bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ionic conductivity enhancement of PVA: carboxymethyl cellulose poly-blend electrolyte films through the doping of NaI salt
Authors: Cyriac Vipin , Ismayil  , Noor I. M. , Mishra Kuldeep , Chavan Chetan , Bhajantri Rajashekhar F. , Masti Saraswati P.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we report the effect of doping sodium iodide (NaI) salt into a polymer blend matrix of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Solution casting approach was used to prepare solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) films. The films were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), electrical impedance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). XRD showed that NaI incorporation decreased the crystallinity of NaCMC/PVA-based SPE. FTIR technique confirmed the complexation of salt with polymer matrix due to the formation of the coordination bond between Na+ and –OH group and hydrogen bond between I− and –CH group. The sample with 30 wt% NaI showed the highest conductivity of 2.52 × 10–3 S cm−1, strongly influenced by the highest charge concentration $$(n)$$

(
n
)

, not its mobility (μ). DSC analysis revealed an increase in glass transition temperature $$({T}_{g})$$

(

T
g

)

with increasing salt content. TGA studies showed a decrease in thermal stability with salt inclusion. The transference number was found to be 0.99 for the highest conducting sample showing the primary charge carriers are ions. The highest conducting sample exhibited a mechanical strength of 15.42 MPa at room temperature, and it has been used to fabricate a battery to evaluate its suitability in energy storage devices.

Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract created with https://biorender.com.
Financial Vulnerability, Financial Literacy, and the Use of Digital Payment Technologies
Authors: Seldal M. M. Naeser , Nyhus Ellen K.
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study is to test the notion that the use of digital payment methods, such as paying with a mobile phone, increases the risk of financial vulnerability. Research from the USA indicates such a relationship, and we study whether this finding can be generalized to other countries. Motivated by recent changes in EU legislation related to financial transactions, we also examine willingness to use social media companies for money transfers along with sharing bank account information with third-party financial services. Exploiting data collected from a representative sample of the Norwegian adult population (n = 2202), we identify differences in financial behaviour and characteristics between users and nonusers of different digital payment methods. In contrast to US studies, we find that mobile payment users were less financially vulnerable than nonusers and those women were more likely users of digital payment technologies than men. Younger generations and those with low financial literacy were more financially vulnerable than others, although we did not find this to be related to the use of mobile payment or other digital payment methods. The results show that there is a need for more research from different countries outside of the USA to obtain an understanding of the consequences of increased digitalization of financial services. In addition, as COVID-19 has shifted a vast amount of spending online and these newer payment technologies have become more available, we need to gain a better understanding of how they influence financial behaviour.
Protective Effects of a synthetic glycosaminoglycan mimetic (OTR4132) in a rat immunotoxic lesion model of septohippocampal cholinergic degeneration
Authors: Pereira Patricia Marques , Papy-Garcia Dulce , Barritault Denis , Chiappini Franck , Jackisch Rolf , Schimchowitsch Sarah , Cassel Jean-Christophe
Published: March 2022

Using a partial hippocampal cholinergic denervation model, we assessed the effects of the RGTA® named OTR4132, a synthetic heparan-mimetic biopolymer with neuroprotective/neurotrophic properties. Long-Evans male rats were injected with the cholinergic immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin into the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca (0.37 µg); vehicle injections served as controls. Immediately after surgery, OTR4132 was injected into the lateral ventricles (0.25 µg/5 µl/rat) or intramuscularly (1.5 mg/kg). To determine whether OTR4132 reached the lesion site, some rats received intracerebroventricular (ICV) or intramuscular (I.M.) injections of fluorescent OTR4132. Rats were sacrificed at 4, 10, 20, or 60 days post-lesion (DPL). Fluorescein-labeled OTR4132 injected ICV or I.M. was found in the lesion from 4 to 20 DPL. Rats with partial hippocampal cholinergic denervation showed decreases in hippocampal acetylcholinesterase reaction products and in choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons in the medial septum. These lesions were the largest at 10 DPL and then remained stable until 60 DPL. Both hippocampal acetylcholinesterase reaction products and choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons in the medial septum effects were significantly attenuated in OTR4132-treated rats. These effects were not related to competition between OTR4132 and 192 IgG-saporin for the neurotrophin receptor P75 (p75NTR), as OTR4132 treatment did not alter the internalization of Cy3-labelled 192 IgG. OTR4132 was more efficient at reducing the acetylcholinesterase reaction products and choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons than a comparable heparin dose used as a comparator. Using the slice superfusion technique, we found that the lesion-induced decrease in muscarinic autoreceptor sensitivity was abolished by intramuscular OTR4132. After partial cholinergic damage, OTR4132 was able to concentrate at the brain lesion site possibly due to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier and to exert structural and functional effects that hold promises for neuroprotection/neurotrophism.
Establishment and optimization of PEG-mediated protoplast transformation in the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis
Authors: Guo Chunli , Anwar Muhammad , Mei Rui , Li Xinyi , Zhao Di , Jiang Yanan , Zhuang Jieyi , Liu Chen , Wang Chaogang , Hu Zhangli
Published: March 2022

