bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Platanic acid derived amides are more cytotoxic than their corresponding oximes
Authors: Kozubek Marie , Hoenke Sophie , Schmidt Theresa , Ströhl Dieter , Csuk René
Published: May 2022

Albeit platanic acid has been known since 1956, its potential to act as a valuable starting material for the synthesis of cytotoxic agents has been neglected for many years. Hereby we describe the synthesis of a small library of amides and oximes derived from 3-O-acetyl-platanic acid, and the results of their screening as cytotoxic agents for several human tumor cell lines. As a result, while the cytotoxicity of the oximes was diminished as compared to the parent amides, the homopiperazinyl amide 5 held the highest cytoxicity (EC50 = 0.9 μM for A375 human melanoma cells). Extra FACS and cell cycle measurements showed compound 5 to act onto A375 cells rather by apoptosis than by necrosis.

Clinical trial registration

No clinical trials are associated with this study
Die Impfaktion gegen Poliomyelitis in der DDR im Jahr 1960 am Beispiel der Stadt Halle (Saale): Historische Erfahrungen und Probleme
Authors: Wanke Anne Thordis , Bruns Florian
Published: May 2022

In den 1950er-Jahren stellte das epidemische Auftreten der spinalen Kinderlähmung (Poliomyelitis) die Gesundheitssysteme weltweit vor große Herausforderungen. Da eine kausale Therapie der Viruserkrankung nicht existierte, kam der Expositionsprophylaxe eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Letztlich gelang es erst durch die Entwicklung von Impfstoffen, die spinale Kinderlähmung nachhaltig zurückzudrängen. In der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (DDR) wurde 1960 erstmals in Deutschland die Schluckimpfung nach Sabin-Tschumakow verabreicht, mit der binnen eines Jahres die nahezu vollständige Eradikation der spinalen Kinderlähmung in der DDR gelang. Der Artikel zeichnet anhand von unveröffentlichtem Archivmaterial die systematisch angelegte Impfaktion am Beispiel der damaligen Bezirkshauptstadt Halle (Saale) nach. Allein dort wurden im Mai 1960 innerhalb von 3 Tagen 63.328 Kinder und Jugendliche immunisiert. Bei 78.085 im Vorfeld erfassten Impflingen entsprach dies einer Quote innerhalb der poliovulnerablen Bevölkerungsgruppe von rund 81 %. Die Quellen zeigen, dass die staatliche Struktur des Gesundheitswesens der DDR und das Prinzip der aufsuchenden Impfung zum Erfolg der Impfaktion beitrugen.
Untersuchungen zum Einfluss verschiedener Mund-Nase-Schutzmasken auf die beweissichere Atemalkoholmessung
Authors: Seibt J. , Heide S. , Budde D. , Pietsch J.
Published: May 2022

Anlässlich eines richterlichen Gutachtenauftrages zur Frage, ob das Tragen von Mund-Nase-Schutzmasken zu einer Verfälschung des Atemalkoholmesswertes zuungunsten des Angeklagten führen kann, erfolgte unter Pandemiebedingungen eine experimentelle Testreihe an 6 gesunden Proband*innen (4 Männer, 2 Frauen), die risikoarmen Freizeitalkoholkonsum betrieben. Pro Untersuchungstag wurde jeweils ein Maskentyp (Op.-Maske, Textilmaske, FFP2-Maske) untersucht. Nach Aufnahme einer individuell berechneten Menge Alkohol und einer 30-minütigen Resorptionsphase erfolgten in halbstündigen Abständen 6 aufeinanderfolgende Atemalkoholmessungen, wobei zwischen den Messungen jeweils im Wechsel eine der Masken oder keine Maske getragen wurde. Anschließend wurden Wertepaare für Zeiträume mit und ohne Maske gebildet und die stündlichen Atemalkoholabbauraten berechnet. Im Ergebnis unterschieden sich die Atemalkoholabbauraten mit und ohne Masken nicht voneinander. Fehlermeldungen durch das Atemalkoholmessgerät, die auf das vorherige Tragen einer Maske zurückzuführen sind, traten nicht auf.
Evaluating different metrics from the thermal-based two-source energy balance model for monitoring grapevine water stress
Authors: Nieto Héctor , Alsina María Mar , Kustas William P. , García-Tejera Omar , Chen Fan , Bambach Nicolas , Gao Feng , Alfieri Joseph G. , Hipps Lawrence E. , Prueger John H. , McKee Lynn G. , Zahn Einara , Bou-Zeid Elie , McElrone Andrew J. , Castro Sebastian J. , Dokoozlian Nick
Published: May 2022

