bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning how to request in German during stay abroad
Authors: Kaltschütz Denise
Published: March 2023

This study examines the request development of eight UK-based students during their stay abroad (SA) year in Germany or Austria. Open-ended roleplays were used to elicit 144 requests before, during, and after SA, and to track the development of external and internal request-mitigation strategies and deictic orientation. Semi-structured interviews and a language-engagement questionnaire were carried out to determine which contextual factors most influenced students’ pragmalinguistic development during SA. Participants mainly used conventionally indirect hearer dominant request strategies pre-sojourn. Whilst abroad, sojourners’ requests became more direct and mostly speaker dominant, whilst participants increasingly favored external mitigation strategies and, to a lesser extent, use of the internal-mitigation strategy upgrader. Of the factors hypothesized to be influential in their acquiring pragmalinguistic competence, participants’ awareness of differences in linguistic politeness, followed by their sense of identity in the host community and degree of interaction with the host community, influenced pre- to in-sojourn pragmalinguistic changes the most.
Studying abroad during and before the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Arvidsson Klara
Published: March 2023

The study abroad (SA) context is assumed to be ideal for second language (L2) learning because of the
opportunities it provides to use the target language (TL) and to socialize with TL speakers. Although research conducted before
the COVID-19 pandemic generally confirms this assumption, little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic modified conditions for
L2 learning in a SA context. This study contributes by documenting Swedish French language students’ patterns of TL use and
perceived linguistic progress in a SA context in France during the COVID-19 pandemic (spring 2021) and compares these data with
data from an equivalent group of Swedish French language students who studied in France before the pandemic. The results suggest
that the SA context provided advantageous learning conditions even during the pandemic.
Structural Drivers of Vulnerability at the Human-Rodent Interface in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique
Authors: Figuié Muriel , Mapaco Lourenço , Caron Alexandre , Hofisso Leonardo , Gomes-Jaintilal Iara , Cappelle Julien
Published: March 2023

This socio-anthropological study investigates the relations between humans and rodents in an area adjacent to the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Designed as part of the larger researcher on mammarenaviruses, it explores the social dimensions of the rodent-human interface, considering its spatial and temporal variability. Its results contribute to our understanding of the socio-ecological context in which new pathogens or new routes of pathogen transmission could arise and potentially spread diseases. A vulnerability-based approach was used to assess human exposure, sensibility and capacity to adapt to rodents. This study revealed: (i) Local knowledge of the dynamic of rodent populations over the last few decades, with new invasive rodents displacing native species; (ii) the social-ecological factors thought to be behind this invasion: climate change, new infrastructure (e.g., construction of a dam), new agricultural practices (e.g., cultivation of sunflowers) and policies (human resettlement); (iii) the significant impact associated with new invasive rodents (e.g., crop losses, damage to belongings), the limited capacity for individual and collective interventions to mitigate damage, and the little concern shown for rodent-related diseases; (iv) women and girls’ high vulnerability to potential rodent-borne diseases due to frequent direct and indirect contact with rodents in the domestic space; and (v) the added-value of using a vulnerability-based methodology, over the more commonly used Knowledge-Attitudes-Practices (KAP) methodology, to map the structural factors shaping the human-rodent interface and its dynamic. Our findings suggest that the vulnerability-based approach could offer an opportunity to better respond to the One Health ambition by integrating social dimensions of health and grasping the complexity of the social and material context in which new pathogens could emerge and spread.

One Health Statement

The present socio-anthropological study of the human-rodent interface comes in complement to a previous eco-epidemiological survey focusing on the rodent-virus interface. It explores the cultural and social dimensions of the interactions between rodent-human, considering spatial and temporal variability. In doing so, it contributes to the understanding of the socio-ecological dynamic, in which new viral transmission can occur and disease spread. It exemplifies, based on local knowledge, how socio-ecological changes can create new routes for the emerging virus and highlights the vulnerability of the exposed human population to address the potential related health risks. This multidisciplinary and dynamic approach of how humans and rodents interact, and how these interactions are shaped by their changing environment is a contribution to a systemic approach to health, in line with the One health paradigm.
Effect of electron- and hole-doping on properties of kagomé-lattice ferromagnet Fe3Sn2
Authors: Adams Milo , Huang Chen , Shatruk Michael
Published: March 2023

