bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Interplay Between the Immune System, the Renin‐Angiotensin‐Aldosterone System (RAAS), and RAAS Inhibitors May Modulate the Outcome of COVID‐19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Naveed Hiba , Elshafeey Abdallah , Al‐Ali Dana , Janjua Emmad , Nauman Areej , Kawas Hussam , Kaul Ridhima , Saed Aldien Arwa , Elshazly Mohamed B. , Zakaria Dalia 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSince the discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), numerous research has been undertaken to delineate the various effects of the virus which manifests in many ways all over the body. The association between the SARS‐CoV‐2 invasion mechanism and the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) receptors, created many debates about the possible consequences of using RAAS‐modulating drugs including angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) during the pandemic. Many clinical studies were conducted to assess the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in patients who use ACEi/ARBs following the arguments claiming to discontinue these drugs as a precautionary measure. Although several studies mainly analyzed the outcomes of the disease, this review aimed to compare specific blood markers in both groups of COVID‐19 patients to gain better insight into the interaction of ACEi/ARBs with different body functions during the infection. Several databases were searched using a combination of keywords followed by screening and data extraction. Only 28 studies met our inclusion criteria, the majority of which showed no significant difference between the inflammation markers of COVID‐19 patients who used or did not use ACEi/ARBs. Interestingly, 6 studies reported lower inflammatory markers in COVID‐19 patients who used ACEi/ARBs, and 6 studies reported better outcomes among the same group. We therefore concluded that the use of ACEi/ARBs may not lead to worse prognosis of COVID‐19 and may even play a protective role against the hyperinflammatory response associated with COVID‐19.
Subjective assessment on visual fatigue versus stereoscopic disparities
Authors: Liu Yi , Guo Xiang , Fan Yubo , Meng Xiangfeng , Wang Jiahui 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe sense of discomfort when watching stereoscopic display caused by visual fatigue has hindered the widespread applications of stereoscopic display. In this work, we explore the relationship between visual fatigue and stereoscopic parallax using subjective assessment. The visual fatigue of the subjects is evaluated after viewing different parallax stereoscopic samples. It shows that visual fatigue exacerbates greater in negative parallax than positive parallax. Surprisingly, the results indicate that visual fatigue can be alleviated with tiny parallax, which increases the comfort of stereoscopic visual perception. We envision that this relationship is able to provide helpful hints in designing visual healthy stereoscopic images.
A Call for More Nuanced Dialogues About Trophy Hunting
Authors: Mitchell Carl D. , Bleich Vernon C. , Bowyer R. Terry , Heffelfinger James R. , Stewart Kelley M. , White Paula A. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTReported effects of trophy harvest often are controversial. The subject is nuanced and many studies lack details necessary to place their results in context. Consequently, many studies are misunderstood or their conclusions misapplied. We propose that all dialogues about trophy hunting include a definition of how they use the term trophy, details of variables measured and why they were selected, and explanations of temporal and spatial scales employed. Only with these details can potential effects of trophy hunting be understood in context and used for management and policy decisions. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
Global dynamics for a class of inhomogeneous nonlinear Schrödinger equations with potential
Authors: Dinh Van Duong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe consider a class of L2‐supercritical inhomogeneous nonlinear Schrödinger equations with potential in three dimensions. In the focusing case, using a recent method of Dodson and Murphy, we first study the energy scattering below the ground state for the equation with radially symmetric initial data. We then establish blow‐up criteria for non‐radial solutions to the equation. In the defocusing case, we also prove the energy scattering for the equation with radially symmetric initial data.
Species Differences in in vitro and Estimated in vivo Kinetics for Intestinal Microbiota Mediated Metabolism of Acetyl‐deoxynivalenols
Authors: Jin Jing , Spenkelink Albertus , Beekmann Karsten , Baccaro Marta , Xing Fuguo , Rietjens Ivonne M. C. M. 
Published: February 2021

ScopeDeoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated derivatives 3‐acetyl‐DON (3‐Ac‐DON) and 15‐acetyl‐DON (15‐Ac‐DON) are important mycotoxins of concern in the modern food chain.Methods and ResultsThe present study reveals that the rate of de‐acetylation in in vitro anaerobic fecal incubations decreased in the order rat > mouse > human > pig for 3‐Ac‐DON, and mouse > human > rat > pig for 15‐Ac‐DON. The ratio between the de‐acetylation rate of 3‐Ac‐DON and 15‐Ac‐DON varies with the species. Scaling of the kinetic parameters to the in vivo situation results in catalytic efficiencies decreasing in the order human > rat > pig > mouse for 3‐Ac‐DON and human > pig > rat > mouse for 15‐Ac‐DON. The results obtained indicate that in mice, 3‐Ac‐DON can be fully deconjugated while 15‐Ac‐DON cannot. In rats, pigs, and humans, both 3‐Ac‐DON and 15‐Ac‐DON can be totally transformed by gut fecal microbiota during the estimated intestinal residence time. A correlation analysis between the deacetylation rate and the relative abundance of the microbiome suggests Lachnospiraceae may be involved in the deacetylation process.ConclusionIt is concluded that interspecies differences in deacetylation of acetylated DONs exist but that in risk assessment assumption of complete intestinal deconjugation provides an adequate approach.
