bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What the Car Industry Can Do: Volvo Cars
Authors: Eugensson Anders , Ivarsson Jan
Published: November 2022

Motor vehicle manufacturers have a central and a very important role in reaching the target of zero fatalities and serious injuries in road traffic. Although the continuous development of safer products has made a significant contribution in reducing the number of casualties, the responsibility still remains profoundly with motor vehicle manufacturers in continuing the process of protecting car occupants and not harming other road users. However, the possible contributions do not end here. Sharing research data based on real-life traffic crashes and incident experiences, cooperating with other traffic safety stakeholders, and sharing real-time data on traffic information with authorities and other road users also have a role to play in reducing the number of road casualties. In addition to this, motor vehicle manufacturers will be able to contribute by assuming the corporate social responsibility in using safe transportation linked to producing vehicles, parts, and services and sharing the latest level of technology advancement with customers in countries without government mandates on safety.

It is important to stress that all these efforts need to have a global perspective. For the vehicle manufacturers, this implies that all the technical developments in motor vehicle safety, collaborating with governments and sharing knowledge on safety, must be performed and available also in parts of the world with a vehicle fleet of traditionally lower advancement levels.

In line with the efforts of reaching zero fatalities, Volvo Cars has defined its own Safety Vision. This states that no one is to be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo vehicle.

The aim here is to share the view of Volvo Cars on the possible contributions and actions of motor vehicle manufacturers in the collaborative efforts of reaching towards zero fatalities and serious injuries within the road transportation sector.
Arguments Against Vision Zero: A Literature Review
Authors: Abebe Henok Girma , Hansson Sven Ove , Edvardsson Björnberg Karin
Published: November 2022

Despite Vision Zero’s moral appeal and its expansion throughout the world, it has been criticized on different grounds. This chapter is based on an extensive literature search for criticism of Vision Zero, using the bibliographic databases Philosopher’s Index, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Phil Papers, and by following the references in the collected documents. Even if the primary emphasis was on Vision Zero in road traffic, our search also included documents criticizing Vision Zero policies in other safety areas, such as public health, the construction and mining industries, and workplaces in general. Based on the findings, we identify and systematically characterize and classify the major arguments that have been put forward against Vision Zero. The most important arguments against Vision Zero can be divided into three major categories: moral arguments, arguments concerning the (goal-setting) rationality of Vision Zero, and arguments aimed at the practical implementation of the goals. We also assess the arguments. Of the 13 identified main arguments, 6 were found to be useful for a constructive discussion on safety improvements.
Rural Road Design According to the Safe System Approach
Authors: Stigson Helena , Kullgren Anders , Andersson Lars-Erik
Published: November 2022

This chapter covers design of rural roads according to the model for safe traffic used in the Vision Zero approach. Based on expected levels of the safety of vehicles and road users, the roads and the road side furniture should be designed to avoid fatalities and serious injuries. An introduction is presented covering the safe system approach and how speed limits of roads should be set to reflect the safety standard of the road in relation human injury tolerance and the capacity to protect the road users. One section will cover countermeasures to protect vulnerable road users, including speed calming road infrastructure, bicycle and pedestrian paths, bus stops. Another section will cover road infrastructure countermeasures addressing vehicle occupants. It is shown how change of velocity, vehicle mean acceleration, and crash duration are correlated and how they influence occupant injury risk. Design of different types of roads on rural roads is described, such as the two-plus-one lane road design with median barrier, and various ways of separating traffic or preventing run-off road crashes including road barrier design and rumble strips. Safe intersection design is an important part on rural roads that is explained. The last part covers design of the roadside area from a safe system approach.
Zero-Waste: A New Sustainability Paradigm for Addressing the Global Waste Problem
Authors: Zaman Atiq
Published: November 2022

There is a growing interest in addressing global waste problems by applying innovative ideas and philosophies such as zero-waste and circular economy. As a new sustainability paradigm, zero-waste challenges the common assumption of waste as a valueless and unavoidable by-product created at the end of the product’s life phase. Instead, it acknowledges that waste is a “misallocated resource” or “resource in transition”; produced during the intermediate phases of production and consumption activities. Waste should be recirculated to production and consumption processes. Therefore, zero waste means no “waste” would be wasted under the circular economy system. This chapter presents various examples of zero-waste practices derived from family, community, business, and city levels. In addition, zero-waste implementation strategies and actions are also discussed in the chapter. Despite its potential, the visionary zero-waste goals cannot be achieved without responsible global stewardship and active citizens’ role.
Miscommunications Based on Different Meanings of “Safe” and Their Implications for the Meaning of Safe System
Authors: Sakashita Chika , Job R. F. Soames , Belin Matts-Åke
Published: November 2022

