bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Substrate‐Induced Fabrication of Active Free‐Standing Nanocarbon Film as Air Cathode in Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Yan Dafeng , Xia Chenfeng , He Chaohui , Liu Qingqing , Chen Guangda , Guo Wei , Xia Bao Yu
Published: December 2021

Designing cost‐effective and high‐efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurred at air electrodes is vitally significant yet challenging for Zn–air batteries (ZABs). In this work, a zinc substrate induced fabrication is reported of free‐standing nanocarbon hybrid film which shows good bifunctional activity and can be directly used as the air electrode in the rechargeable ZABs. The designed nanocarbon film in Zn–air battery provides a satisfactory power density of 185 mW cm–2 and cycling stability for 1200 h under the current density of 10 mA cm–2. This hybrid film also gives a solid‐state ZAB excellent flexibility with a power density of 160 mW cm–2. The free‐standing hybrid with abundant cobalt–nitrogen–carbon species coupled with porous architecture would be the original factor for its satisfactory performance of rechargeable ZABs. This work would pave an ideal way to design integrated electrode with high electrocatalytic performance towards electrochemical energy technologies.
Developing professional identity in post‐professional healthcare students through self‐authorship
Authors: Rivera Matthew J. , Eberman Lindsey E. , Games Kenneth E.
Published: December 2021

This article describes the integration of self‐authorship theory to aid post‐professional healthcare students in the continued development of professional identity. Specific teaching and instructional strategies are provided along with curricular development using a self‐authorship framework.
Developing grit and resilience: Using concurrent learning experiences to deepen attributes of professional identity formation
Authors: Wagner Amy , Jackson Chad
Published: December 2021

This article illustrates a case study of online modules with reflection assignments to develop professional identity formation in Doctor of Physical Therapy students. The focus is on compassion fatigue, burnout, self‐care, and self‐evaluation.
Evaluating the impact of a longitudinal patient case on the development of professionalism and professional identity
Authors: Garza Kimberly B. , Moseley Lindsey E. , Wright Bradley M. , Ford Channing R.
Published: December 2021

This article explores the student outcomes of a progressive case on the development of professional identity and professionalism within first‐year student pharmacists.
Professional role development in the RN‐BSN online student
Authors: Johnson Tanya , Parker Francine
Published: December 2021

This article describes pedagogical teaching and learning strategies that facilitate transformative learning for RN‐BSN students in the online program.
Promoting poverty awareness in health professions students
Authors: Watts Sarah O. , Sewell Jeanna , Strickland Kelly P. , Myers Emily W.
Published: December 2021

This article highlights the utilization of Missouri Community Action Network's Poverty Simulation within an Interprofessional Education program to teach students about the complexities of poverty and enhance the development of professional identity.
Chitosan attenuated the neurotoxicity‐induced titanium dioxide nanoparticles in brain of adult rats
Authors: Halawa Amal , Elshopakey Gehad , El‐Adl Mohamed , Lashen Samah , Shalaby Nancy , Eldomany Ehab , Farghali Ahmed , Rezk Shaymaa
Published: December 2021

In the current study, we aimed to investigate the neurotoxic effect of oral titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) as well as the possible neuroprotective effect of carboxymethyl chitosan in adult rats for 14 days. The results revealed that TiO2 NPs inhibited the activity of the acetylcholine esterase enzyme and the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. Additionally, it induced neuro‐oxidative stress and neuroinflammation via an elevation in MDA levels and IL‐6, while GSH concentration, as well as GPx and GST activities, were decreased. TiO2 NPs induced neuronal apoptosis through upregulation of the expression of caspase‐8 and ‐9 that was further confirmed by increasing caspases‐3 and ‐8 proteins in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. The expression of the immediate‐early gene BDNF was increased in response to TiO2 NPs, while that of Arc was reduced. Chitosan significantly attenuated the TiO2 NPs‐induced neurotoxicity regarding AChE, serotonin, MDA, GSH, GPx, GST, IL‐6, caspases‐8, ‐9, and ‐3. Chitosan inhibited the expression of Arc and alleviated the effect of TiO2 NPs on BDNF expression. Collectively, TiO2 NPs induced neurotoxicity via their action on vital neuronal biomarkers that might in turn cause brain dysfunction. Despite the neuroprotection of chitosan, its inhibitory effect on Arc expression should be considered.
Ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment of selected pesticides in Kurose River, Higashi‐Hiroshima City (Japan)
Authors: Chidya Russel , Derbalah Aly , Abdel‐Dayem Sherif , Kaonga Chikumbusko , Sakugawa Hiroshi
Published: December 2021

This study conducted an integrated approach combining monitoring and risk assessment of pesticides in Kurose River and its catchment area, Japan. Water samples (n = 168) were collected every month for 1 year (March 2016 to February 2017). Pesticides (cyanazine, simetryn, fenarimol, isoprothiolane, and diazinon) were extracted by Sep‐Pack C18 cartridges and analyzed using a reversed‐phase HPLC‐UV system. The pesticides were also determined in non‐target organisms Red algae (Audouinella sp.) and diatoms (Cocconeis placentula) from the river. Based on the residual concentrations, an ecotoxicological risk assessment was conducted using the risk quotient (RQ) index. The human health carcinogenic and non‐carcinogenic risk assessments were evaluated using hazard quotients (HQ). Results showed that cyanazine was the most commonly detected (64%), followed by simetryn (58%), and diazinon (57%) in all the sample sites (n = 12). Except for isoprothiolane, the pesticides were highest in spring followed by summer, autumn and winter. Based on extreme values (ex), non‐acceptable ecotoxicological risk was obtained for diazinon (RQex = 21.317), cyanazine (RQex = 3.129), simetryn (RQex = 8.577) and fenarimol (RQex = 10.855), while that of isoprothiolane (RQex = 0.013) was negligible. Based on the HQ estimates, all the pesticides were below the threshold value of 1, hence pose no significant health risks to humans.

