bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rejection markers in kidney transplantation: do new technologies help children?
Authors: Peruzzi Licia , Deaglio Silvia
Published: January 2023

Recent insights in allorecognition and graft rejection mechanisms revealed a more complex picture than originally considered, involving multiple pathways of both adaptive and innate immune response, supplied by efficient inflammatory synergies. Current pillars of transplant monitoring are serum creatinine, proteinuria, and drug blood levels, which are considered as traditional markers, due to consolidated experience, low cost, and widespread availability. The most diffuse immunological biomarkers are donor-specific antibodies, which are included in routine post-transplant monitoring in many centers, although with some reproducibility issues and interpretation difficulties. Confirmed abnormalities in these traditional biomarkers raise the suspicion for rejection and guide the indication for graft biopsy, which is still considered the gold standard for rejection monitoring. Rapidly evolving new “omic” technologies have led to the identification of several novel biomarkers, which may change the landscape of transplant monitoring should their potential be confirmed. Among them, urinary chemokines and measurement of cell-free DNA of donor origin are perhaps the most promising. However, at the moment, these approaches remain highly expensive and cost-prohibitive in most settings, with limited clinical applicability; approachable costs upon technology investments would speed their integration. In addition, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and the study of blood and urinary extracellular vesicles have the potential for early identification of subclinical rejection with high sensitivity and specificity, good reproducibility, and for gaining predictive value in an affordable cost setting. In the near future, information derived from these new biomarkers is expected to integrate traditional tools in routine use, allowing identification of rejection prior to clinical manifestations and timely therapeutic intervention. This review will discuss traditional, novel, and invasive and non-invasive biomarkers, underlining their strengths, limitations, and present or future applications in children.
Analysis of fair fee in guaranteed lifelong withdrawal and Markovian health benefits
Authors: D’Amico Guglielmo , Singh Shakti , Selvamuthu Dharmaraja
Published: January 2023

This study proposed and evaluated a new insurance product, i.e., the variable annuity product, accompanied by the health status and the guaranteed lifelong withdrawal benefit (GLWB). Due to specific problems, the insurance sector is now one of the riskiest industries. The aging of the population and rising medical service costs as a result of technological advancements are to blame for this. Thus one of the most basic needs in the health insurance sector is to design an innovative product. In this article, a mixed discrete-continuous time model is proposed to calculate the fair fee of the product, calculated using equilibrium condition between premium and benefits. We considered constant volatility and rate of interest along with health status benefits and hospitalization coverage. For an illustration of the capability of this product and some possible improvements in the product, a numerical study, and sensitivity analysis have been conducted. The results showed that the withdrawal amount and age have a significant impact on the cost. A rise in the initial insured age and withdrawal amount increases the fair fee of the product. The GLWB rider’s guaranteed amount and medical expenses are included in the withdrawal amount.
On the Steklov spectrum of covering spaces and total spaces
Authors: Polymerakis Panagiotis
Published: January 2023

We show the existence of a natural Dirichlet-to-Neumann map on Riemannian manifolds with boundary and bounded geometry, such that the bottom of the Dirichlet spectrum is positive. This map regarded as a densely defined operator in the$$L^2$$L2-space of the boundary admits Friedrichs extension. We focus on the spectrum of this operator on covering spaces and total spaces of Riemannian principal bundles over compact manifolds.
Unintentional Discrimination Against Patients with a Migration Background by General Practitioners in Mental Health Management: An Experimental Study
Authors: Duveau Camille , Wets Camille , Delaruelle Katrijn , Demoulin Stéphanie , Dauvrin Marie , Lepièce Brice , Ceuterick Melissa , De Maesschalck Stéphanie , Bracke Piet , Lorant Vincent
Published: January 2023

Populations with a migration background have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than their native counterparts. They are also more likely to have unmet medical needs and are less frequently referred to mental health services. One potential explanation for this is that physicians, such as general practitioners (GPs), may unintentionally discriminate against migrant patients, particularly when they lack humanization. To date, no experimental study has investigated this hypothesis. This paper assesses the influence of humanization on GPs’ discriminatory decisions regarding migrant patients with depression. A balanced 2 × 2 factorial experiment was carried out with Belgian GPs (N = 797) who received video-vignettes depicting either a native patient or a migrant patient with depression. Half of the respondents were exposed to a text that humanized the patient by providing more details about the patient’s life story. Decisions related to diagnosis, treatment and referral were collected, as well as the time spent on each video and text, and were analysed using ANOVA. Migrant patients’ symptoms were judged to be less severe than those of native patients (F = 7.71, p < 0.05). For almost all treatments, the decision was less favourable for the migrant patient. Humanization had little effect on medical decisions. We observed that GPs spent significantly more time on the vignette with the humanization intervention, especially for the migrant patients. The results indicate that ethnic differences in the management of depression persist in primary care. Humanization, however, does not mitigate those differences in medical decisions.
International cooperation to fight cancer’s late-stage presentation in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Henke Oliver , Qader Abdul Qadir , Malle Goodluck Lincoln , Kuiate Jules Roger , Hennig Lisa , Demeke Tamiru , Stroetmann Clara , Henke Antje Anneliese , Alaric Tamuedjoun Talom , Rushanyan Marine , Enssle Cornell , Bussmann Hermann
Published: January 2023

