bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of the mouse model and molar amount of injected ligand on the tissue distribution profile of PSMA radioligands
Authors: Tschan Viviane J. , Borgna Francesca , Schibli Roger , Müller Cristina
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Various preclinical study designs are described in the literature for the evaluation of PSMA radioligands. In this study, [177Lu]Lu-Ibu-DAB-PSMA, an albumin-binding radioligand, and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 were investigated and compared under variable experimental conditions.

Methods

In vitro cell uptake studies were performed with PC-3 PIP and LNCaP tumor cells using a range of molar concentrations (0.75–500 nM) of both radioligands. Biodistribution and SPECT/CT imaging studies were carried out with the respective tumor mouse models using 0.05 nmol and 1.0 nmol injected ligand per mouse.

Results

In both tumor cell lines, the uptake of the radioligands was increased when using low molar concentrations of the respective ligand. The observed saturation effect at high ligand concentrations was more pronounced for LNCaP cells that express PSMA at lower levels than for PC-3 PIP cells. At all investigated timepoints, the in vivo uptake of both radioligands was higher in PC-3 PIP tumors than in LNCaP tumors. A low molar amount of injected ligand increased the PC-3 PIP tumor uptake mainly for [177Lu]Lu-Ibu-DAB-PSMA; however, the molar amount of ligand was relevant for both radioligands when using LNCaP tumors. Renal retention of both radioligands was, however, up to fourfold higher during the first hours after application of a low ligand amount compared to the high ligand amount.

Conclusion

The results of this preclinical study underline the relevance of the tumor model and applied ligand amount for the characterization of PSMA radioligands. The application of equal preclinical study designs is crucial to allow the comparison of novel radioligands with existing ones and, thus, predict potential advantages of new radioligands in view of a clinical application.
Infant hydrocephalus: what valve first?
Authors: Hall Benjamin J. , Gillespie Conor S. , Sunderland Geraint J. , Conroy Elizabeth J. , Hennigan Dawn , Jenkinson Michael D. , Pettorini Benedetta , Mallucci Conor
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To review the use of different valve types in infants with hydrocephalus, in doing so, determining whether an optimal valve choice exists for this patient cohort.

Methods

We conducted (1) a literature review for all studies describing valve types used (programmable vs. non-programmable, valve size, pressure) in infants (≤ 2 years) with hydrocephalus, (2) a review of data from the pivotal BASICS trial for infant patients and (3) a separate, institutional cohort study from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The primary outcome was any revision not due to infection.

Results

The search identified 19 studies that were included in the review. Most did not identify a superior valve choice between programmable and non-programmable, small compared to ultra-small, and differential pressure compared to flow-regulating valves. Five studies investigated a single-valve type without a comparator group. The BASICS data identified 391 infants, with no statistically significant difference between gravitational and programmable subgroups. The institutional data from our tertiary referral centre did not reveal any significant difference in failure rate between valve subtypes.

Conclusion

Our review highlights the challenges of valve selection in infant hydrocephalus, reiterating that the concept of an optimal valve choice in this group remains a controversial one. While the infant-hydrocephalic population is at high risk of valve failure, heterogeneity and a lack of direct comparison between valves in the literature limit our ability to draw meaningful conclusions. Data that does exist suggests at present that there is no difference in non-infective failure rate are increasing in number, with the British valve subtypes in infant hydrocephalus, supported by both the randomised trial and institutional data in this study.
Effect of sub-technique transitions on energy expenditure and physiological load in the classical-style technique among elite male cross-country skiers
Authors: Carlsson Tomas , Wedholm Lars , Fjordell Wilma , Swarén Mikael , Carlsson Magnus
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To investigate whether sub-technique transitions in the classical-style technique are associated with increased energy expenditure and/or metabolic stress among elite male cross-country skiers.

Methods

Fifteen elite male skiers completed three 10-min treadmill roller-skiing tests, each of which consisted of 5 min using the diagonal-stride technique (DS) and 5 min using the double-poling technique (DP), combined in three various modes all ensuring comparable mechanical workload, at an inclination of 2.5° and a speed of 13 km/h. In the first and third tests, the participants used 5 min continuous DS followed by 5 min continuous DP, or vice versa (no transition (NT) test), whereas in the second test, they made transitions between DS and DP every 6 s (repeated transition (RT) test). The last 3 min of each 5-min stage was used to calculate the mean values of oxygen uptake ($${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

V
˙

O

2

), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), metabolic rate (MR), mechanical work rate (MWR), and gross efficiency (GE). In addition, the pre–post-difference in blood lactate concentration (Ladiff) was determined for each test. Paired-samples t tests were used to investigate differences between tests.

Results

There were no significant differences between NT and RT tests regarding V̇O2, MR, MWR, or GE. Conversely, significant differences were found in RER and Ladiff, where the NT test was associated with higher RER and Ladiff values.

