bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal relationships among interpersonal openness trait, hostile attribution bias, and displaced aggressive behaviour: Big Five treated as covariates
Authors: Su Shu , Quan Fangying , Xia Ling‐Xiang
Published: February 2021

Displaced aggressive behaviour is associated with many negative outcomes. Although certain personality traits predict displaced aggressive behaviour, the uniquely longitudinal effect of indigenous interpersonal traits on displaced aggressive behaviour is ignored. To address this gap, we explored the longitudinal relationship among an indigenously interpersonal trait of China (interpersonal openness), hostile attribution bias, and self‐reported displaced aggressive behaviour. Additionally, we tested whether hostile attribution bias mediated the relationship between interpersonal openness and self‐reported displaced aggressive behaviour. The Interpersonal Self‐Support Scale for Undergraduate Students, Word Sentence Association Paradigm for Hostility, Displaced Aggression Questionnaire, and the NEO Personality Inventory‐3 were administered to 942 undergraduates on two occasions, 6 months apart. A cross‐lagged model showed that, after controlling for the Big Five personality traits, interpersonal openness predicted subsequent hostile attribution bias, and hostile attribution bias predicted self‐reported displaced aggressive behaviour 6 months later. Hostile attribution bias at time 2 mediated the relationship between interpersonal openness at time 1 and self‐reported displaced aggressive behaviour at time 2. These results were consistent with the interpersonal self‐support theory's appraisals of interpersonal openness, and they extended the social information processing and general aggression models to explain displaced aggressive behaviour.
New infections and HIV‐1 subtypes among febrile persons and blood donors in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Olusola Babatunde A. , Olaleye David O. , Odaibo Georgina N.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

There were approximately 37.9 million persons infected with HIV in 2018 globally, resulting in 770,000 deaths annually. Over 50% of this infection and deaths occur in sub‐Saharan Africa, with countries like Nigeria being seriously affected. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of new infections globally. To control HIV infection in Nigeria, there is a need to continually screen high‐risk groups for early HIV infection and subtypes using very sensitive methods. In this study, new HIV‐1 infection and circulating HIV‐1 subtypes among febrile persons and blood donors were determined. Performance characteristics of three commercial EIA kits were also evaluated.

Methods

In total, 1028 participants were recruited for the study. New HIV‐1 infection and subtypes were determined using enzyme immunoassays and molecular techniques, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and agreements were compared among the EIA kits using PCR‐confirmed HIV‐positive and negative samples.

Results

The overall prevalence of HIV infection in this study was 5.35%. The rate of new HIV infection was significantly different (p < .03674) among 1028 febrile persons (Ibadan: 2.22%; Saki: 1.36%) and blood donors (5.07%) studied. Three subtypes, CRF02_AG, A, and G, were found among those with new HIV infection. Whereas the commercial ELISA kits had very high specificities (94.12%, 100%, and 100%) for HIV‐1 detection, Alere Determine HIV‐1 antibody rapid kit had the lowest sensitivity score (50%).

Conclusion

Genetic diversity of HIV‐1 strains among infected individuals in Oyo State, Nigeria, is still relatively high. This high level of diversity of HIV‐1 strains may impact the reliability of diagnosis of the virus in Nigeria and other African countries where many of the virus strains co‐circulate.
Review of crop‐specific tolerance limits to acidity, salinity, and sodicity for seventeen cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops common to rainfed subtropical cropping systems
Authors: Page Kathryn L. , Dang Yash P. , Martinez Cristina , Dalal Ram C. , Wehr J. Bernhard , Kopittke Peter M. , Orton Thomas G. , Menzies Neal W.
Published: February 2021

Soil constraints limit crop water and nutrient extraction and lead to yield loss globally. In rainfed agriculture, the selection of crop species more likely to yield well under constrained conditions is an important management tool. However, information on the most appropriate crops is often difficult to access due to its publication in a wide range of disparate sources and the various measures of crop tolerance used. This study aimed to improve our ability to identify crops for constrained areas in rainfed subtropical cropping systems by compiling published information that had assessed the grain yield response to acidic, saline, or sodic conditions of 17 cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops. This information was used to develop a 'traffic light' system for salinity and acidity to provide guidance on when soil pH or the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil extract (ECe) is likely to be 'good', 'potentially limiting', or 'poor' for grain yield. Crops were also ranked according to their likely ability to yield well under saline, acidic, or sodic conditions. For all crops, the point at which grain yield was affected by soil constraints was variable and there was often only a small amount of published information available to help guide the identification of tolerance limits and rankings, particularly for sodicity. Many studies were also conducted under experimental conditions that differed from rainfed farming, which can affect the transferability of results. Confidence in the tolerance limits and rankings is thus only moderate and further work is required to confirm their applicability.
Clinical routine acquisition protocol for 3D relaxation‐compensated APT and rNOE CEST‐MRI of the human brain at 3T
Authors: Goerke Steffen , Breitling Johannes , Korzowski Andreas , Paech Daniel , Zaiss Moritz , Schlemmer Heinz‐Peter , Ladd Mark E. , Bachert Peter
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The value of relaxation‐compensated amide proton transfer (APT) and relayed nuclear Overhauser effect (rNOE) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST)‐MRI has already been demonstrated in various neuro‐oncological clinical applications. Recently, we translated the approach from 7T to a clinically relevant magnetic field strength of 3T. However, the overall acquisition time was still too long for a broad application in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to establish a shorter acquisition protocol whilst maintaining the contrast behavior and reproducibility.