While many countries are apparently adopting “Safe System” for road safety, the failure to deliver the vision of zero deaths and serious injuries continues in part due to the lack of a rigorous and agreed definition of “safe” in road safety. Multiple authoritative definitions of the adjective “safe” exist which may be categorized as probabilistic and absolute. While apparently similar, these definitions are in a fundamental sense inconsistent with each other. The probabilistic definition involves degrees of safety, through probabilities that harm is not likely or unlikely, or that there is little risk. The absolute definition presents safety as free from harm or not involving any risk or protected from danger. Road safety is currently communicated as though there is an agreed meaning of safe, but the vital conversation around what is meant by safe is not undertaken because the difference in usage of the term safe is not appreciated. For example, in road design and engineering, road design standards are generally developed to achieve this probabilistic definition of safety and not absolute safety: the road can be described as safe because it by itself (with perfect use) will not cause a crash, even though people still die on it. Based on the absolute definition of safe, such roads are not safe as unambiguously demonstrated by people dying on them. Calls for roads to be made safe employing the absolute definition are often met with the response that they are already safe (in the probabilistic sense), having been built to “accepted” design guidelines. The acceptance of the probabilistic definition of safe for Safe System hinders progress toward its fundamental aims of zero deaths and serious injuries. In order to achieve zero deaths and serious injuries, uniform understanding and acceptance of “safe” adopting the absolute definition is needed.
Vision Zero: How It All Started
Authors: Tingvall Claes
Published: November 2022

This is a presentation of how I remember the first steps of Vision Zero, the Swedish reorientation of traffic safety policy that took place from the mid-1990s and onwards. It is not an objective text that would be impossible to write as one of the initiators of the policy change. But it brings up some of the steps of the process and presents some hypotheses on how policy change might happen.

It is claimed that there was no planned process, not even an ideology or well-developed idea, behind VZ from the very beginning. But there were opportunities and events where one thing led to another. The most fundamental being the immediate acceptance from the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure back in January 1995.

The most prominent ideas behind VZ are that firstly safety is a matter of how the providers of the road transport system design and build and manage the system. The second idea is that a professional provider cannot trade off the citizens’ life and health for benefits to the society and its citizens. The underlying hypothesis is that tradition and road traffic rules for the road users have been used as an excuse for not undertaking necessary system changes and modifications. The users have always been blamed for crashes and its consequences by the legal system as well as general approach from the society.

The last part of the paper reflects on what is necessary to do in the future to eradicate amateurism, populism, and trade-offs from the road traffic safety field. Maybe a “duty of care” legislation needs to be introduced, protecting the citizen from poor design and operations.
The Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) does not predict amputation in popliteal artery injury
Authors: Gratl Alexandra , Kluckner Michaela , Gruber Leonhard , Klocker Josef , Wipper Sabine , Enzmann Florian Karl
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Vascular injuries in lower extremity trauma, especially with involvement of the popliteal artery, are associated with considerably high rates of limb loss, especially with blunt trauma mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of amputation in patients with traumatic popliteal artery lesions with special focus on the validity of the Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS).

Methods

In this retrospective study, all patients treated for isolated lesions of the popliteal artery following trauma between January 1990 and December 2020 at a high-volume level I trauma center were included. Primary outcome was limb salvage dependent on MESS and the influence of defined parameters on limb salvage was defined as secondary outcome. The extent of trauma was assessed by the MESS.

Results

A total of 50 patients (age 39.2 ± 18.6 years, 76% male) with most blunt injuries (n = 47, 94%) were included. None of the patients died within 30 days and revascularization was attempted in all patients with no primary amputation and the overall limb salvage rate was 88% (44 patients). A MESS ≥ 7 was observed in 28 patients (56%) with significantly higher rates of performed fasciotomies (92.9% vs. 59.1%; p < 0.01) in those patients. MESS did not predict delayed amputation within our patient cohort (MESS 8.4 ± 4.1 in the amputation group vs. 8.1 ± 3.8 in the limb salvage group; p = 0.765).

Conclusion

Revascularization of limbs with isolated popliteal artery injuries should always be attempted. MESS did not predict delayed amputation in our cohort with fasciotomy being an important measure to increase limb salvage rates.
Different effects of NK cells and NK-derived soluble factors on cell lines derived from primary or metastatic pancreatic cancers
Authors: Fiore Piera Filomena , Di Pace Anna Laura , Conti Libenzio Adrian , Tumino Nicola , Besi Francesca , Scaglione Silvia , Munari Enrico , Moretta Lorenzo , Vacca Paola
Published: November 2022

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphoid cells that play a key role in defenses against tumors. However, their function may be severely impaired in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). Indeed, PA cells release soluble factors, thereby generating an immunosuppressive environment that dysregulates NK-cell cytolytic function and favors tumor immune evasion. Here, we analyzed the interactions between NK and PA cells using the PANC-1 and CAPAN-1 cell lines derived from a ductal PA and metastatic lesion, respectively. Metastatic and nonmetastatic cell lines were both able to impair NK cytolytic activity. An analysis of the effect of NK cells and NK-cell-derived exosomes revealed substantial differences between the two cell lines. Thus, NK cells displayed higher cytotoxicity against nonmetastatic PA cells than metastatic PA cells in both 2D cultures and in a 3D extracellular matrix cell system. In addition, NK-derived exosomes could penetrate only PANC-1 spheroids and induce cell killing. Remarkably, when PANC-1 cells were exposed to NK-derived soluble factors, they displayed substantial changes in the expression of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and acquired resistance to NK-mediated cytolysis. These results, together with their correlation with poor clinical outcomes in PA patients, suggest that the induction of resistance to cytolysis upon exposure to NK-derived soluble factors could reflect the occurrence of EMT in tumor cells. Our data indicate that a deeper investigation of the interaction between NK cells and tumor cells may be crucial for immunotherapy, possibly improving the outcome of PA treatment by targeting critical steps of NK-tumor cell crosstalk.
Horizontal transfer of tRNA genes to mitochondrial plasmids facilitates gene loss from fungal mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Mathijs , Groeneveld Jeroen , Aanen Duur K.
Published: November 2022

