bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consider increasing housing for grad students to improve retention rates
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2021

The state of California is facing a housing crisis, one that has only worsened with the COVID‐19 pandemic. The University of California, Santa Cruz is doing its part to combat that crisis by converting open fields to a new student housing complex, which will be called Student Housing West.
Mediation of perceived stress and cortisol in the association between neuroticism and global cognition in older adults: A longitudinal study
Authors: Montoliu Teresa , Pulopulos Matías M. , Puig‐Pérez Sara , Hidalgo Vanesa , Salvador Alicia
Published: August 2021

Neuroticism has been associated with a greater dementia risk, but its association with cognitive decline in healthy older adults remains unclear. Stress has been proposed as one of the mechanisms that could explain this relationship. Our aim was to analyse, in healthy older people, the mediating role of perceived stress and the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis in the association between neuroticism and global cognition. At Waves 1 and 2 (4‐year follow‐up), 87 older people (49.4% women; M age = 65.08, SD = 4.54 at Wave 1) completed a neuropsychological battery and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and provided saliva samples on two (Wave 1) and three (Wave 2) consecutive days to measure the wake‐to‐bed slope. In Wave 2, neuroticism was assessed with the NEO‐Five‐Factor Inventory. PSS, but not the wake‐to‐bed slope, mediated the negative associations between neuroticism and global cognition (Waves 1, 2 and change). Regarding gender differences, PSS (Waves 1, 2 and change) and the wake‐to‐bed slope (Wave 2 and change) mediated these associations in men. Our results suggest that perceived stress and HPA‐axis dysregulation could act as mechanisms underlying the association between neuroticism and cognitive functioning and decline, at least in older men.
Wood‐Derived Integral Air Electrode for Enhanced Interfacial Electrocatalysis in Rechargeable Zinc–Air Battery
Authors: Cui Xingyu , Liu Yanyan , Han Guosheng , Cao Mengmeng , Han Lei , Zhou Benji , Mehdi Sehrish , Wu Xianli , Li Baojun , Jiang Jianchun
Published: August 2021

Zinc–air batteries (ZABs) are promising as energy storage devices owing to their high energy density and the safety of electrolytes. Construction of abundant triple‐phase boundary (TPB) effectively facilitates cathode reactions occurring at TPB. Herein, a wood‐derived integral air electrode containing Co/CoO nanoparticles and nitrogen‐doped carbonized wood (Co/CoO@NWC) is constructed with a dual catalytic function. The potential gap between oxygen reduction and evolution is shortened to 0.77 V. Liquid ZABs using Co/CoO@NWC as cathode exhibit high discharge specific capacity (800 mAh gZn−1), low charge–discharge gap (0.84 V), and long‐term cycling stability (270 h). Co/CoO@NWC also shows distinguished catalytic activity and stability in all‐solid‐state ZABs. The inherent layered porous and pipe structures of wood are well maintained in catalytically active carbon. The different hydrophilicity of carbonized wood and Co/CoO endow abundant TPBs for battery reaction. The Co/CoO located on TPB provides main active sites for oxygen reactions. The inherent pipe structures of wood carbon and the interaction between Co/CoO and NWC effectively prevent nanoparticles from aggregation. The design and preparation of this monolithic electrocatalyst contribute to the broad‐scale application of ZABs and promote the development of next‐generation biomass‐based storage devices.
Electrocatalytic Reactions for Converting CO2 to Value‐Added Products
Authors: Quan Yueli , Zhu Jiexin , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: August 2021

Converting CO2 into valuable chemical products has been intensively explored in recent years. Benefited from the substantial cost reduction of clean electricity, the electrochemical methods have been emerging as a potential means for CO2 conversion and fixation. Direct electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) with H2O is achieved with continuously improved efficiency, selectivity and stability. In contrast, the coupled CO2RR with small molecules and organic substrates, which can allow to form higher valuable chemicals, is still hindered by the poor selectivity, unclear reaction mechanisms, and suboptimal performances of electrocatalysts. Herein, the development of CO2RR with electrocatalysts and reaction mechanisms is first introduced. Several representative examples are described for emphasizing concepts and methodologies. The research process and reaction mechanisms of the coupled CO2RR are then briefly discussed. Finally, challenges and perspectives in this field are addressed to further inspire the development of the fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms for coupled CO2RR, as well as the optimization of electrocatalysts, electrolytes, and electrolyzers with high activity and selectivity.
Comparative study of geometrical properties and simplified preliminary design procedure for concrete arch bridges
Authors: Tibaldo Giulia , Molner Luciano , Todisco Leonardo , Corres Peiretti Hugo
Published: August 2021

This paper first presents a comprehensive database of 58 (specifically, 38 roadway and 20 railway) concrete arch bridges built in Spain during the last century. The collected information includes geometrical and mechanical data to define the main relations among different parameters and to identify specific trends. In addition, this information has been combined with data collected by other authors to compare results with other worldwide bridges with similar features. In summary, 112 concrete arch bridges covering a span range from 12 to 384 meters have been used to investigate relations of a variety of parameters such as flatness, arch and girder depths, bending stiffness, slenderness, effective slab thickness and dimensionless axial forces. Finally, based on this study, a data‐drive simplified procedure for the preliminary design of such bridges is proposed.
Persons with dementia and informal caregivers prioritizing care: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: Wammes Joost D. , Labrie Nanon H. M. , Agogo George O. , Monin Joan K. , de Bekker‐Grob Esther W. , MacNeil Vroomen Janet L.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

