bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illness unpredictability and psychosocial adjustment of adolescent and young adults impacted by parental cancer: the mediating role of unmet needs
Authors: Landi Giulia , Duzen Aylin , Patterson Pandora , McDonald Fiona E. J. , Crocetti Elisabetta , Grandi Silvana , Tossani Eliana
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Given the large number of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) impacted by parental cancer and the potential for negative psychosocial outcomes in this vulnerable population, this study examined the mediating role of offspring unmet needs with regard to parental cancer and the relation between AYAs psychosocial adjustment and perceived illness unpredictability.

Methods

A total of 113 AYAs (aged 11–24 years) living with a parent diagnosed with cancer completed a questionnaire assessing illness unpredictability, offspring unmet needs, and psychosocial adjustment (i.e., health-related quality of life and internalizing problems).

Results

Higher offspring unmet needs were associated with lower health-related quality of life (r = –0.24**) and higher internalizing problems (r = 0.21*). Offspring unmet needs mediated the relation between illness unpredictability and health-related quality of life (standardized indirect effect = –0.100* [–0.183, –0.018]) but not internalizing problems (standardized indirect effect = 0.067 [–0.015, 0.148]). In particular, higher illness unpredictability was related to higher unmet needs (β = 0.351**) which, in turn, predicted lower health-related quality of life (β = –0.286**).

Conclusion

These findings identify offspring unmet needs and illness unpredictability as implicated in AYAs positive psychosocial adjustment to parental cancer. Given that AYAs are at greater risk of elevated psychosocial difficulties, interventions should target offspring unmet needs and perception of illness unpredictability to mitigate the adverse effects of parental cancer.
Relevance of comorbidities and antithrombotic medication as risk factors for reoperation in patients with chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Younsi Alexander , Riemann Lennart , Habel Cleo , Fischer Jessica , Beynon Christopher , Unterberg Andreas W. , Zweckberger Klaus
Published: July 2021

In an aging Western society, the incidence of chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) is continuously increasing. In this study, we reviewed our clinical management of cSDH patients and identified predictive factors for the need of reoperation due to residual or recurrent hematomas with a focus on the use of antithrombotic drugs. In total, 623 patients who were treated for cSDH with surgical evacuation between 2006 and 2016 at our department were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and radiological characteristics and laboratory parameters were investigated as possible predictors of reoperation with univariate and multivariate analyses. Additionally, clinical outcome measures were compared between patients on anticoagulants, on antiplatelets, and without antithrombotic medication. In univariate analyses, patients on anticoagulants and antiplatelets presented significantly more often with comorbidities, were significantly older, and their risk for perioperative complications was significantly increased. Nevertheless, their clinical outcome was comparable to that of patients without antithrombotics. In multivariate analysis, only the presence of comorbidities, but not antithrombotics, was an independent predictor for the need for reoperations. Patients on antithrombotics do not seem to necessarily have a significantly increased risk for residual hematomas or rebleeding requiring reoperation after cSDH evacuation. More precisely, the presence of predisposing comorbidities might be a key independent risk factor for reoperation. Importantly, the clinical outcomes after surgical evacuation of cSDH are comparable between patients on anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and without antithrombotics.
On coalitional manipulation for multiwinner elections: shortlisting
Authors: Bredereck Robert , Kaczmarczyk Andrzej , Niedermeier Rolf
Published: July 2021

Shortlisting of candidates—selecting a group of “best” candidates—is a special case of multiwinner elections. We provide the first in-depth study of the computational complexity of strategic voting for shortlisting based on the perhaps most basic voting rule in this scenario,$$\ell $$ℓ-Bloc (every voter approves$$\ell $$ℓ candidates). In particular, we investigate the influence of several different group evaluation functions (e.g., egalitarian versus utilitarian) and tie-breaking mechanisms modeling pessimistic and optimistic manipulators. Among other things, we conclude that in an egalitarian setting strategic voting may indeed be computationally intractable regardless of the tie-breaking rule. Altogether, we provide a fairly comprehensive picture of the computational complexity landscape of this scenario.
Combining the best of two methodological worlds? Integrating Q methodology-based farmer archetypes in a quantitative model of agri-environmental scheme uptake
Authors: Leonhardt Heidi , Braito Michael , Uehleke Reinhard
Published: July 2021

Increasing farmers’ acceptance and adoption of environmentally beneficial farming practices is essential for mitigating negative impacts of agriculture. To support adoption through policy, it is necessary to understand which types of farms or farmers do or do not (yet) apply such practices. However, farmers are not a homogeneous group and their behavior is subject to a complex array of structural, socioeconomic, and socio-psychological influences. Reducing this complexity, farmer typologies or archetypes are useful tools for understanding differing motivations for the uptake of sustainable farming practices. Previous investigations of the role of farmer archetypes in the adoption of such practices rely on either purely qualitative or purely quantitative methods in data collection, typology creation, and hypothesis testing. Our study combines both approaches by classifying survey respondents into farmer types based on a previous Q methodological study. We then use these types in a two-part regression model that aims to explain participation in agri-environmental schemes (AES) and the level of scheme participation. To control for farm structural factors, we additionally link our questionnaire data to secondary data from the farm accountancy data network. Results indicate that in Austria, AES are attractive to all types of farmers, but the level of participation (AES income per hectare) in these schemes differs between archetypes: Profitability-oriented farmers participate less, and nature-oriented farmers participate more than other types. This suggests that monetary compensations for sustainable farming practices are not perceived as sufficient by certain groups of farmers, and policy makers need to consider additional kinds of incentives.
Using proposed optimization algorithm for solving inverse kinematics of human upper limb applying in rehabilitation robotic
Authors: Nguyen Trung , Bui Tam , Pham Ha
Published: July 2021

