bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematological and Histopathological Changes of Juvenile Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Exposed to Lethal and Sublethal Concentrations of Roundup (Glyphosate 41% SL)
Authors: Azadikhah Dariush , Varcheh Matin , Yalsuyi Ahmad Mohamadi , Forouhar Vajargah Mohammad , Mansouri Chorehi Mohammad , Faggio Caterina
Published: November 2023

The presence of pesticides and their potential toxic effects on fish can pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of commercial formulations of glyphosate (Roundup) on the survival rate, hematological parameters, and tissues (gills and liver) of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). For these purposes, we exposed the fish to 0, 50, 100, and 150 mL L−1 of Roundup for 96 hr. Results showed a significant correlation between the fish’s mortality rate and pesticide concentrations (

p
<
0.01

); the LC50 96 hr of Roundup was 75.838 mL L−1 in the present study. The concentrations above 50 mL L−1 induced significant tissue lesions seen as lamellar aneurism, leukocyte infiltration, distal hyperplasia, cloudy swelling, macrophage aggregates, and necrosis in the gills and liver. We also reported a significant correlation between the severity of tissue damage and Roundup concentration. The hematocrit, hemoglobin, white, and red blood cell count significantly reduced after 96 hr of exposure to 100 and 150 mL L−1. The opposite trend was reported for concentrations of glucose, albumin, cholesterol, total protein, and triglycerides. Finally, the fish exposed to 100 and 150 mL L−1 of Roundup displayed some clinical signs, such as increasing operculum movement, darkening the skin, and swimming near the surface during the movement test. Overall, our results showed that concentrations of Roundup higher than 50 mL L−1 can induce various toxic effects and significantly reduce the survival chance of juvenile grass carp. Roundup altered fish behavior, tissue functioning, and biochemical processes. In this study, we provided some basic knowledge about the effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide on aquatic organisms and possible environmental management.
Comparison of the Visibility Grading Forecast Method Based on Meteorological Factors and Environmental Factors
Authors: Long Yanyan , Li Fei , Sang Wenjun
Published: November 2023

The main visibility forecast factors were identified with the support of data from routine meteorological observations from the Mianyang Airport and the Mianyang Environmental Monitoring Station from 2015 to 2018, and a visibility grading forecast model was established and tested by dint of the multiple linear regression and the KNN algorithm based on big data mining technology, and the variation characteristics of visibility in winter at the Mianyang Airport were studied. The results showed that (1) in addition to having a significant positive correlation with wind speed, the visibility in winter at the Mianyang Airport has a significant negative correlation with relative humidity, dew point temperature, AQI, PM2.5 concentration, PM10 concentration, and CO, and it has the strongest correlation with relative humidity, and the correlation coefficient is −0.76. (2) The multivariate linear regression model and the KNN model were adopted for grading forecasting experiments on visibility, and the results revealed that both models could be used for visibility grading forecasts. The multiple regression model secures an accuracy of over 70% for forecasts of level 1–5 visibility. In terms of the KNN model, the forecast accuracy is the best when K = 3 or K = 5, notably for level-2, level-4, and level-5 visibility. The forecast accuracy rate is 100% for level-2 visibility, but the forecast for level-1 visibility is poor. (3) The minimum value of the average daily visibility of the Mianyang Airport in winter appeared at 09 : 00 and the maximum value appeared at 17 : 00. The level-1 visibility occurred and developed before 09 : 00 and faded and vanished between 08 : 00 and 15 : 00.
Diversity of Viruses in Ixodes ricinus in Europe including Novel and Potential Arboviruses
Authors: Bratuleanu Bianca Elena , Răileanu Cristian , Bennouna Amal , Chretien Delphine , Bigot Thomas , Guardado-Calvo Pablo , Savuta Gheorghe , Moutailler Sara , Eloit Marc , Temmam Sarah
Published: November 2023

Tick-borne pathogens are responsible for many vector-borne diseases in Europe, causing important problems for human and animal health. The composition of viral communities in ticks and their interactions with pathogens is little understood, especially in Eastern Europe, an area that represents a major hub for animal-arthropod vectors exchanges. In this study, we used metatranscriptomics to characterize the virome of 2,753 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from France and Romania, focusing on viruses that could potentially have implications for human or animal health. Among the great viral diversity of viruses identified, we reported a novel strain of Tribec virus, an important human pathogen that was found in Romanian ticks. We detected viruses belonging to the Phenuiviridae and Nairoviridae families close to human and animal pathogens, suggesting that these viruses could constitute novel arboviruses. We used luciferase immunoprecipitation system targeting external viral proteins of viruses identified among the Sedoreoviridae, Phenuiviridae, and Nairoviridae families to screen serum samples from small ruminants’ exposed to tick bites. The results suggest that part (approximately 12%, 95% CI 9.1–16.2) of the small ruminant population from Danube Delta, was exposed to viruses related to bi- or tri-segmented nairoviruses, but cross-reactive viruses could not be confirmed with certainly. The strategy developed in this study serves as a key step in predicting potential new disease outbreaks and can be readily adapted to study other reservoirs, vectors, and interfaces involving susceptible hosts.
Parameter Determination Method in Analysis of Stratum Deformation Caused by Tunnel Excavation
Authors: Li Xinlong , Zhao Shiyong , Cao Dongjiao , Zhao Jiale , Liu Yang , Hu Zhenhui
Published: November 2023

