifests itself in inconsistent applications of such arguments and which exploits genuine and very serious problems in ways that aim to bring power to their advocates by inducing a sense of shame in their victims. In this way, such moralists try to strengthen the legitimacy of their own preferences – preferences that often run into conflict with other concerns based on the same arguments.
How Climate Science Is Expanding the Scale of Ecological Research
Authors: Wheeling Kate
Published: April 2020

Tools developed for climate science can help researchers forecast ecological dipoles: the contrasting effects of climate on populations separated by thousands of kilometers.
Author Correction: Non-Invasive Imaging Through Scattering Medium by Using a Reverse Response Wavefront Shaping Technique
Authors: Sanjeev Abhijit , Kapellner Yuval , Shabairou Nadav , Gur Eran , Sinvani Moshe , Zalevsky Zeev
Published: April 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Efficient table-top dual-wavelength beamline for ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the soft X-ray region
Authors: Barreau Lou , Ross Andrew D. , Garg Samay , Kraus Peter M. , Neumark Daniel M. , Leone Stephen R.
Published: April 2020

We present a table-top beamline providing a soft X-ray supercontinuum extending up to 370 eV from high-order harmonic generation with sub-13 fs 1300 nm driving pulses and simultaneous production of sub-5 fs pulses centered at 800 nm. Optimization of high harmonic generation in a long and dense gas medium yields a photon flux of  ~ 1.4 × 106 photons/s/1% bandwidth at 300 eV. The temporal resolution of X-ray transient absorption experiments with this beamline is measured to be 11 fs for 800 nm excitation. This dual-wavelength approach, combined with high flux and high spectral and temporal resolution soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, is a new route to the study of ultrafast electronic dynamics in carbon-containing molecules and materials at the carbon K-edge.
Fe(III) Mixed IP6@Au NPs with Enhanced SERS Activity for Detection of 4-ATP
Authors: Zhang Lei , Weng Yi-jin , Liu Xiao , Gu Wen , Zhang Xia , Han Lei
Published: April 2020

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has been widely applied in many research fields such as biological detection and chemical analysis. However, for the common Au nanoparticles, it’s too hard to guarante the three aspects: the great enhanced effect, the controllable aggregation and the uniformity of nanoparticles, the environmental friendliness and biocompatibility of nanoparticles. In this paper, phytate acid (IP6)-coated Au nanoparticles (IP6@Au NPs) are more stable and have a higher enhancement factor than Au nanoparticles. In order to achieve the uniformity of the spherical IP6-coated@Au nanoparticles (IP6@Au NPs), IP6 was used as a soft template. In the presence of IP6, IP6@Ag nanoparticles were first synthesized by reducing AgNO3 with trisodium citrate, then IP6@Au NPs were obtained by reducing HAuCl4 with Ag nanoparticles. The IP6@Au NPs exhibit excellent Raman signal enhancement by using p-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) as the probe molecules. The effects of Fe3+ on the performance of IP6@Au NPs SERS substrates were also studied. The results show that SERS has the best enhancement effect when adding proper amount of Fe3+ (0.56 PPM), and the limit of detection was 10−7 M 4-ATP.
Linagliptin affects IRS1/Akt signaling and prevents high glucose-induced apoptosis in podocytes
Authors: Mima Akira , Yasuzawa Toshinori , Nakamura Tomomi , Ueshima Shigeru
Published: April 2020

