bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depressive Symptoms in Danish Patients With Glioma and a Cancer-Free Comparison Group
Authors: Løppenthin Katrine , Johansen Christoffer , Larsen Matilde Bille , Forchhammer Birgitte Hysse , Brennum Jannick , Piil Karin , Aaronson Neil , Rasmussen Birthe Krogh , Bidstrup Pernille
Published: September 2020

Background: It is well established that patients with glioma may experience adverse general (eg, headache) or focal symptoms (eg, personality changes) and neurocognitive deficits (eg, planning), but they may also experience severe emotional distress. We investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed glioma and in matched cancer-free persons. Methods: For this study, we recruited patients with glioma diagnosed within 12 months at all 4 neurosurgical clinics in Denmark. The cancer-free comparison group was identified through the Danish Central Person Register and matched on sex and age. Participants’ depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; score range, 0–60), with a cutoff score ≥16 indicating moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Results: In this study, 363 of 554 patients with glioma and 481 of 1,304 cancer-free persons participated. Mean age of all patients was 55 years and 60% of the population was male. Mean scores for depressive symptoms were statistically significantly higher among patients with glioma, with a mean CES-D score of 10.9 (95% CI, 10.1–11.8) compared with 5.3 (95% CI, 4.7–5.8) among cancer-free persons (P<.0001). Overall, 92 patients with glioma (25%) and 30 cancer-free persons (6%) had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. After adjustment for marital status, education level, and comorbidity, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 5 times higher among patients with glioma compared with cancer-free persons. Conclusions: A substantially higher prevalence of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms was identified in patients with glioma compared with cancer-free persons. This indicates the importance of programs to systematically identify and manage depressive symptoms in patients with glioma.
Clinical Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Staging Localized Breast Cancer Before Initiating Preoperative Systemic Therapy
Authors: Ko Heidi , Baghdadi Yaser , Love Charito , Sparano Joseph A.
Published: September 2020

Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT is recommended as an optional study in the current NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Breast Cancer after CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with contrast and bone scan (CTBS) in stage IIA–IIIC breast cancer. We evaluated our experience with the use of PET/CT in this setting before beginning primary systemic therapy (PST) prior to planned surgery. Methods: We performed medical record abstractions of all adult female patients with clinical stage IIA–IIIC breast cancer diagnosed at Montefiore Medical Center from January 1, 2014, through January 1, 2019, who underwent PET/CT before PST. We calculated the proportion of patients upstaged after PET/CT and examined the cost and radiation exposure associated with PET/CT compared with CTBS. Results: A total of 195 patients with 196 breast cancers (bilateral disease in 1 patient) met the study inclusion criteria and had PET/CT as the first imaging study before PST. The overall upstaging rate for regional nodal metastasis and/or distant metastasis was 37% (73/196), including 24% for stage IIA (9/38), 39% for stage IIB (31/79), 54% for stage IIIA (22/41), 27% for stage IIIB (8/30), and 37% for stage IIIC (3/8). The overall upstaging rate for distant metastasis was 14% (27/196), including 0% for stage IIA, 13% for stage IIB (10/79), 22% for stage IIIA (9/41), 17% for stage IIIB (5/30), and 37% for stage IIIC (3/8). Medicare reimbursement rates were $1,604.37 for PET/CT and $1,679.94 for CTBS. The radiation dose for PET/CT was 14 mSv versus 21 mSv for CTBS. Conclusions: Approximately 37% of patients with clinical stage IIA–IIIC breast cancer who underwent PET/CT before PST showed more extensive disease, including 23% with more extensive nodal metastasis and 14% with distant metastasis. Given its high detection rate, comparable cost, lower radiation dose, and greater convenience, PET/CT should be considered as an alternative to CTBS rather than “optional” after CTBS, especially in patients who require an efficient and expeditious workup before initiating PST.
NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Delivering Value for Patients Across the Oncology Ecosystem
Authors: Johnson Terrell , Bandini Lindsey A.M. , Mitteldorf Darryl , Franklin Elizabeth , Bekelman Justin E. , Carlson Robert W.
Published: September 2020

As the oncology ecosystem shifts from service-based care to outcomes and value-based care, stakeholders cite concerns regarding the lack of patient experience data that are important to the patient community. To address the patient perspective and highlight the challenges and opportunities within policy and clinical decision-making to improve patient-centered care, NCCN hosted the NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Delivering Value for Patients Across the Oncology Ecosystem on December 11, 2019, in Washington, DC. The summit featured multidisciplinary panel discussions, keynote speakers, and patient advocate presentations exploring the implications for patient-centered care within a shifting health policy landscape. This article encapsulates and expounds upon the discussions and presentations from the summit.
The Dirichlet problem for $m$-subharmonic functions on compact sets
Authors: Åhag Per , Czyż Rafał , Hed Lisa
Published: September 2020

We characterize those compact sets for which the Dirichlet problem has a solution within the class of continuous $m$-subharmonic functions defined on a compact set, and then within the class of $m$-harmonic functions.
Fredholm theory of Toeplitz operators on doubling Fock Hilbert spaces
Authors: Al-Qabani Aamena , Hilberdink Titus , Virtanen Jani A.
Published: September 2020

