bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical note: Temperature and concentration dependence of water diffusion in polyvinylpyrrolidone solutions
Authors: Amouzandeh Ghoncheh , Chenevert Thomas L. , Swanson Scott D. , Ross Brian D. , Malyarenko Dariya I.
Published: February 2022

Objective

The goal of this work is to provide temperature and concentration calibration of water diffusivity in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solutions used in phantoms to assess system bias and linearity in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements.

Method

ADC measurements were performed for 40 kDa (K40) PVP of six concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by weight) at three temperatures (19.5°C, 22.5°C, and 26.4°C), with internal phantom temperature monitored by optical thermometer (±0.2°C). To achieve ADC measurement and fit accuracy of better than 0.5%, three orthogonal diffusion gradients were calibrated using known water diffusivity at 0°C and system gradient nonlinearity maps. Noise‐floor fit bias was also controlled by limiting the maximum b‐value used for ADC calculation of each sample. The ADC temperature dependence was modeled by Arrhenius functions of each PVP concentration. The concentration dependence was modeled by quadratic function for ADC normalized by the theoretical water diffusion values. Calibration coefficients were obtained from linear regression model fits.

Results

Measured phantom ADC values increased with temperature and decreasing PVP concentration, [PVP]. The derived Arrhenius model parameters for [PVP] between 0% and 50%, are reported and can be used for K40 ADC temperature calibration with absolute ADC error within ±0.016 μm2/ms. Arrhenius model fit parameters normalized to water value scaled with [PVP] between 10% and 40%, and proportional change in activation energy increased faster than collision frequency. ADC normalization by water diffusivity, DW, from the Speedy–Angell relation accounted for the bulk of temperature dependence (±0.035 μm2/ms) and yielded quadratic calibration for ADCPVP/DW = (12.5 ± 0.7) ·10−5·[PVP]2 − (23.2 ± 0.3)·10−3·[PVP]+1, nearly independent of PVP molecular weight and temperature.

Conclusion

The study provides ground‐truth ADC values for K40 PVP solutions commonly used in diffusion phantoms for scanning at ambient room temperature. The described procedures and the reported calibration can be used for quality control and standardization of measured ADC values of PVP at different concentrations and temperatures.
Upper bound limit analysis of roof collapse of deep cavities in unsaturated soils
Authors: Zhao Yanru , Li Xiaojiao , Tai Pei , Huang Liping , Pu Bo , Chen Rui
Published: February 2022

The roof collapse of deep cavities has been investigated only under fully dry or saturated conditions. However, natural soils are largely unsaturated, and consequently, their mechanical behavior is significantly different owing to the presence of matric suction. In this study, a novel analytical solution for the roof collapse of deep cavities in unsaturated soils is developed based on the upper bound theorem and the nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb criterion, and the width of a cavity with an arbitrary shape at collapse is derived. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of water retention properties, effective cohesion, friction angle, supporting pressure, and nonlinear coefficient on the safety factors of rectangular deep cavities. It is found that matric suction and soil type have significant influences on the stability of deep cavities. There is a peak for the safety factors of deep cavities as the matric suction increases when the water‐holding capacity of the soil is low. This novel analytical solution provides a new insight into the stability of deep cavities in unsaturated soils.
Modeling suffusion of ideally gap‐graded soil
Authors: Tangjarusritaratorn Tanawat , Miyazaki Yuusuke , Kikumoto Mamoru , Kishida Kiyoshi
Published: February 2022

A novel framework for describing suffusion in cohesionless soil, incorporating ideally gap‐graded soil, is presented in this paper. The key assumption of the proposed simulation is that an erodible particle flow is induced primarily by drag force. The multiphase flow simulation for seepage‐soil particle flow phenomena is conducted based on the proposed framework. The validity of the proposed method is checked through a simulation of past laboratory experiments, in which the variation in grain size distributions is grasped by a sieve analysis. The primary results show cumulative fines loss; therefore, a comparison of the cumulative fines loss is mainly discussed in this research. In addition, a discussion is given on the two different parameters affecting the erosion behavior, namely the in the tortuosity function, , and the clogging relaxation time, . The tortuosity is the ratio of the actual flow path and the distance between its ends, while clogging relaxation time is the parameter that considers the particle flow through the bottleneck. The results show that the numerical simulation provides a good correlation with the experiment, while the is 3 which is the highest value for a geo‐material. Moreover, the simulation results of the cumulative fines loss for each particle size also confirm that smaller particles will be fully eroded earlier than larger ones, and that larger particles will slowly become detached from the soil mass.
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Parental counselling and support needs
Authors: Crombag Neeltje , Ceulemans Vanessa , Debeer Anne , Russo Francesca , Bollen Bieke , Power Beverley , Meijer Frank , Henrotte Nancy , Depré Kathleen , Laurent Josefien , Deprest Jan
Published: February 2022

Objective

To define the dimensions of patient‐centeredness of prenatal care for parents who had a fetus with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) by exploring their values, experiences, needs and preferences.

Methods

In‐depth interviews with parents who were faced with the prenatal diagnosis of isolated CDH.

