bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous refinements of some Jensen-type inequalities via strong convexity with applications
Authors: Nikolova Ludmila , Persson Lars-Erik , Varošanec Sanja
Published: May 2022

In this paper we prove new continuous refinements of some Jensen type inequalities in both direct and reversed forms. As applications we also derive some continuous refinements of Hermite–Hadamard, Hölder, and Popoviciu type inequalities. As particular cases we point out the corresponding results for sums and integrals showing that our results contain both several well-known but also some new results for these special cases.
Taking the time for range testing: an approach to account for temporal resolution in acoustic telemetry detection range assessments
Authors: Goossens Jolien , Buyse Jolien , Bruneel Stijn , Verhelst Pieterjan , Goethals Peter , Torreele Els , Moens Tom , Reubens Jan
Published: May 2022

Background

In acoustic telemetry studies, detection range is usually evaluated as the relationship between the probability of detecting an individual transmission and the distance between the transmitter and receiver. When investigating animal presence, however, few detections will suffice to establish an animal’s presence within a certain time frame. In this study, we assess detection range and its impacting factors with a novel approach aimed towards studies making use of binary presence/absence metrics. The probability of determining presence of an acoustic transmitter within a certain time frame is calculated as the probability of detecting a set minimum number of transmissions within that time frame. We illustrate this method for hourly and daily time bins with an extensive empirical dataset of sentinel transmissions and detections in a receiver array in a Belgian offshore wind farm.

Results

The accuracy and specificity of over 84% for both temporal resolutions showed the developed approach performs adequately. Using this approach, we found important differences in the predictive performance of distinct hypothetical range testing scenarios. Finally, our results demonstrated that the probability of determining presence over distance to a receiver did not solely depend on environmental and technical conditions, but would also relate to the temporal resolution of the analysis, the programmed transmitting interval and the movement behaviour of the tagged animal. The probability of determining presence differed distinctly from a single transmission’s detectability, with an increase of up to 266 m for the estimated distance at 50% detection probability (D50).

Conclusion

When few detections of multiple transmissions suffice to ascertain presence within a time bin, predicted range differs distinctly from the probability of detecting a single transmission within that time bin. We recommend the use of more rigorous range testing methodologies for acoustic telemetry applications where the assessment of detection range is an integral part of the study design, the data analysis and the interpretation of results.
The biology of YAP in programmed cell death
Authors: Cheng Yifan , Mao Misha , Lu Yong
Published: May 2022

In the last few decades, YAP has been shown to be critical in regulating tumor progression. YAP activity can be regulated by many kinase cascade pathways and proteins through phosphorylation and promotion of cytoplasmic localization. Other factors can also affect YAP activity by modulating its binding to different transcription factors (TFs). Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically controlled suicide process present with the scope of eliminating cells unnecessary or detrimental for the proper development of the organism. In some specific states, PCD is activated and facilitates the selective elimination of certain types of tumor cells. As a candidate oncogene correlates with many regulatory factors, YAP can inhibit or induce different forms of PCD, including apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis and pyroptosis. Furthermore, YAP may act as a bridge between different forms of PCD, eventually leading to different outcomes regarding tumor development. Researches on YAP and PCD may benefit the future development of novel treatment strategies for some diseases. Therefore, in this review, we provide a general overview of the cellular functions of YAP and the relationship between YAP and PCD.
Integrative taxonomy on the rare sky-island Ligidium species from southwest China (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae)
Authors: Wang Jin , Yang Jingbo , Zeng Xuegang , Li Weichun
Published: May 2022

Background

The sky-islandLigidiumspecies fauna in southwest China is poorly known. Before this study, six of the seven sky-island species of the genus were known to be endemic to southwest China. In morphology,Ligidiumspecies are often difficult to identify, and an appraisal of integrative taxonomy is needed.

Results

We integrated morphology and molecular analyses to delimitLigidiumspecies. Molecular species delimitation based on distance- and evolutionary models recovered seven-candidate lineages from five gene markers (COI, 12S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and NAK). We also estimated that the species divergences of sky-islandLigidiumin southwest China started in late Eocene (40.97 Mya) to middle Miocene (15.19 Mya).

Four new species (L. duospinatumLi, sp. nov.,L. acuminatumLi, sp. nov.,L. rotundumLi, sp. nov. andL. tridentatumLi, sp. nov.) are described. Morphological confusion amongL. denticulatumShen, 1949,L. inermeNunomura & Xie, 2000 andL. sichuanenseNunomura, 2002 is clarified by integrative taxonomy.

