bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Treatment Programmes for Mothers with Substance Use Problems: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Interventions to Prevent Out-of-home Child Placements
Authors: Neo Samantha H. F. , Norton Sam , Kavallari Despoina , Canfield Martha
Published: September 2021

Approximately half of mothers receiving substance use treatment are involved with childcare proceedings. This review aims to determine whether integrated treatment programmes for mothers with substance use problems are effective in preventing out-of-home placement (temporally/permanent) and influencing other maternal factors such as patterns of substance use, treatment completion and parenting behaviours. Six trials were identified—two randomised controlled trials and four non-randomised controlled studies. The pooled sample of participants was 1717. The results showed that mothers who participated in integrated treatment programmes were significantly less likely to have the children removed from their care (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.27, 0.61), more likely to complete substance use treatment (OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.79, 5.06), and more likely to reduce their alcohol consumption (Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) = −0.40, 95% Cl = −0.78, −0.01) and drug use (SMD = −0.30, 95% CI = −0.53, −0.07). However, non-significant reductions were observed for parent–child conflict (SMD = −0.35, 95% CI = −0.72, 0.03) and child abuse risk (SMD = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.36, 0.31). While the findings from this review suggest that mothers involved in integrated treatment programmes could potentially be less likely to experience out-of-home child placements and more likely to improve substance use treatment outcomes, little evidence exists for the effectiveness of these interventions. Further research, particularly high-quality RCTs, is required to demonstrate and persuade health and public policy on the far-reaching value of the integrated approaches.
Thoracoscopic surgical atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with an extremely enlarged left atrium
Authors: Neefs Jolien , Wesselink Robin , van den Berg Nicoline W. E. , de Jong Jonas S. S. G. , Piersma Femke R. , van Boven WimJan P. , Driessen Antoine H. G. , de Groot Joris R.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) decreases as left atrial (LA) volume increases. However, surgical AF ablation with unknown efficacy is being performed in patients with a giant LA (GLA). We determined efficacy of thoracoscopic AF ablation in patients with compared to without a GLA.

Methods

Patients underwent thoracoscopic PVI with additional left atrial ablations lines (in persistent AF) and were prospectively followed up. GLA was defined as LA volume index (LAVI) ≥ 50 ml/m2. Follow-up was performed with ECGs and 24-h Holters every 3 months. After a 3-month blanking period, all antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued. The primary outcome was freedom of any atrial tachyarrhythmia ≥ 30 s during 2 years of follow-up.

Results

At baseline, 68 (15.4%) patients had a GLA (LAVI: 56.7 [52.4–62.8] ml/m2), while 374 (84.6%) had a smaller LA (LAVI: 34.8 [29.2–41.3] ml/m2). GLA patients were older (61.9 ± 6.9 vs 59.4 ± 8.8 years, p = 0.02), more often diagnosed with persistent AF (76.5% vs 58.6%, p = 0.008). Sex was equally distributed (with approximately 25% females). GLA patients had more recurrences compared to non-GLA patients at 2-year follow-up (42.6% vs 57.2%, log rank p = 0.02). Freedom of AF was 69.0% in non-GLA paroxysmal AF patients compared to 43.8–49.3% in a combined group of GLA and/or persistent AF patients(log rank p < 0.001). Furthermore, freedom was 62.4% in non-GLA male patients, compared to 43.8–47.4 in a combined group of GLA and/or female sex(log rank p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Thoracoscopic AF ablation is an effective therapy in a substantial part of GLA patients. Thoracoscopic AF ablation may serve as a last resort treatment option in these patients.
On Representations of Intended Structures in Foundational Theories
Authors: Barton Neil , Müller Moritz , Prunescu Mihai
Published: September 2021

Often philosophers, logicians, and mathematicians employ a notion of intended structure when talking about a branch of mathematics. In addition, we know that there are foundational mathematical theories that can find representatives for the objects of informal mathematics. In this paper, we examine how faithfully foundational theories can represent intended structures, and show that this question is closely linked to the decidability of the theory of the intended structure. We argue that this sheds light on the trade-off between expressive power and meta-theoretic properties when comparing first-order and second-order logic.
Circuits with a mem-element: invariant manifolds control via pulse programmed sources
Authors: Di Marco Mauro , Innocenti Giacomo , Tesi Alberto , Forti Mauro
Published: September 2021

