bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Flavonoids Extraction from Vietnamese Male Papaya (Carica papaya, L.) Flowers by Ultrasound‐Asissted Method and Testing Bioactivities of the Extract
Authors: Le Thao My Phan , Van Luc Tran , Do Dat Tran , Hoai Thanh Vuong , Khanh Duy Huynh , Thanh Phong Mai , Minh Nam Hoang , Huu Hieu Nguyen
Published: November 2020

Papaya (Carica papaya Linn.) is popularly cultivated in most tropical countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, the West Indies, and throughout Africa. In the present work, an ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) method has been developed for flavonoid extraction from Vietnamese male Carica papaya (C. papaya) flowers. Various influential operating parameters such as extraction time, ultrasonic power, solvent–to–material ratio, and extraction temperature on the flavonoid content were examined to optimize the extraction process. The result showed that under optimum extraction conditions including extraction time of 33 min, ultrasonic power of 240 W, solvent–to–material ratio of 27 : 1 mL/g, and extraction temperature of 46
, the flavonoid content obtained was of 10.648±0.228 mg QE/g, which was found to be higher than that obtained by hot water extraction, enzyme‐assisted extraction, and ultrasound‐assisted enzymatic extraction methods. Therefore, UAE could be considered as the most efficient extraction method for flavonoids from Vietnamese male C. papaya flowers. In addition, the extract obtained under optimum conditions was tested bioactivities to prove the medicinal uses of flavonoids extracted from Vietnamese male C. papaya flowers with the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration values for antioxidant effect and anticancer effect against Hep‐G2 cell lines at 179.69
0.03 and 56.63
1.25 μg/mL, respectively.
Sonochemical Synthesis of Differently‐Sized Nanoparticles of a Silver(I) Compound: An Optical, Anticancer, and Thermal Activity Evaluation Study
Authors: Ramezani Bahman , Hossein Shahverdizadeh Gholam , Edjlali Ladan , Ramezani Fatemeh , Babazadeh Mirzaagha
Published: November 2020

Nano silver‐based inorganic structure with the chemical formulation of [Ag(dafo)2(NO3)] (1), dafo=4,5‐diazafluoren‐9‐one, was synthesized using sonochemical method. Three different ultrasonic generator output powers of 30 W, 60 W, 90 W, each in two different reaction temperature ranges of 0–10 °C and 25–35 °C, were our sonochemical reaction conditions. After preparing compound 1 with differently‐sized nanoparticles under the sonochemical reaction conditions, we conducted an evaluation study into the optical, anti‐cancer, and thermal activities of the compound. High ultrasonic generator output power and low reaction temperature were the two prevailing conditions that affected the size and purity of the nanoparticles of compound 1. Based on our identifying methods, nanoparticles of 90 W at 0–10 °C showed the lowest particles size among other nanoparticles. The best optical, anticancer, and thermal activities appertained to the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were heated to 500 °C in an electric furnace to synthesize phase‐pure silver nanoparticles.
Lewis‐Acid‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Amadori and Heyns Dipeptides
Authors: Chanda Debasree , Venkataswamy Gangothri M. , Harohally Nanishankar V.
Published: November 2020

Amadori and Heyns reactions are milestone reactions of carbohydrate chemistry. There have been little efforts in transforming these rearrangement reactions to useful catalytic tools. We demonstrate herein, synthesis of Amadori and Heyns dipeptides via Lewis acid‐catalysis. The accomplished catalytic Amadori and Heyns synthesis is devoid of protection and deprotection steps either for dipeptides or for reducing sugar. By the developed catalytic method we achieved, tagatose Amadori dipeptides via reaction of D‐galactose with dipeptides including L‐alanyl glycine, L‐alanyl‐L‐alanine, L‐alanyl‐L‐glutamine, glycyl‐L‐phenylalanine, L‐leucyl glycine, L‐pheynylalanyl‐L‐valine in excellent yield. In addition, Heyns dipeptides were also achieved by employing D‐fructose and dipeptides consisting of L‐alanyl glycine, L‐alanyl‐L‐alanine, L‐alanyl‐L‐glutamine, glycyl‐L‐phenylalanine, L‐leucyl glycine. The realized Lewis acid mediated catalytic method is practical, quantitative, and avoids chromatographic separation techniques.
Hollow Carbon Nanocubes as Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst
Authors: Hu Le , Shang Chaoqun , Wang Xin , Zhou Guofu
Published: November 2020

The sluggish oxygen reduction reaction kinetics hinders the development fuel cells, which needs effective electrocatalyst with low cost and high efficiency to realize 4 e− reduction processes. To alternate commercial Pt/C, herein, hollow carbon nanocubes were successfully prepared and evaluated as oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. Benefit from the effective abundant nitrogen species and unique hollow architecture, the hollow carbon nanocubes exhibit favorable oxygen reduction electrochemical performance with onset potential of 0.94 V, half‐wave potential of 0.82 V, and limited current density of 6.11 mA cm−2, which are comparable to those of Pt/C. Additionally, compared to Pt/C, the HC‐800 shows expressively stability and methanol tolerance.
Revealing the Origin of Π‐facial and Regioselectivity in the Diels‐Alder Reaction of Unsymmetrical, Cage‐annulated 1,3‐Cyclohexadiene with Ethyl Propiolate Dienophile: a DFT Study
Authors: Patel Tulsi R. , Ganguly Bishwajit
Published: November 2020