Conclusion

This work confirms that an integrative approach toLigidiumtaxonomy is fundamental for objective classification, and deduced the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in the late Eocene and middle Miocene as one of the principal reasons for the species divergences of sky-islandLigidiumin southwest China. We also inferred that sky-island mountains have a huge reserve of higherLigidiumspecies diversity.
Experience on the first national anti-TB drug resistance survey (DRS) in Timor-Leste
Authors: Lopes Constantino , Kundu Debashish , Da Costa Barreto Ismael , da Cruz Bernardino , Siva Kumar S. , Ramalingam Sureshbabu , Dean Anna S. , Bhatia Vineet , Seenivasan Prabhu , Padmapriyadarsini C. , Auguet Olga Tosas
Published: May 2022

Background

A national drug resistance survey (DRS) was implemented for the first time in Timor-Leste (TL) in 2019. The primary objective of the survey was to assess the prevalence of drug resistance among new and previously treated pulmonary TB patients in the country.

Methods

This nation-wide cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 targeting all new and previously treated sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB patients. Sputum samples were submitted to the National TB Reference Laboratory for confirmation of TB and to determine resistance to rifampicin by Xpert MTB/RIF. Culture was performed on solid media, and culture isolates of confirmed TB cases were shipped to the WHO Supranational TB Reference Laboratory in Chennai, India for whole genome sequencing (WGS). Survey summary statistics, data cross-tabulations and analysis of potential risk factors of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) were conducted using R statistical software (version 3.5.2).

Results

A total of 953 sputum-smear positive patients were enrolled, of which 917 were confirmed as positive for TB by either Xpert MTB/RIF or culture. An electronic web-based system was used for entry and storage of the data. Rifampicin resistance was detected among 0.6% (95% CI 0.2–1.3) of new cases and 2.7% (95% CI 0.5- 8.2) of previously treated cases. WGS was conducted for validation purposes on 65 randomly selected isolates (29% of RR-TB (2/7) and 7% of RS-TB (63/910) by Xpert MTB/RIF or pDST). The original test results agreed with the WGS validation results for 62/64 isolates (97%).

Conclusion

The prevalence of RR-TB in Timor-Leste is relatively low compared to the estimated proportions of RR-TB in the WHO South-East Asia Region (2.5% [95% CI 1.9–3.3] among new cases and 14% [95% CI 7.7–21] among previously treated cases). The rapid sputum collection and transportation mechanism implemented in the survey demonstrates its feasibility in low resource settings and should be replicated for routinely transporting TB specimens from microscopy labs to GeneXpert sites. Establishment of in-country capacity for rapid molecular diagnostics for both first- and second-line DST is an immediate need for achieving universal drug susceptibility testing (DST) to guide appropriate patient management.
Anatomical variants in prostatic artery embolization in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Basiouny Khaled Essam Basiouny Elsayed , Ghazi Mohamed Shaker , Niazi Gamal-eldine Mohamed , Allam Allam Elsayed
Published: May 2022

Background

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most prevalent benign tumor in aged men, and its prevalence is rising with age reaching 8% in the fourth decade of life and up to 90% in the ninth decade. PAE has long been considered as a safe and effective minimally invasive therapy option for individuals with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms caused by prostatic hypertrophy. Because of the varying degrees of atherosclerosis seen in the elderly, PAE is generally a difficult treatment that necessitates a particular amount of knowledge of anatomy and a specific set of abilities. It is critical to emphasize anatomical information about PA that is required for a successful PAE, as well as radiation exposure factors that can be helpful in such a protracted treatment. This thesis provides a pictorial review of PA anatomy and prevalence of related anatomical variants, besides additional anatomical and radiation dosage concerns, and knows the important effect of the anastomosis on non-target embolization as in our study we included large number of cases (83 patients) to cover all types of variations and different types of anastomosis all were covered.

Results

A total of 83 patients (166 sides) were analyzed. Double arterial supply on the same side was noted in 1 patient (1.2%). In 3 patients (3.6%), only a unilateral PA was identified. PA origin frequencies were computed. Penile, rectal, vesical anastomoses, and anastomosis with the other side were identified with 7 (8.4%), 3 (3.6%), 2 (2.4%), and 8 (9.6%) of PAs, respectively. Mean skin radiation dose was 479 mGy.

Conclusions

When treating BPH with PAE, understanding PA anatomy is critical for achieving the best results. The anatomy of the PA is critical for preventing non-target embolization and is directly related to the correct identification of the anatomical pattern of the prostate arteries, and we should also take into account the presence of contralateral anastomoses; it is possible to achieve both prostate lobes through catheterization of the prostatic artery on only one side.
SARS COV-2 and other viral etiology as a possible clue for the olfactory dilemma
Authors: Mansour Ossama I. , Taha Mohamed Shehata , Mahmoud Mohammad Salah , Ezzat Waleed Farag , Askoura Anas , Allam Mohamed Farouk , Girgis Samia Abdo , Omran Azza , Agwa Sara Hassan , Mohamed Mohamed Naguib
Published: May 2022

