bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships of the Degree of C=C Double Bond Conversion with the Dielectric Properties for SiO2/1,2‐PB/SBS/EPDM Composites Cured by Organic Peroxide
Authors: Wu Nan , Wu Bo , Xu Yi , Tang Xianzhong
Published: January 2022

Polymer materials with low dielectric constant and dielectric loss play an indispensable role in high speed and stable signal transmission of electronic components. In this work, the SiO2/ 1,2‐polybutadiene/ styrene‐butadiene‐styrene triblock copolymer/ ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (SiO2/1,2‐PB/SBS/EPDM) composites were prepared with different content of organic peroxide (bis (1‐(tert‐butyl peroxide)‐1‐methyl ethyl)‐benzene, BIPB). A high degree of crosslinking reaction may occur during the curing process. Attenuation total reflectance Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry (ATR‐FTIR) analysis showed that the degree of C=C conversion (DC) increased with the increase of BIPB content, and the dielectric constant of the composites was reduced. However, the dielectric loss decreased initially and subsequently increased. The excess initiators transform into impurities and increase the polarization and conductivity, resulting in a larger dielectric loss value of the composite. The combined results show that the DC value of 92.76 %, the dielectric constant of 3.37 and the dielectric loss of 0.0028 were obtained for the SiO2/1,2‐PB/SBS/EPDM composites containing 3 part‐by‐weight (pbw) BIPB. Furthermore, the composite had good thermal stability and superior mechanical properties.
Slot‐Die‐Coated Organic Solar Cells Optimized through Multistep Crystallization Kinetics
Authors: Xu Jinqiu , Zhan Junzhe , Zhou Guanqing , Zhong Wenkai , Zhang Ming , Xue Xiaonan , Zhu Lei , Leng Shifeng , Chen Jiajun , Zou Yecheng , Su Xuan , Shi Zhiwen , Zhu Haiming , Zhang Maojie , Chen Chun-Chao , Li Yongfang , Zhang Yongming , Liu Feng
Published: January 2022

To fabricate organic solar cells (OSCs) via slot‐die coating, solvent additives are essential to induce an optimized phase‐separated and order morphology. It is critical to determine the morphological evolution from solution to solid state and understand the crystallization kinetics in slot‐die coating. Using in situ grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering characterization, the morphological evolution in PM6‐ and ITIC‐based systems without or with 0.3% 1,8‐diiodooctane (DIO) as additive can be monitored in real‐time during slot‐die coating. As a result, DIO weakens the planarization of the PM6 backbone and splits the backbone ordering into fragments to form ordered crystallites. DIO also induces surface crystallization to reinforce the tie‐chain connections between the crystallites. Furthermore, in the ITIC system, DIO triggers the formation of an interconnected fibril network morphology and concurrently promotes the stacking of ITIC molecules in between the polymer network. Thus, an optimized morphology with a refined crystal structure is formed with the help of DIO. As a result, the power conversion efficiency is improved from 8.77% to 9.59% in slot‐die‐coated OSCs. These findings provide guidelines for optimizing the morphology in slot‐die‐coated OSCs and accelerate the transition of laboratory‐scale fabrication to industrial production.
Structural, Thermal, Mechanical, and Physicochemical Properties of Corn Starch and Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide Based Composite Films
Authors: Fu Zong‐qiang , Guo Shao‐xiang , Wang Xue‐ying , Huang Zhi‐gang , Bi Chong‐hao , Li Fei‐fei , Wu Min
Published: January 2022

Composite films are prepared using corn starch and Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TFP) at different ratios (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, 0:4, corn starch:TFP). The morphology, thermal properties, water resistance properties, opacity, and mechanical properties are investigated to evaluate the performance of composite films. The film surface becomes smooth with the increase in TFP proportion. The retrogradation enthalpy of corn starch is decreased from 2.60 to 1.10 J g−1 starch by the presence of TFP. The moisture content of films does not change with TFP ratio. The water vapor transmission and solubility increase significantly with the increasing TFP ratio. Moreover, the solubility of the pure TFP film is 100%. The transparency and surface hydrophobicity of films are improved with the increase in TFP ratio. The increase in TFP ratio decreases the tensile strength and glass transition temperature of films, while the elongation at break increases from 33.12% to 141.96%. In conclusion, composite films obtained from corn starch and TFP have the potential to be used as food packaging films. However, the ratio of corn starch and TFP should be more than 2:2 to ensure thermal stability of the composite film.
Experimental and numerical studies of axially loaded square concrete‐encased concrete‐filled large‐diameter steel tubular short columns
Authors: Ci Junchang , Kong Lingxu , Ahmed Mizan , Liang Qing Quan , Hamoda Ahmed , Chen Shicai , Wu Chunyu
Published: January 2022

