bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Phase Stability of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites
Authors: Tai Meiqian , Lau Cho Fai Jonathan , Lin Hong , Wang Zhiping
Published: October 2020

Cesium lead halide (CsPbX3) perovskite solar cells have gained considerable attention for their rapid evolution to over 19% power conversion efficiency. Despite high chemical stability, the spontaneous phase transition from desired black phase to nonperovskite yellow phase after long‐time storage or under attack of extrinsic factors significantly hinders their development and application. This review summarizes the current advances in recognizing phase transition behaviors of cesium lead halides, especially cesium lead tri‐iodide, and addressing phase instability issues. Advancing strategies that are used for phase stabilization, including compositional engineering, grain size reduction, modification of surface termination, and strain engineering, are highlighted as well as their present limitations. Also, existing scientific debates on phase transition and stability, origin of these arguments, and possible solutions are presented and discussed. Finally, some potential avenues for further enhancing stability of cesium lead halides are proposed based on current understandings.
OPE of Green functions of chiral currents
Authors: Kadavý Tomáš , Kampf Karol , Novotný Jiří
Published: October 2020

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the high-energy behavior of two-point and three-point Green functions of the QCD chiral currents and densities using the framework of the operator product expansion in the chiral limit. In detail, we study the contributions of the quark, gluon, quark-gluon and four-quark condensates to all the relevant non-vanishing three-point correlators.
Covariant phase space with boundaries
Authors: Harlow Daniel , Wu Jie-qiang
Published: October 2020

Abstract

The covariant phase space method of Iyer, Lee, Wald, and Zoupas gives an elegant way to understand the Hamiltonian dynamics of Lagrangian field theories without breaking covariance. The original literature however does not systematically treat total derivatives and boundary terms, which has led to some confusion about how exactly to apply the formalism in the presence of boundaries. In particular the original construction of the canonical Hamiltonian relies on the assumed existence of a certain boundary quantity “B”, whose physical interpretation has not been clear. We here give an algorithmic procedure for applying the covariant phase space formalism to field theories with spatial boundaries, from which the term in the Hamiltonian involving B emerges naturally. Our procedure also produces an additional boundary term, which was not present in the original literature and which so far has only appeared implicitly in specific examples, and which is already nonvanishing even in general relativity with sufficiently permissive boundary conditions. The only requirement we impose is that at solutions of the equations of motion the action is stationary modulo future/past boundary terms under arbitrary variations obeying the spatial boundary conditions; from this the symplectic structure and the Hamiltonian for any diffeomorphism that preserves the theory are unambiguously constructed. We show in examples that the Hamiltonian so constructed agrees with previous results. We also show that the Poisson bracket on covariant phase space directly coincides with the Peierls bracket, without any need for non-covariant intermediate steps, and we discuss possible implications for the entropy of dynamical black hole horizons.
Mental health consequences of urban air pollution: prospective population-based longitudinal survey
Authors: Bakolis Ioannis , Hammoud Ryan , Stewart Robert , Beevers Sean , Dajnak David , MacCrimmon Shirlee , Broadbent Matthew , Pritchard Megan , Shiode Narushige , Fecht Daniela , Gulliver John , Hotopf Matthew , Hatch Stephani L. , Mudway Ian S.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently ranked air pollution as the major environmental cause of premature death. However, the significant potential health and societal costs of poor mental health in relation to air quality are not represented in the WHO report due to limited evidence. We aimed to test the hypothesis that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with poor mental health.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal population-based mental health survey was conducted of 1698 adults living in 1075 households in South East London, from 2008 to 2013. High-resolution quarterly average air pollution concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) and < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) were linked to the home addresses of the study participants. Associations with mental health were analysed with the use of multilevel generalised linear models, after adjusting for large number of confounders, including the individuals’ socioeconomic position and exposure to road-traffic noise.

Results

We found robust evidence for interquartile range increases in PM2.5, NOx and NO2 to be associated with 18–39% increased odds of common mental disorders, 19–30% increased odds of poor physical symptoms and 33% of psychotic experiences only for PM10. These longitudinal associations were more pronounced in the subset of non-movers for NO2 and NOx.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that traffic-related air pollution is adversely affecting mental health. Whilst causation cannot be proved, this work suggests substantial morbidity from mental disorders could be avoided with improved air quality.
Experimental investigation into material removal mechanisms in High Speed Wire EDM
Authors: Oßwald Kai , Brandl Lukas , Lochmahr Ingo
Published: October 2020