Background

Post-viral anosmia is responsible for more than 40% of cases of anosmia. Anosmia has been a neglected symptom in the primary healthcare setting until the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection highlighted new atypical symptoms of the disease, including anosmia, which has become one of the diagnostic symptoms of the disease, and epidemiological concern. We aimed to detect the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection within patients presented with anosmia and to test for other respiratory viruses in the negative COVID-19 patients. We also detected the recovery of anosmia and IgM/IgG against COVID-19. We prospectively included 60 outpatients with the major complaint of anosmia. Nasopharyngeal swabs were done for SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR, and if negative, PCR to other respiratory pathogens was tested. After one month, we inquired about the recovery of smell loss together with testing for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled in the study. Forty-six patients (76.7%) were SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive and 14 (23.3%) were negative. Rhinovirus was the commonest isolated pathogen in the negative cases (5/14). Complete recovery of anosmia occurred in 34 patients (56.7%), while partial recovery in 24 (40.0%), and no recovery in 2 patients (3.3%). The median time to complete recovery was 10 days. 28.3% (13/46) of the patients showed negative antibody response for both IgG and IgM.

Conclusions

Sudden-onset anosmia is a symptom that is highly predictive of being COVID-19-infected. While recovery is expected within 2 weeks, some patients have no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Disease Models & Mechanisms helps move heart failure to heart success
Authors: Hooper Kirsty , Hmeljak Julija
Published: May 2022

Heart failure affects ∼64 million people worldwide, resulting in high morbidity, mortality and societal cost. Current treatment strategies are primarily geared at slowing the progression to an advanced disease state, but do not reverse or cure heart failure. A more comprehensive understanding of the underlying biology and development of preclinical models of this heterogeneous group of disorders will improve diagnosis and treatment. Here, we summarise recent preclinical and translational research in this area published in Disease Models & Mechanisms. We also discuss how our Journal is propelling this field forward by launching a Special Issue and ongoing subject collection, ‘Moving Heart Failure to Heart Success: Mechanisms, Regeneration & Therapy’.
Active Health Care Providers’ Practices and Views on Counseling Patients to be Active
Authors: Das Bhibha M. , DuBose Katrina D. , Peyton Alexandra
Published: May 2022

It is of public health importance to identify strategies for increasing U.S. physical activity levels because of the strong relationship between physical activity and health. One strategy is by having health care providers prescribe physical activity to their patients. The purposes of this study were to assess health care providers’ physical activity levels, to evaluate knowledge of benefits of physical activity, to examine barriers to counseling physical activity to patients, and to determine whether a relationship exists between health care providers’ physical activity levels and barriers to physical activity counseling. Health care providers (N= 30) wore an accelerometer for 1 wk and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a physical activity counseling questionnaire. Ninety-three percent of providers met physical activity guidelines. Only 7% of providers reported knowing physical activity recommendations; however, 87% reported providing physical activity counseling to patients. The benefits of physical activity reported were maintaining overall health and reducing the risk for disease development. The physical activity counseling barriers reported were lack of time and patient interest. Among this active sample of health care providers, personal activity habits did not influence physical activity promotion practices with patients. The main physical activity counseling barriers reported were lack of time and lack of patient interest. More research is needed to determine whether this finding and the barriers of time and the perception of lack of patient interest persist among providers who are not as physically active. From a translational perspective, health care providers should be educated to promote physical activity for their patients. These education opportunities should occur through professional coursework and continuing education credits.
Εξαγωγή, ανάλυση και απεικόνιση ποιοτικών πληροφοριών από αδόμητα επιχειρηματικά δεδομένα
Authors: Μαραγκός Κωνσταντίνος
Published: May 2022