This article presents experimental and numerical studies on the axial compressive behavior of square concrete‐encased concrete‐filled steel tubular (CECFST) short columns composed of a circular inner steel tube. Tests on six full‐scale short CECFST columns with the inner circular tube diameter varying from 320 to 500 mm were carried out to study the influences of sectional diameter and the tube thickness of circular CFST columns on their axial performance. A theoretical model is developed using fiber analysis method and validated against a large test database. The accuracy of various codified design models is evaluated and a simple model is proposed to calculate their ultimate strengths. Test results show that CECFST columns have improved load carrying capacity and can sustain large axial loads without significant strength degradation. In addition, increasing the thickness of the steel tube significantly improves the composite action of the steel and concrete of the inner CFST column, which increases the compressive strength of CECFST columns by 27.3%. However, the rate of increase in the compressive strength of the core concrete of the CFST column has been found to be higher for the column with a smaller local slenderness ratio. The ductility of CECFST columns is influenced by the concrete strength and the spacing of the stirrups. Furthermore, the design model suggested in this study can provide a better estimation than the codified design models.
How to avoid misunderstandings, complaints and litigation in urology
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: January 2022

Clinicians are at risk of litigation by the very nature of some of the work they do. Being aware of those risks can help healthcare professionals take steps to protect themselves and their patients.
Diagnostic yield of exome sequencing in fetuses with multisystem malformations: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pauta M. , Martinez‐Portilla R. J. , Borrell A.
Published: January 2022

Objective

To determine the diagnostic yield of exome sequencing (ES) above that of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or karyotyping in fetuses with multisystem structural anomalies (at least two major anomalies in different anatomical systems).

Method

This was a systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Searching PubMed, Web of Knowledge and Cochrane database, we identified studies describing ES, whole‐genome and/or next‐generation sequencing in fetuses with multisystem malformations. Included were observational studies involving five or more eligible fetuses. A fetus was eligible for inclusion if it had at least two major anomalies of different anatomical systems and a negative CMA or karyotyping result. Only positive variants classified as likely pathogenic or pathogenic determined to be causative of the fetal phenotype were considered. A negative CMA or karyotype result was treated as the reference standard. The diagnostic yield of the primary outcome was calculated by single‐proportion analysis using random‐effects modeling. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic yield of the solo approach (fetus alone sequenced) with that of the trio approach (fetus and both parents sequenced).

Results

Seventeen articles with data on ES diagnostic yield, including 694 individuals with multisystem malformations, were identified. Overall, a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant potentially causative of the fetal phenotype was found in 213 fetuses, giving a 33% (95% CI, 27–40%) incremental yield of ES. A stratified analysis showed similar diagnostic yields of ES using the solo approach (30%; 95% CI, 11–52%) and the trio approach (35%; 95% CI, 26–44%).

Conclusions

ES applied in fetuses with multisystem structural anomalies was able to identify a potentially causative gene when CMA or karyotyping had failed to do so in an additional one‐third of cases. No differences were observed between the solo and trio approaches for ES. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
A comprehensive review on Arabic word sense disambiguation for natural language processing applications
Authors: Kaddoura Sanaa , D. Ahmed Rowanda , D. Jude Hemanth
Published: January 2022

In communication, textual data are a vital attribute. In all languages, ambiguous or polysemous words' meaning changes depending on the context in which they are used. The ability to determine the ambiguous word's correct meaning is a Know‐distill challenging task in natural language processing (NLP). Word sense disambiguation (WSD) is an NLP process to analyze and determine the correct meaning of polysemous words in a text. WSD is a computational linguistics task that automatically identifies the polysemous word's set of senses. Based on the context some word comes into view, WSD recognizes and tags the word to its correct priori known meaning. Semitic languages like Arabic have even more significant challenges than other languages since Arabic lacks diacritics, standardization, and a massive shortage of available resources. Recently, many approaches and techniques have been suggested to solve word ambiguity dilemmas in many different ways and several languages. In this review paper, an extensive survey of research works is presented, seeking to solve Arabic word sense disambiguation with the existing AWSD datasets.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Text Mining

Technologies > Machine Learning
Between Narrativity, Memory, and Administration: Lists in Roman Historiography
Authors: Stöckinger Martin
Published: January 2022

This contribution examines the function of lists in Roman historiography. It considers passages from Cicero’s rhetorical works (on the Annales Maximi), Tacitus’ Histories, the emperor Augustus’ Res Gestae, and Gregory of Tours’ Historia Francorum. The relationship of lists and narrativity is the central focus of the investigation. Moreover, it sheds light on the medium of writing that is crucial for the lists under consideration, the role of bureaucracy and administration, and the entanglement of list-keeping and political and religious power.
Geomatics for Terrain’s Deformation Monitoring: The H2020 LiquefACT Field Trial in Pieve di Cento, Italy
Authors: Casella Vittorio , Franzini Marica
Published: January 2022

The paper presents a case study on the application of Geomatics to terrain’s deformation monitoring. Within the EU H2020 LiquefACT project, the Laboratory of Geomatics of the University of Pavia (Italy) was appointed to quantify the subsidence suffered by the terrain due to some trials conducted in the test site of Pieve di Cento, Northern Italy. Geomatics has long been used for deformation monitoring, but present paper deals with two peculiar elements: the constraints given by the test field, its layout, the allowed and forbidden actions, that forced the surveyors to elaborate an unconventional surveying design, and the use of a state-of-the-art instrument, the Trimble SX10. It mainly is a high-level topographic total station; being robotized, it has interesting laser scanning capabilities. In the paper, the survey design will be illustrated and discussed, and a selection of the obtained results will be presented. They highlight how much geomatics can be flexible and adaptable and, at the same time, precise and accurate.
A BIM-GIS Integrated Database to Support Planned Maintenance Activities of Historical Built Heritage
Authors: Colucci Elisabetta , Iacono Emmanuele , Matrone Francesca , Ventura Gianvito Marino
Published: January 2022

