bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
5‐Sulfurated Imidazo[1,5‐a]Pyridin‐3‐ylidenes: Ligands for π‐Acidic Catalysts
Authors: Sonoda Takuya , Kanamori Masaya , Endo Koki , Miwa Kazuki , Kurumada Satoshi , Suzuki Katsunori , Yamashita Makoto , Shibahara Fumitoshi
Published: November 2022

A series of 5‐sulfurated imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐3‐ylidenes (Imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine carbenes: IPCs) and their Cu and Pd complexes were synthesized. Theoretical investigations of the free carbenes and Cu complexes implied that the IPCs were good π‐acceptors. Particularly, Cu complexes of 5‐arylsulfonyl IPC were strong π‐acids. These complexes were tested as π‐acidic catalysts in the Cu‐catalyzed hydroboration of an internal alkyne with diboron and the Mizoroki‐Heck reaction. As a result, the trend in reactivity corresponded with the theoretical considerations.
Artificial intelligence to understand fluctuation of fetal brain activity by recognizing facial expressions
Authors: Miyagi Yasunari , Hata Toshiyuki , Bouno Saori , Koyanagi Aya , Miyake Takahito
Published: November 2022

Objective

To examine whether artificial intelligence can achieve discoveries regarding fetal brain activity.

Methods

In this observational study, the authors collected images of fetal faces using a four‐dimensional ultrasound technique obtained from singleton pregnancies of outpatients in routine practice at 27 to 37 weeks of gestation between February 1 and December 31, 2021. The authors developed an artificial intelligence classifier to recognize seven facial expressions of fetuses, then applied it to video files of fetal facial images to generate the probabilities, as confidence scores, of each expression category. Discrete Fourier transform and chaotic analysis were used to investigate the scores. Mann–Whitney test, t test, variance test, and one‐way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Facial expression changes were observed in cycles averaging 66 to 73 s. The power spectrum showed that mouthing and neutral expressions were the most prevalent. There was a difference between categories for the spectrum (p = 0.004). Two different states––dense and sparse––of confidence scores were discovered. The correlation dimension was 1.19 ± 0.22 and 1.33 ± 0.27 for dense and sparse, respectively (p = 0.047).

Conclusion

This method objectively and quantitatively demonstrated fetal brain activity and may provide insight into how the fetus spends its time in utero.
A new era: Speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiomyopathies
Authors: Aksu Uğur , Uzun Mehmet Hakan
Published: November 2022

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a heterogeneous inherited disorder affecting the skeletal muscle and frequently also involve the heart and in LGMD; development of dilated cardiomyopathy is common and usually the predominant feature. Arrhythmias and conduction disease can be associated with the development of cardiomyopathy.
In‐person and virtual assessment of oral radiology skills and competences by the Objective Structured Clinical Examination
Authors: Porto Fernanda R. , Ribeiro Mateus A. , Ferreira Luciano A. , Oliveira Rodrigo G. , Devito Karina L.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Clinical education is an essential part of the Dental School curriculum and assessment is a fundamental component of the teaching‐learning process.

Objectives

With the purpose of implementing a structured and objective assessment method in the teaching of Oral Radiology, undergraduate dentistry students were submitted to an assessment of clinical competences and skills in radiology by the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), applied both in‐person and virtually (VOSCE).

Methods

The same group of students was evaluated by the OSCE and VOSCE in six‐station circuits that involved the assessment of clinical skills in Oral Radiology. For each station, an individual evaluative checklist (per station) was prepared and the participants’ general scores were obtained. The students’ anxiety level was also assessed before and after the exams and a meta‐evaluation was performed to indicate the participants' perception of the assessment methods.

Results

The OSCE (0.61) and VOSCE (0.81) reliability values were considered substantial and almost perfect, respectively. The students evaluated showed a better performance in the OSCE (p ≤ 0.05). Anxiety levels were considered moderate in both assessments and showed no difference between the two exams. The meta‐evaluation showed a positive evaluation for the items “time of execution”, “clarity”, “degree of difficulty” and “importance for clinical practice”, both for the OSCE and the VOSCE.

Conclusions

The OSCE was effective for evaluating clinical competencies and skills in Oral Radiology, both in face‐to‐face and virtual examinations, but with a limitation in the online method for evaluating technical skills.
Left behind on the path to 90‐90‐90: understanding and responding to HIV among displaced people
Authors: Vasylyeva Tetyana I. , Horyniak Danielle's , Bojorquez Ietza , Pham Minh Duc
Published: November 2022

Introduction

In 2021, the number of people affected by displacement worldwide reached the highest on record, with an estimated 30.5 million refugees and 4.6 million asylum seekers seeking safety across international borders and further 53.2 million people displaced within their countries of origin. Most forcibly displaced persons come from or relocate to lower‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and many of those countries have large HIV epidemics. In this commentary, we describe some of the challenges at the intersection of HIV and displacement vulnerabilities that cannot be easily addressed in resource‐limited environments.

