bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guidelines for reporting methods to estimate metabolic rates by aquatic intermittent-flow respirometry
Authors: Killen Shaun S. , Christensen Emil A. F. , Cortese Daphne , Závorka Libor , Norin Tommy , Cotgrove Lucy , Crespel Amélie , Munson Amelia , Nati Julie J. H. , Papatheodoulou Magdalene , McKenzie David J.
Published: September 2021

Interest in the measurement of metabolic rates is growing rapidly, because of the importance of metabolism in advancing our understanding of organismal physiology, behaviour, evolution and responses to environmental change. The study of metabolism in aquatic animals is undergoing an especially pronounced expansion, with more researchers utilising intermittent-flow respirometry as a research tool than ever before. Aquatic respirometry measures the rate of oxygen uptake as a proxy for metabolic rate, and the intermittent-flow technique has numerous strengths for use with aquatic animals, allowing metabolic rate to be repeatedly estimated on individual animals over several hours or days and during exposure to various conditions or stimuli. There are, however, no published guidelines for the reporting of methodological details when using this method. Here, we provide the first guidelines for reporting intermittent-flow respirometry methods, in the form of a checklist of criteria that we consider to be the minimum required for the interpretation, evaluation and replication of experiments using intermittent-flow respirometry. Furthermore, using a survey of the existing literature, we show that there has been incomplete and inconsistent reporting of methods for intermittent-flow respirometry over the past few decades. Use of the provided checklist of required criteria by researchers when publishing their work should increase consistency of the reporting of methods for studies that use intermittent-flow respirometry. With the steep increase in studies using intermittent-flow respirometry, now is the ideal time to standardise reporting of methods, so that – in the future – data can be properly assessed by other scientists and conservationists.
Clinical evaluation of data-driven respiratory gating for PET/CT in an oncological cohort of 149 patients: impact on image quality and patient management
Authors: Messerli Michael , Liberini Virginia , Grünig Hannes , Maurer Alexander , Skawran Stephan , Lohaus Niklas , Husmann Lars , Orita Erika , Trinckauf Josephine , Kaufmann Philipp A. , Huellner Martin W.
Published: September 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the impact of fully automatic motion correction by data-driven respiratory gating (DDG) on positron emission tomography (PET) image quality, lesion detection and patient management.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 149 patients undergoing PET/CT for cancer (re-)staging were retrospectively included. Patients underwent a PET/CT on a digital detector scanner and for every patient a PET data set where DDG was enabled (PETDDG) and as well as where DDG was not enabled (PETnonDDG) was reconstructed. All PET data sets were evaluated by two readers which rated the general image quality, motion effects and organ contours. Further, both readers reviewed all scans on a case-by-case basis and evaluated the impact of PETDDG on additional apparent lesion, change of report, and change of management.

Results:

In 85% (n = 126) of the patients, at least one bed position was acquired using DDG, resulting in mean scan time increase of 4:37 min per patient in the whole study cohort (n = 149). General image quality was not rated differently for PETnonDDG and PETDDG images (p = 1.000) while motion effects (i.e. indicating general blurring) was rated significantly lower in PETDDG images and organ contours, including liver and spleen, were rated significantly sharper using PETDDG as compared to PETnonDDG (all p < 0.001). In 27% of patients, PETDDG resulted in a change of the report and in a total of 12 cases (8%), PETDDG resulted in a change of further clinical management.

Conclusion:

Deviceless DDG provided reliable fully automatic motion correction in clinical routine and increased lesion detectability and changed management in a considerable number of patients.

Advances in knowledge:

DDG enables PET/CT with respiratory gating to be used routinely in clinical practice without external gating equipment needed.
Integration of imaging modalities in digital dental workflows - possibilities, limitations, and potential future developments
Authors: Shujaat Sohaib , Bornstein Michael M. , Price Jeffery B. , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: September 2021

The digital workflow process follows different steps for all dental specialties. However, the main ingredient for the diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up workflow recipes is the imaging chain. The steps in the imaging chain usually include all or at least some of the following modalities: cone-beam computed tomographic data acquisition, segmentation of the cone-beam computed tomography image, intraoral scanning, facial three-dimensional soft tissue capture and superimposition of all the images for the creation of a virtual augmented model. As a relevant clinical problem, the accumulation of error at each step of the chain might negatively influence the final outcome. For an efficient digital workflow, it is important to be aware of the existing challenges within the imaging chain. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-based strategies need to be integrated in the future to make the workflow more simplified, accurate and efficient.
COVID-19 measures and human rights guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution
Authors: Akiyama Hajime
Published: September 2021