Based on the analytical method of formation deformation caused by tunnel excavation proposed by Verruijt and Sagaseta, combined with the basic principles of soil mechanics and elastic mechanics, a method for determining the pending parameters required in the analysis process is proposed. This method does not require the actual measurement of deformation values in the field, and the required parameters can be determined from geological data, so as to obtain the deformation values of any points of the whole stratum. According to engineering examples, when the pending parameters are obtained by this method, the difference between the resolved value of maximum surface settlement and the measured value can be controlled within 5.0%, and the analytical results can splendidly reflect the formation deformation law caused by tunnel excavation. Further combined with the analysis of the numerical simulation results, the proposed approximation method has certain shortcomings and deficiencies, mainly in the lack of lateral constraints on the displacement. When the measured data in the field are insufficient, this method can be used to estimate the deformation, and the analysis results are slightly larger than the measured values, which is safer.
Deep Forest-Based E-Commerce Recommendation Attack Detection Model
Authors: Mingxun Zhu , Jiewu Yin , Zhigang Meng , Yanping Wang
Published: November 2023

With the advancement of Internet, recommendation systems have become an indispensable component for every e-commerce platform, playing an increasingly pivotal role in product recommendations. However, due to the recommendation mechanisms of these systems, numerous new attack patterns have emerged. A novel attack pattern targeting e-commerce recommendation systems, termed the “Ride Item’s Coattails” attack, fabricates false click information to deceitfully establish associations between popular products and low-quality products, intending to mislead the e-commerce platform’s recommendation system and promote the sales of substandard products. This article presents a recommendation system attack detection method based on the Deep Forest algorithm to address the challenges of these novel recommendation system attacks. Random forests are used for feature selection, aiming to filter crucial features and reduce feature redundancy. To tackle the issue of extreme class imbalance, a symmetric sampling technique based on k-means centroids is introduced. This approach addresses the incomplete noise filtering and sampling data comprehensiveness issues commonly found in undersampling algorithms. Considering the potential for even more imbalanced data in real-world scenarios, a combined strategy of undersampling and SMOTE resampling is used to handle imbalanced data. The proposed algorithm was trained on e-commerce “Ride Item’s Coattails” attack identification data from Alibaba Cloud’s Tianchi, which originates from genuine recommendation system attack data. The proposed method was compared with various deep learning and machine learning algorithms, such as DLMP and deep neural networks (DNN), for extensive validation. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed technique effectively meets the demands for attack detection.
Enamel Fluoride Uptake Determined Using the Microbiopsy Technique and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: A Pilot Study
Authors: Michler Nicole , Morawietz Maria , Gierth Stephan , Lippert Frank , Kiesow Andreas
Published: November 2023

This study evaluated the suitability of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to assess enamel fluoride uptake (EFU) in comparison with the microbiopsy technique. Enamel specimens were exposed to equimolar solutions of fluoride prepared from sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous fluoride (SnF2), or amine fluoride (AmF). EFU was quantified by both techniques on the same specimens. EFU was found to be highest for samples treated with AmF, followed by SnF2 and NaF. Both methods yielded clearly interpretable, highly correlating (r = 0.95) data. ToF-SIMS can be considered a promising alternative to the microbiopsy technique for near-surface EFU assessment.
High Unemployment Rate in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa despite High Educational Attainment
Authors: Kearney Niamh , McCourt Collette , Hughes Rosalind , McGrath Barry , O'Kane Donal , Kirby Brian
Published: November 2023

