bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrochloric‐acid‐induced hydrothermally pretreated ultrathin C3N4 nanosheets for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution
Authors: Guan Peng , Yin Hang , Han Peigeng , Liu Jianyong , Yang Songqiu
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

C3N4 nanosheets with a layered structure have attracted significant interest in the field of photocatalysis. However, direct preparation of these nanosheets remains a significant challenge.

RESULTS

In this study, highly active C3N4 nanosheets were fabricated via the direct thermal polymerization of melamine supramolecular aggregates obtained using hydrochloric‐acid‐induced hydrothermal pretreatment. Various methods were adopted to characterize the photocatalytic materials obtained and density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the highly efficient nature of C3N4. The structures and photochemistry of the photocatalytic materials depend on the hydrochloric‐acid‐induced hydrothermal pretreatment method. It was found that C3N4‐180‐H nanosheets have numerous (C)2N–H that are conducive to photogenerated electron–hole separation. In addition, the C3N4‐180‐H nanosheets have a large surface area and a short charge‐carrier diffusion distance. Furthermore, the C3N4‐180‐H nanosheets exhibited a longer excitation‐state charge‐carrier lifetime than bulk C3N4. The as‐prepared C3N4‐180‐H nanosheets with unique structural advantages showed superior photocatalytic H2 evolution performance (413 μmol h−1 g−1) compared to that of bulk C3N4 (90.5 μmol h−1 g−1).

CONCLUSION

This study offers a feasible and simple method for synthesizing C3N4 nanosheets and developing an excellent 2D photocatalyst for superior solar‐to‐H2 production. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Integration and viral oncogene expression of human papillomavirus type 16 in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cancer
Authors: Xu Qiang , Dong Haoru , Wang Zhiyu , Zhang Pei , Albers Andreas E. , Kaufmann Andreas M. , Zheng Zhi‐Ming , Qian Xu
Published: April 2023

Persistent high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infections cause cervical cancer and a fraction of head and neck cancer. To investigate whether HR‐HPV infection might be also involved in the development of gastric cancer (GC), we developed a platform utilizing a rolling circle amplification (RCA)‐based nested L1 polymerase chain reaction with Sanger sequencing to genotype the HPV DNA in cancer tissues of 361 GC and 89 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC). HPV transcriptional activity was determined by E6/E7 mRNA expression and a 3’ rapid amplification of cDNA ends was performed to identify HPV integration and expression of virus−host fusion transcripts. Ten of 361 GC, 2 of 89 OPSCC, and 1 of 22 normal adjacent tissues were HPV L1 DNA‐positive. Five of the 10 HPV‐positive GC were genotyped as HPV16 by sequencing and 1 of 2 GC with RCA/nested HPV16 E6/E7 DNA detection exhibited HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA. Two OPSCC displayed HPV16 L1 DNA and E6/E7 mRNA, of which 1 OPSCC tissue showed virus−host RNA fusion transcripts from an intron region of KIAA0825 gene. Together, our data reveal viral oncogene expression and/or integration in GC and OPSCC and a possible etiology role of HPV infections in gastric carcinogenesis.
Impact of nodal status in determining multimodal treatment strategies in non‐cardia gastric cancer
Authors: Ajay Pranay S. , Sok Caitlin P. , Goyal Subir , Switchenko Jeffery M. , Maegawa Felipe B. , Gillespie Theresa W. , Paulos Chrystal M. , Lesinski Gregory B. , Kooby David A. , Kennedy Timothy J. , Shah Mihir M.
Published: April 2023

Background

Patients with resectable noncardia gastric cancer may be subjected to perioperative chemotherapy (PEC), postoperative chemoradiation (POCR), or postoperative chemotherapy (POC). We analyzed these treatment strategies to determine optimal therapy based on nodal status.

Method

The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with resected noncardia gastric cancer (2004–2016). Patients were stratified based on clinical nodal status–negative (cLN−), positive (cLN+) and pathological nodal status (pLN−, pLN+). In cLN− patients who underwent upfront resection and were upstaged to pLN+, POC, and POCR were compared. Overall survival (OS) with PEC, POCR, and POC were compared in cLN− and cLN+.

Results

We identified 6142 patients (cLN−: 3831; cLN+: 2311). In cLN− patients who underwent upfront resection (N = 3423), 69% were upstaged to pLN+ disease (N = 2499; POCR = 1796, POC = 703). On MVA, POCR was associated with significantly improved OS when compared to POC (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75; p < 0.001).

In patients with cLN− disease (PEC = 408; POCR = 2439; POC = 984), PEC(HR: 0.77; p = 0.01) and POCR(HR: 0.81; p < 0.001) were associated with improved OS compared with POC. In cLN+ group (PEC = 452; POCR = 1284; POC = 575), POCR was associated with improved OS compared with POC (HR: 0.81; p < 0.01), and trend towards improved OS was noted when PEC(HR: 0.83; p = 0.055) was compared with POC.

