bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Techno‐Economic Potential of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Health Units in the Philippines
Authors: Lemence Allen Lemuel G. , Tamayao Mili‐Ann M.
Published: February 2021

This study evaluated the techno‐economic viability of utilizing a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) in a standard rural healthcare facility in the Philippines to improve energy access and resiliency. The optimal configurations were determined to satisfy the electricity demand of the RHU while reducing the cost of energy (COE) by 37–42 percent and direct CO2 emissions by ~59 percent. Both grid‐connected and off‐grid scenarios were considered. Results show that a solar photovoltaic panel‐grid system is optimal for the grid‐connected scenario while a solar photovoltaic panel‐generator‐battery system is optimal for the off‐grid scenario. Most of the load was found to occur during daytime (specifically from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM) and the optimal configurations are estimated to provide at least 70 percent of the facility's electricity demand. The results of this study support the policy of encouraging the integration of HRES in rural healthcare facilities in the Philippines as a way to augment energy access and increase energy system resilience while reducing long‐term costs and CO2 emissions.
Frontal and Naso-Orbito-Ethmoid Complex Fractures
Authors: Balaraman Kannan
Published: February 2021

Naso-orbito-ethmoid (NOE) injuries constitute about 5% of facial fractures and most of them are as a result of road traffic accidents. Deformities in the region tend to be more cosmetically apparent. Considering the proximity of the area to critical structures like brain and eye, such injuries need to be thoroughly evaluated both clinically and radiologically to understand the extent of the injury as well as initiate emergency management if required prior to constituting a definitive treatment plan. CT scans are the most useful investigation modality. Identification and maintaining the attachment of Medial canthal ligament in appropriate position along with reducing / stabilizing the bony fracture is the key to getting good results in these fractures. Primary management of the deformity produces better results compared to secondary correction.
Strategies for the treatment of femoral fractures in severely injured patients: trends in over two decades from the TraumaRegister DGU®
Authors: Bläsius Felix M. , Laubach Markus , Andruszkow Hagen , Lichte Philipp , Pape Hans-Christoph , Lefering Rolf , Horst Klemens , Hildebrand Frank ,   Trauma Register DGU®
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Treatment strategies for femoral fracture stabilisation are well known to have a significant impact on the patient’s outcome. Therefore, the optimal choices for both the type of initial fracture stabilisation (external fixation/EF, early total care/ETC, conservative treatment/TC) and the best time point for conversion from temporary to definitive fixation are challenging factors.

Patients

Patients aged ≥ 16 years with moderate and severe trauma documented in the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2002 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Demographics, ISS, surgical treatment strategy (ETC vs. EF vs. TC), time for conversion to definitive care, complication (MOF, sepsis) and survival rates were analysed.

Results

In total, 13,091 trauma patients were included. EF patients more often sustained high-energy trauma (car: 43.1 vs. 29.5%, p < 0.001), were younger (40.6 vs. 48.1 years, p < 0.001), were more severely injured (ISS 25.4 vs. 19.1 pts., p < 0.001), and had higher sepsis (11.8 vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001) and MOF rates (33.1 vs. 16.0%, p < 0.001) compared to ETC patients. A shift from ETC to EF was observed. The time until conversion decreased for femoral fractures from 9 to 8 days within the observation period. Sepsis incidences decreased in EF (20.3 to 12.3%, p < 0.001) and ETC (9.1–4.8%, p < 0.001) patients.

Conclusions

Our results show the changes in the surgical treatment of severely injured patients with femur fractures over a period of almost two decades caused by the introduction of modern surgical strategies (e.g., Safe Definitive Surgery). It remains unclear which subgroups of trauma patients benefit most from these strategies.
Fixationssysteme und Techniken zur arthroskopischen Rotatorenmanschettenrekonstruktion
Authors: Borbas Paul , Wieser Karl , Grubhofer Florian
Published: February 2021

Arthroskopische Rotatorenmanschettenrekonstruktionen wurden initial mit einer einreihigen („single row“) Technik beschrieben. Im Rahmen technischer Weiterentwicklungen der arthroskopischen Chirurgie wurden diverse Techniken zur zweireihigen („double row“), transossären und transossär-äquivalenten Sehnenfixation entwickelt, nicht zuletzt durch eine zunehmende Verbreitung knotenloser Anker. Die klinischen Ergebnisse zeigen keine relevanten Unterschiede zwischen den jeweiligen Techniken. Biomechanisch sind zweireihige Rekonstruktionen jedoch durch Vergrößerung der Kontaktfläche an der Insertionsstelle und der erreichten Stabilität überlegen, insbesondere mit medial geknoteten Fäden, welche in eine laterale Reihe als sog. Suture-Bridge abgespannt werden. Klassischerweise wurden Schraubanker aus Metall für eine arthroskopische Sehnenfixierung verwendet. Im Laufe der letzten Jahre wurde das Anker-Portfolio jedoch durch moderne bioresorbierbare und nichtresorbierbare (PEEK) Schraub- und Einschlaganker sowie auch um reine Fadenanker (All-suture) erweitert. Ein allgemeingültiger Goldstandard für die Ankerverwendung existiert bis dato nicht, wobei die meisten gängigen Anker – zumindest bei guter Knochenqualität – ausreichende Stabilität gewährleisten. Beim Nahtmaterial kam es ebenso zu relevanten Weiterentwicklungen, sodass dem Versagen der Nähte heutzutage weniger Bedeutung zukommt. Das Aufkommen von bandartigem Nahtmaterial (Tapes) konnte in diversen biomechanischen Studien seine Überlegenheit nachweisen, jedoch ist bei geknoteten Techniken mit Tapes aufgrund des womöglich negativen Einflusses durch größere Knoten Vorsicht geboten. Nicht zuletzt ist die mediale Stichposition möglichst nahe des Rotatorenkabels von großer Bedeutung, da der häufigste Versagensmechanismus einer Rotatorenmanschettenrekonstruktion mit modernem Naht- und Ankermaterial weiterhin ein Hindurchschneiden der Fäden durch das vorgeschädigte Sehnengewebe ist.
Studentische Ausbildung im Fach Rechtsmedizin in Deutschland: Prüfungen und Evaluation
Authors: Nold Sibylle , Heide Steffen , Bajanowski Thomas , Anders Sven
Published: February 2021

