bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of Serum Lipid for Intravenous Immunoglobulin Resistance and Coronary Artery Lesion in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Shao Shuran , Zhou Kaiyu , Liu Xiaoliang , Liu Lei , Wu Mei , Deng Yuxin , Duan Hongyu , Li Yifei , Hua Yimin , Wang Chuan
Published: April 2021

Context

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance and coronary artery lesions (CALs) prediction are pivotal topic of interests in Kawasaki disease (KD). However, data on the predictive value of lipid profile for both IVIG resistance and CALs are limited.

Purpose

To investigate the predictive validity of lipid profile for IVIG resistance and CALs in KD.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

West China Second University Hospital.

Patients

363 KD patients were divided into the initial IVIG-resistant group and initial IVIG-responsive group; repeated IVIG-resistant group and repeated IVIG-responsive group; CAL+ group and CAL− group.

Main Outcome Measures

Validity of lipid profile in predicting IVIG resistance and CALs.

Results

Triglycerides were significantly higher whereas total cholesterol (TC), high-densisty lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein A (Apo A) were significantly lower in initial IVIG-resistant subjects, with cut-off values of 1.625 mmol/L, 3.255 mmol/L, 0.475 mmol/L, 1.965 mmol/L, and 0.665 g/L, yielding sensitivities of 52%, 70%, 52%, 61%, and 50% and specificities of 68%, 53%, 78%, 71%, and 81%, respectively. TC, LDL-C, and Apo A levels were significantly lower in repeated IVIG-resistant subjects, with cut-off values of 3.20 mmol/L, 1.78 mmol/L, and 0.605 g/L, producing sensitivities of 91%, 70%, and 57% and specificities of 55%, 67%, and 70%, respectively. Apo A level was significantly lower in the CAL+ group, with cut-off value of 0.805 g/L, yielding sensitivity of 66% and specificity of 54%.

Conclusions

Lipid profiles were significantly dysregulated in KD patients suffering IVIG resistance and CALs. Some of them, such as LDL-C and Apo A, could serve as complementary laboratory markers for predicting both IVIG resistance and CALs.
Pituitary Tumors and Immortalized Cell Lines Generated by Cre-Inducible Expression of SV40 T Antigen
Authors: Daly Alexandre Z , Mortensen Amanda H , Bando Hironori , Camper Sally A
Published: April 2021

Targeted oncogenesis is the process of driving tumor formation by engineering transgenic mice that express an oncogene under the control of a cell-type specific promoter. Such tumors can be adapted to cell culture, providing immortalized cell lines. To make it feasible to follow the process of tumorigenesis and increase the opportunity for generating cell lines, we developed a mouse strain that expresses SV40 T antigens in response to Cre-recombinase. Using CRISPR/Cas9 we inserted a cassette with coding sequences for SV40 T antigens and an internal ribosome entry site with green fluorescent protein cassette (IRES-GFP) into the Rosa26 locus, downstream from a stop sequence flanked by loxP sites: Rosa26LSL-SV40-GFP. These mice were mated with previously established Prop1-cre and Tshb-cre transgenic lines. Both the Rosa26LSL-SV40-GFP/+; Prop1-cre and Rosa26LSL-SV40-GFP/+; Tshb-cre mice developed fully penetrant dwarfism and large tumors by 4 weeks. Tumors from both of these mouse lines were adapted to growth in cell culture. We have established a progenitor-like cell line (PIT-P1) that expresses Sox2 and Pitx1, and a thyrotrope-like cell line (PIT-T1) that expresses Pou1f1 and Cga. These studies demonstrate the utility of the novel, Rosa26  LSL-SV40-GFP mouse line for reliable targeted oncogenesis and development of unique cell lines.
Postconcussion Depressive Symptoms and Clinical Assessment Associations in Adolescents
Authors: Callahan Christine E. , Moore Robert Davis , Kay Jacob J.M. , Colwell Alison , Register-Mihalik Johna K. , Vesia Michael , Broglio Steven P.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Concussive injury and depression are connected through common overlapping symptoms. This retrospective data analysis aimed to establish an association between postconcussion depressive symptoms and postconcussion clinical measures (concussion symptoms, balance performance, vestibular function, and executive function) while controlling for concussion history, time from injury, age, and sex in concussed adolescents.

Methods

Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory for Youth. Postconcussion assessments included the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, Balance Error Scoring System, Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Separate multiple linear regression models were utilized for each dependent variable (concussion symptoms, balance performance, vestibular function, and executive function). For each model, the primary explanatory variable was depressive symptoms, and covariates included concussion history, time from injury, age, and sex.

