bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological distress and symptom-related burnout in asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Salsman Margot L. , Nordberg Hannah O. , Howell Jaxen , Berthet-Miron Maria Michelle , Rosenfield David , Ritz Thomas
Published: May 2023

People with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to pandemic-related psychological distress, and research is needed to understand the impact of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic on their health and well-being. We sought to study the well-being of people with asthma relative to non-asthmatic controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also investigated asthma symptoms and COVID-19-related anxiety as potential mediators of distress. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological functioning, including anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout. Controlling for potential confounds, multiple-regression analyses examined differences in psychological health between people with and without asthma. Mediator analyses investigated the role of asthma symptoms and COVID-19-related anxiety in this relationship. 234 adults (111 with asthma, 123 without) participated in an online survey from July to November 2020. During this time, people with asthma reported higher levels of anxiety, perceived stress, and burnout symptoms compared to controls. Elevations in burnout symptoms were found beyond general anxiety and depression (sr2 = .03, p < .001). Reported symptoms typical in both asthma and COVID-19 partially mediated this relationship (Pm = .42, p < .05). People with asthma reported unique psychological challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic including elevated burnout symptoms. Experience of asthma symptoms played a key role in vulnerability to emotional exhaustion. Clinical implications include increased attention to asthma symptom burden within the context of heightened environmental stress and restricted healthcare access.
Singly TASE Operators for the Numerical Solution of Stiff Differential Equations by Explicit Runge–Kutta Schemes
Authors: Calvo Manuel , Fu Lin , Montijano Juan I. , Rández Luis
Published: May 2023

In this paper new explicit integrators for numerical solution of stiff evolution equations are proposed. As shown by Bassenne, Fu and Mani in (J Comput Phys 424:109847, 2021), the action on the original vector field of the stiff equations of an appropriate time-accurate and highly-stable explicit (TASE) linear operator, allows us to use explicit Runge–Kutta (RK) schemes with these modified equations so that the resulting algorithm becomes stable for the original stiff equations. Here a new family of TASE operators is considered. The new operators, called Singly TASE, have the advantage over the TASE operators of Bassenne et al. that the action on the vector field depends on the powers of the inverse of only one matrix, which can be computationally more simple, without loosing stability properties. A complete study of the linear stability properties of k–stage, kth–order explicit RK schemes under the action of Singly TASE operators of the same order is carried out for $$k \le 4$$

k
≤
4

. For orders two, three and four, particular schemes that are nearly strongly A–stable and therefore suitable for stiff problems are devised. Further, explicit RK schemes with orders three and four that can be implemented with only two storage locations under the action of Singly TASE operators of the same order are discussed. A particular implementation of the classical four–stage fourth–order RK scheme with two Singly TASE operators is presented. A set of numerical experiments has been conducted to demonstrate the performance of the new schemes by comparing with previous RKTASE and other established methods. The main conclusion is that the new integrators provide a very simple solver for stiff systems with good stability properties and avoids the difficulties of using implicit algorithms.
Mesoporous colloidal silica cubes with catalytically active cores
Authors: Sprockel Alessio J. , Dekker Frans , Tuinier Remco , Philipse Albert P.
Published: May 2023

Preparation methods of cubic core-shell particles with specific functionality are limited. Here we demonstrate the possibility to transform cuprous oxide cubes coated with mesoporous silica into functional core-shell particles, while retaining their cubic shape. Cuprous oxide nanocubes are coated with mesoporous silica using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template, after which the cuprous oxide core is transformed using liquid phase calcination and galvanic replacement. Nitrogen physisorption and electron microscopy confirm that mesoporous silica coatings are obtained with tuneable thickness. The successful transformation of cuprous oxide into gold and silver is assessed via UV–VIS spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Particles with a silver core and a cubic mesoporous silica shell are demonstrated to be catalytically active in the degradation of the dye Congo red.

Graphical abstract
3D reflection seismic imaging of natural gas/fluid escape features in the deep-water Orange Basin of South Africa
Authors: Maduna N. G. , Manzi M. S. D. , Bourdeau J. E. , Jinnah Z.
Published: May 2023

