bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Broaching goals‐of‐care conversations in advancing pediatric cancer
Authors: Kaye Erica C. , Woods Cameka , Velrajan Srilakshmi , Lemmon Monica E. , Baker Justin N. , Mack Jennifer W.
Published: August 2021

Broaching conversations about goals of care can be difficult for clinicians. Presently, the communication strategies used by pediatric oncologists to approach goals of care conversations are not well understood. We recorded disease re‐evaluation conversations between pediatric oncologists, patients, and parents, capturing 141 conversations (∼2400 minutes) for 17 patients with advancing illness across the study period. We conducted content analysis to identify strategies for broaching goals‐of‐care conversations and found five distinct communication approaches, which were not mutually exclusive. Further research is needed to explore patient and family views on best practices for broaching discussions about goals of care.
HLA class II immunopeptidomics reveals that co‐inherited HLA‐allotypes within an extended haplotype can improve proteome coverage for immunosurveillance
Authors: Ramarathinam Sri H. , Ho Bosco K. , Dudek Nadine L. , Purcell Anthony W.
Published: August 2021

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules in humans are encoded by three different loci, HLA‐DR, ‐DQ, and ‐DP. These molecules share approximately 70% sequence similarity and all present peptide ligands to circulating T cells. While the peptide repertoires of numerous HLA‐DR, ‐DQ, and ‐DP allotypes have been examined, there have been few reports on the combined repertoire of these co‐inherited molecules expressed in a single cell as an extended HLA haplotype. Here we describe the endogenous peptide repertoire of a human B lymphoblastoid cell line (C1R) expressing the class II haplotype HLA‐DR12/DQ7/DP4. We have identified 71350 unique naturally processed peptides presented collectively by HLA‐DR12, HLA‐DQ7, or HLA‐DP4. The resulting “haplodome” is complemented by the cellular proteome defined by standard LC‐MS/MS approaches. This large dataset has shed light on properties of these class II ligands especially the preference for membrane and extracellular source proteins. Our data also provides insights into the co‐evolution of these conserved haplotypes of closely linked and co‐inherited HLA molecules; which together increase sequence coverage of cellular proteins for immune surveillance with minimal overlap between each co‐inherited HLA‐class II allomorph.
A unique twisted rod‐like pattern due to π‐π stacking induced host‐guest self‐assembly
Authors: Mukherjee Madhumita , Mandal Piyali , Patra Diptendu , Pal Dwaipayan , Shunmugam Raja , Chattopadhyay Dipankar
Published: August 2021

Here, we reported a unique twisted rod‐like nano‐architecture of as‐synthesized 4‐fluorocinnmaoyl chloride derived polynorbornene (PNORCNF) on the addition of 1‐pyrenemethanol (PM) as a sensing probe. A significant change in the PNORCNF/PM microenvironment's polarity was observed with increasing PM concentration keeping the solvent (THF) unaltered. The change in polarity could be well documented with the morphological changes of the PNORCNF/PM system. We proposed π‐π interaction between PM and cinnamoyl moiety of PNORCNF for this type of well‐controlled hierarchical self‐aggregation.
Disease characterization of people with cystic fibrosis and a minimal function mutation: Data from the Italian registry
Authors: Salvatore Donatello , Carnovale Vincenzo , Majo Fabio , Padoan Rita , Quattrucci Serena , Salvatore Marco , Taruscio Domenica , Amato Annalisa , Ferrari Gianluca , Campagna Giuseppe
Published: August 2021

Background

People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) and a minimal function (MF) mutation are poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease characteristics of adult and pediatric pwCF with a genotype including an MF mutation on the basis of 2018 data from the Italian CF Registry (ICFR).

Methods

This cross‐sectional, descriptive analysis of CF disease characteristics included all of the pwCF with at least one MF mutation or two F508del (F) mutations, and at least one 2018 entry in the ICFR. Data concerning the disease characteristics of pwCF with an F/F genotype are provided for reference.

Findings

A total of 5501 pwCF had at least one entry in the 2018 ICFR, including 2867 whose genotype included an MF mutation; in particular, 1432 had an MF/F genotype and 1148 the F/F genotype. The most frequent F/MF genotypes were F/N1303K (n = 247, 8.6%) and F/G542X (n = 193, 6.7%). The MF/no‐F patients generally had a milder phenotype (a later diagnosis, lower sweat chloride levels, better nutrition, better lung function [starting from adolescence], and a lower prevalence of chronic infections and CF‐related complications) than the MF/F or F/F patients.

