bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Providing Government Assistance Online: A Field Experiment with the Unemployed
Authors: Briscese Guglielmo , Zanella Giulio , Quinn Veronica
Published: January 2022

Welfare programs often consist of mandated in‐person assistance services. This feature can introduce an engagement barrier for some beneficiaries. Offering some of these services online can address this problem while also reducing administrative costs. In a field experiment with about 2,700 beneficiaries of unemployment benefits, we evaluate the effectiveness of a self‐directed website that supplements assistance traditionally delivered by job center staff. Tracking employment outcomes for nearly two years, we find that the intervention significantly increased job‐finding rates for some groups. Towards the end of the first year, the effect is still 7 percentage points (25 percent higher than in the control group) for prime‐age job seekers (35 to 50 years old) and 9 percentage points (35 percent higher than the control group) for women, reversing the job‐finding gender gap. We discuss opportunities for governments to scale up similar low‐cost interventions to assist social insurance and welfare beneficiaries online.
Does Online Credit Recovery in High School Support or Stymie Later Labor Market Success?
Authors: Heinrich Carolyn J. , Cheng Huiping
Published: January 2022

An emerging body of research links online credit recovery programs to rising high school graduation rates but does not find comparable increases in student learning. This study follows high school students who engaged in online credit recovery into the labor market to understand the longer‐term implications of this growing educational trend. If online credit recovery contributes to high school completion and facilitates job entry, then participants in online credit recovery may have labor market outcomes that differ little relative to those recovering credits in traditional classroom settings. However, if online credit recovery courses are inferior in terms of the knowledge or skills they impart and that learning is critical to workforce success, then online credit recovery participants may earn less over time. The study findings suggest that high school students who participated in online credit recovery initially had earnings on par with those who did not recover course credits online, but a negative differential emerged between their earnings and the earnings of nonparticipants that grew over time. We found no evidence to suggest that students ever benefitted in the labor market from online credit recovery in high school.
Protein fractionation of pH‐responsive brush‐modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer membranes*
Authors: Ye Hui , Zhou Yining , Yang Guodong , Yu Tengfei , Zhang Yuzhong , Zhao Lizhi , Xin Qingping , Han Shurui
Published: January 2022

Protein fractionation and purification remain challenging in membrane separation. Herein, a pH‐responsive membrane was developed by grafting the brush‐like poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) via ATRP onto the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) membrane for protein fractionation. The PDMAEMA brushes are distributed in all pore channels of the membrane. Based on the electrostatic and sieving properties of the as‐prepared pH‐responsive membrane, three milk proteins are successfully separated from their mixture. The α‐Lactalbumin (α‐LA) preferentially permeates the membrane from the mixture at pH 3.2, and the bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lactoferrin (LF) can be separated at pH 6.4 based on the selective adsorption. This work proposes a promising candidate for protein separation by a pH‐responsive membrane.
The effect of Zataria multiflora on respiratory allergic and immunologic disorders, experimental and clinical evidence: A comprehensive review
Authors: Ghorani Vahideh , Beigoli Sima , Khazdair Mahammad Reza , Boskabady Mohammad Hossein
Published: January 2022

Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) is used in traditional and modern medicine for therapeutic objectives especially in respiratory disorders. Therefore, updated experimental and clinical studies on the effects of Z. multiflora on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders are reviewed. Various electronic search engines including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using appropriate keywords until the end of November 2021. Books, thesis‐hard copies of some articles were also included. The effects of Z. multiflora on respiratory disorders including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung infection, and lung cancer were shown. Extracts of Z. multiflora showed the relaxant effect with various mechanisms. The preventive effects of Z. multiflora were also demonstrated by mechanisms such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiinflammatory properties in the experimental animal models of different respiratory diseases. Carvacrol and thymol are probably responsible for the therapeutic effect of plant among 56 constituents of Z. multiflora. In addition, bronchodilatory and preventive effects of the plant and its constituents on asthma, COPD, lung disorders due to noxious agents and allergic and immunologic disorders were shown in the clinical studies. Therefore Z. multiflora and its constituents may be considered as a preventive and/or relieving therapy in various respiratory diseases.
Effect of poly lactic acid trays on the optical and thermal properties of recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate)
Authors: Thoden van Velzen Eggo Ulphard , Chu Sharon , Molenveld Karin , Jašo Vladislav
Published: January 2022

