bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Families' experiments and conversations at an open‐ended exhibit in a science museum: Individual characteristics and the influence of minimal guidance strategies
Authors: Franse Rooske K. , van Schijndel Tessa J. P. , Plankman Tamara I. , Raijmakers Maartje E. J.
Published: May 2021

Research on the impact of guided investigation, including verbal guidance strategies, has expanded in the recent decade, and the current work contributes to this line of research in a museum context. The current in‐depth study examines the impact of verbal guidance strategies on family learning at an open‐ended museum exhibit, considering participants' individual characteristics. The experiments and conversations of 104 families were observed at an object motion exhibit. Results show that families, with and without guidance, investigated in a meaningful way by performing control‐of‐variables strategy experiments, investigating a range of variables, and formulating hypotheses and causal explanations. However, the results also show that the process of learning scientific concepts could be improved. Minimal interventions of museum educators positively affected the families' learning process by reducing the number of scientifically incorrect remarks. Interestingly, in addition to discussing the phenomenon, especially the families with highly educated parents discussed the topic of reliability of their experiments, which is an under‐investigated aspect of learning through investigation. Only children's cognitive ability and not parental education was modestly, but consistently related to the families' performance.
A multistate survival model of the natural history of cancer using data from screened and unscreened population
Authors: Bhatt Rikesh , van den Hout Ardo , Pashayan Nora
Published: May 2021

One of the main aims of models using cancer screening data is to determine the time between the onset of preclinical screen‐detectable cancer and the onset of the clinical state of the cancer. This time is called the sojourn time. One problem in using screening data is that an individual can be observed in preclinical phase or clinically diagnosed but not both. Multistate survival models provide a method of modeling the natural history of cancer. The natural history model allows for the calculation of the sojourn time. We developed a continuous‐time Markov model and the corresponding likelihood function. The model allows for the use of interval‐censored, left‐truncated and right‐censored data. The model uses data of clinically diagnosed cancers from both screened and nonscreened individuals. Parameters of age‐varying hazards and age‐varying misclassification are estimated simultaneously. The mean sojourn time is calculated from a micro‐simulation using model parameters. The model is applied to data from a prostate screening trial. The simulation study showed that the model parameters could be estimated accurately.
Mapping and Controlling Liquid Layer Thickness in Liquid‐Phase (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Wu Hanglong , Su Hao , Joosten Rick R. M. , Keizer Arthur D. A. , van Hazendonk Laura S. , Wirix Maarten J. M. , Patterson Joseph P. , Laven Jozua , de With Gijsbertus , Friedrich Heiner
Published: May 2021

Liquid‐Phase (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy (LP‐(S)TEM) has become an essential technique to monitor nanoscale materials processes in liquids in real‐time. Due to the pressure difference between the liquid and the microscope vacuum, bending of the silicon nitride (SiNx) membrane windows generally occurs. This causes a spatially varying liquid layer thickness that makes interpretation of LP‐(S)TEM results difficult due to a locally varying achievable resolution and diffusion limitations. To mediate these difficulties, it is shown: 1) how to quantitatively map liquid layer thickness for any liquid at less than 0.01 e− Å−2 total dose; 2) how to dynamically modulate the liquid thickness by tuning the internal pressure in the liquid cell, co‐determined by the Laplace pressure and the external pressure. It is demonstrated that reproducible inward bulging of the window membranes can be realized, leading to an ultra‐thin liquid layer in the central window area for high‐resolution imaging. Furthermore, it is shown that the liquid thickness can be dynamically altered in a programmed way, thereby potentially overcoming the diffusion limitations towards achieving bulk solution conditions. The presented approaches provide essential ways to measure and dynamically adjust liquid thickness in LP‐(S)TEM experiments, enabling new experiment designs and better control of solution chemistry.
Surface Defect Engineering of CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals for High Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Wang Ji-Chong , Li Nuoya , Idris Ahmed Mahmoud , Wang Jin , Du Xinyi , Pan Zhenxiao , Li Zhengquan
Published: May 2021

Converting CO2 into chemical fuels with sunlight is a very attractive approach to solve the greenhouse effect and fossil fuel crisis. Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have been identified as ideal semiconductor photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction due to their unique properties, such as strong light absorption, low exciton binding energy, tunable bandgaps, and low cost. However, the pristine perovskite NCs suffering from inevitable defects, which lower their charge transfer efficiency and are detrimental to photocatalytic performance toward CO2 reduction. Herein, a facile approach to modify the surface defects of CsPbBr3 NC is demonstrated using tetrafluoroborate salts as defects treatment agent and loading Co2+ as a cocatalyst. As a result, the optimized Co2+ on the surface of defect‐free CsPbBr3‐BF4 shows a remarkable photocatalytic CO2 activity of 83.8 μmol g−1 h−1, which indicates that the surface modification can effectively suppress the undesired charge recombination in CsPbBr3 NC and promote its charge separation efficiency. This work provides an effective method to modify the surface defects of the CsPbBr3 NCs for high efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction and broadens the photocatalytic applications of halide perovskites.
Drop‐weight testing of slender reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Madjlessi Noosha , Cotsovos Demitrios M. , Moatamedi Mojtaba
Published: May 2021

