bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR) gene contents: Are they associated with cervical cancer?
Authors: Tembhurne Alok K. , Maheshwari Amita , Warke Himangi , Chaudhari Hemangi , Kerkar Shilpa C. , Deodhar Kedar , Rekhi Bharat , Mania‐Pramanik Jayanti
Published: May 2022

Killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) are required for natural killer cell function against virus‐infected cells or tumor cells. KIR gene content polymorphisms in Indian women with cervical cancer (CaCx) remain unexplored. Hence, we analyzed the frequencies of KIR genes, KIR haplotypes, and Bx subsets to draw their association with CaCx. The polymerase chain reaction‐sequence‐specific primer method was used for KIR genotyping in three groups of women: healthy controls (n = 114), women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (n = 70), and women with CaCx (n = 120). The results showed that the frequency of KIR2DS5 was significantly higher in women with CaCx compared to women with HPV infection (p = 0.02) and healthy controls (p = 0.01). Whereas the frequency of KIR2DL5B was significantly higher in healthy controls than in women with HPV infection (p = 0.02). The total number of activating KIR genes was higher in women with CaCx than in healthy controls (p = 0.006), indicating their positive association with CaCx. Moreover, the C4T4 subset was higher in women with CaCx than in women with HPV infection, though not significant. In conclusion, our findings highlight KIR2DS5, the C4T4 subset, and activating KIR genes are susceptible factors or positively associated with CaCx. Besides KIR2DL5B, this study also reported for the first time significantly high frequency of KIR2DL1 in healthy controls, indicating its possible protective association against CaCx. Further, significantly high frequency of KIR2DL3 observed in HPV‐infected women might be also a promising biomarker for viral infections. Thus, the study confirms the association of KIR genes with cervical cancer in women with HPV infection.
An analysis of nonnutritive calories from propofol, dextrose, and citrate among patients who are critically ill that are receiving continuous renal replacement therapy
Authors: Li Priscilla , Huang Yingxiao , Wong Alvin
Published: May 2022

Background

Propofol, dextrose, and citrate infusions are necessary treatment modalities in the intensive care units (ICUs). They are, however, a potential source of nonnutritive calories (NNCs), which may cause overfeeding and adverse complications. The literature surrounding the role of NNCs is limited. We aimed to examine the energy contribution of NNCs. Our secondary aim is to assess the nutrition impact of NNCs, especially among patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Materials/Methods

We enrolled 177 mechanically ventilated patients admitted to medical‐surgical ICUs from August to December 2019. Patients were monitored over the first 7 days of admission. Infusion rates of enteral nutrition/parenteral nutrition and NNCs, as well as clinical characteristics, were examined. Patients receiving CRRT were compared with those without.

Results

In total, 24% of patients additional energy from citrate. Patients received a maximum of 331 kcal from citrate, 492 kcal from propofol, and 992 kcal from dextrose per ICU day. CRRT group achieved higher total energy on the first 2 days (day 1: 55.1% vs 46.4%,P = 0.008; day 2: 73.2% vs 55.4%,P = 0.025). They also received higher mean NNCs on all days, except for day 1 (P = 0.068).

Conclusion

NNCs, especially citrate, are significant sources of energy. Patients receiving CRRT were more likely to be malnourished. There should be close monitoring and adaption of energy prescription accordingly to prevent overfeeding.
Nasogastric bridles are associated with improved tube‐related outcomes in children
Authors: Lavoie Julie Ann , Schindler Christine , Garnier‐Villarreal Mauricio , Bagli Sravya Patil , McCarthy Donna O. , Goday Praveen S.
Published: May 2022

Objective

To compare tube‐related outcomes in children with standard tape vs nasal bridle securement of nasogastric tubes (NGTs).

Study Design

This was a single‐center, retrospective, correlational study of outcomes from the time of NGT placement until full oral feeds or durable‐tube placement. Outcomes of interest included NGT dislodgments, length of stay, emergency department (ED) encounters, radiographic exposures, and adverse skin outcomes. Negative binomial regression and logistic regression were used to analyze differences between groups.

Results

Five hundred eighty‐two children had NGTs secured traditionally (43% female; age at therapy initiation of 2.6 months [SD 8.1]), and 173 received nasal bridles (55.5% female; age at therapy initiation of 8.4 months [SD 11.8]). Children with bridled NGTs were 16.67 times less likely to experience one or more dislodgments (odds ratio [OR] = 0.06; 95% CI, 0.04–0.09); 2.5 times less likely to have one more ED visit (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.19–0.82), and 4.76 times less likely to require one more radiographic exposure (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.14–0.33) than unbridled children (all P values < 0.02). The mean initial hospital length of stay was 28 and 54 days in the bridled‐NGT and standard‐care groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Overall, 62.4% children with bridled NGTs and 77.1% children with unbridled NGTs progressed to full oral feedings and discontinued therapy (P < 0.001). Adverse skin outcomes were rare in both groups.

