bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The uncertainty of boundary can improve the classification accuracy of BI‐RADS 4A ultrasound image
Authors: Wang Huayu , Hu Yixin , Lu Yao , Zhou Jianhua , Guo Yongze
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) for ultrasound imaging provides a widely used reporting schema for breast imaging. Previous studies have shown that in ultrasound imaging, 90% of BI‐RADS 4A tumors are benign lesions after biopsies. Unnecessary biopsy procedures can be avoided by accurate classification of BI‐RADS 4A tumors. However, the classification task is challenging and has not been fully investigated by existing studies. For benign and malignant tumors of BI‐RADS 4A, the appearances of intra‐class tumors are highly variable, the characteristics of inter‐class tumors is overall‐similar. Discriminative features need to be found to improve classification accuracy of BI‐RADS 4A tumors.

Methods

In this study, we designed the network using the clinical features of BI‐RADS 4A tumors to improve the discrimination ability of network. The boundary information is embedded into the input of the network using the uncertainty. A fine‐grained data augmentation method is used to find discriminative features in tumor information embedded with boundary information. Two mathematical methods, voting‐based and variance‐based, are used to define the uncertainty of boundary, and the differences of these two definitions are compared in a classification network.

Results

The dataset we used to evaluate our method had 1155 2D grayscale images. Each image represented a unique BI‐RADS 4A tumor. Among them, 248 tumors were proven to be malignant by biopsy, and the remaining 907 were benign. A weakly supervised data augmentation network (WS‐DAN) was used as the backbone classification network, which showed competitive performance in finding discriminative features. Using the auxiliary input of the uncertain boundaries defined by the voting method, the area under the curve (AUC) value of our method was 0.8347 (sensitivity = 0.7774, specificity = 0.7459). The AUC value of the variance‐based uncertainty was 0.7789. The voting‐based uncertainty was higher than the baseline (AUC = 0.803), which only inputs the original image. Compared with the classic classification network, our method had a significant effect improvement (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Using the uncertain boundaries defined by the voting methods as auxiliary information, we obtained a better performance in the classification of BI‐RADS 4A ultrasound images, while variance‐based uncertain boundaries had no effect on improving classification performance. Additionally, fine‐grained network helped find discriminative features comparing with the commonly used classification networks.
Cancer insights from magnetic resonance spectroscopy of cells and excised tumors
Authors: Penet Marie‐France , Sharma Raj Kumar , Bharti Santosh , Mori Noriko , Artemov Dmitri , Bhujwalla Zaver M.
Published: March 2022

Multinuclear ex vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of cancer cells, xenografts, human cancer tissue, and biofluids is a rapidly expanding field that is providing unique insights into cancer. Starting from the 1970s, the field has continued to evolve as a stand‐alone technology or as a complement to in vivo MRS to characterize the metabolome of cancer cells, cancer‐associated stromal cells, immune cells, tumors, biofluids and, more recently, changes in the metabolome of organs induced by cancers. Here, we review some of the insights into cancer obtained with ex vivo MRS and provide a perspective of future directions. Ex vivo MRS of cells and tumors provides opportunities to understand the role of metabolism in cancer immune surveillance and immunotherapy. With advances in computational capabilities, the integration of artificial intelligence to identify differences in multinuclear spectral patterns, especially in easily accessible biofluids, is providing exciting advances in detection and monitoring response to treatment. Metabolotheranostics to target cancers and to normalize metabolic changes in organs induced by cancers to prevent cancer‐induced morbidity are other areas of future development.
A novel method for reliability analysis with interval parameters based on active learning Kriging and adaptive radial‐based importance sampling
Authors: Wang Pan , Zhou Hanyuan , Hu Huanhuan , Zhang Zheng , Li Haihe
Published: March 2022

For the reliability analysis of complex engineering structures, the estimation of the bounds of failure probability with interval distribution parameters is an important task when the perfect information of random variables is unavailable and the corresponding probability distributions are imprecise. The present work proposes an active learning Kriging‐based method combining with adaptive radial based importance sampling to compute the bounds of failure probability. For computing the bounds, the classical double‐loop optimization model is always investigated in the standard normal space. To decouple the computation, the inner‐loop optimization is addressed with the monotonicity of the commonly used probability distributions. When suffering the high dimensional problem, the dimension reduction method is introduced in monotonic analysis. While for the outer‐loop optimization, the normal space is decomposed with spheres, then the proposed method with an adaptive updated procedure is given. With this method, the bounds of failure probability can be estimated efficiently, especial for the rare event. Numerical examples are investigated to validate the rationality and superiority of the proposed method. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the reliability analysis of turbine blade and aeronautical hydraulic pipeline system with interval distribution parameters.
Validation and reliability of the Care Vulnerability Index: A study by interrater agreement and test–retest method
Authors: Fernández Batalla Marta , Monsalvo San Macario Enrique , González Aguña Alexandra , Herrero Jaén Sara , Gonzalo de Diego Blanca , Manrique Anaya Yolima , Jiménez Rodríguez M. Lourdes , Melguizo Herrera Estela , Santamaría García José María
Published: March 2022

Aim

The aim of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the Care Vulnerability Index (CVI) as a tool to estimate the need and competence of care.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey including a longitudinal component.

