bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving a universal intervention for reducing exclusionary discipline practices using student and teacher guidance
Authors: Nese Rhonda N. T. , Santiago‐Rosario María Reina , Malose Saki , Hamilton Jillian , Nese Joseph F. T. , Horner Rob
Published: July 2021

Exclusionary discipline practices have a direct negative impact on individual students, schools, and society at large. To improve equity and cultural responsivity, active efforts to assess the contextual fit of effective strategies are necessary. The following study describes the Inclusive Skill‐building Learning Approach (ISLA), an intervention designed to support school staff in carrying out preventative strategies and outlines instructional responses for educators and office staff. Additionally, an iterative approach to inform changes was used as part of the development process of ISLA. This paper aims to capture and incorporate the voices of students and staff using multiple methods to seek feedback for refining the quality, feasibility, and contextual fit of the ISLA intervention in middle schools. A total of 53 school staff provided feedback on the ISLA intervention. Further, Design Team members (n = 26) participated in semi‐structured interview meetings to inform changes to ISLA. Last, student participants (n = 23) engaged in focus groups that were transcribed and coded via an independent co‐coding strategy. The findings provide support for preventative school‐based interventions that use alternatives to exclusionary discipline, as well as strategies for improving the ISLA intervention.
The role of sleep disturbance in the associations of borderline personality disorder symptom severity to nonsuicidal self‐injury and suicide risk among patients with substance use disorders
Authors: Scamaldo Kayla M. , Tull Matthew T. , Gratz Kim L.
Published: July 2021

This study sought to examine the explanatory role of sleep disturbance in the associations of borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptom severity to nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and suicide risk within an at‐risk sample of patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), as well as whether emotion regulation (ER) difficulties account for significant variance in the relations of sleep disturbance to NSSI and suicide risk. Patients in a residential SUD treatment facility (N = 166) completed a diagnostic interview and questionnaires. Results revealed significant indirect relations of BPD symptom severity to both NSSI frequency and suicide risk through sleep disturbance. In addition, ER difficulties accounted for significant variance in the relation of sleep disturbance to NSSI frequency (but not suicide risk). Findings highlight the relevance of sleep disturbance to the association between BPD symptoms and both suicidal and nonsuicidal self‐injury and suggest the potential utility of interventions aimed at improving sleep quality among individuals with BPD pathology.
Near‐infrared light for polymer re‐shaping and re‐processing applications
Authors: Launay Valentin , Dumur Frédéric , Gigmes Didier , Lalevée Jacques
Published: July 2021

The re‐shaping and reprocessing of polymers are usually associated with strong energetic costs, strongly limiting their practical usage. In this article, a new approach is proposed based on a near‐infrared (NIR) activation of the material in presence of a NIR heater for a highly efficient process upon ecofriendly NIR light emitting diodes irradiation. Markedly, due to this light‐triggered process, a spatial control of the shaping/reprocessing behavior can be obtained, that is, only the needed parts are irradiated preventing a heating of all the sample. In this work, different thermoplastics are reshaped or reprocessed due to NIR activation in presence of an organic NIR dye used as heater. As other examples of photothermal treatment upon NIR light, the on‐demand dehydration of polyethylene glycol (PEG‐based) hydrogels are also provided. All the processes are followed in real time by thermal imaging camera.
Synergistic potential of essential oils with antibiotics to combat fungal pathogens: Present status and future perspectives
Authors: Bhattacharya Riya , Rolta Rajan , Dev Kamal , Sourirajan Anuradha
Published: July 2021

The steady rise in the emergence of antibiotic‐resistant fungal pathogens has rendered most of the clinical antibiotics available in the market to be ineffective. Therefore, alternative strategies are required to tackle drug‐resistant fungal infections. An effective solution is to combine the available antibiotics with adjuvants such as phytochemicals or essential oils to enhance the efficacy and activity of antibiotics. The present review aims to summarize the studies on synergistic combinations of essential oils and anti‐fungal antibiotics. The current findings, methods used for measuring synergistic effects, possible mechanisms of synergism, and future perspectives for developing synergistic EO‐antibiotic therapeutic formulations are discussed in this study. Several essential oils exhibit synergistic effect in combination with antibiotics against human fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans. The possible mechanisms of synergy exhibited by essential oil‐ antibiotic combinations in fungi include disruption of cell wall structure/ ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, enhanced transdermal penetration of antibiotics, alterations in membrane permeability, intracellular leakage of cellular contents, inhibition of germ tube formation or fungal biofilm formation, and competition for a primary target. Synergistic combination of essential oils and antibiotics can prove to be a valid and pragmatic alternative to develop drugs with increased drug‐efficacy, and low toxicity.
Bronchial ethanol injection therapy for airway obstruction in lung cancer patients
Authors: Okabe Fukuko , Yano Yukihiro , Kuge Tomoki , Uenami Takeshi , Kanazu Masaki , Mori Masahide
Published: July 2021

