bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement Properties of Social Communication Assessments for Transition-Age Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Authors: Poll Gerard H. , Maskalunas Caitlyn , Walls Lauren , Durbin Samantha , Hunken Haley , Petru Janis
Published: May 2021

Purpose

An important role of social communication assessment is to support intervention planning as adolescents with disabilities transition to workplaces and other adult settings. Adoption of evidence-based assessment practices would align professionals with legal and ethical mandates for schools and other settings. There is, however, limited adoption of evidence-based assessment selection. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) provide a structured approach to identifying assessments with sufficient validity and reliability backed by strong evidence. The purpose of this review was to identify directly administered social communication assessments for adolescents and to apply the COSMIN framework to evaluate their measurement properties.

Method

A systematic search identified 13 assessments designed for 14- to 21-year-olds with developmental disabilities putting them at risk for social communication deficits. Measurement properties were extracted from included studies and rated for sufficiency. The quality of evidence supporting the findings was graded using COSMIN guidelines.

Results

Five social communication assessments were recommended as having sufficient evidence of content validity and internal consistency. Remaining assessments could be recommended as gaps in the evidence for their measurement properties are filled.

Conclusions

The application of the COSMIN standards has the potential to advance evidence-based assessment for social communication. There were important gaps in the independent replication of measurement properties and methodological shortcomings in the evaluation of reliability, measurement error, and structural validity.
Active galactic nuclei catalog from the AKARI NEP-Wide field
Authors: Poliszczuk Artem , Pollo Agnieszka , Małek Katarzyna , Durkalec Anna , Pearson William J. , Goto Tomotsugu , Jin Kim Seong , Malkan Matthew , Oi Nagisa , Ho Simon C.-C. , Shim Hyunjin , Pearson Chris , Seong Hwang Ho , Toba Yoshiki , Kim Eunbin
Published: May 2021

Context.The north ecliptic pole (NEP) field provides a unique set of panchromatic data that are well suited for active galactic nuclei (AGN) studies. The selection of AGN candidates is often based on mid-infrared (MIR) measurements. Such methods, despite their effectiveness, strongly reduce the breadth of resulting catalogs due to the MIR detection condition. Modern machine learning techniques can solve this problem by finding similar selection criteria using only optical and near-infrared (NIR) data.

Aims.The aim of this study is to create a reliable AGN candidates catalog from the NEP field using a combination of optical SUBARU/HSC and NIR AKARI/IRC data and, consequently, to develop an efficient alternative for the MIR-based AKARI/IRC selection technique.

Methods.We tested set of supervised machine learning algorithms for the purposes of carrying out an efficient process for AGN selection. The best models were compiled into a majority voting scheme, which used the most popular classification results to produce the final AGN catalog. An additional analysis of the catalog properties was performed as a spectral energy distribution fitting via the CIGALE software.

Results.The obtained catalog of 465 AGN candidates (out of 33 119 objects) is characterized by 73% purity and 64% completeness. This new classification demonstrates a suitable consistency with the MIR-based selection. Moreover, 76% of the obtained catalog can be found solely using the new method due to the lack of MIR detection for most of the new AGN candidates. The training data, codes, and final catalog are available via the github repository. The final catalog of AGN candidates is also available via the CDS service.

Conclusions.The new selection methods presented in this paper are proven to be a better alternative for the MIR color AGN selection. Machine learning techniques not only show similar effectiveness, but also involve less demanding optical and NIR observations, substantially increasing the extent of available data samples.
The Oxygen Saturation in the Retinal Vessels of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus – The Search for Determinants
Authors: Stodtmeister Richard , Mielke Vivien , Sandner Dirk
Published: May 2021

Introduction Oxygen saturation in retinal vessels can be non-invasively measured by a new method. It is known that oxygen extraction is lowered in diabetic retinopathy. In the
cross-sectional study presented here, it has been investigated whether diabetes-specific changes and typical accompanying diseases could influence the measurements in oximetry.

Methods During a time span of seven months, 237 diabetics were included who came to our clinic for an intravitreal injection, who met the inclusion criteria, who showed no exclusion
criteria and gave written consent. 203 eyes of 203 patients were evaluated. The oxygen saturation (SO2) was measured in digitally stored fundus images taken with a fundus camera
(Zeiss 450 FF). In its illumination beam, a filter was inserted with two transmission maxima at 584 nm and 610 nm (bandwidth 10 nm). With the program “Oximetry” (Imedos Systems, Jena,
Germany), the venous and the arterial SO2 were measured. The values were stored in a spreadsheet. Diabetes related data, clinical parameters and accompanying diseases were
documented in the predefined scheme.

