bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Applying Robot‐Assisted Task‐Oriented Training Using Human‐Robot Collaborative Interaction Force Control Technology on Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patients: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Qu Qingming , Lin Yingnan , He Zhijie , Fu Jianghong , Zou Fei , Jiang Zewu , Guo Fengxian , Jia Jie
Published: July 2021

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and the primary cause of acquired disability worldwide. Many stroke survivors have difficulty using their upper limbs, which have important functional roles in the performance of daily life activities. Consequently, the independence and quality of life of most stroke patients are reduced. Robot‐assisted therapy is an effective intervention for improving the upper limb function of individuals with stroke. Human‐robot collaborative interaction force control technology is critical for improving the flexibility and followability of the robot’s motion, thereby improving rehabilitation training outcomes. However, there are few reports on the effect of robot‐assisted rehabilitative training on upper limb function. We applied this technology using a robot to assist patients with task‐oriented training. Posttreatment changes in Fugl‐Meyer and modified Barthel index (MBI) scores were assessed to determine whether this technology could improve the upper limb function of stroke patients. One healthy adult and five stroke patients, respectively, participated in functional and clinical experiments. The MBI and Fugl‐Meyer scores of the five patients in the clinical experiments showed significant improvements after the intervention. The experimental results indicate that human‐robot collaborative interaction force control technology is valuable for improving robots’ properties and patients’ recovery. This trial was registered in the Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR2000038676).
Transient State Modelling and Experimental Investigation of the Thermal Behavior of a Vapor Compression System
Authors: Sanama Conrad , Xia Xiaohua
Published: July 2021

The main objective of this work is to establish a detailed modelling technique to predict the refrigerant conditions such as pressure and enthalpy of a VC system. The transient state modelling techniques suggested in many research works are usually not easy to reproduce due to lack of detailed methodology and the multitude of analytical or computational schemes that could not be assessed objectively. This work has addressed this issue by introducing a modelling method developed from conservation equations of mass and energy represented with Navier–Stokes equations. A finite volume scheme has been used to discretize the governing equations along the heat exchanger models. Transient state modelling matrices have been established after dividing the condenser as well as the evaporator into 3 andncontrol volumes. The model validation with experiments was satisfactory. The model outputs such as the refrigerant pressure across the condenser and evaporator are in agreement with experiments. The proposed modelling technique could be adopted to predict optimal parameters during start-up. The modelling results could be used to design VC systems with optimal performance.
Isolated Cardiac Sarcoidosis with High-Grade Heart Block: Utilization of New Diagnostic Guidelines
Authors: Petersen Matthew R. , Perry Christopher , Nickels Rachel
Published: July 2021

Cardiac sarcoidosis can present with heart failure and conduction disease. This is a case of a 58-year-old male who presented for dyspnea, edema, and varying degrees of heart block. Using new updated diagnostic guidelines and multimodal cardiac imaging, he was diagnosed with isolated cardiac sarcoidosis.
GEN-1 in Combination with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Phase I Dose-escalation Study
Authors: Thaker Premal H. , Bradley William H. , Leath Charles A. , Gunderson Jackson Camille , Borys Nicholas , Anwer Khursheed , Musso Lauren , Matsuzaki Junko , Bshara Wiam , Odunsi Kunle , Alvarez Ronald D.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

GEN-1 (phIL-12-005/PPC), an IL12 plasmid formulated with polyethyleneglycol-polyethyleneimine cholesterol lipopolymer, has preclinical activity when combined with platinum-taxane intravenous chemotherapy and administered intraperitoneally in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) models. OVATION I was a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label phase IB trial to evaluate the safety, preliminary antitumor activity, and immunologic response to GEN-1 in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) carboplatin-paclitaxel in patients with advanced EOC.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 18 patients with newly diagnosed stage IIIC and IV EOC were enrolled. A standard 3+3 dose-escalation design tested four GEN-1 doses (36, 47, 61, 79 mg/m2) to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). GEN-1 was administered in eight weekly intraperitoneal infusions starting at cycle 1 week 2 in combination with three 21-day cycles of NACT carboplatin AUC 6 and weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2.

Results:

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events at least possibly related were nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain/cramping, anorexia, diarrhea, and vomiting. Eight patients experience grade 4 neutropenia attributed to NACT. No DLTs occurred. A total of 14 patients were evaluable for response and 12 (85.7%) had radiological response (two complete response and 10 partial response) prior to debulking; nine were R0 at debulking and one patient had complete pathologic response. IL12 and its downstream cytokine, IFNγ, increased in peritoneal washings but not as much in blood. Increased levels of myeloid dendritic cells and T-effector memory cells in peritoneal fluid, plus elevated CD8+ T cells and reduced immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment were found. A median time to treatment failure of 18.4 months (95% confidence interval, 9.2–24.5) was observed in the intention-to-treat population.