High Speed Wire EDM (HSWEDM) is characterized by high relative velocities between its electrodes which appear in almost no other field of electrical discharge machining (EDM). Also, it previously has been described as a hybrid process. Consequently, material removal mechanisms show significant differences compared with other EDM processes. In this research, single discharge craters of HSWEDM processes were examined, and their geometrical features were associated with the underlying parameters. Discharge crater geometries on the workpiece electrode (anode) could be investigated by measurements whilst those on the wire electrode (cathode) were calculated. Results show that the high wire velocity leads to moving foot points on both electrodes. Pulse duration and the type of working medium influence the generation of discharge craters and thus their geometry and the modes of material removal. Static discharges and anodic dissolution could also be identified as material removal mechanisms and characterized in their geometrical properties. However, they are of secondary importance.
Monte Carlo sampling processes and incentive compatible allocations in large economies
Authors: Hammond Peter J. , Qiao Lei , Sun Yeneng
Published: October 2020

Monte Carlo simulation is used in Hammond and Sun (Econ Theory 36:303–325, 2008. 10.1007/s00199-007-0279-7) to characterize a standard stochastic framework involving a continuum of random variables that are conditionally independent given macro shocks. This paper presents some general properties of such Monte Carlo sampling processes, including their one-way Fubini extension and regular conditional independence. In addition to the almost sure convergence of Monte Carlo simulation considered in Hammond and Sun (2008), here we also consider norm convergence when the random variables are square integrable. This leads to a necessary and sufficient condition for the classical law of large numbers to hold in a general Hilbert space. Applying this analysis to large economies with asymmetric information shows that the conflict between incentive compatibility and Pareto efficiency is resolved asymptotically for almost all sampling economies, following some similar results in McLean and Postlewaite (Econometrica 70:2421–2453, 2002) and Sun and Yannelis (J Econ Theory 134:175–194, 2007. 10.1016/j.jet.2006.03.001).
β-catenin signaling, the constitutive androstane receptor and their mutual interactions
Authors: Braeuning Albert , Pavek Petr
Published: October 2020

Aberrant signaling through β-catenin is an important determinant of tumorigenesis in rodents as well as in humans. In mice, xenobiotic activators of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a chemo-sensing nuclear receptor, promote liver tumor growth by means of a non-genotoxic mechanism and, under certain conditions, select for hepatocellular tumors which contain activated β-catenin. In normal hepatocytes, interactions of β-catenin and CAR have been demonstrated with respect to the induction of proliferation and drug metabolism-related gene expression. The molecular details of these interactions are still not well understood. Recently it has been hypothesized that CAR might activate β-catenin signaling, thus providing a possible explanation for some of the observed phenomena. Nonetheless, many aspects of the molecular interplay of the two regulators have still not been elucidated. This review briefly summarizes our current knowledge about the interplay of CAR and β-catenin. By taking into account data and observations obtained with different mouse models and employing different experimental approaches, it is shown that published data also contain substantial evidence that xenobiotic activators of CAR do not activate, or do even inhibit signaling through the β-catenin pathway. The review highlights new aspects of possible ways of interaction between the two signaling cascades and will help to stimulate scientific discussion about the crosstalk of β-catenin signaling and the nuclear receptor CAR.
Busulfan-cyclophosphamide versus cyclophosphamide-busulfan as conditioning regimen before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Seydoux Claire , Medinger Michael , Gerull Sabine , Halter Joerg , Heim Dominik , Chalandon Yves , Levrat Stavroula Masouridi , Schanz Urs , Nair Gayathri , Ansari Marc , Simon Patrick , Passweg Jakob R. , Cantoni Nathan
Published: October 2020

Busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy) is a frequently used myeloablative conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Theoretical considerations and pharmacological data indicate that application of busulfan prior to subsequent cyclophosphamide (BuCy) may trigger liver toxicity. Reversing the order of application to cyclophosphamide-busulfan (CyBu) might be preferable, a hypothesis supported by animal data and retrospective studies. We performed a prospective randomized trial to determine impact of order of application of Bu and Cy before allo-HCT in 70 patients with hematological malignancy, 33 patients received BuCy and 37 CyBu for conditioning. In the short term, there were minimal differences in liver toxicity favoring CyBu over BuCy, significant only for alanine amino transferase at day 30 (p = 0.03). With longer follow-up at 4 years, non-relapse mortality (6% versus 27%, p = 0.05) was lower and survival (63% versus 43%, p = 0.06) was higher with CyBu compared to BuCy. Other outcomes, such as engraftment (p = 0.21), acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (p = 0.40; 0.36), and relapse (p = 0.79), were similar in both groups. We prospectively show evidence that the order of application of Cy and Bu in myeloablative conditioning in allo-HCT patients has impact on outcome.
Individual cognitive changes in subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease using the reliable change index methodology
Authors: Rosas Anna Garcia , Stögmann Elisabeth , Lehrner Johann
Published: October 2020

Objective

The development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be assessed using the neuropsychological test battery Vienna (NTBV). The objective of this study was to investigate whether the NTBV test scores of a diagnostic group have changed significantly over time and whether this change is due to disease progression.

