bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between plasma exosome neurogranin and brain structure in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a protocol study
Authors: He MengFei , Sun Li , Cao Wenhui , Yin Changhao , Sun Wenqiang , Liu Ping , Tan Lin , Xu Zheng , Zhao Weina
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Neurogranin is known to be significantly elevated in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and may be an effective clinical predictor of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is an intermediate disease state between normal cognitive ageing and dementia, the latter of which can easily revert to AD. There remains significant uncertainty regarding the conversion of aMCI to AD, and therefore, elucidating such progression is paramount to the field of cognitive neuroscience. In this protocol study, we therefore aim to investigate the changes in plasma neurogranin in the early stage of AD and the mechanism thereof regarding the cognitive progression towards AD.

Methods and analysis

In this study, patients with aMCI and AD patients (n=70 each) will be recruited at the memory clinic of the Department of Neurology of Hongqi Hospital affiliated with the Mudanjiang Medical University of China. Healthy older controls (n=70) will also be recruited from the community. All subjects will undergo neuroimaging and neuropsychological evaluations in addition to blood collection at the first year and the third year. We hope to identify a new biomarker of cognitive decline associated with AD and characterise its behaviour throughout the progression of aMCI to AD. This work will reveal novel targets for the therapeutic prevention, diagnosis and treatment of AD. The primary outcome measures will be (1) neuropsychological evaluation, including Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, Shape Trail Test-A&B, Auditory Verbal Learning Test-HuaShan version; (2) microstructural alterations and hippocampal features from MRI scans; and (3) neurogranin levels in the neuronal-derived exosomes from peripheral blood samples.

Ethics and dissemination

The ethics committee of the Hongqi Hospital affiliated with the Mudanjiang Medical University of China has approved this study protocol. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national or international scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2000029055.
Impact of a novel community testing pathway for people with suspected COVID-19 in Wales: a cost-minimisation analysis
Authors: Currie Jonny , Adamson James , Bowden Bethan , Woolls Julie , Jones Rachel , Healy Brendan , Heyburn David , Shankar Ananda Giri , Howe Robin
Published: August 2020

Objective

To compare National Health Service (NHS) organisations’ testing pathways for patients with suspected COVID-19 in the community versus standard hospital testing practices.

Perspective

NHS commissioners and services.

Methods

During the containment phase of the COVID-19 pandemic we developed a community model pathway for COVID-19 testing in Wales with testing teams undertaking swabbing for COVID-19 in individuals’ usual place of residence. We undertook a cost-minimisation analysis comparing the costs to the NHS in Wales of community testing for COVID-19 versus standard hospital testing practices and ambulance conveyancing. We analysed data from patients with suspected COVID-19 between January and February 2020 and applied assumptions of costs from national contractual and reference costs for ambulances, staffing and transportation with market costs at the time of publication.

Results

177 patients with suspected COVID-19 underwent community testing via local NHS organisations between January and February 2020 with a mean age of 46.1 (IQR 27.5–56.3). This was 92% of total patients who were tested for COVID-19 during this period. We estimate, compared with standard hospital testing practices, cash savings in improved productivity for the NHS of £24,539 during this time period, in addition to further non-monetised benefits for hospital and ambulance flow.

