bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Part Accuracy by Combination of Pulsed Wave (PW) and Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Laag Thomas , Winkel Till Martin , Jauer Lucas , Heußen Daniel , Haefner Constantin Leon
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a processing strategy is investigated to increase the geometric accuracy of parts fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Pulsed wave emission (pw) is used for contour exposure in combination with a continuous wave (cw) emission for bulk volume exposure. With the goal of discrete solidification of adjacent melt pools, process parameters of laser power PL, scanning speed vs, and relative pulse overlap ∆xo are developed for contour exposure. Samples with variable contour angles are fabricated to investigate the effect of the pw contour exposure on excessive melting in critical areas of the part prone to overheating. Geometric accuracy and surface roughness are evaluated using SEM images of surface topography and optical surface roughness measurements, respectively. It is observed that excessive melting can be suppressed by using pw contour exposure and usage of modified process parameters. Due to the discretized energy input in pw emission mode, smaller melt pools with lower melt pool fluctuation and powder erosion are produced. The maximum applicable scanning speed is limited by the solidification time of the melt pool and is significantly lower compared to conventional cw contour exposure parameters. Therefore, a combination of cw volume exposure with high process productivity and pw contour exposure for high geometric accuracy is beneficial to limit productivity losses and increase accuracy in part building.
Revisiting the adequacy of the economic policy narrative underpinning the Green Revolution
Authors: van Etten Jacob
Published: June 2022

The Green Revolution still exerts an important influence on agricultural policy as a technology-centred development strategy. A main policy narrative underpinning the Green Revolution was first expounded inTransforming Traditional Agriculture(TTA), a book published in 1964 by Nobel Prize-winning economist Ted Schultz. He famously argued that traditional farmers were ‘poor but efficient’. As farmers responded to economic incentives, technology-driven strategies would transform traditional agriculture into an engine of economic growth. Schultz relied on published ethnographic data and his own calculations to construct this policy narrative. My reanalysis ofTTAfocuses on its main case study, Panajachel, a village in Guatemala. I follow a narrative approach, evaluating whether Schultz’s story relates a plausible account of agricultural development in Panajachel and its region. I show how Schultz deliberately tried to hide that Mayan farmers in Panajachel were not challenged in technological terms and were able to reach relatively high economic returns. His interpretation of the Guatemalan rural economy ignored ethnic tensions dominating market exchange, a main barrier for agricultural development. I evaluate Schultz’s narrative further by tracing the subsequent evolution of Panajachel and its wider region. High-input strategies had to address ethnic barriers and change agents became embroiled in violent conflict along ethnic lines. Assessing the adequacy of Schultz’s contribution,from a narrative approach, shows how he ‘got the story wrong’ and that the Green Revolution policy narrative has an excessively narrow intellectual basis. New narratives should reserve a much more important place for institutional change in agricultural development.
Evaluation of Bookkeeper mass deacidification based on historical book papers
Authors: Malešič Jasna , Marinšek Marjan , Kralj Cigić Irena
Published: June 2022

Bookkeeper, the most widely used deacidification process based on MgO particles, was systematically evaluated on two sets of nonvaluable historical paper samples. Established analytical methods, such as pH and alkaline reserve determination, were used, as well as SEM EDS analyses to evaluate the distribution of Mg-rich particles on the paper surface and in the cross-section of the paper. The degradation rate constants of untreated and deacidified paper samples after accelerated thermal degradation were calculated based on weight average molecular mass determination to evaluate the lifetime extension of paper. The efficiency factors determined after accelerated thermal degradation of untreated and treated paper showed that paper lifetime prolongation after Bookkeeper deacidification treatment is highly limited for most of the investigated paper samples. No correlation was found between the alkaline reserve content or the pH and the degradation rate constants of the deacidified paper samples, but the paper degradation rate correlated with the paper samples pH before deacidification treatment. SEM EDS analysis showed that Mg-rich particles remained on the paper surface, which explains the limited effectiveness of the treatment.

Graphical abstract
Using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales to Evaluate a Developmental Profile of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Symptomatologic Severity
Authors: Pino Maria Chiara , Donne Ilenia Le , Vagnetti Roberto , Tiberti Sergio , Valenti Marco , Mazza Monica
Published: June 2022

