bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speech understanding and extended high-frequency hearing sensitivity in blast-exposed veterans
Authors: Koerner Tess K. , Gallun Frederick J.
Published: July 2023

Auditory difficulties reported by normal-hearing Veterans with a history of blast exposure are primarily thought to stem from processing deficits in the central nervous system. However, previous work on speech understanding in noise difficulties in this patient population have only considered peripheral hearing thresholds in the standard audiometric range. Recent research suggests that variability in extended high-frequency (EHF; >8 kHz) hearing sensitivity may contribute to speech understanding deficits in normal-hearing individuals. Therefore, this work was designed to identify the effects of blast exposure on several common clinical speech understanding measures and EHF hearing sensitivity. This work also aimed to determine whether variability in EHF hearing sensitivity contributes to speech understanding difficulties in normal-hearing blast-exposed Veterans. Data from 41 normal- or near-normal-hearing Veterans with a history of blast exposure and 31 normal- or near-normal-hearing control participants with no history of head injury were employed in this study. Analysis identified an effect of blast exposure on several speech understanding measures but showed no statistically significant differences in EHF thresholds between participant groups. Data showed that variability in EHF hearing sensitivity did not contribute to group-related differences in speech understanding, although study limitations impact interpretation of these results.
Cu-Doped WS2/Ni3S2 Coral-Like Heterojunction Grown on Ni Foam as an Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Han Pei , Lin Changcheng , Zuo Xueqin , Yang Qun , Tang Huaibao , Jin Shaowei , Li Guang , Wang Xiaoyu , Gao Xin , Chen Dongmeng
Published: July 2023

Finding an efficient and stable non-noble-metal catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline environments is of great significance for reducing the cost of the catalyst. In this work, we doped Cu to the surface of WS2/Ni3S2 coral-like heterojunction grown on Ni foam substrate by physical deposition, which can promote the transfer of interface charge. An excellent OER catalytic performance with an overpotential as low as 281 mV at a current density of 100 mA·cm−2 is reached. At the same time, the attenuation of the sample is not significant after the durability test for 20 h in a current density of 100 mA·cm−2. Theoretical calculations and experimental results show that the synergistic effect of interfacial charge redistribution through the Cu-doped WS2/Ni3S2 heterojunction accelerates the process of alkaline OER reaction. This study provides a novel idea for the synthesis of non-noble metal alkaline OER catalysts.
Prevalence, Reasons, Predictors, Perceived Effects, and Regulation of Alcohol Use among Children in Ghana
Authors: Kyei-Gyamfi Sylvester , Wellington Nii , Kyei-Arthur Frank
Published: July 2023

Early initiation of alcohol consumption increases the risk of alcohol dependence and adverse health outcomes. Consequently, nations have enacted laws to make alcohol unlawful to be purchased by, sold to, or used in public by children. This study examined the lifetime prevalence of alcohol use among children and their reasons for consuming alcohol. In addition, the study investigated predictors of alcohol consumption and the effects of alcohol use on children. Finally, it examined the effectiveness of measures in place for regulating the sale and use of alcohol by children in the country. A total of 5024 children between the ages of 8 and 17 were sampled across the ten regions of Ghana using a cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method. Children were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire, while focus group discussions were held with children, parents, and key informants. Lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption was measured by “have you ever taken alcohol?”. The study revealed that lifetime alcohol consumption was less prevalent (6.6%) among children. Sex, age, and region of residence were significant predictors of lifetime alcohol use among children. More than half of the children who reported ever taking alcohol were first introduced to drinking by friends, and more than six in ten children claimed having been intoxicated after drinking alcohol. The findings further revealed that efforts to control the sale and consumption of alcohol by children have proven difficult despite the existence of laws, policies, and national regulatory structures. While regulations on alcohol sales and consumption have been difficult to implement in rural areas, they have been successful in urban areas because institutions there ensure rigorous adherence to the regulations. The study encourages national organizations with responsibility for child protection and development to step up their regulation, investigation, and information-sharing efforts to discourage and limit children from purchasing and consuming alcohol.
Supplementary Table S2 from Dissecting the Mechanisms Underlying the Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) Mediated by T-Cell Bispecific Antibodies
Authors: Leclercq-Cohen Gabrielle , Steinhoff Nathalie , Albertí Servera Llucia , Nassiri Sina , Danilin Sabrina , Piccione Emily , Yángüez Emilio , Hüsser Tamara , Herter Sylvia , Schmeing Stephan , Gerber Petra , Schwalie Petra , Sam Johannes , Briner Stefanie , Jenni Sylvia , Bianchi Roberta , Biehl Marlene , Cremasco Floriana , Apostolopoulou Katerina , Haegel Hélène , Klein Christian , Umaña Pablo , Bacac Marina
Published: July 2023

