bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical, radiological, and patient-reported outcomes 13 years after pedicle screw fixation with balloon-assisted endplate reduction and cement injection
Authors: De Gendt Erin E. A. , Kuperus Jonneke S. , Foppen Wouter , Oner F. Cumhur , Verlaan Jorrit-Jan
Published: February 2020

Purpose

In management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures, short-segment pedicle screw fixation with balloon-assisted endplate reduction (BAER) and cement injection is a safe, feasible, and effective technique to maintain radiological alignment with minimum spinal segments involved. However, 20% of patients report daily discomfort despite good spinal alignment and fusion after this technique. This study provides clinical, radiological, and patient-reported outcomes after a minimum 13 years of follow-up.

Methods

Eighteen patients were invited at the outpatient clinic for clinical/radiological examinations. The cohort (originally 20 patients) was treated 13–14 years earlier with pedicle screw fixation, BAER, and cement injection for traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures. Patient-reported outcome measures were obtained at time of examinations. Current data were compared with data obtained at 6 years of follow-up.

Results

Seventeen patients (median age 50; range 32–80) cooperated. No/minimal back pain was reported by 15 patients, and 12 patients returned to their previous heavy labor work. Median visual analog score of health (80%; 50–100%) was similar to results at 6 years (80%; 60–100% p = 0.259). An Oswestry Disability Index score of less than 20% (reflecting minimal disability) was reported by 14 patients, compared with 15 patients at 6 years of follow-up. No significant differences were found in wedge or Cobb angle between the time points. Intravertebral cement resorption was not observed.

Conclusion

Results from this study suggest that, 13 years after pedicle screw fixation with BAER and cement injection for traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures, functional performance, pain and radiological outcomes of the current cohort were stable or had slightly improved.

Graphic abstract

These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Boron nitride nanotubes as containers for targeted drug delivery of doxorubicin
Authors: Nejad Marjan A. , Umstätter Philipp , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: February 2020

Using molecular dynamics simulations, the adsorption and diffusion of doxorubicin drug molecules in boron nitride nanotubes are investigated. The interaction between doxorubicin and the nanotube is governed by van der Waals attraction. We find strong adsorption of doxorubicin to the wall for narrow nanotubes (radius of 9 Å). For larger radii (12 and 15 Å), the adsorption energy decreases, while the diffusion coefficient of doxorubicin increases. It does, however, not reach the values of pure water, as adsorption events still hinder the doxorubicin mobility. It is concluded that nanotubes wider than around 4 nm diameter can serve as efficient drug containers for targeted drug delivery of doxorubicin in cancer chemotherapy.
Improved and scalable online learning of spatial concepts and language models with mapping
Authors: Taniguchi Akira , Hagiwara Yoshinobu , Taniguchi Tadahiro , Inamura Tetsunari
Published: February 2020

We propose a novel online learning algorithm, called SpCoSLAM 2.0, for spatial concepts and lexical acquisition with high accuracy and scalability. Previously, we proposed SpCoSLAM as an online learning algorithm based on unsupervised Bayesian probabilistic model that integrates multimodal place categorization, lexical acquisition, and SLAM. However, our original algorithm had limited estimation accuracy owing to the influence of the early stages of learning, and increased computational complexity with added training data. Therefore, we introduce techniques such as fixed-lag rejuvenation to reduce the calculation time while maintaining an accuracy higher than that of the original algorithm. The results show that, in terms of estimation accuracy, the proposed algorithm exceeds the original algorithm and is comparable to batch learning. In addition, the calculation time of the proposed algorithm does not depend on the amount of training data and becomes constant for each step of the scalable algorithm. Our approach will contribute to the realization of long-term spatial language interactions between humans and robots.
The Role of AMPK Activation for Cardioprotection in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Timm Kerstin N. , Tyler Damian J.
Published: February 2020

Doxorubicin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of a range of cancers, but despite its success in improving cancer survival rates, doxorubicin is cardiotoxic and can lead to congestive heart failure. Therapeutic options for this patient group are limited to standard heart failure medications with the only drug specific for doxorubicin cardiotoxicity to reach FDA approval being dexrazoxane, an iron-chelating agent targeting oxidative stress. However, dexrazoxane has failed to live up to its expectations from preclinical studies while also bringing up concerns about its safety. Despite decades of research, the molecular mechanisms of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity are still poorly understood and oxidative stress is no longer considered to be the sole evil. Mitochondrial impairment, increased apoptosis, dysregulated autophagy and increased fibrosis have also been shown to be crucial players in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. These cellular processes are all linked by one highly conserved intracellular kinase: adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK regulates mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC1α signalling, increases oxidative mitochondrial metabolism, decreases apoptosis through inhibition of mTOR signalling, increases autophagy through ULK1 and decreases fibrosis through inhibition of TGFβ signalling. AMPK therefore sits at the control point of many mechanisms shown to be involved in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and cardiac AMPK signalling itself has been shown to be impaired by doxorubicin. In this review, we introduce different agents known to activate AMPK (metformin, statins, resveratrol, thiazolidinediones, AICAR, specific AMPK activators) as well as exercise and dietary restriction, and we discuss the existing evidence for their potential role in cardioprotection from doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.
Explicating ‘Explication’ via Conceptual Spaces
Authors: De Benedetto Matteo
Published: February 2020

