bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualität und Ethik in der Gesundheitsversorgung
Authors: Marckmann Georg , Schildmann Jan
Published: February 2022

Der Begriff „Qualität“ in der Gesundheitsversorgung wird häufig verwendet, aber unterschiedlich bestimmt. Einerseits beschreibt „Qualität“ die Beschaffenheit oder Eigenschaft von Dingen und ist in dieser Hinsicht deskriptiv. In den Bereichen Qualitätsmanagement und Qualitätssicherung steht aber die normative Dimension von „Qualität“ im Sinne der Bewertung von Strukturen, Prozessen oder Ergebnissen von Handlungen im Kontext der Gesundheitsversorgung im Mittelpunkt. Dabei bestehen verschiedene Anknüpfungspunkte zwischen ethischen Erwägungen im Gesundheitswesen und Qualität der Gesundheitsversorgung. Zunächst sind die Erbringung und Sicherung von hoher Qualität ein ethischer Imperativ, geboten durch die Prinzipien Wohltun und Nichtschaden. Für eine hohe ethische Qualität der Versorgung sind darüber hinaus aber auch die ethischen Prinzipien Achtung der Patient:innenautonomie und Gerechtigkeit zu berücksichtigen. Nicht zuletzt sind die Bestimmung und Begründung dessen, was „gute“ oder „hohe“ Qualität in der Gesundheitsversorgung meint, aus ethischer Sicht zu reflektieren. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert diese ethischen Dimensionen des Qualitätsmanagements und der Qualitätssicherung. Dazu wird zunächst erläutert, welche ethischen Anforderungen als Qualitätsmerkmale in der Patient:innenversorgung zu berücksichtigen sind. Anschließend werden ethisch relevante Herausforderungen bei der Bestimmung der Qualität im Gesundheitswesen anhand von Kriterien der Ergebnisqualität identifiziert und die Vermittlung professioneller Kompetenzen in der medizinischen Ausbildung als möglicher Beitrag zu Qualität und Qualitätssicherung im Gesundheitswesen erörtert. Den Abschluss bilden Überlegungen zur Bestimmung und Sicherung der Qualität unter den Bedingungen begrenzter Gesundheitsressourcen.
Separating the direct effects of traits on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease from those mediated by type 2 diabetes
Authors: Walker Venexia M. , Vujkovic Marijana , Carter Alice R. , Davies Neil M. , Udler Miriam S. , Levin Michael G. , Davey Smith George , Voight Benjamin F. , Gaunt Tom R. , Damrauer Scott M.
Published: February 2022

Aims/hypothesis

Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic CVD share many risk factors. This study aimed to systematically assess a broad range of continuous traits to separate their direct effects on coronary and peripheral artery disease from those mediated by type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Our main analysis was a two-step Mendelian randomisation for mediation to quantify the extent to which the associations observed between continuous traits and liability to atherosclerotic CVD were mediated by liability to type 2 diabetes. To support this analysis, we performed several univariate Mendelian randomisation analyses to examine the associations between our continuous traits, liability to type 2 diabetes and liability to atherosclerotic CVD.

Results

Eight traits were eligible for the two-step Mendelian randomisation with liability to coronary artery disease as the outcome and we found similar direct and total effects in most cases. Exceptions included fasting insulin and hip circumference where the proportion mediated by liability to type 2 diabetes was estimated as 56% and 52%, respectively. Six traits were eligible for the analysis with liability to peripheral artery disease as the outcome. Again, we found limited evidence to support mediation by liability to type 2 diabetes for all traits apart from fasting insulin (proportion mediated: 70%).

Conclusions/interpretation

Most traits were found to affect liability to atherosclerotic CVD independently of their relationship with liability to type 2 diabetes. These traits are therefore important for understanding atherosclerotic CVD risk regardless of an individual’s liability to type 2 diabetes.

Graphical abstract
Postpartum urinary retention: what are the sequelae? A long-term study and review of the literature
Authors: Mohr Stefan , Raio Luigi , Gobrecht-Keller Ursula , Imboden Sara , Mueller Michael D. , Kuhn Annette
Published: February 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) may cause long-term urogenital tract morbidity. The incidence ranges from 0.18 to 14.6%, but the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate management is often underappreciated. The paucity of data on long-term outcome after PUR contributes to these drawbacks. The aim of this study was to assess long-term persistence of elevated PVR (post-void residual urine) volume after PUR. Pathophysiology, risk factors and management of PUR are reviewed.

Methods

In our tertiary referral urogynecology unit in the University Women’s Hospital of Bern, Switzerland, all patients who were referred for PUR were asked to participate in this study. PVR was measured sonographically every 2 days until day 15, then after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months and, if increased, the patients were instructed to perform clean intermittent self-catheterization. If retention persisted longer than the lactation period, multichannel urodynamics was performed.

Results

Sixty-two patients were included. The median PVR normalized at day 7. Long-term voiding disorders were found in 8.2%, 6.7%, and 4.9% after 1, 2, and 3 years respectively. Multichannel urodynamics confirmed in all patients with persisting retention an acontractile detrusor and de novo stress urinary incontinence in 4 cases. Quantile regression did not reveal any factor contributing to earlier recovery. Eighty-nine percent of the patients with PUR had operative vaginal deliveries, emphasizing the importance of this risk factor for PUR.

