bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environment and chronic kidney disease in farmers
Authors: Nagai Kei
Published: October 2021

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been on the rise worldwide. Epidemiological studies performed primarily in Central America and South Asia have reported high prevalence of CKD among young and middle-aged men working in agricultural communities. The clinical features do not appear linked to any classical CKD risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or chronic nephritis. The disease develops and progresses as interstitial nephritis, without showing noticeable symptoms or high levels of proteinuria. Pathologically, the disease essentially represents chronic interstitial nephritis and is termed chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC). The potential causes of CINAC include: (1) heat stress-related factors associated with increased ambient temperatures resulting from global warming; and (2) factors connected with exposure to agrochemicals and/or pesticides. Global warming and environmental pollution will undoubtedly pose a significant health risk to farmers, and heat stress during farm work could easily result in the development and progression of CKD. Japanese agricultural regions evidently will not be spared from global environmental changes. For future epidemiological studies, researchers should establish a more comprehensive analytical method that can incorporate additional risk-factor variables, such as occupational history (including agricultural work) and ambient temperature.
Correlation of sperm DNA damage with blastocyst formation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Adiga Prashanth K. , Vitthala Srisailesh , Shivaranjeni
Published: October 2021

Background

The routine semen analysis fails to detect sperm DNA damage which contributes to the majority of male factor infertility. Sperm DNA fragmentation test (DFI) measures the sperm DNA damage. Blastocyst formation is an important step in IVF ± ICSI. At present, the literature lacks any data that correlates DFI and blastocyst formation.

Main body of the abstract

We searched MEDLINE and other databases till 2020 for the studies that reported on sperm DNA damage and blastocyst formation in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The outcomes analyzed were (1) a comparison of blastulation rates in high DFI and low DFI groups. (2) Comparison of blastulation rates in high DFI and low DFI groups based on (a) different sperm DNA fragmentation assays (COMET, SCD, SCSA, TUNEL), (b) different types of ART (IVF/IVF + ICSI/ICSI). 10 studies were included in this review. A non-significant increase in the blastocyst formation was observed in high DFI group (OR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.4 to 1.21; P = 0.20) and with SCD and TUNEL assays.

Short conclusion

Our study emphasizes on sperm DNA fragmentation (sperm DNA damage) as an important marker of blastocyst formation. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the high sperm DNA fragmentation may not adversely affect the blastocyst formation.
Impact of percutaneous ventricular septal defect closure on left ventricular remodeling and function
Authors: Aal Amr Abdel , Hassan Housam M. , Ezzeldin Dina , El Sayed Maiy
Published: October 2021

Background

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart disease. In patients with large VSD, left side chambers are subjected to volume overload with subsequent chambers dilatation and eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Percutaneous closure of VSD has been shown to be an effective method with equal safety and efficacy when compared to surgery. The effect of VSD closure on LV remodeling has been mainly assessed in patients treated with surgery and to date published data remain scarce. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the effect of percutaneous VSD closure on different LV parameters.

Results

Seventeen patients (median age 6 years (IQR 4.75–8 years), 70.6% females) who underwent percutaneous VSD closure were enrolled in the study. Sixteen patients (94%) had perimembranous VSD, and one patient had muscular VSD. The procedure was successful in all patients with no major complications. Nit Occlud® Lê coil device was implanted in 16 patients (94%), and one patient received Amplatzer PDA duct occlude device. At 6-months follow-up, there was a significant reduction in indexed LV dimensions [LVEDD/BSA (median 46.5 mm/m2 vs. 42.9 mm/m2, p = 0.03), LVESD/BSA (median 31.7 mm/m2 vs. 26.7 mm/m2, p = 0.02)], indexed LV volumes [LVEDV/BSA (median 52.6 ml/m2 vs. 37.3 ml/m2, p = 0.02), LVESV/BSA (median 31.7 ml/m2 vs. 23.3 ml/m2, p = 0.02)] and indexed LV mass (median 62.4 gm/m2 vs. 57.9 ml/m2, p = 0.01). There was a significant reduction in LVEDD Z-score (p = 0.01) and LVESD Z-score (p = 0.04). There was no significant change in LV EF.

Conclusions

Percutaneous VSD closure is associated with improvement of various LV parameters with consequential favorable LV remodeling and function.
Diagnostic performance of 320 cardiac MDCT angiography in assessment of PDA either isolated or associated with duct dependent congenital heart disease
Authors: Gad Samar Abdelatty , Shaban Ekhlas Abdelmonem , Dawoud Mohammed Mahmoud , Youssef Mohamed Ahmed
Published: October 2021

Background

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of most common congenital heart defects, it's a unique vascular structure that provides direct communication between pulmonary and systemic circulation. MDCT angiography is a good imaging modality for evaluation of the PDAs and detection of their exact morphological type; course and diameters, which is important before percutaneous closure or stenting procedure of the PDA, also for selection of closure hardware. The aim of this study was to assess the role of MDCT angiography in qualitative and quantitative evaluation of PDA and associated cardiac and\or extracardiac anomalies.

