bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changeability and agility enablers in one-of-a-kind product development and design processes
Authors: Varl M. , Duhovnik J. , Tavčar J.
Published: October 2021

The smart factories that are already beginning to appear employ a completely new approach to product creation. Smart products are uniquely identifiable and know both their current status and alternative routes to achieving their target state. Smart factories allow individual customer requirements to be met, meaning that even one-off items can be manufactured profitably. In smart industry, dynamic business and engineering processes enable last-minute changes to design and production, delivering the ability to respond flexibly to disruptions and failures on behalf of suppliers. This paper presents a case study of product development and design process renovation according to changeability paradigm in one-of-a-kind industrial environment. It demonstrates how integration of changeability with agile design strategies crucially contribute to improve the operations of a highly individualized product development business. Successful management of ‘never-ending’ engineering changes appears to be the most important aspect in this field. Contribution of the presented work is a generalized framework that demonstrates how companies in such specific environments can improve competitiveness through the utilization of changeability concepts. The included case study validated the proposed changeability model and offers valuable insights into how to implement this in practice.
Postoperative Outcomes After Laparoscopic Liver Resections in Low and High‐Volume Centers: A Multicentric Case‐Matched Comparative Study
Authors: Bouras Ahmed Fouad , Decanter Gauthier , Marin Hélène , Bouzid Chafik , Gayet Brice , Liddo Guido , Fuks David
Published: November 2021

Background

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is the gold standard for liver resections. Despite its feasibility and safety in high‐volume centers (HVC), its performance is controversial in low‐volume centers (LVCs). We aimed to evaluate the results of LLR performed in LVC.

Methods

Patients who underwent LLR between 2013 and 2019 in three LVCs were compared after case‐matching with those in an HVC using the Institut Mutualiste Montsouris LLR Difficulty Score (IMMLDS).

Results

Seventy‐six patients treated in three LVCs were matched to 152 in HVCs for age, body mass index, and resection type. The incidence of LLR significantly increased in LVCs over time (2013–2016 vs. 2017–2019) (21.2% vs. 39.3%; p = 0.002 and) while abdominal drainage rate decreased (77.4% vs. 51.1%; p = 0.003). In IMMLDS group I (60 vs. 120 patients), higher Pringle maneuver (43.3% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.0001), median blood loss (175 ml vs. 50 ml; p < 0.0001), abdominal drainage (58.3% vs. 6.6%; p < 0.0001), and conversion rate (8.3% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.04) were observed in LVCs. The overall postoperative morbidity was comparable (Clavien I–II: p = 0.54; Clavien > II: p = 0.71). In IMMLDS groups II‐III, Pringle maneuver (56.5% vs. 3.1%; p < 0.0001), blood loss (350 ml vs. 175 ml; p = 0.02), and abdominal drainage (75% vs. 28.3%; p = 0.004) were different; however, postoperative morbidity was not. The surgical difficulty notwithstanding, length of stay (group I: p = 0.13; group II–III: p = 0.93) and R0 surgical margin (group I: p = 0.3; group II–III p = 0.39) were not different between LVCs and HVCs.

Conclusions

LLR performed at an LVC can be feasible and safe with acceptable morbidity.
Dairy intake and long-term body weight status in German children and adolescents: results from the DONALD study
Authors: Hohoff Eva , Perrar Ines , Jankovic Nicole , Alexy Ute
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To analyse the association between intake of total dairy (TD) and types of dairy [liquid dairy (LD), solid dairy (SD), low-fat dairy (LFD), high-fat dairy (HFD), high sugar dairy (HSD), low-sugar dairy (LSD), not fermented dairy (NFD), as well as fermented dairy (FD)] and long-term changes in body weight status and composition among children and adolescents in Germany.

Methods

In total, 9999 3-day dietary records collected between 1985 and 2019 by 1126 participants (3.5–18.5 years; boys: 50.8%) of the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study were analysed. Polynomial mixed-effects regression models were used to examine whether changes (median follow-up: 9 years) in the intake of TD and dairy types (in 100 g/1000 kcal total energy intake) were associated with changes in body-mass-index-standard-deviation-score (BMI-SDS); fat mass index (FMI); fat-free mass index (FFMI) over time.

Results

An individual increase in TD intake was slightly but significantly associated with an increase in BMI-SDS (β = 0.0092; p = 0.0371), FMI (β = 0.022; p = 0.0162), and FFMI (β = 0.0156; p = 0.0417) after adjustment for potential confounder. Analyses for LD (BMI-SDS: β = 0.0139; p = 0.0052; FMI: β = 0.0258; p = 0.0125; FFMI: β = 0.0239; p = 0.0052) and LSD intake (BMI-SDS: β = 0.0132; p = 0.0041, FMI: β = 0.02; p = 0.0316, FFMI: β = 0.0183; p = 0.0189) showed similar results to TD. Both processing method and fat content showed no association with body composition in our analyses.