Obstructive endobronchial tumours often cause decreased quality of life. Bronchial ethanol injection (BEI) therapy is considered an effective modality for airway dilatation or haemoptysis without specialist equipment. Here, we report experiences of two cases in which BEI therapy was effective for obstructive endobronchial tumours. In Case 1 with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung, BEI therapy and balloon dilatation were performed as treatment for the left main bronchus restenosis after metallic stent insertion. In Case 2 with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, BEI therapy was performed after radiation therapy to the lesion that recurred in the entrance of the superior segment of the right lower lobe. Tumour progression was controlled with multiple BEI therapy. We consider BEI therapy useful because this procedure is easy to conduct, has low cost and can be done under particular conditions including post‐tracheobronchial stent placement and post‐radiation.
Recent Development of Flexible and Stretchable Supercapacitors Using Transition Metal Compounds as Electrode Materials
Authors: Lyu Lulu , Hooch Antink Wytse , Kim Young Seong , Kim Chae Won , Hyeon Taeghwan , Piao Yuanzhe
Published: July 2021

Flexible and stretchable supercapacitors (FS‐SCs) are promising energy storage devices for wearable electronics due to their versatile flexibility/stretchability, long cycle life, high power density, and safety. Transition metal compounds (TMCs) can deliver a high capacitance and energy density when applied as pseudocapacitive or battery‐like electrode materials owing to their large theoretical capacitance and faradaic charge‐storage mechanism. The recent development of TMCs (metal oxides/hydroxides, phosphides, sulfides, nitrides, and selenides) as electrode materials for FS‐SCs are discussed here. First, fundamental energy‐storage mechanisms of distinct TMCs, various flexible and stretchable substrates, and electrolytes for FS‐SCs are presented. Then, the electrochemical performance and features of TMC‐based electrodes for FS‐SCs are categorically analyzed. The gravimetric, areal, and volumetric energy density of SC using TMC electrodes are summarized in Ragone plots. More importantly, several recent design strategies for achieving high‐performance TMC‐based electrodes are highlighted, including material composition, current collector design, nanostructure design, doping/intercalation, defect engineering, phase control, valence tuning, and surface coating. Integrated systems that combine wearable electronics with FS‐SCs are introduced. Finally, a summary and outlook on TMCs as electrodes for FS‐SCs are provided.
Ionometallurgical Step‐Electrodeposition of Zinc and Lead and its Application in a Cycling‐Stable High‐Voltage Zinc‐Graphite Battery
Authors: Chen Peng , Richter Janine , Wang Gang , Li Dongqi , Pietsch Tobias , Ruck Michael
Published: July 2021

Ionometallurgy is a new development aiming at the sustainable low‐temperature conversion of naturally occurring metal ores and minerals to their metals or valuable chemicals in ionic liquids (ILs) or deep eutectic solvents. The IL betainium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide, [Hbet][NTf2], is especially suited for this process due to its redox‐stability and specific‐functionalization. The potentiostatic electrodeposition of zinc and lead starting directly from ZnO and PbO, which dissolve in [Hbet][NTf2] in high concentrations is reported. The initial reduction potentials of zinc(II) and lead(II) are about −1.5 and −1.0 V, respectively. The ionic conductivity of the solution of ZnO in [Hbet][NTf2] is measured and the effect of various temperatures and potentials on the morphology of the deposited material is explored. The IL proves to be stable under the chosen conditions. From IL‐solutions, where ZnO, PbO, and MgO have been dissolved, metallic Zn and Pb are deposited under potentiostatic control either consecutively by step‐electrodeposition or together in a co‐electrodeposition. Using the method, Zn is also deposited on 3D copper foam and assembles into high‐voltage zinc‐graphite battery. It exhibits a working‐voltage up to 2.7 V, an output midpoint discharge‐voltage of up to 2.16 V, up to 98.6% capacity‐retention after 150 cycles, and good rate performance.
Effect of Mo and Tempering Treatment on the Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of M2 High‐Speed Steel Prepared by Laser‐Directed Energy Deposition
Authors: Wang Jiale , Chen Changjun , Zhang Min
Published: July 2021

