bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sphingoid base in pineapple glucosylceramide suppresses experimental allergy by binding leukocyte mono‐immunoglobulin‐like receptor 3
Authors: Takemura Ayumi , Ohto Nobuaki , Kuwahara Hiroshige , Mizuno Masashi
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

The increase in patients suffering from type I hypersensitivity, including hay fever and food allergy, is a serious public health issue around the world. Recent studies have focused on allergy prevention by food factors with fewer side effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary glucosylceramide from pineapples (P‐GlcCer) on type I hypersensitivity and elucidate mechanisms.

RESULTS

Oral administration of P‐GlcCer inhibited ear edema in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. In a Caco‐2/RBL‐2H3 co‐culture system, P‐GlcCer inhibited β‐hexosaminidase release from RBL‐2H3 cells. The direct treatment of P‐GlcCer on RBL‐2H3 did not affect β‐hexosaminidase release, but sphingoid base moiety of P‐GlcCer did. These results predicted that sphingoid base, a metabolite of P‐GlcCer, through the intestine inhibited type I hypersensitivity by inhibiting mast cell degranulation. In addition, the inhibitory effects of P‐GlcCer on ear edema and degranulation of RBL‐2H3 cells were canceled by pretreatment of leukocyte mono‐immunoglobulin‐like receptor 3 (LMIR3)‐Fc, which can block LMIR3‐mediated inhibitory signals.

CONCLUSION

It was demonstrated that a sphingoid base, one of the metabolites of P‐GlcCer, may inhibit mast cell degranulation by binding to LMIR3. The oral administration of P‐GlcCer is a novel and attractive food factor that acts directly on mast cells to suppress allergy. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
The Value of Chinese Thyroid Imaging Report and Data System Combined With Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound Scoring in Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Cao Haiyan , Fan Qi , Zhuo Shuangshuang , Qi Tingyue , Sun Hongguang , Rong Xin , Xiao Xiao , Zhang Wen , Zhu Linhai , Wang Lei
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To explore the diagnostic value of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with the Chinese Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C‐TIRADS) for differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the conventional ultrasound and CEUS data of 388 nodules in 355 patients who had undergone thyroid nodule resection was conducted. All nodules had clear pathological results. The CEUS observation indexes included the enhancement degree in the arterial phase (no enhancement, scant punctate‐linear enhancement, mild enhancement, moderate enhancement, and high enhancement) and wash‐out patterns (rapid wash‐out, slow wash‐out, and isochronous wash‐out). Chi‐square test between groups and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to determine the malignant (+1 point) and benign (−1 point) observation indexes that were statistically significant for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The CEUS and C‐TIRADS malignant and benign indexes were combined to score and draw the ROC curve, which was compared with the ROC curve scored by C‐TIRADS alone to compare the diagnostic efficacy of the two methods for differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Results

Among the CEUS observation indexes, mild enhancement and rapid wash‐out were malignant indexes, while isochronous wash‐out was a benign index. The best diagnostic cut‐off value for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules using the C‐TIRADS score and the C‐TIRADS and CEUS combined score (C‐TIRADS + CEUS score) was 2. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of the two methods were 79.97, 75.48, 82.9, 70.5%, and 89.7, 72.9, 83.3, 82.5%, respectively. The area under the curve values were 0.840 and 0.877 (P < .001), respectively.

Conclusions

The CEUS feature of mild enhancement in the arterial phase and rapid wash‐out pattern are suggestive of malignancy and isochronous wash‐out pattern is suggestive of benignity. The C‐TIRADS + CEUS score has a higher value for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules than the C‐TIRADS score alone.
Grading System and Surgical Strategy for Temporal Bone Diffuse‐Type Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor
Authors: Lin Feng , Zhang Yibo , Zhao Peng , Kong Dedi , Feng Yisi , Dai Chunfu
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To develop a novel grading system and appropriate surgical approaches for patients with diffuse type tensosynovial giant cell tumor (D‐TGCT) of the temporal bone.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients with temporal bone D‐TGCT between June 2012 and July 2021. All patients underwent comprehensive clinical evaluations, including clinical presentations, hearing threshold, imaging studies, surgical approaches, and prognosis. A grading system was developed based on the tumor location and adjacent neurovascular structures involvement according to imaging and intraoperative findings.

Results

In this study, grade II tumors were the most common (13/31), followed by grades I (7/31), III (7/31), and IV (4/31) tumors. Seven grade I patients received the subtemporal middle cranial fossa approach (SMCF) combined with the canal wall up mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty (CWUT). Nine grade II patients underwent SMCF combined with subtotal petrosectomy (SPTR), and four grade II patients underwent SMCF combined with CWUT. Seven grade III patients received SMCF combined with SPTR and dura mater reconstruction, and four grade IV patients underwent infratemporal fossa approach type B. Gross total resection was achieved in all patients, and the median follow‐up time was 30.1 months (range, 4–96 months). Three patients (one grade II, one grade III, and one grade IV) had recurrence during follow‐up, and the patient with grade III tumor had two recurrences.