Diabetes-induced podocyte apoptosis is considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We proposed that hyperglycaemia can induce podocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the action of podocyte survival factors, thus inactivating the cellular effects of insulin signalling. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of linagliptin on high glucose-induced podocyte apoptosis. Linagliptin reduced the increase in DNA fragmentation as well as the increase in TUNEL-positive cells in podocytes induced by high-glucose condition. Furthermore, linagliptin improved insulin-induced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and Akt, which was inhibited in high-glucose conditions. Adenoviral vector-mediated IRS1 overexpression in podocytes partially normalised DNA fragmentation in high-glucose conditions, while downregulation of IRS1 expression using small interfering RNA increased DNA fragmentation even in low-glucose conditions. Because reactive oxygen species inhibit glomerular insulin signalling in diabetes and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway is one of the most important intrinsic antioxidative systems, we evaluated whether linagliptin increased Nrf2 in podocytes. High-glucose condition and linagliptin addition increased Nrf2 levels compared to low-glucose conditions. In summary, linagliptin offers protection against DKD by enhancing IRS1/Akt insulin signalling in podocytes and partially via the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Our findings suggest that linagliptin may induce protective effects in patients with DKD, and increasing IRS1 levels could be a potential therapeutic target in DKD.
Clinical outcomes of basal insulin and oral antidiabetic agents as an add-on to dual therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Cheng Chih-Ning , Wang Chih-Yuan , Lin Hung-Wei , Chang Ting-Yu , Lin Hsu-Ju , Chou Chiahung , Lin Fang-Ju
Published: April 2020

While basal insulin remains the most effective antidiabetic agent and substantially reduces the risk of hypoglycemia, few studies have examined the comparative effect of basal insulin in the real-world setting. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of adding basal insulin compared with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) as a third antidiabetic agent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A retrospective cohort study involving T2DM was conducted with health administrative data in Taiwan. Patients starting a third antidiabetic agent after receiving a metformin-containing dual combination were identified. The study endpoints included composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), all-cause mortality, and hypoglycemia. Propensity score matching and Cox modeling were used for analysis. After matching, the basal insulin and TZD groups contained 6,101 and 11,823 patients, respectively, and the basal insulin and DPP-4i groups contained 6,051 and 11,900 patients, respectively. TZDs and DPP-4is were both associated with similar risks of MACEs and hypoglycemia but a lower risk of all-cause mortality than basal insulin (TZDs: HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.38–0.81; DPP-4is: HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.39–0.82). Further studies are needed to elucidate the findings of increased all-cause mortality risk in patients receiving basal insulin, especially those with advanced diabetes.
Air evolution during drop impact on liquid pool
Authors: Lee Ji San , Weon Byung Mook , Park Su Ji , Kim Ji Tae , Pyo Jaeyeon , Fezzaa Kamel , Je Jung Ho
Published: April 2020

We elucidate the evolution of the entrained air in drop impact on a wide range of liquids, using ultrafast X-ray phase-contrast imaging. We elaborate the retraction mechanism of the entrapped air film in terms of liquid viscosity. We found the criterion for deciding if the entrapped air evolves into single or double bubbles, as determined by competition among inertia, capillarity, and viscosity. Low viscosity and low surface tension induce a small daughter droplet encapsulated by a larger air shell bubble, forming an antibubble. We demonstrate a phase diagram for air evolution regarding hydrodynamics.
Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange vs. facemask oxygenation in elderly patients undergoing general anaesthesia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hua Zhen , Liu Zhen , Li Yang , Zhang Hongye , Yang Ming , Zuo Mingzhang
Published: April 2020

Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilator exchange (THRIVE) may be effective in delaying hypoxia, but the efficacy of THRIVE for oxygenation in elderly patients under general anaesthesia has not been assessed. This study assessed whether THRIVE prolonged the apnoea time in the elderly patients after induction. This was a single centre, two-group, randomized controlled trial. 60 patients (65 to 80 years of age) with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades I ~ III who required tracheal intubation or the application of a laryngeal mask under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive oxygenation using THRIVE (100% oxygen, 30~70 litres min−1) or a facemask (100% oxygen, 10 litres min−1) during the pre-oxygenation period and during apnoea. The apnoea time, which was defined as the time from the cessation of spontaneous breathing until the SpO2 decreased to 90% or the apnoea time reached 10 minutes was recorded as the primary outcome. No significant differences were found on the baseline characteristics between the groups. The apnoea time was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the THRIVE group. The median (interquartile range) apnoea times were 600 (600–600) s in the THRIVE group and 600 (231.5–600) s in the facemask group. No significant differences were found in the PaO2, PaCO2 and vital parameters between the THRIVE and facemask groups. No increased occurrence of complications, including haemodynamic instability, resistant arrhythmia or nasal discomfort, were reported in both the THRIVE group and the facemask group. THRIVE prolongs the apnoea time in elderly patients. THRIVE may be a more effective method for pre-oxygenation than a facemask in the elderly without pulmonary dysfunction.
Rice phenolamindes reduce the survival of female adults of the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera
Authors: Wang Wanwan , Yu Zhuoxian , Meng Jinpeng , Zhou Pengyong , Luo Ting , Zhang Jin , Wu Jun , Lou Yonggen
Published: April 2020

