bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic importance of mitosis quantification and PHH3 expression in oral epithelial dysplasia
Authors: Sathyamoorthy Hrishikesh , Mahmood Hanya , Zubir Amir Zaki Abdullah , Hankinson Paul , Khurram Syed Ali
Published: October 2023

Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is diagnosed and graded using a range of histological features, making grading subjective and challenging. Mitotic counting and phosphohistone-H3 (PHH3) staining have been used for the prognostication of various malignancies; however, their importance in OED remains unexplored. This study conducts a quantitative analysis of mitotic activity in OED using both haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for PHH3. Specifically, the diagnostic and prognostic importance of mitotic number, mitotic type and intra-epithelial location is evaluated. Whole slide images (WSI) of OED (n = 60) and non-dysplastic tissue (n = 8) were prepared for analysis. Five-year follow-up data was collected. The total number of mitosis (TNOM), mitosis type and intra-epithelial location was manually evaluated on H&E images and a digital mitotic count performed on PHH3-stained WSI. Statistical associations between these features and OED grade, malignant transformation and OED recurrence were determined. Mitosis count increased with grade severity (H&E: p < 0.005; IHC: p < 0.05), and grade-based differences were seen for mitosis type and location (p < 0.05). The ratio of normal-to-abnormal mitoses was higher in OED (1.61) than control (1.25) and reduced with grade severity. TNOM, type and location were better predictors when combined with histological grading, with the most prognostic models demonstrating an AUROC of 0.81 for transformation and 0.78 for recurrence, exceeding conventional grading. Mitosis quantification and PHH3 staining can be an adjunct to conventional H&E assessment and grading for the prediction of OED prognosis. Validation on larger multicentre cohorts is needed to establish these findings.
PROILTM—A Valuable Implementation for Open Stream Practice. How a Mold Flux Dispersion May Improve This Process
Authors: Giacobbe Andrea , Alloni Marco , Carli Riccardo
Published: October 2023

The aim of this contribution is to provide an overview on results achieved by the application in the open continuous casting practice of a solid-liquid dispersion of a mold flux called PROIL™. The use of PROIL™ has delivered significant improvements in the process in terms of billet surface defects reduction, expanding casting grade capability, and sharp breakout depletion. Additional benefits have also been achieved in better billet square shape and reduced sparkling phenomena in the mold. These results have been confirmed in use by several customers, and hundreds of tons of this material have been consumed so far. Specific equipment has been engineered for delivering and dosing PROIL™.

PROIL™ is a trademark registered by Prosimet spa.
Survivorship wellness: a multidisciplinary group program for cancer survivors
Authors: Siwik Chelsea J. , Jhaveri Kinnari , Cohen Jamie Alexis , Barulich Mikela , Chang Alison , Levin Anna O. , Goyal Neha G. , Melisko Michelle , Chesney Margaret A. , Shumay Dianne
Published: October 2023

Purpose

National mandates require cancer centers provide comprehensive survivorship care. We created an 8-session, group intervention, the Survivorship Wellness Group Program (SWGP), that covered 8 topics: nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep/fatigue, sexuality/body image, emotional wellbeing/fear of cancer recurrence, spirituality/meaning, and health promotion/goal setting. This study examined the acceptability and preliminary outcomes of SWGP.

Methods

We evaluated SWGP using questionnaire data collected at program entry and 15-week follow-up. Questionnaires assessed acceptability and impact on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and perceived knowledge of topics. Enrollees who consented to participate in research and completed the baseline and 15-week follow-up were included in the analysis (N = 53). We assessed acceptability and preliminary outcomes using paired-samples t-tests. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SWGP transitioned to telehealth partway through data collection. Post-hoc analyses compared outcomes by intervention delivery.

Results

Participants completed an average of 7.44/8 classes. Participants reported a mean response of 3.42/4 regarding overall program satisfaction and 90.6% reported being “very likely” to recommend SWGP. SWGP was associated with decreases in anxiety and depression; increases in physical, emotional, functional, and overall quality of life; and increases in knowledge of all health behavior domains. No outcomes differed significantly between delivery in person versus telehealth.

Conclusions

SWGP offers an acceptable and replicable model for cancer centers to meet national survivorship care guidelines.

Implication for cancer survivors

SWGP provides a comprehensive service for cancer survivors post-treatment, and was associated with better quality of life, fewer mental health symptoms, and increased knowledge in multiple domains of wellness.
Mental Health Care Access Among Arab Immigrants in the United States: Application of Public Arena Model
Authors: Shaimaa Elrefaay , Bialous Stella
Published: October 2023

