bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing Reference Ranges for Aldosterone, Renin and
Aldosterone-to-Renin Ratio for Women in the Third-Trimester of
Pregnancy
Authors: Lewandowski Krzysztof C. , Tadros-Zins Monika , Horzelski Wojciech , Grzesiak Mariusz , Lewinski Andrzej
Published: February 2022

Objective Diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism in pregnancy is
complicated due to lack of reference ranges for aldosterone, renin and
aldosterone-to-renin ratio. We have endeavoured to establish third-trimester
reference ranges for the above-mentioned parameters.

Design & Patients We performed postural tests for aldosterone and
renin (chemiluminescence immunoassay Liason® DiaSorin Inc., Italy) in 70
healthy pregnant women (age 30.53±4.51 years), at 32.38±4.25
weeks of gestation and in 22 non-pregnant healthy women (age 33.08±8.72
years).

Results Aldosterone reference ranges were
6.51–73.97 ng/dl and
12.33–86.38 ng/dl, for supine and upright positions,
respectively and that for renin were 6.25–59.36 µIU/ml
and 11.12–82.55 µIU/ml, respectively. Aldosterone and
renin concentrations were higher in an upright position (p=0.000459 and
p=0.00011, respectively). In contrast, aldosterone-to-renin ratio was
not affected by posture (i. e.
0.497–3.084 ng/dl/µIU/ml versus
0.457–3.06 ng/dl/µIU/ml,
p=0.12), but was higher (p=0.00081) than in non-pregnant
controls. In comparison to manufacturer-provided non-pregnant reference range,
supine aldosterone concentrations increased by 556% (lower cut-off) and
313% (upper cut-off), while upright aldosterone concentrations increased
by 558% (lower cut-off) and 244% (upper cut-off). The reference
range for supine renin concentrations increased by 223% (lower cut-off)
and 48.7% (upper cut-off), while upright renin concentrations increased
by 253% (lower cut-off) and 79% (upper cut-off).

Conclusions There is an upward shift in aldosterone and renin reference
ranges in the third-trimester of pregnancy accompanied by an increase in an
aldosterone-to-renin ratio, that is not influenced by posture. It remains to be
established whether the aldosterone-to-renin ratio may be used as a screening
tool for primary hyperaldosteronism in pregnancy.
Metastatic Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytoma with Single Kidney and Renal Compromise: A Case Report of Excellent Response, Tolerability, and Outcome to a Modified Regimen of 131I-mIBG, and Decision-Making between 131I-mIBG Therapy and PRRT
Authors: Loharkar Sarvesh , Basu Sandip
Published: February 2022

Determining the choice and the goal is key element for decision-making of a systemic radionuclide therapy. They should be clearly defined in deciding and individualizing the dose and regimen. For iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) therapy, the important considerations during dose fractionation include disease burden, tumor biology, functional symptoms, and associated comorbidities, all of which are important determinants for the intent and course of treatment. Herein, we present the case of a 67-year-old elderly female with highly functional metastatic recurrent extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma (presenting 42 years after the primary surgery and 32 years following excision of pararenal recurrence) with multiple comorbidities including single kidney and borderline renal compromise, treated successfully with a relatively lower dose of 131I-mIBG (cumulative dose of 22.2 GBq in four cycles with a mean dose of 5.7 GBq per therapy cycle). The excellent tumor burden reduction, hormonal tumor marker response, and most importantly asymptomatic status could be achieved with the administered dose. On follow-up, none of the pretherapeutic parameters (including renal function) showed any further derangement compared with the baseline during next 24 months following the treatment. All cycles were well tolerated with only reversible hematological toxicity that normalized without any active intervention. The report is intended to provide some guidance for future therapeutic regimens.
Outcome of CBV (Carmustine, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide) Conditioning Regimen for Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Lymphoma: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Cancer Center in South India
Authors: Krishnamoorthi Narendran , Prakash Bhanu , KM Dhanraju , Pani Chinmaya Kumar , Ram Malliha , Rajesh Kalpana , Dubashi Biswajit , Ganesan Prasanth , Kayal Smita
Published: February 2022

Introduction In autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for lymphomas, no standard conditioning regimen has been defined so far. Thus, the choice is guided by the center's familiarity and experience with a particular regimen.

Objective To determine the response, toxicity, and survival outcomes in lymphoma patients who underwent ASCT with CBV (cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide) conditioning regimen.