More persons with dementia are residing in the community as many countries shift from residential care to home and community care. Although there are many forms of care and support available to avoid crisis situations and prolong community living, it remains unclear how these are valued by community‐dwelling persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. Understanding perspectives of persons with dementia and informal caregivers on care characteristics is a vital step in valuing care services. This study aims to prioritize care characteristics for community‐dwelling persons with dementia and informal caregivers with the use of an innovative mixed‐methods approach.

Methods

Six mixed focus groups were conducted in The Netherlands with persons with dementia (n = 23) and informal caregivers (n = 20), including a quantitative ranking exercise that prioritized seven care and support characteristics from "most important" to "least important," followed by a group discussion about the prioritization. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

The ranking exercise and discussion showed that persons with dementia favored in‐home care, help with daily activities, and social activities, whereas informal caregivers favored social activities, information about dementia, navigating the health care system, and emotional support.

Discussion

Persons with dementia prioritized day‐to‐day activities, whereas informal caregivers preferred assistance with organizing care and coping with caregiving. This study created a method to capture the care preferences of persons with dementia and informal caregivers.
Management of severe, progressive oral papillomatosis in a dog with CO2 laser ablation and canine papillomavirus L1 immunisation
Authors: Rich Naomi , Duclos David , Yuan Hang
Published: August 2021

A 1.5‐year‐old, male intact Basset Hound presented with a 2‐month history of rapidly progressing oral papillomatosis. The dog exhibited ptyalism, oral pain, difficulty in prehending food and a strong malodor from the oral cavity. The dog was unresponsive to oral azithromycin and injectable interferon therapy. The dog was treated with laser ablation of the lesions every 2–4 weeks and received 10 doses of a canine papillomavirus type 1 (CPV1) L1 virus‐like particle vaccine every 14 days for 20 weeks. At the end of the 14 weeks, the recurrence of oral lesions had slowed significantly with minimal papillomas remaining in the oral cavity. Eight weeks later a final laser ablation surgery was performed to remove a small number of recrudescent papillomas. Two weeks later the dog had no oral lesions. Long‐term follow‐up was not possible as the dog was euthanised due to the emergence of a B cell lymphoproliferative disease and subsequent decline. The presence of an immune suppressive neoplasia may help to explain the development of severe, refractory oral papillomatosis in a young dog.
Unified emergence of energy scales and cosmic inflation
Authors: Kubo Jisuke , Kuntz Jeffrey , Lindner Manfred , Rezacek Jonas , Saake Philipp , Trautner Andreas
Published: August 2021

Abstract

In the quest for unification of the Standard Model with gravity, classical scale invariance can be utilized to dynamically generate the Planck mass MPl. However, the relation of Planck scale physics to the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking μH requires further explanation. In this paper, we propose a model that uses the spontaneous breaking of scale invariance in the scalar sector as a unified origin for dynamical generation of both scales. Using the Gildener-Weinberg approximation, only one scalar acquires a vacuum expectation value of υS ∼ (1016−17) GeV, thus radiatively generating $$ {M}_{\mathrm{P}1}\approx {\beta}_S^{1/2}{\upsilon}_S $$

M

P
1

≈

β
S

1
/
2

υ
S

and μH via the neutrino option with right handed neutrino masses mN = yMυS ∼ 107 GeV. Consequently, active SM neutrinos are given a mass with the inclusion of a type-I seesaw mechanism. Furthermore, we adopt an unbroken Z2 symmetry and a Z2-odd set of right-handed Majorana neutrinos χ that do not take part in the neutrino option and are able to produce the correct dark matter relic abundance (dominantly) via inflaton decay. The model also describes cosmic inflation and the inflationary CMB observables are predicted to interpolate between those of R2 and linear chaotic inflationary model and are thus well within the strongest experimental constraints.
Entanglement harvesting in the presence of a reflecting boundary
Authors: Liu Zhihong , Zhang Jialin , Yu Hongwei
Published: August 2021

Abstract

We study, in the framework of the entanglement harvesting protocol, the entanglement harvesting of both a pair of inertial and uniformly accelerated detectors locally interacting with vacuum massless scalar fields subjected to a perfectly reflecting plane boundary. We find that the presence of the boundary generally degrades the harvested entanglement when two detectors are very close to the boundary. However, when the distance between detectors and the boundary becomes comparable to the interaction duration parameter, the amount of the harvested entanglement approaches a peak, which even goes beyond that without a boundary. Remarkably, the parameter space of the detectors’ separation and the magnitude of acceleration that allows entanglement harvesting to occur is enlarged due to the presence of the boundary. In this sense, the boundary plays a double-edged role on entanglement harvesting, degrading in general the harvested entanglement while enlarging the entanglement harvesting-achievable parameter space. A comparison of three different acceleration scenarios of the detectors with respect to the boundary, i.e., parallel, anti-parallel and mutually perpendicular acceleration, shows that the phenomenon of entanglement harvesting crucially depends on the acceleration, the separation between two detectors and the detectors’ distance from the boundary.
LayOpt: an educational web-app for truss layout optimization
Authors: Fairclough Helen E. , He Linwei , Pritchard Thomas J. , Gilbert Matthew
Published: August 2021

