bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sweet Syndrome: A Retrospective Study of 64 Cases and Proposal of an Algorithmic Approach to Improve Investigation and Management
Authors: Gopee N. H. , Charlton F. G. , Hampton P. J.
Published: March 2021

Background

Sweet syndrome (SS) can be categorized as classical Sweet syndrome (CSS), malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome (MASS) or drug-induced Sweet syndrome (DISS). Appropriate categorization of patients with SS and identification of the associated trigger are essential to direct subsequent investigations and follow-up, especially given that 21% of cases are malignancy-associated. However, no published guidelines exist to guide this.

Objective

To analyse the categorization, management and outcomes of patients with SS in order to propose a structured approach for investigation and follow-up.

Methods

Retrospective data collection from the electronic records of patients diagnosed with SS between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2018. Categorized and non-categorized patients were compared, and the yield rate of investigations and duration of follow-up were analysed.

Results

Sixty-four patients were included with CSS (77%), MASS (20%) and DISS (3%). Of these, 34 (53%) cases were not categorized by the assessing clinicians, three of which were subsequently diagnosed with a malignancy, up to 19 months later. There was no significant difference in investigations performed between categorized and non-categorized patients and the yield rates were modest overall. Follow-up averaged 10.5 (16.8) months; non-categorized patients were followed-up for significantly longer than categorized patients (15.0 (21.2) vs. 5.4 (6.8) months, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The lack of a structured way to approach patients with SS can lead to under- or over-investigation, diagnostic delays of underlying conditions and unnecessary follow-up. An algorithm is proposed to identify the likely trigger and manage patients accordingly. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm the optimal approach to investigate and follow-up patients with SS.
Giant Effective Damping of Octupole Oscillation in an Antiferromagnetic Weyl Semimetal
Authors: Miwa Shinji , Iihama Satoshi , Nomoto Takuya , Tomita Takahiro , Higo Tomoya , Ikhlas Muhammad , Sakamoto Shoya , Otani YoshiChika , Mizukami Shigemi , Arita Ryotaro , Nakatsuji Satoru
Published: March 2021

A magnetic Weyl semimetal is a recent focus of extensive research as it may exhibit large and robust transport phenomena associated with topologically protected Weyl points in momentum space. Since a magnetic texture provides a handle for the configuration of the Weyl points and its transport response, understanding of magnetic dynamics forms the basis for future control of a topological magnet. Mn3Sn is an example of an antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetal that exhibits a large response comparable to the one observed in ferromagnets despite a vanishingly small magnetization. The noncollinear spin order in Mn3Sn can be viewed as a ferroic order of cluster magnetic octupole and breaks the time‐reversal symmetry, stabilizing Weyl points and the significantly enhanced Berry curvature near the Fermi energy. Herein, the first observation of time‐resolved octupole oscillation in Mn3Sn is reported. In particular, the giant effective damping of the octupole dynamics is found, and it is feasible to conduct an ultrafast switching at <10 ps, a hundred times faster than the case of spin‐magnetization in a ferromagnet. Moreover, high domain wall velocity over 10 km s−1 is theoretically predicted. This work paves the path toward realizing ultrafast electronic devices using the topological antiferromagnet.
R&D incentives and competitive pressure under hidden information
Authors: Romano Maria G.
Published: March 2021

Within a principal‐agent model, the paper studies how hidden information affects incentives to invest in demand‐enhancing R&D of a firm competing in the product market. The analysis shows that, when the R&D outcome is private information of the innovating firm not only compared to its competitor, but also relative to its supplier, a contractual cost arises which neutralizes the standard strategic benefit of R&D and reduces the incentives to invest. Moreover, within this setting, more intense competition always stifles innovation.
Mild cognitive impairment and major depressive disorder are associated with molecular senescence abnormalities in older adults
Authors: Diniz Breno S. , Vieira Erica M. , Mendes‐Silva Ana Paula , Bowie Christopher R. , Butters Meryl A. , Fischer Corinne E. , Flint Alastair , Herrmann Nathan , Kennedy James , Lanctôt Krista L. , Mah Linda , Pollock Bruce G. , Mulsant Benoit H. , Rajji Tarek K. ,   on behalf of the PACt‐MD Study Group
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The biological mechanisms linking mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and major depressive disorder are not well understood. We investigated whether molecular senescence changes in older adults are associated with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) or MCI.

Methods

We included 371 participants: 167 with MCI; 62 cognitively normal with a history of MDD; 97 with MDD+MCI; and 45 cognitively unimpaired (CU) without a history of MDD. The candidate Senescence‐Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) biomarkers were measured in the plasma using a customized LUMINEX assay.

Results

The MDD+MCI group had a higher SASP index than the other groups (P < .001). A higher SASP index was significantly associated with worse global cognitive performance, executive dysfunction, slower processing speed, and episodic memory deficits.

