bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resistance exercise training increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Oberholzer Laura , Mølmen Knut Sindre , Hammarström Daniel , Falch Gunnar Slettaløkken , Meinild Lundby Anne‐Kristine , Rønnestad Bent R. , Ellefsen Stian , Lundby Carsten
Published: March 2022

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction. Resistance exercise training (RT) is a training modality with a relatively small pulmonary demand that has been suggested to increase skeletal muscle oxidative enzyme activity in COPD. Whether a shift into a more oxidative profile following RT also translates into increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity in COPD is yet to be established.

Methods

This study investigated the effects of 13 weeks of RT on m. vastus lateralis mitochondrial capacity in 11 persons with moderate COPD [45% females, age: 69 ± 4 years (mean ± SD), predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1): 56 ± 7%] and 12 healthy controls (75% females, age: 66 ± 5 years, predicted FEV1: 110 ± 16%). RT was supervised and carried out two times per week. Leg exercises included leg press, knee extension, and knee flexion and were performed unilaterally with one leg conducting high‐load training (10 repetitions maximum, 10RM) and the other leg conducting low‐load training (30 repetitions maximum, 30RM). One‐legged muscle mass, maximal muscle strength, and endurance performance were determined prior to and after the RT period, together with mitochondrial respiratory capacity using high‐resolution respirometry and citrate synthase (CS) activity (a marker for mitochondrial volume density). Transcriptome analysis of genes associated with mitochondrial function was performed.

Results

Resistance exercise training led to similar improvements in one‐legged muscle mass, muscle strength, and endurance performance in COPD and healthy individuals. In COPD, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation capacity and oxidative phosphorylation increased following RT (+13 ± 22%, P = 0.033 and +9 ± 23%, P = 0.035, respectively). Marked increases were also seen in COPD for mitochondrial volume density (CS activity, +39 ± 35%, P = 0.001), which increased more than mitochondrial respiration, leading to lowered intrinsic mitochondrial function (respiration/CS activity) for complex‐1‐supported respiration (−12 ± 43%, P = 0.033), oxidative phosphorylation (−10 ± 42%, P = 0.037), and electron transfer system capacity (−6 ± 52%, P = 0.027). No differences were observed between 10RM and 30RM RT, nor were there any adaptations in mitochondrial function following RT in healthy controls. RT led to differential expression of numerous genes related to mitochondrial function in both COPD and healthy controls, with no difference being observed between groups.

Conclusions

Thirteen weeks of RT resulted in augmented skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity in COPD, accompanied by alterations in the transcriptome and driven by an increase in mitochondrial quantity rather than improved mitochondrial quality.
Autonomous Bayesian escorting of a human integrating intention and obstacle avoidance
Authors: Conte Dean , Furukawa Tomonari
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a Bayesian technique for navigating a mobile robot to safely escort a human to their destination. A mathematical analysis of escorting identifies the significance of human intention inference for escorting success. The proposed Bayesian technique observes the head pose of the human walking behind the robot to infer their intention. The future human pose is then predicted by fusing two independent predictions using Gaussian fusion. One prediction method uses the observed intention, and the other prediction uses a physics‐based model. Both prediction methods initially use particle filters to best model nonlinear and non‐Gaussian motion. The robot goal pose is determined from the predicted human motion and adjusted if necessary leveraging the unoccupied distance map to avoid obstacles and successfully and safely enable autonomous escorting. Experimental analysis shows that the incorporation of the proposed human intention model reduces human position prediction error by approximately 33% when turning, improving escorting accuracy by 50%. The incorporation of the proposed obstacle avoidance has further demonstrated its need and efficacy for successful and safe autonomous escorting.
Direct Synthesis of Stable 1T‐MoS2 Doped with Ni Single Atoms for Water Splitting in Alkaline Media
Authors: Wang Guowei , Zhang Guikai , Ke Xiaoxing , Chen Xiangyu , Chen Xu , Wang Yueshuai , Huang Guoyu , Dong Juncai , Chu Shengqi , Sui Manling
Published: March 2022

Metallic MoS2 (i.e., 1T‐MoS2) is considered as the most promising precious‐metal‐free electrocatalyst with outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in acidic media comparable to Pt. However, sluggish kinematics of HER in alkaline media and its inability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hamper its development as bifunctional catalysts. The instability of 1T‐MoS2 further impedes its applications for scaling up, calling an urgent need for simple synthesis to produce stable 1T‐MoS2. In this work, the challenge of 1T‐MoS2 synthesis is first addressed using a direct one‐step hydrothermal method by adopting ascorbic acid. 1T‐MoS2 with flower‐like morphology is obtained, and transition metals (Ni, Co, Fe) are simultaneously doped into 1T‐MoS2. Ni‐1T‐MoS2 achieves an enhanced bifunctional catalytic activity for both HER and OER in alkaline media, where the key role of Ni doping as single atom is proved to be essential for boosting HER/OER activity. Finally, a Ni‐1T‐MoS2||Ni‐1T‐MoS2 electrolyzer is fabricated, reaching a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an applied cell voltage of only 1.54 V for overall water splitting.
Metal–Organic Framework‐Derived Hollow CoSx Nanoarray Coupled with NiFe Layered Double Hydroxides as Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Lee Yun Jae , Park Seung‐Keun
Published: March 2022

