bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Power Plants in the Western Region of Libya during a Period of Insecurity
Authors: Mabrouk Alkar Khaled
Published: July 2021

After the uprising in Libya in 2011, several outages and blackouts occurred in the electrical grid. The western region of Libya is the most affected part especially after the civil war in Tripoli 2014. This chapter focus on the assessment of energy production by Al-Zawia Combined Cycle Power Plant “Al-Zawia CCPP” and Western Mountain Power Plant during the period of blackouts and insecurity. In addition, to figure out the main causes of the frequent blackouts and outages in order to find practical solutions to ease the severity of the problem. This research is done based on the data are collected from the recorded data in Al-Zawia CCPP and Western Mountain power plant during the last two years 2019–2020. The data shows the instability of the annual energy produced from Al- Zawiya PPCC and Western Mountain Power Plant in 2019, also illustrates the improvement in the total produced energy by the six gas units of the Western Mountain power plant after the end of the war on Tripoli in 2020. However, the data shows the deficiency of the Western Mountain power plant to operate at its full capacity, especially in August 2020 due to the lack of maintenance.
Petrological and Biostratigraphic Characteristics of Pre-Cenozoic Carbonate Rocks in the Northern Song Hong Basin, Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Dam Mai , Tan Trieu Nguyen , Kim Phuong Lieu
Published: July 2021

Pre-Cenozoic carbonate rocks in the northern Song Hong basin, Vietnam that are being considered and studied by oil companies in exploration and exploitation. The hydrocarbon accumulations in these rocks have been discovered and have significantly commercial reserves, in which the porosity plays an important role in estimating the capacity of hydrocarbon. The carbonate rocks are composed mainly of crystalline limestone, packstone, wackestone and mudstone, which have been experienced dolomitization, compaction and dissolution. The main carbonate pore systems include fracture, vuggy and intercrystalline porosity. The predominance of larger benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicates that the carbonate sediments were formed during the late Paleozoic (Carboniferous-Permian) and were deposited in shallow marine environment. Furthermore, the obtained petrological and biostratigraphic characteristics are well-correlated with the carbonate formations exposed in adjacent Cat Ba island area. The results of this study are either used in petroleum exploration or used in a local stratigraphic correlation in northern Vietnam.
Consumer Perception of Electronic Commerce – Incorporating Trust and Risk with the Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Goundar Sam , Lal Kunal , Chand Ashmita , Vyas Pranav
Published: July 2021

The rapid growth in internet technology and the innovations in smart devices has had its impact on how businesses used to operate a decade ago to how consumers followed traditional shopping behavior when goods or services was required. The rise in internet users presents the opportunity of Electronic Commerce, the idea of providing and accessing goods and services using internet, such as selling goods and services, performing financial transactions and even booking an appointment. The two leading theories - perceived ease of use and usefulness have been employed in numerous information systems research studies to help understand consumer behavior in e-commerce environments. As the acceptance of e-commerce in Fiji is relatively low, this paper integrates the findings of previous researches with the perceived trust and perceived risk of consumers to provide a comprehensive framework of online shopping behavior based on the Technology Acceptance Model. To gain an in-depth understanding of consumers’ acceptance of e-commerce an online questionnaire was used with questions which focused on these disciplines. The outcome of which verified that there were correlations between trust, perceived risk, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and usage of e-commerce. Through the use of this research, businesses in Fiji may incorporate features as per user expectations and have a good background before venturing into e-commerce.
COVID 19 and Quality of Life in Indian Context
Authors: Sankar Umaiorubagam Ganapathy , Ravikumar Monisha , Rajam Sankara Eswaran Santhana
Published: July 2021

Battling the novel COVID-19 pandemic has caused emotional distress and many nations lost their humans at the fight against the virus. Quality of Life (QOL) has a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, politics and employment. Standard indicators of the quality of life include wealth, employment, the environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation and leisure time, social belonging, religious beliefs, safety, security and freedom. Being a poor economic country like India, lockdown during COVID 19 devastated occupation, education, recreation and money from the people and the fear of the disease impacts not only on the health of the individuals but also the quality of life of individual is affected.
Antibody Therapies for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Kanellias Nikolaos , Gavriatopoulou Maria , Terpos Evangelos
Published: July 2021

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is characterized by the abberant proliferation and expansion of plasma cells in the Bone marrow. Despite the broad use of proteasome inhibitors and IMiDs, Multiple Myeloma remains an incurable disease. The introduction of Monoclonal antibodies, along with bi-specific antibodies and check point inhibitors, has significantly enhanced the armamentarium of available therapeutic options in the relapsed setting. The incorporation of the above-mentioned novel agents in triplet or quadruplet therapeutic regimens has led to significant prolongation of overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS), without adding significant toxicity. Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies has become the cornerstone of antimyeloma therapy in both the newly diagnosed and relapsed setting.
How to Improve Hospital Flows in the Context of the COVID Pandemic
Authors: Dossou Paul-Eric , Foreste Luiza , Misumi Eric
Published: July 2021

