bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Has knowledge improved economic growth? Evidence from Nigeria and South Africa
Authors: Shobande Olatunji A. , Asongu Simplice A.
Published: October 2021

This study examines whether knowledge causes economic growth in Africa's two leading economies, Nigeria and South Africa. Using the Vector Autoregressive and Vector Error Correction approaches, the findings show cointegration among the variables. The speed of convergence of the variables to their long‐term mean values is relatively higher for South Africa than for Nigeria. In the short run, it is observed that knowledge unidirectionally Granger causes growth for Nigeria, whereas bidirectional causality is observed for South Africa. The higher correlation between knowledge and growth in South Africa reflects the success of greater investment in education. Nigeria must increase investment in education and modern infrastructure to converge to South Africa's growth trajectory. Moreover, for Nigeria, (1) knowledge unidirectionally Granger cause growth, (2) evidence of bidirectional causality flow is apparent between trade, the economic incentive, and growth, and (3) health unidirectionally Granger cause knowledge. As for South Africa (1) there is bidirectional causality between knowledge, trade openness, and growth, whereas investment and economic incentive, unidirectionally Granger causes growth, (2) investment, trade openness, and health unidirectionally Granger cause knowledge, and (3) economic incentive unidirectionally Granger cause trade openness. In conclusion, this paper argues that a transformed education system can provide the knowledge base essential for promoting and sustaining economic growth.
Compressive fatigue behavior of external patch repaired carbon/epoxy composites
Authors: Bhatia Gursahib Singh , A. Arockiarajan
Published: October 2021

This work involves an experimental investigation of the external patch repaired woven carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer laminates under load controlled constant amplitude compressive fatigue loading. The specimens of parent laminates with stacking sequence [0/45]s and [45/0]s were both repaired with two types of precured patches viz. [0]2 and [45]2 representing high stiff and low‐stiff cases. Digital image correlation and acoustic emission were employed to obtain the insight to the development of distinctive failure modes. The observations during the tests reveal a slow increase in the displacement for most part of the life followed by a rapid increase in the displacement signifying the failure due to fatigue. The examination of failed specimens reveal failure through hole for drilled (with hole) specimens compared to failure away from repaired zone indicating the significant reinforcement provided by external patch repair under cyclic loading. From life aspect, the drilled specimens possess a significantly lesser life (zero to few hundred cycles) compared to the patch repaired and pristine specimens (of order of few thousand cycles) highlighting the suitability of the external patch repair to restore the fatigue performance under compressive loading.
Morphological, mechanical, magnetic, and thermal properties of 3D printed functional polymeric structures modified with Fe2O3 nanoparticles
Authors: Aktitiz İsmail , Delibaş Hulusi , Topcu Alparslan , Aydın Kadir
Published: October 2021

The Fe2O3 nanoparticle structures, which have many application areas such as electronics, marine, and aviation, have been studying extensively due to the compliance between organic polymer and inorganic Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Nanocomposite structures are successfully produced in the desired complexity with the additive manufacturing method. In the current study, Fe2O3 nanoparticles were doped into the photocurable resin at different concentrations (pristine, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% in wt), and the prepared 3D polymer nanocomposite mixtures were printed via stereolithography method. To investigate the morphological, mechanical, magnetic, and thermal properties of the printed nanocomposite structures, scanning electron microscopy, hardness, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimeter analysis were performed, respectively. It was revealed that the Fe2O3 nanoparticles improved the thermal stability of the structures. Moreover, an increase in magnetic properties has been observed up to 459%.
Careless responses and construct validity of Wong–Law Emotional Intelligence Scale
Authors: Merino‐Soto César , Martí‐Vilar Manuel , Serrano‐Pastor Lucas
Published: October 2021

Careless response in the investigation of emotional intelligence has not been explicitly addressed. In a sample of 180 Spanish adults responding to the Wong–Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, a small prevalence (7.2%) was detected. The impact was small on the psychometric parameters, but they were less inflated, more realistic, and precise.
Predicting obesity and smoking using medication data: A machine‐learning approach
Authors: Ali Sitwat , Na Renhua , Waterhouse Mary , Jordan Susan J. , Olsen Catherine M. , Whiteman David C. , Neale Rachel E.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Administrative health datasets are widely used in public health research but often lack information about common confounders. We aimed to develop and validate machine learning (ML)‐based models using medication data from Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) database to predict obesity and smoking.

Methods

We used data from the D‐Health Trial (N = 18 000) and the QSkin Study (N = 43 794). Smoking history, and height and weight were self‐reported at study entry. Linkage to the PBS dataset captured 5 years of medication data after cohort entry. We used age, sex, and medication use, classified using anatomical therapeutic classification codes, as potential predictors of smoking (current or quit <10 years ago; never or quit ≥10 years ago) and obesity (obese; non‐obese). We trained gradient‐boosted machine learning models using data for the first 80% of participants enrolled; models were validated using the remaining 20%. We assessed model performance overall and by sex and age, and compared models generated using 3 and 5 years of PBS data.

