bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core clock regulators in dexamethasone-treated HEK 293T cells at 4 h intervals
Authors: Beta Rafailia A. A. , Arsenopoulou Zoi V. , Kanoura Amalia , Dalkidis Dimitrios , Avraamidou Rafaela , Balatsos Nikolaos A. A.
Published: January 2022

Objective

The study of the circadian clock and its mechanisms is easily facilitated through clock resetting in cell culture. Among the various established synchronizers of the circadian clock in cell culture (temperature, serum shock, glucocorticoids), the artificial glucocorticoid Dexamethasone (DEX) is the most widely used. DEX treatment as a protocol to reset the circadian clock in culture gives simple readout with minimal laboratory requirements. Even though there are many studies regarding clock resetting in culture using DEX, reference points or expression patterns of core clock genes and their protein products are scarce and sometimes contradict other works with similar methodology. We synchronise a cell line of human origin with DEX to be used for studies on circadian rhythms.

Results

We treat HEK 293T cells with DEX and describe the patterns of mRNA and proteins of core clock regulators, while making a clear point on how CLOCK is less than an ideal molecule to help monitor rhythms in this cell line.
Primary disseminated intraabdominal hydatidosis: a case report
Authors: Fasihi Karami Maryam , Bahreini Amin , Rafiei Abdollah , Dastyar Ali Asghar , Beiromvand Molouk
Published: January 2022

Background

Hydatidosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (E. granulosus s.l.), can be primary or secondary. However, primary disseminated intraabdominal hydatidosis is a rare form of the disease, accounting for about 2% of all intraabdominal cysts.

Case presentation

We report herein a case of primary disseminated intraabdominal hydatidosis with multiple organ involvement in a 51-year-old Iranian man presenting to a healthcare facility with abdominal pain. During the physical examination, two abdominal masses were palpated. Ultrasound and computed tomography revealed six cystic lesions in the patient’s liver, subhepatic region, pelvic, and omentum. Afterward, he underwent surgery, during which the cystic lesions were completely removed. The patient received albendazole (400 mg/kg/day) postoperatively and was recommended to continue the treatment for 4 months.

Conclusions

Although primary disseminated intraabdominal hydatidosis is rare, this problem is of great importance due to the fertility of cysts and the high risk of recurrence. Therefore, it is recommended to follow such patients with imaging modalities and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for native antigen B (AgB). In addition, patients should undergo albendazole therapy postoperatively for 4 months.
First-in-human autologous oral mucosal epithelial sheet transplantation to prevent anastomotic re-stenosis in congenital esophageal atresia
Authors: Fujino Akihiro , Fuchimoto Yasushi , Baba Yoshiyuki , Isogawa Nobutaka , Iwata Takanori , Arai Katsuhiro , Abe Makoto , Kanai Nobuo , Takagi Ryo , Maeda Masanori , Umezawa Akihiro
Published: January 2022

Background

Congenital esophageal atresia postoperative anastomotic stricture occurs in 30–50% of cases. Patients with severe dysphagia are treated with endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) and/or local injection of steroids, but many patients continue to experience frequent stricture. In this study, we investigated the transplantation of autologous oral mucosa-derived cell sheets (epithelial cell sheets) as a prophylactic treatment for congenital esophageal atresia postoperative anastomotic stricture.

Methods

Epithelial cell sheets were fabricated from a patient’s oral epithelial tissue, and their safety was confirmed by quality control tests. The epithelial cell sheets were transported under controlled conditions from the fabrication facility to the transplantation facility and successfully transplanted onto the lacerations caused by EBD using a newly developed transplantation device for pediatric patients. The safety of the transplantation was confirmed by follow-up examinations over 48 weeks.

Results

The dates that EBD was performed were recorded for one year before and after epithelial cell sheet transplantation, and the intervals (in days) were evaluated. For about 6 months after transplantation, the intervals between EBDs were longer than in the year before transplantation. The patients were also aware of a reduction in dysphagia after transplantation.

Conclusions

These results suggest that cell sheet transplantation may be effective in preventing anastomotic stricture after surgery for congenital esophageal atresia, but the effect was temporary and limited in this case. Although we chose a very severe case for the first human clinical study, it may be possible to obtain a more definitive effect if the transplantation is performed before the disease becomes so severe. Future studies are needed to identify cases in which cell sheet transplantation is most effective and to determine the appropriate timeframes for transplantation.

Trial registration: UMIN, UMIN000034566, registered 19 October 2018, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000039393.
The proof of a formula concerning the asymptotic behavior of the reciprocal sum of the square of multiple-angle Fibonacci numbers
Authors: Marques Diego , Trojovský Pavel
Published: January 2022

Let $(F_{n})_{n}$

(

F
n

)

n

be the Fibonacci sequence defined by $F_{n+2}=F_{n+1}+F_{n}$

F

n
+
2

=

F

n
+
1

+

F
n

with $F_{0}=0$

F
0

=
0
and $F_{1}=1$

F
1

=
1
. In this paper, we prove that for any integer $m\geq 1$
m
≥
1
there exists a positive constant $C_{m}$

C
m

for which $$ \lim_{n\to \infty } \Biggl\{ \Biggl( \sum_{k=n}^{ \infty } \frac{1}{F_{mk}^{2}} \Biggr)^{-1} - \bigl(F_{mn}^{2}-F_{m(n-1)}^{2}+(-1)^{mn}C_{m} \bigr) \Biggr\} =0. $$

lim

n
→
∞

{

(

∑

k
=
n

∞

1

F

m
k

2

)

