bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial electroconductive rGO modified cotton fabric
Authors: Mizerska Urszula , Fortuniak Witold , Makowski Tomasz , Svyntkivska Mariia , Piorkowska Ewa , Kowalczyk Dorota , Brzezinski Stefan , Kregiel Dorota
Published: July 2021

Cotton fabric was modified with organosilicon coating containing graphene oxide (GO), which was then thermally reduced to reduced graphene oxide. The thermal reduction imparted electrical conductivity and hydrophobicity to the fabric. In order to augment the reduction of GO in the coating, the organosilicon sol with active reducing ─SiH groups, was synthesized from alkoxysilanes. Chemical modification of the coating with tert‐butylamine groups and N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐n‐octylammonium groups allowed to achieve antibacterial activity of the electroconductive fabric against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Although the modification worsened the electrical conductivity, the coated fabric, especially that modified with tert‐butylamine groups, remained electroconductive.
Power walking based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in patients with post‐coronary angioplasty: Randomized control trial
Authors: Muthukrishnan Ramprasad , Malik Gulshan Shahzadi , Gopal Kumaraguruparan , Shehata Mohamed Abdelsamie
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this trial was to compare the effectiveness of standardized outpatient cardiac rehabilitation combined with treadmill power walking versus standardized outpatient cardiac rehabilitation alone on health‐related quality of life (HQoL), functional exercise capacity (FEC), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) in patients who went post coronary angioplasty (CA). Further this study evaluated the association between average numbers of steps taken with above clinical outcomes.

Methods

In a pragmatic sequential randomized clinical trial, 24 patients were randomized into two groups (n = 12) and participated in a standardized outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (SOCRP) with treadmill power walking as an intervention group and SOCRP alone in control group. Scores obtained before and after 4 weeks of intervention, that is, after 12 treatment sessions were assessed using a HQoL questionnaire and 6‐min walk test (6 MWT). Average number of steps taken throughout the 4 weeks, METs and LVEF values were obtained by pedometer, exercise stress testing and echocardiogram respectively.

Results

Significant improvements were found in intergroup and intragroup comparison after 4 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation (p < 0.05). Scores of 6 MWT and LVEF significantly improved in the intervention group (p < 0.003) compared to the control group (p < 0.032). HQoL components that is, global and physical, MET values and average number of steps were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

SOCRP with power walking was more effective in improving HQoL, FEC, LVEF, METs and average numbers of steps than SOCRP alone although both interventions were significant after 4 weeks in patients underwent CA and completed cardiac rehabilitation program. Positive significant associations were found between the average number of steps taken with scores of METs and scores of global and physical domains of HQoL.
Adjusting for covariates in analysis based on restricted mean survival times
Authors: Zhong Yi , Zhao Ou , Zhang Bo , Yao Bin
Published: July 2021

We summarize extensions to the analysis of restricted mean survival time (RMST) in the context of time‐to‐event outcomes. The RMST estimate and its inference are based on the classical Kaplan–Meier curves. When covariate effects are considered, an adjusted RMST (ARMST) estimate can be derived analogously based on adjusted Kaplan–Meier curves. The adjusted Kaplan–Meier Estimator (AKME) was developed to reduce confounding by the method of inverse probability of treatment weighting. We will show how the ARMST method combines the concepts of the RMST and AKME to make inferences. Two regression based methods to adjust for potential covariate effect on the RMST estimates will be compared with the ARMST approach. Simulation studies are performed to compare the different methods with and without covariate adjustments. In addition, we will summarize the extension of RMST and ARMST to the setting with competing risks. The restricted mean time lost (RMTL) and adjusted RMTL (ARMTL) are estimates of interest from cumulative incidence curves. A phase 3 oncology clinical trial example is provided to demonstrate the applications of these methods.
Observation impact metrics in NWP: A theoretical study. Part I: Optimal systems
Authors: Eyre J. R.
Published: July 2021

Two methods are widely used to assess the impact of observations in global numerical weather prediction (NWP): data denial experiments (DDEs) and the forecast sensitivity‐based observation impact (FSOI) method. A DDE measures the impact on forecast accuracy of removing an observation type from the system, whereas FSOI measures the amount by which an observation type reduces the short‐range forecast error (within a system containing all observation types). It is usually found, in global NWP experiments in which both methods are used, that the FSOI impact of a given observation type is greater than its DDE impact. The aim of this article is to present the theory behind the DDE and FSOI metrics that are commonly used and to explore factors that cause DDE and FSOI metrics to give different results. The general theory is presented for an optimal analysis and forecast system and then applied to a simple model with two state variables. To explain the commonly found result of FSOI impact greater than DDE impact, the following system properties are found to be important: mixing of information (and error) by the forecast model between state variables, the rate of forecast error growth, the presence of forecast model error, the way in which observational information is distributed between state variables and denied from them, and the presence of error in the data used for forecast verification. These results provide insight into why NWP systems are resilient to the removal of observational information; they are shown to be resilient if information is denied primarily from well‐observed variables but not when denied primarily from poorly observed variables.
Desired dynamic equationalproportional‐integral‐derivativecontroller design based on probabilistic robustness
Authors: Shi Gengjin , Li Donghai , Ding Yanjun , Chen Yang Quan
Published: July 2021

