bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetes mellitus – risk factor and potential future target for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis?
Authors: Gairing Simon Johannes , Schleicher Eva Maria , Labenz Christian
Published: August 2022

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the major complications of cirrhosis, and its presence is associated with poor survival. Several risk factors for HE are well established, including age, history of HE, portosystemic shunts, or poorer liver function. In recent years, diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as another potential risk factor for the development of HE. This may be important for many patients, as the incidence of type 2 DM (T2DM) is increasing worldwide and, consequently, the incidence of NAFLD-related cirrhosis is rising simultaneously. In addition, DM is a critical factor in the progression of other liver diseases, such as alcohol-related liver disease. Thus, the number of patients with cirrhosis and comorbid T2DM will also increase. To date, the prevalence of DM already ranges between 22 - 40% in patients with cirrhosis. DM-associated factors that may influence the risk of HE include systemic inflammation, insulin resistance with increased muscle protein breakdown as well as autonomic dysfunction with prolonged intestinal transit time and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Currently, the evidence for an association between DM and both minimal and overt HE is weak and it seems likely that only poor glycemic control has an impact on HE risk. In addition, there are some early signs indicating that DM may impair the response of patients with HE to pharmacological therapies such as rifaximin. Thus, improvements in the management of glycemic control may be a candidate future target to reduce the risk of HE. In this concise review, we summarize the current evidence on the association between DM and HE and its potential future implications.
Firm innovation and covenant tightness
Authors: Ma Zhiming , Novoselov Kirill E. , Stice Derrald , Zhang Yue
Published: August 2022

This study explores the association between firm innovation and loan covenant strictness. We find that lenders construct stricter contracts for firms filing more patents, consistent with lenders imposing more oversight on firms when they enter the commercialization stage after having demonstrated their inventiveness. Our results hold under propensity score matching and entropy balancing, and when exploiting the American Inventors Protection Act as a shock affecting unrelated banks’ access to patent filing information. The relationship we document is stronger when the lender has more expertise and for firms with higher default risk. We demonstrate that borrowers’ patent filings are associated with more future R&D and capital investment and with a higher likelihood of their acquiring firms in the industry of their patent filings. Our results are consistent with the theoretical prediction that lenders interpret patent filings as indicative of high inventive potential that requires stricter discipline and oversight by lenders in order to be converted into actual business success, and with them designing debt contract terms accordingly.
Reproduction Rather than Comprehension? Analysis of Gains in Students’ Science Text Comprehension
Authors: Bernholt Sascha , Härtig Hendrik , Retelsdorf Jan
Published: August 2022

The use of texts is an indispensable resource for students’ learning, especially in science domains. While developing understanding of a specific topic usually is the main goal of reading expository texts, an important consideration is how to best measure whether this understanding has been reached. In this study, we aimed to analyze gains in students’ reading comprehension based on reading three expository texts on chemistry and physics topics. By means of a pre–post design, we assessed the reading comprehension of 261 eighth grade students with regard to three levels of reading comprehension. Latent change scores were estimated to analyze changes in students’ total test scores, while also calculating difference scores based on the single items. Results indicate that students’ topic-related comprehension increases from pre- to posttest, while gains seem to be limited to word and sentence level questions. In line with other studies, these findings stress that students would benefit from explicit strategy instruction, at least when learning from reading is the goal of using science texts in classrooms.
Sunspot Rotation in High- and Low-Flaring Active Regions
Authors: Grimes Richard , Pintér Balázs
Published: August 2022

Sunspot rotations are closely linked with flaring activity. They are thought to contribute to the accumulation of helicity in magnetic flux tubes and to triggering magnetic reconnection in large solar flares. This link to solar flares has led to sunspot rotations being used as a parameter in solar flare prediction methods, but analysis for long-period observations of rotations in the literature is scarce. In this study, the rotation profiles of sunspots in a selection of six active regions are studied over time periods of 5 – 10 days to measure how sunspot rotation varies as active regions develop. The active regions are divided into two categories: high-flaring groups, which produced at least one X-class flare, and low-flaring regions that had little flaring activity. Comparison of the rotation profiles in these regions showed that young complex sunspot groups exhibit faster angular velocities and more frequent changes in rotation than older single-spot groups and, although the most rotating groups were also the most flare-productive, sudden changes in rotation were found to not definitively indicate an imminent eruption.
Genetic parameters of production and reproduction traits of Egyptian buffaloes under subtropical conditions
Authors: Easa Ahmed A. , El-Aziz Ayman H. Abd , Barbary Adel S. A. El , Kostomakhin Nikolay M. , Nasr Mohammed A. F. , Imbabi Tharwat A.
Published: August 2022

