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Bloodstream infections in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone: a retrospective database study
No full textBackground. The health system in Sierra Leone has limited infrastructure to provide data on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and to inform clinical decision-making. The diagnostic and research laboratory capacity at Masanga Teaching Hospital was systematically expanded with microbiology infrastructure-building as one of the centrepieces. Objective. This study aims to report the spectrum of bacterial pathogens from bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone during the first year after the implementation of a blood culture infrastructure and characterize the detected antimicrobial resistances. Patients and methods. Patients treated at Masanga Hospital (Sierra Leone, March 2023–March 2024) were included in this database analysis if they were tested for BSI (BD BACTEC). Demographic and medical data were recorded for each patient. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done following EUCAST clinical guidelines. Results. Of the 340 blood cultures, 34 (10%) were positive for obligate pathogens. The three most frequent pathogens were 'Escherichia coli' (n=8), followed by 'Burkholderia cepacia' complex (n=7) and 'Salmonella enterica' (n=5). Almost all 'Klebsiella pneumoniae' (n=3/3) and 'E. coli' (n=7/8) were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. All four 'Staphylococcus aureus' isolates were methicillin susceptible (mecA negative). Carbapenem resistance was detected in 'Acinetobacter baumannii' complex (blaNDM)
Conclusion. The proportion of positive blood cultures with obligate pathogens (10%) was within the suggested benchmark (5–15%). Gram-negative bacteria dominated the pathogen spectrum of BSI with high resistance rates to third-generation cephalosporins
Chemical and population genetic analysis show no evidence of ecotype formation in a European population of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis
No full textEcotypes, subpopulations or strains of a single species locally adapted to divergent ecological conditions within the same habitat are often considered to be the first steps in sympatric speciation. It has been suggested that two ecotypes are distinguishable in 'Nasonia vitripennis', a prominent model organism for parasitic Hymenoptera, with one ecotype parasitizing fly pupae in bird nests, and the other one parasitizing fly pupae on carrion. This differentiation into two ecotypes has been hypothesized to indicate incipient sympatric speciation in populations of this globally distributed species. In the present study, we investigated the differentiation into these two distinct ecotypes focusing on chemical profiles and the population genetic divergence in a wild 'N. vitripennis' population from the Netherlands. Isofemale lines were obtained from bird nest boxes and from deer carrion, respectively, representing both microhabitats. To test for phenotypic differentiation, we determined the surface cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles from wasps of both host patches. Using a panel of 14 microsatellites, we concordantly determined the population genetic structure and tested for genetic differentiation between foundresses obtained from both microhabitats. Both the phenotypic as well as the genetic datasets show no evidence for any kind of separation based on the postulated two ecotypes, but rather suggest free interbreeding with no gene flow interruption between the two distinct host patches. Our findings challenge previous assumptions on clearly distinguishable ecotypes in 'N. vitripennis', and demonstrate how a chemical ecological assessment coupled with population genetics can be instrumental in re-evaluating the potential of ecological differentiation and incipient speciation mechanisms in parasitoid wasps
Conductivity of Filled Diblock Copolymer Systems: Identifying the Main Influencing Factors
No full textBy developing and making use of the multi-scale theoretical approach, we identify the main factors that affect the conductivity of a composite composed of a diblock copolymer (DBC) system and conductive particles. This approach relies on the consistent phase-field model of DBC, Monte-Carlo simulations of the filler localization in DBC, and the resistor network model that mimics the conductive filler network formed in DBC. Based on the described approach, we thoroughly explore the relation among the morphological state of the microphase-separated DBC, localization of fillers in DBC, and the electrical response of the composite. Good agreement with experimental results confirms the accuracy of our theoretical predictions regarding the localization of fillers in the DBC microphases. The main factors affecting the composite conductivity are found to be: (i) affinities of fillers for copolymer blocks; (ii) degree of the segregation of a host DBC system, driven by external stimuli; (iii) geometry of the microphases formed in the microphase-separated DBC; and (iv) interactions between fillers. The conductor-insulator transition in the filler network is found to be caused by the order-disorder transition in the symmetric DBC. The order-order transition between the ordered lamellae and cylindrical microphases of asymmetric DBC causes a spike in the composite conductivity