Recent years have witnessed a revival of interest in the method of explication as a procedure for conceptual engineering in philosophy and in science. In the philosophical literature, there has been a lively debate about the different desiderata that a good explicatum has to satisfy. In comparison, the goal of explicating the concept of explication itself has not been central to the philosophical debate. The main aim of this work is to suggest a way of filling this gap by explicating ‘explication’ by means of conceptual spaces theory. Specifically, I show how different, strictly-conceptual readings of explication desiderata can be made precise as geometrical or topological constraints over the conceptual spaces related to the explicandum and the explicatum. Moreover, I show also how the richness of the geometrical representation of concepts in conceptual spaces theory allows us to achieve more fine-grained readings of explication desiderata, thereby overcoming some alleged limitations of explication as a procedure of conceptual engineering.
In vivo safety assessment of a bio-inspired bone adhesive
Authors: Hulsart-Billström Gry , Stelzl Christina , Procter Philip , Pujari-Palmer Michael , Insley Gerard , Engqvist Håkan , Larsson Sune
Published: February 2020

A new class of materials, bone adhesives, could revolutionise the treatment of highly fragmented fractures. We present the first biological safety investigation of a bio-inspired bone adhesive. The formulation was based upon a modified calcium phosphate cement that included the amino acid phosphoserine. This material has recently been described as substantially stronger than other bioresorbable calcium phosphate cements. Four adhesive groups with the active substance (phosphoserine) and two control groups without phosphoserine were selected for in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility testing. The test groups were subject for cell viability assay and subcutaneous implantation in rats that was followed by gene expression analysis and histology assessment after 6 and 12 weeks. All adhesive groups supported the same rate of cell proliferation compared to the α-TCP control and had viability between 45–64% when compared to cell control. There was no evidence of an increased immune response or ectopic bone formation in vivo. To conclude, this bio-inspired bone adhesive has been proven to be safe, in the present study, without any harmful effects on the surrounding soft tissue.
CASEPLUS-SimPat: An Intersectoral Web-Based Case Management System for Multimorbid Dementia Patients
Authors: Steiner Bianca , Zippel-Schultz Bettina , Popa Andrea , Hellrung Nils , Szczesny Stefan , Möller Claudia , Schultz Carsten , Haux Reinhold
Published: February 2020

One main challenge of health care systems in future will be the care and treatment of dementia patients. To their advanced age, dementia patients do not only have limitations in cognition, perception, and articulation, but also suffer from several other diseases (multimorbidity). These patients have sophisticated needs for assistance, care, and treatment relying on different health care sectors. Well-known communication and coordination deficits between sectors are intensified in the case of dementia, to the above described limitations. Coordination processes concerning the transition of patients from hospitals to inpatient or outpatient aftercare pose particularly difficult. To show a possible future direction for improving intersectoral care of dementia patients, we developed the web-based case management system CASEPLUS-SimPat as part of the project SimPat “Securing Integrated Care for Multi-morbid Patients with Dementia using an IT-based Service Concept”. CASEPLUS-SimPat allows health care professionals, hospital employees and general practitioners, to jointly access patient data and exchange information about the treatment of patients. The case management system was implemented in a three-tier architecture with a role-based authorization concept. A portal for relatives complements the system. By providing precise information and e-learning services, caring relatives are integrated into the care process. In a pilot test, CASEPLUS-SimPat shows a good usability. Adapting aspects, such as keywords used to structure entries will make it easier to find required information, and thus will increase usability. Next steps comprise integration of further health care professionals and care facilities as well as real-life testing in terms of feasibility and effectiveness.
Simulating the impact of Belt and Road initiative and other major developments in Myanmar on an ambassador felid, the clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa
Authors: Kaszta Żaneta , Cushman Samuel A. , Htun Saw , Naing Hla , Burnham Dawn , Macdonald David W.
Published: February 2020

Context

After decades of political and economic isolation, Myanmar is now the focus of large international investments, particularly from China, which raises questions of how to balance national development with safeguarding the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of five major developments in Myanmar on forest ecosystems, using clouded leopard as a focal and umbrella species for wider biodiversity conservation.

Methods

Based on an empirical habitat relationships model, we identified core areas and corridors in Myanmar, and compared them across the development scenarios. We simulated population dynamics and genetic diversity in each scenario using an individual-based, spatially explicit cost-distance population genetics model.