This research was aimed to investigate the production and reproduction traits and their genetic parameters of Egyptian buffaloes under subtropical environment. Heritability, phenotypic, and genetic parameters were estimated for productive and reproduction traits of first parity This study revealed the averages TMY, 305-dMY, LL, BW, DP, SP, CI, and AFC were 2260, 2150 kg, 271 days, 38.63 kg, 210.50 days, 195.20 days, 586.86 days, and 36.61 months, respectively. The heritability estimates for productive traits of the first lactation were 0.61, 0.52, 0.47, 0.20, and 0.23 for TMY, 305-dMY, LL, DP, and BW, respectively. Heritability estimates for reproductive traits SP, CI, and AFC were 0.07, 0.09, and 0.35, respectively. Genetic correlations of most of the investigated first parity traits were positive, with an exception of DP. The genetic correlation was negative between SP and BW, and between AFC and LL. Phenotypic correlations of the first parity among all investigated traits were positive except between DP and TMY, 305-dMY, LL, BW, and AFC. High and moderate heritability estimates indicated that the opportunity of genetic upgrading of these parameters could be achieved owing to sire selection. Selection for high milk yield will be associated with genetic improvement in lactation period and birth weight.
Artificial Intelligence for Dunhuang Cultural Heritage Protection: The Project and the Dataset
Authors: Yu Tianxiu , Lin Cong , Zhang Shijie , Wang Chunxue , Ding Xiaohong , An Huili , Liu Xiaoxiang , Qu Ting , Wan Liang , You Shaodi , Wu Jian , Zhang Jiawan
Published: August 2022

In this work, we introduce our project on Dunhuang cultural heritage protection using artificial intelligence. The Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in China, also known as the Grottoes of the Thousand Buddhas, is a religious and cultural heritage located on the Silk Road. The grottoes were built from the 4th century to the 14th century. After thousands of years, the in grottoes decaying is serious. In addition, numerous historical records were destroyed throughout the years, making it difficult for archaeologists to reconstruct history. We aim to use modern computer vision and machine learning technologies to solve such challenges. First, we propose to use deep networks to automatically perform the restoration. Through out experiments, we find the automated restoration can provide comparable quality as those manually restored from an archaeologist. This can significantly speed up the restoration given the enormous size of the historical paintings. Second, we propose to use detection and retrieval for further analyzing the tremendously large amount of objects because it is unreasonable to manually label and analyze them. Several state-of-the-art methods are rigorously tested and quantitatively compared in different criteria and categorically. In this work, we created a new dataset, namely, AI for Dunhuang, to facilitate the research. Version v1.0 of the dataset comprises of data and label for the restoration, style transfer, detection, and retrieval. Specifically, the dataset has 10,000 images for restoration, 3455 for style transfer, and 6147 for property retrieval. Lastly, we propose to use style transfer to link and analyze the styles over time, given that the grottoes were build over 1000 years by numerous artists. This enables the possibly to analyze and study the art styles over 1000 years and further enable future researches on cross-era style analysis. We benchmark representative methods and conduct a comparative study on the results for our solution. The dataset will be publicly available along with this paper.
Old plasma dilution reduces human biological age: a clinical study
Authors: Kim Daehwan , Kiprov Dobri D. , Luellen Connor , Lieb Michael , Liu Chao , Watanabe Etsuko , Mei Xiaoyue , Cassaleto Kaitlin , Kramer Joel , Conboy Michael J. , Conboy Irina M.
Published: August 2022

This work extrapolates to humans the previous animal studies on blood heterochronicity and establishes a novel direct measurement of biological age. Our results support the hypothesis that, similar to mice, human aging is driven by age-imposed systemic molecular excess, the attenuation of which reverses biological age, defined in our work as a deregulation (noise) of 10 novel protein biomarkers. The results on biological age are strongly supported by the data, which demonstrates that rounds of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) promote a global shift to a younger systemic proteome, including youthfully restored pro-regenerative, anticancer, and apoptotic regulators and a youthful profile of myeloid/lymphoid markers in circulating cells, which have reduced cellular senescence and lower DNA damage. Mechanistically, the circulatory regulators of the JAK-STAT, MAPK, TGF-beta, NF-κB, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways become more youthfully balanced through normalization of TLR4, which we define as a nodal point of this molecular rejuvenation. The significance of our findings is confirmed through big-data gene expression studies.
The impact of music training on executive functions in childhood—a systematic review
Authors: Degé Franziska , Frischen Ulrike
Published: August 2022

Executive functions are cognitive control processes for regulating attention and behavior and are of enormous importance for child development. Accordingly, it is desirable to find effective interventions to promote executive functions. Research suggests that musical training is an activity that can promote the development of executive functions in childhood. The findings from existing studies, however, appear inconsistent. This systematic literature review aims to shed more light on the influence of musical training on executive functions and to investigate to what extent age of the children, study design, and type and duration of musical training play a role. The results of this work show that the majority of the included studies report an influence of musical training on executive functions. Since most studies measured inhibition, the impact of music training on inhibition is most reliable. However, there are still not enough studies of sufficiently high quality to permit a solid systemization with respect to age and with regard to the type and duration of the musical training.
Understanding complex predictive models with ghost variables
Authors: Delicado Pedro , Peña Daniel
Published: August 2022

