bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic analysis of hog deer (Axis porcinus) in Victoria, Australia, and its applications to invasive species and game management
Authors: Hill Erin , Murphy Nicholas , Toop Simon , Linacre Adrian , Strugnell Jan M.
Published: June 2022

Hog deer were introduced to Australia in the 1860s, where they have spread across the Gippsland region of Victoria. Due to its status as an introduced species and an important game animal within Victoria, management of the species is complex. Given this complexity, genetic studies can provide important information regarding population structure and diversity which can assist in controlling problematic populations of hog deer, while also ensuring viable game stock in sites managed as game reserves. The aim of this study was to investigate the population genetic structure and diversity of the Victorian hog deer 150 years after introduction using short tandem repeats (STRs). Hog deer samples were collected across 15 sites of differing management regimes in the Gippsland region of Victoria and genotyped for 13 polymorphic STR loci. Up to four distinct genetic clusters were identified across the sites sampled, suggesting that despite low observed genetic diversity, population structure is present across their range. It was also possible to detect evidence of recent translocations among populations. This study suggests that the presence of distinct genetic clusters may enable management of separate genetic units, considering invasive species and game management objectives.
Grit Across Nations: The Cross-National Equivalence of the Grit-O Scale
Authors: van Zyl Llewellyn E. , Heijenk Babet , Klibert Jeff , Shankland Rebecca , Verger Nicolas B. , Rothmann Sebastiaan , Cho Vincent , Feng Katherine , See-To Eric W. K. , Roll Lara C. , van der Meij Leander
Published: June 2022

Despite its popularity in practice, the Grit-O Scale has shown inconsistent factorial structures and differing levels of internal consistency in samples outside the USA. The validity of the Grit-O Scale in different contexts is, therefore, questionable. As such, the purpose of this paper was to determine whether the Grit-O Scale could be used as a valid and reliable measure to compare grit across different nations. Specifically, the aim was to investigate the factorial validity, reliability, and concurrent validity of the Grit-O Scale and to investigate measurement invariance across three national cohorts (Europe, the USA, and Hong Kong). Data were gathered from 1888 respondents stemming from one USA- (n = 471), two Hong Kong- (n = 361) and four European (n = 1056) universities. A series of traditional CFA and less restrictive ESEM models were estimated and systematically compared to determine the best factorial form of the Grit-O Scale. The results showed that a bifactor ESEM model, with one general factor of overall grit and two specific factors (consistency of interest and perseverance of effort), fitted the data best, showed strong measurement invariance across the three samples, and showed itself to be a reliable measure. Furthermore, concurrent validity was established by showing that the three grit factors were directly and positively related to task performance. Meaningful latent comparisons between the three cultural cohorts could therefore be made. The results imply that cross-national comparisons of grit may only be problematic when traditional CFA approaches are favoured. In contrast, ESEM modelling approaches may compensate for cross-national differences in understanding grit and control for differences in the interpretation of the scale’s items. Therefore, the bifactor ESEM approach may be more appropriate for cross-cultural and cross-national comparison studies, as it allows for these differences to be meaningfully captured, modelled, and controlled for.
Parametric instability of a vertically driven magnetic pendulum with eddy-current braking by a flat plate
Authors: Boeck Thomas , Sanjari Seyed Loghman , Becker Tatiana
Published: June 2022

The vertically driven pendulum is one of the classical systems where parametric instability occurs. We study its behavior with an additional electromagnetic interaction caused by eddy currents in a nearby thick conducting plate that are induced when the bob is a magnetic dipole. The known analytical expressions of the induced electromagnetic force and torque acting on the dipole are valid in the quasistatic limit, i.e., when magnetic diffusivity of the plate is sufficiently high to ensure an equilibrium between magnetic field advection and diffusion. The equation of motion of the vertically driven pendulum is derived assuming that its magnetic dipole moment is aligned with the axis of rotation and that the conducting plate is horizontal. The vertical position of the pendulum remains an equilibrium with the electromagnetic interaction. Conditions for instability of this equilibrium are derived analytically by the harmonic balance method for the subharmonic and harmonic resonances in the limit of weak electromagnetic interaction. The analytical stability boundaries agree with the results of numerical Floquet analysis for these conditions but differ substantially when the electromagnetic interaction is strong. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the area of harmonic instability can become doubly connected. Bifurcation diagrams obtained numerically show the co-existence of stable periodic orbits in such conditions. For moderately strong driving, chaotic motions can be maintained for the subharmonic instability.
Statistical guarantee of timeliness in networks of IoT devices
Authors: Franco Antonio , Landfeldt Björn , Körner Ulf , Nyberg Christian
Published: June 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm, has opened up the possibility of using the ubiquity of small devices to route information without the necessity of being connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN). Use cases of IoT devices sending updates that are routed and delivered by other IoT devices have been proposed in the literature. In this paper we focus on receivers only interested in the freshest updates from the sending device. In particular, the dynamic network created by routing/gossiping through small devices creates the possibility of delivering updates out of order. Thus, the entire process can be studied well through a queueing system with infinitely many servers, all serving updates with a random service time. Age of Information (AoI) was proposed as the main metric to measure information freshness. We study the amount of time that the AoI is over a certain threshold at the receiver end as a Quality of Service (QoS) measure, called update outage probability. Particularly, given the recent interest in the literature for time domain analysis of the AoI, we obtain the exact expressions for the AoI, peak AoI (pAoI), effective service time and effective departure time distributions for an M/M/$$\infty $$
∞
queuing system from a time domain perspective, and study the interdependence between the various parameters involved in order to satisfy a given statistical constraint on timeliness.
Environmental assessment of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) from a small-scale fishery in Algarve (Portugal)
Authors: Almeida Cheila , Loubet Philippe , Laso Jara , Nunes Maria L. , Marques António
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Common octopus is the fishing species with highest economic revenue in Portugal, and its consumption per capita is very high. The majority of catches come from the small-scale fleet with pots and traps. The aims were to assess main environmental impacts of common octopus’ fishery with traps and pots in the Algarve region, where the most important fleet size and landings volume occurs, and to find if there are significant differences between both fishing gears.