Discussion

Our study suggests that increased molecular changes are associated with cognitive impairment in older adults with MDD and indicate that accelerated biological aging is an underlying feature of MDD.
Anti‐N‐homocysteine‐protein autoantibodies are associated with impaired cognition
Authors: Włoczkowska Olga , Perła‐Kaján Joanna , Smith A. David , de Jager Celeste , Refsum Helga , Jakubowski Hieronim
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) and related metabolites accelerate Alzheimer's disease. Hcy‐lowering B vitamins slow brain atrophy/cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Modification with Hcy‐thiolactone generates auto‐immunogenic N‐Hcy‐protein. We tested a hypothesis that anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies predict cognition in individuals with MCI participating in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled VITACOG trial of B vitamins.

Methods

Participants with MCI (n = 196, 76.8 years old, 60% women) were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of folic acid (0.8 mg), vitamin B12 (0.5 mg), and B6 (20 mg) (n = 98) or placebo (n = 98) for 2 years. Cognition was analyzed by neuropsychological tests. Brain atrophy was quantified in a subset of patients (n = 167) by magnetic resonance imaging. Anti N‐Hcy‐protein auto‐antibodies were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Associations among anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies, cognition, and brain atrophy were examined by multiple regression analysis.

Results

At baseline, anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies were significantly associated with impaired global cognition (Mini‐Mental State Examination [MMSE]), episodic memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐revised), and attention/processing speed (Map Search). At the end of the study, anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies were associated with impaired global cognition (MMSE) and attention/processing speed (Trail Making A). In the placebo group, baseline anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies predicted, independently of Hcy, global cognition (Telephone Inventory for Cognitive Status modified [TICS‐m]; MMSE) and attention/processing speed (Trail Making A) but not brain atrophy, at the end of study. B‐vitamin treatment abrogated association of anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies with cognition.

Discussion

These findings suggest that anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies can impair functional (attention/processing speed and global cognition), but not structural (brain atrophy), aspects of cognition. Anti‐N‐Hcy‐protein autoantibodies are a new factor associated with impaired cognition, which could be ameliorated by B vitamins.
Wind power costs driven by innovation and experience with further reductions on the horizon
Authors: Beiter Philipp , Cooperman Aubryn , Lantz Eric , Stehly Tyler , Shields Matt , Wiser Ryan , Telsnig Thomas , Kitzing Lena , Berkhout Volker , Kikuchi Yuka
Published: March 2021

The costs of wind power have declined to levels on par with or below those of conventional sources in many parts of the world. Wind power has become one of the fastest‐growing sources of new electricity generation. We take stock of wind power cost evolution over the past 20 years, review methodologies commonly used for cost assessment, discuss the potential for continued cost reduction, and identify anticipated cost and value drivers. Our scope includes both onshore and offshore wind technologies. We draw from a vast body of literature on these topics to highlight key trends, approaches, and limitations. Furthermore, we discuss strategies for wind power assets to enhance their marginal economic value to the broader power system and consumers. We identify a myriad of factors that are expected to influence the future cost and value of wind power, including siting, project scale, turbine size, operational synergies, commodity prices, advancements in turbine technologies, enhanced management of the wind resource, and novel control technologies that provide value for the electricity grid. Because the common methods for forecasting future costs each have their own strengths and weaknesses, we find the best insights are elicited from a combination of methods. Overall, researchers and analysts anticipate further sizable cost reductions for onshore and offshore wind. Midrange forecasts for levelized cost of energy in 2050 are generally between $20 and $30/MWh for onshore wind and $40 and $60/MWh for offshore wind, a reduction to approximately half of today's levels. Optimistic forecasts anticipate these levels as early as 2030.

This article is categorized under:

Wind Power > Economics and Policy
BPS Quivers of Five-Dimensional SCFTs, Topological Strings and q-Painlevé Equations
Authors: Bonelli Giulio , Del Monte Fabrizio , Tanzini Alessandro
Published: March 2021

We study the discrete flows generated by the symmetry group of the BPS quivers for Calabi–Yau geometries describing five-dimensional superconformal quantum field theories on a circle. These flows naturally describe the BPS particle spectrum of such theories and at the same time generate bilinear equations of q-difference type which, in the rank one case, are q-Painlevé equations. The solutions of these equations are shown to be given by grand canonical topological string partition functions which we identify with $$\tau $$
τ
-functions of the cluster algebra associated to the quiver. We exemplify our construction in the case corresponding to five-dimensional SU(2) pure super Yang–Mills and $$N_f=2$$

N
f

=
2

on a circle.
Microstructural White Matter Alterations in Cognitively Impaired Patients at Early Stages of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Schneider Ruth , Matusche Britta , Genç Erhan , Gold Ralf , Bellenberg Barbara , Lukas Carsten
Published: March 2021

Purpose

As conventional quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters are weakly associated with cognitive impairment (CI) in early multiple sclerosis (MS), we explored microstructural white matter alterations in early MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) comparing patients with or without CI.