Framed in the literature on Interpretable Machine Learning, we propose a new procedure to assign a measure of relevance to each explanatory variable in a complex predictive model. We assume that we have a training set to fit the model and a test set to check its out-of-sample performance. We propose to measure the individual relevance of each variable by comparing the predictions of the model in the test set with those obtained when the variable of interest is substituted (in the test set) by its ghost variable, defined as the prediction of this variable by using the rest of explanatory variables. In linear models it is shown that, on the one hand, the proposed measure gives similar results to leave-one-covariate-out (loco, with a lowest computational cost) and outperforms random permutations, and on the other hand, it is strongly related to the usualF-statistic measuring the significance of a variable. In nonlinear predictive models (as neural networks or random forests) the proposed measure shows the relevance of the variables in an efficient way, as shown by a simulation study comparing ghost variables with other alternative methods (includinglocoand random permutations, and also knockoff variables and estimated conditional distributions). Finally, we study the joint relevance of the variables by defining the relevance matrix as the covariance matrix of the vectors of effects on predictions when using every ghost variable. Our proposal is illustrated with simulated examples and the analysis of a large real data set.
Use of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring to Improve Hypertension Equity
Authors: Khoong Elaine C. , Commodore-Mensah Yvonne , Lyles Courtney R. , Fontil Valy
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

To evaluate how self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring interventions impact hypertension equity.

Recent Findings

While a growing number of studies have recruited participants from safety-net settings, racial/ethnic minority groups, rural areas, or lower socio-economic backgrounds, few have reported on clinical outcomes with many choosing to evaluate only patient-reported outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, engagement). The studies with clinical outcomes demonstrate that SMBP monitoring (a) can be successfully adopted by historically excluded patient populations and safety-net settings and (b) improves outcomes when paired with clinical support. There are few studies that explicitly evaluate how SMBP monitoring impacts hypertension disparities and among rural, low-income, and some racial/ethnic minority populations.

Researchers need to design SMBP monitoring studies that include disparity reduction outcomes and recruit from broader populations that experience worse hypertension outcomes. In addition to assessing effectiveness, studies must also evaluate how to mitigate multi-level barriers to real-world implementation of SMBP monitoring programs.
Combining stereotactic body radiotherapy with camrelizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-arm trial
Authors: Li Jian-Xu , Su Ting-Shi , Gong Wen-Feng , Zhong Jian-Hong , Yan Liu-Ying , Zhang Jie , Li Li-Qing , He Mei-Ling , Zhang Rui-Jun , Du You-Qin , Wang Xiao-Ting , Liang Shi-Xiong , Xiang Bang-De
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may have significant immunomodulatory effects that enhance tumor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. This phase 2 clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining palliative SBRT with camrelizumab (an anti-PD1 monoclonal antibody) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).

Methods

Patients with uHCC, Child–Pugh A/B liver function, and at least one measurable lesion were enrolled between April 2020 and August 2022. Patients were administered 200 mg camrelizumab intravenously from the first day of palliative SBRT and then every 3 weeks. Palliative SBRT was delivered daily over five fractions per week, with a dose range of 30–50 Gy. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and safety. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04193696).

Results

Twenty-one patients were enrolled; the median radiation dose was 40 Gy, and the median number of cycles of camrelizumab was five. The ORR was 52.4%. After a median follow-up of 19.7 months, the median progression-free and overall survival were 5.8 and 14.2 months, respectively. The overall survival probability was 85.7% at 6 months, 76.2% at 9 months, and 59.9% at 12 months. All grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in five patients (23.8%) and were manageable. No grade 4/5 TRAEs were observed.

Conclusion

Palliative SBRT plus camrelizumab showed promising antitumor activity against uHCC. Toxicities were manageable with no unexpected safety issues. This study provides evidence of a new therapeutic method for the treatment of uHCC.
Integrating justice in Nature-Based Solutions to avoid nature-enabled dispossession
Authors: Anguelovski Isabelle , Corbera Esteve
Published: August 2022

Heavily featured over the last few years in global research and policy agreements, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) remain however exposed to much debate over the ways their current design and ability to achieve both environmental goals and social needs. As they become mainstream climate mitigation and adaptation options, their capacity to deliver expected benefits, especially when contemplating equity and justice, is at least uncertain. Through a critical review of existing debates and perspectives on NBS, this paper questions their uptake and points at the frequent embeddedness of NBS in speculative and elite-based development paths in both urban and rural areas. We present an alternative, justice-oriented approach to NBS so that projects can avoid nature-enable dispossession and instead build nature-inspired justice that prioritizes the needs, identities, and livelihoods of the most ecologically and socially vulnerable residents.
Clinical and epidemiological investigation of a child with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection following reoccurrence
Authors: Lin Qiu‑Yu , Lin Guo‑Tian , Zhang Fan , Xiang Xia-Yu , Zhang Yue‑Hua , Wang Jia‑Chong , Jin Yu‑Ming , Hai Yuan-ping , Tao-Wu  , Lv Zhi‑Yue , Xiang Wei
Published: August 2022

Objective

To investigate the case of a child infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had subsequent viral reactivation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestations, epidemiological data, laboratory and imaging examinations, treatment, and follow-up of the child. And then, we searched related literature using PubMed.