Since March 2020, the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response has been a significant statute in dealing with COVID-19 in Japan. The Act mandates requests, instructions and orders for business suspension and shortened business hours, as well as stay-at-home requests. These measures limit freedom of movement and establishment, guaranteed rights under the Japanese Constitution. This article poses the following research question: “Does the Japanese Constitution allow measures against COVID-19 such as requests, instructions and orders for business suspension and shortened business hours, and stay-at-home requests?” It also asks: “Are measures with penalties allowed by the Constitution?” given the fact that the penalties were introduced in February 2021. This paper introduces constitutional concepts that guarantee or limit individual freedom. Concepts that guarantee individual freedoms include freedom of establishment and movement. These freedoms derive from the constitutional values of freedom to choose one’s occupation and choose and change one’s residence (Art. 22) and the right to own or hold property (Art. 29). Concepts that limit individual freedom include the right to life (Art. 13), welfare rights and public health (Art. 25), and public welfare (Art. 13). Individual freedom that threatens right to life, welfare rights and public health, and public welfare may not be guaranteed. This paper argues that the Constitution allows the measures against COVID-19 limiting freedom of establishment and movement from the perspectives of the right to life, welfare rights, public health, and public welfare, and the government is responsible for reducing the risk to life from COVID-19. It also argues that the Constitution permits measures with penalties, while proportionality needs to be considered.
The genome sequence of the small tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Bishop Gertjan , Ebdon Sam , Lohse Konrad , Vila Roger ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: September 2021

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Aglais urticae (also known as Nymphalis urticae; the small tortoiseshell; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae). The genome sequence is 384 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosome assembled.
Low-cost circular LED dome lighting system for Insecta (Hexapoda) image capture in self-assembly stereomicroscope
Authors: Ferreira André da Silva , Bravo Freddy , Castro Ivan
Published: September 2021

The use of high-resolution images in studies of morphology, taxonomy and systematics has been increasingly frequent, especially in Insecta. However, suitable lighting systems are still very expensive and/or difficult to use. On the other hand, currently the use of 3D printers has helped to make lighting equipment more accessible for researchers to equip their laboratories. Here we present a low-cost circular LED dome lighting system for capturing scientific micro and macro photography on a self-assembly stereomicroscope. We also present the necessary components for making the dome, as well as the elements used to capture the photographs.
ELIAS CANETTI E TONI MARAINI A MARRAKECH: UN VIAGGIO NELLA MEMORIA.
Authors: Jaran Mahmoud
Published: September 2021

Nel presente articolo, si prendono in esame due opere di due autori decisamente lontani l’uno dall’altra, ma che si incontrano negli stessi luoghi nei loro sentimenti. La prima opera è “Le voci di Marrakech” (1968), dello scrittore bulgaro di famiglia ebrea e premio Nobel per la Letteratura, Elias Canetti, mentre la seconda è “Ultimo tè a Marrakech”, un diario di viaggio uscito nel 2000, della scrittrice e poetessa italiana, Toni Maraini. Entrambi questi viaggi nel mondo arabo, sono ritratto socioculturale del Marocco contemporaneo, conditi da squarci di vita quotidiana, i quali in modi e forme differenti, offrono la possibilità di compiere una serie di analisi e di riflessioni che interessano la tesa relazione ontologica tra occidente e oriente, ma anche una vasta gamma di campi interdisciplinari: dal femminismo alla teoria postcoloniale;dalla politica ai cultural studies
METAMORFOSIS LINGÜÍSTICA Y ESCRITURA AUTOBIOGRÁFICA EN IN ALTRE PAROLE DE JHUMPA LAHIRI.
Authors: Ojea Fernández María Elena
Published: September 2021

La escritora americana Jhumpa Lahiri plantea en su último libro la problemática de la identidad lingüística y social. La decisión de utilizar el italiano y no el inglés, se percibe como una transformación que la autora explica recurriendo a una écnica propia de la escritura femenina: el relato autobiográfico. La lengua aparece entonces como un factor clave en la formación de identidades personales y colectivas. Nuestra propuesta examina el uso que Lahiri hace del italiano como motor del cambio. Por otra parte, la autora alcanza tal empatía con el lector que la historia se convierte en un claro ejemplo de escritura femenina.
Writing into the Open
Authors: Martinez Matthew
Published: September 2021

This Open Space article poetically explores the potential of writing as a transformative practice. The interweaving of analytical and creative registers generates an intertextuality that is influenced by Hélène Cixous’s concept of ‘écriture féminine’. This practice is taken as a methodology and contributes to the article through providing examples of the ways in which different forms of writing are capable of pushing boundaries and, in due course, effecting change. In light of the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I attempt to illustrate how writing across and through genres and disciplinary boundaries might offer hopeful alternative ways of thinking and being.
Micromachining of glassy carbon using a Yb-based master oscillator power amplifier nanosecond fiber laser
Authors: Li Kun , Chopra Pranav , O’Neill William
Published: September 2021

Laser machining of glassy carbon was experimentally investigated using a 1065 nm wavelength Yb-based master oscillator power amplifier fiber laser source. Ablation characteristics were determined for SIGRADUR G glassy carbon samples using laser fluence of less than