Discussion

HIV transmission and prevention and treatment efforts in the context of displacement are affected by myriad behavioural, social and structural factors across different stages of the displacement journey. For example, structural barriers faced by people experiencing displacement in relation to HIV prevention and care include funding constraints and legal framework deficiencies. Such barriers prevent all forced migrants, and particularly those whose sexual identities or practices are stigmatized against, access to prevention and care equal to local residents. Xenophobia, racism and other social factors, as well as individual risky behaviours facilitated by experiences of forced migration, also affect the progress towards 90‐90‐90 targets in displaced populations. Current evidence suggests increased HIV vulnerability in the period before displacement due to the effect of displacement drivers on medical supplies and infrastructure. During and after displacement, substantial barriers to HIV testing exist, though following resettlement in stable displacement context, HIV incidence and viral suppression are reported to be similar to those of local populations.

Conclusions

Experiences of often‐marginalized displaced populations are diverse and depend on the context of displacement, countries of origin and resettlement, and the nature of the crises that forced these populations to move. To address current gaps in responses to HIV in displacement contexts, research in LMIC, particularly in less stable resettlement settings, needs to be scaled up. Furthermore, displaced populations need to be specifically addressed in national AIDS strategies and HIV surveillance systems. Finally, innovative technologies, such as point‐of‐care viral load and CD4 testing, need to be developed and introduced in settings facing displacement.
Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Niemann–Pick disease type C: Case report and literature review
Authors: Hwang Soojin , Choi Yunha , Lee Beom Hee , Choi Jin‐Ho , Kim Ja Hye , Yoo Han‐Wook
Published: November 2022

Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is a rare, autosomal recessive, lysosomal storage disease, resulting from mutations in the cholesterol trafficking proteins NPC1 or NPC2, which is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and hepatic dysfunction. The hepatic involvement in NPC is usually neonatal cholestasis and hepatosplenomegaly. Only a few cases of severe hepatic complications were reported including acute liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We described the case of a 6‐year‐old male with NPC with HCC. He had a history of neonatal cholestasis and motor delay. At the age of 6 months, he was diagnosed with NPC, which was confirmed by the detection of a compound heterozygous NPC1 mutation (p.C113Y/p.A927V). He presented recurrent hypoglycemia and abdominal distension. An ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and biopsy revealed that he had a stage IV HCC with pulmonary metastasis. With the literature review and this case, HCC can be a rare fatal comorbid condition in patients with NPC, particularly infantile‐onset, male patients with a relatively long disease history, necessitating appropriate HCC surveillance.
Molecular characterization of recombinant premembrane protein of dengue virus serotype‐2 for development of diagnostic assay
Authors: Munir Rakhtasha , Rafique Shazia , Ali Amjad , Amin Iram , Ahmed Sameen , Vajeeha Ayesha , Shahid Muhammad , Samiullah Tahir R. , Idrees Muhammad , Tao Yizhi J. , Khan Muhammad U.
Published: November 2022

Dengue is an acute arboviral infection common in tropical and subtropical countries. Dengue has been highlighted as a public health concern in the last five decades, affecting almost 50% of the population in developing nations. Dengue infection results in a complex symptomatic disease that ranges from headache, fever, and skin rash to extreme hemorrhage fever and liver dysfunction. The diagnosis of the disease is essential for effective treatment. The early onset of the infection can be detected through viral structural peptides that act as markers for detection, including Pre‐Membrane (Pre‐M) protein. In the currently proposed research, the structural gene obtained from local isolates was targeted for studies. For this purpose, recombinant structural protein Pre‐M was amplified, cloned, and expressed in the bacterial expression system. The expression of the structural protein (Pre‐M) was scrutinized by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate‐Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and validated by western blot and dot blot, and afterwards, the antigen was purified. The purified Pre‐M protein carries the potential for the development of in‐house diagnostic assay as well as for vaccine production. This study aimed to develop a highly specific, sensitive, and cost‐effective in‐house enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies of Pakistani most prevalent dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV‐2). The success of this research would also pave the way toward developing novel vaccines for the future prevention of dengue infection.
Spectroscopic characterisation of Naples yellow variations in paintings from the turn of the 20th century
Authors: Antušková Václava , Šefců Radka , Šulcová Petra , Dohnalová Žaneta , Luxová Jana , Bajeux Kmoníčková Martina , Turková Ivana , Kotrlý Marek
Published: November 2022

