bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paracrine Wnt signaling is necessary for prostate epithelial proliferation
Authors: Wei Xing , Roudier Martine P. , Kwon Oh‐Joon , Lee Justin Daho , Kong Kevin , Dumpit Ruth , True Lawrence , Morrissey Colm , Lin Daniel W. , Nelson Peter S. , Xin Li
Published: January 2022

Introduction

The Wnt proteins play key roles in the development, homeostasis, and disease progression of many organs including the prostate. However, the spatiotemporal expression patterns of Wnt proteins in prostate cell lineages at different developmental stages and in prostate cancer remain inadequately characterized.

Methods

We isolated the epithelial and stromal cells in the developing and mature mouse prostate by flow cytometry and determined the expression levels of Wnt ligands. We used Visium spatial gene expression analysis to determine the spatial distribution of Wnt ligands in the mouse prostatic glands. Using laser‐capture microscopy in combination with gene expression analysis, we also determined the expression patterns of Wnt signaling components in stromal and cancer cells in advanced human prostate cancer specimens. To investigate how the stroma‐derived Wnt ligands affect prostate development and homeostasis, we used a Col1a2‐CreERT2 mouse model to disrupt the Wnt transporter Wntless specifically in prostate stromal cells.

Results

We showed that the prostate stromal cells are a major source of several Wnt ligands. Visium spatial gene expression analysis revealed a distinct spatial distribution of Wnt ligands in the prostatic glands. We also showed that Wnt signaling components are highly expressed in the stromal compartment of primary and advanced human prostate cancer. Blocking stromal Wnt secretion attenuated prostate epithelial proliferation and regeneration but did not affect cell survival and lineage maintenance.

Discussion

Our study demonstrates a critical role of stroma‐derived Wnt ligands in prostate development and homeostasis.
Visualizing primary cooling system risks with bowtie diagram for RSG GAS operator guidance
Authors: Tyas Ratih Luhuring , Deswandri  , Jatmiko Dicky Tri , Shariff Azmi Mohd , Hermansyah Heri
Published: January 2022

The G.A. Siwabessy Multipurpose Reactor (RSG GAS) is a pool‐type research reactor. When the reactor operates, the heat released in the core is removed by the primary cooling system. It is necessary to evaluate this system, because failure can cause worst events such as the melting of reactor fuel and the release of radioactivity to the environment. Due to the possibility of radioactive material releases, safety issues are important to be evaluated. Several studies using event tree analysis (ETA), fuzzy fault tree analysis (FFTA) describe the results quantitatively. The varied educations of operators will provide various responses to quantitative results, and a need to create qualitative results that are simple and easy to understand using bowtie analysis that visualizes the risk scenario. Failure of this system causes loss of coolant accident (LOCA) and loss of flow accident (LOFA). The results show that the relationship between the consequences and causes of the risk occurrence LOCA and LOFA, and the controls used to prevent and reduce the hazard based on safety and emergency system at RSG GAS, can be depicted in a bowtie diagram. The bowtie diagram is simple and easy for an RSG GAS operator to carry out their duties and increase awareness regarding the safety of reactor operations.
NWP calibration applied to Aeolus Mie channel winds
Authors: Marseille Gert‐Jan , de Kloe Jos , Marksteiner Uwe , Reitebuch Oliver , Rennie Michael , de Haan Siebren
Published: January 2022

Aeolus is the first Doppler wind lidar (DWL) to measure wind profiles from space. Aeolus is an ESA (European Space Agency) explorer mission with the objective to retrieve winds from the collected atmospheric return signal which is the result of Mie and Rayleigh scattering of laser‐emitted light by atmospheric molecules and particulates. The focus of this paper is on winds retrieved from instrument Mie channel collected data, that is, originating from Mie scattering by atmospheric aerosols and clouds. The use of simulated data from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models is a widely accepted and proven concept for the monitoring of the performance of many meteorological instruments, including Aeolus. Continuous monitoring of Aeolus Mie channel winds against model winds from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has revealed systematic errors in retrieved Mie winds. Following a reverse engineering approach, the systematic errors could be traced back to imperfections of the data in the calibration tables which serve as input for the on‐ground wind processing algorithms. A new algorithm, denoted NWP calibration, makes use of NWP model winds to generate an updated calibration table. It is shown that Mie winds retrieved by making use of the NWP‐based calibration tables show reduced systematic errors, not only when compared to NWP model winds but also when compared to an independent dataset of very‐high‐resolution aircraft wind data. The latter gives high confidence that the NWP‐based calibration algorithm does not introduce model‐related errors into retrieved Aeolus Mie winds. Based on the presented results in this paper, the NWP‐based calibration table, as part of the level‐2B wind processing, has become part of the operational processing chain since 01 July 2021.
A repetitive group sampling plan based on the lifetime performance index under gamma distribution
Authors: Wu Chien‐Wei , Lee Amy H. I. , Liu Shih‐Wen
Published: January 2022

