bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legitimidad, Justicia y Justificación de la Violencia Intergrupal entre Carabineros y Manifestantes en Chile
Authors:   Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Gerber Mónica M. , Figueiredo Ana ,   Instituto de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de O'Higgins, Sáez Luciano ,   Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Orchard Macarena ,   Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales
Published: December 2022

¿Por qué justifican las personas la violencia intergrupal ejercida entre la policía y manifestantes en protestas sociales? En este artículo se examinan las actitudes hacia la violencia perpetrada en Chile por Carabineros contra manifestantes y la violencia ejercida por manifestantes contra Carabineros en el marco del contexto post estallido social del 18 de octubre de 2019. Se evalúa el papel que juegan la percepción de injusticia en los procedimientos y el trato de Carabineros hacia manifestantes, la evaluación de la legitimidad de Carabineros y la identificación grupal con manifestantes y Carabineros en predecir la justificación de la violencia hacia Carabineros y hacia manifestantes. Se presentan los resultados de una encuesta no-probabilística online sobre legitimidad y violencia policial realizada a adultos en Chile durante enero de 2021 (n = 2.594). A través de un análisis de sendero, se encontró que la percepción de injusticia en los procedimientos de trato de Carabineros hacia los manifestantes es un factor clave al predecir la percepción de legitimidad de esa institución. Es más, al reducir la legitimidad de Carabineros, la percepción de injusticia en los procedimientos y el trato se traducen en una menor justificación de la violencia de Carabineros y una mayor justificación de la violencia de manifestantes. El artículo termina destacando la importancia de considerar las percepciones de injusticia en los procedimientos y el trato de Carabineros para lograr reducir el conflicto entre estos y los manifestantes en protestas en Chile.
Nexus between Agriculture Growth and Poverty Reduction in India
Authors: Chandrarekha C. , Guledagudda S. S. , Kulkarni G. N. , Biradara Nagaratna , Yeledhalli R. A.
Published: December 2022

Poverty is an issue of concern in developing countries as it remains the most elusive social evil to derail the economic progress of the country and social status of population. India remains fastest growing economy in the world, however efforts have to be made to improve the standard of living and social wellbeing of people. Agriculture as primary sector benefits the poor sections of the population by providing employment opportunities and play a key role in reducing poverty. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of agriculture growth on poverty reduction by using secondary data and sixteen states of India were purposively selected. An attempt was made to analyse the relationship between poverty, Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per worker and Non-Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per worker using pooled regression analysis. The findings of the study shows that, as every one per cent increase in Agriculture GDP per worker found to have reduced poverty by 0.11 per cent as against 0.04 per cent in Non-Agriculture GDP per worker. This shows that increase in Agriculture GDP per worker causes higher poverty reduction as compared to Non- Agriculture GDP per worker. This is true in case of agrarian economy like India as majority of population are dependent on agriculture for their sustenance. However, it suggested that the balanced mutual growth between various sectors of the economy will help to alleviate poverty in the country.
Educação em Saúde com gestantes na estratégia saúde da família
Authors: Macson da Silva Natanias , Danilo Rego de Queiroz Tassio , Bezerra Silva Alexandre , Do Vale e Silva Jennifer , Gurgel Cosme Nascimento Ellany
Published: December 2022

Introdução: a Educação em Saúde com gestantes deve incorporar novas ações no âmbito da Atenção Primária à Saúde, com possibilidades de promover saúde e prevenir doenças, bem como garantir o exercício de práticas e saberes alternativos ao modelo biomédico, evocando reflexões críticas e o compartilhamento de experiências por meio das gestantes. Objetivo: buscou-se analisar as atividades de Educação em Saúde direcionadas para as gestantes nas equipes da Estratégia Saúde da Família. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, desenvolvido em Unidades Básicas de Saúde do município de Mossoró/RN, que reuniu narrativas de 15 usuárias por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Resultados: após utilização da Análise Temática de Conteúdo, os resultados foram separados em duas categorias principais e cinco subcategorias. A primeira categoria avaliou as ações de Educação em Saúde, caracterizadas por serem esporádicas (ou inexistentes em alguns serviços) e pela alternância entre metodologias de ensino verticale horizontal. Por outro lado, a segunda categoria evocou o significado dos encontros entre as gestantes e os profissionais de saúde, marcado por fragilidades na escuta qualificada, no diálogo e na realização das ações educativas durante o pré-natal. Conclusão: de acordo com os discursos das gestantes, percebemos que as estratégias de ensino, quando pautadas nos preceitos de Paulo Freire, estão intimamente ligadas à promoção da saúde. Isso porque garante às gestantes uma consciência crítica sobre o seu autocuidado; o que se constitui como primeira iniciativa para que ocorram mudanças nos seus hábitos de vida e na maneira como enfrentam as circunstâncias inerentes à gestação.
20 anos de publicação ininterrupta
Authors: Araújo Roberto Paulo Correia de
Published: December 2022

A Revista de Ciências Médicas e Biológicas – ISSN 2236-5222 (on line) e ISSN 1677-5090(impresso) – é um Periódico científico institucional chancelado pelo Instituto de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Federal da Bahia.
Correlations on Average Tensile Strength of 3D‐Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polylactic Acid, and Polylactic Acid + Carbon Fiber Specimens
Authors: Tandon Sourabh , Kacker Ruchin , Singh Sanjay Kumar
Published: December 2022