Practitioner Points

Pesticides affect non‐target organisms in rivers and other aquatic systems

Pesticides were frequently detected in spring and summer and accumulated in red algae and diatom

The detected pesticides posed high ecotoxicological and human health risks
A novel methodology for Arabic news classification
Authors: Alfonse Marco , Gawich Mariam
Published: December 2021

The automated news classification concerns the assignment of news to one or more predefined categories. The automated classified news helps the search engines to mine and categorize the type of news that the user asks for. Most of the researchers focused on the classification of English news and ignore the Arabic news due to the complexity of the Arabic morphology. This article presents a novel methodology to classify the Arabic news. It relies on the use of features extraction and the application of machine learning classifiers which are the Naive Bayes (NB), the Logistic Regression (LR), the Random Forest (RF), the Xtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), the K‐Nearest Neighbors (KNN), the Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), the Decision Tree (DT), and the Multi‐Layer Perceptron (MLP). The methodology is applied to the Arabic news dataset provided by Mendeley. The accuracy of the classification is more than 95%.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining

Technologies > Machine Learning

Technologies > Classification
Anti‐migration of Nitrogen‐rich N‐Heterocyclic Ferrocenes and Their Combustion Catalytic Properties in the Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Oxidizers
Authors: Shi Xiaoling , Yang Lufei , Jiang Liping , Bi Fuqiang , Zhang Guofang
Published: December 2021

To retard high migration tendency of alkylferrocene‐based burning rate catalysts and ameliorate their combustion catalytic activity, twenty new nitrogen‐rich N‐heterocyclic ferrocenyl compounds 1–20 were synthesized by click reaction and characterized by NMR, UV‐Vis, FT‐IR, ESI‐MS, etc. Six compounds were structurally confirmed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction additionally. TG studies showed that the new ferrocenyl compounds are highly thermal stable. Cyclic voltammetry results implied that some new ferrocenyl compounds exhibit reversible electrochemical behavior, which are favorable for their combustion catalytic performance in the composite solid propellants. The anti‐migration tests confirmed that the new ferrocenyl compounds exhibit neglectable migration trends after four‐week aging on comparison with ferrocene and catocene. The catalytic combustion tests of AP, RDX and HMX over the compounds 1–20 indicated that these N‐heterocyclic ferrocenes are all highly active for improving thermal degradation of AP and RDX and more active than the aniline‐derived counterparts prepared by click reaction.
Introduction
Authors: Wallace Maria F. G. , Bazzul Jesse , Higgins Marc , Tolbert Sara
Published: December 2021

This edited volume invites transdisciplinary scholars to re-vision science education in the era of the Anthropocene. The collection encompasses the works of educators from many walks of life and areas of practice together to help reorient science education toward the problems and peculiarities associated with the geologic times many call the Anthropocene.
Rethinking Historical Approaches for Science Education in the Anthropocene
Authors: B. Moura Cristiano , Guerra Andreia
Published: December 2021

In this chapter, we intend to bring the urgency of our times, pointed out by discussions about the Anthropocene, to research in history, philosophy, and sociology of science in science teaching. After considering the own historicity of the Anthropocene concept, we seek, through a short historical case on botany, to build new lenses to look at Western modern science, locating other stories and other perspectives that can be told about its emergence and establishment. With this new focus, we discuss how this knowledge was shaped by the triad of colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy, and that for this reason, we must perceive modern science through a critical lens in dialog with other forms of knowledge. This dialogue can help to build solutions for the present moment and to dissolve some of the impasses regarding the conversations around the Anthropocene. Thus, we argue that enhancing the political-historical dimension of Western modern science in science education is a fundamental task in building futures that produce different and potentially less (self)destructive multispecies relationships.
In Conversation with Vicki Kirby: Deconstruction, Critique, and Human Exceptionalism in the Anthropocene
Authors: Kirby Vicki , Higgins Marc
Published: December 2021

In this interview Marc Higgins invites Vicki Kirby to dilate on the themes that have exercised her attention over the last thirty years. His questions address the received assumptions that shape political and ethical debate and the suggestion that their terms of reference require a radical shake-up. Kirby’s counter-intuitive treatment of familiar and accepted ways of thinking pays special attention to the nature/culture division and its myriad reconfigurations (body versus mind; primitive, or first, versus complex, or second; illiteracy versus literacy). She interrogates the routine and almost automatic logic that segregates what is deemed abstract and ideational from the pragmatic gravitas and political urgency that we tend to secure in empirical, “on the ground” evidence. For Kirby, this notion of material evidence and the weight of its truth claims, together with the corollary belief that the ideational and abstract are entirely other to physical and material reality, promote an insidious political agenda that sustains misogyny, racism, and ecological degradation as inevitable. By underlining the implicated ecologies of life whose dynamic cross-overs and impurities are also manifest in our thought structures, we are challenged to work with/in a sense of corruption that is irreducible and not simply negative.
Fire as Unruly Kin: Curriculum Silences and Human Responses
Authors: Gough Annette , Towers Briony , Verlie Blanche
Published: December 2021

