bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asynchronous admissibility and fault detection for delayed implicit Markovian switching systems under hidden Markovian model mechanism
Authors: Zhuang Guangming , Xia Jianwei , Sun Wei , Feng Jun‐e , Ma Qian
Published: July 2021

This article is intended to deal with the problem of asynchronous admissibility and fault detection (FD) for time‐varying delay implicit Markovian switching systems (IMSSs) under hidden Markovian model (HMM) mechanism. The fundamental purpose is to design asynchronous FD filter such that the implicit Markovian switching residual system is stochastically admissible (including regular, impulse‐free, and stochastically stable) and satisfies the performance index. By constructing mode‐dependent and delay‐dependent Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, improved conditions of asynchronous FD filtering are proposed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The retarded mode‐dependent time‐varying delay is considered in this work when coping with admissibility of IMSSs, asynchronous FD for IMSSs is realized by virtue of designing asynchronous filter under HMM mechanism and fault weighting strategy. Simulation examples including an oil catalytic cracking process with multicycle incipient fault are provided to corroborate the validity and usefulness of the addressed asynchronous FD technique.
Effect of Rice Starch Hydrolysis and Esterification Processes on the Physicochemical Properties of Biodegradable Films
Authors: Martins Paola Chaves , Martins Vilásia Guimarães
Published: July 2021

Polymers such as starch are promising in the substitution of synthetic polymers in food packaging, but they present some inferior physicochemical properties. The chemical modification of starch can reduce the limitations of these polymers and make them suitable for packaging production. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elaborate, evaluate, and characterize biodegradable films produced from rice starch modified by hydrolysis and esterification processes. Rice starch hydrolyzed with 0.1 and 0.5 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and rice starch esterified with 2% and 10% citric acid (CA) are used to produce the packages. The films are characterized in terms of their mechanical properties, optical characteristics, structural and thermal properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility (WS), and hydrophobicity. Films formulated from hydrolyzed starch show an increase in tensile strength (TS) (11.17 MPa) when compared to the control (1.83 MPa). In addition, the films obtained from hydrolyzed starch present lower solubility (15.6%) and higher relative crystallinity (RC) (71.6%) when compared to the control. The films produced by esterified starch show greater surface hydrophobility with a contact angle of 72.6° while the control shows an angle of 45.8°. Based on the above, the esterified and hydrolyzed starches are promising for the development of sustainable packaging.
Multi‐ligamentous injury of the carpus with dislocation of the ulnar styloid in a dog
Authors: Renner Carina , Medl Nikola
Published: July 2021

A 3‐year‐old mixed‐breed dog was presented with acute onset of non‐weight bearing right thoracic limb lameness. Radiographs revealed dislocation of the ulnar styloid and a small slab fracture of the medial cortex of the distal ulna. Moderate medial and mild lateral instability without hyperextension were detected, and carpal bone fractures were excluded on stress radiographs and computed tomography. The surgical repositioning of the ulnar bone revealed multiple torn ligaments. To reinforce primary repair, the collateral ligaments were augmented medially and laterally using screws, washers and synthetic suture material. Postoperatively, external coaptation, followed by a soft neoprene brace, was used for further rehabilitation. Seven months postoperatively, the dog exhibited pre‐traumatic function. There is no proper classification for multi‐ligamentous injuries, and little is known regarding the long‐term outcomes and limitations of primary carpal ligament repair. In this case, medial and lateral ligament prostheses provided a feasible treatment option with excellent outcomes.
MRI features of a presumed noncolloidal intraventricular cyst in a young cat
Authors: Fantaconi Nicoletta , Sánchez Masián Daniel , Anderson Davina , Agthe Petra
Published: July 2021

A 5‐month‐old, male entire, Abyssinian cat was referred for investigation of 1‐week history of lethargy and suspected neck pain. Neurological examination revealed severe obtunded mentation, intermittent opisthotonic posture, ambulatory tetraparesis, positional vertical nystagmus and neck hyperesthesia. Haematology and biochemistry profile were within normal limits. MRI of the head revealed bilateral ventriculomegaly of the lateral ventricles. The left ventricle was more severely dilated and contained a large intraventricular cyst‐like structure bordered by a thin membrane. The cystic lesion caused a marked mass effect with mild‐line shift, cerebellar compression as well as caudal transtentorial and foramen magnum herniation. A congenital intraventricular cyst was suspected based on MRI findings.
Determination of the elemental composition of an air filter loaded with urban dust (PTXRFIAEA14) by means of the XRF technique
Authors: Seghir Abdallah Houcine , Benatallah Mohamed , Benamar Mohammed El Amine
Published: July 2021