Conclusion

Children with bridled NGTs experienced fewer dislodgments, hospital days, ED encounters, and radiographic exposures than unbridled NGTs. Most children in both groups progressed to full oral feedings.
Cover Image
Authors: Kim Jong‐Hui , Lee Eun‐Seon , Kim Bu‐Min , Ham Jun‐Sang , Oh Mi‐Hwa
Published: May 2022

The cover image is based on the Research Article Broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity of cinnamoyl esterase‐producing Lactobacilli and their application in fermented rice bran by Mi‐Hwa Oh et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11654

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Integrated Subwavelength Gratings on a Lithium Niobate on Insulator Platform for Mode and Polarization Manipulation
Authors: Han Xu , Chen Li , Jiang Yongheng , Frigg Andreas , Xiao Huifu , Nguyen Thach Giang , Boes Andreas , Yang Jianhong , Ren Guanghui , Su Yikai , Mitchell Arnan , Tian Yonghui
Published: May 2022

Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) has emerged as a promising platform for photonic integrated circuits, with a fast‐growing toolbox of components. This paper proposes, designs, and experimentally demonstrates compact subwavelength grating (SWG) waveguides on an LNOI platform for on‐chip mode and polarization manipulation. To overcome the limitation of waveguide fabrication, the SWGs are designed and formed on a silicon nitride thin film deposited onto the surface of LNOI chip. As proof‐of‐concept devices, the SWG‐based spatial mode filters (including a TE1‐mode‐pass filter and a TE2‐mode‐pass filter) and a TM‐pass polarizer are fabricated successfully on the same chip, with the device lengths of only ≈50 μm. The measured insertion losses for the devices are lower than 3.1 dB, with high extinction ratio larger than 30 dB, at a wavelength of 1550 nm. The proposed and demonstrated SWGs can serve as important building blocks in a series of mode and polarization handling devices for LNOI integrated photonics.
Local vasoregulative interventions impact drug concentrations in the skin after topical laser‐assisted delivery
Authors: Wenande Emily , Gundavarapu Sarat Chandra , Tam Joshua , Bhayana Brijesh , Thomas Carina N. , Farinelli William A. , Vakoc Benjamin J. , Anderson R. Rox , Haedersdal Merete
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The ability of ablative fractional lasers (AFL) to enhance topical drug uptake is well established. After AFL delivery, however, drug clearance by local vasculature is poorly understood. Modifications in vascular clearance may enhance AFL‐assisted drug concentrations and prolong drug dwell time in the skin. Aiming to assess the role and modifiability of vascular clearance after AFL‐assisted delivery, this study examined the impact of vasoregulative interventions on AFL‐assisted 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) concentrations in in vivo skin.

Methods

5‐FU uptake was assessed in intact and AFL‐exposed skin in a live pig model. After fractional CO2 laser exposure (15 mJ/microbeam, 5% density), vasoregulative intervention using topical brimonidine cream, epinephrine solution, or pulsed dye laser (PDL) was performed in designated treatment areas, followed by a single 5% 5‐FU cream application. At 0, 1, 4, 48, and 72 h, 5‐FU concentrations were measured in 500 and 1500 μm skin layers by mass spectrometry (n = 6). A supplemental assessment of blood flow following AFL ± vasoregulation was performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a human volunteer.

Results

Compared to intact skin, AFL facilitated a prompt peak in 5‐FU delivery that remained elevated up to 4 hours (1500 μm: 1.5 vs. 31.8 ng/ml [1 hour, p = 0.002]; 5.3 vs. 14.5 ng/ml [4 hours, p = 0.039]). However, AFL's impact was transient, with 5‐FU concentrations comparable to intact skin at later time points. Overall, vasoregulative intervention with brimonidine or PDL led to significantly higher peak 5‐FU concentrations, prolonging the drug's dwell time in the skin versus AFL delivery alone. As such, brimonidine and PDL led to twofold higher 5‐FU concentrations than AFL alone in both skin layers by 1 hour (e.g., 500 μm: 107 ng/ml [brimonidine]; 96.9 ng/ml [PDL], 46.6 ng/ml [AFL alone], p ≤ 0.024), and remained significantly elevated at 4 hours (p ≤ 0.024). A similar pattern was observed for epinephrine, although trends remained nonsignificant (p ≥ 0.09). Prolonged 5‐FU delivery was provided by PDL, resulting in sustained drug deposition compared to AFL alone at both 48 and 72 hours in the superficial skin layer (p ≤ 0.024). Supporting drug delivery findings, OCT revealed that increases in local blood flow after AFL were mitigated in test areas also exposed to PDL, brimonidine, or epinephrine, with PDL providing the greatest, sustained reduction in flow over 48 hours.

Conclusion

Vasoregulative intervention in conjunction with AFL‐assisted delivery enhances and prolongs 5‐FU deposition in in vivo skin.
Associations between the Patient Perception of Bladder Condition score and overactive bladder syndrome symptoms at baseline and upon treatment
Authors: Schönburg Sandra , Murgas Sandra , Fornara Paolo , Michel Martin C.
Published: May 2022

Background

Patient‐reported outcomes such as the Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC) score are frequently used to characterize overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) patients and their treatment outcomes. However, little information is available on the relationship of such scores to OAB symptoms at the individual patient level.

Methods

We have performed a post hoc analysis of two large noninterventional studies (n = 1345 and 745) in which patients received propiverine extended release (30 or 45 mg/day) for 12 weeks to determine the strength of nonparametric correlations between PPBC and OAB symptoms at baseline, after treatment and with treatment‐associated changes thereof.

Results

PPBC was not correlated with age but with episode frequencies of urgency, incontinence, micturitions, and nocturia, but the strength of correlations was only moderate (Spearman rank correlation coefficient 0.2045−0.3553). Similarly moderate correlations were observed after treatment and when changes in PPBC were compared to those of OAB symptoms, although these correlations were somewhat stronger.

