bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microalgae role in sustainable bioenergy generation as determined by light microscopy
Authors: Abbas Moneeza , Shaheen Shabnum , Pervaiz Mahnoor , Jaffer Mehwish , Tahir Arfa
Published: January 2022

The main aim of this study was to explore the role of light microscopy in the identification of microalgae as a source of study. Three microalgal species (Nostoc, Anabaena, and Volvox) were identified by light. In this study, different parameters of the oil extraction process from algae biomass were studied. The samples of Nostoc, Anabaena, and Volvox were collected from the freshwater bodies in Lahore, and the samples were identified by light microscopy. Pretreatment of algae was done which includes harvesting, drying, and grinding. The sun drying of sample was done. Solvent extraction was done for the extraction of oil from algal cells. Solvent n‐hexane and diethyl ether were used alone as well as in combination. Effects of n‐hexane to oil ratio, size of algal biomass, and contact time on the percentage yield of extracted oil were studied and analyzed. It was concluded that maximum amount of oil was extracted from algae by using a greater ratio of solvent to algal biomass, maximum contact time, and smaller algal biomass size. The extracted oil yield was satisfactory, demonstrating the potential of microalgae for biodiesel production. It was discovered that if algal oil is subjected to transesterification, it can be turned into biodiesel, and light microscopy can be used to assess anatomical characteristics. However, more research will be required for transesterification.
A Comparison of Northwest Cloudbands and Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers Over Australia
Authors: Borthwick Kara , McGowan Hamish
Published: January 2022

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are synoptic scale conveyors of tropospheric moisture. They have received considerable scientific attention in recent years due to their profound importance to the Earth's climate system and association with hydrometeorological extremes. The Australian Northwest Cloudband (NWCB) is a similar synoptic scale transporter of tropical heat and moisture which plays a large role in the country's complex hydroclimate. However, there are few studies which explicitly link the two phenomena and provide details on the nature of their relationship. Here we present a comparison of landfalling ARs with NWCBs in the Australian region using modified AR identification criteria for the summers and winters of 1998–2019. An autodetection algorithm was developed to identify AR shapes based on regionally sensitive vertically integrated water vapour transport (IVT) thresholds and common AR criteria. These shapes were then classified into AR events and assessed against recently developed NWCB criteria. Results suggested that while NWCBs likely represent a weaker subset of ARs, they account for a larger proportion of winter AR events than summer events. Significant seasonal patterns were observed in landfall location and IVT anomalies (via seasonal composites), suggesting different formation mechanisms for summer versus winter ARs and NWCBs.
Screening for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Clinical Practice Using the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire‐7
Authors: Commesso Emily A. , Kaylie David , Risoli Thomas , Peskoe Sarah B. , Witsell David , Coles Theresa
Published: January 2022

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate the ability of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire‐7 (ETDQ‐7) to discriminate between patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and Non‐ETD diagnoses, and identify symptom information to improve ability to discriminate these groups.

Study Design

Cohort study.

Methods

Pilot retrospective study with consecutive adult patients presenting to otology clinics and one general otolaryngology clinic in an academic health system. Patients were administered ETDQ‐7 with eight additional symptom items. Electronic health records were reviewed for demographic and diagnostic information. Patients were grouped into diagnosis categories: 1) True ETD, 2) experiencing ear fullness (EF) not due to ETD, and 3) Control patients without ETD‐related disorders or EF. ETDQ‐7 and symptom item scores were compared by the diagnosis group. Receiver‐operative characteristics curves and area under the curve (AUC) were generated for each ETD diagnosis group based on ETDQ‐7 and symptom scores.

Results

Of the 108 patients included in this study 74 (68.5%) were diagnosed with ETD. Patients with ETD had higher (indicating worse symptom burden) overall ETDQ‐7 scores than Control group (Median [Q1, Q3] 3.0, [1.7, 4.1]; versus 1.5 [1.0, 3.4] P = .008). There was no statistically significant difference between overall ETDQ‐7 scores for ETD and Non‐ETD EF patients (P = .389). The AUC for the ETDQ‐7 in discriminating ETD from other conditions that cause EF was 0.569; the addition of 8 symptom questions to the ETDQ‐7 improved AUC to 0.801.

Conclusion

Additional patient‐reported symptom information may improve the ability to discriminate ETD from other similarly presenting diagnoses when using ETDQ‐7.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:2217–2223, 2022
Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging of creatine, phosphocreatine, and protein arginine residue in tissues
Authors: Xu Jiadi , Chung Julius Juhyun , Jin Tao
Published: January 2022

