bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissociating the Impact of Memorability on Electrophysiological Correlates of Memory Encoding Success
Authors: Kolisnyk Matthew , Pereira April E. , Tozios Catlin J. I. , Fukuda Keisuke
Published: January 2023

Despite its unlimited capacity, not all visual information we encounter is encoded into visual long-term memory. Traditionally, variability in encoding success has been ascribed to variability in the types and efficacy of an individual's cognitive processes during encoding. Accordingly, past studies have identified several neural correlates of variability in encoding success, namely, frontal positivity, occipital alpha amplitude, and frontal theta amplitude, by contrasting the electrophysiological signals recorded during successful and failed encoding processes (i.e., subsequent memory). However, recent research demonstrated individuals remember and forget consistent sets of stimuli, thereby elucidating stimulus-intrinsic factors (i.e., memorability) that determine the ease of memory encoding independent of individual-specific variability in encoding processes. The existence of memorability raises the possibility that canonical EEG correlates of subsequent memory may reflect variability in stimulus-intrinsic factors rather than individual-specific encoding processes. To test this, we recorded the EEG correlates of subsequent memory while participants encoded 600 images of real-world objects and assessed the unique contribution of individual-specific and stimulus-intrinsic factors on each EEG correlate. Here, we found that frontal theta amplitude and occipital alpha amplitude were only influenced by individual-specific encoding success, whereas frontal positivity was influenced by stimulus-intrinsic and individual-specific encoding success. Overall, our results offer novel interpretations of canonical EEG correlates of subsequent memory by demonstrating a dissociable impact of stimulus-intrinsic and individual-specific factors of memory encoding success.
Sexual size monomorphism of a Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) population in southwestern Missouri, USA
Authors: Maag Dylan , Greene Brian
Published: January 2023

Pitvipers are known for their sexual dimorphism in their body size with males being larger than females. One hypothesis for the increased size of males is the selective pressure from ritualistic combat between males within a species. The Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) is a diminutive species that has not seen a lot of research outside of central Florida. This study aimed to see if a southwestern Missouri population of S. miliarius follows the typical sexual dimorphism found in pitvipers. 48 S. miliarius were captured and 27 adults were compared based on the ratios of their tail length (TL) and mass, to snout-vent length (SVL). Males had longer TL:SVL than females but were no different in their body size. Like the central Florida populations, this Missouri population doesn’t show any sexual size dimorphism. We discuss the potential implications of these findings in the context of future research and other pitviper species.
Testing the costs of defense against herbivores in ecotypes of Eruca sativa (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Barazani Oz
Published: January 2023

Plants of Eruca sativa from a desert population produce less vegetative biomass, flower earlier and possess higher density of trichomes than plants from a more mesic Mediterranean habitat. When eliciting plant defense mechanisms with methyl-jasmonate (MJ), trichome formation was exclusively enhanced in plants of the Mediterranean ecotype. To test the relative costs of defenses, ecologically-important traits were monitored in non-elicited plants of the two ecotypes and when defenses were induced by MJ. Opposing the expected tradeoffs of induced defense, MJ- elicitation significantly delayed bolting and flowering in plants of the desert ecotype but not in the Mediterranean ones. Moreover, MJ did not impose costs on fitness- related traits, i.e. fruit and seed production, nor differences between plants of the two ecotypes were found. It is suggested that early flowering in plants of the desert ecotype provide a mean to escape both the abiotic stressful environment as well herbivory, while induced defense in the Mediterranean ecotype was favored in habitats of more stressful biotic interactions. The results are discussed in light of the optimal defense theory and resource availability hypothesis.
Three new species threatened by mining activity in New Caledonia
Authors: BRUY DAVID , LANNUZEL GUILLAUME , GÂTEBLÉ GILDAS , MUNZINGER JÉRÔME
Published: January 2023

New Caledonia is a tropical archipelago with very high biodiversity conservation challenges. Its flora is still imperfectly known while its ecosystems are increasingly degraded by various threats, including mining activity. In this context, there is an urgent need to describe the most threatened species so they can be accounted for in situ conservation programs. In this article, three species new to science are described and illustrated: Croton barrabeae Bruy (Euphorbiaceae), Geijera tartarea T.G.Hartley ex Munzinger & Bruy (Rutaceae) and Tristaniopsis planidisca Lannuzel (Myrtaceae). According to IUCN criteria, each of these species is highly threatened by mining activity.
A new Australian species of invasive psyllid, Acizzia convector Burckhardt & Taylor, sp. nov. (Psylloidea: Psyllidae) associated with Acacia auriculiformis and A. mangium (Fabaceae)
Authors: TAYLOR GARY S. , HALBERT SUSAN E. , TRIPATHY ASHIRWAD , BURCKHARDT DANIEL
Published: January 2023