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The adverse influence of HS on education and employment may explain this. It remains unknown whether HS causes downward social trajectories, i.e., social drift, or whether those affected are born into a lower SES. We aimed to assess the influence of HS on education and employment and compare the highest educational attainment of participants with their parents. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed by patient-led organisations. Frequencies were compared with χ2 and disease interactions with one-way ANOVA. Results: Among 335 respondents from 10 countries, 94.9% completed secondary/high school, 71.3% completed further education, 41.8% completed an undergraduate degree, 20% completed postgraduate education, 10.7% completed a masters, and 2.1% completed a doctorate. Participant education was greater than parental education (p < 0.001). Despite this, 24.2% were unemployed and 15.2% were receiving illness benefit. Compared to national statistics, HS participants from Ireland (p = 0.003), the USA (p < 0.001), and the UK (p < 0.001) were more likely to be unemployed/receiving illness benefit despite higher educational attainment in Ireland (p = 0.006) and the USA (p = 0.003) with similar education in the UK (p = 0.153). Conclusions: Social drift describes downward social trajectories due to the development of a disease. Participants in this study report greater education than their parents and the background population, but despite this, they are experiencing downward social trajectories with higher unemployment and receipt of illness benefit. Disease onset in HS tends to be at peak educational age. Education does not appear to be impaired by early disease with disease accumulation during employment years limiting opportunities.
Implantable Hearing Devices in Ontario: A Population-Based Study of Access to Care and Access to Devices
Authors: Kirubalingam Keshinisuthan , Nguyen Paul , Kang Ann , Beyea Jason A.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada is high, with many patients requiring implantable hearing devices (IHDs) as treatment for their disease severity. Despite this need, many eligible patients do not pursue these interventions. The objective of this study was to examine rates of IHD based on geographic location to understand locoregional variation in access to care. Study Design: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study. Setting: All hospitals in the Canadian province of Ontario. Methods: Of all patients with IHD between April 1, 1992, and March 31, 2021, cochlear implants (CIs) (4,720) and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) (1,125) cohorts were constructed. Place of residence was categorized based on Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN). Summary statistics for place of surgical institution based on LHIN at first surgery, name of institution of first surgery and “as the crow flies” distance (in km) between place of residence and surgical institution were calculated. Rate of implantations was calculated for LHIN regions based on number of surgeries per 1,000,000 persons/years. Results: Toronto Central, Central, Central East, and Champlain regions had >10% of patients undergoing BAHA and CI. 1,019 (90.6%) and 4,232 (89.7%) of patients receiving BAHA and CI, respectively, resided in urban/suburban regions and 94 patients (8.4%) and 436 (9.2%) resided in rural regions. The median distance between residential location and the institution was 46.4 km (interquartile range [IQR], 18.9–103.6) and 44.7 km (IQR, 15.7–96.9) for BAHA and CI, respectively. From 1992 to 2021, the number of CI and BAHA performed across Ontario increased by 17 folds and 6 folds, respectively. Conclusion: This large comprehensive population study provides longitudinal insight into the access to care of IHD based on geographic factors. Our findings of the present population-based study indicate an overall increase in access to devices with disproportionate access to care based on geographic locations. Further work is needed to characterize barriers to IHD access to align with demands.
Applying Artificial Intelligence to Identify Common Targets for Treatment of Asthma, Eczema, and Food Allergy
Authors: Liu Hei Man , Rayner Andre , Mendelsohn Andrew R. , Shneyderman Anastasia , Chen Michelle , Pun Frank W.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Allergic disorders are common diseases marked by the abnormal immune response toward foreign antigens that are not pathogens. Often patients with food allergy also suffer from asthma and eczema. Given the similarities of these diseases and a shortage of effective treatments, developing novel therapeutics against common targets of multiple allergies would offer an efficient and cost-effective treatment for patients. Methods: We employed the artificial intelligence-driven target discovery platform, PandaOmics, to identify common targets for treating asthma, eczema, and food allergy. Thirty-two case-control comparisons were generated from 15, 11, and 6 transcriptomics datasets related to asthma (558 cases, 315 controls), eczema (441 cases, 371 controls), and food allergy (208 cases, 106 controls), respectively, and allocated into three meta-analyses for target identification. Top-100 high-confidence targets and Top-100 novel targets were prioritized by PandaOmics for each allergic disease. Results: Six common high-confidence targets (i.e., IL4R, IL5, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and NR3C1) across all three allergic diseases have approved drugs for treating asthma and eczema. Based on the targets’ dysregulated expression profiles and their mechanism of action in allergic diseases, three potential therapeutic targets were proposed. IL5 was selected as a high-confidence target due to its strong involvement in allergies. PTAFR was identified for drug repurposing, while RNF19B was selected as a novel target for therapeutic innovation. Analysis of the dysregulated pathways commonly identified across asthma, eczema, and food allergy revealed the well-characterized disease signature and novel biological processes that may underlie the pathophysiology of allergies. Conclusion: Altogether, our study dissects the shared pathophysiology of allergic disorders and reveals the power of artificial intelligence in the exploration of novel therapeutic targets.
Treatment and Prognosis of Newly Diagnosed Advanced-Stage Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Single-Center Real-World Study across Two Decades
Authors: Wei Yu-Ce , Qi Fei , Chen Bo , Zhang Chang-Gong , Fang Hui , Zhang Di , Qi Shu-Nan , Chai Yue , Li Ye-Xiong , Dong Mei
