bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core‐passivation: A concept for stable core‐shell nanoparticles in aqueous electrocatalysis
Authors: Göhl Daniel , Paciok Paul , Wang Zhenshu , Kang Jin Soo , Heggen Marc , Mayrhofer Karl J. J. , Román‐Leshkov Yuriy , Ledendecker Marc
Published: January 2023

The stability of nanoparticles is a major challenge in thermal and electrocatalysis. This is especially true for core‐shell nanoparticles where only a few monolayers of noble metal protect the usually non‐noble core material. In this work, we utilize the practical nobility concept to engineer stable core‐shell nanoparticles with a self‐passivating core material. Specifically, tantalum carbide as core material in combination with a 1–3 monolayer thick platinum shell exhibits exceptional stability in aqueous media. The core‐shell catalyst shows no sign of structural changes after 10,000 degradation cycles up to 1.0 VRHE. Due to the efficient passivation of tantalum carbide at the solid/liquid interface, the dissolution reduces by a factor of eight compared to bare Pt. Our findings confirm that passivating core materials are highly beneficial for the stabilization of core‐shell nanomaterials in aqueous media. They open up new ways for the rational design of cost‐efficient but stable non‐noble core – platinum shell nanoparticles where harsh, oxidizing conditions are employed.
Correlation of Intraoperative Ultrasonographic Oral Tongue Shape and Border and Risk of Close Margins
Authors: Au Vivienne H. , Yoon Byung C. , Juliano Amy , Sadow Peter M. , Faquin William C. , Varvares Mark A.
Published: January 2023

Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is a potentially useful adjunct to the resection of oral tongue cancers (OTC). IOUS images of the tumor‐normal tissue interface show different patterns of invasion. In this retrospective series of 29 patients treated for OTC, we evaluated if there was a correlation between IOUS findings of patterns of invasion and final histology and assessed if there was any associated risk of increased incidence of positive or close margins with different patterns of invasion as seen on ultrasound. Although we found no significant correlation between ultrasound patterns of invasion and histological evaluation, we did find that an infiltrative pattern of invasion on IOUS did result in a significant risk of a close margin. Further exploration of these findings in a larger prospective study could provide definitive information on the efficacy of this modality in OTC resections.
An overview of the rehabilitation and psychiatric diagnoses of patients referred to a psychiatry consult liaison service at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital
Authors: Daly Natalie , Steinberg Rosalie , Boyle Matthew T. , Brenkel Megan , Robinson Lawrence
Published: January 2023

Background

Patients presenting for inpatient rehabilitation following injury or illness are commonly affected by comorbid psychiatric illness. Currently, little is known about the utilization of a psychiatry consult service in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Objective

To identify which rehabilitation patient populations most frequently received psychiatric consultation and recognize the most common psychiatric comorbidities after the implementation of a psychiatry consult liaison (PCL) service.

Design

A retrospective observational study in the form of a chart review examining the utilization patterns of a psychiatric consultation liaison service in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. Chart review was performed to extract patient demographics (age and sex), rehabilitation diagnosis, cause of rehabilitation diagnosis (intentional, accident, self‐inflicted, or disease), reason for referral to psychiatry, and psychiatric diagnosis on initial consultation. Statistical software was used for statistical analysis to answer the pre‐specified research questions.

Setting

A 178 bed, free‐standing, academic rehabilitation hospital located in an urban Canadian center.

Patients

Any patient admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation hospital who received a psychiatric consultation between September 2016 and December 2019 was eligible for inclusion.

Results

A total of 1016 charts were reviewed in the initial chart review and  1008 were included. The most common rehabilitation diagnoses that were associated with a psychiatric consult were (% admissions receiving consultation): amputations (38%); burns (35%), neurologic disorder (28%), deconditioning (14%), and musculoskeletal injury (7%). Although 20% of patients did not meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, most common psychiatric diagnoses included mood disorder, adjustment disorder, neurocognitive disorder, and delirium.

Conclusion

There are significant perceived needs for psychiatric services in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. Although some patient groups such as patients with amputations, burns, and trauma may exhibit the highest utilization, the service supports mental health needs from many patient groups.
Bronchiolitis before and after the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic: Twelve years of experience in a Spanish paediatric hospital
Authors: Guerrero‐del‐Cueto Fuensanta , Ramos‐Fernandez Jose Miguel , Leiva‐Gea Isabel , Reina‐Moreno Elena , Ortiz‐Ortigosa Ana , Carazo‐Gallego Begoña , Cordon‐Martinez Ana Maria , Moreno‐Perez David , Nuñez‐Cuadros Esmeralda
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Acute bronchiolitis is the main cause of hospitalization in children under 2 years of age, with a regular seasonality, mostly due to the respiratory syncytial virus.

Objectives

To describe the epidemiology of bronchiolitis hospitalizations in our center in the last 12 years, and analyze the changes in clinical characteristics, microbiology, and adverse outcomes during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.

Methods

Observational study including patients admitted for bronchiolitis between April 2010 and December 2021 in a Spanish tertiary paediatric hospital. Relevant demographic, clinical, microbiological, and adverse outcome variables were collected in an anonymized database. The pandemic period (April 2020 to December 2021) was compared to 2010−2015 seasons using appropriate statistical tests.