Conclusions

In most cases PUR resolves early, but voiding difficulties persist more often than previously thought, and for these patients the consequences are devastating. Obstetric awareness, early active management, and developing management strategies in the postpartum period might preclude lower urinary tract morbidity.
A New Perspective on Wasserstein Distances for Kinetic Problems
Authors: Iacobelli Mikaela
Published: February 2022

We introduce a new class of Wasserstein-type distances specifically designed to tackle questions concerning stability and convergence to equilibria for kinetic equations. Thanks to these new distances, we improve some classical estimates by Loeper (J Math Pures Appl (9) 86(1):68–79, 2006) and Dobrushin (Funktsional Anal i Prilozhen 13:48–58, 1979) on Vlasov-type equations, and we present an application to quasi-neutral limits.
A Fourier restriction theorem for a perturbed hyperbolic paraboloid: polynomial partitioning
Authors: Buschenhenke Stefan , Müller Detlef , Vargas Ana
Published: February 2022

We consider a surface with negative curvature in $${{\mathbb {R}}}^3,$$

R

3

,

which is a cubic perturbation of the saddle. For this surface, we prove a new restriction theorem, analogous to the theorem for paraboloids proved by L. Guth in 2016. This specific perturbation has turned out to be of fundamental importance also to the understanding of more general classes of one-variate perturbations, and we hope that the present paper will further help to pave the way for the study of general perturbations of the saddle by means of the polynomial partitioning method.
Microstructural meal pattern analysis reveals a paradoxical acute increase in food intake after nicotine despite its long-term anorexigenic effects
Authors: Shankar Kokila , Ambroggi Frederic , George Olivier
Published: February 2022

Rationale

Nicotine consumption in both human and animal studies has been strongly associated with changes in feeding-related behaviors and metabolism. The current dogma is that nicotine is an anorexic agent that decreases food intake and increases metabolism, leading to decreased body weight gain. However, there are conflicting reports about the acute effects of nicotine on hunger in humans. No study has reported nicotine-induced decreases in food intake within minutes of consumption, suggesting that our understanding of the pharmacological effects of nicotine on appetite and feeding may be incorrect.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to elucidate effects of acute nicotine intake on feeding and drinking behavior.

Methods

Adult male Wistar rats were trained to intravenously self-administer nicotine. Microstructural and macrostructural behavioral analyses were employed to look at changes in food and water intake at different timescales.

Results

At the macrostructural level (hours to days), nicotine decreased body weight gain, decreased feeding, and was associated with increases in feeding and body weight gain during abstinence. At the microstructural level (seconds to minutes), nicotine increased feeding and drinking behavior during the first 5 min after nicotine self-administration. This effect was also observed in animals that passively received nicotine, but the effect was not observed in animals that self-administered saline or passively received saline.

Conclusions

These results challenge the notion that the initial pharmacological effect of nicotine is anorexigenic and paradoxically suggest that an acute increase in food intake minutes after exposure to nicotine may contribute to the long-term anorexigenic effects of nicotine.
Non-invasive imaging of tau-targeted probe uptake by whole brain multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography
Authors: Vagenknecht Patrick , Luzgin Artur , Ono Maiko , Ji Bin , Higuchi Makoto , Noain Daniela , Maschio Cinzia A. , Sobek Jens , Chen Zhenyue , Konietzko Uwe , Gerez Juan A. , Riek Roland , Razansky Daniel , Klohs Jan , Nitsch Roger M. , Dean-Ben Xose Luis , Ni Ruiqing
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Abnormal tau accumulation within the brain plays an important role in tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. High-resolution imaging of tau deposits at the whole-brain scale in animal disease models is highly desired.

Methods

We approached this challenge by non-invasively imaging the brains of P301L mice of 4-repeat tau with concurrent volumetric multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) at ~ 115 μm spatial resolution using the tau-targeted pyridinyl-butadienyl-benzothiazole derivative PBB5 (i.v.). In vitro probe characterization, concurrent vMSOT and epi-fluorescence imaging of in vivo PBB5 targeting (i.v.) was performed in P301L and wild-type mice, followed by ex vivo validation using AT-8 antibody for phosphorylated tau.

Results

PBB5 showed specific binding to recombinant K18 tau fibrils by fluorescence assay, to post-mortem Alzheimer’s disease brain tissue homogenate by competitive binding against [11C]PBB3 and to tau deposits (AT-8 positive) in post-mortem corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy brains. Dose-dependent optoacoustic and fluorescence signal intensities were observed in the mouse brains following i.v. administration of different concentrations of PBB5. In vivo vMSOT brain imaging of P301L mice showed higher retention of PBB5 in the tau-laden cortex and hippocampus compared to wild-type mice, as confirmed by ex vivo vMSOT, epi-fluorescence, multiphoton microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining.

Conclusions

We demonstrated non-invasive whole-brain imaging of tau in P301L mice with vMSOT system using PBB5 at a previously unachieved ~ 115 μm spatial resolution. This platform provides a new tool to study tau spreading and clearance in a tauopathy mouse model, foreseeable in monitoring tau targeting putative therapeutics.
Predictors for second-stage posterior direct decompression after lateral lumbar interbody fusion: a review of five hundred fifty-seven patients in the past five years
Authors: Li Jun , Xu Tian-zhen , Zhang Ning , Chen Qi-xin , Li Fang-cai
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To analyze the predictors for second-stage posterior direct decompression (PDD) after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) procedure.