Conclusions

PPBC is only moderately correlated to OAB symptoms indicating that it characterizes patients beyond what is captured by their symptoms.
Update to the pediatric Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA)
Authors: Carter Laura , Hulst Jessie M. , Afzal Nooran , Jeejeebhoy Khurseed , Brunet‐Wood Kim
Published: May 2022

Lack of a standardized method of identifying and defining pediatric malnutrition has led to an inability to fully understand the prevalence of and impact that malnutrition has on pediatric patients and the healthcare system. The Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) is an assessment tool meant to determine presence and severity of malnutrition in pediatric populations. However, the anthropometric section of the tool contains some out‐dated parameters. This has limited its clinical practicality. The aim of this paper is to propose updates to the anthropometrics section of the SGNA. A retrospective analysis of 153 SGNA's performed on children aged 1 month to 16 years was completed, comparing the original SGNA results to SGNA results incorporating updated anthropometric parameters for percentiles and ideal body weight. The category of length/height for age was updated to include z score cutoffs rather than percentiles, and ideal body weight was updated to z scores for weight for length or body mass index (BMI). Two serial growth questions were updated in wording only, to reflect z score trends. The results of the analysis showed these updates would have changed the rankings of eight patients (5%) for length/height for age, and 20 patients (13%) for ideal body weight to weight for length or BMI. Adjustments to these questions did not impact the overall SGNA rating. This study shows updates to the SGNA are not expected to have a significant impact on the validity of the tool and has the potential to improve its applicability to current day practice.
Augmented Lagrangian approach to deriving discontinuous Galerkin methods for nonlinear elasticity problems
Authors: Hansbo Peter , Larson Mats G.
Published: May 2022

We use the augmented Lagrangian formalism to derive discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulations for problems in nonlinear elasticity. In elasticity, stress is typically a symmetric function of strain, leading to symmetric tangent stiffness matrices in Newton's method when conforming finite elements are used for discretization. By use of the augmented Lagrangian framework, we can also obtain symmetric tangent stiffness matrices in DG methods. We suggest two different approaches and give examples from plasticity and from large deformation hyperelasticity.
Second‐order defeaturing estimator of manufacturing‐induced porosity on structural elasticity
Authors: Deng Shiguang , Soderhjelm Carl , Apelian Diran , Suresh Krishnan
Published: May 2022

Manufactured metallic components often contain nonuniformly distributed pores of complex morphologies. Since such porosity defects have a significant influence on material behaviors and affect the usage in high‐performance applications, it is significant to understand the impact of porosity characteristics on the behaviors of components. In this work, a gradient‐enhanced porosity defeaturing estimator, which allows for the modeling of pore geometry and spatial distribution, is proposed within a general elastostatic framework. In this approach, the first‐order shape sensitivity is implemented to account for the change in the elastic quantity of interests to variations of pore sizes and shapes, which is then supplemented by a second‐order shape sensitivity whose mixed partial derivative quantifies the interactions between pores in proximity. The efficacy of the proposed method comes from its posterior manner that it only relies on field solutions of reference models where pores are suppressed. In this context, meshing difficulty and solution convergence issues are avoided, which would otherwise arise in a direct finite element analysis on porous structures. The impact of porosity on structural elastic performance is approximated using a second‐order Taylor expansion where the topological difference between the porous and reference domains is estimated by topological sensitivity; the field variables on pore boundaries are approximated as explicit functions of design variables using exterior formulations. Numerical results show that the elastic performances of components are influenced by the existence of pores. The pore‐to‐pore interactions are significant when pores are close by.
Impact of COVID‐19 in pediatric oncology care in Latin America during the first year of the pandemic
Authors: Villanueva Gabriela , Sampor Claudia , Palma Julia , Villarroel Milena , Valencia Diana , Lombardi Mercedes García , Garcia Wendy Gomez , Caceres Eva Lezcano , Sobrero Victoria , Garcia Lilia , Cabrera Victor , Maza Ivan , Velasquez Thelma , Ugaz Cecilia , Vasquez Jacqueline Montoya , Coronado Rosdali Diaz , Gonzalez Natalia , Aguiar Simone , Dabezies Agustin , Moreno Florencia , Sardinas Susan , Gamboa Yessika , Maradiegue Essy , Fu Ligia , Gassant Pascale , Moreno Katiuska , Gonzales Oscar , Schelotto Magdalena , Luna‐Fineman Sandra , Antoneli Celia Gianotti , Fuentes‐Alabi Soad , Luciani Silvana , Cappellano Andrea , Chantada Guillermo , Vasquez Liliana
Published: May 2022

Background

The ongoing coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID‐19) pandemic strained medical systems worldwide. We report on the impact on pediatric oncology care in Latin American (LATAM) during its first year.

Method

Four cross‐sectional surveys were electronically distributed among pediatric onco‐hematologists in April/June/October 2020, and April/2021 through the Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP) email list and St Jude Global regional partners.

Results

Four hundred fifty‐three pediatric onco‐hematologists from 20 countries responded to the first survey, with subsequent surveys response rates above 85%. More than 95% of participants reported that treatment continued without interruption for new and active ongoing patients, though with disruptions in treatment availability. During the first three surveys, respondents reported suspensions of outpatient procedures (54.2%), a decrease in oncologic surgeries (43.6%), radiotherapy (28.4%), stem cell transplants (SCT) (69.3%), and surveillance consultations (81.2%). Logistic regression analysis showed that at the beginning of the first wave, participants from countries with healthcare expenditure below 7% were more likely to report a decrease in outpatient procedures (odds ratio [OR]: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.19–2.8), surgeries (OR: 3, 95% CI: 1.9–4.6) and radiotherapy (OR: 6, 95% CI: 3.5–10.4). Suspension of surveillance consultations was higher in countries with COVID‐19 case fatality rates above 2% (OR: 3, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2) and SCT suspensions in countries with COVID‐19 incidence rate above 100 cases per 100,000 (OR: 3.48, 95% CI: 1.6–7.45). Paradoxically, at the beginning of the second wave with COVID‐19 cases rising exponentially, most participants reported improvements in cancer services availability.