Materials and Methods Between January 2013 and May 2019, 45 consecutive lymphoma patients who had ASCT with CBV conditioning regimen were included in this retrospective study. CBV consisted of cyclophosphamide (1.5 g/m2/day × 4 days), carmustine (300 mg/m2 × 1 day), and etoposide (125 mg/m2 twice daily × 3 days). Baseline characteristics, pre transplant response, apheresis, post-transplant toxicities, post-transplant response, and survival outcomes were collected. Endpoints were toxicity, response, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results The median age was 30 (range: 6–64) years. Diagnosis was Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in 26 (58%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in 19 (42%). Forty-three patients (95%) had chemosensitive disease; 22(49%) in CR, and 21 (46%) in PR. The median CD34 was 2.95 × 106/kg (range: 0.9–9.56). The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 11 days (9–23) and 13 (8–36) days for platelets. All patients had febrile neutropenia, clinically and/or microbiologically documented infection was seen in 75% of patients. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were mucositis (n = 4, 9%), diarrhea (n = 4, 9%), and nausea/vomiting (n = 2, 4%). The average days of hospitalization was 18 (range: 10–37). Day 100 mortality was 6.6% (n = 3). The median follow-up was 44.8 months. The median EFS for the entire cohort was 23.8 months; for HL, the median EFS was not reached, and for NHL, it was 7.97 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57–14.37). The median OS for the entire cohort and for HL was not reached; for NHL, it was 24.3 months (95% CI: 0.56–48.11).

Conclusion CBV conditioning regimen was well tolerated with low grade 3/4 toxicities and efficacy comparable to literature data.
Ayurveda Maintenance Therapy in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wanjarkhedkar Pankaj , Kulkarni Padmaj , Hingmire Sachin , Kelkar Dhananjay , Bokil Kamlesh
Published: February 2022

Despite optimal surgery and first-line platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, approximately 70 to 80% of patients with epithelial ovarian cancers relapse. Two cases of recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) were treated with non–platinum-based Ayurveda maintenance therapy (AMT) consisting of drugs having a herbal and herbomineral origin. This regimen was followed over a period of 3 years and progression-free survival (PFS) was noted along with platinum-free interval (PFI). Two patients were diagnosed with BRCA1 mutated recurrent high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and treated with the per-oral AMT regimen labeled as ZINCA-30 in our hospital after completion of standard of care treatment and followed up until progression. The ZINCA-30 regimen comprising Jasada (traditional Zinc preparation), Indukanth kwatham and Curcuma amada powder in combination was prescribed based on Rasayana chikitsa postulated in Ayurveda. The patients were followed up every 3 months. The progression-free survival observed in these patients was 28 months and 45 months, respectively. These two pilot cases suggested an increased platinum-free interval (PFI), improved progression-free survival (PFS) in recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC), with the AMT labeled as ZINCA-30 after chemotherapy.
Safety and Effectiveness of Transthoracic Core Needle Biopsy in a Newly Established Interventional Radiology Program in Tanzania
Authors: Mbuguje Erick M. , Alswang Jared M. , Rukundo Ivan , Naif Azza , Laage Gaupp Fabian M. , Ramalingam Vijay , Asch Murray
Published: February 2022

Background Transthoracic core needle biopsy (TTCNB) became a routinely offered procedure in Tanzania in October 2018. This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of establishing a TTCNB program in a resource-limited setting.

Methodology A single center, prospective, observational cohort study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital on 90 patients who underwent computed tomography-guided TTCNB from October 2018 to May 2021. Patient and procedural data, including demographic information, complications, pathology results, and clinical outcomes, were stored in a Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Follow-up was conducted at 4 weeks postprocedure by phone. Descriptive analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

Results A total of 90 patients underwent TTCNB. Seven samples were lost or never processed. In total, 68/83 (81.9%) of processed samples were diagnostic, with 89.7% (n = 61) classified as malignant and 10.3% (n = 7) classified as benign. Overall, 82.4% (n = 56) were classified as primary malignancies, 7.4% (n = 5) as metastatic malignancies, 5.9% (n = 4) as benign tumors, and 4.4% (n = 3) as infectious. Reasons for nondiagnostic samples were crashed/insufficient samples in 53.3% (n = 8) and nonspecific chronic inflammation in 46.7% (n = 7). Minor (Society of Interventional Radiology [SIR] class A and B) complications occurred in 8 cases (8.9%), while there was 1 (1.1%) major complication (SIR class F). A total of 44/90 (48.9%) patients could be reached for follow-up at 4 weeks postprocedure. In addition, 31/44 (70.5%) of these patients had a diagnosis of malignancy. Of these, 20 received chemotherapy, 8 died prior to receiving any treatment, 2 declined any further medical or surgical intervention, and 1 was treated with surgical excision and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion Although recently introduced in Tanzania, TTCNB has been performed with 81.9% diagnostic accuracy and a complication rate comparable to existing literature.
Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Utilization among Early Career Surgeons: An Evaluation of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part-II Database
Authors: Carender Christopher N. , Duchman Kyle R. , Shamrock Alan G. , Glass Natalie A. , Brown Timothy S.
Published: February 2022