Results In the whole patient sample, the venous oxygen saturation (vSO2) was 69 ± 12%, the arterial saturation (aSO2) 99 ± 5% and the arteriovenous difference
31 ± 9%. A statistically significant association could not be found between the measurement values of oximetry and age, duration of diabetes and HbA1c (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA:
p > 0.05). The differences in oximetry values between units of analysis (UOA) e.g. hypertension and non units of analysis (NOA) were analysed. Descriptive testing showed significant
differences in vSO2% in the following units of analysis: allergies n = 47: UOA vs. NUOA: 64 vs. 69 (t test: p < 0.02); sartan therapy n = 46: UOA vs. NUOA: 64 vs. 70
(p = 0.003); state after intravitreal injections n = 144: 68 vs. 71 (p = 0.02). Oxygen extraction from the retinal capillaries was improved in patients who had injections with VEGF
inhibitors. An improvement in oxygen extraction is also seen in patients with allergies and hypertension in comparison to those without these units of analysis.

Conclusion The clinically observed improvement in the retinal state situation after intravitreal injections with VEGF inhibitors may be seen in association with the improved oxygen
extraction. It seems reasonable to study whether a switch to sartans in the therapy of hypertension may improve retinal function.
Covid-19 und die positiven Erfahrungen mit Homöopathie
Authors: Wurster Jens
Published: May 2021

Die homöopathische und naturheilkundliche Behandlung hat sich bei Covid-19, bei den akuten Beschwerden, den Folgeschäden und auch bei Long Covid als wirksam erwiesen. Anhand von 12 dokumentierten Kasuistiken wird die homöopathische Vorgehensweise bei der Behandlung von Covid-19 beschrieben. Vitamin D und spezifische Nahrungsergänzungsmittel sind wichtig für die Prophylaxe und einen beschleunigten Heilungsverlauf.
Endoscopic-Assisted Resection of Anterior Foramen Magnum Meningiomas through a Midline Suboccipital Subtonsillar Approach
Authors: Roser Florian , Rigante Luigi
Published: May 2021

Objective This study was aimed to demonstrate the resection of anterior foramen magnum meningiomas through an endoscopic-assisted posterior midline suboccipital subtonsillar approach.

Design This study was designed with illustration of the surgical steps and safety of this approach.

Setting Evidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cleft between the tumor and brainstem on MRI was studied (Fig. 1A and B). Preoperative tracheotomy was considered in cases of preoperative dysphagia to prevent any further neurological deterioration due to the bilateral access through the lower cranial nerves corridors. Semisitting position with extensive electrophysiological neuromonitoring and transesophageal echocardiogram was adopted. A standard midline incision with bilateral suboccipital craniotomy and C1-laminotomy was performed (Fig. 2A). After partial resection and elevation of the tonsils, tumor was debulked unilaterally around the lower cranial nerves and the vertebral artery, devascularized from the clival dura and then dissected from the brainstem (Fig. 2B, C). Endoscopic-assisted removal of its anterior portion followed. The same procedure was repeated from the opposite site for the contralateral portion, before approaching the purely anterior part with endoscope assistance (Fig. 2D).

Participants Four consecutive patients were included in the study.

Main Outcome Measures Grade of tumor resection and outcome (mRS) were primary measurement of this study.

Results Clinical outcome and grade of resection are comparable to other series of patient treated with other foramen magnum approaches (Fig. 1C and D).

Conclusion Anterior foramen magnum meningiomas can be safely removed through this relatively faster midline suboccipital approach with bilateral exposure of lower cranial nerves (CNs) and vertebral arteries and lower approach-related morbidity (no condyle drilling). The surgical corridor is created by the tumor during debulking reducing need for brain retraction and the removal of the anterior dural attachment coagulated under the microscope is verified and completed endoscopically with pituitary curettes (Simpson's grade II) (Fig. 1C and D).

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/9eACAJVwQBs.
The Association between Therapeutic Alliance and Parental Health Outcomes following a Child's Death in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Suttle Markita , Hall Mark W. , Pollack Murray M. , Berg Robert A. , McQuillen Patrick S. , Mourani Peter M. , Sapru Anil , Carcillo Joseph A. , Startup Emily , Holubkov Richard , Dean Jonathan Michael , Notterman Daniel A. , Meert Kathleen L.
Published: May 2021

Therapeutic alliance reflects the strength and quality of the physician–patient/family relationship. We investigated the association between therapeutic alliance and bereaved parents' mental health and perceived overall health following their child's death in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Bereaved parents were surveyed 6 months after their child's death in a PICU affiliated with the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network. Parents were evaluated for complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (SPRINT), respectively. Overall health was evaluated using a single item. Therapeutic alliance between parents and their deceased child's PICU physicians was assessed using the Human Connection scale (HCS). Two hundred and thirty-five parents of 158 deceased children completed surveys. Mean ICG score was 34.4 ± 14.9 with 142 (60.4%) parents screening positive for complicated grief. Mean PHQ-8 score was 9.1 ± 6.2 with 102 (43.4%) screening positive for at least moderate depression. Mean SPRINT score was 14.6 ± 8.2 with 122 (51.9%) screening positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. Overall health was perceived as fair for 47 (20.0%) parents and poor for 10 (4.3%). Using multivariable modeling, higher HCS score (greater therapeutic alliance) was significantly associated with lower (better) ICG score (−0.23, 95% CI −0.42, −0.04, p = 0.018). HCS score was not significantly associated with PHQ-8, SPRINT, or overall health scores. We conclude that bereaved parents experience a high level of adverse mental health symptoms including complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Greater therapeutic alliance with PICU physicians may lessen symptoms of complicated grief during bereavement.
Radioembolization in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Deipolyi Amy , Bryce Yolanda , Gandhi Ripal
Published: May 2021

