bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of side-group structure and temperature on chain transfer to polymer and branching in acrylate homopolymerizations
Authors: Gray Ian , Heatley Frank , Lovell Peter Alfred
Published: March 2022

The paper reports studies of the effects of ester side-group size and structure on chain transfer to polymer (CTP) and mol% branches (%br) in the final polymers from monomer-starved semi-batch emulsion homopolymerizations of a series of alkyl acrylates with different numbers of ester OR side-group carbon atoms (NsgC) in the range 1–10. Although the high instantaneous conversions and high gel contents in the final polymers show that intermolecular CTP is significant, the kinetics have been analysed principally in terms of intramolecular CTP (intraCTP) because this is expected to be numerically the dominant CTP process. For linear OR side groups, there is a small, continuous increase in %br (from ~ 3.4 to ~ 5.0 mol%) as NsgC increases from 1 to 8, which arises predominantly from the acrylate molar mass (Macrylate) reducing the molar monomer concentration and from the small increase in rate coefficient for propagation (kp) as NsgC increases; no discernible effects of NsgC on the rate coefficient for intraCTP ($${k}_{\mathrm{trP}}^{\mathrm{intra}}$$

k

trP

intra

) are evident. For isomeric butyl acrylates, there is no measurable effect of isomer structure on %br (4.3–4.4 mol%), indicating that butyl groups are too small for changes in side-group bulkiness to influence $${k}_{\mathrm{trP}}^{\mathrm{intra}}$$

k

trP

intra

and kp. A similar observation was made for n-hexyl acrylate (nHA) and 2-ethylbutyl acrylate (%br 4.7–4.8 mol%). However, cyclohexyl acrylate (cHA) gives a much higher %br (~ 7.2 mol%), which has been assigned to steric effects increasing $${k}_{\mathrm{trP}}^{\mathrm{intra}}$$

k

trP

intra

because kp values for nHA and cHA are very similar. For OR side-groups with NsgC of 8 and10, there is a strong effect of side-group non-linearity (2-ethylhexyl, iso-octyl and iso-decyl) increasing %br, with polymers from n-alkyl acrylates having much lower %br (~ 4.5–5.0 mol%) than those from the equivalent non-linear acrylates (~ 6.7–7.1 mol%); since the kp values are expected to be similar for these acrylates, it is evident that the much bulkier non-linear OR groups cause a significant increase in $${k}_{\mathrm{trP}}^{\mathrm{intra}}$$

k

trP

intra

compared to the linear equivalents. Tentative hypotheses for these steric effects have been postulated. Studies of the effect of temperature (0–80 °C) on CTP and %br for methyl acrylate solution homopolymerization (in which intraCTP should be completely dominant) show the expected reduction in %br as temperature reduces, such that CTP is negligible at 0 °C; Arrhenius analysis gives an activation energy of 40.7 kJ mol−1 for intraCTP, which is within the range of values reported for n-butyl acrylate.
Clinical implications of morular metaplasia in fertility-preserving treatment for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and early endometrial carcinoma patients
Authors: Wu Pengfei , Lv Qiaoying , Guan Jun , Shan Weiwei , Chen Xiaojun , Zhu Qin , Luo Xuezhen
Published: March 2022

Objective

Morular metaplasia (MM) is a benign epithelial metaplasia that sometimes appears in atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC). However, the clinical implications of MM for fertility-preserving treatment in AEH and EEC patients are unclear. This study investigated the clinical features and impact of MM on the efficacy of fertility-preserving treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 427 AEH and EEC patients who received fertility-preserving treatment. Clinical features, treatment efficacy, and onco-fertility results were compared between patients with and without MM.

Results

MM appeared in 147 of 427 (34.4%) patients. Among them, 49 (33.3%) had MM only before treatment (BEF group), 32 (21.8%) had sustained MM before and during treatment (SUS group), and 66 (44.9%) had MM only during treatment (DUR group). The BEF group had a higher 12-month CR rate (98.0% vs 85.7%, p = 0.017) and shorter therapeutic duration to achieve CR (4.0 vs 5.7 months, p = 0.013) than the non-MM group had. In comparison with the non-MM group, the SUS and DUR groups had a lower CR rate after 7 months of treatment (SUS vs non-MM, 37.5% vs 61.1%, p = 0.010; DUR vs non-MM 33.3% vs. 61.1%, p < 0.001), and a longer median therapeutic duration to achieve CR (SUS vs non-MM, 7.6 vs. 4.0 months, p = 0.037; DUR vs non-MM, 7.9 vs. 4.0 months, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Appearance of MM only before treatment was positively correlated with outcome of fertility-preserving treatment, while sustained MM or appearance of MM only during treatment implied poorer outcome of fertility-preserving treatment in AEH and EEC patients.
Astodrimer sodium and bacterial vaginosis: a mini review
Authors: Mendling Werner , Holzgreve Wolfgang
Published: March 2022