To progress towards a more sustainable plastic system, multiple interventions are required, including the decoupling from fossil feedstock. Biobased plastics therefore have to be integrated in plastic waste management systems. This should, however, not hamper the performance of current recycling systems. Several studies have previously suggested that the uptake of poly lactic acid (PLA) in this system would endanger poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) recycling. This study reports the estimated concentration of PLA in recycled PET and the effect of the presence of this impurity on the optical and thermal properties of recycled PET. The current concentrations of PLA in recycled PET in the Netherlands were modelled to vary between 0% and 0.019%. When the PLA consumption rises, the concentration in recycled PET can be kept below 1% with NIR technologies. The impact of 0.1 to 1% PLA in recycled PET on the optical and thermal properties was negligible. Conversely, the negative impact of 0.1% PVC was substantial. Also the impact of 0.1% EVOH on recycled PET was studied and like PLA found to be limited. This study therefore contravenes previous studies on the impact of PLA on the quality of recycled PET. The difference between this study and the previous studies is that within this study, recycled PET has been processed in agreement with industrial methods. Therefore, in case the sorting and recycling facilities maintain their current careful operation, no negative impact of PLA on PET recycling can be foreseen, and further integration of biobased plastics in the plastic waste management system can be pursued.
Time‐dependent Luenberger‐type interval observer design for uncertain time‐varying systems
Authors: Liu Long‐wen , Xie Wei , Zhang Lang‐wen , Gu Da‐ke
Published: January 2022

This article investigates the state interval observation problem for a class of continuous and discrete‐time linear time‐varying (LTV) systems with bounded uncertainties separately. First, by utilizing both the LTV transformation and the solutions to a type of time‐varying fully‐actuated Sylvester equations, a time‐dependent standard interval observer (IO) is established in a parametric form with some design degrees of freedom. Second, a new time‐dependent structure of Luenberger‐type IOs is proposed to relax the limitation of the LTV transformation‐based design method. Further, its sufficient existence conditions are given in virtue of positive system theory. Meanwhile, a parametric design technique of such an IO for uncertain LTV systems is also raised under rank conditions. Third, the obtained results are extended to the discrete‐time systems. Finally, the correctness and benefits of the proposed methods are verified using some numerical examples.
Veterinary undergraduates’ attitudes to and understanding of clinical skills learning
Authors: Cripps Sarah J. , Vinten Claire E. K.
Published: January 2022

Background

The study investigated student understanding of development of their clinical skills learning, focusing on personal experiences of the learning strategies they employ and their experiences of judging their own competency, integrating skills and transferring skill knowledge.

Methods

Twenty‐nine veterinary students from two veterinary schools took part in semi‐structured interviews investigating their perceptions of clinical skills importance and development. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was used for data analysis.

Results

Themes that were developed were: (1) Students understand clinical skills to be individual technical practical skills but also understand how skills are combined to achieve complex tasks. (2) Students understand the concept of competency development and learn skills, review their progress and self‐audit their skill competency in similar ways throughout the course. (3) Personal confidence, success and positive communication with peers and supervisors are critical to learn clinical skills.

Conclusion

Students understand clinical skills learning and use reflective skills widely to track developing skills competency. Prioritising individual feedback within practical sessions and training on integration of skills and communicating with supervisors ahead of clinical placements would be beneficial. Training in clinical skills study techniques, reflection and resilience will enable students to be proactive and to manage their feelings around uncertainty.
Non-Abelian electric field correlator at NLO for dark matter relic abundance and quarkonium transport
Authors: Binder Tobias , Mukaida Kyohei , Scheihing-Hitschfeld Bruno , Yao Xiaojun
Published: January 2022

Abstract

We perform a complete next-to-leading order calculation of the non-Abelian electric field correlator in a SU(Nc) plasma, which encodes properties of the plasma relevant for heavy particle bound state formation and dissociation, and is different from the correlator for the heavy quark diffusion coefficient. The calculation is carried out in the real-time formalism of thermal field theory and includes both vacuum and finite temperature contributions. By working in theRξgauge, we explicitly show the results are gauge independent, infrared and collinear safe. The renormalization group equation of this electric field correlator is determined by that of the strong coupling constant. Our next-to-leading order calculation can be directly applied to any dipole singlet-adjoint transition of heavy particle pairs. For example, it can be used to describe dissociation and (re)generation of heavy quarkonia inside the quark-gluon plasma well below the melting temperature, as well as heavy dark matter pairs (or charged co-annihilating partners) in the early universe.
D7 moduli stabilization: the tadpole menace
Authors: Bena Iosif , Brodie Callum , Graña Mariana
Published: January 2022

Abstract

D7-brane moduli are stabilized by worldvolume fluxes, which contribute to the D3-brane tadpole. We calculate this contribution in the Type IIB limit of F-theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau four-folds with a weak Fano base, and are able to prove a no-go theorem for vast swathes of the landscape of compactifications. When the genus of the curve dual to the D7 worldvolume fluxes is fixed and the number of moduli grows, we find that the D3 charge sourced by the fluxes grows faster than 7/16 of the number of moduli, which supports the Tadpole Conjecture of ref. [1]. Our lower bound for the induced D3 charge decreases when the genus of the curves dual to the stabilizing fluxes increase, and does not allow to rule out a sliver of flux configurations dual to high-genus high-degree curves. However, we argue that most of these fluxes have very high curvature, which is likely to be above the string scale except on extremely large (and experimentally ruled out) compactification manifolds.
Current research and industrial application of laser powder directed energy deposition
Authors: Piscopo Gabriele , Iuliano Luca
Published: January 2022