We report a theoretical investigation of effects of Mn and Co substitution in the transition metal sites of the kagomé-lattice ferromagnet, Fe3Sn2. Herein, hole- and electron-doping effects of Fe3Sn2 have been studied by density-functional theory calculations on the parent phase and on the substituted structural models of Fe3−x
M
x
Sn2 (M = Mn, Co; x = 0.5, 1.0). All optimized structures favor the ferromagnetic ground state. Analysis of the electronic density of states (DOS) and band structure plots reveals that the hole (electron) doping leads to a progressive decrease (increase) in the magnetic moment per Fe atom and per unit cell overall. The high DOS is retained nearby the Fermi level in the case of both Mn and Co substitutions. The electron doping with Co results in the loss of nodal band degeneracies, while in the case of hole doping with Mn emergent nodal band degeneracies and flatbands initially are suppressed in Fe2.5Mn0.5Sn2 but re-emerge in Fe2MnSn2. These results provide key insights into potential modifications of intriguing coupling between electronic and spin degrees of freedom observed in Fe3Sn2.
Volumetric flame reconstructions in an optical engine cylinder involving refraction and blockage
Authors: Gao Yu , Ling Chen , Wu Yue , Wu Haifeng , Men Wenqi
Published: March 2023

Practical applications of computed tomography (CT) in optical engines require an advanced algorithm that can correct the light refraction via optical windows and reconstruct the 3D signal field partially blocked by structural obstacles. In this work, an advanced CT algorithm is designed for optical engines to simultaneously eliminate the imaging distortion by refraction and diminish the reconstruction errors using partial signal blocking. By combining the pinhole model and Snell’s law, the ray tracings from discretized 3D voxels in the measurement domain to 2D pixels in the imaging planes are accurately calculated, thus restoring the distortion in recorded projections. Besides, by deciding the locations and numbers of voxels that actually participate in iterative CT calculation, the iterative update process of voxel intensity becomes independent of the blocked rays, reducing the reconstruction errors. The algorithm is then numerically validated by reconstructing a simulated signal phantom inside an optical cylinder with a lightproof obstacle between the phantom and a recording camera, which imitates the refraction and blocking conditions in practical optical engines. Moreover, experimental demonstration is performed by reconstructing practical premixed flames inside optical engines. Both the simulation and the experiment present significantly enhanced flame chemiluminescence reconstruction by applying the optimized CT algorithm compared to the original algorithm utilized in open space applications.
Re-Engaging Individuals & Societies for Structural Evolution: A Brain Health Equity Neuropsychology Research Framework
Authors: Díaz-Santos Mirella , González David Andrés , Henry Samantha K , Vuong Kevin Dat , Strutt Adriana Macias
Published: March 2023

Objective

A brain health equity neuropsychology research framework (NRF) is crucial to the anti-racist movement in cognitive assessments. Universalist interpretation of neuropsychological tools contributes to systemic disparities, and there is a need for a clear conceptual framework for disentangling the direct and indirect impact of social determinants of health (SDH) on brain-behavior relationships and neuropsychological performance. The aim of this paper is to present a NRF anchored in the principles of brain health and health equity that is inclusive, and can be implemented across racially and ethnically diverse communities.

Methods

The Re-engaging Individuals and societies for Structural Evolution (RISE) NRF aims to address this via a two-pronged approach: 1. Focusing on community engagement and recruitment and retention of individuals and societies typically not equitably represented in brain health studies, and 2. Integrating the conceptual structure of individual, community, and SDH, while considering the broader historical and current structures that differentially shape these.

Results

The proposed RISE NRF is dynamic and multidirectional. It identifies barriers and proposes strategies to engage communities and diversify recruitment. It identifies evidence-based guidance on non-cognitive determinants of health to include, consider or explore in brain health research.

Conclusion

The RISE NRF can guide the development of culturally and linguistically responsive methodologies and assist with clearly conceptualized and contextualized interpretation of neuropsychological tools to foment a transformative science that benefits the brain health of marginalized communities.
Developing a Culturally Competent Neuropsychological Battery for Diagnosis of Dementia in Arabic-Speaking Patients in the United States
Authors: Stinson Jennifer M , Armendariz Victoria , Hegazy Mohamed Ibrahim Raslan , Strutt Adriana M , McCauley Stephen R , York Michele K
Published: March 2023

Objective

In adherence to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) guidelines on culturally informed testing practices, this paper aims to review a suggested battery of tests that is linguistically and culturally appropriate for Arabic-speaking patients and to inform the reader of the varied characteristics of the Arab world to aid in providing a culturally informed neuropsychological evaluation.

Method

Test instruments in Arabic were identified through systematic searches of PubMed and Google Scholar, U.S.-based website searches in Arabic and French, and in consultation with Arabic-speaking cultural brokers.

Results

A battery assessing cognitive domains and mood was assembled using core measures that were developed using appropriate translations, cultural adaptations, and include normative data of Arabic-speaking individuals. Supplemental measures that can be administered using translated instructions and English normative data are also identified. The rationale for test selection and clinical utility, including strengths and limitations of the proposed measures is presented.

