bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-situ calibration of stand level merchantable and sawlog volumes using cut-to-length harvester measurements and airborne laser scanning data
Authors: Karjalainen Tomi , Mehtätalo Lauri , Packalen Petteri , Malinen Jukka , Næsset Erik , Gobakken Terje , Maltamo Matti
Published: June 2021

Forest management inventories assisted by airborne laser scanning (ALS) can be used to predict different forest attributes. These predictions are utilized in practical forestry, but in the case of timber assortment-specific volumes, the ALS-based predictions can be inaccurate. This causes uncertainty in harvest planning. However, ALS-based predictions can be calibrated to achieve greater accuracy with local measurements. In this study, we used ALS data and accurately positioned cut-to-length harvester measurements from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) dominated clear-cuts. We fitted linear mixed-effects (LME) models with exponential correlation structure for merchantable volume and sawlog volume for 225 m2 cells. Our aim was to study the effect of local harvester measurements on the accuracy of stand level merchantable and sawlog volumes. LME-based predictions were calibrated repeatedly up to 40 times as the cutting progressed. ALS data and harvester measurements were used to predict both the random effects and residual errors for each validation unit. At best, relative root mean square error (RMSE%) of initial predictions of 15.4 per cent for merchantable volume and 22.1 per cent for sawlog volume were reduced to 4.1 and 5.3 per cent, respectively, when measurements from 40 harvested cells of size 225 m2 were used. These results suggest that spatially accurate harvester data could be utilized during harvesting to increase the accuracy of volume and timber assortment predictions.
Effects of feeding a novel alfalfa leaf pellet product (ProLEAF MAX) and alfalfa stems (ProFiber Plus) on performance in the feedlot and carcass quality of beef steers
Authors: Motsinger Laura A , Young Allen Y , Feuz Ryan , Larsen Ryan , Brady Tevan J , Briggs Reganne K , Bowman Brett , Pratt Chris , Thornton Kara J
Published: June 2021

Alfalfa is often included in the diets of beef animals; however, the nutrient content of alfalfa is variable depending on the region in which it is grown, climate, soil, and many other factors. The leaf portion of alfalfa has a less variable nutrient composition than the stem portion of the plant. The variability that is present in the alfalfa plant can make the development of total mixed rations of consistent nutrient content difficult. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine how the inclusion of fractionated alfalfa leaves and alfalfa stems impacts performance and carcass quality of finishing beef steers. Twenty-four steers were allocated to one of three treatments: a control group fed a typical finishing diet with alfalfa as the forage (CON; n = 8), a typical diet that replaced alfalfa with fractionated alfalfa leaf pellets and alfalfa stems (ProLEAF MAX™ + ProFiber Plus™; PLM+PFP; n = 8), or a typical diet that replaced alfalfa with alfalfa stems (PFP; n = 8) for 63 days. Steers were fed individually once daily, weighed every 14 days and ultrasound images were collected every 28 days. At the end of the feeding trial, steers were harvested at a commercial facility and carcass data was obtained. Analysis of dry matter intake demonstrated that steers receiving the PFP and CON diets consumed more feed (P < 0.001) than steers consuming the PLM+PFP diet. Steers receiving the PLM+PFP diet gained less (P < 0.001) weight than the steers receiving the other two dietary treatments. No differences (P > 0.10) in feed efficiency or carcass characteristics were observed. Steers receiving the PFP diet had improved (P = 0.016) cost of gain ($0.93 per kg) when compared with steers receiving PLM+PFP ($1.08 per kg) diet. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the inclusion of PFP in place of alfalfa hay in a finishing diet has the potential to improve cost of gain, without negatively affecting growth, performance, or carcass characteristics of finishing feedlot steers.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Between Sacral Neuromodulation and OnabotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Refractory Overactive Bladder in Women: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gerjevic Kristen A. , Ahmad Sophia , Strohbehn Kris , Riblet Natalie
Published: June 2021

Objective

We summarized the evidence evaluating the cost-effectiveness of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) versus onabotulinumtoxinA (BONT/A) in the treatment of refractory overactive bladder (OAB) among women.

Methods

We searched PubMed Medline (1946–2019), EMBASE (1947–2019), Web of Science (1900–2019), Clinical Trials.gov, reviewed references of included studies, and Cochrane subsets of CDSR, DARE, CENTRAL, and NHSEED. We included cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analyses or decision analysis comparing SNM versus BONT/A in women with nonneurogenic refractory OAB. Primary outcomes included incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), reported as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which were abstracted or calculated.

Results

Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were industry supported. Two studies of high quality found BONT/A to be dominant over SNM (ICER range of $415,571/QALY at 5 years and $236,370/QALY at 10 years). This trend was further supported by a third study of high quality that favored BONT/A because SNM was not cost-effective (ICER, $116,427/QALY at 2 years). In contrast, 2 other studies of lower quality found that SNM was cost-effective or dominant in comparison to BONT/A (ICER range, $3,717/QALY to €15,226/QALY at 10 years). In general, models were sensitive to treatment duration, intervention setting, and lacked robust data on long-term outcomes.

