bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The attractiveness of jobs in the German care sector: results of a factorial survey
Authors: Kroczek Martin , Späth Jochen
Published: March 2022

The skilled labour shortage in nursing is an issue not unique to Germany. Unattractive characteristics of nursing jobs are one reason for the low supply in nursing personnel. In our study, we analyse the influence of job characteristics on the attractiveness of nursing jobs. We address this issue via factorial survey analysis, an experimental method particularly suited to assessing personal opinions and less prone to social desirability bias than standard interview methods. Around 1300 (current and former) nurses in a distinct region in Germany were asked to rate a set of synthetic job postings, each of which contained information on 9 systematically varied job characteristics. We find that, first, attractiveness of care jobs is most strongly affected by rather “soft” characteristics such as atmosphere within the team and time for patients. “Hard” factors play a considerably smaller role. Second, one hard factor, contract duration, is estimated to be among the most important job factors, however. This is a remarkable finding given that nursing occupations suffer from severe skill shortages. Third, though wage has a statistically significant influence on attractiveness, enormous wage raises would be needed to yield higher attractiveness gains than the top-rated soft factors, or to compensate for less pleasant job characteristics with respect to those factors. Last, even after controlling for other job characteristics, hospital nursing is still rated as more attractive than geriatric nursing.
Checking security compliance between models and code
Authors: Tuma Katja , Peldszus Sven , Strüber Daniel , Scandariato Riccardo , Jürjens Jan
Published: March 2022

It is challenging to verify that the planned security mechanisms are actually implemented in the software. In the context of model-based development, the implemented security mechanisms must capture all intended security properties that were considered in the design models. Assuring this compliance manually is labor intensive and can be error-prone. This work introduces the first semi-automatic technique for secure data flow compliance checks between design models and code. We develop heuristic-based automated mappings between a design-level model (SecDFD, provided by humans) and a code-level representation (Program Model, automatically extracted from the implementation) in order to guide users in discovering compliance violations, and hence, potential security flaws in the code. These mappings enable an automated, and project-specific static analysis of the implementation with respect to the desired security properties of the design model. We developed two types of security compliance checks and evaluated the entire approach on open source Java projects.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s international migration constrains its sustainable development under climate change
Authors: Li Qirui , Samimi Cyrus
Published: March 2022

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is seen as a region of mass migration and population displacement caused by poverty, violent conflict, and environmental stress. However, empirical evidence is inconclusive regarding how SSA’s international migration progressed and reacted during its march to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article attempts to study the patterns and determinants of SSA’s international migration and the cause and effects on sustainable development by developing a Sustainability Index and regression models. We find that international migration was primarily intra-SSA to low-income but high-population-density countries. Along with increased sustainability scores, international migration declined, but emigration rose. Climate extremes tend to affect migration and emigration but not universally. Dry extremes propelled migration, whereas wet extremes had an adverse effect. Hot extremes had an increasing effect but were insignificant. SSA’s international migration was driven by food insecurity, low life expectancy, political instability and violence, high economic growth, unemployment, and urbanisation rates. The probability of emigration was mainly driven by high fertility. SSA’s international migration promoted asylum seeking to Europe with the diversification of origin countries and a motive for economic wellbeing. 1% more migration flow or 1% higher probability of emigration led to a 0.2% increase in asylum seekers from SSA to Europe. Large-scale international migration and recurrent emigration constrained SSA’s sustainable development in political stability, food security, and health, requiring adequate governance and institutions for better migration management and planning towards the SDGs.

Graphical abstract
Epidemiology of hip fracture in Qatar and development of a country specific FRAX model
Authors: Abdulla Nabeel , Alsaed Omar Suhail , Lutf Abdo , Alam Fiaz , Abdulmomen Ibrahim , Al Emadi Samar , Harvey Nicholas C. , Liu Enwu , Vandenput Liesbeth , Lorentzon Mattias , McCloskey Eugene , Kanis John A. , Johansson Helena
Published: March 2022

Summary

Hip fracture data were retrieved from electronical medical records for the years 2017–2019 in the State of Qatar and used to create a FRAX® model to facilitate fracture risk assessment. Hip fracture rates were comparable with estimates from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait but fracture probabilities varied due to differences in mortality.

Objective

This paper describes the epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures in the State of Qatar that was used to develop the country-specific fracture prediction FRAX® tool.

Methods

Hip fracture data were retrieved from electronic medical records for the years 2017–2019 in the State of Qatar. The age and sex specific incidence of hip fracture in Qatari residents and national mortality rates were used to create a FRAX® model. Fracture probabilities were compared with those from neighboring countries having FRAX models.

Results

Hip fracture rates were comparable with estimates from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. In contrast, probabilities of a major osteoporotic fracture or hip fracture were lower in Qatar than in Kuwait but higher than those in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia due to differences in mortality.