M2 high‐speed steel (HSS) with Mo is prepared on 45# steel by laser‐directed energy deposition (LDED). According to X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, the addition of an appropriate amount of Mo can promote grain refinement and martensite transformation in M2 HSS. Moreover, with the addition of 1, 2, and 3 wt% Mo, the hardness increases by 2.8% for M2 + 2 wt% Mo, and the impact toughness increases by 76.3%, 85.8%, and 104.1%, respectively, whereas the wear resistance decreases. On this basis, the effect of the tempering treatment on the deposition state of M2 HSS + Mo is further explored. After a suitable tempering temperature is selected for heat treatment, the grain refinement of the sample becomes more obvious, and the martensite‐to‐ferrite transformation is promoted. The hardness of all M2 + Mo alloys significantly increases after tempering heat treatment, and the average hardness of M2 + 2% Mo after tempering three times at 550 °C reaches 868.6 HV. The impact toughness of M2 + 2 wt.% Mo after three tempering cycles at 450 °C is the highest, 126.6% higher than that of M2 HSS. After tempering, the wear resistance of M2 + Mo is improved.
Investigation of Fatigue Damage of Tempered Martensitic Steel during High Cycle Fatigue and Very High Cycle Fatigue Loading Using In Situ Monitoring by Scanning Electron Microscope and High‐Resolution Thermography
Authors: Giertler Alexander , Krupp Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Herein, the fatigue damage mechanisms of a low‐alloyed 0.5 wt% carbon steel (50CrMo4) are examined in the high cycle fatigue and very high cycle fatigue regime, taking into account different strength conditions. For this purpose, the heat treatment of the material is conducted using two different batches at two different tempering temperatures, which lead to hardnesses of 37HRC and 57HRC, respectively. The fatigue tests are conducted accounting for different test frequencies of f = 95 Hz and f = 20 kHz, as well as size effects. It is found that the fatigue behavior of the tempered steel 50CrMo4 can be subdivided into type I (surface cracks) and type II (internal cracks) VHCF damage behavior depending on the material strength condition. With the aid of in situ test equipment, the influence of microstructural banding on the local fatigue strength is demonstrated by high‐resolution thermography. By implementing an ultrasonic testing machine in a high‐resolution scanning electron microscope, the development of a fine granular area (FGA) at an artificial defect in vacuum atmosphere is demonstrated.
DNA Computing: Principle, Construction, and Applications in Intelligent Diagnostics
Authors: Ma Qian , Zhang Chao , Zhang Mingzhi , Han Da , Tan Weihong
Published: July 2021

Demands on faster information processing speed and denser data storage are catalyzing new computation modes. DNA, as an important biomolecule that carries genetic information, has shown its potential in information processing and storage due to its predictable base pairings and nanoscale size for programmable and high‐throughput coding, as well as computing. More importantly, DNA also plays key biological roles, including regulating gene expression and monitoring biochemical reactions in the cells. When these capabilities are combined, the result is the development of new fields of DNA computing in biology and biomedicine. Herein, the most recent and important developments in DNA‐based computing for biomedical applications are presented, mainly from the perspective of biosensing related to diagnostics. The design and implementation of DNA computing systems from all stages in the pipeline are also discussed. The aim is to present DNA computing as a serious tool for intelligent diagnostics.
Application of a Poisson deep neural network model for the prediction of count data in genome‐based prediction
Authors: Montesinos‐Lopez Osval A. , Montesinos‐Lopez Jose C. , Salazar Eduardo , Barron Jose Alberto , Montesinos‐Lopez Abelardo , Buenrostro‐Mariscal Raymundo , Crossa Jose
Published: July 2021

Genomic selection (GS) is revolutionizing conventional ways of developing new plants and animals. However, because it is a predictive methodology, GS strongly depends on statistical and machine learning to perform these predictions. For continuous outcomes, more models are available for GS. Unfortunately, for count data outcomes, there are few efficient statistical machine learning models for large datasets or for datasets with fewer observations than independent variables. For this reason, in this paper, we applied the univariate version of the Poisson deep neural network (PDNN) proposed earlier for genomic predictions of count data. The model was implemented with (a) the negative log‐likelihood of Poisson distribution as the loss function, (b) the rectified linear activation unit as the activation function in hidden layers, and (c) the exponential activation function in the output layer. The advantage of the PDNN model is that it captures complex patterns in the data by implementing many nonlinear transformations in the hidden layers. Moreover, since it was implemented in Tensorflow as the back‐end, and in Keras as the front‐end, the model can be applied to moderate and large datasets, which is a significant advantage over previous GS models for count data. The PDNN model was compared with deep learning models with continuous outcomes, conventional generalized Poisson regression models, and conventional Bayesian regression methods. We found that the PDNN model outperformed the Bayesian regression and generalized Poisson regression methods in terms of prediction accuracy, although it was not better than the conventional deep neural network with continuous outcomes.
Through Lines: Exploring Past/Present Connections in Middle Grade Novels
Authors: Kuehl Rachelle
Published: July 2021

Recently, the public outcry after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police revealed a disconnect among some Americans between historical events (slavery, the Civil Rights movement) and the present day. That is, many Americans—particularly White Americans—had believed racism to be a mostly historical construct and failed to understand the ways in which past societal structures continue to influence racial inequities today. This article explores the use of historical and modern novel pairs to bridge gaps in understanding for middle grade readers. Reading high‐quality, culturally authentic books such asEsperanza Rising(Ryan, 2000) andReturn to Sender(Alvarez, 2009) can help students recognize the systemic nature of racism and critically consider ways in which they can use their own voices to disrupt it. Included in this piece are instructional ideas and multiple novel pair suggestions.
Sentinel serosurveillance of backyard hens proved West Nile virus circulation in the western provinces of Turkey
Authors: Albayrak Harun , Sahindokuyucu Ismail , Muftuoglu Bahadir , Tamer Cuneyt , Kadi Hamza , Ozan Emre , Yilmaz Ozge , Kilic Hamza , Kurucay Hanne Nur , Coven Fethiye , Gumusova Semra , Yazici Zafer , Elhag Ahmed Eisa
Published: July 2021

