bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital media in intergenerational communication: Status quo and future scenarios for the grandparent–grandchild relationship
Authors: Döring Nicola , Mikhailova Veronika , Brandenburg Karlheinz , Broll Wolfgang , Gross Horst-Michael , Werner Stephan , Raake Alexander
Published: December 2022

Communication technologies play an important role in maintaining the grandparent–grandchild (GP–GC) relationship. Based on Media Richness Theory, this study investigates the frequency of use (RQ1) and perceived quality (RQ2) of established media as well as the potential use of selected innovative media (RQ3) in GP-GC relationships with a particular focus on digital media. A cross-sectional online survey and vignette experiment were conducted in February 2021 among N = 286 university students in Germany (mean age 23 years, 57% female) who reported on the direct and mediated communication with their grandparents. In addition to face-to-face interactions, non-digital and digital established media (such as telephone, texting, video conferencing) and innovative digital media, namely augmented reality (AR)-based and social robot-based communication technologies, were covered. Face-to-face and phone communication occurred most frequently in GP-GC relationships: 85% of participants reported them taking place at least a few times per year (RQ1). Non-digital established media were associated with higher perceived communication quality than digital established media (RQ2). Innovative digital media received less favorable quality evaluations than established media. Participants expressed doubts regarding the technology competence of their grandparents, but still met innovative media with high expectations regarding improved communication quality (RQ3). Richer media, such as video conferencing or AR, do not automatically lead to better perceived communication quality, while leaner media, such as letters or text messages, can provide rich communication experiences. More research is needed to fully understand and systematically improve the utility, usability, and joy of use of different digital communication technologies employed in GP–GC relationships.
Perceived stress and affective experience in Italian teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: correlation with coping and emotion regulation strategies
Authors: Messineo Linda , Tosto Crispino
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a source of stress for teachers by adding new challenges. The objective of this study was to assess the association between emotion regulation and coping strategies, on the one hand, and perceived stress and affective experience on the other among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 1178 of Italian pre-primary, primary, and secondary school teachers completed an online survey. Three hierarchical linear regression analyses were run to evaluate teachers’ emotion regulation, coping strategies, years of teaching experience, perceived workload, and perceptions about online teaching in predicting their perceived stress and positive and negative affect. The findings showed that cognitive reappraisal and positive attitude were associated with a lower level of perceived stress and negative affect and a higher level of positive affect. Problem orientation strategies were also associated with a higher level of positive affect. By contrast, expressive suppression was correlated with a higher level of perceived stress. Avoidance coping strategies were associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect and a lower level of positive affect. The perceived burden of online teaching was positively related with perceived stress and negative affect. Confidence in using educational technologies predicted lower levels of perceived stress, and previous online teaching experience was positively correlated with positive affect. The findings of this study could be useful for implementing teacher training programmes on emotion regulation and coping strategies to reduce stress and promote positive affect.
Regeneration of sensory nerve branches in extraction socket and surrounding alveolar bone in rat: immunohistochemical observation of the axon and myelin sheath changes
Authors: Kakuta Wataru , Matsunaga Satoru , Otsu Yuto , Kitamura Kei , Abe Shinichi , Yajima Yasutomo , Sekine Hideshi
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the process and derivation of the distribution of the sensory nerves that appear in the extraction socket and surrounding alveolar bone following tooth extraction. The right mandibular first molar of rats and periodontal ligament were extracted as a single mass, and the mandible was harvested after days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after extraction. Serial sections of 7 µm thickness were prepared for the proximal root (Section A), buccolingual root (Section B), and centrifugal root (Section C) of the first molar. H–E staining and immunohistochemical staining with anti-S100 antibody and anti-NF-L antibody were carried out. The presence of nerve fiber bundles in the blood clot was already evident on post-extraction day 3, and on post-extraction day 7. On day 3, the number of axons in Sections B and C had greatly decreased, indicating that, after extraction, the connection between peripheral nerve tissue and the trigeminal ganglion was temporarily markedly reduced in the region of the alveolar branch. Although the myelin sheaths were regenerating on day 5, the majority of the axons of the alveolar branches extending from the inferior alveolar nerve were seen to be extremely thin and scattered, despite their further regeneration. The above results suggest that the newly myelinated nerves are actually derived from the bone marrow to the extraction socket, so few nerves, rather than being derived from the alveolar branches that had innervated the extracted tooth.
The GUARDIAN system-a GNSS upper atmospheric real-time disaster information and alert network
Authors: Martire Léo , Krishnamoorthy Siddharth , Vergados Panagiotis , Romans Larry J. , Szilágyi Béla , Meng Xing , Anderson Jeffrey L. , Komjáthy Attila , Bar-Sever Yoaz E.
Published: December 2022