Results

Interviews (n = 18) identified seven dimensions of patient‐centeredness. Parental preferences are respected by unconditional acceptance of parental choices and needs. After diagnosis access to care should occur by swift referral to a specialised centre to prevent parents receiving contradictory information. Information and education help parents to gain some sense of control and cope with the many uncertainties. A multidisciplinary team with a coordinating professional is perceived supportive (coordination and integration), and seamless referral between local and treatment centres reduces parental distress (continuity and transition). Family‐centred emotional support helps parents to cope with emotions and distress. Informal support by involvement of family and friends and trusted peer‐support is of added value.

Conclusion

The impact of the uncertainty of outcome in this condition is tremendous and needs to be considered when providing prenatal care. After initial diagnosis, one should avoid speculation about the severity of the condition and outcome, and provide swift referral to a specialist centre expert in managing CDH. Provision of realistic and comprehensive information helps parents cope. Multidisciplinary and continuous support throughout the full trajectory, but also integrated psychosocial support should become standard‐of‐care.
Database search engines and target database features impinge upon the identification of post‐translationally cis‐spliced peptides in HLA class I immunopeptidomes
Authors: Mishto Michele , Horokhovskyi Yehor , Cormican John A. , Yang Xiaoping , Lynham Steven , Urlaub Henning , Liepe Juliane
Published: February 2022

Unconventional epitopes presented by HLA class I complexes are emerging targets for T cell targeted immunotherapies. Their identification by mass spectrometry (MS) required development of novel methods to cope with the large number of theoretical candidates. Methods to identify post‐translationally spliced peptides led to a broad range of outcomes. We here investigated the impact of three common database search engines – that is, Mascot, Mascot+Percolator, and PEAKS DB – as final identification step, as well as the features of target database on the ability to correctly identify non‐spliced and cis‐spliced peptides. We used ground truth datasets measured by MS to benchmark methods’ performance and extended the analysis to HLA class I immunopeptidomes. PEAKS DB showed better precision and recall of cis‐spliced peptides and larger number of identified peptides in HLA class I immunopeptidomes than the other search engine strategies. The better performance of PEAKS DB appears to result from better discrimination between target and decoy hits and hence a more robust FDR estimation, and seems independent to peptide and spectrum features here investigated.
Excellent Microwave Absorbing Properties of Nd3+‐Doped Ni–Zn Ferrite/PANI Nanocomposite for Ku Band
Authors: Kambale Ravindra N. , Sagar Krishnakumar M. , Patange Sunil M. , Shirsath Sagar E. , Suresh K. G. , Bambole Vaishali A.
Published: February 2022

Nd3+‐substituted Ni–Zn ferrite nanoparticles are synthesized by the sol–gel autocombustion technique, and their nanocomposite with polyaniline (PANI) is prepared by in situ polymerization. X‐ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of single‐phase cubic spinel structure of the prepared ferrite samples. The crystallite size of the synthesized ferrite nanoparticles is found to be in the range of 16−52 nm. The saturation magnetization is observed to decrease due to nonmagnetic polyaniline coating on ferrite nanoparticles. The microwave absorbing properties of ferrite nanoparticles and ferrite/polyaniline nanocomposite are investigated using vector network analyzer in the frequency range of 2−18 GHz for different sample thickness. The minimum value of reflection loss is found to be −6.0 dB at a frequency of 13.20 GHz for Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe1.9Nd0.1O4 ferrite nanoparticles of thickness 2.0 mm, and −53.72 dB at a frequency of 14.48 GHz for Ni0.5 Zn0.5Fe1.9Nd0.1O4/PANI nanocomposite of sample thickness 1.7 mm. The prepared nanocomposite absorbs 99.99% of the incident microwave at a frequency of 14.48 GHz. The microwave absorbing properties improve with a shift of absorption frequency toward higher level for the nanocomposite sample.
Synthesis and Acid Catalytic Activity of Al‐Doped Spiky‐Shaped Niobium Pentoxide
Authors: Fuchigami Teruaki , Oyamada Yusuke , Haneda Masaaki , Nakamura Shuichi , Kakimoto Ken-ichi
Published: February 2022

Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) is a promising heterogeneous acid catalyst because of its water‐tolerant acidity. However, the reactivity of Nb2O5 is limited to the surface of a bulk material; thus, its catalytic activity is generally lower than homogeneous catalysts. Nano‐sized Nb2O5 shows superior activity but has low stability and recoverability. We develop spiky‐shaped Nb2O5 composed of radially grown nanorods, which show high stability but low acidity. In this study, an Al‐doping method and the doping effect on the acidity and nanostructure of the spiky‐shaped Nb2O5 are demonstrated. Al of 1–6 mol% is doped in Nb2O5 while maintaining the spiky nanostructure using an Nb–Al composite oxalate as a precursor. Scanning transmission electron microscope analysis results show that the doped Al ions are homogeneously dispersed in the structure. Al doping increases the catalytic activity, where 4 mol% Al‐doped Nb2O5 shows the highest production rate of 2‐phenyl‐2‐phenylaminoacetonitrile in a Strecker reaction. From the acid analysis and Raman spectroscopy, it can be concluded that the Al doping is effective in adjusting acidity and in enhancement of catalytic activity due to creation of NbO4 and distorted NbO6. These are produced by defect formation and lattice distortion caused by differences in valence and ionic radius between Al and Nb.
Toxicity of antimony in 18 soils of China evaluated by soil dehydrogenase activity
Authors: Ma Xing , Tian Haixia , Liao Maoyuan , Huang Yi , Yang Rui , Guo Zhaohui , Megharaj Mallavarapu , He Wenxiang
Published: February 2022

