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Zusammenfassung Einleitung Mit dem Ziel des Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) gewinnt bei Risikopatienten die präoperative Phase zur optimalen Konditionierung an Bedeutung, um damit auch das Risiko von postoperativen Komplikationen zu vermindern. Prähabilitation als multimodales Modell bestehend aus Ernährungstherapie, Kraft- und Ausdauertraining, sowie psychologischer Unterstützung soll es ermöglichen, dass Patienten selbstständig daran mitwirken können, bestmöglich für eine Operation vorbereitet zu sein und sich schneller von den eventuell auftretenden Nachwirkungen zu erholen. Ein optimierter Ernährungszustand und eine Verbesserung der Belastbarkeit bilden dabei die Basis, um ein individuell an den Patienten angepasstes Programm zu erstellen. Methoden Das circa 6-wöchige Prähabilitationsprogramm für Patienten besteht aus Mobilitäts- und Kraftübungen, Hausbesuchen, einer Ernährungstherapie und psychologischer Unterstützung. Eingeschlossen werden Hoch-Risiko-Patienten vor großen abdominalchirurgischen Tumoroperationen, die mindestens 70 Jahre alt sind, einen ASA-Score von 3 oder 4 haben und bei denen die Indikationen für eine neoadjuvante Therapie besteht. Ausgewertet werden Ernährungsstatus, Tests zur funktionellen Belastbarkeit, dem kognitiven Zustand und ein Fragebogen zur Beurteilung der Lebensqualität zu Beginn, mehrfach während des Programms und postoperativ. Schlussfolgerung Durch die intensive und engmaschige Betreuung, sowie der Chance, dass Patienten selber etwas aktiv beisteuern können, besteht die Möglichkeit die besten Voraussetzungen zu schaffen, um Einfluss auf das Outcome der Operation zu erlangen. Eine Senkung der Komplikationsrate, eine Verkürzung der Krankenhausverweildauer und ein schnelleres Zurückerlangen der Mobilität stehen dabei im Vordergrund.

ZusammenfassungFahrradfahren als Form der aktiven Fortbewegung bietet viele gesundheitliche Vorteile durch eine gesteigerte körperliche Aktivität. In städtischer Umgebung können diese Vorteile aufgrund der intensivierten Respiration beim Radfahren und der Nähe zum Fahrzeugverkehr mit einer assoziierten Exposition von verkehrsbedingter partikulärer Luftverschmutzung durch Feinstaub beeinträchtigt werden. Das Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit ist, eine Darstellung der aktuellen Literatur mit mobil erhobenen Daten zur Feinstaubbelastung Radfahrender im urbanen Raum zu geben sowie die darin beschriebenen Einflussfaktoren der Feinstaubkonzentrationen aus Meteorologie, Verkehr, Architektur und zeitlichen Bedingungen zu beschreiben. Fahrradfahren repräsentiert diesbezüglich eine effiziente Vorgehensweise zur Charakterisierung individueller Feinstaubbelastungen mit der Möglichkeit einer hohen räumlich-zeitlichen Auflösung. Unter Beachtung der Hintergrundkonzentration können Aussagen zur relativen Schadstoffexposition und des einhergehenden Gesundheitsrisikos mit Erkenntnissen zugunsten einer umweltverträglichen innerstädtischen Verkehrsplanung getroffen werden.

The aim of this paper is to develop an accurate and robust six degrees of freedom stationary velocity prediction program (VPP) applied to a high-performance sailing yacht. The model is set up to assist NC Raceboats with the VPP based hydrofoil design, considering the sailing performance in three modes: displacement, transition and hydrofoil. The yacht is a lightweight monohull designed for light wind conditions with up to five crew members. The design includes a self-stabilizing hydrofoil configuration and an elevator rudder. The software tool, which is used for the velocity prediction program, is FS-Equilibrium, developed by DNV. The software offers a modular workbench in which each force can be modelled with semi-empirical force modules, which are based on validated methods and theories. The performance prediction is interpreted and discussed: as foreseen, the performance of the high-performance lake racer in hydrofoiling condition is significantly improved compared to its assessment in displacement sailing mode. In medium breeze conditions, the yacht is able to lift up on its hydrofoils and attain flight mode. The minimum hydrofoiling speed investigation demonstrates that the VPP is able to consistently iterate Through the transition mode. This paper shows that it is possible to develop a VPP model for a hydrofoiling sailing yacht on the basis of relatively simple assumptions and theories.

