bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The work and training situation for young physicians undergoing specialty training in gynecology and obstetrics in Germany: an assessment of the status quo
Authors: Lermann Johannes , Knabl Julia , Neimann Johannes , Schulte Kevin , Proske Kim , Schott Sarah , Raspe Matthias
Published: May 2020

Purpose

General conditions in the health-care system in Germany have changed dramatically in recent years. Factors affecting this include above all demographic change, rapid developments in diagnostic and therapeutic options, and the application of economic criteria to the health-care sector. This study aimed to establish the current status quo regarding conditions of work and training for young doctors in gynecology and obstetrics, analyze stress factors, and suggest potential improvements.

Methods

Between October 2015 and March 2016, a web-based survey was carried out among residents and members of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics. The electronic questionnaire comprised 65 items on seven topics. Part of the survey included the short version of a validated model of professional gratification crises for analyzing psychosocial work-related stress.

Results

The analysis included a total of 391 complete datasets. Considerable negative findings in relation to psychosocial work pressure, time and organizational factors, quality of specialty training, and compatibility between work and family life and work and academic tasks were detected. A high level of psychosocial work pressure is associated with more frequent job changes, reduced working hours, poorer health among physicians, and a lower subjectively assessed quality of care.

Conclusions

Greater efforts are needed from all the participants involved in patient care to achieve high-quality training and working conditions that allow physicians to work in a healthy and effective way. These aspects are all prerequisites for sustainably maximizing the resource “physician” and for ensuring high-quality patient care.
HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and ProExC: diagnostic or prognostic relevance in conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia?
Authors: Nuessle Simone , Soriano Daniel , Boehringer Daniel , Mittelviefhaus Hans , Lange Clemens , Reinhard Thomas , Atzrodt Lisa , Auw-Haedrich Claudia
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and ProExC expression in conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), to differentiate between metaplasia and dysplasia, and to access their value as diagnostic and prognostic immunohistochemical markers. Recurrence and progression into SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) were defined as endpoints.

Methods

Forty-three specimens including CIN I (2), CIN II (9), CIN III (29), with and without metaplasia, and metaplasia alone (3), as well as 21 conjunctival control specimens, were stained with antibodies against HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and ProExC. The percentage of positively stained cells were calculated and used for further analysis.

Results

The mean percentages of HIF-1α and HIF-2α were not increased in CIN. In comparison, the expressions of these markers were even significantly elevated in control specimens (p < 0.001). Upper epithelial cells in CIN were more often ProExC-positive compared with normal conjunctiva or metaplasia (p = 0.06 and p = 0.07). Cox proportional-hazards analysis was performed for characterization of factors influencing the combined endpoint and showed a significant elevated hazard ratio for staining with ProExC (p = 0.04) compared with HIF-1α (p = 0.26) and HIF-2α (p = 0.49).

Conclusion

Our study shows that HIF-1α and HIF-2α do not serve as diagnostic or prognostic markers in CIN. ProExC seems to be a potential indicator for CIN, but not a reliable diagnostic marker. However, control specimens occasionally also display a high percentage of ProExC-positive cells and staining over the entire epithelial layer.
Das „framing“ der sechsmonatigen Karenzregel in der Lebertransplantation. Ein Beispiel für sprachlich vermittelte Deutungsmuster zur Eingrenzung des Indikationsgebietes
Authors: Primc Nadia
Published: May 2020

Die deutschen Richtlinien zur Lebertransplantation sehen vor, dass Patient*innen mit alkoholbedingten Lebererkrankungen in der Regel eine sechsmonatige Karenz nachweisen müssen, bevor sie auf die Warteliste für eine Lebertransplantation aufgenommen werden können. Die international weit verbreitete Karenzregel wurde von Beginn an sehr kritisch diskutiert, da hiermit Patient*innen eine wirksame und potentiell lebensrettende Therapie zumindest vorübergehend vorenthalten wird. Sie kommt in der Praxis einer (vorübergehenden) Eingrenzung der Indikation zur Lebertransplantation gleich. Aus der medizinischen Fachliteratur lassen sich vier Interpretationsrahmen rekonstruieren, die mittels Herausstellung bestimmter Aspekte eine jeweils unterschiedliche Wahrnehmung und Konzeptualisierung der sechsmonatigen Karenzregel begründen. Diese sprachlich vermittelten Deutungsmuster werden von Akteur*innen zur Eingrenzung der Indikation zur Lebertransplantation genutzt. Innerhalb dieser Interpretationsrahmen wird die sechsmonatige Karenzzeit jeweils 1) als diagnostisches Werkzeug zur Bestimmung der Regenerationsfähigkeit der Leber, 2) als prognostisches Werkzeug zur Bestimmung der Erfolgsaussichten einer Transplantation, bzw. 3) zur Bestimmung des Trinkverhaltens nach Transplantation dargestellt. In einem weiteren Rahmen wird die Karenzregel 4) als Ausdruck einer Verpflichtung zur Vermeidung von gesundheitsschädlichem Verhalten interpretiert. Aus diesen vier Interpretationsrahmen ergeben sich unterschiedliche ethische Fragestellungen, die eine systematische ethische Beurteilung der Karenzregel ermöglichen. In den ersten drei Interpretationsrahmen wird wiederum selbst die Frage nach der medizinischen Indiziertheit der Karenzregel aufgeworfen.
Model-based long-term pricing in maritime container shipping
Authors: Schönberger Jörn
Published: May 2020

