bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes-inspired heterocyclic compounds for different applications: synthesis and characterization
Authors: Kandile Nadia G. , Nasr Abir S.
Published: March 2022

Chemical modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with different monomers is a convention method for the development of its properties. In this study, the new multifunctional membranes (PVA-A)1–3, (PVA-P)1–3, (PVA-AG) and (PVA-PG) were designed and synthesized by the reaction of PVA with heterocyclic compounds [N,Nʹ-bi-α-azido succinimide (A), N-phthalimido-α-azido succinimide (P)] and using glutaraldehyde (G) as cross-linker, respectively. The new membranes were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The swelling behavior of the membranes showed that membranes (PVA-P)1–3 exhibited the highest swelling capacity in different solvents. Their antibacterial against (Gram-negative), (Gram-positive) bacteria, and in vitro drug loading and release activities were evaluated. Additionally, metal ions adsorption capacity for copper, cobalt and mercury ions was studied. (PVA-AG) membrane performed the highest inhibitory effect to E. coli, Proteus, S. aureus and B. subtilis bacteria reached 22.9, 25.46, 24.9 and 30.56, respectively. Furthermore, in vitro controlled loading and release of lidocaine, (PVA-A)1 membrane revealed remarkable ability reached 57.37% and 94.59%, respectively. Hydrogel (PVA-AG) showed the highest metal ions (copper, cobalt and mercury) uptake efficiency (64.5, 69.5 and 73), respectively. Based on results, the prepared membranes can be suggested as promising agents for antibacterial, drug delivery systems and metal ions removal from aqueous medium.
Combined PET-CT and MRI for response evaluation in patients with squamous cell anal carcinoma treated with curative-intent chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Adusumilli Pratik , Elsayed Noha , Theophanous Stelios , Samuel Robert , Cooper Rachel , Casanova Nathalie , Tolan Damien J. , Gilbert Alexandra , Scarsbrook Andrew F.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for response assessment post curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC).

Methods

Consecutive ASCC patients treated with curative-intent CRT at a single centre between January 2018 and April 2020 were retrospectively identified. Clinical meta-data including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were collated. Three radiologists evaluated PET-CT and MRI using qualitative response assessment criteria and agreed in consensus. Two-proportion z test was used to compare diagnostic performance metrics (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy). Kaplan-Meier analysis (Mantel-Cox log-rank) was performed.

Results

MRI (accuracy 76%, PPV 44.8%, NPV 95.7%) and PET-CT (accuracy 69.3%, PPV 36.7%, NPV 91.1%) performance metrics were similar; when combined, there were statistically significant improvements (accuracy 94.7%, PPV 78.9%, NPV 100%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant differences in PFS between responders and non-responders at PET-CT (p = 0.007), MRI (p = 0.005), and consensus evaluation (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis of PFS demonstrated a lower hazard ratio (HR) and narrower 95% confidence intervals for consensus findings (HR = 0.093, p < 0.001). Seventy-five patients, of which 52 (69.3%) were females, with median follow-up of 17.8 months (range 5–32.6) were included. Fifteen of the 75 (20%) had persistent anorectal and/or nodal disease after CRT. Three patients died, median time to death 6.2 months (range 5–18.3).

Conclusion

Combined PET-CT and MRI response assessment post-CRT better predicts subsequent outcome than either modality alone. This could have valuable clinical benefits by guiding personalised risk-adapted patient follow-up.

Key Points

• MRI and PET-CT performance metrics for assessing response following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) were similar.

• Combined MRI and PET-CT treatment response assessment 3 months after CRT in patients with ASCC was demonstrated to be superior to either modality alone.

• A combined MRI and PET-CT assessment 3 months after CRT in patients with ASCC has the potential to improve accuracy and guide optimal patient management with a greater ability to predict outcome than either modality alone
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention is associated with improvements in liver damage and in surrogate scores of NAFLD and liver fibrosis in morbidly obese patients
Authors: Bischoff Monika , Zimny Sebastian , Feiner Sebastian , Sauter Johannes , Sydor Svenja , Denk Gerald , Nagel Jutta M. , Bischoff Gert , Rust Christian , Hohenester Simon
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Particularly morbidly obese patients are at risk of developing progressive liver disease. Nutritional and lifestyle intervention is recommended as the standard of care in NAFLD. However, there is a striking lack of evidence to support the efficacy of lifestyle intervention to treat NAFLD in morbidly obese patients. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of lifestyle intervention on NAFLD in the morbidly obese in a real-world setting.

Methods

136 obese patients were included in an industry-independent, multiprofessional lifestyle intervention program with a lead-in phase of 12 weeks of formula diet and a total of 48 weeks intensive counselling. Body weight and markers of the metabolic syndrome were analyzed. Presence of NAFLD was screened for by use of non-invasive markers of fatty liver, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis.

Results

Weight loss goals (i.e. > 5% or > 10% of initial body weight, respectively, depending on baseline BMI) were achieved in 89.7% of subjects in the intention-to-treat analysis and 93.9% in the per-protocol analysis. This was associated with a pronounced improvement in serum ALT values. The percentage of subjects who fulfilled non-invasive criteria for fatty liver dropped from 95.2 to 54.8%. Risk of NASH improved and the number of patients at risk of liver fibrosis declined by 54.1%.

