bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noncommunicable disease risk factors among the trainee doctors of a tertiary level diabetes hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Tonima , Faruque Mithila , Banik Palash Chandra , Sultana Sharmin , Amin Feroz , Zaman Mohammad Mostafa
Published: August 2021

Background

Doctors, despite being the public health leaders, are predisposed to the early development of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This study was done to determine the prevalence of risk factors of NCDs among doctors.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among the doctors of a course under the Distance Learning Program at BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka. It was done from March 2015 to February 2016. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire, and physical and biochemical measurements. However, the measured variables were collected by the investigators. WHO STEPS questionnaire V 3.1, with adaptation to the local context, was used.

Results

A total of 404 (223 men and 181 women) of 451 registered doctors participated (89.6%) in the study. The prevalence of smoking was 18.8% among men, and there was no woman smoker. Among the respondents, 17% of men and 0.6% of women drank alcohol at least once in their lifetime. Low physical activity (<600 MET‐min/week) was reported by 44.4% of men and 34.3% of women. Less than a quarter of them (22.3%) consumed five or more servings of fruit and vegetables. Almost 13% had high blood pressure, and 44.8% were overweight or obese. A total of 3.2% were diabetic, and 5.9% had hypercholesterolemia.

Conclusion

High prevalence of NCD risk factors among the doctors in this study highlights the need to create awareness among them.
Organizational hindrances to Healthcare 4.0 adoption: An multi‐criteria decision analysis framework
Authors: Gardas Bhaskar B.
Published: August 2021

Due to the latest developments in the healthcare sector, the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services are being improved. This investigation aims to shortlist the organizational hindrances that influence the adoption of Healthcare 4.0 technologies and model the mutual relationship between them using the DEMATEL methodology. In addition, this study offers a cause‐effect relationship between the barriers and helps to identify the most important challenges to the adoption of Healthcare 4.0 technologies. By reviewing the literature and consulting experts in the case domain, 10 hindrances were identified. The findings of the study highlighted three causal factors namely ‘Lack of vision and commitment from the top management’, ‘Hierarchical structure’, and ‘Lack of skilled workforce’ as critical ones that have the significant causality intensity; whereas, ‘Lack of R&D facilities’ was found be the least significant barrier which belongs to the effect category. It may be noted that the causal factors need to be addressed by the top management of the healthcare organizations for the successful adoption of Health 4.0. Further, the elimination of the causal factors identified by this study would help in reducing the cost of the treatment and enhance the patients' experience. In addition, this research aims to guide managers/decision‐makers of healthcare organizations to deduce policies for the adoption of the latest technologies in the case sector.
A Synthesis of Juvenile Coastal Cutthroat Trout Emigration Studies: Considerations for Researchers and Resource Managers
Authors: Burns Christopher W. , Ptolemy Ronald A. , Tschaplinski Peter J.
Published: August 2021

For the management of Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, resource managers require abundance estimates and demographic structure of juvenile emigrants. However, Coastal Cutthroat Trout research and monitoring have been confounded by the variability in assessment approaches and ecological plasticity of the subspecies. The primary purpose of this study is to help address this current Coastal Cutthroat Trout fisheries management issue by conducting a synthesis of juvenile emigration studies and proposing solutions that should be considered by resource managers when designing juvenile emigration studies. A total of 100 studies conducted in British Columbia and Washington since the 1970s, representing 1,100 annual estimates, were reviewed. The results of this review highlighted inconsistencies in study timing, biological data collection, juvenile emigrant life stage assignments, species identification, and ecotype assumptions. Solutions to address these inconsistencies include increased recognition of juvenile emigrant studies targeting Coastal Cutthroat Trout, strengthened partnerships and data sharing between management agencies, implementation of a life stage assignment standard for juvenile emigration studies, implementation of a field-based and genetic classification model to quantify study-specific identification error rates of juvenile emigrants, and genetic research to determine ecotype expression at the population and individual scales. We highlight the practical issues related to juvenile emigration studies and provide recommendations for management actions to account for the great plasticity in Coastal Cutthroat Trout behavior across the subspecies’ range.
Control of a consumer‐resource agent‐based model using partial differential equation approximation
Authors: Fitzpatrick Ben G. , Federico Paula , Kanarek Andrew , Lenhart Suzanne
Published: August 2021

Agent‐based models (ABMs) are increasing in popularity as tools to simulate and explore many biological systems. Successes in simulation lead to deeper investigations, from designing systems to optimizing performance. The typically stochastic, rule‐based structure of ABMs, however, does not lend itself to analytic and numerical techniques of optimization the way traditional dynamical systems models do. The goal of this work is to illustrate a technique for approximating ABMs with a partial differential equation (PDE) system to design some management strategies on the ABM. We propose a surrogate modeling approach, using differential equations that admit direct means of determining optimal controls, with a particular focus on environmental heterogeneity in the ABM. We implement this program with both PDE and ordinary differential equation (ODE) approximations on the well‐known rabbits and grass ABM, in which a pest population consumes a resource. The control problem addressed is the reduction of this pest population through an optimal control formulation. After fitting the ODE and PDE models to ABM simulation data in the absence of control, we compute optimal controls using the ODE and PDE models, which we them apply to the ABM. The results show promise for approximating ABMs with differential equations in this context.
A comparative study on dry‐sliding wear behavior of graphene oxide/epoxy nanocomposites functionalized by amino‐ and epoxy‐silane coupling agents
Authors: Jamali Nahid , Rezvani Alireza , Khosravi Hamed , Tohidlou Esmaeil
Published: August 2021

