bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fetal thoracic circumference in mid‐pregnancy and infant lung function
Authors: Gudmundsdóttir Hrefna K. , Hilde Katarina , Bains Karen E. S. , Färdig Martin , Haugen Guttorm , LeBlanc Marissa , Nordhagen Live S. , Nordlund Björn , Rehbinder Eva M. , Skjerven Håvard O. , Staff Anne C. , Vettukattil Riyas , Carlsen Karin C. L.
Published: September 2022

Background and Aim

Impaired lung function in early infancy is associated with later wheeze and asthma, while fetal thoracic circumference (TC) predicts severity of neonatal lung hypoplasia. Exploring fetal origins of lung function in infancy, we aimed to determine if fetal TC in mid‐pregnancy was associated with infant lung function.

Methods

From the prospective Scandinavian general population‐based PreventADALL mother–child birth cohort, all 851 3‐month‐old infants with tidal flow‐volume measurements in the awake state and ultrasound fetal size measures at 18 (min–max 16–22) weeks gestational age were included. Associations between fetal TC and time to peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory time (tPTEF/tE) were analyzed in linear regression models. To account for gestational age variation, we adjusted TC for simultaneously measured general fetal size, by head circumference (TC/HC), abdominal circumference (TC/AC), and femur length (TC/FL). Multivariable models were adjusted for maternal age, maternal asthma, pre‐pregnancy body mass index, parity, nicotine exposure in utero, and infant sex.

Results

The infants (47.8% girls) were born at mean (SD) gestational age of 40.2 (1.30) weeks. The mean (SD) tPTEF/tE was 0.39 (0.08). The mean (SD) TC/HC was 0.75 (0.04), TC/AC 0.87 (0.04), and TC/FL 4.17 (0.26), respectively. Neither TC/HC nor TC/AC were associated with infant tPTEF/tE while a week inverse association was observed between TC/FL and tPTEF/tE ( = −0.03, 95% confidence interval [−0.05, −0.007], p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Mid‐pregnancy fetal TC adjusted for fetal head or abdominal size was not associated with tPTEF/tE in healthy, awake 3‐month‐old infants, while a weak association was observed adjusting for fetal femur length.
C${\cal C}$osmological K${\cal K}$rylov C${\cal C}$omplexity
Authors: Adhikari Kiran , Choudhury Sayantan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we study the Krylov complexity (K) from the planar/inflationary patch of the de Sitter space using the two mode squeezed state formalism in the presence of an effective field having sound speed . From our analysis, we obtain the explicit behavior of Krylov complexity (K) and lancoz coefficients () with respect to the conformal time scale and scale factor in the presence of effective sound speed . Since lancoz coefficients () grow linearly with integer n, this suggests that universe acts like a chaotic system during this period. We also obtain the corresponding Lyapunov exponent λ in presence of effective sound speed . We show that the Krylov complexity (K) for this system is equal to average particle numbers suggesting it's relation to the volume. Finally, we give a comparison of Krylov complexity (K) with entanglement entropy (Von‐Neumann) where we found that there is a large difference between Krylov complexity (K) and entanglement entropy for large values of squeezing amplitude. This suggests that Krylov complexity (K) can be a significant probe for studying the dynamics of the cosmological system even after the saturation of entanglement entropy.
Pretreatment with rosavin attenuates PM2.5‐induced lung injury in rats through antiferroptosis via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Yilan , Zhao Sijing , Jia Nan , Shen Zherui , Huang Demei , Wang Xiaomin , Wu Yongcan , Pei Caixia , Shi Shihua , He Yacong , Wang Zhenxing
Published: September 2022

Inflammation and oxidative stress caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increase the incidence and mortality rates of respiratory disorders. Rosavin is the main chemical component of Rhodiola plants, which exerts anti‐oxidative and antiinflammatory effects. In this research, the potential therapeutic effect of rosavin was investigated by the PM2.5‐induced lung injury rat model. Rats were instilled with PM2.5 (7.5 mg/kg) suspension intratracheally, while rosavin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) was delivered by intraperitoneal injection before the PM2.5 injection. It was observed that rosavin could prevent lung injury caused by PM2.5. PM2.5 showed obvious ferroptosis‐related ultrastructural alterations, which were significantly corrected by rosavin. The pretreatment with rosavin downregulated the levels of tissue iron, malondialdehyde, and 4‐hydroxynonenal, and increased the levels of glutathione. The expression of nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) was upregulated by rosavin, together with other ferroptosis‐related proteins. RSL3, a specific ferroptosis agonist, reversed the beneficial impact of rosavin. The network pharmacology approach predicted the activation of rosavin on the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. LY294002, a potent PI3K inhibitor, decreased the upregulation of Nrf2 induced by rosavin. In conclusion, rosavin prevented lung injury induced by PM2.5 stimulation and suppressed ferroptosis via upregulating PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Thermal destruction of PFAS during full‐scale reactivation of PFAS‐laden granular activated carbon
Authors: DiStefano Rebecca , Feliciano Tony , Mimna Richard A. , Redding Adam M. , Matthis John
Published: September 2022

