bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality after large artery occlusion acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Karamchandani Rahul R. , Rhoten Jeremy B. , Strong Dale , Chang Brenda , Asimos Andrew W.
Published: May 2021

Despite randomized trials showing a functional outcome benefit in favor of endovascular therapy (EVT), large artery occlusion acute ischemic stroke is associated with high mortality. We performed a retrospective analysis from a prospectively collected code stroke registry and included patients presenting between November 2016 and April 2019 with internal carotid artery and/or proximal middle cerebral artery occlusions. Ninety-day mortality status from registry follow-up was corroborated with the Social Security Death Index. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to determine demographic and clinical characteristics associated with 90-day mortality. Among 764 patients, mortality rate was 26%. Increasing age (per 10 years, OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.25–1.76;p < 0.0001), higher presenting NIHSS (per 1 point, OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09,p = 0.01), and higher discharge modified Rankin Score (per 1 point, OR 4.27, 95% CI 3.25–5.59,p < 0.0001) were independently associated with higher odds of mortality. Good revascularization therapy, compared to no EVT, was independently associated with a survival benefit (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.35–1.00,p = 0.048). We identified factors independently associated with mortality in a highly lethal form of stroke which can be used in clinical decision-making, prognostication, and in planning future studies.
Author Correction: Histone acetyltransferease p300 modulates TIM4 expression in dendritic cells
Authors: Yang Bo , Li Lin-Jing , Xu Ling-Zhi , Liu Jiang-Qi , Zhang Huan-Ping , Geng Xiao-Rui , Liu Zhi-Gang , Yang Ping-Chang
Published: May 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Dengue virus-free defective interfering particles have potent and broad anti-dengue virus activity
Authors: Li Dongsheng , Lin Min-Hsuan , Rawle Daniel J. , Jin Hongping , Wu Zhonglan , Wang Lu , Lor Mary , Hussain Mazhar , Aaskov John , Harrich David
Published: May 2021

Dengue virus (DENV) is spread from human to human through the bite of the female Aedes aegypti mosquito and leads to about 100 million clinical infections yearly. Treatment options and vaccine availability for DENV are limited. Defective interfering particles (DIPs) are considered a promising antiviral approach but infectious virus contamination has limited their development. Here, a DENV-derived DIP production cell line was developed that continuously produced DENV-free DIPs. The DIPs contained and could deliver to cells a DENV serotype 2 subgenomic defective-interfering RNA, which was originally discovered in DENV infected patients. The DIPs released into cell culture supernatant were purified and could potently inhibit replication of all DENV serotypes in cells. Antiviral therapeutics are limited for many viral infection. The DIP system described could be re-purposed to make antiviral DIPs for many other RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, yellow fever, West Nile and Zika viruses.
Parameter-free rendering of single-molecule localization microscopy data for parameter-free resolution estimation
Authors: Descloux Adrien C. , Grußmayer Kristin S. , Radenovic Aleksandra
Published: May 2021

Localization microscopy is a super-resolution imaging technique that relies on the spatial and temporal separation of blinking fluorescent emitters. These blinking events can be individually localized with a precision significantly smaller than the classical diffraction limit. This sub-diffraction localization precision is theoretically bounded by the number of photons emitted per molecule and by the sensor noise. These parameters can be estimated from the raw images. Alternatively, the resolution can be estimated from a rendered image of the localizations. Here, we show how the rendering of localization datasets can influence the resolution estimation based on decorrelation analysis. We demonstrate that a modified histogram rendering, termed bilinear histogram, circumvents the biases introduced by Gaussian or standard histogram rendering. We propose a parameter-free processing pipeline and show that the resolution estimation becomes a function of the localization density and the localization precision, on both simulated and state-of-the-art experimental datasets.
Vapor-phase production of nanomaterials
Authors: Malekzadeh Mohammad , Swihart Mark T.
Published: May 2021

This review comprehensively treats aerosol synthesis of nanomaterials, highlighting advantages and disadvantages of different approaches with examples of materials produced.
Host guest chemistry and supramolecular doping in triphenylamine-based covalent frameworks on Au(111)
Authors: Steiner Christian , Fromm Lukas , Gebhardt Julian , Liu Yi , Heidenreich Alexander , Hammer Natalie , Görling Andreas , Kivala Milan , Maier Sabine
Published: May 2021

The post-synthetic modification of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) via host–guest chemistry is an important method to tailor their electronic properties for applications.
2D hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks: in-site generation and subsequent exfoliation
Authors: Luo Yang-Hui , Zhang Lan , Fang Wen-Xia , Ma Shu-Hua , Dong Hui , Su Shan , Zheng Zi-Yue , Li Di-Ning , Zhai Li-Hai
Published: May 2021

By usingin situgenerated formate, 2D HOFs with square-like TCPP-HCO2grid sheets have been obtained, the sheets can be well preserved in the single-layer limit with efficient photocatalytic activity in aqueous system.
One-pot synthesis of sulfonic acid functionalized Zr-MOFs for rapid and specific removal of radioactive Ba2+
Authors: Liu Peijia , Yang Pengfei , Yang Jian , Gu Jinlou
Published: May 2021

A one-pot strategy was developed to synthesize a –SO3H-functionalized MOF adsorbent exhibiting excellent selectivity, recyclability, a high adsorption capacity and fast adsorption kinetics.
Effect of grain boundaries in La0.84Sr0.16CoO3−δ on oxygen diffusivity and surface exchange kinetics
Authors: Porotnikova Natalia , Farlenkov Andrei , Naumov Sergey , Vlasov Maxim , Khodimchuk Anna , Fetisov Andrey , Ananyev Maxim
Published: May 2021

