bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pandemic publishing: A bibliometric review of COVID‐19 research in the crisis and disaster literature
Authors: Kuipers Sanneke , van der Wilt Annemarie , Wolbers Jeroen
Published: December 2022

Iconic events have traditionally instigated progression in the fields of crisis and disaster science. In the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the pressing question is how this global health emergency impacted the research agendas of our field. We reviewed contributions in ten important crisis and disaster journals in the two and a half years following the COVID‐19 outbreak from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2022. Specifically, we conducted a bibliometric review using thematic mapping analysis to distill the major themes covered by the emerging COVID‐19 literature within crisis and disaster science (N = 239 articles). Our results indicate that several well‐known topics are applied to the COVID‐19 pandemic, such as risk, crisis communication, governance, resilience and vulnerability. The pandemic also gave rise to new topics, such as citizen behavior, state power, and the business and mental health impact of crisis measures. Several studies are already looking ahead by identifying lessons for preparedness and mitigation of future pandemics. By taking stock of the surge of COVID‐19 studies while this academic literature is still taking shape, this review sets the stage for future contributions to the crisis and disaster literatures. It provides valuable lessons for what topics are studied and what themes need more attention. The COVID‐19 pandemic is destined to become an iconic event for our literature that not only strengthens and deepens existing debates, but also clearly offers the opportunity to draw in new perspectives and broaden the horizon of crisis and disaster science.
A direct analysis method to globalh‐stability of delayed time‐varying nonlinear positive systems
Authors: Cao Shuhao , Zhang Xian , Tianqiu Yu
Published: December 2022

This paper focuses on the global ‐stability of the nonlinear positive system with multiple time‐varying delays. Through differentiated expressions of the function , the global ‐stability could be referred to as several known stabilities, including Lagrange stability, asymptotic stability, global exponential stability, global practical stability, and so forth. By proposing a direct analysis method that differs from the so‐called Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional method, we presented a sufficient condition for the global ‐stability of such system. The obtained stability condition appeared in the form of a number of simple inequalities, which could be easily handled by the toolbox YALMIP loaded in MATLAB. The applicability of our results have been illustrated by three numerical examples.
Designing regional industrial symbiosis networks: The case of Apulia region
Authors: Giannoccaro Ilaria , Zaza Valeria , Fraccascia Luca
Published: December 2022

Adopting industrial symbiosis (IS) is a key strategy for pursuing sustainable development and developing circular economy. In this regard, a powerful approach is promoting the development of regional business networks of IS relationships (ISNs), such as the well‐known Kalundborg ISN in Denmark. Nevertheless, a formalized method supporting the development of effective ISNs at the regional level is still lacking in the literature and practice. This paper develops a methodology to support the design of regional ISNs, consisting of two steps: (1) building a waste‐input relationship table, which can be used as a dictionary of the potential IS synergies implementable among couples of companies; and (2) identifying and selecting the potential symbiotic synergies that can be implemented among the companies belonging to a given regional area. The proposed methodology is tested for the case of Apulia region (Southern Italy), where more than 300 feasible IS synergies are identified. The method is useful both for companies interested to exploit IS benefits, and also for regional policymakers prone to develop IS in practice.
Informality and poverty in Africa: Which comes first?
Authors: Bolarinwa Segun Thompson , Simatele Munacinga
Published: December 2022

Existing empirical work has investigated the relationship between informality and poverty. However, most of this work has neglected the feedback effect. This empirical paper explores the bi‐directional causality between poverty and informality within the SGMM‐PVAR framework among 40 selected high‐income and low‐income Sub‐Saharan countries between 1991 and 2018. Our results support the heterogeneity argument, suggesting that sub‐Saharan African informality is demand and supply‐led. The income level of the country mediates the direction of effect. Bi‐direction causality is observed for low‐income countries. Causality in middle‐income countries runs from poverty to informality. The results suggest that a certain level of informality may be desirable, especially in low‐income countries.
Anthrone‐Benzothiazole Based Heterocyclic Disperse Azo Dyes: Synthesis, Dyeing, UV Protection Property, Anti‐Bacterial Activity, and Computational Study
Authors: Patil Praful S. , Gupta Puja O. , Sekar Nagaiyan
Published: December 2022

Anthrone and benzothiazole based disperse azo dyes (5a–5e) are synthesized and well characterized. These dyes are further applied to nylon, polyester, and acrylic fabrics. Fastness properties, including light, wash, and rub for dyed fabrics, were studied and found to be better for polyester and nylon than the acrylic substrate. Better sublimation fastness was obtained on polyester than nylon at 210 °C. The “ultraviolet protection factor (UPF)” of all dyed fabrics was detected to block ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the range of 93 to 97 percent. Nylon and acrylic dyed fabric were excellent, while polyester showed good ultraviolet protection activity. All the dyes are effective towards “(S. aureus) gram +ve” and “(K. pneumoniae) gram −ve” bacteria. The textile dyed with the dye obtained from the diazotized 2‐amino‐6‐methyl‐benzothiazole and anthrone (5b) was found to have ≥99 % potent inhibition. The HOMO‐LUMO energy gap and other quantum chemical descriptors such as softness, hardness, and electrophilicity index are obtained from the “density functional theory (DFT)” computations.
Controllable Synthesis of 2D Materials by Electrochemical Exfoliation for Energy Storage and Conversion Application
Authors: Lu Xueyi , Cai Mohang , Wu Xuemin , Zhang Yongfei , Li Shuai , Liao Shijun , Lu Xia
Published: December 2022

