bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative chemotherapy with 5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma: ten years real-life experience from a surgical perspective
Authors: Sisic Leila , Crnovrsanin Nerma , Nienhueser Henrik , Jung Jin-On , Schiefer Sabine , Haag Georg Martin , Bruckner Thomas , Schneider Martin , Müller-Stich Beat P. , Büchler Markus W. , Schmidt Thomas
Published: February 2023

Purpose

According to the results of FLOT4 trial, perioperative FLOT chemotherapy improved overall survival (OS) in locally advanced, resectable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EGA) compared to perioperative ECF/ECX. We report real-life data 10 years after introduction of perioperative FLOT at our institution.

Methods

Survival of 356 consecutive EGA patients (cT3/4 and/or cN + and/or cM1) who underwent curative surgical resection was retrospectively analysed from a prospective database. A total of 263 patients received preoperative chemotherapy according to FLOT protocol and 93 patients received an epirubicin/platinum/5FU-based regimen (EPF). Propensity score matching (PSM) according to pretretment characteristics was performed to compensate for heterogeneity between groups.

Results

Median OS did not differ between groups (FLOT/EPF 52.1/46.4 months, p = 0.577). After PSM, survival was non-significantly improved after FLOT compared to EPF (median OS not reached/46.4 months, p = 0.156). Perioperative morbidity and mortality did not differ between groups. Histopathologic response rate was 35% after FLOT and 26% after EPF (p = 0.169). R0 resection could be achieved more frequently after FLOT than after EPF (93%/79%, p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Overall survival after perioperative FLOT followed by surgery is comparable to clinical trials. However, collective real-life application of FLOT failed to provide a significant survival benefit compared to EPF. In clinical reality, patient selection is triggered by age, comorbidity, tumor localization, and clinical tumor stage. Yet matched analyses support FLOT4 trial findings.
Identification of genetic susceptibility in preterm newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia by whole-exome sequencing: BIVM gene may play a role
Authors: Luo Xi , Zhao Min , Chen Cheng , Lin Fengji , Li Xiaodong , Huang Haiyun , Dou Lei , Feng Jinxing , Xiao Shanqiu , Liu Dong , He Junli , Yu Jialin
Published: February 2023

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease
in preterm infants caused by multifactorial etiology. Genetic factors are
involved in the occurrence of BPD, but studies have found that candidate genes
have poor reproducibility and are influenced by ethnic heterogeneity;
therefore, more exploration is still needed. We performed whole-exon sequencing
in 34 preterm infants with BPD and 32 non-BPD control neonates. The data were
analyzed and interpreted by Fisher difference comparison, PLINK and eQTL
association analysis, KEGG and GO enrichment analysis, STRING tool, Cytoscape
software, ProtParam tool, HOPE online software, and GEOR2 analysis on NCBI GEO
dataset. BPD has a highly heterogeneity in different populations, and we found
35 genes overlapped with previous whole-exon sequencing studies, such as APOB
gene. Arterial and epithelial cell development and energy metabolism pathways
affect BPD. In this study, 24 key genes were identified, and BIVM rs3825519
mutation leads to prolonged assisted ventilation in patients with BPD. A novel
DDAH1 mutation site (NM_012137: exon1: c.89 T > G: p.L30R) was found in 9 BPD patients.

Conclusion: BIVM gene rs3825519 mutation may play a role in the pathogenesis of BPD by affecting cilia movement, and the DDAH1 and APOB genes mutations may have a pathogenic role in BPD.

What is Known:

• Genetic factors are involved in the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

• The candidate genes have poor reproducibility and are influenced by ethnic heterogeneity, therefore, more exploration is still needed.

What is New:

• We identified the role of susceptible SNPs in BPD in Shenzhen, China, and identified 24 key genes that influence the pathogenesis of BPD, and also found 35 genes overlapped with previous whole exon sequencing studies, such as APOB gene.

• We found that BIVM and DDAH1 genes may play a pathogenic role in the pathogenesis of BPD.
Prematurity and BPD: what general pediatricians should know
Authors: Bonadies Luca , Cavicchiolo Maria Elena , Priante Elena , Moschino Laura , Baraldi Eugenio
Published: February 2023

More and more very low birth weight (VLBW) infants around the world survive nowadays, with consequently larger numbers of children developing prematurity-related morbidities, especially bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is a multifactorial disease and its rising incidence in recent years means that general pediatricians are much more likely to encounter a child born extremely preterm, possibly with BPD, in their clinical practice. Short- and long-term sequelae in VLBW patients may affect not only pulmonary function (principally characterized by an obstructive pattern), but also other aspect including the neurological (neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders), the sensorial (earing and visual impairment), the cardiological (systemic and pulmonary hypertension, reduced exercise tolerance and ischemic heart disease in adult age), nutritional (feeding difficulties and nutritional deficits), and auxological (extrauterine growth restriction). For the most premature infants at least, a multidisciplinary follow-up is warranted after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit in order to optimize their respiratory and neurocognitive potential, and prevent respiratory infections, nutritional deficiencies or cardiovascular impairments.

