bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assistive Devices for Personal Mobility in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: García‐Bustillo Álvaro , Valiñas‐Sieiro Florita , Allende‐Río Marta , González‐Santos Josefa , Cubo Esther ,   and the Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Group
Published: September 2022

Background

Gait abnormalities are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease and contribute to falling risk. As disease symptoms progress, assistive devices are often prescribed. However, there are no guidelines for choosing appropriate ambulatory devices for gait impairment.

Objective

To review the scientific evidence on assistive devices for gait impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review for articles relating to parkinsonian gait impairment and assistive devices. We assessed the studies’ methodological quality and risk of bias using the PEDro scale.

Results

Seventeen articles were reviewed. Four articles (23.53%) showed that canes and standard and two‐wheeled walkers without visual cues decreased gait speed and stride length, with no significant effects on freezing of gait or falls. Instead, improvements were observed with the use of visual [seven articles (41.18%)] and auditory cues [three articles (17.65%)], including decreased number of freezing episodes and increased stride length.

Conclusions

Although assistive devices seem to improve confidence, there is still limited information about the efficacy of assistive devices on gait parameters and functional disability in Parkinson's disease. Further, longitudinal, multicenter, randomized, blinded, and controlled studies using assistive devices in a free‐living context are required to provide the best scientific evidence
Corticospinal Suppression Underlying Intact Movement Preparation Fades in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Wilhelm Emmanuelle , Quoilin Caroline , Derosiere Gerard , Paço Susana , Jeanjean Anne , Duque Julie
Published: September 2022

Background

In Parkinson's disease (PD), neurophysiological abnormalities within the primary motor cortex (M1) have been shown to contribute to bradykinesia, but exact modalities are still uncertain. We propose that such motor slowness could involve alterations in mechanisms underlying movement preparation, especially the suppression of corticospinal excitability—called “preparatory suppression”—which is considered to propel movement execution by increasing motor neural gain in healthy individuals.

Methods

On two consecutive days, 29 PD patients (on and off medication) and 29 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation over M1, eliciting motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) in targeted hand muscles, while they were either at rest or preparing a left‐ or right‐hand response in an instructed‐delay choice reaction time task. Preparatory suppression was assessed by expressing MEP amplitudes during movement preparation relative to rest.

Results

Contrary to HCs, PD patients showed a lack of preparatory suppression when the side of the responding hand was analyzed, especially when the latter was the most affected one. This deficit, which did not depend on dopamine medication, increased with disease duration and also tended to correlate with motor impairment, as measured by the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III (both total and bradykinesia scores).

Conclusions

Our novel findings indicate that preparatory suppression fades in PD, in parallel with worsening motor symptoms, including bradykinesia. Such results suggest that an alteration in this marker of intact movement preparation could indeed cause motor slowness and support its use in future studies on the relation between M1 alterations and motor impairment in PD. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
A case study of 2019‐nCoV in Russia using integer and fractional order derivatives
Authors: Vellappandi M. , Kumar Pushpendra , Govindaraj Venkatesan
Published: September 2022

In this article, we define a mathematical model to analyze the outbreaks of the most deadly disease of the decade named 2019‐nCoV by using integer and fractional order derivatives. For the case study, the real data of Russia is taken to perform novel parameter estimation by using the Trust Region Reflective (TRR) algorithm. First, we define an integer order model and then generalize it by using fractional derivatives. A novel optimal control problem is derived to see the impact of possible preventive measures against the spread of 2019‐nCoV. We implement the forward–backward sweep method to numerically solve our proposed model and control problem. A number of graphs have been plotted to see the impact of the proposed control practically. The Russian data‐based parameter estimation along with the proposal of a mathematical model in the sense of Caputo fractional derivative that contains the memory term in the system are the main novel features of this study.
Ensemble of convolutional neural networks and multilayer perceptron for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Li Minglei , Jiang Yuchen , Li Xiang , Yin Shen , Luo Hao
Published: September 2022

Background

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) can provide morphological information about the structure and function of the brain in the same scanning process. It has been widely used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Purpose

To capture the anatomical changes in the brain caused by AD/MCI, deep learning‐based MRI image analysis methods have been proposed in recent years. However, it is observed that the performance of most existing methods is limited as they only construct a single type of deep network and ignore the significance of other clinical information.

Methods

To make up for these defects, an ensemble framework that incorporates three types of dedicatedly‐designed convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) network is proposed, where three CNNs with entropy‐based multi‐instance learning pooling layers have more reliable feature selection abilities. The dedicatedly‐designed base classifiers can make use of the heterogeneous data, and empower the framework with enhanced diversity and robustness. In particular, to consider the interactions among the base classifiers, a novel multi‐head self‐attention voting scheme is designed. Moreover, considering the chance that MCI can be transformed to AD, the proposed framework is designed to diagnose AD and predict MCI conversion simultaneously, with the aid of the transfer learning technique.