For effective hydrogen production by water splitting, it is essential to develop earth‐abundant, highly efficient, and durable electrocatalysts. Herein, the authors report a bifunctional electrocatalyst composed of hollow CoSx and Ni–Fe based layered double hydroxide (NiFe LDH) nanosheets for efficient overall water splitting (OWS). The optimized heterostructure is obtained by the electrodeposition of NiFe LDH nanosheets on metal–organic framework‐derived hollow CoSx nanoarrays, which are supported on nickel foam (H‐CoSx@NiFe LDH/NF). The unique structure of the hybrid material not only provides ample active sites, but also facilitates electrolyte penetration and gas release during the reactions. Additionally, the strong coupling and synergy between the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) active CoSx and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active NiFe LDH gives rise to the excellent bifunctional properties. Consequently, H‐CoSx@NiFe LDH/NF exhibits remarkable HER and OER activities with overpotentials of 95 and 250 mV, respectively at 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH. Even at 1.0 A cm−2, the electrode requires small overpotentials of 375 mV (for HER) and 418 mV (for OER), respectively. An electrolyzer based on H‐CoSx@NiFe LDH/NF demonstrates a low cell voltage of 1.98 V at a current density of 300 mA cm−2 and good durability for 100 h in OWS application.
Compliance checking of software processes: A systematic literature review
Authors: Castellanos Ardila Julieth Patricia , Gallina Barbara , Ul Muram Faiz
Published: March 2022

The processes used to develop software need to comply with normative requirements (e.g., standards and regulations) to align with the market and the law. Manual compliance checking is challenging because there are numerous requirements with changing nature and different purposes. Despite the importance of automated techniques, there is not any systematic study in this field. This lack may hinder organizations from moving toward automated compliance checking practices. In this paper, we characterize the methods for automatic compliance checking of software processes, including used techniques, potential impacts, and challenges. For this, we undertake a systematic literature review (SLR) of studies reporting methods in this field. As a result, we identify solutions that use different techniques (e.g., anthologies and metamodels) to represent processes and their artifacts (e.g., tasks and roles). Various languages, which have diverse capabilities for managing competing and changing norms, and agile strategies, are also used to represent normative requirements. Most solutions require tool‐support concretization and enhanced capabilities to handle processes and normative diversity. Our findings outline compelling areas for future research. In particular, there is a need to select suitable languages for consolidating a generic and normative‐agnostic solution, increase automation levels, tool support, and boost the application in practice by improving usability aspects.
Strict trade measures, flexible financing
Authors: Avsar Veysel , Gollu Gultekin , Sevinc Nurgul
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the effect of antidumping policy on the payment methods in trade transactions. Using three‐dimensional (country–HS6 product‐year) data on payment methods in imports and detailed data on antidumping activity from Turkey, we show that antidumping duties lead to more exporter‐financed transactions for the targeted country‐product pairs compared to a control group of nontargeted ones. Our findings suggest that exporters offer better financing options when they face competitive pressure in their export destinations because of discriminatory trade policy.
Auf dem Weg zum klimaneutralen Stahlbau
Authors: Siebers Raban
Published: March 2022

Die Stahlindustrie ist eine Branche, die mittelfristig erhebliche Mengen CO2 einsparen kann. Sowohl mit Wasserstoff wie auch mit grünem Strom sind die Reduktionspotenziale bei der Stahlherstellung erheblich. Mithilfe der Direktreduktion können für den Übergang bereits durch den Einsatz von Erdgas erhebliche CO2‐Minderungen erzielt werden. Ein weiterer wichtiger Baustein einer klimaneutralen Stahlindustrie ist die schrottbasierte Elektrostahlproduktion. Die Rolle von Stahl als wesentlicher Baustein der Circular Economy ist schon jetzt durch den etablierten und ökonomisch funktionierenden Schrotthandel gesetzt. In diesem Beitrag werden alle Potenziale und Hebel für das Bauen mit Stahl für eine CO2‐neutrale Zukunft aufgezeigt.
The need for a strategy on men's health
Authors: White Alan , Tod Martin
Published: March 2022

Now that the UK Government has announced a women's health strategy, it is time for a national strategy on men's health too. This must recognise it as a whole life‐course issue impacting on every stage of men and boys’ lives, and include action on the social determinants that lead to such excessive inequalities between different men.
Small Wins and Feeling Good: An Innovative Book Distribution Program
Authors: Neuman Susan B.
Published: March 2022

