bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Acid Properties of the Support on Au‐Based Catalysts for Glycerol Oxidation in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Palacio Ruben , Amaya Álvaro A. , Blach Diana , Torres Sebastian , Hernández Diana , López Diana , Martinez Fernando
Published: July 2020

Tuning the surface and structural properties of heterogeneous catalysts is important for alcohol oxidation with the aim of obtaining valuable aldehydes and carboxylic acids. In this work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were dispersed and stabilized on two different supports, ZrO2 and TiO2, and the catalytic properties were evaluated in glycerol oxidation as a model reaction. AuNPs were first synthesized through the reverse micelle (RMs) synthetic strategy, which acted as nanoreactor, by using sodium 1,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT). For instance, the growing was governed by the confined environment provided by the AOT micelle allowing obtaining pseudospherical AuNPs with an average diameter of 6 nm. Further deposition of the synthesized AuNPs on ZrO2 and TiO2 supports allowed, after annealing at 400 °C, obtaining AuNPs on ZrO2 and TiO2. Catalytic properties of these AuNPs on glycerol oxidation under oxygen atmosphere and in aqueous NaOH solution at 90 °C, demonstrated that the support type played a key role in the activity of gold species in terms of conversion of glycerol and selectivity, with lactic acid being the main product formed on Au/ZrO2 while glyceraldehyde was the main product formed on Au/TiO2. The differences in catalytic performance of Au/ZrO2 might be correlated to a better dispersion of AuNPs and a higher density of acid sites with middle strength that modified activation of glycerol and the aldehyde intermediates toward the formation of lactic acid.
Tosylation Optimization, Characterization and Pyrolysis Kinetics of Cellulose Tosylate
Authors: El Hamdaoui Lahcen , Es‐said Amine , El Marouani Maryam , El Bouchti Mehdi , Bchitou Rahma , Kifani‐Sahban Fatima , El Moussaouiti Mohammed
Published: July 2020

Cellulose tosylates with different degree of substitution (DS) were prepared by reacting cellulose in DMAc/LiCl with p‐tosyl chloride at 8 °C in the presence of triethylamine. The effects of number of mole of tosyl chloride (A), number of mole of base (triethylamine) (B) and reaction time (C) on DS were studied by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) known as Box‐Behnken Design (BBD). It was found that A is the main factor influencing DS and the interaction between B and C is negligible. An optimal DS value of 2.79 was obtained with A=6.96 and B=2.99 mol eq. at a reaction time C=24 h. The synthetic polymers were characterized by elemental analyses, FT‐IR, NMR and SEM spectroscopy. The results indicated that the cellulose was successfully tosylated with various DS. Cellulose tosylate with DS=0.5 and DS=2 were subjected to thermo‐gravimetric analysis under inert atmosphere. The kinetic parameters were determined by Coats‐Redfern method. Thermal analyses and kinetics indicates that the lower DS of tosyl group the higher thermal stability is. Thus, cellulose lose its stability after esterification with p‐tosyl chloride.
Environmentally Friendly Non‐Metal Solar Photocatalyst C3N4 for Efficient Nitrogen Fixation as Foliar Fertilizer
Authors: Liu Yifan , Huang Xiuying , Yu Zirui , Yao Lulu , Guo Shanshan , Zhao Weirong
Published: July 2020

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation based semiconductors has been expected to replace the traditional Haber‐Bosch process to synthesize nitrogen fertilizer for agricultural application. Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) with the response to solar spectrum has been widely used. In order to improve its photocatalytic efficiency, the exfoliated carbon nitride (C3N4) was prepared with a facile two‐step calcining method for nitrogen fixation. SEM/TEM results reveal that with the secondary thermal process, the exfoliated C3N4 photocatalyst shows a porous appearance. The optimal catalyst with secondary calcination for 120 min exhibits large specific surface area of 206 m2⋅g−1 and the photocatalytic activity for ammonium evolution is evidently enhanced to 4.20 times of PCN. Further, nitrogen adsorption systems with different adsorption sites were constructed based on first principles simulation analysis. The result indicated that N2 molecule was more likely to physically adsorb over the two‐coordinated nitrogen atom in the horizontal mode with an adsorption energy of −72.59 kJ⋅mol−1. It provided reference for the further study of the N2 adsorption activity on the catalyst. This work developed environmentally friendly C3N4 catalysts with more active sites to function as prospective “foliar fertilizer” system along with scavenger glycerol.
Robust linear regression for high‐dimensional data: An overview
Authors: Filzmoser Peter , Nordhausen Klaus
Published: July 2020

Digitization as the process of converting information into numbers leads to bigger and more complex data sets, bigger also with respect to the number of measured variables. This makes it harder or impossible for the practitioner to identify outliers or observations that are inconsistent with an underlying model. Classical least‐squares based procedures can be affected by those outliers. In the regression context, this means that the parameter estimates are biased, with consequences on the validity of the statistical inference, on regression diagnostics, and on the prediction accuracy. Robust regression methods aim at assigning appropriate weights to observations that deviate from the model. While robust regression techniques are widely known in the low‐dimensional case, researchers and practitioners might still not be very familiar with developments in this direction for high‐dimensional data. Recently, different strategies have been proposed for robust regression in the high‐dimensional case, typically based on dimension reduction, on shrinkage, including sparsity, and on combinations of such techniques. A very recent concept is downweighting single cells of the data matrix rather than complete observations, with the goal to make better use of the model‐consistent information, and thus to achieve higher efficiency of the parameter estimates.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Robust Methods

