bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arrangements of Approaching Pseudo-Lines
Authors: Felsner Stefan , Pilz Alexander , Schnider Patrick
Published: January 2022

We consider arrangements ofnpseudo-lines in the Euclidean plane where each pseudo-line$$\ell _i$$ℓiis represented by a bi-infinite connectedx-monotone curve$$f_i(x)$$fi(x),$$x \in \mathbb {R}$$x∈R, such that for any two pseudo-lines$$\ell _i$$ℓiand$$\ell _j$$ℓjwith$$i \!<\! j$$i<j, the function$$x \!\mapsto \! f_j(x) \!-\! f_i(x)$$x↦fj(x)-fi(x)is monotonically decreasing and surjective (i.e., the pseudo-lines approach each other until they cross, and then move away from each other). We show that sucharrangements of approaching pseudo-lines, under some aspects, behave similar to arrangements of lines, while for other aspects, they share the freedom of general pseudo-line arrangements. For the former, we prove:

There are arrangements of pseudo-lines that are not realizable with approaching pseudo-lines.

Every arrangement of approaching pseudo-lines has a dual generalized configuration of points with an underlying arrangement of approaching pseudo-lines.

For the latter, we show:

There are$$2^{\Theta (n^2)}$$2Θ(n2)isomorphism classes of arrangements of approaching pseudo-lines (while there are only$$2^{\Theta (n \log n)}$$2Θ(nlogn)isomorphism classes of line arrangements).

It can be decided in polynomial time whether an allowable sequence is realizable by an arrangement of approaching pseudo-lines.

Furthermore, arrangements of approaching pseudo-lines can be transformed into each other by flipping triangular cells, i.e., they have a connected flip graph, and every bichromatic arrangement of this type contains a bichromatic triangular cell.
Influence of design and material characteristics on 3D printed flow-cells for heat transfer-based analytical devices
Authors: Figueiredo Leonardo F. , Vieira Felipe S. , Jamieson Oliver D. , Reeder Jack , Mc Lean Thomas , Olsen Jennifer , Crapnell Robert D. , Whittingham Matthew J. , Banks Craig E. , Law Richard , Gruber Jonas , Peeters Marloes
Published: January 2022

Redesigning 3D-printed flow cells is reported used for heat transfer based detection of biomolecules from a flow-through system to an addition-type measurement cell. The aim of this study is to assess the performance of this new measurement design and critically analyse the influence of material properties and 3D printing approach on thermal analysis. Particular attention is paid to reduce the time to stabilisation, the sample volume in order to make the technique suitable for clinical applications, and improving the sensitivity of the platform by decreasing the noise and interference of air bubbles. The three different approaches that were studied included a filament polylactic acid cell using only fused filament fabrication (FFF), a resin cell printed using stereolitography (SLA), and finally a design made of copper, which was manufactured by combining metal injection moulding (MIM) with fused filament fabrication (FFF). Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling was undertaken using ANSYS Fluent V18.1 to provide insight into the flow of heat within the measurement cell, facilitating optimisation of the system and theoretical response speed.

It was shown that the measurement cells using SLA had the lowest noise (~ 0.6%) and shortest measurement time (15 min), whereas measurement cells produced using other approaches had lower specificity or suffered from voiding issues. Finally, we assessed the potential of these new designs for detection of biomolecules and amoxicillin, a commonly used beta lactam antibiotic, to demonstrate the proof of concept. It can be concluded that the resin addition-type measurement cells produced with SLA are an interesting affordable alternative, which were able to detect amoxicillin with high sensitivity and have great promise for clinical applications due to the disposable nature of the measurement cells in addition to small sample volumes.

Graphical abstract
DEM modelling of railway ballast using the Conical Damage Model: a comprehensive parametrisation strategy
Authors: Suhr Bettina , Skipper William A. , Lewis Roger , Six Klaus
Published: January 2022

Despite ongoing research, the parametrisation of a DEM model is a challenging task, as it depends strongly on the particle shape representation used, particle-particle contact law and the simulated applications: for railway ballast e.g. lab tests or track conditions. The authors previously modelled railway ballast with a DEM model using a simple particle shape. The DEM model was parametrised, by trial-and-error, to compression and direct shear test results. A good agreement between DEM model and experimental results was achieved only when the Conical Damage Model (CDM) was used as the contact law. Compared to the well-known linear-spring Cundall-Strack law or the Hertz-Mindlin law, this contact law takes into account additional physical effects (e.g. edge breakage) occurring in the experiment. Little is known on the influence of the CDM model parameters on the simulation results or on possible parameter ambiguities. This lack of knowledge hinders a reliable and efficient parametrisation of DEM models using different particle shapes. Both points are addressed in this work in detail by investigating a DEM model for railway ballast using one simple particle shape. Suggestions for a parametrisation strategy of reduced computational effort are formulated and tested using a second particle shape. In future works, the newly presented parametrisation strategy can help to calibrate different DEM models and to study the influence of particle shape.
A visual tool for monitoring and detecting anomalies in robot performance
Authors: Basurto Nuño , Cambra Carlos , Herrero Álvaro
Published: January 2022

