bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trigger bond analysis of azo‐based energetic materials
Authors: Zengel Elizabeth R. , Garcia Jenna R. , Goodrich Daja A. , Bayse Craig A.
Published: February 2022

Azo‐based energetic materials may initiate explosive decomposition by extruding molecular nitrogen to produce radical fragments. Density functional theory and Wiberg bond index analysis were used to determine trends in bond strength for a series of aromatic azo compounds. Interactions between ortho ring hydrogens and an azo nitrogen lone pair favor a planar molecule with a strengthened azo linkage. Steric groups substituted ortho to the azo linkage cause the molecule to twist, which disrupts delocalization of the π density and weakens the CNazo bond. The results of this study are generally consistent with the low sensitivity of various aromatic azo‐based energetic materials. Discrepancies between calculated bond strengths and the experimental impact sensitivities could be attributed to packing forces that affect molecular planarity in the solid state.
Protease‐activated receptor‐2 dependent and independent responses of bone cells to prostate cancer cell secretory products
Authors: Pagel Charles N. , Kularathna Pamu K. , Sanaei Reza , Young Neil D. , Hooper John D. , Mackie Eleanor J.
Published: February 2022

Background

Metastatic prostate cancer lesions in the skeleton are frequently characterized by excessive formation of bone. Prostate cancer cells secrete factors, including serine proteases, that are capable of influencing the behavior of surrounding cells. Some of these proteases activate protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR2), which is expressed by osteoblasts (bone‐forming cells) and precursors of osteoclasts (bone‐resorbing cells). The aim of the current study was to investigate a possible role for PAR2 in regulating the behavior of bone cells exposed to metastatic prostate cancer cells.

Methods

The effect of medium conditioned by the PC3, DU145, and MDA‐PCa‐2b prostate cancer cell lines was investigated in assays of bone cell function using cells isolated from wildtype and PAR2‐null mice. Osteoclast differentiation was assessed by counting tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐positive multinucleate cells in bone marrow cultured in osteoclastogenic medium. Osteoblasts were isolated from calvariae of neonatal mice, and BrdU incorporation was used to assess their proliferation. Assays of alkaline phosphatase activity and quantitative PCR analysis of osteoblastic gene expression were used to assess osteoblast differentiation. Responses of osteoblasts to medium conditioned by MDA‐PCa‐2b cells were analyzed by RNAseq.

Results

Conditioned medium (CM) from all three cell lines inhibited osteoclast differentiation independently of PAR2. Media from PC3 and DU145 cells had no effect on assays of osteoblast function. Medium conditioned by MDA‐PCa‐2b cells stimulated BrdU incorporation in both wildtype and PAR2‐null osteoblasts but increased alkaline phosphatase activity and Runx2 and Col1a1 expression in wildtype but not PAR2‐null cells. Functional enrichment analysis of RNAseq data identified enrichment of multiple gene ontology terms associated with lysosomal function in both wildtype and PAR2‐null cells in response to MDA‐PCa‐2b‐CM. Analysis of individual genes identified osteogenesis‐associated genes that were either upregulated by MDA‐PCa‐2b‐CM selectively in wildtype cells or downregulated selectively in PAR2‐null cells.

Conclusions

Factors secreted by prostate cancer cells influence bone cell behavior through both PAR2‐dependent and ‐independent mechanisms. Both PAR2‐independent suppression of osteoclast differentiation and PAR2‐dependent stimulation of osteogenesis are likely to determine the nature of prostate cancer metastases in bone.
Antibody therapies to prevent and treat COVID‐19
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: February 2022

There are numerous biological and small‐molecule therapies currently under investigation for the prevention and treatment of COVID‐19. This article focuses on antibody therapies that target the virus itself, including convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2, and discusses their efficacy in clinical trials and likely future role.
Heusler‐Based Cylindrical Micro‐ and Nanowires
Authors: Hennel Miroslav , Varga Michal , Frolova Lucia , Nalevanko Samuel , Ibarra-Gaytán Pablo , Vidyasagar Reddithota , Sarkar Partha , Dzubinska Andrea , Galdun Ladislav , Ryba Tomas , Vargova Zuzana , Varga Rastislav
Published: February 2022

Wire‐shaped materials are ideal form for rapid, cheap, and scalable production and application. Herein, the most recent results on Heusler‐based cylindrical micro‐ and nanowires are reviewed, emphasizing spintronic, magnetocaloric, and shape memory applications. Herein, how the Heusler alloy's composition can be tuned to achieve a material with repeatable magnetic and mechanical properties is showed. A wide range of possible Heusler compositions allows us to tune the structural transformation temperatures by alloying the original composition with a few percent of metalloid. Wire shape brings additional effect—well‐defined easy axis change due to a structural transformation that enhances the magnetocaloric effect at low‐magnetic fields. The unique wire's shape properties can be downscaled to nanoscale range by electrodeposition. It is showed that such a method allows the production of a highly ordered array of nanowires. As a result, the magnetocaloric effect of an array of nanowires can be one order higher than that obtained by other production methods, where the nanowires are oriented randomly. Finally, some possible applications of shape memory or magnetocaloric actuators and the possibility of implementing high spin polarization for the construction of spintronic devices are showed.
Layered MoSi2N4 as Electrode Material of Zn–Air Battery
Authors: Li Xi-Mei , Lin Zheng-Zhe , Cheng Li-Rong , Chen Xi
Published: February 2022

