bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between lifetime reproductive events among postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder
Authors: Gordon-Smith Katherine , Perry Amy , Di Florio Arianna , Craddock Nicholas , Jones Ian , Jones Lisa
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle, childbirth and perimenopause often coincide with a worsening of mood symptoms in women with bipolar disorder (BD). To date, findings from the limited number of studies investigating associations between these events among women with BD have been inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate associations between episodes in relation to the perimenopause and (i) premenstrual symptoms and (ii) postpartum mood episodes in a large sample of postmenopausal women with BD.

Methods

Among 567 postmenopausal women with BD, recruited as part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network, relationships between reproductive event-associated mood symptoms/episodes were examined. Multivariate binary analyses were carried out to identify if history of premenstrual symptoms and/or postpartum episodes predicted the occurrence of mood episodes in relation to the perimenopause, controlling for potential confounders including number of mood episodes per illness year.

Results

History of premenstrual symptoms was associated with experiencing any type of mood episode, and depression specifically, during the perimenopause (OR 6.189, p < 0.001 and OR 2.709, p = 0.019 respectively). History of postpartum depression within 6 weeks of delivery was associated with depressive episodes during the perimenopause (OR 2.635, p = 0.027). Postpartum mania was not a significant predictor.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that women with BD with a history of premenstrual symptoms and postpartum depression are potentially at increased risk of experiencing episodes of depression in relation to the perimenopause. There are clinical and self-management implications in identifying a subgroup of women with BD who may be particularly vulnerable to episodes of mood disturbance during reproductive events.
Groundwater recharge in basement aquifers in subhumid drylands of sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mudimbu D. , Namaona W. , Sinda M. C. , Brauns B. , Gooddy D. C. , Darling W. G. , Banda K. , Phiri E. , Nalivata P. C. , Mtambanengwe F. , Mapfumo P. , MacDonald A. M. , Owen R. J. S. , Lapworth D. J.
Published: November 2024

Characterising groundwater recharge is fundamental for sustainable groundwater management. This study focuses on assessing recharge in drylands using four experimental plots under different land-use practices in crystalline basement aquifers in three southern African countries (Chitedze in Malawi, Kabeleka and Liempe in Zambia, and Domboshawa in Zimbabwe). Several methods, including water-table fluctuation (WTF), chloride mass balance (CMB), water stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) and dissolved gases, were used to quantify annual recharge rates, recharge sources and groundwater residence times. This informed the development of a conceptual model of groundwater recharge in unpumped basement aquifers. Using WTF, across all sites/years, the range of annual median recharge was found to be in the range of 2.8–14.1% rainfall. Recharge was observed for most years across all sites and was controlled by hydrogeological settings, rainfall totals and antecedent conditions, i.e. the groundwater level at the end of the preceding dry season. Based on groundwater level observations and water stable isotope analysis, for sites where there has been extensive use of conservation agriculture (in time and space), there is some evidence of earlier and greater recharge compared to conventional agriculture at paired sites. Additionally, there is evidence of high lateral connectivity in shallow, permeable layers and high local connectivity in the aquifers which facilitate discharge to surface drainage. This leads to a lower proportion of modern recharge at these unpumped sites (typically <10%) compared to other studies using comparable methods in pumped boreholes, which highlights the importance of groundwater capture due to pumping.
Graphfingerprint: graph embedding of graphs with almost constant sub-structures
Authors: Serratosa Francesc
Published: November 2024

In some machine learning applications, graphs tend to be composed of a large number of tiny almost constant sub-structures. The current embedding methods are not prepared for this type of graphs and thus, their representational power tends to be very low. Our aim is to define a new graph embedding that considers this specific type of graphs. We present GraphFingerprint, which is a new embedding method that specifically considers the fact that graphs are composed of millions of almost constant sub-structures. The three-dimensional characterisation of a chemical metal-oxide nanocompound easily fits in these types of graphs, which nodes are atoms and edges are their bonds. Our graph embedding method has been used to predict the toxicity of these nanocompounds, achieving a high accuracy compared to other embedding methods. The representational power of the current embedding methods do not properly satisfy the requirements of some machine learning applications based on graphs, for this reason, a new embedding method has been defined and heuristically demonstrated that achieves good accuracy.
‘Shelter-at-home’ restrictions did not change 90-day mortality for unplanned acute and emergency hospital contacts in Denmark: A nationwide observational case-cohort study
Authors: Mølmer Michaela , Svendsen Emilie Löbner , Bentsen Lasse Paludan , Nissen Søren Kabell , Fløjstrup Marianne , Möller Sören , Kellett John , Brabrand Mikkel , Bogh Søren Bie
Published: November 2024

Aim

To determine the 90-day all-cause mortality risk of unplanned acute and emergency hospital contacts compared to the general population before and after the introduction of the shelter-at-home restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.

