bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging of treatment response and minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma: state of the art WB-MRI and PET/CT
Authors: Lecouvet Frederic E. , Vekemans Marie-Christiane , Van Den Berghe Thomas , Verstraete Koenraad , Kirchgesner Thomas , Acid Souad , Malghem Jacques , Wuts Joris , Hillengass Jens , Vandecaveye Vincent , Jamar François , Gheysens Olivier , Vande Berg Bruno C.
Published: August 2021

Bone imaging has been intimately associated with the diagnosis and staging of multiple myeloma (MM) for more than 5 decades, as the presence of bone lesions indicates advanced disease and dictates treatment initiation. The methods used have been evolving, and the historical radiographic skeletal survey has been replaced by whole body CT, whole body MRI (WB-MRI) and [18F]FDG-PET/CT for the detection of bone marrow lesions and less frequent extramedullary plasmacytomas.

Beyond diagnosis, imaging methods are expected to provide the clinician with evaluation of the response to treatment. Imaging techniques are consistently challenged as treatments become more and more efficient, inducing profound response, with more subtle residual disease. WB-MRI and FDG-PET/CT are the methods of choice to address these challenges, being able to assess disease progression or response and to detect “minimal” residual disease, providing key prognostic information and guiding necessary change of treatment.

This paper provides an up-to-date overview of the WB-MRI and PET/CT techniques, their observations in responsive and progressive disease and their role and limitations in capturing minimal residual disease. It reviews trials assessing these techniques for response evaluation, points out the limited comparisons between both methods and highlights their complementarity with most recent molecular methods (next-generation flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing) to detect minimal residual disease. It underlines the important role of PET/MRI technology as a research tool to compare the effectiveness and complementarity of both methods to address the key clinical questions.
Warming, not CO2-acidified seawater, alters otolith development of juvenile Antarctic emerald rockcod (Trematomus bernacchii)
Authors: Naslund Andrew W. , Davis Brittany E. , Hobbs James A. , Fangue Nann A. , Todgham Anne E.
Published: August 2021

The combustion of fossil fuels is currently causing rapid rates of ocean warming and acidification worldwide. Projected changes in these parameters have been repeatedly observed to stress the physiological limits and plasticity of many marine species from the molecular to organismal levels. High latitude oceans are among the fastest changing ecosystems; therefore, polar species are projected to be some of the most vulnerable to climate change. Antarctic species are particularly sensitive to environmental change, having evolved for millions of years under stable ocean conditions. Otoliths, calcified structures found in a fish’s inner ear used to sense movement and direction, have been shown to be affected by both warming and CO2-acidified seawater in temperate and tropical fishes but there is no work to date on Antarctic fishes. In this study, juvenile emerald rockcod (Trematomus bernacchii) were exposed to projected seawater warming and CO2-acidification for the year 2100 over 28 days. Sagittal otoliths were analyzed for changes in area, perimeter, length, width and shape. We found ocean warming increased the growth rate of otoliths, while CO2-acidified seawater and the interaction of warming and acidification did not have an effect on otolith development. Elevated temperature also altered the shape of otoliths. If otolith development is altered under future warming scenarios, sensory functions such as hearing, orientation, and movement may potentially be impaired. Changes in these basic somatic abilities could have broad implications for the general capabilities and ecology of early life stages of Antarctic fishes.
Ocean salinity indices of interannual modes in the tropical Pacific
Authors: Chi Jianwei , Qu Tangdong , Du Yan , Qi Jifeng , Shi Ping
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the interannual modes of the tropical Pacific using salinity from observations, ocean reanalysis output and CMIP6 products. Here we propose two indices of sea surface salinity (SSS), a monopole mode and a dipole mode, to identify the El Niño—South Oscillation (ENSO) and its diversity, respectively. The monopole mode is primarily controlled by atmospheric forcing, namely, the enhanced precipitation that induces negative SSS anomalies across nearly the entire tropical Pacific. The dipole mode is mainly forced by oceanic dynamics, with zonal current transporting fresh water from the western fresh pool into the western-central and salty water from the subtropics into the eastern tropical Pacific. Under a global warming condition, an increase in the monopole and dipole mode variance indicates an increase in both the central and eastern Pacific El Niño variability. The increase in central Pacific El Niño variability is largely due to enhanced vertical stratification during global warming in the upper layer, with intensified zonal advection. An eastern Pacific El Niño-like warming pattern contributes to the increase in eastern Pacific El Niño, with enhanced precipitation over the central-eastern tropical Pacific.
Does the orientation of syndesmosis fixative device affect the immediate reduction of the distal tibiofibular joint?
Authors: Hennings Robert , Spiegl Ulrich J. , Fuchs Carolin , Hepp Pierre , Fakler Johannes K. M. , Ahrberg Annette B.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Incongruent stabilization of the distal tibiofibular joint (syndesmosis) results in poorer long-term outcome in malleolar fractures. The aim was to analyze whether the orientation of the syndesmotic stabilization would affect the immediate reduction imaged in computed tomography (CT).