Results

The predicted current clouded leopard population may be larger than the current carrying capacity of the landscape, raising the possibility that the species’ population has not yet equilibrated with recent habitat loss and degradation. All the developments combined resulted in 36% decrease in landscape connectivity and 29% decrease in simulated clouded leopard population size, including substantial reduction in genetic diversity. Each development was predicted to have a negative effect; however, emerging economic zones had disproportionally large impacts (− 24% in connectivity and − 25% in population size), resulting in fragmentation of the largest core areas. Similarly, the Indian Highway and Silk Road caused fragmentation of the largest core habitats, and the Pipeline Railroad significantly decreased connectivity in the main stronghold for clouded leopards.

Conclusions

Spatially-explicit assessments like the one presented here provide quantitative evaluation on development impacts and help optimize the trade-offs between development and conservation. The rapid and increasing development of Myanmar and surrounding Southeast Asian nations pose an enormous threat to the biodiversity of the region. Optimizing the trade-off between development goals and conservation is essential to minimize the effects of rapid land use change on biodiversity.
Using Motivational Interviewing to Improve Parenting Skills and Prevent Problem Behavior During the Transition to Kindergarten
Authors: Stormshak Elizabeth A. , DeGarmo David , Garbacz S. Andrew , McIntyre Laura Lee , Caruthers Allison
Published: February 2020

In this study, we examined the efficacy of a version of the Family Check-Up (FCU) adapted for kindergarten school entry with regard to parenting skills during the transition to school. We also examined whether improvements in parenting skills would mediate improvements in parent- and teacher-rated child behavior problems from kindergarten to second grade. The FCU is a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention designed to engage parents in treatment to improve parenting skills. Participants were parents of 365 children enrolled in one of five elementary schools in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Main and indirect effects were tested with structural equation path modeling using an intent-to-treat approach. The FCU was associated with improved change in parenting skills, and changes in parenting skills, in turn, predicted reductions in child behavior problems. Implications for embedding MI in family-centered interventions at kindergarten school entry are discussed. Trial registration: NCT02289092
Using archetypoid analysis to classify institutions and faculties of economics
Authors: Wohlrabe Klaus , Gralka Sabine
Published: February 2020

We use archetypoid analysis as a new tool to categorize institutions and faculties of economics. The approach identifies typical characteristics of extreme (archetypal) values in a multivariate data set. Each entity under investigation is assigned relative shares of the identified archetypoid, which show the affiliation of the entity to the archetypoid. In contrast to its predecessor, the archetypal analysis, archetypoids always represent actual observed units in the data. The approach therefore allows to classify institutions in a rarely used way. While the method has been recognized in the literature, it is the first time that it is used in higher education research and as in our case for institutions and faculties of economics. Our dataset contains seven bibliometric indicators for 298 top-level institutions obtained from the RePEc database. We identify three archetypoids, which are characterized as the top-, the low- and the medium-performer. We discuss the assignment of shares of the identified archetypoids to the institutions in detail. As a sensitivity analysis we show how the classification changes when for four and five archetypoids are considered.
Researchers publishing monographs are more productive and more local-oriented
Authors: Kulczycki Emanuel , Korytkowski Przemysław
Published: February 2020

In this study, we investigate what share of researchers publish monographs across fields, gender and seniority. We acquired data from the Polish current research information system (POL-on) containing metadata of about 1,031,141 peer-reviewed publications from 67,415 Polish researchers, including 30,185 monographs from 2013 to 2016. The data are aggregated at the researcher level, which allows us to shed new light on publication patterns in all fields. We show that scholars who publish monographs also publish journal articles at the same time. This pattern is observed in all dimensions, i.e. research fields, gender and seniority. However, substantial differences between the fields are observed. Moreover, we show that researchers who publish monographs are also more productive in terms of the number of publications than researchers who did not publish any monographs. This result is independent of the publication counting method, i.e. fractional or whole counting. At the same time, scholars who publish monographs are more local-oriented in terms of the publication channels they choose.
Ecosystems for smart cities: tracing the evolution of governance structures in a dutch smart city initiative
Authors: Ooms Ward , Caniëls Marjolein C. J. , Roijakkers Nadine , Cobben Dieudonnee
Published: February 2020

Smart cities use integrated information and communication technology in order to help their citizens and organizations deal with the challenges of urbanization, safety, and sustainability. Smart cities need complex forms of governance involving a great variety of actors. The aim of this study is to illustrate how elements of governance structures in smart city ecosystems evolve over time, and to understand in which way these elements enable or inhibit the success of such ecosystems in different phases of evolution. We draw on the ecosystem literature and the smart city literature to identify governance aspects relevant to projects with multiple stakeholders. We illustrate our framework with extensive empirical evidence from an in-depth single case study of a smart city initiative in The Netherlands. We find that the use of specific governance elements varies across the phases of evolution of the smart city ecosystem. In the initiation phase, governance structures aimed at strengthening the internal relations are key. In this phase, elements such as trust, commitment, and common goals are important as they help to create a common ground. In the growth phase, the ecosystem focuses on establishing external relations with other parties, such as competitors and suppliers. In this phase, governance elements such a co-creation strategy and a dedicated organization for promotion gain importance, as these elements facilitate communication with external parties.
Business model innovation in corporate entrepreneurship: exploratory insights from corporate accelerators
Authors: Urbaniec Maria , Żur Agnieszka
Published: February 2020