Antimony (Sb) contamination has attracted global attention due to the elevated Sb entering the environment and threatening human health. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) has been used as a sensitive bioindicator to assess Sb toxicity. However, only total Sb content and a few types of soils were used so far, which ignored the effect of Sb adsorption characteristics and soil heterogeneity in the Sb toxicity assessment. This study used 18 soil samples varying in their properties to explore the Sb adsorption behavior and the subsequent effects on Sb toxicity using DHA as an indicator. The adsorption isotherm parameters of Sb in 18 soils showed that acidic and neutral soils favored Sb adsorption (na > 2) over alkaline soils (1 < na < 2), and the adsorption process tended to be irreversible (RL close to 0). The solid binding force (kL) of Sb to alkaline soils is less than that of acidic and neutral soils; therefore, alkaline soils pose a higher risk of secondary pollution. Variation partitioning analysis showed that water‐soluble Sb was the predominant factor responsible for the observed decrease in DHA. Ecological doses (ED10) based on water‐soluble Sb fluctuated from 3.4 to 360 mg kg−1 in soils. Soil properties, such as pH, total phosphorus, amorphous Fe, and clay content, played a crucial role in Sb toxicity to DHA. This study highlighted the importance of water‐soluble Sb while evaluating the Sb toxicity in soils. Thus, the study is useful in risk assessment and remediation of Sb‐contaminated soils.
Structure and Functional Properties of Purple Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) Starch from China
Authors: Lu Kui , Liu Xia , Yu Jinglin , Wang Shujun
Published: February 2022

Structural and functional properties of starch from purple yam (Dioscorea alata L.) is investigated, and starches from other three yam varieties grown in China are used for comparison. The yam starches show a variety of shapes from oval to elongated or irregular. The amylose content of four yam starches is in the range of 28.3–37.9%. The D. alata L. starch exhibits a typical B‐type X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a higher relative crystallinity compared with other three yam starches, which show a C‐type XRD pattern. The D. alata L. starch has the higher proportion (20.6%) of long branch chain (Degree of polymerization (DP) ≥ 37) and the lower proportion (11.8%) of short branch chains (DP 6–12), which accounts for its higher thermal stability and lower in vitro enzymatic digestibility. This study provides useful information on the properties of purple yam starch, which would be of use for their application in preparation of foods with low enzymatic digestion.
Steroidal alkaloid biosynthesis is coordinately regulated and differs among tomatoes in the red‐fruited clade
Authors: Dzakovich Michael P. , Francis David M. , Cooperstone Jessica L.
Published: February 2022

The tomato (Solanum spp.) clade of Solanaceae features a unique assortment of cholesterol‐derived steroidal alkaloids. However, little quantitative data exists reporting the profile and concentration of these alkaloids across diverse fruit germplasm. To address the lack of knowledge regarding the chemical diversity, concentration, and genetic architecture controlling tomato steroidal alkaloids, we quantitatively profiled and genotyped two tomato populations representing diversity in the red‐fruited clade. We grew 107 genetically diverse fresh market, processing, landrace, and wild tomato in multiple environments. Nine steroidal alkaloid groups were quantified using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The diversity panel and a biparental population segregating for high alpha‐tomatine were genotyped to identify and validate quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with steroidal alkaloids. Landraces and wild material exhibited higher alkaloid concentrations and more chemical diversity. Average total content of steroidal alkaloids, often dominated by lycoperoside F/G/esculeoside A, ranged from 1.9 to 23.3 mg 100 g−1 fresh wt. across accessions. Landrace and wild cherry accessions distinctly clustered based on elevated concentrations of early or late‐pathway steroidal alkaloids. Significant correlations were observed among alkaloids from the early and late parts of the biosynthetic pathway in a species‐dependent manner. A QTL controlling multiple, early steroidal alkaloid pathway intermediates on chromosome 3 was identified by genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) and validated in a backcross population. Overall, tomato steroidal alkaloids are diverse in the red‐fruited clade and their biosynthesis is regulated in a coordinated manner.
Treatment of livestock slaughterhouse wastewater by the electrochemical method using stainless steel and copper electrodes
Authors: Mkilima Timoth
Published: February 2022

