bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A real‐world exploratory study on the feasibility of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin‐containing therapies
Authors: Gao Wen , Xu Ying , Liu Jianxiang , Wang Xiaolei , Dong Xinhong , Teng Guigen , Liu Binbin , Dong Jinpei , Ge Chaoyi , Ye Hui , Zhang Xuezhi , Cheng Hong
Published: January 2023

Background

The treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a challenge for those who cannot use amoxicillin.

Objective

To evaluate the eradication rate and adverse effects of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy as first‐line and rescue treatment regimens used in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin‐containing therapies.

Design

Patients enrolled were those who were H. pylori‐positive with selected conditions: (1) allergic to penicillin, either naïve to treatment or had failed before; or (2) failed in previous amoxicillin‐containing therapies. All enrolled patients accepted 14‐day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy (VT dual therapy) as follows: vonoprazan (20 mg b.i.d.) and tetracycline (500 mg t.i.d. [body weight < 70 kg] or 500 mg q.i.d. [body weight ≥ 70 kg]). H. pylori status was evaluated by 13C‐urease breath test 6 weeks after treatment. All adverse effects were recorded. Some patients underwent bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Results

A total of 62 patients were enrolled; 18 of them received VT dual therapy as first‐line treatment, 44 patients received VT dual therapy as rescue treatment. Overall, 58 of 62 patients achieved successful eradication (93.5%), while all involved (100%,18/18) succeeded in the first‐line treatment group and 40 cases (90.9%, 40/44) succeeded in the rescue treatment group. Sixty‐one (61/62, 98.4%) patients completed the whole course of treatment. Adverse events occurred in 6 patients (6/62, 9.7%), while one patient quit because of skin rash. All adverse effects were mild and relieved spontaneously after H. pylori treatment. Five patients achieved successful H. pylori culture, and all strains isolated were sensitive to tetracycline.

Conclusions

For the treatment of H. pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin‐containing therapies, a 14‐day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy was effective and safe as first‐line and rescue treatment in our study. Further study is warranted to verify its efficacy, especially for those who cannot use amoxicillin.
Status and influencing factors of lower limb amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer
Authors: Peng Xiaofeng , Gou Dengqun , Zhang Lu , Wu Hemei , Chen Yu , Shao Xing , Li Li , Tao Ming
Published: January 2023

To investigate the influencing factors of lower limb amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers who were hospitalised in a tertiary general hospital in Guizhou Province from January 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. Sociological information of the general population, comorbidities, laboratory‐related indicators, and information on the specialty situation, using univariate analysis and multifactor analysis, compared the influencing factors of amputation and non‐amputee patients. A total of 205 patients with diabetic foot and 69 ampute patients (33.7%) were enrolled. The univariate analysis found that the decrease in HDL cholesterol levels was associated with the occurrence of lower extremity amputation, and logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that HDL‐C was inversely correlated with the amputation rate of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, and the risk of amputation at low levels of HDL‐C was 2.452 times higher than that of high‐level HDL‐C (95% CI: 1.105–5.846). Decreased HDL cholesterol levels are an independent predictor of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
Lentigo maligna (melanoma): A systematic review and meta‐analysis on surgical techniques and presurgical mapping by reflectance confocal microscopy
Authors: Elshot Y. S. , Tio D. C. K. S. , van Haersma‐de With A. S. E. , Ouwerkerk W. , Zupan‐Kajcovski B. , Crijns M. B. , Limpens C. E. J. M. , Klop W. M. C. , Bekkenk M. W. , Balm A. J. M. , de Rie M. A.
Published: January 2023

Because of an increased risk of local recurrence following surgical treatment of lentigo maligna (melanoma) (LM/LMM), the optimal surgical technique is still a matter of debate. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different surgical techniques and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) on local recurrence and survival outcomes. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed databases through 20 May 2022. Randomized and observational studies with ≥10 lesions were eligible for inclusion. Bias assessment was performed using the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized Studies instrument. Meta‐analysis was performed for local recurrence, as there were insufficient events for the other clinical outcomes. We included 41 studies with 5059 LM and 1271 LMM. Surgical techniques included wide local excision (WLE) (n = 1355), staged excision (n = 2442) and Mohs' micrographic surgery (MMS) (n = 2909). Six studies included RCM. The guideline‐recommended margin was insufficient in 21.6%–44.6% of LM/LMM. Local recurrence rate was lowest for patients treated by MMS combined with immunohistochemistry (<1%; 95% CI, 0.3%–1.9%), and highest for WLE (13%; 95% CI, 7.2%–21.6%). The mean follow‐up varied from 27 to 63 months depending on surgical technique with moderate to high heterogeneity for MMS and WLE. Handheld‐RCM decreased both the rate of positive histological margins (p < 0.0001) and necessary surgical stages (p < 0.0001). The majority of regional (17/25) and distant (34/43) recurrences occurred in patients treated by WLE. Melanoma‐associated mortality was low (1.5%; 32/2107), and more patients died due to unrelated causes (6.7%; 107/1608). This systematic review shows a clear reduction in local recurrences using microscopically controlled surgical techniques over WLE. The use of HH‐RCM showed a trend in the reduction in incomplete resections and local recurrences even when used with WLE. Due to selection bias, heterogeneity, low prevalence of stage III/IV disease and limited survival data, it was not possible to determine the effect of the different surgical techniques on survival outcomes.
Otolith mineralogy affects otolith shape asymmetry: a comparison of hatchery and natural origin Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Authors: Quindazzi Micah J. , Gaffney Leigh P. , Polard Emma , Bohlender Nick , Duguid Will , Juanes Francis
Published: January 2023