Corporate accelerators are a rapidly growing entrepreneurial phenomenon occurring in different business contexts and business models within corporate entrepreneurship. Corporate accelerators are considered as an innovation fostering approach within new ventures provided by start-ups. The aim of the paper is twofold: firstly, to explore the motives behind corporations’ engagement with start-ups in launching corporate accelerators, and secondly, to identify the corporate benefits and challenges of this business model innovation. The research design is based on a qualitative interpretative approach exploiting a triangulation of methods by using in-depth interviews (IDI) with corporate managers involved in development of corporate accelerators as well as a focus group interview (FGI) with industry experts. In addition, secondary data were applied to strengthen the exploratory research. The study demonstrates that a wide range of benefits stem from the accelerator activities which can ultimately can initiate changes in large companies. Our research expands on prior findings and suggests that corporate accelerators are driven by internal and external push and pull motives. The study contributes to expanding the scope of corporate entrepreneurship research in regard to the challenges and benefits of corporate accelerators. It provides evidence that corporate accelerators are a source of innovation that can be used to foster entrepreneurial-market logic and entrepreneurial learning.
Intragenomic polymorphisms in the ITS region of high-quality genomes of the Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota)
Authors: Stadler Marc , Lambert Christopher , Wibberg Daniel , Kalinowski Jörn , Cox Russell J. , Kolařík Miroslav , Kuhnert Eric
Published: February 2020

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) has been established (and is generally accepted) as a primary “universal” genetic barcode for fungi for many years, but the actual value for taxonomy has been heavily disputed among mycologists. Recently, twelve draft genome sequences, mainly derived from type species of the family Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota) and the ex-epitype strain ofXylaria hypoxylonhave become available during the course of a large phylogenomic study that was primarily aimed at establishing a correlation between the existing multi-gene-based genealogy with a genome-based phylogeny and the discovery of novel biosynthetic gene clusters encoding for secondary metabolites. The genome sequences were obtained using combinations of Illumina and Oxford nanopore technologies or PacBio sequencing, respectively, and resulted in high-quality sequences with an average N50 of 3.2 Mbp. While the main results will be published concurrently in a separate paper, the current case study was dedicated to the detection of ITS nrDNA copies in the genomes, in an attempt to explain certain incongruities and apparent mismatches between phenotypes and genotypes that had been observed during previous polyphasic studies. The results revealed that all of the studied strains had at least three copies of rDNA in their genomes, withHypoxylon fragiformehaving at least 19 copies of the ITS region, followed byXylaria hypoxylonwith at least 13 copies. Several of the genomes contained 2–3 copies that were nearly identical, but in some cases drastic differences, below 97% identity were observed. In one case, ascribable to the presence of a pseudogene, the deviations of the ITS sequences from the same genome resulted in only ca. 90% of overall homology. These results are discussed in the scope of the current trends to use ITS data for species recognition and segregation of fungi. We propose that additional genomes should be checked for such ITS polymorphisms to reassess the validity of this non-coding part of the fungal DNA for molecular identification.
The dead of the Dietersberg Cave, Germany: new insights into burial practices of the Iron Age from 14C-dates and stable isotope (C, N, O, Sr) analyses of human bones and teeth
Authors: Müller-Scheeßel Nils , Grupe Gisela , Mühldorfer Bernd , Tütken Thomas
Published: February 2020

The provenance and depositional setting of the human remains in the Dietersberg Cave, located in the Franconian Alb in Southern Germany, are evaluated based on 14C-dates and stable isotope analyses (C, N, O, Sr). Four basic scenarios are discussed: (1) human sacrifice, (2) ‘regular’ burial place for a small social unit, (3) special social group (e.g. slaves) and (4) special circumstances of death (e.g. fatal illness). Scenarios 1 and 2 are unlikely as the age distribution includes all ages and both sexes and the 14C-dates of the human remains span most of the Iron Age which would result in an implausible small burial community. Stable isotope analyses also render the deposition of slaves (scenario 3) implausible because a high proportion of the individuals were probably of local origin and their diet was not fundamentally different from that of contemporary populations. The archaeological evidence points to a social bias (i.e. low social standing) as reason for deposition. However, the high numbers of apotropaic objects and of perinatals also suggest that scenario 4 might be plausible for at least some of the individuals. The cave was probably a place of deposition not only for one category of individuals but also for those whose burial in the ‘regular’ cemetery was not considered appropriate.
Measuring the nutritional cost of insect infestation of stored maize and cowpea
Authors: Stathers Tanya E. , Arnold Sarah E. J. , Rumney Corinne J. , Hopson Clare
Published: February 2020

