bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of metamaterial absorbers and their application in sensors and radar cross‐section reduction
Authors: Garg Priyanka , Jain Priyanka
Published: November 2022

In the past few decades, metamaterial absorbers (MA) have become an important area of research due to their potential application as ultrathin perfect absorbers. There are various approaches proposed in the literature to obtain multiband and broadband absorption characteristics. This paper presents all the different approaches followed by different authors along with their respective drawbacks and advantages. Metamaterial absorbers have numerous applications in today's technological advancement. This paper presents the review of literature on previously proposed MA applied for radar cross‐section reduction and used as sensors in several applications. The aim is to help the user choose a suitable approach for particular specifications and also develop new devices in the future.
Association between urethral funneling in stress urinary incontinence and the biological properties of the urethral rhabdosphincter muscle based on shear wave elastography
Authors: Wang Liang , Liu Yun , Wang Xiaona , Shi Guoqiang , Huang Jun , Xiao Xue , Xie Ying
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To apply shear wave elastography (SWE) combined with transperineal ultrasonography (TPUS) to study the association between urethral funneling in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the biological properties of the urethral rhabdosphincter muscle in women.

Methods

This single‐center retrospective study included 166 women with SUI (SUI group) and 185 women who underwent a routine physical examination (control group). The control group and SUI group were divided into nonfunneling and funneling groups according to the presence or absence of urethral funneling, respectively, and their ultrasound findings were compared to analyze the association between funneling and ultrasound measurements.

Results

The SUI group had a lower mean E than the control group (15.54 vs. 20.82 kPa, p < 0.001). The SUI‐funneling group had a lower mean E than the SUI‐nonfunneling group (15.50 vs. 17.21 kPa, p < 0.001). The area under the (AUC) receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the mean E for predicting SUI was 0.864, with a cutoff value of 19.19 kPa. The AUC of the mean E for predicting urethral funneling was 0.832, with a cutoff value of 17.15 kPa. The stiffness of the urethral rhabdosphincter was an independent factor related to SUI and urethral funneling in SUI.

Conclusions

SWE can be used to assess the biological properties of the urethral rhabdosphincter, and reduced stiffness of the rhabdosphincter was significantly correlated with SUI and funneling in SUI. Thus, women with urethral funneling in SUI may have a weak urethral rhabdosphincter.
Peripheral venous catheter‐related phlebitis: A meta‐analysis of topical treatment
Authors: Garcia‐Expósito Judith , Sánchez‐Meca Julio , Almenta‐Saavedra José Alberto , Llubes‐Arrià Laia , Torné‐Ruiz Alba , Roca Judith
Published: November 2022

Aim

To systematically evaluate the efficacy of different topical treatments for PVC‐related phlebitis in hospital in‐patients.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

A selection was made of experimental and quasi‐experimental studies published in English or Spanish. These should provide data on the degree of phlebitis, pain and infiltration (means and standard deviations, mainly) of hospitalized patients with phlebitis secondary to peripheral venous catheter. All those studies that reflected systemic or exclusive prevention treatments were excluded. Searches were from inception to April 2020. The date of data collection was from December 2020 to May 2021. The selection criteria were based on the PICOS model. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

Results

Twelve studies (726 patients) met the inclusion criteria. With respect to the decrease in the degree of phlebitis, was found ichthammol glycerine, followed by heparinoids. As for degree of pain, sesame oil obtained the most marked reduction. In terms of degree of infiltration, heparinoids and ichthammol glycerine were the only products to achieve a statistically significant reduction. The most important limitations are the low quantity and quality of the trials included. Insufficient data are available to draw valid conclusions about the efficacy of any treatment.
Children's rates of BMI change during pre‐pandemic and two COVID‐19 pandemic periods, IQVIA Ambulatory Electronic Medical Record, January 2018 Through November 2021
Authors: Pierce Samantha Lange , Kompaniyets Lyudmyla , Freedman David S. , Goodman Alyson B. , Blanck Heidi M.
Published: November 2022

Objective

Many US youth experienced accelerated weight gain during the early COVID‐19 pandemic. Using an ambulatory electronic health record data set, the authors compared children's rates of BMI change in three periods: pre‐pandemic (January 2018‐February 2020), early pandemic (March‐December 2020), and later pandemic (January‐November 2021).

Methods

This study used mixed‐effects models to examine differences in rates of change in BMI, weight, and obesity prevalence among the three periods. Covariates included time as a continuous variable, a variable indicating in which period each BMI was taken, sex, age, and initial BMI category.

Results

In a longitudinal cohort of 241,600 children aged 2 through 19 years with ≥4 BMI measurements, the monthly rates of BMI change (kilograms per meters squared) were 0.056 (95% CI: 0.056‐0.057) in the pre‐pandemic period, 0.104 (95% CI: 0.102‐0.106) in the early pandemic, and 0.035 (95% CI: 0.033‐0.036) in the later pandemic. The estimated prevalence of obesity in this cohort was 22.5% by November 2021.

