bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous visualisation of the complete sets of telomeres from the MmeI generated terminal restriction fragments in yeasts
Authors: Liu Jun , Hong Xiaojing , Liang Chao‐Ya , Liu Jun‐Ping
Published: August 2020

Telomere length is measured using Southern blotting of the chromosomal terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) released by endonuclease digestion in cells from yeast to human. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, XhoI or PstI is applied to cut the subtelomere Y′ element and release TRFs from the 17 subtelomeres. However, telomeres from other 15 X‐element‐only subtelomeres are omitted from analysis. Here, we report a method for measuring all 32 telomeres in S. cerevisiae using the endonuclease MmeI. Based on analyses of the endonuclease cleavage sites, we found that the TRFs generated by MmeI displayed two distinguishable bands in the sizes of ~500 and ~700 bp comprising telomeres (300 bp) and subtelomeres (200–400 bp). The modified MmeI‐restricted TRF (mTRF) method recapitulated telomere shortening and lengthening caused by deficiencies of YKu and Rif1 respectively in S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, we found that mTRF was also applicable to telomere length analysis in S. paradoxus strains. These results demonstrate a useful tool for simultaneous detection of telomeres from all chromosomal ends with both X‐element‐only and Y′‐element subtelomeres in S. cerevisiae species.
Antithrombotic Therapy: Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis and Atherothrombosis
Authors: Olie R. H. , van der Meijden P. E. J. , Spronk H. M. H. , ten Cate H.
Published: August 2020

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial vascular disease that develops in the course of a lifetime. Numerous risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, mostly inflicting pro-inflammatory effects. Vessel injury, such as occurring during erosion or rupture of atherosclerotic lesions triggers blood coagulation, in attempt to maintain hemostasis (protect against bleeding). However, thrombo-inflammatory mechanisms may drive blood coagulation such that thrombosis develops, the key process underlying myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke (not due to embolization from the heart). In the blood coagulation system, platelets and coagulation proteins are both essential elements. Hyperreactivity of blood coagulation aggravates atherosclerosis in preclinical models. Pharmacologic inhibition of blood coagulation, either with platelet inhibitors, or better documented with anticoagulants, or both, limits the risk of thrombosis and may potentially reverse atherosclerosis burden, although the latter evidence is still based on animal experimentation.

Patients at risk of atherothrombotic complications should receive a single antiplatelet agent (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA, or clopidogrel); those who survived an atherothrombotic event will be prescribed temporary dual antiplatelet therapy (ASA plus a P2Y12 inhibitor) in case of myocardial infarction (6-12 months), or stroke (<6 weeks), followed by a single antiplatelet agent indefinitely. High risk for thrombosis patients (such as those with peripheral artery disease) benefit from a combination of an anticoagulant and ASA. The price of gained efficacy is always increased risk of (major) bleeding; while tailoring therapy to individual needs may limit the risks to some extent, new generations of agents that target less critical elements of hemostasis and coagulation mechanisms are needed to maintain efficacy while reducing bleeding risks.
Charting Spiritual Care in Digital Health: Analyses and Perspectives
Authors: Peng-Keller Simon
Published: August 2020

This final contribution draws together the various lines of discussion. It outlines the main arguments as well as the points of convergence between transnational developments. Taking up the introductory chapters, the reasons for the rapid development of chaplaincy documentation in the last two decades are examined. The rise of charting spiritual care is understood as an aspect of the ongoing digitalization of society and healthcare. At least three further drivers are clearly identifiable: the emergence of a new paradigm of healthcare chaplaincy, the development of interprofessional spiritual care, and remarkable changes in Western societies concerning the role of religion and spirituality in public spaces. In current discussions about recording spiritual care in EMRs, there is a growing convergence on at least four points. First, used as a tool for planning, coordination, and self-evaluation, digital charting can benefit the work of chaplains. Second, it can also have undesired side effects. Third, any future healthcare chaplaincy will have to be a part of the evolving process of digital recording. Fourth, the ongoing change in healthcare and society forces chaplains to become clearer about its nature and role. In sum, the task of charting spiritual care into EMRs might be seen as a bureaucratic burden. However, with its questions of the “who,” the “what,” and the “how,” it touches the heart of chaplaincy as a spiritual profession in healthcare. The paper concludes with an outline of a possible future for the practice of charting spiritual care.
The simplest of them all: $$ t\overline{t}{W}^{\pm } $$ at NLO accuracy in QCD
Authors: Bevilacqua Giuseppe , Bi Huan-Yu , Hartanto Heribertus Bayu , Kraus Manfred , Worek Malgorzata
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Recent measurements of the pp →

$$ t\overline{t}{W}^{\pm } $$

t

t
¯

W
±

process in multi-lepton final states, as performed by the ATLAS collaboration in the context of the Higgs boson studies in the

$$ t\overline{t}H $$

t

t
¯

H

channel, have shown discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental data. Such discrepancies have been observed both in the overall normalisation as well as in the modelling of the

$$ t\overline{t}{W}^{\pm } $$

t

t
¯

W
±

process. With the goal of understanding and resolving the modelling issues within the SM

$$ t\overline{t}{W}^{\pm } $$

t

t
¯

W
±

process we report on the state-of-the-art NLO QCD computation for this process. Specifically, we calculate higher-order corrections to the