3

J

/

c
m

2

. The ablation threshold was found to be

0.31

J

/

c
m

2

for incident pulse repetition rates of 250 and 500 kHz. Glassy carbon exhibited excellent machining characteristics with features of clearly defined edges and smooth surfaces. The ablation rate varied linearly with fluence over the range

0.31

−

1.3

J

/

c
m

2

. High-quality glassy carbon microstructures were created with optimum laser parameters.
Wireless-optical-communication-based cooperative IoT and IoUT system for ocean monitoring applications
Authors: Naik Ramavath Prasad , Simha G. D. Goutham , Krishnan Prabu
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes the idea of a new cooperative communication between the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) using wireless optical connectivity for ocean monitoring applications. We considered IoT communication using a hybrid radio frequency (RF)/free space optical (FSO) link and IoUT using a underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) link. Channel models for RF, FSO, and UWOC links are considered to be Rayleigh, Malaga with pointing errors, and hyperbolic tangent log-normal distributions, respectively. The outage probability and the bit error rate (BER) expressions for the proposed system are derived over the combined channel model, which includes the effects of attenuation, turbulence, and pointing errors. The BER results are plotted for various binary digital modulation schemes such as on–off keying, binary phase-shift keying, binary frequency-shift keying, and differential phase-shift keying over UWOC, hybrid RF/FSO and RF-UWOC, FSO-UWOC with end-to-end systems. BER results are extended for various turbulence regions and pointing errors of the FSO link. Monte Carlo simulation results authenticate the correctness of the results.
Investigation of the scattering and attenuation properties of cataracts formed in mouse eyes with 1060-nm and 1310-nm swept-source optical coherence tomography
Authors: Eugui Pablo , Merkle Conrad W. , Gesperger Johanna , Lichtenegger Antonia , Baumann Bernhard
Published: September 2021

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Here we propose optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a quantitative method for investigating cataracts. OCT provides volumetric and non-invasive access to the lens and makes it possible to rapidly observe the formation of opacifications in animal models such as mice. We compared the performance of two different wavelengths – 1060 nm and 1310 nm – for OCT imaging in cataract research. In addition, we present multi-contrast OCT capable of mapping depth-resolved scattering and average anterior cortical attenuation properties of the crystalline lens and quantitatively characterize induced cataract development in the mouse eye. Lastly, we also propose a novel method based on the retinal OCT projection image for quantifying and mapping opacifications in the lens, which showed a good correlation with scattering and attenuation characteristics simultaneously analyzed during the process of cataract formation in the lens.
Sub-15-fs X-ray pump and X-ray probe experiment for the study of ultrafast magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic alloys
Authors: Liu Xuan , Merhe Alaaeldine , Jal Emmanuelle , Delaunay Renaud , Jarrier Romain , Chardonnet Valentin , Hennes Marcel , Chiuzbaian Sorin G. , Légaré Katherine , Hennecke Martin , Radu Ilie , Von Korff Schmising Clemens , Grunewald Særen , Kuhlmann Marion , Lüning Jan , Vodungbo Boris
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we present a new setup for the measurement of element-specific ultrafast magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic thin films with a sub-15-fs time resolution. Our experiment relies on a split and delay approach which allows us to fully exploit the shortest X-rays pulses delivered by X-ray Free Electrons Lasers (close to the attosecond range), in an X-ray pump – X-ray probe geometry. The setup performance is demonstrated by measuring the ultrafast elemental response of Ni and Fe during demagnetization of ferromagnetic Ni and Ni80Fe20 (Permalloy) samples upon resonant excitation at the corresponding absorption edges. The transient demagnetization process is measured in both reflection and transmission geometry using, respectively, the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (T-MOKE) and the Faraday effect as probing mechanisms.
Unraveling the physical information of depolarizers
Authors: Van Eeckhout Albert , Gil Jose J. , Garcia-Caurel Enrique , Romero Javier García , Ossikovski Razvigor , José Ignacio San , Moreno Ignacio , Campos Juan , Lizana Angel
Published: September 2021

The link between depolarization measures and physical nature and structure of material media inducing depolarization is nowadays an open question. This article shows how the joint use of two complementary sets of depolarizing metrics, namely the Indices of polarimetric purity and the Components of purity, are sufficient to completely describe the integral depolarizing properties of a sample. Based on a collection of illustrative and representative polarimetric configurations, a clear and meaningful physical interpretation of such metrics is provided, thus extending the current tools and comprehension for the study and analysis of the depolarizing properties of material media. This study could be of interest to those users dealing with depolarization or depolarizing samples.
Experimental investigation of short pulse Raman amplification with backward pumping
Authors: Vanderhaegen Guillaume , Szriftgiser Pascal , Conforti Matteo , Kudlinski Alexandre , Droques Maxime , Mussot Arnaud
Published: September 2021