As technology and living standards improve, people are becoming more concerned with the importance of quality. Quality, thus, becomes the key to company competitiveness, and process capability indices (PCIs) are effective means of measuring process performance. Most PCIs have been developed under the assumption that the quality characteristics are normally distributed; however, the lifetime of products generally possesses a non‐normal distribution. A lifetime performance index (LPI) CL has been proposed and used for measuring product lifetime performance. In this high‐quality era, the use of traditional testing methods incurs very high costs, so acceptance sampling plans have been widely used by industry to perform the inspection. This study considers the product lifetime with a gamma distribution and uses the uniformly minimum‐variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) of the LPI to develop a repetitive group sampling plan (RGSP). For the practical purpose, this study presents a step‐by‐step procedure and tabulates the plan parameters for various combinations of acceptable and rejectable quality levels, producer's and consumer's risks, and shape parameter. Thus, practitioners can easily know the sample size and the corresponding critical values for decision making. This study also uses the results of the proposed plan to compare with the single sampling plan. Lastly, a practical example is used to illustrate how to apply this acceptance sampling plan.
Helium‐flushed sheathed nickel tube reactor for continuous flow oxygen stable isotope compound‐specific analysis
Authors: Johnson Carl G. , Galy Valier V.
Published: January 2022

Rationale

Compound‐specific oxygen stable isotope analysis has been commercially available for about 20 years but the technique has been infrequently applied and practical operating knowledge is limited. Existing reactor designs and chemistry fail to fully exclude contaminating oxygen, are chromatographically flawed, and are generally fabricated from expensive platinum tubing.

Methods

As a new interface between the gas chromatograph and isotope ratio mass spectrometer, we used a nickel tube reactor (containing no platinum wires) in a ceramic sheath with countercurrent helium flushing, operated at 1250°C. We analyzed suites of four long‐chain alcohols (LCAs), defining the least and most 18O‐enriched LCAs as internal standards. The other two LCAs, co‐injected in varying amounts, were treated as unknowns and amplitude‐corrected during data reduction.

Results

With this design, signals from non‐oxygenated compounds are minimized with a hydrogen trickle, while excessive graphitization is counterproductive. A balance of hydrogen and graphite is required to maintain a proper, stable redox state in the reactor. With low extraneous oxygen, the exact hydrogen flow has little effect on final δ18O data quality. Overall average δ18O values precisions and errors for the unknowns were better than 0.4 ‰ for injections between 2 and 7 nmol per component.

Conclusions

Our actively flushed sheath reduces oxygen infiltration to negligible levels and results in a chromatographic flow devoid of dead or poorly swept volumes. The improved design allows measurement of LCAs with accuracy and precision sufficient to enable investigating real processes, and may also have wider applications to other isotopes.
Adaptive longitudinal control for multivehicle cooperative systems with actuator saturation under road bumps
Authors: Yang Hongjiu , Wang Jin , Li Hongbo , Zuo Zhiqiang
Published: January 2022

In this article, an adaptive longitudinal control strategy is proposed for a multivehicle cooperative system with actuator saturation. The multivehicle cooperative system is modeled as a longitudinal system. Uncertain disturbances caused by road bumps during vehicle driving are estimated by an adaptive extended state observer based on Silverman canonical transformation and pole placement. An adaptive integral sliding mode control algorithm is designed to accomplish adaptive longitudinal control and handle actuator saturation. With Lyapunov criterion, stability is presented for the multivehicle cooperative system with the adaptive longitudinal control strategy. Simulation results are given to show effectiveness of the adaptive extended state observer and the adaptive integral sliding mode control algorithm.
Robust dynamic output feedback stabilization for uncertain singular Markovian jump systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Sun Meng , Zhuang Guangming , Xia Jianwei , Ma Qian , Chen Guoliang
Published: January 2022

The article investigates robust dynamic output feedback (DOF) stabilization for uncertain time‐varying delays singular Markovian jump systems (SMJSs). First, by using improved Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, sufficient conditions of robust admissibility (namely regularity, non‐impulsiveness, and asymptotic stability) for unforced nominal time‐varying delays SMJSs are given. Second, by constructing a DOF controller such that the resulting closed‐loop system satisfies robust admissibility, the robust DOF stabilization problem is solved in terms of linear matrix inequalities via orthogonal complement technique. Finally, the availability and practicality of the prime results are certified by two numerical examples and a practical example of the oil catalytic cracking process.
Observation of ground surface roughness values obtained by stylus profilometer and white light interferometer for common metal materials
Authors: Lu Enhui , Zhang Ruting , Liu Jian , Yin Shaohui , Ohmori Hitoshi
Published: January 2022

