bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of deep learning–based image reconstruction in MR imaging of the shoulder joint to improve image quality and reduce scan time
Authors: Kaniewska Malwina , Deininger-Czermak Eva , Getzmann Jonas M. , Wang Xinzeng , Lohezic Maelene , Guggenberger Roman
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To compare the image quality and diagnostic performance of conventional motion-corrected periodically rotated overlapping parallel line with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) MRI sequences with post-processed PROPELLER MRI sequences using deep learning-based (DL) reconstructions.

Methods

In this prospective study of 30 patients, conventional (19 min 18 s) and accelerated MRI sequences (7 min 16 s) using the PROPELLER technique were acquired. Accelerated sequences were post-processed using DL. The image quality and diagnostic confidence were qualitatively assessed by 2 readers using a 5-point Likert scale. Analysis of the pathological findings of cartilage, rotator cuff tendons and muscles, glenoid labrum and subacromial bursa was performed. Inter-reader agreement was calculated using Cohen’s kappa statistic. Quantitative evaluation of image quality was measured using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).

Results

Mean image quality and diagnostic confidence in evaluation of all shoulder structures were higher in DL sequences (p value = 0.01). Inter-reader agreement ranged between kappa values of 0.155 (assessment of the bursa) and 0.947 (assessment of the rotator cuff muscles). In 17 cases, thickening of the subacromial bursa of more than 2 mm was only visible in DL sequences. The pathologies of the other structures could be properly evaluated by conventional and DL sequences. Mean SNR (p value = 0.01) and CNR (p value = 0.02) were significantly higher for DL sequences.

Conclusions

The accelerated PROPELLER sequences with DL post-processing showed superior image quality and higher diagnostic confidence compared to the conventional PROPELLER sequences. Subacromial bursa can be thoroughly assessed in DL sequences, while the other structures of the shoulder joint can be assessed in conventional and DL sequences with a good agreement between sequences.

Key Points

• MRI of the shoulder requires long scan times and can be hampered by motion artifacts.

• Deep learning–based convolutional neural networks are used to reduce image noise and scan time while maintaining optimal image quality. The radial k-space acquisition technique (PROPELLER) can reduce the scan time and has potential to reduce motion artifacts.

• DL sequences show a higher diagnostic confidence than conventional sequences and therefore are preferred for assessment of the subacromial bursa, while conventional and DL sequences show comparable performance in the evaluation of the shoulder joint.
Increased IL-1α expression in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Cao Yujie , Hu Xianting , Zhou Chun , Zhao Keqing , Zheng Yaoming , Jiang Wenxiu , Wang Dehui , Li Huabin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To examine whether and how interleukin (IL)-1α is involved in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).

Methods

Nasal polyp (NP) and control tissues were collected from CRSwNP patients and control subjects. The expression of IL-1α and other proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-13, etc.), as well as neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation, were examined in sinonasal tissues using immunohistochemical (IHC), immunofluorescent (IF) staining, qPCR, and Luminex, respectively. Moreover, the regulation of IL-1α expression and its effects on other proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated in cultured nasal epithelial cells (NECs).

Results

The mRNA and protein levels of IL-1α were significantly higher in NP tissues compared to that in control tissues. IL-1α in polyp tissues was mainly located in epithelial cells and neutrophils. Polyps IL-1α level was significantly associated with IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-13 production, as well as tissue neutrophil infiltration. Moreover, poly (I:C), lipopolysaccharides, Flagellin, R848 and cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) significantly increased the expression of IL-1α in cultured NECs in vitro, and recombinant IL-1α significantly promoted production of IL-8 and CXCL1 in cultured NECs.

Conclusions

These findings provided the evidence that IL-1α were significantly increased in NP tissues, which may contribute to tissue neutrophilia in CRSwNP patients in China.
Freezing of gait is a risk factor for cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Qu Yi , Li Jiangting , Chen Yupeng , Li Jingyi , Qin Qixiong , Wang Danlei , Zhao Jingwei , Yang Qingmei , Mao Zhijuan , Xiong Yongjie , Min Zhe , Xue Zheng
Published: September 2022

Backgrounds

Freezing of gait (FOG) and cognitive impairment are serious symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Understanding the association between FOG and cognition may help formulate specific interventions for PD individuals.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the associations of cognitive impairment in different domains with FOG status using multiple neuropsychological tests.

Methods

Two cohorts including 691 and 104 participants were recruited from Parkinson’s progression markers initiative (PPMI) and central China, respectively. All participants underwent FOG assessment and neuropsychological tests, and 595 individuals from PPMI and 51 from central China were enrolled for longitudinal observation. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cognition and FOG status were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted models.

Results

Worse cognitive performances were observed in patients with FOG compared to those without FOG in both cohorts (β = − 0.020, p < 0.001) using multivariate-adjusted models. Moreover, patients with progressive FOG during follow-up manifested more serious cognitive declines (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.07–1.80). The FOG was mainly associated with the decline of executive, attention, and orientation. Furthermore, FOG was associated with higher levels of cognition-related biomarkers including T-tau, P-tau, and NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (p < 0.050).

