bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Logistics Challenges Along the New Silk Roads
Authors: Haasis Hans-Dietrich , Du Jianhui , Sun Xuejun
Published: December 2021

In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping advised to establish the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” also referred as the Belt and Road Initiative or the New Silk Roads Policy. The intention is to promote international and regional trade as well as cooperation in and between Asia and Europe. Consequently, international maritime and terrestrial freight transport corridors are either established or strengthened and operated. The purpose of this paper is to reflect the Belt and Road Initiative from the perspective of logistics. The aim is to identify and formulate circumstances, expectations, opportunities, and peculiarities of logistics along the New Silk Roads. For this purpose, four corresponding challenges will be considered and outlined after an introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative. The four logistics challenges concern the awareness of new freight transport corridors and the assessment of possibilities for opening new transport relations and new markets, the implementation of new and the adaptation of existing supply chains to increase strategic logistics flexibility, the availability and use of digital infrastructure and connectivity for improved communication and coordination of logistical processes, and the willingness to consider regional and cultural differences in the preparation and realization of supply chain decisions.
Recent Developments in Mathematical Traffic Models
Authors: Schmand Daniel
Published: December 2021

Predictions such as forecasts of congestion effects in transportation networks can be based on complex simulations that include many aspects of actual transportation systems. On the other hand, rigorous mathematical traffic models give rise to theoretical analyses, very general statements, and various traffic optimization opportunities. There has been a huge development in the last years to make mathematical traffic models more realistic. This chapter provides an overview of the mathematical traffic models developed recently and some state-of-the-art results.
High-Radix Formats for Enhancing Floating-Point FPGA Implementations
Authors: Villalba Julio , Hormigo Javier
Published: December 2021

This article proposes a family of high-radix floating-point representation to efficiently deal with floating-point addition in FPGA devices with no native floating-point support. Since variable shifter implementation (required in any FP adder) has a very high cost in FPGA, high-radix formats considerably reduce the number of possible shifts, decreasing the execution time and area highly. Although the high-radix format produces also a significant penalty in the implementation of multipliers, the experimental results show that the adder improvement overweights the multiplication penalty for most of the practical and common cases (digital filters, matrix multiplications, etc.). We also provide the designer with guidelines on selecting a suitable radix as a function of the ratio between the number of additions and multiplications of the targeted algorithm. For applications with similar numbers of additions and multiplications, the high-radix version may be up to 26% faster and even having a wider dynamic range and using higher number of significant bits. Furthermore, thanks to the proposed efficient converters between the standard IEEE-754 format and our internal high-radix format, the cost of the input/output conversions in FPGA accelerators is negligible.
Clinical, Biochemical, Tumoural and Mutation Profile of VHL‐ and MEN2A‐Associated Pheochromocytoma: A Comparative Study
Authors: Dhanda Mallika , Agarwal Amit , Mandal Kausik , Gupta Sushil , Sabaretnam M. , Chand Gyan , Mishra Anjali , Agarwal Gaurav , Mishra Saroj Kanta
Published: December 2021

Objective

To compare clinical, biochemical, tumoural and mutational characteristics of Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome (VHL)‐associated pheochromocytoma (PCC) to multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A)‐associated pheochromocytoma.

Design

Retrospective study design in a tertiary health care centre in Northern India.

Methods

A total of 47 patients with biochemical and histologically proven pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PCC/PGL): 29 associated with VHL and 18 with MEN2A, were divided in two cohorts, respectively. Analysis of their medical records along with a prospective follow‐up was done.

Results

There were more children <19 years in VHL group (13 vs 1). Despite majority of VHL‐PCC showing elevation of normetanephrine (NMN) (93%) as compared to MEN2A‐PCC (22.2%), 75.8% presented with hypertension as compared to MEN2A (33.3%). The average size of VHL‐PCC tumours was 5.66 cm. VHL‐PCC as compared to MEN2A‐PCC were multifocal (75% vs 61.1%), bilateral synchronous (72.4 vs 61.1%) and extra‐adrenal (17.2% vs 0%). Both VHL (24%) and MEN2A‐PCC (27.7%) showed multiple nodules, but more MEN2A PCC showed extra‐tumoural hyperplasia (44.4% vs. 6.8%). In VHL, the commonest mutation (n = 17) was missense mutation with a hot spot on exon 3, while in MEN2A‐PCC majority (66.6%) had 634 mutation in exon 11 and only 2 patients had the rare 611 mutation in exon 10.