To find some practical understandings and to derive some rules for roughness calibration for common metal materials, this paper counts surface roughness on 50 ground workpieces of five different materials obtained by a stylus profilometer (here‐in‐after, ‘SP’) and a white light interferometer (here‐in‐after, ‘WLI’). The materials include iron, stainless steel, 45 steel, copper and aluminium on which hardness values are widely ranged. The results show that SP measurement result is generally smaller than WLI measurement result for its stylus tip size and scratches on surface. The SP method has obvious scratches on soft materials (Al and Cu), which leads to the reduction of low spatial frequency information on the measured profile. WLI measurement result is more accurate when measured surface is smooth while SP is more suitable for rough and hard surface roughness measurement.
B‐value and empirical equivalence bound: A new procedure of hypothesis testing
Authors: Zhao Yi , Caffo Brian S. , Ewen Joshua B.
Published: January 2022

In this study, we propose a two‐stage procedure for hypothesis testing, where the first stage is conventional hypothesis testing and the second is an equivalence testing procedure using an introduced empirical equivalence bound (EEB). In 2016, the American Statistical Association released a policy statement on P‐values to clarify the proper use and interpretation in response to the criticism of reproducibility and replicability in scientific findings. A recent solution to improve reproducibility and transparency in statistical hypothesis testing is to integrate P‐values (or confidence intervals) with practical or scientific significance. Similar ideas have been proposed via the equivalence test, where the goal is to infer equality under a presumption (null) of inequality of parameters. However, the definition of scientific significance/equivalence can sometimes be ill‐justified and subjective. To circumvent this drawback, we introduce the B‐value and the EEB, which are both estimated from the data. Performing a second‐stage equivalence test, our procedure offers an opportunity to improve the reproducibility of findings across studies.
Characteristic concrete compressive strength of existing structures—Evaluation of EN 13791:2019 for small sample sizes
Authors: Sefrin Rabea , Glock Christian
Published: January 2022

In the sense of resource‐efficient handling of existing structures, conversion should be given priority over demolition and reconstruction of buildings. Accordingly, the assessment of existing structures is becoming increasingly important. Until now, the characteristic concrete compressive strength as one of the most important factors for the evaluation of existing structures has been determined at European level according to EN 13791:2007. Today, the new EN 13791:2019 replaces EN 13791:2007. Especially for small sample sizes of drill cores (3 ≤ n ≤ 7), the introduction of EN 13791:2019 results in significant changes for the determination of the characteristic in situ concrete compressive strength. In addition, there is only limited background information available for the statistical robustness of the new methods. Therefore, the methods for the determination of the characteristic concrete compressive strength of existing structures according to EN 13791:2019 have been evaluated with the help of an existing drill core database established at the TU Kaiserslautern.
Effect of concrete wet packing density on the uni‐axial strength of manufactured sand CFST columns
Authors: Lai Mianheng , Wu Kaijie , Ou Xiaoling , Zeng Mengru , Li Chengwei , Ho Johnny Ching Ming
Published: January 2022

River sand (RS) has been the most popular fine aggregate in concrete production. Recently, because of the continuing decline in supply of RS, alternative source of fine aggregates is needed. Manufactured sand (MS), which is produced by mechanical crushing of virgin rock or construction waste, is becoming more popular for replacing RS. Concrete containing MS has higher compressive strength but is more brittle. To promote the application of MS in concrete, concrete‐filled‐steel‐tube (CFST) column is advocated to restore the ductility by composite action. It is believed that the improved strength and ductility of CFST column containing MS is due to the enhanced wet packing density (WPD) of concrete, which has been researched to affect significantly the mechanical performance of concrete. Nonetheless, there was very limited research carried out on the effect of WPD on the behavior of confined concrete and CFST column. Ergo, 15 CFST column specimens with MS replacing RS partially or totally were prepared and tested under uni‐axial compression. It is evident that CFST specimens with concrete containing blended fine aggregates showed different axial load‐strain behavior to those with RS concrete (especially the maximum strength and postelastic slope). More importantly, the normalized strength (maximum strength to squash load) of CFST specimens can be correlated positively to the WPD. This article thus provides a new insight into the interdependence between the uni‐axial strength of CFST columns and the WPD of the in‐filled concrete.
Chhaupadi practice in Nepal: A literature review
Authors: Joshi Supriya
Published: January 2022

Chhaupadi is a cultural practice where women are considered untouchable and forced to stay in separate huts during menstruation and child‐birth. There is limited evidence on the practice's causes and effects, and the objective of the current systematic literature review is to fill this important gap. The studies included in the review (n = 18) capture the experiences of women in far‐ and mid‐west districts in Nepal. Despite chhaupadi's criminalization by the government, 70%–80% of women in western Nepal are forced to practice it. The primary concern of the practicing women is safety. The practice is rooted in religious norms that consider menstruating women impure. Communities enforce chhaupadi by creating an environment of fear, telling women that if they do not follow the restrictions, bad things would happen to their families. A few studies examined the health implications of staying in chhaupadi huts and found negative effects. However, additional research is needed in a number of areas including on how the practice—including having to share sleeping quarters with animals—affects women and children's physical and mental health, childbirth experience, and post‐natal care, and how women are navigating the path between the community that forces them to practice chhaupadi and criminalization of the practice by the state.
Design, Synthesis and Characterization of 2‐Methylimidazole/Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐8 for Curing with Epoxy Resin
Authors: Yang Mengxiao , Yang Haiming , Wang Xue , Lu Yunfeng , Yu Xigao , Chen Fengfeng , Gao Junkuo , Di Ningyu
Published: January 2022