Supplementary Table S2. Specification of reagents for flow cytometry (Whole Blood Assay for single cell RNA-sequencing)
Supplementary Table S1 from Phase I trial of Ganitumab plus Dasatinib to Cotarget the Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor and Src Family Kinase YES in Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Akshintala Srivandana , Sundby R. Taylor , Bernstein Donna , Glod John W. , Kaplan Rosandra N. , Yohe Marielle E. , Gross Andrea M. , Derdak Joanne , Lei Haiyan , Pan Alexander , Dombi Eva , Palacio-Yance Isabel , Herrera Kailey R. , Miettinen Markku M. , Chen Helen X. , Steinberg Seth M. , Helman Lee J. , Mascarenhas Leo , Widemann Brigitte C. , Navid Fariba , Shern Jack F. , Heske Christine M.
Published: July 2023

Representativeness of Study Participants
First descriptions of the final stadium larva of Heliogomphus chaoi Karube, 2004 and the adult female of Microgomphus jurzitzai Karube, 2000 from Vietnam (Odonata: Gomphidae)
Authors: PHAN QUOC TOAN , KEETAPITHCHAYAKUL TOSAPHOL SAETUNG
Published: July 2023

The larva of Heliogomphus chaoi Karube, 2004 and the adult female of Microgomphus jurzitzai Karube, 2000 are described from Vietnam for the first time. The morphological difference between the larvae of the genera Heliogomphus Laidlaw, 1922 and Microgomphus Selys, 1858 are discussed, which throws doubts about the current taxonomic status of H. retroflexus (Ris, 1912).
Stop chasing unicorns of climate inaction: Annulling the value–action gap, introducing persons
Authors: Meistrup Lise Isabella , Klitmøller Jacob
Published: July 2023

In this article, we argue that it is necessary to cut the Gordian knot that is the value–action gap in climate action research. We do this theoretically by demonstrating the link connecting research findings on the gap with mainstream environmental psychology’s implicit theory of human conduct, and we do it empirically by demonstrating the field’s own finding: that this theory of human conduct is a poor fit with reality. We present an existing, alternative theory of human conduct and illustrate the value of this alternative with empirical data. We show that (a) there are theories that offer a better fit with reality, one of them being the person perspective and (b) according to these theories and the empirical example, people do not show value–action gaps (i.e., no void) but rather very meaningful considerations of and prioritizations among their many intertwined motives.
Development of and adherence to an ERAS® and prehabilitation protocol for patients undergoing pancreatic surgery: An observational study
Authors: Olsén Monika Fagevik , Andersson Thomas , Nouh Micheline Al , Johnson Erik , Block Linda , Vakk My , Wennerblom Johanna
Published: July 2023

Background and objective:

There are still gaps in knowledge concerning the adherence to different multimodal pathways in pancreatic surgery. The aim of this trial was to explore and evaluate an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) and prehabilitation protocol in patients undergoing open pancreatic surgery.

Methods:

Three groups of patients were included: two prospective series of 75 patients undergoing open pancreatic surgery following an ERAS® protocol with or without prehabilitation, and one group of 55 historical controls. Variables regarding adherence to, and effects of the protocols, were collected from the local database and the patients’ hospital records. Patients’ adherence to advice given pre-operatively was followed up using a study-specific questionnaire.

Results:

The patients reported high adherence to remembered advice given. The health care professionals’ adherence to the various parts of the concepts varied. ERAS® implementation resulted in more frequent gut motility stimulation ( p < 0.001) and shorter duration of epidural anesthesia, site drains, and urinary catheter ( p = 0.001). With prehabilitation, more patients were screened concerning nutritional status and prescribed preoperative training ( p < 001). There was a significant change in weight before surgery, a shorter time to first flatus and a shorter length of stay after implementation of the concepts ( p < 0.05). Complications were rare in all three groups and there were no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion:

The implementation of an ERAS® and a prehabilitation protocol increased adherence to the protocols by both patients and healthcare professionals. An implementation of an ERAS® protocol with and without prehabilitation decreases length of stay and may decrease preoperative weight loss and time to bowel movement.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Familiarity, Interest, and Use of Integrative Therapies Among Patients With Breast Cancer
Authors: Freeman Jincong Q. , Sheade Jori , Zhao Fangyuan , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Nanda Rita , Huo Dezheng
Published: July 2023

Background:

Integrative therapies reduce side effects from cancer treatment, though remain underutilized. There is a paucity of data on factors associated with familiarity, interest, and use of these therapies among breast cancer patients.

