bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Color‐blind or racially conscious? How college science faculty make sense of racial/ethnic underrepresentation in STEM
Authors: Russo‐Tait Tatiane
Published: April 2022

Scholars across disciplines and throughout PK‐20 education have argued that color‐blind ideology works to perpetuate racial inequities in education via policies, research, curriculum, instruction, and student‐teacher interactions. This study explores an underexamined issue in relation to color‐blind ideology in STEM education. Specifically, it examines how a sample of college science faculty members use color‐blind framings to make sense of the underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students in their fields. Interviews were conducted with 42 professors (majority tenured/tenure‐track, white, male, and continuing generation to college) in a College of Sciences at a research‐intensive, historically white institution in the United States. Thematic analysis showed that while many faculty members implicated systemic racism in their sense making about the underrepresentation of racially minoritized students in STEM, the majority used color‐blind frames (abstract liberalism, cultural racism, and minimization of racism) by focusing on individual behaviors and choices, cultural deficits, under‐preparation, and poverty. Consistent with the research on color‐blind ideology, professors were able to explain racial phenomena without implicating race/racism, which allowed them to absolve themselves from responsibility in addressing racial inequality issues in higher education. Faculty members who made sense of underrepresentation through systemic racism framings tended to recognize that they had a role to play in ameliorating these issues for students of color. These findings have implications for future research and professional development efforts.
Talent management in English universities during the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Martin Lynn , Dabic Marina , Lord Gemma
Published: April 2022

This article reports a longitudinal study exploring talent management, through narratives provided by a group of managers of doctoral programmes in eight UK universities during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak. These managers were also academics, researchers and doctoral supervisors and their perspectives were gathered before and during “lockdown,” and then into the subsequent confused period of semi‐lockdown / second lockdown, as cases of Coronavirus increased again in late 2020. Changing socio‐economic circumstances, together with the added pressures of family responsibilities, impacted on participants' perceptions of changing roles and relationships during the pandemic. Over 12 months, six semi‐structured online interviews (each lasting between 50 and 120 minutes) were conducted, using available platforms, with intervening emails. The narratives showed both formal and informal “talent management methods” and emphasized the need to use both to attract and retain international students.
A novel holographic quantum phase transition and butterfly velocity
Authors: Fu Guoyang , Wang Xi-Jing , Liu Peng , Zhang Dan , Kuang Xiao-Mei , Wu Jian-Pin
Published: April 2022

Abstract

In this paper, we make a systematical and in-depth exploration on the phase structure and the behaviors of butterfly velocity in an Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton-axions (EMDA) model. Depending on the model parameter, there are two kinds of mechanisms driving quantum phase transition (QPT) in this model. One is the infrared (IR) geometry to be renormalization group (RG) unstable, and the other is the strength of lattice deformation leading to some kind of bifurcating solution. We also find a novel QPT in the metal phases. The study on the behavior of the butterfly velocity crossing QPT indicates that the butterfly velocity or its first derivative exhibiting local extreme depends on the QPT mechanism. Further, the scaling behaviors of the butterfly velocity in the zero-temperature limit confirm that different phases are controlled by different IR geometries. Therefore, the butterfly velocity is a good probe to QPT and it also provides a possible way to study QPT beyond holography.
Dualities in quantum integrable many-body systems and integrable probabilities. Part I
Authors: Gorsky A. , Vasilyev M. , Zotov A.
Published: April 2022

Abstract

In this study we map the dualities observed in the framework of integrable probabilities into the dualities familiar in a realm of integrable many-body systems. The dualities between the pairs of stochastic processes involve one representative from Macdonald-Schur family, while the second representative is from stochastic higher spin six-vertex model of TASEP family. We argue that these dualities are counterparts and generalizations of the familiar quantum-quantum (QQ) dualities between pairs of integrable systems. One integrable system from QQ dual pair belongs to the family of inhomogeneous XXZ spin chains, while the second to the Calogero-Moser-Ruijsenaars-Schneider (CM-RS) family. The wave functions of the Hamiltonian system from CM-RS family are known to be related to solutions to (q)KZ equations at the inhomogeneous spin chain side. When the wave function gets substituted by the measure, bilinear in wave functions, a similar correspondence holds true. As an example, we have elaborated in some details a new duality between the discrete-time inhomogeneous multispecies TASEP model on the circle and the quantum Goldfish model from the RS family. We present the precise map of the inhomogeneous multispecies TASEP and 5-vertex model to the trigonometric and rational Goldfish models respectively, where the TASEP local jump rates get identified as the coordinates in the Goldfish model. Some comments concerning the relation of dualities in the stochastic processes with the dualities in SUSY gauge models with surface operators included are made.
Dynamics of the stream–lake transitional zone affect littoral lake metabolism
Authors: Ward Nicole K. , Brentrup Jennifer A. , Richardson David C. , Weathers Kathleen C. , Hanson Paul C. , Hewett Russell J. , Carey Cayelan C.
Published: April 2022