Conclusion

The FRAX model should enhance accuracy of determining fracture probability among the Qatari population and help guide decisions about treatment.
Pain’s Adverse Impact on Training-Induced Performance and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Stanisic Nikola , Häggman-Henrikson Birgitta , Kothari Mohit , Costa Yuri Martins , Avivi-Arber Limor , Svensson Peter
Published: March 2022

Motor training is a widely used therapy in many pain conditions. The brain’s capacity to undergo functional and structural changes i.e., neuroplasticity is fundamental to training-induced motor improvement and can be assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The aim was to investigate the impact of pain on training-induced motor performance and neuroplasticity assessed by TMS. The review was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA-guidelines and a Prospero protocol (CRD42020168487). An electronic search in PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane until December 13, 2019, identified studies focused on training-induced neuroplasticity in the presence of experimentally-induced pain, 'acute pain' or in a chronic pain condition, 'chronic pain'. Included studies were assessed by two authors for methodological quality using the TMS Quality checklist, and for risk of bias using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The literature search identified 231 studies. After removal of 71 duplicates, 160 abstracts were screened, and 24 articles were reviewed in full text. Of these, 17 studies on acute pain (n = 7) or chronic pain (n = 10), including a total of 258 patients with different pain conditions and 248 healthy participants met the inclusion criteria. The most common types of motor training were different finger tasks (n = 6). Motor training was associated with motor cortex functional neuroplasticity and six of seven acute pain studies and five of ten chronic pain studies showed that, compared to controls, pain can impede such trainings-induced neuroplasticity. These findings may have implications for motor learning and performance and with putative impact on rehabilitative procedures such as physiotherapy.
Nature, Obligation, and Transcendence: Reading Luce Irigaray with Mary Graham
Authors: Boulous Walker Michelle
Published: March 2022

This paper addresses the relation between Luce Irigaray’s work and politics by asking what it means to read her work locally, in place. The philosophical work of Indigenous scholar, Mary Graham, on the law of obligation, serves to ground such a local reading presenting, simultaneously, a case for a uniquely Australian philosophy. By way of suggesting possible connections between the work of Irigaray and Graham, the paper places Graham’s work on obligation alongside Irigaray’s work on the importance of a symbolic re-distribution of value suggested in her philosophy of horizontal transcendence. Such a reading encourages us to consider what it means to engage work, such as Irigaray’s, in ahereandnowthat differs from the European context of her writing.
SEOM-GEMCAD-TTD clinical guidelines for localized rectal cancer (2021)
Authors: Capdevila Jaume , Gómez Ma Auxiliadora , Guillot Mónica , Páez David , Pericay Carles , Safont Maria José , Tarazona Noelia , Vera Ruth , Vidal Joana , Sastre Javier
Published: March 2022

The management of localized rectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach to optimize outcomes, reduce morbidity and prevent under or overtreatments. While early stages may obtain benefit of local resections without any additional therapies, locally advanced rectal cancer becomes a challenge defining the better sequential strategy of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The latest results of international phase III studies have positioned the total neoadjuvant therapy as a potential new standard of care in high risk rectal cancers, however, the best schedule is still not well defined.
“Some hate it, others love it”: Formation of automatic and reflective affective processes toward exercising in fitness centers and mountain biking
Authors: Limmeroth Julia , Braun Claudia
Published: March 2022

Based on a dual process approach, this study was conducted to test whether automatic affective processes toward exercise are not only interrelated with the amount of exercise but also distinctive for different types of exercise. In a quasi-experimental setting, N = 60 participants (30.87 years ± 7.53; 33% female) completed an Evaluative Priming task to assess automatic affective processes toward exercising in fitness centers, mountain biking and exercise in general and completed a questionnaire about their exercise behavior and their reflective affective processes toward each type of exercise. The results showed that the automatic affective processes toward exercising in fitness centers differed significantly among the three groups (d = 0.74). Those who regularly exercise in fitness centers (n = 21) provided the most positive automatic affective processes, followed by mountain bikers (n = 16) and those engaging in little or no exercise (n = 23). Automatic affective processes toward mountain biking were nonsignificant between groups (p = 0.30; d = 0.42). All reflective affective processes assessed via questionnaire resulted in significant differences between the three groups, always in favor of those who often perform the respective exercise. Our results show that automatic affective processes toward exercising in fitness centers are distinctive for the preference for this type of exercise. Furthermore, they underline the importance of choosing an adequate measurement technique to assess automatic affective processes toward exercise, especially if these processes should be indicative for the preference of different types of exercise.
Families with complex needs: an inside perspective from young people, their carers, and healthcare providers
Authors: Radu Mădălina , Moldovan Ramona , Băban Adriana
Published: March 2022

Complex health needs are demanding and often require additional medical, psychological and social support. All those involved (e.g., patients, carers, professionals) face a unique set of challenges and needs, especially in families where the patient is a child or a young person with a lifelong condition. The aim of the study was to explore carers’ and young people’s needs when living with long term conditions, as well as the views of the healthcare professionals supporting them. Semi-structured interviews with 30 participants (11 professionals, 10 parents, and 9 young people) were conducted. Interviews focused on 3 main areas—(1) medical needs, (2) psychological needs, and (3) communication needs—and were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four main themes emerged: (1) Acceptance takes time refers to the often long and challenging process of adapting to the diagnosis and living with the condition; (2) Close guidance captures the importance of specialised and long term guidance in accessing and managing the complexities of the medical system; (3) Open communication shows the families’ need to be collaboratively connected to healthcare providers and other families facing similar difficulties; and (4) Long-term support underlines the importance of long term formal and informal support strategies. The participants’ experiences and views have provided us with insight and guidance for developing and implementing personalized and integrated services. This inside perspective is key for future research aimed at better understanding the impact of complex conditions and meaningful ways to support families throughout their journeys.
Quadrature identities with a background PDE
Authors: El Hajj Layan , Shahgholian Henrik
Published: March 2022