Methods

Based on a preceding tract-based spatial statistics analysis (3 Tesla MRI) which contrasted 106 patients with early MS or CIS and 49 healthy controls, diffusion metrics (fractional anisotropy, FA, mean diffusivity, MD) were extracted from significant clusters using an atlas-based approach. The FA and MD were compared between patients with (Ci_P n = 14) and without (Cp_P n = 81) cognitive impairment in a subset of patients who underwent CI screening.

Results

The FA was reduced in Ci_P compared to Cp_P in the splenium of corpus callosum (p = 0.001), right parahippocampal cingulum (p = 0.002) and fornix cres./stria terminalis (0.042), left posterior corona radiata (p = 0.012), bilateral cerebral peduncles, medial lemniscus and in cerebellar tracts. Increased MD was detected in the splenium of corpus callosum (p = 0.01). The CI-related localizations overlapped only partially with MS lesions.

Conclusion

Microstructural white matter alterations at disease onset were detectable in Ci_P compared to Cp_P in known cognitively relevant fiber tracts, indicating the relevance of early treatment initiation in MS and CIS.
The evaluation of Rolimeter, KLT, KiRA and KT-1000 arthrometer in healthy individuals shows acceptable intra-rater but poor inter-rater reliability in the measurement of anterior tibial knee translation
Authors: Runer Armin , Roberti di Sarsina Tommaso , Starke Vasco , Iltchev Alessandra , Felmet Gernot , Braun Sepp , Fink Christian , Csapo Robert
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To assess measurement equivalence, inter- and intra-rater reliability, standard error of measurements (SEM) and false positive measurements (FPM) of four different knee arthrometers (KLT,Karl Storz; KiRA, I + ; KT-1000 MEDmetric Corp; Rolimeter, Aircast) in healthy patients.

Methods

Four different investigators (two advanced (AR) and two beginners (BR)) examined 12 participants with healthy knees at two time points with regards to anterior tibial translation (ATT) and side-to-side difference (SSD). Test equivalence was assessed using the TOST (two-one-sided t test) procedure with ± 1 mm equivalence boundaries. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated using two-way mixed effects models. Furthermore, false positive-(SSD > 3 mm) and SEMs were assessed.

Results

A total of 2304 Lachman Tests were performed. Between-rater SSDs were equivalent between AR and BR raters for the Rolimeter only. Inter-rater ICC values (SSD, ATT) were graded as “poor” to “moderate” for all devices. Equivalent test–retest results were observed for all raters using the Rolimeter, KLT and KT-1000, whereas measurement consistency with KiRA was given in the advanced examiners group only. Intra-rater ICC values (Range: SSD, ATT) were graded as “poor” to “moderate” for SSD values and “moderate” to “good” for ATT. SEMs were lowest for the Rolimeter and highest for KiRA. FPM were never obtained with the Rolimeter (0%), twice (2.1%) with the KT-1000, three times (3.1%) with the KLT and 33 times (34.4%) using KiRA.

Conclusion

There is acceptable intra-rater but poor inter-rater reliability with all tested arthrometers. Measures of knee laxity are comparable between Rolimeter, KLT and KT-1000 but higher for KiRA. Clinically, the present study shows that repeated arthrometry measurements should always be performed by the same investigators.
Ag nanoparticles outperform Au nanoparticles for the use as label in electrochemical point-of-care sensors
Authors: Beck Franziska , Horn Carina , Baeumner Antje J.
Published: March 2021

Electrochemical immunosensors enable rapid analyte quantification in small sample volumes, and have been demonstrated to provide high sensitivity and selectivity, simple miniaturization, and easy sensor production strategies. As a point-of-care (POC) format, user-friendliness is equally important and most often not combinable with high sensitivity. As such, we demonstrate here that a sequence of metal oxidation and reduction, followed by stripping via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), provides lowest limits of detection within a 2-min automatic measurement. In exchanging gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which dominate in the development of POC sensors, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), not only better sensitivity was obtained, but more importantly, the assay protocol could be simplified to match POC requirements. Specifically, we studied both nanoparticles as reporter labels in a sandwich immunoassay with the blood protein biomarker NT-proBNP. For both kinds of nanoparticles, the dose-response curves easily covered the ng∙mL−1 range. The mean standard deviation of all measurements of 17% (n ≥ 4) and a limit of detection of 26 ng∙mL−1 were achieved using AuNPs, but their detection requires addition of HCl, which is impossible in a POC format. In contrast, since AgNPs are electrochemically less stable, they enabled a simplified assay protocol and provided even lower LODs of 4.0 ng∙mL−1 in buffer and 4.7 ng∙mL−1 in human serum while maintaining the same or even better assay reliability, storage stability, and easy antibody immobilization protocols. Thus, in direct comparison, AgNPs clearly outperform AuNPs in desirable POC electrochemical assays and should gain much more attention in the future development of such biosensors.
Ultrasonic particle volume fraction profiling: an evaluation of empirical approaches
Authors: Dash Amitosh , Hogendoorn Willian , Poelma Christian
Published: March 2021