Genetic manipulation of Haematococcus pluvialis is difficult because of the lack of a stable and convenient transformation system. The pH124-EGFP-Ble vector containing ble as a selective gene and EGFP as a reporter gene was constructed and employed for effective transformation. H. pluvialis protoplasts were obtained by treating with cellulase and macerozeme. Then polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation was established by incubating the protoplast with the vector. To improve the transformation efficiency of H. pluvialis protoplasts, the transformation system was optimized in consideration of different influencing factors, including zeomycin concentration, growth stage, amount of transformed vector, linearization of the vector, and duration of low-intensity illumination. The integration and expression of ble and EGFP was confirmed in the transformants. Moreover, the optimal combination for protoplast transformation of H. pluvialis was determined to be 5 µg of the linearized vector used to transform cells in the log growth phase, and then the transformed protoplasts allowed to recover under low-intensity illumination for 6 h. This study represents and describes the successful development of an H. pluvialis transformation protocol using protoplasts, which will enable convenient genetic manipulation of this important algal species.
“Focused Ultrasound-mediated Drug Delivery in Humans – a Path Towards Translation in Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Authors: Wasielewska Joanna M. , White Anthony R.
Published: March 2022

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has a major protective function in preventing the entry of harmful molecules into the brain, but is simultaneously limiting the delivery of drugs, restricting their potential clinical application in neurodegenerative diseases. Recent preclinical evidence demonstrates that following application of focused ultrasound with microbubbles (FUS+MB), the BBB becomes reversibly accessible to compounds that normally are brain-impermeable, suggesting FUS+MB as a promising new platform for delivery of therapeutic agents into the central nervous system. As a step towards translation, small cohort clinical studies were performed demonstrating safe BBB opening in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients following FUS+MB, however improved drug delivery has not yet been achieved in human. Simultaneously, rapid progress in the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) modeling technology allowed for development of novel Alzheimer’s disease patient-derived BBB in vitro model that reacts to FUS+MB with BBB opening and can be used to answer fundamental questions of human BBB responses to FUS+MB in health and disease. This review summarizes key features of the BBB that contribute to limited drug delivery, recapitulates recent advances in the FUS+MB mediated human BBB opening in vivo and in vitro in the context of neurodegenerative disorders, and highlights potential strategies for fast-track translation of the FUS+MB to improve bioavailability of drugs to the human brain. With safe and effective application, this innovative FUS+MB technology may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases leading to improved clinical outcomes for patients.
Safeguarding marine life: conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems
Authors: Ward Delphi , Melbourne-Thomas Jessica , Pecl Gretta T. , Evans Karen , Green Madeline , McCormack Phillipa C. , Novaglio Camilla , Trebilco Rowan , Bax Narissa , Brasier Madeleine J. , Cavan Emma L. , Edgar Graham , Hunt Heather L. , Jansen Jan , Jones Russ , Lea Mary-Anne , Makomere Reuben , Mull Chris , Semmens Jayson M. , Shaw Janette , Tinch Dugald , van Steveninck Tatiana J. , Layton Cayne
Published: March 2022

Marine ecosystems and their associated biodiversity sustain life on Earth and hold intrinsic value. Critical marine ecosystem services include maintenance of global oxygen and carbon cycles, production of food and energy, and sustenance of human wellbeing. However marine ecosystems are swiftly being degraded due to the unsustainable use of marine environments and a rapidly changing climate. The fundamental challenge for the future is therefore to safeguard marine ecosystem biodiversity, function, and adaptive capacity whilst continuing to provide vital resources for the global population. Here, we use foresighting/hindcasting to consider two plausible futures towards 2030: a business-as-usual trajectory (i.e. continuation of current trends), and a more sustainable but technically achievable future in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We identify key drivers that differentiate these alternative futures and use these to develop an action pathway towards the desirable, more sustainable future. Key to achieving the more sustainable future will be establishing integrative (i.e. across jurisdictions and sectors), adaptive management that supports equitable and sustainable stewardship of marine environments. Conserving marine ecosystems will require recalibrating our social, financial, and industrial relationships with the marine environment. While a sustainable future requires long-term planning and commitment beyond 2030, immediate action is needed to avoid tipping points and avert trajectories of ecosystem decline. By acting now to optimise management and protection of marine ecosystems, building upon existing technologies, and conserving the remaining biodiversity, we can create the best opportunity for a sustainable future in 2030 and beyond.
Irreducibly collective existence and bottomless nihilism
Authors: Werner Jonas
Published: March 2022

