bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation-based education: deceiving learners with good intent
Authors: Alinier Guillaume , Oriot Denis
Published: March 2022

The level of performance of every clinician and of the overall multiprofessional team relies on the skills and expertise they have individually and collectively acquired through education, training, self-directed learning, and reflection. Simulation-based education (SBE) is playing an increasingly important role in that respect, and it is sometimes said that it is an art to facilitate. Many explanations can justify this assertion. Although there is generally an emphasis on making everything as realistic or “high-fidelity” as possible, it is often futile and this is where the art of simulation comes into play with an element of modulation of realism linked to the intended learning objectives. The atmosphere created by the educators; how the learners are made to engage and interact; how physical, technical, and contextual elements are simulated or represented; and what type of technology is used need to be appropriately adapted to contribute to the immersiveness of any SBE activity. Although it inevitably carries a negative connotation, some form of “deception” is more commonly used than one may think for the benefit of learners during SBE. High levels of realism are sometimes achieved by making learners believe something works or reacts as would be expected in real life, whereas it is achieved in a totally different manner. Learners do not need to know, see, or understand these “tricks of the trade”, shortcuts, or artistic or technological aspects, and this can be considered a form of benevolent deception. Similarly, information may be withheld to recreate a realistic situation and push learners to demonstrate specific learning outcomes, but it needs to be practised with caution and be justifiable. These forms of “positive” deception are part of most SBE activities and are used to help learners bridge the reality gap so they can suspend disbelief more easily, exercise critical thinking, and treat the simulation more realistically without damaging the trust they place in their educators. This article will discuss how aspects of SBE activities are often manipulated, modified, or hidden from learners to facilitate the learning experience and present a simulation fidelity model encompassing the environmental, patient, semantical, and phenomenal dimensions.
How do patients and physicians perceive immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a disease? Results from Indian analysis of ITP World Impact Survey (I-WISh)
Authors: Chakrabarti Prantar , George Biju , Shanmukhaiah Chandrakala , Sharma Lalit Mohan , Udupi Shashank , Ghanima Waleed
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is primarily considered a bleeding disorder; its impact on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is under-recognized. We aimed to assess how aligned patient and physician perceptions are regarding ITP-associated symptoms, HRQoL, and disease management in India.

Methods

Patients and physicians (hematologists/hemato-oncologists) from India who participated in the global ITP World Impact Survey (I-WISh) were included in this subgroup analysis (survey). Physicians were recruited via a local, third party recruiter in India. In addition to completing a survey themselves, physicians were asked to invite consulting patients on a consecutive basis to complete a survey. All surveys were completely independently by the respondents online in English. The respondents took 30 min to complete the questionnaire. Patients also completed the newly developed ITP Life Quality Index (ILQI) that included 10 questions on the impact of ITP on the following: work or studies, time taken off work or education, ability to concentrate, social life, sex life, energy levels, ability to undertake daily tasks, ability to provide support, hobbies, and capacity to exercise.

Results

A total of 65 patients and 21 physicians were included in this study. Average disease duration from diagnosis-to-survey-completion was 5.3 years. The most severe symptoms reported by patients at diagnosis were menorrhagia (15 of 19 patients [79%]), anxiety surrounding unstable platelet counts (17 of 28 patients [61%]), and fatigue (27 of 46 patients [59%]); these were also the key symptoms they wanted to be resolved. In contrast, physicians perceived petechiae (19 of 21 patients [90%]), bleeding-from-gums (8 of 21 patients [86%]), and purpura (16 of 21 patients [76%]) as the most common symptoms. While the important treatment goals for patients were healthy blood counts (42 of 65 patients [65%]), improved QoL (35 of 65 patients [54%]), and prevention of worsening of ITP (33 of 65 patients [51%]), physicians’ goals were reduction in spontaneous bleeding (17 of 21 physicians [81%]), better QoL (14 of 21 physicians [67%]), and symptom improvement (9 of 21 physicians [43%]). More than half the patients reported that ITP affected their work life/studies, social life, and energy levels, thereby negatively impacting their QoL. Patients were almost entirely dependent on family and friends for support.