An updated understanding of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) utilization is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate temporal trends in volume and utilization of UKA among early-career surgeons and to examine the influence of fellowship training status on utilization of UKA. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part-II database was queried from 2010 to 2019 to identify candidates who reported ≥1 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or UKA. Self-reported history of fellowship training experiences was recorded. “High-volume” surgeons were defined as performing ≥7 UKA over the ABOS Part-II collection period. Trends were evaluated with the Cochrane–Armitage test and generalized linear models. From 2010 to 2019, a total of 2,045 candidates (28.1%) reported ≥1 TKA, while 585 candidates (8.0%) reported ≥1 UKA. The number of candidates reporting ≥1 UKA significantly increased (p = 0.001). An increase in UKA volume was observed over the study period (p < 0.001). Rates of utilization of UKA relative to TKA did not change significantly over the study period (p = 0.11). Sixty-three (2.4%) candidates met the study definition for high-volume UKA utilization. UKA procedure volume increased among ABOS Part-II candidates over the study period; however, rates of UKA utilization relative to TKA volume remained unchanged. Increasing volume of UKA performed by early-career surgeons is likely secondary to an increased number of surgeons trained in adult reconstruction. Only 2.4% of candidates who reported performing at least one knee arthroplasty procedure met the threshold for a high-volume UKA practice. Early-career surgeons should remain conscientious of UKA volume in their practice.
Comparison of Optical Forceps-Assisted Single-Port Laparoscopic PIRS and Open Surgery in Morgagni Hernia Repair
Authors: Öztorun Can İhsan , Güney Doğuş , Doruk Hayal , Örnek Demir Tuğba , Demir Sabri , Ertürk Ahmet , Erten Elif Emel , Azılı Müjdem Nur , Şenel Emrah
Published: February 2022

Introduction This study aimed to compare the results of classical surgery (CS) and optical forceps-assisted single-port laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suturing (SP-PIRS) repair for the treatment of Morgagni hernia.

Materials and Methods Patients with Morgagni hernia who were operated on between January 2005 and July 2020 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups (CS or SP-PIRS) and compared retrospectively in terms of demographic data, defect size, duration of hospitalization, costs, postoperative complications, and recurrence.

Results Thirty-two patients were included in this study. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of gender, defect size, postoperative complications, and recurrence (p > 0.05). The SP-PIRS group had a shorter operation time (p < 0.01), shorter hospital stay (p = 0.02), and lower cost (p < 0.01) than the CS group. The average follow-up was 24 months, and recurrence was detected in two patients in each group.

Conclusion SP-PIRS repair is recommended because it is practical to perform and reduces the duration of surgery, hospital stay, and cost. It is superior to other laparoscopic techniques, as there is no need to use additional study forceps, except in extreme cases, and the surgeon can perform the procedure without an assistant to hold the laparoscope.
Single atom thermal engine modelled using quantum mechanics
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: February 2022

Quantum thermal machine employing only one or two driven quantum harmonic oscillators shown to be more efficient than classical machines under certain conditions
Numerical analysis of pressure pulsation in vertical submersible axial flow pump device under bidirectional operation
Authors: Yang Fan , Chang Pengcheng , Li Chao , Shen Qiangru , Qian Jun , Li Jindong
Published: February 2022

In order to analyze the pressure pulsation characteristics of a single-conduit vertical submersible axial-flow pump device under bidirectional operation, the unsteady numerical simulation of the pump device was carried out based on computational fluid dynamics. The pressure pulsation coefficient and fast Fourier transform were used to analyze the pulsation of each monitoring point in the time–frequency domain. The results show that the pressure pulsation at different positions of the pump device is mainly affected by the impeller rotation, and the amplitude is large at the blade frequency and its harmonic frequency. In the positive operation, the main frequency of pressure pulsation at each monitoring point at the inlet of the impeller is three times the rotating frequency, and in the reverse operation, the main frequency of pressure pulsation at each monitoring point is 0.5 times the rotating frequency. The amplitude of pressure pulsation at each monitoring point at the inlet of the impeller is less than that of the positive operation, while the amplitude of pressure pulsation at the outlet of the impeller and the guide vane is larger than that of the positive operation. In the positive and reverse operation, the axial force of the impeller is significantly affected by the inlet velocity, and the amplitude of the axial force is small in the rotation period. The axial force increases with the increase of flow rate. The radial force of the impeller is significantly affected by the inflow flow pattern. The radial force changes obviously in the rotation period, and the radial force does not change regularly with the flow rate. The radial force of the impeller under reverse operation is 7.75 times that under positive operation.
Laser-induced fluorescence-dip spectroscopy of Rydberg states of xenon for electric field measurement in plasma
Authors: An Wladimir , Wang Zhen , Weisenburger Alfons , Mueller Georg
Published: February 2022

Laser-induced fluorescence-dip spectroscopy is considerably modified by using a special broad band dye laser. With a linewidth of the laser of 1 nm, it is possible to detect a wide spectrum of the relevant Stark shifts in order to measure the weak electric fields in plasmas. Depending on the selection of the Rydberg level, the measuring range extends from about 100 V/cm to a few kV/cm. The main advantage of the newly developed method is the possibility to obtain the complete image of the field distribution in a wide spatial area over a few cm within one measurement step at a given time. This allows reliable electric field measurements for phenomena with poor pulse-to-pulse reproducibility on the microscale. The basics of the method and first experimental test results are presented in detail.
Role of ripples in altering the electronic and chemical properties of graphene
Authors: Kim Chang-Eun , Lee Jiwoo , Walsh Aron , Lordi Vincenzo , Bahr David F.
Published: February 2022

