bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Changes in Fat Mass and the Hippocampus
Authors: Ambikairajah Ananthan , Tabatabaei‐Jafari Hossein , Walsh Erin , Hornberger Michael , Cherbuin Nicolas
Published: May 2020

Objective

This study aimed to investigate cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between fat mass (i.e., body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and waist to hip ratio [WTHR]) and hippocampal volumes.

Methods

UK Biobank participants (N = 20,395) aged 40 to 70 years (mean follow‐up = 7.66 years), were included and categorized into one of four groups, which represented their baseline fat mass status and trajectory of change by follow‐up assessment: normal weight to overweight/obesity, overweight/obesity to normal weight (ON), normal weight stable (NS), or overweight/obesity stable (OS). Regression models used NS (WC < 80 cm in women and < 94 cm in men; WTHR < 0.85 in women and < 0.90 in men; BMI < 25 kg/m2 in women and men) as the reference group. Hippocampal volumes were automatically segmented using the FMRIB Software Library.

Results

Compared with NS, OS (BMI: B = −62.23 [SE = 16.76]; WC: B = −145.56 [SE = 16.97]; WTHR: B = −101.26 [SE = 19.54]) and ON (BMI: B = −61.1 [SE = 30.3]; WC: B = −93.77 [SE = 24.96]; WTHR: B = −69.92 [SE = 26.22]) had significantly lower hippocampal volumes.

Conclusions

The detrimental effects of overweight/obesity may extend beyond the duration of overweight/obesity itself.
An improved failure mode and effects analysis method based on uncertainty measure in the evidence theory
Authors: Wu Dongdong , Tang Yongchuan
Published: May 2020

mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is an effective tool to assess the risk of a system or process under uncertain environment. However, how to handle the uncertainty in the subjective assessment is an open issue. In this paper, a novel method to deal with the uncertainty coming from subjective assessments of FMEA experts is proposed in the framework of Dempster–Shafer evidence theory. First, the uncertain degree of the assessment is measured by the ambiguity measure. Then, the uncertainty is transformed to the reliability of each FMEA expert and the relative importance of each risk factor. After that, the assessments from FMEA team will be fused with a discounting‐based combination rule to address the potential conflict. Moreover, to avoid the situation that different risk priorities of failure modes may have the same ranking based on classical risk priority number method, the gray relational projection method (GRPM) is adopted for ranking risk priorities of failure modes. Finally, an application of the improved FMEA model in sheet steel production process verifies the reliability and validity of the proposed method.
Sleep‐related breathing disorders associated with the characteristics of underlying congenital rare diseases of Moebius syndrome and Poland syndrome
Authors: Sugiyama Ai Inagaki , Shiota Satomi , Yamada Tomoko , Ito Jun , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: May 2020

A 24‐year‐old woman was referred to us with daytime sleepiness. She has two congenital intractable and rare diseases, namely, Moebius syndrome and Poland syndrome. Physiological examinations and a detailed usage analysis under a ventilation device helped to conclude that hypoglossal nerve paralysis and thoracic deformity from her two underlying diseases were associated closely with her final diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea and sleep‐related hypoventilation due to medical disorders. Bilevel positive pressure ventilation with auto‐titrating expiratory positive airway pressure was effective. This is the first report that describes in detail the causal interactions between underlying two intractable and rare diseases and sleep‐related breathing disorders.
Field evaluation of portable soil water content sensors in a sandy loam
Authors: Kim Hyunglok , Cosh Michael H. , Bindlish Rajat , Lakshmi Venkataraman
Published: May 2020

Ground observations are critical in the validation of soil water content (SWC) estimates from both satellites and land surface models. Portable SWC sensors provide useful information to determine the amount of SWC in the topsoil layer for various applications; however, these probes are not accurate without site‐specific correction. In the present study, we examined and compared six different types of portable electromagnetic (EM) SWC sensors, including multiple sensors made by the same manufacturers, for a total of 16 EM‐based SWC probes equipped with portable data loggers. All SWC probes met the target accuracy after onsite correction—the RMSD was <0.025 m3 m−3. Using the two‐sample t tests, we observed that SWC data obtained from similar electrode lengths and from different manufacturers showed similar distributions over time with the same mean. Furthermore, using the maximize R method to combine SWC data from two different types of sensors increased the accuracy of the results. When datasets from two different types of sensors were combined, the Pearson's correlation coefficient (R value) and RMSD values were improved. The average R value improved from .930 to .945, and the RMSD decreased from 0.036 to 0.018 m3 m−3. These results indicate that, along with site‐specific correction, synergetic use of multiple manufacturers’ EM‐based SWC probes can improve the R value and reduce systematic bias.
Climate change adaptation in SIDS: A systematic review of the literature pre and post the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
Authors: Robinson Stacy‐ann
Published: May 2020

The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2014 was the most comprehensive to date. Yet it left several gaps with regards to the impacts, implications and responses to climate change in small island developing states (SIDS). SIDS are recognized as a special grouping of developing countries. Located in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Caribbean, and Pacific regions, they comprise 58 countries that are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change and its impacts. With adaptation to climate change viewed as a viable and necessary complement to mitigation, academic interest in adaptation in these complex geographies is increasing. Despite this, not enough is known about the body of knowledge relating to adaptation in SIDS. This article systematically reviews 208 articles, books, book chapters, conference papers, and notes, and synthesizes the nature and extent of the research evidence before and after AR5 (i.e., from 1990 to 2014, and from 2015 to 2018). It specifically explores shifts in (a) when, where and by what means knowledge is being produced (e.g., subject areas, methodologies), and the ways in which adaptation is being framed (i.e., conceptually, operationally), (b) the narratives, consensuses, and tensions across the key emerging themes in the literature, and (c) the knowledge gaps that exist. It also outlines a future research agenda, which is an important consideration not only for multi‐scale actors working to help solve the global climate challenge, but also for the scholars preparing the Small Islands Chapter of the Sixth Assessment Report due in 2021.