In healthcare systems, the adoption of logistics 4.0 main technologies in the processes flows is essential to avoid unnecessary movements and manual work performed by people who could be performing tasks that require logical reasoning. In the context of the COVID pandemic, the adoption of new technologies to replace people in manual processes had become even more usual. This paper aims to demonstrate through simulation, the opportunities of improvement with lean manufacturing concepts and industry 4.0 technologies the hospital flows. After describing the problem and the need of improvements in hospital logistics, a literature review with concepts of Industry 4.0, Lean Manufacturing, and Logistics 4.0 will be presented. The hybrid approach used in the development of a decision aid tool that combines real data and methods of machine learning and problem-solving will be then, an example will be given for illustrating the concepts and methods elaborated.
Shared Decision-Making towards a Higher Quality of Care: Is This the Norm?
Authors: Athanasiou George , Bachtsetzis Chris
Published: July 2021

Patient-doctor relationship has traditionally been paternalistic, in which the doctor decided on behalf of the patient. It focused mainly between the patient who called for help and the doctor whose decisions had to be silently observed and followed by the patient. In this paternalistic model, the physician used his skills to choose the necessary interventions and treatments that were likely to restore the health of the patient. All the information given to the patient was selected to encourage them to consent to the doctor’s decisions. This definition of the asymmetric or unbalanced interaction between physicians and patients has begun to be questioned over the last 20 years. There has been a shift from this direction to one where the patient is more informed, empowered, and independent - a move from a “paternalistic” to a more “complementary” relationship. Critics suggested a more active, autonomous patient-centered role which supports greater patient control, reduced doctors’ dominance, and a more mutual participation. This approach has been described as one where the doctor attempts to enter the patient’s world to see the disease with the eyes of the patient and is becoming the predominant model in clinical practice today.
A Demographic Shift in College Students: A Preparatory Guide for Political Scientists and the Discipline
Authors: R. Hermann John
Published: July 2021

As United States higher education moves from the gilded age to a more challenging one, this research examines how the changing demographics of American college students should influence how political science faculty teach their classes. With more first-generation, underrepresented students (FGUS) on college campuses, the study offers five best practices to improve student success for political science faculty. Additionally, the research proposes that the content in political science courses should reflect the changing demographics of our students – both in revising our existing courses and offering new ones. Finally, diversification of faculty in political science is vital when teaching students of underrepresented groups.
Role of Organ Preservation in Locally Advanced Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Nazeer Farida , Ravi Kumar Rejnish , Rafi Malu , M. Nair Lekha , Cessal Thommachan Kainickal , Ramadas Kunnambath
Published: July 2021

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is relatively rare and has the worst prognosis of all head and neck cancers. Initially, surgery followed by postoperative radiation was the standard of care for locally advanced disease. In the recent years, various organ sparing approaches have evolved. There are mainly two schools of thought regarding larynx preservation in hypopharyngeal cancers which include either induction chemotherapy followed by response assessment for radical radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiation. An ongoing trial is comparing the effectiveness between these two established approaches. The role of anti-EGFR therapy and immunotherapy is still being evaluated. Despite all the advancements in treatment, hypopharyngeal cancers are still associated with poor treatment outcomes.
Relationship between sociodemographic factors and students' attitudes about integration content of Serbian language and music culture in younger grades of primary school
Authors: Perišić Snežana , Rašković Božana
Published: July 2021

Integrative teaching represents a methodical process in which subjects are connected through a central topic, problem or experience of students, and during the teaching of a particular topic, the contents, principles, values and language of two or more subjects are applied. The aim of the presented research was to improve the work with students by identifying factors that affect their attitude towards interdisciplinary integration of content. The research was conducted on a sample of 109 students from the Faculty of Teacher Education and the Faculty of Arts. The results of the research show that the majority of respondents have a positive attitude towards integrative teaching and the integration of the content of the Serbian language and music culture, and that as such it is related to certain socio-demographic factors. The contribution of partial predictors shows that older respondents, with higher grades in studies and poorer material status, have a more positive attitude towards the integration of Music Culture content. The research partially confirmed the third research sub-hypothesis, while the first and the second were rejected. The basic research hypothesis has been partially confirmed. The implications of this research are reflected in the improvement of work with students whose socio-demographic characteristics influence the formation of a negative attitude towards integrative teaching and the integration of the content of the Serbian language and music culture.
Rodents and their control in orchards
Authors: Jurišić Aleksandar , Kranik Nenad , Ivanović Ivana , Vuković Slavica , Potkonjak Aleksandar
Published: July 2021