Conclusions

In this large, geographically diverse cohort of US youth, accelerated rates of BMI change observed during 2020 were largely attenuated in 2021. Positive rates indicate continued weight gain rather than loss, albeit at a slower rate. Childhood obesity prevalence remained high, which raises concern about long‐term consequences of excess weight and underscores the importance of healthy lifestyle interventions.
The significance of mixed states in mania and depression: From the psychopathological viewpoint of Tadao Miyamoto
Authors: Kobayashi Toshiyuki
Published: November 2022

This article introduces the concept proposed by the eminent second‐generation Japanese psychopathologist Tadao Miyamoto in 1992 that the manic‐depressive mixed state is the basic psychopathology of manic‐depressive illness. When Kraepelin first established the dichotomy between schizophrenia and manic‐depressive illness, mania and depression were placed in a symmetrical relationship. Now, in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM‐5), manic‐depressive illness is divided into two distinct categories: bipolar and related disorders, and depressive disorders. Miyamoto pointed out that even in the average depressed state there is a manic‐depressive mixed state and listed the following findings. The depressed mood of depression is itself a major fluctuation, but is constantly subject to more or less subtle fluctuations or swaying. What occurs in association with the incessant fluctuations of mood dysphoria are restlessness, agitation, irritability, and excitement, which manifest in a unique way in combination with a depressive mood. In depressive delusions, ideations of belittlement are developed in an exaggerated manner. Miyamoto concluded that mixed states are not incidental or accessory to manic‐depressive illness; on the contrary, they may form a core component of manic‐depressive illness.
Mediating effects of care burden and sense of coherence between patients' disabilities and siblings' emotions in psychotic disorders
Authors: Shiraishi Nao , Yatsu Hiroko , Ogawa Haruka , Akechi Tatsuo
Published: November 2022

Aim

Care burden and sense of coherence (SOC) can facilitate an understanding of how family members interpret their caregiving experiences regarding a relative with psychosis. In informal caregiving, understanding siblings' experiences in this regard is necessary to mitigate negative emotions and strengthen positive ones. This study investigated whether care burden and SOC mediate the relationship between the disabilities of patients with psychosis and their siblings' emotions.

Methods

A nationwide online survey was used to screen and recruit adult siblings of patients with psychotic disorders. The patients' disabilities in their work lives, socializing, and family communication, the siblings' care burden and SOC, and the siblings' positive and negative emotions were assessed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the path model that illustrated the mediating effects of care burden and SOC on patients' disabilities and siblings' emotions.

Results

The sample included 237 siblings aged 42.3 years (mean) with a male‐to‐female ratio of 0.88 and 237 patients with schizophrenia (80.2%) or schizoaffective disorder (19.8%). In the SEM analyses, care burden connected each of the three disabilities with the two types of emotions through the pathways in which care burden positively predicted both negative and positive emotions. Additionally, SOC functioned as a mediator between disability in family communication and both types of emotions.

Conclusion

Siblings' negative emotions should be alleviated through interventions aimed at suppressing the care burden and enhancing SOC to address disabilities in patients' socializing and family communication. Nevertheless, care burden might contribute to their positive emotions.
Dealing with missing values in proteomics data
Authors: Kong Weijia , Hui Harvard Wai Hann , Peng Hui , Goh Wilson Wen Bin
Published: November 2022

Proteomics data are often plagued with missingness issues. These missing values (MVs) threaten the integrity of subsequent statistical analyses by reduction of statistical power, introduction of bias, and failure to represent the true sample. Over the years, several categories of missing value imputation (MVI) methods have been developed and adapted for proteomics data. These MVI methods perform their tasks based on different prior assumptions (e.g., data is normally or independently distributed) and operating principles (e.g., the algorithm is built to address random missingness only), resulting in varying levels of performance even when dealing with the same dataset. Thus, to achieve a satisfactory outcome, a suitable MVI method must be selected. To guide decision making on suitable MVI method, we provide a decision chart which facilitates strategic considerations on datasets presenting different characteristics. We also bring attention to other issues that can impact proper MVI such as the presence of confounders (e.g., batch effects) which can influence MVI performance. Thus, these too, should be considered during or before MVI.
Secondary structure and stability of a gel‐forming tardigrade desiccation‐tolerance protein
Authors: Eicher Jonathan E. , Brom Julia A. , Wang Shikun , Sheiko Sergei S. , Atkin Joanna M. , Pielak Gary J.
Published: November 2022

Protein‐based pharmaceuticals are increasingly important, but their inherent instability necessitates a “cold chain” requiring costly refrigeration during production, shipment, and storage. Drying can overcome this problem, but most proteins need the addition of stabilizers, and some cannot be successfully formulated. Thus, there is a need for new, more effective protective molecules. Cytosolically, abundant heat‐soluble proteins from tardigrades are both fundamentally interesting and a promising source of inspiration; these disordered, monodisperse polymers form hydrogels whose structure may protect client proteins during drying. We used attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small‐amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry to characterize gelation. A 5% (wt/vol) gel has a strength comparable with human skin, and melts cooperatively and reversibly near body temperature with an enthalpy comparable with globular proteins. We suggest that the dilute protein forms α‐helical coiled coils and increasing their concentration drives gelation via intermolecular β‐sheet formation.
Hydrogen Ion Irradiation Effect on the Luminescence of MoS2Nanoflowers
Authors: Al Youssef Khaled , Chauvin Adrien , Yan Su , Li Wenjiang , Bittencourt Carla
Published: November 2022