Materials and methods

The syndesmotic congruity in 114 ankle fractures with stabilization of the syndesmosis were retrospectively analyzed in the post-operative bilateral CT scans. The incisura device angle (IDA) was defined and correlated with the side-to-side difference of Leporjärvi clear-space (ΔLCS), anterior tibiofibular distance (ΔantTFD) and Nault talar dome angle (ΔNTDA) regardless of the stabilization technique and separately for suture button system and syndesmotic screw. Asymmetric reduction was defined as ΔLCS > 2 mm and |ΔantTFD|> 2 mm.

Results

Regardless of the stabilization technique, no correlation between the IDA and the ΔLCS (r = 0.069), the ΔantTFD (r = 0.019) nor the ΔNTDA (r = 0.177) could be observed. There were no differences between suture button system and syndesmotic screw. Asymmetrical reduction was detected in 46% of the cases, while sagittal asymmetry was most common. No association was found between the orientation of stabilization device and occurrence of asymmetrical reduction (p > 0.05). The results of suture button system and syndesmotic screw were comparable in this respect (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Poor correlation between the orientation of the stabilization device and the immediate post-operative congruity of the syndesmosis could be shown. In contrast to current literature, this study did not show difference of suture button system over syndesmotic screw in this regard. Careful adjustment of the fibula in anteroposterior orientation should be given special attention.
Comparison of a practice-based versus theory-based training program for conducting vacuum-assisted deliveries: a randomized-controlled trial
Authors: Marschalek Julian , Kuessel Lorenz , Stammler-Safar Maria , Kiss Herbert , Ott Johannes , Husslein Heinrich
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Vacuum-assisted deliveries (VAD) are complex procedures that require training and experience to be performed proficiently. We aimed to evaluate if a more resource intensive practice-based training program for conducting VAD is more efficient compared to a purely theory-based training program, with respect to immediate training effects and persistence of skills 4–8 weeks after the initial training.

Methods

In this randomized-controlled study conducted in maternity staff, participants performed a simulated low-cavity non-rotational vacuum delivery before (baseline test) and immediately after the training (first post-training test) as well as 4–8 weeks thereafter (second post-training test). The study’s primary endpoint was to compare training effectiveness between the two study groups using a validated objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) rating scale.

Results

Sixty-two participants were randomized to either the theory-based group (n = 31) or the practice-based group (n = 31). Total global and specific OSATS scores, as well as distance of cup application to the flexion point improved significantly from baseline test to the first post-training test in both groups (pall < 0.007). Skill deterioration after 4–8 weeks was only found in the theory-based group, whereas skills remained stable in the practice-based group.

Conclusion

A practice-based training program for conducting VAD results in comparable immediate improvement of skills compared to a theory-based training program, but the retention of skills 4–8 weeks after training is superior in a practice-based program. Future studies need to evaluate, whether VAD simulation training improves maternal and neonatal outcome after VAD.
Natural Rock Fractures: From Aperture to Fluid Flow
Authors: Cardona Alejandro , Finkbeiner Thomas , Santamarina J. Carlos
Published: August 2021

Fractures provide preferential flow paths and establish the internal “plumbing” of the rock mass. Fracture surface roughness and the matedness between surfaces combine to delineate the fracture geometric aperture. New and published measurements show the inherent relation between roughness wavelength and amplitude. In fact, data cluster along a power trend consistent with fractal topography. Synthetic fractal surfaces created using this power law, kinematic constraints and contact mechanics are used to explore the evolution of aperture size distribution during normal loading and shear displacement. Results show that increments in normal stress shift the Gaussian aperture size distribution toward smaller apertures. On the other hand, shear displacements do not affect the aperture size distribution of unmated fractures; however, the aperture mean and standard deviation increase with shear displacement in initially mated fractures. We demonstrate that the cubic law is locally valid when fracture roughness follows the observed power law and allows for efficient numerical analyses of transmissivity. Simulations show that flow trajectories redistribute and flow channeling becomes more pronounced with increasing normal stress. Shear displacement induces early aperture anisotropy in initially mated fractures as contact points detach transversely to the shear direction; however, anisotropy decreases as fractures become unmated after large shear displacements. Radial transmissivity measurements obtained using a torsional ring shear device and data gathered from the literature support the development of robust phenomenological models that satisfy asymptotic trends. A power function accurately captures the evolution of transmissivity with normal stress, while a logistic function represents changes with shear displacement. A complementary hydro-chemo-mechanical study shows that positive feedback during reactive fluid flow heightens channeling.
Selectivity of a bromoacridine-containing fluorophore for triplex DNA
Authors: Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Fraser William
Published: August 2021

Fluorophore 1,8-naphthilamide was linked to 2-bromoacridine through an ethylenediamine spacer using a succinct synthetic route to give a bromoacridine-linked, bifunctional fluorophore conjugate for the detection of triplex DNA. Acridine is well known to intercalate into duplex DNA whereas introduction of a bulky bromine atom at position C2 redirects specificity for triplex over duplex DNA. In this work, photoelectron transfer assay was used to demonstrate that the synthesised 2-bromoacridine-linked fluorophore conjugate had good selectivity for the representative triplex DNA target sequence d(T*A.T)20 compared with double-stranded d(T.A)20, single-stranded dT20 or d(G/A)19 DNA sequences.