Methods

Content validity ratio (CVR) was calculated by interrater agreement of a group of 11 experts in two rounds. The test–retest analysis was measured in an urban population of Colombia with 96 participants through two statistical tests: Pearson's correlation coefficient and the difference in means.

Results

Care Vulnerability Index turned out to be valid with a CVR of 0.879. Reliability by Pearson correlation between test–retest was 0.912 (CI95: 0.872–0.941; p‐value <.01) and there was no significant mean difference between test and retest in global score and in clustered groups of variables. Validating CVI will make it possible to prioritize healthcare resources in the population and identify people susceptible to care problems.
Microchannel insulating foams comprising a multifunctional epoxy/graphene‐nanoplatelet nanocomposite
Authors: Schmid Eric D. , Veluswamy N. Krishnan P. , Klose Andrew M. , Fesmire James E. , Salem David R.
Published: March 2022

Graphene nanomaterials have demonstrated simultaneous enhancement of both the thermal and mechanical properties of many base polymer systems, but for application as a reinforcement in multifunctional thermally insulating polymer foam the graphene additive must not significantly increase the macroscopic thermal conductivity. In an effort to study and decouple these mechanical and thermal properties, low loadings of reduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets have been added into epoxy formulations to comprise the matrix structure of hollow microchannel nanocomposite foams. Substantial improvements of 226% were achieved in the microchannel foam specific flexural modulus at only 0.15% graphene nanoplatelet loading without compromising the foam flexural strength and while also maintaining the low thermal conductivity of the baseline epoxy foam material. These results support the use of these nanocomposite foams as mechanically reinforced thermal insulation, with the addition of the graphene nanoplatelets potentially providing additional multifunctional improvements to the foam such as reduced UV‐radiation transmittance, improved electrical surface conductivity for diminished static charge buildup, and/or lowering of the coefficient of thermal expansion for enhanced structural stability in extreme environments. This particular combination of multifunctional properties makes these materials well suited as high‐performance structural thermal insulation materials in support of next generation space system applications.
Estimating survival parameters under conditionally independent left truncation
Authors: Sondhi Arjun
Published: March 2022

Databases derived from electronic health records (EHRs) are commonly subject to left truncation, a type of selection bias that occurs when patients need to survive long enough to satisfy certain entry criteria. Standard methods to adjust for left truncation bias rely on an assumption of marginal independence between entry and survival times, which may not always be satisfied in practice. In this work, we examine how a weaker assumption of conditional independence can result in unbiased estimation of common statistical parameters. In particular, we show the estimability of conditional parameters in a truncated dataset, and of marginal parameters that leverage reference data containing non‐truncated data on confounders. The latter is complementary to observational causal inference methodology applied to real‐world external comparators, which is a common use case for real‐world databases. We implement our proposed methods in simulation studies, demonstrating unbiased estimation and valid statistical inference. We also illustrate estimation of a survival distribution under conditionally independent left truncation in a real‐world clinico‐genomic database.
Precise measurement of 41K/39K ratios by high‐resolution multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry under a dry and hot plasma setting
Authors: An Shichao , Luo Xianglong , Li Weiqiang
Published: March 2022

Rationale

Stable K isotope geochemistry is becoming an important tool for various applications. Developments in analytical methods for K isotopes based on multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS) without collision cell will bring research capability of K isotopes to many existing MC‐ICP‐MS labs.

Methods

Stable K isotopes were analyzed without applications of “cold plasma” and collision cell on a Nu 1700 Sapphire high‐resolution multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. A conventional dry and hot plasma setting is used for analysis to maintain high K sensitivity and signal stability, and high mass resolution was applied to provide interference‐free shoulders of 39K+ for isotopic measurement of 41K/39K ratios. 40Ar+ ion beam generated in ICP was neutralized in the ion guide rail for the Daly detector.

Results

Under such operating conditions, an external reproducibility of <±0.1‰ (2 standard deviation) for 41K/39K is achieved for K solutions of 1 ppm or above. Tests were carried out to evaluate the influence of total K loading, K concentration and acid molarity mismatch, matrix effects, and 40Ar+ and 40Ar1H+ tailing on K isotope analysis. We found that the accuracy of K isotope analysis can be compromised by concentration mismatch of sample and standard K, by 0.007‰ in δ41K per 1% mismatch of K content. By contrast, mismatch of HNO3 molarity or existence of HCl in HNO3 exerts negligible influences on the analytical precision and accuracy of K isotope analysis. Furthermore, K isotope analytical results remain accurate when Na/K, Mg/K, Ca/K, Rb/K, V/K, and Cr/K ratios are below 3%.