−
1

−

(

F

m
n

2

−

F

m
(
n
−
1
)

2

+

(
−
1
)

m
n

C
m

)

}

=
0
.
Furthermore, we show that $C_{m}$

C
m

tends to $2/5$
2
/
5
as $m\to \infty $
m
→
∞
(indeed, we provide quantitative versions of the previous results as well as an explicit form for $C_{m}$

C
m

). This confirms some questions proposed by Lee and Park [J. Inequal. Appl. 2020(1):91 2020].
Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions against infectious diseases among crisis-affected populations: a scoping review
Authors: Polonsky Jonathan A. , Bhatia Sangeeta , Fraser Keith , Hamlet Arran , Skarp Janetta , Stopard Isaac J. , Hugonnet Stéphane , Kaiser Laurent , Lengeler Christian , Blanchet Karl , Spiegel Paul
Published: January 2022

Background

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are a crucial suite of measures to prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks. Despite being particularly important for crisis-affected populations and those living in informal settlements, who typically reside in overcrowded and resource limited settings with inadequate access to healthcare, guidance on NPI implementation rarely takes the specific needs of such populations into account. We therefore conducted a systematic scoping review of the published evidence to describe the landscape of research and identify evidence gaps concerning the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of NPIs among crisis-affected populations and informal settlements.

Methods

We systematically reviewed peer-reviewed articles published between 1970 and 2020 to collate available evidence on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of NPIs in crisis-affected populations and informal settlements. We performed quality assessments of each study using a standardised questionnaire. We analysed the data to produce descriptive summaries according to a number of categories: date of publication; geographical region of intervention; typology of crisis, shelter, modes of transmission, NPI, research design; study design; and study quality.

Results

Our review included 158 studies published in 85 peer-reviewed articles. Most research used low quality study designs. The acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of NPIs was highly context dependent. In general, simple and cost-effective interventions such as community-level environmental cleaning and provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services, and distribution of items for personal protection such as insecticide-treated nets, were both highly feasible and acceptable. Logistical, financial, and human resource constraints affected both the implementation and sustainability of measures. Community engagement emerged as a strong factor contributing to the effectiveness of NPIs. Conversely, measures that involve potential restriction on personal liberty such as case isolation and patient care and burial restrictions were found to be less acceptable, despite apparent effectiveness.

Conclusions

Overall, the evidence base was variable, with substantial knowledge gaps which varied between settings and pathogens. Based on the current landscape, robust evidence-based guidance is not possible, and a research agenda is urgently required that focusses on these specific vulnerable populations. Although implementation of NPIs presents unique practical challenges in these settings, it is critical that such an agenda is put in place, and that the lessons learned from historical and present experiences are documented to build a firm evidence base.

Graphical Abstract
Processing speed and working memory are predicted by components of successful aging: a HUNT study
Authors: Bosnes Ingunn , Bosnes Ole , Stordal Eystein , Nordahl Hans M. , Myklebust Tor Å. , Almkvist Ove
Published: January 2022

Background

Research has demonstrated that cognitive heterogeneity occurs with aging both within and between individuals. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the cognitive heterogeneity in aging was related to the subgroups of successful and usual aging.

Method

Participants were a representative sample of normal older adults (n = 65, age range 70–89 years). All subjects had participated in the third phase of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey (HUNT3) and completed all subtests in the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III). Successful aging was defined in four ways in the study: as (1) absence of disease, (2) high functioning, (3) active engagement with life, or (4) all three components combined. Five domains of memory and intelligence functions were investigated using linear regression analysis, with group membership (successful versus usual aging) as predictors and age, sex and education as correlates.

Results

Processing speed performance was correlated with the successful aging component absence of disease, younger age and being of the female sex, while working memory performance was correlated with the successful aging component absence of disease and more years of education. Performance in other domains (verbal, visuospatial, and episodic memory) were not related to any successful aging definition. Age had a consistent negative effect on the processing speed domain for all successful aging definitions. Education was positively linked to cognitive performance on the verbal and working memory domains. Being female was positively linked to processing speed and episodic memory.

Conclusions

Processing speed and working memory were linked to successful aging when it was defined as absence of disease, but not by other components of successful aging, i.e. domain-specific. In contrast, other cognitive domains were not related to any components of successful aging.
Acute minocycline administration reduces brain injury and improves long-term functional outcomes after delayed hypoxemia following traumatic brain injury
Authors: Celorrio Marta , Shumilov Kirill , Payne Camryn , Vadivelu Sangeetha , Friess Stuart H.
Published: January 2022