Granular activated carbon (GAC) is the most widely used and well‐established treatment technology for the removal of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants from drinking water and wastewater. After the GAC has reached the end of its useful service life and become “spent carbon,” it is common practice in industry to thermally treat it in a process known as reactivation. The reactivation process volatilizes and destroys adsorbed contaminants at high temperatures and restores the GAC to a near‐virgin state so that it can be reused. Since the advent of PFAS regulatory actions, questions have arisen about the effectiveness of the reactivation process for the destruction of PFAS given their high thermal stability and the lack of documented study on this new topic. In light of this, a thorough program of testing was carried out at a full‐scale GAC reactivation facility during the reactivation of a load of GAC known to contain adsorbed PFAS. The facility employs a multihearth Herreschoff furnace and a downstream abatement train that includes a thermal oxidizer, spray quench cooler, dry injection scrubber, and baghouse. All inputs and outputs of the system were tested for targeted PFAS compounds and fluoride (total and as hydrogen fluoride). Under typical operating conditions, the system demonstrated both full removal of PFAS compounds from GAC and >99.99% destruction of PFAS compounds through the furnace and abatement system. Additional key findings include: (1) a large portion of the PFAS destruction occurs in the furnace, before the thermal oxidizer; (2) the fluoride mass balance was close to 61.4%; and (3) emission levels were significantly lower than available public data for PFAS manufacturing emissions.
The morphokinetics algorithm based on data from day 5 blastocyst transfer (KIDScoreD5 version 3) is also useful for embryo selection in day 6 blastocyst transfer
Authors: Shioya Masashi , Kobayashi Tatsuya , Sugiura Tomoharu , Fujita Maki , Takahashi Keiichi
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To analyze whether the morphokinetics algorithm based on data from day 5 blastocyst transfer (KIDScoreD5 version 3) can predict the pregnancy rate of both day 5 and day 6 blastocyst transfers.

Methods

The relationship between KIDScoreD5 and clinical pregnancy rate was evaluated using the Cochran–Armitage test and receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

A positive correlation was observed between the KIDScoreD5 value and clinical pregnancy rate for both day 5 (p = 0.0003) and day 6 blastocysts (p = 0.0019) using the Cochrane–Armitage test. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of KIDScoreD5 for clinical pregnancy was 0.627 (0.575–0.677, p < 0.0001) for day 5 blastocysts and 0.685 (0.571–0.780, p = 0.0009) for day 6 blastocysts. The combined analysis of both day 5 and day 6 blastocysts also showed an AUC of 0.680 (0.636–0.720, p < 0.0001), suggesting that it is possible to select embryos that are more likely to result in pregnancy.

Conclusions

KIDScoreD5 could predict pregnancy not only in day 5 blastocysts but also in day 6 blastocysts. When both day 5 and day 6 blastocysts are vitrified, embryo selection by KIDScoreD5 is possible with a high prediction ability of pregnancy.
A framework tool for conceptualizing integrated water resources for sustainable water management
Authors: Borden Carter , Goodwin Peter
Published: September 2022

As the pressures on water resources are ever increasing, the organization of complex disparate data and scientific information to inform the actions to protect and enhance the resilience of freshwater resources is key for sustainable development and implementation of integrated water resource management (IWRM). Methodologies supporting IWRM implementation have largely focused on water management and governance, with less attention to evaluation methods of ecologic, economic, and social conditions. To assist in assessing water resource sustainability, the Integrated Hydro‐Environment Assessment Tool (IHEAT) has been developed to create a framework for different disciplines and interests to engage in structured dialogue. The IHEAT builds on the considerable body of knowledge developed around IWRM and seeks to place this information into a single framework that facilitates the cogeneration of knowledge between managers, stakeholders, and the communities affected by management decisions with the understanding that there is a need to merge expert analysis with traditional knowledge and the lived experience of communities. IHEAT merges the driver‐pressure‐state‐impact‐response (DPSIR) framework, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment's ecosystem services and human well‐being (HWB) framework, sustainability criteria for water resource systems, and water resources indexes and sets of indicators to better understand spatiotemporal interactions between hydrologic, socioeconomic, and ecologic systems and evaluate impacts of disturbances on ecological goods and services and HWB. IHEAT consists of a Conceptual Template (IHEAT‐CT) which provides a systematic framework for assessing basin conditions and guiding indicator selection as well as an Assessment Interface (IHEAT‐AI) for organizing, processing, and assessing analytical results. The IHEAT‐CT, presented herein, is a rapid screening tool that connects water use directly, or through ecosystem goods and services (EGS), to constituents of HWB. Disturbance Templates for eight pressure types, such as land‐use change, climate change, and population growth, are provided to guide practitioners regarding potential changes to landscape elements in the hydrological cycle, impacts on EGS, and societal implications on HWB. The basin screening results in a summary report card illuminating key freshwater ecosystems, the EGS they provide, and potential responses to drivers and pressures acting on the hydrologic system. This screening provides a common understanding by technical and nontechnical parties and provides the foundation for more complex conceptual models should they be required. An indicator list guides the selection of hydrologic, ecologic, economic, and social analytical methods to support IWRM technical input.
Sustainable development via environmental taxes and efficiency in energy: Evaluating trade adjusted carbon emissions
Authors: Zhang Ziwei , Zheng Qiang
Published: September 2022