Methods:

A survey on familiarity, interest, and use of acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga was conducted in patients enrolled in the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Breast Cancer Cohort. Familiarity and interest were assessed using a five-point Likert scale, and modeled using proportional odds regression. Use was per self-report, modeled using logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Results:

Of 1300 study participants, 59.6% were familiar with massage, 47.2% acupuncture, 46.9% meditation, 46.5% yoga, and 34.5% music therapy; 63.3% were interested in massage, 50.2% yoga, 47.9% meditation, 44.2% acupuncture, and 41.4% music therapy. Only 41.3% had used massage, 25.8% acupuncture, 18.7% yoga, 18.5% meditation, and 7.4% music therapy. Older age and lower education level were associated with lower familiarity and interest. Black patients were more likely than White patients to be interested. Patients’ interest increased significantly when certain symptoms were treated. In the adjusted models, patients ages 40 to 65 were less likely than those ages <40 to have used massage (aOR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.98), yoga (aOR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.27-0.99), or meditation (aOR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25-0.90). Patients with high school education were less likely than those with a graduate degree to have used acupuncture (aOR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24-0.72), massage (aOR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.25-0.62), or meditation (aOR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12-0.58). Having received chemotherapy was associated with increased interest in yoga (aOR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.07-1.73), massage (aOR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01-1.59), or meditation (aOR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.57). Receipt of hormone therapy was not associated with interest or use.

Conclusion:

In this racially diverse cohort of patients, familiarity and interest of integrative therapies were high, while use was low. Older age and lower education level were associated with lack of interest and use. Chemotherapy was associated with interest, but hormone therapy was not. Strategies to promote the benefits and use of integrative therapies among breast cancer patients are needed.
Images of the Future in a Participatory Online Course – Empowering Student-Driven Projects for Higher Education Sustainability Transformation
Authors: Weh Ludwig , Kinne Lisa
Published: July 2023

To empower student-driven projects for sustainability transformation in higher education structures, the project ‘Students create sustainable universities in Northrhine-Westphalia’ by German NGO netzwerk n e. V. has developed an innovative digital program ( https://kurs.netzwerk-n.org/ ) using transdisciplinary and transformative learning elements in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Core objective of the 8-week massive open online course is to encourage and connect student promoters for sustainable university transformation. Its transdisciplinary learning methods encourage creation and reflexive discourse about alternative images of the future of sustainable institutions, processes and education, as well as human-nature-interaction and more-than-human futures. The integrated digital future workshop based on the participatory workshop method explores a novel approach to assess images of the future individually and collectively in digital space. This paper presents the conceptual background and methodological premises used for design and implementation of the online course as innovative method for student project development. Participants’ structured critique, utopia envisioning and specific project development provide valuable insights into the use of images of the future for higher education sustainability discourse and transformative action in student-driven sustainability projects.
Reconstructing self from the illness: a constructivist grounded theory study of posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhang Chen , Zhou Yunxian
Published: July 2023

Background

Some patients with Crohn’s disease report posttraumatic growth, which can promote reductions in anxiety and depression, and improve the patient’s quality of life. However, the process of posttraumatic growth remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to explore the social-psychological process of posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease in the context of Chinese culture and construct an interpretive understanding based on the perspectives of patients.

Methods

This research adopted Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory. Nineteen participants with Crohn’s disease were selected by purposive and theoretical sampling from three hospitals in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, as well as from the China Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. In-depth interviews were conducted. Data analysis was based on initial, focused and theoretical coding strategies, and methods such as constant comparison and memo writing were adopted. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research, a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups, was utilised.

Results

An interpretive understanding of posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease was constructed. The core category was “reconstructing self from the illness”, which included the following four categories: “suffering from the illness”, “accepting the illness”, “dancing with the illness” and “enriching life beyond the illness”. However, not every patient reached the last phase. Before patients enter the next stage, they might begin a new cycle by experiencing new suffering or discovering new unacceptable facts about the illness.

Conclusions

This interpretive understanding reveals a growth process centred on “reconstructing self from the illness”. These findings provide knowledge on the process of posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease within the wider sociocultural context.
An application of artificial neural networks for solving fractional higher-order linear integro-differential equations
Authors: Allahviranloo T. , Jafarian A. , Saneifard R. , Ghalami N. , Measoomy Nia S. , Kiani F. , Fernandez-Gamiz U. , Noeiaghdam S.
Published: July 2023

This ongoing work is vehemently dedicated to the investigation of a class of ordinary linear Volterra type integro-differential equations with fractional order in numerical mode. By replacing the unknown function by an appropriate multilayered feed-forward type neural structure, the fractional problem of such initial value is changed into a course of non-linear minimization equations, to some extent. Put differently, interest was sparked in structuring an optimized iterative first-order algorithm to estimate solutions for the origin fractional problem. On top of that, some computer simulation models exemplify the preciseness and well-functioning of the indicated iterative technique. The outstanding accomplished numerical outcomes conveniently reflect the productivity and competency of artificial neural network methods compared to customary approaches.
(Technological) Globalization and Anthropogenic Heritage
Authors: Kokkinos Charalampos
Published: July 2023