Results

For performance evaluation and comparison, extensive experiments are conducted on the public dataset of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The results show that the proposed ensemble framework provides superior performance under most of the evaluation metrics. Especially, the proposed framework achieves state‐of‐the‐art diagnostic accuracy (98.61% for the AD diagnosis task, and 84.49% for the MCI conversion prediction task).

Conclusions

These promising results demonstrate the proposed ensemble framework can accurately diagnose AD patients and predict the conversion of MCI patients, which has the potential of clinical practice for diagnosing AD and MCI.
Efficient estimation of propagator anisotropy and non‐Gaussianity in multishell diffusion MRI with micro‐structure adaptive convolution kernels and dual Fourier integral transforms
Authors: París Guillem , Pieciak Tomasz , Aja‐Fernández Santiago , Tristán‐Vega Antonio
Published: September 2022

Purpose

We seek to reformulate the so‐called Propagator Anisotropy (PA) and Non‐Gaussianity (NG), originally conceived for the Mean Apparent Propagator diffusion MRI (MAP‐MRI), to the Micro‐Structure adaptive convolution kernels and dual Fourier Integral Transforms (MiSFIT). These measures describe relevant normalized features of the Ensemble Average Propagator (EAP).

Theory and Methods

First, the indices, which are defined as the EAP's dissimilarity from an isotropic (PA) or a Gaussian (NG) one, are analytically reformulated within the MiSFIT framework. Then a comparison between the resulting maps is drawn by means of a visual analysis, a quantitative assessment via numerical simulations, a test‐retest study across the MICRA dataset (6 subjects scanned five times) and, finally, a computational time evaluation.

Results

Findings illustrate the visual similarity between the indices computed with either technique. Evaluation against synthetic ground truth data, however, demonstrates MiSFIT's improved accuracy. In addition, the test–retest study reveals MiSFIT's higher degree of reliability in most of white matter regions. Finally, the computational time evaluation shows MiSFIT's time reduction up to two orders of magnitude.

Conclusions

Despite being a direct development on the MAP‐MRI representation, the PA and the NG can be reliably and efficiently computed within MiSFIT's framework. This, together with the previous findings in the original MiSFIT's article, could mean the difference that definitely qualifies diffusion MRI to be incorporated into regular clinical settings.
Early initiation of riluzole may improve absolute survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Thakore Nimish J. , Lapin Brittany R. , Mitsumoto Hiroshi , Pooled Resource Open‐Access ALS Clinical Trials Consortium
Published: September 2022

Introduction/Aims

Riluzole improves survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but optimal time and duration of treatment are unknown. The aim of this study was to examine if timing of riluzole initiation and duration of treatment modified its effect on survival.

Methods

Patients from the PRO‐ACT dataset with information on ALS Functional Rating Scale, time from onset to enrollment (TFOE), and riluzole use were selected for analysis. Survival from enrollment was the outcome. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were examined for interactions between riluzole and TFOE. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to assess average treatment effect.

Results

Of 4778 patients, 3446 (72.1%) had received riluzole. In unadjusted analyses, riluzole improved median survival significantly (22.6 vs. 20.2 months, log‐rank p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, no significant interaction between TFOE and riluzole was found. Riluzole effect was uniform during follow‐up. By IPTW, estimated riluzole hazard ratio was 0.798 (95% confidence interval 0.686–0.927). Delaying riluzole initiation by 1 y (6 to 18 months from onset) may translate to reducing median survival from onset by 1.9 months (40.1 to 38.2 months).

Discussion

Riluzole appears to reduce risk of death uniformly, regardless of time from onset to treatment, and duration of treatment. Earlier treatment with riluzole may be associated with greater absolute survival gain from onset. Early diagnosis of ALS will facilitate early treatment and is expected to improve survival.
A highly efficient method for structural model reduction
Authors: Yang Qiu Wei , Peng Xi
Published: September 2022

Model reduction is a commonly used method for quickly computing the lower‐order eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a structure. This article proposed a direct model reduction method without any iterations. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed technique has two main advantages. The first one is that the explicit expression of the transformation matrix can be directly obtained using a recurrence formula. The second one is that the calculation efficiency of the proposed method is very high because there is no need for iterative calculation. Three types of structure are used as examples to verify the proposed method. It is found that the lower‐frequency eigenpairs calculated by the reduced model are very close to the exact ones obtained by the full model. Moreover, the calculation time of the proposed method is much less than that of the existing methods. It has been shown that the proposed method is reliable and effective.
Discovery of potential Q‐marker of traditional Chinese medicine based on chemical profiling, chemometrics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking: Centipeda minima as an example
Authors: Liu Meiqi , Zhao Xiaoran , Ma Zicheng , Qiu Ziying , Sun Lili , Wang Meng , Ren Xiaoliang , Deng Yanru
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The characteristics of chemical components or groups of chemical components in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) determine their clinical efficacy. Quality markers (Q‐markers) is of great significance for standardizing the quality control system of TCM.

Objectives

We aimed to develop a new strategy to discover potential Q‐markers of TCM by integrating chemometrics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, using Centipeda minima (also known as ebushicao [EBSC]) as an example.