In view of reducing development and production costs of components in the fields such as automobile, aviation, sports, and biomedical, additive manufacturing (AM) holds immense utility. Herein, three samples of 3D‐printed material specimens namely acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid + carbon fiber (PLA + CF) are fabricated at 0°, 45°, and 90° orientations using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and subsequently their mechanical properties are evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are presented to observe the failure behavior. The uncertainty analysis performed on measured and obtained parameters reveals the maximum error of ±0.312% and ±0.3218%, respectively. From the obtained experimental results, correlations on average tensile strength in terms of elastic modulus, percent strain, standard deviation, and printing orientations are presented for each of the materials. ABS and PLA + CF specimens show the agreement of co‐relational with experimental data which lies within ±10% whereas ±3% for PLA specimens. Although on reinforcing with CF, the strength of PLA + CF samples increases considerably at all orientations as compared to PLA and ABS, virgin PLA reported greater elastic modulus as compared with PLA + CF, therefore virgin PLA finds better utilization wherever stiffness is the key requirement in design.
Spectroscopic Properties of a Biologically Relevant [Fe2(μ‐O)2] Diamond Core Motif with a Short Iron‐Iron Distance
Authors: Kass Dustin , Yao Shenglai , Krause Konstantin B. , Corona Teresa , Richter Liza , Braun Thomas , Mebs Stefan , Haumann Michael , Dau Holger , Lohmiller Thomas , Limberg Christian , Drieß Matthias , Ray Kallol
Published: December 2022

Diiron cofactors in enzymes perform diverse challenging transformations. The structures of high valent intermediates (Q in methane monooxygenase and X in ribonucleotide reductase) are debated since Fe−Fe distances of 2.5–3.4 Å were attributed to “open” or “closed” cores with bridging or terminal oxido groups. We report the crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of a FeIII2(μ‐O)2 complex (2) with tetrahedral (4C) centres and short Fe−Fe distance (2.52 Å), persisting in organic solutions. 2 shows a large Fe K‐pre‐edge intensity, which is caused by the pronounced asymmetry at the TD FeIII centres due to the short Fe−μ−O bonds. A ≈2.5 Å Fe−Fe distance is unlikely for six‐coordinate sites in Q or X, but for a Fe2(μ‐O)2 core containing four‐coordinate (or by possible extension five‐coordinate) iron centres there may be enough flexibility to accommodate a particularly short Fe−Fe separation with intense pre‐edge transition. This finding may broaden the scope of models considered for the structure of high‐valent diiron intermediates formed upon O2 activation in biology.
A review of Canadian wood conversion technologies for the production of fuels and chemicals
Authors: Sreekumar Arun , Mohan Omex , Kurian Vinoj , Mvolo Cyriac , Kumar Amit
Published: December 2022

Canada has 347 million ha of forest cover, contributing to the potential large availability of wood‐based resources. Although Canada's forest sector contributed $23.7 billion to the national nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, the GDP contribution of the wood product manufacturing subsector shrank by 6%. To reposition the Canadian forest industry, new forest management practices and wood‐based conversion technologies should be applied. In this context, the use of woody biomass in biorefineries to produce clean energy, fuels, and chemicals is becoming increasingly significant. There is a need to understand the current status and challenges of the wood‐based biomass conversion technologies that have been and are being developed in Canada. This information will help decision‐makers in formulating and implementing forest sector‐related policies for a sustainable bioeconomy in Canada. This study is focused on a review of Canadian woody biomass conversion technologies. Our critical review identified considerable potential biomass conversion technologies specialized for woody feedstock, all in the Canadian setting. We focused on the prospects of revitalizing Canada's pulp and paper industry through the integration of pre‐treatment processes and biochemical technologies. The thermochemical conversion pathway was identified as the dominant route for woody feedstock valorization. The review also identified pathways with the potential to diversify the existing product mix that generate products from wood streams, such as chemicals and biomaterials. Most of the biochemical and thermochemical research done in institutional and multi‐institutional research collaborations from laboratory scale to industrial scale will boost the chances of the commercialization of a wood‐based biorefinery in Canada.
Simultaneous Sensing of H2O, D2O and HOD through Peroxo Vibrations
Authors: Pal Srimanta , Chattopadhyay Arun
Published: December 2022

Detection of HOD simultaneously in the presence of a mixture of H2O and D2O is still an experimental challenge. Till date, there is no literature report of simultaneous detection of H2O, D2O and HOD based on vibrational spectra. Herein we report simultaneous quantitative detection of H2O, D2O and HOD in the same reaction mixture with the help of bridged polynuclear peroxo complex in absence and presence of Au nanoparticles on the basis of a peroxide vibrational mode in resonance Raman and surface enhanced resonance Raman spectrum. We synthesize bridged polynuclear peroxo complex in different solvent mixture of H2O and D2O. Due to the formation of different nature of hydrogen bonding between peroxide and solvent molecules (H2O, D2O and HOD), vibrational frequency of peroxo bond is significantly affected. Mixtures of different H2O and D2O concentrations produce different HOD concentrations and that lead to different intensities of peaks positioned at 897, 823 and 867 cm−1 indicating H2O, D2O and HOD, respectively. The lowest detection limits (LODs) were 0.028 mole fraction of D2O in H2O and 0.046 mole faction of H2O in D2O. In addition, for the first time the results revealed that the cis‐peroxide forms two hydrogen bonds with solvent molecules.
Self‐Activation of Inorganic‐Organic Hybrids Derived through Continuous Synthesis of Polyoxomolybdate and para‐Phenylenediamine Enables Very High Lithium‐Ion Storage Capacity
Authors: Mohamed Mana Abdirahman , Arnold Stefanie , Janka Oliver , Quade Antje , Presser Volker , Kickelbick Guido
Published: December 2022