Many features indicative of natural gas and oil leakage are delineated in the deep-water Orange Basin offshore South Africa using 3D reflection seismic data. These features are influenced by the translational and compressional domains of an underlying Upper Cretaceous deep-water fold-and-thrust belt (DWFTB) system detaching Turonian shales. The origin of hydrocarbons is postulated to be from both: (a) thermogenic sources stemming from the speculative Turonian and proven Aptian source rocks at depth; and (b) biogenic sources from organic-rich sediments in the Cenozoic attributed to the Benguela Current upwelling system. The late Campanian surface has a dense population of > 950 pockmarks classified into three groups based on their variable shapes and diameter: giant (> 1500 m), crater (~ 700–900 m) and simple (< 500 m) pockmarks. A total of 85 simple pockmarks are observed on the present-day seafloor in the same area as those imaged on the late Campanian surface found together with mass wasting. A major slump scar in the north surrounds a ~ 4200 m long, tectonically controlled mud volcano. The vent of the elongated mud volcano is near-vertical and situated along the axis of a large anticline marking the intersection of the translational and compressional domains. Along the same fold further south, the greatest accumulation of hydrocarbons is indicated by a positive high amplitude anomaly (PHAA) within a late Campanian anticline. Vast economical hydrocarbon reservoirs have yet to be exploited from the deep-water Orange Basin, as evidenced by the widespread occurrence of natural gas/fluid escape features imaged in this study.
Low expression of Ki-67/MIB-1 labeling index in IDH wild type glioblastoma predicts prolonged survival independently by MGMT methylation status
Authors: Tini Paolo , Yavoroska Mariya , Mazzei Maria Antonietta , Miracco Clelia , Pirtoli Luigi , Tomaciello Miriam , Marampon Francesco , Minniti Giuseppe
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The Ki-67/MIB-1 labeling index (LI) is clinically used to differentiate between high and low-grade gliomas, while its prognostic value remains questionable. Glioblastoma (GBM) expressing wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase IDHwt, a relatively common malignant brain tumor in adults, is characterized by a dismal prognosis. Herein, we have retrospectively investigated the prognostic role of Ki-67/MIB-1-LI in a large group of IDHwt GBM.

Methods

One hundred nineteen IDHwt GBM patients treated with surgery followed by Stupp’s protocol in our Institution between January 2016 and December 2021 were selected. A cut-off value for Ki-67/MIB-1-LI was used with minimal p-value based approach.

Results

A multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67/MIB-1-LI expression < 15% significantly correlated with a longer overall survival (OS), independently from the age of the patients, Karnofsky performance status scale, extent of surgery and O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG)-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation status.

Conclusions

Among other studies focused on Ki-67/MIB-1-LI, this is the first observational study showing a positive correlation between OS of IDHwt GBM patients and Ki-67/MIB-1-LI that we propose as a new predictive marker in this subtype of GBM.
Using bookmarking methods with orthopedic clinicians and patients with fractures produces score interpretation labels for patient-reported outcome measures
Authors: Rothrock Nan E. , Wilson Sandra A. , Heng Marilyn , Hodor Aleksandra , Joeris Alexander , Kaat Aaron J. , McKelvey Karma , Schalet Benjamin D. , Vrahas Mark
Published: May 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) score ranges associated with descriptive labels (i.e., within normal limits, mild, moderate, severe) by using bookmarking methods with orthopedic clinicians and patients who have experienced a bone fracture.

Study design and setting

We created vignettes comprised of six items and responses from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity Function, Physical Function, and Pain Interference item banks reflecting different levels of severity. Two groups of patients with fractures (n = 11) and two groups of orthopedic clinicians (n = 16) reviewed the vignettes and assigned descriptive labels independently and then discussed as a group until reaching consensus via a videoconference platform.

Results

PROMIS Physical Function and Pain Interference thresholds (T = 50, 40, 25/30 and T = 50/55, 60, 65/70, respectively) for patients with bone fractures were consistent with the results from other patient populations. Upper Extremity thresholds were about 10 points (1 SD) more severe (T = 40, 30, 25/20) compared to the other measures. Patient and clinician perspectives were similar.

Conclusion

Bookmarking methods generated meaningful score thresholds for PROMIS measures. These thresholds between severity categories varied by domain. Threshold values for severity represent important supplemental information to interpret PROMIS scores clinically.
Optimized design and integration of energy storage in Solar-Assisted Ground-Source Heat Pump systems
Authors: Ferrara Maria , Fabrizio Enrico
Published: May 2023

The integrated use of multiple renewable energy sources to increase the efficiency of heat pump systems, such as in Solar Assisted Geothermal Heat Pumps (SAGHP), may lead to significant benefits in terms of increased efficiency and overall system performance especially in extreme climate contexts, but requires careful integrated optimization of the different system components. In particular, thermal storages take a fundamental role in optimizing the integration of renewable energy sources and the system operation. This work investigates the potential design optimization of a SAGHP system in a mountain site by exploring many different alternatives to optimize the mutual relationship between the solar field, the geothermal field and the water thermal storages. This is done through an original simulation-based multi-objective optimization framework considering energy efficiency and economic feasibility, which allows appraising the impact of the different design alternatives on the overall system performance and on the dynamics of the different system components. Results identify a set of optimized system configurations that optimize the integrated exploitation of the different thermal sources showing a potential increase of the overall system performance leading to 34% lower global cost compared to the initial design. High robustness of the optimal design solutions is reported with respect to the current context of high economic uncertainty.
Populatiemanagement en nieuwe technologie in de moderne diabeteszorg: over het waarom en hoe van CloudCare
Authors: Aanstoot Henk-Jan , Last Sander , Riegman Nico , Mul Dick , Hoogendam Arjen , Akkerman Maarten , Veeze Henk
Published: May 2023