Arab immigrants constitute a sizable portion of the US population, and their adjustment and relocation challenges might escalate mental health issues. Nevertheless, mental health care accessibility among such populations is not recognized as policy issue. Hence, it is crucial to explore the political tools that might be employed to improve immigrants’ access to mental health treatment. The Public Arenas Model (Hilgartner and Bosk, American Journal of Sociology 94:53–78, 1988) provides better understanding of how access to mental health care is defined in the public sphere, why mental health inaccessibility among Arabs has not received attention, and how stakeholders worked to raise the public’s attention to such issue (Smith, Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice 10:134–142, 2009). Ultimately, several policy options are proposed to address Arab immigrants’ access to mental health care issue, including increasing mental health service providers’ language proficiency and cultural competency, integration of behavioral health and primary care services for immigrant populations, and considering novel modes of mental health delivery.
Using high-frequency monitoring data to quantify city-wide suspended-sediment load and evaluate TMDL goals
Authors: Miller Samuel A. , Webber James S. , Jastram John D. , Aguilar Marcus F.
Published: October 2023

Excess sediment is a common reason water bodies in the USA become listed as impaired resulting in total maximum daily loads (TMDL) that require municipalities to invest millions of dollars annually on management practices aimed at reducing suspended-sediment loads (SSLs), yet monitoring data are rarely used to quantify SSLs and track TMDL progress. A monitoring network was created to quantify the SSL from the City of Roanoke, Virginia, USA (CoR), to the Roanoke River and Tinker Creek and help guide TMDL assessment and implementation. Suspended-sediment concentrations were estimated between 2020 and 2022 from high-frequency turbidity data using surrogate linear-regression models. Sixty-one percent of the total three-year SSL resulted from five large storm events. The average suspended-sediment yield from the CoR (58.1 metric tons/km2/year) was similar to other urban watersheds in the Eastern United States; however, the yield was nearly five times larger than the TMDL allocation (12.2 metric tons/km2/year). The TMDL allocated load was modeled based on a predominantly forested reference watershed and may not be a practical target for highly impervious watersheds within the CoR. The TMDL model used daily input data which likely does not capture the full range of SSLs during storm events, particularly from flashy urban streams. The average SSL following the five large storm events doubled that of the CoR’s annual allocated load from the TMDL. The results of this study highlight the importance of using high-frequency monitoring data to accurately estimate SSLs and evaluate TMDLs in urban areas.
Employers have a Duty of Beneficence to Design for Meaningful Work: A General Argument and Logistics Warehouses as a Case Study
Authors: Smids Jilles , Berkers Hannah , Le Blanc Pascale , Rispens Sonja , Nyholm Sven
Published: October 2023

Artificial intelligence-driven technology increasingly shapes work practices and, accordingly, employees’ opportunities for meaningful work (MW). In our paper, we identify five dimensions of MW: pursuing a purpose, social relationships, exercising skills and self-development, autonomy, self-esteem and recognition. Because MW is an important good, lacking opportunities for MW is a serious disadvantage. Therefore, we need to know to what extent employers have a duty to provide this good to their employees. We hold that employers have a duty of beneficence to design for opportunities for MW when implementing AI-technology in the workplace. We argue that this duty of beneficence is supported by the three major ethical theories, namely, Kantian ethics, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. We defend this duty against two objections, including the view that it is incompatible with the shareholder theory of the firm. We then employ the five dimensions of MW as our analytical lens to investigate how AI-based technological innovation in logistic warehouses has an impact, both positively and negatively, on MW, and illustrate that design for MW is feasible. We further support this practical feasibility with the help of insights from organizational psychology. We end by discussing how AI-based technology has an impact both on meaningful work (often seen as an aspirational goal) and decent work (generally seen as a matter of justice). Accordingly, ethical reflection on meaningful and decent work should become more integrated to do justice to how AI-technology inevitably shapes both simultaneously.
The Cantril Ladder as a Measure of Well-Being and Life Satisfaction Among Refugee Youth Experiencing Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress
Authors: Mohammed Salma Elmukashfi Eltahir , Warner Georgina
Published: October 2023

Given the number of refugee youth whom require mental health support, there is a need to provide community-based interventions that can be easily scaled-up at a low cost. Yet, safety procedures associated with community-based intervention require careful consideration. The Cantril Ladder is a visual scale used to assess life satisfaction. It could be a useful tool to track the well-being of participants throughout an intervention. However, concerns have been raised about the validity of single-item life satisfaction measures and it is recommended they are tested when used in specific populations. This is particularly relevant to the refugee youth population who experience ongoing stress due to concern for family, friends, housing, and schooling and whose perceptions of life satisfaction may differ to the cohorts the Cantril Ladder has previously been tested with. The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of the Cantril Ladder as a measure of well-being and life satisfaction in refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms by exploring the relationship between how the youth scored on the Cantril Ladder with their scores on measures of depression and self-efficacy. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was applied to self-reported survey data in order to test how refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (n = 51) score on the Cantril Ladder compared with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Self Efficacy Scale (GSE) scores. The mean Cantril Ladder score in the present sample was 5.33 (SD = 2.77). The PHQ-9 and GSE total scores together explained 19.1% of the variability in the Cantril Ladder score. The Cantril Ladder showed moderate concurrent validity with validated measures of depression and self-efficacy. These findings have important implications for intervention programs designed to support refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress, as the Cantril Ladder offers a promising way to track well-being throughout the program as part of a wider safety protocol procedure. Additional research is required to not only confirm these findings, but also to test the face validity of the Cantril Ladder for a more complete validation of life satisfaction.
Improving corneal nerve segmentation using tolerance Dice loss function
Authors: Colonna Alessia , Scarpa Fabio
Published: October 2023

