bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The imposter phenomenon and its relationship with self-efficacy, perfectionism and happiness in university students
Authors: Pákozdy Csilla , Askew Jemima , Dyer Jessica , Gately Phoebe , Martin Leya , Mavor Kenneth I. , Brown Gillian R.
Published: May 2023

Individuals who experience the imposter phenomenon (IP) have feelings of self-doubt and are concerned that they will be exposed as frauds. Previous research has indicated that IP is associated with anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, and university students are thought to be particularly susceptible to IP. This study investigated the relationship between IP and self-efficacy, maladaptive perfectionism and happiness in university students, and examined whether these variables differ between females and males. The study also examined whether IP was associated with belonging and perceived levels of academic competition. Participants (N = 261) completed the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), New General Self-Efficacy (NGSE), Big Three Perfectionism Scale – Short Form (BTPS-SF), Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), plus measures of belonging and perceived competition. As predicted, CIPS scores correlated negatively with NGSE and OHQ and positively with BTPS-SF in both sexes. Females scored higher, on average, than males on CIPS and BTPS-SF, and the gender difference in CIPS remained after indirect effects of perfectionism were removed. Neither belonging nor competition correlated with CIPS scores. The negative relationship between perfectionism and happiness was fully mediated by imposterism, which suggests that designing interventions that reduce IP could positively enhance student wellbeing.
Development of a character-strengths based coaching program for rural community health workers to address their work stress in Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Khan Azaz , Sharma Lochan , Agrawal Surbhi , Nayak Sneha Rani , Shrivastava Ritu , Ahuja Romi , Pandit Payal , Singh Abhishek , Singh Spriha , Naslund John A. , Agrawal Jyotsna , Mehrotra Seema , Shidhaye Rahul , Hollon Steve D. , Kumar Ananth , Tugnawat Deepak , Bhan Anant , Bondre Ameya P.
Published: May 2023

While rural ‘Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)’ delivering primary care at the village-level in India experience high levels of work stress and burnout, little is known about the potential of positive psychology interventions in helping them respond to stressful situations. We aim to describe a systematic approach to designing and developing a ‘character-strengths based’ coaching program for rural ASHAs to help reduce their work-stress and improve their delivery of routine primary care. The development of the coaching program involved: (1) formative work, (2) blueprint development, (3) content development, (4) content-testing, and focus groups discussions to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, specifically the coaching workshop. This was followed by thematic qualitative analysis of ASHA perspectives/feedback to inform further modifications to the workshop. Intervention development occurred over 11 months, and the final coaching material consisted of a ‘content manual’ (for ASHAs) with four modules including character-strengths based ‘strategies’ to address challenges/stressors arising at health facilities, village communities and homes. Coaching material also included a workshop ‘facilitator’s manual’ having session-wise detailed instructions, a list of ‘energizers’ and plans for the coaching workshop. Consistent efforts were made to tailor the case-examples and workshop activities (e.g., roleplays, videos and reflections or discussion-based activities) to the local culture and context. This study illustrates a step-wise approach to contextually adapt the evidence-based character-strengths intervention approaches with iterative feedback from stakeholders (ASHAs), to develop a face-to-face coaching program aiming to reduce work stress, tailored to the context of a rural low-resource setting.
Reshaping Egyptian funerary ritual in colonized Nubia? Organic characterization of unguents from mortuary contexts of the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE)
Authors: Lemos Rennan , Fulcher Kate , Abdllatief Ikhlas , Werkström Ludmila , Hocker Emma
Published: May 2023

Samples taken from the canopic jars of Djehutyhotep, chief of Tehkhet (Debeira), Lower Nubia, and local versions of Egyptian canopic jars from Sai, Upper Nubia, suggest that the materials used for mortuary ritual unguents in Nubia may have differed from those used in Egypt. Nubian samples consisted of plant gum and bitumen, whereas those from Egypt conformed to the standardizing black resinous liquid recipe used for mummification and other funerary rituals. However, there may be time frame issues to be considered as most samples analyzed from Egypt date to later periods. A standard black funerary liquid was used at Amara West, Upper Nubia, probably poured over a wrapped body, which might suggest that the gum and bitumen mixture was reserved for filling canopic jars, perhaps indicating that the use of canopic jars in Nubia differed from their use in Egypt. Evidence from the canopic jars of Djehutyhotep, local versions of canopic jars from Sai, and the sample from Amara West also indicate a source of bitumen that was not the Dead Sea, which was the main (although not only) source used in Egypt. The new results from the analysis of the Djehutyhotep canopic jars and previously published results from Sai point towards alternative ritual practices associated with local conceptions and uses of canopic jars in colonized Nubia. These samples and data from Amara West further reveal that the bitumen used in mortuary contexts in Nubia originated elsewhere than bitumen used in Egypt, which might have implications for our understanding of colonized Nubia as part of other trade networks independently from Egypt.
Necrosis score as a prognostic factor in stage I–III colorectal cancer: a retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Ye Huifen , Wang Yiting , Yao Su , Liu Zaiyi , Liang Changhong , Zhu Yaxi , Cui Yanfen , Zhao Ke
Published: May 2023

Background

Tumor necrosis results from failure to meet the requirement for rapid proliferation of tumor, related to unfavorable prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, previous studies used traditional microscopes to evaluate necrosis on slides, lacking a simultaneous phase and panoramic view for assessment. Therefore, we proposed a whole-slide images (WSIs)-based method to develop a necrosis score and validated its prognostic value in multicenter cohorts.