Conclusions:

Adding GEN-1 to standard NACT is safe, appears active, and has an impact on the tumor microenvironment.
Pediatric Tuberculosis Disease during Years of High Refugee Arrivals: A 6-Year National Prospective Surveillance Study
Authors: Fritschi Nora , Schmidt Axel J. , Hammer Jürg , Ritz Nicole ,   Swiss pediatric surveillance unit
Published: July 2021

Background: In Europe, surveillance and monitoring of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains important, particularly in the light of migration in recent years. The aim of the study was to evaluate incidence rates of childhood TB and detailed diagnostic pathways and treatment. Methods: Data were collected through the Swiss Pediatric Surveillance Unit (SPSU) from December 2013 to November 2019. Monthly ­notifications are obtained from the 33 pediatric hospitals in the SPSU, and a detailed questionnaire was sent out upon notification. Inclusion criteria were children and adolescents aged up to 15 years with culture- or molecular-confirmed TB disease or for whom a treatment with ≥3 antimycobacterial drugs had been initiated. Data were compared with age-matched notification data from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Results: Of the 172 cases notified to SPSU, a detailed questionnaire was returned for 161 (93%) children, of which 139 met the inclusion criteria. Reasons for exclusion were age >15 years, double reporting, and not fulfilling the criteria for TB disease. During the same time period, 172 pediatric TB cases were reported to the FOPH, resulting in an incidence of 2.1 per 100,000, ranging from 1.4 to 2.8 per year, without a clear trend over time. In the 64 (46.0%) foreign-born children, incidence rates were higher and peaked in 2016, with 13.7 per 100,000 (p = 0.018). The median interval between arrival in Switzerland and TB diagnosis was 5 (IQR 1–21) months, and 80% were diagnosed within 24 months of arrival. In 58% of the cases, TB disease was confirmed by culture or molecular assays. Age >10 years, presence of fever, or weight loss were independent factors associated with confirmed TB. Conclusion: The annual pediatric TB incidence rate only varied among foreign-born children and was highest in 2016 when refugee influx peaked in Europe. Importantly, most foreign-born children with TB were diagnosed within 2 years after arrival in Switzerland. Thus, the early period after arrival in Switzerland is associated with a higher risk of TB disease in children, and this should be considered for screening guidance in refugees.
Atherosclerosis Impairs Naive CD4 T-Cell Responses via Disruption of Glycolysis
Authors: Gaddis Dalia E. , Padgett Lindsey E. , Wu Runpei , Nguyen Anh , McSkimming Chantel , Dinh Huy Q. , Araujo Daniel J. , Taylor Angela M. , McNamara Coleen A. , Hedrick Catherine C.
Published: July 2021

Objective:

CD4 T cells are important regulators of atherosclerotic progression. The metabolic profile of CD4 T cells controls their signaling and function, but how atherosclerosis affects T-cell metabolism is unknown. Here, we sought to determine the impact of atherosclerosis on CD4 T-cell metabolism and the contribution of such metabolic alterations to atheroprogression.

Approach and Results:

Using PCR arrays, we profiled the expression of metabolism genes in CD4 T cells from atherosclerotic apolipoprotein-E knockout mice fed a Western diet. These cells exhibited dysregulated expression of genes critically involved in glycolysis and fatty acid degradation, compared with those from animals fed a standard laboratory diet. We examined how T-cell metabolism was changed in either Western diet–fed apolipoprotein-E knockout mice or samples from patients with cardiovascular disease by measuring glucose uptake, activation, and proliferation in CD4 T cells. We found that naive CD4 T cells from Western diet–fed apolipoprotein-E knockout mice failed to uptake glucose and displayed impaired proliferation and activation, compared with CD4 T cells from standard laboratory diet–fed animals. Similarly, we observed that naive CD4 T-cell frequencies were reduced in the circulation of human subjects with high cardiovascular disease compared with low cardiovascular disease. Naive T cells from high cardiovascular disease subjects also showed reduced proliferative capacity.

Conclusions:

These results highlight the dysfunction that occurs in CD4 T-cell metabolism and immune responses during atherosclerosis. Targeting metabolic pathways within naive CD4 T cells could thus yield novel therapeutic approaches for improving CD4 T-cell responses against atheroprogression.
Diabetes Impaired Ischemia-Induced PDGF (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor) Signaling Actions and Vessel Formation Through the Activation of Scr Homology 2-Containing Phosphatase-1
Authors: Mercier Clément , Brazeau Tristan , Lamoureux Jérémy , Boisvert Elizabeth , Robillard Stéphanie , Breton Valérie , Paré Martin , Guay Andréanne , Lizotte Farah , Despatis Marc-Antoine , Geraldes Pedro
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Critical limb ischemia is a major complication of diabetes characterized by insufficient collateral vessel development and proper growth factor signaling unresponsiveness. Although mainly deactivated by hypoxia, phosphatases are important players in the deregulation of proangiogenetic pathways. Previously, SHP-1 (Scr homology 2-containing phosphatase-1) was found to be associated with the downregulation of growth factor actions in the diabetic muscle. Thus, we aimed to gain further understanding of the impact of SHP-1 on smooth muscle cell (SMC) function under hypoxic and diabetic conditions.

