bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ectopic pregnancy risk factors in infertile patients: a 10-year single center experience
Authors: Cirillo Federico , Paladino Ilaria , Ronchetti Camilla , Busnelli Andrea , Morenghi Emanuela , Grilli Leonora , Patrizio Pasquale , Zannoni Elena , Levi-Setti Paolo Emanuele
Published: November 2022

The present retrospective study included both intrauterine insemination and in vitro assisted reproductive technologies (ART) procedures performed from January 2009 to December 2018 at a tertiary-care Fertility Centre. The purpose was to assess the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in infertile population who undergoes ART and to identify any risk factor impacting the occurrence of EP after ART. Among 27,376 cycles, 7352 pregnancies were achieved, of which 132 were EPs, the 1.80% (95% CI 1.5–2.1) of all pregnancies. In fresh embryo transfer cycles, a history of prior pelvic adhesions showed the greatest impact on the incidence of EP (aOR 2.49 95% CI 1.53–4.07 p < 0.001). Other factors associated with EP incidence were also identified, such as female age, basal FSH, the transfer of blastocyst embryos and difficulties during the embryo transfer procedure. In frozen embryo transfer cycles, the only factor influencing the incidence of EP was anti Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum concentration (aOR 0.81 95% CI 0.65–1.00, p = 0.048). To conclude, the incidence of EP observed was comparable to that reported after natural conception. On the other hand, pre-existing risk factors, traditionally more common in infertile population, appeared to influence the incidence of EP and should thus be modified if possible.
A prospective, randomized, open-label trial of early versus late povidone-iodine gargling in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Matsuyama Akifumi , Okura Hanayuki , Hashimoto Shyoji , Tanaka Toshio
Published: November 2022

Povidone-iodine (PVP–I) is a broad-spectrum antiseptic reagent that has been used for over 50 years. The purpose of this study is to look into the effect of gargling with PVP–I gargling on virus clearance and saliva infectivity in COVID-19. A prospective, randomized, open-label trial of intervention with PVP–I was conducted at three quarantine facilities in Osaka, Japan, enrolling adolescents and adults with asymptomatic-to-mild COVID-19. Patients were randomly allocated to the early and late intervention group at a 1:1 ratio. The early group gargled with PVP–I from days 2 to day 6; the late group gargled with water first, then with PVP–I from day 5 after sampling till day 6. The primary and secondary endpoints were viral clearance for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR at days 5 and 6, respectively, and the investigational endpoint was saliva infectivity clearance on day5. We enrolled 430 participants, with 215 assigned to each group, and 139 in the early group and 140 in the late had a positive saliva RT-qPCR test on day 2. On day 5, the early group had a significantly higher RT-qPCR negative rate than that of the late group (p = 0.015), and the early had a significantly higher clearance rate of infectivity (p = 0.025). During the PVP–I intervention, one participant reported oropharyngeal discomfort. Gargling with PVP–I may hasten virus clearance and reduce viral transmission via salivary droplets and aerosols in patients with asymptomatic-to-mild COVID-19. (Clinical trial registration numbers: jRCT1051200078 and dateof registration: 24/11/2020).
Chemical modification of proteins – challenges and trends at the start of the 2020s
Authors: Fischer Niklas Henrik , Oliveira Maria Teresa , Diness Frederik
Published: November 2022

Chemical modification of proteins is a rapidly growing research field. In this review the major challenges of conducting selective reactions on proteins are discussed in the light of classic methods as well as the most recent advances.
Synthesis and evaluation of simple multimers based on biosourced central cores as donor materials for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Melville Hayley , Rakoniewski Loane , Beuzen Noé , Flipo Thibault , Cabanetos Clément , Nourry Arnaud , Guillarme Stéphane , Gohier et Frédéric
Published: November 2022

Arylamine-based push–pull molecules were successfully grafted onto various chiral diols (isomannide and isosorbide) or glycerol moieties, used as central biosourced cores, for the preparation of multichromophoric materials.
Metastable properties of a garnet type Li5La3Bi2O12 solid electrolyte towards low temperature pressure driven densification
Authors: Campanella Daniele , Krachkovskiy Sergey , Bertoni Giovanni , Gazzadi Gian Carlo , Golozar Maryam , Kaboli Shirin , Savoie Sylvio , Girard Gabriel , Gheorghe Nita Alina Cristina , Okhotnikov Kirill , Feng Zimin , Guerfi Abdelbast , Vijh Ashok , Gauvin Raynald , Bélanger Daniel , Paolella Andrea
Published: November 2022

Hot-pressing leads to low temperature densification of garnet type Li5La3Bi2O12 solid electrolyte and density functional theory calculations allow to explore its metastable properties under the formation of impurities.
A MOF-based electronic nose for carbon dioxide sensing with enhanced affinity and selectivity by ionic-liquid embedment
Authors: Qin Peng , Okur Salih , Jiang Yunzhe , Heinke Lars
Published: November 2022

A sensor array (or e-nose) made of nanoporous metal–organic framework films filled with different ionic liquids shows high selectivity and sensitivity as well as a very low limit of detection for various common gases and vapors, especially for CO2.
Correction: Phase-engineering of nickel hydroxide in the Ni/Ni(OH)2 interface for efficient hydrogen evolution and hydrazine-assisted water splitting in seawater
Authors: Shao Duo , Wang Qi , Yao Xianzhi , Zhou Yitong , Yu Xin-Yao
Published: November 2022

