bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EU-Richtlinie beflügelt Transparenz
Authors: Stiller Eileen
Published: March 2016

Im Rahmen des Deutschen Krankenhaustages findet erstmals die Joint European Hospital Conference statt, die der Dachverband der europäischen Krankenhäuser Hope ausrichtet. Über die Herausforderungen sprach kma mit Georg Baum.
Kostenkontrolle macht Chefärzten Beine
Authors: Hiltensperger Monika
Published: March 2016

Zeitverzug im OP ist gang und gäbe. Doch wie lassen sich die Teams und vor allem die Chefärzte zu mehr Effizienz motivieren? Helfen können nur präzise Analysen und eine interne Leistungsverrechnung der OP-Kosten, wie Erfahrungen von Prozessexperten und der Charité zeigen.
Unified Communications
Authors: Thalmayr Maria
Published: March 2016

Verbandsnachrichten der FKT - Fachvereinigung Krankenhaustechnik (e. V.). Diese Seiten sind nur als PDF-Dokument verfügbar.
Servicegesellschaften im Visier des Zolls
Authors: Mau Jens
Published: March 2016

Während einer bundesweiten Razzia bekamen mehrere Krankenhäuser der Rhön Klinikum AG Besuch vom Zoll. Die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt wegen des Verdachts der Schwarzarbeit gegen die Reinigungsgesellschaften des Konzerns.
Gut für Patientensicherheit und Weiterbildung
Authors: Junge Michael
Published: March 2016

Zu viel Bürokratie – dieses Argument wird gern gegen Pflegekammern vorgebracht. Doch der Einwand ist nicht haltbar, meint Michael Junge vom sächsischen Pflegerat. Kammern dienen der Emanzipation, fördern die Patientensicherheit und schaffen Klarheit bei der Weiterbildung.
Hochdotiert und unabhängig
Authors: Doelfs Guntram
Published: March 2016

Nach den Ärzten haben nun auch die Pflegekräfte die Honorartätigkeit entdeckt. Das lässt den Markt für Vermittlungsagenturen florieren – und bringt die Kliniken ins Schwitzen: Für eine OP- oder Intensivschwester kann der Stundensatz über 45 Euro liegen.
Die Wäsche-Flatrate
Authors: Meixner Sarah
Published: March 2016

Kliniken verlangen von den Anbietern von Berufsbekleidung zunehmend Dienstleistungspakete zu Festpreisen.
Gestalten statt verwalten
Authors: Zehnder Adalbert
Published: March 2016

Einspareffekte durch Einkaufsbündelung sind ausgereizt. Nun wird Lieferketten-Management als vielversprechende Option gehandelt, um im Bereich Beschaffung Rationalisierungseffekte zu erzielen. Trotzdem haben sich bisher nur wenige Kliniken an das Modell herangewagt. Es macht Arbeit. Und da sind ein paar Hindernisse.
Ein Harvardianer aus Dresden
Authors: Gaede Kirsten
Published: March 2016

Die Personalabteilung abschaffen, die regionale Gesundheitsversorgung vorantreiben – und sämtliche Patientenbriefe höchstpersönlich lesen: Michael Albrecht macht ungewöhnliche Dinge für einen Uniklinik-Chef. Inspiriert dazu haben ihn seine Aufenthalte in den USA.
Surgical Treatment of Rosai-Dorfman Intracranial Disease: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Hilleshein Klisman , Santin Vinícius , Silva Fabrício
Published: March 2016

Rosai-Dorfman disease is a benign lymphoproliferative disease with rare occurrence in the overall population. The characteristic findings of the disease are emperipolesis on microscopy and S-100 protein positivity on immunohistochemistry. The present report describes the case of a 57-year-old man who presented with repeated seizures, urinary retention, and ataxia. Satisfactory results were obtained with surgical treatment. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.
The transition from the open minimum to the ring minimum on the ground state and on the lowest excited state of like symmetry in ozone: A configuration interaction study
Authors: Theis Daniel , Ivanic Joseph , Windus Theresa L. , Ruedenberg Klaus
Published: March 2016