Conclusions

OnabotulinumtoxinA is more cost-effective for managing refractory OAB when compared with SNM. However, it remains unclear whether this finding holds true long term for what is considered a lifelong condition.
Nonlinear plane waves in saturated porous media with incompressible constituents
Authors: Berjamin Harold
Published: June 2021

We consider the propagation of nonlinear plane waves in porous media within the framework of the Biot–Coussy biphasic mixture theory. The tortuosity effect is included in the model, and both constituents are assumed incompressible (Yeoh-type elastic skeleton, and saturating fluid). In this case, the linear dispersive waves governed by Biot’s theory are either of compression or shear-wave type, and nonlinear waves can be classified in a similar way. In the special case of a neo-Hookean skeleton, we derive the explicit expressions for the characteristic wave speeds, leading to the hyperbolicity condition. The sound speeds for a Yeoh skeleton are estimated using a perturbation approach. Then we arrive at the evolution equation for the amplitude of acceleration waves. In general, it is governed by a Bernoulli equation. With the present constitutive assumptions, we find that longitudinal jump amplitudes follow a nonlinear evolution, while transverse jump amplitudes evolve in an almost linearly degenerate fashion.
Traumatic mating increases anchorage of mating male and reduces female remating duration and fecundity in a scorpionfly species
Authors: Tong Xin , Wang Peng-Yang , Jia Mei-Zhuo , Thornhill Randy , Hua Bao-Zhen
Published: June 2021

Traumatic mating is the male wounding his mate during mating using specialized anatomy. However, why males have evolved to injure their mates during mating remains poorly understood. We studied traumatic mating inDicerapanorpa magnato determine its effects on male and female fitness. The sharp teeth on male gonostyli penetrate the female genitalia and cause copulatory wounds, and the number of scars on the female genitals is positively related to the number of times females mated. When the injurious teeth were encased with low-temperature wax, preventing their penetration of the female's genitalia during mating, male mating success and copulation duration were reduced significantly, indicating the importance of the teeth in allowing the male to secure copulation, remain in copula and effectively inseminate his mate. The remating experiments showed that traumatic mating had little effect on the female mating refractory period, but significantly reduced female remating duration with subsequent males, probably benefiting the first-mating male with longer copulation duration and transferring more sperm into the female's spermatheca. The copulatory wounds reduced female fecundity, but did not accelerate the timing of egg deposition. This is probably the first report that traumatic mating reduces female remating duration through successive remating experiments in animals. Overall, our results provide evidence that traumatic mating in the scorpionfly helps increase the male's anchoring control during mating and provides him advantage in sperm competition, but at the expense of lowering female fecundity.
Learning how to behave: cognitive learning processes account for asymmetries in adaptation to social norms
Authors: Hertz Uri
Published: June 2021

Changes to social settings caused by migration, cultural change or pandemics force us to adapt to new social norms. Social norms provide groups of individuals with behavioural prescriptions and therefore can be inferred by observing their behaviour. This work aims to examine how cognitive learning processes affect adaptation and learning of new social norms. Using a multiplayer game, I found that participants initially complied with various social norms exhibited by the behaviour of bot-players. After gaining experience with one norm, adaptation to a new norm was observed in all cases but one, where an active-harm norm was resistant to adaptation. Using computational learning models, I found that active behaviours were learned faster than omissions, and harmful behaviours were more readily attributed to all group members than beneficial behaviours. These results provide a cognitive foundation for learning and adaptation to descriptive norms and can inform future investigations of group-level learning and cross-cultural adaptation.
Disease or drought: environmental fluctuations release zebra from a potential pathogen-triggered ecological trap
Authors: Huang Yen-Hua , Joel Hendrina , Küsters Martina , Barandongo Zoe R. , Cloete Claudine C. , Hartmann Axel , Kamath Pauline L. , Kilian J. Werner , Mfune John K. E. , Shatumbu Gabriel , Zidon Royi , Getz Wayne M. , Turner Wendy C.
Published: June 2021

When a transmission hotspot for an environmentally persistent pathogen establishes in otherwise high-quality habitat, the disease may exert a strong impact on a host population. However, fluctuating environmental conditions lead to heterogeneity in habitat quality and animal habitat preference, which may interrupt the overlap between selected and risky habitats. We evaluated spatio-temporal patterns in anthrax mortalities in a plains zebra (
Equus quagga
) population in Etosha National Park, Namibia, incorporating remote-sensing and host telemetry data. A higher proportion of anthrax mortalities of herbivores was detected in open habitats than in other habitat types. Resource selection functions showed that the zebra population shifted habitat selection in response to changes in rainfall and vegetation productivity. Average to high rainfall years supported larger anthrax outbreaks, with animals congregating in preferred open habitats, while a severe drought forced animals into otherwise less preferred habitats, leading to few anthrax mortalities. Thus, the timing of anthrax outbreaks was congruent with preference for open plains habitats and a corresponding increase in pathogen exposure. Given shifts in habitat preference, the overlap in high-quality habitat and high-risk habitat is intermittent, reducing the adverse consequences for the population.
Phylogenetic history of vascular plant metabolism revealed using a macroevolutionary common garden
Authors: Neto-Bradley Barbara M. , Muir Christopher D. , Whitton Jeannette , Pennell Matthew W.
Published: June 2021