Methods

Ten patients with glioblastoma were examined using the previous state‐of‐the‐art acquisition protocol at 3T. The acquired spectral data were retrospectively reduced to find the minimal amount of required information that allows obtaining the same contrast behavior. To further reduce the acquisition time, also the image readout was accelerated and the pre‐saturation parameters were further optimized.

Results

In total, the overall acquisition time could be reduced from 19 min to under 7 min. One key finding was that, when evaluated by the relaxation‐compensated inverse metric, a contrast correction for B1‐field inhomogeneities at 3T can also be achieved reliably with CEST data at only one B1 value. In contrast, a 1‐point B1‐correction was not sufficient for the common linear difference evaluation. The reproducibility of the new clinical routine acquisition protocol was similar to the previous state‐of‐the‐art protocol with limits of agreement below 20%.

Conclusions

The substantial reduction in acquisition time by about 64% now allows the application of 3D relaxation‐compensated APT and rNOE CEST‐MRI for examinations of the human brain at 3T in clinical routine.
Health in the Inca heartland: A paleopathological analysis of burials from the Cuzco region of Peru
Authors: Andrushko Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

While much is known about the rise and expansion of the Inca Empire (AD 1438–1532) throughout the Andean region of South America, the health effects of the empire in its capital region remain unclear. The present study addresses the Inca Empire's impact on health in the Cuzco region of Peru through an analysis of four conditions (dental enamel hypoplasias, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis and periosteal lesions) in 929 pre‐Inca and Inca burials. The study results show little change in health from the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000–1438) to the Inca Imperial Period (AD 1438–1532). When the location of the Inca burial sites was analysed, individuals from sites closest to the centre of the empire's capital showed lower frequencies in pathological conditions compared with individuals from sites in the countryside. These results suggest that individuals centred in the Inca imperial sphere benefited from their position and experienced better health. A similar finding was also seen with the previous Wari occupation of Cuzco in the Middle Horizon (AD 600–1000), as burials within the Wari imperial sphere exhibited fewer non‐specific stress indicators than those outside of it. Overall, the frequencies of pathological conditions in the Cuzco region, which ranged from 4.6% for porotic hyperostosis to 18.8% for periosteal lesions, were lower than frequencies from many coastal Peruvian sites. These differences may relate to a diverse diet provided by the Cuzco region ecosystem, as well as the absence of ecological challenges that affected coastal populations.
Life and death of four individuals in the destruction of the Late Bronze Age city of Azekah, Israel
Authors: Berendt Karl , Garvie‐Lok Sandra , Mayne Correia Pamela , Lipschits Oded , Gadot Yuval
Published: February 2021

In this article, we discuss the skeletal remains of four individuals discovered trapped below destruction debris of Building T2/627 at the site of Tel Azekah, Israel, dating to the late 12th Century BCE. Osteological analysis shows that these individuals suffered from anemia and other systemic illness during their lives. Patterns of musculoskeletal stress markers show that they were likely highly active; in the context of artifacts recovered from the building, we suggest that specific activities included grinding grain and carrying heavy objects. Heat damage to the remains shows that the bodies were extensively burned. The archaeological and osteological evidence suggest that a high temperature fire fueled by flammable goods stored in the building caused the building to collapse on top of these individuals, preserving their burnt remains in situ. Together, these lines of evidence enhance our understanding of these individuals' ways of life and manners of death against the backdrop of the “crisis years” of the Late Bronze Age Collapse during the end of the 2nd Millennium BCE.
Four Cycles of Etoposide plus Cisplatin for Patients with Good-Risk Advanced Germ Cell Tumors
Authors: Funt Samuel A. , McHugh Deaglan J. , Tsai Stephanie , Knezevic Andrea , O'Donnell Devon , Patil Sujata , Silber Deborah , Bromberg Maria , Carousso Maryann , Reuter Victor E. , Carver Brett S. , Sheinfeld Joel , Motzer Robert J. , Bajorin Dean F. , Bosl George J. , Feldman Darren R.
Published: February 2021

Background

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends either three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin or four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin (EPx4) as initial chemotherapy for the treatment of good-risk germ cell tumors (GCTs). To assess the response, toxicity, and survival outcomes of EPx4, we analyzed our experience.

Material and Methods

Response and survival outcomes, selected toxicities, and adherence to chemotherapy dose and schedule were assessed in patients with good-risk GCT who received EPx4 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 1982 and 2016. The results were compared with our past results and published data.

Results

Between 1982 and 2016, 944 patients with GCT were treated with EPx4, 289 who were previously reported plus 655 treated between January 2000 and August 2016. A favorable response was achieved in 928 of 944 patients (98.3%). Five-year progression-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates were 93.9%, 98.6%, and 97.9%, respectively. Median follow-up was 7.3 years (range, 2.8 months to 35.5 years). Viable, nonteratomatous malignant GCT was present in 3.5% of 432 postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection specimens from patients with nonseminomatous GCT. Febrile neutropenia and thromboembolic events occurred in 16.0% and 8.9%, respectively, with one treatment-related death. In the more recent 655-patient cohort, full-dose EPx4 was administered to 631 (96.3%), with deviations from planned treatment driven mainly by vascular (n = 13), hematologic (n = 11), renal (n = 7), or infectious (n = 5) events.