Subject and methods

The study was a stratified population-based, case–cohort study performed on all Danish citizens with any unplanned hospital contacts. Cases were collected from March 1 to September 31 in 2019 and 2020, and 1,057,007 cases from a period without restrictions and 1,066,666 cases with restrictions. The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. Demographic and administrative data were extracted from the Danish National Patient Registry and Civil Registration System and cross-linked for individual citizens. The hazard ratio (HR) for cases was estimated for multiple age groups and adjusted for sex.

Results

The overall 90-day all-cause mortality risk related to an unplanned hospital contact was HR 9.3 (95% CI 9.1 to 9.4). No significant differences were detected in any age group between periods. Women in the age-group of 55–59 without restrictions had the highest HR [24.30 (95% CI 20.50 to 29.01)], as well in the age-group of 50–54 with restrictions with HR 23.30 (95% CI 18.53 to 29.48). Men in the age-group 50–54 in both periods had the highest HR [17.20 (95% CI 14.46 to 20.52)], and with restrictions HR 17.60 (95% CI 14.68 to 21.22).

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic, ensuing national safety measures, and changes in healthcare utilization did not affect the risk of 90-day mortality for unplanned hospital contacts compared to the general population.
Theorizing the Role of Sex Educators in the Resistance and Reification of Epistemic Injustices Related to the Sexual Expression of People with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Curtiss Sarah L. , Stoffers Melissa
Published: November 2024

People with intellectual disability face a variety of epistemic injustices—systems of knowledge and educational inequality—related to their access to sex education and perceptions of their sexuality. Sex educators are in a position to address these injustices; however, they may not be fully aware of their own epistemic ethics. Furthermore, there is little theoretical understanding of how sex educators provide instruction within an environment that exhibits hostility toward the sexual expression of those with intellectual disability. This grounded theory study of interviews with 58 people who taught sex education to people with intellectual disability sought to understand the role of educators in perpetuating and resisting epistemic injustice by utilizing sex education to either facilitate or restrict the sexual expression of people with disabilities. We identified four micro-contexts: centralizing capacity to consent, emphasizing risk, desexualizing (through) sex education, and acknowledging gender identity. In each micro-context, we explore mechanisms of how educators were either allied in support of autonomy (person-centered values, expertise, access to curricular resources, self-advocates as teachers and partners, subversiveness, and de-problematizing normative sexual behavior) or reified sexual stigmas (fear of sexual abuse and sexual perpetration, conscripting to asexuality, the paternalistic service system, and complex ethical dilemmas) in the context of hostility to sex education and sexual expression. These findings have implications for promoting prosocial sexual expression and access to sex education for people with intellectual disability.
Multi-Informant Universal Mental Health Screening for Preschool-Aged Children by Parents and Educators: A PRISMA Systematic Review
Authors: McLean R. K. , Tully L. A. , Brinley S. K. , Carl T. , Turnell A. , Northam J. C. , Dadds M. R.
Published: November 2024

Children develop rapidly in the preschool period, making accurate appraisals of mental health (MH) difficult. The preschool years are a key period for early identification of MH concerns and could benefit from multi-informant, universal MH screening (UMHS). This systematic review aimed to identify multi-informant UMHS measures for preschool-aged children, and to examine their clinical utility, effectiveness, and acceptability. Studies reporting the predictive and incremental validity, effectiveness or acceptability of parent and educator-report UMHS measures for children aged 3–5 years were identified through CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science. Studies were excluded if screening was not the primary focus, not universal, single informant, or primarily focussed on Autism Spectrum Disorder. A total of 11 studies using 10 measures was identified. Ten studies screened for broad MH difficulties. Three educator-report and one parent- and educator-report measures had acceptable predictive validity. One study reporting incremental validity found that adding educator-report to parent ratings significantly improved the identification of MH concerns. No studies reported on effectiveness. Three studies that explored acceptability reported strong support for either UMHS in general or specific measures. There are promising results that UMHS can accurately identify child MH concerns in the preschool period using parent and educator reports. However, with few of the examined measures reaching the benchmark standards for predictive validity and only one study examining incremental validity, further research is needed to establish clinical utility. UMHS with preschool populations appears to be acceptable; future studies should further examine multi-informant screening in preschool populations. This systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero; registration number: CRD 42022383426).
From awareness to action: multicultural attitudes and differentiated instruction of teachers in Chinese teacher education programmes
Authors: Feng Xiangyuan , Zhang Ni , Yang Dingchen , Lin Wenyuan , Maulana Ridwan
Published: November 2024