2D materials have captured much recent research interest in a broad range of areas, including electronics, biology, sensors, energy storage, and others. In particular, preparing 2D nanosheets with high quality and high yield is crucial for the important applications in energy storage and conversion. Compared with other prevailing synthetic strategies, the electrochemical exfoliation of layered starting materials is regarded as one of the most promising and convenient methods for the large‐scale production of uniform 2D nanosheets. Here, recent developments in electrochemical delamination are reviewed, including protocols, categories, principles, and operating conditions. State‐of‐the‐art methods for obtaining 2D materials with small numbers of layers—including graphene, black phosphorene, transition metal dichalcogenides and MXene—are also summarized and discussed in detail. The applications of electrochemically exfoliated 2D materials in energy storage and conversion are systematically reviewed. Drawing upon current progress, perspectives on emerging trends, existing challenges, and future research directions of electrochemical delamination are also offered.
Influence of Electron Beam Welding with Multiple Beams on Stress Corrosion Properties of AF1410 Steel
Authors: Fu Pengfei , Tang Zhenyun , Zhao Tong , Mao Zhiyong , Li Lihang , Zhang An
Published: December 2022

Electron beam welding (EBW) with multiple beams is a new technology simultaneous with preheating or postheating, which contributes to reducing residual stresses. To improve corrosion resistance in marine, EBW with multiple beams is employed on AF1410 steel. The weld is uniform, with a width of 7.3–8.4 mm, which is wider than that of conventional welding. To evaluate susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC), the welding stresses and slow strain rate tests (SSRT) are studied. The longitudinal stresses on the front weld with preheating and postheating are 25% and 15% lower than conventional welding. The transversal stresses also, respectively, decreased by 15% and 6%. The tensile properties of EBW from SSRT present a susceptibility to SCC. Compared with conventional welding, the loss of elongation I
δ with preheating and postheating decreases to 0.9–1.5%, and the area reduction rate I
R lowers to 7–10%. EBW with multiple beams presents a low susceptibility, attributed to reducing welding stresses related to a temperature gradient.
Effects of radiation and heat generation for non‐Newtonian fluid flow over slendering stretching sheet: Numerically
Authors: Abbas Nadeem , Nadeem Sohail , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: December 2022

A numerical analysis of MHD 3D second grade fluid over slendering stretching sheet is presented in this study. In addition, heat generation and thermal radiation impacts are included to inspect the heat transfer mechanism. Using the boundary layer approximation, the problem is stated mathematically in the form of PDEs (partial differential equations), which are altered to nonlinear ODEs (ordinary differential equations) by invoking appropriate similarity variables. Solutions of these nonlinear equations are computed by MATLAB bvp4c function. Graphs for involving parameters are plotted to view their impacts on velocity and temperature. Impression of numerous parameters on Skin friction and Nusselt number are also depicted in tables and the results are discussed in detail. The computed values of skin friction revealed constant behavior and Nusselt number depicted increasing performance due to boosting values of Prandtl number Pr. The computed values of skin friction revealed constant behavior and Nusselt number depicted reducing performance due to boosting values of heat generation parameter Q. The computed values of skin friction revealed constant behavior and Nusselt number depicted reducing performance due to boosting values of radiation parameter Rd.
Defining Finland’s Cultural Diplomacy from Postwar to Cold War
Authors: Clerc Louis
Published: December 2022

Cultural diplomacy, as a dimension of the state’s cultural and foreign policy, refers to specific actions planned, coordinated or organized by central public institutions, aiming to support the objectives of the state. But the objectives of any state’s policy are rarely an object of domestic consensus: they might be disputed in society, and different emphases might be found even inside the state’s organizational frame. An important starting point in our search for Finland’s cultural diplomacy is thus to find the various reasons for which Finnish administrators would engage in and develop a cultural diplomacy. Discussing these elements in the context of the Cold War, one has to consider both the weight of the bipolar divide on any policy undertaken by the Finnish state, as well as the local context. Arguments in favor of state-led cultural outreach overseas showed a certain consistency over the three decades studied here, with concerns expressed immediately after the war and continuing up to the 1970s. This continuity was also the result of continuities in personnel, with roughly the same individuals dealing with international cultural relations inside the Finnish civil service. They developed a number of rationales for cultural diplomacy, between supporting Finland’s foreign policy in a difficult geopolitical situation, modernizing Finnish society through curated foreign examples and an opening up to global cultural trends, promoting a new image of the country abroad, supporting trade or participating in the work of international organizations.
Developing State Agencies and Centralizing International Cultural Relations
Authors: Clerc Louis
Published: December 2022