Methods

In this study 358 patients referred to a memory outpatient clinic because of cognitive deterioration were analyzed. The same patients were surveyed in a follow-up assessment after a mean interval of 25.96 months to examine cognitive performance and disease progression. Patients were divided into the subgroups healthy controls (HC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD on the basis of the test results. Reliable change index methodology was used to assess improvement or deterioration in test scores in diagnostic groups compared to HC.

Results

Deterioration in the SCD group ranged from 0% to 18.8%. The MCI group showed declines between 1.6% and 29.1%. Patients who developed AD deteriorated between 0% and 54.2%. Improvements ranged from 0% to 73.4% in the SCD group and from 0% to 25.1% for the MCI group. The improvement in the AD group ranged between 0% and 44.0%.

Conclusion

The results reflect the cognitive deterioration of patients during the disease progression. Nevertheless, improvements in diagnostic groups could be detected. The significantly positive changes might be due to practice effects, also a lack of motivation or attention in the first test could have yielded “improvement” in the retest.
Clinical efficacy of an antibody-based detection system for human papilloma virus infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Blatt Sebastian , Pabst Andreas , Zimmer Stefanie , Walter Christian , Al-Nawas Bilal , Krüger Maximilian
Published: October 2020

Objectives

There is an increasing number of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) associated with HPV-16. However, p16 expression by immunohistochemistry as the current gold standard for a surrogate marker for virus infection reveals unsatisfying diagnostic accuracy. The aim of this study was to investigate a new rapid test for L1 antibody detection (Prevocheck®) and to validate its diagnostic performance.

Materials and methods

In a prospective study, the HPV 16 association of all consecutive patients with an OSCC treated between 2015 and 2019 were analyzed by L1 seropositivity (via PrevoCheck®), p16 immunostaining, and partly multiplex PCR for subtype analysis.

Results

Overall (n= 107), p16 expression was positive in 17 cases (15.9%), and L1 antibody seropositivity in 7 cases (6.5%). In PCR analysis, two cases of HPV35 and 50 were found. Total HPV prevalence was 8.4% overall and 6.5% for HPV-16. An inferior diagnostic accuracy for HPV-16-associated OSCC in comparison to PrevoCheck® was revealed.

Conclusion

The rapid test for L1 antibodies showed an optimal sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 100%. However, HPV prevalence seems low in OSCC.

Clinical relevance

L1 rapid test may represent an additional diagnostic staging method to detect HPV-16 association rather than p16 immunohistochemistry.
Underscreening and undertreatment? Periodontal service provision in very old Germans
Authors: Krois Joachim , Krasowski Aleksander , Rossi Jesus Gomez , Paris Sebastian , Kuhlmey Adelheid , Meyer-Lückel Hendrik , Schwendicke Falk
Published: October 2020

Objectives

We aimed to assess periodontal services utilization in very old Germans.

Methods

A comprehensive sample of very old (≥ 75 years), insured at a large Northeastern statutory insurer was followed over 6 years (2012–2017). We assessed periodontal service provision, entailing (1) periodontal screening index (PSI), (2) periodontal status/treatment planning, (3) periodontal therapy (scaling and root planning with or without access surgery), (4) postoperative reevaluation, and (5) any of these four services groups. Association of utilization with (1) sex, (2) age, (3) region, (4) social hardship status, (5) ICD-10 diagnoses, and (6) diagnoses-related groups was explored.

Results

404.610 individuals were followed; 173,733 did not survive follow-up. The mean (SD) age was 81.9 (5.4) years. 29.4% (119,103 individuals) utilized any periodontal service, nearly all of them the PSI. Periodontal status/treatment planning, treatment provision, and reevaluation were provided to only a small fraction (1.54–1.57%, or 6224–6345) of individuals. The utilization of the PSI increased between 2012 and 2017; no such increase was observed for treatment-related services. Utilization decreased with age; those aged > 85 years received nearly no services at all. Decreases were more pronounced for treatment-related services. Utilization was lower in rural than urban areas, those with hardship status, and those severely ill (e.g., dementia, heart insufficiency). In multivariable analysis, a previous PSI measurement tripled the odds of receiving treatment-related services (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 3.0-3.4).

Conclusions

Periodontal services utilization was low. Screening for periodontal disease significantly increased therapy provision. Social, demographic, regional, and general health aspects were associated with utilization.