Results

There were 2138 bronchiolitis admissions, with a mean of 195.6 per year between 2010 and 2019 and a 2−4‐month peak between November and March. In the expected season of 2020, there was a 94.4% reduction of bronchiolitis hospitalizations, with only 11 cases admitted in the first year of the pandemic. Bronchiolitis cases increased from the summer of 2021 during a 6‐month long peak, reaching a total of 171 cases. Length of stay was significantly shorter during the pandemic, but no differences were found in clinical and microbiological characteristics or other adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic has modified the seasonality of bronchiolitis hospitalizations, with a dramatic decrease in cases during the expected season of 2020−2021, and an extemporaneous summer−autumn peak in 2021 with longer duration but similar patient characteristics and risk factors.
Moisture ingress in commercial steel drums: Water content determination, diffusion modelling and predicted permeation rates
Authors: Bustillos Christian G. , Bora Mihail , King Gabriella , Matt Sarah , Haertling Carol , Du Frane Wyatt L.
Published: January 2023

Commercial steel drums underpin the global economy, playing a pivotal role in the storage and transportation of critical materials. Transported and stored materials, such as food, chemical and nuclear waste, can be sensitive to ambient conditions, particularly moisture that can enhance negative effects such as corrosion and material degradation. Although international standards and regulations are in place for the qualification of steel drums, there are no current testing requirements, established limits or boundaries for the permeation of moisture into the drums during transportation or storage. This work aims to provide insights into the moisture ingress over time into properly sealed steel drums and provides estimated moisture ingress rates over time through extrapolation. Water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) measurements through the gasket material at 10–40°C were 0.11–2.1 g/m2/day resulting in a permeation activation energy of 30.2 kJ/mol. Water sorption measurements and Karl Fischer titration (KFT) on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) gasket material revealed a decrease in equilibrium moisture saturation with increasing temperature. KFT measurements also revealed the presence of moisture within the adhesive and drum wall after exposure to ambient conditions. KFT and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) show that moisture will desorb from the EPDM and drum wall after exposure to desiccating conditions, although a minimal amount of moisture will remain present. When sealed to the manufacturer's recommendations, the steel drums are effective in minimizing moisture ingress. In sealed empty drums, moisture ingress rates for 19‐L drums were 0.4–1.5 mg/day at 25°C 15% relative humidity (RH) and increased to 7.1–8.8 mg/day at 40°C 90% RH, and moisture ingress rates for 210‐L drums were 2.5 and 3.5 mg/day at field deployment conditions of 15.5°C 51.5% RH and 23°C 40% RH, respectively.
Marginal structural models with monotonicity constraints: A case study in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients
Authors: Starkopf Liis , Rajan Shahzleen , Lange Theis , Gerds Thomas Alexander
Published: January 2023

This paper deals with estimating the probability of a binary counterfactual outcome as a function of a continuous covariate under monotonicity constraints. We are motivated by the study of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients which aims to estimate the counterfactual 30‐day survival probability if either all patients had received, or if none of the patients had received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as a function of the ambulance response time. It is natural to assume that the counterfactual 30‐day survival probability cannot increase with increasing ambulance response time. We model the monotone relationship with a marginal structural model and B‐splines. We then derive an estimating equation for the parameters of interest which however further relies on an auxiliary regression model for the observed 30‐day survival probabilities. The predictions of the observed 30‐day survival probabilities are used as pseudo‐values for the unobserved counterfactual 30‐day survival status. The methods are illustrated and contrasted with an unconstrained modeling approach in large‐scale Danish registry data.
On assessing survival benefit of immunotherapy using long‐term restricted mean survival time
Authors: Horiguchi Miki , Tian Lu , Uno Hajime
Published: January 2023

The pattern of the difference between two survival curves we often observe in randomized clinical trials for evaluating immunotherapy is not proportional hazards; the treatment effect typically appears several months after the initiation of the treatment (ie, delayed difference pattern). The commonly used logrank test and hazard ratio estimation approach will be suboptimal concerning testing and estimation for those trials. The long‐term restricted mean survival time (LT‐RMST) approach is a promising alternative for detecting the treatment effect that potentially appears later in the study. A challenge in employing the LT‐RMST approach is that it must specify a lower end of the time window in addition to a truncation time point that the RMST requires. There are several investigations and suggestions regarding the choice of the truncation time point for the RMST. However, little has been investigated to address the choice of the lower end of the time window. In this paper, we propose a flexible LT‐RMST‐based test/estimation approach that does not require users to specify a lower end of the time window. Numerical studies demonstrated that the potential power loss by adopting this flexibility was minimal, compared to the standard LT‐RMST approach using a prespecified lower end of the time window. The proposed method is flexible and can offer higher power than the RMST‐based approach when the delayed treatment effect is expected. Also, it provides a robust estimate of the magnitude of the treatment effect and its confidence interval that corresponds to the test result.
An Electrochemical Sensor Based on Carbon Quantum Dots and Ionic Liquids for Selective Detection of Dopamine
Authors: Nazari Zahra , Hadi Nematollahi Mohammad , Zareh Fatemeh , Pouramiri Behjat , Mehrabani Mehrnaz
Published: January 2023

