bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An experimental study on the properties changing in recyclable fiber‐reinforced 3D printing
Authors: Wei Wei , Chen Ling , Zhang Lijing , Yang Jinxiu , Yao Yuan , Zhang Heng
Published: June 2022

Continuous fiber‐reinforced composites 3D printing can significantly improve strength but make materialize recycling more difficult. This study explores the feasibility of recycling and remanufacturing in practical applications by simulating the change in mechanical properties during outdoor aging of continuous aramid fiber‐reinforced 3D printed parts. First, a Fermat's Spiral based globally continuous path was used to fabricate recyclable fiber‐reinforced prints. Then, the continuous aramid fiber‐reinforced PLA (CF/PLA) composites were recycled from the printed parts and re‐impregnated in the subsequent production. Finally, the CF/PLA composite specimens were exposed to UV irradiation and moisture cycling in an aging test chamber, and the aging process of the whole experiment lasted for 516 h. It was found that for the first recycled and remanufactured specimens, the tensile strength was 204 MPa, which was higher than that of the originally printed specimens (196 MPa), and the flexural strength and modulus were 159 MPa and 6.4 GPa, higher than those of original specimens, which were 141 MPa and 5.6 GPa, an increase of 12.77% and 14.29%, respectively. For the specimens aged 172, 344, and 516 h, the tensile strength increased by 4.32%, 3.60%, and 17.36%, respectively after recycling and remanufacturing. The reduction rate of the tensile strength of the remanufactured specimens was 15.3% lower than that of the raw materials in the aging process. Our experiments estimated the change in properties of remanufactured specimens from recycled fiber‐reinforced materials after natural aging, demonstrating the feasibility of the manufacturing process for recycled fiber‐reinforced materials in practical applications.
Optimizing the capture of neophobic rice field rats in lowland Asian rice ecosystems
Authors: Lorica Renee P. , Stuart Alexander M. , Singleton Grant R. , Sudarmaji  , Belmain Steven R.
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND

Trapping is a key method for monitoring small mammals and is also one of a number of methods recommended under an ecologically‐based rodent management program to control rodent pest populations. Live‐traps are widely used globally for studying small mammal populations. In Asia where rodents are major pests of rice, single capture traps typically provide low trap success. We compared the trap success between two types of live‐traps in rice fields in Indonesia and the Philippines.

RESULTS

Multiple‐capture traps (MCTs) in conjunction with a linear trap barrier were significantly more effective in catching rodent pest species than single‐capture traps (SCTs) in Indonesia and the Philippines. In Indonesia, MCTs captured more individuals with a mean (±SE) percent trap success rate of (15.54 ± 4.29) compared to SCTs (3.88 ± 1.58). In the Philippines, MCTs captured more species of rodents and had a significantly higher recapture rate (1.96 ± 0.79), than SCTs (0.58 ± 0.32).

CONCLUSION

Multiple‐capture traps with a linear trap‐barrier were more effective for capturing Rattus argentiventer and Rattus tanezumi in rice field ecosystems compared to single‐capture traps. MCTs captured more species of rodent pests in the Philippines and recaptured more individuals of each species. These results indicate that rodent populations can be more effectively monitored and controlled by using a multi‐capture trap with barrier system than the use of single capture traps on their own. This is the first time these two trap types have been compared for use in rice ecosystems in Asia. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Caveolin‐1 associated with severe (pediatric‐onset) presentation of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Farrell Rachel , Colglazier Elizabeth , Parker Claire , Stevens Leah , Austin Eric D. , Fineman Jeffrey R.
Published: June 2022

There has been a growing interest in the role that genetic factors influence pediatric pulmonary vascular disease. In fact, data suggests that genetic factors contribute to ~42% of pediatric‐onset pulmonary hypertension. Although animal and human studies suggest that aberrations in Caveolin1 (CAV1) signaling participate in the development of pulmonary vascular disorders, limited reports of CAV1‐associated heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) exist. This is a case report of a 2‐year‐old female with late recognition of HPAH due to a CAV1 pathogenic variant: c.474del, (p.Leu159Serfs*22)(NM_001753.5). The pedigree demonstrates autosomal dominant transmission with reduced penetrance of PAH, suggestive that additional genetic or environmental factors modify PAH development. Genetic testing and the discovery of rare genetic alterations in PAH during infancy and childhood may aid in identifying disease etiologies, guide therapeutic decisions, and ultimately identify novel therapeutic targets. Moreover, CAV1 genetics implicate variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance for HPAH and underscores the utility of predictive genetic testing for unaffected family members no matter their age.
A simpler noninvasive method of predicting markedly elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Zhai Ya‐Nan , Li Ai‐Li , Tao Xin‐Cao , Xie Wan‐Mu , Gao Qian , Zhang Yu , Chen Ai‐Hong , Lei Jie‐Ping , Zhai Zhen‐Guo
Published: June 2022

