bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The GLP‐1 receptor agonist exenatide reduces serum TSH by its effect on body weight in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tee Su Ann , Tsatlidis Vasileios , Razvi Salman
Published: February 2023

Objective

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity leads to a significant reduction in serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels but it is unclear whether this is related to weight loss and improvement in sensitivity to thyroid hormones (TH).

Design, Patients and Measurements

We prospectively analysed clinical and biochemical data in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity who were commenced on the GLP‐1 RA exenatide and followed them for 12 months. We assessed the relationship between changes in body weight and serum TSH and resistance to TH indices.

Results

In 112 patients (mean age: 53.5 years, 43.8% female, mean body mass index: 39.8 kg/m2), 12 months of exenatide treatment was associated with a mean (95% CI) percent body weight loss of 6.5% (5.0%−8.1%) and change in serum TSH of −0.25 mU/L (−0.43 to −0.06). There was a significant negative and nonlinear relationship between change in serum TSH and percent body weight loss: −0.25 mU/L with 5%, −0.4 mU/L with 10% and −0.5 mU/L with 15%, respectively, whereas a rise in serum TSH of 0.5 mU/L was associated with 5% weight gain. There were no changes observed in serum FT4 levels with weight loss but a significant reduction in resistance to TH indices was noted.

Conclusions

Exenatide therapy reduces serum TSH levels and improves central sensitivity to TH action over 12 months via its effect on weight loss. The effectiveness of weight loss strategies, rather than TH replacement, should be investigated in individuals with obesity and mildly raised serum TSH levels.
Biofilm formation on dental implants with a hybrid surface microtopography: An in vitro study in a validated multispecies dynamic biofilm model
Authors: Bravo Enrique , Serrano Benjamín , Ribeiro‐Vidal Honorato , Virto Leire , Sánchez Ignacio Sanz , Herrera David , Sanz Mariano
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The objective of this study is to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate biofilm formation on hybrid titanium implants (HS), with moderately rough and turned surface topographies.

Materials and Methods

A validated dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model, based on bacterial growth under flow and shear conditions resembling the oral cavity, was used to evaluate biofilm formation on the tested implant surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to compare the biofilm structure and microbial biomass deposited on either the moderately rough or the turned surface of HS. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to evaluate the total bacterial counts and counts of each specific bacterium in biofilms formed on implants with either the moderately rough or the turned surfaces, as in the hybrid titanium implants, after 24, 48 and 72 h. A general linear model was applied to compare the CLSM and qPCR results between the tested implant surfaces.

Results

A significantly higher bacterial biomass grew on the moderately rough implant surfaces, compared to the turned surface area of HS implants (p < .05), at all incubation times, as evidenced with both CLSM and SEM. qPCR analysis also demonstrated an important increase in the total and specific bacterial counts in moderately rough surface implants at the three incubation times.

Conclusions

Implant surface topography (moderately rough versus turned) significantly influenced in vitro biofilm formation in terms of biofilm structure, bacterial biomass and quantity of the specific species selected for the model used.
Activation of ERK1/2 by MOS and TPL2 leads to dasatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells
Authors: Tsubaki Masanobu , Takeda Tomoya , Koumoto Yuuichi , Usami Takehiro , Matsuda Takuya , Seki Shiori , Sakai Kazuko , Nishio Kazuto , Nishida Shozo
Published: February 2023

The development of BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as dasatinib, has dramatically improved survival in cases of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). However, the development of resistance to BCR::ABL1 TKIs is a clinical problem. BCR::ABL1 TKI resistance is known to have BCR::ABL1‐dependent or BCR::ABL1‐independent mechanisms, but the mechanism of BCR::ABL1 independence is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of BCR::ABL1‐independent dasatinib resistance. The expression and activation level of genes or proteins were evaluated using array CGH, real time PCR, or western blot analysis. Gene expression was modulated using siRNA‐mediated knockdown. Cell survival was assessed by using trypan blue dye method. We found that dasatinib‐resistant K562/DR and KU812/DR cells did not harbour a BCR::ABL1 mutation but had elevated expression and/or activation of MOS, TPL2 and ERK1/2. In addition, MOS siRNA, TPL2 siRNA and trametinib resensitized dasatinib‐resistant cells to dasatinib. Moreover, expression levels of MOS in dasatinib non‐responder patients with CML were higher than those in dasatinib responders, and the expression of TPL2 tended to increase in dasatinib non‐responder patients compared with that in responder patients. Our results indicate that activation of ERK1/2 by elevated MOS and TPL2 expression is involved in dasatinib resistance, and inhibition of these proteins overcomes dasatinib resistance. Therefore, MOS, TPL2 and ERK1/2 inhibitors may be therapeutically useful for treating BCR::ABL1‐independent dasatinib‐resistant CML.
Endobiliary radiofrequency ablation for unresectable malignant biliary strictures: Survival benefit perspective
Authors: Xia Mingxing , Qin Wenhao , Hu Bing
Published: February 2023

Endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging technique in recent years for palliating malignant biliary strictures (MBS) unsuitable for surgical resection. To date, many clinical studies have shown good feasibility and safety of this therapy; but controversy exists on whether survival can be improved in patients with advanced MBS. A comprehensive review of the available literature demonstrates that RFA can effectively prolong the overall survival of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and ampullary cancer, especially in cases without distant metastasis. However, this topical therapy does not confer a survival benefit in patients with nonprimary bile duct malignancies, such as liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic cancers. Biliary RFA combined with systemic chemotherapy may have a synergistic effect on the outcome of inoperable CCA. Patients with locally advanced tumors rather than distant metastasis might benefit more from this combination therapy.
Impaired sleep homeostasis in children with epilepsy
Authors: Amzica Florin
Published: February 2023

This commentary is on the original article by Eriksson et al. on pages 701–711 of this issue.
Albuminuria‐lowering effect of dapagliflozin, exenatide, and their combination in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized cross‐over clinical study
Authors: van der Aart‐van der Beek Annemarie B. , Apperloo Ellen , Jongs Niels , Rouw Dennis B. , Sjöström C. David , Friedli Iris , Johansson Lars , van Raalte Daniël H. , Hoogenberg Klaas , Heerspink Hiddo J. L.
Published: February 2023

Aim

To evaluate the albuminuria‐lowering effect of dapagliflozin, exenatide, and the combination of dapagliflozin and exenatide in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria.

Methods

Participants with type 2 diabetes, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of more than 30 ml/min/1.73m2 and an urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR) of more than 3.5 mg/mmol and 100 mg/mmol or less completed three 6‐week treatment periods, during which dapagliflozin 10 mg/d, exenatide 2 mg/wk and both drugs combined were given in random order. The primary outcome was the percentage change in UACR. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure, HbA1c, body weight, extracellular volume, fractional lithium excretion and renal haemodynamic variables as determined by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

We enrolled 20 patients, who completed 53 treatment periods in total. Mean percentage change in UACR from baseline was –21.9% (95% CI: –34.8% to –6.4%) during dapagliflozin versus –7.7% (95% CI: –23.5% to 11.2%) during exenatide and –26.0% (95% CI: –38.4% to –11.0%) during dapagliflozin‐exenatide treatment. No correlation was observed in albuminuria responses between the different treatments. Numerically greater reductions in systolic blood pressure, body weight and eGFR were observed during dapagliflozin‐exenatide treatment compared with dapagliflozin or exenatide alone. Renal blood flow and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) did not significantly change with either treatment regimen. However, all but four and two patients in the dapagliflozin and dapagliflozin‐exenatide groups, respectively, showed reductions in ERPF. The filtration fraction did not change during treatment with dapagliflozin or exenatide, and decreased during dapagliflozin‐exenatide treatment (–1.6% [95% CI: –3.2% to –0.01%]; P = .048).

Conclusions

In participants with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria, treatment with dapagliflozin, exenatide and dapagliflozin‐exenatide reduced albuminuria, with a numerically larger reduction in the combined dapagliflozin‐exenatide treatment group.
The role of iron in the formation of Ediacaran ‘death masks’
Authors: Gibson Brandt M. , Schiffbauer James D. , Wallace Adam F. , Darroch Simon A. F.
Published: February 2023

The Ediacara biota are an enigmatic group of Neoproterozoic soft‐bodied fossils that mark the first major radiation of complex eukaryotic and macroscopic life. These fossils are thought to have been preserved via pyritic “death masks” mediated by seafloor microbial mats, though little about the chemical constraints of this preservational pathway is known, in particular surrounding the role of bioavailable iron in death mask formation and preservational fidelity. In this study, we perform decay experiments on both diploblastic and triploblastic animals under a range of simulated sedimentary iron concentrations, in order to characterize the role of iron in the preservation of Ediacaran organisms. After 28 days of decay, we demonstrate the first convincing “death masks” produced under experimental laboratory conditions composed of iron sulfide and probable oxide veneers. Moreover, our results demonstrate that the abundance of iron in experiments is not the sole control on death mask formation, but also tissue histology and the availability of nucleation sites. This illustrates that Ediacaran preservation via microbial death masks need not be a “perfect storm” of paleoenvironmental porewater and sediment chemistry, but instead can occur under a range of conditions.
Wnt 2022 EMBO | the Company of Biologists workshop and Yamada conference
Authors: Kikuchi Akira , Takagi Junichi , Takada Shinji , Ishitani Tohru , Minami Yasuhiro
Published: February 2023

