bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of the stressful job search for pediatric hematology/oncology fellows
Authors: Nishitani Miki , Moerdler Scott , Kesselheim Jennifer
Published: January 2023

The pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) workforce landscape has been evolving over the past decades, with concern for waning interest in the subspecialty. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the initial PHO job search on fellow stress and anxiety, in addition to perceptions of the job search experience and potential areas of improvement. An anonymous survey consisting of demographics, emotional health impacts such as stress and anxiety, and job search experiences was developed and distributed to program leadership at all 74 PHO fellowship programs. At least one representative from 49 (66%) programs responded. Faculty were less likely than fellows to perceive that fellows are struggling to find jobs (p = .0198). However, faculty were more likely than fellows to perceive that fellows are either “extremely stressed” or “stressed” due to job search (p = .0003). By June 2021, 30 of 44 (68%) candidates had been offered a position, and 80% of those had accepted. There were no significant associations between fellow stress level and job offering, proximity to their ideal goals, or change in career type. Common barriers to the job search included geographic constraints and partner employment. Respondents identified centralized job listings, formal training on career development strategies, introduction to various career paths, and more transparency about the search as needed interventions. The perception of difficulty and stress regarding the job search is endorsed by most, identifying a need for more interventions to improve the experience. These data also highlight unmet mentorship and educational needs among PHO fellows in preparing for the job search.
Effect ofSiO2particle size scale on the electrical performance of epoxy‐based nonlinear conductive composite
Authors: Guo Ning , Tang Zifan , Sun Jiaming , Wang Yulong , Li Lili , Gao Junguo
Published: January 2023

In this paper, SiO2particles with three particle sizes of 60 nm, 2 μm, and 25 μm were added as fillers into the composites prepared by epoxy resin and micron silicon carbide to investigate the mechanism of SiO2particle size on the nonlinear electrical conductivity and breakdown characteristics of the composites. Compared with SiC/EP composites, the smaller the added SiO2particle size, the lower the current density at high fields and the higher the breakdown field strength of SiO2/SiC/EP composites. The nonlinear coefficients of SiO2/SiC/EP composites increased slightly with the addition of 1phr 25 μm SiO2and 4phr 2 μm SiO2, and the breakdown field strengths were increased by 55.36% and 66.77%, respectively. The SiO2/SiC/EP composites with the addition of 4phr 60 nm SiO2particles showed the most significant attenuation of the conductivity current and the most prominent enhancement of the breakdown field strength, but the nonlinear coefficient was reduced by 24.6%. With the increase of SiO2doping amount, compared with the composites with the same particle size and low doping amount, the larger the SiO2particle size, the decrease of the current density of the composites under high field intensity is more obvious, and the dielectric constant drops even more.
The manifold role of octapeptide repeats in prion protein assembly
Authors: Guadagno Amy H. , Medina Scott H.
Published: January 2023

Prion protein misfolding is associated with fatal neurodegenerative disorders such as kuru, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and several animal encephalopathies. While the C‐terminal 106–126 peptide has been well studied for its role in prion replication and toxicity, the octapeptide repeat (OPR) sequence found within the N‐terminal domain has been relatively under explored. Recent findings that the OPR has both local and long‐range effects on prion protein folding and assembly, as well as its ability to bind and regulate transition metal homeostasis, highlights the important role this understudied region may have in prion pathologies. This review attempts to collate this knowledge to advance a deeper understanding on the varied physiologic and pathologic roles the prion OPR plays, and connect these findings to potential therapeutic modalities focused on OPR‐metal binding. Continued study of the OPR will not only elucidate a more complete mechanistic model of prion pathology, but may enhance knowledge on other neurodegenerative processes underlying Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases.
Mutational scan inferred binding energetics and structure in intrinsically disordered protein CcdA
Authors: Chandra Soumyanetra , Manjunath Kavyashree , Asok Aparna , Varadarajan Raghavan
Published: January 2023

Unlike globular proteins, mutational effects on the function of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) are not well‐studied. Deep Mutational Scanning of a yeast surface displayed mutant library yields insights into sequence‐function relationships in the CcdA IDP. The approach enables facile prediction of interface residues and local structural signatures of the bound conformation. In contrast to previous titration‐based approaches which use a number of ligand concentrations, we show that use of a single rationally chosen ligand concentration can provide quantitative estimates of relative binding constants for large numbers of protein variants. This is because the extended interface of IDP ensures that energetic effects of point mutations are spread over a much smaller range than for globular proteins. Our data also provides insights into the much‐debated role of helicity and disorder in partner binding of IDPs. Based on this exhaustive mutational sensitivity dataset, a rudimentary model was developed in an attempt to predict mutational effects on binding affinity of IDPs that form alpha‐helical structures upon binding.
Quantitative systems pharmacology model of GITR‐mediated T cell dynamics in tumor microenvironment
Authors: Ji Yan , Madrasi Kumpal , Knee Deborah A. , Gruenbaum Lore , Apgar Joshua F. , Burke John M. , Gomes Bruce
Published: January 2023