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Sustainability and Human Well‐Being

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies
A Brief History of Bioethics in Japan
Authors: Akabayashi Akira
Published: May 2020

In this chapter I look back at the history of bioethics in Japan, which can be divided into three phases: Phase I, Introduction (1980–1999); Phase II, Development (2000–2010); and Phase III, the Recent Past (2011–present). Phase I marks the period when the concept of bioethics that originated in the West came to Japan. It was also when Japanese society faced its first difficult bioethical issues: namely brain-death and organ transplantation. Other issues emerged during this period, particularly pertaining to death, such as end-of-life medical care and euthanasia. In Phase II, the problems shifted to those pertaining to the beginning of life, such as the moral status of the human embryo. As well, during this period the government implemented ethical guidelines for research ethics. During this period, social awareness of bioethics increased, and bioethics education began to appear not only medical education, but also within high school curricula. In Phase III, Japan began to tackle its own ethical issues, such as enhancement, regenerative medicine, neuroethics, public health ethics, and precision medicine. Some of my thoughts concerning projections for the future are discussed at the end of this chapter.
End-of-Life Care, Advance Directives, Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment, and the Goals of Medicine
Authors: Akabayashi Akira
Published: May 2020

End-of-life care is a universal topic in bioethics throughout the world, with each region, religion, and culture claiming its own position. A comparison of these positions, however, is not the aim of this chapter. Although Japan imported the practice of issuing advance directives (ADs), it has not gained popularity, and I doubt that it will do so in the near future. In addition, from a global perspective, taking into consideration the high infant mortality rates and low adult life expectancy in LMICs, it is fair to assume that AD is not commonplace in those countries. The way in which AD is enacted also depends on local law and culture and is therefore highly contextualized.

In this chapter, I also take up the issue of withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, especially the removal of artificial ventilation. There has also been much discussion surrounding the “equivalence principle,” which supports withholding and withdrawing. My colleagues and I have challenged this consequentially based idea in an Open Peer Commentary published in the American Journal of Bioethics (2019); we wrote this commentary from an East Asian perspective, and I will briefly introduce it.

Finally, in the current era of rapid development in medicine, I have sensed subtle changes in the goals of medicine as perceived by both patients and physicians (Original Article). The emergence of immune-checkpoint inhibitors, for example, may be enough to lead patients to think, “Perhaps if I try to live just a little longer, some dramatic treatment will be developed in the very near future.” From comfort care with QOL in the twentieth century to the idea of “a little bit more time in order to be cured” is emerging at the bedside.
Research Regulations, Ethics Committees, and Confronting Global Standards
Authors: Akabayashi Akira
Published: May 2020

Japan’s modern system of scientific governance was imported from the West. Starting with the The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use: Good clinical practice (ICH-GCP).

Japan needed to institute best global practice in order for Japanese research and pharmaceutical products to be recognized on the world stage. However, because the scientific governance system was imported, there was a mismatch between the basic concepts and underlying intentions of the system and Japanese culture.

The lack of competent ethics committee members and ethics consultation support infrastructure in Japan is a serious concern. Scientific misconduct is a universal phenomenon; however, I will explore it here in the local context. Finally, I will illustrate how the advice by clinical ethics consultations differs from culture to culture, although the formats (individuals, teams, and committees) are the same.
Bounds on convex bodies in pairwise intersecting Minkowski arrangement of order $$\mu $$
Authors: Földvári Viktória
Published: May 2020

The $$\mu $$
μ
-kernel of an o-symmetric convex body is obtained by shrinking the body about its center by a factor of $$\mu $$
μ
. As a generalization of pairwise intersecting Minkowski arrangement of o-symmetric convex bodies, we can define the pairwise intersecting Minkowski arrangement of order $$\mu $$
μ
. Here, the homothetic copies of an o-symmetric convex body are so that none of their interiors intersect the $$\mu $$
μ
-kernel of any other. We give general upper and lower bounds on the cardinality of such arrangements, and study two special cases: For d-dimensional translates in classical pairwise intersecting Minkowski arrangement we prove that the sharp upper bound is $$3^d$$

3
d

. The case $$\mu =1$$

μ
=
1

is the Bezdek–Pach Conjecture, which asserts that the maximum number of pairwise touching positive homothetic copies of a convex body in $$\mathbb R^d$$

R
d

is $$2^d$$

2
d

. We verify the conjecture on the plane, that is, when $$d=2$$

d
=
2

. Indeed, we show that the number in question is four for any planar convex body.
On Sampling and Interpolation by Model Sets
Authors: Richard Christoph , Schumacher Christoph
Published: May 2020

