bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructivism‐based drama activities in EFL reading classes
Authors: Yang Xinyuan
Published: October 2022

Lack of interest in classroom activities, difficulty in understanding reading texts, and unfamiliarity with using reading strategies are the three major problems that negatively impact students' achievements in English as a foreign language (EFL) reading classes. This article considers integration of drama activities into EFL reading classes, looking particularly at the constructivist foundations of this approach to (1) motivate students to read and participate in class, (2) facilitate understanding and meaning construction, and (3) develop students' reading strategies and skills. Incorporation of drama activities grounded in cognitive and social constructivist learning theory is especially effective as these theories accentuate prior knowledge, student‐centered learning, social interactions, cooperative learning, and engaging and stimulating classroom activities as well as teachers' scaffolding. Two sample activities are presented to illustrate the practical implementation of such drama activities in EFL reading classes. Drama activities based on constructivism are recommended as an effective approach to encourage students to learn, increase understanding, and sharpen reading strategies in EFL reading classes.
Online translanguaging and multiliteracies strategies to support K‐12 multilingual learners: Identity texts, linguistic landscapes, and photovoice
Authors: Rajendram Shakina , Burton Jennifer , Wong Wales
Published: October 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has given rise to the burgeoning of online, blended, and hybrid classrooms. The transition to virtual learning has been a challenge for many teachers and learners, but for multilingual learners (MLs) who have to navigate the virtual learning environment in a new language, online learning can be particularly difficult. Translanguaging (García et al., 2017) and multiliteracies (Cope & Kalantzis, 2015) theories call for teachers to support MLs by activating their prior knowledge, connecting to their lives, integrating their home languages and cultures, and engaging them in learning through multiple modalities. This theory‐based practice article discusses three pedagogical strategies based on translanguaging and multiliteracies theories which are designed for multilingual K‐12 classrooms with an online learning component: (1) digital identity texts, (2) linguistic landscapes, and (3) photovoice. The examples presented in the article were developed through the authors' collaborative and reflective engagement with each other, and drawn from their respective work with K‐12 MLs and the preservice teachers preparing to teach MLs in mainstream classrooms in Ontario, Canada. The authors offer suggestions for how the proposed translanguaging and multilingual strategies can challenge monolingual practices, develop critical language awareness, and expand students' diverse language and literacies practices.
Curcumin alleviates ketamine‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats' cerebral cortex and hippocampus
Authors: Zhang Xintong , Cui Yuan , Song Xiaopeng , Jin Xiaodi , Sheng Xuanbo , Xu Xinyu , Li Ting , Chen Hong , Gao Li
Published: October 2022

Aims

To investigate curcumin's protective effect on nerve damage caused by ketamine anesthesia via the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Rats and PC12 cells were used in this experiment to investigate the mechanism of nerve injury caused by ketamine anesthesia. Furthermore, our findings suggest that curcumin may affect oxidative stress and apoptosis by targeting the Nrf2 pathway, thereby alleviating the nerve injury caused by ketamine.

Methods

The rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus were stained with Nissl and immunohistochemistry to determine the number of neurons and the expression of Caspase‐3, Bcl‐2, and Bax. CCK‐8 assay was used to determine the optimal concentration of ketamine, curcumin, and H2O2 in PC12 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect changes in reactive oxygen species and the rate of apoptosis in each group. To determine whether Nrf2 entered the nucleus, immunofluorescence was used. Both tissues and cells were subjected to RT‐PCR and Western blotting detection at the same time. The levels of oxidative stress were determined using a malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay kit.

Results

Ketamine reduced the number of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of rats. The proteins Bax and Caspase‐3 were upregulated, while Bcl‐2 was down‐regulated in the cortex and hippocampus. The viability of PC12 cells has decreased. MDA content increased while SOD activity decreased in cortex, hippocampus, and PC12 cells. Ketamine had an effect on the expression of some genes in the Nrf2 signaling pathway as well as apoptosis. Curcumin pretreatment may be able to prevent ketamine‐induced damage.

Conclusions

The oxidative stress and apoptosis caused by ketamine during growth of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and PC12 cells may be decreased by curcumin's activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Our research provides a potential strategy for the secure administration of anesthetics in medical settings.
A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone‐containing medicinal products
Authors: Sjöström Karin , Mount James , Klocker Anna‐Karin , Arthurson Veronica
Published: October 2022

Background

Hormonal replacement therapy is widely used to treat conditions in humans, the most well‐known indication being the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. Many of the hormone‐containing products (HCP) are applied to the skin. This transdermal delivery poses a risk to animals and humans through secondary exposure, especially when product information is not strictly followed. The aim of this article is to raise awareness among veterinarians and human healthcare providers of this risk; based on evidence from spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse events (AEs) in animals and humans. Interventions are also explored to mitigate the risk of secondary exposure to transdermal HCP (THCP).

Review of spontaneously reported suspected AEs

The Swedish Medical Products Agency has received several, mainly serious, AE reports in animals and children following secondary exposure to THCPs. The AE reports were reviewed together with worldwide data from the EudraVigilance Veterinary database and human EudraVigilance Data Analysis System. The clinical signs reported in animals included persistent signs of oestrus, poor growth rate and birth defects. In humans, reported clinical signs included precocious puberty, unresolved virilisation, accelerated growth rate and female infertility.