Materials and methods

First, fingerprints of different batches of EBSC and its counterfeit Arenaria oreophila (also known as zaozhui [ZZ]) were established. Second, chemometric analysis was conducted to determine the influence of varying authenticity/batches of herbs on quality and the chemical markers were screened out. Third, network pharmacology and molecular docking simulations were used to verify the relationship between active ingredients and targets. Lastly, potential Q‐markers were selected based on TCM theory.

Results

The chemical profiles of EBSC and ZZ were investigated. It was found that different batches of EBSC have differences in chemical composition. Based on our chemometric analysis, chlorogenic acid, rutin, isochlorogenic acid A, quercetin, arnicolide D, and brevilin A were selected as candidate active ingredients. ATIL6, EGFR, CASP3, MYC, HIF1A, and VEGFA were the main targets. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability. Based on the concept of Q‐marker, arnicolide D and brevilin A were identified as potential Q‐markers for EBSC.

Conclusions

Our strategy could be used as a practical approach to discover Q‐markers of TCM to evaluate overall chemical consistency.
Third Abstraction: Motives and techniques
Authors: LaoZhu
Published: September 2022

When we look at an image/picture, and make it impossible to recognize anything specific from it, which means that this image/picture itself has no associations with any existing thing either in the real world or in the imaginary one, and if this image/picture can still generate under these circumstances meanings and effects, then this is what I mean by the Third Type of Abstraction. The method I use is actually to keep removing all the elements of the image/picture that may lead to fantasies or associations with concrete things and make it stay in a suspended, uncertain and free status. In this way, the freedom of everyone who looks at an image/picture can be provoked out of an uncontrolled state.
Oegugin Influencers and pop nationalism through government campaigns: Regulating foreign‐nationals in the South Korean YouTube ecology
Authors: Lee Jin , Abidin Crystal
Published: September 2022

In South Korea, it has become a growing trend for foreign Influencers to promote Korean cultures, especially through genres like mukbang (livestreamed binge‐eating), beauty vlogs (e.g. “A day in the life of”), reaction (e.g., K‐pop and K‐drama “reacts”). This is observed in popular cross‐platform hashtag streams like “oegugin” [#외국인; “foreign‐nationals”], and “oegugin‐baneung” [#외국인반응; “foreigner reactions”]. While institutions frequently deploy Influencers as ambassadors, the popularity of oegugin Influencers—particularly those of White descent—is prominently observed in South Korea alongside the global popularity of K‐culture. In response, this paper details the emergent interventions toward the development and regulation of the oegugin Influencer ecology, by reviewing the strategic choices of oegugin Influencers when they work with government ministries and companies, especially around nation branding campaigns and contents. Specifically, we consider how the discourse of nation branding and nationalism is being shaped, promoted, and advocated by oegugin Influencers in the form of popular culture, despite Korea's existing racial system, which can be contentious for its entanglements with online hate and xenophobia. Further, we focus on what we call “pop nationalism” as evidenced in the oegugin Influencers' nationalist contents, and discuss how racial boundaries are regulated in the (re)production and consumption of such contents.
Regulating social media and influencers within Vietnam
Authors: Le Viet Tho , Hutchinson Jonathon
Published: September 2022

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang is the CEO of Dai Nam Van Hien, a tourism complex in Binh Duong province in southern Vietnam, and in 2021 she started livestreaming on social media. Hang's livestreams would humiliate celebrities, include personal attacks, criticize media and charity organizations, and use harassing language, resulting in the Vietnamese government regulating social media influencers. Vietnam is a centralized government that promotes the regulation of social media influencers to control the population by censoring content and banning certain discussion topics. This is exemplary of Vietnam's media regulatory environment: Vietnam wants to take advantage of the opportunities that new media and technology bring to promote economic integration, yet the Vietnamese government prefers to accept them by enforcing their adherence to local regulations via regulatory and economic measures. As a result, the Vietnamese government has increased control over livestreaming influencers: any social media account with more than 10,000 followers must provide account holders' contact information to government authorities. Further, social media platforms will be asked to remove content that has been flagged as problematic by government officials, shoring up Vietnam's view on regulation toward foreign social media platforms. These regulations allow the government to control the narrative around social issues and prevent dissenting voices from being heard. Departing from the analysis of Hang's case study, this article examines the current regulatory status of social media users with a specific focus on Vietnamese influencers. The paper also extrapolates the tension that the country faces as it invests and develops its digital and creative industries.
Ring‐opening polymerizations of L‐Lactide catalyzed by zinc caprylate: Syntheses of cyclic and linear poly(L‐lactide)s
Authors: Kricheldorf Hans R. , Weidner Steffen M. , Scheliga Felix
Published: September 2022

