bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rainbow: reliable personally identifiable information retrieval across multi-cloud
Authors: Song Zishuai , Ma Hui , Sun Shuzhou , Xin Yansen , Zhang Rui
Published: June 2023

Personally identifiable information (PII) refers to any information that links to an individual. Sharing PII is extremely useful in public affairs yet hard to implement due to the worries about privacy violations. Building a PII retrieval service over multi-cloud, which is a modern strategy to make services stable where multiple servers are deployed, seems to be a promising solution. However, three major technical challenges remain to be solved. The first is the privacy and access control of PII. In fact, each entry in PII can be shared to different users with different access rights. Hence, flexible and fine-grained access control is needed. Second, a reliable user revocation mechanism is required to ensure that users can be revoked efficiently, even if few cloud servers are compromised or collapse, to avoid data leakage. Third, verifying the correctness of received PII and locating a misbehaved server when wrong data are returned is crucial to guarantee user’s privacy, but challenging to realize. In this paper, we propose Rainbow, a secure and practical PII retrieval scheme to solve the above issues. In particular, we design an important cryptographic tool, called Reliable Outsourced Attribute Based Encryption (ROABE) which provides data privacy, flexible and fine-grained access control, reliable immediate user revocation and verification for multiple servers simultaneously, to support Rainbow. Moreover, we present how to build Rainbow with ROABE and several necessary cloud techniques in real world. To evaluate the performance, we deploy Rainbow on multiple mainstream clouds, namely, AWS, GCP and Microsoft Azure, and experiment in browsers on mobile phones and computers. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results indicate that Rainbow is secure and practical.
Patellar resurfacing and kneeling ability after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review
Authors: Shah Owais A. , Spence Christopher , Kader Deiary , Clement Nick D. , Asopa Vipin , Sochart David H.
Published: June 2023

Background

Difficulty kneeling following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains highly prevalent, and has cultural, social, and occupational implications. With no clear evidence of superiority, whether or not to resurface the patella remains debatable. This systematic review examined whether resurfacing the patella (PR) or not (NPR) influences kneeling ability following TKA.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted by following PRISMA guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched utilizing a search strategy developed with the aid of a department librarian. Study quality was assessed using MINROS criteria. Article screening, methodological quality assessment and data extraction were performed by two independent authors, and a third senior author was consulted if consensus was not reached.

Results

A total of 459 records were identified, with eight studies included in the final analysis, and all deemed to be level III evidence. The average MINORS score was 16.5 for comparative studies and 10.5 for non-comparative studies. The total number of patients was 24,342, with a mean age of 67.6 years. Kneeling ability was predominantly measured as a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), with two studies also including an objective assessment. Two studies demonstrated a statistically significant link between PR and kneeling, with one demonstrating improved kneeling ability with PR and the other reporting the opposite. Other potential factors associated with kneeling included gender, postoperative flexion, and body mass index (BMI). Re-operation rates were significantly higher in the NPR cohort whereas PR cohorts had higher Feller scores, patient-reported limp and patellar apprehension.

Conclusion

Despite its importance to patients, kneeling remains not only under-reported but also ill-defined in the literature, with no clear consensus regarding the optimum outcome assessment tool. Conflicting evidence remains as to whether PR influences kneeling ability, and to clarify the situation, large prospective randomized studies are required.
Male Sex Is Not a Risk Factor for Prognosis in Postoperative Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Propensity Score Matching Study
Authors: Zhou Yaqian , Wang Yan , Zhang Zhiting , Yin Xue , Liu Jianjun , Zheng Wei
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To study whether male sex is a risk factor for prognosis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer after 131I treatment using the propensity score matching (PSM) method.

Methods

From April 2016 to October 2021, 1948 postoperative differentiated thyroid cancer patients aged 43 (interquartile range: 34, 54) years who received 131I treatment were retrospectively enrolled and divided into male (n = 645) and female groups (n = 1303). The PSM method was adopted to process all data to reduce the influence of data bias and confounding variables. The Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting prognosis, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the relationship between stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level, 131I dose, and poor prognosis.

Results

Before PSM, the proportion of male patients with poor prognosis was significantly higher than that of female patients. After PSM, there was no difference in the proportion of poor prognosis between male and female groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male sex; high T stage, N1b stage, and M1 stage; high sTg level; and high 131I dose were risk factors for poor prognosis before PSM. After PSM, high T stage, M1 stage, high sTg level, and 131I dose were still risk factors but male sex was no longer a risk factor for poor prognosis.

Conclusions

After the reduction of selection bias by PSM, male sex was no longer a risk factor for prognosis after 131I treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer. In addition, high T stage (T3 + T4 stage), M1 stage, sTg ≥10.15 ng/mL, and 131I dose ≥260 mCi were risk factors for poor prognosis.
A Direct Comparison of Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces to Prevent Neuroma Pain
Authors: Senger Jenna-Lynn B. , Hardy Paige , Thorkelsson Aline , Duia Shirley , Hsiao Ralph , Kemp Stephen W. P. , Tenorio Gustavo , Rajshekar Mithun , Kerr Bradley J. , Chan K. Ming , Rabey Karyne N. , Webber Christine A.
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) surgeries manage neuroma pain; however, there remains considerable discord regarding the best treatment strategy. We provide a direct comparison of TMR and RPNI surgery using a rodent model for the treatment of neuroma pain.