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies are recognized as the future of the manufacturing industry thanks to their possibilities in terms of shape design, part functionality, and material efficiency. The use of AM technologies in many industrial sectors is growing, also due to the increasing knowledge regarding the AM processes and the characteristics of the final part. One of the most promising AM techniques is the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) that uses a thermal source to generate a melt pool on a substrate into which metal powder is injected. The potentialities of DED technology are the ability to process large build volumes (> 1000 mm in size), the ability to deliver the material directly into the melt pool, the possibility to repair existing parts, and the opportunity to change the material during the building process, thus creating functionally graded material. In this paper, a review of the industrial applications of Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition (LP-DED) is presented. Three main applications are identified in repairing, designed material, and production. Despite the enormous advantages of LP-DED, from the literature, it emerges that the most relevant application refers to the repairing process of high-value components.
Bacteria-targeted fluorescence imaging of extracted osteosynthesis devices for rapid visualization of fracture-related infections
Authors: López-Álvarez Marina , Heuker Marjolein , Sjollema Klaas A. , van Dam Gooitzen M. , van Dijl Jan Maarten , IJpma Frank F. A. , van Oosten Marleen
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Fracture-related infection (FRI) is a serious complication in orthopedic trauma surgery worldwide. Especially, the distinction of infection from sterile inflammation and the detection of low-grade infection are highly challenging. The objective of the present study was to obtain proof-of-principle for the use of bacteria-targeted fluorescence imaging to detect FRI on extracted osteosynthesis devices as a step-up towards real-time image-guided trauma surgery.

Methods

Extracted osteosynthesis devices from 13 patients, who needed revision surgery after fracture treatment, were incubated with a near-infrared fluorescent tracer composed of the antibiotic vancomycin and the fluorophore IRDye800CW (i.e., vanco-800CW). Subsequently, the devices were imaged, and vanco-800CW fluorescence signals were correlated to the results of microbiological culturing and to bacterial growth upon replica plating of the imaged devices on blood agar.

Results

Importantly, compared to culturing, the bacteria-targeted fluorescence imaging of extracted osteosynthesis devices with vanco-800CW allows for a prompt diagnosis of FRI, reducing the time-to-result from days to less than 30 min. Moreover, bacteria-targeted imaging can provide surgeons with real-time visual information on the presence and extent of infection.

Conclusion

Here, we present the first clinical application of fluorescence imaging for the detection of FRI. We conclude that imaging with vanco-800CW can provide early, accurate, and real-time visual diagnostic information on FRI in the clinical setting, even in the case of low-grade infections.

Graphical abstract
Comparison of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes with TP53 aberrations
Authors: Dutta Sayantanee , Moritz Jennifer , Pregartner Gudrun , Thallinger Gerhard G. , Brandstätter Ilona , Lind Karin , Rezania Simin , Lyssy Freya , Reinisch Andreas , Zebisch Armin , Berghold Andrea , Wölfler Albert , Sill Heinz
Published: January 2022

TP53 aberrations are found in approximately 10% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and are considered early driver events affecting leukemia stem cells. In this study, we compared features of a total of 84 patients with these disorders seen at a tertiary cancer center. Clinical and cytogenetic characteristics as well as immunophenotypes of immature blast cells were similar between AML and MDS patients. Median overall survival (OS) was 226 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 131–300) for the entire cohort with an estimated 3-year OS rate of 11% (95% CI, 6–22). OS showed a significant difference between MDS (median, 345 days; 95% CI, 235–590) and AML patients (median, 91 days; 95% CI, 64–226) which is likely due to a different co-mutational pattern as revealed by next-generation sequencing. Transformation of TP53 aberrant MDS occurred in 60.5% of cases and substantially reduced their survival probability. Cox regression analysis revealed treatment class and TP53 variant allele frequency as prognostically relevant parameters but not the TP53-specific prognostic scores EAp53 and RFS. These data emphasize similarities between TP53 aberrant AML and MDS and support previous notions that they should be classified and treated as a distinct disorder.
Weiterentwicklung und Inhaltsvalidierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung des Wissens über das Delir
Authors: Zilezinski Max , Lohrmann Renée , Hauß Armin , Bergjan Manuela
Published: January 2022

Hintergrund

Das Delir ist ein neuropsychiatrisches Syndrom, welches häufig ältere Patient_innen betrifft und schwerwiegende Folgen haben kann. Oftmals wird es vom Gesundheitspersonal nicht erkannt. Der Wissensstand über das Delir ist beim pflegerischen und ärztlichen Personal häufig unzureichend ausgeprägt. Zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt fehlt im deutschsprachigen Raum ein Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Wissensstands.

Ziel

Weiterentwicklung eines Fragenbogens und Bewertung der Inhaltsvalidität.

