bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competence in virtual communication: Remote transformational leadership
Authors: Loyless Lauren H.
Published: February 2023

This paper seeks to evaluate how researched communication methods from within transformational leadership theory can contribute to the overall effectiveness of leader and organizational performance within remote working environments. A review of existing literature within the scope of research will aim to uncover if the four established elements of communication (oral, written, listening, and nonverbal), as defined by the Van Wart text Leadership in Public Organizations, remain efficient in transformational leadership theory, or if methods must be expanded upon when looking toward the future. With the onset of the COVID‐19 global pandemic in 2020, it is theorized that a modern‐day addition to the communications mix is needed to endure contemporary events impacting leadership performance and rapidly changing organizations across the world.
Cortical thickness and neurocognitive performance in former high‐level female soccer and non‐contact sport athletes
Authors: Haase Franziska Katharina , Prien Annika , Douw Linda , Feddermann‐Demont Nina , Junge Astrid , Reinsberger Claus
Published: February 2023

Background

Long‐term effects of playing soccer (football) on the brain structure and function of the brain are vividly debated. While some studies showed differences in neurocognitive performance and structural brain changes in retired male players, data on female players are scarce. The present study compares cortical thickness and neurocognitive performance in former high‐level female soccer (SOC) and non‐contact sport athletes (CON).

Methods

3 T T1‐weighted 3D MPRAGE MRI was performed, and vertex‐wise cortical thickness was analyzed using FreeSurfer (v. 6.0.0). Neurocognitive performance in seven domains of SOC and CON was assessed. A multivariate linear model was used to analyze interactions with respect to heading frequency and a history of concussion.

Results

SOC (n = 15, mean age 38.3 ± 5.1 years) and CON (n = 16, mean age 36.6 ± 5.8 years) had a similar cortical thickness and performed similarly in the neurocognitive tests except for verbal memory and psychomotor speed, where SOC performed significantly worse than CON. Moderate headers had a significantly larger cortical thickness than rare headers in the right inferior parietal region. Visual memory and cortical thickness were positively correlated in the group of frequent headers and negatively correlated in CON, but not in the other header groups.

Perspective

In contrast to previous reports in male soccer players, female players did not reveal cortical thinning in comparison with control athletes, whereas neurocognitive profiles of female soccer players might not significantly differ from male athletes. Small sample sizes, subjective header assessment, and the case–control study design require a cautious interpretation.
Characterization of two novel HLA alleles: HLA‐A*26:01:01:53 and ‐DRB1*01:141
Authors: Leonov Evgeny A. , Khamaganova Ekaterina G. , Kuzminova Elena P. , Abdrakhimova Alena R. , Gaponova Tatiana V.
Published: February 2023

Two new alleles HLA‐A*26:01:01:53 and DRB1*01:141 identified in Russian individuals.
The particularity of photographic experience
Authors: Jagnow René
Published: February 2023

A common view in the philosophy of perception holds that states of seeing objects face to face have particular contents. When you see, say, a dog face to face, your visual state represents the particular dog that is in front of you. In this paper, I argue for a related claim about states of seeing objects in conventional photographs. When you see a dog in a photograph, for example, your visual state represents the particular dog that was in front of the camera when the photograph was taken, that is, the photograph's depictum. The argument in this paper proceeds in two steps. In the first step, I discuss states of seeing objects face to face. I argue that such a state represents the particular object whose surface is responsible for the optical information that the visual system uses to construct the state's attributive representational content. In the second step, I apply the result of this discussion to states of seeing objects in photographs. I argue that a state of seeing an object in a photograph has a particular content that represents the object that was in front of the camera when the photograph was taken.
Frontal sinus carcinoma in forty‐one dogs (2001–2022)
Authors: Gedon Julia , Kessler Martin , Schmidt Jarno M.
Published: February 2023

Reports on canine frontal sinus carcinomas (FSCs) are scarce. This retrospective review of 41 dogs with FSC (2001–2022) describes demographic and clinical characteristics of canine FSC and reports the clinical experience and overall survival following treatment with toceranib phosphate (TOC) and meloxicam in 10 cases. Median age at diagnosis was 10.6 years (range: 6.5–15.4 years). There was a male‐to‐female‐ratio of 2.4:1. The most common breeds were Jack Russell Terriers (JRT) (n = 7; 17.1%) and Rottweilers (n = 3, 7.3%). Mesocephalic breeds (70.6%) were most commonly affected, brachycephalics accounted for 8.8%. The most frequent clinical signs included skull deformation dorsomedial to the eye (87.5%), pain/head‐shyness (40.0%), ocular (22.5%)/nasal (17.5%) discharge, and exophthalmos (17.5%). Duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis varied from a few days to 9 months. There were no neurological signs at initial presentation despite imaging evidence of osteolysis of the lamina interna of the frontal bone in most dogs (69.4%). In 11.5%, pulmonary changes suggestive of metastasis or concurrent primary pulmonary neoplasia were present. Tumour types included squamous cell carcinoma (58.5%), unspecified carcinoma (29.3%), and adenocarcinoma (9.8%). Ten dogs were treated with TOC (median 2.8 mg/kg EOD or three times per week) and meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg, EOD) (TOC‐M), resulting in subjective regression of skull deformity in 8/10 (80.0%) patients. Overall median survival time with TOC‐M was 183.5 days (range: 120–434 days). FSCs typically present with skull deformation, but no overt neurological signs. Male dogs and JRT may be overrepresented. The use of TOC‐M in FSC appears promising and warrants further prospective evaluation.
The influence of sex and age on bone turnover markers in the adult to geriatric Kangal shepherd dogs
Authors: Ekici Mehmet , Koçkaya Mustafa , Baş‐Ekici Hacer
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The objective of this research was to learn more about bone metabolism in intact female and male Kangal shepherd dogs during the aging process following skeletal maturity. It also evaluated the potential application of biochemical bone indicators in veterinary clinical practice.