DFT [M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d,p) and MPWB1 K/6‐311G(d)] calculations have elucidated the origins of π‐facial and regioselectivity in the Diels‐Alder reactions of hexacyclo [7.5.1.01,6.06,13.08,12.010,14] pentadeca‐2,4‐diene‐7,15‐dione (HPDD) and hexacyclo [7.5.2.01,6.06,13.08,12.010,14] hexadeca‐2,4‐diene‐7,16‐dione (HHDD) dienes with ethyl propiolate (EP) as the dienophile. The origin of π‐facial stereoselectivity of these Diels‐Alder reactions has been rationalized with molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), potential energy surface (PES), and Non‐Covalent Interaction (NCI). The role of the steric effect on the π‐facial stereoselectivity of these Diels‐Alder reactions has also been observed. The origin of distal/proximal regioselectivity of HHDD with EP was explained by attractive Non‐Covalent Interaction (NCI) and electrostatic repulsion. This is one of the rare examples in Diels‐Alder reaction with both the π‐facial stereoselectivity and the regioselectivity with single diene and dienophile.
Superior Water Oxidation Performance over CoMoO4 with High Stability: Synergistic Effect of Oxygen Vacancies and Morphology
Authors: Fu Qiong , Du Xiaoqiang
Published: November 2020

It is utmost significant to exploit environmentally friendly, low‐cost and robust electrocatalysts because of the slow kinetics involved in production of hydrogen through water electrolysis on a large scale. The bimetallic CoMoO4 materials were in situ grown on Ni foam by simple hydrothermal synthesis method. The as‐prepared CoMoO4 materials with oxygen vacancy display superior electrocatalytic performance compared to the pristine CoMoO4 electrodes, demanding a small OER overpotential of 340 mV to obtain 40 mA cm−2. The superior electrocatalytic performance of the CoMoO4 material was ascribed to the presence of more oxygen deficiency, optimal water adsorption energy and more exposure to active sites. The work provides a novel thought and method for the exploitation of environmentally friendly, robust and low‐cost water splitting electrocatalysts.
Organocatalytic Enantioselective Cycloaddition of o‐Quinone Methides with Oxazolones: Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydrocoumarins
Authors: Kim Kyeong Seop , Jang Jihoon , Kim Dae Young
Published: November 2020

The organocatalytic enantioselective cycloaddition of ortho‐quinone methides with oxazolones promoted by a chiral binaphthyl‐modified squaramide bifunctional organocatalyst was developed, allowing an efficient synthesis of chiral dihydrocoumarins with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). This approach represents a practical method for the preparation of chiral 3,4‐dihydrocoumarin derivatives.
Ultrasound Modification of White Garland‐Lily Starch: Functional, Thermal, and Pasting Properties
Authors: Bento Juliana Aparecida Correia , Ferreira Karen Carvalho , Fidelis Marília Cândido , Souza Neto Menandes Alves de , Paixão e Silva Gisele de Lima , Bataus Luiz Artur Mendes , Caliari Márcio , Soares Júnior Manoel Soares
Published: November 2020

Ultrasound has been investigated to improve the processes of physical and chemical modifications of starches through cavitation effects. Hedychium coronarium J. König, popularly known as white garland‐lily, has medicinal properties and its rhizomes are a potential source for starch extraction. Since there are still no data available using ultrasound without cooling to obtain modified white garland‐lily starch (WGLS), this study aims to verify how the starch solution concentration, intensity, and time of application of ultrasound affect the thermal, function, and pasting properties of WGLS. WGLS modified by ultrasound without cooling shows significant variations in its characteristics, for example, water absorption at 55 °C ranges from 2.98 to 7.39 g 100 g−1, peak viscosity from 394 to 2773 cP, pasting temperature from 65.9 to 75.13 °C, setback from 1295 to 2079 cP, and gelatinization enthalpy from zero to 17.62 J g−1. Cracks are visualized on the surface of some starch granules depending on the experimental conditions employed. The studied variables affect the functional, thermal, and pasting properties, it is found that ultrasound (20 kHz, 500 W) applied without cooling is efficient in the modification of WGLS, providing modified starches with differentiated characteristics that can expand their industrial applications.
Rational design of nanomedicine for photothermal‐chemodynamic bimodal cancer therapy
Authors: Yao Junlie , zheng Fang , Yao Chenyang , Xu Xiawei , Akakuru Ozioma Udochukwu , Chen Tianxiang , Yang Fang , Wu Aiguo
Published: November 2020

Given the diversity, complexity, and heterogeneity of persistent tumors, traditional nanoscale monotherapeutic systems suffer from dissatisfactory curative efficiency with incidence of metastasis or relapse. In parallel, the trend of clinical research on the basis of nanomedicines has increasingly shifted from monotherapy toward combinatorial therapy for admirable synergetic performances. In this regard, cutting‐edge nanomedicines harnessing photothermal‐chemodynamic bimodal therapy (PTT/CDT) have opened up a highly‐efficient and relatively‐safe cancer theranostic paradigm. Still, the integration of PTT/CDT functional units into one nanomedicine remains a herculean but meaningful task to achieve notable super‐additive effects. This review aims to elucidate underlying synergistic interactions of PTT/CDT and highlight intriguing designs of nanomedicines for PTT/CDT including nanomaterial selection, performance optimization, multimodal therapy, visualization strategies, and targeting strategies. Furthermore, an outlook on further improvements of PTT/CDT is provided, emphasizing significant scientific issues that require remediation for clinical translation.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Recent Evolutions of Gender, State Feminism and Care Models in Latin America and Europe
Authors: Jarty Julie , Batthyány Karina
Published: November 2020