This article reports the development and the assessment of a freight rate optimization approach based on mathematical modeling and optimization. It exploits the functional interdependency between the price of a (service) product and the quantity of the product using this price. Solving the proposed model enables a differentiated and shipper-specific rate determination accompanied by the allocation of the transport capacity provided by the carrier to different shippers. This bilateral pricing between carrier and shippers considers market-based reference rates typically available in the maritime container shipping industry. Herewith, we integrate market-based pricing with demand-based pricing. We validate the proposed model in computational experiments for an artificial pricing scenario. An analysis of the achieved results demonstrates that missing overcapacities will lead to reduced revenues if spot market prices are too low.
Digital readiness index assessment towards smart port development
Authors: Philipp Robert
Published: May 2020

Digital technologies receive more and more attention in the maritime transport sector. Large ports such as Rotterdam or Antwerp are already heavily investing in digital databased technologies and thus, continue to rely on a sustainable expansion of these advanced technologies that promise security, process optimization and sustainability. Conversely, especially smaller ports have no or limited knowledge on what Industry 4.0, IoT and Blockchain are and what potentials they may have. Nevertheless, without the inclusion of small and medium-sized ports, the innovative idea towards a smart port development stays unachievable. Related to this, there exist a lack of concepts and models for measuring the digital performance of ports. Without such tools, it is impossible to audit the digital status of ports and to derive a concrete strategic roadmap for the digital transformation of ports. Accordingly, in this study, the research questions will be investigated, how the digital performance of ports can be assessed, and which strategic recommendations can be derived for ports regarding a sustainable development towards a smart port. Building upon the received qualitative data that were gathered through an online survey and IT based expert interviews, a digital readiness index for ports is applied in case of five selected seaports. The results will show that building upon the benchmarking and indexing of the ports, the current strategic positioning of the ports becomes apparent. Through this, the respective strategic recommendations for a sustainable development towards a smart port can be derived in accordance to each port classification.
Executive function training in very preterm children: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: van Houdt Carolien A. , van Wassenaer-Leemhuis Aleid G. , Oosterlaan Jaap , Königs Marsh , Koopman-Esseboom Corine , Laarman A. R. Céleste , van Kaam Anton H. , Aarnoudse-Moens Cornelieke S. H.
Published: May 2020

Objective of the current study was to assess whether game-formatted executive function (EF) training, is effective in improving attention, EF and academic performance in very preterm and/or extremely low birthweight children aged 8–12 years. A multi-center, double-blind, placebo- and waitlist controlled randomized trial (NTR5365) in two academic hospitals in The Netherlands was performed. Eighty-five very preterm children with parent-rated attention problems on the Child Behavior Checklist were randomized to one of three treatment conditions: EF training, placebo training or waitlist condition. EF or placebo training was completed at home (6 weeks, 25 sessions of 30–45 min each). At baseline, 2 weeks after training or being on the waitlist, and five months after first follow-up visit, children underwent assessments of primary outcomes (parent and teacher ratings of attention) and secondary outcomes (parent and teacher ratings of daily-life EF, computerized EF tasks and academic performance). Linear mixed model analyses were performed for all outcome measures. There were no significant differences in improvement over time on parent- and teacher ratings of attention, parent- and teacher ratings of daily-life EF, computerized EF tasks, and academic performance (arithmetic and reading) between the EF training, placebo training and waitlist condition. In conclusion, game-formatted EF training does not improve attention, EF or academic performance in very preterm children with parent-rated attention problems.
Asian options with zero cost-of-carry: EEX options on freight and iron ore futures
Authors: Haug Espen Gaarder
Published: May 2020

The Turnbull–Wakeman (J Financ Quant Anal 26:377, 2003) formula is a well-known formula for continuous arithmetic average rate options. However, the Turnbull–Wakeman formula was originally only developed for Asian options when the cost-of-carry is different from zero. In many commodity and energy markets where Asian options frequently trade, the average is typically based on futures or forward prices, that is to say, the cost-of-carry for the underlying asset is zero. Options on stocks can also have a cost-of-carry of zero. If the continuous dividend yield is equal to the risk-free rate, then the extension given in this note can be used in that case as well.
RNAi: What is its position in agriculture?
Authors: Mezzetti Bruno , Smagghe Guy , Arpaia Salvatore , Christiaens Olivier , Dietz-Pfeilstetter Antje , Jones Huw , Kostov Kaloyan , Sabbadini Silvia , Opsahl-Sorteberg Hilde-Gunn , Ventura Vera , Taning Clauvis Nji Tizi , Sweet Jeremy
Published: May 2020