In 1968, Kalervo Siikala sent the Finnish Minister for Education Johannes Virolainen a long plaidoyer for a state-funded cultural policy with an ambitious international outreach. He emphasized the developments that had happened since the war in Finland’s international contacts and criticized what he saw as a Finnish cultural field still locked under hierarchical, conservative private cultural organizations, dominated by conservative elites, old-fashioned institutions, and defiance towards the Eastern bloc. Siikala wanted a new, dynamic, open and democratic cultural policy, with a stronger role for the Finnish state to coordinate private organizations  and steer their activities towards the country's official foreign policy line and the goals of Finland's developing welfare state. It had to emphasize the interest of the youth and young people, who wanted to get rid of old hierarchies, and adapt cultural policy to a geopolitical context dominated by Soviet influence. Siikala stopped short of proposing a fully state-controlled cultural field, but demanded better instruments to coordinate private initiatives by public resources: “cultural life has to develop its own organic way and find its own direction”, he wrote, although it had to do so “in those limits set by the possibilities and needs of society and economic life”. In an environment dominated by ideas of cultural reform and the influence of a new radical left, the Ministry of Education should be given the possibility to lead the cultural field. The problem was also political: to maintain good relations with the USSR demanded stronger state coordination also in cultural matters.
HKLL for the non-normalizable mode
Authors: Bhattacharjee Budhaditya , Krishnan Chethan , Sarkar Debajyoti
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We discuss various aspects of HKLL bulk reconstruction for the free scalar field in AdSd+1. First, we consider the spacelike reconstruction kernel for the non-normalizable mode in global coordinates. We construct it as a mode sum. In even bulk dimensions, this can be reproduced using a chordal Green’s function approach that we propose. This puts the global AdS results for the non-normalizable mode on an equal footing with results in the literature for the normalizable mode. In Poincaré AdS, we present explicit mode sum results in general even and odd dimensions for both normalizable and non-normalizable kernels. For generic scaling dimension ∆, these can be re-written in a form that matches with the global AdS results via an antipodal mapping, plus a remainder. We are not aware of a general argument in the literature for dropping these remainder terms, but we note that a slight complexification of a boundary spatial coordinate (which we call aniϵprescription) allows us to do so in cases where ∆ is (half-) integer. Since the non-normalizable mode turns on a source in the CFT, our primary motivation for considering it is as a step towards understanding linear wave equations in general spacetimes from a holographic perspective. But when the scaling dimension ∆ is in the Breitenlohner-Freedman window, we note that the construction has some interesting features within AdS/CFT.
Risikofaktoren für Schließungen von neonatologischen und pädiatrischen Stationen in nosokomialen Ausbrüchen
Authors: Edler Romy , Chhatwal Patrick , Albrecht Urs-Vito , Vonberg Ralf-Peter
Published: December 2022

Hintergrund

Im Fall eines nosokomialen Ausbruchs (NA) in der Pädiatrie und Neonatologie wird neben einer Vielzahl weiterer Maßnahmen mintunter die gesamte Station für Neuaufnahmen geschlossen. Dies ist infektionsprophylaktisch zwar oft effektiv, jedoch ökonomisch oft auch sehr nachteilig. Wichtig sind daher Kenntnisse darüber, wann eine solche Schließung sehr wahrscheinlich unvermeidbar ist, um diese dann frühestmöglich durchzuführen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ermittlung von Charakteristika, die eine Schließung letztlich wahrscheinlich machen.

Material und Methoden

Systematische Literaturrecherche der Worldwide Outbreak Database und weiterer internationaler Datenbanken zu NA mit und ohne Schließung.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 198 NA aus der Pädiatrie (darunter 25 NA mit und 173 NA ohne Schließung) sowie weitere 413 NA aus der Neonatologie (darunter 52 NA mit und 361 NA ohne Schließung) eingeschlossen. In 446 dieser 611 NA waren auch Intensivstationen (ITS) betroffen. Insgesamt waren 16.107 Patienten betroffen und es ereigneten sich 3155 Infektionen mit 1542 Todesfällen. Die Gesamtdauer der NA betrug dabei 2 bis 4380 Tage; sofern erfolgt, betrug die Dauer der Schließung 2 bis 210 Tage. Die am häufigsten nachgewiesenen Erreger in Ausbrüchen mit Schließung waren S. marcescens, E. cloacae und K. pneumoniae. Die Beteiligung einer ITS sowie hohe Fallzahlen korrelierten signifikant mit der Wahrscheinlichkeit für eine spätere Schließung.