We refine a result of Matei and Meyer on stable sampling and stable interpolation for simple model sets. Our setting is model sets in locally compact abelian groups and Fourier analysis of unbounded complex Radon measures as developed by Argabright and de Lamadrid. This leads to a refined version of the underlying model set duality between sampling and interpolation. For rather general model sets, our methods also yield an elementary proof of stable sampling and stable interpolation sufficiently far away from the critical density, which is based on the Poisson Summation Formula.
Bedürfnisse und Belastungen von palliativmedizinisch mitbetreuten Patienten mit fortgeschrittenen und/oder metastasierten Kopf-Hals-Tumoren
Authors: Roch C. , Schendzielorz P. , Scherzad A. , van Oorschot B. , Scheich M.
Published: May 2020

Hintergrund

Neue Therapieformen ermöglichen auch bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittenen und metastasierten Kopf-Hals-Tumoren gute Behandlungsansätze. Gespräche über das Lebensende, vorausschauende Versorgungsplanung und auch palliativmedizinische Konzepte geraten dadurch oft in den Hintergrund.

Ziel der Arbeit

Analyse von Symptomen, Belastungen sowie dem Vorliegen von Vorsorgedokumenten, von stationär palliativmedizinisch mitbetreuten Patienten durch Selbsteinschätzung. Erhebung der Integration der spezialisierten Palliativversorgung in die Versorgung stationär verstorbener Patienten anhand des Qualitätsindikators nach Earle.

Material und Methoden

Retrospektive Analyse der vom Palliativdienst mitbetreuten Patienten mit Kopf-Hals-Tumoren durch Nutzung des standardisierten IPOS Fragebogens.

Ergebnisse

Die häufigsten physischen Symptome waren „Schwäche“ (77 %), „Appetitlosigkeit“ (65 %) und „eingeschränkte Mobilität“ (65 %). „Schmerzen“ wurden von 42 % der Patienten angegeben. Die häufigsten emotionalen und psychosozialen Belastungen waren „Traurigkeit“ (97 %) und „Sorgen des Patienten“ (94 %), die „fehlende Möglichkeit Gefühle“ zu teilen (77 %), „unzureichende Informiertheit“ (85 %) und „organisatorische Probleme“ (77 %). Bei 23 % der Patienten lagen Vorsorgedokumente vor. Das Qualitätsziel nach Earle wurde nicht erreicht.

Diskussion

Die Patienten berichten in der Auswertung in hohem Maß Symptome und Belastungen, am häufigsten im emotionalen Bereich und bezüglich kommunikativer und praktischer Bedürfnisse. Hier zeigt sich möglicherweise auch ein Gesprächsbedarf über Wünsche und Vorstellungen im Hinblick auf das Lebensende. Palliativdienste sollten deshalb besonders auf die psychosozialen Bedürfnisse einzugehen.
Back pain, ankylosing spondylitis and social media usage; a descriptive analysis of current activity
Authors: Reilly Elizabeth , Sengupta Raj
Published: May 2020

Social media usage by back pain patients is a new and developing area. Analysing patterns of this online activity offers a new way to understand our patients’ concerns and behaviour around disease. Large volume data can be evaluated on a scale not feasible through alternative methods. A cross sectional review of specific terms relating to ‘back pain’ (BP) and ‘ankylosing spondylitis’ (AS) were tracked internationally on popular websites, blogs and boards over two 3 month periods, in 2016 and 2019. Relevant co-terms were also tracked in these discussions, such as ‘exercise’, ‘medication’ and ‘doctor’. The size of the current online BP conversation is significant; there were over 100,000 mentions/month across each study period, particularly ‘low-’ BP. Discussions about AS increased threefold between 2016 and 2019. More discussions took place online at the start of the week, and in the afternoons. Pregnancy, baby and mens’ health resources were the most popular sites for BP chats. People posting about AS were mainly female (80%) and predominantly had an established diagnosis, with health forums hosting more of these discussions than for BP. Exercise was more commonly mentioned in the context of BP, whereas medications were more common in the AS conversations. Analysing online discussions about BP and AS helps to identify themes amongst patients. Some are seeking a diagnosis, support, or treatment information. Understanding the massive scale of online conversations could help clinicians adopt targeted approaches to increase patient identification, meet patient concerns better, and optimise engagement.
Effects of diet, habitual water intake and increased hydration on body fluid volumes and urinary analysis of renal fluid retention in healthy volunteers
Authors: Hahn Robert G.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To increase our knowledge about the causes and physiological consequences of concentrated urine, the relevance of which in the general population is uncertain.

Methods

Twenty healthy volunteers (mean age 42 years) recorded all intake of food and water for 2 weeks. During the 2nd week, they increased their daily consumption of water by 716 mL (32%). The volunteers delivered a 24-h and a morning urine sample for analysis of osmolality and creatinine during the first 4 days of both weeks, and a sample each time they voided on the other days. The water content of food and liquid was calculated and the body fluid volumes were measured by bioimpedance. Haemodynamic stability was assessed with the passive leg-raising test.

