bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of soil quality indicators using novel Earth observation technologies and computational intelligence methodologies
Authors: Τζιόλας Νικόλαος
Published: August 2022

Για να διαφυλαχθεί το φυσικό κεφάλαιο των εδαφικών πόρων, σε ένα συνεχώς ασταθές περιβάλλον με καταγεγραμμένη μείωση των πόρων και έντονες περιβαλλοντικές αλλαγές και προκειμένου να δημιουργηθούν οι προϋποθέσεις για την ανάπτυξη τεκμηριωμένων προτάσεων προς υποστήριξη των σχετικών πολιτικών και προς την ανάπτυξη βιώσιμων υπηρεσιών, είναι απαραίτητο να βελτιωθούν οι δυνατότητες παρατήρησης της υγείας των εδαφών μέσω της υιοθέτησης πολυδιάστατων και ολοκληρωμένων προσεγγίσεων. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, η ύπαρξη των μεγάλων δεδομένων της παρατήρησης της Γης, καθώς και η εμφάνιση καινοτόμων αλγορίθμων υπολογιστικής νοημοσύνης και του υπολογιστικού νέφους ενισχύουν τις δυνατότητές μας σχετικά με την παρακολούθηση του εδαφικού οικοσυστήματος. Στόχος αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η ανάπτυξη μεθόδων ικανών να εκτιμήσουν τις χημικές και φυσικές ιδιότητες των εδαφών, αξιοποιώντας δεδομένα παρατήρησης της Γης και φασματικές βιβλιοθήκες εδαφών σε συνδυασμό με προηγμένους αλγόριθμους υπολογιστικής νοημοσύνης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η διατριβή προτείνει την ανάπτυξη μιας νέας προσέγγισης αξιοποιώντας τεχνικές μηχανικής μάθησης βασιζόμενων στη μνήμη, ικανής να χρησιμοποιήσει τις συνδυασμένες φασματικές πηγές στο ορατό-υπέρυθρο ηλεκτρομαγνητικό φάσμα και τη γεωγραφική εγγύτητα. Ο προτεινόμενος αλγόριθμος χρησιμοποιεί τις συμπληρωματικές πληροφορίες που περιέχονται στις διαφορετικές φασματικές τεχνικές προ-επεξεργασίας για να δημιουργήσει ακριβέστερα τοπικά σύνολα δεδομένων στη διαδικασία της βαθμονόμησης και να αποφέρει βελτιωμένη ακρίβεια στις τελικές προβλέψεις. Κατόπιν αυτού, προτείνεται μια νέα προσέγγιση για τη χαρτογράφηση των εδαφών, η οποία έχει σχεδιαστεί με το σκεπτικό να συμβάλλει σε βελτίωση της προγνωστικής απόδοσης των αλγορίθμων ενσωματώνοντας υπάρχουσες φασματικές βιβλιοθήκες εδάφους και δεδομένα παρατήρησης της Γης. Οι προτεινόμενες τεχνικές εφαρμόζονται σε μια μεγάλη φασματική βιβλιοθήκη εδάφους που αναπτύχθηκε προκειμένου να καλύψει τα σημαντικά κενά, όσον αφορά τη διαθεσιμότητα των δεδομένων, στα Βαλκάνια, τη Μέση Ανατολή και την περιοχή της Βόρειας Αφρικής. Στη συνέχεια, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη ότι τα μοντέλα βαθιάς μάθησης έχουν επιφέρει σημαντικά βήματα προόδου στον τομέα της παρατήρησης της Γης, προτείνεται η αξιοποίηση ενός συνόλου συνελικτικών νευρωνικών δικτύων. Οι προτεινόμενες προσεγγίσεις που βασίζονται σε τεχνικές βαθιάς μάθησης παρουσιάζουν συγκεκριμένα πλεονεκτήματα σε σχέση με τους αλγόριθμους μηχανικής μάθησης, καθώς είναι σε θέση να συνδυάζουν τις συμπληρωματικές πληροφορίες που περιέχονται στις τιμές των φασματικών δεδομένων και εκείνων που προέρχοναι από ραντάρ, καθώς και εκείνων που αντιπροσωπεύουν τη χωρική πληροφορία. Επιπλέον, τα μοντέλα βαθιάς μάθησης έχουν αναπτυχθεί με τρόπο που επιτρέπουν έναν βαθμό ερμηνείας προκειμένου καθίσταται δυνατή η εξήγηση της συλλογιστικής τους διαδικασίας.
Novel algorithms, models and architectures for enhanced cyber security and energy efficiency in Internet of Things environments
Authors: Μέμος Βασίλειος
Published: August 2022