RNA interference (RNAi) is being developed and exploited to improve plants by modifying endogenous gene expression as well as to target pest and pathogen genes both within plants (i.e. host-induced gene silencing) and/or as topical applications (e.g. spray-induced gene silencing). RNAi is a natural mechanism which can be exploited to make a major contribution towards integrated pest management and sustainable agricultural strategies needed worldwide to secure current and future food production. RNAi plants are being assessed and regulated using existing regulatory frameworks for GMO. However, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate science-based risk assessment procedures for topical RNAi applications within existing plant protection products legislation.
Distribution and genetic variability of young-of-the-year greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) in the East China Sea
Authors: Hasegawa Takamasa , Lu Ching-Ping , Hsiao Sheng-Tai , Uchino Tsubasa , Yeh Hsin-Ming , Chiang Wei-Chuan , Chen June-Ru , Sassa Chiyuki , Komeyama Kazuyoshi , Kawabe Ryo , Sakamoto Takashi , Masumi Satoshi , Uchida Jun , Aoshima Takashi , Sakakura Yoshitaka
Published: May 2020

We examined the distribution and genetic variability of the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili in the East China Sea (ECS) from the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of young-of-the-year (YOY) individuals, which may reflect the genetic characteristics of the spawning population. In the years 2016 and 2017, a total of 165 YOY S. dumerili were collected from two different locations in the ECS: the southern part of the ECS, and western Japanese coast. The spawning period was estimated using otolith daily increments from a total of 67 larvae and juveniles collected in the ECS. Results from size and age distribution indicated that S. dumerili spawned near the shelf break region in the southern ECS from January to April. Phylogenetic analysis based on mtDNA sequence data showed no significant genetic differentiation among samples collected from different locations, implying S. dumerili in the ECS is mainly composed of one population. S. dumerili around the Japanese coast may be originated from the southern ECS.
Access and allocation in earth system governance: lessons learnt in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Gupta Joyeeta , Lebel Louis
Published: May 2020

Researching socio-ecological justice issues in earth system governance can be operationalized through an Access (securing minimum needs) and Allocation (allocating the remaining resources, responsibilities and risks) framework. This paper synthesizes the review articles in this special issue. It concludes that (a) although international trade, investment and aid aim to enhance access, efficiently allocate resources and reduce risk, in practice the volume of trade and investment, the geographical distance between production and consumption, the pursuit of competitiveness and use of market instruments have concentrated wealth at great cost to socio-ecological justice; (b) research on food, water, energy, climate change and biodiversity reveal multiple linkages among the sustainable development goals, underlining the limitations of sectoral and incremental approaches to socio-ecological justice, for example, for smallholders; (c) while access issues are becoming difficult for politicians to ignore, allocation issues are being side-stepped because they draw too much attention to the underlying causes of inequality and poverty, (d) corrective justice is not enough, substantive justice approaches are needed emphasizing a rights-based framework and allocation cannot be exclusively left to market forces and mechanisms when it concerns public and merit goods; and (e) the terms access and allocation, although individually used, are not popular as a paired framework in the socio-ecological justice literature, but remain highly salient and cover the key justice issues for improving earth system governance.
Compliance to prescribing guidelines among public health care facilities in Namibia; findings and implications
Authors: Niaz Qamar , Godman Brian , Campbell Stephen , Kibuule Dan
Published: May 2020

BackgroundThe World Health Organization estimates that over 50% medicines are prescribed inappropriately and the main driver of antimicrobial resistance globally. There have only been a limited number of studies evaluating prescribing patterns against national standard treatment guidelines (STGs) in sub-Saharan African countries including Namibia. This is important given the high prevalence of both infectious and non-infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa alongside limited resources.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess prescribing practices and drivers of compliance to National guidelines among public health care facilities in Namibia to provide future guidance.SettingThree levels of public healthcare in Namibia.MethodA mixed method approach including patient exit and prescriber interviews at three levels of health care in Namibia, i.e. hospital, health centre and clinic.Main outcome measuresMedicine prescribing indicators, compliance to and attitudes towards National guidelines.ResultsOf the 1243 prescriptions analysed, 73% complied with the STGs and 69% had an antibiotic. Of the 3759 medicines (i.e. mean of 3.0 ± 1.1) prescribed, 64% were prescribed generically. The vast majority of prescribers were aware of, and had access to, the Namibian STGs (94.6%), with the majority reporting that the guidelines are easy to use and they regularly refer to them. The main drivers of compliance to guidelines were programmatic, that is access to up-to date objective guidelines, support systems for continued education on their use, and ease of referencing. Lack of systems to regulate noncompliance impacted on their use.ConclusionWhilst the findings were encouraging, ongoing concerns included limited prescribing of generic medicines and high use of antibiotics. A prescribing performance management system should be introduced to improve and monitor compliance to prescribing guidelines in public healthcare.
Phytostabilisation on post-flotation sediment waste: mobility of heavy metals and stimulation of biochemical processes by mineral-organic mixtures
Authors: Gondek Krzysztof , Mierzwa-Hersztek Monika , Kopeć Michał , Bajda Tomasz
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The study aimed to determine the effect of the addition of innovative combinations of organic-mineral mixtures obtained from biochar (BC), zeolite (Z), soil (S), poultry litter (PL), and slurry (SL) to post-flotation sediment (PFS) on (i) heavy metal mobility, (ii) heavy metal accumulation in willow, and (iii) PFS respiratory activity.