The 16O/18O oxygen exchange kinetics between the gas phase and the oriented single crystal and polycrystalline specimen has been studied; the rates of individual stages of oxygen exchange have been calculated and discussed.
Microscopic origin of graphene nanosheets derived from coal-tar pitch by treating Al4C3 as the intermediate
Authors: Lin Peng , Zhang Yinggan , Tan Xiaolin , Xiong Rui , Sa Baisheng , Lin Qilang
Published: May 2021

The synthesis process of GNs from coal-tar pitch by treating Al4C3 as the pyrolyzed precursor from both experimental and theoretical points of view.
Interlayer hydrogen bonding directed magnetic properties for a different number of water-intercalated structural heterometallic phosphates based on paddlewheel units Ru2(PO4)46−
Authors: Xue Xiang-Xian , Ding Tuo , Zhang Pei , Yang Jian-Hui , Liu Bin
Published: May 2021

The alkaline strength of oxyanions controls the different number of waters intercalated between the neutral ferrimagnetic layers of heterometallic phosphates {Mn(H2O)4}2Mn(H2O)2Ru2(PO4)4(H2O)2.
N-Heterocyclic carbene, carbodiphosphorane and diphosphine adducts of beryllium dihalides: synthesis, characterisation and reduction studies
Authors: Paparo Albert , Matthews Aidan J. R. , Smith Cory D. , Edwards Alison J. , Yuvaraj K. , Jones Cameron
Published: May 2021

A variety of C- and P-donor adduct complexes of beryllium dihalides have been synthesised. Attempts to reduce these have led to N-heterocyclic carbene adducts of beryllium hydride and naphthalenediyl fragments, and a rare example of a Be–Al bonded complex.
Preparation of a highly active MoS2/TiO2 composite for photocatalytic oxidation of nitrite under solar irradiation
Authors: Cao Huazhen , Jia Chenxi , Zhang Huibin , Hou Guangya , Tang Yiping , Zheng Guoqu
Published: May 2021

MoS2/TiO2 composites was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and applied for the oxidation of nitrites under solar irradiation.
Synthesis and characterization of group 13 dichloride (M = Ga, In), dimethyl (M = Al) and cationic methyl aluminum complexes supported by monoanionic NNN-pincer ligands
Authors: Chisholm Desmond T. , Hayes Paul G.
Published: May 2021

A series of monoanionic NNN-pincer ligands effectively stabilize five-coordinate gallium and indium dichloride complexes, as well as neutral dimethyl aluminum species, and organometallic cations thereof.
Attapulgite as a skeleton for the fabrication of magnetic structural-functional materials with a superhydrophobic shell
Authors: Wang Yanbin , Li Yijing , Li Jihai , Zhang Yujing , Duan Zhiying , Zhou Feng , Xie Xin , Su Qiong , Pang Shaofeng
Published: May 2021

Fabrication of structural-functional materials endowed with unique features from attapulgite, and which may be provided a well structural platform for diversified applications, such as adsorbent for organic pollutants, the superhydrophobic coating and water/oil separation.
Current achievements in 3D bioprinting technology of chitosan and its hybrids
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Sirous Fariba , Hussain Chaudhery Mustansar
Published: May 2021

Chitosan and its hybrids, as an appropriate bioink in 3D printing technology, for the fabrication of engineered constructions.
The TiO2-μ implant residual is more toxic than the Al2O3-n implant residual via blocking LAP and inducing macrophage polarization
Authors: Hu Xiaolei , Xu Ling , Fu Xuewei , Huang Jiao , Ji Ping , Zhang Zhiwei , Deng Feng , Wu Xiaomian
Published: May 2021

Ti-μ implant particle residual was more toxic than Al-n implant particle residual. Al-n and BTZ prevented the Particle Disease induced by Ti-μ via blocking inflammation in vitro and aseptic bone loosening in vivo.
Revealing the growth of copper on polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer thin films with in situ GISAXS
Authors: Schaper Simon J. , Löhrer Franziska C. , Xia Senlin , Geiger Christina , Schwartzkopf Matthias , Pandit Pallavi , Rubeck Jan , Fricke Björn , Frenzke Susann , Hinz Alexander M. , Carstens Niko , Polonskyi Oleksandr , Strunskus Thomas , Faupel Franz , Roth Stephan V. , Müller-Buschbaum Peter
Published: May 2021

The morphology of the PS-b-PEO directly influences the hierarchical morphology of the highly porous Cu nanolayer. Hence, optimized, nano-granular Cu current collectors and coatings can be produced via sputter deposition for the next generation LIBs.
Atomic Ni and Cu co-anchored 3D nanoporous graphene as an efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst for zinc–air batteries
Authors: Cheng Yongtai , Wu Haofei , Han Jiuhui , Zhong Siying , Huang Senhe , Chu Shufen , Song Shuangxi , Reddy Kolan Madhav , Wang Xiaodong , Wu Shaoyi , Zhuang Xiaodong , Johnson Isaac , Liu Pan , Chen Mingwei
Published: May 2021

Important progress is reported in the development of dual single-atom transition metal co-anchored catalysts, CuNx and NiNx moieties anchored on 3D nanoporous graphene, with superior ORR activities and durability for zinc–air batteries.
Designing Zn-doped nickel sulfide catalysts with an optimized electronic structure for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: He Wenjun , Liu Hui , Cheng Jianing , Mao Jing , Chen Cong , Hao Qiuyan , Zhao Jianling , Liu Caichi , Li Ying , Liang Limin
Published: May 2021