Methode

Im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche wurden mehrere Fragebögen identifiziert. Ein bereits publizierter Fragebogen mit den Dimensionen Grundlagenwissen über das Delir und Risikofaktoren ist übersetzt, angepasst und um die Dimension der nichtpharmakologischen Delirprävention erweitert worden. Die Bewertung der Fragebogenitems erfolgte durch Delirexpert_innen in 2 Runden. Die Inhaltsvalidität wurde anhand des Content Validity Index (CVI) auf Item(I-CVI)- und Skalen(S-CVI)-Level angegeben, zusätzlich wurde der „modified Kappa“ (κ*) mit der Untergrenze des 95 %igen Konfidenzintervalls (KI) berechnet.

Ergebnisse

Der 30 Items umfassende Originalfragebogen wurde um 18 Items der Delirprävention erweitert. Nach der ersten Bewertungsrunde durch 13 Expert_innen zeigten 30 von 48 Items gute bis exzellente I‑CVI-Werte (0,78–1,0). Unter Berücksichtigung der Kommentare wurden 6 Items verworfen und 12 Items sprachlich und inhaltlich adaptiert. In der finalen Version des Fragebogens verblieben 41 Items mit exzellenten Werten (1,0). Der Gesamtskalenwert hatte sich von 0,88 in der ersten Version auf 1,0 in der finalen Version erhöht. Als Zielgruppe wurden Pflegefachpersonen identifiziert, aber potenziell auch therapeutisches und ärztliches Personal.

Schlussfolgerung

Der Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Wissens über das Delir ist inhaltsvalide.
What interventions affect the psychosocial burden experienced by prostate cancer patients undergoing active surveillance? A scoping review
Authors: Donachie Kim , Cornel Erik , Pelgrim Thomas , Michielsen Leslie , Langenveld Bart , Adriaansen Marian , Bakker Esther , Lechner Lilian
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Living with untreated prostate cancer (PCa) may cause anxiety and uncertainty in men undergoing active surveillance (AS). Developing a psychosocial support program for such patients might promote psychosocial well-being and patient engagement. This review aims to identify interventions with the potential to influence the psychosocial burden of prostate cancer patients undergoing AS.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. A systematic search was conducted in six databases and included publications dating from 2009. All available and eligible evidence was included in this review.

Results

After screening 2824 articles, 12 studies were included in the review: nine quantitative, one qualitative, and two mixed method papers. The relative strength of these studies was limited and the quality of most was moderate.

Conclusions

The described interventions can be categorized into three major themes: information and education, coping and (psycho)social support, and lifestyle. Psychosocial support for men undergoing AS should entail involvement of family and spouse during the decision-making process, tailored information about PCa treatments, risks, benefits, protocols, lifestyle adjustments, and complementary and alternative medicine. Assessment and promotion of effective coping and self-management strategies are recommended. Healthcare providers should actively promote physical activity and nutritional improvements. Physical activity programs may also be helpful in facilitating peer support, which is especially important for men with limited social support. Future research should investigate combining interventions to increase efficacy and optimize supportive care during AS.
Telemedicine and psoriatic arthritis: best practices and considerations for dermatologists and rheumatologists
Authors: Gottlieb Alice B. , Wells Alvin F. , Merola Joseph F.
Published: January 2022

Telemedicine encompasses a variety of modalities that allow for the remote assessment and treatment of patients. The technologies, services, and tools available for telemedicine in the USA are increasingly becoming an integral part of the healthcare system to bridge the gaps in care that can arise from geographic and/or socioeconomic obstacles and provider shortages. Telemedicine can be applied to a spectrum of clinical areas, including rheumatic diseases. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem disease with predominately skin and joint manifestations. PsA is often misdiagnosed and/or undiagnosed, which can lead to worse patient outcomes, including irreversible joint erosion and damage. The difficulties in diagnosing and managing PsA are confounded by the emergence and increased use of telemedicine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine presents the opportunity to increase access to healthcare by rheumatologists and dermatologists to improve training and education regarding PsA and to decrease time attributed to office visits associated with PsA. However, challenges in diagnosing PsA without a thorough in-person physical examination by a trained rheumatologist or dermatologist exist. We provide an overview of the ways telemedicine can be incorporated into clinical care and optimized for patients with PsA; characteristic clinical features of PsA, with a focus on skin and joint signs and symptoms; screening tools to be used in routine clinical care; assessments that can be used to evaluate quality of life, functional ability, and disease activity in PsA; and resources and recommendations for the development of future telemedicine use in rheumatology and dermatology.