Many of our children continue to live in book deserts, neighborhoods bereft of reading materials. It is an educational problem that, at times, may seem unsolvable. In this article, my colleagues and I approach the problem from a perspective of a small win, a term first coined by organizational theorist Karl Weik. Small wins act like micro‐innovations, tackling big problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable projects which can demonstrate promise. The article describes an innovative book distribution program through vending machines in a neighborhood, and provides examples of the ways in which a small win can lead to progress in our understanding of reading and its importance in a community.
Detection, prevention and treatment of COVID‐19 and opportunities for nanobiotechnology
Authors: Bao Qing , Yang Tao , Yang Mingying , Mao Chuanbin
Published: March 2022

Since the outbreak of COVID‐19, the number of confirmed cases and deaths has increased globally at a dramatic speed. In view of the serious health threat to humans, this review discusses the state‐of‐the‐art studies about fighting this disease. It summarizes the current strategies and recent advances in detecting, preventing, and treating COVID‐19 and interprets the underlying mechanisms in detail. Detection of COVID‐19 can be successfully achieved by multiple techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, computed tomography imaging, and nano‐biosensing. Inactivated virus vaccine, nucleic acid vaccine, and different nanoparticles have been employed to effectively prevent COVID‐19. A variety of agents such as antiviral agents, neutralizing antibodies, and nanotherapeutics have been developed to treat COVID‐19 with exciting efficacy. Although nanobiotechnology has shown great potential in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of COVID‐19, efforts should be made to explore new biocompatible nano‐biomaterials to advance this field to clinical applications. Hence, nanobiotechnology paves a new way to detect, prevent, and treat COVID‐19 effectively.
Inorganic biomaterials‐based bioinks for three‐dimensional bioprinting of regenerative scaffolds
Authors: Qin Chen , Wu Chengtie
Published: March 2022

The application of inorganic biomaterials in regenerative medicine is increasingly expanded. Taking advantages of attractive properties of the inorganic biomaterials, sorts of functional bioinks have been developed based on inorganic biomaterials and were applied to construct inorganic/organic/cell‐laden systems for tissue regeneration via 3D bioprinting technology. In this review, we aim to summarize the existing inorganic biomaterials‐based bioinks (referred to as “inorganic‐bioinks”) for 3D bioprinting regenerative scaffolds. We introduce the recently developed inorganic‐bioinks from the perspective of the function of bioinks, and especially highlight the incorporation of inorganic biomaterials improving the printability, mechanical strength, and bioactivity of the bioinks for different tissue regeneration. Subsequently, the current applications of the inorganic‐bioinks in constructing 3D cell‐laden scaffolds for tissue regeneration are presented. Finally, challenges and prospects for the inorganic biomaterials‐based bioprinting strategy are discussed.
Erector spinae plane block as part of a multimodal analgesic approach in an anaesthetised horse undergoing dorsal spinous process ostectomy and desmotomy
Authors: Rodriguez Alfonso , Medina‐Serra Roger , Lynch Nicola , Veres‐Nyeki Kata
Published: March 2022

A 14‐year‐old Irish sport horse presented to our institution with a history of right forelimb lameness and left‐sided back pain. Radiography and nuclear scintigraphy were performed under sedation and the horse was diagnosed with overriding dorsal spinous processes, also known as kissing spine syndrome. Surgical treatment consisted of dorsal spinous process ostectomy and desmotomy under general anaesthesia. This case report summarises the perianaesthetic management, which included an erector spinae plane block as part of a multimodal analgesic approach.
Survival rates of translocated Gunnison sage‐grouse
Authors: Apa Anthony D. , Gammonley James H. , Neubaum Daniel J. , Phillips Evan , Runge Jonathan P. , Seward Nathan , Wait Scott , Weinmeister Brad
Published: March 2022

Translocations have been used as a management tool for the federally threatened Gunnison sage‐grouse (Centrocercus minimus) but have not been rigorously evaluated. We estimated survival of translocated Gunnison sage‐grouse during the first year following release. Survival rates differed among satellite population where grouse were released, and survival was lower during the first 75 days following release than during the remainder of the first year. Age and sex of translocated grouse also influenced survival, but the timing of translocation (spring or fall) was less influential. Survival estimates of translocated Gunnison sage‐grouse were comparable to available estimates for resident Gunnison and greater sage‐grouse (C. urophasianus), suggesting that translocations may be an effective management tool for maintaining isolated populations. However, annual male counts at leks in the release populations were variable and generally declining, indicating that past numbers of Gunnison sage‐grouse translocated to these populations may not be adequate to sustain local populations, if lek counts reflect true population trends. Given that translocation has been identified as a primary management action for the recovery of Gunnison sage‐grouse, we recommend that a long‐term strategy for a translocation program should be developed. The success of a Gunnison sage‐grouse translocation program should be carefully monitored and managers should consider prioritizing captures for translocations with subadult females and males.
General Oncology Care in Qatar, Comoros, and Djibouti
Authors: Al-Shamsi Humaid O. , Iqbal Faryal
Published: March 2022