In vivo confocal microscopy is a technique that allows to acquire images of the corneal layers in a rapid and noninvasive way. Analysis of sub-basal nerve allows obtaining important clinical information regarding the eye and the human body’s health. To obtain that information, it is necessary to correctly identify and trace the nerve fibers. Manual analysis is time-consuming and subjective. Numerous automatic algorithms have been proposed to overcome these problems, but none have been included in clinical practice yet. In this work, we take advantage of deep learning techniques. We present an analysis of the performances obtained through UNet (baseline) to which various architectural solutions have been added to boost performance. The variation of the tracing results is also analyzed according to the use of different loss functions, one of which is introduced here: It considers a tolerance margin (Dice with tolerance). The investigated configurations have been shown to be capable of improving the tracing of corneal nerve fibers. The model with attention modules and atrous-spatial pyramid pooling modules showed the greatest improvement compared to the baseline, increasing in the evaluation score from 86.51 to 90.21%. Furthermore, the proposed loss function further increases the results (achieving 92.44%).
Machine Learning-Based Hardness Prediction of High-Entropy Alloys for Laser Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Zhu Wenhan , Huo Wenyi , Wang Shiqi , Kurpaska Łukasz , Fang Feng , Papanikolaou Stefanos , Kim Hyoung Seop , Jiang Jianqing
Published: October 2023

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted much attention for laser additive manufacturing, due to their superb mechanical properties. However, their industry application is still hindered by the high entry barriers of design for additive manufacturing and the limited performance library of HEAs. In most machine learning methods used to predict the properties of HEAs, their processing paths are not clearly distinguished. To overcome these issues, in this work, a novel deep neural network architecture is proposed that includes HEA manufacturing routes as input features. The manufacturing routes, i.e., as-cast and laser additive manufactured samples, are transformed into the One-Hot encoder. This makes the samples in the dataset provide better directivity and reduces the prediction error of the model. Data augmentation with conditional generative adversarial networks is employed to obtain some data samples with a distribution similar to that of the original data. These additional added data samples overcome the shortcoming of the limited performance library of HEAs. The results show that the mean absolute error value of the prediction is 44.6, which is about 27% lower than that using traditional neural networks in this work. This delivers a new path to discover chemical compositions suitable for laser additive manufactured HEAs, which is of universal relevance for assisting specific additive manufacturing processes.
Soziale Arbeit kann Katastrophenhilfe
Authors: Genenger-Stricker Marianne , Lauscher Laika
Published: October 2023

Das Engagement von Studierenden nach und seit den Überflutungen in Stolberg im Sommer 2021 zeigt, dass im Katastrophenfall ein gemeinwesenorientierter sowie in vielerlei Hinsicht niedrigschwelliger, partizipativer und vernetzter Ansatz erforderlich ist, um wirksame Unterstützung in der Krisensituation gewährleisten zu können. Die Einbeziehung von Umweltgerechtigkeit in die Agenda der sozialen Gerechtigkeit als genuines Prinzip der Sozialen Arbeit eröffnet den Blick auf die Lösung komplexer Probleme, die einen nachhaltigen Wandel sichern und den Bedürfnissen der Menschen sowie der physischen Umwelt in Zukunft gerecht werden können.
Exploring the role of compassion, self-criticism and the dark triad on obesity and emotion regulation
Authors: Sharpe Emma E. , Schofield Malcolm B. , Roberts Ben L. H. , Kamal Atiya , Maratos Frances A.
Published: October 2023

Emotion regulation and/or obesity have been linked to compassion, self-criticism and ‘dark’ personality traits but the relationship between these factors is unclear as most research has focused on the big five personality traits. Here, we investigated the influence of dark personality traits on emotional dysregulation, compassion and BMI. 300 participants completed measures of emotion dysregulation, compassion, self-criticism and dark tetrad personality traits; also providing their BMI. MLR revealed psychopathy, high self-criticism and low compassion ‘for self’ predicted poor emotion regulation; accounting for > 50% of the variance. Whilst their effects on BMI were also significant, no factors singularly predicted BMI. Our research offers important insights into the complexity of factors that may contribute to poor emotion regulation. Of novel value, we found a link between self-compassion, self-criticism and emotion regulation; with self-criticism emerging as the biggest predictor of emotion dysregulation of all explored variables. Although implications for obesity are limited, it is notable that our population demonstrated less obesity than the general public. This is important, as it ascertains that emotion dysregulation, self-criticism, low self-compassion and dark personality traits are not associated with BMI in those of healthy weight.
Parent-child Discrepancies in Reporting Children’s Mental Health: Do Physical Custody Arrangements in Post-separation Families Matter?
Authors: Brocker Sven Alexander , Steinbach Anja , Augustijn Lara
Published: October 2023