Ένα από τα ανοικτά προβλήματα που προσπαθεί να επιλύσει η ακαδημαϊκή κοινότητα και που μαστίζει τον τομέα του εμπορίου και της πολιτικής, είναι η ανάλυση αδόμητων δεδομένων. Από εικόνες και βίντεο, έως ήχο και κείμενο, τα αδόμητα δεδομένα αποτελούν πλειοψηφία έναντι των δομημένων. Παρά το γεγονός αυτό και ενώ τα αδόμητα δεδομένα περιέχουν σημαντικό πλούτο πληροφορίας συγκριτικά με τα δομημένα, η εξαγωγή αυτής με ακρίβεια και ουσία, παραμένει πρόκληση για την ενημερωμένη και επιδραστική λήψη αποφάσεων. Η παρούσα διατριβή εστιάζει στην ανάλυση κειμένου, βασιζόμενη στο συναίσθημα που εμπεριέχεται σε αυτό. Η μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση που παρουσιάζεται, δίνει τη δυνατότητα εντοπισμού των συναισθηματικών κανονικοτήτων που προσπαθεί να εγείρει ο συγγραφέας και ύστερα, επιχειρεί την κατηγοριοποίηση των κειμένων, με βάση τα συναισθήματα ως διανυσματικές συνιστώσες. Η μέθοδος παραμένει εξίσου αποτελεσματική ανεξαρτήτως περιεχομένου (ειδησιογραφία, marketing, πολιτική και λοιπά) και μήκους κειμένου. Στα πλαίσια της έρευνας χρησιμοποιείται λεξικό για τον εντοπισμό των συναισθημάτων των λέξεων, καθώς επίσης και διάφορα μοντέλα μη εποπτευόμενης μηχανικής μάθησης. Συγκεκριμένα γίνεται χρήση της LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation), η οποία σε πολλές περιπτώσεις ανακαλύψαμε ότι παράγει «συναισθηματικό απόσταγμα», όπως θα δούμε. Επίσης, γίνεται χρήση των μοντέλων Mahalanobis, One Class SVM και Isolation Forest, με σκοπό τον εντοπισμό ακραίων κειμένων (anomalies). Η εφαρμογή των προαναφερθέντων πραγματοποιείται επί ενός περίπλοκου συνόλου δεδομένων, το οποίο αποτελείται κατά κύριο μέρος από ειδησεογραφικά άρθρα και κατά δεύτερο λόγο, από προπαγανδιστικά κείμενα τους Ισλαμικού Χαλιφάτου (ISIS). Τα προπαγανδιστικά κείμενα συμπεριλαμβάνονται, καθώς το συναίσθημα αποτελεί σημαντικό πυλώνα μιας αποτελεσματικής προπαγάνδας. Η βιβλιογραφική έρευνα πεδίου περιέχει εκτενή αναφορά σε αυτό, καθώς και άλλα συστατικά στοιχεία της προπαγάνδας ανά τις δεκαετίες. Είναι άξιο αναφοράς ότι τα ευρήματα της ανάλυσης, υποδεικνύουν την ύπαρξη κοινών πρακτικών μεταξύ της δυτικής ειδησιογραφίας και της τρομοκρατικής προπαγάνδας, με σημαντικές ομοιότητες στα συναισθήματα που οι συγγραφείς των δύο πλευρών προσπαθούν να εγείρουν.
Misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccine among adults in Saudi Arabia and their associated factors: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2021
Authors: I. Albeladi Fatma , A. Kubbara Eman , A. Bakarman Marwan , Al Amri Turki , Eid Rasha , Alyazidi Najla , Alkhamesi Ameera , Alasslany Atheer
Published: May 2022

Background: It is of utmost importance for the elements that influence public compliance with vaccination against COVID-19 to be assessed, including misconceptions, rumors, and conspiracy theories. Hence, in this study, we aimed to estimate the distribution of the most common misconceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccines and their predictors in Saudi Arabia.  

Methods: We distributed an online questionnaire to participants aged 18 years or older. The survey included two sections. The first section comprised questions related to participants’ demographic characteristics, level of education, and their sources of information about COVID-19. The second section assessed participants' perceptions regarding 11 of the most common misconceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccines, rated using a 5-point Likert scale. Using ordinal logistic regression, we conducted an evaluation of the relationships among different predictors including age, sex, educational level, and sources of information, as well as acceptance of misconceptions about vaccination.  

Results: The most widely accepted misconception was that the COVID-19 vaccine had severe side effects, with 34.8% of participants believing this misinformation. Factors that were significantly associated with acceptance or non- acceptance of misconceptions were: 1) sex, with female respondents in this survey accepting rumors significantly more often than male respondents (p<0.001); 2) educational level, especially secondary school, was associated with a significantly lower acceptance of misconceptions (p=0.001). In total, 60.5% of participants used social media as their primary source of information, which was also a significant positive predictor of acceptance of misconceptions (p=0.034).  

Conclusion: It is of critical importance to increase assurance regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the issue most likely to involve misconceptions, and to address the elements that affect belief in rumors among the population.
Factors associated with producing a scientific publication during medical training: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 40 medical schools in Latin America
Authors: Valladares-Garrido Mario J. , Mejia Christian R. , Rojas-Alvarado Annel B. , Araujo-Chumacero Mary M. , Córdova-Agurto Jhacksson S. , Fiestas Jessica , Rojas-Vilar Feeder J. , Culquichicón Carlos
Published: May 2022

Background: Scientific publication during medical training is key to promoting enduring cutting-edge knowledge. The promotion of science among medical students in Latin America is a multisectoral issue that is hampered by the lack of governmental knowledge to invest in national research, as well as by the lack of support from local universities. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the production of a scientific publication during medical training among Latin American medical students of local scientific societies.

Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 that assessed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among medical students from 40 local scientific societies of medical students affiliated with FELSOCEM. Teams from each local scientific society surveyed self-reported scientific publications and explored their association with socioeconomic, academic, and research training conditions. We applied nested models to identify the covariates associated with self-reported scientific publication, obtaining a parsimonious mixed-effects multilevel model grouped by medical scientific society.

Results: Of 11,587 participants, the prevalence of scientific publications increased in 36% among medical students affiliated to a Scientific Society of Medical Students [parsimonious prevalence ratio (pPR)=1.36, 95%CI=1.16–1.59], 51% among medical students with advanced English proficiency [pPR=1.51, 95%CI=1.21 – 1.87], 85% among medical students who attended a scientific writing skills course [pPR=1.85, 95%CI=1.59–2.15], 81% among medical students who use Sci-Hub [pPR=1.81, 95%CI=1.50–2.20], and 108% among medical students who have access to a pirated academic account [pPR=2.08, 95%CI=1.83–2.36].

