bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risky business: food fraud vulnerability assessments
Authors: Huisman Wim , van Ruth Saskia
Published: September 2022

Major food fraud scandals of the last decade have created awareness of the need to strengthen companies’ ability to combat fraud within their own organizations and across their supply chains. The scandals compelled food companies and the food industry as a whole to take action and to protect companies and industries against the threat of food fraud. Stakeholders expect food companies to act proactively to mitigate food fraud risks. Certification schemes expect food producers to consider food fraud and to undertake food fraud vulnerability assessments and prepare control plans to mitigate fraud risks. This paper examines how vulnerability for food fraud on company level and supply chain level can be assessed using criminological theory. First, the paper discusses how such theory can be applied for assessing motivations and opportunities for internal and external actors to commit food fraud and assessing existing control measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities. Second, the paper discusses the SSAFE-tool in which these elements have been used in a survey for assessing food fraud vulnerability of companies in food supply chains. Third, the paper evaluates the results of the application of the SSAFE-tool to several food supply chain and tiers, including milk, spices, extra olive oil, organic foods and the food service industry.
The relationship between natural rain intensity and Ascochyta blight in chickpea development
Authors: Khaliq Ihsanul , Moore Kevin , Sparks Adam H.
Published: September 2022

Ascochyta blight management strategy in chickpea standing crops in Australia is solely based on applying protective fungicides before a forecast rainfall event. Despite this, studies on the likely interaction between natural rain (as well as simulated rain) amount, duration and Ascochyta blight development are rare. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between natural rain intensity (mm/h) and Ascochyta blight development. Infested chickpea residue were placed at the soil surface, and three pots of a susceptible chickpea cultivar were randomly placed on each side of the plot (total 12 pots and 36 plants), preceding a forecast rainfall event. Trap plants were transferred to a controlled temperature room after rain events. After a 48 h incubation period, trap plants were transferred to a glasshouse to allow lesion development. The number of lesions on all plant parts were counted after two weeks. Lesions developed in rain amounts as low as 1.4 mm and rain durations as short as 0.7 h. The number of lesions significantly increased with increasing rain amount. There was a positive effect of increasing rain duration and a negative effect of increasing wind speed. This study suggests that small rain amounts, shorter duration rains or a limited amount of primary inoculum are not barriers to conidial dispersal or host infection, and that the current value of a rainfallthreshold (2 mm) for conidial spread and host infection is not accurate for susceptible cultivars.
Bridge Principles and Epistemic Norms
Authors: Field Claire , Jacinto Bruno
Published: September 2022

Is logic normative for belief? A standard approach to answering this question has been to investigate bridge principles relating claims of logical consequence to norms for belief. Although the question is naturally an epistemic one, bridge principles have typically been investigated in isolation from epistemic debates over the correct norms for belief. In this paper we tackle the question of whether logic is normative for belief by proposing a Kripkean model theory accounting for the interaction between logical, doxastic, epistemic and deontic notions and using this model theory to show which bridge principles are implied by epistemic norms that we have independent reason to accept, for example, the knowledge norm and the truth norm. We propose a preliminary theory of the interaction between logical, doxastic, epistemic and deontic notions that has among its commitments bridge principles expressing how logic is normative for belief. We also show how our framework suggests that logic is exceptionally normative.
Linguistic Interventions and the Ethics of Conceptual Disruption
Authors: Löhr Guido
Published: September 2022

Several authors in psychology and philosophy have recently raised the following question: when is it permissible to intentionally change the meaning and use of our words and concepts? I argue that an arguably prior question has received much less attention: Even if there were good moral or epistemic reasons for conceptual or semantic changes, this does not yet justify pushing or lobbying for such changes if they are socially and conceptually disruptive. In this paper, I develop the beginnings of an ethics of conceptual disruption as well as a set of norms of linguistic interventions based on it.
Determinants of adherence to recommendations on physical activity, red and processed meat intake, and body weight among lynch syndrome patients
Authors: Hoedjes M , Vrieling A , de Brauwer L , Visser A , Gómez García E , Hoogerbrugge N , Kampman E
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to identify determinants of adherence to lifestyle and body weight recommendations for cancer prevention among Lynch Syndrome (LS) patients. Cross-sectional baseline data of LS patients participating in the Lifestyle & Lynch (LiLy) study was used to assess determinants of adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund cancer prevention recommendations on body weight, physical activity, and red and processed meat intake. Adherence and potential determinants of adherence were assessed using questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify determinants of adherence. Of the 211 participants, 50.2% adhered to the body weight recommendation, 78.7% adhered to the physical activity recommendation, and 33.6% adhered to the red and processed meat recommendation. Being younger and having a higher level of education were associated with adherence to the recommendation on body weight. Having knowledge about the recommendation was associated with adherence to the recommendations on physical activity and red and processed meat. Results confirm that knowledge about recommendations for cancer prevention is an important determinant for adherence and suggest that strategies to increase knowledge should be included in lifestyle promotion targeted at LS patients, along with behavior change techniques influencing other modifiable determinants.
Is orbital wall fracture associated with SARS-CoV-2 ocular surface contamination in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients?
Authors: Pitak-Arnnop Poramate , Tangmanee Chatpong , Meningaud Jean-Paul , Neff Andreas
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To assess the relationship between orbital wall fractures connecting to  paranasal sinuses (OWF-PNS) and SARS-CoV-2 ocular surface contamination (SARS-CoV-2-OSC) in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Methods

