bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An onion with layers of hope and fear: A cross‐case analysis of the media representation of Tor Network reflecting theoretical perspectives of new technologies
Authors: Sardá Thais
Published: January 2023

The Onion Router (Tor) is a sophisticated web browser accompanied by an encrypted network that enables online anonymity, protecting people's privacy. Adopted by many as a counter‐surveillance mitigation around the world, legitimate users of Tor include the military, journalists, whistle‐blowers, and citizens from authoritarian regimes. This article shows that the data protection offered by Tor is consistently associated to criminal and anti‐social uses by the media. This research looks at the British press representation of Tor conducting a thematic analysis of articles published by six newspapers between 2008 and 2017. This analysis connects the press coverage to three theoretical approaches: moral panics, technological ambivalence, and liberation technology. This research demonstrates through three case studies that the media reproduces theoretical discussions about new technologies on Tor's portrayal, presenting cases with only positive, only negatives and both positive and negative uses. However, examples of optimistic views of Tor are rare, and the press coverage focuses mainly on the criminal uses, especially crypto markets and child pornography. Overall, the British press ignores a culture of surveillance and spreads a discourse of fear through a recurrent connection of Tor to horrifying uses, undermining any potential positive outcomes.
Small area prediction of seat‐belt use rates using a Bayesian hierarchical unit‐level Poisson model with multivariate random effects
Authors: Berg Emily
Published: January 2023

The Iowa Seat‐Belt Use Survey is an annual survey designed to provide estimates of seat‐belt use rates for the state of Iowa in the United States. A desire for county level (substate) estimates motivates the need for small area estimation. Developing a small area model for the seat‐belt survey data is challenging for two mean reasons. First, the data consist of multivariate counts. Second, the same sampling units are observed for five different time points. An appropriate model should reflect multivariate dependencies and the longitudinal data structure. We address these challenges though a unit‐level Bayesian hierarchical model. The observed counts have Poisson distributions. Latent random effects capture multivariate associations and correlations among the observations for the same sampling unit observed at different time points. We employ the posterior predictive distribution for model comparisons. Using the selected model, we construct small area predictors of two measures of seat‐belt use at the county level for 5 years.
Urogenital fistula associated with complex dystocia and emergency ovariohysterectomy in a juvenile dog
Authors: Cook Audrey K. , Buono Agostino , Hervey Michelle , Thieman‐Mankin Kelley
Published: January 2023

A 1‐year‐old, female, spayed dog was referred for urinary incontinence, first noted after a complex dystocia and caesarean section with ovariohysterectomy. Transabdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography with intravenous contrast administration revealed a fluid‐filled tubular structure caudodorsal to the urinary bladder. Routine cystourethroscopy was unremarkable. A retrograde cystourethrogram revealed a 15 mm long connection between the urethra and a structure presumed to be a uterine body remnant. During exploratory laparotomy, the uterine remnant and urethra were separated, leaving oval defects approximately 15 mm long in both; these were then closed. A urinary catheter was left in place for 6 days. A urethrogram performed during catheter removal confirmed closure of the fistula, and the dog was subsequently continent. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of a urogenital fistula suspected to be associated with dystocia and emergency ovariohysterectomy in a dog.
Synthesis and crystal growth of novel layered bismuthides ATM2Bi2 (A=K, Rb, Cs; TM=Zn, Cd), electron‐deficient compounds with the ThCr2Si2 structure
Authors: Shilov Andrey I. , Pervakov Kirill S. , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Vlasenko Vladimir A. , Efremov Dmitri V. , Aswartham Saicharan , Simonov Sergey V. , Morozov Igor V. , Shevelkov Andrei V.
Published: January 2023

We report crystal growth and characterization of 4 new ternary layered bismuthides with compositions KZn2Bi2 (I), RbZn2Bi2 (II), RbCd2Bi2 (III), and CsCd2Bi2 (IV) that belong to the vast 122 family of compounds. Single crystals were grown by self‐flux technique and characterized by a combination of powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. All new compounds crystallize in the layered ThCr2Si2 structure type and exhibit the plate‐like morphology with weak bonding between layers. A significant structural difference between ACd2Bi2 and AZn2Bi2 is found and discussed.
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security: Concept, Datasets and Opportunities for Computational Social Science Applications
Authors: Amjath-Babu T. S. , Riadura Santiago Lopez , Krupnik Timothy J.
Published: January 2023

Ensuring food and nutritional security requires effective policy actions that consider the multitude of direct and indirect drivers. The limitations of data and tools to unravel complex impact pathways to nutritional outcomes have constrained efficient policy actions in both developed and developing countries. Novel digital data sources and innovations in computational social science have resulted in new opportunities for understanding complex challenges and deriving policy outcomes. The current chapter discusses the major issues in the agriculture and nutrition data interface and provides a conceptual overview of analytical possibilities for deriving policy insights. The chapter also discusses emerging digital data sources, modelling approaches, machine learning and deep learning techniques that can potentially revolutionize the analysis and interpretation of nutritional outcomes in relation to food production, supply chains, food environment, individual behaviour and external drivers. An integrated data platform for digital diet data and nutritional information is required for realizing the presented possibilities.
Changing Job Skills in a Changing World
Authors: Napierala Joanna , Kvetan Vladimir
Published: January 2023