Methods

We studied patients who underwent LLIF for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in the last five years, from July 2016 to June 2021. All surgical levels were grouped according to Schizas’ central canal stenosis (CCS) classification, Pathria’s facet joint degeneration (FJD) classification, Bartynski’s lateral recess stenosis (LRS) classification, and Lee’s foraminal stenosis (FS) classification. Second-stage PDD rates of each subgroup and their annual change were analyzed. Evaluation of risk factors associated with PDD was investigated.

Results

A total of 901 segments from 557 patients were included. The overall PDD rate was 29.97%. An overall PDD rate of 75.21% for grade D CCS, 29.74% for grade C CCS, 41.67% for grade 3 FJD, 37.61% for grade 3 LRS, and 40.70% for grade 3 FS was shown. While there was a continuous decline in annual PDD rate in the past four years, the annual PDD rate for grade D remained at very high levels. Logistic regression analysis had shown grade D CCS as the utmost risk factor for PDD (OR = 17.77). And grade 3 LRS (OR = 4.63), grade 3 FS (OR = 2.42), grade C CCS (OR = 2.41), and grade 3 FJD (OR = 2.04) were also moderately correlated with PDD, which meant they only moderately increased the risk of PDD.

Conclusion

Extreme severe lumbar CCS (grade D) is the greatest determinant to perform the second-stage PDD procedure after LLIF.
Mechanistic Insights into Immune Suppression and Evasion in Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Amabebe Emmanuel , Anumba Dilly O. C.
Published: February 2022

The immunological response to bacterial vaginosis (BV) remains poorly understood and recurrent BV is still a major public health burden especially in the pregnant population. This article reviews the potential mechanisms by which BV-associated bacteria suppress and circumvent the host and microbial defence responses, and propagate their survival/dominance without overt inflammation. We discuss the composition of cervicovaginal mucosal barrier and the mechanism by which BV circumvents host defence: the degradation of the mucosal barrier and immunoglobulin A (IgA); the BV-associated organism Gardnerella vaginalis haemolysin (vaginolysin); diminished IgA response against vaginolysin; mucosal sialic acid degradation, foraging and depletion; inhibition of IL-8-induced neutrophilic infiltration; and metabolite-induced incapacitation of neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis. We also highlight the tolerance/resistance to both host and antimicrobial molecules mounted by BV-associated biofilms. A plausible role of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (SIGLECS) was also suggested. Sialidase, which is often produced by G. vaginalis, is central to the immunosuppression, relapse and recurrence observed in BV, although it is supported by other hydrolytic enzymes, vaginolysin and immunomodulatory metabolites.
Dietary B group vitamin intake and the bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Boot Iris W. A. , Wesselius Anke , Yu Evan Y. W. , Brinkman Maree , van den Brandt Piet , Grant Eric J. , White Emily , Weiderpass Elisabete , Ferrari Pietro , Schulze Matthias B. , Bueno-de-Mesquita Bas , Jose-Sanchez Maria , Gylling Bjorn , Zeegers Maurice P.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Diet may play an essential role in the aetiology of bladder cancer (BC). The B group complex vitamins involve diverse biological functions that could be influential in cancer prevention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between various components of the B group vitamin complex and BC risk.

Methods

Dietary data were pooled from four cohort studies. Food item intake was converted to daily intakes of B group vitamins and pooled multivariate hazard ratios (HRs), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were obtained using Cox-regression models. Dose–response relationships were examined using a nonparametric test for trend.

Results

In total, 2915 BC cases and 530,012 non-cases were included in the analyses. The present study showed an increased BC risk for moderate intake of vitamin B1 (HRB1: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00–1.20). In men, moderate intake of the vitamins B1, B2, energy-related vitamins and high intake of vitamin B1 were associated with an increased BC risk (HR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.02–1.26), 1.14 (1.02–1.26), 1.13 (1.02–1.26; 1.13 (1.02–1.26), respectively). In women, high intake of all vitamins and vitamin combinations, except for the entire complex, showed an inverse association (HR (95% CI): 0.80 (0.67–0.97), 0.83 (0.70–1.00); 0.77 (0.63–0.93), 0.73 (0.61–0.88), 0.82 (0.68–0.99), 0.79 (0.66–0.95), 0.80 (0.66–0.96), 0.74 (0.62–0.89), 0.76 (0.63–0.92), respectively). Dose–response analyses showed an increased BC risk for higher intake of vitamin B1 and B12.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the importance of future research on the food sources of B group vitamins in the context of the overall and sex-stratified diet.
DEIDS: a novel intrusion detection system for industrial control systems
Authors: Gu Haoran , Lai Yingxu , Wang Yipeng , Liu Jing , Sun Motong , Mao Beifeng
Published: February 2022