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Although there is now a consensus on asparaginase-based chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced-stage extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphomas (ENKTCLs), patient survival in the real-world setting is still not optimistic according to previous literature reports, and the optimal chemotherapeutic regimens and integration of different therapeutic methods under the concept of combined-modality treatment still need to be further explored and verified. Methods: Newly diagnosed stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ ENKTCL patients from Chinese National Cancer Center in the last two decades were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined as primary endpoints. Log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models were performed to test for survival differences between subgroups and examine the univariable and multivariable associations. Results: The study included 83 newly diagnosed stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ ENKTCL patients and reported a median OS of 26.07 months and an estimated 5-year OS of 41.3% with a median follow-up of 82.13 months. First-line asparaginase-based regimens compared to non-asparaginase-based regimens significantly prolonged PFS (p = 0.007; HR = 0.48, p = 0.020) and showed a tendency to improve OS (p = 0.064; HR = 0.74, p = 0.359). Gemcitabine-based regimens also exhibited a trend toward improved PFS (p = 0.048; HR = 0.59, p = 0.164) and OS (p = 0.008; HR = 0.67, p = 0.282) compared to non-gemcitabine-based ones. The asparaginase and gemcitabine combinations yielded a 5-year OS of 55.0% and led to significantly superior PFS (p = 0.020; HR = 0.40, p = 0.022) and slightly better OS (p = 0.054; HR = 0.79, p = 0.495) compared to the remaining regimens. First-line combined-modality treatment integrating chemotherapy and radiotherapy improved PFS (p = 0.051) and OS (p = 0.036) compared to chemotherapy alone. Four autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients reached a median OS of 58.34 months. Conclusion: Asparaginase and gemcitabine alone brought a favorable impact on PFS and OS; and the asparaginase and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy yielded the optimal efficacy, response duration, and survival outcomes. Combined-modality treatment including potent chemotherapy supplemented by radiotherapy and/or consolidative transplantation could improve prognosis in newly diagnosed advanced-stage ENKTCLs.
Association of Lung Ultrasound B-Lines with Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Clinically Euvolemic Haemodialysis Patients
Authors: Li Fengqin , Ding Miao , Wang Yanzhe , Chen Qijie , Wu Yue , Zeng Chuchu , Zhang Nan , Zhu Dingyu , Wang Xiaoxia
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) frequently occurs in haemodialysis patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been recently proposed for the quantification of extravascular lung water through assessment of B-lines. LUS findings and their relationship with LVDD in clinically euvolemic haemodialysis patients were investigated in this study. Methods: Echocardiography and LUS examinations were performed on each patient. Multivariate linear regression and forward stepwise logistic regression were performed to determine the relationship between B-lines and LVDD. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the accuracy of B-lines for evaluating LVDD. Results: A total of 119 patients were enrolled. The number of B-lines was statistically related to echocardiographic parameters (LAVI, LVEDVI, E/A, and E/e′) of diastolic function, while the relationship between B-lines and LVEF disappeared after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Additionally, compared with the mild B-line group (B-lines: <14), the moderate (B-lines: 14–30) and severe B-line groups (B-lines: >30) were associated with an increased risk of LVDD (OR 24.344, 95% CI 4.854–122.084, p < 0.001, and OR 94.552, 95% CI 9.617–929.022, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the AUC of the ROC curve for B-lines predicting LVDD was 0.845, and the cut-off of B-lines was 14.5 (sensitivity 64.91%, specificity 93.55%). Conclusion: LUS B-lines were closely associated with left ventricular diastolic function in clinically euvolemic haemodialysis patients. Moreover, our findings suggested a B-line ≥14.5 as a reliable cut-off value for identifying patients with LVDD. LUS B-lines may be used as a novel indicator for evaluating LVDD.
Monitoring Gait and Physical Activity of Elderly Frail Individuals in Free-Living Environment: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Camerlingo Nunzio , Shaafi Kabiri Nina , Psaltos Dimitrios J. , Kelly Meredith , Wicker Madisen K. , Messina Isabelle , Auerbach Sanford H. , Zhang Hao , Messere Andrew , Isik Karahanoglu Fikret , Santamaria Mar , Demanuele Charmaine , Caouette David , Thomas Kevin C.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Frailty is conventionally diagnosed using clinical tests and self-reported assessments. However, digital health technologies (DHTs), such as wearable accelerometers, can capture physical activity and gait during daily life, enabling more objective assessments. In this study, we assess the feasibility of deploying DHTs in community-dwelling older individuals, and investigate the relationship between digital measurements of physical activity and gait in naturalistic environments and participants’ frailty status, as measured by conventional assessments. Methods: Fried Frailty Score (FFS) was used to classify fifty healthy individuals as non-frail (FFS = 0, n/female = 21/11, mean ± SD age: 71.10 ± 3.59 years), pre-frail (FFS = 1–2, n/female = 23/9, age: 73.74 ± 5.52 years), or frail (FFS = 3+, n/female = 6/6, age: 70.70 ± 6.53 years). Participants wore wrist-worn and lumbar-worn GENEActiv accelerometers (Activinsights Ltd., Kimbolton, UK) during three in-laboratory visits, and at-home for 2 weeks, to measure physical activity and gait. After this period, they completed a comfort and usability questionnaire. Compliant days at-home were defined as follows: those with ≥18 h of wear time, for the wrist-worn accelerometer, and those with ≥1 detected walking bout, for the lumbar-worn accelerometer. For each at-home measurement, a group analysis was performed using a linear regression model followed by ANOVA, to investigate the effect of frailty on physical activity and gait. Correlation between at-home digital measurements and conventional in-laboratory assessments was also investigated. Results: Participants were highly compliant in wearing the accelerometers, as 94% indicated willingness to wear the wrist device, and 66% the lumbar device, for at least 1 week. Time spent in sedentary activity and time spent in moderate activity as measured from the wrist device, as well as average gait speed and its 95th percentile from the lumbar device were significantly different between frailty groups. Moderate correlations between digital measurements and self-reported physical activity were found. Conclusions: This work highlights the feasibility of deploying DHTs in studies involving older individuals. The potential of digital measurements in distinguishing frailty phenotypes, while unobtrusively collecting unbiased data, thus minimizing participants’ travels to sites, will be further assessed in a follow-up study.
Hemorrhagic Stroke as Inspiration for Poetry: The Case of Alfred Tennyson, Arthur Henry Hallam, and In Memoriam A.H.H.
Authors: Pedro Matheus
Published: November 2023