Lake ecosystems, as integrators of watershed and climate stressors, are sentinels of change. However, there is an inherent time-lag between stressors and whole-lake response. Aquatic metabolism, including gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R), of stream–lake transitional zones may bridge the time-lag of lake response to allochthonous inputs. In this study, we used high-frequency dissolved oxygen data and inverse modeling to estimate daily rates of summer epilimnetic GPP and R in a nutrient-limited oligotrophic lake at two littoral sites located near different major inflows and at a pelagic site. We examined the relative importance of stream variables in comparison to meteorological and in-lake predictors of GPP and R. One of the inflow streams was substantially warmer than the other and primarily entered the lake’s epilimnion, whereas the colder stream primarily mixed into the metalimnion or hypolimnion. Maximum GPP and R rates were 0.2–2.5 mg O2 L−1 day−1 (9–670%) higher at littoral sites than the pelagic site. Ensemble machine learning analyses revealed that > 30% of variability in daily littoral zone GPP and R was attributable to stream depth and stream–lake transitional zone mixing metrics. The warm-stream inflow likely stimulated littoral GPP and R, while the cold-stream inflow only stimulated littoral zone GPP and R when mixing with the epilimnion. The higher GPP and R observed near inflows in our study may provide a sentinel-of-the-sentinel signal, bridging the time-lag between stream inputs and in-lake processing, enabling an earlier indication of whole-lake response to upstream stressors.
Full ellipsoid embeddings and toric mutations
Authors: Casals Roger , Vianna Renato
Published: April 2022

This article introduces a new method to construct volume-filling symplectic embeddings of 4-dimensional ellipsoids by employing polytope mutations in toric and almost toric varieties. The construction uniformly recovers the full sequences for the Fibonacci Staircase of McDuff–Schlenk, the Pell Staircase of Frenkel–Müller and the Cristofaro-Gardiner–Kleinman Staircase, and adds new infinite sequences of ellipsoid embeddings. In addition, we initiate the study of symplectic-tropical curves for almost toric fibrations and emphasize the connection to quiver combinatorics.
Fast spatial behavior in higher order in time equations and systems
Authors: Fernández José R. , Quintanilla Ramón
Published: April 2022

In this work, we consider the spatial decay for high-order parabolic (and combined with a hyperbolic) equation in a semi-infinite cylinder. We prove a Phragmén-Lindelöf alternative function and, by means of some appropriate inequalities, we show that the decay is of the type of the square of the distance to the bounded end face of the cylinder. The thermoelastic case is also considered when the heat conduction is modeled using a high-order parabolic equation. Though the arguments are similar to others usually applied, we obtain new relevant results by selecting appropriate functions never considered before.
Innovationsfonds und Primärversorgung – Welche Erwartungen und Erfahrungen vertreten Hausärzt*innen in Bezug auf die Teilnahme an innovativen Versorgungsmodellen?
Authors: Wangler Julian , Jansky Michael
Published: April 2022

Hintergrund

Zur Verbesserung der medizinischen Versorgung wurde im Jahr 2015 der Innovationsfonds eingerichtet. Damit Interventionen bzw. neue Versorgungsformen erprobt und perspektivisch in die Regelversorgung übernommen werden können, bedarf es der Einbeziehung der allgemeinmedizinischen Versorgung.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Studie exploriert hausärztliche Einstellungen, teilnahmerelevante Erwartungen und Erfahrungen mit Blick auf Innovationsfondsprojekte.

Methoden

Zwischen Juli und Oktober 2021 wurden sämtliche 13.170 als Behandler*innen aktive Hausärzt*innen in Baden-Württemberg, Hessen und Rheinland-Pfalz zu einer Onlinebefragung eingeladen. 3556 vollständig ausgefüllte Fragebögen gingen in die Auswertung ein (Rücklauf: 27 %). Neben der deskriptiven Analyse kam zur Feststellung von signifikanten Unterschieden zwischen 2 Gruppen ein t-Test bei unabhängigen Stichproben zum Einsatz.

Ergebnisse

83 % der Befragten kennen den Innovationsfonds. Die Befragten verbinden ihn mehrheitlich mit Chancen und Potenzialen (u. a. Intensivierung anwendungsnaher Versorgungsforschung, unabhängige Finanzierung, Einbeziehung der Primärversorgung). Dennoch sind sich viele Hausärzt*innen unsicher, inwiefern speziell die Primärversorgung längerfristig vom Innovationsfonds wird profitieren können. Hinsichtlich der Bereitschaft zur Mitwirkung an Innovationsfondsstudien zeigen sich die Befragten gespalten. Befragte, die bereits an Innovationsfondsprojekten teilgenommen haben (24 %), ziehen eine überwiegend positive Bilanz (Nutzen der Intervention, Aufwand-Nutzen-Verhältnis). Dennoch werden auch Hürden und Belastungsfaktoren berichtet, etwa Dokumentationspflichten und Eingriffe in Praxisabläufe.