Results

Echocardiography detected PDA in 28\30 cases while cardiac MDCT detected PDA in all studied 30 cases confirmed by cardiac catheterization and/or operation. MDCT angiography had sensitivity 100% and specificity 100% for PDA detection. PDA originated from aortic isthmus in 15 cases, inferior surface of aortic arch in 11 cases and innominate artery in 4 cases. The most common morphological type of PDA was type A (cone\46.67%) followed by type C (tubular\23.3%), type D (complex\10%), type E (elongated\13.33%) and type B (window\6.67%). The spearman correlation coefficient test demonstrated poor correlation between size of aortic end and MPA (P = 0.75), and between size of pulmonary end and diameter of MPA (P = 0.99) and also demonstrated fair correlation between length of PDA and MPA (P = 0.018). PDA was isolated in 4\30 cases and associated with cardiac and\or extra cardiac anomalies in 26\30 cases included; ASD (n = 18), VSD (n = 16), pulmonary atresia (n = 7), transposition of great arteries (n = 5), teratology of Fallot (n = 4), aortic coarctation (n = 4), persistent truncus arteriosus (n = 3), tricuspid atresia (n = 3), anomalous of pulmonary venous return (n = 3), hypoplastic segment of aorta (n = 2), Ebstein's anomaly (n = 1), bicuspid aortic arch (n = 1) and left hypoplastic heart syndrome (n = 1).

Conclusion

Cardiac MDCT angiography was superior to Echocardiography in detection, quantitative and qualitative evaluation of PDA either isolated or associated with congenital cardiac and\or extracardiac anomalies and was superior to Echocardiography in detection of associated extracardiac anomalies rather than associated intra cardiac anomalies.
Search for RNA aptamers against non-structural protein of SARS-CoV-2: Design using molecular dynamics approach
Authors: Kothandan Ram , Uthayasooriyan Pavithra , Vairamani Sivaranjani
Published: October 2021

Background

Recent outbreak of deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) urges the scientist to identify the potential vaccine or drug to control the disease. SARS-CoV-2 with its single stranded RNA genome (length ~ 30 kb) is enveloped with active spike proteins. The genome is non-segmental with 5’-cap and 3’-poly tail and acts as a mRNA for the synthesis of replicase polyproteins. The replicase gene lying downstream to 5’-end encodes for non-structural protein, which in turn pose multiple functions ranging from envelope to nucleocapsid development. This study aims to identify the highly stable, effective and less toxic single strand RNA-based aptamers against non-structural protein 10 (NSP10). NSP10 is the significant activator of methyltransferase enzymes (NSP14 and NSP16) in SARS-CoV-2. Inhibiting the activation of methyltransferase leads to partial viral RNA capping or lack of capping, which makes the virus particles susceptible to host defence system.

Results

In this study, we focused on designing RNA aptamers through computational approach, docking of protein-aptamer followed by molecular dynamics simulation to perceive the binding stability of complex. Docking study reveals the high binding affinity of three aptamers namely RNA-053, 001, 010 to NSP10 with the HADDOCK score of − 88.5 ± 7.0, − 87.7 ± 11.5, − 86.1 ± 12 respectively. Molecular Dynamics suggests high conformational stability between the aptamer and the protein. Among the screened aptamers two aptamers maintained at least 3-4 intermolecular H-bonds throughout the simulation period.

Conclusions

The study identifies the potential aptamer candidate against less investigated but significant antiviral target i.e., NSP10/NSP16 interface complex.
Host immune response to infection with porcine circoviruses
Authors: Shi Ruihan , Hou Lei , Liu Jue
Published: October 2021

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), which serves as a major causative agent of PCV2-associated diseases and causes severe loss to the pig industry worldwide, can dysregulate the immune response and induce immunosuppression in PCV2-infected pigs. Similar to PCV2, porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), a newly identified swine circovirus which might be closely associated with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, reproductive disorder, and multisystemic inflammatory responses, also interferes with host immune defense. Interaction between host immune system and PCVs is considered to be a crucial determinant of pathogenicity in pigs. Here, we sought to briefly discuss the current knowledge regarding the interaction of porcine circovirus type 2 and/or 3 with host immune cells and immune responses to better depict the viral immunomodulatory capacity, pathogenic mechanisms, and the future research direction in host immune responses to infection with PCV2 and PCV3.
The Cinematic Milieu
Authors: Larkin Brian
Published: October 2021

To what extent are media technologies autonomous forces that reorganize the environment around them to accommodate their own technological needs? In what ways are these technologies responsive to the milieu they grow within? A central theme of comparative media examines how media enter into reciprocal exchange with the broader cultural, social, and economic formations in which they emerge and which differ from place to place and over time. This article draws on the concept of milieu in order to analyze the evolution of digital cinema infrastructures in contemporary Nigeria.
Archipelagic Archives
Authors: Furuhata Yuriko
Published: October 2021

This article examines the intertwined cultural politics of geology, mining, and archival media in the context of Japan's development as an archipelagic empire. The first Japanese geological map (1876) was completed by American geologist Benjamin Smith Lyman, who surveyed mineral deposits in Hokkaidō, Japan's northern island, long inhabited by the Indigenous Ainu people. Following anticolonial and archipelagic scholarship, the author reads across earthly archives of geological strata and colonial archives of historical documents to elucidate the conceptual duality of the archipelago as both a geological formation and a geopolitical territory. In tracing this formative era of Japan's resource extraction and settler colonialism, which precedes and informs the current rush to extract rare earth minerals necessary to maintain global digital infrastructures, this article aims to both de-Westernize the methodological orientation known as media geology and offer a prehistory of contemporary rare earth mining in the Pacific Ocean.
Face Mask Face-Offs
Authors: Klinenberg Eric , Sherman Melina
Published: October 2021