Conclusion

EPx4 is highly effective and well tolerated in patients with good-risk GCTs and remains a standard of care.

Implications for Practice

Four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin (EPx4) is a standard-of-care regimen for all patients with good-risk germ cell tumors with a favorable response rate and disease-specific survival of 98%. Full-dose administration of etoposide and cisplatin and complete resection of residual disease lead to optimal outcomes. EPx4 should be the recommended regimen in active smokers, patients with reduced or borderline kidney function, and patients aged 50 years or older, which are patient groups at increased risk for bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. Because of a risk of acquired severe pulmonary illness, EPx4 may also be favored for patients who vape or use e-cigarettes and during ongoing transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Reproductive health counseling and contraceptive use in adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hernandez Angela M. , Burdick Bethany , Adeyemi‐Fowode Oluyemisi
Published: February 2021

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, genetic disease posing reproductive health concerns to affected women, such as high‐risk pregnancies and medication interactions leading to contraceptive failure. Reproductive health counseling in this population is of the utmost importance, but barriers to providing it include lack of time, knowledge, and provider discomfort. We sought to evaluate reproductive health counseling and contraceptive use in female adolescent CF patients.

Methods

An Institutional Review Board approved retrospective chart review was performed between March 2008 and March 2018. Females 10–21 years old with the diagnosis of CF were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used.

Results

Thirty‐three patients met inclusion criteria: 16 non‐sexually active and 17 sexually active. Thirteen patients were counseled about pregnancy risks. All sexually active patients used contraception, with the most common being condoms and combined oral contraceptive pills. Six pregnancies occurred, resulting in five live births and one termination.

Conclusions

Less than half of patients were counseled about pregnancy and contraception, and most patients chose high failure methods. Female adolescents with CF should be routinely screened for sexual activity, offered long‐acting reversible contraception, and counseled on the effects of CF on pregnancy.
A multiple closed‐loops robotic calibration for accurate surgical puncture
Authors: Zheng Lingxiang , Zhang Zhesi , Wang Zhigang , Bao Kaiyang , Yang Lin , Yan Biao , Yan Zeping , Ye Weitao , Yang Rongqian
Published: February 2021

Background

Robotic puncture system increasingly demands stringent standard in target location accuracy. The positional and orientational transformation relationships among all components of the system are supposed to be calibrated and identified preoperatively.

Aims

The target location performance is directly determined by the calibration result. Therefore, a multiple closed‐loops calibration approach is proposed to achieve high‐level calibration accuracy in robotic puncture system.

Materials & Methods

This method takes as input the three‐dimensional position information of the retro‐reflective markers mounted on the surgical tool, which is detected by the optical tracking system in real time during robotic movement. There is less complicated mathematical derivation and calculation in the presented algorithm by applying the closed‐loop principle.

Results

Experimental results validate that it can achieve accurate robotic target location with less input data and computation‐cost, satisfying the clinical puncture requirements.

Discussion

The spatial calibration between robotic arm and optical tracking system efficiently realised by the presented approach present an alternative which can be safely applied to the robotic puncture system for accurate insertion.

Conclusion

Overall, a multiple closed‐loops calibration approach is proposed in this work, which may increase surgical efficiency.
Frameless stereotactic brain biopsy: A prospective study on robot‐assisted brain biopsies performed on 32 patients by using the RONNA G4 system
Authors: Dlaka Domagoj , Švaco Marko , Chudy Darko , Jerbić Bojan , Šekoranja Bojan , Šuligoj Filip , Vidaković Josip , Romić Dominik , Raguž Marina
Published: February 2021

Background

We present a novel robotic neuronavigation system (RONNA G4), used for precise preoperative planning and frameless neuronavigation, developed by a research group from the University of Zagreb and neurosurgeons from the University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia. The aim of study is to provide comprehensive error measurement analysis of the system used for the brain biopsy.

Methods

Frameless stereotactic robot‐assisted biopsies were performed on 32 consecutive patients. Post‐operative CT and MRI scans were assessed to precisely measure and calculate target point error (TPE) and entry point error (EPE).

Results

The application accuracy of the RONNA system for TPE was 1.95 ± 1.11 mm, while for EPE was 1.42 ± 0.74 mm. The total diagnostic yield was 96.87%. Linear regression showed statistical significance between the TPE and EPE, and the angle of the trajectory on the bone.

Conclusion

The RONNA G4 robotic system is a precise and highly accurate autonomous neurosurgical assistant for performing frameless brain biopsies.
In Situ and Operando Characterizations of 2D Materials in Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Meng Caixia , Das Pratteek , Shi Xiaoyu , Fu Qiang , Müllen Klaus , Wu Zhong-Shuai
Published: February 2021

The urgent need of modern society for portable energy‐consuming devices has boosted the development of high‐power supercapacitors and high‐energy batteries. Major prerequisites for augmenting wider practical applications are advanced electrode materials and deeper insights into the underlying electrochemical processes. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, 2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal carbides, nitrides, and dichalcogenides, hold special promise. Characterizing their behavior under real operating conditions (operando) or at the site of operation (in situ) without disassembling the device helps uncover essential kinetic information, which may, otherwise, be lost. By identifying both harmful and beneficial mechanisms, these in situ and operando characterization techniques allow researchers to alleviate critical issues in existing materials and develop new materials with enhanced properties. Herein, a brief introduction including the preparation and the electrochemical energy storage application of 2D materials is first presented. The main concern, thereby, is the influence of preparation methods on the resulting electrode structure and electrochemical performance. Then, the electrochemical mechanisms underlying the operation of supercapacitors and lithium batteries are discussed in detail. Finally, the perspective and future direction of applying the in situ and operando techniques to model 2D materials in revealing some important processes are highlighted.
Dutch Brain Research Registry for study participant recruitment: Design and first results
Authors: Zwan Marissa D. , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Cleutjens Solange , Schouten Tamara C , Vermunt Lisa , Jutten Roos J. , van Maurik Ingrid S. , Sikkes Sietske A.M. , Flenniken Derek , Howell Taylor , Weiner Michael W. , Scheltens Philip , Prins Niels D.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

The Dutch Brain Research Registry aims to facilitate online recruitment of participants for brain disease studies.