While the fundamental biophysics of C
3
photosynthesis is highly conserved across plants, substantial leaf structural and enzymatic variation translates into variability in rates of carbon assimilation. Although this variation is well documented, it remains poorly understood how photosynthetic rates evolve, and whether macroevolutionary changes are related to the evolution of leaf morphology and biochemistry. A substantial challenge in large-scale comparative studies is disentangling evolutionary adaptation from environmental acclimation. We overcome this by using a ‘macroevolutionary common garden’ approach in which we measured metabolic traits (
J
max
and
V
cmax
) from 111 phylogenetically diverse species in a shared environment. We find substantial phylogenetic signal in these traits at moderate phylogenetic timescales, but this signal dissipates quickly at deeper scales. Morphological traits exhibit phylogenetic signal over much deeper timescales, suggesting that these are less evolutionarily constrained than metabolic traits. Furthermore, while morphological and biochemical traits (LMA,
N
area
and
C
area
) are weakly predictive of
J
max
and

V
c

max
, evolutionary changes in these traits are mostly decoupled from changes in metabolic traits. This lack of tight evolutionary coupling implies that it may be incorrect to use changes in these functional traits in response to global change to infer that photosynthetic strategy is also evolving.
Social selection is density dependent but makes little contribution to total selection in New Zealand giraffe weevils
Authors: Fisher David N. , LeGrice Rebecca J. , Painting Christina J.
Published: June 2021

Social selection occurs when traits of interaction partners influence an individual's fitness and can alter total selection strength. However, we have little idea of what factors influence social selection's strength. Further, social selection only contributes to overall selection when there is phenotypic assortment, but simultaneous estimates of social selection and phenotypic assortment are rare. Here, we estimated social selection on body size in a wild population of New Zealand giraffe weevils (
Lasiorhynchus barbicornis
). We measured phenotypic assortment by body size and tested whether social selection varied with sex ratio, density and interacted with the body size of the focal individual. Social selection was limited and unaffected by sex ratio or the size of the focal individual. However, at high densities social selection was negative for both sexes, consistent with size-based competitive interactions for access to mates. Phenotypic assortment was always close to zero, indicating negative social selection at high densities will not impede the evolution of larger body sizes. Despite its predicted importance, social selection may only influence evolutionary change in specific contexts, leaving direct selection to drive evolutionary change.
COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis: Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: Hussain Salman , Baxi Harveen , Riad Abanoub , Klugarová Jitka , Líčeník Radim , Klugar Miloslav
Published: June 2021

Background and Objective

Mucormycosis, a serious and rare fungal infection, has occurred concurrently in COVID-19 patients globally. Mucormycosis is associated with a high risk of all-cause mortality, with mortality depending on body site infected, fungus type, and the patient’s overall condition. This deadly fungal infection is quite difficult and expensive to treat. Therefore, this scoping review aims to map all the empirical evidence on the COVID-19 associated mucormycosis with a special focus on clinical presentation, treatment, and patient outcomes.

Methods

The proposed scoping review will be developed by adhering to the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A detailed search strategy has already been utilized to locate both published and unpublished studies. Literature search was carried out in three phases. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google scholar was searched. We will include all those studies which are presenting mucormycosis cases in COVID-19 positive patients. Data will be extracted in a pre-designed data extraction sheet and risk of bias will be assessed using JBI critical appraisal tool. The primary outcome will be to summarize the clinical presentation, treatment, and patient outcomes in COVID-19 associated mucormycosis. Data will be presented in tabular form.

OSF registration number

osf.io/438sm
Associations between participation in community arts groups and aspects of wellbeing in older adults in the United States: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Bone Jessica K. , Fancourt Daisy , Fluharty Meg E. , Paul Elise , Sonke Jill K. , Bu Feifei
Published: June 2021

There is a social gradient in both arts engagement and wellbeing which may have led to an overestimation of the impact of arts engagement on wellbeing in previous research. Using data from 12,111 older adults in the Health and Retirement Study (2014-2016), we tested whether participation in community arts groups was associated with concurrent wellbeing. We measured life satisfaction (evaluative wellbeing), positive and negative affect (experienced wellbeing), and purpose in life, constraints on personal control, and mastery (eudaimonic wellbeing). We used propensity score matching to remove confounding by a range of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. Participating in arts groups was associated with higher positive affect (average treatment effect on the treated (ATT)=0.19, 95% CI=0.13-0.24), life satisfaction (ATT=0.10, 95% CI=0.05-0.16), purpose in life (ATT=0.08, 95% CI=0.02-0.14), and mastery (ATT=0.08, 95% CI=0.02-0.13) than not participating. Arts group participation was not associated with negative affect or constraints on personal control. After matching on a range of potential confounders, participation in arts groups was associated with the positive elements of evaluative, experienced, and eudaimonic wellbeing. Facilitating participation in community arts groups could help to promote healthy aging, enabling a growing segment of the population to lead more fulfilling and satisfying lives.
Shedding Light on the Circadian Clock of the Threespine Stickleback
Authors: Brochu Marie-Pier , Aubin-Horth Nadia
Published: June 2021