Humans have ambiguous relationships with fire. The ability to control fire has been part of shaping human development and human society as well as the characteristics of Australian ecosystems, but bushfire is also a threat to all forms of life. The chemical process of combustion is also complicit in the Anthropocene and climate change, which threatens life as we know it. The current Australian curriculum generally ignores fire, and this needs reconfiguring. In this chapter we disrupt the traditional curriculum and argue for becoming-with fire as a pyro-pedagogy for teaching and learning with this unruly kin.
Still Joy: A Call for Wonder(ing) in Science Education as Anti-racist Vibrant Life-Living
Authors: Byers Christie C.
Published: December 2021

Wonder is an elusive yet ever-present dynamic phenomenon that deserves more attention in (science) education. What might wonder have to do with critiquing science (as the hegemonic and “neutral” discipline it has become) and living out a more life-affirming and anti-racist vision of science education? In this chapter I share a meta-assemblage research-creation: a researcher-created experimental exhibit of found poetic data assemblages about wonder, joy, Black life, neurodiversity, love, science, and science education. The intention of this meta-assemblage research-creation is to explore the affective flows of the phenomenon of wonder, while also inviting consideration of how the multiple forces and co-components of the body(ies) assembled here move together in an uneasy and historically traceable tension. These co-movements suggest how “traditional” science and school science education are not only complicit with, but also may be directly implicated as primary protagonists in the violent anti-Black racism and planet-wide suffering happening today. A more wonder-filled approach to science education may be necessary now more than ever.
Root Apex Cognition: From Neuronal Molecules to Root-Fungal Networks
Authors: Baluška František , Yamashita Felipe , Mancuso Stefano
Published: December 2021

Plant roots are generally hidden from our sight, growing and living underground in alliances with symbiotic fungi. In order to find enough water and critical mineral nutrients, they explore large areas of soil with their root apices acting as plant cognition-based brain-like organs allowing them to use kin recognition, self/non-self recognition as well as swarm intelligence. Importantly, fungal hyphae integrate root systems into huge root-wide webs which allow not only the sharing of water and mineral nutrients, but also support long-distance chemical and electric signals. Roots use neuronal molecules such as glutamate and GABA supported by their specific receptors, as well as actin-based synapses and the plant-specific action potentials, to perform all their social activities and cognitive navigation for soil exploration.
Fostering the Effectiveness of TCL
Authors: Oehl Maximilian Eduard
Published: December 2021

What fosters the effectiveness of Transnational Commodity Law (TCL) is to render the sustainable use principle as effective as possible. For that purpose, we shall first turn to some reflections on how the normative potential of sustainable development (SD) as a legal concept can be unfolded (Sect. 5.1). Secondly, we will turn to International Commodity Agreements (ICAs) as potential instruments codifying what sustainable commodity use requires (Sect. 5.2).
Conclusions
Authors: Oehl Maximilian Eduard
Published: December 2021

In this treatise, we set out to answer the following question: How effective is the current legal framework in ensuring a functional commodity sector? In approaching this task, we first provided conceptual clarity regarding its different components before entering a qualitative assessment.
Sharpening the boundaries between flux landscape and swampland by tadpole charge
Authors: Ishiguro Keiya , Otsuka Hajime
Published: December 2021

Abstract

We investigate the vacuum structure of four-dimensional effective theory arising from Type IIB flux compactifications on a mirror of the rigid Calabi-Yau threefold, corresponding to a T-dual of the DeWolfe-Giryavets-Kachru-Taylor model in Type IIA flux compactifications. By analyzing the vacuum structure of this interesting corner of string landscape, it turns out that there exist perturbatively unstable de Sitter (dS) vacua in addition to supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric anti-de Sitter vacua. On the other hand, the stable dS vacua appearing in the low-energy effective action violate the tadpole cancellation condition, indicating a strong correlation between the existence of dS vacua and the flux-induced D3-brane charge (tadpole charge). We also find analytically that the tadpole charge constrained by the tadpole cancellation condition emerges in the scalar potential in a nontrivial way. Thus, the tadpole charge would restrict the existence of stable dS vacua, and this fact underlies the statement of the dS conjecture. Furthermore, our analytical and numerical results exhibit that distributions of$$ \mathcal{O}(1) $$O1parameters in expressions of several swampland conjectures peak at specific values.
Speeding up the spread of quantum information in chaotic systems
Authors: Eccles Stefan , Fischler Willy , Guglielmo Tyler , Pedraza Juan F. , Racz Sarah
Published: December 2021

Abstract

We explore the effect of introducing mild nonlocality into otherwise local, chaotic quantum systems, on the rate of information spreading and associated rates of entanglement generation and operator growth. We consider various forms of nonlocality, both in 1-dimensional spin chain models and in holographic gauge theories, comparing the phenomenology of each. Generically, increasing the level of nonlocality increases the rate of information spreading, but in lattice models we find instances where these rates are slightly suppressed.
Axisymmetric Solutions in the Geomagnetic Direction Problem
Authors: Kaiser Ralf , Ramming Tobias
Published: December 2021