Ripples of graphene are known to manipulate electronic and hydrogenation properties of graphitic materials. More detailed work is needed to elucidate the structure–property relationship of these systems. In this work, the density functional theory is used to compute the energy and electronic structure of the graphene models with respect to variable curvatures and hydrogen adsorption sites. The magnitude of finite bandgap opening depends on the orientation of ripples, and the hydrogen adsorption energy depends on the local curvature of graphene. An adsorbed hydrogen alters the local curvature, resulting in relatively weakened adsorption on the neighboring three sites, which gives a rationale to experimentally observed dynamic equilibrium stoichiometry (H:C = 1:4) of hydrogenated graphene. The surface diffusion transition state energy of adsorbed hydrogen is computed, which suggests that the Eley–Rideal surface recombination mechanism may be important to establish the dynamic equilibrium, instead of the commonly assumed Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism.
A review on 3D printing functional brain model
Authors: Samanipour Roya , Tahmooressi Hamed , Rezaei Nejad Hojatollah , Hirano Minoru , Shin Su-Royn , Hoorfar Mina
Published: February 2022

Modern neuroscience increasingly relies on 3D models to study neural circuitry, nerve regeneration, and neural disease. Several different biofabrication approaches have been explored to create 3D neural tissue model structures. Among them, 3D bioprinting has shown to have great potential to emerge as a high-throughput/high precision biofabrication strategy that can address the growing need for 3D neural models. Here, we have reviewed the design principles for neural tissue engineering. The main challenge to adapt printing technologies for biofabrication of neural tissue models is the development of neural bioink, i.e., a biomaterial with printability and gelation properties and also suitable for neural tissue culture. This review shines light on a vast range of biomaterials as well as the fundamentals of 3D neural tissue printing. Also, advances in 3D bioprinting technologies are reviewed especially for bioprinted neural models. Finally, the techniques used to evaluate the fabricated 2D and 3D neural models are discussed and compared in terms of feasibility and functionality.
How to pose material design problems for flow through porous media applications? Sensitivity of dissipation rate to medium's permeability holds the key
Authors: Nakshatrala Kalyana B.
Published: February 2022

Recent studies have advocated using the total dissipation rate under topology optimization to realize material designs involving the flow of fluids through porous media. However, these studies decided how to pose the design problem, such as maximizing the total dissipation rate for some situations while minimizing for others, by solving one-dimensional problems and justifying their choices using numerical experiments. This approach lacks rigor—a bottleneck for further scientific advancements to computational material design. This paper provides the missing theoretical justification. We identify four classes of boundary value problems using the adjoint state method and analytically calculate the sensitivity of the total dissipation rate to the permeability field. For two of those classes in which the flow of fluids is pressure-driven, the sensitivity is positive—the total dissipation rate increases if the medium's permeability increases. While for the other two classes, in which the flow is velocity-driven, the trend is the opposite. These sensitivities provide rigorous answers to the central question: how to pose a material design problem for flow through porous media applications. The impact of our work is multifold. First, this study further elevates the role of the dissipation rate in posing well-posed material design problems using topology optimization. Second, besides the theoretical significance, the results benefit computational scientists and practitioners to realize optimal designs. Third, given their simplicity yet far-reaching impact, both the approach and results possess immense pedagogical value.
Hydrodynamic force induced by vortex–body interactions in orderly formations of flapping tandem flexible plates
Authors: Kang Linlin , Cui Weicheng , Lu Xi-Yun , Huang Haibo
Published: February 2022

The mechanism behind stable aggregations of active swimmers is not fully understood. In particular, the in-depth quantitative explanations are notably lacking. To address this, a vorticity-based force expression is proposed to study the collective behaviors of two two-dimensional tandem flapping plates. The hydrodynamic force is directly related to the generation of vorticity on the plate and viscous forces resulting from its subsequent evolution. For the first time, the physical process by which the interactions between the rear plate and the wake vortices of the leader affects the hydrodynamic force is quantitatively elucidated and not based on simplified theory. The wake vortices of the leader influence the hydrodynamic force on the rear plate indirectly by inducing an additional oncoming flow. The flow affects the generation of vorticity, which mainly occurs on the head of the rear plate. The results show that, if the trajectory of the rear plate passes through the vortex cores, vorticity generation on the rear plate is suppressed and the thrust effect is weakened. If the rear plate slaloms between the vortices, the vorticity generation and the thrust effect are enhanced. We also found that the wake vortices of the leader has a certain ability to trap the rear plate into orderly configurations—no matter the rear plate has a dissimilar flapping amplitude or is applied an external horizontal loading—by adjusting the equilibrium position of the rear plate in it. The findings may shed some light on the understanding of collective behaviors in swimming animals.
Supersonic compressor cascade flow control using plasma actuation at low Reynolds number
Authors: Wang Yizhou , Zhang Haideng , Wu Yun , Li Yinghong , Zhu Yujie
Published: February 2022