Uncertainties existing in industrial processes always result in many challenges for controller design. To enhance the ability of the closed‐loop system to handle the uncertainties, a desired dynamic equational (DDE) proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller is designed based on probabilistic robustness (PR) in this article. The necessity of the proposed design method is demonstrated by introducing the problem formulation. Based on its fundamentals, DDE PID designed based on PR (DDE‐PR PID) is proposed for uncertain systems and corresponding design procedure is summarized as a flow chart. Then the proposed DDE‐PR PID is designed for several typical processes and simulation results indicate that the proposed DDE‐PR PID cannot only achieve satisfactory control performance for nominal systems, but also satisfy control requirements for all uncertain systems with the maximum probability. Finally, the proposed DDE‐PR PID is applied to the nonlinear model of a fluidized bed combustor unit and the level system of a water tank. Its superiority in robustness is validated by both simulations and experiments, which shows the promising prospect of DDE‐PR PID in future power industry. On the other hand, the DDE method is extended to the generalized two‐degree‐of‐freedom PID controller and its bandwidth‐parameterization is proposed in this article as well.
Physical activity levels and mental health burden of healthcare workers during COVID‐19 lockdown
Authors: Kua Zaylea , Hamzah Fadzil , Tan Pei T. , Ong Li J. , Tan Benedict , Huang Zhongwei
Published: July 2021

The outbreak of COVID‐19 has precipitated international lockdown measures to curb disease transmissions. The closure of public activity spaces as well as changes in pandemic workload may disrupt healthcare workers' physical activity and self‐care routines. We sought to examine the association between physical activity levels and mental health burden of healthcare workers during the COVID‐19 lockdown in Singapore. This cross‐sectional study comprised of an multidomain survey that was administered digitally to 707 healthcare workers between 17 May and 18 June 2020. Exercise frequency, duration and intensity of these healthcare workers had reduced significantly during the lockdown compared to pre‐lockdown. 25.3%, 37.2%, and 11.9% had screened positive for moderate‐to‐extremely‐severe depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Reductions in exercise duration was a significant risk factor for mild stress and moderate‐to‐severe depression while increase in exercise frequency was found to be a protective factor against depressed mood. Our study revealed that a short‐term reduction in physical activity levels during lockdown was associated with poorer psychological outcomes. Given the protection that exercise confers on depression, physical activity should be promoted at the workplace and at home to support healthcare workers to cope through this protracted health crisis.
Mechanically Tunable Lattice‐Plasmon Resonances by Templated Self‐Assembled Superlattices for Multi‐Wavelength Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Charconnet Mathias , Kuttner Christian , Plou Javier , García‐Pomar Juan Luis , Mihi Agustín , Liz‐Marzán Luis M. , Seifert Andreas
Published: July 2021

Lattice plasmons, i.e., diffractively coupled localized surface plasmon resonances, occur in long‐range ordered plasmonic nanostructures such as 1D and 2D periodic lattices. Such far‐field coupled resonances can be employed for ultrasensitive surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), provided they are spectrally matched to the excitation wavelength. The spectral positions of lattice plasmon modes critically depend on the lattice period and uniformity, owing to their pronounced sensitivity to structural disorder. We report the fabrication of superlattices by templated self‐assembly of gold nanoparticles on a flexible support, with tunable lattice‐plasmon resonances by means of macroscopic strain. We demonstrate that the highest SERS performance is achieved by matching the lattice plasmon mode to the excitation wavelength, by post‐assembly fine‐tuning of long‐range structural parameters. Both asymmetric and symmetric lattice deformations can be used to adapt a single lattice structure to both red‐shifted and blue‐shifted excitation lines, as exemplified by lattice expansion and contraction, respectively. This proof‐of‐principle study represents a basis for alternative designs of adaptive functional nanostructures with mechanically tunable lattice resonances using strain as a macroscopic control parameter.
Cellulose‐Based Oxygen‐Rich Activated Carbon for Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Chao , Gao Chenxu , Wang Wei , Wang Xiadong , Wang Yifan , Hu Wenjing , Rong Yaoguang , Hu Yue , Guo Lianbo , Mei Anyi , Han Hongwei
Published: July 2021