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI has become a promising technique to assay target proteins and metabolites through their exchangeable protons, noninvasively. The ubiquity of creatine (Cr) and phosphocreatine (PCr) due to their pivotal roles in energy homeostasis through the creatine phosphate pathway has made them prime targets for CEST in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease pathologies, particularly in tissues heavily dependent on the maintenance of rich energy reserves. Guanidinium CEST from protein arginine residues (i.e. arginine CEST) can also provide information about the protein profile in tissue. However, numerous obfuscating factors stand as obstacles to the specificity of arginine, Cr, and PCr imaging through CEST, such as semisolid magnetization transfer, fast chemical exchanges such as primary amines, and the effects of nuclear Overhauser enhancement from aromatic and amide protons. In this review, the specific exchange properties of protein arginine residues, Cr, and PCr, along with their validation, are discussed, including the considerations necessary to target and tune their signal effects through CEST imaging. Additionally, strategies that have been employed to enhance the specificity of these exchanges in CEST imaging are described, along with how they have opened up possible applications of protein arginine residues, Cr and PCr CEST imaging in the study and diagnosis of pathology. A clear understanding of the capabilities and caveats of using CEST to image these vital metabolites and mitigation strategies is crucial to expanding the possibilities of this promising technology.
Risk factors and assessment considerations for essential fatty acid deficiency in nonparenterally fed patients using a case example
Authors: Estes‐Doetsch Holly , Ganzer Heidi , Roberts Kristen , Brody Rebecca A.
Published: January 2022

Essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) has most commonly been reported in parenterally fed individuals but may also present in patients receiving fat‐restricted diets and in patients with fat‐malabsorption disorders. This article reviews the physical and biochemical assessment for EFAD in clinical practice and disorders of fat malabsorption as potential risk factors for EFAD. A case report is included to describe the fatty acid profile of a patient with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency receiving low‐dose pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy after a self‐imposed fat‐restricted diet. The current challenges with laboratory interpretation of essential fatty acid status are also discussed.
One size does not fit all: A qualitative study exploring preferences and barriers towards the design of a loneliness reduction intervention in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Blakoe Mitti , Berg Selina Kikkenborg , Højskov Ida Elisabeth , Palm Pernille , Bernild Camilla
Published: January 2022

Aim

To explore preferences and barriers towards the design of a loneliness reduction intervention in patients treated for coronary heart disease who experience loneliness.

Design

A qualitative study using patient involvement methodology.

Methods

Seventeen patients participated in either focus groups or individual interview sessions. The interview guide was based on patient involvement methodology. Interviews were analysed using deductive content analysis.

Results

Four overall findings emerged as follows: (a) An intervention involving a social network member must comply with patients perceived social norms; (b) An intervention involving a peer provides benefits from reciprocity and shared experiences, but also requires surplus mental energy; (c) The history of an existing relationship can act as both provider and barrier for confidentiality and (d) Start‐up, timeframe and structure of the intervention should be individually tailored to the patient's preferences. Findings illuminated preferences and barriers towards the design of a loneliness reduction intervention in patients with coronary heart disease.
Analyse von Hiebtönen mit dem Spaichinger Schallanalysator
Authors: Kasper Lutz , Vogt Patrik , Kuhn Jochen , Wilhelm Thomas
Published: January 2022

Unter vielen angebotenen Schallanalyse‐Apps ist der Spaichinger Schallanalysator ideal, sobald es um quantitative Versuchsauswertungen geht. Als Beispiel wird er hier zur Analyse von Hiebtönen eingesetzt.
Impact and safety of balloon pulmonary angioplasty for elderly patients
Authors: Nagai Taito , Ikeda Nobutaka , Iijima Raisuke , Hara Hidehiko , Nakamura Masato
Published: January 2022

Recently, balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) has become an established procedure with stable results. The number of elderly CTEPH/CTEPD patients has also increased due to the widespread recognition of the disease concept. However, the reports of BPA in the elderly are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BPA in elderly patients (>80 years). From April 2016 to December 2020, 344 BPA sessions (74 patients) were performed. The safety and efficacy of the BPA procedures were compared in the younger group (<80 years; 278 sessions) and the elderly group (≥80 years; 66 sessions). The hemodynamic parameters were significantly improved in both groups (mean pulmonary arterial pressure: 34.4 ± 9.9 → 21.2 ± 6.2 mmHg, p < 0.001 and 33.2 ± 9.6 → 21.8 ± 8.5 mmHg, p < 0.001; pulmonary vascular resistance: 474.5 ± 248.6 → 201.3 ± 108.7 dyne sec cm−5, p < 0.001 and 496.4 ± 290.9 → 260.5 ± 120.2 dyne sec cm−5, p = 0.002, in younger and elderly group, respectively). The rate of death within 30 days of BPA (0.3% vs. 0%, p = 1.000) and use of positive pressure ventilation (1.4% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.600) were not different between the groups (younger vs. elderly, respectively). BPA significantly improved the hemodynamic parameters of elderly CTEPH/CTEPD patients, and the safety is comparable to that of younger patients.
Genetics dictating therapeutic decisions in pediatric pulmonary hypertension? A case report suggesting we are getting closer
Authors: Stevens Leah , Colglazier Elizabeth , Parker Claire , Amin Elena K. , Nawaytou Hythem , Teitel David , Reddy Vadiyala M. , Welch Carrie L. , Chung Wendy K. , Fineman Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2022