Results

The 9-year-old boy was exposed to COVID-19 in Malawi and tested positive for NAT in Haikou, China. He was asymptomatic and admitted to our hospital. After six negative NATs, he was discharged from the hospital and quarantined in a hotel. His infection was reactivated again after 22 days (interval between first and last positive NATs). The cycle threshold (Ct) values of positive tests were 25 and 31, and the gene sequencing viral loads were very low. The viral strain Kenya/P2601/2020, a variant of the hCoV-19/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-01/2019 genome (GISAID accession IL: EPI_ISL_402119), was found when polymerase chain reaction enrichment was used to sequence the virus. However, people around him tested negative for COVID-19.

Conclusion

First, we confirmed the reactivation of COVID-19 in a child. The risk of recurrent infection with SARS-CoV-2 was low, and the policy of strictly isolating patients carrying long-term viral ribonucleic acid should be reconsidered. The interval positivity was most likely due to incorrect sampling and/or testing methods. SGS and aB testing are recommended for children with viral reactivation. Second, SARS-CoV-2 viral reactivation cannot be ruled out. The possible mechanisms, such as prolonged infection and viral latent reactivation, need further investigation.
Equivariant Oka theory: survey of recent progress
Authors: Kutzschebauch Frank , Lárusson Finnur , Schwarz Gerald W.
Published: August 2022

We survey recent work, published since 2015, on equivariant Oka theory. The main results described in the survey are as follows. Homotopy principles for equivariant isomorphisms of Stein manifolds on which a reductive complex Lie groupGacts. Applications to the linearisation problem. A parametric Oka principle for sections of a bundleEof homogeneous spaces for a group bundle$${{\mathscr {G}}}$$G, all over a reduced Stein spaceXwith compatible actions of a reductive complex group onE,$${{\mathscr {G}}}$$G, andX. Application to the classification of generalised principal bundles with a group action. Finally, an equivariant version of Gromov’s Oka principle based on a notion of aG-manifold beingG-Oka.
Shareholder Engagement and Custody Chains
Authors: Ferran Eilís
Published: August 2022

Shareholder engagement has come to be seen to be pivotal to good corporate governance. It is therefore more important than ever for the mechanisms of shareholder engagement to be up to the important task they are meant to perform. Historically, these mechanisms have fallen short because of the capital markets’ necessary dependency on custody chains. Custody chains perform valuable functions but they also create a distance between the company and the end investor from which flows a significant risk of voting preferences and other important information not passing smoothly up and down the chain. Corporate governance is thus at risk of being distorted by process deficiencies. Changes to the operation of custody chains that were introduced by the EU’s flagship amended Shareholder Rights Directive II became operative in September 2020. This article is therefore among the first to draw on operational impact to assess the significance of these new measures. Experience has already demonstrated that while there have been some important advances, the regulatory changes are struggling on two levels: they have created new uncertainties within national laws; and they have failed to provide the necessary cross-border harmonization of key concepts. These are not issues that can be resolved effectively by technology or market workarounds on their own. There is a continuing need for legislative change to ensure that legal uncertainties do not act as a barrier to further technology-driven market standardization and innovation.
K-stable Fano threefolds of rank 2 and degree 30
Authors: Cheltsov Ivan , Park Jihun
Published: August 2022

We find all K-stable smooth Fano threefolds in the family No. 2.22.
Outdoor education in Canadian post-secondary education: common philosophies, goals, and activities
Authors: Asfeldt Morten , Purc-Stephenson Rebecca , Zimmerman Thomas
Published: August 2022

Canada has a long history of outdoor education (OE) in sectors including summer camps, K-12, and post-secondary education (PSE). However, previous research has demonstrated that OE is sometimes poorly understood in the PSE sector leading to program closures and limited program development. As a result, scholars have called for national and international collaboration to promote the value of OE including identifying common OE learning outcomes and the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings guiding OE practices. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify common philosophies, learning goals, and characteristics of PSE OE in Canada. Results reported here are part of a larger three-phase, exploratory sequential mixed-method project and used a convenience sample of PSE outdoor educators recruited from across Canada. Findings indicate that PSE OE in Canada is influenced by six common philosophies and includes five common learning goals. Overall, this study demonstrates that OE is well aligned with the common goals and missions of PSE in Canada.
Application of Metastructures for Targeted Low-Frequency Vibration Suppression in Plates
Authors: Ghachi Ratiba F. , Mohamed Ahmed S. , Renno Jamil , Alnahhal Wael
Published: August 2022

Purpose

We present an approach that combines finite element analysis and genetic algorithms to find the optimal configuration of local resonators created in the host structure to suppress their vibration in a target low-frequency range. Such local resonators are indeed metastructures that alter the wave propagation in the host structure, thereby attenuating their vibration.