Carbon electrodes (CEs) are demonstrated as the most stable and cost‐effective back electrodes for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which influence the performance of related PSCs significantly. Herein, oxygen‐rich activated carbon (AC) is synthesized from the most abundant biomass resource, cellulose, via a feasible carbonization and oxidization process and applied in CEs for hole‐conductor‐free printable mesoscopic PSCs (p‐MPSCs). The obtained cellulose‐based activated carbon (CAC) exhibits a high specific area of 477.14 m2 g−1 and possesses a high oxygen content of 11.9%, promoting the wettability and contact between CEs and perovskites. Moreover, the high oxygen content also leads to an elevated work function of CEs. As a result, p‐MPSCs filled with (5‐AVA)0.03(MA)0.97PbI3 based on CEs containing CAC give an efficiency of 15.5%, whereas those devices based on CEs with no CAC give an efficiency of 13.8%. The improved efficiency benefits from the promoted fill factor and open circuit voltage due to the optimized energy level alignment and enhanced charge extraction by CAC. This work presents a good example for the value‐added utilization of cellulose in the energy conversion systems and offers a feasible strategy for preparing oxygen‐rich CE for PSCs with enhanced performance.
Treatment outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery for colorectal neoplasms in patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Kasuga Kengo , Yamada Masayoshi , Shida Dai , Tagawa Teppei , Takamaru Hiroyuki , Sekiguchi Masau , Sakamoto Taku , Uraoka Toshio , Sekine Shigeki , Kanemitsu Yukihide , Saito Yutaka
Published: July 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to clarify the validity and long‐term outcomes of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of visible lesions (≥20 mm) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and investigate the incidence of undetected lesions in surgical specimens.

Methods

This single‐center retrospective study included 11 lesions from nine patients with UC who underwent ESD and 19 lesions from nine patients with UC who underwent colectomy between March 2001 and January 2019. We evaluated the endoscopic findings of scarring, atrophy, and loss of haustra in the ESD group, and we determined the lesion visibility in the colectomy group. We investigated the clinicopathological features of all lesions and examined the follow‐up evaluations in the ESD group.

Results

The en bloc and curative resection rates of ESDs were 91% and 82%, respectively. Endoscopic findings of scarring, atrophic colitis, and loss of haustra were observed in two (18%), seven (64%), and one (9%) lesions, respectively. The two lesions with scarring showed severe submucosal fibrosis. Mortality and recurrence were not observed during the median follow‐up of 25 months. Metachronous lesions ≥20 mm were detected in two patients, which were successfully treated with ESDs. In the colectomy specimens, 21% of the lesions were undetected, 67% had multiple neoplasms, and 33% had multiple invasive cancers.

Conclusions

ESD is feasible and valid for large visible lesions in patients with UC; however, for lesions with endoscopic findings of scarring, technical difficulties in endoscopic resection must be considered. In addition, intensive surveillance colonoscopy is necessary to detect undetected lesions.
The Different Ways of Implementing Shared Physical Custody in the French Context
Authors: Hachet Benoit
Published: July 2021

Drawing on quantitative contextual data, this largely qualitative study comprehensively explores the different ways of obtaining shared physical custody (SPC) in France. I show that the choice of SPC depends on the historical context in which the marital separation occurred. I distinguish three ways of entering into SPC: situations of parental disagreement settled by law, situations in which a third party intervened in the decision, and situations of parental agreement. In this final category, I discuss the category of agreement itself, showing that behind seemingly obvious, though far from explicit, ways of reasoning lie processes of influence and negotiation occurring between separated mothers and fathers.
Are “Part-Time Parents” Healthier and Happier Parents? Correlates of Shared Physical Custody in Switzerland
Authors: Recksiedler Claudia , Bernardi Laura
Published: July 2021

Changing legal and parental practices across Europe led to a higher share of parents practicing shared physical custody (SPC) upon separation, who tended to be more affluent and less conflict-ridden. Since SPC became more prevalent, profiles of SPC parents pluralized. Far from these developments, no clearly defined legal pathways toward SPC existed in Switzerland before 2017. Profiling the Swiss case, we examine the prevalence of SPC families, and its associations with parental health and well-being before these legislative changes. Among 875 separated parents of 1,269 minors, SPC (i.e., child alternates between parental homes at least 30% of the time) was practiced by about 11% of the sample. A higher share of SPC parents was highly-educated, yet more financially strained compared to other parents. Although no overall differences in health and well-being emerged between SPC and other separated parents (e.g., with sole custody), SPC-health-linkages varied by gender and education. We conclude that lacking institutional support for SPC and gender-biased employment practices reinforce traditional custody models. Because of costly childcare and more skewed time splits among Swiss SPC parents, SPC may represent more of a resource drain—at least economically—than a relief for the parent shouldering more care duties and expenses.
Equational Theorem Proving Modulo
Authors: Kim Dohan , Lynch Christopher
Published: July 2021

Unlike other methods for theorem proving modulo with constrained clauses [12, 13], equational theorem proving modulo with constrained clauses along with its simplification techniques has not been well studied. We introduce a basic paramodulation calculus modulo equational theories E satisfying certain properties of E and present a new framework for equational theorem proving modulo E with constrained clauses. We propose an inference rule called Generalized E-Parallel for constrained clauses, which makes our inference system completely basic, meaning that we do not need to allow any paramodulation in the constraint part of a constrained clause for refutational completeness. We present a saturation procedure for constrained clauses based on relative reducibility and show that our inference system including our contraction rules is refutationally complete.
Verified Interactive Computation of Definite Integrals
Authors: Xu Runqing , Li Liming , Zhan Bohua
Published: July 2021