METHODS:

The tibial nerve of 36 Fischer rats was transected and secured to the dermis to promote neuroma formation. Pain was assessed using mechanical stimulation at the neuroma site (direct pain) and von Frey analysis at the footpad (to assess tactile allodynia from collateral innervation). Once painful neuromas were detected 6 weeks later, animals were randomized to experimental groups: (a) TMR to the motor branch to biceps femoris, (b) RPNI with an extensor digitorum longus graft, (c) neuroma excision, and (d) neuroma in situ. The TMR/RPNIs were harvested to confirm muscle reinnervation, and the sensory ganglia and nerves were harvested to assess markers of regeneration, pain, and inflammation.

RESULTS:

Ten weeks post-TMR/RPNI surgery, animals had decreased pain scores compared with controls (P < .001) and they both demonstrated neuromuscular junction reinnervation. Compared with neuroma controls, immunohistochemistry showed that sensory neuronal cell bodies of TMR and RPNI showed a decrease in regeneration markers phosphorylated cyclic AMP receptor binding protein and activation transcription factor 3 and pain markers transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and neuropeptide Y (P < .05). The nerve and dorsal root ganglion maintained elevated Iba-1 expression in all cohorts.

CONCLUSION:

RPNI and TMR improved pain scores after neuroma resection suggesting both may be clinically feasible techniques for improving outcomes for patients with nerve injuries or those undergoing amputation.
Η παρεμβατική συνείδηση στη σκέψη και σκηνική πρακτική του Bertolt Brecht
Authors: Σαραντόπουλος Γεώργιος
Published: June 2023

Το ζήτημα της παρεμβατικής συνείδησης αποτελεί ζήτημα φιλοσοφικού ενδιαφέροντος. Ο Brecht φαίνεται πως επιχείρησε μια ενιαία μεθοδολογικά φιλοσοφική απάντηση στο παραπάνω ζήτημα. Μέσα από την έννοια της eingreifendes Denken επιχειρούμε τη διερεύνηση των προεκτάσεων στο ζήτημα συνείδησης και δραστηριότητας. Ο Brecht παρέχει στο σημερινό μελετητή και αναγνώστη ένα μεγάλο πλήθος γραπτών, το οποίο, μολονότι κατακερματισμένο και μη συστηματικό, απαντά στο πεδίο των φιλοσοφικών αναζητήσεων, των φιλοσοφικών τοποθετήσεων του νου και της πράξης, που ανάγεται σε ορισμένες οντολογικές, γνωσιολογικές και κοινωνικοπολιτικές αρχές. Από την τοποθέτηση αυτή, αντλούμε σήμερα τα στοιχεία που διαμορφώνουν ιστορικά τη σκέψη του Brecht, εξετάζουν τη φιλοσοφική στράτευση του ίδιου και αποτυπώνουν ιστορικά τεκμηριωμένες, αλλά και δυνατές προεκτάσεις στο σκέλος της πολιτικής και κοινωνικής σκέψης του ίδιου. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει στο έργο και στη σκέψη του Brecht, επιχειρώντας να ανασύρει ερευνητικά τα φιλοσοφικά θεμέλιά της, μέσα από θεωρητικά κείμενα και θεατρικά έργα του ίδιου. Η οριοθέτηση της σχέσης θεωρίας και πράξης στη μαρξιστική φιλοσοφική σκέψη αποτελεί το υπό εξέταση πεδίο μελέτης ως προς τον ειδικό και ιδιαίτερο τρόπο που προσλαμβάνεται από τον Brecht. Από την εξέταση αυτή, εντοπίζονται ακόμα στοιχεία συνέπειας και προώθησης της μαρξιστικής θεωρίας. Ερευνητικό αντικείμενο μελέτης της διδακτορικής διατριβής αποτελεί η παρεμβατική συνείδηση μέσω της ερμηνείας του παρεμβατικού σκέπτεσθαι (eingreifendes Denken). Η κατανόηση και ο προσδιορισμός του όρου αποτελεί ζήτημα για την απάντηση του κομβικού φιλοσοφικού προβλήματος, των σχέσεων συνείδησης και πράξης, καθώς και των όρων για την ανασυγκρότηση μιας θεωρίας κοινωνικής ενεργοποίησης.
A socio-legal imperative of domestic violence prohibition in Africa vis-a-vis Nigerian legal structure for sexually abused women
Authors: AINA-PELEMO Adetutu Deborah , Olujobi Olusola Joshua , YEBISI EBENEZER TUNDE
Published: June 2023