Background: Neurology and literature have a complex interface; one of the facets is that of works inspired by grief on the passing of a beloved one due to a neurological disease. Summary: In Memoriam A.H.H., written by Alfred Tennyson and published in 1850 in response to the untimely death of Arthur Henry Hallam, is one such elegy, which had a profound impact in Tennyson’s body of work and on the history of Victorian poetry in general. In this review, the author delineates biographical notes of both men before analyzing the disease and death of Arthur Hallam due to hemorrhagic stroke. Key Messages: By evaluating Hallam’s autopsy report and contemplating the different hypotheses on the etiology of his stroke, as well as how his death due to catastrophic neurological disease was memorialized in verse, neurologists may gain better insight on the interface between neurology and literature inspired by grief.
Traumatic Head Injuries from Ceiling Fans at a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center in the United States
Authors: Muzyka Logan , Garza Holly Hughes , Merheb Diala , Sanchez Julie , Tyler-Kabara Elizabeth , Lawson Karla A.
Published: November 2023

Background/Objective: Several studies describe traumatic head injuries caused by ceiling fans in Australia, the Middle East, and Malaysia. Some injuries required neurosurgical intervention, especially those caused by metallic ceiling fans. This study describes traumatic head injuries caused by ceiling fans at a single pediatric level 1 trauma center in the Southern USA. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients under 18 years of age who presented with a traumatic injury to the head from a ceiling fan from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2021. The cohort of patients meeting all inclusion criteria was identified by querying multiple free-text fields derived from the electronic medical record, followed by a manual record review. Results: Of 60 children treated for traumatic head injury from a ceiling fan, the median age was 5.7 years and 53% were female. Laceration was the most common injury (80%), followed by scalp swelling/hematoma (20%), contusion (8%), and skull fracture (7%). Two patients (3%) with intracranial hemorrhage and fracture underwent neurosurgery. One neurosurgical case involved a metal ceiling fan and the other involved an outdoor ceiling fan. Nearly half of the injuries involved bunk or loft beds (47%) and young children were often injured while being lifted up by a caregiver (18%). Conclusion: Although most pediatric traumatic head injuries from ceiling fans resulted in minor injuries, our center saw a similar proportion of cases with skull fractures to what has been reported in Australia (5%). The effects of fan construction and blade material on the severity of head injury may warrant further study. Understanding the most common mechanisms for these injuries may guide injury prevention efforts.
El juego padres-hijo y su relación con el desarrollo cognitivo y socioemocional
Authors: Hurtado-Mazeyra Alejandra , Alejandro-Oviedo Olga Melina , Ollachica-Humpiri Ruth , Borda-Acero Claudia
Published: November 2023

(analytical)The objective of this quantitative study was to analyze the relationship between parent-child play (children between six and 18 months of age) and a child's cognitive and socio-emotional development. As part of the data collection process, a household questionnaire was applied to a sample of 2,052 children that asked about the regular activities and frequency of parent-child play when the children were between six and 18 months of age. Cognitive development was assessed using vocabulary and mathematics tests while socioemotional development was evaluated through different scales that measured levels of agency, pride, self-efficacy and self-esteem at five, eight, twelve and fifteen years of age. The results show increased levels of cognitive and socioemotional development among children who played with both parents on a daily basis when they were infants. The authors conclude that daily play between parents and children promotes cognitive and socioemotional development.
Challenges and Future Directions in Redo Aortic Valve Reintervention After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Failure
Authors: Zaid Syed , Bapat Vinayak N. , Sathananthan Janarthanan , Landes Uri , De Backer Ole , Tarantini Giuseppe , Grubb Kendra J. , Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Khalique Omar K. , Jilaihawi Hasan , Fukui Miho , Madhavan Mahesh , Cangut Busra , Harrington Katherine , Thourani Vinod H. , Makkar Raj R. , Leon Martin B. , Mack Michael J. , Tang Gilbert H.L.
Published: November 2023

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being performed in younger and lower surgical risk patients. Reintervention for failed transcatheter heart valves will likely increase in the future as younger patients are expected to outlive the initial bioprosthesis. While redo-TAVR has emerged as an attractive and less invasive alternative to surgical explantation (TAVR-explant) to treat transcatheter heart valve failure, it may not be feasible in all patients due to the risk of coronary obstruction and impaired coronary access. Conversely, TAVR-explant can be offered to most patients who are surgical candidates, but the reported outcomes have shown high mortality and morbidity. This review provides the latest evidence, current challenges, and future directions on redo-TAVR and TAVR-explant for transcatheter heart valve failure, to guide aortic valve reintervention and facilitate patients’ lifetime management of aortic stenosis.
Pressure-Based Soft Agents
Authors: Pigozzi Federico
Published: November 2023