Conclusions

The high‐precision K isotope analytical method reported here is robust for studies on K isotopic variations in geological, cosmochemical, and biological samples. The f41K values of six international geostandards measured using our method are consistent with data measured using different analytical methods from other laboratories.
Are institutional investors “in love” with the sustainable development goals? Understanding the idyll in the case of governments and pension funds
Authors: García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María , Aibar‐Guzmán Cristina , Núñez‐Torrado Miriam , Aibar‐Guzmán Beatriz
Published: March 2022

Considering the key role that companies must play to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this paper aims to analyze the effect of the presence of two types of institutional investors (governments and pension funds) in large companies' ownership structure on the alignment of their sustainability strategy towards the 2030 Agenda as well as the moderating effect that firm internationalization and industry's sensitivity to stakeholder pressures have on the influence of these two institutional investors on business commitment to the SDGs. For a sample of 4089 multinational companies from 2015 to 2018, the results show that institutional ownership does matter for business commitment to the SDGs, but in a different way depending on the type of investor. Specifically, ownership by government favors commitment to the SDGs, while ownership by pension funds has a negative impact, which is partially corrected in the case of globalized companies as well as in those firms belonging to industries, which are highly sensitive to stakeholder pressures. These findings seem to suggest that institutional investors' support the implementation of the SDGs by the companies in which they invest is mainly driven by corporate complexity.
Solvent‐Free Microwave‐Assisted Multicomponent Synthesis of 4H‐Chromenes Using Fe3O4‐Based Hydrotalcites as Bifunctional Catalysts
Authors: Nope Eliana , Sathicq Ángel G. , Martínez José J. , Rojas Hugo , Macías Mario A. , Castillo Juan‐Carlos , Romanelli Gustavo
Published: March 2022

Magnetic Fe3O4‐based hydrotalcites were used as bifunctional catalysts for the microwave‐assisted solvent‐free synthesis of 4H‐chromene derivatives by a three‐component reaction from (hetero)aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and naphthol derivatives. Structures of 4H‐chromenes 4 d and 4 g were studied and confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The heterogeneous catalysts were synthesized by the co‐precipitation method incorporating divalent metal cations such as Ni2+ or Co2+ in LDH−Mg. This multicomponent protocol allows the synthesis of diverse 4H‐chromenes in 88–95 % yields, reduced reaction time, high atom economy, broad substrate scope, and operational simplicity. The reusability of the catalyst up to five recycles without appreciable loss of its catalytic activity, make the present protocol sustainable and advantageous compared to conventional methods.
Electronic Structure Modulation of Ag2S by Vacancy Engineering for Efficient Bacterial Infection
Authors: Kim JongGuk , Sun Jingyu , Zhao Yan , Wen Jinghong , Zhou Bo , Zhang Ze , Mo Shudi , Wang Jianling , Liu Huajie , Wang Guichang , Yu Qilin , Liu Mingyang
Published: March 2022

Vacancy engineering can modulate the electronic structure of the material and thus contribute to the formation of coordination unsaturated sites, which makes it easier to act on the substrate. Herein, Ag2S and Ag2S‐100, which mainly have vacancy associates VAgS and VAgSAg, respectively, are prepared and characterized by positron annihilation spectroscopy. Both experimental and theoretical calculation results indicate that Ag2S‐100 exhibits excellent antibacterial activity due to its appropriate bandgap and stronger bacteria‐binding ability, which endow it with a superior antibacterial activity compared to Ag2S in the absence of light. The in vivo antibacterial experiment using a mouse wound‐infection model further confirms that Ag2S‐100 has excellent antibacterial and wound‐healing properties. This research provides clues for a deeper understanding of modulating electronic structures through vacancy engineering and develops a strategy for effective treatment of bacterial infections.
Exit bans when doing business in China
Authors: Carr Chris , Wroldsen Jack
Published: March 2022

This article investigates and measures the frequency, fairness, and efficacy of exit bans in China. We limit our definition of “exit bans” to civil business disputes between a foreign businessperson and his or her local Chinese counterpart, where the foreigner is prevented from leaving China. A traveler typically learns of an exit ban at the airport when he or she is not allowed to board a flight; accordingly, an exit ban is distinct from a debt hostage situation in which the foreigner's freedom of movement within the country is restricted. To conduct our study, we submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests (or their equivalents) to six Western governments of countries that engage in significant trade with China and whose citizens were subjected to an exit ban preventing them from leaving China. We also conducted a separate content search and analysis of English and Mandarin media articles that discuss exit ban situations in China. Our analysis yields four primary findings. First, the data reveal at least 128 total cases, and approximately one‐third of the cases were driven by business disputes. It is likely that many more of the 128 cases were caused by business disputes, but because much of the data we received from government agencies was provided in aggregate form, we were unable to verify the driving force behind such cases. Second, in the business‐related cases, Chinese authorities generally appeared to follow applicable exit ban laws and application processes, thereby pushing back on the narrative that local norms and a culture of ignoring the law trump the legal mandates issued from Beijing. Third, most exit bans took place in Tier 1 cities or coastal regions (where more foreign business activity is concentrated), although scattered cases occurred in more remote locations, thus indicating that foreign business interests may be at risk in cities of diverse sizes throughout China. Last, the concern within the international business community that the term “responsible person” under Chinese exit ban law would be abused by authorities to also restrict the movement of non‐senior level businesspeople finds some limited confirmation in our data, although most exit ban cases we located were brought against senior‐level executives. Relying on these findings, the article concludes with four practical recommendations that business leaders can use to better evaluate and manage exit ban risks in China.
Removal of stormwater dissolved organic nitrogen through biotransformation using activated carbon
Authors: Mohtadi Mehrdad , James Bruce R. , Krasnoff Gregory R. , Davis Allen P.
Published: March 2022

