bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Event-driven temporal models for explanations - ETeMoX: explaining reinforcement learning
Authors: Parra-Ullauri Juan Marcelo , García-Domínguez Antonio , Bencomo Nelly , Zheng Changgang , Zhen Chen , Boubeta-Puig Juan , Ortiz Guadalupe , Yang Shufan
Published: December 2021

Modern software systems are increasingly expected to show higher degrees of autonomy and self-management to cope with uncertain and diverse situations. As a consequence, autonomous systems can exhibit unexpected and surprising behaviours. This is exacerbated due to the ubiquity and complexity of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based systems. This is the case of Reinforcement Learning (RL), where autonomous agents learn through trial-and-error how to find good solutions to a problem. Thus, the underlying decision-making criteria may become opaque to users that interact with the system and who may require explanations about the system’s reasoning. Available work for eXplainable Reinforcement Learning (XRL) offers different trade-offs: e.g. for runtime explanations, the approaches are model-specific or can only analyse results after-the-fact. Different from these approaches, this paper aims to provide an online model-agnostic approach for XRL towards trustworthy and understandable AI. We present ETeMoX, an architecture based on temporal models to keep track of the decision-making processes of RL systems. In cases where the resources are limited (e.g. storage capacity or time to response), the architecture also integrates complex event processing, an event-driven approach, for detecting matches to event patterns that need to be stored, instead of keeping the entire history. The approach is applied to a mobile communications case study that uses RL for its decision-making. In order to test the generalisability of our approach, three variants of the underlying RL algorithms are used: Q-Learning, SARSA and DQN. The encouraging results show that using the proposed configurable architecture, RL developers are able to obtain explanations about the evolution of a metric, relationships between metrics, and were able to track situations of interest happening over time windows.
Changing depositional environments in the semi-restricted Late Jurassic Lemeš Basin (Outer Dinarides; Croatia)
Authors: Vitzthum Michael A. J. , Gawlick Hans-Jürgen , Sachsenhofer Reinhard F. , Neumeister Stefan
Published: December 2021

The up to 450 m-thick Upper Jurassic Lemeš Formation includes organic-rich deep-water (max. ~ 300 m) sedimentary rocks deposited in the Lemeš Basin within the Adriatic Carbonate Platform (AdCP). The Lemeš Formation was investigated regarding (1) bio- and chemostratigraphy, (2) depositional environment, and (3) source rock potential. A multi-proxy approach—microfacies, Rock–Eval pyrolysis, maceral analysis, biomarkers, and stable isotope ratios—was used. Based on the results, the Lemeš Formation is subdivided from base to top into Lemeš Units 1–3. Deposition of deep-water sediments was related to a late Oxfordian deepening event causing open-marine conditions and accumulation of radiolarian-rich wackestones (Unit 1). Unit 2, which is about 50 m thick and Lower early Kimmeridgian (E. bimammatumtoS. platynota,ammonite zones) in age, was deposited in a restricted, strongly oxygen-depleted basin. It consists of radiolarian pack- and grainstones with high amounts of kerogen type II-S organic matter (avg. TOC 3.57 wt.%). Although the biomass is predominantly marine algal and bacterial in origin, minor terrestrial organic matter that was transported from nearby land areas is also present. The overlying Unit 3 records a shallowing of the basin and a return to oxygenated conditions. The evolution of the Lemeš Basin is explained by buckling of the AdCP due to ophiolite obduction and compressional tectonics in the Inner Dinarides. Lemeš Unit 2 contains prolific oil-prone source rocks. Though thermally immature at the study location, these rocks could generate about 1.3 t of hydrocarbon per m2surface area when mature.
Improved renal cancer prognosis among users of drugs targeting renin-angiotensin system
Authors: Eskelinen Tommi , Veitonmäki Thea , Kotsar Andres , Tammela Teuvo L. J. , Pöyhönen Antti , Murtola Teemu J.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

We explored renal cell cancer (RCC) survival among users of antihypertensive medication as hypertension is proposed to be a risk factor for RCC and ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been associated with improved prognosis of RCC.

Methods

Finnish cohort of 13,873 participants with RCC diagnosed between 1995–2012 was formed from three national databases. RCC cases were identified from Finnish Cancer Registry, medication usage from national prescription database and co-morbidities from Care Registry of Healthcare. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for metastatic tumor extent at the time of diagnosis. Risk of RCC specific death after diagnosis was analyzed using Cox regression adjusted for tumor clinical characteristics.

Results

A total of 5,179 participants died of RCC during the follow-up. No risk association was found for metastatic tumor extent for any drug group. ACE-inhibitors, but no other drug group were associated with decreased risk of RCC specific death overall (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.95) compared to non-users. In time-dependent analysis high-dose use of ACE-inhibitors (392 Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/year), HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.45–0.66) and ARBs (786.1 DDD/year, HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87) associated with improved RCC survival. No information of TNM-classification or tobacco smoking was available.