Diskussion

Um die Attraktivität des Innovationsfonds für die hausärztliche Versorgung zu erhöhen, gilt es, die Hausarztkonformität von Projekten umfassend sicherzustellen, v. a. mit Blick auf ärztliche Entscheidungsspielräume, die Limitierung von Dokumentationspflichten, die Gewährleistung von Praxisroutinen, eine stärkere Involvierung in die Forschungsplanung sowie eine Aufwertung des hausärztlichen Settings.
„Schenkelhalsklingen-Cut-in“ nach Osteosynthese einer pertrochantären Femurfraktur mittels TFNA©
Authors: Reimond Mathias , Gross Thomas
Published: April 2022

Ein 96-jähriger Patient erlitt nach der TFNA©-Osteosynthese einer pertrochantären Femurfraktur trotz korrekter Reposition und Fixation einen vollständigen „cut-in“, d. h. eine Medialisierung der gesamten Schenkelhalsklinge im Nagel ins Hüftgelenk. Vor dem Hintergrund der Implantatentwicklung und anhand der aktuellen Literatur wird diese häufiger werdende Komplikationsart beschrieben bzw. vom Fixationsversagen des „cut-out“ unterschieden. Bisherige Erklärungsversuche und notwendige Forschungsansätze werden aufgezeigt und abschließend ein pragmatisches Vorgehen im Alltag dargelegt.
The dark side of social capital: a contextual perspective
Authors: Baycan Tüzin , Öner Özge
Published: April 2022

This paper aims to provide a brief review of the much neglected ‘dark side’ of social capital. To highlight the contextual nature of social capital by way of examples from different geographies, we draw attention to the potentially detrimental effects associated with the concept. A significant body of literature addresses the advantages of being connected to various types of social bridges and bonds. While emphasising the ‘bright side’ of social capital, that literature pays limited attention to the negative attributes of social ties and their potentially detrimental effects on a number of social and economic outcomes. Although it is not reasonable to establish a dichotomy between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ social capital, it is possible to conceptualise such negative attributes in the light of the existing literature, in which the context-dependent nature of social capital is accentuated. We focus on two critical questions: (i) Why is it essential to address the contextual nature of social capital? (ii) How could geography come into play?
The use of non-financial performance measures for managerial compensation: evidence from SMEs
Authors: Alves Iryna , Lourenço Sofia M.
Published: April 2022

This study explores the relationship between contextual variables—strategy, perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU), and decentralization—and the use of non-financial performance measures (NFPM) for managerial compensation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Using questionnaire data from SMEs’ managers, we find that the use of NFPM is positively associated with PEU hostility and decentralization. Furthermore, our study shows that these results are mostly driven by CEO’s compensation (in comparison to non-CEOs compensation) and family firms (in comparison to non-family firms). Finally, our analyses reveal that the use of different types of NFPM (customer-oriented, employee-oriented and operations-oriented) is associated with distinct contextual variables. Particularly, customer-oriented NFPM are negatively related to PEU dynamism and positively related to decentralization, while operations-oriented NFPM are positively related to PEU hostility.
Adhesion and aggregation properties of Lactobacillaceae strains as protection ways against enteropathogenic bacteria
Authors: Zawistowska-Rojek Anna , Kośmider Anita , Stępień Karolina , Tyski Stefan
Published: April 2022

The adhesion and aggregation are characteristic attributes of probiotic strains belonging to Lactobacillaceae genus. Due to these properties the host organisms can avoid colonisation of the intestinal tract by enteropathogenic bacteria. The presented research includes a comparison of the properties of various strains belonging to different Lactobacillaceae species and isolated from different sources The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Lactocaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus, L. gasseri, L. ultunensis) from probiotic products and clinical specimens to direct and competitive adherence to Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines. Furthermore, the ability of lactobacilli and enteropathogenic bacteria, E. coli, E. faecalis, and S. Typhimurium, to auto- and co-aggregation was also investigated.

The results showed that all tested strains adhered to Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines. Though, the factor of adhesion depended on the species and origin of the strain. L. rhamnosus strains showed a lowest degree of adherence as compared to L. plantarum and Lactobacillus sp. strains. On the other side both, L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus strains reduced the pathogenic bacteria in competition adherence test most effectively. All tested lactobacilli strains were characterised by auto- and co-aggregation abilities, to various degrees. The properties of Lactobacillaceae strains analysed in this study, like adhesion abilities, competitive adherence, auto- and co-aggregation, may affect the prevention of colonisation and elimination of pathogenic bacteria in gastrointestinal tract.
On Globalized Traces for the Poisson Sigma Model
Authors: Moshayedi Nima
Published: April 2022

A globalized version of a trace formula for the Poisson Sigma Model on the disk is presented by using its formal global picture in the setting of the Batalin–Vilkovisky formalism. This global construction includes the concept of zero modes. Moreover, for the symplectic case of the Poisson Sigma Model with cotangent target, the globalized trace reduces to a symplectic construction which was presented by Grady, Li and Li for 1-dimensional Chern–Simons theory (topological quantum mechanics). In addition, the connection between this formula and the Nest–Tsygan theorem and the Tamarkin–Tsygan theorem is explained.
Prevalence and patient-rated relevance of complexity factors in medication regimens of community-dwelling patients with polypharmacy
Authors: Wurmbach Viktoria S. , Schmidt Steffen J. , Lampert Anette , Bernard Simone , Meid Andreas D. , Frick Eduard , Metzner Michael , Wilm Stefan , Mortsiefer Achim , Bücker Bettina , Altiner Attila , Sparenberg Lisa , Szecsenyi Joachim , Peters-Klimm Frank , Kaufmann-Kolle Petra , Thürmann Petra A. , Haefeli Walter E. , Seidling Hanna M.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To describe the prevalence of complexity factors in the medication regimens of community-dwelling patients with more than five drugs and to evaluate the relevance of these factors for individual patients.