Diskussion

Insbesondere für die Neonatologie wird bei der Beteiligung einer ITS an einem NA empfohlen, eine Schließung des Bereiches frühzeitig zu erwägen. Zudem kann in NA die Definition lokal festgelegter Schwellenwerte für Patientenzahlen, bei deren Überschreiten bestimmte Hygienemaßnahmen, wie z. B. die Schließung der Station, initiiert werden, sinnvoll sein.
Design of a compliant device for peg-hole separation in robotic disassembly
Authors: Su Shizhong , Pham Duc Truong , Ji Chunqian , Wang Yongjing , Huang Jun , Zhou Wei , Wang Haolin
Published: December 2022

Disassembly is the first step in the remanufacturing of a product. This paper presents the design of a robot end-of-arm tool for removing a peg from a hole, a common operation in the disassembly of mechanical products. The device is a compliant structure that enables the peg to be pulled out of a closely fitting hole without jamming or wedging. The device is reminiscent of the Remote Centre Compliance (RCC) mechanism used by assembly robots to insert cylindrical pegs into cylindrical holes with small clearances. However, whereas the RCC mechanism has primarily to withstand compressive forces, the proposed compliant device must resist tensile forces because of the nature of disassembly operations. The paper details a finite-element modelling study of peg removal with and without using the compliant structure. The results obtained show that the structure markedly reduces the stresses at the points of contact between the peg and the hole and, consequently, the risk of damage to the components being disassembled.
Partnership, sexuality, and fertility-related communication: findings from a register-based study among long-term hematological cancer survivors
Authors: Lohmann Britta , Kuba Katharina , Götze Heide , Mehnert-Theuerkauf Anja , Heyne Svenja , Esser Peter
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Even though the number of hematological cancer survivors suffering from long-term and late consequences of their disease is growing, knowledge about their situation regarding partnership, sexuality, and fertility-related communication is sparse to date.

Methods

We recruited survivors of hematological malignancies (≥ 3 years after diagnosis) from two cancer registries in Germany. We applied validated instruments and study-specific items on satisfaction with partnership, sexual functioning, and fertility-related communication with physicians. We provided descriptive statistics and conducted multiple regression analyses to identify associations of the outcomes with patient factors and well-being (anxiety, depression, and quality of life).

Results

Of 2001 eligible survivors, 922 (46%) participated. Fifty-seven percent were male, and the mean age was 64 years. Ninety percent and 60% reported to be satisfied with their partnership and sexual life, respectively. However, 81% and 86% reported being sexually impaired by physical or mental symptoms, respectively. Seventy-four percent of those with incomplete family planning had a fertility-related conversation with a physician. Female gender (p < .05, Beta =  − .09), older age (p < .01, Beta = .10), and chemotherapy (p < .01, Beta = .10) were associated with less sexual pleasure caused by physical impairment. Satisfaction with partnership (p < .001, Beta = .22), satisfaction with sexual life (p < .001, Beta = .28), and conversation about fertility (p < .05, Beta = .26) were associated with better quality of life.

Conclusion

Even though long-term survivors seem to be generally satisfied with their partnership and sexual life, they may suffer from specific impairments. Our findings need to be verified in longitudinal studies.
Momordica charantia (bitter melon) efficacy and safety on glucose metabolism in Korean prediabetes participants: a 12-week, randomized clinical study
Authors: Kim Bukyung , Lee Hak Sung , Kim Hye-Jin , Lee Hyolynn , Lee In-young , Ock Soyoung , Kwon Sukyoung , Kang Sang-Soo , Choi Youngsik
Published: December 2022

This study was performed to investigate the effects of bitter melon extract (BME) on glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and various metabolic parameters of participants with prediabetes. A 12-week randomized placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted with prediabetic patients. A total of 76 participants were randomly assigned to initiate the study. In the final analysis, 33 and 32 subjects were included in the BME and placebo groups, respectively. Results showed that 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood glucose level decreased in BME group after 12 weeks. The glucose level after 30 min of glucose ingestion decreased significantly. The glucagon level in the BME group after 12 weeks significantly decreased 120 min after 75 g OGTT. These results suggested that bitter melon exhibits glucose-lowering effects through suppression of glucagon levels in people with prediabetes.
Ultraviolet spectropolarimetry with polstar: interstellar medium science
Authors: Andersson B-G , Clayton G. C. , Doney K. D. , Panopoulou G. V. , Hoang T. , Magalhaes A. M. , Yan H. , Ignace R. , Scowen P. A.
Published: December 2022

Continuum polarization over the UV-to-microwave range is due to dichroic extinction (or emission) by asymmetric, aligned dust grains. Scattering can also be an important source of polarization, especially at short wavelengths. Because of both grain alignment and scattering physics, the wavelength dependence of the polarization, generally, traces the size of the aligned grains. Similarly because of the differing wavelength dependencies of dichroic extinction and scattering polarization, the two can generally be reliably separated. Ultraviolet (UV) polarimetry therefore provides a unique probe of the smallest dust grains (diameter$< 0.09~\upmu \text{m}$
<
0.09