Our prime goal with this text is to introduce a nonlinear version of quadrature identities, related to semilinear PDEs, and discuss a few basic properties.
Automated segmentation of the larynx on computed tomography images: a review
Authors: Rao Divya , K Prakashini , Singh Rohit , J Vijayananda
Published: March 2022

The larynx, or the voice-box, is a common site of occurrence of Head and Neck cancers. Yet, automated segmentation of the larynx has been receiving very little attention. Segmentation of organs is an essential step in cancer treatment-planning. Computed Tomography scans are routinely used to assess the extent of tumor spread in the Head and Neck as they are fast to acquire and tolerant to some movement.

This paper reviews various automated detection and segmentation methods used for the larynx on Computed Tomography images. Image registration and deep learning approaches to segmenting the laryngeal anatomy are compared, highlighting their strengths and shortcomings. A list of available annotated laryngeal computed tomography datasets is compiled for encouraging further research. Commercial software currently available for larynx contouring are briefed in our work.

We conclude that the lack of standardisation on larynx boundaries and the complexity of the relatively small structure makes automated segmentation of the larynx on computed tomography images a challenge. Reliable computer aided intervention in the contouring and segmentation process will help clinicians easily verify their findings and look for oversight in diagnosis. This review is useful for research that works with artificial intelligence in Head and Neck cancer, specifically that deals with the segmentation of laryngeal anatomy.
Subordinated Gaussian random fields in elliptic partial differential equations
Authors: Merkle Robin , Barth Andrea
Published: March 2022

To model subsurface flow in uncertain heterogeneous or fractured media an elliptic equation with a discontinuous stochastic diffusion coefficient—also called random field—may be used. In case of a one-dimensional parameter space, Lévy processes allow for jumps and display great flexibility in the distributions used. However, in various situations (e.g. microstructure modeling), a one-dimensional parameter space is not sufficient. Classical extensions of Lévy processes on two parameter dimensions suffer from the fact that they do not allow for spatial discontinuities [see for example Barth and Stein (Stoch Part Differ Equ Anal Comput 6(2):286–334, 2018)]. In this paper a new subordination approach is employed [see also Barth and Merkle (Subordinated gaussian random fields. ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:2012.06353 [math.PR], 2020)] to generate Lévy-type discontinuous random fields on a two-dimensional spatial parameter domain. Existence and uniqueness of a (pathwise) solution to a general elliptic partial differential equation is proved and an approximation theory for the diffusion coefficient and the corresponding solution provided. Further, numerical examples using a Monte Carlo approach on a Finite Element discretization validate our theoretical results.
Predicting vacant parking space availability zone-wisely: a hybrid deep learning approach
Authors: Feng Yajing , Xu Yingying , Hu Qian , Krishnamoorthy Sujatha , Tang Zhenzhou
Published: March 2022

Precise prediction on vacant parking space (VPS) information plays a vital role in intelligent transportation systems for it helps drivers to find the parking space quickly to reduce unnecessary waste of time and excessive environmental pollution. By analyzing the historical zone-wise VPS data, we find that for the number of VPSs, there is not only a solid temporal correlation within each parking lot, but also an obvious spatial correlation among different parking lots. Given this, this paper proposes a hybrid deep learning framework, known as the dConvLSTM-DCN (dual Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory with Dense Convolutional Network), to make short-term (within 30 min) and long-term (over 30 min) predictions on the VPS availability zone-wisely. Specifically, the temporal correlations of different time scales, namely the 5-min and daily-wise temporal correlations of each parking lot, and the spatial correlations among different parking lots can be effectively captured by the two parallel ConvLSTM components, and meanwhile, the dense convolutional network is leveraged to further improve the propagation and reuse of features in the prediction process. Besides, a two-layer linear network is used to extract the meta-info features to promote the prediction accuracy. For long-term predictions, two methods, namely the direct and iterative prediction methods, are developed. The performance of the prediction model is extensively evaluated with practical data collected from nine public parking lots in Santa Monica. The results show that the dConvLSTM-DCN framework can achieve considerably high accuracy in both short-term and long-term predictions.
Adaptive sparse ternary gradient compression for distributed DNN training in edge computing
Authors: Mao Yingchi , Wu Jun , Xu Xuesong , Wang Longbao
Published: March 2022

