bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment Questionnaire (PPLA-Q) for adolescents (15–18 years) from grades 10–12: development, content validation and pilot testing
Authors: Mota João , Martins João , Onofre Marcos
Published: November 2021

Background

ThePortuguese Physical Literacy Assessment(PPLA) is a novel tool to assess high-school students’ (grade 10–12; 15–18 years) Physical Literacy (PL) in Physical Education (PE); inspired by the four domains of theAustralian Physical Literacy Framework(APLF), and the Portuguese PE syllabus. This paper describes the development, content validation, and pilot testing of the PPLA-Questionnaire(PPLA-Q), one of two instruments in the PPLA, comprised of modules to assess thepsychological,social,and part of thecognitivedomain of PL.

Methods

Development was supported by previous work, analysis of theAPLF, and literature review. We iteratively gathered evidence on content validity through two rounds of qualitative and quantitative expert validation (n = 11); three rounds of cognitive interviews with high-school students (n = 12); and multiple instances of expert advisor input. A pilot study in two grade 10 classes (n = 41) assessed feasibility, preliminary reliability, item difficulty and discrimination.

Results

Initial versions of the PPLA-Q gathered evidence in favor of adequate content validity at item level: most items had an Item-Content Validity Index ≥.78 and Cohen’sκ ≥ .76. At module-level, S-CVI/Ave and UA were .87/.60, .98/.93 and .96/.84 for the cognitive, psychological, and social modules, respectively. Through the pilot study, we found evidence for feasibility, preliminary subscale and item reliability, difficulty, and discrimination. Items were reviewed through qualitative methods until saturation. Current PPLA-Q consists of 3 modules: cognitive (knowledge test with 10 items), psychological (46 Likert-type items) and social (43 Likert-type items).

Conclusion

Results of this study provide evidence for content validity, feasibility within PE setting and preliminary reliability of the PPLA-Q as an instrument to assess the psychological, social, and part of the cognitive domain of PL in grade 10 to 12 adolescents. Further validation and development are needed to establish construct validity and reliability, and study PPLA-Q’s integration with the PPLA-Observation (an instrument in development to assess the remaining domains of PL) within the PPLA framework.
A comparison of the vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation versus fenestration decompression for the treatment of sclerosing osteomyelitis
Authors: Hua Haotian , Wang Xinwei , Guo Jiangang , Zhang Lei , Guo Zairan , Chen Jiangfei
Published: November 2021

Objective

To compare the clinical efficacy of vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation and fenestration decompression in the treatment of sclerosing osteomyelitis.

Method

A retrospective analysis for 46 cases of sclerosing osteomyelitis

were admitted to our department between June 2010 to June 2020. Twenty-one patients were treated with fenestration decompression, twenty-five patients were treated with vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation. The postoperative hospital stay, days of drainage tube placement, visual analogue scale scores, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were compared between the two groups.

Results

The visual analogue scale scores of both groups were significantly lower than before treatment (p < 0.05), but the difference between them was not statistically significant. Patients treated by vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation had shorter postoperative hospital stay and days of drainage tube placement compared to those treated by fenestration decompression (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment, but the improvement effect of vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation was better (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Both treatment methods can relieve pain effectively. Compared with fenestration decompression, vancomycin calcium sulfate implantation can shorten the treatment time effectively, control the infection better.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation in a patient with severe progressive supranuclear palsy: a case report
Authors: Li Huiping , Yuan Fang , Du Yaming , Pan Tao , Wen Wanxin , Li Shaoxue , Wang Lixin , Lu Aili
Published: November 2021

Background

Progressive supranuclear palsy is a neurodegenerative condition that worsens over time. Given the lack of targeted treatments, patients with severe progressive supranuclear palsy have very low life expectancy.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 61-year-old Chinese man with severe progressive supranuclear palsy and treated with umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation. After the umbilical cord blood stem cells therapy, his neurologic symptoms stopped deteriorating, his muscle rigidity was mildly improved, and he remains alive for more than 8 years.

Conclusions

Umbilical cord blood stem cells transplantation may be an alternative therapy for patients with severe progressive supranuclear palsy.
Burden of puerperal sepsis and its associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Melkie Abenezer , Dagnew Enyew
Published: November 2021

Background

Puerperal sepsis is a genital tract infection that can occur from amniotic fluid rupture to six weeks after birth. Maternal complication associated with puerperal sepsis includes prolonged hospital stay, septicemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and death. Even though, puerperal sepsis is the fourth leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia the overall prevalence of puerperal sepsis and its associated factors are not studied at the national stage. As a result, this systematic review and meta-analysis bring out the pooled prevalence of puerperal sepsis and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods

A variety of data sources such as Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Embase, Google Scholar, HINARI, and Ethiopian universities online repositories were searched to identify the primary studies which were used for this systematic review and meta-analysis. The article search was conducted from February10/2021-March 10/2021. The quality of the selected primary studies was assessed using the Newcastle - Ottawa quality assessment Scale (NOS). Data extraction was done with Microsoft Excel and then exported to STATA 11 version statistical software for analysis. The Cochran (Q-test) and I2 test statistics were used to assess the heterogeneity of the studies. Publication bias was evaluated by the eggers regression test. Subgroup analysis was performed with region and sample size category.

Result

In this review, a total of 2222 respondents were involved from seven studies. The pooled prevalence of puerperal sepsis was 14.811% (95%CI; 8.46: 21.16; I2 = 94.2, P ≤ 0.001). Cesarean section delivery (CSD) (OR = 3.26, 95%CI: 1.90, 5.61), membrane rupture≥24 h (OR = 4.04, 95%CI: 2.54, 6.42), being multiparous mother (OR = 3.99, 95%CI: 1.82, 8.78), vaginal examination≥5 times (OR = 3.15, 95%CI: 1.17, 8.52), and anemia (OR = 5.68, 95%CI: 4.38, 7.36) were factors significantly associated with puerperal sepsis.

Conclusion

The prevalence of puerperal sepsis was high in Ethiopia. CSD, membrane rupture≥24 h, being multiparous mother, vaginal examination≥5, and anemia were factors associated with puerperal sepsis. Appropriate standard infection prevention techniques during CSD shall be practiced to reduce the maternal burden of puerperal sepsis. The unnecessary vaginal examination should be discouraged during the intrapartum period. Besides this, routine Iron sulfate supplementation and counsel on iron reach foods during ante partum and postpartum shall be considered for all mothers.
Potential of shea fruit-based ingredients for the feed industry
Authors: Donkor Martin Ntiamoah , Mosobil Richard , Abaah Eunice A. , Kanati Cephas , Akabanda Fortune , Donkor Addai-Mensah
Published: November 2021

Background

The cost involved in feeding poultry is very high especially in most developing countries. To this end, the effectiveness of the fruit pulp of Vitellaria paradoxa (shea), an agro-industrial by-product that is discarded in the processing of the nut for shea butter extraction was investigated on twelve poultry birds assigned to three groups A, B and C (control). Dried samples of the fruit pulp were analysed for their nutrients.

Results

Proximate analysis of the shea fruit pulp revealed a carbohydrate content of 41.14%, crude fibre 26.62%, crude protein 10.34%, ash 9.23%, crude fat 3.55% and 9.13% for moisture. It also contained essential minerals such as Ca (587 mg /100 g dw), Na (138.30 mg /100 g dw), Mg (1358 mg /100 g dw), K (771.5 mg /100 g dw), Fe (29.88 mg/100 g dw), Zn (40.31 mg/100 g dw) and Cu (8.11 mg/100 g dw). Heavy metals such as Cd, Mn, Pb and Cr were below detectable limits. Measured parameters were live body weights and some selected blood chemistry tests. Broilers in groups A and B fed on shea fruit pulp formulated with maize meal showed a significant growth performance in weight (p < 0.05) as compared to group C fed on maize meal only. Selected blood chemistry tests carried out included Ca, Na, K, Albumin, Triglyceride and Chloride. Statistical analysis showed that formulated feed had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on blood chemistry values of broilers, however, there was an insignificant effect (p > 0.05) in the control group, fed on maize meal only.

Conclusion

The fruit pulp of Vitellaria paradoxa could be considered a good source of macro and micronutrients and could be used as a supplement in poultry feed.
In vitro biosynthesis of ATP from adenosine and polyphosphate
Authors: Sun Chuanqi , Li Zonglin , Ning Xiao , Xu Wentian , Li Zhimin
Published: November 2021

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) acts as a crucial energy currency in vivo, and it is a widely used energy and/or phosphate donor for enzyme-catalyzed reactions in vitro. In this study, we established an in vitro multi-enzyme cascade system for ATP production. Using adenosine and inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) as key substrates, we combined adenosine kinase and two functionally distinct polyphosphate kinases (PPKs) in a one-pot reaction to achieve chain-like ATP regeneration and production. Several sources of PPK were screened and characterized, and two suitable PPKs were selected to achieve high rates of ATP production. Among these, Sulfurovum lithotrophicum PPK (SlPPK) exhibited excellent activity over a wide pH range (pH 4.0–9.0) and synthesized ATP from ADP using short-chain polyP. Furthermore, it had a half-life > 155.6 h at 45 °C. After optimizing the reaction conditions, we finally carried out the coupling-catalyzed reaction with different initial adenosine concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 mM. The highest yields of ATP were 76.0, 70.5, and 61.3%, respectively.

Graphical Abstract
Laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy for calculi in the remnant gallbladder following subtotal-cholecystectomy: a report of two cases
Authors: Utsunomiya Takeshi , Sakamoto Katsunori , Sogabe Kyousei , Takenaka Ryoichi , Hayashi Tatsuya , Ogura Fumiya , Yamamoto Hisato , Ishida Naoki , Nakamura Taro , Sakamoto Akimasa , Iwata Miku , Ito Chihiro , Matsui Takashi , Nishi Yusuke , Shine Mikiya , Uraoka Mio , Nagaoka Tomoyuki , Tamura Kei , Funamizu Naotake , Ogawa Kohei , Takada Yasutsugu
Published: November 2021

Two cases of laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy using near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography (NIFC) for remnant gallbladder calculi following subtotal-cholecystectomy are reported. Case 1: a 36-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with acute abdomen. Computed tomography showed remnant gallbladder calculi, with detected no other findings as the cause of the abdominal pain. For intraoperative exploration of the biliary anatomy, 0.25 mg/kg of indocyanine green (ICG) was administered intravenously the day before the operation. NIFC clearly showed the common bile duct and enabled safe laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy. She was free from symptoms after the operation. Case 2: a 40-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with epigastralgia due to remnant gallbladder calculi after open cholecystectomy. ICG was administered intravenously the day before the operation. Severe adhesions were observed in the upper abdominal cavity and there was tight adherence of the duodenum to the remnant gallbladder. NIFC showed a clear margin that appeared to be the margin between the duodenum and remnant gallbladder. However, dissection of the margin observed by NIFC caused perforation of the duodenum. The clear margin seen with NIFC was likely due to visualization of the gallbladder through the duodenum. Although NIFC is a useful modality for confirming the intraoperative biliary anatomy, it is important not to rely too heavily on NIFC alone, which may lead to misinterpretation of the anatomy.
Hair microscopy: an easy adjunct to diagnosis of systemic diseases in children
Authors: Bhattarai Dharmagat , Banday Aaqib Zaffar , Sadanand Rohit , Arora Kanika , Kaur Gurjit , Sharma Satish , Rawat Amit
Published: November 2021

Hair, having distinct stages of growth, is a dynamic component of the integumentary system. Nonetheless, derangement in its structure and growth pattern often provides vital clues for the diagnosis of systemic diseases. Assessment of the hair structure by various microscopy techniques is, hence, a valuable tool for the diagnosis of several systemic and cutaneous disorders. Systemic illnesses like Comel-Netherton syndrome, Griscelli syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Menkes disease display pathognomonic findings on hair microscopy which, consequently, provide crucial evidence for disease diagnosis. With minimal training, light microscopy of the hair can easily be performed even by clinicians and other health care providers which can, thus, serve as a useful tool for disease diagnosis at the patient’s bedside. This is especially true for resource-constrained settings where access and availability of advanced investigations (like molecular diagnostics) is a major constraint. Despite its immense clinical utility and non-invasive nature, hair microscopy seems to be an underutilized diagnostic modality. Lack of awareness regarding the important findings on hair microscopy may be one of the crucial reasons for its underutilization. Herein, we, therefore, present a comprehensive overview of the available methods for hair microscopy and the pertinent findings that can be observed in various diseases.
Investigating the association between physical health comorbidities and disability in individuals with severe mental illness
Authors: Mirza Luwaiza , Das-Munshi Jayati , Chaturvedi Jaya , Wu Honghan , Kraljevic Zeljko , Searle Thomas , Shaari Shaweena , Mascio Aurelie , Skiada Naoko , Roberts Angus , Bean Daniel , Stewart Robert , Dobson Richard , Bendayan Rebecca
Published: November 2021

Background

Research suggests that an increased risk of physical comorbidities might have a key role in the association between severe mental illness (SMI) and disability. We examined the association between physical multimorbidity and disability in individuals with SMI.

Methods

Data were extracted from the clinical record interactive search system at South London and Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. Our sample (n = 13,933) consisted of individuals who had received a primary or secondary SMI diagnosis between 2007 and 2018 and had available data for Health of Nations Outcome Scale (HoNOS) as disability measure. Physical comorbidities were defined using Chapters II–XIV of the International Classification of Diagnoses (ICD-10).

Results

More than 60 % of the sample had complex multimorbidity. The most common organ system affected were neurological (34.7%), dermatological (15.4%), and circulatory (14.8%). All specific comorbidities (ICD-10 Chapters) were associated with higher levels of disability, HoNOS total scores. Individuals with musculoskeletal, skin/dermatological, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, hematological, or circulatory disorders were found to be associated with significant difficulties associated with more than five HoNOS domains while others had a lower number of domains affected.

Conclusions

Individuals with SMI and musculoskeletal, skin/dermatological, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, hematological, or circulatory disorders are at higher risk of disability compared to those who do not have those comorbidities. Individuals with SMI and physical comorbidities are at greater risk of reporting difficulties associated with activities of daily living, hallucinations, and cognitive functioning. Therefore, these should be targeted for prevention and intervention programs.
The Affective Dominant: Affective Crisis and Contemporary Fiction
Authors: Demeyer Hans , Vitse Sven
Published: November 2021

Contemporary developments in fiction have so far primarily been interpreted as an attempt to move beyond postmodernism toward a renewed sense of realism and communication. This article suggests an alternative conceptualization and puts forward the hypothesis that contemporary fiction marks a shift toward an affective dominant. In Postmodernist Fiction (1987) Brian McHale defines the dominant as a structure that brings order and hierarchy in a diversity of techniques and motifs in a literary text. Whereas in modernism the dominant is epistemological and in postmodernism it is ontological, in contemporary literature we contend this dominant is affective. The prevailing questions are “How can I feel reality (myself, the other, the past, the present, etc.)?”; “How can I feel to belong to reality?”; and “How can I feel reality to be real?” This affective dominant manifests itself in motifs such as desire, attachment, fantasy, and identification. Formal and narrative devices that in modernist or postmodernist fiction contributed to an epistemological or ontological dominant tend to foreground questions of affectivity in contemporary fiction. Through the analysis of novels by Ben Lerner, Alejandro Zambra, and Zadie Smith this article substantiates this hypothesis. This approach allows us to study contemporary fiction both diachronically, in relation to postmodernism, and synchronically, in relation to its social and ideological context.
Cumulative Structure in Zhuangzi's “The Great and Venerable Teacher”
Authors: Lian Xinda
Published: November 2021

The secret of the “cumulative structure,” one of Zhuangzi's favorite rhetorical devices, is “adding.” To add is not to repeat but to arrange meanings of different shapes in various incremental parallel structures. This effective tool is used in his chapter titled “The Great and Venerable Teacher” to explicate the highest order of true understanding of the Way, or zhenzhi, and to symbolize the climactic pursuit of the Daoist truth. Vertically the Daoist epistemological value system, with the zhenzhi at its apex, is extended into a graphic hierarchy; horizontally the step-by-step progressive process of the attainment of this true knowledge is sometimes subjected to contemplative examination and sometimes compressed along the axle of time flow into an intense moment of sudden enlightenment. Since the cumulative structure works as a living body of correlation, the palpable contour of which corresponds to the message it conveys, it enables the readers to experience—not just to understand—Zhuangzi's teaching.
Between Colonialism and Despotism
Authors: Tuo Jianing
Published: November 2021

The Mengjiang 蒙疆 puppet regime was established in Inner Mongolia by Japanese colonizers, in collaboration with the Mongolian Prince Demchugdongrub, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Mengjiang regime tried to revive Mongolian culture in the name of resisting Chinese despotism. However, the Japanese supported the Mongols' desire for “self-determination” merely to use it as a vehicle for their colonial designs. Through a close reading of several texts that appeared in Sinophone magazines published in Japanese-occupied Inner Mongolia during the war, this article explicates the distinctions between Han writers' and Mongol intellectuals' nationalist writings, in order to theorize the dual oppression of the Mongol minority culture under Japanese colonialism and Chinese despotism. Despite the mission of this so-called Mongolian nation-state to write in a Mongolian style, the Han writers in Mengjiang expressed their ethnic identity through Sinophone literature; at the same time, Sinicized Mongol intellectuals failed to revive Mongolian culture through the same vehicle. In the end, both the former Han despots and the new Japanese colonizers tried to instrumentalize Mongol minority culture to establish their own cultural hegemony. Under this dual oppression of foreign colonialism and native despotism, the Sinophone nationalist writings of the Han majority and the Mongol minority problematize any simple binarism of colonizer and colonized.
Warring Visions
Authors: Phu Thy
Published: November 2021

In Warring Visions, Thy Phu explores photography from dispersed communities throughout Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora, both during and after the Vietnam War, to complicate narratives of conflict and memory. While the visual history of the Vietnam War has been dominated by American documentaries and war photography, Phu turns to photographs circulated by the Vietnamese themselves, capturing a range of subjects, occasions, and perspectives. Phu's concept of warring visions refers to contrasts in the use of war photos in North Vietnam, which highlighted national liberation and aligned themselves with an international audience, and those in South Vietnam, which focused on family and everyday survival. Phu also uses warring visions to enlarge the category of war photography, a genre that usually consists of images illustrating the immediacy of combat and the spectacle of violence, pain, and wounded bodies. She pushes this genre beyond such definitions by analyzing pictures of family life, weddings, and other quotidian scenes of life during the war. Phu thus expands our understanding of how war is waged, experienced, and resolved.
Horn, or The Counterside of Media
Authors: Schmidgen Henning
Published: November 2021

We regularly touch and handle media devices. At the same time, media devices such as body scanners, car seat pressure sensors, and smart phones scan and touch us. In Horn, Henning Schmidgen reflects on the bidirectional nature of touch and the ways in which surfaces constitute a site of mediation between interior and exterior. Schmidgen uses the concept of horn—whether manifested as a rhinoceros horn or a musical instrument—to stand for both natural substances and artificial objects as a space of tactility. He enters into creative dialogue with artists, scientists, and philosophers, ranging from Salvador Dalí, William Kentridge, and Rebecca Horn to Sigmund Freud, Walter Benjamin, and Marshall McLuhan, who plumb the complex interplay between tactility and technological and biological surfaces. Whether analyzing how Dalí conceived of images as tactile entities during his “rhinoceros phase” or examining the problem of tactility in Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, Schmidgen reconfigures understandings of the dynamic phenomena of touch in media.
The zebrafish embryo as an in vivo model for screening nanoparticle-formulated lipophilic anti-tuberculosis compounds
Authors: Knudsen Dal Nils-Jørgen , Speth Martin , Johann Kerstin , Barz Matthias , Beauvineau Claire , Wohlmann Jens , Fenaroli Federico , Gicquel Brigitte , Griffiths Gareth , Alonso-Rodriguez Noelia
Published: November 2021

With the increasing emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, new and effective antibiotics against tuberculosis (TB) are urgently needed. However, the high frequency of poorly water-soluble compounds among hits in high-throughput drug screening campaigns is a major obstacle in drug discovery. Moreover, in vivo testing using conventional animal TB models, such as mice, is time consuming and costly, and represents a major bottleneck in lead compound discovery and development. Here, we report the use of the zebrafish embryo TB model for evaluating the in vivo toxicity and efficacy of five poorly water-soluble nitronaphthofuran derivatives, which were recently identified as possessing anti-TB activity in vitro. To aid solubilization, compounds were formulated in biocompatible polymeric micelles (PMs). Three of the five PM-formulated nitronaphthofuran derivatives showed low toxicity in vivo, significantly reduced bacterial burden and improved survival in infected zebrafish embryos. We propose the zebrafish embryo TB-model as a quick and sensitive tool for evaluating the in vivo toxicity and efficacy of new anti-TB compounds during early stages of drug development. Thus, this model is well suited for pinpointing promising compounds for further development.
The Value of Paratracheal Lymphadenectomy in Esophagectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Gantxegi Amaia , Kingma B. Feike , Ruurda Jelle P. , Nieuwenhuijzen Grard A. P. , Luyer Misha D. P. , van Hillegersberg Richard
Published: November 2021

Background

The role of upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas remains a matter of debate. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of evidence on the incidence of nodal metastases in the upper mediastinum following transthoracic esophagectomy for distal esophageal or GEJ adenocarcinoma.

Methods

A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases up to November 2020 to include studies on patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy for distal esophageal and/or GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoint was the incidence of metastatic nodes in the upper mediastinum based on pathological examination. Secondary endpoints were the definition of upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy rate and survival.

Results

A total of 17 studies were included and the sample sizes ranged from 10-634 patients. Overall, the median incidence of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases was 10.0% (IQR 4.7-16.7). The incidences of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases were 8.3% in the 7 studies that included patients undergoing primary resection (IQR 2.0-16.6), 4,4% in the 1 study that provided neoadjuvant therapy to the full cohort, and 10.6% in the 9 studies that included patients undergoing esophagectomy either with or without neoadjuvant therapy (IQR 8.9-15.8%). Data on survival and RLN palsy rates were scarce and inconclusive.

Conclusions

The incidence of upper mediastinal lymph node metastases in distal esophageal adenocarcinoma is up to 10%. Morbidity should be weighed against potential impact on survival.
Εικονογραφία και λατρεία της δηλιακής τριάδας (Απόλλων, Λητώ, Άρτεμις) στον αρχαίο ελληνικό κόσμο
Authors: Καλαμάρη Ασπασία-Λήδα
Published: November 2021

Η συγκεκριμένη διατριβή θέτει ως πρώτο στόχο, την ερμηνευτική προσέγγιση της εικόνας της δηλιακής τριάδας, Απόλλων-Λητώ-Άρτεμη, μέσω της μελέτης όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερων εικονογραφικών δεδομένων, που καλύπτουν ένα ευρύ χρονικό φάσμα. Τόσο ο γεωγραφικός όσο και χρονολογικός ορίζοντας, θέτουν τις βάσεις μια κοινής λατρείας, όπως αυτή μελετάται κυρίως μέσα από τη γλυπτική τέχνη. Τα πρώτα στοιχεία προκύπτουν ήδη από τον 7ο αι.π.Χ. -με τις καταβολές του τύπου της τριάδας να εντοπίζονται σε ακόμα προγενέστερες περιόδους-, ενώ εικονογραφικά δεδομένα προέρχονται σαφώς και από τη ρωμαϊκή περίοδο. Η παρουσία της λατρείας της δηλιακής τριάδας, ενδυναμώνεται περαιτέρω, από το ευρύ φάσμα της γεωγραφικής εξάπλωσής της, όπως διαπιστώνεται στην περιοχή της Κρήτης, της Πελοποννήσου, της Δήλου, των Δελφών, της Εύβοιας, της Αττικής, της Θεσσαλίας αλλά και της Ιταλίας (λ.χ. Σελινούς) ή της Μ. Ασίας (λ.χ. Κλάρος). Ο προσδιορισμός του συγκεκριμένου εικονογραφικού τύπου προσεγγίζεται μέσα από όλα τα είδη τέχνης - γλυπτική, κεραμική, μικροτεχνία, νομισματική-, καθώς και τις σχετικές φιλολογικές μαρτυρίες και επιγραφικές αναφορές, στοιχεία που ενισχύουν τη θέση της συγκεκριμένης διατριβής.
Managing evolution in web data through complex changes
Authors: Γαλάνη Θεοδώρα
Published: November 2021

Τα δεδομένα που δημοσιεύονται στον ιστό συχνά αλλάζουν, καθώς πιθανά σφάλματα ενδέχεται να πρέπει να διορθωθούν ή να ενσωματωθεί νέα γνώση. Οι χρήστες των δεδομένων πρέπει να γνωρίζουν τί άλλαξε μεταξύ των εκδόσεων, καθώς επίσης πώς και γιατί. Για την κατανόηση της εξέλιξης των δεδομένων, θεωρούμε ότι οι αλλαγές θα πρέπει να αντιμετωπίζονται ως πρώτης τάξης πολίτες. Η αντιμετώπιση των αλλαγών ως πρώτης τάξης πολίτες θέτει πολλές προκλήσεις σχετικά με τη μοντελοποίηση, τον ορισμό, τον εντοπισμό και την επερώτηση αλλαγών. Σε αυτή τη διατριβή, μελετάμε αυτές τις κατευθύνσεις και εργαζόμαστε πάνω σε δύο βασικά πρότυπα για τα δεδομένα ιστού: το RDF και το XML. Πρώτον, προτείναμε τη μοντελοποίηση και την υποστήριξη απλών και σύνθετων αλλαγών, καθώς και τυχόν σχέσεων μεταξύ τους, για την ερμηνεία της εξέλιξης σε βάσεις γνώσης δεδομένων RDF(S). Επιπλέον, ορίσαμε τυπικά μια διαισθητική, φιλική προς τον χρήστη γλώσσα, βασισμένη στη σημασιολογία των αλλαγών για τον ορισμό σύνθετων αλλαγών. Ακόμη, παρουσιάσαμε έναν αλγόριθμο για τον εντοπισμό στιγμιότυπων σύνθετων αλλαγών για την προτεινόμενη γλώσσα ορισμού σύνθετων αλλαγών. Επίσης, παρουσιάστηκε η ορθότητα του προτεινόμενου αλγορίθμου σε σχέση με τη σημασιολογία της γλώσσας. Τέλος, αξιολογήσαμε εκτενώς την προτεινόμενη προσέγγιση τόσο ποιοτικά όσο και πειραματικά. Δεύτερον, προτείναμε μια γλώσσα επερωτήσεων που ονομάζεται evo-path, ως επέκταση της XPath για την επερώτηση τόσο εκδόσεων των δεδομένων όσο και αλλαγών στο πλαίσιο ημιδομημένων δεδομένων XML. Αυτή η εργασία βασίζεται στο evo-graph, ένα μοντέλο που καταγράφει εξελισσόμενα δεδομένα μαζί με αλλαγές, και στο evoXML, μια XML αναπαράσταση του evo-graph. Επίσης, υλοποιήσαμε και αξιολογήσαμε πειραματικά τις βασικές έννοιες του evo-graph στο πλαίσιο «C2D», χρησιμοποιώντας τεχνολογίες XML.
Conversion of natural forests to farmlands and its associated woody species diversity and carbon stocks in a span of 33 years (1984 to 2016): in the case of southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Kefalew Tamiru , Betemariyam Mulugeta , Tolera Motuma
Published: November 2021

Background

Gura-Ferda forest is one of the Afromontane rainforests in the southwestern region of Ethiopia. However, since 1984, large parts of this forest have become increasingly disturbed and fragmented due to forest conversion into forest farm interface and farmlands. The study was conducted to assess changes of woody species diversity and carbon stock in association with the conversion of natural forest to forest farm interface and farmlands.

Methods

Data were collected from natural forest, forest farm interface and farmland which are historically forest lands before 1984. A total of 90 nested plots (20m×20m for natural forest and forest farm interface; 50m*100m for farmland)) were established for inventory of woody species. Three 1m×1m subplots were established to collect litter and soil samples. A total of 180 soil samples were collected. The total carbon stocks were estimated by summing carbon stock in the biomass and soil (0-60 cm depth).

Results

Results showed that Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’) in forest farm interface (H’ = 1.42±0.49) is significantly lower than that of natural forest (H’ = 2.72±0.31) but significantly higher than farmland (H’ = 1.08±0.57). The total carbon stocks of natural forest (388.54±161.63 Mg C ha-1) were approximately 1.53 and 2.67 times higher than that of forest farm interface (252.95±41.86 Mg C ha-1) and farmland (145.58±25.94 Mg C ha-1).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that along the conversion gradient of natural forest to forest farm interface and farmland there was a significant change of woody species diversity and carbon stocks.
An empirical study on Resource Description Framework reification for trustworthiness in knowledge graphs
Authors: Govindapillai Sini , Soon Lay-Ki , Haw Su-Cheng
Published: November 2021

Knowledge graph (KG) publishes machine-readable representation of knowledge on the Web. Structured data in the knowledge graph is published using Resource Description Framework (RDF) where knowledge is represented as a triple (subject, predicate, object). Due to the presence of erroneous, outdated or conflicting data in the knowledge graph, the quality of facts cannot be guaranteed. Trustworthiness of facts in knowledge graph can be enhanced by the addition of metadata like the source of information, location and time of the fact occurrence. Since RDF does not support metadata for providing provenance and contextualization, an alternate method, RDF reification is employed by most of the knowledge graphs. RDF reification increases the magnitude of data as several statements are required to represent a single fact. Another limitation for applications that uses provenance data like in the medical domain and in cyber security is that not all facts in these knowledge graphs are annotated with provenance data. In this paper, we have provided an overview of prominent reification approaches together with the analysis of popular, general knowledge graphs Wikidata and YAGO4 with regard to the representation of provenance and context data. Wikidata employs qualifiers to include metadata to facts, while YAGO4 collects metadata from Wikidata qualifiers. However, facts in Wikidata and YAGO4 can be fetched without using reification to cater for applications that do not require metadata. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper that investigates the method and the extent of metadata covered by two prominent KGs, Wikidata and YAGO4.
Targeted gene knock-in reduces variation between transformants in the mushroom-forming fungus Schizophyllum commune
Authors: Vonk Peter Jan , Ohm Robin A.
Published: November 2021

Gene integration in mushroom-forming fungi currently occurs by the ectopic integration of a plasmid. The locus of integration is unpredictable and, problematically, this generally results in a high variability in gene expression and phenotypes between the transformants. Here, we developed an approach for targeted gene integration (knock-in) in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune by replacing a 75-bp non-coding region of the genome with a selection marker and an arbitrary gene of interest using CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. To assess the suitability of our method, we compared targeted integration and ectopic integration of the gene encoding the red fluorescent protein dTomato. Targeted integration resulted in a higher average fluorescence intensity and less variability between the transformants. This method may be applied to any gene construct and may therefore greatly increase the efficiency of functional gene analysis in S. commune.
Chinese Heritage with European Characteristics: International and Domestic Dimensions of the China’s Cultural Heritage Politics
Authors: Wardęga Joanna
Published: November 2021

The discussion on Chinese cultural heritage started to emerge as a result of inspiration coming from foreign travels of Chinese scholars-officials and as protective measures against looting of artifacts in the 19th and 20th centuries. The most spectacular robberies were carried out by Anglo-French forces in the Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan) during the Second Opium War in 1860. That event became one of the cornerstones of the “century of humiliation” (bainian guochi) in the Chinese historical narrative. Even though the Communist Revolution classified historical sites as remnants of feudalism, today the Communist Party of China has assumed the role of a defender of the Chinese heritage. In contemporary China, its cultural heritage is a phenomenon of both domestic and international significance. The Chinese emphasize the antiquity of the Chinese nation, pointing to the origins of Chinese civilization as early as five thousand years ago. In contemporary China, recovering cultural treasures is important for the political legitimacy of a government and for erasing the national humiliation.
The Elements of the China Challenge: Reading the Trump Administration’s China Policy Testament
Authors: Kowalski Bartosz
Published: November 2021

Between 2017 and 2021 Donald Trump’s administration published over a dozen strategic documents on China among which The Elements of the China Challenge seems to stand out as it outlines a longer perspective and sketches a wider framework for US policy towards China. This paper attempts to examine the major assumptions of The Elements, arguing that by putting forward an anti-imperialist rhetoric, the American policy-makers want to emphasize the systemic differences with China, the importance of which have long been underplayed by Western policy-makers who have given precedence to economic considerations. However, the analysis also gives weight to the argument that the strong ideological appeal in The Elements is also intended to mobilize the American allies, anchor them to the leader of the “free world,” and reduce their tendencies to cooperate with China, including in 5G technology as in the case of Central and Eastern Europe.
Tunable terahertz Dirac-semimetal hybrid plasmonic waveguides
Authors: He Xiaoyong , Lin Fangting , Liu Feng , Shi Wangzhou
Published: November 2021

Based on the Dirac semimetals (DSM) modified hybrid plasmonic waveguides, the tunable propagation properties have been systematical investigated by using the finite element method in the THz region, including the influences of structural parameters, the shape of dielectric fiber and Fermi levels of DSM layers. The results show that as the operation frequency increases, the real part of propagation constant increases, and the loss shows a peak. The shape of dielectric fiber (the elliptical structural parameter δ) affects the propagation property obviously, as the structural parameter decreases, the confinement and figure of merit increase, the loss reduces. With the increase of Fermi level of DSM layer, the imaginary part of propagation constant decreases, the modulation depth of loss is more than 95% if the Fermi level changes in the range of 0.01-0.15 eV. In addition, as the permittivity of dielectric material filling in the slit increases, the mode confinement and loss increases, FOM decreases. The results are very helpful to understand the tunable mechanisms of hybrid waveguides and design novel plasmonic devices in the future, e.g. modulators, filters, lasers and resonators.
Variant profiling of colorectal adenomas from three patients of two families with MSH3-related adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Perne Claudia , Peters Sophia , Cartolano Maria , Horpaopan Sukanya , Grimm Christina , Altmüller Janine , Sommer Anna K. , Hillmer Axel M. , Thiele Holger , Odenthal Margarete , Möslein Gabriela , Adam Ronja , Sivalingam Sugirthan , Kirfel Jutta , Schweiger Michal R. , Peifer Martin , Spier Isabel , Aretz Stefan
Published: November 2021

The spectrum of somatic genetic variation in colorectal adenomas caused by biallelic pathogenic germline variants in the MSH3 gene, was comprehensively analysed to characterise mutational signatures and identify potential driver genes and pathways of MSH3-related tumourigenesis. Three patients from two families with MSH3-associated polyposis were included. Whole exome sequencing of nine adenomas and matched normal tissue was performed. The amount of somatic variants in the MSH3-deficient adenomas and the pattern of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) was similar to sporadic adenomas, whereas the fraction of small insertions/deletions (indels) (21–42% of all small variants) was significantly higher. Interestingly, pathogenic somatic APC variants were found in all but one adenoma. The vast majority (12/13) of these were di-, tetra-, or penta-base pair (bp) deletions. The fraction of APC indels was significantly higher than that reported in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (p < 0.01) or in sporadic adenomas (p < 0.0001). In MSH3-deficient adenomas, the occurrence of APC indels in a repetitive sequence context was significantly higher than in FAP patients (p < 0.01). In addition, the MSH3-deficient adenomas harboured one to five (recurrent) somatic variants in 13 established or candidate driver genes for early colorectal carcinogenesis, including ACVR2A and ARID genes. Our data suggest that MSH3-related colorectal carcinogenesis seems to follow the classical APC-driven pathway. In line with the specific function of MSH3 in the mismatch repair (MMR) system, we identified a characteristic APC mutational pattern in MSH3-deficient adenomas, and confirmed further driver genes for colorectal tumourigenesis.
Differential expression of gut protein genes and population density of Arsenophonus contributes to sex-biased transmission of Bemisia tabaci vectored Cotton leaf curl virus
Authors: Singh Ikbalpreet , Kaur Ramandeep , Kumar Ashok , Singh Satnam , Sharma Abhishek
Published: November 2021

