bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐reported throat symptoms in Ehlers–Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders: A cross‐sectional survey study
Authors: Williams Hannah R. , Wood Gary , Hakim Alan J. , Birchall Martin , Hirani Shashivadan P.
Published: September 2023

Objectives

This study identified the frequency and severity of dysphagia, dysphonia, and laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms in people with Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and explored differences between diagnostic groups.

Methods

Participants were recruited via non‐probability convenience sampling. Information was gathered via online survey, including the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI; Belafsky et al., J Voice. 2002;16:274–277), the Eating and Drinking Assessment Tool (EAT‐10; Belafsky et al., Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008;117:919–924), and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI; Jacobson et al., Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 1997;6(3):66–70). These were analyzed using ANOVAs.

Results

There were 1620 participants (96.6% female, 2.8% male) that met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 38.09 (SD 12.22). 75.51% had hypermobile EDS (hEDS), 17.83% had HSD and 3.33% had classic EDS (cED). The cohort's mean scores were RSI = 22.95 (SD 9.01), EAT‐10 = 11.91 (SD 9.66), and VHI score = 31.99 (SD 24.36). The hEDS group had significantly higher mean scores than the HSD group on RSI score and on some RSI items, on EAT‐10 score and on all EAT‐10 items, and on one VHI item.

Conclusion

People with EDS/HSD experience symptoms of acid reflux, dysphagia, and dysphonia to varying degrees with significant differences between hEDS than HSD. Awareness of the impact of EDS/HSD on throat symptoms will enable health care professionals to anticipate throat symptoms more readily in this population, providing individualized and effective management plans.

Level of Evidence

IV.
One is the loneliest number… Two can be as bad as one. The influence of AI Friendship Apps on users' well‐being and addiction
Authors: Marriott Hannah R. , Pitardi Valentina
Published: September 2023

Although technology advancements provide opportunities for social interactions, reports show that people have never felt so alone and are increasingly adopting AI friendship and therapy‐related well‐being apps. By adopting a mixed‐method approach (i.e., netnography and quantitative survey), we investigate the extent AI friendship apps enhance users' well‐being—and to what extent they further exacerbate issues of using technology for social needs. Findings show that users of AI friendship apps report well‐being benefits from the relationship with the AI friend and, at the same time, find themselves being addicted to using the app. Specifically, we show that users' loneliness and fear of judgment, together with AI sentience and perceived well‐being gained, increase addiction to the app, while AI ubiquity and warmth reduce it. Taken together, the results show that despite the intended positive purpose of the apps, the negative effects that AI friendship apps have on well‐being may be much greater.
Influence of light conditions on the production of chrysolaminarin using Phaeodactylum tricornutum in artificially illuminated photobioreactors
Authors: Frick Konstantin , Ebbing Tobias , Yeh Yen‐Cheng , Schmid‐Staiger Ulrike , Tovar Günter E. M.
Published: September 2023

The light conditions are of utmost importance in any microalgae production process especially involving artificial illumination. This also applies to a chrysolaminarin (soluble 1,3‐β‐glucan) production process using the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Here we examine the influence of the amount of light per gram biomass (specific light availability) and the influence of two different biomass densities (at the same amount of light per gram biomass) on the accumulation of the storage product chrysolaminarin during nitrogen depletion in artificially illuminated flat‐panel airlift photobioreactors. Besides chrysolaminarin, other compounds (fucoxanthin, fatty acids used for energy storage [C16 fatty acids], and eicosapentaenoic acid) are regarded as well. Our results show that the time course of C‐allocation between chrysolaminarin and fatty acids, serving as storage compounds, is influenced by specific light availability and cell concentration. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that with increasing specific light availability, the maximal chrysolaminarin content increases. However, this effect is limited. Beyond a certain specific light availability (here: 5 µmolphotons gDW−1 s−1) the maximal chrysolaminarin content no longer increases, but the rate of increase becomes faster. Furthermore, the conversion of light to chrysolaminarin is best at the beginning of nitrogen depletion. Additionally, our results show that a high biomass concentration has a negative effect on the maximal chrysolaminarin content, most likely due to the occurring self‐shading effects.
The Pharmacokinetics of Individual Conjugated Xanthohumol Metabolites Show Efficient Glucuronidation and Higher Bioavailability of Micellar than Native Xanthohumol in a Randomized, Double‐Blind, Crossover Trial in Healthy Humans
Authors: Buckett Lance , Sus Nadine , Spindler Veronika , Rychlik Michael , Schoergenhofer Christian , Frank Jan
Published: September 2023

Scope

Prenylated chalcones and flavonoids are found in many plants and are believed to have beneficial effects on health when consumed. Xanthohumol is present in beer and likely the most consumed prenylated chalcone, but poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized and excreted, thus limiting its bioavailability. Micellar formulations of phytochemicals have been shown to improve bioavailability.

Methods and results

In a randomized, double‐blind, crossover trial with five healthy (three males and two females) volunteers, a single dose of 43 mg was orally administered as a native or micellar formulation. The major human xanthohumol metabolites are quantified in plasma. Unmetabolized free xanthohumol makes 1% or less of total plasma xanthohumol. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve of xanthohumol‐7‐O‐glucuronide following the ingestion of the micellular formulation is 5‐fold higher and its maximum plasma concentration is more than 20‐fold higher compared to native xanthohumol.

