bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dermoscopic spectrum of rosacea
Authors: Stefanou Eleni , Gkentsidi Theodosia , Spyridis Ioannis , Errichetti Enzo , Manoli Sofia‐Magdalini , Papageorgiou Chrysa , Apalla Zoe , Vakirlis Efstratios , Sotiriou Elena , Ioannides Demetris , Lallas Aimilios
Published: February 2022

Background

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease that manifests with various signs and symptoms including erythema, telangiectasias, papules and pustules that mostly affect cheeks, chin, nose and the central forehead. Rosacea is considered as a continuous spectrum that includes different subtypes/phenotypes (erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous), and might also encompass lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) and roasecea‐like demodicosis.

Objective

To assess the dermoscopic features of the different rosacea subtypes/phenotypes.

Methods

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of rosacea, confirmed or not by histopathology, or rosacea‐like demodicosis diagnosed by skin scrapings or LMDF diagnosed histopathologically were included. Dermoscopic images were evaluated for the presence of predefined criteria. The selection of dermoscopic variables was based on the International Dermoscopy Society Consensus on standardisation of terminology.

Results

Eighty‐five patients with facial lesions of rosacea were included in the analysis. Linear reticular vessels in regular distribution were present in the vast majority of the erythematotelangiectatic subtype forming the characteristic pattern of vascular polygons. A similar, but less pronounced, vascular pattern was typified in papulopustular subtype, with the additional presence of follicular plugs and pustules. Phymatous rosacea was characterised by variable morphologic types of vessels in a reticular arrangement, combined with follicular yellow clods. In granulomatous rosacea, focal orange structureless areas were found in all cases and perifollicular orange colour in most of them. In dermoscopy of LMDF, follicular criteria predominated, with perifollicular orange colour and follicular plugs being present in all cases. In demodicosis, the prevailing dermoscopic finding was white mass protruding out of the hair follicle.

Conclusion

This study suggests that dermoscopy facilitates the recognition of the clinical subtypes/phenotypes of rosacea, enhancing the clinical diagnosis and prompt therapeutic choices.
Oxygen‐Demanding Photocontrolled RAFT Polymerization Under Ambient Conditions
Authors: Peng Yao , Liu Shengjie , Wang Ling , Xu Ying , Wu Zhaoqiang , Chen Hong
Published: February 2022

A photocontrolled reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process is developed by initiating polymerization through a 1,3‐diaminopropane‐triethylborane (DAPTB)−diphenyl iodonium salt (Ph2I+) complex (DAPTB/Ph2I+) under ambient temperature and atmospheric conditions. Upon demand, this air‐stable DAPTB/Ph2I+ complex is photolyzed to liberate a reactive triethylborane that consumes atmospheric oxygen and generates ethyl radicals, which initiate and mediate RAFT polymerization. Controlled RAFT polymerization is thus achieved without any prior deoxygenation using a novel RAFT chain transfer agent, BP‐FSBC, which contains both benzophenone and sulfonyl fluoride moieties. Furthermore, the kinetics of polymerization reveal that the reaction process is rapid, and well‐defined polymers are produced by a 61% conversion of 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) within 7 min and 77% conversion of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA) within 10.5 min. The temporal and spatial control of this photopolymerization is also demonstrated by an “on/off” switch of UV irradiation and a painting‐on‐a‐surface approach, respectively. In addition, active chain ends are demonstrated by preparing block copolymers by chain extension and click sulfur(VI)‐fluoride exchange postreaction using RAFT‐derived macrochain transfer agents.
Feasibility investigation of logarithmic Nakagami parametric imaging in recovering underestimated perfusion metrics of DCEUS in the uneven acoustic field
Authors: Wang Diya , Ma Quanlong , Wang Qiao , Fan Yan , Lu Shukuan , Su Qiang , Zhong Hui , Wan Mingxi
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Owing to acoustic‐pressure dependence, amplitudes of backscattered‐echoes of encapsulated microbubbles (MBs) are unavoidably regulated by an uneven acoustic field, resulting in the misestimation of hemodynamics in conventional amplitude‐coding dynamic contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS) with focused pulse transmission. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and performance of Nakagami statistical‐feature parametric imaging to recover the above misestimation.

Methods

Logarithmic Nakagami parameter (m)‐coding DCEUS scheme was investigated via simulation and in vitro MB phantoms as well as in vivo kidney‐perfusion experiments of four rabbits in the uneven acoustic fields with two different focal depths. In vivo tissue artifacts for m estimation were suppressed by pulse‐inversion second‐harmonic imaging and its robustness was enhanced by multiscale moment‐estimation strategy. Time‐Nakagami‐m curves and the corresponding perfusion metrics of intensity and volume were calculated from the logarithmic m‐coding DCEUS images within the prefocal and focal regions. These curves and metrics were further compared with the perfusion curves and metrics estimated from the conventional amplitude‐coding images within the same regions.