Digitalization, automation, robotization and green transition are key current drivers changing the labour markets and the structure of skills needed to perform tasks within jobs. Mitigating skills shortages in this dynamic world requires an adequate response from key stakeholders. However, recommendations derived from the traditional data sources, which lack granularity or are available with a significant time lag, may not address the emerging issues rightly. At the same time, society’s increasing reliance on the use of the Internet for day-to-day needs, including the way individuals search for a job and match with employers, generates a considerable amount of timely and high granularity data. Analysing such nontraditional data as content of online job advertisements may help understand emerging issues across sectors and regions and allow policy makers to act accordingly. In this chapter, we are drawing on experience setting the Cedefop project based on big data and presenting examples of other numerous research projects to confirm the potential of using nontraditional sources of information in addressing a variety of research questions related to the topic of changing skills in a changing world.
Leveraging Digital and Computational Demography for Policy Insights
Authors: Kashyap Ridhi , Zagheni Emilio
Published: January 2023

Situated at the intersection of the computational and demographic sciences, digital and computational demography explores how new digital data streams and computational methods advance the understanding of population dynamics, along with the impacts of digital technologies on population outcomes, e.g. linked to health, fertility and migration. Encompassing the data, methodological and social impacts of digital technologies, we outline key opportunities provided by digital and computational demography for generating policy insights. Within methodological opportunities, individual-level simulation approaches, such as microsimulation and agent-based modelling, infused with different data, provide tools to create empirically informed synthetic populations that can serve as virtual laboratories to test the impact of different social policies (e.g. fertility policies, support for the elderly or bereaved people). Individual-level simulation approaches allow also to assess policy-relevant questions about the impacts of demographic changes linked to ageing, climate change and migration. Within data opportunities, digital trace data provide a system for early warning with detailed spatial and temporal granularity, which are useful to monitor demographic quantities in real time or for understanding societal responses to demographic change. The demographic perspective highlights the importance of understanding population heterogeneity in the use and impacts of different types of digital technologies, which is crucial towards building more inclusive digital spaces.
Computational Social Science for the Public Good: Towards a Taxonomy of Governance and Policy Challenges
Authors: Verhulst Stefaan Gerard
Published: January 2023

Computational Social Science (CSS) has grown exponentially as the process of datafication and computation has increased. This expansion, however, is yet to translate into effective actions to strengthen public good in the form of policy insights and interventions. This chapter presents 20 limiting factors in how data is accessed and analysed in the field of CSS. The challenges are grouped into the following six categories based on their area of direct impact: Data Ecosystem, Data Governance, Research Design, Computational Structures and Processes, the Scientific Ecosystem, and Societal Impact. Through this chapter, we seek to construct a taxonomy of CSS governance and policy challenges. By first identifying the problems, we can then move to effectively address them through research, funding, and governance agendas that drive stronger outcomes.
Social Media Contribution to the Crisis Management Processes: Towards a More Accurate Response Integrating Citizen-Generated Content and Citizen-Led Activities
Authors: Rizza Caroline
Published: January 2023

The two policy questions addressed in this chapter cover the whole crisis management cycle from the response and recovery to prevention and preparedness. They consider both the benefit of using citizen-generated content and the challenges of integrating citizen-led initiatives in the response. On the one hand, focusing on data allows interrogating the IT methods available to collect, process and deliver relevant information to support decision-making and response engagement. On the other hand, considering citizens’ contribution and initiatives to the crisis management processes and response requires working on organizational and collaborative processes from local, regional, national or transnational levels. This chapter frames an up-do-date state of the art on the questions of citizens’ generated content and led initiatives for crisis management and response, and it proposes directions to policy makers to that respect. It places the question of mutual trust between institutions and citizens as a key problematic in a hybrid world where mediated communication and interactions with citizens required new and adapted practices from professionals of crisis management.
The Empirical Study of Human Mobility: Potentials and Pitfalls of Using Traditional and Digital Data
Authors: Recchi Ettore , Tittel Katharina
Published: January 2023

The digitization of human mobility research data and methods can temper some shortcomings of traditional approaches, particularly when more detailed or timelier data is needed to better address policy issues. We critically review the capacity of non-traditional data sources in terms of accessibility, availability, populations covered, geographical scope, representativeness bias and sensitivity, with special regard to policy purposes. We highlight how digital traces about human mobility can assist policy-making in relation to issues such as health or the environment differently to migration policy, where digital data can lead to stereotyped categorizations, unless analysis is carefully tailored to account for people’s real needs. In a world where people move for myriad reasons and these reasons may vary quickly without being incorporated in digital traces, we encourage researchers to constantly assess if what is being measured reflects the social phenomenon that the measurement is intended to capture and avoids rendering people visible in ways that are damaging to their rights and freedoms.
Data and Modelling for the Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) of Policies
Authors: Medeiros Eduardo
Published: January 2023

Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) is still a ‘new kid on the block’ on the panorama of policy evaluation methodologies. In synthesis, TIA methodologies are thematically holistic and multi-dimensional and require the analysis of a wide pool of data, not only of economic character but also related with social, environmental, governance and planning processes, in all territorial scales. For that, TIA requires a wealth of comparable and updated territorialised data. Here, data availability is often scarce in many of the selected analytic dimensions and respective components, to assess territorial impacts in a given territory, in particular in the domains of governance, planning and environment. In this context, this chapter presents a list of non-traditional potential indicators which can be used in existing TIA methodologies. Moreover, the analysis was able to show how important can be the use of non-traditional data, to complement mainstream statistical indicators associated with socioeconomic development trends. However, for the interested scientist, the dispersal of existing non-traditional data per a multitude of sources can pose a huge challenge. Hence the need of an online platform which centralises and updates non-traditional data for the use of all interested in implementing TIA methodologies.
High-temperature failure and microstructural investigation of wire-arc additive manufactured Rene 41
Authors: James William Sean , Ganguly Supriyo , Pardal Goncalo
Published: January 2023

In developing a wire-arc plasma direct energy deposition process for creep-resistant alloys used in high-speed flight applications, structures were built from nickel-based superalloy Rene 41. Samples of additive manufacturing (AM) material were analysed for their microstructural and mechanical properties, in both as-deposited (AD) and heat-treated (HT) conditions. Tensile specimens were tested at room temperature, 538, 760, and 1000 °C. Macroscopically, large columnar grains made up of a typical dendritic structure were observed. Microscopically, significant segregation of heavier elements, grain boundary precipitates, and secondary phases were observed, with key differences observed in HT material. There was a clear distinction between failure modes at different testing temperatures and between AD and HT variants. A fractographic investigation found a progressive move from brittle to ductile fracture with increasing testing temperature in both AD and HT conditions, as well as microstructural features which support this observation.
Character bounds for regular semisimple elements and asymptotic results on Thompson’s conjecture
Authors: Larsen Michael , Taylor Jay , Tiep Pham Huu
Published: January 2023

For every integerkthere exists a bound$$B=B(k)$$B=B(k)such that if the characteristic polynomial of$$g\in \textrm{SL}_n(q)$$g∈SLn(q)is the product of$$\le k$$≤kpairwise distinct monic irreducible polynomials over$$\mathbb {F}_q$$Fq, then every elementxof$$\textrm{SL}_n(q)$$SLn(q)of support at leastBis the product of two conjugates ofg. We prove this and analogous results for the other classical groups over finite fields; in the orthogonal and symplectic cases, the result is slightly weaker. With finitely many exceptions (p, q), in the special case that$$n=p$$n=pis prime, ifghas order$$\frac{q^p-1}{q-1}$$qp-1q-1, then every non-scalar element$$x \in \textrm{SL}_p(q)$$x∈SLp(q)is the product of two conjugates ofg. The proofs use the Frobenius formula together with upper bounds for values of unipotent and quadratic unipotent characters in finite classical groups.
Deliberate Compensated Vasoplegia–A Novel Pharmaceutical Approach for Controlling Blood Pressure During Surgery for Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Mazeh Haggi , Weiss Daniel , Peter Michael , Grozinsky‐Glasberg Simona , Oleinikov Kira , Szalat Auryan , Ronen Ariel , Koganov Evgeny
Published: January 2023

Background

The most dreaded adverse event of pheochromocytoma surgery is operative severe blood pressure fluctuations. Preoperative protocols with alpha‐blockade have achieved controversial results. No study to date evaluated the use of operative protocols in pheochromocytoma patients. Deliberated compensated vasoplegia (DCV) is a novel pharmaceutical regimen developed at our institution to decrease severe hypertensive events. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes of pheochromocytoma resection with and without DCV protocol.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all pheochromocytoma resections between the years 2012 and 2021 was performed. Resections performed with and without DCV protocol were compared. The primary outcome measured was the incidence of severe hypertension (MAP > 150 mmHg) during surgery. Secondary outcomes included other abnormal blood pressure measurements as well as perioperative data and complications.

Results

A total of 41 resections were included, 21 performed under DCV protocol, and 20 without the protocol. Analysis demonstrated no significant difference in preoperative parameters including tumor size, catecholamine levels, and preoperative alpha‐blockade protocol. The use of DCV protocol resulted in significant decrease in severe hypertension incidence from 1.95 ± 3.6 to 0.03 ± 0.13 events/h, p = 0.008. Application of the DCV protocol was not associated with any other adverse events.