In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be especially destructive and divisive. One of the few things that has united Americans during the pandemic, however, is the experience of watching a new genre of viral videos—face mask face-offs—that showcase citizens going toe-to-toe in public places because someone refuses to wear a mask. These videos are not mere political theater; they are replete with sociologically meaningful data about the nature of Americans’ cultural divisions. By closely analyzing recorded conflicts over collective coronavirus risks and individual freedoms in public settings, the authors identify six justifications for not wearing a mask. These justifications point to emerging cultural discourses and practices organized around phones that not only point to new ways for us to observe social life but participate in the reconfiguration of social life—and social conflict—itself.
MRI-based observation of the size and morphology of temporomandibular joint articular disc and condyle in young asymptomatic adults
Authors: Luo Dan , Qiu Cheng , Zhou Ruizhi , Yu Wenhui , Li Xitao , Yang Jianjun
Published: October 2021

Objective:

To investigate the size and morphology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) articular disc and condyle in young asymptomatic adults by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and scientific study of temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Methods:

Overall, 93 undergraduate volunteers without TMD were enrolled from the freshmen pool at the Qingdao University. All participants underwent MRI of the oblique sagittal and oblique coronal TMJ planes. The articular disc and condyle were subsequently measured, and their morphology was evaluated. The obtained data were then grouped and analyzed statistically. Finally, intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the interobserver measurement reliability.

Results:

We totally received 186 TMJ imaging samples. Based on our analysis, disc’s anterior band in young asymptomatic adult females were thicker than males of the same age (p = 0.024). Moreover, the media-lateral dimensions of the condylar head of adult females were shorter than males of equal age (P＜0.001). The bilateral articular disc morphology was the same in 72.4% of subjects while the condylar morphology was the same in 63.4% of participants. Finally, using measurement reliability assessment, we demonstrated that our conclusions are reliable (ICC ≥0.7).

Conclusion:

The thickness of the anterior band of the disc and the media-lateral dimensions of the condylar head were gender-related. Additionally, the morphology of the bilateral articular disc and condyle was different among the subset of young asymptomatic adults.
Εκπαιδευτικές παρεμβάσεις που αφορούν στην ομαλή ένταξη χαρισματικών με διάγνωση ΔΕΠΥ
Authors: Μωραΐτη Αφροδίτη , Νταλάκα Βασιλική
Published: October 2021

Οι χαρισματικοί μαθητές με μαθησιακές δυσκολίες και συγκεκριμένα με ΔΕΠΥ είναι μια μοναδική υποομάδα μαθητών που παρουσιάζουν τόσο ανώτερη διανοητική ικανότητα όσο και ειδικά προβλήματα μάθησης. Επίσης, γνωστοί ως "δύο φορές χαρισματικοί" και "διττά χαρισματικοί" (twice exceptional), οι χαρισματικοί μαθητές με ΔΕΠΥ έχουν γνωστικές, ψυχολογικές και ακαδημαϊκές ανάγκες που διαφέρουν από εκείνες είτε των χαρισματικών πληθυσμών είτε εκείνων με ΔΕΠΥ. Συχνά αυτοί οι μαθητές δεν αναγνωρίζονται ούτε ως χαρισματικοί, ούτε ως έχοντες ανάγκη για ειδικές εκπαιδευτικές παρεμβάσεις λόγω του συνδυασμού των προηγμένων δυνατοτήτων και δυσκολιών τους. Η υψηλή πνευματική λειτουργία συχνά αντισταθμίζει τη μαθησιακή δυσκολία, αποκρύπτοντας τόσο το χαρισματικό δυναμικό όσο και τη διαταραχή. Πολλές από τις μέχρι τώρα ισχύουσες πρακτικές υπαγορεύουν ότι ένας μαθητής μπορεί να αναγνωριστεί και να υποβοηθηθεί είτε έχοντας ειδικές εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες είτε χαρισματικότητα, αλλά όχι και τα δύο. Σύμφωνα με έρευνες, υποστηρίζεται ότι με τις κατάλληλες εκπαιδευτικές πρακτικές ένας μαθητής με ΔΕΠΥ μπορεί να φτάσει στο μέγιστο των δυνατοτήτων του αν το υλικό που θα του δοθεί είναι αρκετά «προκλητικό» ώστε να ξεπεράσει τη διαταραχή του και να αφοσιωθεί στη μάθηση. Σκοπός της παρούσας εισήγησης είναι να εξετάσει την ένταξη των χαρισματικών παιδιών με ΔΕΠΥ στην γενική εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία και  να παρουσιάσει ορισμένες πρακτικές που θα πρέπει να ακολουθηθούν ως προς την επίτευξη αυτού του στόχου.
Ευρύτερος αυτιστικός φαινότυπος και ποιότητα ζωής σε γονείς με παιδιά στο φάσμα του αυτισμού
Authors: Τζανακάκη Αθηνά
Published: October 2021