The paper considers the problem of controlling multistability in a general class of circuits composed of a linear time-invariant two-terminal (one port) element, containing linear R, L, C components and ideal operational amplifiers, coupled with one of the mem-elements (memory elements) introduced by Prof. L.O. Chua, i.e., memristors, memcapacitors, and meminductors. First, explicit expressions of the invariant manifolds of the circuit are directly given in terms of the state variables of the two-terminal element and the mem-element. Then, the problem of steering the circuit dynamics from an initial invariant manifold to a final one, and hence to potentially switch among different attractors of the circuit, is addressed by designing pulse shaped control inputs. The control inputs ensure that the transition between the initial and final manifolds is accomplished within a given finite time interval. Moreover, it is shown how the designed control inputs can be implemented by introducing independent voltage and current sources in the two-terminal element. Notably, it turns out that it is always possible to solve the considered control problem by using a unique independent source. Several examples are provided to illustrate how the proposed approach can be applied to different circuits with mem-elements and to highlight the influence of the features of the designed sources on the behavior of the controlled dynamics.
Happiness and depression in psoriasis: a cross-sectional study in Germany
Authors: Schuster Barbara , Peifer Corinna , Ziehfreund Stefanie , Tizek Linda , Biedermann Tilo , Zink Alexander , Schielein Maximilian C.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Prior research on the psychological consequences of skin diseases has focused on assessing mental comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate subjective well-being in a large sample of individuals affected by psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and to explore the associations with depression and disease-related parameters such as disease severity.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to June 2019. The link to the questionnaire was shared on websites and Facebook pages of psoriasis patient organizations and campaigns. Participants filled in validated scales measuring subjective well-being—operationalized as positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA) and satisfaction with life (SWL); and depression.

Results

The data of 722 participants were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis supported the differentiation of PA, NA, SWL, and depression as four different constructs. The respondents reported lower levels of PA than healthy individuals and judged themselves to be less happy and were less satisfied with their lives than the general population (except age group 65 + years). 40.3% of respondents were screened positive for depression. More severe psoriasis was associated with lower affective well-being and a higher risk for depression.

Conclusion

The results of this study empirically supported the differentiation of subjective well-being and depression as different constructs in individuals with psoriasis, and underline the large mental burden of the disease which goes beyond a higher risk for depression. Measures of well-being should thus be incorporated in both research and clinical practice in patients with psoriasis in order to achieve a more comprehensive picture of the mental burden of this disease.
Marine Microplastics in Polar Region—a Spitsbergen Case Study
Authors: Dąbrowska Agnieszka
Published: September 2021

The aim of this short paper is to report the presence of primary and secondary microplastics in Svalbard and surrounding waters. The sampling and monitoring were done during the AREX 2017 polar expedition and included the Spitsbergen (Longyearbyen, Pyramiden) and western fjords, in particular Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden. Moreover, the unique scientific trawls were carried out in Raudefjorden at the very north coast of Spitsbergen. Finally, the plastic tide effects were confirmed at the Prins Karl Forland Island.
The efficacy of repetitions-in-reserve vs. traditional percentage-based resistance training: a 4-week pre-season randomized intervention in elite rugby league players
Authors: Sinclair Jonathan , Edmundson Christopher James , Bentley Ian
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This two-experiment study aimed to examine (1) the accuracy and reliability of repetitions-in-reserve and (2) using a randomized trial, the efficacy of repetition-in-reserve compared to traditional percentage-based training during a 4-week pre-season strength training block in elite rugby league players.

Methods

In experiment 1, participants performed deadlift, bench press and weighted pull up exercises for 3, 6, and 9 repetitions to failure using self-selected loads. This was undertaken on two occasions, separated by 8-weeks. In experiment 2, participants were randomly separated into either repetitions-in-reserve or percentage-based training groups. They completed a 4-week pre-season training block with training prescribed based on the group to which they were assigned. Measures of body mass and 3 repetition max strength in the aforementioned exercises were measured pre and post intervention.

Results

Experiment 1 showed that repetitions-in-reserve exhibited generally acceptable levels of accuracy and moderate-good levels of reliability. However, the deadlift when the required number of repetitions was 6 and 9 and the bench press when number of repetitions was 9 were not associated with acceptable levels of accuracy and reliability, respectively. Experiment 2 showed that there were no differences between repetitions-in-reserve or percentage-based training group for the strength outcomes, although there were significant increases in body mass in the percentage-based group (pre = 85.6 ± 10.6 kg, post = 86.4 ± 10.8 kg).

Conclusion

Repetitions-in-reserve is generally associated with acceptable levels of accuracy and moderate-good levels of reliability, although there were some exceptions for the deadlift in relation to accuracy and bench press for reliability. Experiment 2 shows that although there were no differences between groups for the strength-based outcomes, significant increases in body mass in the percentage-based group may make this approach a more effective approach to prepare players for the rigors of the rugby league season.
Anti-trypanosomal screening of Salvadoran flora
Authors: Castillo Ulises G. , Komatsu Ayato , Martínez Morena L. , Menjívar Jenny , Núñez Marvin J. , Uekusa Yoshinori , Narukawa Yuji , Kiuchi Fumiyuki , Nakajima-Shimada Junko
Published: September 2021