Conclusions

This study suggests that DCV anesthesia protocol significantly decreases the incidence of severe hypertensive episodes during pheochromocytoma resection. This is the first study that describes a highly effective protocol for controlling hypertension in pheochromocytoma patients.
Einfluss von aktiven Übungsprogrammen und Aufbissschienen auf die kraniomandibuläre Dysfunktion
Authors: Zerkhold Verena , Taxer Bernhard , Sammer Andreas
Published: January 2023

Hintergrund

Rund 40 % der Weltbevölkerung sind von einer kraniomandibulären Dysfunktion (CMD) betroffen. Diese äußert sich durch Schmerzen, Bewegungseinschränkungen und/oder Kiefergelenkgeräusche und wird durch die große Varianz an Symptomen meist erst spät diagnostiziert und behandelt. Nicht selten kommt es zu Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität der Betroffenen. In der Behandlung der CMD spielen Physiotherapie und Schienenversorgung eine wichtige Rolle.

Ziel

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Auswirkungen von Heimübungsprogrammen (HÜs) und Schienentherapie (ST) auf die Hauptsymptome der CMD zu klären. Es soll herausgefunden werden, ob eine Kombination der beiden Therapien einen therapeutischen Mehrwert darstellt.

Material und Methoden

Mittels Literaturrecherche in den Datenbanken PubMed, PEDro und Cochrane wurden Studien recherchiert und nach Durchsicht adäquater Abstracts die Volltexte zusammengefasst und kritisch diskutiert.

Ergebnisse

Sowohl HÜs als auch ST führen zu einer Verbesserung der beschriebenen Symptome und der Lebensqualität. Bei myogener CMD zeigen HÜs einen besseren Therapieeffekt auf die Kiefergelenkbeweglichkeit. Bei der Diagnose Diskusverlagerung mit Reposition waren im Gegensatz dazu keine deutlichen Therapieerfolge feststellbar. In keiner der analysierten Studien ergab eine Kombination der beiden Interventionen einen Mehrwert. Bei der Analyse der Lebensqualität war die Vergleichbarkeit aufgrund unterschiedlicher und nicht optimaler Fragebögen nur beschränkt möglich. Vergleicht man die Ergebnisse der durchgeführten Maßnahmen in Bezug auf die Interventionsdauer, ließ sich feststellen, dass zu Beginn der Therapien bessere Ergebnisse erzielt wurden als nach längerer Behandlungszeit. Auch die Dropout-Raten nahmen bei längeren Follow-up-Zeiten zu.

Schlussfolgerungen

Eine individuelle Anpassung der HÜs fördert die Compliance und Therapieadhärenz. Aufgrund der aktuellen Studienlage wird davon ausgegangen, dass sowohl HÜs als auch ST angemessene Methoden darstellen, um Schmerzen und Kiefergelenkgeräusche zu reduzieren und eine Verbesserung der Kiefergelenkbeweglichkeit und Lebensqualität zu erzielen. Bei myogener CMD stellen HÜs eine adäquate, kostengünstige Alternative zur ST dar. Weitere Forschung ist notwendig, um die genaue Therapiewirkung auf die verschiedenen Diagnosegruppen zu analysieren. Bezüglich der Lebensqualität sind weitere Analysen mit adäquaten Fragebögen notwendig.
GriDConv – control, design, and experimental verification of a lab-scale high-voltage DC-DC converter
Authors: Riegler Benedikt , Krischan Klaus , Hartmann Michael , Reichhartinger Markus
Published: January 2023

The advent of the Modular Multilevel Converter technology allows building multi-terminal high-voltage DC grids. In order to interconnect DC grids with different voltage levels, highly efficient and compact high-voltage DC-DC (HVDC) converters are required. This paper presents the control and design of a transformerless high-voltage DC-DC converter, which has been designed and built within the framework of the research project GriDConv at the Graz University of Technology. The converter basically consists of high-voltage half-bridges in combination with a series of submodules with full-bridge technology. A dedicated control strategy for the converter is developed, which allows advantageous soft switching of the high-voltage half-bridges, which considerably reduces switching losses of the half-bridges. In addition, a balancing strategy for the individual cell voltages as well as a control of total cell voltage are presented. The developed control strategies are discussed in detail and, in the end, verified through experiments on a constructed $$50\,\text{k}\text{W}$$

50

kW

lab-scale hardware demonstrator.
Long-term support referrals to enhance food security and well-being in older adults: Texas physicians and nurses on what works
Authors: Chaudhuri Nandita , Alvi Laila Hussain , Williams Ashleigh
Published: January 2023

Aim

Senior participation in the congregate meal programs (CMPs) has alarmingly declined over the past decade in Texas as elsewhere in the nation. The purpose of this survey study was to identify the possible reasons for this decline from the viewpoint of the Texas physicians and nurses who are key in coordinating care and ensuring food security for the vulnerable older Texans by referring them to community-based long-term support services (LTSS).

Subject and methods

The methodology adopted was an online panel survey of physicians and nurses from rural and urban Texas counties. Structured multiple-choice and open-ended questions primarily focused on provider referral processes, reasons for connecting older clients to CMPs, perceptions about various aspects of these programs, possible reasons for the decline in participation, suggestions to make the programs an integral part of the community-based LTSS referral system, and how to address the COVID-19 pandemic constraints on the programs.