Sustainable development goals are one of the key targets to achieve for many countries across the globe. The current study aims to determine the impact of economic development and global commerce, specifically by considering trade separately, energy efficiency, and environmental levies on consumption‐based carbon emissions (CCO2) for the G‐7 countries between 1990 and 2020. This research used slope‐heterogeneity and cross‐section dependency to determine the unit root order. To assess the long run and short‐run correlations between variables, the cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lags model (CS‐ARDL) is employed, along with an augmented mean group test to ensure robustness. The study found that economic growth and imports are deteriorating, impacting the CCO2 emission of the G‐7 countries, while the exports, energy efficiency and environmental taxes are having a corrective impact on the CCO2 emission. As per the results, focusing on energy efficiency will have a more correcting impact on CCO2 than on the other factors. The augmented mean group model further validates the results.
Nanoparticle‐Based Follistatin Messenger RNA Therapy for Reprogramming Metastatic Ovarian Cancer and Ameliorating Cancer‐Associated Cachexia
Authors: Korzun Tetiana , Moses Abraham S. , Kim Jeonghwan , Patel Siddharth , Schumann Canan , Levasseur Peter R. , Diba Parham , Olson Brennan , Rebola Katia Graziella De Oliveira , Norgard Mason , Park Youngrong , Demessie Ananiya A. , Eygeris Yulia , Grigoriev Vladislav , Sundaram Subisha , Pejovic Tanja , Brody Jonathan R. , Taratula Olena R. , Zhu Xinxia , Sahay Gaurav , Marks Daniel L. , Taratula Oleh
Published: September 2022

This study presents the first messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy for metastatic ovarian cancer and cachexia‐induced muscle wasting based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver follistatin (FST) mRNA predominantly to cancer clusters following intraperitoneal administration. The secreted FST protein, endogenously synthesized from delivered mRNA, efficiently reduces elevated activin A levels associated with aggressive ovarian cancer and associated cachexia. By altering the cancer cell phenotype, mRNA treatment prevents malignant ascites, delays cancer progression, induces the formation of solid tumors, and preserves muscle mass in cancer‐bearing mice by inhibiting negative regulators of muscle mass. Finally, mRNA therapy provides synergistic effects in combination with cisplatin, increasing the survival of mice and counteracting muscle atrophy induced by chemotherapy and cancer‐associated cachexia. The treated mice develop few nonadherent tumors that are easily resected from the peritoneum. Clinically, this nanomedicine‐based mRNA therapy can facilitate complete cytoreduction, target resistance, improve resilience during aggressive chemotherapy, and improve survival in advanced ovarian cancer.
Responsive Structural Colors Derived from Geometrical Deformation of Synthetic Nanomaterials
Authors: Qi Yong , Zhang Shufen , Lu An-Hui
Published: September 2022

Responsive structural colors generated by the geometrical deformation of synthetic nanomaterials with a periodic skeleton corresponding to light wavelength through interference, diffraction, and scattering are recognized as extremely valuable information conversion methods. However, there lacks systematic generalization regarding the responsive structural colors generated from the response deformation of micro–nano structures. In this review, the recent progress on synthetic structural color materials (SCMs) and their size effects on color conversion are summarized and discussed. Different deformable micro–nano structures, such as microspheres, inverse opals, surface wrinkles, nano‐/micropillars, layered stacks, and others, have been summarized. Their common feature is the variation in structural color produced by the deformation of nanostructures, but the difference lies in the deformation mechanism and response to stimuli. It is aimed to figure out the relationship and mechanism between stimuli deformation and the variable structural color of the corresponding nanostructures, inspiring the creation of the next generation of intelligent SCMs. Finally, perspectives on the development of responsive SCMs derived from the geometrical deformation of synthetic nanomaterials are presented. Several potential stimuli‐deformable micro–nano structures are discussed. It is believed that stimuli deformation is a powerful tool for the fabrication of high‐performance responsive SCMs to advance photonic technology.
Evaluation of expandable global positioning system collars for white‐tailed deer fawns
Authors: Wesner Zachary G. , Norton Andrew S. , Obermoller Tyler R. , Osborn David A. , D'Angelo Gino J.
Published: September 2022