Samenvatting

De snelle technologische ontwikkelingen in de diabeteszorg zorgen voor betere uitkomsten, maar ook voor een toename van dataverkeer tussen patiënt en zorgverleners. De noodzaak voor die verbetering van uitkomsten wordt beschreven. De stappen die daartoe zijn gezet en die nog kunnen worden gezet, zijn aan de inzet van deze technologie verbonden. Daarbij moet en kan ook de diabeteszorg worden veranderd, waardoor er op nieuwe wijze continuïteit in contacten en coaching komt en traditionele zorg (3-4 x per jaar een consult) verandert naar nieuwe virtuele en automatische vormen. Daarvoor is een verandering nodig: in plaats van dat elk contact vanuit één patiënt of behandelaar wordt gestart, wordt op basis van de glucosedata populatiemanagement van diabetes verricht. Daarbij wordt op basis van zorggegevens een (continue) triage verricht en wordt direct persoonsgerichte zorg aangeboden aan mensen die problemen ervaren of risico hebben op problemen. De combinatie van diabetestechnologie en populatiemanagementmethoden wordt aan de hand van het ontwikkelde CloudCare-systeem toegelicht.
A Decision Framework for Selecting Critically Important Nutrients from Aquatic Foods
Authors: Zamborain-Mason Jessica , Viana Daniel , Nicholas Khristopher , Jackson Erin D. , Koehn J. Zachary , Passarelli Simone , Yoo Seo-Hyun , Zhang Angela W. , Davin Hannah C. , Duggan Christopher P. , Schmidhuber Josef , Golden Christopher D.
Published: May 2023

Purpose of Review

Aquatic foods are increasingly being recognized as a diverse, bioavailable source of nutrients, highlighting the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for human nutrition. However, studies focusing on the nutrient supply of aquatic foods often differ in the nutrients they examine, potentially biasing their contribution to nutrition security and leading to ineffective policies or management decisions.

Recent Findings

We create a decision framework to effectively select nutrients in aquatic food research based on three key domains: human physiological importance, nutritional needs of the target population (demand), and nutrient availability in aquatic foods compared to other accessible dietary sources (supply). We highlight 41 nutrients that are physiologically important, exemplify the importance of aquatic foods relative to other food groups in the food system in terms of concentration per 100 g and apparent consumption, and provide future research pathways that we consider of high importance for aquatic food nutrition.

Overall, our study provides a framework to select focal nutrients in aquatic food research and ensures a methodical approach to quantifying the importance of aquatic foods for nutrition security and public health.
Mobilizing at the Urban Margins
Authors: Escoffier Simón
Published: May 2023

In October 2019, unprecedented mobilizations in Chile took the world by surprise. An outburst of protests plunged a stable democracy into the deepest social and political crisis since its dictatorship in the 1980s. Although the protests involved a myriad of organizations, the organizational capabilities provided by underprivileged urban dwellers proved essential in sustaining collective action in an increasingly repressive environment. Based on a comparative ethnography and over six years of fieldwork, Mobilizing at the Urban Margins uses the case of Chile to study how social mobilization endures in marginalized urban contexts, allowing activists to engage in large-scale democratizing processes. The book investigates why and how some urban communities succumb to exclusion, while others react by resurrecting collective action to challenge unequal regimes of citizenship. Rich and insightful, the book develops the novel analytical framework of 'mobilizational citizenship' to explain this self-produced form of political incorporation in the urban margins.
Arming Black Consciousness
Authors: Asheeke Toivo Tukongeni Paul Wilson
Published: May 2023

Since 1994, as the ruling party in South Africa, the ANC have become synonymous with and indivisible from the fight against apartheid rule. This has left little space for competing accounts, visions, and political projects to find their appropriate place in the historical narrative. In this innovative book, Toivo Asheeke moves beyond these well-trodden histories, to tell the previously neglected story of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), a militant revolutionary nationalist wing of the anti-colonial struggle. Using archival sources from four countries and interviews with former veterans of the movement, Asheeke explores the BCM's engagement with guerrilla warfare, community feminism and Black Internationalism. Uncovering the personal and political histories of those who have previously received scant scholarly attention, Asheeke both illuminates the history of Africa's decolonization struggle and that of the wider Cold War.
Latin Loanwords in Ancient Greek
Authors: Dickey Eleanor
Published: May 2023

Why, when, and how did speakers of ancient Greek borrow words from Latin? Which words did they borrow? Who used Latin loanwords, and how? Who avoided them, and why? How many words were borrowed, and what kind of word? How long did the loanwords survive? Until now, attempts to answer such questions have been based on incomplete and often misleading evidence, but this study offers the first comprehensive collection of evidence from papyri, inscriptions, and literature from the fifth century BC to the sixth century AD. That collection – included in the book as a lexicon of Latin loanwords – is examined using insights from linguistic work on modern languages to provide new answers that often differ strikingly from earlier ones. The analysis is accessibly presented, and the lexicon offers a firm foundation for future work in this area.
Breaching the Taboo? Constitutional Dimensions of the New Chinese Civil Code
Authors: Stone Sweet Alec , Bu Chong , Zhuo Ding
Published: May 2023