We discuss empirical techniques to extract quantitative particle volume fraction profiles in particle-laden flows using an ultrasound transducer. A key step involves probing several uniform suspensions with varying bulk volume fractions from which two key volume fraction dependent calibration parameters are identified: the peak backscatter amplitude (acoustic energy backscattered by the initial layer of the suspension) and the amplitude attenuation rate (rate at which the acoustic energy decays with depth owing to scattering losses). These properties can then be used to reconstruct spatially varying particle volume fraction profiles. Such an empirical approach allows circumventing detailed theoretical models which characterize the interaction between ultrasound and suspensions, which are not universally applicable. We assess the reconstruction techniques via synthetic volume fraction profiles and a known particle-laden suspension immobilized in a gel. While qualitative trends can be easily picked up, the following factors compromise the quantitative accuracy: (1) initial reconstruction errors made in the near-wall regions can propagate and grow along the reconstruction direction, (2) multiple scattering can create artefacts which may affect the reconstruction, and (3) the accuracy of the reconstruction is very sensitive to the goodness of the calibration. Despite these issues, application of the technique to particle-laden pipe flows shows the presence of a core with reduced particle volume fractions in laminar flows, whose prominence reduces as the flow becomes turbulent. This observation is associated with inertia-induced radial migration of particles away from the pipe axis and is observed in flows with bulk volume fractions as high as 0.08. Even transitional flows with low levels of intermittency are not devoid of this depleted core. In conclusion, ultrasonic particle volume fraction profiling can play a key complementary role to ultrasound-based velocimetry in studying the internal features of particle-laden flows.

Graphic abstract
Near-critical 2D percolation with heavy-tailed impurities, forest fires and frozen percolation
Authors: van den Berg Jacob , Nolin Pierre
Published: March 2021

We introduce a new percolation model on planar lattices. First, impurities (“holes”) are removed independently from the lattice. On the remaining part, we then consider site percolation with some parameter p close to the critical value $$p_c$$

p
c

. The mentioned impurities are not only microscopic, but allowed to be mesoscopic (“heavy-tailed”, in some sense). For technical reasons (the proofs of our results use quite precise bounds on critical exponents in Bernoulli percolation), our study focuses on the triangular lattice. We determine explicitly the range of parameters in the distribution of impurities for which the connectivity properties of percolation remain of the same order as without impurities, for distances below a certain characteristic length. This generalizes a celebrated result by Kesten for classical near-critical percolation (which can be viewed as critical percolation with single-site impurities). New challenges arise from the potentially large impurities. This generalization, which is also of independent interest, turns out to be crucial to study models of forest fires (or epidemics). In these models, all vertices are initially vacant, and then become occupied at rate 1. If an occupied vertex is hit by lightning, which occurs at a very small rate $$\zeta $$
ζ
, its entire occupied cluster burns immediately, so that all its vertices become vacant. Our results for percolation with impurities are instrumental in analyzing the behavior of these forest fire models near and beyond the critical time (i.e. the time after which, in a forest without fires, an infinite cluster of trees emerges). In particular, we prove (so far, for the case when burnt trees do not recover) the existence of a sequence of “exceptional scales” (functions of $$\zeta $$
ζ
). For forests on boxes with such side lengths, the impact of fires does not vanish in the limit as $$\zeta \searrow 0$$

ζ
↘
0

. This surprising behavior, related to the non-monotonicity of these processes, was not predicted in the physics literature.
Micro-CT evaluation of historical human skulls presenting signs of syphilitic infection
Authors: Fraberger Sabine , Dockner Martin , Winter Eduard , Pretterklieber Michael , Weber Gerhard W. , Teschler-Nicola Maria , Pietschmann Peter
Published: March 2021

Background

In tertiary syphilis, Treponema pallidum triggers the formation of granulomatous nodules in various organs of the human body. Within the skeleton, predominantly in the skull and long bones, these characteristic syphilitic lesions cause typical patterns of bone damage. In this study, micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) was used to assess the microarchitecture of these osseous defects in untreated syphilitic skull bones.

Material and methods

Bone structure of 30 macerated human skulls was noninvasively examined by means of µ-CT images (Viscom X8060 NDT). A total of 20 specimens showing typical morphological signs of syphilis were provided by the Collection of Anatomical Pathology of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna. They were compared to 10 macerated control skulls provided by the Division of Anatomy of the Medical University of Vienna.

