bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Action and Relation: Toward a New Theory of the Image
Authors: Petrovsky Helen
Published: June 2023

This article examines a changing global reality that manifests itself in new forms of social activism. The struggle of the multitude challenges political representation and contemporary art seems to corroborate this observation. Becoming a form of social intervention, it turns into an active force and leaves behind the need to double action with representation, representational practices being the hallmark of classical art. A new theory of the image would have to incorporate this dynamic: it would have to treat and develop the basic categories of action and relation. There are few philosophies of the act, and the existing semiotic models mostly deal with dual structures (signifier/signified; sign/meaning; image/referent, and so on). It is necessary to sketch out a dynamic theory of the image that would: (1) reveal the limitations of the concept of representation; (2) conceive of the image as a set of multiple changing relations. The image would thus be seen as a necessary part of the relations governing the world in its entirety, that is, as part of the movement of matter itself. Which is another way of saying that those relations are actualized, or expressed, in the image.
Evaluation of the microbiota-sparing properties of the anti-staphylococcal antibiotic afabicin
Authors: Nowakowska J , Cameron D R , De Martino A , Kühn J , Le Fresne-Languille S , Leuillet S , Amouzou Y , Wittke F , Carton T , Le Vacon F , Chaves R L , Nicolas-Metral V , Vuagniaux G
Published: June 2023

Background

Antibiotic use is associated with collateral damage to the healthy microbiota. Afabicin is a first-in-class prodrug inhibitor of the FabI enzyme that, when converted to the pharmacologically active agent afabicin desphosphono, demonstrates a staphylococcal-specific spectrum of activity. An expected benefit of highly targeted antibiotics such as afabicin is microbiome preservation.

Objectives

To compare the effects of oral treatment with afabicin and standard-of-care antibiotics upon the murine gut microbiota, and to assess the effects of oral afabicin treatment on the human gut microbiota.

Methods

Gut microbiota effects of a 10 day oral course of afabicin treatment were monitored in mice and compared with clindamycin, linezolid and moxifloxacin at human-equivalent dose levels using 16S rDNA sequencing. Further, the gut microbiota of healthy volunteers was longitudinally assessed across 20 days of oral treatment with afabicin 240 mg twice daily.

Results

Afabicin treatment did not significantly alter gut microbiota diversity (Shannon H index) or richness (rarefied Chao1) in mice. Only limited changes to taxonomic abundances were observed in afabicin-treated animals. In contrast, clindamycin, linezolid and moxifloxacin each caused extensive dysbiosis in the murine model. In humans, afabicin treatment was not associated with alterations in Shannon H or rarefied Chao1 indices, nor relative taxonomic abundances, supporting the findings from the animal model.

Conclusions

Oral treatment with afabicin is associated with preservation of the gut microbiota in mice and healthy subjects.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers towards antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Al Sulayyim Hadi , Ismail Rohani , Hamid Abdullah Al , Ghafar Noraini Abdul
Published: June 2023

Background

During the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, there was an overuse of antibiotics in hospitals. The improper use of antibiotics during COVID-19 has increased antibiotic resistance (AR), which has been reported in multiple studies.

Objectives

To assess the healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in relation to AR during the era of COVID-19, and identify the associated factors with good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used to assess the KAP of HCWs in Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A validated questionnaire was used to collect participants’ data, which consisted of the following information; socio-demographics, knowledge, attitude and items for practice. Data were presented as percentages and median (IQR). Mann–Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare them. Logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors linked to KAP.

Results

The study included 406 HCWs. Their median (IQR) knowledge score was 72.73% (27.27%–81.82%), attitude score was 71.43% (28.57%–71.43%) and practice score was 50% (0%–66.67%). About 58.1% of the HCWs stated that antibiotics could be used to treat COVID-19 infection; 19.2% of the participants strongly agreed and 20.7% agreed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotics were overused at their healthcare institutions. Only 18.5% strongly agreed and 15.5% agreed when asked whether antibiotics used properly for the right indication and duration can still result in AR. The significantly associated factors with good knowledge were nationality, cadre and qualification. A positive attitude was significantly associated with age, nationality and qualification. Good practice was significantly associated with age, cadre, qualification and working place.

Conclusion

Although the HCWs had a positive attitude regarding AR during COVID-19, their knowledge and practice need significant improvement. Implementation of effective educational and training programmes are urgently needed. In addition, further prospective and clinical trial studies are needed to better inform these programmes.
Production of Trichoderma harzianum K179 bioagent for maize diseases control: complete laboratory stage bioprocess development
Authors: Mitrović Ivana , Vučurović Damjan , Al-Ani Laith Khalil Tawfeeq , Mitrović Bojan , Bajić Bojana , Dodić Siniša , Živanov Sonja Tančić
Published: June 2023

Aims

In order to be competitive on the market, the production of biopreparations needs to be optimized, modelled, and assessed in the early stages of its development. The aim of this paper was to optimize medium for the production of Trichoderma harzianum K179 biocontrol agent, to analyze its kinetics at enlarged laboratory scale and finally economic analysis of the production of this high-value product through simulation modelling.

