bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal cognitive performance of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological subtypes
Authors: Uretsky Madeline , Gibbons Laura E. , Mukherjee Shubhabrata , Trittschuh Emily H. , Fardo David W. , Boyle Patricia A. , Keene C. Dirk , Saykin Andrew J. , Crane Paul K. , Schneider Julie A. , Mez Jesse
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathological subtypes (limbic predominant [lpAD], hippocampal sparing [HpSpAD], and typical [tAD]), defined by relative neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden in limbic and cortical regions, have not been studied in prospectively characterized epidemiological cohorts with robust cognitive assessments.

Methods

Two hundred ninety‐two participants with neuropathologically confirmed AD from the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project were categorized by neuropathological subtype based on previously specified diagnostic criteria using quantitative regional NFT counts. Rates of cognitive decline were compared across subtypes using linear mixed‐effects models that included subtype, time, and a subtype–time interaction as predictors and four cognitive domain factor scores (memory, executive function, language, visuospatial) and a global score as outcomes. To assess if memory was relatively preserved in HpSpAD, non‐memory factor scores were included as covariates in the mixed‐effects model with memory as the outcome.

Results

There were 57 (20%) with lpAD, 22 (8%) with HpSpAD and 213 (73%) with tAD. LpAD died significantly later than the participants with tAD (2.4 years, P = .01) and with HpSpAD (3.8 years, P = .03). Compared to tAD, HpSpAD, but not lpAD, performed significantly worse in all cognitive domains at the time of initial impairment and declined significantly faster in memory, language, and globally. HpSpAD did not have relatively preserved memory performance at any time point.

Conclusion

The relative frequencies of AD neuropathological subtypes in an epidemiological sample were consistent with a previous report in a convenience sample. People with HpSpAD decline rapidly, but may not have a memory‐sparing clinical syndrome. Cohort‐specific differences in regional tau burden and comorbid neuropathology may explain the lack of clinicopathological correlation.
Observing black holes through superconductors
Authors: Kaku Youka , Murata Keiju , Tsujimura Jun
Published: September 2021

Abstract

We propose a way to observe the photon ring of the asymptotically anti-de Sitter black hole dual to a superconductor on the two-dimensional sphere. We consider the electric current of the superconductor under the localized time-periodic external electromagnetic field. On the gravity side, the bulk Maxwell field is sent from the AdS boundary and then diffracted by the black hole. We construct the image of the black hole from the asymptotic data of the bulk Maxwell field that corresponds to the electric current on the field theory side. We decompose the electric current into the dissipative and non-dissipative parts and take the dissipative part for the imaging of the black hole. We investigate the effect of the charged scalar condensate on the image. We obtain the bulk images that indicate the discontinuous change of the size of the photon ring.
Litter Quality Is a Stronger Driver than Temperature of Early Microbial Decomposition in Oligotrophic Streams: a Microcosm Study
Authors: Pérez Javier , Ferreira Verónica , Graça Manuel A. S. , Boyero Luz
Published: September 2021

Litter decomposition is an ecological process of key importance for forest headwater stream functioning, with repercussions for the global carbon cycle. The process is directly and indirectly mediated by microbial decomposers, mostly aquatic hyphomycetes, and influenced by environmental and biological factors such as water temperature and litter quality. These two factors are forecasted to change globally within the next few decades, in ways that may have contrasting effects on microbial-induced litter decomposition: while warming is expected to enhance microbial performance, the reduction in litter quality due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and community composition alteration may have the opposite outcome. We explored this issue through a microcosm experiment focused on early microbial-mediated litter decomposition under stream oligotrophic conditions, by simultaneously manipulating water temperature (10 °C and 15 °C) and litter quality (12 broadleaf plant species classified into 4 categories based on initial concentrations of nitrogen and tannins). We assessed potential changes in microbial-mediated litter decomposition and the performance of fungal decomposers (i.e., microbial respiration, biomass accrual, and sporulation rate) and species richness. We found stronger effects of litter quality, which enhanced the performance of microbial decomposers and decomposition rates, than temperature, which barely influenced any of the studied variables. Our results suggest that poorer litter quality associated with global change will have a major repercussion on stream ecosystem functioning.
Radiomics for detecting prostate cancer bone metastases invisible in CT: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Hinzpeter Ricarda , Baumann Livia , Guggenberger Roman , Huellner Martin , Alkadhi Hatem , Baessler Bettina
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To investigate, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, whether radiomics of computed tomography (CT) image data enables the differentiation of bone metastases not visible on CT from unaffected bone using 68 Ga-PSMA PET imaging as reference standard.