Conclusions

FOG is a risk factor for cognitive decline in PD, which emphasizes the need for early detection and monitoring of cognitive changes and interventions on cognitive impairments in PD patients with FOG.
Bioenergy therapies as a complementary treatment: a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of bioenergy therapies in relieving treatment toxicities in patients with cancer
Authors: Hauptmann M. , Kutschan S. , Hübner J. , Dörfler J.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Bioenergy therapies are among the popular alternative treatment options for many diseases, including cancer. Many studies deal with the advantages and disadvantages of bioenergy therapies as an addition to established treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation in the treatment of cancer. However, a systematic overview of this evidence is thus far lacking. For this reason, the available evidence should be reviewed and critically examined to determine what benefits the treatments have for patients.

Methods

In June 2022, a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of bioenergy therapies including Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch and Polarity Therapy on cancer patients.

Results

From all 2477 search results, 21 publications with 1375 patients were included in this systematic review. The patients treated with bioenergy therapies were mainly diagnosed with breast cancer. The main outcomes measured were anxiety, depression, mood, fatigue, quality of life (QoL), comfort, well-being, neurotoxicity, pain, and nausea. The studies were predominantly of moderate quality and for the most part found no effect. In terms of QoL, pain and nausea, there were improved short-term effects of the interventions, but no long-term differences were detectable. The risk of side effects from bioenergy therapies appears to be relatively small.

Conclusion

Considering the methodical limitations of the included studies, studies with high study quality could not find any difference between bioenergy therapies and active (placebo, massage, RRT, yoga, meditation, relaxation training, companionship, friendly visit) and passive control groups (usual care, resting, education). Only studies with a low study quality were able to show significant effects.
Study protocol: the OptiScreen-Study: optimized psycho-oncological care—from screening to intervention
Authors: Zimmermann Tanja , Dreismann Lara , Ginger Viktoria , Wenzel Marit , Hornemann Beate , Dietzsch Franziska , Sura Charis , Bornhäuser Martin , Mehnert-Theuerkauf Anja , Heyne Svenja , Gockel Ines , Lordick Florian , Franzke Anke , Weitz Jürgen , Vogel Arndt
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Adequate, needs-oriented psycho-oncological care contributes to reducing psychological distress in cancer patients and their relatives and improving quality of life. Regarding the precise determination of objective and subjective needs, there are often discrepancies in practice between the screening instrument completed by patients, the clinical impression of the treatment team, and the judgment of the psycho-oncology team.

Methods

The present multicenter study “OptiScreen”, involving three German Comprehensive Cancer Centers (Hannover, Leipzig, Dresden), aims to professionalize psychosocial screening to enable targeted and needs-based allocation to psycho-oncological support. Optimization and professionalization of the screening process will be achieved by training of oncological nursing staff to improve the targeted identification of distressed patients and provide them with needs-based psycho-oncological care. The non-randomized pre-post study will include inpatients with gastrointestinal cancers from the visceral oncology centers at the three sites. First, the comparison group (CG) will be assessed of N = 300. After completion of nursing training, the intervention group (IG) with N = 600 patients will be evaluated by validated questionnaires.

Results

The aim is to reduce barriers on both the patient and treatment side by promoting interdisciplinary dialogue and linking the screening with a personal consultation offer provided by the nurses, which should help to increase utilization and reduce patients' fears, shame and information deficits.

Conclusion

It is not sufficient to establish a well-validated screening procedure, it also has to be feasible and useful in clinical practice. “OptiScreen” aims to improve the psycho-oncological care situation. In parallel, the study enables the professionalization of psycho-oncological care with the involvement of important professional groups (e.g. nursing) and thus aims to develop a “best practice model”.
Adapting deep learning models between regional markets
Authors: Tonkin Isaac , Gepp Adrian , Harris Geoff , Vanstone Bruce
Published: September 2022

This paper extends a series of deep learning models developed on US equity data to the Australian market. The model architectures are retrained, without structural modification, and tested on Australian data comparable with the original US data. Relative to the original US-based results, the retrained models are statistically less accurate at predicting next day returns. The models were also modified in the standard train/validate manner on the Australian data, and these models yielded significantly better predictive results on the holdout data. It was determined that the best-performing models were a CNN and LSTM, attaining highly significant Z-scores of 6.154 and 8.789, respectively. Due to the relative structural similarity across all models, the improvement is ascribed to regional influences within the respective training data sets. Such unique regional differences are consistent with views in the literature stating that deep learning models in computational finance that are developed and trained on a single market will always contain market-specific bias. Given this finding, future research into the development of deep learning models trained on global markets is recommended.
Non-hyperbolic ergodic measures with the full support and positive entropy
Authors: Łącka Martha
Published: September 2022

The aim of this note is to give an alternative proof for the following result originally proved by Bonatti, Díaz and Kwietniak. For every $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

there exists a compact manifold without boundary $${\mathbf {M}}$$
M
of dimension n and a non-empty open set $$U\subset \text {Diff}({\mathbf {M}})$$

