bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aligned Millineedle Arrays for Solar Power Seawater Desalination with Site‐Specific Salt Formation
Authors: Huang Zhongming , Wei Jinchao , Wan Yingpeng , Li Peng , Yu Jie , Dong Jiayi , Wang Shuangpeng , Li Shengliang , Lee Chun‐Sing 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAs a sustainable and clean water production technology, solar thermal water evaporation has been extensively studied in the past few years. One challenge is that upon operation, salt would form on surface of the solar absorbers leading to inefficient water supply and light absorption and thus much reduced water vaporization rate. To address this problem, a simple solar evaporator based on an array of aligned millineedles for efficient solar water evaporation and controlled site‐specific salt formation is demonstrated. The maximum solar evaporation rate achieved is 2.94 kg m−2 h−1 under one Sun irradiation in brine of high salinity (25 wt% NaCl), achieving energy conversion efficiency of 94.5% simultaneously. More importantly, the spontaneously site‐specific salt formation on the tips of millineedles endows this solar evaporator with salt harvesting capacity. Rationally separating the clean water and salt from brine by condensation and gravity assistance, this tip‐preferential crystallization solar evaporator is not affected by the salt clogging compared with conventional 2D solar evaporators. This study provides new insights on the design of solar evaporators and advances their applications in sustainable seawater desalination and wastewater management.
Diurnal variation in serum concentrations of cortisol in captive African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants
Authors: Bechert Ursula , Hixon Sean , Schmitt Dennis 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCortisol is involved in a broad range of physiological processes and enables animals to adapt to new situations and challenges. Diurnal fluctuations in circulating cortisol concentrations in elephants have been demonstrated based on samples from urine and saliva. The aims of this study were to demonstrate diurnal cortisol fluctuations based on blood samples and compare concentrations between seasons, species, and changes in reproductive hormone concentrations. Nine African (Loxodonta africana) and three Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants at two facilities in the United States were included in this study. Blood samples were collected every 2–3 h at one location and every 1–6 h at another. Peak serum concentrations of cortisol averaged 28 ng/ml for both African and Asian elephants, and diurnal cycles included a fivefold decrease from morning peak to evening nadir concentrations. Diurnal cortisol profiles varied uniquely among individual elephants. During the winter, nadir concentrations of cortisol were slightly higher, and the timing of peak concentrations was less predictable. There was no correlation between diurnal serum concentrations of progesterone and cortisol; however, a significant correlation (p = .02) was identified between serum concentrations of testosterone and cortisol when a time lag of ~2–3 h was considered. The physiological significance of the positive correlations between diurnal serum concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in male elephants remains to be determined. If cortisol concentrations are being used to evaluate elephant health or welfare, samples should be obtained at the same time each day to minimize variation due to diurnal fluctuations, and ideally seasonal variations and individuality in diurnal profiles should also be considered.
Improving Global Surgical Oncology Benchmarks: Defining the Unmet Need for Cancer Surgery in Ghana
Authors: Gaskill Cameron E. , Gyedu Adam , Stewart Barclay , Quansah Robert , Donkor Peter , Mock Charles 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) recommended an annual surgical rate at which low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) could achieve most of the population‐wide benefits of surgery. However, condition‐specific guidelines were not proposed. To inform rates of surgery for cancer, we sought to assess the current met and unmet need for oncologic surgery in Ghana.MethodsData on all operations performed in Ghana over a one‐year period (2014–15) were obtained from representative samples of 48/124 first‐level and 12/16 referral hospitals and scaled‐up for nationwide estimates. Procedures for cancer were identified by indication. Using modified LCoGS methodology with disease prevalence, Ghana's annual rate of cancer surgery was compared to that of New Zealand to quantify current unmet needs.Results232,776 surgical procedures were performed in Ghana; 2,562 procedures (95%UI 1878–3255) were for cancer. Of these, 964 (37%) were surgical biopsies. The annual rate of procedures treating cancer was 2115 surgeries/100,000 cancer cases, or 21% of the New Zealand benchmark. Cervical, breast, and prostate cancer were found to meet 2.1%, 17.2%, and 32.1% of their respective surgical need.ConclusionsThere is a large unmet need for cancer surgery in Ghana. Cancer surgery constitutes under 2% of the total surgeries performed in Ghana, an important proportion of which are used for biopsies. Therapeutic operative rate is deficient across most cancer types, and may lag behind improvements in screening efforts. As cancer prevalence and diagnosis increase in LMICs, cancer‐specific surgical capacity must be increased to meet these evolving needs.
Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Osteopenia in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Takahashi Keita , Nishikawa Katsunori , Furukawa Kenei , Tanishima Yuichiro , Ishikawa Yoshitaka , Kurogochi Takanori , Yuda Masami , Tanaka Yujiro , Matsumoto Akira , Mitsumori Norio , Ikegami Toru 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundOsteopenia, which exhibits low bone mineral density (BMD), has been linked to sarcopenia and recently reported as a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the prognostic significance of osteopenia in esophageal cancer remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to clarify the impact of osteopenia on the prognosis of patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.MethodsWe included 229 patients who underwent esophagectomy. BMD was calculated as the average pixel density (Hounsfield unit) within a circle in midvertebral core at the 11th thoracic vertebra on preoperative computed tomography. We then divided the patients into the Osteopenia group (n = 159) and the Non‐Osteopenia group (n = 70) according to the optimal cutoff value obtained from the receiver operating characteristic curve. Their clinicopathological data, prognosis, and recurrence were analyzed.ResultsThe mean age was significantly older in the Osteopenia group (p = 0.047). The Osteopenia group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and relapse‐free survival (RFS) than the Non‐Osteopenia group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed osteopenia was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p < 0.001; hazard ratio [HR], 2.243; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.422–3.538) and RFS (p = 0.008; HR, 1.739; 95% CI, 1.154–2.620). In logistic regression model, advanced age and cStage III‐IV were independent risk factors for preoperative osteopenia.ConclusionsPreoperative osteopenia is associated with poor survival and recurrence in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.
The last-mile vehicle routing problem with delivery options
Authors: Tilk Christian , Olkis Katharina , Irnich Stefan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe ongoing rise in e-commerce comes along with an increasing number of first-time delivery failures due to the absence of the customer at the delivery location. Failed deliveries result in rework which in turn has a large impact on the carriers’ delivery cost. In the classical vehicle routing problem (VRP) with time windows, each customer request has only one location and one time window describing where and when shipments need to be delivered. In contrast, we introduce and analyze the vehicle routing problem with delivery options (VRPDO), in which some requests can be shipped to alternative locations with possibly different time windows. Furthermore, customers may prefer some delivery options. The carrier must then select, for each request, one delivery option such that the carriers’ overall cost is minimized and a given service level regarding customer preferences is achieved. Moreover, when delivery options share a common location, e.g., a locker, capacities must be respected when assigning shipments. To solve the VRPDO exactly, we present a new branch-price-and-cut algorithm. The associated pricing subproblem is a shortest-path problem with resource constraints that we solve with a bidirectional labeling algorithm on an auxiliary network. We focus on the comparison of two alternative modeling approaches for the auxiliary network and present optimal solutions for instances with up to 100 delivery options. Moreover, we provide 17 new optimal solutions for the benchmark set for the VRP with roaming delivery locations.
Accuracy of high-sensitive troponin depending on renal function for clinical outcome prediction in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Ledwoch Jakob , Krauth Anna , Kraxenberger Jana , Schneider Alisa , Leidgschwendner Katharina , Schneider Vera , Müller Alexander , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Kupatt Christian , Martens Eimo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHigh-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) is increasingly used for clinical outcome prediction in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the potential impact of renal function on the prognostic accuracy of hs-TnT in this setting. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of hs-TnT within 6 h of admission for the prediction of 30-day mortality depending on renal function in patients with AHF. Patients admitted to our institution due to AHF were retrospectively included. Clinical information was gathered from electronic and paper-based patient charts. Patients with myocardial infarction were excluded. A total of 971 patients were enrolled in the present study. A negative correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hsTnT was identified (Pearson r = − 0.16; p < 0.001) and eGFR was the only variable to be independently associated with hsTnT. The area under the curve (AUC) of hs-TnT for the prediction of 30-mortality was significantly higher in patients with an eGFR ≥ 45 ml/min (AUC 0.74) compared to those with an eGFR < 45 ml/min (AUC 0.63; p = 0.049). Sensitivity and specificity of the Youden Index derived optimal cut-off for hs-TnT was higher in patients with an eGFR ≥ 45 ml/min (40 ng/l: sensitivity 73%, specificity 71%) compared to patients with an eGFR < 45 ml/min (55 ng/l: sensitivity 63%, specificity 62%). Prognostic accuracy of hs-TnT in patients hospitalized for AHF regarding 30-day mortality is significantly lower in patients with reduced renal function.
