bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the ‘messy details’ of veterinary communication: An analysis of communication problems in cases of alleged professional negligence
Authors: Russell Elly , Mossop Liz , Forbes Ellie , Oxtoby Catherine
Published: November 2021

Background

Communication failure is reported as a cause of error in veterinary practice and has been associated with complaints and litigation. Evidence describing the types and nature of communication problems is lacking. This limits our ability to mitigate the risk poor communication poses.

Methods

This study used a mixed methods approach to explore the frequency and types of communication problems present in settled cases of alleged veterinary professional negligence. Thematic analysis was conducted on written documents associated with 100 such cases involving canine patients. Interpretation was informed by human factors thinking and communication theory. Results were triangulated with findings from a focus group with the Veterinary Defence Society claims consultants and with healthcare literature on communication failures.

Results

Communication problems played a contributory role in 80% of the cases examined. The analysis highlighted features of problematic communication in veterinary practice that are underrepresented in the current literature. These include the prominence of communication problems within veterinary teams, the impact of communication on the safety of care and also the interdependence of communication events with the context, system and environment in which they occur.

Conclusions

These results suggest that communication is a collective competency. Effective communication is something veterinary systems, rather than individuals alone, achieve. There is a need to consider the team and organisational contexts in which communication occurs to ensure individual communication skills can be translated into communication practices that support the delivery of high‐quality, safe veterinary care for the benefits of clinicians, owners and patients.
The significance of bypass transition on the annual energy production of an offshore wind turbine
Authors: Duffy Aidan , Ingram Grant , Hogg Simon
Published: November 2021

Awareness of leading‐edge erosion (LEE) on wind turbine blades, and the impacts it can have on annual energy production (AEP) have increased significantly over recent years. This is especially important in offshore environments, where a combination of more extreme weather and higher tip speeds result in higher rates of erosion. In this paper the impact of LEE on AEP has been quantified and the derived method validated. The DTU 10‐MW reference wind turbine (RWT) is used to demonstrate the method. An equivalent sand grain roughness approach in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate clean and roughened aerofoil performance. These CFD results are applied to a blade element momentum (BEM) model of the turbine to generate clean and eroded power curves. Finally, a wind distribution from Anholt offshore wind farm is used to estimate the AEP for the clean and eroded cases. An AEP loss of 0.7% was computed for the specific case considered in this study. This result is benchmarked against those from previously published studies. Most research into LEE has thus far focussed on either estimating the impacts on AEP or mitigating against them, with less emphasis on understanding the physical aerodynamic changes that result in reduced energy output. In this paper, the significance of bypass transition on the AEP loss caused by roughness, specifically as it relates to the operational angles of attack of the blade, is examined and found to impact turbine efficiency in this case for over 56% of the total operating time.
Hall and ion‐slip effects on nanofluid transport from a vertical surface: Buongiorno's model
Authors: Ramesh Reddy P. , Abdul Gaffar Shaik , Anwar Beg O. , Md. Hidayathulla Khan B.
Published: November 2021

The non‐linear, non‐isothermal, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) laminar convection flows of Buongiorno's nanofluid past a vertical surface with Darcy‐Forchheimer model is mathematically investigated in the present article. Keller's Box implicit finite difference technique is utilized to solve the dimensionless conservation equations. Graphical and tabulated results are analyzed to study the behavior of primary and secondary velocity, temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction, shear stress rate, heat transfer rate and mass transfer rate for various emerging thermos‐physical parameters. The Hall current and ion‐slip current effects are also considered. Validations of earlier solutions in the literature is also included. The study finds applications in nanomaterial fabrication processing, biomedical, polymer processing, chemical engineering, crude oil purifying, etc.
Mathematical modeling and numerical solution of cross‐flow of non‐Newtonian fluid: Effects of viscous dissipation and slip boundary conditions
Authors: Hussain Farooq , Saleem S. , Nazeer Mubbashar , Al‐Mubaddel Fahad S. , Ali Aamir , Saleem Adila , Saleem Maira
Published: November 2021

The current investigation deals with the numerical simulation of cross‐flow of non‐Newtonian fluid. Flow dynamics are studied by considering a uniform channel bounded by porous walls. Transversely acting magnetic fields have also been taken into account on the two‐dimensional flow of Tangent‐Hyperbolic fluid. Skin friction is addressed by employing the lubrication effects on the porous channel. In addition to this, Fourier's law of conduction is incorporated to highlight the heating effects which attenuates the shear thickening posture of the fluid. Highly nonlinear and coupled differential equations are solved numerically by using the Runge‐Kutta method with shooting technique. Thermal and momentum transport is simulated by generating the numerical MATLAB codes. Study reveals that slippery porous walls/channels can effectively be used in chemical and mechanical industries which deal with various kinds of highly viscous flows. Moreover, more energy is contributed by Peclet number and viscous heating parameter and improve the heat transfer rate.
Governance Drivers and Barriers for Business Model Transformation in the Energy Sector
Authors: Bürer Mary Jean , de Lapparent Matthieu , Capezzali Massimiliano , Carpita Mauro
Published: November 2021

