bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Providing vouchers and value information for already free eye exams increases uptake among a low‐income minority population: A randomized trial
Authors: Kacker Seema , Macis Mario , Gajwani Prateek , Friedman David S.
Published: December 2021

We study whether vouchers without and with value information encourage attendance of already free follow‐up appointments among low‐income minority individuals referred for evaluation of possible eye disease. Between May 2017 and September 2018, 821 individuals referred from 114 screening events across Baltimore City were offered (1) standard referral for a free follow‐up appointment and prescription glasses, (2) a paper voucher described as redeemable for free follow‐up and prescription glasses, or (3) an otherwise identical paper voucher which also indicated the monetary value of the appointment ($250). Under all three conditions, all referred individuals received the same patient education, counseling, and appointment reminders. We find that vouchers without and with value information increase follow‐up by 12.5 and 20.3 percentage points, respectively, corresponding to a 36% and 58% increase compared to the standard referral for free follow‐up (i.e., without a voucher). We conclude that using vouchers is a promising, low‐cost approach to increase uptake of already free health services, particularly when the vouchers also provide value information.
London taxi drivers: A review of neurocognitive studies and an exploration of how they build their cognitive map of London
Authors: Griesbauer Eva‐Maria , Manley Ed , Wiener Jan M. , Spiers Hugo J.
Published: December 2021

Licensed London taxi drivers have been found to show changes in the gray matter density of their hippocampus over the course of training and decades of navigation in London (UK). This has been linked to their learning and using of the “Knowledge of London,” the names and layout of over 26,000 streets and thousands of points of interest in London. Here we review past behavioral and neuroimaging studies of London taxi drivers, covering the structural differences in hippocampal gray matter density and brain dynamics associated with navigating London. We examine the process by which they learn the layout of London, detailing the key learning steps: systematic study of maps, travel on selected overlapping routes, the mental visualization of places and the optimal use of subgoals. Our analysis provides the first map of the street network covered by the routes used to learn the network, allowing insight into where there are gaps in this network. The methods described could be widely applied to aid spatial learning in the general population and may provide insights for artificial intelligence systems to efficiently learn new environments.
A case of complete response following the administration of pembrolizumab and metastasectomy for lung and bone metastases of bladder cancer
Authors: Nakasato Takehiko , Inoue Tatsuki , Kato Ryosuke , Nakagami Yoshihiro , Oshinomi Kazuhiko , Maeda Yoshiko , Morita Jun , Shichijo Takeshi , Yamochi Toshiko , Fukagai Takashi
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma have poor prognosis and limited treatment options.

Case presentation

The patient was a 60‐year‐old male with bladder cancer and multiple lung metastases. He underwent three courses of gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy, despite left femoral bone metastases. Tumor resection and bone replacement surgery was performed. Following the administration of four courses of pembrolizumab, lung metastasis completely resolved. However, after nine courses, right femoral neck bone metastasis was observed; therefore, tumor resection and bone replacement surgery were repeated. Pathologically, PD‐L1 expression was low in lung biopsy tissue and bone metastases. Pembrolizumab treatment continued for up to 20 courses; cancer recurrence and adverse events were not observed upon follow‐up examination after 1 year.

Conclusion

Patients responding well to systemic therapy may have resectable metastatic sites, and long‐term survival might be achieved with adjunctive metastasectomy. The effect of pembrolizumab was not associated with positive PD‐L1 expression.
Automatic detection of eardrum otoendoscopic images in patients with otitis media using hybrid‐based deep models
Authors: Eroğlu Orkun , Yildirim Muhammed
Published: December 2021

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is fluid accumulation in the middle ear without signs of systemic infection. OME can cause hearing loss, ear fullness, speech retardation, and a decrease in social relations and school success. In the treatment of OME, methods such as medical treatment and placing a tympanostomy tube in the eardrum are used. Correct evaluation of the eardrum is necessary to diagnose OME and follow‐up properly in the following period. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the otoendoscopic images of the eardrum in patients with otitis media with effusion using deep models. In the proposed model, Efficientnetb0, Darknet53, and Densenet201 architectures are used as the base. The feature maps obtained using these architectures are combined. In this way, different features of the otoendoscopic images of the eardrum in the data set were extracted and combined using different architectures. neighborhood component analysis optimization technique is used to select important features from the combined feature maps. By using this optimization method, the size of feature maps is reduced. In this way, the model is trained faster, and the testing process is carried out in a shorter time. When these features are classified in different classifiers, the model we propose has the most successful average accuracy value of 94.27% in the SVM classifier.
Guide to physiotherapy and rehabilitation of cats
Authors: Box Emma
Published: December 2021

Background: Veterinary physiotherapy involves restoring a patient's movement and function following an injury, illness or trauma. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the application of physiotherapy to small animals; however, it is still often overlooked for cats. Cats are not accustomed to regular handling or restraint and tend to become impatient and bored quickly, which means they are perceived as poor candidates for physiotherapy referral. However, many feline conditions do benefit from rehabilitation.