Designing non-noble-metal electrocatalysts with excellent performance and economic benefits toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is extremely crucial for future energy development.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles as carriers of active agents for smart anticorrosive organic coatings: a critical review
Authors: Olivieri Federico , Castaldo Rachele , Cocca Mariacristina , Gentile Gennaro , Lavorgna Marino
Published: May 2021

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with properly designed textural properties and tailored release of corrosion inhibitors are highly efficient smart carriers for advanced anticorrosive nanocomposite coatings.
Supramolecular nanovesicles for synergistic glucose starvation and hypoxia-activated gene therapy of cancer
Authors: Yue Ludan , Sun Tianlei , Yang Kuikun , Cheng Qian , Li Junyan , Pan Yue , Wang Shu , Wang Ruibing
Published: May 2021

We designed a “dual-lock” supramolecular nanoplatform by loading glucose oxidase and hypoxia-activatable therapeutic plasmid into Au nanovesicles for on-command cancer starvation and gene therapy.
State-of-the-art recent progress in MXene-based photocatalysts: a comprehensive review
Authors: You Ziyi , Liao Yulong , Li Xin , Fan Jiajie , Xiang Quanjun
Published: May 2021

This review focuses on the systematic understanding of recent advances in MXene and MXene-based photocatalysts. In particular, the defects and improvements of MXene and the design of MXene-based photocatalysts are uniquely classified and clarified.
Precise synthesis of linear polysiloxanes with a polar side-chain structure by organocatalytic controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of (3-cyanopropyl)pentamethylcyclotrisiloxane
Authors: Fuchise Keita , Sato Kazuhiko , Igarashi Masayasu
Published: May 2021

Organocatalytic controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of (3-cyanopropyl)pentamethylcyclotrisiloxane using 1,3-trimethylene-2-methylguanidine as the catalyst produced various linear polysiloxanes with nitrile groups on the side chains.
An approximate CNTFET 4:2 compressor based on gate diffusion input and dynamic threshold
Authors: Rafiee Mahmood , Sadeghi Yaqhoub , Shiri Nabiollah , Sadeghi Ayoub
Published: May 2021

Here, a new 4:2 approximate compressor is presented by the gate diffusion input (GDI) technique. Although GDI cells suffer from threshold voltage drop, the dynamic threshold approach and carbon nanotube field‐effect transistors are merged to overcome the mentioned problem. The proposed cell has full‐swing outputs, while its error and power delay product are at low rates. Therefore, low voltage multipliers that are used in image processing can benefit from the proposed compressor.
Coordination of non‐directional overcurrent relays and fuses in active distribution networks considering reverse short‐circuit currents of DGs
Authors: Ghotbi‐Maleki Mahdi , Mohammadi Chabanloo Reza , Taheri Mohammad Reza , Zeineldin Hatem H.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

The main protection equipment in radial distribution networks are non‐directional overcurrent relays (NDOCR) and fuses which are coordinated using the conventional protection coordination method. By installing distributed generations (DGs) in the network, reverse short‐circuit currents (SCC), injected from DGs, can lead to false tripping of NDOCRs and false melting of fuses. In the previous studies, some methods have been proposed to overcome these issues using directional overcurrent relays, fault current limiter, and adaptive methods that relay on communication. The present paper proposes a new coordination method to prevent these issues without the need for installing a new equipment, by proposing a new set of selectivity constraints. Here, selectivity between equipment is established, and false tripping and false melting issues are mitigated. The coordination of protection equipment according to the proposed method requires the use of optimization algorithms, and therefore, the proposed method is formulated as a mixed‐integer linear programming method to take advantage of mathematical optimization algorithms. The proposed coordination method is applied to a real distribution network and the results indicate the high efficiency of the proposed method in dealing with false relay tripping and fuse melting issues.
Reversible data hiding for encrypted image based on adaptive prediction error coding
Authors: Tang Zhenjun , Pang Mingyuan , Yu Chunqiang , Fan Guijin , Zhang Xianquan
Published: May 2021

Reversible data hiding (RDH) is a useful technique of data security. Embedding capacity is one of the most important performance of RDH for encrypted image. Many existing RDH algorithms for encrypted image do not reach desirable embedding capacity yet. To address this problem, a new RDH algorithm is proposed for encrypted image based on adaptive prediction error coding. The proposed RDH algorithm uses a block‐based encryption scheme to preserve spatial correlation of original image in the encrypted domain and exploits a novel technique called adaptive prediction error coding to vacate room for data embedding. A key contribution of the proposed RDH algorithm is the adaptive prediction error coding. It can efficiently vacate room from encrypted image block by adaptively coding prediction errors according to block content and thus contributes to a large embedding capacity. Many experiments on benchmark image databases are done to validate performance of the proposed RDH algorithm. The results show that the average embedding rates on the open databases of UCID, BOSSBase and BOWS‐2 are 1.7081, 2.4437 and 2.3083 bpp, respectively. Comparison results illustrate that the proposed RDH algorithm outperforms some state‐of‐the‐art RDH algorithms in embedding capacity.
Plant leaf classification and retrieval using multi‐scale shape descriptor
Authors: Xu Guoqing , Li Chen
Published: May 2021