Results

Compared with amplitudes of nonlinear scattering MB echoes, their logarithmic m values were relatively independent of the changes in acoustics pressures. Compared with the fixed‐scale moment‐estimation, the perfusion intensity estimated from logarithmic m‐coding DCEUS scheme using multiscale statistical moment‐estimation had smaller differences between the prefocal and focal regions. The differences of perfusion intensity induced by an uneven acoustic field decreased to 3.47% ± 1.58 %. The differences decreased by the logarithmic m‐coding DCEUS scheme were further regulated by threshold values of m estimation.

Conclusions

The logarithmic m‐coding DCEUS scheme could recover the underestimated MB backscattered‐echoes and the misestimated perfusion intensity induced by the uneven acoustic field. The scheme had the potential to weaken the limitation of microvasculature identification and hemodynamic characterization marked by MBs within tissues or tumors in the uneven acoustic field.
Nonlinear analysis of single pile settlement based on stress bubble fictitious soil pile model
Authors: Wang Lixing , Wu Wenbing , Zhang Yunpeng , Li Lichen , Liu Hao , Naggar M. Hesham El
Published: February 2022

Taking both pile end stress diffusion effect and pile‐soil interface softening effect into account, a new nonlinear method for the vertical settlement of pile is proposed in this paper. In detail, a new model, namely stress bubble fictitious soil pile model, is proposed to simulate the support from the pile bottom soil. The nonlinear soil softening model is introduced to establish the relationship between unit pile shaft friction and pile‐soil relative displacement. Then, a nonlinear calculation method for load‐settlement analysis in multilayered soil is developed with the integration of these two models. The validity and accuracy of the proposed method are verified through the comparisons against experimental and existing simplified methods. At last, a detailed parametric study is conducted to assess the influence of the parameters related to the proposed model and pile‐soil system on the load‐displacement behavior of single pile. The promotion of this method could hugely boost the prediction of the single pile settlement for the preliminary design of pile foundation in layered soil.
Biocarbon: A lightweight, functional filler for under‐the‐hood automotive composites
Authors: Langhorst Amy , Peczonczyk Sabrina , Sun Hannah , Kiziltas Alper , Mielewski Deborah
Published: February 2022

In recent years, automotive manufacturers have increased their use of natural fiber composites to reduce vehicle weight and improve carbon footprint. However, natural fibers have lower thermal stability than many synthetic fiber alternatives, limiting their application to low‐processing temperature polymers and low‐temperature automotive environments. Pyrolysis of biomass yields a porous substance called biocarbon, which has superior thermal performance and hydrophobicity than biomass. This study evaluated the effects of biocarbon pyrolysis conditions and biomass source on the properties of biocarbon powders and the performance of biocarbon as a reinforcing agent in thermoplastic composites. Hybrid biocarbon‐glass fiber polyamide‐6 composites were generated with varying loading level and biocarbon type. Composites were evaluated in terms of mechanical (tensile and impact), morphological (scanning electron microscope), and thermal performance (thermal gravimetric analysis [TGA] and differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]); the chemical characteristics (X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared) and thermal performance (TGA and DSC) of biocarbon powders were also determined. A 10% increase in the loading level of biocarbon resulted in a 7%–10% improvement in composite strength. Biomass source affected the thermal stability of a biocarbon powder. Coconut‐based biocarbon composites exhibited thermal performance comparable to materials currently used in automotive fan‐and‐shroud applications, suggesting that biocarbon composites have the potential for use as low‐density, high‐temperature automotive materials.
Cover Image
Authors: Oka Kouki , Tobita Yuka , Kataoka Miho , Kobayashi Kazuki , Kaiwa Yusuke , Nishide Hiroyuki , Oyaizu Kenichi
Published: February 2022

The cover image is based on the Research Article Hydrophilic isopropanol/acetone‐substituted polymers for safe hydrogen storage by Kouki Oka et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.6337.

image
Remarked suppression of Aβ42 protomer–protomer dissociation reaction elucidated by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Kurisaki Ikuo , Tanaka Shigenori
Published: February 2022

Multimeric protein complexes are molecular apparatuses to regulate biological systems and often determine their fate. Among proteins forming such molecular assemblies, amyloid proteins have drawn attention over a half‐century since amyloid fibril formation of these proteins is supposed to be a common pathogenic cause for neurodegenerative diseases. This process is triggered by the accumulation of fibril‐like aggregates, while the microscopic mechanisms are mostly elusive due to technical limitation of experimental methodologies in individually observing each of diverse aggregate species in the aqueous solution. We then addressed this problem by employing atomistic molecular dynamics simulations for the paradigmatic amyloid protein, amyloid‐β (Aβ42). Seven different dimeric forms of oligomeric Aβ42 fibril‐like aggregate in aqueous solution, ranging from tetramer to decamer, were considered. We found additive effects of the size of these fibril‐like aggregates on their thermodynamic stability and have clarified kinetic suppression of protomer‐protomer dissociation reactions at and beyond the point of pentamer dimer formation. This observation was obtained from the specific combination of the Aβ42 protomer structure and the physicochemical condition that we here examined, while it is worthwhile to recall that several amyloid fibrils take dimeric forms of their protomers. We could thus conclude that the stable formation of fibril‐like protomer dimer should be involved in a turning point where rapid growth of amyloid fibrils is triggered.
Systematic review of the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of cell‐based seasonal influenza vaccines for the prevention of laboratory‐confirmed influenza in individuals ≥18 years of age
Authors: Jordan Karen , Murchu Eamon O. , Comber Laura , Hawkshaw Sarah , Marshall Liam , O’Neill Michelle , Teljeur Conor , Harrington Patricia , Carnahan Annasara , Pérez‐Martín Jaime Jesús , Robertson Anna Hayman , Johansen Kari , Jonge Jorgen de , Krause Tyra , Nicolay Nathalie , Nohynek Hanna , Pavlopoulou Ioanna , Pebody Richard , Penttinen Pasi , Soler‐Soneira Marta , Wichmann Ole , Ryan Máirín
Published: February 2022