In robotic systems, both software and hardware components are equally important. However, scant attention has been devoted until now in order to detect anomalies/failures affecting the software component of robots while many proposals exist aimed at detecting physical anomalies. To bridge this gap, the present paper focuses on the study of anomalies affecting the software performance of a robot by using a novel visualization tool. Unsupervised visualization methods from the machine learning field are applied in order to upgrade the recently proposed Hybrid Unsupervised Exploratory Plots (HUEPs). Furthermore, Curvilinear Component Analysis and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding are added to the original HUEPs formulation and comprehensively compared. Furthermore, all the different combinations of HUEPs are validated in a real-life scenario. Thanks to this intelligent visualization of robot status, interesting conclusions can be obtained to improve anomaly detection in robot performance.
Modeling the His-Purkinje Effect in Non-invasive Estimation of Endocardial and Epicardial Ventricular Activation
Authors: Boonstra Machteld J. , Roudijk Rob W. , Brummel Rolf , Kassenberg Wil , Blom Lennart J. , Oostendorp Thom F. , te Riele Anneline S. J. M. , van der Heijden Jeroen F. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Loh Peter , van Dam Peter M.
Published: January 2022

Inverse electrocardiography (iECG) estimates epi- and endocardial electrical activity from body surface potentials maps (BSPM). In individuals at risk for cardiomyopathy, non-invasive estimation of normal ventricular activation may provide valuable information to aid risk stratification to prevent sudden cardiac death. However, multiple simultaneous activation wavefronts initiated by the His-Purkinje system, severely complicateiECG. To improve the estimation of normal ventricular activation, theiECG method should accurately mimic the effect of the His-Purkinje system, which is not taken into account in the previously published multi-focaliECG. Therefore, we introduce the novel multi-waveiECG method and report on its performance. Multi-waveiECG and multi-focaliECG were tested in four patients undergoing invasive electro-anatomical mapping during normal ventricular activation. In each subject, 67-electrode BSPM were recorded and used as input for bothiECG methods. TheiECG and invasive local activation timing (LAT) maps were compared. Median epicardial inter-map correlation coefficient (CC) between invasive LAT maps and estimated multi-waveiECG versus multi-focaliECG was 0.61 versus 0.31. Endocardial inter-map CC was 0.54 respectively 0.22. Modeling the His-Purkinje system resulted in a physiologically realistic and robust non-invasive estimation of normal ventricular activation, which might enable the early detection of cardiac disease during normal sinus rhythm.
Sauti ya Vijana (SYV; The Voice of Youth): Longitudinal Outcomes of an Individually Randomized Group Treatment Pilot Trial for Young People Living with HIV in Tanzania
Authors: Dow Dorothy E. , O’Donnell Karen E. , Mkumba Laura , Gallis John A. , Turner Elizabeth L. , Boshe Judith , Shayo Aisa M. , Cunningham Coleen K. , Mmbaga Blandina T.
Published: January 2022

Sauti ya Vijana is a mental health and life skills intervention delivered by young adult group leaders for the improvement of HIV outcomes in young people living with HIV in Tanzania. This pilot randomized controlled trial estimated exploratory intervention effectiveness compared to standard of care. YPLWH (N = 105) were randomized to receive intervention or SOC. The mean age of participants was 18.1 years and 53% were female. Mean scores on mental health measures (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ], UCLA Trauma) were asymptomatic to mild in both study arms through 30-month follow-up with a non-significant fluctuation of 1–2 points. The mean self-reported adherence was higher in the intervention arm across all time points (but the confidence interval contained the null at all time points except 6 months). Risk ratio of virologic suppression (HIV RNA < 400 copies/mL) in the intervention arm compared to SOC was 1.15 [95% CI = 0.95, 1.39]) at 6-months, 1.17 [95% CI: 0.92, 1.48] at 12-months, and 0.99 [95% CI 0.76, 1.31] at 18-months. Though these findings were not powered for statistical significance, the trends in HIV outcomes suggest that SYV holds promise for improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and virologic suppression in YPLWH.
Current challenges in metastasis research and future innovation for clinical translation
Authors: Parker Amelia L. , Benguigui Madeleine , Fornetti Jaime , Goddard Erica , Lucotti Serena , Insua-Rodríguez Jacob , Wiegmans Adrian P. ,   Early Career Leadership Council of the Metastasis Research Society
Published: January 2022

While immense strides have been made in understanding tumor biology and in developing effective treatments that have substantially improved the prognosis of cancer patients, metastasis remains the major cause of cancer-related death. Improvements in the detection and treatment of primary tumors are contributing to a growing, detailed understanding of the dynamics of metastatic progression. Yet challenges remain in detecting metastatic dissemination prior to the establishment of overt metastases and in predicting which patients are at the highest risk of developing metastatic disease. Further improvements in understanding the mechanisms governing metastasis have great potential to inform the adaptation of existing therapies and the development of novel approaches to more effectively control metastatic disease. This article presents a forward-looking perspective on the challenges that remain in the treatment of metastasis, and the exciting emerging approaches that promise to transform the treatment of metastasis in cancer patients.
The Phaseolus vulgaris L. Yellow Bean Collection: genetic diversity and characterization for cooking time
Authors: Sadohara Rie , Izquierdo Paulo , Couto Alves Filipe , Porch Timothy , Beaver James , Urrea Carlos A. , Cichy Karen
Published: January 2022