The work presented herein sets out to investigate experimentally, via drop‐weight testing, the behavior of slender reinforced concrete (RC) beam specimens under impact loading. During testing, the behavior of each specimen is established through the combined use of conventional instrumentation and a high‐speed video camera. The primary objective of this work is to investigate the reasons that trigger the observed shift in specimen behavior (compared to that established from static tests) with increasing levels of applied loading rate and intensity. Analysis of the test data reveals that during drop‐weight testing only a portion of the element span reacts to the applied load (as indicated by the deformation and cracking profiles recorded) which in turn affects the mechanics underlying specimen behavior and therefore, significantly influencing the mode of failure ultimately exhibited. The observed localized response becomes more prominent by increasing the loading rate and intensity of the imposed impact loading. In addition to the above, the strain‐rate sensitivity of the material properties of concrete does not appear to have a significant effect on the behavior of the specimens tested. The aforementioned observations appear to be in conflict with current design practice raising questions concerning the effectives of the design solutions produced.
Sustainable wearable energy storage devices self‐charged by human‐body bioenergy
Authors: Lv Jian , Chen Jian , Lee Pooi See
Published: May 2021

Charging wearable energy storage devices with bioenergy from human‐body motions, biofluids, and body heat holds great potential to construct self‐powered body‐worn electronics, especially considering the ceaseless nature of human metabolic activities. To bridge the gap between human‐body bioenergy and storage of energy, wearable triboelectric/piezoelectric nanogenerators (TENGs/PENGs), biofuel cells (BFCs), thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been designed to harvest energy from body‐motions, biofluids, and body heat, respectively. Researchers have explored various strategies using bioenergy harvesters to charge wearable supercapacitors and batteries to relieve or even fully eliminate the recharging process from external power stations, thus, making wearable electronics more sustainable, autonomous, and user friendly. In this article, we review the advances in the design of sustainable energy storage devices charged by human‐body energy harvesters. The progress in multifunctional wearable energy storage devices that cater to the easy integration with human‐body energy harvesters will be summarized. Then, the focus is laid on the integrating strategies (single‐cell strategy and separated‐cell strategy), device design, materials selection, and characteristics of different self‐charging human‐body energy harvesting‐storage systems. Finally, the challenges that impede the wide application of human‐body energy harvesters charged supercapacitors/batteries and prospects will be discussed both from materials and structural design aspects.
Daily Patterns of River Herring (Alosa spp.) Spawning Migrations: Environmental Drivers and Variation among Coastal Streams in Massachusetts
Authors: Legett Henry D. , Jordaan Adrian , Roy Allison H. , Sheppard John J. , Somos‐Valenzuela Marcelo , Staudinger Michelle D.
Published: May 2021

The timing of life history events in many plants and animals depends on the seasonal fluctuations of specific environmental conditions. Climate change is altering environmental regimes and disrupting natural cycles and patterns across communities. Anadromous fishes that migrate between marine and freshwater habitats to spawn are particularly sensitive to shifting environmental conditions and thus are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, for many anadromous fish species the specific environmental mechanisms driving migration and spawning patterns are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the upstream spawning migrations of river herring Alosa spp. in 12 coastal Massachusetts streams. By analyzing long‐term data sets (8–28 years) of daily fish counts, we determined the local influence of environmental factors on daily migration patterns and compared seasonal run dynamics and environmental regimes among streams. Our results suggest that water temperature was the most consistent predictor of both daily river herring presence–absence and abundance during migration. We found inconsistent effects of streamflow and lunar phase, likely due to the anthropogenic manipulation of flow and connectivity in different systems. Geographic patterns in run dynamics and thermal regimes suggest that the more northerly runs in this region are relatively vulnerable to climate change due to migration occurring later in the spring season, at warmer water temperatures that approach thermal maxima, and during a narrower temporal window compared to southern runs. The phenology of river herring and their reliance on seasonal temperature patterns indicate that populations of these species may benefit from management practices that reduce within‐stream anthropogenic water temperature manipulations and maintain coolwater thermal refugia.
Synthesis of Morphinans through Anodic Aryl‐Aryl Coupling
Authors: Vierengel Nina , Geske Leander , Sato Eisuke , Opatz Till
Published: May 2021