Conclusion

Increases in TD, LD, and LSD intake showed small but significant increases in BMI and concomitant increases in fat mass and lean mass. However, the observed changes were too small to expect biological or physiological meaningful effects. Overall, our results showed that policies to promote dairy intake in childhood are to be welcomed, as no negative effects on body composition are expected, while the intake of important nutrients for growth is ensured. The type of dairy does not seem to matter.
FADS1 rs174550 genotype and high linoleic acid diet modify plasma PUFA phospholipids in a dietary intervention study
Authors: Meuronen Topi , Lankinen Maria A. , Kärkkäinen Olli , Laakso Markku , Pihlajamäki Jussi , Hanhineva Kati , Schwab Ursula
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene encodes for delta-5 desaturase enzyme which is needed in conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to arachidonic acid (AA). Recent studies have shown that response to dietary PUFAs differs between the genotypes in circulating fatty acids. However, interactions between the FADS1 genotype and dietary LA on overall metabolism have not been studied.

Objectives

We aimed to examine the interactions of FADS1 rs174550 genotypes (TT and CC) and high-LA diet to identify plasma metabolites that respond differentially to dietary LA according to the FADS1 genotype.

Methods

A total of 59 men (TT n = 26, CC n = 33) consumed a sunflower oil supplemented diet for 4 weeks. Daily dose of 30, 40, or 50 ml was calculated based on body mass index. It resulted in 17–28 g of LA on top of the usual daily intake. Fasting plasma samples at the beginning and at the end of the intervention were analyzed with LC–MS/MS non-targeted metabolomics method.

Results

At the baseline, the carriers of FADS1 rs174550-TT genotype had higher abundance of long-chain PUFA phospholipids compared to the FADS1 rs174550-CC one. In response to the high-LA diet, LA phospholipids and long-chain acylcarnitines increased and lysophospholipids decreased in fasting plasma similarly in both genotypes. LysoPE (20:4), LysoPC (20:4), and PC (16:0_20:4) decreased and cortisol increased in the carriers of rs174550-CC genotype; however, these genotype–diet interactions were not significant after correction for multiple testing.

Conclusion

Our findings show that both FADS1 rs174550 genotype and high-LA diet modify plasma phospholipid composition.

Trial registration

The study was registered to ClinicalTrials: NCT02543216, September 7, 2015 (retrospectively registered).
Risk factors for impaired health-related quality of life in a cohort of pediatric patients with inborn metabolic diseases
Authors: Siegert Sandy , Roscher Anne , Moeslinger Dorothea , Konstantopoulou Vassiliki , Herle Marion
Published: October 2021

In the last decade, health-related quality of life (HrQoL) has become an increasingly important outcome parameter in children and adolescents with chronic health conditions; among them are pediatric patients with inborn metabolic diseases (IMDs). Hence, knowledge on this topic is increasing, but findings on non-medical influences on the HrQoL of IMD patients are still scarce. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the self-reported generic HrQoL of a cohort of pediatric patients (ages 7 to 17 years) with diverse IMDs (n = 204) and explored associations between HrQoL and psychosocial and medical characteristics of the patients. We aimed to identify risk factors for impaired HrQoL to improve and tailor support for the patients and economize resources. Generic HrQoL was assessed with the KINDL-R questionnaire. We compared the HrQoL scores to published German normative data and analyzed the impact of demographic variables and intellectual and psychosocial functioning on the HrQoL. Moreover, we examined the influence of the diagnostic category and the health impairment (as judged by the physicians) on our patients’ HrQoL. Overall, the HrQoL of the adolescent patients was comparable to the HrQoL of the norm group. Disorders of intellectual development, impaired psychosocial functioning, and a severe health impairment were associated with lower HrQoL scores.

Conclusion: We recommend evaluating these factors in children and adolescents with IMDs to identify patients at risk for impaired HrQoL.

What is Known:• Studies on HrQoL in pediatric patients with IMDs mainly focused on subgroups with specific diagnoses and found normal HrQoL in some of those subgroups.• In healthy children and adolescents as well as in pediatric patients with various chronic diseases, associations between psychosocial factors and HrQoL are well known.

What is New:• Impaired psychosocial functioning, disorders of intellectual development, and a significant disease and/or treatment burden are risk factors for impaired HrQoL in pediatric patients with IMDs.• Evaluating these factors in children and adolescents with IMDs can help identify patients and families in need of enhanced psychological support.
Numerical Modelling of Microwave Heating Assisted Rock Fracture
Authors: Pressacco Martina , Kangas Jari J. J. , Saksala Timo
Published: October 2021

This paper presents a numerical study on the effects of microwave irradiation on the mechanical properties of hard rock. More specifically, the weakening effect of microwave heating induced damage on the uniaxial compressive and tensile strength of granite-like rock is numerically evaluated. Rock fracture is modelled by means of a damage-viscoplasticity model with separate damage variables for tensile and compressive failure types. We develop a global solution strategy where the electromagnetic problem is solved first separately in COMSOL multiphysics software, and then provided into a staggered implicit solution method for the thermo-mechanical problem. The thermal and mechanical parts of the problem are considered as uncoupled due to the dominance of the microwave-induced heat source. The model performance is tested in 2D finite element simulations of heterogeneous numerical rock specimens subjected first to heating in a microwave oven and then to uniaxial compression and tension tests. According to the results, the compressive and tensile strength of rock can be significantly reduced by microwave heating pretreatment.
Myoclonic status epilepticus and cerebellar hypoplasia associated with a novel variant in the GRIA3 gene
Authors: Rinaldi Berardo , Ge Yu-Han , Freri Elena , Tucci Arianna , Granata Tiziana , Estienne Margherita , Sun Jia-Hui , Gérard Bénédicte , Bayat Allan , Efthymiou Stephanie , Gervasini Cristina , Shi Yun Stone , Houlden Henry , Marchisio Paola , Milani Donatella
Published: November 2021

AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) are postsynaptic ionotropic receptors which mediate fast excitatory currents. AMPARs have a heterotetrameric structure, variably composed by the four subunits GluA1-4 which are encoded by genes GRIA1-4. Increasing evidence support the role of pathogenic variants in GRIA1-4 genes as causative for syndromic intellectual disability (ID). We report an Italian pedigree where some male individuals share ID, seizures and facial dysmorphisms. The index subject was referred for severe ID, myoclonic seizures, cerebellar signs and short stature. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel variant in GRIA3, c.2360A > G, p.(Glu787Gly). The GRIA3 gene maps to chromosome Xq25 and the c.2360A > G variant was transmitted by his healthy mother. Subsequent analysis in the family showed a segregation pattern compatible with the causative role of this variant, further supported by preliminary functional insights. We provide a detailed description of the clinical evolution of the index subjects and stress the relevance of myoclonic seizures and cerebellar syndrome as cardinal features of his presentation.
Leveraging A Lenient Category in Practicing Responsible Leadership: A Case Study
Authors: Jiang Xueting , Prokopovych Bogdan , DiStefano Garett
Published: October 2021

In this extended case study, we examine how business leaders translate a responsible leadership mindset into practice. By studying the leadership team and stakeholders of a large US college dining provider, we found that organization executives leverage the lenient market category of local food to successfully connect with and satisfy the interests of different stakeholder groups. We show that lenient categories, those with ambiguity and unclear boundaries, could be used by organizations as strategic devices to integrate the diverse needs of their stakeholders and foster positive stakeholder relationships. Based on our findings, we develop a theoretical model to illustrate how responsible leaders take advantage of meaning structures of the market category they have adopted to achieve both financial and social benefits for a broad range of stakeholders.
Transdiagnostic Processes as Mediators of Change in an Internet-Delivered Intervention Based on the Unified Protocol
Authors: Schaeuffele Carmen , Bär Jonathan , Buengener Inken , Grafiadeli Raphaela , Heuthaler Eva , Strieder Judith , Ziehn Patricia , Knaevelsrud Christine , Renneberg Babette , Boettcher Johanna
Published: October 2021

Background

Transdiagnostic treatments target shared mechanisms between disorders to facilitate change across diagnoses. The Unified Protocol (UP) aims at changing dysfunctional reactions towards emotions by increasing mindful emotion awareness and cognitive flexibility, as well as decreasing anxiety sensitivity and emotion avoidance.

Method

We investigated whether these transdiagnostic processes were malleable by treatment and mediated the relationship between treatment and outcome in an internet-delivered adaptation of the UP. N = 129 participants with mixed anxiety, depressive, and somatic symptom disorders were randomized to treatment or waitlist.

Results

The treatment yielded significant changes in all transdiagnostic processes over time in comparison to a waitlist condition. In separate mediator models, significant mediating effects were found for mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, behavioral activation, and experiential avoidance. When all mediators were combined in a multiple mediator model, the indirect effects through mindfulness and cognitive flexibility emerged as significant.

Conclusion

These findings add to the growing body of research on transdiagnostic processes as mediators of change and emphasize mindfulness and cognitive flexibility as a transdiagnostic treatment target. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously, as temporal precedence could not be established.
Predicate Transformer Semantics for Hybrid Systems
Authors: Huerta y Munive Jonathan Julián , Struth Georg
Published: October 2021

We present a semantic framework for the deductive verification of hybrid systems with Isabelle/HOL. It supports reasoning about the temporal evolutions of hybrid programs in the style of differential dynamic logic modelled by flows or invariant sets for vector fields. We introduce the semantic foundations of this framework and summarise their Isabelle formalisation as well as the resulting verification components. A series of simple examples shows our approach at work.
Isavuconazole and Liposomal Amphotericin B as Successful Combination Therapy of Refractory Invasive Candidiasis in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Odysseos Georgios , Mayr Ulrich , Bozsaki Gabor , Seidensticker Christian , Ehmer Ursula , Schmid Roland M. , Lahmer Tobias , Dill Veronika
Published: October 2021