This chapter presents and characterises the way in which, in the twenty-first century, after years of feminist struggles inside and outside of institutions, gender relations are organised in the different countries of the INCASI project (on the European side, Spain, Italy, Finland, France and the United Kingdom, on the side of the South American Southern Cone, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay). It pays special attention to the implementation of feminist issues on political agendas, and in particular the assignment of women to unpaid care work—an aspect of the power continuum that we look to relate to other aspects. Gradually and for almost a century all countries in both continents have granted women the status of subjects, citizens and employees. However, the conditions, challenges and timelines of this process differ considerably from one continent to another, so they need to be addressed separately. The neoliberal era did not have the same impact in Europe as it did in South America (nor was it exactly the same between particular European countries or among South American ones).
Migration and Social Mobility Between Argentina and Spain: Climbing the Social Hierarchy in the Transnational Space
Authors: Oso Laura , Dalle Pablo
Published: November 2020

This chapter analyses the relationship between migration and social mobility in Argentina and Spain from a transnational perspective focusing on two dimensions: the patterns of intergenerational social mobility of immigrants and natives in both countries; the social mobility strategies and trajectories of Galicians families in Buenos Aires and Argentinians, of Galician origin, who migrated to Galicia after the 2001 crisis. The chapter begins by contextualizing the migratory trends in Europe and Latin America. This is followed by a comparative study of how immigration impacts on the class structure and social mobility patterns in Argentina and Spain. Quantitative analysis techniques are used to study the intergenerational social mobility rates. The statistical analysis of stratification and social mobility surveys have been benchmarked against previous studies conducted in Argentina (Germani, G.,Movilidad social en la sociedad industrial. EUDEBA, Buenos Aires, 1963; Dalle, P.,Movilidad social desde las clases populares. Un estudio sociológico en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (1960–2013). CLACSO/Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani-UBA/CICCUS, Buenos Aires, 2016) and Spain (Fachelli, S., & López-Roldán, P.,Revista Española de Sociología 26:1–20, 2017). Secondly, qualitative research methods are used to consider the social mobility strategies and class trajectories of migrant families. We analyse two fieldworks, developed in the framework of other research projects (based on 44 biographical and semi-structured interviews). These case studies were carried out with Galicians that migrated to Argentina between 1940 and 1960 and Argentinians, of Galician origin, who migrated to Galicia after the 2001 crisis.
Dialogischer Pluralismus als Polit-Talk – Ein Seminarkonzept zur Vermittlung von Diskurskultur und angewandter Pluraler Ökonomik
Authors: Egerer Elsa
Published: November 2020

Dialogische Kommunikation ist von zentraler Bedeutung für die Plurale Ökonomik. Der Beitrag verfolgt das Anliegen, eine ‚gute Diskurskultur‘ als Grundlage Pluraler Ökonomik zu stärken. Vor dem Hintergrund der sozialökologischen Krisen unserer Zeit wird zudem das Ziel einer anwendungsbezogenen, gestaltenden Pluralen Ökonomik erörtert. Das beschriebene innovative Vorgehen stellt einen Versuch dar, beide Aspekte in die Lehre zu integrieren. Zudem wird diskutiert, welche Herausforderungen sich didaktisch ergeben.
Literaturempfehlungen zur Selbsterprobung: Einblicke in Theorie und Praxis der (sozioökonomischen) Hochschullehre in Deutschland
Authors: Mayer Julia K. , Pranger Jan
Published: November 2020

Im vorliegenden Sammelband wurden die Erfahrungen von Lehrenden mit pluralen Lehrinhalten und -formen dargelegt und erörtert. Um die Umsetzung eigener Lehrinnovationen neben der Inspiration durch die hier zusammengeführten Beispiele anzuregen, seien mit diesem Beitrag diverse Lektüreempfehlungen ausgesprochen. Gerade in einem Kontext von stetig wachsenden didaktischen, methodischen und institutionellen Anforderungen und der ungebrochenen Vernachlässigung hochschuldidaktischer Qualifizierungen von Lehrpersonal scheint uns eine solche Hilfestellung angebracht. Im Folgenden werden deshalb Beiträge vorgestellt, die sich bereits mit diesen Herausforderungen, möglichen Bewältigungsstrategien sowie Konzepten zur pluralen, sozioökonomischen (Hochschul-)Bildung auseinandergesetzt haben. Die Liste erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit.
Untersuchungsdimensionen und methodisches Vorgehen
Authors: Krannich Sascha , Hunger Uwe
Published: November 2020