Conclusions

Community testing for COVID-19 in Wales is now an established pathway and continues to bring benefits for patients, local healthcare organisations and the NHS. Further application of this model in other settings and to other infectious diseases may herald promising returns.
Breast feeding after caesarean delivery on maternal request: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mu Wei , Huang Yu Hong , Chaumont Andréanne , Létourneau Isabelle , El-Chaar Darine , Xia Tian , Wu Wen Shi
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Caesarean delivery under maternal request (CDMR) is a major factor contributing to the rising global rates of caesarean section (CS) procedure. The choice of CDMR without medical indications could provide a sense of assured safety by avoiding the experiences and complications of vaginal birth, and the risks related to an emergency CS. However, it might adversely influence women’s breast feeding patterns and produce a long-lasting impact on maternal and neonatal health. This study aims to systematically review the current evidence relating to the effects of intentions of performing CDMR on breast feeding.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive literature search will be performed in three English-language electronic databases, major clinical study registries and other sources for original studies reporting the breast feeding outcomes after a planned CDMR or vaginal delivery. The three databases Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched via Ovid from inception to February 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), pseudo-RCTs, cohort studies and case–control studies on this topic will be included. Participants in the experimental or case group should meet the Robson criteria of classes 2B or 4B and have experienced planned CS undertaken for no maternal or foetal indication, whereas participants in the control group have undergone scheduled vaginal delivery. All kinds of breast feeding outcomes will be included. Meta-analyses will be attempted to provide an estimate of the pooled effect and will be stratified by different study designs. A qualitative description will be provided if quantitative synthesis proves to be fruitless.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is a secondary literature review that does not need ethical approval. No primary data will be collected from the participants. Findings of this study will be presented at scientific conferences and be published in scientific journals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020160303.
Recovery of endoscopy services in the era of COVID-19: recommendations from an international Delphi consensus
Authors: Bhandari Pradeep , Subramaniam Sharmila , Bourke Michael J , Alkandari Asma , Chiu Philip Wai Yan , Brown James F , Keswani Rajesh N , Bisschops Raf , Hassan Cesare , Raju Gottumukkala S , Muthusamy V Raman , Sethi Amrita , May Gary R , Albéniz Eduardo , Bruno Marco , Kaminski Michal Filip , Alkhatry Maryam , Almadi Majid , Ibrahim Mostafa , Emura Fabian , Moura Eduardo , Navarrete Claudio , Wulfson Adolfo , Khor Christopher , Ponnudurai Ryan , Inoue Haruhiro , Saito Yutaka , Yahagi Naohisa , Kashin Sergey , Nikonov Evgeniy , Yu Honggang , Maydeo Amit P , Reddy D Nageshwar , Wallace Michael B , Pochapin Mark Bennett , Rösch Thomas , Sharma Prateek , Repici Alessandro
Published: August 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on provision of endoscopy services globally as staff and real estate were repurposed. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, a cohesive international approach is needed, and guidance on how to resume endoscopy services safely to avoid unintended harm from diagnostic delays. The aim of these guidelines is to provide consensus recommendations that clinicians can use to facilitate the swift and safe resumption of endoscopy services. An evidence-based literature review was carried out on the various strategies used globally to manage endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and control infection. A modified Delphi process involving international endoscopy experts was used to agree on the consensus statements. A threshold of 80% agreement was used to establish consensus for each statement. 27 of 30 statements achieved consensus after two rounds of voting by 34 experts. The statements were categorised as pre-endoscopy, during endoscopy and postendoscopy addressing relevant areas of practice, such as screening, personal protective equipment, appropriate environments for endoscopy and infection control precautions, particularly in areas of high disease prevalence. Recommendations for testing of patients and for healthcare workers, appropriate locations of donning and doffing areas and social distancing measures before endoscopy are unique and not dealt with by any other guidelines. This international consensus using a modified Delphi method to produce a series of best practice recommendations to aid the safe resumption of endoscopy services globally in the era of COVID-19.
Rapid tumor vaccine using Toll-like receptor-activated ovarian cancer ascites monocytes
Authors: Adams Sarah F , Grimm Alizée J , Chiang Cheryl L-L , Mookerjee Ananda , Flies Dallas , Jean Stephanie , McCann Georgia A , Michaux Justine , Pak HuiSong , Huber Florian , Neal Christopher , Dangaj Denarda , Bassani-Sternberg Michal , Rusakiewicz Sylvie , Facciabene Andrea , Coukos George , Gimotty Phyllis A , Kandalaft Lana E
Published: August 2020

Background

Novel therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer (OC) are needed as the survival rate remains dismally low. Although dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines are effective in eliciting therapeutic responses, their complex and costly manufacturing process hampers their full clinical utility outside specialized clinics. Here, we describe a novel approach of generating a rapid and effective cancer vaccine using ascites-derived monocytes for treating OC.

Methods

Using the ID8 mouse ovarian tumor model and OC patient samples, we isolated ascites monocytes and evaluated them with flow cytometry, Luminex cytokine and chemokine array analysis, ex vivo cocultures with T cells, in vivo tumor challenge and T cell transfer experiments, RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry.

Results

We demonstrated the feasibility of isolating ascites monocytes and restoring their ability to function as bona fide antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 lipopolysaccharide and TLR9 CpG-oligonucleotides, and a blocking antibody to interleukin-10 receptor (IL-10R Ab) in the ID8 model. The ascites monocytes were laden with tumor antigens at a steady state in vivo. After a short 48 hours activation, they upregulated maturation markers (CD80, CD86 and MHC class I) and demonstrated strong ex vivo T cell stimulatory potential and effectively suppressed tumor and malignant ascites in vivo. They also induced protective long-term T cell memory responses. To evaluate the translational potential of this approach, we isolated ascites monocytes from stage III/IV chemotherapy-naïve OC patients. Similarly, the human ascites monocytes presented tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), including MUC1, ERBB2, mesothelin, MAGE, PRAME, GPC3, PMEL and TP53 at a steady state. After a 48-hour treatment with TLR4 and IL-10R Ab, they efficiently stimulated oligoclonal tumor-associated lymphocytes (TALs) with strong reactivity against TAAs. Importantly, the activated ascites monocytes retained their ability to activate TALs in the presence of ascitic fluid.

Conclusions

Ascites monocytes are naturally loaded with tumor antigen and can perform as potent APCs following short ex vivo activation. This novel ascites APC vaccine can be rapidly prepared in 48 hours with a straightforward and affordable manufacturing process, and would be an attractive therapeutic vaccine for OC.
Investigation of factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary profession
Authors: Hagen Jennifer R , Weller Renate , Mair Timothy Stephen , Kinnison Tierney
Published: August 2020

Background

Recruitment and retention is currently of major concern and has resulted in the veterinary profession being returned to the UK's Shortage Occupation List in 2019.

