bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adherence to inhaled therapies over 4 years in people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Manika Katerina , Hatziagorou Elpis , Kotoulas Serafeim‐Chrysovalantis , Kyrvasili Syrmo‐Styliani , Sourla Evdokia , Kouroukli Eleana , Sionidou Maria , Papadaki Eleni , Tsanakas John
Published: January 2022

Background

This study examined the drug‐specific and overall adherence of teenagers and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) to inhaled therapies, to assess the degree of adherence, stability over a period of 4 years, and its association with health outcomes.

Methods

Fifty‐five participants (30 women and 25 men) aged 14 years or older from two CF centers were enrolled in a retrospective review of inhaled medication adherence over 4 years. Adherence was assessed by the number of doses that were obtained by each participant based on the “e‐prescription.gr” platform and the calculation of the medication possession ratio (MPR).

Results

The mean composite MPR (cMPR) for the entire research period was 0.75 ± 0.19. A total of 43.4% of participants showed a variance of adherence <25%. Participants with stable adherence had a significantly higher mean cMPR compared with those with variable adherence (0.86 ± 0.16 vs. 0.66 ± 0.17, p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference between groups of patients with different degrees of mean cMPR and mean weight was observed (p = 0.011). Patients with a mean cMPR ≥0.80 weighed significantly more than those with moderate and low adherence. In addition, mean weight correlated significantly with the mean cMPR (Β [95% confidence interval] = 14.845 [0.191–29.498], r = 0.269, p = 0.047).

Conclusions

In our setting, the cMPR was easy to assess and showed that adherence was probably better than expected. The association of cMPR with weight should be further investigated. Stable adherence seemed to be related to high adherence. This observation could enhance our understanding of people with CF and their approach to treatment.
Assessment of Back‐End‐of‐Line Compatibility of Sputtered HfO2‐Based Ferroelectrics
Authors: Wang Xuetao , Mikolajick Thomas , Grube Matthias
Published: January 2022

The thermal compatibility of fully sputtered, ferroelectric TiN/HfxZr(1−x)O2/TiN thin‐film capacitors with back‐end‐of‐line processing is investigated. The sputtering power, ZrO2 concentration, and annealing temperature affect the crystal structure and ferroelectric properties of HfxZr(1−x)O2 (HZO) in different ways, which is revealed by the grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction and electric characterization. Moderate sputtering power and ZrO2 content favor the orthorhombic phase and higher remanent polarization. In contrast, low and high power or low and high ZrO2 concentrations increase the monoclinic and tetragonal/cubic phase fractions, respectively. For the first time, it is shown that annealing at 400 °C for 1 h can result in fully crystalline HZO films deposited by physical vapor deposition. Even pure HfO2 deposited from a 3 in. target with a sputtering power of 50 W exhibits some ferroelectric response after annealing at 400 °C and wakeup cycling.
Layer‐Dependent Effects of Interfacial Phase‐Change Memory for an Artificial Synapse
Authors: Kang Shin-young , Jin Soo-min , Lee Ju-young , Woo Dae-seong , Shim Tae-hun , Nam In-ho , Park Jea-gun , Sutou Yuji , Song Yun-heub
Published: January 2022

Two‐terminal‐based artificial synapses have attracted attention because their electronic properties can be applied to next‐generation computing. Herein, interfacial phase‐change memory (iPCM) devices based on sputter‐grown GeTe/Sb2Te3 are fabricated. The iPCM device exhibits excellent multilevel resistance switching via control of entropy by restricting the movement of Ge atoms. Based on this movement, the optimal pulse scheme and GeTe/Sb2Te3 layer are used to implement a tunable analog weight update of artificial synapses. The nonlinearity of 0.32 and 40 conductance states (GeTe/Sb2Te3)16 iPCM is achieved for long‐term potentiation and depression, respectively. This artificial synapse, which stably changes the gradual conductance value, has the potential for significant performance improvement of neuromorphic computing.
Antiinflammatory potential of nano‐curcumin as an alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in a placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Asadirad Ali , Nashibi Roohangiz , Khodadadi Ali , Ghadiri Ata A , Sadeghi Mahvash , Aminian Azam , Dehnavi Sajad
Published: January 2022

The present study conducted a placebo‐controlled clinical trial to evaluate the impact of nano‐curcumin on the inflammatory cytokines in mild‐to‐moderate hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. A total of 60 COVID‐19 patients were randomly divided into nano‐curcumin and control groups, and then they received 240 mg/day nano‐curcumin for 7 days. The clinical manifestation and laboratory parameters in patients were recorded on days 0 and seven. Also, SYBR Green real‐time PCR and ELISA techniques were implicated in assessing the mRNA expression of IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, IL‐6, MCP‐1, and TNF‐α and the serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α inflammatory mediators, respectively. Although the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters improved via the nano‐curcumin treatment, the mRNA expression of IFN‐γ (p = 0.006) and TNF‐α (p = 0.04) were significantly reduced. Besides, a considerable difference was observed between the nano‐curcumin and control groups in the expression of IFN‐γ (p = 0.001), IL‐1β (p = 0.0002), and IL‐6 (p = 0.008). In addition, there was a significant difference between the nano‐curcumin and control groups in the serum levels of IL‐1β (p = 0.042). The evidence demonstrated that nano‐curcumin could be implicated as a complementary medication to act as an antiinflammatory agent and inhibit inflammatory complications.
Fast pesticide analysis using low‐pressure gas chromatography paired with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with short collision cell technology
Authors: Jensen Kirk R. , Dane A. John , Cody Robert B.
Published: January 2022

Rationale

A proof of concept showing GC–MS/MS analysis time for pesticides can be dramatically reduced while maintaining a similar separation efficiency by combining a low‐pressure gas chromatography (LPGC) column with the enhanced selected reaction monitoring (SRM) switching speed of the short collision cell of a JEOL JMS‐TQ4000GC.

Methods

Triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (standard EI + at 70 eV) was used to measure pesticides eluting from a low‐pressure gas chromatograph capillary column. Three transitions for each of 244 pesticide compounds were measured within an 11‐min analysis time, and the data were checked to confirm the method's reproducibility and ability to distinguish all three transitions for each pesticide.

Results

All three transitions for all 244 pesticides were detected in the standard mixture at 1X concentration within the 11‐min analysis time. Relative standard deviation (RSD) of peak areas was less than 15% for 242 pesticides, and I/Q RSDs were less than 10% for 242 compounds. Retention time RSD over 15 replicates was less than 0.1%.

Conclusions

Results show that analysis time can be markedly decreased using an LPGC column, and that the ability of the short collision cell to distinguish a large number of coeluting peaks makes the two technologies a natural pairing. The effective measurement of pesticides within a short time could benefit any scientists doing pesticide analysis work.
Investigating the impact of eliciting and being responsive to students' initial ideas on productive disciplinary engagement across a unit
Authors: Gray Ron , Rogan‐Klyve Allyson , Canipe Martha M.
Published: January 2022

In this study, we examined the ways in which two middle school science teachers elicited and were responsive to students' initial science ideas for explaining an anchoring phenomenon while teaching the same model‐based learning unit focused on plate tectonics. Data sources included student models, classroom video, and classroom artifacts. Our analysis revealed a connection between the elicitation of initial ideas, teacher responsiveness to those ideas, and the continued use of those ideas by the students across the unit as evidenced in their individually constructed models. In both classrooms, variation in initial ideas seen on the first day narrowed as students engaged in activities designed to challenge their ideas and present the scientifically accepted explanation of the phenomenon. In one classroom, however, far more ideas were surfaced early, and those ideas were utilized by students as they made sense of the phenomenon. In the other classroom, far fewer ideas were surfaced early and those that were all but disappeared once the unit activities began suggesting student ideas were less likely to be utilized as a sense‐making resource. This study contributes to a growing understanding of the importance of eliciting and responding to students' initial ideas in students' productive disciplinary engagement across an instructional unit.
Effective grey‐box testing with partial FSM models
Authors: Sachtleben Robert , Peleska Jan
Published: January 2022

For partial, nondeterministic, finite state machines, a new conformance relation called strong reduction is presented. It complements other existing conformance relations in the sense that the new relation is well suited for model‐based testing of systems whose inputs are enabled or disabled, depending on the actual system state. Examples of such systems are graphical user interfaces and systems with interfaces that can be enabled or disabled in a mechanical way. We present a new test generation algorithm producing complete test suites for strong reduction. The suites are executed according to the grey‐box testing paradigm: it is assumed that the state‐dependent sets of enabled inputs can be identified during test execution, while the implementation states remain hidden, as in black‐box testing. We show that this grey‐box information is exploited by the generation algorithm in such a way that the resulting best‐case test suite size is only linear in the state space size of the reference model. Moreover, examples show that this may lead to significant reductions of test suite size in comparison to true black‐box testing for strong reduction.
Participatory approaches in water research: A review
Authors: Roque Anais , Wutich Amber , Quimby Barbara , Porter Sarah , Zheng Madeleine , Hossain Mohammed Jobayer , Brewis Alexandra
Published: January 2022

Participatory research approaches address a range of problems in water research, including the under‐valuation of local knowledge, exclusion of marginalized people, preferential treatment of elite and expert perspectives, and extractive and exploitative research practices. Beyond this, a number of participatory approaches to water research are designed to empower participants, democratize knowledge production, improve decision‐making, and help bring about new environmental futures. In this primer, we map participatory research approaches and explain how they have been applied to advance water research. Our review focuses on the following eight approaches: participatory action research, community‐based participatory research, participatory rural appraisal, stakeholder research, participatory modeling, photovoice, citizen science, and sustainable future scenarios. We conclude by discussing a new approach, Participatory Convergence research, including how it builds from other approaches and its prospects to advance water research.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Engineering Water > Methods
On the plane receding contact between two functionally graded layers using computational, finite element and artificial neural network methods
Authors: Öner Erdal , Şengül Şabano Bahar , Uzun Yaylacı Ecren , Adıyaman Gökhan , Yaylacı Murat , Birinci Ahmet
Published: January 2022