Correction for ‘Phase-engineering of nickel hydroxide in the Ni/Ni(OH)2 interface for efficient hydrogen evolution and hydrazine-assisted water splitting in seawater’ by Duo Shao et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 21848–21855, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TA06481B.
Nucleic acid-based artificial nanocarriers for gene therapy
Authors: Zhu Longyi , Luo Jun , Ren Kewei
Published: November 2022

Nucleic acid-based nanostructures have been applied as the artificial carriers for the delivery of siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides and efficient gene therapy.
An intelligent peptide recognizes and traps Mycobacterium tuberculosis to inhibit macrophage phagocytosis
Authors: Wang Gui-Yuan , Lu Bin , Cui Xu , Li Guang , Zhang Kuo , Zhang Qing-Shi , Cui Xin , Qi Gao-Feng , Liang Qi-Lin , Luo Xiao-Bo , Xu Huan-Ge , Xiao Li , Wang Lei , Li Litao
Published: November 2022

We report an intelligent anti-microbial peptide (bis-pyrene-KLVFF-WHSGTPH) that can recognize and trap Mycobacterium tuberculosis, inhibiting the macrophage phagocytosis process.
Enhancing the stability of the polymeric Lewis-base-assisted dual-phase 3D CsPbBr3–Cs4PbBr6 perovskite by molecular engineering and self-passivation
Authors: Liang Fang-Cheng , Yan Zhen-Li , Busipalli Dhana Lakshmi , Benas Jean-Sebastien , Zhang Zhi-Xuan , Han Su-Ting , Zhou Ye , Jiang Jyh-Chiang , Kuo Chi-Ching
Published: November 2022

Self-ordered polymeric Lewis acid–base adduct formation for a dual role of passivated CsPbBr3–Cs4PbBr6 perovskite grain morphology modulation and exciton dielectric confinement, thereby exhibiting high performances and stability in PeLEDs.
Auditory Brainstem Responses at 6 and 8 kHz in Infants With Normal Hearing
Authors: Porter Heather L. , Dubas Christina , Vicente Manuel , Buss Emily , Kaminski Jan
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

Normative auditory brainstem response (ABR) data for infants and young children are available for 0.25–4 kHz, limiting clinical assessment to this range. As such, the high-frequency hearing sensitivity of infants and young children remains unknown until behavioral testing can be completed, often not until late preschool or early school ages. The purpose of this study was to obtain normative ABR data at 6 and 8 kHz in young infants.

Method:

Participants were 173 full-term infants seen clinically for ABR testing at 0.4–6.7 months chronological age (
M
= 1.4 months,
SD
= 1.0), 97% of whom were ≤ 12 weeks chronological age. Stimuli included 6 and 8 kHz tone bursts presented at a rate of 27.7/s or 30.7/s using Blackman window gating with six cycles (6 kHz) or eight cycles (8 kHz) rise/fall time and no plateau. Presentation levels included 20, 40, and 60 dB nHL. The ABR threshold was estimated in 5- to 10-dB steps.

Results:

As previously observed with lower frequency stimuli, ABR waveforms obtained in response to 6 and 8 kHz tone bursts decreased in latency with increasing intensity and increasing age. Latency was shorter for 8-kHz tone bursts than 6-kHz tone bursts. Data tables are presented for clinical reference for infants ≤ 4 weeks, 4.1–8 weeks, and 8.1–12 weeks chronological age including median ABR latency for Waves I, III, and V and the upper and lower boundaries of the 90% prediction interval. Interpeak Latencies I–III, III–V, and I–V are also reported.

Conclusion:

The results from this study demonstrate that ABR assessment at 6 and 8 kHz is feasible for young infants within a standard clinical appointment and provide reference data for clinical interpretation of ABR waveforms for frequencies above 4 kHz.
Study on flutter characteristics of NACA0012 flexible straight wing with high-aspect-ratio
Authors: YU Qiuyang , LI Xinghua , LI Xintao , XU Shengjin
Published: November 2022

采用三维雷诺平均N-S方程和S-A湍流模型求解展弦比为16的NACA0012弹性平直机翼的非定常气动力, 结合机翼动力学方程, 建立了机翼颤振时域分析方法。利用该方法对机翼的颤振特性、颤振过程中的变形和振动响应, 以及瞬时流场进行数值模拟和分析, 并研究材料刚度和密度对机翼颤振速度和频率的影响。结果表明, 由于展弦比较大, 且材质轻柔, 机翼会出现一定幅度的静弯曲变形。第二阶(垂向弯曲)和第三阶(扭转)振动模态的耦合作用是机翼发生颤振的原因, 且颤振频率介于这两阶模态固有频率之间。对比不同材料刚度和密度下机翼的颤振速度和频率, 发现材料刚度的增大会提高颤振速度和频率, 材料密度的增大会使颤振速度先降低然后趋于不变, 颤振频率一直降低。
Visuelle Gangbildanalyse beim Labrador-Mix – Wie lautet Ihr
Befund?
Authors: Zohmann Andreas
Published: November 2022