The circadian clock is an internal timekeeping system shared by most organisms, and knowledge about its functional importance and evolution in natural environments is still needed. Here, we investigated the circadian clock of wild-caught threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) at the behavioural and molecular levels. While their behaviour, ecology, and evolution are well studied, information on their circadian rhythms are scarce. We quantified the daily locomotor activity rhythm under a light-dark cycle (LD) and under constant darkness (DD). Under LD, all fish exhibited significant daily rhythmicity, while under DD, only 18% of individuals remained rhythmic. This interindividual variation suggests that the circadian clock controls activity only in certain individuals. Moreover, under LD, some fish were almost exclusively nocturnal, while others were active around the clock. Furthermore, the most nocturnal fish were also the least active. These results suggest that light masks activity (i.e. suppresses activity without entraining the internal clock) more strongly in some individuals than others. Finally, we quantified the expression of five clock genes in the brain of sticklebacks under DD using qPCR. We did not detect circadian rhythmicity, which could either indicate that the clock molecular oscillator is highly light-dependent, or that there was an oscillation but that we were unable to detect it. Overall, our study suggests that a strong circadian control on behavioural rhythms may not necessarily be advantageous in a natural population of sticklebacks and that the daily phase of activity varies greatly between individuals because of a differential masking effect of light.

Summary statement

We found that in wild-caught threespine sticklebacks, the circadian clock does not control locomotor activity in most, but not all, individuals. Sticklebacks are mostly nocturnal, although interindividual variation exists.
Screening thousands of transcribed coding and non-coding regions reveals sequence determinants of RNA polymerase II elongation potential
Authors: Vlaming Hanneke , Mimoso Claudia A. , Martin Benjamin JE , Field Andrew R , Adelman Karen
Published: June 2021

Organismal growth and development rely on RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) synthesizing the appropriate repertoire of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) from protein-coding genes. Productive elongation of full-length transcripts is essential for mRNA function, however what determines whether an engaged RNAPII molecule will terminate prematurely or transcribe processively remains poorly understood. Notably, despite a common process for transcription initiation across RNAPII-synthesized RNAs1, RNAPII is highly susceptible to termination when transcribing non-coding RNAs such as upstream antisense RNAs (uaRNAs) and enhancers RNAs (eRNAs)2, suggesting that differences arise during RNAPII elongation. To investigate the impact of transcribed sequence on elongation potential, we developed a method to screen the effects of thousands of INtegrated Sequences on Expression of RNA and Translation using high-throughput sequencing (INSERT-seq). We found that higher AT content in uaRNAs and eRNAs, rather than specific sequence motifs, underlies the propensity for RNAPII termination on these transcripts. Further, we demonstrate that 5’ splice sites exert both splicing-dependent and autonomous, splicing-independent stimulation of transcription, even in the absence of polyadenylation signals. Together, our results reveal a potent role for transcribed sequence in dictating gene output at mRNA and non-coding RNA loci, and demonstrate the power of INSERT-seq towards illuminating these contributions.
Sequence features of retrotransposons allow for epigenetic variability
Authors: Costello Kevin R. , Leung Amy , Trac Candi , Lee Michael , Basam Mudasar , Pospisilik J. Andrew , Schones Dustin E.
Published: June 2021

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that make up a large fraction of mammalian genomes. While select TEs have been co-opted in host genomes to have function, the majority of these elements are epigenetically silenced by DNA methylation in somatic cells. However, some TEs in mice, including the Intracisternal A-particle (IAP) subfamily of retrotransposons, have been shown to display interindividual variation in DNA methylation. Recent work has revealed that IAP sequence differences and strain-specific KRAB zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) may influence the methylation state of these IAPs. However, the mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of interindividual variability in DNA methylation still remain unclear. Here we report that sequence content and genomic context influence the likelihood that IAPs become variably methylated. IAPs that differ from consensus IAP sequences have altered KZFP recruitment that can lead to decreased KAP1 recruitment when in proximity of constitutively expressed genes. These variably methylated loci have a high CpG density, similar to CpG islands, and can be bound by ZF-CxxC proteins, providing a potential mechanism to maintain this permissive chromatin environment and protect from DNA methylation. These observations indicate that variably methylated IAPs escape silencing through both attenuation of KZFP binding and recognition by ZF-CxxC proteins to maintain a hypomethylated state.
Differential oxidative and pro-apoptotic response of cancer and normal cells to an anti-inflammatory agent CLEFMA
Authors: Sahoo Kaustuv , Awasthi Vibhudutta
Published: June 2021