This was a prospective case–control study enrolling two asymptomatic COVID-19 patient cohorts with vs. without OWF-PNS in the case–control ratio of 1:4. All subjects were treated in a German level 1 trauma center during a one-year interval. The main predictor variable was the presence of OWF-PNS (case/control); cases with preoperative conjunctival positivity of SARS-CoV-2 were excluded to rule out the possibility of viral dissemination via the lacrimal gland and/or the nasolacrimal system. The main outcome variable was laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-OSC (yes/no). Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed with a statistically significant P ≤ 0.05.

Results

The samples comprised 11 cases and 44 controls (overall: 27.3% females; mean age, 52.7 ± 20.3 years [range, 19–85]). There was a significant association between OWF-PNS and SARS-CoV-2-OSC (P = 0.0001; odds ratio = 20.8; 95% confidence interval = 4.11–105.2; R-squared = 0.38; accuracy = 85.5%), regardless of orbital fracture location (orbital floor vs. medial wall versus both; P = 1.0).

Conclusions

Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients with OWF-PNS are associated with a considerable and almost 21-fold increase in the risk of SARS-CoV-2-OSC, in comparison with those without facial fracture. This could suggest that OWF-PNS is the viral source, requiring particular attention during manipulation of ocular/orbital tissue to prevent viral transmission.
Polygon generation and video-to-video translation for time-series prediction
Authors: Elhefnawy Mohamed , Ragab Ahmed , Ouali Mohamed-Salah
Published: September 2022

This paper proposes an innovative method for time-series prediction in energy-intensive industrial systems characterized by highly dynamic non-linear operations. The proposed method can capture the true distributions of the inputs and outputs of such systems and map these distributions using polygon generation and video-to-video translation techniques. More specifically, the time-series data are represented as polygon streams (videos), then the video-to-video translation is used to transform the input polygon streams into the output ones. This transformation is tuned based on a model trustworthiness metric for optimal video synthesis. Finally, an image processing procedure is used for mapping the output polygon streams back to time-series outputs. The proposed method is based on cycle-consistent generative adversarial networks as an unsupervised approach. This does not need the heavy involvement of the human expert who devotes much effort to labeling the complex industrial data. The performance of the proposed method was validated successfully using a challenging industrial dataset collected from a complex heat exchanger network in a Canadian pulp mill. The results obtained using the proposed method demonstrate better performance than other comparable time-series prediction models. This allows process operators to accurately monitor process key performance indicators (KPIs) and to achieve a more energy-efficient operation.
Problematic Gambling Behavior in a Sample with Substance Use Disorder: The Role of Attachment Style and Alexithymia
Authors: Rueda Ruiz Mª Begoña , Larracoechea Urko Aguirre , Herrero Marta , Estévez Ana
Published: September 2022

Gambling disorder is a high comorbid disorder in substance abusers which conjunct appearance is related to worse symptomatology and evolution. Nevertheless, the research on the risk factors that may explain this comorbidity is scarce. We build of the self-regulation theory of attachment and addiction to examine if insecure attachment is related to gambling comorbidity in substance abuse disorder and the mediating role of alexithymia in this process. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 369 clinical patients with substance use disorder of which 69 presented comorbid gambling disorder diagnosed with the DSM-5 criteria. Results showed that insecure attachment was more prevalent in the group with comorbid gambling. In this group, the alexithymia levels were also higher and mediated the relationship in between attachment and gambling disorder comorbidity even controlling for several sociodemographic variables. This research indicates that insecure attachment enhances the risk of gambling comorbidity on substance abusers due to the detrimental effect on the self-regulation of emotion. Thus, interventions directed to increase the identification, expression and awareness of emotions might help to reduce comorbidity of gambling of substance use disorders.
Post-partum Women’s Anxiety and Parenting Stress: Home-Visiting Protective Effect During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Roberti Elisa , Giacchero Roberta , Grumi Serena , Biasucci Giacomo , Cuzzani Laura , Decembrino Lidia , Magnani Maria Luisa , Motta Mario , Nacinovich Renata , Pisoni Camilla , Scelsa Barbara , Provenzi Livio ,   MOM-COPE study group, Altieri Lilia , Benedetta Pietra , Bettiga Elisa , Bonini Renza , Borgatti Renato , Cavallini Anna , Falcone Rossana , Fazzi Elisa , Gardella Barbara , Guerini Paola , Orcesi Simona , Pantaleo Dario , Prefumo Federico , Previtali Roberto , Riva Laura , Spinillo Arsenio , Vergani Patrizia , Viganò Maria Grazia
Published: September 2022

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a particularly adverse and stressful environment for expecting mothers, possibly enhancing feelings of anxiety and parenting stress. The present work assesses mothers' anxiety levels at delivery and parenting stress after 3 months as moderated by home-visiting sessions.