Conclusion

Lifestyle intervention was associated with a marked improvement of serum ALT and an improvement of surrogate scores indicative of NAFLD and, importantly, advanced fibrosis, in a real-world cohort of morbidly obese patients.
Characterizing the transition from immune response to tissue repair after myocardial infarction by multiparametric imaging
Authors: Hess Annika , Borchert Tobias , Ross Tobias L. , Bengel Frank M. , Thackeray James T.
Published: March 2022

Persistent inflammation following myocardial infarction (MI) precipitates adverse outcome including acute ventricular rupture and chronic heart failure. Molecular imaging allows longitudinal assessment of immune cell activity in the infarct territory and predicts severity of remodeling. We utilized a multiparametric imaging platform to assess the immune response and cardiac healing following MI in mice. Suppression of circulating macrophages prior to MI paradoxically resulted in higher total leukocyte content in the heart, demonstrated by increased CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) positron emission tomography imaging. This supported the formation of a thrombus overlying the injured region, as identified by magnetic resonance imaging. The injured and thrombotic region in macrophage depeleted mice subsequently showed active calcification, as evidenced by accumulation of 18F-fluoride and by cardiac computed tomography. Importantly, macrophage suppression triggered a prolonged inflammatory response confirmed by post-mortem tissue analysis that was associated with higher mortality from ventricular rupture early after occlusion and with increased infarct size and worse chronic contractile function at 6 weeks after reperfusion. These findings establish a molecular imaging toolbox for monitoring the interplay between adverse immune response and tissue repair after MI. This may serve as a foundation for development and monitoring of novel targeted therapies that may include immune modulation and endogenous healing support.
Attitudes towards Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) interventions in colorectal surgery: nationwide survey of Australia and New Zealand colorectal surgeons
Authors: Toh James Wei Tatt , Collins Geoffrey Peter , Pathma-Nathan Nimalan , El-Khoury Toufic , Engel Alexander , Smith Stephen , Richardson Arthur , Ctercteko Grahame
Published: March 2022

Background

Whilst Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) has been widely accepted in the international colorectal surgery community, there remains significant variations in ERAS programme implementations, compliance rates and best practice recommendations in international guidelines.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to colorectal surgeons from Australia and New Zealand after ethics approval. It evaluated specialist attitudes towards the effectiveness of specific ERAS interventions in improving short term outcomes after colorectal surgery. The data were analysed using a rating scale and graded response model in item response theory (IRT) on Stata MP, version 15 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX).

Results

Of 300 colorectal surgeons, 95 (31.7%) participated in the survey. Of eighteen ERAS interventions, this study identified eight strategies as most effective in improving ERAS programmes alongside early oral feeding and mobilisation. These included pre-operative iron infusion for anaemic patients (IRT score = 7.82 [95% CI: 6.01–9.16]), minimally invasive surgery (IRT score = 7.77 [95% CI: 5.96–9.07]), early in-dwelling catheter removal (IRT score = 7.69 [95% CI: 5.83–9.01]), pre-operative smoking cessation (IRT score = 7.68 [95% CI: 5.49–9.18]), pre-operative counselling (IRT score = 7.44 [95% CI: 5.58–8.88]), avoiding drains in colon surgery (IRT score = 7.37 [95% CI: 5.17–8.95]), avoiding nasogastric tubes (IRT score = 7.29 [95% CI: 5.32–8.8]) and early drain removal in rectal surgery (IRT score = 5.64 [95% CI: 3.49–7.66]).

Conclusions

This survey has demonstrated the current attitudes of colorectal surgeons from Australia and New Zealand regarding ERAS interventions. Eight of the interventions assessed in this study including pre-operative iron infusion for anaemic patients, minimally invasive surgery, early in-dwelling catheter removal, pre-operative smoking cessation, pre-operative counselling, avoidance of drains in colon surgery, avoiding nasogastric tubes and early drain removal in rectal surgery should be considered an important part of colorectal ERAS programmes.
Raise Caving—A Hybrid Mining Method Addressing Current Deep Cave Mining Challenges
Authors: Ladinig Tobias , Wagner Horst , Karlsson Markus , Wimmer Matthias , Grynienko Michal
Published: March 2022