Inorganic‐organic hybrid materials with redox‐active components were prepared by an aqueous precipitation reaction of ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM) with para‐phenylenediamine (PPD). A scalable and low‐energy continuous wet chemical synthesis process, known as the microjet process, was used to prepare particles with large surface area in the submicrometer range with high purity and reproducibility on a large scale. Two different crystalline hybrid products were formed depending on the ratio of molybdate to organic ligand and pH. A ratio of para‐phenylenediamine to ammonium heptamolybdate from 1 : 1 to 5 : 1 resulted in the compound [C6H10N2]2[Mo8O26] ⋅ 6 H2O, while higher PPD ratios from 9 : 1 to 30 : 1 yielded a composition of [C6H9N2]4[NH4]2[Mo7O24] ⋅ 3 H2O. The electrochemical behavior of the two products was tested in a battery cell environment. Only the second of the two hybrid materials showed an exceptionally high capacity of 1084 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 150 cycles. The maximum capacity was reached after an induction phase, which can be explained by a combination of a conversion reaction with lithium to Li2MoO4 and an additional in situ polymerization of PPD. The final hybrid material is a promising material for lithium‐ion battery (LIB) applications.
Safety evaluation of Balanced Health Care Dan—A medicinal formulation containing traditional edible ingredients in lung tumor‐loaded mice
Authors: Dong Feng , Zhao Changhui , He Xiaoyun , Dong Yueyang , Liu Haiyan , Yao Peng , Xu Wentao
Published: December 2022

Chinese formulation‐based medicinal food has been widely used in clinical trials, but its safety is not well studied. In this research, the edible safety assessment of Balanced Health Care Dan—a formulation containing traditional edible ingredients that were initially formulated to reduce side effects for lung cancer patients—was studied in mice based on biochemical and gut microbial analyses. The experimental mice were subcutaneously loaded with lung tumor A549 cells and then administrated with Balanced Health Care Dan (200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg b.w. in gavage feeding) for 4 weeks. The body weight, blood parameters, and pathogenic phenotype in tissues were examined. No toxicological symptom was found in experimental mice compared with the normal control. Comprehensive analyses were also conducted to evaluate intestinal microbiota that are associated with many diseases. Balanced Health Care Dan modified the gut microbiota structure in a positive way. In conclusion, the Chinese formulation‐based medicinal food has shown no toxicological effect in mice within 4 weeks of feeding experiment and has the potential to be used in clinical trials.
The role of selective SATB1 deletion in somatostatin expressing interneurons on endogenous network activity and the transition to epilepsy
Authors: Vasilopoulos Nikos , Kaplanian Ani , Vinos Michael , Katsaiti Yolanda , Christodoulou Ourania , Denaxa Myrto , Skaliora Irini
Published: December 2022

Somatostatin (SST) expressing interneurons are the second most abundant group of inhibitory neurons in the neocortex. They mainly target the apical dendrites of excitatory pyramidal cells and are implicated in feedforward and feedback inhibition. In the present study, we employ a conditional knockout mouse, in which the transcription factor Satb1 is selectively deleted in SST‐expressing interneurons resulting to the reduction of their number across the somatosensory barrel field. Our goal was to investigate the effect of the reduced number of Satb1 mutant SST‐interneurons on (i) the endogenous cortical network activity (spontaneously recurring Up/Down states), and (ii) the transition to epileptiform activity. By conducting LFP recordings in acute brain slices from young male and female mice, we demonstrate that mutant animals exhibit significant changes in network excitability, reflected in increased Up state occurrence, decreased Up state duration and higher levels of extracellular spiking activity. Epileptiform activity was induced through two distinct and widely used in vitro protocols: the low magnesium and the 4‐Aminopyridine (4‐AP) model. In the former, slices from mutant animals manifested shorter latency for the expression of stable seizure‐like events. In contrast, when epilepsy was induced by 4‐AP, no significant differences were reported. We conclude that normal SST‐interneuron function has a significant role both in the regulation of the endogenous network activity, and in the transition to seizure‐like discharges in a context‐dependent manner.
Assessing the role of ultrasound for the evaluation of adult neck masses
Authors: Feier Joel , Self Quinn , Karabachev Alexander , Brundage William , Sajisevi Mirabelle
Published: December 2022

Objectives

The American Academy of Otolaryngology clinical practice guidelines recommend cross‐sectional imaging or fine needle aspiration for any neck mass in an adult that persists beyond 2 weeks that is not convincingly related to a bacterial infection. We aimed to assess the role of ultrasound in the evaluation and management of neck masses.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed of adult patients evaluated in the Otolaryngology clinic at a single institution from December 2014 to December 2015 for a visible or palpable neck mass persistent beyond 2 weeks who had an ultrasound exam as part of their initial workup. Patients with a history of head and neck malignancy or those presenting wtih primary salivary or thyroid gland lesions were excluded. Sonographic features, demographics, imaging, and biopsy results were recorded.