Είναι γεγονός ότι η διασύνδεση ενός τεράστιου αριθμού συσκευών στο Διαδίκτυο, γνωστό ως "Διαδίκτυο των Πραγμάτων" ή απλά IoT, εγκυμονεί κινδύνους όσον αφορά το απόρρητο των χρηστών, την ασφάλεια των συσκευών και τη συνολική προστασία του δικτύου από πιθανές επιθέσεις στον κυβερνοχώρο. Αυτό οφείλεται στους περιορισμένους διαθέσιμους πόρους σε τέτοιες συσκευές για την υποστήριξη αποτελεσματικών μηχανισμών ασφαλείας και προηγμένων αλγορίθμων κρυπτογράφησης. Κατά συνέπεια, το χαμηλό επίπεδο ασφάλειας σε συσκευές που βασίζονται στο IoT παρακινεί τους επιτιθέμενους να τις χρησιμοποιήσουν για να δημιουργήσουν το δικό τους δίκτυο, μετατρέποντας το Διαδίκτυο των Πραγμάτων σε ένα Botnet των Πραγμάτων (BoT), έτσι ώστε να ξεκινήσουν μια σειρά Κατανεμημένων Επιθέσεων Άρνησης Υπηρεσιών (DDoS) και Man-in-the-Middle (MitM). Με αυτόν τον τρόπο, μπορούν να υποκλέψουν ευαίσθητες προσωπικές πληροφορίες και να προκαλέσουν αστάθεια στο δίκτυο, θέτοντας εκτός λειτουργίας μεγάλο αριθμό συσκευών. Επομένως, η μετάβαση από το IPv4 στο IPv6 εγείρει μεγάλες προκλήσεις που θα πρέπει να διευθετηθούν προσεκτικά. Σε αυτή τη διδακτορική διατριβή, προτείνονται νέοι ασφαλείς αλγόριθμοι, μοντέλα και αρχιτεκτονικές για τη διασφάλιση της ασφάλειας στον κυβερνοχώρο και της ιδιωτικού απορρήτου στο IoT. Επιπλέον, προτείνονται προηγμένοι αλγόριθμοι δρομολόγησης και ενεργειακά αποδοτικοί (EE) μηχανισμοί συλλογής δεδομένων για τη βελτίωση της διάρκειας ζωής του δικτύου και του ποσοστού παράδοσης πακέτων στα Ασύρματα Δίκτυα Αισθητήρων (WSN) και το IoT. Διερευνάται επίσης ο ρόλος των μη επανδρωμένων εναέριων οχημάτων (UAV), τόσο ως συλλέκτες δεδομένων, όσο και ως μεταδότες ενέργειας για ένα WSN, ενώ νέοι μηχανισμοί μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν παράλληλα προκειμένου τα UAV να συλλέγουν ενέργεια από το περιβάλλον για να τροφοδοτούν τους κόμβους του WSN πιο αποτελεσματικά. Οι μέθοδοι Ανάλυσης Μεγάλων Δεδομένων (BDA) και Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης (AI) μπορούν επίσης να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε διακομιστή cloud, χάρη στις λύσεις Υπολογιστικής Νέφους (CC), για τη βελτίωση τόσο της ενεργειακής απόδοσης, όσο και της ασφάλειας στον κυβερνοχώρο σε τρέχοντα και μελλοντικά περιβάλλοντα IoT.
Η ρεπουμπλικανική θεωρία του ελεύθερου κράτους και του ελεύθερου πολίτη
Authors: Μαρίνος Κωνσταντίνος
Published: August 2022

Η ρεπουμπλικανική θεωρία, από κοινού με τις θεωρίες του κοινωνικού συμβολαίου και του ωφελιμισμού αποτελούν αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της Νεωτερικότητας. Μετά από μία κάμψη των ρεπουμπλικανικών ιδεών, συντελείται τα τελευταία 40 χρόνια η λεγόμενη "ρεπουμπλικανική στροφή", τόσο σε επίπεδο πολιτικής φιλοσοφίας, όσο και θεωρίας. Η στροφή αυτή αποκτά πολυπειθαρχικό χαρακτήρα και επεκτείνεται και στη συνταγματική θεωρία, μέσω της γέφυρας του πολιτικού συνταγματισμού, οι ρίζες του οποίου εντοπίζονται στην εξέλιξη του βρετανικού συνταγματισμού. Η συμβολή αυτή αποπειράται την μετάγγιση της ρεπουμπλικανικής παράδοσης και του πολιτικού συνταγματισμού στην ελληνική συνταγματική θεωρία, μέσα από ένα πλέγμα εγγυήσεων και παραδειγμάτων, με στόχο την αναζωογόνηση και την ανανέωση του συνταγματισμού, σε μία εποχή διαρκών αλλαγών και προκλήσεων, εισάγοντας έναν εναλλακτικό φακό ερμηνείας στη σύγχρονη συνταγματική θεωρία
Η επίδραση της εμβρυϊκής υπολειπόμενης αύξησης (FGR) στην πρωτεϊνική σε καρδιές νεογνών επίμυων - Wistar rats
Authors: Ζουρίδης Ανδρέας
Published: August 2022

Σκοπός: Η εμβρυική υπολειπόμενη αύξηση σχετίζεται με αυξημένη καρδιαγγειακή νοσηρότητα μετά τη γέννηση. Οι αλλαγές στη δομή και τη λειτουργία της καρδιάς ωςαποτέλεσμα των ενδομήτριων βλαπτικών ερεθισμάτων δεν έχει μελετηθεί επαρκώς. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να μελετήσει την επίδραση της ενδομήτριας στέρησης τροφής στοπρωτέωμα της καρδιάς νεογνών που γεννηθήκαν με μειωμένο βάρος (fetal growth restricted -FGR) και φυσιολογικό (non FGR) βάρος.Μέθοδοι: Τη 14η μέρα κύησης, δέκα θηλυκοί επίμυες τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε δύο ομάδες:(a) ομάδα με ελεύθερη πρόσβαση σε τροφή και (b) ομάδα με περιορισμένη σίτιση κατά 50%. Τανεογνά που γεννήθηκαν από τις μητέρες που υπέστησαν στέρηση τροφής χωρίστηκαν βάσει τουβάρους γέννησης σε FGR και non-FGR, ενώ τα νεογνά των μητέρων που είχαν ελεύθερη πρόσβαση σε τροφή αποτέλεσαν την ομάδα ελέγχου. Όλα τα νεογνά θυσιάσθηκαν αμέσως μετάτη γέννηση και οι καρδιές από 11 τυχαία επιλεγμένα άρρενα νεογνά (n = 4 FGR, n = 4 non-FGR, n = 3 ομάδα ελέγχου) υπέστησαν ποσοτική πρωτεωμική ανάλυση.Αποτελέσματα: Συνολικά, ποσοτικοποιήθηκαν 7422 πρωτεΐνες (q < 0.05). Από αυτές,1175 υπό ή υπέρ εκφράζονταν στα FGR και 231 στα non-FGR νεογνά σε σχέση με τα νεογνά τηςομάδας ελέγχου, με 151 από αυτές να είναι κοινές σε FGR και non-FGR. Από τη βιοπληροφορική ανάλυση του πρωτεώματος προκύπτει ότι στα FGR νεογνά υποεκφράζεται το σηματοδοτικό μονοπάτι των ιντεγκρινών και της απελίνης, αναστέλλεται η μυϊκή συστολή και η γλυκόλυση και υπεραντιπροσωπεύεται ένα δίκτυο πρωτεϊνών που σχετίζεται με την κυτταρική επιβίωση καιτον κυτταρικό θάνατο.Συμπέρασμα: Η παρούσα μελέτη δείχνει ότι FGR και non-FGR νεογνά έχουν διακριτό πρωτεωμικό προφίλ, κάτι που αποδεικνύει τη σημασία τόσο του ενδομήτριου περιβάλλοντοςόσο και του βάρους γέννησης στη φυσιολογία και την ανάπτυξη της καρδιάς.
Quantum thermodynamics of moving systems
Authors: Παπαδάτος Νικόλαος
Published: August 2022