Conclusion

In contrast to world literature, our study suggests Indian VHL‐PCC can be symptomatic in spite of noradrenergic phenotype, large in size and multifocal. Multiple nodules in VHL‐PCC could increase risk of recurrence following subtotal adrenalectomy.
Genomic and clinical findings in myeloid neoplasms with PDGFRB rearrangement
Authors: Di Giacomo Danika , Quintini Martina , Pierini Valentina , Pellanera Fabrizia , La Starza Roberta , Gorello Paolo , Matteucci Caterina , Crescenzi Barbara , Fiumara Paolo Fabio , Veltroni Marinella , Borlenghi Erika , Albano Francesco , Forghieri Fabio , Maccaferri Monica , Bettelli Francesca , Luppi Mario , Cuneo Antonio , Rossi Giuseppe , Mecucci Cristina
Published: December 2021

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor B (PDGFRB) gene rearrangements define a unique subgroup of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms frequently associated with eosinophilia and characterized by high sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibition. To date, various PDGFRB/5q32 rearrangements, involving at least 40 fusion partners, have been reported. However, information on genomic and clinical features accompanying rearrangements of PDGFRB is still scarce. Here, we characterized a series of 14 cases with a myeloid neoplasm using cytogenetic, single nucleotide polymorphism array, and next-generation sequencing. We identified nine PDGFRB translocation partners, including the KAZN gene at 1p36.21 as a novel partner in a previously undescribed t(1;5)(p36;q33) chromosome change. In all cases, the PDGFRB recombination was the sole cytogenetic abnormality underlying the phenotype. Acquired somatic variants were mainly found in clinically aggressive diseases and involved epigenetic genes (TET2, DNMT3A, ASXL1), transcription factors (RUNX1 and CEBPA), and signaling modulators (HRAS). By using both cytogenetic and nested PCR monitoring to evaluate response to imatinib, we found that, in non-AML cases, a low dosage (100–200 mg) is sufficient to induce and maintain longstanding hematological, cytogenetic, and molecular remissions.
Comparative diagnostic performance of ultrasound shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography for classifying fibrosis stage in adults with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zhang Yingzhen N. , Fowler Kathryn J. , Boehringer Andrew S. , Montes Vivian , Schlein Alexandra N. , Covarrubias Yesenia , Wolfson Tanya , Hong Cheng W. , Valasek Mark A. , Andre Michael P. , Loomba Rohit , Sirlin Claude B.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of US shear wave elastography (SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for classifying fibrosis stage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Patients from a prospective single-center cohort with clinical liver biopsy for known or suspected NAFLD underwent contemporaneous SWE and MRE. AUCs for classifying biopsy-determined liver fibrosis stages ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and = 4, and their respective performance parameters at cutoffs providing ≥ 90% sensitivity or specificity were compared between SWE and MRE.

Results

In total, 100 patients (mean age, 51.8 ± 12.9 years; 46% males; mean BMI 31.6 ± 4.7 kg/m2) with fibrosis stage distribution (stage 0/1/2/3/4) of 43, 36, 5, 10, and 6%, respectively, were included. AUCs (and 95% CIs) for SWE and MRE were 0.65 (0.54–0.76) and 0.81 (0.72–0.89), 0.81 (0.71–0.91) and 0.94 (0.89–1.00), 0.85 (0.74–0.96) and 0.95 (0.89–1.00), and 0.91 (0.79–1.00) and 0.92 (0.83–1.00), for detecting fibrosis stage ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and = 4, respectively. The differences were significant for detecting fibrosis stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 (p < 0.01) but not otherwise. At ≥ 90% sensitivity cutoff, MRE yielded higher specificity than SWE at diagnosing fibrosis stage ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3. At ≥ 90% specificity cutoff, MRE yielded higher sensitivity than SWE at diagnosing fibrosis stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2.

Conclusions

In adults with NAFLD, MRE was more accurate than SWE in diagnosing stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 fibrosis, but not stage ≥ 3 or 4 fibrosis.

Key Points

• For detecting any fibrosis or mild fibrosis, MR elastography was significantly more accurate than shear wave elastography.

• For detecting advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, MRE and SWE did not differ significantly in accuracy.

• For excluding advanced fibrosis and potentially ruling out the need for biopsy, SWE and MRE did not differ significantly in negative predictive value.

• Neither SWE nor MRE had sufficiently high positive predictive value to rule in advanced fibrosis.
Intradialytic cycling does not exacerbate microparticles or circulating markers of systemic inflammation in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Highton Patrick J. , March Daniel S. , Churchward Darren R. , Grantham Charlotte E. , Young Hannah M. L. , Graham-Brown Matthew P. M. , Estruel Seila , Martin Naomi , Brunskill Nigel J. , Smith Alice C. , Burton James O. , Bishop Nicolette C.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Patients receiving haemodialysis (HD) display elevated circulating microparticle (MP) concentration, tissue factor (TF) expression and markers of systemic inflammation, though regular intradialytic cycling (IDC) may have a therapeutic effect. This study investigated the impact of regular, moderate-intensity IDC on circulating MPs and inflammatory markers in unit-based HD patients.

Methods

Patients were cluster-randomised to intervention (n = 20, age: 51.4 ± 18.1 years, body mass: 77.6 ± 18.3 kg, mean ± SD) or no-exercise control (n = 20, 56.8 ± 14.0 years, 80.5 ± 26.5 kg). Intervention participants completed 30 min of moderate intensity (rating of perceived exertion [RPE] of 12–14) IDC, thrice weekly for 6 months. Pre-dialysis venous blood samples were obtained at 0, 3 and 6 months. Circulating MP phenotypes, cytokines, chemokine and MP TF expression were quantified using flow cytometry and cytometric bead array assays.

