bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MULHERES INTERESSADAS EM POLÍTICA: EVIDÊNCIAS DE UM GRUPO DE CANDIDATAS A CANDIDATAS
Authors: Thome Debora
Published: June 2022

O Brasil registra o pior índice de presença feminina na Câmara dos Deputados entre os países latino-americanos. Diversos são os trabalhos que tentam explicar as múltiplas razões para esta baixa representação de mulheres entre as pessoas eleitas, a despeito de vários fatores que deveriam propiciar maior representação feminina. Esta pesquisa se vale de um survey inédito (n=132) e entrevistas em profundidade, ambas realizadas com participantes de um treinamento para mulheres com interesse em se candidatar, que ocorreu em 14 cidades do país, com financiamento da antiga Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres (SPM). O principal objetivo é entender o perfil destas candidatas a candidatas, sua atuação política e o que as motiva ou as afeta na decisão de concorrer a um cargo eletivo. Argumento que a mulher ainda é vista como pária na política, sobretudo na sua relação com os partidos.Palavras-chave: Mulher e política – Viés de gênero – Representação – Partidos – Ambição Política
Patricia Paperman e uma defesa epistemológica da perspectiva do cuidado para a teoria social
Authors: Quagliato Henrique
Published: June 2022

A presente resenha se refere à tradução de Cuidado y Sentimentos, escrito por Patricia Paerman e traduzido para o espanhol em 2019, através da Fundación Medifé Edita. Ao longo do texto, a autora recupera algumas das possibilidades epistêmicas contidas na inauguração do cuidado como perspectiva de análise útil para as Ciências Sociais. Paperman se foca especialmente sobre cuidado como um tema que partilha de um fôlego semelhante àquele que deu impulso à crítica dos modelos objetivistas e ciência, pensando a partir da da valorização da experiência das mulheres como fator epistemológico importante para a construção de conhecimento.
#HASHTAG-SE: MAPEANDO O FEMINISMO NEGRO E O NET-ATIVISMO BRASILEIRO
Authors: Conceição Leydiane Ribeiro da , Emmendoerfer Magnus Luiz
Published: June 2022

O objetivo do artigo é compreender a relação entre movimento feminista negro brasileiro e net-ativismo através de uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Buscou-se artigos científicos nas bases de dados: Web of Science; Scielo e Scopus, a partir dos descritores "Social Movement", "Black Feminism", "internet" e “Brazil”, no título, resumo ou palavras-chave. Aplicou-se análise de conteúdo categorial e temática para discussão dos dados. Os resultados demonstram, a despeito do reduzido número de publicações sobre o tema, o reconhecimento do potencial da hashtag na internet como meio de comunicação para movimentos sociais, enquanto traz o lado obscuro que as mídias digitais podem gerar nessa forma de ativismo digital. Contudo, o #Hashtag-se analisado é uma forma democrática de se garantir maior empoderamento feminino, inclusive negro, sobre seus direitos.
Apresentação do Dossiê: Partidos Políticos, Gênero e Raça: ESTUDOS E DEBATES SOBRE ESTRUTURAS INTERNAS, ELEIÇÕES E REPRESENTAÇÃO POLÍTICA
Authors: Sacchet Teresa , Rezende Daniela
Published: June 2022

NSA
POLITICAL PARTIES AND WOMEN ‘S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS IN WEST AFRICA
Authors: Aderayo Adebajo Adeola
Published: June 2022

Women in African states have contributed immensely to nation-building and socio-economic

development of their various societies. Despite, it has not translated into more women

occupying political leadership positions in West Africa. The article critically analysed the role

political parties play in preventing women from occupying political leadership positions.

Political parties in some West African states are not committed to gender equality as leadership

structure, nomination of candidates and campaign financing are biased against women. Lack

of internal democracy and male-style politics dominate party affairs which limit women

participation in politics and a confrontational approach instead of seeking collaboration and

consensus is also relevant for understanding this scenario. Patriarchy dominates the activities

of political parties thereby limiting women which further perpetuate gender inequality in

politics. It recommended that political parties should implement proportional

representation/quota system to encourage more women to contest for elective posts.
Effectiveness and Safety of Tofacitinib in Canadian Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Primary Results From a Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Haraoui Boulos , Khraishi Majed , Choquette Denis , Lisnevskaia Larissa , Teo Michelle , Kinch Cassandra , Galos Corina , Roy Patrice , Gruben David , Woolcott John C. , Vaillancourt Julie , Sampalis John S. , Keystone Edward C. ,   Canadian Tofacitinib for Rheumatoid Arthritis Observational Investigators
Published: June 2022

Objective

The Canadian Tofacitinib for Rheumatoid Arthritis Observational (CANTORAL) is the first Canadian prospective, observational study assessing tofacitinib. The objective was to assess effectiveness and safety for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Coprimary and secondary outcomes are reported from an interim analysis.