Results

All samples affected by syphilis showed perforating defects and increased porosity. Furthermore, we observed sclerotic reorganization and complete loss of the cortical bone in 80% of infected cases. Cortical thinning occurred in 75%.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed extensive micromorphological bone destruction and a broad variability of osseous manifestations of (tertiary) syphilis.
Geochemical and isotopic evidence for upward flow of saline fluid to the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, southeastern Arkansas, USA
Authors: Larsen Daniel , Paul Justin , Cox Randy
Published: March 2021

Groundwater from the Quaternary Mississippi River Valley Alluvial (MRVA) aquifer in southeastern Arkansas (SE AR), USA, has higher salinity compared to other MRVA groundwater. Previous studies have argued for infiltration of evaporated soil water as a primary source for the elevated salinity, although seepage from local rivers and deep groundwater sources also have been considered. Geochemical and isotope data from irrigation, public supply, and industrial wells, as well as subsurface geologic data, are used to demonstrate that upward flow of saline water along regional faults is the primary source of salinity in MRVA aquifer groundwater in SE AR. Sodium, chloride (Cl-) and bromide (Br-) concentrations illustrate mixing relationships between MRVA aquifer groundwater and Jurassic Smackover Formation brine, with mixing percentages of <1% Smackover brine being the source of anomalously high Cl-, Br-, and other ions in MRVA groundwater with elevated salinity. Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope data suggest substantial mixing of Paleogene Wilcox Formation water with that of the MRVA aquifer groundwater and varying degrees of evaporative concentration. Radiocarbon and helium isotope data argue for contributions of chloride-rich, pre-modern and relatively fresh modern water for recharge to the MRVA aquifer. Chloride concentration in MRVA aquifer waters closely follows the spatial distribution of earthquake-induced liquefaction features and known or suspected geologic faults in SE AR and northeastern Louisiana. A conceptual model is developed where deep-seated basinal fluids in overpressured reservoirs migrate upward along faults during and following Holocene earthquakes into the overlying MRVA over 100s to 1,000s of years
The effect of climate change on agro-climatic indicators in the UK
Authors: Arnell N. W. , Freeman A.
Published: March 2021

The effect of climate change on agriculture in the UK is here assessed using a comprehensive series of policy-relevant agro-climate indicators characterising changes to climate resources and hazards affecting productivity and operations. This paper presents projections of these indicators across the UK with gridded observed data and UKCP18 climate projections representing a range of greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. The projections can be used to inform climate change mitigation and adaptation policy. There will be substantial changes in the climate resource and hazard across the UK during the twenty-first century if emissions continue to follow a high trajectory, and there will still be some changes if emissions reduce to achieve international climate policy targets. Growing seasons for certain crops will lengthen, crop growth will be accelerated, and both drought and heat risks (for some types of production) will increase. Soils will become drier in autumn, although there will be less change in winter and spring. The longer growing seasons and warmer temperatures provide opportunities for new crops, subject to the effects of increasing challenges to production. Most of the changes are relatively consistent across the UK, although drought risk and heat stress risk increase most rapidly in the south and east. The climate change trend is superimposed onto considerable year to year variability. Although there is strong consensus across climate projections on the direction of change, there is considerable uncertainty in the rate and magnitude of change for a given emissions scenario. For the temperature-based indicators, this reflects uncertainty in climate sensitivity, whilst for the precipitation-based indicators largely reflects uncertainty in projected changes in the weather systems affecting the UK.
A cluster analysis of cyclists in Europe: common patterns, behaviours, and attitudes
Authors: Fraboni Federico , Prati Gabriele , Casu Giulia , De Angelis Marco , Pietrantoni Luca
Published: March 2021

This study uses cluster analysis on a sample of regular cyclists from six European countries (the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, and Spain) to shed light on common cycling patterns, demographic characteristics, and attitudes. Participants completed an online survey on cycling behaviour, attitudes towards cycling, discomfort while cycling in mixed traffic, cycling environment and comparative cycling risk perception. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify segments of cyclists based on cycling patterns, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to profile the segments. The two-step cluster analysis yielded three components. Leisure-time cyclists cycled almost exclusively for leisure/training, had a clear preference for car use relative to bicycle, and low riding frequency. Resolute Cyclists were characterised by a high variety of cycling trip purpose, a clear preference for bicycle use relative to the car, and high riding frequency. Convenience Cyclists were characterised by cycling for personal business or leisure/training but not for commuting, no evident preference for bicycle vs car, and medium riding frequency. The value of the present study is to highlight commonalities in patterns, characteristics, and attitudes of cyclists in Europe. Our study showed that cycling patterns and habits are linked to psychosocial variables such as attitudes and the cycling environment, explicitly highlighting the importance of discomfort in mixed traffic and the relationship with cycling culture.
Ambiguity in European seasonal comparative research: how decisions on modelling shape results on inequality in learning?
Authors: Helbling Laura A. , Tomasik Martin J. , Moser Urs
Published: March 2021

