bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genome sequence of the long-horned flat-body, Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775)
Authors: Boyes Douglas ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Lees David ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Carcina quercana (the long-horned flat-body; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Depressariidae). The genome sequence is 409 megabases in span. Most of the assembly (99.96%) is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,108 protein coding genes.
Artificial Intelligence: Can Seemingly Collusive Outcomes Be Avoided?
Authors: Abada Ibrahim , Lambin Xavier
Published: January 2023

Strategic decisions are increasingly delegated to algorithms. We extend previous results of the algorithmic collusion literature to the context of dynamic optimization with imperfect monitoring by analyzing a setting where a limited number of agents use simple and independent machine-learning algorithms to buy and sell a storable good. No specific instruction is given to them, only that their objective is to maximize profits based solely on past market prices and payoffs. With an original application to battery operations, we observe that the algorithms learn quickly to reach seemingly collusive decisions, despite the absence of any formal communication between them. Building on the findings of the existing literature on algorithmic collusion, we show that seeming collusion could originate in imperfect exploration rather than excessive algorithmic sophistication. We then show that a regulator may succeed in disciplining the market to produce socially desirable outcomes by enforcing decentralized learning or with adequate intervention during the learning process.

This paper was accepted by Gabriel Weintraub, revenue management and market analytics.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4623 .
Impact of Mobile Technology on Collaborative Learning in Engineering Studies
Authors: Gong Xiaofei , Kannan Sathiamoorthy , Ramakrishnan Kamalanathan
Published: January 2023

Collaborative learning has been identified as an essential aspect in the process of learning. As accelerated advancement continues to characterize the developments of technology, innovative mobile technology appears to be transforming the way collaborative learning is taking shape. This study focused on identifying whether mobile technology has a significant impact on collaborative learning in engineering studies in a private University in Malaysia. Using a quantitative approach, an online survey was administered for the data collection. Some 221 participants were selected randomly among undergraduate engineering students in the University. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS. The research findings revealed that mobile technology has a significant impact on collaborative learning. The findings also indicated that two of the mobile technology dimensions, namely mobility and immediacy have significant impact on collaborative learning. Consequently, this research suggests engineering educators can integrate mobile technology into their future instruction for more collaborative learning and create a smart workforce consisting of fast and adaptive engineers as well as other learners in Malaysia.
Naturalisation of the Transcaucasian and East Anatolian darkling beetle Odocnemis aurichalcea (Adams, 1817) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) in the North Caucasus
Authors: NABOZHENKO MAXIM V. , CHIGRAY IVAN A. , GAGARINA LUDMILA V. , NABOZHENKO SVETLANA
Published: January 2023

The present state of the invasive population of Odocnemis aurichalcea (Adams, 1817) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in North Caucasus is studied. This species is widespread in Transcaucasia and has entered Nalchik and Nartkala towns (North Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia) possibly during urban greening where it is mentioned in these localities since at least the middle of the 20th century. Nothing was known about the status of this invasive population for 54 years.
                A rich population of this species was discovered in the outskirts of Nalchik in a natural beech forest in 2022. The species is naturalized in the North Caucasus, but inhabits only a very narrow, isolated range in this region. Diurnal activity, the response of adults to high temperature and humidity, habitat and trophic associations, and current distribution of the species in the North Caucasus are assessed. Taxocenes of tenebrionids from the tribe Helopini, including O. aurichalcea, were described. We establish that imagoes of the species occupy a narrower ecological niche in the invasive range under natural conditions, than in the native range, inhabiting exclusively beeches and feeding on algae of the genus Desmococcus F. Brand, 1925 (Chlorophyta: Trebouxiophyceae).
Pharmacognostic studies and anatomical peculiarities in medicinal plant Enicostemma axillare
Authors: Dhawle Kanchan , Dhuldhaj Umesh , Mulani Ramjan
Published: January 2023

Abstract. Mulani RM, Dhawle KS, Dhuldhaj UP. 2021. Pharmacognostic studies and anatomical peculiarities in medicinal plant, as Enicostemma axillare. Asian J Ethnobiol 4: 23-30. Pharmacognostic evaluations were carried out by plant material collection, preparation of herbarium; organoleptic properties, macroscopic characters, microscopic characteristics. For the physiological studies Transverse Sections (T.S.) of root, stem and leaves were taken and also powder analysis, physicochemical value determination such as total ash, water-soluble ash, acid-soluble and acid-insoluble ash were done. The distinguishing characters of Enicostemma axillare (Poir. ex Lam.) A. Raynal stem is the presence of parenchyma. Leaves microscopy indicates presence of anisocytic stomata, minor leaf veins, phloem transfer cells and numerous sclereids. Macroscopic study shows leaves and roots with glabrous-surface, and stem was tall simple to branch and maybe prostrate or ascending. Color variation indicates presence of different types of components and essential oils; determined the percentage of leaf, stem and root: ash values; water-soluble, acid-soluble and acid-insoluble ash values. This study provides anatomical properties for the proper identification and establishment of standards of E. axillare for the medicinal applications to treat diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, abdominal ulcers, hernia, swelling, itching, and insect poisoning. This helps in pharmacognostical standardization of drugs in crude form and also to differentiate them from adulterations.
Zootherapeutic animals used by Awi, Gamo, and Konta communities in Amhara and Southern Regions of Ethiopia
Authors: BIRU YIHEW , GIBRU AMARE , TEMESGEN ZELALEM , HUNDE KEBEBEW , FEKENSA TESFU
Published: January 2023