To control the supersonic compressor cascade flow at low Reynolds numbers, this paper describes the use of nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NS-DBD) plasma actuation for flow control, and presents the results of large-eddy simulations conducted to investigate the corresponding flow control effects. NS-DBD plasma actuation on both the blade pressure surface and suction surface induces a distorted flow structure (DFS) within the blade passage. In the case of NS-DBD plasma actuation on the blade pressure surface, the influence of the DFS on the flow is suppressed by a shock wave. Even so, the DFS can still trigger the instability in the shear layer between the separated flow and the mainstream flow. Shock-wave-induced large-scale flow separation on the blade pressure surface is then suppressed, and the overall total pressure loss of the blade passage is reduced by 7.4%, despite the increased shock wave loss from the reduced flow blockage within the blade passage. In the case of NS-DBD plasma actuation on the blade suction surface, the DFS is less effective in suppressing the shock-wave-induced small-scale flow separation on the blade suction surface. However, the DFS on the blade suction surface enhances the shock wave oscillations within the blade passage, and this suppresses the flow separation on the blade pressure surface.
Homogenization of a two-phase flow accompanied by dissociation of a gas hydrate in a fractured porous medium
Authors: Konyukhov A. , Pankratov L. , Voloshin A.
Published: February 2022

A homogenized model of non-isothermal compressible two-phase flow accompanied by dissociation of a gas hydrate in a fractured porous medium is derived. The equations of the homogenized model contain non-local in time source terms corresponding to the contribution of the gas hydrate in the matrix blocks. The model of phase behavior of a gas hydrate is used that admits coexistence of the hydrate and products of its decomposition in a finite region of the phase diagram. This possible behavior is a consequence of non-linearity of the skeleton potential dependence on the depth of phase transition.
Magneto-optical trap for 6Li atoms formed by elliptically polarised light waves
Authors: Il’enkov R.Ya. , Kirpichnikova A.A. , Prudnikov O.N.
Published: February 2022

We report a study of a model of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for atoms 6Li in the field with

configuration produced by the counterpropagating elliptically polarised waves, which are in resonance with the optical transition 2S1/2 → 2P3/2 (λ = 670.977 nm). The model takes into account hyperfine splitting of levels inside the natural linewidth of the optical transition. In contrast to a conventional MOT formed by counterpropagating circularly polarised waves (σ
+ – σ
– configuration), the suggested MOT may provide a deeper sub-Doppler cooling of 6Li atoms.
The influence of observing a maternal demonstrator on the ability of lambs to learn a virtual fence
Authors: Kearton Tellisa , Marini Danila , Lee Caroline , Cowley Frances C.
Published: February 2022

Context In virtual fencing, where an animal learns to remain within a set area by responding to an audio cue in order to avoid receiving an aversive electrical stimulus, maternal learning may play a role in facilitating successful learning. Aims This study aimed to investigate the effect of early observation of virtual fence engagement using a maternal demonstrator on the ability of lambs to later learn to respond correctly to a virtual fence. Method Merino lambs (n = 114) were assigned to one of three treatments prior to being trained to a virtual fence: (1) lambs from experienced demonstrators, in which the lambs observed their mothers interacting with a virtual fence having been trained prior to lambing; (2) lambs from naïve demonstrators, in which lambs observed their mothers learning the virtual fence system; and (3) unexposed lambs, in which lambs had not encountered a virtual fence prior to being trained. Following weaning, lambs were trained to a virtual fence and responses to stimuli were recorded. Key results The number of audio cue and electrical pulse stimuli received by the lambs did not differ across the three treatments (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences between the proportions of correct behavioural responses to the audio cue stimulus across the three treatment groups (P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis of learning curves showed that lambs from naïve demonstrators displayed a change in behaviour and learned the correct response to the audio cue, while the unexposed lambs and lambs from pre-trained demonstrators did not. Conclusions These results suggest that maternal influences may be influencing the ability of lambs to learn a virtual fence, although the training protocol was limited due to time, space, equipment and environmental constraints. Implications This work may help to inform producers on management decisions for the application of the virtual fencing, such as enabling lambs to observe their mothers interacting with a virtual fence prior to weaning to enhance learning the virtual fence when applied later in life.
‘I didn’t want to visit a doctor unless it was extremely necessary’: perspectives on delaying access to sexual and reproductive health care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia from an online survey
Authors: Bittleston Helen , Goller Jane L. , Temple-Smith Meredith , Hocking Jane S. , Coombe Jacqueline
Published: February 2022