Interpretation

The findings of this descriptive analysis highlight the disease characteristics of pwCF with an MF‐including genotype in Italy. The considered clinical outcomes of the pwCF with an F/MF genotype were not generally different from those of pwCF with an F/F genotype, but the patients with an MF/no‐F genotype generally had a milder phenotype.
Photoluminescence and Stability of Sputtered SiOx Layers
Authors: Hosseini-Saber Seyed Mohammad Ali , Muydinov Ruslan , Ahmadi Najme , Ibaceta-Jaña Josefa , Kazemi Zainab , Seeger Stefan , Gundlach Heiko , Gernert Ulrich , Szyszka Bernd , Eichler Hans Joachim
Published: August 2021

SiOx layers with thicknesses of about 300–1000 nm are produced by sputtering silicon onto glass and quartz substrates. Silicon is oxidized during deposition, and the refractive index of the sputtered layers vary from 1.63 to 1.86. Oxygen atomic concentration in SiOx is in the range of . Photoluminescence of SiOx layers is observed and assumed to originate from silicon nanocrystals embedded in a SiOx matrix that is formed after thermal treatment by a Xe flash‐lamp. A layer on quartz substrate exhibits the strongest emission and shows Raman spectral peak at 507 , which is smaller than the value of 521  of bulk silicon crystal. Based on this difference, the size of silicon nanocrystals is estimated to be equal to 1.2 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum consists of overlapping Gaussian functions indicating the size distribution of the silicon nanocrystals. Mean silicon nanocrystals size in the layer on a quartz substrate is estimated at 1.4 nm from the photoluminescence peak datasets reported in previous researches. Thus, sputtering of silicon in a low‐pressure air and subsequent flash‐heating seems to be a convenient method to produce silicon nanocrystals in SiOx layers. These could be useful to realize Si‐LEDs or even silicon lasers. In addition, the aging of SiOx layers during 6 months is evaluated.
Formation of Lead Halide Perovskite Precursors in Solution: Insight from Electronic‐Structure Theory
Authors: Schier Richard , Conesa Rodriguez Alejandro , Valencia Ana M. , Cocchi Caterina
Published: August 2021

Understanding the formation of lead halide (LH) perovskite solution precursors is crucial to gain insight into the evolution of these materials to thin films for solar cells. Using density functional theory in conjunction with the polarizable continuum model, 18 complexes with chemical formula are investigated, where X = Cl, Br, I, and M are common solvent molecules. Through the analysis of structural properties, binding energies, and charge distributions, the role of halogen species and solvent molecules in the formation of LH perovskite precursors is clarified. It is found that interatomic distances are critically affected by the halogen species, whereas the energetic stability is driven by the solvent coordination to the backbones. Regardless of the solvent, lead iodide complexes are more strongly bound than the others. Based on the charge distribution analysis, it is found that all solvent molecules bind covalently with the LH backbones and that PbI and PbBr bonds lose ionicity in solution. The results contribute to clarify the physical properties of LH perovskite solution precursors and offer a valuable starting point for further investigations on their crystalline intermediates.
An importance measure of a CNC lathe considering failure correlations
Authors: Gu Dongwei , Zhong Yuhong , Xu Zhen , Chen Bingkun , Wang Zhiqiong
Published: August 2021

Failure correlation is a physical phenomenon observed, for example, in CNC (computer numerical control) lathe applications. Reliability importance measure considering failure correlation is an effective measure to identify the importance of CNC lathe. This paper fully considers the failure correlation among the subsystems of the CNC lathe. Based on the Copula function, the joint reliability model of each subsystem of the CNC lathe is established. Three methods (D‐test, the average cumulative error, and the root mean square error) are used to compare the joint reliability models under different Copula functions. Then ascertained the Clayton Copula model can describe the failure correlation reliability of CNC lathe most accurately. The reliability dynamic importance measure can judge the difference in CNC lathe subsystem importance measure more accurately. In this paper, the reliability dynamic core importance measure is proposed to analyze the potential of the CNC lathe subsystems for improvement. It can determine that the servo subsystem is the crucial part of the CNC lathe for priority improvement.
Financing sustainable development? The role of foreign aid in Southeast Asia's energy transition
Authors: Bertheau Paul , Lindner Robert
Published: August 2021

The rapid deployment of modern renewable energy generation capacity in the fast‐growing Southeast Asian region will be crucial to ensure that the region can meet its increasing future energy demand in a sustainable way. However, many countries will need assistance through international cooperation and foreign aid to develop their sustainable energy sources. The three East Asian donor states Japan, South Korea and China are particularly crucial because they account for a large share of aid disbursement to the region and serve as development role models for many recipient countries. All three states are signatories of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and thus committed to the global goals of climate protection and sustainable energy development. This paper is based on an analysis of official aid databases and second‐party data to explore the details of the energy‐related aid contributions of the three key donor states to Southeast Asia during the last 15 years. The findings indicate that all three states contradicted their own international pledges by financing fossil‐fuel power generation projects in many countries in the region. Although recent policy changes in Japan and South Korea are cause for optimism, the opacity of China's energy‐related aid flows combined with its renewed support for domestic coal power generation are worrying signs for the future of energy development in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Comparison of the Impact Wear Performances of Quenching and Partitioning and Quenching and Tempering Steels
Authors: Wei Zhirui , Gan Xiaolong , Liu Man , Tian Junyu , Chen Zhenye , Xu Guang
Published: August 2021