Fungal and plant mitochondria are known to exchange DNA with retroviral plasmids. Transfer of plasmid DNA to the organellar genome is best known and occurs through wholesale insertion of the plasmid. Less well known is the transfer of organellar DNA to plasmids, in particular tRNA genes. Presently, it is unknown whether fungal plasmids can adopt mitochondrial functions such as tRNA production through horizontal gene transfer. In this paper, we studied the exchange of DNA between fungal linear plasmids and fungal mtDNA, mainly focusing on the basidiomycete family Lyophyllaceae. We report at least six independent transfers of complete tRNA genes to fungal plasmids. Furthermore, we discovered two independent cases of loss of a tRNA gene from a fungal mitochondrial genome following transfer of such a gene to a linear mitochondrial plasmid. We propose that loss of a tRNA gene from mtDNA following its transfer to a plasmid creates a mutualistic dependency of the host mtDNA on the plasmid. We also find that tRNA genes transferred to plasmids encode codons that occur at the lowest frequency in the host mitochondrial genomes, possibly due to a higher number of unused transcripts. We discuss the potential consequences of mtDNA transfer to plasmids for both the host mtDNA and the plasmid.
Preparation and characterization of a novel luminescence nano-sillenite (Bi12SiO20) glass ceramic within Bi2O3–ZnO–SiO2 system
Authors: Almasarawi Ola N. , Hamzawy Esmat M. A. , Margha Fatma H. , Souaya Eglal R. , Abdel-Hameed Salwa A. M.
Published: November 2022

Bismuth silicate with sillenite structure (Bi12SiO20) nanophase was prepared via melt–quenching technique in the Bi2O3–ZnO–SiO2 glass system. The effect of replacement ZnO by Bi2O3 was studied. Their thermal behavior showed the change of glass transition temperature (Tg) from 577 °C in the Bi2O3-free glass to 438 °C in ZnO-free glass. In addition, the crystallization temperatures were not only changed from two to one peak, but also decreased from 927 to 476 °C in the same order. According to the heat treatment regimes, willemite, sillenite, tetragonal Bi2O3, cubic Bi2O3 and traces of ZnO were crystallized with different ratios depending on the change in composition and temperature. Sillenite was enhanced with increase heat treatment temperature and/or Bi2O3 additions. Heat treatment at 650 °C/10 h revealed the best regime, where higher degree of crystallization was achieved. The microstructure at 700 ℃/30 min showed nano-scale oriented parallel rod crystals with hexagonal making at their end, whereas clusters of irregular nano-size crystals was appeared at 650 °C/10 h. Transmission spectra of the glasses in UV–Vis–midIR region were increased with Bi2O3 addition reaching 74% in 100B. Photoluminescence properties of both glasses and their corresponding glass–ceramics showed luminescence nature since the blue and green colors were clearly appeared. Calculation of optical bandgap (Eopt) revealed 3.2–2.19 eV with increasing Bi2O3; these values are located in the semiconducting range. The prepared samples can be utilized in electro-optical instruments, also the high transmission in mid-IR nominate it for IR transmitting windows.
Surgical education in the post-COVID era: an EAES DELPHI-study
Authors: Feenstra Tim M. , Tejedor Patricia , Popa Dorin E. , Francis Nader , Schijven Marlies P.
Published: November 2022

Backgrounds

To date, it is unclear what the educational response to the restrictions on minimally invasive surgery imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have been, and how MIS-surgeons see the post-pandemic future of surgical education. Using a modified Delphi-methodology, this study aims to assess the effects of COVID on MIS-training and to develop a consensus on the educational response to the pandemic.

Methods

A three-part Delphi study was performed among the membership of the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES). The first survey aimed to survey participants on the educational response in four educational components: training in the operating room (OR), wet lab and dry lab training, assessment and accreditation, and use of digital resources. The second and third survey aimed to formulate and achieve consensus on statements on, and resources in, response to the pandemic and in post-pandemic MIS surgery.

Results

Over 247 EAES members participated in the three rounds of this Delphi survey. MIS-training decreased by 35.6–55.6%, alternatives were introduced in 14.7–32.2% of respondents, and these alternatives compensated for 32.2–43.2% of missed training. OR-training and assessments were most often affected due to the cancellation of elective cases (80.7%, and 73.8% affected, respectively). Consensus was achieved on 13 statements. Although digital resources were deemed valuable alternatives for OR-training and skills assessments, face-to-face resources were preferred. Videos and hands-on training–wet labs, dry labs, and virtual reality (VR) simulation–were the best appreciated resources.

Conclusions

COVID-19 has severely affected surgical training opportunities for minimally invasive surgery. Face-to-face training remains the preferred training method, although digital and remote training resources are believed to be valuable additions to the training palette. Organizations such as the EAES are encouraged to support surgical educators in implementing these resources. Insights from this Delphi can guide (inter)national governing training bodies and hospitals in shaping surgical resident curricula in post pandemic times.
Interdisziplinäre Weiterbildung für Einsätze im urbanen Umfeld
Authors: Hofer Peter
Published: November 2022