Methods

Data were derived from the HIOPP-6 trial, a controlled study conducted in 9 general practices which evaluated an electronic tool to detect and reduce complexity of drug treatment. The prevalence of complexity factors was based on the results of the automated analysis of 139 patients’ medication data. The relevance assessment was based on the patients’ rating of each factor in an interview (48 patients included for analysis).

Results

A median of 5 (range 0–21) complexity factors per medication regimen were detected and at least one factor was observed in 131 of 139 patients. Almost half of these patients found no complexity factor in their medication regimen relevant.

Conclusion

In most medication regimens, complexity factors could be identified automatically, yet less than 15% of factors were indeed relevant for patients as judged by themselves. When assessing complexity of medication regimens, one should especially consider factors that are both particularly frequent and often challenging for patients, such as use of inhalers or tablet splitting.

Trial registration

The HIOPP-6 trial was registered retrospectively on May 17, 2021, in the German Clinical Trials register under DRKS-ID DRKS00025257.
The Use of a Commercially Available Endovascular Filter Catheter (Capturex®) for Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) in a Patient with a Coral Reef Aorta
Authors: Portugaller Rupert Horst , Steiner Jakob , Schmid Florian , Knez Igor , Asslaber Martin , Deutschmann Hannes A.
Published: April 2022

Due to the risk of mobilizing plaque fragments, transfemoral TEVAR is a potentially dangerous procedure in patients with a coral reef aorta. We describe a practical method for transfemoral TEVAR in a patient with a degenerative thoracic aneurysm and a coral reef aorta. After placing a filter catheter in the abdominal aorta via a contralateral percutaneous femoral access, a working channel through the distal thoracic aorta was created with a balloon-expandable stent graft in the coral reef segment. Thereafter, transfemoral TEVAR could be performed successfully, without any complications. The additional use of a percutaneously placed filter catheter potentially allows reduction of peripheral embolism and hence may prevent patients from more invasive treatment.
The structure of near-wall re-entrant flow and its influence on cloud cavitation instability
Authors: Gawandalkar Udhav , Poelma Christian
Published: April 2022

The so-called ‘re-entrant jet’ is fundamental to periodic cloud shedding in partial cavitation. However, the exact physical mechanism governing this phenomenon remains ambiguous. The complicated topology of the re-entrant flow renders whole-field, detailed measurement of the re-entrant flow cumbersome. Hence, most studies in the past have derived a physical understanding of this phenomenon from qualitative analyses of the re-entrant jet. Thus, quantitative studies are scarce in the literature. In this work, we present a methodology to experimentally measure the re-entrant flow below the vapour cavity in an axisymmetric venturi. The axisymmetry of the flow geometry is exploited to image tracer particles in the near-wall re-entrant flow. The main objective of employing tomographic imaging and subsequent velocimetry is to resolve the thickness and the velocity of the re-entrant flow. Additionally, phase-averaging conditioned on cavity length sheds light on the temporal evolution of re-entrant flow in a shedding cycle. The measured re-entrant film is as thick as$$\sim 1.2$$∼1.2mm for a maximum cavity length of$$\sim 0.9 D_{t}$$∼0.9Dt, where$$D_{t}$$Dtis the venturi throat diameter. However, the re-entrant film thickness at higher cavitation number is measured to be about 0.5 mm. Further, the re-entrant flow is seen to attain a maximum velocity up to half the throat velocity as the vapour cavity grows in time and the re-entrant flow thickens. We observe that a complex spatio-temporal evolution of re-entrant flow is involved in the cavity detachment and periodic cloud shedding. Finally, we apply the demonstrated methodology to study the evolution of the near-wall liquid flow, below the vapour cavity in different cavity shedding flow regimes. The role of two main mechanisms responsible for cloud shedding, i.e. (i) the adverse-pressure gradient driven re-entrant jet, and (ii) the bubbly shock wave emanating from the cloud collapse are quantitatively assessed. We observe that the thickness of the re-entrant liquid film with respect to the cavity thickness can influence the cavity shedding behaviour. Further, we show that both the mechanisms could be operating at a given flow condition, with one of them dominating to dictate the cloud shedding behaviour.