Many aspects of natural and hatchery origin salmonid genetics, physiology, behaviour, anatomy and life histories have been compared due to the concerns about what effects domestication and hatchery rearing conditions have on fitness. Genetic and environmental stressors associated with hatchery rearing could cause greater developmental instability (DI), and therefore a higher degree of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in various bilaterally paired characters, such as otoliths. Nonetheless, to appropriately infer the effects of DI on otolith asymmetry, otolith mineralogy must be accounted for. Vateritic otoliths differ substantially from aragonitic otoliths in terms of mass and shape and can artificially inflate any measurement of FA if not properly accounted for. In this study, measurements of otolith asymmetry between hatchery and natural origin Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch from three different river systems were compared to assess the overall differences in asymmetry when the calcium carbonate polymorph accounted for 59.3% of otoliths from hatchery origin O. kisutch was vateritic compared to 11.7% of otoliths from natural origin O. kisutch. Otolith mineralogy, rather than origin, was the most significant factor influencing the differences in asymmetry for each shape metric. When only aragonitic otoliths were compared, there was no difference in absolute asymmetry between hatchery and natural origin O. kisutch. The authors recommend other researchers to assess otolith mineralogy when conducting studies regarding otolith morphometrics and otolith FA.
Monitoring for Anguillicoloides crassus, Anguillid herpesvirus 1, aquabirnavirus EVE and rhabdovirus EVEX in the European eel population of southern Spain
Authors: Ruiz de Ybáñez M. Rocío , del Río Laura , Flores‐Flores César , Muñoz Pilar , Berriatua Eduardo , Rubio Silvia , Martínez‐Carrasco Carlos
Published: January 2023

European eel is critically endangered in Europe. Among other stressors, pathogens are well‐known to harm eels' fitness. One hundred and eighty‐two eels were captured in three Eel Management Units in Andalucía (SE Spain) and analysed for Anguillicoloides crassus, Anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV1), the rhabdovirus Eel Virus European X (EVEX) and the aquabirnavirus Eel Virus European (EVE). A. crassus adults and preadults were isolated and morphometrically identified, and the eel swimbladders were artificially digested to count A. crassus larvae. Also, eel tissues were examined by PCRs for the presence of viruses. EVEX and EVE were not detected in any of the eels. The estimated prevalence (95% confidence limits) was 71 (64–78)% for A. crassus and 35 (28–42)% for AngHV‐1, varying these prevalences significantly between and within EMUs. Moreover, A. crassus prevalence was highest in smaller eels, in sites closest to the sea and eels sampled in the autumn. By contrast, AngHV‐1 prevalence was highest in biggest eels, in sites far from the sea and sampled in the summer or winter. However, in mixed effects logistic models including site as a random variable, the risk of infection was associated with distance to the sea in both A. crassus and AngHV‐1 infections and also to winter sampling in the case of AngHV‐1 and not to other variables. These results are evidence that both pathogens are highly endemic in eels from Andalusian habitats. Further studies are needed to better understand the risk factors associated with these pathogens on eel populations.
Biased Auctioneers
Authors: AUBRY MATHIEU , KRÄUSSL ROMAN , MANSO GUSTAVO , SPAENJERS CHRISTOPHE
Published: January 2023

We construct a neural network algorithm that generates price predictions for art at auction, relying on both visual and nonvisual object characteristics. We find that higher automated valuations relative to auction house presale estimates are associated with substantially higher price‐to‐estimate ratios and lower buy‐in rates, pointing to estimates' informational inefficiency. The relative contribution of machine learning is higher for artists with less dispersed and lower average prices. Furthermore, we show that auctioneers' prediction errors are persistent both at the artist and at the auction house level, and hence directly predictable themselves using information on past errors.
Information Aggregation via Contracting
Authors: LI JIASUN
Published: January 2023