Vorgestellt wurde ein Labrador-Mix, weiblich kastriert, 6 Jahre alt, hat
zunehmend Probleme mit den Vorderläufen.
Stochastic survival of the densest and mitochondrial DNA clonal expansion in aging
Authors: Insalata Ferdinando , Hoitzing Hanne , Aryaman Juvid , Jones Nick S.
Published: November 2022

The expansion of mitochondrial DNA molecules with deletions has been associated with aging, particularly in skeletal muscle fibers; its mechanism has remained unclear for three decades. Previous accounts have assigned a replicative advantage (RA) to mitochondrial DNA containing deletion mutations, but there is also evidence that cells can selectively remove defective mitochondrial DNA. Here we present a spatial model that, without an RA, but instead through a combination of enhanced density for mutants and noise, produces a wave of expanding mutations with speeds consistent with experimental data. A standard model based on RA yields waves that are too fast. We provide a formula that predicts that wave speed drops with copy number, consonant with experimental data. Crucially, our model yields traveling waves of mutants even if mutants are preferentially eliminated. Additionally, we predict that mutant loads observed in single-cell experiments can be produced by de novo mutation rates that are drastically lower than previously thought for neutral models. Given this exemplar of how spatial structure (multiple linked mtDNA populations), noise, and density affect muscle cell aging, we introduce the mechanism of stochastic survival of the densest (SSD), an alternative to RA, that may underpin other evolutionary phenomena.
Translation as cultural technique
Authors: de Groote Brecht
Published: November 2022

Even though studies at the intersection of translation and media are a burgeoning subfield within Translation Studies, the integration of media theory into the scholarship on translation remains underdeveloped. Joining a recent surge of interest in adapting media theory to a broad analysis of the impacts of the technologies that organise and support translation, this article takes up the concept of cultural technique to argue that, just as technological revolutions have reshaped translation practices, translations have structured media systems. Following its exploration of a medial methodology in Translation Studies and the benefits of a historicist perspective, the article turns to a set of case studies, all sourced from the Romantic period, which was characterised by a complex attitude to mediality and translation prefigurative of the current digital turn. The case studies demonstrate the benefits of a medial view in the study of translation.
Billiards and Teichmüller curves
Authors: McMullen Curtis
Published: November 2022

A Teichmüller curve

V
⊂

M

g

V \subset \mathcal {M}_g

is an isometrically immersed algebraic curve in the moduli space of Riemann surfaces. These rare, extremal objects are related to billiards in polygons, Hodge theory, algebraic geometry and surface topology. This paper presents the six known families of primitive Teichmüller curves that have been discovered over the past 30 years, and a selection of open problems.
Septal Extension Grafts in Rabbit Models: A Comparative Study Between Costal and Conchal Cartilage Grafts
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Yu Zhou , Wu Junzheng , Zhang Juan , Zhang Yu , Song Baoqiang
Published: November 2022

Background

The septal extension graft (SEG) has become the preferred augmentation rhinoplasty technique for Asian people due to its superiority in correcting tip projection and rotation.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to build a rabbit model for SEG surgery and to compare the postoperative stability of nasal tip support provided by bilateral batten costal and conchal cartilage extension grafts.

Methods

Twenty rabbits underwent SEG surgery with either bilateral batten costal cartilage graft (Group A) or bilateral batten conchal cartilage graft (Group B). Serial photographs were obtained to evaluate the change of the nasal tip shape and graft shape. The observed indices include tip projection, tip angle, shape of extension graft, and histologic features of the extension graft.

Results

Twelve weeks after the operation, 1 costal extension graft in Group A (1/10) and 3 conchal extension grafts in Group B (3/10) were reabsorbed. The costal cartilage graft showed better exterior results than conchal cartilage graft in terms of tip projection and angle relapse rate (13.01% vs 25.02% and 15.18% vs 28.73%; P < .05). The costal cartilage graft maintained its structure better than the conchal cartilage graft. A greater degree of calcification and more fibrous capsules around the extension graft were found in Group A.

Conclusions

A rhinoplasty rabbit model was established to compare costal and conchal autologous cartilages for SEG. This model may serve as a training tool for rhinoplasty surgeons. The costal cartilage extension graft is more reliable in terms of stability and should be given more attention.
Postoperative surveillance using low-dose computed tomography for non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Nakada Takeo , Takahashi Yusuke , Sakakura Noriaki , Masago Katsuhiro , Iwata Hiroshi , Ohtsuka Takashi , Kuroda Hiroaki
Published: November 2022

OBJECTIVES

We retrospectively analysed the surgical prognosis of patients with pathological stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who after complete resection underwent low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) or conventional CT as postoperative surveillance.