Methods

Necrosis score was defined as the proportion of necrosis in the tumor area, semi-quantitatively classified into 3-level score groups by the cut-off of 10% and 30% on HE-stained WSIs. 768 patients from two centers were enrolled in this study, divided into a discovery (N = 445) and a validation (N = 323) cohort. The prognostic value of necrosis score was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier curves and the Cox model.

Result

Necrosis score was associated with overall survival, with hazard ratio for high vs. low in discovery and validation cohorts being 2.62 (95% confidence interval 1.59–4.32) and 2.51 (1.39–4.52), respectively. The 3-year disease free survival rates of necrosis-low, middle, and high were 83.6%, 80.2%, and 59.8% in discovery cohort, and 86.5%, 84.2%, and 66.5% in validation cohort. In necrosis middle plus high subgroup, there was a trend but no significant difference in overall survival between surgery alone and adjuvant chemotherapy group in stage II CRC (P = .075).

Conclusion

As a stable prognostic factor, high-level necrosis evaluated by the proposed method on WSIs was associated with unfavorable outcomes. Additionally, adjuvant chemotherapy provide survival benefits for patients with high necrosis in stage II CRC.
A novel PD-1/PD-L1 pathway molecular typing-related signature for predicting prognosis and the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer
Authors: Man Yuxin , Dai Chao , Guo Qian , Jiang Lingxi , Shi Yi
Published: May 2023

Background

Currently, the development of breast cancer immunotherapy based on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is relatively slow, and the specific mechanism affecting the immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer is still unclear.

Methods

Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and the negative matrix factorization (NMF) were used to distinguish subtypes related to the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in breast cancer. Then univariate Cox, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression were used to construct the prognostic signature. A nomogram was established based on the signature. The relationship between the signature gene IFNG and breast cancer tumor microenvironment was analyzed.

Results

Four PD-1/PD-L1 pathway-related subtypes were distinguished. A prognostic signature related to PD-1/PD-L1 pathway typing was constructed to evaluate breast cancer’s clinical characteristics and tumor microenvironment. The nomogram based on the RiskScore could be used to accurately predict breast cancer patients’ 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival probability. The expression of IFNG was positively correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration in the breast cancer tumor microenvironment.

Conclusion

A prognostic signature is constructed based on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway typing in breast cancer, which can guide the precise treatment of breast cancer. The signature gene IFNG is positively related to CD8+ T cell infiltration in breast cancer.
Radiomics analysis of bone marrow biopsy locations in [18F]FDG PET/CT images for measurable residual disease assessment in multiple myeloma
Authors: Milara Eva , Alonso Rafael , Masseing Lena , Seiffert Alexander P. , Gómez-Grande Adolfo , Gómez Enrique J. , Martínez-López Joaquín , Sánchez-González Patricia
Published: May 2023

The combination of visual assessment of whole body [18F]FDG PET images and evaluation of bone marrow samples by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry (MFC) or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is currently the most common clinical practice for the detection of Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients. In this study, radiomic features extracted from the bone marrow biopsy locations are analyzed and compared to those extracted from the whole bone marrow in order to study the representativeness of these biopsy locations in the image-based MRD assessment. Whole body [18F]FDG PET of 39 patients with newly diagnosed MM were included in the database, and visually evaluated by experts in nuclear medicine. A methodology for the segmentation of biopsy sites from PET images, including sternum and posterior iliac crest, and their subsequent quantification is proposed. First, starting from the bone marrow segmentation, a segmentation of the biopsy sites is performed. Then, segmentations are quantified extracting SUV metrics and radiomic features from the [18F]FDG PET images and are evaluated by Mann–Whitney U-tests as valuable features differentiating PET+/PET− and MFC+ /MFC− groups. Moreover, correlation between whole bone marrow and biopsy sites is studied by Spearman ρ rank. Classification performance of the radiomics features is evaluated applying seven machine learning algorithms. Statistical analyses reveal that some images features are significant in PET+/PET− differentiation, such as SUVmax, Gray Level Non-Uniformity or Entropy, especially with a balanced database where 16 of the features show a p value < 0.001. Correlation analyses between whole bone marrow and biopsy sites results in significant and acceptable coefficients, with 11 of the variables reaching a correlation coefficient greater than 0.7, with a maximum of 0.853. Machine learning algorithms demonstrate high performances in PET+/PET− classification reaching a maximum AUC of 0.974, but not for MFC+/MFC− classification. The results demonstrate the representativeness of sample sites as well as the effectiveness of extracted features (SUV metrics and radiomic features) from the [18F]FDG PET images in MRD assessment in MM patients.
Every branch in its niche: intraspecific variation in habitat suitability of a widely distributed small mammal, the harvest mouse Micromys minutus
Authors: Ancillotto Leonardo , Viviano Andrea , Baratti Mariella , Sogliani Davide , Ladurner Eva , Mori Emiliano
Published: May 2023