Tree species, crown cover, and age as determinants of the vertical distribution of airborne LiDAR returns
Authors: Racine Etienne B. , Coops Nicholas C. , Bégin Jean , Myllymäki Mari 
Published: June 2021

AbstractKey messageWe assessed even-aged stand vertical distributions of LiDAR returns and found that tree species, age, and crown cover each have a distinct pattern that together explains up to 47% of the variation.AbstractLight detection and ranging (LiDAR) provides information on the vertical structure of forest stands enabling detailed and extensive ecosystem study. The vertical structure is often summarized by scalar features and data-reduction techniques that limit the interpretation of results. Instead, we quantified the influence of three variables, species, crown cover, and age, on the vertical distribution of airborne LiDAR returns from forest stands. We studied 5428 regular, even-aged stands in Quebec (Canada) with five dominant species: balsam fir [Abies balsamea(L.) Mill.], paper birch (Betula papyriferaMarsh), black spruce [Picea mariana(Mill.) BSP], white spruce (Picea glaucaMoench) and aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.). We modeled the vertical distribution against the three variables using a functional general linear model and a novel nonparametric graphical test of significance. Results indicate that LiDAR returns from aspen stands had the most uniform vertical distribution. Balsam fir and white birch distributions were similar and centered at around 50% of the stand height, and black spruce and white spruce distributions were skewed to below 30% of stand height ($$p$$p<0.001). Increased crown cover concentrated the distributions around 50% of stand height. Increasing age gradually shifted the distributions higher in the stand for stands younger than 70-years, before plateauing and slowly declining at 90–120 years. Results suggest that the vertical distributions of LiDAR returns depend on the three variables studied.
Excess short-term mortality in noncritical patients with atrial fibrillation presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Niederdöckl Jan , Schwameis Michael , Herkner Harald , Domanovits Hans 
Published: June 2021

Summary
Background
Mortality data of non-critically ill patients presenting with symptomatic atrial fibrillation to an emergency department are scarce. We aimed to analyze the short-term mortality of these patients compared with that of the general Austrian population.

Design/methods
This study analyzed a consecutive series of non-critically ill adults presenting to the emergency department at the Medical University of Vienna between 2012 and 2016 with complaints related to atrial fibrillation. The study outcome was mortality during the observation period. Age-specific and sex-specific mortality rates per 100 person-years were calculated and compared with the mortality rates of the Austrian population during the same period.

Results
In total, 1754 patients with atrial fibrillation (43.1% female) were included in the study. During a median follow-up of 25 months, 248 of these patients died. Observed mortality rates were 7.8 per 100 person-years for females (95% confidence interval, CI 6.6–9.5) and 5.9 per 100 person-years for males (95% CI 5.0–7.1). Age-adjusted and sex-adjusted mortality rates were 2.8 (95% CI 2.3–3.3) and 2.7 (95% CI 2.2–3.2) per 100 person-years, respectively. Mortality rates for the Austrian population were 1.1 per 100 person-years for both females and males. Corresponding standardized mortality ratios were 2.5 for females (95% CI 2.1–3.0) and 2.4 for males (95% CI 2.0–2.9).

Conclusion
The short-term mortality of patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation presenting to the emergency department was substantially higher compared with the general Austrian population.
Shallow groundwater chemical evolution, isotopic hyperfiltration, and salt pan formation in a hypersaline endorheic basin: Pilot Valley, Great Basin, USA
Authors: Mayo A. L. , Tingey D. G. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractEndorheic basin brines are of economic significance as sources of boron, iodine, magnesium, potassium, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and tungsten, and they are a major source of the critical metal lithium. Although evaporation is the primary hypersalinization driver for evaporative water bodies, recent investigations have proposed more novel mechanisms for some subsurface brine. This investigation explores shallow groundwater hypersalinization. The chemical evolution and isotopic fractionation of shallow hypersaline groundwater in the clay-rich arid endorheic basin sediments of Pilot Valley, Great Basin (USA), were investigated. Groundwater evolves from fresh in the mountain bedrock and alluvial fans, to brackish and saline at the alluvial fan–playa interface, and to hypersaline in the upper 12 m of basin sediments. Alluvial fan systems are isolated from each other and have varying groundwater3H and14C travel times. Nonevaporative in-situ isotopic fractionation of up to −8‰ in δ18O is attributed to clay sequence hyperfiltration. Groundwater flow-path sulfate and chloride mineral dissolution is the primary driving mechanism for both interface and basin groundwater evolution. Evaporation only impacts the groundwater quality in a small portion of the basin where the groundwater is within ~1 m of the ground surface. Here capillary action carries dissolved soluble salts to the land surface. Episodic flooding redissolves and carries the precipitated salt to the annually flooded salt pan where it accumulates as a salt crust during the dry season. The Pilot Valley model may help explain the buildup accumulative layers of soluble salt that when remobilized becomes subsurface brine.