We report an experimental study on the backward-pumped Raman amplification of short pulses into a 20.3 km long optical fiber. We demonstrate that the gain and the pump saturation depend on the pulse duration. We also reveal that for short enough pulses, the amplification process remains linear, and very high peak powers, even larger than the Raman pump, are achievable. Numerical simulations reproduce the experimental results with excellent agreement.
2  µm lasing from Tm3+-doped PbO-PbF2-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 glass microspheres
Authors: Yu Jin , Du Yanqiu , Zhao Xiaotong , Jia Shijie , Li Zhenrui , Wang Shunbin , Wang Pengfei
Published: September 2021

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasers at

∼

2

µ

m

are demonstrated in PbO-

P
b
F

2

-

B
i

2

O

3

-

G
a

2

O

3

(PBG) heavy metal oxyfluoride glass microspheres. A 793 nm diode laser is used to pump the PBG microsphere and achieve single-mode and multimode WGM lasing. The fluorescence spectra of

T
m

3
+

-doped PBG glasses are measured under 793 nm diode laser pumping. The maximum absorption and emission cross sections of

T
m

3
+

:

3

F

4

→
3

H

6

are calculated to be

8.23

×

10

−
21

and

4.42

×

10

−
20

c
m

2

, respectively. The experimental results indicate that these PBG glass microspheres could become an important photonic component for infrared laser applications.
Shift-variant color-coded diffractive spectral imaging system
Authors: Arguello Henry , Pinilla Samuel , Peng Yifan , Ikoma Hayato , Bacca Jorge , Wetzstein Gordon
Published: September 2021

State-of-the-art snapshot spectral imaging (SI) systems introduce color-coded apertures (CCAs) into their setups to obtain a flexible spatial-spectral modulation, allowing spectral information to be reconstructed from a set of coded measurements. Besides the CCA, other optical elements, such as lenses, prisms, or beam splitters, are usually employed, making systems large and impractical. Recently, diffractive optical elements (DOEs) have partially replaced refractive lenses to drastically reduce the size of the SI devices. The sensing model of these systems is represented as a projection modeled by a spatially shift-invariant convolution between the unknown scene and a point spread function (PSF) at each spectral band. However, the height maps of the DOE are the only free parameters that offer changes in the spectral modulation, which causes the ill-posedness of the reconstruction to increase significantly. To overcome this challenge, our work explores the advantages of the spectral modulation of an optical setup composed of a DOE and a CCA. Specifically, the light is diffracted by the DOE and then filtered by the CCA, located close to the sensor. A shift-variant property of the proposed system is clearly evidenced, resulting in a different PSF for each pixel, where a symmetric structure constraint is imposed on the CCA to reduce the high number of resulting PSFs. Additionally, we jointly design the DOE and the CCA parameters with a fully differentiable image formation model using an end-to-end approach to minimize the deviation between the true and reconstructed image over a large set of images. Simulation shows that the proposed system improves the spectral reconstruction quality in up to 4 dB compared with current state-of-the-art systems. Finally, experimental results with a fabricated prototype in indoor and outdoor scenes validate the proposed system, where it can recover up to 49 high-fidelity spectral bands in the 420–660 nm.
Joint effects of genes underlying a temperature specialization tradeoff in yeast
Authors: AlZaben Faisal , Chuong Julie N. , Abrams Melanie B. , Brem Rachel B.
Published: September 2021

A central goal of evolutionary genetics is to understand, at the molecular level, how organisms adapt to their environments. For a given trait, the answer often involves the acquisition of variants at unlinked sites across the genome. Genomic methods have achieved landmark successes in pinpointing these adaptive loci. To figure out how a suite of adaptive alleles work together, and to what extent they can reconstitute the phenotype of interest, requires their transfer into an exogenous background. We studied the joint effect of adaptive, gain-of-function thermotolerance alleles at eight unlinked genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, when introduced into a thermosensitive sister species, S. paradoxus. Although the loci damped each other’s beneficial impact (that is, they were subject to negative epistasis), most boosted high-temperature growth alone and in combination, and none was deleterious. The complete set of eight genes was sufficient to confer ~15% of the S. cerevisiae thermotolerance phenotype in the S. paradoxus background. The same loci also contributed to a heretofore unknown advantage in cold growth by S. paradoxus. Together, our data establish temperature resistance in yeasts as a model case of a genetically complex evolutionary tradeoff, which can be partly reconstituted from the sequential assembly of unlinked underlying loci.
Assessment of the required performance and the development of corresponding program decision rules for neglected tropical diseases diagnostic tests: Monitoring and evaluation of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control programs as a case study
Authors: Levecke Bruno , Coffeng Luc E. , Hanna Christopher , Pullan Rachel L. , Gass Katherine M.
Published: September 2021