Methods and results

The results showed that the bioprocess of T. harzianum K179 bioagent production in a laboratory bioreactor on the medium with optimal composition (dextrose 10 g l−1, soy flour 6.87 g l−1, K2HPO4 1.51 g l−1, KCl 0.5 g l−1, and MgSO4 × 7H2O 0.5 g l−1), at stirring speed of 1.75 × g and aeration intensity of 1.5 vvm, can be shortened from 96 to 36 h. The results of bioprocess economic analysis showed that with a 25-year project lifetime and an investment payback time of 7.58 years, this project represents an economically viable system.

Conclusions

Complete analysis of the bioprocess of T. harzianum K179 biocontrol agent production showed that the biologically produced preparation can be competitive on the market with synthetic preparations.
Biofilm formation under food-relevant conditions and sanitizers’ tolerance of a Pseudomonas fluorescens group strain
Authors: Maifreni Michela , Di Bonaventura Giovanni , Marino Marilena , Guarnieri Simone , Frigo Francesca , Pompilio Arianna
Published: June 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the biofilm-forming ability of a strain belonging to the Pseudomonas fluorescens group isolated from the dairy environment under food-relevant conditions. Moreover, the effects of commercial sanitizers against preformed biofilms were assessed both in terms of viability and structure.

Methods and results

The biofilms were formed on polystyrene, stainless steel (SS), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in a wide range of temperatures (4–25°C) and were subjected to the action of 10 different sanitizers. The strain under study showed to be a strong biofilm-former regardless of temperature, particularly on polystyrene. The biofilms were mostly sensitive to chlorine and peracetic acid-based sanitizers. For some sanitizers (e.g. amphoteric), a relationship was observed between the material and the tolerance, while the temperature was not statistically significant. The formation of long-term biofilms on SS was also structurally affected by the temperature, showing microcolonies more irregular in shape and with lower cellularity at 4°C compared to 15°C, where the biofilm was more compact and with a high presence of EPS.

Conclusions

The strain belonging to the P. fluorescens group was shown to quickly adhere and form mature biofilm at temperatures and on materials relevant to the food sector; however, biofilms formed under different conditions were differently tolerant to disinfectants.

 

 

Significance and impact of the study

Findings from this study could provide a basis for developing targeted sanitation protocols in food plants.
Use of the shuttle box system to determine the effects of hypoxia and food deprivation on the behavioral responses of the rock crab Cancer irroratus Say, 1817 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Cancridae)
Authors: Jiang Qiwu , McGaw Iain J
Published: June 2023

Food-deprivation state (fed, fasted, starved) affected rock crabs physiological and biochemical responses to hypoxia in Cancer irroratus. Fasted and starved crabs were better adapted to deal with hypoxia than fed animals; however, avoidance behavior is usually considered as the first defense to environmental stressors for decapod crustaceans. We examined the effects of food deprivation on the crab’s behavior to hypoxia using the Loligo® shuttle box system, an automated system with a pair of connected water chambers with regulated flow and oxygen level. Crabs (starved, fasted and fed) that were offered a choice of two different oxygen saturations did not appear to actively avoid the hypoxia regimes tested (50% and 20% oxygen saturation). We used novel algorithms to analyze the data and found that crabs altered rheotaxis (movement towards or away from a current of water) and corresponding moving speed as a function of oxygen saturation. The food-deprivation state did influence thigmotaxis (contact with walls/objects when exploring an open space): starved crabs became bolder and more likely to explore open areas of the apparatus. Technological advancements such as the fully automated shuttle box have improved our ability to collect and analyze behavioral data; however, our study also highlighted some of the potential problems of relying solely on such apparatus to study the behavior of benthic crustaceans.
Picturing National History: Turkey’s Popular Nationalism on the Rise Through the 1950s New Print Culture
Authors: Ozguner Emin Artun
Published: June 2023

This article interrogates the role of print culture and visual communication design in the permeation of Turkish national consciousness into everyday practices. It seeks to understand the phenomenon of “banal nationalism,” argued by Michael Billig, in a broader context of cultural production advocated by Tim Edensor. It does this by looking into Turkey’s first liberalization period in the 1950s where a boosting print industry, a standard print language, and high literacy contributed to the daily reproduction of a collective historical past through representations. This period is analyzed through publications like Sunday comic strips, advertorial giveaways, and illustrated history journals that emulate popular American formats in the commodification of history. These are treated as material tools to present and disseminate an imaginary reconciliation of secular modernism with imperial history in a new print culture. This analysis reveals how representations in the foreground of everyday cultural artifacts are used to produce and reproduce difference that designates a distinct national consciousness detached from the realm of state. It also sheds light on the prevalence of identity negotiation and the commoditization of culture in the professionalization of visual communication disciplines in non-Western design paradigms.
Large-scale production of house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), larvae fed 3 manure types
Authors: Miranda Chelsea D , Cammack Jonathan A , Tomberlin Jeffery K
Published: June 2023