Results

Based on the validation dataset using 3 years of PBS data, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68–0.71) for predicting obesity and 0.71 (95% CI 0.70–0.72) for predicting smoking. Models performed better in women than in men. Using 5 years of PBS data resulted in marginal improvement.

Conclusions

Medication data in combination with age and sex can be used to predict obesity and smoking. These models may be of value to researchers using data collected for administrative purposes.
Investigation of Electrical Properties of InGaN‐Based Micro‐Light‐Emitting Diode Arrays Achieved by Direct Epitaxy
Authors: Esendag Volkan , Bai Jie , Fletcher Peter , Feng Peng , Zhu Chenqi , Cai Yuefei , Wang Tao
Published: October 2021

A systematic study has been conducted on a series of InGaN‐based micro‐light‐emitting diode (μLED) array samples which are achieved using the direct epitaxy overgrown approach on patterned templates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique, where the diameters of the μLEDs are 40, 5, and 3.6 μm, respectively. The selective epitaxy approach allows to circumvent the major limitations of conventional fabrication methods of μLEDs which unavoidably introduce dry‐etching‐induced damages. Electrical characterizations are performed on the selective epitaxy overgrown μLEDs as well as conventional μLEDs fabricated using a standard dry‐etching method. For the overgrown μLEDs, the leakage current per μLED is smaller than those of the conventionally mesa‐etched μLEDs. It is worth highlighting that the single 3.6 μm μLED exhibits as low as a leakage current of 14.1 nA at a bias of −5 V. Moreover, in terms of leakage current density, the overgrown μLEDs exhibit much smaller and more consistent leakage than their mesa‐etched counterparts. Operational voltage RC constants also show more favorable to the overgrown devices than the conventionally mesa‐etched μLEDs.
Photocatalytic Activity Enhancement of Anatase/Rutile‐Mixed Phase TiO2 Nanoparticles Annealed with Low‐Temperature O2 Plasma
Authors: Kawakami Retsuo , Mimoto Yuki , Yanagiya Shin-ichiro , Shirai Akihiro , Niibe Masahito , Nakano Yoshitaka , Mukai Takashi
Published: October 2021

Photodecomposition and photobactericidal activities of anatase/rutile‐mixed phase TiO2 nanoparticles annealed with low‐temperature O2 plasma are clarified by comparing them with those annealed in ambient air. The photocatalytic activities of plasma‐assisted‐annealed sample greatly enhance as compared with the untreated sample, under not only UV irradiation but also visible‐light irradiation. The photocatalytic activities of air‐annealed samples do not enhance under UV irradiation but enhance under visible‐light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activities due to the plasma‐assisted annealing (PAA) originate from the increased photoexcited carrier concentration. This enhancement is discussed from PAA‐induced characteristic factors. PAA facilitates the phase transformation to anatase, contributing directly to extending the photoexcited carrier lifetime. PAA introduces more oxygen vacancies, contributing to trapping more photogenerated electrons. PAA also introduces more bridging/terminal oxygen groups adsorbed on the surface, increasing the upward band‐bending, the depletion layer width at the surface, and the charge transfer from rutile to anatase. These two introductions contribute to facilitating the separation of photoexcited carriers. Furthermore, PAA reduces the aggregate size of TiO2 nanoparticles formed on the surface, contributing to increasing optical absorptions. More reactive oxygen species produced from the bridging/terminal oxygen groups by the photoexcited carriers will also enhance the photocatalytic activities.
Open‐source feature detection for non‐target LC–MS analytics
Authors: Dietrich Christian , Wick Arne , Ternes Thomas A.
Published: October 2021

Rationale

Non‐target screening techniques using high‐resolution mass spectrometers become more and more important for environmental sciences. Highly reliable and sophisticated software solutions are required to deal with the large amount of data obtained from such analyses.

Methods

Processing of high‐resolution LC‐HRMS data was performed upon conversion into an open, XML‐based data format followed by an automated assignment of chromatographic peaks using the open‐source programming language R. Raw data from three different LC‐HRMS systems were processed as a proof of principle.

Results

We present a simple and straightforward algorithm to extract chromatographic peaks from previously m/z‐centroided data based on the open‐source programming language R and C++. The working principle and processing parameters are explained in detail. A ready‐to‐use script is provided in the supporting information.