The number of mouse-like rodents was monitored based on the traces and the estimates of the active holes in a private orchard from February to October 2019. Based on the appearance and spatial arrangement of the active holes on the observed orchard plot, the presence of the field vole Microtus arvalis (Pallas 1778) and the field mouse Apodemus agrarius (Pallas, 1771) was determined. Until 2019, the control of the rodent population at this location was successfully implemented through an integrated approach and the application of many non-chemical methods and procedures. Considering the mass appearance of these organisms during the research period, which was determined by constant monitoring, the chemical control had to be implemented to avoid major economic damage and defects to young seedlings. In the chemical control a zinc-phosphide based rodenticide with 2% active substance, which belongs to the group of fast-acting rodenticides with an acute and respiratory effect, was used. The effectiveness of rodenticide formulations was evaluated according to the Henderson & Tilton formula, based on the number of active holes for 7, 14 and 28 days. The best efficiency of the applied rodenticide was registered in the 28-days spring control period (85.11%) and in the 14days autumn period (74.03%) and 28days autumn period (82.14%).
Invasive mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in Serbia
Authors: Kavran Mihaela , Ignjatović-Ćupina Aleksandra , Petrić Dušan
Published: July 2021

Invasive mosquito species surveillance has been carried out in Europe since late 1990s, and the results revealed that their distribution range and population density have been increasing every year (ECDC, 2020). Majority of European countries are affected by at least one of invasive mosquito species, which are considered as important vector species of public health concern. Aedes invasive species are very aggressive daily biters and highly competitive with native mosquito species coexisting in the same breeding sites. Although pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes are much bigger problem in tropical areas, imported and autothonous cases of these diseases have been recorded every year in Europe. International and intercontinental transport of humans and goods increase the likely-hood of outbreaks caused by vector-borne pathogens. Cases of imported invasive mosquito species and cases of imported human infection (with Dengue and Chikungunya virus, imported and autohtonous) are increasing every year. Together with the presence of invasive mosquito species, outbreaks caused by vector-borne pathogens are significantly driven by human behaviour, ecosystem and climat changes. Two invasive mosquito species were present in Serbia so far: Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes japonicus (Japaneese bush mosquito). Populations of Ae. albopicus has been succesfully spreading in many urban and suburban areas in our country, while Ae. japonicus was identified in only two localities up today. According to the experience from Croatia, where this mosquito species is widely spread, similar scenario could be expected in Serbia as well.
Consumer lifestyle before and during COVID 19 virus pandemic
Authors: Lazarević Jovana , Marinković Veljko
Published: July 2021

The proclamation of the COVID 19 virus pandemic has changed the way people live in almost all parts of the world. Due to the pandemic, consumers are adapting to the new circumstances not only by respecting epidemiological measures but also by changing their habits in everyday life. The aim of this paper is to identify changes in consumer lifestyle as a consequence of the current COVID 19 pandemic. The research was conducted on a sample of 153 respondents by observing their eating habits, travel, use of electronic shopping and payment channels and healthy lifestyle. Based on the analysis of the collected primary data in the SPSS program, the results indicate that lifestyle related to travel, use of electronic shopping and payment channels and healthy lifestyle significantly differs, while eating habits also changed but in lower degree. The conducted research contributes to the generation of useful knowledge in order to better understand the COVID 19 virus, which is still unknown to the scientific community and various market actors, as well as its effects on everyday life of people.
The role and importance of value-based segmentation on the cohort of millennials: Case study Serbia
Authors: Mamula-Nikolić Tatjana , Perić Nenad , Alimpić Stefan
Published: July 2021

The paper deals with the value-based segmentation conducted on Millennials generation in Serbia. It presents the research findings of the five segments of the Serbian Millennials according to their values and life style. The subject of defining the set of segments was processed by conducting a cluster and factor analysis on the representative national sample of Millennials in Serbia. Once the cluster analysis discovered the segments, the next step was to understand the essence of the clusters or segments. The sample is consisted of 1000 respondents, reflecting the population structure of the Serbian generation Y according to gender, age, region and type of settlement (urban / rural). The analysis showed some quite interesting and in some parts contradictory results. The results of this survey are relevant for sociologists, strategists, communications professionals and managers who are interested in this generation of voters, consumers, employees, leaders and entrepreneurs.
"International" style architecture in the 1930s Japan: The vernacular and monumentality
Authors: Amanai Daiki
Published: July 2021

After mastering Western architecture in the 1910s, Japanese top architects have been confronted with two problems: creating their own style based on Japanese traditions and climatic or seismological conditions and educating common people on taste for architecture beyond superficial imitation of the Western one. First of all, an elite and initially expressionist architect Horiguchi Sutemi discussed non-urban-ness that connects Japanese tearooms and Dutch rural houses. This was through his modernist interpretation of function, his experience in the Netherlands and his reaction against the administrative viewpoints on city and architecture in the 1920s. Secondly, despite his former distant stance on monumentality, his request of the world-wide supreme expression to some projected monuments revitalized his own inclination. Seemingly his attitudes toward monumentality changed and the property of the monuments that honored the war victims or enhanced national prestige opposed the "international" feature of modern architecture. Although these points may hide his consistency, we can find his continuous dualism: one is the functionality that prevailed over architectural discourses at that time including Horiguchi himself and another is his expression that provided a local vernacular practice with the position in the world. These arguments enable us to cast a potential understanding among modern architects in those days in a new light.
Architecture as politics
Authors: Świtek Gabriela
Published: July 2021