The increasing availability of high-throughput datasets allows amalgamating research information across a large body of genome regulation studies. Given the recent success of meta-analyses on transcriptional regulators, epigenetic marks, and enhancer:gene associations, we expect that such surveys will continue to provide novel and reproducible insights. However, meta-analyses are severely hampered by the diversity of available data, concurring protocols, an eclectic amount of bioinformatics tools, and myriads of conceivable parameter combinations. Such factors can easily bar life scientists from synthesizing omics data and substantially curb their interpretability. Despite statistical challenges of the method, we would like to emphasize the advantages of joining data from different sources through vote-counting and showcase examples that achieve a simple but highly intuitive data integration.

Cell cycle-dependent gene transcription is tightly controlled by the retinoblastoma (RB):E2F and DREAM complexes, which repress all cell cycle genes during quiescence. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) phosphorylation of RB and DREAM allows for the expression of two gene sets. The first set of genes, with peak expression in G1/S, is activated by E2F transcription factors (TFs) and is required for DNA synthesis. The second set, with maximum expression during G2/M, is required for mitosis and is coordinated by the MuvB complex, together with B-MYB and Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1). In this review, we summarize the key findings that established the distinct control mechanisms regulating G1/S and G2/M gene expression in mammals and discuss recent advances in the understanding of the temporal control of these genes.

When transporting prefabricated exterior panels vertically, shipping frame types and site conditions affect panel logistics. Thus, it is crucial that project participants estimate the logistics costs considering these factors, which vary by projects, to select the most economic option rapidly and consistently for a specific project in addition to three important objectives of panel logistics (i.e. number of trailers, reshuffling effort, and panel stability). In this study, the authors developed a methodology to generate loading plans for different types of shipping frames and site conditions using both first fit and next fit algorithms and evaluate the cost-related items for the loading plans considering project conditions. To demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology, the authors conducted a case study and compared the logistics costs for three different frame options considering site conditions. The results show that the methodology enables project participants to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different frame options based on given site conditions, which can guide project participants to make informed decisions about the preferred frame option.

The emergence of cloud computing, big data analytics, and machine learning has catalysed the use of remote sensing technologies to enable more timely land management of sustainability indicators such as ground cover and grassland biomass, given the uncertainty of future climate and drought conditions. Here, we examine the potential of “regenerative agriculture”, as an adaptive grazing management strategy to minimise bare ground exposure while maximising pasture biomass productivity. High-intensity sheep grazing treatments were conducted in small fields (less than 1 hectare) for short durations (typically less than 1 day). Paddocks were subsequently spelled to allow pasture biomass recovery (treatments comprising 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months) with each compared with control treatments with lighter stocking rates for longer periods (2,000 DSE). Pastures were composed of wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia species), kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra), Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica, and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) were destructively sampled to estimate total standing dry matter (TSDM), standing green biomass, standing dry biomass and trampled biomass. We then invoked a machine learning model using Sentinel-2 imagery to quantify TSDM, standing green biomass and standing dry biomass. Faced with La Nina conditions, regenerative grazing did not significantly impact pasture productivity, with all treatments showing similar TSDM and green biomass. However, regenerative treatments significantly impacted litter fall and trampled material, with the high intensity grazing treatments causing more dry matter trampling, increasing litter, enhancing decomposition rates and surface organic matter. Pasture digestibility was greatest for treatments with minimal spelling (3 months), whereas both standing senescent and trampled material were significantly greater for the treatment with 15-month spell periods. Estimates of TSDM using machine learning with Sentinel-2 imagery underestimated TSDM in treatment plots but explained spatiotemporal variability associated within and across treatments. The root mean square error between the measured and modelled TSDM was 903 kg DM/ha, which was less than the variability measured in the field. We conclude that regenerative grazing with short recovery periods (3-6 months) are most conducive to increasing pasture production under high rainfall conditions, and we speculate that high intensity grazing is likely to positively impact on soil organic carbon through increased litterfall and trampling. Our study paves the way forward for using machine learning with satellite imagery to quantify pasture biomass at small scales, enabling management of pastures from afar.