Graphical abstract
Atmospheric trends over the Arctic Ocean in simulations from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) and their driving GCMs
Authors: Reader Mary Catherine , Steiner Nadja
Published: April 2022

The Arctic Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (Arctic-CORDEX) uses regional climate models (RCMs) to downscale selected Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project simulations, allowing trend validation and projection on subregional scales. For 1986–2015, the CORDEX seasonal-average near-surface temperature (tas), wind speed (sfcWind), precipitation (pr) and snowfall (prsn) trends are generally consistent with analyses/observations for the Arctic Ocean regions considered. The projected Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) 2016–2100 subregional annual tas trends range from 0.03 to 0.18 K/year. Projected annual pr and prsn trends have a large inter-model spread centered around approximately 5.0 × 10–8 mm/s/year and −5.0 × 10–8 mm/s/year, respectively, while projected sfcWind summer and winter trends range between 0.0 and 0.4 m/s/year. For all variables except prsn, and sometimes total precipitation, the driving general circulation model (GCM) dominates the trends, however there is a tendency for the GCMs to underestimate the sfcWind trends compared to the RCMs. Subtracting the Arctic-Ocean mean from subregional trends reveals a consistent, qualitative anomaly pattern in several variables and seasons characterized by greater-than or average trends in the central and Siberian Arctic Ocean and lesser or average trends in the Atlantic Sector and the Bering Sea, related to summer sea-ice trends. In particular, a strong proportional relationship exists between the summer sea-ice concentration and fall tas and sfcWind trend anomalies. The RCP4.5 annual, multi-model mean trends are 35–55% of the corresponding RCP8.5 trends for most variables and subregions.
Periprocedural myocardial injury according to optical characteristics of neointima and treatment modality of in-stent restenosis
Authors: Nano Nejva , Aytekin Alp , Ndrepepa Gjin , Seguchi Masaru , Bresha Jola , Alvarez Covarrubias Hector Alfonso , Nicol Philipp , Lenz Tobias , Lahu Shqipdona , Gewalt Senta , Voll Felix , Rheude Tobias , Wiebe Jens , Schunkert Heribert , Kufner Sebastian , Cassese Salvatore , Joner Michael , Kastrati Adnan , Xhepa Erion
Published: April 2022

Aims

Aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of increasing neointimal inhomogeneity and neoatherosclerosis as well as of treatment modality of in-stent restenosis (ISR) on the occurrence of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI).

Methods and results

Patients with normal or stable/falling increased baseline high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) undergoing intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of ISR by means of drug-coated balloon (DCB) or drug-eluting stent (DES) were included. Overall, 128 patients were subdivided into low (n = 64) and high (n = 64) inhomogeneity groups, based on the median of distribution of non-homogeneous quadrants. No significant between-group differences were detected in terms of hs-cTnT changes (28.0 [12.0–65.8] vs. 25.5 [9.8–65.0] ng/L; p = 0.355), or the incidence of major PMI (31.2 vs. 31.2%; p = 1.000). Similarly, no differences were observed between DCB- and DES-treated groups in terms of hs-cTn changes (27.0 [10.0–64.0] vs. 28.0 [11.0–73.0] ng/L; p = 0.795), or the incidence of major PMI (28.9 vs. 35.6%; p = 0.566). Additionally, no significant interaction was present between optical neointimal characteristics and treatment modality in terms of changes in hs-cTnT (Pint = 0.432). No significant differences in PMI occurrence were observed between low and high neoatherosclerosis subgroups.

Conclusions

In patients undergoing PCI for ISR, there was no association between increasing neointimal inhomogeneity, or increasing expression of neoatherosclerotic changes and occurrence of PMI. PMI occurrence was not influenced by the treatment modality (DCB vs. DES) of ISR lesions, a finding that supports the safety of DCB treatment for ISR.

Graphical abstract
Recognized and unrecognized dural punctures in 12,981 labor epidurals: an audit of management
Authors: Eley Victoria A. , Abeypala Wally , Kelley Andrea , Kumta Nihal , Chin Adrian
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Unintentional dural puncture (DP) and post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) continue to cause discomfort and disability in a small proportion of post-partum women. We report an audit of the management of recognized and unrecognized DP over 10 years.

Methods

Clinical data were prospectively collected for women who experienced a recognized DP or developed symptoms following a neuraxial procedure. Details were documented regarding patient characteristics, the neuraxial procedure, symptoms reported, and epidural blood patches. We reported rates of recognized DP, unrecognized DP, PDPH, and blood patches performed. Data were presented as number (percent) and proportions of interest compared using Chi square analysis.

Results

Between January 2009 and December 2018, 12,981 women utilized labor epidural analgesia. A recognized DP occurred in 131 (1.0%) and an unrecognized DP in 60 (0.5%), with unrecognized DPs comprising 31% of the total. Of 131 recognized punctures, 86 (66%) developed a PDPH. A total of 146 (1.1%) women experienced a PDPH. Of those, a blood patch was performed in 93 (64%). Intrathecal catheters were inserted for > 24 h in 43 (33%) women with a recognized DP. Of those, 33 (77%) developed a PDPH, compared to 53 (60%) of those without an intrathecal catheter in situ for > 24 h (P = 0.06).

Conclusions

Rates of DP were consistent with those reported by others. Unrecognized DP comprised a third of all DP, and systematic post-neuraxial follow-up is essential to identify these women. Epidural blood patch was performed in most women experiencing symptoms of PDPH.
Open-aqueduct LOVA, LIAS, iNPH: a comparative clinical-radiological study exploring the “grey zone” between different forms of chronic adulthood hydrocephalus
Authors: Palandri Giorgio , Carretta Alessandro , La Corte Emanuele , Giannini Giulia , Martinoni Matteo , Mantovani Paolo , Albini-Riccioli Luca , Tonon Caterina , Mazzatenta Diego , Elder Benjamin D. , Conti Alfredo
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The definition of chronic adult hydrocephalus encompasses different pathological entities with overlapping characteristics, including long-standing overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA), late-onset idiopathic aqueductal stenosis (LIAS) and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). The aim of our study was to identify preoperative clinical and radiological features peculiar of these diseases providing some pathophysiology inferences on these forms of hydrocephalus.

Methods

Clinical and radiological preoperative records, type of surgical treatment and clinical outcome of patients with chronic adult hydrocephalus who were surgically treated between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the contribution of each variable to the differential diagnosis.

Results

In total, 105 patients were included: 18 with LOVA, 23 with LIAS and 64 with iNPH. On multivariate analysis, an enlarged cisterna magna and a more severe ventriculomegaly were associated with the diagnosis of LOVA, while an older age and DESH with iNPH. LIAS patients tend to have an higher prevalence of raised ICP symptoms. Based on that, a clinical and radiological scoring system was developed to distinguish between iNPH and no iNPH cases. A precise cut-off value with a sensitivity of 95.1% and a specificity of 90.6% was identified.

Conclusions

LOVA, LIAS and iNPH are different forms of chronic adulthood hydrocephalus and present different and peculiar clinical and radiological features, with an impact on the treatment and outcome prediction. The implementation of a clinical-radiological score for differential diagnosis may help the differentiation. Further studies are warranted.
The clinical impact of direct-acting antiviral treatment on patients affected by hepatitis C virus-related oral lichen planus: a cohort study
Authors: Di Stasio Dario , Lucchese Alberta , Romano Antonio , Adinolfi Luigi Elio , Serpico Rosario , Marrone Aldo
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. Literature supports an association between OLP and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The current treatment for HCV infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is highly effective and safe. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical impact of viral eradication with DAAs in patients with HCV and OLP.

Materials and methods

For this cohort observational study, 18 patients with HCV and OLP were recruited; all patients received DAAs. Nineteen patients with OLP without HCV were recruited as controls. Both groups received an oral clinical examination, taking photographs of the oral mucosa, at three time points. Size and type of lesions, clinical and efficacy scores, were evaluated at each time point with ImageJ software. Changes were assessed by a general linear model repeated measures analysis. Kruskal–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to evaluate the differences between subgroups.

Results

All patients of the study group reached a sustained virological response. The study group showed a correlation between viral load and clinical status (p < 0.05), higher clinical scores at baseline (p = 0.001) and higher efficacy index than controls (p < 0.001), improving over time (p < 0.001); controls did not show significant changes (p = 0.196). One patient of the experimental group developed oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the tongue during the DAAs treatment.

Conclusions

In this study, patients with HCV and OLP showed a worst clinical oral status than controls at baseline. However, treatment for virus eradication can improve the oral lichen planus clinical course.

Clinical relevance

HCV eradication can improve the clinical course of patients with HCV-related OLP.
Effect of different binders and secondary carbides on NbC cermets
Authors: Hübler Daniela , Gradt Thomas
Published: April 2022

Due to the rapidly increasing price of tungsten carbide and the significant health risks associated with the wear products of WC-Co (Co3O4 and Wo3), an alternative is required. Niobium carbide (NbC) is well suited as a cutting tool due to its high melting point and low solubility in iron. Compared to pure NbC, a complete substitution of WC to NbC-Co resulted in an increased toughness and strength. As alternative binders, nickel and iron-based binders were subsequently investigated. Although iron-based cermets would be an economical, low-cost alternative to NbC-Ni cermets, they showed a higher coefficient of friction and wear rate. So far, NbC-Ni cermets best met the requirements of high hardness and toughness. Various secondary carbides such as VC, Mo2C, TiC, but also WC were added to further improve the hardness. Elemental analyses of NbC-Ni-MeC cermets (Me = metal) showed that the binder is a face-centered cubic solid solution, while the NbC phase is a solid solution of the type (Nb, Me)C.
Leaf morpho-physiological comparison between native and non-native plant species in a Mediterranean island
Authors: Abdallah Mohamad , Douthe Cyril , Flexas Jaume
Published: April 2022

Islands tend to be more prone to plant invasions than mainland regions, with the Mediterranean ones not being an exception. So far, a large number of studies on comparing leaf morphological and physiological traits between native and non-native plants in Mediterranean environments have been performed, although none of them on Mediterranean islands. To fill this gap, this study focuses on 14 plant species grown in a controlled growth chamber in the absence of stress. The goal was (1) to differentiate leaf morpho-physiological traits between native and non-native plants on a Mediterranean island and (2) to deepen in the underlying causes of the differential photosynthetic traits displayed by non-native species. Results showed that in Mediterranean islands, non-native plant species show on average larger values of net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance (gm), photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency, among others, and lower leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf thickness, compared to the native species. Among the assessed traits, this study reports for the first time larger gm, and lower mesophyll conductance limitation in non-native species, which seems to be linked to their lower LMA. These novel traits need to be added to the ‘leaf physiological trait invasive syndrome’. It was also found that on a Mediterranean island, native and non-native species are placed on opposite sides of the leaf economics spectrum, with non-native species being placed on the ‘‘fast-return’’ end. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that non-native species inhabiting a Mediterranean island possess distinct leaf morphological and physiological traits compared to co-occurring native species, at least during the favorable growth season, which increases the chances of a successful invasion.
On $$\alpha $$-points of q-analogs of the Fano plane
Authors: Kiermaier Michael
Published: April 2022