When a group of investors with dispersed private information jointly invest in a risky project, how should they divide the project's profit? We show that a simple contract dividing profits in proportion to investors' risk tolerances may facilitate information aggregation by altering investors' risk‐taking incentives when they decide on how investment strategies respond to private information. Our results provide a contracting‐based approach for information aggregation, which is an alternative to learning from endogenous market variables (e.g., prices) via contingent schedules as seen in well‐known rational expectations equilibrium models.
Social expectations as a possible mechanism for adult personality change: Limited empirical evidence for the social investment principle
Authors: Hang Yuzhan , Speyer Lydia Gabriela , Murray Aja Louise , Luciano Michelle , Mõttus René
Published: January 2023

Objective

Personality traits change in both mean levels and variance across the life span but the mechanisms underlying these developmental trends remain unclear. Social Investment Principle (SIP) suggests that social expectations drive personality changes in adulthood. Accordingly, we tested whether differences between personality traits in social expectations for them can explain their different change trajectories in young adulthood.

Methods

A pool of 257 personality items was used to measure personality traits' means and variances (N = 1096), and levels expected by friends, partners and bosses/supervisors (N = 121).

Results

Raters were consistent in their expectations for how young adults should think, feel and behave. Traits under stronger expectations had higher mean levels and lower variances than traits under lower expectations; trait means and variances increased with age, but inconsistently with the SIP, these increases were unrelated to the traits' expected levels.

Conclusion

Our results are only partially consistent with the SIP.
Personality, intelligence, and academic achievement: Charting their developmental interplay
Authors: Bardach Lisa , Hübner Nicolas , Nagengast Benjamin , Trautwein Ulrich , von Stumm Sophie
Published: January 2023

Objective

Although intelligence and personality traits have long been recognized as key predictors of students' academic achievement, little is known about their longitudinal and reciprocal associations. Here, we charted the developmental interplay of intelligence, personality (Big Five) and academic achievement in 3880 German secondary school students, who were assessed four times between the ages 11 and 14 years (i.e., in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8).

Method

We fitted random intercept cross‐lagged panel models (RI‐CLPs) to investigate reciprocal within‐person associations between (a) academic achievement and intelligence, (b) academic achievement and personality, as well as (c) intelligence and personality.

Results

The results revealed negative within‐person associations between Conscientiousness and Extraversion assessed at the first wave of measurement and intelligence assessed at the second wave. None of the reciprocal personality–achievement associations attained statistical significance. Academic achievement and intelligence showed reciprocal within‐person relations, with the strongest coefficients found for achievement longitudinally predicting intelligence.

Conclusions

Our work contributes to developmental theorizing on interrelations between personality, intelligence, and academic achievement, as well as to within‐person conceptualizations in personality research.
Incidence and full genome sequence of Alfalfa mosaic virus infecting sugar beet
Authors: Kamel Esraa S. , Rabie Mona , Fattouh Faiza A. , Abdel Aleem Engy E.
Published: January 2023

The average incidence of AMV infection in sugar beet was 20% as detected by RT‐PCR in selected governorates of Egypt (El‐Beheira, Kafr El‐Shaykh and Alexandria). Nucleotide sequencing of the complete genome of AMV EGY1 isolated from sugar beet plants was determined. Analysis of comparable sequences showed that total nucleotide sequence similarity between the AMV Beet‐EGY1 isolate and the FER isolate (Solanum tuberosum) from Egypt is 97.86%, 98.01% and 97.79% for RNAs 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AMV EGY1 isolate occupied a separate clade with FER isolate from Egypt; it suggests that the isolate from Beta vulgaris is different from other previously reported isolates. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparison of all isolates revealed that the Egyptian isolates appear to be more linked to subgroup II when compared to subgroup I and belong to subgroup IIC. This is the first report of a full genome sequence of AMV infecting sugar beet.
Receiving thank you letters in inpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS): A qualitative study of nurse's experiences
Authors: Stirling Fiona J. , Monteux Sebastian , Stoll Marcia
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Previous research has found that nurses in inpatient CAMHS can struggle to define their role and contribution to patient care. While gratitude has received increased attention in relation to subjective well‐being in healthcare settings, the receipt of gratitude in the form of thank you letters is currently unexplored in the CAMHS context.

Aim/Question

To gain an understanding of how inpatient CAMHS nursing staff experience receiving expressions of gratitude from patients.

Method

Adopting an exploratory qualitative approach, two focus group interviews were conducted. Participants completed a brief online follow‐up questionnaire. Data were examined using thematic analysis.

Results

Reflecting on expressions of gratitude improved understanding of professional identity, enhanced reflexivity, enhanced team cohesion and increased professional and personal confidence and motivation.