Conclusion

ACE-inhibitors and ARBs in high dose associated with improved RCC specific survival. This may reflect overall benefit of treating hypertension with medication targeting renin-angiotensin system (RAS) system among RCC patients. Further studies are needed to explore the role of RAS in RCC.
Identifying and correcting biases in localized downscaling estimates of daily precipitation return values
Authors: Risser Mark D. , Feldman Daniel R. , Wehner Michael F. , Pierce David W. , Arnold Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2021

Extreme precipitation events are a major cause of economic damage and disruption, and need to be addressed for increasing resilience to a changing climate, particularly at the local scale. Practitioners typically want to understand local changes at spatial scales much smaller than the native resolution of most Global Climate Models, for which downscaling techniques are used to translate planetary-to-regional scale change information to local scales. However, users of statistically downscaled outputs should be aware that how the observational data used to train the statistical models is constructed determines key properties of the downscaled solutions. Specifically for one such downscaling approach, when considering seasonal return values of extreme daily precipitation, we find that the Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) method produces a significant low bias in return values due to choices made in building the observational data set used to train LOCA. The LOCA low biases in daily extremes are consistent across event extremity, but do not degrade the overall performance of LOCA-derived changes in extreme daily precipitation. We show that the low (negative) bias in daily extremes is a function of a time-of-day adjustment applied to the training data and the manner of gridding daily precipitation data. The effects of these choices are likely to affect other downscaling methods trained with observations made in the same way. The results developed here show that efforts to improve resilience at the local level using extreme precipitation projections can benefit from using products specifically created to properly capture the statistics of extreme daily precipitation events.
An Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Imperfect Compliance on Technology Adoption
Authors: Vidal-Meliá Lidia , Arguedas Carmen , Camacho-Cuena Eva , Zofío José Luis
Published: December 2021

We present the results of an experimental investigation on incentives to adopt cleaner abatement technologies in the presence of imperfect compliance. We consider two emission control instruments—emission taxes and tradable permits—as well as different combinations of the inspection probability and fine for non-compliance, which can result in full or weak enforcement scenarios. We review and qualify existing theoretical predictions in several ways and find the main result is that allowing for weak enforcement causes tax evasion, reductions in permit prices and lower adoption rates of cleaner abatement technologies. As a result, there are increases in aggregate emissions. Finally, treatments with tradable permits under weak enforcement encounter insufficient trading.
Teacher noticing and its growth toward expertise: an expert–novice comparison with pre-service and in-service secondary mathematics teachers
Authors: Bastian Anton , Kaiser Gabriele , Meyer Dennis , Schwarz Björn , König Johannes
Published: December 2021

Although strong references to expertise in different theoretical approaches to teacher noticing have been made in the last decades, empirical knowledge about the development of teacher noticing from novice to expert level is scarce. The present study aims to close this research gap by comparing three different groups of mathematics teachers with different degrees of professional teaching experience—pre-service teachers at the master’s level, early career teachers, and experienced teachers—using data sampled in the frame of the research program from the Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M). Furthermore, the construct of teacher noticing is assessed in a differentiated way by analyzing different noticing facets. Findings confirm that three facets of teacher noticing can be empirically distinguished—perception of important classroom events, their interpretation, and decisions regarding further developments. The results reveal a considerable increase in professional noticing between master’s students and practicing teachers. However, in contrast to other studies, among examples from East Asia, a stagnation or decrease in professional noticing between early career teachers and experienced teachers could be observed. Overall, the study highlights the cultural dependency of expertise development regarding teachers’ noticing.
Application of Phytotests to Study of Environmental Safety of Biologicaly Synthetised Au and Au/ZnO Nanoparticles Using Tanacetum parthenium Extract
Authors: Szymanski Marcin , Dobrucka Renata
Published: December 2021

Due to their small sizes and high reactivity, nanoparticles have a completely different toxicity profile than larger particles, and it is difficult to predict their potential ecological impact. There is a need for broad ecotoxicological studies of nanomaterials in order to specify their environmental impact and ensure safe application of nanotechnology products. In this work, we have assessed the toxicity of Au and Au/ZnO metal nanoparticles obtained with the use of Tanacetum parthenium (herba) extract. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry (UV–VIS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In order to assess the toxicity of biologically synthesized nanoparticles, we used seeds of various plants: Lepidium sativum, Linum flavum, Zea mays, Salvia hispanica-chia, Lupinus angustifolius, Petroselinum crispum subsp. Crispum, Beta vulgaris, Phaseolus vulgaris. The in vitro phytotests showed that gold nanoparticles at a specific range of concentrations for all plants stimulated their growth. The highest growth activity was exhibited by the solution at the concentration of 0.300 mg/ml towards corn (Aw ≈ − 135 ± 16) and flax (Aw ≈ − 44 ± 10). Only for parsley the IC50 was determined at 0.57 mg/ml, but solutions at the concentration of 0.030 to 0.150 mg/ml also stimulated plant growth. Au/ZnO had a toxic effect at all concentrations applied in the study.
PatentNet: multi-label classification of patent documents using deep learning based language understanding
Authors: Haghighian Roudsari Arousha , Afshar Jafar , Lee Wookey , Lee Suan
Published: December 2021