Key Points• Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are often misdiagnosed and/or undiagnosed.• Telemedicine can improve access to healthcare by rheumatologists and dermatologists.• Telemedicine can be incorporated into clinical care and optimized for managing PsA.
Phase-Amplitude Coupling and Phase Synchronization Between Medial Temporal, Frontal and Posterior Brain Regions Support Episodic Autobiographical Memory Recall
Authors: Roehri Nicolas , Bréchet Lucie , Seeber Martin , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , Michel Christoph M.
Published: January 2022

Episodic autobiographical memory (EAM) is a complex cognitive function that emerges from the coordination of specific and distant brain regions. Specific brain rhythms, namely theta and gamma oscillations and their synchronization, are thought of as putative mechanisms enabling EAM. Yet, the mechanisms of inter-regional interaction in the EAM network remain unclear in humans at the whole brain level. To investigate this, we analyzed EEG recordings of participants instructed to retrieve autobiographical episodes. EEG recordings were projected in the source space, and time-courses of atlas-based brain regions-of-interest (ROIs) were derived. Directed phase synchrony in high theta (7–10 Hz) and gamma (30–80 Hz) bands and high theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling were computed between each pair of ROIs. Using network-based statistics, a graph-theory method, we found statistically significant networks for each investigated mechanism. In the gamma band, two sub-networks were found, one between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and another within the medial frontal areas. In the high theta band, we found a PCC to ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) network. In phase-amplitude coupling, we found the high theta phase of the left MTL biasing the gamma amplitude of posterior regions and the vmPFC. Other regions of the temporal lobe and the insula were also phase biasing the vmPFC. These findings suggest that EAM, rather than emerging from a single mechanism at a single frequency, involves precise spatio-temporal signatures mapping on distinct memory processes. We propose that the MTL orchestrates activity in vmPFC and PCC via precise phase-amplitude coupling, with vmPFC and PCC interaction via high theta phase synchrony and gamma synchronization contributing to bind information within the PCC-MTL sub-network or valuate the candidate memory within the medial frontal sub-network.
Periodontal disease as a risk factor for sporadic colorectal cancer: results from COLDENT study
Authors: Idrissi Janati Amal , Karp Igor , Latulippe Jean-François , Charlebois Patrick , Emami Elham
Published: January 2022

Colorectal cancer remains the top leading cancer worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests periodontal pathogens are involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, indicating the need for high-quality epidemiological evidence linking periodontal disease (PD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, we conducted the first population-based case–control study that was specifically designed to investigate the association between compromised oral health and sporadic CRC. A total of 348 incident cases of colon or rectal cancer, and 310 age and sex frequency-matched controls, from the Montreal island and Laval population participated in the study. Data were collected on PD and on several CRC risk factors using validated questionnaires. A life-course approach was used to document long-term history regarding lifestyle factors. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the rate ratio (RR) quantifying the association between CRC and PD. Results showed that the rate of new diagnosis of CRC in persons with a positive history of PD was 1.45 times higher than in those with a negative history of PD adjusting for age, sex, BMI, education, income, diabetes, family history of CRC, regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, lifetime cumulative smoking, lifetime consumption of red meats, processed meats, and alcoholic drinks, and lifetime total physical activity score (adjusted RR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.04–2.01; p = 0.026). Our results support the hypothesis of an association between PD and sporadic CRC risk.
Chilean Consumer Law and Policy: A Brief Outlook
Authors: Andrade V.
Published: January 2022

Chilean consumer law and policy has a short but enthralling history. As compared with other jurisdictions such as EU countries, its bedrock is still in formation, particularly pertaining to its envisaged role in the regulatory spectrum applicable to consumer markets. However, this circumstance has not been a serious obstacle to several reforms carried out in recent years aimed at broadening its scope of action, including rethinking a proposal regarding the policy goals to be addressed by the national consumer agency, SERNAC. In that context, this article presents a brief account of the main features of Chilean consumer law, considering the current socioeconomic development level of the country, the main pieces of legislation concerning consumer protection in the Chilean legal framework—notably the Chilean Consumer Protection Act—as well as key elements of the public policy approach in this matter. A few examples of topics such as product liability and sale and purchase of consumer goods are also analysed in order to allow a comparison of the Chilean experience in consumer protection with other jurisdictions.
Pre-service primary teachers’ shame experiences during their schooling time: characteristics and effects on their subject-choices at university
Authors: Jenßen Lars , Möller Regina , Eilerts Katja , Roesken-Winter Bettina
Published: January 2022

Emotions play an essential role in pre-service teachers’ competence development, particularly in mathematics. However, the emotion of shame in mathematics has been largely neglected so far. This article deals with shameful experiences of pre-service primary school teachers during their mathematical education at school and the various effects of shame on their decision to study mathematics as a subject at university. The research consists of a qualitative and a quantitative study with 311 prospective primary school teachers who responded to a survey about their experiences of shame in mathematics at school when they were students. Results of the qualitative study emphasize the different experiences in mathematics during the school years and reveal the characteristics of these situations, for example, social exposure or competition games. In the quantitative study, pre-service primary teachers’ subject choice was analyzed in relation to their experienced shame in mathematics at school. Results reveal that shame experienced at school has effects on the initial choice in favor of mathematics at university. Implications for primary teacher education are finally discussed.
Limited Impact of Murine Placental MDR1 on Fetal Exposure of Certain Drugs Explained by Bypass Transfer Between Adjacent Syncytiotrophoblast Layers
Authors: Fujita Arimi , Noguchi Saki , Hamada Rika , Inoue Satoko , Shimada Tsutomu , Katakura Satomi , Maruyama Tetsuo , Sai Yoshimichi , Nishimura Tomohiro , Tomi Masatoshi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) is located at the interface between two syncytiotrophoblast layers in rodent placenta, and may influence fetal drug distribution. Here, we quantitatively compare the functional impact per single MDR1 molecule of MDR1 at the placental barrier and blood-brain barrier in mice.