The requirement to solve the problem of Inverse Kinetics (IK) plays a very important role in the robotics field in general, and especially in the field of rehabilitation robots, in particular. If the solutions of this problem are not suitable, it can cause undesirable damage to the patient when exercising. Normally, the problem of Inverse Kinematics in the robotics field, as well as the natural field, especially for redundant driven systems, often requires the application of a lot of techniques. The redundancy in Degree of Freedom (DoF), the nonlinearity of the system leads to solve inverse kinematics problem more challenge. In this study, we proposed to apply the self-adaptive control parameters in Differential Evolution with search space improvement (Pro-ISADE) to solve the problem for the human upper limb, which is a very typical redundancy model in nature. First of all, the angles of the joints were measured by a proposed Exoskeleton type Human Motion Capture System (E-HMCS) when the wearer performs some Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and athletic activities. The values of these measured angles joints then were put into the forward kinematics model to find the end effector trajectories. After having these orbits, they were re-fed into the proposed Pro-ISADE algorithm mentioned above to process the IK problem and obtain the predicted joints angular values. The experimental results showed that the predicted joints’ values closely follow the measured joints’ values. That demonstrates the ability to apply the Pro-ISADE algorithm to solve the problem of Inverse Kinetics of the human upper limb as well as the upper limb rehabilitation robot arm.
Leading cancers contributing to educational disparities in cancer mortality in the US, 2017
Authors: Withrow Diana R. , Freedman Neal D. , Gibson James T. , Yu Mandi , Nápoles Anna M. , Berrington de González Amy , Shiels Meredith S.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To inform prevention efforts, we sought to determine which cancer types contribute the most to cancer mortality disparities by individual-level education using national death certificate data for 2017.

Methods

Information on all US deaths occurring in 2017 among 25–84-year-olds was ascertained from national death certificate data, which include cause of death and educational attainment. Education was classified as high school or less (≤ 12 years), some college or diploma (13–15 years), and Bachelor's degree or higher (≥ 16 years). Cancer mortality rate differences (RD) were calculated by subtracting age-adjusted mortality rates (AMR) among those with ≥ 16 years of education from AMR among those with ≤ 12 years.

Results

The cancer mortality rate difference between those with a Bachelor's degree or more vs. high school or less education was 72 deaths per 100,000 person-years. Lung cancer deaths account for over half (53%) of the RD for cancer mortality by education in the US.

Conclusion

Efforts to reduce smoking, particularly among persons with less education, would contribute substantially to reducing educational disparities in lung cancer and overall cancer mortality.
Discordance in the diagnostic assessment of vulnerable plaques between radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound versus optical coherence tomography among patients with acute myocardial infarction: insights from the IBIS-4 study
Authors: Ueki Yasushi , Yamaji Kyohei , Losdat Sylvain , Karagiannis Alexios , Taniwaki Masanori , Roffi Marco , Otsuka Tatsuhiko , Koskinas Konstantinos C. , Holmvang Lene , Maldonado Rafaela , Pedrazzini Giovanni , Radu Maria D. , Dijkstra Jouke , Windecker Stephan , Garcia-Garcia Hector M. , Räber Lorenz
Published: July 2021

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic agreement between radiofrequency (RF) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) in non-infarct-related coronary arteries (non-IRA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In the Integrated Biomarker Imaging Study (IBIS-4), 103 STEMI patients underwent OCT and RF-IVUS imaging of non-IRA after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention and at 13-month follow-up. A coronary lesion was defined as a segment with ≥ 3 consecutive frames (≈1.2 mm) with plaque burden ≥ 40% as assessed by grayscale IVUS. RF-IVUS-derived TCFA was defined as a lesion with > 10% confluent necrotic core abutting to the lumen in > 10% of the circumference. OCT-TCFA was defined by a minimum cap thickness < 65 μm. The two modalities were matched based on anatomical landmarks using a dedicated matching software. Using grayscale IVUS, we identified 276 lesions at baseline (N = 146) and follow-up (N = 130). Using RF-IVUS, 208 lesions (75.4%) were classified as TCFA. Among them, OCT identified 14 (6.7%) TCFA, 60 (28.8%) thick-cap fibroatheroma (ThCFA), and 134 (64.4%) non-fibroatheroma. All OCT-TCFA (n = 14) were confirmed as RF-TCFA. The concordance rate between RF-IVUS and OCT for TCFA diagnosis was 29.7%. The reasons for discordance were: OCT-ThCFA (25.8%); OCT-fibrous plaque (34.0%); attenuation due to calcium (23.2%); attenuation due to macrophage (10.3%); no significant attenuation (6.7%). There was a notable discordance in the diagnostic assessment of TCFA between RF-IVUS and OCT. The majority of RF-derived TCFA were not categorized as fibroatheroma using OCT, while all OCT-TCFA were classified as TCFA by RF-IVUS.

ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00962416.
Proton Pump Inhibitor and Clopidogrel Use After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Maret-Ouda John , Santoni Giola , Xie Shaohua , Rosengren Annika , Lagergren Jesper
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Due to shared hepatic metabolism, concomitant medication with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and clopidogrel might reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel in the prevention of cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to examine the risk of major cardiovascular events after PCI comparing patients who used clopidogrel together with PPI with those who used clopidogrel alone.

Methods

This Swedish nationwide cohort study included patients who received clopidogrel after primary PCI in 2005–2019. Patients were followed for up to 12 months after PCI. Data were retrieved from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry, Patient Registry, Cancer Registry, and Cause of Death Registry. Multivariable Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cardiovascular events comparing PPI users (exposed) with non-users of PPI (non-exposed). The HRs were adjusted for sex, age, comorbidity, calendar period, obesity, diabetes, anti-diabetic medication, tobacco-related diseases, hypertension, and congestive heart failure.

Results

The cohort included 99,836 patients who received clopidogrel after primary PCI. Among these, 35,772 (35.8%) received concomitant PPI. Compared to non-users, PPI users had increased adjusted HRs of all study outcomes, i.e., the main outcome myocardial infarction (HR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.15–1.32) and the secondary outcomes coronary heart disease (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.24–1.33), stroke (HR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.05–1.40), and death due to coronary heart disease (HR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.37–1.69). The results were similar in analyses including both primary and secondary PCIs.

Conclusions

In patients who receive clopidogrel after PCI, concomitant use of PPI seems to increase the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Reduction and regularization of the Kepler problem
Authors: Meer J. C. van der
Published: July 2021

The KS regularization connects the dynamics of the harmonic oscillator to the dynamics of bounded Kepler orbits. Using orbit space reduction, it can be shown that reduced harmonic oscillator orbits can be identified with re-parametrized Kepler orbits by factorizing the KS map as reduction mapping followed by a chart on the reduced phase space. In this note, we will show that also other regularization maps can be obtained this way. In particular, we will show how Moser’s regularization and Ligon–Schaaf regularization are related to KS-regularization. All regularizations are a result of choosing the right invariants to represent the reduced phase space, which is isomorphic to$$T^+S^3$$T+S3, and a chart on this reduced phase space. We show how this opens the way to directly reduce the KS transformed Kepler system and find other regularization maps that are valid for all values of the Keplerian energy similar to Ligon–Schaaf regularization.
A-posteriori reduced basis error-estimates for a semi-discrete in space quasilinear parabolic PDE
Authors: Hoppe Fabian , Neitzel Ira
Published: July 2021

We prove a-posteriori error-estimates for reduced-order modeling of quasilinear parabolic PDEs with non-monotone nonlinearity. We consider the solution of a semi-discrete in space equation as reference, and therefore incorporate reduced basis-, empirical interpolation-, and time-discretization-errors in our consideration. Numerical experiments illustrate our results.
AI lifecycle models need to be revised
Authors: Haakman Mark , Cruz Luís , Huijgens Hennie , van Deursen Arie
Published: July 2021

Tech-leading organizations are embracing the forthcoming artificial intelligence revolution. Intelligent systems are replacing and cooperating with traditional software components. Thus, the same development processes and standards in software engineering ought to be complied in artificial intelligence systems. This study aims to understand the processes by which artificial intelligence-based systems are developed and how state-of-the-art lifecycle models fit the current needs of the industry. We conducted an exploratory case study at ING, a global bank with a strong European base. We interviewed 17 people with different roles and from different departments within the organization. We have found that the following stages have been overlooked by previous lifecycle models: data collection, feasibility study, documentation, model monitoring, and model risk assessment. Our work shows that the real challenges of applying Machine Learning go much beyond sophisticated learning algorithms – more focus is needed on the entire lifecycle. In particular, regardless of the existing development tools for Machine Learning, we observe that they are still not meeting the particularities of this field.
Does Re-Partnering Behavior Spread Among Former Spouses?
Authors: Buyukkececi Zafer
Published: July 2021

This study focused on individuals’ re-partnering behavior following a divorce and asked whether divorcees influence each other’s new union formation. By exploiting the System of Social statistical Datasets (SSD) of Statistics Netherlands, I identified divorced dyads and examined interdependencies in their re-partnering behavior. Discrete-time event history models accounting for shared characteristics of divorcees that are likely to influence their divorce and re-partnering behavior simultaneously were estimated. Findings showed that the probability of re-partnering increased within the first two years following a former spouse’s new union formation. Further analyses focusing on formerly cohabiting couples rather than divorcees also revealed significant associations in re-partnering behavior. Following a former romantic partner’s new union formation, women were exposed to risk longer than men, due to men’s quicker re-partnering. These results were robust to the falsification tests. Overall, findings indicate that the consequences of a divorce or breakup are not limited to the incidence itself and former romantic partners remain important in each other’s life courses even after a breakup. With the increasing number of divorcees and changing family structures, it is important to consider former spouses as active network partners that may influence individual life courses.
MVMOO: Mixed variable multi-objective optimisation
Authors: Manson Jamie A. , Chamberlain Thomas W. , Bourne Richard A.
Published: July 2021