Domestic violence is a major issue globally. It is one of the most heinous crimes which has and still results in numerous deaths, still receives the least amount of attention, and its negative influence is being underrated. In Africa, it is customarily acceptable for a woman to be beaten by her husband as a form of discipline, and Nigeria is not an exception. To think otherwise, that it cannot be socially acceptable and legally upheld for a man to beat his wife as a form of discipline, is to deny an existing reality. Section 282 of the Nigerian Penal Code encourages men to beat their wives when necessary. This form of permissible violence is often viewed as a family issue. Hence women are reluctant to speak up about their experiences. The stigma that usually follows speaking up or voicing out is better imagined than experienced. This study, therefore, provides credible information on domestic violence incidents in Nigeria and Africa. The methodology utilised is the doctrinal legal research method with reports from existing literature and tertiary data sources such as newspapers and website sources. It discusses legislation enacted to prevent and prohibit domestic violence in Nigeria and how influential they have been on the nation at large. By way of comparative analysis, we examine domestic violence occurrences in some selected African countries and the European continents concerning Nigeria. It also delves into the violation of the principles of gender equality by some Nigerian customs and traditional practices. This study then makes recommendations on how to address the issue. Through its insightful engagement, this study found, among others, that domestic violence is widespread in Africa and that a national law prohibiting the act and holding perpetrators accountable is not only imperative in Nigeria but across the African continent.
Association of elevated IL-6 with poor glycemic control in periodontitis patients
Authors: Kalaivani V. , Kumar Y. Pradeep , Rajapandian K. , Parthasarthy Harinath , Anegundi Raghavendra Vamsi , shqaidef Abedalrahman , Atul Kumar Harshit , Fernandez Alberto Ibanez , VC Divya , Rai B Shivprasad
Published: June 2023

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine expressed in numerous chronic inflammatory diseases whose ability to alter the pathophysiology and progression of periodontitis is well documented. Further its role in diabetes mellitus by creating an insulin resistance responsible for poor glycemic control is also being evaluated. The aim was to compare the levels of IL-6 in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontitis patients with and without diabetes and to analyze these levels in patients with poor glycemic control (HBA1c), in order to assess its role in the progression of periodontal destruction.

Methods: 60 chronic periodontitis patients confirmed with CPITN index of age group 30-70 years were enrolled for the study. GCF samples from 30 patients with diabetes confirmed using HBA1c reports and 30 without diabetes using Cimasoni method were collected and stored at -70degreescelsiusand subjected to ELISA for IL-6 using krishgen human IL-6 ELISA kit as per manufacturer's instruction. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used using SPSS software.

Results: While the diabetic group readings ranged from 4.4 Pg/µl to 7.0 Pg/µl with a mean of 5.8pg/µl, the non- diabetic group ranged from 1.5 Pg/µl to 4.8 Pg/µl with a mean value of3.24 pg/µl. There was a prominent increase in the IL-6 levels in diabetic when compared to non- diabetic which was statistically significant with p value < 0.001. Further, among the diabetic groups, patients with poor HBA1c with reading more than 7.7% showed a significant increase in IL-6 levels when compared to below 6.8%.

Conclusions: The IL-6 levels in GCF were increased in chronic periodontitis patients with diabetes and more so in patients with poor glycemic control when compared to non-diabetic group. Therefore, periodontitis along with diabetes can play a major role in the inflammatory response within the periodontium.
Sustainability performance assessment of sago industry supply chain using a multi-criteria adaptive fuzzy inference model
Authors: Yusmiati Yusmiati , Machfud Machfud , Marimin Marimin , Sunarti Titi Candra
Published: June 2023

Background: Sustainable supply chains are more competitive than conventional supply chains. Supply chain sustainability performance needs to be carried out to determine sustainability under current conditions and to design appropriate strategies to increase sustainability. This study aims to design a sustainability performance assessment model for the sago agro-industry supply chain and identify critical indicators for sustainability improvement.

Methods: The Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) evaluates sustainability on three levels: economic, social, and environmental. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is then used to aggregate the overall sustainability performance. The cosine amplitude method (CAM) was used to analyze key indicators. This study assessed the sustainability performance on industrial- and small-medium-scale sago agro-industry.

Results: The results show that the supply chain sustainability performance on the industrial scale is 44.25, while it is 48.81 for the small-medium scale with the same status, almost sustainable. Key indicators for improving sago agro-industry supply chain sustainability performance include profit distribution among supply chain actors, institutional support for supply chains, waste utilization (reuse & recycle), and the availability of waste management facilities. The implication of this research for managers regards assessing the current status of sustainability performance and key indicators as a reference for formulating sustainability strategies and practices.

Conclusions: The results of the study will enable supply chain actors to understand the key indicators for improving sustainability performance in the sago agro-industry supply chain, especially in Meranti Islands Regency, Riau Province. The proposed model can be applied to other agro-industries by adjusting the indicators used and assessing data availability and suitability for the research object.
Robust Combination Testing: Methods and Application to COVID-19 Detection
Authors: Jain Sanjay , Jónasson Jónas Oddur , Pauphilet Jean , Ramdas Kamalini
Published: June 2023

Simple and affordable testing tools are often not accurate enough to be operationally relevant. For coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) detection, rapid point-of-care tests are cheap and provide results in minutes, but they largely fail policy makers’ accuracy requirements. We propose an analytical methodology, based on robust optimization, that identifies optimal combinations of results from cheap tests for increased predictive accuracy. This methodological tool allows policy makers to credibly quantify the benefits from combination testing and thus, break the trade-off between cost and accuracy. Our methodology is robust to noisy and partially missing input data and incorporates operational constraints—relevant considerations in practice. We apply our methodology to two data sets containing individual-level results of multiple COVID-19 rapid antibody and antigen tests, respectively, to generate Pareto-dominating receiver operating characteristic curves. We find that combining only three rapid tests increases out-of-sample area under the curve by 4% (6%) compared with the best-performing individual test for antibody (antigen) detection. We also find that a policy maker who requires a specificity of at least 0.95 can improve sensitivity by 8% and 2% for antibody and antigen testing, respectively, relative to available combination testing heuristics. Our numerical analysis demonstrates that robust optimization is a powerful tool to avoid overfitting, accommodate missing data, and improve out-of-sample performance. Based on our analytical and empirical results, policy makers should consider approving and deploying a curated combination of cheap point-of-care tests in settings where “gold standard” tests are too expensive or too slow.

