bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Construction of Conservative Semi-Lagrangian IMEX Advection Schemes for Multiscale Time Dependent PDEs
Authors: Boscheri Walter , Tavelli Maurizio , Pareschi Lorenzo
Published: February 2022

This article is devoted to the construction of a new class of semi-Lagrangian (SL) schemes with implicit-explicit (IMEX) Runge-Kutta (RK) time stepping for PDEs involving multiple space-time scales. The semi-Lagrangian (SL) approach fully couples the space and time discretization, thus making the use of RK strategies particularly difficult to be combined with. First, a simple scalar advection-diffusion equation is considered as a prototype PDE for the development of a high order formulation of the semi-Lagrangian IMEX algorithms. The advection part of the PDE is discretized explicitly at the aid of a SL technique, while an implicit discretization is employed for the diffusion terms. In this way, an unconditionally stable numerical scheme is obtained, that does not suffer any CFL-type stability restriction on the maximum admissible time step. Second, the SL-IMEX approach is extended to deal with hyperbolic systems with multiple scales, including balance laws, that involve shock waves and other discontinuities. A conservative scheme is then crucial to properly capture the wave propagation speed and thus to locate the discontinuity and the plateau exhibited by the solution. A novel SL technique is proposed, which is based on the integration of the governing equations over the space-time control volume which arises from the motion of each grid point. High order of accuracy is ensured by the usage of IMEX RK schemes combined with a Cauchy–Kowalevskaya procedure that provides a predictor solution within each space-time element. The one-dimensional shallow water equations (SWE) are chosen to validate the new conservative SL-IMEX schemes, where convection and pressure fluxes are treated explicitly and implicitly, respectively. The asymptotic-preserving (AP) property of the novel schemes is also studied considering a relaxation PDE system for the SWE. A large suite of convergence studies for both the non-conservative and the conservative version of the novel class of methods demonstrates that the formal order of accuracy is achieved and numerical evidences about the conservation property are shown. The AP property for the corresponding relaxation system is also investigated.
Healthcare design to improve safe doffing of personal protective equipment for care of patients with COVID-19
Authors: Machry Herminia , Matić Zorana , Oh Yeinn , DuBose Jennifer R. , Morgan Jill S. , Love Kari L. , Jacob Jesse T. , Zimring Craig M.
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Understand how the built environment can affect safety and efficiency outcomes during doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient care.

Study design:

We conducted (1) field observations and surveys administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) performing PPE doffing, (2) focus groups with HCWs and infection prevention experts, and (3) a with healthcare design experts.

Settings:

This study was conducted in 4 inpatient units treating patients with COVID-19, in 3 hospitals of a single healthcare system.

Participants:

The study included 24 nurses, 2 physicians, 1 respiratory therapist, and 2 infection preventionists.

Results:

The doffing task sequence and the layout of doffing spaces varied considerably across sites, with field observations showing most doffing tasks occurring around the patient room door and PPE support stations. Behaviors perceived as most risky included touching contaminated items and inadequate hand hygiene. Doffing space layout and types of PPE storage and work surfaces were often associated with inadequate cleaning and improper storage of PPE. Focus groups and the design charrette provided insights on how design affording standardization, accessibility, and flexibility can support PPE doffing safety and efficiency in this context.

Conclusions:

There is a need to define, organize and standardize PPE doffing spaces in healthcare settings and to understand the environmental implications of COVID-19–specific issues related to supply shortage and staff workload. Low-effort and low-cost design adaptations of the layout and design of PPE doffing spaces may improve HCW safety and efficiency in existing healthcare facilities.
On Internal Structure, Categorical Structure, and Representation
Authors: Dewar Neil
Published: February 2022

If categorical equivalence is a good criterion of theoretical equivalence, then it would seem that if some class of mathematical structures is represented as a category, then any other class of structures categorically equivalent to it will have the same representational capacities. Hudetz (2019a) has presented an apparent counterexample to this claim; in this note, I argue that the counterexample fails.
Glutamine supplementation moderately affects growth, plasma metabolite and free amino acid patterns in neonatal low birth weight piglets
Authors: Li Zeyang , Sciascia Quentin L. , Görs Solvig , Nguyen Nga , Rayatdoost Baghal Farahnaz , Schregel Johannes , Tuchscherer Armin , Zentek Jürgen , Metges Cornelia C.
Published: February 2022