The metastable ring structure of the ozone 11A1 ground state, which theoretical calculations have shown to exist, has so far eluded experimental detection. An accurate prediction for the energy difference between this isomer and the lower open structure is therefore of interest, as is a prediction for the isomerization barrier between them, which results from interactions between the lowest two 1A1 states. In the present work, valence correlated energies of the 11A1 state and the 21A1 state were calculated at the 11A1 open minimum, the 11A1 ring minimum, the transition state between these two minima, the minimum of the 21A1 state, and the conical intersection between the two states. The geometries were determined at the full-valence multi-configuration self-consistent-field level. Configuration interaction (CI) expansions up to quadruple excitations were calculated with triple-zeta atomic basis sets. The CI expansions based on eight different reference configuration spaces were explored. To obtain some of the quadruple excitation energies, the method of Correlation Energy Extrapolation by Intrinsic Scaling was generalized to the simultaneous extrapolation for two states. This extrapolation method was shown to be very accurate. On the other hand, none of the CI expansions were found to have converged to millihartree (mh) accuracy at the quadruple excitation level. The data suggest that convergence to mh accuracy is probably attained at the sextuple excitation level. On the 11A1 state, the present calculations yield the estimates of (ring minimum—open minimum) ∼45–50 mh and (transition state—open minimum) ∼85–90 mh. For the (21A1–1A1) excitation energy, the estimate of ∼130–170 mh is found at the open minimum and 270–310 mh at the ring minimum. At the transition state, the difference (21A1–1A1) is found to be between 1 and 10 mh. The geometry of the transition state on the 11A1 surface and that of the minimum on the 21A1 surface nearly coincide. More accurate predictions of the energy differences also require CI expansions to at least sextuple excitations with respect to the valence space. For every wave function considered, the omission of the correlations of the 2s oxygen orbitals, which is a widely used approximation, was found to cause errors of about ±10 mh with respect to the energy differences.
Spin density and orbital optimization in open shell systems: A rational and computationally efficient proposal
Authors: Giner Emmanuel , Angeli Celestino
Published: March 2016

The present work describes a new method to compute accurate spin densities for open shell systems. The proposed approach follows two steps: first, it provides molecular orbitals which correctly take into account the spin delocalization; second, a proper CI treatment allows to account for the spin polarization effect while keeping a restricted formalism and avoiding spin contamination. The main idea of the optimization procedure is based on the orbital relaxation of the various charge transfer determinants responsible for the spin delocalization. The algorithm is tested and compared to other existing methods on a series of organic and inorganic open shell systems. The results reported here show that the new approach (almost black-box) provides accurate spin densities at a reasonable computational cost making it suitable for a systematic study of open shell systems.
Live cell imaging combined with high-energy single-ion microbeam
Authors: Guo Na , Du Guanghua , Liu Wenjing , Guo Jinlong , Wu Ruqun , Chen Hao , Wei Junzhe
Published: March 2016

DNA strand breaks can lead to cell carcinogenesis or cell death if not repaired rapidly and efficiently. An online live cell imaging system was established at the high energy microbeam facility at the Institute of Modern Physics to study early and fast cellular response to DNA damage after high linear energy transfer ion radiation. The HT1080 cells expressing XRCC1-RFP were irradiated with single high energy nickel ions, and time-lapse images of the irradiated cells were obtained online. The live cell imaging analysis shows that strand-break repair protein XRCC1 was recruited to the ion hit position within 20 s in the cells and formed bright foci in the cell nucleus. The fast recruitment of XRCC1 at the ion hits reached a maximum at about 200 s post-irradiation and then was followed by a slower release into the nucleoplasm. The measured dual-exponential kinetics of XRCC1 protein are consistent with the proposed consecutive reaction model, and the measurements obtained that the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 recruitment to DNA strand break is 1.2 × 10−3 s−1 and the reaction rate constant of the XRCC1 release from the break-XRCC1 complex is 1.2 × 10−2 s−1.
Role of self-trapped holes in the photoconductive gain of β-gallium oxide Schottky diodes
Authors: Armstrong Andrew M. , Crawford Mary H. , Jayawardena Asanka , Ahyi Ayayi , Dhar Sarit
Published: March 2016

Solar-blind photodetection and photoconductive gain >50 corresponding to a responsivity >8 A/W were observed for β-Ga2O3 Schottky photodiodes. The origin of photoconductive gain was investigated. Current-voltage characteristics of the diodes did not indicate avalanche breakdown, which excludes carrier multiplication by impact ionization as the source for gain. However, photocapacitance measurements indicated a mechanism for hole localization for above-band gap illumination, suggesting self-trapped hole formation. Comparison of photoconductivity and photocapacitance spectra indicated that self-trapped hole formation coincides with the strong photoconductive gain. It is concluded that self-trapped hole formation near the Schottky diode lowers the effective Schottky barrier in reverse bias, producing photoconductive gain. Ascribing photoconductive gain to an inherent property like self-trapping of holes can explain the operation of a variety of β-Ga2O3 photodetectors.
On endomorphisms of the Einstein gyrogroup in arbitrary dimension
Authors: Frenkel Péter E.
Published: March 2016

We determine the automorphisms and the continuous endomorphisms of the Einstein gyrogroup in arbitrary dimension. This generalizes a recent result of Molnár and Virosztek, J. Math. Phys. 56, 082302 (2015), who have determined the continuous endomorphisms in the three-dimensional case.
The microwave Hall effect measured using a waveguide tee
Authors: Coppock J. E. , Anderson J. R. , Johnson W. B.
Published: March 2016