Driving requires continuous decision making from a driver taking into account all available relevant information. Automating driving tasks also automates the related decisions. However, humans are very good at dealing with bad quality, fuzzy, informal and incomplete information, whereas machines generally require solid quality information in a formalized format. Therefore, the development of automated driving functions relies on the availability of machine-usable information. A digital twin contains quality controlled information collected and augmented from different sources, ready to be supplied to such an automated driving function. An information model that describes all conceivably relevant information is necessary. To this end, a list of requirements that such an information model should meet is proposed and each requirement is argued for. Based on the anticipated services and applications that such a system should support, a collection of requirements for system architecture is derived. Information modeling is performed for selected relevant information groups. A system architecture has been proposed and validated with three different implementations, addressing several different applications to support decisions at a highway tunnel construction site in Austria and throughout the Test Bed Lower Saxony in Germany.

In this paper I develop a sketch of an overall theology that dispenses with “alternative-possibilities” freedom in favor of “actual-sequence” freedom. I hold that acting freely does not require freedom to do otherwise, and that acting freely is the freedom component of moral responsibility. Employing this analytical apparatus, I show how we can offer various important elements of a theology that employs only the notion of acting freely. I distinguish my approach from the important development of Open Theism by William Hasker. My view about God’s foreknowledge is in-between comprehensive foreknowledge and no foreknowledge (Open Theism).

In a recent article in this journal, “Destinism,” Andrew Bailey presents a puzzle (in different versions) for “Destinism,” the view that the only things we can do are those we in fact do. The puzzle is intriguing and important in part because it challenges a doctrine (Destinism) that many philosophers think could be true compatibly with our being morally responsible. Destinism is at least a viable view. Bailey’s puzzle derives from very plausible assumptions, but I argue that these assumptions are not as plausible as they appear. Interpreted in a way that renders one of them acceptable makes another problematic. There is no one interpretation on which the puzzling arguments are uncontrovertibly sound.

In my reply to the thoughtful comments of Timmerman and Gorman, I take up, and further explore, some main questions, including: Can a horribly immoral person (a moral monster) lead a meaningful life? Similarly, can a significantly deluded person lead a meaningful life? What role do judgments of meaningfulness play in our normative framework? How can we understand the debate between those who would embrace the possibility of immortality and those who would reject it? What is the role of narrativity in evaluating meaning in human lives, and how would this concept apply to immortal lives? If death can be a bad thing for the deceased, should we fear death (the status of being dead)?

Language processing is influenced by sensorimotor experiences. Here, we review behavioral evidence for embodied and grounded influences in language processing across six linguistic levels of granularity. We examine (a) sub-word features, discussing grounded influences on iconicity (systematic associations between word form and meaning); (b) words, discussing boundary conditions and generalizations for the simulation of color, sensory modality, and spatial position; (c) sentences, discussing boundary conditions and applications of action direction simulation; (d) texts, discussing how the teaching of simulation can improve comprehension in beginning readers; (e) conversations, discussing how multi-modal cues improve turn taking and alignment; and (f) text corpora, discussing how distributional semantic models can reveal how grounded and embodied knowledge is encoded in texts. These approaches are converging on a convincing account of the psychology of language, but at the same time, there are important criticisms of the embodied approach and of specific experimental paradigms. The surest way forward requires the adoption of a wide array of scientific methods. By providing complimentary evidence, a combination of multiple methods on various levels of granularity can help us gain a more complete understanding of the role of embodiment and grounding in language processing.

