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Small soft robotic systems are being explored for myriad applications in medicine. Specifically, magnetically actuated microrobots capable of remote manipulation hold significant potential for the targeted delivery of therapeutics and biologicals. Much of previous efforts on microrobotics have been dedicated to locomotion in aqueous environments and hard surfaces. However, our human bodies are made of dense biological tissues, requiring researchers to develop new microrobotics that can locomote atop tissue surfaces. Tumbling microrobots are a sub-category of these devices capable of walking on surfaces guided by rotating magnetic fields. Using microrobots to deliver payloads to specific regions of sensitive tissues is a primary goal of medical microrobots. Central nervous system (CNS) tissues are a prime candidate given their delicate structure and highly region-specific function. Here we demonstrate surface walking of soft alginate capsules capable of moving on top of a rat cortex and mouse spinal cord ex vivo , demonstrating multi-location small molecule delivery to up to six different locations on each type of tissue with high spatial specificity. The softness of alginate gel prevents injuries that may arise from friction with CNS tissues during millirobot locomotion. Development of this technology may be useful in clinical and preclinical applications such as drug delivery, neural stimulation, and diagnostic imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'landscape of fear' concept offers valuable insights into wildlife behaviour, yet its practical integration into habitat management for conservation remains underexplored. In this study, conducted in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal, we aimed to bridge this gap through a multi‐year, landscape‐scale experimental investigation in Bardia National Park, Nepal. The park has the highest density of tigers (with an estimated density of ~7 individuals per 100 km2) in Nepal, allowing us to understand the effect of habitat management on predation risk and resource availability especially for three cervid species: chital (Axis axis), swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) and hog deer (Axis porcinus). We used plots with varying mowing frequency (0–4 times per year), size (ranging from small: 49 m2 to large: 3600 m2) and artificial fertilisation type (none, phosphorus, nitrogen) to assess the trade‐offs between probable predation risk and resources for these cervid species, which constitute primary prey for tigers in Nepal. Our results showed distinct responses of these deer to perceived predation risk within grassland habitats. Notably, these deer exhibited heightened use of larger plots, indicative of a perceived sense of safety, as evidenced by the higher occurrence of pellet groups in the larger plots (mean = 0.1 pellet groups m−2 in 3600 m2 plots vs. 0.07 in 400 m2 and 0.05 in 49 m2 plots). Furthermore, the level of use by the deer was significantly higher in larger plots that received mowing and fertilisation treatments compared to smaller plots subjected to similar treatments. Of particular interest is the observation that chital and swamp deer exhibited greater utilisation of the centre (core) areas within the larger plots (mean = 0.21 pellet groups m−2 at the centre vs. 0.13 at the edge) despite the edge (periphery) also provided attractive resources to these deer. In contrast, hog deer did not display any discernible reaction to the experimental treatments, suggesting potential species‐specific variations in response to perceived predation risk arising from management interventions. Our findings emphasise the importance of a sense of security as a primary determinant of habitat selection for medium‐sized deer within managed grassland environments. These insights carry practical implications for park managers, providing a nuanced understanding of integrating the 'landscape of fear' into habitat management strategies. This study emphasises that the 'landscape of fear' concept can and should be integrated into habitat management to maintain delicate predator–prey dynamics within ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervasive inbreeding is a major genetic threat of population fragmentation and can undermine the efficacy of population connectivity measures. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated whether wildlife crossings can alleviate the frequency and length of genomic autozygous segments. Here, we provided a genomic inbreeding perspective on the potential effectiveness of mammal population defragmentation measures. We applied a SNP-genotyping case study on the ~2500 wild boar Sus scrofa population of Veluwe, The Netherlands, a 1000-km2 Natura 2000 protected area with many fences and roads but also, increasingly, fence openings and wildlife crossings. We combined a 20K genotyping assessment of genetic status and migration rate with a simulation that examined the potential for alleviation of isolation and inbreeding. We found that Veluwe wild boar subpopulations are significantly differentiated (FST-values of 0.02-0.13) and have low levels of gene flow. One noteworthy exception was the Central and Southeastern subpopulation, which were nearly panmictic and appeared to be effectively connected through a highway wildlife overpass. Estimated effective population sizes were at least 85 for the meta-population and ranged from 31 to 52 for the subpopulations. All subpopulations, including the two connected subpopulations, experienced substantial inbreeding, as evidenced through the occurrence of many long homozygous segments. Simulation output indicated that whereas one or few migrants per generation could undo genetic differentiation and boost effective population sizes rapidly, genomic inbreeding was only marginally reduced. The implication is that ostensibly successful connectivity restoration projects may fail to alleviate genomic inbreeding of fragmented mammal populations. We put forward that defragmentation projects should allow for (i) monitoring of levels of differentiation, migration and genomic inbreeding, (ii) anticipation of the inbreeding status of the meta-population, and, if inbreeding levels are high and/or haplotypes have become fixed, (iii) consideration of enhancing migration and gene flow among meta-populations, possibly through translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of lowering the significance threshold in cancer clinical trials. The study analyzed 125 phase II studies and found that lowering the threshold resulted in larger sample sizes and longer trial durations. The authors argue that this proposal causes financial burdens and reduces the efficiency of conducting clinical trials. They also highlight potential implications for generalizability and increased administrative work and treatment costs. The text explores alternative approaches to enhance reproducibility and acknowledges its limitations. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: Lung cancers with EGFR gene mutations treated with targeted therapy often develop another genetic change (T790M) that allows them to be treated with a further targeted therapy, Osimertinib, with good outcomes. The gold standard for the detection of these changes is to perform a tissue biopsy, but this is not always feasible. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of treatment with Osimertinib in patients who have a T790M mutation detected by non-invasive blood testing rather than tissue testing, and to explore the further genetic changes and DNA levels that can be detected in the blood during Osimertinib treatment. We demonstrated good tumour shrinkage and survival outcomes in this population, comparable to studies of patients identified through tissue testing. Levels of DNA markers in the blood before and during treatment with Osimertinib predicted outcomes. Based on this, blood testing for T790M can be used as a surrogate marker to guide Osimertinib use. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutations drive resistance in 50% of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progress on first/second generation (1G/2G) EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and are sensitive to Osimertinib. Tissue sampling is the gold-standard modality of T790M testing, but it is invasive. We evaluated the efficacy of Osimertinib in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC and T790M in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). PLASMA is a prospective, open-label, multicentre single-arm Phase II study. Patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring sensitizing EGFR and T790M mutations in plasma at progression from ≥one 1G/2G TKI were treated with 80 mg of Osimertinib daily until progression. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR); the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and toxicities. Plasma next-generation sequencing was performed to determine Osimertinib resistance mechanisms and assess serial ctDNA. A total of 110 patients from eight centres in five countries were enrolled from 2017 to 2019. The median follow-up duration was 2.64 (IQR 2.44–3.12) years. The ORR was 50.9% (95% CI 41.2–60.6) and the DCR was 84.5% (95% CI 76.4–90.7). Median PFS was 7.4 (95% CI 6.0–9.3) months; median OS was 1.63 (95% CI 1.35–2.16) years. Of all of the patients, 76% had treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), most commonly paronychia (22.7%); 11% experienced ≥ Grade 3 TRAEs. The ctDNA baseline load and dynamics were prognostic. Osimertinib is active in NSCLC harbouring sensitizing EGFR and T790M mutations in ctDNA testing post 1G/2G TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a novel pressure‐controlled Hele‐Shaw cell to investigate different physical processes in rough fractures using 3D‐printed rock analogs. Our system can measure high‐resolution fracture aperture and tracer concentration maps under relevant field stress conditions. Using a series of hydraulic and visual measurements, combined with numerical simulations, we investigate the evolving fracture geometry characteristics, pressure‐dependent hydraulic transmissivity, flow channeling, and the nature of mass transport as a function of normal stress. Our experimental results show that as the fracture closes and deforms under increasing normal loading: (a) the contact areas grow in number and size; (b) the flow paths become more focused and tortuous; and (c) the transport dynamics of conservative tracers evolve toward a higher dispersive regime. Moreover, under the applied experimental conditions, we observed excellent agreement between the simulated‐ and the experimentally measured‐hydraulic behavior. Key Points: A novel pressure‐controlled Hele‐Shaw cell was introduced to study fracture deformation, flow, and mass transport in 3D‐printed fracturesIn situ aperture maps and tracer concentration fields were measured under relevant field stress conditionsWe linked the changes in mass transport dynamics to the evolution of the aperture field and the channelization degree of the flow [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a tri-state memristive system based on composable binarized memristors, from both a dynamical systems construction to the development of in-house fabricated devices. Firstly, based on the SPICE model of the binary memristor, the series and parallel circuits of binary memristors are designed, and the characteristics of each circuit are analyzed in detail. Secondly, through the analysis of the connection direction and parameters of the two binary memristors, an effective method to construct a tri-state memristor is proposed, and verified using SPICE simulations. Finally, the characteristics of the constructed equivalent tri-state memristor are analyzed, and it is concluded that the amplitude, frequency and type of the input signal can affect the characteristics of the equivalent tri-state memristor. Predictions from this modeling were validated experimentally using Au/ Nb 2 O 5 /Nb cross-point devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stopover sites are vital to the state of the population of many migratory bird species. The greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons is the most numerous Eurasian goose species, and migrates on a broad front over European Russia. Stopover and staging sites have specific habitat requirements. They are located near open water, have nearby (<5 km) foraging areas, must be open, and lie at least 500 m from the nearest woodland. Extensive agricultural land abandonment in European Russia since 1990 is leading to widespread land cover changes, and may be lowering the availability and perhaps the suitability of stopover sites for greater white-fronted geese. To measure the extent of land cover change, we compiled Landsat images of three areas in European Russia over which geese migrate. The images were taken May 1990, 2002 and 2014, and used to create a scene that covered completely each area in each of these years. We classified each pixel into one of six land cover classes (LCCs: urban, water, arable, grass, peat bog and forest), and tallied the number changing LCC between the successive maps. For ground truthing, we made field visits in June 2014 to 150 locations chosen randomly in advance, and among them, 64 identified as stopover sites recently used by geese. At each, we assessed vegetation composition and cover, successional stage and the duration (in years) since agriculture on the site had been abandoned. The extent of arable land that changed to another classification 1990–2014 was 56%, and was matched closely by the increase in the extent of the 'grassland' and 'forest' categories, as expected if agricultural abandonment allows vegetation succession to proceed. The magnitude of change around identified stopover sites was similar to that in the areas as a whole. The extent of land cover change in the northern part of European Russia is making migration by greater white-fronted geese more challenging, which is consistent with the documented southward shift in stopover site usage. This could lead to abandonment of the route across northern European Russia altogether, in favour of a longer migration around the expanding boreal forest, which is inhospitable for goose species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study is to address the paucity of epidemiological data regarding the characteristics, treatment patterns and survival outcomes of Chinese glioblastoma patients. Methods This was a population-level study of Hong Kong adult (> 18 years) Chinese patients with newly diagnosed histologically confirmed glioblastoma between 2006 and 2019. The age standardized incidence rate (ASIR), patient-, tumor- treatment-related characteristics, overall survival (OS) as well as its predictors were determined. Results One thousand and ten patients with a median follow-up of 10.0 months were reviewed. The ASIR of glioblastoma was 1.0 per 100 000 population with no significant change during the study period. The mean age was 57 + 14 years. The median OS was 10.6 months (IQR: 5.2–18.4). Independent predictors for survival were: Karnofsky performance score > 80 (adjusted OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6–0.9), IDH-1 mutant (aOR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9) or MGMT methylated (aOR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.8) glioblastomas, gross total resection (aOR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.5–0.8) and temozolomide chemoradiotherapy (aOR 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3–0.6). Despite the significant increased administration of temozolomide chemoradiotherapy from 39% (127/326) of patients in 2006–2010 to 63% (227/356) in 2015–2019 (P -value <.001), median OS did not improve (2006–2010: 10.3 months vs 2015–2019: 11.8 months) (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 