bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐transplant hypoalbuminemia is not associated with worse short‐term outcomes among kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Breyer Isabel , Astor Brad C. , Srivastava Aniruddha , Aziz Fahad , Garg Neetika , Mohamed Maha A. , Jorgenson Margaret R. , Mandelbrot Didier A. , Parajuli Sandesh
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Serum albumin is an indicator of overall health status, but it remains unclear how pre‐transplant hypoalbuminemia is associated with early post‐transplant outcomes.

Methods

This study included all adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) at our center from 01/01/2001–12/31/2017 with serum albumin measured within 30 days before transplantation. KTRs were grouped based on pretransplant albumin level normal (≥4.0 g/dL), mild (≥3.5 – < 4.0g/dL), moderate (≥3.0 – < 3.5g/dL), or severe hypoalbuminemia (<3.0g/dL). Outcomes of interest included: length of hospital stay (LOS), readmission within 30 days, delayed graft function(DGF), and re‐operation related to post‐transplant surgical complications. We also analyzed rejection, graft failure, and death within 6 months post‐transplant.

Results

A total of 2807 KTRs were included 43.6% had normal serum albumin, 35.3% mild, 16.6% moderate, and 4.5% severe hypoalbuminemia. Mild and moderate hypoalbuminemia were associated with a shorter LOS by 1.22 (p < 0.001) and 0.80 days (p = 0.01), respectively, compared to normal albumin. Moderate (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37‐0.91; p = 0.02) and severe hypoalbuminemia (HR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07–0.68; p = 0.01) were associated with significantly lower rates of acute rejection within 6 months post‐transplant.

Conclusion

Patients with pre‐transplant hypoalbuminemia have post‐transplant outcomes similar to those with normal serum albumin, but with a lower risk of acute rejection based on the degree of hypoalbuminemia.
Public perception of guilt and deserved punishment in medical cannabis diversion
Authors: Rozmann Nir , Ne'eman‐Haviv Vered
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Illegal drug diversion is a well‐documented social problem that has received little research attention, despite the growing use of medical cannabis (MC) worldwide. This study examines public attitudes towards the punishment of MC diversion in Israel.

Method

We used a quantitative method. Participants were 399 Israelis who were given five scenarios of MC diversion to persons with and without a licence, with and without payment, and for personal profit.

Results

Respondents' attitudes differed with respect to the guilt and deserved punishment of the traffickers as a function of whether the recipient did or did not have a licence and did or did not pay for the MC. Transfers to individuals without a licence and for payment were judged more harshly than those to individuals without payment, whether or not they had a licence.

Discussion and Conclusion

The discussion addresses the findings with reference to Kohlberg's moral development theory. The findings of the study attest to the importance of public attitudes in shaping legal policy in Israel.
Pharmakologie der Januskinase‐Inhibitoren – Teil 1: Pharmakokinetik
Authors: Eichner Adina , Wohlrab Johannes
Published: November 2022

Der Einsatz von Januskinase‐Inhibitoren zur Therapie chronisch‐entzündlicher Erkrankungen etabliert sich zunehmend als Behandlungsoption in mehreren Indikationen. Um den klinischen Einsatz effizient zu gestalten, sind pharmakologische Kenntnisse zum JAK/STAT‐Signalweg zu den Besonderheiten der Pharmakokinetik der einzelnen Arzneistoffe essenziell. Der JAK/STAT‐Signalweg ist auf mehreren Ebenen (Rezeptor‐, Kinase‐, STAT‐ und SOCS‐Ebene) reguliert, sodass beim Einsatz von Januskinase‐Inhibitoren die klinisch relevante Pharmakodynamik stark vom Dosisregime, der behandelten Indikation, der Komedikation und der Komorbidität abhängt. Für den praktischen Alltag ist es deshalb von großer Bedeutung, zu erkennen, dass die genannten Faktoren relevanten Einfluss auf den therapeutischen Nutzen von Januskinase‐Inhibitoren haben können. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist auf eine zulassungskonforme Anwendung der Januskinase‐Inhibitoren besonderer Wert zu legen.
Extinction risk of Chinese angiosperms varies between woody and herbaceous species
Authors: Chen Yuheng , Wu Yongbin , Dong Yuran , Li Yao , Ge Zhiwei , George Oduro , Feng Gang , Mao Lingfeng
Published: November 2022

Aim

Understanding how species' traits and environmental contexts relate to extinction risk is a critical priority for ecology and conservation biology. This study aims to identify and explore factors related to extinction risk between herbaceous and woody angiosperms to facilitate more effective conservation and management strategies and understand the interactions between environmental threats and species' traits.

Location

China.

Taxon

Angiosperms.

Methods

We obtained a large dataset including five traits, six extrinsic variables, and 796,118 occurrence records for 14,888 Chinese angiosperms. We assessed the phylogenetic signal and used phylogenetic generalized least squares regressions to explore relationships between extinction risk, plant traits, and extrinsic variables in woody and herbaceous angiosperms. We also used phylogenetic path analysis to evaluate causal relationships among traits, climate variables, and extinction risk of different growth forms.