In edge computing, though distributed training of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) is expected to exchange massive gradients between parameter servers and working nodes, the high communication cost constrains the training speed. To break this limitation, gradient compression algorithms expect the ultimate compression ratio at the expense of the accuracy of the trained model. Therefore, new gradient compression techniques are necessary to ensure both communication efficiency and model accuracy. This paper introduces a novel technique—an Adaptive Sparse Ternary Gradient Compression (ASTC) scheme, which relies on the number of gradients in model layers to compress gradients. ASTC establishes the model compression selection criterion by gradients’ amount, compresses the network layer that meets the model’s standard, evaluates the gradients’ importance based on entropy to adaptively perform sparse compression, and finally conducts ternary quantization compression and a lossless code scheme on sparse gradients. Using public datasets (MNIST, CIFAR-10, Tiny ImageNet) and deep learning models (CNN, LeNet5, ResNet18) for experimental evaluation, we exhibit excellent results that the training efficiency of ASTC is about 1.6 times, 1.37 times, and 1.1 times higher than that of Top-1, AdaComp, and SBC, respectively. Furthermore, ASTC can be improved by an average of about$$1.9\%$$1.9%in training accuracy compared with the above approaches.
Patient-specific risk factors contributing to blood culture contamination
Authors: Liaquat Sidra , Baccaglini Lorena , Haynatzki Gleb , Medcalf Sharon J. , Rupp Mark E.
Published: March 2022

Objective:

Contaminated blood cultures result in extended hospital stays and unnecessary antibiotic therapy. Patient-specific factors associated with blood culture contamination remain largely unexplored. Identifying patients at higher risk of blood culture contamination could alert healthcare providers to take extra precautionary measures to limit contamination in these patients, and thereby prevent associated adverse outcomes. We sought to identify patient-related factors that contribute to blood culture contamination in hospitalized patients.

Design and setting:

We conducted a secondary data analysis of a retrospective cohort study at an academic medical center.

Patients:

Study participants included 19,255 adult patients who had blood culture(s) performed during a hospital admission between June 2014 and December 2016.

Methods:

Data were analyzed to evaluate risk factors for blood culture contamination using logistic regression.

Results:

Among adult patients, we identified 464 contaminated episodes and 11,010 negative blood-culture episodes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.34) and stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) during an admission (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.14–1.74) were associated with blood culture contamination. Other risk factors included race, body mass index, and admission from the emergency department. Subgroup analyses of patients admitted from the emergency department showed similar results.

Conclusions:

We identified patient-specific factors that increase the odds of false-positive blood cultures. By introducing mitigation strategies to limit contamination in patients with these risk factors, it may be possible to reduce the adverse clinical impact of blood culture contamination.
Sustainability awareness in engineering design through serious gaming
Authors: Scurati Giulia Wally , Nylander Johanna Wallin , Ferrise Francesco , Bertoni Marco
Published: March 2022

Sustainability considerations are traditionally difficult to trade-off with technical and business requirements in an early design phase. Hence, design teams need support to reflect early on in the process, on how sustainability may affect profitability and customer value fulfilment in the long term. The commoditisation of modelling and simulation techniques points to gamification and serious gaming as emerging approaches to raise awareness among the design team – as well as users and stakeholders – of the expected behaviour of a solution along its life cycle. The objective of this paper is to explore how serious games can be used to inform decision-makers about the value versus cost implications of being (or not being) ‘sustainability compliant’ when designing products and systems. The paper initially presents the findings from a descriptive study focused on the definition of ‘design support’ intended to raise sustainability awareness through serious gaming. It further describes the development, application and testing of one of such games for material selection in the aerospace industry.
A canonical view on particle acceleration by electromagnetic pulses
Authors: Russman F. , Marini S. , Rizzato F.B.
Published: March 2022

In the present work we investigate the dynamics of electrons under the action of wave packets of high-frequency electromagnetic carrier waves. When the group velocities of the packets are subluminal, electrons can be efficiently accelerated. We show that the whole process can be described by an accurate ponderomotive canonical formalism that includes relevant extensions of the original ponderomotive approach applied to carriers moving at the speed of light. Single-particle simulations validate our analytical approach and show that extended canonical methods provide better agreement with numerics than previous investigations. In particular, we obtain a precise relationship between the wave amplitude and group velocity for optimum acceleration of initially stationary targets.
Assessing fish communities in a multiple-use marine protected area using an underwater drone (Aegean Sea, Greece)
Authors: Nalmpanti Melina , Pardalou Androniki , Tsikliras Athanassios C. , Dimarchopoulou Donna
Published: March 2022

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been demonstrated to positively affect various aspects of their ecosystems and communities. In the present study, the effectiveness of varying protection levels on the coastal fish populations within a multiple-use marine park in Greece was assessed through community-level metrics using a non-destructive underwater recording method (underwater drone/mini remotely operated vehicle). Two factors were examined, i.e. protection level (fully, partially and least protected area) and time period (early and late summer: beginning and towards the end of the fishing and touristic season). Our study demonstrated some first results that protection benefited both the commercial species and the entire fish community as a whole, in terms of diversity, abundance and richness, while non-commercial species did not differ among the studied protection levels. This finding, along with the fact that the prevailing conditions (water temperature, depth, habitat type) were similar in all three studied areas, that corresponded to different protection levels, and in both sampling periods, indicated that the observed results may be attributed to the varying protection levels. The studied fish communities did not seem to be affected by the more intense fishing and touristic period over the summer. In conclusion, protection from fishing seems to positively affect the studied coastal fish community as a whole and particularly the commercially important species that find a refuge within core areas of the Alonissos marine park.
Nutrition policy: developing scientific recommendations for food-based dietary guidelines for older adults living independently in Ireland
Authors: Lyons Oonagh C. , Flynn Mary A. T. , Corish Clare A. , Gibney Eileen R. , Kerr Maeve A. , McKenna Malachi J. , McNulty Helene , McSorley Emeir M. , Nugent Anne P. , O'Brien Claire , Ward Mary , Younger Katherine M. , Saul Ita
Published: March 2022