This paper was accepted by Stefan Scholtes, healthcare management.

Supplemental Material: The data files and electronic companion are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4826 .
Adaptive Importance Sampling for Efficient Stochastic Root Finding and Quantile Estimation
Authors: He Shengyi , Jiang Guangxin , Lam Henry , Fu Michael C.
Published: June 2023

Stochastic root-finding problems are fundamental in the fields of operations research and data science. However, when the root-finding problem involves rare events, crude Monte Carlo can be prohibitively inefficient. Importance sampling (IS) is a commonly used approach, but selecting a good IS parameter requires knowledge of the problem’s solution, which creates a circular challenge. In “Adaptive Importance Sampling for Efficient Stochastic Root Finding and Quantile Estimation,” He, Jiang, Lam, and Fu propose an adaptive IS approach to untie this circularity. The adaptive IS simultaneously estimates the root and the IS parameters, and can be embedded in sample average approximation–type algorithms and stochastic approximation–type algorithms. They provide theoretical analysis on strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the resulting estimators, and show the benefit of adaptivity from a worst-case perspective. They also provide specialized analyses on extreme quantile estimation under milder conditions.
Employment Preparation Experiences of Youth With Intellectual Disability and Autism Who Attend College-Based Transition Programs
Authors: Papay Clare , Grigal Meg , Choiseul-Praslin Belkis
Published: June 2023

College-based transition programs offer students with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) the opportunity to navigate adult learning experiences with similar-aged peers, accessing college coursework and employment experiences while continuing to receive support from or coordinated by their local school system. The present study used data from college-based transition programs included in the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSID) model demonstration program to examine the composition of employment preparation activities including paid employment and the association with having paid employment upon exiting from the program. The findings suggest that college-based transition programs hold promise as a model for supporting the transition to paid employment for students with ID/A. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Optimizing graded-index few-mode fiber for space division multiplexing
Authors: Ojha Komal , Mishra Darpan , Appaiah Kumar , Jain Deepak
Published: June 2023

We investigate the graded-index few-mode fiber (GI-FMF) to realize a 4-LP-mode (i.e. LP01, LP11, LP21, and LP02) fiber for mode-division-multiplexed transmission. This study optimizes the GI-FMF for both, first, for large effective indices differences (Δneff), and second, for low differential mode delay (DMD) between any two LP modes, for different optimized parameters. Thus, it shows that GI-FMF is suitable for both weakly-coupled few-mode fiber (WC-FMF) as well as strongly-coupled few-mode fiber (SC-FMF) via adjusting the profile parameter (α), refractive index difference between core and cladding (nco − nclad), and core radius (a). We report the optimized parameters for WC-GI-FMF with large effective indices difference (Δneff) of 0.6 × 10−3 and low |DMD| of 5.4 ns/km while the minimum effective mode area (Min.|Aeff|) is 80 µm2 and bending loss (BL) of the highest order mode is 0.005 dB/turn (much lower than 10 dB/turn) at a 10 mm bend radius. Here, we could break down the degeneracy between LP21 and LP02 mode, which remains a challenging task in GI-FMF. To the best of our knowledge, this is the lowest DMD (5.4 ns/km) ever reported for such a weakly-coupled (Δneff = 0.6 × 10−3) 4-LP-mode FMF. Similarly, we optimized the parameters for SC-GI-FMF with Δneff of 0.1 × 10−3 and the lowest DMD of 0.9 ns/km while Min.|Aeff| is ≫ 100 µm2 and BL of higher order mode is 6 dB/turn (< 10 dB/turn) at 10 mm bend radius. Further, we investigate narrow air trench-assisted SC-GI-FMF to reduce the DMD and achieve the lowest DMD of 16 ps/km for a 4-LP-mode GI-FMF with a minimum Δneff of 0.7 × 10−5.
Perceptions of multiple chronic conditions and coping strategies among migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa living in France with diabetes mellitus and HIV: An interview-based qualitative study
Authors: de Monteynard Soline , Bihan Hélène , Campagné Lucie , Crozet Cyril , Cailhol Johann
Published: June 2023

Although diabetes is common among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), few data exists on how migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experience living with these two coexisting conditions in France. The objective of this study was to analyze perception of polypathology among PLWHA from SSA with type 2 diabetes and identify barriers and facilitators to their self-management. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews from November 2019 to April 2020 with participants selected from a cohort of PLWHA and diabetes at Avicenne University Hospital. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis with inductive approach. Stigma remained a major issue in self-managing HIV, and some participants did not consider themselves as having a polypathology, as HIV has always been considered as a distinct condition. In general, emotion-based resources (e.g spirituality, trust in the medical discourse) and social support were mobilized more than problem-solving resources (e.g perception of medication as life-saving). Participants used the same main resource in self-management of HIV and diabetes, and resources used differed from participant to participant. This study highlighted challenges in self-management of diabetes and HIV in this population and complexity related to the socioeconomic and cultural specificities. Self-management could be more successful if patients and carers move in the same direction, having identified the individual coping resources to reach objectives.
Gender bias in clinical trials of biological agents for migraine: A systematic review
Authors: Alonso-Moreno Marta , Rodríguez-de Francisco Lupe , Ciudad-Gutiérrez Pablo
Published: June 2023