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito‐borne virus of a re‐emergence importance with a wide range of vertebrate hosts. Granted, it causes asymptomatic infection, but fatal cases and neurologic disorders were also recorded, especially in humans, horses and some exposed birds. The virus is globally spread and birds are considered an amplifying and reservoir host of WNV, helping to spread the disease due to their close contact with main hosts. In this study, we aimed to detect the presence of antibodies against WNV in backyard hens that were reared in the western Anatolian part of Turkey. A total of 480 chicken sera were randomly collected from six provinces in the west of Turkey (Mugla, Izmir, Aydin, Afyonkarahisar, Kutahya and Manisa) with 80 samples from each province (40 in spring and 40 in fall seasons). They were tested by using a competitive ELISA method to identify the specific avian antibodies of IgG that produced against the WNV envelope proteins (pr‐E). Twelve of 480 (2.5%) sera were found seropositive, three of these positive sera were detected from the Izmir province (3.75%) collected in the spring session and the other nine positive sera were detected from the Mugla province (11.25%) collected in the fall session. Both of these provinces are located seaside and have suitable climate conditions for vectors of infection. The results indicated that WNV infection is in circulation in these provinces, and that may put the other susceptible vertebrates under risk of infection.
First porcine abortion associated withTrueperella abortisuisin the United Kingdom
Authors: Jørgensen Pernille Knøs , Ahmed Marwa F. E. , Thomson Jill , Lämmler Christoph , Bell Jennifer , Alssahen Mazen , Abdulmawjood Amir , Fraser Eilidh , Foster Geoffrey
Published: July 2021

The present study reports the isolation ofTrueperella abortisuisfrom pooled fetal stomach contents of aborted swine fetuses from a single sow in North‐East Scotland. The organism was not isolated in purity; however, a diagnosis of fetopathy due toT. abortisuiswas made due to predominant growth of the bacterium in addition to confirmative histopathological findings. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report of the isolation ofT. abortisuisfrom porcine abortion material in the United Kingdom.
When talk is not cheap: What factors predict political campaign messaging on social determinants of health issues?
Authors: Gollust Sarah E. , Frenier Chris , Tait Margaret , Baum Laura L. , Kennedy‐Hendricks Alene , Niederdeppe Jeff , Franklin Fowler Erika
Published: July 2021

Political candidates use campaign communication to signal to the public which policy issues they consider important. However, the factors that shape political discourse related to the social determinants of health have not been adequately studied. We examined the volume and predictors of attention to three issues—jobs, income inequality, and early childhood education—among campaign ads in 2011–2012 (N = 10,467 ads, aired 4,025,771 times) and in 2015–2016 (N = 9926 ads, aired 3,809,887 times). While attention to jobs was common in campaign ads (41% and 21% of ads in 2011–2012 and 2015–2016), attention to economic inequality (11% and 4%) and early childhood education (0.4% and 0.9%) was much less common. Campaign‐related factors (especially partisanship) explain much of the variation, as compared to community demographic conditions, although campaign ads referenced jobs more often in areas with higher unemployment in 2015–2016. Future research should explore political responsiveness to the factors that shape health in communities.
Migrant Cine-Eye: Storytelling in Documentary and Participatory Filmmaking
Authors: Trencsényi Klára , Naumescu Vlad
Published: July 2021

The so-called European ‘refugee crisis’ has bred a profusion of audiovisual accounts throughout the region, many of which aimed to give voice to hitherto voiceless, uprooted people. But as many of these ‘untold stories’ gain material expression as storylines, we are urged to consider the implications of yet another form of displacement: from the historical person to the film character, from personal stories to media representations. The growing interest into the migrant issue and visual representations of refugees have played an important role in the public construction of the ‘crisis’ but have also, paradoxically, obscured or silenced migrant voices. The authors of this paper, a documentary filmmaker (Trencsényi) and a social anthropologist (Naumescu) seek to explore narrative strategies and ethics of representation in European documentaries made after 2010 as well as their participatory filmmaking project developed in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis in Hungary. Having collaborated on several documentary films and filmmaking workshops, they approach this issue from the perspective of practitioners, offering a critical reflection as well as possible strategies for those aiming to produce audiovisual works in this field. The inclusion of refugees’ insight and their ways of constructing their own stories as well as their own observations on the receiving societies can open new possibilities for collaboration and creative engagement for social scientists and filmmakers preparing visual fieldnotes, ethnographic and documentary films as well as participatory projects.
More on the flavor dependence of mϱ/fπ
Authors: Kotov Andrey Yu. , Nogradi Daniel , Szabo Kalman K. , Szikszai Lorinc
Published: July 2021

Abstract

In previous work, [arXiv:1905.01909], we have calculated the mϱ/fπ ratio in the chiral and continuum limit for SU(3) gauge theory coupled to Nf = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 fermions in the fundamental representation. The main result was that this ratio displays no statistically significant Nf-dependence. In the present work we continue the study of the Nf-dependence by extending the simulations to Nf = 7, 8, 9, 10. Along the way we also study in detail the Nf-dependence of finite volume effects on low energy observables and a particular translational symmetry breaking unphysical, lattice artefact phase specific to staggered fermions.
A note on Kerr/CFT and Wald entropy discrepancy in high derivative gravities
Authors: Liu Hai-Shan , Lü H.
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We examine the Kerr/CFT correspondence in Einstein gravity extended with quadratic curvature invariants. We consider two explicit examples in four and five dimensions and compute the central charges of the asymptotic symmetry algebras of the near horizon geometries, using the improved version of the BBC formalism that encompasses the information of the Lagrangian. We find that the resulting Cardy entropy differs from the Wald entropy, caused by the Riemann-squared RμνρσRμνρσ term.
Plant speciation in the face of recurrent climate changes in the Alps
Authors: Parisod Christian
Published: July 2021