Conclusion

Our data show the medium‐term collateral effects of the pandemic on pediatric oncology care in LATAM, which might help delineate oncology care delivery amid current and future challenges posed by the pandemic.
Activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase–extracellular signal‐regulated kinase pathway in childhood B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Pillai Pallavi M. , Mallory Nicole , Pierro Joanna , Saliba Jason , Newman Daniel , Hu Jiyuan , Bhatla Teena , Raetz Elizabeth , Carroll William L. , Evensen Nikki A.
Published: May 2022

RAS mutations are frequently observed in childhood B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) and previous studies have yielded conflicting results as to whether they are associated with a poor outcome. We and others have demonstrated that the mitogen‐activated protein kinase–extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (MAPK) pathway can be activated through epigenetic mechanisms in the absence of RAS pathway mutations. Herein, we examined whether MAPK activation, as determined by measuring phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (pERK) levels in 80 diagnostic patient samples using phosphoflow cytometry, could be used as a prognostic biomarker for pediatric B‐ALL. The mean fluorescence intensity of pERK (MFI) was measured at baseline and after exogenous stimulation with or without pretreatment with the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor trametinib. Activation levels (MFI stimulated/MFI baseline) ranged from 0.76 to 4.40 (median = 1.26), and inhibition indexes (MFI stimulated/MFI trametinib stimulated) ranged from 0.439 to 5.640 (median = 1.30), with no significant difference between patients with wildtype versus mutant RAS for either. Logistic regression demonstrated that neither MAPK activation levels nor RAS mutation status at diagnosis alone or in combination was prognostic of outcome. However, 35% of RAS wildtype samples showed MAPK inhibition indexes greater than the median, thus raising the possibility that therapeutic strategies to inhibit MAPK activation may not be restricted to patients whose blasts display Ras pathway defects.
Pain science education for children living with and beyond cancer: Challenges and research agenda
Authors: Rheel Emma , Heathcote Lauren C. , van der Werff ten Bosch Jutte , Schulte Fiona , Pate Joshua W.
Published: May 2022

Pain in children living with and beyond cancer is understudied and undertreated. Pain science education (PSE) is a conceptual change strategy facilitating patients’ understanding of the biopsychosocial aspects of pain. Preliminary studies on the adaptation of PSE interventions to adults with and beyond cancer provide a foundation for pediatric research. PSE could help childhood cancer survivors experiencing persistent pain and pain‐related worry after active treatment. PSE may also help children receiving cancer treatment, providing them with a foundation of adaptive pain beliefs and cognitions, and preparing them for procedural and treatment‐related pain. We direct this paper toward pediatric oncology clinicians, policy makers, and researchers working with children living with and beyond cancer. We aim to (a) identify challenges in adapting PSE for children living with and beyond cancer, (b) offer possible solutions, and (c) propose research questions to guide the implementation of PSE for children living with and beyond cancer.
The least length of halloysite nanotubes allowing the operative stress shifting via imperfect interphase after percolation onset for the strength of nanocomposites applicable in the biomedical products
Authors: Zare Yasser , Rhee Kyong Yop
Published: May 2022

The strength of a composite comprising halloysite nanotubes (HNT) above percolation start is simulated supposing the imperfect interphase by “Lc” as the least length of nanofiller authorizing the operative stress shifting via interphase. The advanced model considers the interphase depth, percolation start, network fraction and interfacial shear strength (τ) along with the strengths and concentrations of the dispersed and networked HNT and interphase. All factors are justified by parametric checkups and the model's calculations are linked to the numerous tested data of various samples. Lc = 500 nm maximizes the nanocomposite's strength by 80%, but the highest “Lc” of 1500 nm only improves the strength of system by 28%. The percolation start of 0.001 causes the maximum improvement of the nanocomposite's strength as 56%. The strength of samples rises by 86% at maximum “τ” of 100 MPa. Also, the strength of system progresses by 70% at the interphase deepness of 20 nm. Thus, “Lc” and percolation start adversely control the strength, but “τ” and interphase depth directly handle the system's strength. The model's calculations suitably follow the experimental strengths of numerous examples approving the advanced model. HNT‐based nanocomposites can be used in the biomedical products.
Crystal Structure, Magnetic Properties and Thermal Behavior of BaFe11.9In0.1O19 Ferrite
Authors: Agayev Fakhraddin G. , Trukhanov Alex V. , Trukhanov Sergei V. , Jabarov Sakin H. , Trukhanova Ekaterina L. , Ayyubova Gular Sh. , Mirzayev Matlab N. , Vinnik Denis A. , Kozlovskiy Artem L. , Zdorovets Maxim V. , Sombra Antonio Sergio B. , Zhou Di , Jotania Rajshree B. , Singh Charanjeet , Trukhanov Andrei V.
Published: May 2022