Owing to the development of industrial production, the hidden danger in industrial control systems (ICSs) has considerably increased, causing challenges in traditional safety defense methods. The combination of machine-learning or deep-learning algorithms and intrusion detection systems (IDSs) has become the mainstream method for solving this problem. However, these methods depend on a massive amount of high-quality attack traffic data, which cannot be obtained easily owing to the independence and unique characteristics of ICSs. In this study, we apply the reconstructed convolutional neural network and a data expansion algorithm named CenterBorderline_SMOTE (CB_SMOTE) to an IDS and propose data expansion intrusion detection system (DEIDS). The DEIDS is an end-to-end detection model that learns representative attack features from raw traffic and classifies them in a unified framework. Moreover, we adopt the classification activation map structure, which can deeply mine the potential characteristics of traffic and enhance the effectiveness of attack features. While enhancing the data quality, we introduce the designed CB_SMOTE algorithm into DEIDS to expand the data and solve the problem of insufficient attack data in the system. Our comprehensive experiments on different open datasets indicate that DEIDS achieves an excellent performance (97$$\%$$
%
detection accuracy) and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. The experimental results also show that our method has high efficiency and high accuracy in processing ICSs datasets.
Development of hybrid monoliths incorporating metal–organic frameworks for stir bar sorptive extraction coupled with liquid chromatography for determination of estrogen endocrine disruptors in water and human urine samples
Authors: Zatrochová S. , Martínez-Pérez-Cejuela H. , Catalá-Icardo M. , Simó-Alfonso E. F. , Lhotská I. , Šatínský D. , Herrero-Martínez J. M.
Published: February 2022

A novel coating based on hybrid monolith with metal–organic framework (MOF) onto conventional Teflon-coated magnetic stir bars was developed. For this purpose, the external surface of the Teflon stir bar was firstly vinylized in order to immobilize a glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)–based polymer onto the magnet. Then, an amino-modified MOF of type MIL-101 (NH2-MIL-101(Al)) was covalently attached to the GMA-based monolith. After the synthesis process, several parameters affecting extraction of target estrogens by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) including pH, ionic strength, extraction time, stirring rate, desorption solvent, and desorption time were also investigated. The resulting hybrid monolith was evaluated as SBSE sorbent for extraction of three estrogens (estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol) and synthetic 17β-ethinylestradiol from water and human urine samples followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection (excitation and emission wavelengths, 280 and 310 nm, respectively). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the analytical figures of the method were established, achieving satisfactory limits of detection in the range of 0.015–0.58 µg L−1, recovery results ranging from 70 to 95% with RSD less than 6%, and precision values (intra- and inter-extraction units) below 6%.

Graphical abstract
The Spectral Extent of Phasic Suppression of Loudness and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions by Infrasound and Low-Frequency Tones
Authors: Jurado Carlos , Chow Man Yui Pat , Leung Ka Man Lydia , Larrea Marcelo , Vizuete Juan , de Cheveigné Alain , Marquardt Torsten
Published: February 2022

We investigated the effect of a biasing tone close to 5, 15, or 30 Hz on the response to higher-frequency probe tones, behaviorally, and by measuring distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The amplitude of the biasing tone was adjusted for criterion suppression of cubic DPOAE elicited by probe tones presented between 0.7 and 8 kHz, or criterion loudness suppression of a train of tone-pip probes in the range 0.125–8 kHz. For DPOAEs, the biasing-tone level for criterion suppression increased with probe-tone frequency by 8–9 dB/octave, consistent with an apex-to-base gradient of biasing-tone-induced basilar membrane displacement, as we verified by computational simulation. In contrast, the biasing-tone level for criterion loudness suppression increased with probe frequency by only 1–3 dB/octave, reminiscent of previously published data on low-side suppression of auditory nerve responses to characteristic frequency tones. These slopes were independent of biasing-tone frequency, but the biasing-tone sensation level required for criterion suppression was ~ 10 dB lower for the two infrasound biasing tones than for the 30-Hz biasing tone. On average, biasing-tone sensation levels as low as 5 dB were sufficient to modulate the perception of higher frequency sounds. Our results are relevant for recent debates on perceptual effects of environmental noise with very low-frequency content and might offer insight into the mechanism underlying low-side suppression.
The Influence of Fall Direction and Hip Protector on Fracture Risk: FE Model Predictions Driven by Experimental Data
Authors: Galliker Ellie S. , Laing Andrew C. , Ferguson Stephen J. , Helgason Benedikt , Fleps Ingmar
Published: February 2022

Hip fractures in older adults, which often lead to lasting impairments and an increased risk of mortality, are a major public health concern. Hip fracture risk is multi-factorial, affected by the risk of falling, the load acting on the femur, and the load the femur can withstand. This study investigates the influence of impact direction on hip fracture risk and hip protector efficacy. We simulated falls for 4 subjects, in 7 different impact directions (15° and 30° anterior, lateral, and 15°, 30°, 60°, and 90° posterior) at two different impact velocities (2.1 and 3.1 m/s), all with and without hip protector, using previously validated biofidelic finite element models. We found the highest number of fractures and highest fragility ratios in lateral and 15° posterior impacts. The hip protector attenuated femur forces by 23–49 % for slim subjects under impact directions that resulted in fractures (30° anterior to 30° posterior). The hip protector prevented all fractures (6/6) for 2.1 m/s impacts, but only 10% of fractures for 3.1 m/s impacts. Our results provide evidence that, regarding hip fracture risk, posterior-lateral impacts are as dangerous as lateral impacts, and they support the efficacy of soft-shell hip protectors for anterior- and posterior-lateral impacts.
Impaired left and right systolic ventricular capacity in corrected atrial septal defect patients
Authors: Karunanithi Zarmiga , Andersen Mads Jønsson , Mellemkjær Søren , Alstrup Mathias , Waziri Farhad , Clemmensen Tor Skibsted , Hjortdal Vibeke Elisabeth , Poulsen Steen Hvitfeldt
Published: February 2022