Results

Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with concussion symptoms (P < 0.001), vestibular function (P < 0.05), and executive function (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

This study builds upon current literature surrounding the relationship between concussion and depression by identifying an association between depressive symptoms and postconcussion clinical assessments. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating postconcussive psychological symptoms and may serve to inform future rehabilitation strategies following up concussed adolescents.
Do Coronavirus Confinement Measures Cause Anxiety, Stress and Depression in University Students?
Authors: Escalera-Chávez Milka Elena , Santana Josefina C. , García-Santillán Arturo
Published: April 2021

Though Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is not a disease that directly affects people's minds, the confinement measures intended to prevent its spread have been taking a toll on mental health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the level of anxiety, stress and depression in university students of the Middle Zone Multidisciplinary Academic Unit of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí during the confinement caused by the presence of COVID 19 and to evaluate if these levels are different in men and women. The sample consisted of 180 university students enrolled in the semester between January and May 2020. The short version of the 21-item DASS questionnaire was used. The results give evidence that the level of depression, anxiety and stress in these university students is not high and there is not enough evidence to say that there is a difference between the level of depression, anxiety and stress in women and men.
Enhancing Analytical Thinking in Tertiary Students Using Debates
Authors: Spaska Anastasiya M. , Savishchenko Viktoriia M. , Komar Olha A. , Нritchenko Tetiana Ya. , Maidanyk Olena V.
Published: April 2021

The purpose of the study was to identify how debates effected the analytical thinking abilities of tertiary students and how the debates as an instructional approach were perceived by the students. The study used quantitative data collection methods such as tests and observation checklists and qualitative data collection methods such as a focus group discussion. The data was yielded from the measurements of students’ analytical thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills. The pretest and posttest measurements were administered using the test of analytical skills, the quiz entitled “Get Ready to Test Your Analytical Skills!”, and the problem-solving test. The study found that the debates improve the students’ analytical thinking abilities and are perceived positively by them. The pretest and posttest measurements results, observation reports, and a focus group discussion showed that the debate-driven instructional model brought positive change to students’ analytical thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills which are supported by the statistically significant Mean differences in all the variables. The findings from observations implied that the lessons were organised in a way that could sufficiently challenge the students, engage them in the search of information, and presenting their findings based on the facts and statistics. The results obtained from the students’ responses in the outline focus group discussion found that the students appreciated participation in the debates as they associated the experience with job benefits, the practical value of the debates, learning engagement, and research.
The many faces of disability in evidence for policy and practice: embracing complexity
Authors: Rivas Carol , Tomomatsu Ikuko , Gough David
Published: April 2021

Background:

This special issue examines the relationship between disability, evidence, and policy.

Key points:

Several themes cut across the included papers. Despite the development of models of disability that recognise its socially constructed nature, dis/ableism impedes the involvement of people with disability in evidence production and use. The resultant incomplete representations of disability are biased towards its deproblematisation. Existing data often homogenise the heterogeneous. Functioning and impairment categories are used for surveys, research recruitment and policy enactments, that exclude many. Existing data may crudely evidence some systematic inequalities, but the successful and appropriate development and enactment of disability policies requires more contextual data. Categories and labels drawn from a deficit model affect social constructions of identity, and have been used socially and politically to justify the disenfranchisement of people with disability. Well rehearsed within welfare systems, this results in disempowered and devalued objects of policy, and, as described in one Brazilian paper, the systematic breakup of indigenous families. Several studies show the dangers of policy developed without evidence and impact assessments from and with the intended beneficiaries.

Conclusions and implications:

There is a need to mitigate barriers to inclusive participation, to enable people with disability to collaborate as equals with other policy actors. The combined application of different policy models and ontologies, currently in tension, might better harness their respective strengths and encourage greater transparency and deliberation regarding the flaws inherent in each. Learning should be shared across minority groups.
Comparative analysis of discrete and continuous absorption weighting estimators used in Monte Carlo simulations of radiative transport in turbid media: erratum
Authors: Hayakawa Carole K. , Spanier Jerome , Venugopalan Vasan
Published: April 2021

This erratum corrects the relative error plots and references in our
paper [J. Opt. Soc.
Am. A 31, 301
(2014)JOAOD60740-323210.1364/JOSAA.31.000301].
Temporal mode properties of Raman scattering in optical fibers
Authors: Liu Nannan , Su Jie , Liu Yuhong , Li Jiamin , Li Xiaoying
Published: April 2021

By investigating the intensity correlation function, we study the temporal mode properties of spontaneous Raman photons generated in single mode fibers pumped by short pulses. We find that the intensity correlation function of the Raman photons is related to the dispersion induced temporal mismatch among the Raman photons generated in different subparts of the fiber. When no temporal mismatch exists, the intensity correlation function only depends on the ratio between the pulse width of the pump and the coherence time of the Raman photons. With the ratio decreasing, the intensity correlation function increase. Our study is helpful for easily creating high-quality true thermal light which will be a useful resource for second-order coherence based remote sensing.
Four-wave mixing in a triple-core microstructure fiber
Authors: Sapkota D. , Sharping J. E.
Published: April 2021

We experimentally demonstrate four-wave mixing (FWM) in a triple-core microstructure fiber for a pump wavelength of 1064 nm. We study the transition between the case where FWM happens primarily in a single core and the case where FWM is distributed among multiple cores. The effective nonlinear coefficient is reduced by a factor of 3 (the number of cores) for distributed-core FWM compared with that for single-core FWM. This effect also leads to a three-fold reduction in the FWM bandwidth for distributed-core FWM. We report on the wavelength and polarization dependence of the core-to-core coupling length, and how those phenomena produce power-dependent coupling among the cores. These are the first reported experimental measurements of FWM in a 3-core microstructure fiber providing critical information for their use as nonlinear optical devices.
Wo ist Gott in der Pandemie? Theologische Überlegungen aus Praxis und Reflexion kirchenleitenden Handelns
Authors: Bedford-Strohm Heinrich
Published: April 2021