A laboratory must introduce and apply an appropriate program relating to the process of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) to produce reliable measurements. This is best done by ensuring that the method is validated for the intended purpose of analysis. The method must be well documented, the personnel well trained, and the control mechanism must be presented to ensure that the procedure is under statistical control. This paper discusses the participation of the Fundamental and Applied Physics Laboratory in the PTXRFIAEA14 proficiency test organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency laboratories and the use of established analytical procedures for the determination of chemical element concentrations in an urban dust loaded on air filters by the XRF technique. The submitted results were processed, grouped with respect to analytes/laboratories, and compared to the assigned and consensus values of the analyte. The z‐score, u‐score, relative bias, and Standard Deviation Index (SDI) values were calculated according to the QA/QC procedure. The bowtie approach to present the overall concept, the failure‐effect tree to identify the causes of bias and their consequences on the measurement results, and the criticality matrix to assess the performance of a laboratory were introduced for the first time.
Global constraints on neutral-current generalized neutrino interactions
Authors: Escrihuela F. J. , Flores L. J. , Miranda O. G. , Rendón Javier
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We study generalized neutrino interactions (GNI) for several neutrino processes, including neutrinos from electron-positron collisions, neutrino-electron scattering, and neutrino deep inelastic scattering. We constrain scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensor new physics effective couplings, based on the standard model effective field theory at low energies. We have performed a global analysis for the different effective couplings. We also present the different individual constraints for each effective parameter (scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensor). Being a global analysis, we show robust results for the restrictions on the different GNI parameters and improve some of these bounds.
Proper static potential in classical lattice gauge theory at finite T
Authors: Lehmann Alexander , Rothkopf Alexander
Published: July 2021

Abstract

We compute the proper real-time interaction potential between a static quark and antiquark in classical lattice gauge theory at finite temperature. Our central result is the determination of the screened real-part of this potential, and we reconfirm the presence of an imaginary part. The real part is intimately related to the back-reaction of the static sources onto the gauge fields, incorporated via Gauss’s law. Differences in the treatment of static sources in quantum and classical lattice gauge theory are discussed.
The interplay of DAMPs, TLR4, and proinflammatory cytokines in pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Bolourani Siavash , Brenner Max , Wang Ping
Published: July 2021

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic debilitating condition characterized by progressive deposition of connective tissue, leading to a steady restriction of lung elasticity, a decline in lung function, and a median survival of 4.5 years. The leading causes of pulmonary fibrosis are inhalation of foreign particles (such as silicosis and pneumoconiosis), infections (such as post COVID-19), autoimmune diseases (such as systemic autoimmune diseases of the connective tissue), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The therapeutics currently available for pulmonary fibrosis only modestly slow the progression of the disease. This review is centered on the interplay of damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17) as they contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, and the possible avenues to develop effective therapeutics that disrupt this interplay.
A Trimethylguanosine Synthase1-like (TGS1) homologue is implicated in vernalisation and flowering time control
Authors: Taylor Candy M. , Garg Gagan , Berger Jens D. , Ribalta Federico M. , Croser Janine S. , Singh Karam B. , Cowling Wallace A. , Kamphuis Lars G. , Nelson Matthew N.
Published: July 2021

Key message

A plant-specificTrimethylguanosine Synthase1-likehomologue was identified as a candidate gene for theeflmutation in narrow-leafed lupin, which alters phenology by reducing vernalisation requirement.

The vernalisation pathway is a key component of flowering time control in plants from temperate regions but is not well understood in the legume family. Here we examined vernalisation control in the temperate grain legume species, narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), and discovered a candidate gene for an ethylene imine mutation (efl). The efl mutation changes phenology from late to mid-season flowering and additionally causes transformation from obligate to facultative vernalisation requirement. The efl locus was mapped to pseudochromosome NLL-10 in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population developed by accelerated single seed descent. Candidate genes were identified in the reference genome, and a diverse panel of narrow-leafed lupins was screened to validate mutations specific to accessions with efl. A non-synonymous SNP mutation within an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase protein domain of a Trimethylguanosine Synthase1-like (TGS1) orthologue was identified as the candidate mutation giving rise to efl. This mutation caused substitution of an amino acid within an established motif at a position that is otherwise highly conserved in several plant families and was perfectly correlated with the efl phenotype in F2 and F6 genetic population and a panel of diverse accessions, including the original efl mutant. Expression of the TGS1 homologue did not differ between wild-type and efl genotypes, supporting altered functional activity of the gene product. This is the first time a TGS1 orthologue has been associated with vernalisation response and flowering time control in any plant species.
A hierarchical clustering method for random intervals based on a similarity measure
Authors: Ramos-Guajardo Ana Belén
Published: July 2021

A new clustering method for random intervals that are measured in the same units over the same group of individuals is provided. It takes into account the similarity degree between the expected values of the random intervals that can be analyzed by means of a two-sample similarity bootstrap test. Thus, the expectations of each pair of random intervals are compared through that test and a p-value matrix is finally obtained. The suggested clustering algorithm considers such a matrix where each p-value can be seen at the same time as a kind of similarity between the random intervals. The algorithm is iterative and includes an objective stopping criterion that leads to statistically similar clusters that are different from each other. Some simulations to show the empirical performance of the proposal are developed and the approach is applied to two real-life situations.
Cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel treatment in the early phases of psychosis
Authors: Chesney Edward , Oliver Dominic , McGuire Philip
Published: July 2021