In Qatar, upgraded oncology care facilities have emerged from healthcare infrastructure and advanced technologies. Comoros and Djibouti, on the other hand, are still in the underdeveloped stage of oncology care services. The editors of the book contacted authors to write book chapters on cancer care outlook for their respective Arab countries. However, the editors were unable to find the authors for Qatar, Comoros, and Djibouti. Hence, they decided to compose a short review on oncology care in the aforementioned countries for the book. This chapter features cancer epidemiology and services in the respective countries while indicating unavailable facilities through WHO data.
Cancer Research in the Arab World
Authors: Hamadeh Randah R. , Jahrami Haitham , Nazzal Khaled
Published: March 2022

Cancer research is needed in the Arab world to provide evidence to healthcare workers and health policy makers. This chapter examines the literature on cancer research productivity in the Arab world, and the output of the 22 countries with respect to the number of publications, main types of cancers studied and top journals that researchers aim to publish their findings in. Although the Arab region is lagging in its cancer research output, it is reassuring that productivity has been on the rise in the last decade. There are great variations between countries in their contribution to cancer research, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia contributing the most and sub-Saharan Arab countries the least. Breast cancer is the most researched cancer in the Arab countries, overshadowing other leading cancers. The top journals that researchers published their work in are the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, Pan African Medical Journal, Saudi Medical Journal, Tunisie Medicale, the Gulf Journal of Oncology and the Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute. The last two occupied the fifth rank equally. All these journals are Q3 journals except for the first, which is a Q2 journal. The challenges and barriers facing researchers in the Arab world should be examined and sources of cancer research funding expanded. Collaborations with researchers in international academic institutions should be encouraged to improve the quantity and quality of cancer research.
Radiation Therapy in Arab World
Authors: Elsayed Zeinab , Lalya Issam , AlHussain Hussain , Mula-Hussain Layth
Published: March 2022

Radiation therapy is an essential part of the treatment of malignant diseases (and some benign diseases). Radiation oncologists are part of a multidisciplinary team who work with medical physicists, radiation therapy technologists, and oncology nurses to optimize the treatment of their patients. Although X-ray discovery dates to 1895, the Arab world started to practice this field in the 1920s. This chapter describes the status of radiation therapy in the 22 Arab countries regarding radiation therapy facilities, training programs, and the future of radiation therapy in the Arab world.
General Oncology Care in Kuwait
Authors: Alhuraiji Ahmad , Abdullah Jinan , Almutairi Bader O. , Albarrak Jasem
Published: March 2022

The State of Kuwait is an active member of the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Cancer care has taken its leadership for more than 50 years by establishing the first cancer center in the region called Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). The healthcare system in Kuwait has rapidly evolved over the last two decades with more specialized healthcare professionals and dedicated services entering the system. This chapter focuses on different aspects of cancer care in Kuwait, starting from demographic and epidemiological data, the set-up of the healthcare system in Kuwait with more focus on the multidisciplinary cancer care ending up with future directions.
The shape of scalar Gauss-Bonnet gravity
Authors: Herrero-Valea Mario
Published: March 2022

Abstract

We study the consistency of Scalar Gauss-Bonnet Gravity, a generalization of General Relativity where black holes can develop non-trivial hair by the action of a couplingF(Φ)$$ \mathcal{G} $$Gbetween a function of a scalar field and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant of the space-time. When properly normalized, interactions induced by this term are weighted by a cut-off, and take the form of an Effective Field Theory expansion. By invoking the existence of a Lorentz invariant, causal, local, and unitary UV completion of the theory, we derivepositivity boundsforn-to-nscattering amplitudes including exchange of dynamical gravitons. These constrain the value ofalleven derivatives of the functionF(Φ), and are highly restrictive. They require some of the scales of the theory to be of Planckian order, and rule out most of the models used in the literature for black hole scalarization.
Evaluation of extreme precipitation in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China using a 1.5 km mesh convection‑permitting regional climate model
Authors: Dong Guangtao , Jiang Zhiyu , Wang Ya , Tian Zhan , Liu Junguo
Published: March 2022

Realistic representation of rainfall characteristics on local scales by state-of-the-art climate models remains a key challenge, especially on sub-daily timescales. In this study, the convection-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model configured with 1.5 km grid spacing is used to simulate precipitation on sub-daily timescales over the Yangtze River Delta Region of China for continuous 10 years (2005–2014). The simulations are compared with rain gauge observations, reanalysis data, and the simulations of a lower resolution WRF with 9 km grid spacing that has a parameterization of convection. The results show that precipitation over the region can be well captured by using the convection-permitting model (CPM). Furthermore, the intensity, duration and coverage of these precipitation events can be more accurately described by the CPM. On the convection timescales of 1–4 h, especially for heavy rainfall events, the CPM is more accurate than the convection-parameterized model in capturing the short-duration events, which may be due to its better account of physical processes related to the convection on the convection-permitting scale. In addition, the extreme events which are more localized and with short-duration can be represented better by the CPM while the convection-parameterized model tends to produce widespread precipitation events covering more grid cells than observations Biases of the simulation by the 9-km mesh convection-parameterized mode appear to be related to the deficiencies in the representation of convections.
Predisposing factors for a second fragile hip fracture in a population of 1130 patients with hip fractures, treated at Oulu University Hospital in 2013–2016: a retrospective study
Authors: Helynen Nelli , Rantanen Lotta , Lehenkari Petri , Valkealahti Maarit
Published: March 2022

Objective

The life-time risk of a second fragile hip fracture is 8.4%, but the risk factors that predispose to a second hip fracture remain unresolved. This study aimed to define risk factors that predisposed patients to a second hip fracture.