Acizzia convector Burckhardt & Taylor, sp. nov., a psyllid originating from Australia, is described from material from Australia (NT), South and Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia [Sabah], Singapore and Thailand) and North America (USA [Florida from six counties]). The new species is diagnosed and illustrated, and a key is provided to identify the adults of Acizzia species adventive in the New World. The new species develops on Acacia auriculiformis and A. mangium (Fabaceae), two mimosoids planted and widely naturalised throughout the tropics. While the presence of A. convector sp. nov. in Florida is probably recent (earliest record from October 2014), it occurs in Southeast Asia at least since the 1980s. The wide distribution of the host plants in tropical Africa and South America would allow the psyllids also to occur there.
Detail Enhancement of AIRS/AMSU Temperature and Moisture Profiles Using a 3D Deep Neural Network
Authors: Milstein Adam B. , Santanello Joseph A. , Blackwell William J.
Published: January 2023

In recent decades, spaceborne microwave and hyperspectral infrared sounding instruments have significantly benefited weather forecasting and climate science. However, existing retrievals of lower-troposphere temperature and humidity profiles have limitations in vertical resolution, and often cannot accurately represent key features such as the mixed-layer thermodynamic structure and the inversion at the planetary boundary layer (PBL) top. Because of the existing limitations in PBL remote sensing from space, there is a compelling need to improve routine, global observations of the PBL and enable advances in scientific understanding and weather and climate prediction. To address this, we have developed a new 3D deep neural network (DNN) that enhances detail and reduces noise in level 2 granules of temperature and humidity profiles from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) sounder instruments aboard NASA’s Aqua spacecraft. We show that the enhancement improves accuracy and detail including key features such as capping inversions at the top of the PBL over land, resulting in improved accuracy in estimations of PBL height.
Guild Rivalries Between Barbers and Surgeons in Medieval London and England
Authors: Nakayama Don K.
Published: January 2023

The origins of today’s surgical societies are the guilds of medieval London. The Company of Barbers and the Guild of Surgeons vied for dominance no different from the scores of conflicts between rival artisans and merchants whose trades overlapped. The Company dates from 1308, when the council of London passed ordinances that installed its first master, Richard le Barber. When the surgeons received ordinances of their own in 1368, the barbers had the Council reassert theirs in 1376, 1390, 1415, and 1424. Faced with a vigorous organization with greater numbers the surgeons aligned with the physicians in 1423 to form a short-lived ruling “commonalty” with an elite membership based on educational achievement and proven ability that excluded the barbers. The surgeons were thereby granted authority over all of surgery, including that practiced by barbers, an arrangement that failed after only a year. The surgeons formed a guild in 1435 but could not compete with the barbers. The barbers’ primacy became complete in 1462 when Edward IV chartered them to govern all aspects of surgery, along with the power to fine and imprison. From then barbers and surgeons amiably coexisted, likely because the rapidly growing population and the democratization of the practice of physic provided plenty of work. Henry VIII formally united the barbers and surgeons in 1540 under the Worshipful Company of Barbers and Surgeons, an amalgamation that lasted for two centuries until the surgeons broke away in 1745.
Impact of Naples Prognostic Score at Admission on In-Hospital and Follow-Up Outcomes Among Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Erdogan Aslan , Genc Omer , Ozkan Eyüp , Goksu Muhammed M. , Ibisoglu Ersin , Bilen Mehmet N. , Guler Ahmet , Karagoz Ali
Published: January 2023

The Naples prognostic score (NPS) consists of cholesterol level, albumin concentration, lymphocyte-to-monocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios and reflects systemic inflammation, malnutrition, and survival for various conditions. We investigated the relationship of NPS at admission with in-hospital and follow-up outcomes among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. This retrospective study included 1887 consecutive patients diagnosed with STEMI and who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention between March 2020 and May 2022. The study population was divided by NPS into 2; low (0-1-2) and high (3-4). In-hospital adverse events and all-cause mortality rates during follow-up were extracted from the registry. The Median follow-up time was 15 months. The overall mortality rate was 14.6%. The proportions of in-hospital events that included acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, malignant arrhythmia, and mortality were significantly higher in the high NPS group than in the low NPS group. Compared with the baseline model, in the full model of Cox regression analysis; NPS was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.49, 95%CI, 1.75-3.50, P < .001), with a significant improvement in model performance (likelihood ratio χ2, P < .001) and better calibration. In conclusion, we found an association between NPS and in-hospital and follow-up outcomes in STEMI patients.
Are Deficit Perspectives of Black and Brown Students Grounded in Empirical Data? Investigating the Myths of “Urban Education” Through Parent Satisfaction
Authors: Holtz Emily , Worley Cristina , Williams John A.
Published: January 2023