Integrating Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with expandable collars will allow researchers to more accurately and efficiently investigate survival of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns. We tested fit and function of 5 expandable GPS collar prototypes on white‐tailed deer fawns and conducted behavioral observations during the first 12 weeks of life at the Whitehall Deer Research Facility, Athens, Georgia, USA, during 2018–2020. We fitted 46 fawns with 5 prototype collar designs and ear‐tagged 15 control fawns without collars. Prototype collars differed in expandable band materials. Premature expansion and breakage of collar bands composed of cotton and rubber was a problem that resulted in freely moving collars and displacement to the waist of fawns. Fawns retained prototype collar designs with cotton and rubber band materials for a mean 101 (±46 [SD]) and 70 (±37) days, respectively. For 2 collar designs with expandable bands composed of nylon and rubber, fawns retained collars for a mean 246 (±156) and 306 (±99) days, respectively. Vectronic (v1.0 and v2.0; VECTRONIC Aerospace GmbH, Berlin, Germany) and Telonics v2.0 (Telonics Inc., Mesa, AZ, USA) collared fawns were 16–21% less likely to be observed standing compared to uncollared fawns. Bedded Vectronic (v1.0 and v2.0) and Telonics v2.0 collared fawns were 19–28% less likely to be observed with their head up compared to uncollared fawns. Bedded fawns with collars were 11–16% more likely to be observed with their head tilted compared to bedded fawns without collars. Vectronic (v1.0 and v2.0) and Telonics v2.0 collared fawns were 25–34% less likely to exhibit vigilance compared to uncollared fawns, and all collared fawns were 22–37% more likely to exhibit sleeping than uncollared fawns. We recommend that GPS collar designs we evaluated undergo additional modifications before deployment in the field, including improved stitching patterns and threads to facilitate more gradual collar expansion, smaller battery housings and improved weight distribution to mitigate behavioral concerns, and smaller band circumferences to improve collar fit across time.
What Has COVID-19 Taught Us About Democracy? Relational Democracy and Digital Surveillance Technologies
Authors: Ziliotti Elena
Published: September 2022

What is the best way for democratic societies to experiment with digital surveillance technologies? This chapter contributes to answering this question through the analysis of the relational ideal of democracy. I contend that the relational conception of democracy offers a viable approach to experimentations with new technologies. The relational conception of democracy, which views democracy as a way of life (or culture), supports a deliberative and context-sensitive approach to new digital technologies. To clarify what this approach entails in practice, the chapter discusses the case of South Korea’s introduction of new digital surveillance technologies during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These reflections shed new light on what democracy means and provide us with valuable insights on how to design post-pandemic democracies.
Convexity of charged operators in CFTs with multiple Abelian symmetries
Authors: Palti Eran , Sharon Adar
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Motivated by the Weak Gravity Conjecture in the context of holography in AdS, it has been proposed that operators charged under global symmetries in CFTs, in three dimensions or higher, should satisfy certain convexity properties on their spectrum. A key element of this proposal is the charge at which convexity must appear, which was proposed to never be parametrically large. In this paper, we develop this constraint in the context of multiple Abelian global symmetries. We propose the statement that the convex directions in the multi-dimensional charge space should generate a sub-lattice of the total lattice of charged operators, such that the index of this sub-lattice cannot be made parametrically large. In the special case of two-dimensional CFTs, the index can be made parametrically large, which we prove by an explicit example. However, we also prove that in two dimensions there always exist convex directions generating a sub-lattice with an index bounded by the current levels of the global symmetry. Therefore, in two dimensions, the conjecture should be slightly modified to account for the current levels, and then it can be proven. In more than two dimensions, we show that the index of the sub-lattice generated by marginally convex charge vectors associated to BPS operators only, can be made parametrically large. However, we do not find evidence for parametric delay in convexity once all operators are considered.
Digitalization of small and medium sized sawmills in Austria: a survey about business processes
Authors: Ranacher L. , Stocker R. , Riegler M. , Schwarzbauer P. , Hesser F.
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the level of digitalization as well as opportunities and challenges from the perspective of sawmill representatives. The level of digitalization of business processes was assessed by a survey on digitalization criteria regarding business processes. The questions dealt with the existence of basic data processing, digitally networked information and communication and digitally networked products and services. Over 700 small and medium sized sawmills were contacted by e-mail or mail using enterprise directories. The response of 87 completed questionnaires was analyzed by means of cluster analysis. The companies were divided into different groups based on their similarity regarding the digitalization criteria. The study identified three clusters: the first cluster (n1 = 35), the “manual small business”, did not reach the first stage of digitalization. The second cluster (n2 = 26), the “automated business”, has partially reached the first stage of digitalization. The third cluster (n3 = 26), the “solid developed” group, has reached the first stage of digitalization as the basic hardware and software is available. The increasing networking of the value chain, the workplace of the future and the increasing individualization of customer requirements are perceived as opportunities. The main barriers are data protection and data security whereas cloud solutions are considered as the biggest risk.
CutFEM based on extended finite element spaces
Authors: Burman Erik , Hansbo Peter , Larson Mats G.
Published: September 2022

We develop a general framework for construction and analysis of discrete extension operators with application to unfitted finite element approximation of partial differential equations. In unfitted methods so called cut elements intersected by the boundary occur and these elements must in general by stabilized in some way. Discrete extension operators provides such a stabilization by modification of the finite element space close to the boundary. More, precisely the finite element space is extended from the stable interior elements over the boundary in a stable way which also guarantees optimal approximation properties. Our framework is applicable to all standard nodal based finite elements of various order and regularity. We develop an abstract theory for elliptic problems and associated parabolic time dependent partial differential equations and derive a priori error estimates. We finally apply this to some examples of partial differential equations of different order including the interface problems, the biharmonic operator and the sixth order triharmonic operator.
Effects of percutaneous coronary intervention on dyspnea in stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Wester Michael , Koll Franziska , Luedde Mark , Langer Christoph , Resch Markus , Luchner Andreas , Müller Karolina , Zeman Florian , Koller Michael , Maier Lars S. , Sossalla Samuel
Published: September 2022

Background

Dyspnea is a frequent symptom in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and is recognized as a possible angina equivalent.