The pharmacological interventions available for individuals in the early stages of psychosis are extremely limited. For those at clinical high risk for psychosis, there is no licensed treatment available. For those with first-episode psychosis, all licensed antipsychotic medications act via dopamine D2 receptors. While treatment with antipsychotics is transformative in some patients, in others, it is ineffective. In addition, these medications can often cause adverse effects which make patients reluctant to take them. This is a particular problem in the early phases of psychosis, when patients are being treated for the first time, as unpleasant experiences may colour their future attitude towards treatment. Recent research has suggested that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant, may have antipsychotic effects and relatively few adverse effects and could therefore be an ideal treatment for the early phases of psychosis, when minimising adverse effects is a clinical priority. In this review, we consider CBD’s potential as a treatment in the clinical high risk and first-episode stages of psychosis. First, we describe the limitations of existing treatments at these two stages. We then describe what is known of CBD’s mechanisms of action, effectiveness as a treatment for psychosis, adverse effects and acceptability to patients. We discuss how some of the outstanding issues about the utility of CBD in the early phases of psychosis may be resolved through ongoing clinical trials. Finally, we consider the impact of recreational cannabis use and over-the-counter cannabinoids preparations and discuss the potential therapeutic role of other compounds that modulate the endocannabinoid system in psychosis.
Comparative performance of MRI-derived PRECISE scores and delta-radiomics models for the prediction of prostate cancer progression in patients on active surveillance
Authors: Sushentsev Nikita , Rundo Leonardo , Blyuss Oleg , Nazarenko Tatiana , Suvorov Aleksandr , Gnanapragasam Vincent J , Sala Evis , Barrett Tristan
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To compare the performance of the PRECISE scoring system against several MRI-derived delta-radiomics models for predicting histopathological prostate cancer (PCa) progression in patients on active surveillance (AS).

Methods

The study included AS patients with biopsy-proven PCa with a minimum follow-up of 2 years and at least one repeat targeted biopsy. Histopathological progression was defined as grade group progression from diagnostic biopsy. The control group included patients with both radiologically and histopathologically stable disease. PRECISE scores were applied prospectively by four uro-radiologists with 5–16 years’ experience. T2WI- and ADC-derived delta-radiomics features were computed using baseline and latest available MRI scans, with the predictive modelling performed using the parenclitic networks (PN), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression, and random forests (RF) algorithms. Standard measures of discrimination and areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) were calculated, with AUCs compared using DeLong’s test.

Results

The study included 64 patients (27 progressors and 37 non-progressors) with a median follow-up of 46 months. PRECISE scores had the highest specificity (94.7%) and positive predictive value (90.9%), whilst RF had the highest sensitivity (92.6%) and negative predictive value (92.6%) for predicting disease progression. The AUC for PRECISE (84.4%) was non-significantly higher than AUCs of 81.5%, 78.0%, and 80.9% for PN, LASSO regression, and RF, respectively (p = 0.64, 0.43, and 0.57, respectively). No significant differences were observed between AUCs of the three delta-radiomics models (p-value range 0.34–0.77).

Conclusions

PRECISE and delta-radiomics models achieved comparably good performance for predicting PCa progression in AS patients.

Key Points

• The observed high specificity and PPV of PRECISE are complemented by the high sensitivity and NPV of delta-radiomics, suggesting a possible synergy between the two image assessment approaches.

• The comparable performance of delta-radiomics to PRECISE scores applied by expert readers highlights the prospective use of the former as an objective and standardisable quantitative tool for MRI-guided AS follow-up.

• The marginally superior performance of parenclitic networks compared to conventional machine learning algorithms warrants its further use in radiomics research.
P300 and delay-discounting in obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Flasbeck Vera , Enzi Björn , Andreou Christina , Juckel Georg , Mavrogiorgou Paraskevi
Published: July 2021

Previous research showed that dysfunctions of fronto-striatal neural networks are implicated in the pathophysiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Accordingly, patients with OCD showed altered performances during decision-making tasks. As P300, evoked by oddball paradigms, is suggested to be related to attentional and cognitive processes and generated in the medial temporal lobe and orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices, it is of special interest in OCD research. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate P300 in OCD and its associations with brain activity during decision-making: P300, evoked by an auditory oddball paradigm, was analysed in 19 OCD patients and 19 healthy controls regarding peak latency, amplitude and source density power in parietal cortex areas by sLORETA. Afterwards, using a fMRI paradigm, Blood–oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast imaging was conducted during a delay-discounting paradigm. We hypothesised differences between groups regarding P300 characteristics and associations with frontal activity during delay-discounting. The P300 did not differ between groups, however, the P300 latency over the P4 electrode correlated negatively with the NEO-FFI score openness to experience in patients with OCD. In healthy controls, P300 source density power correlated with activity in frontal regions when processing rewards, a finding which was absent in OCD patients. To conclude, associations of P300 with frontal brain activation during delay-discounting were found, suggesting a contribution of attentional or context updating processes. Since this association was absent in patients with OCD, the findings could be interpreted as being indeed related to dysfunctions of fronto-striatal neural networks in patients with OCD.
Safety of alemtuzumab in a nationwide cohort of Finnish multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Rauma Ilkka , Mustonen Tiina , Seppä Juha Matti , Ukkonen Maritta , Männikkö Marianne , Verkkoniemi-Ahola Auli , Kartau Marge , Saarinen Jukka T. , Luostarinen Liisa , Simula Sakari , Ryytty Mervi , Ahmasalo Riitta , Sipilä Jussi O. T. , Pieninkeroinen Ilkka , Tapiola Tero , Remes Anne M. , Kuusisto Hanna
Published: July 2021