Results

The phylogenetic signal of extinction risk differed among woody and herbaceous species. Angiosperm extinction risk was mainly affected by growth form, altitude, mean annual temperature, normalized difference vegetation index, and precipitation change from 1901 to 2020. Woody species' extinction risk was strongly affected by height and precipitation, whereas extinction risk for herbaceous species was mainly affected by mean annual temperature rather than plant traits.

Main conclusions

Woody species were more likely to have higher extinction risks than herbaceous species under climate change and extinction threat levels varied with both plant traits and extrinsic variables. The relationships we uncovered may help identify and protect threatened plant species and the ecosystems that rely on them.
Developmental effects of constitutive mTORC1 hyperactivity and environmental enrichment on structural synaptic plasticity and behaviour in a rat model of autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Granak Simon , Tuckova Klara , Kutna Viera , Vojtechova Iveta , Bajkova Laura , Petrasek Tomas , Ovsepian Saak V.
Published: November 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition causing a range of social and communication impairments. Although the role of multiple genes and environmental factors has been reported, the effects of the interplay between genes and environment on the onset and progression of the disease remains elusive. We housed wild‐type (Tsc2+/+) and tuberous sclerosis 2 deficient (Tsc2+/−) Eker rats (ASD model) in individually ventilated cages or enriched conditions and conducted a series of behavioural tests followed by the histochemical analysis of dendritic spines and plasticity in three age groups (days 45, 90 and 365). The elevated plus‐maze test revealed a reduction of anxiety by enrichment, whereas the mobility of young and adult Eker rats in the open field was lower compared to the wild type. In the social interaction test, an enriched environment reduced social contact in the youngest group and increased anogenital exploration in 90‐ and 365‐day‐old rats. Self‐grooming was increased by environmental enrichment in young and adult rats and decreased in aged Eker rats. Dendritic spine counts revealed an increased spine density in the cingulate gyrus in adult Ekers irrespective of housing conditions, whereas spine density in hippocampal pyramidal neurons was comparable across all genotypes and groups. Morphometric analysis of dendritic spines revealed age‐related changes in spine morphology and density, which were responsive to animal genotype and environment. Taken together, our findings suggest that under TSC2 haploinsufficiency and mTORC1 hyperactivity, the expression of behavioural signs and neuroplasticity in Eker rats can be differentially influenced by the developmental stage and environment.
CCR5‐Δ32polymorphism—a possible protective factor from gait impairment amongst post‐stroke patients
Authors: Molad Jeremy , Hallevi Hen , Seyman Estelle , Rotschild Ofer , Bornstein Natan M. , Tene Oren , Giladi Nir , Hausdorff Jeffrey M. , Mirelman Anat , Ben Assayag Einor
Published: November 2022

Background and purpose

Stroke and small vessel disease cause gait disturbances and falls. The naturally occurring loss‐of‐function mutation in the C‐C chemokine receptor 5 gene (CCR5‐Δ32) has recently been reported as a protective factor in post‐stroke motor and cognitive recovery. We sought to examine whether it also influences gait and balance measures up to 2 years after stroke.

Method

Participants were 575 survivors of first‐ever, mild–moderate ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the TABASCO prospective study, who underwent a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and were examined by a multi‐professional team 6, 12 and 24 months after the event, using neurological, neuropsychological and mobility examinations. Gait rhythm and the timing of the gait cycle were measured by force‐sensitive insoles.CCR5‐Δ32 status and gait measures were available for 335 patients.

Results

CCR5‐Δ32 carriers (16.4%) had higher gait speed and decreased (better) stride and swing time variability 6 and 12 months after the index event compared to non‐carriers (p < 0.01 for all). The association remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, education, ethnicity and stroke severity.

Conclusions

Significant associations were found between gait measurements andCCR5‐Δ32 loss‐of‐function mutation amongst stroke survivors. This is the first study showing that genetic predisposition may predict long‐term gait function after ischaemic stroke.
First‐line levetiracetam versus enzyme‐inducing antiseizure medication in glioma patients with epilepsy
Authors: van der Meer Pim B. , Maschio Marta , Dirven Linda , Taphoorn Martin J. B. , Koekkoek Johan A. F. ,   Italian League Against Epilepsy Brain Tumor‐Related Epilepsy Study Group
Published: November 2022

Objective

This study aimed to directly compare the effectiveness of first‐line monotherapy levetiracetam (LEV) versus enzyme‐inducing antiseizure medications (EIASMs) in glioma patients.