The frictionless double receding contact problem for two functionally graded (FG) layers pressed by a uniformly distributed load is addressed in this paper. The gradation in the layers is assumed to follow an exponential variation through the height with constant Poisson's ratios. The lower layer rests on a homogeneous half‐plane (HP). There is no adhesion between the FG layers or between the lower layer and the HP. The body forces of the FG layers and HP are ignored. First, the governing equations are reduced to a system of two singular integral equations with contact pressures and contact lengths as unknowns using Fourier transform techniques and boundary conditions. The integral equations are solved numerically using the Gauss‐Chebyshev integration formula. Then, a parametric finite element analysis is performed using the augmented contact method. Finally, the problem was extended based on the multilayer perceptron (MLP), an artificial neural network used for different problem parameters. The effects of stiffness parameters, the normalized load length, the ratio of shear moduli, the ratio of FG layer heights to the normalized contact lengths, and normalized maximum contact pressures are explored. The results of finite element analysis and the MLP approach are used to validate the normalized maximum contact pressures and contact lengths obtained from an analytical method based on elasticity theory, and finally, good agreement between these three methods results is obtained. The obtained results could help in designing multibody indentation systems with FGMs.
Epithelial Stem Cells: Making, Shaping and Breaking the Niche
Authors: Ferraces-Riegas Paula , Galbraith Anona C. , Doupé David P.
Published: January 2022

Epithelial stem cells maintain tissues throughout adult life and are tightly regulated by their microenvironmental niche to balance cell production and loss. These stem cells have been studied extensively as signal-receiving cells, responding to cues from other cell types and mechanical stimuli that comprise the niche. However, studies from a wide range of systems have identified epithelial stem cells as major contributors to their own microenvironment either through producing niche cells, acting directly as niche cells or regulating niche cells. The importance of stem cell contributions to the niche is particularly clear in cancer, where tumour cells extensively remodel their microenvironment to promote their survival and proliferation.
Moral Curiosity Cabinets: Listing and the Character Sketch in Addison and Steele’s Periodicals
Authors: Schön Theresa
Published: January 2022

In Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator, the character sketch—a genre which traditionally relies on listing the distinctive traits of socio-moral characters—functions as an arena of literary experiment in the service of entertaining and reforming contemporary society. The article shows that these playful texts adapt conventional forms of the list, namely the last will and testament as well as the library catalog, to represent more or less well-known types of men and women. They thus engage the readers’ attention in what emerges as a complex epistemological process.
More Than a Canon: Lists of Contents in British Poetry Anthologies
Authors: Lethbridge Stefanie
Published: January 2022

Criticism frequently questions the aesthetic or narrative qualities of lists and assigns them a primarily pragmatic function. The list (or table) of contents is typically identified as a reference tool and of little literary value in itself, merely pointing forward to what is to come in the book it is attached to. This chapter will argue in favor of the narrative, even literary, potential of the lists of contents for British poetry anthologies that goes beyond a straightforward reinforcement of the canon. Contextualized in a print product that claims to offer culturally relevant poetic heritage, these lists of contents co-determine cognitive and affective frames of reception and create narratives out of previously disconnected items, pandering to, in some cases even enforcing, the human predilection for creating teleological connections.
Evaluation eines strukturierten E‑Learning-basierten Ansatzes zur Vermittlung der CT-Anatomie der Nasennebenhöhlen bei Medizinstudierenden
Authors: Krahe Anna Marleen , Ketterer Manuel Christoph , Offergeld Christian , Hildenbrand Tanja
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Die radiologische Anatomie ist in vielen Ländern kein integraler Bestandteil des Medizinstudiums. Die Radiologie scheint für neue online-basierte Lehrmethoden besonders geeignet.

Ziel der Arbeit

Das Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die Eignung des E‑Learnings zur Einführung komplexer Lerninhalte, wie der CT-Anatomie (radiologische Anatomie in der Computertomographie), zu prüfen und zu prüfen, ob die Identifikation wichtiger anatomischer Normvarianten durch Medizinstudent(inn)en durch eine Computertomographie-Checkliste verbessert werden kann.

Material und Methoden

Medizinstudierende wurden gebeten, Computertomographien (CT) der Nasennebenhöhlen auf anatomische Normvarianten vor und nach der Einführung der CLOSE-Kriterien (cribriform plate = Lamina cribrosa, Lamina papyracea, Onodi-Zelle = Sphenoethmoidale Zelle, sphenoid sinus = Keilbeinhöhle, ethmoidal artery = Arteria ethmoidalis anterior) zu untersuchen. Sowohl die CT-Anatomie als auch die CLOSE-Kriterien wurden mittels E‑Learning vermittelt. Die Rate der korrekt identifizierten Normvarianten und die Ergebnisse für die einzelnen CLOSE-Items wurden ermittelt. Die subjektive Evaluation des Nutzens der Checkliste und des E‑Learnings erfolgte mithilfe eines Fragebogens.