Conclusion

Postoperative chemoradiation may be the preferred treatment strategy over postoperative chemotherapy in non‐cardia gastric cancer patients who receive upfront resection and are upstaged from clinically node negative to pathologically node positive disease.
Housing support a high priority in New Jersey Medicaid waiver renewal
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: April 2023

An approved five‐year renewal of New Jersey's Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration initiative will enhance the state's efforts to address the health‐related social needs of beneficiaries, including those with mental illness. The Medicaid waiver program will allow for coverage of housing services, such as transitional housing support for individuals experiencing homelessness, and will strengthen requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to employ dedicated housing specialists and to track beneficiaries' progress toward housing stability.
Nonprofit foundation reaches parents of struggling children via schools
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: April 2023

(Editor's note: In each issue of MHW during Mental Health Awareness Month, we will feature an innovative initiative in mental health advocacy/promotion.)
Blickpunkt Synthese: Atome einbauen, tauschen und entfernen
Authors: Weitzel Milan , Simeth Nadja A.
Published: April 2023

Atome und Bindungen genauso leicht wie auf dem Papier ins Molekül einbauen, ersetzen oder entfernen – davon träumt die organische Synthesechemie. Anders als viele klassische Reaktionen um den molekularen Grundkörper herum modifiziert „Skeletal Editing“ das Molekülgerüst selbst. Neue Reaktionen überführen mehr Substrate unter milden Bedingungen in gerüsteditierte Produkte.
Bilanz Lanxess 2022: Mehr Zusatzstoffe, weniger Kunststoffe
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: April 2023

Umsatz und Ergebnis des Kölner Spezialchemiekonzerns Lanxess sind im Jahr 2022 gestiegen. Das Unternehmen hat sein Aromastoffgeschäft erweitert und das mit technischen Polymeren verkauft.
Bilanz Borealis 2022: Mehr Olefine, weniger Pflanzennährstoffe
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: April 2023

Borealis erreichte im Jahr 2022 einen Nettogewinn von 2,1 Mrd. Euro, den höchsten der Unternehmensgeschichte. Zudem war der Umsatz höher als in den Jahren zuvor.
Abschluss der fünften Runde des CheMento‐Programms
Authors: Pereira Jaé Angela
Published: April 2023

Anfang 2022 ist zum fünften Mal das GDCh‐Mentoringprogramm CheMento gestartet. 30 Mentor:innen stellten sich zur Verfügung, um 30 junge Nachwuchswissenschaftler:innen über ein Jahr hinweg bei Fragen rund um die Karriereplanung zu unterstützen.
Trendbericht Physikalische Chemie 2023 (2/3): Chemical reaction dynamics and kinetics
Authors: Meyer Jennifer , Borodin Dmitriy
Published: April 2023

Stickstoff‐ und Kohlenstoffverbindungen im interstellaren Staub verraten, wie Sterne entstehen. Diese Moleküle haben Weltraumforscher:innen mit hochauflösender Rotationsspektroskopie detektiert und dazu die Verhältnisse im All im Labor nachgestellt. Wie organische Reaktionen wie nukleophile Substitution auf Molekülebene ablaufen, lässt sich mit Molekularstrahlmethoden herausfinden. Streumethoden dienen dazu, Reaktionen auf Oberflächen auf atomarer Ebene zu erfassen. Zeitaufgelöste Beugungsmethoden mit ultrakurzen Elektronen oder Röntgenphotonen werden zunehmend auf chemische Fragen angewandt, um Strukturen transienter Zustände zu beobachten.
Wissenschaftsjournale: Impact‐Faktor entzogen
Authors: Blicker Luca
Published: April 2023

Das zweitgrößte Biomedizinjournal, herausgegeben vom MDPI‐Verlag, ist nicht mehr im Web of Science gelistet.
Advocating for a patient‐ and family centered care approach to management of short bowel syndrome
Authors: Kumpf Vanessa J. , Neumann Marie L. , Kakani Swapna R.
Published: April 2023

Patient‐ and family centered care (PFCC) is a model of providing healthcare that incorporates the preferences, needs, and values of the patient and their family and is built on a solid partnership between the healthcare team and patient/family. This partnership is critical in short bowel syndrome (SBS) management since the condition is rare, chronic, involves a heterogenous population, and calls for a personalized approach to care. Institutions can facilitate the practice of PFCC by supporting a teamwork approach to care, which, in the case of SBS, ideally involves a comprehensive intestinal rehabilitation program consisting of qualified healthcare practitioners who are supported with the necessary resources and budget. Clinicians can engage in a range of processes to center patients and families in the management of SBS, including fostering whole‐person care, building partnerships with patients and families, cultivating communication, and providing information effectively. Empowering patients to self‐manage important aspects of their condition is an important component of PFCC and can enhance coping to chronic disease. Therapy nonadherence represents a breakdown in the PFCC approach to care, especially when nonadherence is sustained, and the healthcare provider is intentionally misled. An individualized approach to care that incorporates patient/family priorities should ultimately enhance therapy adherence. Lastly, patients/families should play a central role in determining meaningful outcomes as it relates to PFCC and shaping the research that affects them. This review highlights needs and priorities of patients with SBS and their families and suggests ways to address gaps in existing care to improve outcomes.
Five hot spots for international student mobility in 2023
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: April 2023