Methods

In this nationwide retrospective observational cohort study, Grade 2–4 glioma patients were included, with a maximum duration of follow‐up of 36 months. Primary outcome was antiseizure medication (ASM) treatment failure for any reason, and secondary outcomes were treatment failure due to uncontrolled seizures and due to adverse effects. For estimation of the association between ASM treatment and ASM treatment failure, multivariate cause‐specific cox proportional hazard models were estimated, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

In the original cohort, a total of 808 brain tumor patients with epilepsy were included, of whom 109 glioma patients were prescribed first‐line LEV and 183 glioma patients first‐line EIASMs. The EIASM group had a significantly higher risk of treatment failure for any reason compared to LEV (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20–2.75, p = .005). Treatment failure due to uncontrolled seizures did not differ significantly between EIASMs and LEV (aHR = 1.32, 95% CI = .78–2.25, p = .300), but treatment failure due to adverse effects differed significantly (aHR = 4.87, 95% CI = 1.89–12.55, p = .001).

Significance

In this study, it was demonstrated that LEV had a significantly better effectiveness (i.e., less ASM treatment failure for any reason or due to adverse effects) compared to EIASMs, supporting the current neuro‐oncology guideline recommendations to avoid EIASMs in glioma patients.
Surprise, Hope and Gift: A Pneumatological Account of the Unexpected Nature of Vocation
Authors: Lovell Cara F.
Published: November 2022

God's call can be surprising and unexpected. This article evaluates theologies of vocation in light of this potential for surprise. Contemporary Protestant theological interpretations of vocation are critiqued as incomplete due to their tendency to present vocation as the expression and utilisation of innate abilities without giving sufficient account of how an individual might be called to something totally new and surprising. It will be suggested that this arises from a focus on creation as the dominant theological lens for interpreting vocation. An alternative focused on eschatology and pneumatology will be proposed in which both natural talents and new abilities are recognised as gifts of the Spirit given for the purpose of anticipatory proleptic participation in the coming Kingdom of God.
A facile method to produce rodlike β‐Si3N4 seed crystallites for bimodal structure controlling
Authors: Imamura Hisayuki , Kawata Tsunehiro , Honda Sawao , Iwamoto Yuji
Published: November 2022

β‐Si3N4 rodlike seed crystallites were successfully produced by single‐step heat treatment of commercial α‐Si3N4 powder at 1900°C for 20 h under an N2 gas pressure of 980 kPa. The average diameter, length, and aspect ratio of the seed crystallites were 0.73 μm, 1.37 μm, and 1.86, respectively. The α‐ ⇀ β‐Si3N4 phase transformation proceeded mainly at 1900°C, and this temperature was lower than the theoretical α‐Si3N4 dissociation temperature (1933°C) under N2 gas pressure of 980 kPa. The formation of metastable solid solution due to the dissolution of O impurity into the α‐Si3N4 crystal lattice was suggested as the driving force for the present oxide additive‐free α‐ ⇀ β‐Si3N4 phase transformation. β‐Si3N4 ceramics were fabricated by liquid phase sintering promoted by an additive system of 1 wt% MgO with 3 wt% Gd2O3. Starting α‐Si3N4 powder with 10 vol% rodlike β‐Si3N4 seed crystallites prepared in this study and an extended sintering time for up to 20 h at 1950°C resulted in the formation of bimodal microstructure composed of fine matrix grains and large elongated grains originated from the seed crystallites. The β‐Si3N4 ceramics exhibited improved fracture toughness and thermal conductivity of 5.9 ± 0.8 MPa m−1/2 and 109.3 ± 0.4 W m−1 K−1, respectively, retaining a high fracture strength of about 1 GPa.
Psychiatric inpatient admissions and discharges of people with intellectual disabilities: A time series analysis of English national data
Authors: Langdon Peter E. , Thompson Paul A. , Shepstone Lee , Perez‐Olivas Gisela , Melvin Clare L. , Barnoux Magali , Alexander Regi , Roy Ashok , Devapriam John
Published: November 2022

Background

We examined whether a series of variables were related to the number of psychiatric inpatients using publicly available data about English psychiatric bed utilisation and NHS workforce.

Method

Using linear regression, with auto‐regressive errors, we examined relationships between variables over time using data from December 2013 to March 2021.

Results

Over time, the number of inpatients reduced by either 6.58 or 8.07 per month depending upon the dataset utilised, and the number of community nurses and community nursing support staff reduced by 7.43 and 2.14 nurses per month, respectively. Increasing numbers of consultant psychiatrists were associated with fewer inpatients over time. More care and treatment reviews (CTRs) were associated with more admissions over time, while more post‐admission CTRs were associated with increased discharges over time.

Conclusions

Future studies should examine whether psychiatric bed utilisation elsewhere within the NHS by people with intellectual disabilities has increased.
The association between nonpharmacological interventions and quality of life in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Jensen Marie‐Louise , Vamosi Marianne
Published: November 2022

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common psychiatric disorder with a worldwide prevalence of about five percent among children and adolescents. This disorder affects most aspects of their lives e.g., academic performance and social relations, and their overall quality of life is reduced compared to healthy peers. The majority of children with ADHD are treated with medication that potentially has an insufficient effect and/or frequently occurring side effects.

Objectives

To enable nurses and other health care professionals to guide children with ADHD and their families in their choices of treatment, based on the best available literature on the association between nonpharmacological interventions and quality of life.