Cave mining progresses to depths exceeding 1000 m and ore bodies situated in competent and strong rock masses are nowadays extracted by different cave mining methods. Widely applied caving methods in massive deposits are block and panel caving, inclined caving, and sublevel caving. All caving methods have in common that rock mass caves during extraction of an ore body in a controlled way. As a result, regional stress changes occur, considerable abutment stresses form, and large-scale subsidence and significant seismic energy releases occur. Experience shows that these rock mechanics effects become especially critical at great depths, where primary stress magnitudes reach and exceed rock mass strength, as well as in strong competent rock masses, which require large footprints to enable continuous caving. The presented raise caving method addresses previously mentioned rock mechanics issues. Initially, de-stressing slots are developed from raises with a minimum amount of pre-development. Substantial pillars separate neighboring slots in order to control stress magnitudes and seismicity near slots. The slots provide a stress shadow for production infrastructure so that large-scale mineral extraction can take place in de-stressed ground. As mining progresses, pillars are extracted and hanging wall is allowed to cave. Results of a pre-study conducted together with LKAB have highlighted advantages of raise caving from a rock mechanics, safety, and cost point of view.
Beyond ‘migrant background’: how to select relevant, social justice oriented, and feasible social categories in educational research
Authors: Vietze Jana , Schwarzenthal Miriam , Moffitt Ursula , Civitillo Sauro
Published: March 2022

Across continental Europe, educational research samples are often divided by ‘migrant background’, a binary variable criticized for masking participant heterogeneity and reinforcing exclusionary norms of belonging. This study endorses more meaningful, representative, and precise research by offering four guiding questions for selecting relevant, social justice oriented, and feasible social categories for collecting and analysing data in psychological and educational research. Using a preregistered empirical example, we first compare selected social categories (‘migrant background’, family heritage, religion, citizenship, cultural identification, and generation status) in their potential to reveal participant heterogeneity. Second, we investigate differences in means and relations between variables (discrimination experiences, perceived societal Islamophobia, and national identity) and academic motivation among 1335 adolescents in Germany (48% female, Mage = 14.69). Regression analyses and multigroup SEM revealed differential experiences with and implications of discrimination for academic motivation. Results highlight the need for a deliberate, transparent use of social categories to make discrimination visible and centre participants’ subjective experiences.
In Silico Characterization and Expression Analysis of GIGANTEA Genes in Potato
Authors: Karsai-Rektenwald Flóra , Odgerel Khongorzul , Jose Jeny , Bánfalvi Zsófia
Published: March 2022

GIGANTEA (GI) genes are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom and are involved in diverse processes from flowering during stress responses to tuberization; the latter occurs in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). GI genes have a diurnal cycle of expression; however, no details on the regulation of GI gene expression in potato have been reported thus far. The aim of our work was the analysis of the GI promoter sequence and studying GI expression in different organs and under abiotic stress conditions in potato. Two GI genes homologous to Arabidopsis GI located on chromosomes 4 and 12 (StGI.04 and StGI.12) were identified in the genome-sequenced potato S. phureja. The GI promoter regions of the commercial potato cultivar ‘Désirée’ were cloned and found to be almost identical to the S. phureja GI promoter sequence. More than ten TF families binding to the GI promoters were predicted. EVENING ELEMENT and ABSCISIC ACID RESPONSE ELEMENT LIKE elements related to circadian regulation and a binding site for POTATO HOMEOBOX 20 presumably involved in tuber initiation were detected in both GI promoters. However, the locations of these elements and several other cis-acting regulatory elements as well as the organ-specific expression and responses of the genes to abiotic stresses and abscisic acid were different. Thus, we presume that the function of StGI.04 and StGI.12 are at least partially different. This study lays foundation for further investigation of the roles of GI genes in potato.
Assessment of potassium soil balances and availability in high yielding rice systems
Authors: Linquist Bruce A. , Campbell Johnny C. , Southard Randal J.
Published: March 2022

Plant demand for K in rice is comparable to nitrogen. With yields and management practices changing, refining K fertility management and decision-making tools is necessary. Our objectives were to determine (1) how soil K balances affect soil K indices, (2) the best soil test indicator of plant K availability, and (3) the relationships between plant and soil K indices. We assessed soil (plow layer) and flag-leaf samples from 55 commercial rice fields in California. Growers provided historical information on K fertility practices, straw management, and yields to develop a soil K balance. A soil K balance average of − 15 kg K ha−1 yr−1(range: − 72 to 47) suggested an increased likelihood of K infertility; however, K balance was not correlated with soil K indices or flag-leaf K. This, plus the potential for K losses and fixation of surplus K, suggests that attempting to build up soil K may not be an effective strategy. Soil K indices were poorly correlated with plant K, but 1 N NH4OAc-extractable K (Kext) was the best of the K indices tested. Soils that were low in Kext had low clay content, CEC, and K saturation, a high Ca + Mg:K ratio, and showed evidence of K fixation. Soil K varied regionally and may be related to irrigation water and soil parent material. The critical level for Kext (currently 60 mg K kg−1) may need to be revised based on our findings, as there was evidence of K deficiencies above this concentration.
Exploring hospital efficiency within and between Italian regions: new empirical evidence
Authors: Barra Cristian , Lagravinese Raffaele , Zotti Roberto
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates the efficiency of Italian hospitals and how their performances have changed over the years 2007–2016, characterized by the great economic recession and budget constraints. We apply the Benefit of Doubt (BoD) approach to determine a composite index that considers the multi-dimensionality of the hospital outcome to be used as main output in a metafrontier production function based on a stochastic frontier framework. The efficiency score distribution is then used to construct a Theil index in order to compare, over time, the inequality of the estimated efficiency between hospitals, both within and between regions. The main findings show that the primary source of inefficiency comes from managerial inefficiency especially for hospitals located in southern regions. A clear and persistent North-South gap in efficiency performances of hospitals has been found along with an increase in the inequality in terms of efficiency between the areas of the country mostly determined by between region inequality.
Relativizing proportionality to a domain of events
Authors: Touborg Caroline Torpe
Published: March 2022