Results

As a majority of the healthcare providers surveyed were unaware of the CMPs in their communities, the study spotlighted an urgent need for a better-coordinated referral process centered on strategic marketing and awareness-building about the CMPs, including an extensive healthcare provider education component as well as an overall improvement in meal quality and variety.

Conclusion

The study highlights a need for additional research so decision-makers better understand how to best disseminate information to healthcare providers to improve the referral mechanisms, increase the referrals, and enhance the overall CMP program quality to benefit the vulnerable food-insecure older adults.
Reinforcing or Disrupting Gender Affirmation: The Impact of Cancer on Transgender Embodiment and Identity
Authors: Ussher Jane M. , Power Rosalie , Allison Kimberley , Sperring Samantha , Parton Chloe , Perz Janette , Davies Cristyn , Cook Teddy , Hawkey Alexandra J. , Robinson Kerry H. , Hickey Martha , Anazodo Antoinette , Ellis Colin
Published: January 2023

There is a pressing need for greater understanding and focus on cancer survivorship and informal cancer caring of trans people (binary and non-binary), across tumor types, to inform culturally safe trans inclusive cancer information and care. This qualitative study, part of the mixed methods Out with Cancer project, examined experiences of trans embodiment and identity after cancer diagnosis and treatment. We drew on open-ended survey responses from 63 trans cancer survivors and 23 trans cancer carers, as well as interviews and a photo-elicitation activity with a subset of 22 participants (15 cancer survivors, 7 cancer carers). Reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes: Cancer enhances trans embodiment, through experiences of gender euphoria following cancer treatment, and acceleration of decisions about gender affirmation; cancer erases or inhibits gender affirmation; trans embodiment is invisible or pathologized in cancer care. These findings demonstrate that trans embodiment and identity, as well as the process of gender affirmation, may be disrupted by cancer or informal cancer caring. Conversely, cancer and cancer treatment can positively impact the embodied identity and lives of trans people, despite the anxiety and strain of negotiating medical procedures. However, if healthcare professionals operate within a cis-heteronormative framework and do not understand the meaning of embodied change following cancer treatment for trans individuals, these positive benefits may not be realized.
Exploring uplift modeling with high class imbalance
Authors: Nyberg Otto , Klami Arto
Published: January 2023

Uplift modeling refers to individual level causal inference. Existing research on the topic ignores one prevalent and important aspect: high class imbalance. For instance in online environments uplift modeling is used to optimally target ads and discounts, but very few users ever end up clicking an ad or buying. One common approach to deal with imbalance in classification is by undersampling the dataset. In this work, we show how undersampling can be extended to uplift modeling. We propose four undersampling methods for uplift modeling. We compare the proposed methods empirically and show when some methods have a tendency to break down. One key observation is that accounting for the imbalance is particularly important for uplift random forests, which explains the poor performance of the model in earlier works. Undersampling is also crucial for class-variable transformation based models.
Three Early Formal Approaches to the Verification of Concurrent Programs
Authors: Jones Cliff B.
Published: January 2023

This paper traces a relatively linear sequence of early research approaches to the formal verification of concurrent programs. It does so forwards and then backwards in time. After briefly outlining the context, the key insights from three distinct approaches from the 1970s are identified (Ashcroft/Manna, Ashcroft (solo) and Owicki). The main technical material in the paper focuses on a specific program taken from the last published of the three pieces of research (Susan Owicki’s): her own verification of her Findpos example is outlined followed by attempts at verifying the same example using the earlier approaches. Reconsidering the prior approaches on the basis of Owicki’s useful example illuminates similarities and differences between the proposals. Along the way, observations about interactions between researchers (and some “blind spots”) are noted.
Factors influencing accumulation of Zn, Cu, and Ca in the tissues of spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus, Rafinesque, 1817)
Authors: Stanek Magdalena , Chachaj Bogusław , Różański Szymon Ł.
Published: January 2023

Both physicochemical and biological factors affect the degree of metal accumulation in crayfish tissues. The content of metals and correlations between the metal concentrations in different tissues and the total length of crayfish is suitable indicators of contamination of the aquatic environment. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of age and sex of crayfish on the degree of accumulation of Ca, Cu, and Zn in the muscle and exoskeleton. A total of 100 individuals of the spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus, Rafinesque, 1817) were caught from Głowińsk reservoir (Poland) in October 2019 using fyke nets. Metal concentrations were determined in freeze-dried samples of the abdominal muscle, exoskeleton, bottom sediment, and water using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Here, we show that the highest concentrations of Zn were found in the muscle of 4-year-old females, Cu in 3-year-old males, and Ca in 4-year-old males. Sex was a significant factor affecting the content of Ca in the muscle and Zn in the exoskeleton. Age was a significant factor affecting the content of Zn, Cu, and Ca in the muscle and Zn and Cu in the exoskeleton. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Zn and Cu in the muscle and exoskeleton of spiny-cheek crayfish was much higher from water than from sediments, unlike Ca. Furthermore, we found significant correlation for muscle between Zn and total length in 3-year-old females and 4-year-old males and between Cu and TL in 3-year-old males. Analysing the recommended daily intake (RDI) for the investigated minerals confirmed that the consumption of 100 g of spiny-cheek crayfish muscle could meet daily requirement for Zn up to 27.5%, for Ca in 12.4%, and over 100% for Cu. The conducted analyses confirmed that the consumption of crayfish meat was safe for the health of potential consumers in terms of the analysed metal content.
Automated analysis of finger blood pressure recordings provides insight in determinants of baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability—the HELIUS study
Authors: Collard D. , Westerhof B. E. , Karemaker J. M. , Stok W. J. , Postema P. G. , Krediet C. T. P. , Vogt L. , van den Born B. J. H.
Published: January 2023