Conclusions

The developed algorithm enables a comprehensible automated peak picking of non‐target LC–MS data. Application to three completely different HRMS raw data files showed reasonable False Positives and False Negatives detection and moderate calculation times.
Students' mechanistic reasoning in practice: Enabling functions of drawing, gestures and talk
Authors: de Andrade Vanessa , Shwartz Yael , Freire Sofia , Baptista Mónica
Published: October 2021

Mechanistic reasoning is a powerful form of reasoning central to scientific explanations. Despite mechanistic reasoning being an important dimension of scientific practice and a central dimension of science curricula, students face difficulties in developing such type of reasoning. Many authors have been proposing tools for supporting its development; drawing is one such tool. Studies that purposefully explore how drawing leverages and supports students' mechanistic reasoning while engage in a process of constructing explanations are still scarce. The goal of the current study was to understand how students' mechanistic reasoning emerges and is enacted when students are jointly involved in drawing creation. For that, we drew on a recent framework that identifies essential characteristics of students' mechanistic reasoning and also on theories of distributed and embodied cognition. In this paper, we present a pair of middle school students who jointly explain a chemical phenomenon by creating drawings and reasoning with them. Using a fine‐grain analysis we examined the elements of students' mechanistic reasoning in relation to drawing creation and how talk and embodied actions on and with the drawings were used to support students' reasoning. Findings reveal that drawings played a key role in paving the way for students reasoning about mechanisms and in enacting mechanistic reasoning. In particular, drawings were essential for pushing students to look for a mechanism, for enabling and supporting mechanistic reasoning‐in‐action, and for facilitating productive interactions between the students that ended up in the construction of a sophisticated mechanistic explanation.
Teamwork quality in technology‐driven product teams in large‐scale agile organizations
Authors: Poth Alexander , Kottke Mario , Mahr Torsten , Riel Andreas
Published: October 2021

The maturity of teams is related to the specific solutions they are building and maintaining. Every team needs generic skills and capabilities for successful teamwork. However, depending on the used technology, particular skills and qualifications are required to form a mature team to handle the solution‐related products and services adequately. Especially in agile organizations, autonomous teams have the responsibility for their solutions and their team development. To foster transparency and structured team development, the Technical Team Maturity (TTM) approach is presented. The TTM approach shapes and models specific technologies, for example, cloud technology demands about team skills and capabilities to form a reliable delivery team. The approach is divided into a technology‐specific profile and an evaluation model to support active usage in teams. The profile focuses on abstract and generic technology aspects. The evaluation model validates against the profile with a state‐of‐the‐art focus about the technology application to determine the maturity. The different maturity levels are mapped to belts—as a gamification aspect to foster continuous improvement in the teams with this benchmark. TTM is evaluated in the enterprise context of Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen Financial Services AG. It provides insights into the effectiveness of this approach in heterogeneous multiteam settings and its strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.
Selenium nanoparticles are more efficient than sodium selenite in reducing the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 in Japanese quail
Authors: Khazraei Seyed Kaveh , Tabeidian Sayed Ali , Habibian Mahmood
Published: October 2021

Background

Dietary selenium (Se), as an antioxidant element, plays a protective role in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicosis in poultry.

Objectives

To compare the effects of sodium selenite (SS) and Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) against AFB1‐induced toxicity on growth performance, carcass traits, immune response, antioxidant status and serum lipid concentrations in Japanese broiler quails.

Methods

A total of 540 quails were divided into six treatments, each with six replicates and 15 birds per replicate at 24 days of age and reared for 21 days. Treatments included: (1) a basal diet without Se and AFB1 (negative control; NC); (2) NC + 1.0 mg/kg AFB1 (positive control; PC); (3) PC + 0.2 mg/kg Se as SS; (4) PC + 0.5 mg/kg Se as SS; (5) PC + 0.2 mg/kg Se as SeNPs; and (6) PC + 0.5 mg/kg Se as SeNPs.

Results

Treatment with PC diet decreased feed intake and body weight gain and increased feed conversion ratio than the NC diet. The PC diet also atrophied the lymphoid organs and depressed antibody responses against Newcastle disease and avian influenza viruses and sheep red blood cell. Moreover, quails treated with PC diet appeared to have lower serum glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase activities and disturbed serum lipids than those receiving the NC diet. Dietary Se attenuated these detrimental effects, but failed to completely eliminate them. Additionally, SeNPs performed better than SS in improving thioredoxin reductase activity and antibody titer against sheep red blood cell.

Conclusions

Diet supplementation with SeNPs to provide 0.5 mg/kg of Se is recommended to reduce the AFB1 toxicosis in broiler quails.
Osteogenesis Modulation: Induction of Mandibular Bone Growth in Adults by Electrical Field for Aesthetic Purposes
Authors: Zendejas Gregorio Hernandez , Dobke Marek K. , Phelps Andrew , Planas Gabriel , Sanchez Marco
Published: October 2021

Background

A new technique in plastic surgery termed Osteogenesis Modulation is described. This technique uses a surgically implanted, battery-operated medical device to deliver customized electrical pulses to produce mandibular bone growth. This device was designed to be a temporary, nonpermanent implant. The purpose of this study was to review both the safety and efficacy of Osteogenesis Modulation.

Methods

This study comprises two phases. Phase I involved experimental technology development and animal experiments. Phase II included technology development for clinical use and a clinical trial. In Phase II, four patients with a diagnosis of mandibular hypoplasia and microgenia underwent surgical implantation of the novel medical device over the chin bone. Once a satisfactory change of contour of mandibular bone was achieved, the devices were removed. In all patients, the devices were left in place for 12 months, then surgically removed under local anesthesia. Preoperative and long-term postoperative cephalometric controls were done.