Conclusions

It is important that THCP are used according to manufacturer's instructions and users are made aware of risks and mitigating measures. This review of AEs in animals and children provides evidence to show that the use of THCP poses a risk for secondary exposure. Efficient communication strategies that stretch across veterinary and human medicinal disciplines are required to raise mutual awareness and minimise the risk of AEs in animals and humans.
A rapid and simple spectroscopic method for the determination of yeast cell viability using methylene blue
Authors: Matsumoto Atsushi , Terashima Ichiro , Uesono Yukifumi
Published: October 2022

Determination of cell viability is important in various microbiological studies. The microscopic method, counting dead cells stained by methylene blue (MB), has often been used for the determination of viability, although it is not efficient for the measurement of a large number of samples. Alternatively, some spectroscopic methods have been proposed to avoid tedious cell counting. One of these proposed methods detects the decrease in MB absorbance in the supernatant of cell suspension, because dead cells incorporate MB more efficiently than viable cells. However, at present, this spectroscopic method is rarely used due to its low throughput. Therefore, we devised a small‐scale, rapid and simple method by improving several points as follows. (1) The peak wavelength of MB absorbance, 665 nm, was used to detect MB efficiently at the microtube scale. (2) The composition of the MB solution was improved by adding trisodium citrate. (3) The reaction time was shortened. And (4) the concentration ranges of both MB and cells, with which absorbance is linearly related to cell viability, were determined. The improved method enabled us to evaluate the dose‐dependent toxicities of alcohols, antifungal/antimalarial quinacrine, and UV‐C irradiation. The results were compatible with those of conventional microscopic counting and colony formation. The method would be applicable to automated determination and to various organisms such as bacteria and filamentous fungi which are difficult to be counted microscopically.
Application of Half‐Sandwich Metal‐Phosphinite Compounds to Biological Activities: Determine the energies of the HOMO and LUMO levels
Authors: Meriç Nermin , Rafikova Khadichakhan , Zazybin Alexey , Güzel Remziye , Kayan Cezmi , Elma Karakaş Duygu , Dündar Abdurrahman , ISLAM Sholpan , Okumuş Veysi , Aydemir Murat
Published: October 2022

Mononuclear transition metal complexes 1‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethyldiphenyl[dichloro(η6‐p‐cymene)ruthenium(II)]phosphinite, (2), 1‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethyldiphenyl[dichloro(η6‐benzene) ruthenium(II)] phosphinite (3), 1‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethyldipheny[chloro(η4‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I)]phosphinite (4), 1‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethyldiphenyl[dichloro (η5pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)iridium (III)] phosphinite (5) were synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, infrared, MS, and NMR spectroscopy. The biological activities of the complexes were also tested. Compounds 2 and 5 were the best complexes at DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power activity at 73.27 % and 0.41 at 200 μg/mL, respectively. The highest antimicrobial activity exhibited by complex 3 as 14 mm inhibition zone against S. aureus. All of the complexes have cleaved the DNA from the double‐strand and exhibited three bands on gel electrophoresis. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry studies of the phosphinite complexes were carried out to determine the energies of the HOMO and LUMO levels as well as to estimate their electrochemical and some electronic properties.
Simulation: A Historical and Pedagogical Perspective
Authors: Karlsaune Hanne , Antonsen Therese , Haugan Gørill
Published: October 2022

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.

—Confucius 551–479 BCE

Simulation is increasingly used in nursing education to supplement clinical and didactic learning activities. Simulation is a technique for practice and learning that can be used in many different disciplines as well as for trainees. Simulation is a technique (not a technology) aiming at replacing real experiences with guided ones; that is, it represents a context in which students can exercise and explore various aspects of a specific practical skill. Accordingly, simulation-based learning signifies a useful approach to develop health professionals’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes while protecting patients from unnecessary risks. Simulation involves learning situations that take place under the supervision of an expert or lecturer and is commonly applied as an active learning method in different health disciplines like nursing, social education, radiography, and medicine. This chapter concentrates on historical and pedagogical perspectives of simulation as a learning method in nursing education. Simulation as a learning method builds on pedagogical adult learning theory, with an emphasis on David A. Kolb and Donald Schön’s concepts experience-based learning, reflection-on-action, and reflection-in-action. Simulation-based learning is appropriate for topics such as patient safety, teamwork, and quality of health services. The literature states that simulation contributes positively to nursing students’ situational awareness, their ability to formulate and predict possible consequences of action implemented, decision-making, communication, and teamwork.
How to Use Simulation as a Learning Method in Bachelor and Postgraduate/Master Education of Nurses and Teachers in Healthcare
Authors: Akselbo Iben , Aune Ingvild
Published: October 2022