Recently, the World Health Organization established the Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group to identify and prioritize diagnostic needs for neglected tropical diseases, and to ultimately describe the minimal and ideal characteristics for new diagnostic tests (the so-called target product profiles (TPPs)). We developed two generic frameworks: one to explore and determine the required sensitivity (probability to correctly detect diseased persons) and specificity (probability to correctly detect persons free of disease), and another one to determine the corresponding samples sizes and the decision rules based on a multi-category lot quality assurance sampling (MC-LQAS) approach that accounts for imperfect tests. We applied both frameworks for monitoring and evaluation of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control programs. Our study indicates that specificity rather than sensitivity will become more important when the program approaches the endgame of elimination and that the requirements for both parameters are inversely correlated, resulting in multiple combinations of sensitivity and specificity that allow for reliable decision making. The MC-LQAS framework highlighted that improving diagnostic performance results in a smaller sample size for the same level of program decision making. In other words, the additional costs per diagnostic tests with improved diagnostic performance may be compensated by lower operational costs in the field. Based on our results we proposed the required minimal and ideal diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for diagnostic tests applied in monitoring and evaluating of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control programs.
Dying within dyads: Stress, sense of security and support during palliative home care
Authors: Liljeroos Maria , Milberg Per , Krevers Barbro , Milberg Anna
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To examine similarities and dissimilarities in patient and family caregiver dyads in their experience of stress, support, and sense of security.

Methods

144 patients and their family caregivers participated. Patients were admitted to six Swedish specialist palliative home care units and diagnosed with a non-curable disease with an expected short survival. We analysed similarity patterns of answers within dyads (correlations) as well as dissimilarities, expressed as the difference between within-dyad responses. The latter were subjected to a model-building procedure using GLM, with 13 sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as independent variables.

Results

Within dyads, patients and family caregivers scored similar in their perception of support and sense of security with care. There was also dissimilarity within dyad responses in their perception of stress and support that could be attributed to sociodemographic or clinical characteristics. When patients scored higher levels of stress than family caregivers, the family caregiver was more likely to be male. Also family caregiver attachment style (attachment anxiety), patient age and the relationship of the family caregiver to the patient explained dissimilarities within the dyads.

Conclusions

Patients and family caregivers within the dyads often, but not always, had similar scores. We suggest that it is important that the healthcare staff identify situations in which perceptions within the dyads regarding stress and perception of support differ, such that they can recognise patients’ and family caregivers’ unique needs in different situations, to be able to provide adequate support and facilitate dyadic coping.
Difference in racket head trajectory and muscle activity between the standard volley and the drop volley in tennis
Authors: Furuya Ryosuke , Yokoyama Hikaru , Dimic Milos , Yanai Toshimasa , Vogt Tobias , Kanosue Kazuyuki
Published: September 2021

Among tennis coaches and players, the standard volley and drop volley are considered basically similar, but muscles need to be relaxed (deactivation) just at the moment of impact when hitting the drop volley. However, this is not evidence-based. The aim of this study was to clarify racket head trajectory and muscle activity during the drop volley and to compare them with those of the standard volley. We hypothesized that 1) the racket head would move less forward for the drop volley than for the standard volley and 2) the wrist and elbow muscles be relaxed for the drop volley at the time of ball impact. Eleven male college students with sufficient tennis experience volunteered to participate in this study. Wireless EMG sensors recorded activation of the four arm muscles. Each subject performed the standard volley or the drop volley with both a forehand and a backhand from a position near the net. Four high speed video cameras (300 Hz) were set up on the court to measure ball speed and racket head trajectory. Returned ball speed of the drop volley was significantly lower than that of the standard volley (p < 0.05). The racket head moved less forward than in the standard volley, supporting the first hypothesis. Muscle activity of the drop volley, just before and after ball impact for both the forehand and backhand, was lower than that of the standard volley. However, the activity was in the form of a gradual increase as impact time approached, rather than a sudden deactivation (relaxation), which did not support the second hypothesis. For the drop volley, lower muscle activity in the forearm enabled a softer grip and thus allowed a “flip” movement of the racket to diminish the speed of the returned ball.
Time course of changes in the range of motion and muscle-tendon unit stiffness of the hamstrings after two different intensities of static stretching
Authors: Takeuchi Kosuke , Akizuki Kazunori , Nakamura Masatoshi
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the time course of changes in the range of motion and muscle-tendon unit stiffness of the hamstrings after two different intensities of static stretching.

Methods

Fourteen healthy men (20.9 ± 0.7 years, 169.1 ± 7.5cm, 61.6 ± 6.5kg) received static stretching for 60 seconds at two different intensities based on the point of discomfort (100%POD and 120%POD) of each participant, in random order. To evaluate the time course of changes in the flexibility of the hamstrings, the knee extension range of motion (ROM), passive torque at end ROM, and muscle-tendon unit stiffness were measured pre-stretching, post-stretching, and at both 10 and 20 minutes after static stretching.