A new interactive truss layout optimization web-app has been developed for educational use. This has been designed to be used on a range of devices, from mobile phones to desktop PCs. Truss designs are first generated via numerical layout optimization and then rationalized via geometry optimization. It is then shown that these designs can be simplified using a computationally inexpensive process that allows the user to control the trade-off between complexity and structural volume. The process involves the use of smooth Heaviside representations of member existence variables, with nodal slack forces employed that allow unstable intermediate truss structures. Full details of the web-app are provided in this contribution, from underlying formulation to cloud computing implementation. A range of numerical examples are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the web-app, and to show how it can potentially be used in educational and practical engineering settings.
Minimal graft site morbidity using autogenous semitendinosus graft from the uninjured leg: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: von Essen Christoffer , McCallum Sebastian , Eriksson Karl , Barenius Björn
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To quantify the effect on strength of semitendinosus (ST) graft harvest by comparing isokinetic and isometric muscle strength.

Methods

A cohort of 140 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) and were randomized to ipsilateral or contralateral ST graft harvest. Isokinetic and isometric muscle strength testing using a dynamometer were collected for the operated and non-operated leg. Patients were assessed pre-surgery and at 6, 12 and 24 months after reconstruction.

Results

ST graft harvest reduced isokinetic flexion muscle strength for 6 months. At 12 months follow up there was no significant difference between the two groups and they were all stronger than pre-injury. No other significant differences were found in any primary or secondary outcome measurements.

Conclusion

Solitary ST graft harvest does not appear to result in a permanent reduced isometric or isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength on the side where the graft is harvested. A reduction in hamstring muscle strength of less than 10% can be seen at short-term follow-up with full recovery by 12 months. Most patients report little or no donor site pain. Given these findings, ST autograft is an alternative graft choice that could be used for various reconstructions in terms of donor site morbidity.

Level of evidence

Level II.
The EU chemicals strategy for sustainability: in support of the BfR position
Authors: Barile Frank A. , Berry Sir Colin , Blaauboer Bas , Boobis Alan , Bolt Herrmann M. , Borgert Christopher , Dekant Wolfgang , Dietrich Daniel , Domingo Jose L. , Galli Corrado L. , Gori Gio Batta , Greim Helmut , Hengstler Jan G. , Heslop-Harrison Pat , Kacew Sam , Marquardt Hans , Mally Angela , Pelkonen Olavi , Savolainen Kai , Testai Emanuela , Tsatsakis Aristides , Vermeulen Nico P.
Published: August 2021

The EU chemicals strategy for sustainability (CSS) asserts that both human health and the environment are presently threatened and that further regulation is necessary. In a recent Guest Editorial, members of the German competent authority for risk assessment, the BfR, raised concerns about the scientific justification for this strategy. The complexity and interdependence of the networks of regulation of chemical substances have ensured that public health and wellbeing in the EU have continuously improved. A continuous process of improvement in consumer protection is clearly desirable but any initiative directed towards this objective must be based on scientific knowledge. It must not confound risk with other factors in determining policy. This conclusion is fully supported in the present Commentary including the request to improve both, data collection and the time-consuming and bureaucratic procedures that delay the publication of regulations.
Horrocks splitting on Segre–Veronese varieties
Authors: Schreyer Frank-Olaf
Published: August 2021

We prove an analogue of Horrocks’ splitting theorem for Segre–Veronese varieties building upon the theory of Tate resolutions on products of projective spaces.
Cost‐Benefit Analysis of an Enhanced Recovery Program for Gastrectomy A Retrospective Controlled Analysis
Authors: Luzuy‐Guarnero Valentine , Gronnier Caroline , Figuereido Sergio , Mantziari Styliani , Schäfer Markus , Demartines Nicolas , Allemann Pierre
Published: August 2021

Background

Enhanced recovery programs (ERP) demonstrated decreased postoperative complication rate and reduced length of stay (LOS). Recently, data on the financial impact revealed cost reduction for colorectal, liver and pancreatic surgery. The present study aimed to assess the cost‐effectiveness of ERP in gastric surgery.

Methods

ERP based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS®) society guidelines was implemented in our institution, in June 2014. Consecutive patients undergoing gastric surgery after ERP implementation (n = 71) were compared to a control group of consecutive patients operated before ERP implementation (n = 58). Primary endpoint was cost‐effectiveness including detailed perioperative costs. Secondary endpoints were postoperative complications and LOS. Standard statistical testing (means, Mann–Whitney Fisher's exact T test or Pearson Chi‐square test) was used.