Results

In all patients, symmetrical mandibular bone growth was observed with good-to-excellent aesthetic results. The overall follow-up period was 39 months. Cephalometric controls taken 3 to 6 months after the device removal showed an average increase in mandible length of 5.26mm (range, 2.83–7.60mm)

Conclusions

Preliminary clinical results suggest that Osteogenesis Modulation is a safe, minimally invasive, and effective alternative treatment for the correction of mandibular hypoplasia in selected cases.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authorswww.springer.com/00266.
Transcriptional repressor Gal80 recruits corepressor complex Cyc8–Tup1 to structural genes of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL regulon
Authors: Lettow Julia , Aref Rasha , Schüller Hans-Joachim
Published: October 2021

Under non-inducing conditions (absence of galactose), yeast structural genes of the GAL regulon are repressed by Gal80, preventing interaction of Gal4 bound to UASGAL promoter motifs with general factors of the transcriptional machinery. In this work, we show that Gal80 is also able to interact with histone deacetylase-recruiting corepressor proteins Cyc8 and Tup1, indicating an additional mechanism of gene repression. This is supported by our demonstration that a lexA–Gal80 fusion efficiently mediates repression of a reporter gene with an upstream lexA operator sequence. Corepressor interaction and in vivo gene repression could be mapped to a Gal80 minimal domain of 65 amino acids (aa 81-145). Site-directed mutagenesis of selected residues within this domain showed that a cluster of aromatic-hydrophobic amino acids (YLFV, aa 118-121) is important, although not solely responsible, for gene repression. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, Cyc8 and Tup1 were shown to be present at the GAL1 promoter in a wild-type strain but not in a gal80 mutant strain under non-inducing (derepressing) growth conditions. Expression of a GAL1–lacZ fusion was elevated in a tup1 mutant (but not in a cyc8 mutant) grown in derepressing medium, indicating that Tup1 may be mainly responsible for this second mechanism of Gal80-dependent gene repression.
Functional and clinical outcomes of FMRI-based neurofeedback training in patients with alcohol dependence: a pilot study
Authors: Karch Susanne , Krause Daniela , Lehnert Kevin , Konrad Julia , Haller Dinah , Rauchmann Boris-Stephan , Maywald Maximilian , Engelbregt Hessel , Adorjan Kristina , Koller Gabriele , Reidler Paul , Karali Temmuz , Tschentscher Nadja , Ertl-Wagner Birgit , Pogarell Oliver , Paolini Marco , Keeser Daniel
Published: October 2021

Identifying treatment options for patients with alcohol dependence is challenging. This study investigates the application of real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI) neurofeedback (NF) to foster resistance towards craving-related neural activation in alcohol dependence. We report a double-blind, placebo-controlled rtfMRI study with three NF sessions using alcohol-associated cues as an add-on therapy to the standard treatment. Fifty-two patients (45 male; 7 female) diagnosed with alcohol dependence were recruited in Munich, Germany. RtfMRI data were acquired in three sessions and clinical abstinence was evaluated 3 months after the last NF session. Before the NF training, BOLD responses and clinical data did not differ between groups, apart from anger and impulsiveness. During NF training, BOLD responses of the active group were decreased in medial frontal areas/caudate nucleus, and increased, e.g. in the cuneus/precuneus and occipital cortex. Within the active group, the down-regulation of neuronal responses was more pronounced in patients who remained abstinent for at least 3 months after the intervention compared to patients with a relapse. As BOLD responses were comparable between groups before the NF training, functional variations during NF cannot be attributed to preexisting distinctions. We could not demonstrate that rtfMRI as an add-on treatment in patients with alcohol dependence leads to clinically superior abstinence for the active NF group after 3 months. However, the study provides evidence for a targeted modulation of addiction-associated brain responses in alcohol dependence using rtfMRI.
The impact of physical fitness on resilience to modern life stress and the mediating role of general self-efficacy
Authors: Neumann R. J. , Ahrens K. F. , Kollmann B. , Goldbach N. , Chmitorz A. , Weichert D. , Fiebach C. J. , Wessa M. , Kalisch R. , Lieb K. , Tüscher O. , Plichta M. M. , Reif A. , Matura S.
Published: October 2021