Despite therapeutic advances over the past decades, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and related pulmonary vascular diseases continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in neonates, infants, and children. Unfortunately, an adequate understanding of underlying biology is lacking. There has been a growing interest in the role that genetic factors influence pulmonary vascular disease, with the hope that genetic information may aid in identifying disease etiologies, guide therapeutic decisions, and ultimately identify novel therapeutic targets. In fact, current data suggest that genetic factors contribute to ~42% of pediatric‐onset PH compared to ~12.5% of adult‐onset PAH. We report a case in which the knowledge that biallelic ATP13A3 mutations are associated with malignant progression of PAH in young childhood, led us to alter our traditional treatment plan for a 21‐month‐old PAH patient. In this case, we elected to perform a historically high‐risk Potts shunt before expected rapid deterioration. Short‐term follow‐up is encouraging, and the patient remains the only known surviving pediatric PAH patient with an associated biallelic ATP13A3 mutation in the literature. We speculate that an increased use of comprehensive genetic testing can aid in identifying the underlying pathobiology and the expected natural history, and guide treatment plans among PAH patients.
Jack's Appendix: When did it come out?
Authors: Turner I.M. , Cheek Martin
Published: January 2022

William Jack's Appendix. Descriptions of Malayan plants, by William Jack. No. 3 was a paper printed in Bencoolen, Sumatra, that included the original descriptions of Nepenthes ampullaria, N. rafflesiana, Rafflesia titan and Stagmaria verniciflua. The Appendix was not included in the Bencoolen journal Malayan Miscellanies, but it was circulated to eminent botanists, partly with the intention of establishing priority for Jack's new names. We argue that the Appendix was effectively published with distribution dating from May 1821. This takes the date of publication of the two Nepenthes species back by 15 years and makes them the earliest names to be validated for Malesian species in the genus. The Linnaean binomial Gluta renghas is among three names typified here.
Bureaucratic, Professional and Managerial Power in University Tenure Track Recruitment
Authors: Vellamo Tea , Kosonen Jonna , Siekkinen Taru , Pekkola Elias
Published: January 2022

In this chapter, our interest lies in analysing the different powers in recruitment and, particularly, how they are manifested in the new tenure track model in technical fields in Finland. Traditionally, recruitment in higher education has mostly relied on the bureaucratic application of processes and on academics, representing professional power, evaluating academic merit. The new university legislation, granting universities more autonomy in recruiting, has allowed the development of increasingly strategic recruitment models. The novel tenure track recruitment criteria exceed traditional notions of individual merits to include assessments of the strategic visions of universities and departments. We see the use of the tenure track model as a shift both in the recruitment for identity building related to the technical university’s strategy and as a shift in using more managerial power in recruitment. We use a case study approach where we look at recruitment in a similar field in two different kinds of universities utilising tenure track, and we examine how bureaucratic, managerial and professional powers are manifested in the processes. The comparisons are used to highlight the powers in the tenure track process in a technical university.
Gatekeepers on Campus: Peer Review in Quality Assurance of Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Westerheijden Don F.
Published: January 2022

This chapter revisits the policy issue of the balance between peer review and performance indicators as a means to assess the quality of higher education, with a focus on unintended effects that emerge when peer review is employed in quality assurance procedures of higher education institutions as a whole. The attempted solutions of using self-assessments with their base of performance indicators, combined with review teams that stretch the meaning of peer review, increase goal displacement behaviour in higher education institutions. The chapter concludes with two ensuing dilemmas that require careful balancing between quality enhancement and superficial compliance, whatever the role of peer review in institutional quality assurance.
Peer Advocacy: Expressions of Loyalty in Peer Review
Authors: Geschwind Lars , Edström Kristina
Published: January 2022

Peer review is the most legitimate form of evaluation in academia, and a pillar of many decisions and processes in education, research, and other areas of life in higher education. Its legitimacy is based on the peer having relevant expertise to make judgements about the evaluand, and on its presumably external and disinterested character. However, in this chapter we identify what we call “peer advocacy”: when peer reviewers take on the role of promoter or advocate for the evaluand, or for any of the stakeholders involved. To explore this phenomenon, we analyse four cases in the context of Swedish higher education, based on documented studies and the authors’ own experiences. The cases are analysed to show how peer advocacy can be attributed not only to the peer reviewers themselves, but also to the evaluation model, conditions, and expectations. With a view to preserving the legitimacy and integrity of peer review, recommendations are made both to those who commission evaluations and to peer reviewers.
Autofiction as a Lens for Reading Contemporary Egyptian Writing
Authors: Kamal Hala , Magdy Zainab , Massoud Fatma
Published: January 2022

This chapter offers a discussion of three texts by bicultural Egyptian writers: Waguih Ghali’s Beer in the Snooker Club (1964), Radwa Ashour’s Specters (1999), and Miral al-Tahawy’s Brooklyn Heights (2010). The three works are read via an autofictional lens, with focus on Ghali’s autofictional identity, Ashour’s autofictional threads, and al-Tahawy’s autofictionalizing experience. The study suggests that autofictionality can be identified in the texts in terms of genre as well as technique, demonstrating the potential of the autofictional as a literary strategy in negotiating identity, memory, and experience in the writing of Egyptian literature. Our reading of the three texts testifies to the affordance of an autofictional lens in reading Arabic literature and allows new insights into writing at the intersection of reality and the imagination.
Of Strange Loops and Real Effects: Five Theses on Autofiction/the Autofictional
Authors: Wagner-Egelhaaf Martina
Published: January 2022