Several echocardiographic methods to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) have been proposed. So far, most studies have focused on relatively low PVR in patients with a nonspecific type of pulmonary hypertension. We aimed to clarify the clinical usefulness of a new echocardiographic index for evaluating markedly elevated PVR in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We studied 127 CTEPH patients. We estimated the systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressure using echocardiography (sPAPEcho, mPAPEcho) and measured the left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole (LVIDd). sPAPEcho/LVIDd and mPAPEcho/LVIDd were then correlated with invasive PVR. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a cutoff value for the index was generated to identify patients with PVR > 1000 dyn·s·cm−5. We analyzed pre‐ and postoperative hemodynamics and echocardiographic data in 49 patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). In this study, mPAPEcho/LVIDd moderately correlated with PVR (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001). There was a better correlation between PVR and sPAPEcho/LVIDd (r = 0.61, p < 0.0001). sPAPEcho/LVIDd ≥ 1.94 had an 77.1% sensitivity and 75.4% specificity to determine PVR > 1000 dyn·s·cm−5 (area under curve = 0.804, p < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–0.90). DeLong's method showed there was a statistically significant difference between sPAPEcho/LVIDd with tricuspid regurgitation velocity2/velocity–time integral of the right ventricular outflow tract (difference between areas 0.14, 95% CI, 0.00–0.27). The sPAPEcho/LVIDd and mPAPEcho/LVIDd significantly decreased after PEA (both p < 0.0001). The sPAPEcho/LVIDd and mPAPEcho/LVIDd reduction rate (ΔsPAPEcho/LVIDd and ΔmPAPEcho/LVIDd) was significantly correlated with PVR reduction rate (ΔPVR), respectively (r = 0.58, p < 0.01; r = 0.69, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the index of sPAPEcho/LVIDd could be a simpler and reliable method in estimating CTEPH with markedly elevated PVR and also be a convenient method of estimating PVR both before and after PEA.
Statistical tests for two‐stage adaptive seamless design using short‐ and long‐term binary outcomes
Authors: Takahashi Kenichi , Ishii Ryota , Maruo Kazushi , Gosho Masahiko
Published: June 2022

The adaptive seamless design combining phases II and III into a single trial has been shown growing interest for improving the efficiency of drug development, becoming the most frequent adaptive design type. It typically consists of two stages, the trial objectives being often different in each stage. The primary objectives are to select optimal experimental treatment group(s) in the first stage and compare the efficacy between the selected treatment and control groups in the second stage. In this article, we focus on a two‐stage adaptive seamless design, for which treatment selection is based on the short‐term binary endpoint and treatment comparison is based on the long‐term binary endpoint. We thus propose an exact conditional test as a final analysis, based on the bivariate binomial distribution and given the selected treatment with the most promising short‐term endpoint response rate from an interim analysis. Additionally, the mid‐ approach is incorporated to improve conservativeness for an exact test. Simulation studies were conducted to compare the proposed methods with a method based on the combination test. The proposed exact method controlled for type I error rate at the nominal level, regardless of the number of initial treatments or the correlation between short‐ and long‐term endpoints. In terms of the treatment comparison power, the proposed methods are more powerful than that based on the combination test in the scenarios, with only one treatment being effective.
Wide‐Angle Tunable Critical Coupling in Nanophotonic Optical Coatings with Low‐Loss Phase Change Material
Authors: Sreekanth Kandammathe Valiyaveedu , Prabhathan Patinharekandy , Chaturvedi Apoorva , Lekina Yulia , Han Song , Zexiang Shen , Tong Teo Edwin Hang , Teng Jinghua , Singh Ranjan
Published: June 2022

Realizing perfect light absorption in stacked thin films of dielectrics and metals through critical light coupling has recently received intensive research attention. In addition, realizing ultra‐thin perfect absorber and tunable perfect absorber in the visible spectrum is essential for novel optoelectronics applications. However, the existing thin film stacks cannot show tunable perfect absorption in a wide‐angle range. Here, a tunable perfect absorption from normal incidence to a wide‐angle range (0° to 70°) by utilizing a two‐layer stack consisting of a high refractive index low‐loss dielectric on a high reflecting metal is proposed. This is experimentally demonstrated by depositing a thin layer of low‐loss phase change material such as stibnite (Sb2S3) on a thin layer of silver. This structure shows tunable perfect absorption with large spectral tunability in the visible wavelength. Furthermore, the absorption enhancement in 2D materials by transferring monolayer molybdenum disulfide on the stack, which shows 96% light absorption with enhanced photoluminescence, is demonstrated. In addition, the thin film stack can work as a scalable phase modulator offering a maximum phase tunability of ≈140° by changing the structural state of Sb2S3 from amorphous to crystalline.
Kyphosis (humpy back) in growing pigs
Authors: Thomson Jill , Wood Paul , Daniel Carola
Published: June 2022

This focus article has been prepared by Jill Thomson of SRUC Veterinary Services and Paul Wood and Carola Daniel of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
‘An engaging and often troubling picture of the world of animals‘
Authors: Loeb Josh
Published: June 2022

Reviewed by Josh Loeb, senior news reporter at Vet Record.
Mark James Obwolo
Authors: Kelly Donald , Hill Graham , Payne‐Johnson Catherine
Published: June 2022

A modest, kind and caring veterinarian.
A scoping review of randomized clinical trials for pain management in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy
Authors: Shih Michael C. , Long Barry D. , Pecha Phayvanh P. , White David R. , Liu Yi‐Chun C. , Brennan Emily , Nguyen Mariam I. , Clemmens Clarice S.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To examine the volume, topics, and reporting trends in the published literature of randomized clinical trials for pharmacologic pain management of pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy and to identify areas requiring further research.