μm
), their mineralogy and interaction with the environment. However, the current observational status of interstellar UV polarization is very poor with less than 30 lines of sight probed. With the modern, quantitative and well-tested, theory of interstellar grain alignment now available, we have the opportunity to advance the understanding of the interstellar medium (ISM) by executing a systematic study of the UV polarization in the ISM of the Milky Way and near-by galaxies. The Polstar mission will provide the sensitivity and observing time needed to carry out such a program (probing hundreds of stars in the Milky Way and dozens of stars in the LMC/SMC), addressing questions of dust composition as a function of size and location, radiation- and magnetic-field characteristics as well as unveiling the carrier of the 2175 Å extinction feature. In addition, using high-resolution UV line spectroscopy Polstar will search for and probe the alignment of, and polarization from, aligned atoms and ions - so called “Ground State Alignment”, a potentially powerful new probe of magnetic fields in the diffuse ISM.
A comparison between the Felix™ electrophoretic system of sperm isolation and conventional density gradient centrifugation: a multicentre analysis
Authors: Shapouri Farnaz , Mahendran Tara , Govindarajan Mirudhubashini , Xie Philip , Kocur Olena , Palermo Gianpiero D. , Bakos Hassan W. , Ahlström Aisling , Caisander Gunilla , Xu Bo , Bai Shun , Lambourne Sarah , Aitken R. John
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Developing optimized techniques for the isolation of human spermatozoa possessing low levels of DNA damage is an important objective for the ART industry. The purpose of this study was to compare a novel electrophoretic system (Felix™) of sperm isolation with a conventional method involving density gradient centrifugation (DGC).

Methods

Five international ART Centres in Australia, India, Sweden, the USA, and China have collaborated in order to compare the quality of the sperm populations isolated by Felix™ and DGC in terms of processing time, sperm concentration, motility, vitality, and DNA integrity as assessed by 3 methods: SCSA, Halo, and TUNEL.

Results

Across all centers, 112 comparisons were performed. Although significant differences were noted between centers in terms of the quality of the semen samples subjected for analysis, overall, both methods were equally capable of isolating populations of spermatozoa exhibiting high levels of vitality and progressive motility. The absolute numbers of spermatozoa recovered were significantly (p < 0.001) lower with the Felix™ device although sperm quality was higher with 4/5 centers reporting a significant improvement in DNA integrity relative to DGC (p < 0.01–p < 0.001). In practical terms, the Felix™ device featured a standardized 6 min preparation time whereas clinical DGC protocols varied from center to center but generally took around 40 min to complete.

Conclusions

The Felix™ device is a positive technical development capable of isolating suspensions of highly motile spermatozoa exhibiting low levels of DNA damage in a fraction of the time taken by conventional procedures such as DGC.
The DIY IVF cycle—harnessing the power of deeptech to bring ART to the masses
Authors: Brayboy Lynae M. , Quaas Alexander M.
Published: December 2022

The emergence of telehealth including telemedicine, at-home testing, and mobile health applications has enabled patients to self-manage their reproductive care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reproduction is rapidly changing and embracing deeptech initiatives that can improve outcomes and facilitate personalized fertility solutions in the near future. This so-called DIY IVF informed by deeptech and moderated by femtech not only holds a tremendous amount of promise, but also challenges and possible pitfalls. This review discusses the current status of deeptech and femtech for IVF care in a post-Roe v. Wade environment.
The Dynamic Interplay of Anxious and Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Undergraduate Students
Authors: Marian Stefan , Costantini Giulio , Macsinga Irina , Sava Florin Alin
Published: December 2022

The network perspective on psychopathology suggests that mental disorders can be regarded as networks of elements that influence each other. In this study, we used network analysis to explore the temporal interactions of anxiety and depression symptoms at the level of day-to-day experiences and find potential explanatory pathways for their comorbidity. We collected intensive longitudinal data from a sample of undergraduate students and fitted a Multilevel Vector Autoregressive model on GAD and MDD DSM-5 symptoms. “Sad mood” and “Concentration difficulties” were responsible for the most connections between anxiety and depression symptoms and were also among the most central symptoms. It is possible that anxio-depressive comorbidity can be explained by the presence of “Sad mood” and “Concentration difficulties” and targeting these two symptoms in therapy can lead to beneficial effects in comorbid cases.
Development and retrospective evaluation of a clinical decision support system for the efficient detection of drug-related problems by clinical pharmacists
Authors: Skalafouris Christian , Blanc Anne-Laure , Grosgurin Olivier , Marti Christophe , Samer Caroline , Lovis Christian , Bonnabry Pascal , Guignard Bertrand
Published: December 2022

Background

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) can help identify drug-related problems (DRPs). However, the alert specificity remains variable. Defining more relevant alerts for detecting DRPs would improve CDSS.

Aim

Develop electronic queries that assist pharmacists in conducting medication reviews and an assessment of the performance of this model to detect DRPs.

Method

Electronic queries were set up in CDSS using “triggers” from electronic health records: drug prescriptions, laboratory values, medical problems, vital signs, demographics. They were based on a previous study where 315 patients admitted in internal medicine benefited from a multidisciplinary medication review (gold-standard) to highlight potential DRPs. Electronic queries were retrospectively tested to assess performance in detecting DRPs revealed with gold-standard. For each electronic query, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were computed.

Results

Of 909 DRPs, 700 (77.8%) were used to create 366 electronic queries. Electronic queries correctly detected 77.1% of DRPs, median sensitivity and specificity reached 100.0% (IQRs, 100.0%–100.0%) and 99.7% (IQRs, 97.0%–100.0%); median positive predictive value and negative predictive value reached 50.0% (IQRs, 12.5%–100.0%) and 100.0% (IQRs, 100.0%–100.0%). Performances varied according to “triggers” (p < 0.001, best performance in terms of predictive positive value when exclusively involving drug prescriptions).