Methods

For this retrospective study, we retrieved clinical data on 1130 patients with fragile hip fractures (67.2% female, mean age: 79.3 years) that underwent surgery at the Oulu University Hospital in 2013–2016. These data included the fracture risk assessment score (measured with the FRAX tool), the bone-mass T-score, laboratory values, ambulatory capacity, and the time of death.

Results

In this population, 12.4% of patients sustained a second hip fracture. The predisposing factors for a second hip fracture were: female (p = 0.016), a high FRAX score (p = 0.020), and low physical capacity (p < 0.001). The vitamin D level recommended for treating osteoporosis (i.e., vitamin D > 75 nmol/l) was observed in only 24% of patients, and 42% of patients had ionized calcium levels below the reference range. According to the level of the cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), 37% of patients did not have high bone turnover. We found a positive correlation between age and ICTP (p = 0.001). The risk of death was higher after the second hip fracture (p = 0.005), but we found no difference in age between patients with first and second hip fractures (p = 0.11).

Conclusion

After a hip fracture, a second hip fracture is a well-known risk. Nevertheless, we found that only one-third of patients with a second hip fracture had used anti-osteoporosis medication at any time previously. These findings suggested that second hip fractures were most likely to occur in patients with osteopenic T-score values, in women more often than men, and in patients with high FRAX scores and low ambulatory capacity.
The ability of remaining glomerular podocytes to adapt to the loss of their neighbours decreases with age
Authors: van der Wolde James , Haruhara Kotaro , Puelles Victor G. , Nikolic-Paterson David , Bertram John F. , Cullen-McEwen Luise A.
Published: March 2022

Progressive podocyte loss is a feature of healthy ageing. While previous studies have reported age-related changes in podocyte number, density and size and associations with proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis, few studies have examined how the response of remaining podocytes to podocyte depletion changes with age. Mild podocyte depletion was induced in PodCreiDTR mice aged 1, 6, 12 and 18 months via intraperitoneal administration of diphtheria toxin. Control mice received intraperitoneal vehicle. Podometrics, proteinuria and glomerular pathology were assessed, together with podocyte expression of p-rp-S6, a phosphorylation target that represents activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Podocyte number per glomerulus did not change in control mice in the 18-month time period examined. However, control mice at 18 months had the largest podocytes and the lowest podocyte density. Podocyte depletion at 1, 6 and 12 months resulted in mild albuminuria but no glomerulosclerosis, whereas similar levels of podocyte depletion at 18 months resulted in both albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis. Following podocyte depletion at 6 and 12 months, the number of p-rp-S6 positive podocytes increased significantly, and this was associated with an adaptive increase in podocyte volume. However, at 18 months of age, remaining podocytes were unable to further elevate mTOR expression or undergo hypertrophic adaptation in response to mild podocyte depletion, resulting in marked glomerular pathology. These findings demonstrate the importance of mTORC1-mediated podocyte hypertrophy in both physiological (ageing) and adaptive settings, highlighting a functional limit to podocyte hypertrophy reached under physiological conditions.
Perception of Faces and Other Progressively Higher-Order Properties
Authors: Calzavarini Fabrizio , Voltolini Alberto
Published: March 2022

On the basis of a new criterion for a property to be perceivable–a property is perceivable iff it is not only given immediately and non-volitionally, but also grasped via a holistic form of attention–in this paper we will claim that not only facial properties, but other high-order properties located in a hierarchy of high-order properties, notably gender and racial properties, are perceivable as well. Such claims will be both theoretically and empirically justified.
Control Theory Forecasts of Optimal Training Dosage to Facilitate Children’s Arithmetic Learning in a Digital Educational Application
Authors: Chow Sy-Miin , Lee Jungmin , Hofman Abe D. , van der Maas Han L. J. , Pearl Dennis K. , Molenaar Peter C. M.
Published: March 2022

Education can be viewed as a control theory problem in which students seek ongoing exogenous input—either through traditional classroom teaching or other alternative training resources—to minimize the discrepancies between their actual and target (reference) performance levels. Using illustrative data from <mml:math xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mnf="http://cambridge.org/core/manifest" xmlns:cup="http://contentservices.cambridge.org" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:m="http://cambridge.org/core/metadata" xmlns:core="http://cambridge.org/core" xmlns:c="http://cambridge.org/core/content">n=784\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$n=784$$\end{document} Dutch elementary school students as measured using the Math Garden, a web-based computer adaptive practice and monitoring system, we simulate and evaluate the outcomes of using off-line and finite memory linear quadratic controllers with constraintsto forecast students’ optimal training durations. By integrating population standards with each student’s own latent change information, we demonstrate that adoption of the control theory-guided, person- and time-specific training dosages could yield increased training benefits at reduced costs compared to students’ actual observed training durations, and a fixed-duration training scheme. The control theory approach also outperforms a linear scheme that provides training recommendations based on observed scores under noisy and the presence of missing data. Design-related issues such as ways to determine the penalty cost of input administration and the size of the control horizon window are addressed through a series of illustrative and empirically (Math Garden) motivated simulations.
Selbstimage und öffentliches Image des Pflegeberufs: eine quantitative und qualitative Querschnittsstudie
Authors: Julier-Abgottspon Evelyn , Brunner-Pfaffen Sarah , Eissler Christian
Published: March 2022

Hintergrund

Ein schlechtes Image der Pflege stellt für den Beruf ein großes Problem dar.