T cell interaction in the tumor microenvironment is a key component of immuno‐oncology therapy. Glucocorticoid‐induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)‐related protein (GITR) is expressed on immune cells including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells (Teffs). Preclinical data suggest that agonism of GITR in combination with Fc‐γ receptor‐mediated depletion of Tregs results in increased intratumoral Teff:Treg ratio and tumor shrinkage. A novel quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model was developed for the murine anti‐GITR agonist antibody, DTA‐1.mIgG2a, to describe the kinetics of intratumoral Tregs and Teffs in Colon26 and A20 syngeneic mouse tumor models. It adequately captured the time profiles of intratumoral Treg and Teff and serum DTA‐1.mIgG2a and soluble GITR concentrations in both mouse models, and described the response differences between the two models. The QSP model provides a quantitative understanding of the trade‐off between maximizing Treg depletion versus Teff agonism, and offers insights to optimize drug design and dose regimen.
Maneuvering the odds: The dynamics of venture capital decision‐making
Authors: Petty Jeffrey S. , Gruber Marc , Harhoff Dietmar
Published: January 2023

Research Summary

This article investigates venture capital (VC) decision‐making, a process that occurs under changing conditions and limited, ambiguous information. We shed new light on the inherent dynamics of this strategic process. One of the key distinguishing features of our study is its unprecedented access to the internal decision‐making process of a VC firm. By analyzing unique, longitudinal data capturing 2,383 proposal selection processes conducted over the life of one venture capital fund, we show how decision‐making speed and the information cues that decision makers rely upon will, over time, change in systematic and predictable ways. Specifically, our approach allows us to identify fundamental, unexplored patterns with respect to the selection process as a whole and the multiple stages within the process.

Managerial Summary

Each year venture capitalists receive hundreds of investment proposals, but is every proposal received by a venture capitalist processed equally? In this study, we show how the source of a proposal and the available amount of investment capital, factors that are not contained within the pages of a proposal, may influence the investment decision‐making process. Our results highlight the impact of being referred to a venture capitalist by a trusted source, as more time is spent evaluating these proposals and they proceed further along in the process. We also find that venture capitalists process proposals more quickly as the capital in the fund is invested over the life of the fund.
Code smell prioritization in object‐oriented software systems: A systematic literature review
Authors: Verma Renu , Kumar Kuldeep , Verma Harsh K.
Published: January 2023

Code smells indicate poor design and imperfection in coding style. They increase maintenance costs and degrade software quality. Detecting and mitigating these code smells reduce the effects of flaws present in the software design. However, to save time and effort, it is a good practice to prioritize critical code smells and resolve them first. There have been various empirical studies on code smell prioritization in the last decades. Although the research community has been continuously working on the prioritization of code smells, yet a systematic mapping of all these studies would provide a panorama of research work. With this motivation, we selected 39 primary studies published between May 2011 and May 2022 and classified them based on seven factors: (i) code smells, (ii) factors, (iii) evaluation techniques, (iv) tools, (v) ranking formulas, (vi) data sets used, and (vii) measurements used for validating the research work. This paper aims to outline and discuss the prioritization procedure for code smells in object‐oriented software systems. The issues and recommendations for every question act as input for the researchers and industrialists for further research. Some issues for further investigation are less coverage of architecture smells, limited ranking formulas, lack of automated evaluation techniques, and so forth.
Exposure to dipentyl phthalate in utero disrupts the adrenal cortex function of adult male rats by inhibiting SIRT1/PGC‐1α and inducing AMPK phosphorylation
Authors: Chen Haiqiong , Liu Miaoqing , Li Qiyao , Zhou Pingjiang , Huang Jie , Zhu Qiqi , Li Zhongrong , Ge Ren‐shan
Published: January 2023

Di‐n‐pentyl phthalate (DPeP) is an endocrine‐disrupting phthalate plasticizer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of DPeP on adrenocortical function in adult male rats following in utero exposure. DPeP (0, 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day) was administered by gavage to pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats from gestational day 14 to 21. The morphology and function of the adrenal cortex in 56‐day‐old male offspring were studied. DPeP at 100 and 500 mg/kg/day significantly reduced serum aldosterone levels and at 500 mg/kg/day markedly reduced corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. DPeP at 10–500 mg/kg markedly reduced the thickness of zona glomerulosa without affecting the thickness of zona fasciculata. DPeP significantly downregulated the expression of Agtr1a, Mc2r, Scarb1, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp21, Cyp11b1, Cyp11b2, Nr5a1, Nr4a2, and Bcl2 genes as well as their proteins. DPeP at 500 mg/kg/day significantly increased phosphorylated AMPK, while DPeP at 100 mg/kg/day and higher doses reduced phosphorylated AKT1 and total SIRT1 level. DPeP at 100 and 500 μM markedly induced reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in H295R cells after 24 h of culture. In conclusion, in utero exposure to DPeP disrupts adrenocortical function of the adult male offspring by (1) increasing AMPK phosphorylation and decreasing AKT1 phosphorylation and SIRT1 levels, (2) reducing adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, and (3) possibly inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Do prokinetic agents provide symptom relief through acceleration of gastric emptying? An update and revision of the existing evidence
Authors: Goelen Nick , Jones Mike , Huang I‐Hsuan , Carbone Florenca , Janssen Pieter , Tack Jan
Published: January 2023