Data Sources

PubMed (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health), Scopus (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Cochrane Library (Wiley).

Methods

A systematic search of four databases was conducted. Only randomized controlled or comparison trials examining pain improvement with a pharmacologic intervention in pediatric tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were included. Data collected included demographics, pain‐related outcomes, sedation scores, nausea/vomiting, postoperative bleeding, types of drug comparisons, modes of administration, timing of administration, and identities of the investigated drugs.

Results

One hundred and eighty‐nine studies were included for analysis. Most studies included validated pain scales, with the majority using visual‐assisted scales (49.21%). Fewer studies examined pain beyond 24 h postoperation (24.87%), and few studies included a validated sedation scale (12.17%). Studies have compared several different dimensions of pharmacologic treatment, including different drugs, timing of administration, modes of administration, and dosages. Only 23 (12.17%) studies examined medications administered postoperatively, and only 29 (15.34%) studies examined oral medications. Acetaminophen only had four self‐comparisons.

Conclusion

Our work provides the first scoping review of pain and pediatric tonsillectomy. With drug safety profiles considered, the literature does not have enough data to determine which treatment regimen provides superior pain control in pediatric tonsillectomy. Even common drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen require further research for optimizing the treatment of posttonsillectomy pain. The heterogeneity in study design and comparisons weakens the conclusions of potential systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. Future directions include more noninferiority studies of unique comparisons and more studies examining oral medications given postoperatively.
Comparison of cosmetic outcomes between remote‐access and conventional thyroidectomy: A review of the current literature
Authors: Kasouli Anna , Spartalis Eleftherios , Giannakodimos Alexios , Tsourouflis Gerasimos , Dimitroulis Dimitrios , Nikiteas Nikolaos I.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The pursuit of an esthetically pleasing scar following open thyroid surgery has led to the development of endoscopic thyroidectomy through remote incisions placed in several locations outside the neck. The objective of this study is to review the recent literature and compare the incision site appearance and patient satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome after extracervical and conventional thyroidectomy.

Methods

The English literature published since 2010 was searched through the PubMed/Medline database for studies comparing the cosmetic outcomes between remote‐access endoscopic and conventional thyroidectomy using a form of scar assessment scale.

Results

A total of 9 relevant papers fulfilled the eligibility criteria including 1486 patients. Among them, 595 patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy through several remote‐access approaches and 891 patients were assigned to the conventional group. Only one randomized‐controlled trial was identified, whereas among the rest, four were prospective and four were retrospective nonrandomized cohorts. Regarding the extracervical modifications performed in the endoscopic groups, the axillary approach was performed in three studies and the breast approach in four studies, while the retroauricular facelift technique and the transoral vestibular method were applied in one study, respectively.

Conclusions

Evaluation of the wound appearance and patient satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome at various time points during the follow‐up highlighted the superiority of the extracervical approaches over the conventional cervicotomy. Considering these findings, remote‐access techniques could possibly be the ideal surgical method for patients with high esthetic requirements, providing an excellent appearance of the thoroughly exposed neck.
Prairie grouse and wind energy: The state of the science and implications for risk assessment
Authors: Lloyd John D. , Aldridge Cameron L. , Allison Taber D. , LeBeau Chad W. , McNew Lance B. , Winder Virginia L.
Published: June 2022

How to shape the anticipated build‐out of industrial‐scale renewable energy in a way that minimizes risk to wildlife remains contentious. The challenge of balancing wildlife conservation and decarbonization of the electricity sector is well illustrated in the grasslands and shrub‐steppe of North America. Here, several endemic species of grouse are the focus of intensive, long‐term conservation action by a host of governmental and nongovernmental entities, many of whom are now asking whether anticipated increases in the number of wind‐energy facilities will exacerbate declines or prevent recovery of these species. To address this question, we synthesized the potential consequences of wind‐energy development on prairie grouse. Published literature on behavior or demography of prairie grouse at wind‐energy facilities is sparse, with studies having been conducted at only 5 different facilities in the United States. Only 2 of these studies met the standard for robust impact analysis by collecting pre‐construction data and using control sites or gradient designs. Only one species, greater prairie chicken, had published results available for >1 facility. Most (10/12) studies also drew conclusions based on short (<4 years) periods of study, which is potentially problematic when studying highly philopatric species. Given these caveats, we found that, in the short‐term, adult survival and nest success appear largely unaffected in populations exposed to wind‐energy facilities. However, changes in habitat use by female greater sage‐grouse and female greater prairie‐chicken during some seasons and reduced lek persistence among male greater prairie‐chickens near wind turbines suggest behavioral responses that may have demographic consequences. Prairie grouse can coexist with wind‐energy facilities in some cases, at least in the short term, but important uncertainties remain, including the potential for long‐term, cumulative effects of the extensive development expected as states attempt to meet goals for generating electricity from renewable sources.
A Binuclear Cobalt Complex in the Electrochemical Water Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Nestke Sebastian , Stubbe Jessica , Koehler Robert , Ronge Emanuel , Albold Uta , Vioel Wolfgang , Jooss Christian , Sarkar Biprajit , Siewert Inke
Published: June 2022