Background

Alemtuzumab is an effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for highly active multiple sclerosis (MS). However, safety concerns limit its use in clinical practice.

Objectives

To evaluate the safety of alemtuzumab in a nationwide cohort of Finnish MS patients.

Methods

In this retrospective case series study, we analyzed the data of all but two MS patients who had received alemtuzumab in Finland until 2019. Data were systematically collected from patient files.

Results

Altogether 121 patients were identified, most of whom had received previous DMTs (82.6%). Median follow-up time after treatment initiation was 30.3 months and exceeded 24 months in 78 patients. Infusion-associated reactions (IARs) were observed in 84.3%, 57.3%, and 57.1% of patients during alemtuzumab courses 1–3, respectively. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were observed in 32.2% of patients, serious IARs in 12.4% of patients, and SAEs other than IARs in 23.1% of patients. Autoimmune adverse events were observed in 30.6% of patients. One patient died of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and one patient died of pneumonia. A previously unreported case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura was documented.

Conclusions

SAEs were more frequent in the present cohort than in previous studies. Even though alemtuzumab is a highly effective therapy for MS, vigorous monitoring with a long enough follow-up time is advised.
The surprising role of stimulus modality in the dual-task introspective blind spot: a memory account
Authors: Bryce Donna , Bratzke Daniel
Published: July 2021

Being able to accumulate accurate information about one’s own performance is important in everyday contexts, and arguably particularly so in complex multitasking contexts. Thus, the observation of a glaring gap in participants’ introspection regarding their own reaction time costs in a concurrent dual-task context is deserving of closer examination. This so-called introspective blind spot has been explained by a ‘consciousness bottleneck’ which states that while attention is occupied by one task, participants cannot consciously perceive another stimulus presented in that time. In the current study, a series of introspective Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) experiments were conducted to identify the determinants of an introspective blind spot; to our surprise, in half of the experiments participants appeared to be aware of their dual-task costs. A single trial analysis highlighted the sensory modality of the two stimuli within the trial as an important predictor of introspective accuracy, along with temporal gaps in the trial. The current findings call into question the claim that attention is required for conscious awareness. We propose a memory-based account of introspective processes in this context, whereby introspective accuracy is determined by the memory systems involved in encoding and rehearsing memory traces. This model of the conditions required to build up accurate representations of our performance may have far-reaching consequences for monitoring and introspection across a range of tasks.
Einfluss der Rotorgeometrie auf Schwingungs- und Geräuschemissionen elektrischer Fahrzeugantriebe
Authors: England Marc , Ponick Bernd
Published: July 2021

Permanentmagneterregte Synchronmaschinen werden im Bereich der Traktionsmaschinen in der Regel mit einer Rotorstaffelung ausgeführt, d. h. der Rotor wird ähnlich wie bei der Nutschrägung entlang des Blechpakets segmentweise um insgesamt eine Nutteilung am Umfang versetzt, um Parasitäreffekte wie Drehmomentwelligkeit zu reduzieren und das akustische Verhalten zu verbessern. Allerdings wird durch die Staffelung der Rotorsegmente in axialer Richtung die Hauptwellenflussverkettung der Permanentmagnete gegenüber einer ungestaffelten Maschine verringert. Daher muss in einer gestaffelten Maschine mehr Magnetmaterial eingesetzt werden als in einer ungestaffelten Maschine, um das gleiche Drehmoment zu erreichen, was sich in den Kosten niederschlägt. Darüber hinaus ist die Staffelung ein vergleichsweise aufwendiger Schritt im Fertigungsprozess, sodass sich die Produktionszeit je Maschine erhöht und letztendlich die Kosten steigen.