Clinical significance

The utilization of periodontal services in the very old in Northeast Germany was low, and even screening was only performed in a minority of individuals. Policies to increase identification and management of periodontitis especially in the most vulnerable individuals are needed.
First-order agent-based models of emergent behaviour of Dictyostelium discoideum and their inspiration for swarm robotics
Authors: Parhizkar Mohammad , Di Marzo Serugendo Giovanna , Nitschke Jahn , Hellequin Louis , Wade Assane , Soldati Thierry
Published: October 2020

Collective behaviour in nature provides a source of inspiration to engineer artificial collective adaptive systems, due to their mechanisms favouring adaptation to environmental changes and enabling complex emergent behaviour to arise from a relatively simple behaviour of individual entities. As part of our ongoing research, we study the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum to derive agent-based models and mechanisms that we can then exploit in artificial systems, in particular in swarm robotics. In this paper, we present a selection of agent-based models of the aggregation phase of D. discoideum, their corresponding biological illustrations and how we used them as an inspiration for transposing this behaviour into swarms of Kilobots. We focus on the stream-breaking phenomenon occurring during the aggregation phase of the life cycle of D. discoideum. Results show that the breakup of aggregation streams depends on cell density, motility, motive force and the concentration of cAMP and CF. The breakup also comes with the appearance of late centres. Our computational results show similar behaviour to our biological experiments, using Ax2(ka) strain. For swarm robotics experiments, we focus on signalling and aggregation towards a centre.
Eye movements to absent objects during mental imagery and visual memory in immersive virtual reality
Authors: Chiquet Sandra , Martarelli Corinna S. , Mast Fred W.
Published: October 2020

The role of eye movements in mental imagery and visual memory is typically investigated by presenting stimuli or scenes on a two-dimensional (2D) computer screen. When questioned about objects that had previously been presented on-screen, people gaze back to the location of the stimuli, even though those regions are blank during retrieval. It remains unclear whether this behavior is limited to a highly controlled experimental setting using 2D screens or whether it also occurs in a more naturalistic setting. The present study aims to overcome this shortcoming. Three-dimensional (3D) objects were presented along a circular path in an immersive virtual room. During retrieval, participants were given two tasks: to visualize the objects, which they had encoded before, and to evaluate a statement about visual details of the object. We observed longer fixation duration in the area, on which the object was previously displayed, when compared to other possible target locations. However, in 89% of the time, participants fixated none of the predefined areas. On the one hand, this shows that looking at nothing may be overestimated in 2D screen-based paradigm, on the other hand, the looking at nothing effect was still present in the 3D immersive virtual reality setting, and thus it extends external validity of previous findings. Eye movements during retrieval reinstate spatial information of previously inspected stimuli.
Distribution of erosions in hands and feet at the time for the diagnosis of RA and during 8-year follow-up
Authors: Andersson Maria L. , Svensson B. , Forslind K.
Published: October 2020

Background

Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually evaluated by radiographs of both hands and feet, while the inflammatory status mostly is evaluated by DAS28 which, however, does not include the feet.

Objectives

To investigate the distribution of erosions in hands and feet in early RA over 8 years and its potential clinical implications. Furthermore, the group of patients never showing erosions has been addressed.

Methods

This study comprises 1041 patients from the BARFOT study of patients with early RA. Radiographs of hands and feet were performed at baseline, 1, 2, 5, and 8 years and evaluated by the Sharp van der Heijde scoring (SHS) method (32 joints in the hands and 12 in the feet). Disease activity was measured by DAS28, SR, CRP, and function with HAQ.

Results

In the feet, there were significantly more eroded joints in percent of examined joints than in the hands at all time points. Patients with erosions only in the feet were younger, more often seropositive and smokers. They had significantly lower baseline DAS28, than the patients with erosions only in the hands. The patients without erosions over time were, at diagnosis, significantly younger and less frequently seropositive compared with patients having erosions.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA, both with clinical examinations and with imaging and lends support to the notion that seropositivity and smoking are risk factors for erosive disease. Further studies of patients with nonerosive disease are needed.

Key Points:• Foot problems are common in RA• This study emphasizes the limitations of DAS28 and Sharp van der Heijde score as regards evaluating disease activity and radiographic damage• This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA with clinical examinations and imaging• This study also points out the need of further studies of patients with non-erosive RA.
Beiräte als Instrument einer Ernährungswende – Die Etablierung von Ernährungsräten
in Deutschland
Authors: Sieveking Annelie , Schomerus Thomas
Published: October 2020

Deutschlandweit sind Ernährungsräte im Kommen. Diese im angelsächsischen Raum als
“food policy councils” bekannten Gremien sind überwiegend zivilgesellschaftlich initiiert
und versuchen z.B. durch Öffentlichkeitsarbeit oder Forderungen an Politik und Verwaltung eine Ernährungswende
voranzubringen. Der Beitrag untersucht die Möglichkeiten einer stärkeren rechtlichen Verankerung
dieser Gremien.
miR-491-3p is Downregulated in Retinoblastoma and Inhibit Tumor Cells Growth and Metastasis by Targeting SNN
Authors: Hu Yang , Zhao Ming , Li Li , Ding Jie , Gui Yu-Min , Wei Tan-Wei
Published: October 2020