Migraine is considered one of the most disabling diseases. Currently, there are few studies on clinical migraine treatment based on sex-related differences, despite the important role of sex in migraine. Our aim was to evaluate gender bias in published clinical trials on monoclonal antibodies (erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab and eptinezumab). We performed a systematic review of controlled clinical trials of erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab and eptinezumab, searching the PubMed/MEDLINE database for articles published before December 2021. The search identified 760 articles, 25 of which met the inclusion criteria. Of all the patients included in these trials, 85.1% were women. Only one study had female lead authors. Two of the 25 studies included a sex-based analysis of the primary endpoint. None of the articles discussed the results separately for men and for women. The proportion of men recruited in trials is scarce and more studies are needed to guarantee the safety and tolerability of monoclonal antibodies used in male migraine. As observed in our study, despite the high number of women recruited, only 2 studies analysed the results separately by sex. Thus, a potential risk of gender bias was found in these clinical trials.
Auditing the readiness of healthcare facilities for referral and management of pre-eclampsia cases in Zanzibar- a study protocol
Authors: Rashid Salma A. , Seif Saada A.
Published: June 2023

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are reported as the second leading root of maternal morbidity and mortality in Zanzibar. Evidence shows that the majority of pregnant women in Zanzibar are referred late from lower-level healthcare facilities, and majority develop complications of eclampsia. This study’s goal is to determine if all public healthcare facilities in Zanzibar are prepared to manage pre-eclampsia cases and if lower-levels public healthcare facilities are ready to refer pre-eclampsia cases. This will be a descriptive cross-sectional study that will involve a total of 54 healthcare facilities and 176 health care providers working in antenatal clinics. All public health care facilities will be stratified into tertiary, secondary, and primary strata. A simple random sampling will be used to select 46 healthcare facilities in the primary stratum while all healthcare facilities within the tertiary and secondary strata will be selected. In each healthcare facility, a physical observation will be performed to assess the availability of equipment and supplies, medications, and lab tests, while a self-administered questionnaire will be used to assess the knowledge level and skills of healthcare providers for the management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Patient’s case files in the tertiary and secondary strata will be reviewed to assess the quality of management of pre-eclampsia while the service records of the primary stratum will be assessed for compliance status with referral guidelines. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the frequency distribution of the study variables, and results will be presented in terms of frequency and percentage. The Chi-square test will be used to describe the relationship between variables, and a p-value of < 0.05 will be regarded as a statistically significant difference.
Effects of various sitting and standing postures on arousal and valence
Authors: Takayama Aya , Sekiya Hiroshi
Published: June 2023

According to research on the effects of posture on psychological states, high-power poses—with the body spread wide open—lead to high-arousal positive emotions, whereas low-power poses—with the body slumped and constricted—lead to low-arousal negative emotions. However, postures that lead to both high-arousal negative and low-arousal positive emotions have not been investigated yet. Although relative comparisons between postures have been made, the positioning of postures on the two-dimensional coordinates created by arousal and valence has not been clarified. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore and clarify which postures lead to the four types of emotions: high-arousal negative, high-arousal positive, low-arousal negative, and low-arousal positive. In Experiment 1, 29 participants (13 men and 16 women) adopted 12 sitting postures for 1 minute each. In Experiment 2, 25 participants (13 men and 12 women) adopted six sitting and six standing postures for 1 minute each. Arousal and valence were measured after each posture, and heart rate was measured during posture maintenance. Arousal and valence after adopting the postures were compared with the neutral arousal and valence. As a result, postures leading to high-arousal negative and low-arousal positive emotions were identified. In addition, postures leading to high-arousal positive emotions, which are the high-power poses, were identified. There were no differences in the magnitude of psychological effects between sitting and standing postures.
Teledetección aplicada al análisis de los impactos ecosistémicos generados por los incendios del año 2020 en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina, e identificación de áreas prioritarias de restauración
Authors: Castillo Hebert , Baldassini Pablo
Published: June 2023

El fuego es uno de los eventos destructivos más frecuentes y el principal causante de alteraciones en el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: 1) identificar el área afectada por incendios ocurridos en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina, entre agosto y septiembre de 2020, 2) analizar su impacto sobre cuatro variables ecosistémicas: la productividad primaria neta aérea (PPNA), la evapotranspiración (ET), el albedo y la temperatura superficial (LST), y 3) identificar áreas prioritarias para su restauración mediante un análisis multicriterio. Se usaron imágenes Sentinel-2 y productos MODIS utilizando la plataforma Google Earth Engine. El fuego afectó 109.307 hectáreas, de las cuales el 40% presentaron una severidad moderada a alta. La ET fue la variable más afectada, disminuyendo hasta un 24,8% respecto a la situación promedio prefuego. La LST y la PPNA mostraron un impacto moderado, registrando cambios extremos de 10,2% y 10,6%, respectivamente. Se identificaron cuatro áreas prioritarias para restauración. Las áreas con baja prioridad representaron el 50% del área total quemada, mientras que las áreas con alta prioridad representaron solo el 7%. Este trabajo permitió generar información de gran importancia para la implementación de políticas públicas destinadas a garantizar la sostenibilidad de estos ecosistemas.
Climate Change and ESG - Focused on Green Bond Design -
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Choi Yunmin , Kim Changki , Shin Dong-Hoon
Published: June 2023