Early diagnosis is crucial for Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is achieved through a screening of developmental indicators to recognise children who are at risk of autism. One of the most widely used instruments in clinical practice for assessing child development is the Griffiths Mental Development Scale (GMDS). We sought (a) to assess longitudinally whether children diagnosed with ASD, with a mean age of 33.50 months (SD 7.69 months), show a developmental delay of abilities measured by the GMDS over time and (b) to analyse which skills of the GMDS could be associate to the symptomatologic severity of ASD. Our results showed lower scores of General Quotient and all sub-quotients of GMDS from first (T0) to second assessment (T1), except for the Performance sub-quotient. Three sub-quotients (Personal-Social, Hearing and Language and Practical Reasoning) also associate symptom severity at the time when the diagnosis of ASD is made.
Russian climate scepticism: an understudied case
Authors: Ashe Teresa , Poberezhskaya Marianna
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we consider climate scepticism in the Russian context. We are interested in whether this has been discussed within the social scientific literature and ask first whether there is a discernible climate sceptical discourse in Russia. We find that there is very little literature directly on this topic in either English or Russian and we seek to synthesise related literature to fill the gap. Secondly, we consider whether Russian climate scepticism has been shaped by the same factors as in the USA, exploring how scientists, the media, public opinion, the government and business shaped climate scepticism in Russia. Climate scepticism in the USA is understood as a ‘conservative countermovement’ that seeks to react against the perceived gains of the progressive environmental movement, but we argue that this is not an appropriate framework for understanding Russian climate scepticism. Articulated within a less agonistic environment and situated within an authoritarian regime, Russian expressions of climate scepticism balance the environmental, political and economic needs of the regime under the constraints of a strong ‘carbon culture’ and closed public debate.
Extraction of density-layered fluid from a porous medium
Authors: Jose J. , Hocking G. C. , Farrow D. E.
Published: June 2022

We consider axisymmetric flow towards a point sink from a stratified fluid in a vertically confined aquifer. We present two approaches to solve the equations of flow for the linear density gradient case. Firstly, a series method results in an eigenfunction expansion in Whittaker functions. The second method is a finite difference method. Comparison of the two methods verifies the finite difference method is accurate, so that more complicated nonlinear, density stratification can be considered. Interesting results for the case where the density stratification changes from linear to almost two-layer are presented, showing that in the nonlinear stratification case, there are certain values of flow rate for which a steady solution does not occur. A spectral method is then implemented to consider cases in which there is a stagnant region beneath a sharp interface between two layers of different, but constant, density. In this situation, flows also exist only for flow rates beneath a critical flux value, consistent with the results for the continuous density stratification.
Impact of pulmonary vein variant anatomy and cross-sectional orifice area on freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryothermal single-shot guided pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Guckel Denise , Lucas Philipp , Isgandarova Khuraman , Hamriti Mustapha El , Bergau Leonard , Fink Thomas , Sciacca Vanessa , Braun Martin , Khalaph Moneeb , Imnadze Guram , Nölker Georg , Sommer Philipp , Sohns Christian
Published: June 2022

Background

Cryoballoon (CB)-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to evaluate ablation efficacy and freedom from arrhythmia recurrence using the novel POLARx compared to the Arctic Front Advance Pro (AFA) CB system including the analysis of individual PV characteristics.

Methods

A total of 687 patients underwent CB-guided ablation for AF. Arrhythmia recurrence was defined as an ECG documented episode of any AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) > 30 s. Anatomical characteristics were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For each PV, the cross-sectional orifice area (CSOA) was determined. Follow-up examinations were scheduled after 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results

Acute PVI was achieved in all patients. Twelve-month AF-free survival was similar between the groups (POLARx 43/86 (50%) vs. AFA 318/601 (53%), Log-rank (LR) p = 0.346). MRI found a comparable percentage of patients with normal PV anatomy (POLARx 71/86 (83%) vs. AFA 530/601 (85%), p = 0.162). Patients with variant PV characteristics presented with a significantly impaired 12-month AF-free survival (normal PVs 326/585 (56%) vs. variant PVs 27/102 (27%), LR p < 0.001) independent of the applied CB ablation system. PAF patients with AF recurrence presented with significantly larger CSOA of the left-sided PVs and the right superior PVs (LSPV: p < 0.001; LIPV: p < 0.001; RSPV: p < 0.001). In PERS AF, no association between CSOA and ablation outcome was observed. Multivariate analyses identified PERS AF (hazard ratio (HR) 2.504, confidence interval (CI), 1.900–3.299, p < 0.001) and variant PV anatomy (HR 2.124, CI 1.608–2.805, p < 0.001) as independent predictors for AF recurrence.

Conclusions

Both CB ablation systems are associated with comparable 12-month AF-free survival rates. Variant PV anatomy seems to be predictive for AF recurrence. An association between CSOA and the outcome after CB-guided PVI was demonstrated for PAF.
Rhythmia zero-fluoroscopy workflow with high-power, short-duration ablation: retrospective analysis of procedural data
Authors: Cuellar-Silva Jose R. , Albrecht Elizabeth M. , Sutton Brad S.
Published: June 2022

Background

Fluoroscopy is commonly used during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation to guide catheter navigation and placement. Technology improvements have significantly reduced fluoroscopy time, and subsequent radiation dose, necessary to perform successful ablations. However, there is still no amount of radiation exposure known to be completely safe. The aim of this manuscript is to describe a detailed zero-fluoroscopy RHYTHMIA HDx workflow for AF ablation.

Methods

This was an observational, single-center experience to describe the technique, acute procedural success, and safety using a novel zero-fluoroscopy workflow with the RHYTHMIA HDx mapping system and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Seventy-two consecutive patients undergoing de novo or redo AF ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Venous access was guided with ultrasound. ICE combined with the mapping system’s magnetic tracking and sheath detection was used for precise catheter placement in the coronary sinus, at the transseptal puncture, and in the left atrium. A high-power, short-duration ablation strategy guided by local impedance was used. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed or touched up for all patients with additional lines added at the operator’s discretion.