Sympathovagal balance is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and independently associated with mortality. We evaluated the value of automated analysis of cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity (xBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) and its relationship with clinical covariates in 13,326 participants from the multi-ethnic HELIUS study. Finger blood pressure (BP) was continuously recorded, from which xBRS, standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and squared root of mean squared successive difference between normal-to-normal intervals (RMSDD) were determined. A subset of 3356 recordings > 300 s was used to derive the minimally required duration by comparing shortened to complete recordings, defined as intraclass correlation (ICC) > 0.90. For xBRS and SDNN, 120 s and 180 s were required (ICC 0.93); for RMSDD, 60 s (ICC 0.94) was sufficient. We included 10,252 participants (median age 46 years, 54% women) with a recording > 180 s for the regression. xBRS, SDNN, and RMSDD decreased linearly up to 50 years of age. For xBRS, there was a signification interaction with sex, with for every 10 years a decrease of 4.3 ms/mmHg (95%CI 4.0–4.6) for men and 5.9 ms/mmHg (95%CI 5.6–6.1) for women. Using splines, we observed sex-dependent nonlinearities in the relation with BP, waist-to-hip-ratio, and body mass index. Future studies can help unravel the dynamics of these relations and assess their predictive value.

Graphical Abstract

Panel 1 depicts automatic analysis and filtering of finger BP recordings, panel 2 depicts computation of xBRS from interpolated beat to beat data of systolic BP and interbeat interval, and (IBI) SDNN and RMSDD are computed directly from the filtered IBI dataset. Panel 3 depicts the results of large-scale analysis and relation of xBRS with age, sex, blood pressure and body mass index.
Current Phosphorus and Potassium Fertiliser Application Rates Do Not Limit Tuber Yield and Quality in Potato Production Systems in the Netherlands
Authors: Ravensbergen Arie Pieter Paulus , van Ittersum Martin K. , Kempenaar Corné , Reidsma Pytrik
Published: January 2023

Current ware potato yields in the Netherlands are approximately 70% of their potential. It is hypothesised by several stakeholders within the potato value chain that part of the potato yield gap is caused by a lack of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application. In this study, we analysed for 46 farmers’ fields if increasing P and K fertiliser application rates led to a higher yield and yield quality. We found that, on average, increased P and K fertiliser application did not result in a significantly higher yield for two currently cropped potato cultivars on two different soil types in the Netherlands (Innovator on clay soils and Fontane on sandy soils) and in two years (2019 and 2020). However, on sandy soils at relatively lower farmer K application rates, our K application led to a small positive yield response up to 5 t ha−1. On clay soils, there was an average positive yield response to our K application at lower yield levels of the control. For P, we did not find any correlation between yield response to P application and the amount of P applied by farmers or any of the measured soil parameters. In terms of yield quality, the K application led to a slight reduction in underwater weight on sandy soils in 2019 and a slight increase in the yield of large tubers in 2020. We conclude that, although in some fields there was a small positive yield effect of increased K application, increasing P and K application rates will not narrow the potato yield gap and improve potato yield quality in the Netherlands. Instead, increasing the P and K application will decrease P and K use efficiency and hence is not recommended from an environmental and economic perspective.
Objective assessment of intraoperative skills for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN)
Authors: Farinha Rui , Breda Alberto , Porter James , Mottrie Alexandre , Van Cleynenbreugel Ben , Vander Sloten Jozef , Mottaran Angelo , Gallagher Anthony G.
Published: January 2023