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Human Resources Management Practices Among the Millennial Workforce in the Chemical Industry in Ireland
No full textCompanies around the globe are struggling to find the right talent. Therefore, the concepts of talent attraction and talent retention are central. Millennials are the most significant generational group in the current labor market in Ireland and worldwide. This study connects the Millennial workforce with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) practices through the lens of a green employer brand, using the framework of Social Identity Theory (SIT). Consequently, this study poses the question: What relevance does the Millennial workforce in Ireland place on CSR and SHRM when considering employment with a company? A survey was conducted using non-probability and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected from 100 individuals who were part of the job market in Ireland. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26 for both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Two simple t-tests were conducted to analyze the relationship between the variables, which provided several practical implications
Prospect-Theorie und psychologische Faktoren im Fußball:Auswirkungen des Video-Assistenten-Schiedsrichters auf Elfmeter-Erfolgsquoten in der deutschen Bundesliga
No full textThe increasing integration of technological aids, such as the video assistant referee (VAR), is fundamentally transforming decision-making processes in professional football, especially influencing critical match moments. Penalty kicks, characterised by technical simplicity but intense psychological pressure, may be particularly affected by delays caused by VAR reviews. An analysis of 737 penalty kicks in the German Bundesliga and second Bundesliga (2019-2023) reveals that penalties confirmed following VAR interventions show significantly lower conversion rates. This impact is especially pronounced during the early stages of matches, suggesting prolonged delays disrupt players’ established pre-performance routines and heighten psychological stress, which aligns with prospect theory’s insights on decision-making under uncertainty. Thus, these insights emphasise how technological innovations enhance officiating accuracy and introduce new psychological demands on athletes at the same time.Der Einsatz technischer Hilfsmittel, wie des Videoschiedsrichters (VAR), verändert zunehmend die Entscheidungsprozesse im Profifußball und beeinflusst damit auch die Dynamik entscheidender Spielsituationen. Insbesondere beim Elfmeterschießen, einer scheinbar einfachen technischen Aktion mit erheblicher psychologischer Komplexität, können Verzögerungen durch VAR-Überprüfungen erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Leistung der Spieler haben. Eine Untersuchung von 737 Elfmetern in der 1. und 2. Bundesliga (2019-2023) zeigt, dass besonders Elfmeter, die nach einer VAR-Überprüfung bestätigt werden, eine niedrigere Erfolgsquote aufweisen. Dieser Effekt tritt insbesondere in frühen Spielphasen auf, wo lange Wartezeiten möglicherweise die Routinen der Spieler stören und zusätzlichen psychologischen Druck erzeugen, was mit den Erkenntnissen der Prospect-Theorie zur Entscheidungsfindung unter Unsicherheit übereinstimmt. Die Untersuchung liefert wertvolle Erkenntnisse darüber, wie technologische Veränderungen Schiedsrichterentscheidungen verbessern und zugleich neue psychologische Herausforderungen für Sportler schaffen
Sex-dependent performance differences in curvilinear aiming arm movements in octogenarians
No full textIn an aging society, it is necessary to detect the cognitive decline of individuals at an early stage using simple measurement methods. This makes early health care possible for those affected. The aim of the study was to develop a classifier for cognitive state in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on kinematic parameters of linear and curvilinear aiming arm movements. In a group of 224 older adults over 80 years of age (cognitively healthy and MCI), the movement duration and intersegment intervals of linear and curvilinear arm movements of 20 cm were recorded. Movement duration was significantly longer in the curvilinear condition than in the straight movement, and MCI participants required significantly more time than cognitively healthy participants. Post-hoc analysis on the fluidity of movement in the curvilinear condition showed that MCI men had significantly longer inter-segmental intervals than non-MCI men. No difference was found in women. Based on the inter-segmental intervals, a simple classifier could be developed that correctly classified 63% of the men. In summary, aiming arm movements are only conditionally suitable as a classifier for cognitive states. For the construction of an ideal classifier, age-related degeneration of cortical and subcortical motor areas should be considered
Soll man reden? Und wenn ja, worüber? Oder worüber nicht?