Results

Both groups were comparable regarding demographic details. Mean (SD) overall costs per patient were lower in the ERP group (€33,418 (17,901) vs €39,804 (27,288), P = 0.027). Lower costs were found for anesthesia and operating room (−€2 356), intensive or intermediate care (−€8 629), medication (−€1 196)), physiotherapy (−€611), laboratory (−€1 625)) and blood transfusion (−€977). Overall complication rates in ERP and control group (51% vs 62%, P = 0.176) were similar. Mean length of stay (SD) (14(13) days vs 17(11) days, P = 0.037) was shorter in the ERP group.

Conclusion

ERP significantly reduces overall, preoperative and postoperative costs in patients undergoing major gastric surgery.
Inhibition and individual differences in behavior and emotional regulation in adolescence
Authors: Malagoli Chiara , Chiorri Carlo , Traverso Laura , Usai Maria Carmen
Published: August 2021

The Impulsivity/Reflexivity issue in inhibitory control ability has seldom been investigated in terms of individual differences in typically developing populations. Although there is evidence of changes in executive functioning (EF), including inhibition, in adolescence, very little is known about the role of individual differences. Using the data from 240 14-to-19-year-old high school students who completed a battery of EF tasks (Flanker, Go No-Go, Antisaccade, and Stop signal task), measures of emotion regulation strategies and behavioral difficulties, we performed a latent profile analysis to identify qualitatively distinct score profiles. The results showed the existence in adolescence of two inhibition profiles, Impulsive vs Reflexive, differing in performances at the inhibition tasks. The two profiles were not associated with socio-demographic characteristics, or to psychological variables, such as behavioral characteristics and emotional regulation strategies.
Thermal-based early breast cancer detection using inception V3, inception V4 and modified inception MV4
Authors: Al Husaini Mohammed Abdulla Salim , Habaebi Mohamed Hadi , Gunawan Teddy Surya , Islam Md Rafiqul , Elsheikh Elfatih A. A. , Suliman F. M.
Published: August 2021

Breast cancer is one of the most significant causes of death for women around the world. Breast thermography supported by deep convolutional neural networks is expected to contribute significantly to early detection and facilitate treatment at an early stage. The goal of this study is to investigate the behavior of different recent deep learning methods for identifying breast disorders. To evaluate our proposal, we built classifiers based on deep convolutional neural networks modelling inception V3, inception V4, and a modified version of the latter called inception MV4. MV4 was introduced to maintain the computational cost across all layers by making the resultant number of features and the number of pixel positions equal. DMR database was used for these deep learning models in classifying thermal images of healthy and sick patients. A set of epochs 3–30 were used in conjunction with learning rates 1 × 10–3, 1 × 10–4and 1 × 10–5, Minibatch 10 and different optimization methods. The training results showed that inception V4 and MV4 with color images, a learning rate of 1 × 10–4, and SGDM optimization method, reached very high accuracy, verified through several experimental repetitions. With grayscale images, inception V3 outperforms V4 and MV4 by a considerable accuracy margin, for any optimization methods. In fact, the inception V3 (grayscale) performance is almost comparable to inception V4 and MV4 (color) performance but only after 20–30 epochs. inception MV4 achieved 7% faster classification response time compared to V4. The use of MV4 model is found to contribute to saving energy consumed and fluidity in arithmetic operations for the graphic processor. The results also indicate that increasing the number of layers may not necessarily be useful in improving the performance.
Surgical, histological, and immunohistochemical approach to spontaneous malignant mammary tumor in a fancy rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica): a case report
Authors: A. Tinelli , V. Cicirelli , N. Zizzo , A. Perillo , M. Caira , G. Aiudi G.
Published: August 2021

A domestic rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica) was presented to the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” (Bari, Italy) for the presence of a progressive growing unilateral mass. The mass was completely surgically removed, and then histologically and immohistochemically evaluated. The lesion was diagnosed as mammary ductal carcinoma based on histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry staining for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and proliferation marker Ki-67 were found to be positive. The rat was rechecked 3 months thereafter, with total body radiographs taken for metastatic assessment, and no macroscopic evidence of tumor recurrence was observed at the surgical site. Thus, the most effective weapon remains prevention, so owners should be advised to timely spay their pets to reduce the probability of mammary tumor appearance.
Toward data-driven solutions to interactive dynamic influence diagrams
Authors: Pan Yinghui , Tang Jing , Ma Biyang , Zeng Yifeng , Ming Zhong
Published: August 2021

With the availability of significant amount of data, data-driven decision making becomes an alternative way for solving complex multiagent decision problems. Instead of using domain knowledge to explicitly build decision models, the data-driven approach learns decisions (probably optimal ones) from available data. This removes the knowledge bottleneck in the traditional knowledge-driven decision making, which requires a strong support from domain experts. In this paper, we study data-driven decision making in the context of interactive dynamic influence diagrams (I-DIDs)—a general framework for multiagent sequential decision making under uncertainty. We propose a data-driven framework to solve the I-DIDs model and focus on learning the behavior of other agents in problem domains. The challenge is on learning a complete policy tree that will be embedded in the I-DIDs models due to limited data. We propose two new methods to develop complete policy trees for the other agents in the I-DIDs. The first method uses a simple clustering process, while the second one employs sophisticated statistical checks. We analyze the proposed algorithms in a theoretical way and experiment them over two problem domains.
Effects of Calcium and Aluminum on Particle Settling in an Oil Sands End Pit Lake
Authors: Wei Kai , Cossey Heidi L. , Ulrich Ania C.
Published: August 2021