Conclusion

Electronic queries based on electronic heath records had high sensitivity and negative predictive value and acceptable specificity and positive predictive value and may contribute to facilitate medication review. Implementing some of these electronic queries (the most effective and clinically relevant) in current practice will allow a better assessment of their impact on the efficiency of the clinical pharmacist.
The Persistence of the Gender Earnings Gap: Cohort Trends and the Role of Education in Twelve Countries
Authors: Bar-Haim Eyal , Chauvel Louis , Gornick Janet C. , Hartung Anne
Published: December 2022

Studying twelve countries over 30 years, we examine whether women’s educational expansion has translated into a narrowing of the gender gap in earnings when including persons with zero earnings. As educational attainment is cohort-dependent, an Age-Period-Cohort analysis is most appropriate in our view. Using the micro data from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) Database, we show that while, in terms of attainment of tertiary education, women have caught up and often even outperform men, substantial gender differences in our earnings measure persist in all countries. Using the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method in an innovative age-period-cohort approach, we demonstrate that the role of education in explaining gender earnings differences has been limited and even decreased over cohorts. We also conclude that, when including persons not receiving earnings, earnings differences at levels far from gender equality will likely persist in the future, even if the “rise of women” in terms of education continues—as the share of women in higher education increases and the returns to education in particular for women declines.
Evolution of the academic emotions of academically low-achieving students in knowledge building
Authors: Yang Yuqin , Zhu Gaoxia , Chan Carol K. K.
Published: December 2022

Knowledge Building is a pedagogical approach that emphasizes students’ collective responsibility to continuously improve their community knowledge. Advancing the frontiers of community knowledge is an exciting but challenging process, especially for low-achieving students, because it involves a continuous experience of cognitive disequilibrium and equilibrium. This knowledge generation process triggers various emotions (e.g., curiosity, surprise, and confusion) that may promote or hinder Knowledge Building. This study investigated the types and evolution of emotions experienced by academically low-achieving students in the Knowledge Building process supported by Knowledge Forum. The participants were 120 students from two Grade 9 classes and two Grade 11 classes in a Band 3 secondary school in Hong Kong. This school enrolls students performing at the 10th percentile on a pre-admission government examination at the end of elementary school. The participants built knowledge around Visual Arts. The emotions reflected in the digital Knowledge Forum notes and the evolution patterns of emotions in inquiry threads were both analyzed using content analysis and sequential pattern analysis. The participants demonstrated a high percentage of joy and relatively low percentages of frustration and boredom. Emotions were likely to maintain consistency (e.g., joy to joy) or transition between similar emotions (e.g., boredom to frustration) in the inquiry threads. By synthesizing the emotion transitions and subsequences manifested in the inquiry threads of different classes, we constructed a model of the evolution of emotions of academically low-achieving students during Knowledge Building. This model has implications for designing scaffolding or interventions to facilitate low-achieving students' learning and promote favorable emotions.
Use of multistate Bennett acceptance ratio method for free-energy calculations from enhanced sampling and free-energy perturbation
Authors: Matsunaga Yasuhiro , Kamiya Motoshi , Oshima Hiraku , Jung Jaewoon , Ito Shingo , Sugita Yuji
Published: December 2022

Multistate Bennett acceptance ratio (MBAR) works as a method to analyze molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data after the simulations have been finished. It is widely used to estimate free-energy changes between different states and averaged properties at the states of interest. MBAR allows us to treat a wide range of states from those at different temperature/pressure to those with different model parameters. Due to the broad applicability, the MBAR equations are rather difficult to apply for free-energy calculations using different types of MD simulations including enhanced conformational sampling methods and free-energy perturbation. In this review, we first summarize the basic theory of the MBAR equations and categorize the representative usages into the following four: (i) perturbation, (ii) scaling, (iii) accumulation, and (iv) full potential energy. For each, we explain how to prepare input data using MD simulation trajectories for solving the MBAR equations. MBAR is also useful to estimate reliable free-energy differences using MD trajectories based on a semi-empirical quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) model and ab initio QM/MM energy calculations on the MD snapshots. We also explain how to use the MBAR software in the GENESIS package, which we call mbar_analysis, for the four representative cases. The proposed estimations of free-energy changes and thermodynamic averages are effective and useful for various biomolecular systems.
Limited enzymatic hydrolysis of green coffee protein as a technique for preparing new functional food components
Authors: Ali Mostafa , Rawel Harshadrai , Hellwig Michael
Published: December 2022

