bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mass conservative characteristic finite element method with unconditional optimal convergence for semiconductor device problem
Authors: Li Xindong , Xu Wenwen , Guo Qing
Published: March 2023

We consider a mass conservative type method for semiconductor device problem by employing mixed finite element method (FEM) for electric potential equation and mass conservative characteristic FEM for both electron and hole density equations. The boundedness of numerical solution without certain time‐step restriction and optimal error estimates of full discrete scheme are proved. Numerical experiment is presented to verify the effectiveness and unconditional stability of the proposed method.
What is the prevalence of burnout amongst first contact physiotherapists working within primary care?
Authors: Nozedar Lewis , O’Shea Simon
Published: March 2023

Background

It has long been known general practitioners suffer with burnout. First contact physiotherapists (FCP's) are a new role to primary care. However, concerns have been raised around the longevity and sustainability of the role and the risk of clinician burnout.

Aims

To assess the prevalence of burnout amongst the FCP workforce.

Method

A self‐reporting online questionnaire was developed and captured key demographical data and burnout scores amongst FCP's between February 2022 and March 2022. The burnout assessment tool (BAT12) was used to assess clinician burnout.

Results

A total of 332 responses were collected. Overall, 13% of clinicians were burnt out, and 16% at risk. The BAT12 also found 43% of the clinicians are exhausted and a further 35% are at risk of exhaustion. Non‐clinical hours were significantly associated with burnout score. Clinicians who had more non‐clinical time per month were the least burnt out. Increased non‐clinical hours was significant in reducing burnout score.

Conclusions

This study found 13% of clinicians are suffering from burnout with a further 16% at risk. Worryingly 78% of clinicians are either exhausted or at risk of exhaustion. Non‐clinical hours have a direct impact on burnout and every effort is needed by employers to increase non‐clinical time. This study supports the release by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy whereby they recommend sufficient time be allocated within job plans for appropriate supervision, training and continued professional development. Further research is needed to explore the association of non‐clinical time and clinician burnout.
Cases of acquired hemophilia A following COVID‐19 vaccines: Cogent safety signal or possible reporting/detection bias? Preliminary evidence from Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Roberto Giuseppe , Paoletti Olga , Ferraro Sara , Hyeraci Giulia , Franchini Massimo , Gini Rosa , Focosi Daniele , Tuccori Marco
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Several case reports of acquired hemophilia A (AHA) following COVID‐19 vaccines were recently published. A possible increased incidence of AHA during the COVID‐19 vaccination campaign was also suggested. We aimed at generating evidence for the preliminary assessment of the association between AHA and COVID‐19 vaccination through an ecological study in one Italian region, Tuscany.

Methods

An ecological study was performed using the population‐based administrative data source of Tuscany. Per each year between 2017 and 2021, we included patients aged 5+ and active into the database as of January 1. Temporal patterns of annual incidence of possible AHA cases and AHA‐tested patients were respectively observed. The rates of possible AHA cases per AHA‐tested patients were calculated in 2021 and 2017–2019, respectively (calendar year 2020 was excluded because non‐representative of the pre‐pandemic era). Age–sex standardization was applied. Poisson's 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. Statically significant differences were defined as absence of 95% CI overlap.

Results

In 2021, standardized incidence of both possible AHA cases (5.6/million subjects/year; 95% CI = 3.4–8.7) and AHA‐tested patients (60.7/1000 subjects/year; 95% CI = 60.4–60.9) showed the lowest point estimates, though only the latter was statistically different compared to previous calendar years. The standardized rate of possible AHA cases per AHA‐tested patients was 9.2/100000 (95% CI = 5.6–14.3) in 2021 and 12.5/100000 (95% CI = 8.2–18.1) during 2017–2019.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings do not support the hypothesis of an increased incidence of AHA cases during the COVID‐19 vaccination campaign. However, in 2021, the still ongoing healthcare access restrictions might have contributed to the low incidence of AHA and laboratory tests observed. Therefore, large‐scale multi‐database studies are warranted.
A facile approach toward the synthesis of terephthalic acid via aminolytic depolymerization of PET waste and studies on the kinetics of depolymerization
Authors: Radadiya Rushik , Shahabuddin Syed , Gaur Rama
Published: March 2023

In this polymer‐governing era, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become one of the most demanding consumables. This growing interest in the production and consumption of plastic products results in an increase in the volume of post‐consumer plastic waste. However, due to the growing concern for environmental protection, recycling PET waste to the valuable ones has become one of the hot topics in contemporary research. In this study, PET waste was depolymerized using ethanolamine as a depolymerizing agent. N,N′‐Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)terephthaldiamide (BHETA) (yield 77%) was obtained after depolymerization of PET via ethanolamine. The characterization of the monomer BHETA was done using FTIR, 1H NMR, and FE‐SEM. The thermal stability of PET and BHETA was done using TGA analysis. To avoid the extreme reaction condition (high temperature and high pressure) of conventional way to form terephthalic acid (TPA) via hydrolysis of PET waste, in this study, a facile way is performed. The monomer BHETA was converted to a main building block of PET (TPA) (yield 67%) using strong oxidizing agent KMnO4 in mild reaction conditions at room temperature and pressure. The synthesized TPA was characterized using FTIR and 1H NMR. This work also focuses on the anticipation of the reaction progress of aminolysis of PET using simple analytical tools namely, FTIR and TGA.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Newly Established Treatment Centre in the Lay Gayint District, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Yizengaw Endalew , Nibret Endalkachew , Yismaw Gizachew , Gashaw Bizuayehu , Tamiru Dessalegn , Munshea Abaineh , Takele Yegnasew , Müller Ingrid , Chapman Lloyd , Weller Richard , Cotton James A. , Kropf Pascale
Published: March 2023