The water splitting reaction represents an appealing approach to store solar energy. The 4e−/4H+ oxidation of water generating O2 is considered as the bottleneck in this reaction and usually requires a rather large over potential. We report on the synthesis and application of a binuclear cobalt(III) complex, 1, with two μ‐OH ligands and tripodal triazole ligands, L, in the electrochemical water oxidation reaction (WOR; L=tris((1‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)amine). The cobalt(III) centres in the complex exhibit an octahedral coordination geometry and the complex is stable in water. Electrochemical studies revealed that solutions of 1NO3 catalyse the WOR in phosphate or borate buffer. However, further analysis showed, that 1NO3 is a precursor and decomposes under the applied potential. A smooth deposit is formed on the electrode surface, which is a highly active water oxidation catalysis. The deposit consists of mainly cobalt oxide/hydroxide, which accounts for the catalytic activity, and small amounts of 1NO3.
Synthesis, Thermal Stability and Magnetic Properties of an Interpenetrated Mn(II) Triazolate Coordination Framework
Authors: Röß‐Ohlenroth Richard , Hirrle Marcel , Kraft Maryana , Kalytta‐Mewes Andreas , Jesche Anton , Krug von Nidda Hans‐Albrecht , Volkmer Dirk
Published: June 2022

Coordination frameworks and metal‐organic frameworks built from simple triazole ligands such as 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (H‐ta) have recently inspired great interest owing to physical phenomena such as electronic conductivity, phase transitions and their magnetic behavior. In line of our endeavors we report on the solvothermal reaction of MnCl2 ⋅ 4H2O with H‐ta ligand in isopropyl alcohol leading to the the novel CFA‐23 (((propan‐2‐yl)oxidanium)+[Mn6Cl5(ta)8]−; CFA‐23=Coordination Framework Augsburg University‐23) coordination framework. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD) reveals that it crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P42/nnm (134) exhibiting a two‐fold interpenetrated framework with the topologies of a dia net with point (Schläfli) symbol 66. The thermal stability of this compound was investigated using variable temperature X‐ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The magnetic properties of CFA‐23 differ from a similar non‐interpenetrated literature structure of the composition (H[Mn6(bta)8Cl5] ⋅ (H2O)4) built from 1H‐1,2,3‐benzotriazole, thus, indicating that sterically induced lattice changes might be an adjustment parameter for magnetic properties in such frameworks.
Evaluating Mixture-of-Experts Architectures for Network Aggregation
Authors: Pavlitskaya Svetlana , Hubschneider Christian , Weber Michael
Published: June 2022

The mixture-of-experts (MoE) architecture is an approach to aggregate several expert components via an additional gating module, which learns to predict the most suitable distribution of the expert’s outputs for each input. An MoE thus not only relies on redundancy for increased robustness—we also demonstrate how this architecture can provide additional interpretability, while retaining performance similar to a standalone network. As an example, we train expert networks to perform semantic segmentation of the traffic scenes and combine them into an MoE with an additional gating network. Our experiments with two different expert model architectures ( and ) reveal that the MoE is able to reach, and for certain data subsets even surpass, the baseline performance and also outperforms a simple aggregation via ensembling. A further advantage of an MoE is the increased interpretability—a comparison of pixel-wise predictions of the whole MoE model and the participating experts’ help to identify regions of high uncertainty in an input.
Invertible Neural Networks for Understanding Semantics of Invariances of CNN Representations
Authors: Rombach Robin , Esser Patrick , Blattmann Andreas , Ommer Björn
Published: June 2022

To tackle increasingly complex tasks, it has become an essential ability of neural networks to learn abstract representations. These task-specific representations and, particularly, the invariances they capture turn neural networks into black-box models that lack interpretability. To open such a black box, it is, therefore, crucial to uncover the different semantic concepts a model has learned as well as those that it has learned to be invariant to. We present an approach based on invertible neural networks (INNs) that (i) recovers the task-specific, learned invariances by disentangling the remaining factor of variation in the data and that (ii) invertibly transforms these recovered invariances combined with the model representation into an equally expressive one with accessible semantic concepts. As a consequence, neural network representations become understandable by providing the means to (i) expose their semantic meaning, (ii) semantically modify a representation, and (iii) visualize individual learned semantic concepts and invariances. Our invertible approach significantly extends the abilities to understand black-box models by enabling post hoc interpretations of state-of-the-art networks without compromising their performance. Our implementation is available at https://compvis.github.io/invariances/.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Authors: Elmokashfi Ahmed , Lysne Olav , Naumova Valeriya
Published: June 2022