Summer break study designs are used in educational research to disentangle school from non-school contributions to social performance gaps. The summer breaks provide a natural experimental setting that allows for the measurement of learning progress when school is not in session, which can help to capture the unfolding of social disparities in learning that are the result of non-school influences. Seasonal comparative research has a longer tradition in the U.S. than in Europe, where it is only at its beginning. As such, summer setback studies in Europe lack a common methodological framework, impairing the possibility to draw lines across studies because they differ in their inherent focus on social inequality in learning progress. This paper calls for greater consideration of the parameterization of “unconditional” or “conditional” learning progress in European seasonal comparative research. Different approaches to the modelling of learning progress answer different research questions. Based on real data and constructed examples, this paper outlines in an intuitive fashion the different dynamics in inequality that may be simultaneously present in the survey data and distinctly revealed depending on whether one or the other modeling strategy of learning progress is chosen. An awareness of the parameterization of learning progress is crucial for an accurate interpretation of the findings and their international comparison.
Increasing the Production of β-Glucan from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis RU01 by Using Tannic Acid
Authors: Chotigavin Natthaporn , Sriphochanart Wiramsri , Yaiyen Surachai , Kudan Sanya
Published: March 2021

In this study, we increased β-glucan production from brewer’s yeast,Saccharomyces carlsbergensisRU01, by using tannic acid. High-pressure freezing and transmission electron microscopy (HPF-TEM) revealed that the yeast cell wall obtained from yeast malt (YM) medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid was thicker than that of yeast cultured in YM medium alone. The production of β-glucan fromS. carlsbergensisRU01 was optimized in 3% w/v molasses and 0.1% w/v diammonium sulfate (MDS) medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid. The results showed that MDS medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid significantly increased the dry cell weight (DCW), and the β-glucan production was 0.28±0.01% w/v and 11.99±0.04% w/w. Tannic acid enhanced the β-glucan content by up to 42.23%. β-Glucan production in the stirred tank reactor (STR) was 1.4-fold higher than that in the shake flask (SF) culture. Analysis of the β-glucan composition by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the β-glucan ofS. carlsbergensisRU01 cultured in MDS medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid had a higher proportion of polysaccharide than that of the control. In addition, β-glucans from brewer’s yeast can be used as prebiotic and functional foods for human health and in animal feed.
DNA methylation as predictive marker of response to immunotherapy?
Authors: Heller Gerwin
Published: March 2021

Immunotherapy is one of the major breakthroughs in cancer treatment. However, many patients do not benefit from this type of therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need for a strategy to predict treatment efficacy before start of therapy. The role of certain genetic and epigenetic factors as potential predictive markers for response to immunotherapy is discussed in this short review.
Novel immune checkpoints beyond PD-1 in advanced melanoma
Authors: Zila Nina , Hoeller Christoph , Paulitschke Verena
Published: March 2021

In malignant diseases, targeting of immune checkpoints successfully changed the therapeutic landscape and helped to unleash anti-tumor T cell responses, resulting in durable clinical outcomes, but only in up to 50% of patients. The success of these therapies and the need to overcome intrinsic and acquired therapy resistance stimulated research to identify new pathways and targets. Numerous clinical trials are currently evaluating novel checkpoint inhibitors or recently developed strategies like modulating the tumor microenvironment, mostly in combination with approved therapies. This short review briefly discusses promising therapeutic targets, currently still under investigation, with the chance to realize clinical application in the foreseeable future.
Reduced order modeling of selective laser melting: from calibration to parametric part distortion
Authors: Ghnatios Chady , Rai Khalil El , Hascoet Nicolas , Pires Pierre-Adrien , Duval Jean-Louis , Lambarri Jon , Hascoet Jean-Yves , Chinesta Francisco
Published: March 2021

Additive manufacturing is an appealing solution to produce geometrically complex parts, difficult to manufacture using traditional technologies. The extreme process conditions, in particular the high temperature, complex interactions and couplings, and rich metallurgical transformations that this process entails, are at the origin of numerous process defects. Therefore, the numerical simulation of the process is gaining the interest of both the scientific and the industrial communities. However, simulating that process demands impressive computational resources, limiting high resolution simulations to the microscopic and mesoscopic scales. This paper proposes a thermo-mechanical modeling framework at the process scale as well as its associated reduced order simulation counterpart, enabling the parametric evaluation of the part distortion. It deeply addresses the process calibration using a high-resolution computational procedure based on the use of an in-plane-out-of-plane separated representation at the heart of the so-called Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD), as well as the analysis of the transient thermal effects, defining the conditions in which the thermal and mechanical analyses can be decoupled.
Introducing New Guidelines on Geoheritage Conservation in Protected and Conserved Areas
Authors: Crofts Roger , Tormey Dan , Gordon John E.
Published: March 2021

This paper introduces newly published guidelines on geoheritage conservation in protected and conserved areas within the “IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidelines” series. It explains the need for the guidelines and outlines the ethical basis of geoheritage values and geoconservation principles as the fundamental framework within which to advance geoheritage conservation. Best practice in establishing and managing protected and conserved areas for geoconservation is described with examples from around the world. Particular emphasis is given to the methodology and practice for dealing with the many threats to geoheritage, highlighting in particular how to improve practice for areas with caves and karst, glacial and periglacial, and volcanic features and processes, and for palaeontology and mineral sites. Guidance to improve education and communication to the public through modern and conventional means is also highlighted as a key stage in delivering effective geoconservation. A request is made to geoconservation experts to continue to share best practice examples of developing methodologies and best practice in management to guide non-experts in their work. Finally, a number of suggestions are made on how geoconservation can be further promoted.
How clonal differences and within-tree heterogeneity affect pore properties of hybrid aspen wood and biochar?
Authors: Turunen Mika , Urbano-Tenorio Fernando , Rasa Kimmo , Hyväluoma Jari , Rytkönen Peetu , Kaseva Janne , Beuker Egbert , Suhonen Heikki , Jyske Tuula
Published: March 2021