  Conclusion: The aim of this review is to summarize the main characteristics of preterm and BPD infants, providing the general pediatrician with practical information regarding these patients’ multidisciplinary complex follow-up. We explore the current evidence on respiratory outcomes and their management that actually does not have a definitive available option. We also discuss the available investigations, treatments, and strategies for prevention and prophylaxis to improve the non-respiratory outcomes and the quality of life for these children and their families, a critical aspect not always considered. This comprehensive approach, added to the increased needs of a VLBW subjects, is obviously related to very high health-related costs that should be beared in mind.

What is Known:• Every day, a general pediatrician is more likely to encounter a former very low birth weight infant.• Very low birth weight and prematurity are frequently related not only with worse respiratory outcomes, but also with neurological, sensorial, cardiovascular, renal, and nutritional issues.

What is New:• This review provides to the general pediatrician a comprehensive approach for the follow-up of former premature very low birth weight children, with information to improve the quality of life of this special population.
Vitamin D levels and left ventricular function in beta-thalassemia major with iron overload
Authors: Pala Mrudula , Bhat Kamalakshi G. , Manya Sharath , Joseph Nitin , Harish Sindhu
Published: February 2023

Heart disease is the primary cause of death in patients with beta-thalassemia major. The study aimed to determine the association between vitamin D and left ventricular function in patients with beta-thalassemia major with iron overload. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted, where the vitamin D and ferritin levels of children living with beta-thalassemia major were measured, and left ventricular function was assessed utilizing ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) using 2D echocardiography. The mean serum ferritin was 4622 ± 2289 ng/ml, and the mean serum vitamin D levels were 22 ± 7.7 ng/ml. The mean values of EF were 62.30 ± 6.9%, and FS was 31.21 ± 4.8%. Statistically significant negative correlation (r = −0.447,p < 0.001) was found between vitamin D and serum ferritin values, and a significant positive association was found between vitamin D levels concerning EF and FS with a p-value of 0.034 and 0.014, respectively.

Conclusion: It was observed  that increasing ferritin was associated with lower vitamin D levels which in turn influenced fractional shortening /cardiac function in these patients. What is Known:• Patients with Beta Thalassemia major on long term transfusion are prone to develop heart disease / cardiac failure due to chronic iron overload.What is New:• Patients with beta thalassemia major on long term term transfusions with iron overload who are vitamin D deficient are more prone to the cardiac complications which inturn can be prevented by vitamin D supplementation.
Projective Indecomposable Permutation Modules
Authors: Malle Gunter , Robinson Geoffrey R.
Published: February 2023

We investigate finite non-Abelian simple groupsGfor which the projective cover of the trivial module coincides with the permutation module on a subgroup and classify all cases unlessGis of Lie type in defining characteristic.
Assessment of quality and reliability of YouTube videos for patient and physician education on inflammatory myositis
Authors: Joshi Mrudula , R. Naveen , Jagtap Kshitij , Gupta Ria , Agarwal Vikas , Aggarwal Rohit , Goel Ashish , Gupta Latika
Published: February 2023

Introduction

YouTube is the second most popular search website worldwide to access health information online. This study was undertaken to assess the reliability and quality of information about myositis on YouTube and delineate attributes of useful videos using standard metrics.

Methods

We conducted a thorough search on YouTube using 9 search terms related to myositis. The inclusion criteria were content related to myositis, English language and acceptable audio–video quality. Duplicates and advertisements were excluded from the analysis. Videos were classified as useful, not very useful or misleading and patient narratives. Reliability was determined using the mDISCERN criteria, quality using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and JAMA system, using appropriate cut-offs (mDISCERN > 4, GQS > 4, JAMA > 3).

Results

Out of a total of 900 videos, 453 were included for the analysis. Seventy-four per cent and 2% provided useful and not very useful information respectively, while 24% were patient narratives. Seventy-one per cent were intended specifically for patients while 69% were for healthcare providers and students.

Noteworthily, useful and not very useful videos had similar total views though the number of likes and daily viewership were higher for useful videos (p = 0.024, p = 0.046).

Nearly half (47%) of useful videos were by professional medical societies/patient support groups (PSGs) while not very useful ones were by nonmedical media (38%). Physician-predicted usefulness was discordant with score-based usefulness (κ = 0.129). However, GQS emerged as a significant (p = 0.008) predictor of video usefulness in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

A large majority of English YouTube videos on myositis provide useful information for patients. Physicians could signpost patients to high-quality useful videos as determined by GQS and sources like professional medical societies and PSGs.