Our understanding and prevention of postharvest losses are critical if we are to feed a growing global population. Insect infestation-related losses of stored commodities are typically considered only in terms of quantitative, physical weight loss. Insect infestation affects the nutritional value and some nutritional components are impacted more severely than others. We infested maize and cowpea grain with commonly occurring stored product insect pests, and mapped infestation levels against nutritional composition over a 4-to-6 month storage period to analyse how insect infestation relates to different macro- and micro-nutrient contents. Insect infestation decreased the carbohydrate content of the stored grains, causing a relative increase in the proportion of protein and fibre in the remaining grain, and moisture content also increased. Sitophilus zeamais preferentially fed in the floury endosperm of maize, resulting in more carbohydrate loss relative to protein loss. Conversely, Prostephanus truncatus consumed the germ and endosperm, disproportionately reducing the fat, protein, iron and zinc grain contents. Nutrients are distributed more homogenously within cowpea than in maize grains, but Callosobruchus maculatus infestation increased the relative protein, fat, iron and zinc to carbohydrate ratios. This indicates how the nutrient content of insect-infested stored grain depends upon the grain type, the infesting insect, and the infestation level. Insect infestation therefore has consequences for human nutrition beyond those of grain weight loss. Using data collected on the changing nutritional composition of grain over time, with and without insect infestation, we modelled the associations between infestation and nutritional quality to predict estimated nutritional losses that could be associated with consumption of insect-infested stored maize and cowpea.
Evaluation of Actual Timetables and Utilization Levels of West Midlands Metro Using Event-Based Simulations
Authors: Potti Praful , Marinov Marin
Published: February 2020

The performance of the West Midlands Metro in the United Kingdom is analyzed in the present study by evaluating the existing timetables of the metro system. Using SIMUL8 computer software, a discrete event-based simulation prototype modeling the metro system is developed and implemented. The model adequately describes the performance of the West Midlands Metro system. By running simulations, the overall utilization level of the metro system is calculated. The results of the simulation model indicate that the metro system is being underutilized. The low utilization rates indicate a potential for the introduction of new services capable of exploiting the existing infrastructure and improving the utilization levels of the existing metro system; For example, the potential of using the current metro system for urban freight transport could be a new service of interest and provide scope for further research.
Gender-Specific Sexual Activity After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Position Matters
Authors: Morehouse Hannah , Sochacki Kyle R. , Nho Shane J. , Harris Joshua D.
Published: February 2020

Background

There is limited evidence on the safety of return to sexual activity after hip arthroscopy.

Aim

To determine the positional safety of sexual activity after hip arthroscopy relative to hip instability and/or impingement risk.

Study Design

This study is an observational study.

Methods

12 common sexual positions were identified based on previous research. Gender-specific hip motion was then assessed for the possibility of postarthroscopic hip instability (due to disruption of iliofemoral ligament [interportal capsulotomy] repair) and/or impingement (labral or capsular compressive stress with disrupted repair) for all 12 positions (both right and left hips; 15 unique male and 14 unique female positions). Instability risk was defined as greater than 0° hip extension, greater than 30° external rotation (ER), or greater than 30° abduction. Impingement risk was defined as greater than 90° hip flexion, greater than 10° internal rotation, and greater than 10° adduction.

Outcomes

A majority of both male and female sexual positions caused either instability or impingement, with only 4 positions in women and 4 positions in men deemed “safe” by avoiding excessive hip motion.

Results

Return to sexual activity after hip arthroscopy may cause instability in 10/15 of male positions and 5/14 female positions. Most male positions (6/10) were at risk for instability because of excessive ER. 2 positions were unstable because of a combination of ER and extension, one was due to extension, and one abduction. In female instability positions, all 5 were unstable because of excessive abduction. Impingement may be observed in 5 of 15 male positions and 6 of 14 female positions. In male impingement positions, all were due to excessive adduction. 4 female positions risked impingement due to excessive flexion and 2 positions due to internal rotation.

Clinical Implications

This study demonstrates risks that should be considered when counseling patients preoperatively and postoperatively regarding sexual activity.

Strengths & Limitations

This study closely models a hip preservation patient population by using 2 young and otherwise healthy individuals. The most significant limitation of this investigation was its basis with only 2 young healthy volunteers (one male, one female) in a single motion capture session using surface-based spherical retroreflective markers from a previous investigation.