The research presented in this study aimed to document the variability of synthetic lead antimonate pigments known as Naples yellow in selected artworks by Czech landscape painters from the turn of the 20th century. Spectra obtained through Raman spectroscopy show considerable difference in the position of main band maximum (from 110 to 145 cm−1) characteristic of cubic pyrochlore structure Pb2Sb2O7—the major phase of the Naples yellow pigment. In several samples, hexagonal PbSb2O6 with main band at 655 cm−1 was identified as a dominant phase, a finding that is somewhat surprising because PbSb2O6 has been generally considered a minor admixture to cubic Pb2Sb2O7. Reference pigment samples were synthesised under known conditions, and their spectra were collected in order to get more comparative material. Also, commercially available Naples yellow pigments were characterised in the same way. We observed considerable differences of the obtained spectra caused by the presence of admixtures and diverse production conditions. The diversity of Naples yellow and the corresponding Raman spectra makes their identification problematic. Presented data thus may serve as a reference material in the identification process.
Pyogenic liver abscess in non‐liver cancer patients and liver cancer patients treated with TACE: Etiological characteristics, treatment, and outcome analysis
Authors: Liu Yi‐Ming , Ren Yan‐Qiao , Song Song‐Lin , Zheng Chuan‐Sheng
Published: November 2022

Clinical, laboratory, and microbiological features, clinical outcomes, and pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) prognosis evaluation in non‐liver cancer (Non‐LC) and liver cancer patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, LC‐TACE). Clinical data of 48 consecutive PLA patients from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Mortality between two PLA patient groups were compared, and mortality risk factors were evaluated. A total of 48 PLA patients (31 males and 17 females) from January 2016 to December 2020 met the study's inclusion criteria. There were 32 and 16 patients in the Non‐LC and LC‐TACE groups, respectively. Positive pus culture rate in the Non‐LC group was 87.5% and positive pus culture rate in LC‐TACE group was 81.3%. In the Non‐LC group, 28 patients improved after treatment, 1 patient did not improve, and 3 patients died during hospitalization, with a 9.4% mortality rate. In the LC‐TACE group, nine patients improved after treatment, three patients did not improve, and four patients died during hospitalization, with a 25% mortality rate. The Non‐LC group cure time was 37.4 ± 23.1 days, while the LC‐TACE group was 91.5 ± 49.7 days. PLA of the Non‐LC group and the LC‐TACE group were different in terms of pathogenic bacteria and cure time, and so on. A more comprehensive treatment should be considered for PLA after TACE.
Determining Optimum Size at Release for Hatchery-Origin Tucannon River Spring Chinook Salmon Using PIT Tags
Authors: Gallinat Michael P. , Bence James R. , Miller Larabee S. , Ross Lance A.
Published: November 2022

The Tucannon River spring Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha hatchery program has consistently failed to reach the program target adult (age 4 and older) smolt-to-adult return (SAR) rate of 0.87%. This has resulted in the hatchery program falling short of meeting its hatchery adult return goal of 1,152 fish. To determine whether hatchery fish released at a larger size would increase the number of returning adults, we released 95,256 PIT-tagged, hatchery-origin spring Chinook Salmon with known FLs (range = 73–212 mm) categorized into five length-classes (<120, 120–139, 140–159, 160–179, and ≥180 mm FL) over eight brood years (2006–2013) to examine how size at release affected the smolt-to-adult survival (SAS) rate to the Columbia–Snake River system and the SAR rate to the Tucannon River. We used this information to determine an optimum size range at release to maximize adult returns to the Tucannon River and determine whether the program target SAR of 0.87% was achieved by any of the length-classes. Return of hatchery adults (age 4 and older) for both SAS and SAR peaked for the 140–159-mm length-class. Smaller size at release resulted in lower survival, whereas fish larger than this size range matured prematurely either as minijacks or jacks and the majority never made it back to the Tucannon River. Based on this study, to maximize adult returns, hatchery smolts from the Tucannon River spring Chinook Salmon hatchery program should be released in the 140–159-mm range. None of the length-classes came close to reaching the adult SAR target of 0.87% (SAR for fish that were 140–159 mm at release was 0.15%). The expectation that changes to smolt size will lead to reaching the 0.87% SAR target is unrealistic for this population under current hatchery rearing and environmental conditions.
Application of the 2011 international consensus cancer cachexia classification in routine oncology dietetic practice: An observational study
Authors: Aktas Aynur , Lorton Cliona M. , Griffin Oonagh , Higgins Keira , Roulston Fiona , Stewart Gillian , Corkery Niamh , Barnes Elizabeth , Walsh Declan
Published: November 2022

Background

Cancer cachexia (CC) is highly prevalent and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, yet underrecognized. In 2011, an international cachexia consensus (ICC) proposed a definition, assessment framework, and stages for classification: cancer precachexia, cachexia, and refractory cachexia. The authors anticipated that a “more practical classification approach for clinical practice” would be required, which we interpreted as a bedside assessment based on clinical data. We investigated whether the ICC classification could be employed in routine dietetic practice without access to objective muscle mass measures.