The morphinans are an important class of structurally fascinating and physiologically important natural products as exemplified by the famous opium alkaloids of the morphine family. Although this class of secondary metabolites from the juice of the opium poppy capsule was already used for medicinal purposes thousands of years ago, chemical modifications are still being applied to the core structure today in order to achieve the most specific effect on the various receptor subtypes possible with the fewest possible side effects. The unusual architecture of the morphinan core has also proven to be a highly challenging target for total synthesis. This review highlights electrosynthetic approaches towards natural and semisynthetic morphinan alkaloids. The historical progress in applying anodic aryl‐aryl couplings to the construction of the morphinan framework is described in chronological order while particular benefits and challenges concerning the electrochemical transformations are grouped together, including the influence of substitution patterns, protecting groups, and reaction conditions.
Electrochemical Fixation of Carbon Dioxide: Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Senboku H.
Published: May 2021

In the past three decades, we have focused on the fixation of carbon dioxide by electrochemical method with a carbon‐carbon bond forming reaction to yield carboxylic acid, so‐called electrochemical carboxylation. Vinyl bromides and triflates, difluoroethylbenzenes, polyfluoroarenes, benzal diacetates, phenyl‐substituted alkenes and enamides, and α‐aminosulfones were found to be effective as substrates for electrochemical carboxylation. Phenylacetic acids and phenylpropanoic acids including non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory agents and their fluorinated analogues, polyfluorobenzoic acids, mandel acetates, and α‐ and β‐amino acids were successfully synthesized. Electrochemical double carboxylation of dibenzyl carbonates, reuse of carbon dioxide in benzyl carbonates for fixation of carbon dioxide (recycle‐electrochemical carboxylation), sequential aryl/vinyl radical cyclization‐electrochemical carboxylation, sacrificial anode‐free electrochemical carboxylation, and the use of supercritical carbon dioxide both as a reaction media and a reagent were also developed. In this personal account, our efforts in and results of electrochemical fixation of carbon dioxide to organic compounds with carbon‐carbon bond forming reactions yielding novel and useful carboxylic acids are introduced along with their applications and some new results.
Organic Electrosynthesis Towards Sustainability: Fundamentals and Greener Methodologies
Authors: Cembellín Sara , Batanero Belén
Published: May 2021

The adoption of new measures that preserve our environment, on which our survival depends, is a necessity. Electro‐organic processes are sustainableper se, by producing the activation of a substrate by electron transfer at normal pressure and room temperature. In the recent years, a highly crescent number of works on organic electrosynthesis are available. Novel strategies at the electrode are being developed enabling the construction of a great variety of complex organic molecules. However, the possibility of being scaled‐up is mandatory in terms of sustainability. Thus, some electrochemical methodologies have demonstrated to report the best results in reducing pollution and saving energy. In this personal account, these methods have been compiled, being organized as follows: • Direct discharge electrosynthesis • Paired electrochemical reactions. and • Organic transformations utilizing electrocatalysis (in absence of heavy metals). Selected protocols are herein presented and discussed with representative recent examples. Final perspectives and reflections are also considered.
Directed flow of D mesons at RHIC and LHC: non-perturbative dynamics, longitudinal bulk matter asymmetry and electromagnetic fields
Authors: Oliva Lucia , Plumari Salvatore , Greco Vincenzo
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We present a study of the directed flow v1 for D mesons discussing both the impact of initial vorticity and electromagnetic field. Recent studies predicted that v1 for D mesons is expected to be surprisingly much larger than that of light charged hadrons; we clarify that this is due to a different mechanism leading to the formation of a directed flow with respect to the one of the bulk matter at both relativistic and non-relativistic energies. We point out that the very large v1 for D mesons can be generated only if there is a longitudinal asymmetry between the bulk matter and the charm quarks and if the latter have a large non-perturbative interaction in the QGP medium. A quite good agreement with the data of STAR and ALICE is obtained if the diffusion coefficient able to correctly predict the RAA(pT), v2(pT) and v3(pT) of D meson is employed. Furthermore, the mechanism for the build-up of the v1(y) is associated to a quite small formation time that can be expected to be more sensitive to the initial high-temperature dependence of the charm diffusion coefficient.

We discuss also the splitting of v1 for D0 and $$ {\overline{D}}^0 $$

D
¯

0

due to the electromagnetic field that is again much larger than the one observed for charged particles and in agreement with the data by STAR that have however still error bars comparable with the splitting itself, while at LHC standard electromagnetic profile assuming a constant conductivity is not able to account for the huge splitting observed.
Resurgence of the large-charge expansion
Authors: Dondi Nicola , Kalogerakis Ioannis , Orlando Domenico , Reffert Susanne
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study the O(2N) model at criticality in three dimensions in the double scaling limit of large N and large charge. We show that the large-charge expansion is an asymptotic series, and we use resurgence techniques to study the non-perturbative corrections and to extend the validity of the eft to any value of the charge. We conjecture the general form of the non-perturbative behavior of the conformal dimensions for any value of N and find very good agreement with previous lattice data.
Covariant M5-brane action with self-dual 3-form
Authors: Vanichchapongjaroen Pichet
Published: May 2021