Results

Using this zero-fluoroscopy workflow, all patients achieved acute isolation with no significant procedure-related complications. Average procedure time was 73.7 ± 16.2 min, which included persistent (58%) and paroxysmal (42%) AF cases, and no procedures required conversion to fluoroscopy.

Conclusions

In this experience, a zero-fluoroscopy workflow using the RHYTHMIA HDx mapping system combined with ICE was feasible and safe for ablation in a heterogenous AF population. This approach, in the appropriate patient population, can eliminate radiation exposure to patients and staff.
An exact projection-based algorithm for bilevel mixed-integer problems with nonlinearities
Authors: Merkert Maximilian , Orlinskaya Galina , Weninger Dieter
Published: June 2022

We propose an exact global solution method for bilevel mixed-integer optimization problems with lower-level integer variables and including nonlinear terms such as, e.g., products of upper-level and lower-level variables. Problems of this type are extremely challenging as a single-level reformulation suitable for off-the-shelf solvers is not available in general. In order to solve these problems to global optimality, we enhance an approximative projection-based algorithm for mixed-integer linear bilevel programming problems from the literature to become exact under one additional assumption. This assumption still allows for discrete and continuous leader and follower variables on both levels, but forbids continuous upper-level variables to appear in lower-level constraints and thus ensures that a bilevel optimum is attained. In addition, we extend our exact algorithm to make it applicable to a wider problem class. This setting allows nonlinear constraints and objective functions on both levels under certain assumptions, but still requires that the lower-level problem is convex in its continuous variables. We also discuss computational experiments on modified library instances.
Chromoblastomycosis-Leprosy Co-Infection in Central West Brazil. Presentation of Three Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Guevara Armando , Vicente Vânia Aparecida , de Souza Lima Bruna Jacomel F. , Nery Andréia Ferreira , Hagen Ferry , Hahn Rosane Christine
Published: June 2022

Chromoblastomycosis and leprosy are chronic diseases with high prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Brazil is one of the countries with the highest incidence and prevalence for both diseases, however, reports of co-infections are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe three cases of chromoblastomycosis-leprosy co-infection in patients from Mato Grosso state, Brazil. A review of chromoblastomycosis-leprosy co-infection was performed of English, Portuguese and Spanish publications in LILACS, SciELO, PubMed and Web of Science databases using the descriptors (chromoblastomycosis OR cromoblastomicose OR cromoblastomicosis) AND (leprosy OR hanseníase OR lepra), without time period delimitation. Nineteen cases were included, 16 cases were published in 11 articles, plus the three cases reported in the current study. Most reported coninfection cases came from Brazil. Majority of the patients were male with a mean age of 52.2 years. Farmer was the main occupational activity reported. In 12 patients, the clinical signs and symptoms of leprosy started first. No contacts with patients affected by leprosy, armadillos or history of injuries at the anatomical site of chromoblastomycosis lesions were reported. Five leprosy patients who received steroid treatment for leprosy reactions or neuropathies, were diagnosed with chromoblastomycosis during immunosuppressive therapy. Four cases (21.1%) were reported among the elderly patients. Co-infections in patients with chromoblastomycosis or leprosy are uncommon, but the possibility should always be considered, especially if the patient is undergoing immunosuppressive treatment or is elder.
Hydrological regimes in different slope environments and implications on rainfall thresholds triggering shallow landslides
Authors: Fusco Francesco , Bordoni Massimiliano , Tufano Rita , Vivaldi Valerio , Meisina Claudia , Valentino Roberto , Bittelli Marco , De Vita Pantaleone
Published: June 2022

Assessing hazard of rainfall-induced shallow landslides represents a challenge for the risk management of urbanized areas for which the setting up of early warning systems, based on the reconstruction of reliable rainfall thresholds and rainfall monitoring, is a solution more practicable than the delocalization of settlements and infrastructures. Consequently, the reduction in uncertainties affecting the estimation of rainfall thresholds conditions, leading to the triggering of slope instabilities, is a fundament task to be tackled. In such a view, coupled soil hydrological monitoring and physics-based modeling approaches are presented for estimating rainfall thresholds in two different geomorphological environments prone to shallow landsliding. Based on the comparison of results achieved for silty–clayey soils characterizing Oltrepò Pavese area (northern Italy) and ash-fall pyroclastic soils mantling slopes of Sarno Mountains ridge (southern Italy), this research advances the understanding of the slope hydrological response in triggering shallow landslides. Among the principal results is the comprehension that, mainly depending on geological and geomorphological settings, geotechnical and hydrological properties of soil coverings have a fundamental control on the timing and intensity of hydrological processes leading to landslide initiation. Moreover, results obtained show how the characteristics of the soil coverings control the slope hydrological response at different time scales, making the antecedent soil hydrological conditions a not negligible factor for estimating landslide rainfall thresholds. The approaches proposed can be conceived as an adaptable tool to assess hazard to initiation of shallow rainfall-induced landslides and to implement early-warning systems from site-specific to distributed (catchment or larger) scales.
Entity linking systems for literature reviews
Authors: Marrone Mauricio , Lemke Sascha , Kolbe Lutz M.
Published: June 2022