Seit der Umsetzung der Approbationsordnung für Ärzte 2002 haben sich erhebliche Veränderungen in den Bereichen Lehre, Prüfungen und Evaluation ergeben. Zur Erfassung der aktuellen Situation im Fach Rechtsmedizin erfolgte eine standardisierte Befragung unter den rechtsmedizinischen Instituten in Deutschland mittels eines Online-Fragebogens. Der Rücklauf betrug 80 %. Die Ergebnisse der Befragung weisen auf ein Überwiegen faktenbasierter Prüfungen hin. Anpassungen an die häufig praktisch ausgerichteten Unterrichtsformate erscheinen hier erforderlich. Die Evaluationsergebnisse zeigen überwiegend eine hohe studentische Zufriedenheit mit der Lehre im Fach Rechtsmedizin. Famulaturen und praktisches Jahr können aktuell von etwa 90 % der Institute angeboten werden. Die für die Lehre zur Verfügung stehende Stundenzahl wird von einem relevanten Teil der befragten Institute als nicht ausreichend bewertet.
A theoretical relationship between probabilistic relative operating characteristic skill and deterministic correlation skill in dynamical seasonal climate prediction
Authors: Yang Dejian , Tang Youmin , Yang Xiu-Qun , Ye Dan , Liu Ting , Feng Tao , Yan Xiaoqin , Sun Xuguang , Zhang Yaocun
Published: February 2021

Understanding the relationship between probabilistic and deterministic prediction skills is of important significance for the study of seasonal forecasting and verification. Based on the Brier skill score methodology, we have previously found a theoretical relationship between the probabilistic resolution skill and the deterministic correlation (i.e., anomaly correlation; AC) skill and a lack of necessary or consistent relationship between the probabilistic reliability skill and the deterministic skill in dynamical seasonal prediction. Here, we further theoretically investigate the relationship between the probabilistic relative operating characteristic (ROC) skill and the deterministic skill. The ROC measures the discrimination attribute of probabilistic forecast quality, another important attribute besides the resolution and reliability. With some simplified assumptions, we first derive theoretical expressions for the hit and false-alarm rates that are basic ingredients for the ROC curve, then demonstrate a sole dependence of the ROC curve on the AC, and finally analytically derive a relationship between the related ROC score and the AC. Such a theoretically derived ROC-AC relationship is further examined using dynamical models’ ensemble seasonal hindcasts, which is well verified. The finding here along with our previous findings implies that the discrimination and resolution attributes of probabilistic seasonal forecast skill are intrinsically equivalent to the corresponding deterministic skill, while the reliability appears to be the fundamental attribute of the probabilistic skill that differs from the deterministic skill, which constitutes an understanding of the fundamental similarities and difference between the two types of seasonal forecasting skills and predictability and can offer important implications for the study of seasonal forecasting and verification.
p value variability and subgroup testing
Authors: Horgan Graham
Published: February 2021

This article discusses the variability and randomness of p values, the most widely used currency of evidence in nutritional and health studies. One implication of this, the importance of always testing interaction terms when subgroups are examined and presented separately is also discussed.
Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers
Authors: Gerhardsson Lars , Ahlstrand Christina , Ersson Per , Jonsson Per , Gustafsson Ewa
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The development of vascular and neurosensory findings were studied in two groups of long-term exposed quarry and foundry workers with different vibration exposures, working conditions and work tasks.

Methods

The study included 10 quarry workers (mean age 43 yrs., mean exposure time 16 yrs.) and 15 foundry workers (35 yrs.; 11 yrs.) at two plants in Sweden. All participants completed a basic questionnaire and passed a medical examination including a number of neurosensory tests, e.g. the determination of vibration (VPT) and temperature (TPT) perception thresholds as well as a musculoskeletal examination of the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.

Results

A high prevalence of neurosensory findings (40%) was found among the quarry workers. Both groups, however, showed a low prevalence of vibration white fingers (VWF). Foundry workers showed significantly better sensitivity than quarry workers for all monofilament tests (p ≤ 0.016), TPT warmth in dig 2 (p = 0.048) and 5 dexter (p = 0.008), and in dig 5 sinister (p = 0.005). They also showed a better VPT performance in dig 5 dexter (p = 0.031).