Conclusion

After hip arthroscopy, patients need to be made aware of the possibility of hip instability (10 of 15 men; 5 of 14 women) and impingement (5 of 15 men; 6 of 14 women) due to excessive hip motion that may compromise their outcome.
Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Service
Authors: de Winter Remco F. P. , Hazewinkel Mirjam C. , van de Sande Roland , de Beurs Derek P. , de Groot Marieke H.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Background: Outreach psychiatric emergency services play an important role in all stages of a suicidal crisis; however, empirical assessment data are scarce. This study describes characteristics of patients assessed by these services and involved in suicidal crises. Method: During a 5-year period, detailed information from psychiatric emergency service assessments was recorded; 14,705 assessments were included. Characteristics of patients with/without suicidal behavior and with/without suicide attempts were compared. Outcomes were adjusted for clustering of features within individual patients. Results: Suicidal behavior was assessed in 32.2% of patients, of whom 9.2% attempted suicide. Suicidal behavior was most commonly associated with depression or adjustment disorder and these patients were referred to the service by a general practitioner or a general hospital, whereas those who attempted suicide were less likely to be referred by a general practitioner. Those who attempted suicide were more likely to be female and have had a referral by a general hospital. Self-poisoning by medication was the most common method of attempting suicide. Limitations: Bias could be due to missed or incomplete assessments. Primary diagnoses were based on clinical observation at the time of the assessment or on the primary diagnosis previously recorded. In addition, suicidal behavior or attempted suicide might have been underestimated. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior is commonplace in assessments by psychiatric emergency services. Suicidal patients with/without a suicide attempt differed with respect to demographic features, primary diagnoses, and referring entities, but not with respect to treatment policy. About 40% of the suicidal patients with/without an attempt were admitted following assessment.
Alkenone Distributions and Hydrogen Isotope Ratios Show Changes in Haptophyte Species and Source Water in the Holocene Baltic Sea
Authors: Weiss Gabriella M. , Massalska Barbara , Hennekam Rick , Reichart Gert‐Jan , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S. , Schouten Stefan , van der Meer Marcel T. J.
Published: February 2020

The Baltic Sea, a dynamic, marginal marine basin, experienced a number of large changes in salinity during the Holocene as a result of fluctuations in global and local sea level related to melting of glacial ice sheets and subsequent isostatic rebound. These changes likely had pronounced effects on the species composition of haptophytes, a common phytoplankton group found in the Baltic Sea. This dynamic environment provides the ideal setting to study how species change impacts distribution and hydrogen isotope ratios of long‐chain alkenones (δ2HC37), haptophyte‐specific biomarkers. Here we analyzed the aforementioned parameters in Holocene sediments covering the contrasting hydrological phases of the Baltic Sea. Alkenone distributions changed with different Baltic Sea salinity phases, suggesting that species shifts coincide with salinity change. δ2HC37 values show two major shifts: one in the middle of the freshwater Ancylus Lake phase (10.6 to 7.7 ka) and a second at the transition from the brackish Littorina Sea phase (7.2 to 3 ka) into the fresher Modern Baltic (3 ka to the present). The first shift represents a significant enrichment of 50‰, which cannot be explained by salinity or species changes only. At this time, the isotopically depleted ice sheets had melted, and only the relatively enriched freshwater source remained. The second shift, coincident with a change in distribution, is likely caused by a change in species composition alone. These findings show that hydrogen isotope ratios of long‐chain alkenones, combined with their relative distribution, can be used to reconstruct changes in source water.
Evidence of Aseismic and Fluid‐Driven Processes in a Small Complex Seismic Swarm Near Virginia City, Nevada
Authors: Hatch Rachel L. , Abercrombie Rachel E. , Ruhl Christine J. , Smith Kenneth D.
Published: February 2020

Analysis of a small earthquake swarm near Virginia City, NV, reveals complex structural features, including an interplay of both fluid‐driven and aseismic‐driven earthquake migration within a naturally occurring tectonic sequence. The Virginia City earthquake sequence occurred over ~10 days in January 2014. We relocate 305 events to reveal three separate, well‐defined planar structures. The earthquakes initially migrate at a rate consistent with pore fluid diffusion, outlining a moderately dipping plane. The earthquakes then jump to a vertical plane and migrate at a higher rate; the sequence continues to migrate rapidly onto a third, shallowly dipping plane, consistent with rates observed elsewhere associated with aseismic creep. Focal mechanisms indicate right‐lateral strike slip on the vertical plane and both normal and left‐lateral strike slip movement on the other planes, and the newly imaged structures illuminate the orientation of active faults at depth in the Walker Lane tectonic region.
Azimuthal Variation of Magnetopause Reconnection at Scales Below an Earth Radius
Authors: Zou Ying , Walsh Brian M. , Atz Emil , Liang Haoming , Ma Qianli , Angelopoulos Vassilis
Published: February 2020

While magnetopause reconnection naturally occurs in three‐dimensional environments, our understanding of the process has been mainly confined to the two‐dimensional reconnection plane. How reconnection varies in the third direction, that is, the azimuthal direction, and what causes the variation remain open questions. We study the azimuthal variation of reconnection at an underexplored scale, which is below an Earth radius, using THEMIS spacecraft. Our results show that reconnection jets transition from being present to absent within tenths of a RE, corresponding to tens of ion inertial lengths. The absence of jets cannot be explained by an ion or electron diffusion region, or a magnetic flux rope flanked by two reconnection sites. The sharp transition of reconnection is associated with spatially varying waves. No drivers of the transition are identified locally at the magnetopause or in the upstream, implying that reconnection may naturally have a finite extent at certain stages of its development.
Plastic Faulting in Ice
Authors: Golding N. , Durham W. B. , Prior D. J. , Stern L. A.
Published: February 2020