Objectives

This study was to assess the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on dyspnea, quality of life, and angina pectoris in patients with stable CAD.

Methods

The prospective, multi-center PLA-pCi-EBO-pilot trial included 144 patients with symptomatic stable CAD and successful PCI. The prespecified endpoints angina pectoris (Seattle Angina Questionnaire–SAQ) and dyspnea (NYHA scale) were assessed 6 months after PCI. Predictors for symptomatic improvement were assessed with uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

Patients with concomitant dyspnea had worse SAQ physical limitation scores at baseline (49.5 ± 21.0 vs 58.9 ± 22.0, p = 0.013) but showed no difference for angina frequency or quality of life. Overall, symptomatic burden of angina pectoris and dyspnea was alleviated by PCI. However, patients with concomitant dyspnea had markedly worse scores for physical limitation (78.9 ± 25.0 vs 94.3 ± 10.6, p < 0.001), angina frequency (77.9 ± 22.8 vs 91.1 ± 12.4, p < 0.001), and quality of life (69.4 ± 24.1 vs 82.5 ± 14.4, p < 0.001) after PCI. The prevalence of dyspnea (NYHA class ≥ 2) declined from 73% before PCI to 54%. Of 95 initially dyspneic patients, 57 (60%) improved at least one NYHA class 6 months after PCI. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, “atypical angina pectoris” was associated with improved NYHA class, whereas “diabetes mellitus” had a negative association.

Conclusion

PCI effectively reduced dyspnea, which is a frequent and demanding symptom in patients with CAD. The German Clinical Trials Register registration number is DRKS0001752 (www.drks.de).

Graphical abstract
Etiologic reclassification of cryptogenic stroke after implantable cardiac monitoring and computed tomography angiography re-assessment
Authors: Mele Francesco , Scopelliti Giuseppe , Manini Arianna , Ferrari Aggradi Carola , Baiardo Matteo , Schiavone Marco , Viecca Maurizio , Ianniello Andrea , Bertora Pierluigi , Forleo Giovanni B. , Pantoni Leonardo
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Different mechanisms may underlie cryptogenic stroke, including subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF), nonstenotic carotid plaques (NCP), and aortic arch atherosclerosis (AAA). In a cohort of cryptogenic stroke patients, we aimed to: (1) evaluate the prevalence of subclinical AF, NCP, and AAA, and reclassify the etiology accordingly; (2) compare the clinical features of patients with reclassified etiology with those with confirmed cryptogenic stroke.

Methods

Data of patients hospitalized for cryptogenic stroke between January 2018 and February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were included if they received implantable cardiac monitoring (ICM) to detect subclinical AF. Baseline computed tomography angiography (CTA) was re-evaluated to assess NCP and AAA. Since aortic plaques with ulceration/intraluminal thrombus were considered pathogenetic during the initial workup, only patients with milder AAA were included. Stroke etiology was reclassified as “cardioembolic”, “atherosclerotic”, or “mixed” based on the detection of AF and NCP/AAA. Patients with “true cryptogenic” stroke (no AF, ipsilateral NCP, or AAA detected) were compared with those with reclassified etiology.

Results

Among 63 patients included, 21 (33%) were diagnosed with AF (median follow-up time of 15 months), 12 (19%) had ipsilateral NCP, and 6 (10%) had AAA. Stroke etiology was reclassified in 30 patients (48%): cardioembolic in 14 (22%), atherosclerotic in 9 (14%), and mixed in 7 (11%). Patients with true cryptogenic stroke were younger compared to those with reclassified etiology (p = 0.001).

Discussion

One or more potential covert stroke sources can be recognized in half of the patients with a cryptogenic stroke through long-term cardiac monitoring and focused CTA re-assessment.
Analysis of spot urine biomarkers and association with body weight in Japanese elementary schoolchildren
Authors: Takemoto Nozomi , Millman Jasmine , Uema Tsugumi , Yamakawa Fusae , Okamoto Shiki , Mori Mari , Mori Hideki , Nakamura Koshi , Yamori Yukio , Masuzaki Hiroaki
Published: September 2022