We study the Fredholm properties of Toeplitz operators acting on doubling Fock Hilbert spaces, and describe their essential spectra for bounded symbols of vanishing oscillation. We also compute the index of these Toeplitz operators in the special case when $\varphi (z) = \lvert {z}\rvert^{\beta }$ with $\beta >0$. Our work extends the recent results on Toeplitz operators on the standard weighted Fock spaces to the setting of doubling Fock spaces.
Symmetric Riemann surfaces with no points fixed by orientation preserving automorphisms
Authors: Kozłowska-Walania Ewa
Published: September 2020

We study the symmetric Riemann surfaces for which the group of orientation preserving automorphisms acts without fixed points. We show that any finite group can give rise to such an action, determine the maximal number of non-conjugate symmetries for such surfaces and find a sharp upper bound on maximal total number of ovals for a set of $k$ symmetries with ovals. We also solve the minimal genus problem for dihedral groups acting on the surfaces described above, for odd genera.
Il mattatoio entre Marcuse y el patrocinio. Algunas claves para leer la obra de Pressburger
Authors: Carini Francesco
Published: September 2020

En este artículo se analiza la obra de radio Il mattatoio (El matadero) del escritor y dramaturgo Giorgio Pressburger, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta algunos puntos de los análisis de Herbert Marcuse (mencionado directamente en el incipit de la obra) sobre la sociedad de consumo y la familia. En este trabajo, presentado por la RAI en el Prix Italia 1967 y transmitido por la radio en el Tercer Programa el 9 octubre del mismo año, el autor es capaz de retratar con inteligencia una imagen en la cual Luciano Prisco, supuesto gángster y empresario originario de Nápoles (dueño de tres mataderos en Nueva York), pasa astutamente sobre cualquier valor que no sea relacionado con su escalada social y económica. Es en este contexto, donde la familia se convierte sólo en un medio para manejar poder y negocio, en parte, del mismo modo que una estructura clientelista, con función y papel determinados y decididos por el protagonista, que cada aspecto no relacionado con la protección y con el incremento de su propia autoridad se vuelve inútil y peligroso.
Medios audiovisuales y músicas populares: Comunicación, representación y diversidad en la esfera mediática
Authors: Ayuso Fran , Pedro Josep
Published: September 2020

Este dossier aborda las relaciones entre los medios audiovisuales y las músicas populares desde una perspectiva comunicativa. Ante la multiplicidad y complejidad de textos, caminos y sinergias, el objetivo es analizar la producción de sentido y las estrategias e interacciones comunicativas a partir de distintos casos de estudio, que nos remiten a diversas situaciones y contextos. En ellos se abordan una importante variedad de cuestiones en torno a las interacciones entre imagen y música, la historia de los medios de comunicación y de los géneros musicales, y las implicaciones políticas, identitarias, raciales y de género de la producción audiovisual, tanto en el siglo XX como en el XXI.
1, 2, 3… ¡Al escondite inglés! Eurovisión, psicodelia y cine en la España ye-yé
Authors: Fraile Prieto Teresa
Published: September 2020

En el presente artículo nos sumergimos en la película 1, 2, 3… al escondite inglés (Iván Zulueta, 1969), sin duda el ejemplo más paradigmático del cine pop español. La primera película del que pasaría a la historia como un cineasta maldito, el donostiarra Iván Zulueta, es un ejemplo incipiente de discurso contracultural y contrahegemónico en los últimos años de un régimen franquista abocado a la apertura internacional. La sucesión de secuencias musicales, casi videoclips de los grupos del momento, es una declaración de intenciones audiovisual que define perfectamente los anhelos musicales y sociales de una generación ansiosa de libertad.
La construcción de las identidades racializadas en el cine musical hollywoodense
Authors: Aparisi Galán María
Published: September 2020

Este artículo pretende realizar una aproximación crítica a la representación cinematográfica de la afamada cantante de jazz Billie Holiday en el cortometraje musical Symphony in Black (Fred Waller, 1935) y en la película New Orleans (Arthur Lubin, 1947). Concretamente, nos centraremos en el análisis de los estereotipos raciales y de género asignados a la imagen fílmica y a las interpretaciones musicales de la artista, los cuales proporcionarán las claves necesarias para desvelar las dinámicas de rechazo y deseo que existen detrás de la construcción de la «negritud» en el cine de la primera mitad del siglo XX.
Educación, cultura y sociedad. Espacios críticos
Authors: Guillamón Carrasco Silvia
Published: September 2020

VV.AA., Educación, cultura y sociedad. Espacios críticos, Coordinación de Míriam Abiétar López, Jorge Belmonte Arocha y Elena Giménez Urraco, Valencia, Tirant, 2018, 226 págs.
De los inicios de la sinfonía a Beethoven: un paradigma de construcción europea
Authors: García Díaz Emilio Fernando
Published: September 2020