Plastic faulting is a brittle‐like failure phenomenon exhibited by water ice and several other rock types under confinement. It is suspected to be the mechanism of deep earthquakes and extreme cases of shear localization in shallow rocks. Unlike ordinary Coulombic failure, plastic faulting is characterized by a pressure‐independent failure strength and fault plane oriented 45° to maximum principal stress. To research the question of how the instability initiates, we conducted over 50 constant‐displacement‐rate experiments on polycrystalline ice (phases Ih and II) near the brittle‐to‐ductile (B‐D) transition, at confining pressuresP= 0–300 MPa, applied strain rates= 5 × 10−5– 7 × 10−3s−1, temperaturesT= 105–233 K, and mean grain sizesd= 0.25–1.18 mm. We find that (1) the width of the B‐D transition in variable space is vanishingly narrow, to the point of appearing as a crossover, (2) a plastic fault plane, once formed, is not a zone of subsequent weakness, (3) distributed ice I→II phase transformation in small amounts (<1 vol%) shows no causal relationship to subsequent failure, and (4) plastic faulting also occurs in ice II. We hypothesize that the elusive nucleating “trigger” parallels that of metals and ceramics undergoing severe plastic deformation, wherein transient local structural rearrangement occurs, in turn causing material strength to drop to a level sufficiently low, in a volume sufficiently large, that adiabatic instability is nucleated. Our results do not require and often are inconsistent with phase transformation. Plastic faulting may therefore be available to all solids undergoing severe deformation, and its appearance in so few is simply the result of insufficiently extreme conditions.
Late‐1980s Regime Shift in the Formation of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water
Authors: Kim Sang‐Yeob , Pak Gyundo , Lee Ho Jin , Kwon Young‐Oh , Kim Young Ho
Published: February 2020

The formation mechanism as well as its temporal change of the North Pacific subtropical mode water (NPSTMW) is investigated using a 50‐year (1960–2009) ocean general circulation model hindcast. The volume budget analysis suggests that the formation of the NPSTMW is mainly controlled by the air‐sea interaction and ocean dynamics, but there is a regime shift of the relative importance between the two around late‐1980s. While the local air‐sea interaction process is a main driver of the NPSTMW formation prior to late‐1980s, ocean dynamics including the vertical entrainment become dominant since then. The NPSTMW formation is affected by the North Pacific Oscillation simultaneously in the early period, but with a few years lag in the later period. The interdecadal change of the driving mechanism of the interannual variability of the NPSTMW is probably due to the stronger (weaker) influence of local atmospheric forcing in the western North Pacific and unfavorable (favorable) wind stress curl condition for the remote oceanic forcing from the central North Pacific during the former (later) period. This regime shift may be related to the change of centers of the actions of the wind stress curl since the late‐1980s.
Unexpected Nitrogen Sources in a Tropical Urban Estuary
Authors: Oczkowski Autumn J. , Santos Emily A. , Martin Rose M. , Gray Andrew B. , Hanson Alana R. , Watson Elizabeth B. , Huertas Evelyn , Wigand Cathleen
Published: February 2020

Tropical urban estuaries are severely understudied. Little is known about the basic biogeochemical cycles and dominant ecosystem processes in these waterbodies, which are often low lying and heavily modified. The San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is an example of such a system. Over the past 80 years, a portion of the estuary has filled in, changing the hydrodynamics and negatively affecting water quality. Here we sought to document these changes using ecological and biogeochemical measurements of surface sediments and bivalves. Measurements of sediment physical characteristics, organic matter content, and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) illustrated the effects of the closure of the Caño Martín Peña (CMP) on the hydrology and water quality of the enclosed and semi‐enclosed parts of the estuary. The nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) values were lowest in the CMP, the stretch of the SJBE that is characterized by waters with low dissolved oxygen and high fecal coliform concentrations. Despite this, the results of this study indicate that nitrogen (N) contributions from N‐fixing, sulfate‐reducing microbes may meet or even exceed contributions from urban runoff and sewage. While the importance of sulfate reducers in contributing N to mangrove ecosystems is well documented, this is the first indication that such processes could be dominant in an intensely urban system. It also underscores just how little we know about tropical coastal ecosystems in densely populated areas throughout the globe.
Structure-related electrochemical performance of organosulfur compounds for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyin , Chen Ke , Sun Zhenhua , Hu Guangjian , Xiao Ru , Cheng Hui-Ming , Li Feng
Published: February 2020