Older adults (≥65 years) are the fastest growing population group. Thus, ensuring nutritional well-being of the ‘over-65s’ to optimise health is critically important. Older adults represent a diverse population – some are fit and healthy, others are frail and many live with chronic conditions. Up to 78% of older Irish adults living independently are overweight or obese. The present paper describes how these issues were accommodated into the development of food-based dietary guidelines for older adults living independently in Ireland. Food-based dietary guidelines previously established for the general adult population served as the basis for developing more specific recommendations appropriate for older adults. Published international reports were used to update nutrient intake goals for older adults, and available Irish data on dietary intakes and nutritional status biomarkers were explored from a population-based study (the National Adult Nutrition Survey; NANS) and two longitudinal cohorts: the Trinity-Ulster and Department of Agriculture (TUDA) and the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) studies. Nutrients of public health concern were identified for further examination. While most nutrient intake goals were similar to those for the general adult population, other aspects were identified where nutritional concerns of ageing require more specific food-based dietary guidelines. These include, a more protein-dense diet using high-quality protein foods to preserve muscle mass; weight maintenance in overweight or obese older adults with no health issues and, where weight-loss is required, that lean tissue is preserved; the promotion of fortified foods, particularly as a bioavailable source of B vitamins and the need for vitamin D supplementation.
Language activists and linguists in pursuit of the siPhuthi cause
Authors: Shah Sheena , Kometsi Letzadzo , Brenzinger Matthias
Published: March 2022

Sifinyeto [siPhuthi]

Ipampiri lhe inyatshella buhlogwa be kuhlaganela musebeti gekuphidza tiyato le tifikelwe yhitikhulumi lhetiyati-mukhulumo emusebetini whekutleketa mukhulumo whesiPhuthi lheku sivusuluta. Ekubeni kusjiyekiye te tikhulumi letitigidi letimbalwa temukhulumo, siPhuthi sikegotini lesabekako yhekucimela; futshi mukhulumo lho lhetikhulumi tawo tiya swayiwa kabhe tiya khetshullwa emayemweni hhemaphasi hhakeLesotho lakeSouth Africa. Titleketi letitshatfhu talhe ipampiri, sikhulumi sesiPhuthi (L1) lhetiyati-mukhulumo letibini takeMusjiya, isali bahlaganele lho musebetii kudlula minyaka lemunyuka ledluliye. Ebayemedi bemukhulumo labachaphatelekako lhetiyati-mukhulumo banka ematiphedvulello laphabhene kusebetana lhetidzaba letigesihlokweni kulho musebeti, kutjho kutshi, kutinswa emadla kwebaPhuthi lhekuvusulutwa kwemukhulumo whesiPhuthi.
Transcatheter resolution of an aneurism of the pulmonary trunk with residual ductus arteriosus after thoracoscopic clipping: a new approach
Authors: Sánchez González Sylvia K. , Colín Ortíz José Luis , Zamudio Meneses Rigoberto , Cabrera González Hugo , Maldonado Alonso Roberto
Published: March 2022

Patent ductus arteriosus is the most common cardiac anomaly in our country. In the last few decades, there has been a lot of interest in developing less invasive techniques like video-assisted thoracoscopic clipping; nevertheless, this also has some complications. We present an 8-year-old female, which had been treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic clipping of patent ductus arteriosus. Five years later, she presented with a large aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus extending to the pulmonary trunk and a residual patent ductus arteriosus. A Cardia ASD occluder of 24 mm was placed in the aneurysm, and the residual ductus arteriosus was then closed with an Amplatzer Plug vascular II device of 10 mm, with a good outcome. The development of an aneurysm after video-assisted patent ductus arteriosus closure is apparently a non-reported complication; therefore, there are also no reports for its treatment. That is why we present this case as an option for its resolution.
In-Stent Late Thrombus in a Patient with Aortic Coarctation
Authors: Mendi Mehmet Ali , Duygu Hamza , Cerit Levent
Published: March 2022

A 27-year-old man applied for routine control due to aortic coarctation stent. During routine control, a late in-stent thrombus was detected. The patient was asymptomatic. Thrombus resolution was achieved with anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulant therapy is one of the options in the treatment of aortic stent graft-associated asymptomatic thrombus. Surgical intervention might be required in case of thromboembolism, haemodynamic deterioration, and intra-aortic gradient with high blood pressure in the upper extremity.
Sub-pixel Tomographic Methods for Characterizing the Solid Architecture of Foams
Authors: Cimavilla-Román Paula , Pérez-Tamarit Saúl , Barroso-Solares Suset , Pinto Javier , Rodríguez-Pérez Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2022