Valorisation of side-streams in food production has become an important booster for increased sustainability in food production. The objective of this work was to study and improve the functional properties of green coffee (GC) protein. Extraction of defatted GC meal by using PVPP slightly increased protein yield and significantly decreased the amount of covalently and non-covalently bound CQA, therefore decreasing the antioxidant activity of the meal. Peptic hydrolysis at pH 1.5 led to a significantly higher degree of hydrolysis (DH) than at pH 3. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the molecular weights of peptides of GC protein hydrolysates were in the range of 11–60 kDa, while peptides were in the range of 500–5000 Da using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS). Additionally, the enzymatic hydrolysis significantly improved the antioxidant activity of the GC protein. Finally, the results suggest that enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin is an effective technique to provide bioactive compounds. The works presented in our manuscript may help in further exploiting the potential use of green coffee beans for food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry.
The effects of gender stereotype-based interfaces on users’ flow experience and performance
Authors: Oliveira Wilk , Hamari Juho , Ferreira William , Toda Armando M. , Palomino Paula T. , Vassileva Julita , Isotani Seiji
Published: December 2022

Despite recent advances in the personalization of education, it is still unknown how different kinds of personalization affect students’ experiences. To advance this literature, in this article, we present an experimental study with 307 participants investigating the effects of gender stereotype-based interfaces (in terms of colors and avatars stereotypes) on users’ flow experience (i.e., challenge–skill balance, merging of action and awareness, clear goals, feedback, concentration, control, loss of self-consciousness, and autotelic experience), and performance in a gamified educational system. The main results indicate that gender stereotype-based interfaces affect users’ action–awareness merging, however, do not affect users’ performance and overall flow experience. We contribute with the basis for new studies and challenge thorough future research attempts.
Unveiling the Universe with emerging cosmological probes
Authors: Moresco Michele , Amati Lorenzo , Amendola Luca , Birrer Simon , Blakeslee John P. , Cantiello Michele , Cimatti Andrea , Darling Jeremy , Della Valle Massimo , Fishbach Maya , Grillo Claudio , Hamaus Nico , Holz Daniel , Izzo Luca , Jimenez Raul , Lusso Elisabeta , Meneghetti Massimo , Piedipalumbo Ester , Pisani Alice , Pourtsidou Alkistis , Pozzetti Lucia , Quartin Miguel , Risaliti Guido , Rosati Piero , Verde Licia
Published: December 2022

The detection of the accelerated expansion of the Universe has been one of the major breakthroughs in modern cosmology. Several cosmological probes (Cosmic Microwave Background, Supernovae Type Ia, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations) have been studied in depth to better understand the nature of the mechanism driving this acceleration, and they are being currently pushed to their limits, obtaining remarkable constraints that allowed us to shape the standard cosmological model. In parallel to that, however, the percent precision achieved has recently revealed apparent tensions between measurements obtained from different methods. These are either indicating some unaccounted systematic effects, or are pointing toward new physics. Following the development of CMB, SNe, and BAO cosmology, it is critical to extend our selection of cosmological probes. Novel probes can be exploited to validate results, control or mitigate systematic effects, and, most importantly, to increase the accuracy and robustness of our results. This review is meant to provide a state-of-art benchmark of the latest advances in emerging “beyond-standard” cosmological probes. We present how several different methods can become a key resource for observational cosmology. In particular, we review cosmic chronometers, quasars, gamma-ray bursts, standard sirens, lensing time-delay with galaxies and clusters, cosmic voids, neutral hydrogen intensity mapping, surface brightness fluctuations, stellar ages of the oldest objects, secular redshift drift, and clustering of standard candles. The review describes the method, systematics, and results of each probe in a homogeneous way, giving the reader a clear picture of the available innovative methods that have been introduced in recent years and how to apply them. The review also discusses the potential synergies and complementarities between the various probes, exploring how they will contribute to the future of modern cosmology.
Intranasal ondansetron microemulsion counteracting the adverse effects of cisplatin: animal study
Authors: Mansour Mai , Nasr Maha , Ahmed-Farid Omar A. H. , Ahmed Rania F.
Published: December 2022

Background

Cisplatin is considered one of the most effective and commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs, but despite its high therapeutic effectiveness, most patients treated with cisplatin suffer from nausea and vomiting, neurotoxic side effects, and cerebral psychiatric disorders such as depression. Therefore, the aim of the current work was to explore whether a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (Ondansetron) administered via the oral route or intranasally in microemulsion form would alleviate cisplatin’s adverse effects.

Methods

The selected ondansetron microemulsion was characterized in vitro for particle size, polydispersity, zeta potential, morphology, and nasal permeation, and in vivo in terms of anti-emetic and antidepressant activity, with the assessment of biochemical markers in brain homogenates.

Results

Results revealed that both orally administered ondansetron and intranasally administered microemulsion were able to counteract the pica effect by increasing food consumption, water intake, and decreasing kaolin intake. They were also able to increase BDNF, normalize IL-6, increase serotonin, and normalize NOx, MDA, GSSH/GSH as well as 8OHdG levels in rats’ brain homogenates. The intranasal ondansetron microemulsion displayed superiority compared to oral conventional ondansetron in terms of increasing food intake, reduction of stomach content, and normalization of serotonin turnover.

Conclusion

Ondansetron microemulsion can be administered by an alternative route of administration (intranasal) rather than oral, for patients on cisplatin chemotherapy.