Aim of the article: This article explores the application of physiotherapy techniques to feline patients, highlighting how rehabilitative exercises can be adapted so that they are suitable for cats.
How to protect your practice from cybercriminals
Authors: Latham Clint
Published: December 2021

There has been a recent surge in cyberattacks against veterinary practices, which has left many reeling in losses and sending wake‐up calls to others in the industry that their practices might be next. This article explains the different forms of cyberattacks that are aimed at veterinary practices, and gives some useful cybersecurity tips to follow to prevent them.
Identification, frequency of occurrence, and inoculum density of select ectotrophic root‐infecting fungi within ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass greens in Mississippi
Authors: Tucker Matthew A. , Bronzato‐Badial Aline , King Jonas , McCurdy James D. , Vines Phillip L. , Tomaso‐Peterson Maria
Published: December 2021

Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis (Sacc.) Arx & Oliver was described as a pathogen of bermudagrass decline [takeall root rot (TARR)]; however, recent studies have reported that multiple ectotrophic root‐infecting (ERI) fungi are associated with root rot in ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass (UDHB) [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy] putting greens. This study surveyed UDHB roots from a healthy and a TARR‐symptomatic green. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction multiplex assays facilitated the rapid identification and quantification of four ERI fungi: G. graminis, G. nanograminis P.L Vines & M. Tom.‐Pet., Magnaporthiopsis cynodontis P.L Vines & M. Tom.‐Pet., and Candidacolonium cynodontis P.L Vines & M. Tom.‐Pet. Gaeumannomyces nanograminis was identified more frequently than G. graminis in roots from the healthy green and had the greatest inoculum density in 2018. In contrast, G. graminis was identified in 80% more root samples than G. nanograminis in the TARR‐symptomatic green in 2017, and the inoculum density of G. graminis was >2 M DNA copies per 2‐µl DNA sample. Magnaporthiopsis cynodontis was the predominant fungus in both greens throughout the study; however, its inoculum density was the lowest among all four ERI fungi. Two or more ERI fungi were frequently identified as co‐colonizing UDHB roots. This study showed that multiple ERI pathogens were widely distributed throughout the roots of two UDHB greens regardless of symptom expression and confirmed that ERI complexes co‐colonize UDHB roots. This is the first study documenting the widespread occurrence and inoculum density levels of multiple ERI fungi colonizing UDHB roots.
On multichromatic numbers of widely colorable graphs
Authors: Gujgiczer Anna , Simonyi Gábor
Published: December 2021

A coloring is called ‐wide if no walk of length connects vertices of the same color. A graph is ‐widely colorable with colors if and only if it admits a homomorphism into a universal graph . Tardif observed that the value of the multichromatic number of these graphs is at least and equality holds for . He asked whether there is equality also for . We show that for all thereby answering Tardif's question. We observe that for large (with respect to and fixed) we cannot have equality and that for fixed and going to infinity the fractional chromatic number of also tends to infinity. The latter is a simple consequence of another result of Tardif on the fractional chromatic number of generalized Mycielski graphs.
Overcoming multidrug resistance by knockout of ABCB1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 system in SW620/Ad300 colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Lei Zi‐Ning , Teng Qiu‐Xu , Wu Zhuo‐Xun , Ping Feng‐Feng , Song Peng , Wurpel John N.D. , Chen Zhe‐Sheng
Published: December 2021

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been extensively reported in colorectal cancer patients, which remains a major cause of chemotherapy failure. One of the critical mechanisms of MDR in colorectal cancer is the reduced intracellular drug level led by the upregulated expression of the ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly, ABCB1/P‐gp. In this study, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was utilized to target ABCB1 in MDR colorectal cancer SW620/Ad300 cell line with ABCB1 overexpression. The results showed that stable knockout of ABCB1 gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 system was achieved in the MDR cancer cells. Reversal of MDR against ABCB1 chemotherapeutic drugs increased intracellular accumulation of [3H]‐paclitaxel accumulation, and decreased drug efflux activity was observed in MDR SW620/Ad300 cells after ABCB1 gene knockout. Further tests using the 3D multicellular tumor spheroid model suggested that deficiency in ABCB1 restrained tumor spheroid growth and restore sensitivity to paclitaxel in MDR tumor spheroids. Overall, the CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting the ABCB1 gene can be an effective approach to overcome ABCB1‐mediated MDR in colorectal cancer SW620/Ad300 cells.
Bill would fund hiring of school counselors, social workers, psychologists
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2021

Less than a week after the U.S. surgeon general's issuance of a public health advisory to provide recommendations on addressing mental health challenges confronting children, adolescents and young adults (see MHW, Dec. 13), Senate lawmakers have introduced what observers say may provide some solution: legislation to boost the availability of mental health resources and investments in more mental health providers in public schools.
App for SMI population to create crisis plan wins mobile award
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: December 2021