Conclusions

Gross total resection is the first‐line treatment for patients with D‐TGCT of the temporal bone. This novel grading system enables surgeons to select optimal surgical strategy. Long‐term follow‐up is mandatory postoperatively.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 132:1275–1284, 2022
Modeling the Enthalpy Relaxation Kinetics of Glassy Polystyrene Using Different Fictive Temperatures for Different Properties
Authors: Liu Guodong , Wan Xian , Zhang Xiaojie , Zhao Dongmei , Zhang Huiqi
Published: October 2021

Kinetics of polystyrene (PS) around the glass transition are revisited using relaxation model upon two fictive temperature approach by assuming different contributions of the component to average fictive temperature representing different properties of entropy (or volume) and enthalpy. The different contributions are described using Kohlrausch distribution functions with different β. The fitting quality improves significantly for both normalized heat capacity and limit fictive temperature data of PS obtained after being cooled at different rates when the kinetic model upon two fictive temperature approach is used, no matter the relaxation time is calculated using the Adam–Gibbs–Vogel (AGV) model or free‐volume (FV) equation. This result indicates that the relaxation kinetic of polymer around the glass transition can be described more accurately by using models upon two fictive temperature approach instead of the conventional models upon one fictive temperature approach.
Implications of the stability analysis of preferences for personalised colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Sava M. Gabriela , Stanciu Alia , Dolan James G. , May Jerrold H. , Vargas Luis G.
Published: October 2021

Patients are increasingly interested in becoming involved in the medical decision‐making process. As a result, healthcare providers and researchers are concerned with finding new ways to integrate patients' preferences, by understanding their commitment to and the stability of those preferences. Preventive medicine, such as colorectal cancer screening, presents an opportunity for personalising the decision‐making trajectory based on patients' preferences. In this paper, we propose a framework for a joint decision‐making process, capable of integrating patients' changing preferences, as described by a stability analysis of those preferences and design scenarios for implementing the process in clinical practice. In this study, a secondary data analysis, we present scenarios that demonstrate how the stability analysis of an Analytic Network Process (ANP) model supports personalising the process of agreeing on an appropriate colorectal cancer screening option. We illustrate the framework using two patients whose preferences have different stabilities and for whom the healthcare provider has different rankings for the recommended alternatives. The results show the differences in additional medical information the healthcare provider might need to provide as part of the joint decision‐making process in order to reach an agreement between the patient and the provider. A stability analysis of the patient's preferences provides the healthcare provider with a mapping of the preferred options. It also shows how the patient's most preferred alternative might change as the patient obtains additional relevant medical information. Knowing how the patient's priorities might change supports a personalisation of the medical decision‐making process. We conclude that the healthcare provider can utilise the stability analysis of a patient's preferences to identify possible dialogue paths that would enable reaching a consensus about an appropriate screening option.
Quasi‐periodic traveling waves for a class of damped beams on rectangular tori
Authors: Chen Bochao , Gao Yixian , Nieto Juan J.
Published: October 2021

This article concerns a class of beam equations with damping on rectangular tori. When the generators satisfy certain relationship, by excluding some values of two model parameters, we prove that such models admit small amplitude quasi‐periodic traveling wave solutions with two frequencies, which are continuations of two rotating wave solutions with one frequency. The result holds not only for a rational torus but also for an irrational one. The proof is mainly based on a Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction together with the implicit function theorem.
Numerical analysis of a system of semilinear singularly perturbed first‐order differential equations on an adaptive grid
Authors: Liu Li‐Bin , Zhu Ciwen , Long Guangqing
Published: October 2021

An adaptive grid method based on the backward Euler formula for a system of semilinear singularly perturbed initial value problems is studied. Based on the a priori error analysis and mesh equidistribution principle, we prove that the convergence rate of our semidiscrete adaptive grid method is first order, which is robust with respect to the perturbation parameters. Then, in order to construct a fully discrete adaptive grid method, a standard residual‐type a posterior error estimation is constructed by using the linear polynomial interpolation technique. A partly heuristic argument based on this a posteriori error estimator leads to an optimal monitor function, which is used to design an adaptive grid algorithm. Furthermore, we also extend our presented adaptive grid method to a nonlinear system of singularly perturbed problem arising in the modeling of enzyme kinetics and a system of singularly perturbed delay differential equations, respectively. Finally, numerical results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our presented adaptive grid method.
Uneven metabolic and lipidomic profiles in recovered COVID‐19 patients as investigated by plasma NMR metabolomics
Authors: Bizkarguenaga Maider , Bruzzone Chiara , Gil‐Redondo Rubén , SanJuan Itxaso , Martin‐Ruiz Itziar , Barriales Diego , Palacios Ainhoa , Pasco Samuel T. , González‐Valle Beatriz , Laín Ana , Herrera Lara , Azkarate Aida , Vesga Miguel Angel , Eguizabal Cristina , Anguita Juan , Embade Nieves , Mato José M. , Millet Oscar
Published: October 2021