0.9–1.3). Conclusions The incidence of glioblastoma in the Chinese general population is low. We charted the development of neuro-oncological care of glioblastoma patients in Hong Kong during the temozolomide era. Although there was an increased adoption of temozolomide chemoradiotherapy, a corresponding improvement in survival was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We take up issues raised in the commentaries about our proposal that social robots are depictions of social agents. Among these issues are the realism of social agents, experiencing robots, communicating with robots, anthropomorphism, and attributing traits to robots. We end with comments about the future of social robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social robots serve people as tutors, caretakers, receptionists, companions, and other social agents. People know that the robots are mechanical artifacts, yet they interact with them as if they were actual agents. How is this possible? The proposal here is that people construe social robots not as social agents per se , but as depictions of social agents. They interpret them much as they interpret ventriloquist dummies, hand puppets, virtual assistants, and other interactive depictions of people and animals. Depictions as a class consist of three physical scenes with part-by-part mappings between them: (a) a base scene (the raw physical artifact), (b) the depiction proper (the artifact construed as a depiction), and (c) the scene depicted (the scene people are to imagine). With social robots, evidence shows people form the same three scenes plus mappings: They perceive the raw machinery of a robot, construe it as a depiction of a character, and, using the depiction as a guide, engage in the pretense that they are interacting with the character depicted. With social robots, people also recognize three classes of agents – the characters depicted, the intended recipients of the depictions (those who view or interact with the robots), and the authorities responsible for the robots (the designers, makers, and owners). Construing social robots as depictions, we argue, accounts for many phenomena not covered by alternative models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of adding local ablative radiotherapy on oligo‐progression while continuing EGFR‐TKIs in advanced non–small cell Lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is to be determined. Methods: Outcomes of patients with stage IV NSCLC harboring EGFR‐activating mutations having ≤5 sites of oligo‐progression while on EGFR‐TKIs and given one to eight fractions of local ablative radiotherapy (LAR) were reviewed from 2012 to 2019. The time of starting first‐line EGFR‐TKIs to LAR is defined as progression‐free survival 1 (PFS1; > one line of prior treatment allowed). The primary endpoint was PFS from LAR to further progression that led to stop of EGFR‐TKIs (PFS2). The secondary endpoint was overall survival from LAR (OS). Factors affecting PFS2 and OS were analyzed with Cox regression. Results: There were total 55 eligible patients. The median follow‐up time was 13.3 months. Majority (89%) had sensitive mutations (exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R mutation). Total number of lesions treated were 75, including lung (n = 45), bone (n = 15), cervical lymph node (n = 1), adrenal (n = 1), and brain (n = 13). The median PFS2 was 6.9 months. The median OS was 25.1 months. On multivariable analysis, it was found that EGFR mutation type (exon 19 deletion / exon 21 L858R mutation vs. other rarer mutations), time from diagnosis to LAR within 70 days, and fewer lines of prior TKIs (1 or 2 vs. 3) had favorable effect on PFS2 (p = 0.006/0.00003; 0.046; 0.001/0.005, respectively). Conclusion: LAR is a noninvasive and effective modality in treatment of oligo‐progressive diseases for patients with EGFR mutations positive NSCLC while on EGFR‐TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) becomes increasingly popular in dc microgrid applications. Controlling SOFC is challenging because the dynamics of SOFC are difficult to maintain under complex internal reactions and changing operating conditions. To solve these problems, this article proposes a novel adaptive model predictive control (AMPC) algorithm, which adopts a parameter estimator to update the system parameters online. The robustness of the proposed AMPC is investigated under different microgrid scenarios, including the overload, underload, short-circuit, and significant dc bus voltage drop situations. The proposed AMPC algorithm produces superior SOFC control performance over the conventional model predictive control (MPC), Wiener MPC, and PI and fuzzy PI controllers. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the system model dependence that is shared by nearly all the model-based SOFC control methods. The convergence of parameter estimation in the proposed AMPC is rigorously proved. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated through hardware-in-the-loop experiments under various operating conditions and system parameter variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat availability determines the distribution of migratory waterfowl along their flyway, which further influences the transmission and spatial spread of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). The extensive habitat loss in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) may have potentially altered the virus spread and transmission, but those consequences are rarely studied. We constructed 6 fall migration networks that differed in their level of habitat loss, wherein an increase in habitat loss resulted in smaller networks with fewer sites and links. We integrated an agent-based model and a susceptible-infected-recovered model to simulate waterfowl migration and AIV transmission. We found that extensive habitat loss in the EAAF can 1) relocate the outbreaks northwards, responding to the distribution changes of wintering waterfowl geese, 2) increase the outbreak risk in remaining sites due to larger goose congregations, and 3) facilitate AIV transmission in the migratory population. In addition, our modeling output was in line with the predictions from the concept of "migratory escape", i.e., the migration allows the geese to "escape" from the location where infection risk is high, affecting the pattern of infection prevalence in the waterfowl population. Our modeling shed light on the potential consequences of habitat loss in spreading and transmitting AIV at the flyway scale and suggested the driving mechanisms behind these effects, indicating the importance of conservation in changing spatial and temporal patterns of AIV outbreaks. Author summary: What are the possible consequences of extensive habitat loss on the spread and transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs)? We used a logistic regression model to select the suitable habitats of Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which has extensive habitat loss and seasonal passing waterfowl population. We treated these habitats as sites to construct 6 fall migration networks by removing sites in order of habitat loss (i.e., site removal). We then simulated geese migration in these networks and explored the impacts of habitat loss on AIV spread and transmission. We found that extensive habitat loss can cause relocation of the geese and outbreaks and promote the AIV spread and transmission. Our modeling outputs also suggested a "migratory escape" pattern for changing the spatial and temporal pattern of infection prevalence in the population. Overall, our study showed that habitat loss can affect AIV spread and transmission, suggesting the importance of habitat conservation in changing the spatial and temporal pattern of disease prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristor (MR) has attractive characteristics of nanoscale volume and low‐power dissipation and hence possesses superiorities in designing integrated‐circuits. In this paper, a flux‐controlled binary MR emulator is proposed and discussed by detailing its constitutive mathematical relation between memristance and magnetic flux. MR based logical gates are then constructed and applied to pulse train (PT) controlled Buck converters to improve its output voltage response performance. In order to suppress low‐frequency voltage oscillation of PT controlled Buck converters in continuous conduction mode (CCM), inductor current based PT (IC‐PT) control method using the MR‐based logic gates is newly proposed and analyzed. The sampled simulation and experimental results reveals that the IC‐PT controlled Buck converter by utilizing MR based logic gates can achieve fast transient response and minimized low‐frequency voltage oscillation in CCM mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The slow balancing speed of switched‐capacitor (SC)‐based equalizers makes this structure difficult to apply in series‐connected battery strings. In order to reduce the number of energy conversion processes and achieve leapfrog transmission of energy, a hybrid‐structured voltage equalizer (HSVE) is developed in this work for battery strings to achieve high‐speed any‐unit‐to‐any‐unit (AU2AU) equalization, in which each unit can also achieve internal balance in any arbitrary imbalance status. Compared to the conventional equalizers using complex monitoring and control strategy, the proposed equalizer does not need any cell monitoring circuits—all MOSFETs are triggered by a pair of complementary pulse signals with a fixed switching frequency and constant duty ratio, and electricity can automatically and directly exchange among all battery cells. Hardware experiments on super‐capacitors and Li‐ion batteries are conducted in this study, which prove the feasibility of the proposed voltage equalizer. The proposed battery management strategy will have wide applications in modern battery‐related industries such as electric vehicles (EVs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how wormholes develop and how they change the permeability of the porous medium is important for many natural and industrial processes in subsurface solid‐fluid systems. We conduct core flood tests to study the wormhole formation in a porous medium under different flow rates and at different moments before breakthrough. We show that the wormholes created in core flood tests have lengths following a power‐law distribution, with more short ones than long ones. This statistical nature of the wormhole lengths allow one to experimentally study the wormhole competition in 3‐D: Many wormholes develop initially near the inlet, but only a few develop further. Our experimental results also show that the existing wormhole‐matrix models underestimate wormhole lengths because of the neglected additional pressure drop caused by the radial flow near the wormhole tip. We improve upon the existing models by approximating the radial flow near the wormhole tip with a Rankine ovoid model. Plain Language Summary: Underground fluid flow and chemical reactions often result in wormholes, which are channels that look like tree roots, and significantly increase the permeability of porous rocks. Wormhole formation is relevant in many natural and industrial processes, including the formation of underground caves, CO2 sequestration and enhanced oil recovery. In this study, wormholes are created in the laboratory by injecting water into porous gypsum cores, and are observed with X‐ray CT scanning. We show that the wormhole lengths, like the lengths of many other naturally created patterns (faults, river segments, and fjords), follow a power‐law distribution. By comparing the wormholes formed under different flow rates and at different moments, we show that the wormholes develop by competing for available flow. Many wormholes develop initially, but only a few win the competition to develop further. Our experimental results also show that existing models, which simulate the flow in a porous medium with two parts (one with and one without wormholes), underestimate wormhole lengths. We improve upon these models by accounting for the 3‐D radial flow near the tip of the wormhole, and accurately predict the wormhole lengths observed in the experiments. Key Points: Lengths of wormholes resulting from flow and dissolution in a 3‐D porous medium follow a power‐law distributionWormholes develop by competing for available flow, with many developing initially but a few developing furtherWe improve the wormhole length prediction by approximating the 3‐D radial flow near the wormhole tip with a Rankine ovoid model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many populations of birds depend on networks of sites to survive. Sufficient connectivity that allows movement between the sites throughout the year is a critical requirement. We found that existing international frameworks and policies for identifying sites important for bird conservation focus more at the level of the individual site than on the site network and its connectivity. Only 21% of site criteria acknowledge the importance of movement networks for birds, and such network criteria were mostly (67%) qualitative. We suggest a three-step quantitative approach for informing conservation about the connectivity of bird movements (especially when migrating) from a network perspective, by reviewing current scientific knowledge. The first step is to construct a bird movement network by identifying sites frequently used by birds as 'nodes', and then define 'edges' from the probability of non-stop flight between each pair of nodes. The second step is to quantify network connectivity, i.e., the extent to which the site network facilitates bird movements. The last step is to assess the importance of each site from its contribution to network connectivity. This approach can serve as a tool for comprehensive and dynamic monitoring of the robustness of site networks during global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel adaptive model predictive control (AMPC) algorithm is proposed for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to improve its output power tracking performance in DC microgrids. The proposed AMPC algorithm is capable of producing superior PEMFC control performance over the conventional MPC and PI controllers. Compared with PI control, AMPC is able to handle physical constraints, which ensures the safe operation of PEMFC under different conditions. Furthermore, it overcomes the common problem of system model dependence that is shared by nearly all the model-based control methods. The convergence of parameter estimation in the proposed AMPC is rigorously proved. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm under various operating conditions and system parameter variations are verified by simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amiodarone is one of the most commonly used anti-arrhythmic agents. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is a potentially fatal adverse effect associated with amiodarone use. Previous studies on the epidemiology and risk factors for amiodarone pulmonary toxicity showed diverse results.Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify clinic-epidemiologic markers associated with amiodarone pulmonary toxicity for development of a prediction rule. Patients taking amiodarone who were managed in 3 centres in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2015 were included in this study. Penalized logistic regression was used to model the outcome as it is rare.Results: A total of 34 cases with amiodarone pulmonary toxicity were identified among 1786 patients taking amiodarone for at least 90 days from 2005 to 2015. The incidence of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity was estimated to be 1.9%. The risk factors for amiodarone pulmonary toxicity included advanced age (OR 1.047, 95% CI 1.010-1.085, p = 0.013), ventricular arrhythmia (OR 2.703, 95% CI 1.053-6.935, p = 0.039), underlying lung disease (OR 2.511, 95% CI 1.146-5.501, p = 0.021) and cumulative dose of amiodarone (OR 4.762, 95% CI 1.310-17.309 p = 0.018).Conclusions: The incidence of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity in Chinese patients in Hong Kong is estimated to be 1.9% in this study. Age, underlying lung disease, ventricular arrhythmia and cumulative dose of amiodarone are associated with the development of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. A prediction rule was developed to inform the risk of developing amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is rampant throughout subtropical South and Southeast Asian grasslands. However, very little is known about the role of fire and pyric herbivory on the functioning of highly productive subtropical monsoon grasslands lying within the Cwa climatic region. We assessed the temporal effect of fire on postfire regrowth quality and associated pyric‐herbivory in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal. Every year, grasslands are burned as a management intervention in the park, especially between March and May. Within a week after fire, at the end of March 2020, we established 60 m × 60 m plots within patches of burned grassland in the core area of the Park. We collected grass samples from the plots and determined physical and chemical properties of the vegetation at regular 30‐day intervals from April to July 2020, starting from 30 days after fire to assess postfire regrowth forage quality. We counted pellet groups of cervids that are abundant in the area for the same four months from 2 m × 2 m quadrats that were permanently marked with pegs along the diagonal of each 60 m × 60 m plot to estimate intensity of use by deer to the progression of postfire regrowth. We observed strong and significant reductions in crude protein (mean value 9.1 to 4.1 [55% decrease]) and phosphorus (mean value 0.2 to 0.11 [45% decrease]) in forage collected during different time intervals, that is, from 30 days to 120 days after fire. Deer utilized the burned areas extensively for a short period, that is, up to two months after fire when the burned areas contained short grasses with a higher level of crude protein and phosphorus. The level of use of postfire regrowth by chital (Axis axis) differed significantly over time since fire, with higher intensity of use at 30 days after fire. The level of use of postfire regrowth by swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) did not differ significantly until 90 days after fire, however, decreased significantly after 90 days since fire. Large‐scale single event fires, thus, may not fulfil nutritional requirements of all species in the deer assemblage in these subtropical monsoon grasslands. This is likely because the nutritional requirements of herbivores differ due to differences in body size and physiological needs—maintenance, reproduction, and lactation. We recommend a spatiotemporal manipulation of fire to reinforce grazing feedback and to yield forage of high quality for the longest possible period for a sustainable high number of deer to maintain a viable tiger population within the park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Rotational manipulation of chains or clusters of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offers a means for directed translation and payload delivery that should be explored for clinical use. Multiple MNP types are available, yet few studies have performed side-by-side comparisons to evaluate characteristics such as velocity, movement at a distance, and capacity for drug conveyance or dispersion. Purpose: Our goal was to design, build, and study an electric device allowing simultaneous, multichannel testing (e.g., racing) of MNPs in response to a rotating magnetic field. We would then select the "best" MNP and use it with optimized device settings, to transport an unbound therapeutic agent. Methods: A magnetomotive system was constructed, with a Helmholtz pair of coils on either side of a single perpendicular coil, on top of which was placed an acrylic tray having multiple parallel lanes. Five different MNPs were tested: graphene-coated cobalt MNPs (TurboBeads™), nickel nanorods, gold-iron alloy MNPs, gold-coated Fe3O4 MNPs, and uncoated Fe3O4 MNPs. Velocities were determined in response to varying magnetic field frequencies (5– 200 Hz) and heights (0– 18 cm). Velocities were normalized to account for minor lane differences. Doxorubicin was chosen as the therapeutic agent, assayed using a CLARIOstar Plus microplate reader. Results: The MMS generated a maximal MNP velocity of 0.9 cm/s. All MNPs encountered a "critical" frequency at 20– 30 Hz. Nickel nanorods had the optimal response based on tray height and were then shown to enable unbound doxorubicin dispersion along 10.5 cm in < 30 sec. Conclusion: A rotating magnetic field can be conveniently generated using a three-coil electromagnetic device, and used to induce rotational and translational movement of MNP aggregates over mesoscale distances. The responses of various MNPs can be compared side-by-side using multichannel acrylic trays to assess suitability for drug delivery, highlighting their potential for further in vivo applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) has demonstrated the potential to guide the personalized treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Inherent differences in mutational genomic profiles of NSCLC exist between Asian and Western populations. However, the published mutational genomic data of NSCLC has largely focused on Western populations. We retrospectively analyzed results from comprehensive NGS of plasma (Guardant360®) from patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC, as seen in clinical practice. Tests were ordered between January 2016 and December 2020 in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia. The assay identified single-nucleotide variants (SNV), insertions and deletions, and fusions and amplifications in 74 genes. In total, 1608 plasma samples from patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC were tested. The median turnaround time for test results was 7 days. Of the samples with detectable ctDNA (85.6%), 68.3% had alterations in at least one NCCN-recommended NSCLC biomarker. EGFR driver mutations were most frequent (48.6%), followed by alterations of KRAS (7.9%), ERBB2 (4.1%) and ALK (2.5%). Co-mutations of EGFR and KRAS occurred in 4.7% of samples. KRAS G12C was identified in 18.6% of all samples with KRAS mutations. Common mutations, such as exon 19 deletions and L858R, accounted for 88.4% of EGFR driver mutations. Among the samples with any EGFR driver mutation, T790M was present in 36.9%, including 7.7% with additional alterations associated with osimertinib resistance (MET amplification, C797X). Comprehensive plasma-based NGS provided the timely and clinically informative mutational genomic profiling of advanced non-squamous NSCLC in East Asian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amount of intracranial blood is a strong predictor of poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Here, we aimed to measure iron concentrations in the cerebral white matter, using the cerebral microdialysis (CMD) technique, and to associate iron levels with the local metabolic profile, complications, and functional outcome. Methods: For the observational cohort study, 36 patients with consecutive poor grade SAH (Hunt & Hess grade of 4 or 5, Glasgow Coma Scale Score ≤ 8) undergoing multimodal neuromonitoring were analyzed for brain metabolic changes, including CMD iron levels quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The study time encompassed 14 days after admission. Statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Patients were admitted in a poor clinical grade (n = 26, 72%) or deteriorated within 24 h (n = 10, 28%). The median blood volume in the subarachnoid space was high (SAH sum score = 26, interquartile range 20–28). Initial CMD iron was 44 µg/L (25–65 µg/L), which significantly decreased to a level of 25 µg/L (14–30 µg/L) at day 4 and then constantly increased over the remaining neuromonitoring days (p < 0.01). A higher intraventricular hemorrhage sum score (≥ 5) was associated with higher CMD iron levels (Wald-statistic = 4.1, df = 1, p = 0.04) but not with the hemorrhage load in the subarachnoid space (p = 0.8). In patients developing vasospasm, the CMD iron load was higher, compared with patients without vasospasm (Wald-statistic = 4.1, degree of freedom = 1, p = 0.04), which was not true for delayed cerebral infarction (p = 0.4). Higher iron concentrations in the brain extracellular fluid (34 µg/L, 36–56 µg/L vs. 23 µg/L, 15–37 µg/L) were associated with mitochondrial dysfunction (CMD lactate to pyruvate ratio > 30 and CMD-pyruvate > 70 µM/L, p < 0.001). Brain extracellular iron load was not associated with functional outcome after 3 months (p > 0.5). Conclusions: This study suggests that iron accumulates in the cerebral white matter in patients with poor grade SAH. These findings may support trials aiming to scavenger brain extracellular iron based on the hypothesis that iron-mediated neurotoxicity may contribute to acute and secondary brain injury following SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the hypothesized negative correlation between the influence of multiple predators and body condition and fecundity of the European hare, from 13 areas in the Netherlands.Year‐round abundance of predators was estimated by hunters. We quantified predator influence as the sum of their field metabolic rates, as this sum reflects the daily food requirements of multiple individuals. We determined the ratio between body mass and hindfoot length of hares as an index of body condition and the weight of their adrenal gland as a measure of chronic exposure to stress, and we counted the number of placental scars to estimate fecundity of hares.As hypothesized, we found that the sum of field metabolic rate of predators was negatively correlated with body condition and the number of placental scars, whereas it was positively related to the weight of the adrenal glands. In contrast to the sum of the field metabolic rate, the total number of predators did not or weakly affect the investigated risk responses.The sum of the field metabolic rate can be a useful proxy for the influence of multiple predators and takes into account predator abundance, type, body weight, and food requirements of multiple predators.With our findings, our paper contributes to a better understanding of the risk effects of multiple predators on prey fitness. Additionally, we identify a potential contributor to the decline of European hare populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual perception involves spatially and temporally coordinated variations in diverse physical systems: environmental surfaces and symbols, optical images, electro-chemical activity in neural networks, muscles, and bodily movements—each with a distinctly different material structure and energy. The fundamental problem in the theory of perception is to characterize the information that enables both perceptual awareness and real-time dynamic coordination of these diverse physical systems. Gibson's psychophysical and ecological conception of this problem differed from that of mainstream science both then and now. The present article aims to incorporate Gibson's ideas within a general conception of information for visual perception. We emphasize the essential role of spatiotemporal form, in contrast with symbolic information. We consider contemporary understanding of surface structure, optical images, and optic flow. Finally, we consider recent evidence about capacity limitations on the rate of visual perception and implications for the ecology of vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triangle Island on Canada's Pacific coast is home to a large, globally important seabird breeding colony. The shrub Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis and tussock‐forming Tufted Hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa together form ~70% of vegetation coverage and contain the vast majority (~90%) of seabird nesting burrows. Salmonberry has in recent decades greatly expanded its coverage, while that of Tufted Hairgrass has receded. Seabirds prefer not to burrow under Salmonberry, making its ongoing expansion a potential conservation issue. We investigated three hypotheses proposed to explain Salmonberry's expansion (climate change, biopedturbation, and nutrient input), using comparisons of stomatal density of Salmonberry leaves sampled from Triangle Island, other seabird colonies, other coastal locations, and from historical specimens in herbaria. Stomatal density helps regulate photosynthetic gain and control water loss, and responds to light, nutrient, carbon dioxide, and water availability. Differing patterns of stomatal density are expected among sample locations depending on which of the hypothesized factors most strongly affects Salmonberry's performance. Our data are most consistent with the nutrient input hypothesis. We discuss possible reasons why Salmonberry has expanded so recently, even though Triangle has been a large seabird colony for at least a century and likely much longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a general modeling method for threshold-type multivalued memristors. Through this memristor modeling method, it is very simple to establish threshold-type memristor behavior models with different numbers of memristance elements, and these models are verified by numerical MATLAB simulations. A corresponding circuit-level SPICE model of the ternary memristor behavior model is developed and simulated in LTspice, shown to be consistent with the MATLAB results. Finally, the SPICE model is used to design the AND gate, OR gate, and three NOT gates of ternary state-based logic, and the effectiveness of the circuit is proved by LTSpice simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new member of convex universal learning machines (CULMs), an augmented space linear model (ASLM) demonstrates strong learning and tracking capabilities in the fields of signal process and machine learning. Unfortunately, the ASLM is only suitable for offline learning, and its estimated accuracy and noise immunity highly depend on the estimated error learned from a generated error table. To address these two issues and apply ASLM into adaptive filtering, online ASLM algorithms with a weighted $k$ nearest neighbor ($k$ -NN) method, based on an updated orthogonal error table, are therefore proposed in this paper. To further improve the robustness of ASLM to heavy-tail noises, a robust ASLM (RASLM) algorithm is proposed with the help of kernel function, and thus a novel robust adaptive filtering algorithm named maximum correntropy criterion RASLM (MCC-RASLM) is developed based the maximum correntropy criterion. However, the linear growth error table existing in MCC-RASLM incurs an ever-growing computational burden. Therefore, to reduce the computational complexity of MCC-RASLM, another novel online variable-centroid clustering is proposed to generate a maximum correntropy criterion cluster RASLM (MCC-C-RASLM) algorithm. Finally, the theoretical analyses regarding robustness and the error bound of RASLM with weighted $k$ -NN regression are performed to verify the effectiveness of MCC-RASLM. Simulation results based on synthetic and real-world data validate the superiorities of the proposed algorithms from aspects of filtering accuracy and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed as an antidiabetic drug, recent evidence suggests that several sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), especially canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, may exhibit in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities in selected cancer types, including