bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation on functional capacity in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis—a systematic review protocol
Authors: Amin Revati , Vaishali K. , Maiya G. Arun , Mohapatra Aswini Kumar , Yadav Uday Narayan , Parsekar Shradha S.
Published: November 2021

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the common types of interstitial lung disease having high prevalence and mortality worldwide. As a result of patient-centred hindering factors of adherence to centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), home-based PR is an alternate mode of rehabilitating individuals with IPF. This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness of unsupervised home-based PR on functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with IPF.

Methods

Clinically stable, high resolution computed tomography and physician diagnosed IPF participants having modified Medical Research Council score below 5 will be considered for the systematic review. Studies involving home-based PR as an intervention to treat individuals with IPF will be considered. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised studies (with two groups followed up) are eligible to be included. Outcomes of our interest are functional capacity (6-min walk distance, shuttle walk test and incremental shuttle walk test) and secondary outcome measure would include assessment of quality of life and adverse effects of intervention. Electronic databases such as SCOPUS, Medline (PubMed and Web of Science), PEDRo and CINAHL will be searched using database specific terms. Additionally, forward and backward citations of included studies will be searched to identify potential records. Two review authors, independently, will conduct the screening, data extraction using a customised standard tool, and critical appraisal using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool of included studies. If data permits, meta-analysis will be conducted. In case of substantial heterogeneity, we will do a narrative synthesis. Subgroup analysis will be undertaken based on various contextual and interventional factors.

Discussion

This review will provide comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of unsupervised home-based PR to physiotherapists, policy makers and researchers who are interested in IPF management. Findings from this review may guide the development and evaluation of more robust evidence based home-based PR that aimed to improve functional capacity among people with IPF.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42020213883.
Innovation research on foreign language teaching theory with Chinese characteristics based on Whitehead’s process philosophy
Authors: Su Hui
Published: November 2021

Since China’s reform and opening up, foreign language teaching (FLT) in China has achieved rapid development under the guidance of foreign language teaching theories both at home and abroad. However, problems such as ‘time-consuming and inefficient foreign language learning’ and the presence of ‘dumb foreign languages’ in FLT in China have not been fundamentally solved. Based on Whitehead’s process philosophy, this research aims to put forward feasible solutions to the existing problems in FLT in China so that the level of FLT in China can be promoted by discussing the purpose, contents, processes and stages of FLT and the relationship between teachers and students in both FLT and FLT evaluation systems.
Utility of shear wave ultrasound elastography in evaluation of testicular stiffness in patients with varicocele
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Tohamy
Published: November 2021

Background

Testicular varicocele is the most frequent cause of male infertility. The study aimed at evaluation of testicular stiffness in patients with varicocele measured by shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) in correlation to patient semen analysis (total sperm count) and varicocele grade. This case–control study involved 50 patients (40 patients with bilateral testicular varicocele and 10 patients with unilateral Lt. testicular varicocele of different grades) and 25 healthy controls. All participants underwent physical examination, semen analysis (patient group subdivided in two groups: group A; normospermic and group B; oligospermic), scrotal grey scale and Doppler ultrasound, and shear wave ultrasound elastography with measurement of mean testicular stiffness. Evaluation of testicular stiffness and correlation to varicocele grade and semen analysis (total sperm count) were done.

Results

The mean testicular stiffness value measured by SWE in patients with testicular varicocele was greater than that of healthy controls (7.46 ± 1.64 kPa vs. 3.84 ± 0.62 kPa, P < 0.001). The mean testicular stiffness value in group B exceeded that of group A (8.57 ± 1.53 kPa vs. 6.34 ± 1.76 kPa, P = 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between mean testicular stiffness value and the varicocele grade (P = 0.01) which was more evident in group B than in group A (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Testicular ultrasound SWE is a quantitative noninvasive imaging method which helps in the assessment of testicular parenchymal changes due to varicocele. Higher testicular stiffness values were found in testes of patients with varicocele, more in oligospermic patients than the testes of healthy controls. Testicular stiffness is moderately correlated to varicocele grade.
Standardizing a unique renewable energy supply chain: the SURESC Model
Authors: Finocchi Emiliano
Published: November 2021

This theory-building research intends to dig into the renewable energy industry and drawing from research on learning curves and energy polices, proposes a way to speed-up the energy shift from our fossil-fuel dependency to a green economy. Even though standard economic frameworks suggest that markets and not policy makers should decide winners and losers, we urge to accelerate renewable energy competitiveness, proposing that by limiting the number of maturing renewable technologies where resources are allocated to at government level, we reduce the time within which renewables will achieve technological price parity with fossil fuels. In turn, by analyzing the energy demand and supply curves, the study suggests that this action will also mediate the relation between quantity and price, shifting only the supply curve, leaving the demand curve unaffected. It continues by proposing the standardization of a unique renewable energy supply chain model, defined as the SURESC model, relating the indirect effect of limiting the number of maturing technologies to allocate resources, to achieve renewable price-parity

with conventional energy sources faster. This is a preliminary theoretical study intended to provide a holistic approach to a known problem.
Association of smoking status with hospitalisation for COVID-19 compared with other respiratory viruses a year previous: a case-control study at a single UK National Health Service trust
Authors: Simons David , Perski Olga , Shahab Lion , Brown Jamie , Bailey Robin
Published: November 2021

Background: It is unclear whether smoking increases the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation. We first examined the association of smoking status with hospitalisation for COVID-19 compared with hospitalisation for other respiratory viral infections a year previous. Second, we examined the concordance between smoking status recorded on the electronic health record (EHR) and the contemporaneous medical notes.