Conclusions

Despite high vibration exposure, the prevalence of VWF was low. The high prevalence of neurosensory findings among the quarry workers may depend on higher A(8) vibration exposure and higher exposure to high-frequency vibrations. An age-effect and exposure to cold could also be contributing factors. The nervous system seems to be more susceptible to high-frequency vibrations than the vascular system. For neurosensory injuries, the current ISO 5349-1 standard is not applicable.
U-duct turbulent-flow computation with the ST-VMS method and isogeometric discretization
Authors: Aydinbakar Levent , Takizawa Kenji , Tezduyar Tayfun E. , Matsuda Daisaku
Published: February 2021

The U-duct turbulent flow is a known benchmark problem with the computational challenges of high Reynolds number, high curvature and strong flow dependence on the inflow profile. We use this benchmark problem to test and evaluate the Space–Time Variational Multiscale (ST-VMS) method with ST isogeometric discretization. A fully-developed flow field in a straight duct with periodicity condition is used as the inflow profile. The ST-VMS serves as the core method. The ST framework provides higher-order accuracy in general, and the VMS feature of the ST-VMS addresses the computational challenges associated with the multiscale nature of the unsteady flow. The ST isogeometric discretization enables more accurate representation of the duct geometry and increased accuracy in the flow solution. In the straight-duct computations to obtain the inflow velocity, the periodicity condition is enforced with the ST Slip Interface method. All computations are carried out with quadratic NURBS meshes, which represent the circular arc of the duct exactly in the U-duct computations. We investigate how the results vary with the time-averaging range used in reporting the results, mesh refinement, and the Courant number. The results are compared to experimental data, showing that the ST-VMS with ST isogeometric discretization provides good accuracy in this class of flow problems.
Novel bone grafting technique in stand-alone ALIF procedure combining allograft and autograft (‘Northumbria Technique’)—Fusion rate and functional outcomes in 100 consecutive patients
Authors: Kasis Ata George , Jensen Cyrus , Dharmadhikari Rahul , Emmerson Benjamin Ross , Mawdsley Matthew
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Successful ALIF surgery depends upon achieving solid fusion, whilst avoiding significant complications. Herein, we present the ‘Northumbria Technique’ of combining allograft with autograft in order to achieve solid interbody fusion.

Materials and Methods

A single-surgeon series of 100 consecutive patients undergoing stand-alone ALIF from 2016 to 2019 was studied. All had percutaneously harvested iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) dowels inserted into blocks of fresh frozen femoral head (FFFH) allograft, which were then inserted into the ALIF cages. Patients had dynamic radiographs at 4 months, CT at 6 months, and patient reported outcome measure scores (PROMS) throughout.

Results

One hundred patients (average age 44.8 years) were followed-up for an average of 29.1 months. Ninety-four (94%) patients were assessed as having fused on both CT and radiographs by an independent Radiologist. Three (3%) patients had abolition of movement on radiographs, but either lacked a CT scan or failed to meet Williams criteria for fusion. Two patients failed to attend for any imaging, so were considered not fused, and one patient had no evidence of fusion in either modality. There was a significant improvement in all PROMS. There were no intra-operative complications, and one patient had transient donor-site pain.

Conclusions

The newly described ‘Northumbria Technique’ utilises the osteoconductive characteristics of the FFFH allograft, as well as the osteoinductive and osteogenic properties of the ICBG autograft. It gives high fusion rates (94–97%) and statistically significant improvements in PROMS, whilst avoiding the complications of harvesting a large amount of autograft and the huge costs of using synthetic agents.
Accuracy of the fluorescence-aided identification technique (FIT) for detecting tooth-colored restorations utilizing different fluorescence-inducing devices: an ex vivo comparative study
Authors: Leontiev W. , Magni E. , Dettwiler C. , Meller C. , Weiger R. , Connert Thomas
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to compare the accuracy of the conventional illumination method (CONV) and the fluorescence-aided identification technique (FIT) for distinguishing between composite restorations and intact teeth using different fluorescence-inducing devices commonly used for FIT.

Materials and methods

Six groups of six dentists equipped with one of six different FIT systems each independently attempted to identify composite restorations and intact teeth on a full-mouth model with 22 composite restorations using CONV and, 1 h later, FIT. The entire procedure was repeated 1 week later. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values, including 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated for CONV and FIT overall and for each device. The influence of examiner age, method, and device on each parameter was assessed by multivariate analysis of variance.

Results

The sensitivity (84%, CI 81–86%), specificity (94%, CI 93–96%), PPV (92%, CI 90–94%), and NPV (90%, CI 88–91%) of FIT was significantly higher than that of CONV (47%, CI 44–50%; 82%, CI 79–84%; 66%, CI 62–69%, and 69%, CI 68–71%, respectively; p<0.001). The differences between CONV and FIT were significant for all parameters and FIT systems except VistaCam, which achieved no significant difference in specificity. Examiners younger than 40 years attained significantly higher sensitivity and negative predictive values than older examiners.

Conclusions

FIT is more reliable for detecting composite restorations than the conventional illumination method.