A low‐carbon, high‐strength steel is treated by different quenching and partitioning (QP) and quenching and tempering (QT) routes in a salt bath furnace, and its wear performance is evaluated by impact abrasive wear tests. It is observed as compared with the traditional QT steel; the QP steel manifests better wear performance at the quenching temperature of 220 °C. Stable film‐like retained austenite (RA) and fine martensite laths improve the wear resistance of the QP steel at the quenching temperature of 220 °C, whereas unstable blocky RA formed in the QP steel at the quenching temperature of 190 °C decrease the wear resistance. In addition, the lower critical impact stress for crack initiation at the higher impact energy decreases the wear resistance; however, the relative wear resistance is improved greatly at the higher impact energy due to the better fracture toughness of the QP steel. Moreover, the correlation of wear loss, hardness, and KIC is modeled to compare the wear resistances of the test steel after different heat treatments.
Selbsterrichtende Windenergieanlage mit Nabenhöhe von 180 m
Authors: Pak Daniel , Korte Sebastian , Kemper Frank , Friehe Mirko , Fontecha Robert , Reese Christian , Schmitz Katharina
Published: August 2021

Im FOSTA‐Forschungsprojekt P 1392 „Selbsterrichtende Onshore WEA mit Nabenhöhe größer 120 m – Hybridturm mit Hebevorrichtung zum Selbstaufbau“ wurde eine selbsterrichtende Windenergieanlage mit Stahl‐Hybridturm für Schwachwindstandorte entwickelt, welche beim Aufbau ohne den Einsatz von Spezialraupenkranen auskommt. Der Turm der Beispielanlage besteht aus einem 80 m hohen Gittermastturm mit speziellem Übergangsstück, durch welches der 100 m hohe Stahlrohrturm inkl. Gondel und Rotor mithilfe eines Litzenhubsystems in seine Endposition angehoben wird. Zur Stabilisierung des Stahlrohrturms während des Hubs kommt ein eigens entwickeltes Stabilisierungssystem zum Einsatz, welches das Turmbiegemoment über umlaufende, nachgeführte Zylinder aufnimmt. Diese sind im Übergangsstück in zwei Ebenen angeordnet und halten den Rohrturm in der Lotrechten. Entwurf und Bemessung des Stahlrohrturms, des Gittermastturms sowie des Übergangsstücks erfolgten für den Endzustand, für den Entwurf des Gittermastturms kam eine eigens entwickelte Software zum Einsatz, welche die Gittermaststruktur auf Basis probabilistischer Methoden gewichtsoptimiert. Für den Stahlrohrturm konnte gezeigt werden, dass die aus den Hydraulikzylindern einwirkenden Querlasten aufgenommen werden können. Anhand der untersuchten Beispielanlage konnte gezeigt werden, dass Errichtung und Betrieb der selbsterrichtenden Windenergieanlage ökonomisch möglich sind.
Writing Strategies as Acts of Identity
Authors: Schneider Jason
Published: August 2021

Working within the framework of language learner strategies, and more specifically strategies employed by L2 writers, this article presents findings from a qualitative, longitudinal study of seven international college students in the United States. On the basis of data comprising 54 interviews with the students over a period of four years, and over 100 samples of their written work, three questions are addressed: 1) What strategies did the students use to achieve writing success within their academic discourse community? 2) How did the writers’ decisions to employ specific strategies reflect academic and other goals? 3) How did the students’ uses of strategies over time reflect their evolving identities? Findings indicate that the students all used diverse strategic repertoires, and that their implementations of specific actions in specific contexts were reflective of unique goals and aspirations. By highlighting links among strategies, goals, and identities, this article proposes an understanding of advanced EAL writers as nimble, self‐aware actors whose approaches to composing indicate not only their interests in developing new competencies in English, but also their desires to construct future selves.
Cold versus hot polypectomy/endoscopic mucosal resection–A review of current evidence
Authors: Ortigão Raquel , Weigt Jochen , Afifi Ahmed , Libânio Diogo
Published: August 2021

Background

Colonoscopy with polypectomy substantially reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) but interval cancers still account for 9% of all CRCs, some of which are due to incomplete resection.

Aim

The aim of this review is to compare the outcomes of cold and hot endoscopic resection and provide technical tips and tricks for optimizing cold snare polypectomy.