Childhood obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide and is largely the consequence of adoption of unhealthy diets excessive in calories and salt (NaCl) as well as devoid in pivotal micronutrients such as potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). Education-based programs aiming to encourage healthy food knowledge and behaviors are crucial at a young age, and for this purpose, convenient ways to assess daily dietary intake are warranted. We therefore attempted to evaluate the dietary intake of Okinawan schoolchildren in Japan by analyzing a series of biomarkers in morning spot urine samples and explore whether these biomarkers correlate with body weight and a series of metabolic parameters. We enrolled 98 third-grade elementary schoolchildren in Okinawa, Japan. Morning spot urine samples were collected and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to assess dietary intake. We found that estimated daily NaCl intake was higher in obese/overweight children as compared to healthy-weight children (p = 0.0001). There was also a significant positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and NaCl intake (Spearman) (ρ = 0.45, p < 0.0001) and a negative correlation between BMI and Mg/Cr (ρ =  −0.27, p = 0.01). Furthermore, Na/K ratio was higher in samples collected on Monday (weekend) as compared to samples collected on Thursday or Friday (weekday) (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Via the use of morning spot urine analyses, our results show that NaCl intake was associated with obesity, and Mg excretion negatively correlated with BMI in Japanese schoolchildren, highlighting the potential role of these micronutrients in maintaining a healthy body weight.

What is Known:•Overweight and obesity are largely due to excessive consumption of calories and positively correlated with salt (NaCl) intake.•Spot urine methods are convenient for assessing the nutritional needs and targeting prevention programs in children.

What is New:•Utilizing morning spot urine analyses, estimated NaCl intake is positively correlated and Mg/Cr negatively correlated with BMI in Okinawan schoolchildren.•As estimated via morning spot urine samples, a greater proportion of children likely exceeds the recommended NaCl intake on the weekend as compared to weekday.
Orthodontic camouflage versus orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment in borderline class III malocclusion: a systematic review
Authors: Alhammadi Maged S. , Almashraqi Abeer A. , Khadhi Ahmed Hassan , Arishi Khalid Abdullrahman , Alamir Abdelhamid Aidarous , Beleges Essa Mohammed , Halboub Esam
Published: September 2022

Objective

This systematic review evaluated the available evidence regarding the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue effects of orthodontic camouflage (OC) versus orthodontic-orthognathic surgical (OOS) treatment in borderline class III malocclusion patients.

Methods

Eligibility criteria. The included studies were clinical trials and/or follow-up observational studies (retrospective and prospective). Information sources. PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane, and LILACS were searched up to October 2021. Risk of bias. Downs and Black quality assessment checklist was used. Synthesis of results. The outcomes were the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue changes obtained from pre- and post-cephalometric measurements.

Results

Included studies. Out of 2089 retrieved articles, 6 were eligible and thus included in the subsequent analyses. Their overall risk of bias was moderate. Outcome results. The results are presented as pre- and post-treatment values or mean changes in both groups. Two studies reported significant retrusion of the maxillary and mandibular bases in OC, in contrast to significant maxillary protrusion and mandibular retrusion with increased ANB angle in OOS. Regarding the vertical jaw relation, one study reported a significant decrease in mandibular plane inclination in OC and a significant increase in OOS. Most of the included studies reported a significant proclination in the maxillary incisors in both groups. Three studies reported a significant proclination of the mandibular incisors in OOS, while four studies reported retroclination in OC.

Conclusion

Interpretation. The OSS has a protrusive effect on the maxillary base, retrusive effect on the mandibular base, and thus improvement in the sagittal relationship accompanied with a clockwise rotational effect on the mandibular plane. The OC has more proclination effect on the maxillary incisors and retroclination effect on the mandibular incisors compared to OOS. Limitation. Meta-analysis was not possible due to considerable variations among the included studies. Owing to the fact that some important data in the included studies were missing, conducting further studies with more standardized methodologies is highly urgent. Registration. The protocol for this systematic review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, No.: CRD42020199591).

Clinical relevance

The common features including skeletal, dental, and soft tissue characteristics of borderline class III malocclusion cases make it more difficult to select the most appropriate treatment modality that can be either OC or OOS. The availability of high-level evidence—systematic reviews—makes the clinical decision much more clear and based on scientific basis rather than personal preference.
Efficient DEM simulations of railway ballast using simple particle shapes
Authors: Suhr Bettina , Six Klaus
Published: September 2022

For complex shaped materials, computational efficiency and accuracy of DEM models are usually opposing requirements. In the literature, DEM models of railway ballast often use very complex and computationally demanding particle shapes in combination with very simple contact laws. In contrast, this study suggests efficient DEM models for railway ballast using simple particle shapes together with a contact law including more physical effects. In previous works of the authors, shape descriptors, calculated in a shape analysis of two types of ballast, were used to construct simple particle shapes (clumps of three spheres). Using such a shape in DEM simulations of compression and direct shear tests, accurate results were achieved only when the contact law included additional physical effects e.g. edge breakage. A parametrisation strategy was developed for this contact law comparing DEM simulations with the measurements. Now, all the constructed simple particle shapes are parametrised allowing to study their suitability and relating their shape descriptors to those of railway ballast. The most suitable particle shapes consist of non-overlapping spheres, thus have a high interlocking potential, and have lowest sphericity and highest convexity values. In a micromechanical analysis of the four best performing shapes, three shapes show similar behaviour on the bulk and the micro-scale, while one shape differs clearly on the micro-scale. This analysis shows, which shapes can be expected to produce similar results in DEM simulations of other tests/load cases. The presented approach is a step towards both efficient and accurate DEM modelling of railway ballast.

