bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) mediated improved oral bioavailability of thymoquinone: optimization, characterization, pharmacokinetic, and hepatotoxicity studies
Authors: Rathore Charul , Hemrajani Chetna , Sharma Abhishek Kumar , Gupta Piyush Kumar , Jha Niraj Kumar , Aljabali Alaa A. A. , Gupta Gaurav , Singh Sachin Kumar , Yang Jen-Chang , Dwivedi Ram Prakash , Dua Kamal , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Negi Poonam , Tambuwala Murtaza M.
Published: July 2022

Thymoquinone (TQ) is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective compound obtained from the black seed oil of Nigella sativa. However, high hydrophobicity, instability at higher pH levels, photosensitivity, and low oral bioavailability hinder its delivery to the target tissues. A self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was fabricated using the microemulsification technique to address these issues. Its physicochemical properties, thermodynamic stability studies, drug release kinetics, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and hepatoprotective activity were evaluated. The droplet size was in the nano-range (< 90 nm). Zeta potential was measured to be −11.35 mV, signifying the high stability of the oil droplets. In vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation showed a fourfold increase in the bioavailability of TQ-SNEDDS over pure TQ. Furthermore, in a PCM-induced animal model, TQ-SNEDDS demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) hepatoprotective activity compared to pure TQ and silymarin. Reduction in liver biomarker enzymes and histopathological examinations of liver sections further supported the results. In this study, SNEDDS was demonstrated to be an improved oral delivery method for TQ, since it potentiates hepatotoxicity and enhances bioavailability.

Graphical abstract
Mobile primary healthcare for post-COVID patients in rural areas: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Stallmach Andreas , Katzer Katrin , Besteher Bianca , Finke Kathrin , Giszas Benjamin , Gremme Yvonne , Abou Hamdan Rami , Lehmann-Pohl Katja , Legen Maximilian , Lewejohann Jan Christoph , Machnik Marlene , Moshmosh Alsabbagh Majd , Nardini Luisa , Puta Christian , Stallmach Zoe , Reuken Philipp A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Post-COVID syndrome is increasingly recognized as a new clinical entity after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients living in rural areas may have to travel long with subjectively great effort to be examined using all necessary interdisciplinary tools. This problem could be addressed with mobile outpatient clinics.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, we investigated physical fitness, fatigue, depression, cognitive dysfunction, and dyspnea in patients with post-COVID syndrome in a mobile interdisciplinary post-COVID outpatient clinic. Upon referral from their primary care physician, patients were offered an appointment at a mobile post-COVID outpatient clinic close to their home.

Results

We studied 125 patients (female,n = 79; 63.2%) in our mobile unit. All patients reported symptoms lasting for more than 12 weeks after acute infection. 88.3% and 64.1% of patients reported significant impairment in physical and mental quality of life. Patients reported a median of three symptoms. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (86.4%), cognitive dysfunction (85.6%), and dyspnea (37.6%). 56.0% of patients performed at < 2.5th percentile at the 1 min sit-to-stand test compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and 25 patients (20.0%) exhibited a drop in oxygen saturation. A questionnaire given to each patient regarding the mobile unit revealed a very high level of patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

There is an increasing need for high-quality and locally available care for patients with post-COVID syndrome. A mobile post-COVID outpatient clinic is a new concept that may be particularly suitable for use in rural regions. Patients’ satisfaction following visits in such units is very high.
Familial Predisposition to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis
Authors: Hasani Sara , Feller Julian A. , Webster Kate E.
Published: July 2022

Background

Having a family history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has been investigated in the literature but few studies have focused on this factor specifically or reported their outcomes by sex.

Objective

We aimed to systematically review family history as a risk factor for sustaining a primary ACL injury and the impact it has on ACL graft rupture or contralateral ACL injury in male and female individuals.

Methods

A literature search was completed in seven databases from inception until March 2021 to investigate primary and subsequent ACL injuries in those with a family history of ACL injury. Articles were screened by prespecified inclusion criteria, and the methodological quality of each study was determined. Study results were combined using an odds ratio (OR) meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was also completed by sex for primary ACL injury, as well as by graft rupture and contralateral ACL injury for subsequent ACL injuries.

Results

Twelve studies were acquired for systematic review and meta-analysis. Four studies that investigated primary ACL injury, seven that investigated ACL graft and/or contralateral ACL ruptures and one study that investigated both primary and subsequent ACL injury. Having a family history of ACL injury increased the odds of injury across all outcomes. Those with a family history had a 2.5 times greater odds for sustaining a primary ACL injury (OR 2.53 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.96–3.28, p < 0.001)]. There was no significant difference of injury odds for primary ACL injury when analysed by sex. Family history of ACL injury was found to increase the odds of subsequent ACL injury by 2.38 (95% CI 1.64–3.46, p < 0.001) and was significant for both graft ruptures (OR 1.80 [95% CI 1.20–2.71, p = 0.005]) and contralateral ACL injuries (OR 2.28 [95% CI 1.28–4.04, p = 0.005]). When compared directly, the odds of sustaining a graft rupture versus a contralateral ACL injury were similar for those with a family history. Outcomes were not frequently reported by sex for subsequent ACL injuries.