Deficit ideologies permeate urban spaces particularly when mostly Black and Brown students attend neighborhood schools. Wealth concentrated in suburban areas further perpetuates stereotypes of urban as deficient, but empirical data has yet to interrogate these ideas. Using the National Household Education Survey and regression analysis of variance, this research determines the relationship between parents’ satisfaction with their child’s school and school location (rural, suburban, urban). Then, using race as a moderator, this study aims to ascertain if there is a relationship between parental satisfaction by race and urbanicity of the school their child attends. Implications address the systemic and structural components that contribute to deficit ideologies.
Chisi Chako Masimba Mashoma/Kunzi Pakata Sandi Kunzi Ridza: Anthropological Musings on the Coloniality of Dispossession in Africa
Authors: Nhemachena Artwell
Published: January 2023

Africans need to be careful with discourses on coloniality that avoid dealing with central aberrations of colonialism. Focusing on coloniality of power, coloniality of being, coloniality of knowledge and coloniality of gender, contemporary discourses on coloniality sidestepped a central aspect of colonialism. Motivated not by quests to merely exercise power, as is assumed in coloniality of power; and motivated not merely by quests to dominate Africans using knowledge, as is assumed in coloniality of knowledge; and motivated not ultimately by the quest for gender domination, as is assumed in the coloniality of gender, colonialists dispossessed colonized people. Reviewing literature and using the Shona (a people of Zimbabwe) proverbs chisi chako masimba mashoma/kunzi pakata sandi kunzi ridza (one should not exercise power over what one does not own/possession is not synonymous with ownership), this paper postulates the notion of coloniality of dispossession. The paper concludes that power is merely a tool to dispossess colonized people, and so decolonial scholarship must focus not only on tools used to colonize other people but on the ultimate goals of using tools, such as power.
Autoclave foaming and steam-chest molding of polypropylene/polybutene-1 blend bead foams and their crystallization and mechanical properties
Authors: Lan Xiaoqin , Huang Pengke , Chong Yunkai , Wu Fei , Su Yaozhuo , Luo Haibin , Lee Partrick C , Zheng Wenge
Published: January 2023

Expanded polypropylene (EPP) foams have showed wide applications in our daily life, such as automotive and packaging. Usually, autoclave foaming combined with steam-chest molding is the main artwork to prepare the high-precision EPP foam products. However, the foaming behavior of EPP and the excessive pressure required for molding still need to be further improved, which is great significance for energy saving and cost saving, etc. Herein, this study finds that adding a certain amount of polybutene-1 (PB-1) into the PP can help to reduce the temperature and pressure required for foaming/molding, and to broaden the foaming temperature. For example, in order to make the foam beads bonding well and with the expansion ratio of 20, the molding pressure should be higher than 2.7 bar for Neat PP foams, but just 1.5 bar for PP/PB-1 mixtures. Moreover, the effects of PB-1 content on the crystallization properties and foaming/molding behaviors of the PP/PB-1 bead foams are illustrated, and then the mechanical properties are also studied. Furthermore, the low-pressure foaming strategy presented here is beneficial for reducing the barriers of energy consumption and promoting the development of new bead foam materials.
Application of electrolaminates for the development of biomimetic morphing unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Kornbluh Roy , Kirkwood Gordon , West Mark , Hanna Yohanna , Spedding Geoffrey , Kudva Jay
Published: January 2023

Morphing aircraft offer the promise of performance that can be optimized for a range of flight profiles. But such capability places challenging demands on the morphing system that cannot easily be met with conventional actuators or smart materials. Electrolaminates use electrostatic forces controlled by the application of a voltage (typically high-voltage but extremely low-current) to controllably bond or unbond layers of a laminated composite structure together. Such on-demand bonding can be used to effectively change the stiffness of the structure or control elongation or twist of the structure. This technology has multiple benefits compared to other smart material or conventional actuator-driven approaches; it is thin and light, has very low energy requirements, and offers rapid response capabilities controlled by simple electronics. These capabilities can enable bio-inspired morphing with large numbers of degrees of freedom and high spatial resolution. We designed, fabricated, and tested a fully functional morphing-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with telescoping wings and a splaying, bird-like tail enabled by electrolaminates. Key features of the current UAV configuration include: a variable wingspan of 1.2–2.4 m with a corresponding change in the wing area of nearly a factor of four; no vertical tail; and a horizontal tail area variable by a factor of three. The ability to asymmetrically control the tail area allows for independent pitch and body circulation control. The tail area is changed by a separate electrolaminate clamping mechanism. The variable-area tail uses ‘feathers’ that can be overlapped or splayed as needed. The practical shape-changing is enabled by electrolaminate materials that can rapidly lock the orientation of the feathers. The electrolaminate clutches support more than 5 nm of torque and are sufficient to resist expected flight loads. We also designed, fabricated, and tested other morphing-wing designs enabled by electrolaminate technology to create a wing with smoothly sliding skin that is capable of changing chord and camber with a single linear actuator. Our results suggest that electrolaminates can practically enable bio-inspired, small (Group 1 and 2) morphing UAVs.
A numerical study on the ship–bank interaction at various water depths of a surface ship
Authors: Mai Thi Loan , Jeon Myungjun , Vo Anh Khoa , Yoon Hyeon Kyu
Published: January 2023