Graphic abstract
Infant adoptions in wild bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata)
Authors: Anand Ashvita , Balakrishna Nagarathna , Singh Mewa , Isbell Lynne A. , Sirigeri Sindhuja , Saikia Anushka , Arlet Małgorzata E.
Published: September 2022

Though uncommon, adoption of orphaned infants has been observed in both wild and captive non-human primates. In two groups of wild bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata), we observed five instances of infants being cared for after they lost their mothers at a pre-weaning age (< 6 months). Orphaned infants had one or more caregivers (juvenile, subadult, and adult female or male) involved in carrying, grooming, hugging, and protecting them. Adoption did not appear to be related to the age/sex class of the infant, or directly to the mother’s rank. Although the dominance rank of the mother of an orphaned infant did not have a direct effect on orphan survivorship, it determined the number of caregivers available to the orphaned infant, and infant survivorship was positively related to the number of caregivers of the orphaned infant. Thus, survivorship was likely a function of the mother’s sociality. Two other infants born to high-ranking mothers were also adopted by more individuals and survived longer than the infants of low-ranking mothers.
Machine Learning for Improving Surface-Layer-Flux Estimates
Authors: McCandless Tyler , Gagne David John , Kosović Branko , Haupt Sue Ellen , Yang Bai , Becker Charlie , Schreck John
Published: September 2022

Flows in the atmospheric boundary layer are turbulent, characterized by a large Reynolds number, the existence of a roughness sublayer and the absence of a well-defined viscous layer. Exchanges with the surface are therefore dominated by turbulent fluxes. In numerical models for atmospheric flows, turbulent fluxes must be specified at the surface; however, surface fluxes are not known a priori and therefore must be parametrized. Atmospheric flow models, including global circulation, limited area models, and large-eddy simulation, employ Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) to parametrize surface fluxes. The MOST approach is a semi-empirical formulation that accounts for atmospheric stability effects through universal stability functions. The stability functions are determined based on limited observations using simple regression as a function of the non-dimensional stability parameter representing a ratio of distance from the surface and the Obukhov length scale (Obukhov in Trudy Inst Theor Geofiz AN SSSR 1:95–115, 1946), $$z/L$$

z
/
L

. However, simple regression cannot capture the relationship between governing parameters and surface-layer structure under the wide range of conditions to which MOST is commonly applied. We therefore develop, train, and test two machine-learning models, an artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF), to estimate surface fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, and moisture based on surface and near-surface observations. To train and test these machine-learning algorithms, we use several years of observations from the Cabauw mast in the Netherlands and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Field Research Division tower in Idaho. The RF and ANN models outperform MOST. Even when we train the RF and ANN on one set of data and apply them to the second set, they provide more accurate estimates of all of the fluxes compared to MOST. Estimates of sensible heat and moisture fluxes are significantly improved, and model interpretability techniques highlight the logical physical relationships we expect in surface-layer processes.
Heat flux estimation from borehole temperatures acquired during logging while tripping: a case study with the sea floor drill rig MARUM-MeBo
Authors: Freudenthal T. , Villinger H. , Riedel M. , Pape T.
Published: September 2022

During trip out of the drill string at the end of a drilling operation (logging while tripping) borehole temperatures can be measured without the need for additional operational time. A simple interpretation of the measured borehole temperatures is difficult due to the interfering influences of the drilling operations, mainly due to flushing the borehole during drilling. In this study, we present borehole temperature data from drilling campaigns with the sea floor drill rig MARUM-MeBo200 at the Danube Deep Sea Fan (Black Sea) and west of Taiwan (South China Sea). The temperature measurements were conducted with a PT1000 temperature sensor which is integrated in a memory acoustic borehole logging tool. We developed a modeling approach in order to simulate the drilling perturbations and subsequent evolution of the temperature field within the borehole. By fitting the model data to the measured time dependent temperature depth profiles, we estimated the undisturbed heat flux at the drill sites. This study shows that knowledge of the pattern of drilling operations with alternating phases of drilling/flushing and drill string handling is crucial for comparing temperatures measured during logging while tripping and simulated temperatures.
Phenotypic Variants of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus Fumigatus that Co-exist in Human Respiratory Samples are Genetically Highly Related
Authors: Abdolrasouli Alireza , Rhodes Johanna L.
Published: September 2022