Key Points•This study highlights the importance of regulating health information posted online, accessed by millions of people, to gauge the quality of information and to identify and curb misinformation.•It also identifies recommendations for the future for uploading such content on the Internet.•The implications lie in our patients being better informed about their disease as they are important stakeholders in the healthcare decision-making process.
Energiewende steht für die Chance auf Re-Industrialisierung, nicht für De-Industrialisierung
Authors: Gornig Martin , Kemfert Claudia
Published: February 2023

Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s reactions have decisively changed the general conditions for industry in Germany. Industry is facing major changes in the context of modernization, decarbonization and localization. The energy transition offers an enormous economic opportunity for German industry. Instead of de-industrialization, re-industrialization is possible through a forced expansion of renewable energies and improved energy efficiency. This strengthens resilience and promotes sustainability and encourages innovation and enhances competitiveness.
Ticks in the box: Argas persicus occurrence in nest boxes of secondary cavity-nesting bird species in Italy
Authors: Monti Flavio , Baratti Mariella , Viviano Andrea , Mori Emiliano
Published: February 2023

Migratory organisms can be vectors of parasitic host organisms that can then be transported along seasonal migratory journeys and spread across continents. Ornithophilic nidicolous ticks (e.g. soft ticks) include species responsible for the transmission of pathogens and bacteria, thus representing a health problem not only for wild species that are directly parasitized, but also for those that share the same environments or reproductive sites with them. In this regard, artificial nests for birds may turn out to be site-sources of parasites. Here, we document the occurrence of different life stages of Argas persicus ticks in nest boxes of wild birds in a natural area (not associated with poultry activities) of central coastal Italy (Maremma Regional Park, Tuscany). Between 2018 and 2022, 168 ticks were collected from nest boxes occupied by different secondary cavity-nesting birds, such as European rollers Coracias garrulus and scops owl Otus scops. Ticks were analysed morphologically, and selected specimens were also identified by mitochondrial ribosomal 16S (16S) subunit gene to ascertain their taxonomic status. All ticks were identified as Argas persicus. This finding not only suggests that this tick species has formed a viable population in this Italian region, but also further confirms the previously doubtful natural origin of the species at country level and sheds new light on its underestimated and little investigated distribution. Possible pathways of introduction and its potential impacts on local avian community are discussed.
Neue Leitlinie zur Allergen-Immuntherapie
Authors: Hamelmann Eckard
Published: February 2023

Im Oktober 2022 wurde die neue „Leitlinie zur Allergen-Immuntherapie bei IgE-vermittelten allergischen Erkrankungen“ (AIT; Entwicklungsstufe S2k) vorgestellt. Diese Leitlinie befasst sich umfangreich mit der Wirkungsweise und der Wirksamkeit der subkutanen (SCIT) und sublingualen Immuntherapie (SLIT), den verschiedenen Indikationen und Kontraindikationen sowie dem aktuellen Stand klinischer Studien zu Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit der Therapiepräparate bei den Hauptallergenquellen (Baumpollen, Gräserpollen, Milben und weiteren). Die Fazits und Empfehlungen der Fachgesellschaften, die für die Pneumologie relevant sind, werden im Folgenden in übersichtlicher Form vorgestellt.
T-norms driven loss functions for machine learning
Authors: Giannini Francesco , Diligenti Michelangelo , Maggini Marco , Gori Marco , Marra Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

Injecting prior knowledge into the learning process of a neural architecture is one of the main challenges currently faced by the artificial intelligence community, which also motivated the emergence of neural-symbolic models. One of the main advantages of these approaches is their capacity to learn competitive solutions with a significant reduction of the amount of supervised data. In this regard, a commonly adopted solution consists of representing the prior knowledge via first-order logic formulas, then relaxing the formulas into a set of differentiable constraints by using a t-norm fuzzy logic. This paper shows that this relaxation, together with the choice of the penalty terms enforcing the constraint satisfaction, can be unambiguously determined by the selection of a t-norm generator, providing numerical simplification properties and a tighter integration between the logic knowledge and the learning objective. When restricted to supervised learning, the presented theoretical framework provides a straight derivation of the popular cross-entropy loss, which has been shown to provide faster convergence and to reduce the vanishing gradient problem in very deep structures. However, the proposed learning formulation extends the advantages of the cross-entropy loss to the general knowledge that can be represented by neural-symbolic methods. In addition, the presented methodology allows the development of novel classes of loss functions, which are shown in the experimental results to lead to faster convergence rates than the approaches previously proposed in the literature.
Impact of Access and Benefit Sharing implementation on biological control genetic resources
Authors: Mason Peter G. , Barratt Barbara I. P. , Mc Kay Fernando , Klapwijk Johannette N. , Silvestri Luciana C. , Hill Martin , Hinz Hariet L. , Sheppard Andy , Brodeur Jacques , Vitorino Marcello Diniz , Weyl Philip , Hoelmer Kim A.
Published: February 2023