Substantial evidence shows that physical activity and fitness play a protective role in the development of stress related disorders. However, the beneficial effects of fitness for resilience to modern life stress are not fully understood. Potentially protective effects may be attributed to enhanced resilience via underlying psychosocial mechanisms such as self-efficacy expectations. This study investigated whether physical activity and fitness contribute to prospectively measured resilience and examined the mediating effect of general self-efficacy. 431 initially healthy adults participated in fitness assessments as part of a longitudinal-prospective study, designed to identify mechanisms of resilience. Self-efficacy and habitual activity were assessed in parallel to cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, which were determined by a submaximal step-test, hand strength and standing long jump test. Resilience was indexed by stressor reactivity: mental health problems in relation to reported life events and daily hassles, monitored quarterly for nine months. Hierarchical linear regression models and bootstrapped mediation analyses were applied. We could show that muscular and self-perceived fitness were positively associated with stress resilience. Extending this finding, the muscular fitness–resilience relationship was partly mediated by self-efficacy expectations. In this context, self-efficacy expectations may act as one underlying psychological mechanism, with complementary benefits for the promotion of mental health. While physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness did not predict resilience prospectively, we found muscular and self-perceived fitness to be significant prognostic parameters for stress resilience. Although there is still more need to identify specific fitness parameters in light of stress resilience, our study underscores the general relevance of fitness for stress-related disorders prevention.
A safe procedure? The unusual case of a fatal airway obstruction by silicone during the production process of a tracheostomal epithesis in a 13-year-old boy
Authors: Wittschieber Daniel , Schulz Ronald , Schmidt Peter F.
Published: October 2021

A tracheostomal epithesis is a plastic prosthesis that serves for sealing a tracheostoma and ensuring the position of the tracheostomy tube. The production of a tracheostomal epithesis requires an impression of the tracheostoma. To this end, silicone impression material is applied by an anaplastologist in and around the tracheostomal region, including the trachea. The blocked cuff of the tracheostomy tube serves to prevent aspiration of the material. We report on a 13-year-old boy who died during this procedure because the lower airways were obstructed with cured silicone. Forensic autopsy confirmed asphyctic suffocation as cause of death. Forensic physical investigation of the tracheostomy tube and its cuff revealed no structural or functional defects. Yet, the investigation results prove that the viscous silicone must have passed the cuff. To conclude, this case report demonstrates that the production of an impression of a tracheostoma is a procedure with a potentially lethal outcome. Hence, professional guidelines, including clear safety precautions, are urgently needed.
Do overweight/obesity and low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity moderate the effect of occupational physical activity on self-rated health of construction workers?
Authors: Van den Berge M. , Van Oostrom S. H. , Van der Molen H. F. , Robroek S. J. W. , Hulshof C. T. J. , Van der Beek A. J. , Proper K. I.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To investigate the combined effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) and either overweight/obesity or low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity (LTVPA) on self-rated health.

Methods

A longitudinal study was performed among 29,987 construction workers with complete data on 2 Workers’ Health Surveillance Programs during 2010–2018. Self-reported OPA involved strenuous work postures and manual material handling. Low level of LTVPA was defined as self-reported vigorous activity for less than three times per week lasting at least 20 min per session. Overweight and obesity were based on Body Mass Index (BMI) (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 kg/m2and BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2, respectively) using measured body height and weight. Self-rated health was measured using a single item question. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between the separate risk factors at baseline and self-rated health at follow-up. The combined effects of demanding OPA and either overweight/obesity or low level of LTVPA on self-rated health were analyzed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).

Results

Mean follow-up duration was 31.7 (SD = 14.9) months. Construction workers with strenuous work postures (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.25–1.46), manual material handling (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.19–1.40), obesity (OR 1.31 95% CI 1.17–1.47) and low LTVPA (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.01–1.25) were more likely to report poor self-rated health at follow-up. No statistically significant interaction effects were found for OPA and obesity or low LTVPA.

Conclusions

OPA, obesity and low level of LTVPA were separate risk factors for poor self-rated health, but did not appear to have a synergistic effect.
Traumatischer Irisverlust: Implantation einer künstlichen Iris zur Wiederherstellung von Funktion und Ästhetik
Authors: Mayer Christian S. , Baur Isabella D. , Storr Julia , Khoramnia Ramin
Published: October 2021

Ziel

Wir berichten über den Fall eines Patienten mit traumatischem Irisdefekt, der sich 4 Monate nach dem initialen Trauma im Rahmen eines Fahrradunfalls einer chirurgischen Irisrekonstruktion mit einer CUSTOMFLEX ArtificialIris (AI, HumanOptics AG, Erlangen, Deutschland) unterzog.

Beobachtungen

Bei der Erstvorstellung zeigte sich eine gedeckte Bulbusruptur, die notfallmäßig mittels Vorderkammerspülung, Vitrektomie, Skleranaht und C3F8 Gastamponade versorgt wurde. Nach extern durchgeführter sekundärer IOL-Implantation klagte der Patient über eine erhöhte Blendempfindlichkeit und Visusminderung am rechten Auge. Der bestkorrigierte Fernvisus betrug 1,4 logMAR für das rechte Auge und 0,10 logMAR für das linke Auge. Die klinische Untersuchung zeigte einen großen Irisdefekt mit Restirisgewebe von 4 bis 8 Uhr. Beide Augen waren pseudophak, der fundoskopische Befund war unauffällig. Der Patient unterzog sich einer AI-Implantation v. a. zur Linderung seiner Blendempfindlichkeit am rechten Auge. Die Sehschärfe stieg auf 0,30 logMAR an. Die subjektive Blendempfindlichkeit verbesserte sich deutlich. Die Kontrastempfindlichkeit, gemessen mit einer Pelli-Robson-Tafel, stieg von 0,15 logarithmischen Einheiten präoperativ auf 1,05 logarithmische Einheiten postoperativ.