Results

Despite high exercise compliance (82%), no IDC-dependent effects were observed for any MP, cytokine or chemokine measure (p ≥ 0.051, ηρ2 ≤ 0.399) other than TNF-α (p = 0.001, ηρ2 = 0.186), though no significance was revealed upon post hoc analysis.

Conclusion

Six months of regular, moderate-intensity IDC had no effect on MPs, cytokines or chemokines. This suggests that the exercise did not exacerbate thrombotic or inflammatory status, though further functional assays are required to confirm this.

Trial registration

ISRCTN1129707, prospectively registered on 05/03/2015.
Applicability of contemporary quality indicators in vestibular surgery—do they accurately measure tumor inherent postoperative complications of vestibular schwannomas?
Authors: Schipmann Stephanie , Lohmann Sebastian , Al Barim Bilal , Suero Molina Eric , Schwake Michael , Toksöz Özer Altan , Stummer Walter
Published: December 2021

Background

Due to rising costs in health care delivery, reimbursement decisions have progressively been based on quality measures. Such quality indicators have been developed for neurosurgical procedures, collectively. We aimed to evaluate their applicability in patients that underwent surgery for vestibular schwannoma and to identify potential new disease-specific quality indicators.

Methods

One hundred and three patients operated due to vestibular schwannoma were subject to analysis. The primary outcomes of interest were 30-day and 90-day reoperation, readmission, mortality, nosocomial infection and surgical site infection (SSI) rates, postoperative cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak, facial, and hearing function. The secondary aim was the identification of prognostic factors for the mentioned primary outcomes.

Results

Thirty-day (90-days) outcomes in terms of reoperation were 10.7% (14.6%), readmission 9.7% (13.6%), mortality 1% (1%), nosocomial infection 5.8%, and SSI 1% (1%). A 30- versus 90-day outcome in terms of CSF leak were 6.8% vs. 10.7%, new facial nerve palsy 16.5% vs. 6.1%. Hearing impairment from serviceable to non-serviceable hearing was 6.8% at both 30- and 90-day outcome. The degree of tumor extension has a significant impact on reoperation (p < 0.001), infection (p = 0.015), postoperative hemorrhage (p < 0.001), and postoperative hearing loss (p = 0.026).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate the importance of entity-specific quality measurements being applied even after 30 days. We identified the occurrence of a CSF leak within 90 days postoperatively, new persistent facial nerve palsy still present 90 days postoperatively, and persisting postoperative hearing impairment to non-serviceable hearing as potential new quality measurement variables for patients undergoing surgery for vestibular schwannoma.
Adolescent depression beyond DSM definition: a network analysis
Authors: Manfro Pedro H. , Pereira Rivka B. , Rosa Martha , Cogo-Moreira Hugo , Fisher Helen L. , Kohrt Brandon A. , Mondelli Valeria , Kieling Christian
Published: December 2021

Calls for refining the understanding of depression beyond diagnostic criteria have been growing in recent years. We examined the prevalence and relevance of DSM and non-DSM depressive symptoms in two Brazilian school-based adolescent samples with two commonly used scales, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A) and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). We analyzed cross-sectional data from two similarly recruited samples of adolescents aged 14–16 years, as part of the Identifying Depression Early in Adolescence (IDEA) study in Brazil. We assessed dimensional depressive symptomatology using the PHQ-A in the first sample (n = 7720) and the MFQ in the second sample (n = 1070). We conducted network analyses to study symptom structure and centrality estimates of the two scales. Additionally, we compared centrality of items included (e.g., low mood, anhedonia) and not included in the DSM (e.g., low self-esteem, loneliness) in the MFQ. Sad mood and worthlessness items were the most central items in the network structure of the PHQ-A. In the MFQ sample, self-hatred and loneliness, two non-DSM features, were the most central items and DSM and non-DSM items in this scale formed a highly interconnected network of symptoms. Furthermore, analysis of the MFQ sample revealed DSM items not to be more frequent, severe or interconnected than non-DSM items, but rather part of a larger network of symptoms. A focus on symptoms might advance research on adolescent depression by enhancing our understanding of the disorder.
Notfallmedizinische Aspekte bei Laufveranstaltungen
Authors: Finke Simon-Richard , Jänig Christoph , Deschler Andreas , Hanske Jan , Herff Holger , Hinkelbein Jochen , Böttiger Bernd W. , Schmidbauer W. , Schroeder Daniel C.
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund

Die Anzahl an kurz- und langstreckigen Laufveranstaltungen in Deutschland nimmt zu. Laufen als Breitensport wird von einer Vielzahl an Personen unterschiedlicher Altersklassen, Risikogruppen und Professionalisierungsgrade betrieben, woraus ein breites Spektrum medizinischer Notfälle resultiert.

Ziel der Arbeit

Der vorliegende Beitrag erläutert die Inzidenz, Pathophysiologie und Therapie relevanter Notfallbilder bei Laufveranstaltungen. Ziel ist die Optimierung der Arbeitsabläufe des Rettungsdienstpersonals.