In response to infestation by herbivores, rice plants rapidly biosynthesize defense compounds by activating a series of defense-related pathways. However, which defensive compounds in rice are effective against herbivores remains largely unknown. We found that the infestation of white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera gravid females significantly increased levels of jasmonic acid (JA), jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and H2O2, and reduced the level of ethylene in rice; levels of 11 of the tested 12 phenolamides (PAs) were subsequently enhanced. In contrast, WBPH nymph infestation had no effect on levels of JA, JA-Ile, ethylene and H2O2 in rice, and enhanced levels of only 2 of 12 PAs. Moreover, infestation by brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens gravid females also affected the production of these PAs differently. Bioassays revealed that 4 PAs – N-feruloylputrescine, N-feruloyltyramine, feruloylagmatine and N1,N10-diferuloylspermidine – were toxic to newly emerged WBPH female adults. Our results suggest that WBPH- or BPH-induced biosynthesis of PAs in rice seems to be shaped primarily by the specific profile of defense-related signals elicited by the herbivore and that PAs play a role in conferring the resistance to WBPH on rice.
Effects of low skeletal muscle mass and sarcopenic obesity on albuminuria: a 7-year longitudinal study
Authors: Yoo Jee Hee , Kim Gyuri , Park Sung Woon , Choi Min Sun , Ahn Jiyeon , Jin Sang-Man , Hur Kyu Yeon , Lee Moon-Kyu , Kang Mira , Kim Jae Hyeon
Published: April 2020

We aimed to identify the association between low skeletal muscle, sarcopenic obesity, and the incidence of albuminuria in the general population using a longitudinal study. Data from 29,942 subjects who underwent two or more routine health examinations from 2006 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Relative skeletal muscle mass was presented using the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), a measure of body weight-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The cumulative incidence of albuminuria was 981 (3.3%) during the 7-year follow-up period. The hazard ratio of incident albuminuria was 1.44 (95% CI: 1.22–1.71, p for trend <0.001) in the lowest SMI tertile relative to the highest SMI tertile after multivariable adjustment. After additionally adjusting for general and central obesity, the hazard ratio was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.13–1.61, p for trend = 0.001) and 1.30 (95% CI: 1.08–1.56, p for trend = 0.003), respectively. Furthermore, the risk of developing albuminuria was much higher in the sarcopenic obesity group (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21–1.81, p for trend <0.001) compared to the other groups. Sarcopenic obesity, as well as low skeletal muscle, may lead to albuminuria in general populations.
Peroxidase activity of heme bound amyloid β peptides associated with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Roy Madhuparna , Pal Ishita , Nath Arnab Kumar , Dey Somdatta Ghosh
Published: April 2020

The peroxidase activity of heme-Aβ can result in the oxidative degradation of neurotransmittersviaa highly reactive high-valent intermediate, compoundI.
SILCs in oxidative desulfurization: effect of support and heteropolyanion
Authors: Ali-Zade A. G. , Buryak A. K. , Zelikman V. M. , Oskolok K. V. , Tarkhanova I. G.
Published: April 2020