Methods

An online questionnaire of veterinary employees and employers investigating factors contributing to leaving/staying in current employment and the profession. The questionnaire was distributed via specialist veterinary associations’ email lists and social media from September to October 2018.

Results

Respondents had few job changes (median 3), however, 43.7 per cent (n=2390) reported that they were likely or very likely to leave their employment within two years. Vets who were recently qualified, on lower salaries and female were more likely to plan to leave. Most frequently chosen reasons to stay in a position were: team, location and family. Most commonly cited reasons to leave were: work‐life balance, management and salary. Respondents most disliked dealing with people, work‐life balance and the physical/emotional impacts of the job. They would most like to change the hours worked, team aspects and management. Employers suggested that it was difficult to employ a veterinary surgeon, especially an experienced individual.

Conclusion

The current retention crisis is due in part to the differing requirements between modern‐day veterinary employees, their employers, the public and the profession.
Recovery of small-strain stiffness following blast-induced liquefaction based on shear wave velocity measurements
Authors: Mahvelati Siavash , Coe Joseph T. , Stuedlein Armin W. , Asabere Philip , Gianella Tygh N. , Kordjazi Alireza
Published: August 2020

Changes in soil fabric following liquefaction have been studied using various in situ methods that often return inconclusive or conflicting observations. The time–rate variation of stiffness, when observed, is usually not evaluated over significant periods of time, limiting investigations about aging in post-liquefaction regain of stiffness. Even more uncommon is the application of geophysical techniques to evaluate changes in shear wave velocity (VS) as a proxy for small-strain stiffness. This study uses controlled blasting to examine long-term post-liquefaction regain of stiffness following multiple blast events. The multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) technique was used to observe changes in VSof aged deposits at a test site in South Carolina. Blast-induced liquefaction of the target liquefiable layer resulted in significant reduction to its initial small-strain stiffness owing to the destruction of the aged soil fabric. The time-rate variation in VSindicated that the initial small-strain stiffness was not re-established over many months following liquefaction. Following a second blast event, the small-strain stiffness reduced again, but recovered more quickly, similar to previously reported observations of young sand deposits. This study provides a significant basis for interpreting in situ body and surface wave measurements of aged and young sand deposits densified using blast liquefaction.
Rates of fluoroquinolone resistance in domestically acquiredCampylobacter jejuniare increasing in people living within a model study location in Canada
Authors: Inglis G. Douglas , Taboada Eduardo N. , Boras Valerie F.
Published: August 2020

Antimicrobial resistance was evaluated in Campylobacter jejuni isolated from 1291 diarrheic people over a 15-year period (2004–2018) in southwestern Alberta, a model location in Canada with a high rate of campylobacteriosis. The prevalence of resistance to chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, and gentamicin was low during the examination period (≤4.8%). Resistance to tetracycline remained consistently high (41.6%–65.1%), and resistance was primarily conferred by plasmid-borne tetO (96.2%). Resistance rates to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid increased substantially over the examination period, with a maximal fluoroquinolone resistance (FQR) prevalence of 28.9% in 2016. The majority of C. jejuni isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin (93.9%) contained a C257T single nucleotide polymorphism within the gyrA chromosomal gene. Follow up with infected people indicated that the observed increase in FQR was primarily due to domestically acquired infections. Moreover, the majority of FQ-resistant C. jejuni subtypes (82.6%) were endemic in Canada, primarily linked to cattle and chicken reservoirs; 18.4% of FQ-resistant isolates were assigned to three subtypes, predominantly associated with cattle. Study findings indicate the need to prioritize FQR monitoring in C. jejuni infections in Canada and to elucidate the dynamics of the emergence and transmission of resistant C. jejuni strains within and from cattle and chicken reservoirs.
Pocket formula for incoherent scattering cross section
Authors: Manjunatha H.C. , Seenappa L. , Sridhar K.N.
Published: August 2020

We have achieved a simple empirical formula for incoherent scattering cross section based on the data available in the literature. The present formula produces incoherent scattering cross section values of all atoms for the atomic number range 1 < Z < 100 in the energy range 1 keV < E < 100 GeV with the simple inputs of atomic number (Z) and energy (E) in keV. The percentage of deviation of incoherent scattering cross section of the present formula is less than ±3%. The values produced by the present formula agree well with the experiments. The present formula is useful in the fields of radiation physics and nuclear physics.
The effective field theory of low scale see-saw at colliders
Authors: Biekötter Anke , Chala Mikael , Spannowsky Michael
Published: August 2020