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common pediatric malignant tumor of the eyes. Previous studies demonstrated that miR-491-3p is downregulated in various cancers. However, its function in Rb remains unknown. A total of 15 pairs of primary Rb tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression profiles of miR-491-3p. qRT-PCR, western blotting and in situ immunocytochemistry were performed to investigate the expression profiles of epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related proteins (E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin) in Rb tissues and Rb cell lines as well as cell morphology. Cell proliferation was estimated by MTS and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was determined by FACS, cell migration and invasion were analyzed using transwell chambers. MiR-491-3p’s target genes were predicted using target gene prediction databases. The interplay between miR-491-3p and SNN was evaluated through dual luciferase reporter gene assay. MiR-491-3p was significantly downregulated in mixed collection of 15 pairs of Rb tissues and Rb cell lines. Overexpression of miR-491-3p enhanced apoptosis, and significantly suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of Rb cells. In contrast, the present of miR-491-3p inhibitor showed reversed results which apoptosis decreased, while cell proliferation of ARPE-19 cells increased. In addition, miR-491-3p increased the expression of E-cadherin, and dramatically decreased the expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin in Rb tissues and Rb cell lines, noticeable changes in morphology, too, as cells became less cohesive and more adhering. We found out that SNN was the pairing target of miR-491-3p and result showed that miR-491-3p and SNN interacted with each other. We also found out that the effects of miR-491-3p were in Rb cells were almost entirely canceled out at the overexpression of SNN. Our findings collectively suggest that miR-491-3p is an important tumor suppressor in Rb, which inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in Rb. These implicate it may be explored as a new therapeutic target in Rb.
From Pandemic to Progression: An Educational Framework for the Implementation of Virtual Mental Healthcare for Children and Youth as a Response to COVID-19
Authors: Doan Bridget T. , Yang Yue Bo , Romanchych Erin , Grewal Seena , Monga Suneeta , Pignatiello Tony , Bryden Pier , Kulkarni Chetana
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 restrictions have necessitated child/youth mental health providers to shift towards virtually delivering services to patients’ homes rather than hospitals and community mental health clinics. There is scant guidance available for clinicians on how to address unique considerations for the virtual mental healthcare of children and youth as clinicians rapidly shift their practices away from in-person care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we bridge this gap by discussing a six-pillar framework developed at Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for delivering direct to patient virtual mental healthcare to children, youth and their families. We also offer a discussion of the advantages, disadvantages, and future implications of such services.
A fusion of salient and convolutional features applying healthy templates for MRI brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Takács Petra , Kovács Levente , Manno-Kovacs Andrea
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes an improved brain tumor segmentation method based on visual saliency features on MRI image volumes. The proposed method introduces a novel combination of multiple MRI modalities used as pseudo-color channels for highlighting the potential tumors. The novel pseudo-color model incorporates healthy templates generated from the MRI slices without tumors. The constructed healthy templates are also used during the training of neural network models. Based on a saliency map built using the pseudo-color templates, combination models are proposed, fusing the saliency map with convolutional neural networks’ prediction maps to improve predictions and to reduce the networks’ eventual overfitting which may result in weaker predictions for previously unseen cases. By introducing the combination technique for deep learning techniques and saliency-based, handcrafted feature models, the fusion approach shows good abstraction capabilities and it is able to handle diverse cases that the networks were less trained for. The proposed methods were tested on the BRATS2015 and BRATS2018 databases, and the quantitative results show that hybrid models (including both trained and handcrafted features) can be promising alternatives for reaching higher segmentation performance. Moreover, healthy templates can provide additional information for the training process, enhancing the prediction performance of neural network models.
Transformation of silver nanoparticles released from skin cream and mouth spray in artificial sweat and saliva solutions: particle size, dissolution, and surface area
Authors: Hedberg Jonas , Eriksson Madeleine , Kesraoui Amina , Norén Alexander , Odnevall Wallinder Inger
Published: October 2020

The use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in consumer products can result in diffuse environmental dispersion of both NPs and ionic silver. This study investigated the transformation of Ag NPs present in two consumer products (skin cream, mouth spray) in terms of release of Ag NPs and ionic silver and changes in particle size in artificial sweat and saliva solutions. Large differences in silver release were observed with the smaller sized Ag NPs in mouth spray releasing more silver compared with the Ag NPs of the skin cream. Substantial particle agglomeration took place in both artificial sweat and saliva, forming large-sized agglomerates (> 100 nm). The amount of dissolved silver in solution after 24 h was less than 10% of the total amount of Ag NPs for both products. The results show that the Ag NPs of these consumer products will largely remain as NPs even after 24 h of skin or saliva contact. The use of normalization by geometric surface area of the particles was tested as a way to compare dissolution for Ag NPs of different characteristics, including pristine, bare, as well as PVP-capped Ag NPs. Normalization of silver dissolution with the geometric surface area was shown promising, but more extensive studies are required to unambiguously conclude whether it is a way forward to enable grouping of the dissolution behavior of Ag NPs released from consumer products.
Triclosan exposure and in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization
Authors: Radwan Paweł , Wielgomas Bartosz , Radwan Michał , Krasiński Rafał , Klimowska Anna , Zajdel Radosław , Kaleta Dorota , Jurewicz Joanna
Published: October 2020