Ziel

Diese Erhebungen hatten zum Ziel, empirische Daten in Bezug auf das Selbstimage von diplomierten Pflegefachpersonen in der Schweiz am Beispiel des Oberwallis zu erheben und darzulegen, wie diplomierte Pflegefachpersonen in der Schweiz ihr öffentliches Image einschätzen. Das Selbstimage der diplomierten Pflegefachpersonen sollte dann mit deren Vorstellung des öffentlichen Images verglichen werden. Mögliche Zusammenhänge zwischen soziodemografischen Angaben und der Eigenwahrnehmung des Images sollten untersucht werden.

Methoden

Um das Forschungsvorhaben umzusetzen, wurden ein quantitatives und ein qualitatives Design gewählt. Anhand der Porter Nursing Image Scale und mittels Querschnittsdesign wurden 364 diplomierte Pflegefachpersonen zu deren Image befragt. Zeitgleich wurden zwei Fokusgruppeninterviews mit insgesamt 18 diplomierten Pflegefachpersonen aus dem Akutbereich sowie aus dem stationären und ambulanten Langzeitpflegebereich durchgeführt und inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Diplomierte Pflegefachpersonen im Oberwallis haben ein gutes Selbstimage, schätzen sich selbst aber als wenig einflussreich und als abhängig ein. Deren Auffassung des öffentlichen Images ist im Vergleich zu ihrem Selbstimage deutlich negativer.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Entwicklung von Strategien zur Stärkung des Selbstimages und zur Verbesserung des öffentlichen Images in der Lehre und Praxis sind nötig.
Eine Neuordnung der Zeit? Zum Verhältnis von Zeitlichkeit, Kapitalismus und Staat im Zeichen der Pandemie
Authors: Suckert Lisa
Published: March 2022

Ermöglicht die Coronapandemie eine Abkehr vom kapitalistischen Zeitregime? Bedingt die Krise eine nachhaltige Neuordnung der Zeit? Der Beitrag betrachtet die COVID-19-Pandemie und die mit ihr einhergehenden staatlichen Maßnahmen aus einer zeit- und wirtschaftssoziologischen Perspektive. Er macht deutlich, dass sich die sozialen und ökonomischen Verwerfungen der Pandemie auch als Ergebnis einer Kollision entgegengesetzter zeitlicher Logiken verstehen lassen. Die staatlichen Maßnahmen zur Pandemiebekämpfung erzwangen zunächst einen Umgang mit Zeit, der dem kapitalistischen Zeitregime und dessen Prinzipien – Kommodifizierung und rationale Verwertung von Zeit, Beschleunigung sowie Aneignung der Zukunft – widerspricht. Anders als dies z.B. Hartmut Rosa erhofft, impliziert diese „Rückkehr des Staates“ als zeitpolitische Ordnungsmacht jedoch noch keinen Pfadwechsel hin zu einer andauernden „Neuordnung der Zeit“. Der Beitrag zeigt, dass insbesondere jene staatlichen Interventionen, die über die reine Pandemiebekämpfung hinausgehen, als Vermittlungsversuche zwischen unterschiedlichen zeitlichen Logiken zu verstehen sind. Sie federn die Kollision entgegengesetzter zeitlicher Logiken zwar ab, erleichtern im Kern jedoch ein „Zurück“ zum kapitalistischen Zeitregime. Zeitbezogene Ungleichheiten werden dabei unbeirrt fortgeschrieben.
Overpressure mechanism prediction based on well log and mineralogy analysis from drill cuttings of well NSE-001 in the North Sumatra Basin area, Indonesia
Authors: Buntoro Aris , Rahmad Basuki , Asmorowati Dewi , Lukmana Allen Haryanto , Fattah Esha Faisal , Anuraga Edo
Published: March 2022