Low birth weight (LBW) neonates show impaired growth compared with normal birth weight (NBW) neonates. Glutamine (Gln) supplementation benefits growth of weaning piglets, while the effect on neonates is not sufficiently clear. We examined the effect of neonatal Gln supplementation on piglet growth, milk intake and metabolic parameters. Sow-reared pairs of newborn LBW (0·8–1·2 kg) and NBW (1·4–1·8 kg) male piglets received Gln (1 g/kg body mass (BM)/d; Gln-LBW, Gln-NBW; n 24/group) or isonitrogenous alanine (1·22 g/kg BM/d; Ala-LBW; Ala-NBW; n 24/group) supplementation at 1–5 or 1–12 d of age (daily in three equal portions at 07:00, 12:00 and 17:00 by syringe feeding). We measured piglet BM, milk intake (1, 11–12 d), plasma metabolite, insulin, amino acid (AA) and liver TAG concentrations (5, 12 d). The Gln-LBW group had higher BM (+7·5%, 10 d, P = 0·066; 11–12 d, P < 0·05) and milk intake (+14·7%, P = 0·015) than Ala-LBW. At 5 d, Ala-LBW group had higher plasma TAG (+34·7%, P < 0·1) and lower carnosine (–22·5%, P < 0·05) than Ala-NBW and Gln-LBW, and higher liver TAG (+66·9%, P = 0·029) than Ala-NBW. At 12 d, plasma urea was higher (+37·5%, P < 0·05) with Gln than Ala supplementation. Several proteinogenic AA in plasma were lower (P < 0·05) in Ala-NBW v. Gln-NBW. Plasma arginine was higher (P < 0·05) in Gln-NBW v Ala-NBW piglets (5, 12 d). Supplemental Gln moderately improved growth and milk intake and affected lipid metabolism in LBW piglets and AA metabolism in NBW piglets, suggesting effects on intestinal and liver function.
The need for national livestock surveillance in Pakistan
Authors: Aamir Shahzad Muhammad
Published: February 2022

Ranked amongst the top five milk-producing countries globally, the Pakistan dairy industry can help to overcome food shortage and hunger, alleviate poverty and positively impact economic growth. This influencing role could potentially be more significant while the COVID-19 pandemic severely affects humanity, challenges the economy and increases the risk of global food shortage. However, its large national population of dairy livestock contrasts with Pakistan's top-five ranking, indeed, four to five Pakistani cows produce milk equivalent to one dairy cow of countries with a well-developed dairy industry. Low milk yield per cow negatively impacts the national production and compromises the development of an efficient processing sector, such that consumers are very often forced to use adulterated milk sold by local ‘milkmen.’ As a consequence, while committed to alleviating global hunger, Pakistan imports in excess of half a million tons of milk and milk-based products annually. Many studies have identified unproductive, inefficient and imprecise management issues combined with poor genetics and imbalanced nutrition as the leading barriers to improvement in the Pakistani dairy livestock sector. At an individual level, lack of awareness, affordability issues, illiteracy and low ambition of a large percentile of dairy farmers creates additional significant barriers. To address low productivity and poor genetics, Pakistani corporate farms and wealthier individual farmers import genetically improved breeds to attain high milk yields. However, they are then faced with the challenge of managing such breeds to attain sustainable and persistent milk yields under Pakistani climatic conditions, often risking excessive culling even to the point of business liquidation. In developed dairy industries, automated sensor-based livestock management systems are now available to help monitor, compute, and optimize procedures in real-time and are proven to increase productivity and profitability. The term precision livestock farming (PLF) is used to describe systems that monitor individual animals or groups of animals to overcome management deficiencies and optimize productivity. My stance in this Opinion Paper is that adopting and utilizing such precision technologies may support Pakistan in raising its livestock resources toward greater productivity, thereby helping to overcome the global food shortage.
Can ectopic right coronary from the left sinus have a different course than intramural? A case of ectopic right with retroaortic course
Authors: Angelini Paolo , Uribe Carlo , Hernandez Eduardo
Published: February 2022

Retrocardiac course of an ectopic right coronary artery is newly described. The alternative (usual) course of an anomalous right coronary from the left sinus of Valsalva is pre-aortic and intramural, with stenosis. In the present exceptional case, there was no stenosis.
Stylistic Duality in Gabriel Fauré's Music for Pauline Viardot's Salon
Authors: Sobaskie James William
Published: February 2022

When Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) became a ‘regular’ at the Parisian salon of opera legend Pauline Viardot in 1871, he encountered businessmen and politicians in addition to aristocrats and socialites, plus artists and authors as well as amateur musicians and professional peers. Encouraged by Madame Viardot and inspired by her ‘artistic salon’, Fauré produced sophisticated works with stylistic duality: music that appealed to and satisfied both intuitive and analytic listeners.

This essay examines three of Fauré's compositions that feature stylistic duality, each dedicated to a member of the Viardot family. These include two early mélodies, ‘Chanson du pêcheur (Lamento)’ (1872) and ‘Au bord de l'eau’ (1875), plus the Romance pour violon (1877). It demonstrates that these pieces, which sought to engage a diverse audience and involve each member in an individualized and interactive aesthetic experience, reveal considerable sophistication below their immediately attractive surfaces. This article also avers that abandonment of misconceptions and prejudices is essential to full appreciation of Gabriel Fauré's refined and innovative art.
Ionospheric Topside Diffusive Flux and the Formation of Summer Nighttime Ionospheric Electron Density Enhancement Over Millstone Hill
Authors: Cai Yihui , Yue Xinan , Wang Wenbin , Zhang Shun‐Rong , Liu Huixin , Lei Jiuhou , Ren Zhipeng , Chen Yiding , Ding Feng , Ren Dexin
Published: February 2022