Triclosan (TCS) is a widespread environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical. Animal and in vitro studies suggested that triclosan may affect homesostasis of sex and thyroid hormones and impact on reproduction. Due to limited data derived from human epidemiological studies, this study was performed to examine the association between urinary concentration of triclosan and in vitro reproductive outcomes (methaphase II (MII) oocyte yield, top quality embryo, fertilization rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy) among women from infertility clinic. The study participants were enrolled in an Infertility Center in Poland. A total of 450 women aged 25–45 (n = 674 IVF cycles) provided urine samples. The urinary concentrations of triclosan were evaluated using validated gas chromatography ion-tap mass spectrometry method. Clinical outcomes of IVF treatment were abstracted from patients electronic chart records. Triclosan was detected in urine of 82% of women with geometric mean 2.56 ± 6.13 ng/mL. Urinary concentrations of triclosan were associated with decrease implantation rate (p = 0.03). There were no association between other examined IVF outcomes: MII oocytes, embryo quality, fertilization rate, and exposure to triclosan. As this is one of the first study on this topic, studies among larger and more diverse population are needed to confirm the results.
Teaching with digital technology
Authors: Clark-Wilson Alison , Robutti Ornella , Thomas Mike
Published: October 2020

In this survey paper, we describe the state of the field of research on teaching mathematics with technology with an emphasis on the secondary school phase. We synthesize themes, questions, results and perspectives emphasized in the articles that appear in this issue alongside the relevant foundations of these ideas within the key journal articles, handbooks and conference papers. Our aim is to give an overview of the field that provides opportunities for readers to gain deeper insights into theoretical, methodological, practical and societal challenges that concern teaching mathematics with technology in its broadest sense. Although this collection of articles was developed prior to the global coronavirus pandemic, we have taken the opportunity to survey the contributing authors to provide some country perspectives on the impact the pandemic has had on mathematics teaching with technology in the period January–July 2020. We conclude the survey paper by identifying some areas for future research in this increasingly relevant topic.
User-centered approach for design and development of industrial workplace
Authors: Panariello Dario , Grazioso Stanislao , Caporaso Teodorico , Di Gironimo Giuseppe , Lanzotti Antonio
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we propose a user-centered approach for the design of ergonomic workplaces. The method is based on the evaluation of subjective opinions and objective measures from the worker, while performing the industrial tasks. The ergonomic design of industrial workplaces will have impact in reducing the musculoskeletal disorders of workers.
A graph-based approach and an interactive tool for preliminary digital prototyping
Authors: Vitolo Ferdinando , Patalano Stanislao , Lanzotti Antonio
Published: October 2020

Design process is usually based on past experiences and best practises which compose the company know-how. The challenge is to identify common patterns in the design solutions generated for different design problems. The present paper focuses on the identification of product patterns by using a graph-based approach. It deals with the designing of automotive gearboxes and with the development of an approach and a software tool aimed to support preliminary design and CAD modelling activities in gearbox designing. The approach is applied to two different architectures of manual transverse gearboxes characterized by two and three shafts. It aims at the identification of common design features through the detection of the directed graphs matching. A Matlab software tool for gearbox preliminary design is implemented according to the detected common features. The proposed approach and the developed software tool provide an effective way to keep and re-use company know-how, especially in the context of large automotive companies.
Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions
Authors: Cappai Maria Grazia , Taras Andrea , Cossu Ignazio , Cherchi Raffaele , Dimauro Corrado , Accioni Francesca , Boatto Gianpiero , Deroma Mario , Spanu Emanuela , Gatta Domenico , Dall’Aglio Cecilia , Pinna Walter
Published: October 2020