This paper develops the metaphysical hypothesis that there are irreducibly collective pluralities, pluralities of objects that do not have a singular object among them. A way to formulate this hypothesis using plural quantification will be proposed and the coherence of irreducibly collective existence will be defended. Furthermore, irreducibly collective existence will be shown to allow for bottomless scenarios that do not involve things standing in relations of parthood. This will create logical space for an anti-atomistic form of mereological nihilism.
Identifiability of Latent Class Models with Covariates
Authors: Ouyang Jing , Xu Gongjun
Published: March 2022

Latent class models with covariates are widely used for psychological, social, and educational research. Yet the fundamental identifiability issue of these models has not been fully addressed. Among the previous research on the identifiability of latent class models with covariates, Huang and Bandeen-Roche (Psychometrika 69:5–32, 2004) studied the local identifiability conditions. However, motivated by recent advances in the identifiability of the restricted latent class models, particularly cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs), we show in this work that the conditions in Huang and Bandeen-Roche (Psychometrika 69:5–32, 2004) are only necessary but not sufficient to determine the local identifiability of the model parameters. To address the open identifiability issue for latent class models with covariates, this work establishes conditions to ensure the global identifiability of the model parameters in both strict and generic sense. Moreover, our results extend to the polytomous-response CDMs with covariates, which generalizes the existing identifiability results for CDMs.
Cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication machining: from mechanism to application
Authors: Liu Mingzheng , Li Changhe , Zhang Yanbin , An Qinglong , Yang Min , Gao Teng , Mao Cong , Liu Bo , Cao Huajun , Xu Xuefeng , Said Zafar , Debnath Sujan , Jamil Muhammad , Ali Hafz Muhammad , Sharma Shubham
Published: March 2022

Cutting fluid plays a cooling-lubrication role in the cutting of metal materials. However, the substantial usage of cutting fluid in traditional flood machining seriously pollutes the environment and threatens the health of workers. Environmental machining technologies, such as dry cutting, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), and cryogenic cooling technology, have been used as substitute for flood machining. However, the insufficient cooling capacity of MQL with normal-temperature compressed gas and the lack of lubricating performance of cryogenic cooling technology limit their industrial application. The technical bottleneck of mechanical—thermal damage of difficult-to-cut materials in aerospace and other fields can be solved by combining cryogenic medium and MQL. The latest progress of cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication (CMQL) technology is reviewed in this paper, and the key scientific issues in the research achievements of CMQL are clarified. First, the application forms and process characteristics of CMQL devices in turning, milling, and grinding are systematically summarized from traditional settings to innovative design. Second, the cooling-lubrication mechanism of CMQL and its influence mechanism on material hardness, cutting force, tool wear, and workpiece surface quality in cutting are extensively revealed. The effects of CMQL are systematically analyzed based on its mechanism and application form. Results show that the application effect of CMQL is better than that of cryogenic technology or MQL alone. Finally, the prospect, which provides basis and support for engineering application and development of CMQL technology, is introduced considering the limitations of CMQL.
Wealth and shifting demand pressures on the price level in England after the Black Death
Authors: Edo Anthony , Melitz Jacques
Published: March 2022

The scale of the rise in personal wealth following the Black Death calls the life-cycle hypothesis of consumption into consideration. Based on price level evidence, this paper shows for the first time that the wealth effect of the Black Death on economic activity continued in England for generations, up to 1450. Indeed, in the absence of consideration of the wealth effect, other influences on the price level do not even appear in the econometric analysis. The shift in tastes toward higher quality goods, luxuries and imports stemming from the per capita windfall for the survivors in the mid-fourteenth century plays a substantial part in the analysis. So does England’s little influence on the relative prices of its imports relative to home goods. The separate effects of coinage, population, trade, wages and annual number of days worked for wages on the price level all also receive major attention and new results follow for adjustment in the labor market.
From Truth Degree Comparison Games to Sequents-of-Relations Calculi for Gödel Logic
Authors: Fermüller Christian , Lang Timo , Pavlova Alexandra
Published: March 2022

We introduce a game for (extended) Gödel logic where the players’ interaction stepwise reduces claims about the relative order of truth degrees of complex formulas to atomic truth comparison claims. Using the concept of disjunctive game states this semantic game is lifted to a provability game, where winning strategies correspond to proofs in a sequents-of-relations calculus.
Pitting Corrosion in 316L Stainless Steel Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: A Review and Perspective
Authors: Voisin T. , Shi R. , Zhu Y. , Qi Z. , Wu M. , Sen-Britain S. , Zhang Y. , Qiu S. R. , Wang Y. M. , Thomas S. , Wood B. C.
Published: March 2022

