bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First neuroinvasive human case of West Nile Disease in Southern Italy: Results of the ‘One Health’ approach
Authors: Macaluso Giusi , Gucciardi Francesca , Guercio Annalisa , Blanda Valeria , La Russa Francesco , Torina Alessandra , Mira Francesco , Bella Santina Di , Lastra Antonio , Giacchino Ilenia , Castronovo Calogero , Vitale Giustina , Purpari Giuseppa 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundWest Nile Disease (WND) is a zoonotic mosquito‐borne infection involving viral pathogens, human and animal hosts, vectors and environment. Cooperation among medical, veterinary and entomological fields has been promoted by the Italian Public Health Authorities, and an integrated West Nile Virus (WNV) Surveillance Plan has been in force in Italy since 2016 to prevent the transmission risk of WND to humans through an early detection of viral circulation by animal and entomological surveillance. This managing model is unique in Europe.ObjectivesThis survey aimed at presenting the ‘One Health’ approach applied in 2016 to the first autochthonous human case of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) in Sicily (Southern Italy).MethodsSerological (anti‐WNV IgM and IgG ELISA, anti‐WNV neutralizing antibodies) and molecular tests were conducted on blood, liquor and urine of a 38‐year‐old man with encephalitis and meningitis. Overall, 2704 adult culicides from 160 mosquito catches were morphologically identified. Female mosquitoes were analysed in pools for WNV RNA detection. Serological (anti‐WNV IgM and IgG ELISA) and molecular analyses for WNV were carried out in 11 horses, 271 chickens and two dogs sampled in farms around the man's residence.Results and conclusionsWNND was confirmed by serological analysis on patient's liquor and serum. Collected mosquito species included Culex pipiens (93.56%, CI95% 92.64%–94.49%), Aedes albopictus (5.25%, CI95% 4.41%–6.09%), Culex hortensis (0.59%, CI95% 0.30%–0.88%), Culiseta longiareolata (0.55%, CI95% 0.27%–0.83%) and Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (0.04%, CI95% –0.04% to 0.11%). Mosquito pools were negative for WNV RNA. Two dogs (100%) and two horses (18.18%, CI95% –4.61 to 40.97%) resulted positive for anti‐WNV specific antibodies.The ‘One Health’ approach allowed to report the first human neuroinvasive WND in Sicily and to confirm the local circulation of WNV in animals of the same area where the clinical case occurred, defining the autochthonous origin of the infection.
One colorful resolution to the neutrino mass generation, three lepton flavor universality anomalies, and the Cabibbo angle anomaly
Authors: Chang We-Fu 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
We propose a simple model to simultaneously explain four observed flavor anomalies while generating the neutrino mass at the one-loop level. Specifically, we address the measured anomalous magnetic dipole moments of the muon, ∆aμ, and electron, ∆ae, the observed anomaly of b → sl+l− in the B-meson decays, and the Cabibbo-angle anomaly. The model consists of four colorful new degrees of freedom: three scalar leptoquarks with the Standard Model quantum numbers (3, 3, −1/3), (3, 2, 1/6), and (3, 1, 2/3), and one pair of down-quark-like vector fermion in (3, 1, −1/3). The baryon number is assumed to be conserved for simplicity.Phenomenologically viable solutions with the minimal number of real parameters can be found to accommodate all the above-mentioned anomalies and produce the approximate, close to 1σ, neutrino oscillation pattern at the same time. From general consideration, the model robustly predicts: (1) neutrino mass is of the normal hierarchy type, and (2) $$ {\mathcal{M}}_{ee}^{\nu } $$