Background

Gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia are disorders characterized by upper gastrointestinal symptoms and multifaceted etiologies. One of the main therapeutic approaches is accelerating gastric emptying (GE) by means of prokinetic agents. Their efficacy has been demonstrated, although the association between symptom improvement and acceleration of emptying is less clear. Meta‐analyses have found contradictory results. Differences in applied methodology and included trials might drive these contradictions.

Objective

To provide a transparent meta‐analysis update to elucidate the association between symptom improvement and acceleration of GE due to gastroprokinetic agents available for long‐term use in patients with gastroparesis.

Design

Two approaches from earlier meta‐analyses were executed and compared. One analyzed the relative changes on active treatment versus baseline, the other compared the change from baseline on active treatment versus the change from baseline on placebo. Papers that reported sufficient numerical data for both analyses were selected. Both analyses included the same trials.

Results

Overall, both approaches yield the same positive direction of association between symptom improvement and acceleration of emptying (0.291 (−0.391, 0.972), p = 0.4 and 0.453 (0.123, 0.782), p = 0.007 for the active‐only and placebo‐controlled analysis respectively). The association between symptom improvement and GE acceleration for studies using optimal GE tests was either 0.028 (p > 0.9) or 0.463 (p = 0.007), and for sub‐optimal GE tests was either 0.370 (p = 0.4) or 0.052 (p > 0.9) depending on the used meta‐analysis methodology.

Conclusions

The applied methodology for GE testing, and the meta‐analysis substantially impacts the conclusion. When considering the clinically relevant outcome of improvement from baseline, symptoms and emptying improve with prokinetics, but no correlation is found between both aspects. When the change over placebo is considered, limiting the analysis to scientifically more rigorous study approaches, changes in emptying rate and symptom improvement are positively associated.
Interleukin‐17 as a spatiotemporal bridge from acute to chronic inflammation: Novel insights from computational modeling
Authors: Shah Ashti M. , Zamora Ruben , Vodovotz Yoram
Published: January 2023

A systematic review of several acute inflammatory diseases ranging from sepsis and trauma/hemorrhagic shock to the relevant pathology of the decade, COVID‐19, points to the cytokine interleukin (IL)‐17A as being centrally involved in the propagation of inflammation. We summarize the role of IL‐17A in acute inflammation, leveraging insights made possible by biological network analysis and novel computational methodologies aimed at defining the spatiotemporal spread of inflammation in both experimental animal models and humans. These studies implicate IL‐17A in the cross‐tissue spread of inflammation, a process that appears to be in part regulated through neural mechanisms. Although acute inflammatory diseases are currently considered distinct from chronic inflammatory pathologies, we suggest that chronic inflammation may represent repeated, cyclical episodes of acute inflammation driven by mechanisms involving IL‐17A. Thus, insights from computational modeling of acute inflammatory diseases may improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation; in turn, therapeutics developed for chronic/autoimmune disease may be of benefit in acute inflammation.

This article is categorized under:

Immune System Diseases > Computational Models
Optimal decay rates of a nonconservative compressible two‐phase fluid model
Authors: Wang Huaqiao , Wang Juan , Wu Guochun , Zhang Yinghui
Published: January 2023

We are concerned with the time decay rates of strong solutions to a nonconservative compressible viscous two‐phase fluid model in the whole space . Compared to the previous related works, the main novelty of this paper lies in the fact that it provides a general framework that can be used to extract the optimal decay rates of the solution as well as its all‐order spatial derivatives from one‐order to the highest‐order, which are the same as those of the heat equation. Furthermore, for well‐chosen initial data, we also show the lower bounds on the decay rates. Our methods mainly consist of Hodge decomposition, low‐ and high‐frequency decomposition, delicate spectral analysis, and energy method based on finite induction.
Engagement
Authors: Sheikh Haroon , Prins Corien , Schrijvers Erik
Published: January 2023

The next overarching task we have identified for AI’s integration into society concerns the engagement of stakeholders. This raises the following question: ‘who should be involved?’ When any new technology is introduced, after all, various parties are involved right from the start. The previous chapter on contextualization made this apparent; it showed that both companies and government started working with AI at an early stage. In discussing their involvement then, our focus was the question ‘how do we make AI work’? Companies and government organizations have the resources and impetus needed to become key drivers of AI’s use in society. As a result, they also have a lot of influence over how it is implemented in practice. In this chapter, by contrast, we home in on parties that do not initially use AI themselves but – given its ubiquitous use – are likely to encounter this technology in their activities. Our particular focus is parties in civil society.
Münsteraner Fahrradunfälle im Wandel der Zeit
Authors: Schlautmann Désirée , Raschke Michael , Weiss Udo , Wieskötter Britta , Ueberberg Johanna , Juhra Christian
Published: January 2023

Hintergrund

Fahrräder sind seit vielen Jahren ein beliebtes Verkehrsmittel. Gerade in Zeiten der verstärkten Klimadiskussion ist das Fahrrad als umweltfreundliches und kostengünstiges Verkehrsmittel weiter in den Fokus gerückt. Die Radwege und Straßen werden immer voller, und neue Verkehrsmittel wie Pedelecs oder E‑Scooter kommen auf.