Methods

In this IRB-approved retrospective study, 67 patients (mean age 71 ± 7 years; range: 55–84 years) showing a total of 205 68 Ga-PSMA-positive prostate cancer bone metastases in the thoraco-lumbar spine and pelvic bone being invisible in CT were included. Metastases and 86 68 Ga-PSMA-negative bone volumes in the same body region were segmented and further post-processed. Intra- and inter-reader reproducibility was assessed, with ICCs < 0.90 being considered non-reproducible. To account for imbalances in the dataset, data augmentation was performed to achieve improved class balance and to avoid model overfitting. The dataset was split into training, test, and validation set. After a multi-step dimension reduction process and feature selection process, the 11 most important and independent features were selected for statistical analyses.

Results

A gradient-boosted tree was trained on the selected 11 radiomic features in order to classify patients’ bones into bone metastasis and normal bone using the training dataset. This trained model achieved a classification accuracy of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–0.92, p < .001) with 78% sensitivity and 93% specificity. The tuned model was applied on the original, non-augmented dataset resulting in a classification accuracy of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82–0.98) with 91% sensitivity and 88% specificity.

Conclusion

Our proof-of-concept study indicates that radiomics may accurately differentiate unaffected bone from metastatic bone, being invisible by the human eye on CT.

Key Points

• This proof-of-concept study showed that radiomics applied on CT images may accurately differentiate between bone metastases and metastatic-free bone in patients with prostate cancer.

• Future promising applications include automatic bone segmentation, followed by a radiomics classifier, allowing for a screening-like approach in the detection of bone metastases.
An evaluation of short-term outcomes after reoperations for anastomotic leakage in colon cancer patients
Authors: Warps A. K. , Dekker J. W. T. , Tanis P. J. , Tollenaar R. A. E. M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Scarce data are available on differences among index colectomies for colon cancer regarding reoperation for anastomotic leakage (AL) and clinical consequences. Therefore, this nationwide observational study aimed to evaluate reoperations for AL after colon cancer surgery and short-term postoperative outcomes for the different index colectomies.

Methods

Patients who underwent resection with anastomosis for a first primary colon carcinoma between 2013 and 2019 and were registered in the Dutch ColoRectal Audit were included. Primary outcomes were mortality, ICU admission, and stoma creation.

Results

Among 39,565 patients, the overall AL rate was 4.8% and ranged between 4.0% (right hemicolectomy) and 15.4% (subtotal colectomy). AL was predominantly managed with reoperation, ranging from 81.2% after transversectomy to 92.4% after sigmoid resection (p < 0.001). Median time to reoperation differed significantly between index colectomies (range 4–8 days, p < 0.001), with longer and comparable intervals for non-surgical reinterventions (range 13–18 days, p = 0.747). After reoperation, the highest mortality rates were observed for index transversectomy (15.4%) and right hemicolectomy (14.4%) and lowest for index sigmoid resection (5.6%) and subtotal colectomy (5.9%) (p < 0.001). Reoperation with stoma construction was associated with a higher mortality risk than without stoma construction after index right hemicolectomy (17.7% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.001). ICU admission rate was 62.6% overall (range 56.7–69.2%), and stoma construction rate ranged between 65.5% (right hemicolectomy) and 93.0% (sigmoid resection).

Conclusion

Significant differences in AL rate, reoperation rate, time to reoperation, postoperative mortality after reoperation, and stoma construction for AL were found among the different index colectomies for colon cancer, with relevance for patient counseling and perioperative management.
Temporal fluctuations of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage
Authors: Grasl Stefan , Mekhail Patrick , Janik Stefan , Grasl Christoph M. , Vyskocil Erich , Erovic Boban M. , Arnoldner Christoph , Landegger Lukas D.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Although haemorrhage is a common and in some cases life-threatening complication after tonsillectomy, surprisingly little is known about the temporal fluctuations of the onset of bleeding. The purpose of this study was to assess circadian and seasonal rhythms of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (PTH) and potential ramifications to educate patients and health care staff.

Methods

This retrospective study carried out at a tertiary referral hospital included paediatric and adult patients requiring emergency surgery due to severe PTH between 1993 and 2019. Medical records were reviewed and patient demographics, details regarding the initial procedure, postoperative day of haemorrhage, and start time of emergency surgery were extracted. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–WhitneyUtest, and Chi-square goodness of fit tests were used to detect potential differences.

Results

A total of 300 patients with severe PTH and subsequent emergency surgery were identified. The median postoperative duration until PTH was 6 (range: < 1–19) days. 64.7% (n = 194) of all emergency surgeries had to be performed during evening and night hours (6 pm—6 am) (p < 0.0001). Compared to diurnal incidents, the risk of a nocturnal PTH event increased, the longer ago the initial surgery was (p < 0.0001). No seasonal variations were identified. Age, sex, and details of the initial procedure had no significant influence on the start time according to the surgical protocol.