Electrochemical methods provide one of the most effective approaches for wastewater treatment. However, the performance of these systems is highly dependent on the type of wastewater to be treated and the electrode material used (including some relatively cheap and readily available materials such as stainless‐steel and copper). Unfortunately, the applicability of stainless steel as anode and copper as cathode electrodes materials for the purification of livestock slaughterhouse wastewater has not been captured in the previous studies. This study investigated the potential of combining stainless steel (anode) and copper (cathode) as electrode materials for the purification of livestock wastewater. The influence of contact time (20, 40, and 60 min) on the pollutants’ removal efficiency was also investigated. From the analysis results, it was observed that the contact time and type of pollutant to be removed had a significant influence on the removal efficiency of the electrochemical treatment system. The highest removal efficiency was achieved from the combination of TSS and 60‐min contact time, with 92% removal efficiency. While the lowest removal efficiencies was observed from the combination of phosphates, nickel, aluminum, and ammonia and 10 min contact time; with removal efficiencies of 22.6%, 23.4%, 34.3%, and 34.3%, respectively. However, in terms of general removal efficiency (after 60 min of the contact time), the lowest removal efficiency was observed from ammonia with a removal efficiency of 62.2% . The treatment system also achieved high removal efficiencies for some other parameters such as Turbidity, Color, TSS, COD, BOD, and TOC ranging from 85.5% to 89.2% after 60 min of the contact time.
Educational Performance in Swedish Schools—What Are the Facts?
Authors: Henrekson Magnus , Wennström Johan
Published: February 2022

In the 2000s, Swedish elementary and secondary school students’ scores in international assessments began to fall, which suggests both a long-term and substantial weakening of the Swedish school system. The chapter provides a detailed presentation of what is known about the performance of Swedish students before the first TIMSS assessment in 1995 and the subsequent decline in international tests. It shows that the downward trend in attainment is a result of deteriorating scores across the board, from the highest-performing students to those who obtain the lowest scores. Moreover, the chapter suggests that the decline in knowledge among Swedish students is likely to have strong effects on future economic growth. A rough calculation based on updated cross-country estimates suggests that the Swedish growth rate per capita may fall by 0.4–0.5 percentage points.
The Malaise in the School System
Authors: Henrekson Magnus , Wennström Johan
Published: February 2022

A significant drop in students’ knowledge and skills is not the only problem facing Sweden’s schools. The chapter discusses the emergence of a systemic malaise that includes grade inflation, increasing gender differences in performance, and declining civic mindedness. Moreover, the work environment is marred by rising levels of bullying, unacceptable levels of rule-breaking, truancy, and a high incidence of mental health problems. The chapter also discusses the deterioration of working conditions for teachers and the flight from the teaching profession. Teachers self-report that their professional status is low in society, teacher-training programs do not attract top-level students, roughly half of the students in those programs drop out, and a substantial share of those who graduate leave the profession after a couple of years. The wholesale introduction of NPM methods has robbed teachers of the professional autonomy that used to be a key element of the profession’s attractiveness.
Two Views of Knowledge and Teaching
Authors: Henrekson Magnus , Wennström Johan
Published: February 2022

The chapter outlines two conflicting visions of knowledge: the classical view and the postmodern social constructivist view. According to the classical view, the purpose of schooling is to give students the kind of valuable knowledge and skills, including relevant knowledge of the wider culture in which they are expected to spend their lives as adults, that they cannot acquire in any other way. On the other hand, the postmodern social constructivist view rejects the existence of objective knowledge. In the context of schooling, this translates to a preference for student-directed pedagogy, the mixing of subjects, and an emphasis on developing generic critical thinking rather than on acquiring domain-specific knowledge. The chapter argues that the classical view is consistent with both modern scientific research and received wisdom. Moreover, it suggests that the stipulated view of knowledge is the single most important institution for the functioning and development of any school system.
Arithmetic of hyperelliptic curves over local fields
Authors: Dokchitser Tim , Dokchitser Vladimir , Maistret Céline , Morgan Adam
Published: February 2022

We study hyperelliptic curves$$y^2 = f(x)$$y2=f(x)over local fields of odd residue characteristic. We introduce the notion of a “cluster picture” associated to the curve, that describes thep-adic distances between the roots off(x), and show that this elementary combinatorial object encodes the curve’s Galois representation, conductor, whether the curve is semistable, and if so, the special fibre of its minimal regular model, the discriminant of its minimal Weierstrass equation and other invariants.
Pharmacokinetic and subjective assessment of prototype JUUL2 electronic nicotine delivery system in two nicotine concentrations, JUUL system, IQOS, and combustible cigarette
Authors: Goldenson Nicholas I. , Augustson Erik M. , Chen Joey , Shiffman Saul
Published: February 2022

Rationale

Electronic nicotine delivery systems and heated tobacco products are noncombustible alternatives for adult smokers. Evidence suggests sufficient nicotine delivery and satisfying effects are necessary to facilitate switching away from smoking; nicotine delivery varies across electronic nicotine delivery systems within limited nicotine concentrations.

Objectives

To assess the nicotine delivery and subjective effects of prototype JUUL2 System in two nicotine concentrations, currently-marketed US JUUL System (“JUUL”), IQOS-brand heated tobacco product, and combustible cigarettes.

Methods

Adult smokers (N = 40) completed a 5-arm cross-over product-use laboratory confinement study. Nicotine pharmacokinetics and subjective effects were assessed following use of: (1) JUUL2 prototype 18 mg/mL nicotine; (2) JUUL2 prototype 40 mg/mL; (3) JUUL 59 mg/mL; (4) IQOS 18 mg/g; and (5) usual brand combustible cigarette, each evaluated during ad libitum (10 min) and controlled (5 min, 10 standardized puffs) use.

