bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infant sleep as a topic in healthcare guidance of parents, prenatally and the first 6 months after birth: a scoping review
Authors: Landsem Inger Pauline , Cheetham Nina Bøhle
Published: September 2022

Background

This scoping review focuses on infant sleep-related factors and themes that are relevant when health practitioners provide preventive health services to expectant and new parents.

Methods

A systematic literature search in CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO, published in 2010 or later, identified 1661 records. The search was further narrowed to focus on sleep in healthy term-born infants until the second half of the first year of life. A blinded review by both authors covered 136 papers, of which 43 papers were reviewed in the full text. Finally, 38 articles were included in the data extraction.

Results

The analysis process showed that the selected studies formed three main information categories: 11 studies thematised safe infant sleep issues, 10 studies described design and findings from sleep-related intervention studies, and 17 studies focused on different parent-child interactive aspects that may influence the quality and duration of infant sleep in the first six months of life.

The main finding is that knowledge about early infant sleep is very complex, and includes both child, parent, and environmental factors. Several studies have shown that the concepts and factors related to safe infant sleep also influence the development of healthy infant sleep patterns. Thus, these aspects are interwoven with each other and should be addressed together in communication with parents.

Conclusions

Health practitioners with different professional backgrounds need to search for an agreement on when and how different aspects of sleep-related knowledge should be communicated to new and expectant parents to enable the design of national follow-up programs. Parents want coherent and personalized services regarding infant sleep issues that may allow them to choose sleeping arrangements, routines, and behaviors that fit in with their sociocultural attitudes and traditions. Many different sources and formats may be used to empower parents regarding infant sleep issues. Studies have described the use of group or individual meetings, videos, and written materials. The key issue is the importance of consistent and seamless knowledge-based services.
Sex-specific patterns and lifetime risk of multimorbidity in the general population: a 23-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Velek Premysl , Luik Annemarie I. , Brusselle Guy G. O. , Stricker Bruno Ch. , Bindels Patrick J. E. , Kavousi Maryam , Kieboom Brenda C. T. , Voortman Trudy , Ruiter Rikje , Ikram M. Arfan , Ikram M. Kamran , de Schepper Evelien I. T. , Licher Silvan
Published: September 2022

Background

Multimorbidity poses a major challenge for care coordination. However, data on what non-communicable diseases lead to multimorbidity, and whether the lifetime risk differs between men and women are lacking. We determined sex-specific differences in multimorbidity patterns and estimated sex-specific lifetime risk of multimorbidity in the general population.

Methods

We followed 6,094 participants from the Rotterdam Study aged 45 years and older for the occurrence of ten diseases (cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, dementia, asthma, heart failure, parkinsonism). We visualised participants’ trajectories from a single disease to multimorbidity and the most frequent combinations of diseases. We calculated sex-specific lifetime risk of multimorbidity, considering multimorbidity involving only somatic diseases (1) affecting the same organ system, (2) affecting different organ systems, and (3) multimorbidity involving depression.

Results

Over the follow-up period (1993–2016, median years of follow-up 9.2), we observed 6334 disease events. Of the study population, 10.3% had three or more diseases, and 27.9% had two or more diseases. The most frequent pair of co-occurring diseases among men was COPD and cancer (12.5% of participants with multimorbidity), the most frequent pair of diseases among women was depression and dementia (14.9%). The lifetime risk of multimorbidity was similar among men (66.0%, 95% CI: 63.2–68.8%) and women (65.1%, 95% CI: 62.5–67.7%), yet the risk of multimorbidity with depression was higher for women (30.9%, 95% CI: 28.4–33.5%, vs. 17.5%, 95% CI: 15.2–20.1%). The risk of multimorbidity with two diseases affecting the same organ is relatively low for both sexes (4.2% (95% CI: 3.2–5.5%) for men and 4.5% (95% CI: 3.5–5.7%) for women).

Conclusions

Two thirds of people over 45 will develop multimorbidity in their remaining lifetime, with women at nearly double the risk of multimorbidity involving depression than men. These findings call for programmes of integrated care to consider sex-specific differences to ensure men and women are served equally.
External validation of models for predicting risk of colorectal cancer using the China Kadoorie Biobank
Authors: Abhari Roxanna E. , Thomson Blake , Yang Ling , Millwood Iona , Guo Yu , Yang Xiaoming , Lv Jun , Avery Daniel , Pei Pei , Wen Peng , Yu Canqing , Chen Yiping , Chen Junshi , Li Liming , Chen Zhengming , Kartsonaki Christiana
Published: September 2022

Background

In China, colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality have been steadily increasing over the last decades. Risk models to predict incident CRC have been developed in various populations, but they have not been systematically externally validated in a Chinese population. 

This study aimed to assess the performance of risk scores in predicting CRC using the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB), one of the largest and geographically diverse prospective cohort studies in China.

Methods

Nine models were externally validated in 512,415 participants in CKB and included 2976 cases of CRC. Model discrimination was assessed, overall and by sex, age, site, and geographic location, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Model discrimination of these nine models was compared to a model using age alone. Calibration was assessed for five models, and they were re-calibrated in CKB.

Results

The three models with the highest discrimination (Ma (Cox model) AUC 0.70 [95% CI 0.69–0.71]; Aleksandrova 0.70 [0.69–0.71]; Hong 0.69 [0.67–0.71]) included the variables age, smoking, and alcohol. These models performed significantly better than using a model based on age alone (AUC of 0.65 [95% CI 0.64–0.66]). Model discrimination was generally higher in younger participants, males, urban environments, and for colon cancer. The two models (Guo and Chen) developed in Chinese populations did not perform better than the others. Among the 10% of participants with the highest risk, the three best performing models identified 24–26% of participants that went on to develop CRC.