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Analysis of High Dimensional Data

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Dimension Reduction
Self‐compounded Doxycycline Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations in Low‐Resource Settings
Authors: Shaye David A. , Burks Ciersten A. , Gadkaree Shekhar K. , Ncogoza Isaie , Tuyishimire Gratien , Nyabyenda Victor , Gassore Aaron
Published: July 2020

Background

Congenital anomalies are one component of the overwhelming surgical disease burden in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are a common congenital deformity of the head and neck in which the utilization of sclerotherapy may avoid surgery and yield superior outcomes. To be useful in LMICs, sclerosing agents must be widely available, inexpensive, and effective.

Methods

A retrospective review of 10 pediatric patients with macrocystic or mixed LMs who were treated with self‐compounded doxycycline sclerotherapy at Rwanda's Central University Teaching Hospital of Kigali was performed. Doxycycline oral tablets were crushed by hand, mixed with normal saline at a concentration of doxycycline 10 mg/mL, and injected directly into LMs of the head and neck.

Results

Ten pediatric patients underwent 21 sclerotherapy sessions with a mean of 2.1 sessions per patient (SD 1.3, range 1–5). Of the 8 patients that were seen in follow‐up, all achieved at least 80% resolution, 6 of 8 achieved 100% resolution, and none required surgery. One patient developed an infection at the injection site which resolved with antibiotics.

Conclusions

Self‐compounded doxycycline sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, and widely available treatment option for sclerotherapy of LMs in LMICs.
Multimodal medical image fusion algorithm in the era of big data
Authors: Tan Wei , Tiwari Prayag , Pandey Hari Mohan , Moreira Catarina , Jaiswal Amit Kumar
Published: July 2020

In image-based medical decision-making, different modalities of medical images of a given organ of a patient are captured. Each of these images will represent a modality that will render the examined organ differently, leading to different observations of a given phenomenon (such as stroke). The accurate analysis of each of these modalities promotes the detection of more appropriate medical decisions. Multimodal medical imaging is a research field that consists in the development of robust algorithms that can enable the fusion of image information acquired by different sets of modalities. In this paper, a novel multimodal medical image fusion algorithm is proposed for a wide range of medical diagnostic problems. It is based on the application of a boundary measured pulse-coupled neural network fusion strategy and an energy attribute fusion strategy in a non-subsampled shearlet transform domain. Our algorithm was validated in dataset with modalities of several diseases, namely glioma, Alzheimer’s, and metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma, which contain more than 100 image pairs. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation verifies that the proposed algorithm outperforms most of the current algorithms, providing important ideas for medical diagnosis.
Relationships among streptococci from the mitis group, misidentified as Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Sadowy Ewa , Bojarska Agnieszka , Kuch Alicja , Skoczyńska Anna , Jolley Keith A. , Maiden Martin C. J. , van Tonder Andries J. , Hammerschmidt Sven , Hryniewicz Waleria
Published: July 2020

The aim of our study was to investigate phenotypic and genotypic features of streptococci misidentified (misID) asStreptococcus pneumoniae, obtained over 20 years from hospital patients in Poland. Sixty-three isolates demonstrating microbiological features typical for pneumococci (optochin susceptibility and/or bile solubility) were investigated by phenotypic tests,lytAand 16S rRNA gene polymorphism and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All isolates had a 6-bp deletion in thelytA3′ terminus, characteristic for Mitis streptococc and all but two isolates lacked the pneumococcal signature cytosine at nucleotide position 203 in the 16S rRNA genes. The counterparts ofpsaAandplywere present in 100% and 81.0% of isolates, respectively; the spn9802 and spn9828 loci were characteristic for 49.2% and 38.1% of isolates, respectively. Phylogenetic trees and networks, based on the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) scheme, ribosomal multilocus sequence typing (rMLST) scheme and core-genome analysis, clearly separated investigated isolates fromS. pneumoniaeand demonstrated the polyclonal character of misID streptococci, associated with theStreptococcus pseudopneumoniaeandStreptococcus mitisgroups. While theS. pseudopneumoniaeclade was relatively well defined in all three analyses, only the core-genome analysis revealed the presence of another cluster comprising a fraction of misID streptococci and a strain proposed elsewhere as a representative of a novel species in the Mitis group. Our findings point to complex phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships amongS. mitis-like bacteria and support the notion that this group may in fact consist of several distinct species.
Analysis of C. difficile infection–related outcomes in European participants in the bezlotoxumab MODIFY I and II trials
Authors: Bouza Emilio , Cornely Oliver A. , Ramos-Martinez Antonio , Plesniak Robert , Ellison Misoo C. , Hanson Mary E. , Dorr Mary Beth
Published: July 2020