Climate and land use changes re-shape the distribution of species around the world, so understanding biogeographical patterns is key to protect and manage wildlife, particularly in the case of threatened or declining species. Species with wide ranges are usually considered as common, yet the occurrence of intraspecific variability and adaptation to local conditions may pose serious challenges to their conservation. In this paper, we selected the harvest mouse Micromys minutus as a model species to assess the role of intraspecific genetic variability in shaping the environmental preferences and distribution of a widely distributed mammal across Europe. By applying an integrative approach combining species distribution modelling and phylogenetic reconstruction, we assessed the clade-specific habitat suitability of all mitochondrial clades of the species occurring in Europe, unveiling distinct bioclimatic niches. Most of Central Europe results as suitable to M. minutus, whereas different clades showed distinct distributions of suitable areas across Europe, with limited overlap. We then combined mitochondrial analyses with clade-specific suitability maps to determine the geographic delimitations of Italian and central European clades. We showed that individuals from the northernmost Italian regions actually belong to the central European clade, consistent with the biogeographical patterns of other small mammals, and indicating potential past dispersal between the Italian Peninsula and Central Europe, or human-assisted translocations. Our results highlight the importance of intraspecific variability in shaping biogeographical patterns of widely distributed species, also representing a reproducible exercise to understand their environmental preferences and eventually fostering their conservation.
Gurariĭ operators are generic
Authors: Banakh Taras , Garbulińska-Wȩgrzyn Joanna
Published: May 2023

Answering a question of Garbulińska-Wȩgrzyn and Kubiś, we prove that Gurariĭ operators form a dense $$G_\delta $$

G
δ

-set in the space $$\mathcal B(\mathbb G)$$

B
(
G
)

of all nonexpansive operators on the Gurariĭ space $$\mathbb G$$
G
, endowed with the strong operator topology. This implies that universal operators on $$\mathbb G$$
G
form a residual set in $$\mathcal B(\mathbb G)$$

B
(
G
)

.
Antibiotic Use Among Hospitalized Patients in Africa: A Systematic Review of Point Prevalence Studies
Authors: Abubakar Usman , Salman Muhammad
Published: May 2023

Background

There is paucity of data describing the rate and quality indices of antibiotics used among hospitalized patients at continental level in Africa. This systematic review evaluated the pooled prevalence, indications, and types of antibiotics used in hospitals across Africa.

Methods

Three electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, and African Journals Online (AJOL), were searched using search terms. Point prevalence studies of antibiotic use in inpatient settings published in English language from January 2010 to November 2022 were considered for selection. Additional articles were identified by checking the reference list of selected articles.

Results

Of the 7254 articles identified from the databases, 28 eligible articles involving 28 studies were selected. Most of the studies were from Nigeria (n = 9), Ghana (n = 6), and Kenya (n = 4). Overall, the prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalized patients ranged from 27.6 to 83.5% with higher prevalence in West Africa (51.4–83.5%) and North Africa (79.1%) compared to East Africa (27.6–73.7%) and South Africa (33.6–49.7%). The ICU (64.4–100%; n = 9 studies) and the pediatric medical ward (10.6–94.6%; n = 13 studies) had the highest prevalence of antibiotic use. Community-acquired infections (27.7–61.0%; n = 19 studies) and surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) (14.6–45.3%; n = 17 studies) were the most common indications for antibiotic use. The duration of SAP was more than 1 day in 66.7 to 100% of the cases. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics included ceftriaxone (7.4–51.7%; n = 14 studies), metronidazole (14.6–44.8%; n = 12 studies), gentamicin (n = 8 studies; range: 6.6–22.3%), and ampicillin (n = 6 studies; range: 6.0–29.2%). The access, watch, and reserved group of antibiotics accounted for 46.3–97.9%, 1.8–53.5%, and 0.0–5.0% of antibiotic prescriptions, respectively. The documentation of the reason for antibiotic prescription and date for stop/review ranged from 37.3 to 100% and 19.6 to 100%, respectively.