Smart second-generation policies for energy transition governance have been less studied and reviewed in the literature. They are also difficult to compare or measure in terms of their effectiveness with regard to the energy transition, not only because each country’s objectives and underlying drivers for an energy transition are different. Technological innovation and new technology deployment are only the tip of the iceberg. Understanding how to redesign energy governance to allow for business model reconfiguration among incumbents and how to stimulate business model innovation by start-ups and new entrants is key for an effective and sustainable energy transition in the long term. However, beyond this, countries must address the underlying driving forces such as consumption patterns and the financial system. Therefore, business model transformation is not the only solution, but it is an important one and it requires well-designed policies. It also requires the involvement of all stakeholders at all levels of the economic fabric of each region and country. At the same time, we continue to measure progress on energy transitions in a superficial and extremely limited way. Policies must now be smarter, not just more ambitious in terms of appearances, and the measurement of energy transition progress must evolve as well. We discuss the full story of an energy transition to the extent possible in a single chapter. For example, we will review business models in different sub-sectors, policies that either block or promote such changes in each sub-sector chosen, and the elements that are necessary for energy transitions to become successful and sustainable without long-term government intervention and financial support. Finally, we also provide insights from an expert workshop held in 2019 and we outline our upcoming work on an Energy Transition Preparedness Index.
The Influence of Policy Risk on Swiss Wind Power Investment
Authors: Broughel Anna , Wüstenhagen Rolf
Published: November 2021

Wind energy is one of the most affordable and fastest-growing sources of electricity worldwide. As a large share of wind power generation occurs in the winter season, it could make an important contribution to seasonal diversification of domestic electricity supply. However, the development of wind energy projects in Switzerland has been characterized by long and complex administrative processes, with the planning phase taking up to a decade, more than twice as long as the European average. The objective of this chapter is to quantify the risk premium that lengthy permitting processes imply for wind energy investors in Switzerland and to suggest ways to reduce policy risk. The data have been gathered through 22 confidential interviews with project developers and several cantonal permitting agencies as well as a review of federal and cantonal regulatory documents. Furthermore, a discounted cash flow model was built to compare the profitability indicators (IRR, NPV) and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a reference case to scenarios with various risks—for example, delays in the permitting process, downsizing the project, or changes in the regulatory environment such as phasing out feed-in tariffs. The model shows that the highest profitability risks are related to the availability of a feed-in tariff, but other changes in the permitting process can also have a critical impact on the project’s bottom line. The findings illustrate a significant policy risk premium in the pre-construction stage faced by wind energy project developers in Switzerland.
A Survey of Stakeholders’ Views and Practices
Authors: Duygan Mert , Kachi Aya , Oeri Fintan , Oliveira Thiago D. , Rinscheid Adrian
Published: November 2021

Along with policy proposers and individual voters, key stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping the socio-political acceptance of energy policy. Understanding a broad landscape of energy stakeholders’ views and practices thus should be a central theme in energy transition research. The Energy Strategy 2050 (ES2050), a sweeping energy transition policy package in Switzerland, was adopted in 2017. Concrete policy goals implied by ES2050 are yet to be implemented. Although there is a large body of social acceptance studies focusing on individual voters, we have a relatively scant empirical understanding of how stakeholders in this domain perceive the policy goals and how perceptions are linked to their organizational characteristics. To elucidate Swiss energy stakeholders’ perceptions on key action targets implied by recent energy policies in Switzerland, we analyzed data from our original survey with 364 organizations. We examined their views on concrete policy goals related to electric mobility, deep geothermal energy, wind energy, hydropower, and planned phase-outs of renewable energy subsidies. When asked to rate how realistic these goals appear to them, the majority of the stakeholders responded negatively. Furthermore, our findings indicate that, despite the considerable diversity and the overall pessimism in their feasibility perceptions, those that consider goals to be realistic are more likely to be active in the media. This is a concerning finding as the public might receive a biased impression via the media about the level of consensus among the stakeholders, who could, at times, be seen by the public as experts on the topic.
The Quest for the Future Energy Mix in the EU and in Switzerland
Authors: Heselhaus Sebastian
Published: November 2021

Switzerland and the European Union (EU) face similar challenges when it comes to the decarbonisation and securing of energy supply. Both lack sufficient domestic energy resources, apart from nuclear energy. But nuclear energy has become controversial after the nuclear meltdown accident at Fukushima, Japan, in 2011. Without reconsidering nuclear energy as a future energy resource, the cooperation in the energy market between the EU and Switzerland becomes even more vital for securing energy supply. While in the past, Switzerland has fulfilled an important function in securing energy supply in neighbouring EU Member States, lately, the EU has provided for its own governance for emergency situations. However, Switzerland will maintain its function as an interface in the electricity sector. This is even more true, since the new focus on renewable energies fosters the demand for flexible cross-boundary solutions. An electricity agreement between Switzerland and the EU might provide a stable legal framework for these developments. The price to pay for Switzerland will be a further opening of the market, offering the private consumer a choice of energy providers. The good news for Swiss strategies for promoting renewable energies is that EU Member States are still allowed to take a flexible approach towards national promotion measures, especially in designing them to their territory. Therefore, the cooperation between Switzerland and the EU offers some advantages in terms of flexibility in the quest for security of supply while fighting climate change.
The Role of Switzerland in European Electricity Governance
Authors: Hofmann Benjamin , Kolcava David , Thaler Philipp
Published: November 2021