Conclusions

Roller skiing with repeated sub-technique transitions is not associated with an additional aerobic energy contribution; instead, the anaerobic energy contribution was lower compared to that under continuous use of DS and DP.
Seismo-acoustic characterisation of the 2018 Ambae (Manaro Voui) eruption, Vanuatu
Authors: Park Iseul , Jolly Arthur , Matoza Robin S. , Kennedy Ben , Kilgour Geoff , Johnson Richard , Garaebiti Esline , Cevuard Sandrine
Published: August 2021

A new episode of unrest and phreatic/phreatomagmatic/magmatic eruptions occurred at Ambae volcano, Vanuatu, in 2017–2018. We installed a multi-station seismo-acoustic network consisting of seven 3-component broadband seismic stations and four 3-element (26–62 m maximum inter-element separation) infrasound arrays during the last phase of the 2018 eruption episode, capturing at least six reported major explosions towards the end of the eruption episode. The observed volcanic seismic signals are generally in the passband 0.5–10 Hz during the eruptive activity, but the corresponding acoustic signals have relatively low frequencies (< 1 Hz). Apparent very-long-period (< 0.2 Hz) seismic signals are also observed during the eruptive episode, but we show that they are generated as ground-coupled airwaves and propagate with atmospheric acoustic velocity. We observe strongly coherent infrasound waves at all acoustic arrays during the eruptions. Using waveform similarity of the acoustic signals, we detect previously unreported volcanic explosions at the summit vent region based on constant-celerity reverse-time-migration (RTM) analysis. The detected acoustic bursts are temporally related to shallow seismic volcanic tremor (frequency content of 5–10 Hz), which we characterise using a simplified amplitude ratio method at a seismic station pair with different distances from the vent. The amplitude ratio increased at the onset of large explosions and then decreased, which is interpreted as the seismic source ascent and descent. The ratio change is potentially useful to recognise volcanic unrest using only two seismic stations quickly. This study reiterates the value of joint seismo-acoustic data for improving interpretation of volcanic activity and reducing ambiguity in geophysical monitoring.
Increasing dental zirconia micro-retentive aspect through ultra-short pulsed laser microstructuring: study on flexural strength and crystal phase characterization
Authors: Garófalo Stephanie Assimakopoulos , Wehner Martin , Dohrn Andreas , Bilandžić Marin Dean , Roos Christian , Wierichs Richard Johannes , Meyer-Lueckel Hendrik , Aranha Ana Cecilia Corrêa , Esteves-Oliveira Marcella
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Although ultra-short pulsed laser (USPL) microstructuring has previously improved zirconia bond-strength, it is yet unclear how different laser-machined surface microstructures and patterns may influence the material’s mechanical properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the flexural strength of zirconia after different USPL settings creating three different geometrical patterns with structures in micrometer scale.

Methods

One hundred sixty zirconia bars (3Y-TZP, 21 × 4 × 2.1 mm) were prepared and randomly divided into five groups (n = 32): no surface treatment (negative control-NC); sandblasting with Al2O3 (SB); and three laser groups irradiated with USPL (Nd:YVO4/1064 nm/2-34 J/cm2/12 ps): crossed-lines (LC), random-hatching (LR), and parallel-waves (LW). Bars were subjected to a four-point flexural test (1 mm/min) and crystal phase content changes were identified by X-ray diffraction. Surface roughness and topography were analyzed through 3D-laser-profilometry and SEM. Data were analyzed with parametric tests for roughness and Weibull for flexural strength (α = 5%).

Results

LR (Mean[95%CI]: 852.0 MPa, [809.2–894.7]) was the only group that did not show a significantly different flexural strength than NC (819.8 MPa, [796.6–842.9]), (p > 0.05). All laser groups exhibited higher Weibull moduli than NC and SB, indicating higher reliability and homogeneity of the strength data. An increase of monoclinic phase peak was only observed for SB.

Conclusion

In conclusion, USPL created predictable, homogeneous, highly reproducible, and accurate surface microstructures on zirconia ceramic. The laser-settings of random-hatching (12 ps pulses) increased 3Y-TZP average surface roughness similarly to SB, while not causing deleterious crystal phase transformation or loss of flexural strength of the material. Furthermore, it has increased the Weibull modulus and consequently material’s reliability.

Clinical significance

Picosecond laser microstructuring (LR conditions) of 3Y-TZP ceramic does not decrease its flexural strength, while increasing materials realiability and creating highly reproducible and accurate microstructures. These features may be of interest both for improving clinical survival of zirconia restorations as well as enhancing longevity of zirconia implants.
Cellular effects of glycine and trehalose air-polishing powders on human gingival fibroblasts in vitro
Authors: Weusmann Jens , Deschner James , Imber Jean-Claude , Damanaki Anna , Leguizamón Natalia D. P. , Nogueira Andressa V. B.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Air-polishing has been used in the treatment of periodontitis and gingivitis for years. The introduction of low-abrasive powders has enabled the use of air-polishing devices for subgingival therapy. Within the last decade, a wide range of different low-abrasive powders for subgingival use has been established. In this study, the effects of a glycine powder and a trehalose powder on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were investigated.

Methods

HGF were derived from three systemically and periodontally healthy donors. After 24 h and 48 h of incubation time, mRNA levels, and after 48 h, protein levels of TNFα, IL-8, CCL2, and VEGF were determined. In addition, NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and in vitro wound healing were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett’s and Tukey’s tests (p < 0.05).

Results

Glycine powder significantly increased the expression of proinflammatory genes and showed exploitation of the NF-κB pathway, albeit trehalose powder hardly interfered with cell function and did not trigger the NF-κB pathway. In contrast to trehalose, glycine showed a significant inhibitory effect on the in vitro wound healing rate.

Conclusion

Subgingivally applicable powders for air-polishing devices can regulate cell viability and proliferation as well as cytokine expression. Our in vitro study suggests that the above powders may influence HGF via direct cell effects. Trehalose appears to be relatively inert compared to glycine powder.

Clinical relevance

With the limitations of an in vitro design, our study suggests that in terms of cell response, trehalose-based air-polishing powders show a reduced effect on inflammation.
BVOC Emissions From a Subarctic Ecosystem, as Controlled by Insect Herbivore Pressure and Temperature
Authors: Ghimire Rajendra P. , Silfver Tarja , Myller Kristiina , Oksanen Elina , Holopainen Jarmo K. , Mikola Juha
Published: August 2021

The biogenic volatile organic compounds, BVOCs have a central role in ecosystem–atmosphere interactions. High-latitude ecosystems are facing increasing temperatures and insect herbivore pressure, which may affect their BVOC emission rates, but evidence and predictions of changes remain scattered. We studied the long-term effects of + 3 °C warming and reduced insect herbivory (achieved through insecticide sprayings) on mid- and late summer BVOC emissions from field layer vegetation, supplemented with birch saplings, and the underlying soil in Subarctic mountain birch forest in Finland in 2017–2018. Reduced insect herbivory decreased leaf damage by 58–67% and total ecosystem BVOC emissions by 44–72%. Of the BVOC groups, total sesquiterpenes had 70–80% lower emissions with reduced herbivory, and in 2017 the decrease was greater in warmed plots (89% decrease) than in ambient plots (34% decrease). While non-standardized total BVOC, monoterpene, sesquiterpene and GLV emissions showed instant positive responses to increasing chamber air temperature in midsummer samplings, the long-term warming treatment effects on standardized emissions mainly appeared as changes in the compound structure of BVOC blends and varied with compounds and sampling times. Our results suggest that the effects of climate warming on the total quantity of BVOC emissions will in Subarctic ecosystems be, over and above the instant temperature effects, mediated through changes in insect herbivore pressure rather than plant growth. If insect herbivore numbers will increase as predicted under climate warming, our results forecast herbivory-induced increases in the quantity of Subarctic BVOC emissions.

Graphic Abstract
Pattern and pace of morphological change due to variable human impact: the case of Japanese macaques
Authors: Geiger Madeleine
Published: August 2021

Human impact influences morphological variation in animals, as documented in many captive and domestic animal populations. However, there are different levels of human impact, and their influence on the pattern and rate of morphological variation remains unclear. This study contributes to the ongoing debate via the examination of cranial and mandibular shape and size variation and pace of change in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). This species is ideal for tackling such questions because different wild, wild-provisioned, and captive populations have been monitored and collected over seven decades. Linear measurements were taken on 70 skulls from five populations, grouped into three ‘human impact groups’ (wild, wild-provisioned, and captive). This made it possible to investigate the pattern and pace of skull form changes among the human impact groups as well as over time within the populations. It was found that the overall skull shape tends to differ among the human impact groups, with captive macaques having relatively longer rostra than wild ones. Whether these differences are a result of geographic variation or variable human impact, related to nutritional supply and mechanical properties of the diet, is unclear. However, this pattern of directed changes did not seem to hold when the single captive populations were examined in detail. Although environmental conditions have probably been similar for the two examined captive populations (same captive locality), skull shape changes over the first generations in captivity were mostly different. This varying pattern, together with a consistent decrease in body size in the captive populations over generations, points to genetic drift playing a role in shaping skull shape and body size in captivity. In the captive groups investigated here, the rates of change were found to be high compared to literature records from settings featuring different degrees of human impact in different species, although they still lie in the range of field studies in a natural context. This adds to the view that human impact might not necessarily lead to particularly fast rates of change.
Normal forms of conditional knowledge bases respecting system P-entailments and signature renamings
Authors: Beierle Christoph , Haldimann Jonas
Published: August 2021