Trace element status and metabolic milieu are sometimes overlooked in common veterinary clinical practice across animal species. The evaluation of requirements of trace elements, in fact, may be useful to prevent the perturbation of tissue-specific metabolic impair. In particular, essential trace elements in the diet play key roles within sub-cellular metabolic patterns with macro effects at the systemic level, like blood cell stability and semen quality. This effect was studied in breeding stallions, in which semen quality and haemogram are important for reproduction. A case-control feeding trial involved 40 stallions (age: 8–21 years; body weight, BW: 510–531 kg) of one stud centre, allotted to two experimental groups (n = 20 control, CON vs.n = 20 supplemented, SUPPL100), following a matched-pairs approach based on age. Supplemented stallions (SUPPL100) received a mixed mineral and vitamin supplement of Zn/Se and α-tocopherol (α-TOH) (100 g/day stallion) to compound feed, fed as control diet to horses of the control group (CON). Horses resulted deficient in circulating α-TOH and Zn at the start, though clinically healthy. After supplementation, different plasmatic levels of α-TOH, Zn and Se were found between groups. Circulating basophils (BASO) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were affected by the dietary treatment (p < 0.05). Plasmatic Se affected monocyte count, haematocrit, mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin concentration. Semen traits were not affected by the dietary treatment per se, except for mobile/progressive sperm cells (%) of stallions aged > 13 years marginal circulating levels of α-TOH (p = 0.04). Ameliorating the micromineral status showed to improve the haemogram of stallions in view of circulating levels of Cu. Semen quality appeared to be strongly dependent on animal effects.
Alcohol intoxication resistance and alcohol dehydrogenase levels differ between the honeybee castes
Authors: Miler Krzysztof , Stec Daniel , Kamińska Alicja , Pardyak Laura , Kuszewska Karolina
Published: October 2020

Various animal models are used in the study of alcoholism, with the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) among them. Here, we tested the hypothesis that foragers show higher intoxication resistance to alcohol than nurses, an issue thus far not investigated. To this end, we measured the latency to full sedation when exposed to alcohol in foragers, nurses and reverted nurses. In addition, we measured alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) levels in these worker castes. Caste status was confirmed by comparison of the size of their hypopharyngeal glands. We detected high intoxication resistance to alcohol and presence of ADH in foragers. In nurses, we detected significantly lower intoxication resistance to alcohol and no ADH. These between-caste differences cannot be explained by the age difference between castes as in reverted nurses, characterized by similar age to foragers, we detected an intermediate intoxication resistance to alcohol and no ADH. Our results suggest possible natural exposure to alcohol in different castes of workers. As such, we further develop the honeybee as a model in alcoholism-related research and open new research avenues.
Mechanical Properties and Impact Toughness of Molybdenum Alloyed Ductile Iron
Authors: Franzen D. , Pustal B. , Bührig-Polaczek A.
Published: October 2020

Grades of high silicon ductile iron offer excellent combinations of static strength and ductility as well as good machinability due to their fully ferritic, solution strengthened matrix. As a result of elevated silicon contents, however, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in the Charpy impact test is significantly increased. Thus, minimum required Charpy impact energies cannot be met for many applications by using high silicon ductile iron. Therefore, alloys with lower strength and higher toughness properties are commonly used for many technical applications. The enormous lightweight construction potential of high silicon ductile iron can therefore not be fully exploited. The present investigation pursues the metallurgical approach of partially substituting silicon with molybdenum as an alternative strengthening element in order to improve the toughness properties while maintaining similar static mechanical properties. Molybdenum serves as a carbide-stabilising element in ductile iron, while simultaneously promoting ferrite formation and is therefore regarded to be suitable alloying element. In Charpy impact tests, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature could be reduced by about 55 °C by reducing the silicon content to 2.95 wt% and adding 0.21 wt% molybdenum compared to a high silicon alloy. Additionally, it was possible to mathematically describe the transition behaviour of the studied alloys using nonlinear regression functions and to achieve a sufficient correlation of empirically determined and calculated data. This present metallurgical concept offers a promising metallurgical tool for further improving the toughness properties of alloyed ductile iron.
New Technique for Magnetic Compression Anastomosis Without Incision for Gastrointestinal Obstruction
Authors: Kamada Teppei , Ohdaira Hironori , Takeuchi Hideyuki , Takahashi Junji , Ito Eisaku , Suzuki Norihiko , Narihiro Satoshi , Yoshida Masashi , Yamanouchi Eigoro , Suzuki Yutaka
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:

Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) is a novel technique of anastomosis similar to that with surgery, but in a minimally invasive manner. Few reports are available on the utility and feasibility of MCA for gastrointestinal anastomosis without requiring general anesthesia in humans, owing to the difficulty of delivering magnets. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of MCA in gastrointestinal obstruction without requiring general anesthesia.

STUDY DESIGN:

In this retrospective single-center study, patients who underwent MCA from January 2013 to October 2019 were included. Adult patients with gastrointestinal obstruction or stenosis, irrespective of the underlying disease, with severe comorbidities, complicated abdominal surgical history, or postoperative complications, and who were unable to tolerate surgery, were eligible for inclusion. Two magnets were delivered by a combination of endoscopic and fluoroscopic procedures and placed in the lumen of the organ to be anastomosed. The main outcome was the technical success of MCA.