Conclusion

The discovered temporal fluctuations of PTH are of relevance for patient awareness and preoperative education. Due to possible life-threatening complications, management of severe PTH requires specific resources and trained medical staff on call.
Eco-efficiency of system alternatives of the urban water-energy-waste nexus
Authors: Poganietz Witold-Roger , Friedrich Jasmin , Lehn Helmut
Published: September 2021

Wastewater systems in developed cities contribute significantly to public health. The related systems are energy and resource intensive and do not recover nutrients in an efficient and effective way. Separating wastewater to greywater and blackwater at the source and exploiting organic municipal solid waste as an additional feed to an adjunct biogas plant could support efforts to make use of the potentials to reduce the environmental impacts, to increase the energy efficiency of winning nutrients, and to implement an additional, locally available energy source. However, the implementation of such systems is seen as expensive.

The overarching aim of the paper is to analyze the eco-efficiency of transforming the current separately organized wastewater-energy-waste systems to an integrated one. The study differs between three system alternatives. The least invasive system change assumes a separation of wastewater at the source without a complete overhaul of the current system; the most elaborated one takes the current wastewater system fully out of operation. The reference for the current system is the existing system of a German medium-sized urban neighborhood. The analysis considers the eco-efficiency of two resource-related (fossil and metal depletion) and three emissions-related (climate change, photochemical oxidant formation and terrestrial acidification) impacts.

Under the conditions of the settlement investigated, a transformation to the system alternatives will generate in all cases a weak eco-efficiency, i.e. the higher costs of implementing a new system counteracts with the noteworthy environmental improvement. Of the three options, the most elaborated one sees the best performance.
Minding the Gaps in Fish Welfare: The Untapped Potential of Fish Farm Workers
Authors: Medaas Christian , Lien Marianne E. , Gismervik Kristine , Kristiansen Tore S. , Osmundsen Tonje , Størkersen Kristine Vedal , Tørud Brit , Stien Lars Helge
Published: September 2021

The welfare of farmed fish is often regarded with less concern than the welfare of other husbandry animals, as fish are not universally classified as sentient beings. In Norway, farmed fish and other husbandry animals are legally protected under the same laws. Additionally, the legislature has defined a number of aquaculture-specific amendments, including mandatory welfare courses for fish farmers who have a key role in securing animal welfare, also with regards to noting welfare challenges in the production process. This article uses fish welfare courses as a site from which to inquire about the common-sense understanding of fish welfare in Norwegian fish farming. The focus is specifically on fish farm employees, their experiences of welfare-related issues and contradictions in their daily work, and the struggle to act responsibly in aquaculture settings. Through participant observation at welfare courses, as well as interviews and conversations with fish farm workers, the article details how challenges are experienced ‘on the ground’, and suggests how fish farm workers’ own experiential knowledge might be mobilized to improve the general welfare of farmed fish.
Analysis of AC Transport Loss in Conductor on Round Core Cables
Authors: Yang Jiabin , Li Chao , Tian Mengyuan , Liu Shuyu , Shen Boyang , Hao Luning , Ozturk Yavuz , Coombs Tim
Published: September 2021

The conductor on round core (CORC) cable wound with second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes is a promising cable candidate with superiority in current capacity and mechanical strength. The composing superconductors and the former are tightly assembled, resulting in a strong electro-magnetic interaction between them. Correspondingly, the AC loss is influenced by the cable structure. In this paper, a 3D finite-element model of the CORC cable is first built, and it includes the complex geometry, the angular dependence of critical current and the periodic settings. The modelling is verified by the measurements conducted for the transport loss of a two-layer CORC cable. Subsequently, the simulated results show that the primary transport loss shifts from the former to the superconductors as the current increases. Meanwhile, the loss exhibited in the outer layer is larger than that of the inner layer, which is caused by the shielding effect among layers and the former. This also leads to the current inhomogeneity in CORC cables. In contrast with the two-layer case, the simulated single-layer structure indicates stronger frequency dependence because the eddy current loss in the copper former is always dominant without the cancellation of the opposite-wound layers. The core eddy current of the single structure is denser on the outer surface. Finally, the AC transport losses among a straight HTS tape, a two-layer cable and a single-layer cable are compared. The two-layer structure is confirmed to minimise the loss, meaning an even-numbered arrangement makes better use of the cable space and superconducting materials. Having illustrated the electro-magnetic behaviour inside the CORC cable, this work is an essential reference for the structure design of CORC cables.
Effects of long-term deep freezing on human femoral cartilage: differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis and histopathological evaluations
Authors: Szabó Ivett , Patzai Balázs , Lőrinczy Dénes
Published: September 2021