Methods: This case-control study enrolled adult patients (446 cases and 211 controls) at a single National Health Service trust in London, UK. The outcome variable was type of hospitalisation (COVID-19 vs. another respiratory virus a year previous). The exposure variable was smoking status (never/former/current smoker). Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic position and comorbidities were performed. The study protocol and analyses were pre-registered in April 2020 on the Open Science Framework.

Results: Current smokers had lower odds of being hospitalised with COVID-19 compared with other respiratory viruses a year previous (ORadj=0.55, 95% CI=0.31-0.96, p=.04). There was no significant association among former smokers (ORadj=1.08, 95% CI=0.72-1.65, p=.70). Smoking status recorded on the EHR (compared with the contemporaneous medical notes) was incorrectly recorded for 168 (79.6%) controls (χ2(3)=256.5, p=<0.001) and 60 cases (13.5%) (χ2(3)=34.2, p=<0.001).

Conclusions: In a single UK hospital trust, current smokers had reduced odds of being hospitalised with COVID-19 compared with other respiratory viruses a year previous, although it is unclear whether this association is causal. Targeted post-discharge recording of smoking status may account for the greater EHR-medical notes concordance observed in cases compared with controls.
Teaching-learning behavior in medicine according to students’ perspective: what most influences academic achievement?
Authors: Kusmiati Mia , Dharmmika Susanti , Maharani Dewi Asri
Published: November 2021

Background: The medical student is a part of education that has a pivotal role in contributing to the teaching-learning process. Assessing the learning process by student perception can give valuable input to predict academic achievement. This study aims to identify the student’s perspective regarding teaching-learning behaviour and which factor most influences academic achievement.

Methods: A total of 443 medical students of the preclinical phase were selected to participate in this study. Design of the study comprised three single-groups time sequences with the observational approach. This study is divided into three phases: item construction by conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA), validation through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and true surveys. Sample size calculation employed formulation of subject to item ratio for EFA and CFA; true survey utilized the estimate proportion population. Using regression linear, we determine the most influential factor to academic performance.

Results: Results were summarized following two factors that influencing academic performance, namely learning experience (p value=0.013, r=0.041) and exam effectiveness (p value=0.041, r=0.028). Our work highlights the lecturer capacity and integrated module have contributed the academic success (79.46% and 77.80%).

Conclusions: Our finding has novelty in which contribute the knowledge regarding exam significance on medicine. Meanwhile, related to the learning experience domain is increasingly proving an essential factor to achieve academic performance. The major strength of this study is the systematic manner in which it was conducted.
Protofibril formation: decreased total glutathione concentration as an early indicator of neuron damage in the brainstems of Wistar rats treated with rotenone
Authors: Yulianti Arief Budi , Sumarsono Sony Heru , Ridwan Ahmad , Yusuf Ayda T
Published: November 2021

Background: Rotenone treatment causes oxidative stress in neurons and forms the basis of animal models of Parkinson's disease. The reduced form of glutathione is predicted to detoxify rotenone from neurons in the brainstem. This study aims to measure the concentration of total glutathione and analyze the formation of protofibril in the brainstem of Wistar rats treated with rotenone.

Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats aged 8–9 weeks weighing 200–250 g were divided into two investigations: total glutathione determination and protofibril analysis. The independent variables were treatment group, observation time, and location in the brainstem. The dependent variables were the concentration of total glutathione and protofibril density.

Results: The concentration of total glutathione was not significantly different among treatment groups (p: 0.084), observation time (p: 0.608), or the location in the brainstem (p: 0.372). Protofibril density was different in the treatment groups (p: 0.001), observation time (p: 0.001), and between the upper and lower brainstem (p: 0.001). Rotenone treatment subcortically induced the concentration of total glutathione in the brainstem to decrease, but protofibril density tended to increase.

Conclusions: The total glutathione concentration is inversely proportional to protofibril density. Total glutathione might be an early marker of neuronal damage.
ПОТЕНЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ КОНЦЕПЦИИ «Умный город» ПРИ ЦифровизациИ процессов городского хозяйства
Authors: Narolina Tatiana S. , Smotrova Tatiana I. , Anisimova Nadezhda A. , Popov Vitaly G.
Published: November 2021

Одним из важнейших и перспективных направлений цифровизации является создание благоприятной среды для проживания населения городов и повышения качества жилищно-коммунального обслуживания. Концепция «Умный город» (Smart City), реализуемая во многих странах, предполагает решение этой задачи. Однако анализ примеров реализации подобных инициатив свидетельствует о том, что сфера городского хозяйства представлена в России ограниченным числом проектов. Данное состояние не способствует созданию комфортной среды для населения, экономии ресурсов, повышению общественной безопасности и улучшению здоровья населения. Проведенное исследование посвящено анализу практики применения информационно-коммуникационных технологий в управлении развитием городов.