Conclusion

Metabolism of orally ingested xanthohumol is complex and efficiently converts the parent compound to predominantly glucuronic acid and to a lesser extent sulfate conjugates. The oral bioavailability of micellar xanthohumol is superior to native xanthohumol, making it a useful delivery form for future human trials.
Identifying potential imaging markers for diffusion property changes in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Application of the continuous time random walk model to ultrahigh b‐value diffusion‐weighted MR images of spinal cord tissue
Authors: Gao Jin , Jiang Mingchen , Erricolo Danilo , Magin Richard L. , Morfini Gerardo , Royston Thomas , Larson Andrew C. , Li Weiguo
Published: September 2023

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) explores tissue microstructures by analyzing diffusion‐weighted signal decay measured at different b‐values. While relatively low b‐values are used for most dMRI models, high b‐value diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) techniques have gained interest given that the non‐Gaussian water diffusion behavior observed at high b‐values can yield potentially valuable information. In this study, we investigated anomalous diffusion behaviors associated with degeneration of spinal cord tissue using a continuous time random walk (CTRW) model for DWI data acquired across an extensive range of ultrahigh b‐values. The diffusion data were acquired in situ from the lumbar level of spinal cords of wild‐type and age‐matched transgenic SOD1G93A mice, a well‐established animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) featuring progressive degeneration of axonal tracts in this tissue. Based on the diffusion decay behaviors at low and ultrahigh b‐values, we applied the CTRW model using various combinations of b‐values and compared diffusion metrics calculated from the CTRW model between the experimental groups. We found that diffusion‐weighted signal decay curves measured with ultrahigh b‐values (up to 858,022 s/mm2 in this study) were well represented by the CTRW model. The anomalous diffusion coefficient obtained from lumbar spinal cords was significantly higher in SOD1G93A mice compared with control mice (14.7 × 10−5 ± 5.54 × 10−5 vs. 7.87 × 10−5 ± 2.48 × 10−5 mm2/s, p = 0.01). We believe this is the first study to illustrate the efficacy of the CTRW model for analyzing anomalous diffusion regimes at ultrahigh b‐values. The CTRW modeling of ultrahigh b‐value dMRI can potentially present a novel approach for noninvasively evaluating alterations in spinal cord tissue associated with ALS pathology.
Importance of human milk for infants in the clinical setting: Updates and mechanistic links
Authors: Nagel Emily M. , Elgersma Kristin M. , Gallagher Tiffany T. , Johnson Kelsey E. , Demerath Ellen , Gale Cheryl A.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Human milk (HM) is the optimal source of nutrition for infants and has been implicated in multiple aspects of infant health. Although much of the existing literature has focused on the individual components that drive its nutrition content, examining HM as a biological system is needed for meaningful advancement of the field. Investigation of the nonnutritive bioactive components of HM and the maternal, infant, and environmental factors which affect these bioactives is important to better understand the importance of HM provision to infants. This information may inform care of clinical populations or infants who are critically ill, hospitalized, or who have chronic diseases and may benefit most from receiving HM.

Methods

In this narrative review, we reviewed literature examining maternal and infant influences on HM composition with a focus on studies published in the last 10 years that were applicable to clinical populations.

Results

We found multiple studies examining HM components implicated in infant immune and gut health and neurodevelopment. Additional work is needed to understand how donor milk and formula may be used in situations of inadequate maternal HM. Furthermore, a better understanding of how maternal factors such as maternal genetics and metabolic health influence milk composition is needed.

Conclusion

In this review, we affirm the importance of HM for all infants, especially clinical populations. An understanding of how HM composition is modulated by maternal and environmental factors is important to progress the field forward with respect to mechanistic links between HM biology and infant health outcomes.
Nutrition for critically ill children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Kerstein Jason S. , Klepper Corie M. , Finnan Emily G. , Mills Kimberly I.
Published: September 2023

Children with congenital heart disease often require admission to the cardiac intensive care unit at some point in their lives, either after elective surgical or catheter‐based procedures or during times of acute critical illness. Meeting both the macronutrient and micronutrient needs of children in the cardiac intensive care unit requires complex decision‐making when considering gastrointestinal perfusion, vasoactive support, and fluid balance goals. Although nutrition guidelines exist for critically ill children, these cannot always be extrapolated to children with congenital heart disease. Children with congenital heart disease may also suffer unique circumstances, such as chylothoraces, heart failure, and the need for mechanical circulatory support, which greatly impact nutrition delivery. Guidelines for neonates and children with heart disease continue to be developed. We provide a synthesized narrative review of current literature and considerations for nutrition evaluation and management of critically ill children with congenital heart disease.
Nutrition for critically ill children and neonates requiring dialysis: Application of clinical practice recommendations
Authors: Wong Vega Molly , Vuong Kim T. , Chmielewski Jennifer , Gollins Laura , Slagle Cara , Srivaths Poyyapakkam R. , Akcan Arikan Ayse
Published: September 2023