Methoden

Es wurden insgesamt 4 Studien des Universitätsklinikum Münster zu Fahrradunfällen und die amtliche Unfallstatistik der Polizei Münster miteinander verglichen. Im Zeitraum von 2009 bis 2019 wurden 3 Studien durchgeführt, die alle Fahrradunfälle, und eine Studie, welche nur Pedelecfahrer gesondert berücksichtigt.

Ergebnisse

Die Altersverteilung sowie Hauptunfallursachen sind über die Jahre hinweg nahezu gleich geblieben. Die Anzahl an Pedelecunfällen hat zugenommen. Pedelecfahrer weisen ein höheres Durchschnittsalter und einen höheren Anteil an intensivstationären Aufenthalten auf. Jedoch weist gerade diese Kohorte auch eine hohe Quote an Helmträgern auf. Insgesamt scheint die Bereitschaft zum Tragen eines Helmes gestiegen zu sein.

Schlussfolgerung

Es ist zu bedenken, dass bei zunehmendem Radverkehr die Sicherheitsmaßnahmen entsprechend erhöht werden müssen. Dabei sollte sich die Unfallverhütung auf 3 große Bereiche konzentrieren: Technik, Erziehung, Durchsetzung.
Design, construction and characterisation of a diode-pumped, three-element, 1-GHz Kerr-lens-modelocked Ti:sapphire oscillator
Authors: Ostapenko Hanna , Mitchell Toby , Castro-Marin Pablo , Reid Derryck T.
Published: January 2023

We present a design and construction prescription for a 1-GHz repetition rate Ti:sapphire laser pumped with a single green pump diode and with a resonator comprising as few as three optical elements. In a three-element configuration, the laser produces 111-fs pulses and exhibits self-starting Kerr-lens modelocking at pump powers above 850 mW. At 1.1 W of pump power, the average output of the laser is over 116 mW, and the slope efficiency is measured to be 13%. With the addition of a fourth dispersion-compensating element to optimise the second-order group-delay intracavity dispersion, we have demonstrated a reduction of the pulse durations to 87 fs with an average power of 108 mW.
Prescription opioids and economic hardship in France
Authors: Natali Ilaria , Dewatripont Mathias , Ginsburgh Victor , Goldman Michel , Legros Patrick
Published: January 2023

This paper studies how opioid analgesic sales are empirically related to socioeconomic disparities in France, with a focus on poverty. This analysis is made possible using the OpenHealth database, which provides retail sales data for opioid analgesics available on the French market. We exploit firm-level data for each of the 94 departments in Metropolitan France between 2008 and 2017. We show that increases in the poverty rate are associated with increases in sales: a one percentage point increase in poverty is associated with approximately a 5% increase in mild opioid sales. Our analysis further shows that opioid sales are positively related to the share of middle-aged people and individuals with basic education only, while they are negatively related to population density. The granularity and longitudinal nature of these data allow us to control for a large pool of potential confounding factors. Our results suggest that additional interventions should be more intensively addressed toward the most deprived areas. We conclude that a combination of policies aimed at improving economic prospects and strictly monitoring access to opioid medications would be beneficial for reducing opioid-related harm.
Perceived climate change risk and global green activism among young people
Authors: D’Uggento Angela Maria , Piscitelli Alfonso , Ribecco Nunziata , Scepi Germana
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the increasing number of natural disasters has raised concerns about the sustainability of our planet’s future. As young people comprise the generation that will suffer from the negative effects of climate change, they have become involved in a new climate activism that is also gaining interest in the public debate thanks to the Fridays for Future (FFF) movement. This paper analyses the results of a survey of 1,138 young people in a southern Italian region to explore their perceptions of the extent of environmental problems and their participation in protests of green movements such as the FFF. The statistical analyses perform an ordinal classification tree using an original impurity measure considering both the ordinal nature of the response variable and the heterogeneity of its ordered categories. The results show that respondents are concerned about the threat of climate change and participate in the FFF to claim their right to a healthier planet and encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly practices in their lifestyles. Young people feel they are global citizens, connected through the Internet and social media, and show greater sensitivity to the planet’s environmental problems, so they are willing to take effective action to demand sustainable policies from decision-makers. When planning public policies that will affect future generations, it is important for policymakers to know the demands and opinions of key stakeholders, especially young people, in order to plan the most appropriate measures, such as climate change mitigation.
Reporting reliability, convergent and discriminant validity with structural equation modeling: A review and best-practice recommendations
Authors: Cheung Gordon W. , Cooper-Thomas Helena D. , Lau Rebecca S. , Wang Linda C.
Published: January 2023