Chinese elites have celebrated its new Civil Code (2021) as the most important statute in the nation's history, and the ‘cornerstone’ of its turn toward ‘rule of law’. The Code expressly binds all persons, as well as public officials, and is judicially enforceable. The statute enshrines rights to dignity, equality, personal liberty, property, and privacy, among others, and codifies duties to protect the environment and to evolve effective means to combat sexual harassment. Echoing the German Code, the statute also contains ‘general clauses’ that enable the courts to restrict enumerated rights and entitlements for reasons of ‘good morals’, ‘public order’, and the rights of others. While constituting an act of massive delegation to the courts, judges remain prohibited from directly enforcing the PRC's Constitution. The article explores the relationship between the Code and Constitution, through a comparative analysis of: (i) the process of ‘constitutionalising’ the private law around the globe; (ii) the scholarly discourse on the ‘horizontal effect’ of rights in China; (iii) the structure of the Code itself; and (iv) the development of ‘political’ control mechanisms, to be deployed by the Communist Party of China and organs of the state to constrain how judges use their interpretive powers.
Business and Human Rights in Central and Eastern Europe: Constitutional Law as a Driver for the International Human Rights Law
Authors: Szoszkiewicz Łukasz
Published: May 2023

This paper analyses five constitutional developments in Central and Eastern Europe that can impact the domestic implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Using Czechia, Poland and Slovenia as examples, the paper highlights four potential drivers, namely: (1) the process of constitutionalizing human rights; (2) the proliferation of the doctrine of horizontal effect of constitutional rights; (3) the constitutional legitimacy of state intervention in the free market economy; and (4) the mechanism of judicial review. Furthermore, the author underlines the most significant challenge, which is increasing resistance to international norms in some countries, e.g., Poland. The paper concludes that the jurisprudence of the constitutional courts can facilitate the domestic implementation of the UNGPs, particularly Pillars I (State duty to protect human rights) and III (access to remedy).
Clinical applications of contactless photoplethysmography for vital signs monitoring in pediatrics: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bautista Melissa , Cave Daniel , Downey Candice , Bentham James R. , Jayne David
Published: May 2023

Background:

Contactless photoplethysmography (PPG) potentially affords the ability to obtain vital signs in pediatric populations without disturbing the child. Most validity studies have been conducted in laboratory settings or with healthy adult volunteers. This review aims to evaluate the current literature on contactless vital signs monitoring in pediatric populations and within a clinical setting.

Methods:

OVID, Webofscience, Cochrane library, and clinicaltrials.org were systematically searched by two authors for research studies which used contactless PPG to assess vital signs in children and within a clinical setting.

Results:

Fifteen studies were included with a total of 170 individuals. Ten studies were included in a meta-analysis for neonatal heart rate (HR), which demonstrated a pooled mean bias of −0.25 (95% limits of agreement (LOA), −1.83 to 1.32). Four studies assessed respiratory rate (RR) in neonates, and meta-analysis demonstrated a pooled mean bias of 0.65 (95% LOA, −3.08 to 4.37). All studies were small, and there were variations in the methods used and risk of bias.

Conclusion:

Contactless PPG is a promising tool for vital signs monitoring in children and accurately measures neonatal HR and RR. Further research is needed to assess children of different age groups, the effects of skin type variation, and the addition of other vital signs.
Approaches for enhancing the informativeness and quality of clinical trials: Innovations and principles for implementing multicenter trials from the Trial Innovation Network
Authors: Lane Karen , Palm Marisha E. , Marion Eve , Kay Marie T. , Thompson Dixie , Stroud Mary , Boyle Helen , Hillery Shannon , Nanni Angeline , Hildreth Meghan , Nelson Sarah , Burr Jeri S. , Edwards Terri , Poole Lori , Waddy Salina P. , Dunsmore Sarah E. , Harris Paul , Wilkins Consuelo , Bernard Gordon R. , Dean J. Michael , Dwyer Jamie , Benjamin Daniel K. , Selker Harry P. , Hanley Daniel F. , Ford Daniel E.
Published: May 2023

One challenge for multisite clinical trials is ensuring that the conditions of an informative trial are incorporated into all aspects of trial planning and execution. The multicenter model can provide the potential for a more informative environment, but it can also place a trial at risk of becoming uninformative due to lack of rigor, quality control, or effective recruitment, resulting in premature discontinuation and/or non-publication. Key factors that support informativeness are having the right team and resources during study planning and implementation and adequate funding to support performance activities. This communication draws on the experience of the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) Trial Innovation Network (TIN) to develop approaches for enhancing the informativeness of clinical trials. We distilled this information into three principles: (1) assemble a diverse team, (2) leverage existing processes and systems, and (3) carefully consider budgets and contracts. The TIN, comprised of NCATS, three Trial Innovation Centers, a Recruitment Innovation Center, and 60+ CTSA Program hubs, provides resources to investigators who are proposing multicenter collaborations. In addition to sharing principles that support the informativeness of clinical trials, we highlight TIN-developed resources relevant for multicenter trial initiation and conduct.
Redesigning design thinking for codesign with nondesigners: a method efficiency perspective
Authors: Efeoğlu Arkın , Møller Charles
Published: May 2023