Conclusions

Having a family history of ACL injury more than doubles the odds of sustaining a primary or subsequent ACL injury. However, if a family history of ACL injury is present, the sex of the athlete does not increase the risk for primary injury nor is there a difference in the risk for a subsequent graft rupture compared to a contralateral ACL injury.

Clinical Trial Registration

PROSPERO: CRD42020186472.
Non-verbal social communication in individuals with eating disorders: an ethological analysis in experimental setting
Authors: Monteleone Alessio Maria , Cascino Giammarco , Ruzzi Valeria , Marafioti Niccolò , Marone Luigi , Croce Nanni Roberta , Troisi Alfonso
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Evidence that social difficulties promote the development and the maintenance of eating disorders (EDs) derive from self-reported data and only partially from experimental tasks. This study objectively assessed non-verbal behaviors of individuals with EDs in a psycho-social stress scenario.

Methods

Thirty-one women suffering from EDs (13 with anorexia nervosa and 18 with bulimia nervosa) and 15 healthy women underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), the paradigm of psycho-social stress, and were videotaped. Throughout the procedure, anxiety feelings were measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state subscale and saliva samples were collected to evaluate cortisol levels. Non-verbal behaviors were analyzed through the Ethological Coding System for Interviews and were compared between study samples through multivariate analysis of variance. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the association between anxiety, cortisol and behavioral responses to TSST.

Results

Women with EDs showed reduced submissiveness, flight (cutoff from social stimuli) and gesture compared to healthy peers during TSST. Submissiveness and flight behaviors were negatively associated with stress-induced anxiety, while TSST-induced anxiety and cortisol increases were positively associated with looking at the other’s face behavior in participants with EDs. In this population, cortisol reactivity was also positively associated with submissiveness and negatively with gesture.

Conclusion

Women with EDs showed a hostile and freezing response to acute psycho-social stress: reduced submissiveness and flight may represent strategies to manage social anxiety. These findings confirm that the non-verbal behavior assessment provides complementary information to those derived from traditional measurements and suggests research and clinical implications.

Level of evidence I

Evidence obtained from experimental study.
Der potentiellen Energie ein Zuhause geben – Felder als didaktisches Hilfsmittel im Anfangsunterricht zum Energiekonzept
Authors: Fiedler Kristin , Kubsch Marcus , Neumann Knut , Nordine Jeffrey
Published: July 2022

Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert Erkenntnisse zur Wirksamkeit eines neuen Unterrichtsansatzes zur Einführung des Energiekonzeptes mit Hilfe von Feldern. Die zentrale Bedeutung des Energiekonzeptes in Physik steht im Kontrast zu den Verständnisschwierigkeiten der Schülerinnen und Schüler, insbesondere mit der potentiellen Energie. Die Konzeptualisierung der potentiellen Energie als in Feldern gespeicherter Energie erlaubt eine physikalisch korrekte und gleichzeitig anschauliche Begründung der für Schülerinnen und Schüler verwirrenden Eigenschaften der potentiellen Energie. Wir haben deswegen einen Unterrichtsansatz entwickelt und getestet, der Felder in den Anfangsunterricht zur Energie integriert. Dazu haben wir den traditionellen formenbasierten Ansatz, Energie zu unterrichten, erweitert. In einer quasi-experimentellen Studie haben wir anschließend eine Schülergruppe (N = 43) nach dem traditionellen formenbasierten Ansatz unterrichtet und eine Gruppe (N = 47) nach dem erweiterten Ansatz, der potentielle Energieformen als in entsprechenden Feldern gespeicherte Energie konzeptualisiert. Neben den kognitiven Fähigkeiten als Kovariate wurden das Verständnis vom Energie- und Feldkonzept als abhängige Variablen erfasst. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zunächst, dass die Schülerinnen und Schüler des erweiterten Ansatzes im Energietest schlechter abschneiden als die Schülerinnen und Schüler des traditionellen Ansatzes. Eine Untersuchung des Einflusses des Felderverständnisses auf den Effekt der Intervention ergibt jedoch, dass die nach dem erweiterten Ansatz unterrichteten Schülerinnen und Schüler wesentliche Aspekte des Feldkonzeptes verstehen und dass sich dieses Verständnis positiv auf ihr Verständnis von Energie auswirken könnte. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass das Feldkonzept ein Mittel zur Entwicklung eines besseren Energieverständnisses sein könnte, dessen Einfluss auf das zukünftige Lernen über Energie weiter untersucht werden sollte.
Feasibility and Effectiveness Assessment of Multi-Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation for Food Security and Nutrition
Authors: Tirado M. C. , Vivero-Pol J. L. , Bezner Kerr R. , Krishnamurthy K.
Published: July 2022

Purpose of Review

This review aims to identify the evidence for the assessment of the effectiveness and feasibility of multi-sectoral climate adaptation for food security and malnutrition. This review and the assessments of the evidence inform the contents and confidence statements in section “multi-sectoral adaptation for malnutrition” and in the Executive Summary of the IPCC AR6 WGII Chapter 7: Health Wellbeing and Changing Community Structure.

