bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Cardiac Patients Beta-Blockers Attenuate the Decrease in Work Rate during Exercise at a Constant Submaximal Heart Rate
Authors: Baldassarre Giovanni , Azzini Valeria , Zuccarelli Lucrezia , Degano Cristina , Graniero Francesco , Plett Gloria , Floreani Mirco , Lazzer Stefano , Mos Lucio , Grassi Bruno
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Exercise prescription based on fixed heart rate (HR) values is not associated with a specific work rate (WR) during prolonged exercise. This phenomenon has never been evaluated in cardiac patients, and might be associated with a slow component of HR kinetics and -adrenergic activity. The aim was to quantify, in cardiac patients, the work rate decrease at a fixed HR, and to test if it would be attenuated by β-blockers.

Methods

17 patients with coronary artery disease in stable conditions (69 ± 9 yr) were divided into two groups according to the presence (BB) or absence (no-BB) of a therapy with β-blockers, and performed on a cycle ergometer: an incremental exercise (INCR); a 15-min “HRCLAMPED” exercise, in which WR was continuously adjusted to maintain a constant HR, corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (GET) +15%. HR was determined by the ECG signal, and pulmonary gas exchange was assessed breath-by-breath.

Results

During INCR HRpeak was lower in BB vs. no-BB (p < 0.05), whereas no differences were observed for other variables. During HRCLAMPED the decrease in WR needed to maintain HR constant was less pronounced in BB vs. no-BB (-16 ± 10% vs. -27 ± 10, p = 0.04), and was accompanied by a decreased

O2 only in no-BB (-13 ± 6%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The decrease in WR during 15-min exercise at a fixed HR (slightly higher than that at GET) was attenuated in BB, suggesting a potential role by β-adrenergic stimulation. The phenomenon may represent, also in this population, a sign of impaired exercise tolerance, and interferes with aerobic exercise prescription.
Optimal Procurement with Quality Concerns
Authors: Lopomo Giuseppe , Persico Nicola , Villa Alessandro T.
Published: May 2023

Adverse selection in procurement arises when low-cost bidders are also low-quality suppliers. We propose a mechanism called LoLA (lowball lottery auction) which, under some conditions, maximizes any combination of buyer’s and social surplus, subject to incentive compatibility, in the presence of adverse selection. The LoLA features a floor price, and a reserve price. The LoLA has a dominant strategy equilibrium that, under mild conditions, is unique. In a counterfactual analysis of Italian government auctions, we compute the gain that the government could have made, had it used the optimal procurement mechanism (a LoLA), relative to a first-price auction (the adopted format). (JEL D44, D82, H57, L14)
Teletraffic call-level multirate loss models empahasizing on 4G/5G mobile networks
Authors: Παναγούλιας Παναγιώτης
Published: May 2023

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή μελετά δύο διασυνδέσεις δικτύων κινητής τηλεφωνίας και προτείνει μοντέλα απωλειών πολυδιάστατης κίνησης σε επίπεδο κλήσεων που μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν στις διασυνδέσεις αυτές για τον υπολογισμό των πιθανοτήτων απωλειών κλήσης και τη χρήση των διαθέσιμων πόρων. Η ανάλυση και προσομοίωση γίνεται στη διασύνδεση X2 των LTE δικτύων και στην κατερχόμενη ζεύξη ενός OFDM cell. Βασιζόμενη στην υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία, η διατριβή προτείνει την ανάλυση των συστημάτων αυτών με νέες διαδικασίες άφιξης των κλήσεων και διάφορες πολιτικές δέσμευσης των διαθέσιμων πόρων. Οι διαδικασίες άφιξης που χρησιμοποιούνται ειναι οι: i) Random calls - Random traffic (κίνηση που πηγάζει από άπειρες πηγές), ii) Quasi-random calls Quasi-random traffic (κίνηση που πηγάζει από πεπερασμένες πηγές), iii) Ομαδικές κλήσεις όπου η άφιξη των ομάδων ακολουθεί μια διαδικασία Poisson. Οι πολιτικές δέσμευσης των διαθέσιμων πόρων που μελετούνται είναι: i) η πολιτική πλήρους διάθεσης, ii) η πολιτική δέσμευσης εύρους ζώνης, iii) η πολιτική MFCR, iv) η πολιτική κατωφλίου και v) η πολιτική κατωφλίου αποδοχής κλήσεων, μια παραλαγή της πολιτικής κατωφλίου. Στα πρώτα δύο κεφάλαια μελετάται η διασύνδεση Χ2 των δικτύων LTE και προτείνονται τρία νέα μοντέλα απωλειών. Στα κεφάλαια 3 και 4 γίνεται ανάλυση της κατερχόμενης ζεύξης ενός OFDM cell και προτείνονται μοντέλα απωλειών για αφίξεις Poisson. Στο κεφάλαιο 5 προτείνονται τρία μοντέλα απωλειών για το OFDM cell θεωρώντας ψευδοτυχαίες αφίξεις κλήσεων, ενώ στο κεφάλαιο 6 προτείνονται δύο μοντέλα απωλειών θεωρώντας ομαδικές αφίξεις Poisson. Τέλος, στα κεφάλαια 7 και 8 αναλύεται η πολιτική κατωφλίου και προτείνεται ένα μοντέλο απωλειών με ψευδοτυχαίες αφίξεις υπό την πολιτική TCA. Η ακρίβεια των προτεινόμενων σχέσεων για τον υπολογισμό της πιθανότητας απώλειας κλήσεων και της εκμετάλευσης των πόρων έχει πιστοποιηθεί μέσω προσομοίωσης και έχει κριθεί ως απολύτως ικανοποιητική.
Ανάπτυξη επιλεκτικών μη στεροειδών αγωνιστών του υποδοχέα των γλυκοκορτικοειδών και αποτίμηση της αντικαρκινικής δράσης τους
Authors: Σιάκουλη Δήμητρα
Published: May 2023