It would be premature and superficial to predict country‐​by‐country international student mobility trends for 2023 because the political, economic, and social disruptions throughout the world are too fluid and directly impact international student mobility. However, there is one country's higher education mobility trends worth exploring. And that country is India.
New OCR letter addresses pregnancy discrimination
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: April 2023

There has been a recent trend at the federal level to strengthen protections for pregnant women. In January 2023, the U.S. Congress passed a spending package that included two pieces of legislation concerning pregnant workers and new mothers. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act provides protections for new mothers who need to pump breastmilk for a nursing child.
Evaluation of model‐based bioequivalence approach for single sample pharmacokinetic studies
Authors: Tardivon Coralie , Loingeville Florence , Donnelly Mark , Feng Kairui , Sun Wanjie , Sun Guoying , Grosser Stella , Zhao Liang , Fang Lanyan , Mentré France , Bertrand Julie
Published: April 2023

In a traditional pharmacokinetic (PK) bioequivalence (BE) study, a two‐way crossover study is conducted, PK parameters (namely the area under the time‐concentration curve [AUC] and the maximal concentration []) are obtained by noncompartmental analysis (NCA), and the BE analysis is performed using the two one‐sided test (TOST) method. For ophthalmic drugs, however, only one sample of aqueous humor, in one eye, per eye can be obtained in each patient, which precludes the traditional BE analysis. To circumvent this issue, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed an approach coupling NCA with either parametric or nonparametric bootstrap (NCA bootstrap). The model‐based TOST (MB‐TOST) has previously been proposed and evaluated successfully for various settings of sparse PK BE studies. In this paper, we evaluate, via simulations, MB‐TOST in the specific setting of single sample PK BE study and compare its performance to NCA bootstrap. We performed BE study simulations using a published PK model and parameter values and evaluated multiple scenarios, including study design (parallel or crossover), sampling times (5 or 10 spread across the dosing interval), and geometric mean ratio (of 0.8, 0.9, 1, and 1.25). Using the simulated structural PK model, MB‐TOST performed similarly to NCA bootstrap for AUC. For , the latter tended to be conservative and less powerful. Our research suggests that MB‐TOST may be considered as an alternative BE approach for single sample PK studies, provided that the PK model is correctly specified and the test drug has the same structural model as the reference drug.
Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Transition Metal‐Doped MoS2 Monolayer: First‐Principles Calculations
Authors: Boakye Dennis , Martin Henry , Labik Linus K. , Britwum Akyana , Nunoo Oswald Ashirifi , Elloh Van W. , Kwakye-Awuah Bright , Yaya Abu , Abavare Eric K. K.
Published: April 2023

Density functional theory in the framework of generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof to investigate the effects of some selected transition metal (TM) and rare‐earth metal (RE) dopants on the electronic and magnetic properties of a 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayer is reported. The results demonstrate that it is energetically stable to incorporate Ni and Cu in MoS2 structure under Mo‐rich conditions. The pristine MoS2 monolayer has a calculated direct bandgap of 1.70 eV and experiences significant reduction in the gap due to the defects. There is observed induced magnetic behavior due to the tight binding effect originating from the localized dopants and the nearest‐neighbor Mo atoms, with magnetic moments ranging between 0.82 and 3.00 μB. Some of the dopants result in spin polarization which is useful for engineering spin filter devices on magnetic MoS2 nanostructures.
Azygos vein thrombosis despite rivaroxaban therapy in a patient with breast cancer: A rare entity
Authors: Degirmenci Guliz , Satici Celal
Published: April 2023

Key message

In the light of this case, azygos and hemiazygos veins should be evaluated carefully in thorax CT scans. This rare case is also important in terms of the occurrence of AVT in a patient receiving rivaroxaban therapy. The outcomes and recurrence rates of these patients should also be reported for the decision of anticoagulant treatment.
Nussbaum function‐based adaptive boundary control for flexible manipulator with unknown control directions and nonlinear time‐varying actuator faults
Authors: Li Le , Liu Jinkun
Published: April 2023

This study proposes a novel boundary control strategy for a vibrating single‐link flexible manipulator system modeled by partial differential equations. The system has uncertain control directions and actuator faults. Existing research studies model fault‐tolerant control systems with fixed fault coefficients; in this study, the actuator faults are nonlinear and time‐varying, and the control directions are unknown. To circumvent the obstacles introduced by the unknown control directions and nonlinear varying actuator failures, an adaptive boundary controller is designed by using Nussbaum functions with fast growth rates and the bound estimation method. In the developed control scheme, all closed‐loop signals are shown to be uniformly bounded. Additionally, the angle tracking error and vibration asymptotically converge to zero. Finally, numerical simulations for five cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the modeled boundary controller.
The Effect of Linker‐to‐Metal Energy Transfer on the Photooxidation Performance of an Isostructural Series of Pyrene‐Based Rare‐Earth Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Quezada‐Novoa Victor , Titi Hatem M. , Villanueva Francisco Yarur , Wilson Mark W. B. , Howarth Ashlee J.
Published: April 2023