Conclusion

The point prevalence of antibiotic use among hospitalized patients in Africa is relatively high and varied between the regions in the continent. The prevalence was higher in the ICU and pediatric medical ward compared to the other wards. Antibiotics were most commonly prescribed for community-acquired infections and for SAP with ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and gentamicin being the most common antibiotics prescribed. Antibiotic stewardship is recommended to address excessive use of SAP and to reduce high rate of antibiotic prescribing in the ICU and pediatric ward.
Biologically Inspired Girder Structure for the Synchrotron Radiation Facility PETRA IV
Authors: Andresen Simone , Meyners Norbert , Thoden Daniel , Körfer Markus , Hamm Christian
Published: May 2023

Lightweight structures are widely used across different industry sectors. However, they get easily excited by external influences, such as vibrations. Undesired high vibration amplitudes can be avoided by shifting the structural eigenfrequencies, which can be achieved adapting the structural design considering optimisation procedures and structures primarily inspired by diatoms. This procedures has been applied to the development process of a girder structure installed in a synchrotron radiation facility to support heavy magnets and other components. The objective was to design a 2.9 m long girder structure with high eigenfrequencies, a high stiffness and a low mass. Based on a topology optimisation result, a parametric beam–shell model including biologically inspired structures (e.g., Voronoi combs, ribs, and soft and organic-looking transitions) was built up. The subsequent cross-sectional optimisation using evolutionary strategic optimisation revealed an optimum girder structure, which was successfully manufactured using the casting technology. Eigenfrequency measurements validated the numerical models. Future changes in the specifications can be implemented in the bio-inspired development process to obtain adapted girder structures.
Changes in growth, ammonium assimilation and amino acid levels in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana under cadmium treatment
Authors: Dguimi Houda Maaroufi , Alzahrani Fatima Omari
Published: May 2023

Cadmium is the most harmful soil pollutant due to its long biological half-life. In the present study, the effect of Cd on ammonium assimilation in Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type Col0 was investigated. Thirty-day-old Arabidopsis seedlings were exposed to 20 µM CdCl2 during different exposure times (0, 1, 2, 3, and 7 days). Seedling growth decreased under Cd stress mainly after 7 days of Cd exposure. Cd stress caused a gradual decrease in soluble leaf protein and induced an increase in leaf ammonium and the content of free amino acids such as glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), asparagine (Asn), and proline (Pro), which may be related to the increase in protease activity. The results showed that the activities of Glutamine Synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were inversely related. Cd stress led to an increase in GDH activity, whereas GS activity decreased. GDH activity on polyacrylamide gels showed that Cd induced both β- and α-enriched isoforms. Therefore, this study confirms that the ammonium assimilation process plays an important role for plants in adapting to Cd stress.
Research on Public Opinion Propagation of Emergency Reversal Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Wu Xianwen , Liu Zixuan
Published: May 2023

As an empirical case, this study takes 30 sudden reversal events as examples, combined with the theory of actor network, and explores the four influencing factors of public opinion subjects-netizens and opinion leaders, public opinion objects-events, public opinion carriers-media, and public opinion guides-government in public opinion. The complex combinatorial effects arise during the reversal process. This study verifies the combination of three parallel and equivalent driving paths that lead to the multi-center reversal of public opinion, the opinion leader–media dual-driven path, the opinion leader–media–government multi-driven path, and the media–government dual-driven path. It is concluded that the public should improve their media literacy and maintain a rational return; the media, as “gatekeepers”, need to improve their own awareness and build an objective issue framework; the government needs to establish active communication awareness, and supervision and guidance should go hand in hand.
Semantic-aware knowledge distillation with parameter-free feature uniformization
Authors: Guo Guangyu , Han Longfei , Wang Le , Zhang Dingwen , Han Junwei
Published: May 2023

Knowledge distillation aims to distill knowledge from teacher networks to train student networks. Distilling intermediate features has attracted much attention in recent years as it can be flexibly applied in various fields such as image classification, object detection and semantic segmentation. A critical obstacle of feature-based knowledge distillation is the dimension gap between the intermediate features of teacher and student, and plenty of methods have been proposed to resolve this problem. However, these works usually implement feature uniformization in an unsupervised way, lacking guidance to help the student network learn meaningful mapping functions in the uniformization process. Moreover, the dimension uniformization process of the student and teacher network is usually not equivalent as the mapping functions are different. To this end, some factors of the feature are discarded during parametric feature alignment, or some factors are blended in some non-parametric operations. In this paper, we propose a novel semantic-aware knowledge distillation scheme to solve these problems. We build a standalone feature-based classification branch to extract semantic-aware knowledge for better guiding the learning process of the student network. In addition, to avoid the inequivalence of feature uniformization between teacher and student, we design a novel parameter-free self-attention operation that can convert features of different dimensions into vectors of the same length. Experimental results show that the proposed knowledge distillation scheme outperforms existing feature-based distillation methods on the widely used CIFAR-100 and CINIC-10 datasets.
Continual learning with Bayesian model based on a fixed pre-trained feature extractor
Authors: Yang Yang , Cui Zhiying , Xu Junjie , Zhong Changhong , Zheng Wei-Shi , Wang Ruixuan
Published: May 2023