Graphic abstract
A simplified methodology: pH sensing using an in situ fabricated Ir electrode under neutral conditions
Authors: Chen Yuqi , Li Xiuting , Li Danlei , Batchelor-McAuley Christopher , Compton Richard G.
Published: August 2021

Herein, a simplified fabrication method for the producing of a pH-sensitive iridium electrode is developed. The in situ electrochemical fabrication of an iridium oxide film is optimized and shown to be achievable under neutral conditions rather than the acidic conditions hitherto employed. The formation of a pH sensitive Ir(III/IV) hydrous film is confirmed via XPS. The amperometric pH-sensing properties of this electrochemically generated material were investigated using square wave voltammetry. In the pH range 2–13, the iridium oxide redox signal has a pH dependency of 86.1 ± 1.1 mV per pH unit for midpoint potentials with uncertainties being ± 0.01–0.05 pH. Finally, the newly developed pH sensor was used to measure the pH of a natural water sample with excellent results as compared to a conventional glass pH probe.
Job satisfaction among physicians and nurses involved in the management of multiple sclerosis: the role of happiness and meaning at work
Authors: Negri Luca , Cilia Sabina , Falautano Monica , Grobberio Monica , Niccolai Claudia , Pattini Marianna , Pietrolongo Erika , Quartuccio Maria Esmeralda , Viterbo Rosa Gemma , Allegri Beatrice , Amato Maria Pia , Benin Miriam , De Luca Giovanna , Gasperini Claudio , Minacapelli Eleonora , Patti Francesco , Trojano Maria , Bassi Marta
Published: August 2021

Objective

Health professionals caring for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are faced with increasingly complex working conditions that can undermine their job satisfaction and the quality of their healthcare services. The aim of this study was to delve into health professionals’ job satisfaction by assessing the predictive role of happiness and meaning at work. Specifically, it was hypothesized that job meaning would moderate the relationship between job happiness and satisfaction.

Methods

The study hypothesis was tested among 108 healthcare professionals (53 physicians and 55 nurses) working in eight MS centers in Italy. Participants were administered the Eudaimonic and Hedonic Happiness Investigation and the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the moderating role of job meaning between job happiness and satisfaction.

Results

A significant interaction effect of job happiness and meaning on job satisfaction was identified for both physicians and nurses. When work was attributed low meaning, participants experiencing high job happiness were more satisfied with their work than those reporting low happiness; by contrast, when work was perceived as highly meaningful, participants’ levels of job happiness did not significantly contribute to job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Focusing on the interplay between job happiness and meaning, findings bring forward practical suggestions for the preservation and promotion of job satisfaction among health professionals working with MS patients. Particularly, they suggest the need to strengthen those job-related aspects that may enhance job meaning, thus providing health professionals with significant reasons to persevere in their work in the face of daily challenges.
Evaluation of CHROMagar™-Serratia agar, a new chromogenic medium for the detection and isolation of Serratia marcescens
Authors: Pérez-Viso Blanca , Aracil-Gisbert Sonia , Coque Teresa M. , del Campo Rosa , Ruiz-Garbajosa Patricia , Cantón Rafael
Published: August 2021

A comparative analysis of the performance of the new selective chromogenic CHROMagar™-Serratia culture medium for detection and isolation ofSerratia marcescenswas undertaken. A total of 134 clinical isolates (95S. marcescenswith and without carbapenemase production and 39 non-S. marcescensisolates) and 96 epidemiological samples (46 rectal swabs and 50 from environmental surfaces) were studied. Diagnostic values when compared with CHROMagar™-Orientation medium were 96.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 88.5% negative predictive value. In conclusion, CHROMagar™-Serratia shows an excellent ability for differentiation ofS. marcescensamong clinical isolates and in environmental samples.
Sex differences in tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of gastric and esophageal cancer surgery: nationwide cohort data from the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit
Authors: Kalff Marianne C. , Wagner Anna D. , Verhoeven Rob H. A. , Lemmens Valery E. P. P. , van Laarhoven Hanneke W. M. , Gisbertz Suzanne S. , van Berge Henegouwen Mark I. ,   the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit group
Published: August 2021

Background

Sex differences in clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and postoperative outcomes of gastric and esophageal cancer are largely undefined. This study aimed to compare tumor and treatment characteristics and outcomes of gastric and esophageal cancer surgery between male and female patients.

Methods

Patients after elective surgery for primary esophageal (EAC) or gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) registered in the Dutch Upper GI Cancer Audit between 2011 and 2016 were included. The primary endpoint, 5-year relative survival with relative excess risk (RER), i.e., adjusted for the normal life expectancy, was compared between male and female patients with EAC and GAC.