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a nutrient-rich food, but its long cooking times hinder its wider utilization. The Yellow Bean Collection (YBC) was assembled with 295 genotypes from global sources to assess the genetic and phenotypic diversity for end-use quality traits in yellow beans. The panel was genotyped with over 2,000 SNPs identified via Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS). Through population structure analyses with the GBS markers, the YBC was determined to be 69% Andean, 26% Middle American, and 5% admixture. The YBC was grown in two major bean production regions in the U.S., Michigan (MI) and Nebraska (NE) over two years. The genotypes exhibited a wide diversity in days to flower, seed weight, water uptake, and cooking time. The cooking times of the YBC ranged from 17–123 min. The cooking time were longer and varied more widely in NE with many more genotypes exhibiting hardshell than in MI. Fast-cooking genotypes were identified with various yellow colors; 20 genotypes cooked within 20 min in MI, and eight genotypes cooked within 31 min in NE. Water uptake and cooking time were significantly affected by the environment, which included both the growing and cooking environment, and notably in relation to cooking, NE is higher elevation than MI. SNPs associated with cooking time were identified with genome-wide association analyses and a polygalacturonase gene on Pv04 was considered to be a candidate gene. The genotypic and phenotypic variability, fast-cooking genotypes, and the associated SNPs of the YBC will lay the foundation for utilizing yellow beans for breeding and genetic analyses.
Novel Composite Films Based on Acrylic Fibers Waste/Nano-chitosan for Congo Red Adsorption
Authors: Selim Salah E. , Meligi Gamal A. , Abdelhamid Ahmed E. , Mabrouk Mahmoud A. , Hussain Ahmed I.
Published: January 2022

The current research aimed to use waste to treat waste; to recycling of acrylic fibers waste combined with nano-chitosan for use as an adsorbent to remove Congo red (CR) from wastewater. Acrylic fibers (AF) waste were mixed with nano-chitosan (NCh) with different ratios and converted into films by using phase inversion method to prepare two nanocomposites films coded, AF-NCh and AF-NCh-Epichlorohydrin. The nanocomposites films have been characterized using; Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope, surface area, and thermal analysis. The results revealed successful incorporation of NCh into AF matrix with highly porous structure. Different parameters affecting adsorption efficiency such as, CR concentrations, adsorbent dose, effect of time and pH were employed. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies evaluations were applied to assess the adsorption mechanism and rate. Results declared that, the maximum adsorption capacities of AF-NCh and AF-NCh-Epichlorohydrin were 169 and 230 mg/g respectively. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic mechanism obey Langmuir and pseudo second order models. Regeneration of the synthesized composite films were studied for five cycles and showed relative stable reading with high efficiency.

Graphical Abstract
Isothermal titration calorimetry investigation of the interactions between vitamin B6-derived hydrazones and bovine and human serum albumin
Authors: Migliore Rossella , Zavalishin Maksim N. , Gamov George A. , Usacheva Tatiana R. , Sharnin Valentin A. , Grasso Giuseppa I. , Sgarlata Carmelo
Published: January 2022

The binding of low molecular weight compounds with the transport proteins of blood is an essential step of their delivery into living cells and thus the accurate investigation of the interactions occurring in solution at physiological conditions is crucial for the development of efficient biologically active molecules. In this work, we report on the complex species, stability constants and thermodynamic parameters for the binding reactions of hydrazones derived from pyridoxal-5ʹ-phosphate (PLP) with bovine and human serum albumin (BSA and HSA) in neutral aqueous solution. The study has been carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry which allowed to directly obtain both binding constant and enthalpy change values for the systems investigated. The thermodynamic characterization in solution revealed that the PLP-hydrazone derivatives are able to effectively interact with both bovine and human serum albumin and enabled the determination of the driving forces for the molecular recognition process. The formation of the 1:1 complex was found to be always enthalpy favored and driven due to the insertion of the hydrazone moieties into the hydrophobic pockets of BSA or HSA.
The Thumbprint of a Hybrid Organization—A Multidimensional Model for Analysing Public/Private Hybrid Organizations
Authors: Karré Philip Marcel
Published: January 2022

Hybridity has become a widely-used concept in public management theory and practice. Yet, there is limited insight in what constitutes a hybrid organization. This article argues that it is not enough to say an organization is hybrid; you need to say how an organization is hybrid, as organizations can mix the characteristics of state and market on several dimensions and with differing intensities. They all have, as it were, a distinctive hybrid thumbprint, which can influence an organization’s performance and hence the quality of its service provision. Therefore, a model is presented to visualize this unique thumbprint.
Co-creating innovation for sustainability
Authors: Erbguth Jörn , Schörling Marianne , Birt Nathalie , Bongers Susann , Sulzberger Pamina , Morin Jean-Henry
Published: January 2022

This contribution to the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) presents a case study for an approach to design sustainable innovation. No nation is on track to achieve the UN sustainable development goals for 2030. The traditional innovation ecosystem is insufficient. Rather than only solving problems, technological innovation is creating new challenges that society is struggling with. Innovation needs to be developed differently to focus on impact.