The increasing diversity in modern classrooms necessitates that teacher education programmes equip pre-service teachers with skills to create equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students. In response to this imperative, particularly within the Chinese educational context, this study investigated pre-service teachers' multicultural attitudes—including stages of awareness (Know), emotional engagement (Care), and behavioural intentions (Act)—and their differentiated instruction skills. Furthermore, it examined how Chinese teacher education programmes can cultivate these attributes and enhance their alignment. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 257 pre-service teachers on their multicultural attitudes and 1356 students on their perceptions of their teachers' differentiated instruction skills, supplemented by in-depth interviews with 10 pre-service teachers. Results from descriptive, correlation, and multilevel modelling analyses revealed that pre-service teachers generally possessed positive multicultural attitudes, progressing from initial awareness to empathy and behavioural intention, and were perceived as proficient in differentiated instruction. However, the Know and Act dimensions showed limited direct relationships with student-perceived differentiated instruction practices, highlighting an 'intention-action gap'. Content analysis identified several essential components of teacher education for enhancing pre-service teachers' multicultural competence and bridging this gap, including specialized formal training, reflection activities, and practical application opportunities. These findings advocate for a shift towards more personalized, experiential, and reflective learning environments in Chinese teacher education programmes to better align multicultural attitudes with effective differentiated instruction implementation.
Effects of turbulence boundary conditions on Spalart-Allmaras RANS simulations for active flow control applications
Authors: Tousi Navid Monshi , Bergadà Josep M. , Mellibovsky Fernando
Published: November 2024

We assess the suitability of Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation using the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model as a closure in analysing the performance of fluidic Active Flow Control (AFC) applications. In particular, we focus on the optimal set of actuation parameters found by Tousi et al. (Appl Math Model, 2021) and Tousi et al. (Aerospace Sci Technol 127:107679, 2022) for a SD7003 airfoil at a Reynolds number $$Re=6\times 10^4$$

R
e
=
6
×

10
4

and post-stall angle of attack $$\alpha =14^\circ$$

α
=

14
∘

fitted with a Synthetic Jet Actuator (SJA). The Large Eddy Simulation (LES) presented in that work is taken as the reference to identify the best choice of boundary conditions for the turbulence field $$\tilde{\nu }$$

ν
~

at both domain inlet and jet orifice in two-dimensional SA-RANS computations. Although SA-RANS is far less accurate than LES, our findings show that it can still predict macroscopic aggregates such as lift and drag coefficients quite satisfactorily and at a much lower computational cost, provided that turbulence levels of the actuator jet are set to a realistic value. An adequate value of $$\tilde{\nu }$$

ν
~

is instrumental in capturing the correct flow behaviour of the reattached boundary layers for close-to-optimal actuated cases. This validates the use of RANS-SA as a reliable and cost-effective simulation method for the preliminary optimisation of SJA parameters in AFC applications, provided that thorough sensitivity analysis on turbulence-related boundary conditions is performed. Given the strong sensitivity of flow detachment on the laminar or turbulent nature of boundary layers, our results suggest that such analyses are particularly indispensable for vastly separated flow scenarios in general, notably for bluff bodies at moderate transcritical Reynolds numbers.
The legacy of Harold D. Lasswell’s commitment to the policy sciences of democracy: observations on Douglas Torgerson’s the policy sciences of Harold Lasswell
Authors: Ascher William
Published: November 2024

The continuity of Harold D. Lasswell’s legacy as a champion of democratic policysciences is demonstrated.
The natural stability of autonomous morphology: how an attraction–repulsion dynamic emerges from paradigm cell filling
Authors: Round Erich , Esher Louise , Beniamine Sacha
Published: November 2024

Autonomous morphology, such as inflection class systems and paradigmatic distribution patterns, is widespread and diachronically resilient in natural language. Why this should be so has remained unclear given that autonomous morphology imposes learning costs, offers no clear benefit relative to its absence and could easily be removed by the analogical forces which are constantly reshaping it. Here we propose an explanation for the resilience of autonomous morphology, in terms of a diachronic dynamic of attraction and repulsion between morphomic categories, which emerges spontaneously from a simple paradigm cell filling process. Employing computational evolutionary models, our key innovation is to bring to light the role of ‘dissociative evidence’, i.e., evidence for inflectional distinctiveness which a rational reasoner will have access to during analogical inference. Dissociative evidence creates a repulsion dynamic which prevents morphomic classes from collapsing together entirely, i.e., undergoing complete levelling. As we probe alternative models, we reveal the limits of conditional entropy as a measure for predictability in systems that are undergoing change. Finally, we demonstrate that autonomous morphology, far from being ‘unnatural’, is rather the natural (emergent) consequence of a natural (rational) process of inference applied to inflectional systems.
How short-term temperature stresses affect leaf micromorphology and ultrastructure of mesophyll cells in winter rye Secale cereale L.
Authors: Babenko Lydia M. , Futorna Oksana A. , Akimov Yuriy A. , Romanenko Kateryna O. , Kosakivska Iryna V. , Skwarek Ewa , Wiśniewska Małgorzata
Published: November 2024