The well NSE-001 is an exploration well located in the North Sumatra Basin, Indonesia, which penetrates several formations with overpressure zones that have the potential as a drilling hazard in this area. The results of the pore pressure fracture gradient model show that the response of the wireline log data of well NSE-001 based on the normal compaction trend has two types of overpressure mechanisms, namely loading and unloading. Rapid sedimentation in the development of the Lower Baong Formation and Upper Baong Formation as thick and massive shale sequences in the North Sumatra Basin is the main factor in the generation of an overpressure zone with a loading mechanism. This correlates with the travel time in the sonic log which is relatively constant with response to the normal compaction trend at depth intervals of 620–1500 mMD (from the Middle Baong Sand Formation to the Top Gebang Sand Formation). The presence of sillimanite and kaliophilite minerals in bulk analysis from drill cuttings at depth intervals of 2200–3820 mMD contributed to the generation of hydrocarbon, while clay analysis showed that the mineral content of kaolinite + illite as alteration product (clay diagenesis) was higher than the mineral content of smectite. The results of the mineralogy analysis (bulk and clay) correlated with the response of the wireline log data of well NSE-001 to the normal compaction trend, which showed that at depth interval of 1500 m to 3200 mMD (from the Top Gebang Sand Formation to the Top Upper Belumai Formation) is an overpressure zone with an unloading mechanism, which was characterized by fluid expansion caused by clay diagenesis and possibly hydrocarbon generation.
The influence of nanomaterials on pyocyanin production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Jabłońska Joanna , Dubrowska Kamila , Augustyniak Adrian , Wróbel Rafał J. , Piz Mateusz , Cendrowski Krzysztof , Rakoczy Rafał
Published: March 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium producing industrially utile metabolites, such as rhamnolipids, biopolymers, and pigments. Pyocyanin, the most studied example of pigments, is a virulence factor that also shows the potential for application in, e.g., agriculture, anticancer therapy, and energy production. Therefore, potential inhibitors and stimulants of pyocyanin production by P. aeruginosa should be studied, and nanomaterials may cause both effects. The study aimed to examine the influence of zinc oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (pristine or dispersed with alginic acid) on pyocyanin production by P. aeruginosa. First, the influence of different concentrations of nanomaterials (500.00–0.06 µg/mL) on culture optical density and biofilm formation was studied. These results helped select concentrations for further tests, i.e., growth curves and fluorescence measurements. Pyocyanin production was assessed by the chloroform–hydrochloric acid method. SEM analysis was conducted to assess the influence of nanomaterials on the cell's integrity and biofilm structure. Pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes exhibited a stimulative effect on pigment production when applied in high concentrations (500.00 µg/mL), while dispersed material enhanced the production in lowered dosages (125.00 µg/mL). On the other hand, high concentrations of zinc oxide inhibited pyocyanin production, while minor increased bioproduct production. The research indicates the potential to use nanomaterials as the modulators of pyocyanin production and other metabolites.
Extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting the activity budget of alpine marmots (Marmota marmota)
Authors: Ferrari Caterina , Pasquaretta Cristian , Caprio Enrico , Ranghetti Luigi , Bogliani Giuseppe , Rolando Antonio , Bertolino Sandro , Bassano Bruno , von Hardenberg Achaz
Published: March 2022

Extrinsic and intrinsic factors may influence the activity budget of wild animals, resulting in a variation in the time spent in different activities among populations or individuals of the same species. In this study, we examined how extrinsic and intrinsic factors affect the behaviour of the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota), a hibernating social rodent inhabiting high-elevation prairies in the European Alps. We collected behavioural observations during scan sampling sessions on marked individuals at two study sites with different environmental characteristics. We used Bayesian hierarchical multinomial regression models to analyse the influence of both intrinsic (sex and age-dominance status) and extrinsic (environmental and climatic variables) factors on the above-ground activity budget. Marmots spent most of their time above ground foraging, and were more likely to forage when it was cloudy. Extrinsic factors such as the site, period of the season (June, July–August, and August–September), and time of the day were all related to the probability of engaging in vigilance behaviour, which reaches its peak in early morning and late afternoon and during July, the second period included in the study. Social behaviours, such as affiliative and agonistic behaviours, were associated mostly with sex and age-dominance status, and yearlings were the more affiliative individuals compared to other status. Overall, our results suggest that in alpine marmots, intrinsic factors mostly regulate agonistic and affiliative behaviours, while extrinsic factors, with the unexpected exception of temperature, affect the probabilities of engaging in all types of behavioural categories.
Realistic Simulation of Multiphase Kick Tolerance Model Promotes Safer Well Control Operations: Case Study
Authors: Elsayed Said K. , Azab Hany M. , Abdellatief Ahmed E. , Salem Adel M.
Published: March 2022

Nowadays, deep-water drilling is of great importance for the development of oil and gas production. It is necessary to determine the maximum pressure that the formation can withstand during well control operation. This value can be calculated using several variables, including kick tolerance. The purpose of this study is to analyze a real well control event using dynamic well control modeling software that calculates the kick tolerance based on the single-phase and multiphase dispersed kick (gas) model. The initial results show that the type of drilling fluid plays an important role in the calculation of the kick tolerance. The calculated kick tolerance using a single-phase model indicates an allowable kick volume of 56 barrels (bbls), but in reality, we had a dispersed gas kick in a synthetic oil-based mud (SOBM) drilling fluid, which requires special kick tolerance calculations based on a multiphase dynamic model. After reviewing the results of the multiphase kick tolerance simulation, it was found that the maximum gas kick volume is more than twice that of using a single-phase model in an oil-based mud drilling fluid, allowing safe well control operations and reducing the possibility of accidents.
Principal component analysis and partial least square regression models to understand sorption-enhanced biomass gasification
Authors: Callén María Soledad , Martínez Isabel , Grasa Gemma , López José Manuel , Murillo Ramón
Published: March 2022

