bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multi‐omics analysis for the prediction of neurocognitive disorders risk among the elderly in Macao
Authors: Han Yan , Quan Xingping , Chuang Yaochen , Liang Qiaoxing , Li Yang , Yuan Zhen , Bian Ying , Wei Lai , Wang Ji , Zhao Yonghua
Published: June 2022

Background

Due to the increasing ageing population, neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) have been a global public health issue, and its prevention and early diagnosis are crucial. Our previous study demonstrated that there is a significant correlation between specific populations and NCDs, but the biological characteristics of the vulnerable group predispose to NCDs are unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the predictors for the vulnerable group by a multi‐omics analysis.

Methods

Multi‐omics approaches, including metagenomics, metabolomic and proteomic, were used to detect gut microbiota, faecal metabolites and urine exosome of 8 normal controls and 13 vulnerable elders after a rigorous screening of 400 elders in Macao. The multi‐omics data were analysed using R and Bioconductor. The two‐sided Wilcoxon's rank‐sum test, Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test and the linear discriminant analysis effective size were applied to investigate characterized features. Moreover, a 2‐year follow‐up was conducted to evaluate cognitive function change of the elderly.

Results

Compared with the control elders, the metagenomics of gut microbiota showed that Ruminococcus gnavus, Lachnospira eligens, Escherichia coli and Desulfovibrio piger were increased significantly in the vulnerable group. Carboxylates, like alpha‐ketoglutaric acid and d‐saccharic acid, and levels of vitamins had obvious differences in the faecal metabolites. There was a distinct decrease in the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 1 (eIF2α) and amine oxidase A (MAO‐A) according to the proteomic results of the urine exosomes. Moreover, the compound annual growth rate of neurocognitive scores was notably decreased in vulnerable elders.

Conclusions

The multi‐omics characteristics of disturbed glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism (bacteria), vitamin digestion and absorption and tricarboxylic acid cycle in vulnerable elders can serve as predictors of NCDs risk among the elderly of Macao. Intervention with them may be effective therapeutic approaches for NCDs, and the underlying mechanisms merit further exploration.
The applications of the routing protocol for low‐power and lossy networks (RPL) on the internet of mobile things
Authors: Ghanbari Zahra , Navimipour Nima Jafari , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi , Shakeri Hassan , Darwesh Aso
Published: June 2022

Internet of Mobile Things (IoMT) have become very popular recently. The routing protocol for low power and lossy networks (RPL) is standardized for static topologies. However, mobility is the nature of IoT. Mobility serves as a promising candidate to harness hand‐off time issues, delay in data transmission, overhead, and low packet delivery rate (PDR) effectively. This study presents a comprehensive account of the mobility‐aware RPL‐based routing protocols to validate and compare the experimental results. Remarkably, classification methods are used in many articles. The aim is to introduce significant research efforts to improve RPL objective functions (OF) performance in hand‐off time, PDR, delay, overhead, and so forth. In this regard, a complete analysis of the existing routing protocols in IoMT has been presented to compare the results. The main focus of this study is on approaches that proposed new OFs for supporting mobility in RPL. Two main categories are considered to study RPL‐based routing protocol mechanisms: The mobile and static sink. The related studies on the mobile sink are divided into three groups: Single metric‐based OF, composite metric OF, and hybrid routing protocols. Also, the related works based on the static sink are categorized into four groups: Fuzzy logic‐based OF, trickle timer‐based OF, composite metrics‐based OF, and modification control messages‐based OF approach. This paper presents a detailed comparison of mechanisms in each category. It also highlights the pros, cons, open issues, and evaluated metrics of each paper. Besides, challenges of mobility in the RPL‐based routing protocol mechanism in IoMT for future studies.
Utilizing longitudinal data in assessing all‐cause mortality in patients hospitalized with heart failure
Authors: Herman Robert , Vanderheyden Marc , Vavrik Boris , Beles Monika , Palus Timotej , Nelis Olivier , Goethals Marc , Verstreken Sofie , Dierckx Riet , Penicka Martin , Heggermont Ward , Bartunek Jozef
Published: June 2022

Aims

Risk stratification in patients with a new onset or worsened heart failure (HF) is essential for clinical decision making. We have utilized a novel approach to enrich patient level prognostication using longitudinally gathered data to develop ML‐based algorithms predicting all‐cause 30, 90, 180, 360, and 720 day mortality.

Methods and results

In a cohort of 2449 HF patients hospitalized between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017, we utilized 422 parameters derived from 151 451 patient exams. They included clinical phenotyping, ECG, laboratory, echocardiography, catheterization data or percutaneous and surgical interventions reflecting the standard of care as captured in individual electronic records. The development of predictive models consisted of 101 iterations of repeated random subsampling splits into balanced training and validation sets. ML models yielded area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC) performance ranging from 0.83 to 0.89 on the outcome‐balanced validation set in predicting all‐cause mortality at aforementioned time‐limits. The 1 year mortality prediction model recorded an AUC of 0.85. We observed stable model performance across all HF phenotypes: HFpEF 0.83 AUC, HFmrEF 0.85 AUC, and HFrEF 0.86 AUC, respectively. Model performance improved when utilizing data from more hospital contacts compared with only data collected at baseline.