Material und Methoden

Es erfolgte eine Literaturrecherche in PubMed.

Ergebnisse

Anstrengungsassoziierte Muskelkrämpfe, gastrointestinale Symptome, Kollaps, Kompartmentsyndrom und Tendinopathien sind häufige Erscheinungsbilder und resultieren meist aus akuter oder chronischer Überanstrengung. Der Kreislaufstillstand bzw. plötzliche Herztod ist ein seltenes Ereignis bei Laufveranstaltungen. Bewusstseinsstörungen und generalisierte Krampfanfälle sind schwerwiegende Komplikationen. Disseminierte intravasale Koagulopathie, belastungsinduzierte Hyponatriämie, Hitzschlag, Rhabdomyolyse und thromboembolische Ereignisse sind mit hoher Morbidität und Mortalität verbunden. Substanzen zur Erhöhung der Schmerzschwelle und leistungssteigernde Substanzen sind unter Läufern stark verbreitet und gehen mit einer hohen Rate an Nebenwirkungen einher.

Diskussion

Unspezifische Symptome wie Erbrechen, Fieber, Kollaps, Muskelschmerzen, Übelkeit, und Schwäche sind die führenden Symptome bei Laufveranstaltungen. Eine sorgfältige Anamnese ist wegweisend für eine zielgerichtete klinische Therapie. Präklinisch steht eine Symptomkontrolle im Mittelpunkt. Das Flüssigkeitsmanagement stellt eine besondere Herausforderung dar.
The influence of endophytes on rice fitness under environmental stresses
Authors: Ganie Showkat Ahmad , Bhat Javaid Akhter , Devoto Alessandra
Published: December 2021

Key Message

Endophytes are crucial for the promotion of rice growth and stress tolerance and can be used to increase rice crop yield. Endophytes can thus be exploited in biotechnology and genetic engineering as eco-friendly and cost-effective means for the development of high-yielding and stress-tolerant rice plants.

Rice (Oryza sativa) crop is continuously subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses, compromising growth and consequently yield. The situation is exacerbated by climate change impacting on ecosystems and biodiversity. Genetic engineering has been used to develop stress-tolerant rice, alongside physical and chemical methods to mitigate the effect of these stresses. However, the success of these strategies has been hindered by short-lived field success and public concern on adverse effects associated. The limited success in the field of stress-tolerant cultivars developed through breeding or transgenic approaches is due to the complex nature of stress tolerance as well as to the resistance breakdown caused by accelerated evolution of pathogens. It is therefore necessary to develop novel and acceptable strategies to enhance rice stress tolerance and durable resistance and consequently improve yield. In the last decade, plant growth promoting (PGP) microbes, especially endophytes, have drawn the attention of agricultural scientists worldwide, due to their ability to mitigate environmental stresses in crops, without causing adverse effects. Increasing evidence indicates that endophytes effectively confer fitness benefits also to rice under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Endophyte-produced metabolites can control the expression of stress-responsive genes and improve the physiological performance and growth of rice plants. This review highlights the current evidence available for PGP microbe-promoted tolerance of rice to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought and to biotic ones, with special emphasis on endophytes. Associated molecular mechanisms are illustrated, and prospects for sustainable rice production also in the light of the impending climate change, discussed.
A Response-Time-Based Latent Response Mixture Model for Identifying and Modeling Careless and Insufficient Effort Responding in Survey Data
Authors: Ulitzsch Esther , Pohl Steffi , Khorramdel Lale , Kroehne Ulf , von Davier Matthias
Published: December 2021

Careless and insufficient effort responding (C/IER) can pose a major threat to data quality and, as such, to validity of inferences drawn from questionnaire data. A rich body of methods aiming at its detection has been developed. Most of these methods can detect only specific types of C/IER patterns. However, typically different types of C/IER patterns occur within one data set and need to be accounted for. We present a model-based approach for detecting manifold manifestations of C/IER at once. This is achieved by leveraging response time (RT) information available from computer-administered questionnaires and integrating theoretical considerations on C/IER with recent psychometric modeling approaches. The approach a) takes the specifics of attentive response behavior on questionnaires into account by incorporating the distance–difficulty hypothesis, b) allows for attentiveness to vary on the screen-by-respondent level, c) allows for respondents with different trait and speed levels to differ in their attentiveness, and d) at once deals with various response patterns arising from C/IER. The approach makes use of item-level RTs. An adapted version for aggregated RTs is presented that supports screening for C/IER behavior on the respondent level. Parameter recovery is investigated in a simulation study. The approach is illustrated in an empirical example, comparing different RT measures and contrasting the proposed model-based procedure against indicator-based multiple-hurdle approaches.
The migration law of magnesium ions during freezing and melting processes
Authors: Yan Zhang , Tongshuai Liu , Yuanqing Tang , Wanli Zhao , Fangyun Ren , Tongguo Zhao , Yucan Liu
Published: December 2021