Methods

Women (n = 177) in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during the COVID-19 lockdown were enrolled in northern Italy and split into those who did and did not receive home visits. After 3 months, the association between anxiety at delivery and parenting stress was assessed with bivariate correlations in the whole sample and comparing the two groups.

Results

Higher anxiety at birth correlated with greater perceived stress after 3 months. Mothers who received at least one home-visiting session reported lower parenting stress at 3 months than counterparts who did not receive home visits.

Conclusions for Practice

The perinatal period is a sensitive time window for mother-infant health, especially during a critical time like the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that home-visiting programs could be beneficial during global healthcare emergencies to promote maternal well-being after delivery.
Live soil inocula, not host population or domestication status, is the predominant driver of growth benefits to cowpea
Authors: Manci M. , Mercado O. G. , Camantigue R. X. , Nguyen T. , Rothschild J. , Khairi F. , Neal S. , Farsamin W. F. , Lampe M. T. , Perez I. A. , Le T. H. , Ortiz-Barbosa G. S. , Torres-Martínez L. , Sachs J. L.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Crops rely on microbes for critical services, but host benefits can be influenced by local makeup of microbiota and the host’s capacity to select optimal strains. We investigated host benefits that cowpeas receive from microbiota depending on plant genotype, their domestication status, and soil source.

Methods

We performed a full factorial soil inoculation experiment. Twenty diverse cowpea genotypes, selected from wild and domesticated populations, were exposed to soil rinsates from four agricultural sites across California, all having cowpea cultivation and varied physicochemical features. Cowpea investment in and benefit from microbiota was quantified by measuring host growth response to inoculation, nodulation, and segregating trait variation.

Results

Variation in induction of root nodulation and strikingly heterogenous benefits to host growth were observed among soil sites. These effects were restricted to live soil inocula but were absent in autoclaved soil controls that lacked microbiota. Cowpeas expressed heritable variation in nodulation, but there was negligible effect of plant population or domestication status on the net benefit that hosts gained from microbiota.

Conclusion

Soils varied substantially and consistently among cultivation sites and were the most prominent driver shaping host growth effects on cowpeas. While growth benefits vary among host cultivars, soil microbiota (and the conditions that maintain them) predominantly shape plant performance in agricultural settings.
Updating our understanding of health-related quality of life issues in children with cancer: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures and qualitative studies
Authors: Rothmund Maria , Sodergren Samantha , Rohde Gudrun , de Rojas Teresa , Paratico Gloria , Albini Giorgia , Mur Johanna , Darlington Anne-Sophie , Majorana Alessandra , Riedl David ,   the EORTC Quality of Life Group
Published: September 2022

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a key concept in pediatric oncology. This systematic review aims to update the conceptual HRQOL model by Anthony et al. (Qual Life Res 23(3):771–789, 2014), covering physical, emotional, social and general HRQOL aspects, and to present a comprehensive overview of age- and disease-specific HRQOL issues in children with cancer.

Methods

Medline, PsychINFO, the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews (CDSR), and the COSMIN database were searched (up to 31.12.2020) for publications using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and qualitative studies in children with cancer (8–14-year) or their parents. Items and quotations were extracted and mapped onto the conceptual model for HRQOL in children with cancer mentioned above.

Results

Of 2038 identified studies, 221 were included for data extraction. We identified 96 PROMS with 2641 items and extracted 798 quotations from 45 qualitative studies. Most items and quotations (94.8%) could be mapped onto the conceptual model. However, some adaptations were made and the model was complemented by (sub)domains for ‘treatment burden’, ‘treatment involvement’, and ‘financial issues’. Physical and psychological aspects were more frequently covered than social issues.

Discussion

This review provides a comprehensive overview of HRQOL issues for children with cancer. Our findings mostly support the HRQOL model by Anthony et al. (Qual Life Res 23(3):771–789, 2014), but some adaptations are suggested. This review may be considered a starting point for a refinement of our understanding of HRQOL in children with cancer. Further qualitative research will help to evaluate the comprehensiveness of the HRQOL model and the relevance of the issues it encompasses.
Justice, power, and truth: Plato and twentieth-century biopower in Karl Popper and Jan Patočka
Authors: Cimino Antonio
Published: September 2022

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that even if Popper’s and Patočka’s interpretations of Plato originate in philosophical and intellectual traditions that have nothing or very little to do with each other, they share a common target, that is, modern biopower, which culminated in twentieth-century totalitarianism. If we examine Popper’s and Patočka’s interpretations of Plato from a biopolitical angle, it is possible to view them in a new light, that is, as two different, even opposing, intellectual and philosophical approaches to the very same tragic events that European culture and politics experienced in the twentieth century. Despite the radically divergent results of their readings, Popper and Patočka share a starting point, that is, the effort to outline a genealogy of European cultural and intellectual history in the light of Plato. The first section of this article explains why and to what extent Popper’s and Patočka’s interpretations can be considered genealogical readings. The second section elaborates on their different approaches to the relationship between justice and power in Plato. The third section concentrates on the relationship between Plato and twentieth-century biopower.
Peridialytic and intradialytic blood pressure metrics are not valid estimates of 44-h ambulatory blood pressure in patients with intradialytic hypertension
Authors: Theodorakopoulou Marieta P. , Alexandrou Maria-Eleni , Iatridi Fotini , Karpetas Antonios , Geladari Virginia , Pella Eva , Alexiou Sophia , Sidiropoulou Maria , Ziaka Stavroula , Papagianni Aikaterini , Sarafidis Pantelis
Published: September 2022

Purpose

In contrast to peridialytic blood pressure (BP), intradialytic and home BP measurements are accurate metrics of ambulatory BP load in hemodialysis patients. This study assessed the agreement of peridialytic, intradialytic, and scheduled interdialytic recordings with 44-h BP in a distinct hemodialysis population, patients with intradialytic hypertension (IDH).

Methods

This study included 45 IDH patients with valid 48-h ABPM and 197 without IDH. With 44-h BP used as reference method, we tested the accuracy of the following BP metrics: Pre- and post-dialysis, mean and median intradialytic, mean intradialytic plus pre/post-dialysis, and scheduled interdialytic BP (out-of-dialysis day: mean of 8:00am/8:00 pm readings).

Results

In IDH patients, peridialytic and intradialytic BP metrics showed at best moderate correlations, while averaged interdialytic SBP/DBP exhibited strong correlation (r = 0.882/r = 0.855) with 44-h SBP/DBP. Bland–Altman plots showed large between-method-difference for peri- and intradialytic-BP, but only + 0.7 mmHg between-method difference and good 95% limits of agreement for averaged interdialytic SBP. The sensitivity/specificity and κ-statistic for diagnosing 44-h SBP ≥ 130 mmHg were low for pre-dialysis (72.5/40.0%, κ-statistic = 0.074) and post-dialysis (90.0/0.0%, κ-statistic = − 0.110), mean intradialytic (85.0/40.0%, κ-statistic = 0.198), median intradialytic (85.0/60.0%, κ-statistic = 0.333), and intradialytic plus pre/post-dialysis SBP (85.0/20.0%, κ-statistic = 0.043). Averaged interdialytic SBP showed high sensitivity/specificity (97.5/80.0%) and strong agreement (κ-statistic = 0.775). In ROC analyses, scheduled interdialytic SBP/DBP had the highest AUC (0.967/0.951), sensitivity (90.0/88.0%), and specificity (100.0/90.0%).

Conclusion

In IDH patients, only averaged scheduled interdialytic but not pre- and post-dialysis, nor intradialytic BP recordings show reasonable agreement with ABPM. Interdialytic BP recordings only could be used for hypertension diagnosis and management in these subjects.
Aqueous Acetamiprid Degradation Using Combined Ultrasonication and Photocatalysis Under Visible Light
Authors: Miyashiro Carolina Sayury , Hamoudi Safia
Published: September 2022

Acetamiprid (ACE), a neonicotinoid pesticide widely used in pest control, was found in high concentrations in soils, rivers, and lakes. In the present study, ACE degradation was investigated using visible light driven photocatalysis over nitrogen-graphene oxide (N-GO) and palladium-graphene oxide (Pd-GO)–doped ZnO photocatalysts combined with ultrasonication implemented either as a pretreatment (sonolysis) or operated simultaneously with photocatalysis (sonophocatalysis). The effectiveness of the two ACE degradation processes was determined separately. The sonolysis pretreatment allowed reaching almost 40% acetamiprid conversion within 30 min of reaction. Pursuing with the photodegradation reaction in the presence of N-GO-ZnO and Pd-GO-ZnO resulted in a maximum conversion of 98% of ACE within 5 h. As for the sonophotocatalysis process, the reaction time was shortened from 5 to 2 h with 100% acetamiprid conversion. In addition, the photocatalysts were shown to keep their activity even after 5 sonophotocatalytic cycles, thus proving their reusability.