In the early months of 2020, a new virus began to spread in societies around the world. This virus, named SARS-CoV-2 or simply coronavirus, caused a disease called COVID-19 that had a deadly outcome in a disturbingly high fraction of cases. The elderly and those with an underlying chronic disease seemed to be particularly vulnerable [3]. Some months into 2020, the disease was classified as a global pandemic.
Perturbative higher-derivative terms in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 6 asymmetric orbifolds
Authors: Bianchi Massimo , Bossard Guillaume , Consoli Dario
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We analyse the perturbative four-point amplitudes in the simplest string theory examples of T-fold backgrounds, which enjoy $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 6 supersymmetries in four dimensions. There are two theories defined as asymmetric orbifolds of order 2 and 3, respectively. The perturbative spectrum and the one-loop four-point amplitudes are shown to be invariant under an arithmetic symplectic group defined over the Hurwitz (respectively Eisenstein) quaternions. The supersymmetry constraints on the low energy effective couplings are determined and we conjecture the U-duality group of the theory and the non-perturbative completion of the six-derivative coupling as a rank one theta series. We discuss the non-perturbative spectrum of BPS states in the light of our analysis.
Neutrino forces and the Sommerfeld enhancement
Authors: Coy Rupert , Xu Xun-Jie , Yu Bingrong
Published: June 2022

Abstract

The Sommerfeld enhancement plays an important role in dark matter (DM) physics, and can significantly enhance the annihilation cross section of non-relativistic DM particles. In this paper, we study the effect of neutrino forces, which are generated by the exchange of a pair of light neutrinos, on the Sommerfeld enhancement. We demonstrate that in certain cases, a neutrino force can cause a significant correction to the Sommerfeld enhancement. Models that can realise DM-neutrino interactions and sizeable Sommerfeld enhancement are also briefly discussed, together with the impacts on DM phenomenology of neutrino forces.
BCFT and Islands in two dimensions
Authors: Suzuki Kenta , Takayanagi Tadashi
Published: June 2022

Abstract

By combining the AdS/BCFT correspondence and the brane world holography, we expect an equivalence relation between a boundary conformal field theory (BCFT) and a gravitational system coupled to a CFT. However, it still remains unclear how the boundary condition of the BCFT is translated in the gravitational system. We examine this duality relation in a two-dimensional setup by looking at the computation of entanglement entropy and energy flux conservation. We also identify the two-dimensional gravity which is dual to the boundary dynamics of a BCFT. Moreover, we show that by considering a gravity solution with scalar fields turned on, we can reproduce one point functions correctly in the AdS/BCFT.
On the maximal part in unrefinable partitions of triangular numbers
Authors: Aragona Riccardo , Campioni Lorenzo , Civino Roberto , Lauria Massimo
Published: June 2022

A partition into distinct parts is refinable if one of its parts a can be replaced by two different integers which do not belong to the partition and whose sum is a, and it is unrefinable otherwise. Clearly, the condition of being unrefinable imposes on the partition a non-trivial limitation on the size of the largest part and on the possible distributions of the parts. We prove a $$O(n^{1/2})$$

O
(

n

1
/
2

)

-upper bound for the largest part in an unrefinable partition of n, and we call maximal those which reach the bound. We show a complete classification of maximal unrefinable partitions for triangular numbers, proving that if n is even there exists only one maximal unrefinable partition of $$n(n+1)/2$$

n
(
n
+
1
)
/
2

, and that if n is odd the number of such partitions equals the number of partitions of $$\lceil n/2\rceil $$

⌈
n
/
2
⌉

into distinct parts. In the second case, an explicit bijection is provided.
The association between the interactive and diagnostic use of financial and non-financial performance measures with individual creativity: The mediating role of perceived fairness
Authors: Nuhu Nuraddeen Abubakar , Baird Kevin , Su Sophia
Published: June 2022

This study examines the associations between top management’s interactive and diagnostic use of financial and non-financial performance measures with individual manager’s (i.e. middle and lower level managers) creativity, and the mediating role of middle and lower level manager’s perceived fairness of their performance appraisal on such associations. Using data from a survey of 220 middle and lower level managers from manufacturing organisations in Australia, the structural equation model revealed direct positive associations between both the diagnostic use of financial performance measures and the interactive use of non-financial performance measures with individual creativity. Further, the positive effect of the interactive use of financial performance measures on individual creativity is positively and fully mediated by distributive, interpersonal and informational fairness, while the positive effect of the interactive use of non-financial measures is positively and partially mediated by interpersonal and informational fairness. In addition, procedural fairness positively and partially mediates the effect of the diagnostic use of financial performance measures on individual creativity, and interpersonal fairness positively and fully mediates the effect of the diagnostic use of non-financial performance measures on individual creativity. The findings contribute to the performance measurement and appraisal literature examining the interactive and diagnostic use of both financial and non-financial performance measures and extends the sparse literature on the role of perceived fairness in explaining the behavioural effect of performance measurement systems. The findings also provide implications for practice, revealing the importance of the interactive and diagnostic use of financial and non-financial performance measures, and manager’s perception of the fairness of performance appraisal processes as a mechanism through which individual manager’s creativity can be enhanced.
In silico screening and heterologous expression of soluble dimethyl sulfide monooxygenases of microbial origin in Escherichia coli
Authors: Karaiyan Prasanth , Chang Catherine Ching Han , Chan Eng-Seng , Tey Beng Ti , Ramanan Ramakrishnan Nagasundara , Ooi Chien Wei
Published: June 2022