Abstract

In this work, we extend a theory which describes a linearly self-dual exact 3-form field in six dimensional spacetime within the formalism of arXiv:1511.08220 and arXiv:1903.12196 to an action which fully describes an M5-brane in the eleven-dimensional supergravity background. The action we obtain has all the required symmetries including kappa-symmetry. Although the derivation of the action and the proof the symmetries do not require one to express the action explicitly in terms of the original field contents, we also give an initial attempt to give this expression.
Resolving the LMA-dark NSI degeneracy with coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering
Authors: Chaves Mariano , Schwetz Thomas
Published: May 2021

Abstract

In the presence of non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI), a degeneracy exists in neutrino oscillation data, which involves the flipping of the octant of the mixing angle θ12 and the type of the neutrino mass ordering. In this article, we revisit the status of this degeneracy in the light of recent data on coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) from the COHERENT experiment. For general relative couplings to up and down quarks, the degeneracy is disfavoured at the 2σ level by the latest data but remains at a higher confidence level. We investigate the requirements of future CEνNS measurements to resolve the degeneracy with high significance. We find that a measurement involving both, electron and muon neutrino flavours and a target with a neutron-to-proton ratio close to 1 is required. For example, an experiment with a silicon target at the European Spallation Source can resolve the degeneracy at more than 4σ for arbitrary relative couplings to up and down quarks.
Vector fields, RG flows and emergent gauge symmetry
Authors: Nogradi Daniel
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We consider the most general perturbatively renormalizable theory of vector fields in four dimensions with a global SU(N) symmetry and massless couplings. The Lagrangian contains 1 quadratic, 2 cubic and 4 quartic couplings. The RG flow among this set of 7 couplings is computed to 1-loop and a rich phase diagram is mapped out; in particular it is shown that a finite number of asymptotically free RG-flows exist corresponding to non-trivial fixed points for the ratios of the couplings. None of these are gauge theories, i.e. possess only global SU(N) invariance but not a local one. We also include the most general ghost couplings, still with global SU(N) invariance, and compute the RG flow to 1-loop for all 9 resulting couplings. Again asymptotically free RG flows exist with non-trivial fixed points for the ratios of couplings. It is shown that Yang-Mills theory emerges at a particular fixed point. The theories at the other fixed points are marginally relevant gauge symmetry violating perturbations of Yang-Mills theory. The large-N limit is also investigated in detail.
Circulating calprotectin as a supporting inflammatory marker in discriminating SARS-CoV-2 infection: an observational study
Authors: Cherubini Fabio , Cristiano Antonio , Valentini Alessandra , Bernardini Sergio , Nuccetelli Marzia
Published: May 2021

Objective and design

Fecal calprotectin (CLP) is widely known for its detection in stools of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), to investigate the intestinal inflammatory status. Current research is promoting the circulating protein role as a systemic inflammatory marker. However, most studies report serum calprotectin analysis although plasma assay prevents its massive release by granulocytes. In this perspective, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic deserves deployment of convenient and easy-to-dose markers that could reliably address the state of infection.

Methods

We analyzed serum circulating calprotectin (cCLP) levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and plasma cCLP levels from patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, then assessed negative or positive on molecular tests.

Results

Our results confirm a significant circulating calprotectin increase in infected subjects respect to controls, in serum and plasma. Moreover, plasma calprotectin has higher levels in suspected patients with positive SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR, compared to suspected patients with negative SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR. Furthermore, ROC curves results showed the circulating plasma calprotectin discriminatory ability to differentiate infected SARS-CoV-2 patients at a cutoff value greater than 131.3 ng/ml.

Conclusions

Our data propose circulating calprotectin as a new, quantitative and predictive marker, which in addition to being an interesting generic inflammatory marker may provide important indications in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Identification of Quarry Blasts Aided by Infrasound Data
Authors: Czanik Csenge , Kiszely Márta , Mónus Péter , Süle Bálint , Bondár István
Published: May 2021

We present our analysis of the detections from the Piszkés-tető, Hungary infrasound array that has been operational since May 2017. We introduce an automatic search method to associate infrasound detections with a preliminary list of explosions detected by the seismic network. Once infrasound detections are associated with seismic events, we relocate the events using both the seismic arrival time and infrasound azimuth observations. We validate our methodology on ground truth events, i.e., explosions confirmed by the mine operators. We demonstrate that seismo-acoustic locations are able to identify the source of explosions even for closely spaced quarries. The discriminative power of the infrasound azimuth is strongest at near-field distances, where local and regional seismic discrimination methods have the most difficulties.
Effects of interconnections between timber floor elements: dynamic and static evaluations of structural scale tests
Authors: Nesheim Sveinung , Malo Kjell Arne , Labonnote Nathalie
Published: May 2021