In many real-world problems there is often the requirement to optimise multiple conflicting objectives in an efficient manner. In such problems there can be the requirement to optimise a mixture of continuous and discrete variables. Herein, we propose a new multi-objective algorithm capable of optimising both continuous and discrete bounded variables in an efficient manner. The algorithm utilises Gaussian processes as surrogates in combination with a novel distance metric based upon Gower similarity. The MVMOO algorithm was compared to an existing mixed variable implementation of NSGA-II and random sampling for three test problems. MVMOO shows competitive performance on all proposed problems with efficient data acquisition and approximation of the Pareto fronts for the selected test problems.
First Contact Practitioners’ (FCPs) and General Practitioners’ Perceptions Towards FCPs Delivering Vocational Advice to Patients with Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Qualitative Investigation of the Implementation Potential of the I-SWAP Initiative
Authors: Saunders Benjamin , Foster Nadine E. , Hill Jonathan C. , Sowden Gail , Evans Nicola , Bishop Annette , Stynes Siobhan , Dziedzic Krysia , Campbell Laura , Rankin Gabrielle , Salmon Paula , Wynne-Jones Gwenllian
Published: July 2021

Purpose Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common cause of work absence. The recent SWAP (Study of Work And Pain) randomised controlled trial (RCT) found that a brief vocational advice service for primary care patients with MSK pain led to fewer days’ work absence and provided good return-on-investment. The I-SWAP (Implementation of the Study of Work And Pain) initiative aimed to deliver an implementation test-bed of the SWAP vocational advice intervention with First Contact Practitioners (FCP). This entailed adapting the SWAP vocational advice training to fit the FCP role. This qualitative investigation explored the implementation potential of FCPs delivering vocational advice for patients with MSK pain. Methods Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 10 FCPs and 5 GPs. Data were analysed thematically and findings explored using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Results I-SWAP achieved a degree of ‘coherence’ (i.e. made sense), with both FCPs and GPs feeling FCPs were well-placed to discuss work issues with these patients. However, for many of the FCPs, addressing or modifying psychosocial and occupational barriers to return-to-work was not considered feasible within FCP consultations, and improving physical function was prioritised. Concerns were also raised that employers would not act on FCPs’ recommendations regarding return-to-work. Conclusion FCPs appear well-placed to discuss work issues with MSK patients, and signpost/refer to other services; however, because they often only see patients once they are less suited to deliver other aspects of vocational advice. Future research is needed to explore how best to provide vocational advice in primary care settings.
CTBT seismic monitoring using coherent and incoherent array processing
Authors: Kværna Tormod , Gibbons Steven J. , Näsholm Sven Peter
Published: July 2021

The detection and location capability of the International Monitoring System for small seismic events in the continental and oceanic regions surrounding the Sea of Japan is determined mainly by three primary seismic arrays: USRK, KSRS, and MJAR. Body wave arrivals are coherent on USRK and KSRS up to frequencies of around 4 Hz and classical array processing methods can detect and extract features for most regional signals on these stations. We demonstrate how empirical matched field processing (EMFP), a generalization of frequency-wavenumber or f-k analysis, can contribute to calibrated direction estimates which mitigate bias resulting from near-station geological structure. It does this by comparing the narrowband phase shifts between the signals on different sensors, observed at a given time, with corresponding measurements on signals from historical seismic events. The EMFP detection statistic is usually evaluated as a function of source location rather than slowness space and the size of the geographical footprint valid for EMFP templates is affected by array geometry, the available

signal bandwidth, and Earth structure over the propagation path. The MJAR arrayhas similar dimensions to KSRS but is sited in far more complex geology which results in poor parameter estimates with classical f-k analysis for all signals lacking energy at 1 Hz or below. EMFP mitigates the signal incoherence to some degree but the geographical footprint valid for a given matched field template on MJAR is very small. Spectrogram beamforming provides a robust detection algorithm for high-frequency signals at MJAR. The array aperture is large enough that f-k analysis performed on continuous AR-AIC functions, calculated from optimally bandpass-filtered signals at the different sites, can provide robust slowness estimates for regional P-waves. Given a significantly higher SNR for regional S-phases on the horizontal components of the 3-component site of MJAR, we would expect incoherent detection and estimation of S-phases to improve with 3-component sensors at all sites. Given the diversity of the IMS stations, and the diversity of the methods which provide optimal results for a given station, we advocate the development of seismic processing pipelines which can process highly heterogeneous inputs to help associate characteristics of the incoming signals with physical events.
Large Deviations at Level 2.5 for Markovian Open Quantum Systems: Quantum Jumps and Quantum State Diffusion
Authors: Carollo Federico , Garrahan Juan P. , Jack Robert L.
Published: July 2021