Results

In total, 4937 patients were included (75% male) with a mean age of 66 years. cT and cN-stages showed a similar distribution in male and female patients. In females, antrum GAC was more frequent (47% vs. 38%, p < 0.001). Female patients with EAC less frequently received neo-adjuvant treatment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.38–0.96, p = 0.033). For GAC, less postoperative morbidity (33% vs. 38% p = 0.017) and less re-interventions (12% vs. 16%, p = 0.008) were observed in females, although they had inferior 5-year relative survival (49% vs. 56%, RER = 1.31, 95% CI 1.09–1.58, p = 0.004). No differences in relative survival of EAC were observed.

Conclusions

In addition to significant sex differences in tumor location, female patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma less frequently received neo-adjuvant therapy, and female patients with gastric adenocarcinoma had inferior relative survival. Further consideration and exploration of sex differences in surgical treatment and outcomes are necessary to improve tailored treatment and outcomes.
Association of initial prednisolone dose with remission, relapse, and infectious complications in adult-onset minimal change disease
Authors: Tanabe Kaori , Samejima Ken-ichi , Fukata Fumihiro , Kosugi Takaaki , Tsushima Hideo , Morimoto Katsuhiko , Okamoto Keisuke , Matsui Masaru , Eriguchi Masahiro , Maruyama Naoki , Akai Yasuhiro , Tsuruya Kazuhiko
Published: August 2021

Background

A dose of 0.5–1 mg/kg/day of prednisolone (PSL) is administered for the initial treatment of minimal change disease (MCD). However, little is known about the optimal PSL dose for the initial treatment of MCD.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of treatment-naive adult patients with MCD diagnosed by renal biopsy from 1981 to 2015 in whom PSL monotherapy was performed as the initial treatment. The exposure of interest was an initial median PSL dose of < 0.63 mg/kg/day (Group L) compared to ≥ 0.63 mg/kg/day (Group H). Cumulative remission and relapse after remission were compared between these groups using Cox regression adjusted for baseline characteristics.

Results

Ninety-one patients met the inclusion criteria. During a median follow-up of 2.98 years, 87 (95.6%) patients achieved complete remission, and 47.1% relapsed after remission. There was no significant difference in the remission rate between the groups at 4 weeks of follow-up (66.7 vs. 82.6%). The median time to remission in Group L was comparable to that in Group H (17.0 vs. 14.0 days). A multivariable Cox hazard model revealed that the initial PSL dose was not a significant predictor of remission. The cumulative steroid doses at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after treatment initiation were significantly lower in Group L than in Group H.

Conclusion

The initial PSL dose was not associated with time to remission, remission rate, time to relapse, or relapse rate. Therefore, a low initial steroid dose may be sufficient to achieve remission.
Improving the Quality of Children’s Mental Health Care with Progress Measures: A Mixed-Methods Study of PCIT Therapist Attitudes
Authors: Klein Corinna C. , Luis Sanchez B. Erika , Barnett Miya L.
Published: August 2021

Progress measures are an evidence-based technique for improving the quality of mental health care, however, clinicians rarely incorporate them into treatment. Research into how measure type impacts clinician preference has been recommended to help improve measure implementation. Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an assessment-driven treatment that serves as an ideal intervention through which to investigate measure preferences given its routine use of two types of assessments, a behavioral observation (the Dyadic Parent–Child Interaction Coding System) and a parent-report measure (the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory). This study investigated PCIT therapist attitudes towards progress measures used within PCIT and children’s mental health treatment generally. A mixed-method (QUAN + QUAL) study design examined PCIT therapist attitudes towards two types of progress measures and measures used in two contexts (PCIT and general practice). Multi-level modeling of a survey distributed to 324 PCIT therapists identified predictors of therapist attitudes towards measures, while qualitative interviews with 23 therapists expanded and clarified the rationale for differing perceptions. PCIT therapists reported more positive attitudes towards a behavioral observation measure, the DPICS, than a parent-report measure, the ECBI, and towards measures used in PCIT than in general practice. Clinician race/ethnicity was significantly related to measure-specific attitudes. Qualitative interviews highlighted how perceptions of measure reliability, type of data offered, ease of use, utility in guiding sessions and motivating clients, and embeddedness in treatment protocol impact therapist preferences. Efforts to implement progress monitoring should consider preferences for particular types of measures, as well as how therapists are trained to embed measures in treatment.
Reflective and transparent cellulose-based passive radiative coolers
Authors: Gamage Sampath , Banerjee Debashree , Alam Md. Mehebub , Hallberg Tomas , Åkerlind Christina , Sultana Ayesha , Shanker Ravi , Berggren Magnus , Crispin Xavier , Kariis Hans , Zhao Dan , Jonsson Magnus P.
Published: August 2021