Computer-assisted methods and tools can help researchers automate the coding process of literature reviews and accelerate the literature review process. However, existing approaches for coding textual data do not account for lexical ambiguity; that is, instances in which individual words have multiple meanings. To counter this, we developed a method to conduct rapid and comprehensive analyses of diverse literature types. Our method uses entity linking and keyword analysis and is embedded into a literature review framework. Next, we apply the framework to review the literature on digital disruption and digital transformation. We outline the method’s advantages and its applicability to any research topic.
Fabry–Pérot Interferometer-Based Tunable Narrow-Band Imager for Solar Chromospheric Observation: First Results
Authors: Hu Xingcheng , Yang Jinsheng , Rao Xuejun , Rao Changhui
Published: June 2022

Recently, we have developed a tunable narrow-band imager (NBI) with high spectral resolution based on a Fabry–Pérot (FP) interferometer to observe the solar chromosphere. The NBI system is designed for imaging the Sun at the H$\alpha $
α
wavelength (6563 Å). The FP interferometer has a bandpass (FWHM) of 0.09 Å and a free spectral range (FSR) of 3.85 Å at $\lambda = 628$
λ
=
628
 nm, working in combination with a prefilter with a bandpass of 1.6 Å and a center wavelength at 656.3 nm to achieve narrow-band imaging. We have successfully tested the NBI system on the 65-cm Educational Adaptive-optics Solar Telescope (EAST) in the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, and observed the sunspots in active region (AR) 12880 of the Sun on October 2 and 3, 2021. In this paper, we briefly present a description of the instrument, experimental observations, data processing, and the first observational results.
Parental evaluation of teachers’ competences and characteristics during COVID-19 pandemic homeschooling
Authors: Letzel Verena , Pozas Marcela , Besa Kris-Stephen
Published: June 2022

With the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, school-related closures and the hasty transition into homeschooling, parents were required to take a more active and positive role than ever before in collaboration with their children’s educators. Thus, with this unprecedented situation, parents became an important source of information during the pandemic. Considering this unique event, the study at hand aims to explore parents’ perspectives regarding primary and upper secondary school teachers’ digital competence, digital differentiated instruction, and feedback during the first SARS-CoV-2 school shutdown in Germany. Additionally, the study examined parents’ evaluation of teachers’ characteristics. Results reveal that parental ratings were generally positive. Moreover, parents with children attending primary schools perceived and evaluated teachers’ digital competence and digital differentiated teaching highly, and perceived significantly more teacher feedback than parents whose children attend upper secondary school. In addition, positive correlations were found between parents’ evaluations of teachers’ feedback and how motivated, appreciative, and devoted teachers are perceived to be. Practical implications and further research areas are discussed.
Causality, determination and free will: towards an anscombean account of free action
Authors: van Miltenburg Niels
Published: June 2022

Anscombe’s “Causality and Determination” is often cited in the contemporary free will debate, but rarely discussed in much detail. It’s main contribution, it is thought, is the defense of an alternative to deterministic causation, thus clearing the way for an incompatibilist analysis of free actions in terms of probabilistic causation. However, in this paper I will show that the contemporary probabilistic analysis of free action actually stands in direct conflict with Anscombe’s lecture. Instead, I will argue, its true value for incompatibilist accounts of free will lies in Anscombe’s thought that there are various fundamentally different kinds of causality. This variety, I argue, allows for a revised conception indeterminism and an understanding of free will as the manifestation of a particular sort of agent-causal power.
The heterologous expression of conserved Glycine max (soybean) mitogen activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) paralogs suppresses Meloidogyne incognita parasitism in Gossypium hirsutum (upland cotton)
Authors: Klink Vincent P. , Alkharouf Nadim W. , Lawrence Kathy S. , Lawaju Bisho R. , Sharma Keshav , Niraula Prakash M. , McNeece Brant T.
Published: June 2022