House flies, Musca domestica, L., (Diptera: Muscidae) are well-known pests at animal facilities; however, they can be used for manure biodegradation. Utilizing house flies to process animal manure offers a means to recycle nutrients and reduce contaminants (e.g., pathogens and heavy metals), while also producing multiple revenue streams (e.g., protein for feed, fat for biodiesel, frass as a soil amendment). This study determined house fly larval performance on a larger scale (kilogram of wastes; thousands of larvae; single feeding) as a follow-up to a previous experiment performed at a bench-top scale (g of wastes; hundreds of larvae; incremental feeding). Four thousand larvae were fed 1 kg of swine, dairy, or poultry manure, or a control (Gainesville diet: 50% wheat bran, 30% alfalfa meal, and 20% corn meal). Peak larval weight occurred 4 days after inoculation and no significant difference in development time to first pupariation occurred across diets. However, percent survivorship to pupariation varied, with the highest occurring in Gainesville (74%), swine (73%), and poultry (67%) manure, whereas 50% survived when fed dairy manure. The highest pupal weight was found for those fed Gainesville (27 mg), and similar weights were found for those fed swine (21 mg), dairy (24 mg), and poultry (25 mg) manure. Although using house flies to manage manure has received little consideration in Western countries, other regions have this practice in place. Results may provide insight on differences between small- and large-scale studies, which is valuable for industrialization of this species for waste management and creating a more circular economy.
Coverage of Human Rights Issues in Malawian Newsrooms: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Mlenga Joe
Published: June 2023

This paper is a study of 14 media houses in Malawi and it looks at coverage of human rights issue from various dimensions. A questionnaire was administered to journalists of diverse levels at these media houses to gather data concerning the research. The targeted media houses are located in the main urban centres of Malawi and include radio, television and newspaper publishers. The findings indicate that training, lack of specialised units in newsrooms, inadequate reference materials and reluctance by officials to give out required information are some of the issues that are hampering coverage of human rights stories in the country. The paper also looks at suggestions made by journalists to help improve reportage of human rights in Malawi. It then makes recommendations based on evidence gathered through the questionnaires on how the media and other concerned stakeholders can work together for better human rights reporting in the country.
Influence of artificial diets on biological characteristics and digestive enzymes of Coccinella septempunctata L.
Authors: Cheng Ying , Yu Yi , Li Wenhong , Li Fengliang
Published: June 2023

In order to improve the rearing of Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), nutrients such as shrimp, pollen, honey, and lard were added to the basic artificial diet, and the effects of the artificial diet on biological parameters and digestive enzymes were evaluated. The results show that beetles feeding on the supplemented diet exhibited pupation, emergence, fecundity, and hatching rates that were 102.69%, 125.02%, 162.33%, and 119.90% of those supplied with the basic diet, respectively. The addition of shrimp and pollen to the basal diet improved protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and aminopeptidase activity in larvae and female adults. The addition of lard improved lipase activity in female adults, and the addition of honey improved invertase activity in adults of both sexes. This study provides guidance for improving the nutritional benefits of ladybug artificial diets.
Variation in North American bumble bee nest success and colony sizes under captive rearing conditions
Authors: Strange James P , Tripodi Amber D , Lindsay Thuy-Tien T , Herndon James D , Knoblett Joyce , Christman Morgan E , Barkan N Pinar , Koch Jonathan B U
Published: June 2023

Of the 265 known bumble bee (Bombus) species, knowledge of colony lifecycle is derived from relatively few species. As interest in Bombus commercialization and conservation grows, it is becoming increasingly important to understand colony growth dynamics across a variety of species since variation exists in nest success, colony growth, and reproductive output. In this study, we reported successful nest initiation and establishment rates of colonies and generated a timeline of colony development for 15 western North American Bombus species, which were captively reared from wild-caught gynes from 2009 to 2019. Additionally, we assessed variation in colony size among 5 western North American Bombus species from 2015 to 2018. Nest initiation and establishment rates varied greatly among species, ranging from 5–76.1% and 0–54.6%, respectively. Bombus griseocollis had the highest rates of nest success across the 11-yr period, followed by B. occidentalis, B. vosnesenskii, and B. huntii. Furthermore, days to nest initiation and days to nest establishment varied among species, ranging from 8.4 to 27.7 days and 32.7 to 47 days. Colony size also differed significantly among species with B. huntii and B. vosnesenskii producing more worker/drone cells than B. griseocollis, B. occidentalis, and B. vancouverensis. Additionally, gyne production differed significantly among species with B. huntii colonies producing more gynes than B. vosnesenskii. Results from this study increase knowledge of systematic nesting biology for numerous western North American Bombus species under captive rearing conditions, which can further improve rearing techniques available to conservationists and researchers.
Sublethal effects of emamectin benzoate on development, reproduction, and vitellogenin and vitellogenin receptor gene expression inThrips hawaiiensis(Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Chen Yi-Xin , Tian Hou-Jun , Lin Shuo , Yu Yun , Xie Lian-Cheng , Li Heng , Chen Yong , Lin Tao , Gu Xiao-Jun , Wei Hui
Published: June 2023

Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a sap-sucking pest that seriously damages several crops and reduces their economic value. Exposure to low concentrations of insecticides may have a sublethal effect on surviving insects. In order to provide a reference for the rational application of emamectin benzoate, its sublethal effects on the development and reproduction of T. hawaiiensis were evaluated. Pupal development time was significantly shorter in T. hawaiiensis treated with sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate (LC10 and LC20) than in control. Female adult longevity and female total longevity were significantly longer following LC20 treatment than in the control and LC10 treatment groups. Nevertheless, male adult longevity and male total longevity were significantly shorter in the LC10 treatment group than in the control and LC20 treatment groups. The sublethal concentration of emamectin benzoate (LC20) significantly shortened the preadult stages and the mean generation. Meanwhile, it significantly increased the finite rate of increase, intrinsic rate of increase, and net reproductive rate. The fecundity was significantly higher after LC20 treatment than after LC10 and control treatments. Compared with the control group, the LC10 and LC20 groups of T. hawaiiensis adults showed a significantly higher expression of the vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) genes, which played a key role in increasing their fecundity. These findings suggest that short-term exposure to sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate may lead to a resurgence and secondary outbreak of T. hawaiiensis infestation. The results have practical applications for the management of this important and noxious pest.
A New Test on Asset Return Predictability with Structural Breaks
Authors: Cai Zongwu , Chang Seong Yeon
Published: June 2023

This article considers predictive regressions in which a structural break is allowed on an unknown date. We establish novel testing procedures for asset return predictability using empirical likelihood (EL) methods based on weighted score equations. The theoretical results are useful in practice because our unified framework does not require distinguishing whether the predictor variables are stationary or non-stationary. Monte Carlo simulation studies show that the EL-based tests perform well in terms of size and power in finite samples. Finally, as an empirical analysis, we test the predictability of the monthly S&P 500 value-weighted log excess return using various predictor variables.
Wagering with an incomplete deck—refining conservation plans for the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus luteus luteus)
Authors: Malaney Jason L , Wilford Caroline R , Woods Jonathan T , Christman Bruce L , Jennings Randy D , Chambers Carol L , Zahratka Jennifer L , Liphardt Schuyler W , Demboski John R , Cook Joseph A
Published: June 2023

Limited sampling for imperiled taxa inhibits effective management by obscuring windows into ecological and evolutionary processes and ultimately thwarting thoughtful conservation efforts. We report eight new locations for the endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus luteus luteus) detected across three states that expand their known distribution. When combined with existing curated museum records, we develop an ensemble species distribution model to evaluate persistence of populations over the next 50 years. Predicted distributions indicate complex future changes, including regional expansion and the likelihood that half of the designated critical habitat areas will be unsuitable by 2070. Three of the newly discovered populations occur where predicted climate conditions suggest extirpation is likely. Importantly, indices of historical sampling efforts show that recognized and potential distributions are mismatched, highlighting vast areas that have been insufficiently surveyed. Ongoing habitat degradation and climate disruption are projected to synergistically erode genetic diversity across four of the five divergent phylogroups. Considering these combined results, a holistic sampling strategy is needed to more completely document the distribution of jumping mice and facilitate genomic analyses aimed at establishing a roadmap for improving our understanding of geographic variation and adaptive potential. Current management efforts are not only costly, but they are lacking key biological insights, essentially wagering actions with an incomplete deck of cards.
Toward a Hybrid Theory of How to Allocate Health-related Resources
Authors: Herlitz Anders
Published: June 2023

How should scarce health-related resources be allocated? This paper argues that values that apply to these decisions fail to always fully determine what we should do. Health maximization and allocation-according-to-need are suggested as two values that should be part of a general theory of how to allocate health-related resources. The “small improvement argument” is used to argue that it is implausible that one alternative is always better, worse, or equal to another alternative with respect to these values. Approaches that rely on these values are thus incomplete. To deal with this, it is suggested that we ought to use incomplete theories in a two-step process. Such a process first discards ineligible alternatives, and, second, uses reasons grounded in collective commitments to identify a unique, best alternative in the remaining set.
Involuntary Childlessness, Suffering, and Equality of Resources: An Argument for Expanding State-funded Fertility Treatment Provision
Authors: Cavaliere Giulia
Published: June 2023