Radiative cooling passively removes heat from objects via emission of thermal radiation to cold space. Suitable radiative cooling materials absorb infrared light while they avoid solar heating by either reflecting or transmitting solar radiation, depending on the application. Here, we demonstrate a reflective radiative cooler and a transparent radiative cooler solely based on cellulose derivatives manufactured via electrospinning and casting, respectively. By modifying the microstructure of cellulose materials, we control the solar light interaction from highly reflective (> 90%, porous structure) to highly transparent (≈ 90%, homogenous structure). Both cellulose materials show high thermal emissivity and minimal solar absorption, making them suitable for daytime radiative cooling. Used as coatings on silicon samples exposed to sun light at daytime, the reflective and transparent cellulose coolers could passively reduce sample temperatures by up to 15 °C and 5 °C, respectively.
Accelerating distributed deep neural network training with pipelined MPI allreduce
Authors: Castelló Adrián , Quintana-Ortí Enrique S. , Duato José
Published: August 2021

TensorFlow (TF) is usually combined with the Horovod (HVD) workload distribution package to obtain a parallel tool to train deep neural network on clusters of computers. HVD in turn utilizes a blocking Allreduce primitive to share information among processes, combined with a communication thread to overlap communication with computation. In this work, we perform a thorough experimental analysis to expose (1) the importance of selecting the best algorithm in MPI libraries to realize the Allreduce operation; and (2) the performance acceleration that can be attained when replacing a blocking Allreduce with its non-blocking counterpart (while maintaining the blocking behaviour via the appropriate synchronization mechanism). Furthermore, (3) we explore the benefits of applying pipelining to the communication exchange, demonstrating that these improvements carry over to distributed training via TF+HVD. Finally, (4) we show that pipelining can also boost performance for applications that make heavy use of other collectives, such as Broadcast and Reduce-Scatter.
Liftable vector fields, unfoldings and augmentations
Authors: Nuño-Ballesteros J. J. , Oset Sinha R.
Published: August 2021

We study liftable vector fields of smooth map-germs. We show how to obtain the module of liftable vector fields of any map-germ of finite singularity type from the module of liftable vector fields of a stable unfolding of it. As an application, we obtain the liftable vector fields for the family $$H_k$$

H
k

in Mond’s list. We then show the relation between the liftable vector fields of a stable germ and its augmentations.
Music emotion recognition using recurrent neural networks and pretrained models
Authors: Grekow Jacek
Published: August 2021

The article presents conducted experiments using recurrent neural networks for emotion detection in musical segments. Trained regression models were used to predict the continuous values of emotions on the axes of Russell’s circumplex model. A process of audio feature extraction and creating sequential data for learning networks with long short-term memory (LSTM) units is presented. Models were implemented using the WekaDeeplearning4j package and a number of experiments were carried out with data with different sets of features and varying segmentation. The usefulness of dividing the data into sequences as well as the point of using recurrent networks to recognize emotions in music, the results of which have even exceeded the SVM algorithm for regression, were demonstrated. The author analyzed the effect of the network structure and the set of used features on the results of the regressors recognizing values on two axes of the emotion model: arousal and valence. Finally, the use of a pretrained model for processing audio features and training a recurrent network with new sequences of features is presented.
PKT: fast color-based spatial model for human skin detection
Authors: Samson Grace L. , Lu Joan
Published: August 2021

We present a new detection method for color-based object detection, which can improve the performance of learning procedures in terms of speed, accuracy, and efficiency, using spatial inference, and algorithm. We applied the model to human skin detection from an image; however, the method can also work for other machine learning tasks involving image pixels. We propose (1) an improved RGB/HSL human skin color threshold to tackle darker human skin color detection problem. (2), we also present a new rule-based fast algorithm (packed k-dimensional tree --- PKT) that depends on an improved spatial structure for human skin/face detection from colored 2D images. We also implemented a novel packed quad-tree (PQT) to speed up the quad-tree performance in terms of indexing. We compared the proposed system to traditional pixel-by-pixel (PBP)/pixel-wise (PW) operation, and quadtree based procedures. The results show that our proposed spatial structure performs better (with a very low false hit rate, very high precision, and accuracy rate) than most state-of-the-art models.
Prevalence and determinants of intravenous admixture preparation errors: A prospective observational study in a university hospital
Authors: Jessurun Janique G. , Hunfeld Nicole G. M. , van Rosmalen Joost , van Dijk Monique , van den Bemt Patricia M. L. A.
Published: August 2021