The most effective means of preventing seasonal influenza is through strain‐specific vaccination. In this study, we investigated the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of cell‐based trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines. A systematic literature search was conducted in electronic databases and grey literature sources up to 7 February 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non‐randomised studies of interventions (NRSIs) were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Certainty of evidence for key outcomes was assessed using the GRADE methodology. The search returned 28,846 records, of which 868 full‐text articles were assessed for relevance. Of these, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. No relative efficacy data were identified for the direct comparison of cell‐based vaccines compared with traditional vaccines (egg‐based). Efficacy data were available comparing cell‐based trivalent influenza vaccines with placebo in adults (aged 18–49 years). Overall vaccine efficacy was 70% against any influenza subtype (95% CI 61%–77%, two RCTS), 82% against influenza A(H1N1) (95% CI 71%–89%, 2 RCTs), 72% against influenza A(H3N2) (95% CI 39%–87%, 2 RCTs) and 52% against influenza B (95% CI 30%–68%, 2 RCTs). Limited and heterogeneous data were presented for effectiveness when compared with no vaccination. One NRSI compared cell‐based trivalent and quadrivalent vaccination with traditional trivalent and quadrivalent vaccination, finding a small but significant difference in favour of cell‐based vaccines for influenza‐related hospitalisation, hospital encounters and physician office visits. The safety profile of cell‐based trivalent vaccines was comparable to traditional trivalent influenza vaccines. Compared with placebo, cell‐based trivalent influenza vaccines have demonstrated greater efficacy in adults aged 18–49 years. Overall cell‐based vaccines are well‐tolerated in adults, however, evidence regarding the effectiveness of these vaccines compared with traditional seasonal influenza vaccines is limited.
Model misspecification in stepped wedge trials: Random effects for time or treatment
Authors: Voldal Emily C. , Xia Fan , Kenny Avi , Heagerty Patrick J. , Hughes James P.
Published: February 2022

Mixed models are commonly used to analyze stepped wedge trials (SWTs) to account for clustering and repeated measures on clusters. One critical issue researchers face is whether to include a random time effect or a random treatment effect. When the wrong model is chosen, inference on the treatment effect may be invalid. We explore asymptotic and finite‐sample convergence of variance component estimates when the model is misspecified and how misspecification affects the estimated variance of the treatment effect. For asymptotic results, we rely on analytical solutions rather than simulation studies, which allow us to succinctly describe the convergence of misspecified estimates, even though there are multiple roots for each misspecified model. We found that both direction and magnitude of the bias associated with model‐based standard errors depends on the study design and magnitude of the true variance components. We identify some scenarios in which choosing the wrong random effect has a large impact on model‐based inference. However, many trends depend on trial design and assumptions about the true correlation structure, so we provide tools for researchers to investigate specific scenarios of interest. We use data from an SWT on disinvesting from weekend services in hospital wards to demonstrate how these results can be applied as a sensitivity analysis, which quantifies the impact of misspecification under a variety of settings and directly compares the potential consequences of different modeling choices. Our results will provide guidance for prespecified model choices and supplement sensitivity analyses to inform confidence in the validity of results.
Integrating Multi‐Heterointerfaces in a 1D@2D@1D Hierarchical Structure via Autocatalytic Pyrolysis for Ultra‐Efficient Microwave Absorption Performance
Authors: Huan Xianhua , Wang Hongtao , Deng Wenchao , Yan Jiqiang , Xu Ke , Geng Hongbo , Guo Xiaodong , Jia Xiaolong , Zhou Jisheng , Yang Xiaoping
Published: February 2022

Developing microwave absorption (MA) materials with ultrahigh efficiency and facile preparation method remains a challenge. Herein, a superior 1D@2D@1D hierarchical structure integrated with multi‐heterointerfaces via self‐assembly and an autocatalytic pyrolysis is designed to fully unlock the microwave attenuation potential of materials, realizing ultra‐efficient MA performance. By precisely regulating the morphology of the metal organic framework precursor toward improved impedance matching and intelligently integrating multi‐heterointerfaces to boosted dielectric polarization, the specific return loss value of composites can be effectively tuned and optimized to −1002 dB at a very thin thickness of 1.8 mm. These encouraging achievements shed fresh insights into the precise design of ultra‐efficient MA materials.
Thermally Activated Reverse Electron Transfer Limits Carrier Generation Efficiency in PM6:Y6 Non‐Fullerene Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Jasiūnas Rokas , Zhang Huotian , Devižis Andrius , Franckevičius Marius , Gao Feng , Gulbinas Vidmantas
Published: February 2022