Plant leaf classification is a significant and challenging research problem in computer vision area. In this study, an original multi‐scale shape descriptor is presented to perform leaf classification and retrieval. Firstly, a novel iterative rule is proposed as scales generation method, which is parameter free. Secondly, leaf contour points are represented by angle information which is calculated using their neighbour points under each scale. The angle information representation is invariant to image rotation, translation and scaling. More importantly, it can describe leaf in a hierarchical way by capturing leaf features from global to local variations. Then Fast Fourier Transform operation is applied to make the representation more compact and independent from starting point. Subsequently, for leaf retrieval the dissimilarity of each pair of leaf under each scale is computed using city block metric. And support vector machine is used as classifier for leaf classification. Finally, experiments and comparisons with multiple state‐of‐the‐art approaches are performed. The classification accuracy was 96.85% and 93.56% respectively on Swedish and Flavia leaf datasets. The mean average precision score was 66.42%, 76.69% and 44.14% respectively on Flavia, Swedish and MEW2012 leaf datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has excellent performance.
Gaseous nebulae and massive stars in the giant H I ring in Leo
Authors: Corbelli Edvige , Mannucci Filippo , Thilker David , Cresci Giovanni , Venturi Giacomo
Published: May 2021

Context.Chemical abundances in the Leo ring, the largest H Icloud in the local Universe, have recently been determined to be close to or above Solar values. This is a finding that is incompatible with prior claims that the ring was primordial in origin. The gas, pre-enriched in a galactic disk and tidally stripped, did not manage to efficiently form stars in the intergalactic space.

Aims.Using Hαemission and a multi-wavelengths analysis of its extremely faint optical counterpart, we investigate the process of star formation and the slow build-up of a stellar population that could form diffuse and metal-rich dwarf galaxies in the Leo ring.

Methods.We mapped nebular lines in three dense H Iclumps and complemented the data with archival stellar continuum observations from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer and theHubbleSpace Telescope, as well as with population synthesis models.

Results.We detect a sparse population of stars in the main body of the ring, with individual young stars as massive as O7-types powering some H IIregions. The average star-formation rate density in the ring is on order of 10−5M⊙yr−1kpc−2and proceeds with local bursts a few hundred parsecs in size, where loose stellar associations of 500−1000M⊙occasionally host massive outliers. The far ultraviolet-to-Hαemission ratio in nebular regions implies recent stellar bursts, from 2 to 7 Myr ago. The relation between the local H Igas density and the star-formation rate in the ring is similar to what is found in dwarfs and outer disks with gas depletion times as long as 100 Gyr. We find a candidate planetary nebula in a compact and faint Hαregion with [OIII]/Hαline enhancement, which is consistent with the estimated mean stellar surface brightness of the ring. The presence of a 1 kpc partial ring that is emitting weak Hαlines around the brightest and youngest H IIregion suggests that local shocks might triggers future star-forming sites.
A MUSE view of the asymmetric jet from HD 163296
Authors: Xie C. , Haffert S. Y. , de Boer J. , Kenworthy M. A. , Brinchmann J. , Girard J. , Snellen I. A. G. , Keller C. U.
Published: May 2021

Context. Jets and outflows are thought to play important roles in regulating star formation and disk evolution. An important question is how the jets are launched. HD 163296 is a well-studied Herbig Ae star that hosts proto-planet candidates, a protoplanetary disk, a protostellar jet, and a molecular outflow, which makes it an excellent laboratory for studying jets.

Aims. We aim to characterize the jet at the inner regions and check if there are large differences with the features at large separations. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the performance of Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) in high-contrast imaging of extended line emission.

Methods. MUSE in the narrow field mode (NFM) can provide observations at optical wavelengths with high spatial (∼75 mas) and medium spectral (R ∼ 2500) resolution. With the high-resolution spectral differential imaging technique, we can characterize the kinematic structures and physical conditions of jets down to 100 mas.

Results. We detect multiple atomic lines in two new knots, B3 and A4, at distances of < 4″ from the host star with MUSE. The derived Ṁjet/Ṁacc is about 0.08 and 0.06 for knots B3 and A4, respectively. The observed [Ca II]/[S II] ratios indicate that there is no sign of dust grains at distances of < 4″. Assuming the A4 knot traced the streamline, we can estimate a jet radius at the origin by fitting the half width half maximum of the jet, which sets an upper limit of 2.2 au on the size of the launching region. Although MUSE has the ability to detect the velocity shifts caused by high- and low-velocity components, we found no significant evidence of velocity decrease transverse to the jet direction in our 500 s MUSE observation.

Conclusions. Our work demonstrates the capability of using MUSE NFM observations for the detailed study of stellar jets in the optical down to 100 mas. The derived Ṁjet/Ṁacc, no dust grain, and jet radius at the star support the magneto-centrifugal models as a launching mechanism for the jet.
La généralisation algébrique: Un processus mathématique peu développé chez les élèves à la fin de l’école secondaire
Authors: Squalli Hassane
Published: May 2021

Généraliser est un processus essentiel de l’activité mathématique. Son apprentissage au primaire et au secondaire ne va pas de soi. Souvent, les élèves construisent en actes des généralités à l’insu de l’enseignant. Ces généralités peuvent être vraies ou fausses sans qu’elles soient questionnées par l’élève et par l’enseignant. Nous faisons l’hypothèse que ce processus est faiblement développé chez les élèves de l’école primaire et secondaire. Pour la vérifier, nous avons mené une recherche auprès d’un échantillon composé de 76 étudiants inscrits dans un programme universitaire de premier cycle et ayant suivi majoritairement une formation au secondaire non spécialisée en mathématiques. Nous leur avons soumis le problème suivant:Si n est un entier naturel, le nombre n2+ n + 41 est-il, 1) toujours premier? 2) quelquefois premier? ou jamais premier? Justifiez votre réponse.L’analyse des réponses porte sur la nature arithmétique ou algébrique de la généralisation ainsi que sur la qualité des justifications. Nos résultats montrent que 75% des répondants manifestent une généralisation à tendance arithmétique: la généralisation est formulée à partir de quelques essais numériques. Alors que 25 % des réponses manifeste des généralisations à tendance algébrique: la généralisation est formulée à partir d’une analyse de la structure syntaxique de l’expressionn2+ n + 41. Ces résultats pointent selon nous une lacune importante de l’enseignement des mathématiques à l’école primaire et secondaire.
L’apprentissage des notions mathématiques chez des élèves ayant une déficience intellectuelle légère entre une approche pédagogique traditionnelle et la médiation artistique
Authors: Saaidia Salem , El Meddah Faten
Published: May 2021

