bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Snow cover persistence as a useful predictor of alpine plant distributions
Authors: Panchard Thomas , Broennimann Olivier , Gravey Mathieu , Mariethoz Grégoire , Guisan Antoine
Published: July 2023

Aim

Snow cover persistence (SCP) has significant effects on plants in high‐elevation ecosystems. It determines the length of the growing season, provides insulation against low temperatures and influences water availability, thereby shaping the vegetation mosaic. Despite its importance, SCP is rarely used in plant species distribution modelling. In this study, we examine whether incorporating SCP in plant species distribution models (SDMs) improves their predictive power. We investigate the link between species' ecology and SDM improvements by the addition of various SCP predictors.

Location

Western Swiss Alps.

Taxon

206 alpine flowering plants (angiosperms).

Methods

We produced three maps of landsat satellite‐based SCP indices over an entire mountain region, one of them using an online open access platform allowing quick and easy replication and used them as a predictor in plant SDMs alongside commonly used predictors. We tested whether this improved the predictive performance of plant SDMs.

Results

All three SCP indices improved the overall SDM predictive accuracy, but the overall improvement was potentially limited by their correlation with other climatic predictors. Alpine plant species known for their dependence on snow benefited more from the additional snow information.

Main Conclusions

SCP should be used for predicting at least the distribution of alpine, snow‐related plant species. Given that adding snow cover improves SDMs and that snow duration decreases as climate warms, future predictions of alpine plant distributions should account for both snow predictor and associated snow change scenarios.
Evaluation of a retinol containing topical treatment to improve signs of neck aging
Authors: Sullivan Kelly , Law Robert M. , Lain Edward , Jiang Lily I. , Acevedo Summer F. , Choudhary Hina , Lee Brittany , Patel Komal , Lynch Stephen
Published: July 2023

Background

The neck region is an area that can be indicative of signs of skin aging. A novel topical product that combines multiple active ingredients including retinol, tripeptide and glaucine was formulated to specifically target neck aging correction and complement post‐procedure as part of an integrated skincare regimen.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of a topical neck treatment through clinical subject evaluation, in addition to ultrasound and biopsy assessment.

Methods

Evaluation for the efficacy of this novel topical product on improving the aging signs of neck skin was performed in multiple clinical trials. The first trial focused on clinical efficacy and included clinical assessment, subject questionnaires, ultrasound imaging and digital photographs. The second trial focused on biomarker analysis through skin biopsy.

Results

Data from the clinical trials showed that aging signs on the neck were significantly improved after 12 or 16 weeks of product usage. Changes were readily observed by clinical evaluators and participants. They were documented with digital photos, ultrasound images, and biomarker expression in the skin which clearly display the improvements.

Conclusions

This novel topical product is effective in treating the aging signs on the neck skin and has been shown to provide statistically significant improvement on a myriad of neck aging attributes including fine lines/wrinkles, crepiness, laxity, and texture.
Red herrings in experimental semantics: Cultural variation and epistemic perspectives. A critical notice of Jincai Li's The referential mechanism of proper names
Authors: Devitt Michael
Published: July 2023

Concerns with cultural variation and epistemic perspectives have played major roles in experimental semantics. They dominate Li's book (2023). Li's own experimental work provides two promising explanations of the cultural variation: Chinese, but not Americans, tend to agree with a character's false statement because they think it is not her fault that she is wrong or because they are socially conforming. So, the notice argues, the cultural variation is a red herring to the theory of reference. Li preferred explanation is that Chinese and Americans take different epistemic perspectives. The notice argues that this is misguided and another red herring.
Poor economics and its missing mechanisms: The case for causal mediation
Authors: Kumar Sunil Mitra , Venkatachalam Ragupathy
Published: July 2023

A key aim of studying development is to understand the factors that shape socioeconomic progress and explain inequalities. In empirical work, the predominant focus has been on posing these questions in the language of causal inference: how one or more variables effect an outcome of interest, with the estimation of Average Treatment Effects (ATE) becoming prioritised as the key objective. The ‘credibility revolution’ and the emphasis on randomised controlled trials in research on development has cemented this dominance, because randomisation is well‐suited to estimating the ATE. This paper argues that this dual dominance—ATE as main question of interest, and experiment as preferred method—is narrow and restrictive. We propose causal mediation frameworks as an alternative, which are routinely used in disciplines including epidemiology, psychology, sociology and political science where causal mechanisms are an equally important focus. We introduce key concepts and definitions of path‐specific effects, and discuss identification and estimation approaches. We illustrate applications for development and demonstrate how causal mediation brings the focus back to contextual knowledge, combining this with empirical rigour.
Good News – Bad News. Proportion between Positive and Negative Headlines in the Global News Feed (Based on the Google News Aggregator)
Authors: Melnyk Iurii , Melnyk Andriy , Pryshliak Yaryna , Melnyk Olesia , Soroka Anastasia , Churevych Viktoria , El-Ibiary Rasha , Ertanowska Delfina , Sun Huayu
Published: July 2023