Methods

MDR1A and MDR1B proteins were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Paclitaxel or digoxin was continuously administered to pregnant Mdr1a−/−/Mdr1b−/− or wild-type mice, and the drug concentrations in the maternal and fetal plasma and maternal brain were quantified by LC-MS/MS.

Results

MDR1A and MDR1B proteins are expressed in the membrane of mouse placental labyrinth, and total MDR1 at the placental barrier amounts to about 30% of that at the blood-brain barrier. The fetal-to-maternal plasma concentration ratio of digoxin was only marginally affected in Mdr1a−/−/Mdr1b−/− mice, while that of paclitaxel showed a several-fold increase. No such difference between the two drugs was found in the maternal brain distribution. The impact per single MDR1 molecule on the fetal distribution of digoxin was calculated to be much lower than that on the brain distribution, but this was not the case for paclitaxel. Our pharmacokinetic model indicates that the impact of placental MDR1 is inversely correlated to the ratio of permeability through gap junctions connecting the two syncytiotrophoblast layers to passive diffusion permeability.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that murine placental MDR1 has a minimal influence on the fetal concentration of certain substrates, such as digoxin, due to bypass transfer, probably via connexin26 gap junctions.
An evolving international research collaboration network: spatial and thematic developments in co-authored higher education research, 1998–2018
Authors: Fu Yuan Chih , Marques Marcelo , Tseng Yuen-Hsien , Powell Justin J. W. , Baker David P.
Published: January 2022

Co-authored research articles in the disciplinarily heterogeneous field of higher education have dramatically increased in this century. As in other fields, rising international co-authorships reflect evolving international collaboration networks. We examine higher education research over two decades, applying automated bibliometric topic identification and social network analysis of 9067 papers in 13 core higher education journals (1998–2018). Remarkable expansion in the volume of papers and co-authorships has, surprisingly, not resulted in a more diverse network. Rather, existing co-authorship patterns are strengthened, with the dominance of scholars from a few Anglophone countries largely maintained. Researchers globally seek to co-author with leading scholars in these countries, especially the US, UK, and Australia—at least when publishing in the leading general higher education journals based there. Further, the two-mode social network analysis of countries and topics suggests that while Anglophone countries have led the development of higher education research, China and Germany, as leading research-producing countries, are increasingly influential within this world-spanning network. Topically, the vast majority of co-authored papers in higher education research focuses on individual-level phenomena, with organizational and system or country-level analysis constituting (much) smaller proportions, despite policymakers’ emphasis on cross-national comparisons and the growing importance of university actorhood. We discuss implications thereof for the future of the multidisciplinary field of higher education.
Sports and Cultural Volunteering: Competitive or Complementary Activities?
Authors: Hallmann Kirstin , Artime Cristina Muñiz
Published: January 2022

While nonprofit organizations have traditionally been considered increasingly competing for resources, this paper mainly explores the potential mutual relationship between volunteering in sport and volunteering in culture. Drawing on 2014 data from the German Volunteer Survey, we estimated a bivariate probit model based on 27,293 observations. The findings suggested that sports and cultural volunteering were complementary activities. Thus, promoting volunteering in one of the domains positively affected volunteering in the alternative domain. Parental volunteering, religiosity, and education were primary drivers of both types of volunteering. However, differences in some determinants have also been found. For example, volunteering in culture was predominantly female, while male volunteers dominated sports.
Improving the Summer Power Generation of a Hydropower Reservoir Using the Modified Multi-Step Ahead Time-Varying Hedging Rule
Authors: Thiha Soe , Shamseldin Asaad Y. , Melville Bruce W.
Published: January 2022