Η παρούσα έρευνα μελετά τον ευρύτερο αυτιστικό φαινότυπο και την ποιότητα ζωής σε γονείς με παιδιά στο φάσμα του αυτισμού και σε γονείς παιδιών τυπικής ανάπτυξης. Συμμετείχαν 174 γονείς, από την περιοχή της Αθήνας και του Πειραιά με μέσο όρο ηλικίας τα 45,01 έτη (τυπ.απόκλιση= 7,9). Από τους 174 γονείς, οι 119 ήταν γυναίκες (68,4%), και οι 55 άντρες (31,6%).Τα ερωτηματολόγια μοιράστηκαν σε 99 γονείς που είχαν παιδιά τυπικής ανάπτυξης (56,9%) και 75 που είχαν παιδιά στο φάσμα του αυτισμού (43,1%). Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα ακόλουθα ερωτηματολόγια: α) η ελληνική εκδοχή του ερωτηματολογίου για την Ποιότητα Ζωής, του Παγκόσμιου Οργανισμού Υγείας,(World Health Organization Quality Of Life - WHOQOL), β) το ερωτηματολόγιο αξιολόγησης του ευρύτερου φαινότυπου του αυτισμού, (Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire -BAP), γ) το ερωτηματολόγιο αξιολόγησης της φιλίας.Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι η ύπαρξη του φαινότυπου του αυτισμού αποτελεί σημαντικό προβλεπτικό παράγοντα χαμηλής ποιότητας ζωής και φιλικών σχέσεων των γονέων. Ο φαινότυπος του αυτισμού βρέθηκε να εμφανίζεται συχνότερα σε γονείς που έχουν παιδιά με αυτισμό. Ωστόσο δεν βρέθηκαν σημαντικές διαφορές  στην ποιότητα ζωής και φιλίας μεταξύ των γονέων με παιδί στο φάσμα του αυτισμού και γονέων τυπικά αναπτυσσόμενων παιδιών.
Διεπιστημονική Συνεργασία στις Ψυχοκοινωνικές Παρεμβάσεις: Η Περίπτωση των Προσφύγων – Εγχειρίδιο για Επαγγελματίες
Authors: Scheer Sarah , Adamopoulou Eirini , Grützner Ramona , Guerrero Manuel , Mondaca Margarita , Simó Salvador
Published: October 2021

Το εγχειρίδιο παρουσιάζει τις πρακτικές κατευθυντήριες γραμμές για τη διεπιστημονική ψυχοκοινωνική υποστήριξη των προσφύγων που αναπτύχθηκαν από το "InterAct - Interdisciplinary cooperation in psychosocial interventions", ένα ευρωπαϊκό πρόγραμμα Erasmus+ συνεργαζόμενων ιδρυμάτων τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στη Γερμανία, την Ελλάδα, την Ισπανία και τη Σουηδία. Το έργο στόχευε στην αναγνώριση των παραγόντων επιτυχούς συνεργασίας των κλάδων της ψυχολογίας, εργοθεραπείας, φυσιοθεραπείας, κοινωνικής εργασίας και εκπαίδευσης στις ψυχοκοινωνικές παρεμβάσεις για οικογένειες, παιδιά και ενήλικες πρόσφυγες. Η διεπιστημονική ομάδα του προγράμματος InterAct πραγματοποίησε συνεντεύξεις και ομάδες εστίασης με 28 πρόσφυγες σε διάφορα στάδια επανεγκατάστασης, 30 φοιτητές προγραμμάτων υγείας και κοινωνικών επιστημών και 23 επαγγελματίες από τομείς της ψυχικής υγείας, εκπαίδευσης, κοινοτικών προγραμμάτων, απασχόλησης, τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης και υπηρεσιών ασύλου σε διαφορετικές χώρες της Ευρώπης. Εφαρμόστηκε ποιοτική ανάλυση του υλικού λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις ήδη υπάρχουσες κατευθυντήριες γραμμές σχετικά με την ψυχοκοινωνική υποστήριξη των προσφύγων. Οι βασικές διαστάσεις της διεπιστημονικής ψυχοκοινωνικής στήριξης που αναδείχθηκαν περιλαμβάνουν τα πρότυπα δεοντολογίας, την ισότιμη συμπερίληψη των προσφύγων ως ενεργών ατόμων, το σεβασμό στην πολιτισμική διαφορετικότητα, την βιωσιμότητα και μακροπρόθεσμες στρατηγικές, την προσέγγιση με βάση την κοινότητα, τη σημαντικότητα του τοπικού πλαισίου, τη διεπιστημονική ομάδα και την αυτοφροντίδα. Οι βασικές αυτές κατευθυντήριες γραμμές συνοδεύονται από σενάρια που έχουν προκύψει από τις συνεντεύξεις με στόχο την εξοικείωση του αναγνώστη με τη διεπιστημονική ψυχοκοινωνική υποστήριξη. Επίσης, το εγχειρίδιο παρουσιάζει το “Εννοιολογικό Πλαίσιο Ψυχοκοινωνικής Υποστήριξης με βάση την Κοινότητα” που αναπτύχθηκε από το πρόγραμμα InterAct με σκοπό την δημιουργία κοινοτήτων χωρίς αποκλεισμούς, όπου το κάθε άτομο έχει τη δυνατότητα να συμμετέχει και να έχει σκόπιμες και ουσιαστικές δράσεις. Το εννοιολογικό πλαίσιο ενσωμάτωσε βασικές αρχές από κοινοτικές, ψυχοκοινωνικές και συμμετοχικές προσεγγίσεις καθώς και τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, τη δεοντολογία, και την κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη. Το πλαίσιο αυτό προορίζεται ως εργαλείο αναστοχασμού για την ανάπτυξη στρατηγικών ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης ή/και την αξιολόγηση των υπαρχουσών υπηρεσιών σε διαφορετικά πλαίσια (π.χ., κέντρα υποδοχής προσφύγων, δήμους, νοσοκομεία, σχολεία) για την προαγωγή της ψυχικής ευεξίας και υγείας οικογενειών, παιδιών και ενηλίκων προσφύγων.
The Historiography of the Greek Revolution of 1821: From Memoirs to National Scholarly History, 1821–1922
Authors: Stathis Panagiotis
Published: October 2021