Methods

The assessment includes standard LCA impact categories, fishery-specific impact categories, and quantification of macroplastics and microplastics emitted to the environment. The functional unit selected was 1 kg of octopus and the study was a ‘cradle to gate’ system. The scope included fishing operations until the product is landed at the harbour. Primary data was obtained by face-to-face questionnaires from 22 vessels, with an average of 1005 pots and 1211 traps per vessel, and 372 pots and 234 traps lost annually to the environment. Plastic pots have a concrete block and traps are a metal framed covered by plastic netting. Each trap or pot is connected to the main line at regular intervals. Unlike traps, pots do not need bait.

Results and discussion

Fuel contribution to global warming is very high and where the highest potential exists to lower down the carbon footprint. The fuel use intensity resulted in 0.9 L/kg of octopus. The bait used in traps is significant and raises further environmental costs related with fuel consumption. The use of traps represents more than two times the impacts found for pots in all the categories studied except ecotoxicity categories. Zinc use was the main contributor to ecotoxicity categories, but it has not been included in other fishery LCA studies. It was estimated that 12.2 g of plastics is lost to the environment per kg of octopus. The loss of macroplastics from fishing gears was the highest contributor.

Conclusions

The carbon footprint obtained was 3.1 kg CO2 eq per kg of octopus, being lower compared to other seafood products, and less than half compared to octopus caught with trawling. Pots and traps are highly selective fishing gears, causing negligible disturbance to the seafloor. The stock is not assessed, but management measures exist and can be improved. A drawback exists related with gears lost to the environment.
Rural exodus and land use change in northern Morocco: 2000–2020
Authors: Moreno-Navarro Jesús Gabriel , El Khalifi Kamal Targuisti , Fernández Jesús Ventura , Hilal Ismail , Magán Eduardo López
Published: June 2022

The implementation of the Urban Development Master Plan, SDAU (Schema Directeur d’Amenagement Urbain) in the Tangier-Tetouan region has marked a radical change in the territorial organization of these provinces: this process that began in 2004 with the construction of the port of Tanger-Med, and the infrastructures to support the port and related industrial areas. This action has meant the change of administrative boundaries as the project progressed. Although the demographic dynamics throughout the Kingdom of Morocco is a process of rural exodus, this migratory pattern is more intense in northern Morocco. The Andalusian Geographical Studies group of the University of Seville, together with Abdelmalek Essaadi University, has investigated the impact of such planning on spatial planning in a framework of international university cooperation since 2002. This article will update previous research based on remote sensing techniques and demographic statistics that analyze the changes that occurred over the last two decades. These changes consist of more than a massive displacement of the rural population toward the large cities and coastal towns. It also means the construction of large infrastructures, holiday houses, and a new pattern of settlement in rural areas. This article aims to describe these changes, as well as the trends in the immediate future, using statistical analysis and the evolution of land uses with GIS and remote sensing tools.
The Nothing from Infinity paradox versus Plenitudinous Indeterminism
Authors: Shackel Nicholas
Published: June 2022

The Nothing from Infinity paradox arises when the combination of two infinitudes of point particles meet in a supertask and disappear. Corral-Villate claims that my arguments for disappearance fail and concedes that this failure also produces an extreme kind of indeterminism, which I have called plenitudinous. So my supertask at least poses a dilemma of extreme indeterminism within Newtonian point particle mechanics. Plenitudinous indeterminism might be trivial, although easy attempts to prove it so seem to fail in the face of plausible continuity principles. However, the question of its triviality is here moot, since I show that, except in one case, Corral-Villate’s disproofs fail, and with a correction, the original arguments are unrefuted. Consequently, of the two contenders for the outcome of my supertask, the Nothing from Infinity paradox has won out.
Comparison of available treatment techniques for hazardous aniline-based organic contaminants
Authors: Chaturvedi Naveen Kumar
Published: June 2022