Graphical abstract
Using blood test parameters to define biological age among older adults: association with morbidity and mortality independent of chronological age validated in two separate birth cohorts
Authors: Drewelies Johanna , Hueluer Gizem , Duezel Sandra , Vetter Valentin Max , Pawelec Graham , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth , Wagner Gert G. , Lindenberger Ulman , Lill Christina M. , Bertram Lars , Gerstorf Denis , Demuth Ilja
Published: September 2022

Biomarkers defining biological age are typically laborious or expensive to assess. Instead, in the current study, we identified parameters based on standard laboratory blood tests across metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and kidney functioning that had been assessed in the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) (n = 384) and Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) (n = 1517). We calculated biological age using those 12 parameters that individually predicted mortality hazards over 26 years in BASE. In BASE, older biological age was associated with more physician-observed morbidity and higher mortality hazards, over and above the effects of chronological age, sex, and education. Similarly, in BASE-II, biological age was associated with physician-observed morbidity and subjective health, over and above the effects of chronological age, sex, and education as well as alternative biomarkers including telomere length, DNA methylation age, skin age, and subjective age but not PhenoAge. We discuss the importance of biological age as one indicator of aging.
Conceptual Tapping Model of Mn-Ferroalloy Furnaces
Authors: Tangstad Merete , Olsen Jan Erik , Ringdalen Eli , Ksiazek Michal , Reynolds Quinn , Steenkamp Joalet
Published: September 2022

The tapping process of submerged arc furnaces, like the Mn-ferroalloy production process, is when you drain the liquid metal and slag from the furnace. The optimal tapping process is when slag and metal is drained from the furnace at the same rate as it is produced, and the slag and metal is being separated in the post-tap hole process. Industrially, this is not always the case. Based on published articles, this paper discusses the total tapping process that contains the consecutive steps of flow from back electrodes to the tap electrode and flow from the tap electrode through the tap hole and runner, and into the ladle system. It focuses on an overall summary of which elements may affect the tapping; however, it should be noted that this is not a mathematical model. The main information is regarding materials and zones in the furnaces, as well as knowledge from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling work.
Study of the Structural and Magnetic Properties of a Novel Cola/Lah Nanocomposite Material
Authors: Gamal W. M. , El-Bassuony Asmaa A. H. , Hafez R. S. , Abdelsalam H. K.
Published: September 2022

A novel nanocomposite consisting of 0.3 cobalt lanthanum nanoferrite/0.7 lanthanum perovskite–hematite nanoparticles (CoLa/LaH) and lanthanum perovskite–hematite nanoparticles (LaH) was synthesized using a simple method. The crystallite size was determined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, and the particle size was determined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to demonstrate that the nano-samples had sizes within the nanoscale range. Fourier transform infrared analysis was utilized to ensure that the nano-samples were formed. By adding CoLa nanoferrite to the LaH nanoparticles, an improvement in magnetic measurements was observed. The saturation magnetization of the CoLa/LaH nanocomposite was 1.1-fold larger than that of LaH. Also, the CoLa/LaH coercivity was 1.7-fold higher than in LaH. Furthermore, the CoLa/LaH nanocomposite displayed a higher operating high frequency of 8.9 GHz, which could be used in an X-band super-high microwave frequency, than the LaH nanoparticles. The LaH nanoparticles, on the other hand, demonstrated a high operating frequency of 8.2 GHz, which could be used in the C-band super-high microwave frequency. No activity was observed for the investigated samples against the tested microorganisms, which was unexpected behavior. Therefore, the investigated nano-samples are interesting for being applied in magnetic targeting and separators, in particular the CoLa/LaH nanocomposite.
Anthropogenic Organic Contaminants Analysed in Human Blood and Combined Risk
Authors: Engelhardt A. J. , Norström K. , Weiss J. M.
Published: September 2022

The number of chemicals in the anthroposphere is increasing and some of them end up in humans. A literature search was made to assess which anthropogenic organic contaminants (OCs) that have been analysed in blood from the general population. The reviewed articles were used to create a database of studies [human blood database (HBDB), containing 559 OCs] reporting blood analyses made worldwide. All studies analysing blood from the Swedish population were compiled into a second database [Swedish exposure database (SEDB), containing 166 OCs] listing blood concentrations of OCs. Data from the SEDB showed decreasing levels of regulated chemicals in blood over time, indicating that regulation had made an impact. The Hazard Index (HI) approach was used as a qualitative mixture risk assessment of the OCs with established human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) and blood levels in the SEDB. Nine HBM-GVs were found and the HI of the corresponding OCs/groups of OCs showed that a risk of adverse effects in the general population could not be excluded, which is a cause for concern considering that only a fraction of the analysed OCs in the SEDB were included. This study presents the OCs identified in human blood and concentration time trends. The study highlights the lack of HBM-GVs needed for mixture risk assessments to assess the combined risk of chemical exposure to the general population.
The evolution of pyrotechnology in the Upper Palaeolithic of Europe
Authors: Murphree William Chase , Aldeias Vera
Published: September 2022