Conclusions

Several risk models based on easily obtainable demographic and modifiable lifestyle factor have good discrimination in a Chinese population. The three best performing models have a higher discrimination than using a model based on age alone.
Rare syringoid eccrine carcinoma of the upper lip and nasal base treated with resection and subsequent innovative reconstruction using an Abbé flap, turbinate flaps and three-stage forehead flap: a case report
Authors: Dvořák Zdeněk , Pink Richard , Heinz Petr , Michálek Jaroslav , Krsička Petr
Published: September 2022

Background

Although syringoma is a common benign tumour of the sudoriferous gland, there is also an extremely rare malignant form known as syringoid eccrine carcinoma (SEC). SEC usually exhibits slow growth with deep invasion and a frequent tendency to relapse. The treatment of choice is radical wide resection, which poses a difficult reconstructive problem, especially when the tumour is located in the centre of the face.

Case presentation

In this case, a 70-year-old man was diagnosed with an SEC at the same location as a benign syringoma of the upper lip and nasal base that had undergone primary excision 7 years prior. Primary radical resection was performed with immediate Abbé flap reconstruction. Nevertheless, histology revealed positive margins, and 3 additional re-excisions were needed to achieve clear margins. Four months after the initial resection, the patient had undergone an innovative reconstruction technique including not only the Abbé flap but also a turbinate flap harvested with functional endonasal surgery and a three-stage forehead flap.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a suspect malignant transformation of a benign syringoma after 7 years. In addition, from oncoplastic and reconstructive points of view, the bilateral use of the turbinate flap for reconstructing the intranasal lining of the alar base is unusual, and the use of functional endonasal surgery in nasal reconstruction for reducing the risk of damaging the vascular supply of the flap is innovative.
A catalog of validity indices for step counting wearable technologies during treadmill walking: the CADENCE-adults study
Authors: Mora-Gonzalez Jose , Gould Zachary R. , Moore Christopher C. , Aguiar Elroy J. , Ducharme Scott W. , Schuna John M. , Barreira Tiago V. , Staudenmayer John , McAvoy Cayla R. , Boikova Mariya , Miller Taavy A. , Tudor-Locke Catrine
Published: September 2022

Background

Standardized validation indices (i.e., accuracy, bias, and precision) provide a comprehensive comparison of step counting wearable technologies.

Purpose

To expand a previously published child/youth catalog of validity indices to include adults (21–40, 41–60 and 61–85 years of age) assessed across a range of treadmill speeds (slow [0.8–3.2 km/h], normal [4.0–6.4 km/h], fast [7.2–8.0 km/h]) and device wear locations (ankle, thigh, waist, and wrist).

Methods

Two hundred fifty-eight adults (52.5 ± 18.7 years, 49.6% female) participated in this laboratory-based study and performed a series of 5-min treadmill bouts while wearing multiple devices; 21 devices in total were evaluated over the course of this multi-year cross-sectional study (2015–2019). The criterion measure was directly observed steps. Computed validity indices included accuracy (mean absolute percentage error, MAPE), bias (mean percentage error, MPE), and precision (correlation coefficient, r; standard deviation, SD; coefficient of variation, CoV).

Results

Over the range of normal speeds, 15 devices (Actical, waist-worn ActiGraph GT9X, activPAL, Apple Watch Series 1, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit One, Fitbit Zip, Garmin vivoactive 3, Garmin vivofit 3, waist-worn GENEActiv, NL-1000, PiezoRx, Samsung Gear Fit2, Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, and StepWatch) performed at < 5% MAPE. The wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X displayed the worst accuracy across normal speeds (MAPE = 52%). On average, accuracy was compromised across slow walking speeds for all wearable technologies (MAPE = 40%) while all performed best across normal speeds (MAPE = 7%). When analyzing the data by wear locations, the ankle and thigh demonstrated the best accuracy (both MAPE = 1%), followed by the waist (3%) and the wrist (15%) across normal speeds. There were significant effects of speed, wear location, and age group on accuracy and bias (both p < 0.001) and precision (p ≤ 0.045).

Conclusions

Standardized validation indices cataloged by speed, wear location, and age group across the adult lifespan facilitate selecting, evaluating, or comparing performance of step counting wearable technologies. Speed, wear location, and age displayed a significant effect on accuracy, bias, and precision. Overall, reduced performance was associated with very slow walking speeds (0.8 to 3.2 km/h). Ankle- and thigh-located devices logged the highest accuracy, while those located at the wrist reported the worst accuracy.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02650258. Registered 24 December 2015.
TSLP promoting B cell proliferation and polarizing follicular helper T cell as a therapeutic target in IgG4-related disease
Authors: Lu Hui , Wu Xunyao , Peng Yu , Sun Ruijie , Nie Yuxue , Li Jingna , Wang Mu , Luo Yaping , Peng Linyi , Fei Yunyun , Zhou Jiaxin , Zhang Wen , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: September 2022

Objective

To figure out the functions of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).

Methods

Plasma TSLP levels were tested by Elisa, and its receptors were detected by flow cytometry. Expressions of TSLP and TSLPR in involved tissues were stained by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Proliferation, apoptosis, and B subsets of TSLP stimulated-B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. TSLP-stimulated B cells were co-cultured with CD4+ Naïve T cells. Signaling pathway was identified by RNA-sequencing and western blot. Anti-TSLP therapy was adapted in LatY136F knock-in mice (Lat, IgG4-RD mouse model).