M
ee
ν

≲ 3 × 10−4 MeV.The possible UV origin to explain the flavor pattern of the found viable parameter space is briefly discussed. The parameter space can be well reproduced within a simple split fermion toy model.
Closed string deformations in open string field theory. Part II. Superstring
Authors: Maccaferri Carlo , Vošmera Jakub 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
This is the second paper of a series of three. We construct effective open-closed superstring couplings by classically integrating out massive fields from open superstring field theories coupled to an elementary gauge invariant tadpole proportional to an on-shell closed string state in both large and small Hilbert spaces, in the NS sector. This source term is well known in the WZW formulation and by explicitly performing a novel large Hilbert space perturbation theory we are able to characterize the first orders of the vacuum shift solution, its obstructions and the non-trivial open-closed effective couplings in closed form. With the aim of getting all order results, we also construct a new observable in the A∞ theory in the small Hilbert space which correctly provides a gauge invariant coupling to physical closed strings and which descends from the WZW open-closed coupling upon partial gauge fixing and field redefinition. Armed with this new A∞ observable we use tensor co-algebra techniques to efficiently package the whole perturbation theory necessary for computing the effective action and we give all order results for the open-closed effective couplings in the small Hilbert space.
Propensity‐Score Matched Analyses Comparing Clinical Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Versus Open Distal Pancreatectomies: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Raghupathy Jaivikash , Lee Chuan‐Yaw , Huan Sarah K. W. , Koh Ye‐Xin , Tan Ek‐Khoon , Teo Jin‐Yao , Cheow Peng‐Chung , Ooi London L. P. J. , Chung Alexander Y. F. , Chan Chung‐Yip , Goh Brian K. P. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundMinimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) is being adopted increasingly worldwide. This study aimed to compare the short‐term outcomes of patients who underwent MIDP versus open distal pancreatectomy (ODP).MethodsA retrospective review of all patients who underwent a DP in our institution between 2005 and 2019 was performed. Propensity score matching based on relevant baseline factors was used to match patients in the ODP and MIDP groups in a 1:1 manner. Outcomes reported include operative duration, blood loss, postoperative length of stay, morbidity, mortality, postoperative pancreatic fistula rates, reoperation and readmission.ResultsIn total, 444 patients were included in this study. Of 122 MIDP patients, 112 (91.8%) could be matched. After matching, the median operating time for MIDP was significantly longer than ODP [260 min (200–346.3) vs 180 (135–232.5), p < 0.001], while postoperative stay for MIDP was significantly shorter [median 6 days (5–8) versus 7 days (6–9), p = 0.015]. There were no significant differences noted in any of the other outcomes measured. Over time, we observed a decrease in the operation times of MIDP performed at our institution.ConclusionAdoption of MIDP offers advantages over ODP in terms of a shorter postoperative hospital stay, without an increase in morbidity and/or mortality but at the expense of a longer operation time.
The Basics of Hydrogen Uptake in Iron and Steel
Authors: Truschner Mathias , Trautmann Anton , Mori Gregor 
Published: September 2021