Results

Of the 56 patients who met inclusion criteria, 36 (64.3%) received FNA or biopsy, of which 18 (50%) demonstrated malignant pathology. Twenty patients (35.7%) demonstrated benign features on ultrasound and did not undergo tissue sampling. Two of these 20 patients underwent subsequent cross‐sectional imaging. Eight of these 20 patients were followed with serial ultrasound with an average of 3 exams over 14.7 months. The remaining 12 patients had spontaneous resolution of their adenopathy. None of these 20 patients was subsequently diagnosed with malignancy.

Conclusion

In this study, approximately one third of patients presenting with a visible or palpable neck mass were able to safely avoid cross‐sectional imaging and/or tissue sampling when ultrasound demonstrated features consistent with benign pathology. Our results suggest that ultrasound can play a useful role in the initial evaluation and management of adults presenting with a neck mass.

Level of Evidence

IV.
Projective analytic vectors and infinitesimal generators
Authors: Cabral Rodrigo A. H. M.
Published: December 2022

We establish the notion of a “projective analytic vector”, whose defining requirements are weaker than the usual ones of an analytic vector, and use it to prove generation theorems for one‐parameter groups on locally convex spaces. More specifically, we give a characterization of the generators of strongly continuous one‐parameter groups which arise as the result of a projective limit procedure, in which the existence of a dense set of projective analytic vectors plays a central role. An application to strongly continuous Lie group representations on Banach spaces is given, with a focused analysis on concrete algebras of functions and of pseudodifferential operators.
Gut adaptation after gastric bypass in humans reveals metabolically significant shift in fuel metabolism
Authors: Stefater‐Richards Margaret A. , Panciotti Courtney , Feldman Henry A. , Gourash William F. , Shirley Eleanor , Hutchinson John N. , Golick Lena , Park Sang W. , Courcoulas Anita P. , Stylopoulos Nicholas
Published: December 2022

Objective

Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) is among the most effective therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and intestinal adaptation is a proposed mechanism for these effects. It was hypothesized that intestinal adaptation precedes and relates to metabolic improvement in humans after RYGB.

Methods

This was a prospective, longitudinal, first‐in‐human study of gene expression (GE) in the “Roux limb” (RL) collected surgically/endoscopically from 19 patients with and without diabetes. GE was determined by microarray across six postoperative months, including at an early postoperative (1 month ± 15 days) time point.

Results

RL GE demonstrated tissue remodeling and metabolic reprogramming, including increased glucose and amino acid use. RL GE signatures were established early, before maximal clinical response, and persisted. Distinct GE fingerprints predicted concurrent and future improvements in HbA1c and in weight. Human RL exhibited GE changes characterized by anabolic growth and shift in metabolic substrate use. Paradoxically, anabolic growth in RL appeared to contribute to the catabolic state elicited by RYGB.

Conclusions

These data support a role for a direct effect of intestinal energy metabolism to contribute to the beneficial clinical effects of RYGB, suggesting that related pathways might be potential targets of therapeutic interest for patients with obesity with or without type 2 diabetes.
Verifying in vitro‐determined enzyme contributions to cannabidiol clearance for exposure predictions in human through physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic modeling
Authors: Yeung Cindy H. T. , Beers Jessica L. , Jackson Klarissa D. , Edginton Andrea N.
Published: December 2022

Cannabidiol (CBD) is approved for treatment of seizures associated with two forms of epilepsy that become apparent in infancy or early childhood. To consider an adult physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for pediatric scaling, we assessed in vitro‐derived cytochrome P450 (CYP) and uridine 5′‐diphospho‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme contributions to CBD clearance in human. An i.v. PBPK model was constructed using CBD physicochemical properties and knowledge of disposition. The i.v. datasets were used for model building and evaluation. Oral PBPK models for CBD administered in fasted and fed states were developed using single dose oral datasets and parameters optimized from the i.v. model and evaluated with multiple dose datasets. Relative contributions of CBD metabolizing enzymes were partitioned according to in vitro studies. Clinical drug–drug interaction (DDI) studies were simulated using CBD fed state, itraconazole, fluconazole, and rifampicin PBPK models. Linear mixed effect modeling was used to estimate area under the concentration‐time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0–∞) perpetrator + CBD versus CBD alone. The i.v. and oral datasets used in model evaluation produced acceptable average fold error (AFE) of 1.28 and absolute AFE of 1.65. Relative contributions of drug‐metabolizing enzymes to CBD clearance were proposed from in vitro data: UGT1A7 4%, UGT1A9 16%, UGT2B7 10%, CYP3A4 38%, CYP2C19 21%, and CYP2C9 11%. The simulated DDI studies using the in vitro‐derived values produced AUC0–∞ treatment ratios comparable to observed: itraconazole 1.24 versus 1.07, fluconazole 1.45 versus 1.22, and rifampicin 0.49 versus 0.69. The constructed CBD PBPK models can predict adult exposures and have potential for use in pediatrics where exposure estimates are limited.
Determination of free and total meropenem levels in human plasma and its application for the consistency evaluation of generic drugs
Authors: Yang Ping , Zhang Xianhua , Zhou Congya , Zhai Suodi , Wang Chen , Yang Li
Published: December 2022

Rationale

The consistency evaluation of generic drugs is important for the overall reformation of drug registration in China. In this study, we used meropenem as a model drug to explore the key techniques for clinical consistency evaluation by studying the plasma protein binding (PPB) ratio of different preparations. Because the free portion of drug is the effective part in vivo, it is essential to measure the free drug concentration in the circulatory system. Therefore, in this study, a fast and accurate high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method was developed to determine the total and free concentrations of meropenem in human plasma.