We investigate about climate change, which is now emerging as a hot potato, and realize its seriousness. To respond to climate change, carbon reduction strategies are vitally important. We examine the effect of carbon reduction on ESG score improvement and show the importance of ESG management by using the concept of green spread which is a financial environmental cleanliness measure. An aim of this study is to predict numerically the impact of carbon reduction on national cleanliness and economic benefits using the methodology of CO2 emission-backed securities.
Also, we expect that this study gives countries an incentive to reduce their CO2 emissions and prepare for climate change.
Marna Pease (1866-1947): Founder of Biodynamics for the English-Speaking World
Authors: Paull John , Harvey Joan
Published: June 2023

Marna Pease (1866-1947) was the founder of Biodynamic farming in Britain. The ‘Anthroposophical Agricultural Foundation’ (AAF) was inaugurated at the ‘World Conference on Spiritual Science and its Practical Applications’ (WCSS), London, July 1928, with Marna as the Honorary Secretary. Under the auspices of the AAF, Marna shepherded the fledgling Anglo Biodynamic (BD) movement through the turbulent times of the Great Depression (1929-1939), the Great Anthroposophy Purge (1935), and World War II (1939-1945). Marna stepped down in 1946. By that time there were reportedly over 400 members of the AAF. With Dr Carl Alexander Mirbt, she produced the first BD preparations in Britain at her home, Otterburn Tower, Northumberland. She took up the role of Honorary Secretary of both the AAF and the ‘Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners’. The AAF initially operated out of Otterburn (315 miles north of London, 74 miles south of Edinburgh). Marna was a member of the Executive Council of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain. She relocated to the Old Mill House at Bray-on-Thames (30 miles west of London) in 1930. Marna typed, bound, and despatched copies around the world, of the English translation of Rudolf Steiner’s ‘Agriculture Course’, to those who joined the Experimental Circle. She edited the first Biodynamics journal in English: ‘Anthroposophical Agricultural Foundation Notes and Correspondence’. Marna provided members with the BD preparations and she published BD pamphlets. She established a showcase Biodynamic garden and apiary at Bray-on-Thames. She recruited members, hosted visitors, and maintained an international correspondence with enquirers and members. Marna hosted Carl Mirbt (aka Mier) and his family, first at Otterburn and then at Bray. She hosted Dr Eugen Kolisko, Lilly Kolisko, and their daughter at Bray. Lilly’s ‘Biologisches Institut am Goetheanum’ (Biological Institute at the Goetheanum) relocated from Stuttgart to Bray in 1935. Marna was fluent in German and she translated Steiner’s ‘Nine Lectures on Bees’ (published 1933) and Lilly’s ‘The Moon and the Growth of Plants’ (published 1938). Marna’s legacy continues with the Biodynamic Agricultural Association (BDAA) in Britain, and with BD agriculture in the Anglo-sphere presently accounting for 30% of global BD agriculture.
The Sad Side of Happy Pills: A Case Study on Psychiatric Medication Across a Woman’s Lifespan?
Authors: Tochkov Karin , Williams Nichole
Published: June 2023

The use of antidepressants can have many benefits and many consequences (American Psychiatric Association, 2010). 12.7% of Americans aged 12 and older reported taking an antidepressant in the previous month when surveyed between 2011 and 2014 (Pratt, Brody, & Gu, 2017). The purpose of this case study is to explore the impact these medications have on a person by exploring their role in the life of one woman, Jane Doe and to urge caution in prescribing practices.
Cellular heterogeneity in the 16HBE14o− airway epithelial line impacts biological readouts
Authors: Kerschner Jenny L. , Paranjapye Alekh , Harris Ann
Published: June 2023

The airway epithelial cell line, 16HBE14o−, is an important cell model for studying airway disease. 16HBE14o− cells were originally generated from primary human bronchial epithelial cells by SV40‐mediated immortalization, a process that is associated with genomic instability through long‐term culture. Here, we explore the heterogeneity of these cells, with respect to expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) transcript and protein. We isolate clones of 16HBE14o− with stably higher and lower levels of CFTR in comparison to bulk 16HBE14o−, designated CFTRhigh and CFTRlow. Detailed characterization of the CFTR locus in these clones by ATAC‐seq and 4C‐seq showed open chromatin profiles and higher order chromatin structure that correlate with CFTR expression levels. Transcriptomic profiling of CFTRhigh and CFTRlow cells showed that the CFTRhigh cells had an elevated inflammatory/innate immune response phenotype. These results encourage caution in interpreting functional data from clonal lines of 16HBE14o− cells, generated after genomic or other manipulations.
Nitric oxide‐mediated cutaneous microvascular function is not altered in middle‐aged‐to‐older adults following mild SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: A pilot study
Authors: Dillon Gabrielle A. , Wolf S. Tony , Williams Auni C. , Kenney W. Larry , Alexander Lacy M.
Published: June 2023