Giving individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) an active role in their own care is the goal behind a mobile app that lets them clearly state treatment preferences, decide who can make decisions on their behalf and share a crisis plan with doctors and other members of the care team.
A novel biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate) with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties by incorporating tannic acid
Authors: Yang Jianing , Zhang Xuhui , Li Ting , Wang Yang , Xia Bihua , Jiang Jie , Chen Mingqing , Dong Weifu
Published: December 2021

It is a challenge to simultaneously enhance the thermo‐oxidative stability, mechanical properties and biodegradability of biodegradable polymer. In this work, by incorporating tannin acid, a natural compound with polyphenol hydroxyl, a biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) with improved thermo‐oxidative stability and biodegradability was successfully prepared. Besides, due to the existence of plentiful hydrogen bond between PPC and tannic acid (TA), the composite exhibits an obviously improved Young's modulus and yield strength while retaining a high break strain (>350%). The improved comprehensive properties should be ascribed to the abundant polyphenol hydroxyl in TA, which can consume oxygen, enhance the hydrophilia of PPC/TA composites and constructing plentiful hydrogen bond with PPC. We envision that this work offers a facile route to prepare PPC with high thermo‐oxidative stability, mechanical properties, and biodegradability, and will promote the practical use of PPC.
Adverse childhood experiences in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Pernell Brandi , Nagalapuram Vishnu , Lebensburger Jeffrey , Lin Chee Paul , Baskin Monica L. , Pachter Lee M.
Published: December 2021

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to poor health outcomes; however, the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes among children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) has limited documentation in the published literature.

Procedure

This retrospective cohort study involved 45 children and 30 adolescents. Participants were screened using the Center for Youth Wellness ACE Questionnaire. Parents completed the questionnaire for children. Adolescents provided self‐report. ACEs were treated as continuous and categorical scales: 0–1 verus ≥2 original ACEs (individual and/or familial level); 0–1 versus ≥2 additional ACEs (community level); and 0–3 versus ≥4 expanded ACEs (original + additional). Pain and acute chest syndrome events were compared using Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests, and correlated with cumulative ACE scores using Spearman's correlation. Multivariable models were fitted to examine the association between ACEs and pain/acute chest syndrome.

Results

The cumulative number of original ACEs positively correlated with acute chest syndrome events (rho = .53, p = .003) and pain (rho = .40, p = .028) among adolescents. Adolescents with ≥2 versus 0–1 original ACEs had a higher number of acute chest syndrome events (4.9 ± 2.6 vs. 1.6 ± 2.2, p = .002); however, this association was confounded by asthma. Acute chest syndrome events and hospitalizations for pain did not differ among child ACE groups. Emergency department (ED) pain visits were higher among children with ≥4 versus 0–3 expanded ACEs (1.6 ± 2.8 vs. 3.3 ± 3.2, p = .042), even after controlling for SCD genotype, asthma, disease‐modifying treatment, and follow‐up years (p = .027).

Conclusion

ACEs are linked to increased morbidity among children and adolescents with SCD. Prospective studies are needed to further understand this relationship and test ACE‐protective remedies.
Ultra‐stretchable, fast self‐healing, conductive hydrogels for writing circuits and magnetic sensors
Authors: Wei Duanli , Zhu Jiaqing , Luo Licheng , Huang Huabo , Li Liang , Yu Xianghua
Published: December 2021

Functional hydrogels are promising in various fields such as sensors, portable devices and flexible electronics. However, it is still a challenge to prepare a multifunctional hydrogel with conductivity and magnetism, as well as a variety of excellent properties. In the work reported, MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were first loaded on polypyrrole (PPy) nanotubes using a chemical co‐precipitation method. By incorporating PPy/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), PVA‐PPy/MnFe2O4 (PPM) hydrogels were successfully prepared with the aid of borax. These hydrogels are not only ultra‐stretchable (over 1100%) and re‐moldable, but also conductive and magnetic. Moreover, the hydrogels can self‐heal within 15 s in air and 30 s in water, and adhere to various substrates repeatedly. A sensor based on the PPM hydrogel exhibits excellent performance in real‐time monitoring of magnetic field attraction and is reusable. The hydrogels can be further applied to touch‐screen pens. This work provides new opportunities for the rational design of other multifunctional hydrogels for potential applications in flexible sensors, wearable devices and health monitoring. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Hydrophobic association and ionic coordination dual crossed‐linked conductive hydrogels with self‐adhesive and self‐healing virtues for conformal strain sensors
Authors: Zeng Runpeng , Qi Chuyi , Lu Shuxin , Xu Jinbao , Zhao Chen , Dong Zhixian , Lei Caihong
Published: December 2021