Conclusions: Producing a scientific publication among medical students is associated with being affiliated to a scientific society of medical students, English proficiency, training in scientific writing, use of Sci-Hub, and pirated academic accounts. The results will help clinical educators and medical programs improve resources for training students in high-quality research
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers in India
Authors: Mehta Nikita , Inamdar Vedika , Puthillam Arathy , Chunekar Shivani , Kapoor Hansika , Tagat Anirudh , Subramanyam Deepa
Published: May 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the nationally mandated lockdown has resulted in facility closures, decreased laboratory activities, and shifting to remote working. The effects of the pandemic have spread across all professions, including academia. Hence, the present study aims to understand the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) researchers and stakeholders in India.

Methods: The study employed a mixed method design. Both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) methods were used to gain a comprehensive understanding on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) early career researchers (ECRs), graduate students, Heads of Institutes, suppliers of scientific equipment, funders, and other stakeholders in India.

Results: A total of 618 researchers completed the survey, and 24 stakeholders were interviewed for this study. Our findings highlight the importance of institutional and social support for mental well-being and scientific productivity among researchers, especially during the pandemic. It also shows the impact of the disruptions in grant disbursals on research activities of scientists. Further, the gendered impact between these relationships was also noted, all of which hint at a need for structured reform within STEM.

Conclusions: The study highlights the various challenges faced by early career researchers, and STEM scientists at various positions in their careers during the COVID-19 restrictions in India.
Adaptation of the Assessment Methodology Management Competences of the Manager
Authors: Tokareva Yuliya , Gasparovich E. , Shurygina N. , Linder V.
Published: May 2022

Assessment of the level of expressiveness of managerial competencies is one of the main tasks of a specialist in personnel management. As a result, the use of methods for assessing the managerial competencies of managers at enterprises, the adaptation of methods to the needs of various industries is an important area of research in the field of management. It is imperative that every organization has a reliable tool for assessing the managerial competencies of personnel.

The theoretical analysis presented in the study showed that there are various models for assessing managerial competencies, but it is important to apply methods adapted to a specific organization, category of personnel. The process of assessing managerial competencies is beneficial not only for the company, but also for the employee himself, as it makes it possible to see the level of development of his competencies and determine the further path of his development, it becomes possible to be included in the personnel reserve. The study made it possible to assess the level of severity of managerial competencies of middle managers of an oil and gas enterprise.

In the course of the study, the problem of the lack of a methodology for assessing managerial competencies at an oil and gas enterprise was identified. In order to improve the quality of work, the methodology of Yu.A. Tokareva.

The introduction of an adapted methodology for assessing managerial competencies made it possible to demonstrate its reliability through the results of repeated testing, taking into account the requirements for a specific position, to give recommendations on the use of an adapted methodology to personnel management specialists.The novelty of the study is revealed in the fact that the methodology for assessing managerial competencies adapted in the work is an important tool for identifying the level of qualification of managers, namely the level of development of their managerial competencies.

It is difficult to overestimate the practical significance of applying the adapted methodology, since it is on the basis of the level of managerial competencies of the employee that his further development plan is drawn up, which in the future will allow the enterprise to achieve even better results.
Cardiovascular risk in patients with selected cutaneous diseases
Authors: Gorajek Anna , Mikut Karolina , Maj Dominik , Wieteska Małgorzata
Published: May 2022

Introduction and purpose: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. The classic cardiovascular risk factors include age, gender, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking and genetic factors. Some dermatological disorders are also potential risk factors for the development of CVD. The aim of the study is to review recent knowledge on the impact of dermatological diseases on cardiovascular risk.

Description of the state of knowledge: The relationship between skin diseases and cardiovascular risk is influenced by various common dependencies such as: shared pathophysiological basis of disorders, risk factors, presence of a chronic inflammatory process, genetic susceptibility and environmental influences. Increased cardiovascular risk has been reported for several dermatological conditions, including psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, pemphigus, hidradenitis suppurativa, rosacea, atopic dermatitis. Chronic systemic inflammation, typically present in skin conditions, is a cardiovascular risk factor, because inflammation accelerates atherosclerosis, and furthermore may predispose patients to the development of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. In patients who are initially metabolically unbalanced, these processes may be even more intense. Cardiovascular disorders, the frequency of which increases in patients with skin diseases, include atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease (stroke, TIA) and peripheral arterial disease.