Mit den Dynamiken in der Entwicklung urbaner Räume, der Rückkehr kriegerischer Auseinandersetzungen in Europa und einem hochvolatilen Umfeld nimmt auch die Bedeutung der Auseinandersetzung mit Einsätzen in einem urbanen Umfeld weiter zu. Die Bewältigung komplexer Herausforderungen erfordert vielfältige Fähigkeiten, die reibungslose Zusammenarbeit unterschiedlicher Organisationen, einen frühzeitigen Informationsaustausch, geeignete Verfahren zur Komplexitätsreduktion sowie die Fähigkeit zu rascher Datenintegration und Visualisierung. Die Vernetzung von Experten und die Entwicklung eines umfassenden Weiterbildungsangebotes für alle betroffenen Stakeholder sind dabei wirkungsvolle Beiträge zu gesamtstaatlicher Resilienz.
On the Stability of Surface Growth: The Effect of a Compliant Surrounding Medium
Authors: Abeyaratne Rohan , Puntel Eric , Tomassetti Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

In a recent paper Abeyaratne et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 167:104958, 2022) concerning the stability of surface growth of a pre-stressed elastic half-space with surface tension, it was shown that steady growth is never stable, at least not for all wave numbers of the perturbations, when the growing surface is traction-free. On the other hand, steady growth was found to be always stable when growth occurred on a flat frictionless rigid support and the stretch parallel to the growing surface was compressive. The present study is motivated by these somewhat unexpected and contrasting results.

In this paper the stability of a pre-compressed neo-Hookean elastic half-space undergoing surface growth under plane strain conditions is studied. The medium outside the growing body resists growth by applying a pressure on the growing surface. At each increment of growth, the incremental change in pressure is assumed to be proportional to the incremental change in normal displacement of the growing surface. It is shown that surface tension stabilizes a homogeneous growth process against small wavelength perturbations while the compliance of the surrounding medium stabilizes it against large wavelength perturbations. Specifically, there is a critical value of stretch,$\lambda _{\mathrm{cr}} \in (0,1)$λcr∈(0,1), such that growth is linearly stable against infinitesimal perturbations ofarbitrarywavelength provided the stretch parallel to the growing surface exceeds$\lambda _{\mathrm{cr}}$λcr. Thisstability threshold,$\lambda _{\mathrm{cr}}$λcr, is a function of the non-dimensional parameter$\sigma \kappa /G^{2}$σκ/G2, which is the ratio between two length-scales$\sigma /G$σ/Gand$G/\kappa $G/κ, where$G$Gis the shear modulus of the elastic body,$\sigma $σis the surface tension, and$\kappa $κis the stiffness of the surrounding compliant medium.

It is shown that$(a)$(a)$\lambda _{\mathrm{cr}} \to 1$λcr→1as$\kappa \to 0$κ→0and$(b)$(b)$\lambda _{\mathrm{cr}} \to 0^{+}$λcr→0+as$\kappa \to \infty $κ→∞, thus recovering the results in Abeyaratne et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 167:104958, 2022) pertaining to the respective limiting cases where growth occurs$(a)$(a)on a traction-free surface and$(b)$(b)on a frictionless rigid support. The results are also generalized to include extensional stretches.
Simultaneous Removal of Cationic Crystal Violet and Anionic Reactive Yellow Dyes using eco-friendly Chitosan Functionalized by Talc and Cloisite 30B
Authors: Kandil Heba , Ali Heba
Published: November 2022

Designing adsorbent materials that can effectively remove many types of organic dyes is crucial because of the wide diversity of synthetic dyes found in wastewater. Thus, this study presents the synthesis of economic and eco-friendly adsorbent composites composed of chitosan (Cs), talc (T), and Cloisite 30B clay (C) to remove both cationic crystal violet (CV) and anionic reactive yellow 145 (RY) dyes for the first time. Cs was functionalized with T and subsequently the CsTC1 and CsTC2 composites were prepared by sensitizing the obtained CsT with different weight ratios of Cloisite 30B (C). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2adsorption–desorption isotherm, and zeta potential analysis were employed to characterize the materials. The addition of T to Cs matrix improves the thermal stability, pore size, and pore volume with respect to pure Cs. The effect of C inclusion was examined by measuring the affinity of the prepared composites towards adsorption of cationic CV and anionic RY dyes in comparison to pure Cs and CsT composite. The adsorption results in a single dye solution revealed that the CsTC1 composite is the most effective adsorbent for removal of RY dye with 76.9 mg/g adsorption capacity, whereas the CsTC2 composite exhibited the highest adsorption activity for CV dye (37.03 mg/g). Furthermore, RY and CV co-adsorption on CsTC composites was tested from a mixed dye solution. The adsorption kinetics of RY and CV adsorption followed the pseudo second order model. Langmuir isotherm model described the experimental adsorption data better than the Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherm models, indicating a monolayer sorption process for both dyes. The proposed mechanism for RY and CV adsorption using CsTC composites was investigated.
Resumption in Igbo: Two types of resumptives, complex phi-mismatches, and dynamic deletion domains
Authors: Georgi Doreen , Amaechi Mary
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates the morphosyntax of resumption in Igbo (Benue-Congo). The first part addresses the syntax and argues that Igbo has two types of resumptive pronouns (RPs): (i) RPs that terminate base-generation Ā-dependencies, and (ii) RPs at the bottom of Ā-movement dependencies. While similar splits have been claimed to exist in a few other languages, established with a limited data set, Igbo provides pervasive evidence for the co-existence of both types within the same language: type-(ii) RPs occur inallĀ-movement dependencies, and there is comprehensive evidence from a variety of movement tests, including also cyclicity effects, parasitic gap licensing, and language-specific diagnostics. We pursue a spell-out approach to type-(ii) RPs à la Pesetsky (1998) and Landau (2006), and discuss potential reasons behind their restricted distribution: type-(ii) RPs only surface in PPs, DPs, and &Ps, which are thus not (absolute) islands in Igbo. The second part of the paper deals with the morphological side of resumption, viz., with phi- and (alleged) case mismatches between the RP and its antecedent. The phi-mismatch provides further evidence for two types of RPs in Igbo. Moreover, it is more complex than the mismatches reported so far in the literature since the loss of phi-information depends on the type of antecedent (pro/noun, coordination). This pattern poses a challenge for previous accounts of phi-mismatches with movement-derived RPs that are based on static deletion domains. We propose that the cross-linguistic variation in phi-mismatches can be captured in a partial copy deletion approach along the lines of van Urk (2018) if the amount of structure that is deleted is defined dynamically. This further supports the relevance of dynamic domains in morphosyntax, in particular in postsyntactic operations, as previously identified in other areas, e.g., in Moskal’s (2015b) work on contextual allomorphy. Finally, we show that the “case” mismatch is a consequence of the (supra)segmental nature of the relevant exponent and the relative timing of the operations involved.
Surgical resection versus biopsy in the treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chojak Rafał , Koźba-Gosztyła Marta , Polańska Karolina , Rojek Marta , Chojko Aleksandra , Bogacz Rafał , Skorupa Natalia , Więcław Jakub , Czapiga Bogdan
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Despite the improvement in treatment and prognosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) over the last decades, the 5-year survival rate is approximately 30%; thus, new therapeutic approaches are needed to improve patient survival. The study’s aim was to evaluate the role of surgical resection of PCNSL.