Long-span timber floor elements increase the flexibility of a building and exhibit a significant market potential. Timber floor elements are endeavouring to fulfil this potential, but building projects employing long-span timber floors have encountered drawbacks. High costs and vibration performance are challenging, and the timber industry is under substantial pressure to find attractive solutions for building components with otherwise favourable environmental features. Only a few existing studies have investigated serviceability sensitivity in relation to timber floor connections. Interconnections are inexpensive to produce and install and may offer a resource-efficient approach to improving serviceability performance. In the present study, the effect of interconnections is investigated in a full-scale structural test. Floor elements positioned in different configurations have been tested for static and dynamic performance using different types of interconnections. The observed effects of interconnection types vary according to the configuration and direction of mode shapes, and are assessed in terms of shift in frequency, damping and resonant energy. These can all be utilised in combination with observed differences in the deflection parameter. The present work demonstrates that connections between timber elements have significant effects on timber floor serviceability and may offer interesting solutions to improve the vibration performance of long-span timber floors.
On the Kodaira vanishing theorem for log del Pezzo surfaces in positive characteristic
Authors: Arvidsson Emelie
Published: May 2021

We investigate the vanishing of $$H^1(X,\mathcal {O}_X(-D))$$

H
1

(
X
,

O
X

(
-
D
)

)

for a big and nef $$\mathbb {Q}$$
Q
-Cartier $$\mathbb {Z}$$
Z
-divisor D on a log del Pezzo pair $$(X,\Delta )$$

(
X
,
Δ
)

over a perfect field of positive characteristic p.
Competitive Double Diffusive Convection in a Kelvin–Voigt Fluid of Order One
Authors: Straughan Brian
Published: May 2021

We present a model for convection in a Kelvin–Voigt fluid of order one when the layer is heated from below and simultaneously salted from below, a problem of competitive double diffusion since heating from below promotes instability, but salting from below is stabilizing. The instability surface threshold is calculated and this has a complex shape. The Kelvin–Voigt parameters play an important role in acting as stabilizing agents when the convection is of oscillatory type. Quantitative values of the instability surface are displayed. The nonlinear stability problem is briefly addressed.
The occurrence of Nematoda in coastal sea ice on Svalbard (European Arctic) determined with the 18S small subunit rRNA gene
Authors: Pitusi Vanessa , Søreide Janne E. , Hassett Brandon T. , Marquardt Miriam , Andreasen Magnus Heide
Published: May 2021

Understanding the diversity and functioning of Arctic sea ice ecosystems is vital to evaluate and predict the impact of current and future climate change. In the microscopic communities inhabiting the brine channels inside sea ice, nematodes often dominate numerically and act as bacterivores and herbivores. Despite nematodes great abundances and known ecological roles, molecular tools have not been applied to investigate their species diversity in sea ice. In an attempt to begin establishing a molecular baseline for species diversity of sea ice nematodes, we Sanger sequenced 74 specimens from four locations around Svalbard (European Arctic), using the 18S rRNA barcode. Currently available nucleotide reference databases are both underpopulated with representative marine nematode taxa and contain a substantial number of misidentified organisms. Together, these limitations inhibited the ability to identify marine specimens collected in this study with certainty. Nevertheless, our molecular data indicate the presence of two genera in sea ice on Svalbard—TheristusandHalomonhystera.While it is possible that the latter represents a novel ice nematode species, future studies, including morphometric analysis, are needed to verify our molecular findings. We leverage the assignment of molecular information to robustly identify nematodes and provide the first insight into the diversity of sea ice nematodes in the European Arctic. We advocate for an intensified cooperation between molecular and morphological taxonomists to expedite the establishment of baseline surveys that are required to predict biological consequences of the diminishing sea ice habitat in the future.
Correction to: Transmissible α‑synuclein seeding activity in brain and stomach of patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Thomzig Achim , Wagenführ Katja , Pinder Phillip , Joncic Marion , Schulz-Schaeffer Walter J. , Beekes Michael
Published: May 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-021-02321-3
Effect of inhaled anaesthetics gases on cytokines and oxidative stress alterations for the staff health status in hospitals
Authors: AL-Rasheedi Khaled A. , Alqasoumi Abdulmajeed A. , Emara Ashraf M.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of waste anaesthetic gases on cytokines and oxidative stress of hospital health team members following exposure to waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs).

Subjects and methods

In total, 180 participants took part in this study; 60 of these were healthy male controls and the 120 participants in the intervention group were staff who work in the operating room. This latter group comprises six occupational subgroups (1) surgeons, (2) surgical assistants, (3) anaesthesiologists (4) anaesthesiology assistants, (5) nurses and (6) janitors. The following parameters were assessed: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, plasma fluoride, serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ), serum interleukin 2 (IL2), serum interleukin 4 (IL4) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

Results

Anaesthesiologists and their assistants exhibited the highest levels of plasma fluoride, serum IFN-γ and IL 2, exceeding the levels in detected in all the other occupational subgroups. Furthermore, the serum levels of IL4 were significantly raised in anaesthesiologists and the difference between this group and other groups was statistically significant. However, compared with the other subgroups, surgeons exhibited elevated plasma TBARS and reduced CAT, GSHpx and SOD; these variances were also statistically significant.