Results

For both intensities, ROM and passive torque at pre-stretching were significantly smaller than those at post-stretching (p < 0.01 in both intensities), 10 minutes (p < 0.01 in both intensities), and 20 minutes (p < 0.01 in both intensities). The muscle-tendon unit stiffness at pre-stretching was significantly higher than that at post-stretching (p < 0.01), 10 minutes (p < 0.01), and 20 minutes (p < 0.01) only in the 120%POD, but it showed no change in the 100%POD.

Conclusion

The results showed that ROM and passive torque increased in both intensities, and the effects continued for at least 20 minutes after stretching regardless of stretching intensity. However, the muscle-tendon unit stiffness of the hamstrings decreased only after static stretching at the intensity of 120%POD, and the effects continued for at least 20 minutes after stretching.
An exploration of the nomological network of trypophobia
Authors: Mayor Eric , Meyer Andrea , Miani Alessandro , Lieb Roselind
Published: September 2021

Background

Trypophobia is characterised by an aversion to or even revulsion for patterns of holes or visual stimuli featuring such patterns. Past research has shown that trypophobic stimuli trigger emotional and physiological reactions, but relatively little is known about the antecedents, prodromes, or simply covariates of trypophobia.

Aim

The goals of this study were (a) to draw the contours of the nomological network of trypophobia by assessing the associations of symptoms of trypophobia with several constructs that were deemed relevant from past research on anxiety disorders and specific phobias, (b) to compare such associations with those found for symptoms of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia (alternative dependent variables), and (c) to investigate the main effect of gender on symptoms of trypophobia and replicate the association of gender with symptoms of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia (higher scores for women).

Methods

Participants (N = 1,134, 53% men) in this cross-sectional study completed an online questionnaire assessing the constructs of interest.

Results

Most assessed constructs typically associated with anxiety disorders (neuroticism, conscientiousness, anxiety sensitivity, trait anxiety, disgust sensitivity, and disgust propensity) were also associated with trypophobia in the predicted direction. All of these constructs were also associated with spider phobia and blood and injection phobia. Behavioral inhibition was negatively associated with trypophobia and spider phobia—contrary to what was expected, but positively with blood and injection phobia. We found no gender difference in trypophobia, whereas women scored higher on spider phobia and blood and injection phobia.

Discussion

Although some differences were observed, the nomological network of trypophobia was largely similar to that of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia. Further studies are needed to clarify similarities and dissimilarities between trypophobia and specific phobia.
Influence of coronavirus disease 2019 on myopic progression in children treated with low-concentration atropine
Authors: Yum Hae Ri , Park Shin Hae , Shin Sun Young
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused many children to stay indoors. Increased near work and insufficient outdoor activities are considered important risk factors for myopic progression. This study aimed to compare the changes in myopic progression before and after COVID-19 in children treated with low-concentration atropine.

Methods

The records of 103 eyes of 103 children who were treated with low-concentration atropine eye drops were retrospectively reviewed. We classified children according to the concentration of atropine eye drops and children’s age. The beginning of the pre-COVID-19 period was set from January 2019 to May 2019, and the endpoint was set in March 2020. The beginning of the post-COVID-19 period was set in March 2020, and the endpoint was set from January 2021 to March 2021. We evaluated the questionnaires administered to children’s parents.

Results

A significant myopic progression was observed in the post-COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period in the 0.05% and 0.025% atropine groups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively). For children aged 5 to 7 and 8 to 10 years, the axial elongations were significantly faster in the post-COVID-19 period than in the pre-COVID-19 period (P = 0.022 and P = 0.005, respectively). However, the rates of axial elongation and myopic progression were not significantly different between pre- and post-COVID-19 in children aged 11 to 15 years (P = 0.065 and P = 0.792, respectively). The average time spent using computers and smartphones and reading time were significantly increased, and the times of physical and outdoor activity were significantly decreased in the post-COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.

Conclusions

The rates of myopic progression have increased substantially after the spread of COVID-19 with an increase in the home confinement of children. Therefore, it is necessary to control the environmental risk factors for myopia, even in children undergoing treatment for the inhibition of myopic progression.
Magyar büntetőperes bírósági kihallgatások komplex nyelvészeti elemzése
Authors: Varga Marianna
Published: September 2021