Methods

Registrants were primarily recruited through an online social media campaign. The registration process included a short questionnaire, which was subsequently used in the prescreening process to match participants to studies.

Results

In the first 18 months, 17,218 registrants signed up (58±11 years old, 78% female). Out of 34,696 study invitations that were sent, 36% were accepted by registrants, of which 50% to 84% were finally enrolled, resulting in 10,661 participants in 28 studies. Compared to non‐participants, study participants were more often older, male, more highly educated, retired or unemployed, non‐smoking, healthier, and more often had a family member with dementia.

Discussion

The Dutch Brain Research Registry facilitates effective matching of participants to brain disease studies. Participant factors related to study enrollment may reflect facilitators or barriers for participation, which is useful for improving recruitment strategies.
Collapsing and the convex hull property in a soap film capillarity model
Authors: King Darren , Maggi Francesco , Stuvard Salvatore
Published: February 2021

Soap films hanging from a wire frame are studied in the framework of capillarity theory. Minimizers in the corresponding variational problem are known to consist of positive volume regions with boundaries of constant mean curvature/pressure, possibly connected by “collapsed” minimal surfaces. We prove here that collapsing only occurs if the mean curvature/pressure of the bulky regions is negative, and that, when this last property holds, the whole soap film lies in the convex hull of its boundary wire frame.
Global $C^∞$ regularity of the steady Prandtl equation with favorable pressure gradient
Authors: Wang Yue , Zhang Zhifei
Published: February 2021

In the case of
favorable pressure gradient
, Oleinik obtained the

global-in-

x

solutions to the steady Prandtl equations with
low regularity
(see Oleinik and Samokhin [9], P.21, Theorem 2.1.1). Due to the degeneracy of the equation near the boundary, the question of higher regularity of Oleinik's solutions remains open. See the

local-in-

x

higher regularity established by Guo and Iyer [5]. In this paper, we prove that Oleinik's solutions are smooth up to the boundary

y = 0

for any

x > 0

, using further maximum principle techniques. Moreover, since Oleinik only assumed low regularity on the data prescribed at

x = 0

, our result implies instant smoothness (in the steady case,

x = 0

is often considered as initial time).
Incidence and Risk Factors for Long-Term Mesh Explantation Due to Infection in More than 100,000 Hernia Operation Patients
Authors: Ramos Radwan Dipp , O'Brien William J. , Gupta Kalpana , Itani Kamal M.F.
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND:

Infectious complications after hernia operation are potentially disastrous, often requiring long-term antibiotic administration, debridement, and mesh explantation. Our objective was to describe the long-term incidence and risk factors for synthetic mesh explantation due to infection after hernia operation in a large cohort.

STUDY DESIGN:

Retrospective database study using Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program and chart review of veterans undergoing abdominal or groin hernia repair with synthetic mesh implantation during 2008-2015. The main outcome was mesh explantation due to infection within 5 years.

RESULTS:

The study population consisted of 103,869 hernia operations, of which 74.3% were inguinal, 10.7% umbilical, and 15.0% ventral. Explantation incidence was highest among ventral (1.5%). Median explantation interval overall was 208 days. In multivariable logistic regression, all obesity levels from pre-obesity to obesity class III were associated with higher explantation risk. American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification of 3 to 5 was associated with odds ratio (OR) of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.26), as was longer operative duration (OR 1.83; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.21), and contaminated or dirty surgical wound classification (OR 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11 to 4.64). Umbilical repair (OR 6.11; 95% CI, 4.14 to 9.02) and ventral repair (OR 14.35; 95% CI, 10.39 to 19.82) were associated with higher risk compared with inguinal. Open repair was associated with a higher risk compared with laparoscopic (OR 3.57; 95% CI, 2.52 to 5.05). Deep incisional surgical site infection within 30 days of operation was more likely to result in long-term mesh explantation (29.2%) than either superficial (6.4%) or organ space infection (22.4%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Mesh explantation for infection is most common after ventral hernia repair. Risk factor optimization is crucial to minimize such an end point.
Infectious Complication in Relation to the Prophylactic Mesh Position: The PRIMA Trial Revisited
Authors: Van den Dop Matthijs L. , Sneiders Dimitri , Kleinrensink Gert-Jan , Jeekel Hans J. , Lange Johan F. , Timmermans Lucas
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND:

Prophylactic mesh reinforcement has proven to reduce the incidence of incisional hernia (IH). Fear of infectious complications may withhold the widespread implementation of prophylactic mesh reinforcement, particularly in the onlay position.