U
⊂
Diff
(
M
)

such that for every $$f\in U$$

f
∈
U

there exists a non-hyperbolic measure $$\mu $$
μ
invariant for f with positive entropy and full support. We also investigate the connection between the Feldman-Katok convergence of measures and the Kuratowski convergence of their supports.
Biocrusts Modulate Climate Change Effects on Soil Organic Carbon Pools: Insights From a 9-Year Experiment
Authors: Díaz-Martínez Paloma , Panettieri Marco , García-Palacios Pablo , Moreno Eduardo , Plaza César , Maestre Fernando T.
Published: September 2022

Accumulating evidence suggests that warming associated with climate change is decreasing the total amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) in drylands, although scientific research has not given enough emphasis to particulate (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools. Biocrusts are a major biotic feature of drylands and have large impacts on the C cycle, yet it is largely unknown whether they modulate the responses of POC and MAOC to climate change. Here, we assessed the effects of simulated climate change (control, reduced rainfall (RE), warming (WA), and RE + WA) and initial biocrust cover (low (< 20%) versus high (> 50%)) on the mineral protection of soil C and soil organic matter quality in a dryland ecosystem in central Spain for 9 years. At low initial biocrust cover levels, both WA and RE + WA increased SOC, especially POC but also MAOC, and promoted a higher contribution of carbohydrates, relative to aromatic compounds, to the POC fraction. These results suggest that the accumulation of soil C under warming treatments may be transitory in soils with low initial biocrust cover. In soils with high initial biocrust cover, climate change treatments did not affect SOC, neither POC nor MAOC fraction. Overall, our results indicate that biocrust communities modulate the negative effect of climate change on SOC, because no losses of soil C were observed with the climate manipulations under biocrusts. Future work should focus on determining the long-term persistence of the observed buffering effect by biocrust-forming lichens, as they are known to be negatively affected by warming.
Dogs’ ability to follow temporarily invisible moving objects: the ability to track and expect is shaped by experience
Authors: Lõoke Miina , Kanizsar Orsolya , Guérineau Cécile , Mongillo Paolo , Marinelli Lieta
Published: September 2022

Visually tracking a moving object, even if it becomes temporarily invisible, is an important skill for animals living in complex environments. However, this ability has not been widely explored in dogs. To address this gap of knowledge and understand how experience contributes to such ability, we conducted two experiments using a violation of expectation paradigm. Dogs were shown an animation of a ball moving horizontally across a screen, passing behind an occluder, and reappearing with a timing that was faster, slower or congruent with its initial speed. In the first experiment, dogs (N = 15) were exposed to the incongruent conditions without prior experience; while in the second experiment, dogs (N = 37) were preliminarily exposed to the congruent stimulus. Dogs of the first experiment did not exhibit a surprise effect, as measured by latency to look away from the expected stimulus presentation area, in response to the incongruent conditions, suggesting they had not formed an expectation about the timing of reappearance. However, their latency to orient towards the reappearing ball depended on the condition, suggesting they were able, to some extent, to visually keep track of the stimulus’ trajectory. Dogs of the second experiment were surprised when the ball stayed behind the occluder longer than expected, but showed no difference in latency to orient across conditions. This suggests they had overcome the visual tracking mechanism and had formed expectations about the timing of reappearance. In conclusion, dogs seem to use a low-level mechanism to keep visual track of a temporarily disappearing moving object, but experience is required to make expectation about its trajectory.
Facial reduction for symmetry reduced semidefinite and doubly nonnegative programs
Authors: Hu Hao , Sotirov Renata , Wolkowicz Henry
Published: September 2022

We consider both facial reduction, FR, and symmetry reduction, SR, techniques for semidefinite programming, SDP. We show that the two together fit surprisingly well in an alternating direction method of multipliers, ADMM, approach. In fact, this approach allows for simply adding on nonnegativity constraints, and solving the doubly nonnegative, DNN , relaxation of many classes of hard combinatorial problems. We also show that the singularity degree remains the same after SR, and that the DNN relaxations considered here have singularity degree one, that is reduced to zero after FR. The combination of FR and SR leads to a significant improvement in both numerical stability and running time for both the ADMM and interior point approaches. We test our method on various DNN relaxations of hard combinatorial problems including quadratic assignment problems with sizes of more than $$n=500$$

n
=
500

. This translates to a semidefinite constraint of order 250, 000 and $$625\times 10^8$$

625
×

10
8

nonnegative constrained variables, before applying the reduction techniques.
Coresets based asynchronous network slimming
Authors: Yin Wenfeng , Dong Gang , Zhao Yaqian , Li Rengang
Published: September 2022