Dopamine (DA) as a neurotransmitter has a pivotal role in the central nervous system. Because of altered levels of DA in various neuroscience diseases, development of a quick, sensitive, and simple analytical approach to determine DA in biological fluids could be very applicable. In this research, a novel electrochemical sensor based on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with ionic liquid (IL) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for measuring DA with uric acid and ascorbic acid was developed. IL and CQDs were synthesized and characterized for their specific properties such as composition, emission, size distribution, and morphology structure. Then, the modified CPE and different DA concentration was determined via cyclic voltammetry. The modified electrode exhibited great electrocatalytic activity for DA oxidation. Under optimal conditions, the calibration diagram for DA was linear within the range of 0.1–50 μM in phosphate buffer (pH=7.4) and limit of detection was 0.046 μM. The electrode was successfully used in the determination of DA in real samples and generated acceptable outputs. The proposed electrochemical sensor could be an exceptional step forward in DA detection and pave the way for the molecular diagnosis of neurological illnesses.
A Unified, Microwave‐Assisted, Palladium‐Catalyzed Regioselective Ortho‐monohalogenation of 1‐Alkyl/benzyl‐3‐Phenylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Prince Prince , Monika Monika , Kumar Prashant , Len Christophe , Singh Brajendra K.
Published: January 2023

A Unified, Microwave assisted, Pd‐catalyzed regioselective ortho‐monohalogenation of 3‐phenylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one derivatives has been disclosed using readily available N‐halosuccinimides (NXS). The nitrogen atom of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one facilitated as an effective directing group and helped in achieving regioselective mono halogenation at ortho‐position of 3‐phenyl ring of 3‐phenylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones. Under mild reaction condition, a wide diversity of mono halogenated products were obtained with wide substrate scope and high functional group tolerance in good yields. Post‐functionalization of the synthesized molecules has been demonstrated.
Lithiophilic hyperbranched Cu nanostructure for stable Li metal anodes
Authors: Chen Jianyu , Qiao Xin , Fu Wei , Han Xuran , Wu Qiang , Wang Yizhou , Zhang Yu , Shi Li , Zhao Jin , Ma Yanwen
Published: January 2023

Porous copper (Cu) current collectors are regarded as a promising host for stabilizing lithium (Li) metal anodes but suffer from uncontrollable Li metal deposition due to the intrinsic lithiophobic nature of Cu. This study proposes a vertically aligned Cu host with hyperbranched CuxO nanostructure to provide lithiophilic nucleation sites for homogeneous Li metal deposition. Specifically, the vertically aligned Cu nanostructure dramatically reduces the local current density and brings homogeneous Li‐ion flux. The lithiophilic hyperbranched CuxO nanostructure with a low nucleation barrier could induce homogeneous Li nucleation and growth. As a result, the Cu@CuxO nanostructured host exhibits a low nucleation overpotential of 44.3 mV and achieves highly electrochemical reversibility with high Coulombic efficiency of 98.33% in a half‐cell. The Cu@CuxO nanostructured electrode is capable of working under different current densities varying from 0.5 to 5 mA/cm2 in a symmetric cell. The assembled full cell coupling of the Li/Cu@CuxO composite anode with the LiFePO4 cathode manifests stable long‐term cycling life at 1 C. This study elaborates on the synergistic effect of electrode structure design and interfacial chemistry modification to regulate the Li deposition/dissolution behavior, thus exhibiting remarkable electrochemical performances for next‐generation Li‐metal batteries.
On the diffusion of test smells and their relationship with test code quality of Java projects
Authors: Martins Luana , Costa Heitor , Machado Ivan
Published: January 2023

Test smells are considered bad practices that can reduce the test code quality, thus harming software testing goals and maintenance activities. Prior studies have investigated the diffusion of test smells and their impact on test code maintainability. However, we cannot directly compare the outcomes of the studies as most of them use customized datasets. In response, we introduced the TSSM (Test Smells and Structural Metrics) dataset, containing test smells detected using the JNose Test tool and structural metrics (test code and production code) calculated with the CK metrics tool of 13,703 open‐source Java systems from GitHub. In addition, we perform an empirical study to investigate the relationship between test smells and structural metrics of test code and the relationship between test smells on a large‐scale dataset. We split the projects into three clusters to analyze the distribution of test smells, the co‐occurrences among test smells, and the correlation of test smells and structural metrics of test code. The ratio of smelly test classes with a specific test smell is similar among the clusters, but we could observe a significant difference in the number of test smells among them. The test smells Sleepy Test, Mystery Guest, and Resource Optimism rarely occur in the three clusters, and the last two are strongly correlated, indicating that those test smells are more severe than others. Our results point out that most test smells have a moderate correlation with high complexity, large size, and coupling of the test code, indicating that they can also negatively affect its quality. To support further studies, we made our dataset publicly available.
Maximizing Current Density in Monolithic Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cells
Authors: Heydarian Minasadat , Messmer Christoph , Bett Alexander J. , Heydarian Maryamsadat , Chojniak David , Kabaklı Özde Ş. , Tutsch Leonard , Bivour Martin , Siefer Gerald , Schubert Martin C. , Goldschmidt Jan Christoph , Hermle Martin , Glunz Stefan W. , Schulze Patricia S. C.
Published: January 2023