Geneva Macro Labs initiated a new approach to foster sustainable innovation which was based on a combination of systems theory, collective intelligence, agile development and design thinking. The initiative, called Geneva impACTs, brought together a diverse group of experts, start-ups and investors to develop innovative projects, aiming to make inroads towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. It started at a time when COVID-19 measures made it impossible for groups to meet in person and so the entire process was conducted virtually using a range of online tools.

A critical reflection shows the methodological strengths of the Geneva impACTs approach and identifies suggestions for improvement to be considered for future iterations. As an overall result, this new methodology is highly conducive to impact innovation.
Wnt Signaling Pathways: A Role in Pain Processing
Authors: Tang Yiting , Chen Yupeng , Liu Rui , Li Weidong , Hua Baojin , Bao Yanju
Published: January 2022

The wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway plays an essential role in embryonic development and nervous system regulation. It is critically involved in multiple types of neuropathic pain (NP), such as HIV-related NP, cancer pain, diabetic neuralgia, multiple sclerosis-related NP, endometriosis pain, and other painful diseases. Wnt signaling is also implicated in the pain induced by sciatic nerve compression injury and selective spinal nerve ligation. Thus, the Wnt signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for NP.
Towards a pituitary apoplexy classification based on clinical presentation and patient journey
Authors: Guijt M. C. , Zamanipoor Najafabadi A. H. , Notting I. C. , Pereira A. M. , Verstegen M. J. T. , Biermasz N. R. , van Furth W. R. , Claessen K. M. J. A.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The condition of pituitary apoplexia contains the clinical spectre from life-threatening emergency to asymptomatic self-limiting course, which partly determines diagnostic delay and management. Outcome evaluation of course and management of pituitary apoplexia is hampered by the diverse presentation of this condition and requires appraisal. This study aimed to describe the patient journey, clinical presentation, and management of various types of pituitary apoplexy in a new classification to facilitate future outcome evaluation and identify unmet needs in the care process.

Methods

A single-center retrospective patient chart study was conducted between 2005–2021 (N = 98). Outcome measures were clinical symptoms at first presentation in hospital, being headache, consciousness, visual acuity, visual field defects (VFD), ophthalmoplegia, nausea, vomiting, fever, and hypopituitarism and care process characteristics.

Results

Mean age was 47.6 ± 16.6 years (51.0% male). We describe their patient journey and identified three different types, differing in clinical presentation, in-hospital route, and final treatment, e.g., Acute (type A, 52%), Subacute (type B, 22.5%), and Non-acute (type C, 25.5%). Type A generally presents with acute onset headaches, VFD, or ophthalmoplegia emergency setting, with lowest mean visual acuity of both eyes and frequent hypocortisolism.

Conclusions

Pituitary apoplexy can be approached as a spectrum of disease with 3 main subtypes, with a different initial presentation, different in-hospital route resulting in different management. Acknowledging subtypes with particular needs for (emergency) referrals to Pituitary Tumors Center of Excellence (PTCOE) will serve patient care improvements, outcome evaluations and address areas for improvement.
Validity of Estimating the Maximal Oxygen Consumption by Consumer Wearables: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Expert Statement of the INTERLIVE Network
Authors: Molina-Garcia Pablo , Notbohm Hannah L. , Schumann Moritz , Argent Rob , Hetherington-Rauth Megan , Stang Julie , Bloch Wilhelm , Cheng Sulin , Ekelund Ulf , Sardinha Luis B. , Caulfield Brian , Brønd Jan Christian , Grøntved Anders , Ortega Francisco B.
Published: January 2022

Background

Technological advances have recently made possible the estimation of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) by consumer wearables. However, the validity of such estimations has not been systematically summarized using meta-analytic methods and there are no standards guiding the validation protocols.

Objective

The aim was to (1) quantitatively summarize previous studies investigating the validity of theVO2maxestimated by consumer wearables and (2) provide best-practice recommendations for future validation studies.

Methods

First, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies validating the estimation ofVO2maxby wearables. Second, based on the state of knowledge (derived from the systematic review) combined with the expert discussion between the members of the Towards Intelligent Health and Well-Being Network of Physical Activity Assessment (INTERLIVE) consortium, we provided a set of best-practice recommendations for validation protocols.