Three independent analysis methods were developed to investigate the distribution of solid mass in foams analyzed by X-ray tomography with effective pixel sizes larger than the thickness of the solid network (sub-pixel conditions). Validation of the methods was achieved by a comparison with the results obtained employing high-resolution tomography for the same set of foams. The foams showed different solid mass distribution, which varied from being preferentially located on the edges, with a fraction of mass in the struts nearing 0.6, to materials in which the fraction of mass in the struts was low, under 0.15. In all cases, the accuracy of the proposed approaches was greater for materials with a higher fraction of mass in the struts. The method based on deconvolution of the attenuation probability density function yielded the closest results to the high-resolution characterizations. In contrast, analysis of the solid matrix thickness distribution after watershed segmentation, and binarization of high thickness regions (struts segmentation) required normalization through macroscopic measurements and revealed higher deviations with respect to the high-resolution results. However, segmentation-based methods allowed investigation of the heterogeneity of the fraction of mass in the struts along the sample.
Patientenübergabe Anästhesie – Aufwachraum
Authors: Vetter Luzia , Camenzind Elena
Published: March 2022

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Patientenübergaben zwischen Abteilungen bergen Risiken für Informations- und Kommunikationsmängel, die die Patientensicherheit gefährden können. Um die Patientensicherheit zu erhöhen, wurden Protokolle für Prozesse sowie Inhalte einer strukturierten Patientenübergabe erstellt. Ziel: Die Erhebung des Ist-Zustandes von Patientenübergaben des Anästhesiepersonals an die Aufwachraumpflegenden. Methode: Nach einer Literaturrecherche wurde ein Beobachtungsprotokoll für Patientenübergaben nach dem SBAR-Konzept ( von Dossow & Zwißler, 2016 ) erstellt. Anhand dieser Checkliste wurden nicht-teilnehmende Beobachtungen in drei Schweizer Spitälern durchgeführt und mittels statistischer Analysen ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt fanden 98 Beobachtungen statt. Die Rapport-entgegennehmenden Personen fühlten sich in die Übergabe integriert und erhielten die notwendigen Informationen, um die Patientenbetreuung in ihrem Arbeitsbereich weiterzuführen. Mängel bei der Patientenidentifikation sowie einer gemeinsamen Kontrolle von Zu- und Ableitungen nach operativen Eingriffen konnten festgestellt werden. Die subjektiv eingestufte Qualität der Patientenübergabe unterschied sich nicht zwischen den drei Spitälern ( X2(2)=,927, p=,629) und auch nicht hinsichtlich der Tageszeit ( X2(2) = 3,604, p=,216). Auch zeigte sich kein Unterschied zwischen der subjektiven Qualität der Übergabe sowie der übergebenden Berufsgruppe ( X2(3)=4,507, p=,212). Schlussfolgerungen: Die subjektive Qualität der Patientenübergabe unterscheidet sich nicht zwischen den drei Spitälern. Allerdings sind die Protokolle der Patientenübergabe anzupassen, damit Patientenidentifikation sowie ein gemeinsames Assessment inklusive Kontrolle der Zu- und Ableitungen stattfinden.
Journal Clubs in der Pflegepraxis
Authors: Ritter-Herschbach Madeleine , Vogt Birgit , Mai Tobias
Published: March 2022

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Journal Club (JC) als Instrument einer evidenzbasierten Methode ermöglicht es Pflegefachpersonen, Ergebnisse der Forschung direkt für die Pflegepraxis nutzbar zu machen. Ein Umsetzungsstand an deutschen Universitätskliniken in der klinischen Pflegepraxis ist bisher unbekannt. Fragestellung/Ziel: Die Studie erfragt den Stand der Umsetzung von JCs an deutschen Universitätskliniken. Ziel ist es, Empfehlungen für die Entwicklung von JCs für die Pflegepraxis zu synthetisieren. Methoden: Die Onlinebefragung aller 27 Vertreter_innen des Netzwerks Pflegewissenschaft und Praxisentwicklung im VPU e.V. erfolgte von Oktober bis November 2020. Der Fragebogen wurde literaturbasiert entwickelt. Die Datenanalyse erfolgte deskriptiv. Ergebnisse:15 von 19 Kliniken setzen einen JC um (Rücklaufquote 70,4%). In jeder zweiten ist der JC eine etablierte Struktur, der auch als Fort- und Weiterbildung angeboten wird (46,6%) und dem Auf- und Ausbau methodisch-wissenschaftlicher Kompetenzen dient (86,6%). Es wird von positiven Erfahrungen, aber auch von strukturellen Problemen in der Umsetzung berichtet. Rund ein Viertel der Kliniken evaluieren den JC regelmäßig (26,7%). Schlussfolgerungen: JCs in der klinischen Pflegepraxis befinden sich an deutschen Universitätskliniken im Aufbau. Zur Verstetigung der JCs bedarf es einer kontinuierlichen Vermittlung von EBN-Kenntnissen in Fort- und Weiterbildungen, zudem sollten JCs Bestandteil akademischer Rollenprofile sein.
Statistical Study of Foreshock Density Holes
Authors: Lu Xi , Zhang Hui , Liu Terry , Vu Andrew , Pollock Craig , Wang Boyi
Published: March 2022