Recent Findings

A review of adaptation for food security and nutrition FSN in West Africa concluded that food security and nutrition and climate adaptation are not independent goals, but often go under different sectors.

Most of the adaptation categories identified here are highly effective in reducing climate risks to food security and malnutrition, and the implementation is moderately or highly feasible. Categories include improved access to (1) sustainable, affordable, and healthy diets from climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive agroecological food systems; (ii) health care (including child, maternal, and reproductive), nutrition services, water and sanitation; (iii) anticipatory actions, adoption of the IPC classification, EW-EA systems; and (iv) nutrition-sensitive adaptive social protection. Risk reduction, such as weather-related insurance, and risk management are moderately effective and feasible due to economic and institutional barriers. Women and girls’ empowerment, enhanced education, rights-based approaches, and peace building are highly relevant enablers for implementation of the adaptation options.
A state-of-the-art review on rock seepage mechanism of water inrush disaster in coal mines
Authors: Ma Dan , Duan Hongyu , Zhang Jixiong , Bai Haibo
Published: July 2022

Water inrush is one of the most dangerous disasters in coal mining. Due to the large-scale mining and complicated hydrogeological conditions, thousands of deaths and huge economic losses have been caused by water inrush disasters in China. There are two main factors determining the occurrence of water inrush: water source and water-conducting pathway. Research on the formation mechanism of the water-conducting pathway is the main direction to prevent and control the water inrush, and the seepage mechanism of rock mass during the formation of the water-conducting pathway is the key for the research on the water inrush mechanism. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of seepage mechanisms during water inrush from three aspects, i.e., mechanisms of stress-seepage coupling, flow regime transformation and rock erosion. Through numerical methods and experimental analysis, the evolution law of stress and seepage fields in the process of water inrush is fully studied; the fluid movement characteristics under different flow regimes are clearly summarized; the law of particle initiation and migration in the process of water inrush is explored, and the effect of rock erosion on hydraulic and mechanical properties of the rock media is also studied. Finally, some limitations of current research are analyzed, and the suggestions for future research on water inrush are proposed in this review.
The space of barcode bases for persistence modules
Authors: Jacquard Emile , Nanda Vidit , Tillmann Ulrike
Published: July 2022

The barcode of a persistence module serves as a complete combinatorial invariant of its isomorphism class. Barcodes are typically extracted by performing changes of basis on a persistence module until the constituent matrices have a special form. Here we describe a new algorithm for computing barcodes which also keeps track of, and outputs, such a change of basis. Our main result is an explicit characterisation of the group of transformations that sends one barcode basis to another. Armed with knowledge of the entire space of barcode bases, we are able to show that any map of persistence modules can be represented via a partial matching between bars provided that neither source nor target admits nested bars in its barcode.
We also generalise the algorithm and results described above to work for zizag modules.
Occurrence and outcomes of possible superadded infections in older adults with COVID-19—cohort study
Authors: Bilan Jimmy , Aggrey Ken , Quinn Terence J. , Lumsden Jane , Colquhoun Kirsty
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Current guidance discourages use of antibiotics in COVID-19. However, in older adults, superadded infection may be common and require treatment. Our aim was to investigate the occurrence and outcomes from possible superadded infections, occurring within 2 weeks of hospitalization, in older adults with COVID-19.

Methods

This was a single centre, observational cohort study. We collected data from patients admitted to older adult wards who had tested positive for the Sars-CoV-2 virus on viral PCR between 1st October and 1st December 2020. The primary outcome was inpatient death occurring within 90 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. The secondary outcome was length of stay in hospital. Associations were described using univariable and multivariable models, and time to event data.

Results

Of 266 patients with COVID-19, 43% (115) had evidence of superadded infections (91 with positive bacterial cultures and 36 instances of radiological lobar consolidation). Patients with superadded infections were more likely to die (45.2 versus 30.7%, p = 0.020) and had an increased length of stay (23 versus 18 days, p = 0.026).

Conclusions

Recommendations to avoid antibiotics in COVID-19 may not be applicable to an older adult population. Assessing for possible superadded infections is warranted in this group.
Global sector-specific Scope 1, 2, and 3 analyses for setting net-zero targets: agriculture, forestry, and processing harvested products
Authors: Teske Sven , Nagrath Kriti
Published: July 2022

The aim of this research was the development of global 1.5 °C net-zero pathways for specific industries as classified under the Global Industry Classification System (GICS). In this article, we described the analysis of the Agriculture & Food and Forestry & Wood Products categories to determine their industry-specific Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions on a global level. The accounting methodologies for Scope 3 emissions were developed for entity-level accounting and reporting. However, we suggested an alteration of the methodology for industry-wide Scope 3 analyses because of poor data availability and to avoid counting emissions twice. In this article, we described the calculation method and the key results for net-zero pathways for these two industry sectors. We showed that the decarbonization of the energy supply is possible for both sectors globally by 2050. We also described the land-use-related Scope 3 emissions for the agriculture and forestry sectors. The agricultural sector is unlikely to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, whereas the forest industry can become carbon negative.
Tuning the Acidity of Montmorillonite by H3PO4-Activation and Supporting WO3 for Catalytic Dehydration of Glycerol to Acrolein
Authors: Yu Wei Hua , Zhu Bao , Tong Dong Shen , Deng Kai , Fu Chao Peng , Huang Tian Hao , Zhou Chun Hui
Published: July 2022