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease that primarily affects the most vulnerable populations. In Ethiopia, where this study took place, CL is an important health problem, however, the incidence of CL is poorly monitored.

Objectives

This study took place in a recently established CL treatment centre, at Nefas Mewcha Hospital, Lay Gayint. This area was considered to be endemic for CL, however, no cases of CL from Lay Gayint had previously been officially reported to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau.

Methods

Following a CL awareness campaign, a retrospective data review was performed of patients presenting to this centre between July 2019 and March 2021. Basic demographic and clinical data were collected by a nurse and recorded in the logbook of the CL treatment centre.

Results

Two hundred and one patients presented for diagnosis and treatment. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 75 years and 63.2% were males. Most patients were between 10- and 19-years-old. The majority (79.1%) of the patients presented with localised cutaneous leishmaniasis and 20.9% with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. 98% of the patients tested positive for Leishmania parasites by microscopy.

Conclusions

This work underpinned how CL is a major public health problem in the Lay Gayint district. It also shows that raising awareness about CL in the community and providing diagnosis and treatment encouraged patients to travel to seek diagnosis and treatment.
Sulfur‐Induced Low Crystallization of Ultrathin Pd Nanosheet Arrays for Sulfur Ion Degradation‐Assisted Energy‐Efficient H2 Production
Authors: Wang Wenxin , Mao Qiqi , Deng Kai , Yu Hongjie , Wang Ziqiang , Xu You , Li Xiaonian , Wang Liang , Wang Hongjing
Published: March 2023

The utilization of thermodynamically favorable sulfur oxidation reaction (SOR) as an alternative to sluggish oxygen evolution reaction is a promising technology for low‐energy H2 production while degrading the sulfur source from wastewater. Herein, amorphous/crystalline S‐doped Pd nanosheet arrays on nickel foam (a/c S‐Pd NSA/NF) is prepared by S‐doping crystalline Pd NSA/NF.  Owing to the ultrathin amorphous nanosheet structure and the incorporation of S atoms, the a/c S‐Pd NSA/NF provides a large number of active sitesand the optimized electronic structure, while exhibiting outstanding electrocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and SOR. Therefore, the coupling system consisting of SOR‐assisted HER can reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at 0.642 V lower than conventional electrolytic water by 1.257 V, greatly reducing energy consumption. In addition, a/c S‐Pd NSA/NF can generate H2 over a long period of time while degrading S2− in water to the value‐added sulfur powder, thus further reducing the cost of H2 production. This work proposes an attractive strategy for the construction of an advanced electrocatalyst for H2 production and utilization of toxic sulfide wastewater by combining S‐doping induced partial amorphization and ultrathin metal nanosheet arrays.
Hydroxyapatite‐Derived Heterogeneous Ru‐Ru2P Electrocatalyst and Environmentally‐Friendly Membrane Electrode toward Efficient Alkaline Electrolyzer
Authors: Yu Qingquan , Yu Wanqiang , Wang Yujie , He Jietong , Chen Yuke , Yuan Haifeng , Liu Ruiying , Wang Junjian , Liu Shunyao , Yu Jiayuan , Liu Hong , Zhou Weijia
Published: March 2023

Alkaline membrane water electrolysis is a promising production technology, and advanced electrocatalyst and membrane electrode design have always been the core technology. Herein, an ion‐exchange method and an environmentally friendly in situ green phosphating strategy are successively employed to fabricate Ru‐Ru2P heterogeneous nanoparticles by using hydroxyapatite (HAP) as a phosphorus source, which is an exceptionally active electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Density functional theory calculation results reveal that strong electronic redistribution occurs at the heterointerface of Ru‐Ru2P, which modulates the electronic structure to achieve an optimized hydrogen adsorption strength. The obtained Ru‐Ru2P possesses excellent HER performance (24 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and robust stability (1000 mA cm−2 for 120 h) in alkaline media. Furthermore, an environmentally friendly membrane electrode with a sandwich structure is assembled by HAP nanowires as an alkaline membrane, Ru‐Ru2P as a cathodic catalyst, and NiFe‐LDH as an anodic catalyst, respectively. The voltage of (−) Ru‐Ru2P || NiFe‐LDH/CNTs (+) (1.53 V at 10 mA cm−2) is lower than that of (−) 20 wt% Pt/C || RuO2 (+) (1.60 V at 10 mA cm−2) for overall water splitting. Overall, the studies not only design an efficient catalyst but also provide a new route to achieve a high‐stability electrolyzer for industrial H2 production.
A Self‐Disguised Nanospy for Improving Drug Delivery Efficiency via Decreasing Drug Protonation
Authors: Zhang Kuo , Wang Zi‐Qi , Liu Zhongqing , Qu Tianrui , Zhang Zhishuai , Zeng Fanshu , Song Hongjian , Shi Qing , Kang Zhijian , Chen Bogong , Dai Peng , Guo Pengyu , Tong Zhichao , Xu Wanhai
Published: March 2023