Metal–air batteries have an outstanding advantage of combining high‐energy‐density metal anodes with active air cathodes. The advanced properties of layered materials can be utilized to improve the internal reaction rate and charge storage of metal–air batteries. Layered MoSi2N4 is a newly synthesized MAX phase (where M is transition metal, A is Al or Si, and X is C, N, or both). This work investigates the possibility of MoSi2N4, a layered MAX phase, as both the cathode and anode of Zn–air batteries. The mechanism of Zn storage is revealed. As a Zn storage material, phase transition from state I to state III occurs with increasing Zn loading in MoSi2N4. The maximum theoretical capacity of Zn‐loaded MoSi2N4 is 257 mAh g−1. On MoSi2N4 surface as the cathode, the two‐electron mechanism of O2 reduction to ZnO2 is more efficient than general sluggish four‐electron aqueous O2 redox reactions. The work reveals the possibility of MAX phases as the electrodes of Zn–air batteries and the mechanism of Zn storage in 2D MAX layered materials.
Data Twinning
Authors: Vakayil Akhil , Joseph V. Roshan
Published: February 2022

In this work, we develop a method namedTwinningfor partitioning a dataset into statistically similar twin sets.Twinningis based onSPlit, a recently proposed model‐independent method for optimally splitting a dataset into training and testing sets.Twinningis orders of magnitude faster than theSPlitalgorithm, which makes it applicable to Big Data problems such as data compression.Twinningcan also be used for generating multiple splits of a given dataset to aid divide‐and‐conquer procedures andk‐fold cross validation.
Reversing the Nucleophilicity of Active Sites in CoP2 Enables Exceptional Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis
Authors: Niu Shuwen , Fang Yanyan , Rao Dewei , Liang Guangjie , Li Senyang , Cai Jinyan , Liu Bo , Li Jianming , Wang Gongming
Published: February 2022

Precisely constructing the local configurations of active sites to achieve on‐demand catalytic functions is highly critical yet challenging. Herein, an anion‐deficient strategy to precisely capture Ru single atoms on the anion vacancies of CoP2 (Ru‐SA/Pv‐CoP2) is developed. Refined structural characterizations reveal that the Ru single atoms preferably bind to the anion vacancy sites and consequently build a superior catalytic surface with neighboring CoP and CoRu coordination states for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysis. The prepared Ru‐SA/Pv‐CoP2 nanowires exhibit an unprecedented overpotential of 17 mV at 10 mA cm–2geo, and the corresponding mass activity is 52.2 times higher than the benchmark Pt/C catalyst at the overpotential of 50 mV. Theoretical analysis illustrates that the introduced Ru‐SAs can reverse electrons state distribution (from nucleophilic P sites to electrophilic Ru sites) and boost the activation of water molecules and hydrogen production. More importantly, such a construction strategy is also applicable for Pt single atom coupling, suggesting its generality in building catalytic sites. The capability to precisely construct active sites offers a powerful platform to manipulate the catalytic performance of HER catalysts and beyond.
Rubidium Fluoride Absorber Treatment for Wide‐Gap (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2Solar Cells
Authors: Keller Jan , Aboulfadl Hisham , Stolt Lars , Donzel-Gargand Olivier , Edoff Marika
Published: February 2022

This contribution studies the potential of an RbF postdeposition treatment (RbF‐PDT) of wide‐gap (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2(ACIGS) absorbers to improve the corresponding solar cell performance. While a higher open‐circuit voltage (VOC) and short‐circuit current density are achieved, a lower fill factor (FF) is observed for most of the devices subjected to an RbF‐PDT. However, the drop in FF can be avoided for some close‐stoichiometric samples, leading to maximum efficiencies beyond 16% (without antireflection coating) at a bandgap energy (Eg) of 1.43 eV. For off‐stoichiometric ACIGS, a recordVOCvalue of 926 mV atEg = 1.44 eV is reached. LowerVOCdeficits likely require enhanced bulk quality of wide‐gap chalcopyrite absorbers. Extensive material analysis shows that the heavy alkali PDT of ACIGS with high Ag and Ga contents leads to similar absorber modifications as commonly observed for low‐gap Cu(In,Ga)Se2(CIGS). Rubidium is continuously distributed at “internal” (grain boundaries) and “external” (buffer and back contact) absorber interfaces. The results indicate that Rb diffusion into the absorber bulk (including 1:1:2 and 1:3:5 compounds) is restricted. Furthermore, the formation of a very thin RbInSe2surface layer is suggested. It remains open, which effects alter the device characteristics after RbF‐PDT.
Experimental study and numerical simulation of all‐steel buckling‐restrained brace with distributed inspection windows
Authors: Wan Chunfeng , Xie Liyu , Li Lin , Xue Songtao , Tang Hesheng , Zhang Li
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a novel all‐steel seismic‐resistant, buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) which can be easily detached from its steel core for post‐seismic inspections. This allows inspectors to quickly determine if the BRB needs to be replaced to reduce the impact of seismic aftershocks. The weld toes of brace stiffeners were specially smoothed to reduce the residual stress and stress concentration, thereby improving the low‐cycle fatigue performance of the brace. Two identical restraining units were connected by high‐strength bolts. A small air gap was provided by annular gaskets between the core and the restraining system to allow for lateral expansion of the core plate under compression. Five specimens were tested under different cyclic loading protocols to investigate the performance. The hysteretic behavior, compression strength adjustment factor, equivalent viscous damping ratio, failure modes, and deformation of the restraining system were analyzed. The multi‐wave buckling deformation of the core was studied in detail to provide a basis for the accurate calculation of the number of contact points. Finite element analyses were performed to compare the response with test results, which proved the structure of the novel BRB to be reasonable except for the compression strength adjustment factor of some specimens, which was greater than 1.3. A damage assessment method was proposed to evaluate the working status of the newly designed BRB after an earthquake.
Hexavalent chromium induces hepatocyte apoptosis via regulation of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1/c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase signaling
Authors: Jin Lifang , Kom Merveille Chancelle , Fu Guoquan , Xie Yixia , Gao Yue , Shen Jiayuan , Huang Huarong , Hu Baowei , Yan Junyan
Published: February 2022