To explore the migration law of magnesium ions (Mg2+) during freezing and melting processes, laboratory simulation experiments involving freezing and melting were carried out to investigate the influence of ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH on the distribution of Mg2+ in the ice-water system. The distribution coefficient “K” (the ratio of the Mg2+ concentration in the ice layer to the Mg2+ concentration in the water layer under ice) was used to characterize the migration ability of Mg2+. The results showed that during the freezing process, the concentration distribution of Mg2+ in the ice and water two-phase system was as follows: ice layer < water before freezing < water layer under ice; in other words, it migrated from ice layer to the water layer under ice. “K” decreased with increasing ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH; the higher the ice thickness, freezing temperature, initial concentration, and initial pH were, the higher the migration efficiency of Mg2+ into the water layer under ice was. During the melting process, Mg2+ was released in large amounts (50–60%) at the initial stage (0–25%) and in small amounts (25–100%) uniformly in the middle and later periods. According to the change of Mg2+ concentration in ice melt water, an exponential model was established to predict Mg2+ concentration in ice melt period. The migration law of Mg2+during the freezing and melting process was explained by using first principles.
Problematic Social Network Use: Structure and Assessment
Authors: González-Nuevo Covadonga , Cuesta Marcelino , Postigo Álvaro , Menéndez-Aller Álvaro , Muñiz José
Published: December 2021

Using social networks (SNs) inappropriately can lead to psychological problems. The objective of this study was to develop a new measuring instrument of problematic use of SNs. The sample comprised 1003 participants over 18 years old (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32). Exploratory factor analysis was performed with a randomly selected 30% of the sample, and confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 70%. The reliability of the instrument was estimated, and evidence of validity in relation to the variables—anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life—was obtained. The new scale demonstrated a two-dimensional structure (GFI =0.99; RMSEA= 0.06), with one factor of negative social comparison (α = 0.94) and another of addictive consequences (α = 0.91). Clear evidence of validity related to other variables was found. The new scale demonstrated good psychometric properties. The advantage of this questionnaire is that it assesses not only excessive use but also social comparison through SNs.
The Potential of Al2O3–ZrO2-Based Composites, Formed via CSC Method, in Linear Infrastructure Applications Based on Their Mechanical, Thermal and Environmental performance
Authors: Zygmuntowicz Justyna , Piotrkiewicz Paulina , Gizowska Magda , Tomaszewska Justyna , Suchecki Przemysław , Wachowski Marcin , Torzewski Janusz , Żurowski Radosław
Published: December 2021

Ceramic-ceramic composites have been prepared using the centrifugal slip casting method (CSC). The method has so far been mainly utilized in making ceramic-metal composites. Al2O3–ZrO2 composites have been obtained with different shares of ZrO2, i.e., 15, 50 and 75 vol pct, respectively. Prior to sintering the composite samples, the rheological properties of the casting slips were investigated and thermogravimetric tests were performed. Upon sintering, all three series of the ceramic composites showed a density close to 100 pct and no microcracks or delamination. Phase, microstructural and mechanical investigations were carried out to determine what effect the share of ceramics has on the composites produced. An increase in the share of ZrO2 in the Al2O3–ZrO2 composite leads to a reduction in the growth of Al2O3 grains and a decrease in the average hardness. Cross-sectional hardness testing of the composites showed no evident gradient in any of the samples. Life cycle analysis (LCA) results indicate that the further optimization of the composite formation process, including up-scaling, allows to obtain Al2O3–ZrO2-based pipes possessing more favorable environmental characteristics compared with materials conventionally used for linear infrastructure, which is important in light of the global transformation toward sustainable construction and the circular economy.

Graphical abstract
Response—Corruption, Trust, and Professional Regulation
Authors: Montgomery Kathleen
Published: December 2021

In their 2018 article in the Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, Little, Lipworth, and Kerridge unpack the concept of corruption and clarify the mechanisms that foster corruption and allow it to persist, noting that organizations are “corruptogenic.” To address the “so-what” question, I draw on research about trust and trustworthiness, emphasizing that a person’s well-being and sense of security require trust to be present at both the individual and organizational levels—which is not possible in an environment where corruption and misconduct prevail. I highlight similarities in Little et al.’s framing of corruption to the persistent problem of scientific misconduct in research and publishing. I acknowledge the challenges in stemming corruption in science and medicine and conclude with a discussion about the need to reinvigorate a web of stakeholders to actively engage in professional regulation.
The relationship of blood CDC42 level with Th1 cells, Th17 cells, inflammation markers, disease risk/activity, and treatment efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Li Yongji , Yang Wendi , Wang Feng
Published: December 2021

Background

Cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is reported to be involved in multiple inflammation processes by regulating T cell differentiation, maintaining immune cell homeostasis, and altering their function, while no relevant studies explored its clinical role in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation of CDC42 with Th1 and Th17 cells and its association with disease risk, activity, and treatment outcomes of RA.

Methods

After the enrollment of 95 active RA patients and 50 healthy subjects (HC), their CDC42, Th1 cells, and Th17 cells were assayed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry, accordingly. For RA patients only, CDC42 was also detected at W6, and W12 after treatment. The treatment response and remission status were evaluated at W12.