The main, continuous mountain range of the European Alpine System (i.e., the Alps) hosts a diversified pool of species whose evolution has long been investigated. The legacy of past climate changes on the distribution of high-elevation plants as well as taxa differentially adapted to the mosaic of edaphic conditions (i.e., surmised ecotypes on calcareous, siliceous, serpentine bedrocks) and the origin of new species are here discussed based on available evidence from endemic taxa across the Alps. The integration of main spatial and ecological patterns within and among species supports speciation driven by spatial isolation in main glacial refugia where plant populations survived during cold phases and hindered by intense gene flow along main expansion pathways during warm phases. Despite patterns of genetic differentiation matching environmental heterogeneity, processes underlying the dynamics of distribution ranges likely promoted recurrent homogenization of incipient divergence and generally hindered the completion of speciation (except for cases of hybrid speciation). Even intense selective pressures on toxic bedrocks such as serpentine seemingly fail to support the completion of speciation. Accordingly, typical scenarios of ecological speciation whereby local adaptation to environmental heterogeneity initiates and supports long-term reduction of gene flow may rarely be at the origin of stable species in the Alps. Although consistent with neutral processes whereby spatial isolation driven by past climate changes promoted reproductive isolation and yielded limited diversification, mechanisms at the origin of new species across heterogeneous landscapes of the Alps remain insufficiently known. Necessary advances to reliably understand the evolution of biodiversity in the Alps and identify possible museums or cradles of variation in face of climate changes are discussed.
Addressing alpine plant phylogeography using integrative distributional, demographic and coalescent modeling
Authors: Larsson Dennis J. , Pan Da , Schneeweiss Gerald M.
Published: July 2021

Phylogeographic studies of alpine plants have evolved considerably in the last two decades from ad hoc interpretations of genetic data to statistical model-based approaches. In this review we outline the developments in alpine plant phylogeography focusing on the recent approach of integrative distributional, demographic and coalescent (iDDC) modeling. By integrating distributional data with spatially explicit demographic modeling and subsequent coalescent simulations, the history of alpine species can be inferred and long-standing hypotheses, such as species-specific responses to climate change or survival on nunataks during the last glacial maximum, can be efficiently tested as exemplified by available case studies. We also discuss future prospects and improvements of iDDC.
Glue, Onyx, Squid or PHIL? Liquid Embolic Agents for the Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations and Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas
Authors: Vollherbst Dominik F. , Chapot René , Bendszus Martin , Möhlenbruch Markus A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Endovascular embolization is an effective treatment option for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). A variety of liquid embolic agents have been and are currently used for embolization of AVMs and DAVFs. Knowledge of the special properties of the agent which is used is crucial for an effective and safe embolization procedure.

Material and Methods

This article describes the properties and indications of the liquid embolic agents which are currently available: cyanoacrylates (also called glues), and the copolymers Onyx, Squid and PHIL, as well as their respective subtypes.

Results

Cyanoacrylates were the predominantly used agents in the 1980s and 1990s. They are currently still used in specific situations, for example for the occlusion of macro-shunts, for the pressure cooker technique or in cases in which microcatheters are used that are not compatible with dimethyl-sulfoxide. The first broadly used copolymer-based embolic agent Onyx benefits from a large amount of available experience and data, which demonstrated its safety and efficacy in the treatment of cerebral vascular malformations, while its drawbacks include temporary loss of visibility during longer injections and artifacts in cross-sectional imaging. The more recently introduced agents Squid and PHIL aim to overcome these shortcomings and to improve the success rate of endovascular embolization. Novelties of these newer agents with potential advantages include extra-low viscosity versions, more stable visibility, and a lower degree of imaging artifacts.

Conclusion

All the available liquid embolic agents feature specific potential advantages and disadvantages over each other. The choice of the most appropriate embolic agent must be made based on the specific material characteristics of the agent, related to the specific anatomical characteristics of the target pathology.
Comparison of different approaches to derive classical bonded force-field parameters for a transition metal cofactor: a case study for non-heme iron site of ectoine synthase
Authors: Andrys Justyna , Heider Johann , Borowski Tomasz
Published: July 2021

Computational investigations into the structure and function of metalloenzymes with transition metal cofactors require proper preparation of the model, which requires obtaining reliable force field parameters for the cofactor. Here, we present a test case where several methods were used to derive amber force field parameters for a bonded model of the Fe(II) cofactor of ectoine synthase. Moreover, the spin of the ground state of the cofactor was probed by DFT and post-HF methods, which consistently indicated the quintet state is lowest in energy and well separated from triplet and singlet. The performance of the obtained force field parameter sets, derived for the quintet spin state, was scrutinized and compared taking into account metrics focused on geometric features of the models as well as their energetics. The main conclusion of this study is that Hessian-based methods yield parameters which represent the geometry around the metal ion, but poorly reproduce energy variance with geometrical changes. On the other hand, the energy-based method yields parameters accurately reproducing energy-structure relationships, but with bad performance in geometry optimization. Preliminary tests show that admixing geometrical criteria to energy-based methods may allow to derive parameters with acceptable performance for both energy and geometry.
The pharmacokinetic interaction between nasally administered naloxone and the opioid remifentanil in human volunteers
Authors: Tylleskar Ida , Skarra Sissel , Skulberg Arne Kristian , Dale Ola
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Remifentanil has been shown to increase the bioavailability of nasally administered naloxone. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of this observation.

Methods

We analysed samples from three pharmacokinetic studies to determine the serum concentrations of naloxone-3-glucuronide (N3G), the main metabolite of naloxone, with or without exposure to remifentanil. To enable direct comparison of the three studies, the data are presented as metabolic ratios (ratio of metabolite to mother substance, N3G/naloxone) and dose-corrected values of the area under the curve and maximum concentration (Cmax).

Results

Under remifentanil exposure, the time to maximum concentration (Tmax) for N3G was significantly higher for intranasal administration of 71 min compared to intramuscular administration of 40 min. The dose-corrected Cmax of N3G after intranasal administration of naloxone under remifentanil exposure was significantly lower (4.5 ng/mL) than in subjects not exposed to remifentanil (7.8–8.4 ng/mL). The metabolic ratios after intranasal administration rose quickly after 30–90 min and were 2–3 times higher at 360 min compared to intravenous and intramuscular administration. Remifentanil exposure resulted in a much slower increase of the N3G/naloxone ratio after intranasal administration compared to intranasal administration with the absence of remifentanil. After remifentanil infusion was discontinued, this effect gradually diminished. From 240 min there was no significant difference between the ratios observed after intranasal naloxone administration.

Conclusion

Remifentanil increases the bioavailability of naloxone after nasal administration by reducing the pre-systemic metabolism of the swallowed part of the nasal dose.
Fear of sex: sexual conflict exposed as avoidance in a parthenogenetic invertebrate
Authors: Lee Marcus , Solano Udina Carlota , Hansson Lars-Anders
Published: July 2021

Males and females often have divergent evolutionary interests, generating sexual conflicts. This is particularly true in organisms that exhibit facultative sexuality, whereby females are capable of reproducing without fitness costs of mating. Here, we provide the first documented evidence with quantitative tracking showing that sex interacts with social context to determine space-use of females, in a pattern resembling predator avoidance. To achieve this, we labelled Daphnia magna with fluorescent nanoparticles and utilized a 3-D tracking platform to record pairs of individuals swimming. The recordings comprised either same-sex or opposite-sex pairings. We found that females swam faster, deeper, more horizontally, and more linearly when exposed to males than when exposed to females. Simultaneously, we found that male behavior did not differ depending on swimming partner and, importantly, we observed no sexual dimorphism in swimming behaviors when swimming with the same sex. Our results suggest that the presence of males in a population has the potential to influence the distribution of individuals, similarly to known threats, such as predation. This highlights that sexual conflict has clear spatial consequences and should be considered in such ecological frameworks, like the Landscape of Fear (LOF) concept. In a broader context, the connection of the evolutionary and social concept of sexual conflict and the ecological concept of LOF may improve our understanding of population dynamics and the spatial and temporal distribution of individuals in natural ecosystems.

Significance statement

Despite the wealth of studies that detail how predators affect their prey’s spatial behaviors, studies on the role of sex and social context on spatial behavior are rare. Addressing this dearth of information, we studied the swimming behaviors of an organism that can reproduce with or without sex, when exposed to an individual of either the same or opposite sex. We found no difference between the sexes in swimming behaviors; however, we revealed that females avoided males by swimming deeper in the water column, reminiscent of the response to predation. Our results highlight that social conflict between the sexes strongly affects the demographics of a population and may therefore have a substantial role in the spatial ecology of organisms in the wild.
Coping and Adaptation in Response to Environmental and Climatic Stressors in Caribbean Coastal Communities
Authors: Touza Julia , Lacambra Carmen , Kiss Alexandra , Amboage Rosa Mato , Sierra Paula , Solan Martin , Godbold Jasmin A. , Spencer Thomas , White Piran C. L.
Published: July 2021