Herein, the crystal structure, surface morphology, and magnetic and thermal properties of the BaFe11.9In0.1O19‐substituted M‐type hexaferrite are investigated. This solid solution is fabricated using “two‐step” topotactic reactions. It is determined through the X‐ray diffraction method that the crystal structure of this solid solution under normal conditions has hexagonal symmetry with P63/mmc space group (No. 194) with the unit cell parameters a = 5.8992(1) Å and c = 23.2275(7) Å. It is determined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) researches that the average size of the grains is  = 6 μm. It is determined by the vibration magnetometry that the ferrimagnet–paramagnet phase transition happens at around T
C = 420 °C. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), it is found that air and water molecules leave the sample surface up to 420 °C and the resulting oxygen anions appearing as a result of a solvothermal reaction fill the oxygen vacancies in the crystal structure at high temperatures up to 800 °C. The thermal transitions repeated in the high temperatures are established. The oxidation behavior of this compound is determined from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in a wide temperature range.
Discs to a ‘Bright’ Future: Exploring Discotic Liquid Crystals in Organic Light Emitting Diodes in the Era of New‐Age Smart Materials
Authors: De Ritobrata , Sharma Sushil , Sengupta Sanchita , Kumar Pal Santanu
Published: May 2022

With the advent of a new decade and the paradigm shift of every sphere of urban life to virtual platforms, it has become imperative for the global researcher community to channelize efforts into upgradation of the existing display‐technology. In this context, discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a class of self‐assembling organic materials that are recently being explored in fabricating the emissive layers of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). With their unique inherent structural and functional properties, they have the potential to challenge the currently prevailing OLED‐emitters. Yet the applications of this promising class of materials in OLEDs have not been comprehensively reviewed in literature till now. In this account, we present an overview of the developments in the field of luminescent DLC‐based emitters, supported by their associated photophysical phenomena and their performance parameters as emitters in fabricated OLED devices.
James Patrick MacGregor Stewart
Authors: Williams David
Published: May 2022

An exceptional vet who always knew that farm and equine medicine were his calling. He loved his job and gave 100 per cent to everything he did.
A spectrum of support
Authors: Read Claire
Published: May 2022

Debbie Martin, a veterinary nursing student who is autistic, says supporting neurodiverse people often requires very little adjustment but yields great benefits. Claire Read speaks to her to find out more.
Hypertrophic osteopathy and suspected subsequent disseminated intravascular coagulation in a dog with an abdominal gossypiboma
Authors: Doyle Eliana , Hall Harriet , Hughes Jonathan , Owen Laura , Giuliano Antonio
Published: May 2022

An 8‐year‐old, female, neutered cocker spaniel presented with progressive lethargy, inappetence and right pelvic limb lameness. Regional mastectomy and ovariohysterectomy had been performed 11 months prior. Mild neutrophilia and increased C‐reactive protein were present. Radiographs revealed mild periosteal reaction of distal long bone diaphyses of all limbs, consistent with hypertrophic osteopathy. Abdominal imaging revealed a mesenteric mass with a central woven radiopaque foreign body diagnosed as a gossypiboma following surgical excision and histopathology. Postoperatively the patient developed acute decompensation of suspected chronic subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation and suffered cardiac arrest. Hypertrophic osteopathy was confirmed with multifocal periosteal hyperostosis and concurrent myelofibrosis within the medulla of the long bones. Hypertrophic osteopathy occurs secondary to chronic inflammatory or neoplastic intrathoracic lesions and rarely due to abdominal pathology. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of hypertrophic osteopathy associated with an abdominal gossypiboma with sequential disseminated intravascular coagulation.
A characteristic expanded mixed finite element numerical method for incompressible miscible displacement problem involving dispersion term
Authors: Hu Hanzhang
Published: May 2022

A characteristic expanded mixed finite element method is presented for miscible displacement problem involving dispersion term. Two‐grid algorithm is used to linearize the nonlinear coupling equations. The error estimations of the two‐grid solution is conduced in detail by error estimates of characteristic expanded mixed finite element methods. Numerical experiment shows that this algorithm is more efficient when the dispersion term is very small.
Secularism, Social Work and Muslim Minorities in France
Authors: Verba Daniel , Guélamine Faïza
Published: May 2022

Islam’s increased visibility in France over the past 20 years has challenged social workers, confronted with new practices that often provoke consternation and cause professional difficulties. Social workers’ relationships with members of society who are motivated by faith, and also with their colleagues, some of whom openly express their Muslim identity, force them to adapt to new religious frames of reference. Social workers are also occasionally compelled to revisit the Christian roots of social work that many of them felt had been left behind by the profession. These patterns also explain the prevalence of reminders about the secular basis of social work, in a sector where radicalisation among the young tends to be perceived as a regressive influence on freedom of expression and, above all, on women’s rights.
Affinity Spaces as an Analytical Lens for Attending to Temporality in Critical Data Studies: The Case of COVID-19-Related, Educational Twitter Communication
Authors: Zakharova Irina , Jarke Juliane , Breiter Andreas
Published: May 2022

This chapter is based on an analysis of Germany’s biggest education-related Twitter hashtag before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We study the reconfiguration of the central actors and topics along the #twlz hashtag to trace the change in pandemic-related communication about education. Specifically, we focus on two arguments developed by education scholars as responses to the COVID-19 crisis: educational technology providers and political actors increasingly turn to social media to mediate their COVID-19 crisis management; at the same time, educational technologies are increasingly being positioned as solutions to the educational challenges posed by the pandemic. Using an analytical framework of affinity spaces, we extend on the hashtag studies and understand the #twlz hashtag as an ongoing process of associating various actors, topics, and things. Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative analysis, we addressed questions of how educational technology providers and political actors reconfigured the #twlz affinity space and how suitable the concept of affinity space is for studying crisis through Twitter hashtags. We identify shifts in topics and actors central to the #twlz affinity space as a reaction to the national and regional educational crisis management over time and trace the practices through which these shifts unfold. With our empirical investigation of educational Twitter communication as practices of reconfiguration rather than content redistribution, we contribute to new perspectives for critical data studies (in education) conceptually and methodologically.
Worker Perspectives on Designs for a Crowdwork Co-operative
Authors: Bates Jo , Checco Alessandro , Gerakopoulou Elli
Published: May 2022

Crowdwork platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) are a crucial infrastructural component of our global data assemblage. Through these platforms, low-paid crowdworkers perform the vital labour of manually labelling large-scale and complex datasets, labels that are needed to train machine learning and AI models (Tubaro et al., Big Data & Society, 7(1), 2020) and which enable the functioning of much digital technology, from niche applications to global platforms such as Google, Amazon and Facebook.