Clinical trials of therapeutics for traumatic brain injury (TBI) demonstrating preclinical efficacy for TBI have failed to replicate these results in humans, in part due to the absence of clinically feasible therapeutic windows for administration. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, has been shown to be neuroprotective when administered early after experimental TBI but detrimental when administered chronically to human TBI survivors. Rather than focusing on the rescue of primary injury with early administration of therapeutics which may not be clinically feasible, we hypothesized that minocycline administered at a clinically feasible time point (24 h after injury) would be neuroprotective in a model of TBI plus delayed hypoxemia. We first explored several different regimens of minocycline dosing with the initial dose 24 h after injury and 2 h prior to hypoxemia, utilizing short-term neuropathology to select the most promising candidate. We found that a short course of minocycline reduced acute microglial activation, monocyte infiltration and hippocampal neuronal loss at 1 week post injury. We then conducted a preclinical trial to assess the long-term efficacy of a short course of minocycline finding reductions in hippocampal neurodegeneration and synapse loss, preservation of white matter myelination, and improvements in fear memory performance at 6 months after injury. Timing in relation to injury and duration of minocycline treatment and its impact on neuroinflammatory response may be responsible for extensive neuroprotection observed in our studies.
Mouse models characterize GNAO1 encephalopathy as a neurodevelopmental disorder leading to motor anomalies: from a severe G203R to a milder C215Y mutation
Authors: Silachev Denis , Koval Alexey , Savitsky Mikhail , Padmasola Guru , Quairiaux Charles , Thorel Fabrizio , Katanaev Vladimir L.
Published: January 2022

GNAO1 encephalopathy characterized by a wide spectrum of neurological deficiencies in pediatric patients originates from de novo heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding Gαo, the major neuronal G protein. Efficient treatments and even the proper understanding of the underlying etiology are currently lacking for this dominant disease. Adequate animal models of GNAO1 encephalopathy are urgently needed. Here we describe establishment and characterization of mouse models of the disease based on two point mutations in GNAO1 with different clinical manifestations. One of them is G203R leading to the early-onset epileptic seizures, motor dysfunction, developmental delay and intellectual disability. The other is C215Y producing much milder clinical outcomes, mostly-late-onset hyperkinetic movement disorder. The resultant mouse models show distinct phenotypes: severe neonatal lethality in GNAO1[G203R]/ + mice vs. normal vitality in GNAO1[C215Y]/ + . The latter model further revealed strong hyperactivity and hyperlocomotion in a panel of behavioral assays, without signs of epilepsy, recapitulating the patients’ manifestations. Importantly, despite these differences the two models similarly revealed prenatal brain developmental anomalies, such as enlarged lateral ventricles and decreased numbers of neuronal precursor cells in the cortex. Thus, our work unveils GNAO1 encephalopathy as to a large extent neurodevelopmental malady. We expect that this understanding and the tools we established will be instrumental for future therapeutic developments.
A national study on the resilience of community pharmacists in Lebanon: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Alameddine Mohamad , Bou-Karroum Karen , Hijazi Mohamad Ali
Published: January 2022

Background

Community pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals and are likely to experience the full brunt of public health crises. In Lebanon, the COVID-19 pandemic, added to a severe economic meltdown, have significantly disrupted an already suffering profession.

Methods

The objective of this study was to determine the level of resilience and its relationship to burnout, job satisfaction, intention to quit, and changes in practice. The study utilized a cross-sectional design to survey community pharmacists using an online questionnaire that included the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. All community pharmacists were invited to participate. Multiple logistic regression identified variables significantly associated with the resilience of pharmacists.

Results

A total of 459 community pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Respondents had a relatively low resilience level (68.0 ± 13.37). They also had higher scores on the client-related burnout (58.06 ± 17.46), followed by the personal burnout (56.51 ± 16.68) and the work-related burnout (55.75 ± 13.82). In this sample, 52.3% of pharmacists indicated that they are dissatisfied with their job and 41.1% indicated an intention to quit in the coming year. According to multivariate analysis, marital status (ß = 0.38; 95% CI 0.16–0.91; p = 0.03), intention to quit (ß = 0.384; 95% CI 0.149–0.987; p = 0.047), workload (ß = 0.275; 95% CI 0.096–0.783; p = 0.016), perception of safety (ß = 0.267; 95% CI 0.078–0.909; p = 0.035), and personal burnout (ß = 0.321; 95% CI 0.152–0.677; p = 0.003) were independent influencing factors for resilience.

Conclusions

Multiple challenges and crises have culminated to the low job satisfaction, high burnout, and high the intention to quit of community pharmacists. This seriously destabilized the labor market of pharmacists which could negatively affect public safety. Effective interventions are essential to enhance the well-being and job satisfaction of pharmacists during public health crisis.
Modulatory efficacy of Punica granatum L. powder ethanol extract (PLEE) on lead acetate-induced hepatic and renal toxicity
Authors: Adebisi Oluwaseun Abraham , Agbaje Wasiu Bolade , Adewale Omowumi Oyeronke
Published: January 2022

Background

Pomegranate powder derived from pomegranate fruit contains phytochemicals chief of which is ellagitannins. Owing to their high antioxidative capabilities we investigated its efficacy against lead acetate induced hepatic and renal toxicity.

Methods

Pomegranate powder (500 g) was procured and soaked in 1 Litre of ethanol for three days, its filtrate was concentrated and freeze dried to form Punica granatum L. ethanol extract (PLEE). Thirty (30) male albino Wistar rats with average weight between 140 ± 20 g were used for this study. They were equally shared into 6 groups with 5 animals each; A: Control; B: Lead acetate only C: Lead acetate + PLEE (1); D: Lead acetate + PLEE (2); E: PLEE (1) and F: PLEE (2). Serum, liver and kidney samples were obtained for biochemical assays. The integrity of liver and kidney tissues were also accessed.

Results

Lead administration resulted in marked elevations in liver transaminases in serum and liver as well as a significant increase in kidney function markers in the serum and kidney (p < 0.05). There was also a significant decline in average body weight, antioxidant markers in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats while there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels in both liver and kidney. However, administration of PLEE at different doses significantly modulated these changes.

