bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-randomization Differences in Condomless Vaginal Sex Among Women Randomized to Intramuscular Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Injections, a Copper Intrauterine Device or a Levonorgestrel Implant in the ECHO Trial
Authors: Deese Jennifer , Chen Pai Lien , Gao Xiaoming , Heffron Renee , Hobbs Marcia , Lapple Dana , Jaspan Heather , Miller Ashley , Nair Gonasagrie , Onono Maricianah , Palanee-Phillips Thesla , Reddy Krishnaveni , Steiner Markus J.
Published: November 2022

The Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial found no substantial difference in HIV acquisition risk between women randomised to injectable intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) or the levonorgestrel (LNG) implant. We evaluated post-randomization sexual behavior using an objective marker of condomless vaginal sex in a subset of participants. We conducted a sub-study among 458 ECHO participants at three sites (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kisumu) to evaluate the frequency of condomless vaginal sex, measured by prostate specific antigen (PSA) detection in vaginal swabs, collected at the month 6 and final visit and the concordance of self-reported condomless vaginal sex with PSA detection, by randomized arm. We compared PSA detection frequency and concordance of PSA and self-reported condomless vaginal sex, by randomized group using Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel tests and adjusted generalized logistic growth curve models. PSA was detected less frequently in the DMPA-IM (16%), compared to the Cu-IUD (21%) and LNG implant (24%) groups, although results were not statistically significant in the unadjusted model when accounting for pre-specified multiple-testing criteria. There were significant differences in PSA detection between the DMPA-IM and LNG-implant groups (odds ratio 0.61 (95% CI 0.40, 0.94) in the adjusted model. There was moderate discordance between self-reported condomless vaginal sex and detection of PSA that was similar across randomized groups. These data suggest that women randomized to Cu-IUD and LNG implant may have had condomless sex more frequently than women randomized to DMPA-IM. The discordance between detectable PSA and self-reported sexual behaviour has important implications for design of future HIV prevention studies.
On stratified sampling for estimating coalitional values
Authors: Saavedra-Nieves A.
Published: November 2022

This paper addresses two sampling methodologies to respectively estimate the Owen value and the Banzhaf–Owen value for TU-games with a priori unions. Both proposals are based on stratified sampling on the set of those coalitions that are compatible with the system of unions according to their cardinalities. These sampling methodologies are analysed in terms of the theoretical properties and of the establishment of bounds for the absolute error from a statistical point of view. Finally, we evaluate the performance of these tools on several real well-known examples in the literature.
Diversity, fragmentation, and connectivity across the UK amphibian and reptile data management landscape
Authors: Turner Rebecca K. , Griffiths Richard A. , Wilkinson John W. , Julian Angela M. , Toms Mike P. , Isaac Nick J. B.
Published: November 2022

Large-scale biodiversity monitoring remains a challenge in science and policy. ‘Biodiversity Observation Networks’ provide an integrated infrastructure for monitoring biodiversity through timely discovery, access, and re-use of data, but their establishment relies on an in-depth understanding of existing monitoring effort. We performed a scoping review and network analysis to assess the scope of available data on amphibians and reptiles in the UK and catalogue the mobilisation of information across the data landscape, thereby highlighting existing gaps. The monitoring portfolio has grown rapidly in recent decades, with over three times as many data sources than there are amphibian and reptile species in the UK now available. We identified 45 active sources of ‘FAIR’ (‘Findable’, ‘Accessible’, ‘Interoperable’ and ‘Reusable’) data. The taxonomic, geographic and temporal coverage of datasets appears largely uneven and no single source is currently suitable for producing robust multispecies assessments on large scales. A dynamic and patchy exchange of data occurs between different recording projects, recording communities and digital data platforms. The National Biodiversity Network Atlas is a highly connected source but the scope of its data (re-)use is potentially limited by insufficient accompanying metadata. The emerging complexity and fragmented nature of this dynamic data landscape is likely to grow without a concerted effort to integrate existing activities. The factors driving this complexity extend beyond the UK and to other facets of biodiversity. We recommend integration and greater stakeholder collaboration behind a coordinated infrastructure for data collection, storage and analysis, capable of delivering comprehensive assessments for large-scale biodiversity monitoring.
Does Venture Capital Backing Improve Disclosure Controls and Procedures? Evidence from Management’s Post-IPO Disclosures
Authors: Cumming Douglas , Hass Lars Helge , Myers Linda A. , Tarsalewska Monika
Published: November 2022

Firm managers make ethical decisions regarding the form and quality of disclosure. Disclosure can have long-term implications for performance, earnings manipulation, and even fraud. We investigate the impact of venture capital (VC) backing on the quality and informativeness of disclosure controls and procedures for newly public companies. We find that these controls and procedures are stronger, as evidenced by fewer material weaknesses in internal control under Section 302 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, when companies are VC-backed. Moreover, these disclosures are informative and are more likely to be followed by subsequent financial statement restatements than are disclosures made by non-VC-backed IPO companies.
Outcomes from Individual Alpha Frequency Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Ezedinma Uchenna , Swierkowski Piotr , Fjaagesund Shauna
Published: November 2022