The influence of low kinetic energy hydrogen ion irradiation on the chemical composition and luminescence intensity of MoS2nanoflowers (NFs) hydrothermally synthesized is reported. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) core‐level analysis of the as‐synthesized MoS2NFs reveals the presence of the 2H‐MoS2(semiconductor) crystal phase and MoOx. Furthermore, the relative amounts of oxygen and potassium decrease for increasing hydrogen ion irradiation time, whereas the photoluminescence (PL) intensity observed at 1.71 eV increased approximately three times.
Open‐circuit voltage loss and dielectric constants as new descriptors in machine learning study on organic photovoltaics
Authors: Yang Bing , Zhang Cai‐Rong , Wang Yu , Zhao Miao , Yu Hai‐Yuan , Liu Zi‐Jiang , Liu Xiao‐Meng , Chen Yu‐Hong , Wu You‐Zhi , Chen Hong‐Shan
Published: November 2022

Molecular descriptors are critical for determining the accuracy of machine learning (ML) study on organic photovoltaics (OPV). To unravel the complex relationship between molecular properties and device performance, on the basis of 510 donor‐acceptor pairs in OPV active layer, the open‐circuit voltage loss (VOC‐loss), dielectric constants of donor and acceptor (ε‐D and ε‐A) were firstly implemented into property descriptor set that includes 41 quantities totally. Then, the five ML algorithms were applied to compare the property descriptor sets with and without VOC‐loss, ε‐D and ε‐A (coded as new and old sets) in the prediction of photovoltaic parameters. The ML results of Pearson's correlation coefficient and the slope of regression lines indicate the performances of new molecular descriptor set are prevailing to that of old set. Furthermore, the Gini important analysis indicates that the ε‐D, ε‐A and VOC‐loss are very important parameters for determining device performance. Higher dielectric constants and lower VOC‐loss will be more beneficial to the performance of OPV devices.
Global adaptive prescribed‐time stabilization for high‐order nonlinear systems
Authors: Hua Changchun , Li Hao , Li Kuo
Published: November 2022

In this article, the global adaptive prescribed‐time stabilization problem of high‐order (‐normal form) nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainties is studied. Compared with the existing results on time‐optimal control, our control algorithm eliminates the residual term caused by unknown parameters for the first time. By introducing the new Lyapunov‐like function and time‐varying function, a prescribed‐time controller with adaptive law is constructed, which ensures that the system state variables converge to the origin rather than a residual term, and the setting time can be arbitrarily specified. Moreover, with the help of the state transformations and the power integrator technique, the difficulties of system structure caused by the high power are overcome. Then, based on the differential equations, it is proved that the boundedness of all system signals. Finally, an example of underdrive system simulation is presented to verify the availabilities of the developed control algorithm.
Set‐invariance‐based interpretations for the L1 performance of nonlinear systems with non‐unique solutions
Authors: Choi Hyung Tae , Kim Jung Hoon
Published: November 2022

This article is concerned with tackling the performance analysis problem of continuous and piecewise continuous nonlinear systems with non‐unique solutions by using the involved arguments of set‐invariance principles. More precisely, this article derives a sufficient condition for the performance of continuous nonlinear systems in terms of the invariant set. With respect to the case such that solving a nonlinear differential equation is difficult and thus an employment of the invariant set‐based sufficient condition is a non‐trivial task, we also derive another sufficient condition through the extended invariance domain approach. Because this extended approach characterizes set‐invariance properties in terms of the corresponding vector field and an extended version of contingent cones, the performance analysis problem could be solved without considering both the explicit solutions for the differential equation and the relevant solution uniqueness. These arguments associated with the performance of continuous systems are further extended to the involved case of piecewise continuous nonlinear systems, and we establish parallel results relevant to the set‐invariance principles obtained for the continuous nonlinear systems. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness as well as the applicability of the overall results derived in this article.
Trends and prospects in the Yangtze River Basin research: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Pan Shenyang , Zhang Wenlong , Li Yi , Zhang Chi , Zhang Huanjun , Niu Lihua , Wang Longfei
Published: November 2022

The management and protection of the world's major river basins have received increasing attention, and a series of related measures, including fishing bans and ecological engineering restoration, has been pioneered in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). This paper provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of research trends and hotspots in the water environment of the YRB through bibliometric means. The database period was from its inception to December 31, 2020. This review combines the changing trends in the water environment of the YRB in the form of keywords. The results show that the governance of the YRB is based on the relationship between “water” and “sediment” as an entry point, focusing on changes in the “temporal” and “spatial” allocation of water resources; further, when considering the problem of “eutrophication” caused by the release of “nitrogen” and “phosphorus” from “sediments,” water quality factors such as “heavy metal pollution” and “organic pollution” are becoming more prominent; then water quality factor affects “biodiversity,” aquatic ecology becomes more and more concerned, and “ecological risk” factor is taken into consideration. Therefore, future management of the YRB requires consideration of all elements of the basin, including water resources, water quality, and aquatic ecology, and how to coordinate these all material elements is the obstacle and breakthrough point. In addition, further studies on research frontiers have revealed that ecological risk, emerging bioinformatics technologies, and, source apportionment will become the new and popular directions and trends in research. This review is intended to provide insights into the management of other large river basins around the world.
Evolution Mechanism of MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–CaO Inclusions During Continuous Casting of Si‐Killed Spring Steel
Authors: Wang Chen , Tang Wei , Zhang Jiang-Shan , Chi Yun-Guang , Chen Jun , Liu Qing
Published: November 2022