This chapter explores the advantages of understanding the autofictional as a flexible matrix with scalable parameters. It puts forward five theses: (1) The fact that so many scholars have tried to work with the term “autofiction” indicates an obvious need for the “autofictional” to grasp what is vibrant between life and text. (2) The autofictional is a scalable and latent dimension in all autobiographical writing. Therefore, autofiction is not a separate genre in addition to autobiography and the novel. (3) Imagination and the use of the supernatural may support autobiographical reference. (4) Autofiction produces real-life effects. (5) Autofiction oscillates between fictionality and factuality. Although it brings one or other aspect to the foreground, all of them persist and continue to, more or less, resonate together.
Article 2: The Right to Non-discrimination
Authors: Lansdown Gerison
Published: January 2022

‘This kind of activities, like the one that we are doing right now, should happen more in our schools. To make us overcome stereotypes. To be closer to each other and become better friends.’ (Western Europe/Other)
Article 40: The Rights in the Juvenile Justice Setting
Authors: Ruggiero Roberta
Published: January 2022

‘Call in an assembly to make sure what the child said or did with people in the assembly that do not know the child to validate whether what he did was good or bad. A proof that the assembly happened would be a paper that all the people in the assembly would sign to say they assisted it.’ (Western Europe/Other).
Article 12: The Right to Be Heard
Authors: Lansdown Gerison
Published: January 2022

‘Youth parliament or similar institutions representing all groups of children of the society and different ages should operate throughout the year and express their opinion to Ministers on all relevant draft laws. The same should happen with local authorities and all public agencies.’ (Eastern Europe)
Multivariate Statistics Between Two-Observation Spaces
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Jinglin , Chen Xiaolu
Published: January 2022

As mentioned in the previous chapter, industrial data are usually divided into two categories, process data and quality data, belonging to different measurement spaces. The vast majority of smart manufacturing problems, such as soft measurement, control, monitoring, optimization, etc., inevitably require modeling the data relationships between the two kinds of measurement variables. This chapter’s subject is to discover the correlation between the sets in different observation spaces.
Kernel Fisher Envelope Surface for Pattern Recognition
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Jinglin , Chen Xiaolu
Published: January 2022

It is found that the batch process is more difficultly monitored compared with the continuous process, due to its complex features, such as nonlinearity, non-stable operation, unequal production cycles, and most variables only measured at the end of batch. Traditional methods for batch process, such as multiway FDA (Chen 2004) and multi-model FDA (He et al. 2005), cannot solve these issues well. They require complete batch data only available at the end of a batch. Therefore, the complete batch trajectory must be estimated real time, or alternatively only the measured values at the current moment are used for online diagnosis. Moreover, the above approaches do not consider the problem of inconsistent production cycles.
Fault Identification Based on Local Feature Correlation
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Jinglin , Chen Xiaolu
Published: January 2022

Industrial data variables show obvious high dimension and strong nonlinear correlation. Traditional multivariate statistical monitoring methods, such as PCA, PLS, CCA, and FDA, are only suitable for solving the high-dimensional data processing with linear correlation. The kernel mapping method is the most common technique to deal with the nonlinearity, which projects the original data in the low-dimensional space to the high-dimensional space through appropriate kernel functions so as to achieve the goal of linear separability in the new space. However, the space projection from the low dimension to the high dimension is contradictory to the actual requirement of dimensionality reduction of the data. So kernel-based method inevitably increases the complexity of data processing.
Global Plus Local Projection to Latent Structures
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Jinglin , Chen Xiaolu
Published: January 2022

Owing to the raised demands on process operation and product quality, the modern industrial process becomes more complicated when accompanied by the large number of process and quality variables produced. Therefore, quality-related fault detection and diagnosis are extremely necessary for complex industrial processes. Data-driven statistical process monitoring plays an important role in this topic for digging out the useful information from these highly correlated process and quality variables, because the quality variables are measured at a much lower frequency and usually have a significant time delay (Ding 2014; Aumi et al. 2013; Peng et al. 2015; Zhang et al. 2016; Yin et al. 2014). Monitoring the process variables related to the quality variables is significant for finding potential harm that may lead to system shutdown with possible enormous economic loss.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oncologic activities (diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials enrollment) of a general hospital in a district with high prevalence of SARS-COV-2 in Italy
Authors: Ambroggi Massimo , Citterio Chiara , Vecchia Stefano , Riva Alessandra , Mordenti Patrizia , Cavanna Luigi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Little is known about the real impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the qualitative and quantitative fall-out on the management of cancer patients. Our objective was to provide evidence of the effects of SARS-COV-2 on the management of cancer patients in the real world.