Most analyses of children’s well-being in separated families are based on reports provided by parents. Thus, the question arises whether discrepancies between parents’ proxy reports and children’s self-reports exist and whether they impact explanatory models of children’s well-being. Since a family’s physical custody arrangement could systematically affect parents’ ratings of their children’s mental health, and this association has not been examined before, this study investigates parent-child discrepancies in reporting children’s mental health problems in separated families with different physical custody arrangements. Drawing on data from the German Family Panel (pairfam), multinomial logistic regression and multilevel mixed-effects models were estimated for 786 parent-child dyads nested in 622 families with children between the ages of 9 and 17. To measure children’s mental health, we used two subscales (emotional and conduct problems) of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The findings suggested that the relationship between physical custody arrangements and children’s mental health differs depending on whether the children’s or the parents’ data are used. Physical custody arrangements and informant discrepancies were not associated. Parents’ mental health and the quality of parent-child relationships appear more relevant in understanding informant discrepancies than physical custody arrangements.
Quelites Pasados of the Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Mexico: An Interdisciplinary Ethnobotanical Study of Leafy Green Vegetables
Authors: Severiano-Pérez Patricia , Cristians Sol , Bye Robert , Lucas-Florentino Bernardo , Ramírez-Orejel Juan Carlos , Linares Edelmira , Mera-Ovando Luz María , Castro-Lara Delia , Enríquez-Maldonado Daniel , Rodríguez-Servín Joel , González-Pedroza María de Guadalupe , Escalante-Martínez Viridiana , Palma Pérez del Valle José Emiliano , Mendoza-Cruz Myrna , Nevarez-Durán Alejandro , Silvestre-Lara Perla
Published: October 2023

Leafy green vegetables have been a part of human diets throughout human history. Globally, they are gaining recognition since these wild foods could play an important role in food security. Quelites (the Mexican term for these resources) are dehydrated to produce “quelites pasados” by the Rarámuri in anticipation of the scarcity of food in winter. The diversity of quelites in the state of Chihuahua includes species of the widely consumed Amaranthus, as well as endemic, native, and introduced species that are eaten locally. The present work generated nutritional, sensory, and molecular information on four species that are consumed in the Sierra Tarahumara: Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus powellii, Arracacia edulis, and Phacelia platycarpa. Their nutritional analysis exhibited high protein values and a significant concentration of macro- and micronutrients. The acceptance by the public of the species of Amaranthus was high, while that of Arracacia edulis and Phacelia platycarpa was lower. Because of the morphological similarity within the two pairs of quelites, their DNA barcodes were generated as an identification tool which, together with the nutritional and sensory results, provides added value to the four “quelites pasados” of the Sierra Tarahumara. This study could be considered a starting point for sustainable use of native vegetables in future economic programs of regional agrobiodiversity, and even replicated globally.
Overall survival in Japanese patients with ER+/HER2− advanced breast cancer treated with first-line palbociclib plus letrozole
Authors: Takahashi Masato , Osako Tomofumi , Yasojima Hiroyuki , Inoue Kenichi , Kawashima Masahiro , Maeda Hideki , Ichikawa Akemi , Muramatsu Yasuaki , Masuda Norikazu
Published: October 2023

Background

An open-label, single-arm, Japanese phase 2 study (J-Ph2) investigated the efficacy and safety of first-line (1L) palbociclib (PAL) + letrozole (LET) in postmenopausal Japanese women with ER+/HER2− advanced breast cancer (ABC). In the final analysis, median progression-free survival was 35.7 months (95% CI 21.7–46.7); but overall survival (OS) data were immature. Here, we report the findings from a follow-up study of J-Ph2 (NCT04735367) evaluating OS and subsequent therapy in these Japanese women.

Methods

Patients (N = 42) who participated in J-Ph2 were enrolled in the OS follow-up study. The primary endpoint was OS and secondary endpoints included type and duration of subsequent therapy.

Results

Patients were a median age of 62.5 years; 48% had visceral metastases. At a median follow-up of 89.7 months, the median OS was 85.4 months (95% CI 64.3–not estimable). Median OS was longer in patients with nonvisceral versus visceral metastases (not reached vs 67.3 months), or with treatment-free interval > 12 months versus ≤ 12 months (85.4 vs 45.4 months), or with treatment duration ≥ 24 months versus < 24 months (not reached vs 47.5 months). Of patients who received a first subsequent therapy (81%), most (67%) continued endocrine-based therapy, while 7% received chemotherapy. The median duration of the first subsequent therapy was 8.3 months (95% CI 3.9–12.2), and the median chemotherapy-free survival was 69.1 months (95% CI 24.2–85.4).

Conclusions

In this population of Japanese women with ER+/HER2− ABC, median OS was over 7 years with 1L PAL + LET, supporting the use of 1L PAL + endocrine therapy.