Deep learning has shown its human-level performance in various applications. However, current deep learning models are characterized by catastrophic forgetting of old knowledge when learning new classes. This poses a challenge such as in intelligent diagnosis systems where initially only training data of a limited number of diseases are available. In this case, updating the intelligent system with data of new diseases would inevitably downgrade its performance on previously learned diseases. Inspired by the process of learning new knowledge in human brains, we propose a Bayesian generative model for continual learning built on a fixed pre-trained feature extractor. In this model, knowledge of each old class can be compactly represented by a collection of statistical distributions, e.g., with Gaussian mixture models, and naturally kept from forgetting in continual learning over time. Unlike existing class-incremental learning methods, the proposed approach is not sensitive to the continual learning process and can be additionally well applied to the data-incremental learning scenario. Experiments on multiple medical and natural image classification tasks reveal that the proposed approach outperforms state-of-the-art approaches that even keep some images of old classes during continual learning of new classes.
A Behavioral Approach to Identify Barriers to Adoption of New Technology: A Case Study of Low-input Turfgrasses
Authors: Yue Chengyan , Lai Yufeng , Watkins Eric , Patton Aaron , Braun Ross
Published: May 2023

Adopting eco-friendly technologies, such as converting lawns to alternative low-input grass species, can reduce household expenditures and mitigate negative environmental impacts at the same time. However, the rate of adoption of these technologies has not been as high as expected. This study develops a behavioral framework to identify barriers to new technology adoption by incorporating both prospect theory and present bias. We apply the framework in a choice experiment to investigate the relative importance of several factors that shape decisions associated with adoption of low-input turfgrass. We find that loss aversion plays a significant role. Though consumers exhibit present bias, long-term benefits still matter to them. Insights from the behavior model suggest that marketing and government programs that promote cost–benefit-efficient technologies should focus on eliminating or reducing potential losses caused by product failure.
What Are Digital Trade and Digital Trade Law?
Authors: Burri Mira , Chander Anupam
Published: May 2023

Digitization has greatly expanded the scope of trade, and with it the scope of trade law. But the regulatory framework, although growing in bilateral and regional fora, is highly dynamic and remains fragmented, increasing the challenges facing digital trade law.
Lying with Uninformative Speech Acts
Authors: Gaszczyk Grzegorz
Published: May 2023

I propose an analysis of lying with uninformative speech acts. The orthodox view states that lying is restricted to assertions. However, the growing case for non-assertoric lies made by presuppositions or conventional implicatures challenges this orthodoxy. So far, the only presuppositions to have been considered as lies were informative presuppositions. In fact, uninformative lies were not discussed in the philosophical literature. However, limiting the possibility of lying to informative speech acts is too restrictive. Firstly, I show that standard, uninformative presuppositions can also be lies. Secondly, I extend this picture into uninformative lies made by declarative statements. To implement my proposal, I do not need a new definition of lying. Recently popular commitment-based definitions of lying are able to properly handle uninformative lies.
Matching enrolled trial participants to disease demographics: Using IRB submissions to identify opportunities for researcher training
Authors: Eckstrom Elizabeth , Zauflik Meredith , De Lima Bryanna
Published: May 2023

Background:

Many diseases are highly prevalent in older adults, yet older adults are often underrepresented in corresponding trials. Our objectives were to (1) determine alignment between Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol age ranges and enrollment demographics to disease demographics pre- and post-implementation of the 2019 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Lifespan Policy and (2) raise awareness about inclusive recruitment to principal investigators (PIs).

Methods:

This was a pre-post study. We reviewed investigator-initiated studies meeting eligibility criteria at Oregon Health & Science University from 2017 to 2018 to determine baseline alignment. Alignment was defined by the level of matching between protocol/enrollment age and disease demographics: 2 points for full match, 1 point for partial match, and 0 points for mismatch. After the NIH policy implementation, we reviewed new studies for alignment. When a mismatch was determined, we contacted PIs (either at initial IRB protocol submission or during ongoing recruitment) to raise awareness and provide strategies to expand inclusion of older adults in their trials.

Results:

Studies that matched IRB protocol ages to disease demographics significantly improved from 78% pre-implementation to 91.2% post-implementation. Similarly, study enrollment ages matching disease demographics increased by 13.4% following the implementation (74.5%–87.9%). Out of 18 post-implementation mismatched studies, 7 PIs accepted a meeting and 3 subsequently changed their protocol age ranges.