Measuring workplace bullying in a U.S. nursing population with the Short Negative Acts Questionnaire
Authors: Anusiewicz Colleen V. , Li Peng , Patrician Patricia A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractEfforts to decrease nurse‐reported workplace bullying (WPB) is an interest among researchers, nursing leaders, and healthcare organizations. Varying conceptual definitions and measurement approaches of WPB, however, have created barriers for researchers to provide reliable and consistent information regarding WPB. In this paper, the authors aim to (1) evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Short Negative Acts Questionnaire (SNAQ) in a sample of U.S. nurses working in hospitals located throughout Alabama, (2) determine targets and non‐targets of WPB, and (3) evaluate the criterion validity of the SNAQ based on WPB classification. The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the SNAQ in 943 Alabama registered nurses was evaluated using Cronbach's α and confirmatory factor analysis. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore the underlying structure of the SNAQ. Targets and non‐targets of WPB were identified using latent class analysis of the SNAQ and by the self‐labeling item. Agreement between the two methods was evaluated with Cohen's κ. Using both methods, the association between WPB classification and outcomes empirically associated with nurse‐reported WPB was evaluated with random effects multiple logistic regression to determine criterion validity. The results indicate that the SNAQ is a reliable and valid instrument to explore WPB in a sample of U.S. registered nurses working in hospitals throughout Alabama.
Angiotensin receptor blockers use and changes in frailty, muscle mass, and function indexes: Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study
Authors: Ng Tze Pin , Nguyen Tu N. , Gao Qi , Nyunt Ma Shwe Zin , Yap Keng Bee , Wee Shiou‐Liang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPre‐clinical studies suggest that renin–angiotensin system blockade may improve muscle function. Clinical reports of the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) on physical functioning are inconsistent. There are no reports of the effect of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) treatment in older adults.MethodsWe analysed data of 1268 participants in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study (SLAS‐2) who provided information on the use of ACEI, ARB, and other antihypertensive drugs at baseline and follow‐up (mean 4.5 years later). Baseline and follow‐up outcome measures were cumulated deficits frailty index (CD‐FI), physical phenotype frailty index (PP‐FI), calf circumference (CC), knee extension strength, composite muscle mass and strength (MMS) z‐score, and gait speed (GS). In primary analyses, we compared the use and non‐use of an anti‐hypertensive drug class among participants with hypertensive and cardiac disease, and secondarily with participants having other chronic diseases, and those who reported no chronic diseases. Multi‐variable analyses adjusted for socioeconomic status, body mass index ≥30, ≥5 comorbidities, ≥5 drugs use, other non‐ARB or non‐ACEI drugs (calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, or hydrochlorothiazide), MMSE <23, Geriatric Depression Scale score, Nutrition Screening Initiative nutritional risk, physical activities, baseline frailty, and physical performance.ResultsAmong study participants, 7.8% (N = 99) were ARB users (62% used losartan), 11.7% (N = 148) were ACEI users (53% used enalapril), and 34.2% (N = 434) were users of other anti‐hypertensive drug classes. The cohort participants overall showed increases in the mean levels and changes in CD‐FI and PP‐FI and decreases in knee extension strength, GS, CC, and MMS. However, among groups, ARB users showed decreasing trends in CD‐FI and increasing trends of CC and MMS. Among participants with hypertensive and cardiovascular disease, there were significant differences in CD‐FI and PP‐FI changes, adjusted for confounding variables: ARB users compared with non‐users showed lesser declines in CD‐FI (0.013 vs. 0.028, P = 0.018) and PP‐FI (0.924 vs. 1.170, P = 0.017). ARB users also showed statistically significantly greater gains in MMS z‐scores: 0.329 vs. 0.076, P = 0.022. There was no association of ACEI or other anti‐hypertensive class use with changes in frailty, MMS, or GS.ConclusionsThe use of ARBs is associated with a reduction in frailty and age‐related loss of muscle mass and strength.