$$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }{e}^{+}{\nu}_eb\overline{b} $$

e
+

ν
e

μ
−

ν
¯

μ

e
+

ν
e

b

b
¯

and

$$ {e}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_e{\mu}^{+}{\nu}_{\mu }{e}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_eb\overline{b} $$

e
−

ν
¯

e

μ
+

ν
μ

e
−

ν
¯

e

b

b
¯

final state at the LHC with

$$ \sqrt{s} $$

s

= 13 TeV. In the computation off-shell top quarks are described by Breit-Wigner propagators, furthermore, double-, single- as well as non-resonant top-quark contributions along with all interference effects are consistently incorporated at the matrix element level. Results at NLO QCD accuracy are presented in the form of fiducial integrated and differential cross sections for two selected renormalisation and factorisation scale choices and three different PDF sets. The impact of the top quark off-shell effects on the

$$ t\overline{t}{W}^{\pm } $$

t

t
¯

W
±

cross section is also examined by an explicit comparison to the narrow-width approximation.
Reflexive polytopes arising from bipartite graphs with $$\gamma $$-positivity associated to interior polynomials
Authors: Ohsugi Hidefumi , Tsuchiya Akiyoshi
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we introduce polytopes $${\mathscr {B}}_G$$

B
G

arising from root systems $$B_n$$

B
n

and finite graphs G, and study their combinatorial and algebraic properties. In particular, it is shown that $${\mathscr {B}}_G$$

B
G

is reflexive if and only if G is bipartite. Moreover, in the case, $${\mathscr {B}}_G$$

B
G

has a regular unimodular triangulation. This implies that the $$h^*$$

h
∗

-polynomial of $${\mathscr {B}}_G$$

B
G

is palindromic and unimodal when G is bipartite. Furthermore, we discuss stronger properties, namely the $$\gamma $$
γ
-positivity and the real-rootedness of the $$h^*$$

h
∗

-polynomials. In fact, if G is bipartite, then the $$h^*$$

h
∗

-polynomial of $${\mathscr {B}}_G$$

B
G

is $$\gamma $$
γ
-positive and its $$\gamma $$
γ
-polynomial is given by an interior polynomial (a version of the Tutte polynomial for a hypergraph). The $$h^*$$

h
∗

-polynomial is real-rooted if and only if the corresponding interior polynomial is real-rooted. From a counterexample to Neggers–Stanley conjecture, we construct a bipartite graph G whose $$h^*$$

h
∗

-polynomial is not real-rooted but $$\gamma $$
γ
-positive, and coincides with the h-polynomial of a flag triangulation of a sphere.
Factors with the strongest prognostic value associated with in-hospital mortality rate among patients operated for acute subdural and epidural hematoma
Authors: Kulesza Bartłomiej , Mazurek Marek , Nogalski Adam , Rola Radosław
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains a serious health problem and is called a “silent epidemic”. Each year in Europe 262 per 100,000 individuals suffer from TBI. The most common consequence of severe head injuries include acute subdural (SDH) and epidural hematomas (EDH), which usually require immediate surgically treatment. The aim of our study is to identify factors which have the strongest prognostic value in relation to in-hospital mortality rate among of patients undergoing surgery for EDH and SDH.

Patients and methods

Cohort included 128 patients with isolated craniocerebral injuries who underwent surgery for EDH (28 patients) and SDH (100 patients) in a single, tertiary care Department of Neurosurgery. The data were collected on admission of patients to the Emergency Department and retrospectively analyzed. The following factors were analyzed: demographic data, physiological parameters, laboratory variables, computed tomography scan characteristics and the time between trauma and surgery. Likewise, we have investigated the in-hospital mortality of patients at the time of discharge.

Results

We found that the factors with the strongest prognostic values were: the initial GCS score, respiratory rate, glycaemia, blood saturation, systolic blood pressure, midline shift and type of hematoma. Additionally, we proved that a drop by one point in the GCS score almost doubles the risk of in-hospital death while the presence of coagulopathy increases the risk of in-hospital death almost six times.

Conclusion

Most of the factors with the strongest prognostic value are factors that the emergency team can treat prior to the hospital admission. Coagulopathy, however that has the strongest influence on in-hospital death rate can only be efficiently treated in a hospital setting.
Auswirkungen der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie auf die Chirurgie – Eine nationale Querschnittsstudie
Authors: Stöß Christian , Haffer Henryk , Steffani Marcella , Pergolini Ilaria , Hartmann Daniel , Nitsche Ulrich , Novotny Alexander , Friess Helmut , Müller Michael W.
Published: August 2020

Hintergrund und Ziele

Das deutsche Gesundheitssystem wurde mit Beginn der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie auf die Behandlung von COVID-19-Patienten ausgerichtet. Dies ging mit der Aussetzung des operativen Elektivprogramms einher. Ziel der Studie war es, den Einfluss der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie auf die Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie der Universitätskliniken in Deutschland zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Die vorliegende Querschnittsstudie basiert auf einer anonymen Umfrage, die vom 03.04.2020 bis zum 17.04.2020 für die Teilnehmer des Konvents der Ordinarien für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie in Deutschland online zugänglich war. 73 % (n = 29/40) der Befragten nahmen teil.