Summary: Many cutaneous disorders, in addition to significantly increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, also reduce the patient's quality of life. The cooperation of dermatologists and cardiologists in the care of patients with dermatological diseases is crucial for the proper treatment of the disease and prevention of cardiovascular complications.
The Importance of Selling Formats: When Integrating Purchase and Quantity Decisions Increases Sales
Authors: Duke Kristen E. , Amir On
Published: May 2022

Selling formats that integrate purchase and quantity decisions outsell sequential ones because they promote later-stage decision-making considerations.
Identification of dendrobium Natural Orchids in Liwa Botanical Garden based on leaf morphological characters
Authors: Mahfut Mahfut , Handayani Tundjung Tripeni , Wahyuningsih Sri , Sukimin Sukimin
Published: May 2022

Lampung Indonesia is one of the provinces on the island of Sumatra, which has a flora conservation area located in Liwa Botanical Garden, West Lampung Regency. One of the flora species in the area with a high level of diversity is the orchid plant. The Dendrobium is the largest orchid species, where the public widely hunts this orchid for an economic reason due to the beauty of its various flower shapes and colors. Given the high level of human encroachment, this can threaten the existence of natural orchid plants, causing loss of their original habitat and causing the extinction of orchid species. Based on data in Liwa Botanical Garden, there has been no further identification of natural orchids as a plant conservation effort. To protect and immediately save these natural orchids, it is necessary to identify the Dendrobium orchid species based on the leaf morphological approach. This research will be conducted in April-September 2020. Observations of leaf morphology include leaf shape, leaf tip shape, leaf base shape, leaf edge, leaf reinforcement, leaf arrangement, leaf surface texture, leaf symmetry, and leaf sitting based on guidelines for ornamental plant characterization books. Observations as secondary data were added to the character of the pseudobulb shape and orchid habitat. Observations as secondary data were added on the habitat character of pseudobulbs and orchids. The implementation of this activity is still in the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, so most of the activities are carried out online. The coaching and training phase was conducted through internal virtual discussions on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, while the coaching phase was conducted through meetings or verbal communication via telephone groups and WhatsApp. Based on the evaluation data, it is known that there is an increase in knowledge and understanding of training participants by 21.64 points. The percentage increase in value before and after training is 34.72%. Orchid-related activities at Liwa Botanical Garden were never carried out, thus imparting knowledge to Liwa Botanical Garden technicians and workers on the development of natural orchid identification methods based on the morphological character in local natural resource conservation in the 4.0 industrial revolution era.
Global Calvinism and the Pagan Principle
Authors: Parker Charles H.
Published: May 2022

This chapter outlines the new ways of thinking that became engrafted into Calvinism and its critics by the eighteenth century. It mentions Calvinist entanglements in missions and empire building that left indelible marks on the Reformed Church and on Protestant intellectuals in the Dutch Republic. The desire to implant Protestant Christianity in new territories pulled university faculties as well as synods, classes, consistories, and congregations into a sustained engagement with many different peoples. The chapter highlights a geography of knowledge that spanned from Asia to the Atlantic that invited Calvinists to contextualize European religious and intellectual currents in light of customs, beliefs, and practices around the world. Riding on the wake of the encounter with world societies via trade and travel, Calvinist missions became an important part of a broad globalization of Dutch society in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Rifampicin restores extracellular organic matrix formation and mineralization of osteoblasts after intracellular Staphylococcus aureus infection
Authors: Alagboso Francisca I. , Mannala Gopala K. , Walter Nike , Docheva Denitsa , Brochhausen Christoph , Alt Volker , Rupp Markus
Published: May 2022

Aims

Bone regeneration during treatment of staphylococcal bone infection is challenging due to the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to invade and persist within osteoblasts. Here, we sought to determine whether the metabolic and extracellular organic matrix formation and mineralization ability of S. aureus-infected human osteoblasts can be restored after rifampicin (RMP) therapy.

Methods

The human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells infected with S. aureus EDCC 5055 strain and treated with 8 µg/ml RMP underwent osteogenic stimulation for up to 21 days. Test groups were Saos-2 cells + S. aureus and Saos-2 cells + S. aureus + 8 µg/ml RMP, and control groups were uninfected untreated Saos-2 cells and uninfected Saos-2 cells + 8 µg/ml RMP.

Results

The S. aureus-infected osteoblasts showed a significant number of intracellular bacteria colonies and an unusual higher metabolic activity (p < 0.005) compared to uninfected osteoblasts. Treatment with 8 µg/ml RMP significantly eradicated intracellular bacteria and the metabolic activity was comparable to uninfected groups. The RMP-treated infected osteoblasts revealed a significantly reduced amount of mineralized extracellular matrix (ECM) at seven days osteogenesis relative to uninfected untreated osteoblasts (p = 0.007). Prolonged osteogenesis and RMP treatment at 21 days significantly improved the ECM mineralization level. Ultrastructural images of the mineralized RMP-treated infected osteoblasts revealed viable osteoblasts and densely distributed calcium crystal deposits within the extracellular organic matrix. The expression levels of prominent bone formation genes were comparable to the RMP-treated uninfected osteoblasts.