Biological agents have bodies that are composed mostly of soft tissue. Researchers have resorted to soft bodies to investigate Artificial Life (ALife)-related questions; similarly, a new era of soft-bodied robots has just begun. Nevertheless, because of their infinite degrees of freedom, soft bodies pose unique challenges in terms of simulation, control, and optimization. Herein I propose a novel soft-bodied agents formalism, namely, pressure-based soft agents (PSAs): spring-mass membranes containing a pressurized medium. Pressure endows the agents with structure, while springs and masses simulate softness and allow the agents to assume a large gamut of shapes. PSAs actuate both locally, by changing the resting lengths of springs, and globally, by modulating global pressure. I optimize the controller of PSAs for a locomotion task on hilly terrain, an escape task from a cage, and an object manipulation task. The results suggest that PSAs are indeed effective at the tasks, especially those requiring a shape change. I envision PSAs as playing a role in modeling soft-bodied agents, such as soft robots and biological cells.
The cerebellum during provocation and aggressive behaviour: A 7 T fMRI study
Authors: Wolfs Elze M.L. , Van der Zwaag Wietske , Priovoulos Nikos , Klaus Jana , Schutter Dennis J.L.G.
Published: November 2023

Increasing empirical evidence points towards the involvement of the cerebellum in anger and aggressive behaviour. However, human functional neuroimaging studies so far have emphasised the involvement of subcortical and cortical regions, rather than examining the contributions of the cerebellum. In the present study, 7 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess cerebellar activation during provocation and aggressive behaviour elicited by the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm in 29 healthy adult volunteers. Provocations resulted in left posterior cerebellar activation, while right posterior cerebellar activation was associated with aggressive behaviour. Our findings confirm the involvement of distinct and lateralised non-motor related cerebellar areas during provocation and aggressive behaviour. This study adds to the growing recognition of the posterior cerebellar regions in emotion- and cognition-dedicated processes and to the role of the little brain in human aggression.
Qiṣāṣ in the Modern State: Searching for the Victim’s Family in Middle Eastern Criminal Law
Authors: Wright Brian
Published: November 2023

This article traces the development of the role of the victim’s family (awliyāʾ al-damm) in Middle Eastern legal systems. In the pre-modern period, most Muslim jurists saw the right of the victim’s family to determine the punishment for homicide as central to retaliation (qiṣāṣ) and gave political authorities a limited ability to punish offenders. As the modern state expanded in the nineteenth century, new codes provided room for governments to enact punishment and eventually removed the role of the family altogether, a move challenged by Islamists in the twentieth century. This article argues that although growing state power is an important backdrop against which legal development took place, it must also be recognized that the solutions created did not sideline the šarīʿa. Instead, reformers engaged with existing Islamic debates on balancing individual and societal rights to justify change, choosing interpretations that fit into evolving circumstances.
“Basali ba lifemeng”:1 Gender Stereotyping and the Low Absorption of Male Labour in Lesotho’s Textile Industry
Authors: Talasi Mahlompho P. , Thebe Vusilizwe
Published: November 2023

This article explores the low absorption of male labour in Lesotho’s textile industry. The research adopted a qualitative approach to interrogate dynamics in the industry and perspectives from social actors, including textile employees, key individuals and members of society. It revealed that the dynamics of change in the industry, particularly the technological leaps achieved by some factories, have created opportunities for men but have not necessarily resulted in changes in societal gender stereotypes, namely how society defines specific occupations as either masculine or feminine. Men working in textiles encounter barriers related to widespread and unchallenged stereotypes, characterised by denigration and feminisation by sections of society. The article concludes by alluding to the significance of paying attention to gender stereotypes embedded in societal and historical dynamics in seeking to understand the situation of men in the industry, and the potential implications of the introduction of technology in the industry.
The Pan-African Gorée Institute at Thirty: A Tribute to Breyten Breytenbach and the Power of the Imagination
Authors: Pistorius Juliana M. , T’Sjoen Yves , Roux Alwyn
Published: November 2023

Amid mounting assaults on political freedom and self-determination – both on the African continent and further afield, the work of the Pan-African Gorée Institute for Democracy, Development and Culture in Africa is more urgent than ever. This article reflects on the first thirty years of the Institute’s existence. It pays special attention to gorin’s creative projects, developed under the motto ‘Imagine Africa’, and reflects on South African poet Breyten Breytenbach’s formative role in the establishment of gorin’s cultural activities. The article concludes with a call for renewed engagement with gorin’s pan-African democratic endeavours.
The European Court of Human Rights and the Protection of National Minorities: Are We There Yet?
Authors: Baumgart Nathalie
Published: November 2023