Aims and objectives: Individual alpha frequency (IAF) is a biomarker of neurophysiological functioning. The IAF-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (α-rTMS) is increasingly explored in diverse neurological conditions. However, there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of α-rTMS in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and methods: The IAF, childhood autism rating scale (CARS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0), and semi-structured interview data of patients that received 19 α-rTMS sessions (4 weeks) were aggregated and analysed using paired student t-test and descriptive method. Results: Data were retrieved from 28 patients (26 males, aged 3-9years (mean ± SD age: 6.1 ± 1.8years)). The post-α-rTMS data shows a significant improvement in IAF (9.4 Hz; p ≤ 0.025) towards 10 Hz. The CARS and PedsQLTM 4.0 surveys indicate that patients’ ASD symptoms and quality of life improved significantly. Specifically, reports from semi-structured interviews suggest improved sleep trouble – the most significant comorbidity. The experiences of minor side effects such as hyperactivity resolved within two hours following α-rTMS sessions. Conclusion: This study presents evidence on the efficacy and safety of α-rTMS in improving ASD symptoms, quality of life and comorbid sleep troubles in children. However, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary pending the presentation of double-blind, randomised clinical trials.
Consequences of equivalency metric design for energy transitions and climate change
Authors: Edwards Morgan R. , Trancik Jessika E.
Published: November 2022

Assessments of the climate impacts of energy technologies and other emissions sources can depend strongly on the equivalency metric used to compare short- and long-lived greenhouse gas emissions. However, the consequences of metric design choices are not fully understood, and in practice, a single metric, the global warming potential (GWP), is used almost universally. Many metrics have been proposed and evaluated in recent decades, but questions still remain about which ones perform better and why. Here, we develop new insights on how the design of equivalency metrics can impact the outcomes of climate policies. We distill the equivalency metric problem into a few key design choices that determine the metric values and shapes seen across a wide range of different proposed metrics. We examine outcomes under a hypothetical 1.5 or 2∘C policy target and discuss extensions to other policies. Across policy contexts, the choice of time parameters is particularly important. Metrics that emphasize the immediate impacts of short-lived gases such as methane can reduce rates of climate change but may require more rapid technology changes. Differences in outcomes across metrics are more pronounced when fossil fuels, with or without carbon capture and storage, play a larger role in energy transitions. By identifying a small set of consequential design decisions, these insights can help make metric choices and energy transitions more deliberate and effective at mitigating climate change.
Estimation of execution time for computing tasks
Authors: Bielecki Jan , Śmiałek Michał
Published: November 2022

This work aims to estimate the execution time of data processing tasks (specific executions of a program or an algorithm) before their execution. The paper focuses on the estimation of the average-case execution time (ACET). This metric can be used to predict the approximate cost of computations, e.g. when resource consumption in a High-Performance Computing system has to be known in advance. The presented approach proposes to create machine learning models using historical data. The models use program metadata (properties of input data) and parameters of the run-time environment as their explanatory variables. Moreover, the set of these variables can be easily expanded with additional parameters of the specific programs. The program code itself is treated as a black box. The response variable of the model is the execution time. The models have been validated within a Large-Scale Computing system that allows for a unified treatment of programs as computation modules. We present the process of training and validation for several different computation modules and discuss the suitability of the proposed models for ACET estimation in various computing environments.
Primary teachers’ attitudes towards using new technology and stimulating higher-order thinking in students: A profile analysis
Authors: Wijnen Frances , Walma van der Molen Juliette , Voogt Joke
Published: November 2022

Critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving and other so-called higher-order thinking skills are regarded as crucial for students to develop. Research shows that technology can be used as a tool to stimulate students’ higher-order thinking skills. However, most teachers rarely use new technology to stimulate students to engage in higher-order thinking. To help teachers in this, we need to gain an understanding of teachers’ attitudes towards using new technology and towards stimulating higher-order thinking. In this study, we explore these teacher attitudes by identifying teacher profiles based on primary school teachers’ attitudes (N = 659) towards (a) using new technology and (b) stimulating higher-order thinking. Results of the cluster-analysis revealed three teacher profiles. In follow-up focus group interviews with 21 participants, we found that teachers recognized the identified profiles and that the results of the cluster-analysis matched teachers’ self-chosen profiles in almost all cases. These results indicate that we can suitably characterize teachers based on their attitudes towards using new technology and stimulating higher-order thinking. Identification of these profiles may help us understand why certain groups of teachers may use new technology to stimulate students’ higher-order thinking, while other teachers might not. This might provide starting points for tailored teacher professionalization for different groups of teachers.
Effect of acidifying amendments on P availability in calcareous soils
Authors: Brownrigg Stephanie , McLaughlin Michael J. , McBeath Therese , Vadakattu Gupta
Published: November 2022