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection affecting women of childbearing age, and is associated with a substantial burden on women’s physical, emotional, sexual and social lives, as well as being linked to a number of gynaecological and obstetrical complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Antibiotics, such as metronidazole or clindamycin, are recommended as first-line treatment for BV, but may be associated with antibiotic resistance, high rates of recurrence and poor patient treatment satisfaction. Astodrimer sodium gel is a novel, non-antibiotic treatment for BV that is not systemically absorbed. It prevents pathogenic bacteria from adhering to the vaginal wall, and disrupts and inhibits the formation of pathogenic bacterial biofilms. Clinical cure rates of 50–57% were observed in patients with BV treated with astodrimer sodium compared with 17–21% treated with placebo (p < 0.001) in Phase 3 trials. In a separate Phase 3 trial, recurrence of BV occurred in 44% of patients treated with astodrimer sodium compared with 54% of patients who received placebo (p = 0.015). Astodrimer sodium is well tolerated, with vulvovaginal candidosis being the only treatment-related adverse event reported to occur more often than with placebo. The availability of astodrimer sodium, a well-tolerated, convenient, non-antibiotic treatment for BV, represents significant progress in the treatment of this burdensome condition.
Textbook outcome after major hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma — definitions and influencing factors
Authors: Benzing Christian , Haiden Lena Marie , Krenzien Felix , Mieg Alexa , Wolfsberger Annika , Atik Cecilia Filiz , Nevermann Nora , Fehrenbach Uli , Schöning Wenzel , Schmelzle Moritz , Pratschke Johann
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The concept of “textbook outcome” (TO) as composite quality measure depicting the ideal surgical has not yet been defined for patients undergoing major hepatectomy (MH) for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). This study sought to propose a uniform definition through a systematic literature review as well as to identify patient- or procedure-related factors influencing TO.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we analyzed all patients undergoing MH for PHC at our department between January 2005 and August 2019. After conducting a systematic literature search, we defined TO as the absence of 90-day mortality and major complications, no hospital readmission within 90 days after discharge, and no prolonged hospital stay (<75. percentile). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing TO.

Results

Of 283 patients, TO was achieved in 67 (24%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative biliary drainage was associated with a decreased (OR= 0.405, 95% CI: 0.194–0.845, p=0.016) and left-sided-resection (OR= 1.899, 95% CI: 1.048–3.440, p=0.035) with increased odds for TO. Overall survival (OS) and DFS (disease-free survival) did not differ significantly between the outcome groups (OS: p=0.280, DFS: p=0.735). However, there was a trend towards better overall survival, especially in the late course with TO.

Conclusion

Our analysis proposed a uniform definition of TO after MH for PHC. We identified left hepatectomy as an independent factor positively influencing TO. In patients where both right- and left-sided resections are feasible, this underlines the importance of a careful selection of patients who are scheduled for right hepatectomy.
The role of petal transpiration in floral humidity generation
Authors: Harrap Michael J. M. , Rands Sean A.
Published: March 2022

Main conclusion

Using petrolatum gel as an antitranspirant on the flowers of California poppy and giant bindweed, we show that transpiration provides a large contribution to floral humidity generation.

Floral humidity, an area of elevated humidity in the headspace of flowers, is believed to be produced predominantly through a combination of evaporation of liquid nectar and transpirational water loss from the flower. However, the role of transpiration in floral humidity generation has not been directly tested and is largely inferred by continued humidity production when nectar is removed from flowers. We test whether transpiration contributes to the floral humidity generation of two species previously identified to produce elevated floral humidity, Calystegia silvatica and Eschscholzia californica. Floral humidity production of flowers that underwent an antitranspirant treatment, petrolatum gel which blocks transpiration from treated tissues, is compared to flowers that did not receive such treatments. Gel treatments reduced floral humidity production to approximately a third of that produced by untreated flowers in C. silvatica, and half of that in E. californica. This confirms the previously untested inferences that transpiration has a large contribution to floral humidity generation and that this contribution may vary between species.
Challenges in translational machine learning
Authors: Couckuyt Artuur , Seurinck Ruth , Emmaneel Annelies , Quintelier Katrien , Novak David , Van Gassen Sofie , Saeys Yvan
Published: March 2022

Machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly being used to help implement clinical decision support systems. In this new field, we define as “translational machine learning”, joint efforts and strong communication between data scientists and clinicians help to span the gap between ML and its adoption in the clinic. These collaborations also improve interpretability and trust in translational ML methods and ultimately aim to result in generalizable and reproducible models. To help clinicians and bioinformaticians refine their translational ML pipelines, we review the steps from model building to the use of ML in the clinic. We discuss experimental setup, computational analysis, interpretability and reproducibility, and emphasize the challenges involved. We highly advise collaboration and data sharing between consortia and institutes to build multi-centric cohorts that facilitate ML methodologies that generalize across centers. In the end, we hope that this review provides a way to streamline translational ML and helps to tackle the challenges that come with it.
Hidden diagonal integrability of q-Hahn vertex model and Beta polymer model
Authors: Korotkikh Sergei
Published: March 2022