Results

Plasma TSLP level was increased in IgG4-RD patients and was positively correlated with serum IgG4 level and responder index (RI). TSLPR was co-localized with CD19+ B cells in the submandibular glands (SMGs) of IgG4-RD. TSLP promoted B cell proliferation, and TSLP-activated B cells polarized CD4+ naive T cells into follicular helper T (Tfh) cells through OX40L. RNA-sequencing identified JAK-STAT signaling pathway in TSLP-activated B cells and it was verified by western blot. Anti-TSLP therapy alleviated the inflammation of lung in Lat mice.

Conclusion

Elevated TSLP in IgG4-RD promoted B cells proliferation and polarized Tfh cells and might be served as a potential therapeutic target.
Small and long RNA transcriptome of whole human cerebrospinal fluid and serum as compared to their extracellular vesicle fractions reveal profound differences in expression patterns and impacts on biological processes
Authors: Michel Uwe , Shomroni Orr , Müller Barbara , Lange Peter , Salinas Gabriela , Bähr Mathias , Koch Jan Christoph
Published: September 2022

Background

Next generation sequencing (NGS) of human specimen is expected to improve prognosis and diagnosis of human diseases, but its sensitivity urges for well-defined sampling and standardized protocols in order to avoid error-prone conclusions.

Methods

In this study, large volumes of pooled human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were used to prepare RNA from human CSF-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) and from whole CSF, as well as from whole human serum and serum-derived EV. In all four fractions small and long coding and non-coding RNA expression was analyzed with NGS and transcriptome analyses.

Results

We show, that the source of sampling has a large impact on the acquired NGS pattern, and differences between small RNA fractions are more distinct than differences between long RNA fractions. The highest percentual discrepancy between small RNA fractions and the second highest difference between long RNA fractions is seen in the comparison of CSF-derived EV and whole CSF. Differences between miR (microRNA) and mRNA fractions of EV and the respective whole body fluid have the potential to affect different cellular and biological processes. I.e. a comparison of miR in both CSF fractions reveals that miR from EV target four transcripts sets involved in neurobiological processes, whereas eight others, also involved in neurobiological processes are targeted by miR found in whole CSF only. Likewise, three mRNAs sets derived from CSF-derived EV are associated with neurobiological and six sets with mitochondrial metabolism, whereas no such mRNA transcript sets are found in the whole CSF fraction. We show that trace amounts of blood-derived contaminations of CSF can bias RNA-based CSF diagnostics.

Conclusions

This study shows that the composition of small and long RNA differ significantly between whole body fluid and its respective EV fraction and thus can affect different cellular and molecular functions. Trace amounts of blood-derived contaminations of CSF can bias CSF analysis. This has to be considered for a meaningful RNA-based diagnostics. Our data imply a transport of EV from serum to CSF across the blood–brain barrier.
Characterization of passive permeability after low intensity focused ultrasound mediated blood–brain barrier disruption in a preclinical model
Authors: Arsiwala Tasneem A. , Sprowls Samuel A. , Blethen Kathryn E. , Fladeland Ross A. , Wolford Cullen P. , Kielkowski Brooke N. , Glass Morgan J. , Wang Peng , Wilson Olivia , Carpenter Jeffrey S. , Ranjan Manish , Finomore Victor , Rezai Ali , Lockman Paul R.
Published: September 2022

Background

Systemic drug delivery to the central nervous system is limited by presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Low intensity focused ultrasound (LiFUS) is a non-invasive technique to disrupt the BBB, though there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between LiFUS parameters, such as cavitation dose, time of sonication, microbubble dose, and the time course and magnitude of BBB disruption. Discrepancies in these data arise from experimentation with modified, clinically untranslatable transducers and inconsistent parameters for sonication. In this report, we characterize microbubble and cavitation doses as LiFUS variables as they pertain to the time course and size of BBB opening with a clinical Insightec FUS system.

Methods

Female Nu/Nu athymic mice were exposed to LiFUS using the ExAblate Neuro system (v7.4, Insightec, Haifa, Israel) following target verification with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Microbubble and cavitation doses ranged from 4–400 μL/kg, and 0.1–1.5 cavitation dose, respectively. The time course and magnitude of BBB opening was evaluated using fluorescent tracers, ranging in size from 105–10,000 Da, administered intravenously at different times pre- or post-LiFUS. Quantitative autoradiography and fluorescence microscopy were used to quantify tracer accumulation in brain.

Results

We observed a microbubble and cavitation dose dependent increase in tracer uptake within brain after LiFUS. Tracer accumulation was size dependent, with 14C-AIB (100 Da) accumulating to a greater degree than larger markers (~ 625 Da–10 kDa). Our data suggest opening of the BBB via LiFUS is time dependent and biphasic. Accumulation of solutes was highest when administered prior to LiFUS mediated disruption (2–fivefold increases), but was also significantly elevated at 6 h post treatment for both 14C-AIB and Texas Red.

Conclusion

The magnitude of LiFUS mediated BBB opening correlates with concentration of microbubbles, cavitation dose as well as time of tracer administration post-sonication. These data help define the window of maximal BBB opening and applicable sonication parameters on a clinically translatable and commercially available FUS system that can be used to improve passive permeability and accumulation of therapeutics targeting the brain.
Long noncoding RNA LINC01132 enhances immunosuppression and therapy resistance via NRF1/DPP4 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Jiwei , Pan Tao , Zhou Weiwei , Zhang Ya , Xu Gang , Xu Qi , Li Si , Gao Yueying , Wang Zhengtao , Xu Juan , Li Yongsheng
Published: September 2022

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of gene expression and play fundamental roles in various types of cancer. Current developments in transcriptome analyses unveiled the existence of lncRNAs; however, their functional characterization remains a challenge.