Perovskite silicon tandem solar cells can overcome the efficiency limit of silicon single‐junction solar cells. In two‐terminal perovskite silicon tandem solar cells, current matching of subcells is an important requirement. Herein, a current‐matched tandem solar cell using a planar front/ rear side‐textured silicon heterojunction bottom solar cell with a p–i–n perovskite top solar cell that yields a high certified short‐circuit current density of 19.6 mA cm−2 is reported. Measures taken to improve the device are guided by optical simulation and a derived optical roadmap toward maximized tandem current density. To realize current matching of the two subcells, variation of the perovskite bandgap from ≈1.68 to 1.64 eV and thickness is investigated. Spectrometric characterization, in which current–voltage curves of tandem devices are recorded at systematically varied spectral irradiance conditions, is applied to determine the current matching point. In addition, remaining device limitations such as nonradiative recombination at the perovskite's interfaces are analyzed. Replacing the hole transport layer PTAA by 2PACz results in an overall certified power conversion efficiency of up to 26.8%. Precise simulation based on the device structure is essential as it provides efficient paths toward improving the device efficiency.
Atomistic simulations of pristine and nanoparticle reinforced hydrogels: A review
Authors: Kumar Raju , Parashar Avinash
Published: January 2023

Hydrogel is a three‐dimensional cross‐linked hydrophilic network that can imbibe a large amount of water inside its structure (up to 99% of its dry weight). Due to their unique characteristics of biocompatibility and flexibility, it has found applications in diversified fields, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, biosensors, and agriculture. Even though hydrogels are widely used in the biomedical field, their lower mechanical strength still limits their application to its full potential. Hydrogels can be reinforced with organic, inorganic, and metal‐based nanofillers to improve their mechanical strength. Due to improved computational power, computational‐based techniques are emerging as a leading characterization technique for nanocomposites and hydrogels. In nanomaterials, atomistic description governs the mechanical strength and thermal behavior that realized atomistic level simulations as an appropriate approach to capture the deformation governing mechanism. Among atomistic simulations, the molecular dynamics (MD)‐based approach is emerging as a prospective technique for simulating neat and nanocomposite‐based hydrogels' mechanical and thermal behavior. The success and accuracy of MD simulation entirely depend on the force field. This review article will compile the force field employed by the research community to capture the atomistic interactions in different nanocomposite‐based hydrogels. This article will comprehensively review the progress made in the atomistic approach to study neat and nanocomposite‐based hydrogels' properties. The authors have enlightened the challenges and limitations associated with the atomistic modeling of hydrogels.

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Dynamics and Monte‐Carlo Methods

Software > Molecular Modeling
A survey of online video advertising
Authors: Zhang Haijun , Mu Xiangyu , Yan Han , Ren Lang , Ma Jianghong
Published: January 2023

With the development of social media and the ubiquity of the Internet, recent years have witnessed the rapid development of online video advertising among publishers and advertisers. Video advertising, as a new type of advertisement, has gained significant research attention from both academia and industry, coinciding with the ever‐growing volume of online videos. In this research, we provide a comprehensive survey of online video advertising in the fields of social science and computer science. We investigate state‐of‐the‐art articles from 1990 to the present and provide a new taxonomy of extant research topics based on these articles. We also highlight the factors that cause advertising to affect people and the most popular video advertising techniques used in computer science. Finally, on the basis of the analytics of the surveyed papers, future challenges are identified and potential solutions to these are discussed.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Multimedia

Application Areas > Internet and Web‐Based Applications
ANEC on stress-tensor states in perturbative λ ϕ4 theory
Authors: Bautista Teresa , Casarin Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We evaluate the Average Null Energy Condition (ANEC) on momentum eigenstates generated by the stress tensor in perturbative λ ϕ4 and general spacetime dimension. We first compute the norm of the stress-tensor state at second order in λ; as a by-product of the derivation we obtain the full expression for the stress tensor 2-point function at this order. We then compute the ANEC expectation value to first order in λ, which also depends on the coupling of the stress-tensor improvement term ξ. We study the bounds on these couplings that follow from the ANEC and unitarity at first order in perturbation theory. These bounds are stronger than unitarity in some regions of coupling space.
Revisiting thermodynamic topologies of black holes
Authors: Fang Chaoxi , Jiang Jie , Zhang Ming
Published: January 2023

Abstract

In the generalized off-shell free energy landscape, black holes can be treated as thermodynamic topological defects. The local topological properties of the spacetime can be reflected by the winding numbers at the defects, while the global topological nature can be classified by the topological number which is the sum of all local winding numbers. We propose that the winding numbers can be calculated via the residues of isolated one-order pole points of characterized functions constructed from the off-shell free energy. Using the residue method, we show that the topologies of black holes can be divided into three classes with the topological numbers being -1, 0, and 1, respectively, being consistent with the results obtained in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 191101 (2022)] by using the topological current method. Moreover, we point out that standard defect points, generation and annihilation points, and critical points can be distinguished by coefficients of the Laurent series of the off-shell characterized function at those singular points.
FRÖLICHER SPECTRAL SEQUENCE AND HODGE STRUCTURES ON THE COHOMOLOGY OF COMPLEX PARALLELISABLE MANIFOLDS
Authors: KASUYA H. , STELZIG J.
Published: January 2023