Ionospheric F‐region electron density is anomalously higher in the evening than during the daytime on many occasions in the summer in geomagnetic mid‐latitude regions. This unexpected ionospheric diurnal variation has been studied for several decades. The underlying processes have been suggested to be related to meridional winds, topside influx arising from sunset ionospheric collapse, and other factors. However, substantial controversies remain unresolved. Using a numerical model driven by the statistical topside O+ diffusive flux from the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar data, we provide new insight into the competing roles of topside diffusive flux, neutral winds, and electric fields in forming the evening density peak. Simulations indicate that while meridional winds, which turn equatorward before sunset, are essential to sustain the daytime ionization near dusk, the topside diffusive flux is critically important for the formation and timing of the summer evening density peak.
Zebra Stripe Patterns in Energetic Ion Spectra at Saturn
Authors: Sun Y. X. , Hao Y.‐X. , Roussos E. , Zong Q.‐G. , Liu Y. , Zhou X. Z. , Yue C. , Krupp N.
Published: February 2022

Magnetospheric convective electric fields that could radially transport particles adiabatically, may leave their imprints in the form of energy‐time dispersed patterns termed ”zebra stripes”. Inspired by comprehensive studies on zebra stripes in Earth's electron radiation belts, similar electron signatures were found and explained in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Using Cassini Magnetosphere Imaging Instrument observations, we demonstrate that the zebra‐stripes in proton and water group ion spectrograms at the energy range from 30 keV to ∼1 MeV, which coexist with electron zebra‐stripes, can be traced to the same electric field, even though the associated radial flows were originally thought to be too slow to disturb the fast azimuthal energetic ion drift. The simultaneous observations of zebra stripes in electrons and ions further establish the importance of the planet's noon‐midnight electric field as a regulator of radiation belt dynamics.
Development of a Stepwise‐Clustered Multi‐Catchment Hydrological Model for Quantifying Interactions in Regional Climate‐Runoff Relationships
Authors: Wang F. , Huang G. H. , Li Y. P. , Cheng G. H.
Published: February 2022

The concurrent variations of multi‐catchment runoffs exist widely in natural hydrological systems. Approaching such variations requires integrated analyses of not only the climate‐runoff relationships within individual catchments but also the distributive interactions among multiple catchments. In this study, a stepwise‐clustered multi‐catchment hydrological model (SCMW) is proposed to tackle the interactive relationships among multi‐catchment runoffs and their concurrent variations within a watershed system. Through multivariate inference based on Wilks likelihood ratio criterions and F tests, the proposed model can deal with both continuous and discrete variables as well as nonlinear relations among multiple variables without the assumptions of functional relationships. The proposed SCMW is applied to the Iskut‐Stikine Watershed, Canada. The effects of multiple uncertain factors are traced through multilevel factorial analysis. Overall, the accuracies of SCMW‐simulated mean and interval flows demonstrate that the developed method can well reproduce the distributive and interactive relationships between climatic variables and multi‐catchment runoffs. At the same time, the contributions of climate variables can be quantified; for example, it is found that near‐surface minimum temperature (at Below Johnson Station) can explain 25.6% concurrent variations of multi‐catchment runoffs, and vapor pressure (at Below Johnson Station) and precipitation (at Telegraph Creek Station) can explain 17.5% and 4.6% of such variations, respectively. The results of the multilevel factorial analysis indicate that the uncertainties in the simulated runoff levels are mainly from the modeling approach (43.3%); also, significant effects exist from interactions among multiple impact factors. The molding of concurrent variations of multi‐catchment runoffs through SCMW is helpful for improving simulation accuracy for watersheds with spatially heterogeneous climate‐runoff relationships.
Altered reward and effort processing in children with maltreatment experience: a potential indicator of mental health vulnerability
Authors: Armbruster-Genç Diana J. N. , Valton Vincent , Neil Louise , Vuong Vivien , Freeman Ze , Packer Katy C. , Kiffin Marianne J. , Roiser Jonathan P. , Viding Essi , McCrory Eamon
Published: February 2022

In this longitudinal study of children and adolescents with a documented history of maltreatment, we investigated the impact of maltreatment on behavioral and neural indices of effort-based decision making for reward and examined their associations with future internalizing symptoms. Thirty-seven children with a documented history of maltreatment (MT group) and a carefully matched group of 33 non-maltreated children (NMT group) aged 10–16, completed an effort-based decision-making task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Internalizing symptoms were assessed at baseline and again 18 months later. Computational models were implemented to extract individual estimates of reward and effort sensitivity, and neural signals during decision-making about different levels of reward and effort were analyzed. These were used to predict internalizing symptoms at follow-up. We identified lower effort-related activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a prespecified region-of-interest, in the MT relative to the NMT group. No group differences were observed in the striatum, or in behavioral indices of reward and effort processing. Lower effort-related ACC activation significantly predicted elevated internalizing symptoms at follow-up in the MT group. These findings suggest that disrupted effort-related activation may index latent vulnerability to mental illness in children who have experienced maltreatment.
Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Nanxi , Zhang Wenping , Cheng Xurui , Yan Zhibin , Shao Gang , Wang Xi , Wang Rui , Fu Caiyun
Published: February 2022