We study the Standard Model effective field theory ($$\nu $$νSMEFT) extended with operators involving right-handed neutrinos, focussing on the regime where the right-handed neutrinos decay promptly on collider scales to a photon and a Standard Model neutrino. This scenario arises naturally for right-handed neutrinos with masses of the order $$m_N \sim 0.1 \dots 10\, \,\text {GeV}$$mN∼0.1⋯10GeV. We limit the relevant dimension-six operator coefficients using LEP and LHC searches with photons and missing energy in the final state as well as pion and tau decays. While bounds on new physics contributions are generally in the TeV scale for order one operator coefficients, some coefficients, however, remain very poorly constrained or even entirely evade bounds from current data. Consequently, we identify such weakly constrained scenarios and propose new searches for rare top and tau decays involving photons to probe potential new physics in the $$\nu $$νSMEFT parameter space. Our analysis highlights the importance of performing dedicated searches for new rare tau and top decays.
Depth Image Vibration Filtering and Shadow Detection Based on Fusion and Fractional Differential
Authors: Cao Ting , Tu Pengjia , Wang Weixing
Published: August 2020

The depth image generated by Kinect sensor always contains vibration and shadow noises which limit the related usage. In this research, a method based on image fusion and fractional differential is proposed for the vibration filtering and shadow detection. First, an image fusion method based on pixel level is put forward to filter the vibration noises. This method can achieve the best quality of every pixel according to the depth images sequence. Second, an improved operator based on fractional differential is studied to extract the shadow noises, which can enhance the boundaries of shadow regions significantly to accomplish the shadow detection effectively. Finally, a comparison is made with other traditional and state-of-the-art methods and our experimental results indicate that the proposed method can filter out the vibration and shadow noises effectively based on the [Formula: see text]-measure system.
A REVIEW OF THE MECHANICAL STRESSES PREDISPOSING ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMAL RUPTURE: UNIAXIAL EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
Authors: ANTONOVA MARIYA , ANTONOVA SOFIA , SHIKOVA LYUDMILA , KANEVA MARIA , GOVEDARSKI VALENTIN , ZAHARIEV TODOR , STOYTCHEV STOYAN
Published: August 2020

In this paper, problems concerning the uniaxial experimental investigation of the human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) biomechanical characteristics, concomitant values of the associated Cauchy stress, failure (ultimate) stress in AAA, and the constitutive modeling of AAA are considered. The aim of this paper is to review and compare the disposable experimental data, to reveal the reasons for the high dissipation of the results between studies, and to propound some unification criteria. We examined 22 literature sources published between 1994 and 2017 and compared their results, including our own results. The experiments in the reviewed literature have been designed to obtain the stress–strain characteristics and the failure (ultimate) stress and strain of the aneurysmal tissue. A variety of forms of the strain–energy function (SEF) have been applied in the considered studies to model the biomechanical behavior of the aneurysmal wall. The specimen condition and physical parameters, the experimental protocols, the failure stress and strain, and SEFs differ between studies, contributing to the differences between the final results. We propound some criteria and suggestions for the unification of the experiments leading to the comparable results.
The Impact of Information Ownership and Psychological Context on Employee Information Sharing Motivation
Authors: Park Joonyong , Shin Minsoo
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this paper is to define a model to examine information sharing behaviour from a psychological ownership perspective in an organisation. The importance of psychological ownership is emphasised in various researches as the cause of the attitude and behaviour of individuals within an organisation, and many researchers have developed and expanded the concept of psychological ownership. Despite its importance, research that examines information sharing behaviour from a psychological ownership perspective is lacking, and the results of each research show conflicting positive and negative results. In order to explain such results, this study examined the concept of psychological ownership by subdividing it into intuition-based information ownership (IBIO) and reasoning-based information ownership (RBIO) based on the prospect theory (PT). Also using the structural equation model, we examined and verified the types of information factors (cost, profits, expertise and hobbies) as leading factors. The main findings have confirmed that IBIO and RBIO have a significant related effect (i.e. the positive effect, however, RBIO has a negative effect on enjoying helping others) on information sharing motivations (reputation, controlling, enjoying helping others and reciprocity). This study supports and expands the theories of psychological ownership and information sharing to aid in the understanding of information sharing within an organisation, and provides practical insights into situations of conflicts of interest regarding information sharing.
Existence and uniqueness result for an hyperbolic scalar conservation law with a stochastic force using a finite volume approximation
Authors: Bauzet Caroline , Castel Vincent , Charrier Julia
Published: August 2020

We are interested in multi-dimensional nonlinear scalar conservation laws forced by a multiplicative stochastic noise with a general time and space dependent flux-function. We address simultaneously theoretical and numerical issues in a general framework and consider a larger class of flux functions in comparison to the one in the literature. We establish existence and uniqueness of a stochastic entropy solution together with the convergence of a finite volume scheme. The novelty of this paper is the use of a numerical approximation (instead of a viscous one) in order to get, both, the existence and the uniqueness of solutions. The quantitative bounds in our uniqueness result constitute a preliminary step toward the establishment of strong error estimates. We also provide an [Formula: see text] stability result for the stochastic entropy solution.
Asymptotic behavior of non-autonomous fractional p-Laplacian equations driven by additive noise on unbounded domains
Authors: Wang Renhai , Wang Bixiang
Published: August 2020