With the spread of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination, Cr(VI)‐induced hepatotoxicity has attracted increasing attention in recent years. To date, however, the exact mechanism of Cr(VI) toxicity remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase (JNK) in Cr(VI)‐induced hepatic toxicity and the possible related mechanisms. AML‐12 hepatocyte cell‐lines were treated with 0, 1, 4, and 16 μmol/Lof Cr(VI) with or without GS‐444271 (an ASK1 inhibitor). Adult male mice were administered with 0, 2, 8, and 32 mg/kg body mass (BM)/day of Cr(VI) for 5 days. The level of hepatocyte apoptosis/proliferation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression levels of mRNAs and proteins related to ASK1/JNK and nuclear factor‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling were assessed. Results showed that high Cr(VI) exposure induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury by generation of ROS and down‐regulation of Nrf2 signaling. In addition, ASK1/JNK signaling activity was upregulated in the Cr(VI)‐treated group. Furthermore, GS‐444217 treatment significantly rescued Cr(VI)‐induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver dysfunction in vitro and in vivo by down‐regulation of ASK1/JNK signaling. Thus, ASK1/JNK signaling appears to play an important role in Cr(VI)‐induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury. This study should help improve our understanding of the mechanism of Cr(VI)‐induced liver injury and provide support for future investigations on liver disease therapy.
Molecular characterisation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks from domestic dogs in Nigeria
Authors: Elelu N. , Bankole A. A. , Daphne H. P. , Rabiu M. , Ola‐Fadunsin S. D. , Ambali H. M. , Cutler S. J.
Published: February 2022

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widely reported tick in the world. Molecular characterisation is important to verify its taxonomic status in the different parts of the world. In this study, we provide information on the molecular characterisation of R. sanguineus tick of dogs collected from Nigeria. Ticks were collected from 62 of 93 sampled dogs. The collected ticks were subjected to morphological identification with the aid of appropriate entomological keys. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the most prevalent tick species (R. sanguineus) and was subjected to further molecular characterisation protocols. The partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences (∼300 bp) were obtained from representative specimens. Data were statistically analysed using the chi‐square (χ2) test. Phylogenetic analysis was performed including different lineages of R. sanguineus (sl) from Africa, Asia, Europe and America, and other species belonging to the R. sanguineus ‘tropical lineage’ (R. linnaei) as well as Rhipicephalus turanicus and Ixodes ricinus. Results of this study showed that R. sanguineus was the most abundant ticks of dogs with a prevalence of 61.8% (68/110; 95% CI = 52.5–70.54), followed by Amblyomma variegatum (20.0%) and Haemaphysalis leachi (18.2%). The molecular analysis shows that they are genetically different from the temperate strains but closely related to those from other West African countries. There is a need to establish the vector competence of this common Nigerian dog tick.
High adsorption performance of Cr(VI) ions from the electroplating waste solution using surface‐modified porous poly 2‐((methacryloxy)methyl)oxirane polymers
Authors: Alharthi Sarah , Alharthy Saif A , Manaa El‐Sayed A. , Abd El‐Magied Mahmoud O. , Salem Waheed M.
Published: February 2022

The stainless steel waste solutions, produced during the electroplating process, were found to contain high chromium content (43.52 g/L). To avoid environmental chromium contamination and chromium toxicity, these wastes must be treated. In this work, new surface‐modified porous poly‐2‐((methacryloxy)‐methyl)‐oxirane polymers were synthesized, characterized, and then used to recover Cr (VI) from electroplating waste solution. Based on the obtained results, Cr(VI) adsorption improved with time and initial metal ion concentration. The results indicate a favourable chemisorption process controlled by pseudo second‐order rate and intraparticle diffusion mechanisms. The used polymers are capable of disposing of Cr(VI) species from wastewater with a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.21 and 5.31 mmol/g for RI@EDA and HCl@RI@EDA, respectively. The used resins showed superior affinity and efficiency in removing Cr(VI) from the electroplating waste solution.
Participant Validation: A Strategy to Strengthen the Trustworthiness of Your Study and Address Ethical Concerns
Authors: Lindheim Tone
Published: February 2022