Montmorillonite (Mnt)-based solid acids have a wide range of applications in catalysis and adsorption of pollutants. For such solid acids, the acidic characteristic often plays a significant role in these applications. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of H3PO4-activation and supporting WO3 on the textural structure and surface acidic properties of Mnt. The Mnt-based solid acid materials were prepared by H3PO4 treatment and an impregnation method with a solution of ammonium metatungstate (AMT) and were examined as catalysts in the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible (DR UV-Vis) spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD), diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (DR FTIR) spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine, and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. The phosphoric acid treatment of Mnt created Brönsted and Lewis acid sites and led to increases in specific surface areas, porosity, and acidity. WO3 species influenced total acidity, acid strength, the numbers of Brönsted and Lewis acid sites, and catalytic performances. A high turnover frequency (TOF) value (31.2 h−1) based on a maximal 60.7% yield of acrolein was reached. The correlation of acrolein yield with acidic properties indicated that the cooperative role of Brönsted and Lewis acid sites was beneficial to the formation of acrolein and a little coke deposition (<3.3 wt.%). This work provides a new idea for the design of solid acid catalysts with cooperative Brönsted and Lewis acidity for the dehydration of glycerol.
Andrographolide Suppresses Expressions of Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Inhibition-Related Factors in LPS-Induced Alveolar Epithelial Cell Type II via NF-κB Signal Pathway In Vitro
Authors: Yang Guixia , Li Xiang , Li Qing , Xiao Chuan , Qian Hong , Yang Huilin , Shen Feng
Published: July 2022

Background

Andrographolide (Andro) has been confirmed to ameliorate alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition via NF-κB pathway in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the specific target of Andro is unknown.

Purpose

Our aim is to explore the specific target of Andro through which the drug exerted its effects on alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolytic inhibition in LPS-induced ARDS.

Methods

AECII was treated with different doses of Andro for 1 h, and then stimulated with LPS for 24 h. Expressions of tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were detected. Concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), pro-collagen type III peptide (PIIIP), antithrombin III (ATIII) and activated protein C (APC) in cell supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NF-κB signaling pathways activation was simultaneously determined. AECII with p65 down-/over-expression were used as control.

Results

Andro effectively inhibited TF and PAI-1 and promoted TFPI expressions on AECII induced by LPS stimulation. Andro also significantly suppressed the productions of TAT and PIIIP but promoted ATIII and APC secretions from the LPS-treated cell. Furthermore, Andro application obviously inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway activation provoked by LPS, as shown by decreased level of phosphorylation (p‑)-IKKβ/IKKβ, p-p65/p65 and p65 DNA binding activity. The effects of Andro on those factors were obviously strengthened by down- but were weakened by up-regulation of p65 gene in AECII cell.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrates that targeting AECII is the mechanism by which Andro ameliorates alveolar hypercoagulaiton and fibrinolytic inhibition via NF-κB pathway in ARDS. Andro is worth to be clinically further studied in ARDS treatment.
Screening for participants in the ISCHEMIA trial: Implications for clinical research
Authors: Rodriguez Fatima , Hochman Judith S. , Xu Yifan , Reynolds Harmony R. , Berger Jeffrey S. , Mavromichalis Stavroula , Newman Jonathan D. , Bangalore Sripal , Maron David J.
Published: July 2022

The International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA) found that there was no statistical difference in cardiovascular events with an initial invasive strategy as compared with an initial conservative strategy of guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with moderate to severe ischemia on noninvasive testing. In this study, we describe the reasons that potentially eligible patients who were screened for participation in the ISCHEMIA trial did not advance to enrollment, the step prior to randomization. Of those who preliminarily met clinical inclusion criteria on screening logs submitted during the enrollment period, over half did not participate due to physician or patient refusal, a potentially modifiable barrier. This analysis highlights the importance of physician equipoise when advising patients about participation in randomized controlled trials.
Prevalence and associated factors of paternal stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in the early postnatal period
Authors: Philpott Lloyd Frank , Leahy-Warren Patricia , FitzGerald Serena , Savage Eileen
Published: July 2022

Background

The changes experienced during the transition to first-time or subsequent fatherhood are mainly positive; however, fathers can also experience adverse mental health outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of paternal stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in the early postnatal period.