Conditionals are defeasible rules of the form If A then usually B, and they play a central role in many approaches to nonmonotonic reasoning. Normal forms of conditional knowledge bases consisting of a set of such conditionals are useful to create, process, and compare the knowledge represented by them. In this article, we propose several new normal forms for conditional knowledge bases. Compared to the previously introduced antecedent normal form, the reduced antecedent normal form (RANF) represents conditional knowledge with significantly fewer conditionals by taking nonmonotonic entailments licenced by system P into account. The renaming normal form(ρNF) addresses equivalences among conditional knowledge bases induced by renamings of the underlying signature. Combining the concept of renaming normal form with other normal forms yields the renaming antecedent normal form (ρ ANF) and the renaming reduced antecedent normal form (ρ RANF). For all newly introduced normal forms, we show their key properties regarding, existence, uniqueness, model equivalence, and inferential equivalence, and we develop algorithms transforming every conditional knowledge base into an equivalent knowledge base being in the respective normal form. For the most succinct normal form, the ρ RANF, we present an algorithm KBρra systematically generating knowledge bases over a given signature in ρ RANF. We show that the generated knowledge bases are consistent, pairwise not antecedentwise equivalent, and pairwise not equivalent under signature renaming. Furthermore, the algorithm is complete in the sense that, when taking signature renamings and model equivalence into account, every consistent knowledge base is generated. Observing that normalizing the set of all knowledge bases over a signature Σ to ρ RANF yields exactly the same result as KBρra (Σ), highlights the interrelationship between normal form transformations on the one hand and systematically generating knowledge bases in normal form on the other hand.
Managing the Dollar Over Its Cycles
Authors: Kreicher Lawrence L. , McCauley Robert N.
Published: August 2021

The United States has ceded to the rest of the world managing the dollar’s value. For a generation, the U.S. authorities have all but withdrawn from the foreign exchange market. Yet the dollar does not float freely as a result of this hands-off U.S. policy. Instead, other authorities manage the dollar exchange rates, albeit separately. These authorities make heavier purchases of dollars in its downswings than in the upswings, damping its decline. Thus, the Fed finds that accommodative monetary policy transmits less to U.S. manufacturing and traded services, and relies on still lower rates to stimulate interest-sensitive housing and auto demand. The current U.S. dollar policy of naming and shaming surplus-running countries accumulating foreign exchange reserves does not seem to work. Three alternatives warrant consideration. First, the U.S. could reinstate its withholding tax on interest income received by non-residents and even add policy criteria to bilateral tax treaties. Second, the U.S. authorities could retaliate by selling dollars against the currencies of dollar-buying jurisdictions running chronic surpluses. However, either the withholding tax or such retaliatory foreign exchange intervention pose huge practical challenges. Third, the U.S. authorities could re-enter the foreign exchange market, making large-scale asset purchases in foreign currency when the dollar rises sharply against its average value. Such a policy would encourage private investment in U.S. traded goods and service production. The challenge is to setex anteforeign exchange intervention rules to guide market participants’ expectations, even positioning them to do the authorities’ work.
Second-Order Disjoint Factor Analysis
Authors: Cavicchia Carlo , Vichi Maurizio
Published: August 2021

Hierarchical models are often considered to measure latent concepts defining nested sets of manifest variables. Therefore, by supposing a hierarchical relationship among manifest variables, the general latent concept can be represented by a tree structure where each internal node represents a specific order of abstraction for the latent concept measured. In this paper, we propose a new latent factor model called second-order disjoint factor analysis in order to model an unknown hierarchical structure of the manifest variables with two orders. This is a second-order factor analysis, which—respect to the second-order confirmatory factor analysis—is exploratory, nested and estimated simultaneously by maximum likelihood method. Each subset of manifest variables is modeled to be internally consistent and reliable, that is, manifest variables related to a factor measure “consistently” a unique theoretical construct. This feature implies that manifest variables are positively correlated with the related factor and, therefore, the associated factor loadings are constrained to be nonnegative. A cyclic block coordinate descent algorithm is proposed to maximize the likelihood. We present a simulation study that investigates the ability to get reliable factors. Furthermore, the new model is applied to identify the underlying factors of well-being showing the characteristics of the new methodology. A final discussion completes the paper.
Multisensory Exercise Improves Balance in People with Balance Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Su-lin , Liu Dan , Yu Dong-zhen , Zhu Yu-ting , Xu Wen-chao , Tian E. , Guo Zhao-qi , Shi Hai-bo , Yin Shan-kai , Kong Wei-jia
Published: August 2021

Objective

To examine the effect of multisensory exercise on balance disorders.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched to identify eligible studies published before January 1, 2020. Eligible studies included randomized control trials (RCTs), non-randomized studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists for RCTs and for Quasi-Experimental Studies by two researchers independently. A narrative synthesis of intervention characteristics and health-related outcomes was performed.