Peptide drug development has made great progress in the last decade thanks to new production, modification, and analytic technologies. Peptides have been produced and modified using both chemical and biological methods, together with novel design and delivery strategies, which have helped to overcome the inherent drawbacks of peptides and have allowed the continued advancement of this field. A wide variety of natural and modified peptides have been obtained and studied, covering multiple therapeutic areas. This review summarizes the efforts and achievements in peptide drug discovery, production, and modification, and their current applications. We also discuss the value and challenges associated with future developments in therapeutic peptides.
Evolution of biofilm-adapted gene expression profiles in lasR-deficient clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates
Authors: Jeske Alexander , Arce-Rodriguez Alejandro , Thöming Janne G. , Tomasch Jürgen , Häussler Susanne
Published: February 2022

The overall success of a pathogenic microbe depends on its ability to efficiently adapt to challenging conditions in the human host. Long-term evolution experiments track and predict adaptive trajectories and have contributed significantly to our understanding of the driving forces of bacterial adaptation. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional study instead of long-term longitudinal evolution experiments. We analyzed the transcriptional profiles as well as genomic sequence variations of a large number of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates that have been recovered from different infected human sites. Convergent changes in gene expression patterns were found in different groups of clinical isolates. The majority of repeatedly observed expression patterns could be attributed to a defective lasR gene, which encodes the major quorum-sensing regulator LasR. Strikingly, the gene expression pattern of the lasR-defective strains appeared to reflect a transcriptional response that evolves in a direction consistent with growth within a biofilm. In a process of genetic assimilation, lasR-deficient P. aeruginosa isolates appear to constitutively express a biofilm-adapted transcriptional profile and no longer require a respective environmental trigger. Our results demonstrate that profiling the functional consequences of pathoadaptive mutations in clinical isolates reveals long-term evolutionary pathways and may explain the success of lasR mutants in the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa in a clinical context.
Quantum emulation of topological magneto-optical effects using ultracold atoms
Authors: Zheng Zhen , Wang Z. D.
Published: February 2022

Magneto-optical effect is a fundamental but broad concept in magnetic mediums. Here we propose a scheme for its quantum emulation using ultracold atoms. By representing the light-medium interaction in the quantum-emulation manner, the artificial magneto-optical effect emerges under an entirely different mechanism from the conventional picture. The underlying polarization state extracted in the synthetic dimension displays a different response to various experimental setups. Notably, the magneto-optical rotation is related to the bulk topology in synthetic dimensions, and thus provides an unambiguous evidence for the desired topological magneto-optical effect, which has not been developed hitherto in ultracold atoms. This scheme is simple and feasible, and can be realized by current experimental techniques. The implementation of the scheme is able to offer an intriguing platform for exploring topological magneto-optical effects and associated physics.
Structure of a thylakoid-anchored contractile injection system in multicellular cyanobacteria
Authors: Weiss Gregor L. , Eisenstein Fabian , Kieninger Ann-Katrin , Xu Jingwei , Minas Hannah A. , Gerber Milena , Feldmüller Miki , Maldener Iris , Forchhammer Karl , Pilhofer Martin
Published: February 2022

Contractile injection systems (CISs) mediate cell–cell interactions by phage tail-like structures, using two distinct modes of action: extracellular CISs are released into the medium, while type 6 secretion systems (T6SSs) are attached to the cytoplasmic membrane and function upon cell–cell contact. Here, we characterized a CIS in the multicellular cyanobacterium Anabaena, with features distinct from extracellular CISs and T6SSs. Cryo-electron tomography of focused ion beam-milled cells revealed that CISs were anchored in thylakoid membrane stacks, facing the cell periphery. Single particle cryo-electron microscopy showed that this unique in situ localization was mediated by extensions of tail fibre and baseplate components. On stress, cyanobacteria induced the formation of ghost cells, presenting thylakoid-anchored CISs to the environment. Functional assays suggest that these CISs may mediate ghost cell formation and/or interactions of ghost cells with other organisms. Collectively, these data provide a framework for understanding the evolutionary re-engineering of CISs and potential roles of these CISs in cyanobacterial programmed cell death.
Organic materials repurposing, a data set for theoretical predictions of new applications for existing compounds
Authors: Omar Ömer H. , Nematiaram Tahereh , Troisi Alessandro , Padula Daniele
Published: February 2022