Data Sources

A literature search was performed in the databases CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Seven randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review. They examined the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids, physical activity, psychoeducation, cognitive therapy, cognitive training, hippotherapy, and behavioral therapy.

Conclusions

The study of behavioral therapy in the form of a sleep intervention detected an improvement in quality of life which was statistically significant compared to the control group.

Implications for Practice

Children with ADHD and a sleep disorder may gain improvement in their quality of life from a sleep intervention.
Mediterranean diet component oleic acid increases protective lipid mediators and improves trabecular bone in a Porphyromonas gingivalis inoculation model
Authors: Döding Annika , Hüfner Mira , Nachtsheim Franziska , Iffarth Viktoria , Bölter Anna , Bastian Asisa , Symmank Judit , Andreas Nico , Schädel Patrick , Thürmer Maria , Becker Kathrin , Wolf Michael , Jacobs Collin , Kamradt Thomas , Koeberle Andreas , Werz Oliver , Sigusch Bernd , Schulze‐Späte Ulrike
Published: November 2022

Aim

Therapeutic modulation of bacterial‐induced inflammatory host response is being investigated in gingival inflammation and periodontal disease pathology. Therefore, dietary intake of the monounsaturated fatty acid (FA) oleic acid (OA (C18:1)), which is the main component of Mediterranean‐style diets, and saturated FA palmitic acid (PA (C16:0)), which is a component of Western‐style diets, was investigated for their modifying potential in an oral inoculation model of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Materials and Methods

Normal‐weight C57BL/6‐mice received OA‐ or PA‐enriched diets (PA‐ED, OA‐ED, PA/OA‐ED) or normal standard diet for 16 weeks and were inoculated with P. gingivalis/placebo (n = 12/group). Gingival inflammation, alveolar bone structure, circulating lipid mediators, and in vitro cellular response were determined.

Results

FA treatment of P. gingivalis‐lipopolysaccharide‐incubated gingival fibroblasts (GFbs) modified inflammatory activation, which only PA exacerbated with concomitant TNF‐α stimulation. Mice exhibited no signs of acute inflammation in gingiva or serum and no inoculation‐ or nutrition‐associated changes of the crestal alveolar bone. However, following P. gingivalis inoculation, OA‐ED improved oral trabecular bone micro‐architecture and enhanced circulating pro‐resolving mediators resolvin D4 (RvD4) and 4‐hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (4‐HDHA), whereas PA‐ED did not. In vitro experiments demonstrated significantly improved differentiation in RvD4‐ and 4‐HDHA‐treated primary osteoblast cultures and reduced the expression of osteoclastogenic factors in GF. Further, P. gingivalis infection of OA‐ED animals led to a serum composition that suppressed osteoclastic differentiation in vitro.

Conclusions

Our results underline the preventive impact of Mediterranean‐style OA‐EDs by indicating their pro‐resolving nature beyond anti‐inflammatory properties.
Sibling dynamics in the context of parental child maltreatment: A theoretical model grounded in data
Authors: Katz Carmit , Cohen Noa , Tener Dafna , Nadan Yochay
Published: November 2022

This article presents and discusses a theoretical model grounded in data regarding sibling dynamics in the context of parental child maltreatment. The model aimed to explain the process by which parental maltreatment shaped the siblings' dynamics while following the process from childhood to adulthood. The model is based on the triangulated analysis of three samples: 120 forensic interviews with maltreated children, 83 interviews with adults who experienced maltreatment in childhood, and 48 interviews with professionals. The theoretical model presents key concepts for sibling dynamics: sibling camaraderie, sibling abuse, parentified sibling, and sibling cut‐off. In addition, the overlap and movements within and between these concepts are discussed, as well as contexts that might explain the model.
Quantifying the drivers of long‐term prices in materials supply chains
Authors: Bhuwalka Karan , Kirchain Randolph E. , Olivetti Elsa A. , Roth Richard
Published: November 2022

Raw materials costs form an increasingly significant proportion of the total costs of renewable energy technologies that must be adopted at unprecedented rates to combat climate change. As the affordable deployment of these technologies grows vulnerable to materials price changes, effective strategies must be identified to mitigate the risk of higher input costs faced by manufacturers. To better understand potential threats to deployment, a market modeling approach was developed to quantify economic risk factors including material demand, substitutability, recycling, mining productivity, resource quality, and discovery. Results demonstrate that price changes are determined by interactions between demand growth, mining productivity, and resource quality. In the worst cases with high demand and low productivity, development of material substitutes and large recycling rates help reduce the prevalence of price risk from over 90% to under 10%. Investing in these strategies yields significant benefits for manufacturers and governments concerned about costs of materials critical to decarbonization and other advanced technologies.
Identification and genetic diversity ofFusarium sacchariassociated with pokkah boeng disease of sugarcane in Northeast Brazil
Authors: de Carvalho Maria Raquel Veras , Rocha Kelvim Crist Araujo , de Melo Maruzanete Pereira , Britto Fábio Barros , Barguil Beatriz Meireles , de Alcântara Neto Francisco , Borges Abel Ferreira , da Silva Juliana Pereira , Beserra José Evando Aguiar
Published: November 2022