The pandemic has confronted the churches with various difficult questions both practical and theological. Is there a responsible way of celebrating worship in the churches without risking people’s health? Numerous creative new digital formats were developed in the parishes to offer alternatives. How does God work in the pandemic? Is there any causal connection between God and the virus? The responses to this question are not only of philosophical importance, but have fundamental consequences on how we pray and how we identify God’s presence in our lives. Some responses affirm God’s role in the origin of the virus, e.g. by identifying the work of the deus absconditus in it, others emphasize the mysteriousness of God’s action, others see God’s action in God’s spirit of creative energy to overcome suffering in human and non-human nature. The latter approach is developed by an understanding of God based on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ and an eschatological interpretation of its visibility beyond current experiences of destruction and despair.
Gottesdienstliches digitales Neuland in Zeiten der Pandemie. Ein Erfahrungsbericht in theologischer Absicht
Authors: Springhart Heike
Published: April 2021

This paper offers reflections of broadcasted church services by describing and analyzing concrete experiences with online services, which are produced professionally by using the chances and means of filming. From that vantage point general theological issues in the COVID-19 era are addressed, in particular those that are related to the transformation in celebrating services. The importance of bodily resonances and the importance of synchronicity are addressed as well as the ecclesiological issue about the various publics and the various ways in which the church speaks. The various aspects are connected by the conviction that the practical and ethical necessities in times of COVID-19 raise general theological questions beyond the pandemic.
Trostbedürftig und hassgefährdet. Religiosität in Zeiten globaler Krisen
Authors: Welker Michael
Published: April 2021

The article shows that severe global crises, such as we are currently experiencing, threaten not only natural and mental life, but also spiritual life. Self-confidence, trust in the world and trust in God are shaken. For theology and the churches, self-examination and self-criticism should be the first priority in this situation. Long-held misconceptions of God and God's omnipotence and nature-romantic notions of creation urgently need to be corrected. Constructively, the powers of the divine Spirit, a spirit of justice, freedom, truth, peace and human kindness should be recognized, appreciated and strengthened. This Spirit gives multiform comfort and counteracts the dangers of the spread of a multifaceted hatred. The danger of hatred not only in its loud and aggressive forms, but also in the quieter forms of increasing unkindness and decreasing trust in God, paralyzing resignation and indifference, is counteracted by the Spirit of comfort in an overwhelming way. It surrounds us from all sides, not only in family, friendship, therapeutic and pastoral relationships. As a Spirit of practiced justice, freedom, truth and peace, it is a worldwide source of reassurance, security, confidence, courage and new hope.
Wie kam das Bauhaus zu seinem Namen?
Authors: Neumann Dietrich
Published: April 2021

It has always been assumed that the name Bauhaus was invented in 1919 by Walter Gropius, the institution’s founder and first director. However, the name had been in use since 1915 by the conservative Berlin architect Albert Gessner for his practice. Gessner had become famous for large, ingeniously designed apartment house complexes. Gropius and Gessner knew each other from the German Werkbund and Gropius probably saw the name in this context and adopted it. Gessner’s private practice had little success at the time, he closed his Bauhaus in 1920 and the competing use of the name in Weimar probably did little damage. But Gessner was fiercely opposed to the modern movement in architecture and enthusiastically joined the Nazi party in 1932, which ultimately determined its demise.
Die Bauhäusler Franz Ehrlich und Fritz Ertl
Authors: Tragbar Klaus
Published: April 2021

The Bauhaus not only had the period of its existence in common with the Weimar Republic, but also many of its internal social, cultural and political contradictions. These contradictions become clear through the biographies of two Bauhaus graduates, Franz Ehrlich (1907 –1984) and Fritz Ertl (1908 –1982), who both studied with Hannes Meyer at the Bauhaus Dessau. After graduating, Ehrlich joined the KPD and worked with Walter Gropius and Hans Poelzig. In 1934, he was arrested as a resistance fighter and imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp. After the Second World War, he became one of the most distinguished architects and furniture designers in the GDR and worked for the State Security. He died in 1984. Ertl returned to his father’s construction company in Linz after receiving his diploma. In 1938 he joined the NSDAP and the SS and was involved in the planning of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp from 1940 onwards. After the end of the war, he worked again as an architect and building contractor in Linz. In 1972 he was charged and acquitted in the Vienna Auschwitz Trial. He died in 1982.
Morphological and molecular characterization of Gambierdiscus caribaeus (Dinophyceae), with a confirmation of its occurrence in the Colombian Caribbean Tayrona National Natural Park
Authors: Arteaga-Sogamoso Edgar , Rodríguez Francisco , Mancera-Pineda José Ernesto
Published: April 2021