This paper deals with the asymptotic behavior of solutions to non-autonomous, fractional, stochastic [Formula: see text]-Laplacian equations driven by additive white noise and random terms defined on the unbounded domain [Formula: see text]. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions for polynomial drift terms of arbitrary order. We then establish the existence and uniqueness of pullback random attractors for the system in [Formula: see text]. This attractor is further proved to be a bi-spatial [Formula: see text]-attractor for any [Formula: see text], which is compact, measurable in [Formula: see text] and attracts all random subsets of [Formula: see text] with respect to the norm of [Formula: see text]. Finally, we show the robustness of these attractors as the intensity of noise and the random coefficients approach zero. The idea of uniform tail-estimates as well as the method of higher-order estimates on difference of solutions are employed to derive the pullback asymptotic compactness of solutions in [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] in order to overcome the non-compactness of Sobolev embeddings on [Formula: see text] and the nonlinearity of the fractional [Formula: see text]-Laplace operator.
The Microstructure of Nanocarrier System and its Application in Cosmetics
Authors: Gan Liang , Deng Jianjun , Hu Liuyun , Lu Wangwang , Cui Dingyuan , Zhang Wanping
Published: August 2020

With the improvement of living standard, consumers have higher requirements on functions of cosmetics. Nanocarrier systems can offer remarkable features and have potential in targeted-oriented active molecule delivery. In order to improve the functions of cosmetics, nanocarrier system has been widely used in cosmetics. Nanoemulsions, liposomes and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have attracted considerable attention as three main nanocarrier systems for cosmetics and personal care products. They have a lot of advantages such as improving stability, improving tissue macrophages distribution, increasing solubility, bioavailability, protection of actives from toxicity, enhancing pharmacological activity and intracellular uptake, targeted delivery and sustained delivery. In this paper, the definition, classification and micro-structure of these three carriers were reviewed. The applications of nanoemulsions, liposomes and NLCs in cosmetics were discussed. The beneficial aspects of nanoemulsions, liposomes and NLCs in cosmetics are very broad. They have very promising future for the delivery of cosmetic active components/ingredients and for the production of high-quality cosmetics.
Ab Initio Investigation of Structural, Electronic, Magnetic and Mechanical Properties of Fe2NiAl1−xGaxNew Heusler Alloys
Authors: Benkaddour A. , Cheref O. , Benkhettou N. , Mehtougui N. , Rached D. , Benkaddour I. , Caid M.
Published: August 2020

This work presents ab initio study of the structural, electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties of Fe2NiAl[Formula: see text]GaxHeusler compounds with variable concentrations ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) of Ga. Calculations have performed using the full-potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP-LAPW) method within generalized gradient approximation Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) formalism in order to describe the exchange–correlation potential. The obtained results showed that the equilibrium parameter values are in good agreement with the available experimental results. In the study of the electronic properties, band structure analysis indicated that all of our compounds have metallic behavior. The calculated total magnetic moments of our Heusler alloys are in line with the Slater–Pauling rule, and they agreed with the results of previous studies. For mechanical properties, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, elastic constants, Poisson’s ratio and shear anisotropy factor have studied. Their obtained values reveal that these compounds are mechanically and dynamically stable.
The Theory of Cognitive Consciousness, and Λ (Lambda)
Authors: Bringsjord Selmer , Naveen Sundar G.
Published: August 2020

We provide an overview of the theory of cognitive consciousness (TCC), and of [Formula: see text]; the latter provides a means of measuring the amount of cognitive consciousness present in a given cognizer, whether natural or artificial, at a given time, along a number of different dimensions. TCC and [Formula: see text] stand in stark contrast to Tononi’s Integrated information Theory (IIT) and [Formula: see text]. We believe, for reasons we present, that the former pair is superior to the latter. TCC includes a formal axiomatic theory, [Formula: see text], the 12 axioms of which we present and briefly comment upon herein; no such formal theory accompanies IIT/[Formula: see text]. TCC/[Formula: see text] and IIT/[Formula: see text] each offer radically different verdicts as to whether and to what degree AIs of yesterday, today, and tomorrow were/are/will be conscious. Another noteworthy difference between TCC/[Formula: see text] and IIT/[Formula: see text] is that the former enables the measurement of cognitive consciousness in those who have passed on, and in fictional characters; no such enablement is remotely possible for IIT/[Formula: see text]. For instance, we apply [Formula: see text] to measure the cognitive consciousness of: Descartes; and the first fictional detective to be described on Earth (by Edgar Allen Poe), Auguste Dupin. We also apply [Formula: see text] to compute the cognitive consciousness of an artificial agent able to make ethical decisions using the Doctrine of Double Effect.
Liquefaction susceptibility maps for the Aqaba–Elat region with projections of future hazards with sea-level rise
Authors: Abueladas Abdel-Rahman A. , Niemi Tina M. , Al-Zoubi Abdallah , Tibor Gideon , Kanari Mor , Ben-Avraham Zvi
Published: August 2020