This study discusses the historiography of the Greek Revolution of 1821, what in Greek is often referred to as “Twenty-One” (Eikosiena) or the “Struggle” (Agon). Since 1821 constitutes the founding condition of the Greek state and autonomous existence of the Greek nation, it can be considered as the main historiographical field of modern Greek history. Throughout most of the twentieth century it represented a field of conflict between opposing historiographical but also ideological and political currents. Opposing ideological environments and collective identities formed different readings of Greek history in which the Greek Revolution played a central role. Its reading and interpretation served as the compass for reading and interpreting the whole process of modern Greek historical development. Opposing collectives also made selective use of the history of 1821 by searching for their “ancestors” in the revolutionary past; thus they formed historical genealogies through which they could claim authentic continuity with leading social groups and figures of the revolution. Consequently, 1821 obtained exemplary power. Accordingly each of its readings functioned as the starting point in shaping the political practice in the present. In other words, each and every reading of 1821 formed or supported directional guides of political practices in the present.
Greece, Uruguay and the British Informal Empire: From National Narratives to Global History
Authors: Gekas Sakis , Acosta Camila
Published: October 2021

This article adopts a comparative global history approach to reflect on the histories of Greece and Uruguay through the prism of British informal imperial rule. It compares and contrasts the role and impact of the British informal empire on Greece and Uruguay’s economic integration into the globalising economy of the late nineteenth century. The aim of this article is twofold: to reflect on each country’s past to gain a better understanding of them, and to integrate the histories of Greece and Uruguay into the history of globalisation. To achieve this, we examine the place of each country in the globalising economy and the reasons why each country “performed” differently; Uruguay experienced some of the highest living standards in the region and the world while Greece was mired in wars and aggressive nationalist policies that lead to significant territorial (and therefore market) expansion at significant cost to state finances – a history that was marked by economic failures such as the default of 1893. Even that crisis, however, produced different outcomes depending on each country’s place in the globalising British informal empire. This article shows two different paths of integration into a globalising economy shaped by the British financial and commercial order – an order often imposed with consent and occasionally through coercion.
Vassilis Asimakopoulos and Chrysanthos Tassis, eds., ΠΑΣΟΚ 1974-2018: Πολιτική οργάνωση – Ιδεολογικές μετατοπίσεις – Κυβερνητικές μεταβολές [PASOK, 1974-2018: political organisation, ideological shifts, government policies]
Authors: Paschaloudi Eleni
Published: October 2021

Review of Vassilis Asimakopoulos and Chrysanthos Tassis, eds. ΠΑΣΟΚ 1974-2018: Πολιτική οργάνωση – Ιδεολογικές μετατοπίσεις – Κυβερνητικές μεταβολές[PASOK, 1974-2018: political organisation, ideological shifts, government policies]. Athens: Gutenberg, 2018. 822 pp.
Xavier Bougarel, Hannes Grandits and Marija Vulesica, eds., Local Dimensions of the Second World War in Southeastern Europe
Authors: Tzoukas Vangelis
Published: October 2021

Review of Xavier Bougarel, Hannes Grandits and Marija Vulesica, eds. Local Dimensions of the Second World War in Southeastern Europe. Oxford: Routledge, 2019. 281 pp.
Konstantina Zanou, Transnational Patriotism in the Mediterranean, 1800–1850: Stammering the Nation
Authors: Philliou Christine M.
Published: October 2021

Review of Konstantina Zanou. Transnational Patriotism in the Mediterranean, 1800–1850: Stammering the Nation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018. 272 pp.
Applying machine learning EEG signal classification to emotion‑related brain anticipatory activity
Authors: Bilucaglia Marco , Duma Gian Marco , Mento Giovanni , Semenzato Luca , Tressoldi Patrizio E.
Published: October 2021

Machine learning approaches have been fruitfully applied to several neurophysiological signal classification problems. Considering the relevance of emotion in human cognition and behaviour, an important application of machine learning has been found in the field of emotion identification based on neurophysiological activity. Nonetheless, there is high variability in results in the literature depending on the neuronal activity measurement, the signal features and the classifier type. The present work aims to provide new methodological insight into machine learning applied to emotion identification based on electrophysiological brain activity. For this reason, we analysed previously recorded EEG activity measured while emotional stimuli, high and low arousal (auditory and visual) were provided to a group of healthy participants. Our target signal to classify was the pre-stimulus onset brain activity. Classification performance of three different classifiers (LDA, SVM and kNN) was compared using both spectral and temporal features. Furthermore, we also contrasted the performance of static and dynamic (time evolving) approaches. The best static feature-classifier combination was the SVM with spectral features (51.8%), followed by LDA with spectral features (51.4%) and kNN with temporal features (51%). The best dynamic feature‑classifier combination was the SVM with temporal features (63.8%), followed by kNN with temporal features (63.70%) and LDA with temporal features (63.68%). The results show a clear increase in classification accuracy with temporal dynamic features.
Knowledge creation in IT projects to accelerate digital innovation: two decade systematic literature review
Authors: Soon Seng Tung , Dorasamy Magiswary , Razak Ruzanna , Kaliannan Maniam , Sambasivan Murali
Published: October 2021