In this chapter, we reflect on how a ‘design justice’ approach might be valuable to build on insights gained from a series of exploratory discussions we have engaged in with US-based crowdworkers about how a crowdworker co-operative might work in practice, and begin to sketch out a potential software architecture that could form the basis of future participative approaches to the design and development of a crowdworker co-operative.

We begin by describing and reflecting on our own evolving methodology and how it fits with the ‘design justice’ lens we propose for future work. Following this, we present findings from our discussions with crowdworkers about how a crowdwork co-operative might work in practice, including what values workers would like to see embedded in the design. We then finish with the outline of a prototype software architecture for a crowdworker co-operative that could be used as a starting point in future design work in collaboration with crowdworkers.
Resilienz und Organisationsentwicklung
Authors: Tokarski Kim Oliver , Kissling-Näf Ingrid , Schellinger Jochen
Published: May 2022

Das Kapitel liefert einen Überblick zu den Grundlagen und Begriffsklärungen im Themenkontext der Resilienz. So wird eine breite Diskussion zum Konzept und zu unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen von Resilienz geführt, um einen übergeordneten Rahmen mit möglichen Anknüpfungspunkten für die theoretischen, empirischen und praktischen Beiträge des Herausgeberwerkes zu schaffen. Resilienz wird dabei aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven, beispielsweise auf der individuellen Ebene, der Teamebene und der organisatorischen Ebene, betrachtet. Der Bezug zu weitreichenden Wandelkonzepten wie der digitalen Transformation wird geklärt und praxisnah vermittelt. Alle Kapitel des vorliegenden Herausgerberwerkes dienen dazu, das Konzept der Resilienz besser zu verstehen und weiters einen Beitrag zur praktischen Ausgestaltung von Resilienz zu liefern.
Agiles Human Resource Management
Authors: Schellinger Jochen , Bänziger Janosch
Published: May 2022

Angesichts zunehmend dynamischer Umweltveränderungen und wachsender Komplexität des Wettbewerbsumfelds steigt der Bedarf der Unternehmen nach kurzfristiger Handlungsfähigkeit und Flexibilität. Agilität wird hierfür als organisationales Lösungsmodell zunehmend populär, das zukunftsorientierte Effizienz- und Effektivitätssteigerungen und damit auch eine erhöhte Resilienz verspricht. Viele Unternehmen sind deshalb derzeit dabei, agile Methoden und Prinzipien über einzelne Entwicklungsfelder hinaus auf die ganze Organisation zu übertragen. Was dies für das HRM bedeutet, wird bisher in der Literatur noch wenig thematisiert. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der Frage, wie das HRM Agilität im Unternehmen unterstützen und sich dabei selbst agil ausrichten kann. Die konzeptionelle Analyse wird durch eine qualitative empirische Erhebung in Form leitfadengestützter Interviews von Experten agilitätsaffiner Schweizer Unternehmen erweitert. Sie mündet in ein Handlungs- und Wirkungsmodell, das auf die Entwicklung eines agilen Mindsets in der Unternehmenskultur abhebt.
Flexible Arbeitsmodelle zur steigenden Mitarbeitendenbindung
Authors: Egli Denise , Geiger Margit
Published: May 2022

Die Rekrutierung und Bindung von Mitarbeitenden steht in vielen Unternehmen zentral im Vordergrund. Die Besetzung von vakanten Stellen ist im Bereich von Fach- und Führungskräften, insbesondere im Bereich technischer Berufe, schwierig. Die geburtenstarken Jahrgänge gehen in den Ruhestand. Zielsetzung der vorliegenden Studie ist die Ermittlung des aktuellen Einsatzes von flexiblen Arbeitsmodellen, deren Herausforderungen sowie die Zukunftsabsichten der ausgewählten Schweizer Unternehmen. In der Theorie zeigte sich, dass die arbeitsrechtlichen und sozialversicherungstechnischen Voraussetzungen die Bedürfnisse der aktuellen Arbeitswelt nicht genügend absichern können. Der steigende Druck nach Flexibilität und das Bedürfnis nach einer gesunden Work-Life-Balance sind Gründe für flexible Arbeitsmodelle. Die Studie zeigt, dass Teilzeitarbeit das am meisten verbreitete flexible Arbeitsmodell darstellt. Die praktizierten Modelle sind aktuell meist zu wenig reguliert.
Too Big to Fail Applied to Non-Financial Companies
Authors: Vuojela Juho , Rascon Alberto
Published: May 2022