Discussion

Expressions of gratitude appear to offer meaningful sources of feedback for nurses and support a greater sense of personal accomplishment, professional role and the relational impact of care for patients. When nurses share and discuss expressions of gratitude with colleagues this brings benefits additional to the initial receipt.

Implications for Mental Health Nursing

Nurses should be supported to engage in discussing and reflecting upon receiving thank you letters and other tokens of gratitude although care should be taken to support those who might experience unease or increased self‐doubt.
Hepatitis C prevalence and elimination planning in Pakistan, a bottom‐up approach accounting for provincial variation
Authors: Mooneyhan Ellen , Qureshi Huma , Mahmood Hassan , Tariq Muhammad , Maqbool Nabeel Ahmed , Anwar Masood , Aslam Mujahid , Azam Farooq , Blach Sarah , Khan Aamir Ghafoor , Hamid Saeed , Hussain Tanweer , Akhter Mohammad Khalil , Khan Ambreen , Khan Uzma , Khowaja Saira , Mahmood Khalid , Mazhar Samra , Nawaz Ahmad , Rose Ayub , Ghorezai Gul Sabeen Azam , Shah Sabeen , Sarwar Syeda Zahida , Razavi Homie
Published: January 2023

In Pakistan, substantial changes to hepatitis C virus (HCV) programming and treatment have occurred since the 2008 nationwide serosurvey estimated a 4.8% anti‐HCV prevalence. In the absence of an updated national study, this analysis uses provincial data to estimate a national prevalence and the interventions needed to achieve elimination. Using a Delphi process, epidemiologic HCV data for the four provinces of Pakistan (accounting for 97% of the population) were reviewed with 21 subject‐matter experts in Pakistan. Province‐level estimates were inputted into a mathematical model to estimate the national HCV disease burden in the absence of intervention (Base), and if the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination targets are achieved by 2030 (80% reduction in new infections, 90% diagnosis coverage, 80% treatment coverage, and 65% reduction in mortality: WHO Elimination). An estimated 9,746,000 (7,573,000–10,006,000) Pakistanis were living with viraemic HCV as of January 1, 2021; a viraemic prevalence of 4.3% (3.3–4.4). WHO Elimination would require an annual average of 18.8 million screens, 1.1 million treatments, and 46,700 new infections prevented anually between 2022 and 2030. Elimination would reduce total infections by 7,045,000, save 152,000 lives and prevent 104,000 incident cases of hepatocellular carcinoma from 2015 to 2030. Blood surveys, programmatic data, and expert panel input uncovered more HCV infections and lower treatment numbers in the provinces than estimated using national extrapolations, demonstrating the benefits of a bottom‐up approach. Screening and treatment must increase 20 times and 5 times, respectively, to curb the HCV epidemic in Pakistan and achieve elimination by 2030.
Vancomycin use for haemodialysis patients—Development of a new dosing protocol
Authors: Ho Enya , Gleeson Sarah , Roberts Sarah , Bondesio Kristen , Salmon Andrew
Published: January 2023

Aim

To develop a dosing and monitoring protocol to achieve therapeutic vancomycin levels on intermittent haemodialysis.

Methods

We identified 15 vancomycin treatment courses received by patients on intermittent haemodialysis at a district health board in Auckland, New Zealand. Demographic, biochemical and clinical parameters were gathered from their health records. We subsequently devised and implemented a new vancomycin protocol consisting of weight‐based loading dose, and subsequent dose titration according to same‐day measured pre‐dialysis levels. We then re‐audited 16 vancomycin treatment courses to assess the performance of the protocol.

Results

A significantly higher proportion of vancomycin levels were within the target range (15–20 mg/L) following the implementation of protocol, from 23% to 46% (p < .005). Additionally, a greater proportion of treatment courses had >50% of pre‐dialysis levels within the target range, rising from 13% to 56% (p < .01). In the pre‐protocol group, 19 out of 117 doses of vancomycin were withheld during treatment, compared to 1 out of 118 doses in the post‐protocol group. A total of 62% of total maintenance doses were administered in adherence to protocol. Length of hospital stay and number of positive blood cultures while on treatment were reduced.