Invasive fungal infections in liver transplant recipients are associated with elevated morbidity and mortality and pose a challenge to the treating physicians. Despite of lacking clinical data, the use of antifungal combination therapy is often considered to improve response rates in an immunocompromised patient population. We herein report a case of refractory invasive candidiasis in a liver transplant recipient treated successfully with a combination of isavuconazole und high-dose liposomal amphotericin B. The antimycotic combination treatment was able to clear a bloodstream infection with C. glabrata and led to regression of bilomas among tolerable side effects. The use of the above-mentioned antifungal combination therapy in a liver transplant recipient has not been reported previously. This case highlights the efficacy and safety of antifungal combination therapy in immunocompromised patients with refractory invasive candidiasis.
Secondary Cities in West Africa: Urbanity, Power, and Aspirations
Authors: Ammann Carole , Sanogo Aïdas , Heer Barbara
Published: October 2021

This article claims space for secondary cities in urban studies. It criticizes that scientists tend to study urban life in metropolises and, hence, do not represent urban life in its full diversity. In reality, the majority of the worlds’ urban dwellers live in secondary cities; therefore, research on urbanity should reflect this fact. The article argues against simple approaches to secondary cities, such as defining them based on a single quantitative variable like population size. It rather proposes that anthropological research has a unique potential to reveal the urban dwellers’ relational and situational perceptions of, and perspectives towards, secondary cities. The paper puts this approach into practice by examining two West African secondary cities: Kankan in Guinea and Bouaké in Côte d’Ivoire.
Modification in gate valve using flexible membrane pipe for flow measurement
Authors: Bhilare S. L. , Hinge G. A. , Kumbhalkar M. A. , Rambhad K. S.
Published: November 2021

A gate valve is used to regulate discharge in pipelines. It is rotated by a wheel that is attached to a circular disc (i.e. gate) at the top of a stem. Each revolution of the wheel creates a particular linear disc movement that changes the flow zone. The paper describes the journey of gate valve from flow control device to flow measuring device and presents an experimentation on conventional gate valve and gate valve with flexible membrane pipe. The findings of experimental study are described and validated with CFD analysis of conventional and modified gate valve. The experimental study has shown that the modified gate valve can be used as flow measuring device. The results obtained represent the excellent improvement in the relationship between disc position (i.e., angle) and discharge. The results of CFD analysis for flow through gate valve with and without flexible membrane are compared. After carrying out the CFD studies without flexible membrane, it is found that, fluctuating separation zones formed on either side of gate are responsible to a great extent to the flow rate descripancies. This paper compares the experimental and CFD results and also suggests the remedy to address the problem.

Article highlights

Introduced simply a flexible membrane pipe inside PVC to convert gate valve into flow measuring device.

Reduction in flow separation and fluctuation in flow rate.

Smooth flow rate even though gate valve opening is small.
How Early in Life do Transgender Adults Begin to Experience Gender Dysphoria? Why This Matters for Patients, Providers, and for Our Healthcare System
Authors: Zaliznyak Michael , Yuan Nance , Bresee Catherine , Freedman Andrew , Garcia Maurice M.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The age at which transgender women (TW) and men (TM) first experience gender dysphoria (GD) has not been reported in a U.S. population of adults seeking genital gender-affirming surgery (gGAS). Because gender is an innate part of identity, we hypothesized that untreated GD would be a part of individuals’ earliest memories. Understanding GD onset can help guide providers with when and how to focus care to patients not yet identified as “transgender

Aim

(i) Determine the age at which transgender adults seeking gGAS first experience GD

(ii) Determine the number of life-years that transgender adults spend living with untreated GD

Methods

During initial consultation for gGAS, we asked patients the earliest age at which they experienced GD and the age at which they had their earliest episodic memory. We also queried history of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempt.

Main Outcome Measures

Patients self-reported their earliest recollections of experiencing GD, earliest memories in general, and history of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempt.

Results

Data from 155 TW (mean age 41.3; SD 16.3) and 55 TM (mean age 35.4; SD 10.8) were collected. Most patients (TM: 78%; TW: 73%) reported experiencing GD for the first time between ages 3 and 7 years.  For TM the mean age of onset was 6.17 years; for TW it was 6.71 years. A total of 81% of TW and 80% of TM described their first recollection of GD as one of their earliest memories. Mean years of persistent GD before the start of gender transition were 22.9 (TM) and 27.1 (TW). Rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation decreased following gender transition.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that GD typically manifests in early childhood and persists untreated for many years before individuals commence gender transition. Diagnosis and early management during childhood and adolescence can improve quality of life and survival.
Purpose at Welling: Additional Considerations Regarding Interpretation
Authors: Seeman Mark F. , Morris Larry , Summers Garry L.
Published: November 2021

Diez-Martin and colleagues (2021) experimentally reduce four bifaces and argue that the resultant flakes are smaller and less uniform than those found at the Welling site (33Co2). Welling is an early Paleoindian (Clovis) site excavated by Olaf Prufer over 50 years ago. Based on the experiment, the authors conclude that the site was a “collector-like” base camp and that our previous interpretation must be incorrect. Here, we argue that Diez-Martin and colleagues have mischaracterized our conclusion regarding the purpose of the site, and may have insufficiently addressed data that detract from their new interpretation.
PL DENSITY INVARIANT FOR TYPE II DEGENERATING K3 SURFACES, MODULI COMPACTIFICATION AND HYPER-KÄHLER METRIC
Authors: ODAKA YUJI
Published: November 2021

A protagonist here is a new-type invariant for type II degenerations of K3 surfaces, which is explicit piecewise linear convex function from the interval with at most
$18$
nonlinear points. Forgetting its actual function behavior, it also classifies the type II degenerations into several combinatorial types, depending on the type of root lattices as appeared in classical examples.