The MODIFY I/II trials demonstrated that bezlotoxumab, a human monoclonal antibody against Clostridioides difficile toxin B, given during antibiotic treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) significantly reduced C. difficile recurrence (rCDI) in adults at high risk for rCDI. Efficacy of CDI-directed intervention may depend on ribotype regional epidemiology, and patient characteristics. This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy of bezlotoxumab in the subgroup of MODIFY I/II trial participants enrolled in Europe. Data from the bezlotoxumab (10 mg/kg single intravenous infusion) and placebo (0.9% saline) groups from MODIFY I/II were compared to assess initial clinical cure (ICC), rCDI, all-cause, and CDI-associated rehospitalizations within 30 days of discharge, and mortality through 12 weeks post-infusion. Of 1554 worldwide participants, 606 were from Europe (bezlotoxumab n = 313, 51%; placebo n = 292; 48%). Baseline characteristics were generally similar across groups, although there were more immunocompromised participants in the bezlotoxumab group (27.2%) compared with placebo (20.1%). Fifty-five percent of participants were female, and 86% were hospitalized at randomization. The rate of ICC was similar between treatment groups. The rate of rCDI in the bezlotoxumab group was lower compared with placebo among European participants overall, and among those with ≥ 1 risk factor for rCDI. Bezlotoxumab reduced 30-day CDI-associated rehospitalizations compared with placebo. These results are consistent with overall results from the MODIFY trials and demonstrate that bezlotoxumab reduces rCDI and CDI-associated rehospitalizations in European patients with CDI. MODIFY I/II (NCT01241552 and NCT01513239)
Prevalence of Autism/ASD Among Preschool and School-age Children in Norway
Authors: Özerk Kamil , Cardinal Donald
Published: July 2020

In recent years, there has been a considerable rise in prevalence rates for autism/autism spectrum disorders (ASD) around the globe. Understanding the patterns of prevalence is essential for policy development at national and local levels that effectively plans for medical, psychological, behavior analytical, and educational interventions. This study presents new data on the prevalence of ASD among preschool and school-age children (ages 1–16 years) in Norway. Based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria for diagnosis, the rate of ASD increased from 2014 to 2016. The study found a much higher increase in prevalence rate among preschool-age (1–5 years) children than school-age (6–16 years) children over the same 2-year period. At the same time, however, the rate of ASD among school-age children (6–16) compared with that among preschool children (1–5) is higher in 2014 and 2016, indicating a school-age effect. The results also indicate a shifting pattern of gender difference in diagnosed preschool-age children. The male-to-female ratio receiving an ASD diagnosis has increased from 4.46:1 in 2014 to 4.57:1 in 2016, suggesting that the gender gap may be slightly widening for preschool children. For school-age children, the gender gap (male-to-female ratio) is slightly narrowing, moving from 3.53:1 in 2014 to 3.46:1 in 2016. While these changes may not seem significant, the implications of the full findings are discussed.
Hunger Affects Social Decisions in a Multi-Round Public Goods Game but Not a Single-Shot Ultimatum Game
Authors: Fraser Sam , Nettle Daniel
Published: July 2020

Objective

People have the intuition that hunger undermines social cooperation, but experimental tests of this have often produced null results. One possible explanation is that the experimental tasks used are not rich enough to capture the diverse pathways by which social cooperation can be sustained or break down in real life. We studied the effects of hunger on cooperation in two tasks of differential interaction richness.

Methods

We manipulated hunger by asking participants to eat, or refrain from eating, breakfast. Participants in experiment 1 (n = 106) played a one-shot Ultimatum Game. Participants in experiment 2 (n = 264) played twenty rounds of a Public Goods Game in the same groups of four, ten rounds with the possibility of punishing other group members, and ten without.

Results

In experiment 1, skipping breakfast had no significant effects on either amounts proposed or minimum acceptable offers. In experiment 2, there were multiple different significant effects of the manipulation. No-breakfast participants were more generous in the first round of the game without punishment, and in subsequent rounds, were more influenced by what other group members had done the round before. In the punishment game, no-breakfast participants were also less likely to punish their group-mates than breakfast participants. Consequently, the possibility of punishment was less effective in increasing group cooperation levels in no-breakfast groups.

Conclusion

Replicating earlier findings, we found a null effect of hunger on cooperation in a one-shot Ultimatum Game. However, in our richer Public Goods Game, the dynamics of cooperation differed with hunger, in subtle ways not simply classifiable as hungry participants being ‘more’ or ‘less’ cooperative overall.
Review of sustainable diets: are nutritional objectives and low-carbon-emission objectives compatible?
Authors: Doro Erica , Réquillart Vincent
Published: July 2020