Methods

Primary outcomes were the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with PCNSL who underwent surgical resection versus biopsy alone. The meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) under a random-effects model for the time-to-event variables. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for binary, secondary outcome parameters.

Results

Seven studies (n = 1046) were included. We found that surgical resection was associated with significantly better OS (HR 0.63 [95% CI 0.51–0.77]) when compared with biopsy. PFS was also significantly improved (HR 0.64 [95% CI 0.49–0.85]) in patients who underwent resection compared with those who underwent biopsy. The heterogeneity for OS and PFS was low (I2 = 7% and 24%, respectively). We also found that patients who underwent biopsy more often had multiple (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.19–0.79]) or deep-seated (OR 0.20 [95% CI 0.12–0.34]) lesions compared with those who underwent surgical resection. There were no significant differences in chemotherapy or radiotherapy use or the occurrence of postoperative complications between the two groups.

Conclusion

In selected patients, surgical resection of PCNSL is associated with significantly better overall survival and progression-free survival compared with biopsy alone.
Perceived negative consequences of dyslexia: the influence of person and environmental factors
Authors: Bazen Loes , de Bree Elise H. , van den Boer Madelon , de Jong Peter F.
Published: November 2022

Perceived negative consequences of dyslexia entail the degree to which an individual perceives negative outcomes, such as low academic achievement or feelings of anxiety and depression, and attributes these experiences to the disorder. In the current study, we examined how perceived consequences of dyslexia are influenced by person and environmental factors. Perceived consequences were evaluated for the academic domain and the domain of mental health (depression, anxiety). Participants were 123 Dutch students with dyslexia. Cognitive person factors (literacy skills and verbal IQ), socio-emotional person factors (self-perceived literacy skills and coping ability), and environmental factors (literacy demands, support from the institution, reactions of teachers and peers) were included as predictors. Results indicated that perceived negative consequences were not related to cognitive person factors. In contrast, better self-perceived literacy skills were associated with less perceived negative consequences in all domains (academic, depression, anxiety) and coping contributed to depression consequences. With respect to environmental factors, negative reactions in the academic environment contributed to perceived negative consequences of depression and anxiety. As such, findings indicate that individuals with dyslexia perceive negative consequences in the academic, anxiety, and depression domains which cannot be fully accounted for by their objective reading and writing problems. These factors should feature more prominently in future studies on dyslexia and should be addressed in treatment of dyslexia as well.
Odor identification testing is inferior compared to neurocognitive testing in predicting conversion to Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Pusswald G. , Ocak S. , Stögmann E. , Lehrner J.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory, thinking, attention, and emotion or AD. Smelling problems are frequent symptoms of dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether it is possible to predict if someone with anosmia or hyposmia has a higher risk of getting dementia or even AD.

Methods

This study was a retrospective longitudinal study, and the data used were part of a larger research project, the Vienna Conversion to Dementia Study. The 173 participants were divided into four groups based on cognitive features such as healthy control (HC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (naMCI), and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Olfactory assessment and neurocognitive assessment were administered.

Results

We found that 30.5% of aMCI patients converted into AD after an average of about two years. The corresponding ROC analyses for olfactory testing showed that Sniffin’ Sticks revealed significant results regarding the conversion to AD, whereas the Assessment of Self-Reported Olfactory Functioning and olfaction-related quality of life (ASOF) inventory using the Subjective Olfactory Capability (SOC) subscale, the Smell-Related Problems (SRP) subscale, and the Olfaction-Related Quality of life (ORQ) did not. A logistic regression showed that among the olfactory test procedures, only the Sniffin’ Sticks enabled a relevant prognosis. Including neurocognitive measures in the model, only VSRT and the Trail Making Test-B. The other predictors did not contribute to the prediction of conversion to AD.