The paper presents a comment on Jacques Rancière's thinking on architecture as traced in The Politics of Aesthetics and juxtaposed with a case study - 1st Exhibition of Architecture of the People's Poland. The exhibition organized in the era of Stalinism (1953) and shown in the Central Bureau for Artistic Exhibitions (nowadays the Zachęta - National Gallery of Art in Warsaw) is seen as a manifestation of 'artistic regimes' of the period and as aesthetisation of architecture which is commonly considered the most 'political' of all the (fine) arts. Architecture does not seem to be the main concern of The Politics of Aesthetics; most translators and (Polish) commentators of Rancière's philosophical writings draw our attention to the importance of his aesthetics for the relational aspects of contemporary art in public spaces. The article aims at emphasizing the architectural moments in Rancière's project of aesthetics as politics; it also elaborates a couple of notions poiēsis/mimēsis - as discussed by Rancière - in relation to architectural theory and history of architectural exhibitions.
Revisionist philosophy of architecture: Fundamental dispositives
Authors: Šuvaković Miško
Published: July 2021

The discussion points to the issue of defining and re-defining the notion of the "critical theory". The notion of critical theory has been considered since the introduction of the notion at the Institute for Social Research in Frankfurt until the modern, postmodern and contemporary theories of critical and decentering of the critical. The notion of critical theory is associated with the problem of politicization of architecture and urbanism. It is pointed to the case of critical theory of the Frankfurt circle. Particular attention is paid to the art/architecture theory of Theodor Adorno and to the theory of architecture and urbanism of Walter Benjamin. Adorno's critique of architectural functionalism has been considered. It is discussed about methodological approach to Benjamin's analysis and the debate on Paris as metropolis. The aim of the discussion is to indicate to transformations and modalities of critical theory in modernism, post-structuralism, postmodernism and contemporary global neoliberalism.
Spaces of reflection: Where does philosophy take place?
Authors: Schwarte Ludger
Published: July 2021

If reasoning implies a specific architecture (of concepts), the act of reasoning is not independent of very concrete architectural dispositions. In my essay, I will first give a sketch of places that have been designed as spaces of reflection, secondly, deconstruct the implicit assumptions of the relation with architecture and, lastly, try to show how the practice of philosophy depends on architectural settings.
Epistemological implications of neuroarchitecture
Authors: Samaržija Hana
Published: July 2021

This article will attempt to explain how the spatial characteristics of built environments affect both the cognitive processes of producing knowledge and the epistemic quality of other doxastic states. Recent discussions in philosophy and the social sciences have been vocal about the changing dynamics of contemporary life. As clouded boundaries between labor and leisure make individuals spend most of their time in built environments, personal experiences of space, buildings, and interiors are becoming a decisive factor in self-perception and cognition. These circumstances have encouraged the advent of a new scientific field: neuro-architecture, a branch of functional design supported by neurological brain scanning technologies and the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's capacity to change its structure along our behavior and surroundings. After articulating neuro-architecture's ambition to define spaces most suitable for promoting positive emotions, good health, and intellectual agility, the article will critically assess its epistemological implications and its potentially unfavorable impact on architectural aesthetic autonomy. This intrusion of natural sciences into the ostensibly artistic domain of architecture bears certain similarities to the tension between traditional analytic philosophy - which was preoccupied with idealized models of intellectual practices and mental processes - and scientific insights into human cognition, perhaps best illustrated by the mind-brain identity theory.
Integrated shopping centre as a component of the compact city
Authors: Cvetković Marija , Simić Ivan
Published: July 2021

In this paper we will present compact city planning and design concept, which compared to other concepts of the sustainable urban form, most fully incorporates all relevant topics and urban policies, such as increasing the density of development, ensuring a mix of uses, containing urban 'sprawl' and achieving social and economic diversity and vitality. We will examine integrated shopping centre as a component of the compact city, and establish its relationship with the concept of the compact city and its characteristics. The shopping centre concept in historical city core areas is not originally a sustainable concept. Instead, the concept of adaptive reuse of old industrial buildings located in the vicinity of city centre into retail functions is considered more sustainable and can be considered as a component of the compact city planning. The aim of this study is to examine the importance of integrated pedestrian environment for urban realm within the framework of the compact city concept. In order to determine the level of compatibility between the principles of sustainable urban form and the integrated shopping centre (ISC) principles of design, we will examine several case studies of shopping malls in the Czech Republic and Poland which are designed with the ISC principles in mind.
Relationship between smartphone use management and physical activity in leisure time of children aged 4-6
Authors: Milošević Bojan , Janković Branka , Janković Milenko
Published: July 2021