In diesem Artikel wird der Einfluss einer Rotorpolweitenmodulation auf das Betriebsverhalten für V-förmig vergrabene Magnettopologien untersucht. Es wird bewertet, ob mithilfe dieser zusätzlichen Modifikation der Maschinengeometrie ein Antrieb ohne Staffelung ausgeführt werden kann, der die Vorgaben des Lastenhefts in Bezug auf die Drehmomentwelligkeit sowie auf das maximale Drehmoment einhält und gleichzeitig die Geräuschemissionen begrenzt. Zur vorteilhaften Gestaltung einer Rotorpolweitenmodulation wird eine Kombination der Magnetöffnungswinkel mittels eines analytischen Netzwerks identifiziert, die die für die Anregung von Pendelmomenten und Geräuschen kritischen Feldwellen des Rotors reduzieren kann. Anschließend werden die analytischen Ergebnisse mit FEM-Berechnungen validiert. Der Einfluss der Rotorpolweitenmodulation auf das Drehmomentverhalten sowie die Geräuschanregung wird mit der gestaffelten Referenzmaschine verglichen.
Intimate partner violence among ever-married Afghan women: patterns, associations and attitudinal acceptance
Authors: Shinwari Rehana , Wilson Michael Lowery , Abiodun Olumide , Shaikh Masood Ali
Published: July 2021

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most prevalent forms of violence that women suffer globally. Women in Afghanistan have been exposed to high levels of IPV which coincided with high levels of conflict during more than four decades. We cross-sectionally examined the Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey responses of 21,234 ever-married Afghan women. We first performed the frequency distribution analysis to determine the prevalence of IPV and the basic socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Subsequently we examined the relationship between the independent and dependent variables followed by the bivariate and survey versions of logistic regression analyses. We report odds ratios in order to depict the strength and direction of the associations between the IPV and selected independent variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The analyses showed that 55.54% of Afghan women experienced some form of physical, emotional, or sexual violence by their intimate partners during the recall period partners. The most common form of IPV found was physical violence (50.52%). Factors such as being exposed to inter-parental violence (respondent woman’s father physically abused her mother) (adjusted OR= 3.69, CI= 3.31–4.10) and respondent’s acceptance of IPV (aOR= 1.85, 1.51–2.26) were associated with increased exposure to IPV. Having a spouse with at least a primary education (aOR= 0.76, CI= 0.64–0.91) or a respondent with at least a primary education (aOR= 0.82, CI= 0.68–0.98) was associated with lower exposure to reported IPV. The lifetime experience of IPV occurs to a high extent among Afghan women, and several socio-demographic factors have predisposing attributes. IPV policy formulation and strategizing may benefit from considering these factors.
Electrical stimulation to clinically identify position of the lingual nerve: results of 50 subjects with reliability and correlation with MRI
Authors: Aljamani Sanaa , Youngson Callum , Jarad Fadi , O’Neill Francis
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Recently we described mapping of the lingual nerve clinically in patients using electrical nerve stimulation. This paper reports results of a larger study with inter- and intra-observer reliability and comparison with positional measurements from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

In 50 healthy participants, measurements were taken when subjects felt a tingling sensation in the tongue induced by a stimulation probe over the lingual nerve. Three positions were measured in relation to the third molar. Measurement reliability was tested for both inter-observer and intra-observer agreement and positional data of the lingual nerve measured clinically was also compared with nerve position as measured from MRI scans.

Results

Out of 50 participants, 96 nerves (49 = left/47 = right) were included in the study. The lingual nerve was identified in 90% (87) of this sample. The mean of height of the nerve in points A, B and C were 9.64 mm, 10.77 mm and 12.34 respectively. Inter-and intra-observer agreement was considered to be good to excellent (ICC = 0.8–0.96). Agreement between nerve mapping measured values and MRI measured values was good (ICC < 0.6).

Conclusion

This technique may prove useful for the clinical determination of lingual nerve position prior to procedures in the third molar region.
Arrest of root caries with an adjuvant chlorhexidine–fluoride varnish over a 12-months observation period: a QLF-analyzed, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial (RCT)
Authors: Park Kyung-Jin , Meißner Thomas , Günther Elena , Schmalz Gerhard , Kottmann Tanja , Krause Felix , Haak Rainer , Ziebolz Dirk
Published: July 2021

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an adjuvant chlorhexidine–fluoride varnish (Cervitec F) for prevention and arrest of root caries on elderly participants using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). 23 participants with two or three non-cavitated root carious lesions were included and assigned to three groups of different varnishes (CF: Cervitec F, P: placebo, DP: Duraphate). Agents were applied once to root surface at baseline and in follow-up after 3, 6 and 9 months. The lesions were assessed clinically and with QLF. QLF-images were analyzed regarding fluorescence loss (ΔF), lesion volume (ΔQ) and bacterial activity (ΔR) before (t0), after 14 days (t1), 6- (t2) and 12-months (t3). CF showed a significant difference between t0 and t3: ∆F (− 12.51 [15.41] vs. − 7.80 [16.72], p = 0.012), ∆Q (− 2339.97 (20,898.30) vs. − 751.82 (5725.35), p < 0.001), ∆R (23.80 [41.70] vs. 7.07 [37.50], p = 0.006). Independently of the varnish application, preventive care seems positively influence the root caries progress. Although within CF group the strongest effect was observed, no superiority of a specific varnish application was confirmed over a 12-months QLF observation period. Extra topical fluoride can help remineralise dentin lesions and QLF can be used as a measurement method to determine changes in the dentin lesions.
Higher reproductive performance of a piscivorous avian predator feeding on lower trophic-level diets on ponds with shorter food chains
Authors: Kloskowski Janusz , Trembaczowski Andrzej , Filipiuk Maciej
Published: July 2021