The tetratopic linker, 1,3,6,8‐tetrakis(p‐benzoic acid)pyrene (H4TBAPy) along with rare‐earth (RE) ions is used for the synthesis of 9 isostructures of a metal–organic framework (MOF) with shp topology, named RE‐CU‐10 (RE = Y(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III), Yb(III), and Lu(III)). The synthesis of each RE‐CU‐10 analogue requires different reaction conditions to achieve phase pure products. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction indicates the presence of a RE9‐cluster in Y‐ to Tm‐CU‐10, while a RE11‐cluster is observed for Yb‐ and Lu‐CU‐10. The photooxidation performance of RE‐CU‐10 analogues is evaluated, observing competition between linker‐to‐metal energy transfer versus the generation of singlet oxygen. The singlet oxygen produced is used to detoxify a mustard gas simulant 2‐chloroethylethyl sulfide, with half‐lives ranging from 4.0 to 5.8 min, some of the fastest reported to date using UV‐irradiation and < 1 mol% catalyst, in methanol under O2 saturation.
Balancing Shared Decision-Making with Population-Based Recommendations: A Policy Perspective of PSA Testing and Mammography Screening
Authors: Driedger S. Michelle , Cooper Elizabeth J. , Maier Ryan
Published: April 2023

Population-based screening programs invite otherwise healthy people who are not experiencing any symptoms to be screened for cancer. In the case of breast cancer, mammography screening programs are not intended for higher risk groups, such as women with family history of breast cancer or carriers of specific gene mutations, as these women would receive diagnostic mammograms. In the case of prostate cancer, there are no population-based screening programs available, but considerable access and use of opportunistic testing. Opportunistic testing refers to physicians routinely ordering a PSA test or men requesting it at time of annual appointments. Conversations between patients and their physicians about the benefits and harms of screening/testing are strongly encouraged to support shared decision-making. There are several issues that make this risk scenario contentious: cancer carries a cultural dimension as a ‘dread disease’; population-based screening programs focus on recommendations based on aggregated evidence, which may not align with individual physician and patient values and preferences; mantras that ‘early detection is your best protection’ make public acceptance of shifting guidelines based on periodic reviews of scientific evidence challenging; and while shared decision-making between physicians and patients is strongly encouraged, meaningfully achieving this in practice is difficult. Cross-cutting these tensions is a fundamental question about what role the public ought to play in cancer screening policy.
Getting It Right? The Site Selection Process for Canada’s High-level Nuclear Waste
Authors: Bratt Duane , Larkin Patricia , Deschênes-Philion Xavier
Published: April 2023

This chapter focuses on assessment and risk management of the site selection process for Canada’s permanent high-level waste management facility for used nuclear fuel. It also examines the risk management approach related to the development of the transportation routes that will be needed to carry used nuclear fuel to the permanent deep geological repository (DGR). There are several types of risks (technological, environmental, human health, political, security, and financial) and uncertainties (epistemic, semantic, and normative) that exist in this case. Our goal is to better understand how those different risks and uncertainties are assessed by different groups (in particular the lay public, stakeholders, and experts) and handled by the risk managers. The REACT (regulatory, economic, advisory, community-based, and technology) framework is used to assess risk management practices for siting a location for high-level nuclear waste. After a general introduction to the case, three descriptive sections provide the level of individuals’ affectedness, the types of risk management intervention tools, and the level of democratization in the case. A particular emphasis is on the public consultation process for communities interested in hosting the DGR.
Public Inclusion and Responsiveness in Governance of Genetically Engineered Animals
Authors: Kuzma Jennifer , Williams Teshanee T.
Published: April 2023

Genetically engineered (GE) animal-based foods have entered the Canadian market in recent years, yet a significant proportion of the public is reticent to consume them. Responsible innovation has been suggested as a paradigm for bolstering democratic processes and aligning societal values with technology research and development. In this chapter, we examine regulatory decision-making for the first GE animal approved for food consumption in Canada, the AquAdvantage Salmon (AAS), according to two principles of responsible innovation (RI)—inclusion and responsiveness. First, we look at the regulatory approval process for AAS to examine when there were opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in decision-making (inclusion). Second, we report on our studies using textual analysis of one public participation window—a series of Parliamentary hearings associated with GE animal oversight in Canada in 2016. Here, we examine whether decision-makers incorporated the diverse stakeholder perspectives and concerns voiced at the hearings into their final reports (responsiveness). Finally, we identify barriers to putting inclusion and responsiveness into practice in risk governance of GEOs and discuss ways to overcome these barriers to facilitate responsible innovation practices in oversight systems for emerging technologies.
Decision-Making About Newborn Screening Panels in Canada: Risk Management and Public Participation
Authors: Beck Marisa , Frank Brendan , Minaeian Sara , Nicholls Stuart G.
Published: April 2023

Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) enables diagnosis and early treatment of rare diseases in non-symptomatic neonates. NBS has well-documented benefits for babies, their families, and the healthcare system at large. In recent decades, rapid advances in screening technologies enabled the proliferation of testable diseases. This has led to increased discussion of both the benefits relevant to decision-making but also the health, economic and ethical challenges associated with the expansion of NBS panels. However, technological capability is not the sole driver of panel expansions, and we suggest that decisions to add a condition to the screening panel constitute exercises in risk management. Using a risk governance lens, this chapter examines procedures that govern decision-making concerning screening panel additions in several Canadian NBS programs. Specifically, we draw on an analysis of documents in the public domain and interviews with individuals associated with Canadian NBS programs to identify the risk management tools that are applied. Our analysis indicates that there is a reliance on the advice of experts and economic controls but limited public participation in decisions about screening panels. We conclude with a discussion of why democratization might strengthen decision-making and offer recommendations to practitioners and scholars regarding next steps and future research.
Wild Animals
Authors: Martin Angela K.
Published: April 2023

This chapter argues that wild animals can be claim-holders, and, as a consequence, that humans have a moral duty to consider their plight. First, it describes wild animals’ living conditions, which often involve substantial suffering and premature death. Second, it defends the thesis that humans have duties to respect the claims of wild animals and even to assist and help them in some situations—although we frequently fail to do so in practice. Third, it suggests that moral agents owe a duty of compensation and reparation to those animals they have harmed—intentionally or even unintentionally—by violating the latter’s claims. As humans often fall short of these two requirements, wild animals can be considered a particularly vulnerable group. Consequently, they should receive additional protection and attention, for example, in policy-making and in setting research priorities.
Music in the digital age: commodity, community, communion
Authors: Cross Ian
Published: April 2023

Digital systems are reshaping how we engage with music as a sounding dimension of cultural life that is capable of being transformed into a commodity. At the same time, as we increasingly engage through digital media with each other and with virtual others, attributes of music that underpin our capacity to interact communicatively are disregarded or overlooked within those media. Even before the advent of technologies of music reproduction, music was susceptible to assimilation into economic acts of exchange. What is new in the digital world is the way in which modes of engagement with music are themselves being absorbed into an economy built on the datafication of virtual acts and the digital shadows of casual preferences. But music is more than just sounds that are culturally sanctioned as musical. Music is manifestedasbehaviours, andininteractive behaviour. Music is participatory as well as presentational, and in the participatory mode—involving collective, non-specialist, interactive real-time music-making—has significant individual and social consequences. Yet music as real-time participation is largely absent from the virtual world, with potential social costs that remain to be understood. Moreover, our everyday, face-to-face communicative—conversational—interactions are imbued with patterns between interlocutors that are musical, in that they share features with what we are happy to describe as “music”. These features are presently lacking in digital systems designed to subserve communicative functions, and this paper will consider the significant implications for our interactions with machines to which their successful incorporation into voice–user interfaces would give rise.
Well-Posedness of the Ambient Metric Equations and Stability of Even Dimensional Asymptotically de Sitter Spacetimes
Authors: Kamiński Wojciech
Published: April 2023

The vanishing of the Fefferman–Graham obstruction tensor was used by Anderson and Chruściel to show stability of the asymptotically de Sitter spaces in even dimensions. However, the existing proofs of hyperbolicity of this equation contain gaps. We show in this paper that it is indeed a well-posed hyperbolic system with unique up to diffeomorphism and conformal transformations smooth development for smooth Cauchy data. Our method applies also to equations defined by various versions of the Graham–Jenne–Mason–Sparling operators. In particular, we use one of these operators to propagate Gover’s condition of being almost Einstein (basically conformal to Einsteinian metric). This allows us to study initial data also for Cauchy surfaces which cross the conformal boundary. As a by-product we show that on globally hyperbolic manifolds one can always choose a conformal factor such that Branson Q-curvature vanishes.
A study of otolith function in patients with orthostatic dizziness
Authors: El Medany Nada Medhat , Kolkaila Enaas Ahmad , El Mehallawi Trandil Hassan , Lasheen Reham Mamdouh
Published: April 2023

Background

Orthostatic dizziness (OD) is the dizziness that occurs when moving from a sitting or a supine to a standing position. It is typically thought to be connected to orthostatic hypotension (OH). The otolithic control of respiratory and cardiovascular system through vestibulosympathetic reflex has been the focus of considerable recent interest. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the orthostatic dizziness and otolith organ function.

Methods

This study was carried on 50 adults aged from 18 to 50 years with normal peripheral hearing. Subjects were divided into two groups: controls (GI): 20 healthy adults and study group (GII): 30 patients who were complaining of OD. Patients were submitted to; blood pressure measurement in sitting and standing positions, combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and subjective visual vertical and horizontal tests (SVV) and (SVH).

Results

The study group showed abnormal absent cVEMP, oVEMP. There were also statistically significant differences of P13 and N23 latencies and (P13N23) amplitudes between the two groups in the left ears. Both groups differed significantly in SVH values deviated to the left side. Study group were further subdivided into ten patients with OH and 20 patients with OD without OH. The both study subgroups showed abnormal absent cVEMP, oVEMP and abnormal SVH. OH patients showed statistically significant differences of cVEMP waves P13, N23 latencies in the left ears when compared with the control.