We are witnesses to an ever faster and more "aggressive" influence of modern technologies, not only on lives of adults and adolescents, but also children of preschool age. This planetary trend has not bypassed contemporary Serbian society either. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the data collected through the original empirical research in relation to establishing a connection between (1) the dimension of smartphone control imposed by the parents and (2) the dimensions of physical activity of children of preschool age in their leisure time. The paper analyzes the physical activities of preschool children depending on the following variables: children's gender and age (4, 5 or 6 years old), whether the child owns a smartphone or not, whether the child is included in a programmed sports activity; all this in relation to the parents' statement on whether they limit the time of the child's smartphone use. The relationship between these variables is justified by applying the Parental Smartphone Use Management Scale (PSUMS), while Baecke questionnaire is used for the data on preschool children's physical activity in their leisure time. The empirical research was carried out in the first half of 2020 by conducting a survey among the parents of 943 preschool children aged from 4 to 6 attending preschool and daycare centres in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Serbia). Based on the analysis of the collected data, we have deduced the following: 1. a large percentage of children from 4 to 6 do not own their own smartphones (77.9%), but nonetheless they use smartphones on a daily basis (73.4%); 2. there are no differences in children's physical activities in relation to their gender and age; 3. children spend more time on physical activities in their leisure time if they do not have their own smartphones, if they are engaged in an organized sports activity ("recreational schools"), as well as if their parents limit their smartphone use, and 4. children participate more in physical activities in their leisure time if their parents are consistent regarding children's smartphone time management. Recommendations to parents based on our research are that children should be included in free physical activities at the earliest preschool age, and in the structured/programmed ones at a later preschool age, because that is the period most suitable for accepting adequate habits of physical exercise that are carried on into adulthood. In that manner, children will more easily "give up" their passive (sedentary) activities in leisure time, which is usually spent alongside use of smartphone, all with the aim of optimizing the quality of their growing up.
Characterization of hospitalized patients who received naloxone while receiving opioids with or without gabapentinoids
Authors: Desai Payal H. , Taylor Olesya , Shah Kunal J. , Evoy Kirk E. , Peckham Alyssa M.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Gabapentin and pregabalin (gabapentinoids) can be given with opioids for opioid-sparing and adjuvant analgesic effects. In the context of certain comorbidities and high dosages, coadministration of these agents can lead to respiratory depression or oversedation, necessitating naloxone administration.

Methods

A retrospective chart review from January 2015 to December 2017 was conducted to include patients who received naloxone and opioids with or without gabapentinoids. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy or having received naloxone in the emergency department, intensive care, or pediatrics units. The primary outcome was to characterize differences between groups regarding comorbidities, history of renal or hepatic dysfunction, history of SUD, opioid tolerance, initiation and dose appropriateness of gabapentinoids, and dose intensity of gabapentinoids and opioids. Secondary outcomes were concomitant CNS depressant use and naloxone episodes for documented respiratory depression.

Results

Of 126 patients who met inclusion criteria, 36 received opioids and gabapentinoids (gabapentinoid group) and 90 received opioids alone (nongabapentinoid group). There were 136 naloxone episodes between the 2 groups. More than 50% of the naloxone episodes in the gabapentinoid group involved opioids of at least 90 oral morphine mg equivalents. Respiratory depression accounted for 39% and 15.8% of the naloxone episodes in the gabapentinoid and nongabapentinoid groups, respectively.

Discussion

There may be increased naloxone episodes among patients receiving opioids and gabapentinoids. Future studies are needed to evaluate the incremental risk of respiratory depression and oversedation as it pertains to concomitant medication administration and patient-specific factors.
Impact of a pharmacist-driven tardive dyskinesia screening service
Authors: Butala Niyati , Williams Andrew , Kneebusch Jamie , Mitchell Melissa
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is defined as involuntary movements that can develop with prolonged antipsychotic use. Regular monitoring using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is recommended to be conducted every 3 to 6 months for early recognition, although the AIMS is underused. Several studies have investigated risk factors that may be associated with TD, including age, sex, and long-term antipsychotic use. This study aimed to increase the monitoring and treatment of TD for those assessed to be at higher risk.

Methods

This was a prospective quality improvement study on the effectiveness of a psychiatric pharmacist–driven TD screening service (PPDTSS) in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Participants were composed of adult patients admitted between May and November 2018. Patients were screened daily by a clinical pharmacist and, if determined to be high risk based on studied risk factors, prioritized to receive a formal TD screening via the AIMS. The primary objective was to optimize standard of care by increasing the number of AIMS screenings conducted. The secondary objective was to increase the treatment of TD.

Results

A total of 402 patients were assessed prior to implementation of the PPDTSS, and 390 patients were screened following implementation. The PPDTSS increased the number of AIMS screenings attempted by 85.1% for high-risk individuals. Of the 75 patients who had an AIMS screening attempted in the postintervention group, 46 (61.3%) had an AIMS screening completed, of which 3 (6.5%) were positive.