an inhibition of tumor growth and induction of cell death. When used in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, SGLT2i may offer possible synergistic effects in enhancing their treatment efficacy while alleviating associated side effects. Potential mechanisms include a reduction of glucose uptake into cancer cells, systemic glucose restriction, modulation of multiple signaling pathways, and regulation of different gene and protein expression. Furthermore, preliminary clinical findings have reported potential anticancer properties of canagliflozin and dapagliflozin in patients with liver and colon cancers respectively, with reference to decreases in their tumor marker levels. Given its general tolerability and routine use in diabetes management, SGLT2i may be a good candidate for drug repurposing in cancer treatment and as adjunct to conventional therapies. While current evidence reveals that only certain SGLT2i appear to be effective against selected cancer types, further studies are needed to explore the antitumor abilities of each SGLT2i in various cancers. Moreover, clinical trials are called for to evaluate the safety and feasibility of introducing SGLT2i in the treatment regimen of patients with specific cancers, and to identify the preferred route of drug administration for targeted delivery to selected tumor sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As a nonlinear similarity measure defined in the kernel space, the correntropic loss (C-Loss) can address the stability issues of second-order similarity measures thanks to its ability to extract high-order statistics of data. However, the kernel adaptive filter (KAF) based on the C-Loss uses the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) method to update its weights and, thus, suffers from poor performance and a slow convergence rate. To address these issues, the conjugate gradient (CG)-based correntropy algorithm is developed by solving the combination of half-quadratic (HQ) optimization and weighted least-squares (LS) problems, generating a novel robust kernel correntropy CG (KCCG) algorithm. The proposed KCCG with less computational complexity achieves comparable performance to the kernel recursive maximum correntropy (KRMC) algorithm. To further curb the growth of the network in KCCG, the random Fourier features KCCG (RFFKCCG) algorithm is proposed by transforming the original input data into a fixed-dimensional random Fourier features space (RFFS). Since only one current error information is used in the loss function of RFFKCCG, it can provide a more efficient filter structure than the other KAFs with sparsification. The Monte Carlo simulations conducted in the prediction of synthetic and real-world chaotic time series and the regression for large-scale datasets validate the superiorities of the proposed algorithms in terms of robustness, filtering accuracy, and complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual perception involves spatially and temporally coordinated variations in diverse physical systems: environmental surfaces and symbols, optical images, electro-chemical activity in neural networks, muscles, and bodily movements—each with a distinctly different material structure and energy. The fundamental problem in the theory of perception is to characterize the information that enables both perceptual awareness and real-time dynamic coordination of these diverse physical systems. Gibson's psychophysical and ecological conception of this problem differed from that of mainstream science both then and now. The present article aims to incorporate Gibson's ideas within a general conception of information for visual perception. We emphasize the essential role of spatiotemporal form, in contrast with symbolic information. We consider contemporary understanding of surface structure, optical images, and optic flow. Finally, we consider recent evidence about capacity limitations on the rate of visual perception and implications for the ecology of vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a source of emerging infectious diseases, wildlife assemblages (and related spatial patterns) must be quantitatively assessed to help identify high‐risk locations. Previous assessments have largely focussed on the distributions of individual species; however, transmission dynamics are expected to depend on assemblage composition. Moreover, disease–diversity relationships have mainly been studied in the context of species loss, but assemblage composition and disease risk (e.g. infection prevalence in wildlife assemblages) can change without extinction. Based on the predicted distributions and abundances of 4466 mammal species, we estimated global patterns of disease risk through the calculation of the community‐level basic reproductive ratio R0, an index of invasion potential, persistence, and maximum prevalence of a pathogen in a wildlife assemblage. For density‐dependent diseases, we found that, in addition to tropical areas which are commonly viewed as infectious disease hotspots, northern temperate latitudes included high‐risk areas. We also forecasted the effects of climate change and habitat loss from 2015 to 2035. Over this period, many local assemblages showed no net loss of species richness, but the assemblage composition (i.e. the mix of species and their abundances) changed considerably. Simultaneously, most areas experienced a decreased risk of density‐dependent diseases but an increased risk of frequency‐dependent diseases. We further explored the factors driving these changes in disease risk. Our results suggest that biodiversity and changes therein jointly influence disease risk. Understanding these changes and their drivers and ultimately identifying emerging infectious disease hotspots can help health officials prioritize resource distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between the subtypes of psychotic experiences (PEs) and common mental health symptoms remains unclear. The current study aims to establish the 12-month prevalence of PEs in a representative sample of community-dwelling Chinese population in Hong Kong and explore the relationship of types of PEs and common mental health symptoms. Method: This is a population-based two-phase household survey of Chinese population in Hong Kong aged 16–75 (N = 5719) conducted between 2010 and 2013 and a 2-year follow-up study of PEs positive subjects (N = 152). PEs were measured with Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) and subjects who endorsed any item on the PSQ without a clinical diagnosis of psychotic disorder were considered as PE-positive. Types of PEs were characterized using a number of PEs (single v. multiple) and latent class analysis. All PE-positive subjects were assessed with common mental health symptoms and suicidal ideations at baseline and 2-year follow-up. PE status was also assessed at 2-year follow-up. Results: The 12-month prevalence of PEs in Hong Kong was 2.7% with 21.1% had multiple PEs. Three latent classes of PEs were identified: hallucination, paranoia and mixed. Multiple PEs and hallucination latent class of PEs were associated with higher levels of common mental health symptoms. PE persistent rate at 2-year follow-up was 15.1%. Multiple PEs was associated with poorer mental health at 2-year follow-up. Conclusions: Results highlighted the transient and heterogeneous nature of PEs, and that multiple PEs and hallucination subtype of PEs may be specific indices of poorer common mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, adaptive filters in complex domain have received increasing attention since they can be applied to a wider scenario than real valued cases. As two typical information theoretic criteria, the minimum complex kernel risk-sensitive loss (MCKRSL) and maximum complex correntropy criterion (MCCC) have shown robustness to non-Gaussian noises in complex domain adaptive filtering. However, since both criteria cannot consider the probability distribution