The magnetic field outside the earth is in good approximation a harmonic vector field determined by its values at the earth’s surface. The direction problem seeks to determine harmonic vector fields vanishing at infinity and with the prescribed direction of the field vector at the surface. In general this type of data neither guarantees the existence nor the uniqueness of solutions of the corresponding nonlinear boundary value problem. To determine conditions for existence, to specify the non-uniqueness and to identify cases of uniqueness is of particular interest when modeling the earth’s (or any other celestial body’s) magnetic field from these data. Here we consider the case of axisymmetric harmonic fields $$\mathbf{B}$$
B
outside the sphere $$S^2 \subset {{\mathbb {R}}}^3$$

S
2

⊂

R

3

. We introduce a rotation number $${r\!o}\in {{\mathbb {Z}}}$$

r

o

∈
Z

along a meridian of $$S^2$$

S
2

for any axisymmetric Hölder continuous direction field $$\mathbf{D}\ne 0$$

D
≠
0

on $$S^2$$

S
2

and, moreover, the (exact) decay order $$3 \le \delta \in {{\mathbb {Z}}}$$

3
≤
δ
∈
Z

of any axisymmetric harmonic field $$\mathbf{B}$$
B
at infinity. Fixing a meridional plane and in this plane $${r\!o}- \delta +1 \geqq 0$$

r

o

-
δ
+
1
≧
0

points $$z_n$$

z
n

(symmetric with respect to the symmetry axis and with $$|z_n| > 1$$

|

z
n

|
>
1

, $$n = 1,\ldots ,{r\!o}-\delta +1$$

n
=
1
,
…
,

r

o

-
δ
+
1

), we prove the existence of an (up to a positive constant factor) unique harmonic field $$\mathbf{B}$$
B
vanishing at $$z_n$$

z
n

and nowhere else, with decay order $$\delta $$
δ
at infinity, and with direction $$\mathbf{D}$$
D
at $$S^2$$

S
2

. The proof is based on the global solution of a nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem, which arises from a complex analytic ansatz for the axisymmetric harmonic field in the meridional plane. The coefficients of the elliptic equation are discontinuous and singular at the symmetry axis, and this requires solution techniques that are adapted to this special situation.
Factors correlating with patients’ satisfaction after undergoing cartilage repair surgery—data from the German Cartilage Registry (KnorpelRegister DGOU)
Authors: Faber Svea , Seiferth Nick , Angele Peter , Spahn Gunter , Buhs Matthias , Zinser Wolfgang , Niemeyer Philipp
Published: December 2021

Subjective patient satisfaction is the most relevant parameter for assessing the success of treatment after orthopaedic surgery. The aim of the present study was to correlate patient-reported outcome parameters (i.e., absolute KOOS, KOOS increase) and revision-free survival with patient’s satisfaction. Furthermore, the study aimed on the identification of pre-operative factors that are associated with patient’s satisfaction after the surgery.

For the present study, 6305 consecutive patients from the German Cartilage Registry (KnorpelRegister DGOU) were analyzed. Patient characteristics and outcome were correlated with patients’ satisfaction after a follow-up of three years by Spearman correlation. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Mean age was 37 ± 12.5 years, 59.7% patients were male, and 40.3% female. Most patients (46.7%) were treated with an autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). The strongest correlation of subjective satisfaction and the subscore quality of life (r = 0.682; p < 0.001) was found, whereas the post-operative increase in KOOS from the pre-operative value showed only a moderate correlation (r = 0.520; p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation with the absolute KOOS value (r = 0.678; p < 0.001), the subscores pain (r = 0.652; p < 0.001), quality of life (r = 0.682; p < 0.001), and sports (r = 0.633; p < 0.001), whereas symptoms (r = 0.504, p < 0.001) and activities of daily life (r = 0.601; p < 0.001) showed a weaker correlation. Pain also correlated highly significant with the patient satisfaction 24 months after surgery (r =  − 0.651, p < 0.001). The correlation between satisfaction after the 2nd and 3rd year (r = 0.727; p < 0.001) is stronger than correlation after six months and three years (r = 0.422, p < 0.001). All pre-operative parameters show a very weak correlation (r < 0.1).

The use of standardized measuring instruments (KOOS and Pain) is a relevant outcome parameter in science and clinical practice, whereas absolute values represent satisfaction better than the individual increase. The subscores “pain,” “quality of life,” and “sports” represent satisfaction better than the subscores “symptoms” and “activity of daily life.” Early satisfaction has only a moderate predictive value for satisfaction after 3 years, which is of great practical relevance in particular for the assessment of potential treatment failures. It is remarkable to note that a revision surgery is only very mildly associated with increased dissatisfaction. Pre-operative factors are not reliable prediction factors for post-operative patient satisfaction.
Quality of life, distress, and posttraumatic growth 5 years after colorectal cancer diagnosis according to history of inpatient rehabilitation
Authors: Scherer-Trame Sophie , Jansen Lina , Koch-Gallenkamp Lena , Arndt Volker , Chang-Claude Jenny , Hoffmeister Michael , Brenner Hermann
Published: December 2021

Purpose

In Germany, almost every other colorectal cancer (CRC) patient undergoes inpatient cancer rehabilitation (ICR), but research on long-term outcomes is sparse. We aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL), distress, and posttraumatic growth among former rehabilitants and non-rehabilitants as well as respective differences and to estimate disease-related quality of life deficits in both groups.