Two conserved Glycine max (soybean) mitogen activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) paralogs function in defense to the parasitic soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines. Gene Ontology analyses of RNA seq data obtained from MAPK3-1-overexpressing (OE) and MAPK3-2-OE roots compared to their control, as well as MAPK3-1-RNA interference (RNAi) and MAPK3-2-RNAi compared to their control, hierarchically orders the induced and suppressed genes, strengthening the hypothesis that their heterologous expression in Gossypium hirsutum (upland cotton) would impair parasitism by the root knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita. MAPK3-1 expression (E) in G. hirsutum suppresses the production of M. incognita root galls, egg masses, and second stage juveniles (J2s) by 80.32%, 82.37%, and 88.21%, respectfully. Unexpectedly, egg number increases by 28.99% but J2s are inviable. MAPK3-2-E effects are identical, statistically. MAPK3-1-E and MAPK3-2-E decreases root mass 1.49-fold and 1.55-fold, respectively, as compared to the pRAP15-ccdB-E control. The reproductive factor (RF) of M. incognita for G. hirsutum roots expressing MAPK3-1-E or MAPK3-2-E decreases 60.39% and 50.46%, respectively, compared to controls. The results are consistent with upstream pathogen activated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity (PTI) and effector triggered immunity (ETI) functioning in defense to H. glycines. The experiments showcase the feasibility of employing MAPK3, through heterologous expression, to combat M. incognita parasitism, possibly overcoming impediments otherwise making G. hirsutum’s defense platform deficient. MAPK homologs are identified in other important crop species for future functional analyses.
Application of micro-computed X-ray tomography for improving the hole erosion test analysis on high plastic clay
Authors: Zaid Bahaeldeen , Vollert Florian , Gibmeier Jens , Mengel Lena , Stelzer Oliver , Schneider Achim
Published: June 2022

The hole erosion test (HET) was developed to simulate piping erosion and to study the erosion parameters of cohesive soils. The erosion rate in the HET is evaluated by the enlargement of a pre-performed hole in the axis of the specimen with time. The hole diameter during the test is estimated using the pipe flow theory with an assumption that the friction factor varies linearly with time. To investigate this assumption, measurements of the hole diameter during the test are needed. So far, there have been no measurements of the hole diameter during the HET and the hole diameter is measured only at the end of the test after cutting the specimen. In this study, a novel approach to measure the hole diameter at different time steps during the HET using micro-computed X-ray tomography (µCT) is presented. Combining the HET and µCT data, the assumption regarding the friction factor was investigated. Moreover, a linear relation between the flow rate and the hole diameter was found in the range of the tested diameters. This relation was confirmed with HETs using non-erodible PVC specimens with different hole diameters. Accordingly, a new method to interpret the HET for high plastic clay was proposed, in which the hole diameter is calculated based on the flow rate, given that the initial and the final hole diameters are known. A comparison between the analysis of the HET using the proposed and the previous analysis methods is presented.
Study protocol and preliminary results from a mono-centric cohort within a trial testing stereotactic body radiotherapy and abiraterone (ARTO-NCT03449719)
Authors: Francolini Giulio , Detti Beatrice , Di Cataldo Vanessa , Garlatti Pietro , Aquilano Michele , Allegra Andrea , Lucidi Sara , Cerbai Cecilia , Ciccone Lucia Pia , Salvestrini Viola , Stocchi Giulia , Guerrieri Barbara , Visani Luca , Loi Mauro , Desideri Isacco , Mangoni Monica , Meattini Icro , Livi Lorenzo
Published: June 2022

Background

ARTO trial was designed to evaluate the difference in terms of outcomes between patients affected by oligo metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with Abiraterone acetate and randomized to receive or not SBRT on all sites of disease. Here, we present a preliminary analysis conducted on patients enrolled at promoting institution.

Objective

To present a preliminary overview about population features, clinical outcomes, adverse events, quality of life and explorative translational research.

Design, setting, and participants

ARTO (NCT03449719) is a phase II trial including patients affected by oligo mCRPC, randomized to receive standard of care (GnRH agonist or antagonist plus abiraterone acetate 1000 mg and oral prednisone 10 mg daily) with or without SBRT on all metastatic sites of disease. All subjects have < 3 bone or nodal metastases. All patients are treated in I line mCRPC setting, no previous lines of treatment for mCRPC are allowed.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Data about a mono-centric cohort of 42 patients enrolled are presented in the current analysis, with focus on baseline population features, PSA drop at 3 months, biochemical response, and quality of life outcomes. Descriptive statistics regarding translational research are also presented.

Results and limitation

Significant difference in terms of PSA drop at three months was not detected (p = 0.68). Biochemical response (PSA reduction > 50%) was reported in 73.7 versus 76.5% of patients in control vs SBRT arm, respectively (p = 0.84). All patients are alive. Progression occurred in 1 versus 0 patients in the control versus SBRT arm, respectively. After 3 months, an average decrease of 13 points in terms of Global Health Score was reported for the overall population. However, complete recovery was noticed at 6 months. Circulating tumor cells detection rate was 40%.

Conclusions

SBRT + Abiraterone treatment was safe and well tolerated, non-significant trend in terms of PSA drop and biochemical response at 3 months was detected in SBRT arm. Interestingly, CTCs detection in this selected cohort of oligo-mCRPC was lower if compared to historical data of unselected mCRPC patients.
Ein Schimmer von Fortschritt: Die Soziogenese menschlicher Rationalität von Mead über Habermas zu Brandom
Authors: Anicker Fabian
Published: June 2022