Results from our previous study proved that differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a reliable method for qualitative evaluation of morphological changes in human cartilage samples caused by cryopreservation and storage time correlates with graft quality [1, 2]. Our current aim was to specify/characterise the effects of deep-freezing on hyaline cartilage in conjunction with length of storage time. Detailed analysis included DSC and histological measurements which showed distinctive differences. Based on our histological examinations, we could not confirm significant association between cartilage destruction and long-time storage, but the DSC results exhibited a definite change in thermal parameters after the 6th week cryopreservation. A modified and more detailed analysis would be useful to determine the effects of deep-freezing.
Financial accounting for deferred taxes: a systematic review of empirical evidence
Authors: Görlitz Anna , Dobler Michael
Published: September 2021

Deferred taxes—resulting from differences between financial and tax accounts—have been a long-standing, contentious issue in financial accounting regulation, practice, and research. Debates on concepts and standards have been accompanied by doubts around whether and the extent to which deferred taxes provide relevant information for financial statement users and are employed by firms to manage their earnings. This paper systematically reviews the body of empirical evidence that has emerged over the last three decades on deferred taxes in the fields of value relevance and earnings management. A bibliographic analysis and a narrative synthesis are presented within a thematic categorization framework. Key results indicate that existing research focuses on the US setting. There is substantial evidence for the value relevance of various deferred tax items but limited evidence that firms use deferred taxes to manage their earnings. The findings suggest implications for both future research and the regulatory debate.
Hinweise und Empfehlungen für die Konzeption von Lehrkräftefortbildungen zu digitalen Medien
Authors: Schulze-Vorberg Lukas , Krille Claudia , Fabriz Sabine , Horz Holger
Published: September 2021

Um Unterricht durch digitale Medien lernwirksam gestalten zu können, sollten Lehrkräfte über die notwendigen Kompetenzen für einen didaktisch angemessenen und reflektieren Einsatz von Technologien verfügen. Neben der Verbesserung der technischen Infrastruktur an Schulen ist es daher notwendig, Lehrkräfte bei ihrer Professionalisierung zu unterstützen. Lehrkräfte an deutschen Schulen zeigen allerdings eine eher zurückhaltende Teilnahme an Fortbildungsangeboten zu digitalen Themen, was auf eine fehlende Passung zu den realen Bedarfen hinweisen kann. Der vorliegende Beitrag widmet sich daher Präferenzen von Lehrkräften zu Inhalten und Gestaltungsmerkmalen von Fortbildungen zu digitalen Medien und berichtet dazu Ergebnisse einer Befragung von Gymnasiallehrkräften (N = 238). Um möglichst zielgruppenspezifische Ergebnisse zu erhalten, wurden über eine latente Profilanalyse mit Personenmerkmalen (technologisches und technologisch-pädagogisches Wissen, Selbstwirksamkeit, Mediennutzung) drei Profile identifiziert und im Hinblick auf ihre Präferenzen verglichen. Die Ergebnisse weisen auf eine Vielfalt an thematischen Wünschen sowie auf die Notwendigkeit einer bedarfsgerechten Gestaltung von Fortbildungen hin. Abschließend werden zusammenfassende Empfehlungen zur Gestaltung von Lehrkräftefortbildungen zu digitalen Medien formuliert.
Is the Association Between Education and Sympathovagal Balance Mediated by Chronic Stressors?
Authors: van Nieuwenhuizen Benjamin P. , Sekercan Aydin , Tan Hanno L. , Blom Marieke T. , Lok Anja , van den Born Bert-Jan H. , Kunst Anton E. , van Valkengoed Irene G. M.
Published: September 2021

Background

This study investigated whether raised chronic stress in low education groups contributes to education differences in cardiovascular disease by altering sympathovagal balance.

Methods

This study included cross-sectional data of 10,202 participants from the multi-ethnic, population-based HELIUS-study. Sympathovagal balance was measured by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), the standard deviation of the inter-beat interval (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD). The associations between chronic stressors (work, home, psychiatric, financial, negative life events, lack of job control and perceived discrimination) in a variety of domains and BRS, SDNN and RMSSD were assessed using linear regression, adjusted for age, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio and pack-years smoked. Mediation analysis was used to assess the contribution of chronic stress to the association between education and sympathovagal balance.

Results

Modest but significant associations were observed between financial stress and BRS and SDNN in women, but not in RMSSD nor for any outcome measure in men. Women with the highest category of financial stress had 0.55% lower BRS (ms/mmHg; β = -0.055; CI = -0.098, -0.011) and 0.61% lower SDNN (ms; β = -0.061; CI = -0.099, -0.024) than those in the lowest category. Financial stress in women contributed 7.1% to the association between education and BRS, and 13.8% to the association between education and SDNN.