Ship maneuvering in restricted waters is a significant challenge in navigation safety due to the complex flow around the ship. In particular, when a ship travels close to a lateral bank and shallow water, the hydrodynamic interaction forces significantly influence the maneuvering motion of the ship. Maneuverability in restricted water is even more difficult for an autonomous surface ship. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the effects of maneuvering near a bank and in shallow water for an autonomous surface ship. In this study, maneuvering simulations considering the bank effect at various water depths are implemented based on hydrodynamic forces estimated using computational fluid dynamics simulation. First, virtual captive model tests at various water depths and simulations of various lateral distances to the banks are performed to estimate the hydrodynamic forces using computational fluid dynamics simulation. The simulation method is validated by comparing the simulation results of the static drift test in deep water with the measured one in the experimental method. Second, the maneuvering simulations for the turning circle test and zig-zag test at various water depths are conducted using the obtained hydrodynamic coefficients. Then, the maneuvering simulations in deep water are compared with the experiment results, and a good agreement is observed. Finally, the simulation considering the bank effects at various water depths is evaluated and discussed.
The effect of the pandemic on European narratives on smart cities and surveillance
Authors: Biesaga Mikołaj , Domaradzka Anna , Roszczyńska-Kurasińska Magdalena , Talaga Szymon , Nowak Andrzej
Published: January 2023

This article presents an analysis of European smart city narratives and how they evolved under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic. We start with Joss et al.’s observation that the smart-city discourse is presently in flux, engaged in intensive boundary-work and struggling to gain wider support. We approach this process from the critical perspective of surveillance capitalism, as proposed by Zuboff, to highlight the growing privacy concerns related to technological development. Our results are based on analysing 184 articles regarding smart-city solutions, published on social media by five European journals between 2017 and 2021. We adopted both human and machine coding processes for qualitative and quantitative analysis of our data. As a result, we identified the main actors and four dominant narratives: regulation of artificial intelligence and facial recognition, technological fight with the climate emergency, contact tracing apps and the potential of 5G technology to boost the digitalisation processes. Our analysis shows the growing number of positive narratives underlining the importance of technology in fighting the pandemic and mitigating the climate emergency, but the latter is often mentioned in a tokenistic fashion. Right to privacy considerations are central for two out of four discovered topics. We found that the main rationale for the development of surveillance technologies relates to the competitiveness of the EU in the global technological rivalry, while ambitions like increasing societal well-being or safeguarding the transparency of new policies are nearly non-existent.
Influence of Selected Environmental Factors on the Business Type of Dentist’s Practice in Germany: A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Process With an Analytical Hierarchy Process
Authors: Stein David
Published: January 2023

In the interests of satisfying the dental services demands of German citizens area-wide, constant, and thoughtful planning of supply and demand is essential. With an anonymous online survey of 375 dentists a pairwise comparison of 9 factors extracted as relevant from the existing scientific literature were analyzed with an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and ranked considering the various business types. In general, 5 local environmental factors have a dominant impact on founders’ decision in German dentistry. In order: environment for the family, quality of life in private environment, real income, location of the practice, infrastructure. Real income is in first place ( p = 0.287) for dentists who want to start a new single practice. For preferring a new community practice, it is on third place ( p = 0.177) and for dentists who favor a takeover a single practice ( p = 0.130) or joining a community practice ( p = 0.096) or employment ( p = 0.111) it is fourth place. For this purpose, the location of the practice is of greater priority than the real income for dentists who prefer not to start a new practice. The AHP method is a way to picture a priority list out of all relevant factors for setting up of a dental practice.
Creating a Virtual Meeting Platform Via Online Survey Tool: Leveraging Community Engagement Technology in the Early Days of COVID-19
Authors: Brisendine Anne E. , Blunck Elizabeth L. , Caldwell Cathy , Neumann Stacey , Taylor Elizabeth , Fifolt Matthew , Preskitt Julie
Published: January 2023

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alabama’s Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) team was forced to innovate in order to gather community input and to prioritize the findings of the 2020 Title V Maternal and Child Health Five-Year Comprehensive Needs Assessment. On a shortened timeline, the team pivoted from a full-day, in-person meeting of professionals and family representatives to an asynchronous, online “meeting” that included all planned and necessary content, allowed for comment by community members, and resulted in a prioritized list of needs. This needs assessment process showed that by using a platform like the online survey tool, Qualtrics, in an innovative way, programs can capture broader, more diverse perspectives without sacrificing quality of communication, content, or feedback. It shows the possibility for strengthening maternal and child health (MCH) systems and other systems of care though rich engagement. This model can be easily replicated in other survey tools, benefiting other states that are faced with difficulties convening geographically dispersed professionals and communities.
Healing large Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforations Using Vaseline Gauze and Gelfoam Patching Alone
Authors: Zong Huiqin , Lou Zhengcai
Published: January 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vaseline gauze (VG) patching on the treatment of large traumatic perforation of tympanic membrane (TM).