Many constructs in management studies, such as perceptions, personalities, attitudes, and behavioral intentions, are not directly observable. Typically, empirical studies measure such constructs using established scales with multiple indicators. When the scales are used in a different population, the items are translated into other languages or revised to adapt to other populations, it is essential for researchers to report the quality of measurement scales before using them to test hypotheses. Researchers commonly report the quality of these measurement scales based on Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis results. However, these results are usually inadequate and sometimes inappropriate. Moreover, researchers rarely consider sampling errors for these psychometric quality measures. In this best practice paper, we first critically review the most frequently-used approaches in empirical studies to evaluate the quality of measurement scales when using structural equation modeling. Next, we recommend best practices in assessing reliability, convergent and discriminant validity based on multiple criteria and taking sampling errors into consideration. Then, we illustrate with numerical examples the application of a specifically-developed R package, measureQ, that provides a one-stop solution for implementing the recommended best practices and a template for reporting the results. measureQ is easy to implement, even for those new to R. Our overall aim is to provide a best-practice reference for future authors, reviewers, and editors in reporting and reviewing the quality of measurement scales in empirical management studies.
Dynamical low-rank integrators for second-order matrix differential equations
Authors: Hochbruck Marlis , Neher Markus , Schrammer Stefan
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we construct and analyze a new dynamical low-rank integrator for second-order matrix differential equations. The method is based on a combination of the projector-splitting integrator introduced in Lubich and Oseledets (BIT 54(1):171–188, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10543-013-0454-0) and a Strang splitting. We also present a variant of the new integrator which is tailored to semilinear second-order problems.
Automated tissue Doppler imaging for identification of occluded coronary artery in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Halvorsrød Marlene Iversen , Kiss Gabriel , Dahlslett Thomas , Støylen Asbjørn , Grenne Bjørnar
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Identification of regional dysfunction is important for early risk stratification in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Strain echocardiography enables quantification of segmental myocardial deformation. However, the clinical use is hampered by time-consuming manual measurements. We aimed to evaluate whether an in-house developed software for automated analysis of segmental myocardial deformation based on tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) could predict coronary occlusion in patients with suspected NSTEMI.

Methods

Eighty-four patients with suspected NSTEMI were included in the analysis. Echocardiography was performed at admission. Strain, strain rate and post-systolic shortening index (PSI) were analyzed by the automated TDI-based tool and the ability to predict coronary occlusion was assessed. For comparison, strain measurements were performed both by manual TDI-based analyses and by semi-automatic speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). All patients underwent coronary angiography.

Results

Seventeen patients had an acute coronary occlusion. Global strain and PSI by STE were able to differentiate occluded from non-occluded culprit lesions (respectively − 15.0% vs. -17.1%, and 8.1% vs. 5.1%, both p-values < 0.05) and identify patients with an acute coronary occlusion (AUC 0.66 for both strain and PSI). Measurements of strain, strain rate and PSI based on TDI were not significantly different between occluded and non-occluded territories.

Conclusion

Automated measurements of myocardial deformation based on TDI were not able to identify acute coronary occlusion in patients with suspected NSTEMI. However, this study confirms the potential of strain by STE for early risk stratification in patients with chest pain.
Validity of the Paediatric Canadian Triage Acuity Scale in a Tertiary Hospital: An Analysis of Severity Markers' Variability
Authors: Viana João , Bragança Raquel , Santos João Vasco , Alves Alexandra , Santos Almeida , Freitas Alberto
Published: January 2023

With the increasing influx of patients and frequent overcrowding, the adoption of a valid triage system, capable of distinguishing patients who need urgent care, from those who can wait safely is paramount. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of the Paediatric Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (PaedCTAS) in a Portuguese tertiary hospital. Furthermore, we aim to study the performance and appropriateness of the different surrogate severity markers to validate triage. This is a retrospective study considering all visits to the hospital’s Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) between 2014 and 2019. This study considers cut-offs on all triage levels for dichotomization in order to calculate validity measures e.g. sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios, ROC curves; using hospital admission, admission to intensive care and the use of resources as outcomes/markers of severity. Over the study period there were 0.2% visits triaged as Level 1, 5.7% as Level 2, 39.4% as Level 3, 50.5% as Level 4, 4.2% as Level 5, from a total of 452,815 PED visits. The area under ROC curve was 0.96, 0.71, 0.76, 0.78, 0.59 for the surrogate markers: “Admitted to intensive care”; “Admitted to intermediate care”; “Admitted to hospital”; “Investigations performed in the PED” and “Uses PED resources”, respectively. The association found between triage levels and the surrogate markers of severity suggests that the PedCTAS is highly valid. Different surrogate outcome markers convey different degrees of severity, hence different degrees of urgency. Therefore, the cut-offs to calculate validation measures and the thresholds of such measures should be chosen accordingly.
Framing, rewriting, and reception in world literature: the case of Wolf Totem
Authors: Cui Yanqiu , Bai Yang
Published: January 2023