The effect of short-term high (+ 40 °C, 2 h) (HT) and positive low-temperature (+ 4 C, 2 h) (LT) stresses on leaf micromorphology and ultrastructure of mesophyll cells in winter rye was investigated. After HT, leaf blade relief became reticulate, while under control conditions and after low-temperature stress, leaf blade relief was folded. The ultrastructure of the leaf mesophyll cells of control plants was nominal: in the chloroplasts of regular lenticular shape, a well-developed thylakoid system immersed in a fine-grained stroma was clearly visible. Short-term HT caused the destruction of thylakoid membranes. A wave-like packing of granal thylakoids, a significant expansion of the lumenal spaces, and a disruption of the structural connection between the granal and stroma thylakoids were noted. There was an accumulation of lipid drops in the cytoplasm. LT stress caused intensive formation of plastoglobules, a decrease in the number and size of starch grains in the chloroplasts. Destruction of thylakoid membranes was not seen. After HT stress, the mitochondria noticeably "swelled", and the membranes of the cristae became less contrasting. After LT stress, significant changes occurred in the morphology of organelles: some of the mitochondria kept a round shape, but some acquired a lenticular or "dumbbell" shape. It was found that, depending on the type of temperature exposure, various adaptive programs are implemented in plant cells, which are accompanied by a complex of ultrastructural changes, thanks to which plants are able to successfully tolerate short-term exposure to stressful temperatures during active vegetation.
The Extent of Tumor in the Peritoneum and Liver Influences Outcomes After Surgery for Synchronous Liver and Peritoneal Colorectal Metastases: A Cohort Study
Authors: Salas Pearl Sanchez , Urdzik Jozef , Graf Wilhelm , Isaksson Bengt , Birgisson Helgi
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRSH) or liver resection have led to increased survival in patients with peritoneal or liver metastases of colorectal cancer. Selected patients undergo concomitant CRSH and liver resection. Differences in survival and morbidity between patients who underwent concomitant surgery, CRSH or liver resection for peritoneal and/or liver metastases were compared.

Methods

Patients who underwent liver resection and/or CRSH for colorectal liver and/or peritoneal metastases, 2006–2016, were included. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between baseline characteristics and survival.

Results

Overall, 634 patients were studied. Twenty-eight patients had peritoneal and liver metastases, 121 patients had peritoneal metastases only, and 485 patients had isolated liver metastases. Median survival after concomitant treatment was 23.8 months (95% CI 12.8–43.8), after CRSH 34.5 months (95% CI 27.1–41.9), and after liver resection 54.2 months (95% CI 47.4–61.0) (p < 0.001). Increased hepatic tumor burden (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.8) and high-volume peritoneal disease (HR 6.0, 95% CI 3.7–9.8) were associated with decreased survival in multivariate analysis. Postoperative complications according to a Clavien–Dindo score > 3a were observed in 11% in the liver resection group, 15% in the CRSH group, and 11% in the concomitant treatment group (p = 0.945).

Conclusions

Patients treated with concomitant surgery for liver and peritoneal metastases experienced a shorter median overall survival than patients treated for metastases at an isolated site but had a similar rate of severe postoperative complications. The extent of peritoneal spread seemed to impact survival more than the tumor burden in the liver.
Assessing and exploring self-enacted behavior change techniques: frequency, structure, and relevance for physical activity and healthy eating
Authors: Schüler Julia , Bieleke Maik
Published: November 2024

Self-enactable behavior change techniques (Knittle et al., 2020), are active components of interventions that individuals can also employ on their own. The study explored the frequency of self-enactable behavior change techniques (SE-BCTs) usage, their psychometric structure, and their association with physical activity and healthy nutrition. To evaluate SE-BCTs, Abraham & Michie’s (2008) 26-BCT taxonomy was translated into a SE-BCT questionnaire and administered to 504 participants via a web survey. Participants reported self-enacted goals in physical activity (PA) and healthy nutrition (NUT), along with their importance, difficulty, and progress. Physical activity and healthy eating questionnaires served as indicators of successful behavior change. Using Bayesian statistics, we found variations in the usage intensity of SE-BCTs. Similarities and differences emerged between PA and NUT domains. For example, “time management” was commonly used in both, while “information seeking” was more prevalent in NUT. For some SE-BCTs, weak evidence emerged for gender differences and age effects. SE-BCTs formed clusters similar to BCTs, supported by Bayesian psychometric network analyses. Tests for potential preconditions and consequences of SE-BCTs revealed moderate-to-strong support for positive relations with goal importance, and strong support for positive relationships of SE-BCTs with behavior change. Moreover, PA was best predicted by a combination of the SE-BCTs “time management” plus “detailed plans,” whereas for NUT, a complex pattern of six SE-BCTs was the best-fitting predictive model. We discuss the potential of SE-BCTs for promoting physical activity and healthy eating add what is still needed to make them work efficiently.
Evaluation of dose distributions and respiratory motion tolerance for layer-stacking conformal carbon-ion radiotherapy
Authors: Hasebe Yuki , Tashiro Mutsumi , Sakurai Hiroshi
Published: November 2024