In this chapter, results from three different studies about simulation as a learning method are presented and discussed alongside relevant pedagogical theory and other research. These studies were conducted at a university in Norway from 2018 to 2020. The studies used a qualitative approach, and reflection notes and focus group interviews were used to collect data. The participants (81 students in total) were bachelor of nursing students 2nd year public health nursing students, and students in teacher training (healthcare). The interviews were conducted shortly after the students had performed the simulation activity. The students expressed that the simulation provided a higher degree of realism and seriousness than skill training did. They felt that the simulation was an educational method in which they experienced realistic feelings and stress in a serious situation. The students learned that in an emergency, good communication is important to make the right decision. The simulation was perceived as one of the most effective ways to prepare themselves for the profession of nursing. They experienced learning through describing the course of events during the debriefing process and obtaining feedback from other students to reveal the gaps in their knowledge.
Training Interprofessional Teamwork in Palliative Care: A Pilot Study of Online Simulation Activity for Registered Nurses and Nursing Associates
Authors: Rønsen Astrid , Tosterud Randi
Published: October 2022

Palliative care promotes quality of life for seriously ill and dying patients and their loved ones. An ageing population with more complex chronic and life-limiting conditions will increase the demand for competence in the field. Interprofessional cooperation will be a critical factor in achieving this. Such cooperation within the field of nursing is critical because of registered nurses’ (RNs) role and function in patient- and family-centred care. A project focusing on learning interdisciplinary teamwork using simulation as a learning approach was established. Two groups of students participated in the project: one group consisted of 17 nursing associates who were participating in a 2-year part-time study programme in cancer care and palliative care at a vocational college. The second group was made up of 28 RNs, a social worker and learning disability nurses, all postgraduate students taking part in a part-time interdisciplinary programme in palliative care at master’s degree level.

Simulation activity is usually conducted with participants physically present, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, this was not possible. A pilot project was conducted where simulation activity was tried out as online learning. RNs and nursing associates (NA) participated, and their cooperation was focused on palliative/end-of-life care. They were all trained clinicians in two different study programmes.

In this chapter, we present how simulation activity with participants physically present was transformed into an online learning situation. A brief presentation of students’ and teachers’ reflections on the pedagogical advantages and disadvantages of such a transition is also included.
The Use of Critical Response Process as a Debriefing Structure in Simulation Activity in Nursing Education
Authors: Haugom Jon Viktor , Tosterud Randi
Published: October 2022

In the use of simulation activity as a learning approach, the debriefing phase is considered as crucial to achieve learning. In debriefing, the participants reflect and discuss what happened in the scenario. Feedback is an important factor, and research shows that there must be certain conditions present to achieve learning from feedback. The facilitator and the structure used impact on these conditions. In this chapter, we will present a new structure for debriefing in simulation based on a study focusing on how the structure affects the facilitator role.
Learning Without a Teacher: Perceptions of Peer-to-Peer Learning Activities in Simulation Training
Authors: Degn Lise , Selberg Hanne , Markussen Anne-Lene Rye
Published: October 2022

This chapter reports from an experimental study carried out at University College Copenhagen. In the experiment, fifth-semester nursing students were subjected to an intensified simulation intervention, combined with supporting elements designed to increase collaborative and peer learning. One supporting element was a series of peer-to-peer sessions in which students in small groups trained technical nursing skills for mastery learning, e.g., duodenal tube placement. We describe the study and analyze how the students perceive strengths and weaknesses of the peer-to-peer format and how these perceptions seem to be linked to the students’ perceptions of learning and authority. We discuss how the method may be a positive addition to simulation training in nursing education and particularly how the role of the teacher should be conceived.
Online and Blended Teaching and Learning Supported by Educational Data
Authors: Mougiakou Sofia , Vinatsella Dimitra , Sampson Demetrios , Papamitsiou Zacharoula , Giannakos Michail , Ifenthaler Dirk
Published: October 2022

The goals on this chapter are to:
Learning Analytics
Authors: Mougiakou Sofia , Vinatsella Dimitra , Sampson Demetrios , Papamitsiou Zacharoula , Giannakos Michail , Ifenthaler Dirk
Published: October 2022

The goals on this chapter are to:
Teaching Analytics
Authors: Mougiakou Sofia , Vinatsella Dimitra , Sampson Demetrios , Papamitsiou Zacharoula , Giannakos Michail , Ifenthaler Dirk
Published: October 2022

The goal on this chapter is to:
Klee’s Measure Problem Made Oblivious
Authors: Thießen Thore , Vahrenhold Jan
Published: October 2022

We study Klee’s measure problem — computing the volume of the union of n axis-parallel hyperrectangles in $$\mathbb {R}^d$$

R

d

— in the oblivious RAM (ORAM) setting. For this, we modify Chan’s algorithm [12] to guarantee memory access patterns and control flow independent of the input; this makes the resulting algorithm applicable to privacy-preserving computation over outsourced data and (secure) multi-party computation.

For $$d = 2$$

d
=
2

, we develop an oblivious version of Chan’s algorithm that runs in expected $$\mathcal {O}(n \log ^{5/3} n)$$

O
(
n

log

5
/
3

n
)

time for perfect security or $$\mathcal {O}(n \log ^{3/2} n)$$

O
(
n

log

3
/
2

n
)

time for computational security, thus improving over optimal general transformations. For $$d \ge 3$$

d
≥
3

, we obtain an oblivious version with perfect security while maintaining the $$\mathcal {O}(n^{d/2})$$

O
(

n

d
/
2

)

runtime, i. e., without any overhead.