Um das entwicklungsbezogene Engagement der KAAD-Studierenden bzw. Alumni vor diesem Hintergrund möglichst differenziert und umfassend zu untersuchen, wurde ein mehrdimensionales und multiperspektivisches Forschungsdesign entwickelt, das es ermöglichen sollte, die verschiedenen Faktoren und Dimensionen, die in diesem Prozess eine Rolle spielen, in den Blick zu nehmen und auch systematisch miteinander zu vergleichen. So macht es für das entwicklungsbezogene Engagement der Stipendiat*innen möglicherweise einen Unterschied, ob sie tatsächlich ins Herkunftsland zurückgekehrt sind oder nicht bzw. wie sie darüber denken. Um ihre Aktivitäten systematisch voneinander unterscheiden zu können, wurden in einem ersten Schritt grundsätzlich zwei Untersuchungsgruppen voneinander unterschieden: KAAD-Alumni, die in ihr Herkunftsland zurückgekehrt sind, und KAAD-Alumni, die nicht in ihr Herkunftsland zurückgegangen sind.
Ergebnisse: Während des Studiums
Authors: Krannich Sascha , Hunger Uwe
Published: November 2020

Wie gerade geschildert, müssen, bevor ein Studium in Deutschland aufgenommen werden darf, Grundkenntnisse in der deutschen Sprache nachgewiesen werden. Generell werden Deutschkenntnisse auf dem Sprachniveau von B2 verlangt. Deswegen bietet der KAAD seinen Stipendiat*innen einen Deutschkurs in Bonn an, den die Stipendiat*innen vor ihrem Studium absolvieren können.
Strings in irrelevant deformations of AdS3/CFT2
Authors: Chakraborty Soumangsu , Giveon Amit , Kutasov David
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We generalize our recent analysis [1] of probe string dynamics to the case of general single-trace $$ T\overline{T},J\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

,
J

T
¯

and $$ T\overline{J} $$
T

J
¯

deformations. We show that in regions in coupling space where the bulk geometry is smooth, the classical trajectories of such strings are smooth and approach the linear dilaton boundary at either the far past or the far future. These trajectories give rise to quantum scattering states with arbitrarily high energies. When the bulk geometry has closed timelike curves (CTC’s), the trajectories are singular for energies above a critical value Ec. This singularity occurs in the region with CTC’s, and the value of Ec agrees with that read off from the dual boundary theory for all values of the couplings and charges.
Nonequilibrium dynamical transition process between excited states of holographic superconductors
Authors: Li Ran , Wang Jin , Wang Yong-Qiang , Zhang Hongbao
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We study the dynamics of the holographic s-wave superconductors described by the Einstein-Maxwell-complex scalar field theory with a negative cosmological constant. If the eigenfunction of the linearized equation of motion of the scalar field in the planar RNAdS black hole background is chosen as the initial data, the bulk system will evolve to the intermediate state that corresponds to the excited state superconductor on the boundary. The process can be regarded as the non-equilibrium condensation process of the excited state of holographic superconductor. When the linear superposition of the eigenfunctions is chosen as the initial data, the system will go through a series of the intermediate states corresponding to different overtone numbers, which can be regarded as the dynamical transition process between the excited states of holographic superconductor. Because the intermediate states are metastable, the bulk system eventually evolves to the stationary state that corresponds the ground state of the holographic superconductor. We also provide a global and physical picture of the evolution dynamics of the black hole and the corresponding superconducting phase transition from the funneled landscape view, quantifying the weights of the states and characterizing the transitions and cascades towards the ground state.
The UV fate of anomalous U(1)s and the Swampland
Authors: Craig Nathaniel , Garcia Isabel Garcia , Kribs Graham D.
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Massive U(1) gauge theories featuring parametrically light vectors are suspected to belong in the Swampland of consistent EFTs that cannot be embedded into a theory of quantum gravity. We study four-dimensional, chiral U(1) gauge theories that appear anomalous over a range of energies up to the scale of anomaly-cancelling massive chiral fermions. We show that such theories must be UV-completed at a finite cutoff below which a radial mode must appear, and cannot be decoupled — a Stückelberg limit does not exist. When the infrared fermion spectrum contains a mixed U(1)-gravitational anomaly, this class of theories provides a toy model of a boundary into the Swampland, for sufficiently small values of the vector mass. In this context, we show that the limit of a parametrically light vector comes at the cost of a quantum gravity scale that lies parametrically below MP1, and our result provides field theoretic evidence for the existence of a Swampland of EFTs that is disconnected from the subset of theories compatible with a gravitational UV-completion. Moreover, when the low energy theory also contains a U(1)3 anomaly, the Weak Gravity Conjecture scale makes an appearance in the form of a quantum gravity cutoff for values of the gauge coupling above a certain critical size.
NLO QCD corrections to off-shell $$ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}{\mathrm{W}}^{\pm } $$ production at the LHC
Authors: Denner Ansgar , Pelliccioli Giovanni
Published: November 2020

Abstract

We present results of a computation of NLO QCD corrections to the production of an off-shell top-antitop pair in association with an off-shell W+ boson in proton-proton collisions. As the calculation is based on the full matrix elements for the process $$ \mathrm{pp}\to {\mathrm{e}}^{+}{v}_{\mathrm{e}}{\mu}^{-}{\overline{v}}_{\mu }{\tau}^{+}{v}_{\tau}\mathrm{b}\overline{\mathrm{b}} $$
pp
→

e
+

v
e

μ
−

v
¯

μ

τ
+

v
τ

b

b
¯

, all off-shell, spin-correlation, and interference effects are included. The NLO QCD corrections are about 20% for the integrated cross-section. Using a dynamical scale, the corrections to most distributions are at the same level, while some distributions show much larger K-factors in suppressed regions of phase space. We have performed a second calculation based on a double-pole approximation. While the corresponding results agree with the full calculation within few per cent for integrated cross-sections, the discrepancy can reach 10% and more in regions of phase space that are not dominated by top-antitop production. As a consequence, on-shell calculations should only be trusted to this level of accuracy.
Zur Altersdiagnostik lebender Personen: der Einfluss des sozioökonomischen Status auf die Skelett- und Zahnentwicklung in einer deutschen Studienkohorte
Authors: Timme M. , Karch A. , Shay D. , Ottow C. , Schmeling A.
Published: November 2020