Conventional bioretention systems are not effectively designed to remove stormwater dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Biotransformation study on five organic nitrogenous compounds with different values for adsorption on coal activated carbon (AC) and bioavailability revealed that adsorption is a greater controlling factor for ammonification than bioavailability. This study also showed three apparent benefits: enhancement of the ammonification rate, ammonification of the bio‐recalcitrant organic nitrogenous compounds, for example, pyrrole, and bio‐regeneration of the adsorbent (coal AC). Low temperature (4°C) did not impact ammonification of leucine at a velocity of 34 cm/h, but negatively affected it at 61 cm/h. It was also observed that bed media height > 30 cm would not appreciably increase ammonification. Under intermittent wetting/draining conditions, the DON removal efficiency was more than 90%, indicating that DON was successfully removed through concurrent adsorption/ammonification, although generated ammonium in the effluent must be properly addressed.

Practitioner Points

Coal activated carbon appears a better material for DON ammonification compared with charcoal and quartz sand.

A temperature as low as 4°C may not adversely impact DON ammonification at a velocity of 34 cm/h or less.

A bed media depth of 30 cm is considered as adequate to promote DON ammonification. A larger depth may not be expected to improve ammonification.

Ammonification of the bio‐recalcitrant organic nitrogenous compounds, for example, pyrrole, and bio‐regeneration of the adsorbent, for example, coal activated carbon, may be achieved.
K → μ+μ− beyond the standard model
Authors: Dery Avital , Ghosh Mitrajyoti
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We analyze the New Physics sensitivity of a recently proposed method to measure the CP-violating $$ \mathcal{B} $$
B
(KS → μ+μ−)ℓ=0 decay rate using KS− KL interference. We present our findings both in a model-independent EFT approach as well as within several simple NP scenarios. We discuss the relation with associated observables, most notably $$ \mathcal{B} $$
B
(KL → π0$$ \nu \overline{\nu} $$
ν

ν
¯

). We find that simple NP models can significantly enhance $$ \mathcal{B} $$
B
(KS → μ+μ−)ℓ=0, making this mode a very promising probe of physics beyond the standard model in the kaon sector.
Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms following treatment for multiple myeloma—a single center analysis
Authors: Boquoi A. , Banahan S. M. , Mohring A. , Savickaite I. , Strapatsas J. , Hildebrandt B. , Kobbe G. , Gattermann N. , Haas R. , Schroeder T. , Germing U. , Fenk R.
Published: March 2022

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be late complications following mutagenic treatment. Limited data is available on the outcome of patients developing therapy-related MDS and AML after treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). We identified 250 patients with therapy-associated MDS or AML in the Duesseldorf MDS registry. Of those, 50 patients were previously diagnosed with multiple myeloma (mm-MDS/AML). We compared them to patients with de novo MDS (n = 4862) and to patients with MDS following other underlying diseases (tMDS) (n = 200). mm-MDS patients and tMDS patients showed similar karyotypes and degrees of cytopenia. However, mm-MDS patients had significantly higher blast counts and more often belonged to the high-risk group according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) (bothp < 0.05). Although the rate of progression to AML was similar in mm-MDS and tMDS, both transformed significantly more often than de novo MDS (p < 0.05). Median overall survival of patients with mm-MDS (13 months; range: 1–99) and tMDS (13 months; range 0–160) was also similar yet significantly shorter than patients with de novo MDS (32 months; range 0–345 months; p < 0.05). Furthermore, survival of mm-MDS patients was not affected by myeloma activity. Despite significantly more high-risk disease and higher blast cell counts, myeloma-associated MDS-patients show features akin to other tMDS. Survival is similar to other tMDS and irrespective of myeloma remission status or transformation to AML. Thus, patient outcome is not determined by competing clones but rather by MDS governing the stem cell niche.
Inequality, public health, and COVID-19: an analysis of the Spanish case by municipalities
Authors: Amate-Fortes Ignacio , Guarnido-Rueda Almudena
Published: March 2022