The growing contamination of various freshwater resources due to industrial effluent is a serious concern among the scientific community. Several organic compounds are essentially used as chemical intermediate in variety of industrial processes. These organic compounds are hazardous chemicals which are already considered dangerous to global public health and other forms of life due to their high toxicity, carcinogenicity. These organic contaminants are found present in the industrial effluents. Several treatment methods were applied in the literature for their elimination from wastewater to make their final disposal safe for environment. In this article, different kinds of physical, biological and advanced oxidation methods (AOPs) applied for the treatment of various important organic compounds were compared for their advantages and disadvantages. The results showed that the conventional treatment methods are not effective to treat these kinds of toxic and refractory chemical compounds. Therefore, AOPs were found to be the most promising treatment methods.
Characterization of the complete mitogenome of the endangered freshwater fish Gobiobotia naktongensis from the Geum River in South Korea: evidence of stream connection with the Paleo-Huanghe
Authors: Kim Keun-Sik , Kang Dong-Won , Kim Keun-Yong , Heo Jung Soo , Song Ha-Yoon , Yoon Ju-Duk
Published: June 2022

Background

The freshwater fish Gobiobotia naktongensis (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, and Gobionidae) is an endangered class I species whose population size has been greatly reduced.

Objective

To successfully protect and restore the highly endangered freshwater fish G. naktongensis from the Geum River in South Korea.

Methods

The mitogenome was characterized using the primer walking method with phylogenetic relationships.

Results

The complete mitogenome of G. naktongensis Geum River was 16,607 bp, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Seventeen substitutions were found by comparing the tRNA regions between G. naktongensis Geum and Nakdong Rivers and G. pappenheimi; most were specific to G. naktongensis Nakdong River, with changes in their secondary structures. The comparison between G. naktongensis Geum River and G. pappenheimi revealed differences in the lengths of the D-loop and two tRNAs (tRNAArg and tRNATrp) and the secondary structures in the TΨC-arm of tRNAHis. In the phylogenetic tree, G. naktongensis Geum River did not cluster with its conspecific specimen from the Nakdong River in South Korea, but showed the closest relationship to G. pappenheimi in mainland China.

Conclusions

Our results support the existence of the Paleo-Huanghe River connecting the Korean peninsula and mainland China, suggesting that G. naktongensis in the Geum River should be treated as a different evolutionarily significant unit separated from that in the Nakdong River. The complete mitogenome of G. naktongensis Geum River provides essential baseline data to establish strategies for its conservation and restoration.
Gardens, Religion and Clerical By-Employments: the dual careers of Hugh Hall, Priest-Gardener of the West Midlands
Authors: Cogan Susan M.
Published: June 2022

Hugh Hall was a highly sought-after gardener in late sixteenth century England. He worked in the Midlands, specifically in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire, and mostly for Catholic families. Hall was a Catholic priest who resigned his parish living after the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, but continued to perform clerical duties such as saying Mass and hearing confession alongside his second vocation as a gardener. Indeed, his esteem as a gardener and, later, surveyor of works was strong enough that he attracted Protestant clients like Lord Burghley and Sir Christopher Hatton despite his adherence to Catholicism. Hall’s two vocations shaped his identity: his sense of self, his manhood, and how others perceived him. Hall’s written garden advice, A priestes discourse of gardeninge applied to a spirituall understandinge, which exists only in manuscript form, exemplifies the fusion of gardening and spiritual life, articulates Hall’s conceptions of manhood, and offers new perspective on how religion intersects with late Renaissance English gardens.
Misconceptions Related to COVID 19 Vaccines Among the Jordanian Population: Myth and Public Health
Authors: Hammad Alaa M. , Al-Qerem Walid , Abu Zaid Alaa , Khdair Sawsan I. , Hall F. Scott
Published: June 2022

Objective:

This study assesses misconceptions about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and the factors associated with misconception among Jordanians.

Methods:

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. The survey was formulated on Google Forms, and was hosted on an online platform. These questions were created based on extensive review of online information about the vaccines. Frequencies and percentages (%) were used for categorical variables, while means and standard deviations (SDs) were used for continuous variables. Stepwise binary logistic regression was conducted to evaluate variables associated with participant’s misconception questions.

Results:

Of 1195 survey respondents who participated in the study, 41.3% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. The mean misconception score was (60.0 ± 19.1). The statement with the highest mean was “The vaccine hasn’t been tested on enough people” (3.6 ± 1.0). The statement with the lowest mean was “The COVID-19 vaccine includes a microchip to control us” (2.2 ± 1.1) in the conspiracy theory portion. Females, 18- to 29-age group, higher educational level, living in a city, the participants who took lectures about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinated participants had higher odds of being in the low misconception level group.

Conclusion:

Targeted campaigns and vaccine safety information should be part of a broader health education campaign to alleviate vaccination safety concerns.
Communication patterns in engineering enterprise social networks: an exploratory analysis using short text topic modelling
Authors: Ferguson Sharon A. , Cheng Kathy , Adolphe Lauren , Van de Zande Georgia , Wallace David , Olechowski Alison
Published: June 2022

Enterprise social network messaging sites are becoming increasingly popular for team communication in engineering and product design. These digital communication platforms capture detailed messages between members of the design team and are an appealing data set for researchers who seek to better understand communication in design. This exploratory study investigates whether we can use enterprise social network messages to model communication patterns throughout the product design process. We apply short text topic modelling (STTM) to a data set comprising 250,000 messages sent by 32 teams enrolled in a 3-month intensive product design course. Many researchers describe the engineering design process as a series of convergent and divergent thinking stages, such as the popular double diamond model, and we use this theory as a case study in this work. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of STTM results reveals several trends, such as it is indeed possible to see evidence of cyclical convergence and divergence of topics in team communication; within the convergence–divergence pattern, strong teams have fewer topics in their topic models than weaker teams; and teams show characteristics of product, project, course, and other themes within each topic. We provide evidence that the analysis of enterprise social networking messages, with advanced topic modelling techniques, can uncover insights into design processes and can identify the communication patterns of successful teams.
Chilean Democracy, Past and Present
Authors: Somma Nicolás M.
Published: June 2022

This essay reviews the following works:

Anatomía de la derecha chilena: Estado, mercado y valores en tiempos de cambio. Edited by Stéphanie Alenda. Santiago: Fondo de Cultura Económica and Universidad Andrés Bello, 2020. Pp. 380. $19.04 paperback. ISBN: 9789562892025.

Presidencialismo a la chilena: Coaliciones y cooperación política, 1990–2018. By Mireya Dávila Avendaño. Santiago: Editorial Universitaria, 2020. Pp. 312. $20.36 paperback. ISBN: 9789561126923.

La transición inacabada: El proceso político chileno 1990–2020. By Claudio Fuentes S. Santiago: Catalonia, 2021. Pp. 392. $22.64 paperback. ISBN: 9789563248388.

Política y movimientos sociales en Chile: Antecedentes y proyecciones del estallido social de octubre 2019. Edited by Manuel Antonio Garretón. Santiago: LOM Ediciones, 2021. Pp. 308. $17.97 paperback. ISBN: 9789560014061.

La democracia semisoberana: Chile después de Pinochet. By Carlos Huneeus. Santiago: Taurus, 2014. Pp. 614. $32.34 paperback. ISBN: 9789563477832.

The Left Hand of Capital: Neoliberalism and the Left in Chile. By Fernando Ignacio Leiva. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2021. Pp. viii + 391. $33.95 paperback. ISBN: 9781438483610.

En vez del optimismo: Crisis de representación política en el Chile actual. By Juan Pablo Luna. Santiago: Catalonia, 2017. Pp. 151. $12.58 paperback. ISBN: 9789563245431.

La chusma inconsciente: La crisis de un país atendido por sus propios dueños. By Juan Pablo Luna. Santiago: Catalonia, 2021. Pp. 377. $14.02 paperback. ISBN: 9789563248999.

Neoliberal Resilience: Lessons in Democracy and Development from Latin America and Eastern Europe. By Aldo Madariaga. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2020. Pp. vii + 348. $43.81 hardcover. ISBN: 9780691182599.

Octubre chileno: La irrupción de un nuevo pueblo. By Carlos Ruiz Encina. Santiago: Penguin Random House, 2020. Pp. 117. $10.78. ISBN: 9789566042259.
Turkey’s “Apology” and Image Repair on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
Authors: Çevik Senem B.
Published: June 2022

Image and reputation are key factors in how nations are perceived by global audiences. Current and historical issues can pose as challenges to a nation’s reputation prompting the need to save face. The Armenian genocide is one of the most critical issues the Republic of Turkey has had to manage in terms of its global image and reputation. While the vast body of literature on the subject borrows from history and political science focusing on the mechanism of denial, this paper offers a communication framework to understand the rhetoric of Turkey’s image repair. Turkey’s crisis communication strategies vis-à-vis the centennial of the Armenian genocide are analyzed by employing Benoit’s image repair theory through a content analysis of official statements and declarations by the heads of state given in 2014 and 2015. In response to the emerging political crisis, the Turkish government primarily employed image repair strategies of evading responsibility and reducing offensiveness with the aim to appeal to international audiences.
Modelling the effects of stocking rate, soil type, agroclimate location and nitrogen input on the grass DM yield and forage self-sufficiency of Irish grass-based dairy production systems
Authors: Ruelle E. , Delaby L. , Shalloo L. , O'Donovan M. , Hennessy D. , Egan M. , Horan B. , Dillon P.
Published: June 2022

In pasture-based dairy production systems, identifying the appropriate stocking rate (SR; cows/ha) based on the farm grass growth is a key strategic decision for driving the overall farm business. This paper investigates a number of scenarios examining the effects of SR (2–3 cows/ha (0.25 unit changes)), annual nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates (0–300 kg N/ha (50 kg/ha unit changes)), soil type (heavy and a free-draining soil) and agroclimate location ((south and northeast of Ireland) across 16 years) on pasture growth and forage self-sufficiency using the pasture-based herd dynamic milk model merged with the Moorepark St Gilles grass growth model. The modelled outputs were grass growth, grass dry matter intake, silage harvested and offered, overall farm forage self-sufficiency and N surplus. The model outputs calculated that annual grass yield increased from 9436 kg DM/ha/year when 0 kg N/ha/year was applied to 14 996 kg DM/ha/year when 300 kg N/ha/year were applied, with an average N response of 18.4 kg DM/kg N applied (range of 9.9–27.7 kg DM/kg N applied). Systems stocked at 2.5 cows/ha and applying 250–300 kg N fertilizer/ha/year were self-sufficient for forage. As N input was reduced from 250 kg N/ha/year, farm forage self-sufficiency declined, as did farm N surplus. The results showed that a reduction in N fertilizer application of 50 kg/ha/year will require a reduction in an SR of 0.18 cows/ha to maintain self-sufficiency (R2 = 0.90).
A novel soft-rigid wheeled crawling robot with high payload and passing capability
Authors: Jia Jiangming , Cheng Peilin , Ye Yuze , Xie Qizhi , Wu Chuanyu
Published: June 2022