COVID‐19 is a systemic infectious disease that may affect many organs, accompanied by a measurable metabolic dysregulation. The disease is also associated with significant mortality, particularly among the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and solid organ transplant recipients. Yet, the largest segment of the patient population is asymptomatic, and most other patients develop mild to moderate symptoms after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Here, we have used NMR metabolomics to characterize plasma samples from a cohort of the abovementioned group of COVID‐19 patients (n = 69), between 3 and 10 months after diagnosis, and compared them with a set of reference samples from individuals never infected by the virus (n = 71). Our results indicate that half of the patient population show abnormal metabolism including porphyrin levels and altered lipoprotein profiles six months after the infection, while the other half show little molecular record of the disease. Remarkably, most of these patients are asymptomatic or mild COVID‐19 patients, and we hypothesize that this is due to a metabolic reflection of the immune response stress.
Highly spherical SiC nanoparticles grown in nonthermal plasma
Authors: Galář Pavel , Stuchlík Jiří , Müller Martin , Kočka Jan , Kůsová Kateřina
Published: October 2021

Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles have excellent properties and varied possible applications. However, the synthesis of this material usually requires high temperatures due to its high melting point (2730°C). In this study, we report on a synthesis of highly spherical SiC nanocrystals (50–150 nm) using nonthermal plasma, a method not yet widely employed for the synthesis of SiC, but generally very suitable for high‐melting‐point materials. We perform the synthesis in a two‐stage reactor, where Si nanocrystals are synthesized in the first stage and these are used as growth seeds for SiC in the second stage. The Si nanocrystals remain inside the SiC nanoparticles after the synthesis. The produced SiC nanocrystals exhibit yellow‐orange naked‐eye‐visible photoluminescence.
Cellular and molecular basis of IR3535 perception in Drosophila
Authors: Shrestha Bhanu , Nhuchhen Pradhan Roshani , Nath Dharmendra Kumar , Lee Youngseok
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

IR3535 is among the most widely used synthetic insect repellents, particularly for the mitigation of mosquito‐borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and Zika, as well as to control flies, ticks, fleas, lice and mites. These insects are well‐known vectors of deadly diseases that affect humans, livestock and crops. Moreover, global warming could increase the populations of these vectors.

RESULTS

Here, we performed IR3535 dose–response analyses on Drosophila melanogaster, a well‐known insect model organism, using electrophysiology and binary food choice assays. Our findings indicated that bitter‐sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) are indispensable to detect IR3535. Further, potential candidate gustatory receptors were screened, among which GR47a was identified as a key molecular sensor. IR3535 concentrations in the range 0.1–0.4% affected larval development and mortality. In addition, N,N‐diethyl‐m‐toluamide (DEET, another commonly used insecticide) was found to exert synergistic effects when co‐administered with IR3535.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirmed that IR3535 directly activates bitter‐sensing GRNs, which are mediated by GR47a. This relatively safe and highly potent insecticide can be largely used in combination with DEET to increase its efficiency to protect livestock and crops. Collectively, our findings suggest that the molecular sensors elucidated herein could be used as targets for the development of alternative insecticides. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Conductive Luminescent Material Based on Polymer‐Functionalized Graphene Composite
Authors: Kukhta Alexander V. , Paddubskaya Alesya G. , Kulahava Tatsiana , Maksimenko Sergei A. , Pavich Tatiana A. , Lamberti Patrizia , Ciambelli Paolo
Published: October 2021

The synthesis of a new nanostructured supramolecular europium complex supported by graphene oxide (GO) as a structure‐forming site is herein presented. The bonding of Eu ions to the GO surface is proven by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and photoluminescence mapping, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectroscopic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and luminescence measurements. Though GO is one of the ligands and absorbs light strongly, the energy transfer from GO to Eu ion is weak. The splitting of 5D0→7F2 peak and three‐component luminescence decay means that there are several emitting centers in this composite. The obtained data are the first proof of concept for a stable, highly luminescent, and electrically conductive hybrid nanocomposite based on polystyrene added with 2% (w/w) of the obtained Eu–GO complex. The simple and reliable proposed procedure is prone to be easily scaled up and open the route for the commercialization of this nanomaterial.
Resolved gravity waves in the tropical stratosphere: Impact of horizontal resolution and deep convection parametrization
Authors: Polichtchouk Inna , Wedi Nils , Kim Young‐Ha
Published: October 2021