Methods

Patients initiating tofacitinib from October 2017 to July 2020 were enrolled from 45 Canadian sites. Coprimary outcomes (month 6) included the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)–defined low disease activity (LDA) and remission. Secondary outcomes (to month 18) included the CDAI and the 4‐variable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)/C‐reactive protein (CRP) level to define LDA and remission; the proportions of patients achieving mild pain (visual analog scale <20 mm), and moderate (≥30%) and substantial (≥50%) pain improvements; and the proportions of patients achieving a Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ DI) score greater or equal to  normative values (≤0.25) and a HAQ DI score greater or equal to minimum clinically important difference (MCID) (≥0.22). Safety was assessed to month 36.

Results

Of 504 patients initiating tofacitinib, 44.4% received concomitant methotrexate. At month 6, 52.9% and 15.4% of patients were in CDAI‐defined LDA and remission, respectively; a similar proportion of patients achieved outcomes by month 3 (first post‐baseline assessment). By month 3, 27.2% and 41.7% of patients, respectively, were in DAS28‐ESR–defined LDA and DAS28‐CRP <3.2; 14.7% and 25.8% achieved DAS28‐ESR remission and DAS28‐CRP <2.6. By month 3, mild pain and moderate and substantial pain improvements occurred in 29.6%, 55.6%, and 42.9% of patients, respectively; 19.9% and 53.7% of patients achieved a HAQ DI score greater than or equal to normative values and a HAQ DI score greater than or equal to MCID, respectively. Outcomes were generally maintained to month 18. Incidence rates (events per 100 patient‐years) for treatment‐emergent adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and discontinuations due to AEs were 126.8, 11.9, and 14.5, respectively, and AEs of special interest were infrequent.

Conclusion

Tofacitinib was associated with early and sustained improvement in RA signs and symptoms in real‐world patients. Effectiveness and safety were consistent with the established tofacitinib clinical profile.
Polygrammar: Grammar for Digital Polymer Representation and Generation
Authors: Guo Minghao , Shou Wan , Makatura Liane , Erps Timothy , Foshey Michael , Matusik Wojciech
Published: June 2022

Polymers are widely studied materials with diverse properties and applications determined by molecular structures. It is essential to represent these structures clearly and explore the full space of achievable chemical designs. However, existing approaches cannot offer comprehensive design models for polymers because of their inherent scale and structural complexity. Here, a parametric, context‐sensitive grammar designed specifically for polymers (PolyGrammar) is proposed. Using the symbolic hypergraph representation and 14 simple production rules, PolyGrammar can represent and generate all valid polyurethane structures. An algorithm is presented to translate any polyurethane structure from the popular Simplified Molecular‐Input Line‐entry System (SMILES) string format into the PolyGrammar representation. The representative power of PolyGrammar is tested by translating a dataset of over 600 polyurethane samples collected from the literature. Furthermore, it is shown that PolyGrammar can be easily extended to other copolymers and homopolymers. By offering a complete, explicit representation scheme and an explainable generative model with validity guarantees, PolyGrammar takes an essential step toward a more comprehensive and practical system for polymer discovery and exploration. As the first bridge between formal languages and chemistry, PolyGrammar also serves as a critical blueprint to inform the design of similar grammars for other chemistries, including organic and inorganic molecules.
Flow and heat transfer characteristics of a fractal microchannel heat sink with three‐dimensional fractal tail
Authors: Tang Zhibo , Sun Liang , Qi Cong , Wang Yuwei , Chen Lanqi
Published: June 2022

In order to solve the problem of weak heat transfer capacity on the peripheral part of the disk‐shaped fractal microchannel heat sink (FMHS), different from the traditional plane fractal, a higher‐order fractal was carried out at the end of the fractal microchannel, and the end of the microchannel was transformed into a three‐dimensional fractal to strengthen the heat transfer in the peripheral part of the FMHS. Different forms of bionic FMHSs were established based on the fractal number and fractal topology at the tail, and the flow and heat transfer characteristics of different fractals were studied. The results showed that with the increase of fractal number, the pressure drop is increased by 5.96–8.29%, the heat transfer effect is enhanced, the surface temperature of the FMHS gradually decreases, and the temperature uniformity is improved. For each topological relationship and fractal number, the heat transfer capacity of the four fractals microchannel with B‐type topological relationship is the strongest, and the comprehensive performance index can reach 1.29 (Re = 200).
Conjugated microporous polymer‐coated sponges for effectively removal of oils and trace aromatic pollutions in water
Authors: Hasi Qi‐Meige , Guo Yuping , Wang Shanshan , Yu Jiale , Han Zhichao , Xiao Chaohu , Zhang Yuhan , Chen Lihua
Published: June 2022