Rational designing a novel curing agent with high‐stability and long storage time is highly attractive but remains a critical challenge. Herein, a novel curing agent (2MI‐ZIF‐8) is constructed by the Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) and 2‐methylimidazole (2MI). 2MI‐ZIF‐8 is utilized as a functional nanofiller and curing agent to prepare the 2MI‐ZIF‐8/EP nanocomposites. The chemical structures of 2MI‐ZIF‐8/EP were investigated by SEM, XRD, DSC and TG characterizations. The SEM images show that the ZIF‐8 particle is individually dispersed in the EP matrix. The DSC results confirm that the curing temperature of the 2MI‐ZIF‐8/EP is higher than that of 2MI/EP. In addition, the kinetic parameters and the activation energy of the curing reaction were acquired according to the fitting of Kissinger equation and Ozawa equation. This study opens new avenues for the rational design of EP nanocomposites by employing MOFs‐based materials as curing agent for wide engineering applications.
Psychosocial Treatments for Ethnoculturally Diverse Youth with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Authors: Duarté-Vélez Yovanska , Vélez-Grau Carolina , Álvarez Kiara
Published: January 2022

This chapter reviews the available empirical evidence regarding psychosocial treatments tested with or developed for minoritized ethnocultural youth in the United States experiencing self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). Addressing the frameworks of evidence-based practice, cultural adaptation, and treatment development, we summarize relevant research across five minoritized ethnocultural groups (Latinx, Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, and Middle Eastern/North African [MENA]) according to five categories indicating whether interventions were developed or adapted for particular ethnocultural groups and/or with attention to cultural context. We find limited representation of minoritized ethnocultural youth in psychosocial treatment research for SITBs, with no studies identified for Asian American and MENA youth and one study in progress for American Indian youth. While a relatively greater number of studies have included Latinx and African American youth, evidence of treatment relevance is still low. Evidence of efficacy in reducing SITBs remains limited and studies to replicate findings from small trials are warranted. We expand our review with recommendations for broadening the evidence base on psychosocial treatments from both “top-down” (e.g., cultural adaptations/increase external validity) and “bottom-up” (e.g., treatment development grounded in clinical and community expertise) approaches.
Baby (Not So) Friendly: Implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in Serbia
Authors: Pantović Ljiljana
Published: January 2022

The WHO and UNICEF launched The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in 1991 with the goal of promoting breastfeeding. Four years later, this initiative was adopted in Serbia (then Yugoslavia). Although Serbia has officially been a part of the BFHI for over 26 years, less than 13% of children are currently exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Drawing on interviews, observations and document review, this chapter offers ethnographic insight into why the BFHI in Serbia has met with little success. I argue that the principles and practices of the initiative to promote breastfeeding have been both thinly learned and thinly applied by healthcare workers and therefore have had little positive impact on women’s empowerment to breastfeed or the rates of breastfeeding in the country. I show how the global Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative implemented in Serbia in the early 1990s and the national level policies which renewed it in 2018 were severely constrained by social, political and economic conditions that hindered the uptake of the program by frontline health workers – namely the devastating effects of the civil war and international sanctions in the 1990s, and the deleterious effects of IMF policies on the Serbian healthcare system since the 2000s. The pressure of time due to high workloads, and understaffed hospitals, in combination with unsustainable national funds for implementation may contribute to the reality of the thin implementation of BFHI.
The Place of Traditional Birth Attendants in Global Maternal Health: Policy Retreat, Ambivalence and Return
Authors: MacDonald Margaret E.
Published: January 2022

In this chapter, I tell the story of the waxing and waning of the status of the traditional birth attendant (TBA) in global maternal health policy from the launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative in 1987 to the present. Once promoted as part of the solution to reducing maternal mortality, the training and integration of TBAs into formal healthcare systems in the global south was deemed a failure and side-lined in the late 1990s in favour of ‘a skilled attendant at every birth’. This shift in policy has been one of the core debates in the history of the global maternal health movement and TBAs continue to be regarded with deep ambivalence by many health providers, researchers and policymakers at the national and global levels. In this chapter, I take a critical global heath perspective that scrutinises the knowledge, policy and practice of global health in order to make visible the broader social, cultural and political context of its making. In this chapter, I offer a series of critiques of global maternal health policy regarding TBAs: one, that the evidence cited to underpin the policy shift was weak and inconclusive; two, that the original TBA component itself was flawed; three, that the political and economic context of the first decade of the SMI was not taken into account to explain the failure of TBAs to reduce maternal mortality; and four, that the reorganisation of the Safe Motherhood movement at the global level demanded a new humanitarian logic that had no room for the figure of the traditional birth attendant. I close the chapter by looking at the return of TBAs in global level policy, which, I argue, is bolstered by a growing evidence base, and also by the trends towards ‘self-care’ and point-of-use technologies in global health.
Brown-York charges at null boundaries
Authors: Chandrasekaran Venkatesa , Flanagan Éanna É. , Shehzad Ibrahim , Speranza Antony J.
Published: January 2022