Pruning is effective to reduce neural networks’ parameters and accelerate inferences, facilitating deep learning in resource-limited scenarios. This paper proposes an asynchronous pruning method for multi-branch networks on the basis of our previous work on channel coresets constructions, to achieve module-level pruning. Firstly, this paper accelerates coreset based pruning by batch sampling with a sampling probability decided on our-designed importance function. Secondly, this paper gives asynchronous pruning solutions with an in-place distillation of feature maps for deployment on multi-branch networks such as ResNet and SqueezeNet. Thirdly, this paper provides an extension to neuron pruning by grouping weights as channels. During tests on sensitivity of different layers to channel pruning, our method outperforms comparison schemes on object detection networks, indicating advantages of data-independent channel selections in maintaining precision. As shown in tests of asynchronous pruning solutions on multi-branch classification networks, our method further decreases FLOPs with a small accuracy decline on ResNet and acquires a small accuracy increment on SqueezeNet. In tests on neuron pruning, our method achieves an accuracy comparable to existing coreset based pruning methods by two solutions of precision recovery.
A Systematic Review of Parent–Child Communication Measures: Instruments and Their Psychometric Properties
Authors: Zapf Holger , Boettcher Johannes , Haukeland Yngvild , Orm Stian , Coslar Sarah , Wiegand-Grefe Silke , Fjermestad Krister
Published: September 2022

Parent–child communication represents an important variable in clinical child and family psychology due to its association with a variety of psychosocial outcomes. To give an overview of instruments designed to measure the quality of parent–child communication from the child’s (8–21 years) perspective and to assess the psychometric quality of these instruments, we performed a systematic literature search in Medline and PsycInfo (last: February 25, 2022). Peer-reviewed journal articles published in English with a child-rated instrument measuring the quality of parent–child communication were included. Initial screening for eligibility and inclusion, subsequent data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted by couples of review team members. Based on the screening of 5115 articles, 106 studies reported in 126 papers were included. We identified 12 parent–child communication instruments across the studies. The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS) was used in 75% of the studies. On average, the evidence for psychometric quality of the instruments was low. Few instruments were used in clinical and at-risk samples. Several instruments are available to rate parent–child communication from the child’s perspective. However, their psychometric evidence is limited and the theoretical foundation is largely undocumented. This review has limitations with regard to selection criteria and language bias.

RegistrationPROSPERO: CRD42021255264.
Influence of ocular biometric factors on the defocus curve in an enlarged depth-of-focus intraocular lens
Authors: Giménez-Calvo Galadriel , Bartol-Puyal Francisco de Asís , Altemir Irene , Méndez-Martínez Silvia , Almenara Cristina , Soriano-Pina Diana , Murueta-Goyena Ane , Larrosa José Manuel
Published: September 2022

Background

To assess the influence of biometric measurements on the defocus curve after the implantation of enlarged depth-of-focus (EDoF) intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods

Patients who underwent cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of Tecnis Symfony IOL were enrolled. Preoperatively, axial length (AL), corneal keratometry (K), pupil size and corneal aberrations were measured. 1 month after surgery, distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities (VA) were recorded. At 3 months, monocular and binocular corrected contrast sensitivities under photopic and mesopic lighting conditions were measured with CSV-1000E test. At 6-months, the defocus curve between −5.00 to + 3.00 diopters (D) was assessed in steps of 0.50 D, and NEI-RQL-42 questionnaire was administered.

Results

One hundred thirty one eyes of 66 patients were included. Binocular logMAR VA better than 0.1 for intermediate vision was obtained in 90% of patients, whereas only 17.7% obtained that result in near vision. The rate of satisfaction was high (96%) and most of them (85.5%) had no or little difficulties in near vision. The mean amplitude of the defocus curve was 2.35D ± 0.73D, and smaller AL, smaller pupils, younger age, and male sex were associated with wider range of clear vision.

Conclusions

Tecnis Symfony IOL enables functional vision at all distances, but demographic variables and preoperative biometric measurements like AL and pupil size influence the postoperative amplitude of the defocus curve. These parameters could be used to predict the performance of EDoF IOLs.
Theoretical derivation and clinical validation of the resolution limit of human eye to spherical lens change: a self-controlled study
Authors: Yi Zhen , Jie Gao , Kai Cao , Jing Shen , wei Zhang , Yun Dai
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to deduce theoretically and verify the resolution limit of human eye to spherical lens change for more reasonable design of the trial lenses.

Methods

A total of 119 normal subjects with different myopia (not more than − 6D) were included. First, the resolution limit of discernible change in spherical power was derived based on the optical model. Then, the subjects were observed to see if they could perceive the changes in spherical power as per the resolution limit and compare the difference in the best-corrected visual acuity obtained with the resolution limit and interval of 0.25D.

Results

Assuming that the cone cell diameter is 3 μm and the pupil diameter of 4 mm, the theoretically resolution limit was 0.05D. When the diopter of spherical power was increased, the ratios of ability to perceive 0.05D spherical lens change were 98.3% and 96.7% in right and left eyes. When the diopter of spherical power was decreased, the ratios of ability to perceive 0.05D spherical lens change were 78.9% and 83.2% in right and left eyes. The best-corrected visual acuity obtained with the 0.05 D interval trial lens was significantly better than in the 0.25 D interval on both eyes (Right eye − 0.04 ± 0.07 vs − 0.02 ± 0.06, p < 0.001; Left eye − 0.07 ± 0.06 vs − 0.04 ± 0.06, t = 8.825, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The resolution limit of human eye to spherical lens change was about 0.05D and the better corrected visual acuity can be obtained by adjusting the spherical power at an interval of 0.05D.

Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100047074.

Date of registration: 2021/6/7.
Logics and Agency in Public Management Research
Authors: Kinder Tony , Stenvall Jari , Talonen Antti
Published: September 2022

The article analyses the negative effects of the use of logics in public organisation research on active human agency. We build up a new conceptual model with which to approach logics in current research on organising public services; suggesting ways in which current models using logics in public organisation research can be strengthened. Our contribution is two-fold: we argue that Elder-Vass’ approach benefits from close synthesis with social learning theory (including recent thinking on trust, emotions, and distributed learning) and secondly, that grounding all usage of logics in logic-of-practice helps avoid a reification of logics and thirdly that situated learning better suits public organisation problem solving that the application of ‘new’ universal solutions.
A level set approach to Ostwald ripening of trapped gas bubbles in porous media
Authors: Singh Deepak , Friis Helmer André , Jettestuen Espen , Helland Johan Olav
Published: September 2022

Ostwald ripening of gas bubbles is a thermodynamic process for mass transfer, which is important for both foam enhanced oil recovery and geological CO2 storage. We present a methodology for simulating Ostwald ripening of gas ganglia surrounded by liquid in arbitrary pore geometries. The method couples a conservative level set model for capillary-controlled displacement and a ghost-bubble technique that calculates mass transfer based on difference in chemical potentials. The methodology is implemented in a software framework for parallel computations. As a validation of the model, we show that simulations of bubble ripening in a pore throat connecting two pore bodies are consistent with previously reported trends in similar geometries. Then we investigate the impact of gas type, compressibility factor, and local capillary pressure on gas-bubble ripening in various water-wet pore geometries. The results confirm that gas solubility and compressibility factor are proportional to the rate of mass transfer. Our simulations suggest that Ostwald ripening has largest impact in heterogeneous or fractured porous structures where differences in gas-bubble potentials are high. However, if the liquid separating the gas bubbles is also a disconnected phase, which can happen in intermediate-wet porous media, the resulting local capillary pressure can limit the coarsening and stabilise smaller bubbles. Finally, we simulated Ostwald ripening on a 3-D pore-space image of sandstone containing a residual gas/water configuration after imbibition. Characterization of gas-bubble morphology during the coarsening shows that large ganglia get more ramified at the expense of small spherical ganglia that cease to exist.
Oral and intravenous iron treatment alter the gut microbiome differentially in dialysis patients
Authors: Liu Huan , Wu Wenqi , Luo Yankun
Published: September 2022

Objective

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often complicated by anemia, which seriously affects the quality-of-life and prognosis of patients. These patients usually need iron replacement therapy. Oral iron affects the composition and abundance of intestinal flora by increasing intestinal iron concentration.

Methods

We undertook an interventional study to investigate the effects of oral versus intravenous iron therapy on the gut microbiota. Oral ferrous succinate tablets (n = 14) or intravenous iron sucrose (n = 14) was administered to anemic maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients for 2 months.

Results

Oral and intravenous iron treatments had different effects on gut microbial composition and diversity. After oral iron treatment, the α-diversity was decreased, while at the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes was reduced and the abundance of Bacteroides was increased. At the genus level, the abundance of Blautia and Coprococcus was decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased. Oral iron therapy was associated with a higher abundance of Lactobacillus compared with that measured in intravenous iron-treated patients. According to metagenome function prediction analysis, oral iron increased the metabolic processes of phenylalanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. These changes may increase uremic toxin levels, thereby increasing the progression of renal disease.

Conclusion

Iron therapy affects the diversity and composition of gut flora in MHD patients. Oral iron affects the number of bacteria and increases amino acid metabolism compared with intravenous iron. These results indicate that intravenous iron may be more appropriate for MHD patients.
A refinement of the Browder–Göhde–Kirk fixed point theorem and some applications
Authors: Matkowski Janusz
Published: September 2022

The following generalization of the Browder–Göhde–Kirk fixed point theorem is proved: ifCis a nonempty bounded closed and convex subset of a uniformly convex normed spaceXandTis a self-mapping ofCsuch that$$\left\| Tx-Ty\right\| \le \beta \left( \left\| x-y\right\| \right) $$

T
x
-
T
y

≤
β

x
-
y

for all $$x,y\in C,$$

x
,
y
∈
C
,

$$x\ne y,$$

x
≠
y
,

where a function$$\beta :\left( 0,\infty \right) \rightarrow \left[ 0,\infty \right) $$

β
:

0
,
∞

→

0
,
∞

is such that$$ \lim _{t\rightarrow 0+}\frac{\beta \left( t\right) }{t}=1,$$

lim

t
→
0
+

β

t

t

=
1
,

thenThas a fixed point. Two modifications of this theorem as well as some accompanying results on Lipschitz-type mappings are given. An application in the theory of $$L^{p}$$

L
p

-solutions of an iterative functional equation, and some refinements of the Radamacher theorem are proposed.
Porous aluminum oxide insulation materials tested in space mission
Authors: Ádám Péter , Dudás Levente , Temesi Ottó , Nagy András , Sinkó Katalin
Published: September 2022

The eventual aim of this research work was to develop a new low-cost synthesis route to produce ultralight aluminum oxide ceramic fibers for high temperature insulation. This paper mainly focuses on the application of Al2O3 fibers as insulation materials in space vehicles. The study extended to check the fibers during the launch and in the conditions of space by a satellite test. The materials were monitored by thermo-vacuum and vibration tests before the launch. The long-term stability, the daily maximum and minimum temperature, and the temperature fluctuation were investigated in the satellite test. The data derived from satellite was collected in about 9 months. The other focus of this study was the characterization of fibers at high temperature. Al2O3 fibers were prepared by a new solution method and electrospinning technique. The developed Al2O3 fibers can be characterized by 0.035–0.037 W⋅mK−1 thermal conductivity, excellent heat resistance (up to 1600 °C), and good flexibility.
Meditative State Scale (MSS): Psychometric Validation and Exploration of Gamma-Band Correlates
Authors: López Elena , Jódar Rafael , Halty Lucía , Rodríguez-Carvajal Raquel
Published: September 2022

Objectives

The present research was intended to validate a new psychometric instrument—the Meditative State Scale (MSS)—designed from a novel approach that integrates knowledge from the foundational pillars in which meditation practices were grounded with recent neuroscientific and psychological findings.

Methods

The research was divided into two studies. Study 1 (n = 241) comprised the development and validation of the MSS. Its factor structure was evaluated through the conduction of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance of the MSS across groups of naïve and experienced meditators was also tested. A selection of additional instruments were used to further assess its convergent and discriminant validity. In study 2, additional validity of the MSS was investigated with an experimental design (n = 12) in which the electroencephalographic (EEG) signal was recorded while the participants were meditating. Next, the correlations between EEG activity and reported MSS scores were explored.

Results

Study 1 established psychometric reliability and validity of the MSS, supporting a three-factor structure encompassing a first factor of “transcendence,” a second factor of “difficulties,” and a third factor of “mental quietening.” The MSS also shows configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance across beginners and experienced meditators. In study 2, we found associations between reported MSS scores and changes in EEG gamma activity in parietal and occipital areas while engaging in meditation practice.

Conclusions

We expect that the MSS can contribute to synergistically explore meditative states, combining reliable psychometric measures of the meditative state with neurophysiological data. Thus, it may be possible to reach a better understanding of the complex mechanisms that are involved in meditation practice and a more grounded and rigorous application of meditation-based programs in research, educational, and clinical contexts.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: results from a single surgical bariatric centre
Authors: Polese Lino , Prevedello Luca , Belluzzi Amanda , Giugliano Emilia , Albanese Alice , Foletto Mirto
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) procedure. Patients ineligible for bariatric surgery due to comorbidities or low Body Mass Index (BMI) were offered ESG. Gastric tubularization was carried out via multiple multi-bite sutures across the greater curvature of the stomach. The patients underwent a water-soluble swallow test on post-operative day 1 (POD-1) to assess gastric emptying and were placed on a soft diet if upper GI tract function was confirmed. From January 2019 to March 2022, 27 patients underwent ESG: 14 for severe obesity with comorbidities, including liver transplant, end-stage kidney disease, severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The mean BMI before treatment was 36 ± 9 kg/m2. Two patients (7%) who developed gastric bleeding were successfully treated with packed red blood cells (PRBC) transfusions. After a mean follow-up of 18 months, the percentage of total body weight loss (%TBWL) and the percentage of excess weight (%EWL) were 11 ± 7 and 39 ± 27, respectively. The latter was significantly higher in the patients with an initial BMI < 40 kg/m2 (50 vs 22, p < 0.05). The patients whose gastric sleeve extended for more than a third of the length of the stomach (p < 0.05) had better results. ESG was found to be effective and safe in high-risk surgical patients whose initial BMI was (< 40). Studies characterized by larger number of patients and longer follow-up periods will be able to confirm these results.
Gemeinsam verschieden. Organisation und Bildung im semantischen Feld erziehungswissenschaftlicher Prozessbegriffe
Authors: Wendt Thomas , Manhart Sebastian
Published: September 2022