Cumulative and synergistic impacts from environmental pressures, particularly in low-lying tropical coastal regions, present challenges for the governance of ecosystems, which provide natural resource-based livelihoods for communities. Here, we seek to understand the relationship between responses to the impacts of El Niño and La Niña events and the vulnerability of mangrove-dependent communities in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Using two case study sites, we show how communities are impacted by, and undertake reactive short-term responses to, El Niño and La Niña events, and how such responses can affect their adaptive capacity to progressive environmental deterioration. We show that certain coping measures to climate variability currently deliver maladaptive outcomes, resulting in circumstances that could contribute to system ‘lock-in’ and engender undesirable ecological states, exacerbating future livelihood vulnerabilities. We highlight the significant role of social barriers on vulnerabilities within the region, including perceptions of state abandonment, mistrust and conflicts with authorities. Opportunities to reduce vulnerability include enhancing the communities’ capacity to adopt more positive and preventative responses based on demonstrable experiential learning capacity. However, these will require close cooperation between formal and informal organisations at different levels, and the development of shared coherent adaptation strategies to manage the complexity of multiple interacting environmental and climatic pressures.
Effect of Endoscopic Appendix Intubation and Irrigation on Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis
Authors: Zhang Pei‐Hong , Wei Jing‐Jing , Lian Ting‐Ting , Jiang Ying , Zhuang Ze‐Hao
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic appendix intubation and irrigation (EAI) on acute uncomplicated appendicitis.

Methods

This prospective non‐randomized study examined 169 patients with suspected acute uncomplicated appendicitis at The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from October 2015 to 2017. Patients were divided into three groups: endoscopic appendix intubation and irrigation (EAI, n = 18), laparoscopic appendectomy (LA, n = 87), and antibiotic alone (A, n = 64). The treatment success rate, duration of hospitalization, medical costs, operation time, duration of abdominal pain, fasting time, complications, and recurrence were analyzed.

Results

The three groups had no significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, gender, Alvarado score, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count; all P > 0.05). Compared to the LA group, the EAI group had shorter durations of the operation, fasting, and abdominal pain; less use of oral and intravenous antibiotics; and lower medical costs (all P < 0.05). Compared to the A group, the EAI group had shorter durations of abdominal pain and hospitalization, and less use of intravenous antibiotics (all P < 0.05). The EAI group had no complications, but 3 patients (3.4%) in the LA group had surgery‐related complications.

Conclusion

EAI is a safe and effective treatment for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Patients who received EAI had shorter durations of abdominal pain and hospitalization than those who received LA or conservative antibiotic treatment.

Trial registration number and agency

ChiCTR‐IPN‐15006565, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry
Influence of platelet count at diagnosis and during the course of disease on prognosis in MDS patients
Authors: Strapatsas Judith , Barbulescu Elena Calina , Lauseker Michael , Kaivers Jennifer , Hildebrandt Barbara , Nachtkamp Kathrin , Strupp Corinna , Rudelius Martina , Haas Rainer , Germing Ulrich
Published: July 2021

Thrombocytopenia at diagnosis and platelet drop within the first 6 months have an adverse effect on prognosis of MDS patients. We therefore were interested in the association and impact on prognosis of morphologic findings of megakaryocytes and platelets with platelet count at diagnosis, bleeding complications, and the drop of platelets during the course of disease. This retrospective analysis was based on 334 MDS patients from the Duesseldorf MDS registry that were followed up for blood counts, bleeding, transfusion dependency, and AML evolution and correlated with morphology of the megakaryocytes and platelets. Thrombocytopenia was found more frequently in higher risk MDS and was associated with hypocellularity of the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Signs of bleeding were present at diagnosis in 14% and occurred during the disease in 48% of all MDS patients. Death due to bleeding was ranked third behind infections and AML. A decrement of platelets during the first 6 months was associated with an inferior overall survival of 21 vs. 49 months and with a higher cumulative 2-year AML rate of 22.2% vs. 8.3% (p = 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, besides bone marrow blasts and karyotype, decreasing platelets were also associated with an inferior outcome. Signs of bleeding are present in a relevant number of MDS patients and account for significant morbidity and mortality in MDS. We could demonstrate the prognostic importance of decreasing platelets during the course of disease in all MDS patients, identifying patients at higher risk for death or AML progression.
Value-based Engineering: Prinzipien und Motivation für bessere IT-Systeme
Authors: Spiekermann Sarah
Published: July 2021

Digitale Ethik wird derzeit weltweit als eine Notwendigkeit diskutiert, um verlässlichere IT-Systeme zu schaffen. Diese Diskussion, geschürt durch die Angst vor einer unkontrollierbaren generellen Künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) und angeheizt von ethischen Dilemmata bestehender Systeme, hat viele Institutionen und Wissenschaftler dazu bewegt, Werteprinzipien einzufordern, an denen sich die Entwicklung komplexer Systeme zukünftig orientieren sollte. Diese inkludieren i. d. R. die Forderung nach Privatsphäre, Sicherheit, Transparenz, Fairness etc. In diesem Artikel wird dargestellt, warum das Abarbeiten von Wertelisten für eine gute bzw. ethisch legitimierte Systementwicklung unzureichend ist. Es wird gezeigt, wie stattdessen ein wirklich ethisches „Value-based Engineering“ aussehen müsste, damit technische Produktinnovationen insgesamt auf bessere (ethischere) Füße gestellt werden. Value-based Engineering (VbE) ist eine prozessgetriebene, ganzheitliche Herangehensweise an die Systementwicklung, die zunächst aus den Ideen des Value Sensitive Designs und dem Ethical Computing schöpfte. Ab 2016 wurde VbE im IEEE 7000 Standard weiter konkretisiert. 10 Prinzipien für ethisch angeleitete Systeminnovation fassen wesentliche Handlungsanforderungen für Unternehmen zusammen.
CT-based thermometry with virtual monoenergetic images by dual-energy of fat, muscle and bone using FBP, iterative and deep learning–based reconstruction
Authors: Heinrich Andreas , Schenkl Sebastian , Buckreus David , Güttler Felix V. , Teichgräber Ulf K-M.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of CT-based thermometry for clinical applications regarding a three-component tissue phantom of fat, muscle and bone. Virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) by dual-energy measurements and conventional polychromatic 120-kVp images with modern reconstruction algorithms adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Volume (ASIR-V) and deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) were compared.

Methods

A temperature-regulating water circuit system was developed for the systematic evaluation of the correlation between temperature and Hounsfield units (HU). The measurements were performed on a Revolution CT with gemstone spectral imaging technology (GSI). Complementary measurements were performed without GSI (voltage 120 kVp, current 130–545 mA). The measured object was a tissue equivalent phantom in a temperature range of 18 to 50°C. The evaluation was carried out for VMI at 40 to 140 keV and polychromatic 120-kVp images.

Results

The regression analysis showed a significant inverse linear dependency between temperature and average HU regardless of ASIR-V and DLIR. VMI show a higher temperature sensitivity compared to polychromatic images. The temperature sensitivities were 1.25 HU/°C (120 kVp) and 1.35 HU/°C (VMI at 140 keV) for fat, 0.38 HU/°C (120 kVp) and 0.47 HU/°C (VMI at 40 keV) for muscle and 1.15 HU/°C (120 kVp) and 3.58 HU/°C (VMI at 50 keV) for bone.

Conclusions

Dual-energy with VMI enables a higher temperature sensitivity for fat, muscle and bone. The reconstruction with ASIR-V and DLIR has no significant influence on CT-based thermometry, which opens up the potential of drastic dose reductions.

Key Points

• Virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) enable a higher temperature sensitivity for fat (8%), muscle (24%) and bone (211%) compared to conventional polychromatic 120-kVp images.

• With VMI, there are parameters, e.g. monoenergy and reconstruction kernel, to modulate the temperature sensitivity. In contrast, there are no parameters to influence the temperature sensitivity for conventional polychromatic 120-kVp images.

• The application of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Volume (ASIR-V) and deep learning–based image reconstruction (DLIR) has no effect on CT-based thermometry, opening up the potential of drastic dose reductions in clinical applications.
Linear extension, skeletal density, and calcification rates of the blue coral Heliopora coerulea
Authors: Courtney Travis A. , Guest James R. , Edwards Alasdair J. , Dizon Romeo M.
Published: July 2021

The brooding reef-building octocoral Heliopora is widespread on Indo-West Pacific reefs and appears to be relatively resistant to thermal stress, which may enable it to persist locally while scleractinians diminish under Anthropocene conditions. However, basic physiological measurements of “blue corals” are lacking and prevent their inclusion in trait-based studies. We address this by quantifying rates (mean ± SE) of linear extension (0.86 ± 0.05 cm yr−1) and skeletal density (2.01 ± 0.06 g cm−3) to estimate calcification rates (0.87 ± 0.08 g cm−2 yr−1) for the small branching/columnar morphology of Heliopora coerulea. We postulate that H. coerulea may become an increasingly important reef-builder under ocean warming due to its relative resistance to thermal stress and high skeletal density that make colonies less vulnerable to storm damage under ocean acidification. Moreover, Heliopora corals are likely dispersal limited suggesting they may be an underappreciated genus for restoration of stress-tolerant reef-building capacity on degraded reefs.
Influence of Arctic sea-ice loss on the Greenland ice sheet climate
Authors: Sellevold Raymond , Lenaerts Jan T. M. , Vizcaino Miren
Published: July 2021

The Arctic is the region on Earth that is warming the fastest. At the same time, Arctic sea ice is reducing while the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is losing mass at an accelerated pace. Here, we study the seasonal impact of reduced Arctic sea ice on GrIS surface mass balance (SMB), using the Community Earth System Model version 2.1 (CESM2), which features an advanced, interactive calculation of SMB. Addressing the impact of sea-ice reductions on the GrIS SMB from observations is difficult due to the short observational records. Also, signals detected using transient climate simulations may be aliases of other forcings. Here, we analyze dedicated simulations from the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project with reduced Arctic sea ice and compare them with preindustrial sea ice simulations while keeping all other forcings constant. In response to reduced sea ice, the GrIS SMB increases in winter due to increased precipitation, driven by the more humid atmosphere and increasing cyclones. In summer, surface melt increases due to a warmer, more humid atmosphere providing increased energy transfer to the surface through the sensible and latent heat fluxes, which triggers the melt-albedo feedback. Further, warming occurs throughout the entire troposphere over Baffin Bay. This deep warming results in regional enhancement of the 500 hPa geopotential heights over the Baffin Bay and Greenland, increasing blocking and heat advection over the GrIS’ surface. This anomalous circulation pattern has been linked to recent increases in the surface melt of the GrIS.