316L stainless steel (316L SS) is a flagship material for structural applications in corrosive environments, having been extensively studied for decades for its favorable balance between mechanical and corrosion properties. More recently, 316L SS has also proven to have excellent printability when parts are produced with additive manufacturing techniques, notably laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Because of the harsh thermo-mechanical cycles experienced during rapid solidification and cooling, LPBF processing tends to generate unique microstructures. Strong heterogeneities can be found inside grains, including trapped elements, nano-inclusions, and a high density of dislocations that form the so-called cellular structure. Interestingly, LPBF 316L SS not only exhibits better mechanical properties than its conventionally processed counterpart, but it also usually offers much higher resistance to pitting in chloride solutions. Unfortunately, the complexity of the LPBF microstructures, in addition to process-induced defects, such as porosity and surface roughness, have slowed progress toward linking specific microstructural features to corrosion susceptibility and complicated the development of calibrated simulations of pitting phenomena. The first part of this article is dedicated to an in-depth review of the microstructures found in LPBF 316L SS and their potential effects on the corrosion properties, with an emphasis on pitting resistance. The second part offers a perspective of some relevant modeling techniques available to simulate the corrosion of LPBF 316L SS, including current challenges that should be overcome.
Sex Differences in the Prevalence, Outcomes and Management of Hypertension
Authors: Connelly Paul J. , Currie Gemma , Delles Christian
Published: March 2022

Purpose of Review

To review recent data on sex differences in the prevalence, outcomes and management of hypertension.

Recent Findings

Although hypertension is overall more common in males, females experience a much sharper incline in blood pressure from the third decade of life and consequently the prevalence of hypertension accelerates comparatively with age. Mechanisms responsible for these blood pressure trajectories may include the sustained vascular influence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, interactions between the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and sex hormones or even psychosocial gendered factors such as socioeconomic deprivation. Moreover, the impact of hypertension is not uniform and females are at higher risk of developing a multitude of adverse cardiovascular outcomes at lower blood pressure thresholds.

Blood pressure is a sexually dimorphic trait and although significant differences exist in the prevalence, pathophysiology and outcomes of hypertension in males and females, limited data exist to support sex-specific blood pressure targets.
Distribution of PACAP and PAC1 Receptor in the Human Eye
Authors: Patko Evelin , Szabo Edina , Toth Denes , Tornoczky Tamas , Bosnyak Inez , Vaczy Alexandra , Atlasz Tamas , Reglodi Dora
Published: March 2022

Pituitary adenylate cyclase–activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with widespread distribution and diverse biological functions. Several studies show that PACAP has strong cytoprotective effects mediated mostly through its specific PAC1 receptor (PAC1-R) and it plays important roles in several pathological conditions. Its distribution and altered expression are known in various human tissues, but there is no descriptive data about PACAP and its receptors in the human eyebulb. Since PACAP38 is the dominant form of the naturally occurring PACAP, our aim was to investigate the distribution of PACAP38-like immunoreactivity in the human eye and to describe the presence of PAC1-R. Semiquantitative evaluation was performed after routine histology and immunohistochemical labeling on human eye sections. Our results showed high level of immunopositivity in the corneal epithelium and endothelium. Within the vascular layer, the iris and the ciliary body had strong immunopositivity for both PACAP and PAC1-R. Several layers of the retina showed immunoreactivity for PACAP and PAC1-R, but the ganglion cell layer had a special pattern in the immunolabeling. Labeling was observed in the neuropil within the optic nerve in both cases and glial cells displayed immunoreactivity for PAC1-R. In summary, our study indicates the widespread occurrence of PACAP and its specific receptor in the human eye, implying that the results from in vitro and animal studies have translational value and most probably are also present in the human eye.
Single-Parent Families, Educational Gradient, and Child Deprivation: The Cases of Italy and Spain
Authors: Pérez-Corral Antonio L. , Moreno Mínguez Almudena
Published: March 2022

This work examines whether the increase of single parenthood in Italy and Spain, specifically amongst women in an unfavourable socioeconomic position, has repercussions for child well-being, understood here as material deprivation. In particular, our main objective is to analyse the possible differential impact of single parenthood on children’s material deprivation in relation to mothers’ level of education. Using the 2014 EU-SILC Module on material deprivation, we identify five areas of child deprivation based on the EU-MODA approach: nutrition, clothing, education, leisure, and social life. In the case of Italy, our main results indicate that, compared to children from two-parent households, children of single mothers with a low level of education have a higher risk of nutrition and clothing deprivation. In Spain, living in a single-parent household is associated with a higher risk of deprivation in terms of social life for those children whose mothers do not have a high level of education. Therefore, the findings suggest that in both countries the growth of single parenthood amongst women with a lower educational level may have an impact on child well-being inequality. This article contributes empirical data to the growing literature on the rise of child poverty in Southern European countries.
20 Jahre Afghanistan: Lehren für das deutsche Engagement in Krisenregionen
Authors: Preuß Hans-Joachim
Published: March 2022