Nanoscale drug carriers play a crucial role in reducing side effects of chemotherapy drugs. However, the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and the drug protonation after nanoparticles (NPs) burst release still limit the drug delivery efficiency. In this work, a self‐disguised Nanospy is designed to overcome this problem. The Nanospy is composed of: i) poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid)‐polyethylene glycol (PLGA‐PEG) loading doxorubicin is the core structure of the Nanospy. ii) CD47 mimic peptides (CD47p) is linked to NPs which conveyed the “don't eat me” signal. iii) 4‐(2‐aminoethyl) benzenesulfonamide (AEBS) as the inhibitor of Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) linked to NPs. Briefly, when the Nanospy circulates in the bloodstream, CD47p binds to the regulatory protein α (SIRPα) on the surface of macrophages, which causes the Nanospy escapes from phagocytosis. Subsequently, the Nanospy enriches in tumor and the AEBS reverses the acidic microenvironment of tumor. Due to above characteristics, the Nanospy reduces liver macrophage phagocytosis by 25% and increases tumor in situ DOX concentration by 56% compared to PLGA@DOX treatment. In addition, the Nanospy effectively inhibits tumor growth with a 63% volume reduction. This work presents a unique design to evade the capture of MPS and overcomes the influence of acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) on weakly alkaline drugs.
An Ion‐Engineering Strategy to Design Hollow FeCo/CoFe2O4 Microspheres for High‐Performance Microwave Absorption
Authors: Liu Min , Zhao Biao , Pei Ke , Qian Yuetong , Yang Chendi , Liu Yihao , Cao Hui , Zhang Jincang , Che Renchao
Published: March 2023

Although assembled hollow architectures have received considerable attention as lightweight functional materials, their uncontrollable self‐aggregation and tedious synthetic methods hinder precise construction and modulation. Therefore, this study proposes a bi‐ion synergistic regulation strategy to design assembled hollow‐shaped cobalt spinel oxide microspheres. Dominated by the coordination‐etching effects of F− and the hydrolysis‐complex contributions of NH4+, the unique construction is formed attributed to the dynamic cycles between metal complexes and precipitates. Meanwhile, their basic structures are perfectly retained after reduction treatment, enabling FeCo/CoFe2O4 bimagnetic system to be obtained. Subsequently, in‐depth analyses are conducted. Investigations reveal that multiscale magnetic coupling networks and enriched air‐material heterointerfaces contribute to the remarkable magnetic‐dielectric behavior, supported by the advanced off‐axis electron holography technique. Consequently, the obtained FeCo/CoFe2O4 composites exhibit excellent microwave absorption performances with minimal reflection losses (RLmin) as high as −51.6 dB, an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 4.7 GHz, and a matched thickness of 1.4 mm. Thus, this work provides an informative guide for rationally assembling building blocks into hollow architectures as advanced microwave absorbers through bi‐ion and even multi‐ion synergistic engineering mechanisms.
Simulation on seismic performance of the post‐fire precast concrete column with grouted sleeve connections
Authors: Liu Lianglin , Xiao Jianzhuang
Published: March 2023

A simulation method with Abaqus software was adopted to analyze the seismic performance of post‐fire precast concrete column with grouted sleeve connections. First, the simulation was exerted on the column at ambient temperature and the grouted sleeve connection was simplified to be a single steel rebar. It is found that the yield load, lateral peak load and ductility coefficient from the simulation result are about 0.89, 0.85, and 1.02 times of those from the test respectively, which shows that the built finite element model is fit for the simulation analysis of precast concrete column and the simplified method of grouted sleeve connection is feasible. Then, a sequential coupling method was used to simulate the seismic performance of cast‐in‐place column after exposure to elevated temperatures. It is found that the highest temperature, load and ductility coefficient from simulation agree well with those of test, as the maximum difference is only 5.0%. Furthermore, simulations of post‐fire precast concrete columns with grouted sleeve connections were based on these practices and the findings as follows: as the elevating time becomes longer, the maximum difference of the highest temperature between the simulation and the theory decreases from 6.7% to 0.6%; compared to the condition at ambient temperature, the lateral peak load decreases linearly along with the elevating time ascending. Finally, a new expression was proposed to calculate the shear bearing capacity of post‐fire precast concrete column with grouted sleeve connections, which will be beneficial to the fire safety design of precast concrete structures.
Garden soil bacteria transiently colonize gardeners' skin after direct soil contact
Authors: Mhuireach Gwynne Á. , Van Den Wymelenberg Kevin G. , Langellotto Gail A.
Published: March 2023