Materials and methods

The tests were carried out under laboratory conditions in containers with 500 g of PFS, to which 1% (w/w) of organic-mineral mixtures were added. Willow was grown for 90 days on substrates with the addition of organic and mineral mixtures.

Results and discussion

The addition of mixtures BC + Z + S + PL and BC + Z + S + SL to PFS significantly reduced the pH to, respectively, 7.12 and 7.02. This can be attributed to the release of the hydrogen load combined with organic anions deriving from the mineralisation of organic materials and the nitrification process. The addition of BC + Z and BC + Z + S mixtures to PFS reduced the content of Zn-H2O by 65%, Cd-H2O by 48%, and Ni-H2O by 30%. The addition of BC + Z + S + PL and BC + Z + S + PL mixtures to PFS increased the content of water-extracted Pb, respectively, 40 and over 60 times. The content of bioavailable heavy metals (extraction with 1 M NH4NO3) in PFS was comparable in all treatments to which mixtures were added. Altered mobility of heavy metal ions may be associated with a change of substrate properties, including redox potential, pH value, as well as the introduction into the soil of materials with significantly developed sorption surfaces. In the first 2 weeks of incubation of mixtures with PFS, respiratory activity was very low, except for that in BC + Z + S + PL and BC + Z + S + SL treatments. In these treatments, oxygen consumption was more than 50 times higher compared to the control treatment and more than 10 times higher in relation to BC + Z and BC + Z + S treatments.

Conclusions

The mixtures of BC + Z and BC + Z + S effectively reduced the content of water-extracted heavy metals in PFS. BC + Z + S + PL and BC + Z + S + PL mixtures were not effective in reducing water-extracted mobile heavy metals in PFS. The introduction into PFS of mixtures partially composed of biologically unstable materials (PL, SL) increased the biochemical activity measured by respiratory activity and reduced biomass increment of willow aerial parts. The adverse response of willow to the introduction of mixtures with poultry litter or slurry into PFS indicates the need to verify the amount of these materials in the mixtures or to stabilise them by biological or thermal processes.
A Critical Review and Assessment of Different Thermoviscoplastic Material Models for Simultaneous Hot/Cold Forging Analysis
Authors: Nahrmann Marvin , Matzenmiller Anton
Published: May 2020

The simultaneous hot/cold forging is an innovative production process, taking advantage of the high accuracy for cold forming and low forces for hot forming. However, the choice of a suitable material model for such a large temperature range is a difficult issue and insufficiently regarded. Hence, the aim of this contribution is a critical review and assessment of the prediction capability and accuracy of three already existing thermo-viscoplasticity models. Therefore, the simulation results of the Bammann, Chiesa and Johnson (BCJ) model, the Evolving Microstructural M odel of I nelasticity (EMMI) and a recently proposed user defined constitutive model by Bröcker and Matzenmiller, based on an enhanced concept of rheological elements, are compared to test data considering a large range from room temperature up to approximately 1400 K (1127 ∘C). All three material models may represent the thermo-viscoplastic characteristics of metals, whereby each investigated material model comprises different approaches for the temperature dependency of the initial yield stress, nonlinear isotropic hardening, and strain rate sensitivity. All material parameters are identified with the test data of the low alloy steel 50CrV4/51CrV4, the case hardening steel 16MnCr5, the low carbon steel C15 and the aluminium alloy AlMgSi1 by using the commercial optimisation software LS-OPT. The prediction capability and accuracy of each model is evaluated on the basis of the mean squared error by means of a comparsion of real and predicted stress-strain curves for the four different metals. Finally, an industrial oriented hot/cold forging process for the production of a gear shaft made of the low alloy steel 51CrV4 is simulated with LS-DYNA using the three material models and, subsequently, their performance is discussed. As achievement of this model assessment, suitable as well as inappropriate temperature dependent approaches are identified for this large temperature range providing new insights into suitable material models for the analysis of a simultaneous hot/cold forging process.
ESTNeT: a discrete event simulator for space-terrestrial networks
Authors: Freimann A. , Dierkes M. , Petermann T. , Liman C. , Kempf F. , Schilling K.
Published: May 2020

The capabilities of small satellites have improved significantly in recent years. Specifically multi-satellite systems become increasingly popular, since they allow the support of new applications. The development and testing of these multi-satellite systems is a new challenge for engineers and requires the implementation of appropriate development and testing environments. In this paper, a modular network simulation framework for space–terrestrial systems is presented. It enables discrete event simulations for the development and testing of communication protocols, as well as mission-based analysis of other satellite system aspects, such as power supply and attitude control. ESTNeT is based on the discrete event simulator OMNeT++ and will be released under an open source license.
The Buddha and His Son
Authors: Anālayo Bhikkhu
Published: May 2020