Στην παρούσα εργασία αναλύουμε τη θερμοδυναμική ενός κβαντικού συστήματος το οποίο κινείται σε τροχιά με σταθερή ταχύτητα και αλληλεπιδρά με μία ακίνητη θερμική δεξαμενή. Η θερμική δεξαμενή μοντελοποιείται από ένα άμαζο βαθμωτό πεδίο που βρίσκεται σε θερμική κατάσταση. Θεωρούμε δύο διαφορετικές συζεύξεις του κινούμενου συστήματος στη θερμική δεξαμενή, μια σύζευξη τύπου Unruh-DeWitt και μια σύζευξη που περιλαμβάνει τη χρονική παράγωγο του πεδίου. Εξάγουμε την εξίσωση μάστερ για τη εξέλιξη του κινούμενου κβαντικού συστήματος η οποία έχει την ίδια μορφή με την οπτική εξίσωση μάστερ, αλλά με διαφορετικούς συντελεστές που εξαρτώνται από την ταχύτητα. Αυτή η εξίσωση μάστερ έχει μια μοναδική ασυμπτωτική κατάσταση για κάθε τύπο ζεύξης και χαρακτηρίζεται από μια καλά καθορισμένη έννοια της ροής θερμότητας. Η ανάλυση του δεύτερου νόμου της θερμοδυναμικής οδηγεί σε μια εκπληκτική ισοδυναμία: μία κινούμενη θερμική δεξαμενή είναι φυσικά ισοδύναμη με ένα μείγμα θερμικών δεξαμενών σε ηρεμία, η καθεμία με διαφορετική θερμοκρασία. Δεν υπάρχει μοναδικός κανόνας για τον μετασχηματισμό της θερμοκρασίας Lorentz. Προτείνουμε ότι οι μετασχηματισμοί Lorentz των θερμοδυναμικών καταστάσεων είναι καλά καθορισμένοι σε έναν εκτεταμένο θερμοδυναμικό χώρο που προκύπτει ως ένα κυρτό περίβλημα του τυπικού θερμοδυναμικού χώρου.\\Επιπρόσθετα, μελετάμε τον κβαντικό θερμοδυναμικό κύκλο μιας κβαντικής θερμικής μηχανής που εκτελεί τον θερμοδυναμικό κύκλο Otto. Χρησιμοποιούμε τις θερμικές ιδιότητες μιας κινούμενης θερμικής δεξαμενής η οποία κινείται με σχετικιστική ταχύτητα σε σχέση με την ψυχρή δεξαμενή. Ως μέσο εργασίας χρησιμοποιούμε ένα κβαντικό σύστημα δύο επιπέδων και έναν αρμονικό ταλαντωτή που αλληλεπιδρούν με τη θερμή και τη ψυχρή δεξαμενή αντίστοιχα. Στην τρέχουσα εργασία, η κβαντική θερμική μηχανή μελετάται στο όριο των υψηλών και χαμηλών θερμοκρασιών. Χρησιμοποιώντας την κβαντική θερμοδυναμική και τη θεωρία των ανοιχτών κβαντικών συστημάτων υπολογίζουμε το συνολικά παραγόμενο έργο, την απόδοση και την απόδοση στο μέγιστο έργο. Η μέγιστη απόδοση της κβαντικής θερμικής μηχανής Otto εξαρτάται μόνο από την αναλογία των ελάχιστων και μέγιστων συχνοτήτων. Αντίθετα, η απόδοση στη μέγιστη ισχύ και το παραγόμενο έργο μειώνεται με την ταχύτητα αφού η κίνηση της θερμικής δεξανεμής έχει ένα ενεργειακό κόστος για την κβαντική θερμική μηχανή. Επιπλέον, η απόδοση στη μέγιστη ισχύ εξαρτάται από τη φύση του κβαντικού συστήματος.
Biometeorological perspectives and environmental impacts on cardiorespiratory mortality over Europe
Authors: Δημητριάδου Λήδα
Published: August 2022