Cancer is becoming a massive public health burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). 70% of all cancer deaths globally are attributed to LMIC while the incidence proportion is below 60%. The main reason for the higher mortality rate is “late-stage presentation” of patients with stage III or IV diseases when being diagnosed. Main reasons for this are limited (financial) resources, poor knowledge of health service provider about cancer, misbelieves and fear among patients as well as low health literacy rate. During the 1st International Conference on Hospital Partnerships, conducted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), cancer specialists from seven LMIC and Germany discussed opportunities, challenges and solutions of the development of cancer services. Two days of in-depths discussion identified five topics to be playing a key role in the effort to reduce the cancer burden in LMIC: Health Policy & Financing, Barriers to Access, Capacity Building, Cancer Registries and Adapted Treatment Guidelines. By using mind-mapping technique, stakeholders, core topics, main and important topics were visualized and interconnections displayed. Many topics can be addressed through international cooperations but political willingness and commitment in the respective countries plays the crucial role. An essential contribution will be to assist policy makers in formulating and endorsing affordable and effective health policies. Another lesson learned from this workshop is the similarity of challenges among the participating representatives from different LMIC. The authors of this letter emphasize on the importance of building international long-term cooperations to advance oncology care on a global scale.
Conservation genomics reveals fine-scale population structuring and recent declines in the Critically Endangered Australian Kuranda Treefrog
Authors: Bertola Lorenzo V. , Higgie Megan , Zenger Kyall R. , Hoskin Conrad J.
Published: January 2023

The Kuranda Treefrog occurs in tropical north-east Australia and is listed as Critically Endangered due to its small distribution and population size, with observed declines due to drought and human-associated impacts to habitat. Field surveys identified marked population declines in the mid-2000s, culminating in very low abundance at most sites in 2005 and 2006, followed by limited recovery. Here, samples from before (2001–2004) and after (2007–2009) this decline were analysed using 7132 neutral genome-wide SNPs to assess genetic connectivity among breeding sites, genetic erosion, and effective population size. We found a high level of genetic connectivity among breeding sites, but also structuring between the population at the eastern end of the distribution (Jumrum Creek) versus all other sites. Despite finding no detectable sign of genetic erosion between the two times periods, we observed a marked decrease in effective population size (Ne), from 1720 individuals pre-decline to 818 post-decline. This mirrors the decline detected in the field census data, but the magnitude of the decline suggested by the genetic data is greater. We conclude that the current effective population size for the Kuranda Treefrog remains around 800 adults, split equally between Jumrum Creek and all other sites combined. The Jumrum Creek habitat requires formal protection. Connectivity among all other sites must be maintained and improved through continued replanting of rainforest, and it is imperative that impacts to stream flow and water quality are carefully managed to maintain or increase population sizes and prevent genetic erosion.
Commensurators of abelian subgroups of biautomatic groups
Authors: Valiunas Motiejus
Published: January 2023

We show that the commensurator of any finitely generated abelian subgroup H in a biautomatic group centralises a finite-index subgroup of H. We deduce that the CAT(0) groups introduced by Leary and Minasyan (Commensurating HNN-extensions: non-positive curvature and biautomaticity, Geom Topol 25:1819–1860, 2021) are either biautomatic or cannot arise as subgroups of biautomatic groups, answering a question posed in Leary and Minasyan (Commensurating HNN-extensions: non-positive curvature and biautomaticity, Geom Topol 25:1819–1860, 2021) and generalising an analogous result for Baumslag–Solitar groups. These are the first examples of CAT(0) groups that are not subgroups of biautomatic groups.
Virtual Training of Medical Students to Promote the Comfort and Cooperation of Patients with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Authors: Hoang Andrea Q. , Lerman Dorothea C. , Nguyen Jennifer Trang
Published: January 2023

Patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities generally have less access to necessary medical care compared to those without disabilities. Barriers to adequate care include patient fear and uncooperative behavior during routine medical procedures and inadequate preparation of medical professionals to treat this population. Researchers have identified multiple behavior-analytic procedures for promoting comfort and cooperation during medical treatments. Efficient, cost-effective training programs are needed to widely disseminate behavior-analytic procedures to medical students and professionals. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a virtual training to prepare medical students to implement behavioral procedures that could be easily incorporated into typical wellness examinations. Seven medical students received behavioral skills training (BST) delivered remotely via the Internet. Results showed that the training successfully increased students’ correct implementation of the procedures in roleplay with the experimenter and with patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Responding also maintained at high levels 2 weeks after the training. These findings suggest that virtual BST is an efficient, practical approach for training health care professionals to implement general behavior management strategies to increase the comfort and cooperation of patients with NDD.
Emoji Alter the Perception of Emotion in Affectively Neutral Text messages
Authors: Neel Louise A. G. , McKechnie Jacqui G. , Robus Christopher M. , Hand Christopher J.
Published: January 2023

Previous studies of emoji effects on text sentiment demonstrate mixed findings. Further, these studies are limited by confounds, e.g., underlying text sentiment, lack of ecological validity. We considered emoji effects on the emotional valence of affectively neutral English-language text messages. We additionally considered differences across US-American, British, and Danish participants. 217 participants considered screenshots of question-and-response text message exchanges with/without emoji, in a 4 (emoji type: no emoji, negative, neutral, positive) × 3 (nationality: American, British, Danish) mixed-factors design. Cumulative link mixed-effects models demonstrated that messages + negative emoji were rated more-negatively than any other emoji conditions. Responses + positive emoji were rated more-positively than any other emoji condition. Responses + neutral emoji and responses without emoji were perceived as equally emotive. There was no emoji type × nationality interaction, suggesting that emoji effects were consistent across participants. Findings are considered viz linguistic processing, social interactions, education, marketing, and public health interventions.
Constraint handling techniques for metaheuristics: a state-of-the-art review and new variants
Authors: Lagaros Nikos D. , Kournoutos Makis , Kallioras Nikos Ath. , Nordas Alexandros N.
Published: January 2023

Metaheuristic optimization algorithms (MOAs) are computational randomized search processes which draw inspiration from physical and biological phenomena, with an application spectrum that extends to numerous fields, ranging from engineering design to economics. MOAs were originally developed for solving unconstrained NP-complete problems, and hence their application to constrained optimization problems (COPs) requires the implementation of specialized techniques that facilitate the treatment of performance and bound constraints. While considerable research efforts have been oriented towards the development and subsequent enhancement of novel constraint handling techniques (CHTs) for MOAs, a systematic review of such techniques has not been conducted hitherto. This work presents a state-of-the-art review on CHTs used with MOAs and proposes eight novel variants based on the feasibility rules and ε-constrained techniques. The distinctive feature of the new variants is that they consider the level and number of constraint violations, besides the objective function value, for selection of individuals within a population. The novel variant performance is evaluated and compared with that of four well-known CHTs from the literature using the metaheuristic pity beetle algorithm, based upon 20 single-objective benchmark COPs. The computational results highlight the accuracy, effectiveness, and versatility of the novel variants, as well as their performance superiority in comparison with existing techniques, stemming from their distinctive formulation. The complete code can be downloaded from GitHub (https://github.com/nikoslagaros/MOAs-and-CHTs).
New insights into high soil strength and crop plants; implications for grain crop production in the Australian environment
Authors: Unkovich Murray , McKenzie David , Parker Wayne
Published: January 2023

High soil strength is a problem in grain production systems worldwide. It is most severe in deep sands where the high strength occurs at greater depth, and is therefore more difficult to remedy. High strength is not an intrinsic soil physical property but the outcome of abiotic, biotic, climatic and management factors. Consequently, soil strength needs to be measured in situ with a penetrometer which, despite imperfections, provides approximate benchmarks. Following examination of laboratory, glasshouse and field literature, we hypothesise that the primary effect of high soil strength on crops is a reduction in tillering or branching, resulting in reduced radiation interception, crop transpiration and grain density (grains m− 2). This effect appears to be manifestviastrigolactone hormones. While deep tillage allows deeper root growth and access to more water in deep soil layers, we contend that it is the direct effects of hormones on shoot development which has the largest effect on yield. The development of high soil strength cropping environments is not simply a function of soil properties and increased machinery mass and traffic frequency, it arises from a confluence of these with the farming system, the climate and perhaps plant breeding activities. An improved understanding of the relative importance of the unintended consequences of breeding, the effects of changes in fallowing practices, crop rotation, soil fertility, climate and traffic, along with a better understanding of the possible importance of bio- and macropores types provide avenues for improved management of high soil strength in grain crop production systems.
Empowering female entrepreneurs through university affiliation: evidence from Italian academic spinoffs
Authors: Civera Alice , Meoli Michele
Published: January 2023