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and in Central America, it is considered one of the four most infectious diseases. This study aimed to screen the anti-trypanosomal activity of plant species from Salvadoran flora. Plants were selected through literature search for plants ethnobotanically used for antiparasitic and Chagas disease symptomatology, and reported in Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador (MUHNES) database. T. cruzi was incubated for 72 h with 2 different concentrations of methanolic extracts of 38 species, among which four species, Piper jacquemontianum, Piper lacunosum, Trichilia havanensis, and Peperomia pseudopereskiifolia, showed the activity (≤ 52.0% viability) at 100 µg/mL. Separation of the methanolic extract of aerial parts from Piper jacquemontianum afforded a new flavanone (4) and four known compounds, 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxymethoxychroman-4-one (1), 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxychroman-4-one (2), cardamomin (3), and pinocembrin (5), among which cardamomin exhibited the highest anti-trypanosomal activity (IC50 = 66 µM). Detailed analyses of the spectral data revealed that the new compound 4, named as jaqueflavanone A, was a derivative of pinocembrin having a prenylated benzoate moiety at the 8-position of the A ring.

Graphic abstract
Improving K-12 Teachers’ Acceptance of Open Educational Resources by Open Educational Practices: A Mixed Methods Inquiry
Authors: Tang Hengtao , Lin Yu-Ju , Qian Yingxiao
Published: September 2021

Teachers in K-12 settings increasingly demand instructional materials beyond textbooks to follow the upward momentum of personalized instruction. Especially during the outbreak of COVID-19, K-12 teachers are forced to quickly adapt to online teaching and thus have more difficulties of delivering personalized instruction in a relatively resource-restraint situation. Open educational resources (OER), allowing teachers to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute high-quality educational resources at no costs, can be a viable option for teachers. However, the acceptance of OER in K-12 education still remains low. Effective strategies are needed to reinforce teacher intention to adopt OER. This research showcased a two-phase sequential explanatory mixed method inquiry to investigate whether engaging K-12 teachers in open educational practices (OEP)—such as renewable assignments—increased their acceptance of OER. The quantitative phase, referring to the technology acceptance model (TAM), examined the change in factors influencing teachers’ acceptance of OER. The qualitative phase was followed up to provide supplementary perspectives of the quantitative findings. By integrating complementary findings, this research found that OEP increased teachers’ perceived ease of and self-efficacy towards using OER. Although teachers’ intention of implementing OER is not significantly improved, qualitative findings offered additional insights into the benefits of OEP in promoting OER usage and the recommended directions for future effort. Practical implications on improving teachers’ acceptance of OER in K-12 curriculum are discussed at the end.
Emerging Economy Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment: A Bibliometric and Thematic Content Analysis
Authors: da Silva-Oliveira Keilla Dayane , de Miranda Kubo Edson Keyso , Morley Michael J. , Cândido Rodrigo Médici
Published: September 2021

Research examining emerging economy inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows is on a significant upward trajectory. In this bibliometric analysis covering 806 articles published between 1994 and 2019, we map key aspects of its contours. Our analysis proceeds in two sequential phases involving a performance analysis, followed by a thematic analysis. Our performance analysis unveils fundamental elements of the structure of the knowledge base. Our subsequent thematic analysis identifies three focal topics arising from identifiable shared qualities characterizing this literature. Firstly, we distinguish scholarship focused on inward FDI into emerging economies formed by two particular classes, namely ‘innovative FDI’ and ‘capital flows’. Our second theme covers outward FDI from these emerging economies and also comprises two specific classes referring to the ‘institutional environment’ and the ‘theoretical framework deployed’. Our final theme relates to an integrated body of knowledge explicating aspects of the location choice decision. Building on this analysis, we isolate a number of opportunities for future research.
Iterated nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Piatek Bozena
Published: September 2021

In [T. Dominguez Benavides and E. Llorens-Fuster, Iterated nonexpansive mappings, J. Fixed Point Theory Appl. 20 (2018), no. 3, Paper No. 104, 18 pp.], the authors raised the question about the existence of a fixed point free continuous INEA mapping T defined on a closed convex and bounded subset (or on a weakly compact convex subset) of a Banach space with normal structure. Our main goal is to give the affirmative answer to this problem in the very special case of a Hilbert space.
A novel in vitro assay to study chondrocyte-to-osteoblast transdifferentiation
Authors: Tschaffon Miriam E. A. , Reber Stefan O. , Schoppa Astrid , Nandi Sayantan , Cirstea Ion C. , Aszodi Attila , Ignatius Anita , Haffner-Luntzer Melanie
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Endochondral ossification, which involves transdifferentiation of chondrocytes into osteoblasts, is an important process involved in the development and postnatal growth of most vertebrate bones as well as in bone fracture healing. To study the basic molecular mechanisms of this process, a robust and easy-to-use in vitro model is desirable. Therefore, we aimed to develop a standardized in vitro assay for the transdifferentiation of chondrogenic cells towards the osteogenic lineage.

Methods

Murine chondrogenic ATDC5 cells were differentiated into the chondrogenic lineage for seven days and subsequently differentiated towards the osteogenic direction. Gene expression analysis of pluripotency, as well as chondrogenic and osteogenic markers, cell–matrix staining, and immunofluorescent staining, were performed to assess the differentiation. In addition, the effects of Wnt3a and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the transdifferentiation were tested by their addition to the osteogenic differentiation medium.