Ergebnisse

Die Zusammenarbeit mit den Behörden und der Krankenhausleitung wurde überwiegend als angemessen empfunden. Allerdings stimmten nur 3 % (1/29) bzw. 7 % (2/29) der Aussage voll zu, dass sich die Gesundheitsbehörden auf Bundes- bzw. Landesebene unterstützend gegenüber der Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie zeigten. Die Klinikdirektoren erwarten einen niedrigeren Umsatz von durchschnittlich 28 ± 16 %. Es kam zu einer durchschnittlichen Verringerung der Betten- bzw. Operationssaalkapazität um 38 % bzw. 45 %. Darüber hinaus wurden 11 % des ärztlichen Personals der Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie in andere Abteilungen umverteilt.

Diskussion

Die SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie hat deutliche Auswirkungen auf die universitäre Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie in Deutschland. Die Reduktion der Betten- sowie der Operationsaalkapazität kann zu erheblichen Verzögerungen dringlicher Operationseingriffe und finanziellen Belastungen im Jahr 2020 und den Folgejahren führen.
Weaning in der neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Frührehabilitation – Ergebnisse der „WennFrüh“-Studie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurorehabilitation
Authors: Rollnik Jens D. , Brocke Jan , Gorsler Anna , Groß Martin , Hartwich Michael , Pohl Marcus , Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias , Platz Thomas
Published: August 2020

Neurologisch-neurochirurgische Frührehabilitanden sind klinisch oft so schwer betroffen, dass sie neben der frührehabilitativen Behandlung auch von der mechanischen Beatmung entwöhnt werden müssen. In einer Umfrage der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurorehabilitation (DGNR) wurden neurologische Weaningzentren gebeten, Informationen zu Strukturmerkmalen ihrer Einrichtung, ihrer personellen und apparativen Ausstattung sowie basierend auf anonymen Daten zu Fallzahl und Behandlungsergebnis zur Verfügung zu stellen. Es nahmen 36 Weaningeinheiten aus 11 Bundesländern mit insgesamt 496 Betten teil. Von 2516 erfassten Weaningfällen im Jahr 2019 wurden 2097 (83,3 %) primär erfolgreich entwöhnt und nur 120 (4,8 %) mussten mit Heimbeatmung entlassen werden. Die Mortalität in dieser Stichprobe lag bei 11,0 % (n = 276). Die Erhebung zeigt, dass das prolongierte Weaning in der neurologisch-neurochirurgischen Frührehabilitation ein wichtiger und erfolgreicher Bestandteil der Versorgung schwerstkranker Patienten darstellt.
The effects of a music and singing intervention during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother–infant bonding: a randomised, controlled study
Authors: Wulff Verena , Hepp Philip , Wolf Oliver T. , Balan Percy , Hagenbeck Carsten , Fehm Tanja , Schaal Nora K.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Stress and impaired mother–infant bonding during pregnancy can lead to adverse effects for the expectant mother and the unborn child. The present study investigates whether a prenatal music and singing intervention can improve maternal well-being as well as mother–infant bonding.

Methods

A total of 172 pregnant women took part in this prospective, randomised, three-armed (music, singing or control group) study. Depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, maternal well-being and mother–infant bonding were assessed with visual analogue scales and questionnaires before the intervention phase (30th week of gestation) and afterwards (36th week of gestation). Additionally, immediate changes regarding experienced stress and mood from before until after the music and singing interventions were explored with questionnaires as well as saliva samples (for cortisol, alpha-amylase and oxytocin determination).

Results

Regarding immediate effects, both interventions showed positive effects on the emotional state, stress (cortisol) and bonding (oxytocin). Additionally, the singing group showed a larger reduction in cortisol and a larger improvement in valence than the music group. Looking at more prolonged effects, significant effects on general self-efficacy and perceived closeness to the unborn child (measured with a visual analogue scale) were found. No significant effects were revealed for the mother–infant bonding questionnaire and for depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

In the present study, promising effects of music and in particular singing on maternal well-being and perceived closeness during pregnancy appeared. Prenatal music and singing interventions could be an easy to implement and effective addition to improve mood and well-being of the expectant mother and support mother-infant bonding.

Trial registration number

DRKS00012822, date of registration: 17.10.2017
Acute mechanical, physiological and perceptual responses in older men to traditional-set or different cluster-set configuration resistance training protocols
Authors: Dello Iacono Antonio , Martone Domenico , Hayes Lawrence
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aims of this study were to compare mechanical outputs (i.e. power and impulse), physiological (i.e. heart rate) and perceptual (i.e. effort and fatigue) responses in older men to traditional-set or different cluster-set configuration resistance training protocols.

Methods

In a randomized cross-over design, 20 healthy old men (aged 67.2 ± 2.1 years) completed four resistance training sessions using the back squat exercise loaded with optimal power loads. Training configurations were: traditional (TRA), three sets of six repetitions with 120-s rest between each set; Cluster-set 1 (CLU1), 24 single-repetition clusters with 10 s of rest after every cluster; Cluster-set 2 (CLU2), 12 double-repetition clusters with 20-s rest after every cluster; and Cluster-set 4 (CLU4), 6 quadruple-repetition clusters with 40-s rest after every cluster.