Τα γλυκοκορτικοειδή χρησιμοποιούνται ευρέως στην κλινική ως ισχυρά αντιφλεγμονώδη φάρμακα, ωστόσο η χρήση τους συνοδεύεται από παρενέργειες. Η αντιφλεγμονώδης δράση των γλυκοκορτικοειδών ασκείται από τον υποδοχέα γλυκοκορτικοειδών (GR) εν μέρει μέσω του ανταγωνισμού της δράσης του πυρηνικού παράγοντα κB (NF-κB), ενώ η πλειονότητα των παρενεργειών θεωρείται ότι προκαλείται από τη ενεργοποίηση των γονιδίων-στόχων του GR. Ως εκ τούτου, η ανάπτυξη νέων επιλεκτικών αγωνιστών του GR που θα διαμεσολαβούν την καταστολή της δράσης του NF-κB αλλά όχι την ενεργοποίηση γονιδίων-στόχων του GR θα μπορούσε να βελτιώσει την κλινική τους χρήση. Στην παρούσα εργασία ταυτοποιήθηκαν μη στεροειδείς επιλεκτικοί αγωνιστές του GR με χρήση εικονικής σάρωσης της χημικής βιβλιοθήκης της Ambinter (7,8 εκατομμύρια ενώσεις). Βιολογική αποτίμηση των επιλεγμένων ενώσεων ανέδειξε δύο νέα δομικά όμοια πρόδρομα μόρια (βενζοθειαζολικά ανάλογα) που συνδέονται με τον υποδοχέα, δεν επάγουν την έκφραση γονιδίων-στόχων του GR και επιλεκτικά καταστέλλουν την επαγωγή συγκεκριμένων προφλεγμονωδών γονιδίων-στόχων του NF-κB. Αποτίμηση της δράσης των νέων πρόδρομων ενώσεων αλλά και κλασικών αγωνιστών του GR σε εξειδικευμένα μοντέλα καρκινικών κυττάρων με υπερνεργοποιημένο NF-κB δεν ανέδειξε αντικαρκινική δράση.Για τη μελέτη των μηχανισμών της δράσης των επιλεκτικών αγωνιστών του GR χρησιμοποιήθηκε ο επιλεκτικός αγωνιστής AZD9567. Δείχθηκε ότι η ένωση AZD9567 είναι μερικός αγωνιστής του GR και μπορεί να υποκαταστήσει πλήρως τη φυσική ορμόνη υδροκορτιζόνη σε φαρμακολογικής σημασίας συγκεντρώσεις. Ταυτοποίηση του συνολικού μεταγραφομικού προφίλ της ένωσης AZD9567 σε μακροφάγα κύτταρα ποντικού έδειξε ότι η ένωση AZD9567 αν και δεν διαμεσολαβεί κάποιες από τις γνωστές δράσεις των γλυκοκορτικοειδών (κυτταρικός θάνατος, διαφοροποίηση λιποκυττάρων), διαμεσολαβεί πολλές από τις κλασσικές δράσεις τους (ρύθμιση του κιρκάδιου ρυθμού, διαφοροποίηση λευκοκυττάρων, φλεγμονώδης απόκριση) αλλά και διαφορετικές δράσεις (παραγωγή κυτοκινών, απόκριση άμυνας, ανοσολογική απόκριση). Η αντιφλεγμονώδης δράση της ένωσης AZD9567 σε συνθήκες πρόκλησης φλεγμονώδους απόκρισης διαμεσολαβείται, τουλάχιστο εν μέρει, από τους ίδιους κύριους μηχανισμούς που εμπλέκονται στην αντιφλεγμονώδη δράση των κλασσικών γλυκοκορτικοειδών. Τέλος, η ένωση AZD9567 παρουσία φλεγμονώδους απόκρισης ρυθμίζει ένα σύνολο νέων γονιδίων που σχετίζονται κυρίως με τη βιοσύνθεση, το μεταβολισμό και τις τροποποιήσεις (μακρο)μορίων. Συμπερασματικά, η ένωση AZD9567 προάγει κοινές αλλά και διαφορετικές βιολογικές διεργασίες σε σχέση με τα κλασσικά γλυκοκορτικοειδή τόσο απουσία όσο και παρουσία φλεγμονώδους απόκρισης και σε αυτό το διαφορετικό μεταγραφομικό προφίλ μπορεί να οφείλεται το βελτιωμένο θεραπευτικό προφίλ της.
Η πρόσληψη των ελληνικών μύθων από τους ζωγράφους Μπαρόκ
Authors: Βλάσση Ελένη
Published: May 2023