Phosphorus (P) reactions in calcareous soils limit the concentration of P in the soil solution for plant uptake. Calcareous soils with high calcium carbonate content (CaCO3) and high pH have low P fertiliser efficiency, leading to crop deficiency and limited crop productivity. The aim of this work was to test if soil acidifying amendments could reduce soil pH and improve the solubility of fertiliser P to improve crop P nutrition and biomass. Three calcareous soils with varying CaCO3 content (14–29% w/w) were used to test acidifying amendments both with and without mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP). Soil was amended with oxalic acid, sulfuric acid, glucose, ammonium sulfate and elemental sulfur (S0). Initial titrations demonstrated the ability of oxalic and sulfuric acids to reduce pH and improve P solubility in all three soils. Incubation of the acidifying amendments in the soil with the lowest carbonate content over 14 days (52 days for S0) showed increased P solubility and diffusion from MAP granules in soil amended with glucose, sulfuric acid and oxalic acid. There was, however, no improvement in P fertiliser uptake in wheat crops grown in these highly calcareous soils.
Freshwater microcrustaceans (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) on islands: a review
Authors: Hołyńska Maria , Sługocki Łukasz
Published: November 2022

Little is known about the insular diversity and its determinants in the freshwater invertebrates in comparison to land animals. Our goal is to obtain global-scale information on the insular diversity in Cyclopidae, test its relationships with the geographical variables in different types of islands, and compare the patterns to those observed in other organisms. In total 291 species and subspecies were reported in the 35 islands included in our analyses. The total and endemic species richness have strong positive correlations with surface area and maximum elevation of the islands; regression slopes are larger in the oceanic than in continental islands. Small-island effects occur in the relationships between the endemic species richness and area and elevation. Distance from mainland has negative correlations with the total and endemic species richness in the oceanic islands. Compositional similarity (in contrast to species richness) is determined by the geographic variables to only a minor extent, while space has stronger impact. The relationships found in Cyclopidae generally fit those observed in other predominantly terrestrial organisms, yet some characteristics (negative intercepts in the area–species and elevation–species relationships; large area and high elevation thresholds below which no endemic species occurs) are suggested to be specific to fresh waters.
Changing water quality and thermocline depth along an aquaculture gradient in six tropical crater lakes
Authors: Briddon Charlotte L. , Metcalfe Sarah , Taylor David , Bannister Wayne , Cunanan Melandro , Santos-Borja Adelina C. , Papa Rey Donne , McGowan Suzanne
Published: November 2022

Understanding how lakes respond to changes in nutrient loading along a productivity gradient can help identify key drivers of aquatic change, thereby allowing appropriate mitigation strategies to be developed. Physical, chemical and biological water column measurements combined with long-term water monitoring data for six closely located crater lakes, in Southeast Asia, were compared to assess the response of lakes along a productivity gradient equating to a transect of increasing aquaculture intensity. Increasing chlorophyll a (phytoplankton biomass) in the upper waters appeared to modify the thermocline depth and light availability causing a shift from a deep chlorophyll maximum at low aquaculture intensity to the emergence of algal dead zones lower in the water column with high aquaculture intensity. High phosphorus loading and light limitation from enhanced algal biomass, associated with high aquaculture intensity, exacerbated nitrogen drawdown, leading to the prevalence of potentially nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. Seasonal overturn during the cooler season resulted in low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the epilimnion, potential harmful algal blooms, a reduction in the habitable depth for fish and ultimately increased mortality amongst farmed fish.
Teachers’ practices of integrating challenging demands of inclusive mathematics education in a professional development program
Authors: Büscher Christian , Prediger Susanne
Published: November 2022

When implementing educational innovations, teachers’ approaches to integrating new teaching demands are a crucial factor in their professional development. This becomes especially important in inclusive mathematics education, where teachers are demanded to integrate two jobs: (a) create joint learning experiences for all students and (b) provide focused learning opportunities for individuals. These jobs and the orientations in which they are pursued are perceived as conflicting demands by some teachers, while others do not. Within the model of content-related teacher expertise, this qualitative study investigates teachers’ practices for integrating these demands by disentangling the interplay between teachers’ self-reported practices and their underlying orientations about inclusive education. The analysis reveals that only some teachers explicate conflicts between inclusive teaching demands. It also shows that teachers command a variety of different practices for dealing with the new teaching demands and that some complex practices can indeed integrate different demands simultaneously. Implications include the insight that professional development programs on inclusive education should pay careful attention to teachers’ articulated jobs and orientations in order to promote the integration of teaching demands. Beyond this specific professional development content, the search for practices for integrating demands arising from an interplay of jobs and orientations might be a promising professional development research approach for increasing the scope of professional development.
Fabrication of Magnetic Fe3O4/Polypyrrole/Carbon Black Nanocomposite for Effective Uptake of Congo Red and Methylene Blue Dye: Adsorption Investigation and Mechanism
Authors: Ali Heba , Ismail A. M.
Published: November 2022