Schlussfolgerungen

Wir beobachteten nach chirurgischer Irisrekonstruktion mit einer künstlichen Iris ein sehr gutes ästhetisches und funktionelles Ergebnis mit hoher Patientenzufriedenheit. Dieser Fall demonstriert, wie die Reduktion der Blendempfindlichkeit gleichzeitig auch zu einer deutlichen Verbesserung der Funktion mit Anstieg von Sehschärfe und Kontrastsehen führen kann.
User-centered design of power tools: a generic process for evaluation of usability aspects
Authors: Helmstetter Sebastian , Dörr Matthias , Germann René , Matthiesen Sven
Published: October 2021

User-centered design focuses on the individual needs of the product users. The aim is to adjust the design of the product according to the requirements of the user and application. Existing methods for evaluation of the perceived usability are often limited to one specific aspect, and it requires a high effort to transfer the respective method to other aspects. A generic process for the evaluation of the perceived usability is missing. This paper presents the generic Usability Study Evaluation Process (USE-Process) that helps product designers to identify and evaluate usability aspects relevant to the suitability of the usage of a product. The process is divided into three sections:

1. A structured field study to identify the relevant usability aspects;

2. A generic study design for the subjective evaluation of usability aspects under objective and reproducible conditions;

3. The use of measurement tools that help to quantify the results of the subjective evaluation.

The generic applicability of the process is shown by the example of the evaluation of cordless screwdrivers; several usability aspects were identified, clustered, and evaluated by using subjective evaluation methods and measurement techniques.
p-Laplace Operators for Oriented Hypergraphs
Authors: Jost Jürgen , Mulas Raffaella , Zhang Dong
Published: October 2021

The p-Laplacian for graphs, as well as the vertex Laplace operator and the hyperedge Laplace operator for the general setting of oriented hypergraphs, are generalized. In particular, both a vertex p-Laplacian and a hyperedge p-Laplacian are defined for oriented hypergraphs, for all p ≥ 1. Several spectral properties of these operators are investigated.
Family Complexity and Parents’ Migration: The Role of Repartnering and Distance to Non-Resident Children
Authors: van der Wiel Roselinde , Kooiman Niels , Mulder Clara H.
Published: October 2021

Recent research suggests that the increasing complexity of family life could be a factor in declines in internal migration (long-distance moves within countries). As many separated parents continue to share childcare responsibilities or have visiting arrangements, their mobility is naturally constrained. However, the relationship between family complexity and individual migration behaviour has never been studied explicitly. We compare separated parents with parents in two-parent families in their likelihood of migrating within the Netherlands. We use detailed records of parents’ partnership status and children’s residential situation. An event-history analysis was performed using register-based population data (N = 442,412). We find that separated, single parents are more likely to migrate than those in two-parent families. The same is true for repartnered mothers, while repartnered fathers are about as likely to migrate as fathers in two-parent families. Separated parents’ migration behaviour depends on where their children live. Having non-resident children who live some distance away is associated with a much higher likelihood of migrating than having resident children or non-resident children who live nearby. Having both resident and non-resident children who live nearby—shared residence (i.e. joint physical custody) is likely common in this situation—is associated with a considerably lower likelihood of migrating than having resident children only. Based on our findings, one would expect family complexities stemming from parental separation to be associated with higher rather than lower levels of migration. However, potential future increases in the number of parents who share physical custody after separation might lead to lower migration levels.
In the same boat? An online group career counseling with a group of young adults in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Santilli S. , Ginevra M. C. , Di Maggio I. , Soresi S. , Nota L.
Published: October 2021

An online group of career counseling for unemployed young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic was developed. Twelve participants were involved in online group career counseling intervention, based on the Life Design for an inclusive and sustainable future. Results indicated at post-test on increased scores on career adaptability, resilience, future orientation, and propensity to identify inclusive and sustainable actions for the future than pre-test. Overall, the online group career counseling intervention effectively promoted particular aspects of young adults' life design for an inclusive e-sustainable future.
The Symmpact: A Direct-Impact Hopkinson Bar Setup Suitable for Investigating Dynamic Equilibrium in Low-Impedance Materials
Authors: Jakkula P. , Ganzenmüller G. C. , Beisel S. , Rüthnick P. , Hiermaier S.
Published: October 2021

Background

Measuring the dynamic behavior of low-impedance materials such as foams is challenging. Their low acoustic impedance means that sensitive force measurement is required. The porous structure of foams also gives rise to dynamic compaction waves, which can result in unusual behavior, in particular if the foam material is so thick, that dynamic force equilibrium is not reached.

Objective

This work investigates comparatively large polyurethane foam specimens with densities in the range of 80 – 240 kg/m3 to deliberately achieve a state away from force equilibrium during high-rate compaction. The aim is to understand how an increase in strain rate leads to a reduction in strength for such materials.