RESULTS:

Fourteen patients underwent MCA, and the technical success of MCA was achieved in 100% of the cases. The mean procedural time, duration for anastomosis formation, and postoperative hospital stay were 44 minutes, 13 days, and 36 days, respectively. Two patients underwent anastomotic restenosis, and 1 patient had an anastomotic perforation due to balloon dilatation to prevent restenosis. The mean follow-up period was 34 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

MCA without general anesthesia for gastrointestinal anastomosis is safe, useful, and feasible. MCA can be a valuable alternative to surgery in gastrointestinal obstruction.
Aristotle on Ontological Priority in the Categories
Authors: Edelhoff Ana Laura
Published: October 2020

The main objective of this Element is to reconstruct Aristotle's view on the nature of ontological priority in the Categories. Over the last three decades, investigations into ontological dependence and priority have become a major concern in contemporary metaphysics. Many see Aristotle as the originator of these discussions and, as a consequence, there is considerable interest in his own account of ontological dependence. In light of the renewed interest in Aristotelian metaphysics, it will be worthwhile - both historically and systematically - to return to Aristotle himself and to see how he himself conceived of ontological priority (what he calls 'priority in substance' [proteron kata ousian] or 'priority in nature' [proteron tēi phusei]), which is to be understood as a form of asymmetric ontological dependence.
Limits of geodesic push-forwards of horocycle invariant measures
Authors: FORNI GIOVANNI
Published: October 2020

We prove several general conditional convergence results on ergodic averages for horocycle and geodesic subgroups of any continuous

$\operatorname {SL}(2, \mathbb {R})$
-action on a locally compact space. These results are motivated by theorems of Eskin, Mirzakhani and Mohammadi on the

$\operatorname {SL}(2, \mathbb {R})$
-action on the moduli space of Abelian differentials. By our argument we can derive from these theorems an improved version of the ‘weak convergence’ of push-forwards of horocycle measures under the geodesic flow and a short proof of weaker versions of theorems of Chaika and Eskin on Birkhoff genericity and Oseledets regularity in almost all directions for the Teichmüller geodesic flow.
THE COMPLEXITY OF SCOTT SENTENCES OF SCATTERED LINEAR ORDERS
Authors: ALVIR RACHAEL , ROSSEGGER DINO
Published: October 2020

We calculate the complexity of Scott sentences of scattered linear orders. Given a countable scattered linear order L of Hausdorff rank
$\alpha $
we show that it has a
${d\text {-}\Sigma _{2\alpha +1}}$
Scott sentence. It follows from results of Ash [2] that for every countable
$\alpha $
there is a linear order whose optimal Scott sentence has this complexity. Therefore, our bounds are tight. We furthermore show that every Hausdorff rank 1 linear order has an optimal
${\Pi ^{\mathrm {c}}_{3}}$
or
${d\text {-}\Sigma ^{\mathrm {c}}_{3}}$
Scott sentence and give a characterization of those linear orders of rank
$1$
with
${\Pi ^{\mathrm {c}}_{3}}$
optimal Scott sentences. At last we show that for all countable
$\alpha $
the class of Hausdorff rank
$\alpha $
linear orders is
$\boldsymbol {\Sigma }_{2\alpha +2}$
complete and obtain analogous results for index sets of computable linear orders.
ON THE OPTIMAL EXTENSION THEOREM AND A QUESTION OF OHSAWA
Authors: YAO SHA , LI ZHI , ZHOU XIANGYU
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we present a version of Guan-Zhou’s optimal
$L^{2}$
extension theorem and its application. As a main application, we show that under a natural condition, the question posed by Ohsawa in his series paper VIII on the extension of
$L^{2}$
holomorphic functions holds. We also give an explicit counterexample which shows that the question fails in general.
Life histories and niche dynamics in late Quaternary proboscideans from midwestern North America
Authors: Widga Chris , Hodgins Greg , Kolis Kayla , Lengyel Stacey , Saunders Jeff , Walker J. Douglas , Wanamaker Alan D.
Published: October 2020

Stable isotopes of mammoths and mastodons have the potential to illuminate ecological changes in late Pleistocene landscapes and megafaunal populations as these species approached extinction. The ecological factors at play in this extinction remain unresolved, but isotopes of bone collagen (δ13C, δ15N) and tooth enamel (δ13C, δ18O,87Sr/86Sr) from midwestern North America are leveraged to examine ecological and behavioral changes that occurred during the last interglacial-glacial cycle. Both species had significant C3 contributions to their diets and experienced increasing levels of niche overlap as they approached extinction. A subset of mastodons after the last glacial maximum exhibit low δ15N values that may represent expansion into a novel ecological niche, perhaps densely occupied by other herbivores. Stable isotopes from serial and microsampled enamel show increasing seasonality and decreasing temperatures as mammoths transitioned from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e to glacial conditions (MIS 4, MIS 3, MIS 2). Isotopic variability in enamel suggests mobility patterns and life histories have potentially large impacts on the interpretation of their stable isotope ecology. This study further refines the ecology of midwestern mammoths and mastodons demonstrating increasing seasonality and niche overlap as they responded to landscape changes in the final millennia before extinction.