METHODS

We investigated 416 patients who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy between January 2013 and December 2016. We compared the prognosis between the LDCT and conventional CT groups using the propensity score-matched analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 57 months. Cancer recurrence occurred in 47 patients (11.3%). In the entire cohort (n = 416), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were better in the LDCT group (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Both intrathoracic recurrence and distant metastasis were higher in the conventional group (P = 0.015 and 0.009, respectively). However, there was no statistical difference in the factors leading to recurrence detection (routine radiological examination, symptoms and elevated tumour markers: all P > 0.05). Both groups were matched using a ratio of 1:1. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.788. A total of 226 patients were successfully matched. After matching, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for RFS and OS (P = 0.263 and 0.226). There were also no statistical differences in recurrence rate, the factors leading to recurrence detection or recurrence site (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

After using propensity score matched, RFS and OS did not differ significantly between LDCT and conventional CT groups. Retrospective comparisons suggest no disadvantages of using LDCT for postoperative surveillance of pathological stage I NSCLC. Further validation will be needed in the future.
Chronic cholecystitis from Raoultella planticola infection associated with adenomyomatous hyperplasia
Authors: Doherty Gerald , Kreinces Jason , Souza Fabiola , Kim Daniel E
Published: November 2022

A 67-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Computed tomography was suggestive of cholecystitis, but neither ultrasound nor magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography found evidence of cholecystitis or biliary ductal dilatation. The patient was started on piperacillin-tazobactam, and blood cultures revealed gram-negative-rod bacteremia. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed and bile cultures grew Raoultella planticola susceptible to ciprofloxacin, which was identical to the speciation of her positive blood cultures. In addition, pathology revealed adenomyomatous hyperplasia of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis. Unlike other cases of R. planticola cholecystitis, our patient had no significant risk factors for the infection—no history of immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus, nor underlying malignancy. We discuss the current knowledge of R. planticola infection in the setting of chronic cholecystitis and adenomyomatous hyperplasia.
Our first Pfannenstiel incisional hernia. A case report
Authors: Yordanis Hernandez Cervantes Barbara , Almager Acevedo Fernando , Martinez Lopez Duniesky , Guzman Lambert Radisnay , Rodriguez Gonzalez Mariuska
Published: November 2022

The incidence of the Pfannenstiel incisional hernia (IH) is the lowest of all IHs, it can occur due to patient-related factors or faulty technique in closure of the deeper layer. The use of prosthetic mesh repair is heralding a new era of tension-free herniorrhaphy, while the optimal location for its implantation remains controversial. As a result, no strategy or technique has become the gold standard for its repair. We report our first experience with an IH through Pfannenstiel in a 49-year-old obese female patient. Inlay polypropylene open mesh repair was performed. As the only complication, the patient presented with a seroma in the wound, which was aspirated, and she is currently asymptomatic with outpatient consultation follow-up. Pfannenstiel IHs have received minimal attention on the optimal surgical approach and postoperative results, making this case a good starting point for future studies.
Fuel subsidy reform, decentralized electricity markets and renewable energy trade: evidence for a successful energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa Region
Authors: Shaar Tanya Leila , Leal-Arcas Rafael
Published: November 2022

The past few decades have witnessed widespread attempts by the international community to combat rising global temperatures. Without a doubt, instruments such as the Paris Agreement have proven essential in fighting climate change by promoting the use of renewable energy and energy transitions. Problematically, regions that rely heavily on fossil fuel consumption, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, have struggled in undertaking their energy transitions and decarbonizing their economies. As such, this article aims to discuss the evidence for a widespread energy transition in the MENA region via economic, legal and social reforms. This article argues that to achieve a successful energy transition in the region, the removal of fuel subsidies must occur, the decentralization of energy markets promoted and renewable trade incentivized. It suggests that fossil fuel exporting MENA countries should continue to diversify their economies in order to reduce reliance on their energy sectors. In turn, this will enable them to undertake fossil fuel subsidy reforms and invest money into renewable energy projects uninterruptedly. To add to this, MENA countries should look to decentralize their energy markets to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels for energy production. Decentralized solar energy, in specific, has extensive potential in the region and would enable a transition toward energy self-sufficiency. This article then concludes that trade practices and climate mitigation are mutually exclusive, and proposes recommendations on how the World Trade Organization can be used to better promote energy transitions.
Idol/Idolatry (New Testament)
Authors: Anderson Sonja
Published: November 2022

The New Testament mentions idols, idolatry, and related terms a handful of times. These occurrences are limited to Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. In the Gospels, the topic is only hinted at, if at all. The most extensive discussion of idolatry is found in 1 Corinthians, where Paul offers guidance on the eating of food offered to idols, and in Acts, where speeches echo contemporary philosophical critiques of cultic images. New Testament references to idolatry should be understood not as the application of settled Old Testament norms but as parts of a larger Hellenistic conversation on the nature and legitimacy of religious images. Noncanonical and so-called Apocryphal sources, such as Philo, Josephus, and the Wisdom of Solomon, as well as pagan Greco-Roman literature, provide essential context. As Christianity changed from a marginal apocalyptic Jewish movement into an imperially backed religion, distinctly Christian art flourished even as debate about the legitimacy of religious images continued.
Eddic Poetry
Authors: Gunnell Terry
Published: November 2022

Rather than being a genre in its own right, “Eddic poetry” is essentially a body of poetry dealing with Old Nordic mythology and Old Nordic/Germanic heroes that was preserved for the main part in two Icelandic manuscripts from the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries: the Codex Regius (GKS 2365 4to: c. 1270) and the AM 748 IA 4to (c. 1300) (see Manuscripts of the Eddic Poems). The term is also used for certain other mythological poems from the same period that have been composed in the main two meters used in these manuscripts (see Meters of the Eddic Poems), most particularly Hyndluljóð, contained in the Flateyjarbók manuscript (GKS 1005 fol.; late 14th century); and Rígsþula, contained in the Ormsbók manuscript (Codex Wormianus: AM 242 fol.; mid-14th century). Originally believed to have been preserved intact in the oral tradition from pagan times (the official Christianization of Iceland and Norway occurring c. 1000), the poems are now seen as having originated at different times (see Dating of the Eddic Poems), some viewed as having a potentially pre-Christian background while others appear to be more recent (in part or as a whole). Whatever the case, it seems evident that the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson (b. 1119–d. 1241), who composed the so-called Prose Edda (also referred to as Snorra Edda) in c. 1220, using several Eddic poems as sources on pre-Christian Nordic mythology, viewed these works as having been ancient. In spite of various discussions about their exact place of origin, it is evident that many of the Eddic poems (which were referred to under this name by later scholars in order to differentiate them from Snorri’s Prose Edda) have their roots outside Iceland in the Nordic and Germanic countries, the narratives of the heroic Eddic poems containing memories that appear to go back several hundred years. The main source of the Eddic poems, the Codex Regius, evidently written and edited by Christian Icelanders, is divided into two parts, the first dealing with mythology, including the creation and ending of the world in Vǫluspá (the Prophecy of the Seeress), followed by various poems in different meters dealing with the gods Óðinn (Odin/Wotan), Freyr (Frey), Þórr (Thor), and Loki, while the second contains material dealing with the lives of the heroes, Helgi Hjǫrvarðsson, Helgi Hundingsbani, and then Sigurðr Fáfnisbani (the killer of the serpent Fáfnir) and his family. For logical reasons, in the following bibliography, emphasis is placed on more recent scholarship, although several earlier works that are still relevant are also mentioned.
Ovid in Renaissance Thought
Authors: Hardie Philip
Published: November 2022

The influence of Ovid, one of the key canonical authors in Latin literature, on post-classical literature, art, and culture is perhaps even more extensive than that of Virgil. Central to the importance of his reception is his long hexameter poem the Metamorphoses, an encyclopedia of mythological narratives, and which has been described as “the painters’ bible” for the Renaissance. The wide variety of Ovid’s other works fed other streams of Renaissance literature. His amatory works invigorate the tradition of Petrarchan love poetry, including the Shakespearean sonnet. The Heroides, fictional letters from mythological characters, are the starting point for a Renaissance tradition of fictional epistles, both secular and sacred. The exilic poetry informs Renaissance inflections of the idea and experience of exile. The poem on the Roman religious calendar, the Fasti, resonates with the Renaissance interest in antiquarianism, and prompts poetry on the Christian calendar. The explosion of literary-critical interest in Ovid in classical studies since the mid-twentieth century has led to a fresh interest in the post-antique reception of Ovid, increasing awareness of his centrality for Renaissance cultural and artistic awareness.
Maria Montessori
Authors: Giardiello Patricia
Published: November 2022

Maria Montessori (b. 1870–d. 1952), was an Italian pioneer in early childhood education and renowned as the founder of the Montessori method. In 1896, after completing her medical degree, specializing in psychiatry, a choice based on her passion for scientific research and the social implications of psychological research, Montessori began her work in the public medical clinics and soon became the director of the first “Scuola Magistrale Ortofrenica” for children with special educational needs. It was here, following the success of her pupils who achieved as well in their exams as typically developing pupils, that Montessori lay down the foundations of her pedagogical approach to education. It was in this role that she was invited to direct the educational activities of the “Case dei bambini,” Children’s Houses in the working-class area of San Lorenzo, Rome. The establishment of the Children’s Houses, which were part of a large-scale restructuring of the existing overcrowded tenements, provided Montessori with an opportunity to create a “real experimental laboratory” in which to observe children closely and develop what she referred to as a revolutionary new pedagogy, which later became known as the Montessori method. Montessori held the belief that her new pedagogy would also be the source of a more radical transformation of society. She viewed the education of young children as both a socializing and liberating force: with the establishment of Children’s Houses, women would be liberated, and children would no longer prevent women from working and reaching their full potential. The overarching guiding principle of Montessori’s revolutionary pedagogical approach is freedom and structure. Montessori demonstrated that within a carefully structured environment, children could be free to teach themselves, first through the senses and then through the intellect. A unique feature of the Montessori method is the didactic sensorial materials, and with her scientific training and constructivist leanings, Montessori produced equipment that was methodologically designed to exploit the progressive order in which children develop. However, the mere presence of the materials would not be enough for Montessori, who believed that only under proper guidance from specifically trained teachers would they be educationally effective. This rested on the principles of recognizing children’s growth at crucial developmental moments, which Montessori referred to as Sensitive Periods.
Moral Development
Authors: Yilmaz Onurcan , Bayrak Fatih
Published: November 2022

The structure of moral judgment and its ontogenetic and phylogenetic origins have been empirically studied since the emergence of psychology as a science. Although an early influential perspective emerged with Piaget, the first systematic theory, which was the subject of a great deal of empirical research, was proposed by Kohlberg. Kohlberg’s theory is regarded as a rationalist theory because, although he thinks emotional processes are at least partly involved in making moral judgments, he claims that rational thinking processes are the main determinant because, as children age and mature cognitively, they mature morally as well. In addition to the cognitive underpinnings of moral development, recent studies have also focused on the biological origins of morality, and alternative theoretical approaches arguing that morality is innate have been proposed. The best known of these are the innate moral core theory and the two-stage theory. According to these theories, making moral judgments is ingrained in our genes due to their adaptive functions, and this genetic feature causes human infants to develop moral sensitivities. Not only can we observe these moral sensitivities in 6-month-old babies, but in comparative animal studies as well. Empirical evidence also suggests that the influence of socialization increases with age. However, when we consider the variety of current theoretical frameworks, the lack of an integrative perspective becomes apparent. More importantly, experimental studies with very small sample sizes pose a fundamental problem for the progress of the field. For example, key original studies with 10–15 subjects are sometimes attempted to be replicated with 20–30 subjects, and it seems very difficult to reach a final conclusion with such small samples. Therefore, future studies should attempt to replicate the key findings in this field with multi-lab organizations such as Many Babies. However, while doing this, it is essential to consider cross-cultural differences and to adapt the methodological paradigms used in the past with Western samples to non-Western cultures, and to document their validity before application.
John Waters
Authors: Connolly Matt
Published: November 2022

One of the most influential and idiosyncratic American independent filmmakers of the last fifty years, John Waters was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 22 April 1946. He was raised in the suburb of Lutherville, Maryland, and developed an early adolescent interest in the exploitation movies screened at local drive-ins. A rebellious high schooler, Waters formed close friendships with fellow queer adolescents and social misfits and would hitchhike to New York City where he saw influential works of 1960s-era underground filmmaking. After briefly attending New York University, where he was expelled for drug use, he returned to Baltimore and began making low-budget independent short films with local friends and collaborators—works that emphasized scandalous imagery, camp humor, and winking social transgression. Waters moved into feature filmmaking by the late 1960s, producing two films—Mondo Trasho (1969) and Multiple Maniacs (1970)—that started to circulate on college campuses and in countercultural screening venues outside of Baltimore. While all of Waters’s “Dreamland” acting troupe proved essential for these films’ successes, the breakout star was the corpulent and gleefully debauched drag queen Divine, whom Waters had known since adolescence. Divine, Waters, and the Dreamlanders achieved new levels of notoriety with the director’s next feature, Pink Flamingos (1972), whose jaw-dropping portrayals of taboo-busting behavior led to it being acquired by burgeoning independent distributor New Line Cinema. The film became a midnight-movie sensation and gave Waters the ability to make two more monuments to trash and social deviance: Female Trouble (1974) and Desperate Living (1977). In the 1980s, Waters modulated his approach to subversion, putting out his first non-X-rated feature (Polyester, 1981) and publishing two books that chronicled his life, career, and irreverent musings on contemporary society, Shock Value (1981) and Crackpot (1986). His 1988 feature Hairspray, a cheeky but largely family-friendly tale of 1960s-era teen angst and racial integration, revived his filmmaking career and became arguably his best-known work, inspiring a Broadway musical that itself led to a 2007 film adaptation. Waters continued to make films throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, though he increasingly supplemented cinematic output with his work in visual art, acting, live performance, cultural commentary, and writing (with four books published since 2010). Regardless of medium, Waters has satirized social mores, upended traditional hierarchies, and celebrated the queer, anarchic, and disreputable in ways that have permanently changed American cinema and culture.
The Wizard of Oz
Authors: Burger Alissa
Published: November 2022

The Wizard of Oz (1939) has become a cultural touchstone for everything from American identity to adventure and self-actualization. Many elements of the film are instantly recognizable the world over, including the Yellow Brick Road, the ruby slippers, Dorothy’s trio of companions, “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” and the adage that “there’s no place like home.” Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), the film follows much of Baum’s narrative trajectory, while also adding new and innovative elements to the story, including a streamlining of Dorothy’s Oz adventures and an amplification of her desire to return to Kansas. Conversely, The Wizard of Oz has also inspired a wide range of adaptations, revisions, and allusions of its own, including Sidney Lumet’s film The Wiz (1978), Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and the 2003 Tony Award–winning Broadway musical Wicked, which was adapted from Maguire’s novel. The themes of The Wizard of Oz continue to resonate with viewers decades after its initial release. As a result, while some of the critical work featured here focuses on the MGM film exclusively, much of the commentary and critical engagement surrounding The Wizard of Oz connects the film with other versions of the story and the significant role of The Wizard of Oz within the larger popular culture landscape. The Wizard of Oz has been interpreted through a range of critical frameworks, including historical analysis, American identity, religion and philosophy, gender and sexuality, and the musical genre. Spurred by an enthusiastic fan base, multiple works examine the making of the film and catalogue the vast range of Oz merchandise and memorabilia.
Complete Circularized Genome Resources of Seven Strains of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa Using Hybrid Assembly Reveals Unknown Plasmids
Authors: Velasco-Amo María Pilar , Arias-Giraldo Luis F. , Román-Écija Miguel , Fuente Leonardo De La , Marco-Noales Ester , Moralejo Eduardo , Navas-Cortés Juan A. , Landa Blanca B.
Published: November 2022

Xylella fastidiosa is a vascular plant pathogenic bacterium native to the Americas that is causing significant epidemics and economic losses in olive and almonds in Europe, where it is a quarantine pathogen. Since its first detection in 2013 in Italy, mandatory surveys across Europe revealed the presence of the bacterium also in France, Spain, and Portugal. Combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina sequencing data, we assembled high-quality complete genomes of seven X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strains isolated from different plants in Spain, the United States, and Mexico. Comparative genomic analyses discovered differences in plasmid content among strains, including plasmids that had been overlooked previously when using the Illumina sequencing platform alone. Interestingly, in strain CFBP8073, intercepted in France from plants imported from Mexico, three plasmids were identified, including two (plasmids pXF-P1.CFBP8073 and pXF-P2.CFBP8073) not previously described in X. fastidiosa and one (pXF5823.CFBP8073) almost identical to a plasmid described in a X. fastidiosa strain from citrus. Plasmids found in the Spanish strains here were similar to those described previously in other strains from the same subspecies and ST1 isolated in the Balearic Islands and the United States. The genome resources from this work will assist in further studies on the role of plasmids in the epidemiology, ecology, and evolution of this plant pathogen.
Whole person HIV services: a social science approach
Authors: Van Heerden Alastair , Humphries Hilton , Geng Elvin
Published: November 2022

Purpose of review

Globally, approximately 38.4 million people who are navigating complex lives, are also living with HIV, while HIV incident cases remain high. To improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment service implementation, we need to understand what drives human behaviour and decision-making around HIV service use. This review highlights current thinking in the social sciences, emphasizing how understanding human behaviour can be leveraged to improve HIV service delivery.

Recent findings

The social sciences offer rich methodologies and theoretical frameworks for investigating how factors synergize to influence human behaviour and decision-making. Social–ecological models, such as the Behavioural Drivers Model (BDM), help us conceptualize and investigate the complexity of people's lives. Multistate and group-based trajectory modelling are useful tools for investigating the longitudinal nature of peoples HIV journeys. Successful HIV responses need to leverage social science approaches to design effective, efficient, and high-quality programmes.

To improve our HIV response, implementation scientists, interventionists, and public health officials must respond to the context in which people make decisions about their health. Translating biomedical efficacy into real-world effectiveness is not simply finding a way around contextual barriers but rather engaging with the social context in which communities use HIV services.
Development and Validation of a Symptom Based Scoring System for Bowel Dysfunction after Ileoanal Pouch Reconstruction: The Ileoanal Pouch Syndrome Severity Score
Authors: Cavallaro Paul , Bordeianou Liliana ,   On behalf of the PROPS Scientific Committee
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND:

The Patient-Reported Outcomes After Pouch Surgery Delphi Consensus Study identified 7 symptoms and 7 consequences as key domains for evaluating and analyzing ileoanal pouch function.

OBJECTIVE:

To utilize items identified as priorities by the Patient-Reported Outcomes After Pouch Surgery Delphi Consensus Study to create a validated tool for quantifying pouch function.

DESIGN:

Patients were administered a questionnaire-based survey eliciting responses regarding frequency of a variety of bowel symptoms.

SETTING:

Pouch patients were recruited at inflammatory bowel disease centers and via patient advocacy websites.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Associations between items and quality of life were computed in a score generation cohort of 298 patients by logistic regression modeling. Individual score values were designated to items to create an additive score titled the Ileoanal Pouch Syndrome Severity Score. Validity was tested in a subsequent cohort of 386 patients using receiver operating characteristic area under the curve. In addition, test-rest validity, convergent validity, and clinical validity were evaluated.

RESULTS:

After determination of item weights, the range of possible scores was 0 to 145. Score ranges were then determined as cutoff values for “ileoanal pouch syndrome.” The score was then validated on the second patient cohort, with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.83. Importantly, worsening severity of Ileoanal Pouch Syndrome Score significantly correlated with higher rates of poor quality of life. Lastly, the questionnaire was rigorously validated to show test-retest validity, convergent validity compared to other bowel function scores, and clinical validity.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study developed a patient-centered, clinically useful scoring system that can quantify the range and severity of symptoms experienced by ileoanal pouch patients and their correlation with quality of life.
HIV risk perception and self-reported risk behaviors among men who have sex with men using social media in Beijing, China and its implications on HIV testing
Authors: Zhao Yafang , Bromberg Daniel J , Khoshnood Kaveh , Dai Alec , Li Zhen , Sheng Yu
Published: November 2022

Inaccurate HIV risk perception is common among men who have sex with men (MSM). Accurate self-perceived risk and HIV testing are closely related and are essential in promoting HIV treatment cascade succeed. This cross-sectional study aims to 1) explore HIV risk perception and its associated sexual behaviors, 2) identify associated factors with HIV testing among Chinese MSM. Participants were recruited to an anonymous online survey in 2019 via an MSM social application. The questionnaire included sexual behaviors, HIV testing history, and the use of HIV prevention services. Logistic regression was used to explore the factors associated with higher risk perceptions and HIV testing in the past 12 months. Total 431 MSM were recruited, 73.3% had been tested for HIV in the past year and 47.80% of MSM self-reported in the high-risk group. MSM who perceived a higher risk (AOR=3.42, 95% CI:2.06-5.68), had multiple sexual partners (AOR=2.60, 95% CI:1.40-4.83), knew sex partner’s HIV status (AOR=7.96, 95% CI:4.33-14.65), and have STI diagnosis (AOR=2.76, 95% CI:1.10-6.95), were more likely to have been tested. Risk perception and sexual behavior were associated with HIV testing. Culturally adapted, theory-driven education programs are expected to utilize in improving MSM’s risk perception accuracy and HIV testing.
Barriers to contraceptive use in humanitarian settings: Experiences of South Sudan refugee women living in Adjumani district, Uganda; An exploratory design using qualitative method
Authors: Achola Roselline , Atuyambe Lynn , Nabiwemba Elizabeth , Nyashanu Mathew , Garimoi Orach Christopher
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Family Planning (FP) is a life-saving, empowering and cost-effective interventions for women and girls. Access to FP is still challenging to female refugees due to several barriers including language, low educational level, lack of information, influence by significant others, limited income, desire to replace lost family members, moral values, cultural and religious norms as well as personal experience with contraceptives side effects. This study explored barriers to contraceptive use among South Sudan refugee women living in Adjumani district, Uganda.

Methods

An exploratory design using qualitative method was employed involving women between the ages of 15-49 years. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants for Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) and In-depth Interviews (IDIs). Ten FDGs were conducted, each consisted of 6 to 8 participants. Two groups of females (15-19 and 20+ years) were reached. Twenty-seven IDIs were conducted with two similar categories as above. The In-depth interview and focus group discussion guides were used to collect data. The interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed before being translated back to English from the local language. Audio recordings from the FGDs and IDIs were labelled, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Deductive, team-based coding was implemented for codebook development, Transcripts were entered, and data coded using Atlas ti version 14. Data was analyzed using content analysis to produce the final outputs for the study.

Results

The study found that several challenges to contraception use included gender dynamics, socially constructed myths on contraceptive use, cultural norms related to contraceptive use, limited knowledge about contraceptive use, men’s negative attitudes, antagonism of contraceptive use by leaders and reprisal of women who use contraception.

Conclusion

The study concluded that there is need for community strategies to break down the barriers to contraception utilization among refugee women. Such strategies should include men and women alongside gatekeepers to enhance sustainability.
Validation of the GE Carescape V100 and Omron HEM-9210T by the AAMI/ESH/ISO 81060-2:2018 in multi-ethnic South-East Asian adult population
Authors: Chan Joel , Sophia Cai Yue , Yong Quan Joshua Ng , Mohammed Noor Syuhaidah Binte , Chong Yao Shawn Wong , Gerald Chan , Sheng Christoph Chong , Jia Wei Wayne Ng , Chambers John C. , Chiew Shia Marie Loh , Mina Theresia H.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To ascertain the accuracy of 2 upper-arm blood pressure monitors, GE Carescape V100 Vital Signs and Omron HEM-9210T, used in a large, South-East Asian epidemiological cohort by the AAMI/ESH/ISO 81060-2:2018.

Methods

149 participants were recruited from the ongoing Health for Life in Singapore (HELIOS) Study in multi-ethnic Singapore.

Results

110 datasets were analysed. For criterion 1, the mean ± SD of differences for GE Carescape V100 was -3.5 ± 7.4/ -3.5 ± 7.4 mmHg (systolic/diastolic), and -4.2 ± 6.9/ -4.2 ± 6.9 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) for Omron HEM-9210T. For criterion 2, GE Carescape V100was -3.5 ± 5.6 / -3.5 ± 5.6 mmHg (systolic/diastolic), and -4.2 ± 4.5 / - 4.2 ± 4.6 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) for Omron HEM-9210T.

Conclusion

Both GE Carescape V100 Vital Signs and Omron HEM-9210T monitor passed the AAMI/ESH/ISO 81060-2:2018 validation standard.
Microenvironmental Snail1 is a driver of immunosuppression in melanoma
Authors: Arumi-Planas Marta , Rodriguez-Baena Francisco Javier , Cabello-Torres Francisco , Gracia Francisco , Lopez-Blau Cristina , Nieto M. Angela , Sanchez-Laorden Berta
Published: November 2022

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer due to its high metastatic abilities and resistance to therapies. Melanoma cells reside in a heterogeneous tumour microenvironment that acts as a crucial regulator of its progression. Snail1 is an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition transcription factor expressed during development and reactivated in pathological situations including fibrosis and cancer. In this work, we show that Snail1 is activated in the melanoma microenvironment, particularly in fibroblasts. Analysis of murine models that allow stromal Snail1 depletion and therapeutic Snail1 blockade indicate that targetingSnail1activation in the tumour microenvironment decreases melanoma growth and lung metastatic burden, extending mice survival. Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma-associated fibroblasts and analysis of the tumours indicate that stromal Snail1 induces melanoma growth by promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment and pro-tumour immunity. This study unveils a novel role of Snail1 in melanoma biology and supports its potential as a therapeutic target.