We study a new integrable probabilistic system, defined in terms of a stochastic colored vertex model on a square lattice. The main distinctive feature of our model is a new family of parameters attached to diagonals rather than to rows or columns, like in other similar models. Because of these new parameters the previously known results about vertex models cannot be directly applied, but nevertheless the integrability remains, and we prove explicit integral expressions for q-deformed moments of the (colored) height functions of the model. Following known techniques our model can be interpreted as a q-discretization of the Beta polymer model from (Probab Theory Relat Fields 167(3):1057–1116 (2017). arXiv:1503.04117) with a new family of parameters, also attached to diagonals. To demonstrate how integrability with respect to the new diagonal parameters works, we extend the known results about Tracy–Widom large-scale fluctuations of the Beta polymer model.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of endoscopic ultrasound drainage for the management of fluid collections after pancreas surgery
Authors: Ramouz Ali , Shafiei Saeed , Ali-Hasan-Al-Saegh Sadeq , Khajeh Elias , Rio-Tinto Ricardo , Fakour Sanam , Brandl Andreas , Goncalves Gil , Berchtold Christoph , Büchler Markus W. , Mehrabi Arianeb
Published: March 2022

Background

The outcomes of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage (EUSD) in treatment of pancreas fluid collection (PFC) after pancreas surgeries have not been evaluated systematically. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the outcomes of EUSD in patients with PFC after pancreas surgery and compare it with percutaneous drainage (PCD).

Methods

PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for studies reporting outcomes EUSD in treatment of PFC after pancreas surgeries, from their inception until January 2022. Two meta-analyses were performed: (A) a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of EUSD (meta-analysis A) and (B) two-arm meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of EUSD and PCD (meta-analysis B). Pooled proportion of the outcomes in meta-analysis A as well as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) in meta-analysis B was calculated to determine the technical and clinical success rates, complications rate, hospital stay, and recurrence rate. ROBINS-I tool was used to assess the risk of bias.

Results

The literature search retrieved 610 articles, 25 of which were eligible for inclusion. Included clinical studies comprised reports on 695 patients. Twenty-five studies (477 patients) were included in meta-analysis A and eight studies (356 patients) were included in meta-analysis B. In meta-analysis A, the technical and clinical success rates of EUSD were 94% and 87%, respectively, with post-procedural complications of 14% and recurrence rates of 9%. Meta-analysis B showed comparable technical and clinical success rates as well as complications rates between EUSD and PCD. EUSD showed significantly shorter duration of hospital stay compared to that of patients treated with PCD.

Conclusion

EUSD seems to be associated with high technical and clinical success rates, with low rates of procedure-related complications. Although EUSD leads to shorter hospital stay compared to PCD, the certainty of evidence was low in this regard.
Paths of thoracic epidural catheters in children undergoing the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum repair
Authors: Nakamura Kanna , Sugita Ayanori , Sekiya Shuichi , Kitamura Akira , Mitsuhata Hiromasa , Yamaguchi Keisuke , Hayashida Masakazu
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To investigate the paths of thoracic epidural catheters in children, this retrospective study was performed.

Methods

We investigated 73 children aged 4 to 12 (mean ± SD 7.8 ± 2.3) years, who underwent the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum repair under combined general and epidural anesthesia over a 5-year period at Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital. Following induction of general anesthesia, we inserted a radiopaque epidural catheter via the T5/6 or T6/7 interspace and advanced for 5 cm cephalad in the thoracic epidural space. We evaluated the paths of the epidural catheters on plain chest radiographs after surgery.

Results

The median level for the catheter tip location was T3 (range C6–T7), while the median number of vertebrae crossed by the catheter tips was 2.5. In most children, the catheters advanced straight for the first 2–3 cm (1–1.5 vertebrae) in the thoracic epidural space. However, they continued to advance straight in only 25 children, while they exhibited curved or coiled paths in the remaining 48. The catheter tips were located at higher levels in children with straight epidural catheter paths [median (range) T2 (C6–T4)] than in those with curved or coiled paths after the initial 2–3 cm [median (range) T4 (T2–T7)] (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the course of epidural catheters in children is unpredictable after the first 2–3 cm in the thoracic epidural space. Clinicians should be aware of such findings, although further studies are required for confirmation.
Rapid typing of infectious laryngotracheitis virus directly from tracheal tissues based on next-generation sequencing
Authors: Asif Kinza , O’Rourke Denise , Shil Pollob , Steer-Cope Penelope A. , Legione Alistair R. , Marenda Marc S. , Noormohammadi Amir H.
Published: March 2022