Controlling inclusions is essential for producing high‐quality spring steels. In continuous casting (CC), the thermodynamic equilibrium between the steel and inclusions changes with the reoxidation and temperature reduction of molten steel, resulting in the compositional transformation of the inclusions. Herein, the evolution mechanism of the inclusions during CC is investigated through industrial trials and thermodynamic analyses. Three types of oxide inclusions are classified in the steel, namely, Al2O3–SiO2, CaO–Al2O3–SiO2, and MgO–CaO–Al2O3–SiO2, whereby MgO–CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 is the main type. The average mass content of Al2O3 in the inclusions is 15–21% at the end of vacuum degassing. The number density of the inclusions increases because of the reoxidation of molten steel. The reoxidation and temperature decrease result in the further reaction among Si, Al, Mg, and O in steel, thereby increasing the melting point of the inclusions. Moreover, the inclusions evolve during CC. The mass fractions of CaO and MgO decrease, that of Al2O3 increase, and that of SiO2 hardly change. Compared to reoxidation, temperature plays a leading role in the inclusion evolution. Finally, the details of the inclusion evolution are illustrated by thermodynamic calculations.
Architectural Design and Microstructural Engineering of Metal–Organic Framework‐Derived Nanomaterials for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Authors: Xu Xueqing , Li Deshun , Li Li , Yang Zhiwang , Lei Ziqiang , Xu Yuxi
Published: November 2022

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) derivatives are developing family of functional materials for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. Their tailored structures, controllable compositions, high porosity, and versatile functions offer immense advantages for the construction of excellent EMW absorption materials. Nevertheless, it is crucial and challenging to understand the unique role of rationally designing art and tailoring the microstructures of MOF‐derived materials for EMW absorption. In this review, advances in rational architectural design strategy and the elaborate control of microstructures are outlined to promote the EMW absorption performance of MOF‐derived materials. In addition, the derived key information regarding the superiority and composition–structure–performance relationships of the engineered MOF‐derived materials with advanced components and nanostructures is comprehensively summarized. Finally, the insight into the challenges of future development in MOF‐derived EMW absorption materials is presented.
The Loss of Work Motivation Among Older Male Employees: Critical Perspectives to Policies Aimed at Extending Working Life in Finland
Authors: Pietilä Ilkka , Ojala Hanna
Published: November 2022

Finnish governments have utilised a ‘stick and carrot’ approach to prolong work careers at the end by both increasing the official retirement age and offering financial incentives for people to work longer. This chapter explores Finnish male metalworkers’ and engineers’ thoughts regarding retirement and prolonging their careers in terms of how men’s motives change as they approach retirement age. Our interviews (conducted in 2010/2011 and 2017) indicated in both groups that the men had lost a great deal of their interest in work and most of them were ready to retire. Rather than focusing on their work ability, both metalworkers and engineers considered it important to secure sufficient health for life in retirement. Quite surprisingly, economic incentives did not seem to play a role in these men’s considerations of retirement in either of the groups, even despite the substantial income differences between them. Instead of additional money, the interviewees thought about their retirement plans in terms of health, mental wellbeing and work-related satisfaction. Our study suggests that future efforts to prolong work careers should therefore focus on improving working conditions and age-friendly work environments.
Orogenic gold: is a genetic association with magmatism realistic?
Authors: Goldfarb Richard J. , Pitcairn Iain
Published: November 2022

Many workers accept a metamorphic model for orogenic gold ore formation, where a gold-bearing aqueous-carbonic fluid is an inherent product of devolatilization across the greenschist-amphibolite boundary with the majority of deposits formed within the seismogenic zone at depths of 6–12 km. Fertile oceanic rocks that source fluid and metal may be heated through varied tectonic scenarios affecting the deforming upper crust (≤ 20–25 km depth). Less commonly, oceanic cover and crust on a downgoing slab may release an aqueous-carbonic metamorphic fluid at depths of 25–50 km that travels up-dip along a sealed plate boundary until intersecting near-vertical structures that facilitate fluid migration and gold deposition in an upper crustal environment. Nevertheless, numerous world-class orogenic gold deposits are alternatively argued to be products of magmatic-hydrothermal processes based upon equivocal geochemical and mineralogical data or simply a spatial association with an exposed or hypothesized intrusion. Oxidized intrusions may form gold-bearing porphyry and epithermal ores in the upper 3–4 km of the crust, but their ability to form economic gold resources at mesozonal (≈ 6–12 km) and hypozonal (≈ > 12 km) depths is limited. Although volatile saturation may be reached in magmatic systems at depths as deep as 10–15 km, such saturation doesn’t indicate magmatic-hydrothermal fluid release. Volatiles typically will be channeled upward in magma and mush to brittle apical roof zones at epizonal levels (≈ < 6 km) before large pressure gradients are reached to rapidly release a focused fluid. Furthermore, gold and sulfur solubility relationships favor relatively shallow formation of magmatic-hydrothermal gold systems; although aqueous-carbonic fluid release from a magmatic system below 6 km would generally be diffuse, even if in cases where it was somehow better focused, it is unlikely to contain substantial gold. Where reduced intrusions form through assimilation of carbonaceous crustal material, subsequent high fluid pressures and hydrofracturing have been shown to lead to development of sheeted veins and greisens at depths of 3–6 km. These products of reduced magmatic-hydrothermal systems, however, typically form Sn and or W ores, with economic low grade gold occurrences (< 1 g/t Au) being formed in rare cases. Thus, whereas most moderate- to high-T orogens host orogenic gold and intrusions, there is no genetic association.
On the relation of GNSS phase center offsets and the terrestrial reference frame scale: a semi-analytical analysis
Authors: Montenbruck Oliver , Steigenberger Peter , Villiger Arturo , Rebischung Paul
Published: November 2022