Transient absorption and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements in a wide temperature range are used to investigate the mechanism of charge carrier generation in efficient organic solar cells based on a PM6:Y6 donor–acceptor blend. The generation mechanisms differ significantly under excitation of a donor or acceptor. The investigations reveal a temperature‐dependent interplay between the formation of interfacial charge transfer (CT) states and intra‐moiety CT states of the acceptor, their separation into free charge carriers and carrier recombination. The efficient charge carrier generation is ensured by the carrier separation over a small energy barrier, which is easily surmountable at room temperature. However, the overall yield of charge carrier generation at room temperature is reduced by the recombination of charge carriers due to the thermally activated back transfer of electrons from the acceptor to the donor via the highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) levels, which is enabled by the small energy offset between HOMO levels of the donor and the acceptor.
A suspected case of a multiple autoimmune syndrome in a poodle dog
Authors: Lim Dahye , Jin Yunseok , Son Youngmin , Oh Taeho , Bae Seulgi
Published: February 2022

A 9‐year‐old castrated male poodle dog was presented with icterus, anorexia, and lethargy. The dog was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 1 month before and was treated with levothyroxine. Severe anaemia with spherocytes, positive saline agglutination test, and hyperbilirubinemia indicated immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA). Therefore, immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and danazol was started. Although the IMHA was well controlled, during tapering of prednisolone, acute multiple joint swelling and oedema suspected immune‐mediated polyarthritis occurred twice. First, clinical symptoms improved as the dosage of prednisolone increased. However, the dog showed severe adverse effects to the steroid. Second time, we added leflunomide as another immunosuppressant, and clinical signs of arthritis disappeared. About 3 weeks later, despite the immunosuppressive therapy, skin lesions resembling an autoimmune dermatologic disorder spread throughout the body. Addition of cyclosporine resolved the skin lesions. This is a case report of a dog showing several sporadic clinical signs related to multiple autoimmune syndromes and their management using different immunosuppressant drugs.
Using machine‐learning‐driven approaches to boost hot‐spot's knowledge
Authors: Rosário‐Ferreira Nícia , Bonvin Alexandre M. J. J. , Moreira Irina S.
Published: February 2022

Understanding protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is fundamental to describe and to characterize the formation of biomolecular assemblies, and to establish the energetic principles underlying biological networks. One key aspect of these interfaces is the existence and prevalence of hot‐spots (HS) residues that, upon mutation to alanine, negatively impact the formation of such protein–protein complexes. HS have been widely considered in research, both in case studies and in a few large‐scale predictive approaches. This review aims to present the current knowledge on PPIs, providing a detailed understanding of the microspecifications of the residues involved in those interactions and the characteristics of those defined as HS through a thorough assessment of related field‐specific methodologies. We explore recent accurate artificial intelligence‐based techniques, which are progressively replacing well‐established classical energy‐based methodologies.

This article is categorized under:

Data Science > Databases and Expert Systems

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Interactions
Dynamic micromechanical model for smart composite and reinforced shells
Authors: Christofi Irene , Hadjiloizi Demetra A. , Kalamkarov Alexander L. , Georgiades Anastasis V.
Published: February 2022

A dynamic micromechanical model based on the asymptotic homogenization pertaining to smart composite and reinforced shells with piezoelectric and piezomagnetic constituents is developed in this paper. Central to the work is the recovery of the so‐called unit cell problems which allow the calculation of the effective coefficients. In turn, these are substituted into the governing equations to obtain a set of basic macroscopic variables which eventually yield asymptotic expansions of all field variables (mechanical stress, electric and magnetic displacement, heat flux etc.). Highlights of the presented dynamic model include the following: (1) the effective properties of the homogenized structure depend strongly on the curvature of the middle surface of the shell; (2) the effective properties are also temporal functions and not merely spatial ones as predicted by other models; (3) the effective properties reflect the influence of all involved constituent material parameters; and (4) the model captures not only the common product properties (magnetoelectricity, pyroelectricity, pyromagnetism) but also other ones relating current density to mechanical displacement, magnetic field, and temperature. These features essentially mean that the homogenized shell is characterized by inhomogeneity or quasi‐homogeneity after the homogenization process and also exhibits memory effect reminiscent of viscoelastic structures. If electrical conductivity is ignored and the effective properties are averaged over the entire time spectrum the results of the model converge to those of previously published quasi‐static models. If, as well, the electrical and magnetic effects are also suppressed the results of the model converge to those of the classical composite shell model.
Privacy and Vulnerable Populations
Authors: McDonald Nora , Forte Andrea
Published: February 2022