While layer-stacking irradiation provides a conformal dose distribution, it is vulnerable to respiratory motion. Considering that the motion tolerance has not yet been demonstrated, this study aimed to determine the tolerance level for the amount of target motion. Dose distributions considering motion were simulated for a numerical water phantom using in-house software. Comparisons with measured and simulated physical dose distributions confirmed the validity of the simulation, with gamma analysis showing almost 90% or greater agreement under all conditions with a criterion of 3%/3 mm. The variation in physical dose from static conditions followed a similar trend. Based on the evaluation of the simulated clinical dose uniformity, motion tolerance was derived. The acceptable motion amounts in the lateral direction were 11 mm in respiratory-ungated condition and at least 20 mm with 30% lateral gating at 4 Gy (RBE). In the longitudinal (beam upstream) direction, the acceptable target motion amounts were 3 mm without gating and 6 mm with gating. These results employed worst-case scenarios considering multiple respiratory cycles. In both lateral and longitudinal directions, the motion amounts of 3 mm for non-gating and 5 mm for gating were acceptable. The acceptable target motion amounts improved by 1–9 mm with gating and increased prescribed doses. The dose uniformity and motion tolerance under multiple conditions, although based on a simple system, may be useful for treatment involving target motion in layer-stacking irradiation.
Multimorbidity and risk of adverse outcomes in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study: does sex matter?
Authors: Westbury Leo D. , Rambukwella Roshan , Pearse Camille , Ward Kate A. , Cooper Cyrus , Dennison Elaine M.
Published: November 2024

Aims

We examined whether admission risk increases at a certain threshold of number of systems medicated or whether any increase confers greater admission risk in either sex in a community-dwelling cohort of older persons in Hertfordshire. This study uses a longitudinal retrospective study design.

Methods

Data from 2997 men and women (aged 59–73 at baseline) were analyzed. Participants were followed up from baseline (1998–2004) until December 2018 using Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, reporting clinical outcomes using ICD-10 coding. Number of systems medicated in relation to mortality (all-cause, cancer-related, cardiovascular-related) and admission (any, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory) were examined using Cox regression.

Results

Apart from cancer-related mortality among women, more systems medicated predicted increased risk of all events among both sexes (p ≤ 0.001). For ‘any’, cardiovascular and respiratory admissions, there were increases in risk for each category of number of systems medicated. For example, compared to men with no systems medicated, those with 1, 2 and > 2 systems medicated had hazard ratios (95% CI) for cardiovascular admissions of 1.82 (1.57,2.12), 2.39 (2.00,2.84) and 3.45 (2.84,4.20) respectively; estimates among women were 1.74 (1.44,2.11), 2.35 (1.92,2.88) and 3.40 (2.79,4.13).

Conclusions

Increases in numbers of systems medicated conferred greater risk of admission in both sexes. Interventions aimed at reducing the burden of chronic disease in mid-late adulthood are required.
Diversity and Abundance of Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants in Culturable Bacteria of Glacier Mice and Proglacial Lake Ecosystems at Austerdalsbreen, Norway
Authors: Makowska-Zawierucha Nicoletta , Woszak Marcelina , Yde Jacob C. , Zawierucha Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) impacts environmental processes and poses a threat to public health even in remote glacierized areas. In this study, we aimed to (i) investigate the diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and integrons in culturable bacteria, and to (ii) present a snapshot of microbial resistance on a glacier and its adjacent habitats in Scandinavia. We collected samples from glacier mice, spheroidal-to-ovoidal shaped bryophyte on the glacier surface, and from a proglacial lake at Austerdalsbreen in central Norway. We found variable bacterial counts ranging from 1.6 × 103 CFU/ml in water to 4.8 × 103 CFU/ml in glacier mice, with coliforms and aminoglycoside-resistant coliforms prevalent in microalgae bloom in the proglacial lake. Class 1 integrons were more frequently observed in glaciolacustrine sediment. Integron variable regions encompassing cassettes conferring resistance to macrolides and aminoglycosides in intI1-positive strains isolated from glacier mice and associated with multidrug resistance in aminoglycoside-resistant coliforms from microalgae bloom were found. The culturable bacteria carrying variable regions of integrons were identified as Pseudomonas sp., Paenibacillus sp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., and Citrobacter sp. Additionally, we identified other ARGs, including sul1, aadA1, ampC, bla
TEM, and bla
OXA, indicating the presence of multiple mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Our findings contribute to understanding of the distribution and dissemination of antibiotic resistance via glacial bryophytes to downstream ecosystem of proglacial lake in Norway.
Physiological and Nutritional Considerations for Elite Squash: A Systematic Review
Authors: Turner Ollie , Mitchell Nigel , Ruddock Alan , Purvis Alison , Ranchordas Mayur
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To systematically review all the physiological and nutritional research conducted in squash to guide practitioners and researchers on how best to interpret the data, while identifying gaps in the literature to determine future directions of research within squash.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, studies investigating an aspect of physiology or nutrition within squash were identified using scientific databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, and SPORTDiscus, from March 2022 to October 2023.