Results

Fourteen validation studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results revealed that wearables using resting condition information in their algorithms significantly overestimatedVO2max(bias 2.17 ml·kg−1·min−1; limits of agreement − 13.07 to 17.41 ml·kg−1·min−1), while devices using exercise-based information in their algorithms showed a lower systematic and random error (bias − 0.09 ml·kg−1·min−1; limits of agreement − 9.92 to 9.74 ml·kg−1·min−1). The INTERLIVE consortium proposed six key domains to be considered for validating wearable devices estimatingVO2max, concerning the following: the target population, reference standard, index measure, testing conditions, data processing, and statistical analysis.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis suggests that the estimations ofVO2maxby wearables that use exercise-based algorithms provide higher accuracy than those based on resting conditions. The exercise-based estimation seems to be optimal for measuringVO2maxat the population level, yet the estimation error at the individual level is large, and, therefore, for sport/clinical purposes these methods still need improvement. The INTERLIVE network hereby provides best-practice recommendations to be used in future protocols to move towards a more accurate, transparent and comparable validation ofVO2maxderived from wearables.

PROSPERO ID

CRD42021246192.
Testosterone positively regulates vagina NO-induced relaxation: an experimental study in rats
Authors: Cellai I. , Filippi S. , Comeglio P. , Cipriani S. , Maseroli E. , Di Stasi V. , Todisco T. , Marchiani S. , Tamburrino L. , Villanelli F. , Vezzani S. , Corno C. , Fambrini M. , Guarnieri G. , Sarchielli E. , Morelli A. , Rastrelli G. , Maggi M. , Vignozzi L.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Female sexual response involves a complex interplay between neurophysiological mechanisms and the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation of clitoris and vagina. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex steroids regulation of the relaxant pathway in vagina, using a validated animal model.

Methods

Subgroups of OVX Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with 17β-estradiol, testosterone, or testosterone and letrozole, and compared with a group of intact animals. Masson’s trichrome staining was performed for morphological evaluation of the distal vaginal wall, in vitro contractility studies investigated the effect of OVX and in vivo treatments on vaginal smooth muscle activity. RNA from vaginal tissue was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Results

Immunohistochemical analysis showed that OVX induced epithelial and smooth muscle structural atrophy, testosterone and testo + letrozole increased the muscle bundles content and organization without affecting the epithelium while 17β-estradiol mediated the opposite effects. In vitro contractility studies were performed on noradrenaline pre-contracted vaginal strips from each experimental group. Acetylcholine (0.001–10 µM) stimulation induced a concentration-dependent relaxation, significantly reduced by NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME and by guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ. OVX resulted in a decreased responsiveness to acetylcholine, restored by testosterone, with or without letrozole, but not by 17β-estradiol. OVX sensitivity to the NO-donor SNP was higher than in the control. Vardenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor, enhanced SNP effect in OVX + testosterone as well as in control, as supported by RNA expression analysis.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that testosterone improves the NO-mediated smooth muscle vaginal cells relaxation confirming its role in maintaining the integrity of muscular relaxant machinery.
Direct observation of hydrogen permeation through grain boundaries in tungsten
Authors: Díaz-Rodríguez Pablo , Panizo-Laiz Miguel , González César , Iglesias Roberto , Martín-Bragado Ignacio , González-Arrabal Raquel , Perlado Jose Manuel , Peña-Rodríguez Ovidio , Rivera Antonio
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we report on an enhanced hydrogen permeation effect along grain boundaries in tungsten. Sputtered nanocolumnar tungsten layers (column lateral dimensions 100–150 nm and layer thickness 2 μm) were analysed by hydrogen permeation measurements in the temperature range 520–705 K. The experiments constitute a direct observation of this effect, previously postulated by means of a combination of indirect experiments and simulations and considered controversial due to the lack of direct measurements. DFT results support this observation since (i) the hydrogen binding energy to the grain boundary is 1.05 eV and (ii) the migration energies along the grain boundary and along the bulk are 0.12 eV and 0.20 eV, respectively. OKMC simulations, parametrized by DFT data, were used as a supporting tool to attain a better understanding of the involved phenomena. The OKMC results are also compatible with the observations. Indeed, they show that the fraction of hydrogen flux along grain boundaries in the steady-state permeation regime increases when decreasing the ratio of lateral dimensions to length of the nanocolumns, rapidly approaching unity when this ratio is < 2. Therefore, grain boundaries act as preferential migration pathways for H atoms at the studied temperature range in the studied samples. This behaviour has interesting implications to reduce the retention of hydrogen in several applications, in particular, fusion materials exposed to plasma discharges.
Bionanocomposite Beads Based on Montmorillonite and Biopolymers as Potential Systems for Oral Release of Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Leite Mayara S. , Sodré Welton C. , de Lima Lais R. , Constantino Vera R. L. , Alcântara Ana C. S.
Published: January 2022