Conclusions

Our initial audit revealed deficiencies in our clinical practice in the absence of a local vancomycin protocol for patients receiving intermittent haemodialysis. Following the implementation of our novel protocol, there was an improvement in therapeutic levels and fewer doses were withheld. Our sample size was too small to allow for interpretation of clinical outcome data.
Dynamic properties of the pinyon pine syngameon
Authors: Whittemore Alan T. , Miller Richard E.
Published: January 2023

This article is a Commentary on Buck et al. (2023), 237: 2435–2449.
Risk factors for persistent fever in children with infectious mononucleosis
Authors: Zhou Jiwei , Cao Jie , Deng Boyin
Published: January 2023

Background

Fever is a common symptom in children with infectious mononucleosis (IM). However, the significance of the duration of a fever is poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for persistent fever in children with IM.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with IM (aged <18 years; except those with concomitant hematological malignancies or tumor diseases) in a high‐volume academic hospital in 2019 were reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Children with transient fever (≤7 days) were compared with those with persistent fever (>7 days). The risk factors for persistent fever in children with IM were examined using binary logistic regression. Furthermore, the predictive ability of these risk factors was assessed and presented using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

Of the 184 children included in this study, 131 (71.96%) belonged to the transient fever group and 53 (28.04%) belonged to the persistent fever group (median age: 49 and 64 months, respectively; p = 0.093). Statistical significance was observed in hepatomegaly, alanine aminotransferase level, blood triglyceride level, and blood Epstein–Barr virus polymerase chain reaction (EBV‐PCR) copy number (all p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression revealed that high blood triglyceride level was the risk factor for persistent fever in children with IM. High blood triglyceride level predicted persistent fever duration with an area under the ROC curve of 0.73 and an optimal cutoff value of 1.315 mmol/L.

Conclusion

High blood triglyceride level was the risk factor for persistent fever in children with IM. Thus, children with elevated levels of blood triglycerides need additional care. To diagnose IM, a blood EBV‐PCR is more useful than a throat‐swab EBV‐PCR.
Inoculum and disease dynamics of citrus greasy spot caused by Zasmidium citri‐griseum in sweet orange in Panama
Authors: Aguilera‐Cogley Vidal , Sedano Elena , Vicent Antonio
Published: January 2023

Citrus greasy spot, caused by Zasmidium citri‐griseum, is a disease characterized by inducing premature defoliation and a reduction in yield in different citrus species. Greasy spot is the most prevalent fungal disease in sweet orange in Panama. Nevertheless, no epidemiological information is available. In this study, the dynamics of the defoliation, inoculum production, airborne inoculum and infection periods of Z. citri‐griseum and their associations with environmental conditions were determined in Panama. The period from December to April was characterized by greater defoliation of trees, with the greatest amount of leaf litter being produced in January and February. The number of days until total leaf decomposition (DLD) was related to the number of rainy days >1 mm (NRD), accumulated rainfall (AR) and average relative humidity (ARH). The number of ascospores released from leaf litter (ASCL) was related to DLD, NRD, AR and average temperature (AT). The greatest amounts of airborne ascospores (AASC) of Z. citri‐griseum occurred during April and May, when the rainy season begins in Panama. Similarly, the highest incidence (INC) of greasy spot in the trap plants coincided with the months of the greatest availability of airborne ascospores. However, infections were also recorded during other times of the year. The AASC or INC data were fitted to Bayesian models including meteorological variables and an autoregressive temporal component, the latter being the most influential. The results obtained in this study will allow the development of more efficient and sustainable fungicide programmes for greasy spot control in Panama.
“The chug is coming through!” “There's two chuggas!”: A longitudinal study of the social function of imitation in children's play with siblings and friends
Authors: Howe Nina , Paine Amy L. , Leach Jamie , Magazin Elena , Gilmore Victoria , DeHart Ganie
Published: January 2023

Imitation is argued to have an important affiliative function in social relationships. However, children's tendency to imitate different play partners during naturalistic play and associations with social understanding have been overlooked. We investigated the frequency and context of imitation in a longitudinal study of 65 focal children (T1: M age = 56.4 months, SD = 5.71) during play with their older or younger sibling and a friend in two separate play sessions. Children were observed again approximately 3 years later (T2: n = 46, M age = 94.6 months; SD = 6.6). We coded focal children's verbal and nonverbal imitation of their play partner, their partner's response to being imitated, the context in which imitation occurred (e.g., pretense), and the focal child's social understanding (i.e., mental state references). Verbal imitation occurred more often than nonverbal imitation and was used most often during the contexts of play negotiations and pretense. Although focal children's imitation of both their siblings and friends increased significantly over time, children imitated friends more than siblings at T1. All play partners responded positively (i.e., smiling, laughing) most often to being imitated. Associations between focal child imitation and mental state talk with friends at T2 approached significance. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the nature of imitation during children's play interactions and support assertions that imitation is a process whereby children build affiliation, mutuality, and shared meanings in their relationships.
Developmental changes in mothers’ perception of knowledge, solicitation, and child disclosure during middle childhood
Authors: Desmarais Cloé , Poulin François
Published: January 2023