The aim of the study presented in this paper was to first evaluate a new control logic together with hardware changes done to the DLR bicycle simulator and identify in which areas it is possible to fine tune the simulator so that it allows for a more realistic behavior. For this purpose, two different versions of the simulator will be compared based on objective criteria first in a simulator study and then to data of an equipped research bicycle.

Learning-centered models, which rely on active methodologies such as Project-Based Learning (PBL), should be adopted in undergraduate programs to potentiate the development of collaboration skills within future industry professionals like civil engineers. Thus, this study reports the implementation of PBL in two successive Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) courses from an undergraduate civil engineering program: 1) VDC I, in which the VDC methodology implementation was applied theoretically in an already-built project, and 2) VDC II, in which the VDC methodology implementation was applied in a currently-under-construction project. The study's objective is to identify students' perceptions of PBL influence on their learning experience, degree of acquisition of generic competencies, and project development under the VDC methodology. To assess the PBL and VDC implementation, a survey was applied to measure students' perceptions of the three mentioned variables. Results show an increase in their perceptions about the benefits of implementing VDC and PBL for the generic competencies acquisition process by more than a third, compared to other studies which implemented Building Information Modelling (BIM) with PBL. This is due to the theoretical background of the VDC methodology in terms of collaboration, processes, and tools. Besides, VDC II students' perceptions of the generic competencies' development process, degree of learning, and project development improved by 6.13%, 7.15%, and 3.44%, respectively, compared to VDC I students' perceptions, which is owed to the natural interaction between students and stakeholders of the projects adopted.

Przekład na podstawie: „Responsiveness and Moral Responsibility”, w: Responsibility, Character, and the Emotions: New Essays in Moral Psychology, red. Ferdinand Schoeman (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), 81–106; przedruk w: John Martin Fischer, My Way: Essays on Moral Responsibility (Oxford: Cambridge University Press, 2006), 63–83. Przekład za zgodą Autora. Autor przedstawia model odpowiedzialności moralnej oparty na faktycznej sekwencji i pojęciu zdolności reagowania na racje, a następnie przeprowadza analogię między tym modelem a opracowanym przez Roberta Nozicka modelem wiedzy opartej na faktycznej sekwencji, oraz wprowadza pojęcie semikompatybilizmu.

Przekład na podstawie: “The Frankfurt Cases: The Moral of the Stories”, Philosophical Review 119 (2010): 315–336. Przekład za zgodą Autora Autor argumentuje, że morał przykładów frankfurtowskich jest następujący: jeśli determinizm przyczynowy wyklucza odpowiedzialność moralną, to nie na mocy eliminacji alternatywnych możliwości, a następnie odpowiada na najważniejsze wyzwanie dla tej tezy, mianowicie argument nazywany „obroną przez dylemat”.

Recurrently mutated in lymphoid neoplasms, the transcription factor RFX7 is emerging as a tumor suppressor. Previous reports suggested that RFX7 may also have a role in neurological and metabolic disorders. We recently reported that RFX7 responds to p53 signaling and cellular stress. Furthermore, we found RFX7 target genes to be dysregulated in numerous cancer types also beyond the hematological system. However, our understanding of RFX7’s target gene network and its role in health and disease remains limited. Here, we generated RFX7 knock-out cells and employed a multi-omics approach integrating transcriptome, cistrome, and proteome data to obtain a more comprehensive picture of RFX7 targets. We identify novel target genes linked to RFX7’s tumor suppressor function and underscoring its potential role in neurological disorders. Importantly, our data reveal RFX7 as a mechanistic link that enables the activation of these genes in response to p53 signaling.