Conclusions

Our findings present a novel, patient‐level, comprehensive ML‐based algorithm for predicting all‐cause mortality in new or worsened heart failure. Its robust performance across phenotypes throughout the longitudinal patient follow‐up suggests its potential in point‐of‐care clinical risk stratification.
Trans‐Amidate Platinum Complexes Anchoring Water and N‐donor Molecules. The Importance of Hydrogen Bonding
Authors: Gimeno‐Prat Antonio , Martín Antonio , Baya Miguel , Casas José M.
Published: June 2022

The square planar bisnitrile platinum(II) derivatives PtCl2(NCR)2(R=Ph (1 a); Et (1 b);p‐C6H4F (1 c);p‐C6H4tBu (1 d);m‐C6H3Me2(1 e);o,p‐C6H2Me3(1 f)) react with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide to render the monoaquo [NBu4][trans‐PtCl(HNCOR)2(OH2)] (2 a–2 f). The water molecule is σ‐coordinated to platinum and the binding is reinforced by two strong hydrogen bonds to the neighboring amidate ligands (OH⋅⋅⋅OC). Substitution of water in2 aby N‐donor ligands can be efficiently achieved only in the presence of a dehydrating agent as magnesium sulphate or 4 Å molecular sieves. By following this strategy, compounds [NBu4][trans‐PtCl(HNCOPh)2(NH2R’)] (R’=H (3), NH2(4),tBu (5 a),p‐C6H4Me (5 b) have been isolated. The incoming ligands are σ‐coordinated to platinum and also establish strong hydrogen bonds to the amidates (NH⋅⋅⋅OC). Treatment of2 awith halogens causes oxidation at the metal center, rendering the platinum(IV) derivatives [NBu4][PtClX2(HNCOPh)2(OH2)] (X=Cl (6 a), Br (6 b), I (6 c)).
An approach toward higher electrical conversion efficiency of solar photovoltaic module using phase change materials
Authors: Nandanwar Yogesh N. , Kalbande Vednath P. , Mohan Man , Rambhad Kishor , Walke Pramod V.
Published: June 2022

A well‐known fact is that the electrical performance of the solar photovoltaic (PV) module reduces with an increase of its operating surface temperature, hence to obtain better electrical performance from PV module; it becomes necessary to maintain its surface temperature within the recommended limit. The present experimentation is focused on the application of phase change materials (PCM) to improve the electrical conversion efficiency of the PV module. The performance analysis of the polycrystalline silicon PV module integrated with the finned heat sink embedded in the PCM bath has been carried out, particularly for Indian climatic conditions (21°N, 79°E). Four different organic PCM‐filled PV modules (PV‐PCM) have been selected for performance comparison with conventional PV modules toward their electrical conversion efficiency. All the PV modules are tested with different tilt angles to obtain the lowest operating temperature afterwards the PV‐PCM module with the lowest temperature at particular tilt angle was compared with conventional PV module for output power. Among all investigated PV modules, calcium chloride hexahydrate‐filled PV system exhibits the highest electrical performance at an angle of 90° with the horizontal. The relative and improved average electrical efficiency of 7.5% was recorded with the novel designed PV‐PCM system.
Ray‐tracing assisted fingerprinting for localization in IoT Health 4.0
Authors: Chandra Shit Rathin , Sharma Suraj
Published: June 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) can help healthcare companies establish Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). It permits innovative solutions to a well‐known problem, notably the real‐time localization and monitoring of patients and clinicians. Yet, there is no method for indoor localization in the healthcare context that delivers centimeter‐level precision. Although radio‐based localization has intriguing potential, the primary limitations of such a method are non‐line‐of‐sight radio signal transmission and multipath reflection, both of which lead to the lowest accuracy. The advanced 5G communication technology allows for the simultaneous utilization of temporal and angular features of a broadcast signal, as well as its multipath property, to accomplish precise target localization. This article presents a method for multipath channel‐assisted localization in the AAL system by utilizing the temporal and angular measurement of the signal concurrently. We simulated and tested the localization approach in an AAL system and achieved centimeter‐level accuracy over 90% of the time in all four cases.
Inoculation with native grassland soils improves native plant species germination in highly disturbed soil
Authors: Duell Eric B. , Hickman Karen R. , Wilson Gail W. T.
Published: June 2022

Background

Grasslands are globally imperiled, facing continued threats from anthropogenic disturbances. Seeding remains a common grassland restoration method, and yet, is typically met with limited success, partially because soils of degraded systems inhibit the germination of native species.

Methods

We assessed the germination success of 16 native grassland species sown in soils collected from a degraded grassland converted into a nonnative warm‐season perennial grass, Bothriochloa ischaemum, and areas previously subjected to the eradication of this nonnative species. Our objectives were as follows: (1) determine native seed germination in soils collected from B. ischaemum or eradication control sites, compared to germination in native grassland soil, and (2) assess if native soil inoculation improves germination, compared to germination in degraded soils without inoculation.