Σήμερα, οι επιστήμονες κρούουν τον κώδωνα του κινδύνου για την κλιματική αλλαγή, καθώς οι επιπτώσεις της ενισχύονται με επιβλαβείς συνέπειες σε διάφορους τομείς της καθημερινής ζωής. Ως αποτέλεσμα αυτής της έκτακτης κατάστασης, πρέπει να ληφθούν έγκαιρα μέτρα. Η ποιότητα του περιβάλλοντος, καθώς και η ποιότητα και η ποσότητα των περιβαλλοντικών πόρων μειώνονται και τα ακραία καιρικά φαινόμενα συμβαίνουν συχνότερα, με μεγαλύτερες εντάσεις και εμφανείς πλέον επιπτώσεις στην ανθρώπινη υγεία και στο περιβάλλον. Οι ρίζες του προαναφερθέντος προβλήματος πηγάζουν από την υπερεκμετάλλευση του περιβάλλοντος λόγω των ανθρώπινων δραστηριοτήτων. Επιπλέον, η σχέση μεταξύ ανθρώπου και περιβάλλοντος είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένη και είναι σαφές ότι η κλιματική αλλαγή συνιστά νέα απειλή για την υγεία. Στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η ανάλυση με χρήση προηγμένων στατιστικών εργαλείων, τεχνικών και μεθοδολογικών πλαισίων, έτσι ώστε (i) να εντοπιστούν τα κενά της βιβλιογραφίας που αφορούν τα κύματα καύσωνα και τα κύματα ψύχους, (ii) να οριστεί ένα κύμα καύσωνα και ένα κύμα ψύχους λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την περιφέρεια Αττικής (Ελλάδα) ως περίπτωση μελέτης, (iii) να περιγραφούν οι επιπτώσεις στην υγεία των κυμάτων καύσωνα και των κυμάτων ψύχους, (iv) να διερευνηθεί η σχέση μεταξύ θνησιμότητας και κάποιων βιομετεωρολογικών δεικτών, (v) να παρατηρηθεί τι συμβαίνει στην ανθρώπινη θνησιμότητα πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά από ένα ακραίο επεισόδιο, (vi) να συνδεθούν τα κύματα καύσωνα και τα κύματα ψύχους με την ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση, (vii) να προβλεφθεί η μελλοντική θνησιμότητα βάσει κλιματικών μοντέλων και, τέλος, (viii) να συγκριθούν διαφορετικές χώρες ώστε να εξεταστεί λεπτομερώς πώς διαφορετικές κλιματικές συνθήκες και κοινωνικά χαρακτηριστικά επηρεάζουν διαφορετικούς πληθυσμούς.Λέξεις κλειδιά: κλιματική αλλαγή, κύματα καύσωνα, κύματα ψύχους, ανθρώπινη υγεία
Does online mindfulness-based intervention help college students succeed in their job search during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: S.A. Rajalakshmi , C.S. Sowndaram , Ganesh Preetham , Vasu Harsha Vardhini
Published: August 2022

Background: Immediately after graduation from university, college students need to make significant decisions about starting their careers or pursuing higher studies. They are also pressured to meet the expectations and demands of self, others, and the environment. Owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aforementioned challenging decisions may become hazardous stressors for college students. Hence, the researchers intended to assist and assess the college students involved in student placements. The research goal was to investigate the impact of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on the stress and self-esteem of college students involved in student placements. 

Methods: One hundred college students participating in the campus placements were selected using purposive sampling from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University in Coimbatore, India. For evaluation purposes, college students were administered the perceived stress, Rosenberg self-esteem, and Kuppuswamy socio-economic scales. Seventy-five college students were selected for the MBI process and were administered with a pre-intervention and post-intervention without a control group research design.

Results: Statistical analysis including analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Bonferroni post hoc test showed a significant increase in self-esteem and a decrease in the stress of the college students involved in placements.

Conclusions: Thus, the researchers recommend that policymakers create awareness, include MBI in the curriculum, and allocate funds for training ventures in educational institutions to assist college students in their challenging life journeys
Community-level dietary intake of sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium ratio as a global public health problem: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Farapti Farapti , Maulia Putri Hersya , Fadilla Chusnul , Yogiswara Niwanda , Rejeki Purwo Sri , Miftahussurur Muhammad , Majid Hazreen Abdul
Published: August 2022

Background: Widespread adoption of a westernized diet represents a major lifestyle change characterized by substantially higher sodium consumption and lower potassium intake, which is related to cardiovascular morbidity.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis over published studies in accordance with quantifying the dietary intake of sodium and potassium of the universal population across the world. The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were used to find research that pronounced 24-hour urinary sodium or potassium excretion (reference period: 2014–2021). The effect size was estimated using the fixed-effect model; sub-group analysis become accomplished to determine urinary sodium and potassium excretion disaggregated by geographical location. Publication bias became evaluated the usage of graphical funnel plot. Data analysis was performed using STATA 16.

Results: Forty-three studies (n= 62,940) qualified the selection criteria. The mean urinary excretion of sodium and potassium was 156.73 mmol/24h [95% confidence interval (CI), 148.98–164.47] and 48.89 mmol/24 h (95% CI, 43.61–54.17), respectively; the mean urinary sodium/potassium ratio was 3.68 (95% CI, 2.96–4.40).

Conclusions: This updated systematic review highlights excessively high dietary intake of sodium and low intake of potassium at the community level in most parts of the world. The urinary Na/K ratio exceeded the level recommended by the WHO guidelines.
How mission-driven policies challenge traditional research funding systems
Authors: Aagaard Kaare , Norn Maria Theresa , Stage Andreas Kjær
Published: August 2022

For decades, public research funding systems have operated with the dual objectives of fostering research excellence on the one side and research contributing to innovation and growth on the other. These two objectives have to a large extent been pursued and institutionalized separately. Recently, a third objective has become increasingly prominent: to orient public research towards societal challenges through missions. This paper stresses that a precondition for achieving this new objective is successful coordination across the whole value chain of research and a more integrated and holistic approach to the design and implementation of funding policies. So far, limited attention has been paid to the risk that such coordination may be in conflict with dominant rationales underlying the current design of funding systems. In this study, we examine the challenges associated with the institutionalization of this emerging objective from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. The theoretical analysis builds on historical institutionalism and argues that a partial conversion of the funding system as a whole is necessary for the new rationale to succeed. The empirical analysis focuses on two different national settings, the Danish and the Norwegian, and highlights challenges and tensions experienced by funding bodies responsible for operationalizing mission-driven research funding instruments, based on interviews with experts and key funding actors. We conclude that the key institutions in both national systems are attempting to adjust to the increasing political focus on missions through layering rather than processes of conversion, which we argue is necessary for funding organizations to successfully implement mission-driven policies. Finally, implications for the success of mission-driven policies are discussed.
On Brewing Love Potions and Crafting Answers
Authors: Goren-Arzony Sivan
Published: August 2022