This article tests the assertion about the dominance of the negative agenda in the media space. To this end, Google News, the world’s largest news aggregator, was taken into account, on the basis of which the ratio of positive and negative news headlines in the information flow was analyzed. Three stages of research were conducted, each one week long with 16 country versions of Google News. In total, it was considered a little less than half a million news headlines. According to the results, 70.54% of the headlines turned out to be positive. This outcome questions the stereotype of the dominance of negative agendas in the global news stream. As it turned out, the ratio of positive and negative news depends on the language (versions of Google News in one language showed very similar results) and the day of the week (the news is a little more positive on Sundays), but does not depend on the level of freedom of speech, cultural and geographical factors.
How to Use this Book
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

This is a book with a single, specific purpose – to help you pass American Petroleum Institute (API) 510/570/653 Individual Certification Programme (ICP) examinations. It’s therefore a teaching book rather than a knowledge book. The knowledge book exists already, in the form of the package of codes and recommended practice (RP) documents that make up the bodies of knowledge (BoKs) of the three examinations this book covers. ICP exams are unique in the engineering inspection world in the size and complexity of the BoKs they use – up to 1000+ pages of text across a range of subjects.
API RP 571: Damage Mechanisms
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

API RP 571: Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry appears in all three ICP BoKs as follows
API 510 Section 6: Frequency/Extent of Inspection
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

Looking back at Figures 21.2 and 21.3, these two sections (22 pages) make up the central core of API 510. Section 6 sets out how to decide the frequency/interval of inspection and how much inspection (the extent) is recommended for various components. This is good feedstock for closed-book exam questions as it consists of fundamental principles and ideas rather than technical information.
API RP 572: Inspection Practices for Pressure Vessels
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

This chapter is about becoming familiar with the layout and contents of API RP 572: Inspection Practices for Pressure Vessels. You can think of RP 572 as the ‘general vessel knowledge’ part of the BoK. It is strongly linked to API 510 and supplements information that appears in it. We saw in previous chapters how this linking of codes is a feature of the API/ASME approach to plant inspection (and the API ICP exams).
API 653 Section 9: Tank Repair and Alteration
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

Many storage tanks end up needing a lot of repairs during their lifetime. The reasons are varied.
API RP 651: Cathodic Protection
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

It’s important not to misunderstand the role RP 651 plays in API 653 exam questions. Note three key points.
API RP 578: Material Verification Programmes
Authors: Matthews Clifford
Published: July 2023

This chapter covers the contents of API RP 578: Guidelines for a Material Verification Programme (MVP) for New and Existing Assets: 2018. It’s a short document (20 pages) which from 2021 is included in the BoK for the API 510 and 570 examinations. Previously it was only included in the API 570 BoK. It addresses the problem of incorrect materials finding their way into pressure systems, using the term substitution. This means undesired substitution of specified materials with something different, not the problem of incorrect material choice in the first place (API RP 571 deals with that). Here’s some points about this substitution.
Qualitative study exploring which research outcomes best reflect women’s experiences of heavy menstrual bleeding: stakeholder involvement in development of a core outcome set
Authors: Cooper Natalie Ann MacKinnon , Yorke Sarah , Tan Alex , Khan Khalid Saeed , Rivas Carol
Published: July 2023

Objective

This work contributed to the development of a core outcome set (COS) for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). The objective was to determine which research outcomes best reflect how HMB affects women’s lives and to identify additional research outcomes, not previously reported. It was important to explore and record participants’ reasoning for prioritising outcomes and use this information to reinforce the patients’ voice during later phases of the COS development.

Design

Patient workshop discussions and telephone interviews.

Setting

East London teaching hospital.

Participants

Inclusion criteria were that participants must be over 18 years old, that either they or their partner had a history of HMB and that they had a good understanding of written and spoken English.

Results

41 participants were recruited for the study. 8 women and 1 man completed the study. The eight female participants were representative of the different underlying causes and treatments for HMB. Participants ranged in age from their early 20s to their 60s and represented a range of ethnic groups. The five main themes that were identified as being important to patients were:‘restriction’, ‘relationships and isolation’, ‘emotions and self-perception’, ‘pain’and‘perceptions of treatment’. We identified eight coding nodes that did not correspond with our list of previously reported outcomes in studies of HMB. These nodes were consolidated and became five new outcomes for potential inclusion in the COS.

Conclusions

HMB stops women living their lives as they would wish. It affects their relationships, education, careers, reproductive wishes, social life and mental health. This is a condition of girls and women in the prime of their lives, but for many, the constant threat of a heavy period starting means that they sacrifice that freedom. The societal and economic costs of women being incapacitated every month has an effect on everyone.