The third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources was further developed when the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing came into effect in 2014. Interpretation of how this agreement is being implemented is wide-ranging and there are implications for biological control. A survey of biological control workers indicated that while some countries have facilitated access to biological control genetic resources, requirements in other countries have impeded biological control implementation. There was consensus that benefits to provider countries should be in the form of supporting local research communities. There was also agreement that the free use and exchange of biological control genetic resources has provided benefits to the global community, including to both providers and recipients of the agents. It is recommended that consideration of the free use and exchange principal should be a key element of Access and Benefit Sharing measures for the future.
Use of Twitter to share news in higher education: The risk of magnification of engagement and learning
Authors: Llausàs Albert
Published: February 2023

Despite the growing interest in the use of Twitter in higher education, its effects on aspects such as student engagement and learning continue to yield unclear and even contradictory results. The combination of evaluative methodologies for these different impacts contributes to confusion and bias. The aim of this study is to analyse whether the use Twitter to share and discuss current news produces engagement and its effects on learning by university students. The analysed sample is composed of 93 students earning a political science degree, split into three groups. The analysis is based on a mixed approach combining statistical and qualitative methods (content analysis and thematic coding of self-reported assessments) used to evaluate the degree of engagement, the evidence of learning and the relationship between these two dimensions. The results show a very low degree of engagement and little evidence of learning. The relationships between one dimension and another dissipate after detailed scrutiny of the statistically significant correlations found and are inflated by enthusiastic self-evaluations of the learning experience by students. The results warn about the risks for the research community of magnifying the benefits of the use of Twitter for educational purposes. The educational community should reflect on the effectiveness and efficiency of the use of Twitter for the purpose of stimulating independent, collaborative and reflective learning.
When the Researched Refused Confidentiality: Reflections from Fieldwork Experience in Ghana
Authors: Akuffo Aboabea Gertrude
Published: February 2023

Meeting appropriate ethical standards for research involving human participants, mean ensuring confidentiality. It is assumed that the research participant will accept the safeguarding protocols necessary to ensure confidentiality. This assumption however oversimplifies the variation of motivations that goes into participants’ decisions to participate in research. Drawing on reflections from my fieldwork experience in Ghana, I answer the questions: Why do research participants reject confidentiality? What ethical position can one take when the researcher and the researched have conflicting perspectives about confidentiality? I contend that participants with personal stake refuse confidentiality when they want to be acknowledged for their data. Rejecting confidentiality is however, embedded in the individual perspective, cultural, and political context of the study area. The ethical concerns of such refusal can be ameliorated if confidentiality is nuanced to include six categorically distinct but mutually non-exclusive stages: research-planning, ongoing-information, writing-up, reality-after-research, differential-disseminations, and no-confidentiality-clause. The paper further argues that whilst maintaining institutional allegiance in this matter is crucial, employing confidentiality should lie at the intersection of participants’ motivation for taking part in the research, the socio-cultural-specific-context of the study location and the nature of the topic being explored.
Effects of a Structured Reflective Interview on Parental Reflective Functioning: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Low Yu Ying , Lewis Andrew J. , Serfaty Irene G.
Published: February 2023

The Parental Reflective Interview Procedure was developed as part of an initial assessment interview for an attachment-based intervention for child mental health conditions. This study was a pilot randomised controlled trial that utilised a parallel, single-blind trial design to evaluate the differences in the effects of the Parental Reflective Interview Procedure compared to a diagnostic interview on parental reflective functioning. The control group was administered a structured diagnostic interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents—Parent Version) and matched for time with clinician. The study sample were 25 parents of clinic-referred children who scored above the clinical cut-off score on the Child Behaviour Checklist. Parental reflective functioning was measured with the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire at baseline and repeated post-intervention, and then again at a two-week follow up. Results showed that the Parental Reflective Interview Procedure produced moderate improvements in parents’ understanding of their children’s mental states and maintenance in their reflections on intergenerational parent-child relationship patterns. The diagnostic interview showed decreases in both these dimensions. The findings suggest that the Parental Reflective Interview Procedure is a promising format for initial assessment when referral indicates difficulty in the parent-child relationship. The interview acts as a good orientation for parents to an intervention focused on parent-child relationship dynamics. Further work refining this interview, its coding and integration into a tailored feedback session is required.
Identifying Resistive Open Defects in Embedded Cells under Variations
Authors: Najafi-Haghi Zahra Paria , Wunderlich Hans-Joachim
Published: February 2023

Small Delay Faults (SDFs) due to weak defects and marginalities have to be distinguished from extra delays due to process variations, since they may form a reliability threat even if the resulting timing is within the specification. In this paper, it is shown that these faults can still be identified, even if the corresponding defect cell is deeply embedded into a combinational circuit and its observability is restricted. The results of a few delay tests at different voltages and frequencies serve as the input to machine learning procedures which can classify a circuit as marginal due to defects or just slow due to variations. Several machine learning techniques are investigated and compared with respect to accuracy, precision, and recall for different circuit sizes and defect scales. The classification strategies are powerful enough to sort out defective devices without a major impact on yield.
A Finsler Geometrical Programming Approach to the Nonlinear Complementarity Problem of Traffic Equilibrium
Authors: Asanjarani Azam
Published: February 2023