Methods

Simple protein precipitation procedures were used for the sample processing assay, and ultrafiltration was implemented for the separation of free drugs. Liquid chromatography separation was performed using a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) silica column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3 μm). The mobile phase and sample preparation procedures were optimized. Factors affecting the measurement of free drug concentration were also determined. Nonspecific binding of the ultrafiltration membrane was negligible because the recovery rate for post‐ultrafiltration was greater than 96%.

Results

Under optimal conditions, the drug concentrations were linear from 0.5 to 50 μg/ml for both total and free drug concentrations. The PPB ratio was calculated based on the free and total drug concentrations. The PPB of meropenem varied from 1.4% to 24.2% in different subjects. The validated method was applied to evaluate PPB of four preparations, and the results varied from 6.57 ± 3.19% to 10.40 ± 8.31%. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences between the four preparations.

Conclusions

We established a rapid, robust, and reliable method for the determination of total and free meropenem concentrations using LC–MS/MS with ultrafiltration techniques. The method provided a new perspective for the clinical consistency evaluation of generic drugs.
Adaptive iterative learning control for continuous systems with non‐repetitive uncertainties and unknown state delays
Authors: Wu Xingzheng , Park Ju H. , Shen Mouquan
Published: December 2022

This paper is devoted to tracking control of nonlinear multiple‐input multiple‐output systems subject to unknown state delays and non‐repetitive uncertainties. An adaptive iterative learning control scheme is proposed by integrating a P‐type feedback term, an iterative updating term and an additional compensation term. Among these terms, the first one is to alleviate the ill effect caused by non‐repetitive uncertainties and the third one is utilized to handle the unwell learned part. The composite energy function methodology is employed to elaborate the bounded convergence of the tracking error. The validity of the proposed method is compared with existing results via simulation studies.
Regulating the Active Sites of Metal–Phthalocyanine at the Molecular Level for Efficient Water Electrolysis: Double Deciphering of Electron‐Withdrawing Groups and Bimetallic
Authors: Jiang Ling , Gu Mingzheng , Zhao Shengrong , Wang Hao , Huang Xiaomin , Gao An , Zhu Huiling , Sun Ping , Liu Xudong , Lin Haili , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: December 2022

Implementing a molecular modulation strategy for metallic phthalocyanines (MPc) without losing the activity of the metal center and inducing a multifunction characteristic in electrocatalytic remains a challenge. Herein, a series of 2D CuCo bimetallic polymerized phthalocyanine modified with strong electron‐withdrawing groups (CuCoPc‐g, g = F, Cl, Br, NO2) for water oxidation in the alkaline electrolyte is designed and simply synthesized. The experimental results testify that the bimetallic design can perform electronic adjustment once and introduce the second active sites to get bifunctional characteristics, and then the electronic structure of the active center can be regulated by electron‐withdrawing groups for a second time to achieve the optimal state. These electrons that transfer in the active center of inner metal can generate space‐charged regions and the design of the polymer can stabilize active site region to maintain long‐term electrolytic stability and high activity. This study precisely regulates the electronic structure of MPc at the molecular level and provides insight into the multifunctional design of polymeric macrocyclic electrocatalysts.
Endothelin-3 is epigenetically silenced in endometrioid endometrial cancer
Authors: Zmarzły Nikola , Januszyk Szymon , Mieszczański Paweł , Morawiec Emilia , Buda Paulina , Dziobek Konrad , Opławski Marcin , Boroń Dariusz
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Changes in the activity of endothelins and their receptors may promote neoplastic processes. They can be caused by epigenetic modifications and modulators, but little is known about endothelin-3 (EDN3), particularly in endometrial cancer. The aim of the study was to determine the expression profile of endothelin family and their interactions with miRNAs, and to assess the degree of EDN3 methylation.

Methods

The study enrolled 45 patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer and 30 patients without neoplastic changes. The expression profile of endothelins and their receptors was determined with mRNA microarrays and RT-qPCR. The miRNA prediction was based on the miRNA microarray experiment and the mirDB tool. The degree of EDN3 methylation was assessed by MSP.

Results

EDN1 and EDNRA were overexpressed regardless of endometrial cancer grade, which may be due to the lack of regulatory effect of miR-130a-3p and miR-485-3p, respectively. In addition, EDN3 and EDNRB were significantly downregulated.