Cette étude examine l’apport des médiations artistiques à l’acquisition des notions et des habiletés mathématiques chez des élèves ayant une déficience intellectuelle légère, âgés entre 11 et 13 ans et poursuivant une formation professionnelle en pâtisserie. Afin de mettre en exergue l’apport de cette médiation, nous avons travaillé avec un échantillon expérimental composé de 8 élèves et un échantillon témoin et nous avons comparé leurs résultats. Nous avons pu montrer à travers notre intervention que le recours à la médiation artistique ainsi qu’à l’apprentissage par la découverte pourrait mieux aider les élèves à maîtriser les notions et les habilités mathématiques utiles dans la vie quotidienne et professionnelle, dans le cas des enfants ayant une déficience intellectuelle légère.
Impact du facteur vocabulaire sur la compréhension des tests statistiques
Authors: El M’Hamedi Zahid
Published: May 2021

Une littérature abondante de travaux de recherches considère l’enseignement des tests statistiques comme un sujet difficile aussi bien pour l’enseignant que pour l’apprenant. Elle rapporte diverses difficultés, souvent en rapport avec des conceptions erronées, que l’on peut rencontrer à tous les âges et à tous les niveaux d’expertise. Les conclusions de ces recherches s’accordent sur le fait qu’en général, un étudiant de niveau moyen ne peut pas décrire l’idée de fondement de cette pratique statistique, seul un calcul mécanique est souvent restitué, basé beaucoup plus sur la mémorisation que sur la réflexion et l’interprétation. Certes, de multiples facteurs sont à l’origine de ce caractère difficile des tests statistiques. Ainsi, nous nous sommes focalisés dans cet article sur l’effet que pourrait avoir un facteur plus particulier sur l’interprétation, par nos étudiants, des notions et des expressions véhiculées lors de son enseignement. Il s’agit duvocabulaireutilisé par les procédures sous-jacentes à cet outil statistique. Afin de mener à bien ce projet, nous avons choisi un échantillon constitué de 195 étudiants, auquel nous avons administré un questionnaire composé de quatre questions suscitant chacune un aspect d’incompréhensions relatif au vocabulaire véhiculé. Les résultats auxquels nous nous sommes arrivés ont mis en évidence des anomalies à plusieurs niveaux chez ces étudiants, mettant ainsi en valeur que les difficultés rencontrées par nos apprenants relativement aux concepts mathématiques d’une manière générale pourraient parfois être dues à des facteurs qu’on néglige souvent dans notre enseignement et qui sont méconnus.
Utilisation de tablettes numériques tactiles par des étudiants lors de Travaux Pratiques en Physique à l’Université
Authors: Coppens Nicolas
Published: May 2021

L’utilisation des tablettes numériques tactiles devrait faciliter l’enseignement. Cependant, malgré leur introduction dans de nombreux pays, les résultats en termes d’apprentissages des élèves ou des étudiants sont assez mitigés. Pour préciser cela, nous avons étudié dans quelle mesure l’utilisation en autonomie des tablettes numériques tactiles par des étudiants pouvait les aider dans leur apprentissage lors de travaux pratiques d’électricité à l’Université. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré un impact positif: l’utilisation non prescriptive de la tablette a permis à chaque étudiant d’utiliser les fonctionnalités qui l’intéressaient et de collaborer ou demander de l’aide aux autres étudiants ou à l’enseignant s’il le souhaitait. Cela nécessite toutefois une maturité suffisante de la part des étudiants et une formation préalable aux bons usages d’un tel outil connecté, comme cela a été mis en place dans le cadre de cette étude.
First report of Scutariella japonica (Matjašič, 1990), a temnocephalid epibiont from South-East Asia, found on introduced ornamental freshwater shrimp in European waters
Authors: Maciaszek Rafał , Świderek Wiesław , Kaliszewicz Anita , Karaban Kamil , Szpakowski Bartłomiej
Published: May 2021

This contribution presents the first record of ornamental shrimp epibiont, Scutariella japonica (Platyhelminthes: Temnocephalida) in European waters. The species lives on freshwater Atyidae shrimp from temperate, subtropical and tropical zones of South-East Asia. In total, 120 individuals of Neocaridina davidi shrimp were caught in thermally polluted canal of Oder river, near the city of Gryfino, in the northwest part of Poland. In that group, 5.83% were infected with scutariellids. Among shrimp, females were mostly infected (85.71%). Since ornamental shrimp released into thermally polluted water bodies have been also noticed in surrounding waters of natural temperature regime in Europe, S. japonica may spread further following potential expansion of the Neocaridina shrimp in Oder river. It is possible that other crustaceans, both native and alien which are present at this location, may also become vectors of this epibiont.
The separation of ε- and γ’-phases in the plasma nitrided layer by colour etching techniques
Authors: Kovács Dorina , Szabó Annamária
Published: May 2021