This paper describes a simple microwave apparatus to measure the Hall effect in semiconductor wafers. The advantage of this technique is that it does not require contacts on the sample or the use of a resonant cavity. Our method consists of placing the semiconductor wafer into a slot cut in an X-band (8–12 GHz) waveguide series tee, injecting microwave power into the two opposite arms of the tee, and measuring the microwave output at the third arm. A magnetic field applied perpendicular to the wafer gives a microwave Hall signal that is linear in the magnetic field and which reverses phase when the magnetic field is reversed. The microwave Hall signal is proportional to the semiconductor mobility, which we compare for calibration purposes with d.c. mobility measurements obtained using the van der Pauw method. We obtain the resistivity by measuring the microwave reflection coefficient of the sample. This paper presents data for silicon and germanium samples doped with boron or phosphorus. The measured mobilities ranged from 270 to 3000 cm2/(V s).
Guiding ab initio calculations by alchemical derivatives
Authors: to Baben M. , Achenbach J. O. , von Lilienfeld O. A.
Published: March 2016

We assess the concept of alchemical transformations for predicting how a further and not-tested change in composition would change materials properties. This might help to guide ab initio calculations through multidimensional property-composition spaces. Equilibrium volumes, bulk moduli, and relative lattice stability of fcc and bcc 4d transition metals Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag are calculated using density functional theory. Alchemical derivatives predict qualitative trends in lattice stability while equilibrium volumes and bulk moduli are predicted with less than 9% and 28% deviation, respectively. Predicted changes in equilibrium volume and bulk moduli for binary and ternary mixtures of Rh–Pd–Ag are in qualitative agreement even for predicted bulk modulus changes as large as +100% or −50%. Based on these results, it is suggested that alchemical transformations could be meaningful for enhanced sampling in the context of virtual high-throughput materials screening projects.
Investigation of industrial-scale carbon dioxide reduction using pulsed electron beams
Authors: Petrov G. M. , Apruzese J. P. , Petrova Tz. B. , Wolford M. F.
Published: March 2016

Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. To help mitigate increasing CO2 concentrations, we investigate a method of carbon dioxide reduction using high-power electron beams, which can be used on an industrial scale. A series of experiments are conducted in which the reduction of CO2 is measured for different gas compositions and power deposition rates. An electron beam deposition model is applied to compute reduction rates of CO2 and energy cost for breaking a CO2 molecule in flue gas and pure carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure. For flue gas consisting of 82% N2, 6% O2, and 12% CO2, the calculated energy cost is 85 eV per molecule. In order to dissociate 50% of the CO2 molecules, beam energy density deposition on the order of 20 J/cm3 is required. Electron beam irradiation of 12.6 liter gas volume containing 90% CO2 and 10% CH4 at beam energy density deposition of 4.2 J/cm3, accumulated over 43 shots in a 20 min interval, reduced the CO2 concentration to 78%. Analogous experiments with a gas mixture containing 11.5% CO2, 11.5% CH4, and balance of Ar, reduced the CO2 concentration to below 11% with energy deposition 0.71 J/cm3, accumulated over 10 shots in a 5 min interval. The experimental data and the theoretical predictions of CO2 reduction using pulsed electron beams are in agreement within the experimental error. Other techniques to enhance the removal of CO2 with pulsed electron beams are also explored, yielding new possible avenues of research.
A laser printing based approach for printed electronics
Authors: Zhang T. , Hu M. , Liu Y. , Guo Q. , Wang X. , Zhang W. , Lau W. , Yang J.
Published: March 2016

Here we report a study of printing of electronics using an office use laser printer. The proposed method eliminates those critical disadvantages of solvent-based printing techniques by taking the advantages of electroless deposition and laser printing. The synthesized toner acts as a catalyst for the electroless copper deposition as well as an adhesion-promoting buffer layer between the substrate and deposited copper. The easy metallization of printed patterns and strong metal-substrate adhesion make it an especially effective method for massive production of flexible printed circuits. The proposed process is a high throughput, low cost, efficient, and environmentally benign method for flexible electronics manufacturing.
Electromagnetic induction imaging with a radio-frequency atomic magnetometer
Authors: Deans Cameron , Marmugi Luca , Hussain Sarah , Renzoni Ferruccio
Published: March 2016

We report on a compact, tunable, and scalable to large arrays imaging device, based on a radio-frequency optically pumped atomic magnetometer operating in magnetic induction tomography modality. Imaging of conductive objects is performed at room temperature, in an unshielded environment and without background subtraction. Conductivity maps of target objects exhibit not only excellent performance in terms of shape reconstruction but also demonstrate detection of sub-millimetric cracks and penetration of conductive barriers. The results presented here demonstrate the potential of a future generation of imaging instruments, which combine magnetic induction tomography and the unmatched performance of atomic magnetometers.
Sub-kT/q subthreshold slope p-metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors with single-grained Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 featuring a highly reliable negative capacitance
Authors: Park Jae Hyo , Joo Seung Ki
Published: March 2016

A reliable on/off switching with an sub-kT/q subthreshold slope (38 mV/dec at room temperature) is experimentally demonstrated with using selectively nucleated laterally crystallized single-grain Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ferroelectric and ZrTiO4 paraelectric thin-film. The combination of ferroelectric and paraelectric thin-film is enabled to form a negative capacitance (NC) at the weak inversion region. However, the PZT grain-boundary easily degrades the NC properties after switching the on/off more than 108 times. It is found that the polarization of PZT is diminished from the path of grain-boundary. Here, we effectively suppress the degradation of NC MOS-FET which did not showed any fatigue even after 108 on/off switching.