Conclusion

Lead acetate administration led to hepatic and renal toxicity as evident by alterations in liver and kidney function markers, antioxidant status and tissue integrity. However, PLEE can combat these toxicities.
Does race impact speech perception? An account of accented speech in two different multilingual locales
Authors: Kutlu Ethan , Tiv Mehrgol , Wulff Stefanie , Titone Debra
Published: January 2022

Upon hearing someone’s speech, a listener can access information such as the speaker’s age, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and their linguistic background. However, an open question is whether living in different locales modulates how listeners use these factors to assess speakers’ speech. Here, an audio-visual test was used to measure whether listeners’ accentedness judgments and intelligibility (i.e., speech perception) can be modulated depending on racial information in faces that they see. American, British, and Indian English were used as three different English varieties of speech. These speech samples were presented with either a white female face or a South Asian female face. Two experiments were completed in two locales: Gainesville, Florida (USA) and Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Overall, Montreal listeners were more accurate in their transcription of sentences (i.e., intelligibility) compared to Gainesville listeners. Moreover, Gainesville listeners’ ability to transcribe the same spoken sentences decreased for all varieties when listening to speech paired with South Asian faces. However, seeing a white or a South Asian face did not impact speech intelligibility for the same spoken sentences for Montreal listeners. Finally, listeners’ accentedness judgments increased for American English and Indian English when the visual information changed from a white face to a South Asian face in Gainesville, but not in Montreal. These findings suggest that visual cues for race impact speech perception to a greater degree in locales with greater ecological diversity.
The use of system dynamics for energy and environmental education
Authors: Strapasson Alexandre , Ferreira Marcello , Cruz-Cano Diego , Woods Jeremy , do Nascimento Maia Soares Marco Paulo , da Silva Filho Olavo Leopoldino
Published: January 2022

The use of system dynamics as a learning tool for developing sustainable energy strategies and environmental education has advanced in recent years with the availability of new modelling software and webtools. Among the existing models, we highlight the online 2050 Calculators, which aim at simulating scenarios for greenhouse gas emissions, energy planning, sustainable land use, and food consumption. The objective of this study is to assess the available calculators and their contribution to an interdisciplinary education via systems thinking. We carried out a review of the existing models worldwide and ran some of the tools with students from three different postgraduate programmes at master’s level at Imperial College London (United Kingdom) and IFP School (France), whilst also assessing their individual views afterwards. The assessments were conducted once a year during three subsequent years: 2019, 2020, and 2021. The results are discussed under the epistemology of critical pedagogy, showing that the use of webtools, such as the 2050 Calculators, can significantly contribute to the students’ environmental awareness and political engagement, providing important lessons about the use of system dynamics for policy and science education.
Clinico-bacteriological profile and antibiotic resistance pattern in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD
Authors: Mood Narayan , Katta Surendar Reddy , Badam Aruna Kumari , Chundru Jayaram
Published: January 2022

Background

Repeated attacks of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) have been attributed to bacterial infections. However, sputum microbiology for identifying the bacteriological profile is not performed usually and remains controversial. Thus, we performed a prospective, cross-sectional study to assess the clinico-bacteriological profile of the patients with AECOPD and antibiotic resistance pattern of bacteria isolated from sputum samples. The study involved 104 consecutive hospitalized patients, of either gender, aged 40–90 years, and diagnosed with AECOPD. Before initiating an empirical antibiotic therapy, the sputum samples of all the patients were collected and subjected to Gram staining, bacterial culture, and antibiotic sensitivity.

Results

The most common bacterial isolates were P. aeruginosa (30.7%) followed by K. pneumoniae (20.3%) and S. pneumoniae (8.6%). Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were most sensitive to Meropenem (91%) followed by Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (83%). However, these bacteria were most resistant to Cefoperazone-sulbactam (43%) followed by Levofloxacin (41%). P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae were most resistant to Cefoperazone-sulbactam (23%) followed by Fluoroquinolones (23–35%), while S. pneumoniae was most resistant to Ciprofloxacin (44%) followed by Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (33%).

Conclusions

Isolation of P. aeruginosa, as the most common agent, further confirms its roles in severe attacks of AECOPD. The regularly used antibiotics were found to be resistant to most isolates, thereby suggesting that severity of AECOPD may be attributed to the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains.
Tympanoplasty success based on surgeon and patient-reported outcomes perspectives: a 10-year review in a tertiary center
Authors: Tshifularo M.
Published: January 2022

Background

The latest international trends in healthcare put more emphasis on patients’ perspectives in reporting success in surgical procedures. A holistic approach in measuring surgical outcomes, defined as global success, should include the patient’s perioperative experiences, expectations, and outcome measures. In published literature, surgeons propose several definitions of post-operative successful surgical outcomes following tympanoplasty. Most surgical outcomes and the surgeon’s definition of success exclude the patient’s perspectives. Patient-reported outcomes would allow surgeons to understand and measure the benefit of the several procedures performed from the perspective of the patients. Current definitions of successful tympanoplasty do not capture patient reported outcomes which are important to patients. A divergence is frequently found between outcomes relevant to the patient and to the surgeon. Patient-reported outcomes would complement traditionally measured clinical outcomes by the surgeon to give a true global outcome measuring success. The main aim of the current study was to propose a definition of true global success following tympanoplasty by combining the patient’s and the surgeon’s reported satisfaction rate based on the indication and the goals for the operation.