To enhance the interfacial bonding between the graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONs) and epoxy (EP) matrix, two different types of silane coupling agents (amino‐ and EP‐silane) were applied to the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. The effects of the silane compound type and silanized GON loading (0.1–0.5 wt% at an interval of 0.2) on the dry‐sliding wear response of GONs‐EP nanocomposites were then studied. The wear tests were conducted under 20 N load and 1000 m sliding distance. The results showed that the wear properties were remarkably improved by the incorporation of silanized GONs to the matrix, and the best wear behavior was obtained at 0.3 wt% silanized GONs. Most importantly, the amino‐silane coupling agent was shown to be more effective in enhancing the wear resistance of the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. After the wear tests, the composite surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy to find the predominant mechanisms.
Recent progress in organic field‐effect transistor‐based integrated circuits
Authors: Yan Yongkun , Zhao Yan , Liu Yunqi
Published: August 2021

Organic integrated circuits are undergoing rapid development with the extensive research on organic semiconducting materials and the performance improvement of organic field‐effect transistors. Organic integrated circuits not only cover all the major circuit types, their complexity, degree of integration, and performance have also been improved in recent years. In this review, recent advances in the design and fabrication of integrated circuits based on organic field‐effect transistors are reported. The circuits are categorized into digital and analog, which are discussed in detail centering on the structure, fabrication process, and performance. In addition, progress in the modeling and simulation of organic integrated circuits are discussed as well, as they are key issues for the future development of organic electronics.
Unmet supportive care needs, anxiety and depression in haematology patients during watch‐and‐wait
Authors: Damen Marieke D. C. , Westerweel Peter E. , Levin Mark David , Pelle Aline J.
Published: August 2021

Objective

There is growing evidence and awareness of the psychological impact of watch‐and‐wait in patients with indolent haematological malignancy. However, the need for supportive care is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate prevalence of unmet needs, their psychological associates, and prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptomatology.

Methods

Adult patients with indolent haematological malignancy, during watch‐and‐wait (n = 122) were included in this cross‐sectional single‐centre study. Participants filled out questionnaires on anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), coping (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II), distress (distress thermometer), disease‐specific quality of life (The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire) and supportive care needs (Supportive care needs survey – Dutch short version). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify patient‐factors associated with unmet needs.

Results

The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptomatology were both 7.3%. Unmet needs were reported by 35% (n = 43) of patients. After controlling for covariates, higher levels of distress (β = 0.23, p = 0.05), depression (β = 0.41, p = 0.001), poorer coping (β = 0.35, p = 0.002) and younger age (β = −0.16, p = 0.05) were independently associated with more supportive care needs. The highest unmet needs were reported in domain health system, information & patient support (mean = 23.6 ± 23.0) and psychological domain (mean = 18.7 ± 21.8).

Conclusions

One third of indolent haematology patients during watch‐and‐wait report unmet supportive care needs. Screening for unmet needs and design of interventions is required. A joint approach focused on psychological care, especially on improving psychological flexibility, should be combined with promoting accessibility to health‐services and optimising disease education.
Revised phylogenetic position of Nephrocytium Nägeli (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae), with the description of Nephrocytiaceae fam. nov. and Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov.
Authors: da Silva Thaís Garcia , Štenclová Lenka , Archanjo Naiara Carolina Pereira , Bagatini Inessa Lacativa
Published: August 2021

The common planktonic green algal genus Nephrocytium was traditionally assumed to have a close relationship with the genus Oocystis and accordingly has been included in the family Oocystaceae. Although the position of Nephrocytium within the Oocystaceae has differed according to some authors over the years, its inclusion in the family has not been questioned. Following molecular studies of Oocystis, the Oocystaceae (including Nephrocytium) was removed from the class Chlorophyceae and placed in the Trebouxiophyceae. However, recent molecular studies of some of the former Oocystaceae members have returned them to the Chlorophyceae. These studies suggested the placement of Nephrocytium in the Sphaeropleales, but no taxonomic positioning within the order has been determined for the genus. The relocation of Nephrocytium agrees with a strong morphological trait – it lacks the oocystaceaean multilayered ultrastructure of the cell wall. Based on molecular markers (18S rDNA and tufA), and optical and electron microscopy, the present study aimed to establish the relationships of the genus within the Sphaeropleales. The results support the recognition of a new family, the Nephrocytiaceae, to accommodate Nephrocytium. Furthermore, we have carried out a review of previously described Nephrocytium species and based on morphological and molecular data we propose the description of Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov.
Colony structure, population structure, and sharing of foraging trees in the ant Myrmecia nigriceps (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Als V. , Narendra A. , Arthofer W. , Krapf P. , Steiner F. M. , Schlick-Steiner B. C.
Published: August 2021