At the request of the authors this article is retracted due to duplication of figures and significant overlap with other publications by the authors and because of concerns about the accuracy of the description of the devices and materials from which the reported results were obtained. The authors recognize that these represent serious errors and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience they may have caused. The article is retracted from the scientific record with effect from 17 February 2017.
Electroplated Fe-Pt thick films prepared in plating baths with various pH values
Authors: Yanai T. , Furutani K. , Masaki T. , Ohgai T. , Nakano M. , Fukunaga H.
Published: March 2016

Fe-Pt thick-films were electroplated on a Ta substrate using a direct current, and the effect of the pH value of the plating bath on the magnetic properties of the films was evaluated. For the films prepared from the baths with the same bath composition, the Fe composition and the thickness increased with increasing the pH value. In order to remove the effect of the change in the film composition on the magnetic properties, we controlled the film composition at approximately Fe50Pt50 or Fe60Pt40 by the change in the amount of the iron sulfate. The remanence of the annealed Fe60Pt40 films did not depend on the pH value clearly, and showed almost constant value of 0.75 T. We obtained the large coercivity of approximately 460 kA/m in the pH value from 4 to 7. Since the Fe52Pt48 film prepared at pH ≈ 4 shows much higher (BH)max value of 70 kJ/m3 than that of 57 kJ/m3 for our previously-reported Fe50Pt50 film (pH ≈ 2), we concluded that slight higher pH value than not-adjusted one (pH ≈ 2) is effective to increase the coercivity.
Optimization of the magnetic properties of nanostructured Y-Co-Fe alloys for permanent magnets
Authors: Tozman P. , Venkatesan M. , Coey J. M. D.
Published: March 2016

The structural and magnetic properties of ball-milled Fe-doped Y Co5−xFex(0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) were investigated. The magnetization increases with Fe-doping up to the solid solubility limit, x = 0.3 without destroying the crystal structure or degrading the coercivity. A special magnet array is designed using ring magnets for pressing the powders under magnetic field in order to achieve magnetic alignment. A dramatic increase in magnetization is observed for magnetically aligned Y Co4.8Fe0.2 pressed ingots.
Quality not quantity: conserving species of low mobility and dispersal capacity in south-western Australian urban remnants
Authors: Mason Leanda Denise , Wardell-Johnson Grant , Main Barbara York
Published: March 2016

Urban remnant vegetation is subject to varying degrees of disturbance that may or may not be proportional to the size of the patch. The impact of disturbance within patches on species with low mobility and dispersal capabilities was investigated in a survey targeting nemesiid species of the mygalomorph spider clade in the Perth metropolitan area, south-western Australia. Nemesiid presence was not influenced by patch size, but presence did negatively correlate with higher degrees of invasive grass and rabbit disturbance. Further, patch size was significantly positively correlated with degree of disturbance caused by rabbits. Compared with quadrats, patches were not as effective as sample units in determining the impact of disturbance on nemesiid presence.
Allosteric switch regulates protein–protein binding through collective motion
Authors: Smith Colin A. , Ban David , Pratihar Supriya , Giller Karin , Paulat Maria , Becker Stefan , Griesinger Christian , Lee Donghan , de Groot Bert L.
Published: March 2016

Significance

Within biological molecules, a change in shape at one site affecting a distant site is called allostery, and is a process critical for sustaining life. At the atomic level, the means of communication is often not well understood. We identify a previously unidentified way for allostery to occur through collective motion of an entire protein structure. Together with newly developed computational algorithms, we determine atomic structures representing this previously invisible allosteric motion. This allosteric network is shown to be an intrinsic property of the protein and important for enabling binding to different protein partners. The nature of this motion, along with the tools we developed to detect it, should prove invaluable for understanding living organisms and developing new therapeutics.
Molecular hydrogen and catalytic combustion in the production of hyperpolarized83Kr and129Xe MRI contrast agents
Authors: Rogers Nicola J. , Hill-Casey Fraser , Stupic Karl F. , Six Joseph S. , Lesbats Clémentine , Rigby Sean P. , Fraissard Jacques , Pavlovskaya Galina E. , Meersmann Thomas
Published: March 2016