Durante la primera mitad del siglo XVIII, la escena musical europea está protagonizada por diversos estilos instrumentales con un marcado acento nacional, resultado de la herencia del convulso siglo anterior, y que confluirán en la creación de un lenguaje instrumental que hará posible la materialización de la forma musical más importante dentro del género orquestal: la sinfonía. La obra de los grandes compositores que sentarán las bases del género sinfónico desde entonces, Haydn y Mozart principalmente, no hubiera sido la misma sin la síntesis integradora de estilos que se produce a lo largo del siglo. Distintos elementos extra musicales (filosóficos, políticos, sociales, etc.) inciden directamente en la búsqueda de un estilo europeo que armonizó lo mejor de cada tradición nacional para conformar un lenguaje que ha significado una de las producciones más importantes de nuestra historia musical. Culminado ese proceso y conocidas las consecuencias dramáticas de ese delirio racional que intentó iluminar a la sociedad europea, y que tan bien ilustró Francisco de Goya, Beethoven es capaz de sobreponerse al vacío que nos dejó el enorme desengaño de tan altos ideales, para volver a conjugar en su última sinfonía todos los elementos originales de aquella tradición dieciochesca y producir un universo sonoro que vuelve a recuperar algunos de los paradigmas más hermosos de nuestro devenir cultural. Más allá de las palabras de Schiller, este artículo intenta subrayar los elementos compositivos que se integran en la más célebre de las sinfonías beethovenianas como ejemplo inspirador para superación de las tentativas nacionalistas y los conflictos que hoy vuelven a surgir dentro de nuestro espacio europeo.
Chillida y la poesía
Authors: Janés Clara
Published: September 2020

Para Chillida la palabra poesía tiene ante todo un sentido genésico, y recurre a ella precisamente al tratar de la creación: «¿No son la construcción y la poesía componentes esenciales de todas las artes?» Si para el físico Minkowski, cuando el poeta habla «devuelve al ser la energía de un origen» (algo intangible relacionado con el tiempo), la construcción (vinculada al espacio) nos acerca al decir de Heidegger: «Ser obra es establecer un mundo». De ahí que construcción y poesía abarquen juntas ambas cosas. Chillida no tarda en entrar en contacto con Heidegger y hace con él un intenso libro titulado El arte y el espacio, pero pronto hace también un homenaje al poeta Jorge Guillén, seducido por su verso: «Lo profundo es el aire». Por otra parte, estando la poesía vinculada a la música, donde, dice Walter Pater, «no se distingue entre materia y forma», Chillida se acerca también a ella. Como consecuencia, junto a su homenaje a San Juan de la Cruz, hallamos el dedicado a Juan Sebastián Bach. Así sus obras pueden titularse: Rumor de límites, Espacios sonoros, Música de las esferas, Vibraciones…
(Contra)memoria y biopolítica. En Todos tus muertos (Carlos Moreno, 2011)
Authors: Pérez González Bibiana Patricia
Published: September 2020

El presente artículo indaga acerca del tipo de memoria que construye la película de ficción colombiana Todos tus muertos (Moreno, 2011) sobre el conflicto sociopolítico colombiano actual, visibilizando dos dispositivos biopolíticos: la desaparición forzada y el narco-estado. Este análisis se llevará a cabo a la luz del concepto de ‘biopolítica’ que propone el sociólogo y filósofo italiano Mauricio Lazzarato (1997), en el cual el público es el principal objeto de control en nuestra sociedad de la información contemporánea.
Autoritarismo y democracia: Producción cultural, resistencia y pensamiento crítico
Authors: Azuaga Ricardo
Published: September 2020

Introducción al dossier. Los cuatro trabajos que se presentan a continuación pretenden ilustrar, a partir de diversas perspectivas y de cuatro manifestaciones culturales diferentes estética, espacial y temporalmente, el modo como las producciones culturales son creadas o pueden utilizarse como mecanismos de resistencia, impulsos de democratización, voces de disidencia o para promover del pensamiento crítico. Parten de lo regional —América Latina— con una manifestación artística de reconocido prestigio como es su teatro hasta llegar a experiencias aparentemente propias del ámbito privado —los videojuegos—, pasando por dos manifestaciones cinematográficas muy diferentes: por un lado, el cine empresarial y, por el otro, el cine de ficción con rasgos autorales.
Videojuegos para el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico y el diálogo
Authors: Ranzolin Alexandra
Published: September 2020

El presente artículo retoma los resultados de la investigación realizada por la autora, cuyo título es Videojuegos en el aula: una propuesta asociada al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico (2016). Las inquietudes generadas en el estudio guardan relación con los lineamientos para desarrollar una propuesta de uso de los videojuegos en el aula, asociada al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico, en un grupo de jóvenes venezolanos escolarizados con edades comprendidas entre 13 y 17 años. Se procuró entender el videojuego como producto cultural en el contexto venezolano, los hábitos de consumo por parte de los sujetos estudiados y su relación con el pensamiento crítico y el desarrollo de procesos de diálogo. Se parte del análisis de las cuatro dimensiones propuestas por Lipman (1998) para el estudio del pensamiento crítico y se tomó en cuenta la concepción sociocultural del aprendizaje y la teoría de la Zona de Desarrollo Próximo de Vigotsky. Desde el punto de vista metodológico, se empleó la entrevista como técnica para la recolección de datos y se trabajó con una muestra intencional, conformada por dos adolescentes de 14 años, quienes interactuaron con videojuegos de distintos géneros. Se observó que el diálogo y la colaboración ante estas tecnologías son conductas espontáneas y necesarias para favorecer la resolución de problemas y la toma de decisiones. También los lineamientos de Lipman y Vigotsky son formulaciones que orientan las reflexiones en torno a las posibilidades que la alfabetización en los medios pueden ofrecer al desarrollo de miradas críticas sobre éstos.
Sagrado y obsceno: entre el personaje rebelde, los tipos sociales y el color local
Authors: Azuaga Ricardo
Published: September 2020