Trial registration

The COS study is registered with the COMET (Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials) Initiative—project reference number 789.
Effect of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation for ineffective cough on weaning duration in diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system (MEDINE): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in a neurological weaning centre
Authors: Seipp Alexander , Klausen Andreas , Timmer Antje , Grimm Teresa , Groß Martin , Summ Oliver , Otto-Sobotka Fabian
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Patients with neurological or neurosurgical disease can suffer from impaired cough, which may result in life-threatening retention of tracheobronchial secretions, atelectasis, pneumonia and finally death. Due to a lack of alternatives and pathophysiological plausibility, the application of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) has already become international standard care in neuromuscular disease and spinal cord injury although a lack of evidence for efficacy. High-quality studies to support the use of MI-E in neurological and neurosurgical patients during weaning from mechanical ventilation are missing. The goal of this exploratory study is to display the effect size of MI-E intervention on the duration of mechanical ventilation and additional outcomes.

Methods and analysis

One hundred adult patients with a cough deficiency or retention of secretion admitted to a neurological intensive care unit (ICU) are planned to be recruited for this randomised controlled trial. Patients are randomised 1:1 to receive either MI-E or best standard care. Observation will take place until discharge from the hospital, death or end of the study period. The primary endpoint of this trial is the duration of mechanical ventilation from randomisation until successful weaning. The outcome will be analysed with Kaplan-Meier estimation and competing risks analyses. Secondary endpoint is the proportion of patients with successful weaning. Further outcomes will include the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia, mortality, decannulation rate, length of stay on the ICU and the total score of the Glasgow Coma Scale.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University of Oldenburg. The findings of this study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

DRKS00020981.
Functional directed acyclical graphs for scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory
Authors: Ohl Thorsten
Published: July 2023

I describe a mathematical framework for the efficient processing of the very large sets of Feynman diagrams contributing to the scattering of many particles. I reexpress the established numerical methods for the recursive construction of scattering elements as operations on compact abstract data types. This allows efficient perturbative computations in arbitrary models, as long as they can be described by an effective, not necessarily local, Lagrangian.
de Sitter swampland conjecture in string field inflation
Authors: Sadeghi J. , Pourhassan B. , Gashti S. Noori , Sakallı İ. , Alipour M. R.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we study a particular type of inflation by using non-local Friedman equations that are derived from the zero levels of string field theory and express a tachyonic action. Then, we challenge it by further refining de Sitter (dS) swampland conjecture (FRdSSC) monitoring. Therefore, we investigate some quantities, such as potential and Hubble parameters. We also consider slow-roll parameters to examine quantities such as the scalar spectrum index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. Using straightforward calculations, we investigate this model from the swampland conjecture perspective in terms of the cosmological parameters, i.e., ($$n_s$$

n
s

), (r), and observable data such as Planck 2018, by constructing some structures such as $$(c_{1,2}-n_s)$$

(

c

1
,
2

-

n
s

)

and $$(c_{1,2}-r_s)$$

(

c

1
,
2

-

r
s

)

. Then, we make a new restriction for this conjecture as $$c_1^2c_2^2$$

c
1
2

c
2
2

and get a limit for this model in the range $$c<0.0942$$

c
<
0.0942

. We find this inflationary model is strongly in tension with the dS swampland conjecture (dSSC), i.e., $$c_1=c_2 \ne {\mathcal {O}}(1)$$

c
1

=

c
2

≠
O

(
1
)

. So, we shall challenge it with the FRdSSC, which has some free parameters, viz., $$a,b>0$$

a
,
b
>
0

, $$a+b=1$$

a
+
b
=
1

, and $$q>2$$

q
>
2

. By setting these parameters, we examine the compatibility of the mentioned conjecture with this inflationary model. Finally, we infer from this string field inflation (SFI) model that it satisfies the FRdSSC with the constraint of its free parameters a, b, and q.
Porosity and conductivity in ballistic deposition with power-law distributed noise
Authors: Rahimi M. , Hosseinabadi S. , Masoudi A. A.
Published: July 2023

The ballistic deposition model of rod-like particles with power-law distributed noise is studied by the Monte Carlo simulation. In this modified model instead of particles with fixed unit sizes, vertical rods whose length follows the power-law distribution [Formula: see text] are deposited, where [Formula: see text] denotes the power-law strength exponent. This deposition leads to porous rock structures with varying porosity and conductivity. The time evolution of the surface roughness and the porosity of the resulting structures are studied. The conductivity of the structures is calculated using the parallel resistors in the percolation model using a random walk algorithm. Finally, we discuss the relation between porosity, conductivity and the strength exponent of the power-law noise. The results show that the surface roughness increases as a pseudo-step function versus deposition time for [Formula: see text], which leads to an observable reduction in porosity and conductivity. By increasing the [Formula: see text] exponent, the growth exponent of [Formula: see text] for the Gaussian model appears. The conductivity increases as [Formula: see text] versus porosity, [Formula: see text], and remains constant for [Formula: see text] which the value of [Formula: see text] has been identified for BD.
Factors Affecting Intensive Aflibercept Treatment Response in Diabetic Macular Edema: A Real-World Study
Authors: Han Ye Eun , Jo Jaehyuck , Kim Yoon Jeon , Lee Junyeop
Published: July 2023