When world literature is seen as a product of translation and circulation and as a mode of reading, new world literature attributes, other than literariness, can be inferred, such as relevance to readers, a combination of cultural peculiarity and universality, and accessibility. A case study of Wolf Totem reveals that these attributes can explain how commercial publishers frame, translators rewrite, and readers interpret such works. Commercial publishers’ framing discourses usually highlight a novel’s cultural peculiarity and universality; translators emphasize accessibility while rewriting texts to accommodate target literary norms and readers’ pathos; and readers’ interests usually converge at themes relevant to their lives, thus promoting the evolution of interpretation toward shared experiences of humanity. Using content analysis tools, our study addresses the lack of empirical analysis in literary reception by examining the value of online reader reviews in explaining the effect of framing and rewriting and the readership’s criteria for rewriting. We contend that mass readers participate in the formation and circulation of world literature through word-of-mouth recommendations and sharing reading experiences. Therefore, the significance of online reader reviews deserves scholarly attention in reception and world literature studies.
Instant identification of hydrocarbon spill types using laser-induced fluorescence and associated hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Mahmoud Alaaeldin , El-Sharkawy Yasser H.
Published: January 2023

Marine hydrocarbon (HC) spills seriously harm the marine ecosystem and necessitate the creation of effective cleanup strategies. For efficient treatment, it is crucial to accurately identify the type of HC implicated in the spill. Diesel oil, gasoline, lubrication oil, and waste oil were chosen as the experimental starting materials since they are prevalent HC kinds. This study reports on the facile differentiation of diesel fuel and gasoline to engine oil via induced fluorescence by a laser. The tested material was stimulated with a 450-nm blue laser source. The fluorescence characteristic of each tested HC spill sample was captured via a hyperspectral imaging camera. Diesel fuel could be identified via their unique fluorescence signatures at 470 nm and 515 nm. Gasoline was found to be a less photoluminescent active material, with characteristic signals at 465 nm and 585 nm. At 505 nm, lubricating oil had the typical fluorescence signal. On the whole study spectrum, there are no re-emitted frequencies for the waste oil. Fluorescence signals secured good discrimination between fuel and engine oil of HC chemical structures. Signal intensity can contribute further discrimination. Fluorescence intensity at selected photoluminescence wavelengths secured further grouping between fuel and oil. Our imaging approach would provide investigators with the ability to define the HC and choose a mitigation strategy for fast HC spill identification. Aerial systems with a customized common camera that only functions at a certain wavelength filter with our methodology based on laser-induced fluorescence may be effectively developed for HC spill detecting applications.
Board overconfidence and M&A performance: evidence from the UK
Authors: Brahma Sanjukta , Boateng Agyenim , Ahmad Sardar
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the relationship between board overconfidence and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) performance based on 754 M&A deals in the UK from 2002 to 2018. Employing three proxies to measure overconfidence, namely, fraction of male directors on the board, multiple acquisitions and merger characteristics, our results suggest that a higher fraction of male directors on the board and multiple acquisitions lead to poor M&A performance. The results also show that multiple acquirers’ deals generate higher returns than subsequent deals and this is due to self-attribution bias. In terms of merger characteristics, this study has found that, when overconfident acquirers use cash as the method of payment or when they embark on diversifying M&A, it leads to poor M&A performance. The results are robust across both univariate and multivariate analyses and also across alternate measures of post-merger performance. The findings of this study have important policy implication with regard to the ratio of male directors, number of acquisitions and the method of payment.
The sex gap in sports and exercise medicine research: who does research on females?
Authors: Laxdal Aron
Published: January 2023

Females are underrepresented in sports and exercise medicine research, both as authors and as research participants. The aim of this study was therefore to explore who does sports and exercise medicine research on females. All original research articles with female-only samples published in six major sports and exercise medicine journals over a 7-year period (2014–2020; n = 334) were examined. Out of the 2027 authors of the articles in question, 1149 were categorized as male (56.7%) and 850 were categorized as female (41.9%; 28 [1.4%] could not be categorized). A slight majority of the articles had a female as first author (51.5%), while the majority of the last authors were male (62.3%). Binomial tests of proportions revealed that females were overrepresented in all author roles in this sample compared to the field at large, while chi-square tests of proportions indicated minimal variations in female authorship across the studied period. These findings indicate that females are relatively more likely to do research on females than males are, and that the rate of female authorship remained relatively constant over time.
Machine understanding and deep learning representation
Authors: Tamir Michael , Shech Elay
Published: January 2023