Parents can actively seek knowledge (solicitation) or receive information provided willingly by the child (disclosure). In adolescence, disclosure is the main source of parental knowledge, but its importance may take root earlier in the course of development. We examined: 1) the factor structure of an instrument adapted for middle childhood measuring maternal perception of knowledge, solicitation, and children's self‐disclosure; 2) changes in these dimensions over middle childhood; and 3) the respective contribution of solicitation and disclosure to parental knowledge. The mothers of 793 elementary school students (61.5% boys, 80.2% Canadian‐born) completed a questionnaire annually from Grades 1 to 4. Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the instrument's structure at all time points. Growth curve analyses showed that mothers’ perception of knowledge slightly declined from Grades 1 to 4. With respect to mothers’ perceived parental solicitation and child disclosure, gender interactions emerged. Solicitation declined for girls but remained stable for boys, while disclosure declined for girls but increased for boys over time. In addition, mothers' perception ofdisclosure and solicitation are both main sources of maternal knowledge regardless of age and gender in middle childhood.
Knowledge, skills or social mobility? Citizens' perceptions of the purpose of education
Authors: Busemeyer Marius R. , Guillaud Elvire
Published: January 2023

This article explores individual views of the purpose of education. Most existing research focuses on attitudes and policy preferences; while these types of perceptions have so far been largely overlooked due to a lack of data. Our analysis of original survey data in eight Western European countries shows that personal socioeconomic factors and ideological predispositions shape these individual opinions. Individuals with higher levels of education and income are more likely to view education as aimed at expanding knowledge as goal by itself, and less likely to view it as a tool to promote intergenerational social mobility. Left‐leaning individuals are also more likely to regard education as a goal by itself, and less likely to view it as conferring useful labour market skills for the younger generation. Finally, we investigate the relationship between these different views and individual preferences for social policies. Our results show that the perception of education as promoting intergenerational mobility is strongly associated with support for passive transfers, while the perception of education as conferring marketable skills increases support for workfare policies. Social investment policies, because they are widely supported in the population, are not linked to specific views on education.
Soil fertility in indigenous swidden fields and fallows in northern Amazonia, Brazil
Authors: de Pinho Rachel Camargo , Pequeno Pedro Aurélio Costa Lima , Alfaia Sonia Sena , Barbosa Reinaldo Imbrozio , Lincoln Noa Kekuewa
Published: January 2023

In the northern Brazilian Amazon, indigenous peoples who inhabit the savannas of Roraima, plant their crop fields in frequently managed “forest islands” using a rotating “slash‐and‐burn” system. The system advocates long‐term sustainability, but population growth and threats to indigenous lands have led to shorter rotations and greater frequency of use of forest island areas. Our objective was to examine soil texture and fertility (0–20 cm in depth) in indigenous crop fields (roças) and fallow lands (capoeiras, secondary forests), generating recommendations that may help to optimize traditional soil management. Results indicated that roça sites are less acidic than capoeira sites, which was expected as ashes produced by burning are alkalizing, but acidity did not increase again after 8 months of cultivation, and pH was high in all sites (>6). The general increase in nutrients expected in roças compared with capoeiras did not occur. The expected decrease of soil fertility after first months of cultivation did not happen, nor the increase of soil fertility according to fallow length. Overall, soil texture proved to be the main determinant of fertility. The unexpected results suggest that the edaphic processes resulting from the traditional indigenous cultivations, practised for centuries or millennia in this region, likely contributed to the current stabilization of soil acidity and fertility. The stable moderate fertility and stable high pH observed in all sites are advantages for production in slash‐and‐burn systems in this region, and this is especially important for more pressured areas, where agroecological practices could improve soil use and management. Although not determinant for soil fertility recovery at the studied depth (0–20 cm), the fallow period (growth of capoeiras) is still important for recovery of environmental and social functions of forest islands.
Serum thymidine kinase 1 activity as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with chemotherapy‐treated diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Zaidi Bushra , Mukhopadhyay Abhijit , Ramos‐Vara José A. , Dhawan Deepika , Ruple Audrey , Childress Michael O.
Published: January 2023

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is frequently treated with chemotherapy incorporating cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP), which induces remission in 80% to 95% of cases. However, not all dogs derive meaningful benefit from CHOP, and prognostic factors for dogs with DLBCL are poorly defined. Serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) activity, a marker of tumour cell proliferation, has shown promising initial results as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with multicentric lymphomas. The purpose of this study was to determine if baseline serum TK1 activity is associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHOP‐treated DLBCL. Baseline serum TK1 activity was measured in banked sera from 98 dogs with CHOP‐treated DLBCL using a commercially available ELISA kit. Data on other potential prognostic factors were abstracted retrospectively from electronic medical records. Multivariable statistical methods were used to identify associations between TK1 and other potential prognostic factors with progression‐free survival (PFS) and attainment of complete remission. TK1 activity at baseline was not associated with PFS (p = .299) or attainment of complete remission (p = .910) following CHOP chemotherapy. Of the other prognostic factors analysed, only purebred (vs. mixed breed) status (HR 8.81, 95% CI 1.68–46.30, p = .010), attainment of complete (vs. partial) remission (HR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.49, p = .006), and baseline serum C‐reactive protein concentration (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07–1.32, p = .001) were independently associated with PFS. Based on these findings, baseline serum TK1 activity does not appear to be a useful prognostic biomarker in dogs with CHOP‐treated DLBCL.
Design Synthesis of Structural Systems as a Markov Decision Process Solved With Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Ororbia Maximilian E. , Warn Gordon P.
Published: January 2023