We consider a geometrical approach to the optimisation problems motivated by transportation system management. Here, we provide a comprehensive account of geometric programming based on the elementary Finsler geometry in $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

. Then, we present a Finslerian dynamical model for the nonlinear complementarity problem of traffic equilibrium that can be applied to a variety of equilibrium problems.
Rare forms of genetic paediatric adrenal insufficiency: Excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Hasenmajer Valeria , Ferrigno Rosario , Minnetti Marianna , Pellegrini Bianca , Isidori Andrea M. , Lenzi Andrea , Salerno Mariacarolina , Cappa Marco , Chan Li , De Martino Maria Cristina , Savage Martin O.
Published: February 2023

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a severe endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient glucocorticoid (GC) and/or mineralocorticoid (MC) secretion by the adrenal glands, due to impaired adrenal function (primary adrenal insufficiency, PAI) or to insufficient adrenal stimulation by pituitary ACTH (secondary adrenal insufficiency, SAI) or tertiary adrenal insufficiency due to hypothalamic dysfunction. In this review, we describe rare genetic causes of PAI with isolated GC or combined GC and MC deficiencies and we also describe rare syndromes of isolated MC deficiency. In children, the most frequent cause of PAI is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a group of adrenal disorders related to steroidogenic enzyme deficiencies, which will not be included in this review. Less frequently, several rare diseases can cause PAI, either affecting exclusively the adrenal glands or with systemic involvement. The diagnosis of these diseases is often challenging, due to the heterogeneity of their clinical presentation and to their rarity. Therefore, the current review aims to provide an overview on these rare genetic forms of paediatric PAI, offering a review of genetic and clinical features and a summary of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, promoting awareness among practitioners, and favoring early diagnosis and optimal clinical management in suspect cases.
Phase angle, muscle tissue, and resistance training
Authors: Sardinha Luís B. , Rosa Gil B.
Published: February 2023

The biophysical response of the human body to electric current is widely appreciated as a barometer of fluid distribution and cell function. From distinct raw bioelectrical impedance (BIA) variables assessed in the field of body composition, phase angle (PhA) has been repeatedly indicated as a functional marker of the cell’s health and mass. Although resistance training (RT) programs have demonstrated to be effective to improve PhA, with varying degrees of change depending on other raw BIA variables, there is still limited research explaining the biological mechanisms behind these changes. Here, we aim to provide the rationale for the responsiveness of PhA determinants to RT, as well as to summarize all available evidence addressing the effect of varied RT programs on PhA of different age groups. Available data led us to conclude that RT modulates the cell volume by increasing the levels of intracellular glycogen and water, thus triggering structural and functional changes in different cell organelles. These alterations lead, respectively, to shifts in the resistive path of the electric current (resistance, R) and capacitive properties of the human body (reactance, Xc), which ultimately impact PhA, considering that it is the angular transformation of the ratio between Xc and R. Evidence drawn from experimental research suggests that RT is highly effective for enhancing PhA, especially when adopting high-intensity, volume, and duration RT programs combining other types of exercise. Still, additional research exploring the effects of RT on whole-body and regional BIA variables of alternative population groups is recommended for further knowledge development.
How Do Shock Waves Define the Space-Time Structure of Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events?
Authors: Reames Donald V.
Published: February 2023

We revisit the full variety of observed temporal and spatial distributions of energetic solar protons in “gradual” solar energetic-particle (SEP) events resulting from the spatial variations in the shock waves that accelerate them. Differences in the shock strength at the solar longitude of a spacecraft and at the footpoint of its connecting magnetic field line, curved by solar rotation nominally $55^{\circ}$

55
∘

to the west, drive much of that variation. The shock wave itself, together with energetic particles trapped near it by self-amplified hydromagnetic or Alfvén waves, forms an underlying autonomous structure. This structure can drive across magnetic field lines intact, spreading proton intensities in a widening SEP longitude distribution. During the formation of this fundamental structure, historically called an “energetic storm particle” (ESP) event, many SEPs leak away early, amplifying waves as they flow along well-connected field lines and broaden the distribution outward; behind the structure, between the shock and the Sun, a “reservoir” of quasi-trapped SEPs forms. Very large SEP events are complicated by additional extensive wave growth that can spread an extended ESP-like trapping region around the Sun throughout most of the pre-shock event. Here SEP intensities are bounded at the “streaming limit,” a balance between proton streaming, which amplifies waves, and scattering, which reduces the streaming. The multiplicity of shock-related processes contributing to the observed SEP profiles causes correlations of the events to be poorly represented by the single peak intensity commonly used. In fact, the extensive spatial distributions of SEPs are sometimes free and sometimes interwoven with the structures of the shocks that have accelerated them. We should consider new questions: Which extremes of the shock contribute most to a local SEPs profile of an event, (1) the shock at the longitude of a spacecraft, (2) the shock $\sim55^{\circ}$
∼