Practical ability manifested through robust and reliable task performance, as well as information relevance and well-structured representation, are key factors indicative of understanding in the philosophical literature. We explore these factors in the context of deep learning, identifying prominent patterns in how the results of these algorithms represent information. While the estimation applications of modern neural networks do not qualify as the mental activity of persons, we argue that coupling analyses from philosophical accounts with the empirical and theoretical basis for identifying these factors in deep learning representations provides a framework for discussing and critically evaluating potential machine understanding given the continually improving task performance enabled by such algorithms.
Telephone Outreach Enhances Recruitment of Underrepresented Seriously Ill Patients for an Advance Care Planning Pragmatic Trial
Authors: Chau Aaron J. , Sudore Rebecca L. , Hays Ron D. , Tseng Chi-Hong , Walling Anne M. , Rahimi Maryam , Gibbs Lisa , Patel Kanan , Sanz Vidorreta Fernando Javier , Wenger Neil S.
Published: January 2023

Background

Patients experiencing systemic patterns of disadvantage, such as racial/ethnic minorities and those with limited English proficiency, are underrepresented in research. This is particularly true for large pragmatic trials of potentially sensitive research topics, such as advance care planning (ACP). It is unclear how phone outreach may affect research participation by underrepresented individuals.

Objective

To assess the effect of phone outreach, in addition to standard mail survey recruitment, in a population-based ACP pragmatic trial at three academic health systems in California.

Design

Retrospective cohort study

Patients

Primary care patients with serious illness were mailed a survey in their preferred language. Patients who did not initially respond by mail received up to three reminder phone calls with the option of survey completion by phone.

Main measures

Effect of phone outreach on survey response rate associated with respondent demographic characteristics (e.g., Social Vulnerability Index [SVI], range 0 (low) to 1 (high)).

Results

Across the health systems, 5998 seriously ill patients were mailed surveys. We obtained completed surveys from 1215 patients (20% response rate); 787 (65%) responded after mail alone and 428 (35%) participated only after phone outreach. Patients recruited after phone outreach compared to mail alone were more socially vulnerable (SVI 0.41 v 0.35, P < 0.001), were more likely to report being a racial/ethnic minority (35% v 28%, P = 0.006), and non-English speaking (16% v 10%, P = 0.005). Age and gender did not differ significantly. The inclusion of phone outreach resulted in a sample that better represented the baseline population than mail alone in racial/ethnic minority (28% mail alone, 30% including phone outreach, 36% baseline population), non-English language preference (10%, 12%, 15%, respectively), and SVI (0.35, 0.37, 0.38, respectively).

Conclusions

Phone outreach for a population-based survey in a pragmatic trial concerning a potentially sensitive topic significantly enhanced recruitment of underrepresented seriously ill patients.
2D PIV/PTV–3D uRANS RSM Investigation on the Combined Effect of Iron Filings Filtering Techniques in a Backward Facing Step Flow
Authors: Villén Iker , Teso Daniel , Martínez-Filgueira Pablo , Fernandez-Gámiz Unai , Márquez Gonzalo , Lopez-Guede Jose Manuel , Kurt Erol
Published: January 2023

The presence of suspended particles in liquid fluids is one of the main reasons for hydraulic system failure. Metallic impurities in particular increase the presence of toxic substances in wastewater; therefore, it is vital to study and address the behaviour of such particles in water flows. The current literature lacks studiees approaching the combined effect of different filtering techniques in backward-facing step (BFS) flows. This work aims to analyse the behaviour of iron filings within a BFS system, making use of a combined experimental 2D PIV/PTV–3D uRANS computational approach. Experiments and computations are performed at a Reynolds number $$\mathrm{{Re}}_{H} = 3684.63$$

Re
H

=
3684.63

. Computational measurements are performed in several planes whereas the experimental campaign is focused on the dynamics of the particles through the streamwise middle plane. A half plane reattachment length of $$X_{\rm{r}} = 11.73h$$

X
r

=
11.73
h

is measured for an inlet flow turbulence intensity of about 1%. The trajectories of the iron filings under the influence of an external magnetic field are examined. A comparison with their paths under the influence of no attractive forces elucidates that the presence of an external magnetic field alters their elliptical trajectories. Moreover, a more forward magnet placement reveals greater trajectory disruptions.
Wenn Routinen versagen
Authors: Becker Reiner
Published: January 2023

Nahezu inflationär erschallt insbesondere in krisenhaften Zeiten der Ruf nach Haltung. Eng geführt, als performativer Haltungsbegriff, kann in Zeiten von Krisen, in denen Routinen versagen, „Haltung zeigen“ als Handlung verstanden werden, die Orientierung gibt. Haltungen zeigen sich jedoch nicht ausschließlich in einer spezifischen krisenhaften Situation, in einem finalen Moment, in der alle Routinen versagen. In der Diskussion von Ulrich Oevermanns Unterscheidung von Krise und Routine und durch die Betrachtung der subjektiven Norm, die ein Bestandteil in der Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens ist, will der Beitrag erkunden, ob das „Haltung zeigen“ in Krisen vorbereitet werden kann. Dabei knüpft der Beitrag an den bisherigen Überlegungen zu einem performativen Haltungsbegriff an.
Spatio-Temporal Variability of Wrack Along the Northern Portuguese Sandy Beaches
Authors: Guerrero-Meseguer Laura , Veiga Puri , Rubal Marcos
Published: January 2023