Цель – формулировка предложений по совершенствованию качества городской среды ЖКХ на основе выявления тенденций и потенциала развития цифровых платформ на этом рынке в мировой и российской практике.

Метод или методология проведения работы. В процессе исследования проводился анализ понятия «Умный город» и систематизация практики реализации проектов «Умный город». Методы системного и ретроспективного анализа позволили оценить предпосылки нормативно-правовых инициатив и предпринимаемых государством шагов по развитию цифровизации в сфере городского и жилищно-коммунального хозяйства.

Исследованы стратегические направления применения современных информационных и коммуникационных технологий, в том числе Интернет вещей (IoT) при цифровой трансформации российских городов.

Рассмотрена возможность применения оценки индекса цифровизации городского хозяйства при реализации проекта «Умный город» и известных способов обработки «больших данных».

Результаты. Информационные технологии активно внедряются в сферу городского хозяйства, создавая при этом единое пространство, на данный момент, максимально комфортное для жителей за счет цифровизации обеспечивающих систем ЖКХ. Приведенная в качестве примера модель информационно-аналитическая системы управления и контроля качеством проведения капитального ремонта жилищного фонда позволит аккумулировать достоверную информацию об объектах жилой недвижимости и их параметрах, выявлять требующие срочного ремонта объекты, эффективно использовать и экономить финансовые средства.

Область применения результатов: систематизированная информация будет полезна органам местного самоуправления, органам государственной власти, а также руководителям бизнес-структур при разработке профильных программ и поддержки инициатив цифровизации городской среды.
ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ КЛАСТЕРОВ С КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТЬЮ РОССИИ
Authors: Tomashevskaya Yulia N.
Published: November 2021

В работе приведен экскурс по основным вехам кластерного развития Российской Федерации. Проведен анализ влияния уровня кластерного развития на уровень конкурентоспособности Российской Федерации в 2010 и 2020гг. Дана оценка рейтингу Глобальной конкурентоспособности Всемирного экономического форума с позиции учета бизнес-среды территории, как основы формирования кластеров и реализации кластерной политики. Высказаны предположения по предикторам, вызывающим данные нарушения и негативно влияющим на дальнейший рост экономики на основе кластерной концепции.

Цель – провести эмпирическое исследование и обнаружить точки взаимодействия кластеров с конкурентоспособностью экономики России.

Метод или методология проведения работы: в работе использованы методы анализа и синтеза, метод сравнительного анализа, а также статистические методы.

Результаты: систематизированы причины, препятствующие повышению индекса конкурентоспособности России. Предложены меры по их нивелированию, среди которых главная роль отводится вузам, как важнейшим участникам кластерного взаимодействия, деятельность которых должна быть направлена на повышение уровня цифровизации образовательной среды, усиление инновационности компаний и самих университетов, повышение уровня привлекательности государственно-частного партнерства и др.

Область применения результатов: полученные результаты целесообразно применять органам государственной власти, отвечающим за эффективность реализации экономической политики России, одним из элементов которой является кластерная политика.
Reform of the organization of public power: the main directions of implementation
Authors: Andrichenko Lyudmila , Postnikov A. , Vasil'eva L. , Gaunova Zh. , Nikitina E. , Plyugina Inna
Published: November 2021

The monograph examines topical issues of reforming the organization of public power in our country in connection with the adoption in 2020 of the Law on Amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The logic of changes in the organization of public power and the directions of concretization of constitutional values, taking into account the laws of the development of the constitutional system of Russia, are revealed.
The most significant characteristics of the updated model of interaction of federal public authorities in accordance with the principle of separation of powers are identified, the trends of constitutional transformations in the spheres of federal relations and local self-government, ensuring the fulfillment by public authorities of international obligations of the Russian Federation are investigated. Particular attention is paid to the development of the legal mechanism of interaction between public authorities and civil society.
The authors of the book take into account the results of legislative support for the reform of public power in 2020-2021, a forecast assessment of the implementation of the relevant constitutional and legislative novelties is given, including taking into account the existing legal risks. Solutions are proposed to a number of legal issues of legislative regulation of public power, which can increase the efficiency of its functioning.
For researchers, teachers, students and postgraduates, deputies of representative authorities, state and municipal employees, as well as anyone interested in constitutional law issues.
Mapa jako optyka
Authors: Madurowicz Mikołaj
Published: November 2021