This article highlights the most significant and recent developments concerning the protection of national minorities in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter ‘the Court’ or ECtHR). The examination of this development focuses on political, cultural, and social participation; education and language rights under Articles 8, 10, 11, and 2 Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter ‘the Charter’ or ECHR), which are amongst the most important rights for members of national minorities. The critical analysis includes controversial judgments such as Gorzelik and Others v. Poland and D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic. Furthermore, the paper draws a comparison between the ECHR and other instruments, such as a potential additional protocol to the ECHR and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (hereinafter ‘Framework Convention’ or FCNM).
Two new Darwin wasp species of Eiphosoma Cresson, 1865 (Ichneumonidae: Cremastinae) from the northwestern Andes of Colombia
Authors: FERNANDES DANIELL R. R. , PÁDUA DIEGO G. , MAZARIEGOS LUIS A. , ARAUJO RODRIGO O.
Published: November 2023

Two new Darwin wasp species of Eiphosoma Cresson, 1865 (E. nigroandinum Fernandes sp. nov. and E. merceae Fernandes sp. nov.) are described from the northwestern Andes of Colombia. Furthermore, we propose the establishment of a new species-group, E. nigroandinum species-group, to encompass these newly described species. Additionally, we expand the geographical distribution of Eiphosoma vitticolle Cresson, 1865, and complement the findings with a map and digital images.
Structures of Lateral Flow and Turbulence in a Breaking Tidal Bore Rushing through a Curved Channel of the Qiantang Estuary
Authors: Zhang Qianjiang , Pan Cunhong , Gu Weifang , Zhou Feng
Published: November 2023

Tidal bores form in distinct funnel-shaped estuaries and bays initially and cause unique flow and turbulence dynamics when passing through meandering channels, such as in the Qiantang Estuary, Amazon River Estuary, and Seine River Estuary. To understand the lateral currents and turbulence processes of tidal bores in curved channels, velocity profiles and free-surface elevations are sampled for four semidiurnal tidal cycles in a curved channel located upstream of the Qiantang Estuary. During flood tides, the evolution of lateral currents experiences three distinct phases: first, there are inner-bank-toward lateral currents at the front of tidal bores, followed by two-layer helical currents in the middle of the flood tides, and finally, outer-bank-pointing lateral currents at the end of flood tides. Tidal bore breaking creates outbursts of turbulent kinetic energy. The enhanced turbulence emerges above the middle layers and persists for more than 10 minutes after the breaking front. The lateral momentum balance indicates that the decreasing lateral barotropic pressure gradient (LBTPG) and the increasing summation of centrifugal and Coriolis acceleration give rise to the variation in lateral currents. The phase lead of bores near the outer bank induced by shoal-channel topography generates an inner-bank-pointing LBTPG at the bore front and then gradually weakens it. Significant turbulence following bore breaking may be induced via the wave-induced turbulence mechanism by violent secondary waves. This research shows that complicated lateral currents are an important component of tidal bores flowing through meandering channels and that secondary waves after bore breaking can continually feed turbulence.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this study is to discern and explain the variation in lateral flows and turbulence when tidal bores rush through a curved estuarine channel. Lateral currents and turbulence play important roles in momentum exchange, scalar dispersion, and transverse topography evolution. Moreover, the discussion on lateral flows is necessary to extend the understanding of tidal bore hydrodynamics from the x–z dimension to the x–y–z dimension. In situ observations reveal that a complicated but regular pattern of lateral currents occurred in every tidal cycle and that there was significant turbulence at the tidal bore front. Our findings show that the lateral difference in tidal bore propagation speed caused by shoal-channel topography in the curved bend is an essential reason for the generation of lateral currents and that the secondary waves simulated by bore breaking can continuously feed tidal bore turbulence.
Determination of the pKa Value of Protonated Mono and Polyamine in Solution Using Fourier Transform Infrared Titration
Authors: Müller Martin , Wirth Luise , Urban Birgit
Published: November 2023

The pKa values of propanolamine hydrochloride (PAMH) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAAMH) in concentrated solutions were determined by both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) titration and classical potentiometric (POT) titration and compared. Starting with the respective fully protonated forms PAMH and PAAMH and increasing the pH value by sodium hydroxide addition in situ attenuated total reflection FT-IR (ATR FT-IR) spectra on PAMH and PAAMH solutions show the variation of diagnostic infrared (IR) bands. From the decrease of the most intense δ(NH3+) band the dissociation process of the NH3+ groups could be followed. Thereby, from the respective normalized band area A the dissociation degree αIR of the ammonium groups could be determined. Plotting pH versus αIR and fitting this curve by a modified Henderson–Hasselbalch function pH = pKa + B log (αIR/1 – αIR) the parameters pKa and cooperativity factor B were obtained. pKa values from FT-IR titration were qualitatively in line with respective pKa values from POT titration. Quantitative systematic pKa deviations between polyelectrolyte (PEL) and respective monoelectrolyte and the tentative effects of PEL molecular weight, ambient ionic strength, and titration concept (FT-IR and POT) are discussed based on classical models of weak PEL.
Contagion From Abroad. How Party Entry in Western Europe is Influenced by Party Family Members Abroad, 1961–2016
Authors: van de Wardt Marc , Pilet Jean-Benoit , Schumacher Gijs , van Witteloostuijn Arjen
Published: November 2023