Phase center offsets (PCOs) of global navigation satellites systems (GNSS) transmit antennas along the boresight axis introduce line-of-sight-dependent range changes in the modeling of GNSS observations that are strongly correlated with the estimated station heights. As a consequence, changes in the adopted PCOs impact the scale of GNSS-based realizations of the terrestrial reference frame (TRF). Vice versa, changes in the adopted TRF scale require corrections to the GNSS transmit antenna PCOs for consistent observation modeling. Early studies have determined an approximate value of $$\alpha =-0.050$$

α
=
-
0.050

for the ratio of station height changes and satellite PCO changes in GPS orbit determination and phase center adjustment. However, this is mainly an empirical value and limited information is available on the actual PCO-scale relation and how it is influenced by other factors. In view of the recurring need to adjust the IGS antenna models to new ITRF scales, a semi-analytical model is developed to determine values of $$\alpha $$
α
for the four current GNSSs from first principles without a need for actual network data processing. Given the close coupling of satellite boresight angle and station zenith angle, satellite PCO changes are essentially compensated by a combination of station height, zenith troposphere delay, and receiver clock offset. As such, the value of $$\alpha $$
α
depends not only on the orbital altitude of the considered GNSS but also on the elevation-dependent distribution of GNSS observations and their weighting, as well as the elevation mask angle and the tropospheric mapping function. Based on the model, representative values of $$\alpha _\text {GPS}=-0.051$$

α
GPS

=
-
0.051

, $$\alpha _\text {GLO}=-0.055$$

α
GLO

=
-
0.055

, $$\alpha _\text {GAL}=-0.041$$

α
GAL

=
-
0.041

, and $$\alpha _\text {BDS-3}=-0.046$$

α
BDS-3

=
-
0.046

are derived for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou-3 at a $$10^\circ $$

10
∘

elevation cutoff angle. These values may vary by $$\varDelta \alpha \approx 0.003$$

Δ
α
≈
0.003

depending on the specific model assumptions and data processing parameters in a precise orbit determination or precise point positioning. Likewise changes of about $$\pm 0.003$$

±
0.003

can be observed when varying the cutoff angle between $$5^\circ $$

5
∘

and $$15^\circ $$

15
∘

.
Evidence of resource partitioning between fin and sei whales during the twentieth-century whaling period
Authors: Buss Danielle L. , Hearne Ella , Loy Rebecca H. Y. , Manica Andrea , O’Connell Tamsin C. , Jackson Jennifer A.
Published: November 2022

Investigating resource partitioning of marine predators is essential for understanding coexistence of sympatric species and the functional role they play in marine ecosystems. Baleen whales are a key component of sub-Antarctic ecosystems, foraging predominantly on zooplankton and small forage fish. During the twentieth century, baleen whales were unsustainably exploited across the Southern Ocean. Within the exclusive economic zone of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI EEZ) in the South Atlantic, approximately 98,000 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and 16,000 sei whales (B.borealis) were harvested. Despite both species historically occurring in high numbers and feeding in sub-polar waters, little is known about the mechanisms of coexistence. Here, by measuring stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in archived baleen plates and analysing historic catch data, we investigate resource partitioning of fin and sei whale during the commercial whaling period. Temporal and spatial occupancy at SGSSI EEZ (inferred from whaling catches that occurred between 1904 and 1976), alongside historic stomach contents (from the literature), and δ13C and δ15N results (observed in this study), suggests that despite using a common prey resource there was limited overlap in isotopic niches between the two species, with sei whales using SGSSI waters later in the season and for a shorter period than fin whales. We hypothesise that the isotopic differences were most likely due to sei whales foraging at lower latitudes prior to arrival at SGSSI. Our data provide novel insight into how two sympatric whale species co-occurring at SGSSI during the commercial whaling period may have partitioned resources and provide a potential ecological baseline to assess changes in resource use in recovering whale populations.
IT-gestützte Aus- und Weiterbildung im tertiären Bildungsbereich – Informatik und Wirtschaftsinformatik
Authors: Mertens Peter
Published: November 2022

Der tertiäre Bildungssektor im deutschsprachigen Raum fächert sich zunehmend auf. Das gilt für die Typen von Hochschulen wie auch für die Professuren. Dazu kommen neue technische Möglichkeiten für Fernunterricht per Internet. In der Kombination ergeben sich eine nicht einfach zu ordnende Vielfalt und Unübersichtlichkeit, aber auch Elemente eines fruchtbaren Wettbewerbs.