Der Beitrag diskutiert das Verhältnis von allgemeiner und beruflicher Bildung mithilfe einer pädagogischen Theorie der Organisation. Allgemeine Erwachsenen- und berufliche Bildung treffen sich darin, Prozess und Ergebnis der wechselseitigen Auseinandersetzung zwischen Organisationen und Individuen zu sein. Organisationen sind nicht nur Kontext von Bildung, sie sind selber gebildet und wirken pädagogisch. Der Beitrag erschließt die Funktion und Eigenlogik der Organisation in ihrem Verhältnis zu den Grundbegriffen der Erziehungswissenschaft. Der Vorschlag ermöglicht es, Lernen, Sozialisation, Erziehung, Bildung und Kompetenz in ihrer Geltung für die ineinander verflochtene Strukturdynamik von Organisation und Subjekt zu differenzieren. Als Alternative zur geläufigen Organisationsvergessenheit der Pädagogik integriert die differenzierende Ordnung dieser Begriffe eine erziehungswissenschaftliche Perspektive auf Individuum und Organisation.
Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic
Authors: Chetan Achyut
Published: September 2022

The book begins with the momentous task of demolishing the prejudices attached with the phrase 'founding fathers' that has held an immense sway over constitutional interpretation. It shows that women members of the Indian Constituent Assembly had painstakingly co-authored a Constitution that embodied a moral imagination developed by years of feminist politics. It traces the genealogies of several constitutional provisions to argue that, without the interventions of these women framers, the Constitution would hardly have a much poorer document of rights and statecraft that it is. Situating these interventions in the larger trajectory of Indian feminism in which they are rooted, in the nationalist discourse with which they perpetually negotiated, and in the larger human rights discourse of the 1940s, the book shows that the women members of the Indian Constituent Assembly were much more than the 'founding mothers' of a republic.
Legal Scholars Engaging with Social Anthropology: Hardships and Gains
Authors: Foblets Marie-Claire , Gaudreault-DesBiens Jean-François , Graziadei Michele
Published: September 2022

This special issue of the German Law Journal showcases through concrete examples the conceptual and methodological toolbox that social anthropology has to offer and the added value of applying an anthropologically informed approach to legal thinking, argumentation, and practice. The contributions address a wide variety of highly topical, controversial social issues that are at the heart of the human condition, including gender recognition for non-binary people, family disputes brought before international courts, non-majoritarian language use in administrative settings, forced migration, and the impact of climate change and infrastructural development on local communities worldwide. This introduction outlines the research program into which the contributions gathered here fit; the choice of topics; and finally, the challenges the authors face in the process of integrating their intellectual encounter with anthropology into their reflections on law. The article concludes that taking recourse to anthropology can help jurists trained in state law to develop a more refined understanding of today’s societal complexity and challenges and, ultimately, to reach more nuanced, sensitive, and just decisions.
Democracy in Brazil: Change, Continuity, and Crisis
Authors: Mainwaring Scott
Published: September 2022

This essay reviews the following works:

Persuasive Peers: Social Communication and Voting in Latin America. By Andy Baker, Barry Ames, and Lúcio Rennó. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2020. Pp. xxiv + 369. $32.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780691205779.

Lula and His Politics of Cunning: From Metalworker to President of Brazil. By John D. French. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2020. Pp. 520. $32.50 hardcover. ISBN: 9781469655765.

Modern Brazil: A Social History. By Herbert S. Klein and Francisco Vidal Luna. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. xv + 419. $36.99 paperback. ISBN: 9781108733298.

State-Sponsored Activism: Bureaucrats and Social Movements in Democratic Brazil. By Jessica A. J. Rich. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. 256. $29.99 paperback. ISBN: 9781108456807.

From Revolution to Power in Brazil: How Radical Leftists Embraced Capitalism and Struggled with Leadership. By Kenneth P. Serbin. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2019. Pp. 462. $60.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780268105853.

Religion and Brazilian Democracy: Mobilizing the People of God. By Amy Erica Smith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. 222. $105.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781108482110.

Decadent Developmentalism: The Political Economy of Democratic Brazil. By Matthew M. Taylor. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. 340. $99.99 hardcover. ISBN: 9781108842280.

Dano colateral: A intervenção dos militares na segurança pública. By Natalia Viana. Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, 2021. Pp. 348. ISBN: 9788547001292.
Down Panama Way: A Twenty-First-Century Renaissance
Authors: Gudmundson Lowell
Published: September 2022

This essay reviews the following works:

Modern Panama: From Occupation to Crossroads of the Americas. By Michael L. Conniff and Gene E. Bigler. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. vii + 346. $32.99 paperback. ISBN: 9781108701198.

The Maritime Landscape of the Isthmus of Panamá. By James P. Delgado, Tomás Mendizábal, Frederick H. Hanselmann, and Dominique Rissolo. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2016. Pp. viii + 283. $84.95 hardcover. ISBN: 9780813062877.

Erased: The Untold Story of the Panama Canal. By Marixa Lasso. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2019. Pp. 344. $35.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780674984448.

The Panama Railroad. By Peter Pyne. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2021. Pp. 418. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780253052070.

Esperanza Speaks: Confronting a Century of Global Change in Rural Panamá. By Gloria Rudolf. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2021. Pp. viii + 195. $26.95 paperback. ISBN: 9781487594695.