The concepts of culture and civilization have been directly linked to the process of social construction since the dawn of human history. A philosophy of civilization presupposes a history of human evolution that would seek to highlight humanity’s achievements through which we have reached the modern age. Now, even more so after the middle of the 20th century, the relationship between material civilization and technology has also been emphasized in the context of the protection of a “global cultural heritage”. Part of this new general concern is the well-known debate about the return of the Parthenon “marbles”. In this article, we will initially focus on the influence of the anthropogenic object heritage on the evolution of societies, arguing that it determines our collective experience and social memory to an important extent. We believe that such an analysis could beneficially contribute to a more meaningful understanding of a crucial topic of our modern technological era, an era that combines the clash of civilizations with globalization. We propose that the vision of a culture as a common possession of all humanity presupposes the respect of each country’s right to possess and care after its own cultural tokens.
Solutions to degenerative generalized quasilinear Schrödinger equations involving vanishing potentials and critical exponent
Authors: Huang Yong , Li Zhouxin , Yuan Xiang
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a class of degenerative quasilinear Schrödinger equations with
vanishing potentials and critical Sobolev exponents is considered.
The main operator involved in these equations is not strictly elliptic. Under suitable conditions, the existence of nontrivial solutions to the equations is obtained
by employing variational methods and the decay rate of the solutions is established.
Interpretable Policies and the Price of Interpretability in Hypertension Treatment Planning
Authors: Garcia Gian-Gabriel P. , Steimle Lauren N. , Marrero Wesley J. , Sussman Jeremy B.
Published: July 2023

Problem definition: Effective hypertension management is critical to reducing the consequences of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. Clinical guidelines for hypertension can be enhanced using decision-analytic approaches capable of capturing complexities in treatment planning. However, model-generated recommendations may be uninterpretable/unintuitive, limiting their clinical acceptability. We address this challenge by investigating interpretable treatment plans. Methodology/results: We formulate interpretable treatment plans as Markov decision processes (MDPs) and analyze the problems of optimizing monotone policies, which prohibit decreasing treatment intensity for sicker patients, and class-ordered monotone policies, which generalize monotone policies. We establish that both policies depend on initial state distributions and that optimal monotone policies can be generated tractably for many treatment planning problems. Next, we propose exact formulations for optimizing interpretable policies broadly. Then, we analyze the price of interpretability, proving that the class-ordered monotone policy’s price of interpretability does not exceed the monotone policy’s price of interpretability. Finally, we formulate and evaluate MDPs for hypertension treatment planning using a large nationally representative data set of the U.S. population. We compare the structure and performance of optimal monotone policies and class-ordered monotone policies with optimal MDP-based policies and current clinical guidelines. At the patient level, optimal MDP-based policies may be unintuitive, recommending more aggressive treatment for healthier patients than sicker patients. Conversely, monotone policies and class-ordered monotone policies never deescalate treatment, reflecting clinical intuition. Across 66.5 million patients, optimized monotone policies and class-ordered monotone policies outperform clinical guidelines, saving over 3,246 quality-adjusted life years per 100,000 patients, with both policies paying a low price of interpretability. Sensitivity analysis illustrates that monotone policies and class-ordered monotone policies are robust to various definitions of “interpretability.” Managerial implications: Interpretable policies can be tractably optimized, drastically outperform existing guidelines, and perform near optimally—potentially increasing the acceptability of decision-analytic approaches in practice.

Funding: L. N. Steimle and W. J. Marrero received support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship [Grant DGE 1256260]. J. B. Sussman received support from the National Institutes of Health [Grants R01NS102715 and RF1AG068410], the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [Grants 1I01-HX003304 and 1I50-HX003251], and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0373 .
MU’TAZILA IN WESTERN SCHOLARSHIP: THEIR ORIGIN, ORIGINALITY, AND LEGACY
Authors: Ayub Ayub
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Mu'tazila is one of the schools of kalam that appears in Islamic intellectual history. Although considered a heresy, the Mu'tazilite scholars played an important role in the development of various traditional Islamic disciplines. Initially, Western historians considered Mu'tazila rationalism as an anomaly in Islamic history. However, various studies show that they are not only an integral part of the Islamic intellectual tradition, but they have also even influenced Islamic scholars from various Islamic schools of thought in the next generation. This article will focus on the narrative of the Mu'tazila in Western scholarship by focusing on the history of its early emergence and development, the originality of the theological and philosophical ideas they developed, and their intellectual legacy in Islamic intellectual history. This research is library research with content analysis approach. This article shows that despite their adoption of foreign concepts and methods, especially from Greek philosophers, Mu'tazilite thinkers had developed their own original ideas. Furthermore, this paper will also discuss Mu'tazila's influence on scholars who came after them, not only in Islamic theology, but also in other fields of Islamic sciences.
Advances in the treatment and prevention of HIV: what you need to know
Authors: Colloty Jamie , Teixeira Miguel , Hunt Robert
Published: July 2023