In most wastewater systems, the existence of more than one dye is a reality. Herein, mesoporous iron oxide/polypyrrole/carbon black (Fe3O4/PPy/C) nanocomposite with high saturation magnetization (45.2 emu/g) has been prepared by encapsulating very fine Fe3O4 nanoparticles (4–7 nm) in PPy/C for the first time. The superior adsorption performance of the developed Fe3O4/PPy/C nanocomposite for the removal of basic dye (methylene blue, MB) and acidic dye (Congo red, CR) has been studied in single and binary systems. XRD, FESEM, EDX, HRTEM, FT-IR, VSM, BET, and zeta potential analyses were used for adsorbent characterization. XRD, EDX, and FT-IR findings confirmed the successful inclusion of Fe3O4 into the polymer matrix. The XDR and HRTEM results revealed a significant reduction in the size of the grown Fe3O4 with the addition of PPy/C, which acts as a particle growth inhibitor, and thus the nanocomposite has a greater surface area reached 341.01 m2/g relative to 210.66 m2/g and 277.59 m2/g for pure Fe3O4 and PPy/C, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm matched the experimental data quite well, with R2 and adsorption capacity of 0.994 and 500 mg/g for CR and 0.995 and 90.9 mg/g for MB, respectively. The effectiveness of Fe3O4/PPy/C nanocomposite to remove both CR and MB from binary solution reached 96.9% for CR and 95.9% for MB. In kinetic investigations, the sorption of both dyes obeyed the pseudo-second order model, where R2 equals 0.999 and 0.998 for CR and MB, respectively. Desorption tests revealed the easy separation and good efficiency of the nanocomposite after four cycles. Finally, the sorption mechanism was discussed in detail based on FTIR analysis. Therefore, the developed nanocomposite is a bi-functional, recyclable, and efficient adsorbent for environmental applications.
Knowledge Brokering Repertoires: Academic Practices at Science-Policy Interfaces as an Epistemological Bricolage
Authors: Bandola-Gill Justyna
Published: November 2022

With the rise of research impact as a ‘third’ space (next to research and teaching) within the universities in the United Kingdom and beyond, academics are increasingly expected to not only produce research but also engage in brokering knowledge beyond academia. And yet little is known about the ways in which academics shape their practices in order to respond to these new forms of institutionalised expectations and make sense of knowledge brokering as a form of academic practice. Drawing on 51 qualitative interviews with researchers and research users involved in two large knowledge brokering initiatives in the UK, this study identifies four repertoires of co-production practices: (i)Challengeto the existing policy framework, (ii)Deliberationbetween diverse stakeholders, (iii)Evidence interventionproducing of actionable knowledge, and (iv)Advocacyfor specific evidence-based options. By exploring knowledge brokering as navigation of different knowledge production regimes – traditionally academic and policy-oriented – the paper contributes to the existing debates by providing insights into the nature of navigating science-policy interactions as a process of epistemological bricolage, requiring an assemblage of different meanings, values and practices into new repertoires of practice. Importantly, the choice of a repertoire is not limited to the individual choice of a researcher but rather, it is shaped by the broader institutional context of higher education, riskinginstrumental biasin which practices oriented towards practical solutions are incentivised over critical or participatory forms of engagement.
Was evolution worth it?
Authors: Kahane Guy
Published: November 2022

The evolutionary process involved the suffering of quadrillions of sentient beings over millions of years. I argue that when we take this into account, then it is likely that when the first humans appeared, the world was already at an enormous axiological deficit, and that even on favorable assumptions about humanity, it is doubtful that we have overturned this deficit or ever will. Even if there’s no such deficit or we can overturn it, it remains the case that everything of value associated with humanity was made possible by our evolutionary history and all that animal suffering. It can seem indecent to regard all that past suffering as having been worth it simply because it was a causal precondition for our existence. But when we consider the realistic alternatives to the way evolution in fact unfolded, there is nevertheless a conditional case for regarding past sentient suffering as a kind of necessary evil.
Acting for reasons and the metaphysics of time
Authors: Pearson Olley
Published: November 2022