Assessing what counts as infertility has practical implications: access to (state-funded) fertility treatment is usually premised on meeting the criteria that constitute the chosen definition of infertility. In this paper, I argue that we should adopt the expression “involuntary childlessness” to discuss the normative dimensions of people’s inability to conceive. Once this conceptualization is adopted, it becomes clear that there exists a mismatch between those who experience involuntary childlessness and those that are currently able to access fertility treatment. My concern in this article is explaining why such a mismatch deserves attention and what reasons can be advanced to justify addressing it. My case rests on a three-part argument: that there are good reasons to address the suffering associated with involuntary childlessness; that people would decide to insure against it; and that involuntary childlessness is characterized by a prima facie exceptional kind of desire.
Influence on structure and fracture mechanics evaluations of a BWR feedwater nozzle following weld overlay repair
Authors: Liu Ru-Feng , Young Ming-Chung
Published: June 2023

This present paper summarizes applying weld overlay repair on the feedwater nozzle in a boiling water reactor, and evaluates the influence on the structure and fracture mechanics of the component. The requirements for utilizing a full structural weld overlay, including the weld overlay design, effects of welding residual stresses (WRSs), impacts of weld shrinkage, prediction of potential flaw growth, and influence on ASME Code Section III design evaluations, are further defined in ASME Code Case N-504–2. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the weld overlay design of the nozzle, the WRSs following overlay installation were determined using engineering simulation software. The impacts of weld shrinkage from overlay welding are also addressed. The shrinkage stresses were evaluated via a numerical model of the attached piping system to ensure the design margins of the pipe structure. Since the weld overlay technique is well known to be effective in mitigating crack initiation or cracking to leakage, a fatigue crack growth prediction under ASME Code Section XI must be conducted to address the fatigue qualification of the affected component. The ASME Code Section III construction qualification of the whole nozzle region must consider the applicable thermal transient stresses, structural discontinuities, and bimetallic effects that are caused by the weld overlay. This investigation proves that the current stress analyses of the nozzle and the pipe structure are not significantly affected by the added overlay mass, so the structural integrity of the component can be ensured, meeting the requirements of ASME Code Case N-504–2.
Questions answered
Authors: Ryan Mary
Published: June 2023

Meet the biostatistician who is the newest member of the Significance editorial board
Successful extended use of Impella 5.5 as a bridge to heart transplantation
Authors: Sharaf Omar M , Diaz-Ayllon Hannia P , Myers Elisha M , Ahmed Mustafa M , Bleiweis Mark S , Jeng Eric I
Published: June 2023

We present the case of a 60-year-old gentleman who was admitted with acute-on-chronic cardiogenic shock and was supported with axillary Impella 5.5® for 123 days prior to heart transplantation. Total length of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) was 132 days, which included 9 days with an intra-aortic balloon pump prior to Impella. During support, the patient remained extubated, participated in regular ambulation and rehabilitation with physical therapy and had continuous monitoring of device positioning. He did not experience any vascular or septic events while on temporary MCS and had improved hemodynamics and renal function after Impella initiation. Post-transplantation course was uncomplicated, and he is doing well without evidence for allograft dysfunction over 581 days post-transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the longest Impella 5.5®-supported patient during the new United Network for Organ Sharing Heart Allocation era who was successfully bridged to heart transplantation with over 1-year follow-up.
Capacity to love and problematic sexuality: the role of defense mechanisms and psychopathological suffering
Authors: Ciocca Giacomo , Origlia Giulia , Limoncin Erika , Mollaioli Daniele , Tanzilli Annalisa , Lingiardi Vittorio , Jannini Emmanuele A
Published: June 2023

Background

Limitation to the capacity to love is often a feature of a suffering personality.

Aim

We aimed to investigate the role of the capacity to love in hypersexual behavior, considering both distress and defense mechanisms as possible psychological mediators.

Methods

Through an online platform, we recruited a convenience sample of 521 subjects (390 [74.9%] females and 131 [25.1%] males; mean [SD] age, 26.46 [5.89] years).

Outcomes

Recruited subjects completed a psychometric protocol that included completion of the following measurement tools: (1) the Capacity to Love Inventory (CTL-I), (2) the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), (3) the 30-item self-report Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale, and (4) the Brief Symptom Inventory. We then performed correlation and regression analyses and used a mediation model for data analysis.

Results

A significant negative relationship between the capacity to love and hypersexual behavior was found. Furthermore, indirect effects were also statistically significant, supporting the hypothesis that limitation to the capacity to love is related to hypersexuality through the paths of psychological distress and immature defense mechanisms. Finally, compared to the other subjects, those with pathological scores for the HBI showed significantly lower scores on the CTL-I, which suggested limitations to the capacity to love.

Clinical Implications

The relationship between limitation to the capacity to love and hypersexuality is fundamental to the diagnostic process in persons with problematic sexuality and psychopathological distress.