Precision irrigation management requires operational monitoring of crop water status. However, there is still some controversy on how to account for crop water stress. To address this question, several physiological, several physiological metrics have been proposed, such as the leaf/stem water potentials, stomatal conductance, or sap flow. On the other hand, thermal remote sensing has been shown to be a promising tool for efficiently evaluating crop stress at adequate spatial and temporal scales, via the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), one of the most common indices used for assessing plant stress. CWSI relates the actual crop evapotranspiration ET (related to the canopy radiometric temperature) to the potential ET (or minimum crop temperature). However, remotely sensed surface temperature from satellite sensors includes a mixture of plant canopy and soil/substrate temperatures, while what is required for accurate crop stress detection is more related to canopy metrics, such as transpiration, as the latter one avoids the influence of soil/substrate in determining crop water status or stress. The Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) model is one of the most widely used and robust evapotranspiration model for remote sensing. It has the capability of partitioning ET into the crop transpiration and soil evaporation components, which is required for accurate crop water stress estimates. This study aims at evaluating different TSEB metrics related to its retrievals of actual ET, transpiration and stomatal conductance, to track crop water stress in a vineyard in California, part of the GRAPEX experiment. Four eddy covariance towers were deployed in a Variable Rate Irrigation system in a Merlot vineyard that was subject to different stress periods. In addition, root-zone soil moisture, stomatal conductance and leaf/stem water potential were collected as proxy for in situ crop water stress. Results showed that the most robust variable for tracking water stress was the TSEB derived leaf stomatal conductance, with the strongest correlation with both the measured root-zone soil moisture and stomatal conductance gas exchange measurements. In addition, these metrics showed a better ability in tracking stress when the observations are taken early after noon.
A scalable laser system at 461 nm for laser cooling and trapping of Sr atoms
Authors: Verma Gunjan , Wang Enlong , Assendelft Joep , Poli Nicola , Rosi Gabriele , Tino Guglielmo Maria , Salvi Leonardo
Published: May 2022

The realization of compact high-power narrow-linewidth laser sources in the visible range has been a long-standing interest for the atomic physics community, especially in the field of laser cooling and trapping of alkaline-earth and alkaline-earth-like atoms. We report a simple master-slave injection-locked laser system capable of generating 500 mW at 460.86 nm with a linewidth of 1.6 MHz to realize magneto-optical trapping of strontium atoms on the $$5s^{2} \ ^{1}\mathrm {S}_{0}-5s5p \ ^{1}\mathrm {P}_{1}$$

5

s
2

1

S
0

-
5
s
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p

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P
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transition. The master laser used is an external cavity diode laser built with an anti-reflection coated laser diode in a Littrow configuration and the slave laser is built with a recently launched single mode high power GaN laser diode. We characterized the frequency noise, injection stability, spectral purity and relative intensity noise of the laser system. The reported laser system is used routinely to produce $$10^7$$

10
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strontium atoms at a temperature of 10 mK in a magneto-optical trap. The laser system offers a prominent alternative to the existing frequency-doubled laser systems in terms of cost, design flexibility, electrical power consumption, ease of scaling, intensity stability, and frequency tunability. The proposed system is also an effective solution for space-based experiments where a laser system’s size, weight, and electrical power consumption are crucial design parameters.
A new insight into pachychoroid diseases: Remodeling of choroidal vasculature
Authors: Kishi Shoji , Matsumoto Hidetaka
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Pachychoroid spectrum diseases are regarded as being different manifestations of a common pathogenic process. We suggest that pachychoroid diseases are consequences of chronic vortex vein stasis.

Methods

We describe how we came to this conclusion based on our own recent reports as well as a search of the related literature.

Results

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is the first stage of pachychoroid spectrum diseases. CSC is caused by congestion of choroidal veins, which are branches of the vortex veins. The venous outflow tract of the choroid is divided into four quadrants, based on horizontal and vertical watershed zones, with one or two vortex veins in each quadrant being independently responsible for venous outflow. In acute CSC, vortex vein stasis frequently causes asymmetric dilatation of the vortex veins in the horizontal watershed. The area of geographic filling delay in the choriocapillaris coincides with the area of this asymmetrically dilated vortex veins. With chronic stasis of the vortex veins, venous anastomosis occurs in the watershed zone as a means of compensating for the stasis, and the choriocapillaris becomes occluded in the area of filling delay. The anastomotic vessels dilate, becoming often hyperpermeable, and are then recognizable as pachyvessels. With the development of choriocapillaris ischemia, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) occurs at the site of pachyvessels. This is termed pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is regarded as a variant of PNV.

Conclusions

Intervortex venous anastomosis is among the key factors underlying the development of pachychoroid diseases. Remodeling of the venous drainage route though the anastomosis across the watershed zones is apparently a common response to chronic vortex vein stasis.
Lesion network mapping of mania using different normative connectomes
Authors: Cotovio Gonçalo , Faro Viana Francisco , Fox Michael D. , Oliveira-Maia Albino J.
Published: May 2022