Objective. To investigate the systemic and ocular factors that affect the response to intensive aflibercept treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) in a real-world setting. Methods. This retrospective cohort study evaluated 30 eyes of 23 patients with DME who underwent intensive intravitreal aflibercept injections (five monthly loading doses). Treatment response was assessed by central retinal thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at each monthly visit. The patients were categorized as good (<300 μm) and suboptimal (≥300 μm) responders based on CRT after the loading phase. Baseline systemic and ocular factors associated with treatment response were investigated. Results. The mean CRT and BCVA significantly improved after five loading injections (

486.87
±
95.46

to

334.90
±
69.47

 μm and

0.51
±
0.30

to

0.35
±
0.25

LogMAR, respectively, all

p
<
0.05

). During 12 months of follow-up, 16 eyes (53.33%) maintained CRT without additional treatment. Eyes with diabetes mellitus (DM) for ≥15 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate

eGFR

<
80

 mL/min/1.73 m2, serum

creatinine
≥
0.95

 mg/dL and

potassium
≥
4.7

 mmol/L, and presence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) were more likely to have a suboptimal response to the treatment. Conclusions. Five monthly loading doses of intravitreal aflibercept injection provided significant anatomical and visual improvements in patients with DME. Patients with longer DM duration, lower eGFR, higher serum creatinine or potassium levels, or ERM were predisposed to a suboptimal treatment response. Individual response to intensive aflibercept treatment for DME can be predicted by these systemic and ocular risk factors.
A New Method for Solving Sequential Fractional Wave Equations
Authors: Syam Sondos M. , Siri Z. , Kasmani R. Md. , Yildirim Kenan
Published: July 2023

In this article, we focus on two classes of fractional wave equations in the context of the sequential Caputo derivative. For the first class, we derive the closed-form solution in terms of generalized Mittag–Leffler functions. Subsequently, we consider a more general class of nonhomogeneous fractional wave equations. Due to the complexity of finding exact solutions for these problems, we employ a numerical technique based on the operational matrix method to approximate the solution. We provide several theoretical and numerical examples to validate the effectiveness of this numerical approach. The results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Comparison of Protective Effects of Phenolic Acids on Protein Glycation of BSA Supported by In Vitro and Docking Studies
Authors: Rashedinia Marzieh , Rasti Arbabi Zeinab , Sabet Razieh , Emami Leila , Poustforoosh Alireza , Sabahi Zahra
Published: July 2023

Several diabetic complications are associated with forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Different chemical and natural compounds are able to prevent the development of these products. In this study, glycosylation was induced as a model by incubating bovine serum albumin (BSA) with glucose. Consequently, BSA was treated with glucose and different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 5 μM) of syringic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, paracoumaric acid, and caffeic acid for 4 and 6 weeks. Biochemical experiments comprise measurements of fluorescent AGEs, protein carbonyl contents, total thiol, hemolysis tests, and also malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in RBC. These demonstrated the antiglycating mechanism of these phenolic acids. Most of the phenolic acids used in this study reduced MDA levels and protected thiol residues in protein structures. They also inhibited the formation of fluorescent AGEs and RBC lysis, except gallic acid. Moreover, ferulic acid, paracoumaric acid, and caffeic acid proteins significantly prevent carbonylation. Molecular docking and simulation studies showed that ellagic, caffeic, gallic, and syringic acids could interact with lysine and arginine residues in the active site of BSA and stabilize its structure to inhibit the formation of AGEs. Our results suggest that phenolic acid could be used as a potential phytochemical against protein glycation and related diabetic complications.
A new snake of the genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the coastal area of southern Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN SANG NGOC , NGUYEN VU DANG HOANG , LE MANH VAN , NGUYEN LUAN THANH , VO THI-DIEU-HIEN , VO BA DINH , CHE JING , MURPHY ROBERT W.
Published: July 2023

We describe a new species of Dendrelaphis from the coastal area in southern Vietnam based on morphological data and nucleotide sequences from one partial mitochondrial gene (Cytb). Dendrelaphis binhi sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: body scale rows 13 at neck and midbody, 9–11 before vent; vertebral scale row feebly enlarged; ventrals 154–158 in males and 161–170 in females; subcaudals 95–106 in males and 95–102 in females; one supralabial touching the eye; 18 or 19 maxillary teeth; hemipenis spinose, reaching 10th or 11th SC, with a slender papilla; cloacal plate divided; dorsum dark brown; and a white stripe along the lower flank. The new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in Cytb sequences of at least 8.1%.
Onasemnogene Abeparvovec: Post-infusion Efficacy and Safety in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—A Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS Experience
Authors: Favia Michele , Tarantino Domenico , Cerbo Lidia Di , Sabia Antonella , Campopiano Rina , Pani Marcello
Published: July 2023