Results

Germination of native species was exceedingly low when seeded into soil dominated by B. ischaemum, or in soil previously treated with combinations of herbicide and prescribed fire, relative to native grassland control. However, amendments with native grassland soil resulted in germination equivalent to native grasslands, alleviating the negative influences of degraded soils.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the role of native soil in improving the germination of desirable plant species following intensive management and soil degradation. Our research may improve restoration outcomes for managers focused on the conservation and restoration of grasslands.
Extending internalization theory: Integrating international business strategy with international management
Authors: Casson Mark
Published: June 2022

Research summary

International business strategy and international management are two distinct but related fields of study. This article explores the connections between them. It shows how internalization theory can act as a bridge between them. The key is to analyze not only core activities, such as production, marketing and R&D, but support services such as human resource management, information technology, and corporate finance. Internalization decisions and location decisions must be analyzed holistically, and diagrammatic techniques show how this can be done. These diagrams reveal the networks of communication and the hierarchical structures that emerge from such decisions.

Managerial summary

The organizational structure of a multinational enterprise is inherently complex, making it difficult to determine whether one organizational structure is more efficient than another. Delayering, decentralization, and agility are recommended, but what are their practical implications? Internalization theory addresses these problems in a simple and coherent way. It shows that it is not only core activities, namely production, marketing and R&D, that need to be coordinated, but support services too. Decisions on the location and out‐sourcing of support services must be aligned with similar decisions on core activities. A diagrammatic analysis is presented that facilitates the solution of these problems.
Hematological disorders after salvage PARPi treatment for ovarian cancer: Cytogenetic and molecular defects and clinical outcomes
Authors: Todisco Elisabetta , Gigli Federica , Ronchini Chiara , Amato Viviana , Sammassimo Simona , Pastano Rocco , Parma Gabriella , Lapresa Maria Teresa , Bertolini Francesco , Corsini Chiara , Gregato Giuliana , Poletti Claudia , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe , Alcalay Myriam , Colombo Nicoletta , Tarella Corrado
Published: June 2022

Inhibitors of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARPi) are increasingly employed as salvage therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but cytotoxic drug exposure along with PARP inhibition may favor development of hematological disorders. In our study, of 182 women with EOC treated with PARPi, 16 (8.7%) developed therapy‐related myeloid neoplasms (t‐MNs), with 12 cases of myelodysplasia and 4 of acute myeloid leukemia. All experienced persistent cytopenia after PARPi discontinuation. Seven patients had del(5q)/−5 and/or del(7q)/−7, nine had a complex karyotype and TP53 mutations, recently reported as risk factor for t‐MNs in EOC post‐PARPi, were found in 12 out of 13 tested patients. Four patients had a rapid and fatal outcome, one had stable disease, eleven underwent induction therapy, followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in seven. Three of these 11 patients experienced refractory disease, and 8 had complete remission. During a 6.8 months (range 2.3‐49) median observation time, 3 out of 16 patients were alive, with one surviving patient free of both solid and hematological tumors. Ten patients died because of leukemia, two because of transplant‐related events, one from heart failure. Five more patients experienced persistent cell blood count abnormalities following PARPi discontinuation, without reaching MDS diagnostic criteria. A customized Myelo‐panel showed clonal hematopoiesis in all five patients. These findings confirm the actual risk of t‐MNs in EOC patients after chemotherapy and prolonged PARPi therapy. The management of these patients is complex and outcomes are extremely poor. Careful diagnostic procedures are strongly recommended whenever unusual cytopenias develop in patients receiving PARPi therapy.
Towards an early warning system for sovereign defaults leveraging on machine learning methodologies
Authors: Petropoulos Anastasios , Siakoulis Vasilis , Stavroulakis Evangelos
Published: June 2022

In this study, we address the topic of credit risk stemming from central governments from a technical point of view. First, we explore various econometric and machine learning techniques to build an enhanced sovereign rating system that effectively differentiates the risk of default among countries. Our empirical results indicate that the machine learning method of XGBOOST has a superior out‐of‐sample and out‐of‐time predictive performance. Then, we use the models developed to calibrate a sovereign rating system and provide useful insights into the set‐up of a parsimonious early warning system. Our results provide a more concise view of the most robust method for classifying countries’ default risk with significant regulatory implications, given that the efficient assessment of sovereign debt is crucial for effective proactive risk measurement.
Role of PGC‐1α in fiber type conversion in the palatopharyngeus muscle of OSA patients
Authors: Chen Ling , Shen Yongqing , Xiong Hao , Guan Zhong , Si Yu , Liang Haifeng , Zhu Wenying , Cai Qian
Published: June 2022

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a high incidence and is harmful to health. It is characterized by repeated collapse of the upper airway. However, the mechanism underlying upper airway collapse is unclear.

Methods

Patients with OSA and chronic tonsillitis were studied. Pathological changes in palatopharyngeus muscle were detected. The expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ co‐activator‐1α (PGC‐1α) and nuclear respiratory factor‐1 (NRF‐1) in muscles was detected by PCR and Western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of type I and type II myofibril.