The main objective of this work is to analyze whether inequality in income distribution has an effect on COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates during the first wave of the pandemic, and how the public health system mitigates these effects. To this end, the case of 819 Spanish municipalities is used, and a linear cross-sectional model is estimated. The results obtained allow us to conclude that a higher level of income inequality generates a higher rate of infections but not deaths, highlighting the importance of the Spanish National Health Service, which does not distinguish by income level. Likewise, early detection of infection measured by the number of primary care centers per 100,000 inhabitants, access to health care for the treatment of the most severe cases, unemployment as a proxy for job insecurity, climatic conditions, and population density are also important factors that determine how COVID-19 affects the population.
The potential role of public gardens as sentinels of plant invasion
Authors: Culley Theresa M. , Dreisilker Kurt , Clair Ryan M. , Schuler Jessica A. , Cavallin Nadia , Gettig Roger , Havens Kayri , Landel Hans , Shultz Brittany
Published: March 2022

Public gardens can help prevent detrimental effects of plant invasions by collecting and sharing data on taxa spreading from cultivation early in the invasion process, thereby acting as sentinels of plant invasion. Existing initiatives have called for public gardens to adopt measures preventing plant invasion, but it is unclear what actions individual gardens are implementing, as there is no formal mechanism for communicating their progress. This study used internal lists of escaping taxa from seven public gardens in the Midwestern United States and Canada to demonstrate how public gardens can collectively contribute data that is critical to assessing potential invasiveness. It also reveals methodological differences in how gardens develop their lists of escaping plants, leading to recommendations for standardization. Data pooled across gardens yielded 769 species spreading from cultivation at one or more gardens. Eight woody species were listed by all gardens despite not consistently being recognized as invasive by states and provinces containing the gardens; some species recorded by multiple gardens did not appear on any invasive lists. While it may be premature to call taxa escaping from cultivation at a few public gardens “invasive” or even “potentially invasive”, these plants should be monitored and evaluated with this information shared to facilitate stronger conclusions about risk. Thus, public gardens have a unique expertise in assisting invasive plant efforts as sentinels, particularly if challenges related to methodological inconsistencies and data sharing are suitably addressed, which is herein recommended through the adoption of a set of standardized guidelines.
Robust output-feedback stabilization for incompressible flows using low-dimensional $$\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$$-controllers
Authors: Benner Peter , Heiland Jan , Werner Steffen W. R.
Published: March 2022

Output-based controllers are known to be fragile with respect to model uncertainties. The standard$$\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$$H∞-control theory provides a general approach to robust controller design based on the solution of the$$\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$$H∞-Riccati equations. In view of stabilizing incompressible flows in simulations, two major challenges have to be addressed: the high-dimensional nature of the spatially discretized model and the differential-algebraic structure that comes with the incompressibility constraint. This work demonstrates the synthesis of low-dimensional robust controllers with guaranteed robustness margins for the stabilization of incompressible flow problems. The performance and the robustness of the reduced-order controller with respect to linearization and model reduction errors are investigated and illustrated in numerical examples.
ScratchThAI: A conversation-based learning support framework for computational thinking development
Authors: Katchapakirin Kantinee , Anutariya Chutiporn , Supnithi Thepchai
Published: March 2022

Computational Thinking (CT) has been formally incorporated into the National Curriculum of Thailand since 2017, where Scratch, a block-based visual programming language, has been widely adopted as CT learning environment for primary-level students. However, conducting hands-on coding activities in a classroom has caused substantial challenges including mixed-ability students in the same class, high student-teacher ratio and learning-hour limitation. This research proposes and develops ScratchThAI as a conversation-based learning support framework for computational thinking development to support both students and teachers. More specifically, it provides learning experiences tailored to individual needs. Students can learn CT concepts and practice online coding anywhere, anytime. Moreover, through its ScratChatbot, students can ask for CT concept explanations, coding syntax or practice exercises. Additional exercises may be assigned to students based on the diagnosed individual learning difficulties in a particular topic to provide possible and timely intervention. Teachers can track learning progress and performance of the whole class as well as of individuals through the dashboard and can take suitable intervention within limited school hours. Deploying ScratchThAI to several Thai schools has enabled this research to investigate its effectiveness in a school setting. The obtained results indicated positive teacher satisfaction, better learning performance and higher student engagement. Thus, ScratchThAI contributes as a possible and practical solution to CT skill development and CT education improvement under the aforementioned challenges in Thailand.
Ecotoxicity and fate of silver nanomaterial in an outdoor lysimeter study after twofold application by sewage sludge
Authors: Hoppe Martin , Köser Jan , Hund-Rinke Kerstin , Schlich Karsten
Published: March 2022