Nach dem überstürzten Abzug ausländischer Militärs und Entwicklungshelfer im August 2021 mehren sich Anzeichen, dass Afghanistan wieder in kleine, von Warlords und Provinzfürsten regierte Fragmente zerfallen und erneut Ausgangsbasis für terroristische Aktivitäten werden könnte. Der Beitrag untersucht die Gründe für den Misserfolg militärischer und ziviler Missionen und leitet daraus Schlussfolgerungen für aktuelle und künftige Interventionen in Konfliktgebieten ab.
Children and marital dissolution in China
Authors: Xu Kim Qinzi
Published: March 2022

Using data for women from the 2010, 2012 and 2014 Chinese Family Panel Studies, this study investigated several aspects of children’s effects on the risk of marital dissolution, including the number of children, their age and sex composition, and the timing of conception relative to marriage. Because these explanatory variables are potentially endogenous, marital dissolution was jointly modelled with the processes of marriage formation, marital childbearing and nonmarital childbearing, and the sequencing of events and unobserved correlation across processes accounted for. The results demonstrated that childlessness significantly elevates the risk of divorce whereas the first child has the strongest marriage stabilising effect. Reflecting the strong son preference in rural China, having boys was shown to markedly reduce the risk of parental divorce among rural women. Whether a child is conceived within or out of wedlock has no significant causal effect on marital dissolution insofar as it belongs to both parents. However, positive residual correlation between the processes of divorce and nonmarital childbearing suggests the potential selection of women with non-traditional family behaviours into marital dissolution.
Process epistemology in the COVID-19 era: rethinking the research process to avoid dangerous forms of reification
Authors: Dupré John , Leonelli Sabina
Published: March 2022

Whether we live in a world of autonomous things, or a world of interconnected processes in constant flux, is an ancient philosophical debate. Modern biology provides decisive reasons for embracing the latter view. How does one understand the practices and outputs of science in such a dynamic, ever-changing world - and particularly in an emergency situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where scientific knowledge has been regarded as bedrock for decisive social interventions? We argue that key to answering this question is to consider the role of the activity ofreificationwithin the research process. Reification consists in the identification of more or less stable features of the flux, and treating these as constituting stable things. As we illustrate with reference to biological and biomedical research on COVID-19, reification is a necessary component of any process of inquiry and comes in at least two forms: (1) means reification (phenomena-to-object), when researchers create objects meant to capture features of the world, or phenomena, in order to be able to study them; and (2) target reification (object-to-phenomena), when researchers infer an understanding of phenomena from an investigation of the epistemic objects created to study them. We note thatbothobjects and phenomena are dynamic processes and argue that have no reason to assume that changes in objects and phenomena track one another. We conclude that failure to acknowledge these forms of reification and their epistemic role in scientific inquiry can have dire consequences for how the resulting knowledge is interpreted and used.
Treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies in pregnant and postpartum women: first experiences in Florence, Italy
Authors: Manciulli Tommaso , Modi Giulia , Campolmi Irene , Borchi Beatrice , Trotta Michele , Spinicci Michele , Lagi Filippo , Bartoloni Alessandro , Zammarchi Lorenzo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Pregnant and postpartum women are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are now widely used in high-income countries to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 outpatients at risk for developing severe disease. Very few data are available on the use of mAbs in special populations, including pregnant and postpartum women. Here we present our early experience with mAbs in these two populations.

Methods

Electronic records of pregnant and postpartum women treated with mAbs at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, were retrieved. Relevant data were extracted (age, presence of risk factors for COVID-19, oxygen support, mAb type, gestational age, and pregnancy status). When available, outcomes at 28 days after administration were also included.

Results

From March 1st to September 30th 2021, eight pregnant and two postpartum women have been treated with mAbs at our center. The median age was 31 years (IQR 30–33.5, range 29–38), median gestational age was 24 weeks. Seven patients had additional risk factors. According to the Italian disposition, all patients received casirivimab/imdevimab, with five receiving a 2.4 mg dose and five receiving a 8 g dose. Eight patients improved. One developed myocarditis, considered a COVID-19 complication. Another required a transient increase of low flow oxygen support before improving and being discharged. At a 28 days follow-up, all patients were clinically recovered. We did not observe mAbs related adverse events.