This article surveys interactions between the Buddha and his son as reported in Pāli discourses and their parallels. Although by going forth as monastics both had left behind the secular setting of family life, the teachings the Buddha gave to Rāhula can be taken to exemplify qualities relevant to mindful parenting. Besides, teaching emerges as an activity that facilitates not only the progress of others to liberation but can also achieve the same purpose for the one who gives such teachings.
An electrochemical analysis of acute contamination of environmental water and restoring of water quality using taro carbon
Authors: Aman Efdtekhar U. M. , Islam Md. Fahamidul , Chowdhury Tahmid A. , Alam Md. Saiful , Elias Md. , Uddin Md. Nizam , Samed Ahmed J. , Hasnat Mohammad A.
Published: May 2020

Electrochemical techniques were successfully employed to estimate contamination of water of river Buriganga, Bangladesh. A Pt–Cu electrode has been exploited to measure selective nitrate concentration, and corrosion rate of iron has been proposed to indicate relative abundance of dissolved contaminants. In order to evaluate the pollution level, water parameters of river Buriganga have been compared with those obtained from two freshwater streams named Surma and Dawki of the country. An iron strip in contact with Buriganga river water is corroded three times rapidly compared to its contact with Dawki or Surma river water indicates acute contamination of Buriganga river water. The River Buriganga is facing acute pollution from the point of high TDS (0.664–0.694 g/L), low DO (1.47–4.4 mg/L), high COD (197–218 mg/L), high ammonia (270–420 mg/L) and high nitrate concentration (107–157 mg/L). Negative ORP value (− 292 to − 310 mV) of Buriganga river water indicates that the stream contains high level reducing species. Meanwhile, positive ORP value indicates that Dawki (+ 203 to + 209 mV) and Surma (+ 184 to + 205 mV) river water contain oxidizing species. Sediment analysis shows the deposition of disintegrated organic pollutants on the bottom of the River Buriganga. Cost-effective carbon material synthesized from taro stems has been proposed to restore water parameters of filthy water system like Buriganga river.
Production optimization in well-6 of Habiganj gas field, Bangladesh: a prospective application of Nodal analysis approach
Authors: Shah Md. Shaheen , Khan Md Hafijur Rahaman , Rahman Ananna , Butt Stephen
Published: May 2020

The overall performance of gas reservoirs and the optimization of production, as well as its sensitivity analysis, are affected by several factors such as reservoir pressure, well configuration and surface facilities. The Habiganj well no. 06 (HBJ-06) is one of the significant gas-producing vertical wells of the Habiganj gas field, currently producing 14.963 MMscfd of natural gas from the upper gas sand. The widely used Nodal analysis is an optimization technique to improve the performance and was applied for the HBJ-06 to increase its production rate by optimizing manners. By this analysis, each component starting from the reservoir to the outlet pressure of the separator was identified as a resistance in the system by evaluating their inflow performance relationship and vertical lift performance. The F.A.S.T. VirtuWell™ software package was used to perform this analysis, where the declinations of wellhead pressures were suggested as 1300, 1200, 1100 and 1000 psi(a) without any modification of the tubing diameter and skin factor. Hence, the respective optimized rates of the daily gas production were increased to 38.481, 40.993, 43.153 and 46.016 MMscfd. At the same time, the optimized condensate gas ratio was calculated as 0.07, 0.06, 0.06 and 0.05, associated with the optimized condensate water ratio of 0.11, 0.10, 0.09 and 0.08, respectively.
The potential long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patients with non-communicable diseases in Europe: consequences for healthy ageing
Authors: Palmer Katie , Monaco Alessandro , Kivipelto Miia , Onder Graziano , Maggi Stefania , Michel Jean-Pierre , Prieto Rita , Sykara Georgia , Donde Shaantanu
Published: May 2020

The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have focused on containing SARS-CoV-2 infection and identifying treatment strategies. While controlling this communicable disease is of utmost importance, the long-term effect on individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCD) is significant. Although certain NCDs appear to increase the severity of COVID-19 and mortality risk, SARS-CoV-2 infection in survivors with NCDs may also affect the progression of their pre-existing clinical conditions. Infection containment measures will have substantial short- and long-term consequences; social distancing and quarantine restrictions will reduce physical activity and increase other unhealthy lifestyles, thus increasing NCD risk factors and worsening clinical symptoms. Vitamin D levels might decrease and there might be a rise in mental health disorders. Many countries have made changes to routine management of NCD patients, e.g., cancelling non-urgent outpatient visits, which will have important implications for NCD management, diagnosis of new-onset NCDs, medication adherence, and NCD progression. We may have opportunities to learn from this unprecedented crisis on how to leverage healthcare technologies and improve procedures to optimize healthcare service provision. This article discusses how the COVID-19 outbreak and related infection control measures could hit the most frail individuals, worsening the condition of NCD patients, while further jeopardizing the sustainability of the healthcare systems. We suggest ways to define an integrated strategy that could involve both public institutional entities and the private sector to safeguard frail individuals and mitigate the impact of the outbreak.
Omalizumab in three children with severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: Rossberg Siri , Pleyer Uwe , Lau Susanne
Published: May 2020