Cellular senescence is a stable cell cycle arrest that normal cells undergo after a finite number of divisions, in response to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Although senescence is largely established and maintained by the p53/p21WAF1/CIP1 and pRB/p16INK4A tumour suppressor pathways, the downstream targets responsible for the stability of the growth arrest are not known. We have employed a stable senescence bypass assay in conditionally immortalised human breast fibroblasts (CL3EcoR) to investigate the role of the DREAM complex and its associated components in senescence. DREAM is a multi-subunit complex comprised of the MuvB core, containing LIN9, LIN37, LIN52, LIN54, and RBBP4, that when bound to p130, an RB1 like protein, and E2F4 inhibits cell cycle-dependent gene expression thereby arresting cell division. Phosphorylation of LIN52 at Serine 28 is required for DREAM assembly. Re-entry into the cell cycle upon phosphorylation of p130 leads to disruption of the DREAM complex and the MuvB core, associating initially to B-MYB and later to FOXM1 to form MMB and MMB-FOXM1 complexes respectively. Here we report that simultaneous expression of MMB-FOXM1 complex components efficiently bypasses senescence with LIN52, B-MYB, and FOXM1 as the crucial components. Moreover, bypass of senescence requires non-phosphorylated LIN52 that disrupts the DREAM complex, thereby indicating a central role for assembly of the DREAM complex in senescence.

Bridging the Gap- Workshop series 2020-21 This is the full report and discussions in the consensus building workshops and highlights of the thematic synthesis.

Differential Attainment Healthcare professionals are among the most respected, valued members in any society- and also the most regulated. It attracts some of the most talented, innovative and resilient individuals who are keen to do good. Respect, job satisfaction and autonomy are fundamental to the experience of any professional, and often valued above financial or material reward. Doctors are no different. Education and training of the healthcare workforce is a lengthy and resource intense process. No nation-state can be truly self-sufficient. Hence workforce migration is a reality where various pull and push factors lead to professionals moving across countries and continents, in the service of populations. Society is divided along many lines and steeped with structural inequalities. Many of these are the result of thousands of years of history, legacy and societal wrongs. Healthcare services and professionals reflect similar patterns of the 'big society'. The phenomenon of differential attainment (DA), which is the subject of this report is simply a manifestation of such structural inequalities. DA or differential outcomes for doctors due to their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic deprivation or influenced by migrant status - rather than motivation, ability, effort or enterprise. DA is fundamentally unfair. Those affected by DA are either unaware or unable to counteract the influence on their careers. DA leads to demoralisation, disengagement and poor outcomes for professionals and their patients. It takes its toll not only on careers but on lives and livelihoods. DA leads to a huge under-utlisation of human resources- a true waste of talent and enterprise. This report- BTG21 focuses on DA in the medical profession exploring the career cycle through the themes of recruitment, assessments, career progression, research & academia, leadership roles, awards and professionalism. BTG21 is people-centred and in tackling inequalities offers solutions on career fulfillment and wellbeing- by an ideological shift of hearts and minds. Thematic Synthesis BTG21 summary report is the culmination of a thematic synthesis of evidence covering the full spectrum of medical careers. It presents lived experiences (collected through mixed method approaches) capturing patterns in peoples experiences through an online survey, and in-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of professionals from across the career cycle, range of ethnic heritage, medical specialism and country of origin. Followed by consensus developed through workshops by a triumvirate of experts, stakeholders and grassroots professionals. There are 5 primary causes of DA- bias, social class & deprivation, immigration status, geographical and individual factors and impacts every stage of medical professional careers. The thematic synthesis reviews are published in the Sushruta Journal of Health Policy. Recommendations The Workshop discussions, recommendations (the 10-point plan) include policy enablers, immediate actions and research questions in the following areas; Tackling bias Embracing diversity & inclusion Celebrating the contribution of migrants Leveling the playing field Inclusive leadership & accountability Removing structural barriers Review-Reform-Rethink assessments Redefining professionalism Disaggregation-intersectionality-benchmarking of data Support-flexibility & Wellbeing