Dinoflagellates in the genus Gambierdiscus are known to produce potent neurotoxins known as ciguatoxins. These toxins vector through the food web and can reach sufficiently high levels to cause ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). In many regions of the Caribbean, little is known about the occurrence of CFP-causing species or the incidence of CFP, despite its apparent regional increase over the last few decades. Given the intraspecific variability in content and potencies of these toxins among Gambierdiscus species, the precise identification of local species of this genus is crucial. In this study we confirm the presence of the epibenthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus caribaeus in the Colombian continental Caribbean. Cells were collected in seagrass beds of Thalassia testudinum in Bonito Gordo, a site located on the western side of Bahía Concha, Tayrona National Natural Park, near the city of Santa Marta, Colombia. Subsequently, a single strain of Gambierdiscus could be established for further identification. Morphological (light and scanning electron microscopy), and molecular results (partial LSU and ITS rDNA sequencing) were consistent with the original description of G. caribaeus, as well as with the morphological characteristics shown by other authors in organisms obtained near the sampling area.
Exploring semantic differences between the Indonesian prefixesPE-andPEN-using a vector space model
Authors: Denistia Karlina , Shafaei-Bajestan Elnaz , Baayen R. Harald
Published: April 2021

Indonesian has two prefixes,PE-andPEN-, that are similar in form and meaning, but are probably not allomorphs. In this study, we applied a distributional vector space model to clarify whether these prefixes have discriminable semantics. Comparisons of pairs of words within and across morphologically defined sets of words revealed that cosine similarities of pairs consisting of a word withPE-and a word withPEN-were reduced compared to pairs of onlyPE-words, or of onlyPEN-words. Furthermore, nouns withPE-were more similar to their base words than was the case for words withPEN-. The specialized use ofPE-for words denoting agents, and the specialized use ofPEN-for denoting instruments, was also visible in the semantic vector space. These differences in the semantics ofPE-andPEN-thus provide further quantitative support for the independent status ofPE-as opposed toPEN-.
Locative construals: topology, posture, disposition, and perspective in Secoya and beyond
Authors: Vallejos Rosa , Brown Hunter L.
Published: April 2021

This study has two aims. First, it lays out the synchronic patterning of four constructions that express static location in Secoya (Tukanoan). Each construction licenses different semantic verb types: topological verbs, postural verbs, an existential verb, and a copula. Second, this study explores the different construals encoded by these constructions and highlights the ways speakers use them creatively to elaborate on stage-level properties adjacent to location in locative utterances. Data collected from six speakers using visual stimuli reveal that each of the constructions elaborates on specific aspects of locative scenes. Responses for typical/atypical scenes, negative polarity statements, and frequency patterns show that speakers can choose conceptualizations that favor Ground geometry, Figure posture, more complex Figure dispositions, or marked perspectivizations. Similar phenomena are observed in other Amazonian languages. These results raise difficulties in identifying a basic locative construction, suggesting that Secoya may not fit squarely into any type in existing typologies of spatial expression (e.g., Ameka and Levinson 2007). Additionally, the Secoya system raises questions about the relationship between conceptual alternativity and the notion of “basicness” with respect to construal types.
Tribological behavior of stainless steel in sulfuric acid in the presence of Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis essential oil: experimental and quantum chemical studies
Authors: Ouknin Mohamed , Boumezzourh Amal , Lakbaibi Zouhair , Ponthiaux Pierre , Costa Jean , Majidi Lhou
Published: April 2021

To reduce the use of synthetic compounds as wear-corrosion inhibitors, and substitute them with new ecological compounds, we are interested in evaluating the effect of the essential oils against the tribocorrosion. The present paper describes the effect of adding Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis (TZ) essential oil (3 g·L−1) on AISI 304L tribocorrosion behavior in 0.5 M H2SO4. As a result, the addition of this essential oil decreases the tribocorrosion rate [E (%) = 84.38], the value of friction coefficient, and the energy dissipated during sliding wear, in comparison to those recorded for dry environment and 0.5 M H2SO4. In addition, the essential oil improves the surface morphology of metal as shown by the scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray and the three-dimensional optical profiler analysis. In addition, the modeling approaches of experimental results, involving the density functional theory, the electrostatic potential, and the Monte Carlo methods, show that thymol (42.5% of TZ oil) is the best corrosion and tribocorrosion inhibitor that adhered to the stainless steel surface and offers a greater coverage area to block the metal wear-corrosion. According to the obtained results, the TZ essential oil can be used in the food industry to prevent the wear of materials.
The importance of phase composition for corrosion resistance and thermal oxidation behavior of gas-borided layer produced on nickel alloy
Authors: Makuch Natalia , Dziarski Piotr
Published: April 2021

Gas boriding was used to produce the borided layer containing a mixture of chromium and nickel borides on the Inconel®600-alloy. The borided sample was characterized by a higher corrosion potential (−0.953 V) than the non-borided sample (−1.005 V). The corrosion current density was significantly lower for the borided sample. The oxidation at 1000 °C for 24 h caused the formation of different oxides on the surface of the borided sample. Simultaneously, the presence of nickel and chromium borides was confirmed by XRD analysis after the oxidation test. It was concluded, that the gas boriding could be an effective barrier against corrosion and oxidation of Inconel®600-alloy.
Kennings for ‘raven’ and ‘eagle’
Authors: Busch Vivian
Published: April 2021

