bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Considerações metapsicológicas sobre a repetição
Authors: Rosas de Salas Cristina
Published: July 2023

Este trabalho propõe analisar o tema da repetição, colocando como eixo o conceito de representação. A escolha desse enfoque baseia-se na transcendência que se dá a esse conceito nos debates metapsicológicos atuais, os quais tentam ampliar o campo da psicanálise para mais além das neuroses. Considera-se válida a alternativa de entrecruzar o que se repete com o como se repete, tomando como eixo o capital representacional e, a partir daí, analisar sua incidência sobre diferentes questões que constituem a clínica. Parte-se da hipótese de que ambos os aspectos guardam relação, tendo o que uma forma particular de repetição, o que implica reconsiderar a articulação entre fixação, regressão e repetição. Formula-se, como uma questão metapsicológica inescusável, a referida aos “destinos do objeto” na estruturação psíquica, considerando-se a mesma de particular importância para a linha de investigação escolhida, ou seja, a relação repetição-representação.
Sobre o desenvolvimento do pensamento humano
Authors: Avenburg Ricardo
Published: July 2023

O pensamento humano constitui-se através do desenvolvimento da linguagem, a qual, com sua complexidade estrutural, permite estabelecer novos sistemas de relação no mundo, dando origem à onipotência do pensamento. O mundo se enche de significados, como um novo ar (alma, espírito) que tudo impregna. Essa visão de totalidade está relacionada com a vivência oceânica, origem da religiosidade para Romain Rolland. Tal concepção é discutida por Freud, que toma o totemismo como origem das religiões. Opõem-se, assim, duas concepções de mundo, dois sistemas de pensamento, uma tendente à totalização (vivência oceânica, religião em Hegel) e outra que divide o mundo em dois setores contrapostos: o sagrado e o profano (consciência desventurada em Hegel, totemismo em Freud e em Durckheim).
Para introduzir uma reflexão sobre o “estilo” da interpretação
Authors: Roussillon René
Published: July 2023

O autor questiona-se sobre como falar “psicanaliticamente” da questão do estilo da interpretação. O estilo da interpretação engajase, de maneira fundamental, à questão da contratransferência. Admitindo- se isso no processo analítico, os psicanalistas poderiam debater sobre o que deles está implicado no estilo de suas interpretações. A partir de 1920, com a descrição de S. Freud da economia narcísica, não podemos mais pensar a interpretação como simples tradução de conteúdos reprimidos em palavras. Ela deverá assegurar uma função de ligação primária e, para tanto, a estrutura e a forma da interpretação passarão para o primeiro plano da reflexão. O autor destaca que no pensamento psicanalítico atual deve haver uma sintonia do analista com o tipo de comunicação possível para cada paciente. Assim, estabelece dois tipos de sintonia: uma verbal, metafórica,que opera no nível secundário e outra sintonia que chama mimo-gesto-postural, característica do vínculo primário,típica das interações precoces,possibilitando uma ligação Trabalhando nesse nível as intervenções do analista funcionariam como atos ou ações simbolizantes, criadoras de representações.
Lacan com Winnicott
Authors: Graña Roberto Barberena
Published: July 2023

O autor pretende pôr em perspectiva as noções de espelho e especularidade em Lacan e Winnicott, comparando-as e contrastando-as, com o propósito de fazer sobressaírem suas afinidades e diferenças e advogando uma interpretação do texto lacaniano afim com a análise fenomenológica, com o pensamento pós-estruturalista e com o imanentismo winnicottiano.
Analisi onomasiologica e motivazionale delle denominazioni dialettali italiane di ‘pomo d’Adamo’
Authors:   Università degli Studi di Torino, Italia, Cugno Federica
Published: July 2023

This study aims to identify and analyse the main lexotypes for the notion ‘Adam’s apple’ in Italian dialects. The comparative analysis of data collected by the Linguistic and Ethnographic Atlas of Italy and Southern Switzerland and the Italian Linguistic Atlas reveals a fair variety of expressions which in most cases are distributed in continuous and homogeneous areas. Generally, according to the main denomination models that distinguish the parts of the human body, these nouns are the result of redetermination processes or metaphorical associations, especially with the plant world. On the motivational level the most productive category refers to the roundness and protrusion of the Adam’s apple, with interesting crossings with cultural references of biblical and popular origin.
Corectarea greșelilor și oferirea de feedback în predarea online a limbii române ca limbă străină
Authors:   Universitatea din București, România, Levonian Raluca
Published: July 2023