Background

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a rare, recurrent form of ocular allergy that can be refractory to topical and systemic treatment. It typically presents as acute and chronic keratoconjunctival inflammation that may lead to visual impairment due to corneal ulcers and scaring. Patients often suffer from atopic IgE-driven comorbidities, especially atopic eczema. Children are frequently affected and often do not tolerate topical treatment well, especially if photophobia and pain impair therapy adherence. We present three children with severe VKC who were not controlled by first- and second-line topical and systemic therapy and finally responded to treatment with the monoclonal anti-IgE antibody omalizumab as third-line treatment.

Methods and results

We retrospectively analyzed three patients with VKC having failed response to first- and second-line treatment. All three boys had very early allergic rhinoconjunctivitis from age 1–3 with polysensitization: birch, grass pollen, house dust mite, and/or pets. All received subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy (SCIT/SLIT) for birch and/or grass pollen without major success. Two patients had comorbidities: allergic asthma and severe atopic dermatitis (AD). For at least 6 months after the first administration, monoclonal anti-IgE antibody omalizumab (150 or 300 mg) was administered subcutaneously every 2–6 weeks in all patients achieving improvement of the clinical grading scale from VKC grade 3–4 to grade 1–2. One patient had a relapse mainly of his AD and achieved complete control of AD and VKC by introduction of dupilumab.

Conclusion

Although the clinical benefit of omalizumab in asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has been established in several clinical trials, there are very little data about its effect on severe VKC. In addition to few previously reported cases we can report the rapid effectiveness of omalizumab in VKC clinically and in terms of quality of life. Randomized trials are needed to include omalizumab in third-line treatment of VKC for prevention of visual impairment and further sequelae such as corneal damage.
Human domestication and the roles of human agency in human evolution
Authors: Del Savio Lorenzo , Mameli Matteo
Published: May 2020

Are humans a domesticated species? How is this issue related to debates on the roles of human agency in human evolution? This article discusses four views on human domestication: (1) Darwin’s view; (2) the view of those who link human domestication to anthropogenic niche construction and, more specifically, to sedentism; (3) the view of those who link human domestication to selection against aggression and thedomestication syndrome; and (4) a novel view according to which human domestication can be conceived of in terms of a process ofpolitical selection. The article examines and compares these views to illustrate how discussions of human domestication can contribute to debates about how, and to what extent, human agency has affected human evolution.
Multiple-strategy learning particle swarm optimization for large-scale optimization problems
Authors: Wang Hao , Liang Mengnan , Sun Chaoli , Zhang Guochen , Xie Liping
Published: May 2020

The balance between the exploration and the exploitation plays a significant role in the meta-heuristic algorithms, especially when they are used to solve large-scale optimization problems. In this paper, we propose a multiple-strategy learning particle swarm optimization algorithm, called MSL-PSO, to solve problems with large-scale variables, in which different learning strategies are utilized in different stages. At the first stage, each individual tries to probe some positions by learning from the demonstrators who have better performance on the fitness value and the mean position of the population. All the best probed positions, each of which has the best fitness among all positions probed by its corresponding individual, will compose a new temporary population. The temporary population will be sorted on the fitness values in a descending order, and will be used for each individual to find its demonstrators, which is based on the rank of the best probed solution in the temporary population and the rank of the individual in the current population, to learn using a new strategy in the second stage. The first stage is used to improve the exploration capability, and the second one is expected to balance the convergence and diversity of the population. To verify the effectiveness of MSL-PSO for solving large-scale optimization problems, some empirical experiments are conducted, which include CEC2008 problems with 100, 500, and 1000 dimensions, and CEC2010 problems with 1000 dimensions. Experimental results show that our proposed MSL-PSO is competitive or has a better performance compared with ten state-of-the-art algorithms.
Engine performance and combustion characteristics of a direct injection compression ignition engine fueled waste cooking oil synthetic diesel
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Viet , Nguyen Khanh Duc , Ho Nang Xuan , Nguyen Vinh Duy
Published: May 2020

Biodiesels produced from various feedstocks have been considered as alternative fuels used in internal combustion engines without major modifications. This research focuses on producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCOSD) by the catalytic cracking method using MgO as the catalyst and comparing the engine operating characteristics of the test engine when using WCOSD and traditional diesel (CD) as test fuels. As a result, the brake power of the test engine fueled WCOSD, and traditional diesel is similar. However, the engine fuel consumption in the case of using WCOSD is slight increases in some operating conditions. Also, the nitrogen oxides emissions of the test engine fueled WCOSD are higher than those of CD at all tested conditions. The trend is opposite for hydrocarbon emission as the HC emission of the engine fueled by WCOSD reduces 26.3% on average. The smoke emission of the test engine in case of using WCOSD is lower 17% on average than that of CD. However, the carbon monoxide emissions are lower at the low and medium loads and higher at the full loads. These results show that the new biodiesel has the same characteristics as those of commercial biodiesel and can be used as fuel for diesel engines.
Atomically Dispersed Fe-N4 Modified with Precisely Located S for Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Jia Yin , Xiong Xuya , Wang Danni , Duan Xinxuan , Sun Kai , Li Yajie , Zheng Lirong , Lin Wenfeng , Dong Mingdong , Zhang Guoxin , Liu Wen , Sun Xiaoming
Published: May 2020