This article provides an analysis of kennings for ‘raven’ and ‘eagle’, taking a closer look at the choice and meanings of base-words, their connection with determinants and the formation of kenning patterns. It investigates the role of kenning parts in establishing the meaning of the referent, also taking into consideration adjectives and adjectival elements of compounded base-words. The article is also a test case for how information can be drawn from a new kenning lexicon in form of an online-database. The database format offers various possibilities to structure the corpus of kennings, for instance allowing the article’s focus on details concerning the construction of kennings and the usage and combination of base-words and determinants.
Nicht alternativlos. Wie ein Reichskanzler Hitler hätte verhindert werden können
Authors: Pyta Wolfram , Orth Rainer
Published: April 2021

Der vorliegende Beitrag möchte einem Zentralereignis der deutschen Geschichte, dem 30. Januar 1933, neue Facetten abgewinnen. Dazu wählt er erstens einen methodischen Zugang, der nach der Entscheidungskultur fragt, aus der die Ernennung Hitlers zum Reichskanzler erwuchs. Dabei steht insbesondere die Ressource Zeit als Entscheidungsfaktor im Blickpunkt. Zweitens entwickelt der Beitrag Kriterien, um kontrafaktische Annahmen über einen alternativen Geschichtsverlauf auf ihre Plausibilität hin zu prüfen. Dies unterstreicht zugleich den Entscheidungscharakter des 30. Januar 1933: Reichspräsident Hindenburg hätte auch gegen eine Reichskanzlerschaft Hitlers votieren können, weil er über eine bewusste und von ihm selbst als aussichtsreich erwogene Handlungsalternative verfügte. Diese Handlungsalternative bestand in einer politischen Aufwertung Gregor Straßers wie sie nicht zuletzt von Reichskanzler Schleicher vorbereitet und dem Reichspräsidenten als alternative Lösung unterbreitet worden war. Auf einem erweiterten Quellenfundament, das sowohl neue Quellen auswertet als auch bekannte Quellen in einem neuen Licht erscheinen lässt, verknüpft der Beitrag erstmals systematisch die Aktionen der beiden Zentralfiguren Straßer und Schleicher. Die Straßer-Schleicher-Option setzte darauf, durch Zeitgewinn die allgemeine Lage zu beruhigen und Straßer als gouvernementale Alternative zu Hitler so zu profilieren, dass bei fälligen Neuwahlen eine Straßer-Partei den politischen Führungsanspruch Hitlers irreparabel beschädigen würde. Hindenburg verwarf letztlich diese Option, weil er eine rasche und grundstürzende politische Veränderung anstrebte, die nur mit Hitler zu realisieren war: keine Zwischenlösung, sondern eine „Endlösung“.
Calculations of activation energy and frequency factors for corn leafs pyrolysis using excel solver: new concept
Authors: Al-Ayed Omar Salim , Amer Mohammad Waleed , Al-Harahshah Sura , Maaten Birgit , Ahmed Muhammad Sajjad
Published: April 2021

Thermal degradations of biomass corn leaves were studied for kinetic modeling. Thermogravimetric-differential analyzer runs at 5, 10, 20, and 30 °C min−1 heating rates were employed. Apparent activation energy and frequency factor values were calculated for first-order kinetics using several procedures. The procedure of Coats and Redfern showed 28.89 to 31.78 kJ mol−1 apparent activation energy and 15.5 to 157.12 min−1 frequency factor, respectively. Calculation of the apparent activation energy and frequency factor using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose procedure gave 229.9–364.2 kJ/mol and 8.567 × 1023 and 1.13 × 1031 (min−1), respectively as the conversion increased from 0.1 to 0.9. The newly introduced excel solver procedure indicates a distribution activation energy over the entire range of conversion. For first-order reaction kinetics, the calculated apparent activation energy magnitudes ranged between 5.0 kJ mol−1 with frequency factor equals to 0.239 and 196.2 kJ mol−1 with frequency factor 2.89 × 1012 in the studied range. The low or high magnitudes of the calculated activation energy are not associated with a particular value of the conversion. The calculated apparent activation energies are related to the direct solution of the simultaneous equations that constitute the basis of the excel solver.
Fabrication of monoclinic BiVO4 photocatalyst film and its photocatalytic activity for organic pollutant removal
Authors: Chaiwichian Saranyoo , Samran Buagun
Published: April 2021

Monoclinic BiVO4 photocatalyst films decorated on glass substrates were successfully fabricated via a dip-coating technique with different annealing temperatures of 400 °C, 450 °C, 500°C, and 550 °C. All of the physical and chemical properties of as-prepared BiVO4 photocatalyst film samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra techniques. The results revealed that the as-prepared BiVO4 photocatalyst film samples retained a monoclinic phase with an average particle size of about 50 – 100 nm. Moreover, the BiVO4 photocatalyst film samples showed a strong photoabsorption edge in the range of visible light with the band gap energy of 2.46 eV. The photocatalytic activities of all the film samples were tested by the degradation of model acid orange 7 under visible light irradiation. The BiVO4 photocatalyst film sample annealed at a temperature of 500 °C showed the highest photoactivity efficiency compared with other film samples, reaching up to 51%within 180 min. In addition, the stability and reusability of BiVO4 photocatalyst film sample made with an annealing temperature of 500 °C did not show loss of photodegradation efficiency of acid orange 7 after ten recycles. A likely mechanism of the photocatalytic process was established by trapping experiments, indicating that the hydroxyl radical scavenger species can be considered to play a key role for acid orange 7 degradation under visible light irradiation.
Prospective surgical solutions in degenerative spine: spinal simulation for optimal choice of implant and targeted device development
Authors: Salchow-Gille Monique , Rieger Bernhard , Reinshagen Clemens , Molcanyi Marek , Lemke Joschka , Brautferger Uta , Sitoci-Ficici Kerim Hakan , Polanski Witold , Pinzer Thomas , Schackert Gabriele
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The most important goal of surgical treatment for spinal degeneration, in addition to eliminating the underlying pathology, is to preserve the biomechanically relevant structures. If degeneration destroys biomechanics, the single segment must either be surgically stabilized or functionally replaced by prosthetic restoration. This study examines how software-based presurgical simulation affects device selection and device development.

Methods

Based on videofluoroscopic motion recordings and pixel-precise processing of the segmental motion patterns, a software-based surrogate functional model was validated. It characterizes the individual movement of spinal segments relative to corresponding cervical or lumbar spine sections. The single segment-based motion of cervical or lumbar spine of individual patients can be simulated, if size-calibrated functional X-rays of the relevant spine section are available. The software plug-in “biokinemetric triangle” has been then integrated into this software to perform comparative segmental motion analyses before and after treatment in two cervical device studies: the correlation of implant-induced changes in the movement geometry and patient-related outcome was examined to investigate, whether this surrogate model could provide a guideline for implant selection and future implant development.

Results

For its validation in 253 randomly selected patients requiring single-level cervical (n=122) or lumbar (n=131) implant-supported restoration, the biokinemetric triangle provided significant pattern recognition in comparable investigations (p<0.05) and the software detected device-specific changes after implant-treatment (p<0.01). Subsequently, 104 patients, who underwent cervical discectomy, showed a correlation of the neck disability index with implant-specific changes in their segmental movement geometry: the preoperative simulation supported the best choice of surgical implants, since the best outcome resulted from restricting the extent of the movement of adjacent segments influenced by the technical mechanism of the respective device (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The implant restoration resulted in best outcome which modified intersegmental communication in a way that the segments adjacent to the implanted segment undergo less change in their own movement geometry. Based on our software-surrogate, individualized devices could be created that slow down further degeneration of adjacent segments by influencing the intersegmental communication of the motion segments.
First encounter effects in testing of highly automated vehicles during two experimental occasions – The need for recurrent testing
Authors: Andersson Jonas , Habibovic Azra , Rizgary Daban
Published: April 2021

To explore driver behavior in highly automated vehicles (HAVs), independent researchers are mainly conducting short experiments. This limits the ability to explore drivers’ behavioral changes over time, which is crucial when research has the intention to reveal human behavior beyond the first-time use. The current paper shows the methodological importance of repeated testing in experience and behavior related studies of HAVs. The study combined quantitative and qualitative data to capture effects of repeated interaction between drivers and HAVs. Each driver (

n
=
8

n=8

) participated in the experiment on two different occasions (∼90 minutes) with one-week interval. On both occasions, the drivers traveled approximately 40 km on a rural road at AstaZero proving grounds in Sweden and encountered various traffic situations. The participants could use automated driving (SAE level 4) or choose to drive manually. Examples of data collected include gaze behavior, perceived safety, as well as interviews and questionnaires capturing general impressions, trust and acceptance. The analysis shows that habituation effects were attenuated over time. The drivers went from being exhilarated on the first occasion, to a more neutral behavior on the second occasion. Furthermore, there were smaller variations in drivers’ self-assessed perceived safety on the second occasion, and drivers were faster to engage in non-driving related activities and become relaxed (e. g., they spent more time glancing off road and could focus more on non-driving related activities such as reading). These findings suggest that exposing drivers to HAVs on two (or more) successive occasions may provide more informative and realistic insights into driver behavior and experience as compared to only one occasion. Repeating an experiment on several occasions is of course a balance between the cost and added value, and future research should investigate in more detail which studies need to be repeated on several occasions and to what extent.
Proficiency-aware systems: Designing for user reflection in context-aware systems
Authors: Karolus Jakob , Woźniak Paweł W.
Published: April 2021

In an increasingly digital world, intelligent systems support us in accomplishing many everyday tasks. With the proliferation of affordable sensing devices, inferring user states from collected physiological data paves the way to tailor-made adaptation. While estimating a user’s abilities is technically possible, such proficiency assessments are rarely employed to benefit the user’s task reflection. In our work, we investigate how to model and design for proficiency estimation as part of context-aware systems. In this paper, we present the definition and conceptual architecture of proficiency-aware systems. The concept is not only applicable to current adaptive systems but provides a stepping stone for systems which actively aid in developing user proficiency during interaction.
Opioid Crisis Response and Resilience: Results and Perspectives from a Multi-Agency Tabletop Exercise at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Authors: Siedschlag Alexander , Lu Tiangeng , Jerković Andrea , Kensinger Weston
Published: April 2021