Approach and Results:

Despite being inactivated under hypoxic conditions, high glucose level exposure sustained SHP-1 phosphatase activity in SMC and increased its interaction with PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor)-β, thus reducing PDGF proangiogenic actions. Overexpression of an inactive form of SHP-1 fully restored PDGF-induced proliferation, migration, and signaling pathways in SMC exposed to high glucose and hypoxia. Nondiabetic and diabetic mice with deletion of SHP-1 specifically in SMC were generated. Ligation of the femoral artery was performed, and blood flow was measured for 4 weeks. Blood flow reperfusion, vascular density and maturation, and limb survival were all improved while vascular apoptosis was attenuated in diabetic SMC-specific SHP-1 null mice as compared to diabetic mice.

Conclusions:

Diabetes and high glucose level exposure maintained SHP-1 activity preventing hypoxia-induced PDGF actions in SMC. Specific deletion of SHP-1 in SMC partially restored blood flow reperfusion in the diabetic ischemic limb. Therefore, local modulation of SHP-1 activity in SMC could represent a potential therapeutic avenue to improve the proangiogenic properties of SMC under ischemia and diabetes.
Coronary Evaluation Before Heart Valvular Surgery by Using Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Versus Invasive Coronary Angiography
Authors: Ren Xinshuang , Liu Kun , Zhang Heng , Meng Ying , Li Haojie , Sun Xiaogang , Sun Hansong , Song Yunhu , Wang Liqing , Wang Wei , Wang Chuangshi , Wang Yang , Hou Zhihui , Gao Yang , Yin Weihua , Zheng Zhe , Lu Bin
Published: July 2021

Background

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive, less expensive, low‐radiation alternative to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). ICA is recommended for coronary evaluation before heart valvular surgery, and the supporting evidence for CCTA is insufficient. Our study is a single‐center, prospective cohort study designed to evaluate the feasibility of CCTA instead of ICA in detection of coronary artery disease before surgery.

Methods and Results

Heart valvular surgery candidates were consecutively enrolled between April 2017 and December 2018. Nine hundred fifty‐eight patients in the CCTA group underwent CCTA primarily, and those with ≥50% coronary stenosis or uncertain diagnosis underwent subsequent ICA. One thousand five hundred twenty‐five patients in the ICA group underwent ICA directly before surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafting decision was made by surgeons according to CCTA or ICA results. Most of the patients (78.8%) in the CCTA group avoided invasive angiography. Thirty‐day mortality (0.7% versus 0.9%,
P
=0.821), myocardial infarction (6.4% versus 6.9%,
P
=0.680 ), and low cardiac output syndrome (4.2% versus 2.8%,
P
=0.085) were similar in the CCTA and ICA groups. Median duration of follow‐up was 19.3 months (interquartile range, 14.2–30.0 months), cumulative rates of mortality (2.6% versus 2.6%,
P
=0.882) and major adverse cardiac events (9.6% versus 9.0%,
P
=0.607) showed no difference between the 2 groups. Coronary evaluation expense was lower in the CCTA group ($149.6 versus $636.0,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

The strategy of using CCTA as a doorkeeper in coronary evaluation before heart valvular surgery showed noninferiority in identification of candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting and postoperative safety.
Trends in Cardiovascular Mortality Related to Atrial Fibrillation in the United States, 2011 to 2018
Authors: Tanaka Yoshihiro , Shah Nilay S. , Passman Rod , Greenland Philip , Lloyd‐Jones Donald M. , Khan Sadiya S.
Published: July 2021

Background

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to increase and is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To inform prevention strategies aimed at reducing the burden of AF, we sought to quantify trends in cardiovascular mortality related to AF in the United States.

Methods and Results

We performed serial cross‐sectional analyses of national death certificate data for cardiovascular mortality related to AF, whereby cardiovascular disease was listed as underlying cause of death and AF as multiple cause of death among adults aged 35 to 84 years using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide‐Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research. We calculated age‐adjusted mortality rates per 100 000 population and examined trends over time, estimating average annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Subgroup analyses were performed by race‐sex and across 2 age groups (younger: 35–64 years; older: 65–84 years). A total of 276 373 cardiovascular deaths related to AF were identified in the United States between 2011 and 2018 in decedents aged 35 to 84 years. Age‐adjusted mortality rate increased from 18.0 (95% CI, 17.8–18.2) to 22.3 (95% CI, 22.0–22.4) per 100 000 population between 2011 and 2018. The increase in age‐adjusted mortality rate (average annual percentage change) between 2011 and 2018 was greater among younger decedents (7.4% per year [95% CI, 6.8%–8.0%]) compared with older decedents (3.0% per year [95% CI, 2.6%–3.4%]).