This paper studies Naiṣadha in Our Language (Bhāṣānaiṣadhacampu), a 16th-century Maṇipravāḷam retelling of the Nala and Damayantī tale from Kerala. It focuses on two main aspects of this text, both illustrated by different expressive modes: one ‘high,’ pulling towards the polished, dense literature of the Sanskrit style, and the other ‘low,’ pulling towards the performative, the local, and the colloquial. The first is exemplified by reading several verses where Damayantī is struggling to formulate an answer to Nala. Here, I discuss a heightened interest in the depiction of the individual, encapsulated in his or her relationship with and separation from other individuals. The second is illustrated by long prose sections describing men on their way to the wedding. Here, I discuss several allusions to Kerala’s contemporary society and literature, and the expressive possibilities of Maṇipravāḷam prose. The association with Śrīharṣa’s canonical Sanskrit Naiṣadhacaritam serves as a roadmap to some of the intriguing literary selections of this text.
The Many Selves of an Actor
Authors: Shevchenko Dimitry
Published: August 2022

This article explores artistic innovations in Kūṭiyāṭṭam theater through the lens of critique developed in the Naṭāṅkuśa—a polemical treatise composed, perhaps, in the 15th century Kerala. The focus is on the Naṭāṅkuśa’s fierce disapproval of the performance of multiple roles by an actor dressed as one and the same character—for example, switching from the role of Hanumān to that of Rāma, while still in Hanumān’s costume and make-up. The author of the Naṭāṅkuśa utilizes epistemological arguments to demonstrate the impossibility of accommodating more than one character in a single actor’s mind. Nor can a spectator have a stable cognition of the second- order characters. The fact that the author attributes to the opponent— a Kūṭiyāṭṭam performer—a non-dualist theory of cognition, suggests that the theory of Kūṭiyāṭṭam was inspired by Advaita Vedāntin and the non-dualist Śaiva epistemological presuppositions.
ECG of the month
Authors: Regan Martin
Published: August 2022

In this issue's ECG of the month, Martin Regan presents the case of a 76-year-old woman who had just returned to the ward following elective transvenous aortic valve implantation.
Antegrade continence enema stoppers: a pilot study on patient preferences
Authors: Hooker Emily , Martin Benjamin , Gee Oliver , Jester Ingo
Published: August 2022

Background:

Severe constipation can have a major impact on a child's quality of life and that of their families. Forming an antegrade continence enema (ACE) can be a transformational intervention to manage severe symptoms. However, operations can also have unpredictable negative consequences such as stomal stenosis or leaks from the ACE site.

Aim:

To investigate whether the choice of an ACE stopper can increase patient satisfaction and compliance.

Methods:

A service evaluation with a standardised questionnaire was completed to assess quality of life and explore factors that have an impact on the preference for which ACE stopper was used.

Results:

In total, 17 patients completed the evaluation of all three ACE stopper devices. At least 75% of the children improved their stooling pattern with an overall satisfaction rate of 8.5 out of 10. More patients preferred a flexible stopper but no one device was strongly preferred over the others.

Conclusion:

The study shows that an ACE has a positive impact on quality of life. With regards to the choice of ACE stopper, results show that different stoppers suit different individuals, highlighting that there is a place for a choice. This is useful information for healthcare providers who wish to improve compliance and reduce the risk of complications in this patient group.
Axial scanning of dual focus to improve light sheet microscopy
Authors: Dibaji Hassan , Prince Md Nasful Huda , Yi Yating , Zhao Hu , Chakraborty Tonmoy
Published: August 2022

Axially swept light sheet microscopy (ASLM) is an emerging technique that enables isotropic, subcellular resolution imaging with high optical sectioning capability over a large field-of-view (FOV). Due to its versatility across a broad range of immersion media, it has been utilized to image specimens that may range from live cells to intact chemically cleared organs. However, because of its design, the performance of ASLM-based microscopes is impeded by a low detection signal and the maximum achievable frame-rate for full FOV imaging. Here we present a new optical concept that pushes the limits of ASLM further by scanning two staggered light sheets and simultaneously synchronizing the rolling shutter of a scientific camera. For a particular peak-illumination-intensity, this idea can make ASLMs image twice as fast without compromising the detection signal. Alternately, for a particular frame rate our method doubles the detection signal without requiring to double the peak-illumination-power, thereby offering a gentler illumination scheme compared to tradition single-focus ASLM. We demonstrate the performance of our instrument by imaging fluorescent beads and a PEGASOS cleared-tissue mouse brain.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic related stressors on patients with anxiety disorders: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Langhammer Till , Peters Carlotta , Ertle Andrea , Hilbert Kevin , Lueken Ulrike
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures are affecting mental health, especially among patients with pre-existing mental disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the first wave and its aftermath of the pandemic in Germany (March–July) on psychopathology of patients diagnosed with panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific phobia who were on the waiting list or in current treatment at a German university-based outpatient clinic. From 108 patients contacted, forty-nine patients (45.37%) completed a retrospective survey on COVID-19 related stressors, depression, and changes in anxiety symptoms. Patients in the final sample (n = 47) reported a mild depression and significant increase in unspecific anxiety (d = .41), panic symptoms (d = .85) and specific phobia (d = .38), while social anxiety remained unaltered. Pandemic related stressors like job insecurities, familial stress and working in the health sector were significantly associated with more severe depression and increases in anxiety symptoms. High pre-pandemic symptom severity (anxiety/depression) was a risk factor, whereas meaningful work and being divorced/separated were protective factors (explained variance: 46.5% of changes in anxiety and 75.8% in depressive symptoms). In line with diathesis-stress models, patients show a positive association between stressors and symptom load. Health care systems are requested to address the needs of this vulnerable risk group by implementing timely and low-threshold interventions to prevent patients from further deterioration.
Trends and predictors of change of unmet need for family planning among reproductive age women in Ethiopia, based on Ethiopian demographic and health surveys from 2005–2016: Multivariable decomposition analysis
Authors: Tareke Abiyu Abadi , Enyew Ermias Bekele , Endehabtu Berhanu Fikadie , Dubale Abiy Tasew , Eshetu Habitu Birhan , Wubante Sisay Maru
Published: August 2022

Background

By spacing births and preventing unintended pregnancies, family planning is a crucial technique strategy for controlling the fast expansion of the human population. It also improves maternal and child health. women who are thought to be sexually active but who do not use modern contraception methods, who either do not want to have any more children (Limiting) or who want to delay having children for at least two years are considered to have an unmet need for family planning (Spacing).