This article presents and discusses, in the new context of COVID-19, findings from a tabletop exercise on response and resilience in the ongoing opioid crisis in Pennsylvania. The exercise was organized by [identifying information removed] and held at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), in further collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and with the participation of several additional agencies and institutions. It addressed first-responder and whole-community response and resilience to the ongoing opioid crisis. More than 50 experts participated in the one-day program that involved state and local agencies, first-responder organizations, as well as academia in a discussion about effectuating comprehensive response to overdose incidents. Participant experts represented a wide array of backgrounds, including state and local law enforcement agencies; emergency medical technicians; public health and health care professionals; and scholars from the fields of law, security studies, public policy, and public health, among other relevant areas. Participants addressed specific challenges, including resource sharing among responders; capacity-building for long-term recovery; effective integration of non-traditional partners, such as spontaneous volunteers and donors; and public education and outreach to improve prevention. The exercise aimed to strengthen the whole-community approach to emergency response.
Student Performance Prediction with Optimum Multilabel Ensemble Model
Authors: Yekun Ephrem Admasu , Haile Abrahaley Teklay
Published: April 2021

One of the important measures of quality of education is the performance of students in academic settings. Nowadays, abundant data is stored in educational institutions about students which can help to discover insight on how students are learning and to improve their performance ahead of time using data mining techniques. In this paper, we developed a student performance prediction model that predicts the performance of high school students for the next semester for five courses. We modeled our prediction system as a multi-label classification task and used support vector machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), K-nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Multi-layer perceptron (MLP) as base-classifiers to train our model. We further improved the performance of the prediction model using a state-of-the-art partitioning scheme to divide the label space into smaller spaces and used Label Powerset (LP) transformation method to transform each labelset into a multi-class classification task. The proposed model achieved better performance in terms of different evaluation metrics when compared to other multi-label learning tasks such as binary relevance and classifier chains.
Switching from conventional therapy to burosumab injection has the potential to prevent nephrocalcinosis in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets
Authors: Harada Daisuke , Ueyama Kaoru , Oriyama Kyoko , Ishiura Yoshihito , Kashiwagi Hiroko , Yamada Hiroyuki , Seino Yoshiki
Published: April 2021

Objectives

X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is a congenital fibroblast growth factor (FGF)23-related metabolic bone disease that is treated with active vitamin D and phosphate as conventional therapies. Complications of these therapies include nephrocalcinosis (NC) caused by excessive urine calcium and phosphate concentrations. Recently, an anti-FGF23 antibody, burosumab, was developed and reported to be effective in poorly-controlled or severe XLH patients. This study aimed to reveal the impact of switching treatments in relatively well-controlled XLH children with the Rickets Severity Scale less than 2.0.

Methods

The effects of the two treatments in eight relatively well-controlled XLH children with a mean age of 10.4 ± 1.9 years were compared retrospectively for the same treatment duration (31 ± 11 months) before and after the baseline.

Results

Actual doses of alfacalcidol and phosphate as conventional therapy were 150.9 ± 43.9 ng/kg and 27.5 ± 6.3 mg/kg per day, respectively. Renal echography revealed spotty NC in 8/8 patients, but no aggravation of NC was detected by switching treatments. Switching treatments increased TmP/GFR (p=0.002) and %TRP (p<0.001), and improved the high urine calcium/creatinine ratio to the normal range (p<0.001) although both treatments controlled disease markers equally. Additionally, low intact parathyroid hormone during conventional therapy was increased within the normal range by switching treatments.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a high dose of alfacalcidol was needed to control the disease, but it caused hypercalciuria and NC. We concluded that switching treatments in relatively well-controlled XLH children improved renal phosphate reabsorption and decreased urine calcium extraction, and may have the potential to prevent NC.
Giving the Value of a Variable
Authors: Lawrence Richard
Published: April 2021

What does it mean to ‘give’ the value of a variable in an algebraic context, and how does giving the value of a variable differ from merely describing it? I argue that to answer this question, we need to examine the role that giving the value of a variable plays in problem-solving practice. I argue that four different features are required for a statement to count as giving the value of a variable in the context of solving an elementary algebra problem: the variable must be in the scope opened by the problem statement; the values given must be in the range of the variable, which is determined by the problem; the statement giving the values must represent a complete solution; and it must be in a canonical form. This account helps us better understand elementary algebra itself, as well as the use of algebraic tools to analyze phenomena in natural language.
Clinical analysis of 11 cases of nocardiosis
Authors: Li Yiqing , Tang Ting , Xiao Jie , Wang Jieyu , Li Boqi , Ma Liping , Xie Shuangfeng , Nie Danian
Published: April 2021