Results

Nicotine delivery was greatest for combustible cigarettes, followed by JUUL2 prototype 40 mg/mL, IQOS, JUUL2 prototype 18 mg/mL, and JUUL 59 mg/mL. Nicotine delivery from JUUL2 prototype 18 mg/mL was significantly greater than JUUL 59 mg/mL after ad libitum use. JUUL products were significantly more satisfying and effective at reducing craving than IQOS. JUUL2 prototype 40 mg/mL was significantly more aversive than other JUUL products.

Conclusions

Prototype JUUL2 and JUUL 59 mg/mL products were rated higher than IQOS on subjective measures associated with switching away from smoking. The JUUL2 prototype 40 mg/mL produced aversive responses and would require modifications to be a viable product for adult smokers. Nicotine delivery and subjective responses to JUUL2 prototype 18 mg/mL suggest a product based on this prototype may facilitate increased switching among adult smokers.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in pediatric neck infections—a comparison with adult patients
Authors: Nurminen Janne , Heikkinen Jaakko , Happonen Tatu , Velhonoja Jarno , Irjala Heikki , Soukka Tero , Ivaska Lauri , Mattila Kimmo , Hirvonen Jussi
Published: February 2022

Background

Differences in the functioning of the immune system and the anatomical proportions of the neck between children and adults lead to different manifestations of deep neck infections. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may serve as an alternative to computed tomography (CT) as the primary imaging modality.

Objective

To study characteristic MRI findings and the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in pediatric deep neck infections.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively studied a cohort of pediatric patients who underwent a neck 3-tesla MRI study over a five-year period. Inclusion criteria were: 1) emergency MRI findings indicating an infection, 2) infection as the final clinical diagnosis, 3) diagnostic image quality verified by the radiologist reading the study and 4) age under 18 years. Patient record data, including surgery reports, were compared with the MRI findings.

Results

Data of 45 children were included and analysed. Compared to adults, children had a higher incidence of retropharyngeal infection and lymphadenitis, and a lower incidence of peritonsillar/parapharyngeal infection. MRI showed evidence of an abscess in 34 children. Of these 34 patients, 24 underwent surgery, which confirmed an abscess in 21 but no abscess in three patients. In addition, three patients underwent surgery without MRI evidence of abscess, and an abscess was found in one of these cases. The measures of diagnostic accuracy among the children were sensitivity 0.96, specificity 0.77, positive predictive value 0.89, negative predictive value 0.91 and accuracy 0.89. Compared with adults, children had lower C-reactive protein, but a similar proportion of them had an abscess, and abscess size and rate of surgery were similar.

Conclusion

Despite the differences in the infection foci, emergency MRI in children had equal diagnostic accuracy to that in adults.
Non-rigid motion-corrected free-breathing 3D myocardial Dixon LGE imaging in a clinical setting
Authors: Zeilinger Martin Georg , Kunze Karl-Philipp , Munoz Camila , Neji Radhouene , Schmidt Michaela , Croisille Pierre , Heiss Rafael , Wuest Wolfgang , Uder Michael , Botnar René Michael , Treutlein Christoph , Prieto Claudia
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of an in-line non-rigid motion-compensated reconstruction (NRC) in an image-navigated high-resolution three-dimensional late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequence with Dixon water–fat separation, in a clinical setting.

Methods

Forty-seven consecutive patients were enrolled prospectively and examined with 1.5 T MRI. NRC reconstructions were compared to translational motion-compensated reconstructions (TC) of the same datasets in overall and different sub-category image quality scores, diagnostic confidence, contrast ratios, LGE pattern, and semiautomatic LGE quantification.

Results

NRC outperformed TC in all image quality scores (p < 0.001 to 0.016; e.g., overall image quality 5/5 points vs. 4/5). Overall image quality was downgraded in only 23% of NRC datasets vs. 53% of TC datasets due to residual respiratory motion. In both reconstructions, LGE was rated as ischemic in 11 patients and non-ischemic in 10 patients, while it was absent in 26 patients. NRC delivered significantly higher LGE-to-myocardium and blood-to-myocardium contrast ratios (median 6.33 vs. 5.96, p < 0.001 and 4.88 vs. 4.66, p < 0.001, respectively). Automatically detected LGE mass was significantly lower in the NRC reconstruction (p < 0.001). Diagnostic confidence was identical in all cases, with high confidence in 89% and probable in 11% datasets for both reconstructions. No case was rated as inconclusive.

Conclusions

The in-line implementation of a non-rigid motion-compensated reconstruction framework improved image quality in image-navigated free-breathing, isotropic high-resolution 3D LGE imaging with undersampled spiral-like Cartesian sampling and Dixon water–fat separation compared to translational motion correction of the same datasets. The sharper depictions of LGE may lead to more accurate measures of LGE mass.

Key Points

• 3D LGE imaging provides high-resolution detection of myocardial scarring.

• Non-rigid motion correction provides better image quality in cardiac MRI.