Material and methods

90 patients with traumatic perforation larger than 25% of the TM were randomly allocated into the control group of observation only, VG group, and Gelfoam patch alone group. The closure rate and closure time among the 3 groups were compared at 3 months.

Results

In total, 82 large traumatic perforations were analyzed in this study. The closure rates in the control, VG, and gelfoam patch groups were 84.6%, 100.0%, and 89.3%, respectively ( P = 0.637). Post-hoc multiple comparisons showed that the difference between the control and VG groups was significant ( P = 0.047), but the difference wasn’t significant between gelfoam alone and control groups ( P = 0.699) or VG groups ( P = 0.236). The mean closure times were 5.41 ± 1.47, 2.14 ± 0.93, and 3.00 ± 0.62 weeks for the control, VG, and gelfoam patch groups, respectively ( P < 0.001). Post-hoc multiple comparisons showed that the difference was significant between the control and VG groups ( P < 0.001) or gelfoam alone group ( P < 0.001) or VG and gelfoam groups ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

VG improved the closure rate and shortened the closure time compared with observation only, which could be an effective patch material for repairing traumatic lager perforations in the outpatient setting, which is readily available and convenient.
‘Taking politics seriously: A prudential justification of political realism’
Authors: Favara Greta
Published: January 2023

Political realists have devoted much effort to clarifying the methodological specificity of realist theorising and defending its consistency as an approach to political reasoning. Yet the question of how to justify the realist approach has not received the same attention. In this article, I offer a prudential justification of political realism. To do so, I first characterise realism as anti-moralism. I then outline three possible arguments for the realist approach by availing myself of recent inquiries into the metatheoretical basis of realism: The metaethical, the ethical and the prudential arguments. I explain that the prudential argument offers the most solid basis for political realism because it relies on the least controversial premises. Still, I delve into the metaethical and ethical arguments for two reasons: The prudential argument takes advantage of the theses defended by the rival arguments and elaborating the other arguments shows the comparative strengths of the prudential argument.
Single Motherhood and Stress in a Kenyan Slum: The Importance of Paternal and Kin Support
Authors: Clark Shelley , Henderson Madeleine , Kabiru Caroline
Published: January 2023

This study examines factors underlying single mothers’ stress in an African slum. Using survey data from 1,221 mothers in a Kenyan informal settlement, this study examines 1) whether single mothers experience more stress due to their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics; 2) whether financial and child care support from kin offsets limited support from fathers; and 3) whether variation in the type and source of support explains stress differentials across marital status. The results suggest that lower socioeconomic status does not explain single mothers’ elevated stress. Rather, despite receiving greater assistance with child care and financial support from kin, single mothers receive substantially less support of either kind from the child’s father. These differences in support, particularly financial assistance, account for single mothers’ elevated stress. These findings highlight the comparatively weak social support available for single mothers residing in precarious urban environments and its importance for their psychological well-being.
Association of Systemic Family Dynamics and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Xu Jia , Yue JingLi , Zhang Tingting , Wang Zhijiang , Shi Le , Lu Lin , Zhao Xudong
Published: January 2023

This cross-sectional survey evaluated well-being and family dynamics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 1287 (16 + years of age, 68.3% female) Chinese participants. Structural equation modeling was used to test the association of well-being and systemic family dynamics, and related moderating factors. Results indicated some subscales of well-being and systemic family dynamics significantly worsened during the pandemic. A modified model fits well for both data before and during the pandemic in which well-being was significantly associated with systemic family dynamic and by family income. Age also positively related systemic family dynamics. The relationship between family income and well-being and the relationship between systemic family dynamics and well-being were moderated by the pandemic. The results suggest that well-being and systemic family dynamics and their associations are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Systemic family dynamics could be a potential resource for enhancing well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic by some interventions.
Experiments in peripheral urbanization: Building and unbuilding commons in urban India
Authors: Narayan Priti
Published: January 2023

Peripheral urbanization is the predominant mode of producing space in the Global South, in which residents build their own homes and neighborhoods, becoming citizens and political agents in the process. In this article, I bring feminist ethnographic attention to community infrastructure such as childcare centers built collectively by women residents in MGR Nagar, an informal urban settlement in Chennai, India, as understudied examples of autoconstruction in peripheral urbanization. Marxist feminism enables a theorization of these infrastructures of social reproduction as urban commons that assert collective spatial autonomy and enable moral claims on urban space, while serving the everyday needs of its residents. The subsequent demolition of the childcare center caused symbolic and material loss to residents. However, the ceding of territorial autonomy and spatial privileges was a way for them to make new material and political gains in the city, suggesting that a feminist politics of space is possible in which legitimacy and responsibility are demanded from the state. The commons in turn can be seen as durable countertopographies enabling a politics of place in multiple locations.
Extracorporeal life support provision in COVID-19 patients - An international EuroELSO 2022 update survey
Authors: Fleig Marcel , Müller Thomas , Antonini Velia M , Riera Jordi , Belliato Mirko , Broman Lars Mikael , Fowles Jo-Anne , Belohlavek Jan , Lorusso Roberto , Vercaemst Leen , Jones Tim , Roeleveld Peter P , Di Nardo Matteo , Barrett Nicholas , Swol Justyna
Published: January 2023

Introduction

An analysis on the ECLS use for patients with respiratory or cardiac support in COVID-19 based on an international response to EuroELSO survey, aims to generate a more comprehensive understanding of ECLS role during the recent viral pandemic.