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) is the causative agent of an economically important disease of chickens causing upper respiratory tract infection. Strains of ILTV are commonly identified by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and/or PCR high resolution melt (PCR-HRM) curve analysis targeting several genes. However, these techniques examine only a limited number of mutations present inside the target regions and may generate unreliable results when the sample contains more than one strain. Here, we attempted to sequence the whole genome of ILTV with known identity (class 9) directly from tracheal scrapings to circumvent in vitro culturing, which can potentially introduce variations into the genome. Despite the large number of quality reads, mapping was compromised by poor overlapping and gaps, and assembly of the complete genome sequence was not possible. In a map-to-reference alignment, the regions with low coverage were deleted, those with high coverage were concatenated and a genome sequence of 139,465 bp was obtained, which covered 91% of the ILTV genome. Sixteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found between the ILTV isolate examined and ILTV class 9 (JN804827). Despite only 91% genome coverage, using sequence analysis and comparison with previously sequenced ILTVs, we were able to classify the isolate as class 9. Therefore, this technique has the potential to replace the current PCR-HRM technique, as it provides detailed information about the ILTV isolates.
Versorgung gefäßchirurgischer Patienten während COVID-19: eine deutschlandweite Umfrage
Authors: Jung Georg , Leinweber Maria-Elisabeth , Adili Farzin , Schmitz-Rixen Thomas
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Durch COVID-19 kam es weltweit, insbesondere in den ersten Wochen der Pandemie, zu einer Verschiebung und Absage elektiver Operationen in allen chirurgischen Fachdisziplinen. Eine Beschreibung der spezifischen Situation in gefäßchirurgischen Kliniken in Deutschland während dieser Periode ist bislang nicht erfolgt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Zweck der Befragung war die Erfassung der gefäßchirurgischen Leistungserbringung in der Zeit von März 2020 bis Dezember 2020, sowie von logistischen und infrastrukturellen Veränderungen, die sich durch die pandemische Lage ergeben hatten. Hierbei lag der Fokus der Umfrage auf der möglichst realitätsnahen Abbildung der Versorgungssituation anhand der Einschätzung der leitenden Gefäßchirurg*innen.

Material und Methoden

In Zusammenarbeit mit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gefäßchirurgie und Gefäßmedizin (DGG) wurde das leitende ärztliche Personal von gefäßchirurgischen Einrichtungen in Deutschland aufgefordert, an der Umfrage teilzunehmen. Die Beantwortung der Fragen erfolgte anonym.

Ergebnisse

Durch COVID-19 und korrespondierende Maßnahmen kam und kommt es zu relevanten Absagen und Verschiebungen von Operationen, Verlust an Kapazitäten und einer gesteigerten Personalbelastung. Es traten im Beobachtungszeitraum verspätete Versorgungen gefäßchirurgischer Krankheitsbilder und ein gehäuftes Auftreten schwererer klinischer Stadien verglichen mit dem entsprechenden Vorjahreszeitraum auf. Betroffen sind alle Versorgungsstufen, größtenteils dauern diese Veränderungen an.

Diskussion

Um der strukturellen Schwächung und den Einschränkungen in der Patientenversorgung zu begegnen, sind klinische Abläufe, Patientenaufklärung und Priorisierung zu optimieren. Neue Konzepte wie z. B. Telemedizin und engmaschigere klinische Kontrolle sind ggf. sinnvoll. Eine erforderliche Infrastruktur für Notfallmanagement (COVID) darf im Alltag nicht die Versorgungsqualität der gefäßchirurgischen Patient*innen negativ beeinflussen.
Evidence of re-osseointegration after electrolytic cleaning and regenerative therapy of peri-implantitis in humans: a case report with four implants
Authors: Bosshardt Dieter D. , Brodbeck Urs R. , Rathe Florian , Stumpf Thomas , Imber Jean-Claude , Weigl Paul , Schlee Markus
Published: March 2022

Objective

To evaluate re-osseointegration after electrolytic cleaning and regenerative therapy of dental implants with peri-implantitis in humans.

Material and methods

Four dental implants that developed peri-implantitis underwent electrolytic cleaning followed by regenerative therapy with guided bone regeneration. All four implants developed recurrent peri-implantitis and were therefore explanted 6 to 13 months later. Radiographic bone level, probing depth, and bleeding on probing were determined at the time of surgery, 6 months later, and before implant retrieval. The peri-implant tissues were histologically and histomorphometrically analyzed.

Results

All four implants demonstrated radiographic and histological bone gain, reduced probing depth, and bleeding on probing. Radiographic bone gain was 5.8 mm mesially and 4.8 mm distally for implant #1, 3.3 mm and 2.3 mm for implant #2, 3.1 mm and 0.5 mm for implant #3, and 3.5 mm and 2.8 mm for implant #4. The histometric mean and maximum vertical bone gain for implant #1 to #4 was 1.65 mm and 2.54 mm, 3.04 mm and 3.47 mm, 0.43 mm and 1.27 mm, and 4.16 mm and 5.22 mm, respectively. The percentage of re-osseointegration for implant #1 to #4 was 21.0%, 36.9%, 5.7%, and 39.0%, respectively. In one implant, the newly formed bone was deposited directly onto calculus on the implant surface.

Conclusions

We found that (1) re-osseointegration is possible on a formerly contaminated implant surface and (2) the electrolytic cleaning process seems to be effective enough at sites with calculus residues.