Soft crawling robots have been significantly studied in recent decades. However, moving in amphibious environment, high payload capability, and passing through complex ground have always been challenges for soft crawling robots. For these problems, this article presents an amphibious soft-rigid wheeled crawling robot (SRWCR) consists of a soft-rigid body actuated by two soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs), four wheels, and four annular soft bladders (ASBs) as brakes. By programming the actuation sequences of the two SPAs and four ASBs, SRWCR can achieve two basic modes of locomotion: linear motion and turning. Based on the energy conservation law, we have developed analytical models to interpret the static actuation performance of SPA, including linear and bending deformations. Furthermore, with the help of fast response and waterproof of SPA and ASB, SRWCR can achieve a linear speed of 14.97 mm/s, a turning speed of 5.63°/s, and an underwater locomotion speed of 13 mm/s, which demonstrates the excellent locomotion performance of SRWCR in amphibious environment. In addition, SRWCR can also achieve multiple impressive functions, including carrying a payload of 2 kg at the moving speed of 11.18 mm/s, passing through various complex ground such as the grass ground and sand ground, and so on, obstacle navigation in confined space. Compared with the existing soft crawling robots, with the help of the soft-rigid body and wheeled structure, SRWCR has the best payload and passing capability, which indicates the potential advantage of SRWCR in the design of functional robots.
Challenges of Conducting Value Assessment for Comprehensive Genomic Profiling
Authors: Tarride Jean-Eric , Gould Toby , Thomas David M.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Clinical practice is shifting toward an era of precision medicine. The use of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in oncology has broad potential as a universal companion diagnostic for targeted therapies which may significantly improve health outcomes while using healthcare resources more efficiently. Given the nature of this technology, assessing the value of CGP presents unique challenges.

Methods

This paper draws on evidence from the academic and policy literature in oncology, as well as stakeholder interviews (health economists, payers, clinicians, and public policy officials) in countries using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) as part of health technology assessment (HTA).

Results

The degree to which CGP is subject to a value assessment varies significantly across healthcare systems. Current HTA processes focus on evaluating diagnostic testing through co-dependent assessment of diagnostic testing and associated therapeutic interventions. Diagnostic tests with multiple associated therapeutic interventions are rapidly evolving and poorly unsuited to current HTA approaches. Moreover, HTA approaches are limited in their ability to consider broader systemic benefits of the expanded diagnostic capabilities and enhanced opportunities for clinical trial participation offered by CGP.

Conclusions

The assessment of the overall value of CGP is limited by the current models of HTA. This paper suggests policy proposals for value assessment and funding reforms to help broaden patient access to CGP. These include investing in genomic testing infrastructure; decoupling the assessment of the value of CGP testing to identifying predetermined therapeutic interventions; tailoring evaluation methodology; and developing approaches to collecting evidence of clinical, healthcare system and societal benefit.
A systematic analysis of the memory term in coarse-grained models: The case of the Markovian approximation
Authors: DI PASQUALE NICODEMO , HUDSON THOMAS , ICARDI MATTEO , ROVIGATTI LORENZO , SPINACI MARCO
Published: June 2022

The systematic development of coarse-grained (CG) models via the Mori–Zwanzig projector operator formalism requires the explicit description of a deterministic drift term, a dissipative memory term and a random fluctuation term. The memory and fluctuating terms are related by the fluctuation–dissipation relation and are more challenging to sample and describe than the drift term due to complex dependence on space and time. This work proposes a rational basis for a Markovian data-driven approach to approximating the memory and fluctuating terms. We assumed a functional form for the memory kernel and under broad regularity hypothesis, we derived bounds for the error committed in replacing the original term with an approximation obtained by its asymptotic expansions. These error bounds depend on the characteristic time scale of the atomistic model, representing the decay of the autocorrelation function of the fluctuating force; and the characteristic time scale of the CG model, representing the decay of the autocorrelation function of the momenta of the beads. Using appropriate parameters to describe these time scales, we provide a quantitative meaning to the observation that the Markovian approximation improves as they separate. We then proceed to show how the leading-order term of such expansion can be identified with the Markovian approximation usually considered in the CG theory. We also show that, while the error of the approximation involving time can be controlled, the Markovian term usually considered in CG simulations may exhibit significant spatial variation. It follows that assuming a spatially constant memory term is an uncontrolled approximation which should be carefully checked. We complement our analysis with an application to the estimation of the memory in the CG model of a one-dimensional Lennard–Jones chain with different masses and interactions, showing that even for such a simple case, a non-negligible spatial dependence for the memory term exists.
Transseptal puncture during catheter ablation associated with higher radiation exposure
Authors: Rahman Maryam , Smith Grace , Johnsrude Chris , LaPage Martin , Moore Jeremy , Shannon Kevin , Anderson Chris , Papagiannis John , Lau Kelvin , Sanatani Shubhayan , Razminia Mansour , Tuzcu Volkan , Gothard David , Shauver Lisa , Clark John
Published: June 2022

Background:

Electroanatomic mapping systems are increasingly used during ablations to decrease the need for fluoroscopy and therefore radiation exposure. For left-sided arrhythmias, transseptal puncture is a common procedure performed to gain access to the left side of the heart. We aimed to demonstrate the radiation exposure associated with transseptal puncture.