Convectively generated gravity waves (CGGWs) are important for numerical weather prediction due to their effect on the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in the stratosphere. Using global ECMWF IFS simulations at TCo7999 (or 1.25 km), TCo2559 (or 3.9 km) and TCo1279 (or 7.8 km) horizontal resolutions, sensitivity of resolved CGGWs to the horizontal resolution and to the explicit versus parametrized representation of deep convection is elucidated during the westerly shear phase of the QBO. Parametrized deep convection is found to inhibit CGGWs, resulting in a twofold reduction in CGGW forcing. When deep convection is explicitly resolved, the total CGGW forcing is almost unchanged across the horizontal resolutions. However, the contribution of long and mesoscale CGGWs (with horizontal wavelengths 100 km  km) to the total CGGW forcing decreases and the contribution of smaller‐scale CGGWs (with  km) increases as the horizontal resolution increases. At the maximum CGGW forcing altitude, at TCo7999 resolution 43% of the total CGGW forcing is due to long and mesoscale waves, whereas at TCo2559 and TCo1279 resolutions their contribution is 70% and 90%, respectively. While CGGW forcing from long and mesoscale waves is similar at TCo7999 resolution with explicit deep convection and at TCo1279 resolution with parametrized deep convection, CGGW forcing from these waves is artificially enhanced at TCo1279 and TCo2559 resolutions with explicit deep convection. This is due to the explicit deep convection being too strong and having too much variance for 100 km  km. Therefore, parametrizations of deep convection and CGGWs (to account for forcing from waves with  km) are required even at TCo2559 resolution. Additionally, resolved CGGW forcing at TCo7999 resolution is examined for the easterly shear phase of the QBO; similar to the westerly shear phase, the smaller‐scale waves contribute 55% to the total CGGW forcing at the maximum CGGW forcing altitude.
Recurrent pneumothoraces with diffuse small ground‐glass and solid nodules
Authors: Hui Li Yan Sandra , Cheng Xin Min , Soo Ing Xiang , Low Su Ying
Published: October 2021

Multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH) is the lesser known pulmonary manifestation of tuberous sclerosis. It manifests radiologically as diffuse small ground‐glass and solid nodules. Accurate diagnosis is essential as it can be mistaken for miliary tuberculosis or malignant lesions which necessitates specific treatment. Constellation of radiological features such as multicentric disease at onset and stability over time can help to distinguish MMPH from its differentials. Histologically, MMPH is characterized by hamartomatous proliferation of type II pneumocytes with a lack of high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio. MMPH confers a benign prognosis unlike its differentials. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is paramount in ensuring appropriate care is delivered. Here, we describe the radiological and histological features of MMPH in a patient with genetically proven tuberous sclerosis complex and co‐existing lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
The Primacy of Science in Communicating Advances in the Science of Reading
Authors: Hoover Wesley A. , Tunmer William E.
Published: October 2021

A recent article in this journal claims that the simple view of reading represents a long‐outdated account of what underlies the ability to read. Its authors argue that if teachers are to be better informed about what is known about reading then the simple view must be replaced by a more current model, one that captures the substantial progress that has been made in our understanding through the science of reading. In this comment on that article, we discuss the authors’ perspective on the simple view and the three advances in research they claim invalidate it, clarifying misconceptions and critically reviewing presented evidence. We argue that the SVR, centered on the proximal causes of reading capacity under a large grain‐size perspective, has garnered strong empirical support, has achieved an important level of consensus within the field regarding its validity, and has shown utility in helping education professionals understand and maintain focus on the most important cognitive capacities underlying reading success. We also argue that the proposed replacement represents a weaker, unproven model that could lead education professionals astray if applied in practice.
Boundary objects in translation: the role of language in participatory system dynamics modeling
Authors: Ballard Ellis , Werner Kelsey , Priyadarshini Pratiti
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Participatory system dynamics modeling provides tools to represent and improve mental models through stakeholder participation. A hallmark of this approach is the creation and management models as boundary objects. With a proliferation of participatory modeling in diverse contexts, new methodological challenges have emerged around the role of language and translation. This article identifies a gap in the literature around the challenge of language, literacy, and linguistic translation in participatory modeling practice and examines examples from an emerging body of international practice. The authors present a case study that uses visuals to bridge multiple linguistic and literacy divides in workshops in rural India. The authors delineate a preliminary set of language configurations for boundary‐object engagement to clarify design choices of modelers and facilitators. They close with a discussion of the need to assess and document facilitation and language choices and propose opportunities to strengthen practical guidance for the field. © 2021 System Dynamics Society.
Three practical workflow schedulers for easy maximum parallelism
Authors: Rogers David M.
Published: October 2021

Runtime scheduling and workflow systems are an increasingly popular algorithmic component in HPC because they allow full system utilization with relaxed synchronization requirements. There are so many special‐purpose tools for task scheduling, one might wonder why more are needed. Use cases seen on the Summit supercomputer needed better integration with MPI and greater flexibility in job launch configurations. Preparation, execution, and analysis of computational chemistry simulations at the scale of tens of thousands of processors revealed three distinct workflow patterns. A separate job scheduler was implemented for each one using extremely simple and robust designs: file‐based, task‐list based, and bulk‐synchronous. Comparing to existing methods shows unique benefits of this work, including simplicity of design, suitability for HPC centers, short startup time, and well‐understood per‐task overhead. All three new tools have been shown to scale to full utilization of Summit, and have been made publicly available with tests and documentation. This work presents a complete characterization of the minimum effective task granularity for efficient scheduler usage scenarios. These schedulers have the same bottlenecks, and hence similar task granularities as those reported for existing tools following comparable paradigms.
Erratum zu: (Un)doing Gender empirisch
Authors: Nentwich Julia C. , Vogt Franziska
Published: October 2021