Die Informatik und ihre Anwendungsfächer, wegen ihrer Marktnähe vor allem die Wirtschaftsinformatik, sind einerseits Gegenstand der Aus- und Weiterbildung, auch weil ihre dynamische Weiterentwicklung in Grundlagen und Anwendungen vielfältiges neues Wissen, Technologien und Techniken hervorbringt, die verbreitet werden müssen. Andererseits sind sie auch bildungsökonomisches Werkzeug, um die Effizienz der Aus- und Weiterbildungsprozesse zu steigern. Beispielsweise können sie mit ihren Forschungsergebnissen zur Personalisierung und Benutzermodellierung die Didaktik der Online-Kurse verfeinern oder Techniken zur Verhinderung von Betrug bei Online-Prüfungen entwickeln.

Durch neue, gut durchdachte Arbeitsteilung und marktwirtschaftliche Konkurrenz ebenso wie Kooperation – vergleichbar mit Güter- und Dienstleistungsmärkten – könnten auch in der Ausbildung und in der Weiterbildung Effizienz- und Kostenvorteile für die beteiligten Institutionen, Lehrenden und Lernenden entstehen. Wegen der wahrscheinlich in den nächsten Dekaden noch stärker als gegenwärtig schon eintretenden Sparzwänge und Fachkräfteengpässe sind einschlägige Überlegungen, Ausarbeitung von Szenarien und Pilotversuche zu empfehlen. Allerdings müsste ein „optimaler Koordinierungsgrad“ angestrebt werden. In Anbetracht der föderalen Struktur des Bildungswesens in Deutschland und der Gefahr, dass eine bürokratielastige europaweite Vereinheitlichung gefordert wird, wäre dies eine sehr anspruchsvolle Aufgabe.
Learning how to perform ultrasound-guided interventions with and without augmented reality visualization: a randomized study
Authors: Farshad-Amacker Nadja A. , Kubik-Huch Rahel A. , Kolling Christoph , Leo Cornelia , Goldhahn Jörg
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Augmented reality (AR), which entails overlay of in situ images onto the anatomy, may be a promising technique for assisting image-guided interventions. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the learning experience and performance of untrained operators in puncture of soft tissue lesions, when using AR ultrasound (AR US) compared with standard US (sUS).

Methods

Forty-four medical students (28 women, 16 men) who had completed a basic US course, but had no experience with AR US, were asked to perform US-guided biopsies with both sUS and AR US, with a randomized selection of the initial modality. The experimental setup aimed to simulate biopsies of superficial soft tissue lesions, such as for example breast masses in clinical practice, by use of a turkey breast containing olives. Time to puncture(s) and success (yes/no) of the biopsies was documented. All participants completed questionnaires about their coordinative skills and their experience during the training.

Results

Despite having no experience with the AR technique, time to puncture did not differ significantly between AR US and sUS (median [range]: 17.0 s [6–60] and 14.5 s [5–41], p = 0.16), nor were there any gender-related differences (p = 0.22 and p = 0.50). AR US was considered by 79.5% of the operators to be the more enjoyable means of learning and performing US-guided biopsies. Further, a more favorable learning curve was achieved using AR US.

Conclusions

Students considered AR US to be the preferable and more enjoyable modality for learning how to obtain soft tissue biopsies; however, they did not perform the biopsies faster than when using sUS.

Key Points

• Performance of standard and augmented reality US-guided biopsies was comparable

• A more favorable learning curve was achieved using augmented reality US.

• Augmented reality US was the preferred technique and was considered more enjoyable
Temporal sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst in children: treatment outcome following microsurgical cyst fenestration with special emphasis on cyst reduction and subdural collection
Authors: Tomita Tadanori , Kwasnicki Amanda M. , McGuire Laura S. , Dipatri Arthur J.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Controversy remains regarding surgical managements of sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst (SFAC). This review presents our experience in the microsurgical fenestration of pediatric patients with SFAC to define surgical indication, and risks and benefits with special emphasis on postoperative subdural fluid collection (SDFC) and cyst size reduction.

Methods

Thirty-four children with SFAC who underwent microsurgical cyst fenestration at a single institution over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed for their clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, and postsurgical course. The SFACs were classified by a novel grading system based on the degree of arachnoid cyst extension from the sylvian fissure to the insular cistern shown on MR images: grade 0 — little or no prominence of sylvian fissure, grade I — SFAC confined to the sylvian fissure, grade II — SFAC partially extending to the insular cistern, grade III — SFAC extending to the entire insular cistern.

Results

There were 26 males and 8 females. SFAC was present in the left side in 24. Twelve patients presented with cyst rupturing to the subdural space. Cyst grading did not show significant difference compared with rupture status (p > 0.9). All patients underwent microsurgical cyst fenestration. Postoperative SDFC is common but often resolved overtime in two-thirds of the cases with the mean average of 6 months. However, 3 patients had symptomatic postoperative SDFC and needed reoperation shortly after the first operation. Microsurgical cyst fenestrations for SFAC effectively resolved the presenting symptoms and often showed restorations of intracranial structures on follow-up imaging. Cyst resolution or reduction greater than 75% was noted in 61.8% of the patients postoperatively which was noted in a half of the SFAC of children even with age of 11 years or older. During the follow-up, no cyst recurrence or SDFC was noted. Patients with greater surgical reduction of cyst size tended to occur in younger children, and those with lower MR grade.