Results

A total of 128 procedures were performed on128 ears in 125 patients, of which 52% (n = 57) were done on the right and 48% (n = 61) on the left side. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.07). There was a female preponderance, with 62% females and 44% males (p = 0.105). The majority of patients, 63% (n = 68), were between the age of 26 and 45 years, while 19% (n = 20) fell into the 46- to 60-year age range, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.21). There was complete graft take in 77% (107/128) of the ears in whereas 23% (21/128) of the ears the graft had not taken at the 6-month follow-up period. The true global success satisfaction rate was 92% (chi-square test = 119; p = 0.001) compared to the 77% surgical success.

Conclusion

In assessing success in tympanoplasty, the patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes, when considered against agreed goals and indications, correlate well statistically. In this cohort, the true global success satisfaction rate was 92% (chi-square test = 119; p = 0.001 < 0.05) compared to 77% surgical success, based on graft take only. The combination of patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes would be beneficial in reporting true global success in tympanoplasty.
Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: DenSiFy Study (Diabetes Spine Fractures)
Authors: Coll Julie-Catherine , Garceau Élodie , Leslie William D , Genest Mathieu , Michou Laëtitia , Weisnagel S John , Mac-Way Fabrice , Albert Caroline , Morin Suzanne N , Rabasa-Lhoret Rémi , Gagnon Claudia
Published: January 2022

Context

Vertebral fracture (VF) prevalence up to 24% has been reported among young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). If this high prevalence is confirmed, individuals with T1D could benefit from preventative VF screening.

Objective

We compared the prevalence of VFs between adults with T1D and nondiabetic controls.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 127 adults with T1D, and 65 controls with a similar age, sex, and BMI distribution, from outpatient clinics of 2 tertiary care centers. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used for prevalent VFs. The modified algorithm-based qualitative (mABQ) method was applied. Bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) were assessed by DXA. Serum bone turnover markers and sclerostin were measured in a subgroup of participants.

Results

Participants with T1D (70 women, 57 men) had a mean age of 42.8 ± 14.8 years, median diabetes duration of 25.8 (15.8-34.4) years, mean BMI of 26.6 ± 5.4 kg/m2 and mean HbA1c over the past 3 years of 7.5 ± 0.9%. Controls (35 women, 30 men) had mean age of 42.2 ± 15.9 years and mean BMI of 26.1 ± 5.1 kg/m2. VF prevalence was comparable between groups (2.4% vs 3.1%, P = 0.99). TBS, BMD at the total hip and femoral neck, and bone formation and resorption markers were lower while sclerostin levels were similar in participants with T1D vs controls.

Conclusion

Our VFA results using the mABQ method do not confirm increased prevalence of VFs in men and women with relatively well-controlled T1D.
“My Whole Life I’ve Been on the Run”: Fugitivity as a Postracial Trope inRed Dead Redemption 2
Authors: Marks Katrina
Published: January 2022

This article discusses the popular video game Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) by Rockstar Games, which follows Arthur Morgan, a white outlaw, during the decline of the “Wild West” in 1898 and 1899. Taking up conversations of fugitivity in critical ethnic studies, this article maintains that fugitivity operates as a rhetorical trope that stands in for racial identity where the logic of postracialism denies investments in race. Analyzing the narrative, spatial, and kinesthetic elements of the game, this article argues that Morgan, and by extension the player, is aligned with historically and geographically racialized others through a fugitive relationship to space. While Rockstar, as a video game studio, may not see itself explicitly intervening in a racialized and racializing political imaginary in its fictional worldbuilding, the kinesthetic, narrative, and cartographic strategies the studio employs respond to a set of cultural assumptions rooted in the rhetoric of postracialism. As such, Red Dead Redemption 2 serves as a multifaceted text through which to interrogate the dynamics of that rhetoric as it is mobilized in representations of fugitivity and identity.
Political Turnover, Bureaucratic Turnover, and the Quality of Public Services
Authors: Akhtari Mitra , Moreira Diana , Trucco Laura
Published: January 2022

We study how political turnover in mayoral elections in Brazil affects public service provision by local governments. Exploiting a regression discontinuity design for close elections, we find that municipalities with a new party in office experience upheavals in the municipal bureaucracy: new personnel are appointed across multiple service sectors, and at both managerial and non-managerial levels. In education, the increase in the replacement rate of personnel in schools controlled by the municipal government is accompanied by test scores that are 0.05–0.08 standard deviations lower. In contrast, turnover of the mayor’s party does not impact local (non-municipal) schools. These findings suggest that political turnover can adversely affect the quality of public services when the bureaucracy is not shielded from the political process. (JEL D72, D73, H75, H76, J45, O17)
Solving the enigma
Authors: Καραμουχτάρη Μαρία
Published: January 2022