Isolates from theFusarium fujikuroispecies complex, mainlyF. sacchari, have been reported to be the causal agents of pokkah boeng in sugarcane in Brazil. However, inadequate information was available on the occurrence and genetic diversity ofF. sacchariin Northeast Brazil, which is a limiting factor on management. Thus, isolates ofF. subglutinanssensu lato from sugarcane plants with symptoms of pokkah boeng were evaluated using the sexual cross‐fertility to determine species. All the isolates produced black perithecia when they were crossed with the test isolates ofF. sacchari. Three weeks after the crossing, the formation of fertile ascospores cirri was observed. Thirty‐four isolates were self‐sterile hermaphrodites, while 21 were fertile only as males. Five isolates were homothallic. The effective size [Ne(f)] of the population as a function of the frequency of hermaphrodites and female sterile strains was 95.5%. TheF. sacchariisolates were separated into four genetic groups independent of geographic location. The mean of polymorphism among all populations was 79%, and the average unbiased genetic diversity (uh) was considered moderate (0.31). This study in addition to confirming thatF. saccharias the main species associated with pokkah boeng in sugarcane in Northeast Brazil, reveals the relationship of mating type and genetic diversity ofF. sacchari. The unrestricted gene flow between regions is probably the best explanation for the low geographic correlation. This knowledge will help in the adoption of management measures with fungicides or resistant cultivars.
The role of Sirt3‐induced autophagy in renal structural damage caused by periodontitis in rats
Authors: Ding Xu , Hou Yubo , Liu Xinchan , Li Xin , Liu Xiaomeng , Deng Yu , Cao Niuben , Yu Weixian
Published: November 2022

Objective

This research aimed to explore the effect of periodontitis on renal tissues injury in rats and the role of Sirtuin3 (Sirt3) and its regulation of autophagy in this progression.

Material and Methods

Thirty Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: control, periodontitis (P), and periodontitis with gavage administration of Sirt3 activator resveratrol (P + RSV). To induce periodontitis, the wire ligature was placed around the cervical region of the rat maxillary first molar. After 8 weeks, micro‐computed tomography (Micro‐CT) and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) were used to evaluate the alveolar bone resorption and periodontal inflammation. Serum and urine biochemical indicators were measured to assess renal function. The pathological changes of the kidney were observed via HE and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Autophagosome was viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Real‐time PCR and western blot were used to test expressions of Sirt3 and autophagy indicators in renal and periodontal tissues, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphor‐mTOR (p‐mTOR), BECN1 (Beclin‐1), and microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3).

Results

Alveolar bone destruction, resorption, and periodontal inflammation were observed in the P group (compared with the control group), and the above indexes were significantly improved after RSV intervention; the obvious changes in renal tissue structure in the P group were partially recovered after RSV intervention, while renal functional status was not affected (among the three groups); in addition, the levels of Sirt3 and autophagy in kidney and periodontal tissues of P group were inhibited, manifested as a decrease in the number of autophagosomes (renal tissue) and expressions of autophagy marker Beclin‐1 and LC3 conversion rate and an increase in the expression of p‐mTOR. After Sirt3 activation (RSV), the above indicators were significantly improved.

Conclusion

Periodontitis causes renal structural damage in rats, which may be connected to the effect of Sirt3‐induced autophagy.
Cream‐skimming at the frontline: The role of administrative literacy
Authors: Döring Matthias , Jilke Sebastian
Published: November 2022

The notion of cream‐skimming—defined as the propensity to prioritize clients who have a higher likelihood of meeting bureaucratic success criteria, including organizational goals—is at the heart of street‐level bureaucracies. However, there is often no direct information available to street‐level bureaucrats whether clients will actually meet bureaucratic success criteria. This study argues that street‐level bureaucrats assess clients' potential to reach these criteria via their administrative literacy—a client's capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic information and services from public administrations—as displayed in social interactions. Therefore, this study elaborates on the role of clients' administrative literacy and its effects on cream‐skimming behavior. Using data from two experiments, we show that public employees prioritize clients with higher levels of preparedness and effective communication strategies. These findings suggest that cream‐skimming is not just a rational cost–benefit analysis, but strongly influenced by social dynamics within public encounters.
Against the Religious Neutrality Requirement
Authors: Friberg‐Fernros Henrik
Published: November 2022

One element of the liberal ideal of secularity is the principle that the state should treat religions neutrally: This is the religious neutrality requirement. Applied to religious belief systems, the principle stipulates that the state should not take a position on whether or not a certain religion is true. I challenge this ideal and argue that teachers in public schools sometimes need to take a position on religious truth claims in order to avoid the risk of promoting false beliefs. I then argue that not acting to avert these implications is sufficiently costly to justify the abandonment of this requirement.
Biophysical and biochemical changes in skin health of healthcare professionals using respirators during COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Abiakam Nkemjika , Jayabal Hemalatha , Mitchell Kay , Bader Dan , Worsley Peter
Published: November 2022

Background

Personal protective equipment, including respirator devices, has been used to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. These are fitted to skin sites on the face to prevent airborne transmission but have resulted in reports of discomfort and adverse skin reactions from their continued usage. The present study addresses the objective changes in both the structural integrity and biological response of the skin following prolonged and consecutive use of respirators.