Conclusions

Cardiovascular deaths related to AF are increasing, especially among younger adults, and warrant greater attention to prevention earlier in the life course.
Association of Proportional Recovery After Stroke With Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Lin Chen , Martin Kimberly , Arevalo Yurany A. , Harvey Richard L. , Prabhakaran Shyam
Published: July 2021

Background and Purpose:

No data exists on whether proportional recovery (PR) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains. We evaluated whether PR was associated with domain-specific HRQOL scores at 3 months after ischemic stroke.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with ischemic stroke between January 2017 and June 2018. Impaired strength was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (range, 0–66 points) and Motricity Index (range, 0–100 points) during index hospitalization and 3 months. Both measures are well-validated and reliable in patients with stroke to assesses motor functioning. PR (defined as 70% of difference between initial score and maximum possible recovery) was calculated from the initial measurements. HRQOL was measured using Neuro-QOL domains: upper extremity, depression, and cognition domains. PR was evaluated with HRQOL domains using binomial logistic regression.

Results:

Final analysis included 84 patients (mean age 67.8±16.4 years; 44% male; 51.2% White). For both Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity and Motricity Index, the PR threshold was met for 48.8% of patients. Failure to meet Motricity Index PR was only associated with increased odds of HRQOL depression impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 11.8 [95% CI, 1.23–112.7]). Failure to meet Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity PR threshold was not associated with HRQOL impairment after adjustment.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that reaching the PR threshold provides poor discrimination of HRQOL. Despite not meeting expected PR thresholds, patients can still maintain un-impaired HRQOL, suggesting other factors play a role in preserved HRQOL.
Construction and Performance Applications of an Augmented Violin: TRAVIS II
Authors: Ko Chantelle , Oehlberg Lora
Published: July 2021

We present the second iteration of a Touch-Responsive Augmented Violin Interface System, called TRAVIS II, and two compositions that demonstrate its expressivity. TRAVIS II is an augmented acoustic violin with touch sensors integrated into its 3-D printed fingerboard that track left-hand finger gestures in real time. The fingerboard has four strips of conductive PLA filament that produce an electric signal when fingers press down on each string. Although these sensors are physically robust, they are mechanically assembled and thus easy to replace if damaged. The performer can also trigger presets via four sensors attached to the body of the violin. The instrument is completely wireless, giving the performer the freedom to move throughout the performance space. Although the sensing fingerboard is installed in place of the traditional fingerboard, all other electronics can be removed from the augmented instrument, maintaining the aesthetics of a traditional violin. Our design allows violinists to naturally create music for interactive performance and improvisation without requiring new instrumental techniques. The first author composed two compositions to highlight TRAVIS II: “Dream State” and “Kindred Dichotomy.” Both of these compositions involve improvisation in their creative process and include interactive visuals. In this article we describe the design of the instrument, experiments leading to the sensing fingerboard, performative applications of the instrument, and compositional considerations for the resultant pieces.
An Analysis of “nyx” (2017), a Computer Music Work by
Kerry Hagan
Authors: Larrieu Maxence
Published: July 2021

Kerry Hagan composed “nyx,” a real-time computer music work, in 2017. The key inspiration of “nyx” is noise, which Hagan achieves through chaos theory. In Greek mythology, Nyx was born from Chaos, and she is the deity of the night. In the same way, two key materials of the work are chaotic synthesis and, at a higher level, the use of several random algorithms. To analyze “nyx,” I apply a specific methodology that considers both the sound and the computer code. In fact, I consider code as a medium through which Hagan has realized her musical ideas, that is to say, seeing code as a support for musical ideas, and not only as a computing object.

This article has two main sections: The first describes Hagan's techniques through Pure Data code, and in the second the music is analyzed in its canonical form, describing the structure of the work. Finally, I argue that “nyx” involves many levels of noise, from the sound design, to the use of random algorithms, and lastly to the inspiration from Greek mythology to structure the work.
Xenophon’s Funeral Oration
Authors: Parks Mitchell H.
Published: July 2021

Memorabilia 3.5, a conversation between Socrates and Pericles the Younger, not only engages with the topoi of the epitaphios logos, but even alludes to Thucydides’ version, attributed to Pericles, and to Plato’s version in the Menexenus, attributed to Aspasia. The allusions range from verbal echoes to Xenophon’s choice of Pericles the Younger, son of Pericles and Aspasia, as Socrates’ interlocutor. This chapter of the Memorabilia, which is central to the structure of the work as a whole, represents Xenophon’s contribution to and correction of the epitaphios as a genre.
The Non-Masoretic Hebrew Vorlage of the Old Greek Ezekiel (LXX967/LXXB), Other Non-Masoretic and Proto-Masoretic Ezekiel Texts: Evidence from Quotations of and Allusions to Ezekiel in Second Temple Judaism
Authors: Finsterbusch Karin
Published: July 2021

In Second Temple Jewish Literature, more than a hundred quotations of and allusions to Ezekiel are preserved. Although only a few of them are text-critically relevant, these cases may help to shed light on the complex textual history of the book. In this article, eleven cases of quotations and allusions are analyzed in detail: Six cases should be regarded as evidence for the existence of the non-masoretic Hebrew Vorlage of the Old Greek Ezekiel. In two of these cases, non-aligned textual elements appear as well. Taken together with two non-aligned cases in the Damascus Document, these quotations and allusions substantiate the assumption that even more non-masoretic Ezekiel texts were in use until the beginning of the first century BCE—alongside proto-masoretic Ezekiel texts, which are attested by three cases of quotations and allusions.
A Balancing Act? Inter-Ministerial Co-operation in the Work of the Cultural Attachés
Authors: Kizlari Dimitra , Valenza Domenico
Published: July 2021