Clinical relevance

FIT can be considered an additional or alternative tool for improving the detection of composite restorations.
Correct program parallelisations
Authors: Blom S. , Darabi S. , Huisman M. , Safari M.
Published: February 2021

A commonly used approach to develop deterministic parallel programs is to augment a sequential program with compiler directives that indicate which program blocks may potentially be executed in parallel. This paper develops a verification technique to reason about such compiler directives, in particular to show that they do not change the behaviour of the program. Moreover, the verification technique is tool-supported and can be combined with proving functional correctness of the program. To develop our verification technique, we propose a simple intermediate representation (syntax and semantics) that captures the main forms of deterministic parallel programs. This language distinguishes three kinds of basic blocks: parallel, vectorised and sequential blocks, which can be composed using three different composition operators: sequential, parallel and fusion composition. We show how a widely used subset of OpenMP can be encoded into this intermediate representation. Our verification technique builds on the notion of iteration contract to specify the behaviour of basic blocks; we show that if iteration contracts are manually specified for single blocks, then that is sufficient to automatically reason about data race freedom of the composed program. Moreover, we also show that it is sufficient to establish functional correctness on a linearised version of the original program to conclude functional correctness of the parallel program. Finally, we exemplify our approach on an example OpenMP program, and we discuss how tool support is provided.
Predominance of PVL-negative community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 8 in newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults, Tanzania
Authors: Manyahi Joel , Moyo Sabrina J. , Aboud Said , Langeland Nina , Blomberg Bjørn
Published: February 2021

Difficult-to-treat infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are of concern in people living with HIV infection as they are more vulnerable to infection. We aimed to identify molecular characteristics of MRSA colonizing newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults in Tanzania. Individuals newly diagnosed with HIV infection were recruited in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from April 2017 to May 2018, as part of the randomized clinical trial CoTrimResist (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03087890). Nasal/nasopharyngeal isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were susceptibility tested by disk diffusion method, and cefoxitin-resistant isolates were characterized by short-reads whole genome sequencing. Four percent (22/537) of patients carried MRSA in the nose/nasopharynx. MRSA isolates were frequently resistant towards gentamicin (95%), ciprofloxacin (91%), and erythromycin (82%) but less often towards trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (9%). Seventy-three percent had inducible clindamycin resistance. Erythromycin-resistant isolates harbored ermC (15/18) and LmrS (3/18) resistance genes. Ciprofloxacin resistance was mediated by mutations of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) sequence in the gyrA (S84L) and parC (S80Y) genes. All isolates belonged to the CC8 and ST8-SCCmecIV MRSA clone. Ninety-five percent of the MRSA isolates were spa-type t1476, and one exhibited spa-type t064. All isolates were negative for Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) and arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) type 1. All ST8-SCCmecIV-spa-t1476 MRSA clones from Tanzania were unrelated to the globally successful USA300 clone. Carriage of ST8 MRSA (non-USA300) was common among newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults in Tanzania. Frequent co-resistance to non-beta lactam antibiotics limits therapeutic options when infection occurs.
Record-to-record variability and code-compatible seismic safety-checking with limited number of records
Authors: Jalayer Fatemeh , Ebrahimian Hossein , Miano Andrea
Published: February 2021

The Italian code requires spectrum compatibility with mean spectrum for a suite of accelerograms selected for time-history analysis. Although these requirements define minimum acceptability criteria, it is likely that code-based non-linear dynamic analysis is going to be done based on limited number of records. Performance-based safety-checking provides formal basis for addressing the record-to-record variability and the epistemic uncertainties due to limited number of records and in the estimation of the seismic hazard curve. “Cloud Analysis” is a non-linear time-history analysis procedure that employs the structural response to un-scaled ground motion records and can be directly implemented in performance-based safety-checking. This paper interprets the code-based provisions in a performance-based key and applies further restrictions to spectrum-compatible record selection aiming to implement Cloud Analysis. It is shown that, by multiplying a closed-form coefficient, code-based safety ratio could be transformed into simplified performance-based safety ratio. It is shown that, as a proof of concept, if the partial safety factors in the code are set to unity, this coefficient is going to be on average slightly larger than unity. The paper provides the basis for propagating the epistemic uncertainties due to limited sample size and in the seismic hazard curve to the performance-based safety ratio both in a rigorous and simplified manner. If epistemic uncertainties are considered, the average code-based safety checking could end up being unconservative with respect to performance-based procedures when the number of records is small. However, it is shown that performance-based safety checking is possible with no extra structural analyses.
The influence of a dam reservoir on water quality in a small lowland river
Authors: Dębska Katarzyna , Rutkowska Beata , Szulc Wiesław
Published: February 2021

The paper presents the effects of the dam reservoir in Komorów on the water quality in the Utrata river. The implementation of the adopted objective involved a comparison of water quality at two points, above and below the reservoir. The Utrata River is polluted with biogenic compounds throughout the whole section studied. COD content also indicates significant contamination exceeding permissible limits. A positive effect of the reservoir on water quality in the river was also observed in terms of the content of dissolved oxygen, with concentration increasing below the reservoir. The reservoir had a positive effect on reducing the concentration of total phosphorus in the water. Water in the Utrata below the reservoir showed higher values of chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) than above the reservoir. There were no differences in the concentration of NH4+ and NO3- ions in the water before and after the reservoir.
Current perspectives on acidogenic fermentation to produce volatile fatty acids from waste
Authors: Ramos-Suarez Maria , Zhang Yue , Outram Victoria
Published: February 2021