Methods

HRQOL (EORTC-QLQ-C30/CR29), distress (QSC-R10), and posttraumatic growth (PTGI) were assessed according to past ICR in patients 5-year post-CRC-diagnosis in the German DACHS study. Least square mean differences in HRQOL scores and elevated distress levels (QSC-R10 > 14 points) by ICR were estimated by confounder-adjusted linear and logistic regression, respectively. Differences in PTGI scales were tested for statistical significance. EORTC-QLQ-C30 reference scores from population controls were accessed from the LinDE study to estimate disease-related deficits in both treatment groups.

Results

49% of the included 1906 CRC survivors had undergone ICR. Rehabilitants reported lower HRQOL scores than non-rehabilitants in several dimensions of the EORTC-QLQ-C30/CR29. Differences were pronounced among younger survivors (< 70 years). In younger survivors, past ICR also predicted elevated distress. However, rehabilitants showed higher posttraumatic growth. When compared to 934 population controls, non-rehabilitants and older rehabilitants reported HRQOL scores (EORTC-QLQ-C30) similar to controls except higher levels of bowel dysfunctions, whereas younger rehabilitants experienced deficits regarding most scales (13/15).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a high disease burden 5 years after diagnosis in particular among younger CRC survivors who had undergone ICR. Observed HRQOL deficits are possibly linked to the initial indication for ICR and rehabilitants may benefit from effective follow-up concepts after ICR.
Counting Induced Subgraphs: An Algebraic Approach to #W[1]-Hardness
Authors: Dörfler Julian , Roth Marc , Schmitt Johannes , Wellnitz Philip
Published: December 2021

We study the problem $$\#\textsc {IndSub}(\varPhi )$$

#
I

N
D
S
U
B

(
Φ
)

of counting all induced subgraphs of size k in a graph G that satisfy the property $$\varPhi $$
Φ
. It is shown that, given any graph property $$\varPhi $$
Φ
that distinguishes independent sets from bicliques, $$\#\textsc {IndSub}(\varPhi )$$

#
I

N
D
S
U
B

(
Φ
)

is hard for the class $$\#\mathsf {W[1]}$$

#

W
[
1
]

, i.e., the parameterized counting equivalent of $${{\mathsf {N}}}{{\mathsf {P}}}$$

N
P

. Under additional suitable density conditions on $$\varPhi $$
Φ
, satisfied e.g. by non-trivial monotone properties on bipartite graphs, we strengthen $$\#\mathsf {W[1]}$$

#

W
[
1
]

-hardness by establishing that $$\#\textsc {IndSub}(\varPhi )$$

#
I

N
D
S
U
B

(
Φ
)

cannot be solved in time $$f(k)\cdot n^{o(k)}$$

f

(
k
)

·

n

o
(
k
)

for any computable function f, unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis fails. Finally, we observe that our results remain true even if the input graph G is restricted to be bipartite and counting is done modulo a fixed prime.
Impact of molecular alterations on quality of life and prognostic understanding over time in patients with incurable lung cancer: a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective cohort study
Authors: Kuon Jonas , Blasi Miriam , Unsöld Laura , Vogt Jeannette , Mehnert Anja , Alt-Epping Bernd , van Oorschot Birgitt , Sistermanns Jochen , Ahlborn Miriam , Ritterbusch Ulrike , Stevens Susanne , Kahl Christoph , Ruellan Anne , Matthias Kathrin , Kubin Thomas , Stahlhut Kerstin , Heider Andrea , Lordick Florian , Thomas Michael ,   on behalf of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Palliativmedizin (APM) of the German Cancer Society (DKG)
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate changes over time in quality of life (QoL) in incurable lung cancer patients and the impact of determinants like molecular alterations (MA).

Methods

In a prospective, longitudinal, multicentric study, we assessed QoL, symptom burden, psychological distress, unmet needs, and prognostic understanding of patients diagnosed with incurable lung cancer at the time of the diagnosis (T0) and after 3 (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) using validated questionnaires like FACT-L, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT), PHQ-4, SCNS-SF-34, and SEIQoL.

Results

Two hundred seventeen patients were enrolled, 22 (10%) with reported MA. QoL scores improved over time, with a significant trend for DT, PHQ-4, and SCNS-SF-34. Significant determinants for stable or improving scores over time were survival > 6 months, performance status at the time of diagnosis, and presence of MA. Patients with MA showed better QoL scores (FACT-L at T1 104.4 vs 86.3; at T2 107.5 vs 90.0; at T3 100.9 vs 92.8) and lower psychological distress (NCCN DT at T1 3.3 vs 5; at T2 2.7 vs 4.5; at T3 3.7 vs 4.5; PHQ-4 at T1 2.3 vs 4.1; at T2 1.7 vs 3.6; at T3 2.2 vs 3.6), but also a worsening of the scores at 1 year and a higher percentage of inaccurate prognostic understanding (27 vs 17%) compared to patients without MA.