Density holes (DHs), characterized by the correlating depletion of plasma density and magnetic field strength, are one of the transient structures frequently observed upstream of Earth's bow shock. The low dynamic pressure of DHs may disturb the bow shock and magnetopause, and have potential geoeffects. In this paper, we perform a statistical study of 411 density hole events, identified by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission. The average occurrence rate of DHs is ∼5.4 events/day. All DHs are associated with foreshock ions. DHs tend to occur on the dawn side than on the dusk side. The occurrence rate is higher for faster solar wind, larger magnetic shear angle across DHs, and lower magnetic field strength. The spatial scale of DHs is several RE. Within DHs, electron heating and density depletion are correlated. Most DHs do not have significant flow deflections. Most DHs with discontinuities have the convection electric field pointing toward the discontinuity on at least one side. About two thirds of the 411 events show different characteristics compared to other types of foreshock transients that also have correlated density and field strength depletion.
Water Enhancement of Si Self‐Diffusion in Wadsleyite
Authors: Druzhbin Dmitry , Fei Hongzhan , Hao Jialong , Zhang Chi , Lin Yangting , Dohmen Ralf , Katsura Tomoo
Published: March 2022

We investigated the H2O‐content dependence of Si self‐diffusion coefficient in Fe‐free wadsleyite using multi‐anvil experiments at pressures of 19–20 GPa, temperatures of 1573–1873 K, and H2O‐content ranging from ∼10 to 5,300 wt. ppm by the isotopic thin‐film diffusion‐couple method. The 29Si‐doped diffusion profiles were measured by nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry in the depth profiling mode. The H2O contents in the samples were analyzed by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. The experimental results show a H2O enhancement of Si diffusion coefficient with a H2O content exponent of 0.8 ± 0.1. The activation enthalpy was found to be 270 ± 40 kJ/mol. The diffusion coefficients in the [100], [010], and [001] directions are indistinguishable. The temperature and H2O‐content dependences of Si diffusion indicate that H2O incorporation dramatically reduces the rheological strength of wadsleyite, whereas temperature has a relatively small effect. The viscosity in the mantle transition zone could be significantly reduced by H2O incorporation in wadsleyite. The viscosity contrast between mantle plumes and surroundings may control the evolution of plume shapes at 410–660 km depths.
Improvements in Wintertime Surface Temperature Variability in the Community Earth System Model Version 2 (CESM2) Related to the Representation of Snow Density
Authors: Simpson Isla R. , Lawrence David M. , Swenson Sean C. , Hannay Cecile , McKinnon Karen A. , Truesdale John E.
Published: March 2022

The Community Earth System Model (CESM) is widely used for the prediction and understanding of climate variability and change. Accurate simulation of the behavior of near surface air temperature (T2m) is critical in such a model for addressing societally relevant problems. However, previous versions of CESM suffered from an overestimation of wintertime T2m variability in Northern Hemisphere (NH) land regions. Here, it is shown that the latest version of CESM (CESM2) exhibits a much improved representation of wintertime T2m variability compared to its predecessor and it now compares well with observations. A series of targeted experiments reveal that an important contributor to this improvement is the local effects of changes to the representation of snow density within the land surface component. Increased snow densities in CESM2 lead to enhanced conductance of the snow layer. As a result, larger heat fluxes across the snow layer are induced in the presence of T2m anomalies, leading to a greater dampening of surface and near surface atmospheric temperature anomalies. The implications for future projections with CESM2 are also considered through comparison of the CESM1 and CESM2 large ensembles. Aligned with the reduction in surface temperature variability, compared to CESM1, CESM2 exhibits reduced ensemble spread in future projections of NH winter mean temperature and a smaller decline in daily wintertime T2m variability under climate change. Overall, this improvement has increased the accuracy of CESM2 as a tool for the study of wintertime T2m variability and change.
The Polar Cap (PC) Index: PCS Version Based on Dome‐C Data
Authors: Stauning Peter
Published: March 2022

The standard polar cap (PC) indices, PCN (North) based on magnetic data from Qaanaaq in Greenland and PCS (South) based on data from Vostok in Antarctica, have been submitted from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Danish Meteorological Institute, and the Danish Space Research Institute in different versions. In order to consolidate PCS indices based on Vostok data or replace poor or missing index data, derivation procedures have been developed to generate alternative PCS index values based on data from Dome Concordia (Dome‐C) magnetic observations from epoch 2009–2020 of solar cycle 24. The reference levels and calibration parameters needed for calculations of Dome‐C‐based PCS values in post‐event and real‐time versions are defined and explained in the present work. Assessments of the new PCS index have shown its unprecedented high relevance. Part of the methods used here, such as the quiet reference level construction and the correlation and regression procedures used for calculations of scaling parameters, deviate from corresponding features considered inadequate of the International Association for Geomagnetism and Aeronomy‐endorsed PC index derivation methods.
Biological Crusts Affected by Drought Can Still Stabilize Soils
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: March 2022