For complex parallelisable manifolds Γ\G, with G a solvable or semisimple complex Lie group, the Frölicher spectral sequence degenerates at the second page. In the solvable case, the de Rham cohomology carries a pure Hodge structure. In contrast, in the semisimple case, purity depends on the lattice, but there is always a direct summand of the de Rham cohomology which does carry a pure Hodge structure and is independent of the lattice.
Revision der anatomischen Schulterprothese
Authors: Mauch Frieder , Huth Jochen
Published: January 2023

Mit der steigenden Anzahl der Primärprothetik nehmen die Revisionen der anatomischen Prothese einen immer höheren Stellenwert ein. Die häufigsten Revisionsgründe sind Glenoidlockerung, einschließlich Protrusion, Insuffizienz der Rotatorenmanschette, einschließlich Instabilität, und Früh‑/Spätinfekt. Der glenoidale Defektaufbau kann mit einem Autograft oder Allograft erfolgen. Er wird je nach Größe und Situation ein- oder zweizeitig durchgeführt. Die in den letzten Jahren immer häufiger eingesetzten metaphysär verankerten Prothesen und Kurzschaftprothesen haben die humerale Revision deutlich vereinfacht. Einen anderen Weg beschreiten die Plattformsysteme mit der Möglichkeit der Konversion ohne höhergradige Eingriffe am Glenoid oder Wechsel des Schaftes. Intraoperative Komplikationen treten vor allem humeral auf. Postoperative Komplikationen sind neben der Luxation die Komponentenlockerung und der Infekt. Der Wechsel einer anatomischen Prothese auf eine inverse Prothese zeigt bessere klinische Ergebnisse, sowie niedrigere Komplikationsraten als der Wechsel auf nochmals eine anatomische Prothese.
Euthanasie im Nationalsozialismus – Untersuchungen an drei Skeletten der Kriegsgräberstätte Idstein-Kalmenhof (Hessen)
Authors: Holz F. , Verhoff M. A. , Mückenberger K. , Kántor F. , Schulte J. E. , Krause V. , Kozlowski J. , Birngruber C. G. , Wunder C. , Zehner R. , Fischer S. , Betz W. , Kölzer S. C.
Published: January 2023

Hintergrund

Der Kalmenhof wurde 1888 vom „Verein für die Idiotenanstalt zu Idstein“ gegründet. Während der NS-Zeit wurden in der „Kinderfachabteilung“ hunderte Kinder und Jugendliche von Ärzten und Pflegern getötet.

Material und Methoden

Nachdem ein historisches Gutachten und Georadaruntersuchungen Hinweise auf Gräber außerhalb einer als Kriegsgräberstätte ausgewiesenen Fläche erbrachte, erfolgten im Sommer 2020 Grabungen.

Ergebnisse

Außerhalb der Kriegsgräberstätte fanden sich keine Gräber. Innerhalb des Areals wurde eine Mehrfachbestattung von drei Individuen in einer 160 × 65 cm großen Grube entdeckt. Die knöchernen Überreste wurden exhumiert und makroskopisch, radiologisch, toxikologisch und molekulargenetisch untersucht. Zwei Individuen waren männlich, das Sterbealter betrug etwa 2,0 bis 2,25 Jahre und 2,5 Jahre. Das dritte Individuum war eine Jugendliche, die Untersuchungen ihrer sterblichen Überreste erbrachten Hinweise auf wiederholte und längere Zeit bestehende Phasen mit unzureichender Nährstoffversorgung. An keinem der Individuen fanden sich Zeichen einer körperlichen Behinderung, prä- oder perimortale Verletzungen. Die toxikologischen Untersuchungen verliefen für alle Individuen negativ. Für die beiden kindlichen Skelette konnte ein vollständiges STR-Profil erstellt werden, an dem jugendlichen Skelett gelang lediglich eine Geschlechtsbestimmung.

Diskussion

Die Ergebnisse stützen historische Angaben, wonach Gräber mehrfach belegt wurden. Demgegenüber war eine Unterteilung des Friedhofes nach dem Sterbealter nicht nachvollziehbar, ebenso wenig, dass sich auf angrenzenden Grundstücken Gräber befinden. Durch die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse wurde ein konkreter Identitätsverdacht für die drei Individuen erarbeitet. Die knöchernen Überreste wurden am Volkstrauertag 2020 im Rahmen einer Gedenkveranstaltung wieder beigesetzt.
Mastering uncertainty in performance estimations of configurable software systems
Authors: Dorn Johannes , Apel Sven , Siegmund Norbert
Published: January 2023

Understanding the influence of configuration options on the performance of a software system is key for finding optimal system configurations, system understanding, and performance debugging. In the literature, a number of performance-influence modeling approaches have been proposed, which model a configuration option’s influence and a configuration’s performance as a scalar value. However, these point estimates falsely imply a certainty regarding an option’s influence that neglects several sources of uncertainty within the assessment process, such as (1) measurement bias, choices of model representation and learning process, and incomplete data. This leads to the situation that different approaches and even different learning runs assign different scalar performance values to options and interactions among them. The true influence is uncertain, though. There is no way to quantify this uncertainty with state-of-the-art performance modeling approaches.