Abstract. Biru Y, Gibru A, Temesgen Z, Hunde K, Fekensa T. 2022. Zootherapeutic animals used by Awi, Gamo, and Konta communities in Amhara and Southern Regions of Ethiopia. Asian J Ethnobiol 5: 84-91. The use of animals and animal products in traditional medicine is less explored than that of plant-based medication. And hence, this pilot study is aimed to assess the role of zootherapeutic animals in traditional medicine among Awi, Gamo, and Konta communities, Ethiopia. Data were collected from December 2020 to March 2021 using a semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, and field observations. A total of 90 informants and 37 group discussants were included in the study. We calculated the use value (UV) and relative frequency of citation (RFC) of animals used in traditional medicine. A binary Logistic Regression model using SAS (9.0) was used to identify the major factors that affected respondents’ knowledge about the importance of animal-based traditional medicine. Overall, we documented 20 medicinal animals having ethnozoological importance in treating nearly 23 human diseases. Out of the 20 vertebrate species used, mammals comprised 70%, followed by birds, 20%. Among the recorded animal species, hyena, porcupine, and bushbuck were commonly reported medicinal animals in the study areas. Meat, skin, and blood were the most frequently used animal products by local communities, with a pooled RFC of 0.48, 0.28, and 0.13, respectively. Asthma, protection from the evil eye, and broken bone were most commonly treated diseases using animal-based therapeutics. The binary logistic regression model revealed that age (?2=10.53; df=3; P=0.01) and region (?2=5.11; df=1; P=0.02) of respondents significantly affected ethnozoological knowledge of respondents. This study confirmed that the sampled communities have rich ethnozoological knowledge concerning the use of traditional medicine. Therefore, further in-depth studies involving traditional healers are recommended to clearly understand the role of wild animals in traditional medicine and design conservation options for the threatened medicinal animals.
Low-temperature ion beam sputtered optical coatings
Authors: Gischkat Th. , Schachtler D. , Steger F. , Balogh-Michels Z. , Vetsch B. , Strüning T. , Birkhölzer J. , Michler M. , Mühlig Ch. , Schwinde S. , Trost M. , Schröder S. , Borzi A. , Neels A.
Published: January 2023

In thin film deposition processes, the lower limit of the deposition temperature is determined by the used coating technology and the duration of the coating process and is usually higher than room temperature. Hence, the processing of thermally sensitive materials and the adjustability of thin film morphology are limited. In consequence, for factual low-temperature deposition processes, an active cooling of the substrate is required. The effect of low substrate temperature on thin film properties during ion beam sputtering was investigated. The

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films grown at 0°C show a trend of lower optical losses and higher laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) compared to 100°C.
Adjoint optimization of polarization-splitting grating couplers
Authors: Sun Peng , Van Vaerenbergh Thomas , Hooten Sean , Beausoleil Raymond
Published: January 2023

We have designed a polarization-splitting grating coupler (PSGC) in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) that has 1.2 dB peak loss in numerical simulations, which is the best simulated performance of PSGCs without a bottom reflector to the best of our knowledge. Adjoint method-based shape optimization enables us to explore complex geometries that are intractable with conventional design approaches. Physics-based process-independent knowledge of PSGCs is extracted from the adjoint optimization and can be transferred to other platforms with a minimum of effort.
Large-scale calibration method for MEMS-based projector 3D reconstruction
Authors: Wan Tinglei , Liu Yuhang , Zhou Yangfan , Liu Xin
Published: January 2023

Projectors based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) have the advantages of small size and low cost. Moreover, uniaxial MEMS projectors have high projection accuracy, and have been widely used in structured light 3D reconstruction. However, the existing calibration methods for uniaxial MEMS projectors are not effective in large-scale scenes. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a novel efficient large-scale calibration method, which is easily implemented. The proposed method first calibrates a partial light plane for a fixed sampling period, then obtains the rest of the light plane by exploiting a non-fixed rotating shaft linear interpolation method. Experimental results verify that the proposed method attains high accuracy in a large depth field with only 11 sets of calibration data. Specifically, at a distance of 3000mm, the standard deviation of the plane fitting error reaches 0.2584mm on the standard plane, and the measurement accuracy attains 0.9124mm on the standard step object with 200mm interval.
Self-calibration phase demodulation scheme for stabilization based on an auxiliary reference fiber-optic interferometer and ellipse fitting algorithm
Authors: Wu Yingjie , Li Churui , Wang Chao , Jia Bo
Published: January 2023

To solve the problem of light source jitter and asymmetric 3 × 3 coupler, a phase demodulation method with the combination of an auxiliary reference interferometer and elliptic fitting algorithm is proposed, which is verified by simulation and experiment. By introducing additional phase modulation in the auxiliary reference interferometer, the parameters of the sensing arm can be calibrated in real time, which ensures the effective operation of elliptic fitting algorithm in small signal measurement. Consequently, the experiments show that the self-calibration scheme enables a higher signal to noise and distortion ratio with an average increase of 1.65 dB and 10.47 dB compared with the traditional Arctan and cross multiplication differential, respectively. Meanwhile, the self-calibration scheme can also effectively suppress the harmonic distortion, with a total harmonic distortion of -33.64 dB in the case of small signal.
Near-flat top bandpass filter based on non-local resonance in a dielectric metasurface
Authors: Lee Changhyun , Jeon Sangtae , Kim Seong Jun , Kim Soo Jin
Published: January 2023

Localized light matter interaction at a resonant nanostructure facilitates spectrally selective transmission of light, which has led to demonstrations of ultrathin metasurface based optical filters. Unfortunately, due to the nature of Lorentzian spectral line shape in such resonances, it is inevitable to suffer significant spectral crosstalk. In this work, we demonstrate a conceptually new type of spectral filter which exhibits near flat-top bandpass with minimized spectral overlaps. To realize this, we leverage the recent development of non-local resonance in dielectric nanostructure to design a double-layered optical filter with performance comparable to the ideal spectral filters. The designed metasurface shows averaged transmission of more than 90% across the target spectral band and suppressed transmission of less than 10% out of the spectral band.
Linear dual-comb interferometry at high power levels
Authors: Guay Philippe , Walsh Mathieu , Tourigny-Plante Alex , Genest Jérôme
Published: January 2023

Detector non-linearity is an important factor limiting the maximal power and hence the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in dual-comb interferometry. To increase the SNR without overwhelming averaging time, photodetector non-linearity must be properly handled for high input power. Detectors exhibiting nonlinear behavior can produce linear dual-comb interferograms if the area of the detector’s impulse response does not saturate and if the overlap between successive time-varying impulse responses is properly managed. Here, a high bandwidth non-amplified balanced photodetector is characterized in terms of its impulse response to high intensity short pulses to exemplify the conditions. With a 23.5 mW average power on each detector in a balanced pair, nonlinear spectral artifacts are at least 40 dB below the spectral baseline. Absorption lines of carbon dioxide are measured to reveal lines discrepancies smaller than 0.1% with HITRAN. A spectral shape independent formulation for the dual-comb figure of merit is proposed, reaching here 7.2 × 107 Hz1/2 limited by laser relative intensity noise, but corresponding to an ideal, shot-noise limited, figure of merit for an equivalent 0.85 mW average power per comb.
Reducing ringing artifacts for hologram reconstruction by extracting patterns of ringing artifacts
Authors: Nagahama Yuki
Published: January 2023

Diffraction calculation techniques based on Fourier transform, such as Fresnel diffraction, are essential in computational optics. Notably, zero padding is applied in diffraction calculations to manipulate sampling pitch and convolution calculations. However, zero padding can generate ringing artifacts due to sudden changes in value, which affect hologram reconstructions, etc. Several existing methods reduce the ringing artifact by decreasing the sudden changes in values. Therefore, in this study, we propose and validate a “ringing artifact extraction method” that focuses on the pattern of ringing artifacts, which depends on the conditions of diffraction calculation.
The Prmt5-Vasa module is essential for spermatogenesis in Bombyx mori
Authors: Yang Xu , Chen Dongbin , Zheng Shirui , Yi Meiyan , Wang Shanshan , Liu Yongjian , Jing Lianyan , Liu Zulian , Yang Dehong , Liu Yujia , Tang Linmeng , Walters James R. , Huang Yongping
Published: January 2023

In lepidopteran insects, dichotomous spermatogenesis produces eupyrene spermatozoa, which are nucleated, and apyrene spermatozoa, which are anucleated. Both sperm morphs are essential for fertilization, as eupyrene sperm fertilize the egg, and apyrene sperm is necessary for the migration of eupyrene sperm. In Drosophila, Prmt5 acts as a type II arginine methyltransferase that catalyzes the symmetrical dimethylation of arginine residues in the RNA helicase Vasa. Prmt5 is critical for the regulation of spermatogenesis, but Vasa is not. To date, functional genetic studies of spermatogenesis in the lepidopteran model Bombyx mori has been limited. In this study, we engineered mutations in BmPrmt5 and BmVasa through CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing. Both BmPrmt5 and BmVasa loss-of-function mutants had similar male and female sterility phenotypes. Through immunofluorescence staining analysis, we found that the morphs of sperm from both BmPrmt5 and BmVasa mutants have severe defects, indicating essential roles for both BmPrmt5 and BmVasa in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Mass spectrometry results identified that R35, R54, and R56 of BmVasa were dimethylated in WT while unmethylated in BmPrmt5 mutants. RNA-seq analyses indicate that the defects in spermatogenesis in mutants resulted from reduced expression of the spermatogenesis-related genes, including BmSxl, implying that BmSxl acts downstream of BmPrmt5 and BmVasa to regulate apyrene sperm development. These findings indicate that BmPrmt5 and BmVasa constitute an integral regulatory module essential for spermatogenesis in B. mori.
Substance use and other correlates of HIV infection among transwomen and men who have sex with men in Perú: Implications for targeted HIV prevention strategies for transwomen
Authors: Cyrus Elena , Lama Javier R. , Sanchez Jorge , Sullivan Daniell S. , Leon Segundo , Villaran Manuel V. , Vagenas Panagiotis , Vu David , Coudray Makella , Altice Frederick L.
Published: January 2023

Characterization of HIV risk factors among transwomen and men who have sex with men (MSM) should be assessed separately and independently. However, due to several constraints, these populations continue to be conflated in clinical research and data. There are limited datasets globally powered to make such comparisons. The study aimed to use one of the largest surveys of transwomen and MSM in Latin America to determine differences in HIV risk and related correlates between the two populations. Secondary data analysis was completed using a cross-sectional biobehavioral survey of 4413 MSM and 714 transwomen living in Perú. Chi Square analysis of selected HIV correlates was conducted to examine differences between transwomen and MSM. Additionally, stratified binary logistic regression was used to split data for further comparative analyses of correlates associated with transwomen and MSM separately. HIV prevalence among transwomen was two-fold greater than among MSM (14.9% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001). Transwomen had a higher prevalence of most HIV risk factors assessed, including presence of alcohol dependence (16.4% vs. 19.0%; p < .001) and drug use in the past 3 months (17.0% vs. 14.9%). MSM were more likely to use marijuana (68.0% vs. 50.0%, p < .001), and transwomen were more likely to engage in inhaled cocaine use (70.0% vs. 51.1%, p < .001). The regression exposed differences in correlates driving sub-epidemics in transwomen vs. MSM, with a trend of substance use increasing HIV risk for transwomen only. Transwomen were more likely to be HIV-infected and had different risk factors from MSM. Targeted prevention strategies are needed for transwomen that are at highest risk. Additionally, further research is needed to determine if these observations in Perú regarding substance use patterns and the role of substance use in HIV risk relate to other trans populations globally.
Regional and country-level trends in cervical cancer screening coverage in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic analysis of population-based surveys (2000–2020)
Authors: Yang Lily , Boily Marie-Claude , Rönn Minttu M. , Obiri-Yeboah Dorcas , Morhason-Bello Imran , Meda Nicolas , Lompo Olga , Mayaud Philippe , Pickles Michael , Brisson Marc , Hodgins Caroline , Delany-Moretlwe Sinead , Maheu-Giroux Mathieu
Published: January 2023

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest cervical cancer (CC) burden globally—worsened by its HIV epidemics. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a CC elimination strategy with goals for vaccination, screening, and treatment. To benchmark progress, we examined temporal trends in screening coverage, percent screened at least twice by the age of 45, screening coverage among women living with HIV (WLHIV), and pre-cancer treatment coverage in SSA.

Methods and findings

We conducted a systematic analysis of cross-sectional population-based surveys. It included 52 surveys from 28 countries (2000 to 2020) with information on CC screening among women aged 25 to 49 years (N = 151,338 women). We estimated lifetime and past 3-year screening coverage by age, year, country, and HIV serostatus using a Bayesian multilevel model. Post-stratification and imputations were done to obtain aggregate national, regional, and SSA-level estimates. To measure re-screening by age 45, a life table model was developed. Finally, self-reported pre-cancer treatment coverage was pooled across surveys using a Bayesian meta-analysis. Overall, an estimated 14% (95% credible intervals [95% CrI]: 11% to 21%) of women aged 30 to 49 years had ever been screened for CC in 2020, with important regional and country-level differences. In Eastern and Western/Central Africa, regional screening coverages remained constant from 2000 to 2020 and WLHIV had greater odds of being screened compared to women without HIV. In Southern Africa, however, screening coverages increased and WLHIV had equal odds of screening. Notably this region was found to have higher screening coverage in comparison to other African regions. Rescreening rates were high among women who have already been screened; however, it was estimated that only 12% (95% CrI: 10% to 18%) of women had been screened twice or more by age 45 in 2020. Finally, treatment coverage among 4 countries with data was 84% (95% CrI: 70% to 95%). Limitations of our analyses include the paucity of data on screening modality and the few countries that had multiple surveys.

Conclusion

Overall, CC screening coverage remains sub-optimal and did not improve much over the last 2 decades, outside of Southern Africa. Action is needed to increase screening coverage if CC elimination is to be achieved.
Therapeutic efficacy of Chloroquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax infection in Shewa Robit, Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Habtamu , Alemu Megbaru , Hailu Tadesse , Mohammed Hussein , Sime Heven , Hailegeorgies Henok , Gidey Bokretsion , Haile Mebrahtom , Assefa Gudissa , Bekele Worku , Alebachew Reta Mihreteab , Almaw Tamene Andargachew , Tasew Geremew , Assefa Ashenafi
Published: January 2023

Background

The development of drug resistance to chloroquine is posing a challenge in the prevention and control efforts of malaria globally. Chloroquine is the first-line treatment for uncomplicated P.vivax in Ethiopia. Regular monitoring of anti-malarial drugs is recommended to help early detection of drug-resistant strains of malaria parasites before widely distributed. The emergence of P.vivax resistance to chloroquine in the country endangers the efficacy of P.vivax treatment. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine among uncomplicated P.vivax infections at Shewa Robit Health Center, northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

One-arm in vivo prospective chloroquine efficacy study was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021. Ninety participants aged between 16 months to 60 years confirmed with P.vivax mono-infection microscopically were selected and treated with a 25 mg/kg standard dose of chloroquine over three days. Thick and thin blood smears were prepared and examined. Clinical examination was performed over 28 follow-up days. Hemoglobin concentration level was measured on days 0, 14, and 28.

Result

Of the 90 enrolled participants, 86 (96%) completed their 28 days follow-up period. The overall cure rate of the drug was 98.8% (95% CI: 95.3–100%). All asexual stages and gametocytes were cleared within 48 hours with rapid clearance of fever. Hemoglobin concentration had significantly recovered between days 0 and 14, 0 and 28, and 14 and 28 days (P = 0.032, P<0.001, and P = 0.005), respectively. Fast resolution of clinical signs and symptoms was also observed. Severe adverse events were not recorded.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that chloroquine remains an efficacious and safe drug in the study setting for treating uncomplicated P.vivax in the study area. Large-scale continuous surveillance is needed to monitor the development of resistance in due time.
Global competence of medical students: An assessment scale and preliminary investigation in China
Authors: Shi Yue , Du Huakang , Feng Yunying , Cao Yihan , Zhang Haiyang , Ding Yingjing , Zhao Yi , Zhang Lihan , Li Peifan , Cai Sicheng , Li Tong , Cui Naiqian , Wu Haojie , Zhao Jun
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The importance of global competence has been acknowledged in medical care as well as medical education. This study aims to develop a scale assessing the global competence of medical students, determine the factor structure and internal consistency of the scale and explore the underlying factors influencing the global competence of Chinese medical students in 8-year programs.

Methods

A questionnaire (Global Competence Assessment Scale for Medical Students, MS-GCAS) was developed, and a cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted in 1062 medical students from 10 medical schools in China. Questionnaire data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression.

Results

The exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor scale. The MS-GCAS has good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79 to 0.87). In the multivariate regression analyses, medical education stage (p<0.05), the frequency of communicating with foreigners (p<0.001), multilingual ability (p<0.05) and grade level (p<0.05) are associated with the MS-GCAS scores.

Discussion

The MS-GCAS has the potential to serve as a tool to measure the global competence of medical students. This three-factor scale can be used by medical education researches to improve future versions. Medical schools should conduct further educational reforms to promote students’ global competence.
Association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood: The mediating and moderating roles of DNA methylation
Authors: Comtois-Cabana Maude , Barr Emily , Provençal Nadine , Ouellet-Morin Isabelle
Published: January 2023

Prospective studies suggest that child maltreatment substantially increases the risk for depression in adulthood. However, the mechanisms underlying this association require further elucidation. In recent years, DNA methylation has emerged as a potential mechanism by which maltreatment experiences (a) could partly explain the emergence or aggravation of depressive symptoms (i.e., mediation) and/or (b) could increase (or decrease) the risk for depressive symptoms (i.e., moderation). The present study tested whether the methylation levels of nine candidate genes mediated and/or moderated the association between maltreatment experiences in childhood and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. The sample comprised 156 men aged between 18 and 35 years. Maltreatment experiences and depressive symptoms were assessed retrospectively using self-reported questionnaires. Methylation levels of nine candidate genes (COMT, FKBP5, IL6, IL10, MAOA, NR3C1, OXTR, SLC6A3 and SLC6A4), previously reported to be sensitive to early-life stress, were quantified from saliva samples. Maltreatment experiences in childhood were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Both maltreatment experiences and depressive symptoms were associated with the methylation levels of two genomic sites, which cumulatively, but not individually, explained 16% of the association between maltreatment experiences in childhood and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Moreover, maltreatment experiences in childhood interacted with the methylation levels of fourteen genomic sites, which cumulatively, but not individually, modulated the level of depressive symptoms in young male adults who were maltreated as children. However, none of these effects survived multiple testing correction. These findings bring attention to the cumulative effects of DNA methylation measured in several candidate genes on the risk of reporting depressive symptoms following maltreatment experiences in childhood. Nonetheless, future studies need to clarify the robustness of these putative cumulative effects in larger samples and longitudinal cohorts.
Misunderstanding of dosing regimen instructions among patients with chronic diseases receiving polypharmacy at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital
Authors: Belachew Eyayaw Ashete , Sendekie Ashenafi Kibret , Wondm Samuel Agegnew , Ayele Emneteab Mesfin , Netere Adeladlew Kassie
Published: January 2023

Background

Misunderstanding dosage instructions in terms of dose, frequency, duration, or any other instruction with patients on polypharmacy is a common problem that leads to the irrational use of medications. This study aimed to assess the level of misunderstanding of dosing instructions among patients with chronic diseases receiving polypharmacy at the chronic outpatient pharmacy of the University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital (UoGCSH).

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2021 at the UoGCSH chronic outpatient pharmacy in Northwest Ethiopia. Study subjects were selected by a systematic random sampling method. Drug-drug and drug-food interactions were also checked by Medscape and drug.com to evaluate the significance of interactions. Frequency, percentage, and mean standard deviation (SD) were used to describe the distributions of variables. With a statistical significance level of p < 0.05, the Chi-square test was used to assess the association of variables with the primary outcome.

Results

From a total of 400 participants, more than half (59%) were females, with a mean (SD) age of 57 (±16.3) years old. The study revealed that almost half (50.8%) of the participants misunderstood at least one dosage instruction, and around two-fifths (38.5%) misunderstood the frequency of drug administration. More than 90% of patients had no understanding of drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Sex (X2 = 16.837; P<0.0001), educational level (X2 = 50.251; P < 0.0001), residence (X2 = 5.164; P < 0.023) and duration of stay on medication (X2 = 13.806; P < 0.0003) were significantly associated with misunderstanding of dosage regimen instructions.

Conclusion

The study showed that a significant number of patients did not understand their medication dosage regimen instructions. To address these significant drug-related issues, healthcare providers could effectively engage in interventions such as written instructions accompanying patients and additional counseling.
Medical appointments and provision of medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mainz, Germany
Authors: Schepers Markus , Schmidtmann Irene , Zahn Daniela , Wild Philipp , Beutel Manfred , Schuster Alexander K. , Münzel Thomas , Lackner Karl J. , Geschke Katharina , Schattenberg Jörn , Baumkötter Rieke , Yilmaz Simge , Wollschläger Daniel
Published: January 2023

Previous evidence suggested that non-COVID-19-related medical care was reduced during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remained unclear whether or to which extent this effect lasted beyond the first wave, or existed in a longer time frame. Here, we consider questionnaire data of the Gutenberg-COVID-19 study together with pre-pandemic baseline data of the Gutenberg Health Study concerning the region around Mainz, Germany, to study the effects of the pandemic on the provision of medical care until April 2021. We observed that the proportion of cancelled medical appointments was low and that the fraction of participants with a medical appointment as an indicator for the number of appointments being made was in line with pre-pandemic levels. Appointments were more likely cancelled by the patient (rather than the provider), and more likely cancelled by medical specialists such as dentists or ophthalmologists (rather than GPs). In conclusion, we found some evidence that, at least with regard to realized appointments, the medical system and the provision of medical care were not harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic on a longer time scale.
Una mirada a la representación de la experiencia femenina en el cine y la cultura colombiana a través del lente de Ciro Guerra en La sombra del caminante (2004), Los viajes del viento (2009) y El abrazo de la serpiente (2015)
Authors: Rodríguez Sabogal Alexandra
Published: January 2023

Ciro Guerra’s La sombra del caminante/Wandering Shadows (2017), Los viajes del viento/
The Wind Journeys (2009) and El abrazo de la serpiente/The Embrace of the Serpent (2015) address critical issues in Colombian history and avoid spectacularizing violence and poverty while dignifying many of the challenges faced by marginalized groups in Colombia. However, this trilogy of films is still characterized by a masculine presence and lacks female representation. From an intersectional perspective, this article connects the absence of feminine experiences in this set of films with the insufficient recognition that has historically been given to women’s contributions and participation in the construction of historical memory, artistic creation and preservation of ancestral knowledge in Colombia
Miradas de mujer: Cineastas españolas del siglo XXI, Francisco A. Zurian (ed.) (2017)
Authors: Melero Alejandro
Published: January 2023

Review of: Miradas de mujer: Cineastas españolas del siglo XXI, Francisco A. Zurian (ed.) (2017)

Madrid: Editorial Fundamental, 312 pp.,

ISBN 8424513541, p/bk, £17.50
The Child in Contemporary Latin American Cinema, Deborah Martin (2019)
Authors: Randall Rachel
Published: January 2023

Review of: The Child in Contemporary Latin American Cinema, Deborah Martin (2019)

New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 245 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-13753-060-8, h/bk, £95.00

ISBN 978-1-13752-822-3, e-book, £76.00
Tras las lentes de Isabel Coixet: Cine, compromiso y feminismo, Barbara Zecchi (ed.) (2017)
Authors: Virino Concepción Cascajosa
Published: January 2023

Review of: Tras las lentes de Isabel Coixet: Cine, compromiso y feminismo, Barbara Zecchi (ed.) (2017)

Zaragoza: Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza, 500 pp.,

ISBN 978-8-41693-573-4, p/bk, €22

ISBN 978-8-41735-816-7, e-book, €10.45
TRAJECTORIES OF COMBINED CIRCULAR MOTIONS IN MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: Pavlov V. D.
Published: January 2023

The relevance of the work is due to the fact that combined rotational movements are widespread in technical systems and when designing it is important to represent the nature of the total movement. It was found that when rotating in opposite directions, the trajectory of the total motion is an ellipse. All the standard characteristics of the ellipse are determined in relation to the case under consideration. The inclination of the elliptical trajectory is set. Just as the result of the superposition of two unaccelerated movements is also unaccelerated, i.e. uniform and rectilinear movement, with rotations in one direction, the trajectory of the total movement is a circle. In circular motions with multiple speeds, the trajectory of the total motion is a snail. The practical aspect of the study is determined by the fact that the formulas obtained can be directly used in CAD when performing design work.
A PRIORI METHOD FOR EVALUATING THE KINEMATIC ACCURACY OF BALL SCREW GEARS
Authors: Seregin A. A. , Blinov D. S. , Marusich K. V.
Published: January 2023

Helical gears are the most common type of drive that converts rotational motion into translational motion. Ball screw gears are the most widely used in precision instruments and machine tools. Currently, the issue of improving the reliability of the drive containing a ball screw transmission, according to the parameter “kinematic accuracy”, is relevant. The method of probabilistic estimation of the aftereffect of screw gears is considered. The method is based on the results of the analysis of the functioning of the transmission parts, followed by the synthesis of a model of the accuracy of screw gears. A comparative analysis of the magnitude of the aftereffect of some screw gear designs is performed. The prospect of using planetary mechanisms with threaded rollers and nonrack mechanisms with threaded rollers in three-dimensional hingerod structures such as: mobile reconfigurable robotic stations, robotic systems, collaborative and exoskeletal robots is shown.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING PROPERTIES OF ASPHALT CONCRETE MIXTURE COMPACTED BY VIBRATORY ROLLER
Authors: Shishkin E. A. , Smolyakov A. A.
Published: January 2023

The paper investigates the process of force interaction of a vibrating roller with a layer of asphalt concrete mixture. To describe the stress-strain state of the compacted layer during the interaction of the latter with a vibration roller, the Kelvin body was used. On the basis of the law of behavior of the Kelvin body, a simulation model has been developed, the result of which is a phase trajectory in the coordinates “force–displacement” for the system “drum–asphalt concrete mixture”. An analytical study of the characteristic points of the phase trajectory was carried out, as a result of which the relationship between the properties of the asphalt concrete mixture and the force effect in the area of contact of the roller with the compacted layer was established. In addition, a condition was obtained for continuous rolling of the asphalt-concrete layer with a vibrating roller, the observance of which makes it possible to increase the resource of the roller by reducing the wear of the latter. The results obtined can be used to establish the relationship between the operating modes of the vibratory roller and the properties of the compacted layer of the asphalt concrete mixture.
IMPROVEMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES FOR MANUFACTURING GENERATING CONICAL AND HYPOID GEARS
Authors: Kalashnikov A. S. , Morgunov Yu. A. , Abbyasov V. M. , Kocharyan G. A.
Published: January 2023

Analysis of existing technological processes has shown that when processing conical and hypoid gears, gear-cutting operations during roughing, semifinishing and finishing have a great influence on the quality of manufacture. The conducted studies of the accuracy of the angular location and radial run out of the cutting edges of the incisors in the incisor heads allowed us to determine their effect on the roughness of the surface of the teeth, indicators of kinematic accuracy and smooth engagement of conical and hypoid gears. Recommendations on the accuracy of the location of the cutters in the tool heads for cutting gears in various industries have been developed.
Attention mechanism and skip-gram embedded phrases
Authors: Krimpas Panagiotis , Valavani Christina
Published: January 2023

This article examines common translation errors that occur in the translation of legal texts. In particular, it focuses on how German texts containing legal terminology are rendered into Modern Greek by the Google translation machine. Our case study is the Google-assisted translation of the original (German) version of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany into Modern Greek. A training method is proposed for phrase extraction based on the occurrence frequency, which goes through the Skip-gram algorithm to be then integrated into the Self Attention Mechanism proposed by Vaswani et al. (2017) in order to minimise human effort and contribute to the development of a robust machine translation system for multi-word legal terms and special phrases. This Neural Machine Translation approach aims at developing vectorised phrases from large corpora and process them for translation. The research direction is to increase the in-domain training data set and enrich the vector dimension with more information for legal concepts (domain specific features).
Model-based Analysis of Nitrogen Dynamics in the Tigris River in Baghdad City
Authors:   University of Technology - Iraq, Al Lami Muwafaq H. , Alwan Imzahim A. ,   University of Technology - Iraq, Ismael Hameed S. ,   University of Technology - Iraq
Published: January 2023

Developing a solid understanding of the nitrogen dynamics across the Tigris River is critical to evaluate the environmental degradation of the increased N fluxes. Nitrite, nitrate, and total oxidized N (nitrite+nitrate) were monitored from April 2018 to August 2019. Plug flow reactors and continuously stirred tank reactors in series models were implemented to explore N behavior in the river system. The results indicated that the total oxidized N decreased over the first half of the study period, then was followed by a high rate of nitrate production. These findings are also supported by changes of the river flow rates, dissolved oxygen, pH, and chemical oxygen demand. The models have the capacity to simulate N dynamics, with varied prediction errors. Root mean squared errors between measured and predicted nitrite, nitrate, and total oxidized N concentrations were 0.118, 2.595, and 2.560 g m-3, respectively, for the PFR model, while these values were 0.05, 0.175 g m-3, and 0.176 g m-3, respectively, for the CSTRS model. The correlation coefficients were 0.012, 0.925, and 0.922 for nitrite, nitrate, and total oxidized N, respectively, when the PFR model was applied. These values were 0.92, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively, after the application of the CSTRS model. Obtained results revealed that the modeling approach can provide a useful framework to improve understanding of N dynamics, which helps to develop mitigation strategies for sustaining water quality in the Tigris River.
Erweitertes Vorgehensmodell für intentionsbasiertes Engineering und Automatisierung modularer verfahrenstechnischer Anlagen
Authors: Markaj Artan , Schoch Nicolai , Stark Katharina , Hoernicke Mario , Fay Alexander
Published: January 2023

The modularization of process plants and their modular automation represent innovative concepts to meet the increasing demands for flexibility in plant operation. However, existing approaches to support the engineering of such plants do not focus on the early phases of requirements elicitation and concept design, although these early phases are crucial for the economic efficiency of the later plant. This paper presents a process model for the formalized description of intentions in the early engineering phases of modular process plants. The plant operator creates a formalized model of his intentions and submits it to the module manufacturers in a suitably modularized form. Thus, in the engineering phases, a reduction of effort and an increase in support in the planning and development of the plants are achieved. Furthermore, purpose-specific, required automation functionalities can be defined at an early stage.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase cleaves the N-terminal peptide of the immunoprotein CXCL-10
Authors: Lioe Trillion Surya , Xie Ziwen , Wu Jianfang , Li Wenlong , Sun Li , Feng Qiaoli , Sekar Raju , Tefsen Boris , Ruiz-Carrillo David
Published: January 2023

Dipeptidyl peptidases constitute a class of non-classical serine proteases that regulate an array of biological functions, making them pharmacologically attractive enzymes. With this work, we identified and characterized a dipeptidyl peptidase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtDPP) displaying a strong preference for proline residues at the P1 substrate position and an unexpectedly high thermal stability. MtDPP was also characterized with alanine replacements of residues of its active site that yielded, for the most part, loss of catalysis. We show that MtDPP catalytic activity is inhibited by well-known human DPP4 inhibitors. Using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry we also describe that in vitro, MtDPP mediates the truncation of the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, indicating a plausible role in immune modulation for this mycobacterial enzyme.
Frequent violation of the sonority sequencing principle in hundreds of languages: how often and by which sequences?
Authors: Yin Ruihua , van de Weijer Jeroen , Round Erich R.
Published: January 2023

The Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) is a fundamental governing principle of syllable structure; however, its details remain contested. This study aims to clarify the empirical status of the SSP in a cross-linguistic study of 496 languages. We adopt a phonetically-grounded definition of sonority – acoustic intensity – and examine how many languages contain SSP-violating clusters word-initially and word-finally. We consider the treatment of complex segments both as sonority units and as clusters. We find a significant proportion of languages violate the SSP: almost one half of the language sample. We examine which clusters cause the violations, and find a wide range: not only the notorious case of clusters with sibilants, but also with nasals, approximants and other obstruents. Violations in onsets and codas are not symmetrical, especially when complex segments are treated as units. We discuss where existing theoretical accounts of the SSP require further development to account for our crosslinguistic results.
On regular subgroup functors of finite groups
Authors: Li Baojun , Wu Yan , Gong Lü
Published: January 2023

A subgroup functor

τ

\tau

is said

Φ

\Phi

-regular if for all primitive groups

G

G

, whenever

H
∈
τ

(

G

)

H\in \tau \left(G)

is a

p

p

-subgroup and

N

N

is a minimal normal subgroup of

G

G

, then

∣
G
:

N

G

(

H
∩
N

)

∣
=

p

d

| G:{N}_{G}\left(H\cap N)| ={p}^{d}

for some integer

d

d

. In this article, we investigate groups in which some primary subgroups are

τ

\tau

-subgroups for a

Φ

\Phi

-regular subgroup functor

τ

\tau

, and we obtain new criteria for the supersolubility or

p

p

-nilpotency of a group.