Results

Of the 1208 studies identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria across a variety of physiological and nutritional topics, such as the physiological demands of squash, anthropometric and physiological characteristics of squash players, squash-specific performance tests, training demands of squash, nutritional requirements of squash, hydration demands of squash, nutrition knowledge of squash players, and nutritional supplements for squash players. Ten studies had poor methodological quality, 19 as fair, four as good, and two as excellent. Seventeen out of 35 studies included were undertaken post the 2009 rule change, and 14 studies were conducted on either elite or world class players. Twenty-nine of the studies involved male players, with 15 involving female players.

Conclusion

Much of the physiological and nutritional literature is of low quality and outdated. We present future research focuses throughout the review, such as quantifying the game characteristics of male and female players, the energy expenditures during a training and competition microcycle, and the efficacy of certain nutritional supplements. These efforts aim to create sport specific guidelines and advance evidence-based practice within squash.
Unlocking regenerative potential: stem cell and tissue engineering innovations for permanent dental restoration
Authors: Abdelrahman Mohamed Rabie Amer
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Regenerative medicine has emerged as a revolutionary field with the potential to restore damaged tissues and organs, significantly impacting both general and dental health. Despite significant advancements, the field of regenerative dentistry remains underdeveloped in terms of practical implementation and scientific application. This review examines the current advancements in regenerative dentistry, emphasizing the pivotal role of stem cells, particularly oral stem cells, in the regeneration of dental tissues. It also explores the integration of scaffolds and growth factors to understand their synergistic effects in tissue engineering.

Materials and methods

A thorough analysis of contemporary scientific literature was conducted to review advancements in regenerative dentistry, focusing on the role of oral stem cells, the integration of scaffolds, and growth factors. This included peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and relevant studies from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Results

Significant progress has been made in the development of biomaterials and scaffold designs for dental tissue engineering. Oral stem cells show promise in regenerating dental tissues when used in conjunction with scaffolds and growth factors. However, challenges remain in clinical translation, including complexities in stem cell differentiation, scaffold biocompatibility, and the controlled release of growth factors.

Conclusions

Oral stem cells present a promising avenue for dental tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Overcoming existing challenges requires coordinated efforts in research, clinical application, and regulatory frameworks. Future research should focus on optimizing differentiation protocols, enhancing scaffold designs, and addressing ethical and regulatory issues to fully harness the therapeutic potential of regenerative medicine in dental practice.

Clinical relevance

This review provides a comprehensive framework for scientists and clinicians aiming to translate oral stem cell research into practical therapies for dental tissue regeneration and repair, highlighting the progress made and future directions in this evolving field.
Advances in 3-D printing: polymers, fabrication mechanisms, mass balance models and applications
Authors: Otieno Dibli B. , Bosire Geoffrey O. , Onyari John M. , Mwabora Julius M.
Published: November 2024

In Science and Engineering, additive manufacturing, which is synonymously known as 3-D printing is a layer-by-layer computer-aided approach that is used to produce high precision commercial industrial products. So far, 3-D printing techniques, which translate computer-aided virtual 3-D models into physical objects, are gaining traction globally. However, the current evolution from conventional molding and machining to rapid prototyping followed by rapid additive manufacturing prompts new challenges for engineers and scientists alike. This review is particularly prompted by novel innovations in 3-D printing with respect to emerging fabrication designs and mechanisms, printable polymeric materials, and current applications. Central to all spotlights is the discussion on 3-D printing techniques discussed under 3 broad categories; (i) extrusion-based methods, (ii) powder binding technologies and (iii) photopolymerization methods and corresponding polymer design aspects, processing parameters and mass balance models. Aspects of mass-balance models addressed in this review include models of multimaterial 3-D printing of viscoelastic inks, Newtonian fluid in extrusion, the Gaussian Beam model and multiscale computational simulations for prediction of macroscale properties of various polymeric materials. This review also highlights selected applications that demonstrate how polymer-based 3-D printing is being exploited in industry, and future perspectives.
Back to Black
Authors: De Micheli David
Published: November 2024