Methods

In a general hospital in a district in Italy with high prevalence of COVID-19 during the first wave, we retrospectively analyzed the data of oncologic activity, namely new cancer diagnosis, types of treatment (intravenous or by mouth), clinical research studies, and drug utilization, and compared the findings with those of 2019, before the pandemic. The data have been summarized in boxplot figures for median and interquartile range.

Results

In 2020, a significant reduction in new cancer diagnosis was demonstrated when compared with 2019, with 17.4% fewer cancer diagnoses, 84.5% fewer patients enrolled in clinical trials, a 10.6% reduction in intravenous antitumor treatment, and a 42.7% increase in oral anticancer treatment.

Conclusion

Our data indicate a significant reduction in cancer diagnosis, antitumor venous treatment, and patients enrolled in clinical research studies in 2020 compared with 2019, although there was a significant increase in oral treatment. These data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a deep impact on the real-world management of cancer patients in a district of Italy with a high prevalence of COVID-19.
Esophageal abnormalities and the risk for gastroesophageal cancers—a histopathology-register-based study in Sweden
Authors: Ekheden Isabella , Ludvigsson Jonas F. , Yin Li , Elbe Peter , Ye Weimin
Published: January 2022

Background

The poor survival of patients with gastroesophageal cancers may improve if additional esophageal precursor lesions to Barrett’s esophagus and squamous dysplasia are identified. We estimated the risk for gastroesophageal cancers among patients with various histopathological abnormalities in the esophagus, including Barrett’s esophagus, subdivided by histopathological types.

Methods

Histopathology data from esophageal biopsies obtained 1979–2014 were linked with several national population-based registers in Sweden. Patients were followed from 2 years after the first biopsy date until cancer, death, emigration, esophagectomy/gastrectomy or end of follow-up, 31st of December 2016, whichever came first. We estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) as measures of relative risk with the Swedish general population as reference.

Results

In total 367 esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cases were ascertained during 831,394 person-years of follow-up. The incidence rate (IR) for EAC was 0.1 per 1000 person-years for normal morphology, 0.2–0.5 for inflammatory changes, and 0.8–2.9 for metaplasia. The IR was 1.0 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.7–1.3) among patients with non-dysplastic intestinal metaplasia, 0.9 (0.8–1.1) in non-dysplastic gastric/glandular metaplasia and 2.9 (2.0–4.2) among columnar metaplasia patients with low-grade dysplasia. The SIRs were 11.7 (95% confidence interval 8.6–15.5), 12.0 (10.0–14.2) and 30.2 (20.5–42.8), respectively. The SIRs for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) were moderately elevated.

Conclusions

For the first time, we demonstrate that patients with esophageal inflammatory and other metaplastic abnormalities than Barrett’s esophagus have an increased risk of EAC and GCA compared to the general population. Moreover, patients with different histopathologic subtypes of Barrett’s esophagus have a comparable risk for EAC.
Balancing earliness and tardiness within workload control order release: an assessment by simulation
Authors: Haeussler Stefan , Neuner Philipp , Thürer Matthias
Published: January 2022

Most Workload Control literature assumes that delivery performance is determined by tardiness related performance measures only. While this may be true for companies that directly deliver to end-customers, for make-to-stock companies or firms that are part of supply chains, producing early often means large inventories in the finished goods warehouse or penalties incurred by companies downstream in the supply chain. Some earlier Workload Control studies used a so-called time limit, which constrains the set of jobs that can be considered for order release, to reduce earliness. However, recent literature largely abandoned the time limit since it negatively impacts tardiness performance. This study revisits the time limit, assessing the use of different adaptive policies that restrict its use to periods of either low or high load. By using a simulation model of a pure job shop, the study shows that an adaptive policy allows to balance the contradictory objectives of delaying the release of orders to reduce earliness and to release orders early to respond to periods of high load as quick as possible. Meanwhile, only using a time limit in periods of high load was found to be the best policy.
The effect of Cr alloying on defect migration at Ni grain boundaries
Authors: Uberuaga Blas P. , Simonnin Pauline , Rosso Kevin M. , Schreiber Daniel K. , Asta Mark
Published: January 2022

Mass transport along grain boundaries in alloys depends not only on the atomic structure of the boundary, but also its chemical make-up. In this work, we use molecular dynamics to examine the effect of Cr alloying on interstitial and vacancy-mediated transport at a variety of grain boundaries in Ni. We find that, in general, Cr tends to reduce the rate of mass transport, an effect which is greatest for interstitials at pure tilt boundaries. However, there are special scenarios in which it can greatly enhance atomic mobility. Cr tends to migrate faster than Ni, though again this depends on the structure of the grain boundary. Further, grain boundary mobility, which is sometimes pronounced for pure Ni grain boundaries, is eliminated on the time scales of our simulations when Cr is present. We conclude that the enhanced transport and grain boundary mobility often seen in this system in experimental studies is the result of non-equilibrium effects and is not intrinsic to the alloyed grain boundary. These results provide new insight into the role of grain boundary alloying on transport that can help in the interpretation of experimental results and the development of predictive models of materials evolution.
Ab initio aided design of novel quaternary, quinary and senary high-entropy borocarbides
Authors: Hedman Daniel , Feltrin Ana C. , Miyamoto Yoshiyuki , Akhtar Farid
Published: January 2022