United States' experience in nuchal translucency measurement: variation according to provider characteristics in over five million ultrasound examinations
Authors: Thornburg L. L. , Bromley B. , Dugoff L. , Platt L. D. , Fuchs K. M. , Norton M. E. , McIntosh J. , Toland G. J. , Cuckle H. ,   for the Nuchal Translucency Quality Review Program of the Perinatal Quality Foundation
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe Nuchal Translucency Quality Review (NTQR) program has provided standardized education, credentialing and epidemiological monitoring of nuchal translucency (NT) measurements since 2005. Our aim was to review the effect on NT measurement of provider characteristics since the program's inception.MethodsWe evaluated the distribution of NT measurements performed between January 2005 and December 2019, for each of the three primary performance indicators of NT measurement (NT median multiples of the median (MoM), SD of log10 NT MoM and slope of NT with respect to crown–rump length (CRL)) for all providers within the NTQR program with more than 30 paired NT/CRL results. Provider characteristics explored as potential sources of variability included: number of NT ultrasound examinations performed annually (annual scan volume of the provider), duration of participation in the NTQR program, initial credentialing by an alternative pathway, provider type (physician vs sonographer) and number of NT‐credentialed providers within the practice (size of practice). Each of these provider characteristics was evaluated for its effect on NT median MoM and geometric mean of the NT median MoM weighted for the number of ultrasound scans, and multiple regression was performed across all variables to control for potential confounders.ResultsOf 5 216 663 NT measurements from 9340 providers at 3319 sites, the majority (75%) of providers had an NT median MoM within the acceptable range of 0.9–1.1 and 85.5% had NT median MoM not statistically significantly outside this range. Provider characteristics associated with measurement within the expected range of performance included higher volume of NT scans performed annually, practice at a site with larger numbers of other NT‐credentialed providers, longer duration of participation in the NTQR program and alternative initial credentialing pathway.ConclusionsAnnual scan volume, duration of participation in the NTQR program, alternative initial credentialing pathway and number of other NT‐credentialed providers within the practice are all associated with outcome metrics indicating quality of performance. It is critical that providers participate in ongoing quality assessment of NT measurement to maintain consistency and precision. Ongoing assessment programs with continuous feedback and education are necessary to maintain quality care. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Molecular diatomic spectroscopy data
Authors: McKemmish Laura K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAccurate and comprehensive diatomic molecular spectroscopic data have long been vital in a wide variety of applications for measuring and monitoring astrophysical, industrial, and other gaseous environments. These data are also used extensively for benchmarking quantum chemistry and applications from quantum computers, ultracold chemistry and the search for physics beyond the standard model. Useful data can be highly detailed like line lists or summative like molecular constants, and obtained from theory, experiment, or a combination. There are plentiful (though not yet sufficient) data available, but these data are often scattered. For example, molecular constants have not been compiled since 1979 despite the existing compilation still being cited more than 200 times annually. Furthermore, the data are interconnected but updates in one type of data are not yet routinely applied to update interconnected data: in particular, new experimental and ab initio data are not routinely unified with other data on the molecule. This paper provides information and strategies to strengthen the connection between data producers (e.g., ab initio electronic structure theorists and experimental spectroscopists), data modelers (e.g., line list creators and others who connect data on one aspect of the molecule to the full energetic and spectroscopic description) and data users (astronomers, chemical physicists, etc.). All major data types are described including their source, use, compilation, and interconnectivity. Explicit advice is provided for theoretical and experimental data producers, data modelers, and data users to facilitate optimal use of new data with appropriate attribution.This article is categorized under:
Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy
The Mesolithic Footprints Retained in One Bed of the Former Saltmarshes at Formby Point, Sefton Coast, North West England
Authors: Burns Alison 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the early Holocene period, extensive tracts of coastal land were submerged as the climate warmed and meltwaters flooded into the oceans. As the Irish Sea expanded, coastlines altered and large intertidal zones were created as tracts of low-lying land at the tidal margins were gradually submerged. In these areas, reed swamp and saltmarsh formed which, too, were inundated for varying periods of time. However, in the calmer warmer weather of the late spring and summer, birds and mammals were drawn on to the mudflats where they could feed on molluscs, or new reed and sedge shoots, wallow in the cooling mud, drink the brackish water or, for some predators, hunt. The behavioural tendencies of some species are revealed by their footprints which show their engagement within this environment – some breeds moved on to the marshes while others moved away. The humans who shared this landscape understood the opportunities offered by these predictable behaviours. Their trails run along and across those left by many species, leaving a visible network of human and animal activity preserved in the hardened mud. These will be described through an examination of the footprints recorded in three contexts which formed the stratigraphy of a Mesolithic bed at Formby Point in North West England. The persistent return to the mudflats by generations of people reflects an embodied knowledge of this coastal landscape, learnt in childhood and practiced in adulthood. The ability to modify movements in the landscape, to respond to the daily tides, the changing seasons and a fluctuating environment, all suggest a spatial-temporal relationship which not only encompassed a dynamic environment but also the other life that dwelt within it.