Strengths and Limitations

This study is the first, to our knowledge, to highlight the role of the capacity to love in sexual behavior, although future studies in specific clinical sample groups would be suitable for further investigation of the relationships among the considered variables.

Conclusion

The etiology of limitation in the capacity to love is related to dysfunctional aspects of psychological functioning, such as psychological distress and immature defense mechanisms, and these factors together generate problematic sexuality such as hypersexual behavior. Our results highlight the central role in mental and sexual health of the capacity to love. Based on these findings, clinicians should take these aspects into consideration for diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with problematic sexuality.
Do patients with Peyronie’s disease perceive penile curvature in adults and children differently than the general population?
Authors: Henry Alexander J , Holler Jordan T , Lui Jason , Breyer Benjamin N , Ziegelmann Matthew , Cohen Tal , Smith Ryan P , Yeaman Clinton , Winkelman Andrew J , Villanueva Carlos , Kern Nora G
Published: June 2023

Background

As perception of penile curvature varies widely, we sought to understand how adults perceive curvature and how these opinions compare with those of patients with curvature, specifically Peyronie’s disease (PD).

Aim

To investigate the perspectives of curvature correction from adults with and without PD, as well as differences within demographics.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to adult patients and nonpatient companions in general urology clinics at 3 institutions across the United States. Men, women, and nonbinary participants were recruited. Patients were grouped as having PD vs andrology conditions without PD vs general urology conditions plus companions. The survey consisted of unlabeled 2-dimensional images of penis models with varying degrees of curvature. Participants selected images that they would want surgically corrected for themselves and their children. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify demographic variables associated with willingness to correct.

Outcomes

Our main outcome was to detect differences in threshold to correct curvature between those with and without PD.

Results

Participants were grouped as follows: PD (n = 141), andrology (n = 132), and general (n = 302) . Respectively, 12.8%, 18.9%, and 19.9% chose not to surgically correct any degree of curvature (P = .17). For those who chose surgical correction, the mean threshold for correction was 49.7°, 51.0°, and 51.0° (P = .48); for their children, the decision not to correct any degree of curvature was 21.3%, 25.4%, and 29.3% (P = .34), which was significantly higher than correction for themselves (P < .001). The mean threshold for their children’s correction was 47.7°, 53.3°, and 49.4° for the PD, andrology, and general groups (P = .53), with thresholds no different vs themselves (P = .93). On multivariable analysis, no differences were seen in demographics within the PD and andrology groups. In the general group, participants aged 45 to 54 years and those who identified as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) had a higher threshold for correction as compared with their counterparts when factoring other demographic variables (63.2° vs 48.8°, P = .001; 62.1° vs 50.4°, P = .05).

Clinical Implications

With changing times and viewpoints, this study stresses the importance of shared decision making and balancing risks and benefits to correction of penile curvature.

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths include the broad population surveyed. Limitations include the use of artificial models.

Conclusion

No significant differences were seen in the decision to surgically correct curvature between participants with and without PD, with participants being less likely to choose surgical correction for their children.
Implicit commitment in a general setting
Authors: ŁeŁyk Mateusz , Nicolai Carlo
Published: June 2023

Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems suggest that no single formal system can capture the entirety of one’s mathematical beliefs, while pointing at a hierarchy of systems of increasing logical strength that make progressively more explicit those implicit assumptions. This notion of implicit commitment motivates directly or indirectly several research programmes in logic and the foundations of mathematics; yet there hasn’t been a direct logical analysis of the notion of implicit commitment itself. In a recent paper, we carried out an initial assessment of this project by studying necessary conditions for implicit commitments; from seemingly weak assumptions on implicit commitments of an arithmetical system $S$, it can be derived that a uniform reflection principle for $S$—stating that all numerical instances of theorems of $S$ are true—must be contained in $S$’s implicit commitments. This study gave rise to unexplored research avenues and open questions. This paper addresses the main ones. We generalize this basic framework for implicit commitments along two dimensions: in terms of iterations of the basic implicit commitment operator, and via a study of implicit commitments of theories in arbitrary first-order languages, not only couched in an arithmetical language.
Advanced Non-compressible Torso Hemorrhage Management is Combat Casualty Care’s Moon Shot
Authors: Naveed Asad , Gomez David , Rezende-Neto Joao , Ahmed Najma , Beckett Andrew
Published: June 2023

Non-compressible torso hemorrhage continues to cause considerable preventable mortality on the battlefield. In this editorial, we highlight the burden of deaths, the most at-risk torso structures, current interventions, and their limitations and recommendations for future research and device development.
Suicide Characteristics of Veterans Hospitalized for Suicide Ideation or Attempt
Authors: Primack Jennifer M , Thompson Matthew F , Peters Aileen , Quinn McKenzie , Kelsey Madeline , Miller Ivan W , Bozzay Melanie
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Veteran suicide rates continue to be unacceptably high, with the most common risk factor being a past suicide attempt (SA). However, some characteristics of suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior among Veterans hospitalized for suicide risk remain under-reported.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and eighty-three Veterans hospitalized for either an SA or SI with intent were screened for enrollment in a treatment study to prevent suicide. Veterans completed a demographic form, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and the McLean borderline personality disorder screening measure shortly after inpatient psychiatric admission. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to compare suicide characteristics (e.g., intensity, duration, deterrents, and controllability) between Veterans with and without a lifetime history of SA. Thematic analyses of the reported method of SI were conducted.