Das Buch wurde versehentlich ohne Nennung des Förderers auf der Impressumseite veröffentlicht. Das Buch wurde nun entsprechend aktualisiert.
Activated but functionally impaired memory Tregs are expanded in slow progressors to type 1 diabetes
Authors: Boldison Joanne , Long Anna E. , Aitken Rachel J. , Wilson Isabel V. , Megson Clare , Hanna Stephanie J. , Wong F. Susan , Gillespie Kathleen M.
Published: October 2021

Aims/hypothesis

Slow progressors to type 1 diabetes are individuals positive for multiple pancreatic islet autoantibodies who have remained diabetes-free for at least 10 years; regulation of the autoimmune response is understudied in this group. Here, we profile CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in a small but well-characterised cohort of extreme slow progressors with a median age 43 (range 31–72 years), followed up for 18–32 years.

Methods

Peripheral blood samples were obtained from slow progressors (n = 8), age- and sex-matched to healthy donors. One participant in this study was identified with a raised HbA1c at the time of assessment and subsequently diagnosed with diabetes; this donor was individually evaluated in the analysis of the data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and to assess frequency, phenotype and function of Tregs in donors, multi-parameter flow cytometry and T cell suppression assays were performed. Unsupervised clustering analysis, using FlowSOM and CITRUS (cluster identification, characterization, and regression), was used to evaluate Treg phenotypes.

Results

Unsupervised clustering on memory CD4+ T cells from slow progressors showed an increased frequency of activated memory CD4+ Tregs, associated with increased expression of glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR), compared with matched healthy donors. One participant with a raised HbA1c at the time of assessment had a different Treg profile compared with both slow progressors and matched controls. Functional assays demonstrated that Treg-mediated suppression of CD4+ effector T cells from slow progressors was significantly impaired, compared with healthy donors. However, effector CD4+ T cells from slow progressors were more responsive to Treg suppression compared with healthy donors, demonstrated by increased suppression of CD25 and CD134 expression on effector CD4+ T cells.

Conclusions/interpretations

We conclude that activated memory CD4+ Tregs from slow progressors are expanded and enriched for GITR expression, highlighting the need for further study of Treg heterogeneity in individuals at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Use of electronic patient data overview with alerts in primary care increases prescribing of lipid-lowering medications in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Charles Morten H. , Thomsen Janus L. , Christensen Bo , Pulleyblank Ryan , Kongstad Line P. , Olsen Kim Rose
Published: October 2021

Aims/hypothesis

We aimed to assess whether general practices (GPs) using an electronic disease management program (DMP) with population overviews, including alerts when patients failed to receive guideline-recommended prescription medications, increased prescriptions of lipid-lowering drugs for patients with type 2 diabetes with no history of lipid-lowering treatment.

Methods

This observational study included 165 GPs that reached a high level of use of the DMP in 2012 and a control group of 135 GPs who reached a high level of use in 2013 and, hence, who were less exposed to the DMP throughout 2012. A binary measure for having been prescribed and filled lipid-lowering drugs at any time within a 12-month exposure period was derived for all patients with type 2 diabetes who did not receive a prescription for lipid-lowering drugs in the baseline year prior to the study period (i.e. 2011). Results were derived using ORs from multivariate logistic regression analyses. Subgroup stratification based on age, sex, diabetes duration, deprivation status and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was conducted and assessed. Placebo tests were carried out to assess bias from selection to treatment.

Results

Patients who did not receive a prescription of lipid-lowering drugs in the year prior to being listed with GPs that used the DMP had statistically significant greater odds of receiving a prescription of lipid-lowering medications when compared with individuals who attended control GPs (OR 1.23 [95% CI 1.09, 1.38]). When the analysis period was shifted back by 2 years, no significant differences in lipid-lowering drug prescription between the two groups were found to occur, which indicates that these results were not driven by selection bias. Subgroup analyses showed that the increase in lipid-lowering drug prescriptions was primarily driven by changes among male participants (OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.12, 1.54]), patients aged 60–70 years (OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.13, 1.74]), patients with a diabetes duration of ≤5 years (OR 1.33 [95% CI 1.13, 1.56]), non-deprived patients (OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.08, 1.45]) and patients without comorbidities (CCI score = 0; OR 1.27 [95% CI 1.11, 1.45]).

Conclusions/interpretation

Access to population overviews using a DMP with alerts of clinical performance measures with regard to adhering to guideline-recommended prescription of medications can increase GP prescriptions of lipid-lowering drugs.