We present a data set of 48182 organic semiconductors, constituted of molecules that were prepared with a documented synthetic pathway and are stable in solid state. We based our search on the Cambridge Structural Database, from which we selected semiconductors with a computational funnel procedure. For each entry we provide a set of electronic properties relevant for organic materials research, and the electronic wavefunction for further calculations and/or analyses. This data set has low bias because it was not built from a set of materials designed for organic electronics, and thus it provides an excellent starting point in the search of new applications for known materials, with a great potential for novel physical insight. The data set contains molecules used as benchmarks in many fields of organic materials research, allowing to test the reliability of computational screenings for the desired application, “rediscovering” well-known molecules. This is demonstrated by a series of different applications in the field of organic materials, confirming the potential for the repurposing of known organic molecules.
A 14-year time series of marine megafauna bycatch in the Italian midwater pair trawl fishery
Authors: Bonanomi Sara , Moro Fabrizio , Colombelli Alessandro , Pulcinella Jacopo , Fortuna Caterina Maria
Published: February 2022

Fisheries bycatch is recognised as a global threat to vulnerable marine megafauna and historical data can contribute to quantify the magnitude of the impact. Here, we present a collection of three datasets generated between 2006 and 2019 by a monitoring programme on marine megafauna bycatch in one of the main Italian fisheries, the northern central Adriatic midwater pair trawl fishery. The three datasets consist of: (i) monitored fishing effort; (ii) bycatch and biological data of dolphins, sea turtles and elasmobranchs; (iii) and dolphin sightings. Some information included in these datasets has already proved to provide a unique opportunity to estimate total incidental capture of species of conservation concern and trends of their relative abundance over time in the northern - central Adriatic Sea. These datasets are expected to be considered by different end users to improve the conservation of species and fishery management approaches to assess the impact of a fishery on species of conservation concern.
Improving robustness of automatic cardiac function quantification from cine magnetic resonance imaging using synthetic image data
Authors: Gheorghiță Bogdan A. , Itu Lucian M. , Sharma Puneet , Suciu Constantin , Wetzl Jens , Geppert Christian , Ali Mohamed Ali Asik , Lee Aaron M. , Piechnik Stefan K. , Neubauer Stefan , Petersen Steffen E. , Schulz-Menger Jeanette , Chițiboi Teodora
Published: February 2022

Although having been the subject of intense research over the years, cardiac function quantification from MRI is still not a fully automatic process in the clinical practice. This is partly due to the shortage of training data covering all relevant cardiovascular disease phenotypes. We propose to synthetically generate short axis CINE MRI using a generative adversarial model to expand the available data sets that consist of predominantly healthy subjects to include more cases with reduced ejection fraction. We introduce a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict the end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and implicitly the ejection fraction from cardiac MRI without explicit segmentation. The left ventricle volume predictions were compared to the ground truth values, showing superior accuracy compared to state-of-the-art segmentation methods. We show that using synthetic data generated for pre-training a CNN significantly improves the prediction compared to only using the limited amount of available data, when the training set is imbalanced.
A simulation study on hydrogel performance for enhanced oil recovery using phase-field method
Authors: Hayatolgheibi Seyed Hosein , Ameli Forough , Moghbeli Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2022

Hydrogels are increasingly applied in oil recovery processes. This leads to more controlled flow of fluids in porous media. In this process, hydrogel is injected to the reservoir to block the high permeability areas. The trapped oil in low permeability regions, is then swept by water flooding. pH‐sensitive hydrogel microspheres were synthesized in another work of the authors, which effectively increased the oil recovery factor in experimental studies. In this communication, phase-field approach was used to simulate this process and to obtain the tuning parameters of the model including thickness of the contact surface (є), phase transform parameter (M0), and excess free energy (∧). Diffusion of hydrogels was studied by Cahn–Hilliard conservative approach and the breakage, deformation, and plugging mechanisms were analyzed, based on pressure drop variations in micromodel. Moreover, Effective parameters on oil recovery factor were analyzed. Results indicated a good agreement between experimental and modeling studies of oil recovery factor in water and hydrogel flooding with absolute errors of 2.29% and 4.06%, respectively. The recovery factor was calculated using a statistical method which was in good agreement with the modeling results. The tuned parameters of the model were reported as,є = 111.7 µm, M0 = 5 × 10−13m3/s,$$\wedge = - 0.0003$$∧=-0.0003 J/m3.
Synthesis of zeolites from circulated fluidized bed coal fly ash
Authors: Feng Wei , Hu Guoping , May Eric F. , Li Gang Kevin
Published: February 2022

High quality zeolite A was successfully synthesised from circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) fly ash by alkali fusion and hydrothermal treatment.
Exploring X-ray variability with unsupervised machine learning
Authors: Kovačević M. , Pasquato M. , Marelli M. , De Luca A. , Salvaterra R. , Belfiore A.
Published: February 2022

Context. XMM-Newton provides unprecedented insight into the X-ray Universe, recording variability information for hundreds of thousands of sources. Manually searching for interesting patterns in light curves is impractical, requiring an automated data-mining approach for the characterization of sources.