This paper aims to improve summer power generation of the Yeywa Hydropower Reservoir in Myanmar using the modified multi-step ahead time-varying hedging (TVH) rule as a case study. The results of the TVH rules were compared with the standard operation policy (SOP) rule, the binary standard operation policy (BSOP) rule, the discrete hedging (DH) rule, the standard hedging (SH) rule, the one-point hedging (OPH) rule, and the two-point hedging (TPH) rule. The Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) was utilized to drive the optimal Pareto fronts for the hedging rules. The results demonstrated that the TVH rules had higher performance than the other rules and showed improvements in power generation not only during the summer period but also over the entire period.
In situ remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated lake sediments with alkali-activated blast furnace slag granule amendment: A field experiment
Authors: Laukkanen Johanna , Takaluoma Esther , Runtti Hanna , Mäkinen Jari , Kauppila Tommi , Hellsten Seppo , Luukkonen Tero , Lassi Ulla
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Adsorbent amendment to contaminated sediments is one in situ remediation method to decrease the bioaccessibility of pollutants from the sediments. In this work, alkali-activated blast furnace slag (BFS) granules were used in a field experiment at Lake Kivijärvi (Finland). The lake was heavily affected by a mining accident in 2012, which released a significant peak load of metals and sulfate. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the performance of the novel amendment material for in situ remediation in real conditions with a preliminary cost estimation.

Methods

Alkali-activated BFS granules were prepared and characterized for composition, microstructure, and surface properties. Two mesocosms were placed in the lake: one with granule dosing and another without. Sediment and pore water samples were collected after a two-week period. Similar small-scale experiment was performed in laboratory with a three-month duration. Bioaccessibility of metals from sediments was assessed with a three-stage leaching procedure.

Results

The granules were effective in decreasing the mobility of Fe, Zn, Ni, and Cr in all leaching stages by approximately 50–90% in comparison with unamended sediment in the mesocosm experiment. Laboratory-scale incubation experiments also indicated decreased release of Ba, Co, Ni, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn and S. The estimated material costs were lower than the removal of the contaminated sediments with dredging and off-site treatment.

Conclusion

The results showed preliminarily the effectiveness of alkaline-activated BFS in the remediation of metal-contaminated sediments in a field experiment. However, topics requiring further study are the leaching of trace elements from the material and impact on the sediment pH.
The Importance of Boundary Objects in Industry-Academia Collaborations to Support Evidencing the Efficacy of Educational Technology
Authors: Weatherby Kristen , Clark-Wilson Alison , Cukurova Mutlu , Luckin Rose
Published: January 2022

The context of a 2.5 year academia-led programme for the educational technology sector in the United Kingdom is used to explore the role of logic models as boundary objects to support the programme objectives. The programme provided educational research training and mentoring to participants from 252 small and medium-sized enterprises to support them with the use of existing and self-generated evidence of the efficacy of their educational technologies. Participants from a deliberate sample of six enterprises were interviewed to elicit their perceptions of the process through which the creation and use of a logic model for their product or service did or did not become a useful tool to support their research and business goals. The results suggest that logic models have vital roles as boundary objects in this context, such as supporting communication, learning, and product development. The study offers a first-case example of how logic models can be used in the design of educational technology, responding to the call for research in this area. A discussion on the challenges associated with the use of the logic model in the context of the project concludes the article.
Within-Track Differentiation and Leisure Activities as Strategies of Distinction
Authors: Sawert Tim , Bachsleitner Anna
Published: January 2022

The socially inclusive educational expansion during the last few decades in Germany diluted the previous “elite” status of the Gymnasium and its certificate, the Abitur. In the absence of explicit “elite” institutions, unlike the UK, the USA or France, the question remains how social privilege is intergenerationally transferred in times of educational expansion? Several studies on this topic focused on distinction either through horizontal educational differentiation or via distinctive leisure activities. Building on Bourdieu’s theory of distinction and Lareau’s study on child-rearing practices, we argue that it is the set of different strategies of distinction that serves as a mechanism to reproduce privilege. Hence, we ask the question how parents’ and grandparents’ educational background influences the probability of applying a whole set of distinctive strategies. To test our assumptions, we use data from the youth questionnaire of the German Socio-Economic panel and analyse the effect of educational background on the application of distinctive educational strategies and distinctive leisure practices and the combination of both domains. The results indicate three main findings: first, having parents with an academic education increases the probability of applying any of the distinctive strategies under consideration. Second, having academically educated grandparents increases the probability of combining distinctive strategies within one domain. Third, the data do not support the assumption that the combination of curricular and leisure practices is particularly socially stratified.
Extracellular Vesicles of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Can be Taken Up by Microglial Cells and Partially Prevent the Stimulation Induced by β-amyloid
Authors: Kaniowska Dorota , Wenk Kerstin , Rademacher Phil , Weiss Ronald , Fabian Claire , Schulz Isabell , Guthardt Max , Lange Franziska , Greiser Sebastian , Schmidt Matthias , Braumann Ulf-Dietrich , Emmrich Frank , Koehl Ulrike , Jaimes Yarúa
Published: January 2022

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have great capacity for immune regulation. MSCs provide protective paracrine effects, which are partially exerted by extracellular vesicles (EVs). It has been reported that MSCs-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) contain soluble factors, such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and even microRNAs, which confer them similar anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects to MSCs. Moreover, MSCs modulate microglia activation through a dual mechanism of action that relies both on cell contact and secreted factors. Microglia cells are the central nervous system immune cells and the main mediators of the inflammation leading to neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we investigated whether MSC-EVs affect the activation of microglia cells by β-amyloid aggregates. We show that the presence of MSC-EVs can prevent the upregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO). Both are up-regulated in neurodegenerative diseases representing chronic inflammation, as in Alzheimer’s disease. We demonstrate that MSC-EVs are internalized by the microglia cells. Further, our study supports the use of MSC-EVs as a promising therapeutic tool to treat neuroinflammatory diseases.