This paper analyses how written corrective feedback was provided during the online teaching of Romanian as a foreign language at an Italian university in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The retrospective analysis focuses on the most common types of mistakes identified in the students’ homework and on the strategies applied by the author as the lecturer for Romanian language in the revision of the homework. The first part of the research aimed to identify and classify the errors appearing in the students’ texts, investigating the possible causes of the errors. The findings revealed that grammar errors were made more frequently by the students at beginner level, while lexical errors were made by students at an intermediate or advanced level of knowledge. Results also show that the teacher tended to use various types of corrective feedback, depending on the error type that was identified. The teacher’s feedback took different forms, ranging from simple error correction to extended comments and the proposal of alternative solutions. Moreover, the corrective feedback was offered directly for beginner students, while the corrections tended to be hedged when addressing advanced students, in order to avoid their discouragement. The students found the teacher’s feedback useful and even used the homework as a means to signal their difficulties with learning and ask for help. These results contradict previous research claiming that effective feedback involved direct indications using the imperative.
Rumänische Suffixnamen auf -ean(u) in Deutschland
Authors:   „Alexandru Ioan Cuza“ Universität Jassy, Rumänien, Nistor Adina-Lucia
Published: July 2023

This study aims to document Romanian surnames in Germany derived with the suffix -ean(u), starting from the telephone database of Deutsche Telekom from 2005. The morphological contrast between the variants that take an article and the ones that do not shows their similar distribution on the map, specifically in southern and western Germany, in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen and North Rhine-Westphalia, in the areas of important industrial and university centres such as Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Mannheim and Frankfurt. This picture of the spread of Romanian surnames derived with the suffix -ean(u) is similar to that of the surnames ending in -escu, as well as to that of other foreign surnames, such as the Turkish, Italian, Portuguese or Greek ones, which proves the settlement of immigrants in the same highly industrialized areas of Germany. The most frequent surnames ending in -ean(u) in Germany are Muntean(u) (88+80), Ardelean(u) (65+14), Mărginean (23), Ungurean(u) (21+31), C(î|â)mpean(u) (18+11), Oltean(u) (12+22). Historically, the Romanian names derived with the suffix -ean(u) appear in the 15th century (e.g. Coman Făgărășanul 1437–1446), are derived from toponyms and indicate the place of origin of the first named. The onomastic suffix -ean(u), of Slavic origin, is present in all historical Romanian provinces, theform -ean, with no article, being much more frequent in Transylvania.
Les mémoires de prison postcommunistes roumains et la poétique de la résilience du moi
Authors:   Université «Transilvania», Brașov, Roumanie, Painca Diana
Published: July 2023

Following the dismantling of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, survivors of this totalitarian regime wrote down their stories about suffering and injustice. Their memoirs and autobiographical works have become representative of post-communist life writing, promoting debates on trauma, memory, and resistance strategies. However, life writing scholars have not explored the textual strategies employed by writers to construct their ego-resilient Self, namely, their capacity to adjust to challenging circumstances. To instantiate the case, Romanian memoirs and transcribed interviews have been selected for the corpus given the highly repressive nature of the Romanian communist regime. The project pursues the following two research objectives: (a) to examine the textual strategies employed by narrators in their construction of ego-resiliency and (b) to analyse the historical specificities of Romanian communism while expanding knowledge on this totalitarian regime. To this end, the research combines Narrative Inquiry with Personality Psychology.
El régimen digital: ¿de vuelta a ‘1984’ o a ‘Un mundo feliz’?
Authors: Gozalo Ignasi
Published: July 2023

A raíz del progreso de las sofisticadas tecnologías de control digital, hoy más que nunca resurge el referente de 1984, la distopía literaria orwelliana convertida en mitología del siglo XX. En esta obra, se ilustraba sutilmente cómo funcionaban las dictaduras del primer tercio del siglo pasado. Menos se habla de una nueva experiencia cercana a Un mundo feliz, la distopía de Huxley con la que se inauguraba la crítica cultural en el capitalismo industrial de los años veinte y treinta.
Spatial determination and prognostic impact of the fibroblast transcriptome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Croft Wayne , Pearce Hayden , Margielewska-Davies Sandra , Lim Lindsay , Nicol Samantha M , Zayou Fouzia , Blakeway Daniel , Marcon Francesca , Powell-Brett Sarah , Mahon Brinder , Merard Reena , Zuo Jianmin , Middleton Gary , Roberts Keith , Brown Rachel M , Moss Paul
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a poor clinical outcome and responses to immunotherapy are suboptimal. Stromal fibroblasts are a dominant but heterogenous population within the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic targeting of stromal subsets may have therapeutic utility. Here, we combine spatial transcriptomics and scRNA-Seq datasets to define the transcriptome of tumor-proximal and tumor-distal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and link this to clinical outcome. Tumor-proximal fibroblasts comprise large populations of myofibroblasts, strongly expressed podoplanin, and were enriched for Wnt ligand signaling. In contrast, inflammatory CAFs were dominant within tumor-distal subsets and expressed complement components and the Wnt-inhibitor SFRP2. Poor clinical outcome was correlated with elevated HIF-1α and podoplanin expression whilst expression of inflammatory and complement genes was predictive of extended survival. These findings demonstrate the extreme transcriptional heterogeneity of CAFs and its determination by apposition to tumor. Selective targeting of tumor-proximal subsets, potentially combined with HIF-1α inhibition and immune stimulation, may offer a multi-modal therapeutic approach for this disease.
European State and Non-State Stakeholder Views on Awareness of and Campaigns on Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)
Authors: Murphy Muiread
Published: July 2023