Background Intravenous admixture preparation errors (IAPEs) may lead to patient harm. Insight into the prevalence as well as the determinants associated with these IAPEs is needed to elicit preventive measures. Aim The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IAPEs. Secondary aims were to identify the type, severity, and determinants of IAPEs. Method A prospective observational study was performed in a Dutch university hospital. IAPE data were collected by disguised observation. The primary outcome was the proportion of admixtures with one or more IAPEs. Descriptive statistics were used for the prevalence, type, and severity of IAPEs. Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the determinants of IAPEs. Results A total of 533 IAPEs occurred in 367 of 614 admixtures (59.8%) prepared by nursing staff. The most prevalent errors were wrong preparation technique (n = 257) and wrong volume of infusion fluid (n = 107). Fifty-nine IAPEs (11.1%) were potentially harmful. The following variables were associated with IAPEs: multistep versus single-step preparations (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 4.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.27–7.35); interruption versus no interruption (ORadj 2.32, CI 1.13–4.74); weekend versus weekdays (ORadj 2.12, CI 1.14–3.95); time window 2 p.m.-6 p.m. versus 7 a.m.-10 a.m. (ORadj 3.38, CI 1.60–7.15); and paediatric versus adult wards (ORadj 0.14, CI 0.06–0.37). Conclusion IAPEs, including harmful IAPEs, occurred frequently. The determinants associated with IAPEs point to factors associated with preparation complexity and working conditions. Strategies to reduce the occurrence of IAPEs and therefore patient harm should target the identified determinants.
Are Estimates of Rapid Growth in Urban Land Values an Artifact of the Land Residual Model?
Authors: Clapp John M. , Cohen Jeffrey P. , Lindenthal Thies
Published: August 2021

Separating urban land and structure values is important for national accounts and for analysis of real estate risk over time. A large part of the literature on urban land valuation uses the land residual method, which relies on the assumption that structures are easily replaced. But urban land value depends on accessibility to nearby land uses, implying that infrastructure and the slowly changing built environment are the most important components of land value. Investments in structures are only slowly reversible, implying that land and structure function as a bundled good whereas land residual theory severs the connection between land value and structure value over time. We develop a simple theoretical model that includes option value and compare to a nested land residual model before and after a shock to values. Cross-sectionally our model shows that land residual theory overestimates structure value. Over time almost all of any change in property value is allocated to land residuals. Data from Maricopa county, AZ, 2012–2018 strongly support option value models when nested within a general model that also includes land residuals. FHFA estimates use entirely different cost estimation methods: our analysis of FHA data suggest that our conclusions generalize to the U.S. as a whole, and that high and rising land value ratios over 50 years (the “hockey stick” pattern found in the literature) are likely an artifact of the residual model.
Creativity and modelling the measurement process of the Higgs self-coupling at the LHC and HL-LHC
Authors: Ritson Sophie
Published: August 2021

This paper provides an account of the nature of creativity in high-energy physics experiments through an integrated historical and philosophical study of the current and planned attempts to measure the self-coupling of the Higgs boson by two experimental collaborations (ATLAS and CMS) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the planned High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). A notion of creativity is first identified broadly as an increase in the epistemic value of a measurement outcome from an unexpected transformation, and narrowly as a condition for knowledge of the measurement of the self-coupling of the Higgs. Drawing upon Tal’s model-based epistemology of measurement (2012) this paper shows how without change to ‘readings’ (or ‘instrument indicators’) a transformation to the model of the measurement process can increase the epistemic value of the measurement outcome. Such transformations are attributed to the creativity of the experimental collaboration. Creativity, in this context, is both a product, a creative and improved model, and the distributed collaborative process of transformation to the model of the measurement process. For the case of the planned measurements at the HL-LHC, where models of the measurement process perform the epistemic function of prediction, creativity is included in the models of the measurement process, both as projected quantified creativity and as an assumed property of the future collaborations.
Harsanyi support levels solutions
Authors: Besner Manfred
Published: August 2021

We introduce a new class of values for TU-games (games with transferable utility) with a level structure, called LS-games. A level structure is a hierarchical structure where each level corresponds to a partition of the player set, which becomes increasingly coarse from the trivial partition containing only singletons to the partition containing only the grand coalition. The new values, called Harsanyi support levels solutions, extend the Harsanyi solutions for LS-games. As an important subset of the class of these values, we present the class of weighted Shapley support levels values as a further result. The values from this class extend the weighted Shapley values for LS-games and contain the Shapley levels value as a special case. Axiomatizations of the studied classes are provided.
Ultrathin-shell epitaxial Ag@Au core-shell nanowires for high-performance and chemically-stable electronic, optical, and mechanical devices
Authors: Zhu Yangzhi , Kim Sanggon , Ma Xuezhi , Byrley Peter , Yu Ning , Liu Qiushi , Sun Xiaoming , Xu Da , Peng Sangshan , Hartel Martin C. , Zhang Shiming , Jucaud Vadim , Dokmeci Mehmet R. , Khademhosseini Ali , Yan Ruoxue
Published: August 2021