Nocardiosis is a rare, life-threatening, opportunistic, and suppurative infection. Its clinical manifestation lacks specificity, which makes early diagnosis difficult. A retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 11 patients with nocardiosis admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to November 2018 was conducted. All patients had at least one underlying disorder, such as an autoimmune disease (6/11), a blood malignancy (2/11), avascular necrosis of the femoral head (1/11), bronchiectasis (1/11), or pneumonia (1/11). The first-line treatment was trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (TMP–SMX); one or two additional antibiotics were given according to the drug-sensitive test. The median time from onset to treatment was 3 weeks (ranging from 1 to 9 weeks). The median duration of treatment after diagnosis was 20.5 weeks (ranging from 7 to 47 weeks). Eight patients were discharged and survived, and three patients died. This indicates that early use of TMP–SMX combined with sensitive antibiotics could improve the condition of patients and improve the cure rate (8/11). Clinically, it is necessary to consider the possibility of nocardiosis in patients with long-term use of immunosuppressants and poor response to treatment of common bacterial infections. Early diagnosis, timely treatment, and combination drug therapy are keys to improving the outcomes of patients with nocardiosis.
Selective biocatalytic synthesis and crystal structure of (2R,6R)-hydroxyketaminium chloride, C13H17Cl2NO2
Authors: Luelf U. Joost , Reiss Guido J. , Bokel Ansgar , Urlacher Vlada B.
Published: April 2021

C13H17Cl2NO2, triclinic, P1 (no. 1), a = 7.1486(3) Å, b = 7.8265(3) Å, c = 13.6579(5) Å, α = 81.085(3)°, β = 77.487(4)°, γ = 73.335(4)°, Z = 2, V = 711.13(5) Å3, R

gt
(F) = 0.0536, wRref
 = 0.0878, T = 290 K.
Crystal structure of N
1,N
2-bis(2-fluorobenzyl)benzene-1,2-diamine,C20H18F2N2
Authors: Ning Zhi Wei , Gan Lin Ling , Zhou Shu Jing , Tian Jie , Du Yu Hui , Zhang Hui Zhen
Published: April 2021

C20H18F2N2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.4233(11) Å, b = 7.3805(7) Å, c = 18.9531(16) Å, β = 104.109(3)°, V = 104.109(3) Å3, Z = 4, R

gt
(F) = 0.0464, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.1201, T = 296(2) K.
Removal of sulfate from aqueous solution using Mg–Al nano-layered double hydroxides synthesized under different dual solvent systems
Authors: Liu Xiaobo , Lu Shuang , Tang Zhen , Wang Zhaojia , Huang Tianyong
Published: April 2021

Because of its priority to remove anions, nano-layered double hydroxide (LDH) was incorporated to improve the sulfate attack corrosion resistance of cement-based materials. Herein, the synthesis of high-efficiency LDH for removal of

SO

4

2
−

{\text{SO}}_{4}^{2-}

is necessary. In this study, LDH with different Mg/Al ratios was synthesized under different dual solvent systems (water and ethylene glycol/ethanol/tetrapropylammonium hydroxide). Based on the adsorption experimental results, the LDH synthesized with n(Mg:Al) = 2:1 under water and ethanol solvent systems (ET2.0) exhibits the best adsorption capacity. The d
(003) of LDH synthesized with n(Mg:Al) = 2:1 under different dual solvent systems are 0.7844, 0.7830, and 0.7946 nm, respectively. Three LDH belong to LDH-

NO

3

−

{\text{NO}}_{3}^{-}

. The results indicated that their surface charges show obvious difference synthesized under different dual solvent systems, which leads to differences in adsorption performance. The adsorption experimental results show that ET2.0 followed pseudo second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. The ET2.0 removed

SO

4

2
−

{\text{SO}}_{4}^{2-}

through anion substitution and electrostatic interaction and exhibited excellent adsorption rate with the maximum adsorption capacity of 95.639 mg/g. The effects of pore solution anion (OH−, Cl−, and

CO

3

2
−

{\text{CO}}_{3}^{2-}

) on the removal of

SO

4

2
−

{\text{SO}}_{4}^{2-}

by the ET2.0 are limited.
An assessment of broiler value chain in Nigeria
Authors: Adeyonu Abigail G. , Okunola Abiodun , Alao Monisola E. , Oyawoye Enoch O. , Okonkwo Clinton E.
Published: April 2021

Livestock sub-sector of agriculture plays a vital role in the development of emerging economies in terms of provision of high quality protein and employment generation through its value chain activities. Yet, little is known about value chain development in this important sub-sector of the Nigeria economy. Hence, this study assessed Broiler Value Chain (BVC) in Nigeria. Primary data were collected from various actors along the value chain between November 2017 and March, 2018. Nigeria BVC is relatively simple with only five main actors. Grandparent Stock (GPS) farmers supply breeder Day Old Chicks (DOCs) to Parent Stock (PS) farmers. PS farmers supply commercial DOCs to commercial broiler farmers. Commercial farmers sell mature broilers to mature live broiler marketers (63%) and processors (37%). Processors sell processed meat to household consumers (12%) and 88% to fast food outlets, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets with no export who in turn sell to individual and household consumers. High cost of feed, lack of credit facilities, and weak infrastructure were the major constraints facing production, marketing, and processing of broilers, respectively. Policies aiming at the development of BVC should focus on low/no export of broiler meat and high import of materials as well as other constraints.