Efficient elimination of organics or oils in water has become a global concern due to their severely environmental pollution. In this work, two kinds of absorbents based on the doping of conjugated microporous polymers onto sponges (CMPs@sponges) were prepared by in situ Sonogashira‐Hagihara coupling reaction of the monomers in the presence of melamine sponge. The as‐synthesized CMPs@sponges possess excellent thermal and physicochemical stability. Owing to the excellent hydrophobic character of the CMPs@sponges, which exhibit high oil/water separation efficiency through adsorption process. The CMPs@sponges show desirable ability for the adsorption of oils and organic solvents with the values of 24–64 g/g and 13–36 g/g, and the adsorption properties remain unchanged after 10 cycles with excellent cycling stability. Even the CMPs@sponges are immersed in different pH solutions, which still maintain their original superhydrophobicity. In addition, CMPs@sponges can constantly separate and recover oil and organic solvent based on the help of vacuum pump, and the separation efficiency still remained above 95% after 10 repetitions. It was worth noting that the CMPs@sponges can remove not only the organic solvents but also the trace benzene contaminants from water, and with the removal rate of more than 85%. Furthermore, the as‐synthesized CMPs@sponges possess high oil/water separation properties that may be attributed to the physical adsorption, and the π‐π interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, due to the designable flexibility of CMPs, which make the CMPs‐based novel materials are excepted to an excellent candidate for applications of oil/water separation and water purification.
Solvent‐free, B(C6F5)3‐Catalyzed S−H Insertion of Thiophenols and Thiols with α‐Diazoesters
Authors: Wang Peng , Gong Yulin , Wang Xiaoyu , Ren Yangqing , Wang Lei , Zhai Lele , Li Huilin , She Xuegong
Published: June 2022

Described herein is a B(C6F5)3‐catalyzed S−H insertion reaction of thiophenols and thiols with α‐diazoesters to access valuable α‐thioesters. With the established protocol, an array of α‐thioester products are generated in moderate to good yields with broad scope and functional group tolerance. In addition, this reaction maintains its high efficiency on gram scale and the product can be easily transformed into other useful motifs. This reaction proceeds under solvent‐free conditions at room temperature, and generally finishes in twenty minutes upon magnet stirring, which offers an expedient way for the synthesis of thioether‐containing compounds.
Enzyme‐Powered Micro/Nanomotors for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Wang Xi , Zhang Dang , Bai Yu , Zhang Jian , Wang Lei
Published: June 2022

The incidence and lethal rate of cancers are rapidly rising recently, however current treatments of cancers, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, usually require long treatment period and have more side effects and high recurrence rate. Enzyme‐powered micro/nanomotors (EMNMs), with powerful self‐propulsion, enhanced permeability and good biocompatibility, have shown great potential in crossing biological barrier and targeted drug transportation for cancer treatment; moreover, advanced approaches based on EMNMs such as photothermal therapy and starvation therapy have also been widely explored in cancer treatment. Although there are several review works discussing the progress of micro/nanomotors for biomedical applications, there is not one review paper with the focus on the cancer treatment based on EMNMs. Therefore, in this review, we try to concisely and timely summarize the recent progress of cancer treatment based on enzyme‐driven micro/nanomotors, such as brain tumors, bladder cancer, breast cancer and others. Finally, the challenges and outlook of cancer therapy based on EMNMs are discussed, hoping to provide fundamental guidance for the future development.
Characterization of rare histological subtypes of ovarian cancer based on molecular profiling
Authors: Takahashi Nobutaka , Hatakeyama Keiichi , Nagashima Takeshi , Ohshima Keiichi , Urakami Kenichi , Yamaguchi Ken , Hirashima Yasuyuki
Published: June 2022

Objective

Pan‐cancer analysis across The Cancer Genome Atlas has revealed the molecular profiles of major types of carcinomas. High‐grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) have been characterized; however, in ovarian cancer, the profile of carcinoma with minor histopathological changes remains unclear. This study aimed to perform the molecular profiling of rare malignant ovarian tumors, including non‐epithelial tumors (NETs; germ cell tumors and sex cord tumors) and clear cell carcinoma (CCC), to determine how they differ from the major HGSCs.

Methods

Sixty‐nine malignant ovarian tumors surgically resected at the Shizuoka Cancer Center between January 2014 and March 2019 were classified based on their histopathological types. The germline and somatic mutations in these carcinomas, including NETs, were determined using next‐generation sequencing. Gene expression analysis was performed to investigate the major pathways of drug resistance, which is a characteristic of CCC.

Results

NETs harbored copy‐neutral loss of heterozygosity, accompanied by a high homologous recombination deficiency score; germline mutations of PALB2 and BARD1 were identified in two patients with NET. In chemoresistant CCC, the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition pathway was activated regardless of ABC transporter expression.

Conclusion

This study revealed some genomic characteristics of rare malignant ovarian tumors, including NETs and CCC.
Minimal‐Invasive Method for the Evaluation of Liquid Fractions in Foams with a Point Level Sensor
Authors: Staud Rolf , Heller Daniel , Knüpfer Leon , Heitkam Sascha , Einfalt Daniel , Jasch Katharina , Scholl Stephan
Published: June 2022

Liquid foams occur whether intentionally or unintentionally across different industrial sectors. The detection of foam and characterization of liquid content currently requires complex measurement methods such as electrical conductivity measurements. This paper presents a novel method for foam detection and characterization of its liquid fraction based on a capacitive level sensor. A correlation between the sensor output signal and defined liquid fractions of dry to wet foam indicated a high accuracy of this sensor technique. Regarding the sensor operation in different liquid solutions, a minimum screw‐in depth is presented. The sensor allows minimal invasive inline measurements in equipment regardless of the wall material and of extreme process conditions, e.g., explosion hazard areas.
Flexible Anpassungskünstler
Authors: Tetsch Larissa
Published: June 2022