A kutatás nyolc elsőfokú büntetőperes tárgyalás bizonyítási eljárásainak komplex nyelvészeti vizsgálatán alapul, amelyben elsősorban a bírók kihallgatási stratégiái, valamint a vádlottak és tanúk vallomásai kerülnek elemzésre. Az értekezés legfőbb célja, hogy empirikus és kvalitatív kutatási módszerek révén feltérképezze azokat a bírói kihallgatási stratégiákat, amelyek azt segítik elő, hogy a vallomások a lehető legpontosabbak, félreérthetetlenek és befolyásmentesek legyenek. A disszertációban amellett érvelek, hogy ezek a stratégiák kérdésfeltevési mintázatokba rendezhetők. A mintázatok megállapításában egyaránt szerepe van a kérdések formai jellemvonásainak és a kontextusnak, ez utóbbin belül különösen a kérdező céljának, a beszédelőzménynek, a kontextusbeli evidenciáknak, valamint a hallgatókban kiváltott hatásnak. Az értekezés eredményei a nyelvtudomány és a jogtudomány számára egyaránt relevánsak. A nyelvtudomány számára azért, mert a bírósági diskurzus olyan intézményesített nyelvhasználati forma, amely a hétköznapi nyelvhasználattól eltérő speciális jegyeket mutat. A jogtudomány számára pedig azért, mert a nyelvészeti elemzéssel feltárt speciális jegyek tudatos alkalmazása segítheti a bírósági szakemberek munkáját.
A abordagem da questão do trabalho no campo da Saúde Coletiva com seus limites e desafios
Authors: Da Cunha Francisco Mogadouro , Mendes Aquilas
Published: September 2021

Neste estudo, busca-se compreender como o campo científico da Saúde Coletiva vem abordando a questão do trabalho ao longo das décadas de implantação do Sistema Único de Saúde. Realizou-se uma revisão narrativa da literatura sobre a questão do trabalho no campo da Saúde Coletiva. Foram selecionados três periódicos representativos do campo da Saúde Coletiva: Cadernos de Saúde Pública; Ciência & Saúde Coletiva; e Trabalho, Educação e Saúde. A busca contemplou os artigos cadastrados nas bases de dados Lilacs – Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e Medline – Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online da BVS. Utilizou-se o item-chave ‘Saúde do Trabalhador’, incluindo-o para as três revistas. Após o processo de seleção, 34 artigos foram escolhidos e discutidos com base em quatro dimensões de análise: 1) Saúde do Trabalhador: constituição de um campo interdisciplinar; 2) Gênero, trabalho e saúde; 3) Saúde do Trabalhador e Saúde Ambiental; 4) Determinação social ou determinantes sociais da saúde? Utilizou-se como referencial teórico para a análise a perspectiva marxista sobre a centralidade do trabalho. Identificou-se um relevante debate sobre a constituição do campo interdisciplinar denominado Saúde do Trabalhador, mas verificou-se que foi pouco abordada a relação entre ele e o campo mais abrangente da Saúde Coletiva. Considera-se importante afirmar que faltam instrumentos que possam compreender a totalidade heterogênea do mundo do trabalho contemporâneo. O debate sobre a determinação social da saúde aparece pouco nos artigos incluídos na revisão, ao mesmo tempo em que muitos deles adotam o termo determinantes sociais sem maior reflexão. A Saúde Coletiva deixa de reivindicar a centralidade do trabalho quando se afasta da teoria da determinação social da saúde.
Scholars and Literati at the Universitas Lovaniensis (1425–1797)
Authors: Catoire Guillaume , Debois Valentine , De la Croix David , Duchêne Julie , Ganterer Maximilian , Vitale Mara
Published: September 2021

This note is a summary description of the set of scholars and literati who taught at the Universitas Lovaniensis, commonly referred to as the University of Louvain or University of Leuven, from its inception in the 15th century to its abolishment in  797 following the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Low Countries.
“Unity in Diversity” Reloaded: The European Court of Human Rights’ Turn to Subsidiarity and its Consequences
Authors: Madsen Mikael Rask
Published: September 2021

The European Convention of Human Rights system was originally created to sound the alarm if democracy was threatened in the member states. Yet, it eventually developed into a very different system with a focus on providing individual justice in an ever growing number of member states. This transformation has raised fundamental questions as to the level of difference and diversity allowed within the common European human rights space. Was the system to rest on minimum standards with room for domestic differences, or was it to create uniform standards? These questions have come up as increasingly contentious issues over the past years and have triggered a number of reforms seeking to introduce more subsidiarity in the system, striking a different balance between the European and national oversight of human rights. The article analyses this turn to subsidiarity by exploring whether the reform process has introduced new forms of difference and diversity within the common space of European human rights. Covering the period from 2000 to the end of 2019 and using a dataset of all judgments of the period, the article provides a structural analysis of developments in reference to the margin of appreciation which is the European Court of Human Rights’ long-standing tool for balancing the common standards, yet leaving space for individual member states to find local solutions to implementing those standards. It concludes that recent developments have contributed to a more federal-style construction of European human rights with more space for differences within the common general standards.
A drawer-type abdominal window with an acrylic/resin coverslip enables long-term intravital fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging of the liver
Authors: Deng Deqiang , Dai Bolei , Wei Jianshuang , Yuan Xuenan , Yang Xiaoquan , Qi Shuhong , Zhang Zhihong
Published: September 2021