Results

Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is the standard technique for small (≤10 mm) colorectal polyps. For large colonic polyps (>10 mm), hot resection techniques with use of electrocautery (polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection) were recommended until recently. However, the use of electrocoagulation brings serious adverse effects in up to 9% of the patients, such as delayed bleeding, post‐polypectomy syndrome and perforation. In recent years, efforts have been made to improve the polypectomy with cold snare in order to avoid these adverse effects of electrocoagulation without compromising the efficacy of the resection. Several authors have recently shown that the complication rates of CSP of polyps >10 mm is close to zero and recurrence rates varies between 5‐18%. Lower recurrence rates are found in serrated lesions (<8%).
Dog thefts – but not prosecutions – on the rise
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: August 2021

Georgina Mills reports on new findings from the Kennel Club showing that dog thefts are on the rise but criminal charges are rarely brought
Toxicity and protein composition of venoms of Hottentotta saulcyi, Hottentotta schach and Androctonus crassicauda, three scorpion species collected in Iran
Authors: Boghozian Ani , Nazem Habibollah , Fazilati Mohammad , Hejazi Seyed Hossein , Sheikh Sajjadieh Mohammadreza
Published: August 2021

Background

Scorpion stings comprise a serious problem throughout the globe, especially in regions where they are more frequent. Despite a recent upsurge of interest in scorpion venoms by various research groups, there remain many challenges.

Objective

Therefore, in this study, we aimed to study the toxicity and protein composition of venoms of Hottentotta saulcyi, Hottentotta schach and Androctonus crassicauda, three scorpion species collected in Iran.

Materials and Methods

Scorpion species were collected from Esfahan farm scorpion company and maintained in the laboratory in containers that mimic their natural habitat. Venom was extracted from A. crassicauda, H. schach and H. saulcyi by electrical stimulation of 8 and 10 V. The toxicity of each venom was established by using four groups of male Swiss albino mice aged 2 months (weighting 18–20 g) for testing each dose of venom. One group was used as a control. Venom was injected into mice by subcutaneous route. Then, animals were monitored for 24 h and LD50 was estimated by the graphic method of Miller and Tainter. Thus, high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method was used to determine amino acids in the venom, and protein concentrations were determined by the Biuret method.

Results

LD50 of scorpion venoms by subcutaneous route was found to be 1.70 mg/kg b.w (A. crassicauda), 1.47 mg/kg b.w (H. saulcyi) and 0.85 mg/kg b.w (H. schach). A. crassicauda, H. saulcyi and H. schach contain 26, 30, and 31 amino acids, respectively. A. crassicauda contains low concentrations of alpha‐aminoadipic acid, beta‐aminoisobutyric acid, beta‐alanine and citrulline. H. saulcyi contains a concentration of hydroxylysine, whereas H. schach has no such concentration. A. crassicauda also had the highest levels of tyrosine and threonine. Only A. crassicauda venom contains a low proportion of proteins (14.80%) compared with those of H. schach (16.26%) and H. saulcyi (16.20%). Albumin content in the venoms was 11.7% (H. saulcyi), 5.4% (H. schach) and 4.4% (A. crassicauda).

Conclusion

Scorpions venoms have a variable toxicity and an interesting composition in amino acids and proteins. Work on the development of anti‐venom is fundamental.
Water security in sub‐Saharan Africa: Understanding the status of sustainable development goal 6
Authors: Nkiaka Elias , Bryant Robert G. , Okumah Murat , Gomo Fortune Faith
Published: August 2021

The world is nearing the 2030 target‐year by which sustainable development goals (SDGs) should be achieved. While other developing regions seem to be making progress toward achieving SDG6, sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) is lagging behind significantly, particularly with regard to access to water supply and sanitation (WSS). As a result, most studies evaluating progress toward the achievement of water security SDGs in SSA have focused on WSS while the rest of the SDG6 targets have received scant attention, often using fragmented or incomplete evidence. Here, we fill this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the status of SDG6 in all 48 countries in SSA. We provide a review of the progress made, the challenges affecting each SDG6 target and examine the different political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors with potential to undermine the achievement of SDG6 in the region. Our review clearly demonstrates that it is likely that most countries may not achieve water security by 2030. The complex nature of the challenges and factors impeding the achievement of water security in SSA outlined here suggests that a holistic intervention involving local, national, and international stakeholders and the research community is urgently needed to address SDG6 if the 2030 target date is to be met. Approaches to enhance water security may equally consider: (a) underpinning peace and security in SSA and (b) the commitment of more financial resources by donors particularly during this period of COVID‐19 pandemic.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water

Human Water > Water Governance

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Therapeutic gas delivery strategies
Authors: Gong Wanjun , Xia Chao , He Qianjun
Published: August 2021

Gas molecules with pharmaceutical effects offer emerging solutions to diseases. In addition to traditional medical gases including O2 and NO, more gases such as H2, H2S, SO2, and CO have recently been discovered to play important roles in various diseases. Though some issues need to be addressed before clinical application, the increasing attention to gas therapy clearly indicates the potentials of these gases for disease treatment. The most important and difficult part of developing gas therapy systems is to transport gas molecules of high diffusibility and penetrability to interesting targets. Given the particular importance of gas molecule delivery for gas therapy, distinguished strategies have been explored to improve gas delivery efficiency and controllable gas release. Here, we summarize the strategies of therapeutic gas delivery for gas therapy, including direct gas molecule delivery by chemical and physical absorption, inorganic/organic/hybrid gas prodrugs, and natural/artificial/hybrid catalyst delivery for gas generation. The advantages and shortcomings of these gas delivery strategies are analyzed. On this basis, intelligent gas delivery strategies and catalysts use in future gas therapy are discussed.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Changed inflammatory markers after application of 4DryField PH for adhesion prevention in gynecological surgery
Authors: Ziegler Nicole , Torres-de la Roche Luz Angela , Devassy Rajesh , De Wilde Rudy Leon
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The development of peritoneal adhesions and the effects of different antiadhesion agents on such mechanisms are not fully understood. Temporary rises of the C-reactive protein (CRP) level have been reported after antiadhesion agent application. We present the changes of inflammation markers observed after use of a starch-based polysaccharide certified for adhesion prevention and hemostasis 4DF (4DryField®PH).