In this research, various etching reagents were tested on a quenched and tempered 42CrMo4 steel and an untreated C45E unalloyed steel sample, whichwere plasmanitrided for 4 h at 490 °C with 75% N2–25% H2 gas mixture. The aim is to find a reagent suitable for revealing and separating the two ε- and γ’-phases in the nitrided layer. Previously, the compound layer’s composition could only be identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), a costly, time-consuming and not easily accessible process. Therefore, finding an alternative could be crucial for small businesses. Nital, Picral, Villela, and Oberhoffer’s reagents were investigated in the experiments. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the nitrided layer, and it was analysed by XRD to detect the formed phases and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyse the elemental composition. Nital is the most common used etchant in the industry, but Oberhofferwas found to be an excellent etchant to separate the two phases in a dual phases nitrided layer.
Arbeitszufriedenheit und Burnout-Risiko bei nicht ärztlichem Endoskopiefachpersonal in deutschen Kliniken und Praxen: Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Umfrage
Authors: Adarkwah Charles Christian , Labenz Joachim , Beilenhoff Ulrike , Pfeifer Ute , Birkner Berndt , Hirsch Oliver
Published: May 2021

Hintergrund Arbeitskräfte im medizinischen Bereich sind mit immer größer werdenden Herausforderungen konfrontiert. Zudem besteht vielerorts ein Fachkräftemangel, sodass immer mehr auch das Endoskopiefachpersonal dem Risiko ausgesetzt ist, Burnout-Symptome zu entwickeln. Über die Arbeitszufriedenheit und Burnout-Prävalenz bei Endoskopiefachpersonal ist bislang wenig bekannt. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht das Burnout-Risiko sowie die Arbeitszufriedenheit unter Fachpersonal in deutschen Endoskopieabteilungen und -Praxen.

Methodik Es wurde ein Online-Survey unter Endoskopiefachpersonal durchgeführt, das zu einem nennenswerten Anteil in der DEGEA (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoskopiefachberufe e. V.) organisiert ist. Neben allgemeinen demografischen Variablen wurde die Arbeitszufriedenheit mit Hilfe des Kurzfragebogens zur Erfassung von Allgemeiner und Facettenspezifischer Arbeitszufriedenheit (KAFA), und das Burnout-Risiko mithilfe des Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-D) ermittelt und mit Strukturmerkmalen korreliert.

Ergebnisse Es nahm eine repräsentative Stichprobe an der Befragung teil (n = 674). Es zeigte sich insgesamt ein hohes Maß an Arbeitszufriedenheit bei eher höheren Burnout-Risiken, wobei Personal in leitenden Funktionen insgesamt besser abschnitt. Kollegialität und zumeist flache Hierarchien wurden von dem überwiegenden Teil der Befragten als positive Aspekte ihrer Tätigkeit angeführt. Dennoch bezeichneten 65 % ihre Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten als nicht leistungsgerecht, 20 % als quasi nicht vorhanden. Über 30 % der Befragten empfanden ihre Vergütung als nicht adäquat.

Schlussfolgerung Es konnten repräsentative Daten für die Situation in deutschen Endoskopieabteilungen erhoben werden. Trotz der Tatsache, dass im Mittel die Arbeitszufriedenheitswerte hoch sind bei geringem Burnout-Risiko, v. a. im Vergleich zu anderen Berufsgruppen, sollten gerade die oft benannten Kritikpunkte bzgl. fehlender Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten und einer nicht leistungsgerechten Bezahlung ernst genommen und Maßnahmen dagegen entwickelt werden, um langfristig nicht die Versorgung im Bereich der Endoskopie zu gefährden.
Hybrid-PEG – Erfahrungen nach über 300 Hybrid-PEGs an der Charité
Authors: Kishta Jorgert , Reich Viktoria , Bojarski Christian
Published: May 2021

Die Hybrid-PEG kombiniert die Vorteile der Gastropexie mit denen der klassischen Fadendurchzugs-PEG. Die Patientensicherheit wird durch die Hybrid-PEG erhöht und Komplikationen eines alleinigen Fadendurchzugs werden deutlich reduziert.
Fußball – neue Wege in der Prävention und Behandlung des Typ-2-Diabetes
Authors: Müssig Karsten , Adamek Henning E.
Published: May 2021

Über die Hälfte der Bevölkerung in westlichen Ländern ist übergewichtig, und nahezu jeder Vierte ist adipös. In den nächsten Jahren wird es deshalb zu einem enormen Anstieg der Zahl an nicht übertragbaren Erkrankungen wie Diabetes, kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen und Krebs kommen. Eine ausgewogene Ernährung, begleitet von regelmäßiger Bewegung, ist entscheidend bei der Prävention der Entwicklung und des Fortschreitens nicht übertragbarer Erkrankungen. Gesundheitsfördernde Programme besitzen eine große Bedeutung bei der langfristigen Verbesserung des Gesundheitsstatus unserer Bevölkerung, jedoch nehmen insbesondere Männer selten an gesundheitsfördernden Programmen teil. Deshalb gilt es nach neuen Wegen zu suchen, um effizienter Menschen mit einem erhöhten Risiko zu erreichen. Fußball verfügt über ein großes Potenzial, Menschen und vor allem Männer mit einem erhöhten Risiko für nicht übertragbare Erkrankungen, die üblichen gesundheitsfördernden Maßnahmen ablehnend gegenüberstehen, für die Teilnahme an Gesundheitsprogrammen zu gewinnen. Für ältere Spieler ist Walking Football eine neue Fußball-Variante mit einem geringeren Risiko für Verletzungen und eine körperliche Überlastung. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über die metabolischen Auswirkungen von Freizeitfußball und insbesondere Walking Football sowie Maßnahmen zur Gesundheitsförderung, die von professionellen Fußballvereinen angeboten werden, bei Menschen mit einem erhöhten Risiko für oder mit bereits bestehenden nicht übertragbaren Erkrankungen, wie insbesondere Typ-2-Diabetes.
Continuous Analysis of Marathon Running Using Inertial Sensors:
Hitting Two Walls?
Authors: Meyer Frédéric , Falbriard Mathieu , Mariani Benoit , Aminian Kamiar , Millet Gregoire P.
Published: May 2021