Methods

EuroELSO announced the survey at the 10th annual congress in London, May 2022. The survey covered 26 multiple-choice questions.

Results

The survey returned 69 questionnaires from 62 centers across 22 European countries and seven centers across five non-European countries. Most of the centers providing ECLS for COVID-19 patients had more than 30 runs for respiratory support since December 2019. In the same period, at least 31 runs in adult COVID-19 patients have been performed in 48 of 69 centers (69.6%). The reported pediatric data from 18 centers is limited to less than the patients per center.

Conclusion

Majority of the COVID-19 patients received respiratory ECLS support and adult patients dominated. The indications and contraindications are broadly aligned with available guidelines. Most of the centers considered age >65 or biological age as a relative or absolute contraindication for ECLS in COVID-19. ECLS withdrawal criteria in COVID-19 are controversial because the long-term outcomes after ECLS in COVID-19 and the impact of critical illness and the impact of long-COVID are still not known.
POEMS syndrome presents with a distended abdomen: A case report
Authors: Wang Wenshu , Yang Guibin
Published: January 2023

POEMS syndrome is a rare, serious, multisystem disorder and its diagnosis is frequently missed due to its varied clinical presentation. We report here, a 69-year-old woman with initial complaints of distended abdomen, who was misdiagnosed with tuberculosis but failed anti-tuberculosis treatment. Further examinations showed peripheral neuropathy, monoclonal plasma cell disease, sclerotic bone lesions, an elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration, lymph node hyperplasia, endocrine abnormalities, and skin hyperpigmentation. A diagnosis of POEMS syndrome was made and the patient responded to lenalidomide-based chemotherapy.
Bronchopneumonia with interstitial pneumonia in beef feedlot cattle: Characterization and laboratory investigation
Authors: Haydock Luke A. J. , Fenton R. Kent , Sergejewich Lauren , Veldhuizen Ruud A. W. , Smerek Dani , Ojkic Davor , Caswell Jeff L.
Published: January 2023

Bronchopneumonia with interstitial pneumonia (BIP) has been considered a variant of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) rather than a distinct disease. This study compared 18 BIP, 24 bronchopneumonia (BP), and 13 AIP cases in feedlot beef cattle. Grossly, BIP cases typically had cranioventral lung lesions of similar morphology and extent as BP cases, but the caudodorsal lung appeared overinflated, bulged on section, and had interlobular edema and emphysema. Gross diagnosis of BIP had 83% sensitivity and 73% specificity relative to histopathology. Histologic lesions of BIP in cranioventral areas were of chronic BP, while caudodorsal lesions included alveolar and bronchiolar damage and inflammation, interstitial hypercellularity, and multifocal hemorrhages. In BIP cases, cranioventral lung lesions were more chronic than caudodorsal lesions. Histologic scores and microbiology data were comparable in cranioventral lung of BIP versus BP cases and caudodorsal lung of BIP versus AIP cases, with differences reflecting a more chronic disease involving less virulent bacteria in BIP versus BP. Mycoplasma bovis infection was similarly frequent among groups, and a viral cause of BIP was not identified. Lesion morphology and similar blood cytokine concentrations among groups argued against sepsis as a cause of lung injury. Surfactant dysfunction was identified in BIP and BP, and was only partially the result of protein exudation. These and other findings establish BIP as a distinct condition in which chronic cranioventral BP precedes acute caudodorsal interstitial lung disease, supporting a role of chronic inflammation in heightened sensitivity to 3-methylindole or another lung toxicant.
Elevated In Vivo ACL Strain Is Associated With a Straight Knee in Both the Sagittal and the Coronal Planes
Authors: Foody Jacqueline N. , Bradley Patrick X. , Spritzer Charles E. , Wittstein Jocelyn R. , DeFrate Louis E. , Englander Zoë A.
Published: January 2023

Background:

Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries typically occur during deceleration movements such as landing or cutting. However, conflicting data have left the kinematic mechanisms leading to these injuries unclear. Quantifying the influence of sagittal and coronal plane knee kinematics on in vivo ACL strain may help to elucidate noncontact ACL injury mechanisms.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to measure in vivo sagittal and coronal plane knee kinematics and ACL strain during a single-leg jump. We hypothesized that ACL strain would be modulated primarily by motion in the sagittal plane and that limited coronal plane motion would be measured during this activity.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Seventeen healthy participants (8 male/9 female) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by high-speed biplanar radiography, obtained as participants performed a single-leg jump. Three-dimensional models of the femur, tibia, and associated ACL attachment site footprints were created from the MRIs and registered to the radiographs to reproduce the position of the knee during the jump. ACL strain, knee flexion/extension angles, and varus/valgus angles were measured throughout the jump. Spearman rank correlations were used to assess relationships between mean ACL strain and kinematic variables.