A cause is proportional to its effect when, roughly speaking, it is at the right level of detail. There is a lively debate about whether proportionality is a necessary condition for causation. One of the main arguments against a proportionality constraint on causation is that many ordinary and seemingly perfectly acceptable causal claims cite causes that are not proportional to their effects. In this paper, I suggest that proponents of a proportionality constraint can respond to this objection by developing an idea that is present in Yablo’s early work on proportionality, but which has strangely been ignored by both Yablo and others in the subsequent debate. My suggestion is that proportionality—and, indeed, causation itself—is relative to a domain of events. At the metaphysical level, this means that the causal relation has an extra relatum—namely, a domain of events. At the level of language, it introduces a new way in which causal claims are context-sensitive: what is expressed by a causal claim depends on the contextually relevant domain of events. As I argue, this suggestion allows us to accommodate the truth of ordinary causal claims while extending the explanatory benefits of a proportionality constraint.
SoftPool++: An Encoder–Decoder Network for Point Cloud Completion
Authors: Wang Yida , Tan David Joseph , Navab Nassir , Tombari Federico
Published: March 2022

We propose a novel convolutional operator for the task of point cloud completion. One striking characteristic of our approach is that, conversely to related work it does not require any max-pooling or voxelization operation. Instead, the proposed operator used to learn the point cloud embedding in the encoder extracts permutation-invariant features from the point cloud via a soft-pooling of feature activations, which are able to preserve fine-grained geometric details. These features are then passed on to a decoder architecture. Due to the compression in the encoder, a typical limitation of this type of architectures is that they tend to lose parts of the input shape structure. We propose to overcome this limitation by using skip connections specifically devised for point clouds, where links between corresponding layers in the encoder and the decoder are established. As part of these connections, we introduce a transformation matrix that projects the features from the encoder to the decoder and vice-versa. The quantitative and qualitative results on the task of object completion from partial scans on the ShapeNet dataset show that incorporating our approach achieves state-of-the-art performance in shape completion both at low and high resolutions.
Robust utility maximizing strategies under model uncertainty and their convergence
Authors: Sass Jörn , Westphal Dorothee
Published: March 2022

In this paper we investigate a utility maximization problem with drift uncertainty in a multivariate continuous-time Black–Scholes type financial market which may be incomplete. We impose a constraint on the admissible strategies that prevents a pure bond investment and we include uncertainty by means of ellipsoidal uncertainty sets for the drift. Our main results consist firstly in finding an explicit representation of the optimal strategy and the worst-case parameter, secondly in proving a minimax theorem that connects our robust utility maximization problem with the corresponding dual problem. Thirdly, we show that, as the degree of model uncertainty increases, the optimal strategy converges to a generalized uniform diversification strategy.
What Clinical Trials Are Needed for Treatment of Leiomyosarcoma?
Authors: Kasper Bernd , D’Ambrosio Lorenzo , Davis Elizabeth J. , Ingham Matthew , Broto Javier Martin , Trent Jonathan C. , van Houdt Winan J. , Van Tine Brian A.
Published: March 2022

Opinion statement

Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas accounting for approximately 20% of sarcomas. As leiomyosarcoma patients frequently develop metastatic disease, effective systemic therapies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. The overall activity of the currently available conventional systemic therapies and the prognosis of patients with advanced and/or metastatic disease are poor. As such, the treatment of this patient population remains challenging. As a result, there is a clear unmet medical need, and designing and performing meaningful clinical studies are of utmost importance to improve the prognosis of this patient group. Therefore, the aim of this review is to briefly summarize state-of-the-art treatments for leiomyosarcoma patients and to describe trial characteristics needed for informative clinical studies.
Astronomers’ representations of the earth and day / night cycle: Implications for children’s acquisition of scientific concepts
Authors: Nobes Gavin , Frède Valérie , Panagiotaki Georgia
Published: March 2022

Previous researchers (e.g., Vosniadou and Brewer, Cognitive Psychology 24:535–585, 1992) have claimed that children have naïve, but coherent, mental models of the earth, such as the flat earth and the hollow sphere. Recent studies have challenged this view, focusing on the original researchers’ methods of testing (drawing and open questions) and coding. In this study we tested the construct validity of these methods by asking expert astronomers to complete the same test originally used with 5-year-olds. Many astronomers gave responses that, if given by young children, would have been considered non-scientific and as evidence of naïve mental models. Many gave two or more seemingly contradictory answers to the same questions and, even when only their ‘most scientific’ responses were considered, fewer than 50% of these expert scientists were classified as having coherent scientific mental models. Comparison with children’s responses to a rephrased and disambiguated task indicated that even 6–7-year-olds gave more scientific answers. The astronomers’ comments revealed the main reasons why the original task lacks validity: they found many questions confusing and ambiguous. This may well explain many children’s responses, too. Since the task incorrectly indicates that experts in the field have fundamental misconceptions, it is likely also to have led to substantial underestimates of children’s scientific understanding.
18F-FDG PET/CT as predictive and prognostic factor in esophageal cancer treated with combined modality treatment
Authors: Krengli Marco , Ferrara Eleonora , Guaschino Riccardo , Puta Erinda , Turri Lucia , Luciani Ilaria , Sacchetti Gian Mauro , Franco Pierfrancesco , Brambilla Marco
Published: March 2022