The global epidemic of HIV/AIDs has seen many advances in the development of effective treatments, including antiretroviral therapy that provides increasing sustained viral suppression, robust immune reconstitution and fewer side effects than before. Early HIV treatment regimens were notoriously complex, comprising up to 22 pills that needed to be taken at different times of the day. However, the advent of a single fixed dose combination drug formation simplified the treatment regimen so this could be taken once daily. Novel drugs are constantly being developed to provide better tolerated medications with robust, sustained viral suppression and immune reconstitution; these include long-acting injectables and implants, and preventative treatments for pre-exposure prophylaxis. This article provides an overview of emerging therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection.
The effects of parental’s cultural and economic capital and parental support on being an elite scientists
Authors: Ciftci S. Koza , Karadag Engin , Ergin-Kocaturk Hatice
Published: July 2023

Despite the rapid increase in the number of scientists all over the world in recent years, very few scientists can achieve to be part of elite scientist’s category. Although there are many studies focusing on elite scientists, these studies generally do not focus on their childhood and parental background. In this study, which attempts to fill this gap, we focus on the cultural and economic capital of the families of elite scientists in Turkey and their parental support in childhood to analyze the roles of these variables in their being elite scientists. First, we assess the impact of cultural capital (institutional, objectified, and embodied), economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success in basic education on the probability of becoming an elite scientist. Second, we analyze the differences among elite scientists to shed light on the gender gap in academia. We collected the data from 1,966 scientists working at 87 universities in Turkey through an online survey. Some of our main findings are as follows: (a) cultural capital, parental support, and academic success in basic education all have a strong positive effect on becoming an elite scientist; (b) objectified cultural capital has the highest impact in that an increase in this capital increases the probability of becoming elite scientists by 19%; (c) economic capital has no significant effect on elite scientists. Elite scholars have certain common characteristics, but significantly they are different from their average peers in terms of cultural capital and parental support and (d) elite female scientists have higher of cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and academic success than elite male scientists. This finding supports the existence of the academic inequality and suggests that female scientists need higher cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success to become elite scientists than their male counterparts.
Granulomatous polyangiitis involving the fourth ventricle: Report of a rare case and a literature review
Authors: Yuan Dan , Ji Qing , Xia Jin-Hua , Wang Jin-Jing , Liang Na
Published: July 2023

Granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare systemic autoimmune vasculitis disease that is highly correlated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs). It was formerly called as “Wegener’s granulomatosis.” The clinical manifestations are diverse, mainly involving the upper respiratory tract, lungs, and kidneys, and this disease can involve the brain parenchyma as an isolated solid mass. Only one case has been reported thus far. To provide further information on this rare case, we report a case of GPA involving the fourth ventricle and review the relevant literature. A 32-year-old Chinese female developed fever, cough, and shortness of breath for 20 days. An 80 mm × 80 mm skin ulcer was seen on the right lower limb. CT showed multiple large patches of increased density in both lungs. The patient’s serological ANCA was positive. Later, the patient developed dizziness and headache. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed a mass of approximately 21 mm × 24 mm in the fourth ventricle. The patient had a craniotomy for mass resection, and macroscopically, the mass was gray–red and measured 25 mm × 20 mm × 20 mm, was soft, had local hemorrhage and necrosis, and had no capsule. The main microscopic features included necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis, the patient’s immunohistochemistry was positive for CD68 and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, and the acid-fast staining and hexaamine silver staining were negative. Combined with the clinical history, serology, and imaging, the pathological diagnosis was GPA in the fourth ventricle. The patient was switched to rituximab combined with steroid therapy because she did not tolerate cyclophosphamide. After 5 months of follow-up, the patient’s lung lesions and skin ulcers had completely improved, but the brain lesions had further progressed. When a patient has multiple system diseases, abnormal clinical manifestations, and positive serological ANCAs, a diagnosis of GPA should be carefully considered, and biopsies of easy-to-access sites should be performed. If the patient’s histopathological manifestations include vasculitis, granuloma, and necrosis, a diagnosis of GPA is more likely. If a patient subsequently develops an intraventricular mass, the clinicians should consider a diagnosis of GPA, which can rarely involve the cerebral ventricle to avoid an unnecessary biopsy or surgical treatment of intracranial lesions. When a patient is intolerant to the traditional treatment drug cyclophosphamide and needs to be switched to rituximab, the treatment effect of intracerebral lesions is not ideal; therefore, the treatment of lesions involving GPA in the ventricle is worthy of further exploration.
La regionalización en Marruecos: un proceso estancado
Authors: Ojeda García Raquel
Published: July 2023