Selective killing of cancer cells by chemotherapy has been an age old challenge, but certain unique features of cancer cells allow discriminatory response between cancer and normal cells. The objectives of this study was to investigate pro-oxidant and apoptotic effects of CLEFMA, an anti-inflammatory compound with anticancer activity, in lung cancer cells versus normal lung fibroblasts and to establish its maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in mice. We found that CLEFMA preferentially induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis in H441, H1650 and H226 cancer cells, but spared normal CCL151 and MRC9 fibroblasts. Immunoblotting studies revealed that CLEFMA-induced apoptosis is associated with p53 phosphorylation in cancer cells which was not observed in CLEFMA treated normal fibroblasts. CLEFMA showed no effect on NF-κB p-65 expression in the normal lung fibroblasts, whereas its translocation to nucleus was inhibited in cancer cells. Furthermore, CLEFMA treatment also inhibited the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB p65 in H441cancer cells, but not in normal CCL151 cells. Preclinical toxicology studies in CD31 mice showed that CLEFMA was not toxic when injected daily for 7 days or injected weekly for 4 weeks. Based on survival data, MTD of CLEFMA was estimated as 30 mg/kg bodyweight. We conclude that CLEFMA exploits the biochemical differences in cancer and normal cells and selectively induces ROS in cancer cells. Secondly, CLEFMA can be safely administered in vivo because its known dose necessary for in vivo efficacy as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent (0.4 mg/kg) is 75 times lower than its MTD.
Research on the refinancing capital structure of highway PPP projects based on dynamic capital demand
Authors: Hou Wenhua , Wang Lun
Published: June 2021

Purpose

With the majority of highway projects in China having entered their operational phases, the maintenance and repair of the pavement is receiving increasing attention. One problem that needs to be addressed urgently is that of how to raise the proper funds for highway maintenance to ensure the sustainable operation of the project. To this end, the aim of this study is to investigate the capital demand for operation and maintenance of a project by means of a refinancing scheme, in order to reduce the possibility of project bankruptcy and to enhance the economic value of the project.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an analysis of the dynamic complexity of the highway pavement maintenance system, a Markov model is used to predict pavement performance, and an optimal capital structure decision model is proposed for highway public–private partnership (PPP) project refinancing, using the method of system dynamics (SD). The proposed model is then applied to a real case study.

Findings

Results show that the proposed model can be used to predict accurately the dynamic changes in the demand for road maintenance funds and refinancing during the period of operation, before making the optimal decision for the refinancing capital structure.

Originality/value

Although many scholars have studied the optimal refinancing capital structure of PPP projects, the dynamic changes inherent in the demand for maintenance funds for highway PPP projects are seldom considered. Therefore, in the approach used here the influence of the dynamic change of road maintenance capital demand on refinancing is investigated, and SD is used for the optimal capital structure decision-making model of highway PPP project refinancing, to make the decision-making process more reasonable and scientific.
The digital transformation of entrepreneurial work
Authors: Corvello Vincenzo , De Carolis Monica , Verteramo Saverino , Steiber Annika
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper explores digital transformation's impact on the work of owners in entrepreneurial firms. The interplay between working practices and technology is analyzed, taking into account the organizations' specific contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study design was applied. Eight cases of entrepreneurial firms, defined as companies that bring new products and services to the market by creating and seizing opportunities, were selected, with the goal to maximize the diversity of cases. The sample includes both small- and medium-sized firms, as well as high- tech and low- tech companies in equal number. Interviews have been used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data, which was analyzed in a structured way.

Findings

The digital transformation of entrepreneurial work, that is the daily work of entrepreneurs, is an evolutionary, practice-based phenomenon, rather than the result of rational design. The use of different digital tools is interrelated and depends on the characteristics, and dynamics of the surrounding environment.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are relevant to entrepreneurs interested in understanding the dynamics of their working practice, to software development firms interested in entrepreneurs as customers and to institutions interested in the education of entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study which considers the interplay between digital technology and the daily activities of entrepreneurs, considered as a whole. It provides insights on how these interconnected dimensions evolve, thus contributing to understanding the work of entrepreneurs, and as a consequence the dynamics of entrepreneurial firms in the context of digital transformation of organizations.
Managing a conflict: optimal alternative dispute resolution
Authors: Balzer Benjamin , Schneider Johannes
Published: June 2021

We study optimal methods for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a technique to achieve settlement and avoid costly adversarial hearings. Participation is voluntary. Disputants are privately informed about their marginal cost of evidence provision. If ADR fails to engender settlement, the disputants can use the information obtained during ADR to determine what evidence to provide in an adversarial hearing. Optimal ADR induces an asymmetric information structure but makes the learning report‐independent. It is ex ante fair and decreases the disputants' expenditures, even if they fail to settle. We highlight the importance of real‐world mediation techniques, such as caucusing, for implementing optimal ADR.
Balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty for dilatory dysfunction: Safety and efficacy analysis in an Australian cohort
Authors: Cheng Horace , Saxby Alex , Jufas Nicholas , Kong Jonathan , Patel Nirmal
Published: June 2021

Background

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common clinical condition encountered by otolaryngologists. The severity and duration of symptoms range from the mild and transient to the chronic and severe along with secondary pathologies. Balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty (BDET) as a treatment, was first described in 2010 and has been studied extensively. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of BDET in an Australian cohort.