Armfüßer sehen zwar aus wie Muscheln, sind aber mit diesen nicht näher verwandt. Ihr weiches Innenleben wird durch eine kalkhaltige, harte Schale geschützt. Unter Wasser zeigen diese Schalen jedoch ein gänzlich unerwartetes Verhalten: Sie werden biegsam und weich. Wie das möglich ist, zeigt ein Blick in die Feinstruktur der Schale.
Quantitative models for the inference of intratumor heterogeneity
Authors: van den Bosch Tom , Vermeulen Louis , Miedema Daniël M.
Published: June 2022

Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is an omnipresent property of cancers and predicts poor survival in most types of cancer. The propensity to metastasize and the regrowth of tumors after therapy are both associated with ITH. Quantification of the level of ITH in a malignancy is hence of great interest, and accurate inference of ITH could guide clinical decision making. However, ITH is an emergent property of billions of cells and requires mathematical modeling for inference from a limited number of measurements. Over the last decade, numerous mathematical and computational models have been introduced to infer ITH from variant‐allele frequencies, copy number variations, or from data of experimental model systems. These quantitative modeling efforts have advanced the understanding of tumor evolution, underlined poor prognosis associated with ITH, and elucidated the importance of functional heterogeneity, that is, cancer stem cells. Yet, a comprehensive overview of the different mathematical models, their underlying assumptions, their limitations, and their strengths is missing. In this Perspective, we highlight the achievements of mathematical modeling and present a framework which allows better understanding of the mathematical models themselves.
Design of ultra wideband power amplifier based on a refining of exact harmonic impedance space
Authors: Li Mingyu , Li Qing , Dai Zhijiang , Wang Peng
Published: June 2022

This paper introduces a new theory which can be applied for the design of over‐octave ultra‐wideband power amplifier (PA). In this methodology, the impedance space of the ultra‐wideband PA can be refined, and the fundamental and various harmonic impedances have the same impedance space. This theory solves the problem that the harmonic impedance is not located in the fundamental impedance space because of its pure reactance form in the traditional hybrid continuous mode. To verify this theory, an ultra‐wideband PA with operating frequency range of 0.5–3.0 GHz (relative bandwidth of 143%) has been designed and fabricated. The experimental results show that the saturated output power over the entire operating band is 38.6–42.4 dBm, the power gain is 10.2–14.6 dB, and the corresponding saturated drain efficiency is between 50.1% and 65.1%.
Effect of social instability stress in adolescence or adulthood on sensitivity to sucrose concentration in a social context in male and female Long‐Evans rats
Authors: Herlehy Racheal A. , Lim Stephanie , Murray Shealin H. , Baumbach Jennet L. , van Wingerden Marijn , McCormick Cheryl M.
Published: June 2022

Although there is evidence of sex differences in responding to social stress, and that age when stressed matters, females are understudied and adult‐stress comparisons are few. Here, we investigated stress effects on reward sensitivity by examining rats’ choice of social versus sucrose reward in a continuous spatial allocation design. We predicted social instability stress (SS) in adolescence would result in greater social discounting (spend less time near a novel peer when provided access to sucrose) relative to nonstressed controls (CTLs) and relative to SS in adulthood. All increased sucrose intake as the concentration increased, with no evidence of social discounting. SS males tested soon after the stress had a decrease in intake, whereas those tested long after had an increase in both time near the peer and in intake. CTL and SS females did not differ in intake, although their dose–response curves differed when tested soon after the SS. We also tested whether SS changed the stimulus value of the rat as a social peer; when tested in triads, CTL rats spent similar time in interaction with SS versus CTL rats. In sum, effects of SS on reward sensitivity were greater for males irrespective of administered in adolescence versus adulthood.
Socioeconomic status in early adolescence predicts blunted stress responses in adulthood
Authors: Loeb Emily L. , Gonzalez Marlen Z. , Hunt Gabrielle , Uchino Bert N. , de Grey Robert G. Kent , Allen Joseph P.
Published: June 2022

Individuals who grow up in families with lower socioeconomic status (SES) tend to experience disproportionate rates of chronic stress. The “freeze” response, characterized by blunted cardiovascular reactivity and reduced engagement with the environment, is associated with chronic stress and may be utilized when an individual is unable to escape or overcome environmental stressors. Using a diverse community sample of 184 adolescents followed from the age of 13 to 29 years, along with their friends and romantic partners, this study examined links between family SES and stress responses in adulthood. Low family SES at the age of 13 years directly predicted blunted heart rate responding and fewer attempts to answer math problems during a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Task at the age of 29 years. Indirect effects were found from low family SES to blunted respiratory sinus arrhythmia responding and the number of words spoken during a speech task. SES at the age of 29 years mediated many of these relations. Findings held after accounting for a number of potential confounds, including adolescent academic and attachment functioning and body mass index. We interpret these findings as evidence that low familial SES may predict freezing‐type responses in adulthood.
Spatial coherence and the persistence of high diversity in spatially heterogeneous landscapes
Authors: Vikrant Ankit , Pettersson Susanne , Nilsson Jacobi Martin
Published: June 2022