Conclusion

No evidence was found for the hypothesized pathway in which sympathovagal balance is altered by chronic stress, except for a small contribution of financial stress in women.
Defect Detection in the Winding Layer of CNG Composite-Wound Cylindersvirtue of minimal mechanism is that it allows
Authors: Lv Hui , Shen Gongtian , Yu Yue , Zhu Lixiong , Zhou Rui
Published: September 2021

Natural gas vehicles have been widely used around the world as a mode of green transportation. The defect detection method for a vehicle cylinder, which is the energy storage component of a natural gas vehicle, is essential for ensuring safety. Current vehicle cylinder testing methods are relatively simple and cannot quickly and accurately detect internal defects in the winding layer of the cylinder. In this study, the effect of winding layer defects on the temperature behavior of cylinders during filling was studied using finite element simulation and infrared thermal imaging technology. The results show that a defect in the winding layer acts as a source of thermal resistance that hinders heat transfer. The more serious the defect is, the greater the hindrance of the heat transfer is. According to this principle, an evaluation model based on the R parameter was developed for the temperature changes due to defects, and a method for quantitatively correlating the maximum R value with the defect depth was established, thereby providing a practical approach for the rapid detection and evaluation of defects in cylinder winding layers.
Evaluating genetic and genomic tests for heritable conditions in Australia: lessons learnt from health technology assessments
Authors: Norris Sarah , Belcher Andrea , Howard Kirsten , Ward Robyn L.
Published: September 2021

The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) is an independent non-statutory committee established by the Australian government to provide recommendations on public reimbursement of technologies and services, other than pharmaceuticals. MSAC has established approaches for undertaking health technology assessment (HTA) of investigative services and codependent technologies. In 2016, MSAC published its clinical utility card (CUC) Proforma, an additional tool to guide assessments of genetic testing for heritable conditions. We undertook a review and narrative synthesis of information extracted from all MSAC assessments of genetic testing for heritable conditions completed since 2016, regardless of the HTA approach taken. Ten assessments met our inclusion criteria, covering a range of testing methods (from gene panels to whole-exome sequencing) and purposes (including molecular diagnosis, genetic risk assessment, identification of congenital anomaly syndromes, and carrier screening). This analysis identified a range of methodological and policy challenges such as how to incorporate patient and societal preferences for the health and non-health outcomes of genomic testing, how best to capture the concept of co-production of utility, and how to engage clinicians as referrers for genomics tests whilst at the same time ensuring equity of access to a geographically dispersed population. A further challenge related to how qualitative assessments of patient and community needs influenced the evidence thresholds against which decisions were made. These concepts should be considered for incorporation within the value assessment frameworks used by HTA agencies around the world.
Impacts of temperature alteration on the drinking water quality stored in plastic bottles
Authors: Ahmed Abdelkader T. , Emad Mohammed , Bkary Mohammed A.
Published: September 2021

Many people prefer to drink bottled water instead off the tap water. The bottled water is stored in the plastic bottles sometimes for long time. These plastic bottles might leach out some harmful materials into the water especially when exposed to temperature alteration, which may affect human health. This research work focused on investigating the effect of changing temperature on the bottled water quality. The work studied the effect of heating water in plastic bottles by sun, oven, and microwave. The study included also the impact of cooling and freezing the bottled waters. Results showed that temperature alterations caused changes in some physicochemical properties of bottled waters such as decreasing the values of pH and TDS and increasing levels of fluoride and chloride. In addition, the concentration levels of some physiochemical parameters exceeded the permissible values for drinking water. With temperature alterations, all levels of heavy metals in bottled waters were minimal except some small concentrations of copper and zinc. Results confirmed also differences in behavior between the bottled water brands exposed to the same temperature alterations. Heating bottled waters above 50 °C is alarming problem on the water quality. This is because above this degree, many alternations were observed in the water content. The outcomes of this work are useful for improving the current legislation on bottled waters and their storage.
A systematic review of data science and machine learning applications to the oil and gas industry
Authors: Tariq Zeeshan , Aljawad Murtada Saleh , Hasan Amjed , Murtaza Mobeen , Mohammed Emad , El-Husseiny Ammar , Alarifi Sulaiman A. , Mahmoud Mohamed , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez
Published: September 2021