Recently, it was demonstrated that the design synthesis of truss structures can be modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP) and solved using a tabular reinforcement learning method. In this setting, each state corresponds to a specific design configuration represented as a finite graph. However, when the structural design domain is relatively large, and depending on the constraints, the dimensionality of the state space becomes quite large rendering tabular reinforcement learning algorithms inefficient. Hence, in this study, the design synthesis MDP framework is significantly extended to solve structural design problems with large state spaces, by integrating deep reinforcement learning (DRL) into the general MDP framework. This is beneficial because with DRL, a deep neural network can be used to approximate the state-action value function, such that the network has much fewer parameters than the cardinality of the state space. This parameterization relies upon a problem relevant set of features and reward function. Thus, for this extended DRL design synthesis (DRLDS) framework, a compact set of features and a reward function are devised that are suitable for structural design problems where structural configurations are represented as finite graphs. Through the application of seven different structural design synthesis examples, the DRLDS framework is demonstrated to be capable of adeptly learning optimal policies that synthesize high, if not the highest, performing design solutions more frequently. The DRLDS framework does this with fewer finite element model evaluations than other considered alternative methods, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the developed set of features and reward function.
Influence of Matrix Material on Impact Properties of Chopped Carbon Fiber-Thermoplastic Composites Made Using FDM/FFF
Authors: Patterson Albert E. , Hasanov Seymur , Vajipeyajula Bhaskar
Published: January 2023

A major applications of thermoplastic additive manufacturing (typically completed using the fused deposition modeling or fused filament fabrication (FDM/FFF) process) is in the production of polymer matrix composites. Several different reinforcing materials have been proposed and studied, a common one of which is chopped carbon fibers (CCF). Most of the published research on the properties and effect of the CCF reinforcement has relied upon a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix, as it has a low and stable melting temperature, low cost, and mixes readily with particulate or chopped reinforcing materials. For commercially available CCF filament for FDM/FFF, the typical fiber content is around 15–25% by volume, with the remainder being the thermoplastic matrix. To better explore the influence of the matrix material on the properties of these materials, this study compares the IZOD impact properties of standard CCF PLA with CCF-reinforced materials using polyamide/nylon (PA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) matrices. All cases were printed at full (100%) density. For each material, samples of 5 mm thickness were tested in the Type A (notch in tension) and Type E (notch in compression) configurations. Two print orientations (flat and horizontal) and two raster angles (0–90° and ±45°) were considered for each combination. As required by ASTM D256, the tests were replicated five times each. The results are compared with the major literature for CCF reinforced PLA, as well as benchmark tests using injection molded samples and non-CCF PLA, PA, PC, ABS, and PETG processed by FDM/FFF.
Effects of Printing Parameters on Geometrical and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed High-Performance Thermoplastics, Toward the Digitalization of Power Transformers
Authors: Dutra Thiago Assis , Costa Catarina , Matos João R. , Oliveira Bruna F. , Oliveira Luís Miguel , Coutinho Cristiano Pereira
Published: January 2023

Traditionally, cellulosic materials have been applied in power transformers due to their good electrical insulation and oil absorption, although their hygroscopic characteristics consequently lead to time-consuming processes. Viewing to circumvent these limitations, the Additive Manufacturing of high-performance thermoplastics has been investigated as an alternative solution for solid insulation. In this context, the present work investigates the effect of process parameters on the geometrical and mechanical properties of 3D-printed Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Polyetherimide (PEI). To this end, the residual stresses and distortions are numerically computed considering different ranges of extrusion temperatures, printing speeds, and layer heights. Then, resulting elastic properties are predicted using the Asymptotic Homogenization technique. For that, two unit cells representing the microstructures found for the PEEK and PEI are adopted. From the obtained results, it was verified that lower layer heights and printing speeds, as well as higher extrusion temperatures, resulted in higher residual stresses. In contrast, higher layer heights, higher extrusion temperatures, and lower printing speeds resulted in higher distortions for both materials. In regards to the design of components, the obtained results provide useful data for both preliminary and critical analyses, potentially saving time and reducing waste of materials in future investigations involving 3D-printed high-performance thermoplastics.
Additive Manufacturing of Star Structured Auxetic Lattices With Overhanging Links
Authors: Rogers Benedict A. , Valentine Max D. A. , Pegg Elise C. , Lunt Alexander J. G. , Dhokia Vimal
Published: January 2023

Additive manufacturing has been the driving force behind the growth of metamaterials as a field. Commonly taking the form of lattices, these structures can achieve a range of novel macroscale properties that stem from the cumulative effects of locally designed mechanisms. A wide array of mechanical metamaterials have already been designed using computational methods, but these rarely undergo physical testing, often as a result of manufacturing difficulties.