Ο ελληνικός Μύθος είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένος με την Τέχνη, η οποία εμπνέεται από αυτόν, αλλά και ταυτόχρονα τον παραδίδει και τον αναπλάθει σε ένα διαρκές παιχνίδι μεταβαλλόμενων μοτίβων, μορφών και εικόνων από την αρχαιότητα έως τις μέρες μας. Κατέχει σημαντική θέση και στη θεματογραφία της τέχνης του Μπαρόκ, η οποία επικρατεί από τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του 16ου αιώνα σε όλη την Ευρώπη. Η παρούσα έρευνα αναλύει την ιδιαιτερότητα του αρχαιοελληνικού μύθου και την επιρροή που η ελληνική μυθολογία άσκησε στις εικαστικές τέχνες από την αρχαιότητα και εντεύθεν, με χρονικό ορίζοντα την εποχή Μπαρόκ. Εστιάζει στη διαχείριση του μυθολογικού υλικού και των εκάστοτε παραλλαγών του μύθου από τους ζωγράφους της εποχής Μπαρόκ, και ιδιαίτερα την πρόσληψη της ελληνικής μυθολογίας από τον Φλαμανδό ζωγράφο Peter Paul Rubens και τον Γάλλο ομότεχνό του Nicolas Poussin, οι οποίοι συνιστούν τους σημαντικότερες εκπροσώπους της τέχνης Μπαρόκ με θεματική βάση τις μυθολογικές, ηρωικές και βουκολικές σκηνές.
Riesgo de caídas: conexión entre la condición física funcional y el envejecimiento
Authors: Pinzón-Espitia Olga Lucía
Published: May 2023

El cuidado en salud en el envejecimiento implica tratar a la persona en su integralidad, incluyendo la optimización de la condición física y la intervención desde un enfoque de tres niveles, la evaluación, la prevención y la intervención de los efectos del proceso de envejecimiento, que pueden llegar a afectar la calidad de vida y así como la inclusión de las diferentes preocupaciones centradas en el cuidado de los adultos mayores, temas que son objeto de varios artículos en el actual número.
El Observatorio del Comportamiento de Automedicación de la Universidad del Rosario y su rol en la pandemia de covid-19
Authors: Calderón Carlos A. , Soler Franklin , Pérez-Acosta Andrés M.
Published: May 2023

El Observatorio del Comportamiento de Automedicación (OCAM) es un recurso público-académico que tiene como propósitos la definición, la clasificación, la medición, la explicación, la divulgación y la intervención del comportamiento de automedicación, siempre con base en la mejor evidencia científica que se disponga en cada momento. Comenzó oficialmente en 2016 como el primer (y hasta ahora el único) observatorio de la Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad del Rosario.
Direct and Spillover Effects of Quality Disclosure Regulation: Evidence from California Hospitals
Authors: Deore Aishwarrya , Holzhacker Martin , Krishnan Ranjani
Published: May 2023

Quality disclosures regarding medical outcomes such as patient mortality are common healthcare policy instruments. Mixed evidence exists on whether quality disclosures improve outcomes for disclosed ailments. Moreover, disclosure policies can generate spillovers and impact ailments not targeted by the policy. We examine the effects of quality disclosure regulation on mortality improvements in disclosed and nondisclosed ailments. We use patient records for California hospitals for 1995–2014 and construct three groups of ailments: those that were the target of disclosure regulation, complementary ailments that were not the target of disclosure regulation but are medically related to the disclosed ailments, and medically unrelated ailments. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that quality disclosure regulation is associated with declines in mortality risk of disclosed ailments ranging from 11.5% to 23%. Quality disclosure regulation is also associated with improvements for complementary ailments that are not the target of the disclosure policy. Such positive spillover effects yield an estimated 15.2% decline in mortality risk. Consistent with demand-side pressures driving improvements, market shares become sensitive to disclosed quality measures after disclosure regulation. Our findings of direct and spillover effects have implications for disclosure regulation.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, accounting.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4817 .
Non-Bayesian Statistical Discrimination
Authors: Campos-Mercade Pol , Mengel Friederike
Published: May 2023

Models of statistical discrimination typically assume that employers make rational inference from (education) signals. However, there is a large amount of evidence showing that most people do not update their beliefs rationally. We use a model and two experiments to show that employers who are conservative, in the sense of signal neglect, discriminate more against disadvantaged groups than Bayesian employers. We find that such non-Bayesian statistical discrimination deters high-ability workers from disadvantaged groups from pursuing education, further exacerbating initial group inequalities. Excess discrimination caused by employer conservatism is especially important when signals are very informative. Out of the overall hiring gap in our data, around 40% can be attributed to Bayesian statistical discrimination, a further 40% is due to non-Bayesian statistical discrimination, and the remaining 20% is unexplained or potentially taste-based.

This paper was accepted by Marie Claire Villeval, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: F. Mengel thanks the European Research Council for financial support [Starting Grant 805017]. P. Campos-Mercade acknowledges funding from the Danish National Research Foundation [Grant DNRF134 (CEBI)].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4824 .
The Career Consequences of Workplace Protest Participation: Theory and Evidence from the NFL “Take a Knee” Movement
Authors: Rheinhardt Alexandra , Poskanzer Ethan J. , Briscoe Forrest
Published: May 2023

Despite recognizing potential ramifications for employees who protest in the workplace, researchers rarely explore the career consequences that stem from such instances of workplace protest participation. We integrated research on employee activism, workplace deviance, and careers to theorize that workplace protest represents a perceived deviation from workplace norms that can influence an individual’s organizational and labor market mobility outcomes. We investigated this premise with the 2016 National Football League “take a knee” protests as a strategic research setting. The results indicate that protesting is associated with an increase in organizational exit although this effect is moderated by the degree to which the organization is sensitive to the underlying social movement (with an organization’s movement sensitivity operationalized with a four-part index composed of the team’s managers, personnel decision makers, owners, and customers). Protesting also is associated with labor market sorting across organizations as players who protest are more likely to make subsequent transitions to more movement-sensitive teams compared with players who do not protest. Overall, our findings offer contributions for research on employee activism, workplace deviance, and careers.
“We will give our blood, but not our land!”—Repertoires of resistance and state-organized land-grabbing at a Bangladeshi tea plantation
Authors: Khan Ashrafuzzaman , Lasslett Kristian
Published: May 2023