Vulnerable populations face unique privacy risks that not only challenge designers’ preconceptions about privacy, these challenges are also frequently overlooked in decisions about privacy design and policy. This chapter defines and describes vulnerable populations and the challenges they face, as well as the research approaches that have traditionally been used to understand and design technologies that respect the privacy needs of vulnerable people. It describes how existing frameworks fail to account for the privacy concerns of people who experience heightened risk. It then introduces alternative ways of thinking about privacy that can help technologists, researchers, policy makers, and designers do a better job of serving the needs of the most vulnerable users of technology. We conclude with concrete guidance around identifying and integrating vulnerable populations into technology design for privacy.
Reflections: Bringing Privacy to Practice
Authors: Romano Jennifer , Keneski Liz
Published: February 2022

We interviewed a panel of 13 applied researchers to understand why applied and academic privacy researchers do not collaborate more often. While many agree about the benefits of collaboration, they simply do not collaborate due to real and perceived barriers, such as timelines, goal differences, and data-sharing difficulties. We synthesize the findings and provide actionable recommendations to help bridge the gap between academic and applied research.
Revisiting APCO
Authors: Buck Christoph , Dinev Tamara , Anaraky Reza Ghaiumy
Published: February 2022

Imagine that you are a product manager at a software company. When users disclose some information to your product, they can use all the great features you and your team have integrated into the software. Utilizing these features is essential for the success of your product: it makes users satisfied and encourages others to use the software as well. Furthermore, the user and usage data can be used to improve the product and help implementing new features over time. However, since your product collects users’ data, you are worried about privacy-related issues. What causes users’ privacy concerns, and what are the potential consequences of those concerns? The APCO (Antecedents → Privacy Concerns → Outcomes) and enhanced APCO models provide a summary of the current scientific findings related to these questions and present them in a conceptual model. The APCO framework will help practitioners and scholars to bring different privacy-related aspects of a product to their attention and suggests how these aspects can interrelate. Throughout this chapter, we will consider a use case scenario of a fitness tracker application and discuss how APCO applies to this scenario.
Tracking and Personalization
Authors: Masood Rahat , Berkovsky Shlomo , Kaafar Mohamed Ali
Published: February 2022

This chapter studies the relationship between two important, often conflicting paradigms of online services: personalization and tracking. The chapter initially focuses on the categories and levels of online personalization, briefly overviewing algorithmic methods applied to achieve these. Then, the chapter turns to online tracking specific to mobile and web technologies, as well as the more advanced behavioral tracking. Following this, the chapter ties the streams of personalization and tracking together and discusses various aspects of their relationships, including the currently deployed tracking methods for personalization. Privacy implications of personalization via online tracking, highlighted by organizations and researchers, are also illustrated. Lastly, this chapter discusses the ways to balance personalization benefits and privacy concerns. This includes the state-of-the-art practices, current challenges, and practical recommendations for system developers willing to strike this balance.
Case Des Tout-Petits: Reforming Early Childhood Education in Senegal
Authors: Cisse Talla , Ejiofor Karen , Malin Muna , Thompson Amelia , Zhao Yuan
Published: February 2022

Education systems around the world are grappling with how to respond to a significant global health crisis stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the leadership of President Abdoulaye Wade, in the early 2000s, Senegal undertook a significant educational reform that sought to address disparities in academic and health challenges faced by early learners. This chapter examines Cases des Tout-Petits, a reform targeting children 0–6 years old, through the lens of Fernando Reimer’s five perspectives of educational change. This chapter offers insights to policy makers, researchers, educators, and program designers around the world interested in learning from a dual reform that dramatically shifted the early childhood development landscape in Senegal.
Automated Flag Detection and Participant Performance Evaluation for Pwnable CTF
Authors: Singh Manikant , Negi Rohit , Shukla Sandeep K.
Published: February 2022

The demand for cyber security awareness, education, evaluation of learning levels of students etc., has increased in the past few years. In order to meet this rising demand, several cyber security learning and training platforms have been developed. Capture the flag (CTF) platforms and cyber ranges have become primary tools that facilitate education, training and recruitment of cyber security personnel. These tools evaluate and rank the participants on the basis of challenges solved by them. A discrete evaluation mechanism focusing only on flags solved, fails to ensure that the effort and knowledge demonstrated by the participants while solving the challenge, are factored into the scoring system. Most of these tools do not even distinguish between participants actually solving the flags vs. those who might copy a captured flag without actually working on the problem. Further, in flag only scoring systems, participants feel discouraged as they fail to score without finding the flags – despite putting in enormous time and effort. In this paper, we present our novel approach to quantify participant’s learning, efforts, and any unethical practices. We award partial scores by automatically capturing their behavior while solving the CTF problems. We also provide an accurate ranking system with automated solved challenge detection which replaces the need for manual flag submission. In our system, participants get hybrid scores based on their efforts, and organizations get a better and an effective evaluation tool.
Einführung des Entlassmanagements an einer Universitätsklinik für Chirurgie: Explorative Analyse von Kosten, Verweildauer und Patientenzufriedenheit
Authors: Aßfalg Volker , Hassiotis Sophia , Radonjic Marion , Göcmez Sarah , Friess Helmut , Frank Elke , Königstorfer Jörg
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund

Seit Oktober 2017 ist ein strukturiertes Entlassmanagement zur Überleitung von Patienten aus dem stationären in den ambulanten Sektor gem. § 39 Abs. 1a S. 10 SGB V gesetzlich vorgeschrieben. Umsetzung und Finanzierung obliegen dem behandelnden Krankenhaus.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ermittlung der Kosten des Entlassmanagements, Feststellung der Patientenzufriedenheit mit der Überleitung, Messung der Wiederaufnahmerate (Drehtüreffekt) sowie Vergleich der mittleren Krankenhausverweildauer vor und nach Einführung des Entlassmanagements in der Chirurgischen Klinik der Technischen Universität München.

Methoden

Einjahreskostenanalyse, retrospektive Analyse der Krankenhausverweildauer vor und nach Einführung des Entlassmanagements, Patienteninterviews zur Untersuchung der Zufriedenheit und Beurteilung der Qualität des Entlassmanagements.

Ergebnisse

Die Kostenanalyse ergab pauschale Kosten in Höhe von 43 € pro Patienten bzw. 391 € bei komplexem poststationären Versorgungsbedarf. Eine statistisch signifikante Verkürzung der Verweildauer durch das Entlassmanagement ließ sich in 3 Subgruppen nicht nachweisen. Die Qualität der Überleitung wurde mit Schulnoten von durchschnittlich 1,8 bis 1,9 benotet. Der Drehtüreffekt wurde bei 3,4 % der Patienten festgestellt.

Diskussion

Das analysierte Entlassmanagement stellt eine effektive und qualitativ erfolgreiche, jedoch kostenverursachende Maßnahme dar, die mittelfristig im Rahmen der Fallpauschalenvergütung im G‑DRG-System (German Diagnosis Related Groups) Berücksichtigung finden und voraussichtlich kostensteigernd wirken wird. Eine an die Überleitungsqualitäten der verschiedenen medizinischen Fachbereiche angepasste, fallspezifische Vergütung des Entlassmanagements könnte einen Lösungsansatz darstellen, um die Bedürfnisse verschiedener Anspruchsgruppen zu berücksichtigen.
Duration and clinical outcome of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective cohort study using a medical information database from Japanese hospitals
Authors: Yokoi Hiroyoshi , Oda Eisei , Kaneko Kazuki , Matsubayashi Kenta
Published: February 2022

In this real-world, retrospective cohort study of 9753 patients in Japan prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we investigated DAPT duration and determined factors associated with early DAPT discontinuation and with event rates in patients who discontinued DAPT. The study period was April 1, 2012–March 31, 2018; endpoints comprised composite efficacy [death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke] and bleeding (intracranial, gastrointestinal, and requiring transfusion) endpoints. Overall, 68.8% of patients were continuing DAPT at 3 months post-PCI. Patients without major efficacy or safety events within 3 months after index PCI were included in a landmark analysis set (LAS; n = 7056), and categorized as DAPT ≥ 3 months (continuation) versus < 3 months (discontinuation). In the two LAS analysis groups, there was no difference in the composite bleeding endpoint (P = 0.067), although the incidence of the composite efficacy endpoint was higher in the discontinuation group (P < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, age ≥ 75 years, minor bleeding after PCI, history of cerebral infarction, history of cerebral or gastrointestinal bleeding, atrial fibrillation, dialysis, and anticoagulant use after PCI were associated with early DAPT discontinuation. Acute coronary syndrome, history of MI, kidney disorder, and anticoagulant use after PCI were associated with the composite efficacy endpoint in the discontinuation group. In conclusion, early DAPT discontinuation is more likely in patients at high bleeding risk, but may influence the occurrence of ischemic events in these patients. Determination of DAPT duration should take into account potential ischemic risk, even in patients at high bleeding risk.
Experimental and numerical characterization of twisting response of thin glass
Authors: Galuppi Laura , Riva Enrica
Published: February 2022

The use of new generation thin, lightweight and damage-resistant glass, originally conceived for electronic displays, is moving its first steps in the built environment, in particular for adaptive and movable skins and façades. Its experimental characterization represents pearhaps one of the main open problems in glass research and engineering. Indeed, standard methods to test the glass strength cannot be used, due to geometrical nonlinearities, thwarting the correct procedure and the strenght calculation. Here, an innovative test procedure is proposed, where a rectangular thin glass element is twisted with high distortion level, while rigid elements constrain two opposite plate edges to remain straight. A dedicated experimental apparatus, that can be used to test specimens with different size and thickness, has been designed and used to test, up to rupture, chemically tempered thin glass with thickness of 1.1 mm and 2.1 mm. Experimental results have been compared to those of numerical analyses, with particular regard to the influence of different constrain conditions on the plate response.
Concrete Structures and Their Impacts on Climate Change and Water and Raw Material Resource Depletion
Authors: Eštoková Adriana , Wolfová Fabiánová Martina , Ondová Marcela
Published: February 2022