To date, the role of cultural attachés in foreign policy has not been the subject of scholarly research, despite the sharp rise in interest in the field of cultural diplomacy. The present study is a comparative analysis seeking to map the ecosystem in which cultural attachés are embedded with the aim to develop a first-time narrative about their role. Interviews with practitioners from Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden indicate that the post of the cultural attaché is a field of responsibility primarily for two state actors. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture both have a vested interest in the work of these cultural operators. The findings suggest that there are two distinct organisational models in how Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Ministries of Culture co-exist and interact.
The Role of Time Perspective in the General Tendency to Disengage and Reengage from Problematic Goal Striving
Authors: Kačmár Pavol , Beere Merav
Published: July 2021

Both time and goals are ubiquitous in our everyday lives. The main aim of the present set of studies was to corroborate if time perspective, as conceptualized by Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, is related to goal disengagement and reengagement during problematic goal striving. Over three studies, with more than 600 participants varying in age and cultural background, it was found that future time perspective is related to goal disengagement from a problematic goal striving. A pilot study with 103 university students showed that the future positive scale was negatively related to the general capacity to disengage. In a second study with 356 high-school students, it was shown that the future positive, past positive and present hedonistic scales were negatively correlated to goal disengagement, while the present fatalistic and future negative scales were positively correlated to goal disengagement. However, when accounting for the Big-five, only the future negative and (possibly) present hedonistic scales remained statistically significant predictors of the capacity to disengage from a goal. In the third study, the role of the future time perspective was replicated among 169 people suffering from chronic pain disease. It was shown that the future time perspective (in its general form) negatively predicted the general capacity to disengage. Moreover, focusing on more process-oriented aspects, this further predicted the action crisis during goal pursuit. This set of studies not only provides novel findings but also encourages further investigation of the time perspective in goal striving.
Regulating Obscenity in Chinese Livestreaming: An Ongoing Mediation between the Private and the Public, the Nation and the Market
Authors: Gu Jingyi
Published: July 2021

Livestreaming platforms, including Huya, Douyu, Huajiao, and Inke, have become extremely popular in China in recent years, resulting in the formation of new industries and new professions. Livestreaming also forms a ‘grey area’ for the production and circulation of content that can be deemed pornographic and obscene by the government. The challenges for effective regulations come mainly from livestreaming’s real-time feature and its problematization of the distinction between public and private. Using theoretical lenses, including a Foucauldian approach to neoliberal governmentality, this article examines the Chinese government’s major attempts between 2016 and 2018 to regulate obscenity in livestreaming and consider them in the context of the government’s history of regulating media, the internet, and pornography. Based on an analysis of the evolving regulatory regime, the article also discusses how livestreaming users are left to their own devices as they navigate the ongoing mediation between the government’s economic and ideological motives.
Livestreaming Influencers, Influence Types, and Political Participation: A Case Study of Taiwan’s 2020 Presidential Election
Authors: Yang Kenneth C. C. , Kang Yowei
Published: July 2021

Livestreaming platforms have emerged as an important political communication tool for engaging with constituents. Twitch, YouTube Live, Mixer, and Facebook can broadcast real-time video contents via Web-based services and mobile app platforms. Our case study aims to determine whether livestreaming influencers generated political participation during Taiwan’s 2020 presidential election. This case study is based on a framework that integrates the literature on political communication and influencer marketing. In this article, we describe the rise of livestreaming platforms and explain the role of livestreamers in political communication. We also examine whether the characteristics of livestreaming influencers and the type of influence they exert increased political participation by their fans and followers and whether this accounted for the success of Tsai Ing-wen’s victory in her 2020 campaign for re-election as president.
The Frescoes in the Crypt of Saint Adam
Authors: Raimo Nadia
Published: July 2021

This essay explores bibliographic and historiographical studies on the frescoed vaults in the crypt of Saint Adam, located in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Guglionesi (Campobasso province, Molise, Italy). The frescoes have never been the subject of a detailed study; in fact, they have received only sporadic mention in some volumes of Molise art and history. The most ancient bibliographic information that can be recovered is reported in the nineteenth-century La Cronistoria di Guglionesi by Canon Angelo Maria Rocchia (Guglionesi, 1830–1907) and the three glorious translations by the medieval Benedictine monk Saint Adamo Abate (990–1070). The canon mentioned the historical events that led to the establishment of the crypt and the changes in its pictorial decoration. This essay begins with Canon Rocchia’s hypotheses and moves on to further investigate the crypt and the history of the frescoes, bringing to light similarities and differences in the interpretation of the pictorial decorations.
The Bessarion Chapel
Authors: Vai Stefania
Published: July 2021