Symbolic computation is involved in many areas of mathematics, as well as in analysis of physical systems in science and engineering. Computer algebra systems present an easy-to-use interface for performing these calculations, but do not provide strong guarantees of correctness. In contrast, interactive theorem proving provides much stronger guarantees of correctness, but requires more time and expertise. In this paper, we propose a general framework for combining these two methods, and demonstrate it using computation of definite integrals. It allows the user to carry out step-by-step computations in a familiar user interface, while also verifying the computation by translating it to proofs in higher-order logic. The system consists of an intermediate language for recording computations, proof automation for simplification and inequality checking, and heuristic integration methods. A prototype is implemented in Python based on HolPy, and tested on a large collection of examples at the undergraduate level.
Tableau-based Decision Procedure for Non-Fregean Logic of Sentential Identity
Authors: Golińska-Pilarek Joanna , Huuskonen Taneli , Zawidzki Michał
Published: July 2021

Sentential Calculus with Identity ($$\mathsf {SCI}$$
SCI
) is an extension of classical propositional logic, featuring a new connective of identity between formulas. In $$\mathsf {SCI}$$
SCI
two formulas are said to be identical if they share the same denotation. In the semantics of the logic, truth values are distinguished from denotations, hence the identity connective is strictly stronger than classical equivalence. In this paper we present a sound, complete, and terminating algorithm deciding the satisfiability of $$\mathsf {SCI}$$
SCI
-formulas, based on labelled tableaux. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first implemented decision procedure for $$\mathsf {SCI}$$
SCI
which runs in NP, i.e., is complexity-optimal. The obtained complexity bound is a result of dividing derivation rules in the algorithm into two sets: decomposition and equality rules, whose interplay yields derivation trees with branches of polynomial length with respect to the size of the investigated formula. We describe an implementation of the procedure and compare its performance with implementations of other calculi for $$\mathsf {SCI}$$
SCI
(for which, however, the termination results were not established). We show possible refinements of our algorithm and discuss the possibility of extending it to other non-Fregean logics.
Improving ENIGMA-style Clause Selection while Learning From History
Authors: Suda Martin
Published: July 2021

We re-examine the topic of machine-learned clause selection guidance in saturation-based theorem provers. The central idea, recently popularized by the ENIGMA system, is to learn a classifier for recognizing clauses that appeared in previously discovered proofs. In subsequent runs, clauses classified positively are prioritized for selection. We propose several improvements to this approach and experimentally confirm their viability. For the demonstration, we use a recursive neural network to classify clauses based on their derivation history and the presence or absence of automatically supplied theory axioms therein. The automatic theorem prover Vampire guided by the network achieves a 41 % improvement on a relevant subset of SMT-LIB in a real time evaluation.
The Fusemate Logic Programming System
Authors: Baumgartner Peter
Published: July 2021

Fusemate is a logic programming system that implements the possible model semantics for disjunctive logic programs. Its input language is centered around a weak notion of stratification with comprehension and aggregation operators on top of it. Fusemate is implemented as a shallow embedding in the Scala programming language. This enables using Scala data types natively as terms, a tight interface with external systems, and it makes model computation available as an ordinary container data structure constructor. The paper describes the above features and implementation aspects. It also demonstrates them with a non-trivial use-case, the embedding of the description logic $$\mathcal ALCIF$$

A
L
C
I
F

into Fusemate’s input language.
Whole-body uptake classification and prostate cancer staging in 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT using dual-tracer learning
Authors: Capobianco Nicolò , Sibille Ludovic , Chantadisai Maythinee , Gafita Andrei , Langbein Thomas , Platsch Guenther , Solari Esteban Lucas , Shah Vijay , Spottiswoode Bruce , Eiber Matthias , Weber Wolfgang A. , Navab Nassir , Nekolla Stephan G.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In PSMA-ligand PET/CT imaging, standardized evaluation frameworks and image-derived parameters are increasingly used to support prostate cancer staging. Clinical applicability remains challenging wherever manual measurements of numerous suspected lesions are required. Deep learning methods are promising for automated image analysis, typically requiring extensive expert-annotated image datasets to reach sufficient accuracy. We developed a deep learning method to support image-based staging, investigating the use of training information from two radiotracers.

Methods

In 173 subjects imaged with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, divided into development (121) and test (52) sets, we trained and evaluated a convolutional neural network to both classify sites of elevated tracer uptake as nonsuspicious or suspicious for cancer and assign them an anatomical location. We evaluated training strategies to leverage information from a larger dataset of 18F-FDG PET/CT images and expert annotations, including transfer learning and combined training encoding the tracer type as input to the network. We assessed the agreement between the N and M stage assigned based on the network annotations and expert annotations, according to the PROMISE miTNM framework.

Results

In the development set, including 18F-FDG training data improved classification performance in four-fold cross validation. In the test set, compared to expert assessment, training with 18F-FDG data and the development set yielded 80.4% average precision [confidence interval (CI): 71.1–87.8] for identification of suspicious uptake sites, 77% (CI: 70.0–83.4) accuracy for anatomical location classification of suspicious findings, 81% agreement for identification of regional lymph node involvement, and 77% agreement for identification of metastatic stage.