Methods

A quantitative, descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising of the Perceived Stress Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Results

A total of 336 fathers were included in the study. The prevalence rates were 41.1% (n = 138) for moderate/high stress symptoms, 20.8% (n = 70) for state anxiety symptoms, 25.9% (n = 87) for trait anxiety symptoms, and 13.4% (n = 45) for depression symptoms. In the multivariable analysis, several factors were associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms including being a subsequent father (p = 0.009), not living in a house (p = 0.009), having a history of adverse mental health (p = 0.008), and having a partner with a history of anxiety (p = 0.040).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that fathers are at risk of adverse mental health in the early postnatal period which is a pivotal time for fathers in terms of bonding with their infant and redefining their relationship with their partner.
A computational study on the optical shaping of gas targets via blast wave collisions for magnetic vortex acceleration
Authors: Tazes I. , Passalidis S. , Kaselouris E. , Fitilis I. , Bakarezos M. , Papadogiannis N. A. , Tatarakis M. , Dimitriou V.
Published: July 2022

This research work emphasizes the capability of delivering optically shaped targets through the interaction of nanosecond laser pulses with high-density gas-jet profiles, and explores proton acceleration in the near-critical density regime via magnetic vortex acceleration (MVA). Multiple blast waves (BWs) are generated by laser pulses that compress the gas-jet into near-critical steep gradient slabs of a few micrometres thickness. Geometrical alternatives for delivering the laser pulses into the gas target are explored to efficiently control the characteristics of the density profile. The shock front collisions of the generated BWs are computationally studied by 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations. The efficiency of the proposed target shaping method for MVA is demonstrated for TW-class lasers by a particle-in-cell simulation.
Harmonic forcing of a laminar bluff body wake with rear pitching flaps
Authors: Giannenas Athanasios Emmanouil , Laizet Sylvain , Rigas Georgios
Published: July 2022

A numerical study on the response of a two-dimensional bluff body wake subjected to harmonic forcing imposed by two rear pitching flaps is performed. The wake is generated by a rectangle at a height-based Reynolds number

$Re=100$

, characterised by laminar vortex shedding. Two forcing strategies are examined corresponding to in-phase ‘snaking’ and out-of-phase ‘clapping.’ The effects of the bluff body aspect ratio (

$AR=1,2,4$

), flapping frequency, flapping amplitude, flap length and Reynolds number are investigated. For the snaking motion, a strong fundamental resonance of the root mean square (r.m.s.) drag is observed when the wake is forced near the vortex shedding frequency. For the clapping motion, a weak subharmonic resonance is observed when the forcing is applied near twice the vortex shedding frequency resulting in an increase of the lift r.m.s. whereas the drag r.m.s. remains unaffected. Both resonances intensify the vortex shedding and a concomitant mean drag increase is observed for the snaking motion. Forcing away from the resonant regimes, both motions result in considerable drag reduction through wake symmetrisation and propulsion mechanisms. The formation of two vortex dipoles per oscillation period due to the flapping motion, which weaken the natural vortex shedding, has been identified as the main symmetrisation mechanism. A single scaling parameter is proposed to collapse the mean drag reduction of the forced flow for both motions over a wide range of flapping frequencies, amplitudes and flap lengths. Finally, the assessment of the performance of the forcing strategies has revealed that clapping is more effective than snaking.
Dynamic capabilities: New ideas, microfoundations, and criticism
Authors: Arndt Felix , Galvin Peter , Jansen Rob J. G. , Lucas Gerardus J. M. , Su Peiran
Published: July 2022

In this special issue, we have collected 13 articles that offer new vantage points for research on dynamic capabilities. We offer a selection of thought-provoking papers that advance current thinking on dynamic capabilities and provide directions for new inquiries using the dynamic capability framework. The microfoundations of dynamic capabilities have increasingly received interest. This special issue offers a range of conceptual methodological approaches to deepen our understanding of the issues surrounding the microfoundations of dynamic capabilities.
Yendegaia Rockshelter, the First Rock Art Site on Tierra del Fuego Island and Social Interaction in Southern Patagonia (South America)
Authors: Gallardo Francisco , Cabello Gloria , Sepúlveda Marcela , Ballester Benjamín , Fiore Danae , Prieto Alfredo
Published: July 2022

Through our research at Bahía Yendegaia on the Beagle Channel in southernmost Patagonia—the ancestral territory of the Yagán people—we discovered the first rock art site on Tierra del Fuego Island. The geometric visual images found at Yendegaia Rockshelter present motifs and compositions analogous to those recorded at other sites on the southern archipelago associated with the marine hunter-gatherer tradition. They also show graphic similarities to the rock art paintings attributed to terrestrial hunter-gatherer populations from the Pali Aike volcanic field, located on the north side of the Strait of Magellan in mainland Patagonia. Both, however, display quantitative differences, which suggest that they emerged from different visual traditions but from the same field of graphic solutions. Navigational technology enabled the canoe-faring Fuegian people to have long-distance mobility and to maintain a flow of social information mediated via visual imagery expressed in material forms, such as rock art and expressions of portable art. Ethnohistoric reports suggest a cooperative social interaction more than a competitive one. This cooperative social dynamic would have been necessary for the survival of marine societies in the harsh environmental conditions characteristic of the southern part of south Patagonia.
SOME PRODUCTS OF SUBGROUPS AND VANISHING CONJUGACY CLASS SIZES
Authors: BALLESTER-BOLINCHES ADOLFO , ESTEBAN-ROMERO RAMÓN , MADANHA SESUAI Y. , PEDRAZA-AGUILERA MARÍA C.
Published: July 2022