Catalysts for oxidative desulfurization based on imidazolium ionic liquid and H3PMo12O40 or H3PW12O40, grafted to mesoporous silicas.
Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy of hyperfine β-FeOOH nanorods modified with amorphous Ni(OH)2 under electrocatalytic water oxidation conditions
Authors: Morikawa Takeshi , Gul Sheraz , Nishimura Yusaku F. , Suzuki Tomiko M. , Yano Junko
Published: April 2020

Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy was employed to study an active electrocatalyst, hyperfine β-FeOOH nanorods (∅ 3 × 15 nm) surface-modified with amorphous Ni hydroxide.
Correction: O2-(6-Oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)methyl diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates: a new class of nitric oxide donors activatable by GSH/GSTπ with both anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic activities against melanoma
Authors: Bai Chengfeng , Xue Rongfang , Wu Jianbing , Lv Tian , Luo Xiaojun , Huang Yun , Gong Yan , Zhang Honghua , Zhang Yihua , Huang Zhangjian
Published: April 2020

Correction for ‘O2-(6-Oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)methyl diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates: a new class of nitric oxide donors activatable by GSH/GSTπ with both anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic activities against melanoma’ by Chengfeng Bai et al., Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 5059–5062.
Correction: Nanoporous two-dimensional MoS2 membranes for fast saline solution purification
Authors: Kou Jianlong , Yao Jun , Wu Lili , Zhou Xiaoyan , Lu Hangjun , Wu Fengmin , Fan Jintu
Published: April 2020

Correction for ‘Nanoporous two-dimensional MoS2 membranes for fast saline solution purification’ by Jianlong Kou et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, 18, 22210–22216.
A unique core–shell structured ZnO/NiO heterojunction to improve the performance of supercapacitors produced using a chemical bath deposition approach
Authors: Chebrolu Venkata Thulasivarma , Balakrishnan Balamuralitharan , Cho Inho , Bak Jin-Soo , Kim Hee-Je
Published: April 2020

The integration of metal oxide composite nanostructures has attracted great attention in supercapacitor (SC) applications.
Redox active Ni–Pd carbonyl alloy nanoclusters: syntheses, molecular structures and electrochemistry of [Ni22−xPd20+x(CO)48]6− (x = 0.62), [Ni29−xPd6+x(CO)42]6− (x = 0.09) and [Ni29+xPd6−x(CO)42]6− (x = 0.27)
Authors: Berti Beatrice , Cesari Cristiana , Femoni Cristina , Funaioli Tiziana , Iapalucci Maria Carmela , Zacchini Stefano
Published: April 2020

Redox active molecular Ni–Pd alloy nanoclusters were obtained by redox condensation, their total structures and metal distribution were determined by X-ray crystallography, and their electron-sink behavior was ascertained by electrochemical studies.
Simulation-based evaluation of zeolite adsorbents for the removal of emerging contaminants
Authors: Fischer Michael
Published: April 2020

Molecular mechanics simulations are used to study the adsorption of organic pollutants in all-silica zeolites.
A NiCo-MOF nanosheet array based electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Thangasamy Ponmuthuselvi , Shanmuganathan Saravanakumar , Subramanian Viswanathan
Published: April 2020

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent materials for energy storage and conversion.
Performance enhancement of direct methanol fuel cells using a methanol barrier boron nitride–Nafion hybrid membrane
Authors: Parthiban V. , Sahu A. K.
Published: April 2020

Sulfonated hexagonal boron nitride is explored as a potential filler to prepare Nafion hybrid membranes for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications.
A rod-like hexanuclear nickel cluster based on a bi(pyrazole-alcohol) ligand: structure, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, magnetism and photocurrent response
Authors: Sheng Kai , Ji Bao-Qian , Feng Lei , Su Yan-Min , Jagodič Marko , Jagličić Zvonko , Sun Di
Published: April 2020