Conclusions

Given the large number of Arab Americans residing in the United States combined with the dearth of Arabic speaking neuropsychologists, it is essential that non-Arabic speaking neuropsychologists educate themselves regarding culturally informed practices to better service this growing community.
I—The Presidential Address
Authors: McCabe Mary Margaret
Published: March 2023

The neglected Platonic dialogue Euthydemus is peculiar in many ways. It is, apparently, an extensive catalogue of bad arguments by disgraceful sophists; but its complex composition suggests that this focuses attention on the shape and nature of argument—attention that some think Plato is incapable of giving. He uses the idiom of games, and of seriousness and play, to provoke reflection on logical and syntactic structure and their normative features; but to see how he does so we need to consider the complex background of the fiction of a Platonic dialogue, and its use of surprise and humour. Comparison with the bbc Radio 4 game ‘Mornington Crescent’ might help.
IV—Lost in (Modal) Space: Demographic Base-Rate Neglect in the Service of Modal Knowledge
Authors: Munton Jessie
Published: March 2023

Are there ever good epistemic reasons to neglect base rates? Assuming an empiricist modal epistemology, I argue that we face an interesting tension between some very plausible epistemic norms: a norm requiring us to proportion our beliefs to the evidence may facilitate knowledge of the actual world, whilst inhibiting our acquisition of modal knowledge—knowledge of how things could be, but are not. The potential for this tension in our epistemic norms is a significant result in its own right. It can also rationalize certain forms of demographic base-rate neglect.
The geographical variation of melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma in England
Authors: Ascott Anna , van Bodegraven Birgitta , Vernon Sally , Orteu Cate H , Venables Zoe C
Published: March 2023

Skin cancer rates are increasing worldwide due to ageing populations, sun-seeking behaviours and increasing rates of immunosuppression. Understanding the regional variation in skin cancer is vital to planning healthcare services, prevention and screening strategies. Our objective was to report the regional incidence of the three most common types of skin cancer in England: basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Perforating dermatosis in a patient on haemodialysis successfully treated with nemolizumab
Authors: Ohmori Shun , Sawada Yu
Published: March 2023

We present a case of perforating dermatosis in a patient with uraemic pruritus who was on haemodialysis and who was successfully treated with nemolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against interleukin-31 receptor A. Nemolizumab may be a treatment option for perforating dermatosis with a uraemic pruritus background. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show the effect of nemolizumab on perforating dermatosis.
Determination of Cations and Anions in Desulfurization Waste Water of Coal-Fired Power Plant by Ion Chromatography
Authors: Liu Congyun , Kong Deting , Zhao Shuai , Jiang Zhihui , Cheng Zihong , Li Yonglong
Published: March 2023

The reliable and accurate determination of corrosive anions at sub- to low-μg/L levels is a challenging analytical problem. In this manuscript, a simultaneous determination method of cations and anions in power plant water samples was established by large volume injection ion chromatography. The analytical parameters including separation column, the suppressor current and the elute concentration were optimized. Results showed good separation under the optimum conditions, and the calibration curves of all analytes were linear with good coefficient of determination (r2) >0.997, and the mean recoveries for all analytes ranged from 75.62 to 118.58% with RSD of 0.07–4.83%. The established method was successfully applied to determine the cations and anions in realwaste water samples from coal-fired power, and was verified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and electrometric titration. The relative deviation between methods was all below 6.72%, which indicated good accuracy of the established ion chromatography method. The results could also provide reference for the precise and rapid detection of cations and anions in environmental water samples.
Much ado about artificial intelligence or: the automation of contract formation
Authors: Mik Eliza
Published: March 2023

Every day, millions of decisions are made based on information provided by computers and millions of transactions are concluded automatically, by means or with the assistance of computer programs. Computers can accept payment and dispense products. Computers can also calculate the optimal price and predict the demand for the product. Technology enables us to automate a wide range of tasks involved in the process of forming contracts. Contrary to popular belief, such novel transacting practices are easily accommodated by existing legal principles, at least when it comes to the common law of contract. The latter is technology neutral and generally disregards the manner the parties’ statements come into existence. Considerable uncertainty would result if the statements we see on our computer screens could be disavowed on the basis that they were the product of mindless computer operations. This article contends that legal analyses must start with the law, not with overdramatized descriptions of technology or the assumption that contract law cannot accommodate such.
Minimal Gevrey Regularity for Hörmander Operators
Authors: Bove Antonio , Mughetti Marco
Published: March 2023

We prove a minimal Gevrey regularity theorem for Hörmander’s sum of squares type operators ( 1.1), improving the result of Derridj and Zuily [ 10]. The Gevrey index given here is optimal, in the sense that there are operators of this type that just attain that regularity and not any better.
The Sword and the Shield: The Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU
Authors: Ratti Luca
Published: March 2023