Assessing TBM performance in heterogeneous rock masses
Authors: Sissins Sarah , Paraskevopoulou Chrysothemis 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA major challenge that TBM performance is requested to deal with for a successful and effective progress is tunnelling through lithologically and geomechanically heterogeneous rock masses. Such heterogeneous environments are common and recent tunnel examples in the UK include the Hinckley Point C offshore cooling tunnels being driven through interbedded carbonaceous mudstone/shales and argillaceous limestone and the Anglo American’s Woodsmith Mine Mineral Transport System tunnel in Redcar Mudstone with beds of ironstone. This inherent geological heterogeneity leads to difficult tunnelling conditions that initially stem from predicting a sound and representative ground model that can be used to preliminary assess the TBM performance. In this work, an exhaustive review of existing TBM Penetration Rate (PR) methods identified that no models address the issue of parameter selection for heterogeneous rock masses comprising layers with different rock strengths. Consequently, new approaches are required for estimating rock mass behaviour and machine performance in such environments. In the presented work the Blue Lias Formation (BLI), which is characterised by its layered rock mass, comprising very strong limestone, interbedded with weak mudstone and shales, is investigated. BLI formation is considered herein being a representative example of lithological heterogeneity. Based on the fieldwork carried out in three localities in the Bristol Channel Basin (S. Wales and Somerset), geological models are produced based on which a geotechnical model is developed, and four ground types are determined. Implications of the current findings for TBM performance are assessed, including faulting, groundwater inflow and excavation stability with a particular focus on both PR and advance rate. A modified approach using the existing empirical models is proposed, developed and presented in this paper that can be used as a guide to determine TBM performance in heterogeneous rock masses reducing the risk of cost and time overruns.
Freezing: how do water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) survive exposure to sub-zero temperatures?
Authors: Zawal Andrzej , Czernicki Tomasz , Michoński Grzegorz , Bańkowska Aleksandra , Stryjecki Robert , Pešić Vladimir , Achrem Magdalena , Skorupski Jakub , Pakulnicka Joanna , Szlauer-Łukaszewska Agnieszka 
Published: June 2021

AbstractUntil now, very little is known about the ability of adult and deutonymph water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia) to survive in sub-zero temperatures. Information concerns mainly water mites from vernal astatic waters, and the knowledge has never been experimentally verified. To determine the sensitivity of water mites to freezing, experiments were conducted on (1) the impact of acclimatization, (2) temperature, and (3) duration of freezing on survival, (4) the survival rate of water mites from various types of water bodies, and (5) the survival rate of water mites from different climatic zones. The experiments were carried out in a phytotron chamber, and water mites were placed in containers (10 × 10 × 5 cm) filled with 4/5 of water for 10 specimens each. Water mites were identified to the species level after finishing the experiments. The temperature was lowered 1 °C every hour until the target temperature was reached. After a certain period of freezing (depending on the treatment) the temperature was raised by 1 °C every hour until it reached 4 °C. The time of the experiment was measured from the moment the desired temperature was reached (below 0 °C) until the ice thawed and the temperature of 4 °C was reached again. The highest survival rates had Limnochares aquatica, Piona nodata, Sperchon clupeifer and Lebertia porosa, followed by L. insignis, Hygrobates longipalpis, H. setosus, Limnesia undulatoides, Piona pusilla, Arrenurus globator, Hydrodroma despiciens, Piona longipalpis, Sperchonopsis verrucosa, Unionicola crassipes and Mideopsis crassipes; no specimens of Torrenticola amplexa survived. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) water mites can survive freezing to −2 °C, lower temperatures are lethal for them; (2) they survived better the short period of freezing (24–48 h) than the long period (168 h); (3) resistance to freezing seems to be an evolutionary trait of individual species, only partly related to the living environment; and (4) freezing survival rates are linked to the region of Europe and are much lower in Southern than in Central Europe.
The Effects of Choice on the Reading Comprehension and Enjoyment of Children with Severe Inattention and no Attentional Difficulties
Authors: Kakoulidou Myrofora , Le Cornu Knight Frances , Filippi Roberto , Hurry Jane 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIt has been proposed that enhancing motivation supports the learning of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Less is known if inattentive children with no ADHD diagnosis may similarly benefit, when being motivated to engage in an academic task. Using a repeated-measures design, this study investigated the effects of text choice as an intrinsic motivator on the reading comprehension and enjoyment of Year 4 children attending mainstream primary schools (N = 92; aged 8–9 years; 48 boys); comparing those with no attentional difficulties and severe inattention. We hypothesized that 1) choice would increase reading comprehension and enjoyment 2) choice would increase the reading comprehension and enjoyment of children both with severe inattention and no attentional difficulties 3) choice effects would be significantly greater for children with severe inattention than those with no attentional difficulties. Children participated in a reading intervention that included a Choice (experimental) and a No Choice (control) condition. Child inattention was measured via a Virtual Reality Continuous Performance Task (Omission errors, Reaction Time Variability) and Teacher Ratings. Choice significantly increased reading comprehension, but not enjoyment compared with no choice. Choice improved the reading comprehension of children with both severe inattention and no attentional difficulties. Choice did not benefit the reading of severely inattentive children more than that of children with no attentional difficulties. These findings underline the educational benefits of choice for young readers both with severe inattention and no attentional difficulties, which are further discussed drawing on existing theory and research.