Arguably, the most important open problem in the theory of q-analogs of designs is the question regarding the existence of a q-analog D of the Fano plane. As of today, it remains undecided for every single prime power order q of the base field. A point P is called an $$\alpha $$
α
-point of D if the derived design of D in P is a geometric spread. In 1996, Simon Thomas has shown that there always exists a non-$$\alpha $$
α
-point. For the binary case $$q = 2$$

q
=
2

, Olof Heden and Papa Sissokho have improved this result in 2016 by showing that the non-$$\alpha $$
α
-points must form a blocking set with respect to the hyperplanes. In this article, we show that a hyperplane consisting only of $$\alpha $$
α
-points implies the existence of a partition of the symplectic generalized quadrangle W(q) into spreads. As a consequence, the statement of Heden and Sissokho is generalized to all primes q and all even values of q.
The Latent Structure of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology and its Association with Different Forms of Trauma and Suicidality and Self-Harm
Authors: Hyland Philip , Karatzias Thanos , Ford Julian D. , Fox Robert , Spinazzola Joseph
Published: April 2022

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a multidimensional and hierarchical model of the latent structure of psychopathology. While HiTOP has received much support in child/adolescent community samples, fewer studies have assessed this model in clinical samples of children/adolescents. Here, we modelled the latent structure of 45 symptoms of psychopathology from a clinical sample of children/adolescents and assessed how dimensions of psychopathology were related to specific forms of trauma and suicidality/self-harm. Clinician-derived assessments were obtained from 507 people aged 7–18 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the optimal fitting model, and structural equation modelling was used to estimate associations with trauma exposure and suicidality/self-harm. The best fitting model(s) included five first-order factors reflecting Fear, Distress, Externalizing, Thought Disorder, and Traumatic Stress, with a higher-order general factor (p) accounting for the covariation between these factors. Unique associations were identified between specific forms of trauma and each dimension of psychopathology. p was strongly associated with suicidality/self-harm, and of the first-order factors, Distress was most strongly associated with suicidality/self-harm. Findings support the predictions of HiTOP that the latent structure of child/adolescent psychopathology can be effectively described by a multidimensional and hierarchal model. Moreover, we found tentative evidence for a unique dimension of Traumatic Stress psychopathology. Our findings also highlight the unique associations between specific forms of early life trauma and specific dimensions of psychopathology, and the importance of Distress related psychopathology for suicidality/self-harm in children and adolescents.
A boosting first-hitting-time model for survival analysis in high-dimensional settings
Authors: De Bin Riccardo , Stikbakke Vegard Grødem
Published: April 2022

In this paper we propose a boosting algorithm to extend the applicability of a first hitting time model to high-dimensional frameworks. Based on an underlying stochastic process, first hitting time models do not require the proportional hazards assumption, hardly verifiable in the high-dimensional context, and represent a valid parametric alternative to the Cox model for modelling time-to-event responses. First hitting time models also offer a natural way to integrate low-dimensional clinical and high-dimensional molecular information in a prediction model, that avoids complicated weighting schemes typical of current methods. The performance of our novel boosting algorithm is illustrated in three real data examples.
Insights from the national maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center on Title V Teams’ collaborative readiness and goal accomplishment
Authors: Wells Rebecca , Coffey Alexandria M. , Mullenix Amy , Simon Jessica , Lich Kristen Hassmiller
Published: April 2022

Purpose

State Title V programs collaborate with diverse partners to improve maternal and child health. Since 2014, the National Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center has trained Title V leaders in facilitating system change. This article describes aspects of initial collaborative readiness differentiating state and jurisdiction teams that later reported meeting their goals to greater or lesser degrees.

Description

We used quantitative data from initial team leader reports to characterize readiness to collaborate with external partners, and their responses twelve months later to a prompt about how fully they had accomplished their goals. In addition, we coded excerpts from team leader accounts six and twelve months into their work with the Center, and retrospective coach perspectives, to identify collaborative readiness patterns.

Assessment

Teams whose leaders reported higher goal accomplishment twelve months after beginning work with the Center had initially reported higher levels of collaboration with key partners. Our analyses suggest that such teams were also better able to use their cohort experience with the Center to improve collaboration, including information sharing with external stakeholders. Challenges working with Medicaid were reported both by teams with more and less goal accomplishment.