Although it is recognised that prevention is one of the core aspects of a comprehensive anti-trafficking response, empirical research is limited. Prevention encompasses a number of actions and the emphasis in this article is on awareness levels and awareness raising initiatives. The
study presents the perceptions of European State and non-State stakeholders. A qualitative method in the form of fifty-three semistructured interviews was employed to capture these views. The interviewees include labour inspectors, trade unionists, law enforcement personnel, government officials
and non-governmental organisation representatives. The findings are structured in three parts: awareness levels of professionals and wider society, awareness raising activities, and the role of the media in prevention efforts. The research shows that the understanding of trafficking in human
beings, by both professionals and society at large, continues to be shaped by discussions focusing on sexual exploitation. It is argued that this enduring narrow interpretation of the offence means that other forms of exploitation, including labour exploitation, are not getting equal recognition.
Thus, it may mean that certain victims are not receiving the support and assistance that they are entitled to, and that detection beyond trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation is limited. By enabling a more comprehensive approach to awareness campaigns, a more nuanced
understanding should emerge and contribute towards the overarching aim of combating and eradicating this serious offence.
The OSCE/ODIHR Code of Practice for Ensuring the Rights of Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking: A Survivor's Perspective
Authors: Elam Jerome
Published: July 2023

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) officially launched the Code of Practice for Ensuring the Rights of Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking on 18 April 2023 at the 23rd Alliance Conference
Against Trafficking in Persons in Vienna, Austria. Developed from survivor leader Jerome Elam's idea for a Victim and Survivor's Bill of Rights, the Code of Practice seeks to extend relevant international and regional standards for the protection of victims and survivors. To accomplish this,
the Code of Practice offers specific guidance to Member States of the OSCE in the treatment, engagement and empowerment of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Drafted in collaboration with the Inaugural OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) International
Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Board (ISTAC), the 'Code of Practice' relies on the lived experience of ISTAC to create an umbrella of knowledge and support to protect victims and survivors. In addition, the Code of Practice seeks to minimize any additional trauma imparted upon victims and
survivors upon their engagement by anti-trafficking stakeholders, including governmental organizations, the media and civil society. This is primarily accomplished by giving specific guidance on using trauma informed care in all aspects of victim and survivor identification and recovery and
during their involvement with the legal system. The Code of Practice also offers recommendations for gender sensitive, disability sensitive, cultural and religious considerations to be employed by the anti-trafficking community. The role of survivor leaders is highlighted by the Code of Practice
and member states are advised to foster the inclusion of survivor leaders in the development and refurbishment of legislation, policies and protocols for addressing the crime of human trafficking. The OSCE/ODIHR Code of Practice is an extension of existing policies and broadens the scope of
protecting victim and survivors' rights so that the opportunity to reclaim their lives is allowed into full bloom. The unique nature of the Code of Practice in using the lived experience of survivor leaders adds a new dimension to the tools used by the anti-trafficking community and expands
the reach of the fight against the darkness of human trafficking.
Modeling clustered binary data with nonparametric unobserved heterogeneity: An application to stock crash analysis
Authors: Zhao Ruixi , Ma Renjun , Yan Guohua , Niu Haomiao , Jiang Wenjiang
Published: July 2023

Various random effects models have been developed for clustered binary data; however, traditional approaches to these models generally rely heavily on the specification of a continuous random effect distribution such as Gaussian or beta distribution. In this article, we introduce a new model that incorporates nonparametric unobserved random effects on unit interval (0,1) into logistic regression multiplicatively with fixed effects. This new multiplicative model setup facilitates prediction of our nonparametric random effects and corresponding model interpretations. A distinctive feature of our approach is that a closed‐form expression has been derived for the predictor of nonparametric random effects on unit interval (0,1) in terms of known covariates and responses. A quasi‐likelihood approach has been developed in the estimation of our model. Our results are robust against random effects distributions from very discrete binary to continuous beta distributions. We illustrate our method by analyzing recent large stock crash data in China. The performance of our method is also evaluated through simulation studies.
Molecular Engineering to Boost the Photo‐Oxidase Activity of Molecular Rotors in Colorimetric Sensing of Temperatures
Authors: Yu Hui‐Hsuan , Lin Pin‐Han , Chen Zhao‐Bin , Chen Zhi‐Wen , Chen Yen‐Jen , Liu Wei‐Min , Liu Ching‐Ping
Published: July 2023