Results

The structure of the palatopharyngeus muscle was changed, and the expression of PGC‐1α and NRF‐1 was decreased in the OSA group compared with that in the control group. The expression of PGC‐1α, NRF‐1, and type I myofibril in C2C12 myoblasts was decreased by intermittent hypoxia exposure. The expression of type I myofibril was decreased when knocking down PGC‐1α.

Conclusion

OSA patients exhibited pathological damage in palatopharyngeus muscle. PGC‐1α was involved in the fiber type conversion in palatopharyngeus muscle caused by intermittent hypoxia.
Dynein light chain LC8 alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting NF‐κB signaling and reducing oxidative stress
Authors: Lee Gong‐Rak , Lee Hye In , Kim Narae , Lee Jiae , Kwon Minjeong , Kang Ye Hee , Song Hyeong Ju , Yeo Chang‐Yeol , Jeong Woojin
Published: June 2022

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disease characterized by fat accumulation and chronic inflammation in the liver. Dynein light chain of 8 kDa (LC8) was identified previously as an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), a key regulator of inflammation, however, its role in NASH remains unknown. In this study, we investigated whether LC8 can alleviate NASH using a mouse model of methionine and choline‐deficient (MCD) diet‐induced NASH and examined the underlying mechanism. LC8 transgenic (Tg) mice showed lower hepatic steatosis and less progression of NASH, including hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, compared to wild‐type (WT) mice after consuming an MCD diet. The hepatic expression of lipogenic genes was lower, while that of lipolytic genes was greater in LC8 Tg mice than WT mice, which might be associated with resistance of LC8 Tg mice to hepatic steatosis. Consumption of an MCD diet caused oxidative stress, IκBα phosphorylation, and subsequent p65 liberation from IκBα and nuclear translocation, resulting in induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, these effects of MCD diet were reduced by LC8 overexpression. Collectively, these results suggest that LC8 alleviates MCD diet‐induced NASH by inhibiting NF‐κB through binding to IκBα to interfere with IκBα phosphorylation and by reducing oxidative stress via scavenging reactive oxygen species. Thus, boosting intracellular LC8 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with NASH.
Effect Compartment Model for the Evaluation of Tolerance to Psychological Highness Following Smoking Marijuana
Authors: Singla Sumeet , Block Robert
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of tolerance, using a population modeling approach, in recreational marijuana users after acute pulmonary administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a primary ingredient in marijuana. A total of 85 subjects in 3 separate studies smoked marijuana cigarettes (dose = 13–49 mg) under controlled conditions. Each study was designed as a randomized, crossover, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled study. Up to 5 THC plasma samples and corresponding user‐reported psychological highness were pooled for population modeling analyses. Age, sex, user status, and body mass index were evaluated as covariates. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were estimated in the 2‐compartment PK model. PK parameters were fixed in the effect compartment model to describe the relationship between THC plasma concentration–psychological highness. The distribution rate constant in the effect compartment was estimated to be 0.988 (95%CI 0.964–1.010)/h. The population mean half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) was 23.8 (95%CI 22.7–24.9) ng/mL. Covariate analysis revealed that user status was a significant covariate, and that chronic users appear to need higher plasma concentrations compared with occasional users to achieve a similar degree of highness. The modeling results conclude that chronic users develop tolerance to euphoria, which is the primary central nervous system effect of smoking marijuana.
An Updated Patient‐Centered Sialadenitis Instrument: The Obstructive Salivary Problem Impact Test (SPIT)
Authors: Gulati Arushi , Cognetti David M. , Cohen David S. , Ogden M. Allison , Schaitkin Barry M. , Walvekar Rohan R. , Ryan William R. , Chang Jolie L.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The Chronic Obstructive Sialadenitis Symptoms questionnaire (COSS) was created to assess chronic sialadenitis symptoms and treatment response, but its development lacked patient input and validation. We analyzed COSS responses and feedback from sialadenitis patients and physician experts to create the novel obstructive Salivary Problem Impact Test (SPIT), a new standardized measure of sialadenitis‐associated symptoms.

Methods

We analyzed COSS responses via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify essential symptom domains and reduce overlap in questions. Sialadenitis patients evaluated the significance of index symptoms identified from the literature review. Expert physicians rated symptom relevance in clinical assessment. An updated questionnaire (SPIT) was piloted with both patient and expert interviews to optimize structure and readability. The SPIT was assessed for internal consistency, construct validity, and test–retest stability.

Results

EFA of 310 COSS responses demonstrated 3 main symptom domains (functional impact, pain, swelling) that explained 58.4% of response variance. Results were not statistically different when collapsing from 11 to 5 question response options. Experts (n = 5) ranked gland swelling, mealtime pain, and foul taste as most clinically important, while patients (n = 12) ranked swelling, non‐mealtime pain, and difficulty eating as most bothersome. Most patients experienced sialadenitis‐related functional or psychosocial impairment. Following interviews for question refinement, a 25‐question survey was finalized. SPIT responses from 50 sialadenitis patients demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96), 14‐day stability (p < 0.001), and agreement with Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 scores (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