Tradycja i praktyka zarówno stricte kartograficznego odwzorowania realiów, jak i opracowa- nych na gruncie nauk humanistycznych i społecznych technik odzwierciedlania topografii sytu- ują mapę w centrum dyskursu. W niniejszych rozważaniach potraktowano mapę jako pojemną optykę interpretacyjną rozciągającą się od obiektywnego rzutowania sytuacji przestrzennej na płaszczyznę wedle określonych reguł do krytycznej narracji humanistycznej, wręcz zakładającej nieobojętność recepcji i dokumentowania. Mapa jako optyka oscyluje między obiektywizującą diagnozą kartometryczną a personalizującą konstatacją intencjonalną. W obydwu scenariuszach chodzi o dotarcie do prawdy (prawdopodobieństwa), do odnotowania zmian gradientu cech, do stwierdzenia różnic i podobieństw. Zarówno w jednym, jak i drugim przypadku ważne staje się wyrażenie regularności oraz idiomatyczności świata. Refleksję nad mapowaniem czysto kartograficznym (zmierzającym ku klasyfikacji) i humanistycznym (zwróconym raczej ku kon- ceptualizacji i problematyzacji) rozpisano jako próbę odpowiedzi na trzy pytania: po co? jak / w jaki sposób? kto / dla kogo? Jednym z wniosków jest stwierdzenie, że mapa stanowi dla człowieka istotne medium epistemologiczne i świadectwo ontologiczne.
Etnograficzne mapowanie polskiej Góralszczyzny przez Wincentego Pola i innych badaczy
Authors: Węglarz Stanisław
Published: November 2021

Już w pierwszej połowie XIX wieku zaczęto podejmować próby opisania mieszkańców Karpat (Góralszczyzny karpackiej), z uwzględnieniem istniejących podziałów na grupy („rody”) czy regiony etnograficzne. Zgodnie z modernistycznym (oświeceniowo-pozytywistycznym) paradygmatem poznania naukowego ujmowano owe grupy/regiony na sposób „substancjalny”, kierując się przy tym zasadami naturalizmu przedmiotowego i metodologicznego. Pierwszym badaczem, który dokonał podziału ludności zamieszkującej północne stoki Karpat – analogicznie do tego, jak się te góry dzielą – na trzy „grupy etnograficzne, a w nich na „rody”, był Wincenty Pol. Tej dosyć szczegółowej delimitacji etnograficznej nie przedstawił w formie graficznej, ze względu na brak odpowiedniej do tego celu mapy. Szczegółową mapę, prezentującą dokonane przez Pola i kilku innych badaczy podziały oraz zasięgi polskiej Góralszczyzny i wchodzących w jej skład grup etnograficznych, wykonał dopiero prawie 120 lat później Józef Babicz. Różnice pomiędzy wytyczanymi przez różnych uczonych granicami Góralszczyzny i zasięgami wchodzących w jej skład grup/regionów wskazują, że substancjalne ujęcie tych zagadnień jest nieadekwatne do obrazowanej rzeczywistości społecznej i kulturowej. Pewne poglądy Pola mogą być inspiracją dla stworzenia alternatywnej koncepcji zróżnicowania etnograficznego w ogóle, a polskiej Góralszczyzny w szczególności.
Mapy Japonii i reprodukowanie japońskiej tożsamości narodowej w kulturze popularnej
Authors: Lisiecki Marcin
Published: November 2021

Celem artykułu jest ukazanie związku pomiędzy mapą a ideologią, a dokładniej tego, w jaki sposób za pomocą map reprodukowana jest tożsamość narodowa we współczesnej japońskiej kulturze popularnej. Na wybranych przypadkach i ilustracjach, pochodzących z komiksu Nihon no rekishi nenpyō jiten [Chronologiczna encyklopedia historii Japonii], wykażę, w jaki sposób wykorzystuje się do tego procesu wiadomości o kształcie i liczbie wysp należących Japonii. Wybór komiksu uzasadniony był faktem, że nie jest on katalogiem map Japonii, lecz popularnym wprowadzeniem do historii tego kraju. W celu uporządkowania wywodu, treść artykułu podzielony jest na dwie części. Pierwsza z nich to wprowadzenie do, nieobecnego w polskiej literaturze, wątku japońskiej kartografii i związanych z nią treści ideologicznych, druga zaś zawiera analizę konkretnych przykładów idei narodowych zawartych w komiksie Nihon no rekishi nenpyō jiten.
Über einige Aspekte des diplomatischen Verkehrs zwischen dem Hochmeister und Kaiser Sigismund von Luxemburg
Authors: Bar Přemysl
Published: November 2021

On some aspects of the diplomatic traffic between the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg
 
The diplomatic traffic between the Grand Master of the Teutnic Order and Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg was carried out according to the common practices of diplomacy in late medieval Europe. Nevertheless, this topic deserves further exploration due to Sigismund’s efforts to impose suzerainty upon the Grand Master and the Teutonic Knights. This issue influenced their mutual relations after Sigismund’s election as Roman-German King in 1410/1411.
There are numerous surviving sources, especially in the archive of the Teutonic Order in Berlin (GStA PK), such as legation’s instruction, dispatches and, last but not least, the political correspondence between the Grand Master and Emperor Sigismund. These sources can shed light not only on the complicated diplomatic relation between above-mentioned two entities, but also, due to richness of their content, on late medieval diplomacy in general.
Based upon the research findings by Klaus Neitmann, who explored the Order’s legation exclusively, this paper tries to expand the field of research by including the legations of Sigismund. From this perspective only several selected aspects of the topic are examined in the study: 1) defining a legation (foreign mission) and its characteristic features; 2) the diplomatic traffic between the Grand Master and Sigismund of Luxembourg from a prosopographical perspective; and 3) the personal composition and communication at the court of Sigismund.
The richness of sources makes new questions possible concerning not only this specific diplomatic traffic, but also late medieval diplomacy in general as well. However, the definite answers might be delivered after compiling a thorough list of all legations from both sides, which in light of the large number of primary sources must be reserved for another study.
A Hospitaller despropriamentum: Dubrovnik 1396
Authors: Luttrell Anthony
Published: November 2021