Methods

A specialized direct-impact Hopkinson bar is employed. It uses polycarbonate bars to achieve the required long pulse duration of 2.6 ms to compress the large specimens into the densification regime. In contrast to existing setups, both striker and output bar are instrumented with strain gauges to monitor force equilibrium. The absence of an input bar allows monitoring force equilibrium more accurately. Special attention is paid to the calibration of strain gauges, taking non-linear effects, wave dispersion and attenuation into account. Digital Image Correlation is employed to analyze elastic and plastic compaction waves by means of Lagrange diagrams.

Results

Depending on density, the specimens show saturation of dynamic strength increase at high rates of strain $$\approx$$
≈
 500 /s, or even negative strain rate sensitivity in case of the lowest density. The occurrence of apparent negative strain rate sensitivity is accompanied by a localized structural collapse front, moving at a low velocity of $$\approx$$
≈
10 m/s through the material. This apparent strain rate sensitivity is a structural effect which is related to the thickness of the specimen.

Conclusions

The primary aim of material characterization using Hopkinson bars is to achieve a state of force equilibrium. For this reason, very thin specimens are usually employed. However, data gathered in this way is not representative for thick foam layers. Here, an increase of strain rate can lead to a decrease of strength if homogeneous deformation is replaced by a dynamic compaction wave. This behavior can occur at strain rates encountered under conditions such as automotive crash.
Relationship of the Microstructure and Toughness of the Coarse Grain Heat-Affected Zone of TiNbV Microalloyed Steels Based on Electron Backscatter Diffraction Analysis
Authors: Yan Han , Zhao Di , Qi Tongfu , Leng Xuesong , Fu Kuijun
Published: October 2021

The microstructure evolution and impact toughness of the coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of TiNbV microalloyed steels were investigated by using a thermal simulation test. The samples were treated with various simulated welding thermal cycles. The phase constituents and grain sizes were analyzed by using electron backscatter diffraction analysis. The microstructure of the CGHAZ of the treated samples consisted of ferrite, acicular ferrite, pearlite, and bainite. The samples have a higher impact toughness under a lower welding heat input. This is because the microstructure of the CGHAZ is dominated by the higher volume fraction of the high-angle grain boundaries of acicular ferrites. The presence of bainite and coarsening grains are two key factors deteriorating the toughness of the CGHAZ of TiNbV microalloyed steels. The volume fraction of bainite sharply increased as the welding heat input increased, leading to a decrease in the impact toughness of the CGHAZ. For a higher welding heat input, both the severe coarsening of the grain size and a higher bainite content would result in poor impact toughness.
A qualitative study of the perception of nursing home practitioners about the implementation of quality indicators for drug consumption in nursing homes
Authors: Sanchez Stéphane , Ecarnot Fiona , Voilmy Dimitri , Ndiongue Biné Mariam , Cormi Clément , Letty Aude , Hay Paul Emile , Novella Jean Luc
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Nursing homes (NHs) are an ideal environment in which to implement interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate prescriptions. Quality indicators (QIs) may be useful to standardize practices, but it is unclear how they mediate change. In the framework of a quantitative study aimed at reducing the prescription of anticholinergic drugs among NH residents using QIs, we performed a qualitative study to describe the investigators’ perception of the utility of QIs.

Methods

Qualitative study using focus group methodology. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and analyzed by thematic analysis. Participants were purposefully recruited from among the medical directors of the NHs in the quantitative study.

Results

Five medical directors participated in two focus group meetings. The main themes to emerge were: (1) communication is key to introducing new practices and achieving lasting uptake; (2) improved coordination and communication provided useful information to help interpret the quantitative results observed: e.g., participants reported that they were able to obtain contextual and patient-specific information that explained why some prescribers had consistently, but justifiably “poor” performance on the quantitative indicators; (3) negative aspects reported included reluctance to change among prescribers and the tendency to shirk responsibility.

Conclusion

From the point of view of medical directors of NHs participating in an interventional program to reduce inappropriate prescriptions of anticholinergic drugs, the main factor driving the success of the program was communication, which is key to achieving adherence. Improved communication provides useful insights into the reasons why no quantitative reduction is observed in objective quality indicators.
The replication crisis, the rise of new research practices and what it means for experimental economics
Authors: Page Lionel , Noussair Charles N. , Slonim Robert
Published: October 2021

The replication crisis across several disciplines raises challenges for behavioural sciences in general. In this report, we review the lessons for experimental economists of these developments. We present the new research methods and practices which are being proposed to improve the replicability of scientific studies. We discuss how these methods and practices can have a positive impact in experimental economics and the extent to which they should be encouraged.
Rejection- and importance-sampling-based perfect simulation for Gibbs hard-sphere models
Authors: Moka Sarat , Juneja Sandeep , Mandjes Michel
Published: October 2021