Methods

A bioinformatics screen was performed by integration of multiple omics data in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prioritizing a novel oncogenic lncRNA, LINC01132. Expression of LINC01132 in HCC and control tissues was validated by qRT-PCR. Cell viability and migration activity was examined by MTT and transwell assays. Finally, our results were confirmed in vivo mouse model and ex vivo patient derived tumor xenograft experiments to determine the mechanism of action and explore LINC01132-targeted immunotherapy.

Results

Systematic investigation of lncRNAs genome-wide expression patterns revealed LINC01132 as an oncogene in HCC. LINC01132 is significantly overexpressed in tumor and associated with poor overall survival of HCC patients, which is mainly driven by copy number amplification. Functionally, LINC01132 overexpression promoted cell growth, proliferation, invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01132 acts as an oncogenic driver by physically interacting with NRF and enhancing the expression of DPP4. Notably, LINC01132 silencing triggers CD8+ T cells infiltration, and LINC01132 knockdown combined with anti-PDL1 treatment improves antitumor immunity, which may prove a new combination therapy in HCC.

Conclusions

LINC01132 functions as an oncogenic driver that induces HCC development via the NRF1/DPP4 axis. Silencing LINC01132 may enhance the efficacy of anti-PDL1 immunotherapy in HCC patients.
Osteophytes mediate the associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Fan Tianxiang , Chen Shibo , Zeng Muhui , Li Jia , Wang Xiaoshuai , Ruan Guangfeng , Cao Peihua , Zhang Yan , Chen Tianyu , Ou Qianhua , Wang Qianyi , Wluka Anita E. , Cicuttini Flavia , Ding Changhai , Zhu Zhaohua
Published: September 2022

Aims

To investigate whether the associations between cartilage defects and cartilage volumes with changes in knee symptoms were mediated by osteophytes.

Methods

Data from the Vitamin D Effects on Osteoarthritis (VIDEO) study were analyzed as a cohort. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to assess knee symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Osteophytes, cartilage defects, and cartilage volumes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging at baseline. Associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms were assessed using linear regression models, and mediation analysis was used to test whether these associations were mediated by osteophytes.

Results

A total of 334 participants (aged 50 to 79 years) with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis were included in the analysis. Cartilage defects were significantly associated with change in total knee pain, change in weight-bearing pain, and change in non-weight-bearing pain after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and intervention. Cartilage volume was significantly associated with change in weight-bearing pain and change in physical dysfunction after adjustment. Lateral tibiofemoral and patellar osteophyte mediated the associations of cartilage defects with change in total knee pain (49–55%) and change in weight-bearing pain (61–62%) and the association of cartilage volume with change in weight-bearing pain (27–30%) and dysfunction (24–25%). Both cartilage defects and cartilage volume had no direct effects on change in knee symptoms.

Conclusions

The significant associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms were indirect and were partly mediated by osteophytes.
A speech enhancement algorithm based on a non-negative hidden Markov model and Kullback-Leibler divergence
Authors: Xiang Yang , Shi Liming , Højvang Jesper Lisby , Rasmussen Morten Højfeldt , Christensen Mads Græsbøll
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we propose a supervised single-channel speech enhancement method that combines Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence-based non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and a hidden Markov model (NMF-HMM). With the integration of the HMM, the temporal dynamics information of speech signals can be taken into account. This method includes a training stage and an enhancement stage. In the training stage, the sum of the Poisson distribution, leading to the KL divergence measure, is used as the observation model for each state of the HMM. This ensures that a computationally efficient multiplicative update can be used for the parameter update of this model. In the online enhancement stage, a novel minimum mean square error estimator is proposed for the NMF-HMM. This estimator can be implemented using parallel computing, reducing the time complexity. Moreover, compared to the traditional NMF-based speech enhancement methods, the experimental results show that our proposed algorithm improved the short-time objective intelligibility and perceptual evaluation of speech quality by 5% and 0.18, respectively.
The interface between unitary hypothesis and componential approach to testing reading skills: do subjects show similar levels of performance with respect to specific reading sub-skills in tests representing both theories? Descriptive correlational study
Authors: Wanna Wendiyfraw
Published: September 2022

In order to have a better understanding of the nature of reading behavior, it is quite essential to scrutinize the underlying assumptions of the two competing theories: the componential approach and unitary hypothesis and see how this is reflected on testing the reading skills. As a result, the current study was aimed at broadening the existing knowledge horizon by trying to identify if there was relationship in the overall scores of learners at different ability groups in Reading Sub-skills Test and reading levels in Cloze Test and showing how they differed in their performance with respect to specific reading sub-skills. So as to address the specific research objectives, tests were used to collect the required data. More specifically, these included: a cloze test to determine the subjects’ reading levels; and a reading sub-skills test to find out their performance in terms of the sub-skills at word, sentence, and discourse level. Descriptive statistics (i.e. frequencies and percentages) and correlations were used to analyze the data collected. Besides, the SPSS was used to carry out the computations and normality tests which showed that the test scores were not normally distributed. Hence, Kendall’s tau, a non-parametric test, was used to carry out correlation coefficients. In addition, the data analysis revealed that average-scorers, low-scorers, test-takers at instructional reading level, and those at frustration level had much difficulty with most of the reading sub-skills with varying degrees. Eventually, recommendations were suggested so that learners could improve their difficulties with the reading sub-skills.
Activity of daily life dependency predicts the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 undergoing hemodialysis: a retrospective analysis of a single center with nosocomial outbreak
Authors: Ino Jun , Iemura Fumika , Nakajima Chihiro , Kodama Mio , Kumon Saeko , Sato Keitaro , Eizumi Hitoshi , Hijikata Nobuhiro , Oshio Sadayuki , Tachibana Shingo , Nitta Kosaku , Hoshino Junichi
Published: September 2022

Background

We experienced a nosocomial outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from November 2020 to February 2021, during the third wave of the pandemic in Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the characteristics and data of 20 inpatients undergoing hemodialysis who were hospitalized for treatment of diseases other than COVID-19 during the COVID-19 nosocomial outbreak (“inpatient,” IP), and of 10 outpatients undergoing hemodialysis who were hospitalized for the care of COVID-19 under outpatient visits (“outpatient,” OP).