Methods

Data from 200 consecutive patients with solid tumors were collected as part of clinical practice by oncology dietitians in five tertiary referral hospitals. Dietitians used information gathered during their routine assessment and applied the ICC framework to assign a stage. When the dietitian was unable to assign a stage, the reason was noted.

Results

Based on available data, classification was possible in 177 (88%); 23 (12%) could not be staged. The reasons cited were as follows: unknown C‐reactive protein (n = 14), complex clinical situation (n = 5), unknown weight loss (n = 2), and acute illness (n = 2). Thirty (17%) of the 177 participants were judged to be noncachectic.  One hundred twelve (83%) met the criteria for 1 of the 3 ICC stages: 92 (52%) were cachectic; 35 (20%) precachectic, and 20 (11%) refractory.

Conclusions

CC staging based on the ICC classification was feasible and practical in routine dietetic practice even without access to objective muscle mass measures. Once validated and operationalized, expert clinical assessment by a dietitian could be a cost‐effective means to identify and stage CC, with more resource‐intensive means used when there is clinical doubt.
A framework for plasticity‐based topology optimization of continuum structures
Authors: Zhang Xue , Li Xifan , Zhang Yujia
Published: November 2022

In this paper, a framework is proposed for topology optimization of continuum structures considering plasticity. The method merges the rigid‐plastic analysis and the density‐based topology optimization. To obtain a clean black‐and‐white design, the density in the objective function is penalized using an exponential function. The solution of the final plasticity‐based topology optimization problem exhibits as a sequence of second‐order cone programming (SOCP) problems that can be resolved efficiently using the advanced primal‐dual interior point method. Compared to the conventional stress‐constrained topology optimization techniques, the developed method accounts for plasticity and the finite element analysis of structures does not need to be carried out separately. Furthermore, the proposed method requires no relaxation techniques for imposing local stress‐constrain and possesses good computational efficiency for large‐scale problems.
Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer screening among women living with human immunodeficiency virus: Implication for prevention strategy uptake
Authors: Mukosha Moses , Muyunda Daniel , Mudenda Steward , Lubeya Mwansa Ketty , Kumwenda Andrew , Mwangu Luwi Mercy , Kaonga Patrick
Published: November 2022

Aim

To explore the knowledge, attitude and practices of cervical cancer screening among HIV‐infected women in public health facilities in Lusaka, Zambia.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The study was conducted from 1st January 2020 to 28th February 2020. We used a structured questionnaire for data collection. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse relationships among latent variables (knowledge, attitude and practice).

Results

The overall knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV were 6.86/11 (62.4%), 6.41/7 (91.6%) and 2.92/8 (36.5%), respectively. Overall, knowledge was positively and significantly associated with attitude (r = .53, p < .001) and practice (r = .38, p < 0.001). Additionally, attitude and practice were significantly associated (r = 0.29, p < .001). Our findings support the reinforcement of current public health interventional programmes to improve the knowledge about cervical cancer and screening uptake.
Synergistic effect of star‐shaped architecture and poly(ethylene glycol) moieties on poly(lactic acid) stereocomplex crystallization behaviors
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Griffin Anthony , Qiang Zhe , Ren Jie
Published: November 2022

Stereocomplex (sc) crystal formation represents an important strategy to improve the physical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), including enhanced thermal resistance, anti‐hydrolysis and mechanical performance. Therefore, understanding and controlling the sc crystallization behaviors is an important and widely studied research topic. Herein, we investigate the cooperative effect of star‐shaped PLA chain topology and poly(ethylene glycol) incorporation on sc formation. We synthesize a series of poly(lactides), including poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(d‐lactic acid), star‐shaped PLLA and poly(d‐lactic acid)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(d‐lactic acid) (DED) triblock copolymer, via ring‐opening polymerization of lactide, followed by solution blending to form PLA stereocomplexes (scPLAs). The chemical structure of the prepared scPLAs is characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance, whereas the crystallization behavior and spherulite morphology are investigated by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, DSC and polarized optical microscopy. Linear PLLA/star‐shaped poly(d‐lactic acid) presents rapid crystallization behaviors and high crystallinity due to the excellent nucleation ability of star‐shaped chain topology. For isothermal crystallization, star‐shaped PLLA/DED exhibits the fastest crystallization kinetics, the highest crystallinity and the lowest crystallization half‐time of all samples. It is found that addition of poly(ethylene glycol) segments can increase chain mobility and backbone flexibility, further facilitating the crystallization of scPLA containing star‐shaped chain architecture. These results demonstrate an effective approach to cooperatively promote scPLA formation, with potential use for practical applications. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Emerging public health challenges during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Malawi: A review
Authors: Chiumia Isabel Kazanga , Mosiwa Benjamin Azariah , Nkhonjera Joe , Kazanga Betty , Mukondiwa Alistair Shingirai , Twalibu Aisha , Phuka John , Lucero‐Prisno Don Eliseo
Published: November 2022