Results:

Mean ACL strain increased with decreasing knee flexion angle (ρ = −0.3; P = .002), and local maxima in ACL strain occurred with the knee in a straight position in both the sagittal and the coronal planes. In addition, limited coronal plane motion (varus/valgus angle) was measured during this activity (mean ± SD, −0.5°± 0.3°). Furthermore, we did not detect a statistically significant relationship between ACL strain and varus/valgus angle (ρ = −0.01; P = .9).

Conclusion:

ACL strain was maximized when the knee was in a straight position in both the sagittal and coronal planes. Participants remained in <1° of varus/valgus position on average throughout the jump. As a ligament under elevated strain is more vulnerable to injury, landing on a straight knee may be an important risk factor for ACL rupture.

Clinical Relevance:

These data may improve understanding of risk factors for noncontact ACL injury, which may be useful in designing ACL injury prevention programs.
Alterations in cell viability, reactive oxygen species production, and modulation of gene expression involved in mitogen–activated protein kinase/extracellular regulating kinase signaling pathway by glyphosate and its commercial formulation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Mehtiyev Toghrul , Karaman Ecem Fatma , Ozden Sibel
Published: January 2023

Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) is a non-selective, organophosphate herbicide widely used in agriculture and forestry. We investigated the possible toxic effects of the glyphosate active compound and its commercial formulation (Roundup Star®) in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line, including their effects on the cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and expression of oxidative stress-related genes such as HO-1, Hsp70 Nrf2, L-FABP, and Keap1. MTT and NRU tests indicated that the IC50 values of Roundup Star® were 219 and 140 μM, respectively, and because glyphosate failed to induce cell death at the studied concentrations, an IC50 value could not be determined for this cell line. Roundup Star at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM significantly increased (39.58% and 52%, respectively) cell proliferation, which 200 μM of glyphosate increased by 35.38%. ROS levels increased by 27.97% and 44.77% for 25 and 100 μM of Roundup Star and 32.74% and 38.63% for 100 and 200 μM of glyphosate exposure. In conclusion, Roundup Star and glyphosate significantly increased expression levels of selected genes related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. This suggests that ROS production and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway may be key molecular mechanisms in the toxicity of glyphosate in liver cells.
Peer Victimization and Subjective Well-Being Among Chinese Adolescents: Moderated Mediation by Forgiveness and Self-Esteem
Authors: Liu Jiaoyu , Li Dongping , Jia Jichao , Liu Yuxiao , Lv Yaxin , Zhai Boyu
Published: January 2023

Considerable developmental research has shown an association between peer victimization and subjective well-being among adolescents. However, the mediating processes and protective factors that constrain this association are less understood. To fill these gaps, we investigated whether self-esteem mediates the association between peer victimization and subjective well-being and whether forgiveness moderates the direct and indirect associations of peer victimization with adolescents’ subjective well-being via self-esteem. A large sample of 2,758 adolescents ( Mage = 13.53 years, SD = 1.06) from 10 middle schools in China participated in this study. Participants provided data on demographic variables, peer victimization, self-esteem, forgiveness, and subjective well-being by answering anonymous questionnaires. After controlling for demographic covariates, we found that self-esteem mediated the relationship between peer victimization and subjective well-being. Furthermore, as a protective factor, forgiveness moderated the relationship between peer victimization and self-esteem. Consistent with the protective-reactive model, when adolescents experienced more peer victimization, those with higher forgiveness levels exhibited a greater decline in self-esteem, and low self-esteem was then associated with decreased subjective well-being. These findings demonstrate the utility of examining both mediating and moderating factors in this relationship and highlight the negative impact of peer victimization on adolescent self-worth and the limited role of forgiveness as a protective factor.
The burden of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in older adults in the United States: A systematic review
Authors: Htet Kyaw Zin , Lindrose Alyssa R , O’Connell Samantha , Marsh James , Kissinger Patricia
Published: January 2023

Background

Increases in life expectancy, the availability of sexual performance enhancing medication, and changes in sexual partnering suggest that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among older persons could be on the rise, yet there have been relatively few studies examining STIs in this demographic. Our systematic review aimed to further characterize the incidence and prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, along with associated risk factors among older adults (45 years or older) in the United States.

Methods

We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, Web of Science, and Global Health) for data published from inception to January 2021. The retrieved articles were screened based on eligibility criteria, and subsequent review of relevant article bibliographies was conducted.