Resting right ventricular (RV) systolic function has in some studies been shown to be impaired after correction of an atrial septal defect (ASD) whereas impairment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function is uncertain. In the present study we examine the LV and RV systolic response to exercise in patients with a previously corrected ASD in order to investigate the myocardial capacity. Thirty-six adult ASD patients with a corrected isolated secundum ASD and eighteen adult age-matched controls underent a semi-supine exercise stress echocardiographic examination. At rest, LV parameters were comparable between groups, and RV global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) was lower for the ASD group (−18.5%, 9﻿5% CI −20.0—−17.0%) compared with controls (−24.5%, 95% CI −27.7—−22.4%, p < 0.001). At peak exercise, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower for ASD patients (61%, 95% CI 58–65%) compared with controls (68%, 95% CI 64–73% p = 0.01). Peak LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) was borderline significantly lower (ASD: -18.4%, 95% CI −20.2—−16.6%, controls: −21.3%, 95% CI −23.6—−19.0%, p = 0.059). Both RVEF (ASD: 64%, 95% CI 60–68%, controls: 73%, 95% CI 65–80%, p = 0.05) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (ASD: 2.5 cm, 95% CI 2.3–2.7 cm, controls: 3.2 cm, 95% CI 2.9–3.6 cm, p < 0.001) at peak exercise were lower for ASD patients. Exercise assessed peak oxygen uptake was comparable between groups (ASD: 32.8 mL O2/kg/min, 95% CI 30.3–35.5 mL O2/kg/min, controls: 35.2 mL O2/kg/min, 95% CI 31.6–38.8 mL O2/kg/min, p = 0.3). Corrected ASD patients demonstrate a reduced LV and RV systolic exercise response decades after ASD correction whereas resting parameters of LV and RV systolic function were within normal range. The presence of subclinical systolic myocardial dysfunction during exercise might be associated with the long-term morbidities documented in this patient group.
Dry Reforming of Methane with Ni Supported on Mechanically Mixed Yttria-Zirconia Support
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed Aidid , Kasim Samsudeen Olajide , Fakeeha Anis Hamza , Lanre Mahmud Sofiu , Abasaeed Ahmed Elhag , Abu-Dahrieh Jehad K. , Al-Fatesh Ahmed Sadeq
Published: February 2022

This study focuses on CH4 reforming with CO2 over Ni supported on yttria mixed with zirconia support. Different loading of yttria was used to enhance the performance of Ni towards achieving the optimum activity. The physicochemical properties of both fresh calcined and used catalysts were studied using a range of characterization techniques. The specific surface area measurement by the BET method showed a progressive increase in the area with an increase in yttria loading. The monoclinic (m- ZrO2) and tetragonal (t- ZrO2) phases were identified on all the samples by the XRD analysis. A reduction in the intensity of m- ZrO2 was observed on adding Ni to the catalysts while the diffraction pattern of crystalline yttria was not identified. The reducibility analysis showed the influence of yttria. It induces the formation of NiYO3 species with stronger active metal-support interaction. From the catalytic test, 5Ni/10Y-Z-3215 had the highest feed conversion of about 68 and 88% for CH4 and CO2 respectively. The TEM analysis showed a uniform dispersion of NiO particles over the mixed yttria-zirconia support with no agglomeration of the active metal particles after the reaction. The measurement of the quantity of carbon deposits by the TGA revealed that the increase in yttria loading enhanced the gasification of carbon deposits with 5Ni/20Y-Z-3215 recording the lowest weight loss of about 28%.

Graphical Abstract
Pareto Optimal Pension Risk Allocations
Authors: Muns Sander , Werker Bas J. M.
Published: February 2022

We consider a funded pension system where collective risks, in a simple Black-Scholes financial market, are allocated to the retirement savings of individual participants. In particular, we consider an allocation in such a way that the relative effect on total retirement wealth, that is, the sum of financial wealth and human capital, is the same for each participant. We show that this allocation is Pareto efficient. This stylized life-cycle fact inspired the new Dutch retirement system. Subsequently, we extend the allocation rule to a setting that includes annuity risk. This risk can be a traded risk (e.g., interest rate risk) as well as a non-traded risk (e.g., longevity risk). From our closed-form solutions, we identify the similarities between our optimal allocation rule and the allocation rule in the new Dutch retirement system. A numerical example illustrates our findings.
Construction, Characterization and Measurement of Fe–C and Pd–C HTFPs at CEM
Authors: Martín M. J. , Mantilla J. M. , Garcia-Izquierdo C. , del Campo D.
Published: February 2022