Conclusion

The endothelial axis is disturbed in endometrioid endometrial cancer. The observed silencing of EDN3 activity may be mainly due to DNA methylation.
Correlations between antimicrobial peptides and spectrophotometric skin color parameters in patients with basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Fijałkowska Marta , Koziej Mateusz , Antoszewski Bogusław , Sitek Aneta
Published: December 2022

Background

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are active molecules in the human innate immune system, that participate in host defense and regulate the inflammation process. Previous reports have confirmed that antimicrobial peptides play a critical role in carcinogenesis.

Objective

The present study aimed to evaluate the correlations between plasma concentrations of AMPs and spectrophotometric parameters of skin color in patients with basal cell carcinoma and compare the results with those of healthy controls.

Methods

The plasma concentrations of cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2 in 100 patients (50 with skin cancer and 50 healthy control subjects) were measured, and skin color parameters were tested using a DermaSpectrophotometer.

Results

In patients with basal cell carcinoma, the concentrations of cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2 were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. In healthy control patients, when erythema increases, the levels of cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2 also increase. The direction of the relationship is opposite in people with basal cell carcinoma—the concentration of antimicrobial peptides decreases and the level of erythema increases.

Conclusion

A significantly higher level of plasma concentrations of cathelicidin and HBD-2 are correspondent to the presence of basal cell carcinoma. Skin cancer modifies the relationship between intensity of skin erythema and the levels of cathelicidin and HBD-2. This can be related to inadequate immunological response in patients with skin cancers. New direction of research may be pioneered in searching for cytokine or mast cells disorders.
The association of fasting plasma thiol fractions with body fat compartments, biomarker profile, and adipose tissue gene expression
Authors: Elshorbagy Amany , Bastani Nasser E. , Lee-Ødegård Sindre , Øvrebø Bente , Haj-Yasein Nadia , Svendsen Karianne , Turner Cheryl , Refsum Helga , Vinknes Kathrine J. , Olsen Thomas
Published: December 2022

People with high plasma total cysteine (tCys) have higher fat mass and higher concentrations of the atherogenic apolipoprotein B (apoB). The disulfide form, cystine, enhanced human adipogenesis and correlated with total fat mass in a Middle-Eastern cohort. In 35 European adults with overweight (88.6% women) and with dual-X-ray absorptiometry measurements of regional fat, we investigated how cystine compared to other free disulfides in their association with total regional adiposity, plasma lipid and glucose biomarkers, and adipose tissue lipid enzyme mRNA (n = 19). Most total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) (78%) was protein-bound; 63% of total glutathione (tGSH) was reduced. tCys was 49% protein-bound, 30% mixed-disulfide, 15% cystine, and 6% reduced. Controlling for age and lean mass, cystine and total free cysteine were the fractions most strongly associated with android and total fat: 1% higher cystine predicted 1.97% higher android fat mass (95% CI 0.64, 3.31) and 1.25% (0.65, 2.98) higher total fat mass (both p = 0.005). A positive association between tCys and apoB (β: 0.64%; 95% CI 0.17, 1.12%, p = 0.009) was apparently driven by free cysteine and cystine; cystine was also inversely associated with the HDL-associated apolipoprotein A1 (β: −0.57%; 95% CI −0.96, −0.17%, p = 0.007). No independent positive associations with adiposity were noted for tGSH or tHcy fractions. Plasma cystine correlated with CPT1a mRNA (Spearman’s r = 0.68, p = 0.001). In conclusion, plasma cystine—but not homocysteine or glutathione disulfides—is associated with android adiposity and an atherogenic plasma apolipoprotein profile. The role of cystine in human adiposity and cardiometabolic risk deserves investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02647970 and NCT03629392.
The Ethical Significance of Post-Vaccination COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics
Authors: Kraaijeveld Steven R.
Published: December 2022

The potential for vaccines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is crucial for vaccination policy and ethics. In this paper, I discuss recent evidence that the current COVID-19 vaccines have only a modest and short-lived effect on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission and argue that this has at least four important ethical implications. First, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 should be seen primarily as a self-protective choice for individuals. Second, moral condemnation of unvaccinated people for causing direct harm to others is unjustified. Third, the case for a harm-based moral obligation to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is weak. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, coercive COVID-19 vaccination policies (e.g., measures that exclude unvaccinated people from society) cannot be directly justified by the harm principle.
Can I Bring My Calculator to the Exam? Some Reflections on the Abstraction Level of Computer Algebra Systems
Authors: Roanes-Lozano Eugenio
Published: December 2022

The author began working with computer algebra systems (CAS) in the 80s to perform effective computations for his Ph.D Thesis in algebra. He thought at that moment that there would be an explosion in the use of CAS for research and teaching (at all levels of education). Surprisingly, its use in secondary education is still scarce. This article details some personal reflections on elementary mathematics questions (from both the mathematical and the computational points of view) and proposes a classification of such questions, illustrated with several examples. It is focused on some of the present impressive capabilities of CAS, underlining their abstraction levels in some eye-catching examples. The article is mainly aimed at mathematics teachers who are not experts in CA. Nevertheless, it may also be of interest to CAS experts, as it includes reflections on a topic not usually treated: the abstraction level achieved by CAS and its impact in teaching and assessment.
An Erotic Skylight: Sexual Fantasies in the Portuguese Youth Under the Reflection of Psychological Well-Being
Authors: Oliveira Jorge , Neto Félix
Published: December 2022