Conclusion

Our results showed a high reduction rate of SFAC and brain re-expansion after microsurgical fenestration together with symptomatic improvements regardless the patient’s age. Considering the developing CNS during childhood, reductions of a large space-occupying lesion followed by restorations of the structural integrity of the developing brain are very desirable. However, a multi-center cooperative prospective longitudinal study on long-term comparative data of those treated and untreated of neuro-psychological outcome and cyst rupture incidence is needed.
The left-lateralisation of citrate synthase activity in the anterior cingulate cortex of male violent suicide victims
Authors: Karnecki Karol , Świerczyński Julian , Steiner Johann , Krzyżanowska Marta , Kaliszan Michał , Gos Tomasz
Published: November 2022

The anterior cingulate cortex (AC) as a part of prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in behavioural regulation, which is profoundly disturbed in suicide. Citrate synthase (CS) is a key enzyme of tricarboxylic acid cycle fundamental for brain energetics and neurotransmitter synthesis, which are deteriorated in suicidal behaviour. However, CS activity has not been yet studied in brain structures of suicide victims. CS activity assay was performed bilaterally on frozen samples of the rostral part of the AC of 24 violent suicide completers (21 males and 3 females) with unknown psychiatric diagnosis and 24 non-suicidal controls (20 males and 4 females). Compared to controls, suicide victims revealed decreased CS activity in the right AC, however, insignificant. Further statistical analysis of laterality index revealed the left-lateralisation of CS activity in the AC in male suicides compared to male controls (U-test P = 0.0003, corrected for multiple comparisons). The results were not confounded by postmortem interval, blood alcohol concentration, age, and brain weight. Our findings suggest that disturbed CS activity in the AC plays a role in suicide pathogenesis and correspond with our previous morphological and molecular studies of prefrontal regions in suicide.
Reduced cortical neuron number and neuron density in schizophrenia with focus on area 24: a post-mortem case–control study
Authors: Gaus Richard , Popal Melanie , Heinsen Helmut , Schmitt Andrea , Falkai Peter , Hof Patrick R. , Schmitz Christoph , Vollhardt Alisa
Published: November 2022

Structural and functional abnormalities of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have frequently been identified in schizophrenia. Alterations of von Economo neurons (VENs), a class of specialized projection neurons, have been found in different neuropsychiatric disorders and are also suspected in schizophrenia. To date, however, no definitive conclusions can be drawn about quantitative histologic changes in the ACC in schizophrenia because of a lack of rigorous, design-based stereologic studies. In the present study, the volume, total neuron number and total number of VENs in layer V of area 24 were determined in both hemispheres of postmortem brains from 12 male patients with schizophrenia and 11 age-matched male controls. To distinguish global from local effects, volume and total neuron number were also determined in the whole area 24 and whole cortical gray matter (CGM). Measurements were adjusted for hemisphere, age, postmortem interval and fixation time using an ANCOVA model. Compared to controls, patients with schizophrenia showed alterations, with lower mean total neuron number in CGM (− 14.9%, P = 0.007) and in layer V of area 24 (− 21.1%, P = 0.002), and lower mean total number of VENs (− 28.3%, P = 0.027). These data provide evidence for ACC involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and complement neuroimaging findings of impaired ACC connectivity in schizophrenia. Furthermore, these results support the hypothesis that the clinical presentation of schizophrenia, particularly deficits in social cognition, is associated with pathology of VENs.
„Sie erscheint durch ihr Übergewicht keineswegs entstellt.“
Authors: Singer Susanne , Blanck Julian , Maier Lena , Tischner Cora-Lisa
Published: November 2022

Wie nehmen Psychoanalytiker*innen ihre männlichen bzw. weiblichen Patient*innen wahr? Anhand von Textanalysen der Berichte an den Gutachter aus Anträgen zur Kostenübernahme für Psychotherapien untersuchten wir, ob es hierbei geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede gibt. Es wurden 20 Berichte von Patienten und 20 Berichte von Patientinnen qualitativ analysiert, resultierend in 399 kodierten Textsegmenten.

Es zeigte sich, dass bei Frauen deutlich häufiger über deren Aussehen (Frisur, Körperbau, Augen, Kleidungsstil und so weiter) geschrieben wird. Auch in der Bewertung des Aussehens zeigten sich Unterschiede: Patientinnen wurden häufiger als hübsch/attraktiv oder als kindlich/jünger wirkend beschrieben, während diese Attribute fast nie bei Männern verwendet wurden. Diese wurden hingegen häufiger als überdurchschnittlich intelligent geschildert.

In der Gegenübertragung zeigten sich bei Frauen häufiger Gefühle von Vorsichtig-sein-Müssen, aber auch von Mitgefühl und Sympathie, bei Männern hingegen häufiger der Wunsch, sie zu beschützen und ihnen zu helfen, der Wunsch, sie zu begrenzen, sowie Ärger/Wut.