Wnt2022 was held on November 15th–19th, 2022, in Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, as an in‐person meeting for the first time in last 3 years. Wnt signaling is a highly conserved pathway among various species. Since Wnt1 was discovered in 1982, a number of studies using many model animals and human samples have revealed that Wnt signaling plays crucial roles in embryonic development, tissue morphogenesis, and regeneration, as well as many other physiological and pathological processes. Since the year 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of Wnt research, we aimed to look back at our research progress and discuss the future direction of this field. The scientific program consisted of plenary lectures, invited talks, short talks selected from abstracts, and poster sessions. Whereas several different Wnt meetings have been held almost every year in Europe and the United States, this was the first Wnt meeting convened in Asia. Therefore, Wnt2022 was highly anticipated to bring together leaders and young scientists from Europe, the United States, and especially Asia and Oceania. In fact, 148 researchers from 21 countries attended this meeting. Although there were travel and administrative restrictions due to COVID‐19, the meeting was highly successful in enabling face‐to‐face discussions.
Inhale/exhale
Authors: Wickström Alice
Published: February 2023

This is a brief, poetic expression about sexual violence, vulnerability, and the power of collective resonance.
Work conditions influencing professional development of specialist nurses in surgical care explored using the Job Demand‐Resources theory: A qualitative study
Authors: Jakobsson Jenny , Jangland Eva , Engström My , Malmström Marlene , Drott Jenny
Published: February 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to explore the work conditions that influence the opportunities for professional development of specialist nurses in surgical care.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Methods

With a purposeful sampling procedure, 14 specialist nurses in surgical care were included. Four focus‐group interviews were conducted during November to December 2021 and deductively analysed using the Job Demand‐Resource theory as a guiding framework. Reporting adheres to COREQ guidelines.

Findings

Work conditions that were identified as job demands and that inhibited nurses' opportunities for professional development were mainly found at an organizational and leadership level. Primarily, those conditions included role ambiguity and time constraints caused by uncompensated nursing shortages that restricted the nurses from exercising their role. Such conditions could also discourage other nurses from further education. Job demands were seen as largely compensated for by work conditions identified as job resources and located mainly at an individual level, for example finding the work interesting and multifaceted. Most prominent was the participants' inner motivation to work with surgical patients and to continue to develop themselves and other nurses professionally.

Conclusions

A prerequisite for professional development is that the specialist role is clearly defined in collaboration with representatives from the nursing profession and universities. Hence, hospital organizations need to reflect on how to utilize the competence. Also, it is important that nurse leaders promote the specialist nurses' motivation by supporting them in the exercise of their role.

Impact

Findings from this study revealed work conditions that need to be acknowledged during hospital organizations' endeavours to maintain and enhance nursing competence.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patient or public contribution was not applicable since the study focused on specialist nurses' working conditions.
A Quantitative Analysis of Legal Integration and Differentiation in the European Union, 1958–2020
Authors: Chiocchetti Paolo
Published: February 2023

The article provides an innovative, comprehensive quantitative analysis of legal integration and differentiation in the European Union (EU) from 1958 to 2020. Building on a streamlined analytical framework and new or revised datasets on EU primary, EU secondary and EU‐related international law, it challenges or qualifies several aspects of the received wisdom on European integration. Specifically, it delivers the first‐ever quantitative estimate of integration in terms of integration opportunities, shows that differentiation is deployed in a reluctant and eclectic manner and offers clear measurements for the prevalence of various modes of temporal, spatial and policy differentiation. These methodological and empirical findings confirm the fruitfulness of the quantitative approach to the study of European integration and point to promising avenues for future research on international integration and comparative regionalism.
Human gingival mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes cross‐regulate the Wnt/β‐catenin and NF‐κB signalling pathways in the periodontal inflammation microenvironment
Authors: Hu Yingzhe , Wang Zhiguo , Fan Chun , Gao Pengyu , Wang Wenxuan , Xie Yutong , Xu Quanchen
Published: February 2023

Aim

To examine the immunomodulatory effect of exosomes originating from gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC‐Exo) on periodontal bone regeneration and its role in the regulation of the nuclear‐factor kappaB (NF‐κB) and Wnt/β‐catenin pathways in the periodontal inflammatory microenvironment.

Materials and Methods

First, periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) were treated with GMSC‐Exo or Porphyromonas gingivalis‐derived lipopolysaccharide (P.g‐LPS) in vitro. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and western blot were carried out to detect the expressions of osteogenic differentiation‐related factors in cells. Further, PDLSCs were treated with P.g‐LPS or inhibitors. The expression of NF‐κB pathway‐related factors as well as of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway‐related factors were detected by qRT‐PCR and western blot.

Results

GMSC‐Exo treatment promoted the expression of osteogenic differentiation‐related factors within PDLSCs in both normal and inflammatory environments. Further investigations showed that GMSC‐Exo could also inhibit the P.g‐LPS‐induced activation of the NF‐κB pathway, leading to the up‐regulation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. When the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling was blocked, the inhibitory effect of GMSC‐Exo on the NF‐κB pathway was abolished.