Results

Eleven patients in the IP group (55%) and one in the OP group (10%) died. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the IP group died more rapidly than the OP group (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis among all hemodialysis patients showed that the IP group was not at risk of mortality independently; however, the activity of daily life (ADL) dependency was found to be an independent factor in increasing the risk of mortality (hazard ratio: 7.618).

Conclusion

Our findings show that the nosocomial infected group has a worse prognosis, although it is not an independent predictor for the risk of mortality. ADL dependency could predict the risk of mortality in all hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 during the third wave pandemic in Japan.
A machine learning approach to model the future distribution of e-mobility and its impact on the power grid
Authors: Eitel Paul , Stolle Peter
Published: September 2022

It is to be expected that there will be a shift toward electromobility with regard to private passenger cars in the coming years. This will oblige the respective power grid providers to upgrade their networks in future years. So that grid operators can plan and operate their grids to meet future needs, they have to have as complete information as possible about the loads they will be required to handle. Depending on voltage level, geographic location, general grid load, and spread of e-mobility, the situation will vary. The assumption explored in this paper is that external factors influence the distribution of EV chargers. As a second task, the impact on the power grid is simulated by means of various scenarios on the basis of this identified distribution, with the focus on low voltage (LV) grids. Sociodemographic data is used as a geographic grid to determine potential distribution. For this, machine learning methods from the field of “Species Distribution Modeling” are applied for a prospective distribution concept. Using this distribution model, the results of simulation of power grid utilization reveal vulnerabilities scattered around the networks. It is shown that e-mobility will, in the future, present a challenge for power grid operators, for which solution concepts are needed.
Performance evaluation of German smart meter infrastructure for load management through grid operators
Authors: Springmann Elisabeth , Bruckmeier Andreas , Müller Mathias
Published: September 2022

The transition to a climate-neutral energy system involves the integration of many small components—on the generation as well as on the consumption side. Their controllability is a crucial part of running a reliable energy system, for example, to prevent or resolve grid congestions. The smart meter infrastructure enables a secure integration of these small system units in grid operator processes. The technical realization of German smart meter infrastructure is detailed in the guidelines of the German Federal Office for Information Security. It must undergo certification before being deployed. In order to assess whether the standardized German infrastructure meets the requirements for the use case, we conducted a performance analysis including the three factors “overall reliability”, “emerging data volume”, and “latency time”. The investigated use case is “Load Management through Grid Operators”. For data collection, we used log records from all participating devices along the process chain and recorded all network traffic. In total, we executed over 2000 commands within the test series and analyzed over 3.0 mio. data points. We concluded 98.2% successful power limitations for the overall reliability. The average emerging data volume is 14.97 kB when executing one command within one communication session. The latency time from the command until the reaction is on average 51 s, referring to the case of a curative power limitation and needing to establish a communication channel. Thus, the requirements for the considered use case are fulfilled, provided that the capacity of communication infrastructure is made available according to the number of controllable components.
Virtualization for performance guarantees of state estimation in cyber-physical energy systems
Authors: Hage Hassan Batoul , Narayan Anand , Brand Michael , Lehnhoff Sebastian
Published: September 2022

The strong interdependence between power systems and information and communication technologies (ICT) makes cyber-physical energy systems susceptible to new disturbances. State estimation (SE) is a vital part of energy management systems, for several monitoring, management, and control services. Failure of SE service leads to loss of situational awareness, which in turn has a detrimental impact on the grid operation. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the performance of SE service. Modern technologies such as virtualization are key drivers to provide the flexibility to reallocate, reconfigure, and manage services as a countermeasure to mitigate the impact of disturbances. This paper introduces the virtualization of SE service as a potential approach to maintain its performance in the case of disturbances. Following a review of existing approaches for maintaining the performance of the SE service, a description of the proposed approach is provided. The benefits of virtualization of SE service are demonstrated via a simulation test platform with an ICT-enriched CIGRE MV benchmark grid.
Magnetic dipole transitions in 9Be(p,γ)10B
Authors: Kabir Abdul , Khalid Muhammad , Naqvi Najam Abbas , Nabi Jameel-Un
Published: September 2022

The proton radiative capture reactions are crucial in nuclear astrophysics. 9Be(p,γ)10B is important in stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis. In the present work, we compute the astrophysical S-factor for 9Be(p,γ)10B by employing the potential model (PM) for the magnetic transitions. Moreover, we revised the nuclear structure features and spectroscopic properties of the 10B nucleus under the PM approach.
Topic Theory in Soviet Musicology
Authors: Zavlunov Daniil
Published: September 2022

Anglophone topic theory scholarship evinces only peripheral awareness of rich traditions of topical analysis that have existed outside its linguistic sphere. Many of the elements defining Anglophone topic theory today were present in the writings of Soviet musicologists, some dating back to the 1930s. Soviet “topic theory”—to use the term anachronistically—grew out of the method of holistic analysis (tselostnïy analiz) developed by Leo (Lev) Mazel’ and Viktor Zuckermann (Tsukkerman). Even the earliest scholarship of these theorists is peppered with references to topics, with the topical explorations embedded within broader considerations of style, history, and musical structure and discourse. By the early 1960s, a culture of topical analysis, one that emphasized topics' expressive and formal functions, was in place, and over the next decade it began to transform into a theory. The core of this essay is devoted to Mazel's and, especially, Zuckermann's understanding of topics and what they make possible in music analysis. Mazel's and Zuckermann's work stimulated the next generation of theorists—including Viktor Bobrovsky, Yevgeny Nazaykinsky, and Vyacheslav Medushevsky—to systematize and consolidate their ideas and take them in new directions. This study—part conspectus, part interpretation, and part critique—surveys the evolution of topic theory by holistic analysts and their disciples between 1930 and 1990.
Breathing Aesthetics
Authors: Tremblay Jean-Thomas
Published: September 2022