We propose a novel approach, P4, which is based on probabilistic programming, that explicitly models uncertainty for option influences and consequently provides a confidence interval for each prediction alongside a scalar. This way, we can explain, for the first time, why predictions may be erroneous and which option’s influence may be unreliable. An evaluation on 13 real-world subject systems shows that P4’s accuracy is in line with the state of the art while providing reliable confidence intervals, in addition to scalar predictions. We qualitatively explain how uncertain influences of individual options and interactions cause inaccurate predictions.
Evaluating the role of CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) allele in inherited breast cancer predisposition
Authors: Kumpula Timo A. , Koivuluoma Susanna , Soikkonen Leila , Vorimo Sandra , Moilanen Jukka , Winqvist Robert , Mantere Tuomo , Kuismin Outi , Pylkäs Katri
Published: January 2023

CHEK2 is a well-established breast cancer susceptibility gene. The most frequent pathogenic CHEK2 variant is 1100delC, a loss-of-function mutation conferring 2-fold risk for breast cancer. This gene also harbors other rare variants encountered in the clinical gene panels for hereditary cancer. One of these is CHEK2 c.1312 G > T, p.(Asp438Tyr) in the kinase domain of the protein, but due to its rarity its clinical significance for breast cancer predisposition has remained unclear. Here, we tested the prevalence of CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) allele showing enrichment in the Northern Finnish population, in a total of 2284 breast cancer patients from this geographical region. Genotyping was performed for DNA samples extracted from peripheral blood using high-resolution melt analysis. Fourteen CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) carriers were identified (14/2284, 0.6%, P = 0.67): two in the cohort of breast cancer cases with the indication of inherited disease susceptibility (2/281, 0.7%, P = 1.00) and twelve in the breast cancer cohort unselected for the family history of disease and age at disease onset (12/2003, 0.6%, P = 0.66). This frequency did not differ from the frequency in the general population (10/1299, 0.8%). No CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) homozygotes were identified. Our results indicate that CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) carriers do not have an increased risk for breast cancer and the classification of the CHEK2 p.(Asp438Tyr) variant can be changed from the variant of uncertain significance (VUS) to likely benign for breast cancer.
Stability of Singular Solutions of Nonlinear Equations with Restricted Smoothness Assumptions
Authors: Fischer Andreas , Izmailov Alexey F. , Jelitte Mario
Published: January 2023

This work is concerned with conditions ensuring stability of a given solution of a system of nonlinear equations with respect to large (not asymptotically thin) classes of right-hand side perturbations. Our main focus is on those solutions that are in a sense singular, and hence, their stability properties are not guaranteed by “standard” inverse function-type theorems. In the twice differentiable case, these issues have received some attention in the existing literature. Moreover, a few results in this direction are known in the case when the first derivative is merely B-differentiable. Here, we further elaborate on a similar setting, but the main attention is paid to the case of piecewise smooth equations. Specifically, we study the effect of singularity of a solution for some active smooth selection on the overall stability properties, and we provide sufficient conditions ensuring the needed stability properties in the cases when such smooth selections may exist. Finally, an application to a piecewise smooth reformulation of complementarity problems is given.
Carer preparedness improved by providing a supportive educational intervention for carers of patients with high-grade glioma: RCT results
Authors: Halkett Georgia K. B. , Lobb Elizabeth A. , Phillips Jane L. , McDougall Emma , Clarke Jenny , Campbell Rachel , Dhillon Haryana M. , McGeechan Kevin , Hudson Peter , King Anne , Wheeler Helen , Kastelan Marina , Long Anne , Nowak Anna K. ,   the Care-IS Project Team, Newton Jade , Emery Laura , Gilbert Marie , Atwood Robyn , Miller Lisa , Agar Meera , Moorin Rachael , Shaw Therese , Bulsara Max
Published: January 2023

Background

High-grade glioma (HGG) is a rapidly progressing and debilitating disease. Family carers take on multiple responsibilities and experience high levels of distress. We aimed to deliver a nurse-led intervention (Care-IS) to carers to improve their preparedness to care and reduce distress.

Methods

We conducted a randomised controlled trial (ACTRN:12612001147875). Carers of HGG patients were recruited during patients’ combined chemoradiation treatment. The complex intervention comprised four components: (1) initial telephone assessment of carer unmet needs; (2) tailored hard-copy resource folder; (3) home visit; and, (4) monthly telephone support for up to 12 months. Primary outcomes included preparedness for caregiving and distress at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. Intervention effects were estimated using linear mixed models which included a time by group interaction. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, quality of life, carer competence and strain.

Results

We randomised 188 carers (n = 98 intervention, n = 90 control). The intervention group reported significantly higher preparedness for caregiving at 4 months (model β = 2.85, 95% CI 0.76–4.93) and all follow-up timepoints including 12 months (model β = 4.35, 95% CI 2.08–6.62), compared to the control group. However, there was no difference between groups in carer distress or any secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

This intervention was effective in improving carer preparedness. However, carer distress was not reduced, potentially due to the debilitating/progressive nature of HGG and ongoing caring responsibilities. Future research must explore whether carer interventions can improve carer adjustment, self-efficacy and coping and how we support carers after bereavement. Additionally, research is needed to determine how to implement carer support into practice.
On randomized sketching algorithms and the Tracy–Widom law
Authors: Ahfock Daniel , Astle William J. , Richardson Sylvia
Published: January 2023

There is an increasing body of work exploring the integration of random projection into algorithms for numerical linear algebra. The primary motivation is to reduce the overall computational cost of processing large datasets. A suitably chosen random projection can be used to embed the original dataset in a lower-dimensional space such that key properties of the original dataset are retained. These algorithms are often referred to as sketching algorithms, as the projected dataset can be used as a compressed representation of the full dataset. We show that random matrix theory, in particular the Tracy–Widom law, is useful for describing the operating characteristics of sketching algorithms in the tall-data regime when the sample size n is much greater than the number of variables d. Asymptotic large sample results are of particular interest as this is the regime where sketching is most useful for data compression. In particular, we develop asymptotic approximations for the success rate in generating random subspace embeddings and the convergence probability of iterative sketching algorithms. We test a number of sketching algorithms on real large high-dimensional datasets and find that the asymptotic expressions give accurate predictions of the empirical performance.
Putting the ‘Experiment’ back into the ‘Thought Experiment’
Authors: Sartori Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Philosophers have debated at length the epistemological status of scientific thought experiments. I contend that the literature on this topic still lacks a common conceptual framework, a lacuna that produces radical disagreement among the participants in this debate. To remedy this problem, I suggest focusing on the distinction between the internal and the external validity of an experiment, which is also crucial for thought experiments. I then develop an account of both kinds of validity in the context of thought experiments. I show that we can naturally conceptualise internal validity in terms of games of make-believe. Then, I argue that external validity is best defined as accurate representation of a target system. Finally, I turn back to the current debate on thought experiments and show that my diarchic account provides a general framework that can be shared by the competing philosophical views, as well as a fruitful guide for their reconciliation.
Tracking Structural Deactivation of H-Ferrierite Zeolite Catalyst During MTH with XRD
Authors: Capel Berdiell Izar , Braghin Giorgio Bruno , Cordero-Lanzac Tomás , Beato Pablo , Lundegaard Lars F. , Wragg David , Bordiga Silvia , Svelle Stian
Published: January 2023

We used the methanol-to-hydrocarbon (MTH) reaction as a shape-selective model reaction to investigate coke formation in zeolite H-Ferrierite. Despite being a 2D topology in terms of channel propagation, the FER framework displays a lattice expansion in all three dimensions of space upon deactivation. Therefore, the volume of the unit cell is an excellent X-Ray diffraction (XRD) descriptor for the catalyst deactivation. A model with dummy atoms added, also proved to be an accurate approach to measure the amount of internal coke and/or water inside the pore network correlated with thermogravimetric analysis results. While the catalyst deactivation of the H-Ferrerite during the MTH was fast, a comparably long induction period was observed. We were able to track such fast deactivation with the aforementioned descriptors by means of an operando XRD study by a standard laboratory diffractometer.
Master crack types and typical acoustic emission characteristics during rock failure
Authors: Zhao Tongbin , Zhang Pengfei , Xiao Yaxun , Guo Weiyao , Zhang Yulong , Zhang Xiufeng
Published: January 2023

Acoustic emission (AE) signals contain substantial information about the internal fracture characteristics of rocks and are useful for revealing the laws governing the release of energy stored therein. Reported here is the evolution of rock failure with different master crack types  as investigated using Brazilian splitting tests (BSTs), direct shear tests (DSTs), and uniaxial compression tests (UCTs). The AE parameters and typical modes of each fracture type were obtained, and the energy release characteristics of each fracture mechanism were discussed. From the observed changes in the AE parameters, the rock fracture process exhibits characteristics of staged intensification. The scale and energy level of crack activity in the BSTs were significantly lower than those in the DSTs and UCTs. The proportion of tensile cracks in the BSTs was 65%–75%, while the proportions of shear cracks in the DSTs and UCTs were 75%–85% and 70%–75%, respectively. During the rock loading process under different conditions, failure was accompanied by an increased number of shear cracks. The amplitude, duration, and rise time of the AE signal from rock failure were larger when the failure was dominated by shear cracks rather than tensile ones, and most of the medium- and high-energy signals had medium to low frequencies. After calculating the proposed energy amplitude ratio, the energy release of shear cracks was found to exceed that of tensile cracks at the same fracture scale.
Detection of Inconsistencies in SysML/OCL Models Using OWL Reasoning
Authors: Lu Shan , Tazin Alexey , Chen Yanji , Kokar Mieczyslaw M. , Smith Jeff
Published: January 2023