This paper describes a novel method to select the optimal member sizes and connection types for steel frame structures to minimize total installed cost. The proposed dimension increasing search (DIS) method addresses geometric constraints associated with connection, safety, and serviceability constraints. Solving this optimization problem requires addressing a non-convex objective function of total installed cost, a large number of constraints, the time-consuming structural analysis for evaluation of the constraints, and intractability resulting from high-dimensional variables. The DIS method involves initial grouping of design variables to reduce the search dimension from the original dimension. Random search coupled with forward checking and branch-and-bound techniques are then employed to optimize the configuration of the steel frame. This approach eliminates designs that are more expensive or do not satisfy geometric constraints without performing structural analysis. The variable groups are then split into subgroups to increase the search dimension, and the increased dimensional design variables are optimized until the original search dimension is achieved. We benchmarked the DIS method against leading methods using three numerical examples with increasing problem scales. The DIS method was more computationally efficient compared to other leading methods by an order of magnitude, and the solutions found by the method have a 9% lower total installed cost on average. The DIS method also showed scalability; the computational time increased only slightly as the problem scale increased. The scalability of the DIS method demonstrates the potential for its successful industrial application to large-scale building projects.

Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) represents the controlled exposure to positive pressure with simultaneous inhalation of pure oxygen. It is considered to be an effective treatment option for diseases with restricted blood flow as oxygen not only binds chemically to hemoglobin but also physically dissolves in blood plasma. With the help of a hyperbaric chamber the ambient pressure of a patient can be modified and the physiological characteristics in positive pressure can be medically used. The indications relevant to otorhinolaryngology are necrotizing otitis externa and skull base osteomyelitis, other forms of osteomyelitis, gangrene, wound healing disorders and sudden loss of hearing. When choosing a treatment, not only the availability and costs of HBO treatment play a role but also the patient's tolerance of overpressure. The risks of treatment, e.g., due to oxygen toxicity or barotrauma of the middle ear or the paranasal sinuses, must be weighed up against the potential benefits.Hyperbare Oxygenierung (HBO) ist die kontrollierte Überdruckexposition bei gleichzeitiger Inhalation von reinem Sauerstoff. Sie gilt als wirksame Behandlungsoption für Erkrankungen mit eingeschränkter Durchblutung, da Sauerstoff nicht nur chemisch am Hämoglobin bindet, sondern auch physikalisch im Blutplasma in Lösung geht. Mithilfe einer Überdruckkammer wird der Umgebungsdruck eines Patienten modifiziert, und die physiologischen Besonderheiten im Überdruck können medizinisch genutzt werden. Indikationen mit Relevanz für die HNO-Heilkunde sind Otitis externa necroticans (sive maligna)/Schädelbasisosteomyelitis, andere Osteomyelitiden, Gasbrand, Wundheilungsstörungen und Hörsturz. Bei der Therapieauswahl spielen nicht nur die Verfügbarkeit und Kosten einer HBO-Behandlung eine Rolle, sondern auch die Überdrucktauglichkeit von Patienten. Risiken der Behandlung, z. B. Sauerstofftoxizität oder Barotraumata von Mittelohr und Nasennebenhöhlen, sind dem potenziellen Nutzen gegenüberzustellen.

Medical interventions are often guided by optical tracking systems and optical coherence tomography has shown promising results for markerless tracking of soft tissue. The high spatial resolution and subsurface information contain valuable information about the underlying tissue structure and tracking of certain target structures is in principle possible. However, the small field-of-view complicates the selection of suitable regions-of-interest for tracking. Therefore, we extend an experimental setup and perform volumetric surface scanning of target structures to enlarge the field-of-view. We show that the setup allows for data acquisition and that precise merging of the volumes is possible with mean absolute errors from 0.041mm to 0.097mm.