Lesion network mapping is a neuroimaging technique that explores the network of regions functionally connected to lesions causing a common syndrome. The technique uses resting state functional connectivity from large databases of healthy individuals, i.e., connectomes, and has allowed for important insight into the potential network mechanisms underlying several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, concerns regarding reproducibility have arisen, that may be due to the use of different connectomes, with variable MRI acquisition parameters and preprocessing methods. Here, we tested the impact of using different connectomes on the results of lesion network mapping for mania. We found results were reliable and consistent independent of the connectome used.
Expression of microRNA-223 and microRNA-146b in serum and liver tissue of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: El-Taweel Hend A , Issa Yasmine A , Mady Rasha F , Shehata Ghada A , Youssef Eman A , Tolba Mona M
Published: May 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play regulatory roles in several diseases. In schistosomiasis, the main pathological changes are caused by the granulomatous reaction induced by egg deposition. We aimed to study the changes in host miRNA-223 and miRNA-146b expression in relation to egg deposition and development of hepatic pathology in murine schistosomiasis mansoni. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected from non-infected mice (group I), S. mansoni–infected mice at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks post-infection (p.i.) (groups II–IV), and 4 weeks after praziquantel treatment (group V). The collected samples were processed for RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and real-time PCR analysis of miRNA-223 and miRNA-146b. miRNAs’ relative expression was estimated by the ΔΔCt method. Liver tissue samples were examined for egg count estimation and histopathological evaluation. Results revealed that miRNA-223 was significantly downregulated in liver tissues 8 and 12 weeks p.i., whereas miRNA-146b expression increased gradually with the progression of infection with a significantly higher level at week 12 p.i. compared to week 4 p.i. Serum expression levels nearly followed the same pattern as the tissue levels. The dysregulated expression of miRNAs correlated with liver egg counts and was more obvious with the demonstration of chronic granulomas, fibrous transformation, and distorted hepatic architecture 12 weeks p.i. Restoration of normal expression levels was observed 4 weeks after treatment. Collectively, these findings provide new insights for in-depth understanding of host-parasite interaction in schistosomiasis and pave a new way for monitoring the progress of hepatic pathology before and after treatment.
Effect of urbanization and its environmental stressors on the intraspecific variation of flight functional traits in two bumblebee species
Authors: Tommasi Nicola , Pioltelli Emiliano , Biella Paolo , Labra Massimo , Casiraghi Maurizio , Galimberti Andrea
Published: May 2022

The way urbanization shapes the intraspecific variation of pollinator functional traits is little understood. However, this topic is relevant for investigating ecosystem services and pollinator health. Here, we studied how urbanization affects the functional traits of workers in two bumblebee species (Bombus terrestrisandB. pascuorum) sampled in 37 sites along a gradient of urbanization in North Italy (an area of 1800 km2including the metropolitan context of Milan and other surrounding capital districts). Namely, we investigated the effect of land use composition, configuration, air temperature, flower resource abundance, and air pollutants on the variation of traits related to flight performance and of stress during insect development (i.e., wing size, wing shape and size fluctuating asymmetry). The functional traits of the two bumblebees responded idiosyncratically to urbanization. Urban temperatures were associated with smaller wing sizes inB. pascuorumand with more accentuated fluctuating asymmetry of wing size inB. terrestris. Moreover, flower abundance correlated with bigger wings inB. terrestrisand with less asymmetric wing size inB. pascuorum. Other traits did not vary significantly, and other urban variables played minor effects. These species-specific variation patterns highlight that environmental stressor linked to urbanization negatively impact the traits related to flight performance and development stability of these syntopic bumblebees, with possible consequences on the pollination service they provide.
Approximation Algorithms for Replenishment Problems with Fixed Turnover Times
Authors: Bosman Thomas , van Ee Martijn , Jiao Yang , Marchetti-Spaccamela Alberto , Ravi R. , Stougie Leen
Published: May 2022

We introduce and study a class of optimization problems we call replenishment problems with fixed turnover times: a very natural model that has received little attention in the literature. Clients with capacity for storing a certain commodity are located at various places; at each client the commodity depletes within a certain time, the turnover time, which is constant but can vary between locations. Clients should never run empty. The natural feature that makes this problem interesting is that we may schedule a replenishment (well) before a client becomes empty, but then the next replenishment will be due earlier also. This added workload needs to be balanced against the cost of routing vehicles to do the replenishments. In this paper, we focus on the aspect of minimizing routing costs. However, the framework of recurring tasks, in which the next job of a task must be done within a fixed amount of time after the previous one is much more general and gives an adequate model for many practical situations. Note that our problem has an infinite time horizon. However, it can be fully characterized by a compact input, containing only the location of each client and a turnover time. This makes determining its computational complexity highly challenging and indeed it remains essentially unresolved. We study the problem for two objectives:min–avg  minimizes the average tour cost andmin–max  minimizes the maximum tour cost over all days. Formin–max  we derive a logarithmic factor approximation for the problem on general metrics and a 6-approximation for the problem on trees, for which we have a proof of NP-hardness. Formin–avg  we present a logarithmic factor approximation on general metrics, a 2-approximation for trees, and a pseudopolynomial time algorithm for the line. Many intriguing problems remain open.
Students’ conceptions of work and the understanding of the economic value of labor: a developmental study of unemployment and job precarity in times of an economic crisis
Authors: Alonso Lorena , Kohen Raquel C.
Published: May 2022