Methods:

Data were retrospectively collected from the Catheter Ablation with Reduction or Elimination of Fluoroscopy registry. Patients with left-sided accessory pathway-mediated tachycardia, with a structurally normal heart, who had a transseptal puncture, and were under 22 years of age were included. Those with previous ablations, concurrent diagnostic or interventional catheterisation, and missing data for fluoroscopy use or procedural outcomes were excluded. Patients with a patent foramen ovale who did not have a transseptal puncture were selected as the control group using the same criteria. Procedural outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results:

There were 284 patients in the transseptal puncture group and 70 in the patent foramen ovale group. The transseptal puncture group had a significantly higher mean procedure time (158.8 versus 131.4 minutes, p = 0.002), rate of fluoroscopy use (38% versus 7%, p < 0.001), and mean fluoroscopy time (2.4 versus 0.6 minutes, p < 0.001). The acute success and complication rates were similar.

Conclusions:

Performing transseptal puncture remains a common reason to utilise fluoroscopy in the era of non-fluoroscopic ablation. Better tools are needed to make non-fluoroscopic transseptal puncture more feasible.
To go left or right? Driving towards the best direction in paediatric pacing
Authors: Silvetti Massimo Stefano , Porco Luigina , Tamburri Ilaria , Campisi Marta , Gimigliano Fabrizio , Saputo Fabio Anselmo , Mizzon Chiara , Di Mambro Corrado , Albanese Sonia , Ravà Lucilla , Drago Fabrizio
Published: June 2022

Background:

Permanent pacing in children with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block may cause left ventricular dysfunction. To prevent it, alternative pacing sites have been proposed: left ventricular epicardial or selective right ventricular endocardial pacing.

Aims:

To compare the functional outcome (left ventricular systolic function and synchrony) in paediatric patients with congenital complete atrioventricular block and left ventricular apical epicardial or right ventricular transvenous mid-septal pacing.

Methods:

Retrospective study. Epicardial leads were implanted by standard surgical technique, transvenous leads by 3D electroanatomic mapping systems. 3D mapping acquired 3D right ventricular local pacing map and defined the narrowest paced QRS site. 3D mapping guided screw-in bipolar leads on that ventricular site. Electrocardiogram (ECG) (QRS duration) and echocardiographic data (synchrony: interventricular mechanical delay, septal to posterior wall motion delay, systolic dyssynchrony index; contractility: global longitudinal strain, ejection fraction) were recorded. Data are reported as median [interquartile ranges]. p < 0.05 was significant.

Results:

There were 19 transvenous systems (age 8.8 [6–14] years; right ventricular mid-septum) and 17 epicardial systems (0.04 [0.001–0.6] years; left ventricular apex). Post-implantation QRS significantly widened either in endocardial or in epicardial patients. Most patients reached 4-year follow-up. One-year and 4-year ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were mostly within normal limits and did not show significant differences between the two groups and between the same endocardial/epicardial group. Synchrony parameters were within normal limits in the two groups.

Conclusions:

Left ventricular apical epicardial pacing and 3D mapping-guided right ventricular mid-septal pacing preserved left ventricular contractility and synchrony in children and adolescents with congenital complete atrioventricular block at short-/mid-term follow-up, without relevant significant differences between the two groups.
Affective forecasting in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Coundouris Sarah P. , Henry Julie D. , Suddendorf Thomas , Lehn Alexander C.
Published: June 2022

Objectives:

While emotional responses experienced in-the-moment appear to remain intact in Parkinson’s disease (PD), no study has tested whether this extends to the prediction of future emotional responses. The present study aimed to provide the first assessment of affective forecasting capacity in this cohort.

Methods:

A positively and negatively valenced affective forecasting task and broader clinical battery were completed by a PD group (ns = 28 and 37, respectively) and a demographically matched neurotypical control group (ns = 38 and 39, respectively).

Results:

No group differences emerged on the two tasks, with the two groups underestimating their level of happiness and overestimating their level of negative affect to a similar degree. Affective forecasting error scores were unrelated to clinical characteristics.