Conclusion

Patients with tumors harboring MA are at risk of QoL deterioration during the course of the disease. Physicians should adapt their communication strategies in order to maintain or improve QoL.
Einzelhandel als Katalysator für nachhaltige urbane Radlogistik? – WüLivery, ein Fallbeispiel aus Würzburg
Authors: Appel Alexandra , Hardaker Sina
Published: December 2021

Die Covid-19-Pandemie gilt in vielen gesellschaftlichen Teilbereichen als Beschleuniger für Transformationsprozesse. Auch im Bereich der Organisation urbaner Logistik und Einzelhandelslandschaften etablieren sich neue Akteur*innen und Funktionen. Logistiker*innen integrieren lokale Onlinemarktplätze in ihre Profile und der stationäre Einzelhandel generiert Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gegenüber großen Onlinehändler*innen über die Nutzung lokaler Radlogistiknetzwerke, mittels derer Lieferungen noch am Tag der Bestellung (Same-Day-Delivery) verteilt werden können. Damit leisten die involvierten Akteur*innen potenziell auch einen Beitrag zur Nachhaltigkeitstransformation im Bereich urbaner Logistiksysteme. Im Fokus steht das Fallbeispiel WüLivery, ein Kooperationsprojekt des Stadtmarketingvereins, der Wirtschaftsförderung, Radlogistiker*innen sowie Einzelhändler*innen in Würzburg, welches während des zweiten coronabedingten Lockdowns im November 2020 umgesetzt wurde. Die entstehenden Dynamiken und Organisationsformen werden auf Basis von 11 Expert*inneninterviews dargestellt und analysiert. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass städtische Akteur*innen grundlegende Mediator*innen für Transformationsprozesse darstellen und Einzelhändler*innen und lokale Onlinemarktplätze als Katalysator*innen fungieren können. Das ist auch vor dem Hintergrund planerischer und politischer Kommunikationsprozesse zur Legitimation neuer Verkehrsinfrastrukturen nutzbar, da die einzelnen Akteur*innengruppen in Austausch kommen und ein gesteigertes Bewusstsein für die jeweiligen Bedarfe entsteht.
Method for holistic wind turbine drivetrain comparison exemplarily applied to geared and direct drive systems
Authors: Harzendorf Freia , Schelenz Ralf , Jacobs Georg
Published: December 2021

The drivetrain as an important part of wind turbines needs to be improved in order to deal with today’s high development and cost pressure. One important step towards enhanced drivetrains is to identify the most suitable concept for a targeted onshore application in an early design stage. With this purpose, a holistic lifecycle system evaluation approach relying on minimum input information is presented. In order to identify a dominant solution, an additive target system is defined taking cost, ecological sustainability, and supplied energy into account. This multi-criteria decision is aggregated by defining a macrosocial evaluation criterion: “drivetrain specific energy supply effort”. A physics- and empirically-based model is developed to quantify the targets for different onshore drivetrain concepts. The validity of the model results is shown by a comparison to meta-analysis findings. Being utilized on a drivetrain concept comparison between geared and direct drive the approach’s value is showcased. Both concepts score on a comparable level slightly differing in weak and strong wind regimes. An exemplary trade-off between investment- and operational effort shows, that for both concepts the investment effort is higher than the operational. The comparison furthermore shows how robust decision support can be provided by parameter variation and finally it stresses, that the decision maker’s preferences need to be incorporated in the decision. Concluding, this analysis shows that physics- and empirically-based model approaches enable holistic wind turbine drivetrain concept comparisons in an early design stage.
Variation and genetic analysis of fatty acid composition in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
Authors: Walkowiak Magdalena , Spasibionek Stanislaw , Krótka Krystyna
Published: December 2021

Flax (Linum usitatissimumL.) is an important source of oil rich in omega–3 fatty acids (especially α-linolenic acid accounting for > 50%), which is proven to have health benefits and utilized as an industrial raw material. α-Linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that readily undergoes oxidative transformation. Autoxidation of α-linolenic acid is the principal process contributing to the development of off-flavors, loss of color, and alteration in the nutritional value of linseed oil. However, there is huge a demand on the market for oils having different compositions of fatty acids, including the linseed oil characterized by improved stability. For this purpose, a complete diallel cross was performed in this study using six flax genotypes varying in the fatty acid content to estimate the genetic parameters. The analysis of variances carried out for the studied traits (content of oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acid) indicated large differences among the genotypes. Variances due to GCA were much higher in magnitude than those related to SCA for the content of linoleic and α-linolenic acid, which indicated the superiority of additive gene effects in determining the inheritance of these traits. The nonadditive gene action played an important role for oleic acid content, since the magnitude of SCA effect was almost two times higher than GCA effect. The parental lines of linola (Linola KLA and Linola KLB) exhibited the highest concentration of favorable alleles for the two traits (high content of linoleic acid and low content of α-linolenic acid) and were thus found suitable for a continuous improvement program. On the basis of the SCA effect, five cross combinations, were found to be promising F1 hybrids for use as a source population for further selection, in order to achieve fatty acid changes in linseed. These combinations allow selecting varieties with 1:1 and 2:1 ratio of omega–6:omega–3 fatty acids for producing oil with an extended shelf life for food products.
Beyond Contagion of Violence: Passionate Love and Empathy in the Thought of René Girard and Max Scheler
Authors: Strączek Bogumił
Published: December 2021