Sequence-based screening has been widely applied in the discovery of novel microbial enzymes. However, majority of the sequences in the genomic databases were annotated using computational approaches and lacks experimental characterization. Hence, the success in obtaining the functional biocatalysts with improved characteristics requires an efficient screening method that considers a wide array of factors. Recombinant expression of microbial enzymes is often hampered by the undesirable formation of inclusion body. Here, we present a systematic in silico screening method to identify the proteins expressible in soluble form and with the desired biological properties. The screening approach was adopted in the recombinant expression of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) monooxygenase in Escherichia coli. DMS monooxygenase, a two-component enzyme consisting of DmoA and DmoB subunits, was used as a model protein. The success rate of producing soluble and active DmoA is 71% (5 out of 7 genes). Interestingly, the soluble recombinant DmoA enzymes exhibited the NADH:FMN oxidoreductase activity in the absence of DmoB (second subunit), and the cofactor FMN, suggesting that DmoA is also an oxidoreductase. DmoA originated from Janthinobacterium sp. AD80 showed the maximum NADH oxidation activity (maximum reaction rate: 6.6 µM/min; specific activity: 133 µM/min/mg). This novel finding may allow DmoA to be used as an oxidoreductase biocatalyst for various industrial applications. The in silico gene screening methodology established from this study can increase the success rate of producing soluble and functional enzymes while avoiding the laborious trial and error involved in the screening of a large pool of genes available.

Key points

• A systematic gene screening method was demonstrated.

• DmoA is also an oxidoreductase capable of oxidizing NADH and reducing FMN.

• DmoA oxidizes NADH in the absence of external FMN.
Inequality, poverty and the composition of redistribution
Authors: Costas-Fernández Julián , Lodato Simón
Published: June 2022

We study the use of social expenditures and regulation for redistribution. When regulated goods are essential in the consumption bundle of the poor, a high poverty rate creates incentives to increase redistribution through regulation. By contrast, inequality directs redistribution towards social expenditures. We propose a theoretical model that captures the trade-off between these two redistributive policies and test the model implications with a novel municipality dataset on income and local government policies. Theory predicts and empirical evidence supports that failing to account for poverty biases the effect of inequality on redistribution. Our evidence also reflects the positive connection between poverty and the use of regulation for redistribution.
A standard protocol for the analysis of postmortem muscle protein degradation: process optimization and considerations for the application in forensic PMI estimation
Authors: Pittner Stefan , Merold Veronika , Anders Sven , Lohner Larissa , Amendt Jens , Klinger Miriam , Hausmann Roland , Kissling Steffen , Monticelli Fabio , Geissenberger Janine , Zissler Angela , Steinbacher Peter
Published: June 2022

The analysis of postmortem protein degradation has become of large interest for the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). Although several techniques have been published in recent years, protein degradation-based techniques still largely did not exceed basic research stages. Reasons include impractical and complex sampling procedures, as well as highly variable protocols in the literature, making it difficult to compare results. Following a three-step procedure, this study aimed to establish an easily replicable standardized procedure for sampling and processing, and further investigated the reliability and limitations for routine application. Initially, sampling and processing were optimized using a rat animal model. In a second step, the possible influences of sample handling and storage on postmortem protein degradation dynamics were assessed on a specifically developed human extracorporeal degradation model. Finally, the practical application was simulated by the collection of tissue in three European forensic institutes and an international transfer to our forensic laboratory, where the samples were processed and analyzed according to the established protocol.
CFTR reduces the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma and is a strong predictor of survival in both smokers and non-smokers
Authors: Xiao Qingyang , Koutsilieri Stefania , Sismanoglou Despoina-Christina , Lauschke Volker M.
Published: June 2022

Background

One of the main hurdles of oncological therapy is the development of drug resistance. The ABC transporter gene family contributes majorly to cancer chemoresistance. However, effects of somatic expression of most ABC transporters on cancer outcomes remain largely unclear.

Methods

We systematically analyzed expression signatures of all 48 human ABC transporters in samples from 8562 patients across 14 different cancer types. The association between CFTR (ABCC7) expression and outcomes was analyzed experimentally using knock-downs and pharmacological CFTR stimulation.