Conclusions

This survey highlights the substantial discrepancy in patients’ and physicians’ perceptions regarding ITP-associated symptoms and treatment goals in India. Based on the identified gaps, educating physicians on aspects of ITP beyond bleeding, and highlighting patients’ under-recognized symptoms/needs through support-systems should be prioritized in the future.
The neurophysiologic basis of the human sleep–wake cycle and the physiopathology of the circadian clock: a narrative review
Authors: Okechukwu Chidiebere Emmanuel
Published: March 2022

The objectives of this review were to explain the neurologic processes that control the human sleep–wake cycle as well as the pathophysiology of the human circadian clock. Non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep are the two main phases of sleep. When triggered by circadian input from the anterior hypothalamus and sleep–wake homeostatic information from endogenous chemical signals (example, adenosine), the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus initiates the onset of sleep. Arousal in which there is a conscious monitoring of the surroundings and the ability to respond to external stimuli is known as wakefulness. It contrasts the state of sleep, in which receptivity to external stimuli is reduced. The higher the synchronous firing rates of cerebral cortex neurons, the longer the brain has been awake. Sleep–wake disturbances induced by endogenous circadian system disruptions or desynchronization between internal and external sleep–wake cycles are known as circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorder (CRSWD). Patients with CRSWD usually report chronic daytime drowsiness and/or insomnia, which interferes with their activities. CRSWD is diagnosed based on the results of some functional evaluations, which include measuring the circadian phase using core body temperature, melatonin secretion timing, sleep diaries, actigraphy, and subjective experiences (example, using the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire). CRSWD is classified as a dyssomnia in the second edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, with six subtypes: advanced sleep phase, delayed sleep phase, irregular sleep–wake, free running, jet lag, and shift work types. CRSWD can be temporary (due to jet lag, shift work, or illness) or chronic (due to delayed sleep–wake phase disorder, advanced sleep–wake phase disorder, non-24-h sleep–wake disorder, or irregular sleep–wake rhythm disorder). The inability to fall asleep and wake up at the desired time is a common symptom of all CRSWDs.
Anaesthetic management of a case of large ASD with severe pulmonary hypertension—case presentation
Authors: Madaan Vikram , Gupta Rekha
Published: March 2022

Background

Atrial septal defect is the most common acyanotic congenital cardiac anomaly in the adults after bicuspid aortic valve with high prevalence in females. Major challenges in the management of large ASD with severe pulmonary hypertension includes hypoxemia, hypercarbia, hypothermia leading to reversal of shunt (Eisenmenger syndrome), fatal arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.

Case presentation

We report the successful management of the case of 44-year-old female patient with large ASD and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension posted for total abdominal hysterectomy with salpingectomy. She had history of palpitations with exertional dyspnoea and history of abnormal uterine bleeding with failed medical treatment. Echocardiography showed large OS-ASD (24 mm) with left to right shunt, moderate TR, severe PAH with estimated RVSP 60 mmHg, LVEF 50% and grossly dilated RA/RV. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with salpingectomy under regional anaesthesia with prophylactic use of adrenaline infusion.

Conclusions

Cardiac patients for non-cardiac surgery can be managed under regional anaesthesia.
Evaluation of the protective effect of Clitoria ternatea L. against propionic acid induced autistic spectrum disorders in rat model
Authors: Jiji K. N. , Muralidharan P.
Published: March 2022

Background

As a result of aberrant neural development, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by complicated behavioural and memory issues. The dearth of knowledge about the actual etiopathology of autism makes treatment extremely difficult. There is a collection of plants known as "Medhya drugs" in the Ayurvedic system of medicine because of their capacity to boost brain and neuron-related activities including learning and memory. Clitoria ternatea L. is a "Medhya drug" that has been shown to improve memory. In this study, the ethanolic root extract of Clitoria ternatea L. was evaluated for its neuroprotective effects against propionic acid induced neuroinflammation in autistic rat modells.

Method

Adult Wistar rats were segregated into 4 groups and administered the vehicle/extract for 28 days. Induction of autism was done by intra-cerebro-ventricular infusion of propionic acid between 22nd and 28th day of the study. During this infusion period, rats were subjected to various in vivo behaviour and memory evaluation methods by performing actophotometer test and Morris water maze test. On 29th day of the study, animals were sacrified to get the brain tissues. Extracted brain tissues were utilised for the estimation of various neuroinflammatory markers levels (TNF-α and IL-6), immunohistochemical analysis of neuroinflammation, and histopathological analysis.

Results

Pre-treatment of rats with extract at two dose levels (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced the neuroinflammation, memory and cognitive impairment produced by the propionic acid in a dose dependent manner.

Conclusion

Study results showed the potent neuroprotective effects of Clitoria ternatea L. roots against the propionc induced autistic neuroinflammation.
Methods for determination of plasticizer migration from polyvinyl chloride synthetic materials: a mini review
Authors: Chen Yi , Zhou Shuai , Pan Siyu , Zhao Dongfang , Wei Jianshe , Zhao Minzhong , Fan Haojun
Published: March 2022

Plasticizer migration is responsible for premature coating failure in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) synthetic materials that continue to benefit our daily life as a reliable and cost-efficient simulant of genuine leather. In this context, the establishment of standard assays that measure the migration rate of plasticizers under varying scenarios plays a pivotal role in comparing durability of those PVC-derived leather-simulants. In this review, multiple methodologies developed over the last decade for determining plasticizer migration from PVC coating are compiled, with their operational principles, merits, and limitations being taken into consideration along with specific apparatus required for each. A concluding section discusses current challenges in this field, and highlights how nuclear magnetic resonance and computational simulation surpass conventional assays in yielding intercomparable results, and hence screening migration-resistant plasticizers in a labor- and time-saving way. Since migration resistance represents a decisive performance indicator of plasticizers, this systematic review may provide guidance to quite a few practitioners in PVC synthetic material industry, who are now engaged in validating various sustainable alternatives with performance allegedly equal to conventional but toxic di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate plasticizer.

Graphical abstract
A comparison of utilization and short-term complications of technology-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Simcox Trevor , Singh Vivek , Oakley Christian T. , Barzideh Omid S. , Schwarzkopf Ran , Rozell Joshua C.
Published: March 2022

Background

While technology-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TA-TKA) improves implant positioning, whether it confers improved clinical outcomes remains inconclusive. We sought to examine national TA-TKA utilization trends and to compare outcomes between TA-TKA and unassisted TKA (U-TKA).

Methods

Patients who underwent primary, elective TKA from 2010 to 2018 were identified using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Demographic, perioperative, and 30-day outcomes were collected. Patients were stratified on the basis of whether they underwent TA-TKA, which included computer navigation and robotics, or U-TKA. The proportion of patients undergoing TKA using TA-TKA was calculated. One-to-one propensity-score matching paired patients undergoing TA-TKA or U-TKA. Independent samples t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare continuous variables, and chi-squared tests were used to compare categorical variables.

Results

Of the 402,284 TKA patients, 10,429 (2.6%) cases were performed using TA-TKA. Comparing the unmatched TA-TKA and U-TKA groups, race (p < 0.001), smoking status (p = 0.050), baseline functional status (p < 0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) significantly differed. Propensity-score matching yielded 8633 TA-TKA and U-TKA pairs. The TA-TKA cohort had shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) (2.7 ± 2.5 versus 2.8 ± 1.9 days, p = 0.017) but similar operative times (92.4 ± 33.4 versus 92.6 ± 39.8 min, p = 0.670). Compared with the U-TKA group, the TA-TKA group had lower major complication (7.6% versus 9.4%, p < 0.001) and transfusion (3.9% versus 5.1%, p < 0.001) rates and higher rates of discharge to home (73.9% versus 70.4%, p < 0.001). Reoperation and readmission rates did not significantly differ between groups.

Conclusions

TA-TKA utilization remains low among orthopedic surgeons. Compared with U-TKA, TA-TKA yielded improved perioperative and 30-day outcomes. Nonetheless, surgeons must consider the benefits and drawbacks of TA-TKA when determining the proper surgical technique and technology for each patient.

Level III evidence

Retrospective cohort study.
The role of protein phosphatase 2A tau axis in traumatic brain injury therapy
Authors: Mahamane Salissou Maibouge Tanko , Razak Mahaman Yacoubou Abdoul , Wang Xiaochuan , Magaji Rabiu AbduSSALAM
Published: March 2022

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a debilitating disorder due to trauma caused by an external mechanical force eventually leading to disruption in the normal function of the brain, with possible outcomes including permanent or temporary dysfunction of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial abilities. There have been several studies focusing on the search and innovation of neuroprotective agents that could have therapeutic relevance in TBI management. Due to its complexity, TBI is divided into two major components. The first initial event is known as the primary injury; it is a result of the mechanical insult itself and is known to be irreversible and resistant to a vast variety of therapeutics. The secondary event or secondary brain injury is viewed as a cellular injury that does not manifest immediately after the trauma but evolved after a delay period of hours or several days. This category of injury is known to respond favorably to different pharmacological treatment approaches.

Main body

Due to the complexity in the pathophysiology of the secondary injury, the therapeutic strategy needs to be in a multi-facets model and to have the ability to simultaneously regulate different cellular changes. Several studies have investigated in deep the possible approaches relying on natural compounds as an alternative therapeutic strategy for the management of TBI. In addition, many natural compounds have the potential to target numerous different components of the secondary injury including neuroinflammation, apoptosis, PP2A, tau, and Aβ among others. Here, we review past and current strategies in the therapeutic management of TBI, focusing on the PP2A-tau axis both in animal and human subjects. This review uncovers, in addition, a variety of compounds used in TBI therapy.

Conclusion

Despite beneficial therapeutic effects observed in animals for many compounds, studies are still needed to be conducted on human subjects to validate their therapeutic virtues. Furthermore, potential therapeutic virtues observed among studies might likely be dependent on the TBI animal model used and the type of induced injury. In addition, specificity and side effects are challenges in TBI therapy specifically which site of PP2A dysfunction to be targeted.
Using socially distanced and online simulation training to improve the confidence of junior doctors in psychiatry
Authors: Hewson Thomas , Foster Hayley , Sanderson Ruth
Published: March 2022

Aims and method

The authors designed and delivered simulation training to improve the confidence and competence of junior doctors beginning work in psychiatry. Junior doctors completed various simulated psychiatry scenarios while receiving personalised feedback and teaching from their peers in online or socially distanced settings. Learners rated their confidence in psychiatry skills pre- and post-session, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to detect statistically significant differences. Qualitative feedback was analysed thematically.

Results

Twenty-one junior doctors attended the training. There were statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements in trainee confidence across all psychiatry skills tested. The most enjoyable aspects of the session included its ‘interactivity’, relevance to clinical practice, and ‘realistic’ and ‘interesting’ simulated scenarios.

Clinical implications

Near-peer simulation teaching, delivered both in person and online, is effective at improving junior doctors’ confidence in psychiatry. Delivering this training during placement induction could help to ensure adequate preparation of, and support for, new doctors.
Women With Turner Syndrome Are Both Estrogen and Androgen Deficient: The Impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Authors: Viuff Mette Hansen , Just Jesper , Brun Sara , Dam Tine Vrist , Hansen Mette , Melgaard Lars , Hougaard David M , Lappe Michael , Gravholt Claus Højbjerg
Published: March 2022

Context

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) suffer from hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, causing a deficit in gonadal hormone secretion. As a consequence, these women are treated with estrogen from the age of 12 years, and later in combination with progesterone. However, androgens have been given less attention.

Objective

To assess sex hormone levels in women with TS, both those treated and those nontreated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and investigate the impact of HRT on sex hormone levels.

Methods

At Aarhus University Hospital, 99 women with TS were followed 3 times from August 2003 to February 2010. Seventeen were lost during follow-up. Control group 1 consisted of 68 healthy age-matched control women seen once during this period. Control group 2 consisted of 28 young, eumenorrheic women sampled 9 times throughout the same menstrual cycle. Serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17β-estradiol, estrone sulfate, DHEAS, testosterone, free androgen index, androstenedione, 17-OH progesterone, and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) were analyzed.

Results

All androgens, 17-OH progesterone, and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) were 30% to 50% lower in TS compared with controls (P < 0.01). FSH, LH, and estrone sulfate were more than doubled in women with TS compared with controls (P < 0.02). Using principal component analysis, we describe a positive correlation between women with TS receiving HRT, elevated levels of SHBG, and decreased levels of androgens.

Conclusion

The sex hormone profile in TS reveals a picture of androgen deficiency, aggravated further by HRT. Conventional HRT does not normalize estradiol levels in TS.
Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia Type 1 (ADH1) Associated With Myoclonus and Intracerebral Calcifications
Authors: Elston Marianne S , Elajnaf Taha , Hannan Fadil M , Thakker Rajesh V
Published: March 2022

Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1 (ADH1) is a disorder of extracellular calcium homeostasis caused by germline gain-of-function mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). More than 35% of ADH1 patients have intracerebral calcifications predominantly affecting the basal ganglia. The clinical consequences of such calcifications remain to be fully characterized, although the majority of patients with these calcifications are considered to be asymptomatic. We report a 20-year-old female proband with a severe form of ADH1 associated with recurrent hypocalcemic and hypercalcemic episodes, persistent childhood hyperphosphatemia, and a low calcium/phosphate ratio. From the age of 18 years, she had experienced recurrent myoclonic jerks affecting the upper limbs that were not associated with epileptic seizures, extra-pyramidal features, cognitive impairment, or alterations in serum calcium concentrations. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed calcifications of the globus pallidus regions of the basal ganglia bilaterally, and also the frontal lobes at the gray-white matter junction, and posterior horn choroid plexuses. The patient’s myoclonus resolved following treatment with levetiracetam. CASR mutational analysis identified a reported germline gain-of-function heterozygous missense mutation, c.2363T>G; p.(Phe788Cys), which affects an evolutionarily conserved phenylalanine residue located in transmembrane domain helix 5 of the CaSR protein. Analysis of the cryo-electron microscopy CaSR structure predicted the wild-type Phe788 residue to form interactions with neighboring phenylalanine residues, which likely maintain the CaSR in an inactive state. The p.(Phe788Cys) mutation was predicted to disrupt these interactions, thereby leading to CaSR activation. These findings reveal myoclonus as a novel finding in an ADH1 patient with intracerebral calcifications.
Postictal Trismus Complicating Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Case Report
Authors: Nguyen Jessica , Wang Louie , Gomes Fabiano A. , Delva Nicholas J.
Published: March 2022

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who experienced postictal episodes of trismus lasting several minutes on 6 occasions during a series of 18 episodes of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). There was no clear relationship between the development of trismus and any medications used during the treatments. The patient had no adverse outcomes or discomfort, but the development of trismus can put patients at significant risk.
Memory Ideologies of Two Presents: Aatami Kuortti's Testimonies of the Gulag and Soviet Terror of Ingrian Finns
Authors: Savolainen Ulla
Published: March 2022

This article attends to literary testimonies of the Gulag and Soviet terror by an Ingrian Finnish man called Aatami Kuortti from the perspective of cultural memory. By analyzing two testimonies by Kuortti published in Finland in 1934 and 1964, the article focuses on “memory ideologies,” namely, the underlying conceptions concerning the nature, functions, and consequences of memory reflected in the testimonies. Contextualizing the works with respect to the times of their publication and analyzing differences between them, it will argue that Kuortti's testimonies represent two different types of memory ideologies: instrumental and reflexive. Moreover, the article suggests that the significance of the notion of memory ideology is that it affords systematic analysis of the ways in which memory is conceptualized on various levels of culture in general and mobilized in literary testimonies and memoirs in particular. It is a useful concept for analyzing beliefs, conceptions, and principles that people and societies reflexively associate with memory. The importance of understanding memory ideologies lies in the fact that they regiment the ways in which people and societies use and interpret memory, and in these processes make evaluations with social, political, and ethical ramifications.
A qualitative study to explore opinions of Saudi Arabian radiologists concerning AI-based applications and their impact on the future of the radiology
Authors: Alsharif Walaa , Qurashi Abdulaziz , Toonsi Fadi , Alanazi Ali , Alhazmi Fahad , Abdulaal Osamah , Aldahery Shrooq , Alshamrani Khalid
Published: March 2022

Objective:

The aim of this study was to explore opinions and views towards radiology AI among Saudi Arabian radiologists including both consultants and trainees.

Methods:

A qualitative approach was adopted, with radiologists working in radiology departments in the Western region of Saudi Arabia invited to participate in this interview-based study. Semi-structured interviews (n = 30) were conducted with consultant radiologists and trainees. A qualitative data analysis framework was used based on Miles and Huberman’s philosophical underpinnings.

Results:

Several factors, such as lack of training and support, were attributed to the non-use of AI-based applications in clinical practice and the absence of radiologists’ involvement in AI development. Despite the expected benefits and positive impacts of AI on radiology, a reluctance to use AI-based applications might exist due to a lack of knowledge, fear of error and concerns about losing jobs and/or power. Medical students’ radiology education and training appeared to be influenced by the absence of a governing body and training programmes.

Conclusion:

The results of this study support the establishment of a governing body or national association to work in parallel with universities in monitoring training and integrating AI into the medical education curriculum and residency programmes.

Advances in knowledge:

An extensive debate about AI-based applications and their potential effects was noted, and considerable exceptions of transformative impact may occur when AI is fully integrated into clinical practice. Therefore, future education and training programmes on how to work with AI-based applications in clinical practice may be recommended.
From the lab to the field: acceptability of using electroencephalography with Indian preschool children
Authors: Lockwood Estrin Georgia , Bhavnani Supriya , Goodwin Amy , Arora Rashi , Divan Gauri , Haartsen Rianne , Mason Luke , Patel Vikram , Johnson Mark H. , Jones Emily J.H.
Published: March 2022

Background: Measurement of social and cognitive brain development using electroencephalography (EEG) offers the potential for early identification of children with elevated risk of developmental delay. However, there have been no published reports of how acceptable EEG technology is to parents and children within communities, especially in low-resource contexts such as in low and middle income countries (LMICs), which is an important question for the potential scalability of these assessments. We use a mixed-methods approach to examine whether EEG assessments are acceptable to children and their caregivers in a low resource community setting in India.

Methods: We assessed the acceptability of neurophysiology research and Braintools (a novel neurodevelopmental assessment toolkit using concurrent EEG and eye-tracking technology) using: 1) a child engagement measure, 2) interviews with caregivers (n=8); 3) survey about caregiver’s experience (n=36). Framework analysis was used to analyse interview data.

Results: Key topics were examined using the framework analysis: 1) parental experience of the assessment; and 2) the acceptability of research. From topic 1, four sub-themes were identified: i) caregivers’ experience of the assessment, ii) caregivers’ perception of child's experience of assessment, iii) logistical barriers and facilitators to participation, and iv) recommendations for improvement. From topic 2, three themes were identified: i) caregivers' understanding of the research, ii) barriers to participation, and iii) facilitators to participation.

Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time the acceptability of conducting neurodevelopmental assessments using concurrent EEG and eye-tracking in preschool children in uncontrolled community LMIC settings. This kind of research appears to be acceptable to the community and we identify potential barriers and facilitators of this research, thus allowing for future large scale research projects to be conducted investigating neurodevelopment and risk factors for suboptimal development in LMICs.
Quantifying the effectiveness and health co-benefits of climate change mitigation actions across sectors: a protocol for an umbrella review
Authors: Belesova Kristine , Green Rosemary , Clercq-Roques Romain , Falconer Jane , Waddington Hugh Sharma , Whitmee Sarah , Haines Andy
Published: March 2022

Background: Effective and rapid actions are required to achieve global goals for climate change mitigation, and there is an opportunity to ensure that the actions taken are also positive for human health. However, little is known about the relative magnitude of the health co-benefits that can be achieved from mitigation actions, so robust and comprehensive syntheses of the evidence on the nature and effects of relevant actions are required. This paper presents a protocol for an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral umbrella review of systematic reviews, synthesising modelled and empirical evidence on such actions.

Methods: Nine bibliographic databases will be searched, capturing literature across a wide range of disciplines and sectors. Unique records retrieved by the searches will be screened by two independent reviewers. The quality of all the included systematic reviews will be assessed using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 critical appraisal tool. Data will be extracted on methodological and thematic characteristics of the reviews, nature of the actions, and their effects on greenhouse gas emission reduction, health, and its determinants, as well as any other reported effects and interactions across different actions.

Results: Narrative and quantitative synthesis methods will be used to create a typology of relevant actions, map pathways to their impacts on health, compare the magnitude of health and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction impacts by selected characteristics of the actions and the nature of the evidence, as well as to identify gaps in evidence syntheses.

Conclusion: This review will identify the most effective actions for global climate change mitigation and health based on the best available scientific evidence.  

This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO, Reg No.: CRD42021239292.
The genome sequence of the silver Y moth, Autographa gamma (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Holland Peter W.H. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: March 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Autographa gamma (the silver Y; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 373 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.65%) is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosomes assembled. The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.2 kilobases in length.
Social infrastructure of chernivtsi oblast: socio-geographical assessment
Authors: Kostashchuk Ivan , Kolosivskiy Nazariy
Published: March 2022

The article considers the main approaches to defining the essence of the concept of "social infrastructure", offers its own interpretation of the term, highlights the components of social infrastructure. The main indicators and trends of its industries for the period 2008-2020 are analyzed and a general description of the state of these industries in 2020 is given. Territorial differences in the development and functioning of social infrastructure in the context of cities of regional significance and raions of Chernivtsi oblast.
Doktryna protestancka na kartach śląskich druków kalendarzowych do połowy XVIII w
Authors: Bryłka-Jesionek Agata
Published: March 2022

PROTESTANT DOCTRINE IN SILESIAN CALENDARS BEFORE THE MID-18TH CENTURY

This article looks at the issue of confesionality and the presence of Protestant doctrine in early modern calendars produced in Silesia. The article is based on an examination of 78 early modern calendars (16th through mid-18th century), which were printed in Silesian printing houses (including Breslau, Brzeg, Legnica, Kłodzko, Kożuchów, Nysa and Opawa). Of the calendars bearing the names of editors/authors, 17 were Protestant. While some of these figures were pastors, others were intellectuals who associated with Protestant groups. Silesian calendars were addressed to both Protestants and Catholics. This dual religious character reflected the contemporary Silesian political context, which was fraught with religious tension. While these conditions stimulated a broad religious neutrality, leading many to avoid any direct reference to either Protestant reformers or their doctrines in published works, some Protestant religious ideals nevertheless permeated calendars. The goal of this infiltration, often couched in religious and biblical phrases, was to educate readers on specific social values and work ethic, morality, obedience to superiors, and openness to the outside world.
When Should Control Be Shared?
Authors: Meyersson Milgrom Eva M , Milgrom Paul , Singh Ravi
Published: March 2022

A common pattern of control in firms is for management to retain a broad set of rights, whereas the remaining stakeholders’ contracts provide them with targeted veto rights over specific classes of decisions. We explain this pattern of control sharing as an efficient organizational response that balances the need to encourage management to account for stakeholders’ interests against the need to prevent self-interested stakeholders from blocking valuable proposals. Enforceable obligations of good faith and fair dealing play an essential role in facilitating undivided management control of many decisions. With these legal protections (but not without them), shared control is more likely when the parties are more symmetrically informed and hence, better able to bargain to efficient decisions.

This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy.

Funding: Financial support for the research of P. Milgrom was provided by the National Science Foundation [Grants ITR-0427770 and SES-1947514].
A Dual-Array Antenna System for 5G Millimeter-Wave Applications
Authors: Tahseen Hafiz Usman , Yang Lixia , Hongjin Wang
Published: March 2022

Millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) technology has opened a new era of wireless communication systems in various fields like automotive, mobile devices, Internet of Things (IoT), military, medical, and others. The benefit of adopting the unconventional frequency spectrum of large bandwidth under an mm-Wave spectrum is the availability of large bandwidth and lesser chances of interferences from various technologies. In the recent 5G communication systems either cellular or other wireless applications, many researchers have focused on mm-Wave antennas and arrays. In this paper, a dual-array antenna system is designed for various 5G mm-Wave wireless applications. It has two arrays on the same substrate edges with a series feed line compact technique. The profile antenna system has two 1×16 arrays on the same substrate edges. Each array gives 17.3 dB and 16.4 dB simulated and measured gains and impedance bandwidth 31.30 GHz to 39 GHz at 38 GHz center frequency. The feature to use both arrays at the same time for two different applications within the operational band for same or different center frequencies makes this proposed dual-array antenna system a good candidate for 5G mm-Wave wireless IoT and broadcast applications.
Design of Microstrip Filter by Modeling with Reduced Data
Authors: Uluslu Ahmet
Published: March 2022

Many design optimization problems have high-scale problems that require the use of a fast, efficient, accurate, and reliable model. Recently, artificial-intelligence-based models have been used in the field of microwave engineering to model complex microwave stages. Here, an eight-layer symmetrical microstrip low-pass filter (LPF) is modeled using a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) with reduced data with Latin hypercube sampling. It is used to obtain target−-test relationships in the MLP model along the frequency band whose electrical length in each layer determines the performance of the microstrip filter. Electrical length lower and upper limits were preferred in the widest range. The study presents the design and analysis of a non-uniform symmetrical microstrip LPF with a cutoff frequency of 2.4 GHz. Next, different network models are compared to find the variation of the non-uniform microstrip LPF around 2.4 GHz along the specified frequency band S1111 and S2222 (dB) for different electrical lengths. It has been observed that the network models of the microstrip LPF are both more computationally efficient and as accurate and reliable as the electromagnetic simulator.
Design and Analysis of Multi-Mode Distributed Array with Hybrid Optimization Method
Authors: Fang Shutao , Li Weiming , Ren Wu , Xue Zhenghui
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we presented an improved hybrid optimization method to construct distributed array with two identical sub-arrays, which is mainly applied on airplanes as the front-end of communication and detection system. According to different demands on array’s gain and operating distances, the proposed method presents a scheme of implementation of two operate modes by optimizing elements’ positions and excitations. Two sub-arrays are able to work together to realize high gain when the object is quite far away, and one sub-array is able to work alone when the object is relatively close. This method is presented based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method and convex method, accomplishing that peak sidelobe level (PSLL) of whole array is lowered under -10 dB, and PSLLs of sub-arrays are lowered under -20 dB by supplementing some auxiliary units and re-optimizing array’s excitation distribution. In the procedure of optimization, the hybrid method is designed catering to multiple constraints according to the requirements of practical application. A specific example for synthesizing reconfigurable distributed array is provided and the sensitivity of obtained performance affected by interference of optimized results is discussed.
Equivalent Circuit Approximation to the Connector-Line Transition at High Frequencies using Two Microstrip Lines and Data Fitting
Authors: Le Duc , Pournoori Nikta , Sydänheimo Lauri , Ukkonen Leena , Björninen Toni
Published: March 2022

This article presents a method of obtaining an equivalent lumped element circuit to model the electrical connector-line transitions in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band. First, the scattering matrices of two microstrip transmission lines that are otherwise identical but have the physical lengths of dd and 2d2⁢d are measured. Next, the theoretical model of the lines cascaded with the connector-line transitions modeled as lumped element circuits is established. The selection of the line lengths to be dd and 2d2⁢d results in an over determined system of equations that links the circuit component values to the two-port network parameters of the cascaded system. Finally, the least-squares data fitting procedure yields the best-fit component values. The results show that in our tested scenario, 3-component reactive circuit models well the transitions. Compared with the previous methods, the proposed approach does not require knowledge of the dielectric properties of the substrate of the measured transmission lines. This property integrates the method with our previous work on estimating a microstrip line substrate’s relative permittivity and loss tangent. The obtained transition circuit model is also validated through the testing of two quarter-wave transformers. The lines and transformers are implemented on a textile substrate to highlight the method’s applicability to wearable textile-based electronics.
Underwater wireless optical communications based reconfigurable UOWSN for monitoring and discovering continental margin ore deposits
Authors: Bhargava Kumar L. , Ramavath Prasad Naik , Krishnan Prabu , Majumdar Arun K.
Published: March 2022