Variation in food-chain length may influence a predator’s trophic position. In aquatic food webs, the energy value of prey typically increases with its trophic rank; hence a higher trophic-level diet is often assumed to indicate better habitat quality. We related the body and health condition of pre-fledged Red-necked GrebesPodiceps grisegenato their dietary trophic level (estimated using stable nitrogen isotope signals of feathers) in two managed pond habitats with contrasting prey availability due to different fish population structures. Ponds stocked with young, small common carpCyprinus carpioprovided abundant fish and non-fish (insects and amphibians) resources for chicks. In ponds stocked with large carp, which also supported populations of small predatory fish, the breeding success of grebes was comparatively poor, because carp exceeded the size suitable for chicks and adversely affected non-fish prey. Pre-fledged grebes were in better condition (greater body mass, lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratio) in the food-rich small-fish ponds than in the food-poor ponds dominated by large fish. Values for δ15N suggested shorter food chains and a lower trophic-level diet for grebes in the food-rich ponds. Bayesian carbon and nitrogen isotope mixing models demonstrated the dietary prominence of small fish, both carp and predatory species. Between-habitat differences in food-chain length and grebe trophic position resulted from the higher trophic rank of small predatory fish in the food-poor ponds compared to the omnivorous carp in the food-rich ponds. Our results suggest that in aquatic food webs, feeding at higher trophic levels by strongly size-limited generalist avian predators can be associated with overall food scarcity due to the impact of fish, and thus trophic status cannot be used uncritically as a proxy for aquatic habitat quality.
Drivers of soil respiration in response to nitrogen addition in a Mediterranean mountain forest
Authors: Fernández-Alonso María José , Díaz-Pinés Eugenio , Rubio Agustín
Published: July 2021

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition rates affect soil N dynamics, influencing soil respiration (RS) rates. However, for the Mediterranean region, the effect of changes in atmospheric N deposition on RS are not well constrained yet. We investigated the interplay between increased N deposition and tree species composition on RS at a Scots pine—Pyrenean oak ecotone in Central Spain, and whether the observed responses were mediated by changes on selected soil properties. Throughout 3 years, we simulated two N deposition rates—10 (medium) and 40 kg N ha−1 a−1 (high)—over the background deposition (control) in neighbouring stands in which tree species composition (pine or oak) shapes soil stoichiometry and microbial communities. We monitored RS on a monthly basis during 3 years; in addition, we performed targeted measurements 24 h after the N fertilization events to assess short-term soil responses. During winter and summer, RS did not respond to enhanced N deposition rates. In spring and autumn, higher RS rates were observed in the medium-fertilization, but the size and duration of this effect was tree species dependent. We suggest that climate seasonality modulates the response of RS to N availability, with tree species effects becoming relevant only when environmental conditions are adequate. RS in fertilized plots was larger from February to May and in September under pine, while under oak a response was observed only in April, probably due to differences in native soil stoichiometry under each tree species. Overall, RS showed high stability during 3 years of N enrichment in this Mediterranean ecotone area. However, we observed short-term soil responses after N fertilization events—loss of base cations, soil acidification and reduced microbial biomass—which emphasize the need to investigate consequences for the belowground C and N cycles if chronic N enrichment persists in the long run.
Differentially Private Distance Learning in Categorical Data
Authors: Battaglia Elena , Celano Simone , Pensa Ruggero G.
Published: July 2021

Most privacy-preserving machine learning methods are designed around continuous or numeric data, but categorical attributes are common in many application scenarios, including clinical and health records, census and survey data. Distance-based methods, in particular, have limited applicability to categorical data, since they do not capture the complexity of the relationships among different values of a categorical attribute. Although distance learning algorithms exist for categorical data, they may disclose private information about individual records if applied to a secret dataset. To address this problem, we introduce a differentially private family of algorithms for learning distances between any pair of values of a categorical attribute according to the way they are co-distributed with the values of other categorical attributes forming the so-called context. We define different variants of our algorithm and we show empirically that our approach consumes little privacy budget while providing accurate distances, making it suitable in distance-based applications, such as clustering and classification.
Reaction to Snakes in Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)
Authors: Hernández Tienda Clara , Beltrán Francés Víctor , Majolo Bonaventura , Romero Teresa , Illa Maulany Risma , Oka Ngakan Putu , Amici Federica
Published: July 2021