This paper concerns acting for reasons and how this can inform debates about the metaphysics of time. Storrs-Fox (2021) has argued against the A-theory of time on the grounds that it cannot adequately account for the explanation of actions. Storrs-Fox assumes that explanation is forever. He argues that this is incompatible with the A-theory because the reasons people act for are the explanantia of their actions, though according to the A-theory these reasons, that is facts, often do not obtain forever and therefore nor do the explanations. I will argue that many particular explanatory relations are not forever because reasons for actions must often fade as a person cannot now have a reason to do something at an earlier time. Generally, people cannot affect the past and therefore cannot have rational obligations to do so. Therefore, the A-theory does not face the problem Storrs-Fox suggests. In fact, the A-theory says what ought to be said and accounts for the wider phenomena of responding to reasons better than the B-theory. It is often the case that an agent acts rationally only if that agent acts on the basis of a present tensed belief. This implies that present tensed beliefs capture facts that no tenseless beliefs do, because the rationality of an action is determined by the reasons an agent acts for, not the beliefs through which the agent is aware of these. However, the B-theory, unlike the A-theory, denies there are any facts thus uniquely captured by present tensed beliefs.
Gigantism: microsurgical treatment by transsphenoidal approach and prognostic factors
Authors: García-Uría Santos María , Fernández Mateos Cecilia , Lucas Morante Tomás , García-Uría José
Published: November 2022

Purpose

We present the results of transsphenoidal microsurgical treatment in 14 patients with gigantism. The influence on the prognosis of factors such as the tumor size and preoperative levels of GH and IGF-1 is also quantified.

Materials and methods

The patients, operated between 1982 and 2004, were reviewed retrospectively in June 2022. All patients had complete endocrinological studies in the preoperative period and a postoperative control between 6 days and 3 weeks. Follow-up has been supported with annual check-ups between 3 and 31 years. We have compared the preoperative levels of GH and IGF-1 of these patients with the levels of a series of acromegalic patients operated on in the same Center.

Results

In this series there were 4 women and 10 men. The age ranged between 14 and 21 years. In 6 patients, postoperative hormone levels achieved the disease control criteria (42.8%). The CT/MRI studies revealed the existence of invasive tumors in 10 of the patients (71.4%). Postoperative CT/MRI showed no tumor tissue in 3 patients but in 7 patients there were tumor remains. The remaining 4 patients had abnormal images although not considered as tumor. A statistical comparison of preoperative serum GH and IGF-1 levels in patients with gigantism and patients with acromegaly showed a significant elevation in the former.

Conclusion

Pituitary adenomas that cause gigantism are generally large and invasive, which makes them difficult to cure. High preoperative levels of GH and IGF-1 are also factors that decrease remission.
The epistemological foundations of data science: a critical review
Authors: Desai Jules , Watson David , Wang Vincent , Taddeo Mariarosaria , Floridi Luciano
Published: November 2022

The modern abundance and prominence of data have led to the development of “data science” as a new field of enquiry, along with a body of epistemological reflections upon its foundations, methods, and consequences. This article provides a systematic analysis and critical review of significant open problems and debates in the epistemology of data science. We propose a partition of the epistemology of data science into the following five domains: (i) the constitution of data science; (ii) the kind of enquiry that it identifies; (iii) the kinds of knowledge that data science generates; (iv) the nature and epistemological significance of “black box” problems; and (v) the relationship between data science and the philosophy of science more generally.
Working the boundary: science–policy interactions and uneven knowledge politics in IPBES
Authors: Wiegleb Viviana , Bruns Antje
Published: November 2022

The rising demand for policy-relevant knowledge has supported the emergence of global boundary organizations at the science–policy interface. By synthesizing environmental knowledge for policy-makers, boundary organizations influence how we know and govern sustainability challenges. Therefore, it is essential to better understand what happens in and through these organizations. This paper examines the very practices that configure science–policy relations in global boundary organizations by studying the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Through Science and Technology Studies (STS) and Political Ecology perspectives, we disclose mechanisms of boundary work that demarcate science from non-science and, hereby, determine which expertise becomes authoritative in IPBES. Building on original empirical data, we first examine how science and policy domains were interrelated during the IPBES global assessment process (2016–2019). Second, we investigate how this boundary work shaped the production of biodiversity knowledge. Our findings indicate that integration and demarcation efforts configured science–policy relations through formalized and informal mechanisms. We argue that this boundary work continuously established science as authoritative voice for addressing biodiversity loss in IPBES. Spatial aspects of boundary work highlight power differentials between IPBES member States that manifested in uneven geographies of knowledge. Instead of concealing these inequalities through the norm of political neutrality, we need to recognize boundary organizations as political spaces in which science and policy are co-produced. By adopting a critical and reflexive co-productionist approach, it becomes possible to addresses uneven knowledge–power relations through more inclusive and transparent practices. Boundary organizations, such as IPBES, are then able to provide more diversified environmental explanations and transformative solutions.
Development and Investigation of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass/Zein Coatings Electrodeposited on Titanium Alloy for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Maciąg F. , Moskalewicz T. , Cholewa-Kowalska K. , Hadzhieva Z. , Dziadek M. , Łukaszczyk A. , Boccaccini A. R.
Published: November 2022