This article contextualises the adoption of the Directive 2022/2041 (EU) on adequate minimum wages. The analysis considers wage adequacy, collective bargaining coverage, and the combat of in-work poverty as the main pillars on which the directive is built. The aim is to show the potential and limits of the directive’s approach to wage regulation, in the light of the stringent limits on EU competence deriving from EU treaties.
Natural Killer Cell-Derived Interferon-γ Regulates Macrophage-Mediated Immunopathology During Viral Infection
Authors: Feng Emily , Monteiro Jonathan K , Portillo Ana L , Balint Elizabeth , Ashkar Ali A
Published: March 2023

Regulation of immune responses during viral infection is critical to preventing the development immunopathology that impairs host survival. Natural killer (NK) cells are well known for their antiviral functions that promote viral clearance; however, their roles in limiting immune-mediated pathology are still unclear. Using a mouse model for genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, we find that NK cell-derived interferon-γ directly counteracts interleukin-6-mediated matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) activity in macrophages to limit MMP-mediated tissue damage. Our findings uncover a key immunoregulatory function of NK cells during host-pathogen interactions that highlight the potential of NK cell therapy for treatment of severe viral infections.
Activism and International Thought: The Women's International League of Peace and Freedom and the Problem of Statelessness in the Interwar Period
Authors: Cochran Molly
Published: March 2023

This article examines the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) as an important site of women's international theorizing on the normative problem of statelessness in the League of Nations era. The problem of statelessness covered several issues connected with the loss of nationality, a new condition of human vulnerability associated with the dissolution of four empires after World War I. It opened up a series of questions about the Versailles system, where the ethical value of sovereignty was assumed, rather than examined for its consequences for individuals. WILPF developed programs of political and epistemic activity on global and local fronts that explored what it might mean to approach the statelessness question in terms of a transnational public interest, as opposed to the state interest privileged by the Versailles order. The article argues that WILPF's international thought is distinctive for the symbiotic relationship that exists between WILPF women's transnational activism and their theoretical conceptualization of the international. This is illustrated through an analysis of Jane Addams's thought, which provides a crucial link between late-nineteenth-century American pragmatism and the early twentieth-century progressive internationalism exemplified by WILPF. WILPF's interwar advocacy on the statelessness question shows how knowledge production and theory building were done in ways that are quite different to the mainstream neo-positivist idea of theory today, and which need to be included as part of our historical understanding of the origins of the twentieth-century field of international relations.
The efficacy of systemic inflammatory response and oxidative stress in erectile dysfunction through multi-inflammatory index: a prospective cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Taskiran Mehmet , Dogan Kazim
Published: March 2023

Background

Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress increase the possibility of erectile dysfunction (ED) through a coordinated response to vascular endothelial damage.

Aim

The study aimed to evaluate the status of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in ED.

Methods

The analysis was a prospective, cross-sectional, single-center study. The study included non-ED (n = 54) and ED (n = 104) groups. The study analyzed demographics, clinical outputs, oxidative stress (total antioxidant status [TAS], total oxidant status [TOS], oxidative stress index [OSI]), and an inflammatory condition (multi-inflammatory index 1 [MII-1], MII-2).

Outcomes

Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation were evaluated together in ED, which was evaluated with the help of the International Erectile Function Index (IIEF) scale.

Results

TAS significantly decreased in the ED group compared with the non-ED group (2.25 ± 0.83 mmol Trolox equivalents/L vs 1.45 ± 0.65 mmol Trolox equivalents/L; P = .001). TOS increased in the ED group (14.1 ± 6.2 μmol H2O2 equivalents/L) compared with non-ED group (11.05 ± 6.8 μmol H2O2 equivalents/L) (P = .002). OSI was as low as 0.74 ± 0.33 in the non-ED group and as high as 2.38 ± 0.85 in the ED group (P = .001). Both MII-1 (273 ± 398 vs 745 ± 1311; P = .012) and MII-2 (4.66 ± 5.02 vs 19.7 ± 29.4; P = .031) increased in the ED group compared with the non-ED group. IIEF was negatively correlated with MII-1 (r = −0.298; P = .009), MII-2 (r = −0.341; P = .006), and OSI (r = −0.387; P < .0001), while TAS had a strong positive correlation with the IIEF (r = 0.549; P = .0001). OSI was correlated with MII-1 (r = 0.304; P = .001) and MII-2 (r = 0.334; P = .001). OSI was the strongest parameter in predicting ED (P = .0001; area under the curve, 0.795; 95% confidence interval, 0.696-0.855). The cutoff was 0.71 at 80.5% sensitivity and 67.2% specificity.

Clinical Implications

OSI showed diagnostic potential for ED as an oxidative stress indicator, while MII-1 and MII-2 showed the effectiveness.

Strengths and Limitations

MIIs, a novel indicator of systemic inflammatory condition, were analyzed for the first time in patients with ED. The long-term diagnostic efficacy of these indices was lacking, as all patient data did not include long-term follow-up.