Surface mining of oil sands ore in Alberta, Canada has generated fluid fine tailings (FFT) that must be reclaimed. End pit lakes (EPLs), which consist of thick deposits of FFT capped with water, have been proposed for FFT reclamation, and Base Mine Lake (BML) is the first full-scale demonstration EPL. However, FFT particle settling and resuspension contributes to high turbidity in the BML water cap, which may be detrimental to the development of an aquatic ecosystem. This study investigated the effect of Ca and Al treatments on turbidity mitigation. The initial turbidity was reduced from 20 NTU to less than 2 NTU in BML surface water treated with 54 mg/L of Ca or 1.1 mg/L of Al. At a concentration of 1.1 mg/L, Al reduced the initial turbidity to a greater extent, and in a shorter time, than 54 mg/L of Ca. Further, resuspended Al-treated FFT particles were 100–700 nm larger in diameter, and thus resettled faster than the resuspended untreated or Ca-treated FFT particles. The final turbidity values 21 days after resuspension of untreated and 1.7 mg/L Al-treated FFT particles in fresh BML surface water were 20.5 NTU and 2.5 NTU, respectively. Thus, Al treatment may be effective in mitigating turbidity in BML through both Al-induced coagulation and self-weight settling of the resuspended Al-treated FFT particles.
Do alien predators pose a particular risk to duck nests in Northern Europe? Results from an artificial nest experiment
Authors: Holopainen Sari , Väänänen Veli-Matti , Vehkaoja Mia , Fox Anthony D.
Published: August 2021

Several alien predator species have spread widely in Europe during the last five decades and pose a potential enhanced risk to native nesting ducks and their eggs. Because predation is an important factor limiting Northern Hemisphere duck nest survival, we ask the question, do alien species increase the nest loss risk to ground nesting ducks? We created 418 artificial duck nests in low densities around inland waters in Finland and Denmark during 2017–2019 and monitored them for seven days after construction using wildlife cameras to record whether alien species visit and prey on the nests more often than native species. We sampled various duck breeding habitats from eutrophic agricultural lakes and wetlands to oligotrophic lakes and urban environments. The results differed between habitats and the two countries, which likely reflect the local population densities of the predator species. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), an alien species, was the most common mammalian nest visitor in all habitats and its occurrence reduced nest survival. Only in wetland habitats was the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) an equally common nest visitor, where another alien species, the American mink (Neovison vison), also occurred among nest visitors. Although cautious about concluding too much from visitations to artificial nests, these results imply that duck breeding habitats in Northern Europe already support abundant and effective alien nest predators, whose relative frequency of visitation to artificial nests suggest that they potentially add to the nest predation risk to ducks over native predators.
Challenges to the Educational “Digital Divide” in Spanish Prisons
Authors: Pulido Manuel Lázaro
Published: August 2021

Education within prisons is one of the most complex scenarios in the field of education in Spain. Education is conceived in spatial and temporal coordinates that are totally alien to life in prison and often clash with economic or security and order-related contraindications that frustrate the right to education in the twenty-first century. This is an education that cannot be unconnected with digital competition, and one of its aims is to eliminate the “digital divide”. On the one hand, it has been analysed by the Spanish and European authorities that there is a need for education to respond to the challenges of today’s society, which is characterised by having moved from the analogue era to the digital era. This digital drive is designed to limit social differences. On the other hand, Spanish prison legislation guarantees the right to education, but without forgetting the special circumstances limiting rights in prisons. In Spain, the 1996 regulation does not seem to be able to respond to the existing difficulties, since its wording has become obsolete on this point. In this regard, the Council of Europe recalled different aspects which lead us to question how the right to comprehensive education should be skilfully combined with that of the restrictions specific to the prison environment. The study of these two aspects leads to the conclusion that it is a difficult challenge. The administration must therefore seek a fair balance between the public policy objectives pursued and respect for the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
A Well-Balanced SPH-ALE Scheme for Shallow Water Applications
Authors: Prieto-Arranz Alberto , Ramírez Luis , Couceiro Iván , Colominas Ignasi , Nogueira Xesús
Published: August 2021