Urban soils provide a number of ecosystem services and health benefits, yet they are understudied compared with agricultural and wildland soils. Healthy soils host diverse microbiota, exposure to which may be critical for immune development and protection against chronic disorders, such as allergies and asthma. Gardening represents a key pathway for microbiota exposure, yet little is known about microbial community structure of urban garden soils, degree of soil‐to‐skin transfer during gardening, nor ability of soil microbes to persist on human skin. To explore these questions, we recruited 40 volunteers to collect soil samples from their gardens and a series of skin swab samples before and after gardening. Soil and skin bacterial communities were characterized using amplicon (16S) sequencing. Soil samples were also analyzed for chemical/physical characteristics. Soil bacterial communities had more alpha diversity and less beta diversity than skin communities, which varied greatly across individuals and within the same individual across time. The number of bacterial taxa shared between skin and garden soil increased immediately after gardening for most study participants. However, the imprint of garden soil largely disappeared within 12 hours. Despite this lack of persistence, a daily gardening routine with repeated and extended contact with soil likely reinoculates the skin such that soil microbes are often present, holding potential to impact health.
John Leonard Duckhouse
Authors: Dick Graham
Published: March 2023

A man who was content with his place in the world and whose presence lightened the lives of others.
Modulation of corticospinal excitability related to the forearm muscle during robot-assisted stepping in humans
Authors: Kitamura Taku , Masugi Yohei , Yamamoto Shin-ichiroh , Ogata Toru , Kawashima Noritaka , Nakazawa Kimitaka
Published: March 2023

In recent years, the neural control mechanisms of the arms and legs during human bipedal walking have been clarified. Rhythmic leg stepping leads to suppression of monosynaptic reflex excitability in forearm muscles. However, it is unknown whether and how corticospinal excitability of the forearm muscle is modulated during leg stepping. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the excitability of the corticospinal tract in the forearm muscle during passive and voluntary stepping. To compare the neural effects on corticospinal excitability to those on monosynaptic reflex excitability, the present study also assessed the excitability of the H-reflex in the forearm muscle during both types of stepping. A robotic gait orthosis was used to produce leg stepping movements similar to those of normal walking. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and H-reflexes were evoked in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle during passive and voluntary stepping. The results showed that FCR MEP amplitudes were significantly enhanced during the mid-stance and terminal-swing phases of voluntary stepping, while there was no significant difference between the phases during passive stepping. Conversely, the FCR H-reflex was suppressed during both voluntary and passive stepping, compared to the standing condition. The present results demonstrated that voluntary commands to leg muscles, combined with somatosensory inputs, may facilitate corticospinal excitability in the forearm muscle, and that somatosensory inputs during walking play a major role in monosynaptic reflex suppression in forearm muscle.
Laryngeal sensory neuropathy caused by COVID-19: findings using laryngeal electromyography
Authors: Krasnodębska Paulina , Szkiełkowska Agata , Miaśkiewicz Beata
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Laryngeal sensory neuropathy (LSN) is caused by a disorder of the superior laryngeal nerve or the recurrent laryngeal nerve. A diagnosis of LSN should include laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) and laryngovideostroboscopy (LVS). The aim of this study was to characterize the physical and subjective symptoms of neuropathy in patients diagnosed with LSN following COVID-19.

Material and methods

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 6 patients who had recovered from the disease presented to us with LSN symptoms. All patients underwent laryngological and phoniatric examination, objective and subjective voice assessment, and LEMG.

Results

The most common LSN symptom reported by patients was periodic hoarseness of varying severity. Other common symptoms were the sensation of a foreign body in the throat and voice fatigue. Endoscopy often showed functional abnormalities. The LSN patients could be characterized by LEMG recordings, and all showed abnormal activity of the cricothyroid (CT) muscle. The degree of EMG changes in the CT correlated moderately with the severity of dysphonia.

Conclusions

Sensory neuropathy of the larynx may be a long-lasting complication of SARS-COV-2 infection. The severity of EMG neuropathic changes in the CT muscle broadly corresponds to the severity of dysphonia.
Context-dependent alarm responses in wild vervet monkeys
Authors: Deshpande Adwait , van de Waal Erica , Zuberbühler Klaus
Published: March 2023

The alarm calls of nonhuman primates are occasionally cited as functionally equivalent to lexical word meaning in human language. Recently, however, it has become increasingly unlikely that one-to-one relations between alarm call structures and predator categories are the default, mainly because many call types are produced in multiple contexts, requiring more complex notions of meaning. For example, male vervet monkeys produce the same alarm calls during encounters with terrestrial predators and neighbouring groups, suggesting that recipients require additional information to attribute meaning to the calls. We empirically tested the hypothesis that vervet monkeys take contextual information into account when responding to each other's alarm calls. In playback experiments, we exposed subjects to recordings of male alarm barks during actual intergroup encounters (predator unlikely) or when there was no intergroup encounter (predator likely). Subjects responded more strongly in the no intergroup encounter situations, typically associated with discovering a hiding predator, measured in terms of startle responses, vigilance behaviour and gazing towards the presumed caller. We discuss the significance of using contextual information for meaning attribution in nonhuman primate communication.
A survey of automated data augmentation algorithms for deep learning-based image classification tasks
Authors: Yang Zihan , Sinnott Richard O. , Bailey James , Ke Qiuhong
Published: March 2023