Generalizing our approach, we derive a technique to transform divide-and-conquer algorithms that rely on linear-scan processing into oblivious counterparts. As such, our results are of independent interest for geometric divide-and-conquer algorithms that maintain an order over the input. We apply our technique to two such algorithms and obtain efficient oblivious counterparts of algorithms for inversion counting and computing a closest pair in two dimensions.
An alternative equation for generalized monomials
Authors: Boros Zoltán , Menzer Rayene
Published: October 2022

In this paper we consider a generalized monomial or polynomial $$ f : \mathbb {R}\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

f
:
R
→
R

that satisfies the additional equation $$ f(x) f(y) = 0 $$

f
(
x
)
f
(
y
)
=
0

for the pairs $$ (x,y) \in D \,$$

(
x
,
y
)
∈
D

, where $$ D \subseteq {\mathbb {R}}^{2} $$

D
⊆

R

2

is given by some algebraic condition. In the particular cases when f is a generalized polynomial and there exist non-constant regular polynomials p and q that fulfill $$\begin{aligned} D = \{\, (p(t),q(t)) \,\vert \, t \in \mathbb {R}\,\} \end{aligned}$$

D
=
{

(
p
(
t
)
,
q
(
t
)
)

|

t
∈
R

}

or f is a generalized monomial and there exists a positive rational m fulfilling $$\begin{aligned} D = \{\, (x,y) \in {\mathbb {R}}^{2} \,\vert \, x^2 - m y^2 = 1 \,\}, \end{aligned}$$

D
=
{

(
x
,
y
)

∈

R

2

|

x
2

-
m

y
2

=
1

}
,

we prove that $$ f(x) = 0 $$

f
(
x
)
=
0

for all $$ x \in \mathbb {R}\,$$

x
∈
R

.
Automated quality control inspection of geometric tip defects in medical needle manufacturing
Authors: Wang Xiaoying , Jowers Casey , Mazur Maciej , Buddery Alexander , Kent Damon , Bab-Hadiashar Alireza , Easton Mark
Published: October 2022

The manufacture of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) needles is subject to the most stringent quality demands. This makes automated inspection challenging due to difficulty in reliably classifying conforming and non-conforming (defective) products due to factors including multidimensional variation of their tip geometry and the lack of an explicit quality standard. In addition, developing an IVF needle image dataset, which broadly contains the visual characteristics of qualified and defective products, is difficult without commissioning large and costly production runs. The most important original contribution of this work is a new solution to investigate and quantify the uncertainty in the quality standard of IVF needles by integrating inter-disciplinary techniques. This work utilizes a low-cost, virtual dataset of synthetic images, generated by the automated photo-realistic rendering of a three-dimensional (3D) parametric model to simulate manufacturing variation. Then, the unknown numerical (critical) quality thresholds are obtained by estimating the relationship between quality response and measurement predictors using an Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR) algorithm on the synthetic images. The fitted models exhibited increased overall predictive accuracy of up to 11.02% than the machine learning models (available in MATLAB) and could provide objective guidance on classifying specific quality aspects of a product.
Comparison of [99mTc]Tc-tilmanocept with [99mTc]Tc-sulphur colloids and [99mTc]Tc-albumin colloids for sentinel lymph node detection in patients with cutaneous malignancies of the head
Authors: Ooms Mark , von Mallek Dirk , Kaiser Hans-Jürgen , Hölzle Frank , Mottaghy Felix M. , Modabber Ali
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a staging procedure in the management of cutaneous malignancies of the head. The ideal radiopharmaceutical is controversial. This study aimed to compare [99mTc]Tc-tilmanocept (TcTM) with [99mTc]Tc-sulphur colloid (TcSC) and [99mTc]Tc-albumin colloid (TcAC) for SLN detection in the head and neck region.

Methods

Data from 62 patients with cutaneous malignancies of the head who were injected with TcTM, TcSC, or TcAC before SLN imaging (SLN-I) and SLN excision (SLN-E) between 2012 and 2021 were retrospectively analysed. SLN-I was performed using planar lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT, and a gamma probe was used for SLN-E. The SLN-I localisation rate (patients with SLNs) and degree (SLN number) and SLN-E relocalisation rate (patients with SLNs) and ratio (SLN number in SLN-E/SLN number in SLN-I) were compared between TcTM, TcSC, and TcAC.

Results

TcTM showed similar SLN-I localisation rates for primaries in the anterior and posterior head region compared with TcSC (84.6% vs. 72.4%, p=0.680; both 100.0%) and TcAC (84.6% vs. 75.0%, p=1.000; both 100.0%). The SLN-I localisation degree for TcTM was higher for primaries in the anterior head region and similar for primaries in the posterior head region compared with TcSC (3.2 vs. 2.3, p=0.034; and 1.8 vs. 2.2, p=0.506) and TcAC (3.2 vs. 2.0, p=0.038; and 1.8 vs. 2.7, p=0.329). The SLN-E relocalisation rates and ratios were similar for all.