Results

Cluster-set configurations resulted in greater power outputs compared to traditional-set configuration (range 2.6–9.2%, all p$$\le$$
≤
0.07 for main effect and protocol $$\times$$
×
set interactions). CLU1 and CLU2 induced higher heart rate (range 7.1–10.5%, all p < 0.001 for main effect and protocol $$\times$$
×
set interactions), lower rating of perceived exertion (range − 1.3 to − 3.2 AU, all p$$\le$$
≤
0.006 for pairwise comparisons) and lower ratings of fatigue (range − 0.15 to − 4 AU, all p$$\le$$
≤
0.012 for pairwise comparisons) compared to TRA and CLU4. Finally, an absolute preference for CLU2 was reported.

Conclusions

Findings presented here support the prescription of CLU2 as an optimal resistance training configuration for trained older men using the back squat.
Neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer: what is the true oncological benefit?
Authors: Ren Lei , Mota Reyes Carmen , Friess Helmut , Demir Ihsan Ekin
Published: August 2020

Background

Neoadjuvant therapies (neoTx) have revolutionized the treatment of borderline resectable (BR) and locally advanced (LA) pancreatic cancer (PCa) by significantly increasing the rate of R0 resections, which remains the only curative strategy for these patients. However, there is still room for improvement of neoTx in PCa.

Purpose

Here, we aimed to critically analyze the benefits of neoTx in LA and BR PCa and its potential use on patients with resectable PCa. We also explored the feasibility of arterial resection (AR) to increase surgical radicality and the incorporation of immunotherapy to optimize neoadjuvant approaches in PCa.

Conclusion

For early stage, i.e., resectable, PCa, there is not enough scientific evidence for routinely recommending neoTx. For LA and BR PCa, optimization of neoadjuvant therapy necessitates more sophisticated complex surgical resections, machine learning and radiomic approaches, integration of immunotherapy due to the high antigen load, standardized histopathological assessment, and improved multidisciplinary communication.
Infinite-dimensional Lur’e systems with almost periodic forcing
Authors: Gilmore Max E. , Guiver C. , Logemann H.
Published: August 2020

We consider forced Lur’e systems in which the linear dynamic component is an infinite-dimensional well-posed system. Numerous physically motivated delay and partial differential equations are known to belong to this class of infinite-dimensional systems. We present refinements of recent incremental input-to-state stability results (Guiver in SIAM J Control Optim 57:334–365, 2019) and use them to derive convergence results for trajectories generated by Stepanov almost periodic inputs. In particular, we show that the incremental stability conditions guarantee that for every Stepanov almost periodic input there exists a unique pair of state and output signals which are almost periodic and Stepanov almost periodic, respectively. The almost periods of the state and output signals are shown to be closely related to the almost periods of the input, and a natural module containment result is established. All state and output signals generated by the same Stepanov almost periodic input approach the almost periodic state and the Stepanov almost periodic output in a suitable sense, respectively, as time goes to infinity. The sufficient conditions guaranteeing incremental input-to-state stability and the existence of almost periodic state and Stepanov almost periodic output signals are reminiscent of the conditions featuring in well-known absolute stability criteria such as the complex Aizerman conjecture and the circle criterion.
Der Beitrag der Steiermark zum Marine Littering
Authors: Huter Dominik , Pomberger Roland
Published: August 2020

Da sich immer mehr Kunststoffe im Meer ansammeln, wurde diese Studie für das Land Steiermark erstellt, um mittels Materialflussanalyse die Emissionen im Land, als auch den Transfer über Flüsse bis ins Meer abzuschätzen. Die Parameter für das Modell entstammen der Literatur und basieren teilweise auch auf begründeten Annahmen. Littering ist mit 45 % der modellierten Kunststoff-Emissionen die größte Emissionsquelle, gefolgt vom Abrieb vom Verkehr (Reifen 36 %, Fahrbahnmarkierung 2 %), sowie von Schuhsohlen (4 %) und Kunstrasen und anderen Sportflächen (6 %), welche alle diffuse Quellen bilden. Der Abrieb synthetischer Fasern von Wäsche (3 %), Innenraumstäube (2 %) und Microbeads (<1 %), in Pflegeprodukten, stellen bedeutende punktuelle Einträge über die Abwässer der Haushalte in die Kanalisation und weiter in die Kläranlagen. Etwa 3 % des gesamten Mikroplastiks gelangen über Klärschlämme und Komposte in die Umwelt. Die modellierten Kunststoff-Emissionen der Steiermark werden nach den Szenarien dieser Studie insgesamt auf 1545–5353 Tonnen pro Jahr (t/a) geschätzt. Die Kunststoff-Emissionen gelangen hauptsächlich über die Oberflächengewässer (427–1179 t/a) und anschließend über die Donau bis ins Schwarze Meer (43–109 t/a). Im Vergleich zu den Konzentrationen in Flüssen und anderen Modellen sind die im Transfermodell quantifizierten Emissionen in Oberflächengewässer und das Meer relativ hoch. Die Steiermark emittiert als Binnenland in etwa 0,0001 % des globalen Kunststoffes, welcher pro Jahr vom Land ins Meer gelangt, und um einen Faktor von in etwa 16 (7–48) weniger Kunststoffe ins Meer als ein Mensch der Erde im Durchschnitt.
“When should primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) be suspected?”: literature review and proposal of a preliminary screening algorithm
Authors: Sarti Cristina , Picchioni Antonella , Telese Roberta , Pasi Marco , Failli Ylenia , Pracucci Giovanni , Cammelli Daniele , Inzitari Domenico
Published: August 2020

Background

Primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS) is a process causing variously combined neurological disturbances. Its rarity and kaleidoscopic presentation make it difficult to diagnose and even to suspect.