Envisioning sexual fantasies as any image or mental settingthat is sexually exciting or erotic for the individual, the present work aims to study the nature of the relationship between sexual fantasies and gender, sexual orientation, and some of the different dimensions of psychological well-being, such as life satisfaction and satisfaction with sex life. The present study was developed through a sample of 569 participants, aged between 18 and 29 years old, obtained by completing a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Wilson’s Sexual Fantasies Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Satisfaction with Sex Life Scale. The findings revealed that, although there are no statistically significant gender differences concerning the sex drive, there were differences in Exploratory content, favoring the male gender, and BDSM, emphasized by the female gender in comparison. The occurrence of cross-orientation fantasies was also verified, proving to be significant for the heterosexual group for the item “Being much sought after by the same-sex” with women reporting more frequently than men. There was also a significant mediation between Satisfaction with Life and Intimate Fantasies, through Satisfaction with Sex Life. These results reinforce the breadth that sexual fantasies have, both in areas closer to sexual expression (e.g., gender, sexual orientation) and in more peripheral areas (e.g., psychological well-being), proving that sexual fantasies – and their capacity for arousal – relate to one’s psychological well-being.
Bounded gaps between product of two primes in imaginary quadratic number fields
Authors: Darbar Pranendu , Mukhopadhyay Anirban , Viswanadham G. K.
Published: December 2022

We study the gaps between products of two primes in imaginary quadratic number fields using a combination of the methods of Goldston–Graham–Pintz–Yildirim (Proc Lond Math Soc 98:741–774, 2009), and Maynard (Ann Math 181:383–413, 2015). An important consequence of our main theorem is existence of infinitely many pairs $$\alpha _1, \alpha _2$$

α
1

,

α
2

which are product of two primes in the imaginary quadratic field K such that $$|\sigma (\alpha _1-\alpha _2)|\le 2$$

|
σ
(

α
1

-

α
2

)
|
≤
2

for all embeddings $$\sigma $$
σ
of K if the class number of K is one and $$|\sigma (\alpha _1-\alpha _2)|\le 8$$

|
σ
(

α
1

-

α
2

)
|
≤
8

for all embeddings $$\sigma $$
σ
of K if the class number of K is two.
Detection and attribution of climate change: A deep learning and variational approach
Authors: Bône Constantin , Gastineau Guillaume , Thiria Sylvie , Gallinari Patrick
Published: December 2022

Twelve climate models and observations are used to attribute the global mean surface temperature (GMST) changes from 1900 to 2014 to external climate forcings. The external forcings are decomposed into the effects of the well-mixed greenhouse gas concentration variation, the effects of anthropogenic aerosol concentration changes, and the effects of natural forcings. First, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained to estimate the simulated historical GMST from single-forcing experiments using outputs from the multi-model ensemble. We then use this CNN to solve the attribution problem using an original variational inversion approach. The variational inversion is first validated using historical climate simulations as pseudo-observations. Then we perform an inversion from observations. This provides a distribution of the GMST resulting from the three forcings. For 2014, inversions estimate that the greenhouse gases changes are responsible for a GMST anomaly within [0.8

$ {}^{\circ } $

C,1.9

$ {}^{\circ } $

C], while anthropogenic aerosols and natural forcings anomalies are within [−0.7

$ {}^{\circ } $

C,−0.1

$ {}^{\circ } $

C] and [−0.1

$ {}^{\circ } $

C,0.3

$ {}^{\circ } $

C], respectively. The method designed here can be adapted and extended to attribute the changes of other variables or to focus on the regional scale.
Case C-561/20 Q v. United Airlines, Inc. (C.J.E.U.)
Authors: Hadjiyianni Ioanna
Published: December 2022

On April 7, 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a preliminary ruling in United Airlines, clarifying the territorial scope and upholding the applicability of the Air Passenger Regulation in relation to connecting flights departing from an EU airport, even when the second leg of the flight takes place outside of the European Union. A decade after one of the most high-profile cases on the extraterritorial reach of EU law concerning the inclusion of global aviation emissions in the EU emissions trading system (ETS) (Air Transport Association of Americas), United Airlines brought to light its lasting significance and its extension to a different aspect of air transport concerning passenger rights.
A social hierarchy perspective on the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) and interpersonal citizenship
Authors: Yu Andrew , Xu Wangxi , Pichler Shaun
Published: December 2022

Drawing upon contemporary social hierarchy research, the purpose of this study is to integrate a novel theoretical perspective to examine the taken-for-granted conclusions of the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and interpersonal citizenship. We develop theoretically driven arguments and provide evidence of how LMX relates to power and status, the two prominent bases of social hierarchy. The results from our study support our assertion that the quality of LMX relationships provides social information about one's relative standing within a group's informal hierarchy. Specifically, LMX is positively associated with higher levels of perceived power and perceived status. Both power and status serve as important mediators that explain the relationship between LMX and interpersonal citizenship. We also identify the importance of citizenship pressure as a boundary condition for these relationships, finding that citizenship pressure interacts with power and status differently to influence the extent that employees engage in citizenship behaviors.
Factors associated with the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in Guinea between 2005 and 2018
Authors: Bangoura Salifou Talassone , Rabilloud Muriel , Camara Alioune , Campoy Séphora , Condé Mamoudou , Vanhems Philippe , Kadio Kadio Jean-Jacques Olivier , Touré Abdoulaye , Khanafer Nagham
Published: December 2022

Objective:

To determine the factors associated with the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in Guinea between 2005 and 2018.