Methods

To demonstrate the approach, we cutout zigzag resonators in a thin aluminium plate that is subjected to base-excitations. The thin plate and the zigzag cutouts are modelled using the finite element method, and the optimal location and optimal tip mass of the zigzag cutouts are obtained using genetic algorithms through iterative simulations. Two case studies are considered, and the fitness function used in the optimization problem is the plate’s root mean square of vibration in a specific low-frequency range. In the first case, the plate has two aligned zigzag cutouts. In this case, the objective is to find the optimal linear location and tip masses of the two zigzag cutouts. In the second case, the plate also has two zigzag cutouts, but their linear and transverse locations can vary along with the respective tip masses. The two optimal specimens are manufactured and tested experimentally.

Results

Numerical results were compared to experimental results which demonstrate that the proposed approach is reliable and can be used to tune the band gap of plates, thereby maximizing the vibration attenuation in the target frequency range.

Conclusion

Genetic algorithms can be used along with finite element analysis and zigzag cutouts to tune the band gap of plates subjected to base-excitations. The approach can be extended to plates/structures with other types of excitations and boundary conditions.
Sounding Out Science: the Sonaphor and Electronic Sound Design as a Learning Tool in Secondary Science
Authors: Weaver Alexis , Firmer Genevieve , Motion Alice , O’Regan Jadey , O’Reilly Chiara , Yeadon Daniel
Published: August 2022

The divergent use of digital technologies provides an important opportunity for students to develop critical and postdigital approaches to learning. Despite the rising accessibility of music technology, creatively composed sound is a relatively underexplored educational tool compared to the musical elements of melody, rhythm, and lyrics. Sound’s ability to transfer spatial and temporal information renders it a transformative tool for teaching and learning. Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, our research explores the possibility of supplementing secondary science education with a sound-based learning tool which creatively interprets scientific concepts to increase comprehension and engagement. Building on the existing ways in which science is communicated through music and sound, we have developed the Sonaphor (abbreviated from ‘sonic metaphor’). This article will outline the capacity for experimental electronic sound design to increase engagement in contexts ranging from classrooms through to informal learning environments. We see potential for the Sonaphor as a learning tool that reignites wonder and curiosity in science; it combines learning and creativity in sound design and science, allowing learners to interact with, and create their own Sonaphors. Through exemplar Sonaphors, we highlight a proposed structure and discuss the importance of harmonious script, dialogue, and sound design. The flexibility of the digital medium and increasing ubiquity of sound recording and editing software presents an opportunity for Sonaphors to become ‘living’ digital objects that could be adapted by different narrators, sound designers, and artists for different cultures, languages, syllabi, and purposes that build inclusivity in science education and communication.
Cartographic Representations of Coastal Land Loss in Louisiana: An Investigation Based on Deviant Cartographies
Authors: Kühne Olaf , Koegst Lara
Published: August 2022

The claim of topographic cartography to represent things of relevance and at the same time of certain permanent material persistence is challenged by the processes of coastal land loss in Louisiana. This example is used to discuss central points of critical cartography, such as a positivist worldview of cartography, its state-boundedness, and the construction of relevance. These aspects are taken (meta-functionally) as the occasion for reflection and further development of cartography in the sense of post-critical cartography sensitive to hybridities, complexities and contingencies. In doing so, we draw on reflections on deviant cartographies that foreground the consideration of whether changes in cartography have proven professionally or socially useful, suitable, and usable, without resorting to the notion of a comprehensive paradigm shift. The need is particularly evident in the case of land loss in Louisiana, where there is a constantly changing physical space that hardly allows for the construction of a clear dividing line between land and water areas, as is also evident from the analysis of historical and current maps that reflect topographies.
Political ideology and pandemic lifestyles: the indirect effects of empathy, authoritarianism, and threat
Authors: Hill Terrence D. , Garcia-Alexander Ginny , Davis Andrew P. , Bjorklund Eric T. , Vila-Henninger Luis A. , Cockerham William C.
Published: August 2022

Background

In this paper, we integrate theory and research from sociology, psychology, and political science to develop and test a mediation model that helps to explain why political conservatism is often associated with pandemic behaviors and lifestyles that are inconsistent with public health recommendations for COVID-19.

Methods

Using national data from the 2021 Crime, Health, and Politics Survey (n = 1743), we formally test the indirect effects of political conservatism (an index of Republican party identification, conservative political orientation, right-wing news media consumption, and 2020 Trump vote) on pandemic lifestyles (an index of social distancing, hand sanitizing, mask usage, and vaccination) through the mechanisms of empathy (concern about the welfare of others), authoritarian beliefs (authoritarian aggressiveness and acquiescence to authority), and pandemic threat perceptions (threats to self and to the broader society).