Australians were subject to a series of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions throughout 2020. Although accessing medical care was allowable, concerns were raised that people were avoiding healthcare services. We explored young Australians’ reasons for delaying seeking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care during the pandemic, using data from two cross-sectional surveys. The surveys included a question asking whether respondents had delayed accessing care during the pandemic. Free-text responses from young Australians (aged 18–29 years) were analysed using conventional content analysis. In all, 1058 under-30s completed a survey, with 262 (24.8%) reporting they had delayed seeking SRH care. Of these, 228 (87.0%) respondents provided a free-text comment. Participants who commented were predominantly female (86.4%) and had a median age of 23 years (interquartile range 20–26 years). Most commonly, respondents delayed testing for sexually transmissible infections, cervical cancer screening, and contraceptive care. Some delayed accessing care despite experiencing symptoms. Participants avoided seeking care due to concerns about contracting COVID-19, uncertainty about accessing care during restrictions and anxiety relating to accessing SRH care. Although some reported a reduced need for SRH care, others required but did not access care. Young people should be reassured that SRH issues are a valid reason to access services, especially when experiencing symptoms.
Decoding the information structure underlying the neural representation of concepts
Authors: Fernandino Leonardo , Tong Jia-Qing , Conant Lisa L. , Humphries Colin J. , Binder Jeffrey R.
Published: February 2022

Significance

The ability to identify individual objects or events as members of a kind (e.g., “knife,” “dog,” or “party”) is a fundamental aspect of human cognition. It allows us to quickly access a wealth of information pertaining to a newly encountered object or event and use it to guide our behavior. How is this information represented in the brain? We used functional MRI to analyze patterns of brain activity corresponding to hundreds of familiar concepts and quantitatively characterized the informational structure of these patterns. Our results indicate that conceptual knowledge is stored as patterns of neural activity that encode sensory-motor and affective information about each concept, contrary to the long-held idea that concept representations are independent of sensory-motor experience.
Different α-synuclein prion strains cause dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy
Authors: Ayers Jacob I. , Lee Joanne , Monteiro Octovia , Woerman Amanda L. , Lazar Ann A. , Condello Carlo , Paras Nick A. , Prusiner Stanley B.
Published: February 2022

Significance

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are caused by α-synuclein prions that differ from each other and from those causing Parkinson’s disease (PD). DLB prions differ in their infectivity from those causing MSA or PD. The wild-type, normal version of the α-synuclein protein has the acidic amino acid glutamate (E) at residue 46, while in cases of inherited PD, it is mutated to the basic amino acid lysine (K). Using genetically engineered α-synuclein, we identified unique conditions for propagating MSA and DLB prions. Being able to distinguish among strains of naturally occurring α-synuclein prions may make it possible to develop strain-specific therapeutics for MSA, DLB, and PD.
Northern soul
Authors: Lorenzo Guillermo
Published: February 2022

This introductory chapter provides some background to the rest of the book. It first outlines some major topics of the grammar of the languages of Asturias. After that, some prior approximations to these languages from a generative perspective are reviewed. Finally, the specific issues dealt within each chapter are advanced.
Is focus a root phenomenon?
Authors: Lahousse Karen
Published: February 2022

This article argues that some types of syntactically
marked focus are root (main clause) phenomena in French. We show
that c’est (‘it is’) clefts, which explicitly mark
narrow new information focus, are root phenomena, in contrast with
il y a (‘there is’) clefts marking broad new
information focus and contrastive focus
c’est-clefts. Nominal inversion in French behaves
in the opposite way and is argued to be an ‘inverse root
phenomenon’. These observations are explained by Krifka’s (2017) notion of a
‘judge’, its relation to epistemic modality and the distinction
between assertive embedded clauses (in which root phenomena occur)
and non-assertive embedded clauses (in which root phenomena do not
occur).
Unmarked use of marked syntactic structures
Authors: Gabriel Christoph , Grünke Jonas
Published: February 2022

Bulgarian Judeo-Spanish (BJS) is characterized by its
frequent use of structures that are considered highly marked or even
ungrammatical in Mainstream Spanish (MS). The analysis of
semi-spontaneous data, recorded from four BJS-Bulgarian bilinguals,
and the comparison with a same-sized Madrid Spanish control corpus
reveal that BJS offers a broader gamut of possessive constructions
and allows for fronting of non-subject constituents in
information-structurally neutral contexts. A rating task carried out
with 8 MS natives confirms that such structures are perceived as
marked in MS. The fact that BJS patterns with both Old Spanish and
contemporary Bulgarian regarding its repertoire of possessives and
the use of fronting structures suggests an interpretation which
refers to both its ancestor and the present-day contact
language.
Phonological parsing via an integrated I-language
Authors: Archibald John
Published: February 2022