Conclusion

The evaluated algorithm showed good agreement with expert assessment for identification and anatomical location classification of suspicious uptake sites in whole-body 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. With restricted PSMA-ligand data available, the use of training examples from a different radiotracer improved performance. The investigated methods are promising for enabling efficient assessment of cancer stage and tumor burden.
Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in der psychotherapeutischen Versorgung
Authors: Riffer Friedrich , Knopp Magdalena , Burghardt Juliane , Sprung Manuel
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede bei psychischen Erkrankungen sind vielfach belegt. Auch bei der Inanspruchnahme psychotherapeutischer und medizinischer Versorgungsangebote sind Geschlechtsunterschiede festzustellen. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht Geschlechtsunterschiede bei der Inanspruchnahme psychotherapeutischer Versorgungsangebote in Österreich, da hierzu bisher keine Studien vorliegen.

Material und Methoden

Eine Stichprobe von 1909 Patient*innen (64 % Frauen) mit einer psychischen Erkrankung wurde im Rahmen einer stationären Behandlung in einer psychosomatischen Klinik in Österreich zur Inanspruchnahme ambulanter psychotherapeutischer Behandlung befragt. Sowohl psychotherapeutische Vorbehandlung als auch geplante weiterführende Behandlung wurden einbezogen.

Ergebnisse

Der größte Teil der Patient*innen (70 %) litt seit mehr als 2 Jahren an einer psychischen Erkrankung, und knapp die Hälfte (45 %) war bereits zuvor in stationärer und 82 % in ambulanter psychotherapeutischer Behandlung. Demnach handelt es sich um eine Stichprobe chronisch psychisch kranker Menschen. Die Studienergebnisse zeigten geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede bei der Inanspruchnahme psychotherapeutischer Behandlung. Männer gingen seltener zum Arzt, waren weniger häufig in psychotherapeutischer Vorbehandlung (Männer: 79 %; Frauen: 84 %) und planten weniger häufig eine weiterführende Behandlung im Anschluss an eine stationäre Behandlung als Frauen.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Geschlechtsunterschiede bei der Inanspruchnahme von psychotherapeutischer Behandlung könnten damit erklärt werden, dass es Unterschiede in den gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen gegenüber Männern und Frauen gibt. Die Behandlungsmotivation von Männern könnte durch eine geschlechtsspezifische Behandlungsstrategie gefördert werden.
The role of natural killer cells in liver inflammation
Authors: Highton A. J. , Schuster I. S. , Degli-Esposti M. A. , Altfeld M.
Published: July 2021

The liver is an important immunological site that can promote immune tolerance or activation. Natural killer (NK) cells are a major immune subset within the liver, and therefore understanding their role in liver homeostasis and inflammation is crucial. Due to their cytotoxic function, NK cells are important in the immune response against hepatotropic viral infections but are also involved in the inflammatory processes of autoimmune liver diseases and fatty liver disease. Whether NK cells primarily promote pro-inflammatory or tolerogenic responses is not known for many liver diseases. Understanding the involvement of NK cells in liver inflammation will be crucial in effective treatment and future immunotherapeutic targeting of NK cells in these disease settings. Here, we explore the role that NK cells play in inflammation of the liver in the context of viral infection, autoimmunity and fatty liver disease.
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for Liver Cirrhosis 2020
Authors: Yoshiji Hitoshi , Nagoshi Sumiko , Akahane Takemi , Asaoka Yoshinari , Ueno Yoshiyuki , Ogawa Koji , Kawaguchi Takumi , Kurosaki Masayuki , Sakaida Isao , Shimizu Masahito , Taniai Makiko , Terai Shuji , Nishikawa Hiroki , Hiasa Yoichi , Hidaka Hisashi , Miwa Hiroto , Chayama Kazuaki , Enomoto Nobuyuki , Shimosegawa Tooru , Takehara Tetsuo , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: July 2021

The first edition of the clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis was published in 2010, and the second edition was published in 2015 by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE). The revised third edition was recently published in 2020. This version has become a joint guideline by the JSGE and the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH). In addition to the clinical questions (CQs), background questions (BQs) are new items for basic clinical knowledge, and future research questions (FRQs) are newly added clinically important items. Concerning the clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis, new findings have been reported over the past 5 years since the second edition. In this revision, we decided to match the international standards as much as possible by referring to the latest international guidelines. Newly developed agents for various complications have also made great progress. In comparison with the latest global guidelines, such as the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), we are introducing data based on the evidence for clinical practice in Japan. The flowchart for nutrition therapy was reviewed to be useful for daily medical care by referring to overseas guidelines. We also explain several clinically important items that have recently received focus and were not mentioned in the last editions. This digest version describes the issues related to the management of liver cirrhosis and several complications in clinical practice. The content begins with a diagnostic algorithm, the revised flowchart for nutritional therapy, and refracted ascites, which are of great importance to patients with cirrhosis. In addition to the updated antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C liver cirrhosis, the latest treatments for non-viral cirrhosis, such as alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH/NASH) and autoimmune-related cirrhosis, are also described. It also covers the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of liver cirrhosis complications, namely gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome and acute kidney injury, hepatic encephalopathy, portal thrombus, sarcopenia, muscle cramp, thrombocytopenia, pruritus, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and vitamin D deficiency, including BQ, CQ and FRQ. Finally, this guideline covers prognosis prediction and liver transplantation, especially focusing on several new findings since the last version. Since this revision is a joint guideline by both societies, the same content is published simultaneously in the official English journal of JSGE and JSH.
Technology-enhanced and game based learning for children with special needs: a systematic mapping study
Authors: Gallud Jose A. , Carreño Monica , Tesoriero Ricardo , Sandoval Andrés , Lozano María D. , Durán Israel , Penichet Victor M. R. , Cosio Rafael
Published: July 2021