The cities of Aqaba, Jordan and Elat, Israel are vulnerable to seismic damage because they are built over the active faults of the Dead Sea Transform that are the source of historically destructive earthquakes. A liquefaction susceptibility map was generated for the Aqaba–Elat region. Borehole data from 149 locations and the water table depth were used to calculate effective overburden stress in the Seed–Idriss simplified method. The liquefaction analysis was based on applying a cyclic loading scenario with horizontal peak ground acceleration of 0.3 
g
in a major earthquake. The liquefaction map, compiled using a GIS platform, shows high and moderate liquefaction susceptibility zones along the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba that extend 800 m inland from the shoreline. In Aqaba, several hotels, luxury apartment complexes, archaeological sites, ports and commercial districts are located within high and moderate liquefaction zones. In Elat, the seaport and the coastal hotel district are located within a high susceptibility zone. Most residential areas, schools and hospitals in both cities are located within zones not susceptible to liquefaction based on the methods of this study. The total area with the potential to be liquefied along the Gulf of Aqaba is
c.
10 km
2
. Given predictions for global sea-level, we ran three liquefaction models utilizing projected water table rises of 0.5, 1 and 2 m. These models yielded an increase in the area of high liquefaction ranging from 26 to 49%. Given the high potential of future earthquakes, our liquefaction susceptibility maps should help inform city officials for hazard mitigation planning.
Ammonite occurrences in North Sea cores: implications for Jurassic Arctic–Mediterranean marine seaway connectivity
Authors: Morton Nicol , Mitta Vasily V. , Underhill John R.
Published: August 2020

The paucity of ammonite recovery from North Sea wells has meant that offshore correlations are largely dependent upon microfossil assemblages. While rare, ammonites have been found in a few boreholes during the course of oil exploration activities. The occurrence of ammonites in ten wells in the UK sector of the Viking Graben and the Moray Firth rift arms provides a new basis by which to demonstrate that there was a distinct separation between Arctic and sub-Mediterranean species that lasted from Bajocian to Early Callovian times. Five wells contain ‘Boreal Bathonian' ammonites from the Arctic Realm.
Arctocephalites
from the Boreal Arcticus Zone (uppermost Bajocian) correlates basinal partly anoxic mudstones in the Beryl Embayment (9/13b) with both bioturbated siltstones in the southern Viking Graben (9/10b), and calcareous mudstones in the East Shetland Basin (211/21). Upper Bajocian Pompeckji Zone
Cranocephalites
and younger
Arcticoceras
from Lower to Middle Bathonian Greenlandicus, Ishmae and Cranocephaloide zones are confined to 211/21 demonstrating that the marine transgression began earlier and lasted longer. A
Cadoceras
from well 3/3-8 dates to the Lower Callovian Koenigi and Calloviense zones during which renewed extensional faulting re-established ammonite migration routes between the Boreal and sub-Mediterranean realms. A Middle Oxfordian (Densiplicatum Zone)
Perisphinctes
from well 22/5b-8 confirms an episode of northward migration from the sub-Mediterranean into the Boreal Realm. Upper Oxfordian (Regulare to Rosenkantzi zones)
Amoeboceras
in wells 211/21-1 and 9/13b-19 are close to Upper Bajocian/Lower Bathonian faunas, suggesting an absence of Upper Bathonian to Middle Oxfordian strata as a result of rift-related footwall uplift and erosion. In four wells from Block 15/21 (-4, -11, -12A and -25) Lower Kimmeridgian ammonites have been documented, including
Rasenia
,
Amoebites
,
Aulacostephanoides
and
Zenostephanoides
, from the Baylei (?), Cymodoce, Mutabilis and Eudoxus zones, the latter (confirmed at well 13/28b-8) dating a widespread regional marine flooding surface in the Inner Moray Firth.

Supplementary material:
The detailed measurements of dimensions of the ammonites described are available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5087313
EchoBay
Authors: Cerina L. , Santambrogio M. D. , Franco G. , Gallicchio C. , Micheli A.
Published: August 2020

The increase in computational power of embedded devices and the latency demands of novel applications brought a paradigm shift on how and where the computation is performed. Although AI inference is slowly moving from the cloud to end-devices with limited resources, time-centric recurrent networks like Long-Short Term Memory remain too complex to be transferred on embedded devices without extreme simplifications and limiting the performance of many notable applications. To solve this issue, the Reservoir Computing paradigm proposes sparse, untrained non-linear networks, the Reservoir, that can embed temporal relations without some of the hindrances of Recurrent Neural Networks training, and with a lower memory occupation. Echo State Networks (ESN) and Liquid State Machines are the most notable examples. In this scenario, we propose
EchoBay
, a comprehensive C++ library for ESN design and training. EchoBay is architecture-agnostic to guarantee maximum performance on different devices (whether embedded or not), and it offers the possibility to optimize and tailor an ESN on a particular case study, reducing at the minimum the effort required on the user side. This can be done thanks to the Bayesian Optimization (BO) process, which efficiently and automatically searches hyper-parameters that maximize a fitness function. Additionally, we designed different optimization techniques that take in consideration resource constraints of the device to minimize memory footprint and inference time. Our results in different scenarios show an average speed-up in training time of 119x compared to Grid and Random search of hyper-parameters, a decrease of 94% of trained models size and 95% in inference time, maintaining comparable performance for the given task. The EchoBay library is Open Source and publicly available at https://github.com/necst/Echobay.
Lithium Plating Detection Methods in Lithium-ion Batteries
Authors: Janakiraman Umamaheswari , Garrick Taylor R. , Fortier Mary E
Published: August 2020