From differential geometric viewpoint, the function is obtained as the density function of the limit measure on the collapsing hyper-Kähler metrics to conjectural segments, as in [HSZ19]. On the way, we also reconstruct a moduli compactification of elliptic K3 surfaces by [AB19], [ABE20], [Brun15] in a more elementary manner, and analyze the cusps more explicitly.

We also interpret the glued hyper-Kähler fibration of [HSVZ18] as a special case from our viewpoint, and discuss other cases, and possible relations with Landau–Ginzburg models in the mirror symmetry context.
A Space for Making: Collaborative composition as social participation
Authors: Hart Adam , Williams Alan
Published: November 2021

Music composition is traditionally regarded as an act of individual creation and expression, but can be approached, through the aid of digital platforms, as an activity that encourages learning through social participation. This article describes the development of a tablet-based app, Paynter, intended as a digital graphic interface for group collaborative composition and its experimental use in a primary school in Salford, UK, alongside musicians from the BBC Philharmonic orchestra. The app created a framework for a negotiated language of symbols used by two groups of students at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 to tell stories through sound and music. Its functionality enabled compositional thinking to emerge collectively from groups with relatively little exposure to the idea of composing and little knowledge of traditional notational or digital sequencing technologies. The research is grounded in a theoretical context of constructivist approaches to education.
Listening and Recording In Situ: Entanglement in the sociopolitical context of place
Authors: Zećo Maja
Published: November 2021

This article considers the ways in which soundwalking and field recording entangle the listener in a sociopolitical relationship with place. The place is a physical site in which the listener encounters complex sonic sociopolitical factors, shaped not just by the interactions of people but also by involving living and material objects that voice themselves through sound and vibrations. Sets of expectations and personal identities inform listening experiences, in addition to the material-orientated tendencies in the field, deriving from soundscape composition and acousmatic music. Specific sociopolitical examples that inform sonic experiences in diverse listening situations across different geographic regions are used to uncover bias, and some of the preconceptions of listeners. The article argues for a greater reflexivity in regard to the motives that inform our listening, relationship with places and awareness of the widest spectrum of cultural, historic and sociopolitical contexts.
People, animals, and island encounters: A pig’s history of the Pacific
Authors: Sand Jordan
Published: November 2021

This essay traces the diffusion of pigs and the introduction of new practices of pig husbandry in East Asia and the Pacific, with particular attention to the cases of Hawaii, Okinawa, and Japan. Countering the trend in animal history to emphasize environmental and genetic factors, it demonstrates that discourses of property, sovereignty, freedom, and slavery, brought to the region with modern imperialism, played a decisive role in shaping relationships between people and domesticated animals. The essay concludes that global diffusion of capitalist forms of animal husbandry depended on a process of disembedding animals from earlier social roles. This process took different forms in different places. It was in part ecological and in part economic, but must be understood first in the context of the movement of political ideas.
Structure and Stress Field of the Lithosphere Between Pamir and Tarim
Authors: Bloch Wasja , Schurr Bernd , Yuan Xiaohui , Ratschbacher Lothar , Reuter Sanaa , Kufner Sofia‐Katerina , Xu Qiang , Zhao Junmeng
Published: October 2021

The Pamir plateau protrudes ∼300 km between the Tajik‐ and Tarim‐basin lithosphere of Central Asia. Whether its salient location and shape are caused by forceful indentation of a promontory of Indian mantle lithosphere is debated. We present a new local‐seismicity and focal‐mechanism catalog, and a P‐wave velocity model of the eastern part of the collision system. The data suggest a south‐dipping Asian slab that overturns in its easternmost segment. The largest principal stress at depth acts normal on the slab and is orientated parallel to the plate convergence direction. In front (south) of the Asian slab, a volume of mantle with elevated velocities and lined by weak seismicity constitutes the postulated Indian mantle indenter. We propose that the indenter delaminates and overturns the Asian slab, underthrusts the Tarim lithosphere along a compressive transform boundary, and controls the location and shape of the Pamir plateau.
Investigating Predictability of DIC and SST in the Argentine Basin Through Wind Stress Perturbation Experiments
Authors: Swierczek Stan , Mazloff Matthew R. , Russell Joellen L.
Published: October 2021

The confluence of the Malvinas and Brazil currents over the Argentine Basin give the region chaotic dynamics and severely limit potential predictability. To probe the forecast horizon for ocean surface quantities of temperature and carbon, we construct regional models of the Argentine Basin with biogeochemistry at 1/3° and 1/12° resolution and design a series of experiments. We add positive and negative zonal wind stress anomalies over small and large areas during a short period in different model runs. We calculate the response of the surface temperature and DIC. The 1/3° model maintains predictability for up to 45 days, while the 1/12° model has a shorter window of about two weeks. However, the 1/3° model response is only consistent with the 1/12° model for about 8 days calling into question the potential predictive skill of the coarser model at longer lead times.
Strong Seasonal Variations of Seismic Velocity in Eastern Margin of Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin From Ambient Noise Interferometry
Authors: Li Jinwu , Song Xiaodong , Yang Yi , Li Mengkui , Li Jiangtao , Li Yane
Published: November 2021