Significance Statement

It has been reported that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells and MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles have therapeutic effects in the treatment of various degenerative and inflammatory diseases. Extracellular vesicles are loaded with proteins, lipids and RNA and act as intercellular communication mediators. Here we show that extracellular vesicles can be taken up by murine microglial cells. In addition, they partially reduce the activation of microglial cells against β-amyloid aggregates. This inhibition of microglia activation may present an effective strategy for the control/therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Graphic Abstract
Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Mouse Hair Follicles Reduce Hypertrophic Scarring in a Murine Wound Healing Model
Authors: Li Hanluo , Ziemer Mirjana , Stojanovic Ivana , Saksida Tamara , Maksimovic-Ivanic Danijela , Mijatovic Sanja , Djmura Goran , Gajic Dragica , Koprivica Ivan , Krajnovic Tamara , Draca Dijana , Simon Jan-Christoph , Lethaus Bernd , Savkovic Vuk
Published: January 2022

Wound healing of acute full-thickness injuries and chronic non-healing ulcers leads to delayed wound closure, prolonged recovery period and hypertrophic scarring, generating a demand for an autologous cell therapy and a relevant pre-clinical research models for wound healing. In this study, an immunocompetent model for wound healing was employed using a syngeneic murine cell line of mesenchymal stem cells cultured from the mouse whisker hair follicle outer root sheath (named moMSCORS). moMSCORS were isolated using an air-liquid interface method, expanded in vitro and characterized according to the MSC definition criteria - cell viability, in vitro proliferation, MSC phenotype and multi-lineage differentiations. Moreover, upon applying moMSCORS in an in vivo full-thickness wound model in the syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, the treated wounds displayed different morphology to that of the untreated wound beds. Quantitative evaluation of angiogenesis, granulation and wound closure involving clinical scoring and software-based quantification indicated a lower degree of inflammation in the treated wounds. Histological staining of treated wounds by the means of H&E, Alcian Blue, PicroSirius Red and αSMA immune labelling showed lower cellularity, less collagen filaments as well as thinner dermal and epidermal layers compared with the untreated wounds, indicating a general reduction of hypertrophic scars. The decreased inflammation, accelerated wound closure and non-hypertrophic scarring, which were facilitated by moMSCORS, hereby address a common problem of hypertrophic scars and non-physiological tissue properties upon wound closure, and additionally offer an in vivo model for the autologous cell-based wound healing.

Graphic Abstract
Positieve beoordeling van de zorg weinig veranderd tijdens de coronapandemie, maar nog altijd ruimte voor verbetering
Authors: Menting Juliane , Scheffer Mariska , Spreeuwenberg Peter , van Schelven Femke
Published: January 2022

Samenvatting

Inleiding

Het meten van patiëntervaringen geeft belangrijke inzichten in de kwaliteit van de Nederlandse gezondheidszorg. Het huidige onderzoek toetst in hoeverre de ervaren kwaliteit van zorg door de jaren heen is veranderd en hoe deze samenhangt met veranderingen in zorg en gezondheid tijdens de coronapandemie.

Methode

Patiëntervaringen zijn verzameld met tevredenheidsoordelen en de kwaliteitsindicator PREM Chronische Zorg, onder een representatieve steekproef van mensen met een chronische ziekte. Trendanalyses (2016–2020) zijn uitgevoerd en verschillen tussen subgroepen zijn getoetst met Mann-Whitney U‑toetsen.

Resultaten

De kwaliteit van de zorg wordt over het algemeen positief ervaren, ook tijdens de coronapandemie in het najaar van 2020. In dat jaar zijn mensen het minst tevreden over de afstemming tussen zorgverleners en over de preventieve begeleiding van hun ziekte (respectievelijk 64% en 67% is (helemaal) tevreden). Trendanalyses laten zien dat de tevredenheid over preventieve begeleiding is gedaald en dat de tevredenheid over gezamenlijke besluitvorming door de jaren heen schommelt. Mensen die gevolgen van de coronapandemie ervaren voor hun zorg of gezondheid beoordelen aspecten van de gezondheidszorg minder positief dan diegenen die geen gevolgen ervaren.

Conclusie

Het is belangrijk om aandacht te hebben voor patiëntervaringen met zorgprocessen, waarbij extra nadruk zou moeten liggen op informatie over preventie, ondersteuning bij veranderingen in de gezondheid en de behandeling tijdens de coronapandemie, en goede afstemming tussen zorgverleners.