In Breathing Aesthetics Jean-Thomas Tremblay argues that difficult breathing indexes the uneven distribution of risk in a contemporary era marked by the increasing contamination, weaponization, and monetization of air. Tremblay shows how biopolitical and necropolitical forces tied to the continuation of extractive capitalism, imperialism, and structural racism are embodied and experienced through respiration. They identify responses to the crisis in breathing in aesthetic practices ranging from the film work of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta to the disability diaries of Bob Flanagan, to the Black queer speculative fiction of Renee Gladman. In readings of these and other minoritarian works of experimental film, endurance performance, ecopoetics, and cinema-vérité, Tremblay contends that articulations of survival now depend on the management and dispersal of respiratory hazards. In so doing, they reveal how an aesthetic attention to breathing generates historically, culturally, and environmentally situated tactics and strategies for living under precarity.
Από το Z στο ...V: η ελληνική ιστορία στον κινηματογράφο του Κώστα Γαβρά
Authors: Φλιτούρης Λάμπρος Α.
Published: September 2022

Η έλευση του πολιτικού κινηματογράφου και η εισδοχή του από το σύστημα του κινηματογραφικού θεάματος εντάσσεται στο πλαίσιο της προοδευτικής κατάκτησης των θεατών από τον «κινηματογράφο του νοήματος». Σε αυτή τη νέα μορφή κινηματογράφου με έντονη πολιτική συνείδηση βασικός εκπρόσωπος αναδείχθηκε ο Κώστας Γαβράς. Η μελέτη μας ασχολείται με τις «ελληνικές» ταινίες του δημιουργού και τη σχέση τους με την Ιστορία. Τόσο το Ζ (1969) όσο και το Ενήλικοι στην αίθουσα (2019) συνομιλούν ευθέως με την σύγχρονη ελληνική ιστορία συμβάλλοντας στην κινηματογραφική ανάγνωση της «ελληνικής τραγωδίας». Οι δύο ταινίες του Γαβρά που επιλέχθηκαν ήταν εκείνες που με τον έναν ή άλλο τρόπο επέλεξαν ένα «ελληνοκεντρικό» θέμα, αλλά έθεσαν ερωτήματα με μια παγκόσμια δυναμική: την σχέση εξουσίας και Κράτους, o κίνδυνος του φασισμού, τα ζητήματα δημοκρατίας και ελευθερίας. Ο Μάρκ Φερρό αναφέρει ότι η Ιστορία στον κινηματογράφο μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως η κινηματογραφική μνήμη μιας χώρας, ως μια κινηματογραφική «ιστοριογραφία» που αφηγείται μια διαφορετική – από την επίσημη – εκδοχή της Ιστορίας που τα κοινωνικά υποκείμενα, ανάλογα με τα αισθητικά πρότυπα και τις ψυχαγωγικές συνήθειες κάθε εποχής, αποκωδικοποιούν διαφορετικά. Κι έτσι οι δύο ταινίες ξαναδιαβάζονται με διαφορετικό τρόπο και επιτρέπουν την συγκρότηση διαφορετικής αντίληψης της ιστορικής μνήμης και εν τέλει διαφορετικών αναγνώσεων της ίδιας της Ιστορίας.
Η απουσία της πραγματικότητας (Cavell) και η παρουσία του φαντάσματος (Derrida) στο Βλέμμα του Οδυσσέα του Αγγελόπουλου: το τέλος του τέλους της ιστορίας;
Authors: Σαραφιανός Νίκος
Published: September 2022

Το παρόν άρθρο θα προσπαθήσει να παρουσιάσει τη σχέση του κινηματογράφου με την πραγματικότητα και την ιστορική του διάσταση. Θα προσπαθήσει να αποδείξει πως η σχέση του κινηματογράφου με την ιστορία δεν αφορά μόνο στη δυνατότητα που έχει η συγκεκριμένη τέχνη να «αναπαραστήσει» με πειστικότητα ένα ιστορικό γεγονός αλλά πως η φύση του κινηματογραφικού μέσου έχει ιστορική διάσταση. Θα χρησιμοποιήσει ως μέσα αυτής της έρευνας την έννοια της απουσίας της πραγματικότητας που προβάλλεται του Stanley Cavell αλλά και την έννοια του φαντάσματος, όπως αυτή περιγράφεται από τον Jacques Derrida. Κινηματογραφικό παράδειγμα θα αποτελέσει το σημαίνων έργο του Θόδωρου Αγγελόπουλου Το Βλέμμα του Οδυσσέα.
Ελληνικές Συμπαραγωγές: από τον ιδεολογικό σκεπτικισμό στον οικονομικό πραγματισμό
Authors: Σιδέρη Ελένη
Published: September 2022