This study offered a detailed review of data sciences and machine learning (ML) roles in different petroleum engineering and geosciences segments such as petroleum exploration, reservoir characterization, oil well drilling, production, and well stimulation, emphasizing the newly emerging field of unconventional reservoirs. The future of data science and ML in the oil and gas industry, highlighting what is required from ML for better prediction, is also discussed. This study also provides a comprehensive comparison of different ML techniques used in the oil and gas industry. With the arrival of powerful computers, advanced ML algorithms, and extensive data generation from different industry tools, we see a bright future in developing solutions to the complex problems in the oil and gas industry that were previously beyond the grip of analytical solutions or numerical simulation. ML tools can incorporate every detail in the log data and every information connected to the target data. Despite their limitations, they are not constrained by limiting assumptions of analytical solutions or by particular data and/or power processing requirements of numerical simulators. This detailed and comprehensive study can serve as an exclusive reference for ML applications in the industry. Based on the review conducted, it was found that ML techniques offer a great potential in solving problems in almost all areas of the oil and gas industry involving prediction, classification, and clustering. With the generation of huge data in everyday oil and gas industry activates, machine learning and big data handling techniques are becoming a necessity toward a more efficient industry.
Lower pollen nutritional quality delays nest building and egg laying in Bombus terrestris audax micro-colonies leading to reduced biomass gain
Authors: Ryder Jordan T. , Cherrill Andrew , Thompson Helen M. , Walters Keith F. A.
Published: September 2021

The performance ofBombus terrestrismicro-colonies fed five diets differing in pollen species composition and level of nine essential amino acids (EAA; leucine, lysine, valine, arginine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, histidine, methionine) was assessed for 37 days by recording total biomass gain, nest building initiation, brood production (eggs, small and large larvae, pupae, drones), nectar, and pollen collection. Stronger colony performance was linked to higher amino acid levels but no consistent differences in biomass gain were recorded between mono- and poly-species diets. Poorest performance occurred in micro-colonies offered pure oilseed rape (OSR) pollen which contained the lowest EAA levels. Reduced micro-colony development (delayed nest initiation and lower brood production) was related to OSR proportion in the diet and lower EAA levels. Results are discussed in relation to selection of plant species in the design of habitats to promote bee populations.
Significant strain-rate dependence of sensing behavior in TiO2@carbon fibre/PDMS composites for flexible strain sensors
Authors: Zhang Fan , Hu Hailong , Hu Simin , Yue Jianling
Published: September 2021

Carbon fibre (CF) embedded into elastomeric media has been attracting incredible interest as flexible strain sensors in the application of skin electronics owing to their high sensitivity in a very small strain gauge. To further improve the sensitivity of CF/PDMS composite strain sensor, the relatively low temperature prepared TiO2 nanowire via hydrothermal route was employed herein to functionalize CF. The results showed a significant increase in the sensitivity of the TiO2@CF/PDMS composite strain sensors which was reflected by the calculated gauge factor. As the prepared TiO2 nanowire vertically embraced the surroundings of the CF, the introduced TiO2 nanowire contributed to a highly porous structure which played a predominant role in improving the sensitivity of strain sensors. Moreover, the significant strain rate dependent behavior of TiO2@CF/PDMS strain sensor was revealed when performing monotonic tests at varied strain rate. Therefore, introducing TiO2 nanowire on CF offers a new technique for fabricating flexible strain sensors with improved sensitivity for the application of flexible electronics.
Iron Making in Fornovolasco (Italy) at the End of the Fifteenth Century, the Canecchio Furnace, and an Artifact Characterization
Authors: Gruttadauria Andrea , Barella Silvia , Mapelli Carlo , Mombelli Davide
Published: September 2021

This study investigates the rise of the Este family in Garfagnana (Tuscany, Italy) during the first half of the 15th century. The Este wanted to annex this region to improve their cast-iron production both for military and economic advantages. This article, thanks to a document found in the State Archives of Modena, encompasses an overview of the Fornovolasco settlement, a description of the furnace room, an analysis of the first casting campaign, and an attempt at furnace sizing. In the final section, a brief characterization of a cast-iron artifact found in that region and probably coming from this casting campaign is provided.
The Road to the Beijing Winter Olympics and Beyond: Opinions and Perspectives on Physiology and Innovation in Winter Sport
Authors: Wang Jun , Guan Hongwei , Hostrup Morten , Rowlands David S. , González-Alonso José , Jensen Jørgen
Published: September 2021

Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, and China strengthens research on various aspects to allow their athletes to compete successfully in winter sport. Simultaneously, Government-directed initiatives aim to increase public participation in recreational winter sport. These parallel developments allow research to advance knowledge and understanding of the physiological determinants of performance and health related to winter sport. Winter sport athletes often conduct a substantial amount of training with high volumes of low-to-moderate exercise intensity and lower volumes of high-intensity work. Moreover, much of the training occur at low ambient temperatures and winter sport athletes have high risk of developing asthma or asthma-related conditions, such as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. The high training volumes require optimal nutrition with increased energy and dietary protein requirement to stimulate muscle protein synthesis response in the post-exercise period. Whether higher protein intake is required in the cold should be investigated. Cross-country skiing is performed mostly in Northern hemisphere with a strong cultural heritage and sporting tradition. It is expected that innovative initiatives on recruitment and training during the next few years will target to enhance performance of Chinese athletes in classical endurance-based winter sport. The innovation potential coupled with resourcing and population may be substantial with the potential for China to become a significant winter sport nation. This paper discusses the physiological aspects of endurance training and performance in winter sport highlighting areas where innovation may advance in athletic performance in cold environments. In addition, to ensure sustainable development of snow sport, a quality ski patrol and rescue system is recommended for the safety of increasing mass participation.
The role of related strategic alliances before mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Brinster Leonhard
Published: September 2021