This chapter develops a methodology to evaluate if a non-financial firm is “too big to fail” moreover we tested and applied the approach to 3 large European firms. The methodology consists in using the principles of the special regulation of financial firms in the USA plus a brief qualitative analysis. According to our analysis: Volkswagen Group is structurally “too big to fail” as many employments in Germany (and the world) depend on the continuity of its operations, Royal Dutch Shell is indirectly “Too big to fail” as its bankruptcy could collapse the London Stock Exchange, finally we believe that Anheuser-Busch InBev is not “Too big to fail” as the firm is rather a collection of firms that one entity.
Businessmodell Co-Working
Authors: Guignard Ramon , Endrissat Nada
Published: May 2022

Im Kontext neuer Arbeitsformen ist der Trend zum Co-Working sowohl weltweit als auch in der Schweiz ungebrochen. Rund die Hälfte aller Co-Working-Spaces erwirtschaften aber keinen Gewinn und bemühen sich daher, zusätzliche Einnahmequellen zu erschließen. Der Markt hat sich deshalb stark differenziert und zu neuen Geschäftsmodellen geführt, in denen Co-Working in Kombination mit anderen Geschäftsbereichen angeboten wird. Auf Basis dieser Entwicklung stellt sich die Frage, welches die erfolgversprechendsten Geschäftsmodelle von Co-Working-Spaces zur nachhaltigen Existenzsicherung sind. Ausgehend von einer theoretischen Aufarbeitung des Kontextes wurden rund zwanzig Co-Working-Spaces in der Schweiz auf ihr Geschäftsmodell hin untersucht. In der Analyse kristallisierten sich vier unterschiedliche Co-Working-Konzepte heraus. Co-Working pur – der Community Space; Co-Working light – die Bürogemeinschaft; Co-Working professionell – der flexible Büroarbeitsplatz, und Co-Working en passant – das Durchgangsbüro. Besonders erfolgreich sind dabei Anbieter, denen es gelungen ist, zusätzliche Einnahmen zu generieren und einen fixen Kundenstamm aufzubauen.
Resilience through Innovation
Authors: Bangerter Elena , Endrissat Nada
Published: May 2022

It is often claimed that in order to survive today’s highly complex, uncertain and volatile business environment, companies need to be agile and continuously innovate. To do so, organizations are required to shift their innovation process to a decentral organization using agile methods and management. However, this shift is not without its challenges especially for companies who are used to operate centrally. In this chapter, we take a closer look at the relationship between innovation and agile methods and try to understand the advantages but also challenges that teams might experience when adopting agility to heighten their innovation and ultimately, the resilience of their unit. Based on empirical research conducted at a Swiss telecom company, we examine the positive effects as well as the tensions caused by competing demands that agile methods place on the teams. We conclude by outlining the lessons learned from implementing agile methods.
Kann ein Growth Mindset die Agilität im Unternehmen erhöhen?
Authors: Dujmovic-Bracak Marina , Harder Deane
Published: May 2022

Die Studie untersucht die Verbindung von Growth Mindset und Agilität von vier Teams einer Schweizer Bank. Es wird gezeigt, dass für echte Agilität ein Growth Mindset notwendig ist, jedoch das Konzept Agilität schwer greifbar ist. Weiter zeigt die Studie, wie das Mindset kontextabhängig ist. Es gibt also einen Zusammenhang zwischen Growth Mindset und Agilität einerseits und Growth Mindset und Arbeitsumfeld andererseits. Dennoch konnte kein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen einem Growth Mindset und Arbeitsumfeld festgestellt werden. Daraus lässt sich schließen, dass oft Agilität gefordert wird, allerdings das Mindset zu wenig beachtet wird und konventionelle Strukturen bzw. das Arbeitsumfeld meist ungeeignet sind, diesen zu fördern. Deshalb wurden Handlungsempfehlungen in den Bereichen Mensch, Unternehmensstruktur und Flexibilität erarbeitet. So können Unternehmen besser auf veränderte Arbeitsanforderungen und Umwelteinflüsse reagieren und ihre organisatorische Resilienz erhöhen.
Type I IFN stimulates IFI16-mediated aromatase expression in adipocytes that promotes E2-dependent growth of ER-positive breast cancer
Authors: Ka Na-Lee , Lim Ga Young , Kim Seung‑Su , Hwang Sewon , Han Juhyeong , Lee Yun-Hee , Lee Mi-Ock
Published: May 2022

Although type I interferons (IFNs) play multifaceted roles during tumorigenesis and cancer treatment, the interplay between type I IFNs and estrogen signaling in breast cancer (BC) microenvironment is not well understood. Here, we report a novel function of type I IFNs in inducing aromatase expression in adipose tissues surrounding BC, which potentiates the E2-dependent growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. First, we found that expression levels of type I IFNs correlate negatively with clinical outcome but positively with tumor grade in patients with ER-positive BC. Levels of type I IFNs were elevated in cocultured media of immune cells and BC cells, which increased aromatase expression and E2 production in Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome preadipocytes. The type I IFN-induced aromatase expression was dependent on IFN-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16), which is encoded by an interferon-stimulated gene. At the molecular level, type I IFNs led to recruitment of HIF1α–IFI16–PRMT2 complex to the hypoxia-response element located in the aromatase PI.3/PII promoter. Next, we generated an adipocyte-specific Ifi204, which is a mouse ortholog of human IFI16, knockout mouse (Ifi204-AKO). IFNβ induced E2 production in the preadipocytes isolated from the control mice, but such E2 production was far lower in the Ifi204-AKO preadipocytes. Importantly, the growth of orthotopically inoculated E0771 ER-positive mammary tumors was reduced significantly in the Ifi204-AKO mice. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the crosstalk between type I IFNs and estrogen signaling in the progression of ER-positive BC.
Automated Detection of COVID-19 Using Deep Learning Approaches with Paper-Based ECG Reports
Authors: Bassiouni Mahmoud M. , Hegazy Islam , Rizk Nouhad , El-Dahshan El-Sayed A. , Salem Abdelbadeeh M.
Published: May 2022