Approximately 30% of all children and neonates admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) experience acute kidney injury (AKI). Children with AKI are largely poorly fed and experience high rates of malnutrition. Nutrition prescription and provision are exceptionally challenging for critically ill neonates, infants, and children with AKI given the dynamic nature of AKI and its respective treatment modalities. Managing the nutrition prescription of critically ill neonates, infants, and children with AKI requires nutrition support clinicians to have a high‐level understanding of the various treatment modalities for AKI, which can affect the patient's protein, fluid, electrolyte, and mineral needs. Accurate and timely nutrition assessment in critically ill neonates and children with AKI can be flawed owing to difficulty obtaining accurate anthropometric parameters. Recently, the Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce introduced clinical practice recommendations for the nutrition management of children with AKI. In this review, we will discuss the practical implications of these recent guidelines and work to bridge the knowledge and practice gaps for pediatric and neonatal nutrition support clinicians providing nutrition therapy for patients with AKI in the ICU. We also appraise special nutrition‐related considerations for neonates with AKI given newer available renal replacement treatment modalities.
Select micronutrients for the preterm neonate
Authors: Barbieri Jessica , Cober Mary Petrea
Published: September 2023

If premature neonates are not provided with adequate nutrition, they will quickly become deficient because of increased requirements and a lack of nutrient stores to achieve adequate growth. The provision of many of the recommended micronutrients for pediatric and adult patients is challenging in premature neonates because of the limited data surrounding the true needs of premature neonates and the difficulty in assessing adequate serum levels of these nutrients in this patient population. Parenteral and enteral nutrition shortages further complicate providing adequate micronutrients to premature neonates. This review will discuss select micronutrients and their importance to the preterm neonate, with special emphasis on micronutrients with limited evidence and more challenging supplementation and repletion strategies.
Body composition in pediatric patients
Authors: Zamberlan Patrícia , Mazzoni Beatriz P. , Bonfim Maria A. C. , Vieira Rafaela R. , Tumas Rosana , Delgado Artur F.
Published: September 2023

Undernutrition is highly prevalent in children who are critically ill and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, including a higher risk of infection due to transitory immunological disorders, inadequate wound healing, reduced gut function, longer dependency on mechanical ventilation, and longer hospital stays compared with eutrophic children who are critically ill. Nutrition care studies have proposed that early interventions targeting nutrition assessment can prevent or minimize the complications of undernutrition. Stress promotes an acute inflammatory response mediated by cytokines, resulting in increased basal metabolism and nitrogen excretion and leading to muscle loss and changes in body composition. Therefore, the inclusion of body composition assessment is important in the evaluation of these patients because, in addition to the nutrition aspect, body composition seems to predict clinical prognosis. Several techniques can be used to assess body composition, such as arm measurements, calf circumference, grip strength, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and imaging examinations, including computed tomography and dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. This review of available evidence suggests that arm measurements seem to be well‐established in assessing body composition in children who are critically ill, and that bioelectrical impedance analysis with phase angle, handgrip strength, calf circumference and ultrasound seem to be promising in this evaluation. However, further robust studies based on scientific evidence are necessary.
Nutrition association with skin integrity and pressure injury in critically ill pediatric patients
Authors: Irving Sharon Y. , Berry Katarina G. , Morgan Sherry , Seiple Stephanie M. , Nagle Monica L. , Stetzer Molly , Tabatabaei Neeka , Murphy Sara , Srinivasan Vijay , Mascarenhas Maria
Published: September 2023

Background

Current research highlights the positive impact of nutrition therapy, particularly enteral nutrition, in critical illness. However, little attention is given to the impact of nutrition on skin integrity during critical illness. Skin integrity is at risk in critically ill children owing to necessary clinical therapies and challenges of providing nutrition therapy.

Methods

We conducted a narrative literature review with three main thematic concepts to drive our literature search: the association of nutrition therapy with (1) skin integrity; (2) injury, wounds, and wound healing; and (3) differences of skin color. Using pertinent search and subject terms, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases were searched, yielding 316 articles. After removal of duplicates, articles were reviewed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria defined by the authors; only eight articles met the defined criteria to inform this review.

Results

Large and important gaps exist in the current literature regarding an association between nutrition therapy, skin injury, and wound healing. Little to no attention was found for associations with skin color. The resulting narrative review addresses these topics and subtopics with additional references included that are independent of the original search strategy.

Conclusions

A dearth of evidence exists describing associations between nutrition and disruption of skin integrity in pediatric critical illness. Children with dark skin are at increased risk, as manifestation and identification of disruption to skin integrity may not be recognized. Research is needed to describe these associations and the impact of nutrition on skin integrity, including differences of skin color.
Simulation of magnetohydrodynamic flows of liquid metals with heat transfer or magnetic stirring
Authors: Bhattacharya Shashwat , Sanjari Seyed Loghman , Krasnov Dmitry , Boeck Thomas
Published: September 2023