Some organic dyes and photosensitizers with strong visible absorption can behave as photo‐responsive oxidase mimics. However, the relationship between the photo‐oxidase activity and molecular structure remains unclear to date. In this work, a new type of photosensitizer with the characteristics of molecular rotors, namely DPPy, served as the molecular scaffold for further investigation. To adjust the photocatalytic oxidation ability, DAPy and CBPy were designed and synthesized based on the enhancement and diminishment of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that DAPy and CBPy both exhibited highly efficient photo‐activated oxidase‐like activity with 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as the substrate, which were in good accordance with their molecular engineering to promote either type I or type II reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Impressively a colorimetric method based on the visible light induced oxidase‐like activity of molecular rotors was developed to determine the environmental temperature for the first time. Both DAPy and CBPy showed distinct sensitivities toward temperature as compared with several molecular rotors based on the typical fluorimetric detection. This work provides a new strategy for the application of molecular rotors to overcome the non‐emissive challenge in temperature sensing.
Species‐ and sex‐dependent changes in body size between 1892 and 2017, and recent biochemical signatures in rural and urban populations of two ground beetle species
Authors: Keinath Silvia , Frisch Johannes , Müller Johannes , Mayer Frieder , Struck Ulrich , Rödel Mark‐Oliver
Published: July 2023

Increasing urbanisation and intensified agriculture lead to rapid transitions of ecosystems. Species that persist throughout rapid transitions may respond to environmental changes across space and/or time, for instance by altering morphological and/or biochemical traits. We used natural history museum specimens, covering the Anthropocene epoch, to obtain long‐term data combined with recent samples. We tested whether rural and urban populations of two ground beetle species,Harpalus affinisandH. rufipes, exhibit spatio‐temporal intraspecific differences in body size. On a spatial scale, we tested signatures of nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes enrichments in different tissues and body components in recent populations of both species from urban and agricultural habitats. For body size examinations, we used beetles, collected from the early 20th century until 2017 in the Berlin‐Brandenburg region, Germany, where urbanisation and agriculture have intensified throughout the last century. For stable isotope examinations, we used recent beetles from urban and agricultural habitats. Our results revealed no spatio‐temporal changes in body size in both species' females. Body size ofH. rufipesmales decreased in the city but remained constant in rural areas over time. We discuss our findings with respect to habitat quality, urban heat and interspecific differences in activity pattern. Although nitrogen isotope ratios were mostly higher in specimens from agricultural habitats, some urban beetles reached equal enrichments. Carbon signatures of both species did not differ between habitats, detecting no differences in energy sources. Our results indicate that increasing urbanisation and intensified agriculture are influencing species' morphology and/or biochemistry. However, changes may be species‐ and sex‐specific.
Behavioral weight loss outcomes in individuals with binge‐eating disorder: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Forman Evan M. , Evans Brittney C. , Berry Michael P. , Lampe Elizabeth W. , Chwyl Christina , Zhang Fengqing
Published: July 2023

Objective

Binge‐eating disorder (BED) is highly comorbid with obesity. Weight loss may benefit individuals with BED; however, these individuals are often excluded from behavioral weight loss interventions (BWLIs), and findings from BWLIs including participants with and without BED are mixed. To the authors' knowledge, this study represents the first meta‐analysis of weight loss outcomes of individuals with and without BED in BWLIs, while adjusting for weight‐influencing variables. Treatment dropout rates were also examined.

Methods

Electronic search engines and grey literature search methods were used to identify manuscripts published through December 2022 related to BWLIs and BED. Thirty manuscripts (BED n = 1519; 25 non‐BED n = 6345) were included.

Results

A meta‐regression found that individuals with BED lost less weight compared with individuals without BED (~1.4 kg; ~2.9 kg among studies without meal replacements), but they still lost ~8.1 kg at post‐treatment. A random‐effects model showed that BED diagnosis increased odds of treatment dropout by 50%.

Conclusions

BWLIs produced robust weight loss in those with BED, but those with BED lost less weight and had higher risk of dropout compared with those without. Future research should aim to close the gap in weight loss outcomes and retention between those with and without BED.
Effects of pejus and pessimum zone salinity stress on gill proteome networks and energy homeostasis inOreochromis mossambicus
Authors: Root Larken , Kültz Dietmar
Published: July 2023

Salinity tolerance in fish involves a suite of physiological changes, but a cohesive theory leading to a mechanistic understanding at the organismal level is lacking. To examine the potential of adapting energy homeostasis theory in the context of salinity stress in teleost fish,Oreochromis mossambicuswere acclimated to hypersalinity at multiple rates and durations to determine salinity ranges of tolerance and resistance. Over 3000 proteins were quantified simultaneously to analyze molecular phenotypes associated with hypersalinity. A species‐ and tissue‐specific data‐independent acquisition (DIA) assay library of MSMS spectra was created. Protein networks representing complex molecular phenotypes associated with salinity acclimation were generated.O. mossambicushas a wide “zone of resistance” from 75 g/kg salinity to 120 g/kg. Crossing into the zone of resistance resulted in marked phenotypic changes including blood osmolality over 400 mOsm/kg, reduced body condition, and cessation of feeding. Protein networks impacted by hypersalinity consist of electron transport chain (ETC) proteins and specific osmoregulatory proteins. Cytoskeletal, cell adhesion, and extracellular matrix proteins are enriched in networks that are sensitive to the critical salinity threshold. These network analyses identify specific proteome changes that are associated with distinct zones described by energy homeostasis theory and distinguish them from general hypersalinity‐induced proteome changes.
The impact of adversities across the lifespan on psychological symptom profiles in late adulthood: a latent profile analysis
Authors: Hilberdink C. E. , van Zuiden M. , Olff M. , Roseboom T. J. , de Rooij S. R.
Published: July 2023

