Neugeborenen-Reanimationstraining nach der Peyton-4-Schrittinstruktion: Beeinflusst die Modifizierung des Schritt-3 den Lernerfolg bei Medizinstudierenden?

Aim: We sought to improve retention of neonatal resuscitation skills by modifying step 3 through additional functional verbalization in Peyton’s four step approach (P4S). Methods: Newborn life support (NLS) training was performed in a simulation-based setting. In contrast to the traditional approach, students taught with the modified approach were requested to explain every step of their performance in Peyton’s step 3. 123 Students were allocated into both experimental groups. Students were then assessed by megacode on day four (initial assessment) and 6 months (follow-up assessment). Results: Both groups showed similar scorings in the initial, follow-up assessment and in mean change. On initial megacode, time to start with initial inflation and post-resuscitation care was significantly faster in the control group. All showed a significant loss of performance irrespective of modification in step-3 in the follow-up assessment. Only time until start with post-resuscitation care shows a significant group difference in mean change between initial and follow-up with increasing time in the control and decreasing time span in intervention group. Conclusion: Both methods showed equal levels of knowledge acquisition and long-term decline in NLS performances. Verbalization in step 3 influenced speed of applied NLS performance

Normalized Cut Group Clustering of Resting-State fMRI Data

BACKGROUND: Functional brain imaging studies have indicated that distinct anatomical brain regions can show coherent spontaneous neuronal activity during rest. Regions that show such correlated behavior are said to form resting-state networks (RSNs). RSNs have been investigated using seed-dependent functional connectivity maps and by using a number of model-free methods. However, examining RSNs across a group of subjects is still a complex task and often involves human input in selecting meaningful networks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report on a voxel based model-free normalized cut graph clustering approach with whole brain coverage for group analysis of resting-state data, in which the number of RSNs is computed as an optimal clustering fit of the data. Inter-voxel correlations of time-series are grouped at the individual level and the consistency of the resulting networks across subjects is clustered at the group level, defining the group RSNs. We scanned a group of 26 subjects at rest with a fast BOLD sensitive fMRI scanning protocol on a 3 Tesla MR scanner. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: An optimal group clustering fit revealed 7 RSNs. The 7 RSNs included motor/visual, auditory and attention networks and the frequently reported default mode network. The found RSNs showed large overlap with recently reported resting-state results and support the idea of the formation of spatially distinct RSNs during rest in the human brain

Kwaliteit van onderzoek in het HBO

Dit hoofdstuk geeft een overzicht van mogelijkheden waarmee de kwaliteit van onderzoek in het HBO vergroot kan worden. Er worden acht aanknopingspunten geboden: 1) verbeteren van de randvoorwaarden voor onderzoek; 2) bevorderen van goed gedrag van de onderzoeker; 3) validatie en review; 4) gebruiken van kwaliteitscriteria; 5) prestatiemeting en beoordeling; 6) kwaliteitszorgsystemen; 7) toezicht op kwaliteitszorg en 8) zichtbaar maken van kwaliteit van Open Access publicaties

Structurally Constrained Evolutionary Algorithm for the Discovery and Design of Metastable Phases

Metastable materials are abundant in nature and technology, showcasing remarkable properties that inspire innovative materials design. However, traditional crystal structure prediction methods, which rely solely on energetic factors to determine a structure's fitness, are not suitable for predicting the vast number of potentially synthesizable phases that represent a local minimum corresponding to a state in thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we present a new approach for the prediction of metastable phases with specific structural features, and interface this method with the XtalOpt evolutionary algorithm. Our method relies on structural features that include the local crystalline order (e.g., the coordination number or chemical environment), and symmetry (e.g., Bravais lattice and space group) to filter the parent pool of an evolutionary crystal structure search. The effectiveness of this approach is benchmarked on three known metastable systems: XeN$_8$, with a two-dimensional polymeric nitrogen sublattice, brookite TiO$_2$, and a high pressure BaH$_4$ phase that was recently characterized. Additionally, a newly predicted metastable melaminate salt, $P$-1 WC$_{3}$N$_{6}$, was found to possess an energy that is lower than two phases proposed in a recent computational study. The method presented here could help in identifying the structures of compounds that have already been synthesized, and developing new synthesis targets with desired properties

Novel modified Peyton's approach for knowledge retention on newborn life support training in medical students