Wie werden aus menschlichen Körpern begründungssensible, zurechnungsfähige und insofern rationale Personen? Ein wichtiger Strang der soziologischen Theorietradition bearbeitet dieses Problem über die Rekonstruktion des Prozesses der Ontogenese als Internalisierung kommunikativer sozialer Strukturen. Der Artikel erzählt innerhalb dieser Theorielinie eine dreiteilige sozialtheoretische Fortschrittsgeschichte, die von Mead über Habermas zu Brandom führt. Die klassischen Einsichten von George Herbert Mead in die Soziogenese des Individuums wurden durch Jürgen Habermas’ Einführung pragmatistischer Sprachtheorie erweitert, welche wiederum mit der Theorie diskursiver Praktiken von Robert Brandom auf eine neue Basis gestellt werden könnte. Im Übergang von Mead über Habermas zu Brandom gelingt es immer genauer, den Zusammenhang von Sprache und menschlicher Rationalität begrifflich zu präzisieren und dabei gleichzeitig den Voraussetzungsreichtum der theoretischen Vorannahmen zu senken.
Synthesis of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles with Different Shapes Through a Co-Precipitation Method and Their Application
Authors: Ba-Abbad Muneer M. , Benamour Abdelbaki , Ewis Dina , Mohammad Abdul Wahab , Mahmoudi Ebrahim
Published: June 2022

Magnetic Fe3O4nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized via co-precipitation method using ferric chloride and ferrous sulphate as the starting materials. The shape and the size of Fe3O4NPs were controlled by using different types of additive including ammonium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. The results revealed that by adding ammonium hydroxide, the particles attained a spherical shape with a uniform size. On the other hand, the shape of the particles turned from spherical to cubic using sodium hydroxide. The magnetic results showed that both samples attained hysteresis loop, which indicated that both samples have ferromagnetic behavior. In addition, Fe3O4NPs with cubic shape showed higher adsorptive behaviour towards Congo red compared to spherical Fe3O4NPs, which is attributed to the enhancement of their magnetic properties. The adsorption of Congo red onto cubic Fe3O4NPs was best described by Langmuir isotherm model, while spherical Fe3O4NPs followed Freundlich isotherm model.
Unusual perfusion patterns on perfusion-only SPECT/CT scans in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Farkas Bence , Képes Zita , Barna Sándor Kristóf , Szugyiczki Viktória , Bakos Magdolna , Forgács Attila , Garai Ildikó
Published: June 2022

Purpose

We aimed at examining both the incidence and extent of different lung perfusion abnormalities as well as the relationship between them on Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) perfusion-only SPECT/CT scans in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

Ninety-one patients (71.4 ± 13.9 years; range: 29–98 years, median age: 74 years; 45 female and 46 male) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 virus infection were included in this retrospective study. After performing perfusion-only Tc-99m MAA SPECT/CT scans, visual, semi-quantitative assessment of the subsequent perfusion abnormalities was carried out: mismatch lesions (MM; activity defects on SPECT images identical to apparently healthy parenchyma on CT images), matched lesions (MA; activity defects with corresponding parenchymal lesions on CT scans), and reverse mismatch lesions (RM; parenchymal lesions with preserved or increased tracer uptake). Lesion-based and patient-based analysis were performed to evaluate the extent, severity, and incidence of each perfusion abnormality. Statistical tests were applied to investigate the association between the experienced perfusion impairments.

Results

Moderately severe parenchymal lesions were detected in 87 (95.6%) patients. Although, 50 (54.95%) patients were depicted to have MM lesions, the whole patient cohort was mildly affected by this abnormality. MA lesions of average moderate severity were seen in most of the patients (89.01%). In 65 (71.43%) patients RM lesions were found with mild severity on average. Positive association was detected between total CT score and total RM score and between total CT score and total MA score. Significantly higher total CT scores were experienced in the subgroup, where RM lesions were present.

Conclusions

Heterogeneous perfusion abnormalities were found in most of COVID-19 patients: parenchymal lesions with normal, decreased or increased perfusion and perfusion defects in healthy lung areas. These phenomena may be explained by the failure of the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction mechanism and presence of pulmonary thrombosis and embolism.
The Impossibility of a Moral Right to Privacy
Authors: Persson Ingmar , Savulescu Julian
Published: June 2022

This paper clarifies and defends against criticism our argument in Unfit for the Future that there is no moral right to privacy. A right to privacy is conceived as a right that others do not acquire information about us that we reserve for ourselves and selected others. Information acquisition itself is distinguished from the means used to acquire it and the uses to which the information is put. To acquire information is not an action; it is to be caused to be in an internal state. By contrast, means of acquisition and uses of information are actions that can be voluntarily controlled. We can therefore have rights against others that they stay away from certain means and uses but not from information acquisition in itself. An omniscient, omnipotent and omnibeneficient being is not thought to violate a right to privacy because its means and uses of information are morally acceptable.
Modeling crop suitability under micro irrigation using a hybrid AHP-GIS approach
Authors: Abuzaid Ahmed S. , El-Husseiny Ahmed M.
Published: June 2022