Method

Retrospective comparative analysis of inflammation markers in 40 patients undergoing laparoscopic adhesiolysis with or without adhesion prophylaxis was conducted. Statistical comparisons were performed by means of paired or unpairedttests (for normally distributed continuous data), Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank tests or Mann–Whitney tests (for not-normally distributed continuous data), Mantel–Cox tests (for continuous data describing time intervals), and Fisher’s exact tests (for discrete data).

Results

The maximum post-operative CRP level was significantly elevated in the 4DF group (87 vs. 29%;p < 0.001), whereas leukocyte concentration and body temperature did not differ between groups. No signs of infection were detected in any of the patients and CRP levels spontaneously dropped to normal values within few days. No side effects or complications were observed in both groups. In second-look surgeries performed for other diagnoses 1–56 weeks after the first interventions, no remnants of 4DF or any peritoneal inflammatory reactions were observed.

Conclusion

The starch-based polysaccharide 4DF can be considered safe and does not induce inflammatory reactions of clinical significance. Further studies regarding 4DF degradation are recommended and, apart from macrophage migration, could also examine corresponding markers such as IL-6 and PCT.
One-shot BRDF imaging system to obtain surface properties
Authors: Ohno Hiroshi , Kamikawa Takahiro
Published: August 2021

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) that describes an angle-resolved distribution of surface reflectance is available for characterizing surface properties of a material. A one-shot BRDF imaging system can capture an in-plane color mapping of light direction extracted from a surface BRDF distribution. A surface roughness identification method is then proposed here using the imaging system. A difference between surface properties of a matt paper and a glossy paper is experimentally shown to be detected using the method. A surface reconstruction method of an axisymmetric micro-object using the imaging system is also proposed here. The imaging system experimentally shows that it can reconstruct an axisymmetric aluminium cone surface with a height of 37 μm.
Streptomonospora litoralis sp. nov., a halophilic thiopeptides producer isolated from sand collected at Cuxhaven beach
Authors: Khodamoradi Shadi , Hahnke Richard L. , Mast Yvonne , Schumann Peter , Kämpfer Peter , Steinert Michael , Rückert Christian , Surup Frank , Rohde Manfred , Wink Joachim
Published: August 2021

Strain M2T was isolated from the beach of Cuxhaven, Wadden Sea, Germany, in course of a program to attain new producers of bioactive natural products. Strain M2T produces litoralimycin and sulfomycin-type thiopeptides. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a potential biosynthetic gene cluster encoding for the M2T thiopeptides. The strain is Gram-stain-positive, rod shaped, non-motile, spore forming, showing a yellow colony color and forms extensively branched substrate mycelium and aerial hyphae. Inferred from the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny strain M2T affiliates with the genus Streptomonospora. It shows 96.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type species Streptomonospora salina DSM 44593 T and forms a distinct branch with Streptomonospora sediminis DSM 45723 T with 97.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that M2T is closely related to Streptomonospora alba YIM 90003 T with a digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) value of 26.6%. The predominant menaquinones of M2T are MK-10(H6), MK-10(H8), and MK-11(H6) (> 10%). Major cellular fatty acids are iso-C16:0, anteiso C17:0 and C18:0 10-methyl. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, three glycolipids, two unknown phospholipids, and two unknown lipids. The genome size of type strain M2T is 5,878,427 bp with 72.1 mol % G + C content. Based on the results obtained from phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain M2T (= DSM 106425 T = NCCB 100650 T) is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Streptomonospora for which the name Streptomonospora litoralis sp. nov. is proposed.
Fault lines of food fraud: key issues in research and policy
Authors: Lord Nicholas , Flores Elizondo Cecilia , Davies Jon , Spencer Jon
Published: August 2021