Result

Our results confirm that political conservatism is associated with riskier pandemic lifestyles. We also find that this association is partially mediated by lower levels of empathy, higher levels of authoritarian beliefs, and lower levels of perceived pandemic threat.

Conclusions

Understanding why political conservatism is associated with riskier pandemic lifestyles may eventually lead us to ways of identifying and overcoming widespread cultural barriers to critical pandemic responses.
Modelling morphodynamic responses of a natural embayed beach to Typhoon Lekima encountering different tide types
Authors: Liu Xu , Kuang Cuiping , Huang Shichang , Dong Weiliang
Published: August 2022

Recent developments in process-based coastal area models such as XBeach provide new opportunities to predict coastal responses to primary forcing mechanisms such as storm hydrodynamic by using 2DH grids. However, due to the lack of measured data, there are few application scenarios of the models. Therefore, more measurement and research are needed. In this paper, the Typhoon Lekima that hitting Zhejiang Province during neap tide period was selected to simulate morphodynamic responses of the Huangcheng Beach by assuming encountering with different tide types. Cross shore measurements with eight cross-shore profiles (named S1 ~ S8 from north to south) of the Huangcheng Beach pre- and post- the Typhoon Lekima respectively were presented. Then a 2DH storm surge and wave coupled model was established with Delft3D Flow/Wave. The model was well calibrated with measured water levels and wave data and provided hydrodynamic boundary conditions of different typhoon and tide types coupling situations for a refined model. The refined model was built using XBeach and simulated the morphological responses of the Huangcheng beach with well verifications. On basis of the numerical results, bed level changes at the eight profiles were analyzed, and the character of erosion and deposition under different tide conditions were illustrated. The net sand volume changes were got smaller under the spring tide condition rather than middle tide and neap tide conditions. Further study of the distribution of wave induced current at different stages of collision, inundation and ebb shown that the stronger current under spring tide condition would increase the sediment transport rate and reduce the deposition volume at profiles S3 and S6 ~ S8, and the total amount of sediment involved in transportation had increased for the whole beach, leading to the reduction of net erosion volume at profiles S1, S2, S4 and S5.
Management and associated factors of postoperative acute pain in cesarean section performed under spinal anesthesia, prospective cohort study
Authors: Teshome Zenebe Bekele , Seifu Minda Abebe
Published: August 2022

Highlights
Vaccine Policy Failure: Explaining Thailand’s Unsuccessful Containment of COVID-19 in the Third Wave
Authors: Pangsapa Piya
Published: August 2022

In January 2020, Thailand became the first country outside of China to report a coronavirus infection. In July 2020, Thailand was the number one ranked country (out of 184 countries) for its effective handling of COVID-19. In December 2020, the country was hit by a second wave and the government was once again able to contain the new outbreak. In late March 2021, however, a third wave broke out and as of 1 April 2021, Thailand had seen 2,022,117 new cases and a death toll during the third wave of 20,211. The Thai government has not only been unable to contain the virus this time around, but has also failed in its procurement, allocation, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for its 70 million people. This article will look at the government’s mismanagement of the pandemic in the third wave and how the government is dealing with the current crisis.
The development, and day-to-day variation, of a Military-Specific Auditory N-Back Task and Shoot-/Don’t -Shoot Task
Authors: Vine Christopher , Coakley Sarah , Myers Stephen , Blacker Sam , Runswick Oliver
Published: August 2022

During military operations, soldiers are required to successfully complete numerous physical and cognitive tasks concurrently. Understanding the typical variance in research tools that may be used to provide insight into the interrelationship between physical and cognitive performance is therefore highly important. This study assessed the inter-day variability of two military-specific cognitive assessments: a Military-Specific Auditory N-Back Task (MSANT) and a Shoot-/Don’t-Shoot Task (SDST) in 28 participants. Limits of agreement ±95% confidence intervals, standard error of the mean, and smallest detectable change were calculated to quantify the typical variance in task performance. All parameters within the MSANT and SDST demonstrated no mean difference for trial visit in either the seated or walking condition, with equivalency demonstrated for the majority of comparisons. Collectively, these data provided an indication of the typical variance in MSANT and SDST performance, while demonstrating that both assessments can be used during seated and walking conditions.
Femtosecond infrared optical vortex lasers based on optical parametric amplification
Authors: Feng Renyu , Qian Junyu , Peng Yujie , Li Yanyan , Li Wenkai , Leng Yuxin , Li Ruxin
Published: August 2022