Respiratory specimens obtained from patients with chronic forms of aspergillosis contain phenotypic variants of azole-resistantAspergillus fumigatus(ARAF) that co-exist in the airway. Here we aimed to study whether phenotypic variants of ARAF that co-exist in clinical specimens were genetically distinct. A panel of six phenotypic variants of ARAF cultured from two sputum samples collected from two patients with chronic aspergillosis were included. Preliminary identification of all isolates was obtained using MALDI–ToF mass spectrometry and confirmed by AsperGenius®real-time PCR assay. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined using EUCAST E.Def 9.3 microbroth dilution. Genomic DNA libraries were constructed with the Illumina TruSeq Nano kit. Prepared whole-genome libraries were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500. Whole genome data were converted into presence/absence of a SNP with respect to the Af293 reference genome. Colonies of ARAF that co-existed in one respiratory sample demonstrated marked phenotypic diversity. Twocyp51Apolymorphisms were found among azole-resistant isolates: TR34/L98H/T289A/I364V/G448S was consistently present in four variants with a pan-azole resistant phenotype and TR34/L98H was detected in two variants (itraconazole MIC > 16 mg/L). WGS typing showed that despite marked phenotypic variation, each sample contained a population of highly genetically related azole-resistantA. fumigatusvariants. Our SNP analysis suggest that mechanisms additional to genetic-based variation are responsible for phenotypic diversity. Our data demonstrate that the phenotypic variants of ARAF that co-exist in clinical specimens are highly clonal and strongly suggest their origination from a single common ancestor.
A simulator of optical coherent-state evolution in quantum key distribution systems
Authors: Caputo Carlo , Simoni Mario , Cirillo Giovanni Amedeo , Turvani Giovanna , Zamboni Maurizio
Published: September 2022

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is believed to represent a viable solution to achieve theoretically unconditionally secure key generation. However, the available optical systems for experimental QKD, based on photon transmission, are flawed by non-idealities that ultimately limit the achievable performance. Classical simulation of the optical hardware employed in these systems may take on a determining role in engineering future QKD networks. In this article, attempts for developing a QKD simulator based on low-computational-cost models of the employed hardware are presented. In particular, the simulation infrastructure targets polarization-based QKD setups with faint laser sources, whose behaviour can be described by semiclassical coherent states and Mean Photon Number (MPN) per beam. The effects of passive optical components on the photonic qubit evolution are described by Jones matrices, whose coefficients, for some commercial devices, are stored in anad-hoclibrary. Realistic eavesdropping attacks and non-idealities, such as optical losses, fibre attenuation, polarization misalignment and limited efficiency of single-photon detectors, are also taken into account. The infrastructure allows the user to describe the desired QKD configuration and it provides in output the MPN at the receiver and two fiducial performance parameters: Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) and secure key rate. The comparison of the simulation results with experimental data in the state-of-the-art literature highlights that this work is a step forward towards the definition of compact models for the hardware-dependent simulation of quantum-assisted communication networks.
The connection of open science practices and the methodological approach of researchers
Authors: Steinhardt Isabel , Bauer Mareike , Wünsche Hannes , Schimmler Sonja
Published: September 2022

The Open Science movement is gaining tremendous popularity and tries to initiate changes in science, for example the sharing and reuse of data. The new requirements that come with Open Science poses researchers with several challenges. While most of these challenges have already been addressed in several studies, little attention has been paid so far to the underlying Open Science practices (OSP). An exploratory study was conducted focusing on the OSP relating to sharing and using data. 13 researchers from the Weizenbaum Institute were interviewed. The Weizenbaum Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute in Germany that was founded in 2017. To reconstruct OSP a grounded theory methodology (Strauss in Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987) was used and classified OSP into open production, open distribution and open consumption (Smith in Openness as social praxis. First Monday, 2017). The research shows that apart from the disciplinary background and research environment, the methodological approach and the type of research data play a major role in the context of OSP. The interviewees’ self-attributions related to the types of data they work with: qualitative, quantitative, social media and source code. With regard to the methodological approach and type of data, it was uncovered that uncertainties and missing knowledge, data protection, competitive disadvantages, vulnerability and costs are the main reasons for the lack of openness. The analyses further revealed that knowledge and established data infrastructures as well as competitive advantages act as drivers for openness. Because of the link between research data and OSP, the authors of this paper argue that in order to promote OSP, the methodological approach and the type of research data must also be considered.
Spatial supports for comparison in educational science images
Authors: Jee Benjamin D. , Matlen Bryan J. , Greenlaw Monica , Simms Nina , Gentner Dedre
Published: September 2022

Images, such as photographs and diagrams, play an important role in the teaching and learning of science. To optimize student learning, educational science images should be designed to facilitate the cognitive processes relevant to comprehension. One such process is comparison, which involves aligning multiple representations on the basis of their common relational structure. This structural alignment process can be facilitated by cognitive supports that are inherent to an image, including its spatial layout. Yet, little is known about the extent to which students must engage in comparison to learn from science images, and whether widely-used educational materials are conducive to structural alignment. To address these issues, we sampled multiple chapters from each of three popular U.S. middle school life science textbooks. We coded each image for the presence of prompts for comparison using cues within the images and surrounding text. For each image that prompted comparison, we coded whether its layout facilitated relevant structural alignment (direct placement of matched pairs) or obscured alignment (impeded placement). Overall, we found that comparisons were prompted for more than a third of the images. However, fewer than half of the images that required comparison had a spatial layout that provided strong support for comparison—that is, direct placement of matched objects/parts. We propose that, in concert with other cognitive supports for learning from multiple representations, spatial supports for comparison could be applied broadly to increase the effectiveness of educational science images.