The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic has posed new and has aggravated already existing public health challenges in Malawi and worldwide. Having a better understanding of these challenges can help facilitate the identification of solutions and designing further public health interventions and policies for effective management of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This article presents an overview of the situation of COVID‐19 in Malawi and identifies emerging public health challenges that the country is facing amidst this pandemic. It is based on a review of relevant key policy documents, reports, and publications. Some of the key emerging challenges identified in Malawi are worsening population health and socio‐economic status; health system challenges like inadequate financing and human resources, disruption of essential health services; a rise in mental health conditions and suicide rates; teenage pregnancies and early marriages; and changes in some health policies. The findings point to the need to invest more in strategies for health promotion, health system strengthening and avoiding disruptions and recovery of services. These should include COVID‐19 vaccination promotion campaigns, improvement of the public health surveillance system, strengthening the health workforce, implementation of health financing strategies, procurement of adequate essential medicines and supplies, and strengthening of youth‐friendly reproductive health services, community health services and community engagement. These will ensure that the health system in Malawi is well‐equipped to deliver resilient, sustainable and quality health services amidst and beyond the COVID‐19 pandemic thereby promoting progress toward the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Malawi.
Attack‐parameter‐dependent state feedback controller design for stochastic systems with denial‐of‐service attacks
Authors: Chen Xiaoli , Hu Songlin , Li Jianrui , Hu Chunyang , Xie Xiangpeng , Zhang Jing
Published: November 2022

In this article, we investigate the attack‐parameter‐dependent controller synthesis problem for a class of stochastic control system under aperiodic denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks. Different from the classic DoS attack models, which are characterized by DoS frequency and DoS duration, a new type of time‐constrained DoS attack model that only restricts the upper and lower bounds of the sleeping and active periods of the DoS attacker is introduced. Considering the effect of such DoS attacks, a switching‐like stochastic system model is built. Then based on the attack‐parameter‐dependent time‐varying stochastic Lyapunov function method, a new mean square exponential stability criterion of the resulting stochastic system under the DoS attacks is formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities. Also, the attack‐resilient controller is designed. Finally, taking an aircraft system as an example, the validity of the obtained theoretical results is verified.
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Based on a Silicon Photomultiplier for Multicolor In Vivo Imaging in Near‐Infrared Regions I and II
Authors: Yan Tianyu , Wang Xinyu , Liu Siting , Fan Dawei , Xu Xinyi , Zeng Qi , Xie Hui , Yang Xiaoli , Zhu Shouping , Ma Xiaopeng , Yuan Zhen , Chen Xueli
Published: November 2022

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is expected to exhibit a better imaging performance in the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) windows with weak tissue scattering and autofluorescence. However, the indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) detectors currently used for imaging in the NIR‐II region are prohibitively expensive, hampering its extensive biomedical applications. In this study, a novel NIR‐II CLSM system is developed by using the inexpensive silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) that can perform the multicolor biological imaging in vivo. Using IR‐780 iodide as the contrast agent, the NIR‐II imaging capability of constructed CLSM is inspected, demonstrating a spatial resolution of 1.68 µm (close to the diffraction limit) and a fluorophore detection sensitivity as low as 100 nm. In particular, it is discovered that the multicolor imaging performance in both NIR‐I and NIR‐II windows is comparable to those from multialkali and InGaAs photomultiplier tubes. In addition, 3D NIR‐II CLSM is also conducted for in vivo imaging of the vascular structure in mouse ear and subcutaneous tumors. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that a low‐cost detector based on a SiPM has been used for microscopic imaging of trailing fluorescence signals in the NIR‐II region of an NIR fluorescent probe.
Investigation of the seismic resilience of reinforced concrete special moment frames with infills
Authors: Hejazi Malihe , Jalaeefar Ali
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the role of infills in seismic resilience of reinforced concrete moment frames with special ductility is investigated. For this purpose, frames of 4, 8, and 12 stories are simulated in OpenSees software in three cases, namely, bare frame, frame with infills, and frame with infills having openings. Using incremental dynamic analysis, their capacity and demands are evaluated and fragility curves are plotted via statistical methods. Finally, resilience index is calculated by quantifying seismic damages under a selection of 15 earthquake records. Based on the results, infills decrease structural losses and increase resilience in different hazard levels. The effect of infills on resilience index grows in higher hazard levels and this is much more impressive in low rise frames. In the other hand, infill openings, less decrease the resilience index in tall buildings than shorter ones.
Nonlinear analysis of flat slab‐column connections to optimize the use of HPFRC under monotonic vertical loading
Authors: Díaz Rafael Sanabria , Isufi Brisid , Trautwein Leandro Mouta , Ramos António Pinho
Published: November 2022