Conclusion

Intracellular S. aureus infection impaired osteoblast metabolism and function. However, treatment with low dosage of RMP eradicated the intracellular S. aureus, enabling extracellular organic matrix formation and mineralization of osteoblasts at later stage. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(5):327–341.
Effect of Korean Medicine Treatment Combined with Conventional Medicine in Patients Diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Heon Jeong Seong , Jang Kwon-Jun , Moon Hyang-Ran , Jo On You , Yoon Lee Ji , Min Yang Jung , Choi Saerom , Ji Yoon Min , Shin Gwangsoon , Kim Hyo-Rim
Published: May 2022

This study examined the effectiveness of Korean-Western cooperative treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis. Fifty patients received Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine) and Western medicine treatments (polydeoxyribonucleotide, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy). Evaluation methods used were comparison before and after ultrasound (P9), and numeric rating scale scores. Mesults revealed a significant improvement in the level of pain and evaluation of improvement using ultrasound. Moreover, it was suggested that Korean-Western cooperative medicine treatment may be effective for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
COVID-19
Authors: Greener Ian
Published: May 2022

This chapter compares the response of 25 countries in terms of available measures to their first-wave response to COVID-19, measured in terms of reported COVID cases and COVID mortality. It finds that the most important factor, in putting in place an initial response to COVID, was having a high number of COVID tests per reported case.
Welfare in an age of austerity
Authors: Pierson Christopher
Published: May 2022

This chapter offers a detailed assessment of the management of welfare under the Conservative Party in an era of austerity (2010-2020). It shows which areas of spending were protected and which were targeted for savings. It discusses outcomes in terms of incomes, wealth, poverty, social mobility and inheritance. It reports the dynamics of social and income inequality. It establishes what the welfare state looked like when COVID-19 struck.
COVID-19 and after
Authors: Pierson Christopher
Published: May 2022

This chapter assesses the impact of COVID-19, and policy responses to it, after a year of special measures. The challenges to health and well-being, mortality, work, welfare, the public finances, and civil liberties have all been severe. This chapter uses a range of data sources to make an assessment of the damage after a year of pandemic. It discusses dynamics of deficit, debt, unemployment, future growth and taxation. Finally, it considers the prospects, in both the short- and medium-term, for welfare after COVID-19.
Deteriorating working conditions in elder care: an invisible crisis of care?
Authors: Stranz Anneli
Published: May 2022

This chapter discusses the working conditions for care professionals in elder care, which constitute a very large group in the female-dominated labour market. When identifying and theorising the concept of care crisis in the Nordic context, an important factor is to investigate how women in different social positions are influenced by structural changes concerning social care. Based upon a major survey in collaboration with others and applying Nancy Fraser's original two-dimensional theorising on justice (redistribution and recognition), the chapter argues that there is an invisible crisis in elder care. This is based upon the replies of the professional carers stressing mental, emotional, and bodily fatigue and understaffing — a working life that can feed into higher turnover — and, consequently, of increasing recruitment problems. The chapter concludes with a cautious, optimistic note quoting the Swedish prime minister in favour of allocating more resources to elder care, as a possible response to the high death rates in Swedish nursing homes related to COVID-19.
Conclusion: Less caring and less gender-equal Nordic states
Authors: Hansen Lise Lotte , Dahl Hanne Marlene , Rhodes Carl
Published: May 2022

This concluding chapter explains that it is possible to talk about a care crisis in the Nordic welfare states, and that there are issues of concern regarding both gender equality and welfare state sustainability. It is an uneven crisis, which takes different forms in the various fields of care and in the different Nordic states. Although the care crisis might not be fully visible yet, it produces insufficient and inadequate care, sometimes poor working conditions and too little time for the care workers to care for themselves, their families, and communities. However, the Nordic welfare states have also made a difference to the depth of the crisis: regulations and institutions have prevented the development of a full crisis. Moreover, care workers, care-givers, and care-receivers and their organisations are taking part in social struggles against the consequences of neoliberalism and financialisation. Yet, the outcome has — so far — been less caring and less gender-equal Nordic states.
Managing ethical tensions when conducting research in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
Authors: Shadare Gbenga Akinlolu
Published: May 2022

Researchers must understand ethically important environments affecting the welfare and integrity of participants. Peculiar uncertainties and difficulties arise when conducting research in fragile or conflict-affected environments, requiring flexibility and adaptability to manage ethical tensions and moments. This chapter discusses research on social protection policies in Northern Nigeria, where persistent conflicts have disrupted livelihoods and created pervasive insecurity. Research participants were more difficult to identify and recruit in this context, and situational ethics were required. While researchers should maintain transparent communication throughout their research, implementation of the transparency principle has to be adapted to different cultural practices and norms. For example, informed consent may not be given by female participants without husbands’ permission and covert research may become necessary and justifiable.
Beyond extraction: co-creating a decolonial and feminist research practice in post-conflict Guatemala
Authors: Walsh Aisling
Published: May 2022