In his last book René Girard depicts apocalypse as disclosure of mimetic violence that is world-ending. He claims that in times of violent pandemic we are not called to fight for this world, but follow Christ in his withdrawal from the world. However, such an assertion creates serious theoretical and practical issues for the effort to heal interhuman relations from the virus of mimetic hostility. I argue for the importance of restoring a foundational distinction between passionate love and acquisitive mimetic desire from the forgotten regions of Girard’s oeuvre. With Max Scheler’s interpretation of Stendhal’s concept ofl’amour passion, I explore in each thinker a fundamental insight about possibilities of transforming violent contagion through empathy and loving commitment to the world. I conclude that respective “passive” and “active” approaches to the contagion of mimetic rivalry and violence are necessary and equally valuable.
Becoming an academic entrepreneur: how scientists develop an entrepreneurial identity
Authors: Hayter Christopher S. , Fischer Bruno , Rasmussen Einar
Published: December 2021

While academic entrepreneurship depends on the entrepreneurial behavior of university scientists, management studies show that identity development precedes behavioral enactment. This paper extends our understanding of why and how individuals who define themselves as a scientist develop or fail to develop a new commercialization-focused entrepreneurial identity. We develop an explanatory process model by drawing from the concept of liminality, a transitional state during which individuals construct or reconstruct an identity, as well as the entrepreneurship literature. The model not only provides a stylized illustration of identity development and its associated behavioral outcomes, but it also includes several factors such as agency and passion, liminal competence, social support, organizational and institutional support, and temporal factors that moderate the process. We contribute to the literature on entrepreneurial identity by providing a dynamic conceptualization of identity construction and incorporation, among other outcomes, as well as to the academic entrepreneurship literature by elucidating the origin and development of entrepreneurial identities among scientists. A conceptual focus on identity-related micro-processes may help explain why some scientists are more successful at commercializing technologies derived from their research than others. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.
Assessment of esophagogastric junction morphology by dynamic real-time MRI: comparison of imaging features to high-resolution manometry
Authors: Biggemann Lorenz , Uhlig Johannes , Gliem Nina , Al-Bourini Omar , Wedi Edris , Ellenrieder Volker , Ghadimi Michael , Uecker Martin , Frahm Jens , Lotz Joachim , Hosseini Ali Seif Amir , Streit Ulrike
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To assess the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) on real-time MRI and compare imaging parameters to EGJ morphology on high-resolution manometry (HRM).

Methods

A total of 105 of 117 eligible patients who underwent real-time MRI and high-resolution manometry for GERD-like symptoms between 2015 and 2018 at a single center were retrospectively evaluated (male n = 57; female n = 48; mean age 52.5 ± 15.4 years). Real-time MRI was performed at a median investigation time of 15 min (1 frame/40 ms). On HRM, EGJ morphology was assessed according to the Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders. Real-time MRI was performed at 3 T using highly undersampled radial fast low-angle shot acquisitions with NLINV image reconstruction. A 10 mL pineapple juice bolus served as oral contrast agent at supine position. Real-time MRI films of the EGJ were acquired during swallowing events and during Valsalva maneuver. Anatomic and functional MRI parameters were compared to EGJ morphology on HRM.

Results

On HRM, n = 42 patients presented with EGJ type I (40.0%), n = 33 with EGJ type II (31.4%), and n = 30 with EGJ type III (28.6%). On real-time MRI, hiatal hernia was more common in patients with EGJ type III (66.7%) than in patients with EGJ type I (26.2%) and EGJ type II (30.3%; p < 0.001). Sliding hiatal hernia was more frequent in patients with EGJ type II (33.3%) than in patients with EGJ type III (16.7%) and EGJ type I (7.1%; p = 0.017). The mean esophagus–fundus angle of patients was 85 ± 31° at rest and increased to 101 ± 36° during Valsalva maneuver.

Conclusion

Real-time MRI is a non-invasive imaging method for assessment of the esophagogastric junction. Real-time MRI can visualize dynamic changes of the EGJ during swallowing events.
Sequencing of multi-robot behaviors using reinforcement learning
Authors: Pierpaoli Pietro , Doan Thinh T. , Romberg Justin , Egerstedt Magnus
Published: December 2021

Given a collection of parameterized multi-robot controllers associated with individual behaviors designed for particular tasks, this paper considers the problem of how to sequence and instantiate the behaviors for the purpose of completing a more complex, overarching mission. In addition, uncertainties about the environment or even the mission specifications may require the robots to learn, in a cooperative manner, how best to sequence the behaviors. In this paper, we approach this problem by using reinforcement learning to approximate the solution to the computationally intractable sequencing problem, combined with an online gradient descent approach to selecting the individual behavior parameters, while the transitions among behaviors are triggered automatically when the behaviors have reached a desired performance level relative to a task performance cost. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is implemented on a team of differential-drive robots for solving two different missions, namely, convoy protection and object manipulation.
Application of maximum likelihood and model-based seismic inversion techniques: a case study from K-G basin, India
Authors: Richa  , Maurya S. P. , Singh Kumar H. , Singh Raghav , Kumar Rohtash , Kushwaha Prabodh Kumar
Published: December 2021