How can you as a researcher ensure the trustworthiness of your data and results? This chapter presents participant validation as a strategy for doing so and discusses the ethical challenges that come with it. Participant validation implies that the researcher in one way or another presents the data material or the preliminary analysis to the informants to validate and assess interpretations. In this chapter, previous literature and studies of participant validation are reviewed, and a case study of cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace is used as an example of how participant validation can be incorporated in the research process. The chapter shows how participant validation addresses as well as raises ethical concerns. The examples used in the chapter demonstrate how participant validation can contribute to qualitative research by generating new data that can be incorporated into a study. As an integrated part of the research process, participant validation represents a site and an opportunity for values work.
The ‘Telos’ as a Lens That Illuminates Values in Practice
Authors: Kurlberg Nina
Published: February 2022

The central question this chapter seeks to address is, how can the perspective of institutional logics contribute to research on values in organisational practice? Drawing on empirical research conducted within an international faith-based relief and development organisation in the UK, the argument advanced in this chapter is that it is the ‘telos’ of each institutional logic in action within the organisation—that is, its ultimate aim or intention—that shapes the values in operation within organisational practice. While all institutional logics are value-based, some are more explicitly so than others. By identifying the teloi of the institutional logics dominant within organisational practice, the values tacit within it are brought to light.
Definitions as Initial and Final Point of Values Research? Searching for Mysteries in Research Projects About Values in Organisational and Leadership Studies
Authors: Leis-Peters Annette
Published: February 2022

The chapter at hand examines how definitions and (theoretical) conceptualisations can impact methodological choices and thus contribute to the development of empirical research about values. It does so by exploring different ways to define values and integrate them into a research design, with the help of the example of two selected projects in the field of organisational and leadership studies. Two steps in the research process are identified as natural contact sites for implementing value definitions in empirical studies: namely, selecting empirical data (or sampling) and concluding a study. The two selected research projects are analysed by asking how they define values, how these value definitions affect the data collection, and how they are part of the result presentation. The chapter concludes by encouraging values researchers to reflect more on the connection between empirical research and value definitions.
Intentionality and Agency in Values Work Research
Authors: Andersson Thomas
Published: February 2022

This chapter addresses how intentionality and agency can be understood in relation to values and values work. How different degrees of intentionality relate to different dimensions of agency is something we need to understand empirically rather than as a point of departure. A connected challenge is to what extent people are aware of values that influence their actions and the values work they are involved in, but also to what extent they are aware of relations/conflicts between values that are imposed on them (e.g., from an employer) and personal values. This is also something we need to understand empirically. This chapter describes how different qualitative data collection methods have different strengths and weaknesses in relation to the above challenges and how a design of mixing them may enable a true empirical investigation of intentionality and agency in values work research.
Research Interviews to Investigate and Co-create Values
Authors: Espedal Gry
Published: February 2022

In this chapter, I will discuss how organisational values and values work can be investigated through a constructivist and qualitative process of research interviews. The presented process of doing research interviews follows a semi-structured and open-ended strategy of exploring a phenomenon. As such, the research interview is presented as a form of inter-viewing, of together-seeing, and as a place for connectedness and co-interpretation. Values become part of the reflexive, communicative act, in which words, proverbs, sayings and stories are brought into view, explored and interpreted.
Femoroazetabuläres Impingement-Syndrom bei Adoleszenten – Wie beraten? Wie behandeln?
Authors: Chiari Catharina , Lutschounig Marie-Christine , Nöbauer-Huhmann Iris , Windhager Reinhard
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund

Das Femoroazetabuläre Impingement-Syndrom (FAIS) ist eine relevante Ursache für Leistenschmerzen beim Jugendlichen. Insbesondere sind Sportler betroffen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Arbeit soll einen evidenzbasierten Hintergrund für Beratung und Therapie des FAIS beim Adoleszenten bieten.