Abstract

The Brown-York stress tensor provides a means for defining quasilocal gravitational charges in subregions bounded by a timelike hypersurface. We consider the generalization of this stress tensor to null hypersurfaces. Such a stress tensor can be derived from the on-shell subregion action of general relativity associated with a Dirichlet variational principle, which fixes an induced Carroll structure on the null boundary. The formula for the mixed-index tensor Tij takes a remarkably simple form that is manifestly independent of the choice of auxiliary null vector at the null surface, and we compare this expression to previous proposals for null Brown-York stress tensors. The stress tensor we obtain satisfies a covariant conservation equation with respect to any connection induced from a rigging vector at the hypersurface, as a result of the null constraint equations. For transformations that act covariantly on the boundary structures, the Brown-York charges coincide with canonical charges constructed from a version of the Wald-Zoupas procedure. For anomalous transformations, the charges differ by an intrinsic functional of the boundary geometry, which we explicity verify for a set of symmetries associated with finite null hyper-surfaces. Applications of the null Brown-York stress tensor to symmetries of asymptotically flat spacetimes and celestial holography are discussed.
Asymptotic symmetry of four dimensional Einstein-Yang-Mills and Einstein-Maxwell theory
Authors: Banerjee Nabamita , Rahnuma Tabasum , Singh Ranveer Kumar
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Asymptotic symmetry plays an important role in determining physical observables of a theory. Recently, in the context of four dimensional asymptotically flat pure gravity and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 supergravity, it has been proposed that OPEs of appropriate celestial amplitudes can be used to find their asymptotic symmetries. In this paper we find the asymptotic symmetry algebras of four dimensional Einstein-Yang-Mills and Einstein-Maxwell theories using this alternative approach, namely using the OPEs of their respective celestial amplitudes. The algebra obtained here are in agreement with the known results in the literature.
Timing of magmatic-hydrothermal activity in the Variscan Orogenic Belt: LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology of skarn-related garnet from the Schwarzenberg District, Erzgebirge
Authors: Reinhardt Nils , Gerdes Axel , Beranoaguirre Aratz , Frenzel Max , Meinert Lawrence D. , Gutzmer Jens , Burisch Mathias
Published: January 2022

Here, we present in situ U–Pb laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) ages of andradite-grossular garnet from four magmatic-hydrothermal polymetallic skarn prospects in the Schwarzenberg District, Erzgebirge (Germany), located in the internal zone of the Variscan Orogenic Belt. Within the geochronological framework of igneous rocks and hydrothermal mineralization in the Erzgebirge, the obtained garnet ages define three distinct episodes of Variscan skarn formation: (I) early late-collisional mineralization (338–331 Ma) recording the onset of magmatic-hydrothermal fluid flow shortly after the peak metamorphic event, (II) late-collisional mineralization (~ 327–310 Ma) related to the emplacement of large peraluminous granites following large-scale extension caused by orogenic collapse and (III) post-collisional mineralization (~ 310–295 Ma) contemporaneous with widespread volcanism associated with Permian crustal reorganization. Our results demonstrate that the formation of skarns in the Schwarzenberg District occurred episodically in all sub-stages of the Variscan orogenic cycle over a time range of at least 40 Ma. This observation is consistent with the age range of available geochronological data related to magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits from other internal zones of the Variscan Orogenic Belt in central and western Europe. In analogy to the time–space relationship of major porphyry-Cu belts in South America, the congruent magmatic-hydrothermal evolution in the internal zones and the distinctly later (by ~ 30 Ma) occurrence of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits in the external zones of the Variscan Orogenic Belt may be interpreted as a function of their tectonic position relative to the Variscan collisional front.
A Code of Digital Ethics: laying the foundation for digital ethics in a science and technology company
Authors: Becker Sarah J. , Nemat André T. , Lucas Simon , Heinitz René M. , Klevesath Manfred , Charton Jean Enno
Published: January 2022