Objective

(1) To provide an up-to-date review on PACNS and (2) to create a preliminary screening algorithm based on clinical and radiological first-level data, useful to suspect PACNS and guide further investigations.

Methods

Review of PUBMED case series on PACNS, published from 2002 to 2017, collection of frequencies of clinical and neuroimaging features and calculation of median values. Classification of features as “major” or “minor” if frequency was higher or lower than median value. Combination of features in sets of criteria represented by all possible combinations of major and minor clinical and neuroradiological features. Application of criteria to published PACNS case reports and selection of the ones best identifying patients with definite PACNS.

Results

We reviewed 24 case series. “Major” clinical features were headache, stroke, cognitive impairment, focal neurological deficits; “minor” were seizures, altered consciousness, psychiatric disorders. “Major” neuroradiological features were multiple parenchymal lesions, parenchymal/meningeal contrast enhancement, magnetic resonance angiography vessel abnormalities, vessel wall enhancement; “minor” were parenchymal/subarachnoid hemorrhage, single parenchymal lesion. The selected sets of criteria able to identify all PACNS patients were (1) one clinical (major/minor) + one major neuroradiological feature; and (2) Two clinical (≥ 1 major) + one minor neuroradiological feature.

Conclusion

Our review provides a detailed clinical/neuroradiological picture of PACNS. The proposed algorithm should be regarded as a preliminary screening tool to move the first steps towards PACNS diagnosis that needs validation.
CEO Pay and the Argument from Peer Comparison
Authors: Sandberg Joakim , Andersson Alexander
Published: August 2020

Chief executive officers (CEOs) are typically paid great amounts of money in wages and bonuses by commercial companies. This is sometimes defended with an argument from peer comparison; roughly that “our” CEO has to be paid in accordance with what other CEOs at comparable companies get. At first glance this seems like a poor excuse for morally outrageous pay schemes and, consequently, the argument has been ignored in the previous philosophical literature. In contrast, however, this article provides a partial defence of the argument from peer comparison. Moreover, it is demonstrated how a serious consideration of this argument sheds further light on both incentive- and desert-based theories of just pay.
Colour, Wavelength and Turbidity in the Light of Goethe’s Colour Studies
Authors: Vijaya Gopi Krishna
Published: August 2020

The polarity of light and dark in the treatment of the Newtonian spectrum and the inverse spectrum is studied further and the validity of heterogeneity of light and darkness in relation to Goethe’s views is examined. In order to clarify the reality of the “darkness rays”, theexperimentum crucisis re-evaluated. It is shown that the commonly accepted analysis contains assumptions in the choice of the spectrum and background, which mask the inherent dynamic of the spectrum. The relation between colour and wavelength is re-examined with respect to the immutability and specific refrangibility of colour. It is then shown that both these properties are approximations that apply under the specific conditions that have later become standardized in spectroscopy, leading to a consensus regarding the relation of wavelength to colours of one particular spectrum. This consensus has resulted in the study of colour diverging into spectroscopy and colour physiology. As an alternative, the basis of the dichotomy postulated by Müller is studied, leading to the realization that the resolution of this dichotomy was begun by Goethe with the idea of turbidity. A further study shows that turbidity resolves the apparent incompatibility of light and dark.
Yeast biofilm in food realms: occurrence and control
Authors: Zara Giacomo , Budroni Marilena , Mannazzu Ilaria , Fancello Francesco , Zara Severino
Published: August 2020

In natural environments, microorganisms form microbial aggregates called biofilms able to adhere to a multitude of different surfaces. Yeasts make no exception to this rule, being able to form biofilms in a plethora of environmental niches. In food realms, yeast biofilms may cause major problems due to their alterative activities. In addition, yeast biofilms are tenacious structures difficult to eradicate or treat with the current arsenal of antifungal agents. Thus, much effort is being made to develop novel approaches to prevent and disrupt yeast biofilms, for example through the use of natural antimicrobials or small molecules with both inhibiting and dispersing properties. The aim of this review is to provide a synopsis of the most recent literature on yeast biofilms regarding: (i) biofilm formation mechanisms; (ii) occurrence in food and in food-related environments; and (iii) inhibition and dispersal using natural compounds, in particular.
Towards social life cycle assessment of mobility services: systematic literature review and the way forward
Authors: Gompf Katharina , Traverso Marzia , Hetterich Jörg
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this review is to describe the state of the art of social impact assessment with a focus on mobility services. Whereas the use phase plays an important role for the assessment of services in general, the evaluation of the use phase has been underrepresented in previous social life cycle assessment studies. For that reason, particular attention has been paid to indicators, which allow the assessment of social impacts during the use phase of mobility services.

Methods

Continuous efforts to mitigate climate change and to improve quality of life in cities result in new mobility solutions based on collective use. This will have a huge impact on our society transforming the use of vehicles. In order to better understand the implications for cities, society and the automotive industry, it is essential to evaluate the social impact generated along a product life cycle with particular attention to the use phase. To reach the goal, a systematic literature review was carried out with a focus on social indicators that allow assessing use phase impacts of mobility services. The indicators were analysed and allocated to stakeholder groups. Based on the analysis, a core set of indicators is proposed under consideration of data availability.