Conclusions

GMSC‐Exo could promote the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. There could be mutually exclusive regulatory roles between the NF‐κB and Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathways in a periodontal inflammatory environment. GMSC‐Exo exhibited an effective cross‐regulation ability for both pathways.
The Mixoplankton Database (MDB): Diversity of photo‐phago‐trophic plankton in form, function, and distribution across the global ocean
Authors: Mitra Aditee , Caron David A. , Faure Emile , Flynn Kevin J. , Leles Suzana Gonçalves , Hansen Per J. , McManus George B. , Not Fabrice , do Rosario Gomes Helga , Santoferrara Luciana F. , Stoecker Diane K. , Tillmann Urban
Published: February 2023

Protist plankton are major members of open‐water marine food webs. Traditionally divided between phototrophic phytoplankton and phagotrophic zooplankton, recent research shows many actually combine phototrophy and phagotrophy in the one cell; these protists are the “mixoplankton.” Under the mixoplankton paradigm, “phytoplankton” are incapable of phagotrophy (diatoms being exemplars), while “zooplankton” are incapable of phototrophy. This revision restructures marine food webs, from regional to global levels. Here, we present the first comprehensive database of marine mixoplankton, bringing together extant knowledge of the identity, allometry, physiology, and trophic interactivity of these organisms. This mixoplankton database (MDB) will aid researchers that confront difficulties in characterizing life traits of protist plankton, and it will benefit modelers needing to better appreciate ecology of these organisms with their complex functional and allometric predator–prey interactions. The MDB also identifies knowledge gaps, including the need to better understand, for different mixoplankton functional types, sources of nutrition (use of nitrate, prey types, and nutritional states), and to obtain vital rates (e.g. growth, photosynthesis, ingestion, factors affecting photo’ vs. phago’ ‐trophy). It is now possible to revisit and re‐classify protistan “phytoplankton” and “zooplankton” in extant databases of plankton life forms so as to clarify their roles in marine ecosystems.
The Pollution Premium
Authors: HSU PO‐HSUAN , LI KAI , TSOU CHI‐YANG
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the asset pricing implications of industrial pollution. A long‐short portfolio constructed from firms with high versus low toxic emission intensity within an industry generates an average annual return of 4.42%, which remains significant after controlling for risk factors. This pollution premium cannot be explained by existing systematic risks, investor preferences, market sentiment, political connections, or corporate governance. We propose and model a new systematic risk related to environmental policy uncertainty. We use the growth in environmental litigation penalties to measure regime change risk and find that it helps price the cross section of emission portfolios' returns.
The bruxism screener (BruxScreen): Development, pilot testing and face validity
Authors: Lobbezoo Frank , Ahlberg Jari , Verhoeff Merel C. , Aarab Ghizlane , Bracci Alessandro , Koutris Michail , Nykänen Laura , Thymi Magdalini , Wetselaar Peter , Manfredini Daniele
Published: February 2023

Background

To assess awake and sleep bruxism, the Standardised Tool for the Assessment of Bruxism (STAB) is currently being developed. The STAB will be a comprehensive tool for the detailed assessment of bruxism behaviour itself as well as of its possible consequences, causes, and comorbid conditions.

Objective

Since the STAB cannot fully meet the ‘A4 principle’ for a bruxism assessment tool, i.e., being Accurate (reliable and valid), Applicable (feasible), Affordable (cost‐effective), and Accessible (suitable for everyday clinical use), the Bruxism Screener (BruxScreen) has been developed to be used in large‐scale epidemiological research projects and, especially, in general, dental practices.

Methods

The BruxScreen consists of two parts: a questionnaire (BruxScreen‐Q) to be completed by patients, and a clinical assessment form (BruxScreen‐C) to be completed by dentists.

Results

This paper describes the development of the BruxScreen and provides the outcomes of the pilot testing phase and the face validity assessment (i.e. that the first impressions of the tool indicate that it adequately reflects the construct to be measured).

Conclusion

The resulting BruxScreen is considered ready for more profound psychometric testing in the general dental setting.
Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya After the Arab Spring
Authors: Oztig Lacin Idil
Published: February 2023

This article analyzes the political transitions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya after the Arab Spring. While they share similarities regarding the overthrow of their long‐lasting regimes, each country followed different trajectories. Early in the process, Tunisia underwent a smooth transformation, while Egypt witnessed intense polarization following the electoral success of the Muslim Brotherhood—and authoritarianism with the military coup two years later. Different from those two, Libya came to the brink of failure with a civil war, and the country still suffers from rampant violence. The article contends that Tunisia's success in the transition toward democracy lies in its relative homogeneity, consensus‐building, and civil‐military relations. The focus of the article is on the initial transitions. Tunisia's process appears to have stalled, and future study will be required to understand how such states can consolidate their democratic transitions.
Creating theory: Encouragement for using creativity and deduction in qualitative nursing research
Authors: Bergdahl Elisabeth , Berterö Carina M.
Published: February 2023