Conclusion

Although preliminary data should be interpreted with caution, it is remarkable how mAbs were well tolerated by pregnant women with COVID-19. Further data on mAbs in this special population should be collected but the use of mAbs in pregnant and postpartum patients should be considered. Even thus oral antivirals are becoming available, they are not recommended in pregnant and postpartum women. This population may specifically benefit from treatment with last generation mAbs.
Privilege, social justice and the goals of medicine: Towards a critically conscious professionalism of solidarity
Authors: Razack Saleem , De Carvalho Filho Marco Antonio , Merlo Gia , Agbor-Baiyee William , De Groot Janet , Reynolds P. Preston
Published: March 2022

None
Advancing the assessment of clinical reasoning across the health professions: Definitional and methodologic recommendations
Authors: Gordon David , Rencic Joseph J. , Lang Valerie J. , Thomas Aliki , Young Meredith , Durning Steven J.
Published: March 2022

The importance of clinical reasoning in patient care is well-recognized across all health professions. Validity evidence supporting high quality clinical reasoning assessment is essential to ensure health professional schools are graduating learners competent in this domain. However, through the course of a large scoping review, we encountered inconsistent terminology for clinical reasoning and inconsistent reporting of methodology, reflecting a somewhat fractured body of literature on clinical reasoning assessment. These inconsistencies impeded our ability to synthesize across studies and appropriately compare assessment tools. More specifically, we encountered: 1) a wide array of clinical reasoning-like terms that were rarely defined or informed by a conceptual framework, 2) limited details of assessment methodology, and 3) inconsistent reporting of the steps taken to establish validity evidence for clinical reasoning assessments. Consolidating our experience in conducting this review, we provide recommendations on key definitional and methodologic elements to better support the development, description, study, and reporting of clinical reasoning assessments.
Competition manipulation in international sport federations’ regulations: a legal synopsis
Authors: Kuwelker S. , Diaconu M. , Kuhn A.
Published: March 2022

Manipulation of competitions has long plagued the sport industry, affecting almost every sport over time. While sharing certain common features, the regulatory provisions and procedural responses to this phenomenon by international federations (IFs), sports’ governing bodies, vary on many aspects, including the definition of the specific offence of “competition manipulation” itself, scope of application, especially in relationship to betting, categories of participants, mens rea elements such as recklessness and negligent behaviour, reporting obligations, aggravating and mitigating factors, and applicable sanctions across sports and within a sport/discipline. More nuanced items within internal disciplinary procedure also vary across federations, such as standard of proof and evidence. The purpose of this study is to offer a comparative synopsis of the regulations of 43 IFs governing Olympic and certain non-Olympic sports, to provide a critical overview of specific aspects of the above mentioned factors in the regulations and to identify areas of improvement for the future.
A multi-layer network model to assess school opening policies during a vaccination campaign: a case study on COVID-19 in France
Authors: Bongiorno Christian , Zino Lorenzo
Published: March 2022

We propose a multi-layer network model for the spread of an infectious disease that accounts for interactions within the family, between children in classes and schools, and casual contacts in the population. The proposed framework is designed to test several what-if scenarios on school openings during the vaccination campaigns, thereby assessing the safety of different policies, including testing practices in schools, diverse home-isolation policies, and targeted vaccination. We demonstrate the potentialities of our model by calibrating it on epidemiological and demographic data of the spring 2021 COVID-19 vaccination campaign in France. Specifically, we consider scenarios in which a fraction of the population is vaccinated, and we focus our analysis on the role of schools as drivers of the contagions and on the implementation of targeted intervention policies oriented to children and their families. We perform our analysis by means of a campaign of Monte Carlo simulations. Our findings suggest that transmission in schools may play a key role in the spreading of a disease. Interestingly, we show that children’s testing might be an important tool to flatten the epidemic curve, in particular when combined with enacting temporary online education for classes in which infected students are detected. Finally, we test a vaccination strategy that prioritizes the members of large families and we demonstrate its good performance. We believe that our modeling framework and our findings could be of help for public health authorities for planning their current and future interventions, as well as to increase preparedness for future epidemic outbreaks.
Accelerated Electro-Reduction of TiO2 to Metallic Ti in a CaCl2 Bath Using an Inert Intermetallic Anode
Authors: Lahiri Abhishek , Jha Animesh
Published: March 2022

In the FFC-Cambridge process, the cathodic dissociation of oxide and CO/CO2 production on carbon anode is the basis for metal production in a CaCl2 bath. Using an inert intermetallic anode, the CO2 evolution can be eliminated altogether with acceleration in the electro-reduction kinetics. In the presence of a carbon anode, the cathodic dissociation of TiO2 suffers from slow reduction kinetics of TiO2 to Ti metal, which can be enhanced significantly by the incorporation of alkali species in the TiO2 pellet at the cathode and in the CaCl2 bath in the presence of an intermetallic inert anode. With inert anode and incorporation of K+-ion in the TiO2 matrix and in the salt bath, nearly full metallization with greater than 99% of Ti metal containing 1500 ppm of oxygen was possible to achieve in less than 16 h of electro-reduction. The microstructural and chemical analysis of the metallic phase and its morphology revealed the presence of a layer of titanium metal that forms in the fast reduction reaction step in less than 5 h, after which the reaction rate slows down significantly before terminating in 16 h. The investigation showed that two different types of microstructures of metallic titanium were evident—a thin sheet-like material on the outer periphery of the reduced pellet and the dendritic core which was found to be under the peripheral sheet of the metallic layer. The mechanism of morphological and microstructural changes in the reduced form of titanium metal is explained.
Elimination of an unfavorable allele conferring pod shattering in an elite soybean cultivar by CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Wang Jie , Kuang Huaqin , Hou Zhihong , Gong Pingping , Bai Mengyan , Zhou Shaodong , Yao Xiaolei , Song Shikui , Yan Long , Guan Yuefeng
Published: March 2022