Conclusion

On the basis of a limited study design that compared three different tracers in three different patient groups, TcTM showed comparable overall performance to TcSC and TcAC.
Preparation and evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of sodium alginate-grafted diphenylamine embedded with silver nanoparticles
Authors: Mohamed Fatma , Ahmed Asmaa , Abdel-Gawad Omayma F.
Published: October 2022

Antibiotic nanocomposite polymers show great promise in treating a variety of pathogens that cause widespread disease. Sodium alginate-grafted diphenylamine (NaAlg-g-DPA) embedded with different ratios of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was fabricated and characterized through different techniques including FTIR, XRD, and SEM techniques for investigating the antimicrobial activity. XRD confirmed the crystallinity of these compounds, and the average crystal size of Na Alg-g-DPA/Ag was estimated to be 48.6 nm. Then it was applied as an antimicrobial agent and evaluated through two ways (inhibition zone and MIC techniques) against Staphylococcus aureus as gram-positive bacteria with an inhibition zone of 19.31.6 mm and 18.60.63 mm against Escherichia coli as gram-negative bacteria while with increasing the Ag ratio 2:1 there was an enhancement in their biological activity to be 21.90.69 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and with an inhibition zone of 21.32.1 mm against Escherichia coli. The outcomes of this investigation are important for the development of new composite materials with antibacterial properties for industrial applications.
Long-Term Effectiveness of an Online Self-help Intervention for People with HIV and Depressive Symptoms
Authors: van Luenen Sanne , Garnefski Nadia , Spinhoven Philip , Kraaij Vivian
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effectiveness (3–4 years later) of an online intervention that was previously found to effectively reduce depressive symptoms in people with HIV on the short term. Participants were people with HIV who had participated in the large RCT on the short-term effectiveness of the guided online intervention. The primary outcome measure was depressive symptoms [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)] and the secondary outcome measure was anxiety symptoms [Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) scale]. Forty-seven participants completed the long-term follow-up. PHQ-9 scores, previously found to have been significantly reduced on the short term, remained low on the long term. GAD-2 scores did not decrease significantly on the short term, however, on the long term, a significant decrease was found. The intervention may not only be effective in lowering depressive symptoms on the short term but also retain the results on the long term.

Trial registration International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, NL8448, March 3, 2020.
Gröbner Bases for Fusion Products
Authors: Flake Johannes , Fourier Ghislain , Levandovskyy Viktor
Published: October 2022

We provide a new approach towards the analysis of the fusion products defined by B. Feigin and S. Loktev in the representation theory of (truncated) current Lie algebras. We understand the fusion product as a degeneration using Gröbner theory of non-commutative algebras and outline a strategy on how to prove a conjecture about the defining relations for the fusion product of two evaluation modules. We conclude with following this strategy for $\mathfrak {sl}_2(\mathbb {C}[t]) $

s
l

2

(
ℂ
[
t
]
)
and hence provide yet another proof for the conjecture in this case.
Decreased left atrial function in obesity patients without known cardiovascular disease
Authors: Aga Y. S. , Kroon D. , Snelder S. M. , Biter L. U. , de Groot-de Laat L. E. , Zijlstra F. , Brugts J. J. , van Dalen Bas M.
Published: October 2022

Obesity is a risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We hypothesized that assessment of left atrial (LA) strain may be useful to reveal precursors of HFpEF in obesity patients. Echocardiograms of obesity patients without known cardiovascular disease who underwent bariatric surgery, and echocardiograms of age- and gender matched controls were analyzed. The echocardiogram was repeated 1 year after bariatric surgery. LA reservoir strain (LASr), LA conduit strain (LAScd), and LA contractile strain (LASct) were measured. 77 Obesity patients were compared with 46 non-obese controls. Obesity patients showed a significantly decreased LA function compared with non-obese individuals (LASr 32.2% ± 8.8% vs. 39.6% ± 10.8%, p < 0.001; LAScd 20.1% ± 7.5% vs. 24.9% ± 8.3%, p = 0.001; LASct 12.1% ± 3.6% vs. 14.5% ± 5.5%, p = 0.005). There was no difference in prevalence of diastolic dysfunction between the obesity group and controls (9.1% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.139). One year after bariatric surgery, LASr improved (32.1% ± 8.9% vs. 34.2% ± 8.7%, p = 0.048). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, BMI was associated with LASr, LAScd, and LASct (β =  − 0.34, CI − 0.54 to − 0.13; β =  − 0.22, CI − 0.38 to − 0.06; β =  − 0.10, CI − 0.20 to − 0.004). Obesity patients without known cardiovascular disease have impairment in all phases of LA function. LA dysfunction in obesity may be an early sign of cardiac disease and may be a predictor for developing HFpEF. LASr improved 1 year after bariatric surgery, indicating potential reversibility of LA function in obesity.
Adverse health and environmental outcomes of sewage treatment plant on surrounding groundwater with emphasis on some mitigation recommendations
Authors: Kandil A. T. , Haggag K. , Gamal A. A. , Abd El-Nasser M. G. , Mostafa W. M.
Published: October 2022