Our planet hosts a variety of highly diverse ecosystems. The persistence of high diversity is generally attributed to factors such as the structure of interactions among species and the dispersal of species in metacommunities. Here, we show that large contiguous landscapes—that are characterized by high dispersal—facilitate high species richness due to the spatial heterogeneity in interspecies interactions. We base our analysis on metacommunities under high dispersal where species densities become equal across habitats (spatially coherent). We find that the spatially coherent metacommunity can be represented by an effective species interaction‐web that has a significantly lower complexity than the constituent habitats. Our framework also explains how spatial heterogeneity eliminates differences in the effective interaction‐web, providing a basis for deviations from the area‐heterogeneity tradeoff. These results highlight the often‐overlooked case of high dispersal where spatial coherence provides a novel mechanism for supporting high diversity in large heterogeneous landscapes.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Need for a Meaningful Regulatory Plant Protection Product Testing Strategy
Authors: Sweeney Christopher J. , Bottoms Melanie , Ellis Sian , Ernst Gregor , Kimmel Stefan , Loutseti Stefania , Schimera Agnes , Carniel Leticia Scopel Camargo , Sharples Amanda , Staab Frank , Marx Michael T.
Published: June 2022

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) perform key soil ecosystem services and, because of their symbiotic relationship with plant roots, may be exposed to the plant protection products (PPPs) applied to soils and crops. In 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a scientific opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of PPPs for in-soil organisms, recommending the inclusion of AMF ecotoxicological testing in the PPP regulatory process. However, it is not clear how this can be implemented in a tiered, robust, and ecologically relevant manner. Through a critical review of current literature, we examine the recommendations made within the EFSA report and the methodologies available to integrate AMF into the PPP risk assessment and provide perspective and commentary on their agronomic and ecological relevance. We conclude that considerable research questions remain to be addressed prior to the inclusion of AMF into the in-soil organism risk assessment, many of which stem from the unique challenges associated with including an obligate symbiont within the PPP risk assessment. Finally, we highlight critical knowledge gaps and the further research required to enable development of relevant, reliable, and robust scientific tests alongside pragmatic and scientifically sound guidance to ensure that any future risk-assessment paradigm is adequately protective of the ecosystem services it aims to preserve. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1808–1823. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
National characterization of pesticide runoff and erosion potential to put USEPA standard ecological scenarios in context for pyrethroids
Authors: Ritter Amy , Desmarteau Dean , Hendley Paul , Holmes Christopher M.
Published: June 2022

Decision-making for pesticide registration by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) relies upon crop-specific scenarios in a tiered framework. These standard modeling scenarios are stated to represent “…sites expected to produce runoff greater than would be expected at 90% of the sites for a given crop/use.” This study developed a novel approach to compare the pesticide runoff + erosion (SumRE) mass flux potential of a hydrophobic chemical using 36 of these ecological regulatory scenarios with national-scale distributions of modeled SumRE from over 750 000 USA-wide agricultural catchments to provide real-world context for the simulated transport predictions used for regulatory decision-making. For the standard scenarios and national scale modeling, “edge of field” SumRE mass flux was estimated using regulatory guidance for a hypothetical pyrethroid. The national-scale simulations were developed using publicly available soil, hydrography, and crop occurrence /regional timings databases. Relevant soil and crop combinations identified by spatial overlay along with weather data were used in a regulatory model to generate daily SumRE estimates, which were assigned to the catchments. The resulting average annual total SumRE mass fluxes were ranked to produce distributions to compare with the standard regulatory scenario outputs. These comparisons showed that SumRE flux from 25 of the 36 USEPA ecological regulatory crop-specific scenarios modeled ranked above the 99th percentile of pyrethroid runoff + erosion vulnerability from any catchment growing that crop; SumRE flux from six scenarios was more severe than any catchment. For 12 USEPA regulatory scenarios, the resulting eroded sediment corresponds to highly erodible land (HEL), which the US Department of Agriculture mandates should not be cropped without substantial additional erosion prevention controls for sustainability. Since the pesticide regulatory framework already incorporates many acknowledged assumptions to ensure it conservatively meets protection goals, these HEL observations suggest that the standard scenarios overestimate potential aquatic exposure and that the regulatory process is more protective than intended. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:175–190. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Personality and demographic characteristics of parents who occasionally use psychoactive substances
Authors: Neeman‐Haviv Vered , Wilchek‐Aviad Yael
Published: June 2022