Results

There was a curvilinear correlation between the daily intake of water and biomarkers measured in the 24-h collection of urine (coefficient of determination 0.37–0.70). Habitual low intake of water was associated with larger body fluid volumes. The increased fluid intake during the 2nd week was best reflected in the 24-h collection (−15 and −20% for the osmolality and creatinine, respectively, P < 0.002), while morning urine and body fluid volumes were unchanged. Increased fluid intake improved the haemodynamic stability in volunteers with a low intake of water (< median), but only in those who had minimally concentrated morning urine.

Conclusions

The 24-h collection reflected recent intake of fluid, whereas the morning urine seemed to mirror long-term corrections of the fluid balance. Concentrated urine was associated with larger body fluid volumes.
Quality of life and associated factors after surgical treatment of vulvar cancer by vulvar field resection (VFR)
Authors: Trott Sophia , Höckel Michael , Dornhöfer Nadja , Geue Kristina , Aktas Bahriye , Wolf Benjamin
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To investigate patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and associated factors in vulvar cancer patients treated surgically by vulvar field resection (VFR) without adjuvant radiation.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patient-reported QoL as part of the prospective monocentric VFR trial using the 30-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) supplemented by a question assessing sexual activity. All patients had been treated by VFR and no participant had received adjuvant radiotherapy. The gynecologic cancer lymphedema questionnaire (GCLQ) was used to determine the presence of lymphedema. Structured telephone interviews were conducted to assess postoperative sequelae and long-term complications.

Results

Forty-three VFR patients (median age 63 years) were available for QoL assessment. Thirty-eight (88%) had received inguinal lymph-node dissection in addition to VFR. Mean global QoL (global health status) rating among all patients was 66.1 (± 25.5) on a scale from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better QoL. Higher GCLQ scores were significantly associated with lower global QoL scores (Spearman's rank correlation ρ =− 0.7, p < 0.0001). The presence of preoperative co-morbidities and postoperative wound-healing complications were also linked to reduced QoL (p < 0.01 for both). In a multivariable regression model, there was a significant interaction between preoperative co-morbidities and wound-healing complications with regard to global QoL (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Overall, VFR patients exhibit good quality of life postoperatively. The presence of lymphedema, wound-healing complications, and preoperative morbidities were associated with reduced QoL. Prospective longitudinal studies have to confirm our findings in the future.
Audiovestibular clinician experiences and opinions about cisplatin vestibulotoxicity
Authors: Prayuenyong Pattarawadee , Kasbekar Anand V. , Hall Deborah A. , Baguley David M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Vestibulotoxicity associated with cisplatin chemotherapy is known to exist, but the extent, severity, and impact is unclear from the literature. This study explored knowledge, experiences, and opinions of audiovestibular professionals about cisplatin vestibulotoxicity.

Methods

An online survey was disseminated to clinicians working in the audiovestibular field.

Results

Ninety-three respondents participated in the survey. Most professionals were aware of potential vestibulotoxicity associated with cisplatin chemotherapy. Thirty-three percent of the respondents reported that they had seen patients with cisplatin vestibulotoxicity. Forty percent of them were confident in making the diagnosis and in managing the patient in this situation. The prevalence and impact of vestibulotoxicity including practicality of the assessment should be considered when designing an effective vestibulotoxicity screening protocol.

Conclusion

This study provides a better understanding of cisplatin vestibulotoxicity from the perspectives of audiovestibular clinicians, which will underpin appropriate detection and management of the condition.
The embryonic expression pattern of a second, hitherto unrecognized, paralog of the pair-rule gene sloppy-paired in the beetle Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Janssen Ralf
Published: May 2020

In the fly Drosophila melanogaster, a hierarchic segmentation gene cascade patterns the anterior-posterior body axis of the developing embryo. Within this cascade, the pair-rule genes (PRGs) transform the more uniform patterning of the higher-level genes into a metameric pattern that first represents double-segmental units, and then, in a second step, represents a true segmental pattern. Within the PRG network, primary PRGs regulate secondary PRGs that are directly involved in the regulation of the next lower level, the segment-polarity genes (SPGs). While the complement of primary PRGs is different in Drosophila and the beetle Tribolium, another arthropod model organism, both paired (prd) and sloppy-paired (slp), acts as secondary PRGs. In earlier studies, the interaction of PRGs and the role of the single slp ortholog in Tribolium have been investigated in some detail revealing conserved and diverged aspects of PRG function. In this study, I present the identification and the analysis of embryonic expression patterns of a second slp gene (called slp2) in Tribolium. While the previously identified gene, slp, is expressed in a typical PRG pattern, expression of slp2 is more similar to that of the downstream-acting SPGs, and shows expression similarities to slp2 in Drosophila. The previously reported differences between the function of slp in Drosophila and Tribolium may partially account for the function of the newly identified second slp paralog in Tribolium, and it may therefore be advised to conduct further studies on PRG function in the beetle.
Expression of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6–9 in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis suggests a conserved role in appendage development in Panarthropoda
Authors: Janssen Ralf , Budd Graham E.
Published: May 2020