Material und Methoden

Anhand der aktuellen Literatur wurde eine Übersicht zu Prävalenz und Pathogenese, Abklärung und Diagnostik sowie therapeutischen Empfehlung des FAIS beim Adoleszenten erarbeitet.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Das FAIS beim Jugendlichen betrifft vor allem sportlich aktive Patienten. Bestimmte Sportarten begünstigen die Entstehung eines FAIS. Cam-Impingement, Pincer-Impingement und kombiniertes FAIS sind die häufigsten Entitäten in dieser Altersgruppe. Die Cam-Morphologie entsteht kurz vor Schluss der proximalen Femurwachstumsfuge. Beim Cam-Impingement muss die Epiphyseolysis capitis femoris (ECF) von der primären Cam-Morphologie unterschieden werden. Die ECF verlangt eine rasche operative Versorgung mit Stabilisierung der Epiphyse, während das primäre Cam-Impingement elektiv abgeklärt werden kann und ein konservativer Behandlungsversuch sinnvoll ist. Schäden an Labrum und Knorpel werden regelhaft beobachtet. Eine systematische radiologische Abklärung mittels Projektionsröntgen und MRT ist obligat, um einen adäquaten Therapieplan zu entwickeln. Bei jugendlichen Patienten mit FAIS sollte immer ein konservativer Therapieversuch erfolgen. Ist dieser nicht erfolgreich, ist die operative Sanierung mit Hüftarthroskopie indiziert. Die postoperativen Ergebnisse zeigen bei Jugendlichen sehr gute Erfolge mit rascher Besserung der Beschwerden, geringen Komplikationen und einer hohen „Return-to-sport“-Rate.
Aktuelle Trends des Cannabiskonsums
Authors: Schürenkamp J.
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund

Cannabis ist weltweit immer noch die am häufigsten konsumierte illegale Droge, aber auch der Einsatz von Medizinalcannabis oder auch als Lebens‑/Nahrungsergänzungsmittel steigt stetig. Somit sind Kenntnisse über diese verschiedenen Produkte und die Komplexität der rechtlichen Einordnung von Cannabis für die Rechtsmedizin und die forensische Toxikologie von großer Relevanz.

Fragestellung

Ziel der Arbeit ist es, einen Überblick über aktuelle Trends des Cannabiskonsums zu geben und hierbei die verschiedenen Cannabisprodukte darzustellen sowie diese rechtlich einzuordnen.

Material und Methode

Für diese Übersichtarbeit wurde eine Literaturrecherche zu den verschiedenen Cannabisprodukten und ihrer rechtlichen Einordnung durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

Beim Konsum von Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)-reichem Cannabis zu Rauschzwecken ist ein Trend hin zu immer höheren THC-Gehalten im Pflanzenmaterial und zusätzlich zu intensiven Konsumformen wie dem „dabbing“ von Butan-Haschisch-Öl zu erkennen. Seit der Betäubungsmittelgesetzesänderung vom 10.03.2017 werden auch Cannabisblüten und -extrakte mit unterschiedlichen THC- bzw. Cannabidiol(CBD)-Gehalten auf Betäubungsmittelrezept stark zunehmend verordnet, einhergehend mit einer Steigerung der THC-Höchstverschreibungsmenge. Ein weiterer Trend besteht in dem Konsum von sogenannten CBD-Lifestyle-Produkten, die als Arzneimittel seit 2016 verschreibungspflichtig sind und als Lebensmittel nach Novel Food-Verordnung jeweils einzeln zu prüfen sind, ob sie als zulassungsbedürftiges neuartiges Lebensmittel einzustufen sind.

Schlussfolgerungen

Insgesamt ergibt sich für die forensisch-chemische sowie forensisch-toxikologische Beurteilung eine zunehmende Komplexität der potenziell konsumierten THC-haltigen Produkte, deren wissenschaftliche Untersuchung sowohl zur möglichen Differenzierbarkeit des Cannabismaterials als auch von biologischen Matrices nach Konsum verschiedener Cannabisprodukte notwendig macht.
The Evolution of the Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia: From the Open to the Minimally Invasive Approach
Authors: Schlottmann Francisco , Herbella Fernando A. M. , Patti Marco G.
Published: February 2022

Background

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by lack of esophageal peristalsis and partial or absent relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in response to swallowing. This study aimed to provide an overview of the evolution of the surgical treatment for esophageal achalasia, from the open to the minimally invasive approach.

Methods

Literature review.

Results

No curative treatment exists for this disorder. At the beginning of the 20th century, surgical esophagoplasties and cardioplasties were mostly done to treat achalasia. The description of the esophageal myotomy by Heller changed the treatment paradigm and rapidly became the treatment of choice. For many years the esophagomyotomy was done with either an open transthoracic or transabdominal approach. With the advancements of minimally invasive surgery, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic operations became available. The ability to add a fundoplication for the prevention of reflux made the laparoscopic Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication the operation of choice.

Conclusions

Surgical management of esophageal achalasia has significantly evolved in the last century. Currently, minimally invasive Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication is the standard surgical treatment of achalasia.
High abundances of small copepods early developmental stages and nauplii strengthen the perception of a non-dormant Arctic winter
Authors: Barth-Jensen Coralie , Daase Malin , Ormańczyk M. R. , Varpe Øystein , Kwaśniewski Sławomir , Svensen Camilla
Published: February 2022

The traditional view is that the Arctic polar night is a quiescent period for marine life, but recent reports of high levels of feeding and reproduction in both pelagic and benthic taxa have challenged this. We examined the zooplankton community present in Svalbard fjords, coastal waters, and the shelf break north of Svalbard, during the polar night. We focused on the population structure of abundant copepods (Calanus finmarchicus, Calanus glacialis, Metridia longa, Oithona similis, Pseudocalanus spp., Microcalanus spp., and Microsetella norvegica) sampled using 64-µm mesh nets. Numerically, copepod nauplii (≥ 50%) and the young developmental stages of small copepods (< 2 mm prosome length as adult) dominated the samples. Three main patterns were identified: (1) large Calanus spp. were predominantly older copepodids CIV–CV, while (2) the small harpacticoid M. norvegica were adults. (3) For other species, all copepodid stages were present. Older copepodids and adults dominated populations of O. similis, Pseudocalanus spp. and M. longa. In Microcalanus spp., high proportion of young copepodids CI–CIII indicated active winter recruitment. We discuss the notion of winter as a developing and reproductive period for small copepods in light of observed age structures, presence of nauplii, and previous knowledge about the species. Lower predation risks during winter may, in part, explain why this season could be beneficial as a period for development. Winter may be a key season for development of small, omnivorous copepods in the Arctic, whereas large copepods such as Calanus spp. seems to be reliant on spring and summer for reproduction and development.
Advances in measuring pediatric overall health: the PROMIS® Pediatric Global Health scale (PGH-7)
Authors: Luijten Michiel A. J. , Haverman Lotte , van Litsenburg Raphaële R. L. , Roorda Leo D. , Grootenhuis Martha A. , Terwee Caroline B.
Published: February 2022

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and efficiency of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Global Health scale (PGH-7) to reduce patient burden when assessing overall health in clinical practice. In total, 1082 children (8–18), representative of the Dutch population, completed the PGH-7 and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0), a common legacy instrument used in clinical practice to assess overall health. The assumptions for fitting an item response theory model were assessed: unidimensionality, local independence, and monotonicity. Subsequently, a model was fitted to the data to assess item fit and cultural differential item functioning (DIF) between Dutch and US children. A strong correlation (> .70) was expected between the PGH-7 and PedsQL, as both instruments measure physical, mental, and social domains of health. Percentages of participants reliably measured (> 0.90) were assessed using the standard error of measurement (SE(θ) < 0.32). Efficiency was calculated ((1 − SE(θ)2)/nitems) to compare how well both measures performed relative to number of items administered. The PGH-7 met all assumptions and displayed good structural and convergent (r = .69) validity. One item displayed cultural DIF. Both questionnaires measured reliably (%nPGH-7 = 73.8%, %nPedsQL = 76.6%) at the mean and 2SD in clinically relevant direction. PGH-7 items were 2.6 times more efficient in measuring overall health than the PedsQL.

   Conclusion: The PGH-7 displays sufficient validity and reliability in the general Dutch pediatric population and measures more efficiently than the PedsQL, the most commonly used legacy instrument. The PGH-7 can be used in research and clinical practice to reduce patient burden when assessing overall health.

What is Known:• Generic instruments which validly and reliably assess overall pediatric health are scarce.• Brief instruments are required for implementation of self-report patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice.

What is New:• The PROMIS Pediatric Global Health (PGH-7) can be used in research and clinical practice to briefly assess overall pediatric health, while providing valid and reliable measurements.• The PGH-7 provides more efficient assessment of pediatric overall health than the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.
Resolving taxonomic confusion: establishing the genus Phytobacter on the list of clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Smits Theo H. M. , Arend Lavinia N. V. S. , Cardew Sofia , Tång-Hallbäck Erika , Mira Marcelo T. , Moore Edward R. B. , Sampaio Jorge L. M. , Rezzonico Fabio , Pillonetto Marcelo
Published: February 2022

Although many clinically significant strains belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae fall into a restricted number of genera and species, there is still a substantial number of isolates that elude this classification and for which proper identification remains challenging. With the current improvements in the field of genomics, it is not only possible to generate high-quality data to accurately identify individual nosocomial isolates at the species level and understand their pathogenic potential but also to analyse retrospectively the genome sequence databases to identify past recurrences of a specific organism, particularly those originally published under an incorrect or outdated taxonomy. We propose a general use of this approach to classify further clinically relevant taxa, i.e., Phytobacter spp., that have so far gone unrecognised due to unsatisfactory identification procedures in clinical diagnostics. Here, we present a genomics and literature-based approach to establish the importance of the genus Phytobacter as a clinically relevant member of the Enterobacteriaceae family.
Intergenerational Transfers in the New Dutch Pension Contract
Authors: van Bilsen Servaas , Mehlkopf Roel J. , van Stalborch Stephan
Published: February 2022

This paper measures intergenerational transfers through the solidarity reserve of the newly proposed Dutch occupational pension contract. Our first conclusion is that the role of the solidarity reserve is higher than it may appear at a first glance. The fraction of pension savings that can go directly into the solidarity reserve is limited to 10%. However, we find that, in addition, around 30% of the pension savings of a young worker can subsequently be transferred to the solidarity reserve via a levy on future positive excess returns. Our second finding is that the solidarity reserve can introduce a substantial pay-as-you-go element within a funded pension scheme. This feature of the solidarity reserve can be overlooked easily and is not mentioned in the pension bill. Our policy recommendation to pension funds is to make explicit whether or not there is a pay-as-you-go element via the solidarity reserve, and if so to assess whether this is desirable.
Selective withdrawal of a three-layer viscous fluid
Authors: West Lachlan , Cosgrove Jason M. , Bassom Andrew P.
Published: February 2022