Results

Following osteogenic differentiation, chondrogenically pe-differentiated cells displayed the expression of pluripotency and osteogenic marker genes as well as alkaline phosphatase activity and a mineralized matrix. Co-expression of Col2a1 and Col1a1 after one day of osteogenic differentiation indicated that osteogenic cells had differentiated from chondrogenic cells. Wnt3a increased and LPS decreased transdifferentiation towards the osteogenic lineage.

Conclusion

We successfully established a rapid, standardized in vitro assay for the transdifferentiation of chondrogenic cells into osteogenic cells, which is suitable for testing the effects of different compounds on this cellular process.
The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organic labeling on Swiss consumers’ acceptance of pork salami
Authors: Meier Claudia , Harms Eugenia , Früh Barbara , Stoffers Helena , Bee Giuseppe , Hugelshofer Diana Hartig , Quander-Stoll Nele , Stolz Hanna
Published: September 2021

Pork salami with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may be unappealing for consumers as it is more prone to the development of off-flavors and a “greasy” texture. In Switzerland, a share of more than 15.5% PUFA in back fat is penalized with a payment deduction of minimally CHF 0.10 per kilogram carcass weight. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of different PUFA levels and organic labeling on Swiss consumers’ acceptance of pork salami. We conducted a sensory consumer experiment, following a two-factorial treatment structure, crossing the factor “PUFA level” (15.4% PUFA in back fat vs. 18.3% PUFA in back fat) and the factor “information on production system” (blind vs. non-organic vs. organic). Consumer acceptance was captured using a 9-point hedonic scale for overall liking and an open-ended willingness to pay question. Furthermore, participants had the opportunity to comment on their sensory experience for each product in an open text question. An increased PUFA content in back fat of 18.3% vs. 15.4% did not lead to a significant difference in consumer acceptance of pork salami in either of the three information conditions, even though, as identified in the analysis of open comments, the high-PUFA salami tended to be more often perceived as “softer” and/or “more greasy”. In contrast, consumer acceptance of both the high- and low-PUFA salami was significantly higher under the “organic” than under either the “non-organic” or blind tasting conditions. Based on this study, a PUFA content in back fat of up to 18% is not expected to have a negative impact on consumer acceptance of pork salami. Therefore, and based on previous findings, we recommend to adapt the Swiss pork fat quality grading system to account for this higher acceptable PUFA limit of 18%. Future research should further explore trade-offs between sensory quality, sustainability, and healthiness while taking consumers’ heterogeneity into account.
Who are We, and Who (or What) Do We Want to Become? An Evolutionary Perspective on Biotransformative Technologies
Authors: Lyons-Weiler James
Published: September 2021

Human evolution sits at several important thresholds. In organic evolution, interplay between exogenous environmental and genetic factors rendered new phenotypes at rates limited by genetic variation. The interplay took place on adaptive fitness landscapes determined by correspondence of genetic and environmental relationships. Human evolution involved important emergences that altered the adaptive landscape: language, writing, organized societies, science, and the internet. These endogenous factors ushered in transformative periods leading to more rapidly evolving emergences. I explore the impact of development of emerging biotransformative technologies capable of being applied to effect self-genetic modification and artificial intelligence-augmented cognition on the evolutionary landscape of phenotypes important to cognitive plasticity. Interaction effects will yield unanticipated emergences resulting in hyperrealm adaptive landscapes with more rapid evolutionary processes that feed back upon more fundamental levels while vastly outpacing organic evolution. Emerging technologies exist that are likely to impact the evolution of cognitive plasticity in humans in ways and at rates that will lead to societal upheaval. I show that the theoretical contribution of organic evolution in future human evolution is expected to become comparatively insignificant relative to that made by endogenous environmental factors such as external cognition aids and manipulation of the human genome. The results support the conclusion of a strong recommendation of a moratorium on the adoption of any technology capable of completely altering the course of human evolution.
Inclusive second level Religious Education in Ireland today: what do teachers say?
Authors: Meehan Amalee , Laffan Derek A.
Published: September 2021

The Irish religious landscape is changing. Census data reveal that the percentage of those who identify as Catholic is in steady decline, while the proportion of those with no religion continues to rise. Christian religious practice in Ireland is also decreasing, especially among young people. Catholic schools, once the dominant provider of second level education, are now in a minority. This changing landscape has influenced Religious Education in second level schools. It is now an optional subject, and the historic tradition of denominational, confessional Religious Education has given way to an approach designed to be inclusive of students of all faith and none. Yet the surrounding discourse is unsupported by the perspectives of Religious Education teachers. This study attempts to address this knowledge gap by investigating their views and experiences, particularly with regard to inclusion. Results indicate that teachers are concerned about ‘religious students’. Whereas new to the Irish context, this reflects international research which suggests that in a rapidly secularising society, those who continue to practise any faith, especially the once-majority faith, are vulnerable. Findings signpost evidence of this, with RE teachers most concerned about the bullying of Catholic students and least concerned about the bullying of atheists.
A Trauma-Informed Transition Model for New Entrants with Dysregulated Behaviours
Authors: Hunter-Dehn A.
Published: September 2021