Wrack accumulations are a source of nutrients on sandy beaches and host invertebrate species, increasing local biodiversity. The distribution of these important accumulations varies in space and time depending on the environmental conditions and the composition of species that are in the wrack. Species composition and spatiotemporal variability in wrack accumulations remain poorly understood in some regions. In this study, we evaluated the spatiotemporal variability in wrack biomass and diversity on four sandy beaches in northern Portugal over the course of 1 year. The results revealed that both the diversity and biomass of wrack varied temporally depending on the beach and tidal level where it was collected. Wrack biomass was about 20 to 35 times greater at higher than at the low tide level and was more abundant (87%) and twice as diverse at the two northernmost beaches of the study, probably due to a greater proximity to rocky shores. Large brown temperate and boreal macroalgae species such as fucoids (Fucus spp., Cystoseira spp., and Ascophyllum nodosum) and the kelp Saccorhiza polyschides were the most abundant taxa in the wrack. Fucoids were in the wrack throughout the year, while kelps predominated in the warmer months, generating 8% more biomass than that produced by fucoids throughout the year. However, since large brown macroalgae species are reducing their size and recruitment due to global warming in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the biomass and diversity of wrack in northern Portugal could be limited in the future, compromising crucial functions of wrack in ecosystems.
Diagnostic delay in adult inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review
Authors: Cross Eleanor , Saunders Benjamin , Farmer Adam D. , Prior James A.
Published: January 2023

Background

The extent of diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is incompletely understood. We aimed to understand the extent of diagnostic delay of IBD in adults and identify associations between patient or healthcare characteristics and length of delay.

Methods

Articles were sourced from EMBASE, Medline and CINAHL from inception to April 2021. Inclusion criteria were adult cohorts (18 ≥ years old) reporting median time periods between onset of symptoms for Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD (i.e. CD and UC together) and a final diagnosis (diagnostic delay). Narrative synthesis was used to examine the extent of diagnostic delay and characteristics associated with delay. Sensitivity analysis was applied by the removal of outliers.

Results

Thirty-one articles reporting median diagnostic delay for IBD, CD or UC were included. After sensitivity analysis, the majority of IBD studies (7 of 8) reported a median delay of between 2 and 5.3 months. From the studies examining median delay in UC, three-quarters (12 of 16) reported a delay between 2 and 6 months. In contrast, three-quarters of the CD studies (17 of 23) reported a delay of between 2 and 12 months. No characteristic had been examined enough to understand their role in diagnostic delay in these populations.

Conclusions

This systematic review provides robust insight into the extent of diagnostic delay in IBD and suggests further intervention is needed to reduce delay in CD particularly. Furthermore, our findings provide a benchmark value range for diagnostic delay, which such future work can be measured against.
The Great Break 1927–28 and knowledge management for a modern sewer system in Petrograd/Leningrad (1918–1928)
Authors: Malinova-Tziafeta Olga
Published: January 2023

The article deals with the process of knowledge management in the construction of urban infrastructure in Leningrad in the 1920s and the influence of political and economic factors on this process. At first, municipal engineering was included in the so-called circulation zone, i.e. those selected spheres of Soviet industry, science, and culture, where a relatively free exchange of technology and knowledge with leading Western firms and corporations was practised. Because of the Great Break and War Scare of 1927, municipal engineering was excluded from this zone. The main source to build this argument is archival material about the international expert commission on sewerage system construction of 1927. In the spring of that year, experts from the United States and Germany were invited to come to Leningrad. However, in the summer of that year, the War Scare cut off this cooperation. The article discusses the shaping of new knowledge management and the new industrial culture which emerged from the crisis.
Fertilitätserhalt – State of the Art in Österreich
Authors: Böttcher Bettina
Published: January 2023

Es ist essenziell, Frauen und Männer vor einer gonadotoxischen Therapie über mögliche fertilitätsprotektive Maßnahmen aufzuklären und diese anzubieten. Eine frühzeitige Vorstellung seitens der Onkolog:innen kann den Patientinnen Bedenkzeit und eine bessere Planung der Maßnahmen ermöglichen. Zunehmend stellen auch benigne Erkrankungen mit erforderlicher gonadotoxischer Therapie oder genetische Prädispositionen mit einem erhöhten Risiko für eine prämature Ovarialinsuffizienz eine Indikation für fertilitätserhaltende Maßnahmen dar. Für diese Thematik sollte interdisziplinär sensibilisiert werden, um diese Patientinnen frühzeitig zu identifizieren. Eine einheitliche Regelung der Kosten und der Kostenübernahme für fertilitätsprotektive Maßnahmen für Frauen und Männer sollte im Sinne der Patient:innen baldmöglichst angestrebt werden.