Die forensische Altersdiagnostik kann ein entscheidendes Instrument zur Durchführung rechtstaatlicher Verfahren sein. Bei der Altersdiagnostik wird die Entwicklung von Skelett- und Zahnmerkmalen einer zu begutachtenden Person mit Daten von Referenzpopulationen verglichen. Als möglicher Einflussfaktor auf die Altersdiagnose ist der sozioökonomische Status (SES) der zu begutachtenden Person zu berücksichtigen. Allerdings ist die Studienlage zu diesem Einflussfaktor bislang spärlich. Prospektiv wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der Skelett- bzw. Zahnentwicklung und dem SES innerhalb einer deutschen Studienpopulation aus freiwilligen Teilnehmern ermittelt. Dazu wurde die Entwicklung der medialen Epiphyse des Schlüsselbeins, der distalen Epiphyse des Radius, der distalen Epiphyse des Femurs, der proximalen Epiphyse der Tibia und des linken unteren dritten Molaren bei 294 Frauen und 287 Männern im Alter von 12 bis 24 Jahren mittels 3‑Tesla-Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) untersucht. Zusätzlich wurde der SES der Teilnehmer erfasst. Hierzu wurde das Bildungsniveau der Eltern erfragt. Der Einfluss des SES auf die Einzelmerkmale sowie die Gesamtheit der untersuchten Skelettmerkmale wurde mittels linearer Regression ermittelt. Für alle untersuchten Merkmale und Kombinationen konnte keine Evidenz für einen Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Es wurde geschlussfolgert, dass sich die Lebensumstände der Studienteilnehmer offenbar nicht ausreichend stark unterschieden, um einen Einfluss des SES auf das Skelettalter darzustellen.
Thinner temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer in Stargardt disease detected by optical coherence tomography
Authors: Reich Michael , Lübke Jan , Joachimsen Lutz , Stifter Julia , Küchlin Sebastian , Böhringer Daniel , Lange Clemens , Lagrèze Wolf A.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To evaluate peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with Stargardt disease (STGD).

Methods

A cross-sectional, monocentric, observational case-control study. Twenty patients (39 eyes) with ABCA4 mutations graded according to the Fishman STGD classification were included. RNFL measurement was performed using Heidelberg Spectralis SD-OCT. RNFL thickness in STGD patients was compared to age-matched data of healthy individuals provided by the device’s manufacturer. A manual readjustment of the optic disc-fovea angle was performed when needed.

Results

The mean age at first diagnosis of STGD was 22.9 years (range 9 to 50) and 39.1 years (range 18 to 74) at the time of examination. Thirty-nine percent of eyes (15 eyes) needed manual adjustment of the optic disc-fovea angle due to malfixation of the patients during OCT. The temporal quadrant corresponding to the macula showed a RNFL 16% thinner than controls (mean − 12 μm, 95%CI − 9 to −15 μm). However, global RNFL thickness did not differ from controls due to increased RNFL thickness of 12% in the nasal sectors. Duration and stage of STGD were not correlated to thinner RNFL.

Conclusion

STGD seems to be associated with thinner peripapillary RNFL in the sector of axons projecting to the degenerated macular area. It is yet unclear as to whether this results from anterograde transneuronal degeneration of direct injury to retinal ganglion cells.
Assessing the validity of corneal power estimation using conventional keratometry for intraocular lens power calculation in eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty
Authors: Diener Raphael , Treder Maximilian , Lauermann Jost Lennart , Eter Nicole , Alnawaiseh Maged
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The present retrospective study was designed to test the hypothesis that the postoperative posterior to preoperative anterior corneal curvature radii (PPPA) ratio in eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is significantly different to the posterior to anterior corneal curvature radii (PA) ratio in virgin eyes and therefore renders conventional keratometry (K) and the corneal power derived by it invalid for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation.

Methods

Measurement of corneal parameters was performed using Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus, Germany). In 125 eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing DMEK, a fictitious keratometer index was calculated based on the PPPA ratio. The preoperative and postoperative keratometer indices and PA ratios were also determined. Results were compared to those obtained in a control group consisting of 125 eyes without corneal pathologies. Calculated mean ratios and keratometer indices were then used to convert the anterior corneal radius in each eye before DMEK to postoperative posterior and total corneal power. To assess the most appropriate ratio and keratometer index, predicted and measured powers were compared using Bland-Altman plots.

Results

The PPPA ratio determined in eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing DMEK was significantly different (P < 0.001) to the PA ratio in eyes without corneal pathologies. Using the mean PA ratio (0.822) and keratometer index (1.3283), calculated with the control group data to convert the anterior corneal radius before DMEK to power, leads to a significant (P < 0.001) underestimation of postoperative posterior negative corneal power (mean difference (∆ = − 0.14D ± 0.30) and overestimation of total corneal power (∆ = − 0.45D ± 1.08). The lowest prediction errors were found using the geometric mean PPPA ratio (0.806) and corresponding keratometer index (1.3273) to predict the postoperative posterior (∆ = − 0.01 ± 0.30) and total corneal powers (∆ = − 0.32D ± 1.08).