Patent classification is an expensive and time-consuming task that has conventionally been performed by domain experts. However, the increase in the number of filed patents and the complexity of the documents make the classification task challenging. The text used in patent documents is not always written in a way to efficiently convey knowledge. Moreover, patent classification is a multi-label classification task with a large number of labels, which makes the problem even more complicated. Hence, automating this expensive and laborious task is essential for assisting domain experts in managing patent documents, facilitating reliable search, retrieval, and further patent analysis tasks. Transfer learning and pre-trained language models have recently achieved state-of-the-art results in many Natural Language Processing tasks. In this work, we focus on investigating the effect of fine-tuning the pre-trained language models, namely, BERT, XLNet, RoBERTa, and ELECTRA, for the essential task of multi-label patent classification. We compare these models with the baseline deep-learning approaches used for patent classification. We use various word embeddings to enhance the performance of the baseline models. The publicly available USPTO-2M patent classification benchmark and M-patent datasets are used for conducting experiments. We conclude that fine-tuning the pre-trained language models on the patent text improves the multi-label patent classification performance. Our findings indicate that XLNet performs the best and achieves a new state-of-the-art classification performance with respect to precision, recall, F1 measure, as well as coverage error, and LRAP.
Staged entrepreneurship: the formation of hybrid and spawning entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Brändle Leif , Kuckertz Andreas
Published: December 2021

Most individuals find their way into entrepreneurship through combinations of self-employment and paid employment. However, prior research on entrepreneurial intentions has overlooked intended career transitions. Drawing on social cognitive career theory, we argue that, against the background of personal and environmental factors, individuals form career intentions that involve the combination of and transition between paid employment and self-employment. Suchstaged entrepreneurial intentionsinclude the delay of entrepreneurial entry by intermediate stages of paid employment (i.e.,spawning entrepreneurial intentions) or immediate entrepreneurial entry in parallel combination with paid employment at established organizations (i.e.,hybrid entrepreneurial intentions). We test these theoretical ideas based on a survey involving 1003 individuals prior to career entry. The results indicate that individuals proactively align their envisioned career stages according to expected socio-cognitive enablers and barriers (i.e., their entrepreneurial self-efficacy, personal attitudes to entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and socioeconomic status). Notably, we find that individuals with lower levels of perceived social support for an entrepreneurial career more likely intend to combine their existing entrepreneurial activities with a conventional career at an established organization. Furthermore, individuals from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds as well as women are more likely to delay entrepreneurial entry by starting their professional careers in paid employment. The study’s primary contribution is the introduction of a novel perspective on entrepreneurial intentions based on individuals’ intended career transitions.
Hyperglycemic memory in diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhan Jiabing , Chen Chen , Wang Dao Wen , Li Huaping
Published: December 2021

Cardiovascular diseases account for approximately 80% of deaths among individuals with diabetes mellitus, with diabetic cardiomyopathy as the major diabetic cardiovascular complication. Hyperglycemia is a symptom that abnormally activates multiple downstream pathways and contributes to cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, apoptosis, and other pathophysiological changes. Although glycemic control has long been at the center of diabetes therapy, multicenter randomized clinical studies have revealed that intensive glycemic control fails to reduce heart failure-associated hospitalization and mortality in patients with diabetes. This finding indicates that hyperglycemic stress persists in the cardiovascular system of patients with diabetes even if blood glucose level is tightly controlled to the normal level. This process is now referred to as hyperglycemic memory (HGM) phenomenon. We briefly reviewed herein the current advances that have been achieved in research on the underlying mechanisms of HGM in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Gameful Learning for a More Sustainable World
Authors: Hoffmann Greta , Pfeiffer Jella
Published: December 2021

Municipal waste sorting is an important but neglected topic within sustainability-oriented Information Systems research. Most waste management systems depend on the quality of their citizens pre-sorting but lack teaching resources. Thus, it is important to raise awareness and knowledge on correct waste sorting to strengthen current efforts. Having shown promising results in raising learning outcomes and motivation in domains like health and economics, gamification is an auspicious approach to address this problem. The paper explores the effectiveness of gameful design on learning outcomes of waste sorting knowledge with a mobile game app that implements two different learning strategies: repetition and elaboration. In a laboratory experiment, the overall learning outcome of participants who trained with the game was compared to that of participants who trained with standard analogue non-game materials. Furthermore, the effects of two additional, learning-enhancing design elements – repetition and look-up – were analyzed. Learning outcome in terms of long-term retention and knowledge transfer were evaluated through three different testing measures two weeks after the training: in-game, through a multiple-choice test and real-life sorting. The results show that the game significantly enhanced the learning outcome of waste sorting knowledge for all measures, which is particularly remarkable for the real-life measure, as similar studies were not successful with regard to knowledge transfer to real life. Furthermore, look-up is found to be a promising game design element that is not yet established in IS literature and therefore should be considered more thoroughly in future research and practical implementations alike.
Regulating the Electron Localization of Metallic Bismuth for Boosting CO2 Electroreduction
Authors: Wu Dan , Feng Renfei , Xu Chenyu , Sui Peng-Fei , Zhang Jiujun , Fu Xian-Zhu , Luo Jing-Li
Published: December 2021