Land-grabbing is an international issue closely associated with conflict and violence, as communities confront, through prolonged struggles, powerful elite networks involved in the illicit transformation of space. Resistance to land confiscations can be a life-and-death struggle especially for poor rural and urban communities whose livelihoods are tied to the targeted land. Because these struggles are often marked by corruption, state violence, and the persecution of already marginalized populations, they have become an area of emerging interest for state crime and state-corporate crime scholars. However, there is only introductory data mapping how communities resist land-grabs engineered through illegitimate state-corporate activity. Against this backdrop the following paper analyses a case of community resistance to land-grabs in Bangladesh using a contentious politics framework and the concept of land-laundering. The structure and activity of this resistance has been mapped through interviews with stakeholders involved in this struggle, complemented by documentary research.
Multi-key optical encryption based on two-channel incoherent scattering imaging
Authors: Ji ZhongYe , Chang Jun , Huang Yi , Wu YuNan , Cao JiaJing , Zhang JianPing , Jiang HuiLin
Published: May 2023

Optical encryption has been extensively researched in the field of information security due to its characteristics of being parallel and multi-dimensionsal. However, most of the proposed multiple-image encryption systems suffer from a cross-talk problem. Here, we propose a multi-key optical encryption method based on a two-channel incoherent scattering imaging. In the encryption process, plaintexts are coded by the random phase mask (RPM) in each channel and then coupled by an incoherent superposition to form the output ciphertexts. In the decryption process, the plaintexts, keys, and ciphertexts, are treated as a system of two linear equations with two unknowns. By utilizing the principles of linear equations, the issue of cross-talk can be mathematically resolved. The proposed method enhances the security of the cryptosystem through the quantity and order of the keys. Specifically, the key space is significantly expanded by removing the requirement of uncorrected keys. This approach provides a superior method that can be easily implemented in various application scenarios.
High orbital angular momentum lasing with tunable degree of chirality in a symmetry-broken microcavity
Authors: Qiao Zhen , Yuan Zhiyi , Zhu Song , Gong Chaoyang , Liao Yikai , Gong Xuerui , Kim Munho , Zhang Dawei , Chen Yu-Cheng
Published: May 2023

Chiral lasers with orbital angular momenta (OAM) are building blocks in developing high-dimensional integrated photonic devices. However, it remains demanding to arbitrarily manipulate the precise degree of chirality (DOC) and quantum numbers of OAM in microscale lasers. This study reports a strategy to generate OAM microlasers with tunable DOCs and large quantum numbers through a ring-structured Fabry–Perot microcavity with nanoscale symmetry-broken geometry. By exploiting the uneven potential of photons distributed in a microcavity, the dissymmetry factor of OAM laser can be continuously tuned from −1 to +1 by manipulating optical pump positions. High-order OAM with tunable quantum numbers were also demonstrated, in which the largest quantum number reached up to 352. Finally, multivortex laser generation on-chip in spatial and temporal domains was accomplished. This study reveals the fundamental physics of symmetry-broken cavity and provides a simple yet scalable approach for manipulating the chirality of OAM microlasers, offering insights for high-dimensional information processing and optical communications.
Population pharmacokinetics of benznidazole in neonates, infants and children using a new pediatric formulation
Authors: Altcheh Jaime , Moscatelli Guillermo , Caruso Martin , Moroni Samanta , Bisio Margarita , Miranda Maria Rosa , Monla Celia , Vaina Maria , Valdez Maria , Moran Lucrecia , Ramirez Teresa , Patiño Oscar Ledesma , Riarte Adelina , Gonzalez Nicolas , Fernandes Jayme , Alves Fabiana , Ribeiro Isabela , Garcia-Bournissen Facundo
Published: May 2023

Background

There is a major need for information on pharmacokinetics (PK) of benznidazole (BNZ) in children with Chagas disease (CD). We conducted a multicentre population PK, safety and efficacy study in children, infants and neonates with CD treated with BNZ (formulated in 100 mg tablets or 12.5 mg dispersible tablets, developed by the pharmaceutical company LAFEPE, in a collaboration with DNDi).

Methods

81 children 0–12 years old were enrolled at 5 pediatric centers in Argentina. Diagnosis of T. cruzi infection was confirmed by direct microscopic examination, or at least two positive conventional serological tests. Subject enrolment was stratified by age: newborns to 2 years (minimum of 10 newborns) and >2–12 years. BNZ 7.5 mg/kg/d was administered in two daily doses for 60 days. Five blood samples per child were obtained at random times within pre-defined time windows at Day 0 at 2–5 h post-dose; during steady state, one sample at Day 7 and at Day 30; and two samples at 12–24 h after final BNZ dose at Day 60. The primary efficacy endpoint was parasitological clearance by qualitative PCR at the end of treatment.

Results

Forty-one (51%) patients were under 2 years of age (including 14 newborns <1 month of age). Median age at enrolment was 22 months (mean: 43.2; interquartile range (IQR) 7–72 months). The median measured BNZ Cmax was 8.32 mg/L (IQR 5.95–11.8; range 1.79–19.38). Median observed BNZ Cmin (trough) concentration was 2 mg/L (IQR 1.25–3.77; range 0.14–7.08). Overall median simulated Css was 6.3 mg/L (IQR 4.7–8.5 mg/L). CL/F increased quickly during the first month of postnatal life and reached adult levels after approximately 10 years of age. Negative qPCR was observed at the end of treatment in all 76 patients who completed the treatment. Five patients discontinued treatment (3 due to AEs and 2 due to lack of compliance).