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains the second cause of cancer death in women, despite improvements in early breast cancer detection and treatments, with a 5-year survival of only 27%. Patients with MBC involving the liver have a 5-year survival of only 3.8 to 12%. Systemic therapy is the cornerstone for the treatment of MBC according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Radioembolization is not specifically prescribed by the NCCN guidelines in the treatment of MBC liver metastasis, but is an emerging therapy with some promising results. The two primary reasons to offer radioembolization would be to prolong life and to palliate and improve quality of life. We review here the indications, contraindications, technique, case examples, and unanswered questions.
Risk Factors and Reconstruction Techniques for Persistent Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Posterior Fossa
Authors: Torres-Bayona Sergio , Velasquez Nathalia , Nakassa Ana , Eguiluz-Melendez Aldo , Hernandez Vanessa , Vega Belen , Borghei-Razavi Hamid , Miranda-Acosta Yeiris , Wang Eric W. , Snyderman Carl H. , Gardner Paul A.
Published: May 2021

Background High-flow skull base dural defects are associated with an increased risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

Objective This study aimed to identify the risk factors for persistent postoperative CSF leak after endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) and determine the ideal reconstruction strategy after initial failed repair.

Methods Patients with CSF leak after intradural EES between October 2000 and February 2017 were identified. Cases with persistent CSF leak were compared with patients with similar pathologic diagnosis without a persistent leak to identify additional risk factors.

Results Two hundred and twenty-three out of 3,232 patients developed postoperative CSF leak. Persistent leaks requiring more than one postoperative repair occurred in 7/223 patients (3.1%). All seven had undergone intradural approach to the posterior fossa for resection of recurrent/residual clival chordomas. This group was matched with 25 patients with recurrent/residual clival chordoma who underwent EES without postoperative CSF leak (control group). Age, gender, history of diabetes, smoking, or radiotherapy were not statistically different between the groups. Obesity (body mass index > 30) was significantly more common in the group with persistent leak (86%) compared with controls (36%) (p = 0.02). All patients with a persistent CSF leak developed meningitis (p = 0.001). Five patients with persistent leak required a pericranial flap to achieve definitive repair.

Conclusion Multiple recurrent CSF leak after EES primarily occurs following resection of recurrent/residual posterior fossa chordoma. Obesity is a major risk factor and meningitis is universal with persistent leak. Flap necrosis may play a role in the development of persistent CSF leaks, and the use of secondary vascularized flaps, specifically extracranial–pericranial flaps, should be considered as an early rescue option in obese patients.
Ergonomics in Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Survey of the North American Skull Base Society
Authors: Mattogno Pier Paolo , Marciano Filippo , Catalino Michael P. , Mattavelli Davide , Cocca Paola , Lopomo Nicola Francesco , Nicolai Piero , Laws Edward R. , Witterick Ian , Raza Shaan M. , Devaiah Anand K. , Lauretti Liverana , Olivi Alessandro , Fontanella Marco M. , Gentili Fred , Doglietto Francesco
Published: May 2021

Objective Different surgical set-ups for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) have been described, but studies on their ergonomics are limited. The aim of this article is to describe present trends in the ergonomics of ETS.

Design and Participants A 33-question, web-based survey was sent to North American Skull Base Society members in 2018 and 116 responded to it (16% of all members). Most respondents were from North America (76%), in academic practice (87%), and neurosurgeons (65%); they had more than 5 years of experience in ETS (73%), had received specific training (66%), and performed at least 5 procedures/mo (55%).

Results Mean reported time for standard and complex procedures were 3.7 and 6.3 hours, respectively. The patient's body is usually positioned in a straight, supine position (84%); the head is in a neutral position (46%) or rotated to the side (38%). Most surgeons perform a binostril technique, work with a partner (95%), and operate standing (94%), holding suction (89%) and dissector (83%); sometimes the endoscope is held by the primary surgeon (22–24%). The second surgeon usually holds the endoscope (72%) and irrigation (42%). During tumor removal most surgeons stand on the same side (65–66%). Many respondents report strain at the dorsolumbar (50%) or cervical (26%) level. Almost one-third of surgeons incorporate a pause during surgery to stretch, and approximately half exercise to be fit for surgery; 16% had sought medical attention for ergonomic-related symptoms.

Conclusion Most respondents value ergonomics in ETS. The variability in surgical set-ups and the relatively high report of complaints underline the need for further studies to optimize ergonomics in ETS.
Role of Extradural Clinoidectomy and Optic Unroofing in Resection of an Anterior Clinoidal Meningioma with Encasement of the Internal Carotid Artery and Its Branches
Authors: Sayyahmelli Sima , Sun Zhaoliang , Avci Emel , Başkaya Mustafa K.
Published: May 2021

Anterior clinoidal meningiomas (ACMs) remain a major neurosurgical challenge. The skull base techniques, including extradural clinoidectomy and optic unroofing performed at the early stage of surgery, provide advantages for improving the extent of resection, and thereby enhancing overall outcome, and particularly visual function. Additionally, when the anterior clinoidal meningiomas encase neurovascular structures, particularly the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and its branches, this further increases morbidity and decreases the extent of resection. Although it might be possible to remove the tumor from the artery wall despite complete encasement or narrowing, the decision of whether the tumor can be safely separated from the arterial wall ultimately must be made intraoperatively.

The patient is a 75-year-old woman with right-sided progressive vision loss. In the neurological examination, she only had light perception in the right eye without any visual acuity or peripheral loss in the left eye. MRI showed a homogeneously enhancing right-sided anterior clinoidal mass with encasing and narrowing of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA). Computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a mild narrowing of the right supraclinoid ICA with associated a 360-degree encasement. The decision was made to proceed using a pterional approach with extradural anterior clinoidectomy and optic unroofing. The surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. MRI confirmed gross total resection (Figs. 1 and 2). The histopathology was a meningothelial meningioma, World Health Organization (WHO) grade I. The patient continues to do well without any recurrence and has shown improved vision at 15-month follow-up.

This video demonstrates important steps of the microsurgical skull base techniques for resection of these challenging tumors.

The link to the video can be found at https://youtu.be/vt3o1c2o8Z0
When the lens is too wide: The political consequences of the visual dehumanization of refugees
Authors: Azevedo Ruben T. , De Beukelaer Sophie , Jones Isla L. , Safra Lou , Tsakiris Manos
Published: May 2021

Photojournalistic images shape our understanding of sociopolitical events. How humans are depicted in images may have far-reaching consequences for our attitudes towards them. Social psychology has shown how the visualization of an ‘identifiable victim effect’ can elicit empathic responses. However, images of identifiable victims in the media are the exception rather than the norm. In the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, the majority of images in Western media depicted refugees as large unidentifiable groups. While the effects of the visual depiction of single individuals are well-known, the ways in which the visual framing of large groups operates, and its social and political consequences, remain unknown. We here focus on the visual depiction of refugees to understand how exposure to the dominant visual framing used in the media, depicting them in large groups of faceless individuals, affects their dehumanization and sets off political consequences. To that end we brought together insights from social psychology, social sciences and the humanities to test a range of hypotheses using methods from social and political psychology in 10 studies with the participation of 3951 European citizens. Seeing images of large groups resulted in greater implicit dehumanization compared with images depicting refugees in small groups. Images of large groups are also explicitly rated as more dehumanizing, and when coupled with meta-data such as newspaper headlines, images continue to play a significant and independent role on how (de)humanizing we perceive such news coverage to be. Moreover, after viewing images of large groups, participants showed increased preference for more dominant and less trustworthy-looking political leaders and supported fewer pro-refugee policies and more anti-refugee policies. In terms of a mechanistic understanding of these effects, the extent to which participants felt pity for refugees depicted in large groups as opposed to small groups mediated the effect of visual framing on the choice of a more authoritarian-looking leader. What we see in the media and how it is shown not only has consequences for the ways in which we relate to other human beings and our behaviour towards them but, ultimately, for the functioning of our political systems.
The effects of a gamified project based on historical thinking on the academic performance of primary school children
Authors: Martínez-Hita María , Gómez-Carrasco Cosme Jesús , Miralles-Martínez Pedro
Published: May 2021

History education research has long defended a transformation of the teaching and learning process in order to overcome the repetitive and conceptual learning of history, advocating an approach based on the development of historical thinking. Gamification is an innovative educational tool which may facilitate the learning of historical thinking concepts in the classroom. The objective of this quasi-experimental research was to verify whether the learning of history of 4th year primary school children improved following the implementation of a gamified project in the classroom compared with a control group which followed a traditional methodology. For this purpose, the learners completed a mixed performance test before and after the classroom intervention. The results showed significant differences in the intergroup (posttest) and intragroup (pretest–posttest) comparisons. This research may serve as a reference point for promoting the implementation of gamification in the primary classroom, and for orienting teacher training programmes towards an epistemological and methodological change.
Religious coping in adolescents: new evidence and relevance
Authors: Torralba Josefa , Oviedo Lluis , Canteras Manuel
Published: May 2021

Adolescence is frequently seen as a troubled age. In many Western societies this is also a time of sharp religious decline. The question arises as to what extent religious faith and practice could help teenagers cope with their distress, especially when religion fades away in secularized environments and stops being a common coping resource. A study was conducted in South-East Spain (N = 531) to assess coping styles—religious and secular—and how they are related to other variables. The outcomes suggest that religious coping has become a minor choice. It correlates positively with age and is mixed with secular coping strategies. Secularization implies a confidence lost in religious means and the search for alternative coping strategies. This study reveals that religious coping works best when linked to religious communities and in combination with other non-religious strategies.
Generation of strong magnetic fields for magnetized plasma experiments at the 1-MA pulsed power machine
Authors: Ivanov V. V. , Maximov A. V. , Betti R. , Leal L. S. , Moody J. D. , Swanson K. J. , Huerta N. A.
Published: May 2021

Pulsed power technology provides a platform for investigating plasmas in strong magnetic fields using a university-scale machine. Presented here are methods for generating and measuring the 1–4-MG magnetic fields developed for the 1-MA Zebra pulsed power generator at the University of Nevada, Reno. A laser coupled with the Zebra generator produces a magnetized plasma, and experiments investigate how a megagauss magnetic field affects the two-plasmon decay and the expansion of the laser-produced plasma in both transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields.
Efficient propagation of the hierarchical equations of motion using the Tucker and hierarchical Tucker tensors
Authors: Yan Yaming , Xu Meng , Li Tianchu , Shi Qiang
Published: May 2021

We develop new methods to efficiently propagate the hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) by using the Tucker and hierarchical Tucker (HT) tensors to represent the reduced density operator and auxiliary density operators. We first show that by employing the split operator method, the specific structure of the HEOM allows a simple propagation scheme using the Tucker tensor. When the number of effective modes in the HEOM increases and the Tucker representation becomes intractable, the split operator method is extended to the binary tree structure of the HT representation. It is found that to update the binary tree nodes related to a specific effective mode, we only need to propagate a short matrix product state constructed from these nodes. Numerical results show that by further employing the mode combination technique commonly used in the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree approaches, the binary tree representation can be applied to study excitation energy transfer dynamics in a fairly large system including over 104 effective modes. The new methods may thus provide a promising tool in simulating quantum dynamics in condensed phases.
Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly).
Authors: Weldon Chris
Published: May 2021

C. capitata is a highly invasive species. It has a high dispersive ability, a very large host range and a tolerance of both natural and cultivated habitats over a comparatively wide temperature range. It has a high economic impact, affecting production, control costs and market access. It has successfully established in many parts of the world, often as a result of multiple introductions (Malacrida et al., 2007). Frequent incursions into North America require expensive eradication treatments and many countries maintain extensive monitoring networks.
Cicadulina mbila (maize leafhopper).
Authors: Whittaker Angela
Published: May 2021

The economic impact of C. mbila results largely from its ability to transmit Maize streak virus (MSV) in maize. This is probably the most important insect-vectored plant disease in sub-Saharan Africa (Geddes, 1990; Shepherd et al., 2010). There are currently 11 known MSV strains (MSV-A to MSV-K), of which MSV-A is the most severe and economically important strain that attacks maize (Martin and Shepherd, 2009; Karavina, 2014). If infection occurs at an early stage, plants may die and 100% yield loss results (Thottappilly, 1992; Vogel et al., 1993), but the severity of infection declines with the age of the plant, and infections later than 8 weeks after emergence have little or no effect on yield (Guthrie, 1978; Van Rensburg, 1981; Mzira, 1984). MSV epidemiology is primarily governed by environmental influences on its Cicadulina vectors (mainly C. mbila and Cicadulina storeyi), resulting in erratic epidemics every 3 to 10 years. Disease incidences can vary even in epidemic years, ranging from a few infected plants per field with very low yield loss, to 100% infection rates and complete yield loss (Shepherd et al., 2010). Studies in northern Nigeria over a 3-year period (2000-2002) showed that the number of leafhoppers (Cicadulina spp.) caught was positively correlated with MSV incidence and mean temperature, and negatively correlated with mean rainfall and with age of plants. MSV incidence was positively correlated with age of plants and with mean temperature and negatively correlated with mean relative humidity (Alegbejo and Banwo, 2005).As a result of its wide geographic distribution and high efficiency of transmission of MSV, C. mbila must be regarded as a major pest of maize.
Coconut cadang-cadang viroid (cadang cadang disease).
Authors: Randles John , Rodriguez Judith , Vadamalai Ganesan , Hanold Dagmar , Perera Lalith
Published: May 2021

Cadang-cadang disease (caused by Coconut cadang-cadang viroid; CCCVd) is widely distributed in the central Philippines. It continues to spread at high rates in some provinces within the disease zone whereas other sites do not show increases in incidence. New outbreaks have been reported outside earlier boundaries of distribution. Incidence is negligible in plantations less than 10 years old, but increase is then linear at various rates up to ~1% pa. No vector has been implicated in spread so the mode of natural spread is unknown. Variants of CCCVd occur in other members of the Arecaceae including oil palm and buri palm and viroid-like sequences related to CCCVd have also been identified in a range of tropical monocotyledons in South-East Asia and Oceania. However, diagnostic facilities are poorly represented where the disease and viroid occur, and epidemiology is incompletely researched.
Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus (African cotton leaf curl Begomovirus).
Authors: Brown Judith K
Published: May 2021

Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus (CLCuGV) is endemic to the African Sahel region (Idris et al., 2000). It is an economically important cotton-infecting begomovirus, and poses a serious threat to cotton production. It causes yield loss in all affected cotton-growing areas in Africa. Losses are difficult to assess, but estimates range up to 20% when infection occurs early in the growing season and/or with highly susceptible cultivars. Natural spread is mainly by the whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci, which transmits the virus in a persistent, circulative manner. Viruliferous whiteflies on infested/infected plants harbouring CLCuGV imported to other countries are of concern for preventing introduction.
Anastrepha suspensa (Caribbean fruit fly).
Authors: Norrbom Allen
Published: May 2021

A. suspensa is a pest of guava [Psidium guajava], grapefruit [Citrus x paradisi], and various other cultivated fruits. It is native to the Greater Antilles and possibly the Bahamas, and is an introduced pest in Florida, USA. It is considered an A1 quarantine pest by EPPO.
Epitaxial stabilisation of Ge1

−

x
Sn
x
alloys
Authors: Sanchez-Soares Alfonso , O’Donnell Conor , Greer James C
Published: May 2021

The thermodynamic stability of germanium tin

G
e

1
−
x

S
n

x

alloys is investigated across the composition range

0
⩽
x
⩽
1

by applying density functional theory together with the cluster expansion formalism (CE). It is known that GeSn alloys are immiscible and that non-equilibrium growth techniques are required to produce metastable films and nanostructures. Insight into the driving forces behind component segregation is gained by investigating the equilibrium thermodynamics of GeSn systems. The alloy free energy of mixing is computed by combining enthalpies from the CE with entropy terms for configurational and vibrational degrees of freedom. Volume deformations due to the large mismatch in ionic radii are readily found to be the key driving force for immiscibility at all temperatures of relevance. This leads to a study of epitaxial stabilisation by employing latticed matched substrates to favour growth of alloys with fractional compositions of x = 0, approximately x = 0.5 and x = 1. The reduction in the free energy of mixing due to epitaxial strain in thin films is quantified for each substrate leading to indicators for growth of kinetically stable films.
Recent advances in non-fullerene organic photovoltaics enabled by green solvent processing
Authors: Li Shilin , Zhang Hong , Yue Shengli , Yu Xi , Zhou Huiqiong
Published: May 2021

Solution-processed organic photovoltaic (OPV) as a new energy device has attracted much attention due to its huge potential in future commercial manufacturing. However, so far, most of the studies on high-performance OPV have been treated with halogenated solvents. Halogenated solvents not only pollute the environment, but are also harmful to human health, which will negatively affect the large-scale production of OPV in the future. Therefore, it is urgent to develop low-toxic or non-toxic non-halogen solvent-processable OPV. Compared with conventional fullerene OPVs, non-fullerene OPVs exist with stronger absorption, better-matched energy levels and lower energy loss. Processing photoactive layers with non-fullerenes as the acceptor material has broad potential advantages in non-halogenated solvents. This review introduces the research progress of non-fullerene OPV treated by three different kinds of green solvents as the non-halogenated and aromatic solvent, the non-halogenated and non-aromatic solvent, alcohol and water. Furthermore, the effects of different optimization strategies on the photoelectric performance and stability of non-fullerene OPV are analyzed in detail. The current optimization strategy can increase the power conversion efficiency of non-fullerene OPV processed with non-halogen solvents up to 17.33%, which is close to the performance of processing with halogen-containing solvents. Finally, the commercial potential of non-halogen solvent processing OPVs is discussed. The green solvent processing of non-fullerene-based OPVs will become a key development direction for the future of the OPV industry.
Multi-layered nano-hollow spheres for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption
Authors: Gorai Anupam , Mandal Dipika , Mandal Kalyan
Published: May 2021

Ferrite nano-hollow spheres (NHS) are of great significance to improve electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption performance. Herein, the deposition of dielectric SiO2 and ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 (CFO) layers on MnFe2O4 (MnFO) NHS are found as an effective strategy to enhance EM wave attenuation. EM wave absorption properties of as-synthesized bare and bi-layered samples are investigated within a widely-used frequency range of 1–17 GHz. MnFO@CFO bi-layered NHSs exhibit an excellent reflection loss (RL) of −47.0 dB at only 20 wt% filler content with an effective broad bandwidth (BW) of ∼2.2 GHz (frequency region for RL < −10 dB). The attenuation constant is observed to increase from 191.6 Np m−1 to 457.8 Np m−1 for bare MnFO and MnFO@CFO NHSs respectively. Larger interfacial area, additional pairs of dipole, higher magnetic anisotropy, internal reflections and scattering from NHSs are responsible for superior absorption properties of MnFO@CFO NHSs. Moreover, the best impedance matching, ∣Z

in

/Z
0
∣ ∼ 1, promotes the optimum RL in MnFO@CFO at 5.96 GHz. MnFO@SiO2 bi-layered NHSs result in a sufficiently high RL ∼ −30.0 dB with a composite absorber of a thickness of only 3 mm. Analysis from the λ/4 model for best matching thickness (t

m
) displays a good agreement between experimental and simulated t

m
values. This study demonstrates optimized MnFO@CFO NHS as a highly promising low-cost and lightweight EM wave absorber suitable for practical high-frequency applications.
A composite triboelectric nanogenerator based on flexible and transparent film impregnated with ZIF-8 nanocrystals
Authors: Wen Rongmei , Fan Liming , Li Qiaoling , Zhai Junyi
Published: May 2021

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), based on the triboelectrification coupled with electrostatic induction, can directly convert ambient mechanical energy into electric energy. However, the output performance of TENG is still low and demands further improvement to speed up the commercial application. In this work, we demonstrate a TENG based on a flexible and transparent composite film made of PDMS and ZIF-8. When the amount of the ZIF-8 is 4 wt%, the generated output current and voltage of the TENG are gradually increased up to 16.3 μA and 176 V, which are 210% and 230% higher than that of TENG without ZIF-8, respectively. Impregnated ZIF-8 which exhibits a positive polarity lowers the effective work function of the PDMS and enhance the surface charge density, verified by Kelvin probe force microscope measurement.
Microdosimetry modeling with Auger emitters in generalized cell geometry
Authors: Palmer Teresa L , Tkacz-Stachowska Kinga , Skartlien Roar , Omar Nasrin , Hassfjell Sindre , Mjøs Andreas , Bergvoll Johannes , Brevik Ellen M , Hjelstuen Olaug
Published: May 2021

A microdosimetry model was developed for the prediction of cell viability for irregular non-spherical cells that were irradiated by low energy, short range Auger electrons. Measured cell survival rates for LNCaP prostate cancer were compared to the computational results for the radioisotopes 177Lu and 161Tb (conjugated to PSMA). The cell geometries used for the computations were derived directly from the cell culture images. A general computational approach was developed to handle arbitrary cell geometries, based on distance probability distribution functions (PDFs) derived from basic image processing. The radiation calculations were done per coarse grained PDF bin to reduce computation time, rather than on a pixel/voxel basis. The radiation dose point kernels over the full electron spectrum were derived using Monte Carlo simulations for energies below 50 eV to account for the propagation of Auger electrons over length scales at and below a cellular radius. The relative importance of short range Auger electrons were evaluated between the two nuclide types. The microdosimetry results were consistent with the cell viability measurements, and it was found that 161Tb was more efficient than 177Lu primarily due to the short range Auger electrons. We foresee that imaging based microdosimetry can be used to evaluate the relative therapeutic effect between various nuclide candidates.
Conditional preparation of non-Gaussian quantum optical states by mesoscopic measurement
Authors: Davis Alex O C , Walschaers Mattia , Parigi Valentina , Treps Nicolas
Published: May 2021

Non-Gaussian states of an optical field are important as a proposed resource in quantum information applications. While conditional preparation is a highly successful approach to preparing such states, their quality is limited by detector non-idealities such as dead time, narrow dynamic range, limited quantum efficiency and dark noise. Mesoscopic photon counters, with peak performance at higher photon number, offer many practical advantages over single-photon level conditioning detectors. Here we propose a novel approach involving displacement of the ancilla field into the regime where mesoscopic detectors can be used. We explore this strategy theoretically and present simulations accounting for experimental non-idealities such as loss and amplification noise, showing that precise photon-number resolution is not necessary to herald highly nonclassical states. We conclude that states with strong Wigner negativity can be prepared at high rates by this technique under experimentally attainable conditions.
Study of D-3He fusion fuel parameters sensitivity in spherical tokamak
Authors: Sharifi F , Motevalli S M , Fadaei F
Published: May 2021

Spherical tokamak assesses the potential of great performance in high beta and is capable of steadystate operation. Controlling plasma parameters and profile could lead to a high beta for spherical tokamaks. In this paper, we used the scaling laws of density, beta ratio, and energy confinement time with D-3He fuel. We investigated the dependency of Q on confinement enhancement factor and fuel density ratio of D-3He by plasma power balance equation in spherical tokamak (ST) which H

y2 ≈ 1.9 and f

D3 = 0.84 would lead to Q = 5.5 and high power production about 1.6 GW in the 65 keV. Hot ion mode as an imperative circumstance in ST has been investigated and we have illustrated that the convenient ion temperature is around 60–70 keV and γ ≈ 0.15–0.3 in order to enhance the operation of ST and restrict radiation loss.
𝒩-field cosmology in hyperbolic field space: stability and general solutions
Authors: Christodoulidis Perseas , Paliathanasis Andronikos
Published: May 2021

We study the dynamics of a cosmological model with a perfect fluid and 𝒩 fields on a hyperbolic field space interacting via a symmetric potential. We list all late-time solutions, investigate their stability and briefly discuss predictions of the theory. Moreover, for the case of two scalar fields and an exponential potential we prove that the field equations are Liouville integrable and we provide for the first time the general solution for a region of the parameter space.
Pole-induced Higgs inflation with hyperbolic Kähler geometries
Authors: Pallis C.
Published: May 2021

We present novel realizations of Higgs inflation within Supergravity
which are largely tied to the existence of a pole of order two in
the kinetic term of the inflaton field. This pole arises due to
the selected s which parameterize the (SU(1,1)/U(1))2 or
SU(2,1)/(SU(2) × U(1)) manifolds with scalar curvatures
ℛ(11)2
=-4/N or
ℛ21=-3/N respectively. The
associated superpotential includes, in addition to the Higgs
superfields, a stabilizer superfield, respects the gauge and an
R symmetries and contains the first allowed nonrenormalizable
term. If the coefficient of this term is almost equal to that of
the others within about 10-5 and N=1, the inflationary
observables can be done compatible with the present data and the
scale M of gauge-symmetry breaking may assume its value within
MSSM. Increasing M beyond this value, though, inflation may be
attained with less tuning. Modifications to the Kähler potentials associated
with the manifolds above allow for inflation, realized with just
renormalizable superpotential terms, which results to higher
tensor-to-scalar ratios as N approaches its maximum at
N ≃ 40.
A crossover from Efros–Shklovskii hopping to activated transport in a GaAs two-dimensional hole system at low temperatures
Authors: Dlimi S. , El kaaouachi A. , Limouny L. , Hammou B. A.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we discuss low-temperature hopping-conductivity behavior in the insulating phase, in the absence of a magnetic field. We conduct a theoretical study of the crossover from hopping to activated transport in a GaAs two-dimensional hole system at low temperatures, finding that a crossover takes place from the Efros-Shklovskii variable-range hopping (VRH) regime to an activated regime in this system. This conductivity behavior in p-GaAs quantum wells is qualitatively consistent with the laws laid down in theories of localized electron interactions. Given sufficiently strong interactions, the holes in the localized states are able to hop collectively.
Superoscillatory behavior in partially coherent fields
Authors: Mays Joseph , Gbur Greg
Published: May 2021

Superoscillations are oscillations of a wavefield that are locally higher than the bandlimit of the field. Superoscillations have to date been studied primarily in coherent wavefields; here we look at superoscillations that appear in the phase of the correlation function in partially coherent fields. It is shown that a decrease in spatial coherence can in some cases strengthen the superoscillatory behavior, and in others decrease it. Superoscillations are studied in a number of model partially coherent fields, and the influence of coherence on each model is considered.
Mysteries of einsteinium unveiled
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: May 2021

New insights into the physical and chemical properties of the rare heavy element einsteinium have been gained by researchers working at several labs across the US.
Spring and latch mechanism flings click beetles into the air
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: May 2021

Click beetles use the elastic recoil of a spring-like mechanism in their exo-skeleton to throw themselves into the air. The mechanism of the insects’ motion was discovered using high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging.
UAE Hope probe reaches Mars orbit
Authors: Dacey James
Published: May 2021

The United Arab Emirates has become the first Arab country to reach another planet – a feat that it hopes will turbocharge its science base, as James Dacey reports
Planetary missions could hunt for gravitational waves
Authors: Gater Will
Published: May 2021

Spacecraft heading to Uranus and Neptune in the next decade could be used to investigate gravitational waves as they venture into the outer solar system.
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission sends back first image as it plots rover landing site
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: May 2021

China’s Tianwen-1 probe has beamed back its first picture of Mars, days before it entered orbit around the red planet on 10 February.
France unveils huge €1.8bn quantum technologies boost
Authors: Dumé Isabelle
Published: May 2021

France has announced it will invest €1.8bn over five years to advance quantum computing technologies in the country.
Concerns raised as Oxford renames physics chair
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: May 2021

The University of Oxford has announced that its Wykeham chair of physics will be renamed after the giant Chinese technology corporation Tencent, which denies claims it has links with the Chinese security services. Michael Allen reports
Widening career aspirations
Authors: Davenport Carol
Published: May 2021

As children narrow down their career interests from an early age, Carol Davenport says it is important that they are brought up with a positive attitude towards science
Predicting the unexpected
Authors: Rosenbaum Stan , Chodos Alan
Published: May 2021

In response to David Appell’s feature “The 10 greatest predictions in physics” (January pp36–40).
The final word on free will?
Authors: Ball Philip
Published: May 2021

In response to a series of letters (February p21) about the Forum article by Philip Ball titled “Why free will is beyond physics” (January p17).
Make or break: building soft materials with DNA
Authors: Michieletto Davide
Published: May 2021

DNA molecules are not fixed objects – they are constantly getting broken up and glued back together to adopt new shapes. Davide Michieletto explains how this process can be harnessed to create a new generation of “topologically active” materials