The Sp-family genes encode important transcription factors in animal development. Here we investigate the embryonic expression patterns of the complete set of Sp-genes in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis (Onychophora), with a special focus on the Sp6–9 ortholog. In arthropods, Sp6–9, the ortholog of the Drosophila melanogaster D-Sp1 gene plays a conserved role in appendage development. Our data show that the expression of Sp6–9 during the development of the velvet worm is conserved, suggesting that the key function of the Sp6–9 gene dates back to at least the last common ancestor of arthropods and onychophorans and thus likely the last common ancestor of Panarthropoda.
The prognostic role of tissue TLR2 and TLR4 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Beilmann-Lehtonen Ines , Böckelman Camilla , Mustonen Harri , Koskensalo Selja , Hagström Jaana , Haglund Caj
Published: May 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most common cancer globally, resulted in 881,000 deaths in 2018. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial to detecting pathogen invasion and inducing the host’s immune response. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of TLR2 and TLR4 tumor expressions in colorectal cancer patients. We studied the immunohistochemical expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 using tissue microarray specimens from 825 patients undergoing surgery in the Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, between 1982 and 2002. We assessed the relationships between TLR2 and TLR4 expressions and clinicopathological variables and patient survival. We generated survival curves using the Kaplan-Meier method, determining significance with the log-rank test. Among patients with lymph node–positive disease and no distant metastases (Dukes C), a strong TLR2 immunoactivity associated with a better prognosis (p < 0.001). Among patients with local Dukes B disease, a strong TLR4 immunoactivity associated with a worse disease-specific survival (DSS; p = 0.017). In the multivariate survival analysis, moderate TLR4 immunoactivity compared with strong TLR4 immunoactivity (hazard ratio (HR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.89, p = 0.007) served as an independent prognostic factor. In the multivariate analysis for the Dukes subgroups, moderate TLR2 immunoactivity (HR 2.63, 95% CI 1.56–4.44, p < 0.001) compared with strong TLR2 immunoactivity served as an independent negative prognostic factor in the Dukes C subgroup. TLR2 and TLR4 might be new prognostic factors to indicate which CRC patients require adjuvant therapy and which could spare from an unnecessary follow-up, but further investigations are needed.
An evaluation of preterm kidney size and function over the first two years of life
Authors: Kandasamy Yogavijayan , Rudd Donna , Lumbers Eugenie R , Smith Roger
Published: May 2020

Background

We carried out a study to determine the impact of prematurity on kidney development in the first 2 years of life.

Methods

In this prospective study, extremely preterm neonates (gestation < 28 weeks) were recruited and underwent assessments at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. A cohort of neonates born term were also recruited and followed up for 24 months. The primary outcomes measured in this study were total kidney volume (TKV) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); albuminuria and blood pressure measurements (all provided as mean (standard deviation)) were the secondary outcomes.

Results

Fifty-three premature and 31 term neonates (control) were recruited. At the age of 24 months (corrected age), infants born preterm had significantly smaller TKV (56.1 (9.4) vs. 64.8 (10.2) mL; P = 0.006). There was no difference in eGFR. These preterm infants were smaller (11.25 (1.53) vs. 12.9 (1.8) kg; P = 0.002) and shorter (83.8 (3.0) vs. 86.3 (3.4) cm; P = 0.02) when compared with the control group. At 6, 12, and 18 months respectively, preterm infants had, relative to their height, significantly smaller kidney volumes (0.54 (0.1) vs. 0.59 (0.1) mL/cm, P = 0.05; 0.61 (0.1) vs.0.71 (0.1) mL/cm, P = 0.003; and 0.67 (0.1) vs.0.76 (0.1) mL/cm, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

Relative to body length, TKV in premature infants is smaller. Since length reflects adult body proportions more accurately than BSA, TKV to height ratio may be a more important measure in the child. Despite smaller TKV (and therefore fewer nephrons), infants born prematurely achieve similar eGFRs in the first 24 months of life, probably due to single-nephron hyperfiltration.
Transiente Spannungsmodellierung in umrichtergespeisten Niederspannungsmaschinen mit Steckwicklungen
Authors: Pauli Florian , Wu Yixuan , Driendl Niklas , Schröder Michael , Hameyer Kay
Published: May 2020

Das Isolierstoffsystem von umrichtergespeisten elektrischen Maschinen ist transienten elektrischen Spannungen ausgesetzt. Diese entstehen aufgrund der endlichen Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit der Spannung sowie Induktivitäts- und Kapazitätsbelägen der Wicklung. Durch schnell schaltende Umrichter und den damit verbundenen höheren Spannungsanstiegsgeschwindigkeiten $\mathrm{d}u/\mathrm{d}t$
d
u
/
d
t
wird der Einfluss der transienten Spannungen auf das Wicklungssystem weiter erhöht. Eine besondere elektrische Belastung erfährt die Windungsisolierung, welche in Niederspannungsmaschinen häufig als Kupferlackdraht ausgeführt ist. In Steckwicklungen ist die Position jedes Leiters bekannt. Mit einem transienten Modell, das den Spannungsverlauf an jedem Ort der Wicklung abbilden kann, ist es möglich, das Isolierstoffsystem gezielt auszulegen und zu dimensionieren.
Analytische Ermittlung des Stirnraumanteils der Wicklung-Stator-Kapazität in elektrischen Maschinen zur Vorausberechnung des hochfrequenten Common-Mode-Stroms
Authors: Stockbrügger Jan Ole , Ponick Bernd
Published: May 2020

Beim Betrieb von schnellschaltenden Umrichtern treten in elektrischen Antrieben parasitäre, hochfrequente Effekte auf. Bei einem Zweipunkt-Wechselrichter ist der Mittelwert der drei Ausgangsspannungen aufgrund der diskreten Schaltzustände der Leistungstransitoren eine von Null verschiedene Gleichtaktspannung. Die Common-Mode-Spannung wird durch den Umrichter in die Motorwicklung eingeprägt und verursacht einen kapazitiven, hochfrequenten Common-Mode-Strom, der als Umladestrom der Kapazität zwischen Wicklung und Statorblechpaket und –gehäuse verstanden werden kann.