The objective of the present work was the development of cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to obtain composite coatings of mesoporous sol–gel glass (MSGG) particles embedded in a zein matrix on Ti-13Nb-13Zr substrates. To deposit robust and repeatable coatings, a direct current EPD and pulsed direct current EPD as well as the deposition kinetics were investigated, including the deposition yield and deposition rate. The stability of the suspension was determined based on the zeta potential and conductivity. Macroscopically homogeneous coatings with a thickness of about 10 µm and various volume fractions of MSGG were subjected to further examination. Coatings were uniform, exhibiting open porosity and showing excellent adhesion to the substrates. Both zein and MSGG particles revealed an amorphous structure. The coated substrates demonstrated greater resistance to electrochemical corrosion in Ringer's electrolyte in comparison with the virgin (non-coated) substrate. The coatings showed high roughness and moderate hydrophilicity. The incubation of the coated substrates in concentrated 1.5 simulated body fluid (1.5SBF) showed the formation of carbonate hydroxyapatite. The composite coatings showed improved antibacterial properties against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus bacteria compared to pure zein coatings. Electrophoretic MSGG/zein composite coatings should be further investigated in terms of their osteoconductive behavior, to confirm their suitability for medical applications in orthopedics.
Species α-diversity promotes but β-diversity restricts aboveground biomass in tropical forests, depending on stand structure and environmental factors
Authors: Abbasi Umar Aftab , Mattsson Eskil , Nissanka Sarath Premalal , Ali Arshad
Published: November 2022

Forest plays a vital role in the global biogeochemical cycles through a high rate of carbon sequestration and harboring biodiversity. However, local species diversity is declining while also becoming increasingly homogenized across communities. Although effects of local biotic processes (e.g., species α-diversity and stand structural heterogeneity) and environmental factors on aboveground biomass (AGB) have been widely tested, there is a huge knowledge gap for the effect of regional biotic processes (i.e., taxonomic and functional β-diversity) in forests. Here, we hypothesized that regional and local environmental factors along with biotic processes jointly regulate AGB through species shifts in tropical forests. Using piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM), we linked climatic water availability, soil fertility, stand structural heterogeneity (either tree DBH inequality, height inequality, or stand density), species α-diversity, taxonomic or functional β-diversity (and its two components; β-turnover and β-richness), and AGB across 189 inventory plots in tropical forests of Sri Lanka. Soil fertility and climatic water availability shaped local and regional biotic processes. Stand structural heterogeneity promoted species α-diversity but declined β-diversity (but increased β-taxonomic turnover). Species α-diversity and stand structural heterogeneity promoted AGB whereas taxonomic and functional β-diversity declined (but β-taxonomic turnover increased) AGB. The relationships of AGB with species α-diversity and β-diversity varied from significant to nonsignificant positive depending on the specific combinations of stand structural heterogeneity metrics used. This study shows that local biotic processes could increase AGB due to the local and regional niche complementarity effect whereas the regional biotic processes could restrict AGB due to the regional selection or functional redundancy effect under favorable environmental conditions. We argue that biotic homogenization, as well as drought conditions, may have strong divergent impacts on forest functions and that the impacts of tree diversity loss may greatly reduce carbon sequestration.
The Usefulness of AirSeal™ Intelligent Flow System in Gas Insufflation Total Endoscopic Thyroidectomy
Authors: Katoh Hiroshi , Ikeda Yoshifumi , Saito Yoshiyuki , Yokota Mitsuo , Kikuchi Mariko , Sengoku Norihiko , Fujisaki Kaoru , Sangai Takafumi
Published: November 2022

Total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) using low CO2 insufflation provides cosmetic advantage, excellent working space and visibility. On the contrary, suctioning blood or mist/smoke produced by energy device application causes narrowing of working space especially in neck surgery. In this regard, AirSeal intelligent flow system would be particularly suitable in TET. However, the benefit of AirSeal is unknown in TET unlike abdominal surgery. Therefore, the impact of AirSeal was evaluated in TET in this study. Twenty patients who underwent total endoscopic hemithyroidectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Insufflation was conducted by either conventional or AirSeal system according to the surgeon’s preference. Short-term surgical outcomes including operation time, bleeding, frequency of scope cleaning, and disappearance of subcutaneous emphysema were compared as well as actual visibility. AirSeal application dramatically reduced obstacle smoke/mist and prevented narrowing working space by suctioning. Frequency of scope cleaning was significantly less in AirSeal group than that in conventional group (p = 0.016). In patients with nodule < 5 cm, intraoperative hemorrhage was less in AirSeal group than that in the counterpart (p = 0.077) regardless of larger nodule size in AirSeal group (p = 0.058). Notably, subcutaneous emphysema around surgical cavity disappeared significantly earlier in AirSeal group than in the counter parts (p = 0.019). On the contrary, AirSeal application did not shorten operation time in the current study. AirSeal provided excellent visibility and seamless operation. AirSeal has great potential to decrease not only surgeon’s stress but surgical invasion on patients. The results in this study give rational to AirSeal application to TET.
Social anxiety mediates the effect of attachment to parents on friendships and loneliness during the college transition
Authors: Carcedo Rodrigo J. , Vázquez-Iglesias Pilar , Parade Stephanie , Herreros-Fraile Alicia , Hervalejo Diego
Published: November 2022