RAPN training usually takes place in-vivo and methods vary across countries/institutions. No common system exists to objectively assess trainee capacity to perform RAPN at predetermined performance levels prior to in-vivo practice. The identification of objective performance metrics for RAPN training is a crucial starting point to improve training and surgical outcomes. The authors sought to examine the reliability, construct and discriminative validity of objective intraoperative performance metrics which best characterize the optimal and suboptimal performance of a reference approach for training novice RAPN surgeons. Seven Novice and 9 Experienced RAPN surgeons video recorded one or two independently performed RAPN procedures in the human. The videos were anonymized and two experienced urology surgeons were trained to reliably score RAPN performance, using previously developed metrics. The assessors were blinded to the performing surgeon, hospital and surgeon group. They independently scored surgeon RAPN performance. Novice and Experienced group performance scores were compared for procedure steps completed and errors made. Each group was divided at the median for Total Errors score, and subgroup scores (i.e., Novice HiErrs and LoErrs, Experienced HiErrs and LoErrs) were compared. The mean inter-rater reliability (IRR) for scoring was 0.95 (range 0.84–1). Compared with Novices, Experienced RAPN surgeons made 69% fewer procedural Total Errors. This difference was accentuated when the LoErr Expert RAPN surgeon’s performance was compared with the HiErrs Novice RAPN surgeon’s performance with an observed 170% fewer Total Errors. GEARS showed poor reliability (Mean IRR = 0.44; range 0.0–0.8), for scoring RAPN surgical performance. The RAPN procedure metrics reliably distinguish Novice and Experienced surgeon performances. They further differentiated performance levels within a group with similar experiences. Reliable and valid metrics will underpin quality-assured novice RAPN surgical training.
Lnc_000048 Promotes Histone H3K4 Methylation of MAP2K2 to Reduce Plaque Stability by Recruiting KDM1A in Carotid Atherosclerosis
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Sun Yu , Xiao Qi , Niu Mengying , Pan Xudong , Zhu Xiaoyan
Published: January 2023

Stabilizing and inhibiting plaque formation is a key challenge for preventing and treating ischemic stroke. KDM1A-mediated histone modifications, which involved in the development of training immunity, ultimately exacerbate the outcomes of inflammation. Although lncRNAs can recruit KDM1A to participate in histone methylation modification and regulate inflammation, cell proliferation, and other biological processes, little is known about the role of KDM1A-lncRNA interaction during atherosclerosis. The present study sought to delineate the effect of the interaction between lnc_000048 and KDM1A on plaque rupture in carotid atherosclerosis, as well as the potential mechanism. Our results revealed that lnc_000048 reduced the activity of histone demethylase and activated MAP2K2 expression by interacting with KDM1A. Furthermore, upregulated lnc_000048 indirectly regulated ERK phosphorylation by MAP2K2 and eventually activated the inflammatory response through the MAPK pathway, which was involved in atherosclerosis. Importantly, our study using ApoE-/- mice confirmed the regulatory role of lnc_000048 in promoting inflammation and collagen degradation in atherosclerotic plaques. These results suggest that targeting the lnc_000048 /KDM1A/MAP2K2/ERK axis may be a promising strategy for preventing atherosclerosis.
Comparative Study of Different Acupoints for Treating Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Mice
Authors: Hong Hao , Cao Xin , Meng Xiang-Min , Pang Qiu-Yu , Zhu Li-Juan , Yu Shu-Guang , Zhu Bing-Mei
Published: January 2023

Acupuncture point specificity has been recognized as a key scientific issue in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), but there is limited clinical trial or animal study to verify the characteristics of PC6, BL15, and ST36 in the protection from myocardial injury. We aimed to compare the effects among these three acupoints on the acute myocardial infarction mice model and to explore possible mechanisms for the first time. We found that PC6 is the most appropriate acupoint to deliver efficacy and safety to treat acute MI in mice. BL15 stimulation improved the systolic function, but increased the risk of arrhythmia. ST36 only slightly attenuated systolic function and had no effect on arrhythmia during MI. RNA profiles of skin tissue in local acupoints demonstrated that the most altered DEGs and related pathways may partly support its best effects of PC6 treatment on MI injury, and support the observed phenomenon of the acupoint specificity.

Graphical abstract
Adsorbents, mobile phases, and strategies for the chromatographic separation of betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids
Authors: Azenha Ivo S. , Simões Mário M. Q. , Mendes Adélio , Silva Carlos M.
Published: January 2023

A critical overview of the separation of three relevant triterpenic acids, namely betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids, by liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography is presented in this review. These triterpenic acids are commonly found in different biomass residues and have raised great research attention in recent years due to their broad and valuable therapeutic properties. Accordingly, fundamental aspects such as solubilities in single and mixed solvents, commercial stationary phases (octadecylsilyl and other bonded phases like triacontylsilyl, as well as porous graphitic columns), custom adsorbents (molecularly imprinted polymers and other polymeric adsorbents), mobile phases (conventional HPLC solvents and super/subcritical fluids), mobile-phase modifiers (acidic, basic, and cyclodextrins), pre-column derivatization strategies, and influence of temperature have been compiled, analyzed and thoroughly discussed in terms of (calculated) separation selectivities, peaks resolution, orders of elution, systems descriptors, etc. The most relevant achievements and gaps in this area of research are highlighted, together with a final comparison of the separation performance of the chromatographic systems reported in the literature.
Lack of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium is associated with a higher risk of metabolic associated fatty liver disease in young-onset type 2 diabetes
Authors: Chen Sijie , Cai Shuting , Xu Jing , Chen Binbin , Chen Xiaoli , Xiong Hongping
Published: January 2023

Background

The incidence of comorbidity between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is high, and patients tend to be younger. When people develop metabolic diseases such as T2DM and MAFLD, the original homeostasis of the gut microbiota in the body is disrupted, and gut flora drift occurs. This study investigated the relationship between the number of gut flora and MAFLD in young-onset T2DM.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed 44 adolescent T2DM patients who were divided into a non-MAFLD group and a MAFLD group. Anthropometric measurements, clinical and biochemical markers, inflammatory markers, thyroid function assessments, and stool specimens were collected. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify several important gut flora constituents at the genus level. Student’s t-test and the chi-square test were applied for group comparisons, and binary regression models were used to explore the relationship between gut flora and MAFLD in young-onset T2DM.