Ambient noise interferometry between seismic stations makes it possible to monitor temporal changes of the Earth's media continuously. Here, we examined seasonal changes of Rayleigh‐wave empirical Greens functions at 2–10‐s period from 8 years of continuous data of 200 seismic station pairs in Sichuan, China. We used a wavelet decomposition to extract the seasonal signals. We found that most station pairs show seasonal variations with velocity perturbations of up to 0.8%. The seasonality varies in strength, amplitude, phase, periods, and location, but the phase is remarkably consistent, with the largest changes mostly in summer or winter months. We believe that the cause of the seasonality is likely the elastic loading due to regional precipitation. The effect is greater in the tectonically active Tibetan Plateau margin than in the stable Sichuan basin and in the deeper crust than in the uppermost crust. The effect is also strongly influenced by local crustal structure. Our results indicate that studies of tectonic crustal changes need to consider non‐tectonic effects.
Assessing the Role of Snow Cover for Post‐Wildfire Revegetation Across the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Wilson Andrew C. , Nolin Anne W. , Bladon Kevin D.
Published: November 2021

Forested, mountain landscapes in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are changing at an unprecedented rate, largely due to shifts in the regional climate regime. Documented climate warming trends across the PNW include increasing wildfire frequency and severity and an increasingly ephemeral snowpack, especially at moderate elevations. We analyzed 24 high severity wildfires across four distinct PNW mountainous subregions, examining snow‐vegetation relationships for two years pre‐fire and four years post‐fire. To assess the importance of snow cover for revegetation compared to other climatic, topographic, and burn severity‐related variables, binary regression tree models were constructed for the dominant pre‐fire conifer species within each of the four PNW subregions. Summer precipitation consistently appeared as the most important variable driving post‐fire revegetation across all four subregions. Snow cover variables (snow cover frequency and snow disappearance date), along with elevation, were shown to be secondary but significantly influential explanatory variables for revegetation in the Oregon and Washington Cascades. Revegetation was also analyzed using a time series of linear regressions across 200‐m elevation bands by measuring correlations between winter snow cover and summer vegetation greenness. Results showed strong positive post‐fire correlations at moderate elevations in the western Montana Rockies and at the lowest elevation band in the Idaho Rockies. Considering trends of increasing wildfire activity, lower snowpacks, and earlier snow disappearance dates across the PNW, forests will likely experience more frequent drought conditions that will impact post‐wildfire vegetation regrowth.
The existence of a nonclassical TCA cycle in the nucleus that wires the metabolic-epigenetic circuitry
Authors: Liu Xujun , Si Wenzhe , He Lin , Yang Jianguo , Peng Yani , Ren Jie , Liu Xiaoping , Jin Tong , Yu Huajing , Zhang Zihan , Cheng Xiao , Zhang Wenting , Xia Lu , Huang Yunchao , Wang Yue , Liu Shumeng , Shan Lin , Zhang Yu , Yang Xiaohan , Li Haixia , Liang Jing , Sun Luyang , Shang Yongfeng
Published: November 2021

The scope and variety of the metabolic intermediates from the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that are engaged in epigenetic regulation of the chromatin function in the nucleus raise an outstanding question about how timely and precise supply/consumption of these metabolites is achieved in the nucleus. We report here the identification of a nonclassical TCA cycle in the nucleus (nTCA cycle). We found that all the TCA cycle-associated enzymes including citrate synthase (CS), aconitase 2 (ACO2), isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 (IDH3), oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS), fumarate hydratase (FH), and malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), except for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a component of electron transport chain for generating ATP, exist in the nucleus. We showed that these nuclear enzymes catalyze an incomplete TCA cycle similar to that found in cyanobacteria. We propose that the nTCA cycle is implemented mainly to generate/consume metabolic intermediates, not for energy production. We demonstrated that the nTCA cycle is intrinsically linked to chromatin dynamics and transcription regulation. Together, our study uncovers the existence of a nonclassical TCA cycle in the nucleus that links the metabolic pathway to epigenetic regulation.
PIWI-interacting RNA 57125 restrains clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasis by downregulating CCL3 expression
Authors: Ding Lifeng , Wang Ruyue , Xu Wanjiang , Shen Danyang , Cheng Sheng , Wang Huan , Lu Zeyi , Zheng Qiming , Wang Liya , Xia Liqun , Li Gonghui
Published: November 2021