A Hospitaller, being vowed to poverty, could not make a will but might dispose of  goods he held by making a  despropriamentum.  Written examples are rare but Fr. Barras de Barras made such bequests at Dubrovnik in 1396; his wealth was notably limited. He fell ill while King Sigismund of Hungary, returning from defeat by the Turks at Nikopolis on the Danube where the Hospitallers  rescued him, had stopped at Dubrovnik.
Damien Carraz. Un commandeur ordinaire? Bérenger Monge et le gouvernement des hospitaliers provençaux au XIIIe siècle
Authors: Gouguenheim Sylvain
Published: November 2021

Damien Carraz. Un commandeur ordinaire? Bérenger Monge et le gouvernement des hospitaliers provençaux au XIIIe siècle. Turnhout: Brepols, 2021. 528 S. ISBN: 978-2-503-58978-7. DOI 10.1484/M.EMI-EB.5.121469.
Globale und regionale Aspekte in der Entwicklung des Deutschen Ordens. Vorträge der Tagung der Internationalen Historischen Kommission zur Erforschung des Deutschen Ordens in Würzburg 2016. Herausgegeben von Udo Arnold
Authors: Baus Tobias
Published: November 2021

Globale und regionale Aspekte in der Entwicklung des Deutschen Ordens. Vorträge der Tagung der Internationalen Historischen Kommission zur Erforschung des Deutschen Ordens in Würzburg 2016. Herausgegeben von Udo Arnold. Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte des Deutschen Ordens 82, Veröffentlichungen der Internationalen Historischen Kommission zur Erforschung des Deutschen Ordens 18. Weimar: VDG, 2019. 221+VIII S. ISBN: 978-3-89739-921-1.
Environment, Colonization, and the Baltic Crusader States. Terra Sacra I, and Ecologies of Crusading, Colonization, and Religious Conversion in the Medieval Baltic. Terra Sacra II
Authors: Maleszka Anna
Published: November 2021

Environment, Colonization, and the Baltic Crusader States. Terra Sacra I, and Ecologies of Crusading, Colonization, and Religious Conversion in the Medieval Baltic. Terra Sacra II. Edited by Aleksander Pluskowski. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers n.v., 2019.
 
Author’s studies funded by the National Science Centre, Poland’s (NCN) PRELUDIUM grant no. 2016/23/N/HS3/00660.
UMOWA DZIERŻAWY CEŁ KRÓLEWSKICH PODSTOLEGO BRACŁAWSKIEGO MACIEJA JÓZEFA DZIEMBOWSKIEGO Z 1750 ROKU
Authors: Dziembowski Piotr Maciej
Published: November 2021

W Archiwum Państwowym w Poznaniu, znajduje się zbiór dokumentów dotyczący spuścizny po Antonim Kossowskim, podkomorzym nadwornym koronnym i administratorze ceł królewskim. W aktach tych zachował się dokument z 24 listopada 1750 roku dotyczący oddania w dzierżawę ceł królewskich z prowincji mazowieckiej, podlaskiej oraz z komory lubelskiej i sandomierskiej, udzielonej podstolemu bracławskiemu Maciejowi Józefowi Dziembowskiemu. Z kontraktu dowiadujemy się o wysokościach rocznych opłat, sposobie ich płatności i o zaleceniach co do prowadzenia poboru cła.
Liturgiczno-pastoralny aspekt rozwoju polskiej myśli teologicznej o Wniebowzięciu NMP
Authors: Węsierski Krzysztof
Published: November 2021

W artykule została podjęta kwestia wpływu liturgii na rozwój teologicznej prawdy o Wniebowzięciu Najświętszej Maryi Panny. Śledząc jej treść zauważa się interesującą zależność między liturgią a Stolicą Apostolską. Z Jednej strony liturgia, stanowiąc wyznanie prawd niebiańskich, przy poddaniu Najwyższemu Urzędowi Nauczycielskiemu Kościoła, jest źródłem, które może dostarczać argumentów oraz świadectw dla rozeznania pewnego szczegółowego punktu nauki chrześcijańskiej. Natomiast z drugiej strony Stolica Apostolska nie tylko wyraża zgodę na wprowadzenie święta „Wniebowzięcia” Najświętszej Maryi Panny, lecz również ustalała autorytatywnie co jest jego treścią. To z kolei przyczynia się do wyjaśnienia przedmiotu obchodzonej uroczystości. Materiał źródłowy badanego zagadnienia stanowi wybrana polska literatura teologiczna w okresie od uroczystego ogłoszenia Wniebowzięcia 1.11.1950 r. do 1965 r. Studiując ją dostrzega się, iż mariolodzy budują swe wypowiedzi na kanwie Pisma Świętego i Tradycji Kościoła. Zgłębiając osiągnięcia polskiej mariologii dostrzega się kreatywną, samodzielną interpretację badanych źródeł. Dzięki temu wspomniani mariolodzy nie zatrzymują się tylko na studiowaniu treści źródeł, lecz sami prezentują nowe rozwiązania, które z kolei stanowią wkład w rozwój myśli mariologicznej.
Bayesian Meta-Prior Learning Using Empirical Bayes
Authors: Nabi Sareh , Nassif Houssam , Hong Joseph , Mamani Hamed , Imbens Guido
Published: November 2021