Although parenting is considered a turning point that reduces non‐normative behaviours, some parents choose to occasionally continue using various drugs. The present study examines the personality and demographic characteristics of these parents by comparing three parent groups: those who do not use at all, those who use only cannabis and those who use other substances. Three self‐report quantitative questionnaires: Demographic, Patterns of use of psychoactive substances and the Big Five Personality traits questionnaire, were administered to 627 parents. The findings show that the proportion of unmarried and secular men is higher in the group of parents who use substances. They also were found to be younger and less educated than the other parent's groups. We examined the parents' personality characteristics using the Big Five model and found that parents who use substances occasionally exhibit higher levels of extraversion and openness to experiences, and lower levels of conscience. The differences found in the characteristics of parents who use cannabis to those who use other substances, indicate the normativeness of cannabis use among parents, and reflect the need for intervention programs among parents who use substances, which may have a great influence on drug use among their children.
Toward a cochlear implant electrode array with shape memory effect for post‐insertion perimodiolar positioning
Authors: Rau Thomas S. , Ehmann Tim , Zuniga M. Geraldine , Plaskonka Katarzyna , Keck Andreas , Majdani Omid , Lenarz Thomas
Published: June 2022

For cochlear implants (CI) a final position of the electrode array (EA) along the inner wall of the spirally shaped cochlea is considered to be beneficial because it results in a closer proximity to the auditory nerve fibers. A shape memory effect (SME) could facilitate such shift of the EA toward the cochlear inner wall, but its implementation remains to be solved. The current study presents an EA prototype featuring the SME with minute adjustments of the material properties of Nitinol, a shape memory alloy, in combination with a suitable cooling strategy to prevent premature curling. Ten samples were successfully inserted by a CI surgeon into an artificial cochlear model submerged into a temperature‐controllable water bath to simulate temporary hypothermia of the inner ear (31°C). Gentle insertions were possible, with an average insertion speed of 0.81 ± 0.14 mm/s. After recovery of body temperature, the desired position shift toward the modiolus was observed in all trials. Angular insertion depth increased by approximately 81.8° ± 23.4°. We demonstrate for the first time that using the body temperature responsive SME for perimodiolar EA positioning is feasible and does not impede a gentle surgical insertion.
Electrospun PMMA fibers blended with core‐shell PCM/PS microspheres for thermal regulating applications
Authors: Chang Kai‐Jie , Chen Huan‐Ru , Hsu Hsun‐Hao , Kao Tzu‐Hsun , Lo Tse‐Yu , Lin Huan‐Wei , Chen Jiun‐Tai
Published: June 2022

Phase changing materials (PCMs) have been widely investigated because of their unique properties and applications. In recent years, PCMs have been embedded into polymer fibers for thermal regulating purposes. The PCM‐containing polymer fibers, however, usually suffer the leakage problem because PCMs are not covered well by polymers in fibers. To solve this problem, in this study, we develop a facile strategy to fabricate PCM‐containing polymer fibers without the leakage problem. The PCM/polystyrene (PS) core‐shell microspheres are first prepared by suspension polymerization, in which n‐hexadecane is used as the PCM. By blending the PCM/PS microspheres into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solutions, The PMMA fibers blended with core‐shell PCM/PS microspheres can be prepared via electrospinning. Acetic acid is chosen as the solvent, which can selectively dissolve PMMA and cannot dissolve PS. Therefore, the morphologies of the core‐shell PCM/PS microspheres can be maintained during the electrospinning processes. The microspheres and fibers are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermal imaging results demonstrate that the PCM‐containing fibers can effectively regulate temperatures and fibers with higher contents of PCM exhibit better thermal regulating behaviors. Repeated thermal regulating experiments are also conducted for up to 4 cycles.
Heterogeneity assessment of vaccine‐induced effects using point‐of‐care surrogate neutralization test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Authors: Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Matsuba Ikuro , Watanabe Karin , Kunishima Tomoyuki , Takechi Yukako , Takuma Tetsuo , Araki Yasushi , Hirotsu Nobuo , Sakai Hiroyuki , Oikawa Ritsuko , Danno Hiroki , Fukuda Masakazu , Futagami Seiji , Wada Kota , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Itoh Fumio , Oda Ichiro , Hatori Yutaka , Degawa Hisakazu
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has become a global pandemic even after vaccination. We aimed to identify immunological heterogeneity over time in vaccinated healthcare workers using neutralization antibodies and neutralizing activity tests.

Methods

Serum samples were collected from 214 healthcare workers before vaccination (pre) and on days 22, 90, and 180 after receiving the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine (day 0). Neutralization antibody (NAb, SARS‐CoV‐2 S‐RBD IgM/IgG) titers and two kinds of surrogate virus neutralization tests (sVNTs) were analyzed (UMIN000043851).

Results

The NAb (SARS‐CoV‐2 S‐RBD IgG) titer peaked on day 90 after vaccination (30,808.0 μg/ml ± 35,211; p < 0.0001) and declined on day 180 (11,678.0 μg/ml ± 33,770.0; p < 0.0001). The neutralizing activity also peaked on day 90 and declined with larger individual differences than those of IgG titer on day 180 (88.9% ± 15.0%, 64.8% ± 23.7%, p < 0.0001). We also found that the results of POCT‐sVNT (immunochromatography) were highly correlated with those of conventional sVNT (ELISA).