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common tumors disagnosed, with nearly one third of patients diagnosed with metastatic ccRCC. Although an increasing number of studies has revealed that piwi-interacting RNAs are aberrantly expressed in diverse types of cancers, few of them explored the detailed molecular mechanism of piRNAs in carcinogenesis, particularly in ccRCC. In this study, differentially expressed piRNAs associated with ccRCC were selected by using piRNA-sequencing combined with TCGA data analysis, and piR-57125 was identified. PiR-57125 was found remarkably downregulated in ccRCC samples. Functionally, knockdown of piR-57125 promoted migration and invasion of ccRCC, while overexpression of piR-57125 suppressed ccRCC metastasis. In vivo lung metastasis model also confirmed the same results. CCL3 was identified as the direct target of piR-57125 which could potentially reverse the inhibition effect of piR-57125 in ccRCC metastasis. Further study revealed that piR-57125 modulated ccRCC metastasis through the AKT/ERK pathway. These data indicate that piR-57125 restrains ccRCC metastasis by directly targeting CCL3 and inhibiting the AKT/ERK pathway, and could be a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.
GSK-3β manipulates ferroptosis sensitivity by dominating iron homeostasis
Authors: Wang Lingjuan , Ouyang Sijin , Li Bin , Wu Hao , Wang Fengli
Published: November 2021

Ferroptosis is a newly characterized form of non-apoptotic-programmed cell death, which is driven by the lethal accumulation of iron-catalyzed lipid peroxides. Uncontrolled ferroptosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of a group of human diseases, while targeted induction of ferroptosis provides a potent therapeutic design for cancers. During the past decade, the fundamental regulatory circuits of ferroptosis have been identified. In this study, we show that the multifaceted Ser/Thr protein kinase GSK-3β acts as a positive modulator of the ferroptosis program. Pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3β by selective inhibitor LY2090314 or genetic KD of GSK-3β by shRNA potently promotes ferroptotic resistance. GSK-3β KD antagonizes the expression of iron metabolic components including DMT1, FTH1, and FTL, leading to the disruption of iron homeostasis and decline in intracellular labile free iron level. Taken together, our findings elaborate an indispensable role of GSK-3β in determining ferroptotic sensitivity by dominating cellular iron metabolism, which provides further insight into GSK-3β as a target for cancer chemotherapy.
Towards a self tuning sliding mass metastructure
Authors: Bukhari Mohammad A. , Barry Oumar R.
Published: November 2021

Passive vibration control systems are characterized by their simple practical design and independence of external power supplies. However, they are usually hindered by their narrow frequency band that cannot handle variable frequency disturbances. Recent research has demonstrated the capability of passive self-tuning resonators through the use of a sliding mass without the need for any external power sources. This work analytically and experimentally investigates the passive self-tuning of a metastructure consisting of a clamped-clamped beam with a sliding mass. The governing equations of motion show that the slider can be driven by Coriolis and centrifugal forces upon applying the excitation force on the structure. To improve the accuracy of our analytical simulations, we derive the exact instantaneous mode shapes and frequencies of the structure and feed them into an adaptive algorithm, which updates the spatial state of the system. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed resonator can tune itself to the excitation frequency as the slider reaches the equilibrium position. This observation suggests that a significant vibration reduction can be obtained using the proposed resonator over a wide frequency band. Experiments are carried out to validate the analytical findings. The proposed structure can be used in different vibration control applications (i.e., aerospace, automotive, and machining), and its model can further be extended to self-adaptive periodic structures (metamaterials).
Enantiopure 2-(2-ethylhexyl)dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes: synthesis, single-crystal structure and a surprising lack of influence of stereoisomerism on thin-film structure and electronic properties
Authors: Sumitomo Kenta , Sudo Yuta , Kanazawa Kiseki , Kawabata Kohsuke , Takimiya Kazuo
Published: November 2021

Starting from a chiral resolution of 2-ethylhexanoic acid followed by conversions of functional groups without interfering with the enantiopurity, we have successfully introduced an enantiopure 2-ethylhexyl group on to dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DNTT) via a Negishi-coupling reaction to synthesize 2-(R)-(2-ethylhexyl)- and 2-(S)-(2-ethylhexyl)-DNTT (R- and S-EH-DNTT, respectively).
Electrochemical synthesis of functionalized gem-difluoroalkenes with diverse alkyl sources via a defluorinative alkylation process
Authors: Zhang Haoxiang , Liang Mengze , Zhang Xiao , He Meng-Ke , Yang Chao , Guo Lin , Xia Wujiong
Published: November 2021

An electrochemical defluorinative alkylation of α-trifluoromethyl alkenes is described. This reaction enables the preparation of functionalized gem-difluoroalkenes with diverse alkyl sources including organohalides, NHP esters, and Katritzky salts.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Group Conversation Treatment on Monologic Discourse in Aphasia
Authors: Hoover Elizabeth , DeDe Gayle , Maas Edwin
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

Evidence has shown that group conversation treatment may improve communication and reduce social isolation for people with aphasia. However, little is known about the impact of conversation group treatment on measures of discourse. This project explored the impact of conversation treatment on measures of monologic discourse.