The increasing use of antibacterial silver nanomaterials (AgNM) in consumer products leads to their release into sewers. High amounts of AgNM become retained in sewage sludge, which causes their accumulation in agricultural soils when sewage sludge is applied as fertilizer. This increase in AgNM arouses concerns about toxicity to soil organisms and transfer within trophic levels. Long-term field studies simulating the sewage sludge pathway to soils are sparse, and the effects of a second sewage sludge application are unknown. In this perennial field lysimeter study, a twofold application of AgNM (NM-300K, 2 + 3 mg AgNM/kg dry matter soil (DMS)) and a onefold application of silver nitrate (AgNO3, 2 mg Ag/kg DMS) by sewage sludge to the uppermost 20 cm of the soil (Cambisol) were applied. The response of microorganisms to the applications was determined by measuring the inhibition of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Silver concentration in soil, leachates, and crops were measured after acid digestion by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Almost no vertical Ag translocation to deeper soil layers and negligible Ag release to leachates suggest that soil is a large sink for AgNM and AgNO3. For AgNM, an increase in toxicity to AOB was shown after the second sewage sludge application. The application of AgNO3 resulted in long-term toxicity comparable to the toxicity of AgNM. Low root uptake from both AgNM- and AgNO3-spiked lysimeters to crops indicates their incomplete immobilization, which is why food chain uptake cannot completely be excluded. However, the root-shoot barrier for wheat (9.8 → 0.1 mg/kg) and skin body barrier for sugar beets (1.0 → 0.2 mg/kg) will further reduce the accumulation within trophic levels. Moreover, the applied AgNM concentration was above the predicted environmental concentration, which is why the root uptake might be negligible in agricultural practice.
Exploring the psychological antecedents of private and public sphere behaviours to reduce household plastic consumption
Authors: Heidbreder Lea Marie , Tröger Josephine , Schmitt Manfred
Published: March 2022

In the last few years, plastic has become an issue of current interest as tremendous ecological effects from plastic littering have become visible. Taking the role of consumers into account, activities comprising purchasing decisions and political engagement are expected to help prevent plastic pollution. The goal of this study was to examine antecedents of three potential plastic reduction activities: purchasing, activism, and policy support. Based on well-established psychological models of pro-environmental behaviour (i.e. theory of planned behaviour, norm activation model), an online survey (N = 648) was administered and analysed via structural equation modelling. Results revealed that personal norms were a relevant predictor of all three intentions. Whereas sufficiency orientation and collective efficacy predicted only activism intention and policy support intention, perceived behavioural control was the strongest predictor of purchasing intentions. Regarding behaviour, people with high activism intentions and sufficiency orientation were more likely to choose a plastic-free incentive instead of the conventional shopping voucher. This study highlights psychological antecedents of plastic reduction. An integrated model showed that rational cost–benefit considerations as well as morality serve as drivers of reducing plastic consumption. Implications for the promotion of plastic-free consumption are discussed.
Disjunctivism and the Causal Conditions of Hallucination
Authors: Moran Alex
Published: March 2022

Disjunctivists maintain that perceptual experiences and hallucinatory experiences are distinct kinds of event with different metaphysical natures. Moreover, given their view about the nature of perceptual cases, disjunctivists must deny that the perceptual kind of experience can occur during hallucination. However, it is widely held that disjunctivists must grant the converse claim, to the effect that the hallucinatory kind of experience occurs even during perception. This paper challenges that thought. As we will see, the argument for thinking that the hallucinatory kind of experience is present even in cases of perception depends on prior acceptance of a ‘non-demanding’ conception of hallucination, on which all it takes to produce an hallucinatory experience is to induce in the subject the right kind of neurological condition. On the view developed here, by contrast, there are substantive causal conditions, going beyond the mere occurrence of the right kind of neurological state, that must be met if an experience of the hallucinatory kind is to occur. By drawing on this view, I argue, disjunctivists can deny that the kind of experience involved in hallucination ever occurs during perception. This then allows disjunctivists to avoid certain important problems they would otherwise face. It also leaves them with considerably more freedom when it comes to theorising about the nature of hallucinatory experience.
Optimization of magnetic properties of BaTiO3/Li0.5Fe2.5O4 multiferroics prepared via modified low-temperature combustion
Authors: Imam N. G. , AbouHasswa Mennatallah , Ali Ahmed I. , Okasha N.
Published: March 2022

Multiferroic (x)BaTiO3/(1 − x)Li0.5Fe2.5O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1) perovskite/spinel nanocomposite was synthesized using a modified citrate auto-combustion method. Both BaTiO3 (BTO) and Li0.5Fe2.5O4 (LFO) phases along with their composites were successfully characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The nanoscale, morphology, and magnetic properties were imaged and acquired using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. Synchrotron radiation-based elemental selective XAFS technique was performed around Fe K-edge to obtain the selective and the detailed local structural information of Li0.5Fe2.5O4 nanoparticles (NPs). The main remarkable result in this work is the enhancement in the coercivity (HC) of LFO NPs after compositing with BTO particularly at x = 0.6, and at x = 0.8. Based on the collected results, BTO/LFO nanocomposite can be seen as a good candidate for different technological applications including magnetically modulated piezoelectric, safety rechargeable batteries, and multilayer ceramic capacitor.
Pyrimethamine inhibits cell growth by inducing cell senescence and boosting CD8+ T-cell mediated cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer
Authors: Dong Haiyan , Hu Limei , Li Weiqian , Shi Mengchen , He Lingyuan , Wang Chen , Hu Yijia , Wang Huihui , Wen Chuangyu , Liu Huanliang , Yang Xiangling
Published: March 2022

Background

The emergence of nonresponse or resistance to traditional chemotherapeutic agents is one of the main challenges of colorectal cancer (CRC) therapies. Thus, novel therapeutic drugs that can improve the clinical outcomes of CRC patients are urgently needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of pyrimethamine in CRC.