This chapter explores the political influence of Switzerland as a non-EU country in European electricity governance. We argue that the influence of non-EU countries depends on their access to European governance institutions and their structural power resources. We further posit that the type of structural power resources circumscribes the specific areas of influence. The empirical analysis assesses these variables qualitatively based on interview and other primary data. First, it shows that Switzerland has relatively high access to important European governance bodies. Second, it reveals that Switzerland possesses structural power in serving as a European transit hub for electricity and an important source of technical expertise. Third, it confirms our theoretical expectation that Switzerland acts as a shaper in European electricity governance. Swiss influence is especially seen in matters related to grid management and cross-border electricity trade. Limitations to Swiss influence are often rooted in the legal principles of the EU internal market. Our findings qualify claims about a marginalization of Switzerland in European electricity governance. At the same time, we highlight uncertainties resulting from the present lack of an electricity agreement between Switzerland and the EU. Our chapter recommends Swiss policy-makers to strive for viable forms of energy cooperation with the EU and to strengthen the transit function and technical expertise of the country.
The Long-Term Impact of the Electorate on the Swiss Electricity Market Transition
Authors: Klein Raphael , Finger Matthias
Published: November 2021

The Swiss government, through its Energy Strategy 2050, is engaged on a path to transition Switzerland to become a carbon-neutral country by the year 2050. In this chapter, we look at the impact that the electorate can have on this transition and on the Swiss electricity market. This is done using hybrid agent-based modelling. We model the Swiss electricity market and we add to this a model of the policy-making process. This allows us to study which policy instruments are more likely to be implemented depending on the Swiss electricity market progression and on the policy actors’ interests. The results have shown that the electorate has a limited impact on the policy chosen and on the electricity market. Overall, an environmentally conscious electorate leads policy actors to select the carbon tax as a policy more often. This, however, has the adverse effect to increase the electricity price and increase import dependency in winter. In high demand growth scenarios, the carbon tax policy is not sufficient to stem the construction of gas turbine power plants. We also show that because the electricity model does not consider an extended demand response option or technology advancement, the knowledge gained from this model is limited. This drives the behaviour of the model into scenarios which are unlikely to happen, such as a large increase of the gas turbine power plants. Overall, we conclude that, in their current form, even with an environmentally conscious electorate, the electricity market conditions do not allow Switzerland to reach its emissions targets.
Imperial Aetiologies: Violence, Sleeping Sickness, and the Colonial Encounter
Authors: Taylor-Pirie Emilie
Published: November 2021

In this chapter Taylor-Pirie examines how one particular tropical disease—sleeping sickness—was conceptualised as a form of tropical violence across a range of medical and nonmedical genres. Using the repetition of an African curse ‘owa na ntolo’ as an access point, she reveals how sensational literary depictions of sleeping sickness circulated between newspaper reports and clinical case studies, augmenting debates about racial susceptibility. Depictions of African sleeping sickness, she argues, were filtered through an emotional register that produced new aetiologies of race and illness visible in Henry Seton Merriman’s hugely popular imperial romance novel With Edged Tools (1894), as well as in medical essays and tropical travel guides. The melodramatic mode and a flexible approach to representations of disease transmission produced Africa as a place productive of illness and immorality in equal measure. Ultimately, she demonstrates how Britain’s encounters with tropical disease—fictional and nonfictional—were used to map not only the epidemiological but also the sociocultural topographies of empire.
Grundlagen und Anwendungen von KI
Authors: Humm Bernhard G. , Buxmann Peter , Schmidt Jan C.
Published: November 2021

Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) ist die Fähigkeit von Computersystemen, Aufgaben auszuführen, die normalerweise menschliche Intelligenz erfordern. Im Laufe der KI-Geschichte haben sich zwei Hauptströmungen von KI-Verfahren herausgebildet: Wissensbasierte KI und Machine Learning. Beide Strömungen haben Vor- und Nachteile. Hybride Verfahren kombinieren beide Strömungen, damit sie sich gegenseitig ergänzen können. Anwendungen von KI finden sich in nahezu allen Lebensbereichen. Im Umfeld der Forschung stellen wir beispielhaft KI-Anwendungen von drei Wissenschaftsdomänen vor: Physik, Klimaforschung und Medizin. KI zeigt sich darin als ein mächtiges Werkzeug, welches die Wissensarbeit verändert und das Potenzial hat, neue Möglichkeiten in der Forschung zu eröffnen.
Promotion of Kreweras words
Authors: Hopkins Sam , Rubey Martin
Published: November 2021