Planned maintenance represents a strategy to facilitate the conservation of architectural heritage, preventing invasive restoration activities. For this purpose, the management of a maintenance plan through the integration of BIM and GIS domains is here proposed. In particular, the first results of the Interreg Main.10.ance project are described, namely the definition of a unique spatial database divided into different Levels of Detail, compliant with geographical standards and user-friendly for the professionals involved. This integration is addressed through the use of Dynamo, which allows the dialogue between the BIM and GIS data in the PostgreSQL database.
Distinct Phyllosphere Microbiome of Wild Tomato Species in Central Peru upon Dysbiosis
Authors: Runge Paul , Ventura Freddy , Kemen Eric , Stam Remco
Published: January 2022

Plants are colonized by myriads of microbes across kingdoms, which affect host development, fitness, and reproduction. Hence, plant microbiomes have been explored across a broad range of host species, including model organisms, crops, and trees under controlled and natural conditions. Tomato is one of the world’s most important vegetable crops; however, little is known about the microbiota of wild tomato species. To obtain insights into the tomato microbiota occurring in natural environments, we sampled epiphytic microbes from leaves of four tomato species, Solanum habrochaites, S. corneliomulleri, S. peruvianum, and S. pimpinellifolium, from two geographical locations within the Lima region of Peru over 2 consecutive years. Here, a high-throughput sequencing approach was applied to investigate microbial compositions including bacteria, fungi, and eukaryotes across tomato species and geographical locations. The phyllosphere microbiome composition varies between hosts and location. Yet, we identified persistent microbes across tomato species that form the tomato microbial core community. In addition, we phenotypically defined healthy and dysbiotic samples and performed a downstream analysis to reveal the impact on microbial community structures. To do so, we compared microbial diversities, unique OTUs, relative abundances of core taxa, and microbial hub taxa, as well as co-occurrence network characteristics in healthy and dysbiotic tomato leaves and found that dysbiosis affects the phyllosphere microbial composition in a host species-dependent manner. Yet, overall, the present data suggests an enrichment of plant-promoting microbial taxa in healthy leaves, whereas numerous microbial taxa containing plant pathogens occurred in dysbiotic leaves.

Concluding, we identify the core phyllosphere microbiome of wild tomato species, and show that the overall phyllosphere microbiome can be impacted by sampling time point, geographical location, host genotype, and plant health. Future studies in these components will help understand the microbial contribution to plant health in natural systems and can be of use in cultivated tomatoes.
Hybrid Laparoscopic Versus Open Pancreatoduodenectomy. A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Vladimirov Miljana , Bausch Dirk , Stein Hubert J. , Keck Tobias , Wellner Ulrich
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Hybrid laparoscopic techniques have been proposed as a good transition from open to complete minimally invasive approach especially in complex surgical procedures. This meta‐analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of hybrid laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy versus open pancreatoduodenectomy.

Methods

A systematic literature research was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. A broad search strategy with terms “laparoscopy” and “pancreatoduodenectomy” was used. Included studies were analyzed by quantitative meta‐analysis using the metafor package for R software.

Results

Of 655 identified articles, 627 were excluded and 28 articles fully assessed, including 14 comparative studies, 8 case series and 6 case reports. Extracted data included intraoperative variables and postoperative outcome parameters. The predefined inclusion criteria were met by 14 comparative studies, and 371 patients were pooled in the meta‐analysis. Hybrid laparoscopic pacreatoduodenectomy was associated with significantly longer operative time (I2 0%, p = 0,01, Mean HPD 494,6 min, Mean OPD 421,6 min, WMD 67 min, 95% CI 14–120 min). For all other postoperative outcome parameters, no statistically significant differences were found. A nonsignificant reduction in intraoperative transfusion rate (I2 20%, p = 0,2, proportion HPD 2%, proportion OPD 1,6%, OR 0,44, 95% CI 0,16–1,27) and blood loss (I2 95%, p = 0,1, Mean HPD 397,2 ml, Mean OPD 1017,8 ml, MD − 601 ml, 95% CI − 1311–108) was observed for hybrid pancreatoduodenectomy in comparison to open surgery.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis demonstrates significantly increased operation time for hybrid laparoscopic compared to open pancreatoduodenectomy. Intraoperative variables as well as postoperative parameters and major morbidity were comparable for both techniques. Overall results of this meta‐analysis demonstrated the hybrid technique as a safe procedure in high‐volume centers offering aspects of a safe transition to fully laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy.
Sprachliche Charakteristika einer Psychotherapiesitzungssequenz aus der Perspektive unterschiedlicher Analysemethoden
Authors: Gumz Antje , Spranz-Fogasy Thomas
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Die sprachlichen Äußerungen sind ein zentrales Medium in Psychotherapien, d. h., Psychotherapie wirkt im Wesentlichen über die Sprache, über das Miteinanderreden. Angesichts der Bedeutung des sprachlichen Austauschs ist es relevant, die Mechanismen, über die Sprache in Psychotherapieprozessen wirkt, genauer zu verstehen. Die linguistische Psychotherapieforschung nutzt hierfür vielfältige Methoden.