This review proposes a deep insight into the mutual interactions among structures, synthesis, and electrochemical performance and mechanisms of organosulfur compounds in lithium–sulfur batteries.
Rational integration of spatial confinement and polysulfide conversion catalysts for high sulfur loading lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Zhang Qingfei , Qiao Zhensong , Cao Xinrui , Qu Baihua , Yuan Jin , Fan Tian-E , Zheng Hongfei , Cui Jinqing , Wu Shunqing , Xie Qingshui , Peng Dong-Liang
Published: February 2020

A Co/N–PCNF@S cathode, formed via spatial confinement with a polar catalyst in a freestanding sulfur host, facilitates infiltration of electrolyte and electron transport, fixes LIPSs through strong chemisorption and catalyzes the reaction kinetics.
Investigation on the theoretical model of graphene pressure sensors
Authors: Wang Xinguo , Li Fangqing , Zhao Jiang , Wang Debo
Published: February 2020

In order to study the effect of shape on graphene pressure sensors, a theoretical model of polymerisation degree is proposed in this work. According to the theoretical model of polymerisation degree, it is found that the regular polygons have better sensitivity characteristics. The more the number of sides for the regular polygons, the larger the polymerisation degree, and the better the sensitivity of the graphene pressure sensors. According to the theoretical model, the polymerisation degree of the positive triangle, regular quadrilateral, regular pentagon, and circle shape is 0.5, 0.71, 0.81, and 1, respectively. The measured results show that the relative resistance change of positive triangle, regular quadrilateral, regular pentagon, and circle shape are 8.56, 9.24, 9.61, and 10.4%, respectively. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical results. Therefore, the theoretical model of polymerisation degree can provide effective quantitative guidance for the graphene pressure sensors.
Generating the dual‐band and multimode OAM by irregular pentagonal patch antenna array
Authors: Lin Jiang , Zhao Hongdong , Lu Haiyan , Geng Lixin , Wang Tianmeng
Published: February 2020

This Letter presents an irregular pentagonal patch array antenna with a multilayer structure for dual‐band and multimode orbital angular momentum (OAM) generation. An irregular pentagonal patch antenna with U‐shaped slots resonating at different frequencies is designed as the array's element. The proposed antenna array consists of two uniform circular microstrip antenna arrays and two phase‐shifting feeding networks. It can be used to generate OAM mode l = − 1, 1 at 3 GHz and OAM mode l = −2, 2 at 6 GHz. The simulated near‐field phase distributions images of different OAM modes are obtained, which have verified the OAM generation. This proposed array antenna has the possibility to generate a total of six different OAMs in three frequency bands, by changing the number of array elements and optimising the irregular pentagonal patch antenna. This design may provide a new idea for the generation multimode vortex electromagnetic wave.
Private routing and ride‐sharing using homomorphic encryption
Authors: Farokhi Farhad , Shames Iman , Johansson Karl H.
Published: February 2020

A framework for private and secure communication and interaction between agents interacting in transportation services is developed. An agent, i.e. a user, can ask questions or submit queries regarding whether the other agents, i.e. drivers, use the desired road at specific times of the day in an encrypted fashion. The authors developed the framework using semi‐homomorphic encryption (namely, the Paillier's encryption method) to enable the algebraic manipulation of plain data without the need for decryption using appropriate computations over the encrypted data. Strong privacy and security guarantees are proved for the agents. Subsequently, the semi‐homomorphic encryption method is utilised to develop privacy‐aware ride‐sharing and routing algorithms without the need for disclosing the origin and destination of the user.
Oriented distance point of view on random sets
Authors: Dambrine M. , Puig B.
Published: February 2020

Motivated by free boundary problems under uncertainties, we consider the oriented distance function as a way to define the expectation for a random compact or open set. In order to provide a law of large numbers and a central limit theorem for this notion of expectation, we also address the question of the convergence of the level sets offnto the level sets offwhen (fn) is a sequence of functions uniformly converging tof. We provide error estimates in term of Hausdorff convergence. We illustrate our results on a free boundary problem.
In situ genetic engineering of tumors for long-lasting and systemic immunotherapy
Authors: Tzeng Stephany Y. , Patel Kisha K. , Wilson David R. , Meyer Randall A. , Rhodes Kelly R. , Green Jordan J.
Published: February 2020

Significance

There is an urgent need for improved cancer immunotherapies. The nanoparticles described here deliver genes to stimulate the immune system to specifically kill tumor cells. This synthetic, biodegradable system avoids the use of common gene delivery materials like viruses that can have safety concerns and manufacturing limitations. Local nanoparticle delivery evades adverse side effects stemming from systemic administration of immune-activating therapeutics. Importantly, this technology causes a tumor-targeting response but does not require prior knowledge of a particular patient’s gene expression profile; thus, it can serve as a platform to combat many different solid cancers. Moreover, local nanoparticle administration causes a systemic cellular immune response, which has the potential to lead to better outcomes in the context of recurrence or metastasis.