The Riroriro programme was a response to the needs of children with extremely dysregulated classroom behaviours, resulting from sustained exposure to traumatic high-stress and high-deprivation environments from pre-birth to school age. Evaluation of the accounts of key individuals involved in the pilot found that participants had improved emotional regulation abilities and interpersonal skills during and up to 1 year after the intervention. Academic performance was not improved significantly, but the interviewees’ accounts suggested that “academic readiness” had been achieved. In line with previous studies, the results indicate preliminary support for the effectiveness of the Riroriro programme in supporting children who have experienced trauma to become mainstream classroom ready. These results suggest that a whole-school, multi-tiered approach providing support at the student, school personnel and system levels can help mitigate the effects of trauma.
Digitalisierung in Angeboten der Erwachsenenbildung/Weiterbildung
Authors: Egetenmeyer Regina , Kröner Stefanie , Thees Anne
Published: September 2021

Digitalisierung und Mediatisierung prägen die Gesellschaft und auch die Erwachsenenbildung/Weiterbildung. Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, wie Digitalisierung in Angeboten der Erwachsenenbildung/Weiterbildung gelingt. Damit wird ein Fokus auf den Einsatz digitaler Medien gelegt. Dazu werden die Angebotsentwicklung für Adressatinnen und Adressaten sowie Teilnehmende, medienbezogene Inhalte, Lehr- und Lernarrangements mit digitalen Medien, der Einsatz digitaler Medien und die Zugänglichkeit von Lehr- und Lernmaterialien als relevante Merkmale identifiziert. Insgesamt zeigen die analysierten Interviewdaten, dass der Einsatz digitaler Medien in Angeboten eine Erweiterung der didaktischen Aufgaben darstellt, da Angebote mit digitalen Medien zielgenau auf die Bedarfe und Möglichkeiten von Adressatinnen und Adressaten sowie Teilnehmenden abgestimmt werden müssen.
Energy and seismic drawbacks of masonry: a unified retrofitting solution
Authors: Longo F. , Cascardi A. , Lassandro P. , Aiello M. A.
Published: September 2021

All over the world, a large part of existing buildings is not adequate to satisfy the safety requirement and the thermal comfort criteria. For this reason, the interest in structural and energy retrofitting systems has steadily grown in the last decades. In this scenario, an innovative thermal resistant geopolymer mortar has been developed and used for Inorganic Matrix Composite (IMC) systems aimed to a combined seismic and energy new retrofitting technique. The geopolymer-based IMC is able to ensure competitive mechanical properties with respect to the traditional lime-based IMCs and, at the same time, a significant reduction in thermal conductivity. In this paper, an experimental program is reported considering small-scaled masonry panels with double-side IMC-retrofitting and determining both the in-plane shear strength and the thermal resistance. The experimental shear tests are aimed to compare the mechanical performance of the geopolymer innovative systems with those of the traditional lime-based ones. Moreover, the thermal resistance gain of the innovative solutions was measured and compared with traditional systems. The results evidenced the effectiveness of the proposed technique that significantly improved the performances of masonry walls from both the thermal and the mechanical point of view.
(Krebs)stammzellen in der Prostata
Authors: Santer Frédéric R.
Published: September 2021

Das normale Prostatagewebe geht aus der Gewebsstammzelle hervor und beinhaltet 3 Abstammungslinien: basal, luminal und neuroendokrin. Es gibt sowohl basale als auch luminale Vorläuferzellen, welche beide fähig sind, den sekretorischen luminalen Zellphänotyp auszubilden. Ähnlich wie im normalen Prostatagewebe gibt es im Krebsgewebe eine Zellhierarchie, also Zellen mit unterschiedlichem Differenzierungsgrad. Dabei besitzen nur wenige entartete Zellen die Fähigkeit, einen neuen Tumor zu initiieren, diese werden daher Krebsstammzellen genannt. Die Prostatakrebsstammzellen können basalen oder luminalen Ursprungs sein und generieren androgenabhängige, sekretorische luminale Krebszellen. Die Krebsstammzellen selbst sind androgenunabhängig und stehen am Ursprung des kastrationsresistenten Prostatakarzinoms. Generell sind Krebsstammzellen ursächlich für Therapieresistenzen und Rezidive, da sie unempfindlicher gegenüber gängigen Krebstherapien sind. Die Entwicklung von krebsstammzellspezifischen Therapien ist schwierig und erfordert ein besseres Verständnis der normalen und entarteten Stamm- und Vorläuferzellen und der Zellhierarchie in der Prostata.
Automated invasive cervical cancer disease detection at early stage through suitable machine learning model
Authors: Jahan Sohely , Islam M. D. Saimun , Islam Linta , Rashme Tamanna Yesmin , Prova Ayesha Aziz , Paul Bikash Kumar , Islam M. D. Manowarul , Mosharof Mohammed Khaled
Published: September 2021