We introduce GUARDIAN, a near-real-time (NRT) ionospheric monitoring software for natural hazards warning. GUARDIAN’s ultimate goal is to use NRT total electronic content (TEC) time series to (1) allow users to explore ionospheric TEC perturbations due to natural and anthropogenic events on earth, (2) automatically detect those perturbations, and (3) characterize potential natural hazards. The main goal of GUARDIAN is to provide an augmentation to existing natural hazards early warning systems (EWS). This contribution focuses mainly on objective (1): collecting GNSS measurements in NRT, computing TEC time series, and displaying them on a public website (https://guardian.jpl.nasa.gov). We validate the time series obtained in NRT using well-established post-processing methods. Furthermore, we present an inverse modeling proof of concept to obtain tsunami wave parameters from TEC time series, contributing significantly to objective (3). Note that objectives (2) and (3) are only introduced here as parts of the general architecture, and are not currently operational. In its current implementation, the GUARDIAN system uses more than 70 GNSS ground stations distributed around the Pacific Ring of Fire, and monitoring four GNSS constellations (GPS, Galileo, BDS, and GLONASS). As of today, and to the best of our knowledge, GUARDIAN is the only software available and capable of providing multi-GNSS NRT TEC time series over the Pacific region to the general public and scientific community.
A stepped tabu search method for the clique partitioning problem
Authors: Pacheco Joaquín A. , Casado Silvia
Published: December 2022

Given an undirected graph, a clique is a subset of vertices in which the induced subgraph is complete; that is, all pairs of vertices of this subset are adjacent. Clique problems in graphs are very important due to their numerous applications. One of these problems is the clique partitioning problem (CPP), which consists of dividing the set of vertices of a graph into the smallest number of cliques possible. The CPP is an NP-hard problem with many application fields (timetabling, manufacturing, scheduling, telecommunications, etc.). Despite its great applicability, few recent studies have focused on proposing specific resolution methods for the CPP. This article presents a resolution method that combines multistart strategies with tabu search. The most novel characteristic of our method is that it allows unfeasible solutions to be visited, which facilitates exploration of the solution space. The computational tests show that our method performs better than previous methods proposed for this problem. In fact, our method strictly improves the results of these methods in most of the instances considered while requiring less computation time.
Feasibility of a Healthy Relationships Program with Youth at a Child Protective Services Agency
Authors: Houston Bridget , Crooks Claire
Published: December 2022

Youth involved in child welfare may benefit from programming that enhances their relationship skills given their susceptibility to engaging in high-risk interpersonal behaviors that can lead to challenges such as, engaging in or experiencing violence, housing and job insecurity, and poor physical and mental health. This research explored the feasibility of implementing an evidence-based healthy relationships program, the Healthy Relationships Plus Program - Enhanced (HRP-E), with youth involved in child welfare. Over 9 months, four HRP-E groups were facilitated at a Children’s Aid Society in Ontario, Canada, involving 28 youth. Interviews were conducted with facilitators (n = 5) and youth (n = 13) to examine their views of the program. Facilitators also completed surveys that evaluated the facilitation of each session and overall program implementation. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted and results indicated that the HRP-E was perceived as a valuable program that is relevant and useful for youth involved in child welfare. Participants highlighted trauma-informed practices and organizational resources that are required when facilitating the HRP-E within a child welfare context. The present findings address the theory-to-practice gap by illustrating the practical application of trauma-informed program facilitation. The outcomes of this study contribute to understanding considerations and best practices for implementing a healthy relationships program with youth involved in child welfare.
How to Minimize the Impact of Experts’ Non-rational Beliefs on Their Judgments on Autism
Authors: Wodziński Maciej , Rządeczka Marcin , Moskalewicz Marcin
Published: December 2022

The non-autistic majority often judges people on the autism spectrum through the prism of numerous stereotypes, prejudices, cognitive biases, or, generally speaking, non-rational beliefs. This causes problems in autistic people’s everyday lives, as they often feel stigmatized, marginalized, and they internalize deficit-laden narratives about themselves. Unfortunately, experts, including health or law professionals, are not entirely immune to these non-rational beliefs, which affect their decision-making processes. This primarily happens when a mix of background knowledge, overconfidence, and haste co-occur. The resulting decisions may impact autistic people, e.g., by determining eligibility for the state’s therapeutical and financial support. This paper shows how simplified reasoning and inference may influence experts’ (medical examiners or court expert witnesses) decision-making processes concerning autistic people. It also proposes particular clues and strategies that could help experts cope with this risk and avoid making biased decisions.
Evaluating the eutrophication risk of artificial lagoons–case study El Gouna, Egypt
Authors: Abouelsaad Omnia , Matta Elena , Hinkelmann Reinhard
Published: December 2022