Conclusions

Neutralizing activity is the gold standard for vaccine efficacy evaluation. Our results using conventional sVNT showed large individual differences in neutralizing activity reduction on day 180 (64.8% ± 23.7%), suggesting an association with the difference in vaccine efficacy. POCT‐sVNT is rapid and user‐friendly; it might be used for triage in homes, isolation facilities, and event venues without restrictions on the medical testing environment.
The impact of emergency remote learning on students in engineering and computer science in the United States: An analysis of four universities
Authors: Casper A. M. Aramati , Rambo‐Hernandez Karen E. , Park Seoyeon , Atadero Rebecca A.
Published: June 2022

Background

In Spring 2020, the COVID‐19 pandemic sent universities into emergency remote education. The pandemic has been disruptive but offers the opportunity to learn about ways to support students in other situations where abrupt changes to teaching and learning are necessary.

Purpose/Hypothesis

We described the responses of engineering and computer science students to a series of prompts about their experiences with remote learning.

Design/Method

Data about students' remote learning experiences were collected from undergraduate engineering and computer science students at four different universities through an end‐of‐semester survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and qualitative responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis through the lenses of master narrative theory and sociocultural theory.

Results

Student responses revealed how their individual circumstances combined to reduce motivation, create home environments detrimental to completing schoolwork, and increase stress. Many students described the negative impacts of remote learning, but some students found positive aspects of the situation. The majority of students did not indicate a change in their desire or plans to pursue engineering or computer science majors.

Conclusions

There was wide variation in how students experienced the disruption to university learning during Spring 2020. Implications of this paper can help not only in cases where emergency remote learning is needed in the future but also as universities seek to return to “normal” operations in 2022 and beyond.
Evaluating old truths: Final adult size in holometabolous insects is set by the end of larval development
Authors: Hanna Lisa , Lamouret Tom , Poças Gonçalo M. , Mirth Christen K. , Moczek Armin P. , Nijhout Frederik H. , Abouheif Ehab
Published: June 2022

For centuries, it has been understood that the final size of adult holometabolous insects is determined by the end of the larval stage, and that once they transform to adults, holometabolous insects do not grow. Despite this, no previous study has directly tested these “old truths” across holometabolous insects. Here, we demonstrate that final adult size is set at the end of the last larval stage in species representing each of the four orders of holometabolous insects: the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera), the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera), the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus (Coleoptera), and the Florida carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus (Hymenoptera). Furthermore, in both D. melanogaster and C. floridanus, we show that the size of adult individuals fluctuates but does not significantly change. Therefore, our study finally confirms these two basic assumptions in the biology of insects, which have for centuries served as the foundation for studies of insect growth, size, and allometry.
Reducing intergroup anxiety: Applying an imagined contact intervention with counselors‐in‐training
Authors: Malott Krista M. , Wahesh Edward , Moreton Amanda , Crawford Emily
Published: June 2022

This study assessed the impacts of an (elaborated) imagined contact intervention (eICI) with graduate‐level counseling students (N = 38) in a multicultural counseling course. Participant levels of intergroup anxiety were assessed, comparing those who completed an eICI versus those who did not. Intergroup anxiety decreased for both groups over time, albeit with a greater immediate reduction for those who received the ICI. Qualitative commentary suggests specific student learning from the activity.
Space flight and central nervous system: Friends or enemies? Challenges and opportunities for neuroscience and neuro‐oncology
Authors: Marfia Giovanni , Navone Stefania Elena , Guarnaccia Laura , Campanella Rolando , Locatelli Marco , Miozzo Monica , Perelli Pietro , Della Morte Giulio , Catamo Leonardo , Tondo Pietro , Campanella Carmelo , Lucertini Marco , Ciniglio Appiani Giuseppe , Landolfi Angelo , Garzia Emanuele
Published: June 2022

Space environment provides many challenges to pilots, astronauts, and space scientists, which are constantly subjected to unique conditions, including microgravity, radiations, hypoxic condition, absence of the day and night cycle, etc. These stressful stimuli have the potential to affect many human physiological systems, triggering physical and biological adaptive changes to re‐establish the homeostatic state. A particular concern regards the risks for the effects of spaceflight on the central nervous system (CNS), as several lines of evidence reported a great impact on neuroplasticity, cognitive functions, neurovestibular system, short‐term memory, cephalic fluid shift, reduction in motor function, and psychological disturbances, especially during long‐term missions. Aside these potential detrimental effects, the other side of the coin reflects the potential benefit of applicating space‐related conditions on Earth‐based life sciences, as cancer research. Here, we focused on examining the effect of real and simulated microgravity on CNS functions, both in humans and in cellular models, browsing the different techniques to experience or mime microgravity on‐ground. Increasing evidence demonstrate that cancer cells, and brain cancer cells in particular, are negatively affected by microgravity, in terms of alteration in cell morphology, proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis, representing an advancing novel side of space‐based investigations. Overall, deeper understandings about the mechanisms by which space environment influences CNS and tumor biology may be promisingly translated into many clinical fields, ranging from aerospace medicine to neuroscience and oncology, representing an enormous pool of knowledge for the implementation of countermeasures and therapeutic applications.
Extension of the Tricomi problem for a loaded parabolic–hyperbolic equation with a characteristic line of change of type
Authors: Baltaeva Umida , Agarwal Praveen , Momani Shaher
Published: June 2022