A partir del análisis del filme Sagrado y obsceno (Román Chalbaud, Venezuela, 1975) se busca caracterizar al personaje rebelde, reconocer la presencia de tipos sociales a lo largo de la historia y establecer si el uso del color local a través de la presencia de rasgos estilísticos propios del costumbrismo entran o no en contradicción con la motivación realista que parece justificar buena parte de la forma fílmica dominante en el texto. Para alcanzar estos objetivos se establecerán relaciones entre las características del protagonista de la historia y las del personaje rebelde, se reconocerá el modo como el resto de los personajes se pueden presentar bien como tipos sociales propiamente dichos, bien como recreaciones de meros estereotipos del imaginario colectivo, para finalmente establecer la manera en que los usos del costumbrismo y del color local subrayan o debilitan las propuestas narrativas y conceptuales presentes en el film
Direct reprogramming of human smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells reveals defects associated with aging and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
Authors: Bersini Simone , Schulte Roberta , Huang Ling , Tsai Hannah , Hetzer Martin W
Published: September 2020

Vascular dysfunctions are a common feature of multiple age-related diseases. However, modeling healthy and pathological aging of the human vasculature represents an unresolved experimental challenge. Here, we generated induced vascular endothelial cells (iVECs) and smooth muscle cells (iSMCs) by direct reprogramming of healthy human fibroblasts from donors of different ages and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) patients. iVECs induced from old donors revealed upregulation of GSTM1 and PALD1, genes linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial junction stability, as vascular aging markers. A functional assay performed on PALD1 KD VECs demonstrated a recovery in vascular permeability. We found that iSMCs from HGPS donors overexpressed bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)−4, which plays a key role in both vascular calcification and endothelial barrier damage observed in HGPS. Strikingly, BMP4 concentrations are higher in serum from HGPS vs. age-matched mice. Furthermore, targeting BMP4 with blocking antibody recovered the functionality of the vascular barrier in vitro, hence representing a potential future therapeutic strategy to limit cardiovascular dysfunction in HGPS. These results show that iVECs and iSMCs retain disease-related signatures, allowing modeling of vascular aging and HGPS in vitro.
Molecular basis for N-terminal alpha-synuclein acetylation by human NatB
Authors: Deng Sunbin , Pan Buyan , Gottlieb Leah , Petersson E James , Marmorstein Ronen
Published: September 2020

NatB is one of three major N-terminal acetyltransferase (NAT) complexes (NatA-NatC), which co-translationally acetylate the N-termini of eukaryotic proteins. Its substrates account for about 21% of the human proteome, including well known proteins such as actin, tropomyosin, CDK2, and α-synuclein (αSyn). Human NatB (hNatB) mediated N-terminal acetylation of αSyn has been demonstrated to play key roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and as a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of hNatB bound to a CoA-αSyn conjugate, together with structure-guided analysis of mutational effects on catalysis. This analysis reveals functionally important differences with human NatA and Candida albicans NatB, resolves key hNatB protein determinants for αSyn N-terminal acetylation, and identifies important residues for substrate-specific recognition and acetylation by NatB enzymes. These studies have implications for developing small molecule NatB probes and for understanding the mode of substrate selection by NAT enzymes.
Reactive oxygen species oxidize STING and suppress interferon production
Authors: Tao Lili , Lemoff Andrew , Wang Guoxun , Zarek Christina , Lowe Alexandria , Yan Nan , Reese Tiffany A
Published: September 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of cellular respiration that can promote oxidative stress and damage cellular proteins and lipids. One canonical role of ROS is to defend the cell against invading bacterial and viral pathogens. Curiously, some viruses, including herpesviruses, thrive despite the induction of ROS, suggesting that ROS are beneficial for the virus. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that ROS impaired interferon response during murine herpesvirus infection and that the inhibition occurred downstream of cytoplasmic DNA sensing. We further demonstrated that ROS suppressed the type I interferon response by oxidizing Cysteine 147 on murine stimulator of interferon genes (STING), an ER-associated protein that mediates interferon response after cytoplasmic DNA sensing. This inhibited STING polymerization and activation of downstream signaling events. These data indicate that redox regulation of Cysteine 147 of mouse STING, which is equivalent to Cysteine 148 of human STING, controls interferon production. Together, our findings reveal that ROS orchestrates anti-viral immune responses, which can be exploited by viruses to evade cellular defenses.
Zonula occludens and nasal epithelial barrier integrity in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Siti Sarah Che Othman , Md Shukri Norasnieda , Mohd Ashari Noor Suryani , Wong Kah Keng
Published: September 2020

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease affecting 400 million of the population worldwide. Nasal epithelial cells form a barrier against the invasion of environmental pathogens. These nasal epithelial cells are connected together by tight junction (TJ) proteins including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), ZO-2 and ZO-3. Impairment of ZO proteins are observed in AR patients whereby dysfunction of ZOs allows allergens to pass the nasal passage into the subepithelium causing AR development. In this review, we discuss ZO proteins and their impairment leading to AR, regulation of their expression by Th1 cytokines (i.e., IL-2, TNF-αand IFN-γ), Th2 cytokines (i.e., IL-4 and IL-13) and histone deacetylases (i.e., HDAC1 and HDAC2). These findings are pivotal for future development of targeted therapies by restoring ZO protein expression and improving nasal epithelial barrier integrity in AR patients.
Development of a Test to Measure the Knowledge Level of Small Tea Growers on Scientific Tea Cultivation Practices
Authors: Parasar Suman , Das Pabitra Kumar , Barman Indrajit , Borah Kangkana , Sultana Shabnam
Published: September 2020