Die Wicklung-Stator-Kapazität setzt sich aus einem Nut- und einem Stirnraumanteil zusammen. In diesem Artikel wird eine analytische Bestimmung des Stirnraumanteils der Wicklung-Stator-Kapazität vorgestellt, welche neben der Stirnraumgeometrie den Einfluss von Materialien mit unterschiedlichen Permittivitäten berücksichtigt. Die Ermittlung des Stirnraumanteils der Wicklung-Stator-Kapazität basiert auf der Berechnung des skalaren Potenzialfelds unterhalb und oberhalb des Wicklungskopfs der Statorwicklung. Das vorgestellte Modell wird mit Hilfe von FEM-Simulationen für verschiedene Geometrien und Materialien validiert.
Effect of treatment with a full-occlusion biofeedback splint on sleep bruxism and TMD pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Bergmann Alexander , Edelhoff Daniel , Schubert Oliver , Erdelt Kurt-Jürgen , Pho Duc Jean-Marc
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to analyze treatment outcome with a full-occlusion biofeedback (BFB) splint on sleep bruxism (SB) and TMD pain compared with treatment with an adjusted occlusal splint (AOS).

Materials and methods

Forty-one patients were randomly allocated to a test (BFB) or a control (AOS) group and monitored over a 3-month period. Output variables were frequency and duration of bruxing events (bursts) and various pain symptoms.

Results

The BFB group showed a statistically significant reduction in the frequency and duration of bursts and a statistically significant improvement in the patients’ global well-being and the facial muscle pain parameter. After the treatment was stopped, the BFB group showed a statistically significant reduction in the average and maximum duration but no statistically significant change in the frequency of bursts.

Conclusions

The tested BFB splint is highly effective in reducing SB at the subconscious level, i.e., without waking the patient, and in achieving improvements in global pain perception. The results suggest that the BFB splint also provides a better treatment option for bruxism-related pain than an AOS. However, further research is needed, and specifically studies with a larger patient population displaying higher levels of pain at baseline.

Clinical relevance

By reducing burst duration and therefore the pathological load on the masticatory apparatus, the BFB splint reduces TMD and bruxism-related symptoms and improves patients’ physical well-being. In the long term, this could prevent damage to the TMJ. This study confirms the effectiveness and safety of this splint.

The universal trial number

U1111-1239-2450

DRKS-ID registration

DRKS00018092
Improvement in d-xylose utilization and isobutanol production in S. cerevisiae by adaptive laboratory evolution and rational engineering
Authors: Promdonkoy Peerada , Mhuantong Wuttichai , Champreda Verawat , Tanapongpipat Sutipa , Runguphan Weerawat
Published: May 2020

As the effects of climate change become apparent, metabolic engineers and synthetic biologists are exploring sustainable sources for transportation fuels. The design and engineering of microorganisms to produce gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel compounds from renewable feedstocks can significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well as lower the emissions of greenhouse gases. Over the past 2 decades, a considerable amount of work has led to the development of microbial strains for the production of advanced fuel compounds from both C5 and C6 sugars. In this work, we combined two strategies—adaptive laboratory evolution and rational metabolic engineering—to improve the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae’s ability to utilize d-xylose, a major C5 sugar in biomass, and produce the advanced biofuel isobutanol. Whole genome resequencing of several evolved strains followed by reverse engineering identified two single nucleotide mutations, one in CCR4 and another in TIF1, that improved the yeast’s specific growth rate by 23% and 14%, respectively. Neither one of these genes has previously been implicated to play a role in utilization of d-xylose. Fine-tuning the expression levels of the bottleneck enzymes in the isobutanol pathway further improved the evolved strain’s isobutanol titer to 92.9 ± 4.4 mg/L (specific isobutanol production of 50.2 ± 2.6 mg/g DCW), a 90% improvement in titer and a 110% improvement in specific production over the non-evolved strain. We hope that our work will set the stage for an economic route to the advanced biofuel isobutanol and enable efficient utilization of xylose-containing biomass.
Nourishing Compassion in Finnish Kindergarten Head Teachers: How Character Strength Training Influences Teachers’ Other-Oriented Behavior
Authors: Vuorinen Kaisa , Pessi Anne Birgitta , Uusitalo Lotta
Published: May 2020