In this note, we investigate some products of subgroups and vanishing conjugacy class sizes of finite groups. We prove some supersolubility criteria for groups with restrictions on the vanishing conjugacy class sizes of their subgroups.
Balanced fertilization increases wheat yield response on different soils and agroecological zones in Ethiopia
Authors: Dargie Sofonyas , Girma Tsegaye , Chibsa Tilahun , Kassa Sofia , Boke Shiferaw , Abera Abate , Haileselassie Bereket , Addisie Samuel , Amsalu Sosina , Haileselassie Mehretab , Soboka Shure , Abera Wuletawu , Weldesemayat Sileshi G.
Published: July 2022

The response of wheat to the application of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization on different soil types and agroecologies has not been well studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) determine soil-specific responses of wheat to N, P, K, and S under balanced fertilization; (2) quantify agroecology-specific N, P, K, and S response of wheat under balanced fertilization; and (3) determine nutrient use efficiency of wheat on different soil types under balanced fertilization. Trials were conducted on farmers’ fields across 24 locations covering 4 soil types and 5 agroecological zones (AEZs) from 2013 to 2017. The mean grain yields of wheat significantly varied with applied N and P fertilizer rates with soil types and AEZs. With balanced application of other nutrients, the optimum N rates for wheat were 138 kg N ha−1on Cambisols and Luvisols, 92 kg N ha−1on Vertisols, and 176 kg N ha−1on Nitisols, while the optimum P rate was 20 kg P ha−1on Cambisols and Vertisols. The nutrient dose–response curve did not reveal consistent pattern for K and S applications on all soil types. The agronomic efficiency of wheat decreased with increasing rates N and P on all soil types. The highest agronomic efficiency of N (15.8 kg grain kg−1applied N) was recorded with application of 92 kg N ha−1on Vertisols, while the highest agronomic efficiency of P (49 kg grain kg−1applied P) was achieved with application of 10 kg P ha−1on Cambisols. We conclude that applications of 92–138 kg N ha−1, 20 kg P ha−1, 18 kg K ha−1, and 10 kg S ha−1under balanced application of zinc and boron could be recommended depending on soil type for wheat production in the study areas.
Efficiency and usability of an elementary hand-held suction assembly in paediatric tracheostomised patients
Authors: Sagar P , Kumar R , Chandran A
Published: July 2022

Objective

Commercially available suction devices are expensive, large and heavy, and need electricity, and thus restrict the outdoor activity of tracheostomised children and their carers. This study evaluated the efficacy and usability of a simple suction assembly using a syringe and feeding tube in paediatric tracheostomised patients.

Methods

Following the domiciliary usage of this suction assembly instead of their existing suction device for a minimum of 15 days, carers responded to a set of questionnaires containing a subjective scoring system.

Results

Ninety-three per cent of the carers considered this assembly as average, good or very good in cleaning the tracheostomy tube. Eighty per cent of the carers considered that this assembly would be suitable when their existing suction machines are unavailable, indicating high usability, and 66.67 per cent of the carers would be confident using this assembly in outdoor settings.

Conclusion

Larger studies with objective evaluation methods can validate the high efficacy of this simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use, hand-held suction apparatus as reported by the carers of 15 paediatric tracheostomised patients in this study.
Impact of collaborative actions of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis subpopulations on the infection profile
Authors: de Albuquerque-Melo Barbara Cristina , Cysne-Finkelstein Léa , Gonçalves-Oliveira Luiz Filipe , Cascabulho Cynthia Machado , Henriques-Pons Andrea , Pereira Mirian Cláudia de Souza , Alves Carlos Roberto , Dias-Lopes Geovane
Published: July 2022

This study focuses on the role of the population structure of Leishmania spp. on the adaptive capacity of the parasite. Herein, we investigate the contribution of subpopulations of the L. (V.) braziliensis Thor strain (Thor03, Thor10 and Thor22) in the profile of murine macrophages infection. Infection assays were performed with binary combinations of these subpopulations at stationary phases. The initial interaction time showed major effects on the combination assays, as demonstrated by the significant increase in the infection rate at 5 h. Based on the endocytic index (EI), Thor10 (EI = 563.6) and Thor03 (EI = 497) showed a higher infection load compared to Thor22 (EI = 227.3). However, the EI decreased in Thor03 after 48 h (EI = 447) and 72 h (EI = 388.3) of infection, and showed changes in the infection level in all Thor10/Thor22 combinations. Assays with CellTrace CFSE-labelled Thor22 promastigotes indicated an increase (~1.5 fold) in infection by this subpopulation in the presence of Thor10 when compared to the infection profile of Thor03/Thor22 combinations in the same proportions. In addition, the potential of these subpopulations, alone or in binary combinations, to modulate the expression of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in vitro was investigated. Lower NO and tumour necrosis factor-α production levels were observed for all Thor10/Thor22 combinations at 24 h compared to these subpopulations alone. In contrast, Thor03/Thor22 combination assays increased IL-10 production at this time. Collectively, these results provide in vitro evidence on the potential of L. (V.) braziliensis population structure to play a relevant role in a host infection by this parasite.
Three new records of lichenised fungi for Antarctica
Authors: Halıcı Mehmet Gökhan , Güllü Mithat , Kahraman Yiğit Merve , Barták Miloš
Published: July 2022