The Bessarion chapel in the church of Santi Apostoli represents a new chapter in the study of the Roman Quattrocento. Its frescoes, painted by Antoniazzo Romano between 1464 and 1467, are a fundamental example of the Roman artistic taste in the early Renaissance. This essay examines unexplored aspects surrounding the origin of the chapel by understanding how Romano obtained this commission and how much he used visual solutions borrowed from the past. In addition, this investigation sets out to reconsider the artistic influence of the Bessarion commission, focusing on the paintings which have recently been discovered in the Orsini church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Formello (Italy). The questions concerning the Bessarion chapel raised in this study will lead to a more exhaustive understanding of this commission and will shed light on the complexity of the early Renaissance in Rome, where tradition and innovation masterfully coexist.
A new species of the genus Dorytomus Germar, 1817 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Rovno amber
Authors: LEGALOV ANDREI A. , NAZARENKO VITALIY Y. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E.
Published: July 2021

A new species, Dorytomus mikhailovi sp. n., from late Eocene Rovno amber is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to D. groehni Bukejs et Legalov, 2019 from Baltic amber but differs in the shorter rostrum, dorsum covered with denser decumbent hairs and erect to semierect scale-like setae, and smaller body sizes. It is distinguished from D. bukejsi Legalov, 2020 from Baltic amber by the densely punctate pronotum, longer rostrum and wide elytral interstriae. The new species differs from D. vlaskini Legalov et al., 2019 from Rovno amber by the elytral interstriae covered with decumbent hairs and erect to semierect scale-like setae, shorter rostrum and coarsely punctuate pronotum. It is the first named curculionid beetle from the Olevsk amber locality, and the eleventh amber species reported from the Zhitomyr region. The presence of seven species of Dorytomus suggests a rather high diversity of Salicaceae in the late Eocene amber forests of Europe. It corresponds well with other principal Holarctic species in European amber biotas.
An annotated checklist of the insectivores (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla) of Laos
Authors: ABRAMOV ALEXEI V.
Published: July 2021

An annotated checklist of the insectivorous mammals (order Eulipotyphla) of Laos is presented for the first time. The checklist is based on an extensive literature review and an examination of available museum specimens from world collections. Confirmed fauna of eulipotyphlans includes 11 species from 7 genera and 3 families. Additionally, several species which are known from neighbouring countries and could potentially occur in Laos are included in this checklist. According to these data, the Laotian fauna can include at least 23 species in 11 genera.
Teoria zbiorów rozmytych – od nauk formalnych po nauki prawne. Wprowadzenie do problematyki w świetle osiągnięć polskiej lingwistyki prawa
Authors: Falana-Jafra Anna
Published: July 2021

Fuzzy Set Theory – From Formal Sciences to Legal Sciences: An Introduction in the Light of the Achievements of Polish Legal LinguisticsAn example of the correlation of thought between the formal sciences, which are a foundation of the natural sciences, and the humanities is the fuzzy set theory. It is the source of a new research paradigm in relation to the surrounding reality, as well as in relation to man himself and his perception of the world. Nowadays, the fuzzy set theory is very widespread in cognitive linguistics. The aim of the article is to show the historical and substantive relations between the formal sciences and linguistics existing thanks to the theory of fuzzy sets, as well as to pose the question about the usefulness of this theory for Polish social sciences, which include legal sciences. The justification of the research question stems from the recognition of the fact that the constituted law manifests itself through language, which is its exclusive carrier. Teoria zbiorów rozmytych – od nauk formalnych po nauki prawne. Wprowadzenie do problematyki w świetle osiągnięć polskiej lingwistyki prawaPrzykładem korelacji myślowej zachodzącej pomiędzy naukami formalnymi, stanowiącymi podwalinę nauk przyrodniczych, a naukami humanistycznymi jest teoria zbiorów rozmytych. Stanowi ona źródło nowego paradygmatu badawczego względem otaczającej człowieka rzeczywistości, a także względem jego samego i jego postrzegania świata. Obecnie teoria zbiorów rozmytych jest bardzo rozpowszechniona na gruncie językoznawstwa kognitywnego. Celem artykułu jest ukazanie historycznych i merytorycznych związków pomiędzy naukami formalnymi a językoznawstwem, istniejących dzięki teorii rozmytości, a także  postawienie pytania o przydatność tej teorii dla polskich nauk społecznych, do których zaliczają się nauki prawne. Uzasadnienie pytania badawczego wynika z dostrzeżenia faktu, iż prawo stanowione przejawia się poprzez język, który jest jego wyłącznym nośnikiem.
Cmentarz na bośniacko-hercegowińskim pograniczu kulturowym. Analiza struktury tuzlańskiego cmentarza Trnovac
Authors: Bolewska Iga
Published: July 2021