High-entropy materials have attracted considerable interest due to their unique, improved properties and large configurational entropy. Out of these, high-entropy ceramics (HECs) are of particular interest since the independent solubility of cations and anions results in increased configurational entropy. However, most HEC research considers only a single element occupying the anion sublattice, which limits the maximum attainable configurational entropy. Here, we expand our previous work on high-entropy borocarbides where both boron and carbon occupy the anion sublattice. By applying an ab initio based screening procedure, we identify six elements Li, Ti, V, Zr, Nb and Hf suitable for forming high-entropy borocarbides. With these elements, we propose six novel HEC compositions, and by computing their entropy forming ability, we identify that three are likely to form single-phase during synthesis. Material properties and lattice distortions for all proposed compositions are studied using density functional theory calculations with special quasirandom structures. The directional lattice distortions, a concept we introduce in this work, show that lattice distortions have an elemental and directional preference for certain HEC compositions. We also show that the novel inclusion of Li improves the mechanical properties of the proposed HECs, the details of which are studied using the electron localization function.
A systematic review on 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives as emissive materials in organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Kagatikar Sneha , Sunil Dhanya
Published: January 2022

Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) have garnered significant research attention owing to their immense application prospects in leading technologies for full-color flat panel displays and eco-friendly solid-state lighting. They demonstrate exceptional features such as mercury-free construction, wide viewing angle, superior color quality and captivating flexibility. The requirements of light-emitting organic materials pertaining to high stability, lifetime and luminescence quantum yield, combined with the fabrication of devices with high performance efficiency, are highly challenging. Rational molecular design of 1,8-naphthalimide (NI) derivatives can offer quite promising results in achieving standard-light-emitting materials with a wide range of colors for OLED applications. This review is mainly focused on the synthesis and usage of varyingly substituted NI frameworks as luminescent host, dopant, hole-blocking and electron-transporting materials for OLEDs that emit not only red, orange, green and blue colors, but also function as white emitters, which can really have an impact on reducing the energy consumption. The future prospects that could be explored to improve the research in the highly promising field of OLEDs are also discussed.

Graphical abstract
Automated analysis of platelet microstructures using a feature length orientation space
Authors: Campbell A. , Murray P. , Yakushina E. , Borocco A. , Dokladal P. , Decencière E. , Ion W. , Marshall S.
Published: January 2022

The ability to measure elongated structures such as platelets and colonies, is an important step in the microstructural analysis of many materials. Widely used techniques and standards require extensive manual interaction making them slow, laborious, difficult to repeat and prone to human error. Automated approaches have been proposed but often fail when analysing complex microstructures. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a new, automated image analysis technique, to reliably assess platelet microstructure. Tools from Mathematical Morphology are designed to probe the image and map the response onto a new feature-length orientation space (FLOS). This enables automated measurement of key microstructural features such as platelet width, orientation, globular volume fraction, and colony size. The method has a wide field of view, low dependency on input parameters, and does not require prior thresholding, common in other automated analysis techniques. Multiple datasets of complex Titanium alloys were used to evaluate the new techniques which are shown to match measurements from expert materials scientists using recognized standards, while drastically reducing measurement time and ensuring repeatability. The per-pixel measurement style of the technique also allows for the generation of useful colourmaps, that aid further analysis and provide evidence to increase user confidence in the quantitative measurements.
Toll-like receptor 4 agonist-based nanoparticles orchestrate protection against sepsis
Authors: Zhao Yongxiang , Lv Xinjing , Huang Jie , Zhou Huiting , Wang Hairong , Wang Jian , Zhao He
Published: January 2022

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction induced by severe infection and uncontrolled host immune response, threatens the health of people all over the world. Herein, a type of nanoparticle formulation with simple components is synthesized by encapsulating monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a TLR4 agonist, with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle. The obtained nanoparticles (MPLA@PLGA) could provide Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced sepsis protection by regulating the immune system after sepsis challenge, including promoting the levels of various cytokines, boosting the percentage of natural killer cells and accelerating bacterial clearance. Notably, the survival mice pre-treated with these nanoparticles could resist repeated E. coli-induced sepsis. Our work therefore provides the great promise of MPLA@PLGA nanoparticles as a simple yet effective nano-drug for prevention and protection against E. coli-induced sepsis.
Efficient near-infrared quantum cutting by cooperative energy transfer in Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ phosphors
Authors: Zhezhera T. , Gluchowski P. , Nowicki M. , Chrunik M. , Majchrowski A. , Kosyl K. M. , Kasprowicz D.
Published: January 2022