Pod shattering can lead to devastating yield loss of soybean and has been a negatively selected trait in soybean domestication and breeding. Nevertheless, a significant portion of soybean cultivars are still pod shattering-susceptible, limiting their regional and climatic adaptabilities. Here we performed genetic diagnosis on the shattering-susceptible trait of a national registered cultivar, Huachun6 (HC6), and found that HC6 carries the susceptible genotype of a candidate Pod dehiscence 1 (PDH1) gene, which exists in a significant portion of soybean cultivars. We next performed genome editing on PDH1 gene by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9). In T2 progenies, several transgene-free lines with pdh1 mutations were characterized without affecting major agronomic traits. The pdh1 mutation significantly improved the pod shattering resistance which is associated with aberrant lignin distribution in inner sclerenchyma. Our work demonstrated that precision breeding by genome editing on PDH1 holds great potential for precisely improving pod shattering resistance and adaptability of soybean cultivars.
Different approaches to reducing aviation emissions: reviewing the structure-agency debate in climate policy
Authors: Dolšak Nives , Prakash Aseem
Published: March 2022

Aviation emissions account for about 2.5% of global carbon emissions, and by 2050, their share could rise to 22%. This review article explores how climate scholars view the role of structural (policy- or business-focused) or agentic (individual-focused) approaches in reducing these emissions. From a structuralist perspective, aviation emissions require policy changes because they reflect regulatory and business failures to address the climate crisis. By itself, individual actions will not significantly reduce emissions. Moreover, focusing on personal (agentic) action might allow governments and firms to disavow their role in the climate crisis. From an agentic perspective, aviation emissions reflect carbon-intensive lifestyles. Even within the existing policy structures, individuals can reduce the carbon footprint of their travel. At the same time, individuals can serve as influencers, voters, and social movement participants to pressure governments and businesses to develop low-emission air travel policies. Rather than viewing agency and structures as distinctly separate approaches, we suggest that they could co-evolve to create pathways to reduce aviation emissions. Policy initiatives can facilitate individual efforts to reduce air travel emissions, and individual action could shape policies structuring their choices.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Health in Cis Women Living in Germany
Authors: Batz Falk , Lermer Eva , Hatzler Laura , Vilsmaier Theresa , Schröder Lennard , Chelariu-Raicu Anca , Behr Joachim , Mahner Sven , Buspavanich Pichit , Thaler Christian J.
Published: March 2022

Background

Preliminary research shows a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s sexual health, whereby empirical work on sexual well-being of minoritized sexual identities is still rare.

Aim

The objective of this study was to explore sexual health in heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual cis women during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Methods

An anonymous nationwide online survey was conducted among cis women during the first nationwide lockdown in Germany from April 20th to July 20th, 2020. The questionnaire was distributed via e-mail, online chats and social-media platforms.

Outcomes

Demographic variables and self-report measures from the Sexual Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ-G) "before the pandemic" and "since the pandemic" were collected.

Results

A total of 1,368 cis women participants were included: heterosexual women (n = 844), lesbian women (n = 293), bisexual women (n = 231). Results indicate overall decrease in frequency of sexual contacts and masturbation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding differences before and during the pandemic lesbian women showed significant changes in sexual arousal whereas heterosexual women showed significant changes in all dimensions except capability to enjoy sexual intercourse. The data of bisexual women showed significant changes in almost all dimensions except for frequency of sexual intercourse and sexual arousal. Results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that being younger than 36 years-old, and being in a relationship as well as being heterosexual (compared with being lesbian) is positively associated with general satisfaction with sexual life during the pandemic.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that during a pandemic sexual and mental health care for (cis) women should be provided and address the specific needs of sexual minority groups.

Strengths & Limitations

This is the first study to describe sexual behavior in heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Limitations, however, include the fact that the data described were obtained at only one time point so there is a possibility of recall bias, and that the results cannot be generalized because of the underrepresentation of women over age 46.