Conclusion

Unlike self-reporting of olfactory functioning, olfactory testing using standardized tests may have potential for predicting dementia, especially AD. However, olfactory tests have lower predictive power than neurocognitive tests such as verbal memory and divided attention tests.

Implications

Diagnostic tools for predicting dementia as accurately and early as possible are important. Olfactory assessment, compared to neurocognitive tests for verbal memory and divided attention, is inferior in predicting the prognosis of AD.
Nieuwe wegen naar arbocuratieve samenwerking: samen werken van praktijkondersteuners huis- en bedrijfsarts bij multiproblematiek
Authors: Vossen Emma , Schaafsma Frederieke G. , van der Gulden Joost W. J. , de Kock Cornelis A. , Schaap Rosanne , Anema Johannes R. , van Genabeek Joost A. G. M.
Published: November 2022

Samenvatting

Achtergrond:Momenteel is er nauwelijks sprake van arbocuratieve samenwerking tussen de eerstelijns- en bedrijfsgezondheidszorg. Waar eerdere initiatieven tot verbetering vooral gericht waren op de huis- en bedrijfsarts, onderzoeken we in deze bijdrage welke rol praktijkondersteuners van de huisarts (POH-ggz en POH-S) en van de bedrijfsarts (POB) voor zichzelf zien bij multiproblematiek. Tevens exploreren we welke belemmeringen er zijn voor arbocuratieve samenwerking door praktijkondersteuners bij multiproblematiek.

Methode:We hebben drie focusgroepgesprekken uitgevoerd met zeven POH’s-ggz, elf POH’s‑S en acht POB’s – 26 praktijkondersteuners in totaal.

Resultaten:De praktijkondersteuners in ons onderzoek komen tijdens hun werk in aanraking met multiproblematiek. POH’s en POB’s zien een rol voor zichzelf weggelegd bij het bespreken en het bieden van ondersteuning bij respectievelijk werk- en privégerelateerde klachten. Daarbij erkennen ze, waar nodig, het belang van arbocuratieve samenwerking om goede zorg te leveren. Op dit moment vindt er echter geen directe samenwerking plaats op het niveau van de praktijkondersteuner. Belemmeringen hiervoor blijken de formele regels rond taakdelegatie en rolopvatting van de POB, onbekendheid en vooroordelen bij vooral POH’s wat betreft de bedrijfsgezondheidszorg, en praktische barrières als de AVG-wetgeving en bereikbaarheid.

Conclusie:POH’s en POB’s staan open voor arbocuratieve samenwerking, mits een oplossing gevonden wordt voor deze fundamentele en praktische belemmeringen.
Missing rainfall data estimation—an approach to investigate different methods: case study of Baghdad
Authors: Abdullah Mukhalad , Al-Ansari Nadhir
Published: November 2022

The missing of the meteorological data in Iraq is common due to malfunction of measuring devices, security status, and human effects. The study tested 17 missing precipitation data estimation methods in Baghdad city as a case study, where, all the surrounding stations around Baghdad experienced the missing of data for various reasons, and some of the missing data are for a full year record. The methods examined in this study are based on different approaches, some of the methods are based upon the distances to the targeted station, others are upon regression factors, and there are also methods that combine several factors. There are also other types of missing data filling methods which depend on imputation and artificial intelligence. The investigation of the most accurate method to find the missing data will assist researchers and decision makers to fill the gap in their analysis in one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of drought and climate changes impacts. Results showed that Expectation Maximization (EM) method utilization has the best results with the least errors, and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) method was ranked the second best method. In general, all of the applied methods had resulted acceptable interpolations, and it was clear that the combined methods have low significance on the results in comparison with others. All of these findings are limited to the study area meteorological and spatial conditions.
Learning from Gobind Khorana: “The difficult we do today, the impossible tomorrow”
Authors: Subramaniam Sriram
Published: November 2022

Prof. Har Gobind Khorana was one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century. Drawing on his strong roots in organic chemistry, he had a remarkable ability to select and focus his intellect on successfully addressing some of the most important challenges in modern biology in a career spanning nearly 6 decades. His pioneering contributions in gene synthesis and protein structure–function studies, and more broadly in what he termed “chemical biology,” continue to have a major impact on modern biomedical science.
Antitumor Effect of Traditional Drugs for Neurological Disorders: Preliminary Studies in Neural Tumor Cell Lines
Authors: Doello Kevin , Mesas Cristina , Quiñonero Francisco , Rama Ana R. , Vélez Celia , Perazzoli Gloria , Ortiz Raúl
Published: November 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Despite new treatments developed including immunomodulation using vaccines and cell therapies, mortality remains high due to the resistance mechanisms presented by these tumor cells and the function of the blood–brain barrier that prevents the entry of most drugs. In this context of searching for new glioblastoma therapies, the study of the existing drugs to treat neurological disorder is gaining great relevance. The aim of this study was to determine, through a preliminary in vitro study on human glioblastoma (A172, LN229), anaplastic glioma (SF268) and neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cell lines, the possible antitumor activity of the active principles of several drugs (levomepromazine, haloperidol, lacosamide, valproic acid, levetiracetam, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod, biperiden and dextromethorphan) with the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and that are commonly used in neurological disorders. Results showed that levetiracetam, valproic acid, and haloperidol were able to induce a relevant synergistic antitumor effect when associated with the chemotherapy currently used in clinic (temozolomide). Regarding the mechanism of action, haloperidol, valproic acid and levomepromazine caused cell death by apoptosis, while biperiden and dextromethorphan induced autophagy. Fingolimod appeared to have anoikis-related cell death. Thus, the assayed drugs which are able to cross the blood–brain barrier could represent a possibility to improve the treatment of neural tumors, though future in vivo studies and clinical trials will be necessary to validate it.
Impact of pulping routes of rice straw on cellulose nanoarchitectonics and their behavior toward Indigo dye
Authors: Basta Altaf H. , Lotfy Vivian F.
Published: November 2022