As a promising functional material, conductive hydrogel has attracted extensive attention, especially in flexible sensor field. Despite the recent developments, current hydrogels still experience several issues, such as limited stretchability, lack of self‐recovery and self‐healing capability, and insufficient self‐adhesion. Herein, dual cross‐linked (DC) poly (AA‐co‐LMA)SDS/Fe3+ hydrogels are fabricated subtly on the basis of ionic coordination interactions and the poly (AA‐co‐LMA)SDS hydrophobic association networks, which may provide one plausible routine to compensate the mentioned drawback of hydrogels. The hydrophobic association and ionic coordination networks work synergistically to endow the hydrogels remarkable stretchability (>1200%), high‐fracture strength (≈ 820 kPa), and excellent self‐healing capability. In addition, the DC hydrogel‐based strain sensors displayed a broad sensing range (0 ∼ 900%), conspicuous sensitivity (strain 0% ∼ 200%, gauge factor = 0.53; strain 200% ∼ 500%, gauge factor = 1.23; strain 500% ∼ 900%, gauge factor = 2.09), and pronounced durability. What's more, the self‐adhesive feature ensures the strain sensor always forming a good conformal contact with the skin during human movements and displaying remarkable bidirectional detection capability.
Design of glass containers for submarine carbon storage
Authors: Fu Cheng , Cefis Nicola , Cremonesi Massimiliano , Perego Umberto , Caserini Stefano , Grosso Mario
Published: December 2021

This work deals with the preliminary design of glass containers to be deposited on the seabed at 2000 m depth after being filled with liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) at a pressure of 10 MPa. The specific purpose is to provide preliminary structural analyses of the containers to be employed in a novel patent CO2 storage method called confined submarine carbon storage (CSCS). The core steps of the CSCS technology are the container manufacturing and filling with high‐pressure liquid CO2. Consequently, the container geometry, material properties and structural response are the most critical aspects in the container design. Due to the low cost and to the high stability in salty environment, glass has been identified as a suitable material for the CSCS technology. Furthermore, the high compressive resistance allows glass containers to be deposited on the seabed where the external water pressure exceeds the internal pressure of liquefied carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the limited tensile resistance of glass requires a careful shape design. The glass containers have to be designed to withstand stresses generated during their entire working life. This includes CO2 filling, the launching, the impact with the seabed and the final piling up and stacking of a huge number of containers. Finite element analyses have been performed in order to define the container shape, conjugating an acceptable storage capacity with a safe mechanical response during both the filling and deposition phases.
Simultaneous quantitative analysis of seven steroid hormones in human saliva: A novel method based on O‐ethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride as derivatization reagent
Authors: Xu Bin , Jia Pengfei , Cai Jun , Gu Lidong , Yan Huaxiao , Zhao Hui , Qin Song
Published: December 2021

Rationale

Saliva has been widely accepted as a more convenient alternative to serum or plasma in the field of clinical diagnosis. However, the detection of trace components in saliva has been a bottleneck problem. The aim of this work was to develop a highly sensitive and reliable method for simultaneously determining the trace steroid hormones including some with poor ionization efficiency in human saliva by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS).

Methods

Saliva was deproteinated by acetonitrile containing mixed isotope internal standards and extracted with methyl tert‐butyl ether. The extraction solution was dried under a stream of nitrogen and the residue was derivatized using 50 mM O‐ethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride in 80% methanol/water solution (v/v). The processed sample was determined by LC/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.

Results

The method was successfully established for the simultaneous quantification of seven steroid hormones in human saliva and showed excellent specificity and sensitivity. The limits of quantification (LOQs) of all steroid hormones were below 5 pg/mL, in particular, the LOQ of progesterone was as low as 0.15 pg/mL. The linear correlation coefficients (r) were greater than 0.9990 in the range of 2–200 pg/mL for T, DHEA, A4, P4, P5, and 17OHP4 and in the range of 5–500 pg/mL for 17OHP5. The intra‐day and inter‐day variability ranged from 1.86% to 7.83% and 1.95% to 10.4%, respectively. The recovery of the method ranged from 86.9% to 111.1% for all steroid hormones using three spiked concentrations.

Conclusions

A novel LC/MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of seven kinds of trace steroid hormones in human saliva. The results of the methodological study showed that the method exhibited excellent sensitivity and reliability for the evaluation of free steroid hormones in the human body. It is believed that this method could provide useful information of steroid hormone metabolism for auxiliary diagnosis of some endocrine disorders.
A case of effective intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy against severe COVID‐19 infection after arteriovenous graft surgery
Authors: Kamata Sokichi , Hamanaka Souhei , Tsukamoto Jin , Tsuchimoto Teppei , Fujiwara Kiyohiro , Okamura Mikio
Published: December 2021

Perioperative COVID‐19 infections in patients suffering from end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) are more likely to become severe, with a high mortality rate, than those in other patients. For such patients, corticosteroid therapy is one of the limited number of treatment options. We experienced a case of ESRD in which COVID‐19 infection immediately followed arteriovenous graft surgery. Although the respiratory condition deteriorated following dexamethasone administration, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (pulse therapy) improved it dramatically, suggesting that pulse therapy may be effective against severe COVID‐19 infection in patients suffering from ESRD.
Sole possession notes redux
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: December 2021