Conclusion

This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social constraints on the sexual health of particular groups of lesbian and bisexual women, which may improve preparedness for future public health and policy crises.
Merrills' International Dispute Settlement
Authors: Merrills John , De Brabandere Eric
Published: March 2022

The fully revised seventh edition of this successful textbook explains the legal and diplomatic methods and organisations used to solve international disputes, how they work and when they are used. It looks at diplomatic (negotiation, mediation, inquiry and conciliation) and legal methods (arbitration, judicial settlement). It uses many, up-to-date examples of each method in practice to place the theory of how the law works in real-life situations, demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of different methods when they are used. Fully updated throughout, the seventh edition includes a new introduction explaining the common principles of settlement and a chapter on investor–state arbitration, as well as recommended further readings at the end of each chapter. It is an essential resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses on international dispute settlement.
A network analysis of dissemination and implementation research expertise across a university: Central actors and expertise clusters
Authors: Yousefi Nooraie Reza , Roman Gretchen , Fiscella Kevin , McMahon James M. , Orlando Elissa , Bennett Nancy M.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Although dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is a growing field, many health researchers with relevant D&I expertise do not self-identify as D&I researchers. The goal of this work was to analyze the distribution, clustering, and recognition of D&I expertise in an academic institution.

Methods:

A snowball survey was administered to investigators at University of Rochester with experience and/or interest in D&I research. The respondents were asked to identify their level of D&I expertise and to nominate others who were experienced and/or active in D&I research. We used social network analysis to examine nomination networks.

Results:

Sixty-eight participants provided information about their D&I expertise. Thirty-eight percent of the survey respondents self-identified as D&I researchers, 24% as conducting D&I under different labels, and 38% were familiar with D&I concepts. D&I researchers were, on average, the most central actors in the network (nominated most by other survey participants) and had the highest within-group density, indicating wide recognition by colleagues and among themselves. Researchers who applied D&I under different labels had the highest within-group reciprocity (25%), and the highest between-group reciprocity (29%) with researchers familiar with D&I. Participants significantly tended to nominate peers within their departments and within their expertise categories.

Conclusions:

Identifying and engaging unrecognized clusters of expertise related to D&I research may provide opportunities for mutual learning and dialog and will be critical to bridging across departmental and topic area silos and building capacity for D&I in academic settings.
Effectiveness of Mask-Wearing on Respiratory Illness Transmission in Community Settings: A Rapid Review
Authors: Baier Megan , Knobloch Mary Jo , Osman Fauzia , Safdar Nasia
Published: March 2022

Objective:

Respiratory illnesses, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have resulted in millions of deaths globally. Guidance on mask-wearing in community settings has been inconsistent. This review examined the effectiveness of mask-wearing on respiratory virus transmission in community settings.

Methods:

A search was conducted for English language reports of randomized controlled trials of mask-wearing in the community and effect on laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections or influenza-like illness. Investigators abstracted study characteristics and assessed bias. Meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled risk estimates.

Results:

Eleven studies were included. In 7 studies that evaluated influenza-like illness symptoms as an outcome (3029 participants), this study found mask-wearing associated with a decreased risk of influenza-like illness (overall risk ratio [RR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.96). Studies examining laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections as an outcome (10,531 participants) showed no statistically significant association between mask-wearing and infections (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.60-1.80). However, masking combined with enhanced hand hygiene was associated with a decreased risk for both influenza-like illness symptoms (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.51-1.51) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.52-1.18).

Conclusions:

Masking in community settings decreases transmission of influenza-like illness. Mask-wearing combined with enhanced hand hygiene reduces transmission of influenza-like illness and laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection.
Monolithic edge-cladding process for the elliptical disk of N31-type Nd-doped high-power laser glass
Authors: Chen Huiyu , Qian Min , Chen Youkuo , Wang Xin , Tang Jingping , Wen Lei , Hu Junjiang , Chen Wei , Chen Shubin , Hu Lili
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates the monolithic edge-cladding process for the elliptical disk of N31-type Nd-doped phosphate laser glass, which will be utilized under liquid cooling conditions for high-power laser systems. The thermal stress, interface bubbles and residual reflectivity, which are due to high-temperature casting and bonding during the monolithic edge-cladding process, are simulated and determined. The applied mould is optimized to a rectangular cavity mould, and the casting temperature is optimized to 1000°C. The resulting lower bubble density makes the mean residual reflectivity as low as 6.75 × 10−5, which is enough to suppress the amplified spontaneous emission generated in the Nd-glass disk, and the resulting maximum optical retardation is converged to 10.2–13.3 nm/cm, which is a favourable base for fine annealing to achieve the stress specification of less than or equal to 5 nm/cm. After fine annealing at the optimized 520°C, the maximum optical retardation is as low as 4.8 nm/cm, and the minimum transmitted wavefront peak-to-valley value is 0.222 wavelength (632.8 nm). An N31 elliptical disk with the size of 194 mm × 102 mm × 40 mm can be successfully cladded by the optimized monolithic edge-cladding process, whose edge-cladded disk with the size of 200 mm × 108 mm × 40 mm can achieve laser gain one-third higher than that of an N21-type disk of the same size.