Results

Across 720 analyzed clinical associations with patient outcomes, 363 were nominally significant of which 29 remained significant after stringent Bonferroni correction. Among those were various previously known associations, as well as a multitude of novel factors that correlated with poor prognosis or predicted improved outcomes. The association between low CFTR levels and reduced survival in lung adenocarcinoma was confirmed in two independent cohorts of 246 patients with a history of smoking (logrank P = 0.0021, hazard ratio [HR], 0.49) and 143 never-smokers (logrank P = 0.0023, HR 0.31). Further in vitro experiments using naturally CFTR expressing lung adenocarcinoma cells showed that treatment with CFTR potentiators significantly reduced proliferation at therapeutically relevant concentrations.

Conclusions

These results suggest that CFTR acts as a pharmacologically activatable tumor suppressor and constitutes a promising target for adjuvant therapy in lung adenocarcinoma.
A framework for modeling and executing task-Specific resource allocations in business processes
Authors: Ihde Sven , Pufahl Luise , Völker Maximilian , Goel Asvin , Weske Mathias
Published: June 2022

As resources are valuable assets, organizations have to decide which resources to allocate to business process tasks in a way that the process is executed not only effectively but also efficiently. Traditional role-based resource allocation leads to effective process executions, since each task is performed by a resource that has the required skills and competencies to do so. However, the resulting allocations are typically not as efficient as they could be, since optimization techniques have yet to find their way in traditional business process management scenarios. On the other hand, operations research provides a rich set of analytical methods for supporting problem-specific decisions on resource allocation. This paper provides a novel framework for creating transparency on existing tasks and resources, supporting individualized allocations for each activity in a process, and the possibility to integrate problem-specific analytical methods of the operations research domain. To validate the framework, the paper reports on the design and prototypical implementation of a software architecture, which extends a traditional process engine with a dedicated resource management component. This component allows us to define specific resource allocation problems at design time, and it also facilitates optimized resource allocation at run time. The framework is evaluated using a real-world parcel delivery process. The evaluation shows that the quality of the allocation results increase significantly with a technique from operations research in contrast to the traditional applied rule-based approach.
Programmed cell death detection methods: a systematic review and a categorical comparison
Authors: Kari Sana , Subramanian Kumar , Altomonte Ilenia Agata , Murugesan Akshaya , Yli-Harja Olli , Kandhavelu Meenakshisundaram
Published: June 2022

Programmed cell death is considered a key player in a variety of cellular processes that helps to regulate tissue growth, embryogenesis, cell turnover, immune response, and other biological processes. Among different types of cell death, apoptosis has been studied widely, especially in the field of cancer research to understand and analyse cellular mechanisms, and signaling pathways that control cell cycle arrest. Hallmarks of different types of cell death have been identified by following the patterns and events through microscopy. Identified biomarkers have also supported drug development to induce cell death in cancerous cells. There are various serological and microscopic techniques with advantages and limitations, that are available and are being utilized to detect and study the mechanism of cell death. The complexity of the mechanism and difficulties in distinguishing among different types of programmed cell death make it challenging to carry out the interventions and delay its progression. In this review, mechanisms of different forms of programmed cell death along with their conventional and unconventional methods of detection of have been critically reviewed systematically and categorized on the basis of morphological hallmarks and biomarkers to understand the principle, mechanism, application, advantages and disadvantages of each method. Furthermore, a very comprehensive comparative analysis has been drawn to highlight the most efficient and effective methods of detection of programmed cell death, helping researchers to make a reliable and prudent selection among the available methods of cell death assay. Conclusively, how programmed cell death detection methods can be improved and can provide information about distinctive stages of cell death detection have been discussed.
Unexpected microbial metabolic responses to elevated temperatures and nitrogen addition in subarctic soils under different land uses
Authors: Schroeder Julia , Peplau Tino , Gregorich Edward , Tebbe Christoph C. , Poeplau Christopher
Published: June 2022

Subarctic regions are particularly affected by global warming. As vegetation periods lengthen, boreal forests could gradually be converted into agricultural land. How land use alters the susceptibility of soil organic matter decomposition to rising temperatures or how changes in nutrient availability, such as nitrogen (N) fertilisation, affect carbon (C) cycling is unknown. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) defines how much of the decomposed soil organic carbon is directed to growth or lost to the atmosphere. Here, we investigated the response of CUE (24 h) and soil organic matter decomposition (50 days) to + 10 °C warming and N addition in three subarctic soils derived from paired plots (forest, grassland, cropland) in the Yukon, Canada. Contrary to our literature-based expectations, boreal forest soils did not demonstrate the most sensitive response to warming and N addition. Temperature sensitivity was not affected by land-use type. In contrast to a generally assumed decline, short-term warming increased CUE by + 30%, which was positively correlated with microbial growth. N addition reduced overall CUE by − 7%, in contrast to the expectation that CUE would rise due to the alleviation of nutrient limitations. The response to N addition was negatively correlated with the ratio of fungi to bacteria, and presumably depended on the prevailing N-fertilisation regime. The temperature sensitivity of microbial metabolism was driven by site-specific parameters rather than by land-use type. Our results indicate that it may not be necessary to consider land use-specific temperature sensitivities when modelling soil organic carbon dynamics under future climate conditions.
Pretrial Detention and Incarceration Decisions for Foreign Nationals: a Mixed-Methods Approach
Authors: Wermink Hilde , Light Michael T. , Krubnik Alicja P.
Published: June 2022