Objective: The term Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) identifies a group of genetic disorders affecting spinal motor neurons. It is caused by the loss of the SMN1 gene, resulting in degeneration of spinal alpha motor neurons and muscle atrophy. This study is focused on innovative gene therapies with onasemnogene abeparvovec approved in Italy in March 2021 with full reimbursement by the National Health Service. The objective pursued is verify, by means of the CHOP-INTEND scores obtained, whether therapy with onasemnogene abeparvovec led to an improvement in the clinical picture of the treated subjects and any adverse reactions that occurred. Methods: this study was conducted by evaluating the scores in the different re-evaluations of individual patients treated in our hospital (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS – Rome) and comparing them with the results of the CL-303 study described in SPC (Summary of Product Characteristics). The data were extracted from the patients’ clinical records on the AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco – Italian Medicines Agency) registries, also collecting information on any post-infusion ADRs. Everything was then represented graphically to have a clear comparison with the data from the study registered for drug approval. Results: from the data obtained, 7 out of 8 patients improved their health status post infusion with, in some cases, a significant increase in score. Conclusions: this result allows us to understand how crucial it is to start treatment as soon as possible after the diagnosis of the condition as the greatest improvements were seen in subjects who received treatment within 2 months of birth.
The Association Between Relative Deprivation, Depression, and Youth Suicide: Evidence From a Psychological Autopsy Study
Authors: Zhao Sibo , Yan Wenqun , Tao Lifan , Zhang Jie
Published: July 2023

Objective

Suicide is a serious public health concern in China. In the present study, we investigated the specific mechanisms underlying relative deprivation and suicide in rural China.

Methods

A large psychological autopsy study was conducted in rural China, in which 392 suicides and 416 community-living controls were consecutively recruited. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between relative deprivation and suicide, with depression as a potential mediator.

Results

Young people who experienced relative deprivation were at a greater risk of suicide and depression. Depression plays a mediating role in the relationship between relative deprivation and suicide.

Limitations

Due to the limitations of the data, we cannot know whether there is mutual causation between relative deprivation and depression. The self-reported relative deprivation may also produce some influence on the results.

Conclusions

The current findings demonstrate the importance of relative deprivation as one of the four sources of psychological strain to explain how relative status is associated with suicide. The findings also can be translated into the clinical and preventive practice for suicide.
Has Anything Changed? An Analysis of Federal Custodial Litigation Cases Post Kingsley v. Hendrickson
Authors: Tartaro Christine , Nunez Geldy
Published: July 2023

The Supreme Court set a standard of deliberate indifference for correctional conditions of confinement cases and have historically required proof of staff members’ state-of-mind. The Kingsley v. Hendrickson decision signaled a shift from that subjective requirement when the court applied a less onerous objective standard in a case involving excessive force against a pretrial detainee. The question is how the Federal Appeals Courts would interpret Kingsley? Our findings indicate that the 12 courts differ in their application of the objective and subjective standards for conditions of confinement cases, including those for suicides of pretrial detainees.
Discrepancies in Ratings of Behavioral Healthcare Interventions Among Evidence-Based Program Resources Websites
Authors: Lee-Easton Miranda Jade , Magura Stephen
Published: July 2023

Decision makers in the behavioral health disciplines could benefit from tools to assist them in identifying and implementing evidence-based interventions. One tool is an evidence-based program resources website (EBPR). Prior studies documented that when multiple EBPRs rate an intervention, they may disagree. Prior research concerning the reason for such conflicts is sparse. The present study examines how EBPRs rate interventions and the sources of disagreement between EBPRs when rating the same intervention. This study hypothesizes that EBPRs may disagree about intervention ratings because they either use different rating paradigms or they use different studies as evidence of intervention effectiveness (or both). This study identified 15 EBPRs for inclusion. One author (M.J.L.E.) coded the EBPRs for which “tiers of evidence” each EBPR used to classify behavioral health interventions and which criteria they used when rating interventions. The author then computed one Jaccard index of similarity for the criteria shared between each pair of EBPRs that co-rated interventions, and one for the studies used by EBPR rating pairs when rating the same program. The authors used a combination of chi-square, correlation, and binary logistic regression analyses to analyze the data. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the number of Cochrane Risk of Bias criteria shared between 2 EBPRs and the likelihood of those 2 EBPRs agreeing on an intervention rating ( r = −.12, P ≤ .01). There was no relationship between the number of studies evaluated by 2 EBPRs and the likelihood of those EBPRs agreeing on an intervention rating. The major reason for disagreements between EBPRs when rating the same intervention in this study was due to differences in the rating criteria used by the EBPRs. The studies used by the EBPRs to rate programs does not appear to have an impact.
A Tail’s Tale: Narmer, the Catfish, and Bovine Symbolism
Authors: Sperveslage Gunnar , Heagy Thomas C.
Published: July 2023

Impressions of two necropolis seals have been found at Abydos that show a complete sequence of First Dynasty rulers from Narmer to Den and Narmer to Qa’a, respectively. On these seals, a tail-like appendage is attached to Narmer’s name which is interpreted as a bull’s tail. In this paper, this extraordinary writing is discussed in the context of royal representation and bovine symbolism, and also in regards to the posthumous reception of Narmer as a ‘founding father’. It will be shown that during the reign of Den there was a fertile ground for innovations in general and, in particular, new visual representations. Finally, the writing of Narmer’s name is addressed in the context of sealing practice.