Conclusions:

Given that affective forecasting relies on self-projection into the future, a skill shown to often be disrupted in this cohort, impairments were expected. However, this study provides initial evidence that this may not be the case. These findings are potentially important given that how we think about and envisage the future affectively is a major determinant of goal-directed behavior. Further work is now needed to establish whether these findings are robust and generalize to other types of affective stimuli.
PRESCRIBED VIRTUAL HOMOLOGICAL TORSION OF 3-MANIFOLDS
Authors: Chu Michelle , Groves Daniel
Published: June 2022

Let M be an irreducible
$3$
-manifold M with empty or toroidal boundary which has at least one hyperbolic piece in its geometric decomposition, and let A be a finite abelian group. Generalizing work of Sun [20] and of Friedl–Herrmann [7], we prove that there exists a finite cover
$M' \to M$
so that A is a direct factor in
$H_1(M',{\mathbb Z})$
.
Design and fabrication of an inverted hat antenna paired with a filled cavity for radio-navigation applications
Authors: Hamouda Z. , Azaizia S. , Hideche M. , Zemmam A. , Lasri T.
Published: June 2022

Antennas installed on aircraft are used for communications as well as for various radio navigation systems such as direction finders, distance measuring systems, and altimeters. Generally, these systems use blade antennas operating in the L frequency band. Recently, inverted-hat empty section monopole antennas have been found to be good candidates for such uses. In this study, we propose a new design of inverted-hat antenna based on optimized elliptical shapes and a filled cavity. The dielectric material added in the cavity helps to improve the monopole stability and to adjust the resonant frequency of the antenna. The proposed antenna meets the distance measuring equipment requirements, namely an omnidirectional radiation pattern in the H-plane, a vertical polarization, a frequency band from 960 MHz to 1.22 GHz, and a gain better than 1 dB. This antenna is entirely made of aluminum in order to obtain a homogeneity with the aluminum fuselage. In addition, the solution proposed brings a better protection against weather conditions. The antenna performance is analyzed on the basis of simulation and measurement results.
Lungenkrebschirurgie bei schwerer COPD mit Emphysem: Tumorresektion mit Verbesserung der Lungenfunktion
Authors: Hiller Aimée , Schneiter Didier , Opitz Isabelle , Caviezel Claudio
Published: June 2022

Zusammenfassung. Die Standardtherapie bei Lungenkrebs im Frühstadium ist die chirurgische, anatomische Resektion, am häufigsten im Sinn einer Lobektomie oder Segmentektomie. Dies setzt die sogenannte Operabiltät voraus, das heisst u.a. gewisse lungenfunktionelle Reserven. Patientinnen und Patienten mit COPD und Emphysem weisen häufig hierfür inakzeptable Lungenfunktionswerte auf. Nichtsdestotrotz kann ihnen eine Operation angeboten werden, wenn sie gleichzeitig für eine Lungenvolumenreduktion (LVRS) qualifizieren. Eine sogenannte Tumorresektion im LVRS-Konzept sichert nicht nur die Diagnose, sondern bietet neben der definitiven Histologie ein korrektes Staging, die komplette Entfernung des Tumors und die Möglichkeit einer postoperativen Verbesserung der Lungenfunktion. Wie bei allen Patientinnen und Patienten mit Krebsverdacht sollte auch hier eine entsprechende Indikation an einem interdisziplinären Tumorboard erfolgen.
Nahrungsmittelallergien im Kindesalter
Authors: Trachsel Tina , Köhli Alice
Published: June 2022

Zusammenfassung. Nahrungsmittelallergien im Kindesalter verzeichnen weiterhin eine Zunahme und sind daher ein aktuelles Thema in der Klinik und Praxis. In diesem Beitrag beschreiben wir die häufigsten Allergene und Risikofaktoren für die Entwicklung einer Allergie auf Nahrungsmittel. Die Klassifikation der IgE- und nicht-IgE-vermittelten Nahrungsmittelallergien und deren klinische Manifestationen wird beleuchtet. Die Bedeutung einer sorgfältigen Diagnostik mit gezielter Anamnese und Allergietestungen und schlussendlich der Durchführung einer oralen Provokation für die Diagnosestellung wird dargestellt. Wir gehen auf die Betreuung der Familien von Kindern mit Nahrungsmittelallergien ein, wobei die Unterstützung durch eine allergologisch geschulte Ernährungsberatung wie auch die Ausstattung der Familien mit einem Notfallset bedeutsam sind. Abschliessend werden neuste Therapiemöglichkeiten der spezifischen Immuntherapie, die auf eine Toleranzinduktion abzielt, aufgezeigt und die Prognose von Nahrungsmittelallergien diskutiert.
Ultra and Very Long Period Seismic Signatures of Unsteady Eruptions Predicted From Conduit Flow Models
Authors: Coppess Katherine R. , Dunham Eric M. , Almquist Martin
Published: June 2022

Explosive volcanic eruptions radiate seismic waves as a consequence of pressure and shear traction changes within the conduit/chamber system. Kinematic source inversions utilize these waves to determine equivalent seismic force and moment tensor sources, but relation to eruptive processes is often ambiguous and nonunique. In this work, we provide an alternative, forward modeling approach to calculate moment tensor and force equivalents of a model of eruptive conduit flow and chamber depressurization. We explain the equivalence of two seismic force descriptions, the first in terms of traction changes on conduit/chamber walls, and the second in terms of changes in magma momentum, weight, and momentum transfer to the atmosphere. Eruption onset is marked by a downward seismic force, associated with loss of restraining shear tractions from fragmentation. This is followed by a much larger upward seismic force from upward drag of ascending magma and reduction of magma weight remaining in the conduit/chamber system. The static force is upward, arising from weight reduction. We calculate synthetic seismograms to examine the expression of eruptive processes at different receiver distances. Filtering these synthetics to the frequency band typically resolved by broadband seismometers produces waveforms similar to very long period seismic events observed in strombolian and vulcanian eruptions. However, filtering heavily distorts waveforms, accentuating processes in early, unsteady parts of eruptions and eliminating information about longer (ultra long period time scale depressurization and weight changes that dominate unfiltered seismograms. Our workflow can be utilized to directly and quantitatively connect eruption models with seismic observations.
Identification of nosZ-expressing microorganisms consuming trace N2O in microaerobic chemostat consortia dominated by an uncultured Burkholderiales
Authors: Kim Daehyun D , Han Heejoo , Yun Taeho , Song Min Joon , Terada Akihiko , Laureni Michele , Yoon Sukhwan
Published: June 2022

Microorganisms possessing N2O reductases (NosZ) are the only known environmental sink of N2O. While oxygen inhibition of NosZ activity is widely known, environments where N2O reduction occurs are often not devoid of O2. However, little is known regarding N2O reduction in microoxic systems. Here, 1.6-L chemostat cultures inoculated with activated sludge samples were sustained for ca. 100 days with low concentration (<2 ppmv) and feed rate (<1.44 µmoles h−1) of N2O, and the resulting microbial consortia were analyzed via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenomic/metatranscriptomic analyses. Unintended but quantified intrusion of O2 sustained dissolved oxygen concentration above 4 µM; however, complete N2O reduction of influent N2O persisted throughout incubation. Metagenomic investigations indicated that the microbiomes were dominated by an uncultured taxon affiliated to Burkholderiales, and, along with the qPCR results, suggested coexistence of clade I and II N2O reducers. Contrastingly, metatranscriptomic nosZ pools were dominated by the Dechloromonas-like nosZ subclade, suggesting the importance of the microorganisms possessing this nosZ subclade in reduction of trace N2O. Further, co-expression of nosZ and ccoNO/cydAB genes found in the metagenome-assembled genomes representing these putative N2O-reducers implies a survival strategy to maximize utilization of scarcely available electron acceptors in microoxic environmental niches.
Ascitic fluid shear stress in concert with hepatocyte growth factor drive stemness and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells via the c-Met-PI3K/Akt-miR-199a-3p signaling pathway
Authors: Hassan Ayon A. , Artemenko Margarita , Tang Maggie K. S. , Shi Zeyu , Chen Lin-Yu , Lai Hung-Cheng , Yang Zhenyu , Shum Ho-Cheung , Wong Alice S. T.
Published: June 2022

Overcoming drug resistance is an inevitable challenge to the success of cancer treatment. Recently, in ovarian cancer, a highly chemoresistant tumor, we demonstrated an important role of shear stress in stem-like phenotype and chemoresistance using a three-dimensional microfluidic device, which most closely mimics tumor behavior. Here, we examined a new mechanosensitive microRNA—miR-199a-3p. Unlike most key microRNA biogenesis in static conditions, we found that Dicer, Drosha, and Exportin 5 were not involved in regulating miR-199a-3p under ascitic fluid shear stress (0.02 dynes/cm2). We further showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), but not other ascitic cytokines/growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and tumor necrosis factor α or hypoxia, could transcriptionally downregulate miR-199a-3p through its primary transcript miR-199a-1 and not miR-199a-2. Shear stress in the presence of HGF resulted in a concerted effect via a specific c-Met/PI3K/Akt signaling axis through a positive feedback loop, thereby driving cancer stemness and drug resistance. We also showed that miR-199a-3p expression was inversely correlated with enhanced drug resistance properties in chemoresistant ovarian cancer lines. Patients with low miR-199a-3p expression were more resistant to platinum with a significantly poor prognosis. miR-199a-3p mimic significantly suppressed ovarian tumor metastasis and its co-targeting in combination with cisplatin or paclitaxel further decreased the peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer in mice. These findings unravel how biophysical and biochemical cues regulate miR-199a-3p and is important in chemoresistance. miR-199a-3p mimics may serve as a novel targeted therapy for effective chemosensitization.
Highly-efficient RuNi single-atom alloy catalysts toward chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes
Authors: Liu Wei , Feng Haisong , Yang Yusen , Niu Yiming , Wang Lei , Yin Pan , Hong Song , Zhang Bingsen , Zhang Xin , Wei Min
Published: June 2022

The design and exploitation of high-performance catalysts have gained considerable attention in selective hydrogenation reactions, but remain a huge challenge. Herein, we report a RuNi single atom alloy (SAA) in which Ru single atoms are anchored onto Ni nanoparticle surface via Ru–Ni coordination accompanied with electron transfer from sub-surface Ni to Ru. The optimal catalyst 0.4% RuNi SAA exhibits simultaneously improved activity (TOF value: 4293 h–1) and chemoselectivity toward selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-aminostyrene (yield: >99%), which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest level compared with reported heterogeneous catalysts. In situ experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ru–Ni interfacial sites as intrinsic active centers facilitate the preferential cleavage of N–O bond with a decreased energy barrier by 0.28 eV. In addition, the Ru–Ni synergistic catalysis promotes the formation of intermediates (C8H7NO* and C8H7NOH*) and accelerates the rate-determining step (hydrogenation of C8H7NOH*).