Trial number

NCT04735367.
Cellophane packaging treated with nano silica is superior to polyethylene in reducing stored irradiated flour from Tribolium confusum infestation
Authors: El sayed T. S. , Rizk S. A. , Sayed R. M.
Published: October 2023

Most packaged food products are attacked and penetrated by insects. Causing reducing food quality. Since, different ways are investigated for controlling stored-product pests without application of chemical methods. So, the present study included laboratory methods to evaluate the effectiveness of two packaging materials, polyethylene and cellophane with silica nano particles to prevent or minimize the insect infestation and grain wastage resulting by the attack of wheat grain by confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum. Studies made to determine the protecting capacity of the two packaging materials through assessing some parameters, number of adults infested poly ethelene and cellophane bags, percentage weight loss of grains, the results revealed that cellophane was the better packaging material than polyethelene, so polyethylene was the susceptible packaging material because it had maximum number of holes as a result penetrations by insects into them. Also, treatment the two types with packaging materials with different concentrations of nano silica protect the treated packaging materials from insect infestation and the protection increase with the increase of the concentration of silica nano particles
Bilateral dual iliac screw pelvic fixation for adult spinal deformity: a case report of a superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to aberrant iliac screw trajectory
Authors: Khela Monty , Kasir Rafid , Lokken R. Peter , Clark Aaron J. , Theologis Alekos A.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To present a case of a pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the left superior gluteal artery (SGA) secondary to lateral wall perforation from an iliac screw and its subsequent evaluation and management.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 67-year-old female with a history of degenerative flatback and scoliosis and pathological fractures of T12 and L1 secondary to osteodisciitis underwent a single0stage L5–S1 ALIF and T9-pelvis posterior instrumented fusion with bilateral dual iliac screw fixation, revision T11–S1 decompression, and T12 and L1 irrigation and debridement and partial corpectomies. During the operation, non-pulsatile bleeding was encountered after creating an initial trajectory for the more proximal of the two left iliac screws. While the initial post-operative course was benign, the patient was readmitted for hypotension and anemia. Computed tomography of the abdomen/pelvis demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm (2.3 cm × 2.1 cm × 2.3 cm) of a branch of the left SGA. Diagnostic angiogram confirmed a pseudoaneurysm off of one of the branches of the left SGA. Endovascular embolization using multiple coils resulted in a complete cessation of blood flow in the pseudoaneurysm. At 2 years follow-up, no symptoms suggestive of recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm were reported.

Conclusions

A pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the left superior gluteal artery as a result of lateral wall perforation from an aberrantly placed iliac screw during an adult spinal deformity operation involving dual screw pelvic fixation is reported. Prompt recognition, multidisciplinary collaboration, and appropriate intervention were key in achieving a successful outcome and preventing further morbidity.
An Evaluation of the Swissmedic Regulatory Framework for New Active Substances
Authors: Bujar Magda , Dalla Torre di Sanguinetto Simon Andreas , Kermad Adem , Bolte Claus , McAuslane Neil
Published: October 2023

Background

Swissmedic is a major regulatory agency that has been benchmarking its timelines for 20 years. To better understand the Swissmedic review times and to examine whether measures introduced to accelerate the process were effective, a retrospective analysis was undertaken. The objective was to provide a breakdown of where time is spent in the phases of Swissmedic’s approval process (validation, scientific assessment, authorisation) and how this compared to other major authorities.

Methods

Data on Swissmedic, EMA and FDA product approvals were collected from websites or through direct communication, using a standardised CIRS method and milestones previously identified, focusing on new active substances approved 2019–2021.

Results

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, Swissmedic median approval times were 520, 470, and 392 days, respectively. The decrease over this time was mainly observed in the Authorisation Phase and can be attributed to lower proportions of applications with multiple “labelling loops”, in addition to shorter times for final label negotiation. While Swissmedic had the longest overall approval time (447 days) compared to EMA (428) and FDA (244), the timelines were more comparable when considering only the agency’s time spent on the scientific assessment, with Swissmedic at 194 days, EMA at 218 days, and FDA at 184 days.

Conclusions

These observations represent an important analysis of Swissmedic regulatory activity timelines, demonstrate the impact of process improvements, and emphasise the importance of measuring timelines. Swissmedic will continue to expedite its processes also by promoting international collaborations with like-minded authorities.
Working Class Inclusion
Authors: Barnes Tiffany D. , Kerevel Yann P. , Saxton Gregory W.
Published: October 2023

Latin American legislators, like legislators worldwide, are drawn from a narrow set of elites who are largely out of touch with average citizens. Despite comprising the vast majority of the labor force, working-class people represent a small slice of the legislature. Working Class Inclusion examines how the near exclusion of working-class citizens from legislatures affects citizens' evaluations of government. Combining surveys from across Latin America with novel data on legislators' class backgrounds and experiments from Argentina and Mexico, the book demonstrates voters want more workers in office, and when combined with policy representation, the presence of working-class legislators improves citizens' evaluations of government. Absent policy representation, however, workers are met with distrust and backlash. Chapters show citizens have many opportunities to learn about the presence, or absence, of workers; and the relationship between working-class representation and evaluations of government is strongest among citizens who are aware of legislators' class status.
The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Playgroup in Inspiring Positive Changes in the Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours of Children and their Parents: A Qualitative Case Study
Authors: Mintoff Zoe , Andersen Peter , Warren Jane , Elliott Sue , Nicholson Carolan , Byfield-Fleming Helen , Barber Fiona
Published: October 2023