The liver has a unique vascular structure and regional immunosuppressive characteristics closely linked to the occurrence and development of diseases. There are no long-term, large-field, and high-quality imaging methods to simultaneously obtain the structure of blood vessels and movement activities of immune cells in abdominal organsin vivo.This research developed a drawer-type abdominal window with an acrylic/resin coverslip named DAWarc and applied it to the intravital fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging of the liver for over 10 days. The liver lobe was inserted into the drawer holder of the DAWarc to physically fix the liver, which decreased the imaging artifacts. The acrylic/resin material used as the coverslip has a high compatibility for fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging. Through intravital fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging, information on the structure of hepatic lobules, spatial distribution of nanopomegranate labeled Kupffer cells (KCs), the movement behavior of invariant natural killer T cells, and morphology of KCs were obtained. We also used a self-organizing map neural network to detect tumor metastases in the photoacoustic images automatically. Conclusively, the DAWarc model provided a powerful tool for intravital fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging of the liver; it helped us to better understand the structure of hepatic lobules and the distribution and function of immune cells during the occurrence and development of liver diseases.
Association between systemic immune inflammation index and newly diagnosed adult celiac disease
Authors: Cakir Isil , Dogan Serkan
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The systemic immune inflammation index (SII) is a novel biomarker based on platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. SII serum levels have diagnostic, prognostic degrees and correlations with various immune, inflammatory diseases. Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated chronic enteropathy with inflammatory situations. Here we aimed to evaluate clinical significance of SII and to compare SII with other inflammatory markers in CD.

Methods

161 pathologically confirmed CD and 75 dyspeptic patients were enrolled. Hemogram, biochemical markers, SII, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume-to-platelet ratio (MPR) and monocyte-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) were evaluated.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between groups for SII (p<0.001). SII was statistically correlated with and superior to inflammatory markers in relation with CD. There were also statistically significant differences between groups for hsCRP, PLR, NLR, MPR, haemoglobin, platelet count, platelet volume distribution width, plateletcrit, ferritin, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (p=0.034; 0.015; 0.032; <0.001; <0.001; <0.001; 0.030; 0.001; <0.001; <0.001; 0.048, respectively). Correlations between SII and NLR, PLR, MHR, hsCRP were statistically significant (p≤0.001; <0.001; 0.033; 0.030, respectively). ROC analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off value for CD by SII. A baseline SII level >560.0 was associated with CD with 64% specificity, 78% sensitivity (p<0.001).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzed the diagnostic value of SII in CD. SII may serve as a beneficial marker for the diagnosis of inflammatory state superior to that of hsCRP, PLR, NLR, MHR, MPR and WBC.
miR-485-5p alleviates Alzheimer’s disease progression by targeting PACS1
Authors: He Chuan , Su Caixia , Zhang Wentong , Wan Qi
Published: September 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common dementia and a heterogeneous disease. Previous research has validated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators in the initiation and development of tremendous diseases including AD. MicroRNA-485-5p (miR-485-5p) was reported to be an important participant implicated in several neurological diseases, but its role in AD still needs to be further investigated. In this research, we explored the biological function of miR-485-5p in AD. RT-qPCR revealed that miR-485-5p expression was downregulated in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Additionally, miR-485-5p overexpression facilitated the learning and memory capabilities of APP/PS1 mice according to Morris water maze test, fear conditioning test, and immunofluorescent staining. Moreover, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometric analysis, and western blot analysis suggested that miR-485-5p overexpression promoted pericyte viability and prohibited pericyte apoptosis in APP/PS1 mice. Mechanistically, miR-485-5p directly targeted PACS1 in pericytes, as shown in a luciferase reporter assay. In rescue assays, PACS1 overexpression countervailed the effect of miR-485-5p overexpression on pericyte viability and apoptosis. In conclusion, miR-485-5p ameliorates AD progression by targeting PACS1.
Nonlinear excitations and dynamic features of dust ion-acoustic waves in a magnetized electron–positron–ion plasma
Authors: Maity Rabindranath , Sahu Biswajit
Published: September 2021

A wide class of nonlinear excitations and the dynamics of wave groups of finite amplitude ion-acoustic waves are investigated in multicomponent magnetized plasma system comprising warm ions, and superthermal electrons as well as positrons in presence of negatively charged impurities or dust particles. Employing the reductive perturbation technique (RPT), the Korteweg–de-Vries (KdV) equation, and extended KdV equation are derived. The presence of excess superthermal electrons as well as positrons and other plasma parameters are shown to influence the characteristics of both compressive and rarefactive solitons as well as double layers (DLs). Also, we extend our investigation by deriving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation from the extended KdV equation employing a suitable transformation to study the wave group dynamics for long waves. The analytical and numerical simulation results demonstrate that nonlinear wave predicts solitons, “table-top” solitons, DLs, bipolar structure, rogue waves, and breather structures. Moreover, implementing the concept of dynamical systems, phase portraits of nonlinear periodic, homoclinic trajectories, and supernonlinear periodic trajectories are presented through numerical simulation.