It has been 17 years since I wrote a column on sole possession notes. And I thought that we had put that issue to bed long ago. However, there has been a spate of questions on scr‐l, reg‐l, and from my email recently on the topic and how it relates to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act compliance. These messages suggest that this topic is still misunderstood.
Anti‐inflammatory activity of arctigenin against PCV2 infection in a mouse model
Authors: Wu Lijun , Chen Jie , Zhou Danna , Chen Runshan , Chen Xiabing , Shao Zhiyong , Yang Wenhai , He Bin
Published: December 2021

Arctigenin (ACT) is a novel anti‐inflammatory lignan extracted from Arctium lappa L, a herb commonly used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism whereby ACT inhibits PCV2 infection‐induced proinflammatory cytokine production in vitro and in vivo. We observed that in PCV2 infection+ACT treated PK‐15 cells, proinflammatory cytokine production was significantly reduced, compared to the PCV2‐infected cells. The transfection and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that ACT suppressed NF‐κB signalling pathway activation following PCV2 infection in PK‐15 cells. Furthermore, western blotting demonstrated that ACT suppressed the NF‐κB signal pathway in PCV2 infection‐stimulated PK‐15 cells by inhibiting the translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and IκBα phosphorylation. BALB/c mice were used as a model to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effect of ACT in vivo. We found that the BALB/c mice inoculated with PCV2 infection + ACT treated showed a significant reduction of proinflammatory cytokine production in serum, lung and spleen tissue, compared to the PCV2‐infected mice. Western blotting confirmed that ACT suppressed the NF‐κB signal pathway in PCV2‐infected mice by inhibiting the translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and IκBα phosphorylation in lung tissue. Our studies first demonstrate that ACT inhibits PCV2 infection‐induced proinflammatory cytokine production by suppressing the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF‐κB in vitro and in vivo. These results will help further develop ACT as a Traditional Chinese herbal medicine remedy in the treatment of porcine circovirus‐associated diseases.
Scaly leg due to Knemidokoptes sp. in a bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula): Common is common, but keep an open mind for new findings!
Authors: Bianco Carlo , Fenemore Caroline , Cafiso Alessandra , Everest Dave , Schock Alexandra
Published: December 2021

An adult, male bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) underwent a postmortem examination for proliferative leg lesions. A mobile mite, Mesalgoides pyrrhulinus, was detected from skin scrapings. The histopathology and molecular testing identified Knemidokoptes sp. We herein highlight the importance of a rigorous diagnostic workup in cases in which a ‘common’ clinical presentation gives an unexpected test result.
The Institutionalization of Political Science in Small States: A Comparative Analysis of Estonia, Iceland, Malta, and Slovenia
Authors: Hlynsdóttir Eva Marín , Matonytė Irmina
Published: December 2021

The chapter explores the relevance of population size in relation to the internationalization of political science in higher education institutions by comparing the situation in Estonia, Iceland, Malta, and Slovenia. Moreover, the chapter also examines if the legacy of the former communist regime aids or hinders the institutionalization of political science in the higher education of Estonia and Slovenia. The findings suggest there is a north-south effect as the northern States have integrated political science more thoroughly and more easily into their higher education system. Moreover, the findings suggest a tendency for hyper-active internationalization in the states formerly under the communist regime. Finally, smallness proves to be a mixed blessing, although the small states in the study have been able to use their small size to their advantage.
The Adaptation of New Countries to Existing (Old) Institutional Frameworks
Authors: Berndtson Erkki
Published: December 2021

Political science as an independent academic discipline emerged in Europe after the Second World War. Moreover, up until the 1990s, it was mainly a preserve of Western Europe. The discipline began to develop in Central and Eastern Europe only after the 1989/91 political upheavals. When political science was institutionalised as a discipline in Western Europe, it was helped by international organisations such as the International Political Science Association (IPSA) and the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR). It would seem, however, that European cross-national organisations do not currently promote and facilitate European political science successfully, as only a few Central and Eastern European institutions participate fully in international cooperation. The current field of European political science is organisationally fragmented, which makes it difficult to enable new countries to adapt to existing institutional frameworks, and to create an institutionalised pan-European political science discipline. Resolving this problem is vital if European political science is to develop more fully.
Solidarities Across: Borders, Belongings, Movements
Authors: Çağatay Selin , Liinason Mia , Sasunkevich Olga
Published: December 2021

What is the role of affinity, friendship, and care, as well as of conflict and dissonance, in creating possibilities of and hindrances to transnational solidarities? Building on an emergent literature on everyday and affective practices of solidarity, this chapter offers a set of diverse ethnographic accounts of activist work oriented to recognizing and challenging inequalities and relations of oppression based on race, ethnicity, religion, and class, alongside gender and sexuality. Engaging a variety of material from feminist and LGBTI+ activisms, the chapter highlights ambivalences inscribed in the making of collective resilience, resistance, and repair by: First, problematizing activist efforts to build solidarity across geographic and contextual divides; second, highlighting the importance of solidarity as shared labor in challenging state actors and institutions and reversing colonial processes; and third, unpacking the implications of transnational solidarity campaigns in different locales. The chapter ends with reflections on how feminist scholarship can advance conceptualizations of solidarity across difference.
Conclusion
Authors: Çağatay Selin , Liinason Mia , Sasunkevich Olga
Published: December 2021