Seismic inversion is a geophysical technique used to estimate subsurface rock properties from seismic reflection data. Seismic data has band-limited nature and contains generally 10–80 Hz frequency hence seismic inversion combines well log information along with seismic data to extract high-resolution subsurface acoustic impedance which contains low as well as high frequencies. This rock property is used to extract qualitative as well as quantitative information of subsurface that can be analyzed to enhance geological as well as geophysical interpretation. The interpretations of extracted properties are more meaningful and provide more detailed information of the subsurface as compared to the traditional seismic data interpretation. The present study focused on the analysis of well log data as well as seismic data of the KG basin to find the prospective zone. Petrophysical parameters such as effective porosity, water saturation, hydrocarbon saturation, and several other parameters were calculated using the available well log data. Low Gamma-ray value, high resistivity, and cross-over between neutron and density logs indicated the presence of gas-bearing zones in the KG basin. Three main hydrocarbon-bearing zones are identified with an average Gamma-ray value of 50 API units at the depth range of (1918–1960 m), 58 API units (2116–2136 m), and 66 API units (2221–2245 m). The average resistivity is found to be 17 Ohm-m, 10 Ohm-m, and 12 Ohm-m and average porosity is 15%, 15%, and 14% of zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3 respectively. The analysis of petrophysical parameters and different cross-plots showed that the reservoir rock is of sandstone with shale as a seal rock. On the other hand, two types of seismic inversion namely Maximum Likelihood and Model-based seismic inversion are used to estimate subsurface acoustic impedance. The inverted section is interpreted as two anomalous zones with very low impedance ranging from 1800 m/s*g/cc to 6000 m/s*g/cc which is quite low and indicates the presence of loose formation.
Performance of asphaltene stability predicting models in field environment and development of new stability predicting model (ANJIS)
Authors: Saboor Abdus , Yousaf Nimra , Haneef Javed , Ali Syed Imran , Lalji Shaine Mohammadali
Published: December 2021

Asphaltene Precipitation is a major issue in both upstream and downstream sectors of the Petroleum Industry. This problem could occur at different locations of the hydrocarbon production system i.e., in the reservoir, wellbore, flowlines network, separation and refining facilities, and during transportation process. Asphaltene precipitation begins due to certain factors which include variation in crude oil composition, changes in pressure and temperature, and electrokinetic effects. Asphaltene deposition may offer severe technical and economic challenges to operating Exploration and Production companies with respect to losses in hydrocarbon production, facilities damages, and costly preventive and treatment solutions. Therefore, asphaltene stability monitoring in crude oils is necessary for the prevention of aggravation of problem related to the asphaltene deposition. This study will discuss the performance of eleven different stability parameters or models already developed by researchers for the monitoring of asphaltene stability in crude oils. These stability parameters include Colloidal Instability Index, Stability Index, Colloidal Stability Index, Chamkalani’s stability classifier, Jamaluddin’s method, Modified Jamaluddin’s method, Stankiewicz plot, QQA plots and SCP plots. The advantage of implementing these stability models is that they utilize less input data as compared to other conventional modeling techniques. Moreover, these stability parameters also provide quick crude oils stability outcomes than expensive experimental methods like Heithaus parameter, Toluene equivalence, spot test, and oil compatibility model. This research study will also evaluate the accuracies of stability parameters by their implementation on different stability known crude oil samples present in the published literature. The drawbacks and limitations associated with these applied stability parameters will also be presented and discussed in detail. This research found that CSI performed best as compared to other SARA based stability predicting models. However, considering the limitation of CSI and other predictors, a new predictor, namely ANJIS (Abdus, Nimra, Javed, Imran & Shaine) Asphaltene stability predicting model is proposed. ANJIS when used on oil sample of different conditions show reasonable accuracy. The study helps Petroleum companies, both upstream and downstream sector, to determine the best possible SARA based parameter and its associated risk used for the screening of asphaltene stability in crude oils.
A finite-element-aided ultrasonic method for measuring central oil-film thickness in a roller-raceway tribo-pair
Authors: Dou Pan , Wu Tonghai , Luo Zhaopeng , Yang Peiping , Peng Zhongxiao , Yu Min , Reddyhoff Tom
Published: December 2021

Roller bearings support heavy loads by riding on an ultra-thin oil film (between the roller and raceway), the thickness of which is critical as it reflects the lubrication performance. Ultrasonic interfacial reflection, which facilitates the non-destructive measurement of oil-film thickness, has been widely studied. However, insufficient spatial resolution around the rolling line contact zone remains a barrier despite the use of miniature piezoelectric transducers. In this study, a finite-element-aided method is utilized to simulate wave propagation through a three-layered structure of roller-oil-raceway under elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) with nonlinear characteristics of the i) deformed curvature of the cylindrical roller and ii) nonuniform distribution of the fluid bulk modulus along the circumference of the oil layer being considered. A load and speed-dependent look-up table is then developed to establish an accurate relationship between the overall reflection coefficient (directly measured by an embedded ultrasonic transducer) and objective variable of the central oil-film thickness. The proposed finite-element-aided method is verified experimentally in a roller-raceway test rig with the ultrasonically measured oil-film thickness corresponding to the values calculated using the EHL theory.