Method:

In this randomized controlled trial, 48 participants with chronic aphasia were randomly assigned to dyadic, large group, or control conditions. Conversation group treatment was provided for 1 hr, twice per week, for 10 weeks. Discourse samples were collected and coded at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-week maintenance. There were three narrative tasks: (a) Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) picture description, (b) Cat Rescue Picture, and (c) Cinderella retell. All narratives were coded using the percent correct information units (percent CIUs), the CAT standardized narrative analysis method, and the complete utterance (CU) method.

Results:

No significant changes were observed on percent CIU, which was the primary outcome measure. The treated groups demonstrated improvement on aspects of the CU method following treatment, whereas the control group did not. Significant changes were observed for other CIU measures and the CAT standardized narrative analysis in both the treated and control groups.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the CU measures were more sensitive to the effects of conversation treatment in monologic discourse compared to CIU and CAT measures. Changes were more common in absolute rather than relative values, suggesting that conversation treatment impacts the overall amount of language produced rather than efficiency of production.
Factors influencing rural household attitude towards solar home system in Ethiopia
Authors: Mossie Zeru Asmare , Diriba Guta Dawit
Published: November 2021

Solar home system is a promising energy option for households living in off-grid areas of developing countries. However, household inclination towards consuming such clean energy is hampered by numerous factors. This study is motivated by the absence of more in-depth empirical studies on factors determining households' attitudes towards using SHS. By filling this gap, this study intends to generate informed policy recommendations. For this purpose, we used data generated from 228 adopted and 143 non-adopted households living in Basoliben district, northern Ethiopia by applying mixed data collection approaches. The ordered logistic regression model was employed to estimate factors influencing households' attitudes towards SHS. The findings reveal that being male household heads is 2.6% and 3.2% more likely to have unfavorable and neutral attitudes respectively and 5.9% less likely favorable attitudes towards SHS. As income increase by one Birr, households are about 8.2% more likely to have a favorable attitude towards SHS, and 3.8% and 4.4% less likely to have unfavorable and neutral attitudes towards SHS respectively. Households having a cell phone are 3% and 5.5% less likely to be in the unfavorable and neutral attitude category respectively and 8.5% more likely to be in the favorable attitude category. Likewise being accessed with media is 4.2% and 6.9% less likely they have unfavorable and neutral attitudes respectively, and 11% more likely they have a favorable attitude towards SHS. Moreover, households who attained training are 3% and 5% less likely they have unfavorable and neutral attitudes respectively, and are 8% more likely to have a favorable attitude towards SHS. The finding of this study suggests that improving the economic status of households, better media access, and training would play a crucial role in creating a positive attitude within rural households to increase the adoption of SHS in rural Ethiopia.
Einfach sehen – Testung und Training bei Doppelbildern
Authors: Bergmann-Langreder Anja
Published: November 2021

Anja Bergmann-Langreder arbeitet in einer neurologischen Akutklinik, in der ihr immer wieder Klienten begegnen, die nach Schädigung des zentralen Nervensystems Doppelbilder sehen. Die Ergotherapeutin hat ein Training für diese Personen entwickelt, um ihnen wieder normales Sehen zu ermöglichen.
Chain of Prevention
Authors: Pflügl Belinda
Published: November 2021

Menschen, die im Krankenhaus stationär behandelt werden, haben das Recht auf bestmögliche medizinische Versorgung und Pflege. Die Verschlechterung des physiologischen Zustands von Patienten rechtzeitig zu erkennen und zu reagieren, ist für eine sichere und hochwertige Versorgung unerlässlich. Pflegende auf den Allgemeinstationen spielen hier eine wesentliche Rolle – als erstes Glied in der Überlebenskette.
Developing an Analytical Pipeline to Classify Patient Safety Event Reports Using Optimized Predictive Algorithms
Authors: Adadey Asa , Giannini Robert , Possanza Lorraine B.
Published: October 2021

Background Patient safety event reports provide valuable insight into systemic safety issues but deriving insights from these reports requires computational tools to efficiently parse through large volumes of qualitative data. Natural language processing (NLP) combined with predictive learning provides an automated approach to evaluating these data and supporting the work of patient safety analysts.

Objectives The objective of this study was to use NLP and machine learning techniques to develop a generalizable, scalable, and reliable approach to classifying event reports for the purpose of driving improvements in the safety and quality of patient care.

Methods Datasets for 14 different labels (themes) were vectorized using a bag-of-words, tf-idf, or document embeddings approach and then applied to a series of classification algorithms via a hyperparameter grid search to derive an optimized model. Reports were also analyzed for terms strongly associated with each theme using an adjusted F-score calculation.

Results F1 score for each optimized model ranged from 0.951 (“Fall”) to 0.544 (“Environment”). The bag-of-words approach proved optimal for 12 of 14 labels, and the naïve Bayes algorithm performed best for nine labels. Linear support vector machine was demonstrated as optimal for three labels and XGBoost for four of the 14 labels. Labels with more distinctly associated terms performed better than less distinct themes, as shown by a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.634.

Conclusions We were able to demonstrate an analytical pipeline that broadly applies NLP and predictive modeling to categorize patient safety reports from multiple facilities. This pipeline allows analysts to more rapidly identify and structure information contained in patient safety data, which can enhance the evaluation and the use of this information over time.