Conclusions

Title V teams with lower levels of initial collaborative readiness may benefit from additional support in skill development, connections to key partners, and convening power. Given the crucial and increasing role of Medicaid in maternal and child health systems, more attention may be warranted to supporting all Title V programs in partnering with this funder.
Identifying health-related quality of life cut-off scores that indicate the need for supportive care in young adults with cancer
Authors: Lidington Emma , Giesinger Johannes M. , Janssen Silvie H. M. , Tang Suzanne , Beardsworth Sam , Darlington Anne-Sophie , Starling Naureen , Szucs Zoltan , Gonzalez Michael , Sharma Anand , Sirohi Bhawna , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Husson Olga
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Using patient-reported outcomes in routine cancer care may improve health outcomes. However, a lack of information about which scores are problematic in specific populations can impede use. To facilitate interpretation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), we identified cut-off scores that indicate need for support by comparing each scale to relevant items from the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-LF59) in a young adult (YA) population.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey amongst YAs with cancer ages 25–39 at diagnosis. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and SCNS-LF59. Patient, clinician and research experts matched supportive care needs from the SCNS-LF59 to quality of life domains of the EORTC QLQ-C30. We evaluated the EORTC QLQ-C30 domain score’s ability to detect patients with need using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, calculating the area under the ROC curve and sensitivity and specificity for selected cut-offs. Cut-offs were chosen by maximising Youden’s J statistic and ensuring sensitivity passed 0.70. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the variability of the cut-off scores by treatment status.

Results

Three hundred and forty-seven YAs took part in the survey. Six experts matched SCNS-LF59 items to ten EORTC QLQ-C30 domains. The AUC ranged from 0.78 to 0.87. Cut-offs selected ranged from 8 (Nausea and Vomiting and Pain) to 97 (Physical Functioning). All had adequate sensitivity (above 0.70) except the Financial Difficulties scale (0.64). Specificity ranged from 0.61 to 0.88. Four of the cut-off scores differed by treatment status.

Conclusion

Cut-offs with adequate sensitivity were calculated for nine EORTC QLQ-C30 scales for use with YAs with cancer. Cut-offs are key to interpretability and use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in routine care to identify patients with supportive care need.
Xamã : Optical character recognition for multi-domain model management
Authors: Torres Weslley , van den Brand Mark G. J. , Serebrenik Alexander
Published: April 2022

The development of systems following model-driven engineering can include models from different domains. For example, to develop a mechatronic component one might need to combine expertise about mechanics, electronics, and software. Although these models belong to different domains, the changes in one model can affect other models causing inconsistencies in the entire system. Only few tools, however, support management of models from different domains. Indeed, these models are created using different modeling notations and it is not plausible to use a multitude of parsers geared toward each and every modeling notation. Therefore, to ensure maintenance of multi-domain systems, we need a uniform approach that would be independent from the peculiarities of the notation. Notation independence implies that such a uniform approach can only be based on elements commonly present in models of different domains, i.e., text, boxes, and lines. In this study, we investigate the suitability of optical character recognition (OCR) as a basis for such a uniformed approach. We select graphical models from various domains that typically combine textual and graphical elements. We start by analyzing the performance of Google Cloud Vision and Microsoft Cognitive Services, two off-the-shelf OCR services. Google Cloud Vision performed better than Microsoft Cognitive Services being able to detect text of 70% of model elements. Errors made by Google Cloud Vision are due to absence of support for text common in engineering formulas, e.g., Greek letters, equations, and subscripts. We identified the multi-line text error as one of the main issues of using OCR to recognize textual elements in models from different domains. This error happens when OCR misinterprets one textual element as two separate elements. To address the multi-line text error, we build Xamã on top of Google Cloud Vision. Xamã includes two approaches to identify whether the elements are positioned on a single line or multiple lines, and merge those identified as positioned on multiples lines. With and without shape detection, Xamã correctly identified 956 and 905 elements, respectively, out of 1171. Additionally, we compared the accuracy of Xamã and state-of-the-art tool img2UML, and we observe that Xamã outperformed img2UML in both precision and recall, being able to recognize 433 out of 614 textual elements as opposed to 171 by img2UML.
Facile synthesis of mesoporous nano Ni/NiO and its synergistic role as super adsorbent and photocatalyst under sunlight irradiation
Authors: Mohamed Sahar K. , Elhgrasi Amira M. , Ali Omnia I.
Published: April 2022

Tailoring a material that has a synergistic role as an adsorbent and a photocatalyst for environmental application is an attractive field for research. This article presents a study of facile synthesis of NiO and Ni/NiO with a synergistic role as super adsorbents in the lake of light and photocatalysts under light irradiation. Nano flower-like mesoporous NiO and Ni/NiO were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. XRD, SEM, EDAX, XPS, BET, and DR/UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques were employed for samples’ analysis. The point of zero surface charge of prepared samples was detected by the batch equilibrium method. The adsorption efficiency was investigated in the absence of light using aniline blue as a pollutant model dye. The synergistic effect as an adsorbent and a photocatalyst was investigated under UV and sunlight irradiation. Different parameters affecting the adsorption in the dark have been optimized. The results showed that in the absence of light, the prepared samples are super adsorbents with a maximum adsorption capacity ranging from 210 to 230 mg g−1 and a removal % ranging from 95 to 100% within 2 h. Under UV or sunlight irradiation, the adsorbent/photocatalyst attained a dye removal % of 99.8% within 30 min. The adsorption data matched the pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium adsorption data showed compatibility with Langmuir model. The findings of experiments revealed that the adsorption is spontaneous, exothermic, and results in less entropy. Under sunlight irradiation, the dye removal efficiency increased by 19% in the case of Ni/NiO hybrid; it showed a removal efficiency of 99.5% within 30 min under sunlight irradiation versus 80% after 120 min in the dark.