We developed the SPIT instrument to improve usability and content validity in chronic sialadenitis evaluation. The psychometric assessment demonstrated high construct validity and test–retest reliability. Further work will assess longitudinal changes with treatment.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 133:539–546, 2023
Nanoconfined Crystallization in Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) Induced by Various Forms of Premelt‐Deformation
Authors: Smith Travis , Feng Jiansheng , Zou Lu , Gao Min , Prévôt Marianne , Wang Shi‐Qing
Published: June 2022

The processing–structure–property relationship using poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is explored. Specifically, both pre‐extension and preshear of amorphous PLA and PET above their glass transition temperatures Tg, carried out in the affine deformation limit, can induce a specific type of cold crystallization during annealing, i.e., nanoconfined crystallization (NCC) where crystal sizes are limited to a nanoscopic scale in all dimensions so as to render the processed PLA and PET optically transparent. The new polymer structure after premelt deformation can show considerably enhanced mechanical properties. For example, premelt stretching produces geometric condensation of the chain network. This structural alternation can profoundly change the mechanical characteristics, e.g., turning brittle PLA ductile. In contrast, after preshear of amorphous PLA above Tg, the NCC containing PLA remains brittle, showing the importance to have geometric condensation from processing. Both AFM imaging and SAXS measurements are performed to verify that premelt deformation of PLA and PET indeed results in NCC from annealing that permits the strain‐induced cold crystallization to take place on the length scale of the mesh size of the deformed chain network.
Research Progress in Polypeptoids Prepared by Controlled Ring‐Opening Polymerizations
Authors: Ma Anyao , Yu Xinyan , Liao Mingzhen , Liu Wenxiao , Xuan Sunting , Zhang Zhengbiao
Published: June 2022

Polypeptoids, structural mimics of polypeptides, have attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility, proteolytic stability, thermal processability, good solubility, synthetic accessibility, and structural diversity. Polypeptoids have emerged as an interesting material in both polymer science and biological field. This review primarily discusses the research progress of polypeptoids prepared by controlled ring‐opening polymerizations in the past decade, including synthetic strategies of monomers, polymerizations by different initiators, postfunctionalization, fundamental properties, crystallization‐driven self‐assembly, and potential biological applications.
Improved TSE imaging at ultrahigh field using nonlocalized efficiency RF shimming and acquisition modes optimized for refocused echoes (AMORE)
Authors: He Xiaoxuan , Schmidt Simon , Zbýň Štefan , Haluptzok Tobey , Moeller Steen , Metzger Gregory J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a novel RF shimming optimization strategy tailored to improve the transmit efficiency in turbo spin echo imaging when performing time‐interleaved acquisition of modes (TIAMO) at ultrahigh fields.

Theory and Methods

A nonlocalized efficiency shimming cost function is proposed and extended to perform TIAMO using acquisition modes optimized for refocused echoes (AMORE). The nonlocalized efficiency shimming was demonstrated in brain and knee imaging at 7 Tesla. Phantom and in vivo torso imaging studies were performed to compare the performance between AMORE and previously proposed TIAMO mode optimizations with and without localized constraints in turbo spin echo and gradient echo acquisitions.

Results

The proposed nonlocalized efficiency RF shimming produced a circularly polarized‐like field with fewer signal dropouts in the brain and knee. For larger targets, AMORE was used and required a significantly lower transmitter voltage to produce a similar contrast to existing TIAMO mode design approaches for turbo spin echo as well as gradient echo acquisitions. In vivo, AMORE effectively reduced signal dropout in the interior torso while providing more uniform contrast with reduced transmit power. A local constraint further improved performance for a target region while maintaining performance in the larger FOV.

Conclusion

AMORE based on the presented nonlocalized efficiency shimming cost function demonstrated improved contrast and SNR uniformity as well as increased transmit efficiency for both gradient echo and turbo spin echo acquisitions.
Does the clerkship/internship in psychiatry affect medical students’ level of knowledge about schizophrenia, attitudes, and beliefs toward schizophrenia and other mental disorders?
Authors: Akpinar Aslan Esma , Batmaz Sedat
Published: June 2022

Undergraduate medical students’ attitudes and beliefs toward mental illnesses are a crucial phenomenon as these students will be care providers of the future. The current study aimed to analyze whether the psychiatry clerkship/internship affects these students’ level of knowledge about schizophrenia as well as their attitudes and beliefs toward schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. A total of 158 medical students, 92 in their fifth year and 66 in their sixth year, were included in the study. The participants completed the Knowledge About Schizophrenia Questionnaire (KASQ), Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI), and Attitudes toward People with Mental Disorders Scale (APMDS) before and after the psychiatry clerkship/internship. The KASQ and APMDS total scores were significantly higher whereas BMI and BMI‐Dangerousness subscale scores were significantly lower after the clerkship/internship in psychiatry. Postclerkship/internship KASQ total scores were negatively correlated with BMI total scores and BMI‐Dangerousness subscale scores. Additionally, BMI total scores and APMDS total scores were also negatively correlated. Although the change in KASQ scores was significantly associated with the decrease in BMI total scores after the clerkship/internship, it was not associated with the increase in APMDS total score in the hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis. In conclusion, the present study revealed that knowledge about schizophrenia and attitudes and beliefs toward mental illnesses improved significantly after the clerkship/internship in psychiatry. While improvement in medical students’ knowledge about schizophrenia and mental illnesses is a predictor of the decrease in negative beliefs about mental illnesses, a similar relationship was not found regarding attitudes. This study not only provides information about the relationship between knowledge about schizophrenia and attitudes and beliefs about mental illness but also highlights the need to consider the multifactorial nature of attitudes when developing intervention programs for medical students.
Polystyrene‐Silica Colloidal Janus Particles with Uniform Shapes and Complex Structures
Authors: Xu Jianchang , Qiu Jichuan , Zhang Haohui , Hu Yuhang , Xia Younan
Published: June 2022