Schwartz and Sprouse (2021) argue against property-by-property Transfer (Westergaard, 2021a, b) and for wholesale transfer (Rothman, 2015) into a third language grammar by questioning the cognitive plausibility of “extracting a proper subpart from the … grammar and using that proper sub-system as the basis for a new cognitive state.” I will argue that the insights from the approaches of López (2020); Lightfoot (2020); Dresher (2018), and Westergaard (2021a) when applied to empirical data from L3 English data from L1 Arabic/L2 French speakers, give us reason to question Schwartz and Sprouse’s defence of wholesale transfer, and its typological underpinnings. We can set the study of L3A in a larger context which can unify domains such as the acquisition of phonology and syntax via a unified approach to parsing. By invoking an underspecified, minimal UG, primary linguistic data, and domain-general third factors which act in concert to parse the E-language to select structures, we can capture the underlying similarity of first, second, and third language acquisition. Parsing proceeds in an error-driven fashion, structure by structure, drawing on the Integrated I-language and UG options found in a Repository. In essence, this approach renders the wholesale/property-by-property distinction a false dichotomy.
Caffeine ingestion attenuates diurnal variation of lower‐body ballistic performance in resistance‐trained women
Authors: Robles‐González Lidia , Ramírez Maldonado Mauricio , Alcalá‐Escamilla Juan Carlos , Jurado‐Fasoli Lucas , Miras‐Moreno Sergio , Soriano Marcos A. , García‐Ramos Amador , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Amaro‐Gahete Francisco J.
Published: February 2022

The present study investigates the effect of an acute intake of caffeine on the diurnal variation of neuromuscular performance in resistance‐trained women. A total of 15 resistance‐trained women participated in the current triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover experimental study. We assessed neuromuscular performance (i.e. ballistic (countermovement jump [CMJ] height and bench press throw [BPT] peak velocity), maximal strength (squat and bench press [BP] one‐repetition maximum [1RM]), and strength‐endurance [average velocity of the set during squat and number of repetitions‐to‐failure in BP]) four times at within 7 days. The participants ingested an acute dose of caffeine (3 mg/kg) or a placebo at 9–11 am and/or 17–19 pm. CMJ height (P = .016) and BP peak velocity (P = .012) were higher in the afternoon than in the morning. Compared to placebo, caffeine intake increased CMJ height by 3.1% in the morning and 1.6% in the afternoon (P = .035), but it had no effect on BPT peak velocity (P = .381). Maximal strength and strength‐endurance performances were not affected by the time‐of‐day or caffeine intake (all P > .3). No significant interaction (time‐of‐day x substance) was observed in any of the above‐mentioned outcomes (all P > .1). In conclusion, an acute dose of caffeine in the morning was effective to restore CMJ performance to levels found in the afternoon, while this effect was not observed neither in BPTpeak velocity nor in lower‐ and upper‐body maximal strength and strength‐endurance performance. Moreover, lower‐ and upper‐body ballistic performance were greater in the afternoon than in the morning in resistance‐trained women, while the acute intake of caffeine was only effective to increase CMJ height.

Highlights

Ballistic performance is probably higher in the afternoon than in the morning in resistance‐trained women.

An acute intake of caffeine is effective to increase countermovement jump performance.

The ingestion of an acute dose of caffeine in the morning restored countermovement jump performance to levels found in the afternoon.
Non-commutativity and non-inertial effects on a scalar field in a cosmic string space-time: II. Spin-zero Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau-like oscillator
Authors: Cuzinatto Rodrigo Rocha , de Montigny Marc , Pompeia Pedro José
Published: February 2022

We study the non-inertial effects of a rotating frame on a spin-zero, Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau-like oscillator in a cosmic string space-time with non-commutative geometry in the momentum space. The spin-zero DKP-like oscillator is obtained from the Klein–Gordon Lagrangian with a non-standard prescription for the oscillator coupling. We find that the solutions of the time-independent radial equation with the non-zero non-commutativity parameter parallel to the string are related to the confluent hypergeometric function. We find the quantized energy eigenvalues of the non-commutative oscillator.
Gender differences in test anxiety and self-efficacy: why instructors should emphasize low-stakes formative assessments in physics courses
Authors: Malespina Alysa , Singh Chandralekha
Published: February 2022

Many prior studies have investigated female and male students’ self-efficacy (SE) in physics courses. However, test anxiety (TA) is rarely studied in the physics context, despite prior work suggesting it may play a detrimental role in the development of SE. In this study, we explore the relationships between SE, TA, and gender differences in introductory calculus-based physics performance. Although there has been research that uses TA and SE to predict student grades, no study to our knowledge has investigated this in the context of low- (e.g., homework and quizzes) and high-stakes (e.g., traditional exams) physics assessments. Using validated survey data and grade information, we compared the predictive power of SE and TA on student performance on a variety of assessment types. We found that there are gender differences in both SE and TA, as well as in high-stakes assessment outcomes. There were no gender differences in low-stakes assessment scores. Further, we found that models that control for SE and/or TA eliminate the predictive power of gender for high-stakes assessment outcomes. Finally, we found that SE partially mediates the effect of TA on high-stakes assessment outcomes. From these results, we make several suggestions for instructors that may alleviate the adverse effects of TA and make physics assessments more equitable and inclusive.
A self-powered intelligent glove for real-time human-machine gesture interaction based on piezoelectric effect of T-ZnO/PVDF film
Authors: Gao Chuanqiang , Long Zhihe , Zhong Tianyan , Liang Shan , Xing Lili
Published: February 2022