Technology-based education of children with special needs has become the focus of many research works in recent years. The wide range of different disabilities that are encompassed by the term “special needs”, together with the educational requirements of the children affected, represent an enormous multidisciplinary challenge for the research community. In this article, we present a systematic literature review of technology-enhanced and game-based learning systems and methods applied on children with special needs. The article analyzes the state-of-the-art of the research in this field by selecting a group of primary studies and answering a set of research questions. Although there are some previous systematic reviews, it is still not clear what the best tools, games or academic subjects (with technology-enhanced, game-based learning) are, out of those that have obtained good results with children with special needs. The 18 articles selected (carefully filtered out of 614 contributions) have been used to reveal the most frequent disabilities, the different technologies used in the prototypes, the number of learning subjects, and the kind of learning games used. The article also summarizes research opportunities identified in the primary studies.
The 100,000–77,000-Year Old Middle Stone Age Micromammal Sequence from Blombos Cave, South Africa: Local Climatic Stability or a Tale of Predator Bias?
Authors: Nel Turid Hillestad , Henshilwood Christopher Stuart
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we present a case study of the micromammal sequence from Marine Isotope Stage 5 (130,000–71,000 YBP) at Blombos Cave on the southern Cape coast of South Africa. Our analyses of the micromammal assemblage from 100,000 to 76,000 YBP shed light on micromammal taxonomic distributions, local palaeoenvironments, and site formation processes at this renowned Middle Stone Age site. Taphonomic analyses indicate that spotted eagle owls (Bubo africanus) were the main predator species responsible for accumulating the micromammals, but with contributions from barn owls (Tyto alba). In addition, the micromammal bones have been subjected to a range of post-depositional processes, some of which are associated with microbial actions likely resulting from human or animal activities in the cave. We have recorded three species in the archaeological assemblage that do not occur in the Blombos area today. These are the Hottentot golden mole (Amblysomus hottentotus), Duthie’s golden mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae), and Laminate vlei rat (Otomys laminatus). The biodiversity indices based on micromammal species suggest that local vegetation consisted of different habitats that could sustain a diverse small mammal population. During MIS 5c/5b, the diversity of species declined, but there was still a mosaic of vegetation habitats present in the local area. On a larger temporal scale, climate conditions were slightly more humid than at present, and winter rainfall was seemingly greater. The amount of winter rainfall would have been similar to locations currently c. 50–150 km further west of Blombos Cave. However, based on micromammal proxies, there were seemingly no major fluctuations visible in climate or vegetation composition during the entire 24,000-year period. We suggest that the explanation could be multifaceted, two potential factors being predator bias derived from the owls’ preference for generalist micromammal species or an actual reflection of local stable climatic and environmental conditions in the Blombos area.
Proactive and reactive approach to employee competence configuration problem in planning and scheduling processes
Authors: Wikarek Jarosław , Sitek Paweł
Published: July 2021

At the time of commonplace automation, robotization and the rapid development of IT, high qualifications of employees have become the critical element of every industry system. This follows from their limited availability, frequently high costs of procurement and possible employee absenteeism. Moreover, the concept of Industry 4.0 will transform current industry employees into knowledge employees. This is due to the fact that hard and routine tasks will be executed by robots and computers. This constitutes change in the required employee competences. Unfortunately, the aspect of management and configuration of employee competences is often overlooked in industrial practice. In response to the existing problem, the article puts forward the original model of employee competence configuration which is a basis for responses to numerous questions of managers of production processes, both general ones, e.g., Do we have a sufficient set of competences to execute a production schedule? as well as detailed ones, e.g., Which and how many competences are missing? etc. An important novelty of the presented model is the possibility of its application with both proactive and reactive questions. Due to the discrete and combinatorial nature of the problem under consideration, the use of mathematical programming methods was limited only to small data instances. Therefore, a proprietary dedicated genetic algorithm was proposed to solve this problem, which turned out to be extremely effective. The use of this genetic algorithm has enabled finding a solution depending on the instance data up to 70 times faster than by use of the mathematical programming.
Aortic root dimensions as a correlate for aortic regurgitation’s severity
Authors: Wenzel Jan-Per , Petersen Elina , Nikorowitsch Julius , Müller Jessica , Kölbel Tilo , Reichenspurner Hermann , Blankenberg Stefan , Girdauskas Evaldas
Published: July 2021

To evaluate the prevalence of aortic regurgitation (AR) and associations between the individual aortic root components and AR severity in the general population. The study included the first 10,000 participants of the population-based Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS) of whom 8259 subjects, aged 62.23 ± 8.46 years (51.3% females), enrolled 2016–2018, provided echocardiographic data. 69 subjects with bicuspid valves and 23 subjects with moderate/severe aortic stenosis were excluded. Aortic root dimensions were measured using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound, including the aortic annulus, sinus of Valsalva, sinotubular junction (STJ), and ascending aorta, in diastole and systole. The distribution of AR was: 932 (11.4%) mild, 208 (2.5%) moderate, and 20 (0.24%) severe. Patients with moderate or severe AR were predominantly male at advanced age who had hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and renal dysfunction. Increasing AR severity correlated with higher absolute and indexed aortic root diameters (e.g., end-diastolic sinus of Valsalva for no-mild-moderate-severe AR in mm ± standard deviation: 34.06 ± 3.81; 35.65 ± 4.13; 36.13 ± 4.74; 39.67 ± 4.61; p < 0.001). In binary logistic regression analysis, all aortic root components showed significant associations with moderate/severe AR. Mid-systolic STJ showed the strongest association with moderate/severe AR (OR 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.25–1.43, p < 0.001). AR was prevalent in 14.2%, of whom 2.8% showed moderate/severe AR. All assessed aortic root diameters correlated with the prevalence and severity of AR. STJ diameter had the strongest association with moderate/severe AR possibly reflecting the pathophysiological impact of an increasingly dilated STJ in the context of an ageing aorta.
COVID-19 and Psychosocial Support Services: Experiences of People Living with Enduring Mental Health Conditions
Authors: Honey Anne , Waks Shifra , Hines Monique , Glover Helen , Hancock Nicola , Hamilton Debra , Smith-Merry Jennifer
Published: July 2021

This paper uses secondary analysis to understand how COVID-19 shaped people’s experiences with psychosocial support services in Australia. Data are drawn from questionnaires (n = 66) and semi-structured interviews (n = 62), conducted for a national service evaluation, with 121 people living with enduring mental health conditions and using psychosocial support services. Data relating to COVID-19 were inductively coded and analysed using constant comparative analysis. Most people’s experiences included tele-support. While some people described minimal disruption to their support, many reported reduced engagement. People’s wellbeing and engagement were influenced by: their location, living situation and pre-COVID lifestyles; physical health conditions; access to, comfort with, and support worker facilitation of technology; pre-COVID relationships with support workers; and communication from the organisation. The findings can help services prepare for future pandemics, adjust their services for a ‘COVID-normal’ world, and consider how learnings from COVID-19 could be incorporated into a flexible suite of service delivery options.
A systematic evaluation of game elements effects on students’ motivation
Authors: Leitão Rui , Maguire Martin , Turner Sarah , Guimarães Laura
Published: July 2021

Motivation theory is indispensable when discussing processes of learning. Learners who are motivated can learn almost everything. Students’ motivation is probably one of the most important factors for teacher effectiveness both for engagement in the learning process and high academic performance. To have effective environmental education, it is not only necessary to inform the public about the ocean but also to involve and engage them is essential. Motivation and engagement are some of the most commonly mentioned concepts in gamification, thus, a gamified application seems to have the necessary features to improve the motivation of students in the learning context of Ocean Literacy topics. The main aims of this work were: i) to understand through a systematic evaluation, how game elements affect the different motivation layers; and ii) to compare them in terms of enhancing the motivation to recycle among secondary school students (11-14 years). To measure students’ motivation, a pre-test and a post-test using a recycling situational motivation survey were administered in a classroom environment in Portugal and the UK. Findings show a trend regarding the effect of game elements mainly on the most autonomous forms of motivation. The different game elements, each one with different degrees of effects, were shown to have potential to increase motivation.
Mergers and missions: investigating consequences for system diversity
Authors: Frølich Nicoline , Stensaker Bjørn
Published: July 2021

In recent decades, many higher education systems around the world have been exposed to institutional mergers. While the rationale for mergers has often been related to issues of improved quality, effectiveness and/or efficiency at the institutional level, fewer studies have analysed how mergers may affect institutional diversity within the higher education landscape. Focusing on institutional missions, the current study analyses the strategic plans of both merged and non-merged institutions in Norway. The key finding is that mergers may not necessarily reduce system level diversity, although mergers indeed may affect the organisational mission of individual institutions.
Measuring Gambling Outcome Expectancies in Adolescents: Testing the Psychometric Properties of a Modified Version of the Gambling Expectancy Questionnaire
Authors: Donati Maria Anna , Derevensky Jeffrey L. , Cipollini Beatrice , Leonardo Laura Di , Sareri Giuseppe Iraci , Primi Caterina
Published: July 2021