Food systems in developed countries face one major challenge, namely the promotion of diets that are both healthy and generate less greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). In this article, we review papers evaluating the impact of a change in diets on both health and GHGE. We address the following questions: How big are the health and environmental impacts that could be induced by a switch to healthier diets? In monetary value, what is the relative importance of the health impact and the environmental impact? Is it possible to design an economic policy to increase global welfare that also takes into account the externalities on both health and the environment? Since the way the change in diet is modeled is a key issue, we classify papers according to the methodology used for simulating diet changes: ad hoc scenarios, optimized diets, and economic modeling. We find that it is possible to design economic policies that have positive impacts on both dimension. Because the substitutions/complementarities between food products are complex, it is not granted that a policy targeting one dimension will generate positive effects on the other dimensions. However, given the diversity of substitution and the complementarity possibilities between products, it is possible to design a policy that does improve both dimensions. A carbon-based tax policy that targets the products with a high greenhouse gas content (e.g., meat products) and reinvests the revenues collected with the tax to subsidize the consumption of fruit and vegetables, is likely to have positive effects on both dimensions.
Urban planning for physically disabled people’s needs with case studies
Authors: Shahraki Abdol Aziz
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study is to provide urban planning procedures tailored to the needs of disabled people. For this, it analyzes the problems of disabled people, especially physically disabled people, for living in Iran’s cities. It also analyses various planning and design characteristics of buildings in Iranian cities. Research methods of this paper are problem-oriented theoretical studies, case studies, a weighted sum method, and a Benchmarking technique. The methods assist to provide relevant standard indicators and a theoretical framework for the comparison of the cities to an optimal alternative. A case study strategy to gather data for certain comparisons and present a disabled-oriented model of urban planning has been performed. The weighted sum method dedicates quantitative scores and performs the comparison and judgment. Finally, this paper concludes that the cities in Iran are not appropriate to the physical and administrative needs of the disabled. This study finds that buildings in Iranian cities often lack the necessary standards for the needs of the disabled. The outcomes of this research concerning urban planning for disabled people will assist better disabled-oriented urban planning, design, and development everywhere in the world.
Collection of Post-treatment PRO Data in Oncology Clinical Trials
Authors: Lundy J. Jason , Coon Cheryl D. , Fu An-Chen , Pawar Vivek
Published: July 2020

As patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are being included more frequently in oncology clinical trials, regulatory and health technology assessment agencies have begun to request long-term, post-treatment PRO data to supplement traditional survival/progression endpoints. These data may be collected as part of cohort extension or registry studies to describe long-term outcomes of study participants after concluding their cancer treatment. While post-treatment PRO data may be expected to satisfy regulatory and payer expectations, significant practical barriers exist for the efficient incorporation of these data into oncology clinical trials, such as subject attrition, protocol deviations, and treatment crossover. The incorporation of post-treatment PRO assessments is a resource-intensive task requiring clear objectives for how the data will be analyzed and interpreted by both sponsors and regulators. Incorporating PRO data collection via electronic modalities (e.g., smartphone, web) may be a less expensive and more feasible option for incorporating long-term follow-up, reducing the frequency of manual study staff follow-up and expensive clinic visits. It is essential to include well-defined estimands for the statistical analysis, as well as to document limitations associated with the long-term follow-up data-collection approach. Analytical techniques will likely rely on descriptive and model-based statistics, and conclusions about treatment differences will likely be limited to preliminary findings of effectiveness (instead of efficacy). Finally, communications with health authorities and regulatory agencies regarding the LTFU study design and analysis should occur as early as possible to ensure that the PRO data to be collected offer an opportunity to properly evaluate the research question(s) of interest.
Love in the Time of COVID-19: Sexual Function and Quality of Life Analysis During the Social Distancing Measures in a Group of Italian Reproductive-Age Women
Authors: Schiavi Michele Carlo , Spina Vincenzo , Zullo Marzio Angelo , Colagiovanni Vanessa , Luffarelli Paolo , Rago Rocco , Palazzetti Pierluigi
Published: July 2020

Background

The beginning of 2020 was characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic. The world governments have adopted restrictive measures to reduce the spread of infection. These measures could affect the sexual function and quality of life of women living with their partner.

Aim

The aim is to assess the impact of the social distancing measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual function and quality of life of noninfected reproductive-age women, living with their sexual partner.

Methods

Observational analysis on sexually active women, living with their partner, and without COVID-19 infection was performed. The population previously answered FSFI, FSDS, and SF-36 questionnaires. 4 weeks after the introduction of the restrictive measures, these women were invited to complete the same questionnaires by e-mail for an evaluation during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary endpoint was the assessment of the women's sex function change during the social restriction period, by analyzing the FSFI and FSDS questionnaires. The secondary endpoint was the evaluation of the impact on the quality of life calculated by the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results

89 patients were considered. The median age was 39 (28–50) years. Mean sexual intercourses/month decreased from 6.3 ± 1.9 to 2.3 ± 1.8, mean difference: −3.9 ± 1.2. FSFI decreased significantly (29.2 ± 4.2 vs 19.2 ± 3.3, mean difference: −9.7 ± 2.6) and FSDS increased significantly (9.3 ± 5.5 vs 20.1 ± 5.2, mean difference: 10.8 ± 3.4). The SF-36 showed a significant change from 82.2 ± 10.2 to 64.2 ± 11.8 4 weeks after the introduction of the restrictive measures; mean difference: −17.8 ± 6.7. The univariable analysis identified working outside the home, university educational level, and parity ≥1 as predictive factors of lower FSFI. In multivariable analysis, working outside the home and combination of working outside the home + university educational level + parity ≥1 were the independent factors of a lower FSFI.