The construction sector contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases and thus to climate change. This study aims to quantify the environmental performance of selected bearing constructions with special regard to their climate change contribution and resource depletion. Environmental impacts were assessed using environmental indicators, such as global warming potential and abiotic, water and natural resource depletion. The material composition of the wall structures consisted of aerated concrete blocks, ranging from 300 to 375 mm, with different thermal-insulation materials (expanded polystyrene with graphite, and rock wool) and variable interior and exterior plaster. The evaluation was based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology within the ‘‘cradle to gate” boundaries. The calculated values of global warming potentials per square metre of wall construction ranged from 234.16 to 283.46 kg CO2 eq for the 20-year time span, from 213.02 to 255.20 kg CO2 eq for the 100-year time span and from 190.40 to 229.90 kg CO2 eq for the 500-year time span. The average water consumption was identified as 3.97 m3, and the abiotic depletion was identified as 1.41 kg Sbeq per square metre of the wall structure. The lowest environmental impact in all environmental categories evaluated was found for a structure with aerated concrete with a thickness of 300 mm with graphite polystyrene thermal insulation and with silicone outdoor plaster. Using a suitable material composition of the wall structure, up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved while maintaining the same thermal parameters of the structure.
Accelerating IceCube’s Photon Propagation Code with CUDA
Authors: Schwanekamp Hendrik , Hohl Ramona , Chirkin Dmitry , Gibbs Tom , Harnisch Alexander , Kopper Claudio , Messmer Peter , Mehta Vishal , Olivas Alexander , Riedel Benedikt , Rongen Martin , Schultz David , van Santen Jakob
Published: February 2022

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a cubic kilometer neutrino detector located at the geographic South Pole designed to detect high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. To thoroughly understand the detected neutrinos and their properties, the detector response to signal and background has to be modeled using Monte Carlo techniques. An integral part of these studies are the optical properties of the ice the observatory is built into. The simulated propagation of individual photons from particles produced by neutrino interactions in the ice can be greatly accelerated using graphics processing units (GPUs). In this paper, we (a collaboration between NVIDIA and IceCube) reduced the propagation time per photon by a factor of up to 3 on the same GPU. We achieved this by porting the OpenCL parts of the program to CUDA and optimizing the performance. This involved careful analysis and multiple changes to the algorithm. We also ported the code to NVIDIA OptiX to handle the collision detection. The hand-tuned CUDA algorithm turned out to be faster than OptiX. It exploits detector geometry and only a small fraction of photons ever travel close to one of the detectors.
Temperature response to the June 2020 solar eclipse observed by FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC2 in the Tibet sector
Authors: Sun Yang-Yi , Chen Chieh-Hung , Yu Tao , Wang Jin , Qiu Lihui , Qi Yifan , Lin Kai
Published: February 2022

This study explores the response of atmospheric temperature to the annular solar eclipse at the summer solstice on 21 June 2020. The radio occultation (RO) technique of the FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC2 (F7/C2) mission observes the temperature in the troposphere and stratosphere. The RO observations show that the temperature decreases significantly (near 4 to 8 °C) between 5 and 8 km altitudes over the Tibetan Plateau area within the 80% obscuration during the eclipse. The tropopause temperature increases by ~ 2 to 5 °C over the same area. By contrast, the tropopause temperature decreases by ~ 4° to 5 °C over the Indian Ocean. The F7/C2 RO technique captured not only the sudden tropospheric cooling and stratospheric warming over Tibet during the eclipse but also the possible response over the Indian Ocean away from the greatest eclipse.
Effectiveness of selective digestive decolonization therapy using oral gentamicin for eradication of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae carriage
Authors: Park So Yeon , Lee Jin Seo , Oh Jihyu , Lee Seo Hu , Jung Jion
Published: February 2022

Objectives:

To evaluate the efficacy of selective digestive decolonization (SDD) therapy using oral gentamicin against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) colonization and to compare the incidence of novel gentamicin resistance between SDD and non-SDD patient groups.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Acute-care referral center hospital in South Korea.

Methods:

Adults aged ≥20 years identified as rectal CRE carriers hospitalized between October 2019 and June 2020 were enrolled. Patients with a <30-day follow-up were excluded. Among CRE carriers, those who received 80 mg oral gentamicin sulfate (Shin Poong Pharmaceutical, Seoul, South Korea) 4 times daily comprised the SDD group and those who did not receive SDD therapy comprised the non-SDD group. CRE decolonization was compared between groups within 15 days, and new gentamicin resistance was assessed.

Results:

In total, 73 rectal CRE carriers were identified; 11 patients were lost to follow-up within 30 days and were excluded. Oral gentamicin was administered to 20 of 62 patients. We detected no differences in the basic demographic features between groups. The rate of decolonization within 15 days was higher in the SDD group than in the non-SDD group (70.0% vs 23.8%; P = .001). The time to decolonization was significantly shorter in the SDD group. We detected no difference in acquisition of new gentamicin resistance between the groups. No serious adverse events due to oral gentamicin SDD therapy were reported.