Previous research on design thinking (DT) has focused mainly on describing and explaining observed phenomena rather than manipulating variables within the boundaries of its principles to assess the impact of these changes. DT, as a human-centric problem-solving and innovation method, has varying baseline exposure levels of nondesigners and novices when codesigning. This qualitative research shows how DT can be redesigned to accommodate the inclusion and engagement of novices and nondesigners in the codesign process with enhanced DT method applicability. DT novices and nondesigners are challenged in codesign engagements with others and need an intuitive method that leads them to the same or better design results as a classic DT method. A redesign towards an intuitive DT method for nondesigners puts special consideration on method language, efficiency and cycle time. A case study validates its qualification under real-life circumstances when codesigning with DT novices and nondesigners. Overall, the research demonstrates that DT with regard to nondesigners can be simplified and redesigned for efficiency and effectiveness.
Effect of subsurface impurity defects on laser damage resistance of beam splitter coatings
Authors: Du Wenyun , Zhu Meiping , Shi Jun , Liu Tianbao , Sun Jian , Yi Kui , Shao Jianda
Published: May 2023

The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of plate laser beam splitter (PLBS) coatings is closely related to the subsurface absorption defects of the substrate. Herein, a two-step deposition temperature method is proposed to understand the effect of substrate subsurface impurity defects on the LIDT of PLBS coatings. Firstly, BK7 substrates are heat-treated at three different temperatures. The surface morphology and subsurface impurity defect distribution of the substrate before and after the heat treatment are compared. Then, a PLBS coating consisting of alternating HfO2–Al2O3 mixture and SiO2 layers is designed to achieve a beam-splitting ratio (transmittance to reflectance, s-polarized light) of approximately 50:50 at 1053 nm and an angle of incidence of 45°, and it is prepared under four different deposition processes. The experimental and simulation results show that the subsurface impurity defects of the substrate migrate to the surface and accumulate on the surface during the heat treatment, and become absorption defect sources or nodule defect seeds in the coating, reducing the LIDT of the coating. The higher the heat treatment temperature, the more evident the migration and accumulation of impurity defects. A lower deposition temperature (at which the coating can be fully oxidized) helps to improve the LIDT of the PLBS coating. When the deposition temperature is 140°C, the LIDT (s-polarized light, wavelength: 1064 nm, pulse width: 9 ns, incident angle: 45°) of the PLBS coating is 26.2 J/cm2, which is approximately 6.7 times that of the PLBS coating deposited at 200°C. We believe that the investigation into the laser damage mechanism of PLBS coatings will help to improve the LIDT of coatings with partial or high transmittance at laser wavelengths.
Is perinatal substance abuse falling through the cracks?
Authors: Mitchell J. M. , Keenan O. , Fakhoury A. , Fitzgerald D. , Mohamad M. M. , Imcha M.
Published: May 2023

Objectives:

Perinatal substance abuse (PSA) is associated with increased risk of prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome, behavioral issues and learning difficulties. It is imperative that robust care pathways are in place for these high-risk pregnancies and that staff and patient education are optimized. The present study explores the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals toward PSA to identify knowledge gaps to enhance care and reduce stigma.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study using questionnaires to survey healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in a tertiary maternity unit (n = 172).

Results:

The majority of HCPs were not confident in the antenatal management (75.6%, n = 130) or postnatal management (67.5%, n = 116) of PSA. More than half of HCPs surveyed (53.5%, n = 92) did not know the referral pathway and 32% (n = 55) did not know when to make a TUSLA referral. The vast majority (96.5%, n = 166) felt that they would benefit from further training, and 94.8% (n = 163) agreed or strongly agreed that the unit would benefit from a drug liaison midwife. Among study participants, 54.1% (n = 93) agreed or strongly agreed that PSA should be considered a form of child abuse and 58.7% (n = 101) believe that the mother is responsible for damage done to her child.

Conclusions:

Our study highlights the urgent need for increased training on PSA to enhance care and reduce stigma. It is imperative that staff training, drug liaison midwives and dedicated clinics are introduced to hospitals as a matter of high priority.
Growth of a viscoplastic blister underneath an elastic sheet
Authors: Sæter Torstein , Galland Olivier , Feneuil Blandine , Haugen Håvard J. , Carlson Andreas
Published: May 2023

Inspired by geological structures formed by magmatic intrusions that deform the Earth's crust, we investigate the elastohydrodynamic growth of a viscoplastic blister under an elastic sheet resting on a prewetted substrate. By combining experiments, scaling analysis and numerical simulations, we reveal new regimes for the elastoviscoplastic growth dynamics of the blister. The blister height and its apparent radius grow as$h(0,t) \sim t^{5/9}$and$R(t) \sim t^{2/9}$if the fluid pressure is set by bending of the sheet, and as$h(0,t) \sim t^{5/13}$and$R(t) \sim t^{4/13}$if the fluid pressure is set by stretching of the sheet. A plug-like flow inside the blister dictates its dynamics, whereas the blister takes a self-similar shape given by a balance of the fluid's yield stress and the pressure gradient induced by the deformation of the elastic sheet.
Decisions about College Football during Covid-19: An Ethical Analysis
Authors: Baugh Christine M. , Glantz Leonard , Mello Michelle M.
Published: May 2023