STUDY DESIGN:

Patients scheduled for elective midline surgery were randomly assigned to a suture closure group, onlay mesh group, or sublay mesh group. The incidence, treatment, and outcomes of patients with infectious complications were assessed through examining the adverse event forms. Data were collected prospectively for 2 years after the index procedure.

RESULTS:

Overall, infectious complications occurred in 14/107 (13.3%) patients in the suture group and in 52/373 (13.9%) patients with prophylactic mesh reinforcement (p = 0.821). Infectious complications occurred in 17.6% of the onlay group and 10.3% of the sublay group (p = 0.042). Excluding anastomotic leakage as a cause, these incidences were 16% (onlay) and 9.7% (sublay), p = 0.073. The mesh could remain in-situ in 40/52 (77%) patients with an infectious complication. The 2-year IH incidence after onlay mesh reinforcement was 10 in 33 (30.3%) with infectious complications and 15 in 140 (9.7%) without infectious complications (p = 0.003). This difference was not statistically significant for the sublay group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Prophylactic mesh placement was not associated with increased incidence, severity, or need for invasive treatment of infectious complications compared with suture closure. Patients with onlay mesh reinforcement and an infectious complication had a significantly higher risk of developing an incisional hernia, compared with those in the sublay group.
The Malaysian Islamic Party 1951-2013
Authors: Noor Farish A.
Published: February 2021

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS is the biggest opposition party in Malaysia today and one of the most prominent Islamist parties in Southeast Asia. This work recounts the historical development of PAS from 1951 to the present, and looks at how it has risen to become a political movement that is both local and transnational, tracking its rise from the Cold War to the age of the War on Terror, and its evolving ideological postures - from anti-colonialism to post-revolutionary Islamism, as the party adapted itself to the realities of the postmodern global age. PAS's long engagement with modernity and its nuanced approach to the goal of state capture is the focus of this work, as it recounts the story of the Islamist party and Malaysia by extension. Download the Table of Contents and Introduction
A COVID-19 Lockdown Tabletop Exercise in New Taipei City, Taiwan
Authors: Lo I-Tien , Lin Ching-Yuan , Cheng Ming-Tai
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

This exercise aimed to validate New Taipei City’s strategic plan for a city lockdown in response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The main goal of all solutions was the principle of “reducing citizen activity and strengthening government control.”

Methods:

We created a suitable exercise, creating 15 hypothetical situations for 3 stages. All participating units designed and proposed policy plans and execution protocols according to each situation.

Results:

In the course of the exercise, many existing policies and execution protocols were validated. These addressed (1) situations occurring in Stage 1, when the epidemic was spreading to the point of lockdown preparations; (2) approaches to curb the continued spread of the epidemic in Stage 2; and (3) returning to work after the epidemic was controlled and lockdown lifted in Stage 3. Twenty response units participated in the exercise. Although favorable outcomes were obtained, the evaluators provided comments suggesting further improvements.

Conclusions:

Our exercise demonstrated a successful example to help policy-making and revision in a large city of over 4 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also enhanced participants’ subject knowledge and familiarity with the implementation of a city lockdown. For locations intending to go into lockdown, similar tabletop exercises are an effective verification option.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAPs) of Community Pharmacists Regarding COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey in 2 Provinces of Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Khayal , Saqlain Muhammad , Muhammad Gul , Hamdard Ataullah , Naveed Muhammad , Butt Muhammad Hammad , Khan Siraj , Ismael Najlaa Saadi , Khan Zakir , Karatas Yusuf
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with no therapy, and pharmacists being a part of the health care system have a vital role in the management of COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community pharmacists (CPs) regarding COVID-19.

Method:

An online survey was conducted among 393 CPs in 2 provinces of Pakistan during the lockdown period. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.745) was used for data collection. All statistical analyses were analyzed by using SPSS, version 21 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).

Results:

Among 393 participants, 71.5% (n = 281) had good knowledge, 44% (n = 175) had a positive attitude, and 57.3% (n = 225) had good practices regarding COVID-19. Social media (45.29%, n = 178) were reported as the main source to seek information of COVID-19. Good knowledge, age ≥ 26 years, and a PhD degree level were the substantial determinants (P= < 0.05) of a good attitude. Similarly, a CP with experience of > 5 years, a PhD degree, good knowledge, and a good attitude has higher odds of having good practices as compared with reference categories (P= < 0.05).

Conclusion:

In short, a majority of the CPs had good knowledge but had a poor attitude and practice toward the management of COVID-19. Standard-structured educational and counseling programs for CPs regarding COVID-19 are needed for effective management.
Intraregional propagation of Covid-19 cases in Pará, Brazil: assessment of isolation regime to lockdown
Authors: Lélis da Silva Félix , Dias Pita Javier , Gomes Maryjane Diniz A. , Lélis da Silva Andréa P. , da Silva Gabriel Lélis P.
Published: February 2021