People commonly face adverse circumstances throughout life, which increases risk for psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Adversities may occur during different periods in life. Especially adversity during early periods has been suggested to put individuals at risk for adverse mental health outcomes. Here, we investigated whether timing of adversity during the prenatal period, childhood, or mid-to-late adulthood differentially impacted classification into late adulthood symptom profiles. We performed sex-stratified Latent Profile Analysis to identify latent profiles regarding anxious, depressive, psychotic, and PTSD symptoms inn= 568 Dutch famine birth cohort members (n= 294 women,n= 274 men, mean age(SD) = 72.9(0.8)). Cross-sectional late adulthood symptomatology, childhood traumatic maltreatment, and adulthood trauma were based on self-report questionnaires. Prenatal adversity was considered present when individuals were prenatally exposed to the 1944-45 Dutch famine. In both men and women we identified one anxious/depressive profile and three profiles with approximately equal severity of all symptom types within each profile, yet differentiating in overall severity (low, mild, high) between profiles. We additionally found a PTSD symptom profile in women. In men, logistic regression models showed significant associations between prenatal, childhood and adulthood adversity, and profile classification, with differential effects depending on timing and most profound effects of child maltreatment. In women, childhood and adulthood adversity significantly increased classification probability into almost all profiles, with no significant effect of prenatal adversity. These findings support a time-dependent and sex-specific impact of adversity during different periods across the lifespan on psychological health, with consequences into late adulthood.
Seventy‐Year Trends in Ship‐Reported Oceanic Precipitation Frequency
Authors: Petty Grant W. , Tran Harrison K.
Published: July 2023

Ship present‐weather reports from 1950 to 2019 are used to assess trends in the reporting of precipitation occurrence over the global oceans. Annual reported precipitation frequency shows statistically significant positive trends of up to ∼15% per decade throughout most ocean areas equatorward of 45°. However, latitudes poleward of 45° are dominated by negative trends, some areas of which meet the 95% confidence threshold. Nine smaller regions were subjectively selected for further investigation, revealing that the observed trends, both positive and negative, are often but not always nearly linear, with the amplitude of interannual fluctuations usually being much larger than that expected from random sampling error alone. The annual time series reveal that four comparatively dry areas are associated with the largest overall positive trends, ranging from 8.3% to 12.8% (relative) per decade. Trends were also computed separately for each season, revealing remarkable overall consistency in trends across seasons.
First Use of a Novel Extracorporeal Life Support System: Successful Application in Tracheoesophageal Fistula Repair
Authors: Alwardt Cory M. , DeValeria Patrick A. , Sen Ayan , Thunberg Christopher A. , Bhalla Puneet , Blakeman Stephanie , D’Cunha Jonathan , Ravanbakhsh Samine
Published: July 2023

Extracorporeal life support, commonly referred to as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), is indicated when conventional medical and surgical measures fail to support a patient during cardiac or respiratory failure. Increased use of ECMO in recent years has led to innovation that has improved safety in appropriate candidates. This has resulted in the application of novel approaches to complex surgical problems. Herein, we describe a simple, novel, and new-to-market ECMO circuit used for successful perioperative veno-venous ECMO support of a patient undergoing complex repair of a tracheoesophageal fistula. We believe that this circuit and its use for intra-and post-operative extracorporeal support provides a framework for safe and simple ECMO support in the future, including perioperative support for patients undergoing complicated and challenging thoracic procedures.
Why Low-level Radiation Exposure Should Not Be Feared
Authors: Waltar Alan E. , Gonzalez Abel J. , Feinendegen Ludwig E.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this paper is to address the public fear that is usually associated with low-level radiation exposure situations. Its ultimate objective is to provide persuasive assurances to informed but skeptical members of the public that exposure situations involving low-level radiation are not to be feared. Unfortunately, just acquiescing to an unsupportive public fear of low-level radiation is not without consequences. It is causing severe disruptions to the benefits that harnessed radiation can produce for the well-being of all humanity. In this pursuit, the paper provides the scientific and epistemological basis needed for regulatory reform by reviewing the history in quantifying, understanding, modeling, and controlling radiation exposure, including some of the evolving contributions of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and the myriad of international and intergovernmental organizations establishing radiation safety standards. It also explores the various interpretations of the linear no-threshold model and the insights gained from radiation pathologists, radiation epidemiologists, radiation biologists, and radiation protectionists. Given that the linear no-threshold model is so deeply imbedded in current radiation exposure guidance, despite the lack of a solid scientific base on the actually proven radiation effects at low-doses, the paper suggests near-term ways to improve regulatory implementation and better serve the public by excluding and/or exempting trivial low-dose situations from the regulatory scope. Several examples are given where the unsubstantiated public fear of low-level radiation has resulted in crippling the beneficial effects that controlled radiation offers to a modern society.
Effects of lumbar-pelvic training combined with electroacupuncture on chronic nonspecific low back pain
Authors: Cheng Yuandong , Yu Yingli , Wang Yuqin , Fan Ao , Yang Hua , Wang Hailiang , Tang Liugang
Published: July 2023