Numerous studies have shown that incorporating fibers in concrete can improve its mechanical properties, including tensile strength and toughness. Due to these outstanding properties, the use of fiber‐reinforced concrete (FRC) composites has been investigated for applications in structural members subjected to shear, in which brittle failure mode may occur. An example of this type of application is the use of high/ultrahigh‐performance fiber‐reinforced concrete (HPFRC/UHPFRC) in flat slab‐column connections as an alternative to shear reinforcement. The experimental results revealed that the use of advanced concrete materials led to an increase in the punching shear and deformation capacities. Despite these advantages, the use of HPFRC/UHPFRC in practical design is somehow limited by the lack of guidelines in codes for this type of new material. Furthermore, the study of constitutive models for nonlinear finite element analysis is also necessary. In this regard, this article addresses the simulation of two‐way slabs with HPFRC, subjected to concentrated monotonic vertical loading, tested in a previous experimental study, where the HPFRC was used only in a limited slab region around the column, and the rest of the slab was cast with normal strength concrete. The numerical models were developed in the commercial finite element software DIANA. The concrete nonlinear behavior was modeled by a total strain‐based constitutive model, in which the HPFRC softening is represented by a tensile stress‐crack width (σ − w) relationship. The validity of the numerical model is checked by the comparison with the experimental results and a punching shear mechanical model, leading to the formulation of a closed‐form equation. Finally, a parametric study was conducted to extrapolate the results obtained in the experimental campaign and to optimize the use of HPFRC to obtain a more economical and sustainable solution.
I will survive: Teachers reflect on motivations to remain in education amidst a global pandemic
Authors: Wright Diane S. , Weinberg Andrea E. , Sample McMeeking Laura B. , Lin Hunter Danielle E. , Balgopal Meena M.
Published: November 2022

As the pandemic began to disrupt school systems in March 2020, teachers were expected to quickly modify their instructional approaches. We recruited science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers who were recipients of National Science Foundation scholarships based on their high‐quality academic record and commitment to working in high‐needs school districts to participate in a longitudinal survey study. Participants (n = 153) graduated from universities or colleges in the Mountain West or western region of the Midwest. Through a series of three surveys administered throughout 2020 to all participants and follow‐up focus group interviews with a subset (n = 42) in early 2021, we examined participants' perceptions and beliefs about the educational system's response to COVID‐19. Participants perceived that the continuation of instructional delivery was the highest priority and that their professional needs were the lowest priority. Most participants believed the actions taken by school districts and schools to be negative or neutral. Participants were categorized by years of experience (preservice 0, novice 1–3, early career 4–5, and master 6+) to compare their perceptions of success and intentions to continue teaching. Participants perceived that their level of success increased with years of professional experience prior to the pandemic, but all participants reported feeling less successful during the pandemic. Despite participants' negative beliefs about the school response and perceived low levels of success, they intended to remain in the classroom short‐term but not necessarily long term. We recommend that teacher educators and administrators (1) help teachers develop their personal knowledge and skills for use in the classroom, especially considering the national shortage of science (and STEM, broadly) teachers in high‐needs districts and (2) develop proactive plans for responding to unexpected crises on large scales, as well as those limited to a particular region.
WormWatch: Park soil surveillance reveals extensive Toxocara contamination across the UK and Ireland
Authors: Airs Paul M. , Brown Claire , Gardiner Erica , Maciag Liz , Adams Jamie P. , Morgan Eric R.
Published: November 2022

Background

Toxocarosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease, but sources of infection are not well documented over large geographical scales. To determine levels of environmental contamination, soil from 142 parks and recreational areas across the UK and Ireland was assessed for the presence of Toxocara.

Methods

Toxocara ova (eggs) were isolated from soil samples by sieving and flotation and then enumerated. Individual eggs were isolated and imaged, and a subset was characterised by species‐specific PCR and Sanger sequencing.

Results

Characteristic Toxocara‐type eggs were found in 86.6% of parks, with an average of 2.1 eggs per 50 g of topsoil. Representative eggs were confirmed as Toxocara canis by Sanger sequencing, with many eggs containing developed larvae, hence being viable and potentially infective. Positive samples were more common, and egg density was higher, in parks with greater perceived levels of dog fouling.

Limitations

Samples were collected at a single timepoint and with limited spatial mapping within parks. Further study is needed to discern spatiotemporal differences within parks and recreational areas.