Coupling-from-the-past (CFTP) methods have been used to generate perfect samples from finite Gibbs hard-sphere models, an important class of spatial point processes consisting of a set of spheres with the centers on a bounded region that are distributed as a homogeneous Poisson point process (PPP) conditioned so that spheres do not overlap with each other. We propose an alternative importance-sampling-based rejection methodology for the perfect sampling of these models. We analyze the asymptotic expected running time complexity of the proposed method when the intensity of the reference PPP increases to infinity while the (expected) sphere radius decreases to zero at varying rates. We further compare the performance of the proposed method analytically and numerically with that of a naive rejection algorithm and of popular dominated CFTP algorithms. Our analysis relies upon identifying large deviations decay rates of the non-overlapping probability of spheres whose centers are distributed as a homogeneous PPP.
Convolutional-network models to predict wall-bounded turbulence from wall quantities
Authors: Guastoni Luca , Güemes Alejandro , Ianiro Andrea , Discetti Stefano , Schlatter Philipp , Azizpour Hossein , Vinuesa Ricardo
Published: October 2021

Two models based on convolutional neural networks are trained to predict the two-dimensional instantaneous velocity-fluctuation fields at different wall-normal locations in a turbulent open-channel flow, using the wall-shear-stress components and the wall pressure as inputs. The first model is a fully convolutional neural network (FCN) which directly predicts the fluctuations, while the second one reconstructs the flow fields using a linear combination of orthonormal basis functions, obtained through proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), and is hence named FCN-POD. Both models are trained using data from direct numerical simulations at friction Reynolds numbers

$Re_{\tau } = 180$

and 550. Being able to predict the nonlinear interactions in the flow, both models show better predictions than the extended proper orthogonal decomposition (EPOD), which establishes a linear relation between the input and output fields. The performance of the models is compared based on predictions of the instantaneous fluctuation fields, turbulence statistics and power-spectral densities. FCN exhibits the best predictions closer to the wall, whereas FCN-POD provides better predictions at larger wall-normal distances. We also assessed the feasibility of transfer learning for the FCN model, using the model parameters learned from the

$Re_{\tau }=180$

dataset to initialize those of the model that is trained on the

$Re_{\tau }=550$

dataset. After training the initialized model at the new

$Re_{\tau }$

, our results indicate the possibility of matching the reference-model performance up to

$y^{+}=50$

, with

$50\,\%$

and

$25\,\%$

of the original training data. We expect that these non-intrusive sensing models will play an important role in applications related to closed-loop control of wall-bounded turbulence.
A model to predict the oscillation frequency for drops pinned on a vertical planar surface
Authors: Sakakeeny J. , Deshpande C. , Deb S. , Alvarado J.L. , Ling Y.
Published: October 2021

Accurate prediction of the natural frequency for the lateral oscillation of a liquid drop pinned on a vertical planar surface is important to many drop applications. The natural oscillation frequency, normalized by the capillary frequency, is mainly a function of the equilibrium contact angle and the Bond number (

$Bo$

), when the contact lines remain pinned. Parametric numerical and experimental studies have been performed to establish a comprehensive understanding of the oscillation dynamics. An inviscid model has been developed to predict the oscillation frequency for wide ranges of

$Bo$

and the contact angle. The model reveals the scaling relation between the normalized frequency and

$Bo$

, which is validated by the numerical simulation results. For a given equilibrium contact angle, the lateral oscillation frequency decreases with

$Bo$

, implying that resonance frequencies will be magnified if the drop oscillations occur in a reduced gravity environment.
Inadequacy of nutrient intake among adolescent girls in south central Ethiopia
Authors: Yilma Beza , Endris Bilal S. , Mengistu Yalemwork G. , Sisay Binyam G. , Gebreyesus Seifu H.
Published: October 2021

Adolescent undernutrition is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Inadequate dietary intake of nutrients is the major determinants of undernutrition. However, the adequacy of dietary intake among adolescents was not sufficiently explored. The present study aims to estimate the inadequacy of nutrient intake among adolescent girls in south central Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. We assess food and nutrient intake using repeated multiple-pass 24-h dietary recall. The study was conducted in Damot Gale district, Woliyta zone, Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 288 female adolescents. The majority of adolescent girls consumed cereals (96⋅9 %) and roots/tubers (75⋅3 %). However, only less than 1 % of them consumed flesh food. The mean energy, carbohydrate, protein and dietary fibre intake of the adolescent girls per day was 1452⋅7 ± 356⋅3 kcal, 305⋅6 ± 72⋅4 g, 35⋅7 ± 13⋅3 g and 18⋅6 ± 8⋅4 g, respectively. The median fat intake was 13⋅3 g (IQR 8⋅8, 19⋅8). The contribution of carbohydrate, protein and fat for the total energy was 80, 10 and 8 %, respectively. The prevalence of inadequate intake of protein was 60⋅9 %. The prevalence of inadequate intake of iron for early adolescents and late adolescents was 82 and 53 %, respectively. The prevalence of inadequate intake of folate was 83⋅9 % and zinc was 58 %. The prevalence of inadequate intake was greater than 90 % for vitamin B12, vitamin C and calcium. The present study found an alarmingly high prevalence of inadequate intake of some nutrients among adolescent girls of Damot Gale district.