The present study was conducted to construct and standardize a test to measure the knowledge level of small tea growers on scientific technology on tea cultivation. The major steps followed for developing the test were construction of items, primary and final selection of items through difficulty index, discrimination index and biserial correlation. The final test comprised of 24 objective questions, referred to as items. The procedure adopted in the study can also be followed for developing knowledge test on any other aspect.
A Study of Die Shear Test Performance on Different Diebond Machine Platforms
Authors: Bacquian B. C. , Rodriguez R. , Gomez N. , Jr. E. Graycochea , Gomez F. R.
Published: September 2020

The paper focused on the evaluation of quad-flat no-leads single-row (QFN-sr) leadframe package for die shear test performance on different diebond machine platforms. Die shear test determines the adhesion strength on the interface between the silicon die and the die attach glue to the diepad of the leadframe device. Moreover, the test is critically monitored as failed response may lead to die lift or delamination. Statistical results showed the two diebond machines achieving die shear test performance above the specification, with Machine Y having significant improvement over its counterpart. Future works could utilize any of the two diebond machines platforms as far as die shear test performance is concerned. For devices with critical requirement, Machine Y is recommended for its higher die shear test performance capability.
Comparative Study of Corneal Thickness before and after FemtoLasik Surgery with Pentacam® AXL and Ultrasound Device (Tomey SP-100)
Authors: Pateras E. , Kontogeorgou E.
Published: September 2020

Aims: The purpose of our research is to evaluate corneal thickness, pre-operative and post-operatively after FemtoLasik surgery, using “Pentacam® AXL” and Ultrasound device. To evaluate the correlation of the two devices and their interchangeability.

Sample and Study Design: Our data includes 70 eyes of patients, age 19- 59 years, who undergone Lasik surgery for myopia. The data concerned pre-operative and post-operative central corneal pachymetry using Ultrasound pachymeter (Tomey SP-100) and “Pentacam® AXL”.

Methodology - Place and Duration of Study: University of West Attica Dept Biomedical Science Course Optics & Optometry in collaboration with Private Ophthalmology Clinic “Athens Opthalologiko” during the period between May 2018 until September 2018. In this study, a comparison of data taken with Pentacam and Ultrasound was performed concerning central corneal thickness before and after FemtoLasik to evaluate the correlation of these devices. All the FemtoLasik surgeries were performed by the same experienced surgeon in order to ensure good repeatability of surgical procedures and all the patients selected had healthy eyes with no other ophthalmic pathology or systemic disease and myopia ranging from -1.00 to 9.25 Diopters. All patients were measured one month after FemtoLasik having achieved 6/6 visual acuity.

Results: Central corneal thickness before FemtoLasik measured by ultrasound device had an arithmetic mean value of 552.43 μm ± SD 26.95. The thickness preoperatively with “Pentacam” had an arithmetic mean value of 556.26 μm ± SD 27.82. The corneal thickness after Lasik measured by ultrasound device had an arithmetic mean value of 493.21μm ± SD 36.30, while for “Pentacam” the arithmetic mean value was 499.07μm ± SD 36.17. The two devices correlate strongly (0.9218 and 0.9986 respectively with significant level P<0,0001)

Conclusion: Our conclusions after statistical analysis are that Ultrasound pachymetry and “Pentacam” topography correlated strong.
Dynamic Electrical Pathway Tuning in Neuromorphic Nanowire Networks
Authors: Li Qiao , Diaz‐Alvarez Adrian , Iguchi Ryo , Hochstetter Joel , Loeffler Alon , Zhu Ruomin , Shingaya Yoshitaka , Kuncic Zdenka , Uchida Ken‐ichi , Nakayama Tomonobu
Published: September 2020

Neurobiology‐inspired phenomena such as winner‐takes‐all competition and critical dynamics have been recently reported to arise in neuromorphic nanowire networks. These are unique systems where interactions between memristive elements creates emergent conductance pathways between discrete electrodes. This mode of operation can offer substantial advantages to create a truly concomitant plastic‐static system for integration in neuromorphic devices. However, critical aspects such as pathway controllability and stability are yet to be explored. In this study, pathway formation in self‐assembled neuromorphic networks formed by Ag nanowires decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles is investigated. Direct visualization of pathway formation through a neuromorphic network is attained using the lock‐in thermography technique. Using this technique, it is demonstrated that how networks preserve information from previously used pathways through increased local junction connectivity. This effect directly reshapes subsequent formation of pathways whenever the spatial location of the electrodes is dynamically changed. Combining these results with conventional current–voltage measurements, which show that the network electrically acts as a volatile switching memristor, a unique interaction between short‐term and long‐term memory arises. This produces unexpected collective dynamical states of potentiation and inhibition of network conductance whenever different spatiotemporal signals are dynamically fed to the network.
A Versatile Sacrificial Layer for Transfer Printing of Wide Bandgap Materials for Implantable and Stretchable Bioelectronics
Authors: Pham Tuan‐Anh , Nguyen Tuan‐Khoa , Vadivelu Raja Kumar , Dinh Toan , Qamar Afzaal , Yadav Sharda , Yamauchi Yusuke , Rogers John A. , Nguyen Nam‐Trung , Phan Hoang‐Phuong
Published: September 2020