As part of a project aiming to determine the lichenised fungal biodiversity of James Ross Island (Eastern coast of Antarctic Peninsula), we identified three infrageneric taxa which were previously not reported from Antarctica:Farnoldia micropsis(A. Massal.) Hertel,Gyalolechia epiphyta(Lynge) Vondrák andPlacidium squamulosumvar.argentinum(Räsänen) Breuss. Detailed morphological and anatomical properties of these species along with photographs based on the Antarctic specimens are provided here. In addition, the nrITS, mtSSU and/or RPB1 gene regions of the selected specimens are studied and the phylogenetic positions of the species are discussed. The DNA sequence data forFarnoldia micropsisare provided for the first time.Farnoldia micropsisandGyalolechia epiphytaare also new to the Southern Hemisphere.
Reflections of the French nasal vowel shift in orthography on Twitter
Authors: Law James
Published: July 2022

Non-standard orthography on social media provides a useful supplementary data source for sociophonetic research. Regarding an ongoing chain shift in Northern Metropolitan French nasal vowels, spellings reflecting shifted vowel targets are observed on Twitter. These non-standard spellings, e.g.avont[avɔ̃] foravant/avɑ̃/ ‘before’, provide insight into speakers’ awareness of this change and its lexical distribution. Tweets with shifted and standard spellings of 306 word forms containing the phonemes /ɛ̃/, /œ̃/, /ɑ̃/ and /ɔ̃/ were collected from an 870-million word Internet Archive corpus of French tweets from 2011–2017. Shifted spellings were found for all four vowels and 168 words. The shifted spelling rate is lower than that of comparable variables in English and is not conditioned by stress, grammatical category, frequency, or phonological context, which affect the distribution of shifted nasal vowels in speech. However, frequent words show more indications of intentional misspelling, such as repetition and capitalization of the target vowel, suggesting that some speakers are conscious of the variation and comment on it using salient words. The results also contribute to an ongoing debate about a possible merger between /ɛ̃/ and /œ̃/, supporting the hypothesis of an incomplete merger where /ɛ̃/ shifts towards [ɑ̃] but /œ̃/ does not.
Official new terms in the age of social media: the story ofhashtagon French Twitter
Authors: Zsombok Gyula
Published: July 2022

As other chapters in this special issue demonstrate, social media proposes widely available data for sociolinguistic analysis. Twitter is an ideal resource to implement variationist approaches regarding regional differences, features specific to gender, and metrics of social media influence. At the same time, official intervention on language use, while somewhat studied in other corpora, is less explored on Twitter. French shows a long tradition of purist and prescriptive ideologies, embodied by the Académie française in France and the Office québécois de la langue française in Québec. The injection of recommended terminology aimed to eradicate foreign influence often has questionable success rate, especially in such an informal setting as Twitter. This article thus investigates lexical variation, in particular, the implantation of official new French translationsmot-dièseandmot-clicbetween 2010 and 2016 that are meant to replace the English wordhashtag. Results corroborate previous findings on the lacklustre implantation of the prescribed terms, while also revealing that users in Québec are more inclined to adapt them. Furthermore, diffusion online reflects face-to-face patterns that is cascading spread from large urban areas to smaller cities.
A wideband decoupling method using bezel-coupled loop-type isolator for smartwatch MIMO applications
Authors: Baloch Babar Aslam , Qu Longyue , Zahid Zeeshan , Khan Adnan Ahmed
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a novel decoupling technique for two-element multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) antennas for smartwatch applications with floating metallic bezel. The radiating elements consist of embedded loop-type ground-radiation antennas and operate at the 2.45 GHz Bluetooth/Wi-Fi bands. An isolator, consisting of a loop-type structure with a lumped capacitor, is attached externally to the ground plane such that wideband isolation between the antennas has been achieved. It is demonstrated that the small-sized isolator is coupled with the large-sized bezel surrounding the ground plane, where the bezel operates as a low-Q decoupler between the antenna elements producing wideband isolation property. Accordingly, optimized results can be obtained by controlling the location of the isolator, the gap between the isolator and the bezel, and the loaded capacitor. Simulation and measured results have been presented to validate the design performance. The measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth of both antenna elements is more than 210 MHz, whereas the isolation bandwidth is 770 MHz with reference to 20 dB. The envelop correlation coefficient is <0.1 in the operating band. Furthermore, the proposed technique is versatile regardless of the angular separation of the antenna elements on the circular ground plane, which makes it a good candidate for smartwatch MIMO applications in practical scenarios.
Developmental programming of mitochondrial substrate metabolism in skeletal muscle of adult sheep by cortisol exposure before birth
Authors: Davies Katie L. , Camm Emily J. , Smith Danielle J. , Miles Jack , Forhead Alison J. , Murray Andrew J. , Fowden Abigail L.
Published: July 2022