Clinical relevance

Since re-osseointegration can be achieved by electrolytic cleaning, this decontamination technique may be considered as a future treatment concept.
Rapid earthquake loss updating of spatially distributed systems via sampling-based bayesian inference
Authors: Gehl Pierre , Fayjaloun Rosemary , Sun Li , Tubaldi Enrico , Negulescu Caterina , Özer Ekin , D’Ayala Dina
Published: March 2022

Within moments following an earthquake event, observations collected from the affected area can be used to define a picture of expected losses and to provide emergency services with accurate information. A Bayesian Network framework could be used to update the prior loss estimates based on ground-motion prediction equations and fragility curves, considering various field observations (i.e., evidence). While very appealing in theory, Bayesian Networks pose many challenges when applied to real-world infrastructure systems, especially in terms of scalability. The present study explores the applicability of approximate Bayesian inference, based on Monte-Carlo Markov-Chain sampling algorithms, to a real-world network of roads and built areas where expected loss metrics pertain to the accessibility between damaged areas and hospitals in the region. Observations are gathered either from free-field stations (for updating the ground-motion field) or from structure-mounted stations (for the updating of the damage states of infrastructure components). It is found that the proposed Bayesian approach is able to process a system comprising hundreds of components with reasonable accuracy, time and computation cost. Emergency managers may readily use the updated loss distributions to make informed decisions.
Population-Based Teacher-Rated Assessment of Anxiety Among Canadian Kindergarten Children
Authors: Janus Magdalena , Ryan Julia , Pottruff Molly , Reid-Westoby Caroline , Brownell Marni , Bennett Teresa , Birken Catherine S. , Duku Eric , Ferro Mark A. , Forer Barry , Georgiades Stelios , Gorter Jan Willem , Guhn Martin , Maguire Jonathon , Manson Heather , Pei Jacqueline , Santos Rob , Coplan Robert J.
Published: March 2022

Despite anxiety being a prevalent mental health problem in children, little data exist on the pervasiveness and levels of anxiety symptoms in kindergarteners. Data from the Early Development Instrument, a teacher-completed, population-level measure of child development, were collected across Canada from 2004 to 2015. The final analytic sample consisted of 974,319 children of whom 2.6% were classified as “highly anxious”. Compared to children who exhibited “few to none” anxious behaviors, highly anxious children were more likely to be male, have English/French as a second language, and have a special needs designation. Furthermore, compared with their less anxious peers, highly anxious children had between 3.5 and 6.1 higher odds of scoring below the 10th percentile cut-off in physical, social, language/cognitive and communication domains. Our findings suggest that anxious behaviors are related to children’s overall health and illustrate the consistency and extensiveness of anxiety at a very young age among Canadian children.
Wisdom in the digital age: a conceptual and practical framework for understanding and cultivating cyber-wisdom
Authors: Polizzi Gianfranco , Harrison Tom
Published: March 2022

The internet presents not just opportunities but also risks that range, to name a few, from online abuse and misinformation to the polarisation of public debate. Given the increasingly digital nature of our societies, these risks make it essential for users to learn how to wisely use digital technologies as part of a more holistic approach to promoting human flourishing. However, insofar as they are exacerbated by both the affordances and the political economy of the internet, this article argues that a new understanding of wisdom that is germane to the digital age is needed. As a result, we propose a framework for conceptualising what we callcyber-wisdom, and how this can be cultivated via formal education, in ways that are grounded in neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics and that build on three prominent existing models of wisdom. The framework, according to which cyber-wisdom is crucial to navigating online risks and opportunities through the deployment of character virtues necessary for flourishing online, suggests that cyber-wisdom consists of four components: cyber-wisdom literacy, cyber-wisdom reasoning, cyber-wisdom self-reflection, cyber-wisdom motivation. Unlike the models on which it builds, the framework accounts for the specificity of the digital age and is both conceptual and practical. On the one hand, each component has conceptual implications for what it means to be wise in the digital age. On the other hand, informed by character education literature and practice, it has practical implications for how to cultivate cyber-wisdom in the classroom through teaching methods that match its different components.
Gamification of Electronic Negotiation Training: Effects on Motivation, Behaviour and Learning
Authors: Schmid Andreas , Schoop Mareike
Published: March 2022

Organisations are involved in various types of negotiation. As digitalisation advances, such business negotiations are to a large extent electronic negotiations. Consequently, dedicated training for such electronic negotiations is important for mastering negotiation skills. We designed a gamified negotiation system used in e-negotiation training to increase participants’ motivation, engagement, use of the system’s negotiation support features and to improve their decision making. The quantitative evaluation using students as subjects shows higher motivation, engagement and better system and decision-making skills for participants in the gamified training compared to a conventional training. Furthermore, female participants show higher engagement in the gamified training than males. An analysis of the individual elements in the system provides insights into participants’ perceptions and shows that the inclusion of a domain-specific feedback element yields motivational results that are almost similar compared to those using traditional game elements. Organisations can employ the designed artefact for fundamental and effective e-negotiation training.
The Same yet Different: Oral and Silent Reading in Children and Adolescents with Dyslexia
Authors: van den Boer Madelon , Bazen Loes , de Bree Elise
Published: March 2022

Dyslexia is characterized by poor word reading. In research, education, and diagnosis, oral reading is commonly assessed, and outcomes are generalized to silent reading, although similarities and differences between oral and silent reading are poorly understood. We therefore compared oral word reading, oral text reading and silent text reading. Children (n = 40; aged 8–11) and adolescents (n = 54; aged 14–18) with dyslexia, and typical readers (n = 18, and n = 24 respectively), read a word-list and an age-appropriate text aloud, and silently read a text including instructions for simple tasks. Whereas oral and silent reading fluency were comparable for children, silent reading was more fluent than oral reading for adolescents. Importantly, the silent reading deficit of children and adolescents with dyslexia was as large as in oral reading or larger, highlighting the need for a focus on both reading modes in research, diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia.
The Philosophising Machine – a Specification of the Turing Test
Authors: Schwaninger Arthur C.
Published: March 2022