Infrared femtosecond optical vortices open up many new research fields, such as optical micro–nano manipulation, time-resolved nonlocal spectroscopy in solids, vortex secondary radiation and particle generations. In this article, we demonstrate a femtosecond optical vortex laser system based on a two-stage optical parametric amplifier. In our experiment, 1.45 μm vortex signal pulses with energy of 190 μJ and 1.8 μm vortex idler pulses with energy of 158 μJ have been obtained, and the pulse durations are 51 and 48 fs, respectively. Both the energy fluctuations of the signal and idler pulses are less than 0.5% (root mean square), and the spectral fluctuations are less than 1.5% within 1 hour. This type of highly stable femtosecond optical vortex laser has a wide range of applications for vortex strong-field physics.
High laser damage threshold reflective optically addressed liquid crystal light valve based on gallium nitride conductive electrodes
Authors: Xing Zhibo , Fan Wei , Huang Dajie , Cheng He , Du Tongyao
Published: August 2022

In this paper, the feasibility of a high laser damage threshold liquid crystal spatial light modulator based on gallium nitride (GaN) transparent conductive electrodes is proved. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) is measured, and a high LIDT reflective optically addressed liquid crystal light valve (OALCLV) based on GaN is designed and fabricated. The proper work mode of the OALCLV is determined; the OALCLV obtained a maximum reflectivity of about 55% and an on–off ratio of 55:1, and an image response is demonstrated.
Effect of school feeding program on the anthropometric and haemoglobin status of school children in Sidama region, Southern Ethiopia: a prospective study
Authors: Desalegn Tsion A. , Gebremedhin Samson , Stoecker Barbara J.
Published: August 2022

Ethiopia recently scaled up the implementation of a school feeding program (SFP) as a targeted intervention for protecting disadvantaged school children from hunger and food insecurity. However, the contribution of the program to advancing the nutritional status of children has not been adequately explored. We assessed the effect of SFP on the anthropometric and haemoglobin status of school children in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia. Our prospective cohort study compared the height-for-age z-score (HAZ), BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) and haemoglobin concentration of SFP beneficiary (n 240) and non-beneficiary (n 240) children, 10–14 years of age. The children were recruited from 8 SFP implementing and 8 control schools using a multistage sampling procedure and were followed for an academic year. The SFP intervention and control schools were matched one-to-one based on agro ecological features and geographical proximity. Exposure, outcome and pertinent extraneous variables were collected through baseline and end-line surveys. Multilevel difference-in-differences (DID) analysis was used to measure the net effect on the outcomes of interest. In the multivariable DID model adjusted for potential confounders including maternal and paternal literacy, household monthly income, wealth index and household food insecurity, the SFP did not show significant effects on the haemoglobin concentration (β = 0⋅251, 95 % confidence interval (CI): −0⋅238, 0⋅739), BAZ (β = 0⋅121, 95 % CI: −0⋅163, 0⋅405) and HAZ (β = −0⋅291, 95 % CI: −0⋅640, 0⋅588) of children.
Vaccination, conscientious objection and human rights
Authors: Leigh Ian
Published: August 2022

This paper discusses the extent to which conscientious objections to vaccination qualify for protection under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Drawing on an examination of the nature of conscience and the ethics of vaccine refusal, it argues that a narrow category of reasons for refusal to be vaccinated can be differentiated from more general ‘vaccine hesitancy’. In relation to conscience objections of this kind, it engages in a systematic analysis of the applicability of the ECHR, both in relation to compulsory vaccination, and so-called ‘vaccine passports’. It concludes that states can – and in some situations must – recognise conscientious objections under the ECHR.
Tracheostomy decision-making for children with medical complexity: What supports and resources do caregivers need?
Authors: Nageswaran Savithri , Gower William A. , King Nancy M. P. , Golden Shannon L.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Caregivers of children with medical complexity (CMC) face decisions about life-sustaining interventions, such as tracheostomy. Our objective is to describe the support needs of caregivers of CMC and the resources they use surrounding tracheostomy decision-making (TDM) for their children.

Methods

This qualitative study, conducted between 2013 and 2015, consisted of semi-structured interviews with 56 caregivers of 41 CMC who had tracheostomies, and 5 focus groups of 33 clinicians at a tertiary care children's hospital. Participants were asked about their perspectives on the TDM process. Qualitative data were transcribed, coded, and organized into themes.

Results

Caregivers used five domains of resources surrounding TDM: (1) social network including extended family members, friends, and clergy; (2) healthcare providers including physicians and nurses; (3) other parents of children with tracheostomy; (4) tangible materials such as print materials, videos, tracheostomy tubes, mannequins, and simulation labs; and (5) internet including websites, social media, and online health communities. Caregivers used these resources for (1) decision-making, (2) becoming knowledgeable and skillful about child's diagnosis, tracheostomy, and home care, and (3) emotional and spiritual well-being. Caregivers agreed that they received enough support, but there were gaps. Clinicians were knowledgeable about these resources, discussed social network and internet less often than the other domains, and identified gaps in supporting caregivers.