The interactivity and ubiquity of digital technologies are exerting a significant impact on the knowledge creation in information technology (KC-IT) projects. According to the literature, the critical relevance of KC-IT is highly associated with digital innovation (DI) for organisational success. However, DI is not yet a fully-fledged research subject but is an evolving corpus of theory and practise that draws from a variety of social science fields. Given the preceding setting, this study explores the interaction of KC-IT with DI. This work provides a systemic literature review (SLR) to examine the literature in KC-IT and its connection to DI. A SLR of 527 papers from 2001 to 2021 was performed across six online databases. The review encompasses quantitative and qualitative studies on KC-IT factors, processes and methods. Three major gaps were found in the SLR. Firstly, only 57 (0.23%) papers were found to examine the association between KC and IT projects. These works were analysed for theories, type of papers, KC-IT factors, processes and methods. Secondly, the convergence reviews indicate that scarce research has examined TMS and trust in KC-IT as factors. Thirdly, only 0.02% (5) core papers appeared in the search relevant to KC in IT projects to accelerate DI. The majority of the papers examined were not linked to DI. A significant gap also exists in these areas. These findings warrant the attention of the research community.
MUC4 is not expressed in cell lines used for live cell imaging
Authors: Athmane Naouel , Williamson Iain , Boyle Shelagh , Biddie Simon C. , Bickmore Wendy A.
Published: October 2021

Background: The ability to visualise specific mammalian gene loci in living cells is important for understanding the dynamic processes linked to transcription. However, some of the tools used to target mammalian genes for live cell imaging, such as dCas9, have been reported to themselves impede processes linked to transcription. The MUC4 gene is a popular target for live cell imaging studies due to the repetitive nature of sequences within some exons of this gene.

Methods: We set out to compare the impact of dCas9 and TALE-based imaging tools on MUC4 expression, including in human cell lines previously reported as expressing MUC4.

Results: We were unable to detect MUC4 mRNA in these cell lines. Moreover, analysis of publicly available data for histone modifications associated with transcription, and data for transcription itself, indicate that neither MUC4, nor any of the mucin gene family are significantly expressed in the cell lines where dCas9 targeting has been reported to repress MUC4 and MUC1 expression, or in the cell lines where dCas13 has been used to report MUC4 RNA detection in live cells.

Conclusions: Methods for visualising specific gene loci and gene transcripts in live human cells are very challenging. Our data suggest that care should be given to the choice of the most appropriate cell lines for these analyses and that orthogonal methods of assaying gene expression be carefully compared.
The genome sequence of the peach blossom moth, Thyatira batis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Holland Peter W.H. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2021

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Thyatira batis (the peach-blossom moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Drepanidae). The genome sequence is 315 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.68%) is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 12,238 protein coding genes.
The Yukos Arbitration Saga and Russia’s Constitutional Amendments
Authors: Krimmer Maren
Published: October 2021

In February 2020, a Dutch appeals court ruled that the Russian state owed shareholders in the now-defunct Russian company Yukos 50 billion US dollars, one of the largest sums ever awarded. However, no country has yet been able to enforce the Yukos arbitral award issued in 2014 against Russia: while the arbitration tribunal in the Yukos investment case ruled in favour of the company, affirming that provisional application of the Energy Charter Treaty was compatible with Russian domestic law, Russia regards the matter as one of sovereignty and sees its power as being threatened. The article discusses whether non-enforcement of the award on the Russian government’s part would be justified by Article 15 (1) of the Russian Constitution and what impact the currently planned amendments to that foundational law might have with regard to international treaties and decisions of international bodies. The article concludes that the political and theory-oriented debate regarding Yukos will continue and that it will remain hard for the former Yukos shareholders to collect their money under the PCA’s arbitral award.
Politicization of sports as a phenomenon and problem
Authors: Savinov Leonid , Aloyan M. , Shumasov M.
Published: October 2021

The aim of the study is a political analysis of the relationship between sports and politics based on an institutional approach using SWOT analysis. The author's hypothesis is based on the understanding that the interpenetration of politics and sports in the modern world is becoming global and comprehensive and will increase: the politicization of sports as a social institution and the entire sports sphere is acquiring a new political normality. The paper highlights the basic trends and the main socio-political opportunities, as well as the risks and threats associated with the use of high-performance sports for political and instrumental purposes. It is revealed that in the modern world, sport is not only an instrument of big politics, but also produces politics, ideology and political meanings. Sport in the world is increasingly becoming not only the arena of tough political confrontations and ideological battles, but also forms a new political reality that influences the social behavior of the broadest masses, as well as individual social groups and political actors. In the context of Russia's growing political confrontation in the international arena, a deep, including scientifically based, understanding of the role of sports in the new realities is necessary. The conclusions reached by the authors of the work can be used as a scientific and methodological basis for political science studies of the interdependence of politics and sports, as well as for making political decisions in the field of sports.
Activities with statistical tables in math textbooks for multigrade rural schools in Chile.
Authors: Bustamante-Valdés Matías , Díaz-Levicoy Danilo , Pardo-Cañete José
Published: October 2021