Following major criminal cases in the food system, such as the Horsemeat and fipronil egg scandals, the phenomenon of food fraud has emerged as a priority concern for supranational (e.g. European Union) and domestic policymakers and regulatory authorities. Alongside this, there is increasing interest from academics working in both the natural and social sciences (but rarely together), where we see common and overlapping objectives but varied discourses and orientations. Consequently, various framings about the nature, organisation and control of food fraud have emerged, but it is not always clear which of these are more reflective of actual food fraud realities. This article analyses three key areas in the literature on food fraud where we see fault lines emerging: 1. food fraud research orientations; 2. food fraud detection and prevention (and the dehumanisation and decontextualisation associated with analytical testing); and, 3. food fraud regulation and criminalisation. We argue that these fault lines raise questions over the plausibility of knowledge on food frauds and in some cases produce specious arguments. This is significant for food fraud policy, strategy and operation, in particular in terms of how we generate expectations about the actual realities of food fraud and corresponding actions that are realised, and make knowledge practically adequate.
Diurnal variation effect in marine magnetometric surveys: clues from surveys in southeast Brazil
Authors: Sergipe Paula Possamai , Marangoni Yára Regina , dos Santos Roberto Paulo Zanon , de Moura Denise Silva , Jovane Luigi
Published: August 2021

The diurnal variation of the magnetic field cannot be predicted or modeled and for that reason, it is monitored during the magnetic surveys, usually by a stationary magnetometer. However, marine surveys have a practical issue with diurnal monitoring, owing to the distance between the survey, stationary magnetometers, and magnetic observatories. This work aims to verify the use of nearby magnetic observatories to estimate the diurnal variation correction in different marine surveys and evaluate its effectiveness. In this study, we selected surveys at the continental shelf near Santos city (Survey 1), continental slope next to the first survey location (Survey 2), continental shelf near Ubatuba city (Survey 3), and Mamanguá ria in the Paraty city (Survey 4), all southeast to the Brazilian coast. The crossing points were implemented to compare the magnetic field values at different times and days at the same measurement point, before and after the correction. Afterwards, we measure the Pearson’s Correlation of the raw data and the diurnal corrected data in all crossing points of each survey which showed an improvement after correction by the value approximating to 1, which indicates a very well correlation. The Ubatuba and Mamanguá surveys allowed comparing the observatory correction results with the base magnetometer results that were rather similar. Our analyses indicate a satisfactory diurnal correction using the observatory data and the crossing points approach, which can be used for every marine magnetometric survey worldwide placed near the coast (< 280 km) that do not have a stationary magnetometer available.
Carbohydrate for endurance athletes in competition questionnaire (CEAC-Q): validation of a practical and time-efficient tool for knowledge assessment
Authors: Sampson G. , Pugh J. N. , Morton J. P. , Areta J. L.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Despite unequivocal evidence demonstrating high carbohydrate (CHO) availability improves endurance performance, athletes often report under-eating CHO during competition. Such findings may be related to a lack of knowledge though currently there are no practical or time-efficient tools to assess CHO knowledge in athletes. Accordingly, we aimed to validate a novel questionnaire to rapidly assess endurance athletes’ knowledge of competition CHO guidelines.

Methods

The Carbohydrate for Endurance Athletes in Competition Questionnaire (CEAC-Q) was created by research-active practitioners, based on contemporary guidelines. The CEAC-Q comprised 25 questions divided into 5 subsections (assessing CHO metabolism, CHO loading, pre-event meal, during-competition CHO and recovery) each worth 20 points for a total possible score of 100.

Results

A between-group analysis of variance compared scores in three different population groups to assess construct validity: general population (GenP; n = 68), endurance athletes (EA; n = 145), and sports dietitians/nutritionists (SDN; n = 60). Total scores were different (mean ± SD) in all pairwise comparisons of GenP (17 ± 20%), EA (46 ± 19%) and SDN (76 ± 10%, p < 0.001). Subsection scores were also significantly different between the groups, with mean subsection scores of 3.4 ± 4.7% (GenP), 9.2 ± 5.2% (EA) and 15.2 ± 3.5% (SDN, p < 0.001). Test–retest reliability of the total CEAC-Q was determined in EA (r = 0.742, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Taking ~ 10 min to complete, the CEAC-Q is a new psychometrically valid, practical and time-efficient tool for practitioners to assess athletes’ knowledge of CHO for competition and guide subsequent nutrition intervention.
A framework for formal analysis and simulative evaluation of security attacks in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Bernardeschi Cinzia , Dini Gianluca , Palmieri Maurizio , Racciatti Francesco
Published: August 2021

When designing Wireless Sensor Networks it is important to analyze their security risks and provide adequate solutions for protecting them from malicious attacks. Unfortunately, perfect security cannot be achieved, for performance reasons. Therefore, designers have to devise security priorities, and select security mechanisms accordingly. However, in the early stages of the design process, the concrete effects of security attacks on the system may not be clearly identified. In this paper, we propose a framework that integrates formal verification and network simulation for enabling designers to evaluate the effects of attacks, identify possible security mechanisms, and evaluate their effectiveness, since design time. Formal methods are used to build the abstract model of the application, together with a set of attacks, and to state properties of general validity. The simulator measures the impact of the attacks in terms of common network parameters, like energy consumption or computational effort. Such information can be used to select adequate security mechanisms, then the initial abstract model can be refined to adopt them, and finally prove that former system properties are still verified. The framework relies on UPPAAL for formal modeling and verification and uses the Attack Simulation Framework on top of Castalia as a network simulator. As proof of concept, a case study is shown.
Imprecision and Preferences in Interpretation of Verbal Probabilities in Health: a Systematic Review
Authors: Andreadis Katerina , Chan Ethan , Park Minha , Benda Natalie C , Sharma Mohit M , Demetres Michelle , Delgado Diana , Sigworth Elizabeth , Chen Qingxia , Liu Andrew , Grossman Liu Lisa , Sharko Marianne , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J , Ancker Jessica S
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Many health providers and communicators who are concerned that patients will not understand numbers instead use verbal probabilities (e.g., terms such as “rare” or “common”) to convey the gist of a health message.