55
∘

to the west at the footpoint of the field, or (3) SEPs that have collected in the reservoir? How does the space-time distribution of SEPs correspond with the underlying space-time distribution of shock strength?
Plant regeneration from protoplasts of Pastinaca sativa L. via somatic embryogenesis
Authors: Stelmach Katarzyna , Grzebelus Ewa
Published: February 2023

In the present study we report the development of an effective and relatively efficient protocol for protoplast-to-plant regeneration of parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L.) via indirect somatic embryogenesis. The regenerative potential of three open-pollinated and four hybrid cultivars was assessed. The protoplast isolation efficiency after digestion of source material in an enzyme mixture consisted of 1% cellulase Onozuka R-10 and 0.1% pectolyase Y-23 reached on average 3.6 × 106 of cells per g of fresh mass. Protoplasts embedded in an alginate matrix and cultured in parsnip protoplast culture medium with phytosulfokine-α and putrescine reconstructed their cell wall and re-entered mitotic divisions. After the release from alginate, microcallus proliferated continuously on Gamborg B5 medium with vitamins supplemented with 100 nM of phytosulfokine-α. Indirect somatic embryogenesis occurred during the callus culture of cultivar ‘Półdługi biały’. The regenerated and acclimatized plants were morphologically similar to their donors and displayed no variation in the ploidy level.
Energy security: the role of shale technology
Authors: Shirazi Masoud
Published: February 2023

Sustainable energy systems are sensitive to the countries’ energy portfolio decisions, shaping geopolitics and contributing to the global energy security (ES). Accordingly, this paper applies the “Markov regime-switching” method to explore the impact of “the North American shale technology” (NAST) on behavioral regimes of the US energy security measurements (ESM), e.g., diversity of primary energy demand ($${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{I}}$$

ESI
I

), net energy import dependence ($${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{II}}$$

ESI
II

), non-fossil fuel resource portfolio ($${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{III}}$$

ESI
III

), and crude oil import dependency ($${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{IV}}$$

ESI
IV

). The findings confirm time-varying and asymmetric behavior of the US ESM before and after the NAST. Specifically, the overall interaction of substitution effect and scale effect of NAST strengthens the US energy systems through $${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{I}}$$

ESI
I

, $${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{III}}$$

ESI
III

, and $${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{IV}}$$

ESI
IV

, while $${\mathrm{ESI}}_{\mathrm{II}}$$

ESI
II

leads to higher risks of the US energy supply security. Consequently, the shale reserves development, diversification of primary energy demand and import supply, and advanced energy transport and trading policies, are suggested to overcome the barriers in achieving (i) availability, (ii) accessibility, (iii) affordability, and (iv) acceptability aspects of ES and vulnerability reduction of the US energy systems in respect of risk and resilience.
Can Partial Growth Coalitions Build Pathways Out of the Middle-Income Trap? The Case of Querétaro, México
Authors: Fuentes Alberto , Pipkin Seth
Published: February 2023

Although scholars often portray Mexico as caught in the “middle-income trap,” this description obscures important subnational variation in patterns of economic development. We leverage this variation by examining the case of Querétaro, a state with high levels of structural transformation and economic growth since the 1980s. We reconstruct the historical trajectory of its two leading industries, automotive and aerospace. We observe that while both have cumulatively delivered real developmental gains, each also exhibits a complex mix of strengths and weaknesses. We further find that these industries’ advancements and hindrances over time appear closely related to the kinds of “partial” coalitions — groups of actors from the state, private firms, and civil society organizations such as labor unions — which participate in industry-level decision-making. Both industries saw periods of “upgrading” when the partial coalitions supporting them were expanding their cognitive diversity while avoiding gross imbalances in the distribution of power among their members. They likewise experienced periods of stagnation when either of those coalition conditions underwent major change. These findings suggest that debates on escaping the middle-income trap should consider how changes in partial political coalitions affect policy models and options.
What’s Best for Customers: Empathetic Versus Solution-Oriented Service Robots
Authors: Tojib Dewi , Abdi Elahe , Tian Leimin , Rigby Liana , Meads James , Prasad Tanya
Published: February 2023

A promising application of social robots highlighted by the ongoing labor shortage is to deploy them as service robots at organizational frontlines. As the face of the firms, service robots are expected to provide cognitive and affective supports in response to customer inquiries. However, one question remains unanswered: Would having a robot with a high level of affective support be helpful when such a robot cannot provide a satisfactory level of cognitive support to users? In this study, we aim to address this question by showing that empathetic service robots can be beneficial, although the extent of such benefits depends on the quality of services they provide. Our in-person human–robot interaction study (n = 55) shows that when a service robot can only provide a partial solution, it is preferable for it to express more empathetic behaviors, as users will perceive it to be more useful and will have a better customer experience. However, when a service robot is able to provide a full solution, the level of empathy displayed by it does not result in significant differences on perceived usefulness and customer experience. These findings are further validated in an online experimental study performed in another country (n = 395).
AI-Enhanced Hybrid Decision Management
Authors: Bork Dominik , Ali Syed Juned , Dinev Georgi Milenov
Published: February 2023

The Decision Model and Notation (DMN) modeling language allows the precise specification of business decisions and business rules. DMN is readily understandable by business users involved in decision management. However, as the models get complex, the cognitive abilities of humans threaten manual maintainability and comprehensibility. Proper design of the decision logic thus requires comprehensive automated analysis of e.g., all possible cases the decision shall cover; correlations between inputs and outputs; and the importance of inputs for deriving the output. In the paper, the authors explore the mutual benefits of combining human-driven DMN decision modeling with the computational power of Artificial Intelligence for DMN model analysis and improved comprehension. The authors propose a model-driven approach that uses DMN models to generate Machine Learning (ML) training data and show, how the trained ML models can inform human decision modelers by means of superimposing the feature importance within the original DMN models. An evaluation with multiple real DMN models from an insurance company evaluates the feasibility and the utility of the approach.
High Sensitivity Temperature Sensor Based on Harmonic Vernier Effect
Authors: He Meifang , Zhu Beibei , Zhang Zuxing
Published: February 2023

A high-sensitivity temperature sensor based on the harmonic Vernier effect is proposed and verified by experiments. The main component of the sensor is a Sagnac interferometer consisting of two sections of polarization maintaining fibers (PMFs) spliced with an intersection angle of 45° between their fast axes. The harmonic Vernier effect is achieved by setting the length of one of the PMFs an integral multiple (i-times) of the length of the other plus a detuning factor. Compared with the Sagnac interferometer based on the fundamental Vernier effect, the temperature sensitivity of the harmonic Vernier effect is higher, reaching i+1 times of that of the fundamental Vernier effect (i is the order of the harmonic).
Resilience Building and Collaborative Governance for Climate Change Adaptation in Response to a New State of More Frequent and Intense Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Ouyang Huiling , Tang Xu , Zhang Renhe , Baklanov Alexander , Brasseur Guy , Kumar Rajesh , Han Qunli , Luo Yong
Published: February 2023

The weather conditions of the summer of 2022 were very unusual, particularly in Eastern Asia, Europe, and North America. The devasting impact of climate change has come to our attention, with much hotter and drier conditions, and with more frequent and intense flooding events. Some extreme events have reached a dangerous level, increasingly threatening human lives. The interconnected risks caused by these extreme disaster events are triggering a chain effect, forcing us to respond to these crises through changes in our living environment, which affect the atmosphere, the biosphere, the economy including the availability of energy, our cities, and our global society. Moreover, we have to confront the abnormal consequences of untypical, rapid changes of extreme events and fast switches between extreme states, such as from severe drought to devastating flooding. Recognizing this new situation, it is crucial to improve the adaptation capacity of our societies in order to reduce the risks associated with climate change, and to develop smarter strategies for climate governance. High-quality development must be science-based, balanced, safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient, supported by the collaborative governance of climate mitigation and adaptation. This article provides some recommendations and suggestions for resilience building and collaborative governance with respect to climate adaptation in response to a new planetary state that is characterized by more frequent and severe extreme weather events.
Use and effectiveness of remdesivir for the treatment of patients with covid-19 using data from the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (LEOSS): a multicentre cohort study
Authors: Pilgram Lisa , Appel Katharina S. , Ruethrich Maria M. , Koll Carolin E. M. , Vehreschild Maria J. G. T. , de Miranda Susana M. Nunes , Hower Martin , Hellwig Kerstin , Hanses Frank , Wille Kai , Haselberger Martina , Spinner Christoph D. , Vom Dahl Juergen , Hertenstein Bernd , Westhoff Timm , Vehreschild J. Janne , Jensen Björn-Erik Ole , Stecher Melanie
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The use of remdesivir (RDV) as the first drug approved for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains controversial. Based on the Lean European Open Survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected patients (LEOSS), we aim to contribute timing-focused complementary real-world insights to its evaluation.