Diese Befunde legen nahe, dass Genderstereotype bei der Wahrnehmung von (und dem Schreiben über) Patient*innen eine wesentliche Rolle spielen.
Optimal $$C^\infty $$-approximation of functions with exponentially or sub-exponentially integrable derivative
Authors: Ambrosio Luigi , Golo Nicolussi Sebastiano , Cassano Serra Francesco
Published: November 2022

We discuss Meyers-Serrin’s type results for smooth approximations of functions$$b=b(t,x): \mathbb {R}\times \mathbb {R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb {R}^m$$b=b(t,x):R×Rn→Rm, with convergence of an energy of the form$$\begin{aligned} \int _{\mathbb {R}}\int _{\mathbb {R}^n} w(t,x) \varphi \left( |Db(t,x)|\right) \textrm{d} x \textrm{d} t\,, \end{aligned}$$∫R∫Rnw(t,x)φ|Db(t,x)|dxdt,where$$w>0$$w>0is a suitable weight function, and$$\varphi :[0,\infty )\rightarrow [0, \infty )$$φ:[0,∞)→[0,∞)is a convex function with$$ \varphi (0)=0$$φ(0)=0having exponential or subexponential growth.
From radial symmetry to fractal behavior of aggregation equilibria for repulsive–attractive potentials
Authors: Carrillo José A. , Shu Ruiwen
Published: November 2022

For the interaction energy with repulsive–attractive potentials, we give generic conditions which guarantee the radial symmetry of the local minimizers in the infinite Wasserstein distance. As a consequence, we obtain the uniqueness of local minimizers in this topology for a class of interaction potentials. We introduce a novel notion of concavity of the interaction potential allowing us to show certain fractal-like behavior of the local minimizers. We provide a family of interaction potentials such that the support of the associated local minimizers has no isolated points and any superlevel set has no interior points.
Malicious code detection in android: the role of sequence characteristics and disassembling methods
Authors: Balikcioglu Pinar G. , Sirlanci Melih , A. Kucuk Ozge , Ulukapi Bulut , Turkmen Ramazan K. , Acarturk Cengiz
Published: November 2022

The acceptance and widespread use of the Android operating system drew the attention of both legitimate developers and malware authors, which resulted in a significant number of benign and malicious applications available on various online markets. Since the signature-based methods fall short for detecting malicious software effectively considering the vast number of applications, machine learning techniques in this field have also become widespread. In this context, stating the acquired accuracy values in the contingency tables in malware detection studies has become a popular and efficient method and enabled researchers to evaluate their methodologies comparatively. In this study, we wanted to investigate and emphasize the factors that may affect the accuracy values of the models managed by researchers, particularly the disassembly method and the input data characteristics. Firstly, we developed a model that tackles the malware detection problem from a Natural Language Processing (NLP) perspective using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Then, we experimented with different base units (instruction, basic block, method, and class) and representations of source code obtained from three commonly used disassembling tools (JEB, IDA, and Apktool) and examined the results. Our findings exhibit that the disassembly method and different input representations affect the model results. More specifically, the datasets collected by the Apktool achieved better results compared to the other two disassemblers.
BDS and GPS side-lobe observation quality analysis and orbit determination with a GEO satellite onboard receiver
Authors: Li Wenwen , Jiang Kecai , Li Min , Zhao Qile , Wang Meng , Shi Chuang , Xu Caijun
Published: November 2022

Multi-GNSS combination can alleviate problems associated with GNSS-based geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite navigation and orbit determination (OD), such as GNSS availability and observation geometry deterioration. However, only GPS has been widely applied and investigated in GEO missions, whereas GEO OD with BDS requires further exploration. The Chinese GEO satellite TJS-5, equipped with a GPS and BDS-compatible receiver, is the first GEO mission that tracks both BDS 2nd and 3rd generation satellites since BDS global deployment. With the TJS-5 real onboard data, we evaluate BDS side-lobe signal performance and the BDS contribution to GEO OD. Due to transmit antenna gain deficiencies in the side lobes, BDS shows a worse tracking performance than GPS with an average satellite number of 4.3 versus 7.8. Both GPS and BDS reveal inconsistency between carrier-phase and code observations, which reaches several meters and significantly degrades post-dynamic OD calculation. We estimate the consistency as a random walk process in the carrier-phase observation model to reduce its impact. With inconsistency estimated, the post-fit carrier-phase residuals decrease from 0.21 to 0.09 m for both GPS and BDS. The OD precision is significantly improved, from 1.95 to 1.42 m with only GPS and from 3.14 to 2.71 m with only BDS; the GPS and BDS combined OD exhibits the largest improvement from 1.74 to 0.82 m, demonstrating that adding BDS improves the OD precision by 43.3%. The above results indicate that the proposed carrier-phase inconsistency estimation approach is effective for both GPS and BDS and can achieve an orbit precision within 1.0 m using multi-GNSS measurements.
Nonlocal optimized schwarz methods for time-harmonic electromagnetics
Authors: Claeys Xavier , Collino Francis , Parolin Emile
Published: November 2022

We introduce a new domain decomposition strategy for time harmonic Maxwell’s equations that is valid in the case of automatically generated subdomain partitions with possible presence of cross-points. The convergence of the algorithm is guaranteed and we present a complete analysis of the matrix form of the method. The method involves transmission matrices responsible for imposing coupling between subdomains. We discuss the choice of such matrices, their construction and the impact of this choice on the convergence of the domain decomposition algorithm. Numerical results and algorithms are provided.