Discussion

The results of this study demonstrate that psychiatric pharmacists can be used to improve the regular monitoring of patients at high risk for TD.
Safety of ECT in patients receiving an oral anticoagulant
Authors: Centanni Nicolette R. , Craig Wendy Y. , Whitesell Dena L. , Zemrak Wesley R. , Nichols Stephanie D.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

This study assessed the use, tolerability, and safety of anticoagulation via direct oral anticoagulants or warfarin in medical and psychiatric inpatients receiving ECT.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 32 patients who received ECT while on either a direct oral anticoagulant (9) or warfarin (23) and spanned 247 encounters at Maine Medical Center between December 2012 and December 2018. Data are presented descriptively and analyzed using SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel version 2016.

Results

Among the 247 ECT patient encounters, there were few major adverse effects of ECT in this medically complex population. These adverse effects included headache during 4 encounters (1.6%), respiratory distress during 2 encounters (0.8%) and a cardiovascular event during 1 encounter (0.4%). One patient (3.1%) who was receiving concurrent rivaroxaban and venlafaxine experienced gastrointestinal bleeding that was determined to be unrelated to ECT. One patient on fluoxetine and warfarin experienced hemoptysis thought to be secondary to epistaxis. No other major bleeding or clotting event occurred during an ECT session nor for the duration of the hospitalization.

Discussion

Direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin appear safe in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation or acute venous thromboembolism who are receiving concomitant ECT. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Testing Self‐Interaction Correction for Molecules in Solution
Authors: Kraus Jakob , Schwalbe Sebastian , Trepte Kai , Kortus Jens
Published: July 2021

Two measures of reactivity, the ionization potential and the standard enthalpy of formation, are evaluated for the AQUA20 molecular test set in this theoretical study, comparing results from density functional theory, wavefunction approaches, and methods from the field of self‐interaction correction. All calculations are carried out for the gas phase and for an aqueous solution as simulated with the conductor‐like screening model. For the gas phase, previously reported tendencies are confirmed. With the presented computational approach for the aqueous solution, the application of self‐interaction correction improves the standard enthalpies of formation, but not the ionization potentials.
Flame‐Retardant Host–Guest Films for Efficient Thermal Management of Cryogenic Devices
Authors: Yang Yishan , Lyu Jing , Chen Jun , Liao Jianhe , Zhang Xuetong
Published: July 2021

Phase change materials hold tremendous potential for thermal energy storage and temperature management due to their high latent heat and chemical stability. However, the manufacture of flame‐retardant, form‐stable phase change films working under a cryogenic environment remains difficult. Herein, an organic polydopamine‐aramid nanofiber (PANF) aerogel film with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 32 is applied as a host to confine a unique phase change guest material (i.e., deep eutectic solvent, DES) to fabricate PANF‐DES host–guest flame‐retardant cryogenic phase change films. The PANF aerogel film is prepared through the in situ polymerization of dopamine within the aramid nanofiber hydrogel film, exhibiting a high specific surface area of 289 m2 g−1. The cryogenic phase change material is a ternary DES composed of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), ethylene glycol (Eg), and deionized water (H2O). The as‐prepared PANF‐DES host–guest films with the phase transition temperature of −21 °C and melting enthalpy of 225 J g−1 can withstand fire for 60 s without naked flame, and the peak of heat release rate (pkHRR) is only 26.0 MJ kg−1. This study opens the way for developing ultra‐low flammable phase change composite films, as well as shows great potential applications for thermal management in cryogenic devices.
Stability Of Non‐Fullerene Electron Acceptors and Their Photovoltaic Devices
Authors: Li Wei , Liu Dan , Wang Tao
Published: July 2021

Non‐fullerene electron acceptors (NFAs) are recognized as “rising star” in recent years in the organic solar cells (OSCs) community. In contrast to the traditional fullerene electron acceptors, NFAs promise superior feasibility in molecular design with tunable optoelectronic properties, experiencing unprecedented development in the last 5 years with maximum achievable power conversion efficiencies over 18% are acquired in NFA based OSCs. Nevertheless, the stability of NFAs and their OSCs is still problematic and not well understood, and is regarded as the bottleneck toward the commercialization of NFA based OSCs. In this review, recent advances and current understanding of the stability of NFAs and their corresponding OSCs are presented. Specifically, three key factors, including chemical‐, photon‐, and thermal‐, induced degradations in NFAs are analyzed and summarized, with approaches to enhance the stability suggested. This is followed by the discussion of shelf and operational stability of NFA based OSCs, with highlights of operational stabilities in inert, ambient, indoor, and outdoor conditions. It is envisaged that operational lifetime of over 20 years in real world is achievable via the joint efforts from material design, morphology control, interfacial engineering, and encapsulation technology.
Near‐Infrared Lasing in Four‐Zigzag Edged Nanographenes by 1D versus 2D Electronic π‐Conjugation
Authors: Muñoz‐Mármol Rafael , Gordillo Fernando , Bonal Víctor , Villalvilla José M. , Boj Pedro G. , Quintana José A. , Ross Aaron M. , Paternò Giuseppe M. , Scotognella Francesco , Lanzani Guglielmo , Derradji Amel , Sancho‐García Juan C. , Gu Yanwei , Wu Jishan , Casado Juan , Díaz‐García María A.
Published: July 2021

The search of compounds emitting in the near‐infrared (NIR) has been accelerated owing to their use in biomedical and telecommunications applications. In this regard, nanographenes (NGs) are attractive materials adequate for integration with other technologies, which have recently demonstrated amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing across the visible spectrum. Here, the optical and ASE properties of four‐zigzag edged NGs of the [m,n]peri‐acenoacene family are reported, whose size is increased through conjugation extension by varying n (from 3 to 5) while keeping m = 2. Results show that such 1D conjugation extension method is more efficient in terms of shifting the photoluminescence (PL) to the infrared (PL at 710 nm in the larger compound, PP‐Ar) than through 2D conjugation extension as in previously reported NGs (PL at 676 nm with the largest compound FZ3, with n = 3 and m = 4). Additionally, PP‐Ar shows dual‐ASE (at 726 and 787 nm), whose origin is elucidated through Raman and transient absorption spectroscopies. These compounds’ potential for red and NIR lasing is demonstrated through the fabrication of distributed feedback lasers with top‐layer resonators. This study paves the way towards the development of stable low‐cost all‐plastic NIR lasers.
Switchable Chiroptical Flexible Films Based on Chiral Helical Superstructure: Handedness Inversion and Dissymmetric Adjustability by Stretching
Authors: Li Pengpeng , Deng Jianping
Published: July 2021

Intelligent and controllable circularly polarized absorption and emission switching with high dissymmetric factors have attracted great attention due to the significant potential applications in chiral chemistry, chiral photonics, and electronics. However, the lack of examples to achieve freely switchable and adjustable chiroptical properties within a single material, especially in the deformable solid materials, limits the further continuous progress. Herein, an unprecedented, simple, and scalable way to achieve the above goal is presented. A stretchable spin‐coated thin film is fabricated from chiral helical substituted polyacetylene and thermoplastic polyurethane. Macromolecular chains self‐organize into hierarchically chiral superstructures under stretching, facilitating the film to absorb/emit circularly polarized light with opposite handedness from the two faces of the film. The dissymmetry intensity can be adjusted flexibly by controlling the elongation and recovery of the film. The nonreciprocity and chirality adjustability behaviors in stretchable solid materials represent a fundamental advancement and provide new opportunities for the design, preparation, and applications of chiroptical materials.
A Noninvasive Gut‐to‐Brain Oral Drug Delivery System for Treating Brain Tumors
Authors: Miao Yang‐Bao , Chen Kuan‐Hung , Chen Chiung‐Tong , Mi Fwu‐Long , Lin Yu‐Jung , Chang Yen , Chiang Chi‐Shiun , Wang Jui‐To , Lin Kun‐Ju , Sung Hsing‐Wen
Published: July 2021

Most orally administered drugs fail to reach the intracerebral regions because of the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) and the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which are located between the gut and the brain. Herein, an oral prodrug delivery system that can overcome both the IEB and the BBB noninvasively is developed for treating gliomas. The prodrug is prepared by conjugating an anticancer drug on β‐glucans using a disulfide‐containing linker. Following oral administration in glioma‐bearing mice, the as‐prepared prodrug can specifically target intestinal M cells, transpass the IEB, and be phagocytosed/hitchhiked by local macrophages (Mϕ). The Mϕ‐hitchhiked prodrug is transported to the circulatory system via the lymphatic system, crossing the BBB. The tumor‐overexpressed glutathione then cleaves the disulfide bond within the prodrug, releasing the active drug, improving its therapeutic efficacy. These findings reveal that the developed prodrug may serve as a gut‐to‐brain oral drug delivery platform for the well‐targeted treatment of gliomas.
Ohmic‐Contact‐Gated Carbon Nanotube Transistors for High‐Performance Analog Amplifiers
Authors: Gaviria Rojas William A. , Beck Megan E. , Sangwan Vinod K. , Guo Silu , Hersam Mark C.
Published: July 2021