In the emerging field of human-machine interaction, intelligent gesture recognition techniques have great application prospects. The traditional use of rigid and over-sized power units has restrained the development of wearable gesture recognition systems. Here, we present a self-powered intelligent glove based on piezoelectric motion sensor arrays for real-time gesture recognition. The system can be confortably worn on human hands, and mainly consists of three parts: a flexible piezoelectric motion sensor based on T-ZnO/PVDF film (T-ZnO, tetrapod ZnO nanostructures), a signal processing module for analyzing the sensing information, and a Bluetooth unit for wireless communication. The system can work without external power, and the piezoelectric output can act as both the energy source of the system and the sensing signal. The working mechanism can be attributed to the piezoelectric effect of T-ZnO/PVDF composites and with flexion and extension of the fingers, a series of pulse signals can be generated and converted into specific corresponding codes. The sensing signal can be wirelessly transmitted to smartphones through the Bluetooth unit, and the phone can recognize the codes corresponding to sign language actions and translate them. This work can potentially promote the development of the next generation of human-machine interaction systems and expand the scope of self-powered techniques and wearable electronics.
Excitonic condensation state in the assistance of the adiabatic and anti-adiabatic phonons
Authors: Do Thi-Hong-Hai , Phan Van-Nham
Published: February 2022

The excitonic condensate in semimetal and semiconducting materials with the assistance of the phonons in both the adiabatic and anti-adiabatic regimes has been investigated. In the framework of the random phase approximation, we analyse the static excitonic susceptibility function once the electrons and holes are described in the extended Falicov–Kimball model involving the electron–phonon interaction. The excitonic condensate transition point is detected as a divergence of the susceptibility function. The complex phase diagrams exhibit the significant impact of the adiabatic phonons on the stability of the excitonic condensation state. In contrast, phonons in the anti-adiabatic regime play a less role in the formation and the condensation of the excitons. Depending on the temperature or the external pressure, the excitonic condensate stability and its Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer–Bose–Einstein condensation crossover in the systems are also discussed in detail.
First-principles study of fission products Xe and Cs behaviors in U3Si2
Authors: Hu Jutao , Li Menglu , Gong Hengfeng , Ren Qisen , Liao Yehong , Xiao Haiyan , Zu Xiaotao
Published: February 2022

In the past several decades, the U3Si2 has received much attention for the development of accident tolerant fuel in light water reactors because of its superior thermal conductivity and higher uranium density. In this study, density functional theory calculations have been carried out to study the occupation and diffusion behaviors of fission products Xe and Cs in U3Si2. It is revealed that the occupation sites of Xe and Cs depend on the chemical environment, and both of Xe and Cs are favorable to substitute for U or Si sites. The diffusions of Xe and Cs in U3Si2 are predicted to be via the vacancy mechanism and both of Xe and Cs form cluster easily. As compared with Cs, the Xe exhibits a smaller solubility, faster diffusion as well as stronger clustering tendency, which may cause larger bubble size for Xe than Cs under the same conditions in U3Si2. The differences in the diffusion behaviors between Xe and Cs mainly result from their different valence electronic configurations and different atomic radii.
Radiological impact of the atomic centre Centro Atómico Ezeiza on humans and non-human biota
Authors: Amado Valeria A
Published: February 2022

This work aimed to estimate the radiation doses to humans and non-human biota arising from the operation of the atomic centre Centro Atómico Ezeiza (CAE), Buenos Aires, Argentina. To this end, atmospheric and liquid average discharges for the period 2014–2016, corresponding to all the facilities of the CAE in normal operation were considered. The PC-CREAM 08 and CROM8 codes were applied taking into account local characteristics and reference values. The radiation doses to both humans and non-human biota estimated were considerably lower than the values recommended to protect people and the environment. Thus, it is possible to conclude that both the environment and the human population near the CAE are extremely unlikely to experience any harmful radiological effects caused by the operation of this atomic centre.
A novel arrhythmia classification of electrocardiogram signal based on modified HRNet and ECA
Authors: Hua Jing , Li Xingxiu , Liu Jizhong , Tang Jianjun , Rao Jue , Deng Hong
Published: February 2022

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals have been widely used to detect cardiac arrhythmia. Visual inspection is not only time consuming, but also may lead to misdiagnosis and affect the prevention or treatment of the disease. Therefore, automatic diagnosis which can greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosis is needed to assist doctors with arrhythmia diagnosis. Due to its capacity for high resolution, HRNet has attracted extensive attention for classification in recent years. However, HRNet is only designed for two-dimensional images, and thus is not suitable for ECG signal classification. In this paper, we propose an arrhythmia classification scheme which is based on a modified HRNet and efficient channel attention (ECA) to classify five arrhythmia types. The proposed scheme first divides the original ECG signal into 5 s segments of 1800 sampling points. Then, the segments are fed into the improved HRNet network for automatic learning and classification. Extensive simulations have been performed on the MIT-BIH database to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Experimental results have shown that the proposed scheme achieves an average accuracy of 99.86%, which is superior to the benchmarking methods.