Methods

Bone markers were determined as bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), C‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and cross‐linked C‐telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in this study. Kangal shepherd dogs of different age (adult, senior, and geriatric) and sex (male and female) groups were split into six groups of equal numbers (n = 8/group).

Results

In this study, the effect of age was observed on serum BALP, OC, CTX, and ICTP concentrations. Specifically, BALP was highest in geriatric female Kangal shepherd dogs, while serum OC, CTX, and ICTP concentrations were highest in geriatric male Kangal shepherd dogs. However, no effects of sex and age–sex interactions were identified. Moreover, the effects of age, sex, and age–sex interactions had no significant effect on serum creatinine, CK, LDH, Mg, and P concentrations or ALT activities. However, only sex was found to affect serum AST activities and gradually decreased with age in females. The effect of age and age–sex interactions on serum Ca concentrations was significant (the lowest serum Ca concentrations were in geriatric females), but the effect of sex was not.

Conclusions

These results show the effect of age and sex on bone turnover in Kangal shepherd dogs and provide information about bone biomarkers.
Blood Oxygen Saturation and Heart Rate Monitor for Home-Based Continuous Monitoring
Authors: Darul Zaman Nurul Izzati , Zainal Abiden Siti Nurhaliza , Soo Kok Wai , Leong Ming Chern , Hau Yuan Wen
Published: February 2023

Pneumonia and COVID-19 are the most infected infectious diseases that deteriorate health of all range of people. If the early treatment is not provided, it may lead to severe heart disease and eventually to mortality. Therefore, continuous heart rate (HR), as well as blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring can help to detect abnormalities early. As a result, this paper presents a combination of portable continuous SpO2 and HR monitor which focuses on the improvement of internal design and graphical user interface of the mobile application. In this system, MAX30100, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, was used to measure SpO2 and HR. Then, the signal was transmitted to Arduino Nano as the master microcontroller to process all acquired data from the sensor. The device was integrated with Android-based mobile application through Bluetooth communication, for displaying the result of the measured real-time parameters continuously and for battery status indication. Quantitative measurements showed that the precision of the circuit system implemented for HR and SpO2 were 99.16% and 99.06%, respectively. This system would improve the working efficiency and life efficiency of the healthcare provider and public.
Diversity of cells and signals in the cardiovascular system
Authors: Grandi Eleonora , Navedo Manuel F. , Saucerman Jeffrey J. , Bers Donald M. , Chiamvimonvat Nipavan , Dixon Rose E. , Dobrev Dobromir , Gomez Ana M. , Harraz Osama F. , Hegyi Bence , Jones David K. , Krogh‐Madsen Trine , Murfee Walter Lee , Nystoriak Matthew A. , Posnack Nikki G. , Ripplinger Crystal M. , Veeraraghavan Rengasayee , Weinberg Seth
Published: February 2023

This white paper is the outcome of the seventh UC Davis Cardiovascular Research Symposium on Systems Approach to Understanding Cardiovascular Disease and Arrhythmia. This biannual meeting aims to bring together leading experts in subfields of cardiovascular biomedicine to focus on topics of importance to the field. The theme of the 2022 Symposium was ‘Cell Diversity in the Cardiovascular System, cell‐autonomous and cell–cell signalling’. Experts in the field contributed their experimental and mathematical modelling perspectives and discussed emerging questions, controversies, and challenges in examining cell and signal diversity, co‐ordination and interrelationships involved in cardiovascular function. This paper originates from the topics of formal presentations and informal discussions from the Symposium, which aimed to develop a holistic view of how the multiple cell types in the cardiovascular system integrate to influence cardiovascular function, disease progression and therapeutic strategies. The first section describes the major cell types (e.g. cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, immune cells, etc.) and the signals involved in cardiovascular function. The second section emphasizes the complexity at the subcellular, cellular and system levels in the context of cardiovascular development, ageing and disease. Finally, the third section surveys the technological innovations that allow the interrogation of this diversity and advancing our understanding of the integrated cardiovascular function and dysfunction.