• Non-rigid motion correction may lead to more accurate measures of LGE mass.
Ocular phenotype and electroretinogram abnormalities in Lafora disease and correlation with disease stage
Authors: Orsini Alessandro , Ferrari Daniele , Riva Antonella , Santangelo Andrea , Macrì Angelo , Freri Elena , Canafoglia Laura , D’Aniello Alfredo , Di Gennaro Giancarlo , Massimetti Gabriele , Minetti Carlo , Zara Federico , Michelucci Roberto , Tumber Anupreet , Vincent Ajoy , Minassian Berge Arakel , Striano Pasquale
Published: February 2022

Background

Lafora disease (LD) is a neurodegenerative disorder featuring action and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus, epilepsy, and cognitive deterioration. Mutations in the EPM2A/EPM2B genes classically prove causative for the disease in most cases. Since full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) may reveal early-stage changes in a wide spectrum of diseases, we aimed to evaluate retinal cones and rods dysfunction in a cohort of Italian LD patients.

Methods

Patients with genetically confirmed LD were recruited and subjected to ffERG analysis following the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) protocol.

Results

Six patients aged between 13 and 26 years (mean 19.5 years) were included. The mean age at disease onset was 12.5 years with a mean disease duration of 7 years. The ffERG analysis revealed a global mild to severe generalized cones dysfunction in all patients. Linear correlation was identified between disease stage and the degree of cones and rods dysfunction, as well as between the type of mutation and the cones and rods dysfunction.

Conclusions

This study brings further evidence of early retinal alterations in LD patients. The cones and rods dysfunction grade is related to disease duration. The ffERG is an important tool to determine the disease stage, allowing to evaluate either natural or treatment-related disease progression in a minimally invasive way.
From words to phrases: neural basis of social event semantic composition
Authors: Yang Huichao , Bi Yanchao
Published: February 2022

Events are typically composed of at least actions and entities. Both actions and entities have been shown to be represented by neural structures respecting domain organizations in the brain, including those of social/animate (face and body; person-directed action) versus inanimate (man-made object or tool; object-directed action) concepts. It is unclear whether the brain combines actions and entities into events in a (relative) domain-specific fashion or via domain-general mechanisms in regions that have been shown to support semantic and syntactic composition. We tested these hypotheses in a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment where two domains of verb-noun event phrases (social-person versus manipulation-artifact, e.g., “hug mother” versus “fold napkin”) and their component words were contrasted. We found a series of brain region supporting social-composition effects more strongly than the manipulation phrase composition—the bilateral inferior occipital gyrus (IOG), inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and anterior temporal lobe (ATL)—which either showed stronger activation strength tested by univariate contrast, stronger content representation tested by representation similarity analysis, or stronger relationship between the neural activation patterns of phrases and synthesis (additive and multiplication) of the neural activity patterns of the word constituents. No regions were observed showing evidence of phrase composition for both domains or stronger effects of manipulation phrases. These findings highlight the roles of the visual cortex and ATL in social event compositions, suggesting a domain-preferring, rather than domain-general, mechanisms of verbal event composition.
The SWI/SNF subunit BRG1 affects alternative splicing by changing RNA binding factor interactions with nascent RNA
Authors: Gañez-Zapater Antoni , Mackowiak Sebastian D. , Guo Yuan , Tarbier Marcel , Jordán-Pla Antonio , Friedländer Marc R. , Visa Neus , Östlund Farrants Ann-Kristin
Published: February 2022

BRG1 and BRM are ATPase core subunits of the human SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complexes mainly associated with transcriptional initiation. They also have a role in alternative splicing, which has been shown for BRM-containing SWI/SNF complexes at a few genes. Here, we have identified a subset of genes which harbour alternative exons that are affected by SWI/SNF ATPases by expressing the ATPases BRG1 and BRM in C33A cells, a BRG1- and BRM-deficient cell line, and analysed the effect on splicing by RNA sequencing. BRG1- and BRM-affected sub-sets of genes favouring both exon inclusion and exon skipping, with only a minor overlap between the ATPase. Some of the changes in alternative splicing induced by BRG1 and BRM expression did not require the ATPase activity. The BRG1-ATPase independent included exons displayed an exon signature of a high GC content. By investigating three genes with exons affected by the BRG-ATPase-deficient variant, we show that these exons accumulated phosphorylated RNA pol II CTD, both serine 2 and serine 5 phosphorylation, without an enrichment of the RNA polymerase II. The ATPases were recruited to the alternative exons, together with both core and signature subunits of SWI/SNF complexes, and promoted the binding of RNA binding factors to chromatin and RNA at the alternative exons. The interaction with the nascent RNP, however, did not reflect the association to chromatin. The hnRNPL, hnRNPU and SAM68 proteins associated with chromatin in cells expressing BRG1 and BRM wild type, but the binding of hnRNPU to the nascent RNP was excluded. This suggests that SWI/SNF can regulate alternative splicing by interacting with splicing-RNA binding factor and influence their binding to the nascent pre-mRNA particle.
The value of remotely sensed vs. field-surveyed habitat structure for predicting bird abundance: a case study in traditional orchards
Authors: Chaparro Laura , Schmieder Klaus , Schurr Frank M.
Published: February 2022

