bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical treatment of internal hernia after Roux–en-Y gastric bypass — impact of institutional standards and surgical approach
Authors: Kollmann Lars , Lock Johan F. , Kollmann Cathérine , Vladimirov Miljana , Germer Christoph-Thomas , Seyfried Florian
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Internal hernia is one of the most frequent long-term complications after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (RYGB). Surgical treatment of an internal hernia itself has risks that can largely be avoided by the implementation of institutional standards and a structured approach.

Material and methods

From 2012 until 2022, we extracted all consecutive bariatric cases from the prospectively collected national database (StuDoQ). Data from all patients undergoing internal hernia repair were then collected from our hospital information management system and retrospectively analyzed. We compared patient characteristics and surgical outcome of patients before and after the implementation of standard operating procedures for institutional and perioperative aspects (first vs. second time span).

Results

Overall, 37 patients were identified (median age 43 years, 86.5% female). Internal hernia was diagnosed after substantial weight loss (17.2 kg/m2) and on average about 34 months after RYGB. Baseline characteristics (age, sex, BMI, achieved total weight loss% and time interval to index surgery were comparable between the two groups). After local standardization, the conversion rate decreased from 52.6 to 5.6% (p = 0.007); duration of surgery from 92 to 39 min (p = 0.003), and length of stay from 7.7 to 2.8 days (p = 0.019).

Conclusion

In this study, we could demonstrate that the surgical therapy of internal hernia after gastric bypass can be significantly improved by implementing institutional and surgical standards. The details described (including a video) may provide valuable information for non-specialized surgeons to avoid pitfalls and improve surgical outcomes.
The molecular weight of hyaluronic acid influences metabolic activity and osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Frasheri Iris , Tsakiridou Nikoletta Dimitra , Hickel Reinhard , Folwaczny Matthias
Published: August 2023

Objective

While HA is present naturally in periodontal tissues, its molecular weight can vary widely in vivo. The objective of this study was to directly compare the biological reactions of periodontal ligament cells to four distinct molecular weights of hyaluronic acid (HA).

Materials and methods

Immortalized human periodontal ligament cells (PDL-hTERT) were cultured for 21 days in culture medium alone (control) or enriched with osteogenic supplements (OS group). Other 4 experimental groups were cultured in OS medium with the addition of HA with different molecular weights (HMW, MMW, LMW, and ULMW). The cell morphology was examined daily. WST1 assays were performed to evaluate metabolic activity. Von Kossa staining and calcium deposition assay were used to analyze osteogenic differentiation and mineralization.

Results

Cell morphology remained unaltered in all groups. Cells stimulated with OS alone or with the addition of hyaluronan showed all the typical microscopic appearance of osteogenic differentiation. Metabolic activity increased in all groups over time. Hyaluronan stimulated greater metabolic activity than the control group, with LMW HA and MMW HA showing the most significant increase. All groups showed mineral deposits and calcium deposition after 21 days of stimulation.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that hyaluronan can promote metabolic activity and mineralization of PDL-hTERT cells, with LMW HA being the most effective.

Clinical relevance

These results shed light on how the various molecular weight fractions of HA promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as help to identify an optimal molecular weight range for this application in periodontal tissues.
The investigation of treatment design parameters on carbon integration networks
Authors: Alnouri Sabla Y. , Al-Mohannadi Dhabia M.
Published: August 2023

Carbon Integration methods help identify the appropriate allocation of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) streams into CO2-using sinks, and are especially useful when a number of CO2 sink options are present simultaneously. The method helps identify CO2 allocation scenarios when subjected to an emission target on the CO2 overall network. Many carbon dioxide sink options are costly, and more often than not, require a high purity carbon dioxide source to satisfy the sink demand. Hence, it is imperative to effectively incorporate treatment units in such networks, to obtain high-purity CO2 streams. In fact, it has been previously reported in many studies that the most expensive step in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) is the treatment system. As a result, this paper focuses on reassessing the performance of carbon integration networks using a more rigorous cost model for the treatment design stage. The effect of utilizing different treatment operating conditions on the overall cost of the treatment stage of CO2 (before allocation) is first captured using a detailed cost model. Subsequently, this information is then fed into a network design problem that involves a CO2 source-sink allocation network problem, and different CO2 net capture targets within the network. For this, an enhanced treatment model that captures all necessary treatment design parameters has been utilized alongside the original model. The original carbon integration formulation has been adopted from previous work. Many of the cost items have been lumped into single parameters in the original formulation, and lack the necessary depth required to carry out the necessary investigations for this work. Hence, the treatment model introduced in this paper is more rigorous, as it accounts for important technical performance constraints on the system to be assessed. Utilizing a more detailed cost model was found to be very helpful in understanding several effects of varying parameters on the overall source-sink allocations, when subjected to different CO2 net emission reduction targets. The cost of the carbon network increases when the solvent temperatures are increased. However, there was a noticeable linear trend at lower temperatures compared to higher temperatures, where the increase became non-linear. Furthermore, it was discovered that for net capture targets of 20% and 25%, no revenue from carbon storage could be generated beyond a solvent temperature of 25 °C. Additionally, the optimal diameter of the treatment column was more responsive to changes in solvent temperature for cases with low net capture targets (below 10%), while its sensitivity decreased for higher capture targets (above 10%).