Results

Sixty-seven percent of participants were hospitalized for SI and 33% were hospitalized for SA. Twenty-one percent of Veterans hospitalized for SI also endorsed a recent SA in the weeks preceding hospitalization. Most participants reported at least one lifetime SA (71%). Veterans with a lifetime history of SA reported greater frequency and duration of ideation in the week before hospitalization (t[169] =  −2.56, P = .01; t[168] =  −2.04, P = .04) while also reporting that deterrents were less likely to prevent an SA (t[107.09] =  −3.58, P = .001) compared to those with no lifetime SA.

Conclusion

Overall, Veterans hospitalized for SI/SA demonstrated markers of chronic suicide risk, as most participants endorsed a past attempt in their lifetime. Some Veterans admitted for SI also reported a past month’s attempt, suggesting that in certain cases, hospitalization does not immediately follow an acute suicidal crisis. A past SA differentiated Veterans on average frequency and duration of SI as well as the perception of deterrents preventing suicidal behavior. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of suicide methods and intensity may be informative in treatment planning for Veterans at greatest risk of suicide.
Musculoskeletal Injury Concealment in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps: A Survey of Cadets’ Reporting Behaviors
Authors: Wooldridge Joshua D , Schilling Brian K , Young Daniel L , Radzak Kara N
Published: June 2023

Background

Among service members, musculoskeletal injuries threaten military readiness and place a substantial burden on medical and financial resources. Emerging research suggests that service members regularly conceal injuries, especially in training environments. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a critical training environment for future U.S. military commissioned officers. Training activities expose cadets to a high risk of injury while in the ROTC. The purpose of this study was to explore injury-reporting behaviors in cadets and factors associated with injury concealment.

Materials and Methods

We invited Army, Air Force, and Naval cadets from six host universities participating in officer training to complete an online, self-reported survey regarding injury reporting and concealment. Cadets answered questions about pain or injuries experienced during officer training. Survey questions pertained to an injury’s anatomic location, onset, severity, functional limitations, and whether or not the injury had been reported. Cadets also selected factors that influenced the decision to report or conceal injuries from predetermined lists in a “choose any” fashion. A series of χ2 tests of independence compared the relationship between injury reporting and other injury characteristics for each individual injury.

Results

One hundred fifty-nine cadets (121 Army, 26 Air Force, and 12 Naval) completed the survey. Eighty-five cadets disclosed a total of 219 injuries. Two-thirds of injuries (144/219) were concealed. Twenty-six percent of participants (22/85) reported all injuries, whereas the remainder (63/85, 74%) had at least one concealed injury. In relation to injury reporting/concealment, there was a weak association with injury onset (χ21 = 4.24, P = .04, V = 0.14), a moderate association with anatomic location (χ212 = 22.64, P = .03, V = 0.32), and relatively strong associations with injury severity (χ23 = 37.79, P < .001, V = 0.42) and functional limitations (χ23 = 42.91, P < .001, V = 0.44).

Conclusions

Two-thirds of injuries went unreported in this sample of ROTC cadets. Functional limitations, symptom severity, and injury onset may be the largest factors that influence the decision to report or conceal musculoskeletal injuries. This study establishes the foundation for researching injury reporting in cadets and adds to the existing military evidence on the topic.
Low-Cost Ear Procedure Simulator With Syringe and Tuning Fork: Training Course and Results
Authors: Avillion Michael P , Jones Nolan N , Ghias Adeeba F , Kram Yoseph A , Liming Bryan J , Chen Brian S
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Medical simulation is a continuously expanding field. In surgical specialties, in particular, simulation can provide an alternative avenue for learning. The objective of this process improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of adding simulation-based training to our educational curriculum regarding common otologic procedures.

Materials and Methods

A low-cost, novel ear procedure simulator was designed and constructed from readily available clinic supplies. Participants were asked to fill out a pre-simulator survey to assess their own comfort and skill level before undergoing the simulation course. A pre-simulation PowerPoint training course was then administered to participants. The participants then underwent the simulation training course and were again asked to fill out a post-simulator training exercise survey to reassess their own comfort and skill level. Institutional review board approval was not required by Tripler Army Medical Center.

Results

A total of 15 participants consisting of junior residents in otolaryngology, third- and fourth-year medical students rotating on an otolaryngology clinical clerkship, and one physician assistant in otolaryngology were included in the study. There was a significant improvement in both provider comfort with the procedure and clinical performance of the procedure among participants after training on the simulation-based model.