Conclusion

We observed lower BNZ plasma concentrations in infants and children than those previously reported in adults treated with comparable mg/kg doses. Despite these lower concentrations, pediatric treatment was well tolerated and universally effective, with a high response rate and infrequent, mild AEs.

Trial registration

Registered in clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01549236.
Exceptional X-Ray contrast: Radiography imaging of a Middle Triassic mixosaurid from Svalbard
Authors: Engelschiøn Victoria S. , Roberts Aubrey J. , With Ruben , Hammer Øyvind
Published: May 2023

The black shales of the Middle Triassic Botneheia Formation in Svalbard are known for their fossil richness with abundant ichthyosaur remains and beds of the bivalve Daonella. Vertebrate remains from the Muen Mountain on Edgeøya are shown to have exceptional X-ray contrast due to a combination of sulphide and sulphate permineralisation and pseudomorphing. Radiography imaging of a previously described specimen, PMO 219.250, revealed new and spectacular details such as more carpals, teeth, and skull sutures. Teeth and skull characters are taxonomically significant. supporting the referral of PMO 219.250 to Phalarodon and further suggesting an affinity to P. atavus. Three sulphur phases were identified, with the sulphide sphalerite (ZnS) being the highest temperature phase, followed by the sulphate baryte (BaSO4), and the sulphide pyrite (FeS2). Sulphate permineralisation is also seen in specimens from the Upper Jurassic on Svalbard. We suggest that sulphur-rich fluids have flowed and dissolved barium from the shales and deposited the sphalerite and baryte, and that this could be linked to the Cretaceous HALIP. The Jurassic specimens are only permineralised by baryte, while the Triassic specimens have also been permineralised, but mainly pseudomorphed by baryte with crystals of sphalerite. Lithology differences appear to have controlled the compaction of the Triassic specimens, while the Jurassic specimens have retained their three-dimensional shape due to the baryte emplacement relatively earlier in their depositional history. Although soft tissues are not preserved, the excellent X-ray contrast in the Middle Triassic specimens is reminiscent of pyritised fossil sites such as the Hunsrück Slate (Devonian), Beecher’s Trilobite Bed (Ordovician), and the La Voulte-sur-Rhône marls (Jurassic).
Phenotypic clines in herbivore resistance and reproductive traits in wild plants along an agricultural gradient
Authors: Schroeder Hayley , Grab Heather , Poveda Katja
Published: May 2023

The conversion of natural landscapes to agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. While many studies examine how landscape modification affects species diversity, a trait-based approach can provide new insights into species responses to environmental change. Wild plants persisting in heavily modified landscapes provide a unique opportunity to examine species’ responses to land use change. Trait expression within a community plays an important role in structuring species interactions, highlighting the potential implications of landscape mediated trait changes on ecosystem functioning. Here we test the effect of increasing agricultural landscape modification on defensive and reproductive traits in three commonly occurring Brassicaceae species to evaluate plant responses to landscape change. We collected seeds from populations at spatially separated sites with variation in surrounding agricultural land cover and grew them in a greenhouse common garden, measuring defensive traits through an herbivore no-choice bioassay as well as reproductive traits such as flower size and seed set. In two of the three species, plants originating from agriculturally dominant landscapes expressed a consistent reduction in flower size and herbivore leaf consumption. One species also showed reduced fitness associated with increasingly agricultural landscapes. These findings demonstrate that wild plants are responding to landscape modification, suggesting that the conversion of natural landscapes to agriculture has consequences for wild plant evolution.
Change of urban and rural construction land and driving factors of arable land occupation
Authors: Zhao Suxia , Yin Mengmeng
Published: May 2023

Under the background of global urbanization, the continuous expansion and extensive utilization of urban and rural construction land has caused a large amount of arable land to be occupied, which seriously threatens national food security. This paper describes the spatio-temporal patterns of urban and rural construction land expansion and its occupation of arable land by using the urban and rural construction land expansion intensity, the urban and rural construction land expansion intensity difference index, and geo-detector model. It also explores the mechanisms through which the arable land was occupied. Results showed that construction land in both urban and rural areas expanded over the period 2009–2018 despite a large number of rural and urban migrants, and the major contributor to the rapid urbanization in China. This dual expansion could mainly be attributed to the tendency of these migrants to keep or even enlarge their rural construction land, which also resulted in a severer arable land loss than that caused by the expansion of urban construction land. Second, the rate of arable land occupied by urban and rural construction land in Henan province has been gradually slowing down, whereas the expansion of rural construction land is most dependent on arable land occupation. Third, according to the geo-detector model, the relationship between urbanization level and arable land occupied by urban and rural construction was the strongest, followed by the growth rate of fixed asset investment and the proportion of secondary and tertiary industries in GDP.
Ensemble learning-based radiomics with multi-sequence magnetic resonance imaging for benign and malignant soft tissue tumor differentiation
Authors: Lee Seungeun , Lee So-Yeon , Jung Joon-Yong , Nam Yoonho , Jeon Hyeon Jun , Jung Chan-Kwon , Shin Seung-Han , Chung Yang-Guk
Published: May 2023