Αν και οι συμπαραγωγές στην Ευρώπη ξεκίνησαν μετά το τέλος του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου ως μέρος της ήπιας διπλωματίας του Ψυχρού Πολέμου, στο σύνολό τους αντιμετωπίζονταν μέχρι το 1980 ως παράγωγα ενός χαμηλού πολιτισμού. Τότε αρχίζει και η ιστορία των ελληνικών συμπαραγωγών με την είσοδο της Ελλάδας στην τότε Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα (ΕΟΚ) (Karalis 2012). Ιδιαίτερη όμως είναι η άνθισή τους τα τελευταία χρόνια κατά τη δεκαετία της οικονομικής κρίσης. Το κεφάλαιο θα εξετάσει πώς παράγονται οι κατηγορίες ελληνικός και ευρωπαϊκός κινηματογράφος, μέσα από δύο ιστορίες Ελληνίδων δημιουργών. Η δημιουργική τους πορεία και η σχέση τους με τις συμπαραγωγές θα φέρει στην επιφάνεια το πλαίσιο μέσα από το οποίο οι συμπαραγωγές γίνονται πεδία διαμόρφωσης, τόσο του «ελληνικού», όσο και του «ευρωπαϊκού» και «περιφερειακού», ως κατηγορίες ευρωπαϊκών πολιτικών διαχείρισης της εθνικής ταυτότητας (Papadimitriou 2017), αλλά και μέρος της ανάδυσης μια οικονομίας του συναισθήματος που σχετίζεται με το νεοφιλελεύθερο πρόταγμα της δημιουργικής οικονομίας.
Αρχεία και προσβασιμότητα
Authors: Σαρλής Νώντας
Published: September 2022

Η χρήση των αρχείων είναι απόλυτα επιβεβλημένη τόσο σε επίπεδο αρχικής έρευνας όσο και οπτικής τεκμηρίωσης των θεμάτων που αναπτύσσονται σε μια ταινία ντοκιμαντέρ. Ωστόσο, ακόμα και στην ταινία μυθοπλασίας, η προσφυγή σε αρχεία κρίνεται απαραίτητη, ιδιαίτερα σε «ταινίες εποχής», για τη σωστή απόδοση των ιστορικών δεδομένων αλλά και την ατμόσφαιρα της περιόδου.
Σχεδόν είχαμε χαθεί
Authors: Χούρσογλου Περικλής
Published: September 2022

Αυτό που σκέφτηκα είναι η συγκίνησή μου, όταν προετοιμάζοντας τον Λευτέρη Δημακόπουλο πήγα στο Μεσολόγγι, Σάββατο του Λαζάρου, και είδα τις γιορτές της «Εξόδου», μιά μεγάλη παρέλαση ουσιαστικά με μαθητές σχολείων με παραδοσιακές σχολές. Κορίτσια και αγόρια μαθητές, μεγαλύτερα ή μικρότερα, νομίζω δεν έχω δει τόσα πολλά όμορφα παιδιά! Οι στολές έκαναν τα παιδιά πανέμορφα. Βεβαίως και τα νιάτα τους, βεβαίως και η έξαψή τους. Ξέρω πως ίσως φανεί συντηρητικό, δεν έχω κανένα πρόβλημα, είμαι υπέρ της συντήρησης, όταν αυτή συντηρεί κάτι ουσιαστικό και τού δίνει νέο νόημα, χρόνια μετά. Κάτι πεθαμένο πεθαίνει από μόνο του, δεν χρειάζεται μια πανηγυρική ταφή άλλωστε, leave it rest in peace.
Πρόλογος
Authors: Σπυροπούλου Αγγελική
Published: September 2022

Με ιδιαίτερη χαρά υποδεχόμαστε το νέο και ιδιαίτερα πλούσιο τεύχος του επιστημονικού περιοδικού με κριτές Θεάτρου Πόλις, που εκδίδει το Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών του Πανεπιστημίου Πελοποννήσου και το οποίο επιμελήθηκαν οι εξαιρετικοί συνάδελφοι, Χρήστος Δερμεντζόπουλος, Καθηγητής στο Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων και Κωστούλα Καλούδη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια του Τμήματός μας. Ο καρπός της συνεργασίας τους πιστοποιεί όχι μόνον τη ρητά διεπιστημονική διάσταση του περιοδικού, αλλά ευρύτερα την ερευνητική εξωστρέφεια του Τμήματος και των δύο επιμελητών.
Ο δικαστικός έλεγχος της δράσης των ανεξάρτητων αρχών
Authors: Παναγούλιας Κωνσταντίνος
Published: September 2022