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate is economically attractive but improving the reaction selectivity and activity remains challenging. Herein, we introduce boron (B) atoms to modify the local electronic structure of bismuth with positive valence sites for boosting conversion of CO2 into formate with high activity and selectivity in a wide potential window. By combining experimental and computational investigations, our study indicates that B dopant differentiates the proton participations of rate-determining steps in CO2 reduction and in the competing hydrogen evolution. By comparing the experimental observations with the density functional theory, the dominant mechanistic pathway of B promoted formate generation and the B concentration modulated effects on the catalytic property of Bi are unravelled. This comprehensive study offers deep mechanistic insights into the reaction pathway at an atomic and molecular level and provides an effective strategy for the rational design of highly active and selective electrocatalysts for efficient CO2 conversion.
Garcinia cambogia extract alters anxiety, sociability, and dopamine turnover in male Swiss albino mice
Authors: Ibrahim Michael K. , Aboelsaad Marina , Tony Fatma , Sayed Moustafa
Published: December 2021

Obesity is a global concern, closely allied with somatic and psychosomatic disorders. Herbal drugs are available in modern medicine to treat obesity. Garcinia camobogia being used by so many people trying to lose weight produces various systemic side effects. The study was conducted to assess its effect on anxiety, sociability, and dopamine turnover in male mice. Twenty-one male Swiss albino mice of either were divided into three groups with seven mice in each group. Control group was given distilled water (0.5 ml p.o.) and the other two groups received Garcinia cambogia extract at two different doses, a low and a higher dose (100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. p.o.) Each animal received a single oral dose daily, which was administered using an oral gavage for fourteen consecutive days. Effect of test drugs on anxiety was evaluated using open field test. Sociability and social novelty were evaluated using three chambers test. Results (mean ± SD) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s test. Garcinia cambogia extract significantly increased the time spent in the corners in the open field test, significantly reduced sociability and social novelty in the three-chamber test, significantly reduced dopamine turnover in the brain with a significant decrease in dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) and increased D2 receptor expression in ventral tegmental area. Garcinia cambogia extract have significant anxiogenic effect along with reduced sociability and social novelty in male mice. Moreover, these effects could be related to the altered dopamine turnover and D2 receptor expression in mice brain.

Article Highlights

Chronic used of alcoholic extract of Garcinia campbogia lead to a significant increase in anxiety that was manifested by the reduced time in the center zone and increased immobility in the open field test.

Garcinia camobogia chronic administration has a profound impact on sociability and social novelty with a significant decrease in both behavioral patterns compared to the control group.

These effects could be attributed to the noticed change in the dopamine turnover in the brain with a significant decrease in dopamine metabolite (HVA) and an upward expression of D2 receptors in return.
Royal Counsel in Tudor England, 1485–1603
Authors: McGovern Jonathan
Published: December 2021

Royal counsel in Tudor England has been a central historiographical theme for over twenty years. This review offers a critical assessment of the state of the field. It appraises historical and literary scholarship on both the theory and practice of royal counsel. Among other themes, it discusses the concepts of evil counsel andarcana imperii. The review concludes by suggesting priorities for future enquiry, including the need to think more carefully about which areas of English government still required royal decision-making, and therefore counsel, in this period. The article also charts the rise of conciliar ‘government under the king but not by the king’ and shows that Tudor counsel often happened the wrong way around: the monarch advised the privy council on the direction of state policy. It calls for a new administrative history in early modern studies, with a renewed focus on institutions and their procedures, to complement existing strengths in the fields of political culture and political thought.
Taking Wilde to Sri Lanka and Beardsley to Harlem: Decadent Practice, Race, and Orientalism
Authors: Mahoney Kristin
Published: December 2021

This article examines the reworking of decadence by writers of color in the early twentieth century, focusing on the uses to which the Harlem Renaissance writer Richard Bruce Nugent and the Sri Lankan writer Lionel de Fonseka put decadent style while engaging in anticolonial critique and contesting rigid categories of power and identity. I read the implementation of decadent aesthetics by Nugent and de Fonseka as a form of criticism that teases out the troubles and potentialities of thinking race and empire through the lens of decadence.
Can Uranus’s Rings Reveal the Planet’s Deepest Secrets?
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: December 2021

Planetary rings can act as seismometers that respond to changes deep within a planet.
Charting the “Bloody” Brine Flows from an Antarctic Glacier
Authors: Prillaman McKenzie
Published: December 2021

Photographs and field observations yield a more complete historical record of the ebbs and flows of the so-called Blood Falls on Taylor Glacier.
Atmospheric Rivers Spur High-Tide Floods on U.S. West Coast
Authors: G�mez-Van Cortright Guanan�
Published: December 2021

Researchers analyzed 36 years of data to understand how atmospheric rivers and other factors drive chronic coastal flooding.
Associations Between Eight Earth Observation‐Derived Climate Variables and Enteropathogen Infection: An Independent Participant Data Meta‐Analysis of Surveillance Studies With Broad Spectrum Nucleic Acid Diagnostics
Authors: Colston Josh M. , Zaitchik Benjamin F. , Badr Hamada S. , Burnett Eleanor , Ali Syed Asad , Rayamajhi Ajit , Satter Syed M. , Eibach Daniel , Krumkamp Ralf , May Jürgen , Chilengi Roma , Howard Leigh M. , Sow Samba O. , Jahangir Hossain M. , Saha Debasish , Imran Nisar M. , Zaidi Anita K. M. , Kanungo Suman , Mandomando Inácio , Faruque Abu S. G. , Kotloff Karen L. , Levine Myron M. , Breiman Robert F. , Omore Richard , Page Nicola , Platts‐Mills James A. , Ashorn Ulla , Fan Yue‐Mei , Shrestha Prakash Sunder , Ahmed Tahmeed , Mduma Estomih , Yori Pablo Penatero , Bhutta Zulfiqar , Bessong Pascal , Olortegui Maribel P. , Lima Aldo A. M. , Kang Gagandeep , Humphrey Jean , Prendergast Andrew J. , Ntozini Robert , Okada Kazuhisa , Wongboot Warawan , Gaensbauer James , Melgar Mario T. , Pelkonen Tuula , Freitas Cesar Mavacala , Kosek Margaret N.
Published: December 2021