Female entrepreneurship, despite increasing attention, is still largely understudied, especially in the academic context. By adopting the lenses of entrepreneurial ecosystems and feminist theories, the paper investigates the firm performance of female entrepreneurs. We provide empirical evidence of the underperformance of women-led firms, being academic spinoffs or not, compared to men-led firms in terms of growth and their overperformance in terms of survival rate. In addition, we focus on differences in the performance of women-led firms only by comparing Italian academic and nonacademic companies. In virtue of their university affiliation, women-led academic spinoffs result to grow more than women-led nonacademic spinoffs and tend to show lower survival rates, which makes them more similar to men-led companies.
A portmanteau-type test for detecting serial correlation in locally stationary functional time series
Authors: Bücher Axel , Dette Holger , Heinrichs Florian
Published: January 2023

The portmanteau test provides the vanilla method for detecting serial correlations in classical univariate time series analysis. The method is extended to the case of observations from a locally stationary functional time series. Asymptotic critical values are obtained by a suitable block multiplier bootstrap procedure. The test is shown to asymptotically hold its level and to be consistent against general alternatives.
Thelazia callipaeda as a potential new threat to european wildcats: insights from an eco-epidemiological study
Authors: Bertos Elena , Sánchez-Cerdá Mariola , Virgós Emilio , Gil-Sánchez José M. , Moleón Marcos
Published: January 2023

Global warming and displacement of vectors and wild and domestic hosts by humans greatly change host-parasite interactions and parasite transmission rates. Thelazia callipaeda Railliet and Henry, 1910 (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) is a zoonotic parasite rapidly colonizing Europe from its Asian native range. This nematode is vectored by Phortica flies and may cause ocular disorders, such as keratitis and corneal ulcers, in wild mammals, dogs, cats and humans. With the aim of detecting possible threats for the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in one of its last Mediterranean strongholds, we initiated in 2017 a long-term monitoring program in Sierra Arana (southeastern Spain), which includes exploring its epidemiological and spatial relationships with domestic cats (Felis catus). During routine medical check-ups, we detected ocular nematodes in 3 of 17 (17.6%) wildcats and 1 of 23 (4.3%) domestic cats tested, confirmed to be T. callipaeda by microscopic and molecular analyses. This nematode species was first detected in the study area in 2021. To our knowledge, this is the first case of infection in wildcats in Spain. Through telemetry, we detected little spatial overlap between the home ranges of wildcats and domestic cats, which seems to be sufficient to facilitate the inter-specific transmission of T. callipaeda. Our findings suggest that this pathogen could be a new threat to the wildcat, a locally endangered wild felid. Further eco-epidemiological monitoring and sanitary control of domestic cats will be strongly needed, especially given the ongoing global warming scenario.
Co-occurrence of Common Biological and Behavioral Addictions: Using Network Analysis to Identify Central Addictions and Their Associations with Each Other
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Brown Taylor , Tullett-Prado Deon , Stavropoulos Vasileios
Published: January 2023

The present study used network analysis to examine the network properties (network graph, centrality, and edge weights) comprising ten different types of common addictions (alcohol, cigarette smoking, drug, sex, social media, shopping, exercise, gambling, internet gaming, and internet use) controlling for age and gender effects. Participants (N = 968; males = 64.3%) were adults from the general community, with ages ranging from 18 to 64 years (mean = 29.54 years;SD = 9.36 years). All the participants completed well-standardized questionnaires that together covered the ten addictions. The network findings showed different clusters for substance use and behavioral addictions and exercise. In relation to centrality, the highest value was for internet usage, followed by gaming and then gambling addiction. Concerning edge weights, there was a large effect size association between internet gaming and internet usage; a medium effect size association between internet usage and social media and alcohol and drugs; and several small and negligible effect size associations. Also, only 48.88% of potential edges or associations between addictions were significant. Taken together, these findings must be prioritized in theoretical models of addictions and when planning treatment of co-occurring addictions. Relatedly, as this study is the first to use network analysis to explore the properties of co-occurring addictions, the findings can be considered as providing new contributions to our understanding of the co-occurrence of common addictions.
What Client Demographic, Substance Use, Mental Health, Treatment, and Psychological Variables Predict Residential Treatment Completion for Substance Use Disorders?
Authors: Tisdale Calvert , Leung Janni , de Andrade Dominique , Hides Leanne
Published: January 2023

Residential treatment is a common option for individuals with moderate to severe substance use disorders. In a cohort of individuals who accessed residential treatment, we investigated client demographic, substance use, mental health, treatment, and psychological predictors of treatment completion. Participants were a retrospective cohort of 1056 (15–69 years) individuals admitted to residential treatment facilities across Queensland, Australia, from January 2014 to December 2016. Participant characteristic information was obtained at admission, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21). A multiple logistic regression model was conducted with treatment completion as the outcome. The overall rate of treatment completion was 14.3%. Mild to moderate (aOR = 0.48 [0.28–0.84], p = .010) and severe to extremely severe (aOR = 0.35 [0.17–0.74], p = .006) stress on the DASS-21 at service entry was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of treatment completion. Participants with higher levels of stress at service entry were less likely to complete treatment, representing a missed opportunity to provide targeted support during high-risk periods for individuals with substance use disorders. Further research investigating the nature and causes of stress in-between, during, and following presentations to residential treatment is needed.
PERMA-Profiler for the Evaluation of well-being: Adaptation and Validation in a Sample of University Students and Employees in the Mexican Educational Context
Authors: Chaves Covadonga , Ballesteros-Valdés Rosalinda , Madridejos Elisabet , Charles-Leija Humberto
Published: January 2023

Well-being research has increased in recent years, making it essential to have validated tools that allow its measurement. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the PERMA-Profiler in a sample of university students and employees in the Mexican educational context. Through a back-translation, an adaptation of the PERMA-Profiler questionnaire into Spanish was obtained. This version and other well-being measures were administered to a sample of 23,723 students (mean age = 21.50) and further to 2,783 employees (mean age = 36.08). Results showed acceptable reliability and good convergent and discriminant validity between well-being variables. PERMA score was strongly correlated with general well-being, positive affect, and life satisfaction, and slightly correlated with growth mindset and physical well-being. Confirmatory factor analysis using exploratory structural equation modeling revealed a better fit for the original structure of five factors, both in the sample of students and employees. Also, the results provide first indications for measurement invariance for gender and age. Validation of the PERMA-Profiler in the Mexican context showed good psychometric properties. It can be recommended as a valid tool for assessing well-being in the Spanish-speaking population.
Exploring Sacred Moments in Hospitalized Patients: An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Authors: Quinn Martha , Fowler Karen E. , Harrod Molly , Ehrlinger Rachel , Engle Jason M. , Houchens Nathan , Saint Sanjay
Published: January 2023

Background

“Sacred moments” are brief periods of time in which people experience a deep interconnectedness that may possess spiritual qualities and emotions. This concept has been shown to have a positive impact on individuals’ overall well-being and stress in mental health settings. The concept of sacred moments has not been studied in acute care hospital settings.

Objective

To better understand the occurrence of sacred moments among hospitalized patients and their healthcare workers.

Design

An exploratory qualitative study that included in-depth interviews with patients and healthcare workers at two academic medical centers in the Midwestern United States.

Participants

Hospital healthcare workers (e.g., physicians, nurses, ancillary staff) and discharged patients with a recent hospital stay.

Approach

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 30 participants between August 2020 and April 2021. Interviews were recorded and transcribed before conducting thematic analysis.

Key Results

Both healthcare workers and patients reported having experienced at least one sacred moment. Interview findings were organized into three main domains including (1) several common elements described by participants as marking these moments; (2) benefits experienced by both patients and healthcare workers; and (3) suggestions for fostering sacred moments within the hospital setting.

Conclusions

Among our participants, sacred moments were extremely common with the vast majority reporting to have experienced at least one in their lifetime. These moments were described as profound and important and shared many common elements. Our findings can be used to help recognize, understand, and promote sacred moments between hospitalized patients and healthcare workers.
The Dynamic Ontogenetic Shape Patterns of Adaptive Divergence and Sexual Dimorphism
Authors: de la Cámara Marina , Ponsioen Lieke , Horta-Lacueva Quentin J. B. , Kapralova Kalina H.
Published: January 2023

The interplay between ecological diversification and sexual dimorphism has been largely overlooked in the literature. Sexually dimorphic species which are also undergoing adaptive radiations are ideal for filling this knowledge gap. The Arctic charr in lake Thingvallavatn is one such system: it is a sexually dimorphic species which has recently diverged along the benthic-limnetic ecological axis. In a long-running common-garden experiment we studied the shape variation throughout ontogeny of intra- and inter- morph crosses of benthic and limnetic charr from the lake. We found that shape differences between ecomorphs and sexes had a genetic component. Prior to the onset of sexual maturation, shape differences were attributable to cross type and were related to adaptations to benthic and limnetic niches, i.e., shorter lower jaws and rounder snouts in the benthic and evenly protruding snouts and pointier snouts in the limnetic. Reciprocal hybrids showed intermediate, transgressive and/or maternal morphologies. However, after the onset of sexual maturation larger morphological differences occurred between sexes than among cross types. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the interplay between ecological diversification and sexual dimorphism is complex and dynamic throughout ontogeny, and that long-term common garden experiments are immensely valuable for studying shape dynamics in different evolutionary scenarios.
Reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease in older people with cancer: a qualitative study of healthcare providers
Authors: Knowles Reegan , Kemp Emma , Miller Michelle , Koczwara Bogda
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Cancer survivors are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than cancer-free controls. Despite evidence-based guidelines recommending CVD risk factor assessment, surveillance and risk-reduction, many people with cancer do not receive adequate CVD care. To address potential barriers and enablers of care, we examined healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions and experiences of CVD risk assessment and management in people with cancer.

Methods

We conducted one focus group and 12 individual interviews to examine HCPs’ perceptions and experiences of CVD care in care. We used reflexive thematic analysis to collect and analyse the qualitative data to construct and understand themes.

Results

Twenty-one HCPs participated (8 oncologists, 5 nurses, 3 general practitioners, 2 dietitians, 1 cardiologist, 1 haematologist and 1 physiotherapist). Majority of HCPs were aware of CVD risk in cancer but were concerned they could not deliver CVD care alone due to system-level barriers including lack of time and training. HCPs also perceived patient-level barriers including socioeconomic disadvantage and fatalistic outlook. Despite barriers, HCPs suggested diverse solutions for improving CVD care in cancer including new models-of-care, clinical pathways, risk assessment/management tools and education.

Conclusions

The diversity of perceived barriers and suggested solutions identified by HCPs suggests the need for a multilevel approach tailored to context. Future research involving people with cancer is needed to co-design acceptable interventions.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Improved understanding of HCP’s perceptions can inform the development of new interventions to deliver CVD care to people with cancer to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Exploring past and present dynamics of coastal protection as possible signposts for the future?
Authors: Jordan Philipp , Döring Martin , Fröhle Peter , Ratter Beate M.W.
Published: January 2023

Coastal protection comprises shoreline preservation and stabilisation as well as flood protection. Besides these technical aspects, coastal protection also represents a genuine social endeavour. Within this interplay of technical and social dimensions, planning and acting for the safety of people and assets along the coastline has become increasingly difficult for the responsible authorities. Within this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for coastal protection offer a promising addition to and adaptation for existing protection measures such as dikes, sea walls or groynes. They bear the potential to adapt to shifting boundary conditions caused by climate change and cater the growing social call for sustainable solutions that benefit water, nature and people alike. This paper analyses, how NbS can fit into the entangled and historically grown system of coastal protection. As a paradigmatic example, the German islands of Amrum and Föhr were chosen. To contextualise the topic, a brief recap of the formation of these North Frisian Islands and their social history regarding coastal protection is given. This will be followed by a review of the relevant literature on the development of coastal protection on the two islands including its historical development. Using the theory of Social Representations (SRs), these historical insights are analytically contrasted with a synchronic snapshot gained from stakeholder interviews about the assessment of protective measures, and their anticipated future development with regard to the possible feasibility and implementation of NbS. This analysis reveals that, historically and synchronically seen, coastal protection on both islands is rather characterised by a dynamic rationale and the constant testing of and experimenting with different measures and concepts. However, well-established measures like diking or the construction of brushwood groynes for foreland creation are not being questioned while new approaches running against this rationale such as NbS are in many cases initially met with scepticism and doubt. Out of this follows that past and present dynamics in coastal protection play a vital role in planning. Hence, the implementation of NbS as signposts for the future requires an integrated and balanced interdisciplinary approach that considers the socio-technical dimensions of coastal protection for future coastal adaptation.
The revision of fossil big-eyed bugs suggests a peculiar evolutionary history of a peculiar true bug family (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae)
Authors: Kóbor Péter , Faúndez Eduardo I. , Roca-Cusachs Marcos
Published: January 2023

The fossil record of the lygaeoid true bug family, Geocoridae so far consisted of a compression fossil from the Florissant Formation, Geocoris infernorum, and a mould fossil from the Izarra Formation, G. monserrati. Here, we report the third taxon, Protogeocoris arcanus gen. et sp. nov. from Cenomanian Burmese amber along with revision of the two previously mentioned species. The study of the specimens resulted in erecting a new genus, Eocenogeocoris gen. nov. to accommodate G. infernorum [ = Eocenogeocoris infernorum (Sudder, 1890) comb. nov.], because of its unique combination of characters compared to extant geocorine true bugs. Furthermore, the interpretation of the novel morphological data acquired from the study of the fossil geocorids in the context of the knowledge on extant representatives of the family suggests that characteristic groups of the family may have been evolved until the mid-Cretaceous, whilst the species-level diversity of the nominotypical genus, Geocoris Fallén, 1814, and closely allied genera is possibly resulted by quick radiation event after a climatic changes at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.
The roles of microstructural anisotropy in tribo-corrosion performance of one certain laser cladding Fe-based alloy
Authors: Sun Weitao , Huang Xuehong , Zhang Jian , Wang Bin , Liu Xiaoliang
Published: January 2023

Because of the microstructural anisotropy for laser cladding materials, the tribo-corrosion performance can vary significantly with different directions. In this study, one certain Fe-based coating was fabricated by laser cladding. To study the effects of anisotropy, three working surfaces (0°, 45°, and 90° to the building direction) were machined from the laser cladding samples; as-cast samples with an approximately homogeneous structure were prepared as controls. The tribo-corrosion tests were conducted in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution with varying normal loads (5, 10, and 15 N). The results demonstrated that the 45° surface has superior friction stability, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. This was directly related to the crystal orientation and grain boundary density. In addition, a refined microstructure may enhance tribo-corrosion properties by increasing deformation resistance and decreasing surface activity.
Architecture of paleas and lemmas dominates seed shattering trait in naked oat (Avena nuda)
Authors: Li Xingyan , Zhang Kai , Han Bing , Yang Yan
Published: January 2023

Seed shattering in naked oat (Avena nuda) is a severe problem, resulting in significant yield losses. In the present study, the seed-shattering rates were characterized in a set of 177 naked oat cultivars and lines. Eight cultivars with different seed-shattering rates were studied in several morphological and physiological traits that may be related to seed shattering at different developmental stages. Three types of paleas, viz. boat type, defect type and flaky type, were identified at the dough stage, and the proportion of the boat-type paleas were found to positively correlate with seed shattering. In a following scaling-up morphological study on paleas and lemmas in 32 cultivars with different seed-shattering rates, the length, width and the thickness of paleas and lemmas were investigated, and the ratio of the bottom/medium thickness of both paleas and lemmas showed high association with seed shattering tolerance in naked oat. These indicate that the architecture of paleas and lemmas has a particularly obvious correlation with seed shattering in naked oat. More intriguingly, a unique zigzag pattern of the cell wall was found in lemma tissues of naked oat, which may increase the toughness and strength of lemmas and help with seed retention.
Interactions of fentanyl with blood platelets and plasma proteins: platelet sensitivity to prasugrel metabolite is not affected by fentanyl under in vitro conditions
Authors: Bednarek Radosław , Luzak Boguslawa , Golański Jacek , Boncler Magdalena
Published: January 2023

Background

Clinical trials indicate that fentanyl, like morphine, may impair intestinal absorption and thus decrease the efficacy of oral P2Y12 inhibitors, such as clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel. However, the ability of fentanyl to directly negate or reduce the inhibitory effect of P2Y12 receptor antagonists on platelet function has not been established. A series of in vitro experiments was performed to investigate the ability of fentanyl to activate platelets, potentiate platelet response to ADP, and/or diminish platelet sensitivity to prasugrel metabolite (R-138727) in agonist-stimulated platelets. The selectivity and specificity of fentanyl toward major carrier proteins has been also studied.

Methods

Blood was obtained from healthy volunteers (19 women and 12 men; mean age 40 ± 13 years). Platelet function was measured in whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and in suspensions of isolated platelets by flow cytometry, impedance and optical aggregometry. Surface plasmon resonance and molecular docking were employed to determine the binding kinetics of fentanyl to human albumin, α1-acid glycoprotein, apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B-100.

Results

When applied at therapeutic and supratherapeutic concentrations under various experimental conditions, fentanyl had no potential to stimulate platelet activation and aggregation, or potentiate platelet response to ADP, nor did it affect platelet susceptibility to prasugrel metabolite in ADP-stimulated platelets. In addition, fentanyl was found to interact with all the examined carrier proteins with dissociation constants in the order of 10–4 to 10–9 M.

Conclusions

It does not seem that the delayed platelet responsiveness to oral P2Y12 inhibitors, such as prasugrel, in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, results from direct interactions between fentanyl and blood platelets. Apolipoproteins, similarly to albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein, appear to be important carriers of fentanyl in blood.
Round Table Conference Geographies
Authors: Legg Stephen
Published: January 2023

Round Table Conference Geographies explores a major international conference in 1930s London which determined India's constitutional future in the British Empire. Pre-dating the decolonising conferences of the 1950s–60s, the Round Table Conference laid the blueprint for India's future federal constitution. Despite this the conference is unanimously read as a failure, for not having comprehensively reconciled the competing demands of liberal and Indian National Congress politicians, of Hindus and Muslims, and of British versus Princely India. This book argues that the conference's three sessions were vital sites of Indian and imperial politics that demand serious attention. It explores the spatial politics of the conference in terms of its imaginary geographies, infrastructures, host city, and how the conference was contested and represented. The book concludes by asking who gained through representing the conference as a failure and explores it, instead, as a teeming political, social and material space.
Multilingual Development
Authors: Siemund Peter
Published: January 2023

English as a global lingua franca interacts with other languages across a wide range of multilingual contexts. Combining insights from linguistics, education studies, and psychology, this book addresses the role of English within the current linguistic dynamics of globalization. It takes Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai as case studies to illustrate the use of English in different multilingual urban areas, arguing that these are places where competing historical assessments, and ideological conceptions of monolingualism and multilingualism, are being acted out most forcefully. It critically appraises the controversial concept of multilingual advantages, and studies multilingual cross-linguistic influence in relation to learning English in bilingual heritage contexts. It also scrutinises multilingual language policies in their impact on attitudes, identities, and investment into languages. Engaging and accessible, it is essential reading for academic researchers and advanced students of bi- and multilingualism, globalization, linguistic diversity, World Englishes, sociolinguistics, and second/third language acquisition.
War, Communication, and the Politics of Culture in Early Modern Venice
Authors: Stouraiti Anastasia
Published: January 2023