Η μελέτη εξετάζει την αλληλεπίδραση ανεξαρτησίας και δικαστικού ελέγχου της δράσης των ανεξάρτητων αρχών. Ερευνά πώς ο δικαστικός έλεγχος συμβάλλει στη θεμελίωση και την εννοιολόγηση της ανεξαρτησίας και στην εξειδίκευση των επιμέρους εγγυήσεών της και αποδεικνύει ότι ο δικαστικός έλεγχος αφενός επιδρά στη θεσμική οργάνωση και διάρθρωση των ανεξάρτητων αρχών και αφετέρου συνιστά εγγύηση της ανεξαρτησίας και της αρμοδιότητάς τους. Η μελέτη υποστηρίζει ότι η ανεξαρτησία θεμελιώνει τη δικονομική εξατομίκευση των ανεξάρτητων αρχών έναντι του Δημοσίου και τάσσεται υπέρ της διεύρυνσης της ενδικασιμότητας των πράξεών τους. Επίσης αποδεικνύει ότι η ανεξαρτησία και τα θεσμικά χαρακτηριστικά των ανεξάρτητων αρχών επηρεάζουν σε ορισμένο βαθμό το δικαστικό έλεγχο των πράξεών τους, στο επίπεδο της οργάνωσης, αλλά κυρίως στον τρόπο ενάσκησής του και προτείνει ένα πρότυπο καθορισμού της δέουσας έκτασης του δικαστικού ελέγχου, σύμφωνα με τη μεθοδολογία της συγκριτικής θεσμικής ανάλυσης επί τη βάσει κριτηρίων δικαιοκρατικών, δημοκρατικών και αποτελεσματικότητας και μεταξύ άλλων εξετάζει την εξειδίκευση καθώς και τους μηχανισμοί δημοκρατικής νομιμοποίησης ανεξάρτητων αρχών και δικαστηρίων. Για το σκοπό αυτό μελετώνται συγκριτικά παραδείγματα από τη νομολογία δικαστηρίων της Γαλλίας, του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών Αμερικής, του Καναδά, αλλά και παραδείγματα από τη νομολογία του Δικαστηρίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου. Η μελέτη εξετάζει ακόμα την κατανομή των διαφορών από πράξεις ανεξάρτητων αρχών μεταξύ της δικαιοδοσίας των διοικητικών και των πολιτικών δικαστηρίων και δείχνει την αδικαιολόγητη παρεμβολή της ποινικής δικαιοδοσίας του Αρείου Πάγου. Ακόμα, μελετά τα κριτήρια υπαγωγής των διαφορών από την προσβολή πράξεων των ανεξάρτητων αρχών σε ακυρωτικό ή ουσιαστικό έλεγχο πλήρους δικαιοδοσίας και την κατανομή των διαφορών μεταξύ ΣτΕ και τακτικών διοικητικών δικαστηρίων και διαπιστώνει αφενός την έλλειψη συνοχής των υφιστάμενων δικονομικών κανόνων και αφετέρου τη ρευστότητα των νομολογιακών λύσεων κατά την πρακτική ενάσκηση του δικαστικού ελέγχου. Μέσα από την εξέταση των επιμέρους προβληματικών η διατριβή ερευνά τη δυνατότητα εναρμόνισης του νομικού καθεστώτος των ανεξάρτητων αρχών και αποδεικνύει ότι η ένταξη του θεσμού των ανεξάρτητων αρχών στην έννομη τάξη προσφέρεται ως παράδειγμα αναφοράς για την εξέταση του διοικητικού δικαίου ως επιστημολογικού αντικειμένου.
Malaria prevalence in Commune 5 in Tumaco (Nariño, Colombia)
Authors: Chaparro Narváez Pablo Enrique , Jimenez-Serna Monica Marcela , Gunturiz Albarracin Maria Luz , Carrasquilla Gutierrez Gabriel
Published: September 2022

Antecedentes

La malaria urbana es un problema de salud pública en Colombia y aún existe desconocimiento sobre sus características epidemiológicas, las cuales son clave para la implementación de medidas de control. La presencia de casos de malaria urbana y el diagnóstico de la enfermedad son algunos de los desafíos que enfrentan los programas de eliminación de la malaria. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estimar la prevalencia de malaria, explorar factores asociados y detectar genespfhrp2/3, en la zona urbana de Tumaco entre julio y diciembre de 2019.

Métodos

Se realizó un estudio de prevalencia utilizando un muestreo probabilístico aleatorio estratificado. Se administraron encuestas estructuradas y se tomaron muestras de sangre y se examinaron mediante microscopía óptica, pruebas de diagnóstico rápido (RDT) y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística para explorar los factores asociados.

Resultados

Se encuestó a 1.504 personas que vivían en 526 hogares. La prevalencia global fue del 2,97% (IC 95%: 2,1 - 4,3%). Fue mayor en varones, en el grupo de edad de 10 a 19 años y en casos asintomáticos. La prevalencia de la amplificación depfhrp2fue del 2,16 % (IC del 95 %: 1,6 - 2,9 %). Los hogares con tres o más personas tenían un mayor riesgo de infección por paludismo (odds ratio ajustado [ORa] 4,05; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 1,57-10,43). Todos los casos se debieron aP.falciparum.

Conclusiones

La prevalencia de malaria urbana fue baja. Las estrategias para eliminar la malaria en áreas urbanas deben ajustarse considerando el acceso al diagnóstico temprano, la infección asintomática y las PDR utilizadas para detectar la presencia del genpfhrp2.
Barriers to participation in research as perceived by undergraduate medical students: A cross-sectional study from Qassim.
Authors: Atta Elmannan Abeer Abuzeid , Alrebish Saleh , Alqarzai Rahaf Khalid , Alshubrmi Atheen Ahmad , Alammar Abdulrahman Yousef , Alsaeed Hamad Saleh
Published: September 2022

Background: Medical students` engagement in research activities continues to be below the expectation. In this study we aimed to investigate students` views about research, and to identify the barriers preventing them from participation in research projects.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Qassim University. A total of 230 students were included. The perceptions of students were assessed using a 16-item questionnaire. The mean scores were compared between students using Mann-Whitney test .Factors associated with students` perception of research barriers were analyzed using four separate logistic regression models.

Results: The overall response rate was 89.4%. The results indicate that the students generally possess a moderately positive attitude towards research with a mean score of 14.8±2.7 (range: 5-25). A substantial number of participants reported their willingness to take part in any research-related task (77.0%). However, the participants highly agreed that lack of time (70.4%), lack of supervision and guidance (72.6%), lack of research training and support (73.9%), and lack of research exposure and opportunities (75.2%) were major barriers to their participation in research .We found that students having lower CGPA ranks are almost three times more likely to indicate lack of time as a challenge (AOR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.09,7.94; p.value=0.033). Overall, female students were more likely to report concerns about research training and availability of research opportunities, while male students were more likely to indicate lack of time and lack of supervision as research barriers.

Conclusions: The barriers addressed in the current study —both discretely and cumulatively—are highly demotivating for students, and negatively affect their participation in research. Efforts should be invested to shift the focus from providing superficial research exposure to incorporating more in-depth and effective research training for undergraduate students