The ideal period for implementing environmental education or education for sustainability is during the early childhood years. The educational context of playgroups can be a platform for both children and their parents to learn together and together engage in early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS), however there is a paucity of literature examining ECEfS within Australian playgroup contexts. The Little Explorers Playgroup (LEP) is a facilitated playgroup located in a sustainable living centre in Sydney, Australia, and provides opportunities for children and their parents to engage in ECEfS. The study purpose was to evaluate the effect of the LEP on the participating children and parents’ environmental attitudes and behaviours. This qualitative study was designed as a single critical case study employing semi-structured telephone interviews conducted with twenty-three participants, including three LEP playgroup facilitators and 20 parents. The data generated by the interviews was analysed thematically and the findings indicated that the LEP empowered and positively transformed both the children and parents’ environmental attitudes and behaviours. This was evident through the children and parents’ adoption of more environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviours. The findings demonstrate that playgroups may be an untapped opportunity for facilitating community change towards sustainable living.
Concealing Martial Violence
Authors: Farr Brittany
Published: October 2023

In this essay, I turn to the example of the 1919 Elaine Massacre—the deadliest incident of anti-Black violence in U.S. history—in order to better understand how its economically motivated, state-sanctioned, and brutally indiscriminate violence were nearly erased from history. I find that white journalists, military officials, as well as the Governor of Arkansas himself, drew upon long-standing race-based fears in their characterizations of what took place in Elaine. In so doing, they were able to simultaneously glorify and obfuscate the anti-Black violence, as well as further protect the property and economic interests of the white residents who had putatively been “under threat.” The scale of the violence in Elaine and the near totality of its erasure from the official record make the Elaine Massacre a chilling example of what Lindsay Schakenbach Regele has described as “martial capitalism”: the use of concealed military violence to wrest economic resources away from marginalized communities and toward their white counterparts.
Spillover effects of violent attacks and COVID-19 exposure on mental health of health professionals: A two-phase quasi-natural experiments study in Northwest China
Authors: Liu Ning , Qian Hong , Zhang Ben Zhong , Guo Jing
Published: October 2023

The aims of this study were to examine the spillover effects of violent attacks, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) exposure, and their interactions on health professionals’ mental health, and the role of organizational support in their relationships in China. A two-phase survey data (n = 10,901) before and after the first outbreak of COVID-19 was integrated with regional macro data on the number of lawsuit cases of violent attacks and COVID-19 cases. Three studies were designed to isolate the general spillover impact of violent attacks on the mental health of health professionals, how COVID-19 affects the mental health of health professionals, and whether organizational support moderates the relationship between violent attacks and mental health through econometric regressions. Violent attacks and COVID-19 are negatively associated with the mental health of health professionals, and the outbreak of COVID-19 adversely deteriorates the spillover effects of violent attacks. Physicians, not nurses, are the most affected group. Better perceived support from hospitals can significantly mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19, violent attacks, and their interactions on the mental health of health professionals. COVID-19 deteriorates the adverse effects of violent attacks on the mental health of health professionals, while better organizational support is helpful to mitigate these effects.
Intermittency across Reynolds numbers – the influence of large-scale shear layers on the scaling of the enstrophy and dissipation in homogenous isotropic turbulence
Authors: Elsinga G.E. , Ishihara T. , Hunt J.C.R.
Published: October 2023

Direct numerical simulations up to Reλ = 1445 show that the scaling exponents for the enstrophy and the dissipation rate extrema are different and depend on the Reynolds number. A similar Reynolds number dependence of the scaling exponents is observed for the moments of the dissipation rate, but not for the moments of the enstrophy. Significant changes in the exponents occur at approximately Reλ ≈ 250, where Reλ is the Taylor based Reynolds number, which coincides with structural changes in the flow, in particular the development of large-scale shear layers. A model for the probability density functions (PDFs) of the enstrophy and dissipate rate is presented, which is an extension of our existing model (Proc. R. Soc. A, vol. 476, 2020, p. 20200591) and is based on the mentioned development of large-scale layer regions within the flow. This model is able to capture the observed Reynolds number dependencies of the scaling exponents, in contrast to the existing theories which yield constant exponents. Moreover, the model reconciles the scaling at finite Reynolds number with the theoretical limit, where the enstrophy and dissipation rate scale identically at infinite Reynolds number. It suggests that the large-scale shear layers are vital for understanding the scaling of the extrema. Furthermore, to reach the theoretical limit, the scaling exponents must remain Reynolds number dependent beyond the present Reλ range.
Stable orientations of small-scale floating cylinders
Authors: Singh Manjinder
Published: October 2023