Due to the high incidence of COVID-19 case numbers internationally, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of global relevance, advising countries to follow protocols to combat pandemic advance through actions that can reduce spread and consequently avoid a collapse in the local health system. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of the evolution of new community cases, and mortality records of COVID-19 in the State of Pará, which has a subtropical climate with temperatures between 20 and 35 °C, after the implementation of social distancing by quarantine and adoption of lockdown. The follow-up was carried out by the daily data from the technical bulletins provided by the State of Pará Public Health Secretary (SESPA). On 18 March 2020, Pará notified the first case of COVID-19. After 7 weeks, the number of confirmed cases reached 4756 with 375 deaths. The results show it took 49 days for 81% of the 144 states municipalities, distributed over an area of approximately 1 248 000 km2 to register COVID-19 cases. Temperature variations between 24.5 and 33.1 °C did not promote the decline in the new infections curve. The association between social isolation, quarantine and lockdown as an action to contain the infection was effective in reducing the region's new cases registration of COVID-19 in the short-term. However, short periods of lockdown may have promoted the virus spread among peripheral municipalities of the capital, as well as to inland regions.
Multilingualism and Ethnic Prejudice
Authors: Servidio Rocco , Giammusso Isabella , Boca Stefano , Mirisola Alberto
Published: February 2021

Abstract. This study explored the relationship between the ability to talk to others in more than one language and ethnic prejudice, considering the quality and quantity of intergroup contact. A structural equation model analysis was carried out on a sample of 631 Italian citizens. The results showed that multilingualism led to an increase of acceptance of intergroup differences and positive attitudes toward Moroccans and that the quality (but not quantity) of intergroup contact-mediated those relationships. The mediating role of the quality of intergroup contact extends previous results on the relationship between multilingualism and positive attitudes toward ethnic out-groups. These findings are important from a scientific point of view, as they enrich the conditions of the intergroup contact hypothesis.
A Deep Learning Approach to Radar‐Based QPE
Authors: Yo Ting‐Shuo , Su Shih‐Hao , Chu Jung‐Lien , Chang Chiao‐Wei , Kuo Hung‐Chi
Published: February 2021

In this study, we propose a volume‐to‐point framework for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) based on the Quantitative Precipitation Estimation and Segregation Using Multiple Sensor (QPESUMS) Mosaic Radar data set. With a data volume consisting of the time series of gridded radar reflectivities over the Taiwan area, we used machine learning algorithms to establish a statistical model for QPE in weather stations. The model extracts spatial and temporal features from the input data volume and then associates these features with the location‐specific precipitations. In contrast to QPE methods based on the Z–R relation, we leverage the machine learning algorithms to automatically detect the evolution and movement of weather systems and associate these patterns to a location with specific topographic attributes. Specifically, we evaluated this framework with the hourly precipitation data of 45 weather stations in Taipei during 2013–2016. In comparison to the operational QPE scheme used by the Central Weather Bureau, the volume‐to‐point framework performed comparably well in general cases and excelled in detecting heavy‐rainfall events. By using the current results as the reference benchmark, the proposed method can integrate the heterogeneous data sources and potentially improve the forecast in extreme precipitation scenarios.
Seeing Stripes in the Atmosphere of a Brown Dwarf
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: February 2021

A planet-hunting satellite’s observations of the nearby system Luhman 16 AB reveal bands of clouds, high-speed jets, and polar vortices.
Author Correction: Immune cell composition in normal human kidneys
Authors: Park Jun-Gyu , Na Myeongsu , Kim Min-Gang , Park Su Hwan , Lee Hack June , Kim Dong Ki , Kwak Cheol , Kim Yon Su , Chang Sunghoe , Moon Kyung Chul , Lee Dong-Sup , Han Seung Seok
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Chirality transfer of cysteine to the plasmonic resonance region through silver coating of gold nanobipyramids
Authors: Wang Ye , He Wei , Li Chun Hong , Xia Chang , Yan Yuan , Li Chun Mei , Huang Cheng Zhi
Published: February 2021

We report a chirality transfer of cysteine to the plasmonic resonance region, which was significant for understanding the role of cysteine and the mechanism in controlling the chirality of designed nanoparticles.
A near-infrared fluorogenic probe for nuclear thiophenol detection
Authors: Niu Jinye , Li Yong , Zhang Ran , Zhang Jian , Wang Xu , Xie Xilei , Jiao Xiaoyun , Tang Bo
Published: February 2021

Based on the thiolysis of dinitrophenyl ethers, a nucleus-targeted fluorescent probe, AQD, with bisalkylaminoanthraquinone as the fluorophore, was prepared for the near-infrared mapping of thiophenol in live cells, zebrafish, and mice.
Cyano-bridged polynuclear coordination compounds derived from paramagnetic [Mn(H2daptsc)]2+ and photochromic [Fe(CN)5NO]2− building blocks
Authors: Sasnovskaya Valentina D. , Zorina Leokadiya V. , Simonov Sergey V. , Talantsev Artem D. , Mikhailov Artem A. , Kostin Gennadiy A. , Yagubskii Eduard B.
Published: February 2021

Metal complexes with H2daptsc ligand were first used as building blocks to create polynuclear multifunctional materials.
Peculiarities of high-pressure hydrogen adsorption on Pt catalyzed Cu-BTC metal–organic framework
Authors: Chuvikov S. V. , Berdonosova E. A. , Krautsou A. , Kostina J. V. , Minin V. V. , Ugolkova E. A. , Klyamkin S. N.
Published: February 2021

Pt-Catalyst plays a key role in hydrogen adsorption by Cu-BTC at high pressures.
Quasi-one dimensional magnetic interactions in the three-dimensional hyper-honeycomb framework [(C2H5)3NH]2Cu2(C2O4)3
Authors: Jacko Anthony C. , Powell Benjamin J.
Published: February 2021