Two dimensional, selective withdrawal of a three-layer fluid in a rectangular tank is considered. Each fluid is viscous, weakly compressible and miscible. The lowermost, heaviest fluid flows with constant speed out through line sinks located on the base and lower side walls of the tank. The uppermost and lightest fluid recharges the tank via line sources located along the top and on the upper side walls at a rate that matches the outward flux. If the line sinks are turned on suddenly, the interfaces between the fluids are drawn downward at different rates; this disparity arises due to the fact that the wave configurations that propagate along the two interfaces are not the same. Density and vorticity contours are presented and used to determine the time at which the middle transition layer of fluid begins to be withdrawn from the tank; at this point the rate of extraction of the most dense fluid is its greatest. Inviscid linearised interfaces are calculated which serve as checks on the early stage evolution of the full nonlinear model.
Ensemble Kalman filter based sequential Monte Carlo sampler for sequential Bayesian inference
Authors: Wu Jiangqi , Wen Linjie , Green Peter L. , Li Jinglai , Maskell Simon
Published: February 2022

Many real-world problems require one to estimate parameters of interest, in a Bayesian framework, from data that are collected sequentially in time. Conventional methods for sampling from posterior distributions, such as Markov chain Monte Carlo cannot efficiently address such problems as they do not take advantage of the data’s sequential structure. To this end, sequential methods which seek to update the posterior distribution whenever a new collection of data become available are often used to solve these types of problems. Two popular choices of sequential method are the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and the sequential Monte Carlo sampler (SMCS). While EnKF only computes a Gaussian approximation of the posterior distribution, SMCS can draw samples directly from the posterior. Its performance, however, depends critically upon the kernels that are used. In this work, we present a method that constructs the kernels of SMCS using an EnKF formulation, and we demonstrate the performance of the method with numerical examples.
Examining the Factors that Influence the Use of Social Media for Disaster Management by Underserved Communities
Authors: Ramakrishnan Thiagarajan , Ngamassi Louis , Rahman Shahedur
Published: February 2022

This study examined the propensity of social media use by underserved communities by drawing on the literature on the digital divide and attribution theory. Specifically, this research explored the factors that can influence the use of social media for disaster management. The study used survey methodology to collect data and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate: (1) that the propensity of social media use for disaster management is low for underserved communities; (2) a positive relationship between an individual’s effort and the intention to use social media for disaster management; and (3) a negative relationship between task difficulty and the intention to use social media for disaster management. The study expanded the literature on the use of social media in disaster management. The article also provides both theoretical and practical implications.
The novel idea and technical progress of lunar in-situ condition preserved coring
Authors: Gao Mingzhong , Wang Xuan , Zhang Guoqing , Li Minghui , Liu Tao , Hao Haichun , Li Cunbao , Xie Heping
Published: February 2022

The moon is rich in material resources, lunar-based sampling is the foundation for an in-depth understanding of lunar material resources endowment characteristics, exploring the evolution of lunar geological structure, and realizing lunar material resources exploitation. This paper briefly introduces the lunar sampling work represented by the Apollo program of the United States, the Luna program of the former Soviet Union, and China’s Chang’E-5 lunar exploration mission, a total of 10 times of successful coring were performed, with a maximum coring depth of 305 cm and a maximum sampling of 110.5 kg. It presents an in-depth analysis of the inadequacy of the existing lunar coring principles and technologies. This paper expounds on the critical strategic significance and scientific value of lunar in-situ condition preserved coring (ICP-Coring). Simultaneously, this paper firstly refines the scientific concept of lunar ICP-Coring in the field of deep space material resources exploitation as the "four preservations" coring (preservation of composition, vacuum storage, stratification/bedding, and compactness)—the "4 Ps" coring, puts forward the fundamental principles, conception, breakthrough theory, and critical core technology of the "4 Ps" lunar ICP-Coring. It explains the latest research progress, including core drilling machinery, film-forming mechanism while drilling, and a platform for fidelity coring testing and analysis under a simulated lunar environment. The research results provide theoretical and technical support for lunar ICP-Coring and resource exploration.
Influence of Graphite-Phase Parameters on the Mechanical Properties of High-Silicon Ductile Iron
Authors: Franzen Daniel , Pustal Björn , Bührig-Polaczek Andreas
Published: February 2022

High silicon solid solution-strengthened ductile iron exhibits advantageous combinations of static strength and ductility due to elevated silicon contents. However, the Charpy impact toughness decreases rapidly with increasing silicon content. In particular, the transition temperature between ductile and brittle fracture behaviour is shifted significantly to higher temperatures. Therefore, the optimum adjustment of the graphite phase is of major importance in order to achieve sufficient toughness properties. So far, little is known about the influence of the graphite phase on the toughness properties of high-silicon ductile iron. In the present study, the graphite particle distribution was therefore systematically varied for ductile iron grade EN-GJS-500-14. The effect of the graphite nodule count in the range from 77 to 273 1/mm2, and the influence of the average particle size and particle distance on the Charpy impact energy and the characteristics of the resulting transition curves were investigated by means of statistical analyses. The results that were obtained indicate that the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in Charpy impact tests can be reduced by about 22 °C by increasing the average nodule count by 100 1/mm2. Additionally, both the lower and upper shelf energies are raised by increasing the nodule count by 100 1/mm2. Based on these results, it becomes apparent to producers that the inoculation technology for toughness-stressed components needs to be specifically considered and adapted.
Disentangled Graph Recurrent Network for Document Ranking
Authors: Dong Qian , Niu Shuzi , Yuan Tao , Li Yucheng
Published: February 2022