Conclusion

Considering their low cost and easy applicability compared with OSI, MIIs could be essential parameters in the follow-up for ED for physicians.
The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology
Authors: Conway Christopher C. , Anderson Grace N.
Published: March 2023

The categorical model of mental disorder is out of sync with a large body of scientific evidence. There is growing support for quantitative approaches to diagnosing psychopathology that are rooted in empirical research on the natural patterns of co-occurrence among mental health problems. The authors describe the development of the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), which synthesizes decades of empirical research on the structure of mental disorders in an evolving model. The HiTOP model breaks apart mental disorders into a set of dimensions that range from narrow (e.g., anhedonia, verbal aggression) to broad (e.g., internalizing, antagonistic externalizing) in scope. Beyond its descriptive function, the model offers a new framework for psychopathology research on topics ranging from genetics and neurobiology to personality and culture. It also paves the way to novel clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention programs oriented around dimensional constructs. Continued empirical evaluation of the HiTOP model’s utility will determine the extent to which it can compete with traditional classification rubrics as a guide for psychopathology diagnosis, research, and treatment.
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Authors: Abramowitz Jonathan S.
Published: March 2023

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is among the most distressing and functionally impairing of psychological problems. This chapter describes the phenomenology of obsessions and compulsions, which are highly heterogeneous. Themes of obsessions may include contamination, aggression and violence, mistakes, sex, morality, blasphemy, and the need for order and symmetry. Compulsive rituals may take the form of excessive washing and cleaning, checking, seeking reassurance, and ordering and arranging, as well as mental maneuvers aimed at suppressing obsessional thoughts or excessive self-reassurance. The chapter also discusses the nature of so-called obsessive-compulsive related disorders (OCRDs), a collection of conditions involving repetitive behaviors that, according to some, overlap with OCD. The OCRDs include hoarding disorder, hair-pulling and skin-picking disorders, and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The major theoretical approaches to understanding OCD and the OCRDs are reviewed and then critically evaluated. The chapter also provides an evaluation of the basis for grouping OCD along with the putative OCRDs.
Mania and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Gruber June , Cosgrove Victoria , Dodd Alyson , Dutra Sunny J. , Hinshaw Stephen P. , Ibonie Stevi G. , Kahawage Piyumi Nimna , Meyer Thomas D. , Murray Greg , Nusslock Robin , Stanton Kasey , Villanueva Cynthia M. , Youngstrom Eric A.
Published: March 2023

Mania and bipolar spectrum disorders (or BSDs) are serious and recurrent psychological disorders with significant occupational, social, and mortality costs. BSDs are characterized by episodic and prolonged mood episodes that range between abnormally and persistently elevated mood phases (mania) and frequently periods of dysphoria mood (depression). This first part of this chapter aims to provide an overview of the phenomenology and assessment of BSDs, review associated psychobiological processes across cognitive, affective, neural, and circadian rhythm dimensions, and consider the influence of context and social environment on BSDs. The second part of this chapter synthesizes empirically supported interventions to prevent and treat BSDs and highlights future directions that focus on increasing diversity and representation of marginalized communities and addressing stigma about BSDs and related psychiatric disorders.
Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Sher Kenneth J. , Conlin W. E. , Pihl R. O.
Published: March 2023

Substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) represent major public health and clinical problems and have their roots in diverse domains in culture, the near social environment, and individual differences. Consequently, understanding both SU and SUD requires a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges diverse areas of scientific inquiry. This chapter provides a broad overview of the relevant literatures ranging from the evolutionary bases for the consumption of psychoactive substances to the effects of contemporary social factors, psychological processes involved in the seeking of substances and the transition to addiction, genetic predisposition to SU and SUD, and the neuropharmacological processes undergirding drug reinforcement and the development of substance dependence. Multiple competing theories of SUDs are considered, and a general framework for integrating diverse addiction-related mechanisms is proposed. It is hoped that adopting an evidence-based, mechanism-focused approach to understanding SUDs will lead to improved approaches to developing effective preventive and treatment interventions.
Schizophrenia: Presentation, Affect and Cognition, Pathophysiology and Etiology
Authors: MacDonald Angus , Demro Caroline
Published: March 2023