Pyrotechnology, the ability for hominins to use fire as a tool, is considered to be one of the most important behavioural adaptations in human evolution. While several studies have focused on identifying the emergence of fire use and later Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal combustion features, far fewer have focused on modern human fire use. As a result, we currently have more data characterizing the hominin fire use prior to 50,000 years before present (BP), than we do for Upper Palaeolithic of Europe. Here we review the available data on Upper Palaeolithic fire evidence between 48,000 and 13,000 years BP to understand the evolution of modern human pyrotechnology. Our results suggest regional clustering of feature types during the Aurignacian and further demonstrate a significant change in modern human fire use, namely in terms of the intensification and structural variation between 35,000 and 28,000 years BP. This change also corresponds to the development and spread of the Gravettian technocomplex throughout Europe and may correspond to a shift in the perception of fire. Additionally, we also show a significant lack of available high-resolution data on combustion features during the height of last glacial maximum. Furthermore, we highlight the need for more research into the effects of syn- and post-depositional processes on archaeological combustion materials and a need for more standardization of descriptions in the published literature. Overall, our review shows a significant and complex developmental process for Upper Palaeolithic fire use which in many ways mirrors the behavioural evolution of modern humans seen in other archaeological mediums.
To Compete or Cooperate? A Case Study of Innovation and Creativity Labs in Berlin
Authors: Feser Daniel
Published: September 2022

Innovation intermediaries provide support during innovation processes and contribute to clients’ innovativeness. In a growing body of literature, innovation intermediaries are considered as knowledge brokers and boundary spanners in regional innovation systems. While previous studies have highlighted insights into intermediaries’ impact on clients, observations of their internal policies and working mechanisms remain scarce. Based on a case study of Berlin-based innovation and creativity labs, this paper sheds light on the innovation strategies chosen by intermediaries. I find that a distinct dualism of cooperation and competition shapes the innovation strategies of innovation intermediaries. The growing number of competitors and a lack of transparency shape the role of regional policy that offers information and market coordination. I present policy recommendations based on the results.
Mutual effect of homocysteine and uric acid on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine
Authors: Wu Zhiyuan , Zhang Haiping , Li Zhiwei , Li Haibin , Miao Xinlei , Pan Huiying , Wang Jinqi , Liu Xiangtong , Kang Xiaoping , Li Xia , Tao Lixin , Guo Xiuhua
Published: September 2022

Background

Arterial stiffness is a major risk factor and effective predictor of cardiovascular diseases and a common pathway of pathological vascular impairments. Homocysteine (Hcy) and uric acid (UA) own the shared metabolic pathways to affect vascular function. Serum uric acid (UA) has a great impact on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk, while the mutual effect with Hcy remains unknown yet. This study aimed to evaluate the mutual effect of serum Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and 10-year cardiovascular risk in the general population. From the perspective of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM), we assumed that combined assessment of Hcy and UA provides a better tool for targeted prevention and personalized intervention of cardiovascular diseases via suppressing arterial stiffness.

Methods

This study consisted of 17,697 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort, who underwent health examination between January 2012 and December 2019. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as an index of arterial stiffness.

Results

Individuals with both high Hcy and UA had the highest baPWV, compared with those with low Hcy and low UA (β: 30.76, 95% CI: 18.36–43.16 in males;β: 53.53, 95% CI: 38.46–68.60 in females). In addition, these individuals owned the highest 10-year cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.26–1.76 in males; OR: 7.61, 95% CI: 4.63–12.68 in females). Of note, males with high homocysteine and low uric acid were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15–1.47), but not the high uric acid and low homocysteine group (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.90–1.16).

Conclusions

This study found the significantly mutual effect of Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk using a large population and suggested the clinical importance of combined evaluation and control of Hcy and UA for promoting cardiovascular health. The adverse effect of homocysteine on arteriosclerosis should be addressed beyond uric acid, especially for males. Monitoring of the level of both Hcy and UA provides a window opportunity for PPPM/3PM in the progression of arterial stiffness and prevention of CVD. Hcy provides a novel predictor beyond UA of cardiovascular health to identify individuals at high risk of arterial stiffness for the primary prevention and early treatment of CVD. In the progressive stage of arterial stiffness, active control of Hcy and UA levels from the aspects of dietary behavior and medication treatment is conducive to alleviating the level of arterial stiffness and reducing the risk of CVD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical effect of Hcy and UA targeted intervention on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular health.
Existence and uniqueness for the inhomogeneous 1-Laplace evolution equation revisited
Authors: Latorre Marta , Segura de León Sergio
Published: September 2022

In this paper we deal with an inhomogeneous parabolic Dirichlet problem involving the 1-Laplacian operator. We show the existence of a unique solution when data belong to$$L^1(0,T;L^2(\Omega ))$$L1(0,T;L2(Ω))for every$$T>0$$T>0. As a consequence, global existence and uniqueness for data in$$L^1_{loc}(0,+\infty ;L^2(\Omega ))$$Lloc1(0,+∞;L2(Ω))is obtained. Our analysis retrieves previous results in a correct and complete way.
Impact of Online Group Psychoeducation and Support Sessions on Receptivity Towards Digital Mental Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sweet Cynthia M. Castro , Li Elizabeth J. , Sagui-Henson Sara , Chamberlain Camille E. Welcome , Altman Myra
Published: September 2022