Diarrheal disease, still a major cause of childhood illness, is caused by numerous, diverse infectious microorganisms, which are differentially sensitive to environmental conditions. Enteropathogen‐specific impacts of climate remain underexplored. Results from 15 studies that diagnosed enteropathogens in 64,788 stool samples from 20,760 children in 19 countries were combined. Infection status for 10 common enteropathogens—adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus, rotavirus, sapovirus, Campylobacter, ETEC, Shigella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia—was matched by date with hydrometeorological variables from a global Earth observation dataset—precipitation and runoff volume, humidity, soil moisture, solar radiation, air pressure, temperature, and wind speed. Models were fitted for each pathogen, accounting for lags, nonlinearity, confounders, and threshold effects. Different variables showed complex, non‐linear associations with infection risk varying in magnitude and direction depending on pathogen species. Rotavirus infection decreased markedly following increasing 7‐day average temperatures—a relative risk of 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.85) above 28°C—while ETEC risk increased by almost half, 1.43 (1.36–1.50), in the 20–35°C range. Risk for all pathogens was highest following soil moistures in the upper range. Humidity was associated with increases in bacterial infections and decreases in most viral infections. Several virus species' risk increased following lower‐than‐average rainfall, while rotavirus and ETEC increased with heavier runoff. Temperature, soil moisture, and humidity are particularly influential parameters across all enteropathogens, likely impacting pathogen survival outside the host. Precipitation and runoff have divergent associations with different enteric viruses. These effects may engender shifts in the relative burden of diarrhea‐causing agents as the global climate changes.
Boulder Fall Ejecta: Present Day Activity on Mars
Authors: Vijayan S. , Harish  , Kimi K. B. , Tuhi S. , Vigneshwaran K. , Sinha R. K. , Conway S. J. , Sivaraman B. , Bhardwaj Anil
Published: December 2021

Boulder falls are an archives of recent surface activity on Mars, however, determining how recently they fell remains elusive. Our multitemporal HiRISE image analysis shows that new tracks are characterized by a herringbone‐like ejecta pattern at each boulder bounce that we call boulder fall ejecta (BFE). First systematic survey of BFE revealed ∼4,500 tracks whose total integrated track length is ∼900 km. Our BFE longevity analysis reveals that these tracks likely formed in the last few decades. From few examples we also observed slope streaks originating from BFE tracks, providing additional evidence favoring a dry origin theory. BFE fade in as little as ∼2 to 4 Mars years, whereas, others can persist >6 Mars years suggesting differential weathering. Nearly 30% of BFE are observed in the Cerberus Fossae region, which suggests it is one of the most seismically active regions. Thus, BFE can be used to recognize very recent surface processes on planetary surfaces.
Prostate cancer risk in men of differing genetic ancestry and approaches to disease screening and management in these groups
Authors: McHugh Jana , Saunders Edward J. , Dadaev Tokhir , McGrowder Eva , Bancroft Elizabeth , Kote-Jarai Zsofia , Eeles Rosalind
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer is the second most common solid tumour in men worldwide and it is also the most common cancer affecting men of African descent. Prostate cancer incidence and mortality vary across regions and populations. Some of this is explained by a large heritable component of this disease. It has been established that men of African and African Caribbean ethnicity are predisposed to prostate cancer (PrCa) that can have an earlier onset and a more aggressive course, thereby leading to poorer outcomes for patients in this group. Literature searches were carried out using the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies associated with PrCa risk and its association with ancestry, screening and management of PrCa. In order to be included, studies were required to be published in English in full-text form. An attractive approach is to identify high-risk groups and develop a targeted screening programme for them as the benefits of population-wide screening in PrCa using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in general population screening have shown evidence of benefit; however, the harms are considered to weigh heavier because screening using PSA testing can lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment. The aim of targeted screening of higher-risk groups identified by genetic risk stratification is to reduce over-diagnosis and treat those who are most likely to benefit.
Emulsion templated scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone) – a review
Authors: Yadav Anilkumar , Ghosh Sagnik , Samanta Archana , Pal Jit , Srivastava Rajiv K.
Published: December 2021

HIPE templated scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone).
Interfacial charge-transfer enhances the dual-function of the porous NiCo2S4@SiO2 heterojunction for high-performance Li–S batteries
Authors: Fan Shuangqing , Cao Hao-Qiang , Song Jianjun , Cao Minghui , Su Jie
Published: December 2021