A coin always floats in stable equilibrium with its longitudinal axis normal to the air–liquid interface. In contrast, a long thin cylindrical pin floats with its longitudinal axis parallel to the air–liquid interface. In this context, we present a theoretical investigation of the stability of small-scale hydrophobic cylinders floating in vertical and horizontal orientations at various aspect ratios (length/diameter). The study is limited to cylinders denser than water floating at the air–water interface. Our analysis shows that, unlike large-scale vertically floating cylinders, the stability of vertically orientated small-scale cylinders increases with an increase in aspect ratio. A similar trend is observed in the stability of small-scale horizontal cylinders. We also explain the underlying mechanics that leads to a rise in the stability of floating cylinders with an increase in aspect ratio. Unlike large-scale floating cylinders with uniform density, we show that the effect of governing forces (weight, buoyancy and surface tension) in small-scale cylinders changes from a stabilising to a destabilising force with a change in the aspect ratio. For example, in the case of a vertically floating cylinder, the buoyancy force acts as a stabilising force at a small aspect ratio whereas, at large aspect ratios, the buoyancy force has a destabilising influence. Likewise, the body's weight has a destabilising influence at a small aspect ratio and stabilising effect at a large aspect ratio. The reason behind this transformation is that, above a particular aspect ratio, the centre of gravity of small-scale floating cylinders lies below the centre of buoyancy.
ADAM SMITH AS A MODEL FOR THE MODERN MONETARY-POLICY ECONOMIST
Authors: Bordo Michael , Rockoff Hugh
Published: October 2023

A key insight from Adam Smith is that economists should base their conclusions about a monetary institution or policy on a careful study of the history of that institution or policy, a study that includes the experiences of other countries. To illustrate Smith’s reliance on financial history we cover five current monetary problems that have close analogies with problems that Smith discussed: (1) inflation, (2) banking panics, (3) public debt, (4) usury laws, (5) central bank digital currencies.
Associations of free, bioavailable and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D with neonatal birth anthropometry and calcium homoeostasis in mother–child pairs in a sunny Mediterranean region
Authors: Fakhoury Hana M. A. , Arabi Tarek Ziad , Tamim Hani , Chun Rene F. , Grant William B. , Hewison Martin , AlAnouti Fatme , Pilz Stefan , Annweiler Cedric , Tzimagiorgis Georgios , Haitoglou Costas , Karras Spyridon N.
Published: October 2023

Sufficient vitamin D status is crucial for successful pregnancy and fetal development. The assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations is commonly used to evaluate vitamin D status. Our objective was to examine the interrelated biodynamics of maternal and neonatal total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D in maternal–neonatal dyads at birth and their associations with homeostasis and neonatal birth anthropometry. We analysed a cohort of seventy full-term mother–child pairs. We found positive associations between all neonatal measures of vitamin D status. Maternal forms exhibited a similar pattern of association, except for the bioavailable maternal form. In multivariate analysis, both total and free maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were correlated with all neonatal forms (neonatal total 25(OH)D: 1·29 (95 % CI, 1·12, 1·46) for maternal total 25(OH)D, 10·89 (8·16, 13·63) for maternal free 25(OH)D), (neonatal free 25(OH)D: 0·15 for maternal total 25(OH)D, 1·28 (95 % CI, 0·89, 1·68) for maternal free 25(OH)D) and (0·13 (95 % CI, 0·10, 0·16), 1·06 (95 % CI, 0·68, 1·43) for maternal free 25(OH)D), respectively, with the exclusion of the bioavailable maternal form. We observed no significant interactions within or between groups regarding maternal and neonatal vitamin D parameters and maternal calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations, and neonatal birth anthropometry. Our study indicates that bioavailable maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D have no significant effects on vitamin D equilibrium, Ca homeostasis and neonatal anthropometry at birth. However, we observed an interaction between maternal and neonatal total and free 25(OH)D concentrations at the maternal–neonatal interface, with no associations observed with other calciotropic or anthropometric outcomes.
The kinetics of amino acid disappearance in the small intestine is related to the extent of amino acids absorbed in growing pigs
Authors: Montoya Carlos A. , van Bemmel Michael , Kreutz Kevin , Hodgkinson Suzanne M. , Stroebinger Natascha , Moughan Paul J.
Published: October 2023

This study evaluated the importance of a correction for amino acids (AA) released into the hindgut on a measure of AA absorption kinetics and tested whether AA absorption kinetics are related to the extent of AA absorption using the growing pig as a model for humans. Thirty-six nine-week-old pigs (22·3 kg) received a diet containing whey protein as the sole protein source for 8 d. Pigs received their last meal containing the indigestible marker titanium dioxide before being euthanised at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 h post-feeding. The entire content of each gastrointestinal tract (GIT) region was collected to determine AA released into the hindgut, and the kinetics and extent of AA absorption (uncorrected and corrected for AA entering the hindgut). Amounts of AA released into the hindgut increased over time (e.g. 33 and 180 mg of Glu for 4 and 6 h post-feeding). The corrected apparent amount of each AA absorbed from the GIT lumen after 4 h post-feeding was generally lower (P ≤ 0·05) than the uncorrected counterpart. Differences in both the kinetics and extent of AA absorption were observed across AA. For example, the time to reach half of the apparent AA absorption (T50) was 1·5 and 3·4 h for Met and Arg, respectively, whereas their extent of apparent absorption was 93 and 73 %. Negative correlations between parameters related to kinetics and the extent of apparent absorption were observed (e.g. for T50 r = −0·81; P < 0·001). The kinetics of AA absorption is related to the extent of AA absorption.
On the Pluralist Critique of Authority
Authors: Fives Allyn
Published: October 2023