Results

Among the 44 subjects, 26 (59.1%) were diagnosed with MAFLD, and 18 (40.9%) were not. Compared with the non-MAFLD group, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, and levels of blood uric acid and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the MAFLD group were significantly increased, and age level and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-MAFLD group, the abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium in the MAFLD group was significantly reduced, and the abundance of Enterococcus and Lactobacillus was significantly increased (p < 0.05). In the multivariate regression analysis, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium were independent protective factors for MAFLD in young-onset T2DM, after excluding confounding factors.

Conclusion

In young-onset T2DM, there was a difference in gut flora between patients with MAFLD and those without MAFLD. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium were independent protective factors for MAFLD in young-onset T2DM.
Globalized Religious Aftershock at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century—the Apapocúava-Guaraní Cataclysm and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Authors: van der Hoek Stefan
Published: January 2023

The impact of environmental catastrophes and crises on religion and religious discourses in history and modernity has been described frequently and from different perspectives. However, the interpretations and narratives of scriptless civilizations have remained largely unnoticed. Due to the concrete lack of reliable sources of information, those interpretations and narratives can nowadays only be recorded and processed in the scientific discourse in a fragmentary way. Therefore, this article unfolds along the early work of ethnologist and linguist Curt Unckel (1883–1946), who was called Nimuendajú during his lifetime, the thesis that an indigenous group of the Apapocúava-Guaraní tribe in southeastern Brazil correlated the global information dissemination of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake with cosmological narratives of an impending apocalypse, leading to the decline and cultural degeneration of the group. The article thus demonstrates how cosmologies and world perceptions of an indigenous tribe at the dawn of globalization can be reconstructed and how information about catastrophic events from the news was processed with immediate local changes by a scriptless culture on the Brazilian frontier in the early twentieth century. In doing so, this article examines the role of media and communication in globalized modernity and how media literacy influences religious perception.
Local sourcing embeddedness, manufacturing relocation, and firm attitudes toward the US-China trade war: A survey analysis of China-based MNC subsidiaries
Authors: Zeng Ka , Xu Yingjie , Xie Zhenzhen
Published: January 2023

This paper examines the attitudes of multinational corporations (MNCs) toward the U.S.-China trade war through an original survey of China-based MNC subsidiaries in the manufacturing industry. Our argument is in two parts. First, firms that have relocated production outside of China or are considering such moves should be less likely to oppose the trade war as they possess outside options that reduce their vulnerability to trade restrictions. Second, firms’ tendency toward production relocation can in turn be explained by their local sourcing dependence, as measured by the level of such dependence and the degree to which their operations require supplier certification. This is because firms more heavily embedded in local supplier networks face stronger resource dependence that increases organizational inertia, reducing their ability to switch to alternative suppliers and therefore relocating production to other destinations. Our findings corroborate our hypotheses, highlighting how the heterogeneity in MNCs’ supply chain relationships may influence both their manufacturing relocation decisions and trade policy preferences.
Enrollment of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT)
Authors: Tosur Mustafa , Gandolfo Laura , Balasubramanyam Ashok , Naylor Rochelle N. , Pollin Toni I. , Rasouli Neda , Cromer Sara J. , Buse John B. , Redondo Maria J. ,   RADIANT Study Group
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

Diabetes mellitus in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (URG) is rapidly increasing in incidence and has worse outcomes than diabetes in non-Hispanic White individuals. Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) established recruitment targets based on the racial and ethnic distribution of the USA to enroll a diverse study population. We examined participation of URG across RADIANT study stages and described strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of URG.

Materials and Methods:

RADIANT is a multicenter NIH-funded study of people with uncharacterized forms of atypical diabetes. RADIANT participants consent online and progress through three sequential study stages, as eligible.

Results:

We enrolled 601 participants with mean age 44 ± 16.8 years, 64.4% female. At Stage 1, 80.6% were White, 7.2% African American (AA), 12.2% other/more than one race, and 8.4% Hispanic. Enrollment of URG was significantly below preset targets across most stages. Referral sources differed by race (p < 0.001) but not ethnicity (p = 0.15). Most AA participants were referred by RADIANT investigators (58.5% vs. 24.5% in Whites), whereas flyers, news, social media, and family or friends were more frequent referral sources for White individuals (26.4% vs. 12.2% in AA). Ongoing initiatives to increase enrollment of URG in RADIANT include engaging with clinics/hospitals serving URG, screening electronic medical records, and providing culturally competent study coordination and targeted advertisement.

Conclusions:

There is low participation of URG in RADIANT, potentially limiting the generalizability of its discoveries. Investigations into barriers and facilitators for recruitment and retention of URG in RADIANT, with implications for other studies, are ongoing.