In the aftermath of the financial and economic recession of 2008, 130 Spanish students of five age groups (8 to 17 years) and two socioeconomic backgrounds were individually interviewed about unemployment and lower wages. The participants were presented with two hypothetical situations, and their responses were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The results indicated that children bring their conceptions of work when attempting to explain those phenomena. Specifically, it was found that the explanations were closely associated with the comprehension of the notion of surplus value (i.e., the idea that workers create more value than the cost of their salaries), and that the development of this notion proceeds in three levels. Younger children were simply unaware of the capacity of workers to create value (Level 1), which gave rise to some alternative conceptions (e.g., the idea that money for salaries comes from external sources). The children within the age range of 12–13 began to understand that workers create some value (Level 2). At this level, however, the notion of surplus value was not fully understood, and the idea that money for salaries comes from external sources persisted in a variety of ways. From the ages of 13–14, the children begin to understand that a wage is the price of labor and that the employer earns a profit because workers create more value than the cost of their wages (Level 3). The article presents a discussion of the possible reasons behind the slow progress observed and highlights some suggestions for educational practice.
Patterns of Service Use in Intensive Case Management: A Six Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Golay Philippe , Bonsack Charles , Silva Benedetta , Pauli Guillaume , de Boer Eva , Morandi Stéphane
Published: May 2022

An Intensive Case Management (ICM) intervention has been developed in Lausanne, Switzerland. It aims to promote access to care for people with severe mental disorders who have difficulties to engage with mental health services because of the severity of their disorders and/or their marginality. ICM embrace components of assertive community treatment and critical time intervention. It is time limited and focused on critical phases of recovery. The goal of this study was to examine the heterogeneity of service use patterns of people who required ICM interventions and identify differences in patterns of duration and timing of the intervention. Records of 471 patients from the Department of Psychiatry of Lausanne University Hospital for whom the ICM team intervention was requested were analysed over a 6 year period with discrete sequential-state analysis. Trajectories could be split between six meaningful clusters including service light use and critical time intervention (58.0%), transition to long-term regular ambulatory-care (11.3%), partial transition to ambulatory care (14.4%), alternative to hospitalization (10.4%), continued ICM (4.9%) and long hospital stays (1.1%). Diagnoses of substance abuse were overrepresented among heavy users and diagnoses of schizophrenia were the most frequent diagnostic overall. Profiles of service use for ICM patients were very diverse. Long term interventions were frequently not necessary. A time-limited intervention was likely sufficient to stabilize the situation and/or engage the patient in care. A small number of situations required a sustained and long-term investment and did not always allowed for a reduction in the need for hospitalization. A general reflection on alternatives to hospitalization must be pursued, in particular for these patients.
Decoupling of silica, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in a meromictic subalpine lake (Lake Iseo, Italy)
Authors: Scibona Alessandro , Nizzoli Daniele , Hupfer Michael , Valerio Giulia , Pilotti Marco , Viaroli Pierluigi
Published: May 2022

Silica (Si), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loads and stoichiometry are key factors controlling the trophic status of lakes and coastal seas. In the hydrographic network, lakes also act as biogeochemical reactors, controlling both nutrient retention and fluxes. This work aimed to examine the coupling of Si, N and P cycling, together with their stoichiometry in a deep meromictic subalpine lake (Lake Iseo, Northern Italy). Si, N and P mass budgets were calculated by quantifying loads in the inlets and in the outlet over a period of 30 months (May 2016−October 2018), in-lake sedimentation rates and net nutrients accumulation in the water body. Lake Iseo acts as a biogeochemical filter, which differentially retains the external Si, N and P loads. Retention of Si and P was similar (75–79%), but considerably higher than N (45%), evidencing a decoupling of their fate due to in-lake processes. This differential retention is likely to be exacerbated by meromixis which enhances Si and P accumulation in the monimolimnion, while impairing denitrification, thus limiting N removal. Such decoupling resulted in an increase of the N:Si and N:P ratios in both the epilimnion and in the outlet compared to the inlets, whereas the ratios decreased in the monimolimnion. As a result, there may be a stronger Si and P limitation of the photic zone, leading to a shift towards more oligotrophic conditions. This transient equilibrium could be impaired in the case of water overturn produced by extreme climate events—a highly relevant issue, considering that a growing number of deep lakes are turning from holo-oligomictic to meromictic as a result of combined eutrophication and climate change.
Numerical effects on the simulation of surfactant flooding for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Akinyele Olaitan , Stephen Karl D.
Published: May 2022

Numerical simulation of surfactant flooding using conventional reservoir simulation models can lead to unreliable forecasts and bad decisions due to the appearance of numerical effects. The simulations give approximate solutions to systems of nonlinear partial differential equations describing the physical behavior of surfactant flooding by combining multiphase flow in porous media with surfactant transport. The approximations are made by discretization of time and space which can lead to spurious pulses or deviations in the model outcome. In this work, the black oil model was simulated using the decoupled implicit method for various conditions of reservoir scale models to investigate behavior in comparison with the analytical solution obtained from fractional flow theory. We investigated changes to cell size and time step as well as the properties of the surfactant and how it affects miscibility and flow. The main aim of this study was to understand pulse like behavior in the water bank, which we report for the first time, Our aim was to identify their cause and associated conditions. The pulses are induced by a sharp change in relative permeability as the interfacial tension changes. Pulses are diminished when adsorption is modeled, and ranged from 0.0002 kg/kg to 0.0005 kg/kg. The pulses are absent for high-resolution model of 5000 cells in x direction with a typical cell size as used in well-scale models. The growth or dampening of these pulses may vary from case to case but in this instance was a result of the combined impact of relative mobility, numerical dispersion, interfacial tension and miscibility. Oil recovery under the numerical problems reduced the performance of the flood, due to large amounts of pulses produced. Thus, it is important to improve existing models and use appropriate guidelines to stop oscillations and remove errors.
Regulation of Location-Specific Externalities from Small-Scale Polluters
Authors: Amundsen Eirik S. , Hansen Lars Gårn , Whitta-Jacobsen Hans Jørgen
Published: May 2022