Understanding environmental effects on the distribution and abundance of species is central to ecology, biogeography and evolutionary biology. This led to the development of species distribution models (SDMs) that relate spatial variation in occurrence and abundance to environmental variables. So far, SDMs rarely considered habitat structure, as a major determinant of bird distributions. While remote sensing increasingly provides high-resolution measures of habitat structure, certain structural variables affecting bird abundance still need to be measured with field surveys. In this study, we compare the value of remotely sensed vs. field-surveyed habitat structure for predicting bird abundance. Specifically, we analysed abundance data for nine bird species of traditional orchards in South-Western Germany. ‘Remote sensing SDMs’ related abundance to structural variables obtained by aerial photogrammetry of individual orchard trees. Alternative ‘field survey SDMs’ related bird abundance to detailed field surveys of the species composition and pruning state of orchard trees. Additionally, both remote sensing and field survey SDMs included climate and land use variables. Accounting for detailed habitat structure improved abundance predictions for seven of nine study species compared to models only incorporating climate and land use. The impact on model performance differed between remotely sensed and field-surveyed variables: the former improved abundance models for most (n = 7) bird species, whereas the latter had more variable impact, decreasing model performance for five species. The remotely sensed variable with strongest effects was overall tree density, which positively affected abundance of seven species. In contrast, multiple field-surveyed variables had similar effect strength, with the overall strongest effect found for pear tree density, to which seven bird species showed a unimodal response. These analyses have conservation implications since they predict expected responses of bird species to ongoing changes in orchard structure. Moreover, they identify structural variables that will be most promising to measure via remote sensing data in the future.
Physical activity and glioma: a case–control study with follow-up for survival
Authors: Basiri Zohreh , Yang Yi , Bruinsma Fiona J. , Nowak Anna K. , McDonald Kerrie L. , Drummond Katharine J. , Rosenthal Mark A. , Koh Eng-Siew , Harrup Rosemary , Hovey Elizabeth , Joseph David , Benke Geza , Leonard Robyn , MacInnis Robert J. , Milne Roger L. , Giles Graham G. , Vajdic Claire M. , Lynch Brigid M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

High-grade disease accounts for ~ 70% of all glioma, and has a high mortality rate. Few modifiable exposures are known to be related to glioma risk or mortality.

Methods

We examined associations between lifetime physical activity and physical activity at different ages (15–18 years, 19–29 years, 30–39 years, last 10 years) with the risk of glioma diagnosis, using data from a hospital-based family case–control study (495 cases; 371 controls). We followed up cases over a median of 25 months to examine whether physical activity was associated with all-cause mortality. Physical activity and potential confounders were assessed by self-administered questionnaire. We examined associations between physical activity (metabolic equivalent [MET]-h/wk) and glioma risk using unconditional logistic regression and with all-cause mortality in cases using Cox regression.

Results

We noted a reduced risk of glioma for the highest (≥ 47 MET-h/wk) versus lowest (< 24 METh/wk) category of physical activity for lifetime activity (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38–0.89) and at 15–18 years (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39–0.83). We did not observe any association between physical activity and all-cause mortality (HR for lifetime physical activity = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.64–1.29).

Conclusion

Our findings are consistent with previous research that suggested physical activity during adolescence might be protective against glioma. Engaging in physical activity during adolescence has many health benefits; this health behavior may also offer protection against glioma.
Treebanking user-generated content: a UD based overview of guidelines, corpora and unified recommendations
Authors: Sanguinetti Manuela , Bosco Cristina , Cassidy Lauren , Çetinoğlu Özlem , Cignarella Alessandra Teresa , Lynn Teresa , Rehbein Ines , Ruppenhofer Josef , Seddah Djamé , Zeldes Amir
Published: February 2022

This article presents a discussion on the main linguistic phenomena which cause difficulties in the analysis of user-generated texts found on the web and in social media, and proposes a set of annotation guidelines for their treatment within the Universal Dependencies (UD) framework of syntactic analysis. Given on the one hand the increasing number of treebanks featuring user-generated content, and its somewhat inconsistent treatment in these resources on the other, the aim of this article is twofold: (1) to provide a condensed, though comprehensive, overview of such treebanks—based on available literature—along with their main features and a comparative analysis of their annotation criteria, and (2) to propose a set of tentative UD-based annotation guidelines, to promote consistent treatment of the particular phenomena found in these types of texts. The overarching goal of this article is to provide a common framework for researchers interested in developing similar resources in UD, thus promoting cross-linguistic consistency, which is a principle that has always been central to the spirit of UD.
Repeated quasi-integration on locally compact spaces
Authors: Butler Svetlana V.
Published: February 2022

When X is locally compact, a quasi-integral (also called a quasi-linear functional) on $$ C_c(X)$$