Results

Compared to HC, CDC42 was reduced (P < 0.001), while Th1 cells (P = 0.021) and Th17 cells (P < 0.001) were increased in RA patients. Besides, CDC42 was negatively correlated with Th17 cells (P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.012), C-reactive protein (P = 0.002), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) (P = 0.007), but did not relate to Th1 cells or other disease features (all P > 0.05) in RA patients. Furthermore, CDC42 was elevated during treatment in RA patients (P < 0.001). Moreover, CDC42 increment at W12 correlated with treatment response (P = 0.004). Besides, CDC42 elevation at W0 (P = 0.038), W6 (P = 0.001), and W12 (P < 0.001) also linked with treatment remission.

Conclusion

CDC42 has the potential to serve as a biomarker to monitor disease activity and treatment efficacy in patients with RA.
Institutional change of compensation policy and its impact on CEO turnover and firm performance
Authors: Yin Chenli , Li Dan , Salmador Maria Paz
Published: December 2021

The existing corporate governance literature has mostly focused on micro-level studies of executive compensation, with limited attention paid to influential macro-level factors such as institutions and institutional changes and their impacts on corporate governance and performance. The implementation of the new compensation policy that restricts CEO compensation ceiling in state-owned firms in China offers an ideal context for us to study how institutional changes and firms’ adoption of these changes can influence CEO turnover and firm performance. Our empirical analyses reveal that the positive impact of new compensation policy adoption on CEO turnover is stronger for CEOs with originally higher compensation. The impact of new compensation policy adoption on firm performance, however, is negative, and the negative impact is contingent upon a firm’s market share and tech intensity. Our research contributes to the literature on corporate governance by theorizing and empirically demonstrating the critical role that institutions play in corporate governance.
Mindful schools: Neuropsychological performance after the implementation of a mindfulness-based structured program in the school setting
Authors: Folch Annabel , Gasol Laia , Heredia Luis , Vicens Paloma , Torrente Margarita
Published: December 2021

Mindfulness has attracted considerable attention in educational settings as it can have positive effects on children. However, the role of mindfulness practice in schools has yet to be understood. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of mindfulness on neuropsychological performance and psychological well-being of primary school children. It also aims to explore the teacher’s mindfulness training effect on the intervention. The present study recruited 100 children (64% girls and 36% boys) aged 9–11 from a primary school in Tarragona (Spain). The research was conducted between 2016–2018 with three experimental groups: a mindfulness intervention group with a trained mindfulness teacher, a mindfulness intervention group with a non-trained mindfulness teacher, and a control group. All groups were evaluated before and after a 13-weeks intervention, consisting of 5–10 min mindfulness daily sessions before class. After the intervention, the two groups of children receiving mindfulness sessions performed better than controls in several neuropsychological tasks involving executive functions, such as short-term and working memory, learning, mental flexibility, visuospatial abilities and processing speed. No significant differences were found in the assessment of daily stress or emotional and behavioural problems. The findings of the present study can contribute to a better understanding of the role of mindfulness practice in primary children regarding neuropsychological performance, highlighting the importance of the teacher’s mindfulness training in the teaching/learning process.
Global validation of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS)
Authors: Lieven Theo
Published: December 2021

The five-item Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was found to be a useful and valid mental health screener. Participants in the respective surveys were mostly from single countries such as the US, Turkey, Mexico, or Brazil. However, a cross-cultural re-examination is lacking. This study fills this gap. In several multigroup confirmatory factor analyses with 25 countries from five continents as groups, sex and age as groups, and different stages of concern with COVID-19 infection, CAS was found to be invariant across all groups; this indicates that CAS is appropriate for meaningfully comparing the results across different groups. On a global basis, Coronavirus anxiety did not differ between female and male participants. Regarding age, however, younger individuals suffered more from anxiety of the pandemic. Individualistic cultures and those with low power distance such as in the Western hemisphere had higher COVID-19 anxiety. CAS values were also higher for those individuals who had been infected by COVID-19, those whose relatives had been infected, and those who experienced COVID-19-related death in the family. Overall, CAS is a parsimonious, valid, and reliable mental health screener on a global basis.
A Comparative Time-Diary Analysis of UK and US Children’s Screen Time and Device Use
Authors: Mullan Killian , Hofferth Sandra L.
Published: December 2021

This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the time school-age children 8-17 years in the UK and the US spent using devices such as smartphones and tablets, and their time in screen-based activities such as watching TV and playing videogames in 2014-15. The paper draws on innovative instruments measuring children’s time using technology and engaging with screens in these two countries. We find that in both, children’s time using devices overlaps with time in screen-based activities, non-screen leisure, and non-leisure activities. Children in the UK spend more time using devices than children in the US, but family size and the availability of an internet connection at home largely explain major cross-national differences. Children in the US spend less time using computers than children in the UK, and, on non-school days, more time watching TV and playing videogames. These differences remain significant after controlling for a range of child, parent and family-level characteristics. Divergent cross-national patterns for children’s time using relatively new devices and their time in more established screen-based activities are linked to differences in family composition and to differential access.
The Challenges of Sump Syndrome: a Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Alnouri Hamed H. , Alyatama Khalifa
Published: December 2021