Conclusions:

SDD therapy using oral gentamicin for CRE-colonized patients may be effective for the decolonization of gut CRE and for the prevention of transmission and subsequent CRE infection.
Effect of pre-operative mastoid pneumatisation on tympanoplasty success
Authors: ElBeltagy Y M , Askoura A M , Hangal D E A , Teaima A A
Published: February 2022

Objective

This study aimed to compare the effect of pneumatised and non-pneumatised mastoid on the success of tympanoplasty in terms of rate of graft uptake and air–bone gap improvement.

Method

A comprehensive electronic search of PubMed Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library was conducted in August 2020 for articles from 1990 to 2020. Selected studies were published in the English language, were conducted on human patients, were concerned with evaluating pre-operative mastoid pneumatisation on tympanoplasty success, were not laboratory studies and were not opinion studies. Five studies were included with 178 patients in the pneumatised group and 97 patients were included in the non-pneumatised group. Comparison between both groups was performed in terms of graft uptake rate and air–bone gap improvement.

Results

Although the pneumatised group showed better graft uptake rate than the non-pneumatised group, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the success rate of tympanoplasty.

Conclusion

Pneumatisation of the mastoid does not significantly affect the success rate of tympanoplasty.
Can vocal process granuloma location forecast the efficacy of anti-reflux treatment?
Authors: Ding J , Lou Z
Published: February 2022

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anti-reflux therapy on the idiopathic vocal process granulomas.

Method

This was a prospective case series study. The patients with vocal process granulomas who met the inclusion criteria were analysed. Proton pump inhibitors and vocal hygiene education were conducted for 8–20 weeks.

Results

Of the 16 patients with vocal process granulomas, 5 (31.25 per cent) patients achieved complete remission. The complete remission rate of granulomas was not significantly related to age (p = 1.000), sex (p = 0.296), side (p = 0.299), position (p = 0.100), endoscopic morphology (p = 0.263) or proton pump inhibitor treatment course (p = 0.543) but was significantly associated with granuloma location (p = 0.001) and granuloma size (p = 0.012).

Conclusion

Granulomas in the vocal cord and the margin of the vocal process had an excellent response to proton pump inhibitors, but granulomas on the surface of vocal process and arytenoid cartilage body had little response to proton pump inhibitors. The prolonged period of proton pump inhibitor treatment did not increase the complete remission rate of vocal process granulomas.
Strengthening capacity for species conservation in South-east Asia: a provisional assessment of needs and opportunities for the Asian Species Action Partnership
Authors: Chao Nerissa , Loffeld Thirza A. C. , Mastro Kate , Willcox Daniel H. A. , Guthrie Vicki , Rao Madhu
Published: February 2022

South-east Asia is home to exceptional biodiversity, but threats to vertebrate species are disproportionately high in this region. The IUCN Species Survival Commission Asian Species Action Partnership aims to avert species extinctions. Strengthening individual and organizational capacity is key to achieving long-term, sustainable conservation impact, and is a core strategic intervention for the Partnership. To look at the needs and opportunities for developing capacity for species conservation in South-east Asia, we undertook a needs assessment with organizations implementing species conservation within this region. We conducted a review of available training opportunities, mapping them against a list of identified competences needed for species conservation to determine gaps in current training. Our assessments revealed an imbalance in the focus of training opportunities vs the actual competences needed for effective species conservation, and that training opportunities within South-east Asia are limited in number and highly competitive. These findings corroborate other similar reviews, particularly on capacity gaps in the Global South. We discuss the implications of our review and use the findings to generate recommendations.
PALACE-SANCTUARY OR PAVILION? AUGUSTUS’ HOUSE AND THE LIMITS OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Authors: Wiseman T.P.
Published: February 2022

February 2021 saw the coincidentally simultaneous publication of two important books about the Augustan Palatine: Dal mostro al principe by Andrea Carandini and Paolo Carafa, and Il complesso di Augusto sul Palatino by Patrizio Pensabene, Patrizio Fileri and Enrico Gallocchio. Since Carandini and Pensabene have been for decades the most significant archaeological investigators of the Palatine, these two major works of synthesis offer a timely opportunity to assess the historical contribution of archaeology in the 60 years since Gianfilippo Carettoni first identified ‘the house of Augustus’. That contribution has been surprisingly disappointing, and this article tries to explain why.
Diagonal decompositions of shapes and their algebras
Authors: Kristic Djordje
Published: February 2022

The formal approach to shapes and their algebras, as it appears in shape grammar theory, has been reviewed. It starts with geometric elements and their partial algebras, continues to shapes, their algebras, and boundaries, as well as algebras that calculate with shapes and their boundaries. There is a number of new concepts introduced along the way. These include diagonal decompositions and their algebras which simplify calculations with shapes, b-paired diagonal decompositions which extend calculations with shapes and their boundaries from diagonal shapes only to all shapes, andm-order boundaries which extend the concept of shape boundaries and allow for calculations with multiple representations of shapes. It also shows that algebras of shapes are infinite direct sums of diagonal algebras.