The current state of the art for temperature realization and dissemination above 1300 K is through the MeP-K-19 [1]. A limited set of high-temperature fixed points (HTFPs), an essential component of the MeP-K-19, has their temperature determined (Co–C (1597 K), Pt–C (1011 K) and Re–C (2747 K)). It is really a need to increase the HTFPs available for realization and dissemination of the high-temperature MeP-K. Fe–C (1426 K) and Pd–C (1765 K) has been less investigated, their thermodynamic temperature hasn’t been definitively determined, and they have been considered good candidates for their inclusion in the MeP-K in the EMPIR project “Real-K” [2]. This paper describes the construction, characterization, and measurement of HTFPs of Fe–C and Pd–C at Centro Español de Metrología as part of its contribution to the EMPIR project “Real-K”. Cells made have hybrid-type crucibles and they have been filled applying the piston method. A series of 6 HTFPs has been constructed: 3 Fe–C and 3 Pd–C. Points of inflection of the melting plateaux are repeatable after several initial measurement cycles. Their corresponding International Temperature Scale (ITS-90) temperatures (t90), referenced to a Cu fixed point, and thermodynamic temperatures (t), by means of the spectral responsivity calibration, have been calculated. Additionally, the influence of the furnace in the temperature assigned to the cells has been determined for different furnaces types (one zone and three zone) and different temperature profiles.
Mandatory vaccination and the ‘seat belt analogy’ argument: a critical analysis in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: de Miguel Beriain Iñigo
Published: February 2022

The seat belt analogy argument is aimed at furthering the success of coercive vaccination efforts on the basis that the latter is similar to compulsory use of seat belts. However, this article demonstrated that this argument does not work so well in practice due to several reasons. The possibility of saving resources in health care does not usually apply in our societies, and the paternalist mentality that contributed to the implementation of seat belt–wearing obligation was predominant 30 years ago, but it does not apply at this moment. Furthermore, the risk/benefit analysis is totally different in both scenarios. In the case of seat belts, there is no way to discriminate between the users. In the case of vaccines, individuals present with unique circumstances that may differ substantially from those of another and might be foreseen a priori. This means that an analysis must be performed individually before vaccination is imposed. Finally, one must keep in mind that seat belts are often the only way in which we can protect third parties against a tragic hit by the occupant of another vehicle and are very efficient tools for this purpose. Vaccines, in contrast, do not always create sterilising immunity and are definitely not the only way by which we can avoid spreading a virus; immunity certificates, isolation, or even confinement may also serve as viable methods to achieve this purpose.
A queuing theory model for fog computing
Authors: Mas Lluís , Vilaplana Jordi , Mateo Jordi , Solsona Francesc
Published: February 2022

Under many scenarios where resources may be scarce or a good Quality of Service is a requirement, appropriately sizing components and devices is one of the main challenges. New scenarios, such as IoT, mobile cloud computing, mobile edge computing or fog computing, have emerged recently. The ability to design, model and simulate those infrastructures is critical to dimension them correctly. Queuing theory models provide a good approach to understanding how a given architecture would behave for a given set of parameters, thus helping to detect possible bottlenecks and performance issues in advance. This work presents a fog-computing modelling framework based on queuing theory. The proposed framework was used to simulate a given scenario allowing the possibility of adjusting the system by means of user-defined parameters. The results show that the proposed model is a good tool for designing optimal fog architectures regarding QoS requirements. It can also be used to fine-tune the designs to detect possible bottlenecks or improve the performance parameters of the overall environment.
Circumcentering Reflection Methods for Nonconvex Feasibility Problems
Authors: Dizon Neil D. , Hogan Jeffrey A. , Lindstrom Scott B.
Published: February 2022

Recently, circumcentering reflection method (CRM) has been introduced for solving the feasibility problem of finding a point in the intersection of closed constraint sets. It is closely related with Douglas–Rachford method (DR). We prove local convergence of CRM in the same prototypical settings of most theoretical analysis of regular nonconvex DR, whose consideration is made natural by the geometry of the phase retrieval problem. For the purpose, we show that CRM is related to the method of subgradient projections. For many cases when DR is known to converge to a feasible point, we establish that CRM locally provides a better convergence rate. As a root finder, we show that CRM has local convergence whenever Newton–Raphson method does, has quadratic rate whenever Newton–Raphson method does, and exhibits superlinear convergence in many cases when Newton–Raphson method fails to converge at all. We also obtain explicit regions of convergence. As an interesting aside, we demonstrate local convergence of CRM to feasible points in cases when DR converges to fixed points that are not feasible. We demonstrate an extension in higher dimensions, and use it to obtain convergence rate guarantees for sphere and subspace feasibility problems. Armed with these guarantees, we experimentally discover that CRM is highly sensitive to compounding numerical error that may cause it to achieve worse rates than those guaranteed by theory. We then introduce a numerical modification that enables CRM to achieve the theoretically guaranteed rates. Any future works that study CRM for product space formulations of feasibility problems should take note of this sensitivity and account for it in numerical implementations.
Displacement based seismic assessment of base restrained retaining walls
Authors: Tiwari Rohit , Lam Nelson
Published: February 2022