Compassion refers to noticing, feeling and acting to alleviate suffering in others. Being one of the crucial socio-emotional and cultural skills, surprisingly little is known of early childhood education (ECE) teachers’ compassionate behavior and their ability to teach it to children. Overall, research on compassion in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is scarce. However, existing studies show that compassion skills can be acquired through training, and a collective compassion capability can be cultivated by everyday practices. As part of the positive psychology movement, compassion can be viewed as one of the character strengths (Peterson and Seligman 2004), generic skills, or “soft skills” that are underlined in the latest curricula and pedagogical documents (OECD 2017). In our present study, 95 ECE head teachers participated in the interventions, the aim of which was promoting compassion, character strengths and a supportive organization culture. A classic controlled pre/post-measuring protocol was applied to monitor progress. Additionally, qualitative material was collected from 33 participants. The intervention participants showed a significant increase in their identification and usage of strengths and in creating a supportive organizational culture. Content analysis of the qualitative statements revealed three main themes,Caring professionalism,Warm presenceandPositive feedback, evidencing strivings toward an emotionally and professionally supportive ECEC organization.
Correction to: Acute aquatic toxicity of tire and road wear particles to alga, daphnid, and fish
Authors: Marwood Christopher , McAtee Britt , Kreider Marisa , Ogle R. Scott , Finley Brent , Sweet Len , Panko Julie
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Private providers and market exit in UK higher education
Authors: Hunt Stephen A. , Boliver Vikki
Published: May 2020

The sudden closure of higher education providers is virtually unknown among publicly funded higher education institutions in the UK, but “market exit” is commonplace among private higher education providers. The UK government is actively championing the expansion of private higher education providers despite a dearth of research on the factors associated with a heightened risk of market exit within this part of the UK higher education sector. We set out to fill this gap in knowledge by utilizing existing data on private higher education providers active in the UK in 2014 supplemented by newly collected data on the status of these providers in 2019. The likelihood of market exit was higher for more recently founded providers, those operating for profit, those specializing in Business or IT or else having no particular specialization, and those located in London—all features that represent areas of greatest competition in the private higher education sector. Further risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of market exit were no external quality assessment, no access to publicly backed tuition fee loans, and the removal of the legal right to recruit international students. This second set of risk factors suggest that it is not just denial of revenue streams that increases the likelihood of market exit but estrangement from an officially regulated higher education system.
Short-term outcome following surgery for rare brain tumor entities in adults: a Swedish nation-wide registry-based study and comparison with SEER database
Authors: Bartek Jiri , Dhawan Sanjay , Thurin Erik , Alattar Ali , Gulati Sasha , Rydenhag Bertil , Henriksson Roger , Chen Clark C. , Jakola Asgeir Store
Published: May 2020

Objective

To investigate outcomes after surgery for rare brain tumors using the Swedish Brain Tumor Registry (SBTR).

Methods

This is a nationwide study of patient in the SBTR, validated in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. We included all adults diagnosed 2009–2015 with a rare brain tumor entity (n = 216), defined as ependymoma (EP, n = 64), subependymoma (SUBEP, n = 21), ganglioglioma (GGL, n = 54), pilocytic astrocytoma (PA, n = 56) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET, n = 21). We analyzed symptomatology, tumor characteristics and outcomes.

Results

Mean age was 38.3 ± 17.2 years in GGL, 36.2 ± 16.9 in PA, 37.0 ± 19.1 in PNET, 51.7 ± 16.3 in EP and 49.8 ± 14.3 in SUBEP. The most common symptom was focal deficit (39.6–71.4%), and this symptom was most common in GGL patients with 64.2% of GGL presenting with seizures. Most patients had no or little restriction in activity before surgery (Performance Status 0–1), although up to 15.0% of PNET patients had a performance status of 4. Gross total resection was achieved in most (> 50%) tumor categories. Incidence of new deficits was 11.1–34.4%. In terms of postoperative complications, 0–4.8% had a hematoma of any kind, 1.9–15.6% an infection, 0–7.8% a venous thromboembolism and 3.7–10.9% experienced a complication requiring reoperation. There were 3 deaths within 30-days of surgery, and a 1-year mortality of 0–14.3%.

Conclusion

We have provided benchmarks for the current symptomatology, tumor characteristics and outcomes after surgery for rare brain tumors as collected by the SBTR and validated our results in an independent registry. These results may aid in clinical decision making and advising patients.
Direct cryopreservation of winter-acclimated buds of Dracocephalum austriacum (Lamiaceae) from field material
Authors: Rasl Thomas , Schalk Mona , Temsch Eva , Kodym Andrea
Published: May 2020

This study develops protocols for the micropropagation and cryopreservation of Dracocephalum austriacum (Lamiaceae). It is a perennial herbaceous plant that overwinters with ground-level sprouts and is classified as critically endangered in Europe. In vitro cultures were initiated from seeds on growth-regulator-free Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium after nicking the seed coat. Propagation via shoot culture was achieved on ½ MS medium with 1 µM benzyl adenine (BAP). Rooting on various indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)-media was not reliable, but the rooting success was 80% after 10 weeks on medium with 1 µM BAP. Two starting materials underwent cryopreservation: (1) shoot tips from cold-acclimated in vitro plantlets and (2) axillary buds from winter shoots from field plants. For the cryopreservation of in vitro shoots, plant vitrification solution (PVS)3 and incubation over ice yielded the best results (~ 34% regeneration success). However, regeneration using winter acclimated buds were 100, 76 and 30% for collections in December, February and March, respectively, using the same protocol. Moreover, the ploidy levels of cryopreserved plantlets were estimated using flow cytometry. The use of winter-acclimated field material of temperate herbaceous plants or subshrubs has high potential as explant source for cryopreservation and calls for exploring this technique for other species.
Effective skeleton stress and void ratio for constitutive modeling of fiber-reinforced sand
Authors: Gao Zhiwei , Lu Dechun , Huang Mian
Published: May 2020