Crop suitability analysis using novel models is a pillar for sustainable land-use planning. In this work, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was integrated with GIS to produce suitability maps for wheat and maize under sprinkler irrigation and broad bean under drip irrigation. The study was conducted in an arid area, west Nile Delta of Egypt. The characteristics of local climate, landscape, and groundwater quality were matched with crop requirements and assigned scores. A GIS-based model was implemented to integrate scores and AHP weights and generate crop suitability maps. The climate conditions fitted optimum crop requirements; however, slight slope limitations affected wheat and maize. The electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage, and CaCO3 were the most important soil factors affecting broad bean, and these factors besides coarse fragments affected wheat and maize. The EC, Na+, and Cl– were the most influential factors for wheat and maize irrigation, while EC and sodium adsorption ratio had the greatest priority for broad bean irrigation. Irrigation water quality had the highest specific weight (0.38) followed by soil (0.36), slope (0.15), and climate (0.10). The final suitability maps showed that 97 and 3% of the total area were suitable (S2) and moderately suitable (S3) for wheat, respectively. Moreover, 85 and 15% of the total area fitted the S2 and S3 classes for broad bean. For maize, 36 and 64% of the total area fitted the S2 and S3 classes. Integrating AHP and GIS would provide effective land-use planning and also suggest proper management practices in arid areas.
Energy Practices and Mindfulness Meditation
Authors: Anālayo Bhikkhu , Steffens-Dhaussy Christiane , Gallo Fred , Scott Dawn
Published: June 2022

The article explores the potential impact of insight meditation and mindfulness practices on the body’s energy system. Basic principles of energy psychology, whose efficacy has been corroborated in current research, are surveyed from the viewpoint of their potential to help in dealing with hypersensitivity resulting from mindfulness practices, combined with presenting a set of specific techniques relevant to hindrances in meditation.
The Rule of Law as a Well-Established and Well-Defined Principle of EU Law
Authors: Pech Laurent
Published: June 2022

Against increasing rule of law backsliding within the EU, the European Commission has presented the rule of law as a well-established and well-defined principle whose core meaning is furthermore shared as a common value among all Member States. In refute, the national governments of the two EU countries, which are both subject to special EU procedures on account of the systemic threat to the rule of law their repeated actions have caused, have claimed that the rule of law is neither defined in EU law, nor could it be defined in EU law. This article’s primary aim is to assess these conflicting assertions. It does so by first offering an overview of the EU legal framework on the basis of which it is shown that the rule of law, as asserted by the Commission, is a well-established constitutional principle of EU law. It furthermore shows that it is well-defined, not least because of the Court of Justice’s extensive case law, the European Commission’s definitional codification of it and most recently, the adoption of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation 2020/2092 which provides the first comprehensive allen compassing internal-oriented definition of the rule of law adopted by the EU co-legislators. This article furthermore contends that the EU’s understanding of the rule of law reflects what may be presented as a broad consensus in the European legal space on its core meaning and components; its legal use as a primary principle of judicial interpretation and a source from which standards of judicial review may be derived; and how the rule of law relates to other fundamental values. Finally, this article concludes by examining the reality of a potentially emerging East-West dissensus as regards the rule of law. In light of evidence of strong and widespread support for the rule of law in every single EU Member State in the face of top-down attempts to systemically undermine it, it is however submitted that there is no meaningful East-West divide but an authoritarian-liberal divide at elite level.
Community-Level Health Interventions are Crucial in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Lessons from Africa’s Proactive Public Health Policy Interventions
Authors: Ahen Frederick
Published: June 2022

Measured against the gloomy pre-COVID-19 predictions, Africa has fared far better than most regions in managing the pandemic. This much, however, has received less attention. This paper answers the question: how have the new rituals of self determination in public health affected the successful management of COVID-19 in Africa, and how can the continent and the rest of the world build on such models/lessons in the post-pandemic era? I employ emancipatory theorising in reviewing literature on approaches to governance of COVID-19. The rationale is to empower the grassroots and to accentuate the urgency for a decolonized local ownership of the governance of all public health crises. I argue that while traditional international cooperation is necessary for additional resource and expertise from the global North for sustainable health, the political will of Southern governments remains fundamental for any extraordinary success due to its grassroots/community orientation towards non-pharmaceutical interventions and initial pre-emptive rituals. The novelty in this paper is that it lays bare the ignored African responses and lessons and reveals how to harness protective communitarian ethos in solving future crises. The paper further provides population health as an ‘immune system’ policy framework for explaining and predicting how a scientific and human-centrered grassroots leadership can yield optimal outcomes in any future crisis.
On partial likelihood and the construction of factorisable transformations
Authors: Battey H. S. , Cox D. R. , Lee Su Hyeong
Published: June 2022