We tested the hypothesis that post‐COVID‐19 adults (PC) would have impaired cutaneous nitric oxide (NO)‐mediated vasodilation compared to controls (CON). We performed a cross‐sectional study including 10 (10 F/0 M, 69 ± 7 years) CON and 7 (2 F/5 M, 66 ± 8 years) PC (223 ± 154 days post‐diagnosis). COVID‐19 symptoms severity (survey) was assessed (0–100 scale for 18 common symptoms). NO‐dependent cutaneous vasodilation was induced by a standardized 42°C local heating protocol and quantified via perfusion of 15 mM NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester during the plateau of the heating response (intradermal microdialysis). Red blood cell flux was measured with laser‐Doppler flowmetry. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC = flux/mm Hg) was presented as a percentage of maximum (28 mM sodium nitroprusside +43°C). All data are means ± SD. The local heating plateau (CON: 71 ± 23% CVCmax vs. PC: 81 ± 16% CVCmax, p = 0.77) and NO‐dependent vasodilation (CON: 56 ± 23% vs. PC: 60 ± 22%, p = 0.77) were not different between groups. In the PC group neither time since diagnosis nor peak symptom severity (46 ± 18 AU) correlated with NO‐dependent vasodilation (r < 0.01, p = 0.99 and r = 0.42, p = 0.35, respectively). In conclusion, middle‐aged and older adults who have had COVID‐19 did not have impaired NO‐dependent cutaneous vasodilation. Additionally, in this cohort of PC, neither time since diagnosis nor symptomology were related to microvascular function.
Differential effects of repeated inspiratory and limb muscle loading on effort perception in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and healthy males
Authors: Griffith‐Mcgeever Claire , Owen Julian , Earing Christopher , McKeon Damian , Kubis Hans‐Peter
Published: June 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by collapse of the upper airways during sleep. The contribution of alterations in effort perception is not understood. This study investigated the response of inspiratory and quadriceps muscles to repetitive loading on effort perception in OSA patients, pre and post continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, and in healthy individuals. Twenty‐one OSA patients and 40 healthy participants completed protocols for repetitive inspiratory and leg muscle loading combined with intermittent rating of perceived exertion (RPE 14—somewhat hard/hard) to assess effort sensitivity. Electromyography, inspiratory pressure and isometric force were measured. OSA patients reported higher fatiguability of respiratory and leg muscles than controls. OSA patients revealed lower effort sensitivity in the leg muscles compared with controls, while repetitive loading led to a decline in force production. In the respiratory system, OSA patients revealed similar effort sensitivity at baseline compared with controls, but a large reduction in effort sensitivity after loading. Baseline effort sensitivity was correlated with apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI). After CPAP treatment, OSA patients revealed a decreased baseline effort sensitivity with a missing loading response. Effort sensitivity was differentially affected in the respiratory and leg systems with outcomes of CPAP treatment suggesting a full reversibility. Outcomes suggest that reversible adaptive response of effort perception in the respiratory system might contribute to the severity of OSA.
The Armadillo Model for Leprosy
Authors: Pena Maria T , Sharma Rahul , Truman Richard W
Published: June 2023

The Armadillo Model for Leprosy
Stigma Related to Leprosy – A Scientific View
Authors: Brakel Wim H van , Peters Ruth , Pereira Zoica B da Silva
Published: June 2023

Stigma Related to Leprosy – A Scientific View
Cultivation and Viability Determination of Mycobacterium leprae
Authors: Lahiri Ramanuj , Adams Linda B
Published: June 2023

Cultivation and Viability Determination of Mycobacterium leprae
Adaptive Immune Response in Leprosy
Authors: Weiss David I , Do Tran Hue , Silva Bruno J de Andrade , Teles Rosane M B , Andrade Priscila R , Ochoa Maria T , Modlin Robert L
Published: June 2023

Adaptive Immune Response in Leprosy
Immunodiagnostics for Leprosy
Authors: Hooij Anouk van , Geluk Annemieke
Published: June 2023

Immunodiagnostics for Leprosy
Management and outcomes in secondary diabetes among pediatric patients hospitalized with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Schweisberger Cintya , Palaniappan Nila , Wood Nicole M. , Amos Lauren E. , Halpin Kelsee
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disorder marked by massive cytokine release from macrophage and T-cell activation. Hallmarks include fever, splenomegaly, cytopenias, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogemia, and elevations in ferritin and soluble IL-2 receptor. Given the association of HLH with inflammation and glucocorticoid therapy, the development of hyperglycemia is not unexpected. Descriptions of the prevalence of secondary diabetes in youth diagnosed with HLH are lacking.

Methods

Retrospective review from 2010 through 2019 of hospitalized youth 0–21 years diagnosed with HLH. The primary outcome of interest was the development of secondary diabetes, defined as a serum glucose 200 mg/dL or higher necessitating insulin therapy.