Significance

The high signal intensity associated with magnetic resonance of hyperpolarized129Xe has enabled countless applications ranging from materials science to biomedical MRI of the lung and brain. New modalities are constantly emerging; for example, hyperpolarized129Xe biosensors are of potential interest for molecular imaging of biomarker distribution in organs. Hyperpolarized83Kr shows promise as novel surface-sensitive contrast agent for pulmonary MRI but previous work was limited to excised lungs. This work reports a previously unexplored approach in the generation of hyperpolarized contrast agents that makes highly concentrated hyperpolarized83Kr available for the first time, to our knowledge. The results also provide the basis for on-demand flow production of highly concentrated hyperpolarized129Xe for in situ process monitoring and in vivo molecular imaging.
Promoting social equality values to improve judgement of a woman reporting sexism / El fomento de valores relacionados con la igualdad social para mejorar la opinión sobre las mujeres que denuncian discriminación por sexismo
Authors: Redersdorff Sandrine , Bastart Jennifer , Hernandez Anne-Laure , Martinot Delphine
Published: March 2016

Previous research has shown that discriminated women blame themselves more than they blame discrimination when meritocracy values are salient. In two studies, we examined whether meritocracy values also influence female observers when they judge a female victim of sexism. Such values were expected to lead them to judge more positively a victim incriminating herself than a victim claiming discrimination. Conversely, social equality values should lead them to judge more positively a victim claiming discrimination. Women who were either feminists or non-feminists (Study 1) or who were exposed to either social equality values or personal merit values (Study 2) had to judge a female victim of sexism who ascribed what happened to discrimination or to her ability. Feminist women and women exposed to social equality judged the female victim more positively when she reported discrimination than when she incriminated herself. The reverse pattern of judgement was observed for non-feminist women and women exposed to meritocracy values. The importance of values is discussed to improve the image of women claiming sexism.
Understanding underspecification: A comparison of two computational implementations
Authors: Logačev Pavel , Vasishth Shravan
Published: March 2016

Swets et al. (2008. Underspecification of syntactic ambiguities: Evidence from self-paced reading. Memory and Cognition, 36(1), 201–216) presented evidence that the so-called ambiguity advantage [Traxler et al. (1998). Adjunct attachment is not a form of lexical ambiguity resolution. Journal of Memory and Language, 39(4), 558–592], which has been explained in terms of the Unrestricted Race Model, can equally well be explained by assuming underspecification in ambiguous conditions driven by task-demands. Specifically, if comprehension questions require that ambiguities be resolved, the parser tends to make an attachment: when questions are about superficial aspects of the target sentence, readers tend to pursue an underspecification strategy. It is reasonable to assume that individual differences in strategy will play a significant role in the application of such strategies, so that studying average behaviour may not be informative. In order to study the predictions of the good-enough processing theory, we implemented two versions of underspecification: the partial specification model (PSM), which is an implementation of the Swets et al. proposal, and a more parsimonious version, the non-specification model (NSM). We evaluate the relative fit of these two kinds of underspecification to Swets et al.'s data; as a baseline, we also fitted three models that assume no underspecification. We find that a model without underspecification provides a somewhat better fit than both underspecification models, while the NSM model provides a better fit than the PSM. We interpret the results as lack of unambiguous evidence in favour of underspecification; however, given that there is considerable existing evidence for good-enough processing in the literature, it is reasonable to assume that some underspecification might occur. Under this assumption, the results can be interpreted as tentative evidence for NSM over PSM. More generally, our work provides a method for choosing between models of real-time processes in sentence comprehension that make qualitative predictions about the relationship between several dependent variables. We believe that sentence processing research will greatly benefit from a wider use of such methods.
Rga6 is a fission yeast Rho GAP involved in Cdc42 regulation of polarized growth
Authors: Revilla-Guarinos M. T. , Martín-García Rebeca , Villar-Tajadura M. Antonia , Estravís Miguel , Coll Pedro M. , Pérez Pilar
Published: March 2016

Active Cdc42 is essential for the establishment of polarized growth. This GTPase is negatively regulated by the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which are important for the spatial specificity of Cdc42 function. Rga4 is the only GAP described as negative regulator of fission yeast Cdc42. We report here that Rga6, another fission yeast Cdc42 GAP, shares some functions with Rga4. Cells lacking Rga6 are viable but slightly shorter and broader than wild type, and cells lacking Rga6 and Rga4 simultaneously are rounded. In these cells, active Cdc42 is observed all around the membrane. These additive effects indicate that both GAPs collaborate in the spatial regulation of active Cdc42. Rga6 localizes to the plasma membrane, forming clusters different from those formed by Rga4. A polybasic region at the Rga6 C-terminus is responsible for its membrane localization. Rga6-GFP fluorescence decreases considerably at the growing tips, and this decrease is dependent on the actin cables. Of note, in the absence of Rga6, the amplitude of active Cdc42 oscillations at the tips decreases, and less GTP-Cdc42 accumulates at the new end of the cells. We propose that Rga6 collaborates with Rga4 to spatially restrict active Cdc42 at the cell tips and maintain cell dimensions.
Analysis of CFSE time-series data using division-, age- and label-structured population models
Authors: Hross Sabrina , Hasenauer Jan
Published: March 2016