[Formula: see text]
Cost-Effectiveness of Group Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care Settings: Economic Evaluation From the Healthcare System Perspective Over a 1-Year Time Horizon
Authors: Vasiliadis Helen-Maria , Lamoureux-Lamarche Catherine , Chapdelaine Alexandra , Provencher Martin D. , Norton Peter J. , Berbiche Djamal , Roberge Pasquale
Published: July 2023

Aim

To assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of group transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (tCBT) added to treatment as usual (TAU) for anxiety disorders compared to TAU only from the healthcare system perspective over a 1-year time horizon.

Methods

Data from a pragmatic multisite randomized controlled trial where adults (18–65 years) with an anxiety disorder were randomized to tCBT + TAU ( n = 117) or TAU ( n = 114). Group tCBT is a 12-week (2h weekly sessions) community-based intervention. Health service utilization and related costs were captured from medico-administrative data and included those for the intervention, ambulatory visits, hospitalizations and medications. Effectiveness was based on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The study included measures at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months. Intention-to-treat and complete case analyses were carried out. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation analyses. Seemingly unrelated regression analyses were used to assess the effect of the intervention on total costs and QALYs while also adjusting for baseline confounders. The probability of cost-effectiveness of the intervention was assessed according to different willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds using the net benefit regression method.

Results

The ICER of tCBT + TAU as compared to TAU in the intention-to-treat analysis was $6,581/QALY. Complete case analyses showed a similar ICER of $6,642/QALY. The probability at a WTP threshold of $20,000 and $40,000 that tCBT + TAU as compared to TAU is cost-effective is 93.0% and 99.9%.

Conclusion

tCBT added to TAU appears to be cost-effective from the healthcare system perspective for treating adult patients with anxiety disorders. Larger trials including young and older adults as well as a range of anxiety disorders are needed to further investigate the cost-effectiveness of tCBT in different patient populations.
Nonstranger and Stranger Sexual Homicides in Mainland China: Comparing the Modus Operandi of Male Sexual Murderers
Authors: Chan Heng Choon (Oliver)
Published: July 2023

Although studies have been made of different subtypes of individuals who committed sexual homicides, the research into nonstranger and stranger sexual homicides remains limited. This study therefore aimed to examine whether those who sexually murder nonstrangers differ from those who kill strangers. Data derived from police records, court documents, and published case reports spanning a 31 year period (1988–2018) in mainland China were used to examine the modus operandi of 127 males who committed sexual homicides (45 nonstranger and 82 stranger cases). Relative to nonstranger sexual homicides, stranger sexual homicides were more likely to have been committed by individuals with a previous sexual offense conviction and the victims were more likely to have been single and employed at the time of the offense. Furthering the analysis, a logistic regression found that individuals who targeted strangers were significantly more likely to have committed their homicide at an outdoor location, to have been sexually motivated, and to have used murder weapons that required more physical strength than those who killed nonstranger victims. These findings can be informative to law enforcement agents and security professionals in their investigative processes.
The Influence of Guardian and Warrior Police Orientations on Australian Officers’ Use of Force Attitudes and Tactical Decision-Making
Authors: McCarthy Molly , McLean Kyle , Alpert Geoff
Published: July 2023

Concerns about excessive use of force by U.S. police have led to calls for agencies to move from ‘warrior’ to ‘guardian’ policing. ‘Warrior’ policing embodies an aggressive or coercive approach to law enforcement, while ‘guardian’ policing prioritises communication, procedural justice and citizen safety. Associations between guardian and warrior policing orientations and use of force attitudes in the U.S. have been found, however the influence of these orientations on police use of force in Australia has not been examined. This study examined the association of guardian and warrior policing orientations with use of force attitudes, threat perceptions and tactical decision-making among Australian officers, through a survey of 183 police officers in Queensland. Regression analyses indicated that warrior policing was associated with greater support for use of force and greater perceived threat in an ambiguous threat scenario, while guardian policing was associated with more restraint in tactical decision-making among Australian police officers.
Saffron and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Sadat Rafiei Seyyed Kiarash , Abolghasemi Setare , Frashidi Mahsa , Ebrahimi Shiva , Gharei Fatemeh , Razmkhah Zahra , Tavousi Najmeh , Mahmoudvand Behnaz , Faani Melika , Karimi Narges , Abdi Amir , Soleimanzadeh Mahsa , Ahmadpour Youshanlui Mahya , Sadatmadani Sayedeh-Fatemeh , Alikhani Reyhaneh , Pishkari Yasamin , Deravi Niloofar
Published: July 2023