Cervical cancer is a common cancer that affects women all over the world. This is the fourth leading cause of death among women and has no symptoms in its early stages. At the cervix, cervical cancer cells develop slowly. If it can be detected early, this cancer can be successfully treated. Health professionals are now facing a major challenge in detecting such cancer until it spreads rapidly. This study applied various machine learning classification methods to predict cervical cancer using risk factors. The main aim of this research work is to be described of the performance variation of eight most classifications algorithm to detect cervical cancer disease based on the selection of various top features sets from the dataset. Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Random Forest and k-Nearest Neighbor, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, SVC, Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost are examples of machine learning classification algorithms that have been used to predict cervical cancer and help in early diagnosis. A variety of approaches are used to avoid missing values in the dataset. To choose the various best features, a combination of feature selection techniques such as Chi-square, SelectBest and Random Forest was used. The performance of those classifications is evaluated using the accuracy, recall, precision and f1-score parameters. On a variety of top feature sets, MLP outperformed other classification models. The majority of classification models, on the other hand, claim to have the highest accuracy on the top 25 features in dataset splitting ratio (70:30). For each model, the percentage of correctly classified instances has been presented and all of the results are then discussed. Medical professionals will be able to use the suggested approach to perform research on cervical cancer.
Resilient modulus and cumulative plastic strain of frozen silty clay under dynamic aircraft loading
Authors: Liu Xiaolan , Zhang Xianmin , Wang Xiaojiang
Published: September 2021

This paper describes an investigation into the factors influencing the resilient modulus and cumulative plastic strain of frozen silty clay. A series of dynamic triaxial tests are conducted to analyze the influence of the temperature, confining pressure, frequency, and compaction degree on the resilient modulus and cumulative plastic strain of frozen silty clay samples. The results show that when the temperature is below − 5 °C, the resilient modulus decreases linearly, whereas when the temperature is above − 5 °C, the resilient modulus decreases according to a power function. The resilient modulus increases logarithmically when the frequency is less than 2 Hz and increases linearly once the frequency exceeds 2 Hz. The resilient modulus increases as the confining pressure and compaction degree increase. The cumulative plastic strain decreases as the temperature decreases and as the confining pressure, frequency, and compaction degree increase. The research findings provide valuable information for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, safety, and management of airport engineering in frozen soil regions.
Delivering User Experience over Networks: Towards a Quality of Experience Centered Design Cycle for Improved Design of Networked Applications
Authors: Seufert Anika , Schröder Svenja , Seufert Michael
Published: September 2021

To deliver the best user experience (UX), the human-centered design cycle (HCDC) serves as a well-established guideline to application developers. However, it does not yet cover network-specific requirements, which become increasingly crucial, as most applications deliver experience over the Internet. The missing network-centric view is provided by Quality of Experience (QoE), which could team up with UX towards an improved overall experience. By considering QoE aspects during the development process, it can be achieved that applications become network-aware by design. In this paper, the Quality of Experience Centered Design Cycle (QoE-CDC) is proposed, which provides guidelines on how to design applications with respect to network-specific requirements and QoE. Its practical value is showcased for popular application types and validated by outlining the design of a new smartphone application. We show that combining HCDC and QoE-CDC will result in an application design, which reaches a high UX and avoids QoE degradation.
Hematospermia Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Sexual Ramifications: A Narrative Review
Authors: Drury Robert H. , King Brendan , Herzog Bryan , Hellstrom Wayne J.G.
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Hematospermia (HS) is the presence of blood in ejaculatory fluid. It is a rare condition that is historically idiopathic or associated with sexual behavior. Technological advances have identified many of the etiologies behind HS, improving treatment. Though often benign, HS remains a source of considerable sexual anxiety for patients. Few papers have outlined a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to HS, and none have explicitly addressed its sexual consequences.

Objectives

To provide a comprehensive overview of HS, emphasizing its sexual ramifications.

Methods

A PubMed literature search was performed through May 2021 to identify all relevant publications related to etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and sexual effects of HS. Original research and reviews were analyzed, and pertinent studies were included in this review.

Results

Iatrogenic interventions (eg, transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies) are the most common cause of HS. Infection and/or nonspecific inflammation is the most common non-iatrogenic etiology. Malignancies, including prostate, testicular, and other genitourinary cancers, are rarely the cause of HS. Diagnostic approaches to HS can be organized according to patient age (less than or greater than 40 years old), persistence of bleeding, and the presence/absence of concerning symptoms. Though HS often spontaneously resolves, treatment may require various medications (eg, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories) or surgical interventions. HS has several sexual ramifications, including libido-affecting anxiety, social repercussions from sexual partners and non-sexual affiliates, increased risk of erectile dysfunction or transmission of sexual infections, and compromised fertility, especially when cryopreservation is utilized.