Motivation:  In vitro and in vivo cell proliferation is often studied using the dye carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE). The CFSE time-series data provide information about the proliferation history of populations of cells. While the experimental procedures are well established and widely used, the analysis of CFSE time-series data is still challenging. Many available analysis tools do not account for cell age and employ optimization methods that are inefficient (or even unreliable).

Results: We present a new model-based analysis method for CFSE time-series data. This method uses a flexible description of proliferating cell populations, namely, a division-, age- and label-structured population model. Efficient maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation algorithms are introduced to infer the model parameters and their uncertainties. These methods exploit the forward sensitivity equations of the underlying partial differential equation model for efficient and accurate gradient calculation, thereby improving computational efficiency and reliability compared with alternative approaches and accelerating uncertainty analysis. The performance of the method is assessed by studying a dataset for immune cell proliferation. This revealed the importance of different factors on the proliferation rates of individual cells. Among others, the predominate effect of cell age on the division rate is found, which was not revealed by available computational methods.

Availability and implementation: The MATLAB source code implementing the models and algorithms is available from http://janhasenauer.github.io/ShAPE-DALSP/.

Contact:  jan.hasenauer@helmholtz-muenchen.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Different Mortality Time Points in Critical Care Trials: Current Practice and Influence on Effect Estimates in Meta-Analyses
Authors: Roth Dominik , Heidinger Benedikt , Havel Christof , Herkner Harald
Published: March 2016

Objective:

Mortality is frequently used as an outcome in critical care trials, being a patient-orientated variable and robust against information/selection bias. Mortality frequency, however, should be measured at a defined time point of follow-up. Practice of meta-analysis shows that follow-up times of trials in critical care medicine differ substantially. This may have substantial implications on potential pooling of effect estimates. We aimed to describe the current practice of mortality follow-up time definitions in a representative sample of published critical care randomized controlled trials and to analyze the influence of different follow-up times on subsequently pooled effect estimates.

Data Sources:

Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PASCAL Biomed, and PsycINFO.

Study Selection:

Databases were searched for critical care randomized controlled trials published after 2000. A random sample of 50% was drawn for further review.

Data Extraction:

Study characteristics were extracted, as well as the number and time points of mortality ascertainment. Additional data were extracted from Kaplan-Meier plots, as available.

Data Synthesis:

Meta-regression and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression were used to analyze the influence of follow-up time (independent variable) on deviation of pooled risk ratios from study baseline (dependent variable). From 9,246 retrieved references, we included 106 studies representing 63,713 participants. Among these, 45 studies (43%) reported more than one time point, with 24 different time points at all, only three (28, 30, and 90 d) being reported in more than 10% of studies. Limiting meta-analyses to only one predefined time point would reduce the number of eligible studies by at least 60%. No influence of time points on meta-analytic summary effect estimates was found.

Conclusions:

In a large sample of critical care randomized controlled trials, numerous different mortality time points are reported. Mortality time points did not influence pooled point estimates of the effects. Consequently, it seems possible to pool effect estimates, which in turn will increase the precision of these effect estimates.
Biopsy‐Induced Duodenal Hematoma Is Not an Infrequent Complication Favored by Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Sierra Anaïs , Ecochard‐Dugelay Emmanuelle , Bellaïche Marc , Tilea Bogdana , Cavé Hélène , Viala Jérôme
Published: March 2016

Objectives:

Intraduodenal hematoma (IDH) is an uncommon complication of endoscopic duodenal biopsy that can cause severe obstruction of the digestive, biliary, or pancreatic tracts. We aimed to analyze the risk factors and outcomes of biopsy‐induced IDH in our series.

Methods:

Between 2010 and 2014, a retrospective chart review was conducted for all children younger than 18 years of age treated for IDH. We collected their data in our tertiary pediatric center and compared them to those of controls matched for age, sex, and pathology.

Results:

Among 2705 upper nontherapeutic endoscopies and 1163 duodenal biopsies, 7 IDH occurred in 6 children suspected of developing graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and in 1 patient with Noonan syndrome. The IDH prevalence was significantly higher after BMT compared to children who did not undergo grafting (7% vs 0.1%; P = 7.9 × 10−7; odds ratio = 82). After a median delay of 48 hours, patients developed intestinal obstruction with abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis was confirmed by using ultrasonography or computed tomography scans. Acute pancreatitis was determined in 3 out of 7 patients. Conservative treatment allowed complete resolution in all patients.