Background:

Sleep quality is defined as an individual’s consent to sleep experience. Poor sleep quality has important adverse health outcomes. There are drugs to treat sleep disorders but consumption of these drugs is accompanied by adverse effects whereas herbal treatments have fewer side effects. Saffron is spice obtained from Crocus sativus flower. Several articles have been done on its effects on the quality of sleep and its safety. This review for the first time critically evaluates effect of saffron on sleep quality improvement.

Method:

The search technique aims to get all related published data-based up to 2022 articles. PubMed, Central, Google Scholar, and Scopus were examined. Only full reports were evaluated (abstracts were excluded). The first screening was done by title and abstract. Then full text of articles was read and irrelevant articles were removed. Duplicate articles were also removed by Endnote. By using Cochrane risk of bias tool assessment, a quality score based on probability of bias was given. Methodological characteristics were also evaluated using the criteria of Stevinson and Ernst.

Result:

In the systematic review, 5 randomized clinical trials with 379 participants from 3 countries were identified. In placebo-comparison trials, saffron contains a large treatment.

Conclusion:

It seems that saffron has a beneﬁcial influence on duration and quality of sleep. Saffron, crocin, and safranal induce hypnotic effects by increasing the duration of sleep. Research conducted so far provides initial support and safety for use of saffron to improve sleep quality.
Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction Associated With Intramuscular Triamcinolone Therapy for Acute Flares of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: Benesh Gabrielle , Andriano Tyler M. , Hosgood H. Dean , Cohen Steven R.
Published: July 2023

Background

A lack of consensus exists regarding acute flare management in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Intramuscular triamcinolone (IMTAC) therapy is useful in numerous inflammatory conditions; however, it has not been investigated for acute HS flares.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and patient experience associated with IMTAC therapy for acute, severe HS flares.

Methods

Retrospective analysis and surveys of 45 HS patients were conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore HS Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Results

Follow-up visits 6.77 (4.45) weeks after IMTAC therapy revealed significant reductions in mean HS-Physician Global Assessment (PGA) ( P < .001), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ( P = .03), increased hemoglobin ( P = .004), and improved pain scores ( P < .001). Adjusting for age, sex and concomitant medications, multivariate analysis yielded significantly reduced pain ( P = .02) and increased hemoglobin ( P = .03). Patient surveys indicate that IMTAC was well-tolerated, as reflected in positive mean responses for satisfaction (29 [64%]) and willingness to receive IMTAC injections again (42 [93%]).

Conclusions

These novel findings demonstrate that IMTAC is a safe, effective, and well accepted adjunct for acute HS management.
Why do party elites incentivise activism? The case of the populist radical right
Authors: Albertazzi Daniele , van Kessel Stijn
Published: July 2023

Partisan dealignment in Western Europe has gone hand in hand with the decline of electoral participation and active membership in political parties. Yet political participation and activism are not necessarily a thing of the past, and scholars have for instance observed these characteristics in several contemporary populist radical right parties (PRRPs). Drawing on the analysis of 124 interviews with party representatives from four European PRRPs (the League, the Finns Party, Flemish Interest and the Swiss People’s Party), we ask what motivates PRRP elites to foster the creation of tight communities of activists. Three reasons appear to stand out: campaigning prowess (to gain public support); legitimising the party; and organisational survival. The final section offers reflections on the wider implications of our study and suggests avenues for future research, questioning the assumption that parties are necessarily and uniformly shifting away from activism and societal rootedness.
Comparison of fetal and neonatal cardiac morphology between the infants of mothers with well-controlled gestational diabetes mellitus and normal controls
Authors: Santanapipatkul Phenphan , Luewan Suchaya , Sittiwangkul Rekwan , Krongphaiklang Nopparat , Jatavan Phudit , Tongsong Theera
Published: July 2023

Objective

To compare fetal and neonatal cardiac morphology in fetuses of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with the controls

Patients and methods

Pregnant women at average risk of GDM underwent 100-g, 3-h-OGTT at 24–28 weeks of gestation for diagnosis of GDM. Both GDM group and the control group underwent fetal echocardiography at 32–36 weeks to assess cardiac dimensions. The neonates underwent echocardiography within 48 h after birth to assess cardiac morphology.

Results

A total of 154 pregnant women were recruited, including 60 in the GDM group and 94 in the control group. All of the study group were well controlled for GDM. Most baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable. All obstetric outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Morphological cardiac dimensions in the fetuses and newborns of both groups were also not significant different. Subgroup analysis in the study group showed no significantly different in cardiac morphology between the group with diet control and that of insulin control.