C
c

(
X
)

is a homogeneous, positive functional that is only assumed to be linear on singly-generated subalgebras. We study simple and almost simple quasi-integrals, i.e., quasi-integrals whose corresponding compact-finite topological measures assume exactly two values. We present equivalent conditions for a quasi-integral to be simple or almost simple. We give a criterion for repeated quasi-integration (i.e., iterated integration with respect to topological measures) to yield a quasi-linear functional. We find a criterion for a double quasi-integral to be simple or almost simple. We describe how a product of topological measures acts on open and compact sets. We show that different orders of integration in repeated quasi-integrals give the same quasi-integral if and only if the corresponding topological measures are both measures or one of the corresponding topological measures is a positive scalar multiple of a point mass.
Monetary policy, financial shocks and economic activity
Authors: Evgenidis Anastasios , Malliaris Anastasios G.
Published: February 2022

This paper contributes to a fuller understanding of macroeconomic outcomes to financial market disturbances and the central bank’s role in financial stability. Our two major contributions are conceptual and econometric. Conceptually, we introduce phases of the business cycle and econometrically we employ Bayesian VARs. We document that a shock that increases credit to non-financial sector leads to a persistent decline in economic activity. In addition, we examine whether the behavior of financial variables is useful in signaling the 2007–2009 recession. The answer is positive as our BVAR generates early warning signals pointing to a sustained slowdown in growth. We propose that the expansion phase of the business cycle can be subdivided into an early and a late expansion. Based on this distinction, we show that if the Fed had raised the policy rate when the economy moved from the early to late expansion, it could have mitigated the severity of the 2007–2009 recession.
A pictorial essay on radiological changes after stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung tumors
Authors: Matsumoto Yasuo
Published: February 2022

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a frequently used modality for the treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer and oligometastatic disease of the lung. The radiological changes observed in the lung after SBRT are likely to differ from those observed after conventional thoracic radiation therapy, primarily due to the small size of the target volume and highly conformal dose distributions with steep dose gradients from the target to surrounding normal lung tissues used in SBRT. Knowledge of the radiological changes that can occur after SBRT is required to correctly diagnose local failure. Herein, I report several radiological changes specific to SBRT that have been observed.
Bentonite Clay Liquid Crystals for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Neelamma M. K. , Holla Sowmya R. , Selvakumar M. , Chandran P. Akhil , De Shounak
Published: February 2022

As the human population increases, there is invariably excessive demand for energy sources, thus making it a fundamental need. The basic use of supercapacitors is the storage of energy. But self-discharge is caused when no external power or internal battery is charging them. This clearly reduces their efficiency. It has been found that self-discharge can be reduced to a great extent by employing liquid crystals (LC). But the effect of LC in enhancing the supercapacitor properties has not been discussed. So here, the naturally available bentonite clay is analyzed for its lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) properties. It showed liquid crystalline properties at 0.055 g/cm3 in 0.2 M Na2SO4 solvent. It is characterized by a polarised optical microscope (POM). These LCs are added as an additive electrolyte to the supercapacitors. The electrode materials used for supercapacitors are a composite of activated carbon and polyaniline. When compared, the supercapacitor properties were enhanced with a decrease in IR drop in supercapacitors containing bentonite lyotropic liquid crystal, producing a specific capacitance of 237.5 F/g at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm3. The electrochemical behavior of the supercapacitors is determined by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling techniques.

Graphical Abstract
Telework satisfaction, wellbeing and performance in the digital era. Lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain
Authors: Blahopoulou Joanna , Ortiz-Bonnin Silvia , Montañez-Juan Maribel , Torrens Espinosa Gema , García-Buades M. Esther
Published: February 2022

This study used a prospective design to examine the effects of telework satisfaction (time 1) on subjective wellbeing and self-reported performance (time 2) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Data were collected from 111 teleworkers through an online survey the first weeks of strict lockdown in Spain. Telework satisfaction showed positive direct effects on both subjective wellbeing and self-reported performance. Further, subjective wellbeing partially mediated the relationship between telework satisfaction and self-reported performance. Interestingly, employees with children felt less telework satisfaction but higher subjective wellbeing. The novelty of this study is that we evaluate the level of satisfaction with telework using a specific set of items that assess the employees’ contentment with diverse telework facets. Given the spreading of telework and the increasing competitiveness of organizations, we discuss practical implications in times of crisis, both present and future.
Integral Operators Induced by Symbols with Non-negative Maclaurin Coefficients Mapping into $$H^\infty $$
Authors: Peláez José Ángel , Rättyä Jouni , Wu Fanglei
Published: February 2022

For analytic functions g on the unit disk with non-negative Maclaurin coefficients, we describe the boundedness and compactness of the integral operator $$T_g(f)(z)=\int _0^zf(\zeta )g'(\zeta )\,d\zeta $$

T
g

(
f
)

(
z
)

=

∫
0
z

f

(
ζ
)

g
′

(
ζ
)

d
ζ

from a space X of analytic functions in the unit disk to $$H^\infty $$

H
∞

, in terms of neat and useful conditions on the Maclaurin coefficients of g. The choices of X that will be considered contain the Hardy and the Hardy–Littlewood spaces, the Dirichlet-type spaces $$D^p_{p-1}$$

D

p
-
1

p

, as well as the classical Bloch and $$\mathord {\mathrm{BMOA}}$$
BMOA
spaces.