Methods

Retrospective chart review on all patients who underwent BDET from September 2016 to March 2020 was performed. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Patient Questionnaire (ETDQ‐7) was chosen as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included subjective global assessment of presenting symptoms, ability to perform Valsalva maneuver and tympanometry. Any complications related to the procedures were reported.

Results

One hundred and nineteen eustachian tube operations were included in this study. The patient cohort showed statistically significant improvement of mean EDTQ‐7 score from 0.7 to 2.9. Improvement in EDTQ‐7 was achieved in 83.9% of the cases. All patients in the baro‐challenge‐induced subgroup achieved improvement in ETDQ‐7 score. Complete resolution of symptoms with an ETDQ <2.1 was achieved in 37.1% of the cohort. There were no adverse safety events associated with the procedures.

Conclusion

BDET resulted in improvement of the EDTQ‐7 score in most of patients in this Australian cohort with no reported complications. BDET was most successful in baro‐challenge‐induced subgroup with universal improvement. Lower success rates were seen in patients with secondary pathology from their ETD.
National trends in extremity fracture hospitalizations among older adults between 2003 and 2017
Authors: Reider Lisa , Pollak Andrew , Wolff Jennifer L. , Magaziner Jay , Levy Joseph F.
Published: June 2021

Background

Fractures in late life are highly consequential for health, services use, and spending. Little is known about trends in extremity fracture hospitalizations among older adults in the United States.

Design

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

The 2003–2017 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a representative sample of U.S. community hospitals.

Participants

Hospitalized adults aged 65 and older with a diagnosis of upper or lower extremity fracture.

Measurements

Incidence of extremity fracture hospitalization and mortality, using NIS discharge and trend weights, and population denominators derived from the U.S. Census Bureau. Incidence was reported separately for men and women by age, fracture diagnosis, and injury mechanism. Weighted linear regression was used to test for significant trends over time.

Results

Incidence of extremity fracture hospitalizations declined in both women (15.7%, p trend < 0.001) and men (3.2%, p trend < 0.001) between 2003 and 2017. This trend was primarily attributed to a decline in low energy femur fractures which accounted for 65% of all fracture hospitalizations. Among older adults with an extremity fracture hospitalization, mortality declined from 5.1% in 2003 to 3.3% in 2017 in men, and from 2.6% to 1.9% in women (p trend < 0.001). High energy fractures were due to falls (53%), motor vehicle accidents (34%), and other high impact injuries (13%). Overall, 12% of extremity fracture hospitalizations were attributed to high‐energy injuries: increases were observed among men ages 65–74 (20%; p trend < 0.001) and 75–84 (10%; p trend = 0.013), but not among women of any age.

Conclusion

Observed declines in the incidence of extremity fracture hospitalizations and related mortality are encouraging. However, increasing incidence of fracture hospitalization from high energy injuries among men suggests that older adults with complex injuries will be seen with more prevalence in the future.
Live birth rate with double ovarian stimulation is superior to follicular phase ovarian stimulation per started cycle in poor ovarian responders
Authors: Oral Serkan , Karacan Meriç , Akpak Yaşam K. , Şişmanoğlu Alper , Sancaklı Usta Ceyda
Published: June 2021

Aim

To compare the outcome of double ovarian stimulation (DOS) with follicular phase ovarian stimulation (FPS) per started cycle in poor ovarian responders (PORs).

Methods

A total of 204 PORs who underwent ovulation induction for in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation of all embryos available, and frozen embryo transfer cycle were retrospectively analyzed. Of those, 146 received single FPS, and 58 received DOS. All viable embryos were cryopreserved and subsequently transferred within 1–6 months.

Results

The number of oocytes collected and the number of mature oocytes per started cycle were higher in the DOS group compared to the FPS group (6.0 ± 1.9 vs. 2.8 ± 1.3 and 4.3 ± 1.3 vs. 2.2 ± 1.2, respectively, p = 0.001). Clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate per started cycle were also significantly higher in the DOS group than the FPS group (41.4% vs. 16.4% and 36.2% vs. 15.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). The cancellation rate of embryo transfer due to no viable embryo was significantly lower in the DOS group (10.3%) than the FPS group (40.4%) (p = 0.001). In the DOS group, numbers of oocytes (3.2 ± 1.2 vs. 2.7 ± 1.1, p = 0.006), MII oocytes (2.6 ± 1.0 vs. 2.1 ± 0.8, p = 0.001), and cryopreserved blastocysts (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 1.1 ± 0.7, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in the luteal ovarian stimulation compared to follicular ovarian stimulation.