Conclusion

Toxocara is widespread in soil in public parks, indicating a need for further efforts to reduce egg shedding from pet dogs. Standardised methods and large‐scale surveys are required to evaluate risk factors for egg presence and the impact of interventions.
An analysis of policies to control tobacco use and alcohol consumption as risk factors of noncommunicable diseases: A case study of Iran
Authors: Maleki Mohammadreza , Alidoost Saeide , Pourasghari Hamid
Published: November 2022

Control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) requires the management of behavioral risk factors such as tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption and tobacco use are the main risk factors of NCDs and account for about 1% and 13% of total deaths in Iran, respectively. This study aimed to analyze policies regarding tobacco use and alcohol consumption and understand their content, context, process, and actors in Iran. We conducted a case study design guided by the Walt and Gilson Policy Analysis Framework. This study was conducted in two phases: A review of policy documents on tobacco and alcohol, and scoping review of studies related to the policies identified in the first phase. The contents of tobacco and alcohol control policies are mostly in line with international recommendations including, the MPOWER policy package for tobacco and recommended target areas proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) for alcohol. Political commitment to health promotion, social and religious values, joining international treaties, and the high prevalence of NCDs have been significant factors in the agenda‐setting of alcohol and tobacco policies in Iran. Although the health governance structure and the primary health care system have provided opportunities for implementation of policies, weak cross‐sectoral collaboration and the lack of some stakeholders' support, including the tobacco industry, pose challenges to the successful implementation of tobacco and alcohol policies. Thus, a multi‐sectoral approach is essential to control NCDs in Iran.
Post-Truth, Postmodernism and the Public Sphere
Authors: Newman Saul
Published: November 2022

This chapter explores the epistemic and political challenge of post-truth discourse to the idea of the liberal democratic public sphere—a challenge that has been intensified in the time of right-wing populism and COVID-19. However, I also take this as an opportunity to rethink the notion of the public sphere, pointing to the way that emancipatory social movements disrupt the institutions of the liberal democratic state through their claims for social and environmental justice. In this context, I examine the controversy around the relationship between post-truth and ‘postmodernism’, arguing that, so far from being hostile to truth, poststructuralist theory may serve as an antidote to post-truth. Here I focus on Foucault’s idea of parrhesia as an agonistic way of speaking truth to power that at the same reinvigorates the democratic space.
The Context of Fake News, Disinformation, and Manipulation
Authors: Fossum John Erik
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss how, and the extent to which, we may consider fake news, disinformation, and manipulation as bellwethers for the health of democracy. The chapter argues that there are two quite different readings of the democratic implications of the fake news, disinformation, and manipulation challenge: on the one hand, as the rise of a certain type of political actor that claims that established politicians and their conduct of politics have lost touch with ordinary people and their concerns, and in addition, actively seeks to undermine confidence in science and scientists. Thus, the factual and evidence-based foundation of democratic politics is challenged by the rise of a particular species of populist politician and populist parties marked by a distinct style, and relatively unencumbered by conventional party politics. If these phenomena can be identified with and confined to a specific set of actors, parties, and their supporters, then the political challenge is how best to contain or isolate them. The other reading approaches the democratic challenge from a more structural angle and searches for the roots of anti-political sentiment and the trust gap in the circumstances surrounding policymaking and politics. The two readings suggest different causal dynamics in terms of how fake news, disinformation, and manipulation affect democracy. If structural changes are important sources of fake news, disinformation, and manipulation, then the rise of populism is hardly the only source of fake news and disinformation. If so, the irony in focusing on the most blatant manifestations of fake news as espoused by populist politicians is that it may detract attention from those factors that helped create such traits in the first place.
Journalism, Truth and the Restoration of Trust in Democracy: Tracing the EU ‘Fake News’ Strategy
Authors: Michailidou Asimina , Eike Elisabeth , Trenz Hans-Jörg
Published: November 2022

Trust in journalism in Europe and beyond has been undermined by a series of scandals, by the closeness of journalists to political parties and government, but also by more frequent attacks against freedom of speech and of the press run especially by populist leaders and new authoritarian governments. In some countries, like Hungary, Poland and Italy, the press freedom index is in steep decline, and governments have also entered a ‘war’ with journalism, putting increasing pressure on the free exercise of the profession, restricting budgets and the autonomy of public service broadcasting. In our chapter, we critically discuss the responses, i.e. counter-strategies, for trust-(re)building that this disruption triggers, from a top-down European Union (EU) policy perspective. We assess the EU’s response to the authoritarian and fake news challenge and discuss the limits of a voluntary (self) regulatory approach in light of public sphere standards.
“Europe is Christian, or It Is Not Europe”: Post-Truth Politics and Religion in Matteo Salvini’s Tweets
Authors: Evolvi Giulia
Published: November 2022