Kreweras words are words consisting of n$$\mathrm {A}$$
A
’s, n$$\mathrm {B}$$
B
’s, and n$$\mathrm {C}$$
C
’s in which every prefix has at least as many $$\mathrm {A}$$
A
’s as $$\mathrm {B}$$
B
’s and at least as many $$\mathrm {A}$$
A
’s as $$\mathrm {C}$$
C
’s. Equivalently, a Kreweras word is a linear extension of the poset $$\mathsf{V}\times [n]$$

V
×
[
n
]

. Kreweras words were introduced in 1965 by Kreweras, who gave a remarkable product formula for their enumeration. Subsequently they became a fundamental example in the theory of lattice walks in the quarter plane. We study Schützenberger’s promotion operator on the set of Kreweras words. In particular, we show that 3n applications of promotion on a Kreweras word merely swaps the $$\mathrm {B}$$
B
’s and $$\mathrm {C}$$
C
’s. Doing so, we provide the first answer to a question of Stanley from 2009, asking for posets with ‘good’ behavior under promotion, other than the four families of shapes classified by Haiman in 1992. We also uncover a strikingly simple description of Kreweras words in terms of Kuperberg’s $$\mathfrak {sl}_3$$

sl
3

-webs, and Postnikov’s trip permutation associated with any plabic graph. In this description, Schützenberger’s promotion corresponds to rotation of the web.
Teletherapie nach Cochleaimplantation in der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Völter Christiane , Stöckmann Carolin , Klein Hannah , Dazert Stefan , Thomas Jan Peter
Published: November 2021

Hintergrund

Die Digitalisierung im Gesundheitswesen hat unter der COVID-19-Pandemie rasant zugenommen. Bislang fand Hörtraining nach Cochleaimplantation meist Face-to-Face statt, doch die Kontaktvermeidung erschwert diesen Therapieansatz.

Material und Methoden

Insgesamt 42 erwachsene Cochleaimplantat(CI)-Träger im Alter von 53,8 (±15,6) erhielten 1×/Woche über 5 Wochen Videotherapie im Rahmen der Folgetherapie nach Cochleaimplantation. Nach jeder Therapieeinheit erfolgte eine Dokumentation hinsichtlich des Ablaufs und der Therapieinhalte. Nach Studienende wurden neben einer Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse das Konzept und die Benutzerfreundlichkeit anhand der System Usability Scale (SUS) und eines eigenen Abschlussfragebogens zur Videotherapie sowie die Therapeuten-Patienten-Beziehung mit der Skala Therapeutische Allianz – Revised (STA-R) sowohl von Patienten als auch von Therapeuten bewertet.

Ergebnisse

Gleichermaßen hoch schätzten beide Usergruppen die Benutzerfreundlichkeit ein (87,9 vs. 93,0). Trotz des fehlenden persönlichen Kontakts wurde die therapeutische Allianz sehr positiv angesehen (87,8 % vs. 84,8 %). Die therapeutischen Bedürfnisse der Patienten konnten in 47,6 % vollständig durch die Videotherapie abgedeckt werden. Der größte Vorteil für die Patienten lag in der Zeit- und Kostenersparnis. Für die Rehabilitationseinrichtung entstanden zunächst mehr Kosten aufgrund einer längeren Therapievorbereitung. Auch traten in > 75 % der ersten Therapieeinheiten technische Probleme auf. Langfristig war die Durchführung der Therapie hierdurch nicht beeinträchtigt.

Schlussfolgerung

Videogestütztes Hörtraining wird als nützlich beurteilt und auch zukünftig gewünscht. Ob die positiv erlebte therapeutische Allianz auch über einen längeren Therapiezeitraum aufrechtzuerhalten sein wird und wie effektiv Videotherapie ist, bedarf weiterer Studien.
Influence of Probiotics Administration Before Liver Resection in Patients with Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Roussel Edouard , Brasse‐Lagnel Carole , Tuech Jean‐Jacques , Montialoux Helène , Papet Eloise , Tortajada Pauline , Bekri Soumeya , Schwarz Lilian
Published: November 2021

Background

By inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and modulating the local intestinal immune system, probiotics may reduce bacterial translocation and systemic endotoxaemia, factors partially responsible for post‐operative complications following liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods

Patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma developed in the setting of chronic liver disease were prospectively divided into two equal‐sized groups: one receiving probiotic treatment 14 days prior to surgery and the other receiving placebo. The primary endpoint was the level of circulating endotoxins after hepatectomy. Secondary endpoints were systemic inflammation (inflammatory cytokine levels), post‐operative liver function and overall post‐operative complication rate.

Results

From May 2013 to December 2018, 64 patients were randomized, and 54 patients were included in the analysis, 27 in each arm. No significant change in endotoxin levels was observed over time in either group (P = 0.299). No difference between the groups in terms of post‐operative liver function and overall complication rates was observed. The only differences observed were significant increases in the levels of TNFalpha (P = 0.019) and interleukin 1‐b (P = 0.028) in the probiotic group in the post‐operative period.

Conclusion

Contrary to the modest data reported in the literature, the administration of probiotics before minor liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma developed in the setting of compensated chronic liver disease does not seem to have an impact on circulating endotoxin levels or post‐operative complication rates.