Alcohol‐initiated ring‐opening polymerizations (ROPs) of L‐Lactide (LA) were conducted in bulk at 130 °C catalyzed by Zn acetate (ZnAc2), lactate (ZnLac2), or caprylate (ZnCap2). 11‐undecenol (UND), 1‐hydroxymethylnaphtalene (HMN), and 4‐nitrobenzylalcohol (4NB) were used as alcohols. Whereas variation of the alcohols had little effect, the usefulness of the catalysts increased in the order: acetate < lactate < caprylate. Hence, further alcohol‐initiated polymerizations were performed with ZnCap2 alone and with variation of the lactide/catalyst (LA/Cat) ratio. With increasing LA/Cat ratio higher fractions of cyclic poly(L‐lactide) (PLA) were found, so that the measured degree of polymerization (DP) is considerably lower than the theoretical value (i.e., 2 x LA/alcohol). With neat ZnCap2 cyclic PLAs were the largely prevailing reaction products. For these cyclic PLAs weight average molar masses (Mw) up to 134,000 were obtained and an optical purity around 99% was indicated by 13C NMR spectroscopy and DSC measurements even after 48 h at 150 or 160 °C.
Stratus over rolling terrain: Large‐eddy simulation reference and sensitivity to grid spacing and numerics
Authors: Weinkaemmerer Jan , Ďurán Ivan Bašták , Westerhuis Stephanie , Schmidli Jürg
Published: September 2022

The formation of low stratus cloud over idealized hills is investigated using numerical model simulations. The main driver for the cloud formation is radiative cooling due to outgoing longwave radiation. Despite a purely horizontal flow, the advection terms in the prognostic equations for heat and moisture produce vertical mixing across the upper cloud edge, leading to a loss of cloud water content. This behavior is depicted via a budget analysis. More precisely, this spurious mixing is caused by the diffusive error of the advection scheme in regions where the sloping surfaces of the terrain‐following vertical coordinate intersect the cloud top. This study shows that the intensity of the (spurious) numerical diffusion depends strongly on the horizontal resolution, the order of the advection schemes, and the choice of scalar advection scheme. A large‐eddy simulation with 4‐ horizontal resolution serves as a reference. For horizontal resolutions of a few hundred meters and simulations carried out with a model setup as used in numerical weather prediction, a strong reduction of the simulated liquid‐water path is observed. In order to keep the (spurious) numerical diffusion at coarser resolutions small, at least a fifth‐order advection scheme should be used. In the present case, a weighted essentially nonoscillatory scalar advection scheme turns out to increase the numerical diffusion along a sharp cloud edge compared with an upwind scheme. Furthermore, the choice of vertical coordinate has a strong impact on the simulated liquid‐water path over orography. With a modified definition of the sigma coordinate, it is possible to produce cloud water where the classical sigma coordinate does not allow any cloud formation.
Pressure prediction of phase stability, anisotropic elasticity, and thermodynamic properties of Ti2AC (A = Cd, In) ternary compound
Authors: Wei Sikang , Xu Yang , Han Zhaohui , Xu Lei
Published: September 2022

In this study, the effects of high pressure on phase stability, anisotropic elasticity, and thermodynamic properties of Ti2AC (A = Cd, In) were predicted by using first‐principles based on density functional theory. The negative formation enthalpy indicates that Ti2AC (A = Cd, In) is thermodynamically stable at pressures of 0–50 GPa. The elastic constants and polycrystalline moduli of Ti2AC (A = Cd, In) increase with increasing pressure, while its elastic anisotropies decrease with increasing pressure. The density of states demonstrates that no phase transition occurs in the pressure range 0–50 GPa. In addition, the influences of high pressure (up to 50 GPa) and temperature (up to 2000 K) on the thermodynamic properties of Ti2AC (A = Cd, In) were systematically studied based on the quasi‐harmonic Debye model. Finally, the sound velocities and minimum thermal conductivities are also discussed.
Medico‐economic impact of onco‐urological robot‐assisted minimally invasive surgery in a high‐volume centre
Authors: Grobet‐Jeandin Elisabeth , Pinar Ugo , Parra Jérôme , Vaessen Christophe , Chartier‐Kastler Emmanuel , Seisen Thomas , Rouprêt Morgan
Published: September 2022

Background

We lack data regarding the economic cost of robot‐assisted surgical procedures in urology. We aimed to assess the medico‐economic impact of onco‐urological robot‐assisted surgery.

Methods

All patients who underwent robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) or robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in 2019 were included. Cost assessment included the costs of surgery, hospital stay, and complications. Global cost was calculated and compared with open and laparoscopic procedures.

Results

Overall, 126 (48%) RAPN and 135 (52%) RARP were included. Total cost per patient was 6857€ for RARP and 6034€ for RAPN. Costs of surgery, hospital stay, and complications represented 76.2%, 21.5%, and 2.3%, respectively, of the total cost per patient for RAPN, and 74.1%, 25.9%, and 0% for RARP. Compared to the open approach, RAPN was 6% cheaper and RARP was 10% more expensive per patient. Standard laparoscopic procedures were cheaper.