The number of studies of controlled drug-release systems is growing constantly. Bionanocomposite materials which can be prepared from the combination of biopolymers with inorganic solids such as clay minerals offer interesting alternatives for use as drug-delivery systems. In the present study, new bionanocomposite drug-release systems were prepared from the intercalation of the antibiotic drug ciprofloxacin into montmorillonite using an ion-exchange reaction. In order to prepare more stable systems for oral ciprofloxacin release, this ciprofloxacin-clay intercalation compound was incorporated into i-carrageenan-gelatin biopolymer blend to produce bionanocomposite materials. Bionanocomposites of two distinct i-carrageenan and gelatin mass ratios were conformed as beads through an ionic gelification reaction with Ca2+ ions, and dried by freeze-drying where liquid nitrogen or conventional freezing was adopted in the freezing step. The resulting ciprofloxacin-clay hybrid was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, solid state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The montmorillonite-ciprofloxacin hybrid incorporated into the bionanocomposite beads was evaluated by in vitro release studies which showed a significant difference in the release profiles in the aqueous medium used to simulate the gastrointestinal tract, depending on the blend composition and the freezing method employed in the preparation of the beads. The results point to bionanocomposite systems based on ciprofloxacin-clay hybrids and biopolymers that may be used as devices in the biomedical area.
Dispersion mechanism-induced variations in microstructural and mechanical behavior of CNT-reinforced aluminum nanocomposites
Authors: Doğan Kemal , Özgün Muhammed İhsan , Sübütay Halit , Salur Emin , Eker Yasin , Kuntoğlu Mustafa , Aslan Abdullah , Gupta Munish Kumar , Acarer Mustafa
Published: January 2022

The combination of powder metallurgy and ball milling method has been widely regarded as the most beneficial route for producing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. In this study, the effects of different milling times (1, 2, 4, and 8 h) on the structural, morphological, and crystallographic properties of MWCNTs-reinforced Al7075 composite powders were characterized by particle size analyzer, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). After the morphological and structural characterization of the milled powders, the microstructural and mechanical properties of the hot-pressed composites were evaluated using an optical microscope, SEM, density, and Brinell hardness measurements. Considering milled powder characterization, the MWCNTs were gradually distributed and embedded within the matrix as the milling time increased. Milling for 8 h resulted in a minimum level of particle size (11 µm) with shortened and uniformly dispersed CNTs. Brinell hardness of the composite increased from 91 to 237 HB -a ⁓%160 after 8 h of milling. Such a remarkable increment in hardness could be attributed to several concurrent strengthening effects related to dispersion, solution, grain refinement, and Orowan looping mechanisms. However, relative density results revealed that the composite produced by 2 h milled powders exhibited the highest density (%99.96). The observed differences between hardness and density results were ascribed to powders’ deteriorated packing and sintering behavior due to an increment in the hardness of particles and variation in particle size range and morphology, which resulted from following different milling protocols.
Diffused responsibility: attributions of responsibility in the use of AI-driven clinical decision support systems
Authors: Bleher Hannah , Braun Matthias
Published: January 2022

Good decision-making is a complex endeavor, and particularly so in a health context. The possibilities for day-to-day clinical practice opened up by AI-driven clinical decision support systems (AI-CDSS) give rise to fundamental questions around responsibility. In causal, moral and legal terms the application of AI-CDSS is challenging existing attributions of responsibility. In this context, responsibility gaps are often identified as main problem. Mapping out the changing dynamics and levels of attributing responsibility, we argue in this article that the application of AI-CDSS causes diffusions of responsibility with respect to a causal, moral, and legal dimension. Responsibility diffusion describes the situation where multiple options and several agents can be considered for attributing responsibility. Using the example of an AI-driven ‘digital tumor board’, we illustrate how clinical decision-making is changed and diffusions of responsibility take place. Not denying or attempting to bridge responsibility gaps, we argue that dynamics and ambivalences are inherent in responsibility, which is based on normative considerations such as avoiding experiences of disregard and vulnerability of human life, which are inherently accompanied by a moment of uncertainty, and is characterized by revision openness. Against this background and to avoid responsibility gaps, the article concludes with suggestions for managing responsibility diffusions in clinical decision-making with AI-CDSS.
Men are the main COVID-19 transmitters: behavior or biology?
Authors: Silva Monize V. R. , de Castro Mateus V. , Passos-Bueno Maria Rita , Otto Paulo A. , Naslavsky Michel S. , Zatz Mayana
Published: January 2022

Background

COVID-19 has affected millions of people worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from severe cases with lethal outcome to mild or asymptomatic cases. Although the proportion of infected individuals does not differ between sexes, men are more susceptible to severe COVID-19, with a higher risk of death than women. Also, men are pointed out as more lax regarding protective measures, mask wearing and vaccination. Thus, we questioned whether sex-bias may be explained by biological pathways and/or behavioral aspects or both.

Methods

Between July 2020 and July 2021, we performed an epidemiological survey including 1744 unvaccinated adult Brazilian couples, with there was at least one infected symptomatic member, who were living together during the COVID-19 infection without protective measures. Presence or absence of infection was confirmed by RT-PCR and/or serology results. Couples were divided into two groups: (1) both partners were infected (concordant couples) and (2) one partner was infected and the spouse remained asymptomatic despite the close contact with the COVID-19 symptomatic partner (discordant couples). Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed aiming to verify a differential transmission potential between genders in couples keeping contact without protective measures.

Results

The combination of our collected data showed that the man is the first (or the only) affected member in most cases when compared to women and that this difference may be explained by biological and behavioral factors.