We consider quantum stochastic processes and discuss a level 2.5 large deviation formalism providing an explicit and complete characterisation of fluctuations of time-averaged quantities, in the large-time limit. We analyse two classes of quantum stochastic dynamics, within this framework. The first class consists of the quantum jump trajectories related to photon detection; the second is quantum state diffusion related to homodyne detection. For both processes, we present the level 2.5 functional starting from the corresponding quantum stochastic Schrödinger equation and we discuss connections of these functionals to optimal control theory.
Automatic linguistic reporting of customer activity patterns in open malls
Authors: Ocaña Manuel , Chapela-Campa David , Álvarez Pedro , Hernández Noelia , Mucientes Manuel , Fabra Javier , Llamazares Ángel , Lama Manuel , Revenga Pedro A. , Bugarín Alberto , García-Garrido Miguel A. , Alonso Jose M.
Published: July 2021

In this work, we present a complete system to produce an automatic linguistic reporting about the customer activity patterns inside open malls, a mixed distribution of classical malls joined with the shops on the street. These reports can assist to design marketing campaigns by means of identifying the best places to catch the attention of customers. Activity patterns are estimated with process mining techniques and the key information of localization. Localization is obtained with a parallelized solution based on WiFi fingerprint system to speed up the solution. In agreement with the best practices for human evaluation of natural language generation systems, the linguistic quality of the generated report was evaluated by 41 experts who filled in an online questionnaire. Results are encouraging, since the average global score of the linguistic quality dimension is 6.17 (0.76 of standard deviation) in a 7-point Likert scale. This expresses a high degree of satisfaction of the generated reports and validates the adequacy of automatic natural language textual reports as a complementary tool to process model visualization.
Inborn errors of metabolism: Lessons from iPSC models
Authors: Escribá Rubén , Ferrer-Lorente Raquel , Raya Ángel
Published: July 2021

The possibility of reprogramming human somatic cells to pluripotency has opened unprecedented opportunities for creating genuinely human experimental models of disease. Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) constitute a greatly heterogeneous class of diseases that appear, in principle, especially suited to be modeled by iPSC-based technology. Indeed, dozens of IEMs have already been modeled to some extent using patient-specific iPSCs. Here, we review the advantages and disadvantages of iPSC-based disease modeling in the context of IEMs, as well as particular challenges associated to this approach, together with solutions researchers have proposed to tackle them. We have structured this review around six lessons that we have learnt from those previous modeling efforts, and that we believe should be carefully considered by researchers wishing to embark in future iPSC-based models of IEMs.
Natural kinds of mental disorder
Authors: Werkhoven Sander
Published: July 2021

Are mental disorders (autism, ADHD, schizophrenia) natural kinds or socially constructed categories? What is at stake if either of these views prove to be true? This paper offers a qualified defence for the view that there may be natural kinds of mental disorder, but also that the implications of this claim are generally overestimated. Especially concerns about over-inclusiveness of diagnostic categories and medicalisation of abnormal behaviour are not addressed by the debate. To arrive at these conclusions the paper opens with a discussion of kind formation in science, followed by an analysis of natural kinds. Seven principled and empirically informed objections to the possibility of natural kinds of mental disorder are considered and rejected. The paper ends with a reflection on diagnostics of mental health problems that don’t fall into natural kinds. Despite the defence of the possibility of natural kinds of mental disorder, this is likely to be the majority of cases.
Der Einfluss der Arbeit auf das Wohlbefinden unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener Berufsprofile
Authors: Camenisch Denise Angélique , Schäfer Olaf , Minder Isabelle Andrea , Cattapan Katja
Published: July 2021

Hintergrund

Faktoren der Arbeit beeinflussen gesundheitsrelevante Komponenten des Wohlbefindens und stehen in Wechselwirkung zu der Leistungsfähigkeit der Arbeitstätigen.

Fragestellung

Ziel der Untersuchung ist es, Zusammenhänge zwischen arbeitsbezogenen Parametern und dem Wohlbefinden von Erwerbstätigen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von fünf verschiedenen Berufsprofilen – physische/mentale Arbeit, mit Führungsaufgaben (mFA) und ohne Führungsaufgaben (oFA) – zu verstehen.

Methoden

Die Befragung zu den Bereichen Arbeitsbelastung, Arbeitsengagement, arbeitsbezogenen sozialen Ressourcen und Wohlbefinden wurde in einem iterativen Prozess aus evaluierten und etablierten Skalen zusammengestellt. Die Angaben von 3350 in der Schweiz tätigen Arbeitnehmenden verschiedenster Berufsgruppen und Branchen wurden erfasst und mittels mathematischer Modelle (konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse, Strukturgleichungsmodell und k‑Means-Clustering) ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Es zeigten sich statistisch signifikante Zusammenhänge zwischen Arbeitsbelastung, Arbeitsengagement und Wohlbefinden, die sich in den verschiedenen Berufsprofilen unterscheiden. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitsbelastung und Wohlbefinden hatte einen höheren statistischen Zusammenhang bei Mitarbeitenden mFA. Die Sinnhaftigkeit der Arbeit ist besonders bei mentalen Tätigkeiten von Bedeutung.