Schizophrenia is one of several disruptive psychotic disorders characterized by a broad mix of symptoms such as perceptual anomalies like hallucinations, thought distortions like delusions, disorganized speech and behaviors, and various negative symptoms such as muted expressiveness. The illness affects approximately 1% of the population. It usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood and causes significant difficulties in cognition and affect at work, in social relationships, and in self-care. Its course varies across individuals, with many patients’ symptoms responding to medicine. There are many theories of the disorder’s pathophysiology, with several mechanisms invoked to account for evidence ranging from impaired performance on neuropsychological tests to brain structure, function, and neurotransmitter alterations such as in the dopamine, glutamate, and GABA systems. The etiology of schizophrenia is complex, with both genetic and environmental risk factors. While there exist other psychotic syndromes with a number of similarities, schizophrenia can be understood as a severe, persistent, and debilitating mental illness that still requires a more thorough investigation of its causal mechanisms to improve patients’ lives.
Paranoia and Paranoid Beliefs
Authors: Bentall Richard P.
Published: March 2023

Paranoia has at various times been considered a symptom of psychosis, a distinct disorder, a type of personality disorder, and a personality trait. However defined, the core features are interpersonal vulnerability, mistrust, and the anticipation of harm from malevolent others which, in its most severe form, can be considered delusional. There have been persisting debates about whether delusional paranoia reflects a qualitatively distinct mental state, as indicated by some phenomenological studies, or lies on a continuum with ordinary suspiciousness. Little is known about the genetics of paranoia, but there is substantial evidence that it is associated with specific social challenges such as disrupted early attachment relationships, living in deprived circumstances, and experiences of victimization. Considerable progress has also been made in developing psychological models which identify the cognitive (jumping to conclusions and bias against disconfirmatory information) and emotional factors (low self-esteem and insecure attachment styles) that contribute to paranoid beliefs.
The DSM-5 Level of Personality Functioning Scale
Authors: Zimmermann Johannes , Hopwood Christopher J. , Krueger Robert F.
Published: March 2023

Dimensional models are becoming increasingly important in the classification of personality disorders. A central concept of this paradigm shift is the notion of a continuum of personality functioning ranging from a healthy to an extremely disturbed personality. In the alternative model for personality disorders in DSM-5 Section III, this concept corresponds to Criterion A, which is operationalized by the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS). In the first part of this chapter, the authors explain why and how the LPFS was developed and what measures are available that are based on its definition. They then provide an updated comprehensive summary of research on the LPFS and derived measures, including results on interrater reliability, internal consistency and latent structure, convergent validity, discriminant and incremental validity, and clinical utility. Finally, controversies and open questions are discussed.
Borderline Personality Disorder: Contemporary Approaches to Conceptualization and Etiology
Authors: Trull Timothy J. , Hepp Johanna
Published: March 2023

This chapter presents the general features and correlates of one of the more vexing and challenging forms of psychopathology, borderline personality disorder (BPD). After presenting a historical overview of this disorder, the clinical features of modern conceptualizations of BPD are detailed. Next, the comorbidity of BPD with other disorders is discussed, and the sociodemographic features associated with BPD are outlined. The section on etiology focuses primarily on putative genetic causes of BPD given the increased interest in this area of study. This focus leads to several important questions and issues about how best to define the BPD phenotype. The chapter closes with a discussion of the future of the BPD diagnosis. At the outset, it is also important to note what is not discussed in this chapter: treatments for BPD and assessment of BPD. The interested reader is referred to several excellent reviews of evidence-based treatments and assessments for BPD.
Ultracool dwarfs candidates based on 6 yr of the Dark Energy Survey data
Authors: dal Ponte M , Santiago B , Carnero Rosell A , De Paris L , Pace A B , Bechtol K , Abbott T M C , Aguena M , Allam S , Alves O , Bacon D , Bertin E , Bocquet S , Brooks D , Burke D L , Kind M Carrasco , Carretero J , Conselice C , Costanzi M , Desai S , De Vicente J , Doel P , Everett S , Ferrero I , Flaugher B , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gerdes D W , Gruendl R A , Gruen D , Gutierrez G , Hinton S R , Hollowood D L , James D J , Kuehn K , Kuropatkin N , Marshall J L , Mena-Fernández J , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Ogando R L C , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Pereira M E S , Plazas Malagón A A , Pieres A , Raveri M , Rodriguez-Monroy M , Sanchez E , Scarpine V , Schubnell M , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Smith M , Soares-Santos M , Suchyta E , Swanson M E C , Tarle G , Thomas D , To C , Weaverdyck N ,   (DES Collaboration)
Published: March 2023

We present a sample of 19 583 ultracool dwarf candidates brighter than z ≤23 selected from the Dark Energy Survey DR2 coadd data matched to VHS DR6, VIKING DR5, and AllWISE covering ∼ 480 deg2. The ultracool candidates were first pre-selected based on their (i–z), (z–Y), and (Y–J) colours. They were further classified using a method that compares their optical, near-infrared, and mid-infrared colours against templates of M, L, and T dwarfs. 14 099 objects are presented as new L and T candidates and the remaining objects are from the literature, including 5342 candidates from our previous work. Using this new and deeper sample of ultracool dwarf candidates we also present: 20 new candidate members to nearby young moving groups and associations, variable candidate sources and four new wide binary systems composed of two ultracool dwarfs. Finally, we also show the spectra of 12 new ultracool dwarfs discovered by our group and presented here for the first time. These spectroscopically confirmed objects are a sanity check of our selection of ultracool dwarfs and photometric classification method.
Quantum Political Science: Learning About Politics from Egypt
Authors: Anderson Lisa
Published: March 2023