Materials and methods

A longitudinal cohort study, involving 17 HCWs who wear respirators daily, was designed. Changes in the barrier properties and biological response of the skin were assessed at three facial anatomical sites, namely, the nasal bridge, left cheek and at a location outside the perimeter of respirator. Assessments were made on three different sessions corresponding to the first, second and third consecutive days of mask usage. Skin parameters included transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration and erythema, as well as cytokine biomarkers sampled from sebum using a commercial tape.

Results

The cheek and the site outside the perimeter covered by the respirator presented minimal changes in skin parameters. By contrast, significant increases in both the TEWL (up to 4.8 fold) and SC hydration (up to 2.7 fold) were detected at the nasal bridge on the second consecutive day of respirator‐wearing. There was a high degree of variation in the individual expression of pro‐and anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Increasing trends in nasal bridge TEWL values were associated with the body mass index (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The most sensitive objective parameter in detecting changes in the skin barrier proved to be the increase in TEWL at the nasal bridge, particularly on the second day of consecutive respirator usage. By contrast, other measures of skin were less able to detect remarkable variations in the barrier integrity. Consideration for protecting skin health is required for frontline workers, who continue to wear respirators for prolonged periods over consecutive days during the pandemic.
Utility of microbiologic testing in surveillance bronchoscopy following lung transplantation: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dillon William P. , Acosta Tommy Parraga , Failla Andrew , Corrales Julio , Alangaden George , Ramesh Mayur
Published: November 2022

Background

The utility of surveillance bronchoscopy (SB) for the clinical management of lung transplant recipients (LTRs) is undefined. This study evaluates the role of SB in the monitoring and care of LTRs.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all LTRs who had SB at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan between August 2014 and August 2019. Bronchoscopies performed for clinical symptoms, new radiographic abnormalities, and to assess stents or acute rejection were excluded. A total of 107 LTRs and 449 bronchoscopies were analyzed. The primary outcome was the rate of change in clinical care based on microbiologic and pathologic test results. Secondary outcomes were rates of microbiologic and pathologic test positivity and rates of adverse effects.

Results

The most common microbiologic tests performed on bronchoalveolar lavage were bacterial (96.9%), fungal (95.3%), and acid‐fast bacillus (95.1%) stains and cultures. Of 2560 microbiologic tests, 22.0% were positive and resulted in therapy changes for 2.9%. Positive galactomannan, acid‐fast bacillus tests, and Pneumocystis jirovecii antigen/polymerase chain reaction did not result in therapy changes. Of the 370 transbronchial biopsies performed, 82.2% were negative for acute rejection and 13% were positive for A1/A2 rejection. Immunosuppressive therapy changes occurred after 15.8% with reduction in immunosuppression due to positive microbiologic tests in 16.9%. Adverse events occurred in 8.0% of patients.

Conclusion

Diagnostic stewardship is warranted when performing SB in LTRs.

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(Re-)Imagining Neighbourhood Spaces from a Transdisciplinary, Inclusive Research Perspective: The Vaartkom Case
Authors: Vrebos H. , Bianchi G.M. , Croughs Z.W.F. , Descheemaeker E. , Mier A.R.B. , Pacific A.A. , Van der Stighelen A. , Van Espen M.J. , Wirla L. , Hermans K. , Hannes K.
Published: November 2022

Cities and dense urban areas are dynamic environments, always adapting to changing circumstances and shocks, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The Vaartkom (or the Canal Bowl in English), a neighbourhood in Leuven, provides an interesting case study, having undergone a drastic transformation
in the past two decades from a dilapidated industrial zone to mixed neighbourhood and cultural hotspot. This has introduced renewed and ongoing community dynamics, which inevitably influences the use of public and private space in the neighbourhood, creating new areas for inclusion and exclusion.
This threefold transdisciplinary research focuses first on the spatial dynamics on the level of public space under COVID-19 as part of a wider series of neighbourhood dynamics. Second, it dives into the aspect of inclusive environments and third, it uses the transdisciplinary research process
to reflect on a meta-level. Employing various methods – such as interviews, site visits, stakeholder and physical mapping exercises, we worked with community members to explore these spatial dynamics. Our findings highlight the conflicting expectations about the present and future use
of public space. These opposing opinions reveal the tensions that exist among community members about how public spaces are used and whom they are for. This suggests there are multiple understandings of the Vaartkom. These multiple understandings were drawn from responses collected during
a public engagement activity, which were subsequently analysed in a thematic and spatial way. This analysis brought forward influences of a temporal and spatial nature – that is, we acknowledge that the selected locations at which we engaged with community members, and the time of day,
played a role in who we reached in the community and the responses we collected. This highlights the degree of awareness and participatory effort required to be truly inclusive. We therefore pro pose that future engagements involve the creation of a "Third Sphere" – a space for open,
transparent and neutral dialogue – allowing the opportunity not only to imagine a collective future, but also to build bridges and help community members feel heard and empowered to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive post-COVID-19 environment.
Archiving Archaeological Data in Croatia
Authors: Sirovoca Filomens , Radman-Livaja Ivan
Published: November 2022