One of the pandemics that have caused many deaths is the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It first appeared in late 2019, and many deaths are increasing day by day until now. Therefore, the early diagnosis of COVID-19 has become a salient issue. Additionally, the current diagnosis methods have several demerits, and a new investigation is required to enhance the diagnosis performance. In this paper, a set of phases are performed, such as collecting data, filtering and augmenting images, extracting features, and classifying ECG images. The data were obtained from two publicly available ECG image datasets, and one of them contained COVID ECG reports. A set of preprocessing methods are applied to the ECG images, and data augmentation is performed to balance the ECG images based on the classes. A deep learning approach based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) is performed for feature extraction. Four different pre-trained models are applied, such as Vgg16, Vgg19, ResNet-101, and Xception. Moreover, an ensemble of Xception and the temporary convolutional network (TCN), which is named ECGConvnet, is proposed. Finally, the results obtained from the former models are fed to four main classifiers. These classifiers are softmax, random forest (RF), multilayer perception (MLP), and support vector machine (SVM). The former classifiers are used to evaluate the diagnosis ability of the proposed methods. The classification scenario is based on fivefold cross-validation. Seven experiments are presented to evaluate the performance of the ECGConvnet. Three of them are multi-class, and the remaining are binary class diagnosing. Six out of seven experiments diagnose COVID-19 patients. The aforementioned experimental results indicated that ECGConvnet has the highest performance over other pre-trained models, and the SVM classifier showed higher accuracy in comparison with the other classifiers. The resulting accuracies from ECGConvnet based on SVM are (99.74%, 98.6%, 99.1% on the multi-class diagnosis tasks) and (99.8% on one of the binary-class diagnoses, while the remaining achieved 100%). It is possible to develop an automatic diagnosis system for COVID based on deep learning using ECG data.
Computing zero-dimensional tropical varieties via projections
Authors: Görlach Paul , Ren Yue , Zhang Leon
Published: May 2022

We present an algorithm for computing zero-dimensional tropical varieties using projections. Our main tools are fast monomial transforms of triangular sets. Given a Gröbner basis, we prove that our algorithm requires only a polynomial number of arithmetic operations, and, for ideals in shape position, we show that its timings compare well against univariate factorization and backsubstitution. We conclude that the complexity of computing positive-dimensional tropical varieties via a traversal of the Gröbner complex is dominated by the complexity of the Gröbner walk.
Prüfung praktisch-chirurgischer Lehre auf Distanz – Erfahrungen mit einem Hybrid-OSCE in der Chirurgie
Authors: Kurz S. , Buggenhagen H. , Wachter N. , Penzkofer L. , Dietz S. O. , König T. T. , Heinemann M. K. , Neulen A. , Hanke L. I. , Huber T.
Published: May 2022

Hintergrund

Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat die medizinische Lehre weltweit verändert. Digitale Lehrformate und Prüfungen konnten für kognitive Lernziele häufig gut eingesetzt werden, wohingegen praktische Fertigkeiten in Lehre und Prüfung überwiegend in Präsenz unter strengen Hygienestandards durchgeführt werden mussten.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die vorliegende Untersuchung stellt die Chancen und Herausforderungen des Einsatzes eines OSCE („objective structured clinical examination“) in Präsenz und trotzdem „auf Distanz“ mit digitaler Unterstützung dar.

Methode

Im Anschluss an das chirurgische Praktikum des 8. Semesters wurde eine OSCE-Prüfung in Präsenz durchgeführt, bei welcher die Studierenden in einem Raum praktische Fertigkeiten nachwiesen, während die Prüfer*innen per Videokonferenz aus einem anderen Raum zugeschaltet wurden. Die Studierenden wurden nach Abschluss der chirurgischen Lehre zur OSCE-Prüfung und zum nachhaltigen Lernen mittels standardisiertem Onlinefragebogen befragt. Zusätzlich wurden die Prüfenden zu ihren Erfahrungen befragt.

Ergebnisse

Von den 157 Studierenden des Jahrgangs nahmen 25 % (n = 40) an der Onlinebefragung teil, wobei 36 vollständige Fragebögen ausgewertet werden konnten. Insgesamt wurde die Implementierung einer OSCE-Prüfung auch unter Pandemiebedingungen von den Studierenden als sehr positiv und sinnvoll aufgefasst (92 % der Studierenden, n = 33). Der Erwerb praktischer Kompetenzen wurde als sehr hoch eingeschätzt. Für 78 % (n = 28) der Studierenden war der Kompetenzerwerb durch die praktische Prüfung nachhaltig. Die große Mehrheit der Studierenden und Prüfenden fühlte sich durch das Hygienekonzept hinsichtlich des Infektionsschutzes sicher (92 %, n = 33). Insgesamt schlossen 80 Studierende (51 %) die OSCE-Prüfung nach Schulnoten (Note 1 = sehr gut, Note 6 = ungenügend) mit der Note 1, 71 Studierende (45,2 %) mit der Note 2 und 6 Studierende (3,8 %) mit der Note 3 ab.

Schlussfolgerung

Praktische Prüfungen sind als Lernerfolgskontrolle psychomotorischer Lernziele unerlässlich und mit gut erarbeitetem Hygienekonzept und digitaler Unterstützung auch auf Distanz umsetzbar.