Water quality deterioration hinders economic and social development in developing countries that are facing freshwater security and shortages. Based on the collection of 29 water samples, this study focused on the relationship between sewage treatment plant and groundwater system surrounding it using multidisciplinary approach that combines the characterization of groundwater system and its connection with surrounding canal and drains, using chemical and isotopic characterization revealing that there is a direct relation between the surface water system and surrounding groundwater system. About 58% of the groundwater samples and all surface water samples in the investigated area are threatened by high concentrations of trace elements. The multivariate statistical analysis elucidates that anthropogenic effect and fertilizers sewage contamination are the main causes of groundwater pollution. Nearly, 31% and 11.5% of groundwater samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk and dermal chronic risk for adult, respectively, while all surface water samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk, with no dermal hazard. The uncharged species of Fe and Al are expected to be more mobile in groundwater because they would not be attracted to the surface charge of minerals. Inorganic ligands (HCO3−, SO42−, Cl−, and NO3−) act as nucleation centers that were linked with those trace elements creating new species with higher solubility degree in water that are transported away randomly for long distances in the water path.
Environmental assessment of road freight transport services beyond the tank-to-wheels analysis based on LCA
Authors: Osorio-Tejada Jose Luis , Llera-Sastresa Eva , Scarpellini Sabina
Published: October 2022

Reducing environmental impacts in transport motivates many studies to offer more sustainable freight services. However, most methodologies focus on impacts from fuel consumption, and approaches trying to integrate other transport components have not facilitated its application to actual and specific transport services. In this study, we present a harmonized approach to address the transport services with a holistic way to increase the knowledge about hotspots of the transport sector based on the life cycle assessment methodology. In this framework, vehicle manufacturing, fuel production, and infrastructure construction are the key transport components around the traffic process. Besides fuel usage, the operation and maintenance of vehicles and infrastructures are also included. We developed a tool to create the life cycle inventories for each transport component to be applied to specific transport services in any location with a comprehensive view and low uncertainty in the results. This approach was applied to road-freight services in Colombia, Malaysia, and Spain. The main results showed the nature and origin of the environmental impacts, which are highly influenced by the emissions control technologies, road characteristics, and traffic volume. The contribution of atmospheric pollutants per tonne-km can decrease by a quarter when Euro VI trucks on highways instead of conventional trucks on single-lane roads are used. However, these contributions are highly affected by fuel production due to the origin of biofuels. The proposed methodology provides relevant information to estimate transport impacts in the life cycle assessment of products with superior precision and identify strategies for systemically improving sustainability.
Remarks on double points of plane curves
Authors: Gimigliano Alessandro , Idà Monica
Published: October 2022

We study the relation between the type of a double point of a plane curve and the curvilinear 0-dimensional subschemes of the curve at the point. An Algorithm related to a classical procedure for the study of double points via osculating curves is described and proved. Eventually we look for a way to create examples of rational plane curves with given singularities $$A_s$$

A
s

.
Nano-crystalline precursor formation, stability, and transformation to mullite-type visible-light photocatalysts
Authors: Gesing Thorsten M. , Murshed M. Mangir , Schuh Selina , Thüringer Oliver , Krämer Konrad , Neudecker Tim , Mendive Cecilia B. , Robben Lars
Published: October 2022

A new precursor for the formation of mullite-type visible-light active photocatalyst Bi2Al4O9has been identified. The crystal structure of the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite can be described using the hexagonal setting of the rhombohedral unit cell with lattice parametersa = 1.1342(2) nm,c = 2.746(1) nm, andV = 3.059(2) nm3. The presence of di-nitro-glycerin as organic component, which is centered together with two bismuth atoms at the A-sites of the ABX3-type perovskite, suggests for doubling of thea- andc-lattice parameters compared to isostructural BiAlO3perovskite. The nano-crystalline precursor with the chemical composition [Bi2(C3H5N2O7)]Al4[O9(□1-x(H2O)x)3] (□: vacancies) decomposes at 540(10) K to a quantum-crystalline phase with an average crystallite size of 1.4(1) nm, refined from X-ray powder data Bragg reflections and confirmed by atomic pair distribution function data analysis. Further heating enables a controlled formation of quantum- or nano-crystalline mullite-type phases, depending on temperature and time. The same precursor structure could also be obtained as iron-containing phase and for Al/Fe solid-solution samples. UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy suggests an indirect band-gap transition energy of 3.50(3) eV calculated by the Reflectance-Absorption-Tauc-DASF (RATD) method. Temperature-dependent UV/Vis allows to follow the change of band-gap energy across all associated phase transformations. The long- and short-range appearance of each phase has been presented using X-ray Bragg scattering and total scattering data analyses. This is supported by Raman and infrared spectroscopic investigations complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, the theoretical calculation confirms the incorporated di-nitro-glycerin. Thermal stabilities of the phases are investigated by using thermal analysis and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction.
Heterogonous buyers and housing transaction prices: a case study of Guangzhou, China
Authors: Jia Shijun , Ke Qiulin
Published: October 2022