The present work deals with assessment of earthquake-induced displacement of the base restrained retaining walls (RW’s). A detailed and rigorous finite element (FE) investigation has been carried out following the shaking table experiments on a scaled-down RW model. The FE simulations were performed by conducting several nonlinear time history analyses on a two-dimensional (2D) plane strain FE model of a prototype RW. The hardening and softening of backfill have been simulated by calibrating the Mohr Coulomb material model against the triaxial test results. Role of different backfill into the seismic performance of base restrained RW has also been investigated. It was observed that the cohesionless backfill has a slight influence on the earthquake induced displacement of base restrained RW’s. Amplification of horizontal acceleration in backfill has been observed with no direct correlation with the applied earthquake excitation. The understanding and findings based on shaking table experiment and FE simulations have been used for development of an analytical model for estimation of earthquake induced displacement of base restrained RW. The validity of proposed analytical model has also been examined against the shaking table experiment and FE simulation results.
A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Perspective on the Importance of Parameter Identifiability
Authors: Sher Anna , Niederer Steven A. , Mirams Gary R. , Kirpichnikova Anna , Allen Richard , Pathmanathan Pras , Gavaghan David J. , van der Graaf Piet H. , Noble Denis
Published: February 2022

There is an inherent tension in Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) between the need to incorporate mathematical descriptions of complex physiology and drug targets with the necessity of developing robust, predictive and well-constrained models. In addition to this, there is no “gold standard” for model development and assessment in QSP. Moreover, there can be confusion over terminology such as model and parameter identifiability; complex and simple models; virtual populations; and other concepts, which leads to potential miscommunication and misapplication of methodologies within modeling communities, both the QSP community and related disciplines. This perspective article highlights the pros and cons of using simple (often identifiable) vs. complex (more physiologically detailed but often non-identifiable) models, as well as aspects of parameter identifiability, sensitivity and inference methodologies for model development and analysis. The paper distills the central themes of the issue of identifiability and optimal model size and discusses open challenges.
Drug-related emergency department visits: prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Nymoen Lisbeth Damlien , Björk Malin , Flatebø Trude Eline , Nilsen Merethe , Godø Aasmund , Øie Erik , Viktil Kirsten Kilvik
Published: February 2022

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of drug-related emergency department (ED) visits and associated risk factors. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the ED, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. From April 2017 to May 2018, 402 patients allocated to the intervention group in a randomized controlled trial were included in this sub-study. During their ED visit, these patients received medication reconciliation and medication review conducted by study pharmacists, in addition to standard care. Retrospectively, an interdisciplinary team assessed the reconciled drug list and identified drug-related issues alongside demographics, final diagnosis, and laboratory tests for all patients to determine whether their ED visit was drug-related. The study population’s median age was 67 years (IQR 27, range 19–96), and patients used a median of 4 regular drugs (IQR 6, range 0–19). In total, 79 (19.7%) patients had a drug-related ED visits, and identified risk factors were increasing age, increasing number of regular drugs and medical referral reason. Adverse effects (72.2%) and non-adherence (16.5%) were the most common causes of drug-related ED visits. Antithrombotic agents were most frequently involved in drug-related ED visits, while immunosuppressants had the highest relative frequency. Only 11.4% of the identified drug-related ED visits were documented by physicians during ED/hospital stay. In the investigated population, 19.7% had a drug-related ED visit, indicating that drug-related ED visits are a major concern. If not recognized and handled, this could be a threat against patient safety. Identified risk factors can be used to identify patients in need of additional attention regarding their drug list during the ED visit.
Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Placing New Data in Context
Authors: Hoek Anna G. , van Oort Sabine , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Beulens Joline W. J.
Published: February 2022

Purpose of Review

A clear link between excessive alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been established, but no consensus exists on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on CVD.

Recent Findings

A lower risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction among moderate drinkers compared to abstainers has been consistently observed in epidemiological studies and meta-analyses of these studies. However, ambiguity remains on the effect of alcohol on other CVDs and all-cause mortality. Short-term randomized controlled trials (RCT) have identified potentially beneficial effects of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular risk factors, but studies investigating genetic polymorphisms that influence alcohol consumption (i.e., Mendelian randomization) have yielded inconclusive results. To date, a long-term RCT providing causal evidence is lacking but urgently needed.

Triangulation of evidence from different study designs, including long-term RCTs, pragmatic trials and the evaluation of policy measures, combined will lead to the best available evidence.
Intergroup Contacts, Neighborhood Diversity, and Community Trust: the Asymmetrical Impact of Negative and Positive Experiences
Authors: Lundåsen Susanne Wallman
Published: February 2022

Intergroup contacts can occur in many different places but are often studied only limited to a specific context. This study contributes with data that taps intergroup contacts that occur in both the private and the public sphere, using data from a large-scale survey directed towards individuals nested within 36 different municipalities and over 1,250 different neighborhoods with varying levels of visible minorities. The results also showed that just using the mere frequency of intergroup contacts is not sufficient to understand its association with community trust. Intergroup contacts that occurred in the neighborhood and in civil society organizations had a statistically significant association with community trust, while intergroup contacts that occurred in schools/workplaces and at home did not. The results also indicated that the neighborhood context moderated the impact of intergroup contacts. Whether contacts generated negative experiences mattered. Negative experiences mattered more for community trust especially for those who lived in diverse neighborhoods. The results indicated an asymmetry between the importance of positive and negative experiences of intergroup contacts for community trust.
Thermodynamic Modeling of Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater
Authors: Keller Alexander , Burger Jakob , Steinmetz Heidrun , Hasse Hans , Kohns Maximilian
Published: February 2022

Municipal wastewater is an interesting source of phosphorus and several processes for the recovery of phosphorus from this source have been described. These processes yield magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP), a valuable fertilizer. In these processes, pH shifts and the addition of chemicals are used to influence the species distribution in the solution such as to finally obtain the desired product and to prevent the co-precipitation of salts of heavy metal ions. Elucidating these species distributions experimentally is a challenging and cumbersome task. Therefore, in the present work, a thermodynamic model was developed that can be used for predicting the species distributions in the various steps of the recovery process. The model combines the extended Debye-Hückel equation for the prediction of activity coefficients with dissociation constants and solubility product data from the literature and contains no parameters that need to be adjusted to process data. The model was successfully tested by comparison to experimental data for the Stuttgart process from the literature and used for analyzing the different process steps. Furthermore, it was demonstrated how the model can be used for optimizing the process.