Conclusion

HS may significantly affect sexual health through several mechanisms, though there is a paucity of formal data on this subject. Further research is needed to fully understand the severity and extent of HS's effect on sexual well-being, especially in those with refractory bleeding.
The Swiss Human Rights Due Diligence Legislation: Between Law and Politics
Authors: BUENO Nicolas , KAUFMANN Christine
Published: September 2021

On 29 November 2020, Swiss citizens voted on a popular constitutional initiative, known as the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative.1 The vote was triggered by an initiative signed by more than the required 100,000 Swiss citizens who used their constitutional right to ask for an amendment of the Swiss Constitution by introducing a new provision on mandatory human rights due diligence and corporate liability. For such an initiative to be successful, both the majority of the people as well as of the cantons (states) is required. While 50.7 per cent of the participating voters accepted the initiative, the proposal did not reach the majority of the cantons and therefore the Responsible Business Initiative was rejected. Its rejection nevertheless triggered the adoption of new reporting and due diligence obligations relating to conflict minerals and child labour, which the Parliament had promised to adopt in case the Responsible Business Initiative was rejected.2 This contribution outlines the content of the newly adopted human rights due diligence legislation that will reflect the due diligence standard for companies in Switzerland for the years to come. It also aims to inform policy makers in other countries by describing the political struggle underlying the adoption of mandatory human rights due diligence in Switzerland.
Intrinsic density, asymptotic computability, and stochasticity
Authors: Miller Justin
Published: September 2021

There are many computational problems which are generally “easy” to solve but have certain rare examples which are much more difficult to solve. One approach to studying these problems is to ignore the difficult edge cases. Asymptotic computability is one of the formal tools that uses this approach to study these problems. Asymptotically computable sets can be thought of as almost computable sets, however every set is computationally equivalent to an almost computable set. Intrinsic density was introduced as a way to get around this unsettling fact, and which will be our main focus.

Of particular interest for the first half of this dissertation are the intrinsically small sets, the sets of intrinsic density
$0$
. While the bulk of the existing work concerning intrinsic density was focused on these sets, there were still many questions left unanswered. The first half of this dissertation answers some of these questions. We proved some useful closure properties for the intrinsically small sets and applied them to prove separations for the intrinsic variants of asymptotic computability. We also completely separated hyperimmunity and intrinsic smallness in the Turing degrees and resolved some open questions regarding the relativization of intrinsic density.

For the second half of this dissertation, we turned our attention to the study of intermediate intrinsic density. We developed a calculus using noncomputable coding operations to construct examples of sets with intermediate intrinsic density. For almost all
$r\in (0,1)$
, this construction yielded the first known example of a set with intrinsic density r which cannot compute a set random with respect to the r-Bernoulli measure. Motivated by the fact that intrinsic density coincides with the notion of injection stochasticity, we applied these techniques to study the structure of the more well-known notion of MWC-stochasticity.

Abstract prepared by Justin Miller.

E-mail: jmille74@nd.edu

URL: https://curate.nd.edu/show/6t053f4938w
Differential effects of resource scarcity and pathogen prevalence on heterosexual women's facial masculinity preferences
Authors: Saribay S. Adil , Tureček Petr , Paluch Rüzgar , Kleisner Karel
Published: September 2021

The present research focused on how environmental harshness may affect heterosexual women's preferences of potential male mates’ facial characteristics, namely masculinity–femininity. The evidence on this issue is mixed and mostly from Western samples. We aimed to provide causal evidence using a sample of Turkish women and Turkish male faces. A video-based manipulation was developed to heighten environmental harshness perceptions. In the main experiment, participants were primed with resource scarcity, pathogen prevalence or neither (control). They then saw masculinised vs. feminised versions of the same faces and indicated the face that they would prefer for a long-term relationship and separately rated the faces on various dimensions. In general, masculinised faces were perceived as slightly more attractive, slightly healthier and much more formidable. A multilevel Bayesian model showed that pathogen prevalence lowered the preference for masculinised faces while resource scarcity weakly elevated it. The overall drop in attractiveness ratings in cases of high perceived pathogen prevalence, one of the strongest effects we observed, suggests that during epidemics, the formation of new relationships is not a favourable strategy. Implications for evolutionary theories of mate preference are discussed.
Bringing the Legislature Back In: Examining the Structural Effects of National Legislatures on Effective Democratic Governance
Authors: Tusalem Rollin F.
Published: September 2021