This manuscript uses competitive college football as a lens into the complexities of decision-making amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Pulling together what is known about the decision-makers, the decision-making processes, the social and political context, the risks and benefits, and the underlying obligations of institutions to these athletes, we conduct an ethical analysis of the decisions surrounding the 2020 fall football season. Based on this ethical analysis, we provide key recommendations to improve similar decision processes moving forward.
Association between coffee consumption and high C-reactive protein levels in Korean adults
Authors: Choi Sooyeun , Je Youjin
Published: May 2023

The findings of studies investigating the relationship between coffee consumption and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been inconsistent, and few researchers considered the type of coffee. We examined the association between coffee consumption and high CRP levels, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016–2018, with 9337 adults aged 19–64 years. A 24-h diet recall was used to assess diet, including the amount and type of coffee consumed. We classified coffee into black coffee and coffee with sugar and/or cream (non-drinkers, or ≤ 1, 2–3, > 3 cups/d) and used multivariable logistic regression models with high CRP levels (≥ 2·2 mg/l). After the adjustment for potential confounders, 2–3 cups/d of coffee consumption were inversely associated with high CRP levels, compared with no consumption (OR = 0·83, 95 % CI 0·69, 0·99). By type of coffee, the inverse association was stronger in subjects consuming black coffee (OR = 0·61, 95 % CI 0·45, 0·84), while the inverse association was much weaker in those consuming coffee with sugar and/or cream (OR = 0·92, 95 % CI 0·74, 1·14). By sex, the inverse association of 2–3 cups of black coffee was found both in men (OR = 0·65, 95 % CI 0·41, 1·03) and women (OR = 0·55, 95 % CI 0·36, 0·83). More than three cups/d of heavy coffee consumption were not significantly associated with high CRP levels. Our findings indicate that moderate black coffee consumption of 2–3 cups/d is inversely associated with high CRP levels in Korean adults. Further prospective studies are warranted to provide definitive evidence.
István Deák (1926–2023): In Memoriam
Authors: Judson Pieter M. , Rozenblit Marsha L.
Published: May 2023

This is a tribute to István Deák, a prominent historian of Habsburg history. The tribute covers his early life in Budapest, the son of a middle-class family of Jewish origins who suffered as a Jew in 1944. Deák left Hungary in 1944, spent several years in France and Germany, and then came to the United States in 1956. Much of the commemoration covers his career as a professor of history at Columbia University and his very significant scholarly contributions.
Towards a just and equitable applied psycholinguistics
Authors: Kutlu Ethan , Hayes-Harb Rachel
Published: May 2023

We introduce the pair of special issues of Applied Psycolinguistics (this issue, next issue) titled “Towards a just and equitable applied psycholinguistics.” This paper motivates the need for this project, details the editorial process, and provides a brief summary of each article appearing in the special issues.
The Native Militia in the Seventeenth-Century Spanish Philippines: A Space of Power for the Indigenous Elite
Authors: Concepcion Grace Liza
Published: May 2023

The history of the indigenous militia and its role in consolidating the native elite's place in the seventeenth-century colonial Philippines is an understudied topic. This paper addresses that gap. Using lists of media anata payments gathered from the Contaduría section of the Archivo General de Indias for the province of Laguna, this paper examines the beginnings of the native militia and the positions that the native elite occupied. Based on the corresponding media anata tax that these positions required, the author has listed the military ranks that native Filipinos assumed from 1633 to 1700. The Spanish government relied heavily on native arms to support Spain's expansionary agenda, especially in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. Moreover, foreign threats, the Spanish-Dutch wars, and the challenges posed by hostile indigenous groups in the Philippines left the Spaniards with no choice but to rely on native arms to defend their position. As the native militia developed and became a permanent feature of the seventeenth-century Philippines, it gave rise to a space for the indigenous elite to exercise their roles as soldiers, encomenderos, and conquistadores in territories which remained on the periphery of the Spanish empire in which they carved their niche.
Validity and Accuracy of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator Part B for Identification of Frailty in Older Adults Consulting a Rural Geriatric Medicine Clinic
Authors: Mehta Saurabh P. , Indramohan Pavithramohan , Dobariya Varun , Seccurro Drake , Goebel Lynne J.
Published: May 2023

The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) is a validated tool for determining frailty in older adults. This study examined the validity and accuracy of the TFI Part B (TFI-B) in a North American context. Seventy-two individuals ≥ 65 years of age recruited from a rural geriatric medicine clinic completed a set of self-reported and performance-based measures, including TFI-B. Frailty level was determined using modified Fried’s Frailty Phenotype (FFP). Pearson correlation coefficients (r) assessed the concurrent relationships between the TFI-B and other measures. Accuracy of the TFI-B in classifying frailty level was assessed using assessing area under the curve (AUC). The TFI-B scores showed low correlations (r < 0.4) with gait speed and grip, suggesting that the TFI-B did not consider frailty as merely a physical problem. The AUC of 0.82 indicated that the TFI-B scores accurately classified frail versus non-frail individuals. The score of ≥ 5 on the TFI-B scores showed satisfactory sensitivity/specificity (73%/77%) and excellent negative predictive value (91.95%). This indicates that a TFI-B score of < 5 can be used to rule out frailty.
Traditional egg-harvesting policies for the endemic Moluccan ScrubfowlEulipoa wallaceion Haruku Island, Indonesia, and its conservation implications
Authors: Leimena Handy Erwin Pier , Sjarmidi Achmad , Syamsudin Tati Suryati
Published: May 2023