To Έγκλημα της Επίθεσης: ατομική ποινική ευθύνη για παράνομη χρήση βίας. Ενώ στην περίπτωση των εγκλημάτων πολέμου, των εγκλημάτων κατά της ανθρωπότητας και τη γενοκτονία, το διεθνές δίκαιο επιβάλλει υποχρεώσεις στα κράτη να απέχουν από πράξεις που διαπράττονται στην πραγματικότητα από άτομα και στοιχειοθετούν ταυτόχρονα κρατική ευθύνη και ατομική ποινική ευθύνη, στην περίπτωση της επίθεσης, από την άλλη πλευρά, υπάρχουν δύο διαφορετικές πράξεις από διαφορετικούς δρώντες, με την πράξη που διαπράχθηκε από ένα κράτος να αποτελεί προϋπόθεση για την ποινική ευθύνη των ατόμων. Στην πραγματικότητα, είναι η ατομική λήψη αποφάσεων και δράση που προκαλεί έναν επιθετικό πόλεμο από ένα κράτος. Ωστόσο, από νομικής απόψεως, η θεμελίωση της ποινικής ευθύνης των ατόμων προϋποθέτει έναν επιθετικό πόλεμο από ένα κράτος, σύμφωνα με το διεθνές δίκαιο. Ως εκ τούτου, για την επίτευξη ενός αντικειμενικού προσδιορισμού της επίθεσης, είναι κρίσιμο να καθοριστούν ποια κριτήρια πρέπει να αξιολογηθούν, πρώτον όσον αφορά μια περίπτωση χρήσης βίας από ένα κράτος και, δεύτερον, την ακριβή συμμετοχή ενός ατόμου στην πραγμάτωσή της. Οι αποφάσεις της Νυρεμβέργης και του Τόκιο και η κρατική και δικανική πρακτική μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο φαίνεται να προτείνουν τρία κριτήρια που πρέπει να εφαρμοστούν σωρευτικά: (i) τον παράνομο χαρακτήρα της προσφυγής στη χρήση βίας (ii) την κακή πίστη του κράτους κατά την προσφυγή στη χρήση βίας (iii) το μέγεθος ή το κλιμακούμενο αποτέλεσμα της βίας που χρησιμοποιείται από ένα κράτος. Όπως θα εκθέσω στην παρούσα διατριβή, ο ορισμός της Ειδικής Ομάδας Εργασίας για το Έγκλημα Επίθεσης ήταν ένας προσεκτικά σχεδιασμένος ελιγμός για να αποφευχθεί ένας προκαθορισμένος ορισμός της επίθεσης κρίνοντας κατά περίπτωση τις προϋποθέσεις που πρέπει να πληρούνται και ποια κριτήρια πρέπει να αξιολογηθούν ώστε να "χαρακτηριστεί και ποσοτικοποιηθεί" μια συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση χρήσης βίας ως "επίθεση" - υπό την έννοια του εάν έχει γίνει παράνομη χρήση βίας διακρατικά- για την απόδοση ατομικής ποινικής ευθύνης ενσωματώνοντας τον ορισμό της επίθεσης που είχε δοθεί από τη Γενική Συνέλευση των Ηνωμένων Εθνών το 1974, ο οποίος διευκρινίζει περαιτέρω την έννοια της επίθεσης του Χάρτη των Ηνωμένων Εθνών ως προς το έγκλημα της επίθεσης. Διότι η ουσία της ατομικής ποινικής ευθύνης για το έγκλημα της επίθεσης είναι η νομιμότητα ή μη της πραγματικής χρήσης βίας σε συνδυασμό με την ατομική λήψη αποφάσεων. Η Ειδική Ομάδα Εργασίας για το Έγκλημα της Επίθεσης κατάφερε τελικά να μετατοπίσει το σημείο ενδιαφέροντος από το κράτος στο άτομο ως τον κύριο δράστη του εγκλήματος της επίθεσης, παραλληλίζοντας εφεξής «το κράτος σε ένα όπλο που χρησιμοποιεί ένας πολιτικός εναντίον άλλου κράτους».
Εφαρμογές προσεγγιστικής συλλογιστικής (approximate reasoning) και ασαφούς στατιστικής
Authors: Μυλωνάς Νικόλαος
Published: January 2022

Στο πρώτο μέρος της διατριβής αυτής γίνεται θεωρητική τεκμηρίωση της θεμελιώδους έννοιας της ασαφούς στατιστικής, του ασαφούς εκτιμητή στα πλαίσια της θεωρίας δυνατοτήτων (possibility theory), με τη βοήθεια της οποίας υπολογίζονται διαστήματα εμπιστοσύνης και παράγονται ασαφή στατιστικά. Με τη βοήθεια αυτών αναπτύσσονται σύμφωνα με τη θεωρία δυνατοτήτων σε περιπτώσεις στις οποίες και τα δεδομένα και οι υποθέσεις είναι κλασσικά: 1) ασαφείς έλεγχοι υποθέσεων οι οποίοι οδηγούν σε έναν βαθμό απόρριψης ή αποδοχής της μηδενικής υπόθεσης, 2) ασαφείς p-value, με τη βοήθεια των οποίων γίνονται εναλλακτικά ασαφείς έλεγχοι υποθέσεων.Στο δεύτερο μέρος, προτείνεται μία μέθοδος επιλογής της καταλληλότερης συνεπαγωγής από ένα σύνολο συνεπαγωγών σύμφωνα με ένα σύνολο δεδομένων, χρησιμοποιώντας συστήματα ασαφών κανόνων IF-THEN (fuzzy rule-based system) και τον συνθετικό κανόνα συναγωγής (compositional rule of inference ή CRI της προσεγγιστικής συλλογιστικής
A new alien fish in the Mediterranean Sea; Oxyurichtys keiensis (Smith, 1938) (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae)
Authors: ÖZDEN UĞUR , SEYHAN ÖZTÜRK DILRUBA , IRMAK ERHAN , ÇAĞLAR ORUÇ ADNAN , ENGİN SEMIH
Published: January 2022