Conclusion and recommendations

The findings of this study indicate that operating room staff exposed to WAGs are vulnerable to experiencing immunotoxicity as the WAGs are considered to initiate oxidative stress and increase the levels of cytokines in serum. Thus, an education programme is warranted to inform staff working in environments where they may be subjected to WAGs on the effects that the gases can have upon their health and how to minimise their exposure to WAGs. An ongoing effort is also needed to ensure anaesthesia safety standards are maintained at all times. The findings of this study may provide a springboard for future research into occupational exposure to WAGs and their wider effect upon health.
Enhancement of Zn tolerance and accumulation in plants mediated by the expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae vacuolar transporter ZRC1
Authors: DalCorso Giovanni , Martini Flavio , Fasani Elisa , Manara Anna , Visioli Giovanna , Furini Antonella
Published: May 2021

Main conclusion

Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus alba plants overexpressing the zinc transporter ScZRC1 in shoots exhibit Zn tolerance. Increased Zn concentrations were observed in shoots of P. alba, a species suitable for phytoremediation.

Genetic engineering of plants for phytoremediation is worth to consider if genes leading to heavy metal accumulation and tolerance are expressed in high biomass producing plants. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ZRC1 gene encodes a zinc transporter which is primarily involved in the uptake of Zn into the vacuole. The ZRC1 gene was expressed in the model species A. thaliana and P. alba (cv. Villafranca). Both species were transformed with constructs carrying ScZRC1 under the control of either the CaMV35S promoter for constitutive expression or the active promoter region of the tobacco Rubisco small subunit (pRbcS) to limit the expression to the above-ground tissues. In hydroponic cultures, A. thaliana and poplar ScZRC1-expressing plants accumulated more Zn in vegetative tissues and were more tolerant than untransformed plants. No differences were found between plants carrying the CaMV35::ScZRC1 or pRbcS::ScZRC1 constructs. The higher Zn accumulation in transgenic plants was accompanied by an increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, indicating the activation of defense mechanisms to prevent cellular damage. In the presence of cadmium in addition to Zn, plants did not show symptoms of metal toxicity, neither in hydroponic cultures nor in soil. Zn accumulation increased in shoots, while no differences were observed for Cd accumulation, in comparison to control plants. These data suggest that ectopic expression of ScZRC1 can increase the potential of poplar for the remediation of Zn-polluted soils, although further tests are required to assay its application in remediating multimetal polluted soils.
Current decision support tools fail to agree or predict therapeutic decisions in a single cohort of unruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Kailaya-Vasan Ahilan , Frantzias Joseph , Kailaya-Vasan Jayantan , Anderson Ian A. , Walsh Daniel C.
Published: May 2021

Background

There is limited evidence to direct the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Models extrapolated from existing data have been proposed to guide treatment recommendations. The aim of this study is to assess whether a consensus-based treatment score (UIATS) or rupture rate estimation model (PHASES) can be used to benchmark UK multi-disciplinary team (MDT) practice.

Methods

Prospective data was collected on a consecutive series of all patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) presenting to a major UK neurovascular centre between 2012 and 2015. The agreement between the UIATS and PHASES scores, and their sensitivity and specificity in predicting the real-world MDT outcome were calculated and compared.

Results

A total of 366 patients (456 aneurysms) were included in the analysis. The agreement between UIATS and MDT recommendation was low (weighted kappa 0.26 [95% CI 0.19, 0.32]); sensitivity and specificity were also low at 36% and 52% respectively. Groups that the MDT allocated to treatment, equipoise or no treatment had significantly different PHASES scores (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between the two scores when predicting patients for whom MDT outcome was to recommend aneurysm treatment, but the UIATS score was superior in predicting patients who received an MDT recommendation of ‘treatment-equipoise’, or ‘not-for-treatment’ (AUC of 0.73 compared to 0.59 for PHASES).

Conclusions

The models studied failed to agree with the consensus view of multi-disciplinary team in a major neurovascular centre. We conclude that decision support tools such as the UIATS and PHASES scores should not be blindly introduced in respective institutions without prior internal validation, as they may not represent the local reality.
In-vitro performance of a single-chambered total artificial heart in a Fontan circulation
Authors: Hildebrand Stephan , Groß-Hardt Sascha , Schmitz-Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Jansen Sebastian Victor
Published: May 2021