Marathon running involves complex mechanisms that cannot be measured with
objective metrics or laboratory equipment. The emergence of wearable sensors
introduced new opportunities, allowing the continuous recording of relevant
parameters. The present study aimed to assess the evolution of stride-by-stride
spatio-temporal parameters, stiffness, and foot strike angle during a marathon
and determine possible abrupt changes in running patterns. Twelve recreational
runners were equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System watch, and two
inertial measurement units clamped on each foot during a marathon race. Data
were split into eight 5-km sections and only level parts were analyzed. We
observed gradual increases in contact time and duty factor as well as decreases
in flight time, swing time, stride length, speed, maximal vertical force and
stiffness during the race. Surprisingly, the average foot strike angle
decreased during the race, but each participant maintained a rearfoot strike
until the end. Two abrupt changes were also detected around km 25 and km 35.
These two breaks are possibly due to the alteration of the stretch-shortening
cycle combined with physiological limits. This study highlights new measurable
phenomena that can only be analyzed through continuous monitoring of runners
over a long period of time.
Aberrant DNA Methylation in Bladder Cancer among Saudi Arabia Population
Authors: Siddiqui Amna Shoaib , Alshehri Faizah A , Yaqinuddin Ahmed
Published: May 2021

Tumor biomarkers developed based on the aberrant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation patterns in bladder cancer (BC) hold great promise due to their stability, specificity, and known associations with the disease. No study has investigated DNA methylation patterns in BC patients from Saudi population. We analyzed DNA methylation levels of 48 tumor suppressor genes loci in 24 bladder tissues (19 BC and 5 control samples) using Human Tumour Suppressor Genes EpiTect Methyl II Complete PCR Array (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). We identified significant difference in DNA hypermethylation levels at E2F1, ERBB2, HIC1, OPCML, SFN, SFRP1, SFRP2, SPARC, and TERT gene loci between controls and cancerous samples. SCGB3A1 was differentially methylated in nonmuscle invasive versus muscle invasive BC samples. Results suggest that these aberrant DNA methylation patterns in BC are disease and population specific and can be developed as distinct DNA methylation-based biomarkers for BC detection.
Preliminary Evidence from a Cross-sectional Study on Epidemiology and Early Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 in Karnataka State of India
Authors: Venkatraja Bakilapadavu , Srilakshminarayana Gali , Kumar Ballamoole Krishna , Hegde Madhura Nagesh , Kanchan Jayapadmini , Karuvaje Ganaraj , Rai Praveen
Published: May 2021

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infection and quickly disseminated around the world. This article studies the epidemiology and early transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in Karnataka, which would be useful for effective epidemic management and policy formulation.

Materials and Methods All COVID-19 cases reported in the state of Karnataka, India, till June 12, 2020, are included in the study. The epidemiology and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in Karnataka is studied through descriptive statistical analysis.

Results The findings illustrate a gender-, age-, and region-based disparity in the susceptibility and fatality. There appears to be a male preponderance in the susceptibility, but a female preponderance in fatality. It is also found that the adults are more susceptible to the infection, while the elderly have the risk of high fatality. Further, infected individuals in the region with urbanization have a higher risk of fatality than other regions. The study shows that the chances of recovery for females are lower than males, and further, the chances of recovery are positively related to the age of the infected person. The chances of recovery are higher if the infected individual is younger and they diminish if the individual is older. The study also explores that the chances of recovery are affected by the patient’s geographical location. It is also noted that individuals who returned from foreign travel have better chances of recovery than the locally transmitted individuals.

Conclusion Though the risk of susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is equal to all, the burden of getting infected and the burden of fatality is unequally distributed among different demographic categories. To manage the contagious spread of epidemic, to reduce fatality, and to increase the chances of recovery, targeted policy actions are suggested to benefit the vulnerable demographic categories.
Transcavernous Resection of a Giant Extensive Chondrosarcoma with Endoscopic Assistance
Authors: Elshamy Walid , Soylemez Burcak , Sayyahmelli Sima , Keser Nese , Baskaya Mustafa K.
Published: May 2021

Chondrosarcomas are one of the major malignant neoplasms which occur at the skull base. These tumors are locally invasive. Gross total resection of chondrosarcomas is associated with longer progression-free survival rates. The patient is a 55-year-old man with a history of dysphagia, left eye dryness, hearing loss, and left-sided facial pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a giant heterogeneously enhancing left-sided skull base mass within the cavernous sinus and the petrous apex with extension into the sphenoid bone, clivus, and the cerebellopontine angle, with associated displacement of the brainstem (Fig. 1). An endoscopic endonasal biopsy revealed a grade-II chondrosarcoma. The patient was then referred for surgical resection. Computed tomography (CT) scan and CT angiogram of the head and neck showed a left-sided skull base mass, partial destruction of the petrous apex, and complete or near-complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery with cortical, vertebrobasilar, and leptomeningeal collateral development. The decision was made to proceed with a left-sided transcavernous approach with possible petrous apex drilling. During surgery, minimal petrous apex drilling was necessary due to autopetrosectomy by the tumor. Endoscopy was used to assist achieving gross total resection (Fig. 2). Surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. MRI confirmed gross total resection of the tumor. The histopathology was a grade-II chondrosarcoma. The patient received proton therapy and continues to do well without recurrence at 4-year follow-up. This video demonstrates steps of the combined microsurgical skull base approaches for resection of these challenging tumors.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/WlmCP_-i57s.
Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of the Nasal Skin-Soft Tissue Envelope
Authors: Saadoun Rakan , Riedel Frank , D'Souza Alwyn , Veit Johannes A.
Published: May 2021