Snake predation is considered an important evolutionary force for primates. Yet, very few studies have documented encounters between primates and snakes in the wild. Here, we provide a preliminary account of how wild moor macaques (Macaca maura) respond to seven species of real and model snakes. Snakes could be local and dangerous to the macaques (i.e., venomous or constricting), local and nondangerous, and novel and dangerous. Macaques reacted most strongly to constrictors (i.e., pythons), exploring them and producing alarm calls, and partially to vipers (both local and novel), exploring them but producing no alarm calls. However, they did not react to other dangerous (i.e., king cobra) or nondangerous species. Our results suggest that moor macaques discriminate local dangerous snakes from nondangerous ones, and may use specific cues (e.g., triangular head shape) to generalize their previous experience with vipers to novel species.
Intercultural Awareness Through English Language Teaching: The Case of Kosovo
Authors: Gashi Leonora
Published: July 2021

This study seeks to understand opportunities for teaching and learning the target culture for intercultural awareness. Utilizing Moran’sKnowing Framework(2001) and its five cultural dimensions, and reviewing curriculum documents and the English textbook in use for Grade Six in Kosovo, the study finds a misalignment among curriculum documents and the textbook regarding teaching culture for cultural understanding. It is noted that while curriculum documents share the goals and objectives for preparing students to become global citizens through language and culture learning in the English language, this vision is lost along the way and rarely makes it to the English language classrooms. It is concluded that English teachers, in Kosovo and potentially internationally, need to be more creative in utilizing more authentic cultural materials in their classes to bring to life the target culture. Lastly, it is argued that learning about another culture and comparing it with one’s own helps students examine their culture from a different perspective, which in turn potentially makes culturally-richer individuals in deeper and closer touch with their culture as well as cultures around them, near and far.
Photoluminescence of Homoleptic Lanthanide Complexes With Tris(benzotriazol-1-yl)borate
Authors: Bortoluzzi Marco , Ferraro Valentina , Sartor Federica
Published: July 2021

Bright photoluminescent neutral complexes having general formula [Ln(tbtz)3] (Ln = Eu, Tb; tbtz = tris(benzotriazol-1-yl)borate) were obtained by reacting K[tbtz] with EuCl3 and TbCl3. The emissions in the visible range, related to the f-f transitions of the trivalent lanthanide ions, are observable upon excitation with wavelengths shorter than 350 nm. The most intense emission bands correspond to the 5D0 → 7F4 transition at 699 nm for the europium complex and to the 5D4 → 7F5 transition at 542 nm for the terbium derivative. The luminescence is in all the cases mostly associated with the antenna-effect from the coordinated tbtz ligands. The synthetic approach was successfully extended to the preparation of the analogous yttrium and gadolinium derivatives. Tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry was attributed to the complexes on the basis of luminescence data and DFT calculations. Highly photoluminescent plastic materials were obtained by embedding small amounts of [Eu(tbtz)3] or [Tb(tbtz)3] in poly(methyl methacrylate).
Assessing Hepatitis B Knowledge Among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in San Diego
Authors: Lasitani Siotame , Hattori Christopher , Elisara Teini , Araneta Maria Rosario
Published: July 2021

Background

Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise 6% of the U.S. population, but 50% of chronic hepatitis B cases and have a cancer mortality that is 60% higher than non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge of HBV transmission, symptoms/sequelae and treatment among NHPIs in San Diego.

Methods

Self-administered surveys were distributed using convenience sampling at the 24th Annual Pacific Islander Festival in San Diego in 2018.

Results

Overall knowledge scores were low (mean: 9.8 out of 28) among participants. Compared to U.S.- born (mean: 11.6), participants born in Pacific Island countries and territories (mean: 8.5) had lower knowledge scores (p = 0.017) and lower self-reported vaccination rates (50% vaccinated vs 27%, respectively, p = 0.025).

Discussion

Lack of HBV knowledge, low vaccination rates and the discordance between knowledge and behavior regarding HBV vaccination elicits an urgent need to collaborate with NHPI communities for HBV education, screening, immunization and treatment.
Sensitization to Airborne Fungal Allergens Associates with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Presentation and Severity in the Singaporean/Malaysian Population
Authors: Sio Yang Yie , Pang Sze Lei , Say Yee-How , Teh Keng Foo , Wong Yi Ru , Shah Smyrna Moti Rawanan , Reginald Kavita , Chew Fook Tim
Published: July 2021

Fungal spores and conidia are the major components of total airspora in the tropical Asia environment, and their sensitization patterns are often associated with allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis. Hence, we recruited a cross-sectional cohort of 9223 Singapore/Malaysia Chinese adults and assessed their sensitization against Curvularia lunata allergen using the skin prick test approach. A subset of this cohort (n = 254) was also screened for specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) titers against a panel of 11 fungal allergens. We found significant association of Curvularia lunata sensitization with the risk of asthma (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.17–2.33; p = 0.00391) and AR (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.18–2.41; p = 0.00396). Among asthmatic patients (n = 1680), Curvularia lunata sensitization also increased frequencies of wheezing symptoms (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.05–2.96; p = 0.0239), general practitioner/specialist visits (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.13–4.61; p = 0.0157), and other asthma-related exacerbation events (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.04–4.10; p = 0.0289). In our serum cohort, sensitization to Aspergillus spp. was the most common fungal sensitization, with 23.6% (n = 60) had a class 3 and above sensitization (positive sensitization; sIgE titers of > 3.5 kU/L) against this allergen. Increasing sIgE titer against Aspergillus spp. was also correlated with increased AR risk and AR-related symptoms. In conclusion, our findings emphasize an important role of fungal sensitization in the manifestations of asthma and AR in the Southeast Asian Chinese population.
Large Deviations and Gradient Flows for the Brownian One-Dimensional Hard-Rod System
Authors: Peletier Mark , Gavish Nir , Nyquist Pierre
Published: July 2021