El presente estudio tiene por objetivo analizar las actividades sobre tablas estadísticas en libros de texto de matemática chilenos que el Ministerio de Educación entrega a las escuelas rurales multigrado. Los principales fundamentos teóricos considerados corresponden a los niveles de lectura y los niveles de complejidad semiótica. La metodología es cualitativa, de nivel descriptivo, con utilización del método de análisis de contenido en las unidades de análisis de tipo de gráfico, nivel de lectura, nivel de complejidad semiótica, tipo de tarea y tipo de contexto. A partir de los resultados, se evidencia la predominancia de la tabla de conteo, seguido de la tabla de frecuencia; del nivel 2 de lectura (leer dentro de los datos); del nivel 3 de complejidad semiótica (representación de una distribución de datos); de la tarea de calcular; y del tipo de contexto personal. El trabajo con tablas estadísticas no se explicita en el 6º curso de Educación Primaria, mientras que en los cursos de 1º y 2º se mencionan las tablas de conteo. Finalmente, se recomienda incorporar actividades donde los estudiantes realicen predicciones a partir de los datos de la tabla, donde se representen un conjunto de datos sin llegar a resumir la distribución, en las que se muestre más de una distribución de datos y con un contexto científico.
Progressive electronic self-assessment to promote reflective processes of future teachers.
Authors: Pérez-Torregrosa Ana-Belén , Gallego-Arrufat María-Jesús
Published: October 2021

El artículo presenta un estudio empírico sobre los procesos reflexivos de futuros docentes mediados por el empleo progresivo de la autoevaluación electrónica durante la realización del prácticum en formación inicial. El instrumento empleado para examinar la evolución de la reflexión es una rúbrica electrónica (e-rúbrica) diseñada en la aplicación CoRubric , cuyas características (anotaciones, observaciones y comentarios) pretenden contribuir a la mejora de las reflexiones. Se analizan 240 aplicaciones de la e-rúbrica para la autoevaluación de los diarios reflexivos en los grados de Educación Infantil y Primaria. La finalidad es analizar la evolución y mejora de la reflexión en los diarios del futuro docente contribuyendo, como consecuencia, a que la autoevaluación formativa le ayude a crear conciencia de las capacidades reflexivas que va adquiriendo durante el prácticum. Los resultados muestran un aumento estadísticamente significativo de los indicadores de la e-rúbrica de la mayor parte de los participantes desde la primera hasta la última autoevaluación. Existen avances, pero también se aprecian necesidades de mejora en la capacidad reflexiva. Se concluye que la autoevaluación con rúbricas electrónicas ayuda al futuro docente a reflexionar sobre el conocimiento práctico adquirido, favoreciendo la integración y mejora de los procesos reflexivos durante el prácticum.
Learning to Rank an Assortment of Products
Authors: Ferreira Kris J. , Parthasarathy Sunanda , Sekar Shreyas
Published: October 2021

We consider the product-ranking challenge that online retailers face when their customers typically behave as “window shoppers.” They form an impression of the assortment after browsing products ranked in the initial positions and then decide whether to continue browsing. We design online learning algorithms for product ranking that maximize the number of customers who engage with the site. Customers’ product preferences and attention spans are correlated and unknown to the retailer; furthermore, the retailer cannot exploit similarities across products, owing to the fact that the products are not necessarily characterized by a set of attributes. We develop a class of online learning-then-earning algorithms that prescribe a ranking to offer each customer, learning from preceding customers’ clickstream data to offer better rankings to subsequent customers. Our algorithms balance product popularity with diversity, the notion of appealing to a large variety of heterogeneous customers. We prove that our learning algorithms converge to a ranking that matches the best-known approximation factors for the offline, complete information setting. Finally, we partner with Wayfair — a multibillion-dollar home goods online retailer — to estimate the impact of our algorithms in practice via simulations using actual clickstream data, and we find that our algorithms yield a significant increase (5–30%) in the number of customers that engage with the site.

This paper was accepted by J. George Shanthikumar, Management Science Special Section on Data-Driven Prescriptive Analytics.
The relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management in healthcare systems: a case study in Iran
Authors: Ranjbar Mohammad , Bahariniya Sajjad
Published: October 2021

Background/Aims

Both emotional intelligence and conflict resolution are believed to be crucial to organisational leadership, particularly in healthcare settings. This study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management.

Methods

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 194 staff in Yazd, Iran, in 2018. Two standard questionnaires were used for data collection and data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21.

Results

There was a significant negative relationship (r-0.438) between emotional intelligence and conflict management as a whole, and between all the sub-dimensions of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-regulation, social consciousness and relationship management) and conflict management.

Conclusions

Research on the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict management is divided, but this study suggests that high emotional intelligence does not always indicate that an individual will use conflict management strategies. More research is needed in this area, particularly in the context of healthcare settings.
A case for external reference pricing to regulate drug costs in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Ashraf Amirul , Ong Siew Chin
Published: October 2021

Amirul Ashraf and Siew Chin Ong discuss external reference pricing as a possible method of navigating the complex issue of drug pricing in Malaysia.
Hard-to-heal ulcers treated with hypochlorous acid oxidising solution and standard of care: a 32-week follow-up
Authors: Ricci Elia , Pittarello Monica
Published: October 2021

Objective:

Immediately following a two-year prospective case series in which the wounds of 60 patients with hard-to-heal ulcers were treated with a hypochlorous acid oxidising solution (AOS) in addition to standard of care (SoC) for 70 days (T0–T70), a subset of 31 patients (51.7%) whose wounds had not fully healed by T70 opted to continue with treatment for a further 22 weeks (days T70–T224, a total treatment time of 32 weeks (224 days). The objective was to provide long-term evidence on the clinical performance and safety of AOS when used in association with the usual SoC in patients with stalled, hard-to-heal ulcers of various aetiologies.

Method:

As per the main study, wounds were formally assessed by the study lead at 28 days (±14 days, depending on patient attendance). Parameters assessed at fortnightly visits included area, depth and duration of ulcer; pain; wound bed preparation (WBP) score; and infection status. Wounds were managed in accordance with the SoC protocol.