The Cemetery on the Cultural Borderland of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Analysis of the Structure of Trnovac Cemetery in TuzlaThis article presents an analysis of the tombstones in the Trnovac cemetery of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The studied area was characterized with an emphasis on the features of the local cultural borderland and the history of the city. The text also includes the description of the study and its results. The aim of the presented analysis was to indicate departures from the expected state which result from the characteristics of this borderland, and to attempt to explain them. The importance of the cemetery as a source of information was also emphasized. Cmentarz na bośniacko-hercegowińskim pograniczu kulturowym. Analiza struktury tuzlańskiego cmentarza TrnovacW niniejszym artykule zaprezentowano analizę nagrobków znajdujących się na tuzlańskim cmentarzu Trnovac w Bośni i Hercegowinie. Scharakteryzowano badany obszar, kładąc nacisk na cechy lokalnego pogranicza kulturowego i historii miasta, przedstawiono opis badania i jego wyniki. Celem analizy było ukazanie odstępstw od oczekiwanego stanu, wynikających ze specyfiki pogranicza, oraz podjęcie próby ich wyjaśnienia. Podkreślono także wagę cmentarza jako źródła informacji.
Geniusze, kosmici i dinozaury. Nieoczywiste związki nauk ścisłych i humanistycznych
Authors: Mętrak Maciej , Ćwiek-Rogalska Karolina
Published: July 2021

Geniuses, Aliens and Dinosaurs. Unobvious Associations Between the Sciences and the HumanitiesIntroduction to the vol. 17th of Adeptus Geniusze, kosmici i dinozaury. Nieoczywiste związki nauk ścisłych i humanistycznychWstęp do numeru 17 „Adeptusa”
Adamts18 Deficiency Causes Spontaneous SMG Fibrogenesis in Adult Mice
Authors: Yang N. , Zhang Q. , Ye S. , Lu T. , Sun M. , Wang L. , Wang M. , Pan Y.H. , Dang S. , Zhang W.
Published: July 2021

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis of the submandibular gland (also known as Küttner tumor) is characterized by concomitant swelling of the submandibular glands secondary to strong lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis. The pathogenesis of this disease has been unclear, but it is associated with immune disorders. ADAMTS18 is a member of the ADAMTS superfamily of extracellular proteinases. In this study, we showed that Adamts18 is highly expressed in submandibular salivary gland (SMG) during embryonic development and decreases but is retained in adult SMG tissue in mice. Adamts18 deficiency led to reduced cleft formation and epithelial branching in embryonic SMG before embryonic day 15.5 in mice. No significant histologic changes in the later stages of branching or the morphology of SMG were detected in Adamts18−/− mice. However, Adamts18 deficiency causes spontaneous SMG fibrogenesis and fibrosis in adult mice. At 8 wk of age, Adamts18−/− mice began to manifest the first signs of pathologic changes of mild fibrosis and CD11b+ cell infiltration in SMG tissues. At ≥8 mo, all male and female Adamts18−/− mice developed unilateral or bilateral SMG scleroma that is similar to patients with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis of the submandibular gland. Adamts18−/− mice also showed secretory dysfunction and severe dental caries. Histologically, SMG scleroma is characterized by progressive periductal fibrosis, acinar atrophy, irregular duct ectasis, and dense infiltration of IgG-positive plasma cells. A significant infiltration of CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD11b+ monocytes and macrophages was also detected in the SMG scleroma of Adamts18−/− mice. The levels of TGF-β1, IL-6, and IL-33 were significantly increased in Adamts18−/− SMGs, which induces chronic inflammation and myofibroblast activation, ultimately leading to fibrosis. This study indicates that Adamts18 regulates the early branching morphogenesis of embryonic SMG and plays a role in protecting from spontaneous SMG fibrogenesis via modulating local inflammation, autoimmune reaction, and myofibroblast activation in adult mice.
The Tale of Adolescent Girls’ Menstrual Challenges in Junior High Schools
Authors: Kuranchie Alfred
Published: July 2021

The study explored menstrual challenges that female adolescents encountered while in school. The sequential explanatory mixed-method design was used, and both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in analyzing the data. The study revealed that the girls were predisposed to intense and varied menstrual-related challenges, which affected quality education as they had difficulty concentrating in class coupled with social and emotional problems. The Guidance and Counseling Units in schools’ continuous organization of programs to sensitize and enlighten girls on how to manage menstrual-related challenges would help to avoid the shackles the monthly experience brings.
Psychometric Validation of the PERMA-Profiler as a Well-Being Measure for Young Adult Survivors of Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumor
Authors: Grenawalt Teresa Ann , Umucu Emre , Reyes Antonio , Baylin Andrea , Strauser David R. , Tansey Timothy N. , Wagner Stacia
Published: July 2021