Immobilizing metal atoms by multiple nitrogen atoms has triggered exceptional catalytic activity toward many critical electrochemical reactions due to their merits of highly unsaturated coordination and strong metal-substrate interaction. Herein, atomically dispersed Fe-NC material with precise sulfur modification to Fe periphery (termed as Fe-NSC) was synthesized, X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis confirmed the central Fe atom being stabilized in a specific configuration of Fe(N3)(N–C–S). By enabling precisely localized S doping, the electronic structure of Fe-N4 moiety could be mediated, leading to the beneficial adjustment of absorption/desorption properties of reactant/intermediate on Fe center. Density functional theory simulation suggested that more negative charge density would be localized over Fe-N4 moiety after S doping, allowing weakened binding capability to *OH intermediates and faster charge transfer from Fe center to O species. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the Fe-NSC sample exhibited significantly enhanced oxygen reduction reaction performance compared to the S-free Fe-NC material (termed as Fe-NC), showing an excellent onset potential of 1.09 V and half-wave potential of 0.92 V in 0.1 M KOH. Our work may enlighten relevant studies regarding to accessing improvement on the catalytic performance of atomically dispersed M-NC materials by managing precisely tuned local environments of M-Nx moiety.
Simultaneous Hierarchical Bayesian Parameter Estimation for Reinforcement Learning and Drift Diffusion Models: a Tutorial and Links to Neural Data
Authors: Pedersen Mads L. , Frank Michael J.
Published: May 2020

Cognitive models have been instrumental for generating insights into the brain processes underlying learning and decision making. In reinforcement learning it has recently been shown that not only choice proportions but also their latency distributions can be well captured when the choice function is replaced with a sequential sampling model such as the drift diffusion model. Hierarchical Bayesian parameter estimation further enhances the identifiability of distinct learning and choice parameters. One caveat is that these models can be time-consuming to build, sample from, and validate, especially when models include links between neural activations and model parameters. Here we describe a novel extension to the widely used hierarchical drift diffusion model (HDDM) toolbox, which facilitates flexible construction, estimation, and evaluation of the reinforcement learning drift diffusion model (RLDDM) using hierarchical Bayesian methods. We describe the types of experiments most applicable to the model and provide a tutorial to illustrate how to perform quantitative data analysis and model evaluation. Parameter recovery confirmed that the method can reliably estimate parameters with varying numbers of synthetic subjects and trials. We also show that the simultaneous estimation of learning and choice parameters can improve the sensitivity to detect brain–behavioral relationships, including the impact of learned values and fronto-basal ganglia activity patterns on dynamic decision parameters.
Perception of Healthcare Access and Utility of Telehealth Among Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Authors: Peacock Dakota , Baumeister Peter , Monaghan Alex , Siever Jodi , Yoneda Joshua , Wile Daryl
Published: May 2020

Regional patient and physician density patterns pose problems to accessing care for people with Parkinson’s disease, though telehealth may improve access. We surveyed and conducted a focus group for people with Parkinson’s disease in Interior British Columbia regarding barriers to neurological care. Eighteen individuals completed the survey and seven parties joined the focus group. Perceived barriers include cost and difficulty of travel, wait times, and lack of specialized services outside large cities. 80% of participants (95% CI 64–96) would likely use telehealth for follow-up neurologist appointments. This sample of people with Parkinson’s disease reports willingness to use telehealth to reduce travel and improve access to specialty care.
BRANCH GROUPS, ORBIT GROWTH, AND SUBGROUP GROWTH TYPES FOR PRO- GROUPS
Authors: BARNEA YIFTACH , SCHLAGE-PUCHTA JAN-CHRISTOPH
Published: May 2020

In their book Subgroup Growth, Lubotzky and Segal asked: What are the possible types of subgroup growth of the pro-

$p$

group? In this paper, we construct certain extensions of the Grigorchuk group and the Gupta–Sidki groups, which have all possible types of subgroup growth between

$n^{(\log n)^{2}}$

and

$e^{n}$

. Thus, we give an almost complete answer to Lubotzky and Segal’s question. In addition, we show that a class of pro-

$p$

branch groups, including the Grigorchuk group and the Gupta–Sidki groups, all have subgroup growth type

$n^{\log n}$

.
RELATIVE COMPLETE REDUCIBILITY AND NORMALIZED SUBGROUPS
Authors: GRUCHOT MAIKE , LITTERICK ALASTAIR , RÖHRLE GERHARD
Published: May 2020