Graphical abstract
The assessment of potential observability for joint chemical states and emissions in atmospheric modelings
Authors: Wu Xueran , Elbern Hendrik , Jacob Birgit
Published: October 2021

In predictive geophysical model systems, uncertain initial values and model parameters jointly influence the temporal evolution of the system. This renders initial-value-only optimization by traditional data assimilation methods as insufficient. However, blindly extending the optimization parameter set jeopardizes the validity of the resulting analysis because of the increase of the ill-posedness of the inversion task. Hence, it becomes important to assess the potential observability of measurement networks for model state and parameters in atmospheric modelings in advance of the optimization. In this paper, we novelly establish the dynamic model of emission rates and extend the transport-diffusion model extended by emission rates. Considering the Kalman smoother as underlying assimilation technique, we develop a quantitative assessment method to evaluate the potential observability and the sensitivity of observation networks to initial values and emission rates jointly. This benefits us to determine the optimizable parameters to observation configurations before the data assimilation procedure and make the optimization more efficiently. For high-dimensional models in practical applications, we derive an ensemble based version of the approach and give several elementary experiments for illustrations.
Kinetic Values, Mobility (in)equalities, and Ageing in Smart Urban Environments
Authors: Parviainen Jaana
Published: October 2021

The idea of the right to mobility has been fundamental to modern Western citizenship and is expressed in many legal and government documents. Although there is widespread acceptance regarding the importance of mobility in older adults, there have been few attempts to develop ethical and theoretical tools to portray mobility (in)equalities in old age. This paper develops a novel conceptualisation of kinetic values focusing on older adults whose ability to move has been restricted for internal and external reasons. Informed by the phenomenological theory of kinaesthesia, I suggest that kinetic values are related to four principal dimensions: self-motion, being-moved, co-motion, and forced movement. I assume that these dimensions can address the key dilemma of human dignity among older adults who suffer from losing their autonomy and agency through their mobility impairments and who are at risk of being confined to their homes. To concretise the formulation of kinetic values, I study movement as part of technological equipment and urban infrastructure to examine what kinds of kinetic values mobility services and assistive robots convey for older adults in smart urban environments. By bridging disciplines, the phenomenological approach provides a novel understanding of mobility and the interplay among assistive technologies, kinaesthesia, and urban technological infrastructure. The approach suggests that kinetic values should be interpreted more comprehensively so that kinaesthesia can become better identified as a positive life-promoting practice.
Hospital volume allocation: integrating decision maker and patient perspectives
Authors: Listorti Elisabetta , Alfieri Arianna , Pastore Erica
Published: October 2021

Planning problems in healthcare systems have received greater attention in the last decade, especially because of the concerns recently raised about the scattering of surgical interventions among a wide number of different facilities that can undermine the quality of the outcome due to the volume-outcome association. In this paper, an approach to plan the amount of surgical interventions that a facility has to perform to assure a low adjusted mortality rate is proposed. The approach explicitly takes into account the existing interaction among patients’ choices and decision makers’ planning decisions. The first objective of the proposed approach is to find a solution able to reach quality in health outcomes and patients’ adherence. The second objective is to investigate the difference among solutions that are identified as optimal by either only one of the actors’ perspective, i.e., decision makers and patients, or by considering both the perspectives simultaneously. Following these objectives, the proposed approach is applied to a case study on Italian colon cancer interventions performed in 2014. Results confirm a variation in the hospital planned volumes when considering patients’ behaviour together with the policy maker plan, especially due to personal preferences and lack of information about hospital quality.
Triple Helix or Quadruple Helix: Which Model of Innovation to Choose for Empirical Studies?
Authors: Cai Yuzhuo , Lattu Annina
Published: October 2021

While the Triple Helix and Quadruple Helix models are popular in innovation studies, the relations between them have not been addressed extensively in the literature. There are diverse interpretations of helix models in empirical studies that apply them, but these sometimes deviate from the original theses of the models. Such a situation can confuse newcomers to the field in terms of which helix model to apply in their empirical research. We discern that the cause of this research challenge is a lack of systematic comparison of the two models. To bridge the research gap, this paper compares the models from the perspectives of how they were introduced and discussed in the literature and improved and how useful they are in addressing the innovation processes in contemporary society. Our major findings are as follows: First, reviewing the extant literature applying the two helix models for identifying research gaps, we discover that these studies were influenced by three views on the relations between the two models that were located on a continuum between two extreme ends—namely, isolation versus integration of the two models. Second, we provide a systematic comparison of both the advantages and weaknesses of the two models, and this may help researchers choose suitable helix models as conceptual/analytical tools in their empirical innovation studies. Third, our comparison of the two models shows that they are largely supplementary to each other when analysing innovation processes in contemporary society, providing a ground for potential synergy building between the two helix models.
A Characterization of Probability-based Dichotomous Belief Revision
Authors: Hansson Sven Ove
Published: October 2021