Gasification represents a potential technology for the conversion of biomass into usable energy. The influence of the main gasification parameters, i.e. the type of biomass used and its composition, as well as the composition of the outlet gas, were studied by a multivariate statistical analysis based on principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square (PLS) regression models in order to identify the main correlations between them and to the contents of methane, ethylene and tar in the outlet gas. In this work, the experimental data used as input for the multivariate statistical analysis came from a TRL-4 gasification plant running under sorption enhanced conditions, i.e. using steam as the gasifying agent and CaO as the bed material. The composition of the biomass feed played an important role in the quality of the outlet gas composition. In fact, biomasses with high ash and sulphur contents (municipal solid waste) increased ethylene content, while those with high-volatile matter content and fixed C content (wood pellets, straw pellets and grape seeds) mainly increased CO and CO2 formation. By increasing the gasification bed temperature and the CaO/C ratio, it was possible to reduce the methane and the collected tar contents in the outlet gas. Other light hydrocarbons could also be reduced by controlling the Treactor and TFB. Methane, ethylene and tar contents were modelled, cross-validated and tested with a new set of samples by PLS obtaining results with an average overall error between 8 and 26%. The statistically significant variables to predict methane and ethylene content were positively associated to the thermal input and negatively to the CaO/C ratio. The biomass composition was also remarkable for both variables, as mentioned in the PCA analysis. As far as the tar content, which is undesirable in all gasification processes, the decrease in the tar content was favoured by high bed temperature, low thermal input and biomass with high-volatile matter content. In order to produce an outlet gas with adequate quality (e.g. low tar content), a compromise should be found to balance average bed temperature, sorbent-to-mass ratio, and ultimate and proximate analyses of the biomass feed.

Graphical abstract
Nuclear translocation of vitellogenin in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Salmela Heli , Harwood Gyan P. , Münch Daniel , Elsik Christine G. , Herrero-Galán Elías , Vartiainen Maria K. , Amdam Gro V.
Published: March 2022

Vitellogenin (Vg) is a conserved protein used by nearly all oviparous animals to produce eggs. It is also pleiotropic and performs functions in oxidative stress resistance, immunity, and, in honey bees, behavioral development of the worker caste. It has remained enigmatic how Vg affects multiple traits. Here, we asked whether Vg enters the nucleus and acts via DNA-binding. We used cell fractionation, immunohistology, and cell culture to show that a structural subunit of honey bee Vg translocates into cell nuclei. We then demonstrated Vg-DNA binding theoretically and empirically with prediction software and chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing (ChIP-seq), finding binding sites at genes influencing immunity and behavior. Finally, we investigated the immunological and enzymatic conditions affecting Vg cleavage and nuclear translocation and constructed a 3D structural model. Our data are the first to show Vg in the nucleus and suggest a new fundamental regulatory role for this ubiquitous protein.
Flat firms, complementary choices, employee effort, and the pyramid principle
Authors: Sorenson Olav
Published: March 2022

I review Markus Reitzig’s book, Get Better at Flatter, and offer some critical observations on why managers might want to flatten their firms and on Reitzig’s advice to them. I also introduce the pyramid principle, a simple theory of why firms might end up taller than they would want to be.
A continuous variable Born machine
Authors: Čepaitė Ieva , Coyle Brian , Kashefi Elham
Published: March 2022

Generative modelling has become a promising use case for near-term quantum computers. Due to the fundamentally probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, quantum computers naturally model and learn probability distributions, perhaps more efficiently than can be achieved classically. The quantum circuit Born machine is an example of such a model, easily implemented on near-term quantum computers. However, the Born machine was originally defined to naturally represent discrete distributions. Since probability distributions of a continuous nature are commonplace in the world, it is essential to have a model which can efficiently represent them. Some proposals have been made in the literature to supplement the discrete Born machine with extra features to more easily learn continuous distributions; however, all invariably increase the resources required. In this work, we discuss the continuous variable Born machine, built on the alternative architecture of continuous variable quantum computing, which is much more suitable for modelling such distributions in a resource-minimal way. We provide numerical results indicating the model’s ability to learn both quantum and classical continuous distributions, including in the presence of noise.
Perfect NOT and conjugate transformations
Authors: Yan Fengli , Gao Ting
Published: March 2022

We obtain the perfect NOT transformation criteria, two necessary and sufficient conditions for realizing a perfect NOT transformation on a quantum state set S of a qubit. Furthermore, we discuss a probabilistic perfect NOT transformation when there is no perfect NOT transformation on a state set S. We also generalize the perfect NOT transformation to the conjugate transformation in the multi-level quantum system and a lower bound of the best possible efficiencies attained by a probabilistic perfect conjugate transformation are obtained.