Block’s (The Philosophical Review, 90(1), 5–43 1981) anti-behaviourist attack of the Turing Test not only illustrates that the test is a non-sufficient criterion for attributing thought; I suggest that it also exemplifies the limiting case of the more general concern that a machine which has access to enormous amounts of data can pass the Turing Test by simple symbol-manipulation techniques. If the answers to a human interrogator are entailed by the machines’ data, the Turing Test offers no clear criterion to distinguish between a thinking machine and a machine that merely manipulates representations of words and sentences as it is found in contemporary Natural Language Processing models. This paper argues that properties about vagueness are accessible to any human-like thinker but do not normally display themselves in ordinary language use. Therefore, a machine that merely performs simple symbol manipulation from large amounts of previously acquired data – where this body of data does not contain facts about vagueness – will not be able to report on these properties. Conversely, a machine that has the capacity to think would be able to report on these properties. I argue that we can exploit this fact to establish a sufficient criterion of thought. The criterion is a specification of some of the questions that, as I explain, should be asked by the interrogator in a Turing Test situation.
Quantified Self as Epistemological Anarchism
Authors: Chiodo Simona
Published: March 2022

The phenomenon of the quantified self, which is especially addressed by sociology and medical humanities, is still quite disregarded by philosophy. Yet, the philosophical issues it raises are various and meaningful, from the realm of epistemology to the realm of ethics. Moreover, it may be read as a key symptom to investigate the complex technological era in which we live, starting from the meaning of contemporary technology itself from a philosophical perspective. I shall focus on one of the epistemological issues raised by the phenomenon of the quantified self by arguing that it may be read in terms of epistemological anarchism, which also leads to other epistemological issues, such as a possibly detectable crisis of the notions of knowledge in general and science in particular as founded on the relationship between particularity and universality, as well as between reality and ideality. I shall select cases that are peculiarly representative of the founding epistemological stance I shall focus on. Yet, the reason why they deserve special attention is that they are also representative of an increasingly widespread attitude characterising not only the community of the quantified self but also, at least to some extent, anyone of us who may happen to use technologies (from apps to self-track symptoms to google to search symptoms) to try to self-diagnose.
Die Rolle sozialer Beziehungen am Arbeitsplatz bei Arbeit unter Zeit- und Leistungsdruck
Authors: Schulz-Dadaczynski Anika
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Zeit- und Leistungsdruck ist eine weit verbreitete Anforderung in der Arbeitswelt, durch die sich viele Beschäftigte belastet fühlen und die Risiken für die Gesundheit der Beschäftigten birgt. Ressourcen für eine gute Bewältigung dieser Anforderung sind wichtig. Die sozialen Beziehungen am Arbeitsplatz können eine zentrale Ressource sein.

Fragestellung

Im Rahmen einer qualitativen Studie wurde untersucht, welche Aspekte sozialer Beziehungen am Arbeitsplatz als hilfreich spezifisch bei Arbeit unter Zeit- und Leistungsdruck beschrieben werden.

Methodik

Es wurden Betriebsfallstudien in fünf verschiedenen Betrieben der Dienstleistungs- und Wissensarbeit durchgeführt. Den Kern der Fallstudien stellten insgesamt 45 teilstrukturierte Interviews mit Beschäftigten dar. Die Interviews wurden aufgezeichnet, transkribiert und softwaregestützt inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Es konnten verschiedene hilfreiche Aspekte der sozialen Beziehungen identifiziert werden, die einem guten Teamklima sowie der sozialen Unterstützung am Arbeitsplatz zuzuordnen sind. Die Beschäftigten beschrieben sie als hilfreich für einen gesundheitserhaltenden Umgang mit vorhandenem Zeit- und Leistungsdruck und als Puffer für mögliche Beeinträchtigungen des Befindens durch den vorhandenen Zeit- und Leistungsdruck. Für alle Aspekte wurde nicht der tatsächliche Erhalt als zentral beschrieben, sondern deren Wahrnehmung als jederzeit abrufbare Ressource.

Schlussfolgerung

Gute soziale Beziehungen sollten bei Arbeit unter Zeit- und Leistungsdruck als wertvolle Ressource anerkannt und gezielt gefördert werden, insbesondere da hoher Zeit- und Leistungsdruck mit einer Verschlechterung der sozialen Beziehungen einhergehen kann. Verlustspiralen sollte aktiv entgegengewirkt werden.
Paxilloboletus gen. nov., a new lamellate bolete genus from tropical Africa
Authors: Badou Sylvestre A. , Furneaux Brendan , De Kesel André , Khan Faheema Kalsoom , Houdanon Roel D. , Ryberg Martin , Yorou Nourou S.
Published: March 2022

This study presents Paxilloboletus gen. nov., a new lamellate bolete genus represented by two tropical African species, Paxilloboletus africanus sp. nov. and Paxilloboletus latisporus sp. nov. Although the new taxa strongly resemble Paxillus (Paxillaceae), they lack clamp connections and form a separate generic clade within the Boletaceae phylogeny. The new species are lookalikes, morphologically only separable by their spore morphology. Descriptions and illustrations of the new genus and new species are given, as well as comments on ecology, distribution, and morphological differences with other gilled Boletaceae.
New species, combinations and records of Thyronectria, with a key to species
Authors: Voglmayr Hermann , Polhorský Adam , Halasů Viktorie , Kirisits Thomas
Published: March 2022