Inclusion of flexible fibers such as polypropylene and polyester is an effective method for soil improvement, as it significantly enhances the soil strength and ductility. A proper constitutive model is essential for assessing the stability and serviceability of fiber-reinforced slopes/foundations. A new method for constitutive modeling of fiber-reinforced sand (FRS) is proposed. It assumes that the strain of FRS is dependent on the deformation of the sand skeleton only, while the effective skeleton stress and effective skeleton void ratio, which should be used in describing the dilatancy, plastic hardening and elastic stiffness of FRS, are affected by fiber inclusion. The effective skeleton stress is dependent on the shear strain level, and the effective skeleton void ratio is affected by the fiber content and sample preparation method. A critical state FRS model in the triaxial stress space is proposed using the concept of effective skeleton stress and void ratio. Four parameters are introduced to characterize the effect of fiber inclusion on the mechanical behavior of sand, all of which can be easily determined based on triaxial test data on FRS, without measuring the stress–strain relationship of individual fibers. The model is validated by triaxial compression test results on four fiber-reinforced sands under loading conditions with various confining pressures, densities and stress paths. Potential improvement in the model for incorporating fiber orientation anisotropy is discussed.
General and Alcohol-Related Social Media Use and Mental Health: a Large-Sample Longitudinal Study
Authors: Erevik Eilin K. , Pallesen Ståle , Vedaa Øystein , Andreassen Cecilie S. , Dhir Amandeep , Torsheim Torbjørn
Published: May 2020

The current study aimed to investigate if general and alcohol-related social media use predicts symptoms of depression and anxiety. Students in Bergen, Norway, participated in a Web-based survey during fall 2015 (T1) and a follow-up survey during fall 2016 (T2). A total of 5217 participated in both surveys. Crude and adjusted linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate if social media use at T1 predicted depression and anxiety at T2. Several social media use variables (e.g., using Instagram) were positively associated with depression and anxiety over time, but these associations became non-significant when covariates were controlled for. Number of online friends was inversely related to depression whereas using Twitter was positively related to anxiety at T2, when covariates were controlled for. The effect sizes of the observed associations were all very small. The current study found little support for a relationship between social media use and mental health.
Instantaneous mental workload assessment using time–frequency analysis and semi-supervised learning
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Li Jianrong , Wang Rubin
Published: May 2020

The real-time assessment of mental workload (MWL) is critical for development of intelligent human–machine cooperative systems in various safety–critical applications. Although data-driven machine learning (ML) approach has shown promise in MWL recognition, there is still difficulty in acquiring a sufficient number of labeled data to train the ML models. This paper proposes a semi-supervised extreme learning machine (SS-ELM) algorithm for MWL pattern classification requiring only a small number of labeled data. The measured data analysis results show that the proposed SS-ELM paradigm can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of MWL classification and thus provide a competitive ML approach to utilizing a large number of unlabeled data which are available in many real-world applications.
Berufliche Aspirationen im Kontext regionaler Berufsstrukturen
Authors: Flohr Matthias , Menze Laura , Protsch Paula
Published: May 2020

Jugendliche entwickeln ihre beruflichen Pläne und Erwartungen in Interaktion mit signifikanten Anderen in den sozialen Kontexten, in denen sie sich bewegen. Innerhalb gleicher institutioneller Gelegenheitsstrukturen sind regionale Arbeitsmärkte wichtige sozialräumliche Kontexte, die über das unmittelbare Umfeld der Familie, der Schule oder der Nachbarschaft hinaus die Entwicklung von beruflichen Aspirationen bedingen. In unserem Beitrag untersuchen wir die Relevanz der regionalen Berufsstruktur, d. h. der Präsenz von unterschiedlichen Berufen auf dem regionalen Arbeitsmarkt, für die Berufswahl von nichtstudienberechtigten Jugendlichen in Deutschland. Unsere Ergebnisse basieren auf Daten der Startkohorte 4 des Nationalen Bildungspanels, die wir um beruflich-regionale Indikatoren auf Grundlage administrativer Statistiken der Bundesagentur für Arbeit ergänzen. Anhand von konditionalen logistischen Regressionsmodellen zeigen wir, dass sich die Jugendlichen in ihren beruflichen Aspirationen am Ende der Schulzeit an den Berufen der Erwerbstätigen in ihrer Region orientieren: Je höher der Anteil eines Berufs an der regionalen Berufsstruktur ist, desto wahrscheinlicher ist es, dass Jugendliche diesen Beruf aspirieren. Dieser Zusammenhang wird nicht über das berufliche Prestige oder die Geschlechterkomposition des Berufs moderiert. Unser Beitrag macht somit deutlich, dass die Wahl eines Berufs – und damit auch die mit dieser Wahl einhergehenden ungleichen längerfristigen Erwerbs- und Lebensbedingungen – zu einem gewissen Grad „per Lotterie“ über den Wohnort im Jugendalter bestimmt werden.