We discuss the effects of nonhomogeneous magnetic fields in liquid metal flows in two different configurations. In the first configuration, we briefly report the impact of fringing magnetic fields in a turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection setup, where it was shown that the global heat transport decreases with an increase of fringe‐width. The convective motion in regions of strong magnetic fields is confined near the sidewalls. In the second configuration, we numerically study the effects of an oscillating magnetic obstacle with different frequencies of oscillation on liquid metal flow in a duct. The Reynolds number is low such that the wake of the stationary magnetic obstacle is steady. The transverse oscillation of the magnet creates a sinusoidal time‐dependent wake reminiscent of the vortex shedding behind solid obstacles. We examine the behavior of the streamwise and spanwise components of the Lorentz forces as well as the work done by the magnets on the fluid. The frequency of the oscillation of the streamwise component of Lorentz force is twice that of the spanwise component as in the case of lift and drag on solid cylindrical obstacles. The total drag force and the energy transferred from the magnets to the fluid show a nonmonotonic dependence on the frequency of oscillation of the magnetic obstacle indicative of a resonant excitation of the sinusoidal vortex shedding.
Generation and study of antibodies against two triangular trimers derived from Aβ
Authors: Kreutzer Adam G. , Malonis Ryan J. , Parrocha Chelsea Marie T. , Tong Karen , Guaglianone Gretchen , Nguyen Jennifer T. , Diab Michelle N. , Lai Jonathan R. , Nowick James S.
Published: September 2023

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) are important Alzheimer's disease research tools and are now being used as Alzheimer's disease therapies. Conformation‐specific mAbs that target oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ assemblies are of particular interest, as these assemblies are associated with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and progression. This article reports the generation of rabbit mAbs against two different triangular trimers derived from Aβ. These antibodies are the first mAbs generated against Aβ oligomer mimics in which the high‐resolution structures of the oligomers are known. We describe the isolation of the mAbs using single B‐cell sorting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from immunized rabbits, the selectivity of the mAbs for the triangular trimers, the immunoreactivity of the mAbs with aggregated Aβ42, and the immunoreactivity of the mAbs in brain tissue from the 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model. The characterization of these mAbs against structurally defined trimers derived from Aβ enhances understanding of antibody‐amyloid recognition and may benefit the development of diagnostics and immunotherapies in Alzheimer's disease.
Self‐Assembled InAs Quantum Dots on InGaAsP/InP(100) by Modified Droplet Epitaxy in Metal–Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy around the Telecom C‐Band for Quantum Photonic Applications
Authors: Sala Elisa M. , Na Young In , Godsland Max , Heffernan Jon
Published: September 2023

The growth of InAs quantum dots (QDs) by droplet epitaxy (DE) in metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy is demonstrated for the first time on an InGaAsP layer lattice matched to InP(100). The nucleation of indium droplets on InGaAsP shows a strong dependence on the deposition temperature, with an unexpectedly low density, pointing to a strongly increased surface diffusion compared to bare InP or InGaAs surfaces previously reported. Droplets and surface morphology are characterized via atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Droplet crystallization into InAs QDs is explored, where the crystallization process follows a modified DE growth which resembles the one on InGaAs but strongly differs from bare InP. Also, no formation of quantum dashes (QDashes) is observed, as the DE growth technique used here allows for a better control of QD nucleation, decoupled from the layer/epilayer mismatch, favoring the formation of QDs over QDashes. Optical characterizations suggest a more efficient carrier capture into the QDs if these are grown on InGaAsP compared to InGaAs. Finally, bright single‐dot emission at low‐temperature is detected from QDs ranging from 1300 to 1600 nm, covering the technologically relevant telecom C‐band.
Extending the frontiers of financial development for sustainability of the MENA states: The roles of resource abundance and institutional quality
Authors: Onifade Stephen Taiwo , Gyamfi Bright Akwasi , Haouas Ilham , Asongu Simplice A.
Published: September 2023

Resource abundance characterizes economies within the MENA region from North Africa to the Middle East. As such, to improve financial development (FD) for regional economic sustainability, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the roles of natural resources abundance and institutional quality indicators on the region's FD while underscoring the inflationary levels and general economic growth trends amidst rising globalization. The adopted empirical strategy (CS‐ARDL and AMG) is employed for potential cross‐sectional dependency (CD) and slope homogeneity in the regional data spanning over two decades (2000–2020). Unlike the extant literature, two separate regional FD indicators were considered for an insightful analysis namely, banking financial services via domestic credit to private sector, and financial stability via the Z‐score values showing the tendencies of default in a country's banking structure. Regardless of the FD indicator, the results reveal that natural resources, growth trends, and inflationary levels significantly spur long‐run regional FD thereby invalidating the financial resource curse hypothesis in the region. Furthermore, both institutional quality levels and globalization produced detrimental impacts on FD levels. However, the interaction between institutional quality levels and natural resources shows a desirable FD‐stimulating effect in the region, noticeably when FD is proxied by the Z‐score. Thus, implying that stronger institutions are crucial for MENA's overall financial stability vis‐à‐vis reduction in the risk of default in the banking system. Hence, policy recommendations including the strengthening of institutional capacities among others, were suggested to regional authorities toward harnessing resources for sustainable regional FD.
High‐Performance Indoor Perovskite Solar Cells by Self‐Suppression of Intrinsic Defects via a Facile Solvent‐Engineering Strategy
Authors: Han EQ , Lyu Miaoqiang , Choi Eunyoung , Zhao Yuying , Zhang Yurou , Lee Jaeho , Lee Su‐Min , Jiao Yalong , Ahmad Syed Haseeb Ali , Seidel Jan , Yun Jae Sung , Yun Jung‐Ho , Wang Lianzhou
Published: September 2023