Eutrophication problem in El Gouna shallow artificial coastal lagoons in Egypt was investigated using 2D TELEMAC-EUTRO-WAQTEL module. Eight reactive components were presented, among them dissolved oxygen (DO), phosphorus, nitrogen, and phytoplankton biomass (PHY). The effect of warmer surface water on the eutrophication problem was investigated. Also, the spatial and temporal variability of the eutrophication was analyzed considering different weather conditions: tide wave, different wind speeds and directions. Moreover, effect of pollution from a nearby desalination plant was discussed considering different pollution degrees of brine discharge, different discharge quantities and different weather conditions. Finally, new precautions for better water quality were discussed. The results show that tide wave created fluctuations in DO concentrations, while other water quality components were not highly influenced by tide’s fluctuations. Also, it was found that high water temperatures and low wind speeds highly decreased water quality producing low DO concentrations and high nutrients rates. High water quality was produced beside inflow boundaries when compared to outflow boundaries in case of mean wind. Moreover, the results show that the average water quality was not highly deteriorated by the nearby desalination operation, while the area just beside the desalination inflow showed relatively strong effects. Different weather conditions controlled the brine’s propagation inside the lagoons. Moreover, increasing the width of the inflow boundaries and injecting tracer during tide and mean wind condition are new precautions which may help to preserve the water quality in a future warmer world. This study is one of the first simulations for eutrophication in manmade lagoons.
Sublethal exposure to Microcystis aeruginosa extracts during the yolk-sac larval stage reduces aerobic swimming speed in juvenile zebrafish
Authors: Kekelou Athina , Dimitriadi Anastasia , Koumoundouros George
Published: December 2022

This study examined whether the aerobic swimming capacity of zebrafish juveniles is affected by the exposure of the yolk-sac larvae to sublethal concentration of Microcystis aeruginosa extract (200 mg dw L−1). Critical swimming speed significantly decreased in the pre-exposed fish (9.2 ± 1.0 vs 11.3 ± 1.4 TL s−1 in the control group). Exposure did not have any significant effects on the shape of the heart ventricle, rate of skeletal abnormalities, and growth or survival rates. Decreased swimming performance due to the early and short exposure to M. aeruginosa could have negative impacts on fish in the wild.
Shared Decision Making in Psychiatry: Dissolving the Responsibility Problem
Authors: El-Alti Leila
Published: December 2022

Person centered care (PCC) invites ideas of shared responsibility as a direct result of its shared decision making (SDM) process. The intersection of PCC and psychiatric contexts brings about what I refer to as the responsibility problem, which seemingly arises when SDM is applied in psychiatric settings due to (1) patients’ potentially diminished capacities for responsibility, (2) tension prompted by professional reasons for and against sharing responsibility with patients, as well as (3) the responsibility/blame dilemma. This paper aims to do away with the responsibility problem through arguing for a functional approach to mental illness, a blameless responsibility ascription to the person with mental illness, as well as a nuanced understanding of SDM as part of an emancipation-oriented PCC model.
Incorrect Ways of Thinking About the Size of Fractions
Authors: González-Forte Juan Manuel , Fernández Ceneida , Van Hoof Jo , Van Dooren Wim
Published: December 2022

The literature has amply shown that primary and secondary school students have difficulties in understanding rational number size. Many of these difficulties are explained by the natural number bias or the use of other incorrect reasoning such as gap thinking. However, in many studies, these types of reasoning have been inferred from comparing students’ accuracies in multiple-choice items. Evidence that supports that these incorrect ways of reasoning are indeed underlying is scarce. In the present work, we carried out interviews with 52 seventh grade students. The objective was to validate the existence of students’ incorrect ways of thinking about fraction size that were previously inferred from patterns of correct and incorrect answers to multiple-choice items, by looking at students’ verbalizations, and examine whether these ways of thinking are resistant to change. Students’ verbalizations support the existence of the different incorrect ways of thinking inferred from previous studies in fraction size. Furthermore, the high levels of confidence in their incorrect reasoning and the fact that they were reluctant to change their answer when they were confronted with other reasoning suggest that these ways of thinking may be resistant to change.
Stimulation of ethylene glycol electrooxidation on electrodeposited Ni–PbO2–GN nanocomposite in alkaline medium
Authors: Sultan M. A. , Hassan H. B. , Tammam Reham H.
Published: December 2022

In this work, a novel system composed of non-precious nickel-based metal oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (Ni–PbO2–GN) is used for electrooxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) in 1.0 M NaOH solution and compares its activity with that of Ni, Ni–GN, and Ni–PbO2. The facile electrodeposition technique is used to prepare the catalysts on glassy carbon (GC) substrates. The outcomes of electrochemical measurements show a high performance towards EG oxidation is obtained for Ni-nanocomposite electrodes compared to that of Ni mainly due to their higher surface areas. The excellent electrocatalytic properties of the Ni-nanocomposite could be ascribed to the synergistic contributions of PbO2 and graphene (GN) nano-sheets that help the reduction of Ni grains. A smaller charge transfer resistance value of 34.5 Ω cm2 for EG oxidation reaction at + 360 mV is recorded for GC/Ni–PbO2–GN compared to the other prepared electrodes. Moreover, it exhibits higher kinetic parameters of EG such as diffusion coefficient (D = 3.9 × 10–10 cm2 s−1) and charge transfer rate constant (ks = 32.5 mol−1 cm3 s−1). The overall performance and stability of the prepared catalysts towards EG electrooxidation have been estimated to be in the order of GC/Ni–PbO2–GN > GC/Ni–GN > GC/Ni–PbO2 > GC/Ni.