Production of applicable and homogeneous biochar for soil amendment purposes would benefit from knowledge on how feedstock heterogeneity impacts key biochar pore properties and how the properties are transformed due to pyrolysis. This study aimed (1) to quantify how clonal differences and within-tree heterogeneity of a hybrid aspen feedstock (wood) impact biochar pore properties and (2) to estimate how pore properties of non-pyrolysed wood materials are transformed when pyrolysed into biochar. The study was conducted by collecting samples from a hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × Populus tremuloides Michx.) clonal field trial. Key pore properties of non-pyrolysed and pyrolysed wood samples were quantified with 3D X-ray imaging and quantitative image analyses. The results demonstrated how pyrolysis shifted distinctively bi-modal pore size distributions of the wood samples towards smaller pore size regions. The bi-modal wood tissue structure controlled the pore structure also in the biochars. Due to decreasing cell wall thicknesses, the pyrolysis increased the porosity of the materials. While the thermal process homogenized differences in the wall thicknesses, the thicknesses of the feedstock were also shown to control the resulting thicknesses in the biochars. Mechanisms of biochar pore property formation can be considered important when designing applicable biochars for a chosen purpose. Clonal differences and within-tree heterogeneity had a direct impact only on the wall thicknesses and the pore diameters of vessels. These impacts can be of interest when planning feedstock utilization in biochar production. However, the results suggest that relatively homogeneous biochar can be produced from hybrid aspen feedstocks.
ResCaps: an improved capsule network and its application in ultrasonic image classification of thyroid papillary carcinoma
Authors: Ai Xiongzhi , Zhuang Jiawei , Wang Yonghua , Wan Pin , Fu Yu
Published: March 2021

Ultrasonic image examination is the first choice for the diagnosis of thyroid papillary carcinoma. However, there are some problems in the ultrasonic image of thyroid papillary carcinoma, such as poor definition, tissue overlap and low resolution, which make the ultrasonic image difficult to be diagnosed. Capsule network (CapsNet) can effectively address tissue overlap and other problems. This paper investigates a new network model based on capsule network, which is named as ResCaps network. ResCaps network uses residual modules and enhances the abstract expression of the model. The experimental results reveal that the characteristic classification accuracy of ResCaps3 network model for self-made data set of thyroid papillary carcinoma was $$81.06\%$$

81.06
%

. Furthermore, Fashion-MNIST data set is also tested to show the reliability and validity of ResCaps network model. Notably, the ResCaps network model not only improves the accuracy of CapsNet significantly, but also provides an effective method for the classification of lesion characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinoma ultrasonic images.
The pancreatic beta cell: an intricate relation between anatomical structure, the signalling mechanism of glucose-induced insulin secretion, the low antioxidative defence, the high vulnerability and sensitivity to diabetic stress
Authors: Lenzen Sigurd
Published: March 2021

The biosynthesis of insulin takes place in the insulin-producing beta cells that are organized in the form of islets of Langerhans together with a few other islet cell types in the pancreas organ. The signal for glucose-induced insulin secretion is generated in two pathways in the mitochondrial metabolism of the pancreatic beta cells. These pathways are also known as the triggering pathway and the amplifying pathway. Glucokinase, the low-affinity glucose-phosphorylating enzyme in beta cell glycolysis acts as the signal-generating enzyme in this process. ATP ultimately generated is the crucial second messenger in this process. Insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are badly protected against oxidative stress resulting in a particular vulnerability of this islet cell type due to low expression of H2O2-inactivating enzymes in various subcellular locations, specifically in the cytosol, mitochondria, peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum. This is in contrast to the glucagon-producing alpha cells and other islet cell types in the islets that are well equipped with these H2O2-inactivating enzymes. On the other hand the membranes of the pancreatic beta cells are well protected against lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis through high level expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) and this again is at variance from the situation in the non-beta cells of the islets with a low expression level of GPx4. The weak antioxidative defence equipment of the pancreatic beta cells, in particular in states of disease, is very dangerous because the resulting particular vulnerability endangers the functionality of the beta cells, making people prone to the development of a diabetic metabolic state.
Keyword Search on Large Graphs: A Survey
Authors: Yang Jianye , Yao Wu , Zhang Wenjie
Published: March 2021