Foraging ants face many dangers in search of food and often need to defend their prey to ensure the colony’s survival, although ants may also follow a peaceful foraging strategy. A non-aggressive approach is seen in the Australian bull ant Myrmecia nigriceps, in that workers of neighboring nests sometimes share foraging trees. In this study, we observed 31 nests at Mount Majura Nature Reserve in Canberra (Australia), 12 of which shared a foraging tree with at least one other nest in at least one of three nights. We genotyped 360 individuals at five published microsatellite loci and further established a set of nine polymorphic loci for M. nigriceps. Our results revealed a significant correlation between tree sharing and geographical distance between nests. We found no correlation between internest relatedness and tree sharing, geographical distance between nests and internest relatedness, and intranest relatedness and tree sharing. We further investigated the colony structure of M. nigriceps. All colonies were monodomous; the number of queens per colony ranged from one to two, and the number of fathers from one to three. No instances of worker drifting were found in this study.
A note on the stability of pencils of plane curves
Authors: Zanardini Aline
Published: August 2021

We investigate the problem of classifying pencils of plane curves of degree d up to projective equivalence. We obtain explicit stability criteria in terms of the log canonical threshold by relating the stability of a pencil to the stability of the curves lying on it.
Einfluss akzeptanzfördernder Interventionen auf die Nutzung einer Online-Selbsthilfe
Authors: Kreis Adina , Becker Jan , Beutel Manfred E. , Zwerenz Rüdiger
Published: August 2021

Hintergrund

Trotz wachsender empirischer Evidenz zur Wirksamkeit in der Behandlung psychischer Erkrankungen sind internetbasierte Interventionen (IBI) mit geringen Akzeptanz- und hohen Abbruchraten konfrontiert. Akzeptanzfördernde Interventionen (AFI) stellen eine vielversprechende Maßnahme dar, um die Akzeptanz zukünftiger Nutzer*innen zu verbessern. Die Wirksamkeit von AFI auf die Adhärenz, die maßgeblichen Einfluss auf die Wirksamkeit von IBI hat, wurde bisher in nur wenigen empirischen Untersuchungen überprüft.

Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung)

Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist die Überprüfung des Einflusses einer AFI auf die Akzeptanz, die initiale Nutzung und die Adhärenz des transdiagnostischen psychodynamischen Online-Selbsthilfeprogramms „Die Kraft der eigenen Emotionen nutzen (KEN-Online)“.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden Routinedaten von 231 Patient*innen ausgewertet, die während ihrer (teil‑)stationären Behandlung im Rahmen einer ins Routinesetting integrierten AFI das Angebot bekommen haben, KEN-Online behandlungsbegleitend zu nutzen. Im Kohortendesign werden Patient*innen, die an einer AFI teilgenommen haben, mit einer historischen Kontrollgruppe von Patient*innen verglichen, die dieses Angebot nicht erhielten. Zudem wird der Zusammenhang zwischen der Einstellung und der Akzeptanz des Programms in der Untersuchungsgruppe (mit AFI) überprüft.

Ergebnisse

Sowohl die Akzeptanz als auch die initiale Nutzung von KEN-Online waren um knapp 20 % höher (jeweils p < 0,01) unter den Teilnehmenden der AFI-Gruppe, verglichen mit der Kontrollgruppe. In Bezug auf die Adhärenz von KEN-Online zeigte sich ein kleiner Unterschied dahingehend, dass Teilnehmende der Kontrollgruppe signifikant (p < 0,05) mehr Einheiten abgeschlossen haben als Teilnehmende der Interventionsgruppe. Allerdings war der Anteil der „completer“ von KEN-Online mit 13,4 % insgesamt sehr gering. Ein Einfluss der Einstellung auf die Akzeptanz wurde nicht nachgewiesen.

Diskussion

Die vorliegende Untersuchung zeigt, dass AFI dazu beitragen können, die Akzeptanz und initiale Nutzung von IBI zu fördern, indem Patient*innen der (teil‑)stationären Routineversorgung standardisiert und strukturiert über die Intervention informiert werden. Hinsichtlich der Förderung der Adhärenz sind jedoch zusätzliche Maßnahmen erforderlich.
Subretinale Lufteingabe zur Behandlung postoperativer Netzhautfalten nach Ablatio
Authors: Radeck Viola , Helbig Horst , Prahs Philipp
Published: August 2021

Hintergrund

Faltenbildungen der Netzhaut stellen ein Problem v. a. nach Vitrektomie oder Buckelchirurgie mit Gaseingabe dar. Liegen diese Falten im Makulabereich, wirkt sich das meist erheblich auf das Sehvermögen des Patienten aus. Im Folgenden wird eine Behandlungstechnik solcher Falten beschrieben.