Adding domain knowledge to a learning system is known to improve results. In multiparameter Bayesian frameworks, such knowledge is incorporated as a prior. On the other hand, the various model parameters can have different learning rates in real-world problems, especially with skewed data. Two often-faced challenges in operation management and management science applications are the absence of informative priors and the inability to control parameter learning rates. In this study, we propose a hierarchical empirical Bayes approach that addresses both challenges and that can generalize to any Bayesian framework. Our method learns empirical meta-priors from the data itself and uses them to decouple the learning rates of first-order and second-order features (or any other given feature grouping) in a generalized linear model. Because the first-order features are likely to have a more pronounced effect on the outcome, focusing on learning first-order weights first is likely to improve performance and convergence time. Our empirical Bayes method clamps features in each group together and uses the deployed model’s observed data to empirically compute a hierarchical prior in hindsight. We report theoretical results for the unbiasedness, strong consistency, and optimal frequentist cumulative regret properties of our meta-prior variance estimator. We apply our method to a standard supervised learning optimization problem as well as an online combinatorial optimization problem in a contextual bandit setting implemented in an Amazon production system. During both simulations and live experiments, our method shows marked improvements, especially in cases of small traffic. Our findings are promising because optimizing over sparse data is often a challenge.

This paper was accepted by Hamid Nazerzadeh, Management Science Special Section on Data-Driven Prescriptive Analytics.
Identifying and managing seasonal exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Rodman Anne
Published: November 2021

Anne Rodman looks at the complications which can be caused by the change of the seasons
The Effectiveness of Visual Mind Mapping Strategy for Improving English Language Learners' Critical Thinking Skills and Reading Ability
Authors: Hazaymeh Wafa’ A. , Alomery Moath Khalaf
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the effectiveness of visual mind mapping as a reading strategy for improving English language learners' critical thinking skills. Students from two general English courses were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. California Critical Thinking Test was used to assess participants' critical thinking skills. The findings revealed a statistically significant difference at (p < .005) in the mean scores of the experiment and control groups in the post-test due to visual mind mapping strategy in favor of the experimental group with a positive and significant impact on participants' critical thinking skills. The findings also showed that the experimental group’s scores were significantly improved in all indicators of critical thinking. The study results showed that visual mind mapping strategy affected the increased of critical thinking skills and reading comprehension ability. The study's findings revealed that using a visual mind mapping strategy had a significant improvement impact on English language learners critical thinking skills and reading ability.
Let Go’ technique in ultrasound guided Regional Anaesthesia
Authors: Singh Shiv Kumar , Mistry Tuhin
Published: November 2021

Background: The local anaesthetic(LA) injection technique during ultrasound guided nerve blocks varies worldwide. This online poll was conceived to explore the current practice among the anaesthesiologists.
Methodology: Two separate polls were created and posted at the same time with appropriate multiple choices in a closed Facebook group ‘The Anaesthetist’. Participants were allowed to take part in these online-based polls over a period of seven days. The responses were collected and put down in the Excel sheet to calculate absolute numbers and percentages.
Results: Among the respondents, 63.45% of the ultrasound users keep hold on to the needle and let a trained assistant inject the LA while 14.61 % of the responders use ‘Let Go’ of the needle technique and inject the LA themselves. Amongst 248 ultrasound users, only one anaesthesiologist use Jedi grip but no one is currently using other grips described in the literature.
Conclusion: LA injection technique varies among the anaesthesiologists throughout the globe. Majority of the
anaesthesiologists let a trained assistant inject the LA and some inject the LA themselves.
Keywords: Ultrasound, Regional Anaesthesia, Jedi grip, Bedforth grip, On-lock grip, ‘let-go’ of the needle, Single-handed injection technique, Online poll
An Unusual Cause of High Airway Pressures Using an Oesophageal Calibration Bougie in Bariatric Surgery- A Case Report
Authors: Murty Shailesh , Murty Kanishk , Cichowitz Adam
Published: November 2021