Ziel der Arbeit

Vorliegender Beitrag demonstriert exemplarisch 2 mikroanalytische Ansätze.

Material und Methoden

Eine transkribierte Psychotherapiesitzungssequenz wurde aus Perspektive der psychodynamischen Theorie inhaltlich interpretiert und bezüglich sprachlicher Merkmale mithilfe von 2 Methoden mikroanalytisch beurteilt: Die verbalen Techniken (Fokus Therapeutenäußerungen) wurden mithilfe der Psychodynamischen Interventionsliste (PIL) geratet und eine detaillierte Konversationsanalyse (Fokus Dialog) erfolgte.

Ergebnisse

Analysen mit der PIL zeigten, dass im Sitzungsausschnitt überwiegend die Techniken „Bedeutung hinzufügen“ und „Wiederholen, Umschreiben, Zusammenfassen“ verwendet wurden. Thematisch wurde besonders auf den „Vater“ Bezug genommen, gefolgt von der „Therapeutin“. Der zeitliche Bezug lag schwerpunktmäßig in der „Vergangenheit“. Die Gesprächsanalyse rekonstruiert, dass der Wechsel auf die Erlebensebene die Therapiesituation selbst in den Fokus rückt. Mithilfe sequenzieller Handlungszwänge werden extratherapeutische Konstellationen in der Vergangenheit und therapeutische Gegenwart kontrastierbar sowie intersubjektiv bearbeitbar gemacht.

Schlussfolgerung

Die eigene Sprache und den Dialog im Therapieprozess zu beobachten, kann für Therapeuten aufschlussreiche Erkenntnisse über Folgen und Voraussetzungen eigener Interventionen liefern. Forschungen an der interdisziplinären Schnittstelle von Psychotherapie und Linguistik sind lohnenswert.
Stochastic deep collocation method based on neural architecture search and transfer learning for heterogeneous porous media
Authors: Guo Hongwei , Zhuang Xiaoying , Chen Pengwan , Alajlan Naif , Rabczuk Timon
Published: January 2022

We present a stochastic deep collocation method (DCM) based on neural architecture search (NAS) and transfer learning for heterogeneous porous media. We first carry out a sensitivity analysis to determine the key hyper-parameters of the network to reduce the search space and subsequently employ hyper-parameter optimization to finally obtain the parameter values. The presented NAS based DCM also saves the weights and biases of the most favorable architectures, which is then used in the fine-tuning process. We also employ transfer learning techniques to drastically reduce the computational cost. The presented DCM is then applied to the stochastic analysis of heterogeneous porous material. Therefore, a three dimensional stochastic flow model is built providing a benchmark to the simulation of groundwater flow in highly heterogeneous aquifers. The performance of the presented NAS based DCM is verified in different dimensions using the method of manufactured solutions. We show that it significantly outperforms finite difference methods in both accuracy and computational cost.
Instructing item-specific switch probability: expectations modulate stimulus–action priming
Authors: Jargow Janine , Wolfensteller Uta , Pfeuffer Christina U. , Ruge Hannes
Published: January 2022

Both active response execution and passive listening to verbal codes (a form of instruction) in single prime trials lead to item-specific repetition priming effects when stimuli re-occur in single probe trials. This holds for task-specific classification (stimulus–classification, SC priming, e.g., apple–small) and action (stimulus–action, SA priming, e.g., apple–right key press). To address the influence of expectation on item-specific SC and SA associations, we tested if item-specific SC and SA priming effects were modulated by theinstructedprobability of re-encountering individual SC or SA mappings (25% vs. 75%instructedswitch probability). Importantly, the experienced item-specific switch probability was always 50%. In Experiment 1 (N = 78), item-specific SA/SC switch  expectations affected SA, but not SC priming effects exclusively following active response execution. Experiment 2 (N = 40) was designed to emphasize SA priming by only including item-specific SC repetitions. This yielded stronger SA priming for 25% vs. 75% expected switch probability, both following response execution as in Experiment 1 and also following verbally coded SA associations. Together, these results suggest that SA priming effects, that is, the encoding and retrieval of SA associations, is modulated by item-specific switch expectation. Importantly, this expectation effect cannot be explained by item-specific associative learning mechanisms, as stimuli were primed and probed only once and participants experienced item-specific repetitions/switches equally often across stimuli independent of instructed switch probabilities. This corroborates and extends previous results by showing that SA priming effects are modulated by  expectation not only based on experienced item-specific switch probabilities, but also on mere instruction.
Survival, functional outcome and satisfaction of first revision total knee arthroplasty at a mean eleven-year follow-up
Authors: Hecker Andreas , Pütz Hans-Jürg A. , Wangler Sebastian , Klenke Frank M.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Providing long-term outcome data after rTKA and compare one- versus two-stage and septic versus aseptic revisions.