Aim We sought to improve retention of neonatal resuscitation skills by modifying step 3 through additional functional verbalisation in Peyton's four‐step approach (P4S). Methods Newborn life support (NLS) training was performed in a simulation‐based setting. In contrast to the traditional approach, students taught with the modified approach were requested to explain every step of their performance in Peyton's step 3. A total of 123 students were allocated into both experimental groups. Students were then assessed by megacode on day four (initial assessment) and 6 months (follow‐up assessment). Results Both groups showed similar scorings in the initial, follow‐up assessment and in mean change. On initial megacode, time to start with initial inflation and post‐resuscitation care was significantly faster in the control group. All showed a significant loss of performance irrespective of modification in step 3 in the follow‐up assessment. Only time until start with post‐resuscitation care shows a significant group difference in mean change between initial and follow‐up with increasing time in the control and decreasing time span in intervention group. Conclusion Both methods showed equal levels of knowledge acquisition and long‐term decline in NLS performances. Verbalisation in step 3 influenced speed of applied NLS performance

Structure, Stability and Superconductivity of N-doped Lutetium Hydrides at kbar Pressures

The structure of the material responsible for the room temperature and near ambient pressure superconductivity reported in an N-doped lutetium hydride [Nature, 615, 244 (2023)] has not been conclusively determined. Herein, density functional theory calculations are performed in an attempt to uncover what it might be. Guided by a range of strategies including crystal structure prediction and modifications of existing structure types, we present an array of Lu-N-H phases that are dynamically stable at experimentally relevant pressures. Although none of the structures found are thermodynamically stable, and none are expected to remain superconducting above 17 K at 10 kbar, a number of metallic compounds with fcc Lu lattices -- as suggested by the experimental X-ray diffraction measurements of the majority phase -- are identified. The system whose calculated equation of states matches best with that measured for the majority phase is fluorite-type LuH2, whose 10 kbar superconducting critical temperature was estimated to be 0.09 K using the Allen-Dynes modified McMillan equation.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Scaling the Danish national water resources model for a pan-European quasi-3D groundwater resources model

In this study, we upscale and simplify hydrostratigraphic information from a detailed model for Denmark to a pan-European scale. This is part of a larger project to develop a harmonised overview of the volume and depth of groundwater resources in a quasi-3D European groundwater resource model. A 10 km grid and a maximum of c. 10 hydrostratigraphic layers were chosen as the common scale for the European database. The Danish information is based on the national water resources model (the DK-model), where the information is significantly more detailed (100 m grid and up to 26 layers). Information was transferred from the DK-model to the quasi-3D model by a method involving computations of mean volumes and expert assessment to reduce layers in each cell. In this process, detailed hydrostratigraphic information is lost, which could otherwise be used for local groundwater flow modelling in Denmark. However, the strength of the quasi-3D model is that it still contains the volumes of all hydrostratigraphic units, both the saturated and unsaturated parts. Hence, the upscaled model can contribute to a relatively precise calculation of European groundwater resources for the quantitative assessment of groundwater status across Europe at a 10 × 10 km scale

Reduced resting state functional connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network of schizophrenia patients

Contemporary preclinical models suggest that abnormal functioning of a brain network consisting of the hippocampus, midbrain and striatum plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Previous neuroimaging studies examined individual aspects of this model in schizophrenia patients and individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. However, this exact preclinical brain network has not been translated to human neuroimaging studies with schizophrenia patients and therefore it is currently unknown how functioning of this network is altered in patients. Here we investigated resting state functional connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network of schizophrenia patients, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Based on preclinical models, a network of functionally validated brain regions comprising the anterior subiculum (SUB), limbic striatum (LS), ventral tegmental area (VTA) and associative striatum (AS) was examined in 47 schizophrenia patients and 51 healthy controls. Schizophrenia patients demonstrated significantly lower functional connectivity in this hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network compared with healthy controls (p = 0.036). Particular reductions in connectivity were found between the SUB and LS (0.002 +/- 0.315 and 0.116 +/- 0.224, p = 0.040) and between the VTA and AS (0.230 +/- 0.268 and 0.356 +/- 0.285, p = 0.026). In patients, functional connectivity was not significantly associated with positive, negative or general symptom scores. Reduced connectivity is consistent with the concept of functional brain dysconnectivity as a key feature of the disorder. Our results support the notion that functioning of the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network is significantly altered in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia