bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientific literacy and preferred resources used by Latin American medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational survey
Authors: Nicolalde Bryan , Añazco Diego , Jaramillo-Cartwright Maria Jose , Salinas Ivonne , Pacheco-Carrillo Aldo , Hernández-Chávez Saliha , Moyano Gimena , Teran Enrique
Published: March 2022

Background:This study aims to identify the preferred sources for acquiring knowledge about COVID-19 and to evaluate basic knowledge on critical scientific literature appraisal in students from medical schools located in Spanish speaking countries in Latin America. 

Methods:We designed an online survey of 15 closed-ended questions related to demographics, preferred resources for COVID-19 training, and items to assess critical appraisal skills. A snowball method was used for sampling. We conducted a descriptive analysis and Chi-squared tests to compare the proportion of correct identification of the concept of a preprint and a predatory journal when considering a) self-perceived level of knowledge, b) public vs private school, c) inclusion of a scientific literature appraisal subject in the curriculum, and d) progress in medical school.

Results:Our sample included 770 valid responses, out of which most of the participants included were from Mexico (n=283, 36.8%) and Ecuador (n=229, 29.7%). Participants preferred using evidence-based clinical resources (EBCRs) to learn more about COVID-19 (n=182, 23.6%). The preferred study design was case report/series (n=218, 28.1%). We found that only 265 participants correctly identified the concept of a preprint (34.4%), while 243 students (31.6%) correctly identified the characteristics of a predatory journal. We found no significant differences in the proportion of correct answers regardless of the self-perceived level of knowledge, progress in medical school, or scientific literature critical appraisal classes.

Conclusion:This study is novel in its approach of identifying sources of knowledge used by Latin American medical students and provides insights into the need to reinforce training in critical appraisal of scientific literature during medical school.
The effects of multimedia information on recruitment and retention in a children’s cardiac surgery trial: a randomised controlled SWAT (study within a trial)
Authors: Knapp Peter , Heys Rachael , Dabner Lucy , Sheehan Karen , Smartt Helena , Walker-Smith Terrie , Rogers Chris A , Stoica Serban , Roche Jenny , Moe-Byrne Thirimon , Martin-Kerry Jacqueline M , Sheridan Rebecca , Coleman Elizabeth , Higgins Steven
Published: March 2022

Background:

Digital multimedia information (MMI) has potential for use in trial recruitment but there is little formal evaluation. The objectives were to evaluate digital MMI about a trial for its effects on recruitment, retention, participation decisions, and patients’ acceptability, compared with printed information (PIS) alone and when combined with PIS.

Methods:

SWAT (study within a trial) using random parallel-group individual allocation within the Thermic-3 trial evaluating warm versus cold cardioplegia solution during cardiac surgery.

Set in one UK hospital, participants were 147 children (0-16 years) awaiting surgery for congenital heart defects; 38% were female.  

Participants and their parents/guardian received trial information via multimedia (including text, animated videos and talking-head videos) for viewing at home (MMI group; n=49), or PIS (PIS group; n=47), or both (PIS&MMI group; n=51).

Primary outcome was recruitment rate to the Thermic-3 trial comparing PIS-alone and MMI-alone. Secondary outcomes were recruitment rate comparing PIS-alone and combined PIS&MMI; Decision-Making Questionnaire; 3 ‘free-text’ questions (deriving subjective evaluations); trial retention. 

Results:

MMI produced a 14.2% absolute increase in recruitment, which was not statistically significant: 32 (65.3%) participants were recruited from the MMI group; 24 (51.1%) from the PIS group (OR 1.80; 95% CI 0.79 to 4.10, p = 0.16); and 22 from the PIS&MMI group. There was no difference in recruitment through combined PIS&MMI (43.1% vs 51.1%; OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.33 to 1.61; p= 0.43). Questionnaires were returned by 17 (12%) participants and analysed descriptively. Trial retention (at 3 months) was high in all groups (72/77; 93.5% overall) and there was no difference due to information format received before participating.

Conclusions:

MMI increased recruitment to the Thermic-3 trial but the difference was not statistically significant, and the SWAT was small.

Trial registration: TRECA ISRCTN73136092 and NI Hub for Trials Methodology Research SWAT Repository (SWAT 97). Thermic-3: ISRCTN13467772.
Corneal endothelial morphology of healthy myopic Malaysian children of Chinese ethnicity aged 8-9 years and its association with axial length
Authors: Norhani Mohidin , Low Yu Chen , Bariah Mohd-Ali , Mizhanim Mohamad Shahimin , Norlaili Arif
Published: March 2022

Background: This is a cross-sectional study to further understand the effects of axial length elongation on the corneal endothelial cell’s morphology in myopic children. Abnormal changes in the morphology of corneal endothelium are indicators of corneal stress or instability which could be linked to myopia.

Methods: 111 school children comprising of 37 emmetropes, 37 mild myopes and 37 moderate myopes aged 8-9 years old were recruited. Visual acuity was measured using the LogMar chart, cycloplegic refraction was determined using an open-field autorefractor (Grand Seiko WAM-5100, Hiroshima, Japan) and refined using subjective refraction. Morphology of corneal endothelial cells [endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation, hexagonality and central corneal thickness] was evaluated using a non-contact specular microscope (Topcon SP-2000P). Axial length was measured with A-scan ultrasound biometry (PacScan Plus, Sonomed Escalon, NY). The correlation between morphology of corneal endothelial cells and axial length were assessed using Pearson Correlation and Linear regression analysis.

Results: There was no significant difference in corneal endothelial cells and axial length between gender (p>0.05). Significant reduction in endothelial cells density and hexagonality and increased coefficient of variation was found in eyes of higher myopic power which had longer axial when compared to emmetropes (p<0.001). Except for central corneal thickness, all corneal endothelial cells parameters correlated significantly with axial length (p<0.05). For every 1mm increase in axial length, endothelial cells density decreased by 73.27cells/mm2, hexagonality decreased by 2.32% and coefficient of variation increased by 1.75%.

Conclusions: There were significant changes in morphology of cornea endothelial cells in young moderate myopic children of Chinese ethnicity at 8-9 years of age. This result provides normative data for Malaysian children of Chinese ethnicity that can be used for comparison and reference for clinical procedures, thereby facilitating decision-making with respect to interventions for myopia control, especially in prescribing contact lens for children.
Surfing Corona waves – instead of breaking them: Rethinking the role of natural immunity in COVID-19 policy
Authors: Kalk Andreas , Sturmberg Joachim , Van Damme Wim , Brown Garrett W. , Ridde Valéry , Zizi Martin , Paul Elisabeth
Published: March 2022

Current COVID-19 response policies have aimed to break Corona waves through non-pharmaceutical interventions and mass vaccination. However, for long-term strategies to be effective and efficient, and to avoid massive disruption and social harms, it is crucial to introduce the role of natural immunity in our thinking about COVID-19 control and prevention. We argue that any Corona control policy must appropriately balance five key elements simultaneously: balancing the various fundamental interests of the nation, as well as the various interventions within the health sector; tailoring the prevention measures and treatments to individual needs; limiting social interaction restrictions; and balancing the role of vaccinations against the role of naturally induced immunity. Given the high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and its differential impact on population segments, we examine this last element in more detail and argue that an important aspect of ‘living with the virus’ will be to better understand the role of naturally induced immunity in our overall COVID-19 policy response. In our eyes, a policy approach that factors natural immunity should be considered for persons without major comorbidities and those having ‘encountered’ the antigen in the past.
Effective principal leadership behaviors to improve the teacher performance and the student achievement
Authors: Pardosi Jawatir , Utari Tria Ina
Published: March 2022

The principal’s role as a leader is crucial in improving the teacher performance and student achievement. However, it still remains unknown what kinds of school leadership behaviors that are effective to improve teacher performance and student achievement. This study aims to determine the level of significance of the effect of (1) the quality of principal's leadership behaviors on teacher performance, (2) the quality of principal's leadership behaviors on student achievement, and (3) the teacher performance on student achievement.This study is a quantitative descriptive research. The study population was 317 teachers with 281 teachers as the samples. The data collection technique was carried out through questionnaires, participant observation, and teacher performance appraisals. The data analysis technique used the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study showed a significant (5%) influence between: (1) the quality of the principal's leadership behaviors on the teacher performance where the estimated rate was 0.89 with the value of -t = 3.23> 1.96. The higher the quality of the principal's leadership behaviors had become, then it increased the quality of the teachers’ performance; (2) the quality of the principal's leadership behaviors on the level of student achievement where the estimated rate was 0.77 with the value of -t = 2.86> 1.96; and (3) the level of teacher performance on the level of learning achievement where the estimated rate was 0.92 with the value of -t = 4.45> 1.96. The structural model of learning outcomes showed that the loading factor of report cards had a greater effect of 0.995 when it compared to the school exam scores with an effect of 0.897. Effective principal leadership behaviors were limited to (a) the relationship between leaders and followers, (b) task structure, and (c) position power.
Projecting future health and service use among older people in Ireland: an overview of a dynamic microsimulation model in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
Authors: May Peter , Normand Charles , Matthews Soraya , Kenny Rose Anne , Romero-Ortuno Roman , Tysinger Bryan
Published: March 2022

Background: Demographic ageing is a population health success story but poses unprecedented policy challenges in the 21st century. Policymakers must prepare health systems, economies and societies for these challenges. Policy choices can be usefully informed by models that evaluate outcomes and trade-offs in advance under different scenarios.

Methods: We developed a dynamic demographic-economic microsimulation model for the population aged 50 and over in Ireland: the Irish Future Older Adults Model (IFOAM).  Our principal dataset was The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). We employed first-order Markovian competing risks models to estimate transition probabilities of TILDA participants to different outcomes: diagnosis of serious diseases, functional limitations, risk-modifying behaviours, health care use and mortality. We combined transition probabilities with the characteristics of the stock population to estimate biennial changes in outcome state. 

Results: IFOAM projections estimated large annual increases in total deaths, in the number of people living and dying with serious illness and functional impairment, and in demand for hospital care between 2018 and 2040.  The most important driver of these increases is the rising absolute number of older people in Ireland as the population ages. The increasing proportion of older old and oldest old citizens is projected to increase the average prevalence of chronic conditions and functional limitations. We deemed internal validity to be good but lacked external benchmarks for validation and corroboration of most outcomes.

Conclusion: We have developed and validated a microsimulation model that predicts future health and related outcomes among older people in Ireland.  Future research should address identified policy questions. The model enhances the capacity of researchers and policymakers to quantitatively forecast future health and economic dynamics among older people in Ireland, to evaluate ex ante policy responses to these dynamics, and to collaborate internationally on global challenges associated with demographic ageing.
Towards ethical good practice in cash transfer trials and their evaluation.
Authors: Howard Neil
Published: March 2022

Over the past 20 years, cash transfers have become increasingly widespread within international development and global social policy. Often, their roll out is preceded by a trial or pilot phase aiming to check feasibility and effectiveness. These pilots can involve thousands of people. However, there is limited discussion within the literature (and even less in practice) of how and whether cash transfer trials and the research that they involve can respect ethical standards. This paper represents an initial step towards filling that gap. It does so by reviewing the latest literature pertaining to the ethics of cash transfers and social experimentation. It concludes by advancing a series of proposals that could support cash transfer trials to take place with greater respect for research ethics norms and in the best interests of participants. The paper’s findings have relevance for policymakers and development practitioners working with cash transfers and also for the smaller cognate world of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) piloting.
Osmium and OsOx nanoparticles: an overview of syntheses and applications
Authors: Quinson Jonathan
Published: March 2022

Precious metal nanoparticles are key for a range of applications ranging from catalysis and sensing to medicine. While gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) or ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles have been widely studied, other precious metals are less investigated. Osmium (Os) is one of the least studied of the precious metals. However, Os nanoparticles are interesting materials since they present unique features compared to other precious metals and Os nanomaterials have been reported to be useful for a range of applications, catalysis or sensing for instance. With the increasing availability of advanced characterization techniques, investigating the properties of relatively small Os nanoparticles and clusters has become easier and it can be expected that our knowledge on Os nanomaterials will increase in the coming years. This review aims to give an overview on Os and Os oxide materials syntheses and applications.
The genome sequence of Tachina fera Linnaeus, 1761, a tachinid fly
Authors:   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, Nash Will ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: March 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Tachina fera (Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Tachinidae). The genome sequence is 752 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.98%) is scaffolded into 6 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X sex chromosome assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 17.4 kilobases in length.
SUBSTITUTED 4-NITROSOPYRAZOLES IN THE DIELS-ALDER REACTION
Authors: Volkova Darya S. , Popov Arkadiy A. , Root Evgeny V. , Kukushkin Alexey A. , Suboch George A.
Published: March 2022

Background. 4-Nitrosopyrazoles have become widespread in the pharmaceutical industry and in chemistry due to their high reactivity and biological activity. However, the interaction of 3,5-substituted 4-nitroso-1H-pyrazoles with diene hydrocarbons has not been studied to date.

Purpose. Study of diene condensation of tetraphenylcyclopentadienone with 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroso-1H-pyrazole and 3(5)-methyl-4-nitroso-5(3)-phenyl-1H-pyrazole; proof of the structure of the obtained compounds; prediction of potential positive biological activity.

Materials and methods. Research methods include: directed organic synthesis, thin-layer chromatography, chromato-mass spectra, prediction of biological activity using the PASS-online web-resource.

Results. Substituted oxazines, pyrazoles and but-2-en-1-ones were synthesized. Fragmentation decays based on the mass spectrum of the obtained compounds confirm their molecular weight and structure. The PASS-online program predicts potential biological activity.

Conclusion. Substituted oxazines, pyrazoles and but-2-en-1-ones were obtained for the first time by the Diels-Alder reaction, the structure of which was proved by HPLC/MS. Based on the output data of the PASS-online program, the synthesized substances are taurine dehydrogenase inhibitors and exhibit antitumor effect.
ECOLOGICAL SAFETY IN THE ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors: Maltseva Svetlana M. , Balashova Elena S. , Bystrova Natalya V. , Stroganov Dmitry A.
Published: March 2022

Despite the availability of scientific materials related to social well-being, environmental awareness and a sense of environmental safety in it among the population, there is still not enough research, especially domestic, on the example of individual groups of the population, for example, students. However, this is also necessary for developing solutions to the global environmental problem and its local manifestations. It is especially important in this regard to appeal to the ecological consciousness of students of a pedagogical university, who in the near future will carry their knowledge and feelings into the environment of the younger generation of the country. Ecological safety is considered by us as the basis of ecological consciousness in the structure of public consciousness.

The aim of the work was to assess the feeling of environmental safety and readiness to combat possible environmental hazards among first-year students of a pedagogical university. The main methods used in the study are the dialectical method, methods of mass survey and comparative data analysis.

Results. With the severity of the affective-evaluative component of environmental consciousness, students of the pedagogical university found a greater readiness for environmental behavior than other social groups.
PROBLEMS OF ORGANIZATION OF FOREIGN TRADE TURNOVER OF MEDICINES IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors: Aksenov Ilia A.
Published: March 2022

Background. The quality of medicines plays an important role for the national security of any state. The pharmaceutical industry in the Russian Federation is steadily developing. Imported medicines occupy a significant share of the domestic pharmacological market.

Purpose. It consists in identifying problems and developing recommendations in the field of organizing foreign trade circulation of medicines in the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. The normative legal basis of the study is the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, Federal Law dated 03.08.2018 No. 289-FZ (as amended on 24.02.2021) “On customs regulation in the Russian Federation and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation”, Federal Law dated 12.04.2010 No. 61-FZ (as amended on 01.01.2021) “On the Circulation of Medicines”, etc.

Results. The market for medicines in the Russian Federation is characterized by a high degree of import dependence. In recent years, the Russian Federation has been pursuing an active policy of import substitution, which contributes to a gradual decrease in the share of imported medicines. At the same time, the share of drug imports in the country remains quite high. This requires the regulatory authorities to take effective action to combat illicit pharmaceuticals trafficking.

Conclusion. Analysis of the pharmaceutical market in the Russian Federation made it possible to note a high share of imported pharmaceuticals in the Russian Federation – over 60%.
Teaching Mathematics in the Aspect of the Implementation of the Developmental Function of Education
Authors: Chirkova Natal'ya , Runova N. , Chesalina Yu.
Published: March 2022

The article presents a brief analysis of the main conceptual ideas of the developmental approach in teaching. Examples of the implementation of these ideas in teaching mathematics in elementary school are considered. It is noted that such forms of work are embedded in developmental learning that maximize the individual inclinations and abilities of each student, and a variety of pedagogical tools allows you to build individual trajectories of learning and development of each child.
Order Protection Through Delayed Messaging
Authors: Aldrich Eric M. , Friedman Daniel
Published: March 2022

Several financial exchanges (e.g., IEX and NYSE American) recently introduced messaging delays to protect ordinary investors from high-frequency traders who exploit stale orders. To capture the impact of such delays, we propose a simple parametric model of the continuous double auction market format. The model examines the dynamics of midpoint pegged order queues and finds their steady states. It shows how messaging delays can protect pegged orders and improve investor welfare, but typically increase queuing costs. Recently available field data show that the empirical distribution of queued pegged orders is highly leptokurtotic and resembles the discrete Laplace distribution predicted by the model.

This paper was accepted by Haoxiang Zhu, finance.

Funding: Financial support from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [Grant 741409] and the Center for Analytical Finance at the University of California Santa Cruz [seed funding of the Experimental High-Frequency Trading project, of which this paper is a part] is gratefully acknowledged.

Supplemental Material: The online supplement is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4370 .
Concomitant Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Invasive Aspergillosis Infection in an Immunocompetent Host
Authors: Ahmed Ashraf OE , A. Ali Gawahir , Goravey Wael
Published: March 2022

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection in developing countries and is associated with low socioeconomic status. It is considered a serious infection due it its long-term sequelae. Post-TB lung disease decreases life expectancy and increases the risk of recurrent TB infection. It also significantly increases the risk of other bacterial and fungal infections. Aspergillosis develops in the cavitary lesions of TB, worsening them and resulting in a deteriorating clinical situation. Concomitant pulmonary TB (PTB) and invasive aspergillosis is uncommon, particularly in the absence of factors that suppress the immune system. In this report, we describe the case of a healthy young adult without previous structural lung damage who presented with primary PTB and acute invasive aspergillosis infection, discuss the treatment dilemma and provide a literature review.
Using open source software securely
Authors: Perez Javier
Published: March 2022

These days, open source software provides many of the building blocks for most new applications, and with good reason: it empowers developers and organisations to innovate more flexibly and build applications faster and more efficiently. However, its powerful benefits need to be understood in the context of mitigating security risks and, in particular, preventing vulnerabilities that might arise during the development process.
Ransomware recap: Learning from 2021
Authors: McVey Tom
Published: March 2022

Last year was yet another year ravaged by cyber attacks as threat actors continued to reap havoc on victims of all shapes and sizes. Chief among the methods they used was ransomware – recognised by the European Union agency for cyber security (Enisa) as the number one cyberthreat in its ‘Threat Landscape 2021’ report. 1
The evolving threat from China
Authors: Burnard Marc
Published: March 2022

Until recently, there has been a presumption about Chinese state-sponsored threat groups that they are more prolific than sophisticated. There are good reasons for that, given some of their past activities, and it remains true that their levels of operational security can vary. However, direct observation over the past 18 months suggests that Chinese threat groups are now paying more attention to the operational security and technical sophistication of their intrusion activity.
Is energy the weak link in the UK’s critical national infrastructure?
Authors: Davidson Scott
Published: March 2022

The UK’s energy sector has been identified as a major target for ransomware attacks, a concerning issue given its place as part of the nation’s critical national infrastructure (CNI). This refers to assets and industries that are deemed essential to the functioning of a society and economy by the Government. Effective cyber security measures in the energy industry have never been more important and the Government, and its respective bodies, have an important role to play in improving cyber security for CNI.
Do preoperative intra-articular injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid increase the risk of infection after total knee arthroplasty? A meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Xurong , Li Li , Ren Xiaonan , Nie Lixiong
Published: March 2022

Aims

There is conflicting evidence on the safety of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) or corticosteroids (CSs) before total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We performed a meta-analysis of the relationship between intra-articular injections and subsequent infection rates after TKA.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for cohort studies that assessed the effect of preoperative injection of drugs into the joint cavity on the infection rate after TKA. The outcomes analyzed included the total infection rate, as well as those for different preoperative injection time periods and different drugs.

Results

Eight studies, including 73,880 in the injection group and 126,187 in the control group, met the inclusion criteria. The injection group had a significantly higher postoperative infection rate than the control group (risk ratio (RR) 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 1.27; p < 0.001; I2 = 32%). For patients who received injections up to three months preoperatively, the postoperative infection risk was significantly higher than that in the control group (RR 1.26; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35; p＜0.001; I2 = 0%). There was no significant difference in the infection rates between the four-to-six-month injection and control groups (RR 1.12; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.35; p = 0.240; I2 = 75%) or between the seven-to-12-month injection and control groups (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12; p = 0.600; I2 = 0%).

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that intra-articular injections of CSs or HA before TKA increase the risk of postoperative infection. Injections administered more than three months before TKA do not significantly increase the risk of infection. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(3):171–179.
Study on the Anatomical Meaning of ‘Geun(筋)’ in 『Yeongchu·Gyeonggeun(靈樞· 經筋)』
Authors: Kim Min-Sik , Song Jong-Keun , Kim Chang-Geon , Kim So-Rim , Lee Eun-Yong
Published: March 2022

Objectives: This study was done to establish the anatomical meaning of the term ‘Geun(筋)’.Methods: Through analysis of ≪HwangJeNaeGyeong(黃帝內經)≫, the meaning of ‘Geun(筋)’, ‘GeunMag(筋膜)’, ‘Yug(肉)’, and ‘Gi(肌)’ were established. Based on analysis, the anatomical meaning of the ‘Meridian-muscle(經筋)’ was studied by comparing it with anatomy.Results & Conclusions: ‘Gyeong(經)’ is recognized as a metaphysical expression and "Geun(筋)" means myofascia in anatomy. The concept of ‘Geun(筋)’ includes the epimysium and perimysium, as well as tendons and ligaments, which are extensions of these. ‘Fascia’, refers to the fascia of the whole body, and also appertain to ‘Geun(筋)’. ‘Yug(肉)’ means endomysium, muscle fiber, and adipose tissue and layer. The word ‘GeunMag(筋膜)’ used in the ≪HwangJeNaeGyeong(黃帝內經)≫ means anatomically a ‘tendon’. Therefore, ‘Muscle’ should be translated as ‘GeunYug(筋肉)’ in Traditional medicine. ‘Meridian-muscle(經筋)’ can be defined as the longitudinal muscle and fascia system, which is the basis of whole body encompassing dynamics.
The Anti-depressive Effect of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata via Anti-inflammatory Activity
Authors: Kim Eung Sun , Chong Myongsoo
Published: March 2022

Objectives: Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (RRP) has been used as a traditional remedy to treat gynecology and endocrine diseases. Recently, studies on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of RRP have been reported, so it was judged that RRP extracts would have an anti-depressive effect.Methods: We investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-depressive effect of RRP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression and LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. RRP inhibited the LPS-stimulated excessive release of nitrite in the BV2 cells. RRP also significantly inhibited the inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells.Results: RRP significantly suppressed the LPS-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. In addition, administration of RRP not only inhibited the immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) but also increased the total travel distance in the open field test (OFT). Also, RRP inhibited the elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in brain of LPS-injected mice.Conclusions: Considering the overall results, our study showed that RRP exhibited the anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-depressive activities via deactivation of MAPKs and NF-κB.
La intertextualidad en el lenguaje jurídico. Reflexión y aplicación en una ley medioambiental italiana
Authors: González Vallejo Rubén
Published: March 2022

La intertextualidad se postula como uno de los elementos sustanciales para el análisis y comprensión de los textos, pues es el elemento esencial que dota de sentido a la macroestructura y se encuentra tanto implícita como explícitamente, del mismo modo que exige en el lector un conocimiento previo. Este deberá interpretar la función de descodificador de la información a través de las diferentes redes de transtextualidad creadas con otros textos, máxime cuando se corresponda con la figura de un traductor. En el presente artículo, introducimos el concepto de intertextualidad en lingüística y reflexionaremos sobre los contextos más recurrentes en donde tienen lugar estas relaciones textuales. Posteriormente, detallamos la importancia que posee en el lenguaje jurídico al ser un lenguaje de especialidad que recoge con exhaustividad todas las casuísticas posibles en su cometido de ser lo más preciso posible. A tal respecto y, por último, detallamos los casos prácticos de intertextualidad detectados en la Ley italiana sobre medioambiente 68/2015, de 22 de mayo, con el fin de alertar al traductor de textos jurídicos de la importancia de saber tejer redes intertextuales en tal lenguaje para su correcta traducción.
Actitud lingüística y uso a través de la columna periodística “La punta de la lengua” de Álex Grijelmo
Authors: Sánchez Lancis Carlos
Published: March 2022

En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio de los principales temas lingüísticos que ha desarrollado cada semana, durante los últimos dos años y medio, el periodista Álex Grijelmo en la columna del periódico el País titulada «La punta de la lengua». Este autor ha tratado durante este tiempo una gran variedad de cuestiones que afectan a todas las ramas de la lingüística (fonética, morfología, sintaxis, léxico, semántica, pragmática), tanto desde la sincronía como la diacronía, a las que intenta dar respuesta de manera objetiva y científica. Son muestras de habla que el autor extrae de distintas situaciones sociales, ya sea en los medios de comunicación (televisión, radio, prensa), en el ámbito de la política, etc., en definitiva, en el día a día. Por todo ello se lleva a cabo un análisis crítico de la actitud lingüística del periodista ante usos que selecciona de contextos de habla reales que entran en conflicto con la norma o porque son engañosos por voluntad de los hablantes, con el fin de establecer, por un lado, cuáles son las cuestiones que más inciden y preocupan en la actualidad en la lengua; y, por otro, los posibles aciertos o errores a la hora de tratarlas.
Reflexions a propòsit de les seccions sobre llengua dels mitjans de comunicació
Authors: Casals i Martorell Daniel , Camps Magí , Gomà Enric , Hernández Elena , Vidal Pau
Published: March 2022

Aquest article planteja l’acció de divulgació de coneixements lingüístics en l’actualitat als mitjans de comunicació. Recull les reflexions d’especialistes que han estudiat, elaborat i assessorat espais sobre aquest tema dels mitjans escrits i audiovisuals. Hi formulen les seves reflexions a partir de tres aspectes: en primer lloc, l’activitat pròpia de divulgació de qüestions de llengua (inclosa la normativa) en les institucions o les empreses a les quals estan o han estat vinculats; en segon lloc, la manera com creuen que aquesta activitat de difusió de coneixements de llengua ajuda a l’estudi i a la fixació de la norma, i, en tercer lloc, els canals i les formes cap a on hauria d’evolucionar, en el futur pròxim, la divulgació de coneixements lingüístics, si vol ser efectiva.
Hispanic Geographical Place Names of Metro Manila
Authors: Joven Romero Marco Antonio
Published: March 2022

Place names print the physical characteristics of the territory they name and Hispanic geographical place names in Metro Manila depict the geography of the region. In the following pages, I extract and explain the living Hispanic geographical toponyms in Metro Manila, and I discuss the different physical features they describe according to these categories: Body of Water, Farming, Fluvial, Land, Sea, Underground, Urban, Vegetation. I conclude that items responding to different categories follow specific space patterns according to the physical characteristics of the territory and the Spanish colonial activity.
La llengua en el punt de mira dels mitjans de comunicació
Authors: Casals Daniel , Claveria Glòria , Massanell Mar , Poch Dolors
Published: March 2022

El present monogràfic té l’objectiu d’analitzar el gènere de la divulgació de coneixements lingüístics als mitjans de comunicació escrits i audiovisuals.
El principio de protección del bienestar animal: elementos para su configuración en el derecho chileno
Authors: Henríquez Ramírez Alfonso
Published: March 2022

El derecho animal chileno se fundamenta en un principio, al cual llamamos principio de protección del bienestar animal. Este se obtiene por inducción, a partir del análisis sistemático de la normativa vigente, del estudio de los propósitos del legislador, y de la evolución que ha experimentado el derecho en este ámbito. Dicho principio cumple varias funciones relevantes, tales como la de servir de parámetro de interpretación, herramienta para colmar lagunas o solucionar antinomias, y como crítica del derecho vigente. Al mismo tiempo, también permite comprender mejor el tránsito que ha experimentado el ordenamiento chileno, el cual ha pasado desde un enfoque puramente propietario, hacia otro más centrado en la protección del bienestar animal.
In love with machines: The bioethical debate about sexual automation
Authors: Carvalho Nascimento Elen Cristina , da Silva Eugenio , Siqueira-Batista Rodrigo
Published: March 2022

A few companies around the world are now developing and selling sex robots. Questions such as “how will relationships with robots’ impact human relations in the future” emerge when technologies are used to meet the social and emotional needs of individuals. Considering that technology and design have embedded values and biases, this article surveys the use of sex robots from a bioethical perspective. Relationships with robots and computational systems, like Artificial Intelligence, are a possibility for many people around the world. We present questions raised by the voices in favor of robot sex, and against it.  Beyond a binary polarization, the bioethical perspective recalls the Foucaultian concepts of biopolitics and biopower to situate the problems with the mechanization of intimate relationships. We argue that sex robots offer the opportunity to review old patterns regarding gender, inequality, and health.
Ethical issues related to gen editing using CRISPR-Cas9 technology
Authors: Actis Andrea Mariel
Published: March 2022

Immersed already in the 4th industrial revolution, clearly the digital age has invaded our lives. People tend to celebrate every technological and scientific advance without thinking properly about the possible undesired side effects or unexpected consequences. One of the most outstanding achievements of the last years has been the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. It seems to be the magic wand to solve whatever. In this article I propose to think critically about the ethical issues related to this incredible technique. I will focus this work on 3 ethical aspects of gene editing: 1. The link between gene editing and the old concept of eugenics; 2. Aspects related to the idea of modifying human genetics in order to conquer other planets and 3. The ethical implications of uploading all these data to the web. Finally, I suggest focusing on interdisciplinary ethical discussion, the dialogue between professionals, institutions and government which must ensure the protection of the autonomy of patients and the safeguarding of their rights. To conclude, the suggestion of considering the role of Universities in ethical education of the future professionals with a practical rather than a theoretical approach is considered, with special attention to the integration of cybernetics in medicine.
El derecho a solicitar la prestación de ayuda para morir
Authors: Martínez Navarro Juan Alejandro
Published: March 2022

La Ley Orgánica 3/2021, de 24 de marzo, de regulación de la eutanasia surge a través de un extenso y exaltado debate jurídico y bioético. La consecuencia de este nuevo marco normativo regulador es la despenalización de la eutanasia activa directa y el desarrollo del derecho a solicitar la prestación de ayuda para morir. Este debate jurídico y bioético se ha sustentado en gran medida en la contraposición de dos figuras, como son la eutanasia y los cuidados paliativos, que reflejan semejanzas pero que jurídicamente son elementos que deben ser diferenciados.
Politics and interests in the classical gold standard. Spain (1876-1913)
Authors: Sabaté Sort Marcela , Fillat Carmen , Serrano Sanz José María
Published: March 2022

Spain never formally joined the classical gold standard, partly because its aspiration for gold convertibility did not match the financing needs of the Treasury. This paper illustrates how preferences for convertibility, that is, for fixed exchange rates, were shared by the parliamentary representatives of its manufacturing provinces because of their dependency on imported inputs (coal and cotton). However, to explain their preference for currency stability, trade policy must be considered. Without the high tariffs that the cotton industry enjoyed thorough the whole period and the steel industry from 1891 onwards, the renouncement of a procompetitive depreciating peseta might not have been so clear-cut. Thus, beyond the Spanish case, this paper supports the theoretical assumption that the input-output structure of a productive sector influences its currency stance, while reinforcing the argument that trade policy plays a key role in the understanding of currency politics.
Fast algorithm based on the Hilbert transform for high-speed absolute distance measurement using a frequency scanning interferometry method
Authors: Li Xiuming , Duan Fajie , Fu Xiao , Bao Ruijia , Jiang Jiajia , Zhang Cong
Published: March 2022

Frequency scanning interferometry using state-of-the-art high-speed
frequency-swept laser source can be utilized to measure absolute
distance on the order of micrometers to centimeters. Current distance
demodulation methods based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) or fringe
counting cannot achieve satisfactory accuracy when the number of
sampling points within a frequency-sweeping period is small; the
conventional Hilbert transform is more accurate, but it needs
arctangent calculation and phase unwrapping, which is time consuming.
So we propose a fast algorithm based on the conventional Hilbert
transform to recover the distance from the interference signal. The
algorithm is implemented by first performing a Hilbert transform and
then solving the phase and the distance from the Hilbert signal with a
novel, to the best of our knowledge, method that eliminates the need
for arctangent calculation and phase unwrapping. The whole process
took only 40 µs, and it is almost 2 times faster than the conventional
Hilbert algorithm with little accuracy lost. Simulation results
demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is more accurate than the FFT
algorithm, and it achieved a standard deviation of 0.062 µm, which was
less than that of the FFT, in our experiment at a distance of
approximately 16 mm and measurement speed of 1 kHz.
Multihop radio and optical wireless relaying systems over EGK, DGG, and CU fading channels
Authors: Soleimani-Nasab Ehsan , Ghassemlooy Zabih
Published: March 2022

Optical wireless communications (OWC) systems provide higher data rates in the unlicensed spectrum bands compared to traditional radio frequency (RF) wireless communications systems. OWC systems are categorized as free space optical (FSO) communications and visible light communications (VLC) for outdoor and indoor environments, respectively. In this paper, we propose a multihop serial RF, FSO, and VLC system and investigate the link performance for five different scenarios with amplify-and-forward and decode-and-forward relaying protocols under different channel conditions. Based on the SNR statistics, we show closed-form expressions for the outage probability for all scenarios and derive their diversity orders. In addition, we examine the accuracy and correctness of the derived expressions by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We further prove that the diversity order is a function of the severity of the RF links and the shaping parameters, the atmospheric turbulence, the pointing error in FSO links, the detection method, and number of links. Finally, the presented results complement and extend several results previously reported in the literature.
Dependency-aware task cooperative offloading on edge servers interconnected by metro optical networks
Authors: Yin Shan , Zhang Wei , Chai Yutong , Huang Shanguo
Published: March 2022

Multi-access edge computing is a promising technology for solving delay sensitive, computationally intensive applications. It aids users with low-latency access by deploying computing and storage resources close to the user side. However, as the computing resources of edge servers are relatively limited, directly offloading tasks to neighboring edge servers can easily overload them. Tasks that arrive at the overloaded edge server will be blocked due to latency exceeding its threshold. To make better use of edge servers in the metro optical network to support delay sensitive and computationally intensive tasks, we divide the tasks into two categories and model them. Partial offloading tasks can be distributed to multiple edge servers for cooperative computing, while binary offloading tasks can be offloaded to a lightly loaded edge server as a whole. In this paper, we put forward the problem of task optimal allocation. Furthermore, we design and implement a heuristic algorithm for cooperative offloading of dependency-aware tasks based on genetic algorithms. The algorithm jointly optimizes the allocation of routing and computing resources. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm has superior performance.
Weld feature extraction method based on inter-frame constraint and dynamic template
Authors: Mei Zhen , Qi Lizhe , Xu Min , Sun Yunquan
Published: March 2022

Welding as an industrial tailor is key to intelligent manufacturing technology. With the development of robots and digital manufacturing technology, autonomous programming intelligent welding robots have emerged. The seam tracking system based on active vision is widely used because of its high precision and obvious characteristics. However, the complexity of the welding environment, the interference of arc splash, and the reflection and local deformation of the workpiece will affect the extraction of weld characteristics. Based on the correlation and difference of adjacent frames in the continuous welding process, this paper combines the point and line characteristics of laser lines and proposes a weld feature extraction method based on an inter-frame constraint and dynamic template. The experimental results show that the distance error of the proposed method is within three pixels, and the average processing time of each frame is 9.6 ms. This method can realize weld feature extraction in the case of object reflection, arc splash, and local deformation, and has certain robustness.
Nonlinear phase estimation via nonlinear-linear hybrid interferometers
Authors: Zhang Jian-Dong , Li Chuang , Wang Shuai
Published: March 2022

Estimating nonlinear phase shifts is useful to analyze many dynamical processes. In this work, with respect to the second-order nonlinear phase shifts, we propose an estimation scheme with a coherent state as the input and balanced homodyne detection as the readout strategy. The measurement setup is a nonlinear-linear hybrid interferometer composed of an optical parametric amplifier and a beam splitter. We analyze the precision and determine the optimal parameters of our scheme. The precision is compared with the quantum Cramér–Rao bound as well as the precision of a conventional nonlinear interferometer. In view of the fact that photon loss is ubiquitous, the effects of transmission loss and detection loss on the precision are addressed. At low gain, our scheme is superior to the scheme using a conventional nonlinear interferometer, and the precision can saturate the quantum Cramér–Rao bound.
Breaking the diffraction limit using fluorescence quantum coherence
Authors: Li Wenwen , Wang Zhongyang
Published: March 2022

The classical optical diffraction limit can be overcome by exploiting the quantum properties of light in several theoretical studies; however, they mostly rely on an entangled light source. Recent experiments have demonstrated that quantum properties are preserved in many fluorophores, which makes it possible to add a new dimension of information for super-resolution fluorescence imaging. Here, we developed a statistical quantum coherence model for fluorescence emitters and proposed a new super-resolution method using fluorescence quantum coherence in fluorescence microscopy. In this study, by exploiting a single-photon avalanche detector (SPAD) array with a time-correlated single-photon-counting technique to perform spatial-temporal photon statistics of fluorescence coherence, the subdiffraction-limited spatial separation of emitters is obtained from the determined coherence. We numerically demonstrate an example of two-photon interference from two common fluorophores using an achievable experimental procedure. Our model provides a bridge between the macroscopic partial coherence theory and the microscopic dephasing and spectral diffusion mechanics of emitters. By fully taking advantage of the spatial-temporal fluctuations of the emitted photons as well as coherence, our quantum-enhanced imaging method has the significant potential to improve the resolution of fluorescence microscopy even when the detected signals are weak.