Methods and results

In this study, we assessed the role of pyrimethamine on CRC cell growth by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell cycle distribution and cellular senescence were determined by flow cytometry and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining respectively. RNA-seq analysis and western blotting were used to investigate the potential pathways of pyrimethamine in CRC development. Moreover, animal experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of pyrimethamine in vivo. Our results demonstrated that pyrimethamine could inhibit cell growth by inducing S phase arrest followed by cellular senescence in CRC cells, and the p38MAPK-p53 axis was probably involved in that effect. In addition, pyrimethamine could also boost CD8+ T-cell mediated cytotoxicity and exert antitumor activity in vivo.

Conclusion

These results indicated that pyrimethamine may be a promising candidate agent for CRC treatment.
Design of Distance Assistance System for Intelligent Education by Web-based Applications
Authors: Yang Chao , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei
Published: March 2022

In order to improve the quality of distance education and solve the problem of slow data processing of the teaching system, an intelligent distance education assistance system based on WEB is developed in this paper. After verification, students, teachers and administrators log into the distance intelligent teaching assistance system and transmit various information to the interface of the teaching and administration subsystems. The submitted information is merged using the Bayesian model for integrating educational resources in the digital cloud to create a distance education database that supports the system with data. At the same time, the evaluation of the business logic of the data is performed. After the data is converted to other formats in the subsequent convertible database, it returns to the user interface to provide browsing and consulting functions for users. The experimental results show that the designed system can realize the remote auxiliary function of intelligent education and effectively improve the quality of teaching. The real-time data acquisition rate of the system in this paper is always equal to the set value. The average acceleration of the system in this paper is 5.5 and the data processing efficiency is higher. The minimum safety factor of the system is between 7.8 and 8.5, and the system has high stability. The user satisfaction of the system is over 93%, and the accuracy of the collected data is relatively high. The auxiliary system designed in this paper can provide a stable and efficient application environment for distance education.
Towards a better understanding of the role of stabilizers in QESD crystallizations
Authors: Hansen Jerome , Kleinebudde Peter
Published: March 2022

Quasi-emulsion solvent-diffusion crystallization (QESD) is a type of spherical crystallization which can be used as a particle design method to improve the flowability and micromeritic properties of drugs or excipients. Spherical particles are generated by dispersing a solvent phase in an antisolvent so that a transient emulsion is formed. Within the droplets the material can crystallize and agglomerate into spherical, hollow particles. Surfactants, such as surface-active polymers like hypromellose, are often required to stabilize the quasi-emulsion. To gain further understanding for the role of the stabilizer, a new screening-method was developed which compared different surface active polymers in solution at similar dynamic viscosities rather than at a set concentration. The dynamic viscosities of a low-viscosity grade hypromellose solution used in the previous publications describing the QESD crystallization of metformin hydrochloride by the authors was used as a target value. QESD crystallizations of metformin hydrochloride (MF) and celecoxib showed that the type of stabilizer and whether it is dissolved in the solvent or antisolvent has an effect on the agglomerates. For MF, the type of hypromellose used can have a significant influence on the properties of the agglomerates. More polymers could be used to stabilize the transient emulsion of celecoxib than previously found in literature. Furthermore, QESD crystallizations seem to be more robust when the stabilizer is dissolved in the antisolvent, however this can lead to a reduced drug load of the agglomerates.
Geochemical assessment of groundwater in semiarid area, case study of the multilayer aquifer in Djelfa, Algeria
Authors: Ali Rahmani Salah Eddine , Chibane Brahim
Published: March 2022

The best understanding of the geochemical process of groundwater is important for a sustainable development and for a strategic management of water resources. A hydro-geochemical study of groundwater of the Djelfa multilayer aquifers systems was established, using stable isotopes, and major elements, in order to identify the groundwater mineralization process occurring in this system. The chemical data indicate that the dissolution of evaporate minerals (Gypsum, halite, anhydrite) and the evaporation from water table are the principle processes who command the groundwater mineralization. Groundwater samples are depleted in stables isotopes (18O and 2H) reflecting a slug of water recharged during colder climatic conditions, and the recharge was occurred at different altitude. The analysis of the replenishment of aquifer levels shows that the level arises in the replenishment of aquifer and decreases in the depletion of aquifer due to the phenomena of evaporation and to the extensive pumping from wells. Excessive pumping creates a remarkable cone of depression that makes flow direction from syncline to the basin outlet.
Greater Than the Sum of its Parts: Computationally Flexible Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling
Authors: Johnson Devin S. , Brost Brian M. , Hooten Mevin B.
Published: March 2022