Ergebnisse

Zehn Studierende nahmen an dieser Pilotstudie teil. Die Rate der korrekt identifizierten anatomischen Normvarianten verbesserte sich nach der Einführung der CLOSE-Kriterien signifikant von 33,3 auf 61,1 %. Die Analyse der einzelnen CLOSE-Items zeigte eine signifikante Verbesserung für C, S und E. Die subjektive Evaluation des E‑Learnings und der CT-Checkliste waren sehr positiv.

Schlussfolgerung

Komplexe Lerninhalte können Medizinstudierenden mittels E‑Learning vermittelt werden, auch wenn bisher kein Vorwissen in diesem Bereich besteht. Das E‑Learning wird als angemessene Methode zur Einführung der Thematik beurteilt. Ein strukturiertes Vorgehen mithilfe der CLOSE-Kriterien kann die Erkennung anatomischer Normvarianten signifikant verbessern.
Cohort profile: biological pathways of risk and resilience in Syrian refugee children (BIOPATH)
Authors: McEwen Fiona S. , Popham Cassandra , Moghames Patricia , Smeeth Demelza , de Villiers Bernadette , Saab Dahlia , Karam Georges , Fayyad John , Karam Elie , Pluess Michael
Published: January 2022

The BIOPATH cohort was established to explore the interplay of psychosocial and biological factors in the development of resilience and mental health problems in Syrian refugee children. Based in Lebanon, a middle-income country significantly impacted by the refugee crisis, it is the first such cohort of refugees in the Middle East. Families were recruited from informal tented settlements in the Beqaa region using purposive cluster sampling. At baseline (October 2017–January 2018), N = 3188 individuals participated [n = 1594 child–caregiver dyads; child gender, 52.6% female; mean (SD) age = 11.44 (2.44) years, range = 6–19]. Re-participation rate at 1-year follow-up was 62.8%. Individual interviews were conducted with children and primary caregivers and biological samples collected from children. Measures include: (1) children’s well-being and mental health problems (using tools validated against clinical interviews in a subsample of the cohort); (2) psychosocial risk and protective factors at the level of the individual (e.g. coping strategies), family (e.g. parent–child relationship), community (e.g. collective efficacy), and wider context (e.g. services); (3) saliva samples for genetic and epigenetic (methylation) analyses; (4) hair samples to measure cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone. This cohort profile provides details about sampling and recruitment, data collection and measures, demographic data, attrition and potential bias, key findings on resilience and mental health problems in children and strengths and limitations of the cohort. Researchers interested in accessing data should contact Professor Michael Pluess at Queen Mary University of London, UK (e-mail: m.pluess@qmul.ac.uk).
Pattern recognition methodologies for pollen grain image classification: a survey
Authors: Viertel Philipp , König Matthias
Published: January 2022

In a large number of scientific areas, such as immunology, forensics, paleoecology, and archeology, the study of pollen, i.e., palynology, plays an important role: from tracking climate changes, studying allergies, to forensic investigations or honey origin analysis. Since the mid-nineties of the last century, the idea for an automated solution to the problem of pollen identification and classification was formulated and since then, several attempts and proposals have been made and presented, based on different technologies, in particular in the field of Computer Vision. However, as of 2021 microscopic analyses are performed mainly manually by highly trained specialists, although the capabilities of artificial intelligence, especially Deep Neural Networks, are steadily increasing. In this work, we analyzed various state-of-the-art research work concerning pollen detection and classification and compared their methods and results. The problems, such as data accessibility, different methods of Machine Learning, and the intended applicability of the proposed solutions are explored. We also identified crucial issues that require further work and research. Our work will provide a thorough view on the current state of the art, its issues, and possibilities for the future.
A Proposed Classification and Treatment Algorithm for Rectus Diastasis: A Prospective Study
Authors: Keramidas Evangelos , Rodopoulou Stavroula , Gavala Maria-Ioanna
Published: January 2022

Background

This study presents a classification system and treatment method to correct Rectus diastasis (RD) during abdominoplasty.

Materials and methods

One hundred and sixty seven patients undergoing abdominoplasty were enrolled between April 2014 and January 2018. Forty-three patients did not present with RD and were excluded from the analysis. Mean age was 40.32 years, mean BMI was 23.84, and minimum follow-up was 24 months. A four-type (A: mild 2–3cm, B: moderate 3–5cm, C: severe 5–7cm, and D: very severe 7–9cm) classification system is described. A different treatment method is performed in each category using continuous and interrupted absorbable sutures. Postoperatively patients filled up a questionnaire that involved the level of pain, the postoperative day they performed specific indoor/outdoor activities, and the evaluation of the aesthetic result.