An Indian Ocean goby, Oxyurichtys keiensis (Smith, 1938), is recorded from the northern Levantine coast of Turkey. The identification of Oxyurichtys keiensis was carried out using morphological characters and DNA barcoding data. This species is distinguished from only lessepsian congeneric, in the Mediterranean Sea, Oxyurichtys petersii, by sensory papilla pattern, scales in lateral series and tongue shape. In this study, the presence of the 13rd alien gobiid species of the Mediterranean Sea, which tends to create established populations far from its native distribution is presented.
Working Paper 15: Tracking and tracing stolen assets in foreign jurisdictions
Authors: Monteith Charles , Dornbierer Andrew
Published: January 2022

It has been estimated that roughly 1.6 trillion USD in criminal proceeds are laundered through the international financial system each year. To put this in perspective, this sum is more than the combined GDPs of Switzerland, Portugal, Romania, Belarus, and Austria in 2011.

To enjoy this unnerving amount of illicit assets, criminals are forced to launder these funds through legitimate international financial channels in an attempt to disguise their illegitimate origins. Consequently, if an investigator knows how and where to look, there is always a connection that links a criminal’s assets to his or her crimes – and if sufficient evidence of this connection can be shown, then law enforcers can use it to successfully take legal action and return the assets to the victims of their crime.

This paper appeared in eucrim, the European Criminal Law Associations’ Forum, 2013/2, published by Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, c/o Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg i. B., Germany.
Working Paper 26: The ambivalence of social networks and their role in spurring and potential for curbing petty corruption: comparative insights from East Africa
Authors: Kassa Saba , Stahl Cosimo
Published: January 2022

This paper compares social network dynamics and related petty corrupt practices in East Africa. It highlights how the properties of structural and functional networks could serve as entry points for anti-corruption interventions.

With a focus on the health sector in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, the empirical findings from this research corroborate the role of social networks in perpetuating collective practices of petty corruption, including bribery, favouritism and gift-giving.

The paper makes a case for designing a novel type of behavioural anti-corruption intervention, whereby the power of social networks is harnessed to elicit behavioural and attitudinal change for anti-corruption outcomes.
Working Paper 31: Applying the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act to gold refineries
Authors: Mbiyavanga Stefan
Published: January 2022

Switzerland is the world leader in gold refining. Of the roughly 2,200–3,100 tonnes of raw gold imported into the country each year,  the majority is destined for Swiss gold refineries. Together these companies are estimated to refine 50–70 percent of the world’s gold production, transforming it into gold bars, semi-finished products and other goods. 

The imported gold loses all traces of its origin during the refining process. Due to the high-quality manufacturing standards of Swiss refineries, and the fact that they possess all of the pertinent accreditations, the gold can afterwards be traded as "Swiss" gold on international financial markets without restrictions.

At the same time, the international gold trade is enormously vulnerable to money laundering operations by drug cartels and other forms of organised crime networks, terrorist organisations, and kleptocrats.  As the world centre of gold refining, Switzerland is highly exposed to these money laundering risks. 

This Working Paper first analyses money laundering risks in the gold trade, supported by examples. This is followed by an overview of the gold refineries' due diligence obligations under existing self-regulation and the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). It is shown that the self-regulation models have, at best, mixed success and that the core business of the refineries is not subject to the AMLA. Finally, the paper sets out the pros and cons of applying the AMLA obligations to the core business of Swiss refineries.
Badania techniki i technologii malarskiej cudami słynącej Piety z Czarnego Potoku (1649 r.)
Authors: Borowska Anna , Goryl Maria , Walczak Małgorzata
Published: January 2022

W ramach trzeciego naboru wniosków MOLAB/FIXLAB PL w 2019 r. zrealizowano program badań obrazu tablicowego z cudami słynącym wizerunkiem Matki Boskiej Bolesnej, tzw. Piety z Czarnego Potoku (1649 r.), której autorstwo przypisuje się antwerpskiemu malarzowi wykształconemu w Rzymie – Mateuszowi Ingermanowi, osiadłemu w Małopolsce w XVII w. Obraz został z obu stron sfotografowany w światłach analitycznych (VIS, Na, UV, IR), a następnie poddany skanowaniu metodą makrofluorescencji rentgenowskiej (MA–XRF), dzięki czemu uzyskano czytelne mapy rozkładu pierwiastków na jego powierzchni i wstępną ocenę użytych przez artystę pigmentów oraz zasięg późniejszych przekształceń. Na odwrociu, pod widniejącym napisem czernią, odnaleziono jego pierwotną wersję o zbieżnej treści, z dodatkowo widocznymi dwiema kolejnymi literami nazwiska dawnego proboszcza kościoła w Czarnym Potoku. Z kluczowych miejsc malowidła pobrano i przygotowano przekroje boczne, które poddano energodyspersyjnej analizie rentgenowskiej na skaningowym mikroskopie elektronowym z analizatorem EDS (SEM-EDS), co pozwoliło na szczegółowe rozpoznanie stratygrafii poszczególnych partii obiektu i ich składu. Stwierdzono występowanie na obrazie ciekawej imprimitury oraz użycie w warstwach malarskich: kredy, gipsu, bieli ołowiowej, minii, vermillionu, ochry, aurypigmentu/realgaru, glejty ołowiowej, azurytu, smalty, ultramaryny, czerni kostnej, roślinnej, umbry oraz laserunków organicznych, w tym kraplaku. W trakcie badań potwierdzono autentyczność wyjątkowej aureoli wokół głowy Matki Bożej. Badania uzupełniono analizą spoiwmetodą spektroskopii adsorpcyjnej w podczerwieni (FTIR). Ustalono, że tablica pokryta jest zaprawą kredowo-klejową, a malowidło wykonano w technice białkowo-żywicznej.
The History of Dowry Chests Captured in Wood: Dendrochronological Research on Chests from the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, Greece
Authors: Christopoulou Anastasia , Gmińska-Nowak Barbara , Ważny Tomasz
Published: January 2022

