Learning in the working place: the educational potential of a multihead microscope in pathology postgraduate training

Training future pathologists is an important mission of many hospital anatomic pathology departments. Apprenticeship—a process in which learning and teaching tightly intertwine with daily work, is one of the main educational methods in use in postgraduate medical training. However, patient care, including pathological diagnosis, often comes first, diagnostic priorities prevailing over educational ones. Recognition of the unique educational opportunities is a prerequisite for enhancing the postgraduate learning experience. The aim of this paper is to draw attention of senior pathologists with a role as supervisor in postgraduate training on the potential educational value of a multihead microscope, a common setting in pathology departments. After reporting on an informal observation of senior and junior pathologists' meetings around the multihead microscope in our department, we review the literature on current theories of learning to provide support to the high potential educational value of these meetings for postgraduate training in pathology. We also draw from the literature on learner-centered teaching some recommendations to better support learning in this particular context. Finally, we propose clues for further studies and effective instruction during meetings around a multihead microscop

Serrated polyps of the colorectum: is sessile serrated adenoma distinguishable from hyperplastic polyp in a daily practice?

The distinction between serrated polyps of the colon is complex, particularly between hyperplastic polyps (HP) and sessile serrated adenomas (SSA). Recent data show that SSA might be the precursors of serrated colonic cancers, underlining the necessity of identifying them. We characterized the demographic and pathologic characteristics of 102 serrated lesions among 321 polyps of the colorectum and determined if SSA can be microscopically distinguished from HP in biopsy material of a daily practice. There were 81 HP (79%) and 7 SSA (7%) of which one displayed low-grade dysplasia. Only six serrated polyps (6%) could not be correctly classified. The main architectural criteria for distinguishing SSA from HP is the serrated feature along the crypt axis and the rarity of undifferentiated cells in the lower third of the crypts. SSA was significantly more often located in the right colon and larger (median, 11 vs 4mm) than HP. SSA are rare serrated polyps that can be distinguished from HP based on their morphology, location in the right colon, and larger size. One SSA of our series showed low-grade dysplasia supporting the concept that this lesion might be a precursor of serrated adenocarcinom

Identification of archaeal rDNA from subgingival dental plaque by PCR amplification and sequence analysis

A PCR assay for the amplification of small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) of Euryarchaea was developed and used to detect archaeal rDNA in 37 (77%) out of 48 pooled subgingival plaque samples from 48 patients suffering from periodontal disease. One major group of cloned periodontal sequences was identical to Methanobrevibacter oralis and a second minor group to Methanobrevibacter smithii. These two groups and a third novel group were found to be more than 98% similar to each other over an 0.65-kb segment of the 16S rRNA gene sequenced. M. oralis was found to be the predominant archaeon in the subgingival dental plaque. Phylogenetic analysis of partial SSU rDNA sequences revealed evidence for a distinct cluster for human and animal Methanobrevibacter sp. within the Methanobacteriaceae famil

The role of COX-2 in rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is one of the principal modalities of rectal cancer treatment, and the ability to predict radio resistance could potentially improve survival through a targeted treatment approach. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may protect against damage by irradiation that would justify the use of COX-2 inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of COX-2 in tumor response and outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated preoperatively with radiotherapy. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined COX-2 expression in 88 surgical specimens of rectal cancer treated preoperatively and in 26 pretherapeutic biopsies. We tested whether COX-2 expression was correlated with clinico-pathologic parameters and with survival and local recurrence. COX-2 was expressed in 50% of the pretherapeutic tumor biopsies and in 88.6% of post-irradiated surgical samples. COX-2 expression was correlated only with enhanced tumor inflammation (p = 0.03) and with tumor volume exceeding 30cc (p = 0.05). COX-2 was not significantly correlated with patient survival, but none of the patients with COX-2 negative tumors did recur locally, whereas 80% of patients with local recurrences have COX-2 positive tumors. We conclude that COX-2 expression is overexpressed in the majority of rectal cancers treated with radiotherapy and likely plays a role in local relaps

Optimization of adaptive test design methods for the determination of steady-state data-driven models in terms of combustion engine calibration

This thesis deals with the development of a model-based adaptive test design strategy with a focus on steady-state combustion engine calibration. The first research topic investigates the question how to handle limits in the input domain during an adaptive test design procedure. The second area of scope aims at identifying the test design method providing the best model quality improvement in terms of overall model prediction error. To consider restricted areas in the input domain, a convex hull-based solution involving a convex cone algorithm is developed, the outcome of which serves as a boundary model for a test point search. A solution is derived to enable the application of the boundary model to high-dimensional problems without calculating the exact convex hull and cones. Furthermore, different data-driven engine modeling methods are compared, resulting in the Gaussian process model as the most suitable one for a model-based calibration. To determine an appropriate test design method for a Gaussian process model application, two new strategies are developed and compared to state-of-the-art methods. A simulation-based study shows the most benefit applying a modified mutual information test design, followed by a newly developed relevance-based test design with less computational effort. The boundary model and the relevance-based test design are integrated into a multicriterial test design strategy that is tailored to match the requirements of combustion engine test bench measurements. A simulation-based study with seven and nine input parameters and four outputs each offered an average model quality improvement of 36 % and an average measured input area volume increase of 65 % compared to a non-adaptive space-filling test design. The multicriterial test design was applied to a test bench measurement with seven inputs for verification. Compared to a space-filling test design measurement, the improvement could be confirmed with an average model quality increase of 17 % over eight outputs and a 34 % larger measured input area

Vera Katzenberger, Jana Keil & Michael Wild (Hrsg.). Podcasts. Perspektiven und Potenziale eines digitalen Mediums