Requirement change management is a challenging issue in software development. One of the main objectives of the Intent-Defined Adaptive Software program is to verify the satisfaction of requirement changes during software development. In this paper, we develop an ontology-based method to detect inconsistencies in Systems Modeling Language (SysML) models with Object Constraint Language (OCL) constraints as a first step of requirement change management. Specifically, we map the SysML/OCL models to Web Ontology Language (OWL), so that the consistency of the corresponding ontology can be checked by OWL reasoners automatically. We propose a set of mapping rules to interpret the components of SysML state machine diagrams, along with OCL constraints, to OWL. Toward this objective, we demonstrate three consistency reasoning tasks over a state machine diagram using OWL reasoners. In each case, the result of reasoning is accompanied by an explanation of the logic behind the decision.
Oryzalexin S biosynthesis: a cross-stitched disappearing pathway
Authors: Zhao Le , Oyagbenro Richard , Feng Yiling , Xu Meimei , Peters Reuben J.
Published: January 2023

Rice produces many diterpenoid phytoalexins and, reflecting the importance of these natural products in this important cereal crop plant, its genome contains three biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for such metabolism. The chromosome 4 BGC (c4BGC) is largely associated with momilactone production, in part due to the presence of the initiating syn-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase gene (OsCPS4). Oryzalexin S is also derived from syn-CPP. However, the relevant subsequently acting syn-stemarene synthase gene (OsKSL8) is not located in the c4BGC. Production of oryzalexin S further requires hydroxylation at carbons 2 and 19 (C2 and C19), presumably catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenases. Here it is reported the closely related CYP99A2 and CYP99A3, whose genes are also found in the c4BGC catalyze the necessary C19-hydroxylation, while the closely related CYP71Z21 and CYP71Z22, whose genes are found in the recently reported chromosome 7 BGC (c7BGC), catalyze subsequent hydroxylation at C2α. Thus, oryzalexin S biosynthesis utilizes two distinct BGCs, in a pathway cross-stitched together by OsKSL8. Notably, in contrast to the widely conserved c4BGC, the c7BGC is subspecies (ssp.) specific, being prevalent in ssp. japonica and only rarely found in the other major ssp. indica. Moreover, while the closely related syn-stemodene synthase OsKSL11 was originally considered to be distinct from OsKSL8, it has now been reported to be a ssp. indica derived allele at the same genetic loci. Intriguingly, more detailed analysis indicates that OsKSL8(j) is being replaced by OsKSL11 (OsKSL8i), suggesting introgression from ssp. indica to (sub)tropical japonica, with concurrent disappearance of oryzalexin S production.
Assessment of toxic normal saturated hydrocarbons in the Arabian seawater and Omani freshwater samples using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Al Qamshouai Rayyan Hamed , Ahmed Aya Mohammed Amin , Alsaid Ayman Alsaid Ibrahim , Akhtar Mohammad Sohail , Al-Touby Salem Said Jaroof , Hossain Mohammad Amzad
Published: January 2023

The NHs contaminated water samples can cause several health problems such as skin irritation, acne, irregular breathing, lung irritation, cardiac arrest, itching, central nervous system (CNS), and cancer. Therefore, this current study aims to develop extraction and detection methods for normal hydrocarbons (NHs) in water samples with dichloromethane (DCM) and to detect and quantify the level of NHs in the seawater and freshwater samples by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Sixty-four water samples were collected from five different ports of Oman, including, Matrah, Al Mouj Marina, Salalah, Duqm, and Sohar ports, and one fresh water from Falaj Daris. The solvent–solvent extraction method was used to extract the NHs of seawater and freshwater sample with DCM. The DCM layer was passed through the silica gel column and evaporated DCM by using a rotary evaporator at low temperature and pressure. The samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The results showed that all collected seawater and freshwater samples contain NHs, but the concentration is below the detection limit. The water samples of those selected areas were not polluted by NHs toxicants. In conclusion, the low concentration of NHs could be due to the effective treatment of effluents discharged by industries, refineries, ships, and other marine vehicles. So far, it is the first report on extracting and detecting NHs in seawater and freshwater samples using LC/MS.
Shakespeare and Beckett
Authors: Olk Claudia
Published: January 2023

'The danger is in the neatness of identifications', Samuel Beckett famously stated, and, at first glance, no two authors could be further distant from one another than William Shakespeare and Samuel Beckett. This book addresses the vast intertextual network between the works of both writers and explores the resonant correspondences between them. It analyses where and how these resonances manifest themselves in their aesthetics, theatre, language and form. It traces convergences and inversions across both œuvres that resound beyond their conditions of production and possibility. Uncovering hitherto unexplored relations between the texts of an early modern and a late modern author, this study seeks to offer fresh readings of single passages and entire works, but it will also describe productive tensions and creative incongruences between them.
Healthcare Funding and Christian Ethics
Authors: Duckett Stephen
Published: January 2023

Healthcare has an impact on everyone, and healthcare funding decisions shape how and what healthcare is provided. In this book, Stephen Duckett outlines a Christian, biblically grounded, ethical basis for how decisions about healthcare funding and priority-setting ought to be made. Taking a cue from the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Duckett articulates three ethical principles drawn from the story:  compassion as a motivator; inclusivity, or social justice as to benefits; and responsible stewardship of the resources required to achieve the goals of treatment and prevention. These are principles, he argues, that should underpin a Christian ethic of healthcare funding. Duckett's book is a must for healthcare professionals and theologians struggling with moral questions about rationing in healthcare. It is also relevant to economists interested in the strengths and weaknesses of the application of their discipline to health policy.