In recent years, one of the most popular techniques in the computer vision community has been the deep learning technique. As a data-driven technique, deep model requires enormous amounts of accurately labelled training data, which is often inaccessible in many real-world applications. A data-space solution is Data Augmentation (DA), that can artificially generate new images out of original samples. Image augmentation strategies can vary by dataset, as different data types might require different augmentations to facilitate model training. However, the design of DA policies has been largely decided by the human experts with domain knowledge, which is considered to be highly subjective and error-prone. To mitigate such problem, a novel direction is to automatically learn the image augmentation policies from the given dataset using Automated Data Augmentation (AutoDA) techniques. The goal of AutoDA models is to find the optimal DA policies that can maximize the model performance gains. This survey discusses the underlying reasons of the emergence of AutoDA technology from the perspective of image classification. We identify three key components of a standard AutoDA model: a search space, a search algorithm and an evaluation function. Based on their architecture, we provide a systematic taxonomy of existing image AutoDA approaches. This paper presents the major works in AutoDA field, discussing their pros and cons, and proposing several potential directions for future improvements.
What types of information do pharmacists include in comprehensive medication management review reports? A qualitative content analysis
Authors: Al-Diery Tarik , Freeman Hollie , Page Amy Theresa , Cross Amanda J , Hawthorne Deborah , Lee Kenneth
Published: March 2023

Background

Comprehensive medication management reviews are an established intervention to identify medication-related problems, such as the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications, and under- and over-prescribing. However, the types of information included in written reports of comprehensive medication management reviews, beyond types of medication-related problems, are unknown.

Aim

This study aimed to explore the types of information Australian pharmacists include in their written reports following comprehensive medication management reviews.

Method

Australian consultant pharmacists were invited to upload their 10 most recent written reports of their domiciliary-based comprehensive medication management reviews. A random selection of the reports, stratified by each pharmacist, were included for qualitative content analysis.

Results

Seventy-two de-identified reports from eight consultant pharmacists located in five of the eight Australian States and Territories were included for analysis. From the evaluated reports, four major categories of information were identified: (1) patient details such as date of interview (n = 72, 100%) and medicine history (n = 70, 97%); (2) pharmacist assessment including assessment of the patient (n = 70, 97%), medicines management (n = 68, 94%) and medicine-related issues (n = 60, 83%); (3) pharmacist recommendations, specifically pharmacological recommendations (n = 67, 93%); and (4) patient-centred experiences such as perspectives on medicines (n = 56, 78%). Reporting of patient-centred experiences appeared most variably in the included reports, including patient concerns (n = 38, 53%), willingness for change (n = 27, 38%), patient preferences (n = 13, 18%), and patient goals (n = 7, 10%).

Conclusion

Pharmacists within our study included a wide variety of information in their comprehensive medication management review reports. Aside from medication-related problems, pharmacists commonly provided a holistic assessment of the patients they care for. However, variability across reports has the potential to impact consistent service delivery.
Teleworking in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Weinert Christoph , Weitzel Tim
Published: March 2023

Teleworkers who live and work in the same space are vulnerable to conflicts between personal life and work (LWC). The Covid-19 lockdowns increased the intensity and risk of LWC and changed telework conditions, confronting teleworkers with difficult personal situations and often ill-equipped telework environments. To develop a better understanding of the effects of different LWC dimensions (e.g., time, strain, behavior) on work exhaustion, job satisfaction, routine and innovative job performance and the role of the IT telework environment among teleworkers in the Covid-19 pandemic, a research model based on a sample of 249 teleworkers was developed and validated. The findings show that LWC has adverse effects on job outcomes and that the IT telework environment moderates these effects. The study contributes to the telework and role conflict literature by revealing the essential role of the IT telework environment and by differentiating between routine and innovative job performance among teleworkers.
State estimation for delayed genetic regulatory networks with reaction diffusion terms and Markovian jump
Authors: Zou Chengye , Zhou Changjun , Zhang Qiang , He Xinyu , Huang Chun
Published: March 2023

Robust state estimation for delayed genetic regulatory networks with reaction–diffusion terms and uncertainties terms under Dirichlet boundary conditions is addressed in this article. The main purpose of the problem investigation is to design a novel state observer for estimate the true concentrations of mRNA and protein by available measurement outputs. Based on Lyapunov–Krasovskii functions and linear matrix inequalities (LMI), sufficient conditions are given to ensure the robust stability of the estimation error networks. Two examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Calotropis gigantea Fiber-Based Sensitivity-Tunable Strain Sensors with Insensitive Response to Wearable Microclimate Changes
Authors: Zhang Junze , Liu Jing , Zhao Zeyu , Sun Weiwei , Zhao Gaojuan , Liu Jingge , Xu Jianchu , Li Yuling , Liu Zekun , Li Yi , Li Gang
Published: March 2023