Texts about theory in nursing often refer to theory construction by using inductive methods in a rigid way. In this paper, it is instead argued that theories are created, which is in line with most philosophers of science. Theory creation is regarded as a creative process that does not follow a specific method or logic. As in any creative endeavour, the inspiration for theory creation can come from many sources, including previous research and existing theory. The main idea put forward is that deductive qualitative research approaches should play a key role in theory creation. Furthermore, there is a need to differentiate between theory creation and theory justification. A model that emphasizes the creative aspects of theory creation and theory justification using qualitative approaches is presented. The model suggests that knowledge development is a deductive trial‐and‐error process where theory creation is followed by testing. Scientific theory creation and justification are presented as an iterative process that is deductive in that a testable hypothesis is derived from the theory. If the hypothesis is falsified, then the theory needs modification or might be altogether wrong. Several factors can block the creative process, both in theory development and in finding ways to test a theory in the justification phase. Some of these blockers are the idea of ‘building blocks’ and the inductive view of science often brought forward in nursing. Other blockers include striving for consensus and adherence to existing nursing philosophies and existing theories. Research and knowledge development are creative processes, and following predefined methods is not enough to ensure scientific rigour in qualitative nursing research.
Can we predict orthodontic extraction patterns by using machine learning?
Authors: Leavitt Landon , Volovic James , Steinhauer Lily , Mason Taylor , Eckert George , Dean Jeffrey A. , Dundar M. Murat , Turkkahraman Hakan
Published: February 2023

Objective

To investigate the utility of machine learning (ML) in accurately predicting orthodontic extraction patterns in a heterogeneous population.

Materials and Methods

The material of this retrospective study consisted of records of 366 patients treated with orthodontic extractions. The dataset was randomly split into training (70%) and test sets (30%) and was stratified according to race/ethnicity and gender. Fifty‐five cephalometric and demographic input data were used to train and test multiple ML algorithms. The extraction patterns were labelled according to the previous treatment plan. Random Forest (RF), Logistic Regression (LR), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms were used to predict the patient's extraction patterns.

Results

The highest class accuracy percentages were obtained for the upper and lower 1st premolars (U/L4s) (RF: 81.63%, LR: 63.27%, SVM: 63.27%) and upper 1st premolars only (U4s) extraction patterns (RF: 61.11%, LR: 72.22%, SVM: 72.22%). However, all methods revealed low class accuracy rates (<50%) for the upper 1st and lower 2nd premolars (U4/L5s), upper 2nd and lower 1st premolars (U5/L4s), and upper and lower 2nd premolars (U/L5s) extraction patterns. For the overall accuracy, RF yielded the highest percentage with 54.55%, followed by SVM with 52.73% and LR with 49.09%.

Conclusion

All tested supervised ML techniques yielded good accuracy in predicting U/L4s and U4s extraction patterns. However, they predicted poorly for the U4/L5s, U5/L4s, and U/L5s extraction patterns. Molar relationship, mandibular crowding, and overjet were found to be the most predictive indicators for determining extraction patterns.
The only lasting truth is change: multiple dimensions of biodiversity show historical legacy effects in community assembly processes of freshwater fish
Authors: Busch Michelle H. , Allen Daniel C. , Marske Katharine A. , Kuczynski Lucie
Published: February 2023

How communities are structured is a fundamental ecological question. Community structure, while constrained by the regional species pool, may be altered by changes in climate and other environmental stressors. Changes in patterns of functional and phylogenetic dispersion over time can illuminate the temporal dynamics of the processes structuring communities. We quantified temporal changes in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of stream fish assemblages in the southern plains of the U.S. across four decades to assess how climatic change has influenced community patterns. We also explored how the use of three different functional trait categories (life history, environmental tolerance and trophic level) and all traits combined affected the response of functional diversity to environmental drivers. We found, for all diversity indices, that assemblages with low historical richness had high contemporary diversity, while assemblages with high historical richness had low contemporary diversity. Functional richness based on life history traits, trophic traits, and all traits combined decreased in diversity over time, while functional richness based on environmental tolerance traits showed the opposite pattern. Phylogenetic dispersion of both over‐ and under‐dispersed communities shifted toward randomness. Changes in fish diversity patterns were influenced by changes in temperature over time, though impacts were metric dependent. Overall, we found that while community structure has changed, specific changes were more strongly predicted by the historical richness of the community than by regional climate change.
A place‐based risk appraisal model for exploring residents’ attitudes toward nature‐based solutions to flood risks
Authors: Han Sungju , Bubeck Philip , Thieken Annegret , Kuhlicke Christian
Published: February 2023