New parties are a key mechanism behind party system innovation as voters are offered new choices. To explain party entry (i.e. participation in a lower house election for the first time), the state-of-the-art has typically focused on domestic determinants. This, however, assumes that party entry takes place in an international vacuum. Building on the policy diffusion literature, we explore how party family members abroad influence party entry in the focal country. Based on a new dataset on the evolution of each party family in 17 Western European party systems between 1961 and 2016, including 2191 new parties, our mixed-methods approach combining spatial econometric models with pathway case analysis demonstrates that party entry is influenced by the entry and electoral success of their party family abroad. This has important implications for the literature on party entry and the international diffusion of policy platforms.
Anxiety and Depression in Gifted Individuals: A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review
Authors: Duplenne Léo , Bourdin Béatrice , Fernandez Damien N. , Blondelle Geoffrey , Aubry Alexandre
Published: November 2023

This article reviews the experimental research on the level of anxiety or depression in gifted individuals. Twenty-seven studies compared gifted and typically developing individuals for the anxiety level and 15 studies for the depression level comparison. This current meta-analysis was performed on the anxiety and depression levels distinctly. We found a non-significant negative effect size for both anxiety, g = −0.14, k = 27, and depression, g = −0.14, k = 15. These values should be taken cautiously given that a high heterogeneity was also found, which remained largely unexplained by the moderators tested. Only age and type of anxiety assessment emerged as significant moderators for the anxiety domain. The observed effect size for depression was not significantly affected by the subgroups analyzed.
Experiencing being objectified? A critical investigation of basic pedagogical categories in digital health education
Authors: Ruin Sebastian , Giese Martin
Published: November 2023

Background:

In this paper, we explore the role digital health education can play in physical education. We argue that the use of digital media and technologies has been accompanied by fundamental changes in basic sports pedagogical categories such as body, movement and experience. In doing so, we advance the thesis that increasing digitalisation offers multi-layered and partly paradoxical opportunities and risks for health education, which have not yet been sufficiently discussed from a sports pedagogical perspective in a digitalised world.

Objective:

To develop a deeper understanding of these changes, we aim to analyse the mechanisms, opportunities and challenges created by digital health education in physical education, with a focus on the use of tools such as wearables.

Method:

We draw on a Bildung-oriented perspective rooted in German-speaking pedagogy. With this in mind, we first look at the possibilities and limits for digital health education in physical education at the surface level, before we offer a deeper investigation of body, movement and experience in a digitalised world. This leads us to critical reflection at a structural level.

Results and Conclusion:

Supposedly clear distinctions between ‘virtual’ and ‘real’, and ‘digital’ and ‘analogue’, are increasingly untenable. On the one hand, the use of digital technologies can convey reductionist images of humankind and a narrow understanding of education. On the other hand, students can experience differences between supposedly objective and subjective views of their bodies and their movement behaviour using digital technologies. This can lead to Bildung processes in which the relationship between oneself and the world is questioned, which in a sense constitutes a form of Bildung-oriented digital health education.
How Does the Inflow of Tourism Affect the Agricultural Exports of India?
Authors: Shah Imtiyaz Ahmad , Nengroo Tariq Ahad , Haq Imtiyaz ul , Equabal Md Sarfaz
Published: November 2023

The empirical relationship between tourism inflow and international trade has been explored during recent years, supporting the argument that international tourism inflow promotes international trade between countries. However, the impact of international tourism inflow on agricultural exports has been neglected within standard agricultural trade models such as agricultural exports function and gravity model. The main aim of the article is to provide theoretical and empirical evidence that international tourism inflow matters for agricultural trade. The study uses an agricultural export demand function and augmented gravity model to examine the impact of tourism inflow on agricultural exports of India from the top 10 importing countries for the period 2000–2019. The agricultural trade model is estimated using random effect and fixed-effect model. To overcome the problem of panel heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation, it uses the panel corrected standard error model. Further, potential endogeneity is treated by using a 2SLS model. The empirical evidence confirms the significant and positive impact of tourism inflow on agricultural exports of India.

JEL Codes: F1, Q17, Z30
Backgrounds With Benefits? Rebel Group Origins and Concessions During Civil Wars in Africa
Authors: Braithwaite Jessica Maves , Cunningham Kathleen Gallagher
Published: November 2023

Why do governments make concessions to some rebels but not others? We argue that the origins of rebel groups influence the bargaining process, and the government’s willingness to make concessions in particular. Rebel groups inherit different resource endowments – community ties and military expertise – from pre-existing “parent” organizations. These resource endowments are visible to the government, and they provide critical information about the likely durability of the rebellion. We expect that rebel group origins facilitating these endowments are associated with the state offering concessions earlier in the conflict. Employing original data on rebel group origins, as well as information on government concessions during post-Cold War African conflicts, we find general support for our expectations, although not all types of parent organizations are equally beneficial to rebel groups when it comes to extracting concessions from the state.