Results

No statistically significant differences were observed between the four RD types regarding pain, complications, and return to specific activities. All types of RD had the same low rate complication profile. The seroma rate was 0.81%. The infection rate was 0.81%, and the thromboembolism and the pneumonic embolism rate was 0%. After 2–6 years of follow-up no clinical recurrence of rectus diastasis was observed. All reoperations (14.52%) were performed due to scar deformities. Mean pain score levels were very low (<1.5) and within a week most patients returned to specific indoor and outdoor activities. Most patients were extremely satisfied with the results.

Conclusions

In this article, we present an updated classification system and treatment protocol to provide surgeons a safe and standardized method that produces high-quality aesthetic results.

Level of evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Methods for statistical fine-mapping and their applications to auto-immune diseases
Authors: Wang Qingbo S. , Huang Hailiang
Published: January 2022

Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of loci in the human genome that are associated with different traits, understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the association signals identified in GWAS remains challenging. Statistical fine-mapping is a method aiming to refine GWAS signals by evaluating which variant(s) are truly causal to the phenotype. Here, we review the types of statistical fine-mapping methods that have been widely used to date, with a focus on recently developed functionally informed fine-mapping (FIFM) methods that utilize functional annotations. We then systematically review the applications of statistical fine-mapping in autoimmune disease studies to highlight the value of statistical fine-mapping in biological contexts.
Histone 3 lysine 4 monomethylation supports activation of transcription in S. cerevisiae during nutrient stress
Authors: Deshpande Neha , Jordan Rachel , Henderson Pozzi Michelle , Bryk Mary
Published: January 2022

Mono-methylation of the fourth lysine on the N-terminal tail of histone H3 was found to support the induction of RNA polymerase II transcription in S. cerevisiae during nutrient stress. In S. cerevisiae, the mono-, di- and tri-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4) is catalyzed by the protein methyltransferase, Set1. The three distinct methyl marks on H3K4 act in discrete ways to regulate transcription. Nucleosomes enriched with tri-methylated H3K4 are usually associated with active transcription whereas di-methylated H3K4 is associated with gene repression. Mono-methylated H3K4 has been shown to repress gene expression in S. cerevisiae and is detected at enhancers and promoters in eukaryotes. S. cerevisiae set1Δ mutants unable to methylate H3K4 exhibit growth defects during histidine starvation. The growth defects are rescued by either a wild-type allele of SET1 or partial-function alleles of set1, including a mutant that predominantly generates H3K4me1 and not H3K4me3. Rescue of the growth defect is associated with induction of the HIS3 gene. Growth defects observed when set1Δ cultures were starved for isoleucine and valine were also rescued by wild-type SET1 or partial-function set1 alleles. The results show that H3K4me1, in the absence of H3K4me3, supports transcription of the HIS3 gene and expression of one or more of the genes required for biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine during nutrient stress. Set1-like methyltransferases are evolutionarily conserved, and research has linked their functions to developmental gene regulation and several cancers in higher eukaryotes. Identification of mechanisms of H3K4me1-mediated activation of transcription in budding yeast will provide insight into gene regulation in all eukaryotes.
The DONALD study as a longitudinal sensor of nutritional developments: iodine and salt intake over more than 30 years in German children
Authors: Remer Thomas , Hua Yifan , Esche Jonas , Thamm Michael
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency was present in large parts of Germany up to the beginning 1990s and improved from then on. Current epidemiological data on spot urine iodine measurements in German children strongly suggest the re-occurrence of an impaired iodine status. We thus examined whether this re-occurrence is identifiable in more detail, through iodine analyses of 24-h urine samples of a well-characterized cohort of German children in whom samples have been systematically collected from 1985 onward. As iodized salt is a major source for iodine supply, urinary sodium excretion was additionally studied.

Methods

Daily iodine and sodium excretions were measured in 2600 24-h urine samples collected between 1985 and 2018 by 677 healthy children aged 6–12 years (participants of the DONALD study). These data were compared with 24-h iodine and sodium excretion estimates obtained from spot urine samples collected in the representative German Health Interview and Examination Surveys for Children and Adolescents KiGGS-baseline (2003–2006) and KiGGS-wave-2 (2014–2017).

Results

Between 1985 and1992, DONALD participants started with a median daily iodine excretion level of 40.1 µg/d. Then, during 1993–2003, iodine excretions mounted up to an approximate plateau (~ 84.8 µg/d). This plateau lasted until 2012. Thereafter, iodine concentrations started to decrease again resulting in a median iodine excretion of only 58.9 µg/d in 2018. Sodium excretion, however, had increased. The marked decrease in iodine status along with an abundant sodium excretion corresponded closely with nationwide KiGGS data.