BERT-based ranking models are emerging for its superior natural language understanding ability. All word relations and representations in the concatenation of query and document are modeled in the self-attention matrix as latent knowledge. However, some latent knowledge has none or negative effect on the relevance prediction between query and document. We model the observable and unobservable confounding factors in a causal graph and perform do-query to predict the relevance label given an intervention over this graph. For the observed factors, we block the back door path by an adaptive masking method through the transformer layer and refine word representations over this disentangled word graph through the refinement layer. For the unobserved factors, we resolve the do-operation query from the front door path by decomposing word representations into query related and unrelated parts through the decomposition layer. Pairwise ranking loss is mainly used for the ad hoc document ranking task, triangle distance loss is introduced to both the transformer and refinement layers for more discriminative representations, and mutual information constraints are put on the decomposition layer. Experimental results on public benchmark datasets TREC Robust04 and WebTrack2009-12 show that DGRe outperforms state-of-the-art baselines more than 2% especially for short queries.
Dialektmerkmale des Deutschen in den sprachbiographischen Interviews der bilingualen Oberschlesier
Authors: Księżyk Felicja
Published: February 2022

Der Artikel stützt sich auf sprachbiographische Interviews, die im Rahmen des deutsch-polnischen Projekts LangGener mit einheimischen Bewohnern von ehemals deutschen Gebieten im heutigen Polen durchgeführt wurden. Von den insgesamt 124 Aufnahmen werden 20 sprachbiographische Interviews mit Sprechern und Sprecherinnen in Oberschlesien einer Analyse im Hinblick auf die darin vorkommenden remanenten Merkmale der schlesischen deutschen Dialekte unterzogen. Auch wenn die schlesische Sprachlandschaft in der Forschung vor dem Hintergrund der Grenzverschiebungen nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg mit dem damit einhergehenden Bevölkerungsaustausch nunmehr für einen historischen Untersuchungsgegenstand erachtet wird, so zeigt der Artikel, dass auch die aktuell im LangGener-Korpus gewonnenen sprachlichen Daten restdialektale Merkmale des Deutschen aufzeigen. Entgegen der oft vertretenen Ansicht, wonach sich das oberschlesische Deutsch insbesondere durch sprachkontaktinduzierte Eigentümlichkeiten vom Standarddeutsch abheben würde, wird bewiesen, dass sprachkontaktbedingte Veränderungen nicht immer das alleinige und größte Erklärungspotenzial für manche im oberschlesischen Deutsch der Interviewten auftretende Phänomene haben. Zahlreiche Besonderheiten lassen sich als Anzeichen von Dialektkontinuität einstufen.
Words That Harm: Defending the Dignity Approach to Hate Speech Regulation
Authors: Bousquet Chris
Published: February 2022

The dignity approach to racist hate speech regulation maintains that hate speech ought to be regulated because it impugns targets’ dignity and poses a threat to their equal treatment. This approach faces the significant causal challenges of showing that hate speech has the power to erode its targets’ dignity and that regulations can successfully protect that dignity. My aim is to show how a friend of the dignity approach can resolve these challenges. To do so, I borrow insights from the critical legal studies (CLS) approach to hate speech. Specifically, I argue that hate speech can erode its targets’ dignity 1) by constituting an act of discrimination, and 2) by enacting norms that call for treating targeted groups as inferior. Yet while I maintain that the CLS approach offers valuable resources for shoring up the dignity approach, I reject the CLS approach in favor of the dignity approach.
Party Institutionalization and Partisan Mobilization
Authors: Ponce Aldo F. , Scarrow Susan E.
Published: February 2022

This article investigates the relationship between levels of party institutionalization and individual-level partisan mobilization. Levels of party institutionalization have been linked to macro-level outcomes such as party system stability, but little is known about the micro-level underpinnings of such patterns. This article investigates one set of mechanisms through which party institutionalization might affect electoral outcomes. Specifically, we ask how routinization and value infusion – two central dimensions of party institutionalization – shape partisans’ political mobilization. We investigate these relationships by matching data on individual-level behaviour (taken from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) 2014 wave) with data on party attributes commonly associated with levels of institutionalization (taken from the Democratic Accountability and Linkages Project – DALP). We find that while value infusion encourages relatively greater participation from non-member supporters, party routinization depresses non-member participation but may mobilize otherwise inactive members. These findings suggest that to understand the effects of party institutionalization on a macro-level phenomenon such as electoral volatility, it may be necessary to study how parties institutionalize, rather than just asking how much they institutionalize.