Results

Of 4748 articles identified, 23 studies met our inclusion criteria and one additional article was identified through bibliography review. Of the 23 included articles, only 3 (11.5%) were focused exclusively on evaluating STIs in an older population. We found prevalence to be the following ranges: syphilis (0–18%), chlamydia (0–14.2%) and gonorrhea (0–15%). Few studies specifically investigated risk factors in this demographic.

Conclusions

The understudied burden of STIs in the older adult population substantiates the need to recognize issues surrounding sexuality in this demographic.
Long-term virological and immunological outcomes between HIV-positive individuals with and without pretreatment HIV drug resistance
Authors: Singsumran Kanokwan , Sungkanuparph Somnuek
Published: January 2023

Background

Pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PHDR) has emerged after scaling-up access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to compare long-term virological and immunological outcomes between HIV-positive individuals with and without PHDR.

Methods

An observational cohort study was conducted in HIV-positive individuals who had a genotypic resistance test performed prior to ART initiation.

Results

Of 335 participants, 39 were in the PHDR group and 296 were in the control group. ART regimen in PHDR group was adjusted at 6–10 weeks after ART initiation when results of baseline genotypic resistance test were available. Proportions of participants with undetectable viral load were significantly lower in PHDR group at 6 and 12 months (46.2% vs 79.4% ( p < .001) and 74.4% vs 90.5% ( p = .003), respectively). These virological responses became similar between two groups ( p > .05) from 18 through 60 months. Mean change of CD4 counts of PHDR group was significantly lower only at 6 months (+59 vs + 81 cells/mm3 ( p = .012); these immunological responses were similar between two groups from 12 through 60 months.

Conclusion

Early virological response was lower in HIV-positive participants with PHDR compared to participants without PHDR. Subsequent adjustment of ART according to pretreatment genotypic resistance has contributed to the long-term virological and immunological success that is similar to participants without PHDR.
Kindness in British communities: Discursive practices of promoting kindness during the Covid pandemic
Authors: Wei Jilan
Published: January 2023

This research adopts Critical Discourse Analysis as a perspective to explore how kindness was expressed and promoted in university communities and city communities from January to March in 2020 when the Covid pandemic broke out in the UK and provide a window on British culture in which kindness was expressed and promoted through discourse. It combines a qualitative method with a corpus-based quantitative method. It is found that kindness was meant for providing support and showing compassion and inclusion to community members and that strategies in lexis, syntax and metaphor can reproduce or resist the expression and promotion of kindness in communities. During the pandemic, the intentional kindness expressed by community authorities was respect of diversity rather than inclusion of different values or ethnicity and no substantial support was provided to vulnerable members even though authorities were trying to impress the public by claiming that they were making constant efforts to support the community. Case studies revealed that we should caution against the use of passivation and the pronouns like they.
Flexible modeling of multiple nonlinear longitudinal trajectories with censored and non-ignorable missing outcomes
Authors: Lin Tsung-I , Wang Wan-Lun
Published: January 2023

Multivariate nonlinear mixed-effects models (MNLMMs) have become a promising tool for analyzing multi-outcome longitudinal data following nonlinear trajectory patterns. However, such a classical analysis can be challenging due to censorship induced by detection limits of the quantification assay or non-response occurring when participants missed scheduled visits intermittently or discontinued participation. This article proposes an extension of the MNLMM approach, called the MNLMM-CM, by taking the censored and non-ignorable missing responses into account simultaneously. The non-ignorable missingness is described by the selection-modeling factorization to tackle the missing not at random mechanism. A Monte Carlo expectation conditional maximization algorithm coupled with the first-order Taylor approximation is developed for parameter estimation. The techniques for the calculation of standard errors of fixed effects, estimation of unobservable random effects, imputation of censored and missing responses and prediction of future values are also provided. The proposed methodology is motivated and illustrated by the analysis of a clinical HIV/AIDS dataset with censored RNA viral loads and the presence of missing CD4 and CD8 cell counts. The superiority of our method on the provision of more adequate estimation is validated by a simulation study.
Local labour market segmentation and migrant workers’ experiences: The case of the hotel industry in Venice
Authors: Iannuzzi Francesco E
Published: January 2023

Using Venice as a case study, this article seeks to analyse the experience of migrant workers in the hotel industry through a theoretical engagement with the local labour market segmentation approach. The global hotel industry relies on large numbers of migrant workers, who are often in their first job in the host context, as a solution to the problem of cyclical staff shortages. Previous studies have found that low barriers to entry into the sector and high staff turnover are the underlying reasons for this relationship. They have also shown that the same characteristics that make the hotel sector attractive to migrant workers also lead them to leave the industry shortly after entering it. However, this article reveals significant stability in the careers of migrants employed in Venetian hotels as well as heterogeneity in their individual experiences. Through identifying and analysing the factors underpinning the trajectories of these workers, the article emphasises the importance of local characteristics of production, consumption, institutional and welfare regulation patterns, workers’ social stratifications and strategies of social reproduction in shaping the relation between migrant workers and the local hotel industry.