Conclusions

Corneal power estimation using conventional K for IOL power calculation is invalid in eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing DMEK. To avoid an overestimation of corneal power and minimize the risk of a postoperative hyperopic shift, conventional K for IOL power calculation should be adjusted in eyes with Fuch’s dystrophy undergoing cataract surgery combined with DMEK. The fictitious PPPA ratio and keratometer index may guide further IOL power calculation methods to achieve this.
Clinical outcomes of patients after nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction based on the expander/implant technique
Authors: Toh Uhi , Takenaka Miki , Iwakuma Nobutaka , Akagi Yoshito
Published: November 2020

Advances in multi-modality treatments incorporating systemic chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and radiotherapy for the management of breast cancer have resulted in a surgical-management paradigm change toward less-aggressive surgery that combines the use of breast-conserving or -reconstruction therapy as a new standard of care with a higher emphasis on cosmesis. The implementation of skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomies (SSM, NSM) has been shown to be oncologically safe, and breast reconstructive surgery is being performed increasingly for patients with breast cancer. NSM and breast reconstruction can also be performed as prophylactic or risk-reduction surgery for women with BRCA gene mutations. Compared with conventional breast construction followed by total mastectomy (TM), NSM preserving the nipple–areolar complex (NAC) with breast reconstruction provides psychosocial and aesthetic benefits, thereby improving patients’ cosmetic appearance and body image. Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) has been used worldwide following mastectomy as a safe and cost-effective method of breast reconstruction. We review the clinical evidence about immediate (one-stage) and delayed (two-stage) IBBR after NSM. Our results suggest that the postoperative complication rate may be higher after NSM followed by IBBR than after TM or SSM followed by IBBR.
Effects of temporary sacral nerve stimulation on gastrointestinal motility and function in patients with chronic refractory slow-transit constipation
Authors: Altomare D. F. , Picciariello A. , Di Ciaula A. , Rinaldi M. , De Fazio M. , Portincasa P.
Published: November 2020

Background

The efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on patients with chronic refractory slow-transit constipation is controversial and its mechanism of action on gastrointestinal motility and transit is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to document the effects of temporary SNS on the gastrointestinal and biliary tract motility and on gastrointestinal transit in patients with refractory slow-transit constipation.

Methods

This was a prospective interventional study. Patients with slow-transit chronic constipation, unresponsive to any conservative treatment, were enrolled between January 2013 and December 2018. Patients’ quality of life [patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire], constipation scores (Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score) colonic transit time (CTT), orocecal transit time (OCTT), gastric and gallbladder kinetics, together with the assessment of the autonomic nerve function were evaluated before and during temporary SNS.

Results

14 patients (12 females, median age 38 years, range 24–42 years) had temporary SNS. The Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score did not change compared to baseline (23 ± 3 vs 21.4;p = 070). The PAC-QOL did not improve significantly during the stimulation period. Gallbladder/stomach motility (half-emptying time) did not change significantly before and after SNS. OCTT was delayed at baseline, as compared to standard internal normal values, and did not change during SNS. CTT did not improve significantly, although in two patients it decreased substantially from 97 to 53 h, and from 100 to 65 h.

Conclusions

Temporary SNS did not have any effect on upper/lower gastrointestinal motility and transit in patients with severe constipation.
Cycling policy in strategic documents of Polish cities
Authors: Kwiatkowski Michał Adam , Szymańska Daniela
Published: November 2020

Cycling transport fits well into the principles of sustainable development of cities and regions. Cycling policy is more and more often reflected in various strategic documents which are to set out measures to increase the share of cycling in urban transport. The paper evaluates the manner of implementing the assumptions of sustainable transport through the analysis of strategic documents from Polish cities of 100,000 and more inhabitants. The study was carried out in four stages. Firstly, the authors reviewed literature and reference material, i.e. strategic documents at European and national level. In the second stage, they analysed the strategies of urban development, indicating areas of urban development in which issues related to cycling were placed. The third phase focused on the additional (substantive) strategic documents related to transport and cycling—urban cycling policies. The task here was to assess their completeness and conformity with the guidelines of the European Commission concerning the creation of cycling policy. In the last stage of the study, the authors assessed whether measures for the development of cycling infrastructure were implemented in the studied cities: changes to the cycling infrastructure of the said cities were analysed by determining the dynamics of changes in the length of cycle paths and the availability of bicycle-sharing systems. The study showed the cohesion of cycling policies of Polish cities with higher-level (European and national) documents. It was also confirmed that in the majority of analysed documents the passages concerning cycling are prepared in the context of urban transport.
Williamson On the Margins of Knowledge: A Criticism
Authors: De Florio Ciro , Fano Vincenzo
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we argue that Williamson’s arguments against luminosity and the KK principle do not work, at least in a scientific context. Both of these arguments are based on the presence of a so-called “buffer zone” between situations in which one is in a position to know p and situations in which one is in a position to know ¬p. In those positions belonging to the buffer zone ¬p holds, but one is not in a position to know ¬p. The presence of this buffer zone triggers two types of sorites arguments. We show that this kind of argument does not hold in a scientific context, where the buffer zone is controlled by a quantitative measurement of the experimental error.
Transfer of invertebrates with hay during restoration operations of extensively managed grasslands in Switzerland
Authors: Stöckli Ariane , Slodowicz Daniel , Arlettaz Raphaël , Humbert Jean-Yves
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Hay transfer from a speciose donor meadow to a species-poor receiver grassland is an established method to restore species-rich grassland plant communities. However, it has rarely been investigated to which extent invertebrates can be transferred with hay during such operations, which was the aim of this study.