ResumenLa última propuesta de la regionalización avanzada ha sido incluida en la última reforma constitucional de 2011 de Marruecos prácticamente en su totalidad, a pesar que tras la llegada del PJD al gobierno muchas voces pensasen que era posible que se abriese un proceso de regionalización en Marruecos. Sin embargo, el proyecto de regionalización ha quedado fuera de la agenda política gubernamental y del monarca. Este artículo analiza las trabas históricas que sufre este proceso de regionalización y lo pone en relación con la modernización administrativa de Marruecos y los avances en el proceso de democratización.Palabras clave: Marruecos, regionalización, autonomía regional, descentralización, administración territorial AbstractThe latest proposal advanced regionalization has been included in the last constitutional reform of 2011 in Morocco almost totally, but many voices thought, that after the arrival of the PJD to the government, a new process of regionalization in Morocco could have been opened. However, the regionalization project was left out of the political agenda of the govermen and the monarchy. This article discusses the historical obstacles experienced in the regionalization process in Morocco and puts it in relation to administrative modernization and the advances in democratisation process. Key words: Morocco, regionalisation, regional autonomy, decentralisation, territorial administration.
Las Políticas de promoción de los Derechos Humanos de Estados Unidos y Francia. El caso de los golpes de Estado en Marruecos
Authors: Feliu Laura
Published: July 2023

ResumenEn 1971 y 1972 se producen sendos intentos golpes de Estado contra el rey de Marruecos, Hasán II. Una parte de los presuntos golpistas y personas vinculadas a ellos desaparecen sin que se tenga noticia durante mucho tiempo, en un contexto de represión generalizada por parte de la dictadura marroquí. Este caso permite analizar y comparar las políticas exteriores de promoción de los derechos humanos desarrolladas por Estados Unidos y Francia hasta la liberación de los detenidos en 1991. El estudio muestra la importancia para comprender las políticas aplicadas tanto de la naturaleza de los respectivos sistemas políticos, como del tipo de relaciones bilaterales y del lugar que ocupan las potencias internacionales en el sistema internacional y en qué lugar se sitúa Marruecos.Palabras clave: Marruecos, Estados Unidos, Francia, política exterior, Derechos Humanos.AbstractIn 1971 and 1972 two separate coups d’état were attempted against the King of Morocco, Hassan II. Some of the alleged coup plotters and persons connected to them disappeared, in a context of widespread repression by the Moroccan dictatorship. This case allows analyzing and comparing the human rights promotion foreign policies developed by the United States and France until the release of the detainees in 1991. The study shows the importance of the nature of the respective political systems, the bilateral relations and the place of international powers in the international system and the Moroccan position to understand the policies implemented.Keywords: Morocco, United States, France, foreign affairs, Human Rights.
Decay resistance of treated wood with functionalised commercial silicones
Authors: Ghosh Shyamal C. , Militz Holger , Mai Carsten
Published: July 2023

Three commercial silicone emulsions with different functional groups i.e., quat-silicone micro-emulsion (<40 nm particle size), amino-silicone macro-emulsion (110 nm), and silicone macro-emulsion with alkyl-modified side groups (740 nm) were used to protect wood samples against fungal decay. The addition of the emulsions to an agar growth medium revealed that all three silicone formulations inhibited the growth of Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor compared to the controls without silicone. Wood mini-blocks of pine sapwood and beech wood were treated with 2%, 5%, 10%, and 15% concentration of silicone emulsions and tested for their resistance against basidiomycete decay. Quat-silicone and amino-silicone emulsions at higher concentrations imparted resistance of wood to both types of basidiomycetes, while the alkyl-modified silicone formulation did not enhance the resistance. In a soft rot test according to ENV 807, wood treated with an amino-sililcone emulsion showed the lowest weight loss and loss of dynamic MOE. Quat-silicone micro-emulsion had a lower effect, while the alkyl-modified silicone emulsion did not cause reduction in weight and strength loss compared to the untreated controls. The increased resistance against soft rot might be attributed to a lag in fungal colonization rather than to a sustained effect of protection.
Crossfit, SoulCycle, and Evangelical Christianity with Cody Musselman
Authors: Altman Michael J , Musselman Cody
Published: July 2023

The Interview brings you in-depth exchanges with scholars working to reframe how we carry out the academic study of religion. In this edition, Michael J. Altman at the University of Alabama sat with Cody Musselman (Postdoctoral Research Associate at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, PhD Yale 2022) to discuss SoulCycle, CrossFit, and evangelical Christianity in the United States. In so doing, these scholars of religion in America open up numerous possibilities for theorizing the intersections of capitalism, neoliberalism, and religion. This exchange has been excerpted from the 2021 Day Lecture at the University of Alabama.
Fine-grained Network Traffic Prediction from Coarse Data
Authors: Rusek Krzysztof , Drton Mathias
Published: July 2023