Sump syndrome is a rare complication of a side to side choledochoduodenostomy (CDD). After the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 1968 Kozarek (Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 13(10):620-622, 2017), choledochoduodenostomy and its complications are seldom seen. The diagnosis of sump syndrome is further befogged by the lack of characteristic clinical or laboratory findings, the inability of the patient to provide medical records of their CDD, and the fact that sump syndrome only presents decades after a CDD. In this article, we will present a case of a 39-year-old female patient who presented as a case of ascending cholangitis with an initially unknown past surgical history. A detailed medical history was thoroughly taken, and her previous medical reports were presented after which an ERCP was done with extraction of debris was preformed. In a time where choledochoduodenostomy is rarely being chosen as a choice of treatment and its complications are infrequently encountered, this case serves as a reminder that even in the ERCP era, complications of choledochoduodenostomy should still be well understood.
Relapse of tagraxofusp treated blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm with loss of CD123 expression
Authors: Gulati Rohit , Abu-Salah Asma , Salous Tareq , Nassiri Mehdi
Published: December 2021

Tagraxofusp, a CD123-based-targeted immunotherapy, was recently approved to treat blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) with excellent response. Also, a subset of BPDCN shows resistance to tagraxofusp. These resistant cases continue to express CD123, which forms the basis of the continued utility of tagraxofusp in newer combination chemotherapies to overcome resistance in BPDCN. Herein, we report a case of an elderly male with BPDCN that achieved complete remission on initial primary treatment with tagraxofusp. However, BPDCN relapsed after 1.5 years while on treatment, with loss of CD123 expression. At relapse, the neoplasm was comprehensively immunophenotyped by flow cytometry (performed on both peripheral blood and bone marrow specimen) and by immunohistochemical evaluation of the bone marrow clot section. The neoplasm at relapse was diagnostic of BPDCN with a lack of CD123 expression. This case highlights a potential limitation of current and upcoming tagraxofusp-based multidrug therapies, at least in a subset of refractory BPDCN. We believe our report will serve as a sentinel to incite future investigations involving alternate resistance mechanisms in BDPCN.
Iterative uncertainty reduction in multi-actor smart service innovation
Authors: Poeppelbuss Jens , Ebel Martin , Anke Jürgen
Published: December 2021

Smart service innovation is the process of reconfiguring resources, structures, and value co-creation processes in service systems that result in novel data-driven service offerings. The nature of such offerings requires the involvement of multiple actors, which has been investigated by a few studies only. In particular, little is known about the multiple actors’ efforts to manage uncertainty in the process of establishing smart service systems. Empirically grounded in data from 25 interviews with industry experts, we explore how organizations act and interact in smart service innovation processes. For our data analysis, we adopt a microfoundational view to derive a theoretical model that conceptualizes actor engagement as a microfoundation for iterative uncertainty reduction in the actor-to-actor network of the smart service system. Our study contributes to information systems research on service systems engineering and digital transformation by explaining smart service innovation from both a multi-actor and a multi-level perspective, drawing on service-dominant (S-D) logic and microfoundations as well-established theoretical lenses.
Increased prevalence of eating disorders in Japan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kurisu Ken , Matsuoka Mikiko , Sato Kaoruko , Hattori Asako , Yamanaka Yukari , Nohara Nobuhiro , Otani Makoto , Yoshiuchi Kazuhiro
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of eating disorders in Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of new patients with eating disorders who visited an outpatient eating disorders clinic of a single university hospital in Tokyo, Japan, from April 2020 to March 2021 (FY2020) and April 2019 to March 2020 (FY2019). We determined whether the onset or course in each patient in FY2020 was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and classified COVID-19-associated medical histories into the following categories: (1) fatness phobia, (2) acceleration of dieting, (3) family relationships, (4) social factors, and (5) mood change. We performed the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to compare the cumulative distribution of disease onset by month in FY2020 and FY2019.

Results

We reviewed the records of 112 and 77 patients with eating disorders in FY2020 and FY2019, respectively. The onset or course of 35 patients (31.3%) in FY2020 was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We classified 14 patients to fatness phobia category, 11 to acceleration of dieting, 4 to family relationships, 2 to social factors, and 4 to mood change. No COVID-19-associated cases were associated with fear of contracting the disease. The cumulative distribution of disease onset differed significantly in FY2020 and FY2019 (D = 0.248; P = 0.007).

Conclusion

This chart review suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may increase the prevalence of eating disorders.