Emission damages caused by small-scale polluters such as farms, vehicles, homes and small businesses are often location-specific and such polluters are often regulated through a combination of location-differentiated cleaner technology standards and uniform, ʻdirtyʼ input regulation. We investigate how such regulations should be designed and combined under realistic assumptions. We find that if the available cleaner technologies are ‘emission capturing’ (e.g., end-of-pipe filters), they should be encouraged in both high and low damage areas, while if they are ‘input displacing’ (i.e., facilitating replacement of dirty input by cleaner input), they should be encouraged in high damage areas, but discouraged in low damage areas. Dirty input use should always be discouraged and the optimal regulation intensity may be substantial, particularly if the available cleaner technologies are input displacing.
Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on implementation of universal tumor DNA testing in ovarian cancer patients: multidisciplinary focus groups
Authors: Witjes Vera M. , Braspenning Jozé C. C. , Hoogerbrugge Nicoline , Smolders Yvonne H. C. M. , Hermkens Dorien M. A. , Mourits Marian J. E. , Ligtenberg Marjolijn J. L. , Ausems Margreet G. E. M. , de Hullu Joanne A.
Published: May 2022

Universal tumor DNA testing in epithelial ovarian cancer patients can function not only as an efficient prescreen for hereditary cancer testing, but may also guide treatment choices. This innovation, introduced as Tumor-First workflow, offers great opportunities, but ensuring optimal multidisciplinary collaboration is a challenge. We investigated factors that were relevant and important for large-scale implementation. In three multidisciplinary online focus groups, healthcare professionals (gynecologic oncologists, pathologists, clinical geneticists, and clinical laboratory specialists) were interviewed on factors critical for the implementation of the Tumor-First workflow. Recordings were transcribed for analysis in Atlas.ti according to the framework of Flottorp that categorizes seven implementation domains. Healthcare professionals from all disciplines endorse implementation of the Tumor-First workflow, but more detailed standardization and advice regarding the logistics of the workflow were needed. Healthcare professionals explored ways to stay informed about the different phases of the workflow and the results. They emphasized the importance of including all epithelial ovarian cancer patients in the workflow and monitoring this inclusion. Overall, healthcare professionals would appreciate supporting material for the implementation of the Tumor-First workflow in the daily work routine. Focus group discussions have revealed factors for developing a tailored implementation strategy for the Tumor-First workflow in order to optimize care for epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Future innovations affecting multidisciplinary oncology teams including clinical geneticists can benefit from the lessons learned.
Prior exposure of a fungal parasite to cyanobacterial extracts does not impair infection of its Daphnia host
Authors: Manzi Florent , Agha Ramsy , Mühlenhaupt Max , Wolinska Justyna
Published: May 2022

Cyanobacteria periodically dominate phytoplankton composition in lakes, and produce a wide array of toxic secondary metabolites. Blooms of cyanobacteria often coincide with infections of zooplankton by microparasites (such as Metschnikowia bicuspidata, a parasitic yeast of Daphnia), and prior research has shown that cyanobacteria-based diets could mitigate fungal infections of the host. Here, we tested whether cyanotoxins could exert detrimental effects against free-living parasite stages: we inoculated two genotypes of the host Daphnia galeata × longispina with fungal spores, which were previously exposed to cyanobacterial extracts or to a placebo solution. Additionally, to test for interactive effects of cyanotoxins through environmental exposure and host consumption, Daphnia from each treatment were fed using either green algae or the same cyanobacterium. Exposing spores to cyanobacterial extracts did not reduce their infectivity; instead, parasite infectivity was increased, but only on one host genotype. The effect of host diet on parasite growth was also host-genotype dependent, with only one Daphnia genotype showing impaired spore production under a toxic diet. Our results suggest that dissolved cyanobacterial compounds released during blooms may not exert any detrimental effect on fungal spore banks, but likely influence transmission of the parasite when incorporated as part of the host’s diet.
The potential influence of high uric acid exposure on surface and corrosion susceptibility of pure titanium
Authors: Liu Yao , Zhang Wen-si , Tang Ze-hua , Zhang Song-mei , Qiu Jing
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the corrosion susceptibility of pure titanium under uric acid exposure for 7 days based on surface analysis. The prepared pure titanium specimens, exposed to different concentrations of uric acid, were examined for surface microstructure, surface element composition and surface wettability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static contact angle measurement, respectively. The corrosion behaviors of titanium specimens were measured by open-circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization. The titanium ion release from the prepared specimens, which were immersed in Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS) containing different amount of uric acid, was measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). More irregular pitting holes were observed on titanium surfaces exposed to a high concentration of uric acid, and XPS analyses revealed that the amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2) decreased. Titanium surfaces pre-treated with high uric acid became more hydrophobic. Furthermore, the results of OCP and potentiodynamic polarization tests showed increased corrosion susceptibility of titanium samples, while EIS data indicated more active corrosion behavior of titanium materials. The high concentration of uric acid also induced titanium ion release. High concentration of uric acid negatively influenced the surface characteristics and corrosion properties of titanium materials, which destroyed the titanium oxide film barrier. High uric acid exposure increased corrosion susceptibility of pure titanium specimens and accelerated titanium ion release.
Green & Sensitive pH-dependent Spectrofluorimetric Assay of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride and Tadalafil in their New Combined Formulation for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Application to Spiked Human Plasma
Authors: Abdel Moneim Mona M.
Published: May 2022