Results and discussion

Based on the selected search strings, 51 publications were selected for the literature review, including 579 social indicators. The analysis revealed a wide variety and diversity of indicators that are trying to measure the same aspect. The allocation to the respective stakeholder groups showed that most of the indicators (36%) evaluate impacts regarding the stakeholder group local community. The majority of analysed indicators are of quantitative nature (63%). Nevertheless, a clear assessment method was often missing in the respective publications. Therefore, for the core set of indicators, an assessment method is proposed for every indicator.

Conclusions

The results from this study can help practitioners as well as researchers in the field of urban mobility assessment as it systematically analyses social sustainability aspects. The presented data gives an overview of various indicators that are suggested in other publications, and the proposed core set of indicators can be used to evaluate different mobility services in further research.
Carbon and water footprint of coffee consumed in Finland—life cycle assessment
Authors: Usva Kirsi , Sinkko Taija , Silvenius Frans , Riipi Inkeri , Heusala Hannele
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Coffee is one of the most widely grown cash crops globally, but there are few scientific articles on its carbon footprint and water scarcity impacts. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon footprint and water scarcity impacts throughout the life cycle of the coffee chain (cradle-to-grave) and to identify the most important sources of the impacts (hotspots).

Methods

The system included all the key stages of the supply chain from land use change and coffee cultivation to roasting and household consumption. Primary data was collected from eight coffee cultivation farms in Brazil, Nicaragua, Colombia and Honduras and coffee roastery and packaging manufacturers in Finland. The AWARE method was applied in a water scarcity impact assessment.

Results and discussion

The carbon footprint varied from 0.27 to 0.70 kg CO2 eq/l coffee. The share of the coffee cultivation stage varied from 32 to 78% and the consumption stage from 19 to 49%. The use of fertilizers was the most important process contributing to the carbon footprint. Furthermore, deforestation-related emissions notably increased the carbon footprint of coffee from Nicaragua. Compared with the previous literature, our results indicate a relatively larger share of climate impacts in the cultivation stage and less during consumption.

The water scarcity impact was relatively low for non-irrigated systems in Central America, 0.02 m3 eq/l coffee. On Brazilian farms, irrigation is a major contributor to the water scarcity impact, varying from 0.15 to 0.27 m3 eq/l coffee.

Conclusions

Improving the management practices in cultivation and fertilization is key for lower GHG emissions. Irrigation optimization is the most important mitigation strategy to reduce water scarcity impact. However, actions to reduce these two impacts should be executed side by side to avoid shifting burdens between the two.
Bewegungsfördernde Bibliotheksarbeitsplätze an Hochschulen
Authors: Mann David , Helten Jessica , Hoffmann Sascha W. , von Sommoggy Julia , Rüter Jana , Loss Julika , Germelmann Claas Christian , Tittlbach Susanne
Published: August 2020

Hintergrund

Bewegungsmangel und lange, ununterbrochene Sitzzeiten gelten verstärkt als eigenständige, gesundheitliche Risikofaktoren und sind bei Personen mit hohem Bildungsgrad sehr ausgeprägt. Dies betrifft insbesondere junge Erwachsene allgemein sowie Studierende an Hochschulen im Speziellen.

Fragestellung

Akzeptanz und Wirksamkeit einer präventiven Verhältnismaßnahme zur Reduktion der Sitzzeit und Erhöhung der Sitzunterbrechungen von Studierenden an der Hochschule werden evaluiert.

Material und Methoden

Es wird ein Mixed-methods-Design (quantitative Erfassung des Bewegungsprofils per Bewegungssensoren und qualitative Leitfadeninterviews) zur Implementierung bewegungsfördernder, höhenverstellbarer Arbeitsplätze in einer Universitätsbibliothek zur Evaluation des Sitzverhaltens bei 10 Studierenden erhoben.

Ergebnisse

Durch die Nutzung der bewegungsfördernden, höhenverstellbaren Arbeitsplätze erfolgt eine signifikante Reduktion der Sitzzeit sowie eine signifikante Erhöhung der Sitzunterbrechungen. Zudem lässt sich eine positive Bewertung und hohe Akzeptanz der neuen Arbeitsplätze bei den Nutzenden erkennen und es kann ein Beitrag zu deren Wohlbefinden geleistet werden.

Schlussfolgerung

Der Einsatz bewegungsfördernder Arbeitsplätze in Universitätsbibliotheken kann eine wirksame Interventionsmaßnahme zur Steigerung gesundheitsfördernder Rahmenbedingungen im universitären Setting darstellen und damit zur Erhöhung eines bewegungsfördernden Lebensstils bei Studierenden beitragen.
SEM-Tree hybrid models in the preferences analysis of the members of Polish households
Authors: Sagan Adam , Łapczyński Mariusz
Published: August 2020