Conclusions

Simulation-based training provides a safe, effective, and cost-friendly alternative to clinical medical education. Future studies are needed to address the wide-scale applicability of these results to other forms of surgical training.
A search for the missing baryons with X-ray absorption lines towards the blazar 1ES 1553+113
Authors: Spence David , Bonamente Massimiliano , Nevalainen Jukka , Tuominen Toni , Ahoranta Jussi , de Plaa Jelle , Liu Wenhao , Wijers Nastasha
Published: June 2023

This paper presents an analysis of XMM–Newton and Chandra X-ray spectra of the quasar 1ES 1553+113, in search for absorption lines from the intervening warm–hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). A search for O vii, O viii, and Ne ix resonance absorption lines was performed at eight fixed redshifts that feature O vi or H i broad Lyman α absorption lines that were previously detected from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data. The search yielded one possible detection of O vii at a redshift z ≃ 0.1877 with an O vi prior, with a statistical significance that is equivalent to a 2.6σ confidence level. The spectra were also stacked at the wavelengths of the expected redshifted O vii and O viii lines, but the analysis did not reveal evidence for the presence of additional X-ray absorbing WHIM. Moreover, the spectra were used to investigate two putative O vii absorption lines that were detected serendipitously in an earlier analysis of the same data by F. Nicastro and collaborators. The paper also presents a comprehensive statistical framework for cosmological inferences from the analysis of absorption lines, which makes use of cosmological simulations for the joint probability distributions of far-ultraviolet (FUV) and X-ray ions. Accordingly, we conclude that the new possible O vii absorption at z ≃ 0.1877 is consistent with a contribution from the hot WHIM to the baryon density in an amount of ΩWHIM, X/Ωb = 44 ± 22 per cent. However, there are large systematic uncertainties associated with the temperature and abundances of the absorbers, and only a larger sample of X-ray sources can provide an accurate determination of the cosmological density of the WHIM.
Timing the X-ray pulsating companion of the hot subdwarf HD 49798 with NICER
Authors: Rigoselli Michela , De Grandis Davide , Mereghetti Sandro , Malacaria Christian
Published: June 2023

HD 49798 is a hot subdwarf of O spectral type in a 1.55 d orbit with the X-ray source RX J0648.0−4418, a compact object with a spin period of $13.2\,$s. We use recent data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer instrument, joined with archival data from XMM–Newton and ROSAT, to obtain a phase-connected timing solution spanning ∼30 yr. Contrary to previous works, which relied on parameters determined through optical observations, the new timing solution could be derived using only X-ray data. We confirm that the compact object is steadily spinning up with $\dot{P} = -2.28(2) \times 10^{-15}\,$s s−1 and obtain a refined measure of the projected semimajor axis of the compact object aXsin i = 9.60(5) light-second. This allows us to determine the inclination and masses of the system as $i=84.5(7)\,$deg, MX = 1.220(8) $\rm {M}_\odot$, and $M_{\rm opt}=1.41(2)\,$$\rm {M}_\odot$. We also study possible long-term (approximately years) and orbital variations of the soft X-ray pulsed flux, without finding evidence for variability. In the light of the new findings, we discuss the nature of the compact object, concluding that the possibility of a neutron star in the subsonic propeller regime is unlikely, while accretion of the subdwarf wind on to a massive white dwarf can explain the observed luminosity and spin-up rate for a wind velocity of ∼800 km s−1.
Turbulence in compact to giant H ii regions
Authors: García-Vázquez J , Henney William J , Castañeda H O
Published: June 2023

Radial velocity fluctuations on the plane of the sky are a powerful tool for studying the turbulent dynamics of emission line regions. We conduct a systematic statistical analysis of the H α velocity field for a diverse sample of nine ${\rm H\, \small{II}}$ regions, spanning two orders of magnitude in size and luminosity, located in the Milky Way and other Local Group galaxies. By fitting a simple model to the second-order spatial structure function of velocity fluctuations, we extract three fundamental parameters: the velocity dispersion, the correlation length, and the power-law slope. We determine credibility limits for these parameters in each region, accounting for observational limitations of noise, atmospheric seeing, and the finite map size. The plane-of-sky velocity dispersion is found to be a better diagnostic of turbulent motions than the line width, especially for lower luminosity regions where the turbulence is subsonic. The correlation length of velocity fluctuations is found to be always roughly 2 per cent of the ${\rm H\, \small{II}}$ region diameter, implying that turbulence is driven on relatively small scales. No evidence is found for any steepening of the structure function in the transition from subsonic to supersonic turbulence, possibly due to the countervailing effect of projection smoothing. Ionized density fluctuations are too large to be explained by the action of the turbulence in any but the highest luminosity sources. A variety of behaviours are seen on scales larger than the correlation length, with only a minority of sources showing evidence for homogeneity on the largest scales.