Methode

In einem Zeitraum von Januar 2017 bis Juni 2020 wurden 6 Patienten mit der im Folgenden beschriebenen Behandlungstechnik operiert. Es erfolgte die erneute Abhebung der Netzhaut mittels Balanced Salt Solution (BSS), gefolgt von einer subretinalen Eingabe gefilterter Luft. Das Ausstreichen der Falte erfolgte mithilfe von Perfluorcarbon (PFC). Eine postoperative Drainage der subretinalen Luft und Flüssigkeit erfolgte nicht, die Spontanresorption wurde abgewartet.

Ergebnisse

Bei keinem Patienten kam es zu einer Visusverschlechterung nach erneuter Netzhautabhebung. Eine Verbesserung der Sehschärfe zeigte sich bei 4 von 6 Fällen. Eine Verminderung der Metamorphopsien konnte bei 5 von 6 Patienten erreicht werden, 2 Patienten gaben an, die Metamorphopsien gar nicht mehr wahrzunehmen. Nur 1 Patient berichtete über einen gleichbleibend verzerrten Seheindruck trotz anatomisch glatter zentraler Netzhaut.

Schlussfolgerung

Bei kritischer Indikationsstellung stellt unsere Behandlungstechnik eine sichere und erfolgreiche Vorgehensweise zur Behandlung von Netzhautfalten im Bereich der Makula nach Ablatiooperation dar.
Entwicklung von Klassifikationskriterien für Uveitiden von der Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group
Authors: Heiligenhaus Arnd , Rothaus Kai , Pleyer Uwe
Published: August 2021

Hintergrund

Die Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group ist eine internationale Expertenkommission, die das Ziel verfolgt, eine standardisierte und international anerkannte Terminologie für das Gebiet der Uveitis zu erarbeiten. Dies erscheint angesichts der Forderung nach evidenzbasierter Medizin gerade bei relativ seltenen Erkrankungen wie der Uveitis wichtig.

Methoden

Unter Verwendung formaler Konsensustechniken wurde eine Datenbank von > 4000 Uveitispatienten erstellt, bei denen zuvor eine Mehrheitsübereinstimmung in der Diagnose erzielt wurde. Die Patientendaten wurden innerhalb der Uveitissubklasse analysiert und in einen Trainingssatz und einen Validierungssatz aufgeteilt. Mit maschinellem Lernen (ML) wurden multinomiale logistische Regressionen mit Lasso-Regularisierung auf dem Trainingssatz durchgeführt. Die Genauigkeit der Regeln, die entwickelt wurden, um die Kriterien des maschinellen Lernens auszudrücken, wurde von einem maskierten Beobachter in einer 10 %igen Zufallsstichprobe bewertet.

Ergebnisse

Die Schätzungen der Gesamtgenauigkeit nach Uveitisklassen im Validierungsset waren für alle Uveitisformen hoch: anteriore Uveitiden 96,7 % (95 %-Konfidenzintervall [CI] 92,4–98,6); intermediäre Uveitiden 99,3 % (95 %-CI 96,1–99,9); posteriore Uveitiden 98,0 % (95 %-CI 94,3–99,3); Panuveitiden 94,0 % (95 %-CI 89,0–96,8) und infektiöse posteriore Uveitiden/Panuveitiden 93,3 % (95 %-CI 89,1–96,3).

Schlussfolgerungen

Es werden Klassifikationskriterien präsentiert, die einen hohen Grad an Genauigkeit (geringe Fehlklassifikationsraten) aufweisen und sich daher gut für die künftige klinische und translationale Forschung eignen.
Long-term evaluation of pediatric ACL reconstruction: high risk of further surgery but a restrictive postoperative management was related to a lower revision rate
Authors: Hansson Frida , Moström Eva Bengtsson , Forssblad Magnus , Stålman Anders , Janarv Per-Mats
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The guidelines regarding rehabilitation after pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are sparse. The aim of the study was to retrospectively describe the long-term outcome regarding further surgery and with special emphasis on the revision rate after two different postoperative rehabilitation programs following pediatric ACLR.

Material and methods

193 consecutive patients < 15 years of age who had undergone ACLR at two centers, A (n = 116) and B (n = 77), in 2006–2010 were identified. Postoperative rehabilitation protocol at A: a brace locked in 30° of flexion with partial weight bearing for 3 weeks followed by another 3 weeks in the brace with limited range of motion 10°–90° and full weight bearing; return to sports after a minimum of 9 months. B: immediate free range of motion and weight bearing as tolerated; return to sports after a minimum of 6 months.

The mean follow-up time was 6.9 (range 5–9) years. The mean age at ACLR was 13.2 years (range 7–14) years.

The primary outcome measurement in the statistical analysis was the occurrence of revision. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate five potential risk factors: surgical center, sex, age at ACLR, time from injury to ACLR and graft diameter.

Results

Thirty-three percent had further surgery in the operated knee including a revision rate of 12%. Twelve percent underwent ACLR in the contralateral knee. The only significant variable in the statistical analysis according to the multivariable logistic regression analysis was surgical center (p = 0.019). Eight percent of the patients at center A and 19% of the patients at B underwent ACL revision.

Conclusions

Further surgery in the operated knee could be expected in one third of the cases including a revision rate of 12%. The study also disclosed a similar rate of contralateral ACLR at 12%. The revision rate following pediatric ACLR was lower in a center which applied a more restrictive rehabilitation protocol.

Level of evidence

Case-control study, Level III.
Triple-negative breast carcinomas of low malignant potential: review on diagnostic criteria and differential diagnoses
Authors: Cima L. , Kaya H. , Marchiò C. , Nishimura R. , Wen H. Y. , Fabbri V. P. , Foschini M. P.
Published: August 2021

Triple-negative breast carcinomas constitute a wide spectrum of lesions, mostly being highly aggressive. Nevertheless, some special histologic subtypes can have low malignant potential. The purpose of the present paper is to review diagnostic criteria and prognostic parameters of breast neoplasms of special histotypes. Specifically, adenoid cystic carcinoma, adenomyoepithelioma, acinic cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, tall cell carcinoma with reverse polarity, and secretory carcinoma will be discussed. For each tumour, definition and morphological and molecular features, together with prognostic parameters, will be presented. Paradigmatic cases will be illustrated.
Combination of enamel matrix derivative and hyaluronic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response on human epithelial and bone cells
Authors: Ramenzoni Liza L. , Annasohn Laura , Miron Richard J. , Attin Thomas , Schmidlin Patrick R.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and hyaluronic acid (HA) and their synergistic combination on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced inflammation in human keratinocytes and osteoblasts.

Material and methods

Cells were challenged with LPS (1 μg/ml) and cultured in the following treatment groups with EMD (30 mg/ml) and HA (30 mg/ml): LPS, EMD, HA, EMD + HA, EMD + LPS, HA + LPS, and EMD + HA + LPS. Cell viability, inflammatory cytokine expression, and cell migration were determined using colorimetric assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and scratch wound healing assay, respectively.

Results

Cell viability was decreased when exposed to LPS compared to the controls. Overall, LPS treatment expressed upregulation on inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). EMD and HA reduced up to 3.0-fold the cytokine expression caused by LPS (p < 0.05). EMD and HA statistically induced higher migration in osteoblasts and keratinocytes, respectively. Migration was impaired by LPS, whereas it significantly increased after addition of EMD and HA.

Conclusions

EMD and HA are advantageous biomaterials that individually generate strong directional migratory keratinocyte and osteoblast response. Their combination also enhances cell viability, and anti-inflammatory and migratory abilities to promote healing specially under LPS inflammatory stimulus. Future in vivo and animal research is necessary to further characterize the effect of EMD and HA on periodontal regeneration.

Clinical relevance

The use of EMD in conjunction with HA resulted in a reduction of inflammation and improvement of tissue healing at wound sites. Both biomaterials combined may potentially improve the effectiveness of bone regeneration in periodontal bone defects, pointing to the potential clinical relevance of both materials in regenerative periodontal surgery.
Chitin and chitin-cellulose composite hydrogels prepared by ionic liquid-based process as the novel electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors
Authors: Kasprzak Dawid , Galiński Maciej
Published: August 2021

This paper reports on the preparation and electrochemical performance of chitin- and chitin-cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes. The materials were prepared by a casting solution technique using ionic liquid-based solvents. The method of chitin dissolution in ionic liquid with the assistance of dimethyl sulfoxide co-solvent was investigated. The obtained membranes were soaked with 1-M lithium sulfate aqueous solution. The prepared materials were preliminarily characterized in terms of structural and physicochemical properties. Further, the most promising biopolymer membranes were assembled with activated carbon cloth electrodes in symmetric electrochemical capacitor cells. The electrochemical performances of these devices were studied in a 2-electrode system by commonly known electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The devices operated at a maximum voltage of 0.8 V. All the investigated materials have shown high efficiency in terms of specific capacitance, power density, and cyclability. The studied capacitors exhibited specific capacitance values in the range of 92–98 F g−1, with excellent capacitance retention (ca. 97–98%) after 20,000 galvanostatic charge and discharge cycles. Taking into account the above information and the eco-friendly nature of the biopolymer, it appears that the prepared chitin- and chitin-cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes can be promising components for green electrochemical capacitors.
Relaxation Dynamics of Ethanol and N-Butanol in Diesel Fuel Blends from Terahertz Spectroscopy
Authors: Patiño-Camino Rayda , Cova-Bonillo Alexis , Rodríguez-Fernández José , Iglesias Teresa P. , Lapuerta Magín
Published: August 2021