Methods

Sampling was conducted in eight sites of the Swiss lowlands with one donor meadow and two receiver sites each. On the receiver sites, three to four white bed sheets of one square meter each were deployed on the ground to receive a standard quantity of fresh hay just transferred from the donor meadow. All living invertebrates were collected from these sheets with an aspirator and subsequently identified to order level.

Results

On average (± SD), 9.2 ± 11.3 living invertebrates per square meter were transferred with the hay. Beetles were the most abundant species group, representing 46.9% of all transferred invertebrates, followed by true bugs (8.9%) and spiders (7.0%). More individuals were transferred when the donor meadow was mown with a hand motor bar mower than with a rotary disc mower. Similarly, more invertebrates were transferred when the hay was transported loosely with a forage wagon than compacted as bales.

Discussion

While this study demonstrates that living invertebrates can be transferred with the hay, their subsequent survival and establishment remains to be explored.

Implications for insect conservation

We recommend using a hand motor bar mower and a forage wagon for increasing the survival probability of invertebrates in hay transfer.
An effective approach for the dual-resource flexible job shop scheduling problem considering loading and unloading
Authors: Wu Xiuli , Peng Junjian , Xiao Xiao , Wu Shaomin
Published: November 2020

Many manufacturing systems need more than one type of resource to co-work with. Commonly studied flexible job shop scheduling problems merely consider the main resource such as machines and ignore the impact of other types of resource. As a result, scheduling solutions may not put into practice. This paper therefore studies the dual resource constrained flexible job shop scheduling problem when loading and unloading time (DRFJSP-LU) of the fixtures is considered. It formulates a multi-objective mathematical model to jointly minimize the makespan and the total setup time. Considering the influence of resource requirement similarity among different operations, we propose a similarity-based scheduling algorithm for setup-time reduction (SSA4STR) and then an improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to optimize the DRFJSP-LU. Experimental results show that the SSA4STR can effectively reduce the loading and unloading time of fixtures while ensuring a level of makespan. The experiments also verify that the scheduling solution with multiple resources has a greater guiding effect on production than the scheduling result with a single resource.
Multimodal and scale-sensitive assessment of sense of place in residential areas of Ankara, Turkey
Authors: Gokce Duygu , Chen Fei
Published: November 2020

In order to make the phenomenological concept sense of place (SoP) pragmatic in design and planning, this research investigates the SoP indicators concerning spatial scales of the physical environment. Seven indicators are extracted from the literature, namely ‘place identity’, ‘place dependence’, ‘nature bonding’, ‘social bonding’, ‘sense of belonging’, ‘familiarity’ and ‘social interaction’. In this paper, their relevance was discussed against ‘place attachment’ which is used interchangeably with SoP in the literature. ‘Place attachment’ and the seven indicators were scored through interviews with residents in general and at the the building, street and neighbourhood scales, in six housing developments selected from Ankara, Turkey. The residents rated their experiences regarding a set of statements for each indicator using the seven-point Likert scale. The data sets then were validated statistically. The correlations between each indicator and ‘place attachment’ in general and at the three scales were identified. The results showed that ‘place identity’ and ‘place dependence’ were the most relevant indicators to SoP, at the street and neighbourhood scales in particular. The second most relevant indicators were ‘sense of belonging’ and ‘social bonding’ at the building and street scales and ‘social interaction’ at the street scale. The research suggests that these five indicators could be employed to evaluate SoP at all scales or guide place-making at a particular spatial scale in planning and design.
Measuring Discrepancies Between Poisson and Exponential Hawkes Processes
Authors: Foschi Rachele
Published: November 2020

Poisson processes are widely used to model the occurrence of similar and independent events. However they turn out to be an inadequate tool to describe a sequence of (possibly differently) interacting events. Many phenomena can be modelled instead by Hawkes processes. In this paper we aim at quantifying how much a Hawkes process departs from a Poisson one with respect to different aspects, namely, the behaviour of the stochastic intensity at jump times, the cumulative intensity and the interarrival times distribution. We show how the behaviour of Hawkes processes with respect to these three aspects may be very irregular. Therefore, we believe that developing a single measure describing them is not efficient, and that, instead, the departure from a Poisson process with respect to any different aspect should be separately quantified, by means of as many different measures. Key to defining these measures will be the stochastic intensity and the integrated intensity of a Hawkes process, whose properties are therefore analysed before introducing the measures. Such quantities can be also used to detect mistakes in parameters estimation.
The use of a surgical planning tool for evaluating the optimal surgical accessibility to the stapedius muscle via a retrofacial approach during cochlear implant surgery: a feasibility study
Authors: Marquez Pedro , Volk Gerd Fabian , Maule Francesca , Korth Daniela , Bitter Thomas , Koscielny Sven , Aschenbach René , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando
Published: November 2020

Purpose

During cochlear implant (CI) surgery, visual detection of the stapedius reflex as movements of the stapes tendon, electrically elicited via the CI, is a standard measure to confirm the system's functionality. Direction visualization of the stapedius muscle (SM) movements might be more reliable, but a safe access to the small SM is not defined. A new surgical planning tool for pre-operative evaluation of the accessibility to the stapedius muscle (SM) during a cochlear implantation (CI) via a retrofacial approach was now evaluated.