Trial registration

Trial registration: NCT02021253.
A prospective study on inter-operator variability in semi-robotic software-based MRI/TRUS-fusion targeted prostate biopsies
Authors: Derigs Fabian , Doryumu Samuel , Tollens Fabian , Nörenberg Dominik , Neuberger Manuel , von Hardenberg Jost , Michel Maurice Stephan , Ritter Manuel , Westhoff Niklas
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound-fusion prostate biopsy (FB) comprises multiple steps each of which can cause alterations in targeted biopsy (TB) accuracy leading to false-negative results. The aim was to assess the inter-operator variability of software-based fusion TB by targeting the same MRI-lesions by different urologists.

Methods

In this prospective study, 142 patients eligible for analysis underwent software-based FB. TB of all lesions (n = 172) were carried out by two different urologists per patient (n = 31 urologists). We analyzed the number of mismatches [overall prostate cancer (PCa), clinically significant PCa (csPCa) and non-significant PCa (nsPCa)] between both performed TB per patient. In addition we evaluated factors contributing to inter-operator variability by uni- and multivariable analyses.

Results

In 11.6% of all MRI-lesions (10.6% of all patients) there was a mismatch between TB1 and TB2 in terms of overall prostate cancer (PCa detection. Regarding csPCa, patient-based mismatch occurred in 14.8% (n = 21). Overall PCa and csPCa detection rate of TB1 and TB2 did not differ significantly on a per-patient and per-lesion level.

Analyses revealed a smaller lesion size as predictive for mismatches (OR 9.19, 95% CI 2.02–41.83, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Reproducibility and precision of targeting particularly small lesions is still limited although using software-based FB. Further improvements in image-fusion, segmentation, needle-guidance, and automatization are necessary.
Tree-ring oxygen isotopes record a decrease in Amazon dry season rainfall over the past 40 years
Authors: Cintra Bruno B. L. , Gloor Manuel , Boom Arnoud , Schöngart Jochen , Baker Jessica C. A. , Cruz Francisco W. , Clerici Santiago , Brienen Roel J. W.
Published: November 2021

Extant climate observations suggest the dry season over large parts of the Amazon Basin has become longer and drier over recent decades. However, such possible intensification of the Amazon dry season and its underlying causes are still a matter of debate. Here we used oxygen isotope ratios in tree rings (δ18OTR) from six floodplain trees from the western Amazon to assess changes in past climate. Our analysis shows that δ18OTR of these trees is negatively related to inter-annual variability of precipitation during the dry season over large parts of the Amazon Basin, consistent with a Rayleigh rainout model. Furthermore δ18OTR increases by approximately 2‰ over the last four decades (~ 1970–2014) providing evidence of an Amazon drying trend independent from satellite and in situ rainfall observations. Using a Rayleigh rainout framework, we estimate basin-wide dry season rainfall to have decreased by up to 30%. The δ18OTR record further suggests such drying trend may not be unprecedented over the past 80 years. Analysis of δ18OTR with sea surface temperatures indicates a strong role of a warming Tropical North Atlantic Ocean in driving this long-term increase in δ18OTR and decrease in dry season rainfall.
Prevalence of ‘pouch failure’ of the ileoanal pouch in ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alsafi Zaid , Snell Alice , Segal Jonathan P.
Published: November 2021

Background and aims

The ileoanal pouch (IPAA) provides patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) that have not responded to medical therapy an option to retain bowel continuity and defecate without the need for a long-term stoma. Despite good functional outcomes, some pouches fail, requiring permanent diversion, pouchectomy, or a redo pouch. The incidence of pouch failure ranges between 2 and 15% in the literature. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to define the prevalence of pouch failure in patients with UC who have undergone IPAA using population-based studies.

Methods

We searched Embase, Embase classic and PubMed from 1978 to 31st of May 2021 to identify cross-sectional studies that reported the prevalence of pouch failure in adults (≥ 18 years of age) who underwent IPAA for UC.

Results

Twenty-six studies comprising 23,389 patients were analysed. With < 5 years of follow-up, the prevalence of pouch failure was 5% (95%CI 3–10%). With ≥ 5 but < 10 years of follow-up, the prevalence was 5% (95%CI 4–7%). This increased to 9% (95%CI 7–16%) with ≥ 10 years of follow-up. The overall prevalence of pouch failure was 6% (95%CI 5–8%).

Conclusions

The overall prevalence of pouch failure in patients over the age of 18 who have undergone restorative proctocolectomy in UC is 6%. These data are important for counselling patients considering this operation. Importantly, for those patients with UC being considered for a pouch, their disease course has often resulted in both physical and psychological morbidity and hence providing accurate expectations for these patients is vital.
Plasma boron concentrations in the general population: a cross-sectional analysis of cardio-metabolic and dietary correlates
Authors: Weber Katharina S. , Ratjen Ilka , Enderle Janna , Seidel Ulrike , Rimbach Gerald , Lieb Wolfgang
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Experimental evidence suggests positive effects of boron on health and metabolism, but human data are still scarce. We aimed to identify dietary and cardio-metabolic correlates of plasma boron concentrations in the general population.