Mona El-Ghobashy’s Bread and Freedom: Egypt’s Revolutionary Situation makes three important contributions to political science. First, it is a sensitive and perceptive account of the years of upheaval in Egypt between the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak and the election of Abdelfattah el-Sisi in 2014. Second, in recounting this history, El-Ghobashy moves political science beyond typologizing, urging us away from assigning labels to instead examining the practices by which each government ruled, how the ruled reacted, and how these interactions shaped the trajectory of political change. In doing so, El-Ghobashy makes the case for focusing on contingency itself as an analytical frame, offering an ambitious argument about the nature of social science as it addresses uncertainty.
Integrating Fossil Flowers into the Angiosperm Phylogeny Using Molecular and Morphological Evidence
Authors: López-Martínez Andrea M , Schönenberger Jürg , von Balthazar Maria , González-Martínez César A , Ramírez-Barahona Santiago , Sauquet Hervé , Magallón Susana
Published: March 2023

Fossils are essential to infer past evolutionary processes. The assignment of fossils to extant clades has traditionally relied on morphological similarity and on apomorphies shared with extant taxa. The use of explicit phylogenetic analyses to establish fossil affinities has so far remained limited. In this study, we built a comprehensive framework to investigate the phylogenetic placement of 24 exceptionally preserved fossil flowers. For this, we assembled a new species-level data set of 30 floral traits for 1201 extant species that were sampled to capture the stem and crown nodes of all angiosperm families. We explored multiple analytical approaches to integrate the fossils into the phylogeny, including different phylogenetic estimation methods, topological-constrained analyses, and combining molecular and morphological data of extant and fossil species. Our results were widely consistent across approaches and showed minor differences in the support of fossils at different phylogenetic positions. The placement of some fossils agrees with previously suggested relationships, but for others, a new placement is inferred. We also identified fossils that are well supported within particular extant families, whereas others showed high phylogenetic uncertainty. Finally, we present recommendations for future analyses combining molecular and morphological evidence, regarding the selection of fossils and appropriate methodologies, and provide some perspectives on how to integrate fossils into the investigation of divergence times and the temporal evolution of morphological traits. [Angiosperms; fossil flowers; phylogenetic uncertainty; RoguePlots.]
Analgesia after cesarean section – what is new?
Authors: Lewald Heidrun , Girard Thierry
Published: March 2023

Purpose of review

Cesarean section is the most frequent surgical intervention, and pain following cesarean delivery unfortunately remains a common issue. The purpose of this article is to highlight the most effective and efficient options for postcesarean analgesia and to summarize current guidelines.

Recent findings

The most effective form of postoperative analgesia is through neuraxial morphine. With adequate dosing, clinically relevant respiratory depression is extremely rare. It is important to identify women with increased risk of respiratory depression, as they might require more intensive postoperative monitoring. If neuraxial morphine cannot be used, abdominal wall block or surgical wound infiltration are very valuable alternatives. A multimodal regimen with intraoperative intravenous dexamethasone, fixed doses of paracetamol/acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce postcesarean opioid use. As the use of postoperative lumbar epidural analgesia impairs mobilization, double epidural catheters with lower thoracic epidural analgesia are a possible alternative.

Adequate analgesia following cesarean delivery is still underused. Simple measures, such as multimodal analgesia regimens should be standardized according to institutional circumstances and defined as part of a treatment plan. Neuraxial morphine should be used whenever possible. If it cannot be used, abdominal wall blocks or surgical wound infiltration are good alternatives.
A Preliminary Study of Immediate Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Stage III Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Huang Kai-Xin , Pan Yi-fei , Dai Rui-shuai , Xu Ling-Sha , Zhu Bo-Wang , Zhang Xiao-Dong , Hu Yi-wang
Published: March 2023

Objectives:

Investigate the survival of patients with stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with immediate postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Methods:

The clinical data of 195 patients with stage III CRC admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2017 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group, both groups were treated with the routine laparoscopic radical operation, on the basis of which, the patients in the observation group were treated with intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy during the operation. The local recurrence, abdominal cavity metastasis, and liver metastasis were followed up, and the time of disease recurrence and total survival were recorded.

Results:

The survival analysis showed that there was a significant difference in progression-free survival (χ2 = 5.416, P = 0.020) and overall survival (χ2 = 4.673, P = 0.031) between the observation group and the control group.