Methods

SARS-CoV-2 infected patients between January 2020 and December 2021 treated with RDV were matched 1:1 to controls considering sociodemographics, comorbidities and clinical status. Multiple imputations were used to account for missing data. Effects on fatal outcome were estimated using uni- and multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

We included 9,687 patients. For those starting RDV administration in the complicated phase, Cox regression for fatal outcome showed an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.59 (95%CI 0.41–0.83). Positive trends could be obtained for further scenarios: an aHR of 0.51 (95%CI 0.16–1.68) when RDV was initiated in uncomplicated and of 0.76 (95% CI 0.55–1.04) in a critical phase of disease. Patients receiving RDV with concomitant steroids exhibited a further reduction in aHR in both, the complicated (aHR 0.50, 95%CI 0.29–0.88) and critical phase (aHR 0.63, 95%CI 0.39–1.02).

Conclusion

Our study results elucidate that RDV use, in particular when initiated in the complicated phase and accompanied by steroids is associated with improved mortality. However, given the limitations of non-randomized trials in estimating the magnitude of the benefit of an intervention, further randomized trials focusing on the timing of therapy initiation seem warranted.
Electrodeposited Cobalt–Copper mixed oxides for supercapacitor electrodes and investigation of the Co/Cu ratio on the electrochemical performance
Authors: Noormohammadi E. , Sanjabi S. , Soavi F. , Poli F.
Published: February 2023

In this study, different Cobalt–Copper mixed oxides compositions for supercapacitor electrodes have been prepared, by means of electrodeposition and thermal annealing. The chemical–physical and electrochemical characterization of electrodes, as well as the effect of different Co/Cu in the ratios on the crystal lattice, electrode morphologies, and electrochemical performance of the electrodes, were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) tests. The results indicated that the electrode prepared from 0.06 M CoSO4·7H2O + 0.04 M CuSO4·5H2O solution (CC4) had a better electrochemical performance. The initial capacity of the CC4 electrode was 28.3 mAh/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s with a coulombic efficiency of 94%. CC4 electrode featured capacity retention of 79.2% at a constant current density of 1 A/g after 5000 cycles.
An Introduction to Genetic Engineering
Authors: Nicholl Desmond S. T.
Published: February 2023

The fourth edition of this popular textbook retains its focus on the fundamental principles of gene manipulation, providing an accessible and broad-based introduction to the subject for beginning undergraduate students. It has been brought thoroughly up to date with new chapters on the story of DNA and genome editing, and new sections on bioethics, significant developments in sequencing technology and structural, functional and comparative genomics and proteomics, and the impact of transgenic plants. In addition to chapter summaries, learning objectives, concept maps, glossary and key word lists the book now also features new concluding sections, further reading lists and web-search activities for each chapter to provide a comprehensive suite of learning resources to help students develop a flexible and critical approach to the study of genetic engineering.
Economic Prehistory
Authors: Dow Gregory K. , Reed Clyde G.
Published: February 2023

Around 15,000 years ago, almost all humans lived in small mobile foraging bands. By about 5,000 years ago, the first city-states had appeared. This radical transformation in human society laid the foundations for the modern world. We use economic logic and archaeological evidence to explain six key elements in this revolution: sedentism, agriculture, inequality, warfare, cities, and states. In our approach the ultimate cause of these events was climate change. We show how shifts in climate interacted with geography to drive technological innovation and population growth. The accumulation of population at especially rich locations led to creation of group property rights over land, stratification into elite and commoner classes, and warfare over land among rival elites. This set the stage for urbanization based on manufacturing or military defense and for elite-controlled states based on taxation. Our closing chapter shows how these developments eventually resulted in contemporary global civilization.
Automating surveillance for healthcare-associated infections: Rationale and current realities (Part I/III)
Authors: Shenoy Erica S. , Branch-Elliman Westyn
Published: February 2023

Infection surveillance is one of the cornerstones of infection prevention and control. Measurement of process metrics and clinical outcomes, such as detection of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), can be used to support continuous quality improvement. HAI metrics are reported as part of the CMS Hospital-Acquired Conditions Program, and they influence facility reputation and financial outcomes.
Construction and applications of proximal maps for typical cocycles
Authors: PARK KIHO
Published: February 2023

For typical cocycles over subshifts of finite type, we show that for any given orbit segment, we can construct a periodic orbit such that it shadows the given orbit segment and that the product of the cocycle along its orbit is a proximal linear map. Using this result, we show that suitable assumptions on the periodic orbits have consequences over the entire subshift.
Now You See Me, Now You Don't: Anticipatory Coalitional Strategies in European Representative Democracies
Authors: Lindahl Jonas
Published: February 2023

This article approaches the puzzle of how parties can strategically anticipate coalition formation and make themselves more attractive coalition partners in their electoral strategies. It argues that parties can strategically adjust the salience of issues that are secondary to them in pursuit of increased ‘coalitionability’. It tests the argument through analysis of the salience of secondary policy dimensions of up to 232 European parties between 1970 and 2019, finding evidence that parties adjust the levels of salience of their secondary dimension in response to the probability of their being included in a coalition government and their distance from the coalition in which they are most likely to be included.