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are key platform chemicals used in a multitude of industries including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture. The current route for VFA production is petrochemical based. VFAs can be biologically produced using organic wastes as substrate, therefore directly contributing to a sustainable economy. This process is commonly known as acidogenic fermentation (AF). This review explores the current research on the development of AF processes optimized for VFA production. Three process steps are considered: feedstock pretreatment, fermentation, and primary product recovery with a focus on in situ recovery. Pretreatment is required for recalcitrant feedstocks, especially lignocellulosic substrates. Different pretreatment techniques for AF application have not been studied in depth. The operational parameters of AF (temperature, pH, hydraulic retention time, substrate concentration, etc.) highly influence microbial activity, VFA yields and product distribution. Optimum conditions are ultimately dependent on substrate composition, however, there is indication that certain operational ranges are beneficial for most feedstocks. VFA recovery and purification are necessary for chemical applications. When recovery is performed in situ, it can help relieve product-induced inhibition and keep alkalinity levels stable enabling further waste degradation. Many techniques have been tested, but none are directly compatible with the fermentation conditions tested. Bio-VFAs have the potential to aid in developing a circular economy, but further development is required. Processes need to be developed with the product market in mind, considering both process integration and systematic process optimization.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mast Camera Zoom (Mastcam-Z) Multispectral, Stereoscopic Imaging Investigation
Authors: Bell J. F. , Maki J. N. , Mehall G. L. , Ravine M. A. , Caplinger M. A. , Bailey Z. J. , Brylow S. , Schaffner J. A. , Kinch K. M. , Madsen M. B. , Winhold A. , Hayes A. G. , Corlies P. , Tate C. , Barrington M. , Cisneros E. , Jensen E. , Paris K. , Crawford K. , Rojas C. , Mehall L. , Joseph J. , Proton J. B. , Cluff N. , Deen R. G. , Betts B. , Cloutis E. , Coates A. J. , Colaprete A. , Edgett K. S. , Ehlmann B. L. , Fagents S. , Grotzinger J. P. , Hardgrove C. , Herkenhoff K. E. , Horgan B. , Jaumann R. , Johnson J. R. , Lemmon M. , Paar G. , Caballo-Perucha M. , Gupta S. , Traxler C. , Preusker F. , Rice M. S. , Robinson M. S. , Schmitz N. , Sullivan R. , Wolff M. J.
Published: February 2021

Mastcam-Z is a multispectral, stereoscopic imaging investigation on the Mars 2020 mission’s Perseverance rover. Mastcam-Z consists of a pair of focusable, 4:1 zoomable cameras that provide broadband red/green/blue and narrowband 400-1000 nm color imaging with fields of view from 25.6° × 19.2° (26 mm focal length at 283 μrad/pixel) to 6.2° × 4.6° (110 mm focal length at 67.4 μrad/pixel). The cameras can resolve (≥ 5 pixels) ∼0.7 mm features at 2 m and ∼3.3 cm features at 100 m distance. Mastcam-Z shares significant heritage with the Mastcam instruments on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. Each Mastcam-Z camera consists of zoom, focus, and filter wheel mechanisms and a 1648 × 1214 pixel charge-coupled device detector and electronics. The two Mastcam-Z cameras are mounted with a 24.4 cm stereo baseline and 2.3° total toe-in on a camera plate ∼2 m above the surface on the rover’s Remote Sensing Mast, which provides azimuth and elevation actuation. A separate digital electronics assembly inside the rover provides power, data processing and storage, and the interface to the rover computer. Primary and secondary Mastcam-Z calibration targets mounted on the rover top deck enable tactical reflectance calibration. Mastcam-Z multispectral, stereo, and panoramic images will be used to provide detailed morphology, topography, and geologic context along the rover’s traverse; constrain mineralogic, photometric, and physical properties of surface materials; monitor and characterize atmospheric and astronomical phenomena; and document the rover’s sample extraction and caching locations. Mastcam-Z images will also provide key engineering information to support sample selection and other rover driving and tool/instrument operations decisions.
Multi-decadal trends in the tropical Pacific western boundary currents retrieved from historical hydrological observations
Authors: Hu Shijian , Lu Xi , Li Shihan , Wang Fan , Guan Cong , Hu Dunxin , Xin Linchao , Ma Jie
Published: February 2021

As large-scale ocean circulation is a key regulator in the redistribution of oceanic energy, evaluating the multi-decadal trends in the western Pacific Ocean circulation under global warming is essential for not only understanding the basic physical processes but also predicting future climate change in the western Pacific. Employing the hydrological observations of World Ocean Atlas 2018 (WOA18) from 1955 to 2017, this study calculated the geostrophic currents, volume transport and multi-decadal trends for the North Equatorial Current (NEC), the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), the Mindanao Current (MC), the Kuroshio Current (KC) in the origin and the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent (NGCUC) within tropical western Pacific Ocean over multi-decades. Furthermore, this study examined the contributions of temperature and salinity variations. The results showed significant strengthening trends in NEC, MC and NGCUC over the past six decades, which is mainly contributed by temperature variations and consistent with the tendency in the dynamic height pattern. Zonal wind stress averaged over the western Pacific Ocean in the same latitude of each current represents the decadal variation and multi-decadal trends in corresponding ocean currents, indicating that the trade wind forcing plays an important role in the decadal trend in the tropical western Pacific circulation. Uncertainties in the observed hydrological data and trends in the currents over the tropical western Pacific are also discussed. Given that the WOA18 dataset covers most of the historical hydrological sampling data for the tropical western Pacific, this paper provides important observational information on the multi-decadal trend of the large-scale ocean circulation in the western Pacific.
Single-Atom Pd–N3 Sites on Carbon-Deficient g-C3N4 for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Liu Guimei , Lv Haiqin , Zeng Yubin , Yuan Mingzhe , Meng Qingguo , Wang Yuanhao , Wang Chuanyi
Published: February 2021

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is an attractive field for future environment-friendly energy. However, fast recombination of photogenerated charges severely inhibits hydrogen efficiency. Single-atom cocatalysts such as Pt have emerged as an effective method to enhance the photocatalytic activity by introduction of active sites and boosting charge separation with low-coordination environment. Herein, we demonstrated a new strategy to develop a highly active Pd single atom in carbon-deficient g-C3N4 with a unique coordination. The single-atom Pd–N3 sites constructed by oil bath heating and photoreduction process were confirmed by HADDF-STEM and XPS measurements. Introduction of single-atom Pd greatly improved the separation and transportation of charge carriers, leading to a longer lifespan for consequent reactions. The obtained single-atom Pd loaded on the carbon-deficient g–C3N4 showed excellent photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production with about 24 and 4 times higher activity than that of g–C3N4 and nano-sized Pd on the same support, respectively. This work provides a new insight on the design of single-atom catalyst.
Ecoacoustics and Multispecies Semiosis: Naming, Semantics, Semiotic Characteristics, and Competencies
Authors: Farina Almo , Eldridge Alice , Li Peng
Published: February 2021

Biosemiotics to date has focused on the exchange of signals between organisms, in line with bioacoustics; consideration of the wider acoustic environment as a semiotic medium is under-developed. The nascent discipline of ecoacoustics, that investigates the role of environmental sound in ecological processes and dynamics, fills this gap. In this paper we introduce key ecoacoustic terminology and concepts in order to highlight the value of ecoacoustics as a discipline in which to conceptualise and study intra- and interspecies semiosis. We stress the inherently subjective nature of all sensory scapes (vivo-, land-, vibro- and soundscapes) and propose that they should always bear an organismic attribution. Key terms to describe the sources (geophony, biophony, anthropophony, technophony) and scales (sonotopes, soundtopes, sonotones) of soundscapes are described. We introduce epithets for soundscapes to point to the degree to which the global environment is implicated in semiosis (latent, sensedandinterpreted soundscapes); terms for describing key ecological structures and processes (acoustic community, acoustic habitat, ecoacoustic events) and examples of ecoacoustic events (chorusesandnoise) are described. Theacoustic eco-fieldis recognized as the semiotic model that enables soniferous species to intercept core resources like food, safety and roosting places. We note that whilst ecoacoustics to date has focused on the critical task of the development of metrics for application in conservation and biodiversity assessment, these can be enriched by advancing conceptual and theoretical foundations. Finally, the mutual value of integrating ecoacoustic and biosemiotics perspectives is considered.
Data, Disasters, and Space-Time Entanglements
Authors: Meriläinen Eija , Koro Mirka
Published: February 2021

Disasters connected to natural hazards can at the same time be unfolding events, as well as structural phenomena with unequal disaster risk constructed over an extended timespan. Hence, in disaster studies, temporality and spatiality are central, yet often implicit, concepts employed to make sense of the disaster phenomena. In this article we explicitly focus on temporality and spatiality within qualitative disaster studies, particularly those containing ethnographic elements. We use Doreen Massey’s idea of space-time trajectories to analyze and illustrate how in qualitative disaster studies the trajectories of the disaster, research participants, and the researcher entangle in diverse ways. The focus is on how temporality and spatiality are present in the construction of data. The article is mainly conceptual, with illustrations drawn from empirical fieldwork on Valparaíso fire of 2014 in Chile. We interrogate how researchers’ sensitivity to temporality and spatiality challenges the conventional notions and practices of “data” in qualitative disaster studies. The focus in this article is on disaster studies, but it also offers methodological insights to other social sciences that strive to conduct research in the era of “Anthropocene,” with all its shifts and changes, the root causes of which have built over a long time.
Knee osteoarthritis and time-to all-cause mortality in six community-based cohorts: an international meta-analysis of individual participant-level data
Authors: Leyland Kirsten M. , Gates Lucy S. , Sanchez-Santos Maria T. , Nevitt Michael C. , Felson David , Jones Graeme , Jordan Joanne M. , Judge Andrew , Prieto-Alhambra Dani , Yoshimura Noriko , Newton Julia L. , Callahan Leigh F. , Cooper Cyrus , Batt Mark E. , Lin Jianhao , Liu Qiang , Cleveland Rebecca J. , Collins Gary S. , Arden Nigel K. ,   The PCCOA Steering Committee, March Lyn , Hawker Gillian , Conaghan Philip , Kraus Virginia Byers , Guermazi Ali , Hunter David , Katz Jeffrey N. , McAlindon Tim , Neogi Tuhina , Simon Lee , Cross Marita , King Lauren
Published: February 2021

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease, with increasing global burden of disability and healthcare utilisation. Recent meta-analyses have shown a range of effects of OA on mortality, reflecting different OA definitions and study methods. We seek to overcome limitations introduced when using aggregate results by gathering individual participant-level data (IPD) from international observational studies and standardising methods to determine the association of knee OA with mortality in the general population.

Methods

Seven community-based cohorts were identified containing knee OA-related pain, radiographs, and time-to-mortality, six of which were available for analysis. A two-stage IPD meta-analysis framework was applied: (1) Cox proportional hazard models assessed time-to-mortality of participants with radiographic OA (ROA), OA-related pain (POA), and a combination of pain and ROA (PROA) against pain and ROA-free participants; (2) hazard ratios (HR) were then pooled using the Hartung–Knapp modification for random-effects meta-analysis.

Findings

10,723 participants in six cohorts from four countries were included in the analyses. Multivariable models (adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes) showed a pooled HR, compared to pain and ROA-free participants, of 1.03 (0.83, 1.28) for ROA, 1.35 (1.12, 1.63) for POA, and 1.37 (1.22, 1.54) for PROA.

Discussion

Participants with POA or PROA had a 35–37% increased association with reduced time-to-mortality, independent of confounders. ROA showed no association with mortality, suggesting that OA-related knee pain may be driving the association with time-to-mortality.

Funding

Versus Arthritis Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis and Osteoarthritis Research Society International.
Management of Isolated Fetal Lymphangiomas Following Prenatal Diagnosis: Case Series
Authors: Gowda Mamatha , Godipelli Laxmi , Gangadhar Lekha , Jindal Bibekanada , Deodar Kirti , Yadav Manisha
Published: February 2021

Lymphangiomas are benign cystic lesions caused by the failure of lymphatics to communicate with the lymphatic-venous drainage system. They have an incidence at birth of about 1 in 6000 and can occur at almost any location, most commonly the soft-tissues of the neck. Prenatal diagnosis is by ultrasound, where they appear as cystic masses of variable size, often with septations inside and absent flow on color doppler. Antenatal management involves serial monitoring of the fetus by ultrasound with attention to possible pressure effects and airway obstruction depending upon the size and location of the lymphangioma. The mode of delivery must be decided based on the possibility of obstructive labor or the need for resuscitation. Rarely, a large mass over the anterior neck causing airway obstruction may need an EXIT procedure. Large cystic hygromas need surgical excision while small to medium size lesions can be managed by conservative measures including sclerotherapy. We report three cases of isolated fetal cystic hygromas diagnosed prenatally at various gestations. Two were of moderate size over the anterolateral aspect of the neck and one case had a huge lymphangioma involving the entire right side of the chest wall.
Assessment of the Effectiveness of Pre-harvest Meat Safety Interventions to Control Foodborne Pathogens in Broilers: a Systematic Review
Authors:   on behalf of the RIBMINS Cost Action, Pessoa Joana , Rodrigues da Costa Maria , Nesbakken Truls , Meemken Diana
Published: February 2021

Purpose of Review

Ensuring broilers’ meat safety is a priority to policy makers, producers, and consumers. This systematic review aims to update the recent knowledge on pre-harvest interventions to control main foodborne pathogens in broilers and to assess their effectiveness.

Recent Findings

A total of 815 studies were retrieved from PubMed® and Web of Science for 13 pathogens. In total, 51 studies regardingCampylobacterspp.,Salmonellaspp., VTEC, ESBL-AmpCEscherichia coli, andClostridium perfringenswere included in this review.

Research mostly focused onSalmonellaspp. andCampylobacterspp. Biosecurity and management interventions had mixed outcomes, while the effectiveness of feed additives, though intensively researched, remains controversial. Research on other pathogens (i.e. ESBL-AmpCE. coli/Salmonella, andToxoplasma gondii) was scarce, with publications focusing on epidemiology and/or on source-attribution studies. This is also true regarding research onListeria monocytogenes,Bacillus cereus,Clostridium botulinum,Clostridium perfringens, andStaphylococcus aureusas these are frequently controlled by post-harvest interventions. Overall, studies on recent developments of novel pathogen-specific immunisation strategies are lacking.
Lumacaftor/ivacaftor in cystic fibrosis: effects on glucose metabolism and insulin secretion
Authors: Colombo C. , Foppiani A. , Bisogno A. , Gambazza S. , Daccò V. , Nazzari E. , Leone A. , Giana A. , Mari A. , Battezzati A.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The question whether the new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator drugs aimed at restoring CFTR protein function might improve glucose metabolism is gaining attention, but data on the effect of lumacaftor/ivacaftor treatment (LUMA/IVA) on glucose tolerance are limited. We evaluated the variation in glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in CF patients homozygous for Phe508del CFTR mutation after one-year treatment with LUMA/IVA in comparison to patients with the same genotype who did not receive such treatment.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case–control study on 13 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CF, homozygous for the Phe508del CFTR mutation, who received LUMA/IVA for one year (cases) and 13 patients with identical genotype who did not receive this treatment (controls). At the beginning and conclusion of the follow-up, all subjects received a modified 3 h OGTT, sampling at baseline, and at 30 min intervals for plasma glucose, serum insulin, and c-peptide concentrations to evaluate glucose tolerance, and quantify by modeling beta-cell insulin secretion responsiveness to glucose, insulin clearance and insulin sensitivity.