With the prevalence of Internet access and online services, various big graphs are generated in many real applications (e.g., online social networks and knowledge graphs). An important task on analyzing and mining these graphs is keyword search. Essentially, given a graphGand queryQassociated with a set of keywords, the keyword search aims to find a substructure (e.g., rooted tree or subgraph)SinGsuch that nodes inScollectively cover part of or all keywords inQ, and in the meanwhile,Sis optimal on some user specified semantics. Keyword search on graphs can be applied in many real-life applications, such as point-of-interests recommendation and web search facility. In spite of the great importance of graph keyword search, we, however, notice that the latest survey on this topic is far out of date. Consequently, there is prompt need to conduct a comprehensive survey in this research direction. Motivated by this, in this survey, we systematically review graph keyword search studies by classifying the existing works into different categories according to the specific problem definition. This survey aims to provide the researchers a comprehensive understanding of existing graph keyword search solutions.
Optimization of dynamic maceration of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. leaves to maximize trans-anethole content
Authors: Suksaeree Jirapornchai , Chankana Natawat , Luprasong Chitradee , Monton Chaowalit
Published: March 2021

Trans-anethole possesses several biological and pharmacological effects. It is also used as masking agent in household products and as a flavoring agent in food.Clausena anisata(Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. leaves are reported as a source oftrans-anethole that makes their anise-like odor. This work sought to optimize the dynamic maceration ofC. anisataleaves to maximize thetrans-anethole content. The circumscribed central composite experimental design was applied to investigate the effects of extraction temperature and time on extraction yield,trans-anethole content in the extract, andtrans-anethole content in the plant raw material. The results showed that the extraction yield was high whenC. anisataleaves were extracted over a long extraction time, while the extraction temperature had a lesser effect on the extraction yield.Trans-anethole content in the extract and plant raw material determined using a linear, specific, precise, and accurate HPLC method was high when a medium extraction temperature with a short extraction time was used. The optimal condition that maximizedtrans-anethole content involved an extraction temperature of 61.8 °C and an extraction time of 12.9 min, respectively. The percentage error of the prediction conducted by computer software was low, suggesting that the prediction was highly accurate. In conclusion, the optimal condition of dynamic maceration obtained from this work could be used as a guide for maximizingtrans-anethole content fromC. anisataleaves.
Performance of rainfall–runoff models in reproducing hydrological extremes: a case of the River Malaba sub-catchment
Authors: Mubialiwo Ambrose , Abebe Adane , Onyutha Charles
Published: March 2021

Daily River Malaba flows recorded from 1999 to 2016 were modelled using seven lumped conceptual rainfall–runoff models including AWBM, SACRAMENTO, TANK, IHACRES, SIMHYD, SMAR and HMSV. Optimal parameters of each model were obtained using an automatic calibration strategy. Mismatches between observed and modelled flows were assessed using a total of nine “goodness-of-fit” metrics. Capacity of the models to reproduce historical hydrological extremes was assessed through comparison of amplitude–duration–frequency (ADF) relationships or curves constructed based on observed and modelled flow quantiles. Generally, most of the hydrological models performed better for high than low flows. ADF curves of both high and low flows for various return periods from 5 to 100 years were well reproduced by AWBM, SAC, TANK and HMSV. ADF curves for high and low flows were poorly reproduced by SIMHYD and SMAR, respectively. Overall, AWBM performed slightly better than other models if both high and low flows are to be considered simultaneously. The deviations of these models were larger for high than low return periods. It was found that the choice of a “goodness-of-fit” metric affects how model performance can be judged. Results from this study also show that when focusing on hydrological extremes, uncertainty due to the choice of a particular model should be taken into consideration. Insights from this study provide relevant information for planning of risk-based water resources applications.
Fog harvesting: combination and comparison of different methods to maximize the collection efficiency
Authors: Sharifvaghefi Seyyedmajid , Kazerooni Hanif
Published: March 2021

Fog harvesting is an unconventional source of water that can be used in some regions with water scarcity to overcome water shortages. The most commonly used collectors are meshes which have intrinsic limitations, the most important of which are clogging and aerodynamic deviation of droplets around the wires. Here, three techniques are compared and combined to overcome these limitations, i.e., replacing the mesh with an array of vertical wires, addition of a hydrophobic layer to the wires, and forcing the ionized droplets to move toward the wires by applying an electric field. The combination of these techniques was found to result in higher fog harvesting efficiency compared to each individual method with the highest impact from the addition of the electric field. The combined methods lead to a 60-fold increase in fog harvesting efficiency compared to meshes. The findings showed that when the fog droplets are forced in an electric field toward the wires, the shading coefficient for collectors can be increased to 1 from 0.55 (maximum for collectors without the electric field) without affecting the fog harvesting efficiency, allowing for lower construction cost of the collectors. Addition of the electric field showed two distinctive promotional effects. First, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency and second, reducing the size of droplets sliding down the wires by disturbing the three-phase contact line and reducing the contact angle hysteresis and the pinning force. Energy analysis shows that this technique can be 100 times more energy efficient compared to the conventional atmospheric water generators.