Prenatal glucocorticoid overexposure causes adult metabolic dysfunction in several species but its effects on adult mitochondrial function remain largely unknown. Using respirometry, this study examined mitochondrial substrate metabolism of fetal and adult ovinebiceps femoris(BF) andsemitendinosus(ST) muscles after cortisol infusion before birth. Physiological increases in fetal cortisol concentrations pre-term induced muscle- and substrate-specific changes in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity in adulthood. These changes were accompanied by muscle-specific alterations in protein content, fibre composition and abundance of the mitochondrial electron transfer system (ETS) complexes. In adult ST, respiration using palmitoyl-carnitine and malate was increased after fetal cortisol treatment but not with other substrate combinations. There were also significant increases in protein content and reductions in the abundance of all four ETS complexes, but not ATP synthase, in the ST of adults receiving cortisol prenatally. In adult BF, intrauterine cortisol treatment had no effect on protein content, respiratory rates, ETS complex abundances or ATP synthase. Activity of citrate synthase, a marker of mitochondrial content, was unaffected by intrauterine treatment in both adult muscles. In the ST but not BF, respiratory rates using all substrate combinations were significantly lower in the adults than fetuses, predominantly in the saline-infused controls. The ontogenic and cortisol-induced changes in mitochondrial function were, therefore, more pronounced in the ST than BF muscle. Collectively, the results show that fetal cortisol overexposure programmes mitochondrial substrate metabolism in specific adult muscles with potential consequences for adult metabolism and energetics.
Das Wohlbefinden von Kindern als elterliches Konstrukt
Authors: Lochner Barbara , Roosingh Desirée
Published: July 2022

Zusammenfassung. Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Perspektive von Eltern auf das Wohlbefinden ihrer Kinder unter dem Eindruck der pandemiebedingten Schließungen von Kindertageseinrichtungen. Auf Basis qualitativ-rekonstruktiver Analysen kann gezeigt werden, wie sich die Wahrnehmungen der eigenen und der kindlichen Handlungsmächtigkeit bedingen. In Verbindung mit der Verfügbarkeit des Zugangs zur sog. Notbetreuung beeinflusst dieses Verhältnis das Belastungserleben.
Bildungsverständnis von pädagogischen Fachkräften in Kitas
Authors: Mackowiak Katja , Küsshauer Christina , Budnik Laura , Mai Matthias
Published: July 2022

Zusammenfassung. Im Beitrag wird das Bildungsverständnis von 208 pädagogischen Fachkräften in Kindertageseinrichtungen (Kitas) mittels Vignetteninterview analysiert. Den Fachkräften werden zwei Filmvignetten mit pädagogischen Alltagssituationen präsentiert; anschließend beantworten sie Fragen, die sich auf die Analyse und Gestaltung der Spielsituationen beziehen. Die Aussagen werden mithilfe eines Ratingsystems (R-BiKo) daraufhin ausgewertet, wie häufig und prägnant die Bildungskonzepte Selbstbildung, Ko-Konstruktion und Instruktion thematisiert werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Fachkräfte die Selbstbildung sehr stark betonen; instruktive Aspekte lassen sich – etwas weniger ausgeprägt – ebenfalls in den Interviews finden; ko-konstruktivistische Vorstellungen sind in den Interviews kaum zu erkennen. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf ihre Relevanz für die Gestaltung von Entwicklungs- und Bildungsprozessen in Kitas diskutiert.
Atmospheric Structure Prediction for Infrasound Propagation Modeling Using Deep Learning
Authors: Albert S. A.
Published: July 2022

Infrasound is generated by a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. Infrasonic waves travel through the dynamic atmosphere, which can change on the order of minutes to hours. Infrasound propagation largely depends on the wind and temperature structure of the atmosphere. Numerical weather prediction models are available to provide atmospheric specifications, but uncertainties in these models exist and they are computationally expensive to run. Machine learning has proven useful in predicting tropospheric weather using Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) networks. An LSTM network is utilized to make atmospheric specification predictions up to ∼30 km for three different training and testing scenarios: (a) the model is trained and tested using only radiosonde data from the Albuquerque, NM, USA station, (b) the model is trained on radiosonde stations across the contiguous US, excluding the Albuquerque, NM, USA station, which was reserved for testing, and (c) the model is trained and tested on radiosonde stations across the contiguous US. Long Short‐Term Memory predictions are compared to a state‐of‐the‐art reanalysis model and show cases where the LSTM outperforms, performs equally as well, or underperforms in comparison to the state‐of‐the‐art. Regional and temporal trends in model performance across the US are also discussed. Results suggest that the LSTM model is a viable tool for predicting atmospheric specifications for infrasound propagation modeling.