Results of in situ experiments on natural microbial communities suggest that biological crusts can protect soils from erosion, but their protective role could be compromised under predicted future climate scenarios.
Parental autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders as multiple risk factors for common neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ellul Pierre , Acquaviva Eric , Peyre Hugo , Rosenzwajg Michelle , Gressens Pierre , Klatzmann David , Delorme Richard
Published: March 2022

Epidemiological studies have raised concerns about the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in children of patients with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders (AID). The pathophysiological pathways underlying this association are still unknown and little is known about the specific and distinct risk of each AID. To explore these questions, we investigated the association between the occurrences of several NDD in the offspring of mothers or fathers with different IDA. We conducted a meta-analysis—PROSPERO (CRD42020159250)—examining the risk of NDD in the offspring of mothers or fathers with AID. We performed specific analyses separately in fathers or mothers of NDD patients as well as subgroup analyses for each NDD and AID. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science Core Collection published until December 2021. From an initial pool of 2074 potentially relevant references, 14 studies were included, involving more than 1,400,000 AID and 10,000,000 control parents, 180,000 children with NDD and more than 14,000,000 control children. We found AID in mothers (Adjusted OR 1.27 [95% CI 1.03; 1.57] p = 0.02, [I2 = 65%, Tau2 = 0.03 p = 0.01] and adjusted OR 1.31 [95% CI 1.11; 1.55] p = 0.001, [I2 = 93%, Tau2 = 0.13 p = 0.001] and, although in a lesser extent, in fathers (adjusted OR 1.18 [95% CI 1.07; 1.30] p = 0.01, [I2 = 15.5%, Tau2 = 0.002 p = 0.47]) and adjusted OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.10; 1.17] p < 0.0001, [I2 = 0%, Tau2 = 0 p = 0.29]) to be associated with ASD and ADHD in the offspring. This difference in the strength of the association was found in the AID-specific analyses, suggesting that AID increase the risk of NDD by a shared mechanism but that a specific maternal route appears to represent an additional excess risk. Inflammatory bowel disease were not associated with an additional risk (neither in fathers nor in mothers) of NDD in offspring. Our results suggest that complex and multiple AID-specific pathophysiological mechanisms may underlie the association of AID and NDD in offspring. Further, comprehensive studies of the different AID and NDD are needed to draw definitive conclusions about the pathophysiological links between parental AID and NDD in children.
Skp2 stabilizes Mcl-1 and confers radioresistance in colorectal cancer
Authors: Yu Xinfang , Zhou Li , Liu Wenbin , Liu Lijun , Gao Feng , Li Wei , Liu Haidan
Published: March 2022

Overexpression of Skp2 plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and correlates with poor prognosis in human malignancies. Thus, Skp2 has been proposed as an attractive target for anti-tumor interventions. The expression of Skp2 in human colorectal cancer (CRC) and the role of Skp2 in tumorigenic properties and irradiation sensitivities of CRC cells were examined by anchorage-dependent and -independent growth assays, immunoblot, flow cytometry, immunohistochemical staining, ubiquitination analysis, co-immunoprecipitation assay, CRISPR-Cas9-based gene knockout, and xenograft experiments. Skp2 is highly expressed in CRC patient tissues. Blocking Skp2 expression reduces the tumorigenic properties of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Depletion of Skp2 confers sensitivity to irradiation of CRC cells. Skp2 deficiency enhances irradiation-induced intrinsic apoptosis by facilitating E3 ligase FBW7-mediated Mcl-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Knockout of Skp2 sensitizes CRC cells to irradiation treatments in vivo. Our findings indicate that Skp2 stabilizes Mcl-1, and targeting Skp2 in combination with traditional radiotherapy might be efficacious in treating CRC.
Claudin1 decrease induced by 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 potentiates gefitinib resistance therapy through inhibiting AKT activation-mediated cancer stem-like properties in NSCLC cells
Authors: Jia Zhirong , Wang Kaiwei , Duan Yalei , Hu Kaiyong , Zhang Yameng , Wang Meisa , Xiao Kang , Liu Shuo , Pan Zhenzhen , Ding Xuansheng
Published: March 2022

Claudins, the integral tight junction proteins that regulate paracellular permeability and cell polarity, are frequently dysregulated in cancer; however, their roles in regulating EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unknown. To this end, we performed GEO dataset analysis and identified that claudin1 was a critical regulator of EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC cells. We also found that claudin1, which was highly induced by continuous gefitinib treatment, was significantly upregulated in EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC cells. By knocking down claudin1 in cell lines and xenograft models, we established that gefitinib resistance was decreased. Moreover, claudin1 knockdown suppressed the expression levels of pluripotency markers (Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, CD133, and ALDH1A1). Claudin1 loss inhibited phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) expression and reduced cancer cell stemness by suppressing AKT activation. Furthermore, SKL2001, a β-catenin agonist, upregulated the expression levels of claudin1, p-AKT, and pluripotency markers, and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) reduced claudin1 expression, AKT activation, and cancer cell stemness by inhibiting β-catenin, and suppressed claudin1/AKT pathway mediated cancer stem-like properties and gefitinib resistance. Collectively, inhibition of claudin1-mediated cancer stem-like properties by 1,25(OH)2D3 may decrease gefitinib resistance through the AKT pathway, which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for inhibiting gefitinib resistance in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma.