bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival after radical prostatectomy versus radiation therapy in clinical node‐positive prostate cancer
Authors: Chierigo Francesco , Borghesi Marco , Würnschimmel Christoph , Flammia Rocco S. , Horlemann Benedikt , Sorce Gabriele , Hoeh Benedikt , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Graefen Markus , Gallucci Michele , Briganti Alberto , Montorsi Francesco , Chun Felix K. H. , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Mantica Guglielmo , Suardi Nazareno , Terrone Carlo , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: February 2022

Aim

To compare overall mortality (OM), cancer‐specific mortality (CSM), and other cause mortality (OCM) rates between radical prostatectomy (RP) versus radiotherapy (RT) in clinical node‐positive (cN1) prostate cancer (PCa).

Materials and Methods

Within Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) (2004–2016), we identified 4685 cN1 PCa patients, of whom 3589 (76.6%) versus 1096 (24.4%) were treated with RP versus RT. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan–Meier plots and Cox regression models tested the effect of RP versus RT on OM, while cumulative incidence plots and competing‐risks regression (CRR) models addressed CSM and OCM between RP and RT patients. All analyses were repeated after the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). For CSM and OCM analyses, the propensity score was used as a covariate in the regression model.

Results

Overall, RT patients were older, harbored higher prostate‐specific antigen values, higher clinical T and higher Gleason grade groups. PSM resulted in two equally sized groups of 894 RP versus 894 RT patients. After PSM, 5‐year OM, CSM, and OCM rates were, respectively, 15.4% versus 25%, 9.3% versus 17%, and 6.1% versus 8% for RP versus RT (all p < 0.001) and yielded respective multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.63 (0.52–0.78, p < 0.001), 0.66 (0.52–0.86, p < 0.001), 0.71 (0.5–1.0, p = 0.05), all favoring RP. After IPTW, Cox regression models yielded HR of 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46–0.66) for OM, and CRR yielded HRs of 0.49 (0.34–0.70) and 0.54 (0.36–0.79) for, respectively, CSM and OCM, all favoring RP (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

RP may hold a CSM advantage over RT in cN1 PCa patients.
βArrestin1 regulates glucocorticoid receptor mitogenic signaling in castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Purayil Hamsa Thayele , Daaka Yehia
Published: February 2022

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in males. The disease is initially treated with methods that inhibit androgen receptor (AR) signal transduction. Laboratory‐based and clinical studies have identified alternative pathways that cause the failure of AR signal inhibition and consequent development of castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling is activated in certain PC patients and promotes the emergence of CRPC, although by as yet incompletely understood mechanisms. We have previously demonstrated that ubiquitous βarrestin1 (βArr1) expression levels are linked to PC progression. Here, we consider the possibility that βArr1 interacts with and activates GR in model CRPC cells.

Methods

Bioinformatic analysis of tumor xenograft and human PC datasets was used to correlate the expression of βArr1 and GR. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy, and subcellular fractionation were used to determine protein expression level and localization. Immunoprecipitation was applied to detect protein‐protein interactions. RNA expression levels were determined using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Prostate sphere analysis was used to assess the rate of growth and invasion. The xenograft tumor implantation method was used to determine the tumor growth rate, local invasion, and metastasis.

Results

Elevated expression of βArr1 positively correlated with increased GR expression and function in CRPC xenograft and in human PC patients. βArr1 is expressed in the cell cytosol and nucleus, and it formed a complex with GR in the nucleus and not cytosol. Depletion of βArr1 in AR‐null CRPC cells inhibited GR function and CRPC growth and invasion in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

Conclusions

βArr1 binds GR that initiates mitogenic signaling cascades involved in the progression of PC to CRPC. The targeting of the βArr1‐GR axis may provide a new opportunity to better manage the CRPC disease.
Fresh tissue procurement and preparation for multicompartment and multimodal analysis of the prostate tumor microenvironment
Authors: Vitek Ross A. , Huang Wei , Geiger Peter G. , Heninger Erika , Lang Joshua M. , Jarrard David F. , Beebe David J. , Johnson Brian P.
Published: February 2022

Background

Prostatic cancers include a diverse microenvironment of tumor cells, cancer‐associated fibroblasts, and immune components. This tumor microenvironment (TME) is a known driving force of tumor survival after treatment, but the standard‐of‐care tissue freezing or fixation in pathology practice limit the use of available approaches/tools to study the TME's functionality in tumor resistance. Thus, there is a need for approaches that satisfy both clinical and laboratory endpoints for TME study. Here we present methods for clinical case identification, tissue processing, and analytical workflow that are compatible with standard histopathology while enabling molecular and functional interrogation of prostate TME components.

Methods

We first performed a small retrospective review to identify cases where submission of alternate prostate tissue slices and a parallel live tissue processing protocol complement traditional histopathology and enable viable multicompartment analysis of the TME. Then, we tested its compatibility with commonly employed methods to study the microenvironment including quantification of components both in situ and after tissue dissociation. We also evaluated tissue digestion conditions and cell isolation techniques to aid various molecular and functional endpoints.

Results

We identified Gleason Grade Group 3+ clinical cases where tumor volume was sufficient to allow slicing of unfixed tissue and distribution of alternating tissue slices to standard‐of‐care histopathology and viable multi‐modal TME analyses. No single method was found that preserved cellular sub‐types for all downstream readouts; instead, tissues were further divided so techniques could be catered to each endpoint. For instance, we show that incorporating the protease dispase into tissue dissociation improves viability for culture and functional analyses but hinders immune cell analysis by flow cytometry. We also found that flow activated cell sorting provides highly pure cell populations for quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and RNA‐seq while isolation using antibody‐labeled paramagnetic particles facilitated functional coculture experiments.

Conclusions

The identification of candidate cases and use of these techniques enable translational research and the development of molecular and functional assays to facilitate prostate TME study without compromising standard‐of‐care histopathological diagnosis. This allows bridging clinical histopathology and further interrogation of the prostate TME and promises to advance our understanding of tumor biology and unveil new predictive and prognostic markers of prostate cancer progression.
The affinity and selectivity of α‐adrenoceptor antagonists, antidepressants and antipsychotics for the human α2A, α2B, and α2C‐adrenoceptors and comparison with human α1 and β‐adrenoceptors
Authors: Proudman Richard G.W. , Akinaga Juliana , Baker Jillian G.
Published: February 2022

α2‐Adrenoceptors, subdivided into α2A, α2B, and α2C subtypes and expressed in heart, blood vessels, kidney, platelets and brain, are important for blood pressure, sedation, analgesia, and platelet aggregation. Brain α2C‐adrenoceptor blockade has also been suggested to be beneficial for antipsychotic action. However, comparing α2‐adrenoceptor subtype affinity is difficult due to significant species and methodology differences in published studies. Here, 3H‐rauwolscine whole cell binding was used to determine the affinity and selectivity of 99 α‐antagonists (including antidepressants and antipsychotics) in CHO cells expressing human α2A, α2B, or α2C‐adrenoceptors, using an identical method to β and α1‐adrenoceptor measurements, thus allowing direct human receptor comparisons. Yohimbine, RX821002, RS79948, and atipamezole are high affinity non‐selective α2‐antagonists. BRL44408 was the most α2A‐selective antagonist, although its α1A‐affinity (81 nM) is only 9‐fold greater than its α2C‐affinity. MK‐912 is the highest‐affinity, most α2C‐selective antagonist (0.15 nM α2C‐affinity) although its α2C‐selectivity is only 13‐fold greater than at α2A. There are no truely α2B‐selective antagonists. A few α‐ligands with significant β‐affinity were detected, for example, naftopidil where its clinical α1A‐affinity is only 3‐fold greater than off‐target β2‐affinity. Antidepressants (except mirtazapine) and first‐generation antipsychotics have higher α1A than α2‐adrenoceptor affinity but poor β‐affinity. Second‐generation antipsychotics varied widely in their α2‐adrenoceptor affinity. Risperidone (9 nM) and paliperidone (14 nM) have the highest α2C‐adrenoceptor affinity however this is only 5‐fold selective over α2A, and both have a higher affinity for α1A (2 nM and 4 nM, respectively). So, despite a century of yohimbine use, and decades of α2‐subtype studies, there remains plenty of scope to develop α2‐subtype selective antagonists.
Microporous Multiresonant Plasmonic Meshes by Hierarchical Micro–Nanoimprinting for Bio‐Interfaced SERS Imaging and Nonlinear Nano‐Optics
Authors: Garg Aditya , Mejia Elieser , Nam Wonil , Nie Meitong , Wang Wei , Vikesland Peter , Zhou Wei
Published: February 2022

Microporous mesh plasmonic devices have the potential to combine the biocompatibility of microporous polymeric meshes with the capabilities of plasmonic nanostructures to enhance nanoscale light–matter interactions for bio‐interfaced optical sensing and actuation. However, scalable integration of dense and uniformly structured plasmonic hotspot arrays with microporous polymeric meshes remains challenging due to the processing incompatibility of conventional nanofabrication methods with flexible microporous substrates. Here, scalable nanofabrication of microporous multiresonant plasmonic meshes (MMPMs) is achieved via a hierarchical micro‐/nanoimprint lithography approach using dissolvable polymeric templates. It is demonstrated that MMPMs can serve as broadband nonlinear nanoplasmonic devices to generate second‐harmonic generation, third‐harmonic generation, and upconversion photoluminescence signals with multiresonant plasmonic enhancement under fs pulse excitation. Moreover, MMPMs are employed and explored as bio‐interfaced surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy mesh sensors to enable in situ spatiotemporal molecular profiling of bacterial biofilm activity. Microporous mesh plasmonic devices open exciting avenues for bio‐interfaced optical sensing and actuation applications, such as inflammation‐free epidermal sensors in conformal contact with skin, combined tissue‐engineering and biosensing scaffolds for in vitro 3D cell culture models, and minimally invasive implantable probes for long‐term disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
Iron Selenide‐Based Heterojunction Construction and Defect Engineering for Fast Potassium/Sodium‐Ion Storage
Authors: Kong Zhen , Wang Lu , Iqbal Sikandar , Zhang Bo , Wang Bin , Dou Jianmin , Wang Fengbo , Qian Yitai , Zhang Meng , Xu Liqiang
Published: February 2022

Suitable anode materials with high capacity and long cycling stability, especially capability at high current densities, are urgently needed to advance the development of potassium ion batteries (PIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, a porous Ni‐doped FeSe2/Fe3Se4 heterojunction encapsulated in Se‐doped carbon (NF11S/C) is designed through selenization of MOFs precursor. The porous composite possesses enriched active sites and facilitates transport for both ion and electron. Ni‐doping is adopted to enrich the lattice defects and active sites. The Se–C bond and carbon framework endow integrity of the composite and hamper aggregation of selenide nano‐particles during potassiation/de‐potassiation. The NF11S/C exhibits exceptional rate performance and ultra‐long cycling stability (177.3 mA h g−1 after 3050 cycles at 2 A g−1 for PIBs and 208.8 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 8 A g−1 for SIBs). The potassiation/de‐potassiation mechanism is investigated via ex‐situ X‐ray powder diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectrocopy and Raman analysis. PTCDA//NF11S/C full cell stably cycles for 1200 cycles at 200 mA g−1 with a capacity of 103.7 mA h g−1, indicating the high application potential of the electrode for highly stable rechargeable batteries.
Ruthenium Complex of sp2 Carbon‐Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Zhao Yuxiang , Liang Ying , Wu Daoxiong , Tian Hao , Xia Tian , Wang Wenxin , Xie Weiyu , Hu Xin‐Ming , Tian Xinlong , Chen Qi
Published: February 2022

It is still a great challenge to explore hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with both lower overpotential and higher stability in acidic electrolytes. In this work, an efficient HER catalyst, Ru@COF‐1, is prepared by complexation of triazine‐cored sp2 carbon‐conjugated covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with ruthenium ion. Ru@COF‐1 possesses high crystallinity and porosity, which are beneficial for electrocatalysis. The large specific surface area and regular porous channels of Ru@COF‐1 facilitate full contact between reactants and catalytic sites. The nitrogen atoms of triazines are protonated in the acidic media, which greatly improve the conductivity of Ru@COF‐1. This synergistic effect makes the overpotential of Ru@COF‐1 about 200 mV at 10 mA cm–2, which is lower than other reported COFs‐based electrocatalysts. Moreover, Ru@COF‐1 exhibits exceptionally electrocatalytic durability in the acidic electrolytes. It is particularly stable and remains highly active after 1000 cyclic voltammetry cycles. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that tetracoordinated Ru‐N2Cl2 moieties are the major contributors to the outstanding HER performance. This work provides a new idea for developing protonated HER electrocatalysts in acidic media.
3D Printed High Performance Silver Mesh for Transparent Glass Heaters through Liquid Sacrificial Substrate Electric‐Field‐Driven Jet
Authors: Li Hongke , Li Zhenghao , Li Na , Zhu Xiaoyang , Zhang Yuan‐Fang , Sun Luanfa , Wang Rui , Zhang Jinbao , Yang Zhongming , Yi Hao , Xu Xiaofeng , Lan Hongbo
Published: February 2022

Transparent glass with metal mesh is considered a promising strategy for high performance transparent glass heaters (TGHs). However, the realization of simple, low‐cost manufacture of high performance TGHs still faces great challenges. Here, a technique for the fabrication of high performance TGHs is proposed using liquid sacrificial substrate electric‐field‐driven (LS‐EFD) microscale 3D printing of thick film silver paste. The liquid sacrificial substrate not only significantly improves the aspect ratio (AR) of silver mesh, but also plays a positive role in printing stability. The fabricated TGHs with a line width of 35 µm, thickness of 12.3 µm, and pitch of 1000 µm exhibit a desirable optoelectronic performance with sheet resistance (Rs) of 0.195 Ω sq−1 and transmittance (T) of 88.97%. A successful deicing test showcases the feasibility and practicality of the manufactured TGHs. Moreover, an interface evaporator is developed for the coordination of photothermal and electrothermal systems based on the high performance TGHs. The vapor generation rate of the device reaches 10.69 kg m−2 h−1 with a voltage of 2 V. The proposed technique is a promising strategy for the cost‐effective and simple fabrication of high performance TGHs.
High‐Performance Potassium‐Tellurium Batteries Stabilized by Interface Engineering
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhu Hongzheng , Freschi Donald J. , Liu Jian
Published: February 2022

The emerging potassium‐tellurium (K‐Te) battery system is expected to realize fast reaction kinetics and excellent rate performance due to the exceptional electrical conductivity of Te. However, there has been a lack of fundamental knowledge about this new K‐Te system, including the reaction mechanism and cathode structure design. Herein, a two‐step reaction pathway from Te to K2Te3 and ultimately to K5Te3 is investigated in carbonate electrolyte‐based K‐Te batteries by X‐ray diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction characterizations. Additionally, the atomic layer deposition technique is adopted to deposit an ultrathin aluminum oxide (Al2O3) film on the electrode surface, which induces the generation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase layer and reduces the loss of active materials effectively. Consequently, the rationally fabricated Te/porous carbon cathode with functional Al2O3 coating delivers remarkable long‐term cycling stability over 500 cycles at 1 C with an ultralow capacity decay of only 0.01% per cycle. This interface engineering strategy is validated to stabilize the electrode surface, enhance the structural integrity and ensure reliable electron transfer and K‐ion conduction over repeated potassiation/depotassiation cycles. These findings are expected to promote the development of high‐energy‐density K‐S/Se/Te batteries.
A novel approach to model for the management of drinking water and sanitation services at municipal scale
Authors: Peraza‐Barreto Yorman Gustavo , Lugo‐Piña Kerlyn Zoraida , Márquez‐Romance Adriana Mercedes , Guevara‐Pérez Edilberto , Pérez‐Pacheco Sergio Alejandro , Buroz‐Castillo Eduardo
Published: February 2022

This paper deals with a novel approach to the model for the management of drinking water and sanitation services at the municipal level for the Municipality of San Joaquin, Carabobo State, Venezuela (SJM‐CS). The Autonomous Institute of Water (IAGUASAJO) of the SJM‐CS showed a significant increase in the performance of its functions with respect to the Municipal Directorate of Water and Public Works in the period 2019–2021. In the period 2020–2021, IAGUASANJO has performed functions with the main service provider at the regional/national level as well as with the communal councils of four communes located within the Municipality of San Joaquin. These functions encompassed the supervision, inspection, construction and rehabilitation of drinking water and sanitation services, making progress in the process of transition from the provision of services from the regional/national provider to the local provider at the municipal level.
Manifesting sustainable food packaging from biodegradable materials: A review
Authors: As'ad Mahpuz Ahmad Suhaib , Muhamad Sanusi Nurul Adriana Syazwani , Jusoh Aliya Nazeera Che , Amin Nurul Juliana Mohd , Musa Nur Fashya , Sarabo Zulaikha , Othman Nor Zalina
Published: February 2022

The application of petroleum‐based plastic worldwide causes the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills, which negatively impacts the environment such as reducing the quality of soil and may cause soil and water pollution. Most of the conventional plastics used have a long lifespan to completely degrade. According to the rapid development of the food industry, plastic packaging plays a key role in food quality and safety, thus making it a major role in controlling the food security system. The alternative use of plastic sources from biopolymers is one of the methods to support environmental sustainability actions. This review provides an overview of studies on principles and challenges of sustainable packaging including different types of biopolymer compounds properties and biodegradability of bioplastics in soil by microorganisms. The biopolymers composition in biodegradable plastic is important in designing better mechanical, physical, and barrier properties during degradation by microorganisms and application in food industries.
Intercultural Education in Brazil
Authors: Akkari Abdeljalil , Radhouane Myriam
Published: February 2022

Brazil is a country of continental dimensions making up half of South America, both in its surface area and in its population. Its history and ethno-cultural diversity have converted this vast space into a unique place for the application of intercultural approaches in education. In this chapter, we will examine the reasons inciting public educational policies to pay attention to this theme, but we will also describe the resulting tensions.
Some Patterns of Convincing Software Engineering Research, or: How to Win the Ernst Denert Software Engineering Award 2020
Authors: Prechelt Lutz
Published: February 2022

We explain what properties the jury looked for to identify strong contributions and why they are important. They are formulated as seven pieces of advice: (1) Be in scope, (2) Enumerate your assumptions, (3) Delineate your contribution, (4) Honestly discuss limitations, (5) Show usefulness and practical applicability, (6) Have a well-prepared nutshell, and (7) Be timeless.
How to Effectively Reduce Failure Analysis Time?
Authors: Golagha Mojdeh
Published: February 2022

Debugging is one of the most expensive and challenging phases in the software development life-cycle. One important cost factor in the debugging process is the time required to analyze failures and find underlying faults. Two types of techniques that can help developers to reduce this analysis time are Failure Clustering and Automated Fault Localization. Although there is a plethora of these techniques in the literature, there are still some gaps that prevent their operationalization in real-world contexts. Besides, the abundance of these techniques confuses the developers in selecting a suitable method for their specific domain. In order to help developers in reducing analysis time, we propose methodologies and techniques that can be used standalone or in a form of a tool-chain. Utilizing this tool-chain, developers (1) know which data they need for further analysis, (2) are able to group failures based on their root causes, and (3) are able to find more information about the root causes of each failing group. Our tool-chain was initially developed based on state-of-the-art failure diagnosis techniques. We implemented and evaluated existing techniques. We built on and improved them where the results were promising and proposed new solutions where needed. The overarching goal of this study has been the applicability of techniques in practice.
Dynamically Scalable Fog Architectures
Authors: Henze Dominic
Published: February 2022

Recent advances in mobile connectivity as well as increased computational power and storage in sensor devices have given rise to a new family of software architectures with challenges for data and communication paths as well as architectural reconfigurability at runtime. Established in 2012, Fog Computing describes one of these software architectures. It lacks a commonly accepted definition, which manifests itself in the missing support for mobile applications as well as dynamically changing runtime configurations. The dissertation “Dynamically Scalable Fog Architectures” provides a framework that formalizes Fog Computing and adds support for dynamic and scalable Fog Architectures.

The framework called xFog (Extension for Fog Computing) models Fog Architectures based on set theory and graphs. It consists of three parts: xFogCore, xFogPlus, and xFogStar. xFogCore establishes the set theoretical foundations. xFogPlus enables dynamic and scalable Fog Architectures to dynamically add new components or layers. Additionally, xFogPlus provides a View concept which allows stakeholders to focus on different levels of abstraction.

These formalizations establish the foundation for new concepts in the area of Fog Computing. One such concept, xFogStar, provides a workflow to find the best service configuration based on quality of service parameters.

The xFog framework has been applied in eight case studies to investigate the applicability of dynamic Fog Components, scalable Fog Architectures, and the service provider selection at runtime. The case studies, covering different application domains—ranging from smart environments, health, and metrology to gaming—successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the formalizations provided by xFog, the dynamic change of Fog Architectures by adding new components and layers at runtime, as well as the applicability of a workflow to establish the best service configuration.
Introduction: Violence and Welfare
Authors: Obinger Herbert , Schmitt Carina
Published: February 2022

This chapter sheds light on the impact of violent interdependencies on social policy dynamics in different settings. Concretely, it elucidates the effects and underlying causal mechanisms between war and colonialism on the one hand and social policies on the other hand. This chapter provides a brief overview of current research and serves as a background for the following chapters of Part I, which examine concrete effects of war and colonialism on specific social policies around the world.
Opposition to the Washington Consensus: The IMF and Social Policy Reforms in Post-Soviet Russia
Authors: Pleines Heiko
Published: February 2022

Financial collapse forced Russia into an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1998. As part of its conditionality the IMF demanded severe cuts to the country’s social security system, which led to a public backlash against the agreement. However, six years later, after Russia had repaid all its debts to the IMF and started pursuing its economic policy independently, it re-introduced the monetisation of in-kind social benefits—one of the key reforms it had failed to implement as part of the earlier IMF agreement. The analysis of a similar reform attempt with and without IMF involvement shows that domestic policy-makers can genuinely subscribe to neoliberal reforms. It also helps to assess the IMF’s “mixed” approach to domestic opposition against its conditionality.
Globalisation, Economic Interdependencies and Economic Crises
Authors: Mossig Ivo , Lischka Michael
Published: February 2022

Since the early 1990s, globalisation has become a core subject of social science research. By analysing long-term data on trade, economic growth and foreign direct investments (FDI), we identify three different waves of economic globalisation separated by episodes of deep economic crises like the Great Depression. We discuss the causes and specific manifestations of economic globalisation and economic crises in each phase and briefly outline their impact on the dynamics of social policy. This introduction to Part III “Globalization, Economic Interdependencies and Economic Crises” thus represents the background for the following eight chapters examining key aspects of the effects of global economic developments on the introduction and design of social policies.
Mass Warfare and the Development of the Modern Welfare State: An Analysis of the Western World, 1914–1950
Authors: Obinger Herbert , Schmitt Carina , Seelkopf Laura
Published: February 2022

The impact of war on the development of welfare states in the Western world has recently attracted growing attention (Castles, Journal of European Social Policy, 20, 91–101, 2010; Rehm, Risk Inequality and Welfare States. Social Policy Preferences, Development, and Dynamics. Cambridge University Press, 2016; Obinger et al., Warfare and Welfare. Military Conflict and Welfare State Development in Western Countries. Oxford University Press, 2018). The horrors caused by both world wars, military demobilisation, post-war economic and political crises and war-induced institutional transformations created a huge demand for social protection that states were well-placed to fill. This chapter examines the impact of both world wars on the development and reshaping of social policies in the Western world. The immense costs of mass warfare also led to the introduction of new taxes such as the income tax and massive tax hikes of existing taxes. These new revenue sources were not only needed to pay for the war debt, but also brought the fiscal resources to pay for newly introduced programmes such as unemployment insurance and for the extensions of existing welfare schemes. In addition to policy innovations and reforms, both world wars also led to institutional innovations such as the establishment of welfare ministries. By using a sample of twenty-one Western countries, we present social policy trends and developments during and in the short aftermath of World Wars I and II.
Did Migrants Build the Welfare State? Migration as a Social Policy Driver in Early Twentieth-Century Uruguay
Authors: Huhle Teresa
Published: February 2022

This chapter analyses the links between transatlantic migration and the social policies that gave Uruguay the fame of being Latin America’s first welfare state in the early twentieth century. Three lines of impact will be examined: (a) how Uruguayan politicians framed health and labour legislation as a means to attract migrant workers and used the reforms in their recruitment of European migrants; (b) how migrants shaped the labour movement, which successfully demanded and negotiated social policies, and organised welfare in mutual societies; and (c) how second- and third-generation migrants formed part of social policy reform circles.
By Way of Conclusion: Future Research
Authors: Nullmeier Frank , de Reufels Delia González , Obinger Herbert
Published: February 2022

This chapter evaluates existing approaches and highlights the directions research on social policy development will be most likely to take in the near future once inter- and transnational interdependencies of national social policies receive more attention in general. These have been traced here through a series of individual stories that aspire to add to a more complex and comprehensive picture of how the national and the global come together in the field of social policy in an attempt to better understand how the different levels interact to shape social policy. The aim is more interrelated and more systematic research for which a plurality of approaches is recommendable.
Introduction
Authors: Stern Maria , Towns Ann E.
Published: February 2022

This editorial introduction sets the stage for the subsequent chapters in the volume. The chapter begins with a discussion of the contradictory situation that feminist international relations scholarship is facing, a situation characterized both by great gains and by growing resistance. It then notes the transnational and global character of feminist knowledges and unpacks why a focus on Europe—as one location among many—is nonetheless warranted in this volume. The chapter subsequently turns to a discussion of the shared premises and questions that inform each contribution.
Feminist Security Studies in Europe: Beyond Western Academics’ Club
Authors: Krulišová Kateřina , O’Sullivan Míla
Published: February 2022

This chapter maps contemporary debates in feminist security studies (FSS) in Europe, showing the variety of issues studied via different theoretical and methodological lenses. While celebrating the richness of contemporary FSS debates, the chapter also highlights the asymmetry in knowledge production across the continent. FSS is clearly dominated by academics based in globally recognized ‘Centers of Excellence’ in Western and Northern Europe; yet our mapping also highlights scholarship in Central, Eastern, Southern, and South-eastern Europe. This underscores some obstacles scholars outside of the ‘West’ face when engaging with the discipline and calls for more inclusive transnational FSS debate in Europe.
Medienpraktiken für eine nachhaltige Gesellschaft und das „gute Leben“ erforschen
Authors: Kannengießer Sigrid
Published: February 2022

Dass Nachhaltigkeit und das „gute Leben“ Themen, wenn auch (noch) Nischenthemen, in der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft sind, zeigt der im vorherigen Kapitel aufgearbeitete Forschungsstand zur Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation und dem „guten Leben“. Was aber verschiedene Akteur*innen mit Medien(-technologien) machen, um zu einem „guten Leben“ und einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft beizutragen, ist noch zu wenig untersucht. Dass diese Frage jedoch von großem kommunikations- und medienwissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisinteresse sowie gesellschaftlicher Relevanz ist, zeigt der im vorherigen Kapitel aufgearbeitete Forschungsstand zu den sozial-ökologischen Effekten der Produktion, Nutzung und Entsorgung digitaler Medientechnologien, denn sowohl die Produktion als auch die Nutzung und die Entsorgung von Medientechnologien haben negative sozial-ökologische Folgen, die in (Post-)Industriegesellschaften jedoch oftmals unsichtbar bleiben, da sie, wie gezeigt wurde, in ökonomisch weniger entwickelte Länder ausgelagert werden. Nicht zuletzt aufgrund massenmedialer Berichterstattung sind diese Folgen dennoch Menschen in (Post-)Industrienationen bewusst. Auf der Basis dieser Erkenntnisse werden in diesem Kapitel die drei Fallbeispiele präsentiert, die in der vergleichenden Studie analysiert wurden: das Reparieren von Medientechnologien in Repair Cafés, die Produktion und Aneignung fairer Medientechnologien am Beispiel des Fairphones sowie Onlineplattformen, die für Nachhaltigkeit werben, am Beispiel von utopia.de. Dabei wird auch der jeweils relevante Forschungsstand zu den einzelnen Fallbeispielen aufgearbeitet. Für die Analyse wurden qualitative leitfadengestützte Interviews, (nicht-teilnehmende) Beobachtungen und qualitative Inhaltsanalysen in den Verfahren der Grounded Theory und der virtuellen Ethnographie trianguliert. Sechs theoretische Dimensionen wurden in der vergleichenden Analyse offenbar, die und deren Forschungsfelder hier erläutert werden: 1) Medienpraktiken, 2) Materialität, 3) Medienethik, 4) Vergemeinschaftung, 5) politische Partizipation sowie und 6) soziale Bewegung.
Forschungsstand
Authors: Kepura Jürgen
Published: February 2022

Für die Untersuchung der polizeilichen Präventionsarbeit sind unterschiedliche Forschungsstände von Bedeutung. Die Richtungen, aus denen sich Erkenntnissen über die Handlungspraxis genähert wird, sind die Polizei-, Präventions- und Professionsforschung. Mit Blick auf die Polizeiforschung soll, ausgehend von einer Skizze dieses fragilen Arbeitsfeldes, aufgezeigt werden, wie es um die Erforschung der Handlungspraxis von Polizeibeamtinnen und Polizeibeamten bestellt ist. Die polizeilichen Aufgaben und Aktivitäten in der Kriminal- und Verkehrsunfallprävention, bezogen auf die Zielgruppen Kinder und Jugendliche, bilden den Rahmen der zu betrachtenden Präventionsarbeit. In dieser Arbeit wird von der Relevanz pädagogischen Handelns in der Präventionsarbeit ausgegangen, daher ist die erziehungswissenschaftliche Professionsforschung von Bedeutung. Durch die Beschreibung der Forschungsstände zu polizeilichem Handeln, polizeilicher Präventionsarbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen sowie der Professionsforschung wird das Forschungsdesiderat dieser Untersuchung sichtbar.
Dissociation Between National Policy and Local Communities in Regard to Water Supply Management
Authors: Ikemi Mayu
Published: February 2022

Various governments and international organizations have made efforts to expand water supply and sanitation services in rural Africa. This study aimed to evaluate and elucidate the outcomes of national policies on improving water supply management in rural Africa through a case study of Senegal. This case study examined the actual conditions of water supply facilities and residents’ water use in villages. I also attempted to identify the remaining challenges for sustainable water management by local communities. In summary, despite improvement in access to safe drinking water resources for rural populations in Senegal, the national policies were not completely successful. My findings highlight that improving water quality is as crucial as expanding water supply facilities in rural Africa. Meanwhile, for the sustainable self-management of water resources in rural Africa, the case study suggested the importance of local people’s transparent management, information sharing, and mutual aid. Rural residents in Africa have great potential to improve their current water environment through their own initiatives. This potential should be considered as a key to achieving the goal of sustainable water supply management in local communities.
Operadic structure on the Gerstenhaber–Schack complex for prestacks
Authors: Dinh Van Hoang , Hermans Lander , Lowen Wendy
Published: February 2022

We introduce an operad $${{\,\mathrm{Patch}\,}}$$

Patch

which acts on the Gerstenhaber–Schack complex of a prestack as defined by Dinh Van and Lowen, and which in particular allows us to endow this complex with an underlying $$L_{\infty }$$

L
∞

-structure. We make use of the operad $${{\,\mathrm{Quilt}\,}}$$

Quilt

which was used by Hawkins in order to solve the presheaf case. Due to the additional difficulty posed by the presence of twists, we have to use $${{\,\mathrm{Quilt}\,}}$$

Quilt

in a fundamentally different way (even for presheaves) in order to allow for an extension to prestacks.
On the Hölder Regularity of a Linear Stochastic Partial-Integro-Differential Equation with Memory
Authors: McKinley Scott A. , Nguyen Hung D.
Published: February 2022

In light of recent work on particles fluctuating in linear viscoelastic fluids, we study a linear stochastic partial-integro-differential equation with memory that is driven by a stationary noise on a bounded, smooth domain. Using the framework of generalized stationary solutions introduced in McKinley and Nguyen (SIAM J Math Anal 50(5):5119–5160, 2018), we provide conditions on the differential operator and the noise to obtain the existence as well as Hölder regularity of the stationary solutions for the concerned equation. As an application of the regularity results, we compare to analogous classical results for the stochastic heat equation. When the 1d stochastic heat equation is driven by white noise, solutions are continuous with space and time regularity that is Hölder$$(1/2-\epsilon )$$(1/2-ϵ)and$$(1/4-\epsilon )$$(1/4-ϵ)respectively. When driven by colored-in-space noise, solutions can have a range of regularity properties depending on the structure of the noise. Here, we show that the particular form of colored-in-time memory that arises in viscoelastic diffusion applications, satisfying what is called the Fluctuation–Dissipation relationship, yields sample paths that are Hölder$$(1/2-\epsilon )$$(1/2-ϵ)and$$(1/2-\epsilon )$$(1/2-ϵ)in space and time.
Geometric design of friction ring dampers in blisks using nonlinear modal analysis and Kriging surrogate model
Authors: Sun Yekai , Denimal Enora , Yuan Jie , Salles Loïc
Published: February 2022

Integrally bladed disks (blisk) have been widely used in the turbo-machinery industry due to its high aerodynamic performance and structural efficiency. A friction ring damper (FRD) is usually integrated in the system to improve its low damping. However, the design of the geometry of this FRD become complex and computationally expensive due to the strong nonlinearities from friction interfaces. In this work, we propose an efficient modelling strategy based on advanced nonlinear modal analysis and Kriging surrogate models to design and optimize the geometry of a 3D FRD attached to a high fidelity full-scale blisk. The 3D ring damper is parametrised with a few key geometrical parameters. The impact of each geometric parameter and their sensitivities to nonlinear dynamic response can be efficiently assessed using Kriging meta-modelling based on a few damped nonlinear normal modes. Results demonstrate that the damping performances of ring dampers can be substantially optimized through the proposed modelling strategy whilst key insights for the design of the rings are given. It is also demonstrated that the distribution of the contact normal load on the contact interfaces has a strong influence on the damping performances and can be effectively tuned via the upper surface geometry of the ring dampers.
A clinical scoring tool validated with machine learning for predicting severe hand–foot syndrome from sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Abuhelwa Ahmad Y. , Badaoui Sarah , Yuen Hoi-Yee , McKinnon Ross A. , Ruanglertboon Warit , Shankaran Kiran , Tuteja Anniepreet , Sorich Michael J. , Hopkins Ashley M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Sorafenib is an effective therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hand–foot syndrome (HFS) is a serious adverse effect associated with sorafenib therapy. This study aimed to develop an updated clinical prediction tool that allows personalized prediction of HFS following sorafenib initiation.

Methods

Individual participant data from Phase III clinical trial NCT00699374 were used in Cox proportional hazard analysis of the association between pre-treatment clinicopathological data and grade ≥ 3 HFS occurring within the first 365 days of sorafenib treatment for advanced HCC. Multivariable prediction models were developed using stepwise forward inclusion and backward deletion and internally validated using a random forest machine learning approach.

Results

Of 542 patients, 116 (21%) experienced grades ≥ 3 HFS. The prediction tool was optimally defined by sex (male vs female), haemoglobin (< 130 vs ≥ 130 g/L) and bilirubin (< 10 vs 10–20 vs ≥ 20 µmol/L). The prediction tool was able to discriminate subgroups with significantly different risks of grade ≥ 3 HFS (P ≤ 0.001). The high (score = 3 +)-, intermediate (score = 2)- and low (score = 0–1)-risk subgroups had 40%, 27% and 14% probability of developing grade ≥ 3 HFS within the first 365 days of sorafenib treatment, respectively.

Conclusion

A clinical prediction tool defined by female sex, high haemoglobin and low bilirubin had high discrimination for predicting HFS risk. The tool may enable improved evaluation of personalized risks of HFS for patients with advanced HCC initiating sorafenib.
Minifragment plating of the fibula in unstable ankle fractures
Authors: Penning D. , Jonker C. A. L. , Buijsman R. , Halm J. A. , Schepers T.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Only 6.4–17% of the load is transmitted through the fibula when weight-bearing. Plate fixation of distal fibular fractures using minifragments (≤ 2.8 mm) could lead to similar reduction with less implant removal (IR) rates, compared to small-fragment plates (3.5 mm). We hypothesized that the use of minifragment plates is at least similar in unscheduled secondary surgery.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with surgically treated distal fibular fractures between October 2015 and March 2021 were included. Patients treated with plate fixation using minifragments and patients treated with small-fragment plates were compared regarding the following outcomes: secondary dislocation, malreduction, implant malposition, nonunion, surgical site infections (SSI) and IR.

Results

Sixty-five patients (54.2%) received a minifragment implant (≤ 2.8 mm) and 55 patients (45.8%) received a small-fragment implant (3.5 mm). There were no patients needing secondary surgery in the minifragment group compared to 9 patients following fixation using small-fragment implants (3 with secondary dislocation, 5 with malreduction and 1 with malposition, p = 0.001). SSI rates were 3.1% for minifragment and 9.1% for small-fragment implants (p = 0.161). Implant removal was performed significantly less often following use of minifragment implants (17.8% and 53.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this cohort, minifragment plate fixation for distal fibular fractures is an adequate fixation method offering stable fixation with significant lower need for implant removal and comparable complications to small-fragment plates, although an adequately powered randomized controlled study is needed for implementation in a clinical setting.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic, III.
Tissue levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) in mycosis fungoides
Authors: Nada Hanan R. , Rashed Laila A. , Salman Ola Ouda , Abdallah Nermeen M. A. , Abdelhady Mohamed M.
Published: February 2022

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with proposed multifactorial etiology. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) is one of the proteins expressed in MF. Its exact role in disease pathogenesis has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the expression of SOCS-3 in patients’ skin with mycosis fungoides to elucidate their possible role in the pathogenesis in MF. 30 patients with mycosis fungoides and 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included. After clinical examination, tissue levels of SOCS-3 were measured by ELISA. The level of expression of SOCS-3 was significantly upregulated in the lesional tissue compared to perilesional SOCS-3 level in patients’ group (P < 0.001), and both levels were higher than the SOCS-3 level in control group (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between lesional SOCS-3 level and itching in patients’ group (P < 0.001). Regarding lesional and perilesional SOCS-3 levels in each stage, there was a significant increase in lesional SOCS-3 levels in comparison to perilesional level whether in stage Ia, Ib, and IIa; (P < 0.001), (P < 0.001) and (P < 0.001), respectively. Increased tissue levels of SOCS-3 patients with mycosis fungoides point to a role that SOCS-3 could play in its pathogenesis. Also, high levels of SOCS-3 in MF patients with itching suggest a role in the pathogenesis of this symptom. These findings may prove helpful in formulating a new treatment modality in addition to the current treatment of MF.
Outcome and management in neonates with gastroschisis in the third millennium—a single-centre observational study
Authors: Räsänen Lotta , Lilja Helene Engstrand
Published: February 2022

Gastroschisis is one of the most common congenital malformations in paediatric surgery. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management. The aims of this study were to investigate the management and outcome and to identify predictors of outcome in gastroschisis. A retrospective observational study of neonates with gastroschisis born between 1999 and 2020 was undertaken. Data was extracted from the medical records and Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of outcome measured by length of hospital stay (LOS) and duration of parenteral nutrition (PN). In total, 114 patients were included. Caesarean section was performed in 105 (92.1%) at a median gestational age (GA) of 36 weeks (range 29–38) whereof (46) 43.8% were urgent. Primary closure was achieved in 82% of the neonates. Overall survival was 98.2%. One of the deaths was caused by abdominal compartment syndrome and one patient with intestinal failure–associated liver disease died from sepsis. None of the deceased patients was born after 2005. Median time on mechanical ventilation was 22 h. Low GA, staged closure, intestinal atresia, and sepsis were independent predictors of longer LOS and duration on PN. In addition, male sex was an independent predictor of longer LOS.

Conclusion: Management of gastroschisis according to our protocol was successful with a high survival rate, no deaths in neonates born after 2005, and favourable results in LOS, duration on PN, and time on mechanical ventilation compared to other reports. Multicentre registry with long-term follow-up is required to establish the best management of gastroschisis.

What is Known:• Gastroschisis is one of the most common congenital malformations in paediatric surgery with increasing incidence.• There is no consensus among clinicians regarding the optimal management of gastroschisis.

What is New:• Although primary closure was achieved in 82% of the patients, mortality rate was very low (1.8%) with no deaths in neonates born after 2005 following the introduction of measurement of intraabdominal pressure at closure.• Low gestational age, staged closure, intestinal atresia, sepsis, and male sex were independent predictors of longer length of hospital stay.