Conclusions

Live birth per started cycle with DOS is superior to FPS in PORs. Luteal phase stimulation contributes to improving pregnancy rates in these patients.
The level of depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in pregnancy during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Çolak Sabri , Gürlek Beril , Önal Özgür , Yılmaz Bülent , Hocaoglu Cicek
Published: June 2021

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the mental health and sleep quality of pregnant women in different trimesters during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and investigate the effect of quarantine and new lifestyle changes that come into our lives with pandemic with on this subject.

Methods

It was conducted on pregnant women (n = 149) who attended routine pregnancy prenatal visit during their pregnancy weeks. The data were collected using sociodemographic and clinical data form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to evaluate maternal depression and anxiety.

Results

A significant correlation was observed between the week of gestation and depression, anxiety, and defective sleep scores (p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between the week of gestation and depression (r: 0.628). A high level of positive correlation was found between the week of gestation and defective sleep quality and anxiety scores (r: 0.858, r: 0.754). A statistically significant increase in depression, anxiety, and defective sleep quality was found in the group staying in home quarantine (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

This study showed that the COVID‐19 pandemic can cause depression, anxiety, and serious sleep disorders in pregnant women. The depression and anxiety scores of pregnant women in home quarantine were also found to be higher than the group not in quarantine. As the week of gestation progresses, mental health symptoms worsen and sleep quality deteriorates.
Development of a 3‐Day Intervention Program for Family Members of Hikikomori Sufferers1
Authors: Kubo Hiroaki , Urata Hiromi , Sakai Motohiro , Nonaka Shunsuke , Kishimoto Junji , Saito Kazuhiko , Tateno Masaru , Kobara Keiji , Fujisawa Daisuke , Hashimoto Naoki , Suzuki Yuriko , Honda Yoko , Otsuka Kotaro , Kanba Shigenobu , Kuroki Toshihide , Kato Takahiro A.
Published: June 2021

Hikikomori (a severe form of social withdrawal) is a serious mental health issue. A family approach is the initial step to support hikikomori; thus effective family intervention programs are warranted. We recently developed a 5‐day family intervention program (120 min weekly) based on Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). In the present study, we modified the 5‐day program to a 3‐day program (180 min fortnightly), and examined the effectiveness of the 3‐day program using a single‐arm procedure. Data of 23 parents (four fathers and 19 mothers; age = 62.0 ± 9.1 years) were analyzed. Mental health conditions among participants themselves improved at the 4‐month follow‐up, but the confidence in hikikomori support declined and stigma toward mental health problems did not change. However, short‐term improvements in perceived skills in approaching hikikomori sufferers were detected. Hikikomori sufferers’ actual behavioral changes, such as social participation or utilization of support, were also observed (six out of 20 hikikomori sufferers). Preliminary effectiveness was confirmed for the 3‐day program. Further revision of the program and a validation study with controls are required.
Association of markers of endothelial activation and dysfunction with occurrence and outcome of pulmonary hemorrhage in dogs with leptospirosis
Authors: Sonderegger Franziska , Nentwig Alice , Schweighauser Ariane , Francey Thierry , Marti Eliane , Mirkovitch Jelena , Schuller Simone
Published: June 2021

Background

Endothelial dysfunction might contribute to the development of leptospiral pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome (LPHS).

Hypothesis

Serum concentrations of markers of endothelial activation and dysfunction are higher in dogs with leptospirosis and correlate with the occurrence of LPHS and a higher case fatality rate.

Animals

Clinically healthy dogs (n = 31; 10/31 dogs confirmed healthy based on no detected abnormalities on blood work), dogs with leptospirosis with LPHS (n = 17) and without LPHS (n = 15), dogs with acute kidney injury not due to leptospirosis (AKI‐nL, n = 34).

Methods

Observational study. Serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM‐1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and angiopoietin‐2 (Ang‐2) at admission were compared between groups. Correlations with outcome and the accuracy to predict LPHS were examined.

Results

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM‐1), VEGF, and Ang‐2 concentrations were higher in dogs with AKI‐nL (sICAM‐1 34.7 ng/mL, interquartile range [IQR] = 24.4‐75.5; VEGF 43.1 pg/mL, IQR = 12.3‐79.2; Ang‐2 8.5 ng/mL, IQR = 6.2‐12.3), leptospirosis without LPHS (sICAM‐1 45.1 ng/mL, IQR = 30.6‐59.0; VEGF 32.4 pg/mL, IQR = 12.5‐62.6; Ang‐2 9.6 ng/mL, IQR = 6.9‐19.3), and LPHS (sICAM‐1 69.7 ng/mL, IQR = 42.1‐89.1; VEGF 51.8 pg/mL, IQR = 26.3‐96.7; Ang‐2 8.0 ng/mL, IQR = 5.6‐12.2) compared to controls (P < .001). In dogs with leptospirosis, VEGF and sICAM‐1 were higher in nonsurvivors (sICAM‐1 89.4 ng/mL, IQR = 76.5‐101.0; VEGF 117.0 pg/mL, IQR = 90.3‐232.4) than survivors (P = .004) and sICAM‐1 predicted the development of LPHS.