of error, they are not optimal in the presence of some non-Gaussian noises. This paper firstly defines a complex Shannon entropy in terms of the probability distribution of error. Then, a novel adaptive filter is proposed using the minimum complex Shannon entropy (MCSE) criterion. More significantly, the convergence behavior of the MCSE algorithm is discussed, and thus the steady-state excess mean square error (EMSE) is calculated for theoretical analysis. Finally, simulated results on system identification and channel estimation validate the obtained theoretical results and the merits of the proposed MCSE algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The significance and prioritization of early phase oncology trial continuation during a global pandemic is unknown. This study reported the outcomes, multiple challenges, and broad recommendations associated with the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on oncology early phase 1 trials—and on drug development in Asia—based on the experiences and perspectives of Asian oncology phase 1 centers. Methods: Between March and April 2020 during the initial period of outbreak, the impact of COVID‐19 across oncology phase 1 sites in five Asian countries—China (Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore—was retrospectively analyzed. Results: There was no trial termination or treatment discontinuation in all five countries. Although the most common impact was new patient enrollment being placed on hold, which was based on pharmaceutical sponsors' decision‐making, the situation varied per site. Most sites had no restrictions in place that would limit their ability to fully comply with the requirements of conducting the early phase studies. The number of protocol deviations during the pandemic was largely dependent on domestic transportation status during the outbreak rather than the ability of the clinical trial centers. Conclusion: Determining the risk to benefits ratio of patients with cancer who are enrolled in early phase 1 clinical trials under the unusual circumstances of a global pandemic is important. Specific guidance or guidelines on the conduct of early phase 1 clinical trials during public health emergencies that are based on the recent lessons learned is urgently required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a dynamic surface control (DSC) strategy for discrete-time strict-feedback multiple-input-multiple-output systems is proposed. State variables are estimated by Luenberger observer using latest outputs received in controller. The control signals, bearing the same time-stamps as the target system, are constructed based on DSC methodologies. The control mechanism also considers the network-induced time-varying delays, packet drops and disorder; these parameters are systematically stacked into the network and transmitted into an actuator where the control function is performed. In order to establish all the design parameters, a simplified methodology of utilising linear matrix inequality and homotopy algorithm is proposed. The simulation results prove that the proposed method is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper applies the observation cycle to rock fracturing processes. Specifically, it repeats the observation cycle by going from the large (field) scale to increasingly detailed laboratory scales. With this, it is possible to determine that what appear to be tensile or shear fractures on the large scale are produced through a combination of tensile and shear mechanisms on the smaller scale. This involves observations with a variety of techniques that are briefly described. What is also emphasized is that observation has to go hand in hand with abstraction, i.e., modeling to help understand the observed phenomena. The paper, therefore, makes two contributions—a better understanding of rock fracturing processes and showing the importance of the observation cycle in a scientific process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Feedback inhibition of cAMP effector signaling by a chaperone-assisted ubiquitin system" published in Nature Communications. The correction addresses an error in Figure 6b of the original article, where an image was inadvertently duplicated. The correct image has been replaced in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article. The authors of the article are Laura Rinaldi, Rossella Delle Donne, Bruno Catalanotti, Omar Torres-Quesada, Florian Enzler, Federica Moraca, Robert Nisticò, Francesco Chiuso, Sonia Piccinin, Verena Bachmann, Herbert H. Lindner, Corrado Garbi, Antonella Scorziello, Nicola Antonino Russo, Matthis Synofzik, Ulrich Stelzl, Lucio Annunziato, Eduard Stefan, and Antonio Feliciello. [Extracted from the article]

While firefighters currently have low smoking rates, rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among this population are remarkably high and substantially greater than similar occupational groups, and the general population. This study explored determinants associated with SLT use, barriers to cessation, and motivators for SLT cessation in the fire service. Key informant interviews were conducted in 23 career firefighters who were current (n = 14) and former (n = 9) SLT users from across the U.S. Discussions were recorded and independently coded according to questions and themes. Major themes that developed among firefighters regarding SLT use determinants included positive perceptions of SLT products, social influences from their peers and family members, acceptability of SLT use in the fire service, and a coping resource for job stress. Firefighters discussed several barriers to SLT cessation, including intrapersonal barriers such as SLT use habits and its dependency, concerns about withdrawal symptoms; and social-environmental barriers including lack of support from health and other services providers, and lack of enforcement of existing tobacco policies regarding SLT use. Firefighters also mentioned both internal and external motivators for cessation. Internal motivators included self-motivation and their health concerns while external motivators included friends and family support, incentives or rewards, and price of SLT products. Findings provide unique perspectives from firefighters on factors that influence SLT use and barriers and motivators to SLT cessation. These are insufficiently assessed and considered by the fire service organizations and their health care providers. Thus, the organizations must understand these issues in order to mitigate barriers and motivate the personnel to quit using SLT. Information gained from firefighters who were current and former SLT users can be used to develop an effective, culturally-tailored intervention that is acceptable to fire service personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a geometric, mechanics-based, stochastic model—FracProp—that was developed to predict fracture initiation and propagation in rock. FracProp is capable of quantifying uncertainties associated with the point of fracture initiation and direction of fracture propagation. The current version of FracProp uses compounded probability distributions that are continuously fitted based on mechanical principles (stress distribution and material properties). The model assumes that fracture initiation and propagation depend on the stress profiles around the fracture (flaw) tip in a rock block subjected to vertical, horizontal, and internal loading. To develop the model, we studied the mechanics of a rock block containing one single flaw (pre-existing opening) with the Finite Element (FE) software ABAQUS. Stress profiles obtained in the modeling were used with the model's probabilistic processes to dynamically simulate (model) crack/fracture propagation. FracProp was validated with the results of experiments under various loading conditions done at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) geomechanics laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]