Improving and optimizing the processes for transfer printing have the potential to further enhance capabilities in heterogeneous integration of various sensing materials on unconventional substrates for implantable and stretchable electronic devices in biosensing, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. An advanced transfer printing method based on sacrificial layer engineering for silicon carbide materials in stretchable electronic devices is presented here. In contrast to the typical processes where defined anchor structures are required for the transfer step, the use of a sacrificial layer offers enhances versatility in releasing complex microstructures from rigid donor substrates to flexible receiver platforms. The sacrificial layer also minimizes twisting and wrinkling issues that may occur in free‐standing microstructures, thereby facilitating printing onto flat polymer surfaces (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane). The experimental results demonstrate that transferred SiC microstructures exhibit good stretchability, stable electrical properties, excellent biocompatibility, as well as promising sensing‐functions associated with a high level of structural perfection, without any cracks or tears. This transfer printing method can be applied to other classes of wide bandgap semiconductors, particularly group III‐nitrides and diamond films epitaxially grown on Si substrates, thereby serving as the foundation for the development and possible commercialization of implantable and stretchable bioelectronic devices that exploit wide bandgap materials.
Gap States in Methylammonium Lead Halides: The Link to Dimethylsulfoxide?
Authors: Zhang Fengyu , Hamill J. Clay , Loo Yueh‐Lin , Kahn Antoine
Published: September 2020

Understanding the origin and distribution of electronic gap states in metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films is crucial to the further improvement of the efficiency and long‐term stability of MHP‐based optoelectronic devices. In this work, the impact of Lewis‐basic additives introduced in the precursor solution on the density of states in the perovskite bandgap is investigated. Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and contact potential difference measurements are conducted on MHP thin films processed from dimethylformamide (DMF)‐based solutions to which either no additive, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or N‐methylpyrrolidine‐2‐thione (NMPT) is added. The results show the presence of a density of states in the gap of methylammonium lead halide films processed from DMSO‐containing solution. The density of gap states is either suppressed when the methylammonium concentration in mixed cation films is reduced or when NMPT is used as an additive, and eliminated when methylammonium (MA) is replaced with cesium or formamidinium (FA). These results are consistent with the notion that reaction products that result from DMSO reacting with MA+ in the precursor solution are responsible for the formation of gap states.
Virtual Designer Metals for Enhancement of Plasmonic Nanoparticles Which Improve the Light Absorption in Silicon
Authors: Nedell Jack G. , Di Vece Marcel
Published: September 2020

Although it has been established that plasmonic nanostructures can enhance the optical absorption in thin‐film solar cells, despite Ohmic losses, more improvements are required to become interesting for applications. Here, virtual metals are improved by adjusting the refractive index with the particle swarm method to obtain virtual metal nanoparticles, which are optimized for optical absorption enhancement in silicon layers. The properties of these optimized virtual metals are investigated to determine the mechanism behind the plasmonic enhancement. Besides the plasmon resonance position and strength, the ability to position different orders of the plasmon resonance in the same wavelength range contributes to considerable improvements. The here obtained virtual metals can be a guide for developing new nanoscale alloys for solar cell plasmonics.
One‐Step Synthesis of Visible Range Luminescent Multicomponent Semiconductor Composites Based on Graphitic Carbon Nitride
Authors: Chubenko Eugene B. , Baglov Alexey V. , Borisenko Victor E.
Published: September 2020

Using ternary g‐C3N4/ZnO/ZnS bulk composites as an example, it is demonstrated that g‐C3N4‐based heterojunction systems can be synthesized in a one‐step process by pyrolytic decomposition of a mechanical mixture of only two chemical precursors, i.e., thiourea and zinc acetate dehydrate, at 500–625 °C with subsequent in situ interaction and polymerization of the products. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal that the synthesized composites consist of intermixed alloyed g‐C3N4, ZnO, and ZnS grains with good crystalline quality. The materials demonstrate bright photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature in the photon energy range of 1.5–3.0 eV (410–800 nm) which can be tuned by the synthesis temperature. A phase sequence during the synthesis and peculiarities of the PL are discussed.
Understanding the Dehydrogenation Pathways of Ammonium Octahydrotriborate (NH4B3H8) by Molecular Dynamics Simulations with the Reactive Force Field (ReaxFF)
Authors: Gao Peng , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2020

Ammonium octahydrotriborate (NH4B3H8) is a potential candidate for hydrogen storage, due to its chemical stability and high hydrogen content. To systematically investigate its initial decomposition and dehydrogenation pathways, molecular dynamics simulations with a reactive force field are conducted. Both temperature ramping and the canonical ensemble simulations are carried out. A compositional analysis for the simulated systems is also applied to monitor the possible intermediate products during its decomposition and dehydrogenation processes. At around 1000 K, the molecular hydrogen is released via inter‐molecular interaction between B‐H and N‐H. It is also noticed that the formed NH3 and BH3 can react to generate BN bonds; as the temperature further increases, the isomers with a skeleton of BNB are observed, and the corresponding dehydrogenation is also increased. The present work provides detailed pictures of the decomposition and dehydrogenation pathways for NH4B3H8.
Body mass index trajectories and noncommunicable diseases in women: The role of leisure time physical activity
Authors: Werneck André O. , Oyeyemi Adewale L. , Szwarcwald Célia L. , Sardinha Luís B. , Silva Danilo R.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To analyze the association between body mass index trajectories and non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) in women, and the interaction effects of leisure time physical activity on this relationship.