An unusual one-dimensional zig-zag hexanuclear Ni(ii) cluster has been easily and successfully constructed using a designed multidentate pyrazole-alcohol ligand.
Efficient selection of independent components for inspection of mild steel sample using infrared thermography
Authors: Kaur Kirandeep , Mulaveesala Ravibabu
Published: April 2020

Non‐destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) plays a vital role in industrial quality control and structural health monitoring. Among various NDT&E approaches, infrared thermography plays a crucial role due to its merits such as fast, remote, safe, and easy to implement in testing and evaluation of various materials. This Letter presents the statistical post‐processing approach for pulse compression favourable frequency modulated thermal wave imaging for inspection of mild steel samples having flat bottom hole defects. Furthermore, a detailed analysis has been carried out using independent component analysis and provides insight for choosing the number of independent components and number of eigenvalues to be retained in the whitening procedure.
Distributed mitigation of content pollution in peer‐to‐peer video streaming networks
Authors: Ziwich Roverli P. , Duarte Jr Elias P. , Silveira Glaucio P.
Published: April 2020

Video streaming has become increasingly popular in the Internet. Frequently, video transmissions are based on peer‐to‐peer networks, in which peers running on end‐user hosts transmit data among themselves. An important security vulnerability of this strategy is that content can be easily altered by malicious users. Thus, it becomes essential to diagnose and fight content pollution in these systems. In this work, the authors present a novel strategy that relies on comparison‐based diagnosis to mitigate content pollution in live video streaming peer‐to‐peer networks. This strategy is fully distributed and effectively combats the dissemination of content pollution. In the strategy, peers independently identify and avoid polluters. The solution works on top of the scalable overlay network Fireflies. Experimental results are presented showing the effectiveness and the low overhead of the solution. In particular, the strategy was able to significantly reduce content pollution propagation in diverse network configurations.
Charge correction formulation on the staircase edges and effective length of inclined wires in FDTD mesh
Authors: Fonseca Tarcísio C. , Gonçalves Sandro T.M. , do Rego Cássio G. , Ramos Gláucio L.
Published: April 2020

This work presents improvements for inclined thin wire simulation in finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD). Modelling of the corners of staircase geometries is proposed by adding the accumulated charges at an edge region. This correction is important due to the delay of the electromagnetic fields propagation on the stairs. To test the validity of the proposition, the v‐dipole fed by a resistive voltage source is designed and implemented. A significant improvement can be noted in the calculation of the impedance when the stairs of the geometry are more discretised and the charge correction is applied. Also, a surprising outcome is issued when the stair formed by an inclined thin wire has only one cell per stair: a perfect emulation of an inclined wire happens when the charge correction is applied, showing that a correction of the propagation time of the electromagnetic fields is automatically performed. Based on the propagation time adjustments, an effective length model has also been proposed to emulate the real size of the inclined wire by the size correction of the staircase geometry. Although the effective length depends on the FDTD parameters initial setup, it has a fast response and a low complexity implementation with good accuracy.
Traceability of printed circuit board assemblies using embedded electronic components
Authors: Janeczek Kamil , Araźna Aneta , Stęplewski Wojciech , Serzysko Tomasz
Published: April 2020

Modern electronic industry requires simultaneous monitoring of electronic devices from their production, usage, up to their recycling. Therefore, the traceability system is becoming more and more popular in this modern electronic industry. In this study, such a system working in the ultra‐high frequency range was demonstrated. A functional part of the system (sensor) was produced using different technologies that aim to embed chips inside printed circuit boards. The sensors were examined under changing temperature conditions. The achieved results showed that the laminated sensors were more resistant to temperature cycles, although some voids were observed in their structures, which may influence their mechanical properties. All the tested samples remained fully functional after 500 temperature cycles (−40°C to +105°C). The values of the received signal strength indicator measured before and after the temperature exposure did not reveal significant differences. Bearing this in mind, it can be stated that the proposed system can be successfully used in the electronic industry to monitor the operation of different types of devices.