In this work, a new discretization of the source term of the shallow water equations with non-flat bottom geometry is proposed to obtain a well-balanced scheme. A Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation based on Riemann solvers is presented to solve the SWE. Moving-Least Squares approximations are used to compute high-order reconstructions of the numerical fluxes and, stability is achieved using thea posterioriMOOD paradigm. Several benchmark 1D and 2D numerical problems are considered to test and validate the properties and behavior of the presented schemes.
Zero-free neighborhoods around the unit circle for Kac polynomials
Authors: Barrera Gerardo , Manrique Paulo
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we study how the roots of the Kac polynomials$$W_n(z) = \sum _{k=0}^{n-1} \xi _k z^k$$Wn(z)=∑k=0n-1ξkzkconcentrate around the unit circle when the coefficients of$$W_n$$Wnare independent and identically distributed nondegenerate real random variables. It is well known that the roots of a Kac polynomial concentrate around the unit circle as$$n\rightarrow \infty $$n→∞if and only if$${\mathbb {E}}[\log ( 1+ |\xi _0|)]<\infty $$E[log(1+|ξ0|)]<∞. Under the condition$${\mathbb {E}}[\xi ^2_0]<\infty $$E[ξ02]<∞, we show that there exists an annulus of width$${\text {O}}(n^{-2}(\log n)^{-3})$$O(n-2(logn)-3)around the unit circle which isfreeof roots with probability$$1-{\text {O}}({(\log n)^{-{1}/{2}}})$$1-O((logn)-1/2). The proof relies on small ball probability inequalities and the least common denominator used in [17].
NO-HYPE: a novel hydrodynamic phantom for the evaluation of MRI flow measurements
Authors: Gadda Giacomo , Cocozza Sirio , Gambaccini Mauro , Taibi Angelo , Tedeschi Enrico , Zamboni Paolo , Palma Giuseppe
Published: August 2021

Accurate and reproducible measurement of blood flow profile is very important in many clinical investigations for diagnosing cardiovascular disorders. Given that many factors could affect human circulation, and several parameters must be set to properly evaluate blood flows with phase-contrast techniques, we developed an MRI-compatible hydrodynamic phantom to simulate different physiological blood flows. The phantom included a programmable hydraulic pump connected to a series of pipes immersed in a solution mimicking human soft tissues, with a blood-mimicking fluid flowing in the pipes. The pump is able to shape and control the flow by driving a piston through a dedicated software. Periodic waveforms are used as input to the pump to move the fluid into the pipes, with synchronization of the MRI sequences to the flow waveforms. A dedicated software is used to extract and analyze flow data from magnitude and phase images. The match between the nominal and the measured flows was assessed, and the scope of phantom variables useful for a reliable calibration of an MRI system was accordingly defined. Results showed that the NO-HYPE phantom is a valuable tool for the assessment of MRI scanners and sequence design for the MR evaluation of blood flows.

Graphical abstract
Assessing the Effect of Boswellia Serrata Extract on Fouling of Alloy 6061 Aluminum in Artificial Seawater Slurry
Authors: Lavanya M. , Rao Padmalatha , Murthy V. Ramachandra
Published: August 2021

The fouling behavior of Alloy 6061 aluminum in artificial seawater in the presence of Boswellia serrata extract was investigated. Fouling is one of the major issues that occurred commonly in the marine environment. Experiments were conducted to develop a model for fouling propensity. A response surface method was used to develop a model to predict fouling behavior. The model predicts the effect of the variables on fouling in artificial seawater medium in the presence of B. serrata extract. The experimental variables chosen were temperature, flow rate and time. Performance of the regression model calculated by the response surface methodology was verified with the analysis of variance technique. The model equation that was proposed using the response surface methodology showed good agreement with the experimentally obtained data.
Incidence of De Quervain’s thyroiditis during the COVID-19 pandemic in an area heavily affected by Sars-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Pirola Ilenia , Gandossi Elena , Rotondi Mario , Marini Fiorella , Cristiano Alessandra , Chiovato Luca , Castellano Maurizio , Ferlin Alberto , Cappelli Carlo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the possible association between Covid-19 infection and subacute thyroiditis.

Methods

We reviewed the medical and imaging records of patients referred to our Department’s outpatient setting dedicated to ‘thyroid emergency’ (records with a ‘bollino verde’—green sticker, classifed as urgent) from April 2020 to October 2020. This outpatient clinic is devoted to patients requiring evaluation for severe hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis and neck discomfort or pain. All patients with a newly-diagnosed subacute thyroiditis were selected. The data of all patients receiving a diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis was collected retrospectively, taking into account the same period of time (April–October) and starting from 2016.

Results

During the COVID-19 outbreak in our region (April 2020 to October 2020) 396 patients attended the outpatient emergency clinic. Among them, 10 (2.5%) patients received a diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis. In a single patient, a 44-year-old man, a COVID-19 pulmonary infection had been diagnosed 7 weeks before the diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis. All of the remaining patients were and remain COVID-19 free as confirmed by telephone interview. The percentage of patients who received a diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis in the same period starting from 2016 was very similar (2.9%, 2.9%, 2.6% and 3.0% in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively).

Conclusions

Our data do not show an increase in the incidence of subacute thyroiditis in the Brescia area, a region with the highest prevalence of COVID-19 in Italy during the period of the pandemic outbreak.
Clinical nutrition as part of the treatment pathway of pancreatic cancer patients: an expert consensus
Authors: Carrato A. , Cerezo L. , Feliu J. , Macarulla T. , Martín-Pérez E. , Vera R. , Álvarez J. , Botella-Carretero J. I.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Malnutrition is a common problem among pancreatic cancer (PC) patients that negatively impacts on their quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes. The main objective of this consensus is to address the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) into the comprehensive therapeutic management of PC patients.