An in-vitro study was conducted to investigate the general feasibility of using only one pumping chamber of the SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH) as a replacement of the single ventricle palliated by Fontan circulation. A mock circulation loop was used to mimic a Fontan circulation. The combination of both ventricle sizes (50 and 70 cc) and driver (Freedom Driver and Companion C2 Driver) was investigated. Two clinical relevant scenarios (early Fontan; late Fontan) as derived from literature data were set up in the mock loop. The impact of increased transpulmonary pressure gradient, low atrial pressure, and raised central venous pressure on cardiac output was studied. From a hemodynamic point, the single-chambered TAH performed sufficiently in the setting of the Fontan circulation. Increased transpulmonary pressure gradient, from ideal to pulmonary hypertension, decreased the blood flow in combinations by almost 2 L/min. In the early Fontan scenario, a cardiac output of 3–3.5 L/min was achieved using the 50 cc ventricle, driven by the Companion C2 Driver. Even under pulmonary hypertension, cardiac outputs greater than 4 L/min could be obtained with the 70 cc pump chamber in the late Fontan scenario. In the clinically relevant Fontan scenarios, implementation of the single chambered TAH performed successfully from a hemodynamic point of view. The replacement of the failing univentricular heart by a single chamber of the SynCardia TAH may provide an alternative to a complex biventricular repair procedure or ventricular support in Fontan patients.
The Angiopoietin-like protein 4: a promising biomarker to distinguish brucella spondylitis from tuberculous spondylitis
Authors: Lan Siqin , He Yuanlin , Tiheiran Maijudan , Liu Wenya , Guo Hui
Published: May 2021

Objective

The Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) has been proved to be a protein associated with multiple inflammatory responses. Nevertheless, whether it contributes to distinguishing brucella spondylitis (BS) from tuberculous spondylitis (TS) remains an open question. Our study aim is to explore the capability of the ANGPTL-4 to differentiating BS from TS.

Materials and method

In our study, 53 patients were screened out according to the criteria precisely in Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated of the First Hospital from 1 January, 2016, to 31 December, 2018. Their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. All of them underwent pathological biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging examination. All the frozen tissue sections were stained for testing ANGPTL-4.

Result

Among the 53 patients, BS had 26 patients, and TS had 27 patients. There was no significant difference between the baseline (P = 0.682) between the two groups. The positive rate of ANGPTL-4 in TS patients (24/27, 88.89%) was higher than that in BS patients (17/26, 65.83%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of microangiopathy and fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia in patients with BS was distinctly higher than those in the TS (P = 0.001, P = 0.008, respectively). Patients of TS frequently presented more granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelial-like reaction, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) than those of BS.

Conclusion

Our study provided novel insights into distinguishing BS from TS using the ANGPTL-4 combining with histopathology, which may become new supporting evidence.

Key Points• Brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis are a significant public health concern and even have prolonged damage, contributing to severe health and economic outcomes in Xinjiang of China.• The granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelioid reaction, microangiosis, and fibrous connective tissue of pathological tissue might play a critical significance for distinguishing brucella spondylitis from tuberculous spondylitis patients.• ANGPLT-4 may become new supporting evidence identify brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis which is implicated in inflammation angiogenesis-related disorders.
The effects of COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures on patients receiving botulinum toxin therapy and on their caregivers: a study from an Italian cohort
Authors: Tarantino Domiziano , Gnasso Rossana , Migliore Federico , Iommazzo Irene , Sirico Felice , Corrado Bruno
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 outbreak had a huge worldwide impact, and several countermeasures to contain its spread have been adopted, such as the interruption of nonurgent outpatient clinics. We wanted to describe the effects of the national lockdown on the well-being of a cohort of Italian patients with cerebral palsy (CP) receiving botulinum toxin (BT) therapy and of their caregivers. Twenty-five patients receiving BT therapy were surveyed using the structuralized questionnaire by Dressler and Adib Saberi, while the caregivers were assessed using the Caregiver Burden Scale. The lockdown delayed BT therapy by 9 ± 2.8 months. Around 44% of the selected patients noticed increased muscle cramps, 24% increased muscle pain, and 32% both of them. Due to the lockdown, the patient’s quality of life was reduced by 68.4 ± 21.1%. After the lockdown, 100% of patients perceived BT therapy as more important than before. Around 76% of the patients perceived the lockdown as inadequate and felt that their rights were not respected. The overall score of the Caregiver Burden Scale, as regarded before the lockdown, was 29.12 ± 11.63, while the overall score as regarded after the lockdown was 37.44 ± 14.85. The overall score increased, from before the lockdown to after the lockdown, for 92% of caregivers. The BT outpatient clinic’s interruption was seen to significantly worsen the psychophysical condition of subjects with CP and the care burden of their caregivers, exposing them to greater stress than before. Therefore, any kind of BT treatment suspension or delay should be avoided.
Assessing the consequences of quarantines during a pandemic
Authors: Forslid Rikard , Herzing Mathias
Published: May 2021