Results

LUMA/IVA did not produce differences in glucose tolerance, insulin secretory parameters, clearance and sensitivity with respect to matched controls over one-year follow-up.

Conclusion

We found no evidence of improvements in glucose tolerance mechanisms in patients with CF after one-year treatment with LUMA/IVA.
Stem cell legislation and its impact on the geographic preferences of stem cell researchers
Authors: Verginer Luca , Riccaboni Massimo
Published: February 2021

Proponents describe stem Cell Replacement Therapy and related technologies to be a significant step forward for medicine. However, due to the inherent ethical problems in human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (hESC), it is strictly regulated around the world. The US has passed at the federal and state level, both supportive and restrictive laws over the years. The changing legislative environment at the state and federal levels has created a situation whereby researchers have to choose whether and where to carry out this research. By exploiting the temporal and spatial heterogeneity and legislative shocks, we assess if the affected scientists have voted with their feet, leaving the state or country imposing restrictive rules and whether hESC research has clustered geographically. We find that most of the hESC research is carried out in supportive states, and significant legislative changes have had a minor but noticeable effect on relocation choices. Most importantly, the research has moved to supportive states. This result suggests that several state-level interventions (supportive), which were opposed to federal laws (restrictive), have counteracted each other.
On the challenges of predicting microscopic dynamics of online conversations
Authors: Bollenbacher John , Pacheco Diogo , Hui Pik-Mai , Ahn Yong-Yeol , Flammini Alessandro , Menczer Filippo
Published: February 2021

To what extent can we predict the structure of online conversation trees? We present a generative model to predict the size and evolution of threaded conversations on social media by combining machine learning algorithms. The model is evaluated using datasets that span two topical domains (cryptocurrency and cyber-security) and two platforms (Reddit and Twitter). We show that it is able to predict both macroscopic features of the final trees and near-future microscopic events with moderate accuracy. However, predicting the macroscopic structure of conversations does not guarantee an accurate reconstruction of their microscopic evolution. Our model’s limited performance in long-range predictions highlights the challenges faced by generative models due to the accumulation of errors.
Histochemical Analysis of Lacrimal Concretions in a Patient Using Rebamipide Ophthalmic Suspension: Case Report
Authors: Yamashita Ken , Hiraoka Miki , Sugita Shintaro , Yotsuyanagi Takatoshi
Published: February 2021

Concretions of the lacrimal drainage system can cause dacryocystitis. In the present study, our patient developed dacryocystisis with lacrimal concretions of a white soft mass. Rebamipide ophthalmic suspension had been applied for treatment of dry eye. To evaluate the pathogenic mechanism of the case, histological and chemical studies were performed. Our case was woman in her seventies. She had a medical history of rheumatoid arthritis. She was referred to our hospital for dacryocystitis after showing a poor response to treatment with antibiotic agents. A head computed tomography (CT) scan showed ductal high-density deposits along the lacrimal sacs. During dacryocystotomy, the hypertrophy of the lacrimal sacs was found replete with pus and cottage cheese-like white substances. The extracts were surgically removed, and histological and chemical analysis was performed. The histological examination showed granulation tissues and acellular amorphous material with crystal-like structures. Positive staining by Alcian blue and Kossa was found in crystal-like legions. The extract obtained from the concretions showed the same fluorescence band and UV absorption spectrum in thin layer chromatography (TLC) and spectrometry, respectively, as rebamipide. Our findings suggest that the obstruction by lacrimal concretions containing rebamipide resulted in dacryocystitis in this case. In addition, it is speculated that in patients who have impaired tear secretion, refractory dacryocystitis may be evoked following the accumulation of rebamipide in the lacrimal sacs.
Effect of blast loading and resulting progressive failure of a cable-stayed bridge
Authors: Mudragada Ravi , Mishra S. S.
Published: February 2021

Many researchers have carried out experimental and numerical investigations to examine building structures’ response to explosive loads. Studies of bridges subjected to blast loads are limited. Hence, in this study, we present a case study on a cable-stayed bridge, namely, Charles River Cable-Stayed Bridge-Boston, to assess its robustness and resistance against the progressive collapse resulting from localized failure due to blast loads. Three different blast scenarios are considered to interpret the bridge performance to blast loads. To monitor the progressive failure mechanisms of the structural elements due to blast, pre-defined plastic hinges are assigned to the bridge deck. The results conclude that the bridge is too weak to sustain the blast loads near the tower location, and the progressive collapse is inevitable. Hence, to preserve this cable-stayed bridge from local and global failure, structural components should be more reinforced near the tower location. This case study helps the designer better understand the need for blast resistance design of cable-stayed bridges.
Correction to: Three‑dimensionally ordered macroporous BaTiO3 framework‑reinforced polymer composites with improved dielectric properties
Authors: Hu Jin , Zhang Shufen , Tang Bingtao
Published: February 2021

The second author's affiliation was incorrectly specified in the initial online publication. The original article has been corrected.