Sensitive and green spectrofluorimetric methods were utilized for Tamsulosin Hydrochloride (TAM) and Tadalafil (TDL) assessment in bulk and their newly available combined mixture for benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction. The technique relies on measuring native fluorescence of TAM in 0.1 N HCl at 324 nm and TDL in 0.1 N NaOH at 348 nm due to their different fluorimetric behavior in acidic and basic media where TAM has no fluorescence in basic medium and vice versa. To achieve better regression, the spectra were derivatized allowing determination of TAM at 314 nm and TDL at 320 and 380 nm (peak to peak) by applying third and first derivative, respectively. In addition, pH-dependent “constant-wavelength synchronous” spectrofluorimetry was applied where TAM and TDL were determined at 218 nm in acidic medium and at 268 nm in basic medium, respectively. Finally, derivatizing the latter emission spectra allowed determination of TAM and TDL at 232 nm and at 262 and 278 nm (peak to peak), respectively. Acidic and basic emission spectra where scanned at λexc = 225 nm (for TAM assay) and at λexc = 247 nm (for TDL assay), respectively. Fluorescence–concentration plots were linear and the proposed methods were used for analysis of TAM and TDL combined laboratory prepared formulation. These procedures are green, sensitive and of low cost which make them suitable for quality control analysis of the two drugs. In addition, the high selectivity of the proposed methods was tested by successfully applying them for TAM and TDL assay in plasma samples.
Experimental Procedure to Assess Depth and Size of Defects with Pulsed Thermography
Authors: D’Accardi Ester , Palumbo Davide , Galietti Umberto
Published: May 2022

Subsurface defects can be detected by the pulsed thermography (PT) technique analysing the raw thermal data with the application of different post-processing algorithms. In this regard, different methods, based on one-dimensional models, are used in the literature to estimate the depth and size of defects. Two of the most established methods are the thermal signal reconstruction (TSR) and the pulsed phase thermography (PPT) algorithms. These latter require a careful set up of the testing parameters such as the frame rate, the truncation window size, and the energy density to obtain an accurate estimation of both depths and sizes of defects. Even if some works have already investigated the issue of defect characterization, there are few works in which the correct procedures to obtain both the size and depth were deeply explained, above all for real components with real defects. The aim of this work is to propose a new empirical procedure to obtain depth and size estimation of the defects using the pulsed thermography technique and in particular the principal component thermography (PCT) algorithm. The proposed procedure is based on the experimental observation that exists a linear correlation between the defect contrasts and the relative aspect ratios. In this way, by means of a master specimen, a calibration curve can be obtained considering a suitable truncation window of the analysed data. Then, the size and depth of defects have been retrieved imposing threshold criteria. The procedure is quite general, and it can be also tested with other algorithms. Different experimental tests have been carried out on two materials, aluminium and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and then the procedure has been applied and validated both on simulated (flat bottom holes) and real defects.
Sick Leave Due to Stress, What are the Costs for Dutch Employers?
Authors: Wolvetang Sjors , van Dongen Johanna Maria , Speklé Erwin , Coenen Pieter , Schaafsma Frederieke
Published: May 2022

Purpose Stress-related illnesses are prevalent in Western society, causing sick leave and putting a heavy economic burden on employers and society. For Dutch employers it is particularly relevant to have insight into the costs of absenteeism due to stress-related illness, as they are legally obligated to continue payment of wages. Therefore, this study assessed the duration and costs of an episode of sick leave due to stress-related illness for Dutch employers. Methods Data on sick leave due to various stress-related illnesses were obtained from a nationwide occupational health service database. Stress-related illnesses included tension complaints, burn-out, overexertion, and other reactions to stress. The duration per sick leave episode was estimated in working days, after which the average cost per sick leave period was estimated using age- and gender-specific price weights. Results During the study period, 16,676 employees took 17,338 episodes of sick leave due to stress-related illness. On average, one episode of sick leave lasted 101 working days, for which the costs for the employer were on average €19,151 per worker. Women were responsible for most episodes of sick leave and were on average 37 days more absent per episode compared to men. Moreover, of all kinds of stress-related illnesses, burn-out had the longest duration of sick leave with 313 calendar days and 163 working days, resulting in an average cost of €30,770. Conclusions Sick leave due to stress-related illness places a heavy burden on employers and thus society. Further research should be conducted on how to reduce this burden.
Educational supervision to support pharmacy professionals’ learning and practice of advanced roles
Authors: Styles Michelle , Middleton Helen , Schafheutle Ellen , Shaw Matthew
Published: May 2022