Conclusions

Robotic procedures were associated with increased costs of surgical procedures, but with reduction in morbidity and hospital stay costs.
Get to know your new president
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: September 2022

Two of the colleges where I used to work will get new presidents this year. During my career, I welcomed four new presidents. It's always an anxious time because you just don't know what to expect. You hope you'll get a president who will observe, listen, and study life on your campus before making big changes. That's not always the case. One new president I worked for came in like a tornado. She upended life as we knew it and changed the landscape radically.
Did court dismiss student's retaliation lawsuit?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: September 2022

A female Augustana College student was at an off‐campus bar when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a prospective student who wasn't enrolled at the institution. The female student was intoxicated at the time of the alleged assault.
AAUW leader works to support opportunities for women
Authors: Santovec Mary Lou
Published: September 2022

The travel bug hit Gloria Blackwell in middle school. Having taken her first French class and discovering she was really good at languages, she soon found herself part of a group of students involved with a sister city exchange in France.
Perovskite Dimensional Evolution Through Cations Engineering to Tailor the Detection Limit in Hard X‐ray Response
Authors: Li Huayang , He Yuhong , Li Weijun , Lu Tong , Tan Mingrui , Wei Wei , Yang Bai , Wei Haotong
Published: September 2022

Halide perovskites with various compositions are potential candidates in low‐dosage X‐ray detection due to their large sensitivity and tunable optoelectronic properties. Here, cations engineering induced dimensional evolution of halide perovskites between 0D, 2D, and 3D is reported. Centimeter‐sized 2D lead‐free perovskite single‐crystal of 4‐fluorophenethylammonium antimony iodide (FPEA3SbI6) is synthesized. In contrast to the 0D phenethylammonium antimony iodide (PEA3Sb2I9), face‐shared [Sb2I9]3– of the bi‐octahedral structure of PEA3Sb2I9 is split into corner‐shared [SbI6]3– by intermolecular interactions and steric hindrance of FPEA+ ions in 2D FPEA3SbI6. Two Sb3+ ions share three octahedral [SbI6]3–, leaving one‐third of Sb3+ vacancies in the framework of FPEA3SbI6. Furthermore, Sn2+ ions can be filled into the vacancies to form continuous 2D frameworks to tune the anisotropic conductivity and device sensitivity to hard X‐rays. The dimensional evolution of perovskite single‐crystals from 3D to 2D or 0D to 2D maximizes the signal/noise ratio to facilize the adjustability of detection limit in hard X‐ray detection, which is determined by both device sensitivity and device noise current. A record low detection limit coefficient of 0.65 is achieved in the 2D FPEA3SbSn0.5I7 single‐crystal sample, which results from selective charges collection over mobile ions/noise current in the 2D perovskite structure.
Kainate receptors GluK1 and GluK2 differentially regulate synapse morphology
Authors: Duan Gui‐Fang , Tang Xiao‐Hui , Jia Min , Wu Dan , Shi Yun Stone
Published: September 2022

The regulation of dendritic spine morphology is a critical aspect of neuronal network refinement during development and modulation of neurotransmission. Previous studies revealed that glutamatergic transmission plays a central role in synapse development. AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors regulate spine morphology in an activity dependent manner. However, whether and how Kainate receptors (KARs) regulate synapse development remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that GluK1 and GluK2 may play distinct roles in synapse development. In primary cultured hippocampal neurons, we found overexpression of the calcium‐permeable GluK2(Q) receptor variant increased spine length and spine head area compared to overexpression of the calcium‐impermeable GluK2(R) variant or EGFP transfected, control neurons, indicating that Q/R editing may play a role in GluK2 regulation of synapse development. Intriguingly, neurons transfected with GluK1(Q) showed decreased spine length and spine head area, while the density of dendritic spines was increased, suggesting that GluK1(Q) and GluK2(Q) have different effects on synaptic development. Swapping the critical domains between GluK2 and GluK1 demonstrated the N‐terminal domain (NTD) is responsible for the different effects of GluK1 and GluK2. In conclusion, Kainate receptors GluK1 and GluK2 have distinct roles in regulating spine morphology and development, a process likely relying on the NTD.
Shaking table test and seismic behavior of Ningbo Hengda Tower
Authors: Zhao Bin , Lin Yinjia , Li Xin , Zhou Ying
Published: September 2022

A super tall building named Ningbo Hengda Tower is located in Ningbo City, China. It has 91 stories with a total height of 450 m. The structure system of the building consists of three parts, that is, the reinforced concrete core, the outer frame system, and the outrigger trusses connecting the core wall and outer frame. The unique outer frame system is spindle shaped with oblique columns. The outrigger trusses are located at three different levels above the ground, thus strengthening the building and creating irregularities in the stiffness of the structure along the building height. Great challenges are existed in seismic design and analysis of the building. Shaking table test was carried out for a 1/40 scaled model of the building under a series of different base excitations with increasing amplitudes. The dynamic properties, seismic responses, and failure mechanism of the structure are investigated. Test results show that the structure behaved well under designed level earthquakes. The weak points of the structure are identified based on visible damage of the tested model, and some suggestions are made for the improvement of the seismic behavior of the building. It is suggested that measures be taken to improve the ductility of the building from floor 71 to floor 79 and the adjacent floors.
Analytical modeling of graphene/PMMA nanocomposite under hygrothermomechanical loading
Authors: Petrova Tatyana S. , Kirilova Elisaveta G. , Becker Wilfried , Ivanova Jordanka A.
Published: September 2022