Results

A total of 11 non-randomized studies and 9 RCTs were eligible, including 667 participants. The results supported our assumption that multisensory exercise improved balance in people with balance disorders. All of the 20 studies were believed to be of high or moderate quality.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed that multisensory exercise was effective in improving balance in people with balance disorders. Multisensory exercises could lower the risk of fall and enhance confidence level to improve the quality of life. Further research is needed to investigate the optimal strategy of multisensory exercises and explore the underlying neural and molecular mechanisms of balance improvement brought by multisensory exercises.
Prefrontal and striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptors correlate with fMRI BOLD activation during stopping
Authors: Pfeifer Philippe , Sebastian Alexandra , Buchholz Hans Georg , Kaller Christoph P. , Gründer Gerhard , Fehr Christoph , Schreckenberger Mathias , Tüscher Oliver
Published: August 2021

D2-like dopamine receptors in animals and humans have been shown to be linked to impulsive behaviors that are highly relevant for several psychiatric disorders. Here, we investigate the relationship between the fronto-striatal D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability and response inhibition in a selected population of healthy OPRM1 G-allele carriers. Twenty-two participants successively underwent blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing a stop-signal task and a separate positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Striatal and extrastriatal D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability was measured using the radiotracer [18F]fallypride. Caudate D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability positively correlated with stopping-related fronto-striatal fMRI activation. In addition, right prefrontal D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability correlated positively with stopping-related striatal fMRI BOLD signal. Our study partially replicates previous findings on correlations between striatal D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability and response inhibition in a population selected for its genetic determination of dopamine response to alcohol and as a modulator of impulse control via the endogenous opioid system. We confirm the important role of D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability in the fronto-striatal neural circuit for response inhibition. Moreover, we extend previous findings suggesting that dopamine receptor availability in the right inferior frontal cortex, a crucial region of the stopping network, is also strongly associated with stopping-related striatal fMRI activity in healthy OPRM1 G-allele carriers.
Targeting residual inflammatory risk in coronary disease: to catch a monkey by its tail
Authors: Fiolet A. T. L. , Opstal T. S. J. , Silvis M. J. M. , Cornel J. H. , Mosterd A.
Published: August 2021

Patients with coronary disease remain at high risk for future cardiovascular events, even with optimal risk factor modification, lipid-lowering drugs and antithrombotic regimens. A myriad of inflammatory pathways contribute to progression of the atherosclerotic burden in these patients. Only in the last few years has the inflammatory biology of atherosclerosis translated into clinical therapeutic options. Low-dose colchicine can provide a clinically relevant reduction in the risk for composite and individual major cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes. Among others, its anti-inflammatory effects in atherosclerosis seem to be related to neutrophil recruitment and adhesion, inflammasome inhibition, and morphological changes in platelets and platelet aggregation. Future research is aimed at further elucidating its particular mechanism of action, as well as identifying patients with the highest expected benefit and evaluating efficacy in other vascular beds. These data will help to formulate the role of colchicine and other anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with coronary disease and atherosclerosis in general in the near future.
Establishing a governance threshold in small-scale fisheries to achieve sustainability
Authors: Aguión Alba , Ojea Elena , García-Flórez Lucía , Cruz Teresa , Garmendia Joxe Mikel , Davoult Dominique , Queiroga Henrique , Rivera Antonella , Acuña-Fernández José Luis , Macho Gonzalo
Published: August 2021

The lack of effective governance is a major concern in small-scale fisheries. The implementation of governance that encompasses the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, and ecological) is still a worldwide challenge. We examined nine stalked barnacle fisheries (Pollicipes pollicipes) across Southwest Europe to better understand the relationship between governance elements and sustainability. Our results show that nested spatial scales of management, the access structure, co-management, and fisher’s participation in monitoring and surveillance promote sustainability. However, it is not the mere presence of these elements but their level of implementation that drives sustainability. Efforts should be placed in the accomplishment of a minimum combination of local scales of management, access rights through individual quotas, instructive-consultative co-management and functional participation. Surpassing this threshold in future governance structures will start to adequately promote social, economic and ecologically sustainability in small-scale fisheries.
A comprehensive model for cyber risk based on marked point processes and its application to insurance
Authors: Zeller Gabriela , Scherer Matthias
Published: August 2021

After scrutinizing technical, legal, financial, and actuarial aspects of cyber risk, a new approach for modelling cyber risk using marked point processes is proposed. Key covariates, required to model frequency and severity of cyber claims, are identified. The presented framework explicitly takes into account incidents from malicious untargeted and targeted attacks as well as accidents and failures. The resulting model is able to include the dynamic nature of cyber risk, while capturing accumulation risk in a realistic way. The model is studied with respect to its statistical properties and applied to the pricing of cyber insurance and risk measurement. The results are illustrated in a simulation study.
Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of User-Testing of Health Professionals’ Guidelines to Reduce the Frequency of Intravenous Medicines Administration Errors by Nurses in the United Kingdom: A Probabilistic Model Based on Voriconazole Administration
Authors: Jones Matthew D. , Franklin Bryony Dean , Raynor D. K. , Thom Howard , Watson Margaret C. , Kandiyali Rebecca
Published: August 2021

Aim

In the UK, injectable medicines are often prepared and administered by nurses following the Injectable Medicines Guide (IMG). Our earlier study confirmed a higher frequency of correct administration with user-tested versus standard IMG guidelines. This current study aimed to model the cost-effectiveness of user-testing.