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is an important pest of cotton causing direct damage as sap feeder and vector of Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV). Previous few studies suggest that female whiteflies are more efficient vector of begomovirusthan males, however the sex-biased transmission efficiency is still not clearly understood. Present studies with B. tabaci AsiaII-1 haplotype showed higher virus transmission efficiency of females compared to males. This variable begomovirus transmission efficiency has been related to previously identifiedkey factors associated with B. tabaci. The higher density of endosymbiont Arsenophonus and variable expression of some midgut proteins genes i.e. Cyclophilin, Knottin, Hsp40, Hsp70 may be possibly imparting higher vector competency to the females compared to males. The present studies suggest low abundance of Arsenophonus spp. as well as lower expressionof Cyclophilin genein males as compared to females. This is further supplemented by overexpression of Knottin, Hsp40, and Hsp70 genes in males compared to females and thus collectively all these factors might be playing a key role in low virus transmission efficiency of males. The relative density of Arsenophonus spp. and expression of midgut proteins genes in male and female whitefly first time enriches our understanding about sex-biased transmission efficiency of begomovirus.
Evaluation of a novel, rapid antigen detection test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Thell Rainer , Kallab Verena , Weinhappel Wolfgang , Mueckstein Wolfgang , Heschl Lukas , Heschl Martina , Korsatko Stefan , Toedling Franz , Blaschke Amelie , Herzog Theresa , Klicpera Anna , Koeller Clara , Haugk Moritz , Kreil Anna , Spiel Alexander , Kreuzer Philipp , Krause Robert , Sebesta Christian , Winkler Stefan , Laky Brenda , Szell Marton
Published: November 2021

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently finally determined in laboratory settings by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase-chain-reaction (rt-PCR). However, simple testing with immediately available results are crucial to gain control over COVID-19. The aim was to evaluate such a point-of-care antigen rapid test (AG-rt) device in its performance compared to laboratory-based rt-PCR testing in COVID-19 suspected, symptomatic patients.

Methods

For this prospective study, two specimens each of 541 symptomatic female (54.7%) and male (45.3%) patients aged between 18 and 95 years tested at five emergency departments (ED, n = 296) and four primary healthcare centres (PHC, n = 245), were compared, using AG-rt (positive/negative/invalid) and rt-PCR (positive/negative and cycle threshold, Ct) to diagnose SARS-CoV-2. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and likelihood ratios (LR+/-) of the AG-rt were assessed.

Results

Differences between ED and PHC were detected regarding gender, age, symptoms, disease prevalence, and diagnostic performance. Overall, 174 (32.2%) were tested positive on AG-rt and 213 (39.4%) on rt-PCR. AG correctly classified 91.7% of all rt-PCR positive cases with a sensitivity of 80.3%, specificity of 99.1%, PPV of 98.3, NPV of 88.6%, LR(+) of 87.8, and LR(-) of 0.20. The highest sensitivities and specificities of AG-rt were detected in PHC (sensitivity: 84.4%, specificity: 100.0%), when using Ct of 30 as cut-off (sensitivity: 92.5%, specificity: 97.8%), and when symptom onset was within the first three days (sensitivity: 82.9%, specificity: 99.6%).

Conclusions

The highest sensitivity was detected with a high viral load. Our findings suggest that AG-rt are comparable to rt-PCR to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 suspected symptomatic patients presenting both at emergency departments and primary health care centres.
Microglial-stimulation of glioma invasion involves the EGFR ligand amphiregulin
Authors: Coniglio Salvatore J. , Segall Jeffrey E.
Published: November 2021

High grade glioma is one of the deadliest human cancers with a median survival rate of only one year following diagnosis. The highly motile and invasive nature of high grade glioma makes it difficult to completely remove surgically. Therefore, increasing our knowledge of the mechanisms glioma cells use to invade normal brain is of critical importance in designing novel therapies. It was previously shown by our laboratory that tumor-associated microglia (TAMs) stimulate glioma cell invasion and this process is dependent on CSF-1R signaling. In this study, we seek to identify pro-invasive factors that are upregulated in microglia in a CSF-1R-dependent manner. We assayed cDNA and protein from microglia treated with conditioned media from the murine glioma cell line GL261, and discovered that several EGFR ligands including amphiregulin (AREG) are strongly upregulated. This upregulation is blocked by addition of a pharmacological CSF-1R inhibitor. Using RNA interference, we show that AREG-depleted microglia are less effective at promoting invasion of GL261 cells into Matrigel-coated invasion chambers. In addition, an AREG blocking antibody strongly attenuates the ability of THP-1 macrophages to activate human glioma cell line U87 invasion. Furthermore, we have identified a signaling pathway which involves CSF-1 signaling through ERK to upregulate AREG expression in microglia. Interfering with ERK using pharmacological inhibitors prevents AREG upregulation in microglia and microglia-stimulated GL261 invasion. These data highlight AREG as a key factor in produced by tumor associated microglia in promoting glioma invasion.