The growing demand for ubiquitous data collection has driven the development of sensing technologies with local data processing. As a result, solution‐processed semiconductors are widely employed due to their compatibility with low‐cost additive manufacturing on a wide range of substrates. However, to fully realize their potential in sensing applications, high‐performance scalable analog amplifiers must be realized. Here, ohmic‐contact‐gated transistors (OCGTs) based on solution‐processed semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes are introduced to address this unmet need. This new device concept enables output current saturation in the short‐channel limit without compromising output current drive. The resulting OCGTs are used in common‐source amplifiers to achieve the highest width‐normalized output current (≈30 µA µm–1) and length‐scaled signal gain (≈230 µm–1) to date for solution‐processed semiconductors. The utility of these amplifiers for emerging sensing technologies is demonstrated by the amplification of complex millivolt‐scale analog biological signals including the outputs of electromyography, photoplethysmogram, and accelerometer sensors. Since the OCGT design is compatible with other solution‐processed semiconducting materials, this work establishes a general route to high‐performance, solution‐processed analog electronics.
A Mobile and Self‐Powered Micro‐Flow Pump Based on Triboelectricity Driven Electroosmosis
Authors: Sun Jianfeng , Zhang Lingjun , Li Zhongjie , Tang Qian , Chen Jie , Huang YingZhou , Hu Chenguo , Guo Hengyu , Peng Yan , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: July 2021

Electroosmotic pumps have been widely used in microfluidic systems. However, traditional high‐voltage (HV)‐sources are bulky in size and induce numerous accessional reactions, which largely reduce the system's portability and efficiency. Herein, a motion‐controlled, highly efficient micro‐flow pump based on triboelectricity driven electroosmosis is reported. Utilizing the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a strong electric field can be formed between two electrodes in the microfluidic channel with an electric double layer, thus driving the controllable electroosmotic flow by biomechanical movements. The performance and operation mechanism of this triboelectric electroosmotic pump (TEOP) is systematically studied and analyzed using a basic free‐standing mode TENG. The TEOP produces ≈600 nL min−1 micro‐flow with a Joule heat down to 1.76 J cm−3 nL−1 compared with ≈50 nL min−1 and 8.12 J cm−3 nL−1 for an HV‐source. The advantages of economy, efficiency, portability, and safety render the TEOP a more conducive option to achieve wider applications in motion‐activated micro/nanofluidic transportation and manipulation.
Travel medicine meets conservation medicine in St. Kitts: Disinhibition, cognitive‐affective inconsistency, and disease risk among vacationers around green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)
Authors: Muehlenbein Michael P. , Dore Kerry M. , Gassen Jeffrey , Nguyen Vy , Jolley O. Grace , Gallagher Christa
Published: July 2021

Despite concern about environmental protection, travelers often underestimate the contribution they may have to disease transmission to other species, as well as the risk of becoming infected themselves. Tourists in general tend to accept more physical risks when traveling than when at home, and much of this can be blamed on the temporary loss of situational awareness and loss of inhibition with a corresponding relaxed attitude toward safety. To better understand environmental attitudes and travel health knowledge and behaviors, a detailed survey of adult tourists was distributed on the island of St. Kitts, home to many green monkeys. Data from 1097 respondents were collected at two locations where cruise ship passengers typically visit the island. Results revealed that even though individuals with more positive environmental attitudes were more willing to take steps to mitigate tourism‐related disease transmission, they were also more likely to report wanting to touch or feed a monkey/ape. Similarly, those more willing to prevent the spread of diseases (e.g., wear a mask and report any illnesses to park authorities) were actually more likely to want to touch or feed a monkey/ape. The human desire for physical contact with other species may be partly the result of biophilia, emotionally arousing events (like contact with exotic species) that can lead to further disinhibition, and social media platforms that provide opportunities for exhibitionism. The attitude‐behavior incongruency identified here may also be explained through cognitive‐affective inconsistency: environmentally‐oriented individuals believe that it is prudent to take steps to prevent zoonotic disease transmission but also desire to touch or feed exotic species as it may be emotionally rewarding. Individuals for whom physically interacting with monkeys/apes may be emotionally rewarding may not alter their behavior in response to cognitive means of persuasion; techniques aimed at appealing to emotions may be more effective.
First observation of a chimpanzee with albinism in the wild: Social interactions and subsequent infanticide
Authors: Leroux Maël , Monday Gideon , Chandia Bosco , Akankwasa John W. , Zuberbühler Klaus , Hobaiter Catherine , Crockford Catherine , Townsend Simon W. , Asiimwe Caroline , Fedurek Pawel
Published: July 2021

Albinism—the congenital absence of pigmentation—is a very rare phenomenon in animals due to the significant costs to fitness of this condition. Both humans and non‐human individuals with albinism face a number of challenges, such as reduced vision, increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation, or compromised crypticity resulting in an elevated vulnerability to predation. However, while observations of social interactions involving individuals with albinism have been observed in wild non‐primate animals, such interactions have not been described in detail in non‐human primates (hereafter, primates). Here, we report, to our knowledge, the first sighting of an infant with albinism in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), including social interactions between the infant, its mother, and group members. We also describe the subsequent killing of the infant by conspecifics as well as their behavior towards the corpse following the infanticide. Finally, we discuss our observations in relation to our understanding of chimpanzee behavior or attitudes towards individuals with very conspicuous appearances.