This chapter revisits the points of departure for the book and approaches Russia, Turkey, and Scandinavia as contested, multiple, ambivalent, and fluid categories. Recognizing the multiple convergences and shifts that have characterized feminist and LGBTI+  resistances throughout this book, the chapter locates these enactments within a broader context of more spectacular, attention-seeking forms of political expression as well as less visible and small-scale, everyday forms of resistance. Within such broader contexts, this chapter argues, it is possible to catch sight of the fluidity between various scales of resistance—individual/collective, micro/meso/macro, local-transnational—which can incite and inspire new practices of resistance. By so doing, it is concluded, these struggles can also be seen to carry hope for more open-ended futures.
Analysis of Spontaneous Ignition of Grass: Chemical Oxidation and Water Vapor Sorption
Authors: Font R.
Published: December 2021

Self-heating of biomass by chemical oxidation, which can cause spontaneous ignition, is a safety and management concern. This process can be accelerated by aerobic fermentation and water vapor sorption. The chemical oxidation and water vapor sorption of grass were studied in a laboratory oven, measuring the variations in weight and the internal temperature of a sphere with grass within a flexible polymeric network. Both processes were simulated to prove that the proposed mathematical model could fit the experimental data. It was observed that the water vapor sorption capacity of the grass was high, so the experimental increase in the internal temperature of a spherical body was around 47 K, from 73°C to 120°C. This fact can be very important because the chemical oxidation of grass accelerates at high temperatures. For scaling, simulation programs were used to study the sorption and oxidation processes with an increase in internal temperature in spherical bodies and infinite plane slabs. These results can be used to obtain those of other geometric symmetries by interpolation. It was deduced that at 70°C and with vapor sorption, the ignition time can be around 3 days to 5 days, while without vapor sorption, the ignition times can be around 110 days to 140 days. For 35°C the ignition times with vapor sorption can be around 12 days to 18 days, while without vapor sorption the ignition times can be around 3700 days to 4500 days. These results can be of interest for warehouses of similar biomass and for forestry research and management groups of wildfires.

Graphical Abstract
Structure and Tribo-Mechanical Properties of MoSx:N:Mo Thin Films Synthesized by Reactive dcMS/HiPIMS
Authors: Tillmann Wolfgang , Wittig Alexandra , Stangier Dominic , Thomann Carl-Arne , Debus Jörg , Aurich Daniel , Brümmer Andreas
Published: December 2021

Modifying MoS2 thin films by additional elements shows great potential in order to adjust the property profile and to meet the increasing requirements regarding high wear resistance and low friction properties of industrial components. Within that context, MoSx:N:Mo thin films were deposited by a reactive hybrid dcMS/HiPIMS process. By systematically increasing the Mo target cathode power, an investigation of the structural and the mechanical properties was conducted to understand the evolution of the tribological behavior. A low Mo target cathode power of 1 kW is related to the formation of the preferential (002) MoS2 basal-plane and thus a low friction with µ = 0.2. With an increasing amount of Mo, the film loses its solid lubricant MoS2 properties and a nitride constitution of the thin film is developing due to the formation of crystalline Mo and MoN phases. Related to this transformation, the hardness and elastic modulus are increased, but the adhesion and the tribological properties are impaired. The film loses its plasticity and the generated film material is directly removed from the contact area during the sliding contact.
Hearing Parents’ Voices: Parental Refusal of Cochlear Implants and the Zone of Parental Discretion
Authors: Bradfield Owen M.
Published: December 2021

It has been forty years since the first multi-channel cochlear implant was used in Australia. While heralded in the hearing world as one of the greatest inventions in modern medicine, not everyone reflects on this achievement with enthusiasm. For many people in the Deaf community, they see the cochlear implant as a tool that reinforces a social construct that pathologizes deafness and removes Deaf identity. In this paper, I set out the main arguments for and against cochlear implantation. While I conclude that, on balance, cochlear implants improve the well-being and broaden the open futures of deaf children, this does not justify mandating implants in circumstances where parents refuse them because this may compound unintended harms when society interferes in the parent-child relationship. For this reason, I argue that parental refusal of cochlear implantation falls within Gillam’s concept of the zone of parental discretion.
Developing Culturally Effective Strategies for Chinese to English Geotourism Translation by Corpus-Based Interdisciplinary Translation Analysis
Authors: Li Qiang , Wu Ruixue , Ng Young
Published: December 2021

As a new field of translation with its own special genre, geotourism has not yet been firmly established because geotourism translations are currently not of a sufficient professional standard. This situation does not provide geotourists with the genre’s full target of enjoyment, learning and engagement through science popularisation tourism activities. In order to better meet these three definitive purposes in geotourism, this study analyses the three basic categories of geotourism—geological features (GFs), geological processes (GPs) and cultural elements (CEs)—to determine effective strategies of geotourism translation from Chinese into English. Challenges in translation include scientific jargon, language style and cultural gaps. In this article, the advantages of Hu’s Eco-translatology theory are explained and used for minimising translation problems; and the corpus linguistics method, superior for quantitative and qualitative analysis, is utilised. As well, digital auxiliary tools Tmxmall (2014) and Sketch Engine (2003) were employed to facilitate corpus research. Through analysis, effective strategies in each of the key geotourism categories, GFs, GPs and CEs, were identified, shaped and recommended for future translators’ attention. In the results, literal translation, transliteration and free translation, addition and use of official UNESCO names were recommended to render GFs. Division and shift translation, literal translation and shift and division were recommended for GPs. Literal translation, transliteration and free translation and addition were recommended for CEs. Since this is an initial investigation in the genre of geotourism, this study has attempted to build a model platform for future study and wider research in geotourism translation and translation pedagogy for the improvement of geotourism translation quality.
Comprehensive Sex Education Addressing Gender and Power: A Systematic Review to Investigate Implementation and Mechanisms of Impact
Authors: Sell Kerstin , Oliver Kathryn , Meiksin Rebecca
Published: December 2021

Background

Delivered globally to promote adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health, comprehensive sex education (CSE) is rights-based, holistic, and seeks to enhance young people’s skills to foster respectful and healthy relationships. Previous research has demonstrated that CSE programmes that incorporate critical content on gender and power in relationships are more effective in achieving positive sexual and reproductive health outcomes than programmes without this content. However, it is not well understood how these programmes ultimately affect behavioural and biological outcomes. We therefore sought to investigate underlying mechanisms of impact and factors affecting implementation and undertook a systematic review of process evaluation studies reporting on school-based sex education programmes with a gender and power component.

Methods

We searched six scientific databases in June 2019 and screened 9375 titles and abstracts and 261 full-text articles. Two distinct analyses and syntheses were conducted: a narrative review of implementation studies and a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies that examined programme characteristics and mechanisms of impact.

Results

Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria of which eleven were implementation studies. These studies highlighted the critical role of the skill and training of the facilitator, flexibility to adapt programmes to students’ needs, and a supportive school/community environment in which to deliver CSE to aid successful implementation. In the second set of studies (n = 8), student participation, student-facilitator relationship-building, and open discussions integrating student reflection and experience-sharing with critical content on gender and power were identified as important programme characteristics. These were linked to empowerment, transformation of gender norms, and meaningful contextualisation of students’ experiences as underlying mechanisms of impact.

Conclusion and policy implications

Our findings emphasise the need for CSE programming addressing gender and power that engages students in a meaningful, relatable manner. Our findings can inform theories of change and intervention development for such programmes.
Seasonal nitrogen fluxes of the Lena River Delta
Authors: Sanders Tina , Fiencke Claudia , Fuchs Matthias , Haugk Charlotte , Juhls Bennet , Mollenhauer Gesine , Ogneva Olga , Overduin Paul , Palmtag Juri , Povazhniy Vasily , Strauss Jens , Tuerena Robyn , Zell Nadine , Dähnke Kirstin
Published: December 2021

The Arctic is nutrient limited, particularly by nitrogen, and is impacted by anthropogenic global warming which occurs approximately twice as fast compared to the global average. Arctic warming intensifies thawing of permafrost-affected soils releasing their large organic nitrogen reservoir. This organic nitrogen reaches hydrological systems, is remineralized to reactive inorganic nitrogen, and is transported to the Arctic Ocean via large rivers. We estimate the load of nitrogen supplied from terrestrial sources into the Arctic Ocean by sampling in the Lena River and its Delta. We took water samples along one of the major deltaic channels in winter and summer in 2019 and sampling station in the central delta over a one-year cycle. Additionally, we investigate the potential release of reactive nitrogen, including nitrous oxide from soils in the Delta. We found that the Lena transported nitrogen as dissolved organic nitrogen to the coastal Arctic Ocean and that eroded soils are sources of reactive inorganic nitrogen such as ammonium and nitrate. The Lena and the Deltaic region apparently are considerable sources of nitrogen to nearshore coastal zone. The potential higher availability of inorganic nitrogen might be a source to enhance nitrous oxide emissions from terrestrial and aquatic sources to the atmosphere.
Angle of attack prediction using recurrent neural networks in flight conditions with faulty sensors in the case of F-16 fighter jet
Authors: Mersha Bemnet Wondimagegnehu , Jansen David N. , Ma Hongbin
Published: December 2021