This observational study was conducted to investigate the effect of lumbar-pelvic training (LP) combined with electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain. One hundred and twenty patients diagnosed with chronic nonspecific low back pain were evenly randomized to receive the following 4 treatments for 2 weeks: LP combined with EA (Group A), EA (Group B), LP (Group C) or no intervention (Group D). The LP was a self-developed training program containing 5 movements and was conducted three times a week to build up the strength of abdomen muscle groups. Four acupoints along the foot-taiyangbladder meridian and the governor vessel were chosen for EA five times a week based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index were measured before and after treatment to assess the reduction of pain intensity and functional disability, respectively. Following the treatments, Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores in all 3 intervention groups were significantly lower than those in the Group D without intervention (P < .01). Among the intervention groups, Group A’s scores were lower than those of Group B or Group C (P < .01). The overall efficacy of Group A was 93.33%, which was higher than that of Group B (76.67%) and Group C (70.00%) (P < .01). In conclusion, this study suggest that our self-developed lumbar-pelvic training combined with electroacupuncture is effective for chronic nonspecific low back pain in terms of pain and disability reduction.
Regular practice of Kung Fu and Taekwondo improve Chilean adults’ health and quality of life during the COVID-19
Authors: Hsu Chuan Chih , Su Chia Shih , Su Chia Li
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of regular Kung Fu and Taekwondo practice on the health and quality of life among elderly individuals in the Maule region, Chile.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed a 12-week Kung Fu and Taekwondo workshop with activities suitable for their age. Through semistructured interviews (at the beginning and the end of the workshop), along with periodic monitoring of vital signs and cardiovascular components, the authors observed an improvement in participants’ physical (strength, speed of reaction and flexibility) and psychological conditions (self-esteem and resilience), quality of life (relationships with family and friends and ability to deal with stressful events in working life) and health (waist circumference, percentage of oxygen saturation in blood, blood pressure, among other values).

Findings

From these results, the authors affirm that this workshop improves health and physical condition and helps the participants develop the coping capacity to deal with stressful situations and complicated interpersonal relationships. In this sense, the authors conclude that Kung Fu and Taekwondo as regular sports activities can benefit senior citizens’ aging process.

Originality/value

This research is based on an original study project.
Examining the role of knowledge sharing among stakeholders and firm innovation performance: Moderating role of technology usage
Authors: Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Vrontis Demetris , Basile Gianpaolo
Published: July 2023

Knowledge sharing is a typical activity of using different ways to share ideas, skills, expertise, and opinions among friends, family members, peers, communities, and employees. Knowledge can be shared with a firm's internal and external stakeholders, and it can improve process efficiency as well as product quality. Not many studies have examined the influence of knowledge sharing among different stakeholders of a firm and its impact on a firm's innovative performance. Also, studies that understand the role of modern technology usage in firm innovation performance are scant. Using stakeholder theory, other views, and existing literature, we have developed a theoretical model that was validated using the PLS‐SEM technique to analyze 341 respondents from different firms in India. The study demonstrates that knowledge sharing has a significant impact among stakeholders on improving firm innovation performance. The study also finds that stakeholder usage of modern technology has a significant moderating impact on the relationship between process innovation, product innovation, and innovation performance of firms.
Military alliance and international trade: Evidence from NATO enlargement
Authors: Li Bing , Ge Yixuan , Lin Yi‐min
Published: July 2023

This paper exploits the three eastward expansions of NATO after the Cold War as a quasi‐natural experiment to investigate the relationship between military alliance and trade. To identify the impact of alliance membership on trade, we adopt the difference‐in‐differences method to estimate a gravity model with global bilateral trade data from 1995 to 2015. The results show that joining NATO has a positive effect on new member countries' exports, as well as an enhancing effect on both imports and exports between old and new members. Further analysis of subdivided data reveals that formal alliance between old and new members boosts bilateral trade of security‐sensitive products, facilitates specialisation and helps mitigate trade disputes, suggesting that deepening of mutual strategic trust is a possible channel of influence.
Passively addressed robotic morphing surface (PARMS) based on machine learning
Authors: Wang Jue , Sotzing Michael , Lee Mina , Chortos Alex
Published: July 2023