ICT systems provide detailed information on computer network traffic. However, due to storage limitations, some of the information on past traffic is often only retained in an aggregated form. In this paper we show that Linear Gaussian State Space Models yield simple yet effective methods to make predictions based on time series at different aggregation levels. The models link coarse-grained and fine-grained time series to a single model that is able to provide fine-grained predictions. Our numerical experiments show up to 3.7 times improvement in expected mean absolute forecast error when forecasts are made using, instead of ignoring, additional coarse-grained observations. The forecasts are obtained in a Bayesian formulation of the model, which allows for provisioning of a traffic prediction service with highly informative priors obtained from coarse-grained historical data.
Civil procedure in the Second Polish Republic
Authors: Bała Karolina Klaudia , Cieśla Wiktoria
Published: July 2023

Through the years when Polish lands were under foreign partition different civil procedures were respected. Codification works taken by Polish lawyers brought huge changes, which effect was Code of Civil Procedure announced in 1930. The new code was linking different district ideas. Guaranteed individual's private law autonomy and protected it. The code stood out with a high technical and legal standard but some drawbacks occurred, which made the code difficult to use in practice.
Hierarchies of Power: Political Style in Modern Russia
Authors: Skiperskikh A.A.
Published: July 2023

In this article, the author shows how the hierarchies of power are arranged in modern Russia, and what motives are associated with political subordination. From the author's point of view, hierarchies of power are not only hierarchies of specific positions and positions representing power. It is also a hierarchy of goods and material culture, access to which opens up as you move up. The author illustrates this relationship by referring to the experience accumulated by Russian and Soviet culture, as well as his own observations of regional and municipal political processes. According to the author, the increase in the number of institutions in modern Russia responding to the complexity of public life leads to an increase in the number of bureaucracy and hierarchies of power.
State and Terror
Authors: Buldakov V.P.
Published: July 2023

Post-revolutionary terror in Russia is usually associated with the personality of Stalin. In fact, the intensity of terror was dictated by the logic of the survival of power, constrained on the one hand by Marxist doctrine, on the other by authoritarian tradition. So, the return to mass terror at the end of the 1920s was facilitated by the transition from the psychology of the world revolution to the psychosis of a besieged fortress. Hence the horrors of collectivization caused mainly by actions of the local authorities. The latter were helped in their own way by the townsfolk, who explained the food troubles by the actions of the rural “bourgeoisie”. The government, striving to become absolute according to the “only true” theory, needed enemies of an infernal scale – especially when it itself was in an economic impasse. In this sense, the terror of 1937 became inevitable. Subsequent waves of terror were also associated with the political maneuvering of the authorities.
Pleistocene walrus on the Pechora River: mineralogical and geochemical data and paleoecological reconstructions
Authors: Silaev V. , Smoleva I. , Filippov V. , Shanina S. , Hazov A. , Makeev B. , Kiseleva D. , Fokina A. , Yogan van der Pliht
Published: July 2023

Left tusk’s fragments of the Pleistocene walrus were studied. Its fossil remains were found on the bank of the Pechora River in 2009. The analyses covered granulometric, chemical and normative-mineral composition of grounds inside the bones; thermal properties, chemical and microelemental composition of the tusk; X-ray diffraction parameters and chemical composition of bone bioapatite; macrostructure, elemental and amino acid composition of bone organic matter; isotopic composition of carbon, oxygen in bioapatite and carbon, nitrogen in bone collagen. Bioapatite was identified for moderately isotopically light carbon, characteristic of extracave fossil bones of the Pleistocene animals, and isotopically heavy oxygen, typical of seawater bicarbonate. The isotopic data for the organic matter of the Pechora walrus correlated with the similar characteristics of marine animals but simultaneously indicated not a mollusk diet, typical of modern walruses, but a fish diet. The latter fact evidenced the habitat and the diet of the Pechora walrus being untypical for marine predators.
Zeolite mineralization of reservoir rocks in the north of Western Siberia: lithological and geophysical aspects and exploitation characteristics
Authors: Titov Yu. , Kuznecov S. , Serebrennikov I.
Published: July 2023

As the hydrocarbon production tends to decline, formations with a complex geological structure and various secondary mineral formation types of reservoir rocks gain a considerable attention. The importance of secondary minerals for formation of pore and void space structure in hydrocarbon reservoirs is extremely high. The physical and chemical properties of these minerals should be considered during exploration works, calculation of reserves, reservoir engineering, wellwork planning. This article highlights the methodological study approach of mountain rocks with zeolitization based on the results of modern lithological, analytical, and laboratory research. The implementation of the approach allowed for recommendations for rapid quantitative assessment of zeolite content in the Lower Cretaceous sediments of the Bolshekhetskaya Depression.
Composition, frequency and abundance of thrips (Thysanoptera) species on outdoor ornamental plants in Balcalı, Adana (Türkiye)
Authors: ATAKAN Ekrem
Published: July 2023