Conclusion

Fetal and neonatal cardiac morphologic changes among mothers with well-controlled GDM are not significantly different from those in the controls. It is possible that good control of maternal blood glucose can prevent fetal and neonatal cardiac abnormalities.
Overshadowed by Popularity: The Value of Second-Tier Stars in European Football
Authors: Jedelhauser Fabienne , Flepp Raphael , Franck Egon
Published: July 2023

While second-tier stars lack popularity compared to superstars, their marginal contribution to team performance on the pitch relative to that of superstars is unknown. Relying on league-specific preseason market value distributions to define superstars and second-tier stars, we compare the marginal contributions of superstars and second-tier stars to team performance on the pitch in the top five European football leagues. Examining the impact of unexpected injury-related absences, we find that second-tier stars’ marginal contribution is at least equal to that of superstars. Thus, the players with arguably the highest costs for clubs do not contribute accordingly to short-run sportive success.
Gaming I, II, and III: Arcades, Video Game Systems, and Modern Game Streaming Services
Authors: Banfi Ryan
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to create a shorthand for video game history – from video games’ infancy to the current subscription model that is dominating gaming. In this essay, I will apply the practices of historical media scholarship that have helped parse out television history (e.g., TV I, TV II, TV III, and TV IV) and film history (e.g., Cinema 1, 2, and 3.0) to define the various shifts in video game history. Gaming I represents the arcade and home system boom up until the 1983 video game Crash, Gaming II describes the post-Crash console period, and finally, Gaming III materializes due to the arrival of modern video game subscriptions. Rather than constructing an exhaustive account of video game history, this essay means to generate more studies on what video game history can mean in the context of the established academic studies on visual media.
Efficacy and safety of thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in patients with pre-stroke mRS scores of 2–3: Real-world evaluation from an open-label, prospective, multicentre, observational study
Authors: Miyake Shigeta , Akimoto Taisuke , Nakai Yasunobu , Amano Yu , Yamamoto Ryoo , Amari Kazumitsu , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Takeuchi Masataka , Morimoto Masafumi , Tsuboi Yoshifumi , Kaku Shogo , Ayabe Junichi , Akiyama Takekazu , Yamamoto Daisuke , Ito Hidemichi , Onodera Hidetaka , Takaishi Satoshi , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Ueda Toshihiro
Published: July 2023

Background

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in a population with pre-stroke modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores of 2–3 using real-world data.

Methods

Our sample set included 2313 consecutive patients enrolled in the Kanagawa Registry of Intravenous and Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke registry between January 2018 and June 2020 in 40 stroke centres in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), thrombectomy, or both were included. Patients with pre-stroke mRS scores of 4–5 and those treated only with intra-arterial thrombolysis were excluded. The primary outcome of this study was an mRS score of 0–3 at 90 days after onset to assess the efficacy of thrombectomy for pre-stroke disabled individuals. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses to investigate independent factors for a 90-day mRS score of 0–3. We also performed nearest-neighbour within-calliper matching between thrombectomy and t-PA only.

Results

After excluding patients meeting the exclusion criteria, we analysed data of 2136 consecutive patients, of which 315 (14.7%) had pre-stroke disabilities (mRS score 2–3). A 90-day mRS score of 0–3 was achieved by 33.3% of patients with pre-stroke mRS scores of 2–3. According to multivariate analysis, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was an independent factor. Furthermore, after propensity-score matching, thrombectomy showed considerable superiority for achieving a 90-day mRS score of 0–3.

Conclusion

Intravenous t-PA and especially thrombectomy were safe and effective for the population with pre-stroke disabilities, particularly for patients with low NIHSS scores.
Holocaust Memory as Cultural Code: The UK National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre as Case Study
Authors: Adams Tracy
Published: July 2023

This research focuses on the proposed UK National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre as a vibrant site of discursive contestation, investigating the heated public and political debate on this memory initiative that took place between 2019 and 2022 through a twofold analysis of elite intention and public reception. Findings demonstrate that Holocaust memory in the UK is infused with ambivalence and contradictory understandings of what the meanings of the past hold for the present. Bursting from the sphere-specific boundaries of memory, however, the debate soon turns into a social problem, one that illuminates broader societal issues that the contemporary British collective struggles with. Insofar as British Holocaust memory, in cultural terms, is bound within a sacralizing discourse, identified and characterized as linked to values such as freedom, democracy and equality, the proposed memory initiative breaks open a Pandora’s box that illuminates and underlines polluting qualities such as ambivalence, intolerance and inequality. The critical discussion currently going on in the UK around the memory initiative is so much more than merely a problem of commemoration or location; rather, it embodies the broader identity crisis that affects many in the British public nowadays. Contributing to memory studies and cultural sociology, this research demonstrates how a collective’s narrative of self is constantly negotiated, mediated through public discourse in ways that could potentially pave the way to civil repair.