Methods

In a community-based sample (n = 899, 57% men, mean age 61 years), plasma boron (median [IQR]: 33.80 µg/L [25.61; 44.65]) concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Overall (PDI), healthy (hPDI), and unhealthy (uPDI) plant-based diet indices were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Reduced rank regression (RRR) yielded a dietary pattern explaining 30% of the variation of circulating boron. Cross-sectional associations of dietary indices and cardio-metabolic traits with plasma boron concentrations were assessed using multivariable-adjusted linear regression analysis.

Results

The RRR pattern was characterized by high intake of fruits, nuts/seeds, tea, wine and low intake of e.g. bread, poultry, processed meat, chocolate/sweets, and soft drinks. 10-point increments in PDI, hPDI, and uPDI were associated with 8.7% (95% CI: 4.2; 13.4), 10.4% (95% CI: 6.6; 14.3), and −8.8% (95% CI: −12.1; −5.4) change in plasma boron concentrations, respectively. Age and phosphate were directly, while BMI, plasma lipid concentrations, and CRP were inversely associated with circulating boron. Plasma boron concentrations were higher in summer vs. winter, in individuals taking vs. not taking antihypertensive medication, and in individuals with high or medium vs. low education level.

Conclusion

Higher plasma boron concentrations appeared to associate with a healthier diet, were related to lower BMI and a more favorable cardio-metabolic risk profile, and showed seasonal variations.
Mathematical modeling and estimation for next wave of COVID-19 in Poland
Authors: Arti M. K. , Wilinski Antoni
Published: November 2021

We investigate the problem of mathematical modeling of new corona virus (COVID-19) in Poland and tries to predict the upcoming wave. A Gaussian mixture model is proposed to characterize the COVID-19 disease and to predict a new / future wave of COVID-19. This prediction is very much needed to prepare for medical setup and continue with the upcoming program. Specifically, data related to the new confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day are considered, and then we attempt to predict the data and statistical activity. A close match between actual data and analytical data by using the Gaussian mixture model shows that it is a suitable model to present new cases of COVID-19. In addition, it is thought that there are N waves of COVID-19 and that information for each future wave is also present in current and previous waves as well. Using this concept, predictions of a future wave can be made.
Korrelation petrophysikalischer und geomechanischer Parameter von Gesteinen des Erzberges
Authors: Gegenhuber Nina , Krüger Melanie , Seidl David
Published: November 2021

Die Korrelation von geophysikalischen/petrophysikalischen Parametern mit geotechnischen bietet für die Planung und Erstellung von Untertageinfrastrukturen und Geothermie sowie Erdöl Projekten einen großen Mehrwert. Gerade der interdisziplinäre Ansatz von Geologie, Mineralogie, Geophysik und Geotechnik kann in der Zukunft bei Herausforderungen der Zeit helfen und ist damit unumgänglich. Gezeigt werden hier Daten von Proben des Erzberges (Kalzitschiefer, Kalkmarmor und Phyllite). Ein Fokus bei den Messungen und Korrelationen wurde dabei auf die Anisotropie gelegt, die häufig vernachlässigt wird, aber von großer Auswirkung sein kann. Daten umfassen zum einen petrophysikalische Messungen, wie Porosität, Dichte und Kompressions- sowie Scherwellengeschwindigkeiten und zum anderen geotechnische, wie Abrasivitäten, statischen E‑Modul und Druckfestigkeit. Zusätzlich wurden mineralogische Analysen durchgeführt, um die Zusammensetzung der Gesteine für eine Interpretation miteinfließen zu lassen. Gezeigt wird ein Teil der Daten und erste Korrelationen zwischen den Parametern. Die ersten Ergebnisse zeigen positive Trends. Für weitere detaillierte Aussagen müssen noch größerer Datenmengen gemessen werden.
Prevalence of sleep disturbance and the association between poor disease control in people with ankylosing spondylitis within the Australian clinical setting (ASLEEP study): a real-world observational study using the OPAL dataset
Authors: Tymms Kathleen , Butcher Belinda E. , Sletten Tracey L. , Smith Tegan , O’Sullivan Catherine , Littlejohn Geoffrey , Sadler Ricky , Tronnberg Rebecca , Griffiths Hedley ,   on behalf of the OPAL consortium
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Sleep disturbance and fatigue are commonly reported in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) but specific prevalence and the relationship to disease control are unknown.

Method

This retrospective non-interventional observational study of data from the OPAL dataset included patients with AS (ICD code M45, M45.0 or M08.1), aged 18 to 95 years and had completed ≥ 1 sleep questionnaire between 1 January 2019 and 30 September 2020. The prevalence of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea were assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Multivariate Apnoea Prediction Index (MAPI), respectively. Propensity score (PS) matching based on sex, age and symptom duration increased comparability between patients administered tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and interleukin 17A inhibitors (IL-17Ai).