As Latin America's flagship 'racial democracy,' Brazil is famous for its history of race mixture and fluid racial boundaries. Traditionally, scholars have emphasized that this fluidity has often led to whitening, where individuals seek classification in white, or lighter, racial categories. Yet, Back to Black documents a sudden reversal in this trend, showing instead that individuals are increasingly opting to identify with darker, and especially black, racial categories. Drawing on a wealth of quantitative and qualitative data, David De Micheli attributes this sudden reversal to the state's efforts at expanding access to education for the lower classes. By unleashing waves of upward mobility, greater education increased individuals' personal exposure to racial hierarchies and inequalities and led many to develop racial consciousness, further encouraging black identification. The book highlights how social citizenship institutions and social structures can work together to affect processes of identity politicization and the contestation of inequalities.
Germany through Jewish Eyes
Authors: Volkov Shulamit
Published: November 2024

What can Jewish history tell us about German history? How can we understand the history of modern Germany from a Jewish perspective? And how do we bring the voices of German Jews to the fore? Germany through Jewish Eyes explores the dramatic course of German history, from the Enlightenment, through wars and revolutions, unification and reunification, Nazi dictatorship, Holocaust, and the rebuilding of a prosperous, modern democracy - all from a Jewish perspective. Through a series of chronologically ordered life-stories, Shulamit Volkov examines how the lived experience of German Jewry can provide new insights into familiar events and long-term developments. Her study explores the plurality of the Jewish gaze, considering how German Jews sought full equality and integration while attempting to preserve a unique identity, and how they experienced security and integration as well as pronounced hatred. Volkov's innovative study offers readers the opportunity to look again at the pivotal moments of German history with a fresh understanding.
Personal responses to danger in Greek graffiti: inscriptional formulae and self-expression at three late antique and Byzantine sites
Authors: Banes Rachael Helen
Published: November 2024

Graffiti are often seen as providing a window into the emotions of ancient peoples. However, Byzantine graffiti has been viewed as an exception, with the formulaic Greek texts written between 300 and 1500 taken as evidence of communal identity, rather than individual expressiveness. However, variations in these texts can reveal much about an individual author and their personal experiences. In particular, certain formula suggest the dangerous situation an author survived, including incarceration and sea travel. This paper focuses on Corinth, Syros, and Tinos where individuals experienced danger, and how their fears and needs were manifested in the graffiti they left behind.
Hegel and White Freedom
Authors: Stibor Leonie
Published: November 2024

Hegel's Lectures on the Philosophy of History are notorious for their racist portrayal of Africa. Few scholars, however, have considered their racism to be significant for Hegel's practical philosophy. This is largely because colonialism and Black enslavement appear to conflict with the idea of universal freedom at the heart of Hegel's practical philosophy. In my paper, I argue against this view and defend the claim that Hegel's idea of freedom is linked to white identity. It therefore grounds his racist comments in the Philosophy of History rather than opposing them. In order to show that Hegel's idea of freedom is linked to white identity, I trace its connections with the Western idea of property. My suggestion is that Hegel conceptualizes freedom as appropriation, thereby linking freedom to property and white identity. I conclude that Hegel's idea of freedom is an idea of white freedom and thus not an ‘impartial criterion’ for social critique.
Effect of the shape of microswimmers and slip boundary conditions on the dynamic characteristics of near-wall microswimmers
Authors: Guan Geng , Ying Yuxiang , Lin Jianzhong
Published: November 2024

Although the interaction between microswimmers and walls during near-wall swimming has been extensively studied, the effect of microswimmer shapes and slip boundary conditions on the dynamic characteristics of near-wall microswimmers has received less attention. In this study, elliptical microswimmer models have been developed with various aspect ratios based on circular microswimmers. The lattice Boltzmann method has been used for the numerical simulation of the dynamic behaviour of microswimmers near walls. Under slip boundary conditions, the escape or capture of microswimmers by the walls is influenced by the swimming Reynolds number (Res), wall slip length (ls) and the aspect ratio (Cab) of a microswimmer. Changes in the Cab value of a microswimmer considerably affect its swimming state, especially for puller-type microswimmers. The tendency of pullers to be captured by the wall increases with increasing Cab. Moreover, changes in ls within the slip boundary condition of a puller can induce a transition in its movement state from a wall oscillation state to a stable sliding state and eventually to a wall lock-up state, a process influenced by the Cab value of the puller. Pusher-type microswimmers show a considerably increased tendency to escape from walls with increasing Cab and no wall lock-up state is observed, which is opposite to the case of pullers. Pushers and pullers show an increased tendency to be captured by the wall with increasing initial swimming angle of the microswimmer. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the swimming patterns of natural microswimmers near walls and are of substantial importance for the design of artificial microswimmers and microfluidic devices.
Guided-jet waves
Authors: Nogueira Petrônio A.S. , Cavalieri André V.G. , Martini Eduardo , Towne Aaron , Jordan Peter , Edgington-Mitchell Daniel
Published: November 2024

Guided-jet waves have been shown to close resonance loops in a myriad of problems such as screech and impingement tones in jets. These discrete, upstream-travelling waves have long been identified in linear-stability models of jet flows, but in this work they are instead considered in the context of an acoustic-scattering problem. It is shown that the guided-jet mode results from total internal reflection and transmission of acoustic waves, arising from the shear layer behaving like a duct with some given wall impedance. After total reflection, only discrete streamwise wavenumbers may be supported by the flow, with these wavenumbers dictated by the fact that the standing wave formed inside of the jet must fit between the two shear layers. Close to the sonic line, the transmission of this mode to the outside is maximum, leading to a net-energy flux directed upstream, which dictates the direction of propagation of this mode, providing a clear connection to the better understood soft-duct mode (Towne et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 825, 2017, pp. 1113–1152). The model also indicates that these waves are generated in the core of the flow and can only be efficiently transmitted to the quiescent region under certain conditions, providing an explanation as to why screech is only observed at conditions where the discrete mode is supported by the flow. The present results explain, for the first time, the nature and characteristics of the guided-jet waves.
Correlations between wall heat flux and Reynolds shear stress/turbulent heat flux in compressible turbulent boundary layers
Authors: Fan Yitong , Kozul Melissa , Li Weipeng , Sandberg Richard D.
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the correlation between the fluctuating wall heat flux, and the distribution and transport of Reynolds shear stress and turbulent heat flux in compressible boundary layers at Mach number 5.86 and friction Reynolds number 420, with a relatively weaker and a stronger wall cooling imposed. As illustrated from the probability density functions of the wall-heat-flux perturbations, with increasing wall cooling, the extreme wall heat flux is intensified and tends to be more negatively skewed. To examine the role of the extreme events in the transport of the momentum and heat, conditional analysis of the extreme positive and negative wall-heat-flux-perturbation events is conducted. In most regions of the boundary layer, the positive events are predominantly associated with an increase in Reynolds shear stress and a decrease in turbulent heat flux. Joint probability density functions of velocity and wall-heat-flux perturbations in the near-wall region indicate that the extreme positive events tend to be more correlated with ejections, which is particularly evident in the stronger wall-cooling case. To further shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the connections between wall heat flux and transport budgets, a transport equation for turbulent heat flux is derived, in a similar manner to that for Reynolds shear stress. The energy balance is inspected, with conditional analysis applied to budget terms and mean flow properties so as to quantify the correlation between wall-heat-flux fluctuations and energy evolution.
Citizenship in the shadow of law: identifying the origins, effects, and operation of legal ambiguity in Jordan
Authors: Frost Lillian , Schaaf Steven D.
Published: November 2024

What are the origins and effects of legal ambiguity in authoritarian regimes? Using a detailed case study of nationality rights in Jordan – which draws from interviews with 210 Jordanian political officials, judges, lawyers, activists, and citizens/residents – we develop a framework for understanding how legal ambiguity emerges, and how it matters, under authoritarianism. We first conceptualize four discrete forms in which legal ambiguity manifests: lexical ambiguity (in legal texts); substantive ambiguity (in status as law); conflictual ambiguity (between contradictory legal rules); and operational ambiguity (in enforcement processes). We then scrutinize the emergence and effects of legal ambiguity in Jordanian nationality policy by integrating historical process tracing, detailed interview evidence, and a content analysis of archival documents, laws, and court verdicts pertaining to nationality rights. Our findings contribute to scholarship on legal ambiguity, authoritarian legality, and discretionary state authority by showing that (1) crisis junctures make the emergence of legal ambiguity more likely; (2) legal ambiguity takes a variety of different forms that warrant conceptual disaggregation; and (3) different forms of legal ambiguity often have disparate effects on how authoritarian state power is organized and experienced in public life.
Verifying the robustness of automatic credibility assessment
Authors: Przybyła Piotr , Shvets Alexander , Saggion Horacio
Published: November 2024

Text classification methods have been widely investigated as a way to detect content of low credibility: fake news, social media bots, propaganda, etc. Quite accurate models (likely based on deep neural networks) help in moderating public electronic platforms and often cause content creators to face rejection of their submissions or removal of already published texts. Having the incentive to evade further detection, content creators try to come up with a slightly modified version of the text (known as an attack with an adversarial example) that exploit the weaknesses of classifiers and result in a different output. Here we systematically test the robustness of common text classifiers against available attacking techniques and discover that, indeed, meaning-preserving changes in input text can mislead the models. The approaches we test focus on finding vulnerable spans in text and replacing individual characters or words, taking into account the similarity between the original and replacement content. We also introduce BODEGA: a benchmark for testing both victim models and attack methods on four misinformation detection tasks in an evaluation framework designed to simulate real use cases of content moderation. The attacked tasks include (1) fact checking and detection of (2) hyperpartisan news, (3) propaganda, and (4) rumours. Our experimental results show that modern large language models are often more vulnerable to attacks than previous, smaller solutions, e.g. attacks on GEMMA being up to 27% more successful than those on BERT. Finally, we manually analyse a subset adversarial examples and check what kinds of modifications are used in successful attacks.