Objective

To assess patient interpretation of and preferences for verbal probability information in health contexts.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of literature published through September 2020. Original studies conducted in English with samples representative of lay populations were included if they assessed health-related information and elicited either (a) numerical estimates of verbal probability terms or (b) preferences for verbal vs. quantitative risk information.

Results

We identified 33 original studies that referenced 145 verbal probability terms, 45 of which were included in at least two studies and 19 in three or more. Numerical interpretations of each verbal term were extremely variable. For example, average interpretations of the term “rare” ranged from 7 to 21%, and for “common,” the range was 34 to 71%. In a subset of 9 studies, lay estimates of verbal probability terms were far higher than the standard interpretations established by the European Commission for drug labels. In 10 of 12 samples where preferences were elicited, most participants preferred numerical information, alone or in combination with verbal labels.

Conclusion

Numerical interpretation of verbal probabilities is extremely variable and does not correspond well to the numerical probabilities established by expert panels. Most patients appear to prefer quantitative risk information, alone or in combination with verbal labels. Health professionals should be aware that avoiding numeric information to describe risks may not match patient preferences, and that patients interpret verbal risk terms in a highly variable way.
Coronary CT angiography for suspected acute coronary syndrome: sex-associated differences
Authors: Arslan M. , Schaap J. , Moelker A. , Rood P. P. M. , Boersma E. , Nieman K. , Dubois E. A. , Dedic A.
Published: August 2021

Aim

The optimal diagnostic test in the work-up of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may differ between men and women. The aim of this study was to compare sex-associated differences between using a diagnostic strategy including early coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and standard of care (SOC).

Methods

In total, 500 patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of ACS at the emergency department were randomised between a diagnostic strategy supplemented with early CCTA and SOC.

Results

Women were generally older than men (mean ± standard deviation 56 ± 10 vs 53 ± 10 years, p < 0.01) and were less often admitted to hospital (33% vs 44%, p = 0.02). Obstructive coronary artery disease on CCTA (> 50% luminal narrowing) was less frequently seen in women (14% vs 26%, p = 0.02), and ACS was diagnosed less often in women (5% vs 10%, p = 0.03). Women underwent less outpatient testing when early CCTA was used in the emergency department evaluation of suspected ACS (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Women had a lower incidence of obstructive CAD on CCTA and were less often admitted to hospital than men. They were subjected to less outpatient testing when early CCTA was used in the emergency department evaluation of suspected ACS.
MulStepNET: stronger multi-step graph convolutional networks via multi-power adjacency matrix combination
Authors: Liu Xun , Lei Fangyuan , Xia Guoqing
Published: August 2021

Graph convolutional networks (GCNs) have become the de facto approaches and achieved state-of-the-art results for circumventing many real-world problems on graph-structured data. However, these networks are usually shallow due to the over-smoothing of GCNs with many layers, which limits the expressive power of learning graph representations. The current methods of solving the limitations have the bottlenecks of high complexity and many parameters. Although Simple Graph Convolution (SGC) reduces the complexity and parameters, it fails to distinguish the feature information of neighboring nodes at different distances. To tackle the limits, we propose MulStepNET, a stronger multi-step graph convolutional network architecture, that can capture more global information, by simultaneously combining multi-step neighborhoods information. When compared to existing methods such as GCN and MixHop, MulStepNET aggregates neighborhoods information at more distant distances via multi-power adjacency matrix while fitting fewest parameters and being computationally more efficient. Experiments on citation networks including Pubmed, Cora, and Citeseer demonstrate that the proposed MulStepNET model improves over SGC by 2.8, 3.3, and 2.1% respectively while keeping similar stability, and achieves better performance in terms of accuracy and stability compared to other baselines.
Genetic Testing in Professional Football: Perspectives of Key Stakeholders
Authors: McAuley Alexander B. T. , Hughes David C. , Tsaprouni Loukia G. , Varley Ian , Suraci Bruce , Roos Thomas R. , Herbert Adam J. , Kelly Adam L.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Genetic research in football is currently in it’s infancy but is growing rapidly. However, the practical application of genetic testing in football and the views concerning its use are unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the current practical application of genetic testing in professional football and provide an insight into the perspectives of key stakeholders (i.e., coaches, practitioners, players).