Methods

A Spanish multidisciplinary group of specialists from the areas of Medical Oncology; Radiation Oncology; Endocrinology and Nutrition; and General Surgery agreed to assess the role of MNT as part of the best therapeutic management of PC patients.

Results

The panel established different recommendations focused on nutritional screening and nutritional screening tools, MNT strategies according to PC status, and MNT in palliative treatment.

Conclusions

There is an unmet need to integrate nutritional therapy as a crucial part of the multimodal care process in PC patients. Health authorities, health care professionals, cancer patients, and their families should be aware of the relevance of nutritional status and MNT on clinical outcomes and QoL of PC patients.
Only peak thyroglobulin concentration on day 1 and 3 of rhTSH-aided RAI adjuvant treatment has prognostic implications in differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Ledwon Aleksandra , Paliczka-Cieślik Ewa , Syguła Aleksandra , Olczyk Tomasz , Kropińska Aleksandra , Kotecka-Blicharz Agnieszka , Hasse-Lazar Kornelia , Kluczewska-Gałka Aneta , Jarząb Barbara , Handkiewicz-Junak Daria
Published: August 2021

Objective

In patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), serum thyroglobulin levels measured at the time of remnant ablation after thyroid hormone withdrawal were shown to have prognostic value for disease-free status. We sought to evaluate serial thyroglobulin measurements at the time of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH)-aided iodine 131 (131I) adjuvant treatment as prognostic markers of DTC.

Methods

Six hundred-fifty patients with DTC given total/near-total thyroidectomy and adjuvant radioiodine post-rhTSH stimulation were evaluated. Thyroglobulin was measured on day 1 (Tg1; at the time of the first rhTSH injection), day 3 (Tg3; 1 day after the second, final rhTSH injection), and day 6 (Tg6; 3 days post-radioiodine administration). Treatment failure was defined as histopathologically confirmed locoregional recurrence, or radiologically-evident distant metastases (signs of disease on computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or abnormal foci of radioiodine or [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) uptake.

Results

In univariate analysis, Tg1 (p < 0.001) and Tg3 (p < 0.001), but not Tg6, were significantly associated with structural recurrence. In multivariate analysis of the overall cohort, only Tg3 was independently associated with structural recurrence. In multivariate analysis of the subgroup (n = 561) with anti-Tg antibodies titers below the institutional cut-off, 115 IU/mL, Tg1 was an independent prognostic marker. Tg1 and Tg3 cutoffs to best predict structural recurrence were established at 0.7 ng/mL and 1.4 ng/mL, respectively.

Conclusions

Tg1 and Tg3, measurements made after rhTSH stimulation but before radioiodine treatment, independently predict a low risk of treatment failure in patients with DTC. Levels measured post-radioiodine application (e.g., Tg6) are highly variable, lack prognostic value, and hence can be omitted.
A middle Eocene treefall pit and its filling: a microenvironmental study from the onset of a forest mire in the Geiseltal (Germany)
Authors: Wilde Volker , Riegel Walter
Published: August 2021

The treefall pit of a large tree at the base of the middle Eocene Mittelkohle has been studied in the former open-cast mine Neumark Nord of the Geiseltal Mining District. Above a light clastic soil, the sedimentation in the pit started with backfall and downwashed material grading upwards into pond deposits that filled the pit. This represents a high-resolution section equivalent in time to the initial peat-forming environment. Palynology revealed a striking difference between a fern-dominated herbaceous plant community below the pit and a pulse of washed-in fagaceous pollen (Tricolpopollenites liblarensis) at the base of the pit. This is overlain by an assemblage of woody taxa typical of a peat swamp forest associated with a number of tropical elements. Comparison with a nearby but undisturbed transition from underlying sediments to the seam confirms the ecotonal character of the parent plant ofT.liblarensis, and suggests that Cupressaceae s.l., Nyssaceae and Myricaceae especially benefited from moisture and light in the clearing of the treefall pit. The transition from the underlying sediment to the lignite represents a sharp break in the sedimentary regime from clastic to purely organic material with a bounding surface colonised by large trees, most of them preserved as individual stumps, but including some fallen logs.
Covid-19 and tracing methodologies: A lesson for the future society
Authors: Scantamburlo Teresa , Cortés Atia , Dewitte Pierre , Van der Eycken Daphné , De Wolf Ralf , Martens Marijn
Published: August 2021

As the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) surged across the globe, new technical solutions have supported policy makers and health authorities to plan and modulate containment measures. The introduction of these solutions provoked a large debate which has focused on risks for privacy and data protection. In this paper we offer an analysis of the available technical approaches and provide new arguments to move beyond the ongoing discussions. In particular, we argue that the past debate missed the opportunity to highlight the societal aspects of privacy and to stimulate a broader reflection on the actions needed to serve the good of society. With this paper, as well as providing an accessible review of the technical and legal aspects of the proposed solutions, we aim to offer new stimuli to reconsider contact tracing and its role in helping countries navigate the current pandemic.
Study of Hydrocarbon Source Potential of Kapurdi Lignites of Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, Western India
Authors: Rajak P. K. , Singh V. K. , Kumar Aniruddha , Singh Vishvajeet , Rai Ankita , Rai Shweta , Singh K. N. , Sharma Mamta , Naik A. S. , Mathur Neeraj , Singh Prakash K.
Published: August 2021