This article aims to summarise the current situation regarding digital archaeological archives in Croatia.
The State of the Art of Digital Archiving in Bosnia and Herzogivina
Authors: Handzic Meliha , Pandzic Ivana
Published: November 2022

This article aims to summarise the current situation regarding digital archaeological archives in Bosnia and Herzogivina.
The State of the Art of Digital Archiving in Cyprus
Authors: Vassallo Valentina , Hermon Sorin
Published: November 2022

This article aims to summarise the current situation regarding digital archaeological archives in Cyprus.
Archiving Digital Archaeological Data - Evaluation of a Survey in Germany
Authors: Göldner Reiner , Bibby David , Senst Henriette
Published: November 2022

Archiving of digital research data based on established standards and methods is an important part of the research data lifecycle. It guarantees the long-term transparency and reusability of research results. In the case of archaeological data, this is of particular importance for the preservation of unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage. To gain insight into the current state of affairs regarding long-term archiving in Germany, the SEADDA (Saving European Archaeology from the Digital Dark Age) COST Action (1) and the Commission on Archaeology and Information Systems in the Association of German State Archaeologists (2), with the support of the IANUS Research Data Center of the DAI (3), conducted a survey in spring/summer 2021. This article presents the results of the survey together with recommendations for further and supporting measures targeted at improving the long-term archiving of digital archaeological data in Germany.
A System Approach to Contact Fatigue Life Estimation of Right-Angled Geared System
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Srikumar C. , Nilangekar Abhijit , Chung Jerry , Mehta Yogesh , Kanade Bhushan
Published: November 2022

The right-angled geared systems are used in automotive and aerospace applications. Most of the right-angled geared systems fail due to contact fatigue. Several articles reported discussing contact fatigue failure of parallel axis geared systems, and the contact fatigue conditions of hypoid and spiral bevel geared systems are seldom studied. This work aims to bridge the gap and proposes a simplified method to model contact fatigue in the right-angled geared system under dry contact conditions. Initially, the gear contact is modeled using a tooth contact analysis methodology for a given load, speed, and operating conditions. The above step is followed by obtaining stress histories based on suitable interpolation conditions, finite element computation, and Hertzian contact conditions. These stress histories form the basis of the Characteristic plane method. The contact fatigue life of the gears is calculated based on the equivalent bending amplitude of a multiaxial stress condition. The equivalent bending amplitude is then used to determine the number of cycles of operation the gear can endure from the SN-curve for that material. This method is then used to perform parametric analysis based on the size, material type, and gear contact ratio.
Reinforcement Learning Based Sequential Batch-Sampling for Bayesian Optimal Experimental Design
Authors: Ashenafi Yonatan , Pandita Piyush , Ghosh Sayan
Published: November 2022

Engineering problems that are modeled using sophisticated mathematical methods or are characterized by expensive-to-conduct tests or experiments, are encumbered with limited budget or finite computational resources. Moreover, practical scenarios in the industry, impose restrictions, based on logistics and preference, on the manner in which the experiments can be conducted. For example, material supply may enable only a handful of experiments in a single-shot or in the case of computational models one may face significant wait-time based on shared computational resources. In such scenarios, one usually resorts to performing experiments in a manner that allows for maximizing one’s state-of-knowledge while satisfying the above mentioned practical constraints. Sequential design of experiments (SDOE) is a popular suite of methods, that has yielded promising results in recent years across different engineering and practical problems. A common strategy, that leverages Bayesian formalism is the Bayesian SDOE, which usually works best in the one-step-ahead or myopic scenario of selecting a single experiment at each step of a sequence of experiments. In this work, we aim to extend the SDOE strategy, to query the experiment or computer code at a batch of inputs. To this end, we leverage deep reinforcement learning (RL) based policy gradient methods, to propose batches of queries that are selected taking into account entire budget in hand. The algorithm retains the sequential nature, inherent in the SDOE, while incorporating elements of reward based on task from the domain of deep RL. A unique capability of the proposed methodology is its ability to be applied to multiple tasks, for example optimization of a function, once its trained. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm on a synthetic problem, and a challenging high-dimensional engineering problem.
A Predictive Approach to Geometry Preparation for AR/VR Applications
Authors: Dammann Maximilian Peter , Steger Wolfgang , Paetzold Kristin
Published: November 2022

AR/VR applications are a valuable tool in product development and the overall product lifecycle in engineering. However, data transformation of the models from CAD systems to the AR/VR applications is labor-intensive and requires expertise. The main task in the data transformation is the tessellation of the product geometry. Depending on the product complexity and the performance of the target platform extensive optimization is needed to ensure the usability and visual quality of the AR/VR application.