Graphical Abstract
Long-term safety and efficacy of a foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens for the correction of myopia
Authors: Royo Mariano , Jiménez Ángel , Piñero David P.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To analyze and report the long-term outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety of eyes implanted with the spherical version of a foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) for the correction of myopia.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the results of 56 eyes of 32 patients (age, 19–45 years) who underwent implantation of the spherical model of the Artiflex pIOL (Ophtec B.V., Groningen, The Netherlands) for the correction of myopia. Visual, refractive, biometric, intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal endothelial changes were evaluated during a long-term follow-up: 2, 7, 10 and 12 years for more than 50, 30, 20 and 10 eyes, respectively.

Results

At 4 weeks postoperatively, a significant reduction of manifest sphere and spherical equivalent (SE), with a significant improvement of uncorrected distance visual acuity were found (all p < 0.001). No significant changes were found during the rest of follow-up in sphere (p ≥ 0.072). The percentage of eyes with SE within ± 1.00 D was over 83% during the whole follow-up. A non-significant trend to IOP increase was observed at 4 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.530), with a significant reduction at 1 year after (p = 0.039) and no significant changes during the rest of follow-up (p = 0.180). There was a significant reduction of anterior chamber depth at 4 weeks after surgery (p < 0.001), with no significant changes during the following 9 years of follow-up (p = 0.118). However, an additional significant decrease of this parameter was observed between 10 and 13 years after surgery (p = 0.027). Mean endothelial cell loss changed from 2.01 ± 4.49% at 4 weeks after surgery to 9.11 ± 2.24% at the end of the follow-up. No complications were reported during the follow-up.

Conclusions

Myopia correction with the Artiflex pIOL is an effective and safe procedure in the long term.
Digitalization, inter-organizational collaboration, and technology transfer
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Nguyen Nguyen Phong
Published: August 2023

In this study, we explore the impact of business process digitalization on technology transfer intensity through the mediating mechanism of inter-organizational collaboration. Using data collected from 211 firms in Vietnam, we find that: (1) digitalization positively influences inter-organizational collaboration, (2) inter-organization collaboration positively affects technology transfer intensity, (3) the effect of inter-organizational collaboration on technology transfer intensity is amplified when technology commercialization potential is high, and (4) the effect of digitalization on technology transfer intensity is mediated by inter-organizational collaboration. These findings suggest that technology commercialization potential is a critical moderating factor that needs to be considered in the context of technology transfer, and its interaction with inter-organizational collaboration should be carefully managed to maximize the benefits of technology transfer. The study provides practical implications for technology firms seeking to enhance their technology transfer outcomes.
Values, decision-making and empirical bioethics: a conceptual model for empirically identifying and analyzing value judgements
Authors: Mertz Marcel , Prince Ilvie , Pietschmann Ines
Published: August 2023

It can be assumed that value judgements, which are needed to judge what is ‘good’ or ‘better’ and what is ‘bad’ or ‘worse’, are involved in every decision-making process. The theoretical understanding and analysis of value judgements is, therefore, important in the context of bioethics, for example, to be able to ethically assess real decision-making processes in biomedical practice and make recommendations for improvements. However, real decision-making processes and the value judgements inherent in them must first be investigated empirically (‘empirical bioethics’). For this to succeed, what exactly a ‘value judgement’ is and of what components it might consist must initially be theoretically clarified. A corresponding conceptual model can then support or even enable empirical data collection and analysis and, above all, subsequent ethical analysis and evaluation. This paper, therefore, presents a value judgement model with its theoretical derivation. It also illustrates its application in an interview study of decision-making between animal experimentation and alternative methods in the context of biomedical research. Though the model itself can be theoretically deepened and extended, the application of the model works in general and helps to uncover what value judgements can enter into decision-making. However, the empirical methods, for example, qualitative interviews, can also be better oriented towards eliciting value judgements (as understood according to the model). Further applications of the model to other topics or by means of other empirical methods are conceivable.
Soliton, periodic and superposition solutions to nonlocal (2+1)-dimensional, extended KdV equation derived from the ideal fluid model
Authors: Rozmej Piotr , Karczewska Anna
Published: August 2023

We present new (2+1)-dimensional extended KdV (KdV2) equation derived within an ideal fluid model. Next, we show several families of analytic solutions to this equation. The solutions are expressed by functions of argument $$\xi = (k x +l y-\omega t)$$

ξ
=
(
k
x
+
l
y
-
ω
t
)