Polysulfides can be anchored by SiO2 and reduced to low order polusulfides with the help of NiCo2S4.
Silver-catalyzed monofluoroalkylation of heteroarenes with α-fluorocarboxylic acids: an insight into the solvent effect
Authors: Guo Chunfang , Liu Zhaolong , Li Xiangye , Han Xuliang , Li Yueyun , Liu Hui , Zhang Lizhi , Li Xinjin , Dong Yunhui
Published: December 2021

Monofluoroalkylation: a mild and efficient method for the synthesis of mono- and bis-monofluoroalkylated heteroaromatic compounds was disclosed.
Modulating catalytic oxygen activation over Pt–TiO2/SiO2 catalysts by defect engineering of a TiO2/SiO2 support
Authors: Saputera Wibawa Hendra , Tan Tze Hao , Lovell Emma C. , Rawal Aditya , Aguey-Zinsou Kondo-Francois , Friedmann Donia , Amal Rose , Scott Jason A.
Published: December 2021

Defect sites (comprising Ti3+ and NBOHC) and oxygen adsorbed on a Pt surface (PtOads) boost catalytic oxygen activation on a Pt/TiO2–SiO2 catalyst.
Catalytic conversion of glycerol and co-feeds (fatty acids, alcohols, and alkanes) to bio-based aromatics: remarkable and unprecedented synergetic effects on catalyst performance
Authors: He Songbo , Kramer Thomas Sjouke , Santosa Dian Sukmayanda , Heeres Andre , Heeres Hero Jan
Published: December 2021

Synergetic effects between glycerol and various co-feeds (including alkanes, alcohols, and free fatty acids) lead to higher catalytic activity, prolonged catalyst life-time, and improved catalyst regenerability for bio-based aromatics formation.
An efficient organic and inorganic hybrid interlayer for high performance inverted red cadmium-free quantum dot light-emitting diodes
Authors: Mude Nagarjuna Naik , Kim Su Jeong , Lampande Raju , Kwon Jang Hyuk
Published: December 2021

We have fabricated a red InP QLED device by introducing a hybrid interlayer to reduce charge injection of the ZnO ETL, and the maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of QLEDs is improved 2.57-fold, from 6.5% to 16.7%.
Introducing oxophilic metal and interstitial hydrogen into the Pd lattice to boost electrochemical performance for alkaline ethanol oxidation
Authors: Shen Cong , Chen Hanming , Qiu Mingye , Shi Yuqiang , Yan Wei , Jiang Qiaorong , Jiang Yaqi , Xie Zhaoxiong
Published: December 2021

Stable PdCoH nanosheets for efficient EOR were designed by introducing oxophilic metal cobalt and interstitial hydrogen into the Pd lattice. The synergistic effect of Co and H atoms boosts EOR performance with high CO tolerance and C1 selectivity.
Revisiting the formaldehyde masers
Authors: van der Walt D. J. , Mfulwane L. L.
Published: December 2021

Context. The 4.8 GHz formaldehyde (H2CO) masers are one of a number of rare types of molecular masers in the Galaxy. There still is not agreement on the mechanism responsible for the inversion of the 110−111 transition and the conditions under which an inversion can occur, and therefore how to interpret the masers.

Aims. The aim of the present calculations is to explore a larger region of parameter space to improve on our previous calculations, thereby to better understand the range of physical conditions under which an inversion of the 110−111 transition occurs. We also aim to understand recently published results that H2CO masers are radiatively pumped.

Methods. We solve the rate equations of the first 40 rotational levels of o-H2CO using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. We consider gas kinetic temperatures between 10 and 300 K, H2 densities between 104 and 106 cm−3, and a number of different dust temperatures and grey-body spectral energy density distributions.

Results. We show that when using a black body radiation field the inversion of any transition will disappear as the kinetic temperature approaches the black-body radiation temperature since the system, consisting of the gas and radiation field, approaches thermodynamic equilibrium. Using a grey-body dust radiation field appropriate for Arp 220 we find that none of 110−111, 211−212, and 312−313 transitions are inverted for kinetic temperatures less than 100 K. Our calculations also show that in theory the 110−111 transition can be inverted over a large region of explored parameter space in the presence of an external far-infrared radiation field. Limiting the abundance of H2CO to less than 10−5, however, reduces the region where an inversion occurs to H2 densities ≳105 cm−3 and kinetic temperatures ≳100 K. We propose a pumping scheme for the H2CO masers which can explain why collisions play a central role in inverting the 110−111 transition, and therefore why an external radiation field alone does not lead to an inversion.

Conclusions. Collisions are an essential mechanism for the inversion of the 110−111 transition. Our results suggest that 4.8 GHz H2CO megamasers are associated with hot and dense gas typical of high mass star forming regions rather than with cold material. Although limiting the H2CO abundance to less than 10−5 significantly reduces the region in parameter space where the 110−111 is inverted, it still is not clear whether this is the only reason why these masers are so rare.
Allgemeine Wirkfaktoren der Psychotherapie empirisch konzeptualisieren: Die Faktorenstruktur des Wochenerfahrungsbogens (WEB)
Authors: Meier Deborah , Tschacher Wolfgang , Moggi Franz , Frommer Angela , Küttel Lili , Pfammatter Mario
Published: December 2021

Ziel der Studie Das Zusammenhangsmuster 26 allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren wurde mit dem Ziel untersucht, die Debatte um Wirkmechanismen der Psychotherapie mit empirisch abgeleiteten Sekundärfaktoren (globale allgemeine Wirkfaktoren) konzeptuell zu erweitern und gleichzeitig Aspekte der Reliabilität und Validität eines neuen Instruments zur Erfassung allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren zu prüfen.