Reconfigurable morphing surfaces provide new opportunities for advanced human-machine interfaces and bio-inspired robotics. Morphing into arbitrary surfaces on demand requires a device with a sufficiently large number of actuators and an inverse control strategy. Developing compact, efficient control interfaces and algorithms is vital for broader adoption. In this work, we describe a passively addressed robotic morphing surface (PARMS) composed of matrix-arranged ionic actuators. To reduce the complexity of the physical control interface, we introduce passive matrix addressing. Matrix addressing allows the control ofN2independent actuators using only 2Ncontrol inputs, which is substantially lower than traditional direct addressing (N2control inputs). Using machine learning with finite element simulations for training, our control algorithm enables real-time, high-precision forward and inverse control, allowing PARMS to dynamically morph into arbitrary achievable predefined surfaces on demand. These innovations may enable the future implementation of PARMS in wearables, haptics, and augmented reality/virtual reality.
The Clinical Manifestation of Immunosuppressive Therapy as a Tool to Improve Immune Monitoring in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Scott Noa , Ben-David Aharon , Davidov Yana , Cohen-Hagai Keren , Yemini Renana , Ghinea Ronen , Mor Eytan , Hod Tammy
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Metrics for posttransplant immune monitoring to prevent over or under immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are lacking. Methods: We surveyed 132 RTRs, 38 in the first year posttransplant and 94 >1-year posttransplant, to study the clinical expression of immunosuppressive therapy. A questionnaire administered to these RTRs was divided into physical (Q physical) and mental (Q mental) symptoms. Results: In multivariable models for the association between the calculated Q physical and Q mental scores and different clinical and biochemical variables in the 38 RTRs who filled out the questionnaire 130 times during the first year posttransplant, it was found that mycophenolic acid (MPA) and prednisone use increased the mean Q physical score by 0.59 (95% CI: 0.21–0.98, p = 0.002) and 0.53 (95% CI: 0.26–0.81, p = 0.00), respectively, while MPA use increased the mean Q mental score by 0.72 (95% CI: 0.31–1.12, p = 0.001). Among the 94 RTRs who each completed the questionnaire only once, the odds for the mean Q mental score to be above the median value were more than 3 times higher for RTRs treated versus non-treated with MPA (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.1–10.3, p = 0.03). MPA-treated RTRs had higher mean scores for questions related to sleep disorders (1.83 ± 1.06 vs. 1.32 ± 0.67 for not treated, p = 0.037), to difficulty falling asleep (1.72 ± 1.11 vs. 1.16 ± 0.5, p = 0.02), and to depression and anxiety. Conclusion: We concluded that prednisone and MPA use are associated with an increased Q physical and Q mental scores in RTRs. Routine monitoring of physical and mental status of RTRs should be implemented to improve the diagnosis of overimmunosuppression. Dose reduction or discontinuation of MPA should be considered in RTRs who report sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety.
The Utility of Visual and Spatial Perception Tests in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Scott Jonathan P , Murphy Donnchadh F , Noad Rupert F
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Visual and spatial perception (VSP) are cognitive domains frequently assessed in the screening and neuropsychological assessment of dementia. Evidence suggests that VSP impairment is common in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite this evidence, the ability of VSP tests to discriminate between healthy older adults and people with AD remains mixed. The purpose of this literature review was to employ a systematic search strategy to identify empirical evidence supporting the diagnostic utility of VSP tests which may be used in the screening and diagnosis of AD. Methods: Specified criteria were used to perform a systematic literature search of the PsycINFO and PubMed databases with no date restrictions. Relevant data from the selected studies were extracted, and a published appraisal tool (the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) was used to evaluate methodological quality. Results: Of the 144 articles returned, six studies and 11 VSP tests met review inclusion criteria. Four tests demonstrated both sensitivity and specificity values above 80%. A computerised 3D Visual Task demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity values (90% and 95%, respectively). The quality of the identified studies was considered to be satisfactory. Identified limitations and the implications of issues relating to study methodology are discussed, and recommendations for future research are suggested. Conclusion: The evidence from this review suggests that certain tests of VSP may be a useful addition to the routine screening of AD.
Circulating Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker for Prognosis and Response to Systemic Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Watanabe Takuya , Suzuki Yuji , Kuroda Hidekatsu , Hiraki Hayato , Suzuki Akiko , Tamura Akio , Ieko Yoshiro , Nishizuka Satoshi S. , Matsumoto Takayuki
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Systemic therapy provides clinical benefits to a subset of patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few biomarkers are available for predicting prognosis and treatment response in patients with advanced HCC undergoing treatment with systemic therapies. This study aimed to examine whether circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) containing circulating tumor DNA can act as a therapeutic response and prognostic biomarker in patients with advanced HCC. Methods: We analyzed longitudinally collected plasma cfDNA of patients with advanced HCC who were naïve to systemic therapy, and assessed their prognostic and predictive values to determine treatment responses. Results: cfDNA concentration positively correlated with entire tumor volume on computed tomography before (p = 0.0231) and at the end (p < 0.0001) of the first-line systemic therapy. The overall survival rate was higher in patients with cfDNA concentrations lower than the median cfDNA level at baseline compared to patients with higher cfDNA concentrations (hazard ratio, 0.2765; 95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.81; p = 0.0197). The ratio of cfDNA at 4 weeks to that at baseline was predictive of radiographic disease response. In patients with progressive disease, cfDNA concentration at 4 weeks increased significantly (p = 0.0245), whereas the concentration remained unchanged in patients with other disease courses (p = 0.9375). Conclusion: The baseline plasma cfDNA concentration can be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients with advanced HCC. cfDNA kinetics may also predict the tumor response to therapy and disease progression.
Interferon Beta-1a versus Glatiramer Acetate: Changes of Innate Immunity in a Group of Women with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Peterka Marek , Valis Martin , Soucek Ondrej , Krejsek Jan , Sobisek Lukáš , Sejkorova Ilona , Klimova Blanka , Stourac Pavel , Pavelek Zbysek , Novotny Michal
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune demyelinating disease that secondarily leads to axonal loss and associated brain atrophy. Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) have previously been studied for their ability to affect specific immunity. This study investigates the effect of interferon beta-1a (INF) and glatiramer acetate (GA) administration on changes in innate immunity cell populations. Methods: Sixty Caucasian female patients with relapsing-remitting MS undergo blood sample testing for 15 blood parameters at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment by GA or IFN (started as their first-line DMD). Results: A statistically significant difference in the change after 6 months was found in the parameter monocytes (relative count) in the group of patients treated with IFN. The median increase was 27.8%. Changes in many of the other 15 parameters studied were 10–20%. Conclusion: Innate immunity has long been neglected in MS immunopathology. The findings suggest that IFN treatment may modulate the immune response in MS by affecting monocyte function and may provide insight into the mechanisms of action of IFN in MS.
Miniature atom bottle traps enabled by chiral doughnut light
Authors: Yuan Jun , Köksal Koray , Lembessis Vassilis , Babiker Mohamed
Published: July 2023