No full textDer Text "Soll man reden?" untersucht den Wandel der Konversation im Laufe der Jahrhunderte und reflektiert, worüber man reden sollte und worüber nicht. Es beginnt mit Aristoteles' Idee der Eutrapelia als Tugend der angemessenen Konversation. Im Mittelalter wurde Plaudern abgelehnt, bis Thomas von Aquin die Konversation wieder rehabilitierte. Im 17. Jahrhundert war die Konversation geprägt von Höflichkeit, Partnerorientierung und Vergnügen, während im 18. Jahrhundert Moral, Effizienz und inhaltliche Ergebnisse in den Vordergrund rückten. Foucaults Diskursbegriff wird auf alltägliche Konversation angewendet, um historische und gesellschaftliche Konversationsregeln zu untersuchen
Systematic review of candidate prognostic factors for falling in older adults identified from motion analysis of challenging walking tasks
No full textThe objective of this systematic review is to identify motion analysis parameters measured during challenging walking tasks which can predict fall risk in the older population. Numerous studies have attempted to predict fall risk from the motion analysis of standing balance or steady walking. However, most falls do not occur during steady gait but occur due to challenging centre of mass displacements or environmental hazards resulting in slipping, tripping or falls on stairs. We conducted a systematic review of motion analysis parameters during stair climbing, perturbed walking and obstacle crossing, predictive of fall risk in healthy older adults. We searched the databases of Pubmed, Scopus and IEEEexplore. A total of 78 articles were included, of which 62 simply compared a group of younger to a group of older adults. Importantly, the differences found between younger and older adults did not match those found between older adults at higher and lower risk of falls. Two prospective and six retrospective fall history studies were included. The other eight studies compared two groups of older adults with higher or lower risk based on mental or physical performance, functional decline, unsteadiness complaints or task performance. A wide range of parameters were reported, including outcomes related to success, timing, foot and step, centre of mass, force plates, dynamic stability, joints and segments. Due to the large variety in parameter assessment methods, a meta-analysis was not possible. Despite the range of parameters assessed, only a few candidate prognostic factors could be identified: older adults with a retrospective fall history demonstrated a significant larger step length variability, larger step time variability, and prolonged anticipatory postural adjustments in obstacle crossing compared to older adults without a fall history. Older adults who fell during a tripping perturbation had a larger angular momentum than those who did not fall. Lastly, in an obstacle course, reduced gait flexibility (i.e., change in stepping pattern relative to unobstructed walking) was a prognostic factor for falling in daily life. We provided recommendations for future fall risk assessment in terms of study design. In conclusion, studies comparing older to younger adults cannot be used to explore relationships between fall risk and motion analysis parameters. Even when comparing two older adult populations, it is necessary to measure fall history to identify fall risk prognostic factors
The Long-Lasting Exhumation History of the Ötztal-Stubai Complex (Eastern European Alps): New Constraints from Zircon (U–Th)/He Age-Elevation Profiles and Thermokinematic Modeling
No full textThe Eastern European Alps formed during two orogenic cycles, which took place in the Cretaceous and Cenozoic, respectively. In the Ötztal-Stubai Complex—a thrust sheet of Variscan basement and Permo-Mesozoic cover rocks—the record of the first (Eoalpine) orogeny is well preserved because during the second (Alpine) orogeny, the complex remained largely undeformed. Here, new zircon (U–Th)/He (ZHe) ages are presented, and thermokinematic modeling is applied to decipher the cooling and exhumation histories of the central part of the Ötztal-Stubai Complex since the Late Cretaceous. The ZHe ages from two elevation profiles increase over a vertical distance of 1500 m from 56 ± 3 to 69 ± 3 Ma (Stubaital) and from 50 ± 2 to 71 ± 4 Ma (Kaunertal), respectively. These ZHe ages and a few published zircon and apatite fission track ages were used for inverse thermokinematic modeling. The modeling results show that the age data are well reproduced with a three-phase exhumation history. The first phase with relatively fast exhumation (~250 m/Myr) during the Late Cretaceous ended at ~70 Ma and is interpreted to reflect the erosion of the Eoalpine mountain belt. As Late Cretaceous normal faults occur at the margins of the Ötztal-Stubai Complex, normal faulting may have also contributed to the exhumation of the study area. Subsequently, a long period with slow exhumation (<10 m/Myr) prevailed until ~16 Ma. This long-lasting phase of slow exhumation suggests a rather low topography with little relief in the Ötztal-Stubai Complex until the mid-Miocene, even though the Alpine orogeny had already begun in the Eocene with the subduction of the European continental margin. Accelerated exhumation since the mid-Miocene (~230 m/Myr) is interpreted to reflect the erosion of the mountain belt due to the development of high topography in front of the Adriatic indenter and repeated glaciations during the Quaternary
Time trends in survival and causes of death in multiple myeloma: a population-based study from Germany
No full textBackground: Steady evolution of therapies has improved prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) over the past two decades. Yet, knowledge about survival trends and causes of death in MM might play a crucial role in long-term management of this patient collective. Here, we investigate time trends in myeloma-specific survival at the population level over two decades and analyse causes of death in times of prolonged survival. Methods: Age-standardised and age group-specific relative survival (RS) of MM patients aged < 80 years at diagnosis was estimated for consecutive time periods from 2000–2019 using data from the Cancer Registry of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Conditional RS was estimated for patients who already survived one to five years post diagnosis. Causes of death in MM patients were analysed and compared to the general population using standardised mortality ratios (SMR). Results: Three thousand three hundred thirty-six MM cases were included in the time trend analysis. Over two decades, age-standardised 5-year RS increased from 37 to 62%. Age-specific survival improved from 41% in period 2000–2004 to 69% in period 2015–2019 in the age group 15–69 years, and from 23 to 47% in the age group 70–79 years. Conditional 5-year RS of patients who survived five years after diagnosis slightly improved as compared to unconditional 5-year RS at diagnosis. MM patients are two times more likely to die from non-myeloma malignancies (SMR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.81–2.15) and from cardiovascular diseases (SMR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.86–2.18) than the general population. Conclusions: Prognosis of patients with MM has markedly improved since the year 2000 due to therapeutic advances. Nevertheless, late mortality remains a major concern. As survival improves, second primary malignancies and cardiovascular events deserve increased attention