Objective: Phytophagous thrips are among the important pests of ornamental plants. Unlike other studies, in this study, thrips species mostly in perennial arboreal and shrub plants were investigated in the Balcalı location of Adana province, Türkiye in 2019-2020. Materials and Methods: Thrips were collected from ornamental plants by shaking method, and the collected individuals were stored in 60% ethyl alcohol. Results and Conclusion: Eleven harmful and two beneficial thrips species were determined from 788 adult thrips individuals collected. The most common and abundant in dense numbers, respectively, Hot pepper thrips, Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan, 1913), Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) that they are important pests, and Gold-tipped tubular thrips, Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin, 1908) were determined and constituted 58.6%, 27.5% and 4.0% of the total individuals, respectively.
The efficiency of water buffalo farms in semi-intensive feeding system: A case study from Balıkesir, Türkiye
Authors: ADANACIOĞLU Hakan , SANER Gamze , ENGİNDENİZ Sait , GÜLER Duran , ŞENGÜL Zekiye
Published: July 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the buffalo farms in the semi-intensive system are operating at an effective level.
Material and Methods: The data were obtained from face-to-face interviews with 102 buffalo breeders in Balıkesir province. Data Envelopment Analysis was used to determine the technical efficiency of the buffalo farms, and Tobit regression model was used to determine the factors affecting the technical efficiency.
Results: The results reveal that the buffalo farms don’t work effectively in terms of both pure technical efficiency (VRSTE: 0.668) and scale efficiency (SE: 0.687). According to pure technical efficiency scores, 23.53% of buffalo farms operate at full efficiency level. 90% of the buffalo farms that implement the semi-intensive system operate at a decreasing return to scale. This condition shows that the farms exceed the optimal size limits.
Conclusion: The technical efficiency of buffalo farms may vary depending on various factors in the countries that apply semi-intensive feeding systems in buffalo farms.
Impact of Enzymatic Soymilk Isoflavones Biotransformation for Improved Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Macedo Gabriela Alves , Paiva Caria Cintia Rabelo , Barbosa Paula de Paula Menezes , Mazine Marina Rodriges , Gambero Alessandra
Published: July 2023

Soy isoflavones are considered important sources of bioactive compounds, but they are poorly absorbable, due to their large hydrophilic structures. Some biotransformation strategies have been used to convert the glycosidic form into aglycones, making them available for absorption. This study evaluated the potential of enzymatic and/or microbial fermentation bioprocesses in soymilk extract before and after gastrointestinal in vitro digestion. Commercial β-glucosidase and mix of commercial probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, Lactococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum e B. lactis were used to biotransform soymilk extract. Isoflavone profile was quantified by HPLC-DAD, total phenolic content by Folin–Ciocalteu test, and antioxidant capacity by ORAC and FRAP. Soymilk enzymatically treated (ET) followed by microbial fermentation (ET+F) resulted in the conversion of glycosylated isoflavones (6-fold lower than control for daidzin and 2-fold for genistin) to aglycones (18-fold greater than control for dadzein and genistein), besides to increase the total phenolic content (3.48 for control and 4.48 mg/ml ET+F) and to improve antioxidant capacity represented by the ORAC (120 for control and 151 mg/ml ET+F) and by the FRAP (285 for control and 317 µl/ml for ET+F) before in vitro digestion. Further, the digested ET+F samples resulted a higher content of genistein (2-fold higher than control) also an increase in the total phenolic content (2.81 for control and 4.03 mg/ml for ET+F) and antioxidant capacity by ORAC were greater compared to undigested samples. In addition, the microbial fermentation process isolated also resulted in the positive effects, but de combination of ET followed by F presented a synergistic effect, suggesting the greater potential for both bioprocesses to contribute to functional and nutritional properties on fermented soy-based products.
Survey on Fungi in Antarctica and High Arctic Regions, and Their Impact on Climate Change
Authors: Tsuji Masaharu
Published: July 2023

The Antarctica and High Arctic regions are extreme environments, with average maximum temperatures below 0 °C for most days of the year. Interestingly, fungi inhabit these regions. This review describes the history of fungal surveys near the Syowa Station and the fungal diversity in this region. In the High Arctic region, I summarized the changes in fungal communities in glacial retreat areas of Ny-Ålesund, Norway and Ellesmere Island, Canada in response to climate change. In addition, growth and enzyme secretion ability of Antarctic and Arctic fungi at sub-zero temperatures are presented. Finally, I have also provided the future directions of Antarctic and Arctic fungal research.