Methods

This study represents a single-center retrospective study of first rTKAs performed for any reason with a final follow-up of a minimum of five years. Outcome parameters included stability assessment ROM, radiologic assessment, HSS score, KSS score, OKS score, EQ-5D-3L and VAS. 44 patients were included in the study. Subgroups analysis of one- versus two-stage revision and septic versus aseptic revision was performed.

Results

The leading causes of rTKA in this mean 11 year follow-up study were aseptic loosening (36%) and periprosthetic joint infection (27%). At the final follow-up, there was a 89% survivorship of the implants. Patients showed a ROM of 114 ± 13°, HSS score of 78 ± 12, KKS objective score of 77 ± 16, KSS expectation and satisfaction score of 32 ± 11, KSS functional activity score of 50 ± 20, OKS of 30 ± 9, VAS of 53 ± 25 and EQ-5D index of 0.649. Functional outcome scores were not significantly altered in the analyzed subgroups.

Conclusions

In our 11 years follow-up, we obtained 89% implant survivorship. Measurements regarding functional outcome and pain showed results in the medium range of the respective scores, while patient satisfaction lay in the upper third. No significant differences in outcome scores between one- and two-stage revisions and septic versus aseptic revisions were observed.

Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Problems with SZZ and features: An empirical study of the state of practice of defect prediction data collection
Authors: Herbold Steffen , Trautsch Alexander , Trautsch Fabian , Ledel Benjamin
Published: January 2022

Context

The SZZ algorithm is the de facto standard for labeling bug fixing commits and finding inducing changes for defect prediction data. Recent research uncovered potential problems in different parts of the SZZ algorithm. Most defect prediction data sets provide only static code metrics as features, while research indicates that other features are also important.

Objective

We provide an empirical analysis of the defect labels created with the SZZ algorithm and the impact of commonly used features on results.

Method

We used a combination of manual validation and adopted or improved heuristics for the collection of defect data. We conducted an empirical study on 398 releases of 38 Apache projects.

Results

We found that only half of the bug fixing commits determined by SZZ are actually bug fixing. If a six-month time frame is used in combination with SZZ to determine which bugs affect a release, one file is incorrectly labeled as defective for every file that is correctly labeled as defective. In addition, two defective files are missed. We also explored the impact of the relatively small set of features that are available in most defect prediction data sets, as there are multiple publications that indicate that, e.g., churn related features are important for defect prediction. We found that the difference of using more features is not significant.

Conclusion

Problems with inaccurate defect labels are a severe threat to the validity of the state of the art of defect prediction. Small feature sets seem to be a less severe threat.
Organizational Structure for the IT Department: Profit Center or Cost Center?
Authors: Vithayathil Joseph , Choudhary Vidyanand
Published: January 2022

Why do some firms organize their IT departments as profit centers whereas other firms organize IT as a cost center? These commonly employed organizational structures are characterized by information asymmetry and decision rights afforded to the IT department. The complexity of IT and its ongoing rapid evolution lead to information asymmetry where the IT department has private information about technology and cost, and the consuming departments have private information about demand. Under the cost center organizational structure, the firm sets the quality and number of IT services offered by the IT department. Whereas under a profit center structure, the IT department makes decisions on quality, price and variety of IT services. We find that the quality of IT services under the cost center decreases with greater uncertainty in demand for IT services. We also find that the cost center structure can offer higher quality IT services than the profit center structure, and consumption of IT services can be higher under the profit center structure. The preferred organizational structure does not always provide greater variety of IT services than the alternate structure. The cost center is preferred when the marginal cost of IT services is sufficiently low, or the fixed cost of quality is sufficiently high.
Post-warming embryo morphology is associated with live birth: a cohort study of single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles
Authors: Allen Meagan , Hale Lyndon , Lantsberg Daniel , Kieu Violet , Stevens John , Stern Catharyn , Gardner David K. , Mizrachi Yossi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether blastocyst morphology post-warming correlates with live birth.

Methods

In this cohort study, morphological characteristics post-warming were reviewed in all single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles performed between November 2016 and May 2017. Immediately before transfer, the degree of blastocoel re-expansion was graded as A, fully expanded; B, partially expanded ≥ 50%; C, partially expanded < 50%; and D, collapsed. The degree of post-warming cell survival was graded on a scale of 50 to 100% and was then classified into 4 groups: very low 50–70%, low 71–80%, moderate 81–90%, and high 91–100%.

Results

Overall, 612 cycles were reviewed, of which 196 included PGT-A tested embryos. The live birth rate (LBR) increased from 11.4% in the collapsed blastocysts group to 38.9% in the post-warming full re-expansion group (p < 0.001) and from 6.5% for blastocysts with a very low cell survival rate to 34.7% for blastocysts with high cell survival rate (p = 0.001). LBR was 6.7% for blastocysts with the worst post-warming morphological characteristics, namely, collapsed with very low cell survival rate. On multivariate analyses, partial blastocyst re-expansion ≥ 50%, full re-expansion, and high cell survival rate remained significantly associated with live birth, after controlling for female age, pre-vitrification morphological grading, and PGT-A. A sub-analysis of cycles using PGT-A tested embryos showed similar results.