In this work, we investigate a generalization of the Tricomi problem for a loaded mixed‐type equation with the Riemann–Liouville fractional differential operator. By using the method of integral equations, a unique solvability of the formulated problem given in piecewise non‐parallel characteristics is proven.
Modeling the influence of health education on individual behavior in the process of disease transmission
Authors: Cheng Guangyi , Wang Ning , Qi Longxing
Published: June 2022

Health education directly affects the different behaviors of individuals who visit and do not visit after illness by reporting the number of patients and their changing rate. As a result, visiting and non‐visiting patients have different infection rates, cure rates, and disease‐related mortality. In response to this impact, this article establishes a model to further analyze the impact of health education on the spread of diseases. We divide patients into visiting and non‐visiting patients and introduce a weighting function that depends on the number of visiting patients and their changing rate. We constructs an implicit differential equations and use the properties of Lambert W function and its inverse function to transform it into piecewise smooth systems with explicit definitions. According to the analysis method of switched system, the two subsystems are analyzed qualitatively. The results show that health education cannot affect the basic reproduction number of disease transmission, but it causes the system to produce many types of equilibria. In addition, the difference in the healing rate and self‐healing rate between visiting and non‐visiting patients will affect the number of visiting and non‐visiting patients and the stability of the equilibria. Moreover, the system will generate fold branch. In addition, the patient's healing/self‐healing rate and the implementation of health education will affect the appearance of virtual or false equilibrium. Numerical simulation and sensitivity analysis further confirm that the total number of visiting and non‐visiting patients will decrease with the increase of health education. Finally, our research results show that health education can reduce the infection rate only if there are enough susceptible people receiving health education.
Estimation of treatment effects in short‐term depression studies. An evaluation based on the ICH E9(R1) estimands framework
Authors: Mitroiu Marian , Teerenstra Steven , Oude Rengerink Katrien , Pétavy Frank , Roes Kit C. B.
Published: June 2022

Estimands aim to incorporate intercurrent events in design, data collection and estimation of treatment effects in clinical trials. Our aim was to understand what estimands may correspond to efficacy analyses commonly employed in clinical trials conducted before publication of ICH E9(R1). We re‐analysed six clinical trials evaluating a new anti‐depression treatment. We selected the following analysis methods—ANCOVA on complete cases, following last observation carried forward (LOCF) imputation and following multiple imputation; mixed‐models for repeated measurements without imputation (MMRM), MMRM following LOCF imputation and following jump‐to‐reference imputation; and pattern‐mixture mixed models. We included a principal stratum analysis based on the predicted subset of the study population who would not discontinue due to adverse events or lack of efficacy. We translated each analysis into the implicitly targeted estimand, and formulated corresponding clinical questions. We could map six estimands to analysis methods. The same analysis method could be mapped to more than one estimand. The major difference between estimands was the strategy for intercurrent events, with other attributes mostly the same across mapped estimands. The quantitative differences in MADRS10 population‐level summaries between the estimands were 4–8 points. Not all six estimands had a clinically meaningful interpretation. Only a few analyses would target the same estimand, hence only few could be used as sensitivity analyses. The fact that an analysis could estimate different estimands emphasises the importance of prospectively defining the estimands targeting the primary objective of a trial. The fact that an estimand can be targeted by different analyses emphasises the importance of prespecifying precisely the estimator for the targeted estimand.
Multiple endotracheal metastases of combined small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Sugino Keishi , Ono Hirotaka , Ando Masahiro , Kobayashi Miho , Igarashi Seiji , Tsuboi Eiyasu
Published: June 2022

Key message

We report a very rare case of combined small cell lung carcinoma (C‐SCLC) which presented as persistent cough and was due to endotracheal metastases. Clinicians should be aware of this unusual site of metastases from a C‐SCLC.
Precision forceps tracking and localisation using a Kalman filter for continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis
Authors: Lin Chuang , Zheng Yu , Guang Chenhan , Ma Ke , Yang Yang
Published: June 2022

Background

Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) requires surgeons to manipulate fragile eye tissue at the microscale. The limited perceptual accuracy of surgeons makes it difficult to precisely position the forceps. Robot technology provides a feasible way to improve the performance of CCC.

Methods

To provide real‐time and high‐precision forceps position feedback to the robot, and extract the expert's operation trajectory for robotic autonomous or assisted capsulorhexis, this paper proposes a forceps tracking method based on Kalman filters to precisely position the forceps. By fusing the inertial sensor data and the visual observation data, the proposed method can obtain forceps depth information and decrease cumulative errors in the inertial sensor data.

Results

Experimental validation on an eye phantom is performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed forceps tracking method. The experimental results show that the proposed method can track the forceps tip at an average processing speed of 62.8 frames per second, and locate the forceps tip with an acceptable accuracy (within 25 μm). Then, we use the proposed method to capture the operation trajectory of an expert for robot preoperative trajectory planning.

Conclusions

The evaluation experiments indicate that the proposed method can accurately locate the tool tip, and efficiently extract the expert's operation trajectory.