Schlussfolgerung

Die vorliegende Analyse zeigt die differenzierte Relevanz arbeitsbezogener Faktoren auf das Wohlbefinden und bildet eine Grundlage für Präventionsmaßnahmen.
Algorithmic Reduction of Biological Networks with Multiple Time Scales
Authors: Kruff Niclas , Lüders Christoph , Radulescu Ovidiu , Sturm Thomas , Walcher Sebastian
Published: July 2021

We present a symbolic algorithmic approach that allows to compute invariant manifolds and corresponding reduced systems for differential equations modeling biological networks which comprise chemical reaction networks for cellular biochemistry, and compartmental models for pharmacology, epidemiology and ecology. Multiple time scales of a given network are obtained by scaling, based on tropical geometry. Our reduction is mathematically justified within a singular perturbation setting. The existence of invariant manifolds is subject to hyperbolicity conditions, for which we propose an algorithmic test based on Hurwitz criteria. We finally obtain a sequence of nested invariant manifolds and respective reduced systems on those manifolds. Our theoretical results are generally accompanied by rigorous algorithmic descriptions suitable for direct implementation based on existing off-the-shelf software systems, specifically symbolic computation libraries and Satisfiability Modulo Theories solvers. We present computational examples taken from the well-known BioModels database using our own prototypical implementations.
Important Topics for Fostering Research Integrity by Research Performing and Research Funding Organizations: A Delphi Consensus Study
Authors: Labib Krishma , Roje Rea , Bouter Lex , Widdershoven Guy , Evans Natalie , Marušić Ana , Mokkink Lidwine , Tijdink Joeri
Published: July 2021

To foster research integrity (RI), it is necessary to address the institutional and system-of-science factors that influence researchers’ behavior. Consequently, research performing and research funding organizations (RPOs and RFOs) could develop comprehensive RI policies outlining the concrete steps they will take to foster RI. So far, there is no consensus on which topics are important to address in RI policies. Therefore, we conducted a three round Delphi survey study to explore which RI topics to address in institutional RI policies by seeking consensus from research policy experts and institutional leaders. A total of 68 RPO and 52 RFO experts, representing different disciplines, countries and genders, completed one, two or all rounds of the study. There was consensus among the experts on the importance of 12 RI topics for RPOs and 11 for RFOs. The topics that ranked highest for RPOs concerned education and training, supervision and mentoring, dealing with RI breaches, and supporting a responsible research process (e.g. through quality assurance). The highest ranked RFO topics concerned dealing with breaches of RI, conflicts of interest, and setting expectations on RPOs (e.g. about educating researchers about RI). Together with the research policy experts and institutional leaders, we developed a comprehensive overview of topics important for inclusion in the RI policies of RPOs and RFOs. The topics reflect preference for a preventative approach to RI, coupled with procedures for dealing with RI breaches. RPOs and RFOs should address each of these topics in order to support researchers in conducting responsible research.
Improved recovery of higher boiling point volatiles during solvent-assisted flavour evaporation
Authors: Sullivan Rosa C. , Fagan Colette C. , Parker Jane K.
Published: July 2021

Previously published data show that high levels of fat (50%) affect the yield of volatile compounds during solvent-assisted flavour evaporation (SAFE). We present new data demonstrating that even low levels of fat (< 10%) lead to significantly lower yields of high boiling point volatiles during SAFE. Relative recovery during SAFE of a range of volatiles from a cheese extract was measured at varying fat concentrations (1.1–8.7%) using a single internal standard. Volatiles with higher boiling points had significantly lower relative recoveries, and volatiles were substantially less well recovered from higher fat extracts. When endeavoring to obtain solvent extracts of fatty foods for the purposes of GC-O, it is important to choose the extraction technique which produces solvent extracts closely representing the true composition of the food. We present dilution of solvent extracts prior to SAFE as a potential new approach for high-fat foods which enables high yields of volatiles regardless of boiling point. These data also show that in the absence of C13-labelled standards for quantitation, it is critical to maintain a consistent fat content between samples during SAFE.
Axillary dissection versus axillary observation for low risk, clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sangha Mahaveer S. , Baker Rose , Ahmed Muneer
Published: July 2021

Purpose

1. To systematically analyse studies comparing survival outcomes between axillary lymph-node dissection (ALND) and axilla observation (Obs), in women with low-risk, clinically node-negative breast cancer. 2. To consider results in the context of current axillary surgery de-escalation trials and studies.

Methods

9 eligible studies were identified, 6 RCTs and 3 non-randomized studies (4236 women in total). Outcomes assessed: overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The logged (ln) hazard ratio (HR) was calculated and used as the statistic of interest. Data was grouped by follow-up.

Results

Meta-analyses found no significant difference in OS at 5, 10 and 25-years follow-up (5-year ln HR = 0.08, 95% CI − 0.09, 0.25, 10-year ln HR =  0.33, 95% CI − 0.07, 0.72, 25-year ln HR = 0.00, 95% CI − 0.18, 0.19). ALND caused improvement in DFS at 5-years follow-up (ln HR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.03, 0.29), this was not demonstrated at 10 and 25-years follow-up (10-year ln HR = 0.07, 95% CI − 0.09, 0.23, 25-year ln HR = − 0.03, 95% CI − 0.21, 0.16). Studies supporting ALND for DFS at 5-years follow-up had greater relative chemotherapy use in the ALND cohort.

Conclusion

ALND does not cause a significant improvement in OS in women with clinically node-negative breast cancer. ALND may improve DFS in the short term by tailoring a proportion of patients towards chemotherapy. Our evidence suggests that when the administration of systemic therapy is balanced between the two arms, axillary de-escalation studies will likely find no difference in OS or DFS.
LncRNA POU3F3 promotes melanoma cell proliferation by downregulating lncRNA MEG3
Authors: Liu Yingnan , Zhuang Yongqing , Fu Xiaokuan , Li Chaofei
Published: July 2021

Background

LncRNA POU3F3 (POU3F3) is overexpressed and plays oncogenic roles in esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas. LncRNA MEG3 (MEG3) has been characterized as a tumor suppressive lncRNA in different types of cancer. Our preliminary deep sequencing analysis revealed the inverse correlation between POU3F3 and MEG2 across melanoma tissues, indicating the interaction between them in melanoma. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the crosstalk between POU3F3 and MEG3 in melanoma.

Methods

Tumor and adjacent healthy tissues collected from 60 melanoma patients were subjected to RNA extractions and RT-qPCRs to analyze the differential expression of POU3F3 and MEG2 in melanoma. In melanoma cells, POU3F3 and MEG2 were overexpressed to study the interactions between them. CCK-8 assays were performed to analyze the roles of POU3F3 and MEG2 in regulating melanoma cell proliferation.

Results

We found that POU3F3 was upregulated, while lncRNA MEG3 was downregulated in melanoma. Expression levels of POU3F3 and MEG3 were inversely correlated across tumor tissues. In vitro experiments showed that POU3F3 overexpression decreased MEG3 expression in melanoma cells, while MEG3 overexpression failed to affect POU3F3. POU3F3 overexpression increased melanoma cell proliferation, while MEG3 overexpression decreased melanoma cell proliferation. In addition, rescue experiments showed that MEG3 overexpression attenuated the enhancing effects of POU3F3 overexpression.

Conclusion

POU3F3 may promote melanoma cell proliferation by downregulating MEG3.
Return of research results (RoRR) to the healthy CHRIS cohort: designing a policy with the participants
Authors: Staunton Ciara , Kösters Maria , Pramstaller Peter P. , Mascalzoni Deborah
Published: July 2021

Legal, financial and organizational challenges and the absence of coherent international guidelines and legal frameworks still discourage many genetic studies to share individual research results with their participants. Studies and institutions deciding to return genetic results will need to design their own study-specific return policy after due consideration of the ethical responsibilities. The Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol (CHRIS) study, a healthy cohort study, did not foresee the return of individual genomic results during its baseline phase. However, as it was expected that the follow-up phase would generate an increasing amount of reliable genetic results, an update of the return of research results (RoRR) policy became necessary. To inform this revision, an empirical study using mixed methods was developed to investigate the views of CHRIS research participants (20), local general practitioners (3) and the local genetic counselling service (1). During the interviews, three different examples of potential genetic results with a very diverse potential impact on participants were presented: breast cancer, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease. The CHRIS participants also completed a short questionnaire, collecting personal information and asking for a self-evaluation of their knowledge about genetics. This study made it clear that research participants want to make autonomous decisions on the disclosure or non-disclosure of their results. While the motivations for participants’ decisions were very diverse, we were able to identify several common criteria that had a strong influence on their choices. Providing information on these factors is crucial to enable participants to make truly informed decisions.
Homophobic Verbal and Bullying Victimization: Overlap and Emotional Impact
Authors: Elipe Paz , Espelage Dorothy L. , Del Rey Rosario
Published: July 2021

Introduction

A relationship between homophobic verbal and bullying victimization has been established in the scientific literature, yet its findings remain debated. Similarly, the emotional impact of these phenomena may cross over, although not enough evidence is available to confirm this hypothesis. The study sought to examine this overlap of phenomena as well as their emotional impact, both independently and jointly, in a community-based school sample of adolescents with varying sexual orientations.

Methods

A total of 2089 Spanish students aged 11 to 18 years (M = 13.68, SD = 1.31) completed self-report measures assessing homophobic verbal and bullying victimization, sexual orientation, and emotional impact during 2017.

Results

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents reported greater homophobic verbal and bullying victimization than their non-LGB peers. No differences were found in emotional impact based on sexual orientation or gender. However, differences were found for victimization type, with LGB youth overrepresented in the poly-victim group. A mediation effect of homophobic verbal victimization was observed between bullying victimization and negative emotional impact.

Conclusions

LGB students more frequently experience more types of victimization than their non-LGB peers. Homophobic victimization amplifies the likely emotional impact of bullying victimization, which should be considered in prevention programs and psychological interventions.

Policy Implications

These findings highlight the importance of sexual diversity in the study of bullying behavior. It is also identified as a key area when developing prevention programs aimed at eradicating this type of violence from our schools.
On the denoising of structural vibration response records from low-cost sensors: a critical comparison and assessment
Authors: Ravizza Gabriele , Ferrari Rosalba , Rizzi Egidio , Dertimanis Vasilis
Published: July 2021

Due to the increasing quest of adopting low-cost sensors in structural health monitoring (SHM) processes, which may lead to detecting signals contaminated by significant levels of noise, the need to devise appropriate and effective denoising strategies, at the post-processing stage, is becoming more and more essential. Among several approaches proposed in the literature, it has been demonstrated that the employment of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) as a multi-rate filter bank, as well as the use of singular value decomposition (SVD), may result to be quite effective in signal denoising within various research fields, as biological, acoustic and mechanical. Here, DWT- and SVD-based denoising techniques are first independently reconsidered and reimplemented, aiming at exploring their optimal calibration in purifying noise-corrupted vibration response signals encountered in civil engineering applications. Then, a systematic performance evaluation is provided within a comparative framework, developed at an increasing level of noise affecting the measurements, in terms of noise-to-signal (N/S) ratio. In the study, two specific classes of synthetic response signals are first considered, namely earthquake and ambient vibration signals, since they may be assumed as representative of more general non-stationary and stationary signal typologies, respectively. To achieve a complete description of the clarified signal, strengths and weaknesses of the two denoising approaches are explored, in both time and frequency domains. The results prove the effectiveness of the analyzed implementations, especially in purifying seismic response signals, while some limitations may arise concerning the treatment of ambient vibration signals, in particular for the DWT-based denoising technique. Finally, a real case study is analyzed, where both denoising approaches are adapted and employed for clarifying acceleration signals detected on a modern short-span railway bridge, with rather satisfactory results, for both techniques.
Characterization of PGRP-LB and immune deficiency in the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Yu Yaya , Luo Chunli , Zhang Daowei , Chen Jing
Published: July 2021

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) participate in insect defense against bacterial pathogens by recognizing bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans (PGNs). Here, we identified the PGRP-LB gene in the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (SfPGRP-LB). SfPGRP-LB is a secreted protein with a typical PGN-binding domain and five conserved amino acid (aa) residues required for amidase activity. Expression analysis showed that the SfPGRP-LB transcript levels were significantly higher in the midgut than in other tissues. Silencing SfPGRP-LB with dsRNA significantly downregulated the expression of Toll pathway genes Toll and Dorsal and Imd pathway genes Imd and Relish after Escherichia coli challenge. However, only Toll and Dorsal expressions were downregulated after Staphylococcus aureus challenge. E. coli and S. aureus challenges rapidly and strongly upregulated SfPGRP-LB expression. Recombinantly expressed SfPGRP-LB (rSfPGRP-LB) had strong affinities for E. coli Dap-type PGN and S. aureus Lys-type PGN and agglutinated the bacteria. However, rSfPGRP-LB inhibited S. aureus but not E. coli growth. Furthermore, rSfPGRP-LB had amidase activity, degraded Lys-type PGN, and destroyed S. aureus cell walls but had no such effects on E. coli Dap-type PGN. Thus, SfPGRP-LB recognizes and binds various bacterial PGNs but only has amidase activity against Lys-type PGN.
Use of monoclonal antibody therapy for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients at high risk for severe COVID-19: experience from a tertiary-care hospital in Germany
Authors: Koehler Johanna , Ritzer Barbara , Weidlich Simon , Gebhardt Friedemann , Kirchhoff Chlodwig , Gempt Jens , Querbach Christiane , Hoffmann Dieter , Haller Bernhard , Schmid Roland M. , Schneider Jochen , Spinner Christoph D. , Iakoubov Roman
Published: July 2021

Additional treatment options for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are urgently needed, particularly for populations at high risk of severe disease. This cross-sectional, retrospective study characterized the outcomes of 43 patients with nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with and without treatment using monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies (bamlanivimab or casirivimab/imdevimab). Our results indicate that treatment with monoclonal antibodies results in a significant decrease in disease progression and mortality when used for asymptomatic patients with early SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Differential diagnosis of a thyroid mass, facial malar rash and ptosis on the flora in the primavera by Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510)
Authors: Ashrafian H.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The Primavera is considered amongst the greatest and controversial artistic masterpieces worldwide painted by renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. The aim was to identify any underlying medical foundations for the painting.

Methods

Observational study.

Results

The painting reveals, a ‘butterfly’ malar rash, bilateral ptosis and a clear neck swelling consistent with a goitre in the figure of Flora. This could be explained by concomitant Graves’ disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, or other presentations of multiple autoimmune syndrome.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the likely presentation of the earliest pictorial depictions of thyroid disease with systemic lupus erythematosus and emphasize the exactitude of depiction demonstrated by Botticelli in renaissance era.