Many previous studies focused on differentiating between benign and malignant soft tissue tumors using radiomics model based on various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, but it is still unclear how to set up the input radiomic features from multiple MRI sequences. Here, we evaluated two types of radiomics models generated using different feature incorporation strategies. In order to differentiate between benign and malignant soft tissue tumors (STTs), we compared the diagnostic performance of an ensemble of random forest (R) models with single-sequence MRI inputs to R models with pooled multi-sequence MRI inputs. One-hundred twenty-five STT patients with preoperative MRI were retrospectively included and consisted of training (n = 100) and test (n = 25) sets. MRI included T1-weighted (T1-WI), T2-weighted (T2-WI), contrast-enhanced (CE)-T1-WI, diffusion-weighted images (DWIs, b = 800 sec/mm2) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. After tumor segmentation on each sequence, 100 original radiomic features were extracted from each sequence image and divided into three-feature sets: T features from T1- and T2-WI, CE features from CE-T1-WI, and D features from DWI and ADC maps. Four radiomics models were built using Lasso and R with four combinations of three-feature sets as inputs: T features (R-T), T+CE features (R-C), T+D features (R-D), and T+CE+D features (R-A) (Type-1 model). An ensemble model was built by soft voting of five, single-sequence-based R models (Type-2 model). AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each model was calculated with five-fold cross validation. In Type-1 model, AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.752, 71.8%, 61.1%, and 67.2% in R-T; 0.756, 76.1%, 70.4%, and 73.6% in R-C; 0.750, 77.5%, 63.0%, and 71.2% in R-D; and 0.749, 74.6%, 61.1%, and 68.8% R-A models, respectively. AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Type-2 model were 0.774, 76.1%, 68.5%, and 72.8%. In conclusion, an ensemble method is beneficial to incorporate features from multi-sequence MRI and showed diagnostic robustness for differentiating malignant STTs.
La adaptación del politainment a YouTube: El uso de los partidos políticos españoles durante la campaña electoral de abril de 2019
Authors: Tamayo Sanz Mario Daniel , Rebolledo de la Calle Marta , Serrano Puche Javier
Published: May 2023

El concepto de politainment alude a la progresiva adaptación por parte de actores políticos y mediáticos a la lógica de la cultura del entretenimiento. Este fenómeno ha sido extensamente estudiado en el medio en el que nació, el televisivo; sin embargo, conforme las plataformas digitales ganan un mayor protagonismo como fuente de información política, el politainment ha encontrado en ellas un nuevo espacio en el que desarrollarse. Así, ciertas técnicas relacionadas con este fenómeno se presentan ante los partidos políticos como una forma sencilla de acercar sus mensajes a nuevas audiencias. Este trabajo busca demostrar la creciente traslación y adaptación del politainment a plataformas digitales como YouTube, además de analizar su uso como recurso electoral por parte de los principales partidos políticos españoles. Se ha llevado a cabo en un análisis de contenido de una muestra de los vídeos subidos a YouTube por los cinco principales partidos políticos españoles durante el periodo electoral de las elecciones generales de abril de 2019. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el uso de técnicas de politainment no es aún mayoritaria en la plataforma en su conjunto, pero que existen importantes diferencias en el grado en el que los distintos partidos recurren a las mismas.
Dietas mediáticas de adultos mayores peruanos para informarse, educarse y entretenerse: estudio exploratorio
Authors: Mateus Julio-César , Cappello Giancarlo , Vargas-Bianchi Lizardo
Published: May 2023

A partir de un estudio de panel a nivel nacional, este artículo explora las dietas mediáticas de la población mayor de 60 años en el Perú. Los estudios que abordan este grupo etario son escasos y se limitan a examinar las audiencias. Para llenar este vacío, nuestra investigación caracteriza el uso, las motivaciones y expectativas de los adultos mayores usuarios de medios. La muestra final está compuesta por 145 casos distribuidos por género, nivel socioeconómico y ubicación geográfica procedentes de todo el país. Se diseñó un cuestionario ad-hoc de 30 ítems basado en la teoría de Usos y Gratificaciones, el cual fue aplicado mediante la técnica del panel sampling. Se hallaron preferencias de medios para cada finalidad estudiada: el smartphone para entretenerse, la televisión para informarse y la computadora para educarse. Además, consumos diferenciados en relación con las variables descritas que obedecen a condiciones vitales, limitaciones de acceso y conectividad, así como alfabetización mediática de este grupo poblacional. Se sugieren futuros trabajos que aborden variables mediadoras específicas en las motivaciones y necesidades de la población adulta mayor.
Palabras mayores. La necesidad de los estudios etarios en comunicación para un cambio social
Authors: Guarinos Virginia , Medina Raquel
Published: May 2023

Los Estudios Etarios en Comunicación, como parte de los Estudios Culturales, son muy recientes en España y otros países de Europa y América Latina. La influencia anglosajona y el aumento de la conciencia y necesidad de poner el foco en ello han posibilitado que en la última década académicas y académicos comiencen a volcar sus intereses investigadores en libros monográficos, colectivos sobre todo, y artículos en revistas científicas. A ello se suma que la incidencia de la pandemia global sufrida en 2020 puso en primera línea a las personas mayores como víctimas no solo de la propia enfermedad COVID-19, también de otro padecimiento social: el del edadismo explícito en sus diversas manifestaciones. En este artículo se da cuenta de ello y de los avances que, especialmente en España, se han ido produciendo en los últimos años con respecto a ello y se presentan las aportaciones de esta monografía, pionera en el territorio investigador español.
Conservation at Stake: Institutionalized Environmentalisms and Indigenous Knowledges About How to Protect the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Thomaz Sandroni Laila
Published: May 2023