The purpose of the paper is to identify the dimensions of the strategy of resources allocation of Polish households members and test the hypothesis concerning risky shift effect in the relationship between strategy of family decision making and trade-off in family scarce resources allocation. These dimensions were identified on the basis of nationwide empirical data gathered on a representative sample of 1020 respondents nested in 410 households. SEM-Tree hybrid models are used in the analysis of the results, which combine the confirmatory structural equation models with exploratory and predictive classification and regression trees. This allows to apply structural modeling for the study of heterogeneous populations and to assess the hierarchical impact of exogenous predictors on the identification of segments with separate and unique model structural parameters. The approach combines the advantages of a model approach (at the stage of constructing hypotheses on structural relationships and specifications of measurement models) and exploration-based data (at the stage of recursive division of the sample).
Researchers’ Perceptions of a Responsible Research Climate: A Multi Focus Group Study
Authors: Haven Tamarinde , Pasman H. Roeline , Widdershoven Guy , Bouter Lex , Tijdink Joeri
Published: August 2020

The research climate plays a key role in fostering integrity in research. However, little is known about what constitutes a responsible research climate. We investigated academic researchers’ perceptions on this through focus group interviews. We recruited researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Amsterdam University Medical Center to participate in focus group discussions that consisted of researchers from similar academic ranks and disciplinary fields. We asked participants to reflect on the characteristics of a responsible research climate, the barriers they perceived and which interventions they thought fruitful to improve the research climate. Discussions were recorded and transcribed at verbatim. We used inductive content analysis to analyse the focus group transcripts. We conducted 12 focus groups with 61 researchers in total. We identified fair evaluation, openness, sufficient time, integrity, trust and freedom to be mentioned as important characteristics of a responsible research climate. Main perceived barriers were lack of support, unfair evaluation policies, normalization of overwork and insufficient supervision of early career researchers. Possible interventions suggested by the participants centered around improving support, discussing expectations and improving the quality of supervision. Some of the elements of a responsible research climate identified by participants are reflected in national and international codes of conduct, such as trust and openness. Although it may seem hard to change the research climate, we believe that the realisation that the research climate is suboptimal should provide the impetus for change informed by researchers’ experiences and opinions.
Short-term Impact of Item-based Loyalty Program on Customer Purchase Behaviors
Authors: Wu Bo , Sun Yi , Yada Katsutoshi
Published: August 2020

Studies based on the analysis of a new design of loyalty program, item-based loyalty programs (IBLPs), indicate that customers are more interested in item-based reward points than in traditional price discounts. However, we are still unaware of customer responses to the different point settings on IBLP items. This study investigates an analysis with Tobit II to explore IBLPs’ short-term (4 months) impact on customers’ purchase behaviors using data from two newly opened Japanese supermarket chains that have implemented this new IBLP program from the beginning. The results showed that different types of customers are differently affected by IBLPs, and that heavy customers are more inclined to purchase more items with more spending money than others. The results also indicated that customers’ purchase behaviors are affected by IBLPs’ different point levels. Moreover, to an IBLP with different points, the responses from different types of customers are different. The findings of this study have important guiding significance in IBLP design and marketing management.
Analysis on PVT test and empirical formula of Bohai heavy oil with different types of dissolved gases
Authors: Liu Yigang , Yuan Yingzhong , Zhou Fayuan , Qi Zhilin , Zhang Wei , Zhang Hua , Wang Qiuxia
Published: August 2020

Accurate prediction of PVT properties of heavy oil system is of great significance to the design of injection–production parameters and dynamic analysis of multi-thermal fluid stimulation in heavy oil reservoir. The saturation pressure and viscosity of Bohai heavy oil system at different temperature and different gas oil ratio conditions were tested and analyzed. The functional relations of regression equations for saturation pressure and viscosity are constructed based on classical PVT correlations, but the parameters in the equations different from classical correlations are obtained from present experiment test data with multiple regression method. The empirical formula analysis results indicate that the 2-parameter equation can almost completely fit the experimental data, but its application scope is narrow. Although the 4-parameter equation has an extensive adaptability, its fitting accuracy is very low. The 3-parameter equation can not only better fit the saturation pressure and viscosity of heavy oil for the same gas under different dissolved gas oil ratios and different temperatures, but also has a wide application range. It is recommended to use the 3-parameter equation for physical property analysis and calculation of heavy oil. The research results provide a basis for the accurate prediction of heavy oil PVT parameters.
Pericarditis as a cardiac manifestation of acute leptospirosis
Authors: Zechel M. , Franz M. , Baier M. , Hagel S. , Schleenvoigt B. T.
Published: August 2020

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. The clinical presentation is unspecific and ranges from an asymptomatic clinical course to an acute fulminant disease. The current case report describes a 32-year-old male patient who presented with ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram about 14 days after cross-country running. Pericarditis was diagnosed and linked to an acute leptospirosis that was serologically confirmed.
Impact of diabetes on COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality: a retrospective study from Northern Italy
Authors: Ciardullo S. , Zerbini F. , Perra S. , Muraca E. , Cannistraci R. , Lauriola M. , Grosso P. , Lattuada G. , Ippoliti G. , Mortara A. , Manzoni G. , Perseghin G.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-existing diabetes on in-hospital mortality in patients admitted for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

This is a single center, retrospective study conducted at Policlinico di Monza hospital, located in the Lombardy region, Northern Italy. We reviewed medical records of 373 consecutive adult patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 between February 22 and May 15, 2020. Data were collected on diabetes status, comorbid conditions and laboratory findings. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effect of diabetes on in-hospital mortality after adjustment for potential confounding variables.