Weaving together cultural history and critical imperial studies, this book shows how war and colonial expansion shaped seventeenth-century Venetian culture and society. Anastasia Stouraiti tests conventional assumptions about republicanism, commercial peace and cross-cultural exchange and offers a novel approach to the study of the Republic of Venice. Her extensive research brings the history of communication in dialogue with conquest and empire-building in the Mediterranean to provide an original interpretation of the politics of knowledge in wartime Venice. The book argues that the Venetian-Ottoman War of the Morea (1684-1699) was mediated through a diverse range of cultural mechanisms of patrician elite domination that orchestrated the production of popular consent. It sheds new light on the militarisation of the Venetian public sphere and exposes the connections between bellicose foreign policies and domestic power politics in a state celebrated as the most serene republic of merchants.
The Complete History of the Black Death
Authors: Benedictow Ole J.
Published: January 2023

Benedictow's magisterial study draws on records from across Europe to throw light on the nature of the disease, its origin, spread, mortality, and its impact on history.
The Country Houses of Shropshire
Authors: Williams Gareth
Published: January 2023

A gazetteer of the many fine Shropshire country houses, which covers the architecture, the owners' family history, and the social and economic circumstances that affected them.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A time-series analysis
Authors: Sahrmann John M. , Nickel Katelin B. , Stwalley Dustin , Dubberke Erik R. , Lyons Patrick G. , Michelson Andrew P. , McMullen Kathleen M. , Gandra Sumanth , Olsen Margaret A. , Kwon Jennie H. , Burnham Jason P.
Published: January 2023

Objective:

To use interrupted time-series analyses to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). We hypothesized that the pandemic would be associated with higher rates of HAIs after adjustment for confounders.

Design:

We conducted a cross-sectional study of HAIs in 3 hospitals in Missouri from January 1, 2017, through August 31, 2020, using interrupted time-series analysis with 2 counterfactual scenarios.

Setting:

The study was conducted at 1 large quaternary-care referral hospital and 2 community hospitals.

Participants:

All adults ≥18 years of age hospitalized at a study hospital for ≥48 hours were included in the study.

Results:

In total, 254,792 admissions for ≥48 hours occurred during the study period. The average age of these patients was 57.6 (±19.0) years, and 141,107 (55.6%) were female. At hospital 1, 78 CLABSIs, 33 CAUTIs, and 88 VAEs were documented during the pandemic period. Hospital 2 had 13 CLABSIs, 6 CAUTIs, and 17 VAEs. Hospital 3 recorded 11 CLABSIs, 8 CAUTIs, and 11 VAEs. Point estimates for hypothetical excess HAIs suggested an increase in all infection types across facilities, except for CLABSIs and CAUTIs at hospital 1 under the “no pandemic” scenario.

Conclusions:

The COVID-19 era was associated with increases in CLABSIs, CAUTIs, and VAEs at 3 hospitals in Missouri, with variations in significance by hospital and infection type. Continued vigilance in maintaining optimal infection prevention practices to minimize HAIs is warranted.
Human Rights Violations Connected with Deforestation – Emerging and Diverging Approaches to Human Rights Due Diligence
Authors: Perram Anouska , Jiwan Norman
Published: January 2023

As the climate and biodiversity crises gain unprecedented attention, many governments across the global north are taking legislative steps to address deforestation in supply chains linked to their domestic consumption or commercial activities, among them, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU).1
TREE RINGS AS ARCHIVES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION BY FOSSIL CARBON DIOXIDE IN BRATISLAVA
Authors: Kontuľ I , Povinec P P , Richtáriková M , Svetlik I , Šivo A
Published: January 2023

Results of radiocarbon (14C) analysis of a tree-ring series from Bratislava, Slovakia, covering the period from 1970 to 2004 are presented. For a part of this time period, monthly 14C measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide from Bratislava sampling station are compared with the tree-ring results. The effects of fossil CO2 emissions on 14C levels in the environment are emphasized by comparison with atmospheric clean air reference values (Schauinsland, Germany). The presented results from Bratislava are also set against the previously measured tree-ring series from Low Tatras mountain region in Slovakia, representing regional clean air radiocarbon levels in the biosphere. The observed 14C levels of Bratislava tree rings and atmospheric CO2 in 1970s and 1980s are significantly lower than clean air data, indicating severe fossil CO2 pollution in Bratislava during this time period.