Methodik Die Aktivierung allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren wurde mit dem Wochenerfahrungsbogen (WEB) bei 502 Patientinnen und Patienten in teil- oder vollstationärer psychotherapeutischer Behandlung erhoben. Die Faktorenstruktur des WEB wurde anhand einer explorativen Faktorenanalyse ermittelt und mit konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalysen geprüft.

Ergebnisse Die vier Faktoren Bewältigung, Therapeutische Allianz, Kognitive Integration und Affektive Verarbeitung erklärten 59,8 % der Gesamtvarianz. Konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen der teil- und vollstationären Stichproben unterstützten diese Faktorenstruktur.

Schlussfolgerung Die Studie bietet die erste empirisch fundierte, integrative Kategorisierung allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren. Ergebnisse der internen Konsistenz (Reliabilität) und Konstruktvalidität des WEB liefern Hinweise dafür, dass dieses Instrument für die Untersuchung globaler allgemeiner Wirkfaktoren geeignet ist.
Fallvorstellung zur Behandlung innerer Unruhe mit Biofeedback und Verhaltenstherapie
Authors: Schmid Petra , Steinert Tilman , Czekaj Agata , Uhlmann Carmen
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund Innere Unruhe ist ein im psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischen klinischen Alltag häufig benanntes Symptom, unter dem Patient*innen mit unterschiedlichsten psychischen Erkrankungen leiden.

Material und Methoden Ein Patient mit einer schweren depressiven Episode wurde mit insgesamt 8 Biofeedbacksitzungen mit dem physiologischen Parameter Herzratenvariabilität und 3 verhaltenstherapeutischen Sitzungen behandelt. Mittels Fragebögen wurde versucht, das Symptom der inneren Unruhe und einen möglichen Therapieerfolg zu erfassen.

Ergebnisse Innere Unruhe, Entspannungsfähigkeit, Erleben von Krankheitslast und Selbstwirksamkeit verbesserten sich deutlich über die 3-wöchige Behandlungsdauer.

Diskussion Innere Unruhe konnte überraschend erfolgreich behandelt werden.

Schlussfolgerungen Der Behandlung innerer Unruhe sollte mehr Bedeutung beigemessen werden.
Does Early Neonatal Thrombocytopenia Affect Ductal Therapeutic Response to Acetaminophen in Preterm Neonates?
Authors: Bin-Nun Alona , Abu-Omar Rawan , Shchors Irina , Mimouni Francis , Hammerman Cathy
Published: December 2021

Objective Perinatal thrombocytopenia has been shown to affect responsiveness to therapeutic ductal closure with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. This has not been studied in responsiveness to acetaminophen, which has less effect on platelet function. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether thrombocytopenia affects ductal responsiveness to acetaminophen.

Study Design This study was a retrospective review of preterm neonates <1,500 g. Echocardiograms were performed within the first week of life; if ductal status was found to be hemodynamically significant, infants were treated with acetaminophen.

Results We studied 254 infants. Fifty-seven of these (22%) had a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) and were treated with acetaminophen. Forty (70%) of those treated responded with ductal closure after one to two courses of acetaminophen. Seventeen infants were considered nonresponsive, requiring the addition of ibuprofen and/or surgical ligation. Sixty seven of the 254 infants (26%) developed moderate thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000) within the first 10 days of life, more within the hsPDA group (54 vs. 18% p < 0.001); however, no differences in platelet-related parameters were observed between those who did and did not respond to acetaminophen treatment when comparing infants with hsPDA. Twenty-six of the 67 thrombocytopenic infants were already thrombocytopenic prior to acetaminophen treatment, and 19 of these 26 (73%) with pretreatment thrombocytopenia responded to acetaminophen treatment—with the overall response rate of 70%.

Conclusions This study is the first to document that, in contrast to the COX inhibitors, there is no association between early neonatal thrombocytopenia and ductal therapeutic responsiveness to acetaminophen.

Key Points
Chemical Principles of Boophone, Nerine, Crossyne, Clivia, Cryptostephanus, Haemanthus and Scadoxus of the South African Amaryllidaceae and Their Biological
Properties
Authors: Nair Jerald J. , van Staden Johannes
Published: December 2021