Conclusions

The present study confirmed the existence of gender differences not only for susceptibility to infection and resistance to COVID-19 but also in its transmission rate.
IP Accidents
Authors: Goold Patrick R.
Published: January 2022

In the twenty-first century, it has become easy to break IP law accidentally. The challenges presented by orphan works, independent invention or IP trolls are merely examples of a much more fundamental problem: IP accidents. This book argues that IP law ought to govern accidental infringement much like tort law governs other types of accidents. In particular, the accidental infringer ought to be liable in IP law only when their conduct was negligent. The current strict liability approach to IP infringement was appropriate in the nineteenth century, when IP accidents were far less frequent. But in the Information Age, where accidents are increasingly common, efficiency, equity, and fairness support the reform of IP to a negligence regime. Patrick R. Goold provides the most coherent explanation of how property and tort interact within the field of IP, contributing to a clearer understanding of property and tort law and private law generally.
Impact of the KL2/Catalyst Medical Research Investigator Training (CMeRIT) Program on the careers of early-stage clinical and translational investigators
Authors: Bredella Miriam A. , McGroarty Kate M. , Kolessin Lucy , Bard Linda F. , Hollenberg Anthony N. , Rutkove Seward B.
Published: January 2022

The Harvard Catalyst KL2/CMeRIT program is a 2-year mentored institutional career award that includes KL2 grants funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CMeRIT grants funded by Harvard Catalyst nonfederal funds. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes for early-stage investigators funded by the KL2/CMeRIT program to a group of applicants who were not chosen for support to assess the potential impact of the program on early career outcomes. Career data, including academic promotions, subsequent grant funding, and publication rates, from both successful and unsuccessful 2008–2018 KL2/CMeRIT applicants were compiled throughout the year 2020. Data were obtained directly through outreach to both groups and through assessment of online resources. The cohort comprised 487 individuals, 109 awardees, and 378 nonawardees. Awardees were more likely to be subsequently involved in clinical and translational research than nonawardees (92% vs 75%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of awardees also had achieved academic promotion (81% vs 69%, p = 0.016) and subsequent NIH funding (72% vs 58%, p = 0.047), while there was no difference in publication rates (p = 0.555). Participants in the Harvard Catalyst KL2/CMeRIT program demonstrate greater early career success than nonparticipants though the nonparticipants also fared relatively well.
Distribution in the unit tangent bundle of the geodesics of given type
Authors: ERLANDSSON VIVEKA , SOUTO JUAN
Published: January 2022

Recall that two geodesics in a negatively curved surface S are of the same type if their free homotopy classes differ by a homeomorphism of the surface. In this note we study the distribution in the unit tangent bundle of the geodesics of fixed type, proving that they are asymptotically equidistributed with respect to a certain measure
${\mathfrak {m}}^S$
on
$T^1S$
. We study a few properties of this measure, showing for example that it distinguishes between hyperbolic surfaces.
Pragmatist Feminist Utopias: Gilman, Mead, and the Problem of Choice
Authors: Hernandez Aleksandra
Published: January 2022

This article focuses on the pragmatist feminist theories of social reformer Charlotte Perkins Gilman and cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead. It begins by delineating Gilman's understanding of how the material-cultural environment affects the lives of women. Believing the American way of life to be too individualistic, Gilman developed a theory of social change aimed at generating more collectivist ways of living and promoting the economic independence of women. To achieve these ends, Gilman advocated for the reconstruction of the Victorian nursery, which she believed would afford women the choice to pursue a professional career outside of the home, and promote the health of the community. Gilman's social theory is contrasted with that of Margaret Mead, who believed that plans for social reform are best left to readers. Rather than advocate for the adoption of an entirely new cultural practice, Mead sought to acquaint her culturally diverse American readership with the Samoan way of life, so that they might collectively decide how to best address the problem of choice facing young women in the 1920s.
Open Casket and the Art World: A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Tullmann Katie
Published: January 2022

In 2017, the artist Dana Schutz presented her painting, Open Casket, at the Whitney Biennial. Both the painting and the painter were subsequently subjected to criticism from the art world. A central critique was that Schutz usurped the story of Emmett Till (the subject of Open Casket) and that, as a white woman, she had no right to do so. Much can—and has—been said on the appropriateness of Schutz's painting. In this article, I argue that Open Casket is a site of oppression, an object that both reflects and reinforces dominant racial hierarchies. Specifically, I argue that Open Casket is a case of what Linda Alcoff calls “the problem of speaking for others”: when a member of a privileged social group speaks on the social experiences of an oppressed group, effectively silencing that group. I explore the moral and epistemic implications of Open Casket and related works and provide some reasons to think that socially privileged persons should not depict the experiences of socially oppressed persons—at least in many cases. I conclude by presenting some conditions under which it may be appropriate for privileged artists to speak for oppressed groups.
The Glass Cage or How We No Body Ourselves and Others
Authors: Parson Laura
Published: January 2022