Clinical Implication

The negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic period on sexual function and quality of life in women shows how acute stress might affect the psychological state. Thus, psychological or sexual support could be useful.

Strengths and Limitations

To our knowledge, this study is the first that analyzes the change in sexual activity in women during the COVID-19 outbreak period. The limitations were the low number of the analyzed participants, psychological tests were not included, and no data were collected on masturbation, self-heroism, solitary, and nonpenetrative sex.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 epidemic and the restrictive social distancing measures have negatively influenced the sexual function and quality of life in not-infected reproductive-age women who live with their sexual partners.
Hegel on the Normativity of Animal Life
Authors: Mills Nicolás García
Published: July 2020

My aim in this paper is to show that and how animal organisms are appropriate subjects of normative evaluation, on Hegel's view. I contrast my reading with the interpretive positions of Sebastian Rand and Mark Alznauer. I disagree with Rand and agree with Alznauer that animal organisms are normatively evaluable for Hegel. I substantiate my disagreement with Rand, and supplement Alznauer's interpretation, by spelling out the role that the ‘generic process’ or ‘genus process [Gattungsprozess]’ plays within Hegel's account of animal organisms and their normative evaluability. In the course of my discussion, I highlight the main differences that Hegel purports to identify between animal and vegetable organisms and suggest that the upshot of those differences is that some but not all plants are normatively evaluable, by his lights. I also situate Hegel's discussion of theGattungsprozesswithin the debate on biological functions in the philosophy of biology over the last few decades.
The Reputational Costs and Ethical Implications of Coercive Limited Air Strikes: The Fallacy of the Middle-Ground Approach
Authors: Lupton Danielle L.
Published: July 2020

Limited air strikes present an attractive “middle-ground approach” for policymakers, as they are less costly to coercers than deploying troops on the ground. Policymakers believe that threatening and employing limited air strikes signal their resolve to targets. In this essay, as part of the roundtable on “The Ethics of Limited Strikes,” I debunk this fallacy and explain how the same factors that make limited air strikes attractive to coercers are also those that undermine their efficacy as a coercive tool of foreign policy. The limited nature of these air strikes undermines the ability of coercers to effectively signal their resolve. In turn, coercive threats of limited air strikes are less likely to be credible, creating a vicious cycle: policymakers threaten to employ air strikes because they are less costly but then often need to follow through on those threats as target states fail to acquiesce to their demands, precisely because limited air strikes are less costly for the coercer. Limited air strikes, therefore, can actually be a source of conflict escalation and lead policymakers to engage in military action that they would prefer to avoid. I further explain why failing to follow through on such coercive threats can undermine a leader's reputation for resolve and lead to future crisis escalation. Finally, I discuss what this quagmire means for the ethics of the threat and the use of air strikes, particularly for the principles of right intention, likelihood of success, and probability of escalation.
Lengthening the Shadow of International Law
Authors: Fazal Tanisha M.
Published: July 2020

What will be the consequences of the criminalization of aggression? In 2010, the International Criminal Court made aggression a crime for which individuals can be prosecuted. But questions around what constitutes aggression, who decides, and, most important, how effective this legal change will be in reducing the incidence of war remain. This essay considers these questions in light of two recent books on the criminalization of aggression: Noah Weisbord'sThe Crime of Aggression: The Quest for Justice in an Age of Drones, Cyberattacks, Insurgents, and Autocratsand Tom Dannenbaum'sThe Crime of Aggression, Humanity, and the Soldier. While the authors argue in favor of the efficacy of the criminalization of aggression as a means to reduce future war, it is also likely that the criminalization of aggression will reshape war in potentially profound ways.
A Problem from Washington: Samantha Power Enters the Foreign Policy Bureaucracy
Authors: Barnett Michael
Published: July 2020

In her new memoir, The Education of an Idealist, Samantha Power reflects on her eight years in the Obama administration. Although she claims that the experience did little to change her views, there is a considerable disjuncture between her point of view in her award-winning earlier book “A Problem from Hell,” in which she criticizes U.S. officials for not doing the right thing, and her point of view in The Education of an Idealist, in which she defends indifference of U.S. officials under somewhat similar circumstances during the Obama years. The author of Problem could not have written Education, and the author of Education could not have written Problem. What does this tell us about the possibility for ethics in foreign policy?
Epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy and storage behaviour of seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica, Strychnos potatorum and Strychnos benthamii (Loganiaceae)
Authors: Muthuthanthirige Deshika L. , Wijetunga W.M.G. Asanga S.T.B. , Gehan Jayasuriya K.M.G.
Published: July 2020