Binary blends of ethanol-diesel, n-butanol-diesel, ethanol-biodiesel, and n-butanol-biodiesel have been analyzed with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in a full range of concentrations and at room temperature. The real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric constant of the blends were obtained from the spectra and fitted to the Debye model at low volume concentrations (up to 7.5% for ethanol in diesel and up to 20% for butanol in diesel, ethanol in biodiesel, and butanol in biodiesel blends), considering the number of relaxation processes recommended in the literature for each pure component (single for diesel, double for biodiesel, and triple for alcohols). The results indicate that the faster relaxation time in low alcohol mixtures is longer than in pure alcohols. This relaxation time increases as the alcohol content increases. The excess of the real and of imaginary parts of the dielectric constant were individually determined. The analysis of such excess and of its different contributions (volume, contrast, and interactions) suggests that the intermolecular interactions between the different components of the blends dominate the relaxation dynamics in each pseudo-binary system. Ethanol was found to move blends further away from ideal behavior than n-butanol. In fact, these latter blends showed the most ideal behavior, suggesting that the length of the alcohol carbon chain plays an important role. This information allows a possible link between the nonlinear behavior of the physicochemical properties of the blends (e.g., viscosity and surface tension) and the molecular interactions between their constituent molecules. This relation could have direct application for monitoring the fuel composition and quality in the vehicle control systems.
An overview of machine learning techniques in constraint solving
Authors: Popescu Andrei , Polat-Erdeniz Seda , Felfernig Alexander , Uta Mathias , Atas Müslüm , Le Viet-Man , Pilsl Klaus , Enzelsberger Martin , Tran Thi Ngoc Trang
Published: August 2021

Constraint solving is applied in different application contexts. Examples thereof are the configuration of complex products and services, the determination of production schedules, and the determination of recommendations in online sales scenarios. Constraint solvers apply, for example, search heuristics to assure adequate runtime performance and prediction quality. Several approaches have already been developed showing that machine learning (ML) can be used to optimize search processes in constraint solving. In this article, we provide an overview of the state of the art in applying ML approaches to constraint solving problems including constraint satisfaction, SAT solving, answer set programming (ASP) and applications thereof such as configuration, constraint-based recommendation, and model-based diagnosis. We compare and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches and point out relevant directions for future work.
Preparation and preliminary quality evaluation of aspirin/L-glutamate compound pellets
Authors: Xu Mengchang , Liu Fenglin , Zhou Wenhu , He Binsheng , Tan Songwen
Published: August 2021

L-glutamate is an important component of protein. It can prevent gastrointestinal damage caused by NSAIDs. We constructed two-phase enteric-coated granules of aspirin and L-glutamate compound by extrusion spheronization method and fluidized bed coating. The subliminal effective dose of L-glutamate is 100 mg/kg tested by model of gastric ulcer of rats induced by aspirin and drug administration. HPLC-UV and UV–Vis methods were adopted to determine content and cumulative release of aspirin and L-glutamate as quality analysis method indexes. The prescription and process optimization were carried out with yield, sphericity and dissolution. The two-phase compound granules have good sphericity of 0.93 ± 0.05 (aspirin pellets) and 0.94 ± 0.02 (L-glutamate pellets), content of salicylic acid (0.24 ± 0.03)%, dissolution of aspirin (2.36 ± 0.11)%. Quality evaluation and preliminary stability meet the commercial requirements. The stored environment of compound preparation should be sealed in a cool and dark place.
In vivo biocompatibility of diamond-like carbon films containing TiO2 nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Authors: Wachesk C. C. , Seabra S. H. , Dos Santos T. A. T. , Trava-Airoldi V. J. , Lobo A. O. , Marciano F. R.
Published: August 2021

Hybrid diamond-like carbon (DLC) with incorporated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle coatings have low friction coefficient, high wear resistance, high hardness, biocompatibility, and high chemical stability. They could be employed to modify biomedical alloys surfaces for numerous applications in biomedical engineering. Here we investigate for the first time the in vivo inflammatory process of DLC coatings with incorporated TiO2nanoparticles. TiO2-DLC films were grown on AISI 316 stainless-steel substrates using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The coated substrates were implanted in CF1 mice peritoneum. The in vivo cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of the samples were analyzed from macrophage lavage. Analysis in the first weeks after implantation could be helpful to evaluate the acute cytotoxicity generated after a possible inflammatory process. The in vivo results showed no inflammatory process. A significant increase in nitric oxide production on the uncoated substrates was confirmed through cytometry, and the coated substrates demonstrated biocompatibility. The presence of TiO2nanoparticles enhanced the wound healing activity, due to their astringent and antimicrobial properties. DLC and TiO2-DLC coatings were considered biocompatible, and the presence of TiO2nanoparticles reduced the inflammatory reactions, increasing DLC biocompatibility.
The role of teacher identity in teacher self-efficacy development: the case of Katie
Authors: Marschall Gosia
Published: August 2021