While social distancing was crucial to slow the COVID-19 virus, it also contributed to social isolation and emotional strain. This pilot study evaluated the impact of stand-alone psychoeducational group sessions designed to build social connectedness and space for people to learn about mental health during the pandemic. The study examined if offering the stand-alone group sessions increased uptake of and receptivity to additional mental health services. People had access to free, online group psychoeducational sessions offered by a digital mental health platform company. Sessions were offered to (1) employees who had mental health benefits offered through their employer, and to (2) members of the general public. Session formats included discussions, didactic lectures, and workshops, were facilitated by a mental health provider, and used live video conference technology. Topics included race and identity, stress management, coping with political events, relationship issues, and self-compassion. First-time session registrations were tracked from June 2020 to July 2021 on 6723 participants (3717 benefits-eligible employees and 3006 from the general public). Among the employee subsample, 49.5% attended a group session as their first use of any available service on the platform; 52.5% of these employees sought additional services after their first session. In anonymous post-session surveys of employees and members of the general public, 86% of respondents endorsed knowledge increases, 79.5% reported improved understanding of their mental health, 80.3% endorsed gaining actionable steps to improve mental health, 76.5% said that they would consider group sessions in addition to therapy, and 43.5% said that they would consider group sessions instead of therapy. These results suggest that scalable, brief group psychoeducational sessions are a useful conduit to mental health care and have potential to reach people who may not otherwise access available mental health services.
Vibration Extraction for Melting Plastic Hydraulic Injection System with Stick Slip Vibration Analysis
Authors: Shaker M. O. , Amer T. S. , Dahab H. A. , Bek M. A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

A hydraulic power injection machine is designed to use a driving screw to inject melted plastic into a specified mold. This machine can be found at an automotive spare parts factory. The cantilever-style heavy-duty screw injector is supported by one roller and secured at the end. An obvious need for vibration analysis on the roller support is essential. A mass spring damper model is proposed for deeply investigating the friction induced vibration mechanism for this injection system to well understand and analyze its vibration behavior.

Purpose

A mechanical mode of two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) is designed to improve research on the dynamic features of the Plastic Hydraulic Injection System (PHIS) mechanism.

Materials and methods

Experimental investigation and analysis of this mechanism are explored to obtain the instability speed and critical stick slip (SS) speed. The numerical imitation results of this work will help with the design and development of the PHIS mechanism.

Conclusion

The stability of the system and SS behavior are next examined by determining the critical variability speediness and critical SS speed. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the effect of various parameters of the system on its stability and on the behavior of the SS motion.
Unpacking the Hidden Curricula in Educational Automation: A Methodology for Ethical Praxis
Authors: Gallagher Michael , Breines Markus
Published: September 2022

The future of educational automation in higher education is commonly seen as an inevitable trajectory and beyond the control of individual institutions or communities. Much research has focused on how such technologies can remove agency and reproduce inequalities through encoded biases. Indeed, many conceptualisations of educational automation are problematic, but less is known about what can be done to take more control over them. By moving away from critique alone, this paper seeks to demystify educational automation and develop a methodology that enables both institutions and staff to take greater control over the technologies in their institutional work. This methodology emerges from multiple research projects exploring digital education, automation, and educational futures and brings together the findings from these to find ways to establish ethical praxis in future forms of educational automation. This methodology and its attendant ethical praxis posit that critique must be used in tandem with creativity and activism to fully realise new and just educational futures.
Engaging caregivers to use an evidence-based intervention for medicaid beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease: a pilot study
Authors: Spoelstra Sandra L. , Sikorskii Alla , Schueller Monica , Basso Viktoria , Baldwin Autumn
Published: September 2022

Background

This pilot study aimed to adapt an intervention, engaging informal caregivers to help clinicians with providing care to improve (or maintain) physical function of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we report on use of the intervention in those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.

Methods

This was a 5-month mixed methods cohort study in a convenience sample of clinicians, caregivers, and beneficiaries at 3-Medicaid Home and Community-based Service sites in Michigan. Two content experts and 5 caregivers modified the intervention. We trained 116 clinicians to engage caregivers and 50 caregivers to help clinicians provide the modified intervention to 52 beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. Thematic analyses, descriptive statistics, counts, proportion comparisons, t-tests, and McNemar’s tests were used to examine socio-demographics, clinician knowledge uptake and satisfaction with training and use of the intervention; caregiver self-efficacy, feasibility, acceptability, usability, and satisfaction with intervention and beneficiary outcomes (pre-/post).

Results

Feasibility (enrolled/recruited = 78.5–86.7%), acceptability (7.55–8.35 [SD 1.50–2.06]), and usability (7.85–8.81 [SD 1.50–2.6]) of the modified intervention (1 = low;10 = high) were high. Pre-/post-intervention clinician knowledge (12.33–12.28, SD 1.80–2.84; -0.52, SD 1.95) was high. Caregiver self-efficacy increased (0.81 [SD 0.62] p < 0.01). Beneficiary outcomes did not improve nor decline (> 0.05).