The new speciesThyronectria ulmiis described fromUlmus laevisandU. minorcollected in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is morphologically and phylogenetically close to the North AmericanT. chrysogramma, which also occurs onUlmusand shares olive green to brown muriform ascospores, but differs from the latter by geographic distribution, narrower asci, smaller ascospores with fewer septa and DNA sequence data from seven loci (ITS and LSU regions of nu rDNA,ACT1,RPB1,RPB2,TEF1andTUB2genes). As in many otherThyronectriaspecies, ascomata ofT. ulmiwere closely associated withDiplodia, indicating a fungicolous habit. The genusNeothyronectriais synonymised withThyronectriabased on morphological and molecular phylogenetic data, and the new combinationsT. citriandT. sophoraeare proposed. A key to 45 accepted species ofThyronectriais provided. The recently describedT. abieticola, previously known from the Czech Republic and France, is newly reported from Austria and Slovakia; its pycnidial anamorph is recorded, described and illustrated from natural substrates for the first time. A sporodochial anamorph is reported from natural substrates forT. aurigera, a new record for Austria as well. New host and distribution records includeT. rhodochloraonAcer pseudoplatanusin Austria andFraxinus excelsiorin the Czech Republic,T. sinopicaonHedera colchicain the Czech Republic andBupleurum fruticosumin Spain, andT. zanthoxylionSorbus aucupariain Belgium andUlmussp. in the USA.Thyronectria cucurbitulais confirmed by sequence data fromPinus strobuscollected in the Czech Republic, challenging the host ranges givenfor T. cucurbitula(Pinussubgen.Pinus) andT. strobi(Pinussubgen.Strobus), and questioning the European and Chinese records ofT. strobi.
Does cultural diversity hinder the implementation of IMF-supported programs? An empirical investigation
Authors: Vadlamannati Krishna Chaitanya , Brazys Samuel
Published: March 2022

Do ethno-linguistic divisions in a country hamper the implementation of IMF-supported programs? We construct a new measure of implementation and compliance with IMF programs approved during the 1992–2014 period covering 104 countries. Using several measures of diversity, we find that higher levels of ethno-linguistic and cultural fractionalization affect the probability of successful implementation of IMF conditions. Our results show that diverse preferences and coordination failures due to ethnic and cultural diversity undermine the successful implementation of IMF programs. Furthermore, we find that ethno-linguistic fractionalization weakens the implementation of ‘hard’ IMF conditions relative to ‘soft’ conditions. Our findings also show that ethno-linguistic divisions do not affect the implementation of IMF conditions in autocracies as opposed to democracies. These findings are robust to addressing endogeneity concerns using an instrumental variable approach and to a number of alternative specifications, data sets, and approaches.
Removal of a frozen elephant trunk using a polyvinyl tube
Authors: Inaba Yusuke , Minegishi Sachito , Endo Hidehito , Kubota Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

The increasing use of total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk (FET) is expected to lead to an increase in the prevalence of graft infections requiring replacement involving an FET, which is generally a more invasive procedure than the initial surgery. Herein, we describe a novel method for FET removal using a polyvinyl tube as the storage device. The procedure is completed using the same median sternotomy approach as the initial surgery. We report on the outcomes for six patients. Our procedure is simple to perform and safe and caused no injury to the aorta in our case series.
Some conditions for the oscillation of second-order differential equations with several mixed delays
Authors: Santra Shyam Sundar , Scapellato Andrea
Published: March 2022

In this work, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the oscillation of the solutions to a second-order neutral differential equation with mixed delays. Two examples are provided to show effectiveness and feasibility of main results. Our main tool is the Lebesgue’s Dominated Convergence theorem.
A Practical Workflow for Organizing Clinical Intraoperative and Long-term iEEG Data in BIDS
Authors: Demuru Matteo , van Blooijs Dorien , Zweiphenning Willemiek , Hermes Dora , Leijten Frans , Zijlmans Maeike ,   on behalf of the RESPect group
Published: March 2022

The neuroscience community increasingly uses the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) to organize data, extending from MRI to electrophysiology data. While automated tools and workflows are developed that help organize MRI data from the scanner to BIDS, these workflows are lacking for clinical intracranial EEG (iEEG data). We present a practical workflow on how to organize full clinical iEEG epilepsy data into BIDS. We present electrophysiological datasets recorded from twelve subjects who underwent intracranial monitoring followed by resective epilepsy surgery at the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, and became seizure-free after surgery. These data include intraoperative electrocorticography recordings from six patients, long-term electrocorticography recordings from three patients and stereo-encephalography recordings from three patients. We describe the 6 steps in the pipeline that are essential to structure the data from these clinical iEEG recordings into BIDS and the challenges during this process. These proposed workflow enable centers performing clinical iEEG recordings to structure their data to improve accessibility, reusability and interoperability of clinical data.
Intracerebral manifestation of iatrogenic, immunodeficiency-associated polymorphic B-LPD with morphology mimicking Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Saft Leonie , Perdiki-Grigoriadi Marina , Rassidakis Georgios
Published: March 2022

Iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (IA-LPD) may arise in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs for autoimmune disease or other conditions. Polymorphic EBV-positive B-lymphoproliferations often have features mimicking Hodgkin lymphoma and typically a self-limited, indolent course. We present an unusual case with isolated, intracerebral manifestation of polymorphic B-LPD with features of classic Hodgkin-lymphoma in an immunosuppressed patient treated with methotrexate and infliximab, including clinical-radiological features and a detailed description of morphological findings, together with a literature review on reported cases  of primary CNS manifestation of cHL and IA-LPD with Hodgkin-like morphology. The patient achieved complete remission following neurosurgery with gross total tumor resection and drug withdrawal without any additional treatment. Post-operative staging revealed no evidence for focal relapse or systemic disease during the 18 months follow-up period. Among the previously reported 24 cases of primary, isolated Hodgkin lymphoma in the central nervous system, three similar cases of iatrogenic, IA-LPDs were identified and are discussed here. Polymorphic B-LPD are destructive lesions with a range of morphologic features and disease manifestations. It is clinically important to recognize the spectrum of proliferations with features of classic Hodgkin lymphoma in immunodeficiency, iatrogenic settings, because they are likely to impact the choice of treatment strategies.
Cities and the SDGs: Realities and possibilities of local engagement in global frameworks
Authors: Leavesley Amelia , Trundle Alexei , Oke Cathy
Published: March 2022

City action is critical to achieving global visions for sustainability such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, SDG ‘localisation’ is complex procedure, with divergent outcomes depending on context and diverse city processes. This paper considers the operational challenges faced by city actors in taking on the SDGs, and subsequent implications for initiating local (and global) sustainability transitions. We analyse emergent approaches to SDG localisation within the Asia–Pacific, using a policy analysis framework (transition management) to assess transformation potential. We find that SDG localisation can influence urban sustainability, but effective implementation requires sufficient data, resourcing, and guidance—which are not readily, nor equally available to all city governments. City-to-city peer learning can accelerate SDG uptake, but realising the transformative ambition set out by the SDGs will require an approach to localisation that clearly demonstrates why and how any city government can and should engage with global sustainability frameworks.
A Second-Personal Approach to the Evolution of Morality
Authors: Isern-Mas Carme , Gomila Antoni
Published: March 2022

Building on the discussion between Stephen Darwall and Michael Tomassello, we propose an alternative evolutionary account of moral motivation in its two-pronged dimension. We argue that an evolutionary account of moral motivation must account for the two forms of moral motivation that we distinguish: motivation to be partial, which is triggered by the affective relationships we develop with others; and motivation to be impartial, which is triggered by those norms to which we give impartial validity. To that aim, we present the second-person standpoint of morality, first as Darwall conceives of it, and then as we reinterpret it from a naturalistic approach. Then we synthesize Tomasello’s evolutionary account of morality, and Darwall’s objections to it. To reply to those objections, building on Tomasello’s proposal, we argue that the motivation to be impartial, and the feeling of obligation to comply with normative requirements, appeared when humans anticipated and, critically, internalized others’ sanctions to the violation of social norms. Consequently, we posit that social norms and sanctions appeared first at the community level, and only after that were they internalized in the form of self-directed reactive attitudes. Finally, we derive some corollaries that follow from our proposal.
High-entropy (La0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Ce2O7: A potential thermal barrier material with improved thermo-physical properties
Authors: Xue Yun , Zhao Xiaoqin , An Yulong , Wang Yijing , Gao Meizhen , Zhou Huidi , Chen Jianmin
Published: March 2022

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are widely researched as potential materials for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). However, the relatively low thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of those materials severely restricts their practical application. In order to improve the poor thermal expansion property and further reduce the thermal conductivity, high-entropy (La0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Ce2O7 is designed and synthesized in this work. The as-prepared multicomponent material is formed in a simple disordered fluorite structure due to the high-entropy stabilization effect. Notably, it exhibits a much higher TEC of approximately 12.0 × 10−6 K−1 compared with those of other high-entropy oxides reported in the field of TBCs. Besides, it presents prominent thermal insulation behavior with a low intrinsic thermal conductivity of 0.92 W·m−1·K−1 at 1400 °C, which can be explained by the existence of high concentration oxygen vacancies and highly disordered arrangement of multicomponent cations in the unique high-entropy configuration. Through high-temperature in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement, this material shows excellent phase stability up to 1400 °C. Benefiting from the solid solution strengthening effect, it shows a higher hardness of 8.72 GPa than the corresponding single component compounds. The superior thermo-physical performance above enables (La0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Ce2O7 a promising TBC material.
A Crafty Approach for Learning the Topographical Anatomy of the Cranial Nerves
Authors: Quinn Lisa
Published: March 2022

Certain neuroanatomical relationships can be complex for students to visualise and understand. This article describes creation of a simple and cheap model to help students more easily learn the relationships of the cranial nerves to each other and to the different regions of the central nervous system (forebrain and brainstem).