Results

Mean age of the patients was 72 ± 14 years (range 17–98), 244 (65.4%) were male and 69 (18.5%) had diabetes. The most common comorbid conditions were hypertension (237 [64.8%]), cardiovascular disease (140 [37.7%]) and malignant neoplasms (50 [13.6%]). In-hospital death occurred in 142 (38.0%) patients. In the multivariable model older age (Relative Risk [RR] 1.06 [1.04–1. 09] per year), diabetes (RR 1.56 [1.05–2.02]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR 1.82 [1.13–2.35]), higher values of lactic dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were independently associated with in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

In this retrospective single-center study, diabetes was independently associated with a higher in-hospital mortality. More intensive surveillance of patients with this condition is to be warranted.
Theoretical virtues in eighteenth-century debates on animal cognition
Authors: van den Berg Hein
Published: August 2020

Within eighteenth-century debates on animal cognition we can distinguish at least three main theoretical positions: (i) Buffon’s mechanism, (ii) Reimarus’ theory of instincts, and (iii) the sensationalism of Condillac and Leroy. In this paper, I adopt a philosophical perspective on this debate and argue that in order to fully understand the justification Buffon, Reimarus, Condillac, and Leroy gave for their respective theories, we must pay special attention to the theoretical virtues these naturalists alluded to while justifying their position. These theoretical virtues have received little to no attention in the literature on eighteenth-century animal cognition, but figure prominently in the justification of the mechanist, instinctive, and sensationalist theories of animal behavior. Through my philosophical study of the role of theoretical virtues in eighteenth-century debates on animal cognition, we obtain a deeper understanding of how theoretical virtues were conceptualized in eighteenth-century science and how they influenced the justification of theories of animal cognition.
Experimental study of coal fracture dynamics under the influence of cyclic freezing–thawing using shear elastic waves
Authors: Nikolenko Petr V. , Epshtein Svetlana A. , Shkuratnik Vladimir L. , Anufrenkova Polina S.
Published: August 2020

Cyclic freezing–thawing can lead to fracture development in coal, affecting its mechanical and consumer properties. To study crack formations in coal, an ultrasonic sounding method using shear polarized waves was proposed. Samples of three coal types (anthracite, lignite and hard coal) were tested. The research results show that, in contrast to the shear wave velocity, the shear wave amplitude is extremely sensitive to the formation of new cracks at the early stages of cyclic freezing–thawing. Tests also show an inverse correlation between coal compressive strength and its tendency to form cracks under temperature impacts; shear wave attenuation increases more sharply in high-rank coals after the first freezing cycle. Spectral analysis of the received signals also confirmed significant crack formation in anthracite after the first freeze–thaw cycle. The initial anisotropy was determined, and its decrease with an increase in the number of freeze–thaw cycles was shown. The data obtained forms an experimental basis for the development of new approaches to preserve coal consumer properties during storage and transportation under severe natural and climatic conditions.
Surface Segregation in Solid Oxide Cell Oxygen Electrodes: Phenomena, Mitigation Strategies and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Chen Kongfa , Jiang San Ping
Published: August 2020

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are highly efficient and environmentally benign devices that can be used to store renewable electrical energy in the form of fuels such as hydrogen in the solid oxide electrolysis cell mode and regenerate electrical power using stored fuels in the solid oxide fuel cell mode. Despite this, insufficient long-term durability over 5–10 years in terms of lifespan remains a critical issue in the development of reliable SOC technologies in which the surface segregation of cations, particularly strontium (Sr) on oxygen electrodes, plays a critical role in the surface chemistry of oxygen electrodes and is integral to the overall performance and durability of SOCs. Due to this, this review will provide a critical overview of the surface segregation phenomenon, including influential factors, driving forces, reactivity with volatile impurities such as chromium, boron, sulphur and carbon dioxide, interactions at electrode/electrolyte interfaces and influences on the electrochemical performance and stability of SOCs with an emphasis on Sr segregation in widely investigated (La,Sr)MnO3and (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3−δ. In addition, this review will present strategies for the mitigation of Sr surface segregation.

Graphic Abstract
A dynamical approach to semilinear elliptic equations
Authors: Jones Christopher , Latushkin Yuri , Sukhtayev Alim , Beck Margaret , Cox Graham
Published: August 2020

A characterization of a semilinear elliptic partial differential equation (PDE) on a bounded domain in

\mathbb{R}^{n}

is given in terms of an infinite-dimensional dynamical system. The dynamical system is on the space of boundary data for the PDE. This is a novel approach to elliptic problems that enables the use of dynamical systems tools in studying the corresponding PDE. The dynamical system is ill-posed, meaning solutions do not exist forwards or backwards in time for generic initial data. We offer a framework in which this ill-posed system can be analyzed. This can be viewed as generalizing the theory of spatial dynamics, which applies to the case of an infinite cylindrical domain.
Compressibility in a Variable Generalised Chaplygin Gas
Authors: Malaver Manuel
Published: August 2020

Considering the Panigrahi and Chatterjee model (2017) for variable generalised Chaplygin gas, in this paper we found for this kind of exotic matter an analytic expression for the adiabatic compressibility βs. It was analyzed the behaviour of the adiabatic compressibility in the limit of high and low pressure. The derived equation for βs was used to deduce the value of the heat capacity at constant pressure Cp for variable generalised Chaplygin gas.