Results

Four hundred ninety-five patients were included. The mean ISI total score in the overall population was 8.6 ± 6.2. Self-reported moderate or severe clinical insomnia was present in 16% and 3.2% of patients, respectively. The mean MAPI score was 0.4 ± 0.3, self-reported apnoea was identified in 31.5% of patients and the mean FACIT-Fatigue score was 36.1 ± 10.7. In the PS matched population, the only treatment-related difference was the mean MAPI score (IL-17Ai 0.4 ± 0.3 and TNFi 0.3 ± 0.2, p = 0.046). Those with poor disease control (BASDAI ≥ 4) were more likely (odds ratio [OR] 7.29, 95% CI 2.37 to 22.46, p = 0.001) to have a greater severity of insomnia symptoms than those with good disease control.

Conclusion

In this real-world AS cohort, poor disease control was associated with sleep disturbance. Little difference in sleep disturbance was observed between biologic TNFi and IL-17Ai treatment.

Key Points

• Sleep disturbance and fatigue are common in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.• In our real-world cohort, self-reported apnoea was reported in one-third of patients; and one in five patients reported moderate to severe insomnia.• Those with poor disease control were more likely to experience greater sleep disturbance than those with good disease control.
The faded stripes of Bengal: a historical perspective on the easternmost distribution of the striped hyena
Authors: Akash Muntasir , Dheer Arjun , Dloniak Stephanie M. , Jacobson Andrew P.
Published: November 2021

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is an understudied large carnivore with no known historic range map. Knowledge of the past and present extent of its easternmost distribution beyond 85° east longitude is dubious. Through a comprehensive review of historical evidence and contemporary records, we investigated striped hyena presence in Bengal, i.e., Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal in South Asia. We found 14 historical records, with the oldest one dating to 1876. Our review establishes Bangladesh as a former striped hyena range country and the striped hyena as one of the first large carnivores to go extinct in Bangladesh. We identified northern Bangladesh as part of its historical range (until ~1965), and south-central Bangladesh as a possible part of its historical range. In West Bengal, India, hyenas were historically present up to the southern tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, but the present range is reduced. The area south of the Damodar River is its last refuge in Bengal. We also found 15 contemporary records (2010–2021) in Bengal, from sites situated on the eastern limit of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. These records noted 25 sightings including 9 deaths due to poaching, train accidents, and retaliatory killings. Our review demonstrates that hyenas are currently present up to 87° east longitude, which extends the currently documented easternmost range for the species by almost 1,000 km. We recommend methods which can be applied to delineate the historical extent of striped hyenas elsewhere as well as for other poorly understood species.
Do Positive Psychology Interventions Impact on the Subjective Wellbeing and Depression of Clients? A Systematic Methodological Review
Authors: McTiernan Kara , Gullon-Scott Fiona , Dudley Robert
Published: November 2021

Mental health services are placing a greater emphasis on wellbeing and recovery. The current research investigated if positive psychology interventions (PPIs) increase peoples’ subjective wellbeing and reduce clinical depression. A systematic methodological review was conducted on randomized-control-trials with people attending clinical services. Five databases were searched. A hand search was then completed on the reference lists of the identified articles and the associated journals. Eleven research interventions were reviewed. PPIs were found to significantly increase wellbeing, relative to controls and there were fewer studies indicating a difference in decreasing depression. However, subsequent analysis revealed that the interventions were heterogeneous which limits the drawing of definitive systematic conclusions. A methodological evaluation also found that there were recurring issues: in delivering the interventions, measuring subjective wellbeing, and applying the design. Thus, the methodological quality of the research interventions, as measured by the current review was low. There is emerging evidence that PPIs improve peoples’ mental health. However, there is scope to standardize and to improve the quality of the research interventions.
A Farewell to Homo Sacer? Sovereign Power and Bare Life in Agamben’s Coronavirus Commentary
Authors: Prozorov Sergei
Published: November 2021

The article addresses Giorgio Agamben’s critical commentary on the global governance of the Covid-19 pandemic as a paradigm of his political thought. While Agamben’s comments have been criticized as exaggerated and conspiratorial, they arise from the conceptual constellation that he has developed starting from the first volume of his Homo Sacer series. At the centre of this constellation is the relation between the concepts of sovereign power and bare life, whose articulation in the figure of homo sacer Agamben traces from the Antiquity to the present. We shall demonstrate that any such articulation is impossible due to the belonging of these concepts to different planes, respectively empirical and transcendental, which Agamben brings together in a problematic fashion. His account of the sovereign state of exception collapses a plurality of empirical states of exception into a zone of indistinction between different exceptional states and the normal state and then elevates this very indistinction to the transcendental condition of intelligibility of politics as such. Conversely, the notion of bare life, originally posited as the transcendental condition of possibility of positive forms of life, is recast as an empirical figure, whose sole form is the absence of form. We conclude that this problematic articulation should be abandoned for a theory that rather highlights the non-relation between sovereign power and bare life, which conditions the possibility of resistance and transformation that remains obscure in Agamben’s thought.
Deep Learning for Constrained Utility Maximisation
Authors: Davey Ashley , Zheng Harry
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes two algorithms for solving stochastic control problems with deep learning, with a focus on the utility maximisation problem. The first algorithm solves Markovian problems via the Hamilton Jacobi Bellman (HJB) equation. We solve this highly nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) with a second order backward stochastic differential equation (2BSDE) formulation. The convex structure of the problem allows us to describe a dual problem that can either verify the original primal approach or bypass some of the complexity. The second algorithm utilises the full power of the duality method to solve non-Markovian problems, which are often beyond the scope of stochastic control solvers in the existing literature. We solve an adjoint BSDE that satisfies the dual optimality conditions. We apply these algorithms to problems with power, log and non-HARA utilities in the Black-Scholes, the Heston stochastic volatility, and path dependent volatility models. Numerical experiments show highly accurate results with low computational cost, supporting our proposed algorithms.
Perceptions of land managers towards using hybrid and genetically modified trees
Authors: Brennan Andrea N. , Ma Zhao , Jacobs Douglass F.
Published: November 2021