Current approaches to this problem use iterative and inflexible processes mostly based on tessellation and on mesh decimation that ignore the varying importance of different geometric aspects for an AR/VR application. An alternative respectively more targeted approach is proposed, that aims at predicting tessellation results and moving the optimization process before the actual tessellation. As a result, the need for iterative operations on the polygon meshes can be reduced or ideally avoided altogether.

The paper presents some results of an investigation of the hypothesis that geometric complexity metrics can be used to control and enhance the choice of tessellation parameters. Several characteristics and metrics are identified and gathered from literature and subsequently evaluated with regard to the polygon count and visual quality in the geometry preparation process. Based on the evaluation, prediction models are created and implemented in a geometry preparation tool. The performance is evaluated and discussed.
The Impact of a Strategy of Deception About the Identity of an Artificial Intelligence Teammate on Human Designers
Authors: Zhang Guanglu , Raina Ayush , Brownell Ethan , Cagan Jonathan
Published: November 2022

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities for human-AI collaboration in engineering design. Human trust in AI is a crucial factor in ensuring an effective human-AI collaboration, and several approaches to enhance human trust in AI have been suggested in prior studies. However, it remains an open question in engineering design whether a strategy of deception about the identity of an AI teammate can effectively calibrate human trust in AI and improve human-AI joint performance. This research assesses the impact of the strategy of deception on human designers through a human subjects study where half of participants are told that they work with an AI teammate (i.e., without deception), and the other half of participants are told that they work with another human participant but in fact they work with an AI teammate (i.e., with deception). The results demonstrate that, for this study, the strategy of deception improves high proficiency human designers’ perceived competency of their teammate. However, the strategy of deception does not raise the average number of team collaborations and does not improve the average performance of high proficiency human designers. For low proficiency human designers, the strategy of deception does not change their perceived competency and helpfulness of their teammate, and further reduces the average number of team collaborations while hurting their average performance at the beginning of the study. The potential reasons behind these results are discussed with an argument against using the strategy of deception in engineering design.
Improving Designer Learning in Design Space Exploration by Adapting to the Designer’s Learning Goals
Authors: Virós-i-Martin Antoni , Selva Daniel
Published: November 2022

Design space exploration is a design method by which the designer tries to learn important information about a design problem (e.g., main design trade-offs, sensitivities, common features among good designs) to help them make better design decisions. This paper presents preliminary results of a study characterizing the effects on a designer’s learning of an AI assistant that adapts to the designer’s goals during design space exploration. Specifically, we compare the designer’s learning when the AI assistant adapts to explicit learning goals shared by the designer versus when it does not adapt. The AI assistant used for the study is Daphne, which helps engineers design Earth observation satellite systems. The designer’s learning process is modeled as an iterative hypothesis generation and testing process. First, the designer shares with Daphne a certain learning goal in the form of a hypothesis (e.g., designs with feature F are more likely to be on the Pareto front). Then, Daphne adapts to this goal by searching for more designs that have the feature being tested and showing the user the extent to which the data supports their hypothesis. The participants in the preliminary study are N = 10 students from Texas A&M University. We ask each participant to design earth observation satellite constellations to meet a set of requirements while trying to learn about the design problem. The results show that participants with the adaptive AI assistant consistently score higher on their learning about the design task compared to the baseline design assistant as measured by a post-task test. A negative effect is observed on task performance with the adaptive AI assistant condition due to a smaller number of design creation actions, which is consistent with findings from previous studies. Recommendations are provided for the design of similar future AI assistants based on the results of this study. Finally, a power study is done to set a goal for statistical validity of the study.
Integrated Computational Materials Engineering With Monotonic Gaussian Processes
Authors: Tran Anh , Maupin Kathryn , Rodgers Theron
Published: November 2022

Physics-constrained machine learning is emerging as an important topic in the field of machine learning for physics. One of the most significant advantages of incorporating physics constraints into machine learning methods is that the resulting machine learning model requires significantly fewer data to train. By incorporating physical rules into the machine learning formulation itself, the predictions are expected to be physically plausible. Gaussian process (GP) is perhaps one of the most common methods in machine learning for small datasets. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of constraining a GP formulation with monotonicity on two different material datasets, where one experimental and one computational dataset is used. The monotonic GP is compared against the regular GP, where a significant reduction in the posterior variance is observed. The monotonic GP is strictly monotonic in the interpolation regime, but in the extrapolation regime, the monotonic effect starts fading away as one goes beyond the training dataset. Imposing monotonicity on the GP comes at a small accuracy cost, compared to the regular GP. The monotonic GP is perhaps most useful in applications where data is scarce and noisy or when the dimensionality is high, and monotonicity is where supported by strong physical reasoning.