Wearable tensile strain sensors have attracted substantial research interest due to their great potential in applications for the real-time detection of human motion and health through the construction of body-sensing networks. Conventional devices, however, are constantly demonstrated in non-real world scenarios, where changes in body temperature and humidity are ignored, which results in questionable sensing accuracy and reliability in practical applications. In this work, a fabric-like strain sensor is developed by fabricating graphene-modified Calotropis gigantea yarn and elastic yarn (i.e. Spandex) into an independently crossed structure, enabling the sensor with tunable sensitivity by directly altering the sensor width. The sensor possesses excellent breathability, allowing water vapor generated by body skin to be discharged into the environment (the water evaporation rate is approximately 2.03 kg m−2 h−1) and creating a pleasing microenvironment between the sensor and the skin by avoiding the hindering of perspiration release. More importantly, the sensor is shown to have a sensing stability towards changes in temperature and humidity, implementing sensing reliability against complex and changeable wearable microclimate. By wearing the sensor at various locations of the human body, a full-range body area sensing network for monitoring various body movements and vital signs, such as speaking, coughing, breathing and walking, is successfully demonstrated. It provides a new route for achieving wearing-comfortable, high-performance and sensing-reliable strain sensors.

Graphical Abstract
Ein Moses und sein Josua
Authors: Fitzek Herbert
Published: March 2023

Die Gründungsgeschichte der Psychoanalyse ist entscheidend geprägt durch das Arbeitsbündnis von Sigmund Freud und C.G. Jung, das zwischen 1906 und 1913 einen stürmischen Verlauf von persönlicher Attraktivität über effiziente Zusammenarbeit bis zur schmerzlichen Enttäuschung von Erwartungen und endgültigem Bruch miteinander nahm. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Missstimmungen zwischen den beiden Integrationsfiguren der frühen Tiefenpsychologie nicht in erster Linie durch konzeptuelle Differenzen entstanden: Beide kamen sich auf dem Gebiet einer tiefenpsychologisch fundierten Kulturpsychologie in den Jahren ihrer Freundschaft näher und lernten individuelle psychische Konflikte als Ausdruck historischer kultureller Problemkonstellationen zu lesen, wie sie in Mythen und Märchen verhandelt werden. Auch die persönliche Nähe zwischen Lehrer (Freud) und Schüler (Jung) führte nicht als solche zu einer wachsenden Rivalität und Entfremdung. Vielmehr interpretierten beide die Art ihrer Beziehung zueinander und die daraus erwachsenden Herausforderungen auf fatal unterschiedliche Art und Weise, wie an der Wahl ihrer Beispiele für ödipale Beziehungen im Briefwechsel und gleichzeitig entstehenden Werken gezeigt werden kann. Dass Freud sich in der alttestamentarischen Figur des „Moses“ wiederfand, ist bekannt – Jung sah er von da aus als „Josua“ an seiner Seite. Da passte etwas nicht und Jung antwortete bewusst oder unbewusst mit einem Bild aus dem neuen Testament, das Freud wiederum nicht behagen konnte …
Law and Precarity
Authors: Nguyen Tu Phuong
Published: March 2023

Why do some people invoke the law (or resist it) as a way to solve their problems and achieve more stability in life, only to end up in another challenging and uncertain situation? This book offers an original understanding of the important, but understudied, paradoxical effects of law on the survival strategies of Vietnamese people who are caught to live and work in precarious circumstances. It demonstrates how precarity influences the way people perceive, engage with, or resist the law; yet law, at the same time, creates and reinforces such a condition. Understanding the mutually reinforcing relationship between law and precarity sheds a new light on the way law enables individuals to better their condition but ultimately makes matters worse rather than better. This book will be of interest to researchers and students of law and society, political economy, anthropology, and Asian studies.
Explaining Tonality
Authors: Brown Matthew
Published: March 2023

A defense of Schenkerian analysis of tonality in music.
Radical Nostalgia
Authors: Glazer Peter
Published: March 2023

A detailed history of the commemorations of US activist involvement in the Spanish Civil War, based on a combination of archival and ethnographic evidence.
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Has COVID-19 Changed American Attitudes?
Authors: Warren May Linnea , Yeung Douglas , Bugliari Delia , Chandra Anita
Published: March 2023

Objective:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and future pandemics have become a reality, and planners must understand how attitudes during COVID-19 may influence future preparedness activities. This study explores how personal experiences of Americans during the pandemic, attitudes about institutions, and views of social change could either pose challenges or help with planning for the next pandemic.

Methods:

A longitudinal survey capturing health attitudes and COVD-19-related experiences was fielded 3 times over the course of the pandemic among historically underserved individuals in US society (racial/ethnic minority and low-income populations).

Results:

COVID-19-related experiences increased over time. Attitudes about federal and state government and businesses’ ability to respond to the pandemic varied by COVID-19-related experience and having any COVID-19-related experience was associated with a lower likelihood of reporting positive attitudes about institutions. Respondents generally perceived that COVID-19 presented an opportunity for positive social change, and those with COVID-19-related experiences had the greatest likelihood of selecting “reduce income inequality” as their top prioritized change. Those with COVID-19-related experiences were less likely to endorse other policy priorities such as protecting freedoms.