Aims. Straightforward fitting of temporal models to light curves is not a sure way to identify them, especially with noisy data. We used unsupervised machine learning to distill a large data set of light-curve parameters, revealing its clustering structure in preparation for anomaly detection and subsequent searches for specific source behaviors (e.g., flares, eclipses).

Methods. Self-organizing maps (SOMs) achieve dimensionality reduction and clustering within a single framework. They are a type of artificial neural network trained to approximate the data with a two-dimensional grid of discrete interconnected units, which can later be visualized on the plane. We trained our SOM on temporal-only parameters computed from ⪆105 detections from the Exploring the X-ray Transient and variable Sky catalog.

Results. The resulting map reveals that the ≈2500 most variable sources are clustered based on temporal characteristics. We find distinctive regions of the SOM map associated with flares, eclipses, dips, linear light curves, and others. Each group contains sources that appear similar by eye. We single out a handful of interesting sources for further study.

Conclusions. The condensed view of our dataset provided by SOMs allowed us to identify groups of similar sources, speeding up manual characterization by orders of magnitude. Our method also highlights problems with fitting simple temporal models to light curves and can be used to mitigate them to an extent. This will be crucial for fully exploiting the high data volume expected from upcoming X-ray surveys, and may also help with interpreting supervised classification models.
Deuxième édition des Rencontres Physique Entreprise Recherche
Authors: Langlais Catherine , Raoux Arnaud
Published: February 2022

Les Rencontres Physique Entreprise Recherche (RPER) sont nées du constat que, malgré les efforts des Écoles doctorales, les jeunes doctorantes et doctorants connaissent peu la recherche faite dans les entreprises et qu’inversement celles-ci ne sont pas toujours conscientes de ce que peuvent leur apporter l’embauche de jeunes docteurs.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnant Women Assessed by RT-PCR in Franconia, Germany: First Results of the SCENARIO Study (SARS-CoV-2 prEvalence in pregNAncy and at biRth In
FrancOnia)
Authors: Hein Alexander , Kehl Sven , Häberle Lothar , Tiemann Carsten , Peuker Rebecca , Mereutanu Denise , Stumpfe Florian M. , Faschingbauer Florian , Meyer-Schlinkmann Kirstin , Koch Martin C. , Kainer Franz , Dammer Ulf , Philipp Hanna , Kladt Carolin , Schrauder Michael G. , Weingärtler Stefan , Hanf Volker , Hartmann Arndt , Rübner Matthias , Schneider Holm , Lelieveld Jos , Beckmann Matthias W. , Wurmthaler Lena A. , Fasching Peter A. , Schneider Michael O.
Published: February 2022

Purpose Detection of SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant women admitted to maternity units during a pandemic is crucial. In addition to the fact that pregnancy is a risk factor for severe
COVID-19 and that medical surveillance has to be adjusted in infected women and their offspring, knowledge about infection status can provide the opportunity to protect other patients and
healthcare workers against virus transmission. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women in the hospital
setting.

Material and Methods All eligible pregnant women admitted to the nine participating hospitals in Franconia, Germany, from 2 June 2020 to 24 January 2021 were included.
COVID-19-related symptoms, secondary diseases and pregnancy abnormalities were documented. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs. The prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2
infection was estimated by correcting the positive rate using the Rogan–Gladen method. The risk of infection for healthcare workers during delivery was estimated using a risk calculator.

Results Of 2414 recruited pregnant women, six were newly diagnosed RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2, which yielded a prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of 0.26% (95% CI, 0.10 – 0.57%).
Combining active room ventilation and wearing FFP2 masks showed an estimated reduction of risk of infection for healthcare workers in the delivery room to < 1%.

Conclusions The prevalence of newly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy in this study is low. Nevertheless, a systematic screening in maternity units during pandemic
situations is important to adjust hygienic and medical management. An adequate hygienic setting can minimise the calculated infection risk for medical healthcare workers during patientsʼ
labour.
More than the selfie
Authors: Thompson Riki
Published: February 2022

Success in the digital dating world is often dependent on an individual’s ability to negotiate theaffordancesandconstraintsof platforms (Bucher & Helmond 2017) while effectively expressing who one is and what they are looking for. Since mononormativity is the dominant script that underpins ideals of romantic love and intimate relations in our society (Wolkomir 2019), for the millions who ascribe to non-monogamy, profile creation is often complicated by dating platform interfaces and relationship orientations. This research takes a critical multimodal discourse approach (Machin 2016,Milani 2013) to examine the interplay between various semiotic modes in meaning making about sexual normativities (Motschenbacher 2019) in digital dating contexts, and considers how people navigating non-traditional relationship orientations negotiate discourse in digital dating contexts to demonstrate how discourse and design have the ability to empower and marginalize users (Sun 2020) as well maintain cultural norms (Wachter-Boettcher 2017) about emotional bonding and sexuality.
Gestural metaphorical scenarios and coming out narratives
Authors: Dyrmo Tomasz
Published: February 2022