Colloidal Janus particles with well‐controlled parameters are sought for a range of applications in mesoscale self‐assembly, stabilization of Pickering emulsion, and development of multifunctional devices, among others. Herein, a versatile method for fabricating polystyrene‐silica (PS‐SiO2) Janus particles featuring complex shapes and structures is developed by swelling PS@SiO2 core–shell spheroids. When the PS encapsulated in a rigid SiO2 shell is swollen by a good solvent for PS, the swelling‐induced pressure will result in an uneven distribution of stress acting on the SiO2 shell, as determined by the intrinsic symmetry of a spheroid. When the stress reaches a threshold value, the swollen PS will preferentially poke out from equatorial sites on the SiO2 shell to form T‐shaped Janus particles comprised of PS and SiO2 compartments. The size of the PS portion can be controlled by varying the extent of swelling, while the size, shape, and shell thickness of the SiO2 portion are determined by the original PS spheroids and the SiO2 coating. This solution‐phase method holds promise to produce Janus particles with diverse shapes, structures, and compositions for various applications. The T‐shaped Janus particles can serve as an emulsifier to effectively stabilize an oil‐in‐water (O/W) Pickering emulsion for at least 35 days.
Similarity of competing risks models with constant intensities in an application to clinical healthcare pathways involving prostate cancer surgery
Authors: Binder Nadine , Möllenhoff Kathrin , Sigle August , Dette Holger
Published: June 2022

The recent availability of routine medical data, especially in a university‐clinical context, may enable the discovery of typical healthcare pathways, that is, typical temporal sequences of clinical interventions or hospital readmissions. However, such pathways are heterogeneous in a large provider such as a university hospital, and it is important to identify similar care pathways that can still be considered typical pathways. We understand the pathway as a temporal process with possible transitions from a single initial treatment state to hospital readmission of different types, which constitutes a competing risks setting. In this article, we propose a multi‐state model‐based approach to uncover pathway similarity between two groups of individuals. We describe a new bootstrap procedure for testing the similarity of constant transition intensities from two competing risk models. In a large simulation study, we investigate the performance of our similarity approach with respect to different sample sizes and different similarity thresholds. The studies are motivated by an application from urological clinical routine and we show how the results can be transferred to the application example.
Enhancing Li‐Ion Transport in Solid Electrolytes by Confined Water
Authors: Li Yutong , Wang Shitong , Xiao Zunqiu , Leng Jin , Zhang Zhongtai , Gao Tao , Tang Zilong
Published: June 2022

Developing new oxide solid electrolytes with fast Li‐ion transport and high stability is an important step to realize high‐performance solid‐state Li‐ion batteries. Hydrate materials containing confined water widely exist in nature or can be easily synthesized. However, they have seldom been explored as Li‐ion solid electrolytes due to the stereotype that the presence of water limits the electrochemical stability window of a solid electrolyte. In this work, it is demonstrated that confined water can enhance Li‐ion transport while not compromising the stability window of solid electrolytes using Li–H–Ti–O quaternary compounds as an example system. Three Li–H–Ti–O quaternary compounds containing different amounts of confined water are synthesized, and their ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability are compared. The compound containing structural pseudo‐water is demonstrated to have an ionic conductivity that is 2–3 order of magnitude higher than the water‐free Li4Ti5O12 and similar stability window. A solid‐state battery is made with this new compound as the solid electrolyte, and good rate and cycling performance are achieved, which demonstrates the promise of using such confined‐water‐containing compounds as Li‐ion solid electrolytes. The knowledge and insights gained in this work open a new direction for designing solid electrolytes for future solid‐state Li‐ion batteries. Broadly, by confining water into solid crystal structures, new design freedoms for tailing the properties of ceramic materials are introduced, which creates new opportunities in designing novel materials to address critical problems in various engineering fields.
Assessing the implementation of India's new health reform program, Ayushman Bharat, in two Southern states: Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Authors: Pillai Kalyani , Obasanjo Iyabo
Published: June 2022