Conclusions

As exemplified for the clearly worsening iodine status in German children, longitudinal cohort studies collecting detailed biomarker-based prospective data have the potential to reliably capture health-relevant nutritional changes and trends, applicable on a more comprehensive and even representative population level.
Full endoscopic anterior intrapelvic plate osteosynthesis: a cadaveric feasibility study
Authors: Hartel Maximilian J. , Althoff Gerrit , Wolter Stefan , Ondruschka Benjamin , Dietz Eric , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Thiesen Darius M.
Published: January 2022

In this investigation, it was assumed that it must be possible to visualize the intrapelvic aspect as accustomed by pelvic surgeons using the anterior intrapelvic (modified Stoppa) approach. Moreover, it was hypothesized, that plate mountings will not only be possible for the symphysis but also at the supra- and infrapectineal aspect as well as to the posterior column. Ten anonymized cadaveric specimens were included in this study. A standard laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach was used. A total of 10 landmarks were defined that are usually within reach in the open anterior intrapelvic (AIP) approach. Moreover, five different plate mountings were tested. The locations were chosen in accordance with the indication spectrum suitable for open surgery through the traditional AIP approach. It was possible to gain intrapelvic visibility in seven of ten cases. In all of those seven cases, it was technically possible to place plates to the symphysis, superior pubic ramus, as well as longer anterior column plates up to the aspect posterior of the acetabulum. In the last four of the seven cases, it was possible to mount plates to the infrapectineal aspect as well as the posterior column, too. The team, previously trained in arthroscopic surgical techniques as well as pelvic trauma surgery, observed a steep learning curve. This investigation demonstrated, that endoscopic anterior intrapelvic plate osteosynthesis was feasible in the majority of the cases in a series of ten cadaveric models. New instruments will be needed such as extra-long rasp elevators, ball-spikes as well as devices to hold and position plates and extra-long self-holding screwdrivers. With these, endoscopic pelvic surgery will likely be a realistic option for selected pelvic trauma cases in the future.
The Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group (NANSIG)—ten years of cultivating interest in clinical neurosciences
Authors: Park Jay J. , Ooi Setthasorn Zhi Yang , Gillespie Conor S. , Bandyopadhyay Soham , Chowdhury Yasir A. , Solomou Georgios , Gough Melissa , Kanmounye Ulrick Sidney , Yanez Touzet Alvaro , Poon Michael T. C. , Demetriades Andreas K. , Jenkinson Michael D. , Jenkins Alistair ,   Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group (NANSIG)
Published: January 2022

Collaboration and successful teamworking are important components of clinical practise, and these skills should be cultivated early in medical school. The breadth of current medical school curricula means that students often have limited exposure to clinical neurosciences. Since its inception in 2009, the Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group (NANSIG) has become a national (UK and Republic of Ireland) example of student and junior doctor synergistic collaboration to deliver educational materials, research, conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as advocating for diversity in this field. Recently, it has expanded to incorporate an international audience and cater for a larger group of young medical professionals. The organisation has overcome numerous challenges and is constantly innovating new approaches to harness the necessary knowledge, skills and network to succeed in a career in neurosciences, neurology and neurosurgery. This article summarises the initiatives undertaken by the group over its first 10 years of existence and its organisational structure, as well as its future plans.
Data-driven model of the local wind field over two small lakes in Jyväskylä, Finland
Authors: Shuku Takayuki , Ropponen Janne , Juntunen Janne , Suito Hiroshi
Published: January 2022

This study presents a data-driven model of the local wind field over two small lakes in Jyväskylä, Finland. Five temporary monitoring stations installed during the summers of 2015 and 2016 observed wind speed/direction around the two lakes. In addition, an official meteorological station located 15 km north of the lakes is permanently available. Our goal was to develop a model that could evaluate wind speed and direction over the two lakes using only data from the permanent station. Statistical analysis for the spatio-temporal wind data revealed that (1) local wind speed is correlated with the elevation and its cyclic pattern is identical to that of the official-station data, and (2) the local wind direction field is spatially homogeneous and is strongly correlated with the official-station data. Based on these results, we built two regression models for estimating spatial distribution of local wind speed and directions based on the digital elevation model (DEM) and official-station data. We compared the predicted wind speeds/directions by the proposed model with the corresponding observation data and a numerical result for model validation. We found that the proposed model could effectively simulate heterogeneous local wind fields and considers uncertainty of estimates.
Meaningful expression of uncertainty in measurement
Authors: Cox Maurice , O’Hagan Anthony
Published: January 2022

The Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM) has been the enduring guide on measurement uncertainty for metrologists since its first publication in 1993. According to the GUM, a measurement should always be accompanied by a reasoned and defensible expression of uncertainty, and the primary such expression is the standard uncertainty. In this article, we distinguish between the use of an expression of uncertainty as information for the recipient of a measurement result and its use when propagating uncertainty about inputs to a measurement model in order to derive the uncertainty in a measurand. We propose a new measure of uncertainty, the characteristic uncertainty, and argue that it is more fit for these purposes than standard uncertainty. For the purpose of reporting a measurement result, we demonstrate that standard uncertainty does not have a meaningful interpretation for the recipient of a measurement result and can be infinite. These deficiencies are resolved by the characteristic uncertainty, which we therefore recommend for use in reporting. For similar reasons, we advocate the use of the median estimate as the measured value. For the purpose of propagating uncertainty in a measurement model, we propose simple propagation of the median and characteristic uncertainty and show through some examples that this characteristic uncertainty framework is simpler and at least as reliable and accurate as the propagation of estimate, standard uncertainty and effective degrees of freedom according to the GUM uncertainty framework.
The Sequential Composition of Collaborative Groups’ Emotion Regulation in Negative Socio-emotional Interactions
Authors: Mänty Kristiina , Järvenoja Hanna , Törmänen Tiina
Published: January 2022