This chapter explores the ethics of researching in the post-colonial, post-conflict context of Guatemala, questioning how the neoliberal dynamics of Global North academia foster a culture where data harvesting/mining, and knowledge extraction from the Global South to the Global North not only persists, but is encouraged. Research on sexual and racial violence and data extraction from victim/survivors of genocide and conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) have, to a large extent, characterised the relationship between the (Global North-based) researcher and the (Global South-located) researched. Critical post/de/anti-colonial scholars are increasingly insisting on a reflexive ethics which probes the (neo)colonial dynamics of knowledge extraction and production and the author explores this ethics by engaging critical, affective, relational and co-creative feminist auto/-ethnography.
Conclusion
Authors: Kara Su-ming
Published: May 2022

In this conclusion, we summarise some lessons from the examples and experiences in the contributions to this volume and draw in reflections from three e-books we co-edited on Researching in the Age of COVID-19 (Kara and Khoo 2020 a,b,c). We recall that crisis has two meanings: a sudden occurrence, such as a ship running aground, or a turning point, marking either recovery or deterioration during an illness. We also note that crisis can be fast or slow, one-off or recurrent, and that all these aspects of crisis can interact in complex ways. We offer some recommendations for doing research in times of crisis and suggest some future directions for the development of methods and ethics in this arena.
Creative Universities
Authors: Schwittay Anke
Published: May 2022

How can higher education contribute to tackling today's complex challenges? In this wide-ranging book, the author argues that, in order to inspire and equip students to generate better responses to global challenges, we need a pedagogy that develops their imagination, creativity, emotional sensibilities and practical capabilities. The author proposes a critical-creative pedagogy that incorporates design-based activities, experiential teaching, serious play and future-oriented practices. Crucially, the book demonstrates the importance of moving beyond analysing limitations to working towards alternatives for more equitable, just and sustainable futures. Presenting concrete ideas for the reimagination of higher education, this book is an essential read for both educators and students in any field studying global challenges.
On a Carbon-based Transhumanism
Authors: Sorgner Stefan Lorenz
Published: May 2022

This chapter focuses on the question of how to deal morally with gene technologies. It presents a non-utopian Nietzschean transhumanism, which embraces a radically pluralistic concept of the good. The chapter begins with an analysis of the cultural relevance of debates on gene technologies by analysing the cultural reception of some of these ideas. Next, the chapter explains why the need to realize and promote moral bioenhancement first, so as to reduce the likelihood of abuse connected to other enhancement technologies which promote positional goods, is neither plausible nor realistic. It presents one of the aforementioned unrealizable and potentially dangerous utopias. Afterward, the chapter deals with the question of how to evaluate gene modification technologies. It argues that the process of genetic modifications of someone's offspring is structurally analogous to traditional parental education.
Ultrafast dynamic switching of optical response based on nonlinear hyperbolic metamaterial platform
Authors: Xie Ze Tao , Sha Yanhua , Wu Jiaye , Fu H. Y. , Li Qian
Published: May 2022

The pursuit of high-speed and on-chip optical communication systems has promoted extensive exploration of all-optical control of light-matter interactions via nonlinear optical processes. Here, we have numerically investigated the ultrafast dynamic switching of optical response using tunable hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) which consists of five pairs of alternating layers of indium tin oxide (ITO) and SiO2. The nonlinearity of the HMM is analyzed by the ultrafast dynamics of the hot electrons in the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) ITO. Our approach allows large and broad all-optical modulation of the effective permittivity and topology of the HMM on the femtosecond time-scale. Based on the proposed HMM platform, we have shown considerable tunability in the extinction ratio and Purcell enhancement under various pump fluence. In addition, we have achieved all-optical control of the coupling strength through depositing plasmonic resonators on the HMM platform. A significant tuning of the coupled resonance is observed by changing pump fluence, which leads to a switching time within 213 fs at a specific wavelength with a relative modulation depth more than 15 dB.
Interpolant-based demosaicing routines for dual-mode visible/near-infrared imaging systems
Authors: Blair Steven , Gruev Viktor
Published: May 2022

Dual-mode visible/near-infrared imaging systems, including a bioinspired six-channel design and more conventional four-channel implementations, have transitioned from a niche in surveillance to general use in machine vision. However, the demosaicing routines that transform the raw images from these sensors into processed images that can be consumed by humans or computers rely on assumptions that may not be appropriate when the two portions of the spectrum contribute different information about a scene. A solution can be found in a family of demosaicing routines that utilize interpolating polynomials and splines of different dimensionalities and orders to process images with minimal assumptions.
Antibunched single-photon/photon-pair emission with coupled Jaynes-Cummings model
Authors: Ren Yi , Duan Zhenglu , Fan Bixua , Guan Shengguo , Xie Min , Liu Cunjin
Published: May 2022

Herein, we propose a coupled Jaynes-Cummings model for the preparation of strong antibunched single photons and antibunched correlated photon pairs. Using the effective Hamiltonian method, we obtained the expression for the correlation function and then presented the optimal conditions for conventional/unconventional photon blockade. The results showed that on one hand, an intersection point exists between conventional photon blockade and unconventional photon blockade and that the performance of the single photon at the intersection point is better. On the other hand, under the condition of unconventional photon blockade, the photons produced by each Jaynes-Cummings system are strongly correlated with each other.