This article investigates the properties ofmultistate top revision, a dichotomous (AGM-style) model of belief revision that is based on an underlying model of probability revision. A proposition is included in the belief set if and only if its probability is either 1 or infinitesimally close to 1. Infinitesimal probabilities are used to keep track of propositions that are currently considered to have negligible probability, so that they are available if future information makes them more plausible. Multistate top revision satisfies a slightly modified version of the set of basic and supplementary AGM postulates, except the inclusion and success postulates. This result shows that hyperreal probabilities can provide us with efficient tools for overcoming the well known difficulties in combining dichotomous and probabilistic models of belief change.
Risk factors and outcome variables of cardiorenal syndrome type 1 from the nephrologist’s perspective
Authors: Seckinger Dominik , Ritter Oliver , Patschan Daniel
Published: October 2021

Background and aim

In cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) type 1, acute cardiac failure or acute decompensation of chronic heart failure causes acute kidney injury (AKI). Every individual AKI episode increases the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the long term. In this study, we aimed to evaluate epidemiological characteristics and outcome variables of CRS type 1 individuals from the nephrologist’s perspective.

Methods

The study was performed in a retrospective, observational manner. All AKI patients treated at the Brandenburg Hospital of the Medical School of Brandenburg between January and December 2019 were screened for diagnostic criteria of CRS type 1. Endpoints were in-hospital death, need for dialysis, and renal recovery.

Results

During the screening, 198 out of 1189 (16.6%) AKI subjects were assigned to the diagnosis CRS type 1. The overall in-hospital mortality was 19.2%; 9.6% of the patients required dialysis due to AKI. Complete recovery of kidney function was observed in 86 individuals (43.4%); incomplete recovery occurred in 55 patients (27.8%). Mortality-predictive variables were AKIN stage 2, longer ICU treatment, and insulin-dependent diabetes. Regarding dialysis, AKIN stage 3 and higher potassium at the time of diagnosis were predictive. Subjects with longer in-hospital stay recovered more often from CRS type 1.

Conclusions

The incidence of CRS type 1 is high (∼16% of all in-hospital AKI subjects) and the mortality is higher than the average mortality of AKI in general. At the same time, complete recovery of kidney function occurs less frequent. The kidney-related follow-up management of CRS type 1 needs to be significantly optimized to improve the long-term outcome of affected patients.
Splits, internal and external, as a window into the nature of features
Authors: Corbett Greville G.
Published: October 2021

Lexemes may be splitinternally, by phenomena such as suppletion, periphrasis, heteroclisis and deponency. Generalizing over these phenomena, which split a lexeme’s paradigm, we can establish a typology of the possible internal splits. There are also lexemes whoseexternalrequirements are split: they induce different agreement, for instance. Again, a typology of these splits has been proposed. The next logical step is to attempt a typology of the possiblerelations between internal and external splits. This is not straightforward, since we need to avoid spurious linkages. Four lines of argument are offered: (i) general plausibility: the internal-external linkage is compelling, and so other accounts require a degree of coincidence which is unlikely; (ii) overabundance: alternative inflectional forms link to different external requirements; (iii) variation in time and space: splits in inflection and in external requirements vary, while maintaining their linkage; (iv) pluralia tantum nouns: the different types of these nouns provide intriguing confirming evidence. Case studies include Asia Minor Greek, Polish, Russian, Scottish Gaelic, Sɛlɛɛ, Serbo-Croat (BCMS), Slovenian, Latin and Old Frisian. The clear instances which emerge, where an external split is demonstrably linked to an internal one, prove both surprising and significant. We discover that in split paradigms, besides overt overabundance, there may also be covertly overabundant cells. Furthermore, when external splits involve individual cells, these will not induce simple (consistent) agreement. This makes good sense, demonstrating that featural information is associated with lexemes in a natural default manner: at the lexeme level by default, unless overridden at the sub-paradigm level, unless in turn overridden at the level of individual cells.
Zwischen pädagogischer und geselliger Kommunikation – Eine ethnographische Annäherung an die Erforschung von Ungewissheit in hybriden Lernsettings
Authors: Cafantaris Karola
Published: October 2021

Dieser Beitrag der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) untersucht den Umgang mit Ungewissheit in einem hybriden Setting der Erwachsenenbildung. Der Artikel erläutert zunächst die zentralen Merkmale pädagogischer Ungewissheit in Zeiten zunehmender gesellschaftlicher Veränderung. Daraufhin werden die Bezüge pädagogisch gerahmter Gruppensettings zu der dargestellten Thematik erschlossen. Anhand der Erläuterung theoretischer Rahmenbegriffe wie Interaktion und Kommunikation sowie pädagogischer Kommunikation wird die empirische Analyse eines Fallbeispiels vorbereitet. Im Anschluss daran werden anhand von Ausschnitten aus einem ethnographischen Beobachtungsprotokoll exemplarisch Kommunikationsformate analysiert, die auf den Umgang mit Ungewissheit im hybriden Setting verweisen. Die Schlussbetrachtung nimmt eine Diskussion der Ergebnisse der empirischen Analyse vor und bettet diese in die im ersten Teil des Artikels erörterten theoretischen Bezüge ein.
The role of opportunities to learn in early childhood teacher education from two perspectives: A multilevel model
Authors: Dunekacke Simone , Jenßen Lars , Blömeke Sigrid
Published: October 2021