Interference between superexchange pathways causes anisotropic magnetic interactions, leading to dimerisation and remnant quasi-one-dimensional spin chains, explaining the absence of long-range order in a 3D coordination polymer.
Strategies for enhancing the perylene diimide photocatalytic degradation activity: method, effect factor, and mechanism
Authors: Zhou Chengyun , Xia Wu , Huang Danlian , Cheng Min , Zhang Hanjie , Cai Tao , Xiong Weiping , Yang Yang , Song Biao , Wang Wenjun , Zhou Man , Zeng Guangming
Published: February 2021

Strategies to improve the photocatalytic activity of PDI are summarized. The system factor and water chemistry affecting the photocatalytic activity for organic pollutant removal are discussed. The stability and future challenges are discussed.
Nitrate removal from reverse osmosis concentrate in pilot-scale open-water unit process wetlands
Authors: Scholes Rachel C. , Vega Michael A. , Sharp Jonathan O. , Sedlak David L.
Published: February 2021

Open-water wetlands are a novel treatment technology for reverse osmosis concentrate that reduced nitrate concentrations in a pilot-scale system.
Impact of pretreatment on RO membrane organic fouling: composition and adhesion of tertiary wastewater effluent organic matter
Authors: Siebdrath Nadine , Skibinski Bertram , Abraham Shiju , Bernstein Roy , Berger Robert , Stein Noa , Kaufman Yair , Lerch André , Herzberg Moshe
Published: February 2021

Organic fouling in RO desalination of tertiary wastewater is of major concern in the decline in membrane performance.
Catholyte-free electroreduction of CO2 for sustainable production of CO: concept, process development, techno-economic analysis, and CO2 reduction assessment
Authors: Lee Jaeseo , Lee Wonhee , Ryu Kyung Hwan , Park Joungho , Lee Hyojin , Lee Jay H. , Park Ki Tae
Published: February 2021

A sustainable technical alternative for CO production from CO2 and new insights into making the process economically viable are provided based on experimental data.
Engineering a tandem leaching system for the highly selective recycling of valuable metals from spent Li-ion batteries
Authors: Chen Linlin , Chao Yanhong , Li Xiaowei , Zhou Guolang , Lu Qingqiang , Hua Mingqing , Li Hongping , Ni Xiaoguang , Wu Peiwen , Zhu Wenshuai
Published: February 2021

In this work, formic acid and its derived DESs are employed to engineer a tandem leaching system for the selective recovery of Li and Co/Mn valuable metals from spent LIBs.
Optimisation of catalysts coupling in multi-catalytic hybrid materials: perspectives for the next revolution in catalysis
Authors: Heuson Egon , Froidevaux Renato , Itabaiana Ivaldo , Wojcieszak Robert , Capron Mickaël , Dumeignil Franck
Published: February 2021

From the fusion of bio- and chemocatalysts, immobilized in innovative materials, a new family of catalysts is emerging: multi-catalytic hybrid materials (MCHMs). It offers atom and energy savings and, above all, new prospects in chemical synthesis.
Large-scale investigation of the effects of nucleobase sequence on fluorescence excitation and Stokes shifts of DNA-stabilized silver clusters
Authors: Copp Stacy M. , Gonzàlez-Rosell Anna
Published: February 2021

We present a high-throughput study of the steady state Stokes shifts of >300 fluorescent DNA-stabilized silver clusters and the correlations of DNA sequence with the optical properties of these fluorophores.
Chiral salenCo(iii) complexes with bulky substituents as catalysts for stereoselective alternating copolymerization of racemic propylene oxide with carbon dioxide and succinic anhydride
Authors: Wang Zhou , Mu Ying
Published: February 2021

Stereoregular poly(propylene carbonate)s and poly(propylene succinate-block-carbonate)s were synthesized with new chiral salenCo(iii) catalysts carrying bulky substituents.
An approach to unsymmetrical 3,3′-diindolylmethanes through Pd-catalyzed cascade Heck cyclization of allenamides and o-ethynylanilines
Authors: Guo Songjin , Chen Jiayi , Yi Mingjun , Dong Liuli , Lin Aijun , Yao Hequan
Published: February 2021

A highly efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical 3,3′-diindolylmethanes has been developed by palladium-catalyzed cascade Heck/cyclization reaction.
Distribution and behaviour of 233Pa in 2LiF–BeF2 molten salt
Authors: Zhao Zhongqi , Hu Jifeng , Cheng Zhiqiang , Geng Junxia , Li Wenxin , Dou Qiang , Chen Jingen , Li Qingnuan , Cai Xiangzhou
Published: February 2021

Distribution and behavior of 233Pa, essential in the thorium–uranium nuclear fuel cycle, were studied in 2LiF–BeF2 (66 : 34 mole%, FLiBe) molten salt by γ-ray spectrometry.
High-resolution imaging of catalytic activity of a single graphene sheet using electrochemiluminescence microscopy
Authors: Zhu Hui , Jiang Dechen , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: February 2021

High spatial electrochemiluminescence microscopy is established to map the electrocatalytic activity of a single graphene sheet with a nanometer resolution.
Modelling the dynamics of vesicle reshaping and scission under osmotic shocks
Authors: Vanhille-Campos Christian , Šarić Anđela
Published: February 2021

We study dynamic reshaping of lipid vesicles under osmotic shocks via molecular dynamics simulations. We identified rich morphology transformations, and observed a separation of time scales between the shock absorption and the shape relaxation.
A structural study and its relation to dynamic heterogeneity in a polymer glass former
Authors: Balbuena Cristian , Mariel Gianetti Melisa , Rodolfo Soulé Ezequiel
Published: February 2021