Methods

The costs and cost-effectiveness of user-testing were explored by modifying an existing probabilistic decision-analytic model. The adapted model considered administration of intravenous voriconazole to hospital inpatients by nurses. It included 11 error types, their probability of detection and level of harm. Model inputs (including costs) were derived from our previous study and other published data. Monte Carlo simulation using 20,000 samples (sufficient for convergence) was performed with a 5-year time horizon from the perspective of the 121 NHS trusts and health boards that use the IMG. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken for the risk of a medication error and other sources of uncertainty.

Results

The net monetary benefit at £20,000/quality-adjusted life year was £3,190,064 (95% credible interval (CrI): −346,709 to 8,480,665), favouring user-testing with a 96% chance of cost-effectiveness. Incremental cost-savings were £240,943 (95% CrI 43,527–491,576), also favouring user-tested guidelines with a 99% chance of cost-saving. The total user testing cost was £6317 (95% CrI 6012–6627). These findings were robust to assumptions about a range of input parameters, but greater uncertainty was seen with a lower medication error risk.

Conclusions

User-testing of injectable medicines guidelines is a low-cost intervention that is highly likely to be cost-effective, especially for high-risk medicines.
Social discount rate: spaces for agreement
Authors: Hayashi Takashi , Lombardi Michele
Published: August 2021

We study the problem of aggregating discounted utility preferences into a social discounted utility preference model. We use an axiom capturing a social responsibility of individuals’ attitudes to time, called consensus Pareto. We show that this axiom can provide consistent foundations for welfare judgments. Moreover, in conjunction with the standard axioms of anonymity and continuity, consensus Pareto can help adjudicate some fundamental issues related to the choice of the social discount rate: the society selects the rate through a generalized median voter scheme.
Hatred and trolling detection transliteration framework using hierarchical LSTM in code-mixed social media text
Authors: Shekhar Shashi , Garg Hitendra , Agrawal Rohit , Shivani Shivendra , Sharma Bhisham
Published: August 2021

The paper describes the usage of self-learning Hierarchical LSTM technique for classifying hatred and trolling contents in social media code-mixed data. The Hierarchical LSTM-based learning is a novel learning architecture inspired from the neural learning models. The proposed HLSTM model is trained to identify the hatred and trolling words available in social media contents. The proposed HLSTM systems model is equipped with self-learning and predicting mechanism for annotating hatred words in transliteration domain. The Hindi–English data are ordered into Hindi, English, and hatred labels for classification. The mechanism of word embedding and character-embedding features are used here for word representation in the sentence to detect hatred words. The method developed based on HLSTM model helps in recognizing the hatred word context by mining the intention of the user for using that word in the sentence. Wide experiments suggests that the HLSTM-based classification model gives the accuracy of 97.49% when evaluated against the standard parameters like BLSTM, CRF, LR, SVM, Random Forest and Decision Tree models especially when there are some hatred and trolling words in the social media data.
Mediating the Local Oxygen-Bridge Interactions of Oxysalt/Perovskite Interface for Defect Passivation of Perovskite Photovoltaics
Authors: Lin Ze Qing , Lian Hui Jun , Ge Bing , Zhou Ziren , Yuan Haiyang , Hou Yu , Yang Shuang , Yang Hua Gui
Published: August 2021

Passivation, as a classical surface treatment technique, has been widely accepted in start-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that can effectively modulate the electronic and chemical property of defective perovskite surface. The discovery of inorganic passivation compounds, such as oxysalts, has largely advanced the efficiency and lifetime of PSCs on account of its favorable electrical property and remarkable inherent stability, but a lack of deep understanding of how its local configuration affects the passivation effectiveness is a huge impediment for future interfacial molecular engineering. Here, we demonstrate the central-atom-dependent-passivation of oxysalt on perovskite surface, in which the central atoms of oxyacid anions dominate the interfacial oxygen-bridge strength. We revealed that the balance of local interactions between the central atoms of oxyacid anions (e.g., N, C, S, P, Si) and the metal cations on perovskite surface (e.g., Pb) generally determines the bond formation at oxysalt/perovskite interface, which can be understood by the bond order conservation principle. Silicate with less electronegative Si central atoms provides strong O-Pb motif and improved passivation effect, delivering a champion efficiency of 17.26% for CsPbI2Br solar cells. Our strategy is also universally effective in improving the device performance of several commonly used perovskite compositions.
Assessment of the RegCM4 Performance in Simulating the Surface Radiation Budget and Hydrologic Balance Variables in South America
Authors: Pareja-Quispe David , Franchito Sergio Henrique , Fernandez Julio Pablo Reyes
Published: August 2021