The main goal of this study was to investigate direct and indirect effects of attachment to parents on the formation of friendships, satisfaction with friends, and loneliness over the transition to college. Social anxiety and gender were tested as a possible mediator and moderator respectively. A total of 210 college freshmen at a large university in Spain participated in at a baseline assessment and a six-month follow-up assessment. Results demonstrated indirect effects of attachment to parents on ease forming friendships, satisfaction with friends, and loneliness through social anxiety, and a direct effect of attachment to loneliness. Gender did not play a moderating role. Taken together, these results suggest that programs to support the development of healthy social relationships across the college transition may be particularly beneficial for youth with challenges in familial relationships, and that screening for social anxiety may identify those students who would particularly benefit from support.
A micro-geoarchaeological view on stratigraphy and site formation processes in the Middle, Upper and Epi-Paleolithic layers of Sefunim Cave, Mt. Carmel, Israel
Authors: Friesem David E. , Shimelmitz Ron , Schumacher Mara L. , Miller Christopher E. , Kandel Andrew W.
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a micro-geoarchaeological study carried out on the sedimentary sequence exposed at the entrance of Sefunim Cave, Israel, a sequence that spans from the Middle Paleolithic to the early Epipaleolithic periods. Using FTIR and micromorphological techniques, we investigated the stratigraphic sequence to reconstruct patterns of site use and archaeological formation processes. We identified formation processes that are common among Paleolithic caves sites in the Southern Levant, mainly the deposition of localterra rossathrough colluvial sedimentation. Taphonomic disturbances of the deposits range from minimal to moderate, exhibited mainly by root and burrowing activity, but with no evidence for significant transport of archaeological materials. While the upper layers (II–III) are decalcified, the precipitation of secondary calcite results in increasing cementation of the sediments with depth in the lower layers (V–VII). We observed variation at the microscopic scale and identified an inverse correlation between human and carnivore activity throughout the layers. We observed human activity by the presence of micro-archaeological materials such as chert, bone, charcoal, rubified clay, burnt bone and shell, and wood ash. We observed carnivore activity by the presence of phosphatic grains and coprolite fragments as well as chewed and digested bones. We conclude that human activity at the site was characterized by episodes of varying intensity, based on the frequency of archaeological finds within the different layers. The alternating episodes of human and carnivore activity at Sefunim Cave may demonstrate the close-knit interactions and reciprocal relations that humans and carnivore shared at Paleolithic caves.
Clausal Forms in MaxSAT and MinSAT
Authors: Li Chu Min , Manyà Felip , Soler Joan Ramon , Vidal Amanda
Published: November 2022

We tackle the problem of reducing non-clausal MaxSAT and MinSAT to clausal MaxSAT and MinSAT. Our motivation is twofold: (i) the clausal form transformations used in SAT are unsound for MaxSAT and MinSAT, because they do not preserve the minimum or maximum number of unsatisfied clauses, and (ii) the state-of-the-art MaxSAT and MinSAT solvers require as input a multiset of clauses. The main contribution of this paper is the definition of three different cost-preserving transformations. Two transformations extend the usual equivalence preserving transformation used in SAT to MaxSAT and MinSAT. The third one extends the well-known Tseitin transformation. Furthermore, we report on an empirical comparison of the performance of the proposed transformations when solved with a state-of-the-art MaxSAT solver.
Effects of second-order dispersion of ultrashort laser pulse on stimulated Raman scattering
Authors: Deng Yanqing , Yue Dongning , Luo Mufei , Zhao Xu , Li Yaojun , Ge Xulei , Liu Feng , Weng Suming , Chen Min , Yuan Xiaohui , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2022

The influence of second-order dispersion (SOD) on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in the interaction of an ultrashort intense laser with plasma was investigated. More significant backward SRS was observed with the increase of the absolute value of SOD (

$\mid \kern-1pt\!{\psi}_2\!\kern-1pt\mid$

). The integrated intensity of the scattered light is positively correlated to the driver laser pulse duration. Accompanied by the side SRS, filaments with different angles along the laser propagation direction were observed in the transverse shadowgraph. A model incorporating Landau damping and above-threshold ionization was developed to explain the SOD-dependent angular distribution of the filaments.
Compulsive buying behavior and its association with emotional distress, depression, and impulsivity in general population: an online survey
Authors: Mishra Sudha , Singh Amit , Kar Sujita Kumar , Ganesan Srinivasan
Published: November 2022

Background

Compulsive buying behavior or pathological buying is increasingly being recognized as a psychiatric disorder, and various psychosocial factors have been proposed to contribute to this problem. This study aimed to identify the association between compulsive buying behavior, stress, anxiety, depression, and impulsivity.

Methods

This cross-sectional, online survey used Google Forms to collect sociodemographic and clinical details of the participants between June 2021 and August 2021. In addition, they were evaluated on Pathological Buying Screener, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 (DASS-21), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – Brief (BIS-Brief).