We investigate whether and the extent to which buyer’s characteristics affect housing transaction prices. Using the transaction data of existing apartments from 2014 to 2017 in Guangzhou, China, our results show that buyer’s locality, motivation and financial ability affect the transaction prices. Non-local buyers pay a premium. First-time buyers gain a discount. Experienced repeat buyers for upgrading pay a premium. We also find that buyer’s financial ability affects purchasing power and transaction prices. The buyers paying the acquisition with mortgage gain a higher discount or pay a lower premium than their counterparts paying in cash. Internet use itself won’t affect transaction price. When it is combined with buyer’s other characteristics, the buyers using the internet to obtain the property information have an information advantage over the ones using the traditional method and gain a higher discount or pay a lower premium than their counterparts using the traditional method, especially for the non-local. This finding is important for market participants and regulators to improve market efficiency and transparency by improving the accuracy of the information disclosed on the Internet.
Guidance in storytelling tables supports emotional development in kindergartners
Authors: Catala Alejandro , Gijlers Hannie , Visser Iris
Published: October 2022

Promoting the social-emotional development of kindergartners is of special relevance as will lay the foundations for emotion regulation in later childhood and adulthood stages. Considering that tangible storytelling tables are already used for language and literacy skills in kindergarten, we addressed the problem of designing a storytelling intervention aimed at social-emotional development suitable in such a context by using an emotional laden story as content and embedding a guidance method that can be implemented with either a human or robot guide to enhance the learning setting. The study considered two guided storytelling activities (one traditional guided by the teacher, and one in which guidance was provided by a robot) and a control condition without additional guidance. The three conditions were compared in terms of kindergartners’ enactment process, an emotion recognition test and a story recall test. The results show that the guidance method properly supported emotion naming, children involvement and goal completion during the storytelling activity whereas the intervention supported the learning gain on emotion recognition. The study revealed that both robot and human guidance did not differ significantly in the performance tests but did outperform the control. In view of the results, this research is helpful for researchers and teachers to create in an informed way a range of environments in the kindergarten class based on storytelling tables, either with or without guidance, and with or without robot support. Future work may further investigate how specific interaction issues concerning robot embodiment (e.g., voice and behavioral cues to direct children’s attention) might enhance or not the children’s performance.
Discrepancies in patients' medication lists from pharmacies in Sweden: an interview study before the implementation of the Swedish National Medication List
Authors: Hammar Tora , Mzil Leila , Eiermann Birgit
Published: October 2022

Background

Discrepancies in medication lists are common and can contribute to drug-related problems. This study was performed before the implementation of the National Medication List in Sweden, an intervention expected to improve the accuracy of medication lists.

Aim

The aim of the study was to examine the number and type of discrepancies in the medication list from pharmacies in Sweden. The secondary aim was to describe the information sources Swedish patients used as their medication lists and how confident they were with the information.

Method

Structured interviews were conducted with patients at 13 community pharmacies in Sweden during the period October 5, 2020, to April 16, 2021. The printed medication list was reviewed together with the patient to identify any discrepancies and missing information.

Results

A total of 327 patients were included in the study (response rate 51%). The printed medication list from pharmacies was the most common information source for patients to know which medications to use. Two thirds (n  =  215) of the patients had at least one discrepancy among their prescriptions and 32% (n  =  106) were missing at least one prescription medication. Among all prescriptions (n  =  2567) 10% (n  =  264) were non-current prescriptions, 9% (n  =  238) were duplicates and 3% (n  =  88) had the wrong dose. The proportion of prescriptions with discrepancies differed between drug-groups.

Conclusion

The discrepancies described in this study can have serious consequences, and results provide a baseline for studies after the implementation of the National Medication List.
Plant cover is related to vegetation and soil features in limestone screes colonization: A case study in the Italian Alps
Authors: Giupponi Luca , Leoni Valeria , Pedrali Davide , Zuccolo Marco , Cislaghi Alessio
Published: October 2022

Background and aims

Studies that consider the effects of screes plant communities on the soil properties are lacking and whether the plant cover could be used as an indicator of biotic and/or abiotic parameters of the scree colonization has never been assessed. Here we aimed to identify plant communities-soil relationships in the process of colonization of alpine limestone screes.

Methods

Plant communities and chemical-physical soil properties were studied on 50 plots from an area of the Italian Alps, and related to plant cover (colonization). Correlation and regression analysis were performed to determine the relationships and define the best trend models.

Results

At the varying of plant cover, plant communities and the soil properties changed greatly. Floristic analysis especially showed how the pioneer/early stages of colonization revealed a limited number of species (< 20) typical of unstable screes (Thlaspietea rotundifolii) while the late/final stage has a greater number of species (> 25), mainly of basophilic grasslands (Elyno-Seslerietea). Statistical analysis showed high correlation between plant cover and number of species, shear vane strength (τ), soil depth, pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), sand and medium gravel content. The number of species and the values ofτ, soil depth, OM, TN and sand content increased over the colonization/succession, albeit with different trends.

Conclusion

This research allowed a better comprehension of the phenomenon of colonization of alpine limestone screes and showed how plant cover is a parameter useful to estimate some soil and vegetation features, therefore to facilitate the study/management of these environments.
Groundwater Vulnerability of Halabja-Khurmal Sub-Basin Using Modified DRASTIC Method
Authors: Rauf Lanja F. , Ali Salahalddin S. , Al-Ansari Nadhir
Published: October 2022

Evolving groundwater vulnerability from DRASTIC to modified DRASTIC methods helps choose the most accurate areas that are most delicate toward pollution. This study aims to modify DRASTIC with land use and water quality index for groundwater vulnerability assessment in the Halabja-Khurmal sub-basin, NE/Iraq. The Halabja-Khurmal sub-basin groundwater vulnerability index is calculated from nine hydrogeological parameters by the overlay weighting method. As a result, 1.3% of the total area has a very high vulnerability value and 46.1% with high vulnerability. The regions with high groundwater vulnerability have a high-water table and groundwater recharge. Nitrate concentration was used to validate the result, and the Pearson correlation and recession analysis between the modified DRASTIC index and nitrate concentration depicted a strong relation with 0.76 and 0.7, respectively.
3D-Printed Tumor Phantoms for Assessment of In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging Analysis Methods
Authors: LaRochelle Ethan P. M. , Streeter Samuel S. , Littler Eammon A. , Ruiz Alberto J.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Interventional fluorescence imaging is increasingly being utilized to quantify cancer biomarkers in both clinical and preclinical models, yet absolute quantification is complicated by many factors. The use of optical phantoms has been suggested by multiple professional organizations for quantitative performance assessment of fluorescence guidance imaging systems. This concept can be further extended to provide standardized tools to compare and assess image analysis metrics.

Procedures

3D-printed fluorescence phantoms based on solid tumor models were developed with representative bio-mimicking optical properties. Phantoms were produced with discrete tumors embedded with an NIR fluorophore of fixed concentration and either zero or 3% non-specific fluorophore in the surrounding material. These phantoms were first imaged by two fluorescence imaging systems using two methods of image segmentation, and four assessment metrics were calculated to demonstrate variability in the quantitative assessment of system performance. The same analysis techniques were then applied to one tumor model with decreasing tumor fluorophore concentrations.

Results

These anatomical phantom models demonstrate the ability to use 3D printing to manufacture anthropomorphic shapes with a wide range of reduced scattering (μs′: 0.24–1.06 mm−1) and absorption (μa: 0.005–0.14 mm−1) properties. The phantom imaging and analysis highlight variability in the measured sensitivity metrics associated with tumor visualization.

Conclusions

3D printing techniques provide a platform for demonstrating complex biological models that introduce real-world complexities for quantifying fluorescence image data. Controlled iterative development of these phantom designs can be used as a tool to advance the field and provide context for consensus-building beyond performance assessment of fluorescence imaging platforms, and extend support for standardizing how quantitative metrics are extracted from imaging data and reported in literature.
Early Impact of VA MISSION Act Implementation on Primary Care Appointment Wait Time
Authors: Govier Diana J. , Hickok Alex , Edwards Samuel T. , Weaver Frances M. , Gordon Howard , Niederhausen Meike , Hynes Denise M.
Published: October 2022

Background

Through Community Care Networks (CCNs) implemented with the VA MISSION Act, VA expanded provider contracting and instituted network adequacy standards for Veterans’ community care.

Objective

To determine whether early CCN implementation impacted community primary care (PC) appointment wait times overall, and by rural/urban and PC shortage area (HPSA) status.

Design

Using VA administrative data from February 2019 through February 2020 and a difference-in-differences approach, we compared wait times before and after CCN implementation for appointments scheduled by VA facilities that did (CCN appointments) and did not (comparison appointments) implement CCNs. We ran regression models with all appointments, and stratified by rural/urban and PC HPSA status. All models adjusted for Veteran characteristics and VA facility–level clustering.

Appointments

13,720 CCN and 40,638 comparison appointments.

Main Measures

Wait time, measured as number of days from authorization to use community PC to a Veteran’s first corresponding appointment.

Key Results

Overall, unadjusted wait times increased by 35.7 days ([34.4, 37.1] 95% CI) after CCN implementation. In adjusted analysis, comparison wait times increased on average 33.7 days ([26.3, 41.2] 95% CI, p < 0.001) after CCN implementation; there was no significant difference for CCN wait times (across-group mean difference: 5.4 days, [−3.8, 14.6] 95% CI, p = 0.25). In stratified analyses, comparison wait time increases ranged from 29.6 days ([20.8, 38.4] 95% CI, p < 0.001) to 42.1 days ([32.9, 51.3] 95% CI, p > 0.001) after CCN implementation, while additional differences for CCN appointments ranged from 13.4 days ([3.5, 23.4] 95% CI, p = 0.008) to −15.1 days ([−30.1, −0.1] 95% CI, p = 0.05) for urban and PC HPSA appointments, respectively.

Conclusions

After early CCN implementation, community PC wait times increased sharply at VA facilities that did and did not implement CCNs, regardless of rural/urban or PC HPSA status, suggesting community care demand likely overwhelmed VA resources such that CCNs had limited impact.