The ability of the Regional Climate Model v4 (RegCM4) to simulate the surface radiation budget and hydrological balance variables over South America have been evaluated. For this purpose, a 34-year long simulation was carried out with the regional climate model RegCM4 over South America on the CORDEX domain. The model is forcing by ERA-Interim reanalysis. The results show that RegCM4 simulates the main patterns of the variables associated with the surface radiation budget and hydrological balance in the four seasons of the year compared to the observations (CLARA2 and CRU/PERSIANN). However, the cloudiness and surface radiation budget variables: Cloud Fraction Cover (CFC), net shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiation at surface are overestimated, mainly over the oceans. This is associated with the errors in the CFC due to the deficiency of the model in representing the low-level clouds. Some differences are also noted in the hydrological balance. The intensity and temporal evolution of precipitation, especially in the central and southern Amazon, may be associated with the selected domain, which fails to adequately represent the influence of the adjoining oceans. In northern and northeast parts, the differences are associated with deficiencies of RegCM4 in representing precipitation rates. Although the deficiencies, taking into account that the model is capable to reproduce the general pattern of some important variables of the surface radiation budget and hydrological cycle, it may be a useful tool for climate studies.
Mapping global AI governance: a nascent regime in a fragmented landscape
Authors: Schmitt Lewin
Published: August 2021

The rapid advances in the development and rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies over the past years have triggered a frenzy of regulatory initiatives at various levels of government and the private sector. This article describes and evaluates the emerging global AI governance architecture and traces the contours of a nascent regime in a fragmented landscape. To do so, it organizes actors and initiatives in a two-by-two matrix, distinguishing between the nature of the driving actor(s) and whether or not their actions take place within the existing governance architecture. Based on this, it provides an overview of key actors and initiatives, highlighting their trajectories and connections. The analysis shows international organizations’ high levels of agency in addressing AI policy and a tendency to address new challenges within existing frameworks. Lastly, it is argued that we are witnessing the first signs of consolidation in this fragmented landscape. The nascent AI regime that emerges is polycentric and fragmented but gravitates around the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), which holds considerable epistemic authority and norm-setting power.
Expanding Horizons in the History of Science
Authors: Lloyd G. E. R.
Published: August 2021

This book challenges the common assumption that the predominant focus of the history of science should be the achievements of Western scientists since the so-called Scientific Revolution. The conceptual frameworks within which the members of earlier societies and of modern indigenous groups worked admittedly pose severe problems for our understanding. But rather than dismiss them on the grounds that they are incommensurable with our own and to that extent unintelligible, we should see them as offering opportunities for us to revise many of our own preconceptions. We should accept that the realities to be accounted for are multi-dimensional and that all such accounts are to some extent value-laden. In the process insights from current anthropology and the study of ancient Greece and China especially are brought to bear to suggest how the remit of the history of science can be expanded to achieve a cross-cultural perspective on the problems.
Beyond Uncertainty
Authors: Steele Katie , Stefánsson H. Orri
Published: August 2021

The main aim of this Element is to introduce the topic of limited awareness, and changes in awareness, to those interested in the philosophy of decision-making and uncertain reasoning. While it has long been of interest to economists and computer scientists, this topic has only recently been subject to philosophical investigation. Indeed, at first sight limited awareness seems to evade any systematic treatment: it is beyond the uncertainty that can be managed. On the one hand, an agent has no control over what contingencies she is and is not aware of at a given time, and any awareness growth takes her by surprise. On the other hand, agents apparently learn to identify the situations in which they are more and less likely to experience limited awareness and subsequent awareness growth. How can these two sides be reconciled? That is the puzzle we confront in this Element.
Contact Zones of the First World War
Authors: Maguire Anna
Published: August 2021

This is the first in-depth and comparative study of the experience of colonial encounters for troops from the British Empire during the First World War. Drawing on a rich variety of textual and visual material, Anna Maguire explores new contact zones that materialised beyond the battlefield, on troopships, in ports, in military camps and hospitals, in cafes and city streets. She reveals how the colonial mobilisation of troops during the conflict prompted the emergence of spaces for interactions, fleeting moments or ongoing relationships. Through their personal experiences, she uncovers how men from New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies viewed themselves and their identities during a time of global conflict, simultaneously asserting the strength of the existing colonial order and challenging its enactment, through contact, conflict and collaboration. In spaces away from the frontlines, Maguire uses these cultural encounters of colonial troops to offer a more intricate understanding of imperial power relations.
Comparing Primary Health-Care Service Delivery Disruptions Across Disasters
Authors: Radcliff Tiffany A. , Chu Karen , Der-Martirosian Claudia , Dobalian Aram
Published: August 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare primary care appointment disruptions around Hurricanes Ike (2008) and Harvey (2017) and identify patterns that indicate differing continuity of primary care or care systems across events.

Methods:

Primary care appointment records covering 5 wk before and after each storm were identified for Veterans Health Affairs (VA) facilities in the greater Houston and surrounding areas and a comparison group of VA facilities located elsewhere. Appointment disposition percentages were compared within and across storm events to assess care disruptions.