Graphical abstract
A Multi-Cohort Examination of the Independent Contributions of Maternal Childhood Adversity and Pregnancy Stressors to the Prediction of Children’s Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Noroña-Zhou Amanda , Coccia Michael , Sullivan Alexis , O’Connor Thomas G. , Collett Brent R. , Derefinko Karen , Renner Lynette M. , Loftus Christine T. , Roubinov Danielle , Carroll Kecia N. , Nguyen Ruby H. N. , Karr Catherine J. , Sathyanarayana Sheela , Barrett Emily S. , Mason W. Alex , LeWinn Kaja Z. , Bush Nicole R.
Published: December 2022

Women’s social experiences can have long-term implications for their offspring’s health, but little is known about the potential independent contributions of multiple periods of stress exposures over time. This study examined associations of maternal exposure to adversity in childhood and pregnancy with children’s anxiety and depression symptoms in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample. Participants were 1389 mother-child dyads (child age M = 8.83 years; SD = 0.66; 42% Black, 42% White; 6% Hispanic) in the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium’s three U.S. pregnancy cohorts. Women reported their exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and pregnancy stressful life events (PSLE). Children self-reported on their symptoms of anxiety and depression at age 8–9 years. Regression analyses estimated associations between maternal stressors and children’s internalizing problems, adjusting for confounders, and examined child sex as a modifier. Exploratory interaction analyses examined whether geospatially-linked postnatal neighborhood quality buffered effects. In adjusted models, PSLE counts positively predicted levels of children’s anxiety and depression symptoms ([ßAnxiety=0.08, 95%CI [0.02, 0.13]; ßDepression=0.09, 95%CI [0.03, 0.14]); no significant associations were observed with CTE. Each additional PSLE increased odds of clinically significant anxiety symptoms by 9% (95%CI [0.02, 0.17]). Neither sex nor neighborhood quality moderated relations. Maternal stressors during pregnancy appear to have associations with middle childhood anxiety and depression across diverse sociodemographic contexts, whereas maternal history of childhood adversity may not. Effects appear comparable for boys and girls. Policies and programs addressing prevention of childhood internalizing symptoms may benefit from considering prenatal origins and the potential two-generation impact of pregnancy stress prevention and intervention.
DeepCubist: Molecular Generator for Designing Peptidomimetics based on Complex three-dimensional scaffolds
Authors: Umedera Kohei , Yoshimori Atsushi , Chen Hengwei , Kouji Hiroyuki , Nakamura Hiroyuki , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: December 2022

Mimicking bioactive conformations of peptide segments involved in the formation of protein-protein interfaces with small molecules is thought to represent a promising strategy for the design of protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. For compound design, the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds rich in sp3-centers makes it possible to precisely mimic bioactive peptide conformations. Herein, we introduce DeepCubist, a molecular generator for designing peptidomimetics based on 3D scaffolds. Firstly, enumerated 3D scaffolds are superposed on a target peptide conformation to identify a preferred template structure for designing peptidomimetics. Secondly, heteroatoms and unsaturated bonds are introduced into the template via a deep generative model to produce candidate compounds. DeepCubist was applied to design peptidomimetics of exemplary peptide turn, helix, and loop structures in pharmaceutical targets engaging in PPIs.
Lyophilized bovine acellular tendon linear fiber material for the reconstruction of attachment structure of paraspinous muscles: an animal in vivo study
Authors: Yuan Bo , Tang Yi-fan , Xu Zheng , Wang Jun-cheng , Zhou Sheng-yuan , Chen Xiong-sheng
Published: December 2022

Low back pain is common after lumbar spine surgery and the injury from extensive detachment of paraspinal muscles during the surgery may play a vital role. Previously, we prepared a bovine acellular tendon fiber (ATF) material through lyophilization and proved that it could retain its original fibrillar structure and mechanical properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this new fiber material used for attachment structure reconstruction of paraspinal muscle. Defect of spinous process, interspinous and supraspinous ligament was established on lumbar spine in rabbit and rat and ATF linear material was implanted to reconstruct the attachment structure. Ultrasound showed the cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscle in ATF group was larger than that of control group in rats. MRI showed the irregular shape and high signal changes in control group, but regular shape and uniform signal in the ATF group in rabbit. For Electromyogram, the frequency of evoked potential in control group was lower than ATF group and normal rats. HE and Masson staining showed good tissue healing, and immunohistochemical results showed the immune rejection of ATF is significantly lower than that of suture. Reconstruction of the attachment structure of paraspinous muscles with ATF linear material could maintain the morphology, volume and function of paraspinal muscle. ATF material has the potential to be used to manufacture personalized ligaments and other tissue engineering scaffolds.
Addressing Financial Barriers to Health Care Among People Who are Low-Income and Insured in New York City, 2014–2017
Authors: Frazier Taylor L. , Lopez Priscilla M. , Islam Nadia , Wilson Amber , Earle Katherine , Duliepre Nerisusan , Zhong Lynna , Bendik Stefanie , Drackett Elizabeth , Manyindo Noel , Seidl Lois , Thorpe Lorna E.
Published: December 2022

While health care-associated financial burdens among uninsured individuals are well described, few studies have systematically characterized the array of financial and logistical complications faced by insured individuals with low household incomes. In this mixed methods paper, we conducted 6 focus groups with a total of 55 residents and analyzed programmatic administrative records to characterize the specific financial and logistic barriers faced by residents living in public housing in East and Central Harlem, New York City (NYC). Participants included individuals who enrolled in a municipal community health worker (CHW) program designed to close equity gaps in health and social outcomes. Dedicated health advocates (HAs) were explicitly paired with CHWs to provide health insurance and health care navigational assistance. We describe the needs of 150 residents with reported financial barriers to care, as well as the navigational and advocacy strategies taken by HAs to address them. Finally, we outline state-level policy recommendations to help ameliorate the problems experienced by participants. The model of paired CHW–HAs may be helpful in addressing financial barriers for insured populations with low household income and reducing health disparities in other communities.
Self-similar Profiles for Homoenergetic Solutions of the Boltzmann Equation for Non-cutoff Maxwell Molecules
Authors: Kepka Bernhard
Published: December 2022

We consider a modified Boltzmann equation which contains, together with the collision operator, an additional drift term which is characterized by a matrixA. Furthermore, we consider a Maxwell gas, where the collision kernel has an angular singularity. Such an equation is used in the study of homoenergetic solutions to the Boltzmann equation. Under smallness assumptions on the drift term, we prove that the longtime asymptotics is given by self-similar solutions. We work in the framework of measure-valued solutions with finite moments of order$$ p>2 $$p>2and show existence, uniqueness and stability of these self-similar solutions for sufficiently smallA. Furthermore, we prove that they have finite moments of arbitrary order ifAis small enough. In addition, the singular collision operator allows to prove smoothness of these self-similar solutions. Finally, we study the asymptotics of particular homoenergetic solutions. This extends previous results from the cutoff case to non-cutoff Maxwell gases.
Singular value decomposition in extended double precision arithmetic
Authors: Reinsch Christian , Richter Mathias
Published: December 2022

A well-known and successful algorithm to compute the singular value decomposition (SVD) of a matrix was published by Golub and Reinsch (Numer. Math. 14:403–420, 1970), together with an implementation in Algol. We give an updated implementation in extended double precision arithmetic in the C programming language. Extended double precision is native for Intel x86 processors and provides improved accuracy at full hardware speed. The complete program for computing the SVD is listed. Additionally, a comprehensive explanation of the original algorithm of Golub and Reinsch (Numer. Math. 14:403–420, 1970) is given at an elementary level without referring to the more general results of Francis (Comput. J. 4:265–271, 1961, 1962).
Active in situ and passive airborne fluorescence measurements for water stress detection on a fescue field
Authors: Moya Ismael , Loayza Hildo , López María-Llanos , Sánchez Juan Manuel , Goulas Yves , Ounis Abderrahmane , Quiroz Roberto , Calera Alfonso
Published: December 2022

Ledflex is a fluorometer adapted to measure chlorophyll fluorescence at the canopy level. It has been described in detail by Moya et al. (2019), Photosynthesis Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-019-00642-9. We used this instrument to determine the effect of water stress on the fluorescence of a fescue field under extreme temperature and light conditions through a 12 days campaign during summer in a Mediterranean area. The fescue field formed part of a lysimeter station in "las Tiesas," near Albacete-Spain. In addition to the fluorescence data, the surface temperature was measured using infrared radiometers. Furthermore, "Airflex," a passive fluorometer measuring the filling-in of the atmospheric oxygen absorption band at 760 nm, was installed in an ultralight plane and flown during the most critical days of the campaign. We observed with the Ledflex fluorometer a considerable decrease of about 53% of the stationary chlorophyll fluorescence level at noon under water stress, which was well correlated with the surface temperature difference between the stressed and control plots. Airflex data also showed a decrease in far-red solar-induced fluorescence upon water stress in agreement with surface temperature data and active fluorescence measurements after correction for PS I contribution. Notwithstanding, the results from airborne remote sensing are not as precise as in situ active data.
Critical scenario identification for realistic testing of autonomous driving systems
Authors: Song Qunying , Tan Kaige , Runeson Per , Persson Stefan
Published: December 2022

Autonomous driving has become an important research area for road traffic, whereas testing of autonomous driving systems to ensure a safe and reliable operation remains an open challenge. Substantial real-world testing or massive driving data collection does not scale since the potential test scenarios in real-world traffic are infinite, and covering large shares of them in the test is impractical. Thus, critical ones have to be prioritized. We have developed an approach for critical test scenario identification and in this study, we implement the approach and validate it on two real autonomous driving systems from industry by integrating it into their tool-chain. Our main contribution in this work is the demonstration and validation of our approach for critical scenario identification for testing real autonomous driving systems.
On Certainty on the Foundations of History as a Discipline
Authors: Hamilton Andy
Published: December 2022

Wittgenstein had little to say directly on philosophy of history. But some pertinent remarks in On Certainty have received little attention, apart from in Elizabeth Anscombe's short article on Hume and Julius Caesar. That article acknowledges its debt to On Certainty, which responses to Anscombe have failed to recognise. Wittgenstein focuses in On Certainty on apparently empirical propositions that seem to be certainties, but in fact form a rule-like framework for judging. I have called these Moorean propositions, and the present article develops the suggestion that history as a discipline rests on them. The result is a qualification of empiricism in philosophy of history.
Emergency vaccination of cattle against lumpy skin disease: Evaluation of safety, efficacy, and potency of MEVAC® LSD vaccine containing Neethling strain
Authors: Bazid Abdel-Hamid , Wasfy Momtaz , Fawzy Mohamed , Nayel Mohamed , Abdelmegeid Mohamed , Thabet Randa Y. , Yong Hui Sian , El-Sayed Magdy M. , Magouz Asmaa , Badr Yassien
Published: December 2022

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging disease of cattle causing significantly high economic losses. Control of LSD depends on the use of homologous attenuated LSD virus strains isolated originally from South Africa (the Neethling strain). The virus belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus, which includes sheep pox virus and goat pox virus. The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new live attenuated LSD vaccine produced by Middle East for Vaccines (MEVAC®) based on the Neethling strain. Tests were performed both in Egypt and Vietnam. Safety was evaluated by inoculation of five cattle with 10 times the recommended dose and observation of the animals for 14 days. Immunogenicity was tested at different periods post-vaccination (PV) in animals receiving the recommended doses of the vaccine using ELISA and virus neutralization test. Five cows were used to determine the protection index (PI) and non-vaccinated control cattle were included. Three calves were challenged by intradermal inoculation of the wild virus (5 × 105 TCID50) 28 days PV. Field or mass vaccination experiments were conducted in Vietnam during national campaigns in the summer of 2021 with 4301 vaccinated animals closely monitored after vaccination. In the field, around 2% (80/4301) of the animals showed hyper-reactivity, and 0.6% (24/4301) showed small skin swellings that disappeared within few hours PV. Abortion was recorded in three animals (0.3% 3/867). Challenged animals were resistant to clinical disease and PI value was 3.5 log10. Meanwhile, antibody levels determined by the ELISA were inconsistent among animals and laboratories during the study period. Overall, the findings point to a new safe and effective LSD vaccine.
Accuracy of Rapid Emergency Medicine Score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score in predicting acute paraphenylenediamine poisoning adverse outcomes
Authors: El-Sarnagawy Ghada N. , Ghonem Mona M. , Abdelhameid Marwa A. , Ali Omaima M. , Ismail Asmaa M. , El Shehaby Doaa M.
Published: December 2022

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is a commonly used xenobiotic in hair dying, causing deleterious outcomes in acute poisoning. Although many epidemiological studies and case reports explained their clinical presentations and fatal consequences, no studies have evaluated the early determinants of adverse outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the initial predictors of acute PPD poisoning adverse outcomes, focusing on the discriminatory accuracy of the Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. A retrospective cohort study included all acute PPD-poisoned patients admitted to three Egyptian emergency hospitals from January 2020 to January 2022. Data was gathered on admission, including demographics, toxicological, clinical, scoring systems, and laboratory investigations. Patients were categorized according to their outcomes (mortality and complications). Ninety-seven patients with acute PPD poisoning were included, with a median age of 23 years, female predominance (60.8%), and suicidal intention (95.9%). Out of all patients, 25.77% died, and 43.29% had complicated outcomes. Respiratory failure was the primary cause of fatalities (10.30%), while acute renal failure (38.14%) was a chief cause of complications. The delay time till hospitalization, abnormal electrocardiogram, initial creatine phosphokinase, bicarbonate level, REMS, and SOFA scores were the significant determinants for adverse outcomes. The REMS exhibited the highest odds ratio (OR = 1.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41–2.60], p < 0.001) and had the best discriminatory power with the area under the curve (AUC) = 0.918 and overall accuracy of 91.8% in predicting mortality. However, the SOFA score had the highest odds ratio (OR = 4.97 [95% CI: 1.16–21.21], p = 0.001) and only yielded a significant prediction for complicated sequels with AUC = 0.913 and overall accuracy of 84.7%. The REMS is a simple clinical score that accurately predicts mortality, whereas the SOFA score is more practicable for anticipating complications in acute PPD-poisoned patients.
The loss of cardiac SIRT3 decreases metabolic flexibility and proteostasis in an age-dependent manner
Authors: Li Ping , Newhardt Maria F. , Matsuzaki Satoshi , Eyster Craig , Pranay Atul , Peelor Frederick F. , Batushansky Albert , Kinter Caroline , Subramani Kumar , Subrahmanian Sandeep , Ahamed Jasimuddin , Yu Pengchun , Kinter Michael , Miller Benjamin F. , Humphries Kenneth M.
Published: December 2022

SIRT3 is a longevity factor that acts as the primary deacetylase in mitochondria. Although ubiquitously expressed, previous global SIRT3 knockout studies have shown primarily a cardiac-specific phenotype. Here, we sought to determine how specifically knocking out SIRT3 in cardiomyocytes (SIRTcKO mice) temporally affects cardiac function and metabolism. Mice displayed an age-dependent increase in cardiac pathology, with 10-month-old mice exhibiting significant loss of systolic function, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. While mitochondrial function was maintained at 10 months, proteomics and metabolic phenotyping indicated SIRT3 hearts had increased reliance on glucose as an energy substrate. Additionally, there was a significant increase in branched-chain amino acids in SIRT3cKO hearts without concurrent increases in mTOR activity. Heavy water labeling experiments demonstrated that, by 3 months of age, there was an increase in protein synthesis that promoted hypertrophic growth with a potential loss of proteostasis in SIRT3cKO hearts. Cumulatively, these data show that the cardiomyocyte-specific loss of SIRT3 results in severe pathology with an accelerated aging phenotype.
Sex effect on growth performance and marker-aided sex discrimination of seedlings of Populus deltoides
Authors: Chen Yingnan , Wu Huaitong , Dai Xiaogang , Li Weiqiang , Qiu Yu , Yang Yonghua , Yin Tongming
Published: December 2022

Sex has a significant effect on various traits among dioecious plants. In this analysis of the sex effect on the radial growth and wood density of numerous 20-year-old trees of Populus deltoides growing in a common garden, male trees performed better than the females in radial growth, but sex did not significantly affect wood density. Growth rate and wood density were weakly negatively correlated. Sex selection is also critical for controlling seed-hair pollution from P. deltoides plantations. However, because the juvenile period of P. deltoides lasts for years, a reliable technique to determine the sex of juveniles has been needed. Here we developed a marker-aided technique to discriminate the sexes of P. deltoides seedlings. This study provides essential information on target traits and a highly desirable genetic toolkit for accelerate breeding programs for this important tree species.
Effect of Weight Regain on Body Composition and Metabolic Biomarkers After Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Cross-Sectional Study from a Hospital Database
Authors: Hany Mohamed , Demerdash Hala M. , Zidan Ahmed , Agayaby Ann Samy Shafiq , Torensma Bart
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Weight regain (WR) is described in approximately 30% of patient’s post-bariatric surgery. It is related to the progression or recurrence of associated medical problems and decline in health-related quality of life. This study aimed to test the return of body composition and metabolic biomarkers to pre-operative levels when WR occurs.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2021, patients were randomly selected from the hospital’s electronic databases between 2001 and 2020. Patient demographic data, comorbidities, body compositions, and metabolic biomarkers were collected. Three groups were defined: groups A (WR), B (weight loss), and C (control group; patients with obesity who had not yet undergone bariatric surgery).

Results

A total of 88 patients were enrolled in this study and matched with the control group. The body mass index in group A was 43.8 ± 6.9 kg/m2; group B was 28.6 ± 4.2; group C was 43.9 ± 7.1. Body muscle mass, body fat mass, and visceral fat significantly differed between groups A and B (p < 0.001) but not between groups A and C (p = 0.8). There was a significant difference in leptin, ghrelin, postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, and fibroblast growth factor-21 (but not retinol-binding protein-4) between groups A and B. Most metabolic biomarkers in group A returned to the pre-operative values as in group C.

Conclusion

WR had a direct negative effect on body composition and metabolic biomarkers, whereby the values returned to pre-operative levels. Early detection of WR and possible additional therapy are necessary to prevent associated medical problems.

Graphical Abstract
Existence of a fractal of iterated function systems containing condensing functions for the degree of nondensifiability
Authors: Caballero Mena Josefa , Rocha Martín Juan , Sadarangani Kishin
Published: December 2022

From a fixed point theorists’ view, Hutchinson considered a fractal set as a fixed point problem and applied the Banach contraction principle to prove its existence. In this paper, we present a result about the existence of fractal for a finite iterated condensing function using the degree of nondensifiability.
Long-term evaluation of TTK Chitra™ heart valve prosthesis — a retrospective-prospective cohort study
Authors: Varma Praveen Kerala , Vijayakumar Maniyal , Bhuvaneshwar Gopichettipalayam Subbaratnam , Kumar Adarsh Syla , Krishna Neethu
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The TTK Chitra™ heart valve has more than 1,40,000 implantations so far, but no long-term data has been published. This study aims to provide long-term results of the valve.

Methodology

A cohort of 476 patients with implantations from January 2006 to December 2018 were followed up prospectively consisting of 104 aortic valve replacement (AVR), 87 double valve replacement (DVR), and 285 mitral valve replacement (MVR) patients. Total follow-up was 4079 patient-years (py) (AVR = 983, MVR = 2392, DVR = 704), being 96% complete.

Results

The results showed that actuarial survival at 15 years was 82.3% for AVR, 60.7% for MVR, and 52.2% for DVR. Freedom from all valve-related mortality and morbidity at 15 years was 73.8%, 64.8%, and 61.9% for AVR, MVR, and DVR, respectively. There was one instance of structural failure of valve disc leading to severe valvar regurgitation. Valve thrombosis incidence was 1 in AVR (0.1%/py), 6 in MVR (0.25%/py), and 1 in DVR (0.14%/py). Thrombo-embolic episodes occurred in 50 patients (AVR = 7 patients at 0.7%/py; MVR = 36 patients at 1.5%/py; DVR = 7 patients at 0.99%/py) and major hemorrhage (bleeding) in 24 patients (AVR = 0.61%/py; MVR = 0.5%/py; and DVR = 0.85%/py). The linearized rates of adverse events in this study were found to be lower than earlier published results.