AbstractArmco iron and L80 steel (according to API 5CT) were charged under various conditions due to often not knowing the exact amount of hydrogen absorbed during operation and laboratory charging. These two materials were charged in sodium chloride (NaCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), both with and without addition of thiourea (CH4N2S), and in H2S (NACE TM0177) at open circuit potential.Additionally, cathodic charging was done in sodium chloride and sulfuric acid, both with thiourea added at a current density of 1 mA/cm2. The charging time was between 2 and 336 h for both methods. Prior to the charging, the specimens were cleaned in acetone and the bulk hydrogen content of the two materials was determined. After charging, the specimens were ground with a silicone carbide paper and the hydrogen content was measured with a thermal conductivity cell after hot extraction at 950 °C.Most of the immersion tests at open circuit potential resulted in hydrogen concentrations of up to 1 wt. ppm, while the cathodic charging led to values of up to 4 wt. ppm. In addition, the NACE TM0177 test provided the highest hydrogen concentrations and was the only test to show higher hydrogen concentrations for Armco iron than for L80 steel.
Different approaches to obtain functionalized alumina as additive in polymer electrolyte membranes
Authors: Mazzapioda Lucia , Sgambetterra Mirko , Tsurumaki Akiko , Navarra Maria Assunta 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA series of sulfated aluminum oxides (S-Al2O3), investigated as an electrolyte additive in Nafion membranes, was synthesizedviathree different methods: (i) sol–gel sulfation starting from an aluminum alkoxide precursor, (ii) room temperature sulfation of fumed aluminum oxide, and (iii) hydrothermal sulfation of fumed aluminum oxide. Through the characterization of the synthesized S-Al2O3by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, a higher sulfation rate was found to be achievedviaa hydrothermal sulfation, and the coordination state of sulfate groups was identified as monodentate. By using this hydrothermally synthesized S-Al2O3as additive, a composite Nafion-based membrane was realized and compared to plain Nafion, by means of thermal analyses and fuel cell tests. Although higher hydration degree was found for the undoped membrane by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), improved retention of fuel cell performance upon the increase of operation temperature was observed by using the composite electrolyte, confirming the stabilizing effect of the acidic inorganic additive.
Quantitative Three-Dimensional Assessment of the Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Intra- and Peri-tumoural Tissues on Breast Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Niukkanen A. , Okuma H. , Sudah M. , Auvinen P. , Mannermaa A. , Liimatainen T. , Vanninen R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe aimed to assess the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) segmentation and to investigate whether semi-quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters are associated with traditional prognostic factors for breast cancer. In addition, we evaluated whether both intra-tumoural and peri-tumoural DCE parameters can differentiate the breast cancers that are more aggressive from those that are less aggressive. Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer and structural breast MRI (3.0 T) were included after informed consent. Fifty-six patients (mean age, 57 years) with mass lesions of > 7 mm in diameter were included. A semi-automatic image post-processing algorithm was developed to measure 3D pharmacokinetic information from the DCE-MRI images. The kinetic parameters were extracted from time-signal curves, and the absolute tissue contrast agent concentrations were calculated with a reference tissue model. Markedly, higher intra-tumoural and peri-tumoural tissue concentrations of contrast agent were found in high-grade tumours (n = 44) compared to low-grade tumours (n = 12) at every time point (P = 0.006–0.040), providing positive predictive values of 90.6–92.6% in the classification of high-grade tumours. The intra-tumoural and peri-tumoural signal enhancement ratios correlated with tumour grade, size, and Ki67 activity. The intra-observer reproducibility was excellent. We developed a model to measure the 3D intensity data of breast cancers. Low- and high-grade tumours differed in their intra-tumoural and peri-tumoural enhancement characteristics. We anticipate that pharmacokinetic parameters will be increasingly used as imaging biomarkers to model and predict tumour behavior, prognoses, and responses to treatment.
Functions of units, scales and quantitative data: Fundamental differences in numerical traceability between sciences
Authors: Uher Jana 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuantitative data are generated differently. To justify inferences about real-world phenomena and establish secured knowledge bases, however, quantitative data generation must follow transparent principles applied consistently across sciences. Metrological frameworks of physical measurement build on two methodological principles that establish transparent, traceable—thus reproducible processes for assigning numerical values to measurands. Data generation traceability requires implementation of unbroken, documented measurand-result connections to justify attributing results to research objects. Numerical traceability requires documented connections of the assigned values to known quantitative standards to establish the results' public interpretability. This article focuses on numerical traceability. It explores how physical measurement units and scales are defined to establish an internationally shared understanding of physical quantities. The underlying principles are applied to scrutinise psychological and social-science practices of quantification. Analyses highlight heterogeneous notions of ‘units’ and ‘scales’ and identify four methodological functions; they serve as (1) ‘instruments’ enabling empirical interactions with study phenomena and properties; (2) structural data format; (3) conceptual data format; and (4) conventionally agreed reference quantities. These distinct functions, employed in different research stages, entail different (if any) rationales for assigning numerical values and for establishing their quantitative meaning. The common numerical recoding of scale categories in tests and questionnaires creates scores devoid of quantitative information. Quantitative meaning is created through numeral-number conflation and differential analyses, producing numerical values that lack systematic relations to known quantity standards regarding the study phenomena and properties. The findings highlight new directions for the conceptualisation and generation of quantitative data in psychology and social sciences.
Influence of nursing staff working hours on stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hoedl Manuela , Bauer Silvia , Eglseer Doris 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
Working as a nurse means being able to provide high-quality care 24/7. Studies have shown that the average number of working hours per week is a significant predictor of stress and that the severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the nurses’ stress levels.