Conclusion:

This study highlights strategies that translational institutes and academic institutions could use to identify research studies whose participants do not align with disease demographics, offering opportunities for researcher awareness and training to enhance inclusion.
A framework for assessing clinical trial site readiness
Authors: Buse John B. , Austin Christopher P. , Johnston S. Claiborne , Lewis-Hall Freda , March Andrew N. , Shore Carolyn K. , Tenaerts Pamela , Rutter Joni L.
Published: May 2023

Clinical trial processes are unnecessarily inefficient and costly, slowing the translation of medical discoveries into treatments for people living with disease. To reduce redundancies and inefficiencies, a group of clinical trial experts developed a framework for clinical trial site readiness based on existing trial site qualifications from sponsors. The site readiness practices are encompassed within six domains: research team, infrastructure, study management, data collection and management, quality oversight, and ethics and safety. Implementation of this framework for clinical trial sites would reduce inefficiencies in trial conduct and help prepare new sites to enter the clinical trials enterprise, with the potential to improve the reach of clinical trials to underserved communities. Moreover, the framework holds benefits for trial sponsors, contract research organizations, trade associations, trial participants, and the public. For novice sites considering future trials, we provide a framework for site preparation and the engagement of stakeholders. For experienced sites, the framework can be used to assess current practices and inform and engage sponsors, staff, and participants. Details in the supplementary materials provide easy access to key regulatory documents and resources. Invited perspective articles provide greater depth from a systems, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) and decentralized trials perspective.
Homoclinic orbits, multiplier spectrum and rigidity theorems in complex dynamics
Authors: Ji Zhuchao , Xie Junyi
Published: May 2023

The aims of this paper are to answer several conjectures and questions about the multiplier spectrum of rational maps and giving new proofs of several rigidity theorems in complex dynamics by combining tools from complex and non-Archimedean dynamics.

A remarkable theorem due to McMullen asserts that, aside from the flexible Lattès family, the multiplier spectrum of periodic points determines the conjugacy class of rational maps up to finitely many choices. The proof relies on Thurston’s rigidity theorem for post-critically finite maps, in which Teichmüller theory is an essential tool. We will give a new proof of McMullen’s theorem (and therefore a new proof of Thurston’s theorem) without using quasiconformal maps or Teichmüller theory.

We show that, aside from the flexible Lattès family, the length spectrum of periodic points determines the conjugacy class of rational maps up to finitely many choices. This generalizes the aforementioned McMullen’s theorem. We will also prove a rigidity theorem for marked length spectrum. Similar ideas also yield a simple proof of a rigidity theorem due to Zdunik.

We show that a rational map is exceptional if and only if one of the following holds: (i) the multipliers of periodic points are contained in the integer ring of an imaginary quadratic field, and (ii) all but finitely many periodic points have the same Lyapunov exponent. This solves two conjectures of Milnor.
Rivalries, reputation, retaliation, and repetition: Testing plausible mechanisms for the contagion of violence between street gangs using relational event models
Authors: Gravel Jason , Valasik Matthew , Mulder Joris , Leenders Roger , Butts Carter , Brantingham P. Jeffrey , Tita George E.
Published: May 2023

The hypothesis that violence—especially gang violence—behaves like a contagious disease has grown in popularity in recent years. Scholars have long observed the tendency for violence to cluster in time and space, but little research has focused on empirically unpacking the mechanisms that make violence contagious. In the context of gang violence, retaliation is the prototypical mechanism to explain why violence begets violence. In this study, we leverage relational event models (REMs)—an underutilized yet particularly well-suited modeling technique to study the dynamics of inter-gang violence. We use REMs to examine gang violence’s tendency to replicate—for which retaliation is but one plausible mechanism—and its tendency to diffuse to other groups. We rely on data on conflicts between gangs in a region of Los Angeles over 3 years. We consider how the characteristics of gangs, their spatial proximity, networks of established rivalries, and the evolving history, directionality, and structure of conflicts predict future inter-gang conflicts. While retaliation is an important mechanism for the replication of violence, established rivalries, and inertia—a gang’s tendency to continue attacking the same group—are more important drivers of future violence. We also find little evidence for an emerging pecking order or status hierarchy between gangs suggested by other scholars. However, we find that gangs are more likely to attack multiple gangs in quick succession. We propose that gang violence is more likely to diffuse to other groups because of the boost of internal group processes an initial attack provides.
Social learning and the adaptiveness of expressing and perceiving fearfulness
Authors: Olsen Karsten , Selbing Ida
Published: May 2023

The fearful ape hypothesis revolves around our ability to express and perceive fearfulness. Here, we address these abilities from a social learning perspective which casts fearfulness in a slightly different light. Our commentary argues that any theory that characterizes a (human) social signal as being adaptive, needs to address the role of social learning as an alternative candidate explanation.
Fearful apes, happy apes: Is fearfulness associated with uniquely human cooperation?
Authors: Riddell Christopher , Kret Mariska , Zijlstra Tonko , Nikolic Milica
Published: May 2023

In the fearful ape hypothesis, Grossmann argues that heightened fearfulness increases human-unique cooperation. We suggest that this conclusion, however, may be premature. In particular, we question Grossmann's singling out of fear as the affective trait that enhances cooperative care. Additionally, we problematize the extent to which heightened fearfulness in humans, and its association with human-unique cooperation, are supported empirically.
Fearful apes or nervous goats? Another look at functions of dispositions or traits
Authors: Krstić Vladimir
Published: May 2023