Conclusions:

Anticipating potential backlash or other sentiments could improve pandemic responsiveness. Strengthening public institutions is crucial to ensuring their effectiveness during a pandemic. Pandemic planning could exploit opportunities to take other social policy actions where views seem to converge.
Military ad hoc coalitions and functional differentiation in inter-organisational relations
Authors: Brosig Malte
Published: March 2023

The emergence of military ad hoc coalitions (AHCs) in Africa as a tool for conflict management outside established institutional frameworks brings about a number of questions: are they undermining existing security structures such as the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) or are they contributing to further regime complexity? In order to answer these questions, the article applies the logic of functional differentiation as it is used in the literature on regime complexity and inter-organisational studies. Scope conditions are developed exploring when and how functional differentiation operates and what consequences it brings about for interacting institutions. Empirically the example of military ad hoc coalitions in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel is at the centre of analysis. It will be argued that ad hoc coalitions are part of a functionally differentiated system response within the African Security Regime Complex and not in direct competition to the APSA.
MicroRNAs in cancer metastasis: biological and therapeutic implications
Authors: Sell Marie C. , Ramlogan-Steel Charmaine A. , Steel Jason C. , Dhungel Bijay P.
Published: March 2023

Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. The seeding of primary tumours at a secondary site is a highly inefficient process requiring substantial alterations in the genetic architecture of cancer cells. These alterations include significant changes in global gene expression patterns. MicroRNAs are small, non-protein coding RNAs which play a central role in regulating gene expression. Here, we focus on microRNA determinants of cancer metastasis and examine microRNA dysregulation in metastatic cancer cells. We dissect the metastatic process in a step-wise manner and summarise the involvement of microRNAs at each step. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of different microRNA-based strategies that have been used to target metastasis in pre-clinical models. Finally, we highlight current clinical trials that use microRNA-based therapies to target advanced or metastatic tumours.
Facilitating transition from maternity leave to work for working mothers: A self-efficacy intervention study
Authors: Kokubo Akiko , Yoshikawa Katsuhiko , Wu Chia-Huei
Published: March 2023

The return from maternity leave to work is a critical career transition period for working mothers. To help their readaptation to work, we developed and examined a training program for cultivating their work–family balance self-efficacy in a pretest–posttest design and investigated the time-lagged effect of the boosted self-efficacy on their employment attitude and in-role performance after they returned to work. Data were collected from 100 maternity leave takers from 16 companies in Japan before the training (Time 1), immediately after it (Time 2) and 6 months after returning to work (Time 3), and from their supervisors at Time 3. We found that maternity leave takers displayed an increase in work–life balance self-efficacy after the training. We also found that work–life balance self-efficacy after the training (Time 2) predicted the participants’ in-role performance (Time 3) reported by their supervisors, but not employment attitude reported by the participants (Time 3). Our study thus offers preliminary evidence supporting the effectiveness of the training program in helping maternity leave takers’ readaptation to work, potentially supplementing existing family-friendly policies.
Benthic infauna associated with a shallow-water hydrothermal system of Punta Mita (Mexico)
Authors: Rodríguez-Uribe M. C. , Núñez-Cornú F. J. , Prol-Ledesma R. M. , Salazar-Silva P.
Published: March 2023

The shallow-water hydrothermal system of Punta Mita in Banderas Bay is located on the fault called Fisura de las Coronas off Punta Pantoque beach. In this area, three sites with hydrothermal vents were studied at a depth of 9 m. This study aimed to characterize the structure of the benthic infauna communities that coexist in this hydrothermal system; therefore, physicochemical parameters were measured and the organisms found in the sediment samples were identified up to the class taxonomic level. The highest temperatures (89°C) were recorded within the hydrothermal influence area, which was reflected in an inverse relationship with pH, conductivity and salinity. Sediment temperature profiles increased at greater depth. A total of 371 individuals were found and these were grouped into eight classes: Malacostraca, Maxillopoda, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Polychaeta, Leptocardii and Stenolaemata. The Malacostraca class was the most abundant with 240 individuals, while the Scaphopoda was the lowest with 3. The organic matter contents in the sediments were higher in the areas adjacent to the hydrothermal activity. The high temperature of the hydrothermal discharges structures the benthic community since it was the factor that differed most significantly in the study sites, causing lower abundances in the area of hydrothermal influence compared with the more distant areas. Despite the above, it is concluded that the benthic community of the area with hydrothermal activity is part of the community adjacent to this influence, only in lower numbers.
Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish EFL teachers’ perceptions on the use of OER language processing technologies in MALL: A replication study
Authors: Kic-Drgas Joanna , Seferoğlu Gölge , Kılıçkaya Ferit , Pereira Ricardo
Published: March 2023