Purpose

[18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F] FDG-PET/CT) is used for diagnosis, staging, response assessment and prognosis prediction in different tumors, but its role in esophageal cancer is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of semiquantitative baseline PET parameters as possible prognostic and predictive factors in a series of esophageal carcinomas treated with combined modalities.

Methods

43 patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery in 20 cases and underwent pre-treatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Semiquantitative PET parameters were evaluated including Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax e SUVmean), Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) and Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) with isocontour of 41 and 50%. Further variables analyzed were gender, primary tumor site, histological type, use of surgery, achievement of a radical resection and the type of chemotherapy regimen. The correlation of all variables with treatment response, loco-regional control (LR), Overall survival (OS) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS) was evaluated.

Results

SUVmax, SUVmean50 and SUVmean41 were significantly higher in node-positive cases and in squamous cell carcinomas. With respect to prognostic factors, MTV was found to be correlated with OS: patients with MTV41 < 11.32 cm3 and MTV50 < 8.07 cm3 (both p values = 0.04) showed better 3-year OS rates (33 vs. 20%). Further factors predicting a better prognosis were the use of surgery and radical resection (R0) (both p values < 0.01).

Conclusions

Pre-treatment MTV values were significant prognostic factors for OS, together with the use of surgery and R0 resection in esophageal cancers treated with multimodal therapies.
Traits and Distorted Symptom Presentation: a Scoping Review
Authors: van Helvoort Daniël , Merckelbach Harald , van Nieuwenhuizen Chijs , Otgaar Henry
Published: March 2022

Are personality traits related to symptom overreporting and/or symptom underreporting? With this question in mind, we evaluated studies from 1979 to 2020 (k = 55), in which personality traits were linked to scores on stand-alone validity tests, including symptom validity tests (SVTs) and measures of socially desirable responding (SDR) and/or supernormality. As to symptom overreporting (k = 14), associations with depression, alexithymia, apathy, dissociation, and fantasy proneness varied widely from weak to strong (rs .27 to .79). For underreporting (k = 41), inconsistent links (rs − .43 to .63) were found with narcissism, whereas alexithymia and dissociation were often associated with lower SDR tendencies, although effect sizes were small. Taken together, the extant literature mainly consists of cross-sectional studies on single traits and contexts, mostly offering weak correlations that do not necessarily reflect causation. What this field lacks is an overarching theory relating traits to symptom reporting. Longitudinal studies involving a broad range of traits, samples, and incentives would be informative. Until such studies have been done, traits are best viewed as modest concomitants of symptom distortion.
Underwater LED-based Lagrangian particle tracking velocimetry
Authors: Viola Ignazio Maria , Nila Alex , Davey Thomas , Gabl Roman
Published: March 2022

A new white-light volumetric flow measurement technique is presented that can be used in large-scale facilities. The technique enables large volumes to be measured with high temporal and spatial resolution and without the need for a class-4 laser. This LED-based Lagrangian particle tracking velocimetry is demonstrated by measuring the tip vortex formation and the near wake of a 1.2 m diameter tidal turbine in a 25 m diameter, 2 m deep tank. Seven streamwise-distributed volumes of interest are combined, each 334 mm long, 244 mm wide and 140 mm deep, reaching up to one diameter downstream of the turbine. The system does not require re-calibration when moved. By assuming a periodic flow field, a phase-averaged flow field was reconstructed with a temporal resolution of 3.9 ms and a spatial resolution of 5.4 mm. The large volume and high time and spatial resolution could enable key research questions to be addressed on high-Reynolds-number flows and could provide valuable benchmark data for numerical model development and code validation.

Graphical abstract
Polysaccharides from Tamarindus indica L. as natural kinetic hydrates inhibitor at high subcooling environment
Authors: Effendi Adam Daniel , Jiaqi Low , Sia Chee Wee , Jasamai Mazuin , Sulaimon Aliyu Adebayo
Published: March 2022