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) hold great promise for applications in wearable electronics, flexible solar cells, chemical and biological sensors, photonic/plasmonic circuits, and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) due to their unique plasmonic, mechanical, and electronic properties. However, the lifetime, reliability, and operating conditions of AgNW-based devices are significantly restricted by their poor chemical stability, limiting their commercial potentials. Therefore, it is crucial to create a reliable oxidation barrier on AgNWs that provides long-term chemical stability to various optical, electrical, and mechanical devices while maintaining their high performance. Here we report a room-temperature solution-phase approach to grow an ultra-thin, epitaxial gold coating on AgNWs to effectively shield the Ag surface from environmental oxidation. The Ag@Au core-shell nanowires (Ag@Au NWs) remain stable in air for over six months, under elevated temperature and humidity (80 °C and 100% humidity) for twelve weeks, in physiological buffer solutions for three weeks, and can survive overnight treatment of an oxidative solution (2% H2O2). The Ag@Au core-shell NWs demonstrated comparable performance as pristine AgNWs in various electronic, optical, and mechanical devices, such as transparent mesh electrodes, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, plasmonic waveguides, plasmonic nanofocusing probes, and high-aspect-ratio, high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes. These Au@Ag core-shell NWs offer a universal solution towards chemically-stable AgNW-based devices without compromising material property or device performance.
Cross-sectional properties of reindeer long bones and metapodials allow identification of activity patterns
Authors: Niinimäki Sirpa , Härkönen Laura , Puolakka Hanna-Leena , van den Berg Mathilde , Salmi Anna-Kaisa
Published: August 2021

Habitual loading patterns of domesticated animals may differ due to human influence from their wild counterparts. In the early stages of human-reindeer interaction, cargo and draft use was likely important, as well as corralling tame reindeer. This may result to changes in loading as increased (working) or decreased (captive) loading, as well as foraging patterns (digging for lichen from under the snow versus fed working and/or captive reindeer). Our aim is to study whether differences in activity modify variation in bone cross-sectional properties and external dimensions. Our material consists of donated skeletons of modern reindeer: 20 working reindeer (19 racing and one draft), 24 zoo reindeer, and sample of 78 free-ranging/wild reindeer as a reference group. We used general linear modelling to first establish the total variation in cross-sectional properties among wild and free-ranging reindeer, and then to infer how differences in loading modify observed variation among zoo and working reindeer. According to our results, direction of greater bone quantity as well as external dimensions in of radioulna of female reindeer differs from female reference group, likely relating to foraging behavior. External dimensions of humerus differ in working and zoo male reindeer compared to male reference group. Increased robusticity of long bones, especially of tibia among working male reindeer, may indicate increased loading, and increased cortical area of long bones may indicate sedentary lifestyle among female reindeer. The results of this study can be used to understand early stages of reindeer domestication by observing reindeer activity patterns from archaeological material.
Protein nanomechanics in biological context
Authors: Alegre-Cebollada Jorge
Published: August 2021

How proteins respond to pulling forces, or protein nanomechanics, is a key contributor to the form and function of biological systems. Indeed, the conventional view that proteins are able to diffuse in solution does not apply to the many polypeptides that are anchored to rigid supramolecular structures. These tethered proteins typically have important mechanical roles that enable cells to generate, sense, and transduce mechanical forces. To fully comprehend the interplay between mechanical forces and biology, we must understand how protein nanomechanics emerge in living matter. This endeavor is definitely challenging and only recently has it started to appear tractable. Here, I introduce the main in vitro single-molecule biophysics methods that have been instrumental to investigate protein nanomechanics over the last 2 decades. Then, I present the contemporary view on how mechanical force shapes the free energy of tethered proteins, as well as the effect of biological factors such as post-translational modifications and mutations. To illustrate the contribution of protein nanomechanics to biological function, I review current knowledge on the mechanobiology of selected muscle and cell adhesion proteins including titin, talin, and bacterial pilins. Finally, I discuss emerging methods to modulate protein nanomechanics in living matter, for instance by inducing specific mechanical loss-of-function (mLOF). By interrogating biological systems in a causative manner, these new tools can contribute to further place protein nanomechanics in a biological context.
Alternative mental health therapies in prolonged lockdowns: narratives from Covid-19
Authors: Radanliev Petar , De Roure David
Published: August 2021

Identify and review alternative (home-based) therapies for prolonged lockdowns. Interdisciplinary study using multi-method approach – case study, action research, grounded theory. Only secondary data has been used in this study. Epistemological framework based on a set of digital humanities tools. The set of tools are based on publicly available, open access technological solutions, enabling generalisability of the findings. Alternative therapies can be integrated in healthcare systems as home-based solutions operating on low-cost technologies.
An automated system analysis and design tool for spacecrafts
Authors: Ehresmann Manfred , Herdrich Georg , Fasoulas Stefanos
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a generic full-system estimation software tool is introduced and applied to a data set of actual flight missions to derive a heuristic for system composition for mass and power ratios of considered sub-systems. The capability of evolutionary algorithms to analyse and effectively design spacecraft (sub-)systems is shown. After deriving top-level estimates for each spacecraft sub-system based on heuristic heritage data, a detailed component-based system analysis follows. Various degrees of freedom exist for a hardware-based sub-system design; these are to be resolved via an evolutionary algorithm to determine an optimal system configuration. A propulsion system implementation for a small satellite test case will serve as a reference example of the implemented algorithm application. The propulsion system includes thruster, power processing unit, tank, propellant and general power supply system masses and power consumptions. Relevant performance parameters such as desired thrust, effective exhaust velocity, utilised propellant, and the propulsion type are considered as degrees of freedom. An evolutionary algorithm is applied to the propulsion system scaling model to demonstrate that such evolutionary algorithms are capable of bypassing complex multidimensional design optimisation problems. An evolutionary algorithm is an algorithm that uses a heuristic to change input parameters and a defined selection criterion (e.g., mass fraction of the system) on an optimisation function to refine solutions successively. With sufficient generations and, thereby, iterations of design points, local optima are determined. Using mitigation methods and a sufficient number of seed points, a global optimal system configurations can be found.
Hydrological Characteristics of 7th February 2021 Rishi Ganga Flood: Implication towards Understanding Flood Hazards in Higher Himalaya
Authors: Rana Naresh , Sundriyal Yaspal , Sharma Shubhra , Khan Firoz , Kaushik Sameeksha , Chand Pritam , Bagri Dhirendra Singh , Sati Saraswati Prakash , Juyal Navin
Published: August 2021