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Hipoglucemia persistente, un hallazgo poco frecuente y subestimado
Authors: Silva Valencia María Juliana , Atencia Herrera Cindy Margarita , Gómez Ángela Camila , Herrera Verónica
Published: February 2023

La hipoglucemia persistente es un trastorno metabólico caracterizado por la incapacidad de autorregulación de la glucemia sérica posterior a las 72 horas de vida, secundario a un rango amplio de patologías, dentro de las cuales se encuentran: alteraciones metabólicas secundarias a patologías maternas (como la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino), los errores innatos del metabolismo (como los trastornos de almacenamiento del glucógeno), los trastornos de la betaoxidación y la alteración en las hormonas contrarreguladoras (como la deficiencia de la hormona de crecimiento). Su diagnóstico representa un reto debido a que, en ocasiones, los recién nacidos no presentan manifestaciones clínicas o estas son inespecíficas. La muestra crítica, un conjunto de exámenes paraclínicos séricos tomados en el periodo de hipoglucemia, permite la identificación rápida de las patologías causantes más comunes que requieren algún tratamiento específico. En el artículo se lleva a cabo una revisión narrativa de las patologías más comunes asociadas con la hipoglucemia persistente y la utilidad de la muestra crítica en su diagnóstico.
An Iterative Method Based on a 3-DOF Model for Optimal Seismic Design of Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant
Authors: Jiang Yuheng , Duan Liping , Zhao Jincheng
Published: February 2023

As a key infrastructure in the lifeline system, the safety of the Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plants (CFTPPs) under earthquake loading is not properly considered since a systematic optimization method for seismic design of CFTPPs is scarce. This paper presents a simple iterative method for globally optimizing the dynamic parameters of the typical CFTPPs, which can be considered a special type of tuned mass damping. In this paper, the fixed-point theory is first applied to a 2-DOF model of an actual CFTPP as a benchmark. Because the optimized parameters obtained from the fixed-point theory are roughly and cannot be used in practice, an iterative method based on the frequency domain analysis of a 3-DOF model of the CFTPP is then presented and used to obtain more detailed and optimized parameters, where the basic idea is to make extremum values of frequency response curve as small as possible. To show the potential of the proposed method, an illustrative example is introduced, and the results show that the presented method is effective in alleviating the seismic responses of CFTPPs. Compared to the classic fixed-point theory, the presented iterative method can handle multi-DOF models under different conditions but needs no complicated calculations, and this makes it possible to lead to a more efficient and precise seismic design of CFTPPs.
Reverse Circulation Displacement of Miscible Fluids for Primary Cementing
Authors: Ghorbani Maryam , Royaei Arsalan , Joakim Skadsem Hans
Published: February 2023

Primary cementing is the well construction operation where drilling fluid is displaced from the annular space behind the casing string, and replaced by a cement slurry. The annular cement sheath is a critical barrier element that should provide zonal isolation along the well and prevent uncontrolled flow of formation fluids to the environment. We present a combined experimental and computational study of reverse circulation displacement of the annulus, corresponding to operations where cementing fluids are pumped down the annulus from the surface. We focus on iso-viscous displacements in a vertical and concentric annulus, and vary the density hierarchy among the fluids to study both stable and density-unstable displacement conditions. While the interface between the two fluids is advected according to the laminar annular velocity profile for density-stable and iso-dense displacements, considerable secondary flows and fluid mixing is observed for density-unstable cases. Increasing the imposed velocity from the top is seen to provide a certain stabilizing effect by suppressing backflow of the lighter fluid and reduce the magnitude of azimuthal fluctuations. Computational results are in qualitative agreement with the experiments, and support the categorization of the displacement flows as either inertial or diffusive, in accordance with previous work on buoyant pipe displacements.
A Real-Time Fluid Dynamic Air Brake Model for Long Heavy Haul Trains
Authors: Wu Qing , Ge Xiaohua , Bernal Esteban , Liu Pengfei
Published: February 2023

Practical real-time fluid dynamic air brake models for long heavy haul trains have not been reported in open literature. Based on a previous work titled “Railway Air Brake Model and Parallel Computing Scheme” in the same journal, this paper proposed upgrades to the previous model and achieved the real-time feature. The real-time contributing factors included a new brake cylinder model, a new scheme for updating characteristics, and the application of parallel computing. Results show that, for a 150-wagon train emergency brake simulation, the computing speed was improved from 5.26 times slower than real-time to 8.6 times faster than real-time. The three contributions improved the computing speed by 8.8, 1.8, and 2.9 times faster than the baseline models, respectively.
Nonlinear Vibration of a Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Gear Transmission System With Multipiecewise Linear Functions
Authors: Liao F. L. , Huang J. L. , Zhu W. D.
Published: February 2023

Periodic and period-doubling vibrations in a gear transmission system subjected to forced excitations with multipiecewise linear functions are investigated in this work by using the incremental harmonic balance (IHB) method. The nonlinear ordinary differential equations that govern vibration of the gear transmission system are formulated by employing the Newton's second law. Analytical results reveal abundant interesting phenomena, including jumps, bifurcations, softening-spring behaviors, and primary, super-harmonic, and subharmonic resonances, which have not been exhibited in existing investigations on nonlinear vibrations of gear transmission systems. Nonlinear phenomena and resonances of the gear transmission system are revealed by considering different numbers of degrees-of-freedom of the system. The bifurcations containing saddle-node, period-doubling, and Hopf bifurcations are observed in frequency response curves. The period-doubling phenomena are characterized by phase-plane diagrams and Fourier spectra. Further, analytical results obtained by the IHB method match very well with those from numerical integration.
Buckling of a Vertically Mounted Cantilevered Plate Under Static Torsional Corner Loads—Experiment and Theory
Authors: Gibson Oliver S. , Knotek Chris , Virgin Lawrence , Dowell Earl
Published: February 2023