Results:

For Hurricane Harvey, 14% of primary care appointments were completed during the week of landfall (vs 33% for Hurricane Ike and 69% in comparison clinics), and 49% were completed the following week (vs 58% for Hurricane Ike and 71% for comparison clinics). By the second week after Hurricane Ike and third week after Harvey, the scheduled appointment completion percentage returned to prestorm levels of approximately 60%.

Conclusions:

There were greater and more persistent care disruptions for Hurricane Harvey relative to Hurricane Ike. As catastrophic emergencies including major natural disasters and infectious disease pandemics become a more recognized threat to primary and preventive care delivery, health-care systems should consider implementing strategies to monitor and ensure primary care appointment continuity.
Identification of pathogens isolated in acute external otitis cases and evaluation of aminoglycoside and quinolone sensitivity
Authors: Orhan Kubat G , Dogan B
Published: August 2021

Objective

This study aimed to identify pathogens isolated in acute external otitis cases and determine their distribution according to ages and seasons as well as investigate the susceptibility or resistance to the aminoglycoside and quinolone group antibiotics of which topical forms are available.

Method

A total of 168 patients diagnosed with acute external otitis were evaluated retrospectively. Growing bacteria were identified according to the species by conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility status was determined for the growing bacteria.

Results

The most common bacteria detected were pseudomonas group bacteria (38.7 per cent). Resistance to the amikacin group of antibiotics was found to be the lowest and resistance to the ciprofloxacin group of antibiotics was the highest.

Conclusion

External auditory canal cultures should be taken simultaneously with empirical treatment. Seasonal effect and age group should be taken into consideration in the choice of treatment and after questioning about chronic exposure to water. Empirical treatment should then be started.
THE KAUSIA BOY FIGURINES FROM DEMETRIAS: A REASSESSMENT
Authors: Ieremias Stelios
Published: August 2021

Demetrias has yielded the largest number of terracotta figurines of a popular iconographic type of the Hellenistic period: the ‘kausia boy’, shown standing, dressed in the chiton, chlamys, kausia and krepides. The rediscovery of the material from A.S. Arvanitopoulos’ excavations at Demetrias in the early twentieth century has provided an opportunity to reassess the significance of this iconographic type in the city and in the wider Hellenistic world. Combining and comparing the material from Arvanitopoulos’ excavations with that from other excavations in the city by the German Archaeological Institute and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Magnesia, it is now clear that the kausia boy figurines from Demetrias were discovered in various contexts, including sanctuaries, graves and the foundations of the royal palace (Anaktoron); the largest number was found in the sanctuary of Pasikrata. It has been possible to identify more than ten technical types, confirming the importance of these figures in the coroplastic production of the city. This paper also discusses the iconographic types of the ‘shepherds’, kausia-wearing boys holding the syrinx and the lagobolon, as well as the animal-carrying boys, since they too are wearing the same attire, and are mechanically related to the simple kausia boy types. The study of Demetrias’ specimens, combined with the study of the distribution of these iconographic types in the Hellenistic world and the relevant iconographic, literary and epigraphic evidence enable its reinterpretation.
Testing the reminding account of the lag effect in L2 vocabulary learning
Authors: Koval Natalie G.
Published: August 2021

Research has produced mixed findings regarding the effects of spacing L2 study. In order to know how this potentially very powerful learning tool can be useful, it is important to understand the cognitive mechanisms that drive the effects in L2 learning and how the operation of these mechanisms may be affected by variables relevant for SLA contexts. In this study, I examine the contribution of the dual mechanism of successful effortful retrieval during study to the lag effect in foreign vocabulary learning from L2-L1 retrieval practice. I additionally investigate the effects of feedback study time on the operation of the two cognitive mechanisms under investigation. Native speakers of English studied Finnish vocabulary during L2-L1 retrieval practice in paired-associate learning while their response latencies and accuracy were recorded. Results suggest that: (a) successful effortful retrieval underlies benefits of spacing L2-L1 retrieval practice: even with immediate feedback study, the benefits of effort are conditional on retrieval success; (b) successful retrieval is more beneficial than unsuccessful retrieval, contrary to proposals where this was not directly tested; and (c) imposing longer study time externally has little benefit, unlike what has been previously found with learner-regulated longer study time. Implications for L2 learning and teaching are discussed.
Consistent disjunctive sequent calculi and Scott domains
Authors: Wang Longchun , Li Qingguo
Published: August 2021

Based on the framework of disjunctive propositional logic, we first provide a syntactic representation for Scott domains. Precisely, we establish a category of consistent disjunctive sequent calculi with consequence relations, and show it is equivalent to that of Scott domains with Scott-continuous functions. Furthermore, we illustrate the approach to solving recursive domain equations by introducing some standard domain constructions, such as lifting and sums. The subsystems relation on consistent finitary disjunctive sequent calculi makes these domain constructions continuous. Solutions to recursive domain equations are given by constructing the least fixed point of a continuous function.