. We found the soliton solutions in the form $$A\,\text {sech}^{2}(\xi )$$

A

sech
2

(
ξ
)

, periodic solutions in the form $$A\,\text {cn}^{2}(\xi ,m)$$

A

cn
2

(
ξ
,
m
)

and superposition solutions in the form $$\frac{A}{2}[\text {dn}^{2}(\xi ,m)\pm \sqrt{m}\,\text {cn}(\xi ,m)\text {dn} (\xi ,m)]$$

A
2

[

dn
2

(
ξ
,
m
)

±

m

cn

(
ξ
,
m
)

dn

(
ξ
,
m
)

]

analogous to the solutions of (1+1)-dimensional, extended KdV equation and to the solutions to ordinary Korteweg-de Vries equation. On the other hand, the existence of these families of analytical solutions for the highly nonlinear non-local (2+1)-dimensional, extended KdV equation is astounding. The existence of essentially one-dimensional solutions to the (2+1)-dimensional extended KdV equation explains the enormous success of the one-dimensional nonlinear wave equations for the shallow water problem.
In Defence of Necessity
Authors: Uniacke Suzanne
Published: August 2023

This paper disputes Uwe Steinhoff’s view that a jus ad bellum requirement of necessity can be merged with a condition of proportionality. It argues that the proposed merger detracts from a conceptual and moral understanding of the structure and rationale of both the necessity and the proportionality considerations applicable in a range of moral contexts, including those of war and so-called lesser evils cases, where these conditions are intended as action-guiding.
Decision-making in the capital budgeting context: effects of type of decision aid and increases in information load
Authors: Hartmann Maren , Weißenberger Barbara E.
Published: August 2023

This paper sheds light on the question of whether a rules-based or general principles-based decision aid is preferable in the context of increased information load by experimentally investigating how different types of decision aids interact with increases in information load in a structured capital budgeting decision-making task. The experiment employed a 2 × 2 between-subjects design and was run in a course on management control systems with 136 master’s degree students at a German university. Subjects were tasked with reviewing investment proposals that contained differing amounts of information (low vs. high information load, i.e., irrelevant information cues in addition to those relevant for the decision). The second manipulation referred to the type of decision aid—either a detailed, rules-based capital budgeting guideline with clear cut-off rates, or the advice to employ generally accepted criteria for investment decision-making. The dependent variables investigated were perceived task complexity, decision accuracy, and decision confidence. Increases in information load and provision of a decision aid based on general principles led to an increase in perceived task complexity. There was only limited evidence for experimental conditions affecting decision accuracy, but the group of subjects relying on the rules-based capital budgeting guideline reported significantly higher decision confidence.
Wavelength and texture feature selection for hyperspectral imaging: a systematic literature review
Authors: Rogers Mitchell , Blanc-Talon Jacques , Urschler Martin , Delmas Patrice
Published: August 2023

Over the past two decades, hyperspectral imaging has become popular for non-destructive assessment of food quality, safety, and crop monitoring. Imaging delivers spatial information to complement the spectral information provided by spectroscopy. The key challenge with hyperspectral image data is the high dimensionality. Each image captures hundreds of wavelength bands. Reducing the number of wavelengths to an optimal subset is essential for speed and robustness due to the high multicollinearity between bands. However, there is yet to be a consensus on the best methods to find optimal subsets of wavelengths to predict attributes of samples. A systematic review procedure was developed and applied to review published research on hyperspectral imaging and wavelength selection. The review population included studies from all disciplines retrieved from the Scopus database that provided empirical results from hyperspectral images and applied wavelength selection. We found that 799 studies satisfied the defined inclusion criteria and investigated trends in their study design, wavelength selection, and machine learning techniques. For further analysis, we considered a subset of 71 studies published in English that incorporated spatial/texture features to understand how previous works combined spatial features with wavelength selection. This review ranks the wavelength selection techniques from each study to generate a table of the comparative performance of each selection method. Based on these findings, we suggest that future studies include spatial feature extraction methods to improve the predictive performance and compare them to a broader range of wavelength selection techniques, especially when proposing novel methods.
Cardiac Arrhythmias in Oncological Patients—Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Management within the Context of the New ESC 2022 Guidelines
Authors: Gawlik Michał , Zimodro Jakub Michal , Gąsecka Aleksandra , Filipiak Krzysztof J. , Szmit Sebastian
Published: August 2023

Purpose of Review

To provide an update on epidemiology, risk factors, and management of cardiac arrhythmias in oncological patients within the context of the new European Society of Cardiology 2022 guidelines on cardio-oncology.

Recent Findings

One of the side effects of different chemotherapeutics is their pro-arrhythmic activity. Both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias may be induced by cancer itself or by anticancer treatment. Recent studies report on the cardiotoxic activity of such promising therapies as BRAF and MEK inhibitors, or CAR-T therapy.