This study replicates the research conducted by Pérez-Paredes, Ordoñana Guillamón and Aguado Jiménez (2018) on language teachers’ perceptions on the use of OER language processing technologies in mobile-assisted language learning. It expands the initial research study by adding Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish educational contexts, surveying 239 English as a foreign language teachers in these three countries. The main findings indicate that there are several differences among the three countries, including institutional support regarding the use of mobile devices and the training provided to the teachers. Based on the data collected in these countries, it was found that mobile devices are mainly used for teaching and learning on online platforms. Smartphones were one of the most used devices in English language teaching, while computer labs at schools seem to have lost their popularity. Regarding the technologies available, the results of the study reveal that the participants are most familiar with online dictionaries, spell checkers, and online collocation dictionaries, and the participants’ qualifications are linked to certain differences in familiarity and use of technologies in the classroom. Variables such as gender, age, and years of experience do not show any difference in the familiarity or frequency of use of those technologies. The main findings of the study point out the importance of institutional support and training regarding the use of mobile devices and open educational resources, which are no longer a choice but a necessity in education.
The ESBW Short Scale
Authors: Müser Sinja , Fleischer Jens , Kunina-Habenicht Olga , Leutner Detlev
Published: March 2023

Abstract: Teacher students’ professional educational knowledge is of great importance in academic teacher education. In response to the need to continuously optimize and improve teacher education, we developed a standards-based test instrument designed along the Standards of Teacher Education of the German education administration. The so-called ESBW (Essen Test for the Assessment of Standards-Based Educational Knowledge) is intended to assess educational knowledge as it is defined in these standards. This Brief Report aims to investigate whether the ESBW, as an exclusively standards-based developed test, can empirically be distinguished from a similar, but non-originally standards-based developed test, here the BilWiss 2.0 test, which also partially covers the standards. Competing structural equation models based on a study with 216 teacher students revealed that the ESBW short scale can be empirically distinguished from the BilWiss 2.0 short version, indicating that both instruments partly measure different aspects of educational knowledge. In addition, the examination of measurement invariance revealed that the ESBW performed similarly well for both beginning and advanced teacher students. Thus, our results further underline the usefulness of the ESBW for the assessment and evaluation of the German Standards of Teacher Education.
Apparently Seasonal Variations of the Seawater Sr/Ca Ratio Across the Florida Keys Reef Tract
Authors: Khare Agraj , Hughes Hunter P. , Schijf Johan , Kilbourne K. Halimeda
Published: March 2023

A 4‐year time‐series of surface seawater Sr/Ca ratios was assembled across a section of the Florida Keys Reef Tract, in order to uncover any variability that might explain previously reported anomalies in regional calibrations of the coral aragonite Sr/Ca paleotemperature proxy. Samples were collected semiannually on a grid of 54 sites, from September of 2016 until January of 2020. The 325‐km2 grid extended from the ocean shore to the forereef wall and from the east end of Long Key to the west end of Marathon. A novel ICP‐AES method was used to measure the Sr/Ca ratio, with ratio calibration and normalization against an in‐house seawater reference, yielding a long‐term precision of better than 0.2%. Significant variations (2%–3%) of the seawater Sr/Ca ratio were found. While it was relatively constant offshore, near the coast the ratio alternated seasonally between higher and lower values, generally resulting in seaward Sr/Ca gradients that were markedly negative in summer but reversed in winter. Inshore seawater Sr/Ca ratios ranged from a summer high of 8.83 mmol/mol to a winter low of 8.54 mmol/mol, the difference corresponding to a potential bias of ∼5.5°C in terms of the coral Sr/Ca paleotemperature proxy. This seasonal variation should diminish the slope of empirical Sr/Ca–SST calibration lines, as has indeed been observed in prior studies with local coral species. Open ocean samples obtained from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific enlarge the published Sr/Ca data set for surface seawater and show a much smaller variability of 8.646 ± 0.018 mmol/mol (0.2%).
U.S. Public Water Supply Is a Local Source of Phosphorus Pollution
Authors: Fritts Rachel
Published: March 2023

Excess phosphorus may reach U.S. rivers, lakes, and groundwater through water main leaks and outdoor water use.
Therapy-related MDS dissected based on primary disease and treatment—a nationwide perspective
Authors: Moreno Berggren Daniel , Garelius Hege , Willner Hjelm Petter , Nilsson Lars , Rasmussen Bengt , Weibull Caroline E. , Lambe Mats , Lehmann Sören , Hellström-Lindberg Eva , Jädersten Martin , Ejerblad Elisabeth
Published: March 2023

In this population-based study, we aimed to characterize and compare subgroups of therapy-related Myelodysplastic syndromes (t-MDS) and define the implications of type of previous treatment and primary disease. We combined data from MDS patients, diagnosed between 2009 and 2017 (n = 2705), in the nationwide Swedish MDS register, with several health registers. Furthermore, using matched population controls, we investigated the prevalence of antecedent malignancies in MDS patients in comparison with the general population. This first ever nationwide study on t-MDS confirms a shorter median survival for t-MDS compared to de novo MDS (15.8 months vs 31.1 months, p < 0.001). T-MDS patients previously treated with radiation only had disease characteristics with a striking resemblance to de novo-MDS, in sharp contrast to patients treated with chemotherapy who had a significantly higher risk profile. IPSS-R and the WHO classification differentiated t-MDS into different risk groups. As compared with controls, MDS patients had a six-fold increased prevalence of a previous hematological malignancy but only a 34% increased prevalence of a previous solid tumor. T-MDS patients with a previous hematological malignancy had a dismal prognosis, due both to mortality related to their primary disease and to high-risk MDS.