An efficient near-infrared quantum cutting process by cooperative down-conversion of active Bi3+ and Nd3+ ions was demonstrated in Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ phosphors. In particular, the near-infrared emission of Nd3+ ions enhanced by Bi3+ ions of a series of novel Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ microcrystalline powders doped with Nd3+ ions in various concentrations was investigated. In order to investigate the luminescent properties of BTBO:Nd3+ powders, the excitation and emission spectra and the fluorescence decay time were measured and analyzed. In particular, the emission of Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ at 890 and 1064 nm was excited at 327 nm (via energy transfer from Bi3+ ions) and at 586.4 nm (directly by Nd3+ ions). The highest intensity emission bands in near-infrared were detected in the spectra of Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ doped with 5.0 and 0.5 at.% of Nd3+ ions upon excitation in ultraviolet and visible spectral range, respectively. The fluorescence decay lifetime monitored at 1064 nm for Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ powders shows the single- or double-exponential character depending on the concentrations of Nd3+ ions. The possible mechanisms of energy relaxation after excitation Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ powders in ultraviolet or visible spectral range were discussed. The investigated Bi3TeBO9:Nd3+ phosphors efficiently concentrate the ultraviolet/visible radiation in the near-infrared spectral range and can be potentially used as effective spectral converters.

Graphical abstract
Glassy carbon manufacture using rapid photonic curing
Authors: de Boode Brent , Phillips Chris , Lau Yin Cheung , Adomkevicius Arturas , McGettrick James , Deganello Davide
Published: January 2022

Photonic curing was explored as a rapid method for producing glassy carbon coatings, reducing processing time from ~ 20 h for conventional thermal processing down to ~ 1 min. A resole-type thermoset polymer resin coated on steel foil was used as a precursor, placed in a nitrogen purged container and exposed to high energy light (~ 27 J/cm2 per pulse for up to 20 pulses). Comparison samples were produced at 800 °C using a conventional nitrogen purged thermal route. For both photonic and conventionally produced coatings, Raman spectroscopy and primary peak XPS data showed sp2 bonded carbon, indicative of bulk glassy carbon. This transformation evolved with increasing number of pulses, and therefore amount of energy transferred to the coating. The produced coatings were resilient, highly smooth, with no evidence of surface defects. XPS analysis indicated greater sp3 content at the immediate surface (5–10 nm) for photonic cured carbon compared with thermally cured carbon, likely due to the local environment (temperature, atmosphere) around the surface during conversion. The ability to rapidly manufacture glassy carbon coatings provides new opportunities to expand the window of applications of glassy carbons in coatings towards large-scale high volume applications.
Problems seeded in the past: lagged effects of historical land-use changes can cause an extinction debt in long-lived species due to movement limitation
Authors: Jiménez-Franco María V. , Graciá Eva , Rodríguez-Caro Roberto C. , Anadón José D. , Wiegand Thorsten , Botella Francisco , Giménez Andrés
Published: January 2022

Context

Land-use change is one of the main threats to biodiversity on the global scale. Legacy effects of historical land-use changes may affect population dynamics of long-lived species, but they are difficult to evaluate through observational studies alone. We present here an interdisciplinary modelling approach as an alternative to address this problem in landscape ecology.

Objectives

Assess effects of agricultural abandonment and anthropisation on the population dynamics of long-lived species. Specifically, we evaluated: (a) how changes in movement patterns caused by land-use change might impact population dynamics; (b) time-lag responses of demographic variables in relation to land-use changes.

Methods

We applied an individual-based and spatial-explicit simulation model of the spur-tighed tortoise (Testudo graeca), an endangered species, to sequences of real-world landscape changes representing agricultural abandonment and anthropisation at the local scale. We analysed different demographic variables and compared an “impact scenario” (i.e., historical land-use changes) with a “control scenario” (no land-use changes).

Results

While agricultural abandonment did not lead to relevant changes in demographic variables, anthropisation negatively affected the reproductive rate, population density and the extinction probability with time-lag responses of 20, 30 and 130 years, respectively, and caused an extinction debt of 22%.

Conclusions

We provide an understanding of how changes in animal movement driven by land-use changes can translate into lagged impacts on demography and, ultimately, on population viability. Implementation of proactive mitigation management are needed to promote landscape connectivity, especially for long-lived species for which first signatures of an extinction debt may arise only after decades.
Assessment of potential sediment disasters and resilience management of mountain roads using environmental indicators
Authors: Lin Chao-Yuan , Lai Yuan-Chung , Wu Shao-Wei , Mo Fan-Chung , Lin Cheng-Yu
Published: January 2022

In recent years, extreme rainfall events occur frequently, causing serious watershed sediment disasters, destroying mountain roads, and endangering the safety of residents' lives and property. This study aims to deal with the spatial change of potential sediment movement on the road slope pre-disaster and to screen disaster hot spots for early warning and control system. The conceptual model is used to simulate the distribution of primary and/or derived disasters on a watershed scale to assess the impact of sediment disasters caused by heavy rain event. Correlation analysis shows that the models in assessment of primary disaster and derived disaster are significantly correlated with the collapse ratio and disaster ratio, respectively. Since the primary disaster has been considered when calculating the derived disaster risk, the terrain subdivision along Provincial Highway 21 (Tai-21) is extracted to understand the derived sediment disaster on the road slope. The model can effectively evaluate the road sections prone to disasters. According to the risk level, the hot spot of road slope disasters and the management of disaster resilience are determined and can be the reference for disaster prevention and control.
Unmet Aspirations and Urban Malaise
Authors: Hanell Tomas
Published: January 2022