In the present paper, the analytical modeling of graphene/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposite under hygrothermomechanical loading is performed. The 2D analytical method consists of the use of the stress‐function variational method, which was validated with experimental data in our previous paper. Studying the hygrothermomechanical behavior of graphene/PMMA nanocomposites with possible interface delamination along the overlap zone of the structure considered, the parametric analysis is done as well. Three cases of loading – mechanical, thermal (heating/cooling), and mixed (hygrothermomechanical) are considered and compared with mechanical one. All results for the behavior of the axial, peel and shear stresses for all three layers of the structure are illustrated in figures and discussed. Some important conclusions are derived.
Novel Foods in the EU Integrated Administrative Space: An Institutional Perspective
Authors: Volpato Annalisa
Published: September 2022

Paying particular attention to the institutional dimension of the EU legal framework for the placing on the market of Novel Foods, this chapter examines the main elements of Regulation 2015/2283, including the definition of Novel Food, the objectives of the legislative measure, and the procedure for the authorisation of Novel Foods. The analysis focuses especially on the roles of the diverse actors involved, and on the Regulation’s collocation in the broader context of EU food law and European integrated administration.
Food (In)Security: The Role of Novel Foods on Sustainability
Authors: Sforza Stefano
Published: September 2022

Food production today impacts heavily on the environment and available resources while at the same time failing to provide equal access to food security and healthy diets for everyone. To improve this situation, food production systems need to be redesigned in a more circular way, minimising food waste, developing new technologies, and exploiting novel biomasses for food production. Novel Foods are the consequence of this evolution and can play a pivotal role towards the target of providing sustainably produced, secure, and healthy food for everyone.
Legislative and Judicial Challenges on Insects for Human Consumption: From Member States to the EU, Passing Through the Court of Justice of the EU
Authors: Formici Giulia
Published: September 2022

The chapter presents an overview of the legislative regime regulating insects for human consumption in the EU territory. The analysis aims at underlining both the legal issues deriving from the previous EU Novel Foods Regulation 258/97 and the difficulties and concerns characterising the legislative evolutive path and the current Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. An examination of the recent CJEU intervention in the so-called Entoma case will lead to some conclusive remarks, intended to highlight open issues and possible future developments.
Consumer Perceptions and Acceptance of Insects As Feed and Food: Current Findings and Future Outlook
Authors: Sogari Giovanni , Dagevos Hans , Amato Mario , Taufik Danny
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the use of insects as food and feed has gained widespread attention from industry, policy makers, the scientific community, and the general public globally. This chapter is devoted to providing insights on the current state-of-the-art around edible insects and the interlinkages among market, legislation and consumer acceptance. Future research developments are also explored.
Impact of supplemental anesthesia in preterm infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia
Authors: Siegler Benedikt Hermann , Dudek Martha , Müller Thomas , Kessler Markus , Günther Patrick , Hochreiter Marcel , Weigand Markus Alexander
Published: September 2022

Background

In preterm infants, spinal anesthesia (SpA) is recognized as an alternative to general anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair (IHR); however, some patients require supplemental anesthesia during surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and impact of supplemental anesthesia on perioperative care and adverse respiratory and hemodynamic events.

Methods

A retrospective study of preterm infants undergoing IHR at Heidelberg University Hospital within the first year of life between 2009 and 2018 was carried out.

Results

In total, 230 patients (255 surgeries) were investigated. Among 189 procedures completed using SpA 24 patients received supplemental anesthesia. Reasons for supplemental anesthesia included loss of anesthetic effect, returning motor response, and respiratory complications. Compared to SpA alone, no differences were found concerning hemodynamic parameters; however, patients requiring supplemental anesthesia displayed higher rates of postoperative oxygen supplementation and unexpected admission to the intensive care unit. The rate of perioperative apnea was 2.7%. Apneic events exclusively occurred after supplemental anesthesia. Bilateral IHR and duration of surgery were associated with the need for supplemental anesthesia.