Objective

This study carried out to determine which socio-demographic factors are the key contributors to the discrepancies in the unmet need for family planning among women of reproductive age between surveys years 2005 and 2016.

Methods

The data for this study arrived from the Ethiopia Demographic Health Surveys in 2005, 2011, and 2016 to investigate trends and Predictors of change of unmet need for family planning among reproductive age women in Ethiopia. Pooled weighted sample of 26,230 (7761 in 2005, 9136 in 2011 and 9,333 in 2016 Ethiopian demographic health surveys) reproductive-age women were used for this study. For the overall trend (2005–2016) multivariable decomposition analysis for non-linear response outcome was calibrated to identify the factors that contributed to the change of unmet need for family planning. The Logit based multivariable decomposition analysis utilizes the output from the logistic regression model to assign the observed change in unmet need for family planning over time into two components. Stata version 16.0 was used to analyze the data.

Result

The percentage of Ethiopian women of reproductive age who still lack access (unmet need) for family planning declined from 39.6% in 2005 to 23.6 percent in 2016. The decomposition analysis revealed that the change of unmet need for family planning was due to change in characteristics and coefficients. The difference in coefficients accounted for around nine out of 10 variations in unmet family planning need. Education level, birth order, and desired number of children were all factors that changed over the course of the last 11 years in relation to the unmet need for family planning.

Conclusion

Between 2005 and 2016, there were remarkable changes in unmet need for family planning. Women with birth orders of five and up, women with secondary education, and women who wanted fewer children overall were the main causes of the change in unmet need for family planning.
Comprehensive evaluation of high-oleic rapeseed (Brassica napus) based on quality, resistance, and yield traits: A new method for rapid identification of high-oleic acid rapeseed germplasm
Authors: Chang Tao , Wu Junjie , Wu Xuepeng , Yao Mingyao , Zhao Dongfang , Guan Chunyun , Guan Mei
Published: August 2022

To scientifically evaluate and utilize high-oleic acid rape germplasm resources and cultivate new varieties suitable for planting in the Hunan Province, 30 local high-oleic acid rape germplasms from Hunan were used as materials. The 12 personality indices of quality, yield, and resistance were comprehensively evaluated by variability, correlation, principal component, and cluster analyses. The results of variability showed that except for oleic acid, the lowest coefficient of variation was oil content, which was 0.06. Correlation analysis showed that oil content was positively correlated with main traits such as yield per plant and oleic acid, which could be used in the early screening of high-oleic rape germplasm. The results of principal component analysis showed that the 12 personality indicators were integrated into four principal components, and the cumulative contribution rate was 62.487%. The value of comprehensive coefficient ‘F’ was positively correlated with the first, second, and fourth principal components and negatively correlated with the third principal component. Cluster analysis showed that 30 high-oleic rape germplasms could be divided into four categories consisting of 9 (30%), 6 (20%), 7 (23%), and 8 (27%) high-oleic rape germplasms, each with the characteristics of "high disease resistance", "high yield", "high protein", and "more stability". This study not only provides a reference basis for high-oleic rape breeding but also provides a theoretical basis for their early screening.
Safe abortion service utilization and associated factors among insecurely housed women who experienced abortion in southwest Ethiopia, 2021: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Alemu Kidist , Birhanu Solomon , Fekadu Leta , Endale Fitsum , Tamene Aiggan , Habte Aklilu
Published: August 2022

Background

Insecurely housed women are more vulnerable to physical and mental health issues than the general population, making access to a safe abortion more difficult. Though Ethiopia has a penal code regarding safe abortion care, there has been a dearth of studies investigating the safe abortion care practice among those insecurely housed women. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the magnitude of safe abortion service uptake and its determinants among insecurely housed women who experienced abortion in southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in three towns in southwest Ethiopia from May 20-July 20, 2021. A total of 124 street-involved women were included in the study. They were selected by snowball sampling technique and data was collected through a face-to-face interview. The data were entered into Epi-data Version 3.1 and exported to SPSS 21 for analysis. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association of independent variables with the outcome variable. The level of significance was determined at a p-value <0.05. To determine whether the model is powerful enough in identifying any significant effects that do exist on the dependent variables, a power analysis was performed via a Post-hoc Statistical Power Calculator for Multiple Regressions.

Results

The magnitude of safe abortion service utilization among insecurely housed women was found to be 27.9% [95% CI: 20.1, 34.2]. Average daily income [AOR:3.83, 95% CI: 1.38, 10.60], knowledge of safe abortion services [AOR:3.94; 95% CI: 1.27,9.24], and affordability of the service [AOR: 3.27; 95% CI:1.87, 8.41] were identified as significant predictors of safe abortion service among insecurely housed women.