Conclusions

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, VEGF, and Ang‐2 do not discriminate leptospirosis from AKI‐nL. In dogs with leptospirosis, sICAM‐1 and VEGF predict outcome and sICAM‐1 might identify dogs at risk for LPHS.
Overall Cooling Effectiveness of Effusion Cooled Can Combustor Liner Under Reacting and Non-Reacting Conditions
Authors: Ahmed Shoaib , Ramakrishnan Kishore Ranganath , Ekkad Srinath V.
Published: June 2021

Emphasis on lean premixed combustion in modern low NOX combustion chambers limits the air available for cooling the combustion liner. Hence, the development of optimized liner cooling designs is imperative for effective usage of available coolant. An effective way to cool a gas turbine combustor liner is through effusion cooling. Effusion cooling (also known as full-coverage film cooling) involves uniformly spaced holes distributed throughout the liner’s curved surface area. This study presents findings from an experimental study on the characterization of the overall cooling effectiveness of an effusion-cooled liner wall, which was representative of a can combustor under heated flow (non-reacting) and lean-combustion (reacting) conditions. The model can combustor was equipped with an industrial swirler, which subjected the liner walls to engine representative flow and combustion conditions. In this study, two different effusion cooling liners with an inline and staggered arrangement of effusion holes have been studied. Non-dimensionalized streamwise hole-to-hole spacing (z/d) and spanwise hole-to-hole spacing (r/d) of 10 were used for both the effusion liners. These configurations were tested for five different blowing ratios ranging from 0.7 to 4.0 under both reacting and non-reacting conditions. The experiments were carried out at a constant main flow Reynolds number (based on combustor diameter) of 12,500. The non-reacting experiments were carried out by heating the mainstream air, and the reacting experiments were carried out under flame conditions at a total equivalence ratio of 0.65. Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to measure the liner outer surface temperature, and detailed overall effectiveness values were determined under steady-state conditions. It was observed that overall cooling effectiveness trends were different under reacting and non-reacting conditions. The cooling effectiveness for the non-reacting experiments exhibited a decreasing trend, and no consistent location of minimum cooling effectiveness was observed for the range of blowing ratios investigated in this study. For the reacting cases, the cooling effectiveness first follows a decreasing trend, reaches a distinct minimum, and then increases till the end of the combustor. Under non-reacting conditions, the staggered configuration was 9–25% more effective than inline configuration, and under reacting conditions, the staggered configuration was 4–8% more effective than inline configuration. From this study, it is clear that the coolant flame interaction for the reacting experiments impacted the liner cooling effectiveness and led to different overall cooling effectiveness distribution on the liner when compared with the non-reacting experiments.
Modified Hottel-Whillier-Bliss Equation for an Active Solar Distillation System for Higher Yield and Thermal Efficiency
Authors: Tiwari G.N. , Meraj Md. , Khan M.E. , Azhar Md.
Published: June 2021

Based on energy-balance equations for a photo-voltaic thermal (PVT) active solar distillation system, a modified Hottel-Whillier-Bliss (HWB) analytical characteristic equation as a function of design and climatic parameters has been derived in the present article. It has been found that there is a significant difference between characteristic equations for PVT-based active solar distillation and the conventional flat plate collector (FPC). It is due to (i) opposite nature of loss factor from inside surface to ambient through glass cover and (ii) temperature dependence of the evaporative heat transfer coefficient between water surface and condensing cover in the solar distillation system. Numerical computations have been obtained for the characteristic curve of the proposed active solar distillation system and flat plate collector under the condition of a typical day in New Delhi, India. Further, the effect of performance parameters such as packing factor, electrical efficiency of individual PVT collectors, and water mass have also been studied for the proposed active PVT solar distillation system. Moreover, daily yield of portable water has been found to be 7.34 kg/m2 at n = 5 and βc = 0.25 which is 100.5% higher than the daily yield of 3.66 kg/m2 obtained at n = 1, βc. = 0.89.
Building vibration due to sonic boom—Results from simulations and field measurements
Authors: Løvholt Finn , Noren-Cosgriff Karin , Park Joonsang , Johansson Jörgen
Published: June 2021

Sonic boom causing rattling and whole-body vibration in buildings can lead to human disturbance and annoyance. An overview of research on sonic boom vibration in the EU RUMBLE project is presented here. Numerical simulations are carried out for sets of buildings encompassing a variety of European building styles, and for different transmission situations such as with and without open windows. We calibrate the simulations with previous laboratory data and recorded sound and vibration data from field experiments in Tretyakov (Russia). We then use the simulation to understand how sensitive the vibrations are to various buildings and conditions. Moreover, correlations of sonic boom metrics to the measured and simulated vibrations are quantified. Two different types of vibration generation mechanisms are detected and analysed: The first one is floor vibrations being set up from the indoor sound transmitted from outdoor. The second is the horizontal motion of the whole building being set up by the outdoor sound at the lower overall resonance frequency of the building. It is found that both types of generation mechanisms can be important for sonic boom, and that they take place for different frequencies.