The Singer’s Needle: An Undisciplined History of Panamá. By Ezer Vierba. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2021. Pp. vii + 323. $30.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780226342450.
Longitudinal associations of fast foods, red and processed meat, alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks with quality of life and symptoms in colorectal cancer survivors up to 24 months post-treatment
Authors: Kenkhuis Marlou-Floor , Mols Floortje , van Roekel Eline H. , Breedveld-Peters José J. L. , Breukink Stéphanie , Janssen-Heijnen Maryska , Keulen Eric , van Duijnhoven Fränzel J. , Weijenberg Matty P. , Bours Martijn
Published: September 2022

Unhealthy dietary habits can contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Such habits may also be associated with post-treatment symptoms experienced by CRC survivors. Therefore, we aimed to assess longitudinal associations of post-treatment unhealthy dietary habits, i.e. intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF), red and processed meat, alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks, with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), fatigue and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in CRC survivors from 6 weeks up to 24 months post-treatment. In a prospective cohort among stage I-III CRC survivors (n 396), five repeated home visits from diagnosis up to 24 months post-treatment were executed. Dietary intake was measured by 7-d dietary records to quantify consumption of UPF, red and processed meat, alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks. HRQoL, fatigue and CIPN were measured by validated questionnaires. We applied confounder-adjusted linear mixed models to analyse longitudinal associations from 6 weeks until 24 months post-treatment. We applied a post hoc time-lag analysis for alcohol to explore the directionality. Results showed that higher post-treatment intake of UPF and sugar-sweetened drinks was longitudinally associated with worsened HRQoL and more fatigue, while higher intake of UPF and processed meat was associated with increased CIPN symptoms. In contrast, post-treatment increases in alcohol intake were longitudinally associated with better HRQoL and less fatigue; however, time-lag analysis attenuated these associations. In conclusion, unhealthy dietary habits are longitudinally associated with lower HRQoL and more symptoms, except for alcohol. Results from time-lag analysis suggest no biological effect of alcohol; hence, the longitudinal association for alcohol should be interpreted with caution.
Examples of multiparameter CCR flows with non-trivial index
Authors: Sarkar Piyasa , Sundar S.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we construct uncountably many examples of multiparameter CCR flows, which are not pullbacks of$1$-parameter CCR flows, with any given index. Moreover, the constructed CCR flows are type I in the sense that the associated product system is the smallest subsystem containing its units.
Modeling farmers' preference and willingness to pay for improved climate services in Rwanda
Authors: Tesfaye Abonesh , Hansen James , Kagabo Desire , Birachi Eliud , Radeny Maren , Solomon Dawit
Published: September 2022

This study aims to understand how Rwandan farmers value the improved characteristics of climate services introduced to them in a choice experiment setting. Data were collected from 1,525 household heads in November 2019. A random parameters logit model was used to analyze the data. Results suggest that Rwandan farmers value forecast accuracy, dissemination through a combination of extension agents and the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture process, and bundling with market price information. This study suggests that to improve agricultural management planning and food security of farmers through the provision of climate services, these services need to be accurate, user-tailored, and accessible.
Material Sources, Lack of Notation and the Presence of Collaborators: The case of Double by Constança Capdeville
Authors: Magalhães Filipa
Published: September 2022

This article discusses the compositional taxonomy of music theatre works by Constança Capdeville (1937–92) and offers a way to analyse her music and collaborative processes and also the performance of her work through a case study of the piece Double. Capdeville’s works include different elements such as music, settings (staging), movement, text, tape-recorded sound, visual image, props, costumes and lighting. Documentation for the compositions is scattered across different sources or simply lost, making it difficult to reconstruct the works as they have improvised hypothetical components and idiosyncratic or non-standard notations. Using a type of musicological archeology, I want to contribute to the understanding of gesture, language and communication in Capdeville’s works. I aim to preserve the works, particularly by highlighting the collaborative approach of the composer and proposing ways of establishing a documentation process for these aspects in order to systematise the works. I focus on the use of technology of magnetic tape as both a source of listening (the tapes provide a recording of the entire performance) and an instrument (tape recordings are given parts in the composition of the piece). Technology is also an important analytical tool because it helps to track collaborative creative processes. The iAnalyse software is used to help reconstruct and interpret music theatre works.
Three Approaches for Representing the Statistical Uncertainty on Atom-Counting Results in Quantitative ADF STEM
Authors: De wael Annelies , De Backer Annick , Yu Chu-Ping , Sentürk Duygu Gizem , Lobato Ivan , Faes Christel , Van Aert Sandra
Published: September 2022

A decade ago, a statistics-based method was introduced to count the number of atoms from annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF STEM) images. In the past years, this method was successfully applied to nanocrystals of arbitrary shape, size, and composition (and its high accuracy and precision has been demonstrated). However, the counting results obtained from this statistical framework are so far presented without a visualization of the actual uncertainty about this estimate. In this paper, we present three approaches that can be used to represent counting results together with their statistical error, and discuss which approach is most suited for further use based on simulations and an experimental ADF STEM image.