An increase in the mobility of persons across national borders coincides with an overrepresentation of foreign nationals in the penal systems of Western Europe, though this phenomenon is not yet well understood. This paper positions itself at the intersection of migration and criminology by examining citizenship disparities in pretrial detention and whether said disparities affect incarceration outcomes. Leveraging a mixed-methods strategy, we make use of individual-level criminal case and interview data from the Netherlands. Our quasi-experimental quantitative analyses show significant and substantive differences in the assignment of pretrial detention to foreign citizens, which affects the risk of future incarceration. Our interviews reveal that citizenship disparities manifest themselves through multiple mechanisms: (i) foreign defendants are viewed as flight risks, (ii) fewer non-prison sanctions are assigned in cases involving foreign defendants, and (iii) pretrial detention is seen as an efficient method for punishment.
Developing the PhD thesis project in relation to individual contexts: a multiple case study of five doctoral researchers
Authors: Inouye Kelsey
Published: June 2022

The early phase of doctoral education is a critical yet under-researched period in PhD programs, when doctoral researchers must solidify their thesis projects prior to embarking on data collection. What makes this time particularly challenging is that new doctoral researchers synthesize their research thinking while they are still learning the expectations and nature of PhD research. This study draws on Emirbayer and Mische’s (1998) chordal triad of agency to explore how PhD researchers’ goals and experiences (individual contexts) influence how they approach doctoral research and develop their thesis projects during the first year of the PhD. The results of this small-scale longitudinal multiple case study of five first-year UK PhD social science researchers suggest that there are at least three approaches PhD researchers may adopt in developing their research projects, influenced by personal histories and post-PhD goals—pragmatic/strategic, idealistic, and realistic. In turn, these approaches may change over time as PhD researchers acquire experience and encounter critical events. Implications include the need for attention to a diversity of PhD researchers’ needs and goals, which may necessitate additional support or training in tailored areas, and a call for questioning the capacity of PhD researchers to contribute to/stretch the structures surrounding thesis writing.
Light absorptance of algal films for photosynthetic rate determinations
Authors: Ritchie Raymond J. , Sma-Air Suhailar , Runcie John W.
Published: June 2022

A Reflectance Absorptance Transmittance (RAT) meter, developed for routine measurements of Abtλ nm on leaves, was used to measure absorptance of algal films mounted on glass fibre filter disks for use in PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) fluorometry. Absorptance readings (Abtλ nm) are essential to quantitate the photosynthetic electron transport rate from PAM data and are also helpful if algal disks are used in an IRGA (InfraRed Gas Analyzer). Measurements were made on Synechococcus R-2 (Cyanophyceae), Acaryochloris marina (Chlorobacteria), Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyceae), Chaetoceros sp. (Bacillariophyceae) and Isochrysis sp. (Haptophyta) in blue (445 nm), green (525 nm) and red (625 nm) light. Plots of Abtλ vs. Chl a (mg Chl a m-2) or Chl d for Acaryochloris (mg Chl d m-2) of the algae followed exponential saturation curves (Abt%λ = Abt%λ, ∞ (1-e-k×Chl)) usually reaching asymptotes in the blue light used by blue-diode PAM machines. Synechococcus, Chlorella, Chaetoceros and Isochrysis Abt%445nm saturates ≈ 50-100 mg Chl a m-2 (Synechococcus: Abt%445 nm, max = 77.3±0.94, ±95% conf. limits, Chlorella: Abt%445 nm, max = 77.0±2.06, Chaetoceros: Abt%445 nm, max = 80.6±1.87; Isochrysis: 83.2±8.06 mg Chl a m-2); Acaryochloris above about 100 mg Chl d m-2. Asymptotic loading of cells was in general easily achieved in blue light in the case of Synechococcus, Chlorella and Acaryochloris but not in green, red or “white” light. It was difficult to achieve asymptotic loading for Chaetoceros and Isochrysis due to mucilaginous blockage of the filter disks.
Determination of nuclear graphite impurities by prompt gamma activation analysis to support decommissioning operations
Authors: Mossini Eros , Revay Zsolt , Camerini Andrea , Giola Marco , Magugliani Gabriele , Macerata Elena , Mariani Mario
Published: June 2022

Elemental composition of non-irradiated nuclear grade graphite was determined by Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) to quantitively assess some neutron activation precursors. The knowledge of these data is paramount for an accurate radiological characterization of the material before decommissioning of graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. Bulk results of most of the nuclides were consistent with benchmark Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and literature data. In the case of 14N and 35Cl, depth distribution profiles were observed and quantified for the first time. These outcomes could shine a light on 14C and 36Cl depth distribution profiles and fractional release during leaching experiments.