Conclusion

Post-warming re-expansion and high cell survival rate are associated with higher LBR in euploid and untested blastocysts. However, embryos with poor post-warming morphology still demonstrate a considerable probability of live birth, and they should not be discarded.
Numerical aspects of a Godunov-type stabilization scheme for the Boltzmann transport equation
Authors: Noei Maziar , Luckner Paul , Linn Tobias , Jungemann Christoph
Published: January 2022

We discuss the numerical aspects of the Boltzmann transport equation (BE) for electrons in semiconductor devices, which is stabilized by Godunov’s scheme. The k-space is discretized with a grid based on the total energy to suppress spurious diffusion in the stationary case. Band structures of arbitrary shape can be handled. In the stationary case, the discrete BE yields always nonnegative distribution functions and the corresponding system matrix has only eigenvalues with positive real parts (diagonally dominant matrix) resulting in an excellent numerical stability. In the transient case, this property yields an upper limit for the time step ensuring the stability of the CPU-efficient forward Euler scheme and a positive distribution function. Similar to the Monte-Carlo (MC) method, the discrete BE can be solved in time together with the Poisson equation (PE), where the time steps for the PE are split into shorter time steps for the BE, which can be performed at minor additional computational cost. Thus, similar to the MC method, the transient approach is matrix-free and the solution of memory and CPU intensive large systems of linear equations is avoided. The numerical properties of the approach are demonstrated for a silicon nanowire NMOSFET, for which the stationary I–V characteristics, small-signal admittance parameters and the switching behavior are simulated with and without strong scattering. The spurious damping introduced by Godunov’s (upwind) scheme is found to be negligible in the technically relevant frequency range. The inherent asymmetry of the upwind scheme results in an error for very strong scattering that can be alleviated by a finer grid in transport direction.
Risk Factors for Dual Burden of Severe Maternal Morbidity and Preterm Birth by Insurance Type in California
Authors: El Ayadi Alison M. , Baer Rebecca J. , Gay Caryl , Lee Henry C. , Obedin-Maliver Juno , Jelliffe-Pawlowski Laura , Lyndon Audrey
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Among childbearing women, insurance coverage determines degree of access to preventive and emergency care for maternal and infant health. Maternal-infant dyads with dual burden of severe maternal morbidity and preterm birth experience high physical and psychological morbidity, and the risk of dual burden varies by insurance type. We examined whether sociodemographic and perinatal risk factors of dual burden differed by insurance type.

Methods

We estimated relative risks of dual burden by maternal sociodemographic and perinatal characteristics in the 2007–2012 California birth cohort dataset stratified by insurance type and compared effects across insurance types using Wald Z-statistics.

Results

Dual burden ranged from 0.36% of privately insured births to 0.41% of uninsured births. Obstetric comorbidities, multiple gestation, parity, and birth mode conferred the largest risks across all insurance types, but effect magnitude differed. The adjusted relative risk of dual burden associated with preeclampsia superimposed on preexisting hypertension ranged from 9.1 (95% CI 7.6–10.9) for privately insured to 15.9 (95% CI 9.1–27.6) among uninsured. The adjusted relative risk of dual burden associated with cesarean birth ranged from 3.1 (95% CI 2.7–3.5) for women with Medi-Cal to 5.4 (95% CI 3.5–8.2) for women with other insurance among primiparas, and 7.0 (95% CI 6.0–8.3) to 19.4 (95% CI 10.3–36.3), respectively, among multiparas.

Conclusions

Risk factors of dual burden differed by insurance type across sociodemographic and perinatal factors, suggesting that care quality may differ by insurance type. Attention to peripartum care access and care quality provided by insurance type is needed to improve maternal and neonatal health.
Seaweed as bioindicators of organic micropollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)
Authors: Zokm Gehan Mohamed El , Ismail Mona Mohamed , Okbah Mohamed Abd Elaziz
Published: January 2022

This study highlights the role of seaweed as important indicators of pollutants as they respond immediately to change in water chemistry and have high survival capabilities. Concentration and risk assessment of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), were examined in the seaweed from El-Mex Bay, Mediterranean Sea during spring and autumn seasons. The green alga Ulva compressa had a maximum ability to accumulate both PAHs and OCPs. In general, the content of the tested micropollutants in the collected seaweed is correlated to their species, morphology, concentration, and nature of pollutant. Naphthalene (NAP) and benzo a pyrene were the predominant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in all species with mean concentrations of 68.57 and 56.14 ng g−1, respectively. The results of the current study showed that the contribution of the different fractions of PAHs from the total concentration was as follows: fossil-fuel derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑PAHF; 49.32%) > combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHCOMB; 30.83%) > carcinogenic fractions (PAHCARC; 19.86%). A maximum PAHCARC (30.38%) was recorded in Ulva fasciata. For OCPs, the presence of 1,1-dichloro-2, 2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDD) (ND-27.8 ng g−1) rather than DDT; 1,1,1-trichloro-2, 2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane was an indication for biotransformation involving the reductive dichlorination of DDT to more recalcitrant and toxic DDD. Endrin ketone has the highest mean hazard quotient (0.376). The cancer risk values of most PAHs and OCPs were in the range from 10−4 to 10−3 recommending precautionary measures. The results explained that the present algal species play a vital role in the uptake of organic pollutants and act as biomarkers for micropollutants in the ecosystem.
Long-term assessment of creep and water effects on tunnel lining loads in weak rocks using displacement-based direct back analysis: an example from northwest of Iran
Authors: Tarifard Abolfazl , Görög Péter , Török Ákos
Published: January 2022