India's health indicators are negatively impacted by the high percentage of out‐of‐pocket expenditures, which leaves many unable to access health care or impoverishes them. To improve this situation, the Indian government in 2018, as part of health a reform program called Ayushman Bharat Initiative (AB), started the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) as a scheme to provide financial access to secondary and tertiary healthcare services for people living in poverty. The AB‐PMJAY is a publicly‐funded insurance program that provides over $6,000 per indigent family per year for in‐patient hospital care. We compare the rollout of the program in two Indian States, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have relatively better health indicators compared with other Indian States. Questionnaires were developed for the two states based on the separate programs they had ongoing before AB‐PMJAY was introduced and the differing implementation strategy they undertook. We interviewed 21 health workers (10 from Kerala and 11 from Tamil Nadu), at the frontline of implementation and analyzed the narrative of the answers given for related themes. We found that low reimbursement rates may limit the number of private hospitals participating in the program, and that the classification criteria for eligibility may need to be updated. We also found that differing political alignment between the central government and subregional governments may affect how well the program is implemented. Overall, interview subjects felt that the program would lead to better health care access for the poor if well implemented and sustained.
Kinetic Stabilization of Heavier Bis(m‐terphenyl)pnictogen Phosphaethynolates
Authors: Duvinage Daniel , Janssen Marvin , Lork Enno , Grützmacher Hansjörg , Mebs Stefan , Beckmann Jens
Published: June 2022

Kinetic stabilization using bulkym‐terphenyl substituents is the key to the isolation of the diarylantimony and diarylbismuth phosphaethynolates (2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2EPCO and the related N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes (2,6‐Mes2C6H3)2EP(O)C(IMe4) (E=Sb, Bi; IMe4=1,3,4,5‐tetramethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene), which have been fully characterized crystallographically and spectroscopically. The experimental characterization was augmented by a DFT based real space bond indicator analysis of the electron density, including AIM, NCI, and ELI‐D methods.
Close Range Photogrammetry for High-Precision Reference Point Determination
Authors: Lösler Michael , Eschelbach Cornelia , Klügel Thomas
Published: June 2022

Local tie vectors are a crucial component within the combination of several space geodetic techniques. The vectors define the geometric relations between the space geodetic techniques, referring to the invariant reference points of such techniques. The Global Geodetic Observing System aims for an accuracy of 1 mm in the position on a global scale. In ITRF2014, about 50 % of the used local ties show discrepancies of more than 5 mm w.r.t. the global solution. In the framework of the IAG/IERS Working Group on Site Survey and Co-location or joint research projects like the international GeoMetre project strategies to improve the reference point determination and the local ties are developed. Strategies mainly comprise the development or the recommendation for surveying instruments, developing approaches for transforming local measurements to the global frame, and deriving innovative analysis procedures to derive the reference point of space geodetic techniques.

In this contribution, we focus on the reference point determination. At the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, a measurement campaign was carried out in September 2020 to evaluate the benefit of close range photogrammetry in the framework of reference point determination. For this purpose, the invariant reference point of a Satellite Laser Ranging telescope was derived several times using various configurations. The estimated reference point and the axis offset vary in a range of ±0.1 mm and ±0.02 mm, respectively. The resulting standard deviations of the coordinate components of the combined solution are less than 0.1 mm and impressively demonstrate the potential of the presented method.
Refugee Entrepreneurs Building and Displaying Resilience
Authors: Shepherd Dean A. , Parida Vinit , Wincent Joakim
Published: June 2022

Next, this chapter—“Refugee Entrepreneurs Building and Displaying Resilience”—examines how refugees can harness entrepreneurial action to find a positive identity and better life under difficult circumstances. Against a theoretical backdrop comprising resilience, positive psychology, and positive organizational scholarship, we explore the important role entrepreneurial action plays in generating positive outcomes by investigating long-term refugee entrepreneurs (in refugee camps and not in camps) over 15 months. In particular, we describe the motivation underlying entrepreneurial action in highly constrained environments (in which the constraints go beyond a lack of financial resources) and explain the causes and consequences of entrepreneurs’ resilience in the face of severe constraints that create significant and ongoing adversity. Overall, this chapter shows that entrepreneurial action can help individuals achieve resilient outcomes in the face of adversity without addressing the underlying source of that adversity. We also hope this chapter changes the way people think about refugees starting and running illegal businesses.
Personal Adversity and Justifying Illegal and Costly Entrepreneurial Action
Authors: Shepherd Dean A. , Parida Vinit , Wincent Joakim
Published: June 2022

This chapter—“Personal Adversity and Justifying Illegal and Costly Entrepreneurial Action”—shifts even more to the dark side of entrepreneurial action in the face of chronic adversity. Specifically, in this chapter, we explore bunkerers—oil thieves—to provide a richer understanding of how individual entrepreneurs interpret their contexts and engage in entrepreneurial action that creates significant negative outcomes. We outline a personal adversity model to explain the entrepreneurial process whereby bunkerers engage in, justify, and persist with entrepreneurial action that causes substantial damage to the local environment, communities, and entrepreneurs’ health. We show how entrepreneurs claim both high and low levels of control to justify the same action and how entrepreneurs entangle themselves and others when justifying their harmful entrepreneurial action and the resulting destruction.
Quantum entropy of BMPV black holes and the topological M-theory conjecture
Authors: Gupta Rajesh Kumar , Murthy Sameer , Sahni Manya
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We present a formula for the quantum entropy of supersymmetric five-dimensional spinning black holes in M-theory compactified on CY3, i.e., BMPV black holes. We use supersymmetric localization in the framework of off-shell five dimensional N = 2 supergravity coupled to I = 1, . . . , NV + 1 off-shell vector multiplets. The theory is governed at two-derivative level by the symmetric tensor $$ {\mathcal{C}}_{IJK} $$