Methods

A surgical planning tool was developed in MATLAB using an image processing algorithm to evaluate drilling feasibility. A flat-panel computed tomography (CT) combining a rotational angiographic C-arm units with flat-panel detectors (Dyna-CT) was used. In total, 30 3D Dyna-CT-based temporal bone reconstructions were evaluated by automatized algorithms, generating a series of trajectories and comparing their feasibility and safety to reach the SM via a retrofacial approach. The predictability of the surgical planning tool results was tested in 5 patients.

Results

The surgical planning tool showed that a retrofacial access to the SM would be feasible in 25/30 cases. Moreover, the evaluation of the predictability of the results obtained with the surgical planning tool conducted during 5 CI surgeries confirmed the results. Both the surgical planning tool and the results on SM accessibility via retrofacial approach during CI showed that this is safe and feasible only when the SM-exposed area was > 25% of its total, the distance between the SM and the facial nerve was > 0.8 mm, and the surgical corridor diameter was > 3 mm.

Conclusion

The surgical planning tool seems to be useful for the pre-operative evaluation of the accessibility to the SM during a CI surgery via a retrofacial approach. Further prospective studies are needed to validate the results in larger cohorts.
Closed-loop control of product geometry by using an artificial neural network in incremental sheet forming with active medium
Authors: Thiery S. , Zein El Abdine M. , Heger J. , Ben Khalifa N.
Published: November 2020

A strategy to adjust the product geometry autonomously through an online control of the manufacturing process in incremental sheet forming with active medium is presented. An axial force sensor and a laser distance sensor are integrated into the process setup to measure the forming force and the product height, respectively. Experiments are conducted to estimate the bulging behavior for different pre-determined tool paths. An artificial neural network is consequently trained based on the experimental data to continuously predict the pressure levels required to control the final product height. The predicted pressure is part of a closed-loop control to improve the geometrical accuracy of formed parts. Finally, experiments were conducted to verify the results, where truncated cones with different dimensions were formed with and without the closed-loop control. The results indicate that this strategy enhances the geometrical accuracy of the parts and can potentially be expanded to be implemented for different types of material and geometries.
Galling phenomena in metal forming
Authors: Dohda Kuniaki , Yamamoto Masahito , Hu Chengliang , Dubar Laurent , Ehmann Kornel F.
Published: November 2020

Galling phenomena in metal forming not only affect the quality of the engineered surfaces but also the success or failure of the manufacturing operation itself. This paper reviews the different galling conditions in sheet and bulk metal forming processes along with their evolution and the effects of temperature on galling. A group of anti-galling methods employed to prevent galling defects are also presented in detail. The techniques for quantitatively measuring galling are introduced, and the related prediction models, including friction, wear, and galling growth models, are presented to better understand the underlying phenomena. Galling phenomena in other processes similar to those occurring in metal forming are also examined to suggest different ways of further studying galling in metal forming. Finally, future research directions for the study of galling in metal forming are suggested.
A Rapid Review of Prescribing Education Interventions
Authors: Omer Usmaan , Danopoulos Evangelos , Veysey Martin , Crampton Paul , Finn Gabrielle
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Many studies conducted on the causes and nature of prescribing errors have highlighted the inadequacy of teaching and training of prescribers. Subsequently, a rapid review was undertaken to update on the nature and effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at improving the prescribing skills and competencies.

Methods

Twenty-two studies taking place between 2009 and 2019 were identified across nine databases.

Results and Discussion

This review reinforced the importance of the WHO Guide to Good Prescribing to prescribing curriculum design as well as the effectiveness of small group teaching. However, it also highlighted the lack of innovation in prescribing education and lack of longitudinal follow-up regarding the effectiveness of prescribing education interventions.
“Smoke on the beach”: on the use of economic vs behavioral policies to reduce environmental pollution by cigarette littering
Authors: Castaldi Gionata , Cecere Grazia , Zoli Mariangela
Published: November 2020

Cigarette filters, the most commonly littered item worldwide, are one of the main sources of marine pollution. However, reducing cigarette littering is a serious challenge for policy makers and environmental authorities: traditional instruments like bans and fines are generally ineffective. In this article, we evaluate the impact of two interventions aimed at reducing smokers’ littering in public areas, like beaches. We run a field experiment at eight beach resorts in the north east coast of Italy. Resorts were randomly assigned to three groups: in the first, we introduced portable ashtrays to test whether smokers respond to the lower effort costs (time plus inconvenience) by disposing of litter properly. In the second set, we added a social cue. The third group of resorts was used as a control with no intervention. Results suggest that reducing the private costs of a proper disposal through mobile ashtrays significantly affects littering, leading to a reduction of 10–12% in the number of cigarette filters dropped in the sand compared to beaches with no ashtrays. Reinforcing this measure with social prompts does not significantly increase the impact driven by the introduction of mobile ashtrays.