This study aims to validate a measure of well-being, the PERMA-Profiler, among a sample of young adult survivors of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumor. Measurement structure of the PERMA-Profiler was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using pretest–posttest data. Reliability and concurrent validity of the PERMA-Profiler were examined. This study included 127 young adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumor between the ages of 18 and 30 ( M = 23.83, SD = 3.00) years. The results of factor analyses yielded a single-factor solution for well-being. Significant relationships between well-being and happiness, life satisfaction, perceived stress, and physical health were observed, providing support for the concurrent validity of the PERMA-Profiler. The PERMA-Profiler displayed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The PERMA-Profiler can help rehabilitation researchers and counselors better evaluate well-being in young adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumor, which provides opportunity for more targeted psychosocial interventions.
The myth of pre-operative isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mijovic Filip , James Stuart , Thomas Bindhiya , Bhatia Mohit , Lafaurie Guillaume , Hafeez Rehana , Smedley Frank
Published: July 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic called for the restructuring of National Health Service (NHS) surgical departments across the country. Initial guidance advised that patients undergoing elective surgery isolate for 14 days prior to their operation. As we learnt more about COVID-19 and its incubation period, at the Princess Royal University Hospital this guidance has been decreased to 72 h. We collected retrospective data for two patient cohorts that underwent elective surgery in June and September 2020, isolating for 14 days and 72 h, respectively. We followed-up these patients with several questions allowing us to categorise the cohorts into three groups based on their compliance with isolation measures and also to assess their satisfaction with the isolation process. Our data shows that only 16% of the June cohort and 53% of the September cohort isolated in accordance with the guidelines whilst patient satisfaction was 16% and 64% respectively. These results highlight a suboptimal compliance to pre-operative guidelines as well as an adverse effect on patient mental health and raise the issue of both patient and NHS staff safety. With the possibility of a COVID-19 second wave and for future pandemics, a clear evidence-based plan for pre-operative isolation is vital. Furthermore, consideration of patient adherence and satisfaction is key in deciding which guideline will be most effective.
Outer space and the idea of the global commons
Authors: Cross Mai’a K. Davis
Published: July 2021

Drawing upon fresh archival research and participant observation, the author traces the emergence and transformative idea of the non-weaponized and peaceful use of space from the 1920s to today. Building on this, the case study questions much of the common wisdom surrounding humans’ relationship with space over the past century. Although the beginnings of the Space Age are usually thought to have closely coincided with the Space Race beginning in 1955, the paper goes further back to the Spaceflight Movement of the 1920s and 30s, tracing the emergence of the idea of space as part of the global commons. This societal-level movement was highly transnational and collaborative in nature, and pushed for the achievement of human spaceflight decades before the technology existed, at the same time advocating for space as a peaceful domain for all of humankind. Using a new approach that also provides the basic ontological assumption for Model 3 of the special issue framework, the author argues that the impetus to engage in space exploration was fundamentally ‘ultrasocial’, defined as a human predisposition to be other-regarding, empathic, and inclined toward seeking wide-scale cooperation, even among strangers.
Distributed adaptive time-varying formation control for Lipschitz nonlinear multi-agent systems
Authors: Yan Chenhang , Zhang Wei , Guo Hui , Zhu Fanglai , Qian Yuchen
Published: July 2021

In this paper, two kinds of distributed time-varying formation tracking problems for a class of Lipschitz nonlinear multi-agent systems are investigated, that is, the cases with leadless and leader-following formation. By devising a new type of edge-based adaptive algorithm, the controller of each agent can avoid the use of eigenvalues of Laplacian matrix in communication networks. The proposed algorithm only utilizes local information among neighbouring agents to form time-varying formation for nonlinear multi-agent systems with mismatched nonlinearities, and the formation tracking error is uniformly ultimately bounded. To accomplish the required time-varying formation characteristic, a predesigned formation compensation function is given. Finally, numerical simulation examples are presented to indicate the stability of the proposed algorithm, and a comparison is also given to show the superiority of the given algorithm.
Online Healthcare Practices and Associated Stakeholders: Review of Literature for Future Research Agenda
Authors: Panda Amaresh , Mohapatra Sanjay
Published: July 2021

The rise of online platforms for health information exchange is changing the traditional healthcare delivery practices. With Internet technologies, online healthcare practices are continuously growing through their diversified delivery functionalities with better and faster reachability. Participants use such forums for various purposes, for instance, to gather information, seek medical assistance, connect with other users, and purchase healthcare products or services. The need for a consolidated study, considering all key aspects of virtual healthcare, is crucial. We aim to examine the existing literature to study stakeholders of online healthcare and their behaviour dynamics, available functionalities and service delivery approaches during different phases. We have identified five key stakeholders who are vital for online healthcare deliveries and explored their contributions across life-cycle stages of online healthcare community (OHC) in India. The PRISMA reporting approach was used to select suitable literature for this study. About 78 articles were identified, which were shortlisted to 67 articles, keeping in mind the objectives of this study. Key findings from all these articles are segregated according to identified themes and systematically presented to enlarge the visibilities of associated functionalities. This study is one of the initial studies on India’s OHC that has defined associated stakeholders, functionalities and association dynamics during different life-cycle phases. People are proactively emerging towards OHC to acquire knowledge, share experience and decide their healthcare drives. Being operated virtually, information technology (IT) is the driving factor of OHC, and we have addressed the diversified IT aspects applicable in an OHC set-up. We also have accumulated all key attributes of OHC and produced a theoretical framework through this study, which academic researchers can use to understand the present approaches better and derive futuristic studies. Similarly, service providers can use the findings to evaluate their services, identify the present loopholes in the operational approaches and effectively manage the deliverables to meet end-user needs.