We hypothesized that Strychnos nux-vomica and Strychnos potatorum in seasonal tropical ecosystems have dormant desiccation-tolerant seeds, while those of Strychnos benthamii growing in aseasonal wet habitats have non-dormant desiccation-sensitive seeds. Germination, imbibition, the effect of gibberellic acid on germination and changes in the embryo to seed length ratio (E:S) during incubation were determined for the three species. Seed storage behaviour was identified with the hundred seed test. Time taken for epicotyl emergence was recorded. Radicle emergence of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii at 25°C under light/dark conditions (12/12 h) was completed within 76, 49 and 11 d, respectively. S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum seeds incubated on GA3 germinated to a higher percentage than non-treated seeds. E:S of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii had increased by 38.2, 34.5 and 25.5%, respectively, at radicle emergence. Shoot emergence of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii was observed after 76, 74 and 45 d from radicle emergence, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the seeds of all three species have epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy. Hundred seed tests revealed that S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum seeds were desiccation-tolerant, while those of S. benthamii were desiccation-sensitive. Our study showed that species from seasonal habitats (S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum) have desiccation-tolerant morphophysiologically dormant seeds, while those from an aseasonal habitat (S. benthamii) have desiccation-sensitive morphophysiologically dormant seeds, revealing that their dormancy and desiccation tolerance behaviour are adaptations to their environment.
Maternal ageing causes changes in DNA methylation and gene expression profiles in mouse oocytes
Authors: Hou Guanmei , Sun Qing-Yuan
Published: July 2020

Although it is well known that maternal ageing causes reduced oocyte quality and fertility, little information is known about its effect on germ cell epigenetics. In the present study, we compared the gene expression and DNA methylation profiles in germinal vesicle oocytes from young (8-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) mice using single-cell RNA-sequencing and single-cell whole-genome DNA methylation sequencing. We found significant differences in the data from the two groups. Oocytes from aged mice showed significant changes in the expression of some metabolism-related genes, such as mitochondria-associated genes, that was in line with our expectations. Expression of some genes associated with reproduction also showed significant differences. DNA methylation levels were also changed in oocytes from aged mice. The two groups had significant gaps in hypermethylation and hypomethylation levels on each chromosome. These data provide useful information for further understanding the mechanisms of oocyte ageing.
Evaluation of nutritional quality of biscuits and sweet snacks sold on the Italian market: the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) study
Authors: Dall’Asta M , Rosi A , Angelino D , Pellegrini N , Martini D
Published: July 2020

Objective:

The present study aimed at surveying the nutritional quality of prepacked biscuits and sweet snacks sold on the Italian market, and at identifying whether the product type and other information reported on the pack could discriminate the overall quality of products analysed.

Design:

Data on energy, nutrient and salt content of the products from two different categories of prepacked sweet cereal products (i.e. biscuits and sweet snacks) were collected from thirteen retailers present on the Italian market. Based on the product type, nutrition and health claim (NHC) and gluten-free (GF) declaration, a comparison of nutrient profile within each category was performed.

Setting:

This work is part of the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) study that aims at systematically investigating the overall quality of the prepacked foods sold on the Italian market.

Results:

A total of 1290 products were analysed (63 % biscuits and 37 % sweet snacks). After comparing different product types within each category, a high intra-type product variability was evidenced, which was more pronounced for biscuits. Overall, NHC-carrying products seemed to have a better nutrition profile than those without claims, except for salt content. Conversely, a comparison between GF and gluten-containing products did not show consistent results within the two categories analysed.

Conclusions:

Due to the high intra-type variability within each category, the different characteristics and regulated information reported on the pack do not seem to be a clear marker of the overall nutritional quality of biscuits and snacks.
High coenzyme Q10 plasma levels improve stress and damage markers in professional soccer players during competition
Authors: Sánchez-Cuesta Ana , Cortés-Rodríguez Ana Belén , Navas-Enamorado Ignacio , Lekue José Antonio , Viar Toscana , Axpe Martín , Navas Plácido , López-Lluch Guillermo
Published: July 2020

Abstract. Ubiquinol, the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is a key factor in bioenergetics and antioxidant protection. During competition, professional soccer players suffer from considerable physical stress causing high risk of muscle damage. For athletes, supplementation with several antioxidants, including CoQ10, is widely recommended to avoid oxidative stress and muscle damage. We performed an observational study of plasma parameters associated with CoQ10 levels in professional soccer players of the Spanish First League team Athletic Club de Bilbao over two consecutive seasons (n = 24–25) in order determine their relationship with damage, stress and performance during competition. We analyzed three different moments of the competition: preterm, initial phase and mid phase. Metabolites and factors related with stress (testosterone/cortisol) and muscle damage (creatine kinase) were determined. Physical activity during matches was analyzed over the 2015/16 season in those players participating in complete matches. In the mid phase of competition, CoQ10 levels were higher in 2015/16 (906.8 ± 307.9 vs. 584.3 ± 196.3 pmol/mL, p = 0.0006) High levels of CoQ10 in the hardest phase of competition were associated with a reduction in the levels of the muscle-damage marker creatine kinase (Pearsons’ correlation coefficient (r) = − 0.460, p = 0.00168) and a trend for the stress marker cortisol (r = −0.252, p = 0.150). Plasma ubiquinol was also associated with better kidney function (r = −0.287, p = 0.0443 for uric acid). Furthermore, high CoQ10 levels were associated with higher muscle performance during matches. Our results suggest that high levels of plasma CoQ10 can prevent muscle damage, improve kidney function and are associated with higher performance in professional soccer players during competition.
Diagnostisches und therapeutisches Handeln bei Karotisstenose
Authors: Velz Julia , Esposito Giuseppe , Wegener Susanne , Kulcsar Zsolt , Luft Andreas , Regli Luca
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. Ein Viertel aller ischämischen Schlaganfälle wird durch atherosklerotisch bedingte Veränderungen der extra- oder intrakraniellen hirnversorgenden Gefässe verursacht. Die Prävalenz atherosklerotisch bedingter, extrakranieller Karotisstenosen steigt mit dem 65. Lebensjahr auf 6–15 % an. Das Risiko eines Schlaganfalls bei einer symptomatischen Karotisstenose, d.h. nach Stroke oder Transienter Ischämischer Attacke (TIA), ist mit 25 % innerhalb von 14 Tagen sehr hoch. Die konservative Therapie mit Reduktion der Risikofaktoren, Thrombozytenaggregationshemmern (TAH), antihypertensiver und lipidsenkender Therapie bildet den Grundpfeiler der Therapie bei Patienten mit asymptomatischer und symptomatischer Karotisstenose. Die Karotis-Endarterektomie (CEA) ist die Behandlungsmethode der 1. Wahl bei symptomatischen Patienten mit einer >50 %igen und bei asymptomatischen Patienten mit einer >60 %igen Stenose. Um eine bestmögliche Behandlung von Patienten mit asymptomatischer und symptomatischer Karotisstenose zu gewährleisten, ist die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit in Diagnostik, Therapie und Nachsorge in einem neuromedizinischen Zentrum der Maximalversorgung erforderlich.
Die tief infiltrierende Endometriose – eine systematische Herangehensweise an Diagnostik und Operationsplanung
Authors: Burla Laurin , Fink Daniel , Imesch Patrick
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. Obwohl die Endometriose zu den häufigen gynäkologischen Krankheitsbildern der Frau im reproduktionsfähigen Alter zählt, erfolgen die Diagnose und der Therapiebeginn häufig spät nach Beginn der Symptomatik. Die Erklärung liegt wahrscheinlich einerseits in der mannigfaltigen Ausprägung, den diffusen Beschwerden und der leider eher geringen Bekanntheit dieses Krankheitsbildes. Andererseits stellt die Diagnostik selbst eine Herausforderung dar. Insbesondere die tief infiltrierende Form der Endometriose ist schwerwiegend, bei welcher häufig eine chirurgische Therapie notwendig wird. Eine systematische Herangehensweise mit MRI-Bildgebung und präoperativer Einteilung mittels Enzian-Klassifikation kann das Vorgehen erleichtern und die Therapieplanung vereinfachen.
Calibrated Simulation of the Long‐Term Average Surficial Groundwater System and Derived Spatial Distributions of its Characteristics for the Contiguous United States
Authors: Zell Wesley O. , Sanford Ward E.
Published: July 2020

While the physical processes governing groundwater flow are well understood, and the computational resources now exist for solving the governing equations in three dimensions over continental‐scale domains, there remains substantial uncertainty about the subsurface distribution of the properties that control groundwater flow and transport for much of the contiguous United States (CONUS). The transmissivity of the shallow subsurface is a key parameter for the simulation of water table position, shallow groundwater flow, and base‐flow discharge, but is not well‐characterized at large regional to continental scales. We used a process‐based inversion of CONUS‐extent groundwater information to generate national data sets of (a) the transmissivity of the shallow groundwater system, (b) the depth to the water table, (c) groundwater discharge as base‐flow, and (d) long‐term average water content in the unsaturated zone. CONUS‐extent coverage was developed in the form of 75 subdomain models, with the spatial distribution of long‐term average transmissivity for each subdomain model calibrated against water‐levels derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) observation wells, NHDPlusV2 first‐order perennial streams, and National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) freshwater wetlands. Estimated transmissivities were lower in the western CONUS than the eastern CONUS, and across the CONUS both transmissivity and depth to water correlate with recharge, elevation, and topographic slope. These generated data sets provide spatially distributed, long‐term average estimates of subsurface properties and hydrological states that we anticipate will complement other environmental modeling efforts as explanatory variables, boundary conditions, or transport pathways.
A Role for Subducted Oceanic Crust in Generating the Depleted Mid‐Ocean Ridge Basalt Mantle
Authors: Tucker Jonathan M. , van Keken Peter E. , Jones Rosemary E. , Ballentine Chris J.
Published: July 2020

The composition of Earth's mantle, continental crust, and oceanic crust continuously evolve in response to the dynamic forces of plate tectonics and mantle convection. The classical view of terrestrial geochemistry, where mid‐ocean ridges sample mantle previously depleted by continental crust extraction, broadly explains the composition of the oceanic and continental crust but is potentially inconsistent with observed slab subduction to the lower mantle and oceanic crust accumulation in the deep mantle. We develop a box model to explore the key processes controlling crust‐mantle chemical evolution. The model mimics behaviors observed in thermochemical convection simulations including subducted oceanic crust separating and accumulating in the deep mantle. We demonstrate that oceanic crust accumulation strongly depletes the mantle independently of continental crust extraction. Slab stalling depths and continental crust recycling rates also affect the extent and location of mantle depletion. We constrain model regimes that reproduce oceanic and continental crust compositions using Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. Some regimes deplete the lower mantle more than the upper mantle, contradicting the assumption of a more enriched lower mantle. All regimes require oceanic crust accumulation in the mantle. Though a small fraction of the mantle mass, accumulated oceanic crust can sequester trace element budgets exceeding the continental crust, depleting the mantle more than continental crust extraction alone. Oceanic crust accumulation may therefore be as important as continental crust extraction in depleting the mantle, contradicting the paradigmatic complementarity of depleted mantle and continental crust. Instead, depleted mantle is complementary to continental crust plus sequestered oceanic crust.
Altered interhemispheric synchrony in Parkinson’s disease patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesias
Authors: Gan Caiting , Wang Min , Si Qianqian , Yuan Yongsheng , Zhi Yan , Wang Lina , Ma Kewei , Zhang Kezhong
Published: July 2020

Levodopa-induced dyskinesias are common motor complication of Parkinson’s disease after 4–6 years of treatment. The hallmarks of dyskinesias include unilateral onset and the tendency to appear on the more affected body sides. There is a growing literature documenting the lateralization abnormalities are associated with the emergence of dyskinesias. Our investigation aimed to explore interhemispheric functional and its corresponding morphological asymmetry. A total of 22 dyskinetic patients, 23 nondyskinetic patients, and 26 controls were enrolled. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed twice before and after dopaminergic medication. Voxel-mirrored Homotopic Connectivity (VMHC) and Freesurfer were employed to assess the synchronicity of functional connectivity and structural alternations between hemispheres. During OFF state, dyskinetic patients showed desynchronization of inferior frontal cortex (IFC) when compared to nondyskinetic patients. And during ON state, dyskinetic patients showed desynchronization of IFC and pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) when compared to nondyskinetic patients. However, there was no corresponding significant asymmetries in cortical thickness. Moreover, the degree of desynchronization of IFC and pre-SMA in dyskinetic pateients during ON state were negatively correlated with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores. Notably, among patients who showed asymmetrical dyskinesias, there was a significant negative correlation between VMHC values of IFC and dyskinesias symptom asymmetry. Our findings suggested that uncoordinated inhibitory control over motor circuits may underlie the neural mechanisms of dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease and be related to its severity and lateralization.
A new climate data record of upper-tropospheric humidity from microwave observations
Authors: Lang Theresa , Buehler Stefan A. , Burgdorf Martin , Hans Imke , John Viju O.
Published: July 2020

We generated a new Climate Data Record (CDR) of Upper Tropospheric Humidity (UTH) based on observations from the microwave sounders Special Sensor Microwave Temperature - 2 (SSMT-2), Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit - B (AMSU-B) and Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS). The data record covers the time period between 1994 and 2017 and provides monthly mean 183.31 ± 1 GHz brightness temperatures and derived UTH along with estimates of measurement uncertainty on a 1° × 1° latitude-longitude grid covering the tropical region (30° S to 30° N). For the UTH retrieval we introduce a new definition of UTH. Forgoing the use of the humidity Jacobian as a weighting function, it is easier to apply than the traditional definition without compromising the retrieval accuracy. The same definition can be used to derive UTH from infrared observations, allowing for a more synergistic use of infrared and microwave UTH in the future. The new UTH CDR is validated against an existing UTH data record.
Laboratory-scale hydraulic fracturing dataset for benchmarking of enhanced geothermal system simulation tools
Authors: Deb Paromita , Düber Stephan , Guarnieri Calo’ Carducci Carlo , Clauser Christoph
Published: July 2020

Successful design of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) requires accurate numerical simulation of hydraulic stimulation processes in the subsurface. To ensure correct prediction, the underlying model assumptions and constitutive relationships of simulators need to be verified against experimental datasets. With the aim of generating laboratory-scale benchmark datasets, a state-of-the-art testing facility was developed, allowing for experiments under controlled conditions. Samples of size 30 cm × 30 cm × 45 cm were subjected to confining stresses while high-pressure fluid was injected into the sample through a pre-drilled borehole, where a saw-cut notch was used to initiate a penny-shaped fracture. Fracture growth and propagation was monitored by measuring pressure data and acoustic emissions detected using 32 seismic sensors. Subsequently, samples were split along the fracture plane to outline the created fracture marked by a red-dyed injection fluid. Finally, a 2D fracture contour was generated using photogrammetry. Presented datasets, accessible via a public repository, include experiments on granite and marble samples. They can be used for verifying and improving numerical codes for field stimulation designs.