In an offshore system, hydrocarbon fluids are produced at deeper depths in the oceans, and extended pipelines delivering fluids over long distances are common. Subsequently, these practices increase the tendency of unprocessed water-containing hydrocarbon fluid to be exposed to lower temperatures and higher pressures conditions where hydrate formation is favourable. One of the solutions to resolve this problem is by introducing hydrate inhibitors preferably low dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs). The more versatile LDHIs; Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHIs) could further be optimised in cost and its biodegradation properties. The current study used an ionic, neutral, hydrophilic, mucoadhesive and highly branchedTamarindus indica L. polysaccharide(TSP).TSP as a new natural kinetic hydrate inhibitor due to its high methoxyl content. In this study, the polysaccharides were extracted using water-based extraction method which resulted in 61.3% yield. The performance of TSP in delaying the clathrate hydrates formation was evaluated based on the induction time recorded from the thermogram generated by a high pressure micro-differential scanning calorimeter device (HP-μDSC) at pressure of 5 MPa with subcooling degree of 17.3 °C. Three TSP concentrations (0.10 wt%, 0.25 wt%, and 0.50 wt%) were tested to determine the optimal concentration used to increase the delay time at the prescribed conditions while comparing it to a condition when there is no addition of TSP. The outcomes shows that TSP is able to delay hydrates formation at high degree of subcooling. The TSP works well at low concentration at high degree of subcooling while remain relatively economical and biodegradable.
Out of the Woods Yet? The Continuing Impact of National Standards on New Zealand Music Education
Authors: Browne Jade
Published: March 2022

Several years have passed since the removal of National Standards, however the current provision and enactment of music education in New Zealand remains unknown. Using a case study, this article seeks to illustrate the current practice of music education at one high decile primary school. This study finds that despite the removal National Standards, reading, writing and mathematics have continued to be prioritised, dominating classroom timetables, initial teacher education and the allocation of resources and professional development. With limited opportunities for music-making in the classroom, I argue that practice has stagnated and without targeted policies, music will continue to be marginalised within the curriculum.
Mass estimation method for intelligent vehicles based on fusion of machine learning and vehicle dynamic model
Authors: Yu Zhuoping , Hou Xinchen , Leng Bo , Huang Yuyao
Published: March 2022

Vehicle mass is an important parameter for motion control of intelligent vehicles, but is hard to directly measure using normal sensors. Therefore, accurate estimation of vehicle mass becomes crucial. In this paper, a vehicle mass estimation method based on fusion of machine learning and vehicle dynamic model is introduced. In machine learning method, a feedforward neural network (FFNN) is used to learn the relationship between vehicle mass and other state parameters, namely longitudinal speed and acceleration, driving or braking torque, and wheel angular speed. In dynamics-based method, recursive least square (RLS) with forgetting factor based on vehicle dynamic model is used to estimate the vehicle mass. According to the reliability of each method under different conditions, these two methods are fused using fuzzy logic. Simulation tests under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) condition are carried out. The simulation results show that the estimation accuracy of the fusion method is around 97%, and that the fusion method performs better stability and robustness compared with each single method.
Low-Intensity Electrostimulation Enhances Neuroregeneration and Improves Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury
Authors: Sturny Mikael , Karakus Serkan , Fraga-Silva Rodrigo , Stergiopulos Nikolaos , Burnett Arthur L.
Published: March 2022

Background

Neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) following radical prostatectomy (RP) is a frequent complication often leading to erectile tissue remodeling and permanent ED. Low-intensity electrostimulation (LIES) has been shown to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, however, its application on cavernous nerves (CN) has never been investigated.

Aims

To investigate whether LIES enhances CN regeneration, improves erectile function (EF) recovery, and prevents corpora cavernosal remodeling after CN injury, which is a principal factor for ED following RP.

Methods

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into Sham, Bilateral Cavernous Nerve Injury (BCNI), and BCNI + LIES (1V, 0.1ms, 12Hz, 1h/day). After 7days, EF was assessed (ICP measurement). Penes and CN were collected for molecular analyses of TGF-β1, Il-6, CRP, eNOS, ERK and AKT protein levels in corpus cavernosum (CC), and immunohistological analysis of DHE, total collagen and α-SMA in CC and S-100, Tub-III, DAPI, TUNEL, and nNOS in CN.

Outcomes

Effects of LIES on EF, erectile tissue remodeling and CN structure.

Results

EF was decreased (P < .05) 7 days after BCNI and increased (P < .05) by LIES. Intracavernosal reactive oxygen species (DHE) was increased (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. Protein expressions of TGF-β1, IL-6, and CRP were increased in the penis (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. The α-SMA and/or total collagen ratio was decreased (P < .05) after BCNI in the penis and normalized by LIES. Protein expression ratio of p-ERK/ERK and p-AKT/AKT did not change after BCNI but increased (P < .05) in LIES group. Myelination and number of nNOS positive cells in the CN were decreased (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. The number of apoptotic nerve cells within the dorsal penile nerve was increased (P < .05) after BCNI and decreased (P < .05) by LIES compared to the BCNI group. There were no differences in eNOS expression in the penis between study groups.

Clinical Translation

LIES may offer a potential new tool for penile rehabilitation and ED management following RP, potentially enhancing EF recovery and minimizing the side effects of this surgery.