Hybridization and genetic modification are potential methods for incorporation of stress tolerance being explored to support some at-risk tree species. However, many concerns, both ecological and economic, have been identified in using these biotechnologies, such as potential for invasiveness or high cost. There is limited information on perceptions towards hybrid and genetically modified (GM) trees, particularly from individuals responsible for widescale tree management. An online survey was administered to land managers in Indiana, USA to gauge perceptions to hybrid and GM trees, and current hybrid tree use. Land managers had stronger concern for ecological, rather than economic, issues, with potential for invasiveness being strongest. Agreement was highest for using the tree types for conservation and restoration of at-risk species and production purposes. However, perceptions varied by characteristics such as concern type, age, and land type managed. Ecological concern and land type managed most strongly predicted hybrid use. Overall, the majority of land managers agreed, rather than disagreed, with a variety of potential hybrid and GM tree advantages and purposes. Thus, results indicate that if these biotechnologies are deemed appropriate for supporting at-risk species, the majority of land managers in Indiana might be agreeable to such recommendations from researchers. However, it was also clear that despite this, most respondents concurrently had strong ecological concerns about suitability as a native species replacement. To address this, it is essential that these tree types be thoroughly vetted, and land managers be actively engaged in the process, as this population would ultimately be responsible for any widescale implementation of hybrid and GM trees.
Ultraviolet screening by slug tissue and tight packing of plastids protect photosynthetic sea slugs from photoinhibition
Authors: Havurinne Vesa , Aitokari Riina , Mattila Heta , Käpylä Ville , Tyystjärvi Esa
Published: November 2021

One of the main mysteries regarding photosynthetic sea slugs is how the slug plastids handle photoinhibition, the constant light-induced damage to Photosystem II of photosynthesis. Recovery from photoinhibition involves proteins encoded by both the nuclear and plastid genomes, and slugs with plastids isolated from the algal nucleus are therefore expected to be incapable of constantly repairing the damage as the plastids inside the slugs grow old. We studied photoinhibition-related properties of the sea slug Elysia timida that ingests its plastids from the green alga Acetabularia acetabulum. Spectral analysis of both the slugs and the algae revealed that there are two ways the slugs use to avoid major photoinhibition of their plastids. Firstly, highly photoinhibitory UV radiation is screened by the slug tissue or mucus before it reaches the plastids. Secondly, the slugs pack the plastids tightly in their thick bodies, and therefore plastids in the outer layers protect the inner ones from photoinhibition. Both properties are expected to greatly improve the longevity of the plastids inside the slugs, as the plastids do not need to repair excessive amounts of damage.
“Anything taking shape?” Capturing various layers of small group collaborative problem solving in an experiential geometry course in initial teacher education
Authors: Pöysä-Tarhonen Johanna , Häkkinen Päivi , Tarhonen Pasi , Näykki Piia , Järvelä Sanna
Published: November 2021

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is widely recognized as a prominent 21st-century skill to be mastered. Until recently, research on CPS has often focused on problem solution by the individual; the interest in investigating how the theorized problem-solving constructs function as broader social units, such as pairs or small groups, is relatively recent. Capturing the complexity of CPS processes in group-level interaction is challenging. Therefore, a method of analysis capturing various layers of CPS was developed that aimed for a deeper understanding of CPS as a small-group enactment. In the study, small groups of teacher education students worked on two variations of open-ended CPS tasks—a technology-enhanced task and a task using physical objects. The method, relying on video data, encompassed triangulation of analysis methods and combined the following: (a) directed content analysis of the actualized CPS in groups, (b) process analysis and visualizations, and (c) qualitative cases. Content analysis did not show a large variation in how CPS was actualized in the groups or tasks for either case, whereas process analysis revealed both group- and task-related differences in accordance with the interchange of CPS elements. The qualitative cases exemplified the interaction diversity in the quality of coordination and students’ equal participation in groups. It was concluded that combining different methods gives access to various layers of CPS; moreover, it can contribute to a deeper articulation of the CPS as a group-level construct, providing divergent ways to understand CPS in this context.