The time-dependent stability of tunnels is an important and challenging topic, mainly when the tunnel is excavated in incompetent and weak rocks. The creep property of rock is one of the crucial mechanical properties of weak rock and the main factor affecting the long-term stability of rock masses. Also, water as an important environmental factor influences both the short-term and long-term behavior of rocks and is one of the causes of geotechnical engineering disasters, such as tunnel collapse, slope sliding, surface subsidence, etc. In this research, the effects of rock’s creep behavior and underground water on the long-term stability of the Shibli tunnels were analyzed. Geological maps and reports of Shibli tunnels show a highly jointed condition in the surrounding rocks which have been crushed by two orogenic stages. The Burger-creep visco-plastic model was used to simulate the tunnel host rock creep behavior. The model's parameters were adopted based on the displacement-based direct back analysis technique using a univariate optimization algorithm. In addition, the influence of underground water is assessed under the condition of the varying water table. Support capability diagrams were used to evaluate the loading created on the tunnel’s permanent lining due to the creep behavior of rock mass and underground water. This study suggests that the weak rock's creep behavior and underground water significantly affect the time-dependent stability of tunnels. Results show that the induced stresses due to the rock's creep behavior and underground water are more considerable in the tunnel spring-line. Also, the increasing 20 m in the water table approximately decreases ten years of tunnel lining stability time at the fault zone.

Article highlights

Rocks creep behavior and underground water significantly affect the time-dependent stability of tunnels in weak rocks.

Displacement-based direct back analysis using a univariate optimization algorithm was used to determine the CVISC model’s properties.

Increasing 20 m in the water table approximately decreases ten years of tunnel lining stability time at the fault zone.
Adiabatic theorem in the thermodynamic limit: Systems with a gap in the bulk
Authors: Henheik Joscha , Teufel Stefan
Published: January 2022

We prove a generalised super-adiabatic theorem for extended fermionic systems assuming a spectral gap only in the bulk. More precisely, we assume that the infinite system has a unique ground state and that the corresponding Gelfand–Naimark–Segal Hamiltonian has a spectral gap above its eigenvalue zero. Moreover, we show that a similar adiabatic theorem also holds in the bulk of finite systems up to errors that vanish faster than any inverse power of the system size, although the corresponding finite-volume Hamiltonians need not have a spectral gap.
An ergodic theorem for the weighted ensemble method
Authors: Aristoff David
Published: January 2022

We study weighted ensemble, an interacting particle method for sampling distributions of Markov chains that has been used in computational chemistry since the 1990s. Many important applications of weighted ensemble require the computation of long time averages. We establish the consistency of weighted ensemble in this setting by proving an ergodic theorem for time averages. As part of the proof, we derive explicit variance formulas that could be useful for optimizing the method.
On the continuity of Pickands constants
Authors: Dębicki Krzysztof , Hashorva Enkelejd , Michna Zbigniew
Published: January 2022

For a non-negative separable random field Z(t),
$t\in \mathbb{R}^d$
, satisfying some mild assumptions, we show that
$ H_Z^\delta =\lim_{{T} \to \infty} ({1}/{T^d}) \mathbb{E}\{{\sup_{ t\in [0,T]^d \cap \delta \mathbb{Z}^d } Z(t) }\} <\infty$
for
$\delta \ge 0$
, where
$0 \mathbb{Z}^d\,:\!=\,\mathbb{R}^d$
, and prove that
$H_Z^0$
can be approximated by
$H_Z^\delta$
if
$\delta$
tends to 0. These results extend the classical findings for Pickands constants
$H_{Z}^\delta$
, defined for
$Z(t)= \exp( \sqrt{ 2} B_\alpha (t)- \lvert {t} \rvert^{2\alpha })$
,
$t\in \mathbb{R}$
, with
$B_\alpha$
a standard fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter
$\alpha \in (0,1]$
. The continuity of
$H_{Z}^\delta$
at
$\delta=0$
is additionally shown for two particular extensions of Pickands constants.
Polls, Context, and Time: A Dynamic Hierarchical Bayesian Forecasting Model for US Senate Elections
Authors: Chen Yehu , Garnett Roman , Montgomery Jacob M.
Published: January 2022

We present a hierarchical Dirichlet regression model with Gaussian process priors that enables accurate and well-calibrated forecasts for U.S. Senate elections at varying time horizons. This Bayesian model provides a balance between predictions based on time-dependent opinion polls and those made based on fundamentals. It also provides uncertainty estimates that arise naturally from historical data on elections and polls. Experiments show that our model is highly accurate and has a well calibrated coverage rate for vote share predictions at various forecasting horizons. We validate the model with a retrospective forecast of the 2018 cycle as well as a true out-of-sample forecast for 2020. We show that our approach achieves state-of-the art accuracy and coverage despite relying on few covariates.
Economic Inequality in Preindustrial Germany, ca. 1300–1850
Authors: Alfani Guido , Gierok Victoria , Schaff Felix
Published: January 2022