Changes in the environment, such as landslides, tsunamis, rising or falling sea levels in coastal oceans, and neighboring land surfaces, significantly impact the structure of the ocean and human life. These natural climate-change processes have unanticipated and deadly consequences for coastal areas. The continental margin part of the ocean has recently attracted the most attention because of the mineral sources and human activities such as exploration, navigation, recreation, and fishing. The continental margin stretches from the coastal mountains and plains to continental shelf, slope, and rise, where terrestrial and maritime means meet. In this paper, we propose a reconfigurable underwater optical wireless sensor network (UOWSN) based on underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) to monitor and discover continental margin ore deposits. In this proposed system, a transceiver on the underwater wireless autonomous vehicle moving around the different regions of the continental margin collects information and transmits it to the seashore control station once it reaches the ocean surface. We investigated the outage probability and average bit error rate of the proposed system at the continental margin and used coding techniques to mitigate the effects of high turbulence in the continental shelf region.
Ultra-broadband flat-top quantum dot comb lasers
Authors: Huang Jing-Zhi , Ji Zi-Tao , Chen Jia-Jian , Wei Wen-Qi , Qin Jia-Le , Wang Zi-Hao , Li Zhi-Yuan , Wang Ting , Xiao Xi , Zhang Jian-Jun
Published: March 2022

A quantum dot (QD) mode-locked laser as an active comb generator takes advantage of its small footprint, low power consumption, large optical bandwidth, and high-temperature stability, which is an ideal multi-wavelength source for applications such as datacom, optical interconnects, and LIDAR. In this work, we report a fourth-order colliding pulse mode-locked laser (CPML) based on InAs/GaAs QD gain structure, which can generate ultra-stable optical frequency combs in the O-band with 100 GHz spacing at operation temperature up to 100°C. A record-high flat-top optical comb is achieved with 3 dB optical bandwidth of 11.5 nm (20 comb lines) at 25°C. The average optical linewidth of comb lines is measured as 440 kHz. Single-channel non-return-to-zero modulation rates of 70 Gbit/s and four-level pulse amplitude modulation of 40 GBaud/s are also demonstrated. To further extend the comb bandwidth, an array of QD-CPMLs driven at separate temperatures is proposed to achieve 36 nm optical bandwidth (containing 60 comb lines with 100 GHz mode spacing), capable of a total transmission capacity of 4.8 Tbit/s. The demonstrated results show the feasibility of using the QD-CPML as a desirable broadband comb source to build future large-bandwidth and power-efficient optical interconnects.
Lecturers’ information literacy experience in remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Heriyanto  , Christiani Lydia , Rukiyah
Published: March 2022

The advent of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, continues to trigger several important disruptions/innovations in practically every sector around the world. Additionally, the impacts are predominant in certain educational systems and in creating opportunities. Previous studies had addressed possible effective methods in handling distant learning and student interactions. This qualitative study explored lecturers’ information literacy experience during online classes as a result of the pandemic. Semi-structured interview techniques were applied among participants, made up of 15 lecturers in the Humanities Faculty, Diponegoro University, Indonesia, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. The results showed the focus of lecturers’ information literacy experience was primarily on student interactions and knowledge of various online learning platforms. However, information repackaging was a significant initial consideration during virtual classes, after identifying salient student characteristics. In summary, the present study have contributed to the theoretical understanding of information literacy and may be of benefit to the teaching faculties for enhancing teaching and learning activities, as well as providing student support.
Verification of Hypsibius exemplaris Gąsiorek et al., 2018 (Eutardigrada; Hypsibiidae) application in anhydrobiosis research
Authors: Poprawa Izabela , Bartylak Tomasz , Kulpla Adam , Erdmann Weronika , Roszkowska Milena , Chajec Łukasz , Kaczmarek Łukasz , Karachitos Andonis , Kmita Hanna
Published: March 2022

Anhydrobiosis is considered to be an adaptation of important applicative implications because it enables resistance to the lack of water. The phenomenon is still not well understood at molecular level. Thus, a good model invertebrate species for the research is required. The best known anhydrobiotic invertebrates are tardigrades (Tardigrada), considered to be toughest animals in the world. Hypsibius. exemplaris is one of the best studied tardigrade species, with its name “exemplaris” referring to the widespread use of the species as a laboratory model for various types of research. However, available data suggest that anhydrobiotic capability of the species may be overestimated. Therefore, we determined anhydrobiosis survival by Hys. exemplaris specimens using three different anhydrobiosis protocols. We also checked ultrastructure of storage cells within formed dormant structures (tuns) that has not been studied yet for Hys. exemplaris. These cells are known to support energetic requirements of anhydrobiosis. The obtained results indicate that Hys. exemplaris appears not to be a good model species for anhydrobiosis research.