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the nursing staff’s working hours during the COVID-19 pandemic on the perceived level of stress.

Method
We carried out an online cross-sectional survey and measured the stress level with the perceived stress scale.

Results
Most of the nurses experienced a moderate level of stress. We identified a statistically significant association between increased numbers of working hours per week and the nurses’ perceived stress level. In addition, 15% of the nurses who had worked more than 40 h reported experiencing a high level of stress.

Conclusion
These results reflect the negative consequences of prolonged working hours. For this reason, a (inter)national discussion is needed on the topic of restricting the working hours of healthcare workers during such pandemics. This discussion can improve the health and safety of healthcare workers, patients and members of the general population.
The sense of the right to religious freedom in liberal democracies between accommodation and laicization. A study of the North American and Brazilian cases
Authors: Santos André Leonardo Copetti , Lucas Doglas Cesar 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis work intends to investigate the different conceptions—accommodation and laicization—that underlie processes of legislative regulation and judicial decision in matters of conflicts involving the right to religious freedom, in the legal systems of North America and Brazil. We will also investigate the potential for harmonization of legal in conflicts with other fundamental rights. The objective here is to build possibilities in order to establish a synthesis meaning for the right of religious freedom, in accordance with the democratic constitutional models of law to begin with, the recent modulations which allowed the fundamental right to religious freedom, especially from the edition of some US federal and state legislation, as well as from a set of decisions taken by Brazilian courts. As a corollary of these modulations, the article intends to assess the consequences that these new laws and judicial decisions caused in the legal system, through social andinstitutional democratic practices related to any fundamental rights. We used the dialectical method, since the idea and the foundation of the right to religious freedom follow a three-stage approach: thesis (religious freedom in its original sense and secularized conception), antithesis (right to religious freedom as a possibility to act in the exercise of belief, by claiming accommodation with other rights), and synthesis (the perspective to elaborate a proper sense to liberal democracies). Initial results indicate that both models based on secularization and accommodation can generate democratic and undemocratic meanings to the right of religious freedom; both models can either harmonize conflicting rights or escalate social antagonisms.
Ten years of the China migrants dynamic survey: retrospective and prospects
Authors: Wang Zhili , Wang Qian , Qi Jianan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis paper reviews the background of China’s decision to launch the “China Migrants Dynamic Survey” (CMDS), and examines the ideas and characteristics of CMDSs carried out annually from 2009 through 2018. The paper considers such aspects as project design, questionnaire design, sampling design, and survey implementation, and summarizes why it is necessary to carry out CMDS and the survey’s performance. Based on the need for information that drives migration surveys and research in the new era, and taking into account the experience gained from previous surveys, this paper attempts to set forth several issues that need to be taken into consideration in the design and implementation of future surveys of migrants.
Release of Mg and Fe From the Octahedral Sheets During the Transformation of Montmorillonite Into Kaolinite
Authors: Li Shangying , Tao Qi , Ma Lingya , Zhang Chaoqun , Yang Yixuan , Du Peixin , Liu Jiacheng , Zhu Jianxi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIsomorphous substitutions of Mg and Fe for Al generally appear in the octahedral sheets of montmorillonite, whereas they are infrequent in kaolinite. Therefore, the release of Mg and Fe from the octahedral sheets probably happens during the transformation of montmorillonite into kaolinite, which could affect the migration of Mg and Fe from clay minerals into surrounding environments. The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between Mg and Fe release during the transformation of montmorillonite into kaolinite. The results showed that the d060 value of clay minerals decreased slightly, and the intensities of both the AlMg–OH and AlFe–OH bending vibrations also decreased gradually. In addition, the (Mg+Fe)/Al (major octahedral ions) atomic ratio of kaolinite was lower than that of montmorillonite, especially in identical hydrothermal products. These results indicated that Mg and Fe ions were released progressively from the octahedral sheets during the transformation of montmorillonite into kaolinite. Moreover, the changed relative concentrations of Mg and Fe ions in the supernatant solutions after hydrothermal reactions suggested a random distribution of Mg and/or Fe in the octahedral sheets of the montmorillonite. These results improve understanding of the release relationship between Mg and Fe during clay mineral evolution and of the distribution of these two ions in the octahedral sheets, as well as the chemical composition of clay minerals as an indicator of geological environments.
An incompressibility theorem for automatic complexity
Authors: Kjos-Hanssen Bjørn 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Shallit and Wang showed that the automatic complexity