Research indicates that to adjust a group’s emotional atmosphere for successful collaborative learning, group members need to engage in group-level emotion regulation. However, less is known about the whys and ways regulation is activated at a group level. This research explores what triggers 12-year-old primary school students’ (N = 37) negative socio-emotional interactions during a collaborative science task and whether the nature of the trigger makes a difference to group-level emotion regulation strategies and their sequential composition in these interactions. Groups’ collaborative working was videotaped, and triggers and strategies were analysed. The results reveal that the triggers of negative interactions are linked to the groups’ activated regulation strategies. Motivation control strategies were more represented in situations where negative interactions were triggered by task-related issues, whereas socially related triggers were associated with behavioural regulation strategies. Furthermore, the results illustrate that strategies are concatenated to a series of strategic actions, which mostly begin with sharing an awareness of the trigger. The results indicate a need to focus on the series of strategic actions activated in group interactions. This will help reveal how socially shared regulatory processes build a group’s emotional atmosphere.
The diagnostic value of grey-scale inversion technique in chest radiography
Authors: Ledda Roberta Eufrasia , Silva Mario , McMichael Nicole , Sartorio Carlotta , Branchi Cristina , Milanese Gianluca , Nayak Sundeep M. , Sverzellati Nicola
Published: January 2022

Purpose

We investigated whether the additional use of grey-scale inversion technique improves the interpretation of eight chest abnormalities, in terms of diagnostic performance and interobserver variability.

Material and methods

A total of 507 patients who underwent a chest computed tomography (CT) examination and a chest radiography (CXR) within 24 h were enrolled. CT was the standard of reference. Images were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of atelectasis, consolidation, interstitial abnormality, nodule, mass, pleural effusion, pneumothorax and rib fractures. Four CXR reading settings, involving 3 readers were organized: only standard; only inverted; standard followed by inverted; and inverted followed by standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy, assessed with the area under the curve (AUC), and their 95% confidence interval were calculated for each reader and setting. Interobserver agreement was tested by Cohen’s K test with quadratic weights (Kw) and its 95%CI.

Results

CXR sensitivity % for any finding was 35.1 (95% CI: 33 to 37) for setting 1, 35.9 (95% CI: 33 to 37), for setting 2, 32.59 (95% CI: 30 to 34) for setting 3, and 35.56 (95% CI: 33 to 37) for setting 4; specificity % 93.78 (95% CI: 91 to 95), 93.92 (95% CI: 91 to 95), 94.43 (95% CI: 92 to 96), 93.86 (95% CI: 91 to 95); PPV % 56.22 (95% CI: 54.2 to 58.2), 56.49 (95% CI: 54.5 to 58.5), 57.15 (95% CI: 55 to 59), 56.75 (95% CI: 54 to 58); NPV % 85.66 (95% CI: 83 to 87), 85.74 (95% CI: 83 to 87), 85.29 (95% CI: 83 to 87), 85.73 (95% CI: 83 to 87); AUC values 0.64 (95% CI: 0.62 to 0.66), 0.65 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.67), 0.64 (95% CI: 0.62 to 0.66), 0.65 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.67); Kw values 0.42 (95% CI: 0.4 to 0.44), 0.40 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.42), 0.42 (95% CI: 0.4 to 0.44), 0.41 (95% CI: 0.39 to 0.43) for settings 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

Conclusions

No significant advantages were observed in the use of grey-scale inversion technique neither over standard display mode nor in combination at the detection of eight chest abnormalities.
Competitive Advantages in a Hostile, Regulated Environment: Four Multinational Banks in India
Authors: Caussat Paul
Published: January 2022

International business literature has historically been divided between scholars exploring the local obstacles foreign firms face (thereby overlooking foreign firms’ capacity to deploy advantages locally) and those examining the internationalisation of firm-specific advantages (thereby overlooking the peculiarities of the local context in which foreign firms deploy their advantages). We still do not completely understand the process by which multinational enterprises (MNEs) – especially service MNEs – develop competitive advantages in relation to the host environment. Using a multiple-case study of four multinational banking subsidiaries in India, this research aims to explore the variety of competitive advantages deployed by foreign multinational banks (MNBs) in a hostile, competitive environment: the Indian banking industry. This article’s main contribution is to bridge the gap between the obstacle-oriented internationalisation literature and the advantage-oriented literature through an exploration and comparison of a comprehensive set of locally relevant advantages deployed by the four MNBs studied. We introduce the concepts of global anchoring and local anchoring to make sense of the directionality of subsidiaries’ competitive advantages, and we explore their broad associations with subsidiaries’ commercial and financial performance. We conclude by discussing three theoretical lenses, situated at the intersection of the obstacle-oriented and advantage-oriented literatures, which can potentially account for the origins of competitive advantages in our sample, and we develop a series of propositions for future research.
Agonistische Online-Öffentlichkeiten
Authors: Frieß Dennis , Gilleßen Rabea
Published: January 2022