We propose a multistage method for making inference at all levels of a Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) using natural data partitions to increase efficiency by allowing computations to take place in parallel form using software that is most appropriate for each data partition. The full hierarchical model is then approximated by the product of independent normal distributions for the data component of the model. In the second stage, the Bayesian maximuma posteriori(MAP) estimator is found by maximizing the approximated posterior density with respect to the parameters. If the parameters of the model can be represented as normally distributed random effects, then the second-stage optimization is equivalent to fitting a multivariate normal linear mixed model. We consider a third stage that updates the estimates of distinct parameters for each data partition based on the results of the second stage. The method is demonstrated with two ecological data sets and models, a generalized linear mixed effects model (GLMM) and an integrated population model (IPM). The multistage results were compared to estimates from models fit in single stages to the entire data set. In both cases, multistage results were very similar to a full MCMC analysis. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Narrative inquiry for CALL teacher preparation programs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: language teachers’ technological needs and suggestions
Authors: Tafazoli Dara , Meihami Hussein
Published: March 2022

Drawing on qualitative research, this study explores the Iranian EFL teachers’ technological needs and their suggestions for using computer-assisted language learning (CALL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the narratives produced by 66 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers for their themes through deductive and inductive thematic analysis phases using MAXQDA. The findings indicate that CALL teacher preparation programs should prioritize technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), then technological content knowledge (TCK), and finally technological knowledge (TK). Moreover, teachers stated that CALL teacher preparation programs should develop their knowledge concerning the intersections of TCK/TPK and TPK/TK. Furthermore, Iranian EFL teachers suggested that CALL can be used during the pandemic if cooperation among teachers, students, and parents will be made, technological-related infrastructures will be developed, and teacher preparation programs will develop EFL teachers’ collaboration, digital literacy, teacher autonomy, and TPK with special attention to the educational needs made by the pandemic situation. The findings have implications for teacher educators, professional development course designers and providers, and decision-makers by highlighting promising directions to devote their precious time and resources.
Development of a transdiagnostic stepped care programme for common adolescent mental health problems in Indian secondary schools: lessons from a pilot study examining acceptability and feasibility
Authors: Malik Kanika , Ibrahim Maliha , Mathur Sonal , Jose James E. , Nair Pooja , Sahu Rooplata , Krishna Madhuri , Jangra Deepak , Mathews Rhea , Cuijpers Pim , Chorpita Bruce , Fairburn Christopher G. , Patel Vikram , Michelson Daniel
Published: March 2022

Background

The ‘PRemIum for aDolEscents’ (PRIDE) project has developed a school-based, transdiagnostic stepped care programme for common adolescent mental health problems in India. The programme comprises a brief problem-solving intervention (‘Step 1’) followed by a personalised cognitive-behavioural intervention (‘Step 2’) for participants who do not respond to the first step.

Methods

A mixed-method design was used to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the stepped care programme in five schools in New Delhi. Participants were N = 80 adolescents (mean age = 15.3 years, females = 55%) with elevated mental symptoms and associated distress/impairment.

Results

61 (76%) of the enrolled sample were assessed following Step 1, from which 33 (54%) met non-remission criteria. Among these 33 non-remitted cases, 12 (36%) opted for Step 2 and five (42%) completed the full programme. The remaining non-remitted cases (n = 21, 64%) opted out of further treatment. Perceived resolution of the primary problem (n = 9, 43%) was the most common reason for opting out. The median time to complete each step was 22 and 70 days respectively, with a gap of 31 days between steps. Qualitative feedback from adolescents and counsellors indicated requirements for a shorter delivery schedule, greater continuity across steps and more collaborative decision-making.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence for a stepped care programme aimed at common adolescent mental health problems. Modifications are recommended to enhance the acceptability and feasibility of the programme in low-resource settings.
The effect of particle geometry on squirming through a shear-thinning fluid
Authors: van Gogh Brandon , Demir Ebru , Palaniappan D. , Pak On Shun
Published: March 2022

Biological and artificial microswimmers often encounter fluid media with non-Newtonian rheological properties. In particular, many biological fluids such as blood and mucus are shear-thinning. Recent studies have demonstrated how shear-thinning rheology can impact substantially the propulsion performance in different manners. In this work, we examine the effect of geometrical shape upon locomotion in a shear-thinning fluid using a prolate spheroidal squirmer model. We use a combination of asymptotic analysis and numerical simulations to quantify how particle geometry impacts the speed and the energetic cost of swimming. The results demonstrate the advantages of spheroidal over spherical swimmers in terms of both swimming speed and energetic efficiency when squirming through a shear-thinning fluid. More generally, the findings suggest the possibility of tuning the swimmer geometry to better exploit non-Newtonian rheological behaviours for more effective locomotion in complex fluids.