This article extends the framework of metaphorical scenarios proposed by Musolff (2006, 2016) by adding a gestural component. Coming out videos,
serving as the source of data for the present analysis, help to uncover the conceptual mechanisms that shape the understanding and
conceptualisation of this phenomenon. The extended framework of gestural metaphorical scenarios reveals that conceptual metaphors
create cognitively and communicatively coherent wholes that are expressed multimodally, via speech and gesture. The article
proposes that coming out, a highly individualised process, is conceptualised at various levels by both generic and specific
metaphors. The analysis shows that metaphorical variation is present not only at the level of lexical scenarios, but also at the
level of gesture, giving rise to multimodal discourse fragments. The extended framework, therefore, might be useful in analysing
multimodal discourse.
Establishing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Methods and Clinical Breakpoints for Inhaled Antibiotic Therapy
Authors: Ekkelenkamp Miquel B , Díez-Aguilar María , Tunney Michael M , Elborn J Stuart , Fluit Ad C , Cantón Rafael
Published: February 2022

Inhaled antibiotics are a common and valuable therapy for patients suffering from chronic lung infection, with this particularly well demonstrated for patients with cystic fibrosis. However, in vitro tests to predict patient response to inhaled antibiotic therapy are currently lacking. There are indications that antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) may have a role in guidance of therapy, but which tests would correlate best still needs to be researched in clinical studies or animal models. Applying the principles of European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing methodology, the analysis of relevant and reliable data correlating different AST tests to patients’ outcomes may yield clinical breakpoints for susceptibility, but these data are currently unavailable. At present, we believe that it is unlikely that standard determination of minimum inhibitory concentration will prove the best predictor.
Indications of external beams radiation for thyroid cancer
Authors: Roukoz Camille , Gregoire Vincent
Published: February 2022

Purpose of review

The use of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for the treatment of the different histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer is a matter of debate. This article provides an up-to-date review on the current evidence concerning the benefits of EBRT in thyroid cancer in specific indications.

Recent findings

Based on retrospective studies, adjuvant EBRT lessens the risk of locoregional recurrence in locally advanced differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) with high-risk features. The effect of EBRT on overall survival remains uncertain. EBRT should also be part of the multimodality treatment in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), as it improves survival rates in incompletely resected ATC.

The role of EBRT in thyroid cancer remains unclear. To date, no randomized control studies are available. Retrospective data showed improved outcomes in patients with high-risk features for locoregional recurrence.
Live visualization of endoplasmic reticulum redox potential in zebrafish embryos reveals region-specific heterogeneity
Authors: Verma Monika , Bhatt Niraj Rajesh , Chaphalkar Aseem , Verma Kriti , Umale Shreyansh , Verma Shweta , Sachidanandan Chetana , Chakraborty Kausik
Published: February 2022

Redox homeostasis is an integral part of many cellular processes, and its perturbation is associated with conditions such as diabetes, aging, and neurodegenerative disorders. Redox homeostasis or redox potential in organelles is maintained within a particular range to facilitate the organelle specific cellular redox reactions. Previous studies using yeast, cell systems, and nematodes have demonstrated that the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) has a more oxidizing environment while the cytosol exhibits a reducing redox potential. However, we know very little about how universal this phenomenon is. We created transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) lines with roGFP sensors targeted to the ER and cytosol for studying physiological redox potential at the systems level. In the process, we also characterized the ER-targeting signal sequence in D. rerio for the first time. Measurements of the redox state in live embryos found that the endoplasmic reticulum exhibits deviations from its expected oxidizing redox state in different regions of the developing embryos. The ER is far more reducing than expected in certain tissues of the embryo. Cytosol also exhibited unexpected redox states in some parts of the embryo. Notably, the brain showed regions with unexpected redox states in both the ER and the cytosol. Tissue-specific differences in ER-redox potential became even more evident in a transgenic line expressing the more sensitive roGFPiE variant. Thus, live monitoring of redox potential across the developing zebrafish embryos revealed unanticipated redox states of the ER that will require new biological definitions.
Ethylmalonic encephalopathy masquerading as meningococcemia
Authors: Horton Ari Elliot , Hong Kai Mun , Pandithan Dinusha , Allen Meredith , Killick Caroline , Goergen Stacy , Springer Amanda , Phelan Dean , Marty Melanie , Halligan Rebecca , Lee Joy , Pitt James , Chong Belinda , Christodoulou John , Lunke Sebastian , Stark Zornitza , Fahey Michael
Published: February 2022

Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (MIM #602473) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic condition caused by biallelic variants in ETHE1 (MIM #608451), characterized by global developmental delay, infantile hypotonia, seizures and microvascular damage. The microvascular changes result in a pattern of relapsing spontaneous diffuse petechiae and purpura, positional acrocyanosis and pedal edema, hemorrhagic suffusions of mucous membranes and chronic diarrhea. Here we describe an instructive case in which ethylmalonic encephalopathy masqueraded as meningococcal septicemia and shock. Ultra-rapid whole genome testing (time to result 60 hours) and prompt biochemical analysis facilitated accurate diagnosis and counselling with rapid implementation of precision treatment for the metabolic crisis related to this condition. This case provides a timely reminder to consider rare genetic diagnoses when atypical features of more common conditions are present, with an early referral to ensure prompt biochemical and genomic diagnosis.
Success factors of process digitalization projects – insights from an exploratory study
Authors: Baier Marie-Sophie , Lockl Jannik , Röglinger Maximilian , Weidlich Robin
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In an exploratory approach, the authors conducted a structured literature review to extract candidate process digitalization project (PDP) success factors (SFs) from the literature on business process management (BPM), project management (PM) and digitalization. After that, the authors validated, refined and extended these intermediate results through interviews with 21 members of diverse PDP teams. Finally, the authors proposed the PDP success model by linking the candidate SFs with relevant success criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

Digitalization substantially impacts organizations, which increasingly use digital technologies (DTs) to improve and innovate their business processes. While there are methods and tools for identifying process digitalization ideas and related projects (PDPs), guidance on the successful implementation of PDPs is missing. Hence, the authors set out to explore PDP SFs.

Findings

The PDP success model covers 38 PDP success factor candidates, whereof 28 are already backed by the literature and ten have emerged during the interviews. Furthermore, the SFs are structured according to seven categories from the literature covering a broad range of sociotechnical topics (i.e. strategy, structure, culture, people, process, project and technology) as well as equipped with preliminary success rationales.

Originality/value

The work is the first to systematically explore PDP SFs. The PDP success model shows that PDPs require a unique set of SFs, which combine established and hitherto underrepresented knowledge. It extends the knowledge on BPM and serves as foundation for future (confirmatory) research on business process digitalization and the successful implementation of PDPs.
Xarasoft (Pvt) Ltd – vision 2027 to implement a digital supply chain for industry 4.0
Authors: Tahir Saad , Ramish Asher
Published: February 2022

Learning outcomes

This case study aims to be taught at an MBA level. Specifically, those students who are majoring in supply chain would benefit the most from this case study. This case study has elements of supply chain management, supply chain strategy, warehousing and logistics, and a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0. The learning outcome of this case study could be seen if the students are able to identify the challenges and opportunities of a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0 and how it could be implemented methodically. Teaching Objective 1: Students should be able to identify what challenges organizations face if they implement a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0. Teaching Objective 2: Students should be able to identify what opportunities can be tapped if Big Data Analytics are used in a supply chain teaching. Objective 3: Students should layout a methodical plan of how an analogue company can gradually achieve the objective of implementing a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0 in procurement function.

Case overview/Synopsis

Based in the Lahore region of Pakistan, Xarasoft is a footwear manufacturing company which has undertaken a decision to transcend to a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0 by 2027. Asif, who is the Head of the Department of Supply Chain, has to come up with a plan to present in the next meeting with the CEO. Xarasoft is a company that preferred to work in an analogue routine. The company set production targets and sold goods through marketing. With no forecast or exact demand, the company had decided to procure 140 million units of raw material and carrying a huge inventory, a percentage of which had to be thrown away as it started to degrade. While the company did have machinery on the production floor, they were operated manually and were a generation behind. Asif faced the question of what challenges he would face and exactly how would a digital supply chain for Industry 4.0 be implemented in the company.

Complexity academic level

Masters level supply chain courses

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.
Augmenting small enterprise operations with technology: the case of kraft therapy foundation in a user-centred design
Authors: Mutanu Leah , Ndiege Joshua Rumo Arongo , Barnardo Claire
Published: February 2022

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: to explore the challenges associated with Information System Project Management; to explore how to navigate certain Information System Project Management challenges and make recommendations on how to address them; and to evaluate the application of user-centred design.

Case overview/synopsis

This case looks at the small to medium enterprises (SMEs) Digitisation project that was initiated by Dr Ndiege, Assistant Professor of Information Systems, and a team of faculty at the School of Science and Technology, United States International University – Africa in Kenya. Dr Ndiege is considering the project in September 2020 and its future viability. The project called for computer science students to voluntarily assist in developing an online presence for local SMEs. The idea is to help cushion them against the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Ndiege looks at the details of the project through the eyes of team leader Sylvie Sarabwe and her encounters on the project. She leads a team of four students in a user-centered design to develop a website for social enterprise Kraft Therapy Foundation (KTF), located in Kibera slums within Nairobi County, Kenya. Sylvie must navigate the client relationship with KTF. But she soon starts to experience the difficulties involved with navigating this process. For Sylvie, it quickly dawns on her that a user-centred design project requires both hard and the soft skills to successfully deliver the final project. By the conclusion of the case, Dr Ndiege recognises the multitude of issues that this project ultimately faces.

Complexity academic level

The primary target audience for this teaching case is undergraduate information technology students, especially students in software application design and project management with little or no work experience. The case is clearly structured and the length of the case lends itself to the audience. It does not contain excessive or irrelevant information. Hence, learners have more time to focus on the application questions presented.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 7: Management Science.