We study a system of hard rods of finite size in one space dimension, which move by Brownian noise while avoiding overlap. We consider a scaling in which the number of particles tends to infinity while the volume fraction of the rods remains constant; in this limit the empirical measure of the rod positions converges almost surely to a deterministic limit evolution. We prove a large-deviation principle on path space for the empirical measure, by exploiting a one-to-one mapping between the hard-rod system and a system of non-interacting particles on a contracted domain. The large-deviation principle naturally identifies a gradient-flow structure for the limit evolution, with clear interpretations for both the driving functional (an ‘entropy’) and the dissipation, which in this case is the Wasserstein dissipation. This study is inspired by recent developments in the continuum modelling of multiple-species interacting particle systems with finite-size effects; for such systems many different modelling choices appear in the literature, raising the question how one can understand such choices in terms of more microscopic models. The results of this paper give a clear answer to this question, albeit for the simpler one-dimensional hard-rod system. For this specific system this result provides a clear understanding of the value and interpretation of different modelling choices, while giving hints for more general systems.
Higher Order Coercive Inequalities
Authors: Wang Yifu , Zegarlinski Boguslaw
Published: July 2021

We study the higher order q- Poincaré and other coercive inequalities for a class probability measures satisfying Adam’s regularity condition.
Methods for analysing citizens’ attitudes: a hypothetical Italian referendum about the membership of the European Union as a case study
Authors: De Luca Marino
Published: July 2021

The European Union is an unprecedented unification project that successfully preserves political peace and integrates Europe’s countries into a supra-national model. However, recent economic and political crises have shown that there are institutional problems that have undermined the EU and lost the trust of many citizens. In Italy after the ‘political earthquake’ of the 2013 national elections, the party system suffered a further shock in 2018 with the consolidation of the centre-right and Five Star Movement as the main competing political actors. In this context, the relationship with the EU has undergone numerous tensions, impacting directly on Italian public opinion and its perception of European institutions. This paper investigates whether and how the ‘exit’ issue from the EU affects Italian citizens, particularly how they react to a UK-style hypothetical referendum on leaving the EU. By analysing a 2019 voter study, it tries to identify clusters of Italian citizens by their attitude to European policies and a possible EU referendum.
Adverse consequences of immediate thrombolysis-related complications: a multi-centre registry-based cohort study of acute stroke
Authors: Han Thang S. , Gulli Giosue , Fry Christopher H. , Affley Brendan , Robin Jonathan , Fluck David , Kakar Puneet , Sharma Pankaj
Published: July 2021

Complications following thrombolysis for stroke are well documented, and mostly concentrated on haemorrhage. However, the consequences of patients who experience any immediate thrombolysis-related complications (TRC) compared to patients without immediate TRC have not been examined. Prospectively collected data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme were analysed. Thrombolysis was performed in 451 patients (52.1% men; 75.3 years ± 13.2) admitted with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) in four UK centres between 2014 and 2016. Adverse consequences following immediate TRC were assessed using logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex and co-morbidities. Twenty-nine patients (6.4%) acquired immediate TRC. Compared to patients without, individuals with immediate TRC had greater adjusted risks of: moderately-severe or severe stroke (National Institutes of Health for Stroke Scale score ≥ 16) at 24-h (5.7% vs 24.7%, OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.4–11.1); worst level of consciousness (LOC) in the first 7 days (score ≥ 1; 25.0 vs 60.7, OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.1–10.2); urinary tract infection or pneumonia within 7-days of admission (13.5% vs 39.3%, OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–7.7); length of stay (LOS) on hyperacute stroke unit (HASU) ≥ 2 weeks (34.7% vs 66.7%, OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.5–18.4); mortality (13.0% vs 41.4%, OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.6–8.4); moderately-severe or severe disability (modified Rankin Scale  score ≥ 4) at discharge (26.8% vs 65.5%, OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.1–10.9); palliative care by discharge date (5.1% vs 24.1%, OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.7–15.7). The median LOS on the HASU was longer (7 days vs 30 days, Kruskal–Wallis test: χ2 = 8.9, p = 0.003) while stroke severity did not improve (NIHSS score at 24-h post-thrombolysis minus NIHSS score at arrival = − 4 vs 0, χ2 = 24.3, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the risk of nosocomial infections, worsening of stroke severity, longer HASU stay, disability and death is increased following immediate TRC. The management of patients following immediate TRC is more complex than previously thought and such complexity needs to be considered when planning an increased thrombolysis service.