In his article, Grossmann argues that, in the context of human cooperative caregiving, heightened fearfulness in children and human sensitivity to fear in others are adaptive traits. I offer and briefly defend a rival hypothesis: Heightened fearfulness among infants and young children is a maladaptive trait that did not get deselected in the process of evolution because human sensitivity to fear in others mitigates its disadvantageous effects to a sufficient extent.
Infants aren't biased toward fearful faces
Authors: Herbert Andrew M. , Condry Kirsten , Sutton Tina M.
Published: May 2023

Grossmann's argument for the “fearful ape hypothesis” rests on an incomplete review of infant responses to emotional faces. An alternate interpretation of the literature argues the opposite, that an early preference for happy faces predicts cooperative learning. Questions remain as to whether infants can interpret affect from faces, limiting the conclusion that any “fear bias” means the infant is fearful.
The power of the weak: When altruism is the equilibrium
Authors: Barkan Rachel , Lahav Yaron
Published: May 2023

A rational economic analysis complements Grossmann's fearful ape hypothesis. Two examples of mixed-motive games with strong inter-dependence (i.e., weak chirping nestling, boxed pigs) demonstrate that signaling weakness is a dominant strategy. Weakness elicits cooperative, caring response, comprising the equilibrium of the game. In extensive form, a reliable reputation of weakness elicits caring as a sequential equilibrium.
Simulation does not just inform choice, it changes choice
Authors: Enz Karalyn F. , Tamir Diana I.
Published: May 2023

Simulation – imagining future events – plays a role in decision-making. In Conviction Narrative Theory, people's emotional responses to their simulations inform their choices. Yet imagining one possible future also increases its plausibility and accessibility relative to other futures. We propose that the act of simulation, in addition to affective evaluation, drives people to choose in accordance with their simulations.
Embodied choices bypass narratives under radical uncertainty
Authors: Cañal-Bruland Rouwen , Raab Markus
Published: May 2023

Johnson et al. suggest that we rely on narratives to make choices under radical uncertainty. We argue that in its current version Conviction Narrative Theory (CNT) does not account for embodied, direct sensorimotor influences on choices under radical uncertainty that may bypass narratives, particularly in highly time-constrained situations. We therefore suggest to extend CNT by an embodied choice perspective.
The small world's problem is everyone's problem, not a reason to favor CNT over probabilistic decision theory
Authors: Greco Daniel
Published: May 2023

The case for the superiority of Conviction Narrative Theory (CNT) over probabilistic approaches rests on selective employment of a double standard. The authors judge probabilistic approaches inadequate for failing to apply to “grand-world” decision problems, while they praise CNT for its treatment of “small-world” decision problems. When both approaches are held to the same standard, the comparative question is murkier.
The global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by the public-private partnership COVAX from a public-law perspective
Authors: von Achenbach Jelena
Published: May 2023

This article examines COVAX, a public private partnership, from a public law perspective. It asks whether COVAX is a legitimate and appropriate instrument with regard to the goal of distributing COVID-19 vaccines in a globally equitable manner and enabling equal access to vaccination worldwide. By developing public-legal legitimacy standards for this purpose, the article critically distances itself from the outset from considering the use of private actors and forms of action in public functions (‘privatization’) essentially as a release of market economy rationality, which enables efficiency and effectiveness gains and relieves the public sector. With the public law perspective, the article questions precisely whether private-law, market-based action is appropriate with respect to the global distribution of vaccines in the pandemic.
Multiple herbicide-resistant waterhemp control with Group 15 herbicides
Authors: Symington Hannah E. , Soltani Nader , Kaastra Allan C. , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: May 2023

Waterhemp has evolved resistance to seven herbicide modes of action in the United States and to five in Canada, which limits weed control options for producers. The objective of this research was to quantify the level and duration of residual control of multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp with five Group 15 herbicides (acetochlor, dimethenamid-p, flufenacet, pyroxasulfone, andS-metolachlor) applied preemergence in a non-crop area. Four field trials were conducted over a 2-yr period (2021, 2022) in southwestern Ontario, Canada. By 4 wk after application (WAA) 91% of waterhemp had emerged in the nontreated control area. The numerical control of waterhemp with all Group 15 herbicides, with the exception of pyroxasulfone, was greatest at 4 WAA, then control declined. Flufenacet provided the lowest waterhemp control; dimethenamid-p andS-metolachlor provided intermediate control, and acetochlor and pyroxasulfone provided the highest control. Waterhemp control with pyroxasulfone peaked at 6 WAA with 99% and declined to 77% at 12 WAA. Flufenacet (low and high rates) was predicted to reduce waterhemp emergence by 50% for 42 to 44 d after application (DAA). Dimethenamid-p,S-metolachlor, and acetochlor (both formulations and three rates) were predicted to reduce waterhemp emergence by 80% for 36, 43, and 33 to 51 DAA, respectively; in contrast, pyroxasulfone was predicted to reduce waterhemp emergence by 80% for 82 DAA. This study concludes that of the Group 15 herbicides evaluated, flufenacet provides the lowest and shortest residual control of waterhemp, and pyroxasulfone provides the highest and longest residual control of waterhemp.
Best medical treatment in patients with PAD
Authors: Rosenberg Yvonne , Behrendt Christian-Alexander
Published: May 2023