Conclusion and recommendation

The magnitude of safe abortion service utilization among insecurely housed women in the study area was low. The respective town health offices and health care providers at the facility level should strive to improve awareness about safe abortion service’s legal framework, and its availability. In addition, a concerted effort is needed from local administrators, NGOs, and healthcare managers to engage those insecurely housed women in income-generating activities that allow them to access safe abortion and other reproductive and maternal health services.
Association between out-patient visits and air pollution in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Lessons from a unique situation involving a large data set showing high seasonal levels of air pollution
Authors: Varapongpisan Tunyathron , Frank Till D. , Ingsrisawang Lily
Published: August 2022

Chiang Mai is one of the most known cities of Northern Thailand, representative for various cities in the East and South-East Asian region exhibiting seasonal smog crises. While a few studies have attempted to address smog crises effects on human health in that geographic region, research in this regard is still in its infancy. We exploited a unique situation based on two factors: large pollutant concentration variations due to the Chiang Mai smog crises and a relatively large sample of out-patient visits. About 216,000 out-patient visits in the area of Chiang Mai during the period of 2011 to 2014 for upper (J30-J39) and lower (J44) respiratory tract diseases were evaluated with respect to associations with particulate matter (PM10), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations using single-pollutant and multiple-pollutants Poisson regression models. All three pollutants were found to be associated with visits due to upper respiratory tract diseases (with relative risks RR = 1.023 at cumulative lag 05, 95% CI: 1.021–1.025, per 10 μg/m3 PM10 increase, RR = 1.123 at lag 05, 95% CI: 1.118–1.129, per 10 ppb O3 increase, and RR = 1.110 at lag 05, 95% CI: 1.102–1.119, per 10 ppb NO2 increase). Likewise, all three pollutants were found to be associated with visits due to lower respiratory tract diseases (with RR = 1.016 at lag 06, 95% CI: 1.015–1.017, per 10 μg/m3 PM10 increase, RR = 1.073 at lag 06, 95% CI: 1.070–1.076, per 10 ppb O3 increase, and RR = 1.046 at lag 06, 95% CI: 1.040–1.051, per 10 ppb NO2 increase). Multi-pollutants modeling analysis identified O3 as a relatively independent risk factor and PM10-NO2 pollutants models as promising two-pollutants models. Overall, these results demonstrate the adverse effects of all three air pollutants on respiratory morbidity and call for air pollution reduction and control.
The effect of early oral postoperative feeding on the recovery of intestinal motility after gastrointestinal surgery: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Canzan Federica , Caliaro Arianna , Cavada Maria Luisa , Mezzalira Elisabetta , Paiella Salvatore , Ambrosi Elisa
Published: August 2022

Background

Given the ever-shorter length of hospital stay after surgical procedures, nowadays it is more important than ever to study interventions that may have an impact on surgical patients’ wellbeing. According to the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols) program, early feeding must be considered one of the key components to facilitate early recovery while improving outcomes and patients’ overall experiences. To date, the international literature has reported that early postoperative feeding compared with traditional (or late) timing is safe; nevertheless, small clinical outcomes effects has been reported, also for recovery of gastrointestinal function. Therefore, the effectiveness of early postoperative feeding to reduce postoperative ileus duration remains still debated.

Objective

To analyse the effects of early versus delayed oral feeding (liquids and food) on the recovery of intestinal motility after gastrointestinal surgery.

Search methods

Pubmed, Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the ClincalTrials.gov register will be searched to identify the RCTs of interest.

Study inclusion

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of early postoperative versus late oral feeding on major postoperative outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery will be included.

Data collection and analysis

Two review authors will independently screen titles and abstracts to determine the initially selected studies’ inclusion. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion and consulting a third review author. The research team members will then proceed with the methodological evaluation of the studies and their eligibility for inclusion in the systematic review.
A systematic review of evidence on employment transitions and weight change by gender in ageing populations
Authors: Tam Alexander C. T. , Steck Veronica A. , Janjua Sahib , Liu Ting Yu , Murphy Rachel A. , Zhang Wei , Conklin Annalijn I.
Published: August 2022

Background

Becoming unemployed is associated with poorer health, including weight gain. Middle- and older-age adults are a growing segment of workforces globally, but they are also more vulnerable to changes to employment status, especially during economic shocks. Expected workforce exits over the next decade may exacerbate both the obesity epidemic and the economic burden of obesity. This review extends current knowledge on economic correlates of health to assess whether employment transitions impact body weight by sex/gender among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods

Eight bibliometric databases were searched between June and July 2021, supplemented by hand-searches, with no restriction on publication date or country. Longitudinal studies, or reviews, were eligible when examining body weight as a function of employment status change in adults ≥50 years. Data extraction and quality appraisal used predefined criteria; reported findings were analysed by narrative synthesis.

Results

We screened 6,001 unique abstracts and identified 12 articles that met inclusion criteria. All studies examined retirement; of which two also examined job-loss. Overall, studies showed that retirement led to weight gain or no difference in weight change compared to non-retirees; however, reported effects were not consistent for either women or men across studies or for both women and men within a study. Reported effects also differed by occupation: weight gain was more commonly observed among retirees from physical occupations but not among retirees from sedentary occupations. Few studies assessed the role of health behaviours; sleep was the least studied. Most studies were medium quality.

Conclusions

Existing studies do not provide a clear enough picture of how employment transitions affect body weight. Firm conclusions on the impact of employment transitions on weight cannot be made without further high-quality evidence that considers the role of gender, job-type, other health behaviours, and other transitions, like job-loss.
Double burden of malnutrition among migrants and refugees in developed countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Ankomah Alex , Byaruhanga Judith , Woolley Emma , Boamah Sheila , Akombi-Inyang Blessing
Published: August 2022

Migrants and refugees living in high income countries (HICs) have an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to malnutrition at different stages over their life course. This systematic review aims to examine the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among migrants and refugees in developed countries. This review was informed by the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed observational studies that focused on the DBM in refugee or migrant populations; and were written in English with full texts available and accessible. A combination of keywords was used to search 8 electronic bibliographic databases including Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed, and web of science. There is a paucity of research into the DBM among migrants and refugees residing in HICs. Of a total of 2344 articles retrieved from eight databases, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. All included studies showed the co-existence of some form of undernutrition and overnutrition within the same population. Overnutrition (overweight and obesity) in the studied populations ranged from 11.1% to 42% while undernutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) ranged from 0.3% to 17%. Standard measures for anthropometry as determined by World Health Organization (WHO) were used for data collection in all included studies. A piloted form informed by the Cochrane Public Health Group Data Extraction and Assessment Template was used in the extraction of data from retrieved studies. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the study assessment tools of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and showed that all studies were of fair quality. Interventions that simultaneously target more than one form of malnutrition especially amongst migrant and refugee populations must be implemented for policy solutions to be effective. This review has been registered by the PROSPERO international prospective registry for systematic reviews, reference CRD42020192416.
Educational approaches within US art teacher education: The status of ecological and environmental education
Authors: Bertling Joy G. , Moore Tara C.
Published: August 2022