Chests represented important piece of the household and sacral furniture until the end of 18th century. They were commonly used as containers, both for everyday needsand also for special occasions such as in the case of marriage/dowry chests. Nowadays chests can be found in museums, monasteries, palaces, historic buildings, but alsoin private collections, with some of them having great aesthetic, ethnographic and historical interest. In the current study we present the results of wood examinationof five chests exhibited in the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights in Rhodes, Greece. Most of them were made of walnut, while the one made of conifer was useful for further dendrochronological analysis. Macroscopic examination of timber and cross-dating results suggest that the species used for its construction is most probablyCedrus libani, originating from Turkey. 1698 AD is the outermost preserved (most recent) ring, placing the chest’s construction during the Early Modern period of Europe,most likely at the beginning of the 18th century. Regarding the timber origin, the chest is an example confirming that during the early 18th century there was a trade betweenEurope and the East Aegean Islands, which then belonged to the Ottoman Empire.
O książce Beaty Długajczyk i Leszka Machnika na temat muzeum Lubomirskich we Lwowie
Authors: De Rosset Tomasz F.
Published: January 2022

Artykuł jest prezentacją i oceną książki Beaty Długajczyk i Leszka Machnika na temat muzeum Lubomirskich we Lwowie (Muzeum Lubomirskich 1823–1940. Zbiór malarstwa, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Ossolineum, 2019).
„Skuteczność stosowania fali uderzeniowej w wybranych dysfunkcjach narządu ruchu”
Authors: Momot-Kuryło Magdalena , Grzegorczyk Michał
Published: January 2022

"Effectiveness of using the shock wave in selected dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system"

mgr. Magdalena Momot-Kuryło Rehabilitation and Sports Center "Medi-Sport" in Lublin

dr Michał Grzegorczyk Department of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation, Chair of Rehabilitation and Balneotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin.

 

Introduction

    In medicine, the shockwave was first used in the 1980s for lithotripsy [1]. Over time, new reports appeared about its positive impact on the human body, including on the musculoskeletal system. Nowadays it is successfully used in many fields of medicine.

 

Objective of the work

    The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the shock wave application in patients with patellar ligament enthesopathy, lateral epicondylitis of the humerus and heel spur.

 

Material and methods

The research was carried out in CM Luxmed, ul. Zwycięska 6a and CM MEDISPORT at ul. Łabędzia in Lublin in the period from 01/12/2020. until December 10, 2021 75 patients took part in them. 25 of them were diagnosed with patellar ligament enthesopathy, another 25 with lateral epicondylitis of the humerus. The remaining 25 people received shock wave treatments for the heel spur. Each respondent underwent 5 shock wave treatments. Before starting the research, the respondents were informed about the purpose of the research. Moreover, they were guaranteed anonymity.

 

Results:

     Among the surveyed people, in general, 50.7% (n = 38) of all respondents were women, and 49.3% (n = 37) - men. 36% (n = 9) women and 64% (n = 16) men were among the respondents treated for lateral epicondylitis of the humerus. In the case of the jumper's knee, the study group consisted of 60% (n = 15) women and 40% (n = 10) men, while in the group of patients with the heel spur, women constituted 56% (n = 14), and men 44% (n = 11).
Una mirada crítica a la aplicación del amparo de pobreza en el proceso arbitral colombiano
Authors: Brito Luisa , Huertas Laura
Published: January 2022

El presente artículo tiene como finalidad analizar la aplicabilidad teórica y práctica del amparo de pobreza en el proceso arbitral, y evaluar la posibilidad de emplear el arbitraje social como una herramienta para la búsqueda de una justicia incluyente e igualitaria. El amparo de pobreza se fundamenta en la necesidad de lograr el acceso a la administración de justicia y la igualdad material, brindando a las personas de bajos recursos económicos una posibilidad de resolver sus conflictos. Sin embargo, el arbitraje no parece ser compatible con dicha lógica, porque dada su naturaleza, para acceder a este proceso se hace necesario sufragar ciertos costos.
Science and the Market for Technology
Authors: Arora Ashish , Belenzon Sharon , Suh Jungkyu
Published: January 2022

Well-functioning markets for technology (MFT) allow inventors to sell their inventions to others that may derive more value from them. We argue that the growing use of science in inventions enhances MFT. Science-based inventions have higher gains from trade and lower transaction costs. This relationship is amplified in equilibrium because science-based inventions are also likely to feature smaller inventors with a greater propensity to trade. Using large-scale data, we show that patents citing science are more likely to be traded, especially for novel patents and for smaller inventors. We conclude that the growing use of science in invention is beneficial by encouraging the expansion of MFT and supporting a division of innovative labor.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, entrepreneurship and innovation.