Results

Of 28 patients with HLH, 36 % (n=10) developed secondary diabetes. The only risk factor associated with secondary diabetes was an infectious cause of HLH (60 % vs. 27.8 %, p 0.041). Intravenous regular insulin was used in 80 % of patients with a mean duration of 9.5 days (2–24 days). Most (70 %) needed insulin within 5 days of starting steroids. Stays in the ICU were longer (median 20 vs. 3 days, p 0.007) and intubation more likely (90 vs. 45 %, p 0.041) among those with secondary diabetes. Mortality was high (16–30 %) regardless of insulin use (p 0.634).

Conclusions

One-third of hospitalized pediatric patients with HLH developed secondary diabetes requiring insulin therapy. Insulin is typically started within 5 days of initiating steroids, limited to IV infusions, and often is not needed by discharge. Secondary diabetes was associated with longer ICU stays and heightened risk of intubation.
Are preschool children sensitive to the function of accessibility markers? A visual world study with German-speaking three- to four-year-olds
Authors: Lehmkuhle Ina , Schimke Sarah
Published: June 2023

Little is known about when children understand the function of anaphoric referring expressions to signal different degrees of accessibility of discourse referents. This visual world study investigates German-speaking three- to four-year-olds’ online processing and offline interpretation of repeated names and personal pronouns in a context where reference is made to highly accessible discourse referents. Repeated names are markers of low accessibility, whereas personal pronouns are preferentially used to refer to highly accessible referents. For online processing, results showed a significant effect of referring expression: children looked at the target picture more often after hearing a personal pronoun than after hearing repeated names. Offline results revealed no significant differences between the two conditions. We conclude that German-speaking preschool children are sensitive to the function of accessibility markers during online processing, and suggest that the difference between online and offline results may be due to the different task demands.
Design and analysis of lattice structure applied humerus semi-prosthesis
Authors: Savran Efe , Kalay Onur Can , Alp Nazmi Bülent , Karpat Fatih
Published: June 2023

Bone tissue loss may occur in bone structures, which are one of the elements that provide the body’s endurance and movement of living things, due to situations such as falling, hitting, or cancer formation. In bad scenarios, applications such as an external plate or internal rod addition are made to regain the old durability of the structure. At the same time, full or semi-prosthesis applications can be made in cases where the original bone structure cannot be preserved. With today’s advanced possibilities, lattice structures can be produced effortlessly with the additive manufacturing (AM) method. Here, the formation of the structure that can show anisotropic behavior depending on the production and the effect of the roughness caused by the production quality should also be seen in the process plan. In this study, it was aimed to compare the durability of titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) and magnesium (ZK60) materials for humeral half prosthesis using cubic-based lattice structure and to show their differences compared to the original bone structure. Maximum stress and deformation values were obtained by performing analyses with the finite element method on the lattice semi-humerus prosthesis obtained with this aim. Reliability analysis was made on the data obtained, and parameter optimization of the lattice structure was aimed. As a result of the study, it was seen that the lattice structure with 65% porosity compared to the reference values is reliable and with the same reliability rate, magnesium provides approximately 60% lightness compared to titanium.
The crystal structure of 5,7-dinitropyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9(4H)-one, C10H5N5O5
Authors: Jin Shouwen , Zhang Qiong , Zhen Yaoqi , Shi Chengzhe , Wang Daqi
Published: June 2023

C10H5N5O5, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 10.9546(11) Å, b = 7.3433(8) Å, c = 13.2567(15) Å, β = 

102.972

(
5
)

∘

$102.972{(5)}^{\circ }$

, V = 1039.19(19) Å3, Z = 4,

R

g
t

${R}_{gt}$

(F) = 0.0630,

w

R

r
e
f

$w{R}_{ref}$

(F
2) = 0.1622, T = 298 K.
Electrophilic substitution reactions of thiophene and thieno[2,3-b]thiophene heterocycles: a DFT study
Authors: Savoo Nandini , Mungur Chahlaa , Rhyman Lydia , Ramasami Ponnadurai , Joule John A.
Published: June 2023

We determined the most preferred site for the electrophilic aromatic substitution (SEAr) reactions of thiophene 1 and thieno[2,3-b]thiophene 2 using the N-chlorosuccinimide electrophile in the gas phase and in acetic acid. The B3LYP/6-311G(d), B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d) and M06-2X/6-311G(d) methods were employed to investigate the SEAr reaction mechanisms. We found that, compared to the β-carbon atom, the α-carbon atom in both 1 and 2 is preferred for electrophilic attack both kinetically and thermodynamically.
Native observers’ evaluations of ritual frame indicating expressions in Chinese
Authors: Li Hui , Ji Jie
Published: June 2023

Ritual frame indicating expressions (henceforth RFIEs) is a concept that re-conceptualizes expressions that are conventionally understood as politeness markers and provides insight into the interface between expressions and politeness. This study supplements previous studies on RFIEs, which are mostly conducted from an analyst perspective, by analyzing native observers’ evaluations of a participant’s use of Chinese RFIEs in the speech act of request. It is found that the use of RFIEs was evaluated as either excessively limao (Chinese politeness1) or limao. The underlying reason for the former evaluation is that the expressions were interpreted as deference markers, and the underlying reason for the latter evaluation is that the expressions were interpreted as civility markers. This study demonstrates that, at least in the speech act of request, RFIEs may indicate different ritual frames for different native observers, which calls for the incorporation of the (meta)participant’s perspective in the study of RFIEs. It also supplements the current view on the usage of conventional politeness-related expressions in Chinese.