Results:

By T224, 35.5% (n=11) of wounds healed completely and 83.9% showed some types of improvement. All wounds were free of infection and colonisation, the WBP score improved (100% A1–A2 at T196), and pain scores fell. Use of AOS in combination with several types of dressing (SoC) for such a long period confirmed a good safety profile.

Conclusion:

This follow-up evaluation, coupled with the primary study, suggests that AOS might represent a valuable therapeutic addition for the management of hard-to-heal ulcers for long periods of treatment.

Declaration of interest:

ER worked as a consultant for APR Applied Pharma Research S.A. The authors have no other conflicts of interest.
Quality of life improvement in patients with hard-to-heal leg wounds treated with Prontosan wound irrigation solution and wound gel
Authors: Oropallo Alisha , Snyder Robert J , Karpf Angela , Valencia Diana , Curtin Christopher R , Cetnarowski Wes
Published: October 2021

Objective:

This study evaluated the impact of four weeks of treatment with Prontosan Wound Irrigation Solution and Prontosan Wound Gel (B. Braun Medical Inc., US) on adults with hard-to-heal leg wounds. Overall change (weeks 1–5) in the Global Quality of Life scale (GQOL), changes in body, psyche and everyday life (EDL) quality of life (QoL) subscores, and changes in wound appearance and size after treatment were assessed.

Method:

In this prospective, open-label, single-arm, five-centre study, non-hospitalised patients with no more than two wounds below the knee were recruited into the study; wounds were ≥5cm2 and ≤50cm2 and present for ≥4 weeks. The investigator or a designee applied the wound solution and gel to the wounds at clinic visits, and patients/caregivers applied the wound solution and gel at home. Wound-QoL questionnaires were completed at the initial screening and at each week of treatment. Wound size and photographs were obtained at pre- and post-treatment during clinic visits.

Results:

A total of 43 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean GQOL scores decreased by 1.11 (46.1%). Body, psyche and EDL decreased by 1.17 (60.0%), 1.26 (41.8%) and 1.00 (42.2%), respectively. Wounds also showed improvement in odour, appearance and size. Adverse events were mild in intensity and transient in nature.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated marked improvement in the QoL of patients with hard-to-heal leg wounds below the knee during four weeks of treatment with the wound solution and gel. Wounds also showed improvement in odour, appearance and size, and the treatment solution and gel were well tolerated.

Declaration of interest:

B. Braun Medical Inc. funded the research and preparation of this article. AK, DV, CRC and WC are employees of B. Braun Medical Inc. AO and RS declare no conflict of interest.
Automated defect detection and classification for fiber-optic coil based on wavelet transform and self-adaptive GA-SVM
Authors: Yang Ruifeng , Chen Xiaole , Guo Chenxia
Published: October 2021

The quality monitoring of fiber-optic coil (FOC) in winding systems is usually done manually. Aiming at the problem of inefficient and low accuracy of manual detection, this article is dedicated to researching a defect detection framework based on machine vision, which provides a reliable method for automatic defect detection of FOC. For this purpose, a defect detection scheme that integrates wavelet transform and nonlocal means filtering is proposed to accurately locate the defect region. Then, based on the features constructed by wavelet coefficients, a support vector machine (SVM) is used as the classifier. Additionally, a self-adaptive genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize the parameters of the SVM to form the final classifier. Through experiments on the data set obtained by our designed imaging system, the results show that our method has good defect detection performance and high classification accuracy, which provides an optimal solution for the automatic detection of FOC.
Highly coherent and multi-octave mid-infrared supercontinuum generations in a reverse-strip AlGaAs waveguide with three zero-dispersion wavelengths
Authors: Cheng Yujun , Lai Jintao , Yuan Jinhui , Mei Chao , Zhou Xian , Wu Qiang , Liu Bin , Yan Binbin , Wang Kuiru , Yu Chongxiu , Sang Xinzhu
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a reverse-strip AlGaAs waveguide with three zero-dispersion wavelengths (ZDWs) is designed. The corresponding three ZDWs are located at 3.74, 6.56, and 8.89 µm. The nonlinearity coefficient of the proposed reverse-strip AlGaAs waveguide is calculated as

2.09

W

−
1

m

−
1

at wavelength 4.9 µm. The effects of pump pulse parameters, waveguide length, and noise coefficient on the nonlinear dynamics of supercontinuum (SC) generation are investigated. When the hyperbolic secant pump pulse with a wavelength of 4.9 µm, peak power of 900 W, and duration of 100 fs is launched into the proposed waveguide and propagated after a 3 mm length, highly coherent and multi-octave mid-infrared (MIR) SC spanning from 2.2 to 14.5 µm (more than 2.7 octaves, at

−

40

d
B

level) is generated. Finally, a possible fabrication process of the reverse-strip AlGaAs waveguide is introduced. Our research results have important applications in MIR photonics, MIR spectroscopy, optical precision measurement, and more.
Passive scintillometer: theory and field measurements
Authors: Charnotskii Mikhail
Published: October 2021

We propose the design of a low-cost passive scintillometer that measures the strength of optical turbulence by analyzing scintillation in the image of a straight edge between the two areas of uniform, but distinct, brightness. Theory for scintillations variance is developed based on the rigorous path integral propagation model. We propose approximations that cover the most promising conditions for the passive scintillometer applications, and we describe the image processing technique that separates the target characteristics from the turbulence scintillations. Results of the proof-of-concept field experiment where images of the target were taken by a consumer grade camera equipped with an inexpensive telephoto lens are presented.