Conclusions

Otolith malfunction may be the cause of orthostatic dizziness (OD) in patients with and without orthostatic hypotension.
Tick findings from subterranean environments in the Central German Uplands and Luxembourg reveal a predominance of male Ixodes hexagonus
Authors: Weigand Alexander , Zaenker Stefan , Weber Dieter , Schaper Sabine , Bröker Michael , Zaenker Christian , Chitimia-Dobler Lidia
Published: April 2023

Questing ticks are usually collected by flagging or dragging. Mostly exophilic tick species are caught, such as Ixodes ricinus, the most common tick in Central Europe. In the present study, ticks collected from underground environments in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and in the Central German Uplands (Federal States of Hesse, Bavaria, Thuringia, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Northrhine-Westphalia) were investigated. Six tick species were revealed among the 396 analyzed specimens: Ixodes ariadnae, Ixodes canisuga, Ixodes hexagonus, I. ricinus, Ixodes trianguliceps, and Dermacentor marginatus. Adults and immatures of I. hexagonus dominated the findings (57% of all specimens), especially in shelters acting as potential resting places of main hosts. Ixodes canisuga and I. trianguliceps were for the first time recorded in Luxembourg, and one nymph of the bat tick I. ariadnae represents only the second report for Germany. Collecting ticks in subterranean environments turned out to be a useful approach to increase knowledge about the occurrence of relatively rare tick species, including those that spend most of their lifetime on their hosts, but detach in such environmental settings.
Biological invasions in international seaports: a case study of exotic rodents in Cotonou
Authors: Badou Sylvestre , Hima Karmadine , Agbangla Clément , Gauthier Philippe , Missihoun Antoine A. , Houéménou Gualbert , Loiseau Anne , Brouat Carine , Dobigny Gauthier
Published: April 2023

Black rat (Rattus rattus), brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), and house mouse (Mus musculus) are known to be among the most common anthropophilic rodent species in cities worldwide. These species are responsible for the destruction of domestic and industrial materials, considerable damage to food stocks as well as zoonotic pathogens circulation and transmission to humans and animals. These invasive species have disseminated in all continents following human-mediated exchanges, especially maritime transports. In particular, seaports appear as privileged rats and mice’s entry points into new regions, thus making them international regulations’ priorities for rodent surveillance and management. Yet, studies on seaport rodents are rare; in particular, investigations on their genetic structure are almost inexistent, thus precluding science-guided interventions. In order to fill such a gap, our study focused on the population genetics of R. rattus, R. norvegicus and M. musculus in the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, Benin. Nine different sites were surveyed for three years. In total, 366 R. rattus, 188 R. norvegicus and 244 M. musculus were genotyped using 18 microsatellites, 16 microsatellites and 17 microsatellites, respectively. Our results show very well-structured genetic clusters in all three species as well as limited impacts of rodent control campaigns. Using comparisons with genotypes from other European, Asian and African countries, we suggest for the first time that settlement of newly introduced individuals may be a rare event. Implications in terms of management units and control and monitoring are discussed.
Numerical solution of the Richards equation in unsaturated soil using the meshless Petrov–Galerkin method
Authors: Chali Atena Khalili Naft , Hashemi Seyyed Reza , Akbarpour Abolfazl
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, infiltration tactics are widely used to manage storm water in urban areas. These techniques are used and recognized around the world due to their benefits, such as reducing the negative consequences of urbanization, reducing storm water flow in sewage systems and recharging groundwater. Richards equation is one of the most well-known equations for simulating water infiltration in soil in the unsaturated area. In the present study, a one-dimensional approach to the numerical solution of Richards equation is presented using meshless Petrov–Galerkin method and Kirchhoff transformation. The results of this modeling have been compared with analytical solution, laboratory data, and finite difference and meshless numerical methods. Given that the proposed model can provide an accurate representation of water level changes in unsaturated soil compared to analytical solution, laboratory data, finite difference method and MQ-RBF with the root mean square error equal to 0.09, 1.02, 0.7 and 0.1, it can be claimed that the model can model the flow of water infiltration in unsaturated soil.
Dynamic Systems
Authors: Yang Bingen , Abramova Inna
Published: April 2023

Presenting students with a comprehensive and efficient approach to the modelling, simulation, and analysis of dynamic systems, this textbook addresses mechanical, electrical, thermal and fluid systems, feedback control systems, and their combinations. It features a robust introduction to fundamental mathematical prerequisites, suitable for students from a range of backgrounds; clearly established three-key procedures – fundamental principles, basic elements, and ways of analysis – for students to build on in confidence as they explore new topics; over 300 end-of-chapter problems, with solutions available for instructors, to solidify a hands-on understanding; and clear and uncomplicated examples using MATLAB®/Simulink® and Mathematica®, to introduce students to computational approaches. With a capstone chapter focused on the application of these techniques to real-world engineering problems, this is an ideal resource for a single-semester course in dynamic systems for students in mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering.
THEOREMS OF LEGENDRE TYPE FOR OVERPARTITIONS
Authors: EL BACHRAOUI MOHAMED
Published: April 2023

Formulas evaluating differences of integer partitions according to the parity of the parts are referred to as Legendre theorems. In this paper we give some formulas of Legendre type for overpartitions.
Freeing People; Restricting Capital
Authors: Cordelli Chiara
Published: April 2023