Pharmacy professionals are increasingly moving into advanced roles, including in primary care. In England, the publicly funded Pharmacy Integration Fund (PhIF) enabled employment and training of pharmacy professionals in new patient-facing roles, including general practice and care homes. In recognition of the need for support and supervision during work-based learning and building on established support structures in medicine and nursing, one of the providers of PhIF funded learning developed a supervision structure which mirrors arrangements for postgraduate medical specialty training. This paper describes what informed this supervision model, with a particular focus on educational supervision, its delivery, and the training which was developed to support supervisors. This supervision enabled pharmacy professionals moving into primary care to practise safely, manage workplace challenges, extend their roles and make progress with their education. This model illustrates the benefits of supervision in supporting post-registration learning to facilitate the development of advanced patient-facing clinical roles.
PARCSIM: a parallel computing simulator for scalable software optimization
Authors: Cámara Jesús , Cano José-Carlos , Cuenca Javier , Saura-Sánchez Mariano
Published: May 2022

PARCSIM is a parallel software simulator that allows a user to capture, through a graphical interface, matrix algorithm schemes that solve scientific problems. With this tool, the user can analyse the execution times that would be obtained by using different spatio-temporal mapping of computational tasks on available computational units, parallelism parameters and computational libraries. Furthermore, for complex problem models, the self-optimization engine incorporated in this tool analyses the huge tree of possible calculations grouping and mapping strategies in search of the choice that makes the best use of the available hardware resources. This tool also offers polyalgorithmic resolution by making automatically the best decision between different software approaches to solve a given problem on the hardware system available. This work shows the usefulness of this simulator to efficiently solve hierarchical problems constructed from previously modelled subproblems. This task is performed by reusing, in a scalable way, the optimization information of these subproblems to establish the best execution configuration for the composite problem.
Ameliorative effect of flavocoxid on cyclophosphamide-induced cardio and neurotoxicity via targeting the GM-CSF/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Elsayed Fatma F. , Elshenawy Waad M. , Khalifa Eman M. , Rizq Mohamed R. , Abdelaziz Rania R.
Published: May 2022

Cyclophosphamide (Cyclo) is a chemotherapeutic agent used as an immunosuppressant and as a treatment for many cancerous diseases. Many previous pieces of literature proved the marked cardio and neurotoxicity of the drug. Thus, this research provides evidence on the alleviative effect of flavocoxid on the cardiac and brain toxicity of cyclophosphamide in mice and determines its underlying mechanisms. Flavocoxid (Flavo) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits the peroxidase activity of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX). Flavo was administered orally (20 mg/kg) for 2 weeks, followed by Cyclo (100 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 14. Higher heart and brain weight indices, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), and nitric oxide (NO) were mitigated following Flavo administration. Flavo modulated oxidative stress biomarkers (malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-1β. Additionally, cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), brain amyloid precursor protein (APP), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were decreased by Flavo administration. Moreover, Flavo ameliorated heart and brain histopathological changes and caspase-3 levels. Collectively, Flavo (20 mg/kg) for 14 days showed significant cardio and neuroprotective effects due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities via modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and the GM-CSF/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Aspergillus awamori attenuates ochratoxin A-induced renal and cardiac injuries in rabbits by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and downregulating IL1β, TNFα, and iNOS gene expressions
Authors: Assar Doaa H. , Asa Samah Abou , El-Abasy Moshira A. , Elbialy Zizy I. , Shukry Mustafa , Latif Amera Abd El , BinMowyna Mona N. , Althobaiti Norah A. , El-Magd Mohammed A.
Published: May 2022

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most dangerous and that pollute agricultural products, inducing a variety of toxic effects in humans and animals. The current study explored the protective effect of different concentrations ofAspergillus awamori(A.awamori) against OTA (0.3 mg/kg diet) induced renal and cardiac damage by exploring its mechanism of action in 60 New Zealand white male rabbits. Dietary supplementation ofA.awamoriat the selected doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg diet, respectively, for 2 months significantly improved the rabbit’s growth performance; modulated the suppressed immune response and restored the altered hematological parameters; reduced the elevated levels of renal injury biomarkers such as urea, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase; and increased serum total proteins concentrations. Moreover, it also declined enzymatic activities of cardiac injury biomarkers, including AST, LDH, and CK-MB.A.awamorialleviated OTA-induced degenerative and necrotic changes in the kidney and heart of rabbits. Interestingly,A.awamoriupregulated Nrf2/OH-1 signaling pathway. Therefore enhanced TAC, CAT, and SOD enzyme activities and reduced OTA-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress by declining iNOS gene expression and consequently lowered MDA and NO levels. In addition to attenuating renal and cardiac inflammation via reducing IL-1β, TNF-α gene expressions in a dose-dependent response. In conclusion,this is the first report to pinpoint that dietary incorporation ofA.awamoricounteracted OTA-induced renal and cardiac damage by potentiating the rabbit’s antioxidant defense system through its potent antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory properties in a dose-dependent response. Based on our observations,A.awamoricould be utilized as a natural protective agent against ochratoxicosis in rabbits.