Using mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals by companies from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, this study analyzes the role of different types of prior ties between companies. The research distinguishes related alliances into direct and indirect alliances. Related alliances provide access to more information and can reduce transaction costs. The reduction of such costs can lead to a more successful target selection and a more efficient transaction process of the M&A deal because the time from announcement to completion can be reduced. This effect can be explained by trust-building, better access to private information, and certification through related alliances. However, in contrast to other studies, this study does not find statistically significant evidence that supports the hypothesis that alliances increase the post-M&A performance and that alliances are associated with higher announcement returns.
Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Min , Cai Xianghao , Hao Guang , Li Wenhao , Chen Qingshan , Chen Yuhan , Xiong Peng
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) has become a serious and widespread public health issue, which might result in low quality of life and increase the global burden of diseases.

Aim

To quantitatively estimate the pooled prevalence of IPV and its specific forms (physical violence, sexual violence and emotional violence) among MSM.

Methods

Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CNKI, WANFANG Data, and Weipu (CQVIP) Data were searched for identified studies published between January 1990 and August 2020. Random effect meta-analyses were used to synthesize the pooled prevalence and 95% CIs of IPV.

Main Outcome Measures

The pooled prevalence of IPV in victimization and in perpetration among MSM.

Results

A total of 52 studies with 32,048 participants were included for final analysis. The pooled prevalence of IPV was 33% (6,342 of 19,873; 95%CI, 28–39%) in victimization and 29% (1,491 of 5,983; 95%CI, 17 –40%) in perpetration across all recall periods among MSM population. Furthermore, the pooled prevalence of physical violence was 17% (3,979 of 22,928; 95%CI, 14 –20%) and 12% (942 of 9,236; 95%CI, 10 –15%), of sexual violence was 9% (1,527 of 19,511; 95%CI, 8 –11%) and 4% (324 of 8,044; 95%CI, 3 –5%), of emotional violence was 33% (5,147 of 17,994; 95%CI, 25 –40%) and 41% (1,317 of 3,811; 95%CI, 17 –65%) in victimization and perpetration, respectively. Out of all the IPV identified, emotional violence was estimated at the highest level.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a high prevalence of IPV both in victimization and perpetration among MSM, and emotional violence was estimated at the highest level out of all IPV forms. Efforts are needed to develop corresponding prevention programs for victims with an intent to increase the accessible availability of health services, and ultimately improve their life quality.
Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics following mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction
Authors: Warren David K. , Peacock Kate M. , Nickel Katelin B. , Fraser Victoria J. , Olsen Margaret A. ,   for the CDC Prevention Epicenter Program
Published: September 2021

Background:

Prophylactic antibiotics are commonly prescribed at discharge for mastectomy, despite guidelines recommending against this practice. We investigated factors associated with postdischarge prophylactic antibiotic use after mastectomy with and without immediate reconstruction and the impact on surgical-site infection (SSI).

Study design:

We studied a cohort of women aged 18–64 years undergoing mastectomy between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2015, using the MarketScan commercial database. Patients with nonsurgical perioperative infections were excluded. Postdischarge oral antibiotics were identified from outpatient drug claims. SSI was defined usingInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification(ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes. Generalized linear models were used to determine factors associated with postdischarge prophylactic antibiotic use and SSI.

Results:

The cohort included 38,793 procedures; 24,818 (64%) with immediate reconstruction. Prophylactic antibiotics were prescribed after discharge after 2,688 mastectomy-only procedures (19.2%) and 17,807 mastectomies with immediate reconstruction (71.8%). The 90-day incidence of SSI was 3.5% after mastectomy only and 8.8% after mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Antibiotics with anti–methicillin-sensitiveStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA) activity were associated with decreased SSI risk after mastectomy only (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–0.99) and mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (aRR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.73–0.88), respectively. The numbers needed to treat to prevent 1 additional SSI were 107 and 48, respectively.