Significance of results

Caregivers’ need for support and use of resources surrounding tracheostomy placement for CMC extended beyond decision-making, and included becoming knowledgeable and getting emotional/spiritual support. Healthcare providers exploring these resources with caregivers could improve the quality of TDM communication.
Reducing Weather Influences on an 89 GHz Sea Ice Concentration Algorithm in the Arctic Using Retrievals From an Optimal Estimation Method
Authors: Lu Junshen , Scarlat Raul , Heygster Georg , Spreen Gunnar
Published: August 2022

Sea ice concentration (SIC) derived from 89 GHz data has up to four times finer spatial resolution compared to that from the widely used 19 and 37 GHz data. But it has lower accuracy due to the enhanced weather influences from water vapor, cloud liquid water (CLW), wind, and surface temperature. Here we improve a high‐resolution SIC algorithm, called the ASI algorithm, based on the difference between vertical and horizontal polarization 89 GHz data, by correcting the observed data for these weather influences through a radiative transfer model and geophysical data retrieved by an optimal estimation method. The improved algorithm denoted ASI3, is developed for the Arctic based on the weather‐corrected brightness temperatures and newly identified open water (80 K) and sea ice (14 K) tie‐points. The most important component of this correction is the inclusion of CLW, the largest weather influence contributor. ASI3 results are evaluated over pure surface sites of 0% and 100% SICs under various weather conditions, showing a much lower average standard deviation (1.1%) than ASI (16.2%). ASI3 reduces weather patterns over pack ice resulting in more homogeneous retrievals but biased toward lower values. Comparison to Landsat imagery under clear‐sky conditions shows that ASI3 results in better agreement with the Landsat SIC than ASI. The number of cases where real sea ice is falsely identified as open water is reduced by ASI3 due to its relaxed open‐water mask and wider water/ice dynamic range.
Stress Drop Estimates for Small to Moderate Earthquakes in Tohoku, Japan Considering Rupture Geometry, Speed, and Directivity
Authors: Shimmoto Shota
Published: August 2022

This study develops a spectral ratio method to estimate the earthquake stress drop considering the rupture geometry, speed, and directivity. This spectral ratio method is applied to Mw 3.3–5.9 earthquakes in Fukushima and Ibaraki, Japan. A rectangular source model with a square rupture front and uniform slip distribution is used to fit spectral ratios stacked by station and wave type for multiple empirical Green's functions, and estimate the finite source properties. Comparing the rupture areas obtained by the spectral ratio method with the slip inversion results shows that our results from the spectral ratio method are associated with a localized area of large slip rather than the overall rupture area. Hence, the rupture area obtained from this spectral ratio method is inappropriate to calculate the average static stress drop. This study proposes a procedure to estimate the average stress drop for the entire rupture area and one for the localized area with large slip, using a source model with a single asperity and heterogeneous stress drop distribution. As a result, we obtained average static stress drops of 0.42–40.2 MPa with a median of 3.7 MPa. The local stress drop is 5.7 times larger than the average static stress drop. This study suggests that a compact area compared to the overall rupture area mainly controls the shape of a broadband seismic spectrum. Thus, we should consider the source heterogeneity in addition to the rupture geometry, speed, and directivity when estimating the stress drops from seismic spectra.
Bridging the phenomenological gap between predictive basic-symptoms and attenuated positive symptoms: a cross-sectional network analysis
Authors: Müller Hendrik , Betz Linda T. , Kambeitz Joseph , Falkai Peter , Gaebel Wolfgang , Heinz Andreas , Hellmich Martin , Juckel Georg , Lambert Martin , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Schneider Frank , Wagner Michael , Zink Mathias , Klosterkötter Joachim , Bechdolf Andreas
Published: August 2022

Attenuated positive symptoms (APS), transient psychotic-like symptoms (brief, limited intermittent psychotic symptoms, BLIPS), and predictive cognitive-perceptive basic-symptoms (BS) criteria can help identify a help-seeking population of young people at clinical high-risk of a first episode psychosis (CHRp). Phenomenological, there are substantial differences between BS and APS or BLIPS. BS do not feature psychotic content as delusion or hallucinations, and reality testing is preserved. One fundamental problem in the psychopathology of CHRp is to understand how the non-psychotic BS are related to APS. To explore the interrelationship of APS and predictive BS, we fitted a network analysis to a dataset of 231 patients at CHRp, aged 24.4 years (SD = 5.3) with 65% male. Particular emphasis was placed on points of interaction (bridge symptoms) between the two criteria sets. The BS ‘unstable ideas of reference’ and “inability to discriminate between imagination and reality” interacted with attenuated delusional ideation. Perceptual BS were linked to perceptual APS. Albeit central for the network, predictive cognitive basic BS were relatively isolated from APS. Our analysis provides empirical support for existing theoretical accounts that interaction between the distinct phenomenological domains of BS and APS is characterized by impairments in source monitoring and perspective-taking. Identifying bridge symptoms between the symptom domains holds the potential to empirically advance the etiological understanding of psychosis and pave the way for tailored clinical interventions.