How free should the movement of people be compared to the movement of capital? Unlike those who defend a presumption in favour of symmetrical treatment, I suggest that the presumption in favour of free human movement is much stronger than the same presumption in favour of the free movement of capital. Against those who claim that capital ought to be freer to move than people, I argue that states have much stronger reasons, both of distributive justice and cultural integrity, to constrain capital movement than they have to restrict human movement. Further, the case for restricting skilled workers' right to exit their country in the case of brain drain is much weaker than the parallel case for restricting investors' right to exit from a country that faces a threat of capital flight. Overall, my argument supports the ‘reversed asymmetry thesis’: People should be much freer to move than capital.
Local regularity for nonlinear elliptic and parabolic equations with anisotropic weights
Authors: Miao Changxing , Zhao Zhiwen
Published: April 2023

The main purpose of this paper is to capture the asymptotic behaviour for solutions to a class of nonlinear elliptic and parabolic equations with the anisotropic weights consisting of two power-type weights of different dimensions near the degenerate or singular point, especially covering the weighted p-Laplace equations and weighted fast diffusion equations. As a consequence, we also establish the local Hölder estimates for their solutions in the presence of single power-type weights.
“The Canaanites were then in the Land” and Other Shechemite Ironies
Authors: Brett Mark G.
Published: April 2023

The Hexateuchal narrative arc begins with Abram’s encounter with Yhwh in Shechem in Gen 12:6–7 and ends with Joshua’s covenant at the same place in Josh 24:25–26. These “bookends” make mention of a particular tree in Shechem, which also features in Gen 35:1–4. The inherited Priestly tradition claimed that none of the ancestors in Genesis knew the name Yhwh, but the Hexateuchal editors of the Persian period insist that both El and Yhwh were known in Shechem and Bethel. In effect, these editors defend northern Yahwism against its southern detractors, and resist any supersessionist proposal that would turn the ancestral memories of the Samarian province into mere history. Israel was born in the house of El, and the ancestors of Israel, who came from beyond the riverine borders of the Euphrates and the Nile, had no clear understanding of Yhwh until they set foot in Canaanite country.
Effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion rates in New Brunswick, Canada
Authors: Hathi K , Chin C J , Hoyt B J A
Published: April 2023

Objective

To assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion rates in New Brunswick, Canada.

Methods

All paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion cases from 1 July 2015 through 30 June 2021 were provided by New Brunswick Medicare. The numbers of otolaryngologists, cataract surgical procedures, total hip arthroplasties and thyroidectomies were collected to assess the availability of operating theatres and otolaryngologists. Negative binomial logarithmic regressions were used for analyses.

Results

Of the 5175 paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion cases that were included, the bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion rate significantly decreased by 2.9 times (p < 0.001) during the pandemic. Thyroidectomies, cataract surgical procedures and total hip arthroplasties did not significantly decrease. The number of otolaryngologists increased (20 vs 16–17).

Conclusion

Paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion rates significantly decreased during the pandemic. This cannot be accounted for by reduced otolaryngologists or operating theatre availability. The paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion rate decrease is likely due to public health measures reducing the transmission of upper respiratory tract infections, resulting in fewer indications for paediatric bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion.
Characterisation and position-aiding performance analysis of Doppler observation from android smartphones
Authors: Peng Zihan , Gao Chengfa , Zou Hua , Shang Rui , Liu Qi , Zhao Wu
Published: April 2023

It has been acknowledged that the Doppler is beneficial to the GNSS positioning of smartphones. However, analysis of Doppler precision on smartphones is insufficient. In this paper, we focus on the characteristic analysis of the raw Doppler measurement from Android smartphones. A comprehensive investigation of the Doppler was conducted. The results illustrate that the availability of Doppler is stable and higher than that of carrier measurements, which means that the Doppler-smoothed code (DSC) method is more effective. However, there is a constant bias between the Doppler and the code rate in Xiaomi MI8, which indicates that extra processing of the DSC method is necessary for this phone. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the relationship between the Doppler and C/N0 can be expressed as an exponential function, and the fitting parameters are provided. The numerical experiment in car-borne and hand-held scenes was conducted for evaluating the performance of the Doppler-aided positioning algorithm. For positioning, the improvement reaches 37 ⋅ 69%/37 ⋅ 14%/26 ⋅ 61% in the east, north and up components, respectively, after applying the Doppler aiding. For velocity estimation, the improvement reaches 29 ⋅ 62%/39 ⋅ 63%/29 ⋅ 37% in the three components, respectively.
Seizing stateless smuggling vessels on the Mediterranean High Seas
Authors: Coventry Thea
Published: April 2023