Nature‐based solutions (NBS) have gained popularity as a sustainable and effective way of dealing with increasing flood risks. One of the key factors that often hinders the successful implementation of NBS is residents’ opposition to their implementation. In this study, we argue that the place where a hazard exists should be considered a critical contextual factor alongside flood risk appraisals and perceptions of NBS themselves. We have developed a theoretical framework—the “Place‐based Risk Appraisal Model (PRAM)”—that draws on constructs inspired by theories of place and risk perception. A citizen survey (n = 304) was conducted in five municipalities in Saxony‐Anhalt, Germany, where dike relocation and floodplain restoration projects have been conducted along the Elbe River. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the PRAM. Attitudes toward the projects were assessed in terms of “perceived risk‐reduction effectiveness” and “supportive attitude.” With regard to risk‐related constructs, well‐communicated information and perceived co‐benefits were consistently positive factors for both perceived risk‐reduction effectiveness and supportive attitude. Trust in local flood risk management was a positive and threat appraisal a negative predictor of perceived risk‐reduction effectiveness affecting “supportive attitude” only through “perceived risk‐reduction effectiveness.” Regarding place attachment constructs, place identity was a negative predictor of a supportive attitude. The study emphasizes that risk appraisal, pluralities of place contexts to each individual, and their relations are key for determining attitudes toward NBS. Understanding these influencing factors and their interrelationships enables us to provide theory‐ and evidence‐based recommendations for the effective realization of NBS.
Is higher physical fitness associated with better psychological health in young pediatric cancer survivors? A cross‐sectional study from the iBoneFIT project
Authors: Rodriguez‐Solana Andrea , Gracia‐Marco Luis , Llorente‐Cantarero Francisco J. , Cadenas‐Sanchez Cristina , Marmol‐Perez Andres , Gil‐Cosano Jose J. , Moliner‐Urdiales Diego , Ubago‐Guisado Esther
Published: February 2023

Objective

To examine the associations of self‐perceived and objectively‐measured physical fitness with psychological well‐being and distress indicators in young pediatric cancer survivors.

Materials and Methods

A total of 116 participants (12.1 ± 3.3 years, 56.9% boys) from the iBoneFIT project participated in this cross‐sectional study. Objectively‐measured physical fitness (muscular fitness) was obtained by handgrip strength and standing long jump tests for the upper and lower body, respectively. Self‐perceived physical fitness was obtained by the International Fitness Scale (IFIS). Positive and negative affect were assessed by the positive affect schedule for children (PANAS‐C), happiness by Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), optimism by Life Orientation Test‐Revised (LOT‐R), self‐esteem by the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSE), anxiety by State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC‐R), and depression by Children Depression Inventory (CDI). Multiple linear regressions adjusted by key covariates were performed to analyze associations.

Results

No associations were found between objectively‐measured muscular fitness and any of the psychological well‐being and distress indicators (p > 0.05). Self‐perceived overall fitness and flexibility were positively associated with positive affect (β ≥ 0.258, p < 0.05). Self‐perceived cardiorespiratory fitness, speed/agility, and flexibility were negatively associated with depression (β ≥ −0.222, p < 0.05). Finally, self‐perceived cardiorespiratory fitness was also negatively associated with anxiety and negative affect (β ≥ −0.264, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Perceived physical fitness, but not objectively physical fitness, seems to be inversely related to psychological distress variables and to less extent positively related to psychological well‐being. The findings from this study highlight the importance of promoting self‐perceived fitness in the pediatric oncology population.
Bayesian solution to the monotone likelihood in the standard mixture cure model
Authors: Almeida Frederico M. , Mayrink Vinícius D. , Colosimo Enrico A.
Published: February 2023

An advantage of the standard mixture cure model over an usual survival model is how it accounts for the population heterogeneity. It allows a joint estimation for the distribution related to the susceptible and non‐susceptible subjects. The estimation algorithm may provide coefficients when the likelihood cannot be maximized. This phenomenon is known as Monotone Likelihood (ML), common in survival and logistic regressions. The ML tends to appear in situations with small sample size, many censored times, many binary or unbalanced covariates. Particularly, it occurs when all uncensored cases correspond to one level of a binary covariate. The existing frequentist solution is an adaptation of the Firth correction, originally proposed to reduce bias of maximum likelihood estimates. It prevents estimates by penalizing the likelihood, with the penalty interpreted as the Bayesian Jeffreys prior. In this paper, the penalized likelihood of the standard mixture cure model is considered with different penalties (Bayesian priors). A Monte Carlo simulation study indicates good inference results, especially for balanced data sets. Finally, a real application involving a melanoma data illustrates the approach.
Faithful invariant random subgroups in acylindrically hyperbolic groups
Authors: Glasner Yair , Hase Anton
Published: February 2023

Building on work from Sun and Kechris‐Quorning, we prove that every acylindrically hyperbolic group admits a weakly mixing probability measure preserving action which is faithful but not essentially free. In other words, admits a weakly mixing nontrivial faithful IRS. We also prove that every nonelementary hyperbolic group admits a characteristic random subgroup with the same properties.
Usos del silencio en la publicidad audiovisual:
Authors: Palencia-Lefler Manuel
Published: February 2023

Existe un corpus importante de investigaciones científicas que han estudiado la banda sonora –voz, música y efectos sonoros– en la comunicación audiovisual publicitaria, en especial el papel que juega la música en el proceso de atraer la atención del consumidor. Pocos estudios, en cambio, han examinado la banda sonora publicitaria cuando esta se presenta a través del silencio como un recurso creativo en los spots. ¿Es posible dar contenido al silencio, llenarlo de significado? El motivo central para usar el silencio en publicidad deberá ser el de aumentar la atención del consumidor y su capacidad de retención del mensaje. Sin duda, un uso adecuado del silencio puede conciliar la estética y el concepto en pro del objetivo publicitario.
Acreditación por 10 años del programa de Medicina
Authors: Prieto Martínez Ingeniero Luis David
Published: February 2023