The present investigation is an attempt to study hydrocarbon source potential of early Paleogene lignites of Kapurdi, Barmer Basin. The samples collected from the working mines have been subjected to petrographic and geochemical analyses. The petrographic study includes both maceral as well as microlithotype analyses whereas geochemical study includes proximate and ultimate analyses. Besides, rock eval pyrolysis, FTIR and NMR studies have also been carried out. The analytically generated data were also correlated and checked with empirical equations. The study shows that these lignites of Barmer Basin are rich in kerogen type-III organic matter and contain high concentration of reactive macerals (huminite + liptinite) to the tune of ~98% (mineral matter free basis) and they have attained low maturity (Rmax is 0.43%). These lignites have a fairly high conversion factor (95–97%) and oil yield (65–67%) which is also supported by the rock-eval data. Further, 1H and C13 shifts of NMR also suggest a high potential of hydrocarbon of Kapurdi lignites.
Effect of Co-Addition of Ag and Cu on Mechanical Properties of Sn–5Sb Lead-Free Solder
Authors: Yuan Biao , Liang Zhimin , Yang Zongyuan , Shen Fei , Xu Da , Wang Liwei , Wei Shaowei , Wang Dianlong
Published: August 2021

Sn–Sb lead-free solders are considered to substitute the tin–lead solders due to their great mechanical properties. At room temperature, the mechanical properties of Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb/Au/Ni and Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb–0.3Ag–0.05Cu/Au/Ni linear solder joints were investigated by nanoindentation experiments at different loads. The results showed that the Sn–Sb intermetallic compound (IMC) was distributed in the β-Sn matrix in Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb/Au/Ni solder joints. Co-addition of Cu and Ag resulted in the formation of the rod-shaped Cu6Sn5 and the fine granular Ag3Sn IMCs. At the same load and loading/unloading rate, the indentation depth and residual indentation morphologies of Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb–0.3Ag–0.05Cu/Au/Ni solder joints were smaller than those of Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb/Au/Ni solder joints. The hardness of the two kinds of solder joints decreased with the increase in load, while the Young’s modulus was independent of load. In addition, compared to the Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb/Au/Ni solder joints, the hardness, Young’s modulus and stress exponents of Ni/Au/Sn–5Sb–0.3Ag–0.05Cu/Au/Ni solder joints achieved an improvement due to the co-addition of Ag and Cu.
Total pancreatectomy and pancreatic fistula: friend or foe?
Authors: Salvia Roberto , Lionetto Gabriella , Perri Giampaolo , Malleo Giuseppe , Marchegiani Giovanni
Published: August 2021

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) still represents the major driver of surgical morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy. The purpose of this narrative review was to critically analyze current evidence supporting the use of total pancreatectomy (TP) to prevent the development of POPF in patients with high-risk pancreas, and to explore the role of completion total pancreatectomy (CP) in the management of severe POPF. Considering the encouraging perioperative outcomes, TP may represent a promising tool to avoid the morbidity related to an extremely high-risk pancreatic anastomosis in selected patients. Surgical management of severe POPF is only required in few critical scenarios. In this context, even if anecdotal, CP might play a role as last resort in expert hands.
Is Childhood Maltreatment Associated with Body Image Disturbances in Adulthood? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bödicker Christine , Reinckens Jonas , Höfler Michael , Hoyer Jürgen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

We aimed to synthesize the evidence for an association between childhood maltreatment and body image disturbances in adulthood. Information on maltreatment subtypes and mediator variables was included to gain further insights into the mechanisms of the association. In addition, we aimed to examine the role of body image disturbances in the development of negative mental health outcomes associated with childhood maltreatment.

Methods

Based on a comprehensive search strategy, eligible studies were identified in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The eligibility assessment was performed by two reviewers, and 132 articles were studied full-text. To reduce heterogeneity, only non-clinical samples were included in the meta-analysis. A meta-regression was computed to examine the influence of maltreatment subtype on body image disturbances.

Results

Our results provide evidence for a robust association between childhood maltreatment and cognitive-affective body image, both in clinical and community samples. Included studies (N = 40) indicate that body image disturbances are especially pronounced in individuals suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after childhood maltreatment. The meta-analysis included 12 studies with a total of 15.481 participants, and indicates a small overall effect size (r = 0.21, 95% CI = [0.16, 0.26],p < .001). Meta-regression revealed no significant impact of maltreatment subtype in non-clinical samples.

Conclusion

Childhood maltreatment should be considered as a distal risk factor for the development of a negative cognitive-affective body image. We argue for future longitudinal studies which allow a better understanding of the pathways linking childhood maltreatment, body image disturbances and associated psychopathology.