Conclusions:

IDH is not an infrequent complication of endoscopic duodenal biopsy, especially in patients who undergo BMT. Endoscopists should be especially careful during the duodenal biopsy procedure in these patients. With no early perforation due to post‐biopsy IDH reported, the prognosis is good and conservative management generally leads to resolution of the symptoms in 2 to 3 weeks.
Discovery of Primary, Cofactor, and Novel Transcription Factor Binding Site Motifs by Recursive, Thresholded Entropy Minimization
Authors: Lu Ruipeng , Mucaki Eliseos , Rogan Peter K.
Published: March 2016

Data from ChIP-seq experiments can determine the genome-wide binding specificities of transcription factors (TFs) and other regulatory proteins. In the present study, we analyzed 745 ENCODE ChIP-seq peak datasets of 189 human TFs with a novel motif discovery method that is based on recursive, thresholded entropy minimization. This method is able to distinguish correct information models from noisy motifs, quantify the strengths of individual sites based on affinity, and detect adjacent cofactor binding sites that coordinate with primary TFs. We derived homogeneous and bipartite information models for 89 sequence-specific TFs, which enabled discovery of 24 cofactor motifs for 118 TFs, and revealed 6 high-confidence novel motifs. The reliability and accuracy of these models were determined via three independent quality control criteria, including the detection of experimentally proven binding sites, comparison with previously published motifs and statistical analyses. We also predict previously unreported TF cobinding interactions, and new components of known TF complexes. Because they are based on information theory, the derived models constitute a powerful tool for detecting and predicting the effects of variants in known binding sites, and predicting previously unrecognized binding sites and target genes.
Brain oscillations track the formation of episodic memories in the real world
Authors: Griffiths Benjamin , Mazaheri Ali , Debener Stefan , Hanslmayr Simon
Published: March 2016

Despite the well-known influence of environmental context on episodic memory, little has been done to enhance contextual richness within the lab. This leaves a blind spot lingering over the neuronal correlates of episodic memory formation in the real world. To address this, we presented participants with series of words to memorise along a pre-designated route across campus. Meanwhile, a mobile EEG system acquired the associated neural activity. Replicating lab-based subsequent memory effects (SMEs), we identified significant low-frequency power decreases, including beta power decreases over the left inferior frontal gyrus. Additionally, the paradigm enabled us to dissociate the oscillatory correlates of temporal and spatial clustering. Specifically, we found spatially clustered items exhibited significantly greater theta power decreases within the left medial temporal lobe than temporally clustered items. These findings go beyond lab-based studies, which are limited in their capabilities to investigate environmental contextual factors that guide memory formation.
Learning environment and student effort
Authors: Hopland Arnt O. , Nyhus Ole Henning
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between satisfaction with learning environment and student effort, both in class and with homework assignments.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use data from a nationwide and compulsory survey to analyze the relationship between learning environment and student effort. The survey covers all students attending the seventh (last year of primary school) and tenth (last year of lower secondary school) grades in Norwegian compulsory education. Since the survey has been conducted every year since 2006/2007, we can apply panel data methods to reduce the potential for omitted variable problems.

Findings

– Student satisfaction with teacher guidance, materials and social environment plays an important role in stimulating effort both in class and with homework. Satisfaction with physical work conditions is of less importance, but does stimulate in-class effort among the younger students. Heterogeneity across the genders for tenth graders is also observed. In particular, bullying and satisfaction with teacher guidance are more important determinants for males’ than for females’ effort.

Practical implications

– The results indicate that school managers should focus attention on improving not only the quality of teachers and teaching materials, but also the social environment at the school in order to stimulate more student effort.

Originality/value

– The results contribute to the literature studying student effort and educational outcomes by providing information on how different school factors affect student effort.
Looking for an emergency door
Authors: Rossi Paolo
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The paper investigates the role of information asymmetries and sensegiving processes of citizens claiming for social services. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the relevance of applicants’ agency, since it has been generally neglected in the analysis of social services provision. On the contrary, the paper proposes an alternative view, considering applicants as actors who are able to develop dialectic strategies for claiming specific forms of social assistance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on a qualitative research, conducted following an inductive approach. The data have been collected in three different Italian municipalities, where the researcher has been the opportunity to perform a period of observation of the interviews between the social workers of the local social services department and the citizens applying for social assistance.

Findings

– The findings of the research point out that informational asymmetries play an ambivalent role in the definition of applicant’s strategies, since they represent an ambivalent and dynamic factor, rather than a mere source of disadvantage for the user. From this viewpoint, the citizens’ possibilities to access to social assistance are shaped by both institutional and dialectic factors: on the one hand, access to social assistance relies on specific criteria of eligibility (institutionally defined), but on the other hand the access is the outcome of situated sensegiving processes, performed by both the applicants and the gatekeepers of social services during their encounters.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is based on the analysis of a small number of cases, within a context that is characterized by a high level of organizational and professional discretion in the regulation of the provision of social assistance.