Level of evidence

III, cohort study.
Universality of Riemann solutions in porous media
Authors: Castañeda Pablo , Marchesin Dan , Furtado Frederico
Published: December 2021

Universality, a desirable feature in any system. For decades, elusive measurements of three-phase flows have yielded countless permeability models that describe them. However, the equations governing the solution of water and gas co-injection has a robust structure. This universal structure stands for Riemann problems in green oil reservoirs. In the past we established a large class of three phase flow models including convex Corey permeability, Stone I and Brooks–Corey models. These models share the property that characteristic speeds become equal at a state somewhere in the interior of the saturation triangle. Here we construct a three-phase flow model with unequal characteristic speeds in the interior of the saturation triangle, equality occurring only at a point of the boundary of the saturation triangle. Yet the solution for this model still displays the same universal structure, which favors the two possible embedded two-phase flows of water-oil or gas-oil. We focus on showing this structure under the minimum conditions that a permeability model must meet. This finding is a guide to seeking a purely three-phase flow solution maximizing oil recovery.
Hydroformylation
Authors: Zhang Baoxin , Peña Fuentes Dilver , Börner Armin
Published: December 2021

Hydroformylation is one of the most important homogeneously catalyzed reactions on an industrial scale. The manufacture of bulk chemicals clearly dominates. Large cobalt- and rhodium-based processes are mature technologies that have been developed over the past 80 years. Meanwhile, the potential of hydroformylation for the production of fine chemicals (perfumes, pharmaceuticals) has also been recognized. This review gives insight into the state-of-the-art of the reaction and its development. It commences with some remarks on the accidental discovery by the German chemist Otto Roelen within the historical and personal framework of the Fischer–Tropsch process, followed by the mechanistic basics of the catalytic cycle, metals used for the catalyst as well as their organic ligands. In addition, the stability of ligands and catalysts is addressed. The huge potential of this transformation is demonstrated using a variety of substrates. Finally, the use of some surrogates for syngas is discussed.
Distributed multi-robot sweep coverage for a region with unknown workload distribution
Authors: Cao Muqing , Cao Kun , Li Xiuxian , Yuan Shenghai , Lyu Yang , Nguyen Thien-Minh , Xie Lihua
Published: December 2021

This paper considers the scenario where multiple robots collaboratively cover a region in which the exact distribution of workload is unknown prior to the operation. The workload distribution is not uniform in the region, meaning that the time required to cover a unit area varies at different locations of the region. In our approach, we divide the target region into multiple horizontal stripes, and the robots sweep the current stripe while partitioning the next stripe concurrently. We propose a distributed workload partition algorithm and prove that the operation time on each stripe converges to the minimum under the discrete-time update law. We conduct comprehensive simulation studies and compare our method with the existing methods to verify the theoretical results and the advantage of the proposed method. Flight experiments on mini drones are also conducted to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed algorithm.
Intention and Wrongdoing
Authors: Stuchlik Joshua
Published: December 2021

According to the principle of double effect, there is a strict moral constraint against bringing about serious harm to the innocent intentionally, but it is permissible in a wider range of circumstances to act in a way that brings about harm as a foreseen but non-intended side effect. This idea plays an important role in just war theory and international law, and in the twentieth century Elizabeth Anscombe and Philippa Foot invoked it as a way of resisting consequentialism. However, many moral philosophers now regard the principle with hostility or suspicion. Challenging the philosophical orthodoxy, Joshua Stuchlik defends the principle of double effect, situating it within a moral framework of human solidarity and responding to philosophical objections to it. His study uncovers links between ethics, philosophy of action, and moral psychology, and will be of interest to anyone seeking to understand the moral relevance of intention.
Non-differentiable irrational curves for twist map
Authors: AVILA ARTUR , FAYAD BASSAM
Published: December 2021

We construct a
$C^1$
symplectic twist map g of the annulus that has an essential invariant curve
$\Gamma $
such that
$\Gamma $
is not differentiable and g restricted to
$\Gamma $
is minimal.
Computational and experimental study of an oil jet in crossflow: coupling population balance model with multifluid large eddy simulation
Authors: Daskiran Cosan , Cui Fangda , Boufadel Michel C. , Liu Ruixue , Zhao Lin , Özgökmen Tamay , Socolofsky Scott , Lee Kenneth
Published: December 2021

Understanding the size of oil droplets released from a jet in crossflow is crucial for estimating the trajectory of hydrocarbons and the rates of oil biodegradation/dissolution in the water column. We present experimental results of an oil jet with a jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio of 9.3. The oil was released from a vertical pipe 25 mm in diameter with a Reynolds number of 25 000. We measured the size of oil droplets near the top and bottom boundaries of the plume using shadowgraph cameras and we also filmed the whole plume. In parallel, we developed a multifluid large eddy simulation model to simulate the plume and coupled it with our VDROP population balance model to compute the local droplet size. We accounted for the slip velocity of oil droplets in the momentum equation and in the volume fraction equation of oil through the local, mass-weighted average droplet rise velocity. The top and bottom boundaries of the plume were captured well in the simulation. Larger droplets shaped the upper boundary of the plume, and the mean droplet size increased with elevation across the plume, most likely due to the individual rise velocity of droplets. At the same elevation across the plume, the droplet size was smaller at the centre axis as compared with the side boundaries of the plume due to the formation of the counter-rotating vortex pair, which induced upward velocity at the centre axis and downward velocity near the sides of the plume.