Hydra is a genus of freshwater polyps with remarkable regeneration abilities and a non-senescent phenotype under laboratory conditions. Thus, this animal is particularly interesting for aging research. Here, we gained insights into Hydra's recent genetic evolution by genome sequencing of single cells and whole individuals. Despite its extreme longevity, Hydra does not show a lower somatic mutation rate than humans or mice. While we identify biological processes that have evolved under positive selection in animals kept in optimal laboratory conditions for decades, we found no signs of strong negative selection during this tiny evolutionary window. Interestingly, we observe the opposite pattern for the preceding evolution in the wild over a longer time period. Moreover, we found evidence that Hydra evolution in captivity was accompanied and potentially accelerated by loss of heterozygosity. Processes under positive selection in captive animals include pathways associated with Hydra’s simple nervous system, its nucleic acid metabolic process, cell migration, and hydrolase activity. Genes associated with organ regeneration, regulation of mRNA splicing, histone ubiquitination, and mitochondrial fusion were identified as highly conserved in the wild. Remarkably, several of the processes under strongest selection are closely related to those considered essential for the exapted, i. e. not brought about by natural selection, feature: Hydra’s non-aging.

The metabolism plays a fundamental role in cellular signaling pathways, but commonly used cell culture media do not reflect physiological metabolite concentrations. The metabolic control hub mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase is an illuminating example that it is about time to advance our cell culture to become more physiological and relevant.

Current methods to determine the energy efficiency of buildings require on-site visits of certified energy auditors which makes the process slow, costly, and geographically incomplete. To accelerate the identification of promising retrofit targets on a large scale, we propose to estimate building energy efficiency from widely available and remotely sensed data sources only, namely street view, aerial view, footprint, and satellite-borne land surface temperature (LST) data. After collecting data for almost 40,000 buildings in the United Kingdom, we combine these data sources by training multiple end-to-end deep learning models with the objective to classify buildings as energy efficient (EU rating A-D) or inefficient (EU rating E-G). After evaluating the trained models quantitatively as well as qualitatively, we extend our analysis by studying the predictive power of each data source in an ablation study. We find that the end-to-end deep learning model trained on all four data sources achieves a macro-averaged F1 score of 64.64% and outperforms the k-NN and SVM-based baseline models by 14.13 to 12.02 percentage points, respectively. Thus, this work shows the potential and complementary nature of remotely sensed data in predicting energy efficiency and opens up new opportunities for future work to integrate additional data sources.

GLIM criteria have become a worldwide standard for diagnosing malnutrition. They emphasize the measurement of muscle mass but do not provide clear recommendations for the use of different diagnostic tools and cut-offs. Measurements of body composition by using computerized tomography (CT) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are both easily accessible in hospitalized patients. However, there is sparse data regarding the comparison for GLIM diagnosis of malnutrition and its prognostic impact for postoperative outcome in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for cancer.We retrospectively analysed 260 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery between January 2017 and December 2019. Patients were prospectively screened and assessed for malnutrition with Nutritional Risk Score (NRS) and Subjective Global assessment (SGA). Body composition was analysed with CT scan and BIA within 30 days before surgery. GLIM criteria were retrospectively determined referring to the Fat free Mass from BIA (FFMFrom 260 patients in total, 179 patients (68.8%) had a confirmed malnutrition according to MMWhen using GLIM criteria, the method for measuring muscle mass is pivotal resulting in considerable differences in prevalence, sensitivity, and specificity. GLIM criteria are predictive for the risk of developing complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. With the pre-existing cut-offs, BIA seems to diagnose patients at an more advanced stage of malnutrition and indicates an advanced deterioration of nutritional status.