Graphical abstract
DEM studies on the effect of particle breakage on the critical state behaviours of granular soils under undrained shear conditions
Authors: Shi Danda , Cao Dong , Xue Jianfeng , Deng Yibing , Liang Yonghui
Published: May 2022

A number of discrete element analyses of undrained triaxial shear tests on crushable assemblies are performed using 3-dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D). The undrained shear of the samples is simulated by assigning different velocities at the boundaries to control the constant volume of the samples during the shear. Particle breakage is studied using the octahedral shear stress breakage criterion and the fragment spawning mode satisfying an Apollonian sphere packing. The microparameters of the soils are obtained by simulating the test results reported on a Nansha calcareous sand. The effects of particle breakage and drainage condition on the critical state behaviours of the sand are intensively examined. It is found that particle breakage and drainage condition do not affect the slope of the critical state p′−q line. In the ecs−(p′cs/pa)0.7 space, the critical state line translates downward and rotates clockwise when particle breakage is considered, whilst drainage condition does not affect the critical state line. The intrinsic macro–micro correlations underlying the critical state behaviours are explored by analysing the evolution of representative micromechanical indicators such as coordination number, redundancy ratio, and fabric and force anisotropies.
Online-Arbeitsmärkte im Spannungsfeld von Plattform und Community
Authors: Hertwig Markus , Papsdorf Christian
Published: May 2022

Der Beitrag widmet sich im Rahmen eines Systematic Literature Reviews sowie einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse der Untersuchung von Online-Arbeitsmärkten und der dort vermittelten Arbeit. Vor dem Hintergrund einer unübersichtlichen Literaturlage besteht das Ziel in der Analyse und Systematisierung der Besonderheiten von Plattformarbeit. Dafür werden 235 zwischen 2010 und 2020 erschienene thematisch relevante Publikationen daraufhin untersucht, (1) welche Disziplinen mit welchen Methoden in welchen Kontexten plattformbasierte Arbeit erforschen; (2) welche Dimensionen von Arbeit sie thematisieren; (3) welche Akteurinnen und Akteure und Institutionen Arbeit prägen; und (4) auf welche Art und Weise sie dies tun. Der Beitrag analysiert den Stand der Forschung zu den Einflussfaktoren plattformbasierter Arbeit und identifiziert Forschungsdesiderata. Zudem bietet er eine Heuristik an, die die oftmals kleinteiligen Forschungsergebnisse systematisiert und aufeinander bezieht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass vor allem Plattformen (als technische und organisatorische Systeme), Kundinnen und Kunden sowie die Community der Tätigen als neuartige Prägekräfte verschiedene Aspekte von Arbeit maßgeblich beeinflussen.
Jenseits der Disruption: Zum Lebenszyklus von Pioniergemeinschaften und ihrer Rolle beim Entstehen einer „digitalen Gesellschaft“
Authors: Hepp Andreas
Published: May 2022

Im journalistischen Diskurs wird der Wandel von Gesellschaft hin zu einer „digitalen Gesellschaft“ immer wieder mit Konzepten der disruptiven Veränderung und der Rolle von Start-ups bei dieser gefasst. In Abgrenzung zu solchen verkürzenden Vorstellungen diskutiert der Beitrag die Rolle von Pioniergemeinschaften in Transformationsprozessen der tiefgreifenden Mediatisierung von Gesellschaft. Medienbezogene Pioniergemeinschaften, wie beispielsweise die Quantified-Self‑, Maker- oder Hacks/Hackers-Bewegung, zeichnen sich insbesondere durch ihre experimentellen Praktiken und Imaginationen einer Veränderbarkeit von Gesellschaft durch Medientechnologien aus. Der Beitrag beschreibt den Lebenszyklus von Pioniergemeinschaften, angefangen von ihrer Formierung aus dem Kontext weiterer sozialer Bewegungen und technologiebezogener Gemeinschaften, über ihre Hochphase mit einer großen medialen Aufmerksamkeit und dem Entstehen von Start-ups sowie Ausgründungen bis hin zu deren Ausklang, der immer wieder mit einer teilweisen Veralltäglichung ihres Experimentierens und ihrer Imaginationen einher geht. Dabei wird argumentiert, dass die Rolle von Pioniergemeinschaften in Prozessen tiefgreifender Mediatisierung insbesondere in ihrer Horizonterprobung besteht, also dem Ausloten möglicher Veränderungen, sowie in Prozessen der Übersetzung, worunter einerseits die Übersetzung von Ideen zwischen verschiedenen gesellschaftlichen Domänen zu verstehen ist, andererseits die Übertragung des Experimentellen. Pioniergemeinschaften werden so als wichtige kollektive Akteure der tiefgreifenden Mediatisierung von Gesellschaft greifbar.