Lithium-ion batteries (LiB) offer a low-cost, long cycle-life, and high energy density solution to the automotive industry. There is a growing need of fast charging batteries for commercial applications. However, under certain conditions such as high currents and/or low temperatures, the chance for Lithium (Li) plating increases. The main reason behind plating is the slow solid-state diffusion of Li ions inside the active material. If the anode surface potential falls below 0 V versus Li/Li+, the formation of metallic Li is thermodynamically feasible. Therefore, the determination of an accurate Li plating curve is crucial in estimating the boundary conditions for battery operation without compromising life and safety. There are various electrochemical and analytical methods that are employed in evaluating the Li plating boundary of an LiB. The present paper reviews the common test methods and analysis methods that are currently utilized in Li plating determination. An overview of existing methods, their advantages and limitations are provided in detail.
Selected omissions and capstone presentations: a new approach to student-centered integrative physiology education
Authors: Curtis Kathleen S. , Benjamin Bruce , Curtis J. Thomas , Finn Warren , Rouch Alexander J.
Published: August 2020

Here, we describe a pedagogical approach that combines didactics with active learning to facilitate integration across physiological systems in a team-taught, graduate-level physiology course. We covered the major physiological systems, with each system preceded by an overview of its evolution/ontogeny to provide a broader perspective. Lectures provided a framework for integration by giving examples of how each system interacted with systems that preceded and followed. In lieu of a final exam, the course culminated in capstone presentations by small groups to promote student-centered learning of integrative physiology. At the beginning of the semester, students were assigned to groups; each group chose from predetermined topics. This allowed them to accumulate information throughout the semester and required them to attend to lecture content to assess how the material applied to their topic, thereby facilitating learning and retention. Faculty were deliberate in choosing material that was presented in each system, and material that was strategically omitted, establishing “gaps” that students filled in their capstone presentations. The final week was dedicated to student preparation for their presentations, which promoted peer-to-peer teaching and problem solving by the group, assisted by faculty as necessary. Capstone presentations demonstrated students’ mastery of basic physiological principles and their ability to integrate among physiological systems, and they rated capstone presentations highly in helping with integration and critical thinking. Thus students showed a better understanding of systems physiology and the importance of integration across systems in normal function and in responding to homeostatic challenges.
Designing and developing core physiology learning outcomes for pre-registration nursing education curriculum
Authors: Wood Alison F. , Chandler Colin , Connolly Siobhan , Finn Gabrielle , Redmond Catherine , Jolly Jim , Powell Andrew D , Davies Carmel , Grant Allison
Published: August 2020

Physiology is a key element of “bioscience” education within pre-registration nursing programs, but there is a lack of clarity on what is included. Physiology and bioscience content and delivery are highly varied across both higher education institutions and the related programs in the United Kingdom (UK). Despite evidence highlighting concerns over nurses’ lack of bioscience knowledge and unsafe practice, there is no universally agreed on curriculum with detailed outcomes of minimum levels of knowledge to support nurses in practice and patient care. This study aimed to inform the construction of discipline-specific physiology learning outcomes to clarify relevant physiological topics required in pre-registration nursing. Initially, 360 learning outcomes were identified from various sources. Using a modified Delphi approach, an expert panel from the Bioscience in Nurse Education group reviewed and modified the list to 195 proposed outcomes. These were circulated to universities in the UK who teach nursing ( n = 65). Outcomes that had 80% consensus were automatically included in the next round, with others recommended with modification (response rate 22%). The panel reviewed the modifications, and 182 outcomes were circulated in the second questionnaire (response rate 23%), and further panel review resulting in 177 outcomes agreed. These learning outcomes do not suggest how they should be delivered, but gives the basic level required for qualification as a nurse commensurate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council new standards for the “future nurse.”
Teaching lifestyle medicine competencies in undergraduate medical education: active collaborative intervention for students at multiple locations
Authors: Pasarica Magdalena , Kay Denise
Published: August 2020