Reading Spoor
Authors: Lenssen-Erz Tilman , Pastoors Andreas 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe spoor of animals and humans alike contain rich information about an individual and about a momentary activity this individual performed. If the – arguably hard-wired – human ability to read spoor and tracks is sufficiently trained, a footprint allows to glean from it various physical, kinetic, medical, social and psychologic data about an individual, as has been observed among various populations across the globe. The Ju|’hoansi San from northern Namibia still today practice traditional hunting so that tracking is a skill that is required and trained on a daily base. For a good tracker, the information she or he gets from spoor is equally rich on animal and human footprints, and it is not necessary that the tracker has been exposed before to the individual whose spoor she/he reads. In order to allow an assessment of how tenable are the interpretations by contemporary hunter-gatherers of prehistoric human footprints, this chapter elucidates methodological aspects of tracking and situates this ability in an epistemological framework.
Frequency Synthesizers Based on Fast-Locking Bang-Bang PLL for Cellular Applications
Authors: Bertulessi Luca 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe fractional-N frequency synthesis based on Digital Phase Locked Loop (DPLLs) has become a conventional design approach for the new radio wireless applications. The advantage of the digitally-intensive design style is the possibility to implement low-power and very accurate digital calibration techniques. Most of these algorithms run in the background tracking PVT variations and either relax or, in some cases, completely remove the performance limitations due to analog impairments. Moreover, the digital loop filter area is practically negligible with respect to the one in analog PLLs. These benefits become even more relevant in the scaled CMOS technology nodes. This chapter identifies the design parameters of a standard DPLL architecture and proposes a novel locking scheme to overcome the intrinsic limitations of the digital frequency synthesizers approach. To prove this new scheme a sub-6 GHz fractional-N synthesizer has been implemented in 65 nm CMOS. The synthesizer has an output frequency from 3.59 GHz to 4.05 GHz. The integrated output jitter is 182fs and the power consumption of 5.28 mW from 1.2 V power supply leads to a FoM of −247.5 dB. This topology exploits a novel locking technique that guarantee a locking time of 5.6 s, for a frequency step of 364 MHz, despite the use of a single bit phase detector.
Velocity on the Web
Authors: Tommasini Riccardo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA new generation of Web Applications is pushing the Web infrastructure to process data as soon as they arrive and before they are no longer valuable. However, the Web infrastructure as it is not adequate, and Stream Processing technologies cannot deal with heterogeneous data streams and events. To solve these issues, we need to investigate how to identify, represent, and process streams and events on the Web. In this chapter, we discuss the recent advancements for taming Velocity on the Web of Data without neglecting Data Variety. Thus, we present a Design Science research investigation that builds on the state of the art of Stream Reasoning and RDF Stream Processing. We present our research results, for representing and processing stream and events on the Web, and we discuss their potential impact.
Tracking Detectors
Authors: Frühwirth Rudolf , Strandlie Are 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe chapter gives an overview of particle detectors, with the emphasis on tracking detectors. The working principles and the calibration of gaseous, semiconductor, and fiber detectors are explained, followed by a brief review of detector alignment. As an illustration, the tracking systems of the four experiments at the LHC and two non-LHC experiments, Belle II and CBM, are presented.
Track Models
Authors: Frühwirth Rudolf , Strandlie Are 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe chapter shows how the equations of motion for charged particles in a homogeneous or inhomogeneous magnetic field are solved. Various types of parametrizations are presented, and formulas for track propagation and error propagation are derived. As the effects of the detector material on the trajectory have to be taken into account, the statistical properties of multiple Coulomb scattering, energy loss by ionization, and energy loss by bremsstrahlung are discussed; then it is shown how the effects can be treated in the track reconstruction. As multiple scattering in thin layers and energy loss by bremsstrahlung have distinctive non-Gaussian features, an approximation by normal mixtures is presented.
SUSY breaking constraints on modular flavor S3 invariant SU(5) GUT model
Authors: Du Xiaokang , Wang Fei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractModular flavor symmetry can be used to explain the quark and lepton flavor structures. The SUSY partners of quarks and leptons, which share the same superpotential with the quarks and leptons, will also be constrained by the modular flavor structure and show a different flavor(mixing) pattern at the GUT scale. So, in realistic modular flavor models with SUSY completion, constraints from the collider and DM constraints can also be used to constrain the possible values of the modulus parameter. In the first part of this work, we discuss the possibility that theS3modular symmetry can be preserved by the fixed points ofT2/ZNorbifold, especially fromT2/Z2. To illustrate the additional constraints from collider etc on modular flavor symmetry models, we take the simplest UV SUSY-completionS3modular invariance SU(5) GUT model as an example with generalized gravity mediation SUSY breaking mechanism. We find that such constraints can indeed be useful to rule out a large portion of the modulus parameters. Our numerical results show that the UV-completed model can account for both the SM (plus neutrino) flavor structure and the collider, DM constraints. Such discussions can also be applied straightforwardly to other modular flavor symmetry models, such asA4orS4models.