This work deals with emphasizing the relation between particle dimension distribution of nanocellulose (PDD) particles with its efficiency as stabilizing/adsorbent agent of Indigo dye. In this respect, different pulping reagents were used in preparation of Rice straw pulps as precursors for nanocelluloses using acid hydrolysis and oxidizing agents [(KMnO4 and NH4)2S2O8] methods. The PDD was estimated by indirect method through processing the TEM images using the software ImageJ. The resulting nanocelluloses were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR) together with sulfate ester and carboxyl contents. The data showed the effective role of pulping reagent on PDD. The cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from NaOH-AQ pulp, with the longest crystal length (204.4 ± 107.8 nm) and the lowest diameter (6.7 ± 2.3 nm), exhibited most stabilized suspension of dye; however, the highest adsorption capacity was accompanied the oxidized nanocellulose (Ox-NC) from neutral RS pulp with lowest PDD (4.98 ± 1.6 and 90.5 ± 3.14), together with highest COO content (476.46 μmol/g).
Synthetic SN Curve of Steel Beams with Web Opening
Authors: Yossef N. M. , Elboghdady A. , El-Boghdadi M. H. , Dabaon M. A.
Published: November 2022

Steel beams with web opening have become a popular structural element nowadays owing to their several structural and architectural benefits. This study numerically investigates a study of the behavior of steel beams with a web opening subjected to fatigue loading using the finite element software ANSYS. Simply supported I-section steel beams with a single web opening were studied under a fully reversed, uniformly distributed vertical load. Fatigue loading, material properties, and boundary conditions are discussed in detail. Finite element analysis was used to determine the effect of the web opening on the normal stress induced in the steel beam and consequently on fatigue stress life. Then, a parametric study was performed to investigate the effect of two geometric parameters (opening size $$\alpha $$
α
and opening location $$\beta $$
β
). In addition, suitable fatigue categories were suggested to guarantee safety against fatigue failures. Further, an analytical method for predicting the synthetic SN curves for steel beams with web opening was introduced. The proposed method was validated using SN curves obtained from FE results and was proven safe and slightly conservative for steel beams with a single web opening of various sizes and locations, as well as spans.
Existence and regularity results for a class of parabolic problems with double phase flux of variable growth
Authors: Arora Rakesh , Shmarev Sergey
Published: November 2022

We study the homogeneous Dirichlet problem for the equation $$\begin{aligned} u_t-{\text {div}}\left( \mathcal {F}(z,\nabla u)\nabla u\right) =f, \quad z=(x,t)\in Q_T=\Omega \times (0,T), \end{aligned}$$

u
t

-
div

F
(
z
,
∇
u
)
∇
u

=
f
,

z
=

(
x
,
t
)

∈

Q
T

=
Ω
×

(
0
,
T
)

,

where $$\Omega \subset \mathbb {R}^N$$

Ω
⊂

R

N

, is a bounded domain with $$\partial \Omega \in C^2$$

∂
Ω
∈

C
2

, and $$\mathcal {F}(z,\xi )=a(z)\vert \xi \vert ^{p(z)-2}+b(z)\vert \xi \vert ^{q(z)-2}$$

F

(
z
,
ξ
)

=

a

(
z
)

|
ξ
|

p
(
z
)
-
2

+
b

(
z
)

|
ξ
|

q
(
z
)
-
2

. The variable exponents p, q and the nonnegative modulating coefficients a, b are given Lipschitz-continuous functions. It is assumed that $$\frac{2N}{N+2}
0,\quad \vert p(z)-q(z)\vert <\frac{2}{N+2}\hbox { in }\overline{Q}_T \end{aligned}$$

a

(
z
)

+
b

(
z
)

≥

α
>
0
,

|
p

(
z
)

-
q

(
z
)

|
<

2

N
+
2

in

Q
¯

T

with $$\alpha =const$$

α
=
c
o
n
s
t

. We find conditions on the source f and the initial data $$u(\cdot ,0)$$

u
(
·
,
0
)

that guarantee the existence of a unique strong solution u with $$u_t\in L^2(Q_T)$$

u
t

∈

L
2

(

Q
T

)

and $$a\vert \nabla u\vert ^{p}+b\vert \nabla u\vert ^q\in L^\infty (0,T;L^1(\Omega ))$$

a
|
∇
u
|

p

+
b

|
∇
u
|

q

∈

L
∞

(
0
,
T
;

L
1

(
Ω
)

)

. The solution possesses the property of global higher integrability of the gradient, $$\begin{aligned} \vert \nabla u\vert ^{\min \{p(z),q(z)\}+r}\in L^1(Q_T)\quad \text {with any }r\in \left( 0,\frac{4}{N+2}\right) , \end{aligned}$$

|
∇
u
|

min
{
p
(
z
)
,
q
(
z
)
}
+
r

∈

L
1

(

Q
T

)

with any

r
∈

0
,

4

N
+
2

,

which is derived with the help of new interpolation inequalities in the variable Sobolev spaces. The global second-order differentiability of the strong solution is proven: $$\begin{aligned} D_i\left( \sqrt{\mathcal {F}(z,\nabla u)}D_j u\right) \in L^{2}(Q_T),\quad i=1,2,\ldots ,N. \end{aligned}$$

D
i

F
(
z
,
∇
u
)

D
j

u

∈

L
2

(

Q
T

)

,

i
=
1
,
2
,
…
,
N
.