Traditional policies on using wild species are critical in developing scenarios for community engagement in conserving wild species populations. As such, this study examines the traditional practice of harvesting eggs from Moluccan ScrubfowlEulipoa wallaceion Haruku Island, Indonesia, and its implications for bird population conservation. Using a closed-ended questionnaire, we surveyed 200 respondents in the productive age group (aged 15–65 years). It was found that most of the community supported adopting the traditional policies due to the high demand for eggs, which required daily harvesting. According to the community, egg harvesting has no adverse effect on bird populations, but hunting and habitat destruction does reduce the number of eggs available for harvesting. The community concluded that traditional conservation policies prioritise the conservation of adult birds and their habitats, not bird eggs. Particular attention should be paid to egg conservation efforts by establishing a quota for egg harvesting and limiting egg-harvesting time. Conservation efforts must also take into account the growing community awareness of the importance of conserving Moluccan Scrubfowl eggs.
smProbLog: Stable Model Semantics in ProbLog for Probabilistic Argumentation
Authors: TOTIS PIETRO , DE RAEDT LUC , KIMMIG ANGELIKA
Published: May 2023

Argumentation problems are concerned with determining the acceptability of a set of arguments from their relational structure. When the available information is uncertain, probabilistic argumentation frameworks provide modeling tools to account for it. The first contribution of this paper is a novel interpretation of probabilistic argumentation frameworks as probabilistic logic programs. Probabilistic logic programs are logic programs in which some of the facts are annotated with probabilities. We show that the programs representing probabilistic argumentation frameworks do not satisfy a common assumption in probabilistic logic programming (PLP) semantics, which is, that probabilistic facts fully capture the uncertainty in the domain under investigation. The second contribution of this paper is then a novel PLP semantics for programs where a choice of probabilistic facts does not uniquely determine the truth assignment of the logical atoms. The third contribution of this paper is the implementation of a PLP system supporting this semantics: smProbLog. smProbLog is a novel PLP framework based on the PLP language ProbLog. smProbLog supports many inference and learning tasks typical of PLP, which, together with our first contribution, provide novel reasoning tools for probabilistic argumentation. We evaluate our approach with experiments analyzing the computational cost of the proposed algorithms and their application to a dataset of argumentation problems.
Human Genetics Society of Australasia Position Statement: Genetic Carrier Testing for Recessive Conditions
Authors: Vears Danya F. , Boyle Jackie , Jacobs Chris , McInerney-Leo Aideen , Newson Ainsley J.
Published: May 2023

This Position Statement provides guidelines to assist all health professionals who receive requests for carrier testing and laboratory staff conducting the tests.

In this Statement, the term ‘carrier testing’ refers to genetic testing in an individual to determine whether they have inherited a pathogenic variant associated with an autosomal or X-linked recessive condition previously identified in a blood relative. Carrier testing recommendations: (1) Carrier testing should only be performed with the individual’s knowledge and consent; (2) An individual considering (for themselves, or on behalf of another) whether to have a carrier test should be supported to make an informed decision; (3) The mode of inheritance, the individual’s personal experience with the condition, and the healthcare setting in which the test is being performed should be considered when determining whether carrier testing should be offered by a genetic health professional. Regarding children and young people: Unless there is direct medical benefit in the immediate future, the default position should be to postpone carrier testing until the child or young person can be supported to make an informed decision. There may be some specific situations where it is appropriate to facilitate carrier testing in children and young people (see section in this article). In such cases, testing should only be offered with pre- and post-test genetic counseling in which genetic health professionals and parents/guardians should explore the rationale for testing and the interests of the child and the family.
Zoysiagrass and weed response to herbicides during post-dormancy transition
Authors: Craft Jordan M. , Godara Navdeep , Askew Shawn D.
Published: May 2023

Winter annual weeds begin to germinate as zoysiagrass enters winter dormancy in autumn. These weeds can suppress zoysiagrass shoot development the following spring through competition for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. Previous research involving winter annual weed control in dormant turfgrass has been conducted primarily on bermudagrass, but less is known about how various herbicides used for this purpose will influence zoysiagrass after dormancy transition. Two field studies were conducted over 7 site-years between 2016 and 2020 to evaluate 17 herbicide treatments that are typically marketed for broadleaf weed control in spring and 18 herbicide treatments that are typically marketed for annual bluegrass control during winter for their effects on a variety of weeds and semidormant ‘Meyer’ and dormant ‘Zeon’ zoysiagrass, respectively. Glufosinate, glyphosate + simazine, and indaziflam + simazine controlled Persian speedwell by more than 90% and control was significantly greater with auxin-type and other herbicide combinations. Dandelion and Persian speedwell were better controlled with a combination of simazine and glyphosate than when glyphosate was applied alone. Glufosinate controlled dandelion, hairy bittercress, and Persian speedwell more effectively than glyphosate. In Meyer zoysiagrass, glyphosate and glufosinate controlled annual bluegrass equivalently, whereas in Zeon zoysiagrass, glyphosate controlled annual bluegrass better than glufosinate did. Foramsulfuron or treatments that contained simazine resulted in >90% control of annual bluegrass. A flumioxazin admixture with diquat, glufosinate, or glyphosate improved annual bluegrass control. Herbicide treatments that contain diquat, glufosinate, glyphosate, and metsulfuron alone or in a tank-mix should not be applied to Meyer zoysiagrass with 5% visual green turf cover due to high injury potential. In both studies, glufosinate was more injurious to Meyer and Zeon zoysiagrass than glyphosate. Overall, several herbicides that control annual bluegrass or broadleaf weeds can be safely applied to Zeon zoysiagrass during dormancy or Meyer zoysiagrass during post-dormancy transition.
The blood–brain barrier: Structure, regulation and drug delivery
Authors: Wu Di , Chen Qi , Chen Xiaojie , Han Feng , Chen Zhong , Wang Yi
Published: May 2023

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a natural protective membrane that prevents central nervous system (CNS) from toxins and pathogens in blood. However, the presence of BBB complicates the pharmacotherapy for CNS disorders as the most chemical drugs and biopharmaceuticals have been impeded to enter the brain. Insufficient drug delivery into the brain leads to low therapeutic efficacy as well as aggravated side effects due to the accumulation in other organs and tissues. Recent breakthrough in materials science and nanotechnology provides a library of advanced materials with customized structure and property serving as a powerful toolkit for targeted drug delivery. In-depth research in the field of anatomical and pathological study on brain and BBB further facilitates the development of brain-targeted strategies for enhanced BBB crossing. In this review, the physiological structure and different cells contributing to this barrier are summarized. Various emerging strategies for permeability regulation and BBB crossing including passive transcytosis, intranasal administration, ligands conjugation, membrane coating, stimuli-triggered BBB disruption, and other strategies to overcome BBB obstacle are highlighted. Versatile drug delivery systems ranging from organic, inorganic, and biologics-derived materials with their synthesis procedures and unique physio-chemical properties are summarized and analyzed. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive guideline for researchers in diverse fields, offering perspectives on further development of brain-targeted drug delivery system.
Stabilized mosaic single-cell data integration using unshared features
Authors: Ghazanfar Shila , Guibentif Carolina , Marioni John C.
Published: May 2023

Currently available single-cell omics technologies capture many unique features with different biological information content. Data integration aims to place cells, captured with different technologies, onto a common embedding to facilitate downstream analytical tasks. Current horizontal data integration techniques use a set of common features, thereby ignoring non-overlapping features and losing information. Here we introduce StabMap, a mosaic data integration technique that stabilizes mapping of single-cell data by exploiting the non-overlapping features. StabMap first infers a mosaic data topology based on shared features, then projects all cells onto supervised or unsupervised reference coordinates by traversing shortest paths along the topology. We show that StabMap performs well in various simulation contexts, facilitates ‘multi-hop’ mosaic data integration where some datasets do not share any features and enables the use of spatial gene expression features for mapping dissociated single-cell data onto a spatial transcriptomic reference.
Normothermic machine perfusion versus static cold storage in donation after circulatory death kidney transplantation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hosgood Sarah A. , Callaghan Christopher J. , Wilson Colin H. , Smith Laura , Mullings Joanne , Mehew Jennifer , Oniscu Gabriel C. , Phillips Benedict L. , Bates Lucy , Nicholson Michael L.
Published: May 2023

Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease, but it is still severely limited by a lack of suitable organ donors. Kidneys from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors have been used to increase transplant rates, but these organs are susceptible to cold ischemic injury in the storage period before transplantation, the clinical consequence of which is high rates of delayed graft function (DGF). Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is an emerging technique that circulates a warmed, oxygenated red-cell-based perfusate through the kidney to maintain near-physiological conditions. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the outcome of DCD kidney transplants after conventional static cold storage (SCS) alone or SCS plus 1-h NMP. A total of 338 kidneys were randomly allocated to SCS (n = 168) or NMP (n = 170), and 277 kidneys were included in the final intention-to-treat analysis. The primary endpoint was DGF, defined as the requirement for dialysis in the first 7 d after transplant. The rate of DGF was 82 of 135 (60.7%) in NMP kidneys versus 83 of 142 (58.5%) in SCS kidneys (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.13 (0.69–1.84); P = 0.624). NMP was not associated with any increase in transplant thrombosis, infectious complications or any other adverse events. A 1-h period of NMP at the end of SCS did not reduce the rate of DGF in DCD kidneys. NMP was demonstrated to be feasible, safe and suitable for clinical application. Trial registration number: ISRCTN15821205.