Over the preceding half century, ecological and environmental art pedagogies have been put forth within the field of art education. In this study, we sought to understand their contemporary emphasis in US art teacher education and how that emphasis compares with other educational approaches. Through surveying art teacher educators and pre-service art teachers, we found the emphasis of ecological/environmental art education was the lowest of the educational approaches surveyed. In contrast, multicultural education, visual culture and social justice were some of the highest-ranked approaches. The gap in emphasis, between these approaches and ecological/environmental education, represents an opportunity to draw attention to their shared characteristics. We recommend art teacher education adopt an ecofeminist orientation to facilitate its transition towards intersectionality in pedagogy, so it can effectively prepare pre-service teachers to engage with social, cultural and ecological content and issues through art curriculum and pedagogy.
Intraflagellar transport 20 cilia-dependent and cilia-independent signaling pathways in cell development and tissue homeostasis
Authors: Jin Fu-Chang , Zhou Ming-hui , Chen Jing-Jing , Lin Yi , Zhang Qi-Wei , Xu Qiu-Xian , Zhang Chang-Chun , Zhang Zhen-Gang
Published: August 2022

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is an essential condition for ciliogenesis. The primary cilia protrude like antennae and act as chemical or mechanical sensory organelles that coordinate specific receptor localization and signal transduction. IFT20 is the smallest molecule in IFT complex B, which is located in both the cilia and the Golgi complex. Recent studies have shown that IFT20 is a key molecule in multiple signaling pathways. Importantly, in the function of IFT20, signal transduction is not restricted to cilia, but is also involved in non-ciliary functions. Here we summarize current knowledge regarding IFT20-mediated signaling pathways and their relationship with cell development and tissue homeostasis, and analyse the cilia-dependent and cilia-independent mechanisms of IFT20 coordinated signaling pathways and potential crosstalk between the mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on IFT20 coordinates signaling mechanisms in cell development and tissue homeostasis.
Ca2+ dependent regulation of sinoatrial node pacemaking
Authors: Tóth Noémi
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Normal heart rhythm depends on a precise and regular activity of the sinoatrial node (SAN) pacemaker cells. The exact electrophysiological mechanism of spontaneous cardiac pacemaking is not fully understood. Recent results suggest a tight cooperation between the intracellular Ca2+ handling (‘Ca2+ clock’) and surface membrane ion channels (‘membrane clock’) which is referred as the coupled clock mechanism. One of the suggested key players of this crosstalk is the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX), however direct evidence was unavailable so far, due to the lack of selective inhibitor. Purpose: Our aim was to investigate the robustness and flexibility of SAN automaticity via analysing the role of different Ca2+ dependent currents such as NCX and Ca2+ activated K++ current (IK(Ca)) in the mechanism of cardiac pacemaking. We also studied the effect of SAN frequency on the development of ventricular action potential (AP) and Ca2+ transient (CaT) alternans. Methods: APs were measured from both SAN and ventricular papillary muscle preparations by conventional microelectrode technique. Ion currents combined with fluorescent Ca2+ tracking were recorded by whole cell and perforated configuration of patch clamp technique on isolated rabbit SAN cells and dog ventricular cardiomyocytes. Results: The cycle length (CL) lengthening effect of NCX inhibition could be augmented when the funny current (If) was previously inhibited and vice-versa the effect of If reduction was facilitated when the Ca2+ handling was suppressed. Functioning reverse NCX resulted in larger Ca2+ transient amplitude with enhanced SR Ca2+ content. Spontaneous AP frequency increased as a consequence of active reverse NCX. Ca2+ activated K+ current had no role in SAN pacemaking. Ventricular action potential alternans showed strong rate-dependence having clear frequency threshold. Conclusion: Our results provide the first pharmacological evidence regarding the role of both forward and reverse NCX current in pacemaker mechanism. Experimental and modelling data support a close cooperation between If and NCX establishing a "pacemaker reserve" mechanism. The reverse NCX activity may provide additional Ca2+ influx that could increase SR Ca2+ content providing a „Ca2+ reserve” mechanism. This „dual” function of NCX may provide a safety margin of pacemaking and largely increases the robustness (i.e. fail-safe) of spontaneous automaticity. Excessive SAN pacemaking induces ventricular AP and Ca2+ transient alternans as a result of mutual crosstalk of surface membrane ion channels and intracellular Ca2+.
The Effect of Intellectual Capital Investment, Corporate Governance, and Barriers to Entry on the Intellectual Capital Performance of Banking Companies
Authors: Hakiki Rosanda Asmara , Herlina Erida
Published: August 2022

Intellectual capital is an important element in determining the performance of banking companies. This study aimed to examine the effect of intellectual capital investment, good corporate governance (proxied by foreign ownership and institutional ownership), and barriers to entry on intellectual capital performance. This research was conducted on conventional banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2019. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling method based on specific criteria. Eighty-nine banking companies met the criteria. Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that intellectual capital investment and barriers to entry have a negative effect on intellectual capital performance. On the other hand, foreign ownership and institutional ownership have no significant effect on intellectual capital performance. These findings recommend that banking companies pay attention to efficiency in investment in human resource development to improve bank performance. Inefficient investment in human resources can lead to a decrease in intellectual capital performance. Banking companies also need to continuously innovate service products to maintain their competitiveness and noÂ longer rely on fixed asset investment as an element of a barrier to entry.