Results

Out of 426 participants with valid responses, 169 (39.7%) qualified for pathological buying. The participant groups “with” and “without” pathological buying were comparable on sociodemographic characteristics, the preferred mode of shopping, and daily Internet use duration. Those “with” pathological buying scored significantly higher on DASS-21 and BIS-Brief. Both DASS-21 and BIS-Brief scores were predictors of pathological buying scores.

Conclusions

There is a significant association between pathological buying, psychological distress, and impulsivity.
Awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy among medical students and interns in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bin Abdulrahman Khalid A. , Alharbi Majed Ghanem , Alzeer Abdulmajeed Mansour
Published: November 2022

Background:

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition. It affects around 1% of the global population. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional observational study. An online questionnaire was distributed to medical students in their clinical and preclinical years and interns at Riyadh’s four public universities. Then a comparison was made to see whether attending more courses in medical school would influence the students’ knowledge and attitudes.

Results:

In the present study, 95% of medical students had heard about epilepsy or convulsive seizures (a significantly larger proportion of clinical students had heard about epilepsy than preclinical students (99.0% versus 92%, P-value = 0.000)). Furthermore, 34.0% believed that epilepsy could be treated. Moreover, 79.1% of those polled claimed that brain disease originated from epilepsy, followed by genetic factors (64.1%) and convulsions (92.3%) as the most common symptoms.

Conclusion:

Regarding medical students’ awareness of epilepsy, it turns out that it is good and better than reported in other research, especially among clinical students rather than preclinical students, who have a negative attitude toward epileptic patients. Consequently, there is a need to further development of their knowledge throughout future campaigns and conferences, and curricula that should be tailored to help improve awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy.
Evaluation of the N2O Rate of Change to Understand the Stratospheric Brewer‐Dobson Circulation in a Chemistry‐Climate Model
Authors: Minganti Daniele , Chabrillat Simon , Errera Quentin , Prignon Maxime , Kinnison Douglas E. , Garcia Rolando R. , Abalos Marta , Alsing Justin , Schneider Matthias , Smale Dan , Jones Nicholas , Mahieu Emmanuel
Published: November 2022

The Brewer‐Dobson Circulation (BDC) determines the distribution of long‐lived tracers in the stratosphere; therefore, their changes can be used to diagnose changes in the BDC. We evaluate decadal (2005–2018) trends of nitrous oxide (N2O) in two versions of the Whole Atmosphere Chemistry‐Climate Model (WACCM) by comparing them with measurements from four Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) ground‐based instruments, the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE‐FTS), and with a chemistry‐transport model (CTM) driven by four different reanalyses. The limited sensitivity of the FTIR instruments can hide negative N2O trends in the mid‐stratosphere because of the large increase in the lowermost stratosphere. When applying ACE‐FTS measurement sampling on model datasets, the reanalyses from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) compare best with ACE‐FTS, but the N2O trends are consistently exaggerated. The N2O trends obtained with WACCM disagree with those obtained from ACE‐FTS, but the new WACCM version performs better than the previous above the Southern Hemisphere in the stratosphere. Model sensitivity tests show that the decadal N2O trends reflect changes in the stratospheric transport. We further investigate the N2O Transformed Eulerian Mean (TEM) budget in WACCM and in the CTM simulation driven by the latest ECMWF reanalysis. The TEM analysis shows that enhanced advection affects the stratospheric N2O trends in the Tropics. While no ideal observational dataset currently exists, this model study of N2O trends still provides new insights about the BDC and its changes because of the contribution from relevant sensitivity tests and the TEM analysis.
Estimates of the Potential Indirect Damage to China by Restricting Energy Increase to Peak Carbon Emissions
Authors: Huang Chengfang , Li Ning , Zhang Zhengtao , Liu Fenggui
Published: November 2022

Balanced against this increase in energy demand are energy security and climate warming issues. Restricting the increase in energy demand for peaking carbon emissions will not only directly affect production in sectors but also cause a broader indirect economic impact through intricate industrial linkages. Under the two requirements of adapting to warming and peaking carbon emissions before 2030, we accordingly constructed developmental and restrictive scenarios of China and improved the adaptive Input–Output model from the demand side to evaluate the indirect economic impact. The main findings were as follows: (a) the increase in end‐use demand for conventional energy in 2030 will be 24.43% of energy consumption in 2017 (TEC2017) under the restrictive scenario, and the reduction of this increase will be about 42.98% of TEC2017 in comparison with the developmental scenario. (b) Due to this reduction, the possible indirect damage in 2030 will be 14.96% of the GDP in 2017, and the clean energy level in 2030 will be 20 times the hydropower generation in 2017, which can offset this damage. (c) The industrial sector with high output and high energy will suffer the most indirect damage. The quantitative results demonstrate the great challenges that China will face in clean energy transition.