This article illustrates the role of teacher identity in teacher self-efficacy development during initial teacher education. It has been posited that teacher self-efficacy develops on the basis of information accessed through four self-efficacy sources: vicarious and enactive experiences, social persuasion, and physiological and affective states, and by interacting with a myriad of personal and external factors. The very process of teacher self-efficacy development, however, is not well understood. This phenomenological longitudinal qualitative case study contributes to addressing this issue by illustrating how a pre-service secondary mathematics teacher’s teacher self-efficacy is affected by the way she sees herself. More specifically, the study illustrates how aspects of a strong student teacher identity negatively affect the pre-service teacher’s teacher self-efficacy appraisal, and how her teacher identity, emerging through the processes of autonomous role enactment and social verification, supports teacher self-efficacy development.
Wherein is the concept of disease normative? From weak normativity to value-conscious naturalism
Authors: Amoretti M. Cristina , Lalumera Elisabetta
Published: August 2021

In this paper we focus on some new normativist positions and compare them with traditional ones. In so doing, we claim that if normative judgments are involved in determining whether a condition is a disease only in the sense identified by new normativisms, then disease is normative only in a weak sense, which must be distinguished from the strong sense advocated by traditional normativisms. Specifically, we argue that weak and strong normativity are different to the point that one ‘normativist’ label ceases to be appropriate for the whole range of positions. If values and norms are not explicit components of the concept of disease, but only intervene in other explanatory roles, then the concept of disease is no more value-laden than many other scientific concepts, or even any other scientific concept. We call the newly identified position “value-conscious naturalism” about disease, and point to some of its theoretical and practical advantages.
The essential superficiality of the voluntary and the moralization of psychology
Authors: Queloz Matthieu
Published: August 2021

Is the idea of the voluntary important? Those who think so tend to regard it as an idea that can be metaphysically deepened through a theory about voluntary action, while those who think it a superficial idea that cannot coherently be deepened tend to neglect it as unimportant. Parting company with both camps, I argue that the idea of the voluntary is at once important and superficial—it is an essentially superficial notion that performs important functions, but can only perform them if we refrain from deepening it. After elaborating the contrast between superficial and deepened ideas of the voluntary, I identify the important functions that the superficial idea performs in relation to demands for fairness and freedom. I then suggest that theories trying to deepen the idea exemplify a problematic moralization of psychology—they warp psychological ideas to ensure that moral demands can be met. I offer a three-tier model of the problematic dynamics this creates, and show why the pressure to deepen the idea should be resisted. On this basis, I take stock of what an idea of the voluntary worth having should look like, and what residual tensions with moral ideas this leaves us with.
Generalized parallel tempering on Bayesian inverse problems
Authors: Latz Jonas , Madrigal-Cianci Juan P. , Nobile Fabio , Tempone Raúl
Published: August 2021

In the current work we present two generalizations of the Parallel Tempering algorithm in the context of discrete-time Markov chain Monte Carlo methods for Bayesian inverse problems. These generalizations use state-dependent swapping rates, inspired by the so-called continuous time Infinite Swapping algorithm presented in Plattner et al. (J Chem Phys 135(13):134111, 2011). We analyze the reversibility and ergodicity properties of our generalized PT algorithms. Numerical results on sampling from different target distributions, show that the proposed methods significantly improve sampling efficiency over more traditional sampling algorithms such as Random Walk Metropolis, preconditioned Crank–Nicolson, and (standard) Parallel Tempering.
Ethical machine decisions and the input-selection problem
Authors: Lundgren Björn
Published: August 2021

This article is about the role of factual uncertainty for moral decision-making as it concerns the ethics of machine decision-making (i.e., decisions by AI systems, such as autonomous vehicles, autonomous robots, or decision support systems). The view that is defended here is that factual uncertainties require a normative evaluation and that ethics of machine decision faces a triple-edged problem, which concerns what a machine ought to do, given its technical constraints, what decisional uncertainty is acceptable, and what trade-offs are acceptable to decrease the decisional uncertainty.
No normative free lunch: relevance and the autonomy of the normative domain
Authors: Behrens Singa
Published: August 2021

The autonomy thesis is the claim that one cannot get a normative statement from purely descriptive statements. But despite its intuitive appeal a precise formulation of the thesis has remained elusive. In a recent paper, Maguire (2015) makes the promising suggestion that the thesis should be understood in terms of ground. But Maguire’s formulation, I argue, is based on controversial taxonomic assumptions that make the autonomy thesis into a non-substantive claim. I develop an alternative ground-based formulation of the autonomy thesis that appeals to the notion of normative relevance, which is in turn understood using the tools of truthmaker semantics. This formulation of the autonomy thesis avoids well-known counterexamples to other formulations and has significant advantages over Maguire’s formulation.
Characterization of Episomal Replication of Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 DNA in Long-Term Virion-Infected Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Culture
Authors: Tu Quanmei , Feng Weixu , Chen Zhuo , Li Qijia , Zhao Yu , Chen Jun , Jiang Pengfei , Xue Xiangyang , Zhang Lifang , Zhao Kong-Nan
Published: August 2021