I've long been haunted by the image of Cosette, in the film adaptation of Les Misérables, singing from her lavish bedroom about wanting to be free. Her life would have seemed charmed from the outside, especially by those in nineteenth-century France who struggled to stay alive, yet she envied the freedom of those outside her door. She couldn't, of course, know how hard the lives were of those whom she watched, and those she watched would have scoffed at the suggestion that they had it better than she did. I, however, keenly saw and felt her struggle. I've spent my life constructing a cage for myself, with bars built out of societal and familial expectations for women. But inside the cage, I simultaneously long to be free and am afraid to leave. In my desire to appear normal, to fit in, I have constrained myself out of fear of what will happen if I leave this cage. So I watch the world around me, and like Cosette, I wonder what it's like to live outside the walls I've carefully constructed to make it appear as if I'm embodying, or at least trying to, Western societal expectations for what it means to be a woman.
Evaluation of fidaxomicin use in community hospitals after a clinical guideline change at a large health system and opportunities for stewardship
Authors: Khadem Tina M. , Nguyen M. Hong , Bariola J. Ryan
Published: January 2022

After updating our health system’s Clostridioides difficile treatment protocols in 2018, we reviewed 104 unique hospital encounters involving fidaxomicin at 10 community hospitals. Half (50%) of regimens were adherent to our guidelines, with infectious diseases (ID) providers were frequently nonadherent. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are important for facilitating best practices, even among ID specialists.
Association between prevalence of laboratory-identified Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and antibiotic treatment for CDI in US acute-care hospitals, 2019
Authors: Xu Kerui , Wu Hsiu , Li Qunna , Edwards Jonathan R. , O’Leary Erin N. , Leaptrot Denise , Benin Andrea L.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To evaluate hospital-level variation in using first-line antibiotics for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) based on the burden of laboratory-identified (LabID) CDI.

Methods:

Using data on hospital-level LabID CDI events and antimicrobial use (AU) for CDI (oral/rectal vancomycin or fidaxomicin) submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network in 2019, we assessed the association between hospital-level CDI prevalence (per 100 patient admissions) and rate of CDI AU (days of therapy per 1,000 days present) to generate a predicted value of AU based on CDI prevalence and CDI test type using negative binomial regression. The ratio of the observed to predicted AU was then used to identify hospitals with extreme discordance between CDI prevalence and CDI AU, defined as hospitals with a ratio outside of the intervigintile range.

Results:

Among 963 acute-care hospitals, rate of CDI prevalence demonstrated a positive dose–response relationship with rate of CDI AU. Compared with hospitals without extreme discordance (n = 902), hospitals with lower-than-expected CDI AU (n = 31) had, on average, fewer beds (median, 106 vs 208), shorter length of stay (median, 3.8 vs 4.2 days), and higher proportion of undergraduate or nonteaching medical school affiliation (48% vs 39%). Hospitals with higher-than-expected CDI AU (n = 30) were similar overall to hospitals without extreme discordance.

Conclusions:

The prevalence rate of LabID CDI had a significant dose–response association with first-line antibiotics for treating CDI. We identified hospitals with extreme discordance between CDI prevalence and CDI AU, highlighting potential opportunities for data validation and improvements in diagnostic and treatment practices for CDI.
On the hydrodynamic focusing for producing microemulsions via tip streaming
Authors: López M. , Cabezas M.G. , Montanero J.M. , Herrada M.A.
Published: January 2022

In this work we study experimentally and numerically the stability of hydrodynamic focusing to produce microemulsions. The jetting regime was produced experimentally for the lowest outer viscosity, while microdripping was obtained for the highest outer viscosity. The liquid ejection for small capillary numbers stabilizes as the distance between the feeding capillary and the focusing orifice decreases. The comparison between confined selective withdrawal and stretched flow focusing for the largest outer viscosity shows that confined selective withdrawal significantly enhances the stability of the microdripping mode, which entails a significant reduction of the minimum value of the droplet diameter. When surfactants are dissolved in the inner liquid at sufficiently large concentrations, we observe a significant decrease in both the minimum flow rate leading to tip streaming and the droplet diameter. The surfactant monolayer stabilizes the meniscus and promotes the transition from microdripping to jetting. The global stability analysis shows that jetting via tip streaming becomes unstable due to the growth of an oscillatory perturbation. The unstable perturbation affects the tapering meniscus for the lowest outer viscosity, which explains why the meniscus oscillates in the experiments. The critical flow rate ratio is accurately predicted by the global stability analysis in most of the experiments with the lowest outer viscosity. For the highest outer viscosity, the global stability analysis correctly predicts the microdripping mode and allows one to calculate the droplet emission frequency in that mode.
Populism and Italy: a theoretical and epistemological conundrum
Authors: Maccaferri Marzia
Published: January 2022

Considered by many scholars to be principally a catch-all or a useless concept, populism has rarely gone hand-in-hand with historical reflection. Building upon ‘the need to return populism to history’, this article offers an overview of the reasons why populism as a concept and as a potential sequence of historical events seems to fit well in post-Second World War Italy, and aims to suggest areas for further research. At the intersection between conceptual history, democratic theory and discourse-historical analysis, the article explores the continuities and discontinuities of Italian populisms, focusing on the resemioticisation of the concept of civil society and its legacy within historical Italian Fascism, especially during the transition to the so-called Second Republic.