Practical implications

– The findings of the research urge policy maker to re-consider applicants as strategic actors and opens the space for the development of new options of regulation of the delivery of social services.

Social implications

– The paper suggests to consider the applicants for social services as people who, although in a condition of need, are capable to identify specific forms of assistance. From this point of view, informational asymmetries are not be considered as a stigmatic issue, but as a space which calls for further and less superficial investigation.

Originality/value

– The paper challenges some of the most taken-for-granted theoretical assumptions in the analysis of the regulation of the access to social assistance. First, it proposes a dynamic interpretation of the notion of informational asymmetries, considering them as a space for action, rather than a binding factor; second, it emphasizes the relevance of user’s agency in the access to welfare services, that is generally neglected since most analyses focus on professional discretion disregarding the hypothesis of the user as a strategic actor.
Wearable devices to support rehabilitation and social care
Authors: Doughty Kevin , Appleby Alistair
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the use of wearable technologies that focuses on applications that tackle sensory and communication deficits, physical disabilities and alarm and activity monitoring. It is intended to promote the introduction of more wearable approaches to providing assistive technologies because of their benefits in utilisation and aesthetic appeal.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach involves a comparison of different types of portable device in order to identify different groups that may be beneficial to different application areas. Recent advances are then considered for each area.

Findings

– The work demonstrates that the use of wearable AT device is increasing due to improvements in materials, battery power and connected intelligence such as smartphones. They will allow new devices to be introduced that are smaller, lighter and more usable.

Practical implications

– Utilisation of assistive technologies is likely to improve as wearable devices become the norm across a wide range of applications

Social implications

– Approaches to improving the Quality of Life of people with disabilities through an extended use of assistive technologies will be enhanced by the increased range of devices available and by their performance.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review of wearable devices that has focused on the needs of people who have rehabilitation and/or social care needs. Its value lies in encouraging manufacturers and designers to use wearable approaches to solving some of the problems facing vulnerable people.
The influence of CEO values and leadership on middle manager exchange behaviors
Authors: Liden Robert , Fu Pingping , Liu Jun , Song Lynda
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which chief executive officer (CEO) transactional and transformational leader behaviors as well as CEO self-enhancing versus self-transcendent values permeate through the organization to influence middle-level managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a multi-level longitudinal design, the authors collected self-reported value data from 32 CEOs and 119 top management team (TMT) members rated their CEOs on transactional and transformational leader behaviors at Time 1; 18 months later, TMTs rated the in-role behaviors and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) of 331 mid-level managers. Also, at Time 2, mid-level managers evaluated their relationship with the organization in terms of economic and social exchange. HLM was used to analyze the data.

Findings

– The authors found the positive relationship between transactional CEO leader behaviors and mid-level manager in-role behaviors to be enhanced when CEOs hold self-transcendent values, whereas this relationship was weakened by CEO self-enhancing values. Similarly, the relationship between CEO transformational leader behaviors and mid-level manager OCBs was found to be strengthened when leaders espoused self-transcendent values. Finally, the authors found that economic exchange mediated the relationship between the transactional leadership * self-enhancing values interaction term and mid-level manager in-role behaviors. Similarly, social exchange mediated the relationship between the transformational leadership * self-transcendent values interaction term and mid-level manager OCBs.

Originality/value

– Leadership/OB.
Five‐year follow‐up of cognitive impairment in older adults with bipolar disorder
Authors: Schouws Sigfried NTM , Comijs Hannie C , Dols Annemieke , Beekman Aartjan TF , Stek Max L
Published: March 2016

Objective

To date, cognitive impairment has been thought to be an integral part of bipolar disorder. In clinical staging models, cognitive impairment is one of the hallmarks to define the clinical stage and it plays an important role in identifying the risk factors for progression to later stages of the illness. It is important to examine neurocognitive performance over longer periods to test the hypothesis of neuroprogression of bipolar disorder.

Methods

A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was applied at baseline and five years later to 56 euthymic older outpatients with bipolar disorder (mean age = 68.35 years, range: 60–90 years) and to a demographically matched sample of 44 healthy subjects. A group‐by‐time repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was performed to measure changes over time for the two groups. The impact of baseline illness characteristics on the intra‐individual change in neurocognitive performance within the bipolar disorder group was studied by using logistic regression analysis.

Results

At baseline and at follow‐up, patients with bipolar disorder performed worse on all neurocognitive measures compared to the matched healthy subjects. However, there was no significant group‐by‐time interaction between the patients with bipolar disorder and the comparison group.

Conclusions

Although older patients with bipolar disorder had worse cognitive function than healthy subjects, they did not have greater cognitive decline over a five‐year period. The change in acquired cognitive impairment of patients with bipolar disorder might parallel the cognitive development as seen in normal aging.