Background: Bariatric anaesthesia poses various challenges for the anaesthesiologist. We report a case of high airway pressures from the presence of the calibration bougie used in sleeve gastrectomy. This is the first time we have encountered raised airway pressures with the use of a calibration bougie. This underlines the need to be vigilant and consider the calibration bougie as a causative factor for raised airway pressures.
Case presentation: The patient had a high Body Mass Index of 44 and no comorbid conditions. High airway pressures were noted on insertion of the calibration bougie by the anaesthesiologist. The common causes for intraoperative high airway pressures were ruled out and a fresh endotracheal tube was reinserted without any problems. After the second endotracheal tube was placed and the bougie was reinserted, the recurrence of the problem alerted us to the possibility of the bougie being the causative factor. With a change in ventilatory settings, the problem was circumvented and the procedure completed without any further problems.
Conclusion: Bariatric anaesthetists should be aware that the calibration tube can lead to high airway pressures. This could be exacerbated especially if there are any unidentified underlying tracheal abnormalities. It is imperative to rule out the more common causes of high airway pressures. In retrospect it might have been useful to have used a reinforced endotracheal tube to determine if the problem recurred.
Keywords: Calibration Bougie, Bariatric surgery, High airway pressure, Sleeve Gastrectomy
Spectral measurement of daylights and surface properties of natural objects in Japan
Authors: Morimoto Takuma , Zhang Cong , Fukuda Kazuho , Uchikawa Keiji
Published: November 2021

We present a spectral dataset of daylights and surface reflectances and transmittances of natural objects measured in Japan. Daylights were measured under the sun and under shadow from dawn to dusk on four different days to capture their temporal spectral transition. We separately measured daylight spectra at five different locations (including an open space and a forest) with minimum time difference to reveal whether a local environment alters daylight spectra reaching the ground. We found that colors of natural objects were spread in a limited area of color space, and data points were absent around saturated green regions. Daylight spectra were found to have a larger variation across time, weather, and local environments than previously thought. Datasets are made freely available, expanding past public datasets mainly collected in Northern America and Europe.
Investigation of laser-induced bubble dynamics in water at high hydrostatic pressures
Authors: Li Ding , Jia Ziwen , Tian Ye , Li Ying , Lu Yuan , Ye Wangquan , Guo Jinjia , Zheng Ronger
Published: November 2021

Hydrostatic pressure is a key factor that influences laser-induced bubble dynamics in water. In this work, we investigated laser-induced bubble dynamics at high hydrostatic pressures up to 53.2 MPa, by using a high-pressure chamber combined with the shadowgraph imaging technique. It was shown that at the atmosphere pressure, the bubble evolution agrees well with the Keller-Miksis model during the free expansion and collapse phase. As the ambient pressure increases, both the size and the oscillation period of the bubble decreases dramatically as a consequence of faster dynamics. The maximum bubble radius, as well as the collapse time, decrease nonlinearly with the increasing pressure; while the pressurization effect on bubble expansion before 100 ns is negligible due to the high internal bubble pressure in the early stage. Time-resolved plasma emission images were also taken with an ICCD camera to illustrate the plasma evolution at high hydrostatic pressures. It was demonstrated that at a high pressure above 40 MPa, the plasma can gain energy from the bubble collapse, while the bubble will lose its energy, which may lead to a shorter collapse time than that obtained from the numerical calculation. This work provides insight into laser-induced bubble dynamics and the plasma-bubble interaction at high hydrostatic pressures.
Experimental verification of the relationship between first-order coherence and linear steerability
Authors: Ding Zhi-Yong , Zhou Pan-Feng , Liu Ji-Xue , Liu Cheng-Cheng , Zhao Ming , Yang Huan , Fan Xiao-Gang , He Juan , Ye Liu
Published: November 2021

Coherence and steerability are two essential characteristics of quantum systems. For a two-qubit state, the first-order coherence and the maximal violation of linear steering inequality are used to operationally measure the degree of coherence and steerability, respectively. Recently, a complementary relation between first-order coherence and linear steerability has been proposed. In this paper, we report an experimental verification of the complementary relation by preparing biphoton polarization entangled states in an all-optical setup. We propose an operable method for experimental measurement of the first-order coherence and linear steerability and calculate the purity of the initial states by reconstructing the density matrices of them. The experimental results coincide with the theoretical predictions very well, which provides a valuable reference for the application of optical quantum technology.
Optimizing the display performance for virtual reality systems
Authors: Hsiang En-Lin , Yang Zhiyong , Zhan Tao , Zou Junyu , Akimoto Hajime , Wu Shin-Tson
Published: November 2021

We propose a systematic optimization method for two commonly used display devices, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display and liquid crystal display (LCD), for virtual reality (VR) headsets. An optical simulation model for the VR system is established, and three performance metrics, namely total light efficiency (TLE), field color gamut coverage, and field color non-uniformity, are proposed as the optimization objectives. For the RGB (red, green, and blue) OLED display, the microcavity structure is optimized to suppress the field color unevenness while maintaining a high TLE and large field color gamut coverage. For the direct-lit LCD, the optimization is from the viewpoint of entire VR system. A two-dimensional patterned prism film is implemented in the backlight unit to locally modulate the radiation pattern of the LCD. Thus, the vignetting effect in the VR system is alleviated and the TLE is further enhanced by 40%. After optimizing the OLED display and LCD, their pros and cons in the VR systems are analyzed. Our optimization method is proven to be effective for designing a proper display panel for VR systems.
A large-scale transgenic RNAi screen identifies transcription factors that modulate myofiber size in Drosophila
Authors: Graca Flavia A. , Sheffield Natalie , Puppa Melissa , Finkelstein David , Hunt Liam C. , Demontis Fabio
Published: November 2021