The moral problem of authority can be expressed as follows: how can authority, and the deference it entails, be compatible with freedom and rationality? The pluralist approach separates political obligation from authority. For pluralists, authority is both unjustifiable and unnecessary, and so legitimate political obligation, including the duty to obey the law, does not entail deference. I argue that it is possible to retain the pluralist commitment to plural grounds of legitimacy, while rebutting the pluralist objections to authority. As a result, whenever authority does have legitimacy, the moral question of authority will demand an answer.
Nutritional and health benefits and risks of plant-based substitute foods
Authors: Mariotti François
Published: October 2023

Plant-based substitutes (PBS) are seen as a convenient way to transition to a more plant-based diet, but their potential health benefits and nutritional concerns remain debated. Based on a review of the literature, it is concluded here that the primary risk of insufficient nutrient intake with PBS concerns iron and calcium, which are critical to the nutritional value of PBS. Other risks were identified but these would depend on the characteristics of the overall diet, as is the case for iodine in a diet containing no seafood or dairy, and vitamin B12 in a vegetarian/vegan diet. Conversely, the use of PBS is also expected to confer some benefits for long-term health because it would result in higher fibre intakes (in the case of meat PBS) and lower SFA intakes (but higher PUFA/MUFA intakes), but attention should be paid to a potential increase in sodium intake with PBS of meat products. In fact, a recurring finding in this review was that PBS is a very heterogeneous food category involving considerable variations in ingredient and nutrient composition, and whose design could be improved in order to foster nutritional and health benefits. The latter also depend on the animal food that is being replaced and are only deemed likely when PBS replace red meat. The fortification of PBS with key nutrients such as iron and calcium may constitute an actionable public health solution to further shift the balance in favour of PBS in the context of the current dietary transition in western countries.
Assessing evidence supporting cannabis harm reduction practices for adolescents at clinical high-risk for psychosis: a review and clinical implementation tool
Authors: Kapler Simon , Adery Laura , Hoftman Gil D. , Amir Carolyn M. , Grigoryan Vardui , Cooper Ziva D. , Bearden Carrie E.
Published: October 2023

Cannabis use is consistently associated with both increased incidence of frank psychotic disorders and acute exacerbations of psychotic symptoms in healthy individuals and people with psychosis spectrum disorders. Although there is uncertainty around causality, cannabis use may be one of a few modifiable risk factors for conversion to psychotic disorders in individuals with Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) syndromes, characterized by functionally impairing and distressing subthreshold psychotic symptoms. To date, few recommendations beyond abstinence to reduce adverse psychiatric events associated with cannabis use have been made. This narrative review synthesizes existing scientific literature on cannabis' acute psychotomimetic effects and epidemiological associations with psychotic disorders in both CHR-P and healthy individuals to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical mental health intervention. There is compelling evidence for cannabis acutely exacerbating psychotic symptoms in CHR-P, but its impact on conversion to psychotic disorder is unclear. Current evidence supports a harm reduction approach in reducing frequency of acute psychotic-like experiences, though whether such interventions decrease CHR-P individuals' risk of conversion to psychotic disorder remains unknown. Specific recommendations include reducing frequency of use, lowering delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content in favor of cannabidiol-only products, avoiding products with inconsistent potency like edibles, enhancing patient-provider communication about cannabis use and psychotic-like experiences, and utilizing a collaborative and individualized therapeutic approach. Despite uncertainty surrounding cannabis' causal association with psychotic disorders, cautious attempts to reduce acute psychosis risk may benefit CHR-P individuals uninterested in abstinence. Further research is needed to clarify practices associated with minimization of cannabis-related psychosis risk.
Per Nørgård's Tragic Vision: A Comparison of Gilgamesh (1972) and Nuit des hommes (1996)
Authors: Wiener Barry
Published: October 2023

The operas of Per Nørgård (b. 1932) embody a search for hidden wisdom and spiritual transcendence characteristic of artists who came to maturity during the 1960s. Gilgamesh (1972) and Nuit des hommes (1996) can be perceived as mirror images that embody visions of universal harmony and discord, and of spiritual wholeness and disintegration. This article analyses Nørgård's use of mythic paradigms and Jungian archetypes to structure the operas. It also examines Nørgård's use of dialectical polarities, including creation and death, the human and the divine, and self and others. In particular, it discusses two concepts derived from the work of Joseph Campbell, the ‘hero's journey’ and the ‘cosmogonic cycle’, linking them to Jung's theory of individuation. While Gilgamesh embodies a successful realisation of the hero's journey, the characters in Nuit des hommes become directionless wayfarers in a hostile world.