Management of the skin-soft tissue envelope (SSTE) in rhinoplasty is challenging and critical for the overall outcome. The preoperative identification of patients with thick or thin skin and with preexisting skin conditions may contribute significantly to the postsurgical result. Most publications and textbooks focus on the management of the osseocartilaginous framework, but the SSTE management is often not addressed in detail. However, nonsurgical treatments, such as skin preconditioning, topical steroid-injections, oral isotretinoin, and topical vitamin A derivatives, may provide strong benefits. In this article, we reviewed the literature to present a comprehensive review on the available surgical and nonsurgical approaches pre-, intra-, and postoperatively dealing with SSTE in rhinoplasty.
Mental health and decisions under risk among refugees and the public in Lebanon
Authors: Ruggeri Kai , Jarke Hannes , El-Zein Lama , Verdeli Helen , Folke Tomas
Published: May 2021

Lebanon is rapidly adapting public services to meet local needs as well as those of refugees from conflict regions such as Syria. However, these challenges are complicated by high volumes of individuals with poor mental health, who are also at risk of poor decision-making and may avoid the use of health services due to low trust in government institutions, among other reasons. Over 700 individuals residing in Lebanon, including Lebanese nationals, Syrian refugees and Palestinians from Lebanon, completed a series of measures covering decision-making with risk, mental health, and trust. The aim was to determine if significant relationships existed between these three and if those patterns were consistent between the three populations. A widely used well-being questionnaire produced similar unidimensional factor structures as found in other settings, indicating suitability for use in Lebanon, including refugees. Higher subjective well-being was associated with more risk-taking among refugees (β = 0.07, SE = 0.02, z = 4.63, p < 0.01), but not among the Lebanese host population (β = −0.003, SE = 0.01, z = −0.32, p = 0.75). However, average subjective well-being did not significantly differ between the Lebanese host population and refugees (absolute difference = −1.27, 95% CI = [−2.83, 0.29], on a 60-point scale), or between Syrian and Palestinian refugees (absolute difference = −1.53, 95% CI = [−4.16, 1.08]). Behavioural interventions (nudges and boosts) designed to support people in making choices more advantageous for them showed moderate effects. There is a clear pattern of greater risk-taking for refugees with better subjective well-being. This is an important finding as greater risk-taking can be associated with a number of negative health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations. While the behavioural interventions do show some effect on improving advantageous choice, these risk patterns are of clear interest to policymakers dealing with the health and well-being of all residents in Lebanon.
Assessing the ideological homogeneity in entrepreneurial finance research by highly cited publications
Authors: Vuong Quan-Hoang , Nguyen Huyen Thanh T. , Pham Thanh-Hang , Ho Manh-Toan , Nguyen Minh-Hoang
Published: May 2021

Entrepreneurs play crucial roles in global sustainable development, but limited financial resources constrain their performance and survival rate. Despite the global presence of entrepreneurship, the literature of entrepreneurial finance is suspected to be Western ideologically homogenous. Thus, this study aims at examining this phenomenon by employing the mindsponge mechanism and bibliometric analyses. 412 highly cited publications extracted from the Web of Science database are analyzed to find Western ideological dominance and low tolerance towards heterogeneity in entrepreneurial finance’s core ideologies. The dominance and low tolerance are consistent across author level, institution level, and country level, revealing strong evidence for the existence of Western ideological homogeneity. We recommend editors, reviewers, and authors diversify research topics proactively and enhance knowledge exchange to avoid shortfalls of ideological homogeneity. Moreover, the synthesis of the mindsponge mechanism and bibliometric analyses are suggested as a possible way to evaluate the state of ideological diversity in other scientific disciplines.
A multiscale compartment-based model of stochastic gene regulatory networks using hitting-time analysis
Authors: Coulier Adrien , Hellander Stefan , Hellander Andreas
Published: May 2021

Spatial stochastic models of single cell kinetics are capable of capturing both fluctuations in molecular numbers and the spatial dependencies of the key steps of intracellular regulatory networks. The spatial stochastic model can be simulated both on a detailed microscopic level using particle tracking and on a mesoscopic level using the reaction–diffusion master equation. However, despite substantial progress on simulation efficiency for spatial models in the last years, the computational cost quickly becomes prohibitively expensive for tasks that require repeated simulation of thousands or millions of realizations of the model. This limits the use of spatial models in applications such as multicellular simulations, likelihood-free parameter inference, and robustness analysis. Further approximation of the spatial dynamics is needed to accelerate such computational engineering tasks. We here propose a multiscale model where a compartment-based model approximates a detailed spatial stochastic model. The compartment model is constructed via a first-exit time analysis on the spatial model, thus capturing critical spatial aspects of the fine-grained simulations, at a cost close to the simple well-mixed model. We apply the multiscale model to a canonical model of negative-feedback gene regulation, assess its accuracy over a range of parameters, and demonstrate that the approximation can yield substantial speedups for likelihood-free parameter inference.