Lead halide perovskite solar cells have been emerging as very promising candidates for applications in indoor photovoltaics. To maximize their indoor performance, it is of critical importance to suppress intrinsic defects of the perovskite active layer. Herein, a facile solvent‐engineering strategy is developed for effective suppression of both surface and bulk defects in lead halide perovskite indoor solar cells, leading to a high efficiency of 35.99% under the indoor illumination of 1000 lux Cool‐white light‐emitting diodes. Replacing dimethylformamide (DMF) with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) in the perovskite precursor solvent significantly passivates the intrinsic defects within the thus‐prepared perovskite films, prolongs the charge carrier lifetimes and reduces non‐radiative charge recombination of the devices. Compared to the DMF, the much higher interaction energy between NMP and formamidinium iodide/lead halide contributes to the markedly improved quality of the perovskite thin films with reduced interfacial halide deficiency and non‐radiative charge recombination, which in turn enhances the device performance. This work paves the way for developing efficient indoor perovskite solar cells for the increasing demand for power supplies of Internet‐of‐Things devices.
Precise Design and Modification Engineering of Single‐Atom Catalytic Materials for Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Zhang Pengxiang , Liu Yanyan , Liu Shuling , Zhou Limin , Wu Xianli , Han Guosheng , Liu Tao , Sun Kang , Li Baojun , Jiang Jianchun
Published: September 2023

Due to their unique electronic and structural properties, single‐atom catalytic materials (SACMs) hold great promise for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Coordinating environmental and engineering strategies is the key to improving the ORR performance of SACMs. This review summarizes the latest research progress and breakthroughs of SACMs in the field of ORR catalysis. First, the research progress on the catalytic mechanism of SACMs acting on ORR is reviewed, including the latest research results on the origin of SACMs activity and the analysis of pre‐adsorption mechanism. The study of the pre‐adsorption mechanism is an important breakthrough direction to explore the origin of the high activity of SACMs and the practical and theoretical understanding of the catalytic process. Precise coordination environment modification, including in‐plane, axial, and adjacent site modifications, can enhance the intrinsic catalytic activity of SACMs and promote the ORR process. Additionally, several engineering strategies are discussed, including multiple SACMs, high loading, and atomic site confinement. Multiple SACMs synergistically enhance catalytic activity and selectivity, while high loading can provide more active sites for catalytic reactions. Overall, this review provides important insights into the design of advanced catalysts for ORR.
An assessment method to ensure applicability of concrete capacity method for design of anchorages: Linear force distribution approach
Authors: Bokor Boglárka , Sharma Akanshu , Pregartner Thilo
Published: September 2023

The concrete capacity design (CCD) method for the design of anchorages comes with a pre‐requisite that the base plate connecting the anchors of a group should be “sufficiently stiff.” This article addresses a frequently and vastly discussed topic in fastening technology, namely “What a sufficiently stiff base plate actually means?” The qualitative definition used by the codes requires that the deformation of the base plate should be small compared to the anchor displacements, in addition to the requirement that the base plate should remain linear elastic. This requirement indirectly ensures that the forces among the anchors of the group are distributed in a linear manner, which is the primary requirement to apply the CCD method for design of anchorages. Such a qualitative definition has raised more questions than answers and haunts the fastening technology community. Perhaps the possible solution to this problem requires asking the question differently, that addresses the problem directly: How can it be ensured that the tension forces among the anchors of a group are distributed in a linear manner? This paper first discusses the problem in detail highlighting several issues in the current approach and later provides an overview of an assessment method in form of a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate whether the tension force distribution is linear for an anchorage with a given anchor pattern, baseplate, attachment, and load case. The principle of the approach is based on a combination of simple mathematical formulations and the evaluation of finite element calculations performed on anchorages modeled with base plate, attachment, and anchors. The proposed formulations are described, and it is explained why they are adequate to find practical and safe general solutions to the problems. The application of the set of criteria allows the calculation of an optimum base plate thickness, sufficient to distribute the forces linearly among the anchors, without being overly conservative.
The Writing Engagement Scale: A Formative Assessment Tool
Authors: Parsons Seth A. , Ives Samantha T. , Fields R. Stacy , Barksdale Bonnie , Marine Jonathan , Rogers Paul
Published: September 2023

Students who are engaged writers are likely to produce better writing and to enjoy writing more than students who are disengaged writers. Yet, we are unaware of any existing tool that validly and reliably measures writing engagement. In this article, we describe what writing engagement is and why it is important. Then, we present the Writing Engagement Scale, a valid and reliable tool for measuring writing engagement, and outline how teachers can use this tool to better inform writing instruction in their classrooms.
Droughts in forested ecoregions in cold and continental climates: A review of vulnerability concepts and factors in socio‐hydrological systems
Authors: Stenfors Elin , Blicharska Malgorzata , Grabs Thomas , Teutschbein Claudia
Published: September 2023