We have previously reported that bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) DNA can replicate its genome and produce infectious virus-like particles in short term virion-infected S. cerevisiae (budding yeast) cultures (Zhao and Frazer 2002, Journal of Virology, 76:3359–64 and 76:12265–73). Here, we report the episomal replications of BPV-1 DNA in long term virion-infected S. cerevisiae culture up to 108 days. Episomal replications of the BPV-1 DNA could be divided into three patterns at three stages, early active replication (day 3–16), middle weak replication (day 23–34/45) and late stable replication (day 45–82). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis and Southern blot hybridization have revealed further that multiple replication intermediates of BPV-1 DNA including linear form, stranded DNA, monomers and higher oligomers were detected in the virion-infected yeast cells over the time course. Higher oligomers shown as covalently closed circular DNAs (cccDNAs) are the most important replication intermediates that serve as the main nuclear transcription template for producing all viral RNAs in the viral life cycle. In this study, the cccDNAs were generated at the early active replication stage with the highest frequencies and then at late stable replication, but they appeared to be suppressed at the middle weak replication. Our data provided a novel insight that BPV-1 genomic DNA could replicate episomally for the long period and produce the key replication intermediates cccDNAs in S. cerevisiae system.
Correction to: Influence of CO2 retention mechanism storage in Alberta tight oil and gas reservoirs at Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, Canada: hysteresis modeling and appraisal
Authors: Rajkumar Perumal , Pranesh Venkat , Kesavakumar Ramadoss
Published: August 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-01070-5
Early Introduction of AI in Spanish Middle Schools. A Motivational Study
Authors: Fernández-Martínez Carmen , Hernán-Losada Isidoro , Fernández Alberto
Published: August 2021

This paper describes the practical initiative to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Spanish educational system’s curriculum at an early age. This proposal is in line with the current trend of introducing AI in school curricula all over the world. To this end, we propose an Artificial Intelligence workshop for middle schools within the existing subject, Technology, Programming and Robotics. In order to test the suitability of introducing AI at an early age, we conducted the activities at a bilingual middle school in Madrid. As evaluation tools, a quiz and motivational study of the students concerning AI was carried out using Situational Motivational Scale (SIMS) before and after introducing the activities. Responses of 84 students were analysed and the conclusion was reached that it is slightly better to introduce AI at an early age.
Flight flexibility in strategic traffic planning: visualisation and mitigation use case
Authors: Bolić Tatjana , Castelli Lorenzo , Scaini Giovanni , Frau Giuseppe , Guidi Stefano
Published: August 2021

The concept of strategic traffic planning that takes into account changing airspace configurations, their capacity, and allows the quantification of flight flexibility is presented in this paper: the visualization of the results and an example of possible use. The concept is implemented through two deterministic optimization models. Here, we focus on the output of the models, which identifies the departure times, trajectories, flight flexibility and the list of saturated sector-hours throughout the day, based on the configurations used during the day. In order to make the output understandable to various stakeholders, we use a visualization tool and a set of performance indicators. The information on the saturated sectors, and their impact on flexibility (criticality index) is taken as an input in the example of mitigation action application by Air Navigation Service Providers, aimed at improving the situation. A mitigation strategy of increasing capacity of saturated airspace is implemented, and results show that the improvements in flexibility can be achieved.
Mining and indigenous rights in Sweden: what is at stake and the role for legislation
Authors: Tarras-Wahlberg Håkan , Southalan John
Published: August 2021

Mining and the permitting process for mineral projects in Sweden has been criticised as inadequately safeguarding the rights of Indigenous reindeer herding Sámi, who hold usufruct rights to more than half the country’s territory. There have been calls for Sweden to ratify the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO 169) and to change its Mineral Law. This paper evaluates the extent of protection of Sámi rights — and not only those engaged in reindeer herding — in Sweden’s minerals permitting process. It also considers the implications if changes were made to align this process with the Indigenous-rights framework. The paper demonstrates that reindeer herding Sámi are, broadly, treated similar to landowners in the mineral projectspermittingprocess. However, there is discrimination when it comes to being able to have a share in the benefits of a project: impacted reindeer herders have no such option whereas landowners do. Also, the permitting processes do not consider social and cultural impacts, nor are there obligations for the state to be sufficiently involved in consultation processes. Addressing the identified shortcomings would require only small changes to the Mineral Law and/or to its application and would be possible with only limited impacts on mining because the sector is not a significant user of land whilst it creates large economic values. However, extending those changes (to give parity between landowners and Sámi rights holders) in other important economic sectors which use more extensive land areas, would entail a considerable transfer of resources and associated power. Furthermore, changing the Mineral Law specifically would mean little in terms of safeguarding the rights of the majority of Sami who do not engage in reindeer herding. This suggests that calls for changes to mineral-related legislation to resolve indigenous land right issues are mis-directed or at least insufficient, and that other type of legislative change is required, fundamentally including resolving how extensive and strong the Sámi’s rights to land should be.