The same results are obtained for the equation with the regularized flux $$\mathcal {F}(z,\sqrt{\epsilon ^2+(\xi ,\xi )})\xi $$

F
(
z
,

ϵ
2

+

(
ξ
,
ξ
)

)
ξ

.
Patientenzufriedenheit mit Anästhesieleistungen – Überarbeitung und Validierung eines Fragebogens
Authors: Vetter Luzia , Conca Antoinette , Richter Dirk
Published: November 2022

Hintergrund

Die Patientenzufriedenheit wird als ein Qualitätsindikator im Gesundheitswesen angesehen. Bisherige Zufriedenheitsinstrumente in der Anästhesie bilden die Leistungen der Pflege nicht hinreichend ab, obwohl diese essenziell für die Teamleistung sind.

Ziel

Überarbeitung und Validierung eines Instruments zur Messung der Patientenzufriedenheit mit Anästhesieleistungen.

Methode

Zur Erfassung der Patientenzufriedenheit mit den Anästhesieleistungen in einer Querschnittstudie an 2 Kliniken wurde der „Heidelberg Peri-anaesthetic Questionnaire“ überarbeitet und mittels einer explorativen Faktoranalyse auf Validität überprüft. Prädiktoren für die Patientenzufriedenheit wurden mittels Regressionsanalyse herausgearbeitet.

Ergebnisse

Die überarbeitete Version des Fragebogens mit 27 Fragen zur Messung der Patientenzufriedenheit mit den Anästhesieleistungen zeigte eine Einfaktorlösung der Dimension „Betreuung und Vertrauen“ auf. Mit einem Cronbachs α von 0,955 weist dieser Fragebogen eine hohe interne Konsistenz auf. In der Regressionsanalyse zeigen sich, dass das Alter der Patientinnen und Patienten (OR 1,02, 95 %-KI 1,01–1,04), die mündliche Befragung (OR 2,49, 95 %-KI 1,28–4,87) und das weibliche Geschlecht (OR 0,58, 95 %-KI 0,39–0,87) einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Patientenzufriedenheit mit den Anästhesieleistungen haben. Die Bildung, der Gesundheitszustand und das Spital zeigten sich nicht als Prädiktoren für die Patientenzufriedenheit mit den Anästhesieleistungen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Der Luzerner/Heidelberger Fragebogen ist zur Messung von Patientenzufriedenheit, einschließlich der Pflegeleistungen, geeignet und kann in der Praxis im deutschsprachigen Raum eingesetzt werden.
Keyhole TIG welding of newly developed nickel-based superalloy VDM Alloy 780
Authors: Ariaseta Achmad , Sadeghinia Nima , Andersson Joel , Ojo Olanrewaju
Published: November 2022

The influence of keyhole TIG (K-TIG) welding parameters on the weld geometry and defects of a new nickel-based superalloy VDM Alloy 780 alloy were investigated using a statistical design of experiment, and the microstructures of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and fusion zone (FZ) of the K-TIG-welded VDM Alloy 780 were characterized. No cracks are found in the FZ and HAZ. Travel speed significantly influences the minimum weld width (Wm), face and root excess weld metal, face underfill, and average pore diameter. Welding current and the interaction current*travel speed significantly influence the face and root excess weld metals, respectively. Interdendritic microconstituents in the FZ are identified as (Nb,Ti)C particles and γ/Laves eutectic constituents based on SEM–EDS analysis. In addition, plate-like precipitates likely to be δ/η phase are observed surrounding the interdendritic Laves eutectics, and γ′ precipitates are found to be inhomogeneously precipitated in the FZ. In the partially melted zone (PMZ), (Nb,Ti)C, Laves phase, and plate-like particles are found in the liquated and resolidified regions. Constitutional liquation of (Nb,Ti)C in HAZ is observed where the liquated (Nb,Ti)C appears to be associated with the γ/Laves eutectic as a resolidified product.
Cogging Torque Minimization of PMBLDC Motor for Application in Battery Electric Vehicle
Authors: Bansal Rupam , Marwaha Sanjay , Verma Chaman
Published: November 2022

Since the beginning, researchers have focused globally on the automotive industry, which recently yielded a notable increase in the development of electric vehicles. The cogging torque of the motor is the leading cause of acoustic noise and vibration. Therefore, this paper aims to reduce the cogging torque of Brushless DC motors in electric vehicles. The power rating of the two-wheeler battery electric vehicle is determined with kinematic dynamic equations. The choice of material and the combination of pole slots impact the vehicle’s overall performance, particularly in raising the average torque of the motor. Finite element based Ansys Maxwell electromagnetic field simulation software has been used to design and analyze the electric and magnetic field parameters of BLDC motor using several rotor poles embrace factor values. The findings of this study are expected to reduce vibration and noise in electric vehicles with increased average torque.