Conclusions:

Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics were common after mastectomy. Anti-MSSA antibiotics were associated with decreased risk of SSI for patients who had mastectomy only and those who had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. The high numbers needed to treat suggest that potential benefits of postdischarge antibiotics should be weighed against potential harms associated with antibiotic overuse.
Inequality and the Human Right to Tuition-Free Higher Education: Mobilizing Human Rights Law in the German Movement against Tuition Fees
Authors: Beck Jonathan C.
Published: September 2021

Why do activists employ international human rights law in domestic policy disputes and to what effect? Can international human rights law play an important role in cases where its direct application and justiciability by domestic courts is questionable? This study considers these questions in the area of socioeconomic rights by analyzing the mobilization of human rights law in the German social movement against tuition fees. Whereas legal mobilization theory is broadly concerned with the invocation of law on behalf of political demands, this article emphasizes discursive opportunity structures and vernacularization to make sense of which rights are adopted, why, and with what impact. I draw on content analysis of movement and political party documents, court decisions, and news reports as well as semi-structured interviews and participant observation. I find that activists in Germany were not naive about human rights. Instead, activists invoked human rights to resist political elites’ framing of education as a private good and students as consumers and to broaden the issue to include social inclusion and justice throughout the German education system. The mobilization of human rights law also was an effective means by which activists generated media attention and pressured politicians.
Research on frog-inspired swimming robot driven by pneumatic muscles
Authors: Fan Jizhuang , Wang Shuqi , Wang Yi , Li Ge , Zhao Jie , Liu Gangfeng
Published: September 2021

This article designs a frog-inspired swimming robot based on pneumatic muscles. The musculoskeletal characteristics of the frog are refined and used as the basis for the design of the robot joint structure and movement mode. The posture adjustment module, joint water seal, and power system are designed to meet the robot’s motion requirements, and the structure optimization design of the robot is completed by combining simulation analysis. The body length of the robot is about 710 mm, and the overall mass is 10 kg. Combining the structural characteristics of the robot, the control system is built to realize the frog-like motion. The robot’s propulsion speed is about 0.6 m/s, the propulsion distance reaches 2.4 m, the turning angle is 30°, and the turning radius is 0.6 m. The prototype experiment verifies the rationality of the frog-inspired swimming robot structure design and the reliability of the control system and water seal.
Livelihood vulnerability increases human–wildlife interactions
Authors: Pereira Joana , Rosalino Luís Miguel , Mucova Serafino , Massangue Yasalde , Abdulrazak Murchide , Vahossa Somar , Selemane Mouzinho , Fonseca Carlos , Santos Maria João
Published: September 2021

Human–wildlife interactions (HWIs) occur in many rural African communities, with potential impacts on livelihood vulnerability. High livelihood vulnerability may force communities to employ strategies that increase the risk of negative HWIs, yet the extent to which HWIs drive or are driven by vulnerability is unclear. We hypothesized that more vulnerable households are more likely to be exposed to wildlife and experience negative interactions. To test this hypothesis, we calculated the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) of rural households in and around Quirimbas National Park (north-eastern Mozambique) and assessed whether there is a link between livelihood vulnerability and HWIs. We found a two-way association between LVI and HWIs, with more vulnerable households indeed taking greater risks and encountering wildlife when fetching water from rivers, whereas less vulnerable households tended not to employ strategies likely to increase wildlife encounters. We also observed that HWIs exert a strong effect on livelihood vulnerability, suggesting that HWIs should be included as an exposure factor in vulnerability assessments for rural households. We recommend that livelihood strategies and community vulnerability should be considered when designing HWI mitigation schemes and implementing conservation measures.
Anger and predictors of drop-out from PTSD treatment of veterans and first responders
Authors: Hinton Emily , Steel Zachary , Hilbrink Dominic , Berle David
Published: September 2021

Background:

Drop-out is an important barrier in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with consequences that negatively impact clients, clinicians and mental health services as a whole. Anger is a common experience in people with PTSD and is more prevalent in military veterans. To date, no research has examined if anger may predict drop-out in military veterans or first responders.

Aims:

The present study aimed to determine the variables that predict drop-out among individuals receiving residential treatment for PTSD.

Method:

Ninety-five military veterans and first responders completed pre-treatment measures of PTSD symptom severity, depression, anxiety, anger, and demographic variables. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine if these variables predicted drop-out from treatment or patterns of attendance.

Results:

Female gender was predictive of drop-out. However, when analysed by occupation female gender was predictive of drop-out among first responders and younger age was predictive of drop-out in military participants. Anger, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptom severity were not predictive of drop-out in any of the analyses. No variables were found to predict attendance patterns (consistent or inconsistent) or early versus late drop-out from the programme.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that although anger is a relevant issue for treating PTSD, other factors may be more pertinent to drop-out, particularly in this sample. In contrast with other findings, female gender was predictive of drop-out in this study. This may indicate that in this sample, there are unique characteristics and possible interacting variables that warrant exploration in future research.