This paper aims to compare two different sets of solutions on best pathways for biodiversity conservation present in a specific territory in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia.  We look specifically at three interconnected administrative instances:  the Tupinambá de Olivença Indigenous Land; the Una Biological Reserve; and the Una Wildlife Refuge. We show that different perspectives regarding what it means to preserve nature come into focus in this territory. These are intertwined with power relations that highlight the inequality in the legitimacy of different groups in decision making for environmental governance. We map the causes and solutions for biodiversity degradation proposed by two contrasting narratives: the Indigenous perspective and the institutionalized western science-based environmentalism developed by state agencies and non-governmental organizations that work with conservation projects in the region. We expect to equalize these contrasting perspectives that are commonly seen in hierarchical terms. We conclude by advocating for managing combinations of diverse sets of knowledge and for pluralism in conservation efforts that accounts for underlying power relations.
Doing Conservation Differently: Toward a Diverse Conservations Inventory
Authors: Gillette Maris , Shebitz Daniela , Singleton Benedict
Published: May 2023

Many scientists and environmental activists argue that the scale and scope of contemporary conservation must increase dramatically if we are to halt biodiversity declines and sustain a healthy planet. Yet conservation as currently practiced has faced significant critique for its reliance on reductionist science, advocacy of “fortress”-like preservation measures that disproportionately harm marginalized communities, and integration into the global capitalist system that is the root cause of environmental degradation. The contributions to this special issue, developed from a panel at the Anthropology and Conservation conference co-hosted by the Royal Anthropological Institute and the Society of Ethnobiology in October 2021, collectively argue for what we, borrowing from Gibson-Graham’s diverse economies framework, call “doing conservation differently.” By bringing marginalized, hidden, and alternative conservation activities to light, researchers can contribute, in the spirit of Gibson-Graham’s work, to making these diverse conservations more real and credible as objects of policy and activism. This special issue contributes to inventorying the diverse conservations that already exist, which opens new spaces for ethical intervention and collective action.
The Challenges of Symmetrical Dialogue: Reflections on Collaborative Research in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Bollettin Paride , El-Hani Charbel N. , Ludwig David
Published: May 2023

This article explores ways to promote symmetrical dialogue among knowledge-practices of artisanal fishing communities, primary education teachers, and academic researchers in the state of Bahia, Brazil. We describe multiple engagements in an inter- and transdisciplinary project that integrates research, educational, and conservation activities in two communities living in an estuarine ecosystem. Most community members dedicate their efforts to fishing activities, harboring wide knowledge about local biocultural diversity. The project promotes collaborative inclusion of local expertise and knowledge in school activities, while also striving for the inhabitants’ inclusion in the planning of protected areas. The collaboration aims at symmetrical dialogues between researchers and communities that support self-determination in local school education and biodiversity conservation. Challenges to such symmetrization, including disagreements and tensions among diverse actors, not only appear in encounters of local and academic knowledge, but also within the interdisciplinary project involving natural sciences, social sciences, and philosophy.
The imaginary part thermodynamics chemistry
Authors: ALELAIMAT ABDUL KAREEM
Published: May 2023

This research is a one research of my institutional diploma dissertation done to detecting of the imaginary part of the nature by using thermodynamics chemistry analysis of the hyper universe and the system and the surrounding of the nature as it determined theoritically then determined the rights by using different methodologies are the observations, the protyping and the experimental analysis.
Teacher Residency as a Path to Teacher Diversity
Authors: Reichenberg Jennifer , Lochte Hilary , Kindzierski Corinne , Ende Alayla , Maskell Diana , Elias Crystal , Henry Julie
Published: May 2023

This phenomenological qualitative study examined the experiences of graduate-level teacher candidates enrolled in teacher residency programs and serving as teacher aides or assistants (TAs). Some participants were graduate-level teacher candidates already employed as TAs in a large urban district and enrolled in an Urban Pipeline Residency Program, a state-funded diversity initiative designed to increase the number of teachers from underrepresented groups by supporting TAs to pursue teacher certification. Additional participants were enrolled in the Traditional Residency Program and completed residencies in other local districts. Survey and interview data from TA/teacher candidates, mentors, and instructors showed that TA/teacher candidates in both groups experienced conflicting roles and identities, balanced demands of different classroom settings, lacked access to knowledge and materials, and balanced demands on their time. Informed by role theory, identity work, and culturally responsive pedagogy, this study suggests that programs for TA/teacher candidates may benefit from negotiating these tensions through: 1) support for TA/teacher candidates to develop their identities as teachers to address "role conflict", 2) strong communication protocols to address "role clarity", and 3) increased access to tools and knowledge to address "role enactment".
Faecal biomarkers of neutrophil and eosinophil origin reflect the response to biological therapy and corticosteroids in patients with IBD
Authors: Lundström Maria Ling , Peterson Christer , Lampinen Maria , Hedin Charlotte R. H. , Keita Åsa V , Kruse Robert , Magnusson Maria K , Lindqvist Carl Mårten , Repsilber Dirk , D’Amato Mauro , Hjortswang Henrik , Strid Hans , Rönnblom Anders ,   BIOIBD consortium, Söderholm Johan D , Öhman Lena , Venge Per , Halfvarson Jonas , Carlson Marie
Published: May 2023

Background:

Faecal calprotectin (FC) is a non-invasive tool for examining response to biologics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but its performance in relation to other novel faecal markers of various cellular origins is unknown.

Methods:

We performed a prospective multicentre cohort study and included patients with active IBD who provided a faecal sample at initiation of biological therapy. Levels of FC, myeloperoxidase (MPO), human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) were analysed and related to clinical remission status at 3 months. Changes in levels of markers at 3 months were calculated and the impact of concomitant use of corticosteroids at baseline was estimated.