Objectives In the microbiological diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), there is much discussion about the methodology of obtaining proper specimens, the processing technique, and suitable culture media. This retrospective study was conducted to analyse the accuracy of our culture techniques. Methods Tissue samples and components from 258 patients after revision arthroplasty of the hip, knee, and shoulder were investigated, and the results of tissue cultures (TC) were compared to those of sonicate fluid cultures (SFC). Furthermore, an evaluation was performed of the influence of different culture media on the detection rate. Results PJI was confirmed in 186 patients. The overall sensitivity of TC was no different to that of SFC (91.3% vs 90.8%, P = 1). In 153 cases (82.3%), TC and SFC showed concordant positive results. Results were discordant in 33 cases (17.7%). When differentiated according to the type of infection, TC showed significantly better results than SFC in detecting polymicrobial infections (97.0% vs 67.0%, P = 0.004). There were also significant differences between the culture media regarding the yield of microorganisms. Conclusions TC was more effective in detecting co-infections. The best results were obtained using both TC and SFC. The choice of culture media has a significant influence on the quality of results.

The Frankfurt-style Counterexamples (FSCs) to the Principle of Alternative Possibilities (PAP) have been controversial. I sketch some of the major moves in the debates surrounding the FSCs, and I s...

The paper discusses the development of Spanish Vocational Education and Training (VET) over the past four decades and the extent to which and ways in which joining the European Economic Communities...

Hydra is a genus of freshwater polyps with remarkable regeneration abilities and a non-senescent phenotype under laboratory conditions. Thus, this animal is particularly interesting for aging research. Here, we gained insights into Hydra’s recent genetic evolution by genome sequencing of single cells and whole individuals. Despite its extreme longevity, Hydra does not show a lower somatic mutation rate than humans or mice. While we identify biological processes that have evolved under positive selection in animals kept in optimal laboratory conditions for decades, we found no signs of strong negative selection during this tiny evolutionary window. Interestingly, we observe the opposite pattern for the preceding evolution in the wild over a longer time period. Moreover, we found evidence that Hydra evolution in captivity was accompanied and potentially accelerated by loss of heterozygosity. Processes under positive selection in captive animals include pathways associated with Hydra’s simple nervous system, its nucleic acid metabolic process, cell migration, and hydrolase activity. Genes associated with organ regeneration, regulation of mRNA splicing, histone ubiquitination, and mitochondrial fusion were identified as highly conserved in the wild. Remarkably, several of the processes under strongest selection are closely related to those considered essential for the exapted, i. e. not brought about by natural selection, feature: Hydra’s non-aging.

Introduction: Remote delivery of behavioral and lifestyle interventions has shown a great potential for achieving weight loss comparable to in-person treatment. However, little is known about its effects on adherence and efficacy in a real-world setting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our usual care, a 12-month treatment program for morbid obesity, had to be transitioned to remote delivery. We evaluated whether this had adverse effects on weight loss or adherence. Methods: We report retrospective data of 234 patients who belonged either to a cohort affected by the transition of treatment delivery (N = 117, mean age = 44.2 years; BMI = 47.7 kg/m2) or to an individually matched control group treated prior to the pandemic (N = 117, 44.4 years; 47.3 kg/m2). Weight loss, dropouts, and attendance were compared between both groups and between remote and regular treatment periods. Results: Weight loss and the number of dropouts did not differ between the two groups and between treatment periods. However, attendance at remotely offered meetings was lower in the pandemic group (72.5%) when compared to the same meetings offered face to face in the control group (81.0%, p < 0.001). Discussion/Conclusion: Usual care weight loss and lifestyle interventions for morbid obesity can be successfully delivered via remote treatment.

In comparing classical and non-classical solutions to the semantic paradoxes arguments relying on strength have been influential. In this paper I argue that non-classical solutions should preserve the proof-theoretic strength of classical solutions. Leitgeb’s logic of HYPE is then presented as an interesting possibility to strengthen FDE with a suitable conditional. It is shown that HYPE allows for a non-classical Kripkean theory of truth, called KFL, that is strong enough for the relevant purposes and has additional attractive properties.

The general stress response (GSR) enables bacteria to sense and overcome a variety of environmental stresses. In alphaproteobacteria, stress-perceiving histidine kinases of the HWE and HisKA_2 families trigger a signaling cascade that leads to phosphorylation of the response regulator PhyR and, consequently, to activation of the GSR σ factor σ