Hago llegar un afectuoso saludo a los miembros de la comunidad educativa de nuestra querida Facultad de Medicina, a sus estudiantes, profesores, personal administrativo y egresados que nos acompañan en esta reunión que tiene un especial sentido y significación desde el modo de proceder que nos caracteriza como javerianos y desde lo que la renovación de la acreditación por 10 años del programa de medicina significa para la Facultad, para la Universidad y sobre todo, para sociedad colombiana.
A Novel Algorithm for Fast Measurement of Material Density in Symmetrical Objects Using X-Ray Radiography
Authors: Sinha Vaibhav , Strantz Frank Angelo , Lee Hyoung Koo
Published: February 2023

X-ray radiography has proved to be essential in medical imaging and examination of material structures because it is noninvasive and generates images based on well-understood attenuation characteristics of materials. For radiographs of multiple overlapping materials, unraveling the individual attenuation contributions poses a problem that is commonly handled by either taking many radiographs at different object orientations for computed tomography or multiple images with different photon energies for Multiple Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (MEXA). Alternatively, to perform faster measurements, a novel algorithm has been developed to determine multimaterial systems' density. The algorithm can be effectively applied to perform measurements using only one to four radiographs of the object. A case study has been presented for a layered cylindrical object that involved sensitivity studies on image noise, X-ray generator voltage fluctuations, layer thickness measurement perturbations, and X-ray generator photon energy distribution fluctuations using simulated radiographs and density calculations using actual radiographs. The results from the simulated and experimental results were found to agree with actual density values.
ATHENA Main Heat Exchanger Conceptual Design and Thermal-Hydraulic Assessment With RELAP5 Code
Authors: Del Moro Tommaso , Lorusso Pierdomenico , Giannetti Fabio , Tarantino Mariano , Caramello Marco , Mazzi Daniele , Constantin Marin
Published: February 2023

Among the envisaged experimental infrastructures supporting ALFRED reactor development, Fostering Alfred Construction consortium identified ATHENA as one of the facilities to address the pool thermal-hydraulic challenges and demonstrate the feasibility of the revised ALFRED configuration, along with the thermal-hydraulic performances of its main components. ATHENA is a large pool-type lead-cooled multipurpose experimental facility featuring a large size vessel (3.2 m diameter, 10 m in height), conceived to host almost 800 tons of lead to test ALFRED relevant scaled components. The test section to be installed in the main vessel includes an electrically heated core simulator (CS), made of 7 FAs, which delivers to the primary coolant a nominal thermal power of 2210 kW, a main coolant pump for lead circulation, and a countercurrent shell and tubes main heat exchanger, which tube bundle is fed by pressurized water by a dedicated secondary circuit. A preliminary analytical calculation has been performed to identify the most suitable configuration for the ATHENA heat exchanger, as well as to achieve a preliminary sizing of the component. The final layout foresees a bundle of 91 bayonet tubes, arranged in a cylindrical geometry, having an active length of 3000 mm and adopting an external double wall tube with a pressurized helium gap. A numerical model of the heat exchanger has been developed using the thermal-hydraulic system code RELAP5/Mod3.3, and a numerical sensitivity analysis on the geometrical and operating parameters has been carried out to verify the performances of the component.
Hydrogen Loading System for Thin Films for Betavoltaics
Authors: Cheu Darrell , Adams Thomas , Revankar Shripad
Published: February 2023

Betavoltaics are direct conversion energy devices that are ideal for low power and long-lasting, uninterruptable applications. Betavoltaics operate similarly to photovoltaics where a radio isotope irradiates beta particles into a semiconductor p-n junction that converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy. Betavoltaics are limited by their power output from the radio isotope. However, the source power density can be increased by the selection of solid-state substrates. While tritium absorbing substrates can be simulated to estimate tritium absorption levels and surface emission energies, their viability has to be physically evaluated. A state-of-the-art hydrogen loading system developed by our research group was used to evaluate different film types to understand how they perform during the hydrogen/tritium loading process. The hydrogen loading system utilizes the Sievert technique, where the temperature and volume is constant and pressure drop of the system is used to determine hydrogen uptake of a film substrate. The hydrogen loading system procedure was verified using 250 nm thick palladium films at three loading temperatures. Results clearly show uptake of hydrogen by the thin palladium films accurate to the ideal stoichiometric ratio of one hydrogen atom to host palladium atom.
High Gain and Wideband Antenna-in-Package Solution Using Fan-Out Technology
Authors: Zhang Xuesong , Wang Qian , Xia Chenhui , Zhou Chaojie , Wang Gang , Cai Jian
Published: February 2023

The technology of fan-out wafer level packaging (FOWLP) has been widely adopted for millimeter wave antenna-in-package (AiP) system integration with low interconnection parasitic parameters. Present AiP solutions using FOWLP technology generally form antenna pattern on redistribution layer, which brings design inconvenience. In our work, a low-cost printed circuit board RO4350B laminate for substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) antenna with a relatively large size is integrated, forms a three-dimensional stacked structure. The AiP employs a right-angle transition board embedded in epoxy molding compound (EMC), which transmits millimeter-wave signal to the SIW antenna stacked on the backside of EMC. The SIW antenna consists of 4 × 4 radiation slots with modified magneto-electric dipole for bandwidth enhancement. The measured gain is 14dBi at 60 GHz with bandwidth beyond 55–65 GHz. The three-dimensional AiP structure improves heat dissipation, no extra thermal design is needed for applications under 0.5 W mm-wave chip power consumption. The AiP module is manufactured and measured on the test board. The proposed approach is a convenient solution for wide band and high gain millimeter wave AiP system integration.
Data-Driven Dynamical System Models of Roughness-Induced Secondary Flows in Thermally Stratified Turbulent Boundary Layers
Authors: Hansen Christoffer , Yang Xiang I. A. , Abkar Mahdi
Published: February 2023

The goal of this work is to investigate the feasibility of constructing data-driven dynamical system models of roughness-induced secondary flows in thermally stratified turbulent boundary layers. Considering the case of a surface roughness distribution which is homogeneous and heterogeneous in the streamwise and spanwise directions, respectively, we describe the streamwise averaged in-plane motions via a stream function formulation, thereby reducing the number of variables to the streamwise velocity component, an appropriately introduced stream function, and the temperature. Then, from the results of large eddy simulations, we perform a modal decomposition of each variable with the proper orthogonal decomposition and further utilize the temporal dynamics of the modal coefficients to construct a data-driven dynamical system model by applying the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy). We also present a novel approach for enforcing spanwise reflection symmetry within the SINDy framework to incorporate a physical bias.
Geometric Characteristics of Flapping Foils for Enhanced Propulsive Efficiency
Authors: Kelly John M. , Khalid Muhammad Saif Ullah , Han Pan , Dong Haibo
Published: February 2023

The shape of a foil undergoing a combined pitching heaving motion is critical to its design in applications that demand high efficiency and thrust. This study focuses on understanding of how the shape of a foil affects its propulsive performance. We perform two-dimensional numerical simulations of fluid flows around a flapping foil for different governing parameters in the range of biological swimmers and bio-inspired underwater vehicles. By varying the foil shape using a class-shape transformation method, we investigate a broad range of foil-like shapes. In the study, we also show consistent results with previous studies that a thicker leading-edge and sharper trailing-edge makes for a more efficient foil shape undergoing a flapping motion. In addition, we explain that the performance of the foil is highly sensitive to its shape, specifically the thickness of the foil between the 18th and 50th percent along the chord of the foil. Moreover, we elucidate the flow mechanisms behind variations in performance metrics, particularly focused on constructive interference between the vortices generated at the leading-edge with the trailing-edge vortex, as well as the pressure field differences that lead to higher power consumption in less efficient foil shapes.
Secure quantum remote sensing without entanglement
Authors: Moore Sean W. , Dunningham Jacob A.
Published: February 2023

Quantum metrology and quantum communications are typically considered as distinct applications in the broader portfolio of quantum technologies. However, there are cases where we might want to combine the two, and recent proposals have shown how this might be achieved in entanglement-based systems. Here, we present an entanglement-free alternative that has advantages in terms of simplicity and practicality, requiring only individual qubits to be transmitted. We demonstrate the performance of the scheme in both the low and high data limits, showing quantum advantages both in terms of measurement precision and security against a range of possible attacks.
Inert-gas ion scattering at grazing incidence on smooth and rough Si and SiO2 surfaces
Authors: Cagomoc Charisse Marie D. , Isobe Michiro , Hudson Eric A. , Hamaguchi Satoshi
Published: February 2023

Molecular dynamics simulations for the scattering of neon, argon, and xenon ions on silicon and silicon dioxide surfaces were performed at grazing incidence to examine how the angular distribution of reflected ions deviates from that of the ideal specular reflection, depending on the ion mass, incident angle, and surface material and its roughness. This study is motivated to understand how energetic ions interact with the sidewalls of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) channels when reactive ion etching (RIE) is used to form such HAR channels in semiconductor manufacturing. It is found that the higher the ion mass is, the less grazing the ion incident angle is, or the rougher the surface is, the larger the angular distribution of reflected ions becomes around the corresponding specular reflection angles. Quantitative information on such reflected ions can be used to predict the profile evolution of HAR channels in RIE processes.
Video Interviews via Question Submissions
Authors: Hajek Tyler John , Sung Yoon Tae
Published: February 2023

Guest speakers can reinforce relevance to course content in the classroom. However, integrating guest speakers in online, asynchronous settings may be challenging. To address this issue, sport management educators may utilize this activity with question submissions, guest speaker video interviews, and a cumulative review with consideration of the constructivist paradigm. As elements of constructivism are becoming prominent in higher education, students can construct their own learning and meaning from the insights of the facilitated guest speaker interviews.