$A(x)$

satisfies

$A(x)\ge n/13$

for almost all

$x\in {\{\mathtt {0},\mathtt {1}\}}^n$

. They also stated that Holger Petersen had informed them that the constant

$13$

can be reduced to

$7$

. Here we show that it can be reduced to

$2+\epsilon $

for any

$\epsilon>0$

. The result also applies to nondeterministic automatic complexity

$A_N(x)$

. In that setting the result is tight inasmuch as

$A_N(x)\le n/2+1$

for all x.
Types of Solidarity in a Hybrid Regime: The Hungarian Case
Authors: Grajczjár István , Nagy Zsófia , Örkény Antal 
Published: September 2021

AbstractOur aim in this article is to show the stance on solidarity present in a hybrid regime. Taking Hungary as an example, we give individual-level explanations for attitudes towards solidarity and inclusion/exclusion in times when populist parties are in power. By creating typical solidarity groups, we explain who belongs to different solidarity clusters and why, what political orientations can be linked to solidarity groups and whether people's attitudes reflect the values/solidarity conceptions propagated by the Orbán government. With this, we point to the social and political polarization of Hungarian society. We found that the appreciated, satisfied and politically trustful far-right exclusive groups – independent of their social status – make up not only the majority of society but also the crucial system-justifying basis of the Orbán regime. However, in an ethnically rather homogeneous society foreigners could be seen as cultural and economic threats to the decisive majority, including a significant part of the inclusive groups.
Both microbiological surveillance and audit of procedures improve reprocessing of flexible bronchoscopes and patient safety
Authors: Saliou Philippe , Calmettes Lila , Le Bars Hervé , Payan Christopher , Narbonne Valérie , Héry-Arnaud Geneviève , Moalic Elodie , Gut-Gobert Christophe , Baron Raoul 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground:Microbiological surveillance of bronchoscopes and automatic endoscope reprocessors (AERs)/washer disinfectors as a quality control measure is controversial. Experts also are divided on the infection risks associated with bronchoscopic procedures.Objective:We evaluated the impact of routine microbiological surveillance and audits of cleaning/disinfection practices on contamination rates of reprocessed bronchoscopes.Design:Audits were conducted of reprocessing procedures and microbiological surveillance on all flexible bronchoscopes used from January 2007 to June 2020 at a teaching hospital in France. Contamination rates per year were calculated and analyzed using a Poisson regression model. The risk factors for microbiological contamination were analyzed using a multivariable logistical regression model.Results:In total, 478 microbiological tests were conducted on 91 different bronchoscopes and 57 on AERs. The rate of bronchoscope contamination significantly decreased between 2007 and 2020, varying from 30.2 to 0% (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that retesting after a previous contaminated test was significantly associated with higher risk of bronchoscope contamination (OR, 2.58; P = .015). This finding was explained by the persistence of microorganisms in bronchoscopes despite repeated disinfections. However, the risk of persistent contamination was not associated with the age of the bronchoscope.Conclusions:Our results confirm that bronchoscopes can remain contaminated despite repeated reprocessing. Routine microbial testing of bronchoscopes for quality assurance and audit of decontamination and disinfection procedures can improve the reprocessing of bronchoscopes and minimize the rate of persistent contamination.