Early childhood teacher education is considered crucial for the development of professional knowledge. However, little is known about the impacts of teacher educators, especially with respect to domain-specific knowledge in areas like early mathematics education. We investigated the relationship between opportunities to learn as reported by teacher educators and perceived by pre-service teachers and pre-service teachers’ general pedagogical knowledge, mathematics pedagogical content knowledge, and mathematical content knowledge. The sample comprised 909 pre-service teachers from two different teacher education tracks (vocational school vs. university) and their 43 teacher educators. The results provided the first empirical evidence that opportunities to learn reported by teacher educators are highly relevant for pre-service teachers’ knowledge. This strengthens calls to focus on the role of teacher educators in both research and practice.
Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Thomas Emmanuel , Delabat Stephanie , Andrews David M.
Published: October 2021

Purpose of Review

Given the rapid development of diagnostic approaches to test for and diagnose infection with SARS-CoV-2, many options are available to assess infection. Multiple established diagnostic companies are now providing testing platforms whereas initially, testing was being performed with simple PCR-based tests using standard laboratory reagents.

Recent Findings.

Additional testing platforms continue to be developed but challenges with testing, including obtaining testing reagents and other related supplies, are frequently encountered. With time, the testing supply chain will improve and more companies will be providing materials to support these testing efforts. In the USA, the need for rapid assay development and subsequent approval through attainment of emergency use authorization (EUA) has superseded the traditional arduous diagnostic testing approval workflow mandated by the FDA. It is anticipated that the USA will be able to continue to significantly increase its testing capabilities to address this pandemic; however, challenges remain due to the diversity of the performance characteristics of tests being utilized.

This review provides an overview of the current diagnostic testing landscape, with pertinent information related to SARS-CoV-2 virology and antibody responses, that is available to diagnose infection.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein S1 Induces Neuroinflammation in BV-2 Microglia
Authors: Olajide Olumayokun A. , Iwuanyanwu Victoria U. , Adegbola Oyinkansola D. , Al-Hindawi Alaa A.
Published: October 2021

In addition to respiratory complications produced by SARS‐CoV‐2, accumulating evidence suggests that some neurological symptoms are associated with the disease caused by this coronavirus. In this study, we investigated the effects of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein S1 stimulation on neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglia. Analyses of culture supernatants revealed an increase in the production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and iNOS/NO. S1 also increased protein levels of phospho-p65 and phospho-IκBα, as well as enhanced DNA binding and transcriptional activity of NF-κB. These effects of the protein were blocked in the presence of BAY11-7082 (1 µM). Exposure of S1 to BV-2 microglia also increased the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome and enhanced caspase-1 activity. Increased protein levels of p38 MAPK was observed in BV-2 microglia stimulated with the spike protein S1 (100 ng/ml), an action that was reduced in the presence of SKF 86,002 (1 µM). Results of immunofluorescence microscopy showed an increase in TLR4 protein expression in S1-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition with TAK 242 (1 µM) and transfection with TLR4 small interfering RNA resulted in significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-6 production in S1-stimulated BV-2 microglia. These results have provided the first evidence demonstrating S1-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglia. We propose that induction of neuroinflammation by this protein in the microglia is mediated through activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK, possibly as a result of TLR4 activation. These results contribute to our understanding of some of the mechanisms involved in CNS pathologies of SARS-CoV-2.
The benefits of beauty – Individual differences in the pro-attractiveness bias in social decision making
Authors: Voit Marlene , Weiß Martin , Hewig Johannes
Published: October 2021

While there already is a huge body of research examining the advantages and disadvantages of physical attractiveness in social and economic decisions, little research has been made to explore the role of individual differences in social decision-making with regard to beauty. To close this scientific gap, we conducted a multiparadigm online study (N = 210; 52% females) in which participants were asked to make decisions in four different economic games facing differently attractive counterparts. Additionally, the personality trait agreeableness was assessed to test for individual differences in decision-making. In exploratory analyses, we also assessed which facet of agreeableness is the most appropriate to predict individual differences in the various economic games. In the study, we were able to replicate the finding of a beauty premium and a plainness penalty but did not find any support for the idea of a beauty penalty. Furthermore, evidence for an opposite-sex advantage was found, which was greater when men were facing women than the other way around. While agreeableness as an overall trait influenced decision making across various paradigms, interactions of distinct facets of agreeableness with the partners’ attractiveness remain heterogeneous and ambiguous. This underlines the importance of integrating the specificity of certain traits in experimental research and the necessity of combining them with different social situations.