The Gambling Expectancy Questionnaire (GEQ; Gillespie et al. 2007a) is a 23-item scale assessing three positive outcome expectancies (Enjoyment/Arousal, Money, Self-Enhancement) and two negative outcome expectancies (Over-Involvement, Emotional Impact) related to gambling. It is the most used instrument to assess gambling outcome expectancies in adolescents and it has good psychometric properties. To allow a greater and more useful application of the scale, the present study aimed to modify the GEQ to make it usable with all adolescents, regardless of their gambling behaviour and to verify its psychometric properties. To that aim, the items were modified and the response scale was reduced from a seven-point to a five-point Likert scale. To verify the adequacy of the modified scale, two studies were conducted among Italian adolescents. In the first study (n = 501, 75% males, Mage = 16.74, SD = .88), after having removed four items and relocating another through explorative factor analysis, the original five-factor structure of the scale was confirmed by applying a confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability and validity evidence were also provided. The second study (n = 1894, 61% males, Mage = 15.68, SD = .71) attested its invariance across gambling behaviour status and gender. The modified version of the GEQ (GEQ – MOD) can be profitably used for research and preventive purposes with youth.
Bronze Age Globalisation and Eurasian Impacts on Later Jōmon Social Change
Authors: Hudson Mark J. , Bausch Ilona R. , Robbeets Martine , Li Tao , White J. Alyssa , Gilaizeau Linda
Published: July 2021

From northern China, millet agriculture spread to Korea and the Maritime Russian Far East by 3500–2700 BC. While the expansion of agricultural societies across the Sea of Japan did not occur until around 900 BC, the intervening period saw major transformations in the Japanese archipelago. The cultural florescence of Middle Jōmon central Honshu underwent a collapse and reorganisation into more decentralised settlements. Mobility increased as Late Jōmon influences spread from eastern into western Japan, and populations expanded to offshore islands such as Okinawa and the Kurils. In Kyushu and other parts of western Japan, the eastern Jōmon expansion was associated with the cultivation of adzuki and soybeans but, contrary to earlier assessments, there is no evidence for the introduction of cereal crops at this time. Here, we analyse archaeological and historical linguistic evidence of connections between the Eurasian mainland and the Japanese Islands c. 3500 to 900 BC. A re-evaluation of archaeological material discussed since the 1920s concludes that the transformations in Jōmon society during this period were at least in part a response to contacts with Eurasian Bronze Age cultures. Evidence for linguistic contact between Koreanic and the Ainuic languages which are presumed to have been spoken by Jōmon populations is also consistent with new Bronze Age mobilities. Although prehistoric Japan was one of the most isolated regions of Eurasia, we conclude that the historical evolution of societies in the Japanese archipelago after the third millennium BC was linked with processes of Bronze Age globalisation.
Agilität – ein Organisationsmodell für öffentliche Verwaltungen
Authors: Musati Martina
Published: July 2021

Dieser Artikel zeigt auf, weshalb das Organisationsmodell Agilität als Reformkonzept für öffentliche Verwaltungen geeignet ist und einen wesentlichen Beitrag zu den noch offenen Themen aus bisherigen Reformen leisten kann. Dies wird entlang den Dimensionen Legitimation (Strategie), Governance (Struktur und Prozesse), Digitalisierung (Technik) und Führung begründet. Führungskräften in öffentlichen Verwaltungen kommt eine zentrale Schlüsselrolle bei den anstehenden Reformen zu. Das Führungsset „Agile Five“, das eine Kombination von fünf zentralen Leadership-Konzepten umfasst, befähigt Führungskräfte, die nächsten Reformschritte anzugehen.
Diskursallianzen in der Migrationsdebatte?
Authors: Kösters Raphael , Jandura Olaf , Weiß Ralph , Schreiber Josef
Published: July 2021

Die Studie untersucht, inwieweit Medien bei der Debatte um die Flucht- und Asylmigration die zentralen Deutungsmuster der Parteien wiedergeben und ob dabei Diskursallianzen zwischen einzelnen Medienangeboten und Parteien zum Vorschein kommen. Unser Beitrag widmet sich damit der öffentlichkeitstheoretisch relevanten Frage, ob bzw. welche Medien als Organe partikularer Standpunkte fungieren und welche durch eine breite und ausgewogene Abbildung konkurrierender Problemdeutungen die Grundlagen für eine unabhängige Meinungsbildung schaffen. Darüber hinaus prüfen wir, inwiefern Medien den Parteien eine faire Chance geben, dass ihre Positionen für das Staatsbürgerpublikum wahrnehmbar werden. Wir ermitteln das Ausmaß des politischen Parallelismus anhand einer Inhaltsanalyse von 18 Medienangeboten und von Dokumenten der sieben Bundestagsparteien. Auf der Ebene problembezogener Aussagen erfassen wir wertebezogene Deutungsmuster. So können wir die inhaltliche Substanz der vermittelten Positionen präzise nachzeichnen und Ähnlichkeiten von Medien und Parteien hinsichtlich ihrer Deutung des Streitthemas identifizieren. Ferner erlaubt unser Verfahren eine Verortung von Medien und Parteien im Raum politischer Positionen, der von Grundkonflikten (Cleavages) aufgespannt wird. Über diesen Rückgriff auf ein Konzept der politischen Soziologie können wir Nähe und Distanz von Medien und Parteien verdichtend beschreiben.