Methods

Sample was composed by 15 628 women (≥30 years old) who performed objective measurement of body mass, height, and blood pressure in the 2013 Brazilian Health Survey (2013). Information regarding the body mass at 20 years old, current type 2 diabetes (T2DM), dyslipidemia diagnosis, and leisure time physical activity were self‐reported by the participants. Socio‐demographic and behavioral covariates were considered. Logistic regression models were used for the statistical analysis.

Results

Those who were obese in both moments and women who become obese showed similar high risk, however, the prevalence of NCDs among women who were no longer obese was similar to the consistently non‐obese. Leisure time physical activity attenuated the general deleterious effect of obesity, especially among the consistently obese women for dyslipidemia (inactive: OR: 2.02 [95%CI: 1.69‐2.43] vs active: OR: 1.05 [95%CI: 0.55‐1.99]), T2DM (inactive: OR: 3.84 [95%CI: 2.72‐5.43] vs active: OR: 4.38 [95%CI: 1.49‐12.86]) and high blood pressure (inactive: OR: 2.00 [95%CI: 1.56‐2.57] vs active: OR: 1.15 [95%CI: 0.57‐2.52]).

Conclusions

Changes in body mass index appear to be sensitive to detecting the risk of NCDs over lifespan. In addition, leisure time physical activity attenuates the negative effects of obesity on NCDs, but this appears more important for the consistently non‐obese women.
A framework for interconnected benefits of peer support for family members of people with disability
Authors: Meltzer Ariella , Dowse Leanne , Smith Louisa , Dew Angela
Published: September 2020

Peer support describes the process of giving and receiving support between people who share similar life experiences. It is commonly used by family members of people with disability, with positive outcomes. However, existing research tends to assume it has separate and discrete benefits, neglecting the subtleties of how the different outcomes may be interconnected and mutually reinforcing. An account of these broader connections between benefits is needed. Drawing on Australian data from 24 parents and siblings of people with disability, this paper identifies benefits of peer support, including exchange of information, benefiting from experience and problem solving; motivation/encouragement and self‐confidence/personal development; social interaction and friendship; understanding, perspective and belonging/community; working together for change; and resilience and well‐being. The paper then proposes a framework to understand these benefits in an interconnected manner, where they are either transactional (giving and receiving practical and social‐emotional resources) or integrative (assimilating what is given and received into one's own experience and actions). The implications for practice and for families are discussed.
A Method for Identifying Germplasm that Exhibit Multiple Mutations in the Fatty Acid Synthetic Pathway of Perilla frutescens
Authors: Zhang Xueting , Feng Shuhan , Yang Wei , Shen Qi , Chen Sha
Published: September 2020

A method using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) was developed to assess phenotypic differences in the fatty acid composition of 143 accessions of Perilla frutescens varieties that originated from different Chinese provinces, Japan, and Britain. Thirty‐six compounds identified in the analysis included a number of saturated fatty acids and positional isomers of unsaturated fatty acids. A wide range in phenotypic variation was noted within each of five major fatty acids [16:0, 6.8–11.5%; 18:0, 1.7–11.9%; 18:1 (n‐9), 12.3–28.0%; 18:2 (n‐9,12), 9.6–21.6%; 18:3 (n‐9,12,15), 41.4–56.6%]. Many accessions exhibited potential gene mutations or differences in gene copy number for multiple steps of fatty acid synthesis. For example, PCA models were developed to distinguish groups of accessions that exhibited low‐16:0, low‐18:1, high‐18:3 traits, and others that exhibited high‐16:0, high‐18:1, low‐18:3 traits. We believe this approach should improve the process for the identification of genetic resources that help reveal the complex nature of biological regulation not only of fatty acid metabolism but other metabolic processes as well.
Using information science to enhance educational preventing violent extremism programs
Authors: Wong Kevin , Walton Geoff , Bailey Gavin
Published: September 2020

Educational preventing violent extremism (EPVE) programs have had (to date) little if any theoretical underpinning. Given their proliferation in jurisdictions such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, such an absence is notable but not unexpected given the political sensitivities attached to them. These programs remain an emerging policy area which is still “finding its feet,” around which their legitimacy and efficacy is keenly debated. This paper argues for adopting theoretical principles drawn from information science research based upon information behavior models to provide a framework for the design and development of such programs and against which their efficacy can be tested. We demonstrate how this approach can be applied through thematic analysis of the theory of change models of EPVE programs implemented in England and Wales, designed to increase awareness and understanding of radicalization among young people, their carers, and professionals. This article is ground breaking and of international significance, being the first to apply learning from information science to practice in furthering policy goals around countering radicalization and extremism in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions.
Application of linear regression algorithm and stochastic gradient descent in a machine‐learning environment for predicting biomass higher heating value
Authors: Ighalo Joshua O. , Adeniyi Adewale George , Marques Gonçalo
Published: September 2020

The higher heating value (HHV) provides information about the quantity of energy contained in a fuel such as biomass. Correlations and models can be developed to predict biomass HHV quickly from other analysis data. In this study, a linear regression algorithm (LRA) and stochastic gradient descent (SGD) in a machine‐learning environment were used as novel methods to predict the HHV of biomass. The basis of the model was 78 lines of combined proximate and ultimate analysis data. The LRA model was observed to be more accurate. The testing for both models was done by stratified cross‐validation, stratified shuffle splits, and no sampling tests. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the LRA and SGD models was 8.151 and 21.65 kJ kg−1 and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 6.823 and 13.87 for the stratified shuffle split (ten random samples with 75% data). The coefficient of determination for both models was >0.999 in all cases. The study observed that LRA and SGD are among the most accurate artificial intelligence models for the prediction of biomass HHV. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Elucidation of microbial diversity and lignocellulolytic enzymes for the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass in the forest soils of Eastern and Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Valliammai Meyyappan Geetha , Gopal Nellaiappan Olaganathan , Anandham Rangasamy
Published: September 2020