The angle of attack (AOA) is one of the critical parameters in a fixed-wing aircraft because all aerodynamic forces are functions of the AOA. Most methods for estimation of the AOA do not provide information on the method’s performance in the presence of noise, faulty total velocity measurement, and faulty pitch rate measurement. This paper investigates data-driven modeling of the F-16 fighter jet and AOA prediction in flight conditions with faulty sensor measurements using recurrent neural networks (RNNs). The F-16 fighter jet is modeled in several architectures: simpleRNN (sRNN), long-short-term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), and the combinations LSTM-GRU, sRNN-GRU, and sRNN-LSTM. The developed models are tested by their performance to predict the AOA of the F-16 fighter jet in flight conditions with faulty sensor measurements: faulty total velocity measurement, faulty pitch rate and total velocity measurement, and faulty AOA measurement. We show the model obtained using sRNN trained with the adaptive momentum estimation algorithm (Adam) produces more exact predictions during faulty total velocity measurement and faulty total velocity and pitch rate measurement but fails to perform well during faulty AOA measurement. The sRNN-GRU combinations with the GRU layer closer to the output layer performed better than all the other networks. When using this architecture, the correlation and mean squared error (MSE) between the true (real) value and the predicted value during faulty AOA measurement increased by 0.12 correlation value and the MSE decreased by 4.3 degrees if one uses only sRNN. In the sRNN-GRU combined architecture, moving the GRU closer to the output layer produced a model with better predicted values.
L1 Syndrome Prenatal Diagnosis Supplemented by Functional Analysis of One L1CAM Gene Missense Variant
Authors: Wang Ping , Liao Hong , Wang Quyou , Xie Hanbing , Wang He , Yang Mei , Liu Shanling
Published: December 2021

L1 syndrome, a complex X-linked neurological disorder, is caused by mutations in the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) gene. L1CAM molecule is a member of immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily of neural cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which plays a pivotal role in the developing nervous system. In this study, a L1CAM gene exonic missense variant (c.1108G > A, p.G370R) was identified in two induced fetuses (abnormal fetuses), who presented corpus callosum agenesis accompanied with hydrocephalus. Clinical data, published literature, online database, and bioinformatic analysis suggest that the single-nucleotide variant of L1CAM gene is a likely pathogenic mutation. In vitro assays were performed to evaluate the effects of this variant. Based on NSC-34/COS-7 cells transfected with wild-type (L1-WT) and mutated (L1-G370R) plasmids, the L1CAM gene exonic missense variant (c.1108G > A, p.G370R) reduced cell surface expression, induced partial endoplasmic reticulum retention, affected posttranslational modification, and reduced protein’s homophilic adhesive ability, but did not induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, which might probably associate with L1 syndrome. Finally, 35 isolated fetuses were screened for L1CAM gene variants by Sanger sequencing. These cases all prenatally suspected of corpus callosum agenesis accompanied with hydrocephalus, which may relate to L1 syndrome. Consequently, one L1CAM gene single missense variant (c.550C > T, p.R184W) was detected in one fetus. Our results provided evidence that the L1CAM gene missense variant (c.1108G > A, p.G370R) may relate to L1 syndrome. The findings of this study suggest a potential possibility of L1CAM gene screening for prenatal diagnoses for fetuses presented corpus callosum agenesis accompanied with hydrocephalus.
Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of Sildenafil Citrate, Cognitive Behavior Sex Therapy and Integrated Treatment in Men Diagnosed With Non Organic Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Bilal Ahmad , Abbasi Najam ul Hasan
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The integrated treatment combining phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and Cognitive Behavior Sex Therapy (CBST) has been shown to yield promising results in the treatment of Non Organic Erectile Dysfunction (NOED) in young men.

Aim

The current study aimed to establish the efficacy of integrated treatment combining Sildenafil Citrate (SC) 50mg and CBST as a treatment of choice in young Pakistani men with NOED.

Methods

One hundred thirty-seven young men were recruited to participate in the study out of 164 men referred from sexual health clinics in Pakistan. They were randomized sequentially into 4 treatment groups namely SC = 35, CBST = 34, integrated treatment = 35, and placebo = 33. 7, 4, 6, and 4 men were dropped out of each treatment group respectively. The data of 116 men were analyzed. The on demand SC 50 mg, twice weekly 50 minutes sessions and home assignments, a combination of SC and 50 minutes sessions, and placebo were administered to firsst, second, third, and fourth group respectively for a period of 12 weeks. The follow-up assessment was done after 12 weeks of post-treatment for all groups.

Main Outcome Measures

The Urdu standardized versions of International Index of Erectile Functoning-5 (IIEF-5) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were the main outcome measures.

Results

The mixed repeated measures analysis of co-variance yielded significant impact of both CBST and integrated treatment groups in improving IIEF-5 scores at post treatment as compared to placebo. The CBST group experienced reduction in depression scores at post treatment as compared to both SC and integrated treatment. Only the integrated treatment brought reduction in anxiety scores at post treatment as compared to SC. The covariates age and NOED duration did not significantly impact the treatment outcome for all treatment groups.

Clinical Implications

The efficacy of integrated treatment approach for improving symptoms of NOED and associated depression and anxiety is strong clinical implication of the study.

Strengths & Limitations

The effectiveness of integrated treatment approach in the improvement of NOED symptoms and associated depression and anxiety scores is the main strength of the study. The improvement in depression scores is the added strength of CBST component of integrated treatment approach. The study should have included other PDE5i to compare their effects with the CBST or placebo groups.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the CBST and integrated treatments are treatment of choice for NOED and associated depression and anxiety in young men.