The EUNAVFOR MED anti-smuggling mission, Operation Sophia, ended in March 2020 and is largely viewed to have failed in its objective of ‘disrupting the business model’ of migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean region. The mission relied on purported enforcement powers in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2000 Migrant Smuggling Protocol to seize and destroy stateless smuggling vessels on the high seas. Despite repeated claims to such powers by the European Union, neither treaty provides a strong jurisdictional basis for seizing stateless smuggling vessels outside territorial waters. However, ambiguous drafting in the Migrant Smuggling Protocol viably permits some claims to extraterritorial enforcement jurisdiction over stateless smuggling vessels on the high seas, and the European Union has relied on this ambiguity to tackle migrant smuggling. This article argues that the recent European Union anti-smuggling operations, most notably Operation Sophia, have reinterpreted the ambiguous term ‘appropriate measures’ in the Migrant Smuggling Protocol as permitting the states parties to exercise enforcement jurisdiction over stateless smuggling vessels at sea.
Exploring the effect of novel six moments on hand hygiene compliance among hospital cleaning staff members: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: He Wenbin , Chen Xiaoyan , Cheng Xiaolin , Li Yan , Feng Bilong , Wang Ying
Published: April 2023

My 5 moments (M5M) was used less frequently among cleaning staff members, suggesting that a poor compliance score in this group may not indicate deficient handwashing. This quasi-experimental study compared hand hygiene compliance (HHC), hand hygiene (HH) moments, and HH time distribution in the control group (no HH intervention; n = 21), case group 1 (normal M5M intervention; n = 26), case group 2 (extensive novel six moments (NSM) training; n = 24), and case group 3 (refined NSM training; n = 18). The intervention’s effect was evaluated after 3 months. The HHC gap among the four groups gradually increased in the second intervention month (control group, 31.43%; case group 1, 38.74%; case group 2, 40.19%; case group 3, 52.21%; p < 0.05). After the intervention period, the HHC of case groups 2 and 3 improved significantly from the baseline (23.85% vs. 59.22%, 27.41% vs. 83.62%, respectively; p < 0.05). ‘After transferring medical waste from the site’ had the highest HHC in case group 3, 90.72% (95% confidence interval, 0.1926–0.3967). HH peak hours were from 6 AM to 9 AM and 2 PM to 3 PM. The study showed that the implementation of an NSM practice can serve as an HHC monitoring indicator and direct relevant training interventions to improve HH among hospital cleaning staff.
The King and the Law of the Church of England
Authors: Dewhurst Russell
Published: April 2023

Charles III acceded to the British throne on 8 September 2022, becoming at the same time Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This article presents an overview of the law relating to the King and the Church of England, and considers the effects of the royal supremacy today.
October 2022 to January 2023
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: April 2023

In the June to September report, I noted that Boris Johnson had announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party on 7 July and had been replaced as Prime Minister by Liz Truss on 6 September. Little did anyone imagine that she, in turn, would be replaced by Rishi Sunak on 25 October after only 50 days in office and a disastrous mini budget presented by her Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, which Sunak's replacement as Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, then repudiated almost in its entirety.
What Does the Future Hold for Freedom of Religion and Belief?
Authors: Ferrari Silvio
Published: April 2023

Let me begin with a methodological remark. What I can offer is a European perspective of religious freedom in an intercultural world. The horizon of this ‘Comment’ piece will be global, but the point of view is inevitably European. Only God, if he exists, can have a regard from above: our regard is always from within.
Strasbourg, Russia and the Right to Same-Sex Marriage
Authors: Cranmer Frank
Published: April 2023

The issue of lack of legal recognition for same-sex partnerships has come before the European Court of Human Rights yet again, but this time before the Grand Chamber.
Clinicians’ experiences with cancer patients living longer with incurable cancer: a focus group study in the Netherlands
Authors: Buiting Hilde M. , Botman Femke , van der Velden Lilly-Ann , Brom Linda , van Heest Florien , Bolt Eva E. , de Mol Pieter , Bakker Ton
Published: April 2023

Aim:

To explore (1) experiences of primary care physicians (PCPs) and oncological medical specialists about providing care to patients living longer with incurable cancer, and (2) their preferences concerning different care approaches (palliative support, psychological/survivorship care support).

Background:

At present, oncological medical specialists as well as PCPs are exploring how to improve and better tailor care to patients living longer with incurable cancer. Our previous study at the in-patient oncology unit showed that patients living longer with incurable cancer experience problems in how to deal with a prognosis that is insecure and fluctuating. To date, it could be argued that treating these patients can be done with a ‘palliative care’ or a ‘survivorship/psychosocial care’ approach. It is unknown what happens in actual medical practice.

Methods:

We performed multidisciplinary group meetings: 6 focus groups (3 homogenous groups with PCPs (n = 15) and 3 multidisciplinary groups (n = 17 PCPs and n = 6 medical specialists) across different parts of the Netherlands. Qualitative data were analysed with thematic analysis.

Findings and conclusions:

In the near future, PCPs will have an increasing number of patients living longer with incurable cancer. However, in a single PCP practice, the experience with incurable cancer patients remains low, partly because patients often prefer to stay in contact with their medical specialist. PCPs as well as medical specialists show concerns in how they can address this disease phase with the right care approach, including the appropriate label (e.g. palliative, chronic, etc.). They all preferred to be in contact early in the disease process, to be able to discuss and take care for the patients’ physical and psychological well-being. Medical specialists can have an important role by timely referring their patients to their PCPs. Moreover, the disease label ‘chronic’ can possibly assist patients to live their life in the best possible way.