Methods

In total, 122 participants completed an online anonymous survey. This consisted of 21 multiple choice and Likert scale questions, with the option of providing an explanation for each response.

Results

Findings revealed genetic testing is rarely utilised by key stakeholders (10%) or their respective organisations (14%). However, three quarters (75%) had the opinion that genetic testing will have great utility in the future. The majority (72%) believed genetic testing should be used for athlete development and injury risk, whilst 35% believed that genetic testing should be utilised for talent identification purposes. However, most key stakeholders viewed their own (89%) and their colleagues’ (79%) knowledge related to genetic testing as insufficient; mainly due to ineffective current communication methods (91%). Most believed educational workshops are required (71%), whilst nearly all (91%) were interested in developing their expertise on the utility of genetic testing.

Conclusion

Genetic testing is rarely used within professional football, although key stakeholders anticipate that it will be utilised more in the future. As such, educational support may prove valuable in improving key stakeholder knowledge and the practical application of genetic testing in professional football.
Vaginismus, Dyspareunia and Abuse History: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Tetik Sinan , Yalçınkaya Alkar Özden
Published: August 2021

Background

Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, which consists of a combination of vaginismus and dyspareunia, is considered a new diagnosis in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although the etiology of this diagnosis is not well known, a history of abuse has been suggested to be a primary factor in the emergence of this disorder.

Aim

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the association of abuse history with vaginismus and dyspareunia diagnosis.

Methods

Related keywords were used to search articles in PubMed, PsycArticles, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Turkish scientific information database (TRDizin). All articles published in English and Turkish until August 2020 were systematically reviewed. A total of 14 case-control studies, including 1428 participants, were included in the final analysis. The fixed-effects model was used to pool odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the studies. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic.

Outcomes

Case-control studies that reported vaginismus or dyspareunia outcomes in individuals with or without a history of abuse.

RESULTS

A significant relationship was found between a history of sexual (1.55 OR; 95% CI, 1.14–2.10; 12 studies) and emotional abuse (1.89 OR; 95% CI, 1.24–2.88; 3 studies) and the diagnosis of vaginismus. A significant relationship was found between sexual abuse and dyspareunia (1.53 OR; 95% CI, 1.03–2.27; 6 studies). No statistically significant relationship was observed between physical abuse, vaginismus, and dyspareunia. No significant difference was found between sexual or physical abuse in terms of assessment methods for the diagnosis of vaginismus and dyspareunia.

Clinical Implications

This systematic review and meta-analysis points out that in the assessment of vaginismus patients, the risk of sexual and emotional abuse and in the assessment for dyspareunia patients, the risk of sexual abuse should be questioned and addressed in its treatment.

Strenght and Limitations

The strength of the current meta-analysis is the inclusion of all forms of abuse, and studies published in Turkish and English with a broad and reproducible search strategy. The limitations of this meta-analysis are the exclusion of sources and design other than journal articles and case-control studies, including studies both childhood and adult abuse, which in some studies were not differentiated, having potential language and recall bias.

CONCLUSION

The study analysis suggests an association of vaginismus with sexual and emotional abuse and dyspareunia with sexual abuse. However, both disorders showed no association with physical abuse.
Seeking the Right to Food
Authors: Nkrumah Bright
Published: August 2021

Despite a constitutional right to food, a comprehensive social security structure, being a net exporter of agricultural products and maintaining a rising GDP, freedom from hunger remains a pipedream for millions of South Africans. With a constant surge in food prices, the availability of sustenance is often seriously threatened for all of South Africa's population. While the underprivileged majority residing in townships often demonstrate their discontent for poor service delivery on the streets, they rarely channel this strategy into taming food inflation. This study seeks to understand this irony and examine ways in which this trend could be reversed. Proposing a compelling argument for food activism, Bright Nkrumah suggests ways of mobilising disempowered groups to reclaim this inherent right. Presented alongside historical and contemporary case studies to illustrate the dynamics of collective action and food security in South Africa, he draws from legal, social and political theory to make the case for 'activism' as a force for alleviating food insecurity. Also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
TEST FOR CHANGES IN THE MODELED SOLVENCY CAPITAL REQUIREMENT OF AN INTERNAL RISK MODEL
Authors: Gaigall Daniel
Published: August 2021

In the context of the Solvency II directive, the operation of an internal risk model is a possible way for risk assessment and for the determination of the solvency capital requirement of an insurance company in the European Union. A Monte Carlo procedure is customary to generate a model output. To be compliant with the directive, validation of the internal risk model is conducted on the basis of the model output. For this purpose, we suggest a new test for checking whether there is a significant change in the modeled solvency capital requirement. Asymptotic properties of the test statistic are investigated and a bootstrap approximation is justified. A simulation study investigates the performance of the test in the finite sample case and confirms the theoretical results. The internal risk model and the application of the test is illustrated in a simplified example. The method has more general usage for inference of a broad class of law-invariant and coherent risk measures on the basis of a paired sample.