The Amaryllidaceae features prominently amongst bulbous flowering plant families. Accommodating about a third of its species, South Africa affords a sound basis for Amaryllidaceae plant
research. Boophone, Nerine, Crossyne, Clivia, Cryptostephanus, Haemanthus and Scadoxus have been well-represented in such endeavors. The account herein summarizes the studies
undertaken between 2013 – 2020 on these genera in regards to their chemical and biological characteristics. A total of 136 compounds comprising 63 alkaloids and 73 non-alkaloid entities were
described during this period from eighteen members of the title genera. The alkaloids were reflective of the structural diversity found in eight isoquinoline alkaloid groups of the
Amaryllidaceae. Of these, the crinane (29 compounds), lycorane and homolycorine (11 compounds each) groups were the most-represented. The non-alkaloid substances were embracive of the same
number of unrelated groups including, acids, phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenoids. A wide variety of assays were engaged to ascertain the biological activities of the isolated compounds,
notably in regards to cancer and motorneuron-related diseases. There were also attempts made to determine the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of some of the
substances. New information has also emerged on the herbicidal, insecticidal and plant growth regulatory effects of selected alkaloid principles. Coupled to the biological screening measures
were in instances probes made to establish the molecular basis to some of the activities, particularly in relation to cancer and Parkinsonʼs disease.
Adventures in 1,3-Selenazole Chemistry
Authors: Langer Peter
Published: December 2021

The synthesis of 1,3-selenazoles and related compounds, including 2,4,5-trisubstituted, 2,4-disubstituted, 4,5-disubstituted, 4-substituted 1,3-selenazoles, and parent unsubstituted 1,3-selenazole, is highlighted. Emphasis is also given on 2-benzoyl-1,3-selenazoles which can be functionalized by Knoevenagel reactions or by rearrangements via their corresponding oximes. Syntheses of bis-, tris-, and tetrakis(1,3-selenazoles) are discussed as well. 1,3,4-6H-Selenadiazines are available from selenosemicarbazides and can undergo ring-contraction or deselenation reactions. Most syntheses rely on the application of selenocarboxylic amides, selenourea and related building blocks which are conveniently available by reaction of the corresponding oxygen analogues with P4Se10.

1 Introduction

2 Selenocarboxylic Amides

3 2,4,5-Tri- and 2,4-Disubstituted 1,3-Selenazoles

4 Bis(1,3-selenazoles)

5 2-Amino-1,3-selenazoles

6 2-Unsubstituted 1,3-Selenazoles

7 1,3,4-Selenadiazines

8 Conclusions
Traumatic Spondyloptosis: Neurological, Surgical, and Outcome Perspectives in a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Singh Rahul , Prasad Ravi Shankar , Singh Ashvamedh , Singh Kulwant , Sahu Anurag
Published: December 2021

Objective To evaluate traumatic spondyloptosis cases for neurological, surgical, and outcome perspectives.

Materials and Methods This retrospective study includes 17 patients of spondyloptosis admitted in our department between August 2016 and January 2020. Each patient was evaluated in terms of demographic profile, clinical presentation, duration of injury, mode of injury, associated injuries, level and type of spondyloptosis, spinal cord status, nociceptive and neuropathic pain severity, severity of injury based on International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSI) assessment, surgical approaches, complications, and outcome. Unpaired t- test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Values with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results Fall from height (58.8%) was the most common mode of injury. Most common level of spondyloptosis was T12–L1 (41.1%). Sagittal–plane spondyloptosis (76.5%) were more common than coronal–plane spondyloptosis (23.5%). Most common associated injury was musculoskeletal (64.7%). Neurological status of the patient at presentation (p = 0.0007) was significantly associated with outcome after 3 months of surgery/conservative management. Residual listhesis was present in 53.3% of patients postoperatively. Postoperative nociceptive pain (p = 0.0171) and neuropathic pain (0.0329) were significantly associated with residual listhesis. Duration of injury (p = 0.0228) was also significantly associated with postoperative residual listhesis.

Conclusion Complete reduction of spondyloptosis should be the goal of surgery. Overall prognosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) due to traumatic spondyloptosis is poor.
Preoperative Computed Tomography Angiography for ALT Flaps Optimizes Design and Reduces Operative Time
Authors: Schneider Christopher M. , Palines Patrick A. , Womac Daniel J. , Tuggle Charles T. , St Hilaire Hugo , Stalder Mark W.
Published: December 2021

Background Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been widely used for perforator mapping in abdominal-based reconstruction, but it is less widespread in the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. However, CTA may be quite useful for ALT planning, as this flap has demonstrated substantial variability in intrapatient bilateral vascular anatomy. This study investigated whether standard use of preoperative CTA resulted in selection of the donor extremity with preferential perforator anatomy, and whether this affected operative time and postoperative outcomes.

Methods A retrospective review of 105 patients who underwent proposed ALT flap reconstruction was performed. Seventy-nine patients received bilateral lower extremity CTAs, which were evaluated for dominant perforator anatomy (septocutaneous, musculoseptocutaneous, or musculocutaneous). Donor extremity selection was noted, and predicted perforator anatomy was compared with that encountered intraoperatively.

Results Among the 73 patients who received bilateral imaging and ultimately received an ALT, congruent findings between imaging and surgical exploration were observed in 51 (69.8%) patients. Thirty (37.9%) patients had asymmetric perforator anatomy between their bilateral extremities on imaging. Among these, the leg with optimal perforator anatomy was selected in 70% of cases. There were no significant reductions among postoperative complication rates, but selection of the donor site with preferential anatomy was associated with a decrease in operative time (p = 0.049) among patients undergoing extremity reconstruction.

Conclusion CTA is a useful tool for optimizing donor site selection for ALT flaps and reducing operative time. We believe that standard use of preoperative CTA in ALTs warrants further consideration.