Conclusions:

During laparoscopic radical resection of CRC, the use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with raltitrexed can achieve satisfactory results and improve the survival rate of patients with stage III CRC, perioperative use of raltitrexed has been shown to be beneficial in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival.
Overexpression of NgBR inhibits high-fat diet–induced atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficiency mice
Authors: Gong Ke , Wang Mengyao , Wang Dandan , Gao Yongyao , Ma Likun , Yang Xiaoxiao , Zhu Xinran , Chen Shasha , Zhang Mengxue , Li Huaxin , Chen Yuanli , Hu Wenquan , Miao Qing R. , Iwakiri Yasuko , Liao Chenzhong , Duan Yajun , Han Jihong
Published: March 2023

Background:

Hyperlipidemia (hypercholesterolemia and/or hypertriglyceridemia) is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) plays important roles in hepatic steatosis and cholesterol transport. However, the effect of NgBR overexpression on atherosclerosis remains unknown.

Materials and Methods:

Apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice infected with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-NgBR expression vector were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, followed by determination of atherosclerosis and the involved mechanisms.

Results:

We determined that high expression of NgBR by AAV injection mainly occurs in the liver and it can substantially inhibit en face and aortic root sinus lesions. NgBR overexpression also reduced levels of inflammatory factors in the aortic root and serum, and levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and free fatty acids in the liver and serum. Mechanistically, NgBR overexpression increased the expression of scavenger receptor type BI and the genes for bile acid synthesis, and decreased the expression of cholesterol synthesis genes by reducing sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 maturation in the liver, thereby reducing hypercholesterolemia. In addition, NgBR overexpression activated AMP-activated protein kinase α via the Ca2+ signaling pathway, which inhibited fat synthesis and improved hypertriglyceridemia.

Conclusions:

Taken together, our study demonstrates that overexpression of NgBR enhanced cholesterol metabolism and inhibited cholesterol/fatty acid synthesis to reduce hyperlipidemia, and reduced vascular inflammation, thereby inhibiting atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice. Our study indicates that NgBR might be a potential target for atherosclerosis treatment.
Assessing the risk of surgery in patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Kaltenbach Melissa G. , Mahmud Nadim
Published: March 2023

Patients with cirrhosis have an increased perioperative risk relative to patients without cirrhosis. This is related to numerous cirrhosis-specific factors, including severity of liver disease, impaired synthetic function, sarcopenia and malnutrition, and portal hypertension, among others. Nonhepatic comorbidities and surgery-related factors further modify the surgical risk, adding to the complexity of the preoperative assessment. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological contributors to surgical risk in cirrhosis, key elements of the preoperative risk assessment, and application of risk prediction tools including the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium, Mayo Risk Score, and the VOCAL-Penn Score. We also detail the limitations of current approaches to risk assessment and highlight areas for future research.
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) International Multidisciplinary Roundtable report on physical activity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Stine Jonathan G. , Long Michelle T. , Corey Kathleen E. , Sallis Robert E. , Allen Alina M. , Armstrong Matthew J. , Conroy David E. , Cuthbertson Daniel J. , Duarte-Rojo Andres , Hallsworth Kate , Hickman Ingrid J. , Kappus Matthew R. , Keating Shelley E. , Pugh Christopher J.A. , Rotman Yaron , Simon Tracey G. , Vilar-Gomez Eduardo , Wong Vincent Wai-Sun , Schmitz Kathryn H.
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims:

We present findings from the inaugural American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) International Multidisciplinary Roundtable, which was convened to evaluate the evidence for physical activity as a means of preventing or modifying the course of NAFLD.

Approach and Results:

A scoping review was conducted to map the scientific literature and identify key concepts, research gaps, and evidence available to inform clinical practice, policymaking, and research. The scientific evidence demonstrated regular physical activity is associated with decreased risk of NAFLD development. Low physical activity is associated with a greater risk for disease progression and extrahepatic cancer. During routine health care visits, all patients with NAFLD should be screened for and counseled about physical activity benefits, including reduction in liver fat and improvement in body composition, fitness, and quality of life. While most physical activity benefits occur without clinically significant weight loss, evidence remains limited regarding the association between physical activity and liver fibrosis. At least 150 min/wk of moderate or 75 min/wk of vigorous-intensity physical activity are recommended for all patients with NAFLD. If a formal exercise training program is prescribed, aerobic exercise with the addition of resistance training is preferred.

Conclusions:

The panel found consistent and compelling evidence that regular physical activity plays an important role in preventing NAFLD and improving intermediate clinical outcomes. Health care, fitness, and public health professionals are strongly encouraged to disseminate the information in this report. Future research should prioritize determining optimal strategies for promoting physical activity among individuals at risk and in those already diagnosed with NAFLD.