This paper analyzes the epidemiological and economic effects of quarantines. We use a basic epidemiological model, a SEIR-model, that is calibrated to roughly resemble the COVID-19 pandemic, and we assume that individuals that become infected or are isolated on average lose a share of their productivity. An early quarantine postpones but does not alter the course of the pandemic at a cost that increases in the duration and the extent of the quarantine. For quarantines at later stages of the pandemic there is a trade-off between lowering the peak level of infectious people on the one hand and minimizing fatalities and economic losses on the other hand. A longer quarantine dampens the peak level of infectious people and also reduces the total number of infected persons but increases economic losses. Both the peak level of infectious individuals and the total share of the population that will have been infected are U-shaped in relation to the share of the population in quarantine, while economic costs increase in this share. In particular, a quarantine covering a moderate share of the population leads to a lower peak, fewer deaths and lower economic costs, but it implies that the peak of the pandemic occurs earlier.
Different spatial distribution of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment of ABC and GBC subgroups of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Guidolin Diego , Tamma Roberto , Annese Tiziana , Tortorella Cinzia , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Gaudio Francesco , Perrone Tommasina , Musto Pellegrino , Specchia Giorgina , Ribatti Domenico
Published: May 2021

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) presents a high clinical and biological heterogeneity, and the tumor microenvironment chracteristics are important in its  progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor T, B cells, macrophages and mast cells distribution in GBC and ABC DLBCL subgroups through a set of morphometric parameters allowing to provide a quantitative evaluation of the morphological features of the spatial patterns generated by these inflammatory cells.   Histological ABC and GCB samples were immunostained for CD4, CD8, CD68, CD 163, and tryptase in order to determine both percentage and position of positive cells in the tissue characterizing their spatial distribution. The results evidenced that cell patterns generated by CD4-, CD8-, CD68-, CD163- and tryptase-positive cell profiles exhibited a significantly higher uniformity index in ABC than in GCB subgroup. The positive-cell distributions appeared clustered in tissues from GCB, while in tissues from ABC such a feature was lower or absent. The combinations of spatial statistics-derived parameters can lead to better predictions of tumor cell infiltration than any classical morphometric method providing a more accurate description of the functional status of the tumor, useful for patient prognosis.
Quantifying carbon footprint for ecological river restoration
Authors: Chiu Yiwen , Yang Yi , Morse Cody
Published: May 2021

RIVER restoration is a popular technique to rehabilitate degraded river habitat. Given the nature of these types of engineering projects, using ecological indicators to monitor the restoration effectiveness has been a traditional approach. However, as this approach emphasizes the post-project performance, environmental impact attributed to a project’s construction phase has received little attention directly or indirectly. This study quantified the carbon footprint of ecological river restoration, using a project in California as a case study. A topographic diversity index (TDI) was developed as a functional unit of the river restoration project, indicating how a restoration project can increase the variation of habitat topography. The results show that river restoration can lead to greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 288 to 336 kg CO2 equivalent (kg CO2e) for every 1% of TDI improvement, or 9–14 kg CO2e per meter stream restored. This study identified that improving raw material acquisition plans and heavy-duty equipment rental decision can be feasible strategies leading to the reduction of carbon footprint.
Topological Decompositions of the Pauli Group and their Influence on Dynamical Systems
Authors: Bagarello Fabio , Bavuma Yanga , Russo Francesco G.
Published: May 2021

In the present paper we show that it is possible to obtain the well known Pauli groupP= 〈X,Y,Z|X2=Y2=Z2= 1,(YZ)4= (ZX)4= (XY)4= 1〉 of order 16 as an appropriate quotient group of two distinct spaces of orbits of the three dimensional sphereS3. The first of these spaces of orbits is realized via an action of the quaternion groupQ8onS3; the second one via an action of the cyclic group of order four$\mathbb {Z}(4)$ℤ(4)onS3. We deduce a result of decomposition ofPof topological nature and then we find, in connection with the theory of pseudo-fermions, a possible physical interpretation of this decomposition.
The qualitative pretest interview for questionnaire development: outline of programme and practice
Authors: Buschle Christina , Reiter Herwig , Bethmann Arne
Published: May 2021

Good survey research depends on asking the right questions; it is the only way to ensure that the information collected from respondents is suitable for providing good answers to our research questions. The article discusses and advocates a comprehensive consideration of qualitative-interpretive methodology in open forms of pretesting for the evaluation of draft survey questionnaires. We outline an approach we callQualitative Pretest Interview (QPI). It transfers the idea of negotiated common understanding in everyday communication to the clarification of meaning in draft survey questions and similar stimuli. The QPI involves ascribing interview partners the role of co-experts in this process and employing methodically integrated communication strategies. This paper focusses on how QPIs are conducted. Using an example interview, we illustrate how the particular way of qualitative pretest interviewing aims at a dialogic clarification of meaning in order to reach intersubjective understanding between participant and interviewer. In the process, we gain detailed insights into how and why a certain questionnaire might not work as intended, and ideally how this might be alleviated. QPIs pursue similar goals as Cognitive Interviews but rely more systematically on qualitative-interpretive methodology.