Myofiber atrophy occurs with aging and in many diseases but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we have used >1,100 muscle-targeted RNAi interventions to comprehensively assess the function of 447 transcription factors in the developmental growth of body wall skeletal muscles inDrosophila. This screen identifies new regulators of myofiber atrophy and hypertrophy, including the transcription factor Deaf1. Deaf1 RNAi increases myofiber size whereas Deaf1 overexpression induces atrophy. Consistent with its annotation as a Gsk3 phosphorylation substrate, Deaf1 and Gsk3 induce largely overlapping transcriptional changes that are opposed by Deaf1 RNAi. The top category of Deaf1-regulated genes consists of glycolytic enzymes, which are suppressed by Deaf1 and Gsk3 but are upregulated by Deaf1 RNAi. Similar to Deaf1 and Gsk3 overexpression, RNAi for glycolytic enzymes reduces myofiber growth. Altogether, this study defines the repertoire of transcription factors that regulate developmental myofiber growth and the role of Gsk3/Deaf1/glycolysis in this process.
First clinical expression of equine insect bite hypersensitivity is associated with co-sensitization to multiple Culicoides allergens
Authors: Birras Jasmin , White Samuel J. , Jonsdottir Sigridur , Novotny Ella N. , Ziegler Anja , Wilson A. Douglas , Frey Rebecka , Torsteinsdottir Sigurbjörg , Alcocer Marcos , Marti Eliane
Published: November 2021

Background

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis in horses incited by salivary allergens from Culicoides spp. IBH does not occur in Iceland, as the causative agents are absent, however a high prevalence is seen in horses exported to Culicoides-rich environments.

Aims

To study the natural course of sensitization to Culicoides allergens and identify the primary sensitizing allergen(s) in horses exported from Iceland utilizing a comprehensive panel of Culicoides recombinant (r-) allergens.

Method

IgE microarray profiling to 27 Culicoides r-allergens was conducted on 110 serological samples from horses imported to Switzerland from Iceland that subsequently developed IBH or remained healthy. Furthermore, a longitudinal study of 31 IBH horses determined IgE profiles the summer preceding first clinical signs of IBH (TIBH-1), the summer of first clinical signs (TIBH) and the following summer (TIBH+1). In a group of Icelandic horses residing in Sweden, effects of origin (born in Iceland or Sweden) and duration of IBH (<4 years, 4–7 years, >7 years) on Culicoides-specific IgE was evaluated. Sero-positivity rates and IgE levels were compared.

Results

At TIBH, horses were sensitized to a median of 11 r-allergens (range = 0–21), of which nine were major allergens. This was significantly higher than TIBH-1 (3, 0–16), as well as the healthy (1, 0–14) group. There was no significant increase between TIBH and TIBH+1(12, 0–23). IBH-affected horses exported from Iceland had a significantly higher degree of sensitization than those born in Europe, while duration of IBH did not significantly affect degree of sensitization.

Conclusion

Significant sensitization is only detected in serum the year of first clinical signs of IBH. Horses become sensitized simultaneously to multiple Culicoides r-allergens, indicating that IgE-reactivity is due to co-sensitization rather than cross-reactivity between Culicoides allergens. Nine major first sensitizing r-allergens have been identified, which could be used for preventive allergen immunotherapy.
Immunoinformatics mapping of potential epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins
Authors: Devi Yengkhom Damayanti , Goswami Himanshu Ballav , Konwar Sushmita , Doley Chandrima , Dolley Anutee , Devi Arpita , Chongtham Chen , Dowerah Dikshita , Biswa Vashkar , Jamir Latonglila , Kumar Aditya , Satapathy Siddhartha Shankar , Ray Suvendra Kumar , Deka Ramesh Chandra , Doley Robin , Mandal Manabendra , Das Sandeep , Singh Chongtham Shyamsunder , Borah Partha Pratim , Nath Pabitra , Namsa Nima D.
Published: November 2021

All approved coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in current use are safe, effective, and reduce the risk of severe illness. Although data on the immunological presentation of patients with COVID-19 is limited, increasing experimental evidence supports the significant contribution of B and T cells towards the resolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Despite the availability of several COVID-19 vaccines with high efficacy, more effective vaccines are still needed to protect against the new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Employing a comprehensive immunoinformatic prediction algorithm and leveraging the genetic closeness with SARS-CoV, we have predicted potential immune epitopes in the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The S and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoVs are main targets of antibody detection and have motivated us to design four multi-epitope vaccines which were based on our predicted B- and T-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. The cardinal epitopes selected for the vaccine constructs are predicted to possess antigenic, non-allergenic, and cytokine-inducing properties. Additionally, some of the predicted epitopes have been experimentally validated in published papers. Furthermore, we used the C-ImmSim server to predict effective immune responses induced by the epitope-based vaccines. Taken together, the immune epitopes predicted in this study provide a platform for future experimental validations which may facilitate the development of effective vaccine candidates and epitope-based serological diagnostic assays.