Summary: Background: Guidelines recommend comprehensive lifestyle change in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) to prevent cardiovascular events and death. When compared with other populations, patients with PAD are less likely to receive best medical therapies (BMT). The aim of this pilot study was to integrate all aspects of BMT in an intervention program and to determine the feasibility of such an approach by highlighting strengths and obstacles of a multi-aspect intervention. Patients and methods: Patients consecutively hospitalized due to symptomatic PAD between 01 December 2021 and 28 February 2022 were included and followed for ten weeks. We randomized into a lifestyle intervention (education on BMT, a list of regional contact data for supervised exercise, weekly counselling by phone for ten times) vs. standard of care (one contact to talk about BMT). Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire – 6 (VascuQoL-6) was used to collect patient reported outcomes. Results: Of 50 eligible patients 40 agreed to participate (32.5% female, 72.5 years in mean). During follow-up nine patients dropped out (4 in intervention group vs. 5). As for risk factor modification one patient was able to reach a normal weight body-mass-index (BMI) and nine reduced weight. Two patients stopped smoking, three reduced their consumption. The reported adherence to medication was a hundred percent. No patient attended supervised exercise therapy but eight trained at a home-based setting according to guidelines. The mean score of VascuQoL-6 at follow-up was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (17.4 vs. 13.8 points) at last contact with both groups increasing from baseline. Conclusions: This pilot study followed 40 patients for up to 10 weeks after inpatient treatment while we randomized a multi-aspect lifestyle intervention versus standard of care. Thereby, the current study illustrated the numerous obstacles and provided pragmatic solutions for the planning of studies on BMT in this target population.
Mika und Asa gehen in die Kita
Authors: Hesse Fabienne , Zemp Martina
Published: May 2023

Der kleine Affe Asa begleitet Mika bereits ihr ganzes Leben als treuer Begleiter. Die beiden haben schon zahlreiche Abenteuer miteinander erlebt. Asa fürchtet sich vor nichts. Sein Mut wird plötzlich herausgefordert, als er mit Mika zusammen die Kita besuchen soll. Die bevorstehende Veränderung macht Asa zunächst Angst. Aber dann bereiten sich die beiden gemeinsam mit ihrer Familie auf die Zeit in der Kita vor und lernen, dass Veränderungen auch etwas Wunderbares sein können.
Dieses Bilderbuch beantwortet Fragen rund um den Kita-Eintritt und zeigt, was es für einen gelingenden Kita-Besuch zu beachten gibt. Es richtet sich an Eltern und andere Bezugs- und Fachpersonen und unterstützt dabei, die Eltern-Kind-Bindung zu stärken und den Übergang in die Kita zu erleichtern. Das Buch gliedert sich in zwei Teile: Im Bindungs-Teil wird das Konzept der Bindung beleuchtet und erklärt, wie die elterliche Sensitivität zur Unterstützung einer sicheren Bindung des Kindes gestärkt werden kann. Im Kita-Teil wird beschrieben, was eine gute Kita ausmacht, wie man das Kind auf die Kita vorbereitet, was man bei der Eingewöhnungszeit, beim Bringen und Abholen und in der Kooperation mit dem Kita-Personal beachten soll. Neben Erklärungen und Informationen für die Erwachsenen und einer Kindergeschichte, in welcher Bindung als magisches Tier dargestellt wird, gibt es zahlreiche praktische Übungen. 
Begeben Sie sich gemeinsam mit Ihrem Kind und mit Mika und Asa auf die spannende Reise in die Kita! 
Die Übungen zu diesem Buch können nach erfolgter Registrierung von der Hogrefe Webseite heruntergeladen werden.
A Theoretical Model of Soil Aerosol Generation and Vertical Transport During Rainfall
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhang Jie , Huang Ning , Sun Haitao , Dun Hongchao
Published: May 2023

Raindrops impacting on soil have been revealed to be a source of aerosol, which can deliver viruses and microorganisms from the soil into the air and affect the content and composition of aerosol in the atmosphere environment. Here we proposed a mathematical description on the generation of soil aerosol. We measured the production rate of soil aerosols from laboratory simulations of raindrops impinging on soils to support the assumptions made in our theory. By combining this generation model with turbulent diffusion and below‐cloud scavenging of aerosol, we are able to study further the transport of soil aerosol in the air, establish a model of aerosol vertical transport, and deduced its analytical solution. The theory reflects that aerosol content in the atmosphere will first increase to the peak and then slowly decrease, which is consistent with atmospheric observation data; small‐size soil aerosol (<2 µm in diameter) will last for a long time in the atmosphere, so it will cause more harm to human life and industry. This study presents a simplified model for theoretically analyzing the soil aerosol movement, and makes it possible to predict quickly and effectively the vertical transport of soil aerosol in the atmosphere environment during rainfall.