Conclusion

The results highlight the continued safety and performance of the TTK Chitra™ heart valve (TTKCHV) in the long term at 15 years.
Pathogenesis of Nasal Polyposis: Current Trends
Authors: Goulioumis Anastasios K. , Kourelis Konstantinos , Gkorpa Magioula , Danielides Vasilios
Published: December 2022

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by edema of the sub-epithelial layers, but, only specific types of CRS are developing polyps. Nasal polyposis may develop under different pathogenetic mechanisms rendering the typical macroscopic classification of CRS, with or without nasal polyps, rather deficient. Currently, we approach nasal polyposis, in terms of diagnosis and treatment, according to its endotype, which means that we focus on the specific cells and cytokines that are participating in its pathogenesis. It appears that the molecular procedures that contribute to polyp formation, initiating with a Th-2 response of the adaptive immune system, are local phenomena occurring in the sub-epithelial layers of the mucosa. Several hypotheses are trying to approach the etiology that drives the immune response towards Th-2 type. Extrinsic factors, like fungi, Staphylococcus superantigens, biofilms, and altered microbiome can contribute to a modified and intense local reaction of the immune system. Some hypotheses based on intrinsic factors like the elimination of Treg lymphocytes, low local vitamin-D levels, high levels of leukotrienes, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by hypoxia, and altered levels of NO, add pieces to the puzzle of the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. Currently, the most complete theory is that of epithelial immune barrier dysfunction. Intrinsic and extrinsic conditions can damage the epithelial barrier rendering sub-epithelial layers more vulnerable to invasion by pathogens that trigger a Th-2 response of the adaptive immune system. Th2 cytokines, subsequently, induce the accumulation of eosinophils and IgE together with the remodeling of the stroma in the sub-epithelial layers leading, eventually, to the formation of nasal polyps.
Bringing It All Together: Leveraging Social Movements and the Courts to Advance Substantive Human Rights and Climate Justice
Authors: Smith-Carrier Tracy , Manion Kathleen
Published: December 2022

Although significant literature and jurisprudence has amassed on rights-based climate litigation over recent years, less research and case law has emerged on poverty-related court cases and the fulfilment of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) in Canada. Fewer still are studies exploring the interlinkages between these areas of inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to explore, using Canada as a case study, rights-based developments in climate litigation cases and how these could impact the innovative advancement of ESCR (e.g. to food, housing and water). Typically, issues of justiciability and standing emerge, impeding the realization of such rights. Given the grave threats we now face, climate cases and social movements must be brought together to better hold state actors accountable for their rights obligations. We implore the legal community to explore ways to traverse juridical obstacles to realize the interdependencies of human rights and protect the planet from calamitous climate change.
Using mechanism similarity to understand enzyme evolution
Authors: Ribeiro António J. M. , Riziotis Ioannis G. , Tyzack Jonathan D. , Borkakoti Neera , Thornton Janet M.
Published: December 2022

Enzyme reactions take place in the active site through a series of catalytic steps, which are collectively termed the enzyme mechanism. The catalytic step is thereby the individual unit to consider for the purposes of building new enzyme mechanisms — i.e. through the mix and match of individual catalytic steps, new enzyme mechanisms and reactions can be conceived. In the case of natural evolution, it has been shown that new enzyme functions have emerged through the tweaking of existing mechanisms by the addition, removal, or modification of some catalytic steps, while maintaining other steps of the mechanism intact. Recently, we have extracted and codified the information on the catalytic steps of hundreds of enzymes in a machine-readable way, with the aim of automating this kind of evolutionary analysis. In this paper, we illustrate how these data, which we called the “rules of enzyme catalysis”, can be used to identify similar catalytic steps across enzymes that differ in their overall function and/or structural folds. A discussion on a set of three enzymes that share part of their mechanism is used as an exemplar to illustrate how this approach can reveal divergent and convergent evolution of enzymes at the mechanistic level.
Student-centered, “embodied inter-referencing” as antiracist and anticolonial pedagogy
Authors: Yoshimizu Ayaka
Published: December 2022

This article reflects on an experimental pedagogical approach I developed in a Japanese literature course that examines sex, gender, and sexuality in response to institutional and epistemic racism that exist in university in Canada and in the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic when the number of anti-Asian hate crimes rose at an enormous rate in the city where my university is situated. Building on the intellectual movements of “Asia as method” and “diaspora as method” my project attempts to move beyond the convention of studying Asian culture by referencing western theory, knowledge, and experience. More specifically, I developed an assignment called Peer- Engaged Embodied Reflection Journal where students discuss what they learned from Japanese literature by referencing their own, local experiences and engage in peer interactions in small groups. In this article, I discuss the effectiveness of my pedagogical approach based on the classroom study conducted in the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021, semi-structured interviews with teaching assistants (TAs), and my own teaching experience. Based on my qualitative analysis of student engagement with the assignment as well as TAs’ and my grading experiences, I conclude that recentring student experience and peer engagement produces meaningful sites for decolonial and antiracist pedagogy while teaching Japanese modern literature in a Canadian institutional context.