Global dynamical behavior is conditioned by structure at low temperature. Some degree of correlation between local structure and local dynamics is observed.
Capillary force on an ‘inert’ colloid: a physical analogy to dielectrophoresis
Authors: Barakat Joseph M. , Squires Todd M.
Published: February 2021

The present work explores the analogy between dielectrophoresis of non-polar particles and the motion of interface-trapped, “inert” colloids – particles with planar contact lines or equilibrium contact angles – in a curvature gradient.
Unprecedented CO2adsorption behaviour by 5A-type zeolite discovered in lower pressure region and at 300 K
Authors: Oda Akira , Hiraki Suguru , Harada Eiji , Kobayashi Ikuka , Ohkubo Takahiro , Ikemoto Yuka , Moriwaki Taro , Kuroda Yasushige
Published: February 2021

The NaCaA-85 zeolite sample which works as an efficient adsorbent for CO2at RT and in low pressure range was found and its specificity is nicely explained by the model composed of CO2pinned by two types of Ca2+ions through far-IR and DFT studies.
A triphasic nanocomposite with a synergetic interfacial structure as a trifunctional catalyst toward electrochemical oxygen and hydrogen reactions
Authors: Wang Ying , Yuan Hongjie , Liu Fan , Hu Tianjun
Published: February 2021

Benefiting from the interfacial electron-coupling and synergistic effect among Ag, the CoFe alloy and the N-doped carbon layer, a triphasic interfacial structure Ag–CoFe@NC exhibits superior trifunctional catalytic activity for the ORR/OER/HER.
Enhanced nonradical catalytic oxidation by encapsulating cobalt into nitrogen doped graphene: highlight on interfacial interactions
Authors: Yu Xiaoyong , Wang Lijing , Wang Xin , Liu Hongzhi , Wang Ziyuan , Huang Yixuan , Shan Guoqiang , Wang Weichao , Zhu Lingyan
Published: February 2021

A unique encapsulated structure was used for peroxide activation. The strong interfacial interactions facilitated electronic communication, thus promoting the generation of NG–PMS*, which reacted with phenol by an anodic-like nonradical process.
Modulating a 2D heterointerface with g-C3N4 mesh layers: a suitable hetero-layered architecture for high-power and long-life energy storage
Authors: Wu Yunping , Wei Wei , Ding Tianyi , Chen Sheng , Zhai Rui , Bai Caihe
Published: February 2021

2D heterointerfaces are modulated with mesh-like g-C3N4 layers, which aim at developing a suitable hetero-layered architecture for high-performance energy storage devices.
Carbon nano-onion encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles for oxygen reduction and lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Xiao Ming-Jun , Ma Bo , Zhang Ze-Qi , Xiao Qi , Li Xiang-Yang , Zhang Zheng-Tao , Wang Qiang , Peng Yong , Zhang Hao-Li
Published: February 2021

Cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated by ionic liquid assisted one-step carbonization, which exhibited high oxygen reduction reaction activity and superior lithium ion storage performance.
Trilayer organic narrowband photodetector with electrically-switchable spectral range and color sensing ability
Authors: Shen Dong , Guan Zhiqiang , Li Menglin , Tsang Sai-Wing , Zhang Wenjun , Lo Ming-Fai , Lee Chun-Sing
Published: February 2021

An organic narrowband photodetector with electrically-switchable spectral range and color sensing ability is designed. Colors of received light are distinguished via comparing different spectral responses under forward and reverse biases.
Lead-free zero dimensional tellurium(iv) chloride-organic hybrid with strong room temperature emission as a luminescent material
Authors: Biswas Anupam , Bakthavatsalam Rangarajan , Bahadur Vir , Biswas Chinmoy , Mali Bhupendra P. , Raavi Sai Santosh Kumar , Gonnade Rajesh G. , Kundu Janardan
Published: February 2021

Present 0D Te(IV)-chloride organic hybrid luminescent material shows broad, yellow-orange, strong room temperature emission (PLQY ∼15%), ambient/thermal stability, and excitation features in the visible (445 nm) allowing its use as phosphor material.
Overcoming the conductivity limit of insulator through tunneling-current junction welding: Ag@PVP core–shell nanowire for high-performance transparent electrode
Authors: Li Qiao , Chen Shanyong , Yu Hong , Chen Jinlei , Yan Xingwu , Li Lu , Xu Maowen
Published: February 2021

A tunneling-current junction welding strategy which can preserve polymer and overcome its conductivity limit simultaneously is developed.
Gallic acid capped Tb3+-doped CaF2 nanocrystals: an efficient optical probe for the detection of carbonate and bicarbonate ions
Authors: Adusumalli Venkata N. K. B. , Koppisetti Heramba V. S. R. M. , Madhukar Nikita , Mondal Ayan , Mahalingam Venkataramanan
Published: February 2021

Gallic acid capped CaF2:Tb3+ nanocrystals as an excellent optical probe for the detection of carbonate ions in water.
An ultrasensitive chemiluminescence strategy based on a microchip platform for telomerase detection at a single-cell level
Authors: Chen Shengyu , Zhao Jingjin , Shi Bingfang , Xu Chunhuan , Zhao Shulin
Published: February 2021

An ultrasensitive chemiluminescence strategy based on a microchip platform was developed for telomerase detection at a single-cell level.