Graphical Abstract
Hydrogeochemical analysis and identification of solute sources in the meltwater of Chaturangi glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India
Authors: Bisht Harish , Kotlia Bahadur Singh , Kumar Kireet , Taloor Ajay Kumar , Arya Prakash Chandra , Sah Saurabh Kumar , Agnihotri Vasudha , Tewari Mohit , Upadhyay Rajeev
Published: February 2022

This paper presents an insight on major ion chemistry and identification of solute sources in meltwater of Chaturangi glacier throughout the ablation period 2015 and 2016. The results indicate that meltwater is slightly acidic with Ca–HCO3 and Mg–HCO3 dominated hydrochemical facies. In meltwater, Ca2+ and HCO3− are the most dominant cation and anion, respectively. The Water Quality Index values show that the quality of meltwater is good for both the ablation seasons. An important factor governing the quality of water is the residence time for dissolving minerals from the rocks. Mineralogy of surrounding rocks and Gibbs plot suggest that the meltwater ionic concentration is mostly controlled by weathering of rocks with slight contribution from atmospheric aerosols. For meltwater, the average equivalent ratios of Na/Cl and K/Cl were calculated as 3.36 ± 1.29 and 2.29 ± 0.62 in 2015 and 1.39 ± 0.6 and 0.8 ± 0.2 in 2016, which are considerably higher than the marine aerosols (Na/Cl = 0.85 and K/Cl = 0.017), it also confirmed the less contribution of atmospheric input in meltwater. The petrographic analysis of surrounding rocks indicate positive relationship among the cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) and mineral abundance. Our observations suggest that the bedrock mineralogy and weathering reactions together with amount and composition of atmospheric inputs are the main sources of ions, dissolved in the glacier meltwater. It might be due to rate of chemical reaction which leads decomposition of rocks and leaching of minerals into the meltwater. Additionally, the geology of the area plays a significant as the influence of geology and climate on water quality is observed by the quantity and types of dissolved materials and amount of the sediment carried by the streams. The elevated proportion of Ca + Mg in total cations and high Ca + Mg/(Na + K ratios, 1.47 ± 0.14 in the year 2015 and 1.44 ± 0.28 in 2016 clearly reveal that the ionic composition is primarily controlled by carbonate weathering and partly by silicate weathering. Further, the low Na + K/TZ− ratio (0.41 ± 0.02) and (0.22 ± 0.05) in 2015 and 2016, respectively also supports that carbonate weathering is main geochemical process controlling the hydrochemistry of meltwater. In addition, the ion denudation rate was calculated for both the years. The results show that the cation denudation rate of meltwater was 32.84 and 22.30 ton/km2/ablation during 2015 and 2016, respectively, whereas the anion denudation rate was found to be 205.43 in 2015 and 170.24 ton/km2/ablation in 2016.
From time to times
Authors: Kondratiev Yuri
Published: February 2022

We give an overview of the concept of random time changes in evolution processes. First of all, we discuss random times in Markov processes. Secondly, we propose to use the concept of random times for dynamical systems. In both cases did appear fractional evolution equations. In the case of Markov processes we arrive to fractional Kolmogorov equations. For dynamical systems it leads to fractional Liouville equations.
On the fractional Laplacian of variable order
Authors: Darve Eric , D’Elia Marta , Garrappa Roberto , Giusti Andrea , Rubio Natalia L.
Published: February 2022

We present a novel definition of variable-order fractional Laplacian on

$${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

based on a natural generalization of the standard Riesz potential. Our definition holds for values of the fractional parameter spanning the entire open set (0, n/2). We then discuss some properties of the fractional Poisson’s equation involving this operator and we compute the corresponding Green’s function, for which we provide some instructive examples for specific problems.
Upper and lower estimates for the separation of solutions to fractional differential equations
Authors: Diethelm Kai , Tuan Hoang The
Published: February 2022

Given a fractional differential equation of order

$$\alpha \in (0,1]$$

α
∈
(
0
,
1
]

with Caputo derivatives, we investigate in a quantitative sense how the associated solutions depend on their respective initial conditions. Specifically, we look at two solutions

$$x_1$$

x
1

and

$$x_2$$

x
2

, say, of the same differential equation, both of which are assumed to be defined on a common interval [0, T], and provide upper and lower bounds for the difference

$$x_1(t) - x_2(t)$$

x
1

(
t
)

-

x
2

(
t
)

for all

$$t \in [0,T]$$

t
∈
[
0
,
T
]

that are stronger than the bounds previously described in the literature.