The rapid and dynamic nature of digital transformation challenges companies that wish to develop and deploy novel digital technologies. Like other actors faced with this transformation, companies need to find robust ways to ethically guide their innovations and business decisions. Digital ethics has recently featured in a plethora of both practical corporate guidelines and compilations of high-level principles, but there remains a gap concerning the development of sound ethical guidance in specific business contexts. As a multinational science and technology company faced with a broad range of digital ventures and associated ethical challenges, Merck KGaA has laid the foundations for bridging this gap by developing a Code of Digital Ethics (CoDE) tailored for this context. Following a comprehensive analysis of existing digital ethics guidelines, we used a reconstructive social research approach to identify 20 relevant principles and derive a code designed as a multi-purpose tool. Versatility was prioritised by defining non-prescriptive guidelines that are open to different perspectives and thus well-suited for operationalisation for varied business purposes. We also chose a clear nested structure that highlights the relationships between five core and fifteen subsidiary principles as well as the different levels of reference—data and algorithmic systems—to which they apply. The CoDE will serve Merck KGaA and its new Digital Ethics Advisory Panel to guide ethical reflection, evaluation and decision-making across the full spectrum of digital developments encountered and undertaken by the company whilst also offering an opportunity to increase transparency for external partners, and thus trust.
“Push it!” or “Hold it!”? A comparison of nicotine-avoidance training and nicotine-inhibition training in smokers motivated to quit
Authors: Machulska Alla , Rinck Mike , Klucken Tim , Kleinke Kristian , Wunder Jana-Carina , Remeniuk Olga , Margraf Jürgen
Published: January 2022

Rationale

Recently, experimental paradigms have been developed to strengthen automatic avoidance or inhibitory responses for smoking cues. However, these procedures have not yet been directly compared regarding their effectiveness and mechanisms of action.

Objective

This study compared the effects of avoidance vs. inhibitory training as an add-on to a brief smoking cessation intervention. The standard Approach-Avoidance-Task (AAT) was adapted for both training types and control conditions.

Methods

One hundred twenty-four smokers attended behavioral counseling for smoking cessation and were thereafter randomized to one of four training conditions: avoidance-AAT, sham-avoidance-AAT, inhibition-AAT, sham-inhibition-AAT. During a 2-week training period including five training sessions, smokers in the avoidance-AAT trained to implicitly avoid all smoking-related cues, while smokers in the inhibition-AAT trained to implicitly inhibit behavioral response to smoking cues. During sham training, no such contingencies appeared. Self-report and behavioral data were assessed before and after training. Cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence were also assessed at 4- and 12-week follow-ups.

Results

At posttest, avoidance training was more effective in reducing daily smoking than inhibition training. However, this difference was no longer evident in follow-up assessments. All training conditions improved other smoking- and health-related outcomes. Neither training changed smoking-related approach biases or associations, but approach biases for smoking-unrelated pictures increased and Stroop interference decreased in all conditions. Smoking devaluation was also comparable in all groups.

Conclusions

Avoidance training might be slightly more effective in reducing smoking than inhibitory training. Overall, however, all four training types yielded equivalent therapy and training effects. Hence, a clear preference for one type of training remains premature.
The femur too short? 1373 fetuses with short femur during second-trimester screening
Authors: Friebe-Hoffmann Ulrike , Dobravsky Larissa , Friedl Thomas W. P. , Janni Wolfgang , Knippel Alexander J. , Siegmann Hans J. , Kozlowski Peter
Published: January 2022

Purpose

A short fetal femur in prenatal diagnosis might be an indicator for intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), a genetically determined small child (SGA) with or without associated fetal malformations and/or an adverse fetal outcome.

Methods

1373 singleton pregnancies with a femoral length < 5th percentile detected between 1999 and 2015 during second-trimester screening in a tertiary prenatal diagnostic center were subjected to a descriptive retrospective analysis with regard to fetal characteristics as well as pregnancy outcome.

Results

685 (49.9%) fetuses presented an isolated short femur, while 688 (50.1%) showed additional abnormalities. 293 (42.6%) of those were SGA babies without any malformation, while 395 (57.4%) had one or more severe anomaly of the following organ systems: 157 (11.5%) cardiovascular, 101 (7.4%) musculoskeletal, 82 (6.0%) urogenital, 72 (5.2%) cerebrocephalic, 50 (3.6%) gastrointestinal, and 5 (0.4%) thoracic. 75 (5.5%) of the fetuses showed chromosomal aberrations of which Trisomy 13, 18 and 21 were found in 2, 13 and 27 of the cases, respectively. Fetuses with associated malformations had a significantly lower live birth rate than those without (64.2% vs. 98.1%,p < 0.001); in addition, a higher rate of preterm births 36.6% vs. 11.3%,p < 0.001) and SGA babies (51.4% vs. 30.4%,p < 0.001) were observed in the first collective.

Conclusion

Diagnosis of a short fetal femur should lead to an extended organ screening; in the case of associated abnormalities, additional genetic testing has to be offered, as well as intensified pregnancy monitoring in pregnancies at risk for IUGR and/or preterm birth.
Timber-colonizing gram-negative bacteria as potential causative agents of respiratory diseases in woodworkers
Authors: Wójcik-Fatla Angelina , Mackiewicz Barbara , Sawczyn-Domańska Anna , Sroka Jacek , Siwiec Jan , Paściak Mariola , Szponar Bogumiła , Pawlik Krzysztof , Dutkiewicz Jacek
Published: January 2022

Occurrence

Gram-negative bacteria occur commonly in the inner tissues of stored coniferous and deciduous timber, showing a marked variation in numbers. The greatest maximal numbers are found in the sapwood of coniferous timber. The common constituents of the Gram-negative biota are potentially pathogenic species of Enterobacteriaceae family of the genera Rahnella, Pantoea, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. The air of wood-processing facilities is polluted with the wood-borne Gram-negative bacteria and produced by them endotoxin, as demonstrated worldwide by numerous studies.