The results of an experimental study on the buckling of a vertically cantilevered plate under corner twisting forces are reported. In this configuration, an interesting and somewhat counter-intuitive behavior is observed in which a laterally loaded slender panel exhibits a subtle instability characterized by nonlinear out-of-plane corner deflections. This is one of the few studies in the literature that investigates the buckling of cantilevered plates and appears to be the only experimental study of buckling under twisting loads, i.e., loading the plate with point loads at the free corners and in opposite directions. This paper discusses the practical aspects of experimental verification and methodology and evaluates the effect of the plate aspect ratio (AR) on the nondimensional buckling load in this configuration. In addition, experimental results are compared to finite element analysis (FEA) simulations performed on accessible software. There is generally good agreement between the experiment and the finite element simulation for the change of buckling load with plate aspect ratio. The nondimensional buckling load appears to decrease asymptotically with increasing aspect ratio, though the correlation between experiment and computation is less consistent as aspect ratio increases due to experimental and computational limitations.
Percutaneous transhepatic ultrasound-guided gallbladder aspiration: Still a safe option for gallbladder decompression in patients at high surgical risk
Authors: Bock Kilian , Heidrich Benjamin , Zender Steffen , Wedemeyer Heiner , Potthoff Andrej , Lenzen Henrike
Published: February 2023

Aims: Cholecystitis generally warrants immediate cholecystectomy; however, high-risk patients require non-surgical options for gallbladder decompression. The continuous evolution of endoscopic techniques makes it difficult for clinicians tochoose the best technique for high-risk patients. Here we aimed to show that percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration, a technique that has fallen into disuse, is a safe and rapid method for gallbladder decompression.Materials and methods: In our local database, we identified 48 patients who had undergone transhepatic punctures of the biliary system,34 of whom were excluded because they had received bile duct punctures. The remaining 14 patients had received gallbladder punctures, of whom 9 were considered eligible for analysis. Cases were retrospectively analyzed for technical success, complications, and individual outcomes.Results: Our analysis included 9 patients (3 female, 6 male; median age, 51 years; range, 32-84 years). Underlying malignancy was found in 5 patients, while 4 were in a palliative situation. Underlying infection was found in 8 cases. All punctures were technically successful without complications. In all patients, individual therapy goals were met,including clinical stabilization in palliative situations, stabilization before liver surgery, exclusion of gallbladder empyema and infection in gallbladder hydrops, and avoidance of gallbladder rupture. The white blood cell counts at the day of punction were significantly reduced one week after the puncture (p=0.023).Conclusions: When selecting an appropriate technique for high-risk patients, clinicians should remember that gallbladder aspiration is a feasible and successful bedside procedure in patients at high surgical risk, which does not require an experienced endoscopist.
Ultrasound guided sciatic nerve blockade – subgluteal and popliteal approaches
Authors: Griseto Laura , Armissoglio Geraldine , Serchan Paschalitsa , Iohom Gabriella
Published: February 2023

Sciatic nerve blocks are commonly performed regional anaesthetic blocks used for lower limb surgery. The two most common sciatic nerve blocks are briefly reviewed in this article, with particular reference to ultrasound guidance.
Comparative biology between a tropical-equatorial and temperate population of Rhipicephalus microplus from Brazil
Authors: Tavares Caio P , Sousa Isabella C , Gomes Matheus N , Mesquita-sousa Dauana , Faccini João L.H. , Reck José , Costa-junior Livio M. , Luz Hermes R.
Published: February 2023

In the present study, we evaluated and compared the in vitro biological parameters of the evolutionary stages of R. microplus (female, eggs, and larva) from two extreme regions of Brazil: Santa Rita (SR) northeast region and Bagé (BG) southern region. For this, all stages were maintained at 23, 27, and 32°C with a relative humidity (RH) of 65, 80, and 100%. The mean incubation period was 43.7 to 53.7 days (SR population) and 59.0 to 56.1 days (BG population) at 23°C and 18.0 to 19.3 days (SR population) and 16.8 to 21.2 days (BG population) at 32°C. Eggs incubated at 23°C (65, 80, and 100% RH) of SR and BG populations showed a similar egg hatching percentage (P > 0.05). The egg hatching percentage of the SR population (30.5 to 98.0%) was always higher than that of the BG population (8.7 to 85.5%; P < 0.05) when incubated at 32°C and 65, 80, or 100% RH. Deleterious effects on the larval survival period from SR and BG were observed under all experimental conditions (temperature and RH), especially at 23 and 32°C. However, they were more intense on larvae at 32°C (all RH). Under 80 and 100% RH, the mean period of larval survival did not exceed 65 days, being shortest for the BG population (mean: 42.7 days [80% RH] and 55.1 days [100% RH]) compared with the SR population.
Across the Pond: An Exploration of the American Collegiate System as a Pathway for Elite British Female Gymnasts
Authors: Franklin George H. , Brown Daniel J. , Vickers Emma , Harrison Grace E.
Published: February 2023

The number of elite athletes from the United Kingdom choosing to migrate to the United States is increasing. Grounded in the push–pull framework, this was the first study to exclusively explore the motivations and experiences of elite British female gymnasts who migrated to American universities and competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with seven former gymnasts and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results document how this pathway provided gymnasts with an opportunity to extend their career in a positive environment, escaping the intense and autocratic culture that dominated gymnastics in Britain. Moreover, this pathway facilitated lasting athletic and personal development including enhanced retirement from the sport. From a practice standpoint, it appears important that gymnasts be educated about the pathways available to them and that British sport organizations be supported in reshaping their environments to create more desirable and sustainable systems.
Student Perceptions of a Framework for Facilitating Transfer from Lessons to Exams, and the Relevance of This Framework to Published Lessons
Authors: Evans Dilan P. , Jenkins Lekelia D. , Crowther Gregory J.
Published: February 2023

A main goal of academic courses is to help students acquire knowledge and skills that they can transfer to multiple contexts. In this article, we (i) examine students’ responses to test question templates (TQTs), a framework intended to facilitate transfer, and (ii) determine whether similar transfer-promoting strategies are commonly embedded in published biology lessons.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Thermophilic Indigenous Bacteria Isolated from Wheat Straw, Thermoclostridium stercorarium subsp. Strain RKWS1 and
Thermoanaerobacter
sp. Strain RKWS2
Authors: Bing Ryan G. , Willard Daniel J. , Manesh Mohamad J. H. , Laemthong Tunyaboon , Crosby James R. , Adams Michael W. W. , Kelly Robert M.
Published: February 2023

Reported here are complete genome sequences for two anaerobic, thermophilic bacteria isolated from wheat straw, i.e., the (hemi)cellulolytic
Thermoclostridium stercorarium
subspecies strain RKWS1 (3,029,933 bp) and the hemicellulolytic
Thermoanaerobacter
species strain RKWS2 (2,827,640 bp). Discovery of indigenous thermophiles in plant biomass suggests that high-temperature microorganisms are more ubiquitous than previously thought.
Cooperative Regulation of Flagellar Synthesis by Two EAL-Like Proteins upon Salmonella Entry into Host Cells
Authors: Yue Yingying , Wang Weiwei , Ma Yue , Song Nannan , Jia Haihong , Li Cuiling , Wang Qi , Li Hui , Li Bingqing
Published: February 2023

Salmonella
infection kills more than 300,000 people every year. After infection,
Salmonella
mainly parasitizes host cells, as it prevents host cell pyroptosis by turning off the synthesis of flagellar antigen.
Deduplication Improves Cost-Efficiency and Yields of
De Novo
Assembly and Binning of Shotgun Metagenomes in Microbiome Research
Authors: Zhang Zhiguo , Zhang Lu , Zhang Guoqing , Zhao Ze , Wang Hui , Ju Feng
Published: February 2023

Duplicated reads in shotgun metagenomes are usually considered technical artifacts. Their presence in metagenomes would theoretically not only introduce bias into the quantitative analysis but also result in mistakes in the coverage profile, leading to adverse effects on or even failures in metagenomic assembly and binning, as the widely used metagenome assemblers and binners all need coverage information for graph partitioning and assembly binning, respectively.
Re-appearance of precipitated aragonite crystal fans as evidence for expansion of oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon reservoir in the aftermath of the Lomagundi-Jatuli Event
Authors: Ouyang Guang , She Zhenbing , Xiao Qian , Qian Kenan , Kenan Zongyuan , Hu Tao , Luo Genming , Papineau Dominic , Li Chao
Published: February 2023

The initial accumulation of atmospheric oxygen is marked by the unprecedented positive δ13Ccarb excursions of the Lomagundi-Jatuli Event (LJE) and records an interval of abnormal O2 production through elevated rates of organic carbon burial. Emerging evidence suggests that the post-LJE atmosphere-ocean system might have suffered a significant deoxygenation. These dynamic perturbations in the oceanic redox state and biogeochemical cycles would have led to fundamental changes in carbonate precipitation dynamics. Here, we report the discovery of centimeter-sized crystal fans in the post-LJE Huaiyincun Formation, Hutuo Supergroup in the North China Craton. The hexagonal cross-sections and square terminations suggest that these fan-like dolomitic structures were originally aragonite crystal fans (ACF). Variations of stromatolite morphology and frequent occurrences of storm-related deposits in the Huaiyincun Formation point to repeated cycles of sea level changes. The bedding-parallel distribution of the ACF and the homogeneous δ13C values of the ACF-bearing dolostones are consistent with a primary depositional origin for the ACF. An updated compilation of published records of ACF throughout geological history highlights a clear absence of ACF from the initiation of the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event until the end of the LJE, and a global reappearance of ACF in the post-LJE late Paleoproterozoic. We propose that the reappearance of ACF is in agreement with the expansion of the oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon reservoir. At the same time, consumption of dissolved oxygen during the oxidation of organic matter might have been stimulated by ferruginous deep seawater, facilitating the formation of Huiayincun ACF.
Disparate crustal thicknesses beneath oceanic transform faults and adjacent fracture zones revealed by gravity anomalies
Authors: Guo Zhikui , Liu Sibiao , Rüpke Lars , Grevemeyer Ingo , Morgan Jason P. , Lange Dietrich , Ren Yu , Tao Chunhui
Published: February 2023

Plate tectonics describes oceanic transform faults as conservative strike-slip boundaries, where lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed. Therefore, seafloor accreted at ridge-transform intersections should follow a similar subsidence trend with age as lithosphere that forms away from ridge-transform intersections. Yet, recent compilations of high-resolution bathymetry show that the seafloor is significantly deeper along transform faults than at the adjacent fracture zones. We present residual mantle Bouguer anomalies, a proxy for crustal thickness, for 11 transform fault systems across the full range of spreading rates. Our results indicate that the crust is thinner in the transform deformation zone than in either the adjacent fracture zones or the inside corner regions. Consequently, oceanic transform faulting appears not only to thin the transform valley crust but also leads to a secondary phase of magmatic addition at the transition to the passive fracture zones. These observations challenge the concept of transform faults being conservative plate boundaries.
Supplemental Material: Holocene to latest Pleistocene incremental slip rates from the east-central Hope fault (Conway segment) at Hossack Station, Marlborough fault system, South Island, New Zealand: Towards a dated path of earthquake slip along a plate boundary fault
Authors: Hatem A.E. , al. et
Published: February 2023

Includes IRSL detailed procedures with figures and a table, line log of trench 3, and an alternative restoration of offset B.
Treatment patterns and outcomes among patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in Europe: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Blackhall Fiona , Girard Nicolas , Livartowski Alain , McDonald Laura , Roset Montserrat , Lara Nuria , Juarez García Ariadna
Published: February 2023

Objective

Describe characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Design

Retrospective chart review study defining several cohorts: (1) limited-stage disease (LD) SCLC initiating 1L therapy (1 L LD-SCLC), (2) extensive-stage disease (ED) SCLC initiating 1L therapy (1L ED-SCLC) and (3) patients initiating 2L therapy.

Setting

39 physicians (medical oncologists, thoracic oncologists and/or pulmonologists) from France, Italy and the UK.

Participants

Patients >18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of LD-SCLC or ED-SCLC and a full oncology medical history. Patients included initiated a 1L (2013–2015) or 2L (2013–2016) treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy—RT).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

231 patients in 1L LD-SCLC, 308 in 1L ED-SCLC and 225 with relapse/refractory SCLC initiating 2L treatment were included. The proportion of men was higher across all groups (56.8% to 68.5%) and mean age at time of diagnosis was 66.0 and 65.4 years in 1L LD-SCLC and 2L ED-SCLC cohorts. The majority of patients in LD-SCLC 1L group received chemotherapy with RT (76.2%). Patients initiating 2L therapy predominantly received chemotherapy alone (79.6%).

Median OS in 1 L patients was 17.3 months in LD-SCLC and 8.8 months in ED-SCLC. Median PFS was 11.6 months in LD-SCLC and 6.1 months in ED-SCLC patients. Median OS in patients initiating 2L treatment was 6.6 months. OS from start of 2L treatment was lower in patients initially diagnosed with ED (5.1 months) than in patients initially diagnosed with LD (9.3 months) (p<0.0001). OS and PFS were assessed from the start of 1L or 2L therapy, depending on the cohort.

Conclusions

Despite the availability of a high number of treatments and combinations, the prognosis of SCLC is still unsatisfactory, especially for those patients diagnosed with ED-SCLC, indicating high unmet need in this patient population.
Investigating mental defeat in individuals with chronic pain: Protocol for a longitudinal experience sampling study
Authors: Gillett Jenna L , Karadag Paige , Themelis Kristy , Li Yu-Mei , Lemola Sakari , Balasubramanian Shyam , Singh Swaran Preet , Tang Nicole K Y
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Previous qualitative and cross-sectional research has identified a strong sense of mental defeat in people with chronic pain who also experience the greatest levels of distress and disability. This study will adopt a longitudinal experience sampling design to examine the within-person link between the sense of mental defeat and distress and disability associated with chronic pain.

Methods and analysis

We aim to recruit 198 participants (aged 18–65 years) with chronic pain, to complete two waves of experience sampling over 1 week, 6 months apart (time 1 and time 2). During each wave of experience sampling, the participants are asked to complete three short online surveys per day, to provide in-the-moment ratings of mental defeat, pain, medication usage, physical and social activity, stress, mood, self-compassion, and attention using visual analogue scales. Sleep and physical activity will be measured using a daily diary as well as with wrist actigraphy worn continuously by participants throughout each wave. Linear mixed models and Gaussian graphical models will be fit to the data to: (1) examine the within-person, day-to-day association of mental defeat with outcomes (ie, pain, physical/social activity, medication use and sleep), (2) examine the dynamic temporal and contemporaneous networks of mental defeat with all outcomes and the hypothesised mechanisms of outcomes (ie, perceived stress, mood, attention and self-compassion).

Ethics and dissemination

The current protocol has been approved by the Health Research Authority and West Midlands—Solihull Research Ethics Committee (Reference Number: 17/WM0053). The study is being conducted in adherence with the Declaration of Helsinki, Warwick Standard Operating Procedures and applicable UK legislation.
Accuracy of efficient data methods to determine the incidence of hospital-acquired thrombosis and major bleeding in medical and surgical inpatients: a multicentre observational cohort study in four UK hospitals
Authors: Horner Daniel , Rex Saleema , Reynard Charles , Bursnall Matthew , Bradburn Mike , de Wit Kerstin , Goodacre Steve , Hunt Beverley J
Published: February 2023

Objectives

We evaluated the accuracy of using routine health service data to identify hospital-acquired thrombosis (HAT) and major bleeding events (MBE) compared with a reference standard of case note review.

Design

A multicentre observational cohort study.

Setting

Four acute hospitals in the UK.

Participants

A consecutive unselective cohort of general medical and surgical patients requiring hospitalisation for a period of >24 hours during the calendar year 2021. We excluded paediatric, obstetric and critical care patients due to differential risk profiles.

Interventions

We compared preidentified sources of routinely collected information (using hospital coding data and local contractually mandated thrombosis datasets) to data extracted from case notes using a predesigned workflow methodology.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We defined HAT as objectively confirmed venous thromboembolism occurring during hospital stay or within 90 days of discharge and MBE as per international consensus.

Results

We were able to source all necessary routinely collected outcome data for 87% of 2008 case episodes reviewed. The sensitivity of hospital coding data (International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, ICD-10) for the diagnosis of HAT and MBE was 62% (95% CI, 54 to 69) and 38% (95% CI, 27 to 50), respectively. Sensitivity improved to 81% (95% CI, 75 to 87) when using local thrombosis data sets.

Conclusions

Using routinely collected data appeared to miss a substantial proportion of outcome events, when compared with case note review. Our study suggests that currently available routine data collection methods in the UK are inadequate to support efficient study designs in venous thromboembolism research.

Trial registration number

NIHR127454.
Comparative effectiveness of playing golf to Nordic walking and walking on acute physiological effects on cardiometabolic markers in healthy older adults: a randomised cross-over study
Authors: Kettinen Julia , Tikkanen Heikki , Venojärvi Mika
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The acute effects of aerobic exercise on cardiometabolic markers are well documented in younger healthy individuals, but the same effects in older adults have not been elucidated. As such, this study compares the acute effects of three different types of age-appropriate aerobic exercises on cardiometabolic markers.

Methods

Healthy older golfers (n=25, 16 male and 9 female, 68±4 years) were enrolled in a randomised cross-over experiment. We compared the effects of three different acute aerobic exercises (18-hole golf, 6 km Nordic walk, 6 km walk) on blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipid profile in a real-life environment.

Results

In the between-group comparison, playing golf resulted in a difference in blood glucose (golf: 0.01±1.0 mmol/L, walk: 1.3±0.9 mmol/L, p<0.001) compared with walking and triglycerides (golf: 0.13±0.2 mmol/L, Nordic walk: 0.31±0.2 mmol/L, walk: 0.23±0.2 mmol, p=0.012) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (golf: 0.04±0.06 mmol/L, Nordic walk: −0.02±0.06 mmol/L, walk: −0.02±0.07 mmol/L, p=0.002) compared with Nordic walking and walking. In addition, all groups had significant decreases (p<0.001) in systolic blood pressure, and Nordic walking and walking also demonstrated a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Acute bouts of aerobic exercise improved cardiovascular profile in healthy older adults. Despite the lower exercise intensity of golf, the longer duration and higher energy expenditure appeared to have a more positive effect on lipid profile and glucose metabolism compared with Nordic walking and walking.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN10007294.
A multi-component model for expansive soils with different mineral compositions
Authors: Du Jiapei , Zhou Annan , Lin Xiaoshan , Robert Dilan J. , Giustozzi Filippo
Published: February 2023

The accurate prediction of swelling deformation and(or) swelling pressure if confined for expansive soils is essential for a better design and construction of a geotechnical structure that is built on or in an expansive soil. In this paper, we proposed a new method to quantify the swelling strain and(or) swelling pressure of expansive soils by considering the mineralogical components and their different swelling properties. The proposed multi-component model employs a tandem combination of different sub-molecular oedometers for different minerals, and the total swelling strain of soil was calculated by integrating the swelling strain of each mineral. A linear relationship between potential energy and swelling strain is identified based on molecular dynamics’ simulation, which is then incorporated into the diffuse double-layer theory to calculate the relationship between confining pressure and swelling strain for each mineral. The numerical model was then validated by experimental results from the literature, which shows a good agreement with the experimental data in the literature. This model provides a cost-effective way to estimate the swelling behavior of expansive soil.
Cratonal tidal deposits of the Paleoproterozoic Mesnard Quartzite, Lake Superior region: interpretation challenges
Authors: Larue David K.
Published: February 2023

The Mesnard Quartzite of Paleoproterozoic age is believed to represent among the first preserved cratonal continental rocks in the Lake Superior region, was deposited above Archean basement in the Marquette structural trough and is estimated to contain more than 99% sandstone (now quartzite) beds. The Mesnard Quartzite is interpreted to have been deposited largely by tidal currents. Evidence of tidal current deposition includes lack of wave-influenced structures such as hummocky cross-beds, and presence of strongly unidirectional paleocurrents from cross-beds, mud-drapes on cross-bed foresets, evidence of current reversal including herringbone cross-bedding and sigmoidal cross-bedding. Sandstone bedding types include homogeneous or structureless beds, parallel-laminated beds, cross-beds, and symmetric ripple marks. Unidirectional paleocurrents from cross-beds are largely subparallel to the axis of the Marquette structural trough, leading to the interpretation that the trough was subsiding during deposition. Cross-bed set thickness and symmetric ripple marks both support the interpretation of shallow water marine deposition, likely only a few meters. Although the Mesnard Quartzite is on the order of 110 m thick, there is no evidence of internal sequence boundaries or flooding surfaces, and low accommodation during deposition is inferred. The climate during deposition is interpreted to be humid, and tropical to subtropical based on the quartz arenite composition. Deposition likely occurred in a failed rift basin or in an intracratonic extensional basin.
Instream complexity increases habitat quality and growth for cutthroat trout in headwater streams
Authors: Hallbert Tyson B. , Keeley Ernest R.
Published: February 2023

The extent and availability of suitable habitat is a fundamental factor limiting the abundance of natural populations. In many stream ecosystems, habitat degradation has reduced habitat quality by removing critical habitat features such as pools. We hypothesized that adding pool habitat to streams would increase habitat quality for salmonid fish and improve population productivity. In this study, we used instream structures to add pool habitat to four headwater streams and estimated changes to habitat quality for cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii) across two seasons using a bioenergetic model. Fish populations were monitored over 5 years to evaluate how treatments influenced fish abundance and growth. We found that the proportion of suitable habitat was higher in treatment sections and in artificially created pool habitats. Abundance of young-of-the-year trout was higher in treatment reaches in comparison to controls and the growth of trout across all size classes sampled was higher in treatment reaches. Our results indicate that increasing pool habitat improves habitat quality resulting in increased densities of cutthroat trout and higher fish growth.
The Swiss Light Source and SwissFEL at the Paul Scherrer Institute
Authors: Nolting Frithjof , Bostedt Christoph , Schietinger Thomas , Braun Hans
Published: February 2023

At the Paul Scherrer Institute, two electron accelerator-based photon sources are in operation, namely a synchrotron source, the swiss light source (SLS), and an X-ray free-electron laser, SwissFEL. SLS has been operational since 2001 and SwissFEL since 2017. In this time, unique and world-leading scientific programs and methods have developed from the SLS and the SwissFEL in fields as diverse as macromolecular biology, chemical and physical sciences, imaging, and the electronic structure and behaviour of novel and complex materials. To continue the success, a major upgrade of SLS, the SLS2.0 project, is ongoing and at SwissFEL further endstations are under construction.
Total Factor Productivity Growth in the Philippines: 1960−2000
Authors: Cororaton Caesar B.
Published: February 2023

Average total factor productivity growth (TFPG) for the Philippine economy is negative, indicating that it has not been the source of growth in the Philippines. However, TFPG estimates showed an increasing trend in the 1990s when major economic reforms were implemented. The educational level of the labor force has improved consistently since the 1960s. However, based on the decomposition analysis the paper finds that its contribution to TFPG has declined.
AFS-BERT: Information entropy-based adaptive fusion sampling and Bert embedding model for link prediction
Authors: Zhang Lei , Pan Jiaxing , Ma Xiaoxuan , Yang Chengwei
Published: February 2023

Link prediction is an important problem in complex network analysis, which can discover missing or possible future edges in the network. In recent years, link prediction methods based on network representation learning have made progress. But there are two problems with these methods. One is that neighborhood-based node sampling methods cannot handle the situation between two nodes that do not have any common neighbors. The other is the Skip-Gram-based embedding model that represents nodes as static vectors, which cannot reflect the various meanings of nodes. To overcome these two limitations, this paper proposes a method called AFS-BERT (Information entropy based Adaptive Fusion Sampling and BERT embedding model). First, this method defines a centrality score based on adjacency information entropy, which reflects the global and local importance of nodes. Second, we propose a sampling method that adaptively fuses two different strategies using the centrality score. Finally, the BERT-based embedding model is used to realize the low-dimensional dynamic vector representation of nodes. Experimental result on six real-world network datasets shows that AFS-BERT has better performance. Compared with methods of the same type, AFS-BERT achieves upto 6.7% improvement.
Investigation on thermal effect of bulk high-temperature superconductors under varying external magnetic field
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , He Jinfei , Chen Tiantian , Wang Jiayi
Published: February 2023

Superconducting bulks applied to high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev vehicles are susceptible to magnetic field, resulting in alternating current (AC) losses and heat generation, which affect the stability of the suspension system. Therefore, the thermal effect of superconducting bulk under external magnetic field is worth studying. The paper uses finite element software to establish a 2D electromagnetic-thermal coupling model. The distribution and variation of HTS bulks’ temperature under varying external magnetic field are simulated and analyzed, and the loss and temperature rise of rectangular bulks with different thicknesses are studied. Finally, the effect of increasing the critical current density on the thermal effect of the superconducting bulk is discussed. The results show that the temperature rise of bulk has a positive correlation with the amplitude and frequency of external magnetic field. The maximum temperature is affected by the angle of magnetic field. Under the same external magnetic field, the bulk with smaller thickness produces smaller loss and temperature rise. The research results can provide important references for the operation and furniture design of HTS maglev vehicles.