C
IJK

(the intersection numbers of the Calabi-Yau) and at four-derivative level by the gauge-gravitational Chern-Simons coupling cI (the second Chern class of the Calabi-Yau). The quantum entropy is an NV +2-dimensional integral parameterised by one real parameter φI for each vector multiplet and an additional parameter φ0 for the gravity multiplet. The integrand consists of an action governed completely by $$ {\mathcal{C}}_{IJK} $$

C
IJK

and cI, and a one-loop determinant. Consistency with the on-shell logarithmic corrections to the entropy, the symmetries of the very special geometry of the moduli space, and an assumption of analyticity constrains the one-loop determinant up to a scale-independent function g(φ0). For g = 1 our result agrees completely with the topological M-theory conjecture of Dijkgraaf, Gukov, Neitzke, and Vafa for static black holes at two derivative level, and provides a natural extension to higher derivative corrections. For rotating BMPV black holes, our result differs from the DGNV conjecture at the level of the first quantum corrections.
Die Relevanz von Netzwerkarbeit in der schulischen Gesundheitsförderung
Authors: Josupeit Jan , Dadaczynski Kevin , Quilling Eike
Published: June 2022

Die Schule ist einer der wichtigsten Orte, an dem die Förderung der Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen ansetzen kann, u. a. weil die Schülerinnen und Schüler hier einen Großteil ihrer Zeit verbringen. Allerdings kann sich Schule nur in Teilen der Gesundheitsförderung widmen und die Schule ist selbst nur ein Teil der alltäglichen Umwelt, von der das Gesundheitsverhalten geprägt wird. Um die Effektivität der Gesundheitsförderung zu steigern, erscheint die Bildung von Netzwerken zwischen schulischen und kommunalen Akteurinnen und Akteuren wie Sportvereinen, Jugendhilfe, Beratungsstellen und Gesundheitsämtern sinnvoll.

Der vorliegende Artikel thematisiert die Frage der Relevanz von Netzwerken im Kontext der schulischen Gesundheitsförderung. Die Herleitung basiert einerseits auf dem gesetzlichen Rahmen des Bildungsauftrags von Schulen und dem sogenannten Präventionsgesetz von 2015 und andererseits auf der Ottawa-Charta der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) sowie auf dem daraus entwickelten Diskurs um die Begriffe „Gesundheitsförderung“ und „Settingansatz“. Es werden Perspektiven aufgezeigt, wie Netzwerkarbeit wissenschaftlich fundiert gestaltet werden kann und wie passende Netzwerkpartner gewonnen werden können. Mögliche Risiken und Chancen der Netzwerkarbeit werden analysiert und Faktoren des Gelingens und Scheiterns aufgezeigt.

Netzwerkarbeit sollte für Schulen im Sinne der Gesundheitsförderung obligatorisch sein. Sie kann dazu beitragen, Bedarfe innerhalb der Schule zu ermitteln, und gleichzeitig ein Schlüssel im Umgang mit resultierenden Herausforderungen sein. Netzwerkarbeit erfordert vor allem die Motivation der Akteurinnen und Akteure. Eine gemeinsame Vision, feste Strukturen und Kontinuität sowie entsprechende personelle Überlegungen tragen zum Gelingen der Zusammenarbeit bei.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for assessing histopathology in pediatric immunoglobulin A nephropathy and Henoch–Schönlein purpura nephritis
Authors: Zhang Hejia , Liu Qinglin , Chen Zhi , Yao Xingfeng , Ling Chen , Lei Lei , Wang Xiaoman , Liu Xiaorong , Chen Xiangmei
Published: June 2022

Background

Glomerular disease, including immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and Henoch–Schönlein purpura nephritis, is one of the most common kidney diseases in children. The diagnosis of these diseases depends on pathological biopsy, although this procedure is seriously limited by its invasive and high-risk nature.

Objective

To investigate the potential of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for evaluating the histopathological severity of IgAN and Henoch–Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN).

Materials and methods

We investigated a total of 13 children with IgAN and 12 children with HSPN confirmed by renal histopathology. We reevaluated the pathological lesions of the children according to the Oxford classification and the Lee grading system and then all the children underwent CEUS. Using SonoLiver software, we constructed time–intensity curves of CEUS for regions of interest in the renal cortex. We analyzed CEUS quantitative parameters for IgAN and HSPN and used Spearman correlation analysis to examine the correlation between CEUS parameters and clinicopathological indexes in the study cohort.

Results

The CEUS parameters rise time (RT) and time to peak (TTP) were significantly higher in children with Lee grade IV than in those with Lee grades II or III. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between rise time and time to peak with Lee grade in the overall cohort of children, and a positive correlation between rise time and time to peak and severity of crescents in the Oxford classification scoring system.

Conclusion

Contrast-enhanced US may be used as a noninvasive imaging technique to evaluate the severity of renal pathology and formation of crescents in children with IgAN and HSPN.