We study a relative variant of Serre’s notion of

$G$

-complete reducibility for a reductive algebraic group

$G$

. We let

$K$

be a reductive subgroup of

$G$

, and consider subgroups of

$G$

that normalize the identity component

$K^{\circ }$

. We show that such a subgroup is relatively

$G$

-completely reducible with respect to

$K$

if and only if its image in the automorphism group of

$K^{\circ }$

is completely reducible. This allows us to generalize a number of fundamental results from the absolute to the relative setting. We also derive analogous results for Lie subalgebras of the Lie algebra of

$G$

, as well as ‘rational’ versions over nonalgebraically closed fields.
When does job stress limit organizational citizenship behavior, or not? Personal and contextual resources as buffers
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Belausteguigoitia Imanol
Published: May 2020

Anchored in conservation of resources theory, this study considers how employees' experience of job stress might reduce their organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), as well as how this negative relationship might be buffered by employees' access to two personal resources (passion for work and adaptive humor) and two contextual resources (peer communication and forgiving climate). Data from a Mexican-based organization reveal that felt job stress diminishes OCB, but the effect is subdued at higher levels of the four studied resources. This study accordingly adds to extant research by elucidating when the actual experience of job stress is more or less likely to steer employees away from OCB – that is, when they have access to specific resources that hitherto have been considered direct enablers of such efforts instead of buffers of employees' negative behavioral responses to job stress.
Validity of predictive equations to estimate RMR in females with varying BMI
Authors: Thom George , Gerasimidis Konstantinos , Rizou Eleni , Alfheeaid Hani , Barwell Nick , Manthou Eirini , Fatima Sadia , Gill Jason M. R. , Lean Michael E. J. , Malkova Dalia
Published: May 2020

Estimation of RMR using prediction equations is the basis for calculating energy requirements. In the present study, RMR was predicted by Harris–Benedict, Schofield, Henry, Mifflin–St Jeor and Owen equations and measured by indirect calorimetry in 125 healthy adult women of varying BMI (17–44 kg/m2). Agreement between methods was assessed by Bland–Altman analyses and each equation was assessed for accuracy by calculating the percentage of individuals predicted within ± 10 % of measured RMR. Slopes and intercepts of bias as a function of average RMR (mean of predicted and measured RMR) were calculated by regression analyses. Predictors of equation bias were investigated using univariate and multivariate linear regression. At group level, bias (the difference between predicted and measured RMR) was not different from zero only for Mifflin–St Jeor (0 (sd153) kcal/d (0 (sd640) kJ/d)) and Henry (8 (sd163) kcal/d (33 (sd682) kJ/d)) equations. Mifflin–St Jeor and Henry equations were most accurate at the individual level and predicted RMR within 10 % of measured RMR in 71 and 66 % of participants, respectively. For all equations, limits of agreement were wide, slopes of bias were negative, and intercepts of bias were positive and significantly (P< 0⋅05) different from zero. Increasing age, height and BMI were associated with underestimation of RMR, but collectively these variables explained only 15 % of the variance in estimation bias. Overall accuracy of equations for prediction of RMR is low at the individual level, particularly in women with low and high RMR. The Mifflin–St Jeor equation was the most accurate for this dataset, but prediction errors were still observed in about one-third of participants.
Measuring Discretion and Delegation in Legislative Texts: Methods and Application to US States
Authors: Vannoni Matia , Ash Elliott , Morelli Massimo
Published: May 2020

Bureaucratic discretion and executive delegation are central topics in political economy and political science. The previous empirical literature has measured discretion and delegation by manually coding large bodies of legislation. Drawing from computational linguistics, we provide an automated procedure for measuring discretion and delegation in legal texts to facilitate large-scale empirical analysis. The method uses information in syntactic parse trees to identify legally relevant provisions, as well as agents and delegated actions. We undertake two applications. First, we produce a measure of bureaucratic discretion by looking at the level of legislative detail for US states and find that this measure increases after reforms giving agencies more independence. This effect is consistent with an agency cost model, where a more independent bureaucracy requires more specific instructions (less discretion) to avoid bureaucratic drift. Second, we construct measures of delegation to governors in state legislation. Consistent with previous estimates using non-text metrics, we find that executive delegation increases under unified government.
AN UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IN SITU14C EXTRACTION LINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BERN
Authors: Sliz M U , Espic C , Hofmann B A , Leya I , Szidat S
Published: May 2020

We present the current performance of the in situ radiocarbon (14C) extraction line at the University of Bern with an improved extraction and combustion system. After three major steps of improvement, the extraction of sample CO2gas now takes place inside a platinum crucible, supported by an outer quartz-glass crucible. This setup allows us to operate the line as a closed system for several samples without breaking the vacuum. Measurements of procedural blanks and samples from our reference strewn field, Jiddat al Harasis 073, performed in our system all show a good reproducibility and, for the strewn field samples, consistency with published data. We describe each improvement step in detail, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of all tested setups. By sharing our knowledge, we aim to inform and prevent others from making the same or similar detours in establishing14C extraction systems for extraterrestrial samples.