A flash flood that originated from Raunthi Gad-a tributary of the Rishi Ganga river, in Garhwal Himalaya, caused unprecedented loss to lives and damaged two hydropower projects on 7th Februray 2021. In order to asses the flood magnitude, the flow parameters of the flood were calculated using the super-elevation of the flood marks preserved in the flood affected valleys.

The textural characteristics of the flood deposits in the upper reaches of the valleys indicate dominance of debris flows. The peak discharge upstream of the confluence of Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga was around 1.1x105 m3/s, which was four order of magnitiude higher than the normal peak discharge (~ 3 m3/s). The flow achieved a velocity of 30±3 m/s. An exponential reduction in the flow velocity (from ~37 to 2 m/s) with distance is observed. For which the river gradient and increase in sediment load is implied flow that along its entrained way downstream between Raini and Tapovan. Considering the sensitivity of paraglacial zones to climate change, the paper calls for detailed studies pertaining to the response of paraglacial zones to extreme weather events. Importnatly, it is necessary to have more hydrological data covering multiple valleys for predictive model simulation of the nature and magnitude of such disasters in future.
Heavy Minerals from Gopalpur Coast, Odisha with Special Reference to Ilmenite: Implication to Provenance
Authors: Chakraborty Dola , Saha Bijan Kumar
Published: August 2021

The intertidal zone as well as sand dunes of Gopalpur coast, Odisha contains heavy minerals of varying proportions ranging from 6.51 to 8.45 wt% out of > 63 μm fractions. The heavy mineral assemblages are ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, sillimanite, zircon, rutile and hornblende of which ilmenite is dominant. Electron probe micro analysis of ilmenite grain indicates that it contains TiO2 in the range of 50.72% to 58.96% and FeO 37.4% to 57.15% in addition to Cr2O3 (0 to 0.12%), NiO (0 to 0.27%), MnO (0.06% to 2.04%) and MgO (0.17% to 2.16%). Mn/Mg ratios show lower values (0.13 to 2.76) for most of the samples, indicating basic rock source such as pyroxene granulites. Few ilmenite grains are having higher Mn/Mg values varying between 4.55 and 6.58, might have been derived from charnockite and khondalites in the hinterland. Scanning electron microscope photographs of ilmenites show sub-rounded to rounded grains with few grains having angular to sub-angular feature. Their micro morphological features indicate effect of mechanical and chemical weathering. Flattened striated surface with grooves feature may be due to mechanical weathering. Etch marks and pits may be due to differential chemical action in low energy sub-aqueous environment of deposition.
Petrological, Environmental Deposition and Tectonic-Provenance Study of Bhuban Sandstones in Neogene Succession of Aizawl district, Mizoram
Authors: Lalmuankimi Chhakchhuak
Published: August 2021

Bhuban sandstones in the Bhuban Formation of Surma Group in Mizoram are well exposed in an N-S trending hill range in the city of Aizawl. The petrological studies reveal that quartz, mica, feldspar and lithic fragments are the main constituents of sandstones. Quartz grains exhibited angular to sub-angular with sub-rounded grains suggesting short transport deposition and immature sediment. The sandstones are poorly sorted and mostly cemented by calcareous materials due to diagenetic effects. The value of Chemical Index Alteration indicate intensive chemical weathering under humid condition during the deposition of the sediments in the source areas. Geochemical classification of sandstones resulted in two classes, namely, arkose and litharenite. The ratio of V/Cr value in the sandstones indicate low ventilation condition in the depositional basin which has resulted in poor to moderate sorting of these sediments and the ratio of Ni/Co indicate oxic depositional condition. The tectonic setting discriminant analysis suggested that the Bhuban sandstones were deposited in an active continental margin. The provenance characteristics suggest the influence of plutonic igneous, metmorphic and subordinate sedimentary rocks source transported mostly from Indo-Myanmar ranges during Oligocene to Miocene time.