Effects

There are three potential pathways of the pathogenic impact of wood-borne Gram-negative bacteria on exposed woodworkers: allergic, immunotoxic, and infectious. Allergic impact has been underestimated for a long time with relation to Gram-negative bacteria. Hopefully, the recent demonstration of the first documented case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in woodworkers caused by Pantoea agglomerans which developed in extremely large quantities in birch sapwood, would speed up finding of new wood-related cases of HP caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The second pathway is associated with endotoxin, exerting strong immunotoxic (excessively immunostimulative) action. It has been demonstrated that endotoxin is released into wood dust in the form of nano-sized microvesicles, by peeling off the outer membrane of bacteria. Endotoxin microvesicles are easily inhaled by humans together with dust because of small dimensions and aerodynamic shape. Afterwards, they cause a nonspecific activation of lung macrophages, which release numerous inflammatory mediators causing an inflammatory lung reaction, chest tightness, fever, gas exchange disorders, and bronchospasm, without radiographic changes. The resulting disease is known as “Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome” or “toxic pneumonitis.” The potential third pathway of pathogenic impact is infection. The suspected species is Klebsiella pneumoniae that may occur commonly in wood dust; however, until now this pathway has not been confirmed.

Conclusion

Summarizing, Gram-negative bacteria-inhabiting timber should be considered, besides filamentous fungi and actinobacteria, as important risk factors of occupational disease in woodworkers that could be either HP with allergenic background or toxic pneumonitis elicited by endotoxin.
Validation and Cultural Adaptation of an Arabic Version of Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (Pedi-EAT-10Arabic)
Authors: Adel Sally M. , Gaafar Alaa H. , Fasseeh Nader , Abdou Rania M. , Hamouda Nesrine Hazem
Published: January 2022

Pediatric eating assessment tool (Pedi-EAT-10Arabic) is a validated and reliable caregiver administered outcome instrument designed for detection of children at high risk of penetration/aspiration. The objective of this study is to translate and validate the Arabic version of Pedi-EAT-10 and to correlate its results with pharyngeal residue and aspiration on fiber optic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES). A cross-sectional study including 202 children selected randomly from those attending the swallowing clinic in phoniatrics unit, Otorhinolaryngology department (ORL) at main university hospital between February 2019 and October 2020 complaining of dysphagia. For test–retest reliability, one hundred caregivers refilled the Pedi-EAT-10Arabic after a 2-week period following their first visit. Validity was established by comparing the scores of dysphagia patients to healthy controls. Internal consistency of Pedi-EAT-10Arabic was high (Cronbach's alpha 0.986). Intra class correlation showed excellent test–retest reliability (r = 0.968). The median Pedi-EAT 10Arabic score was significantly higher in dysphagia group compared to healthy controls. (Median 27 IQR 21–34 for cases compared to median zero IQR 0–2 points for healthy controls, P less than 0.001). A strong correlation was found between Pedi-EAT 10Arabic scores and PAS scores with Spearman's correlation coefficient r = 0.803 and P < 0.001. The ROC for evaluating the discriminatory capacity of Pedi-EAT 10 for aspiration showed an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI of 0.89 to 0.96). Conclusion: Pedi-EAT 10Arabic was found to be a valid and reliable screening tool for further instrumental assessment of risk of dysphagia in pediatric population.
Routine cancer treatments and their impact on physical function, symptoms of cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and depression
Authors: Grusdat Niklas Paul , Stäuber Alexander , Tolkmitt Marion , Schnabel Jens , Schubotz Birgit , Wright Peter Richard , Schulz Henry
Published: January 2022

Background and purpose

Breast cancer can be a major challenge for affected women. Knowledge of the physical function, symptoms of cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and depression based on the cancer treatment may help to guide adequate support.

Methods

For this prospective observational study, we collected data from seventy-nine women with a mean age 54.6 ± 9.5 years prior to the onset of breast cancer treatment (T0) and after (T1/T2). Handgrip strength test (HGS), six-minute walk test (6MWT), the phase angle (PhA), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-fatigue (FACIT-F) were used to collect data from four treatment subgroups SC, surgery + chemotherapy; SCR, surgery + chemotherapy + radiation therapy; SR, surgery + radiation therapy; and S, surgery.