Post-truth narratives are often connected to the online spreading of far-right ideologies and hate speech. Disinformation has also been studied in relation to religion, as it tends to target religious people and involve narratives about Christianity and Islam. In this chapter, I explore the use of post-truth online narratives about religion by focusing on the case of Italian populist political leader Matteo Salvini, who is renowned for his anti-Islam positions, for his Catholic faith, and for his intense use of social media. Through an analysis of tweets sent by Salvini between September 2019 and January 2020, I found that his narratives about religion create three types of post-truth narratives: first, generalisations that consider all Muslims as holding values incompatible with Western democracies; second, hyperboles that negatively frames the ideology of Catholic clergy and left-wing politicians; third, misleading connections that suggest correlations not based on factual information. These strategies show that post-truth politics is not necessarily characterised by news that is blatantly false, but can involve implicit disinformation. In conclusion, Salvini’s tweets suggest that disinformation creates a climate of post-truth that activates religious emotions through the circulation of claims about religion; in turn, religious narratives further fuel antagonisms and emotional reactions that sustain the spreading of disinformation.
Facts, Narratives and Migration: Tackling Disinformation at the European and UN Level of Governance
Authors: Björk Anna
Published: November 2022

This chapter analyses migration as a political question for the EU and in global governance. It outlines the interplay and tension between sovereign and decentralised power and the role of facts and narratives in this interplay. The aim is to discuss the possible political shift that is ongoing both as a United Nations led and a European driven effort. This means the initiatives to tackle migration as a political issue through recognition of framing, facts, accurate information, data and communications tools as key features in the debates. It is also a shift to acknowledging, directly and indirectly, that states, as the main subjects of international law and the ones with the responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and can be held more accountable for their actions in tackling e.g. disinformation and radical right discourses against human rights. The chapter illustrates this through selected cases, such as recent initiatives of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the UN Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration. The motivation behind the analysis is the way the emergence of the hybrid media space means that it is no longer possible to ignore the contemporary channels of information as crucial sites of power struggle in the politics of migration. This development is, the chapter argues, now an important feature in Europe Union institutional politics and global migration governance.
Intelligent Networked Music Performance Experiences
Authors: Comanducci Luca
Published: November 2022

A Networked Music Performance (NMP) is defined as what happens when geographically displaced musicians interact together while connected via network. The first NMP experiments begun in the 1970s, however, only recently the development of network communication technologies has created the necessary infrastructure needed to successfully create an NMP. Moreover, the widespread adoption of network-based interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated a renewed interest towards distant music-based interaction. In this chapter we present the Intelligent networked Music PERforMANce experiENCEs (IMPERMANENCE) as a comprehensive NMP framework that aims at creating a compelling performance experience for the musicians. In order to do this, we first develop the neTworkEd Music PErfoRmANCe rEsearch (TEMPERANCE) framework in order to understand which are the main needs of the participants in a NMP. Informed by these results we then develop IMPERMANENCE accordingly.
How Deep Learning Can Help Solving Geophysical Inverse Problems
Authors: Picetti Francesco
Published: November 2022

This brief summarizes some of the main results I obtained during my Ph.D. studies at Politecnico di Milano, under the supervision of Professor Stefano Tubaro. The thesis provides contributions to understanding the advantages, and limitations, of data-driven deep learning approaches to geophysical inverse problems, with a special focus on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Exploration Geophysics aims at estimating accurate physical properties of the Earth subsurface from seismic data acquired close to the surface. Seismic data show a great variety of statistically relevant and independent patterns. I devise Deep Learning methods to solve several geophysical tasks by learning such patterns. First, I devise generative networks as a post-processing operator for refining reflectivity images. When trained on pure image datasets, these networks suffer from the lack of physical knowledge. Then, I show a different approach named Deep Priors, which are CNNs that precondition the inverse problem. In particular, I develop a scheme to interpolate seismic data. Finally, I leverage the features extraction ability of CNNs for buried landmine detection on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) acquisitions. While the presented methods are effective compared to the state of the art, improvements can be achieved by integrating pure data-driven algorithms within general inverse problems theory through a-priori information derived from domain knowledge.
Dynamic Sediment Connectivity Modelling for Strategic River Basin Planning
Authors: Tangi Marco
Published: November 2022

Sediment connectivity is a distributed property of river systems that emerges from the connected transfer of sediment between multiple sources and sinks. Its disruption, brought by anthropic disturbances, can have severe and unforeseen consequences on both fluvial ecosystems and human livelihood. Modeling network-scale sediment connectivity provides a foundational understanding of river processes and their response to new pressures and can be used to forecast future system evolutions. In this chapter, we present the basin-scale, dynamic sediment connectivity model D-CASCADE (Dynamic CAtchment Sediment Connectivity And DElivery), which quantifies spatiotemporal patterns of sediment delivery in river networks. D-CASCADE considers multiple factors affecting transport, including heterogeneities in hydrology and sediment supply, different grain sizes, channel morphological evolution, and reservoir presence and management. The model is designed to be flexible, data parsimonious, and computationally efficient. We also present two applications of D-CASCADE in real-world case studies for historic geomorphic evolution reconstruction and future dam impacts forecasting. D-CASCADE is intended for integrated, basin-scale water management efforts, to perform multiple screening of various decision portfolios for hydromorphological impact assessments.