In a changing climate, drought risk and vulnerability assessments are becoming increasingly important. Following the global call for proactive drought risk management, drought vulnerability assessments are progressively taking their stage in the drought research community. As the manifestation of drought vulnerability is dependent on the social, ecological, and hydroclimatic context in which it occurs, identifying vulnerability factors relevant for specific climatological and ecological regions may improve the quality of vulnerability assessments. Meanwhile, a holistic overview of factors affecting vulnerability in polar and cold climates is currently lacking. These regions are home to large socio‐hydrological systems including urban areas, energy systems, agricultural practices, and the boreal forest. By conducting an interdisciplinary systematic literature review, the manifestation and conceptualization of drought vulnerability were identified for forested ecoregions in the Köppen–Geiger D and E climates. Vulnerability factors, as described by several scientific disciplines, were identified and combined into a conceptual framework for drought vulnerability in the study region. The results demonstrate the wide range of conceptualizations that exist for assessing drought vulnerability, and the thematic differences between sectors such as forestry, water supply, and agriculture. The conceptual framework presented herein adopts a novel approach, categorizing vulnerability factors by their location in a socio‐hydrological system, and their relation to blue or green water sources. This allowed for identification of systemic vulnerability patterns, providing new insights into regional differences in drought vulnerability and a base for stakeholders performing proactive drought risk assessments in the study region.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Methods

Science of Water > Water Extremes

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Human Water > Water Governance
A review to the methods of personality measurements in wild animals
Authors: Cheng Jiming , He Huimin , Zhang Min , Gan Baiqi , Niu Hongyu , Zhang Hongmao
Published: September 2023

One of the challenges in the study of animal personalities is to select a suitable method to measure personality. Here, we reviewed the three common methods (traits rating, behavioral coding, and experimentation) used in animal personality measurement in wild animals. For each method, we summarized its experimental animals and conditions, advantages, and disadvantages in personality measurement. One method could be used to measure the personalities of different animal species, and different methods could be used to measure the personality of one animal species. Overall, traits rating was used to test the personalities of large animals (e.g., primates), behavioral coding was conducted both in large and small animals (e.g., primates, birds, rodents, and fishes), whereas experimentation was used in small animals (e.g., rodents, birds, amphibians, and insects). Although the methods of experimentation were originally designed for model animals (e.g., mice and rats), some of them were used to test the personalities of wild animals under indoor conditions, in which the experimental animals were transferred from the field to the laboratory. Unfortunately, few studies have estimated the applicability of these methods to wild animals. In the future, effective methods of personality measurement are needed for wild animals, especially the methods that can be used in the field.
A cross‐over dietary intervention in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus): Investigating the effects of glycine supplementation on blood parameters
Authors: van Boom Kathryn M. , Kohn Tertius A. , Tordiffe Adrian S. W.
Published: September 2023

Captive cheetahs are prone to unusual diseases which may be attributed to their high muscle meat, collagen deficient captive diet. Glycine is a simple amino acid that is abundant in collagen rich tissues and has many physiological functions, specifically in collagen synthesis and in the conjugation of detrimental by‐products produced during gut bacterial fermentation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 4 week glycine supplementation on the body measurements, haematology and serum blood parameters of 10 captive cheetahs using a randomised controlled cross‐over design. This approach has not yet been used to investigate the effect of diet in captive cheetahs. Cheetahs were randomly assigned to a control diet (horse meat only) or a glycine diet (30 g glycine per 1 kg meat) for 4 weeks before being crossed over. Blood was collected at baseline and after each intervention. The glycine diet resulted in a decreased serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase and total calcium concentration and increases in eosinophils and basophils counts compared to the control diet. Body weight also decreased on the glycine diet which may be due to increased β‐oxidation and fat loss. This was the first study to investigate the effect of glycine supplementation, which resulted in slight body and blood changes, in captive cheetahs using a cross‐over design and this approach should be utilised for future dietary studies.
Diskussion um Qualitätssicherung neuer Wohnformen dringender denn je
Authors: Kremer-Preiß Ursula , Wolf-Ostermann Karin
Published: September 2023

Die Wohn- und Versorgungslandschaft für Pflegebedürftige hat sich in den vergangenen 30 Jahren sehr ausdifferenziert und es hat sich ein breites Spektrum an besonderen „neuen“ Wohnformen entwickelt. Aber nicht nur die Entwicklungen lassen sich in diesem Marktsegment aktuell nicht genau einschätzen, auch welche Bedeutung sie für die aktuelle Versorgungslandschaft Pflegebedürftiger haben, ist umstritten. „Neue“ Wohnformen bewegen sich zwischen den beiden klassischen Wohnsettings „Heim“ und „Häuslichkeit“ und versuchen als hybride Wohnformen, die schwer zu vereinbarenden Anforderungen nach Autonomie (Selbstständigkeit, Selbstbestimmung, Selbstverantwortung, Personalität) und Sicherheit (Versorgungssicherheit, [Für-]Sorge) neu auszubalancieren. Sie rücken die Achtung der Autonomie auch bei schwerstem Pflegebedarf ins Zentrum und organisieren Sicherheit für eine autonome Lebensgestaltung durch Befähigung und in gemeinsamer Verantwortung. Sie stehen damit für eine neue Verantwortungskultur in der Pflege- und Sorgearbeit. Qualitätssicherung bei neuen Wohnformen muss diese Besonderheit berücksichtigen. Zwar sind neue Wohnformen bereits heute mit einer Vielzahl ordnungs-, leistungs- und leistungserbringerrechtlichen Qualitätsanforderungen konfrontiert, es fehlen jedoch Qualitätsprüfverfahren zu den spezifischen Besonderheiten neuer Wohnformen. 2019 wurde im Auftrag der Vertragsparteien nach § 113 SGB XI auf der Grundlage der Anforderungen aus dem Dritten Pflegestärkungsgesetz (PSG III) ein Qualitätssicherungskonzept für neue Wohnformen entwickelt. Es enthält erste Konturen zur Qualitätssicherung der Besonderheiten in neuen Wohnformen, die einer weiteren Konkretisierung bedarf. Angesichts der enormen Herausforderungen in den klassischen Wohnsettings sind neue Konzepte gefragt. Eine Diskussion über die besondere Qualität neuer Wohnformen und deren Möglichkeiten der Umsetzung durch entsprechende Rahmenbedingungen ist daher dringender denn je.
Interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit für mehr Qualität in der Langzeitpflege
Authors: Behrend Ronja , Scheel Katharina
Published: September 2023

Die Versorgungsanforderungen in Deutschland machen die interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit der Gesundheitsberufe jetzt und in Zukunft notwendig, um eine patientenzentrierte Versorgung sicherzustellen. Interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit wird unter anderem aufgrund der Versorgungsanforderungen und der sogenannten „Megatrends“ in der Gesellschaft immer relevanter (WHO 2010). Zu diesen gehört der demographische Wandel hin zu einer Bevölkerung mit einem größeren Anteil betagter und hochbetagter Menschen. Der epidemiologische Wandel, der ein verändertes Krankheitsspektrum hin zu chronisch und/oder multimorbid Erkrankten erkennbar werden lässt, führt ebenfalls dazu, dass eine Zusammenarbeit der Gesundheitsberufe notwendig ist, da diese Personengruppen oftmals komplex und langfristig erkranken und Leistungen verschiedener Akteure des Versorgungssystems benötigen (Wissenschaftsrat 2012). Hinzu kommt, dass der wissenschaftliche Fortschritt zu einem Wissenszuwachs in allen Gesundheitsberufen führt. Dieser macht den Austausch zwischen den Professionen notwendig, damit Versorgungsprozesse aufeinander abgestimmt bzw. miteinander erfolgen können. Gleichzeitig stellt sich die Herausforderung des Fachkräftemangels in den Pflege- und Gesundheitsberufen. Eine der zentralen Aufgaben ist es, die Gesundheitsberufe auf diese Herausforderungen und sich verändernden Gegebenheiten in der Versorgung vorzubereiten und sie entsprechend zu qualifizieren (Wissenschaftsrat 2012; Wissenschaftsrat 2022).
Infektionsschutz und Impfsurveillance in der Langzeitpflege
Authors: Said Dunja , Abu Sin Muna , Zanuzdana Arina , Schweickert Birgitta , Eckmanns Tim
Published: September 2023

Die Steigerung der Lebenserwartung und der damit wachsende Anteil an Personen hohen Alters hat in den letzten Jahren in Deutschland zu einem zunehmenden Anteil an pflegebedürftigen Menschen geführt (Statistisches Bundesamt 2022). Nach Angaben des Statistischen Bundesamtes beträgt die Anzahl der Pflegebedürftigen derzeit ca. 4,1 Mio, wobei mit rund 80 % der überwiegende Anteil zu Hause, entweder durch Angehörige (51,3 %) oder ambulante Pflege- und Betreuungsdienste (23,8 %) bzw. eine Kombination von beidem, versorgt wird, während die anderen 20 % vollstationär in einem der 15.000 Alten- und Pflegeheime untergebracht sind (Statistisches Bundesamt 2020, 2022).

Insbesondere die Bewohnenden dieser Einrichtungen gehören zu den Hochrisikogruppen für einen schweren oder tödlichen Verlauf von Infektionskrankheiten wie Covid-19. Der Vulnerabilität liegen verschiedene Faktoren zugrunde, wie Gebrechlichkeit und Immunschwäche sowie Komorbiditäten, insbesondere Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, Diabetes oder Demenz. In Altenheimen leben darüber hinaus auch besonders häufig hochaltrige Personen ab 80 Jahren, die z. B. in Kombination mit einer Demenzerkrankung zwei wesentliche Risikofaktoren für einen tödlichen Covid-19-Verlauf vereinen (España et al. 2021).
Interkulturelle Kompetenzen im Gesundheitswesen durch Fort- und Weiterbildungen fördern
Authors: Dimitrova Desislava , Sehouli Jalid
Published: September 2023

Die Akzeptanz der kulturellen Vielfalt und das Anerkennen und Wertschätzen der Facetten des „Andersseins“ wie Geschlecht, Alter, Berufsgruppe, Krankheitsgruppe, Religion, soziokultureller Hintergrund sowie Migrationsgeschichten sind Grundvoraussetzungen für eine adäquate Kommunikation und Interaktion im Gesundheitswesen. Der Begriff interkulturelle Kompetenz ist multidimensional und umfasst eine Reihe von Eigenschaften und Fähigkeiten, die sowohl emotionale und kognitive Elemente beinhalten als auch die Verhaltensebene berühren. In dem vorliegenden Artikel diskutieren wir die Bedeutung der interkulturellen Kompetenz für das Gesundheitswesen und welche Aspekte der interkulturellen Kommunikation für eine kultursensible medizinische Versorgung besonders relevant sind. Wir berichten außerdem über die Implementierung eines interprofessionellen Fort- und Weiterbildungskonzeptes für die klinische Praxis (IPIKA – „Interprofessionelles und Interkulturelles Arbeiten in Medizin, Pflege und Sozialdienst“).

Basis der spezifischen Ansätze zur Verbesserung der interkulturellen Kompetenz sollte die systematische Aus- und Weiterbildung grundsätzlicher kommunikativer Fähigkeiten sein. Dies betrifft nahezu alle Ausbildungscurricula für die medizinischen Professionen. Es ist wichtig zu betonen, dass interkulturelle Kompetenz ein Kern- und Querschnittsthema für alle Beteiligten im Gesundheitssystem darstellt.
The asymptotics of price and strategy in the buyer’s bid double auction
Authors: Williams Steven R. , Zachariadis Konstantinos E.
Published: September 2023

In a model with correlated and interdependent values/costs, we identify for the buyer’s bid double auction the asymptotic distributions of the price and of two order statistics in the first order conditions for optimal bidding/asking, all of which are normal. Substitution of the asymptotic distributions into the first order conditions can permit the solution for approximately optimal bids/asks that provide insight into what is “ first order” in a trader’s strategic decision-making, which has been difficult to obtain through analysis of equilibrium.
Diagnostic value of plasma SIRT1 levels and whole-brain gray matter volume in Parkinson’s disease patients with cognitive impairment
Authors: Li Xiaohuan , Yang Dawei , Ma Jianjun , Wei Wei , Zheng Jinhua , Fan Yongyan , Liang Keke , Shi Xiaoxue , Li Dongsheng , She Zonghan , Qi Xuelin , Chen Siyuan
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study was designed to investigate the diagnostic value of plasma SIRT1 levels and whole-brain gray matter (GM) volume in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with cognitive impairment.

Methods

Automated enzymatic analysis was performed to measure plasma SIRT1 levels in 80 healthy controls and 77 PD patients. Motor symptoms and nonmotor symptoms in PD patients were assessed using the corresponding scales. A Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma 3 T MRI scanner was used to acquire images in 35 of 77 PD patients.

Results

Plasma SIRT1 levels in PD patients were lower than those in healthy controls. Plasma SIRT1 levels were negatively correlated with the age, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III) scores, anxiety, depression, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), quality of life, and especially cognitive impairment. Thus, it showed that plasma SIRT1 levels were relevant to visuospatial/executive function, memory, and language. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis confirmed that plasma SIRT1 levels had good diagnostic accuracy for PD with anxiety and EDS. Furthermore, plasma SIRT1 levels had a significant positive correlation with GM volume in the whole brain, and ROC analysis confirmed that plasma SIRT1 levels and the total GM volume had good diagnostic accuracy for PD with cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

This study showed that plasma SIRT1 levels were correlated with the nonmotor symptoms of anxiety, depression, EDS, and especially cognitive impairment as well as the total GM volume. Furthermore, the combination of plasma SIRT1 levels and the total GM volume had good diagnostic accuracy for PD with cognitive impairment.
Boosting the visibility of services in microservice architecture
Authors: Tokmak Ahmet Vedat , Akbulut Akhan , Catal Cagatay
Published: September 2023

Monolithic software architectures are no longer sufficient for the highly complex software-intensive systems, which modern society depends on. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) surpassed monolithic architecture due to its reusability, platform independency, ease of maintenance, and scalability. Recent SOA implementations made use of cloud-native architectural approaches such as microservice architecture, which has resulted in a new challenge: the discovery difficulties of services. One way to dynamically discover and route traffic to service instances is to use a service discovery tool to locate the Internet Protocol (IP) address and port number of a microservice. In the event that replicated microservice instances are found to provide the same function, it is crucial to select the right microservice that provides the best overall experience for the end-user. Parameters including success rate, efficiency, delay time, and response time play a vital role in establishing a microservice’s Quality of Service (QoS). These assessments can be performed by means of a live health-check service, or, alternatively, by making a prediction of the current state of affairs with the application of machine learning-based approaches. In this research, we evaluate the performance of several classification algorithms for estimating the quality of microservices using the QWS dataset containing traffic data of 2505 microservices. Our research also analyzed the boosting algorithms, namely Gradient Boost, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost to improve the overall performance. We utilized parameter optimization techniques, namely Grid Search, Random Search, Bayes Search, Halvin Grid Search, and Halvin Random Search to fine-tune the hyperparameters of our classifier models. Experimental results demonstrated that the CatBoost algorithm achieved the highest level of accuracy (90.42%) in predicting microservice quality.