Strengths & Limitations

This study provides evidence of the protective effect of LIES on EF and tissue remodeling following CN injury; nevertheless, this study has been conducted on animals and the translation to humans remains to be demonstrated. Further research to identify the underlying mechanisms of action is required.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that LIES of the CN after CN injury protects CN structure, enhances EF recovery, and prevents corpora cavernosal remodeling.
TheQalandarKing: Early Development of theQalandariyyātand Saljuq Conceptions of Kingship in Amir Moʿezzi's Panegyric for Sharafshāh Jaʿfari
Authors: Miller Matthew Thomas
Published: March 2022

Historical treatments of the “rogue lyrics” (qalandariyyāt) of medieval Persian poetry typically identify their origin in the Sufi poetry of Bābā Tāher, Abu Saʿid, and Sanāʾi and portray them as a poetic instantiation of the intellectual and antinomian critiques of the formalistic modes of piety practiced in the increasingly powerful institutionalized Sufi orders. However, theqalandaripanegyrics of the Saljuq court poets Borhāni and Amir Moʿezzi—arguably the earliest datable examples of this poetry—analyzed in this article complicate this narrative. They utilize the heterotopic poetics of theqalandariyyātnot to subvert or critique, but rather to augment the sociopolitical authority of the ruler of Qazvin, constructing a new and distinctly Saljuq model of Islamic kingship, aQalandarKing.
Dose–response efficacy of mulberry fruit extract for reducing post-prandial blood glucose and insulin responses: randomised trial evidence in healthy adults
Authors: Mela David J , Cao Xiu-Zhen , Govindaiah Santhosh , Hiemstra Harry , Kalathil Ramitha , Lin Li , Manoj Joshi , Mi Tingyan , Verhoeven Carole
Published: March 2022

Extracts of mulberry have been shown to reduce post-prandial glucose (PPG) and insulin (PPI) responses, but reliability of these effects and required doses and specifications are unclear. We previously found that 1·5 g of a specified mulberry fruit extract (MFE) significantly reduced PPG and PPI responses to 50 g carbohydrate as rice porridge, with no indications of intolerance. The trials reported here aimed to replicate that work and assess the efficacy of lower MFE doses, using boiled rice as the carbohydrate source. Two separate randomised controlled intervention studies were carried out with healthy Indian males and females aged 20–50 years (n 84 per trial), with PPG area under the curve over 2 h as the primary outcome. Trial 1 used doses of 0, 0·37, 0·75, 1·12 and 1·5 g MFE in boiled rice and 0 or 1·5 g MFE in rice porridge. Trial 2 used doses of 0, 0·04, 0·12, 0·37 g MFE in boiled rice. In trial 1, relative to control, all MFE doses significantly decreased PPG (–27·2 to −22·9 %; all P ≤ 0·02) and PPI (–34·6 to −14·0 %, all P < 0·01). Breath hydrogen was significantly increased only at 1·5 g MFE (in rice porridge), and self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms were uniformly low. In trial 2, only 0·37 g MFE significantly affected PPG (–20·4 %, P = 0·002) and PPI (–17·0 %, P < 0·001). Together, these trials show that MFE in doses as low as 0·37 g can reliably reduce PPG and PPI responses to a carbohydrate-rich meal, with no apparent adverse effects.
Poetry for linguistic description: The Maldives inside and outside the Arabic cosmopolis in 1890
Authors: Field Garrett
Published: March 2022

In 1890, the Maldivian judge and poet Sheikh Muhammad Jamaluddin connected poetry with linguistic description in two ways. First, when he described features of the Dhivehi language with the aid of Arabic linguistic theory, he used Dhivehi poetry as linguistic evidence for correct usage. Second, he authored Dhivehi-language poetry about Arabic linguistic theory. Cosmopolis scholarship relates a narrative of how the wide circulation of Sanskrit, Arabic, and/or Persian fostered a vast network of writers who authored texts in major vernacular languages like Bengali, Burmese, Javanese, Kannada, Khmer, Malay, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, and Urdu. This scholarship suggests that authors living within a particular cosmopolis wrote in divergent vernacular languages yet were, in some sense, connected because they translated and responded creatively to the same widely circulated source texts written in Sanskrit, Arabic, and/or Persian. Yet in cosmopolis scholarship's effort to reveal understudied connections, various degrees of disconnection among writers of vernacular languages within a cosmopolis tend to be missed. One problem of overlooking disconnection among writers of vernacular languages is that readers could mistakenly conflate superculture-subculture interaction with intercultural interaction. In this article, I argue that Dhivehi-language poetry and linguistic description was inside the Arabic cosmopolis but simultaneously outside, because in circa 1890 non-Maldivians in the Arabic cosmopolis of South and Southeast Asia could not even read the Thaana script of the Dhivehi language.
Variational model with nonstandard growth conditions for restoration of satellite optical images using synthetic aperture radar
Authors: D’APICE C. , KOGUT P.I. , MANZO R. , UVAROV M.V.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the problem of restoration of cloud contaminated optical images is studied in the case when we have no information about brightness of such images in the damage region. We propose a new variational approach for exact restoration of optical multi-band images utilising Synthetic Aperture Radar (EOS – Spatial Data Analytics, GIS Software, Satellite Imagery – is a cloud-based platform to derive remote sensing data and analyse satellite imagery for business and science purposes) images of the same regions. We prove existence of solutions, propose an alternating minimisation method for computing them, prove convergence of this method to weak solutions of the original problem and derive optimality conditions.
Transport Terrorism: A Counter-Terrorism Medicine Analysis
Authors: Tin Derrick , Barten Dennis G. , De Cauwer Harald , Ciottone Gregory R.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Many capital cities around the world have been subjected to terrorist attacks on their transport systems with devastating consequences. Large crowds in small enclosed spaces, disruption to people movement, and the psychosocial and financial repercussions of attacks are some of the many soft target vulnerabilities of mass-transit systems.

This study is an epidemiological examination of all terrorism-related events targeting air, sea, and ground transport modalities sustained from 1970-2019, comparing the rates of fatal injuries (FI) and non-fatal injuries (NFI).

Method:

The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) was downloaded and searched using the internal database search functions for all events that occurred from January 1, 1970 - December 31, 2019. Years 2020 and 2021 were not yet available at the time of the study. “Transportation,” “Airport and Aircraft,” and “Maritime” as primary target types were selected for the purpose of this study, and events were further sub-classified by region, weapon type used, and by suicide attack (SA). “Airport personnel” were excluded. All classifications and sub-classifications were pre-determined by the GTD.

Results:

There were 8,729 transportation-related (air, sea, and ground) attacks documented during the study period with 19,020 fatalities and 45,218 NFI. This accounted for 5.2% of all terrorist attacks (168,003 total events), 5.6% of all FI (total 339,435), and 9.1% of all NFI (total 496,225). The mean FI was 2.2 per event and the mean NFI was 5.2 per attack.

South Asia (28.4%), Middle East and North Africa (18.2%), and South America (14.9%) accounted for 61.5% of all transport related attacks. Attacks on subways inflicted a disproportionately high 51.5 NFI per attack. Suicide attacks recorded the highest ratios for both FI (13.71 per attack) and NFI (139.00 per attack).

Conclusion:

Transport modalities are vulnerable terrorist soft targets. The repercussions of attacks on public transport modalities represent a significant and unique psychosocial and economical risk to the affected communities. Suicide attacks on subways represent a unique and significantly higher casualty risk than other transport modalities. Risk mitigation strategies should be regularly revisited by Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) specialists.
Foul Ball Rates and Injuries at Major League Baseball Games: A Retrospective Analysis of Data from Three Stadiums
Authors: Milsten Andrew , Bradley William F. , Hill Michael , Sacco Weston , Henes Mina
Published: March 2022

Importance:

This paper provides a large-scale, per Major League Baseball (MLB) game analysis of foul ball (FB) injury data and provides estimates of injury frequency and severity.

Objective:

This study’s goal was to quantify and describe the rate and type of FB injuries at MLB games.

Design:

This was a retrospective review of medical care reports for patients evaluated by on-site health care providers (HCPs) over a non-contiguous 11-year period (2005-2016). Data were obtained using Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Setting:

Data were received from three US-based MLB stadiums.

Results:

The review reported 0.42-0.55 FB injuries per game that were serious enough to warrant presentation at a first aid center. This translated to a patients per 10,000 fans rate (PPTT) of 0.13-0.23. The transport to hospital rate (TTHR) was 0.02-0.39. Frequently, FB injuries required analgesics but were overwhelmingly minor and occurred less often than non-FB traumatic injuries (5.2% versus 42%-49%). However, FB injured fans were more likely to need higher levels of care and transport to hospital (TH) as compared to people suffering other traumatic injuries at the ballpark. Contusions or head injuries were common. Finally, FB injured fans were often hit in the abdomen, upper extremity, face, or head. It was found that FB injuries appeared to increase with time, and this increase in injuries aligns with the sudden increase in popularity of smartphones in the United States.

Conclusions and Relevance:

These data suggest that in roughly every two or three MLB games, a foul ball causes a serious enough injury that a fan seeks medical attention. This rate is high enough to warrant attention, but is comparable in frequency to other diagnostic categories. Assessing the risk to fans from FBs remains difficult, but with access to uniform data, researchers could answer persistent questions that would lead to actionable changes and help guide public policy towards safer stadiums.
The Pervasive Problem of Post Hoc Data Selection in Studies on Unconscious Processing
Authors: Rothkirch Marcus , Shanks David R. , Hesselmann Guido
Published: March 2022

Abstract: Studies on unconscious mental processes typically require that participants are unaware of some information (e.g., a visual stimulus). An important methodological question in this field of research is how to deal with data from participants who become aware of the critical stimulus according to some measure of awareness. While it has previously been argued that the post hoc selection of participants dependent on an awareness measure may often result in regression-to-the-mean artifacts (Shanks, 2017), a recent article ( Sklar et al., 2021 ) challenged this conclusion claiming that the consideration of this statistical artifact might lead to unjustified rejections of true unconscious influences. In this reply, we explain this pervasive statistical problem with a basic and concrete example, show that Sklar et al. fundamentally mischaracterize it, and then refute the argument that the influence of the artifact has previously been overestimated. We conclude that, without safeguards, the method of post hoc data selection should never be employed in studies on unconscious processing.