Design:

Data from the 2005, 2012 and 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) were used for this study. Three anthropometric indicators (stunting, underweight and wasting) were assessed according to the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards and analysed according to the year, the characteristics of the household, the child and the mother using multivariate logistic regression.

Setting:

Data were collected in the capital Conakry and in the seven administrative regions of Guinea.

Participants:

The study included children under 5 years of age for whom height and weight were available: 2765 (DHS-2005), 3220 (DHS-2012) and 3551 (DHS-2018).

Results:

Analysis of the data from the three surveys showed that children living in rural areas were more likely to be stunted than children living in urban areas (OR = 1·32, 95 % CI (1·08, 1·62)). Similarly, the children from middle, poor and the poorest households were more likely to be stunted and underweight than children from richest households. The chance to stunting increased with age in the first 3 years. However, the chance to wasting decreased with age. Children in all age groups were more likely of being underweight. Children of thin mothers were more likely to be both wasted (OR = 2·0, 95 % CI (1·5, 2·6)) and underweight (OR = 1·9, 95 % CI (1·5, 2·3)).

Conclusion:

The implementation of targeted interventions adapted to the observed disparities could considerably improve the nutritional status of children and mothers.
Rezension des INWORK (Integrity in work-related situations)
Authors: Gauglitz Iris K. , Schütz Astrid
Published: December 2022

Zusammenfassung: Der INWORK (Integrity in work-related situations) ist ein Situational Judgment Test (SJT) zur Erfassung der beruflichen Integrität. Der INWORK besteht aus 23 Beschreibungen konfliktbehafteter Arbeitssituationen mit jeweils 4 Handlungsoptionen, die mehr oder weniger kontraproduktive Verhaltensweisen beinhalten. Testpersonen sollen diejenige Option wählen, die ihr typisches Verhalten in der beschriebenen Situation am besten widerspiegelt. Objektivität bei Testdurchführung und -auswertung ist gegeben. Reliabilität ist in Teilen gegeben und Hinweise auf Validität liegen vor. Allerdings sind weitere Studien mit Fremdurteilen sowie eine Normstichprobe, bestehend aus Bewerber_innen, notwendig.
Automatic Activation of Age Stereotypes
Authors: Huang Tingting , Rothermund Klaus
Published: December 2022

Abstract. The current study investigated category-based activation of stereotypes when processing of the category primes is mandatory. In three high-powered pre-registered experiments (total n = 211), we compared responses to age-stereotypic traits (e.g., lonely) after presenting matching versus mismatching category primes (old vs. young faces) of which the age information had to be remembered. Experiments varied in stimulus-onset asynchronies (SOA; 250 ms vs. 500 ms) and in the inclusion of neutral conditions of prime and target factors. Consistently across all experiments, no facilitation of matching category primes was observed, indicating that category information alone does not facilitate processing of matching stereotypes even if it is attended. The theoretical and practical implications for activation and representation of stereotypes are discussed.
Groundwater Replenishes Much Faster Than Scientists Previously Thought
Authors: Fritts Rachel
Published: December 2022

A new climate-based model indicates that scientists may be underestimating groundwater’s importance in sustaining streams and plant life.
Satellite Data Reveal Uptick in Cover Cropping on Farms
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: December 2022

Over the course of a decade, farmers growing corn and soybeans in the U.S. Midwest increased their adoption of cover cropping—a tenet of so-called conservation agriculture—by fourfold.
The impact of treatment on the psychological burden of mothers of children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a multicenter, questionnaire survey
Authors: Fukuoka Tomoya , Bessho Kazuhiko , Hosono Satoyo , Abukawa Daiki , Mizuochi Tatsuki , Ito Koichi , Murakami Jun , Tanaka Hideo , Miyoshi Yoko , Takano Tomoko , Tajiri Hitoshi
Published: December 2022

Mothers of children with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection experience anxiety about the health of their children. In this study we assessed an impact of treating children with chronic HCV infection on the psychological burden of their mothers. This was a multicenter, questionnaire survey conducted at six institutions in Japan. A newly-developed questionnaire for this study was used to assess changes in the mothers’ various concerns regarding HCV infection and thoughts about their child’s HCV infection. Responses at the time of diagnosis and at the time of the survey were compared between mothers of children who had received treatment and those without treatment. Responses were received from 36 of 37 eligible mothers (11 and 25, non-treatment and treatment groups, respectively). All children in treatment group had successfully eliminated the virus. Mothers in both groups were psychologically stressed in various ways, including concern about their child’s health in the present and future at the time of diagnosis, concern about school, employment, and marriage, concern about the behavior of others towards them and infecting others with HCV, and feelings of guilt regarding their child. These concerns were significantly lower in the present compared to at the time of diagnosis in treatment group, and the rate of decrease was significantly higher in treatment group compared to non-treatment group. Successful treatment greatly reduced mothers’ concerns about their children’s HCV infection, indicating that treatment during childhood is beneficial from the perspective of the mothers’ psychological burden.