Extant research in comparative politics has examined the role of institutional frameworks such as constitutional design, the nature of the electoral systems, parliamentarism and federalism on the quality of governance. Understanding variations on effective democratic governance has assumed a state-centric approach that has largely neglected how strong legislatures can drastically affect political outcomes. This study finds empirical evidence that the strength of national legislatures (in terms of its influence over the executive, institutional autonomy, its specified powers and institutional capacity) is correlated to effective democratic governance as measured by voice and accountability, governmental effectiveness, regulatory quality, control of corruption and rule of law entrenchment based on a cross-national analysis of 150 countries with available data from the period 1996–2016. The results hold even when the sample is restricted to developing countries, where party systems are more likely to be under-institutionalized. A sensitivity analysis also confirms that the relationship between strong legislatures and effective democratic governance is not attenuated or conditioned by its interactive effect with other institutional arrangements. Implications suggest that the substantive strength of national legislatures promotes higher levels of democratic accountability, and that the international community must focus on frameworks that strengthen global legislatures to avert political instability and creeping authoritarianism.
The Art of Coining Christians: Indians and Authority in the Iconography of British Atlantic Colonial Seals, 1606–1767
Authors: Justice Benjamin
Published: September 2021

Between the founding of Jamestown in 1606 and the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, images of Indigenous men and women rose and fell on the great seals of the British Atlantic colonies. At the peak of this process, “the Indian” was the most persistent seal icon save for that of the arms and image of the monarch himself. This essay traces the sigillary Indian's illustrious career, as evolving imperial structures and legal debates about the nature of empire positioned and repositioned him (and her) in relation to just claims of authority. Early depictions reflected the settler colony concerns of private charter companies, justifying claims to land, not the rule over people. Royal colonies, by contrast, imagined Indians as a form of vassal, essential aids in the procurement of raw materials from the land. By the mid-eighteenth century, however, the image of the Indian had yielded to classical motifs and representations of the land through maps, mirroring the increasing centrality of territoriality to British imperial thought. Taken together, seal images of Indians in the British Atlantic present the rise and fall of a visual paradox: depicting Indigenous people as symbols of authority over white settler colonies.
Extinction time of the logistic process
Authors: Foxall Eric
Published: September 2021

The logistic birth and death process is perhaps the simplest stochastic population model that has both density-dependent reproduction and a phase transition, and a lot can be learned about the process by studying its extinction time,
$\tau_n$
, as a function of system size n. A number of existing results describe the scaling of
$\tau_n$
as
$n\to\infty$
for various choices of reproductive rate
$r_n$
and initial population
$X_n(0)$
as a function of n. We collect and complete this picture, obtaining a complete classification of all sequences
$(r_n)$
and
$(X_n(0))$
for which there exist rescaling parameters
$(s_n)$
and
$(t_n)$
such that
$(\tau_n-t_n)/s_n$
converges in distribution as
$n\to\infty$
, and identifying the limits in each case.
Stochastic ordering for birth–death processes with killing
Authors: Hsiau Shoou-Ren , Chen May-Ru , Yao Yi-Ching
Published: September 2021

We consider a birth–death process with killing where transitions from state i may go to either state
$i-1$
or state
$i+1$
or an absorbing state (killing). Stochastic ordering results on the killing time are derived. In particular, if the killing rate in state i is monotone in i, then the distribution of the killing time with initial state i is stochastically monotone in i. This result is a consequence of the following one for a non-negative tri-diagonal matrix M: if the row sums of M are monotone, so are the row sums of
$M^n$
for all
$n\ge 2$
.
Envisioning the People's Republic: China and US Marxist Anti-imperialism in the Mid-1970s
Authors: SOJIC-BORNE SERENA
Published: September 2021

This essay studies United States Marxist perspectives on China during US radicalism's decline in the mid-1970s. By the late 1960s, China's apparent synthesis of socialist and nationalist traditions inspired US Marxists to theorize a Chinese-led united front against American imperialism. However, China's opening up to the West in 1972 revealed US Marxists’ differing frameworks for understanding socialism and national liberation. Partly because of the confusion that followed, Marxist internationalism soon lost its intellectual weight on the US far left. Using archived Marxist periodicals from 1973 to 1979, I trace how this happened and what it meant for revolutionaries’ opposition to American empire.
More than local adaptation: high diversity of response to seawater acidification in seven coral species from the same assemblage in French Polynesia
Authors: Godefroid Mathilde , Arçuby Robin , Lacube Yann , Espiau Benoit , Dupont Sam , Gazeau Frédéric , Metian Marc , Hédouin Laetitia
Published: September 2021

Responses of corals to seawater acidification have been extensively studied. Sensitivity varies widely between species, highlighting the need to avoid extrapolation from one to another to get an accurate understanding of coral community responses. We tested the responses of seven coral species (Acropora cytherea, Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora pulchra, Leptastrea pruinosa, Montipora grisea, Pavona cactus, Pocillopora verrucosa) from the Mo'orea lagoon to a 48-day exposure to three pH scenarios (pH 7.95, 7.7 and 7.3). Tissue necrosis, mortality, growth rates, photophysiological performances and colour index were recorded. Few significant differences were noted between pH 7.95 and 7.7, but species-specific responses were observed at pH 7.3. While our data do not allow identification of the mechanisms behind this diversity in response between species inhabiting the same environment, it can exclude several hypotheses such as local adaptation, skeletal type, corallum morphology or calcification rate as sole factors determining coral sensitivity to pH.