This article provides an overview of wealth inequality in Germany during 1300–1850, introducing a novel database. We document four alternating phases of inequality decline and growth. The Black Death (1347–1352) led to inequality decline, until about 1450. Thereafter, inequality rose steadily. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) and the 1627–1629 plague triggered a second phase of inequality reduction. This distinguishes Germany from other European areas where inequality grew monotonically. Inequality growth resumed from about 1700, well before the Industrial Revolution. Our findings offer new material to current debates on the determinants of inequality change in western societies, past and present.
Philip Seeman's contributions to the story of schizophrenia
Authors: Seeman Mary V.
Published: January 2022

Philip Seeman's isolation of the dopamine D2 receptor is an example of a small step that can lead to major change in the way that we conceptualize the etiology of schizophrenia.
Long-term risk for mental health symptoms in Dutch ISAF veterans: the role of perceived social support
Authors: van der Wal Sija J. , Geuze Elbert , Vermetten Eric
Published: January 2022

Background

Military personnel deployed to combat and peacekeeping missions are exposed to high rates of traumatic events. Accumulating evidence suggests an important association between deployment and the development of other mental health symptoms beyond post-traumatic stress disorder.

Methods

This study examined the prevalence of agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and hostility symptoms in a cohort of Dutch ISAF veterans (N = 978) from pre-deployment up to 10 years after homecoming. The interaction of potential moderating factors with the change in mental health symptoms relative to pre-deployment was investigated at each time point.

Results

The probable prevalence of agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and hostility symptoms significantly increased over time to respectively 6.5, 2.7, 3.5, and 6.2% at 10 years after deployment. Except for hostility symptoms, the probable prevalence at 10 years after deployment was the highest compared to all previous follow-up assessments. Importantly, less perceived social support after returning from deployment was found as a risk factor for all different mental health symptoms. Unit support was not associated with the development of mental health problems.

Conclusions

This study suggests a probable broad and long-term impact of deployment on the mental health of military service members. Due to the lack of a non-deployed control group, causal effects of deployment could not be demonstrated. Continued effort should nevertheless be made in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of mental health symptoms, even a decade after deployment. The findings also underscore the importance of social support after homecoming and its potential for the prevention of long-term mental health problems.
Parenting and childhood irritability: Negative emotion socialization and parental control moderate the development of irritability
Authors: Ravi Sanjana , Havewala Mazneen , Kircanski Katharina , Brotman Melissa A. , Schneider Leslie , Degnan Kathryn , Almas Alisa , Fox Nathan , Pine Daniel S. , Leibenluft Ellen , Filippi Courtney
Published: January 2022

Irritability, characterized by anger in response to frustration, is normative in childhood. While children typically show a decline in irritability from toddlerhood to school age, elevated irritability throughout childhood may predict later psychopathology. The current study (n = 78) examined associations between trajectories of irritability in early childhood (ages 2–7) and irritability in adolescence (age 12) and tested whether these associations are moderated by parenting behaviors. Results indicate that negative emotion socialization moderated trajectories of irritability – relative to children with low stable irritability, children who exhibited high stable irritability in early childhood and who had parents that exhibited greater negative emotion socialization behaviors had higher irritability in adolescence. Further, negative parental control behavior moderated trajectories of irritability – relative to children with low stable irritability, children who had high decreasing irritability in early childhood and who had parents who exhibited greater negative control behaviors had higher irritability in adolescence. In contrast, positive emotion socialization and control behaviors did not moderate the relations between early childhood irritability and later irritability in adolescence. These results suggest that both irritability in early childhood and negative parenting behaviors may jointly influence irritability in adolescence. The current study underscores the significance of negative parenting behaviors and could inform treatment.
Pain Influences Neuropsychological Performance Following Electrical Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dorociak Katherine E. , Soble Jason R. , Rupert Patricia A. , Fink Joseph W. , Lee Raphael C. , Anitescu Magdalena , Weiss David , Cooke Gerald , Resch Zachary J. , Pliskin Neil H.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

Electrical injury (EI) is a significant, multifaceted trauma often with multi-domain cognitive sequelae, even when the expected current path does not pass through the brain. Chronic pain (CP) research suggests pain may affect cognition directly and indirectly by influencing emotional distress which then impacts cognitive functioning. As chronic pain may be critical to understanding EI-related cognitive difficulties, the aims of the current study were: examine the direct and indirect effects of pain on cognition following EI and compare the relationship between pain and cognition in EI and CP populations.

Method:

This cross-sectional study used data from a clinical sample of 50 patients with EI (84.0% male; Mage = 43.7 years) administered standardized measures of pain (Pain Patient Profile), depression, and neurocognitive functioning. A CP comparison sample of 93 patients was also included.

Results:

Higher pain levels were associated with poorer attention/processing speed and executive functioning performance among patients with EI. Depression was significantly correlated with pain and mediated the relationship between pain and attention/processing speed in patients with EI. When comparing the patients with EI and CP, the relationship between pain and cognition was similar for both clinical groups.

Conclusions:

Findings indicate that pain impacts mood and cognition in patients with EI, and the influence of pain and its effect on cognition should be considered in the assessment and treatment of patients who have experienced an electrical injury.