Das Internet hat die Möglichkeiten zur Konfliktaustragung radikal verändert. Insbesondere soziale Medien eröffnen agonistische Arenen, in denen konträre Positionen aufeinanderprallen. Obgleich die theoretische Konzeption des Internets als agonistische Sphäre nicht neu ist, liegen bisher kaum inhaltsanalytische Instrumente vor, die eine ganzheitliche Betrachtung agonistischer Diskursstrukturen ermöglichen. Der Beitrag will diese Lücke schließen, indem er einen Vorschlag zur Operationalisierung von Agonismus unterbreitet. Er wirbt damit gleichsam für einen Perspektivenwechsel bei der Analyse politischer Online-Kommunikation vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Debatten zu digitalen Öffentlichkeiten. Während deliberative Theorien von einem verständigungsorientierten Kommunikationsmodus ausgehen, an dessen Ende prinzipiell eine Form von Konsens möglich ist, stehen im Agonismus Konflikt, Gegnerschaft, Hegemonie, kollektive Identitäten und Leidenschaften im Vordergrund. Vor dem Hintergrund der Arbeiten von Chantal Mouffe arbeitet der Beitrag diese theoretischen Dimensionen heraus. Mit Blick auf bisherige Online-Kommunikationsforschung wird argumentiert, dass das Internet vielerorts agonistische Kommunikationsräume eröffnet, die es weiter zu analysieren gilt. Daran anschließend wird eine inhaltsanalytische Operationalisierung vorgeschlagen und im Rahmen einer Fallstudie illustriert. Die Ergebnisse einer Inhaltanalyse von 945 Nutzerkommentaren auf den Facebook-Seiten der im Bundestag vertretenen Parteien zeigen, dass das vorgeschlagene Instrument geeignet ist, um agonistische Diskursstrukturen zu identifizieren und zu analysieren. Der Beitrag diskutiert abschließend das vorgestellte Instrument und skizziert eine agonistische Forschungsagenda, wobei die Deliberationsforschung als Inspiration genutzt wird.
An actionable understanding of societal transitions: the X-curve framework
Authors: Hebinck Aniek , Diercks Gijs , von Wirth Timo , Beers P. J. , Barsties Lisa , Buchel Sophie , Greer Rachel , van Steenbergen Frank , Loorbach Derk
Published: January 2022

Sustainability transition research seeks to understand the patterns and dynamics of structural societal change as well as unearth strategies for governance. However, existing frameworks emphasize innovation and build-up over exnovation and break-down. This limits their potential in making sense of the turbulent and chaotic dynamics of current transition-in-the-making. Addressing this gap, our paper elaborates on the development and use of the X-curve framework. The X-curve provides a simplified depiction of transitions that explicitly captures the patterns of build-up, breakdown, and their interactions. Using three cases, we illustrate the X-curve’s main strength as a framework that can support groups of people to develop a shared understanding of the dynamics in transitions-in-the-making. This helps them reflect upon their roles, potential influence, and the needed capacities for desired transitions. We discuss some challenges in using the X-curve framework, such as participants’ grasp of ‘chaos’, and provide suggestions on how to address these challenges and strengthen the frameworks’ ability to support understanding and navigation of transition dynamics. We conclude by summarizing its main strength and invite the reader to use it, reflect on it, build on it, and judge its value for action research on sustainability transitions themselves.
Hydrochloric acid-treated Bacillus subtilis ghosts induce IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in murine macrophage
Authors: Kim Young-Min , Lee Kwang-Su , Kim Won-Mun , Kim Min , Park Han-Oh , Choi Chang Won , Han Joong-Soo , Park Shin-Young , Lee Ki-Sung
Published: January 2022

Background

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty cell envelopes commonly generated using Gram-negative bacteria; they represent a potential platform for efficient adjuvant and vaccine delivery systems. However, the efficient production of BGs from bacteria in a short period of time is challenging.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of producing BGs in the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis using various chemicals, and the potential application of BGs as a novel immunomodulatory agent.

Results

In this study, Bacillus subtilis ghosts (BSGs) were generated, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of hydrochloric acid (HCl; 6.25 mg/mL), sulfuric acid (H2SO4; 3.125 mg/mL), and nitric acid (HNO3; 6.25 mg/mL). Among the BSGs generated using these chemicals, HCl-induced BSGs were completely DNA-free as confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of transmembrane lysis tunnel structures in HCl-induced BSGs. Murine macrophages exposed to the HCl-induced BSGs at a concentration of 1 × 105 CFU/mL showed a cell viability of 97.8%. Additionally, HCl-induced BSGs upregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6. Furthermore, we found differences in the protein expression profiles between intact live bacteria and BSGs using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with peptide mass fingerprinting/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the HCl-induced BSGs may be potentially safe and effective candidates for inactivated bacterial vaccines and/or immunostimulants.