This work approaches the problem of manufacturing complex metamaterial test samples though a case study of 3D petal-based auxetic star lattices. These lattice structures have linkage structures with overhanging elements, which is a common feature in metamaterial concepts but challenging to print. Trials of the test samples were manufactured using a thermoplastic polyurethane filament combined with polyvinyl acetate support at 20, 30 and 40 mm unit cell sizes. It was found that the main geometric challenges for successful printing were the link thickness and the reliability of the prints. To address unreliability, the geometry was cut into layers of cells with adhesive-connected feet and printed in parts for post-process assembly.

The layered approach was tested successfully and was estimated to reduce the number of cells needed to be attempted to print the full lattice by over 80%. The use of dissolvable support material proved viable for printing overhanging links, but requires use of fused deposition modelling so a relatively low part resolution. The trial led to a five point design guide methodology for metamaterial test samples. Combined with cell mathematical definitions that strictly bound link thickness to take minimum print resolution into account, this methodology can be applied to other metamaterials and help bridge the gap between theoretical lattices and physical testing.
Polarized Illumination for Optical Monitoring System in Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Zhang Song , Enk Sebastian , Kolter Moritz , Schleifenbaum Johannes Henrich
Published: January 2023

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a promising technology to manufacture complex geometry in a layer wised manner. Shifting from low volume prototyping to high volume production the demand for quality assurance and reliability of additive manufacturing systems increases hence in-situ monitoring systems are required to monitor process anomalies as input for further process control. Optical based monitoring systems, such as CMOS and CCD camera, are proved as an effective way to monitor layer wise geometrical distortion during manufacturing process. However, due to complex illumination condition in the process chamber, geometries of the printed parts are hard to distinguished and extracted from powder bed properly. In this study, we propose a novel method for an illumination setup by using polarized light sources to improve the distinguishability of printed parts compared to the powder bed on the layer wised monitoring images. In the proposed setup LED light sources are installed on each side of the optical camera with polarizing filters. For every printed layer, two images of powder bed are captured using each light source before recoating. The images are calibrated and stacked afterwards to get the polarized monitoring image at the current layer. The polarized image made in the new setup shows significant improvement of contrast between printed part and powder. The illumination setup was tested on an EOS M290 LPBF machine with AlSi10Mg powder. Polarized monitoring images were compared with images under original machine illumination. The result shows the distinguishable difference between grey values of printed parts and powder bed, where the geometry of the printed part can be extracted with F1 score = 0.977 using Otsu binarization algorithm.
A Multi-Modal Data-Driven Decision Fusion Method for Process Monitoring in Metal Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Yang Zhuo , Kim Jaehyuk , Lu Yan , Yeung Ho , Lane Brandon , Jones Albert , Ndiaye Yande
Published: January 2023

Data fusion techniques aim to improve inference results or decision making by ‘combining’ multiple data sources. Additive manufacturing (AM) in-situ monitoring systems measure various physical phenomena and generate multiple types of data. Data types that occur at different scales and sampling rates during a build process. Data types that can be used to monitor the state of that process. Monitoring typically requires software tools to analyze multiple data sources. There are two reasons. First, data only from an individual data source may not be accurate enough or large enough to monitor the process stat. Second, a single source will be limited by the relevancy of the observations, signal-to-noise ratio, or other measurement uncertainties.

This work proposes a decision-level, multimodal, data fusion method that combines multiple, in-situ, AM monitoring data sources to improve overall, process-monitoring performance. The work is based on a recent, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) experiment that was conducted to create overhang surfaces throughout a 3D part. The data from that experiment is used to illustrate and validate the proposed method. The overhang features were designed with different shapes. angles, and build locations. The features are formed using constant laser power and scan speed. A high-frequency, coaxial, melt-pool, imaging system and a low-frequency layerwise staring camera are the two, in-situ, monitoring, data sources used in that experiment. The Naïve Bayes and the k-nearest-neighbors algorithms are first applied to each data set for overhang feature detection. Then both hard voting and soft voting are adopted in fusing the classification outcomes. The results show that while none of the individual classifiers are perfect in detecting overhang features, the fused decision of the 324 test samples achieved 100% detection accuracy.