Models whose associated likelihood functions fruitfully factorise are an important minority allowing elimination of nuisance parameters via partial likelihood, an operation that is valuable in both Bayesian and frequentist inferences, particularly when the number of nuisance parameters is not small. After some general discussion of partial likelihood, we focus on marginal likelihood factorisations, which are particularly difficult to ascertain from elementary calculations. We suggest a systematic approach for deducing transformations of the data, if they exist, whose marginal likelihood functions are free of the nuisance parameters. This is based on the solution to an integro-differential equation constructed from aspects of the Laplace transform of the probability density function, for which candidate solutions solve a simpler first-order linear homogeneous differential equation. The approach is generalised to the situation in which such factorisable structure is not exactly present. Examples are used in illustration. Although motivated by inferential problems in statistics, the proposed construction is of independent interest and may find application elsewhere.
Unravelling Hominin Activities in the Zooarchaeological Assemblage of Barranco León (Orce, Granada, Spain)
Authors: Yravedra José , Solano José Antonio , Herranz-Rodrigo Darío , Linares-Matás Gonzalo J. , Saarinen Juha , Rodríguez-Alba Juan José , Titton Stefanía , Serrano-Ramos Alexia , Courtenay Lloyd A. , Mielgo Clara , Luzón Carmen , Cámara José , Sánchez-Bandera Christian , Montilla Eva , Toro-Moyano Isidro , Barsky Deborah , Fortelius Mikael , Agusti Jordi , Blain Hugues-Alexandre , Oms Oriol , Jiménez-Arenas Juan Manuel
Published: June 2022

Little is known about the subsistence practices of the first European settlers, mainly due to the shortage of archaeological sites in Europe older than a million years. This article contributes to the knowledge of the subsistence of the first Europeans with new zooarchaeology and taphonomic data from the Palaeolithic site of Barranco León (Orce, Granada, Spain). We present the results of the analysis of the faunal assemblages retrieved in the context of new excavations undertaken between 2016 and 2020. We have followed a standard methodology for the identification and quantification of species, mortality profiles, skeletal representation and taphonomic analysis. With regard to the taphonomic evidence, we have documented the extent of rounding, abrasion and other alterations. Finally, we examined traces from the activities of carnivores and hominins that led to the accumulation and alteration of the bone assemblages. Results indicate that the archaeo-paleontological deposits from Barranco León present a dual-patterned mixed taphonomic origin. The first phase primarily involved waterborne processes (BL-D1), which led to the accumulation of lithic raw materials, a few archaeological stone tools, and some faunal remains with percussion and cutmarks. The second phase (BL-D2) contains several stone tools associated with faunal remains with more anthropogenic alterations, such as cutmarks and percussion marks. After analysing the Barranco León zooarchaeological assemblage, the present study concludes that hominins had access to the meat and within-bone nutrients of animals of diverse sizes. However, the specific carcass acquisition mechanisms that hominins followed are less certain because the presence of tooth marks suggests that carnivores also played a role in the accumulation and modification of the Barranco León faunal assemblage.
Semantics modulo satisfiability with applications: function representation, probabilities and game theory
Authors: Preto Sandro Márcio da Silva
Published: June 2022

In the context of propositional logics, we apply semantics modulo satisfiability—a restricted semantics which comprehends only valuations that satisfy some specific set of formulas—with the aim to efficiently solve some computational tasks. Three possible such applications are developed.

We begin by studying the possibility of implicitly representing rational McNaughton functions in Łukasiewicz Infinitely-valued Logic through semantics modulo satisfiability. We theoretically investigate some approaches to such representation concept, called representation modulo satisfiability, and describe a polynomial algorithm that builds representations in the newly introduced system. An implementation of the algorithm, test results and ways to randomly generate rational McNaughton functions for testing are presented. Moreover, we propose an application of such representations to the formal verification of properties of neural networks by means of the reasoning framework of Łukasiewicz Infinitely-valued Logic.

Then, we move to the investigation of the satisfiability of joint probabilistic assignments to formulas of Łukasiewicz Infinitely-valued Logic, which is known to be an NP-complete problem. We provide an exact decision algorithm derived from the combination of linear algebraic methods with semantics modulo satisfiability. Also, we provide an implementation for such algorithm for which the phenomenon of phase transition is empirically detected.

Lastly, we study the game theory situation of observable games, which are games that are known to reach a Nash equilibrium, however, an external observer does not know what is the exact profile of actions that occur in a specific instance; thus, such observer assigns subjective probabilities to players actions. We study the decision problem of determining if a set of these probabilistic constraints is coherent by reducing it to the problems of satisfiability of probabilistic assignments to logical formulas both in Classical Propositional Logic and Łukasiewicz Infinitely-valued Logic depending on whether only pure equilibria or also mixed equilibria are allowed. Such reductions rely upon the properties of semantics modulo satisfiability. We provide complexity and algorithmic discussion for the coherence problem and, also, for the problem of computing maximal and minimal probabilistic constraints on actions that preserves coherence.

Abstract prepared by Sandro Márcio da Silva Preto.

E-mail: spreto@ime.usp.br

URL:https://doi.org/10.11606/T.45.2021.tde-17062021-163257
Coronavirus Disease-2019 and Stroke: Pathophysiology and Management
Authors: Small Coulter , Mehkri Yusuf , Panther Eric , Felisma Patrick , Lucke-Wold Brandon
Published: June 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease-2019, has been associated with an increased risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. As data emerge about the underlying mechanisms, it is important to synthesize current knowledge to improve effective treatment options. In this review, we highlight the known pathophysiology, discuss the relationship between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and address emerging implications for patient management. The information here is compiled to be a user-friendly, quick guide to help practitioners select management options for these patients.