This article analyses the gap between human aspirations concerning self-enhancement and corresponding outcomes in ten western European countries. Utilizing individual data for 14,300 respondents from the European Social Survey, four self-enhancement gap metrics are created: (1) the Ambition gap; (2) the Success gap; (3) the Wealth gap; and (4) the Authority gap. The findings suggest that subjective well-being (SWB) appears to be higher in rural than in urban communities. One reason for lower SWB among urban residents relates to their higher aspirations in certain areas of life. However, urban areas are apparently able to meet the financial expectations of their inhabitants far better than rural areas are, whereas an unmet craving for, e.g., success in rural areas appears not to affect SWB at all. Overall, there is a strong association between unmet aspirations and lower satisfaction with life. The added value of this paper is that it goes beyond existing explanations of the reasons behind urban malaise in developed economies.
Tools zur Stärkung der organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz in Einrichtungen für Menschen mit Behinderung: eine systematische Übersicht
Authors: Rathmann Katharina , Lutz Judith , Salewski Lena
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Der Nationale Aktionsplan zur Gesundheitskompetenz (NAP GK) fordert eine nutzerfreundliche und gesundheitskompetente Entwicklung des Gesundheitswesens. Differenziert nach einzelnen Handlungsfeldern und Akteursgruppen existieren bereits zahlreiche Tools zur Stärkung der Gesundheitskompetenz bspw. für die Versorgung in Krankenhäusern. Einrichtungen der Behindertenhilfe wurden bislang selten als Lebenswelt zur Entwicklung und Stärkung der organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz adressiert.

Fragestellung

Der Beitrag geht folgenden Fragen nach: 1) Welche Tools zur Stärkung der Gesundheitskompetenz liegen für Einrichtungen für Menschen mit Behinderung vor? 2) Welche Tools eignen sich zur Stärkung der Gesundheitskompetenz in den einzelnen Handlungsfeldern?

Methodik

Zur Ermittlung von Tools wurde eine systematische Recherche in den Datenbanken PubMed, Embase, CINAHL und PsycINFO durchgeführt. Insgesamt wurden N = 1130 Treffer identifiziert und n = 116 Volltexte gesichtet. Die ausgewählten Tools (n = 35) wurden nach den acht Standards bzw. Handlungsfeldern einer gesundheitskompetenten Einrichtung sowie nach der Ebene (d. h. Einrichtung, Mitarbeitende, Nutzende) differenziert.

Ergebnisse

Für Einrichtungen der Behindertenhilfe wurden n = 35 Tools, gefunden und aufbereitet. Die meisten Tools lassen sich dem Handlungsfeld 6 „Gesundheitskompetenz der Nutzenden“ (n = 24) zuordnen. Für das Handlungsfeld 4 „Navigation“ konnten dagegen keine Tools gefunden werden.

Diskussion

Tools zur Stärkung der organisationalen Gesundheitskompetenz von Einrichtungen der Behindertenhilfe sind v. a. für das englischsprachige Ausland vorzufinden. Diese sollten für den deutschsprachigen Raum adaptiert und erprobt werden. Für einige Handlungsfelder konnten keine Tools gefunden werden, sodass hier künftig geeignete Tools entwickelt werden sollten, um die Gesundheitskompetenz von Mitarbeitenden (d. h. Leitungs-, Fach- und Betreuungspersonal), Bewohner*innen und Klient*innen von Einrichtungen der Behindertenhilfe nachhaltig zu fördern.
Zusammenhänge zwischen religiös-spirituellen und berufsethischen Überzeugungen von Lehrkräften
Authors: Penthin Marcus , Christ Alexander , Kröner Stephan , Pirner Manfred L. , Scheunpflug Annette
Published: January 2022

Ob persönliche religiös-weltanschauliche Überzeugungen von Lehrkräften deren berufliches Denken und Handeln beeinflussen und ob sie es beeinflussen sollten, ist immer wieder Gegenstand öffentlicher Diskussionen. Angesichts eines dahingehend unbefriedigenden Forschungsstands, insbesondere im europäischen Kontext, wurde der Erklärungswert von Religiosität und Spiritualität für die berufsethischen Überzeugungen von N = 1441 Lehrkräften an deutschen Schulen untersucht. Entgegen unseren präregistrierten Hypothesen klärten in Strukturgleichungsmodellen weder religiöse Überzeugungen noch religiöse Toleranz nennenswerte Varianz in verschiedenen Aspekten des Berufsethos auf. Ein größerer Erklärungswert ergab sich bei vergleichbaren Analysen für die spirituellen Überzeugungen, jedoch weniger für deren transzendente Aspekte als für die Dimension der „Verbundenheit mit anderen“. Diskutiert wird, dass es offensichtlich weniger die religiösen und transzendent-spirituellen Überzeugungen der Lehrkräfte sind, die einen Effekt auf ihre berufsethischen Überzeugungen haben, als eine damit tendenziell einhergehende altruistische Haltung.