Sustainable sources of energy are sought because of the finite nature of nonrenewable resources. Renewable energy from the lignocellulosic biomass of the forest ecosystem reduces dependency on nonrenewable resources to overcome the global energy crisis. In this study, we evaluated the physicochemical parameters of, and enzymatic activity in, 25 forest soil samples collected from Thandikudi (Western Ghats) and the Sirumalai Hills (Eastern Ghats) in Tamil Nadu, India. Soil‐sample analysis revealed that two samples obtained from the Western Ghats exhibited low and high lignocellulolytic enzyme activity, respectively, and they were considered for further study. Sample A showed low lignocellulolytic enzyme activity, whereas sample B showed high lignocellulolytic enzyme activity. The variation in the soil enzymes led us to determine the microbial communities in these two soil samples using nanopore sequencing, which targeted the V1–V9 regions of 16S rDNA. The results highlighted the positive correlation between physicochemical properties and soil enzymes. Principal component analysis revealed that, among the soil enzymes, saccharase and β‐glucosidase predominantly influenced lignocellulosic biomass degradation. The nanopore sequencing results showed that, among the microbes present, the percentage of Firmicutes was higher in soil sample B (23.03%) compared with soil sample A (14.90%). Among the bacterial genera, Bacillus was abundant in these two soil samples followed by Pseudomonas, Escherichia, and Klebsiella. The variation in the occurrence of enzymes and the availability of nutrients in the two soil samples had a positive effect on the abundance of these microbial genera. Moreover, the plentiful presence of Bacillus in soil sample B indicates the richness of lignocellulose. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Rissbildung in Stahlbetonbauteilen infolge Zwangbeanspruchung
Authors: Jin Chao , Schmidt Christopher , Chudoba Rostislav , Hegger Josef
Published: September 2020

Für die Ermittlung der Mindestbewehrung zur Rissbreitenbegrenzung unter Zwang wird im aktuellen Eurocode 2 ein risskraftbasierter Ansatz verwendet. Infolge der Änderung der anzusetzenden Betonzugfestigkeit im nationalen Anhang ist eine wirtschaftliche Bemessung weitestgehend nicht mehr möglich. Die Ursache der Überdimensionierung der Mindestbewehrung liegt unter anderem darin, dass der Bemessungsansatz auf unvollständigen empirischen Daten und konservativen Annahmen basiert. Zur Untersuchung der Einflüsse auf die Rissentstehung und ‐bildung unter Zwang sind genau definierte Randbedingungen nötig. Dadurch werden die Vergleichbarkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit der experimentellen Untersuchungen ermöglicht. Der verwendete Versuchsaufbau erlaubt eine vollständige Zwängung unter konstanten klimatischen Randbedingungen der Versuchskörper. Die systematische Auswertung ausgewählter Versuche und Analyse der Rissbildung bildet die Grundlage für eine zukünftige Identifizierung maßgeblicher Phänomene.
Einfluss einer druckschwellinduzierten Degradation von Fahrbahndeckenbeton auf die schädigende AKR
Authors: Krütt Enno , Weise Frank , Meng Birgit
Published: September 2020

In den letzten Jahren sind im deutschen Bundesautobahnnetz verstärkt Schäden an vor 2005 errichteten Betonfahrbahndecken aufgetreten, die mit einer Alkali‐Kieselsäure‐Reaktion (AKR) in Verbindung gebracht werden. Neben dem AKR‐fördernden Einfluss von alkalihaltigen Taumitteln werden Fahrbahndecken zyklischen mechanischen Belastungen infolge des Verkehrs und Zwangsspannungen durch klimatische Einwirkungen ausgesetzt. Solche mechanischen Belastungen werden bisher in keinem AKR‐Prüfverfahren berücksichtigt. Die zyklischen Belastungen können zu einer Degradation des Betongefüges führen, die ggf. einen AKR‐fördernden Einfluss hat. Dieser Beitrag stellt Untersuchungen vor, die zur Beantwortung der Frage nach dem Einfluss einer zyklischen mechanischen Belastung auf den AKR‐Schadensprozess beitragen. Dabei wird der Hypothese nachgegangen, dass die ermüdungsinduzierte Degradation zu einer Erhöhung des Stofftransports führt. Dieser hat einen Einfluss auf die AKR‐Schadensentwicklung, da die Reaktionspartner zunächst zum Reaktionsort transportiert werden müssen. Daher wird angenommen, dass sich mit dem Stofftransport auch die AKR‐Schädigung verstärkt. Es werden Betonproben aus typischen Fahrbahndeckenbetonen einer vorgeschalteten zyklischen Druckschwellbelastung ausgesetzt. Die Degradation infolge der Vorbelastung wird simultan mittels ZfP‐Verfahren charakterisiert. Anschließend werden die Auswirkungen der zyklischen Vorschädigung auf den Stofftransport sowie auf die AKR vergleichend an Prüfkörpern ohne und mit Vorschädigung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass die zyklische Vorschädigung sowohl den Stofftransport als auch die AKR fördert.