Conclusions

Engaging informal caregivers to assist clinicians with providing an intervention adapted to the needs of those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias was feasible, acceptable, and usable. Further testing in a broader sample of those with dementia in various settings is needed.
Limited impact of a nudge comment in promoting de-escalation to first-generation cephalosporins in urinary tract infections
Authors: Brenneman Martin T. , Moore Sarah E. , Song Matthew , Bohn Brian C. , Swingler Elena A. , Whitman Christopher W. , Junkins Alan D. , Wilde Ashley M.
Published: September 2022

In this study, we evaluated the impact of a microbiology nudge on de-escalation to first-generation cephalosporins in hospitalized patients with urinary tract infections secondary to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ≤ 16 µg/mL. De-escalation to first generation-cephalosporins was uncommon at MICs = 4–16 µg/mL.
How Can Personal Protective Equipment Be Best Used and Reused: A Closer Look at Donning and Doffing Procedures
Authors: Hughes Ashley M. , Doos Devin , Ahmed Rami A. , Pham Trang N.D. , Barach Paul
Published: September 2022

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine safety-related contamination threats and risks to health-care workers (HCWs) due to the reuse of personal protective equipment (PPE) among emergency department (ED) personnel.

Methods:

We used a Participatory Design (PD) approach to conduct task analysis (TA) of PPE use and reuse. TA identified the steps, risks, and protective behaviors involved in PPE reuse. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for PPE donning and doffing specifying the recommended task order. Then, we convened subject matter experts (SMEs) with relevant backgrounds in Patient Safety, Human Factors and Emergency Medicine to iteratively identify and map the tasks, risks, and protective behaviors involved in the PPE use and reuse.

Results:

Two emerging threats were associated with behaviors in donning, doffing, and re-using PPE: (i) direct exposure to contaminant, and (ii) transmission/spread of contaminant. Protective behaviors included: hand hygiene, not touching the patient-facing surface of PPE, and ensuring a proper fit and closure of all PPE ties and materials.

Conclusions:

TA was helpful revealed that the procedure for donning and doffing of re-used PPE does not protect ED personnel from contaminant spread and risk of exposure, even with protective behaviors present (e.g., hand hygiene, respirator use, etc.). Future work should make more apparent the underlying risks associated with PPE use and reuse.
Shear thickening in dense suspensions driven by particle interlocking
Authors: Blair Matthew , Ness Christopher
Published: September 2022

The processing of dense suspensions is a crucial step in many industries including mining; the production of ceramics; and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. It is widely reported that these suspensions exhibit nonlinear behaviours such as shear thinning and thickening, with particle surface contacts recently being accepted as a primary culprit in the latter. In light of this, the modelling community have started to explore the role of particle surface tribology, predominantly by incorporating Coulombic friction models borrowed from the field of dry granular matter. Full details of the interactions between particle surfaces remain unclear, however, and it is suggested that physical interlocking of particle asperities may be key. Here, we use particle-based simulations to explore explicitly the effect of interlocking on the rheology of dense suspensions of micron-sized solids in a Newtonian fluid. Our simplified model recovers shear thinning, thickening and jamming phenomena commonly seen in experiments.
Forgotten leaders: Chinese Hui Muslim merchants in the Yangzi River region, 1880s–1940s
Authors: Chen Bin
Published: September 2022

Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a commercial network of Chinese Hui Muslims emerged in China's mid and lower Yangzi River region. Through this commercial network, Muslim merchants achieved economic success and positioned themselves as Muslim community leaders and leading reformers of Chinese society. Past scholarship on Chinese Hui Muslims has focused on intellectuals or warlords and missed this important group of Muslim leaders – a group that, with the rising prominence and influence of entrepreneurs in the early twentieth century, had growing political clout. Chen Jingyu, a Muslim merchant from Nanjing, symbolized the culmination of the Muslim commercial network. Indeed, Chen's economic achievements were the direct result of the coordinated effort of Muslim merchants. With sufficient financial backing, Chen then invested in charitable activities and gained unprecedented influence in Muslim communities and Chinese society at large.
Implementing Intersectionality in Public Policies: Key Factors in the Madrid City Council, Spain
Authors: La Barbera MariaCaterina , Espinosa-Fajardo Julia , Caravantes Paloma
Published: September 2022

Although feminist scholarship has discussed intersectionality extensively, few studies have addressed its implementation in public policies. This article fills that gap with an empirical study of the obstacles and enabling factors in implementing intersectionality in the Madrid City Council. We focus on the multiple meanings, actors, and structures involved in translating policy planning into concrete measures. Through a content analysis of policy documents, interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, our qualitative study identifies five key factors that hinder the implementation of intersectionality-informed policies: the absence of a legal framework and precise guidelines; the multiple and contrasting interpretations of intersectionality; the lack of training; the compartmentalized work structure and culture; and the unavailability and misuse of data. These findings contribute to the scholarship on the implementation of intersectionality in public policies and provide empirical-based recommendations to overcome the identified obstacles.