Conclusion

Whereas SpA might be favorable when compared to general anesthesia for IHR, the data indicate that particular caution is required in patients receiving supplemental anesthesia due to the possible risk for adverse respiratory events.
Foundations of consumption and production in the sharing economy
Authors: Tham Wan Kei , Lim Weng Marc , Vieceli Julian
Published: September 2022

The sharing economy is established as a new economy in the digital era. Many reviews on the sharing economy avail, but none, to date, has shed enough light to illuminate understanding pertaining to the similar and dissimilar characteristics of consumers and producers in the sharing economy. To address this gap, this paper aims to provide a one-stop, state-of-the-art overview of existing research on the sharing economy through the lens of consumers and producers. To do so, this paper conducts a systematic review of 148 articles on the sharing economy identified through the snowballing technique and organized using the antecedents, decisions, and outcomes (ADO) and theories, contexts, and methods (TCM) frameworks. In doing so, this paper unpacks the trust, personal, economic, social, entrepreneurial, environmental, legal, and technological factors that impact on behavioural performance, loyalty, and impact factors among consumers and producers in the sharing economy. Finally, this paper also reveals the theories, contexts, and methods that avail for sharing economy research, as well as the potentially fruitful directions for future research.
Virus-induced gene silencing shows that LATE FLOWERING plays a role in promoting flower development in soybean
Authors: Shin Seung Yong , Park Myuong-Ryoul , Kim Hyun-Soon , Moon Jae Sun , Lee Hyo-Jun
Published: September 2022

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a useful tool to investigate the role of genes particularly in hard-to-transform plant species via the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation process. Soybean is one of the most important crops for the food and protein source, but its low transformation efficiency makes it hard to identify the functions of genes of interest. Here, we adopted tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV)-based VIGS systems and examined the role of a LATE FLOWERING (GmLATE) gene in soybean. Because TRSV induces symptoms affecting leaf senescence and development, we screened soybean genotypes and selected a genotype, named Aram, which shows resistance to TRSV symptoms while is susceptible to TRSV-induced gene silencing. The TRSV-based silencing of GmLATE in soybean showed suppressed flower development with decreased expression of genes related to flowering. These results suggest that GmLATE plays a role in promoting flower development in soybean, which is different from its role as a floral repressor in Arabidopsis. Our results show the novel function of GmLATE and demonstrate that TRSV-based VIGS system can be used as a tool to study genes involved in flowering in soybean.
A Delayed-Choice Quantum Eraser with Photon-Counting MKIDs (Experimental Design)
Authors: Bracken C. P. , McAleer C.
Published: September 2022

An extension to the delayed-choice quantum eraser (DCQE) photonic experiment is described in this paper. It is proposed to employ an array of superconducting detectors on the measurement plane, and use their high sensitivity, low-noise, and fast response time to provide significantly better control of the system in a real-time, photon-counting format. We present an experimental design that would allow a pulse-triggered feedback loop to be added to be system, in an attempt to test an apparent information paradox. We show how new light might be shed on the interpretations and conclusions made from the somewhat puzzling results of the DCQE. While we focus on using an array of microwave kinetic induction detectors for this experiment, other, potentially better-suited superconducting devices are also considered.
The Kostin Equation, the Deceleration of a Quantum Particle and Coherent Control
Authors: Losert Harald , Ullinger Freyja , Zimmermann Matthias , Efremov Maxim A. , Rasel Ernst M. , Schleich Wolfgang P.
Published: September 2022

Fifty years ago Kostin (J Chem Phys 57(9):3589–3591, 1972. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1678812) proposed a description of damping in quantum mechanics based on a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the potential being governed by the phase of the wave function. We show for the example of a moving Gaussian wave packet, that the deceleration predicted by this equation is the result of the same non-dissipative, homogeneous but time-dependent force, that also stops a classical particle. Moreover, we demonstrate that the Kostin equation is a special case of the linear Schrödinger equation with three potentials: (i) a linear potential corresponding to this stopping force, (ii) an appropriately time-dependent parabolic potential governed by a specific time dependence of the width of the Gaussian wave packet and (iii) a specific time-dependent off-set. The freedom of the width opens up the possibility of engineering the final state by the time dependence of the quadratic potential. In this way the Kostin equation is a precursor of the modern field of coherent control. Motivated by these insights, we analyze in position and in phase space the deceleration of a Gaussian wave packet due to potentials in the linear Schrödinger equation similar to those in the Kostin equation.
Millimetre Wave Kinetic Inductance Parametric Amplification using Ridge Gap Waveguide
Authors: Banys D. , McCulloch M. A. , Sweetnam T. , Gilles V. , Piccirillo L.
Published: September 2022

We present the design and simulation methodology of a superconducting ridge-gap waveguide (RGWG) as a potential basis for mm-wave kinetic inductance travelling wave parametric amplifiers (KI-TWPAs). A superconducting RGWG was designed using Ansys HFSS to support a quasi-TEM mode of transmission over a bandwidth of 20–120 GHz with its internal dimensions optimised for integration with W-band rectangular waveguide. A design of an impedance loaded travelling wave structure incorporating periodic perturbations of the ridge was described. A method to simulate the nonlinear kinetic inductance via user-defined components in Keysight’s ADS was outlined, which yielded the power dependent S-parameters and parametric signal gain. A RGWG with a 30 nm NbTiN coating and 5 $$\upmu$$
μ
m conductor spacing, corresponding to a kinetic inductance fraction $$\alpha \sim 60\%$$

α
∼
60
%

was used for the description of a KI-TWPA with 900 perturbations equivalent to a physical length 25 cm that achieved more than 10 dB of signal gain over a 75–110 GHz bandwidth via 4-wave mixing (4WM).
Sequential sampling of junction trees for decomposable graphs
Authors: Olsson Jimmy , Pavlenko Tatjana , Rios Felix L.
Published: September 2022

Thejunction-treerepresentation provides an attractive structural property for organising adecomposable graph. In this study, we present two novel stochastic algorithms, referred to as thejunction-tree expanderandjunction-tree collapser, for sequential sampling of junction trees for decomposable graphs. We show that recursive application of the junction-tree expander, which expands incrementally the underlying graph with one vertex at a time, has full support on the space of junction trees for any given number of underlying vertices. On the other hand, the junction-tree collapser provides a complementary operation for removing vertices in the underlying decomposable graph of a junction tree, while maintaining the junction tree property. A direct application of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated in the setting of sequential Monte Carlo methods, designed for sampling from distributions on spaces of decomposable graphs. Numerical studies illustrate the utility of the proposed algorithms for combinatorial computations on decomposable graphs and junction trees. All the methods proposed in the paper are implemented in the Python librarytrilearn.
Exploration of the link between gut microbiota and purinergic signalling
Authors: Li MingJian , Liu BoWen , Li Rong , Yang Ping , Leng Ping , Huang Yong
Published: September 2022

Growing evidence reveals that microorganisms in the gut are linked to metabolic health and disease risk in human beings to a considerable extent. The focus of research at this stage must tend to focus on cause-and-effect studies. In addition to being a component of DNA and RNA, purine metabolites can be involved in purine signalling in the body as chemical messengers. Abnormalities in purinergic signalling may lead to neuropathy, rheumatic immune diseases, inflammation, tumors, and a wide range of other diseases. It has proved that gut microbes are involved in purinergic signalling. The relationship between these gut-derived purinergic signalling molecules and host metabolism may be one of the important clues to our understanding of the mechanisms by which the microbiota affects host metabolism.
The Evolution of Fluorescence-Guided Surgery
Authors: Van Keulen Stan , Hom Marisa , White Haley , Rosenthal Eben L. , Baik Fred M
Published: September 2022

There has been continual development of fluorescent agents, imaging systems, and their applications over the past several decades. With the recent FDA approvals of 5-aminolevulinic acid, hexaminolevulinate, and pafolacianine, much of the potential that fluorescence offers for image-guided oncologic surgery is now being actualized. In this article, we review the evolution of fluorescence-guided surgery, highlight the milestones which have contributed to successful clinical translation, and examine the future of targeted fluorescence imaging.
Querschnittstudie zum Versorgungsstand von Familien nach Suizid und Suizidversuch eines Elternteils in Bayern
Authors: Finkeldei Simon , Kern Tita , Rinne-Wolf Susanna
Published: September 2022

Hintergrund

In Bayern wurde 2019 mit 1520 Fällen die höchste absolute Anzahl von Suiziden in Deutschland registriert. Suizid als Todesursache ist besonders belastend für Angehörige und das Risiko von betroffenen Kindern, selbst im weiteren Lebensverlauf Suizid zu begehen, ist signifikant erhöht. Frühe und spezifische Ansätze der sog. psychosozialen Notfallversorgung sind nach hoch belastenden Lebenserfahrungen, wie Suizid im Nahfeld, fachlich indiziert.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Querschnittstudie ist es, die Versorgungssituation von Familien nach Suizid und Suizidversuch eines Elternteils in Bayern zu erheben und dadurch Bedarfe zu erkennen.

Methoden

Daten zu Versorgungsangeboten, der (Selbst)einschätzung der Kompetenzen zu traumaspezifischen Aspekten und der grundsätzlichen Beurteilung der Versorgungssituation und -qualität in Bayern wurden bei 108 Jugendämtern und Beratungsstellen per telefonischer Befragung erhoben und deskriptiv ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Fälle von Suizid/-versuch kommen in der Beratungs- und Betreuungsrealität von Mitarbeitenden in Jugendämtern und Beratungsstellen vor. Die am häufigsten genannte Hilfe ist die Weitervermittlung in andere zumeist heilkundliche Angebote. 80 % der befragten Mitarbeitenden in Beratungsstellen und Jugendämtern halten die Einführung einer zentralen Notfallrufnummer für Familien und Fachkräfte für sinnvoll.

Schlussfolgerung

Fachkräfte sehen den Bedarf für Beratung bei den Betroffenen und wollen diesem auch in der eigenen Einrichtung entsprechen, fühlen sich jedoch in Folge begrenzter interner und externer Angebote sowie eigener Qualifikation dafür nicht ausreichend ermächtigt. Die Angebote, in die weitervermittelt wird, sind in den meisten Fällen weder spezifisch, passgenau noch kurzfristig verfügbar, was angesichts des hohen Erkrankungsrisikos der betroffenen Kinder und Jugendlichen einen kritischen Faktor darstellt. Es besteht ein Bedarf für unmittelbar erreichbare spezifische Unterstützung sowohl für Fachkräfte als auch für betroffene Familien, z. B. durch eine Notfallrufnummer.