Graphical Abstract
Application of Deep Learning on Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Data Analysis: A Review
Authors: Brendel Matthew , Su Chang , Bai Zilong , Zhang Hao , Elemento Olivier , Wang Fei
Published: December 2022

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has become a routinely used technique to quantify the gene expression profile of thousands of single cells simultaneously. Analysis of scRNA-seq data plays an important role in the study of cell states and phenotypes, and has helped elucidate biological processes, such as those occurring during the development of complex organisms, and improved our understanding of disease states, such as cancer, diabetes, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Deep learning, a recent advance of artificial intelligence that has been used to address many problems involving large datasets, has also emerged as a promising tool for scRNA-seq data analysis, as it has a capacity to extract informative and compact features from noisy, heterogeneous, and high-dimensional scRNA-seq data to improve downstream analysis. The present review aims at surveying recently developed deep learning techniques in scRNA-seq data analysis, identifying key steps within the scRNA-seq data analysis pipeline that have been advanced by deep learning, and explaining the benefits of deep learning over more conventional analytic tools. Finally, we summarize the challenges in current deep learning approaches faced within scRNA-seq data and discuss potential directions for improvements in deep learning algorithms for scRNA-seq data analysis.
Emotional Sensibility: Exploring the Methodological and Ethical Implications of Research Participants’ Emotions
Authors: PEARLMAN WENDY
Published: December 2022

Although political science increasingly investigates emotions as variables, it often ignores emotions’ larger significance due to their inherence in research with human subjects. Integrating emotions into conversations on methods and ethics, I build on the term “ethnographic sensibility” to conceptualize an “emotional sensibility” that seeks to glean the emotional experiences of people who participate in research. Methodologically, emotional sensibility sharpens attention to how participants’ emotions are data, influence other data, and affect future data collection. Ethically, it supplements Institutional Review Boards’ rationalist emphasis on information and cognitive capacity with appreciation for how emotions infuse consent, risk, and benefit. It thereby encourages thinking not only about emotional harm but also about emotions apart from harm and about emotional harms apart from trauma and vulnerability. I operationalize emotional sensibility by tracking four dimensions of research that affect participants’ emotions: the content of research, the context in which research occurs, researchers’ positionality, and researchers’ conduct.
A PAIR OF EQUATIONS IN EIGHT PRIME CUBES AND POWERS OF 2
Authors: HAN XUE , LIU HUAFENG
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we show that every pair of sufficiently large even integers can be represented as a pair of eight prime cubes and k powers of
$2$
. In particular, we prove that
$k=335$
is admissible, which improves the previous result.
Cross-over septal flap technique for choanal atresia surgery in two centres: how I do it
Authors: Elhassan H A , Karligkiotis A , Searyoh K , Zocchi J , Bozkurt G , Bandi F , Birss M , Adegboyega G , Turri-Zanoni M , Battaglia P , Bignami M , Castelnuovo P
Published: December 2022

Background

Choanal atresia is a congenital obstruction of the posterior nasal aperture. Endoscopic endonasal surgery has led to successful choanal atresia repair. This paper describes our surgical technique using septal mucosal flaps without the need for stenting.

Methods

This study comprised a multicentre retrospective review of patient notes. A cross-over septal technique is described, whereby bilateral vertical mucosal incisions are made at the posterior third of the septum, and the atretic plate and posterior vomer are removed. One flap is pedicled superiorly and rotated over the bare skull base and sphenoid bone; the contralateral flap is pedicled inferiorly to cover the exposed vomer remnant and hard palate.

Results

There were 12 patients from 2013 to 2020, aged 0.07–50 years, with a male to female ratio of 1:5. Ten patients had unilateral and two had bilateral choanal atresia. Nine patients had bony choanal atresia, with the remainder mixed.

Conclusion

The cross-over technique for choanal atresia has low morbidity and 100 per cent success in our series. The use of mucoperiosteal flaps to cover exposed bone and minimal instrumentation to the lateral nasal wall reduce post-operative stenosis.
Revisiting Rabindranath Tagore’s critique of nationalism
Authors: Lamba Rinku
Published: December 2022

This article revisits Rabindranath Tagore’s critique of nationalism as well as his interventions on the theme of samaj. The claim is that contained within Tagore’s reflections on nationalism and samaj is a vision of political community that is stipulated as an alternative to the one espoused by the nation-state mode of politics. Tagore’s formulations of the possibilities within samaj suggest his commitment to normative orders grounded in a notion of relationship as a basis for social cooperation. Tagore contrasts and prioritizes the relationship-based orientation of samaj with what he calls the ‘mechanical’ emphasis of forms of community associated with the nation-state. Tagore articulated his views during the high noon of anti-colonial nationalism in India, and he offers a striking secular and modern political alternative to nationalist visions of community, which I classify as upholding a vision of societal politics. In underscoring the modern and political bases of Tagore’s critique of nationalism and his endorsement of social and political forms related to samaj, I suggest that it would be a mistake to classify Tagore’s perspective on nationalism and samaj as reflecting anti-political, or local-traditionalist, or aesthetic responses to the problems attached to national models of community.