Results:

In patients achieving clinical remission (n=27), a decrease in levels of FC (p=0.005), MPO (p<0.001), HNL (p<0.001) and EDN (p<0.001) was observed, whereas no significant decrease was seen in patients not achieving remission (n=39). There was a significant difference in the change in the level of MPO (p=0.01) and HNL (p=0.02) between patients achieving clinical remission compared with those who did not, but changes in FC and EDN could not differentiate between these groups. Patients with concomitant systemic corticosteroids at inclusion had lower levels of HNL (p=0.01) and EDN (p<0.001) at baseline, compared with patients without corticosteroids.

Conclusion:

Faecal MPO, HNL, and EDN are all promising biomarkers for assessing the treatment outcome of biologics in patients with IBD. Faecal levels of EDN and HNL are significantly affected by corticosteroids indicating a greater sensitivity to the effects of corticosteroids compared with FC and MPO.
Data Integration Framework to Collect Data from OT/IT Systems
Authors: Szűcs Balázs
Published: May 2023

Industry 4.0 and industrial data processing, due to its inherent possibilities, is gaining more and more emphasis in production companies these days. In a corporate environment, the age of equipment is extremely heterogeneous, in addition to state-of-the-art equipment, legacy systems can also be found in the machine park, which do not have appropriate communication protocols. Also, with the increase in the number of data sources, the management of data is becoming more and more challenging. Not only the operational technology, but also the connection of different IT systems and the extraction of data pose challenges. The different data processing use-cases using partly or entirely the same data sources, so it is necessary to extract and transmit the data to the target systems in a standard way, and avoiding an increase in the number of point-to-point interfaces. In this work we present a possible framework, to solve the above mentioned problems in industrial environment, with the introduction of standardized naming conventions, OT/IT gateways, data integration and distribution layers.
Book review: Principles of karst hydrogeology – conceptual models, time series analysis, hydrogeo-chemistry and groundwater exploitation, by Antonio Pulido-Bosch, 2021. Springer International Publishing, 369 pages. eBook price: 50,28 EUR, ISBN 978-3-030-55370-8
Authors: Motyka Jacek , D’Obyrn Kajetan
Published: May 2023

Not provided.
A family of Apostol–Euler polynomials associated with Bell polynomials
Authors: Khan Nabiullah , Husain Saddam
Published: May 2023

Many authors investigated the characteristics of the Bell, Euler, Bernoulli, and Genocchi polynomials because of their numerous uses in statistics, number theory, and other branches of science. A generating function for mixed-type Apostol–Euler polynomials of order η related with Bell polynomials is presented in this study. We also construct essential identities of Apostol–Euler polynomials of order η connected with Bell polynomials, such as the correlation formula, the implicit summation formula, the derivative formula, some association with Stirling numbers, and specific cases. Also we establish certain symmetric identities and their known consequences. In addition, we investigate several interesting relationships related to umbral calculus.
Some finite integrals involving Mittag-Leffler confluent hypergeometric function
Authors: Pal Ankit
Published: May 2023

In this work, we propose some unified integral formulas for the Mittag-Leffler confluent hypergeometric function (MLCHF), and our findings are assessed in terms of generalized special functions. Additionally, certain unique cases of confluent hypergeometric function have been corollarily presented.
Assessment of essential elements and heavy metals in Saudi Arabian rice samples underwent various processing methods
Authors: Al-Harbi Hanan F. , Al-Mohaimeed Amal M. , El-Tohamy Maha F.
Published: May 2023

Environmental, soil, and groundwater pollution from toxic heavy metals, as well as food safety are all global concerns nowadays. The effect of various processes viz. washing, soaking, and cooking of rice samples (ten rice varieties, 50 samples) on the concentration of essential elements and toxic heavy metals was determined using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry technique. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Ni were found to be below the maximum permissible levels. The range of mean concentrations of metals (mg/kg) was recorded as Al (15.495–8.151), Fe (10.358–7.499), Ni (0.399–0.176), Cu (4.518–2.615), Zn (28.635–12.880), As (0.152–0.042), Cd (0.233–0.038), Pb (0.713–0.417), Ti (2.157 > 0.521), Sn (1.406–0.016), and W (1.114–0.017) mg/kg. Pt and Ag metals were not found in all samples. Soaking rice for 2 h was one of the most successful techniques for lowering heavy metal concentrations, followed by overnight soaking, which aided in the elimination of Al, Cd, Pb, and Pb. Heavy metal exposure has a significant impact on human health. This study creates a promising view to use a simple and accurate detection method for minimizing the effect of different processing methods on the essential elements and heavy metal contents.
On the collapsing of Calabi–Yau manifolds and Kähler–Ricci flows
Authors: Li Yang , Tosatti Valentino
Published: May 2023

We study the collapsing of Calabi–Yau metrics and of Kähler–Ricci flows on fiber spaces where the base is smooth.
We identify the collapsed Gromov–Hausdorff limit of the Kähler–Ricci flow when the divisorial part of the discriminant locus has simple normal crossings.
In either setting, we also obtain an explicit bound for the real codimension-2 Hausdorff measure of the Cheeger–Colding singular set and identify a sufficient condition from birational geometry to understand the metric behavior of the limiting metric on the base.
On the numerical solvability of the initial problem with weight for ordinary linear differential systems with singularities
Authors: Anjaparidze Besarion , Ashordia Malkhaz , Kublashvili Murman
Published: May 2023

The effective sufficient conditions are established for the numerical approximation of solutions of
the initial problem with weight for linear systems of ordinary differential equations with singularities.