Risk factors of arrhythmias in oncological patients overlap with cardiovascular diseases risk factors, but there are some groups of anticancer drugs that increase the risk of cardiotoxicity. It is crucial to be aware of the risks associated with the oncological treatment and know how to act in case of cardiotoxicity.
Does Ultrasound Really Good Enough to Evaluate the Pneumothorax in the Emergency Department
Authors: Temel Atilla , Doğan Halil , Erduhan Muge Arslan , Yigit Yavuz
Published: August 2023

Thorax computed tomography in patients with thoracic trauma is undeniably a highly beneficial method. However, it also has disadvantages such as difficulties in transferring critical patients to computed tomography, delays in diagnosis, the risk of radiation exposure, and higher costs. On the other hand, ultrasonography can be rapidly performed at the bedside and is a non-invasive technique that poses no risk of radiation exposure. These advantages make it a valuable method in the early diagnosis of thoracic trauma. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the sensitivity and accuracy of bedside ultrasonography in diagnosing pneumothorax in patients presenting with thorax trauma in an emergency department. The study sample comprised 132 patients over 18 years of age who were transferred with thorax trauma to the Emergency Clinic of Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital between January 30, 2015, and June 30, 2015. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed before thoracic computed tomography in all patients for whom a thorax computed tomography was indicated based on the clinical examination by the emergency room physician. The thoracic computed tomography reports, interpreted by a radiologist who was blinded to the ultrasonographic and clinical findings of the patients, were accepted as the gold standard. All 132 patients included in the study underwent Thorax ultrasonography. The average age of the patients was 76.5%, with the youngest patient being 18 years old and the oldest one being 90 years old. Of the patients, 45.38% (n = 101) were men. The results of Thorax ultrasonography showed that 19 patients had pneumothorax. These findings were then compared with the Thorax computed tomography results accepted as the gold standard. The results revealed that Thorax ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 56.2% and a specificity of 99% in detecting pneumothorax. According to the grading on CT, our observation revealed that the sensitivity of ultrasonography to detect pneumothorax increased proportionally with the severity of pneumothorax detected on thoracic computed tomography. The sensitivity of ultrasonography in patients with a grade 2 pneumothorax and those with a grade 3 pneumothorax, according to Thorax computed tomography, was found to be 70% and 100%, respectively. Thorax ultrasonography is a useful technique with high specificity in diagnosing pneumothorax, but its sensitivity decreases significantly when the size is below 1 cm.
Microbial Interaction is Among the Key Factors for Isolation of Previous Uncultured Microbes
Authors: Yan Chang , Owen Jeffrey S. , Seo Eun-Young , Jung Dawoon , He Shan
Published: August 2023

Pure cultivation of microbes is still limited by the challenges of microbial uncultivability, with most microbial strains unable to be cultivated under standard laboratory conditions. The experience accumulated from advanced techniques such as in situ cultivation has identified that microbial interactions exist in natural habitats but are absent in laboratory cultures. These microbial interactions are likely one of the key factors in isolating previously uncultured microbes. The need for better knowledge of the mechanisms operating in microbial interactions has led to various experiments that have utilized microbial interactions in different approaches to microbial cultivation. These new attempts to understand microbial interactions not only present a new perspective on microbial uncultivability but also provide an opportunity to access uncultured phylogenetically novel microbes with their potential biotechnology applications. In this review, we focus on studies of the mechanisms of microbial interaction where the growth of other microbes is affected. Additionally, we review some successful applications of microbial interactions in cultivation methods, an approach that can play an important role in the bioprospecting of untapped microbial resources.
A Comparative Evaluation of Performance of Sysmex XN 3000 and Horiba Yumizen H2500 Automated Complete Blood Count Analysers
Authors: Bhola Rajesh Kumar , Fudaly Christophe , Rastogi Shubham
Published: August 2023

Modern automated laboratory haematology analysers use various methods to measure different haematological parameters. These parameters are useful in the diagnostic and clinical interpretation of patient symptoms. So, it is very important to compare the performance of different analysers measuring the same parameter. Hence, a comparison of complete blood counts analysed by Sysmex XN 3000 and Horiba Yumizen H2500 was performed. Total 296 EDTA anti-coagulated blood samples were processed in both the analysers in duplicate within 4 h of collection. The white blood cell count, red blood cell count, erythrocyte indices, differential leukocyte count, platelet count and platelet indices and reticulocyte count were compared. A good level of correlation and agreement between different parameters were obtained. A strong correlation was observed (r > 0.9) between Sysmex XN 3000 and Yumizen H2500 for WBC (0.997), RBC (0.997), Haemoglobin (0.999), haematocrit (0.974), MCV (0.902), MCH (0.99),, platelet count by impedance (0.989), mean platelet volume (0.954), plateletcrit (0.971), platelet distribution width (PDW) (0.916), neutrophils (0.997), lymphocytes (0.989), monocytes (0.943), and eosinophils (0.991) counts. A moderate correlation was observed for RDW-CV (0.75). The basophils count showed poor correlation (r < 0.5) possibly because of sample selection with mostly low basophils count. An acceptable bias was observed for most of the parameters like WBC, RBC, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, platelet counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes. The studied instruments ensured satisfactory interchangeability except for few parameters, thus facilitate substitution of one analyser by another without affecting the clinical decision making.
Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women and Men at Different Educational Levels During the Life Course
Authors: Rosenqvist Elena , Konttinen Hanna , Berg Noora , Kiviruusu Olli
Published: August 2023

Background

Our study examines the rarely investigated associations between body dissatisfaction and educational level over the life course in women and men.

Methods

A Finnish cohort (N = 1955) was followed by questionnaires at ages 22, 32, 42, and 52. Body dissatisfaction was measured by asking the respondents to evaluate their appearance using five response options. Analyses were done using logistic regression, while latent class analyses were used to identify classes of body dissatisfaction trajectories over the life course.

Results

Body dissatisfaction increased with age in women and men. Among men, body dissatisfaction was related to lower education at the ages of 32 and 42. Also, men with lower education were more likely to maintain a less positive body image over the life course. In women, increasing body dissatisfaction during the life course was associated with lower education.

Conclusions

Differences in body dissatisfaction based on educational level are important to take into account in public health actions aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and well-being.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for production forests: Trade-offs, synergies, and uncertainties in biodiversity and ecosystem services delivery in Northern Europe
Authors: Felton Adam , Belyazid Salim , Eggers Jeannette , Nordström Eva-Maria , Öhman Karin
Published: August 2023

Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies (CCAMS) are changes to the management of production forests motivated by the need to mitigate climate change, or adapt production forests to climate change risks. Sweden is employing CCAMS with unclear implications for biodiversity and forest ecosystem services (ES). Here, we synthesized evidence from 51 published scientific reviews, to evaluate the potential implications for biodiversity and a range of provisioning, regulating, and cultural ES, from the adoption of CCAMS relative to standard forestry practice. The CCAMS assessed were the adoption of (i) mixed-species stands, (ii) continuous cover forestry, (iii) altered rotation lengths, (iv) conversion to introduced tree species, (v) logging residue extraction, (vi) stand fertilization, and (vii) altered ditching/draining practices. We highlight the complexity of biodiversity and ES outcomes, identify knowledge gaps, and emphasize the importance of evidence-based decision making and landscape-scale planning when navigating choices involving the widespread adoption of CCAMS.
Neurorosettes: a novel computational modelling framework to investigate the Homer-Wright rosette formation in neuroblastoma
Authors: Gonçalves Inês G. , García-Aznar Jose Manuel
Published: August 2023

Cancer deregulates the interactions between cells and their microenvironment, leading to disrupted architectures. Homer-Wright rosettes, observed in neuroblastoma, comprise radial arrangements of neurons surrounding a meshwork of fibres. Currently, scientists believe that the presence of Homer-Wright rosettes reflects aberrant neuronal differentiation. Nonetheless, additional understanding of how these structures develop is required since neither experimental nor computational research has characterised this mechanism properly. In this work, we propose a mechanics-based computational framework to investigate Homer-Wright rosette formation. Our model depicts neurons as a combination of spherical (cell bodies) and cylindrical (neurites) agents, and it includes proliferation, neuronal differentiation, and adhesion/repulsion dynamics between neurons. We implemented our framework as an open-source user-friendly Python package called neurorosettes that provides real-time rendering of simulation results, making it adequate for general researchers to test and visualize hypotheses of Homer-Wright rosette formation. Furthermore, we present three example use-cases to replicate the emergence of this rosette subtype and investigate how mechanical interactions between neurons and neuronal differentiation may regulate its architecture. Due to the spare amount of experimental data on the formation of these histological patterns, our applications serve primarily as preliminary examples of how our tool can be used and extended. Although our preliminary results show the relevance of mechanical interactions and poor neuronal differentiation to Homer-Wright rosette formation, these factors appear to only predict the initial stages of rosette formation. Overall, our tool can improve the theoretical knowledge on this process and drive the design of new experimental studies to validate model results.
The African Union’s Silencing the Guns: between stereotyping and owning gender roles
Authors: Mukalazi Miriam Mona
Published: August 2023

Following the motto “African Solutions for African Problems”, the African Union (AU) fosters its agency as a regional actor on gender policies. The Silencing the Guns campaign represents one example. Here, the AU attempts to link gender, peace and security policies. Taking the AU’s motto into account, this research explores to what degree Silencing the Guns is driven by the understanding of gender roles linked to African Feminisms, and to what degree gender assumptions of other feminist traditions are embedded. With the help of hypervisibility as a concept, stereotypes will be put into the context of Silencing the Guns. To answer the research question, a mixed-methods approach is applied for data collection. The results clearly indicate references to African feminist theories such as Womanism. In particular, these results help introduce a discussion around epistemological power hierarchies in feminist discourse defining what (harmful) gender stereotypes are for whom. Although there is a common understanding among most of the feminist researchers that gender is a social construct influenced by socio-cultural contexts, the socio-cultural context of the Global North seems to be the universal departure point to investigate gender stereotypes. However, leaving out the various socio-cultural contexts in the Global South that shape gender as a social construct distorts the knowledge about how gender stereotypes function in different societies. Consequently, the main output of this research is a call to rethink the universal claim on how gender stereotypes are defined and interpreted and to urgently encounter multiple decolonial approaches of epistemology, methodology and ontology.
Strategy for Generating Blinded Evidence for Single-Arm Trials with External Controls Using Expert Review of Home Video
Authors: Zhang Xinruo , Brind’Amour Katherine , King Kelly E. , Hartmaier Susan , Harris Katherine , Weinstein David A. , Girman Cynthia J.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Neurodegenerative diseases cause developmental delays and loss of milestones in infants and children. However, scalable outcome measures that quantify features meaningful to parents/caregivers (P/CGs) and have regulatory precedence are lacking for assessing the effectiveness of treatments in clinical trials of neurodegenerative disorders. To address this gap, we developed an innovative, blinded strategy for single-arm trials with external controls using expert panel review of home video.

Method

We identified meaningful, observable, and objective developmental milestones from iterative interviews with P/CGs and clinical experts. Subsequently, we standardized video recording procedures and instructions to ensure consistency in how P/CGs solicited each activity. In practice, videos would be graded by an expert panel blinded to treatment. To ensure blinding and quality control, video recordings from interim time points would be randomly interspersed. We conducted a pilot study and a pretest of grading to test feasibility and improve the final strategy.

Results

The five P/CGs participating in the pilot study found the instructions clear, selected activities important and reflective of their children’s abilities, and recordings at-home preferrable to in-clinic assessments. The three grading experts found the videos easy to grade and the milestones clinically meaningful.

Conclusion

Our standardized strategy enables expert panel grading of developmental milestone achievements using at-home recordings, blinded to treatment and post-baseline time points. This rigorous and objective scoring system has broad applicability in various disease contexts, with or without external controls. Moreover, our strategy facilitates flexible, continued data collection and the videos can be archived for future analyses.
Phenomenology of the Icon
Authors: Rumpza Stephanie , Marion Jean-Luc
Published: August 2023

How can something finite mediate an infinite God? Weaving patristics, theology, art history, aesthetics, and religious practice with the hermeneutic phenomenology of Hans-George Gadamer and Jean-Luc Marion, Stephanie Rumpza proposes a new answer to this paradox by offering a fresh and original approach to the Byzantine icon. She demonstrates the power and relevance of the phenomenological method to integrate hermeneutic aesthetics and divine transcendence, notably how the material and visual dimensions of the icon are illuminated by traditional practices of prayer. Rumpza's study targets a problem that is a major fault line in the continental philosophy of religion – the integrity of finite beings I relation to a God that transcends them. For philosophers, her book demonstrates the relevance of a cherished religious practice of Eastern Christianity. For art historians, she proposes a novel philosophical paradigm for understanding the icon as it is approached in practice.
Algebraic Groups and Number Theory
Authors: Platonov Vladimir , Rapinchuk Andrei , Rapinchuk Igor
Published: August 2023

The first edition of this book provided the first systematic exposition of the arithmetic theory of algebraic groups. This revised second edition, now published in two volumes, retains the same goals, while incorporating corrections and improvements, as well as new material covering more recent developments. Volume I begins with chapters covering background material on number theory, algebraic groups, and cohomology (both abelian and non-abelian), and then turns to algebraic groups over locally compact fields. The remaining two chapters provide a detailed treatment of arithmetic subgroups and reduction theory in both the real and adelic settings. Volume I includes new material on groups with bounded generation and abstract arithmetic groups. With minimal prerequisites and complete proofs given whenever possible, this book is suitable for self-study for graduate students wishing to learn the subject as well as a reference for researchers in number theory, algebraic geometry, and related areas.
Dynamic time warping to quantify age distortion in firn cores impacted by melt processes
Authors: Hagen Cedric J. , Harper Joel T.
Published: August 2023

As warming intensifies across the Greenland ice sheet, an increasing number of shallow coring and radar studies are targeting the melt-impacted firn column to investigate meltwater processes. Highly inhomogeneous infiltration and refreezing, however, redistributes mass, distorting age–depth relationships and confounding comparisons between different cores. Here, we utilize a dynamic time warping algorithm for time series alignment to investigate and quantify the heterogeneous impact of melt processes on nine closely spaced (within 50 m) firn core-density profiles. The 10 m cores were collected relatively high in Greenland's percolation zone, where melt alteration is minimal compared to lower elevation. Our analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of dynamic time warping as a tool for assessing heterogeneity between ice core records. We find that the optimal alignment of density profiles in the nine cores requires vertical stretching and compression of individual profiles, ranging from, on average, <1 to ~16% of the core lengths. We identified four depth zones of mass redistribution that appear to coincide with observed ice layers. Further, ~75% of density measurements from each core do not align with an age model-derived density profile that assumes no mass redistribution of meltwater, indicating the pervasive impact of melt processes.
China's Diplomatic Leverage on North Korean Provocations: Effect of High-Level Meetings Between China and North Korea on North Korean Missile and Nuclear Tests
Authors: Lee Yongjae
Published: August 2023

Nuclear and missile tests by North Korea, which directly threaten China's national interests, regional stability, and economic development, have consistently irritated China. Since the 1950s, China and North Korea have held high-level meetings aimed at discussing and improving their bilateral relationship. Using empirical analysis, this study attempts to examine the impact of these meetings on North Korea's missile and nuclear tests. The study argues that as the frequency of high-level meetings between China and North Korea increases, North Korea's provocative actions decrease. The high-level meetings serve to address the issue of incomplete information, create avenues for economic aid and cooperation, and reduce the likelihood of future nuclear and missile tests. The empirical findings indicate that while high-level meetings with or without the presence of top leaders can lead to a reduction in missile tests by North Korea, only summits between China and North Korea have a significant impact on the reduction of nuclear tests by North Korea.
Turbulence measurements in the neutral ISM from Hi-21 cm emission–absorption spectra
Authors: Koley Atanu
Published: August 2023

We study the correlation between the non-thermal velocity dispersion (

$\sigma_{nth}$

) and the length scale (L) in the neutral interstellar medium (ISM) using a large number of Hi gas components taken from various published Hi surveys and previous Hi studies. We notice that above the length-scale (L) of 0.40 pc, there is a power-law relationship between

$\sigma_{nth}$

and L. However, below 0.40 pc, there is a break in the power law, where

$\sigma_{nth}$

is not significantly correlated with L. It has been observed from the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method that for the dataset of L

$\gt$

0.40 pc, the most probable values of intensity (A) and power-law index (p) are 1.14 and 0.55, respectively. Result of p suggests that the power law is steeper than the standard Kolmogorov law of turbulence. This is due to the dominance of clouds in the cold neutral medium. This is even more clear when we separate the clouds into two categories: one for L is

$\gt$

0.40 pc and the kinetic temperature (

$T_{k}$

) is

$\lt$

250 K, which are in the cold neutral medium (CNM) and for other one where L is

$\gt$

0.40 pc and

$T_{k}$

is between 250 and 5 000 K, which are in the thermally unstable phase (UNM). Most probable values of A and p are 1.14 and 0.67, respectively, in the CNM phase and 1.01 and 0.52, respectively, in the UNM phase. A greater number of data points is effective for the UNM phase in constructing a more accurate estimate of A and p, since most of the clouds in the UNM phase lie below 500 K. However, from the value of p in the CNM phase, it appears that there is a significant difference from the Kolmogorov scaling, which can be attributed to a shock-dominated medium.
The topology of compact rank-one ECS manifolds
Authors: Derdzinski Andrzej , Terek Ivo
Published: August 2023

Pseudo-Riemannian manifolds with parallel Weyl tensor that are not conformally flat or locally symmetric, also known as essentially conformally symmetric (ECS) manifolds, have a natural local invariant, the rank, which equals 1 or 2, and is the rank of a certain distinguished null parallel distribution $\mathcal{D}$. All known examples of compact ECS manifolds are of rank one and have dimensions greater than 4. We prove that a compact rank-one ECS manifold, if not locally homogeneous, replaced when necessary by a twofold isometric covering, must be a bundle over the circle with leaves of $\mathcal{D}^\perp$ serving as the fibres. The same conclusion holds in the locally homogeneous case if one assumes that $\,\mathcal{D}^\perp$ has at least one compact leaf. We also show that in the pseudo-Riemannian universal covering space of any compact rank-one ECS manifold, the leaves of $\mathcal{D}^\perp$ are the factor manifolds of a global product decomposition.
Religion, Politics, and Historical Approaches to Philosophy
Authors: Bejan Teresa M.
Published: August 2023

This enormously erudite and original book is the culmination of many years of thinking deeply about difficult texts. Rosen's book explores themes of deep interest and importance to me—about religion, about politics, and about historical approaches to philosophy. My comments and questions will focus on these, and more on Kant than on Hegel.
#HoldTight: Neoliberal affects, embodied hopes, and anticipatory chronotopes in corporate LGBTQ diversity discourse
Authors: Comer Joseph
Published: August 2023

Across the contemporary world, neoliberalism operates as an anticipatory regime through which mediatised conceptions of the future are aligned to an aggressive (absolute) marketisation of social life. Alongside a critical, queer-theoretical attention to homonormativity, this article uses multimodal critical discourse studies techniques to analyse how such a neoliberal future for LGBTQ people is envisioned in #HoldTight, a pride campaign by an Australian and New Zealand bank. #HoldTight focused on how the act of holding hands can be turned from a source of shame to a joyful, powerful tool for social action: ‘if you feel like letting go, hold tight’. My cultural-phenomenological analysis of #HoldTight demonstrates how this imbrication of LGBTQ rights discourse and mediatised capitalism engaged embodied, hopeful affects as semiotic resources. In this way, I argue that the bank enshrined a speculative, anticipatory chronotope of a future better world, while validating neoliberal governmentality as a benevolent form of LGBTQ agency. (Neoliberalism, multimodal critical discourse studies, queer linguistics, affect, embodiment, cultural phenomenology)*
Crowded Choreographies: From Assembly to Association and Back Again
Authors: Kimmel Anna Jayne
Published: August 2023

Motivated by Melissa Ziad's balletic protest within Algeria's Hirak demonstrations, this article recuperates a distinction between the right to assembly and the right to free speech, constitutional guarantees blurred under contemporary rhetoric of association. By applying methods of dance studies to legal interpretation, it shifts crowd theory away from an anxiety of touch toward a copresence that allows for constituent power of the people to be reclaimed. Therefore, it intervenes within a broader discourse of the legal humanities that privileges the logocentric over embodied ways of knowing.
C'mon feel the Moys: a trip through the orange book
Authors: Garner Helen , Staveley-Taylor Felicity
Published: August 2023

This article is based on a course on how to use Moys classification scheme,1 delivered by Helen Garner and Felicity Staveley-Taylor on behalf of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) in November 2022. The article, which is also written by Helen and Felicity, provides guidance on how to use Moys classification, explaining the features that enable the scheme to be expanded to accommodate new subject areas. The article also explains some of the features which ensure the scheme remains relevant to legal libraries today. Sections from the classification scheme, as published in the fifth edition, appear in the article text. In addition, any references to page numbers are to the fifth edition.
Seasonality and genotype influence on Ilex paraguariensis cuttings rooting and bioactive compounds
Authors: Duarte Manoela Mendes , de Aguiar Natália Saudade , Gabira Mônica Moreno , Tomasi Jéssica de Cássia , Vieira Leandro Marcolino , Helm Cristiane Vieira , Nogueira Antonio Carlos , Wendling Ivar
Published: August 2023

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) leaves have many compounds with proven bioactive activity; so, interest and consumption of species' products have increased globally. Here, we used 19 yerba mate genotypes from a provenance and progeny trial, yielding findings that could have significant implications for the species' vegetative propagation and genotype selection, where we indicate some potential genotypes, contributing to yerba mate silviculture and breeding programmes. We evaluated season and genotype effects on rooting of cuttings, contents of bioactive compounds and the influence of these compounds on rhizogenic process. We prepared semi-woody cuttings in four seasons; after 100 days we evaluated rooting variables. Methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine) and monocaffeoylquinic acids contents were measured using high performance liquid chromatography, from aqueous extract of stock plant mature leaves. There was no correlation between rooting variables and evaluated compounds. Just eight genotypes presented above 70% of rooted cuttings in at least one season. Rooting variables varied between these genotypes and seasons. Caffeine and 5-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA5) significantly contributed to separated genotypes and seasons. CQA5 showed highest levels in spring. Regarding to genotypes, EC22 showed low levels of caffeine in all seasons. The great variation in compounds among genotypes indicates the possibility of breeding for chemical characteristics and raw material production for different products. Our results also indicate the importance of seasons for yerba mate vegetative propagation success and leaf compound contents.
Attentional Biases Toward Spiders Do Not Modulate Retrieval
Authors: Schöpper Lars-Michael , Küpper Verena , Frings Christian
Published: August 2023

Abstract. When responding to stimuli, response and stimulus’ features are thought to be integrated into a short episodic memory trace, an event file. Repeating any of its components causes retrieval of the whole event file leading to benefits for full repetitions and changes but interference for partial repetitions. These binding effects are especially pronounced if attention is allocated to certain features. We used attentional biases caused by spider stimuli, aiming to modulate the impact of attention on retrieval. Participants discriminated the orientation of bars repeating or changing their location in prime-probe sequences. Crucially, shortly before probe target onset, an image of a spider and that of a cub appeared at one position each – one of which was spatially congruent with the following probe target. Participants were faster when responding to targets spatially congruent with a preceding spider, suggesting an attentional bias toward aversive information. Yet, neither overall binding effects differed between content of preceding spatially congruent images nor did this effect emerge when taking individual fear of spiders into account. We conclude that attentional biases toward spiders modulate overall behavior, but that this has no impact on retrieval.