Results

A mixed ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between time and group for PhA,F = 8.55,p < 0.01; HGS,F = 3.59,p < 0.01; 6MWT,F = 4.47,p < 0.01; and FACIT-F,F = 2.77,p < 0.05 with most pronounced deterioration seen in group SCR (PhA 4.8°; HGS 27.5 kg, 6MWT 453.4 m, FACIT-F 33.8 points). HADS data displayed moderate anxiety and depression predominantly after treatment.

Conclusion

Our study showed that the extent of change in physical function, symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and depression depends on the treatment conditions. The potentially higher risk of impaired function due to the prevalence of values below a critical threshold requires early initiated multidisciplinary support.
Deep learning and Internet of Things for tourist attraction recommendations in smart cities
Authors: Cepeda-Pacheco Juan Carlos , Domingo Mari Carmen
Published: January 2022

We propose a tourist attraction IoT-enabled deep learning-based recommendation system to enhance tourist experience in a smart city. Travelers will enter details about their travels (traveling alone or with a companion, type of companion such as partner or family with kids, traveling for business or leisure, etc.) as well as user side information (age of the traveler/s, hobbies, etc.) into the smart city app/website. Our proposed deep learning-based recommendation system will process this personal set of input features to recommend the tourist activities/attractions that best fit his/her profile. Furthermore, when the tourists are in the smart city, content-based information (already visited attractions) and context-related information (location, weather, time of day, etc.) are obtained in real time using IoT devices; this information will allow our proposed deep learning-based tourist attraction recommendation system to suggest additional activities and/or attractions in real time. Our proposed multi-label deep learning classifier outperforms other models (decision tree, extra tree, k-nearest neighbor and random forest) and can successfully recommend tourist attractions for the first case [(a) searching for and planning activities before traveling] with the loss, accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score of 0.5%, 99.7%, 99.9%, 99.9% and 99.8%, respectively. It can also successfully recommend tourist attractions for the second case [(b) looking for activities within the smart city] with the loss, accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score of 3.7%, 99.5%, 99.8%, 99.7% and 99.8%, respectively.
Data fusion and 3D visualization for optimized representation of neurovascular relationships in the posterior fossa
Authors: Hastreiter Peter , Bischoff Barbara , Fahlbusch Rudolf , Doerfler Arnd , Buchfelder Michael , Naraghi Ramin
Published: January 2022

Background

Reliable 3D visualization of neurovascular relationships in the posterior fossa at the surface of the brainstem is still critical due to artifacts of imaging. To assess neurovascular compression syndromes more reliably, a new approach of 3D visualization based on registration and fusion of high-resolution MR data is presented.

Methods

A total of 80 patients received MRI data with 3D-CISS and 3D-TOF at 3.0 Tesla. After registration and subsequent segmentation, the vascular information of the TOF data was fused into the CISS data. Two 3D visualizations were created for each patient, one before and one after fusion, which were verified with the intraoperative situation during microvascular decompression (MVD). The reproduction quality of vessels was evaluated with a rating system.

Results

In all cases, the presented approach compensated for typical limitations in the 3D visualization of neurovascular compression such as the partial or complete suppression of larger vessels, suppression of smaller vessels at the CSF margin, and artifacts from heart pulsation. In more than 95% of the cases of hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, accurate assessment of the compression was only possible after registration and fusion. In more than 50% of the cases with trigeminal neuralgia, the presented approach was crucial to finding the actually offending vessel.

Conclusions

3D visualization of fused image data allows for a more complete representation of the vessel-nerve situation. The results from this approach are reproducible and the assessment of neurovascular compression is safer. It is a powerful tool for planning MVD.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among dental teams in Germany
Authors: Mksoud Maria , Ittermann Till , Holtfreter Birte , Söhnel Andreas , Söhnel Carmen , Welk Alexander , Ulm Lena , Becker Karsten , Hübner Nils-Olaf , Rau Andrea , Kindler Stefan , Kocher Thomas
Published: January 2022

Objectives

During the corona pandemic, dental practices temporarily closed their doors to patients except for emergency treatments. Due to the daily occupational exposure, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dentists and their team is presumed to be higher than that in the general population. This study examined this issue among dental teams across Germany.

Materials and methods

In total, 2784 participants provided usable questionnaires and dry blood samples. Dry blood samples were used to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The questionnaires were analyzed to investigate demographic data and working conditions during the pandemic. Multivariable logistic mixed-effects models were applied.

Results

We observed 146 participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (5.2%) and 30 subjects with a borderline finding (1.1%). Seventy-four out of the 146 participants with SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies did not report a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (50.7%), while 27 participants without SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (1.1%). Combining the laboratory and self-reported information, the number of participants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection was 179 (6.5%). Though after adjustment for region, mixed-effects models indicated associations of use of rubber dams (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01–2.72) and the number of protective measures (OR 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01–1.34) with increased risk for positive SARS-CoV-2 status, none of those variables was significantly associated with a SARS-CoV-2 status in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was not higher among the dental team compared to the general population.

Clinical relevance.

Following hygienic regulations and infection control measures ensures the safety of the dental team and their patients.