The aims of this study are to 1) design feasible active collaborative educational approaches to teach and assess three of the newly described lifestyle medicine (LM) competencies to students at multiple locations; and 2) determine whether a mixed, flexible instructional delivery approach impacts students’ learning and perception of confidence in LM. The educational interventions were part of the undergraduate clinical medical education curriculum and have two parts: 1) an asynchronous session [online self-learning module (SLM)], and 2) a synchronous session using case-based collaborative learning delivered either mostly face to face, as determined by the instructor ( approach A) or mostly virtual, as determined by the student ( approach B). Both approaches were delivered in the curriculum as planned to 27 students in approach A (26% attending virtually) and 31 students in approach B (90% attending virtually). Approach B required more planning time. Approach A students (26 of 27) agreed that the SLM was valuable as an educational tool. The performance in the summative assessment was similar ( P = 0.49) in both approaches [means (SD): 33.2 points (SD 10.6) approach A vs. 33.2 points (SD 10.1) approach B]. Students reported a similar increase in confidence ( P = 0.33) with setting lifestyle change goals. The two educational approaches presented here address three of the new LM competencies using active collaborative learning. Both approaches are feasible for synchronous delivery to students located at local and distant sites, either face to face or virtual. The increase in the proportion of students attending virtually did not decrease the measured outcomes of learning and perceptions of confidence.
Identifying Systemically Important Banks and Firms Based on a Multilayer DebtRank Model
Authors: Ma Qianting , Yang Wenke , Wang Weizhong , Ma Yilin , Yang Kun
Published: August 2020

The stability of the financial system plays a crucial role in the sustainable economic development. Hence, to identify systemically important banks and firms, we take lending relationships with different loan terms and common asset relationships with different investment cycles into consideration to present a multilayer DebtRank model of the bank-firm system. In the light of simulation research, we can obtain the following results. First, the bank-firm system constructed displays a significant core-periphery structure, which exists in the actual financial system. Then, only very few banks and firms show systemically important characteristics, where “important” subjects hold very high net assets and profits, while "fragile" subjects possess negative net assets and serious losses. Furthermore, the bank-firm multilayer DebtRank model presents a great stability to a certain extent. Overall, the multilayer DebtRank model constructed in this paper has certain theoretical reference value for the supervisory authorities to extract the internal characteristics of systemically important banks and firms and identify them effectively.
Function and Morphology of the Meibomian Glands Using a LipiView Interferometer in Rotating Shift Medical Staff
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wu Zhengzheng , Sun Liangnan , Liu Xin-hua
Published: August 2020

Purpose. To investigate the function and morphology of meibomian glands (MG) in night shift medical staff (MS). Methods. Sixty-two eyes of 31 patients in the MS group and 59 eyes of 31 patients in the control group were consecutively enrolled. All participants completed Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Standard Patient Dry Eye Evaluation (SPEED) questionnaires for dry eye severity, as well as Schirmer I and tear break-up time (TBUT) tests. LipiView® II Ocular Surface Interferometer was used for lipid layer thickness (LLT), MG dropout, and partial blink (PB) rate tests. MG expression was measured with an MG evaluator. Results. The OSDI score in the MS group was 22.39 ± 13.42, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (9.87 ± 6.64 Z = −3.997, P=0.001). The SPEED score in the MS group was 7.94 ± 3.81, which was significantly higher than in the control group (3.65 ± 2.11, Z = −4.766, P=0.001). There was no significant difference in Schirmer I test between the MS group and control group (Z = −1.346, P=0.178). TBUT in MS group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (Z = −5.201, P=0.001). The mean LLT of the MS group was 55.02 ± 21.17 nm significantly thinner than that of the control group 72.76 ± 21.62 nm (Z = −4.482, P=0.001). MG loss occurred in 45.16% of affected eyes in the MS group and 16.13% of affected eyes in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 14.352, P=0.001). MG yielding liquid secretion and MG yielding secretion score were significantly lower in the MS group than in the control group (Z = −3.641, P=0.001; Z = −3.146, P=0.001, resp.). There was a negative correlation between mean LLT and SPEED score (Spearman r = −0.363, P=0.045). Conclusions. Night shift MS had a higher incidence of MGD compared to day workers.
Deterioration of Health‐Related Quality of Life Scores under Treatment Predicts Longer Survival
Authors: Jörling Maike , Rutzner Sandra , Hecht Markus , Fietkau Rainer , Distel Luitpold V.
Published: August 2020

Objectives. Baseline health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) scores predict survival, which has already been demonstrated in various studies. However, we were interested in whether changes in baseline scores during treatment are also significant predictors of survival. Methods and Materials. We analysed the data of 400 consecutive cancer patients receiving radiochemotherapy. Leading diagnoses were head and neck cancer (34.5%), rectal cancer (24.5%), and lung cancer (13%). HRQoL was studied at baseline, six weeks after therapy and after each completed year after the start of therapy until drop out of the study using the EORTC QLQ‐C30 questionnaire. The change score was calculated as the baseline score subtracted from the score after therapy. Statistics included Kaplan‐Meier estimates and Cox regression. Results. High global health status (p = 0.005) and low pain scores (p = 0.040) at baseline were related to favourable overall survival. Change scores of role functioning (p = 0.027), global health status ( p < 0.018), and pain (p < 0.001) were predictive of overall survival. Pain was the superior predictor of survival (p = 0.001) among all variables and QoL scores studied by multivariate analysis. A deterioration in pain was associated with a 2.8 times higher chance of survival (HR 0.36). Conclusions. Deterioration of HRQoL baseline pain score by cancer treatment is a favourable and superior prognostic factor for survival.