Der Podcast ist ein Format, das zu den Wünschen der Zeit passt: Er bietet eine gezielte, individuelle Suche nach Information oder Unterhaltung, ist abrufbar und hörbar zu jeder Zeit und an jedem Ort. Der von Vera Katzenberger, Jana Keil und Michael Wild von der Universität Bamberg herausgegebene Sammelband beleuchtet die Perspektiven und Potenziale dieses noch jungen Mediums. Die zwanzig versammelten Beiträge bieten einen fundierten und vielseitigen Überblick zum Forschungsstand. In der Einleitung zeigen Katzenberger, Keil und Wild auf, wie sich Podcasts zu einem festen Bestandteil des Medienrepertoires von Hörerinnen und Kommunikatoren entwickelt haben. Für das Verständnis besonders wertvoll ist ihr Überblick zu den Bereichen und Darstellungsformen von Podcasts, in welchem sie darlegen, wie wichtig Innovation, Authentizität und Storytelling sind. Die anschliessende Unterteilung des Sammelbands in fünf Teile nach Kommunikator/-innen, Rahmenbedingungen, Inhalten, Rezipient/-innen und Perspektiven aus der Praxis erleichtert dabei die Orientierung

Active Amplification of the Terrestrial Albedo to Mitigate Climate Change: An Exploratory Study

This study explores the potential to enhance the reflectance of solar insolation by the human settlement and grassland components of the Earth's terrestrial surface as a climate change mitigation measure. Preliminary estimates derived using a static radiative transfer model indicate that such efforts could amplify the planetary albedo enough to offset the current global annual average level of radiative forcing caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases by as much as 30 percent or 0.76 W/m2. Terrestrial albedo amplification may thus extend, by about 25 years, the time available to advance the development and use of low-emission energy conversion technologies which ultimately remain essential to mitigate long-term climate change. However, additional study is needed to confirm the estimates reported here and to assess the economic and environmental impacts of active land-surface albedo amplification as a climate change mitigation measure.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures. In press with Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, N

Optimization of adaptive test design methods for the determination of steady-state data-driven models in terms of combustion engine calibration

This thesis deals with the development of a model-based adaptive test design strategy with a focus on steady-state combustion engine calibration. The first research topic investigates the question how to handle limits in the input domain during an adaptive test design procedure. The second area of scope aims at identifying the test design method providing the best model quality improvement in terms of overall model prediction error. To consider restricted areas in the input domain, a convex hull-based solution involving a convex cone algorithm is developed, the outcome of which serves as a boundary model for a test point search. A solution is derived to enable the application of the boundary model to high-dimensional problems without calculating the exact convex hull and cones. Furthermore, different data-driven engine modeling methods are compared, resulting in the Gaussian process model as the most suitable one for a model-based calibration. To determine an appropriate test design method for a Gaussian process model application, two new strategies are developed and compared to state-of-the-art methods. A simulation-based study shows the most benefit applying a modified mutual information test design, followed by a newly developed relevance-based test design with less computational effort. The boundary model and the relevance-based test design are integrated into a multicriterial test design strategy that is tailored to match the requirements of combustion engine test bench measurements. A simulation-based study with seven and nine input parameters and four outputs each offered an average model quality improvement of 36 % and an average measured input area volume increase of 65 % compared to a non-adaptive space-filling test design. The multicriterial test design was applied to a test bench measurement with seven inputs for verification. Compared to a space-filling test design measurement, the improvement could be confirmed with an average model quality increase of 17 % over eight outputs and a 34 % larger measured input area

Guest Editorial: What do we pay attention to? Digital innovations in the competition for attention

There are only 24 hours a day, and our capacity for attention is limited. Yet, in our digital world, everything and everyone competes for this attention, using a wide range of technical and psychological strategies. This “hypercompetition” for attention was chosen as the theme for the annual conference of the Swiss Association of Communication and Media Research, held in April 2023. The conference, titled “What Do We Pay Attention To? Digital Innovations in the Competition for Attention,” was hosted by the Institute of Communication and Marketing at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences. We want to draw your attention to four contributions presented at the conference. The four articles in this Thematic Section contribute to understanding the competition for attention from distinct and varied perspectives. Hence, we hope you will devote some of your precious attention to exploring these enlightening articles

Modelling the impact of flexible AC transmission systems on the operation of electrical transmission grids

Mitigating climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In order to reach the Paris agreement of keeping global warning well below 2°C, massive changes in the German and European energy system are indispensable. One of the measures is the decarbonization of the electricity generation sector, resulting in the decommissioning of conventional power plants like coal and lignite and a massive expansion of renewable energies capacities, especially onshore and offshore wind and photovoltaic. Together with the prognosed overall increasing electricity demand, the fluctuating generation from renewables and the missing, easily controllable generation from conventional power plants represent a great challenge for the German and European transmission grid today and even more in the upcoming years and decades, since the balance between generation and demand must be maintained at all times without violating voltage, frequency or thermal limits. Grid expansion is necessary and already in planning, but the process of building new transmission lines is costly and time consuming. Another supplementary approach is grid reinforcement, which includes measures that help in utilizing the existing transmission lines to their full potential. One of these measures is the use of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). This group of electrotechnical devices is able to provide reactive power and thus secure voltage stability as well as to control power flows in the transmission system. An extensive application of FACTS can be used to prevent and resolve congestions in the transmission grid and thus reduce redispatch volumes and costs, renewables curtailment and load shedding. To further investigate the technical and economic potential of FACTS in the future energy system, we provide technically detailed models for different types of FACTS, which are then integrated into an AC optimal power flow model. We check for plausibility by using a standard testcase, where the theoretical potential of FACTS in congestion management is already indicated. We then present the first results of a case-study, where we applied the model on the German energy system including the transmission grid, and discuss the findings and further research options and goals