A novel optical set-up which enables cold atoms to be trapped in a finite set of miniature (sub-wavelength) bottle traps is highlighted. These bottle traps are formed when the atoms interact with a tightly focused standing wave
due to two-counter propagating optical vortex beams possessing the same winding
number $\ell=\pm1$ and the same circular polarization ($\sigma=\mp 1)$.
Tight focusing generates strong longitudinal field components which become responsible for an on-axis standing wave.
The resulting optical potential leads to the axial confinement of far blue-detuned atoms. This completes the formation of the bottle trap, since the off-axis radial confinement is, as usual, provided by the optical potential due to the interference of the transverse components of the light. The main characteristics of the bottle traps are illustrated using typical experimentally-accessible parameters. Due to the spin-orbit coupling the trap parameters are tunable by changing the ellipicity of the light.
Freiheit, Gnade und das Kind auf der einsamen Insel
Authors: Breul Martin
Published: July 2023

Die umstrittene Verhältnisbestimmung von Freiheit und Gnade ist ein Dauerbrenner der ökumenischen Theologie. In diesem Artikel rekonstruiere und kritisiere ich einige katholisch-theologische Kompromissvorschläge der letzten Jahre und versuche im Anschluss an die jüngsten Erkenntnisse der evolutionären Anthropologie mit Blick auf die kindliche Ontogenese eine ›Naturgeschichte der Freiheit‹ zu erzählen. Es ist die Perspektive einer Entwicklungstheorie des Kindes, die einen innovativen Blick auf das Gnade-Freiheits-Problem bietet: Gerade weil sich Freiheit der Interaktion mit Anderen verdankt, ist sie keine reine, kontextenthobene Autonomie, sondern immer geschichtlich verwurzelt. Das vorgängige Gnadenhandeln Gottes zeigt sich in der Verdanktheit der Freiheit, die wiederum notwendig ist, um innerweltliche Erfahrungen in einem Kontext des Glaubens zu deuten. Eine Naturgeschichte der Freiheit ermöglicht also ein Zueinander von Gnade und Freiheit, die es ermöglicht, beide nicht als in Konkurrenz stehend, sondern als sich wechselseitig bedingend zu begreifen.
Dose response assessment of conventional Fricke: a relationship between UV-Visible and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques
Authors: Santos Ângela Moreira Marques dos , Sebastião Rita de Cássia de Oliveira , Mesquita Amir Zacarias , Alonso Thêssa Cristina , Mantuano Andrea , Fonseca Telma Cristina Ferreira
Published: July 2023

Conventional Fricke is an aqueous ferrous sulfate solution that has been widely studied in the field of chemical dosimetry. The feasibility of its use has become attractive for high dose measurements that are of clinical interest in the field of radiotherapy and for industrial purposes, in the irradiation of blood bags and the sterilization of surgical material. The derivation of the absorbed dose of Fricke depends on the radiation-induced oxidation of iron (II) ions (Fe2+) present in the aqueous solution to iron (III) ions (Fe3+), which occurs after exposure to ionising radiation. In this paper, it is proposed to evaluate the dose response of the Fricke dosimeter using two different analytical techniques, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Twelve groups of samples were analysed in triplicate, irradiated with doses between 0 and 800 Gy, using a cobalt-60 source (60Co). The dose rate of Fricke dosimeters was evaluated against the practical values obtained. The different methods allowed an analytical correlation of the species of oxidised iron (Fe3+) using a linearity curve as a function of the applied radiation dose.