bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance auditing in the public sector: A systematic literature review and future research avenues
Authors: Rana Tarek , Steccolini Ileana , Bracci Enrico , Mihret Dessalegn Getie
Published: December 2021

Performance auditing (PA) has undergone relevant evolutions in recent decades, attracting considerable interest from academics and practitioners alike, in terms of its emergence, evolution, transformation, and outcomes in various international contexts. Through a systematic review of the literature published over the past five decades, totaling 125 papers, this study maps the existing knowledge on PA and recommends avenues for future research. Based on the analysis of the selected articles, the paper identifies and discusses the main themes emerging from the literature, including the scope and evolution of PA; the two faces of PA (accountability and performance improvement); the tensions and contradictions of influence and independence of PA; and unintended consequences and conflicts of PA. Considering the synthesis of the literature and current issues in public administration, the paper highlights themes that warrant further research, including the PA implications of digitalization and emerging technologies, the potential for widening accountability, PA's connections with media, and the relevance of PA in a risk management perspective. The paper also offers insights into the potential of international and comparative approaches to research on PA issues.
Building long‐term family resilience through universal prevention: 10‐year parent and child outcomes during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Feinberg Mark E. , Gedaly Lindsey , Mogle Jacqueline , Hostetler Michelle L. , Cifelli Joseph A. , Tornello Samantha L. , Lee Jin‐Kyung , Jones Damon E.
Published: December 2021

As the COVID‐19 pandemic has been highly stressful for parents and children, it is clear that strategies that promote long‐term family resilience are needed to protect families in future crises. One such strategy, the Family Foundations program, is focused on promoting supportive coparenting at the transition to parenthood. In a randomized trial, we tested the long‐term intervention effects of Family Foundations on parent, child, and family well‐being one to two months after the imposition of a national shelter‐in‐place public health intervention in 2020. We used regression models to test intervention impact on outcomes reported on by parents in a standard questionnaire format and a series of 8 days of daily reports. We also tested moderation of intervention impact by parent depression and coparenting relationship quality. Relative to control families, intervention families demonstrated significantly lower levels of individual and family problems (general parent hostility, harsh and aggressive parenting, coparenting conflict, sibling relationship conflict, and children's negative mood and behavior problems), and higher levels of positive family relationship quality (positive parenting, couple relationship quality, sibling relations, and family cohesion). For some outcomes, including coparenting conflict, harsh parenting, and child behavior problems, intervention effects were larger for more vulnerable families—that is, families with higher pre‐pandemic levels of parent depression or lower levels of coparenting relationship quality. We conclude that targeted family prevention programming is able to promote healthy parent and child functioning during unforeseen future periods of acute stress. The long‐term benefits of a universal approach to family support at the transition to parenthood indicate the need for greater investment in the dissemination of effective approaches.
Parental worry about children: Scale development and validation among Chinese parents of preschool children
Authors: Zhou Siyu , Li Xiaowei
Published: December 2021

Chinese parents tend to exhibit a high level of worry about their children during the preschool years, which may adversely influence children's mental health. Few studies have investigated the content and intensity of parental worry about children among Chinese parents of preschool children. This study developed and validated the Parental Worry About Children Scale (PWCS) for Chinese parents of preschool children. A pool of 70 items was created after an open‐ended questionnaire survey of 1069 Chinese parents of preschool children and an Internet‐content analysis, followed by an assessment for content validity by eight experts. Exploratory factor analysis was then conducted with 680 Chinese parents of preschool children, resulting in the formal PWCS consisting of 40 items in four dimensions: physical well‐being, psychological well‐being, learning/living abilities, and future/uncertain risks. With a sample of 1548 Chinese parents of preschool children, the PWCS demonstrated good structural validity, internal consistency reliability, measure invariance across mothers and fathers, and criterion‐related validity. The PWCS may help elucidate the characteristics and antecedents of parental worry about children and the mechanisms underlying its influence on children's mental health in the Chinese context. In clinical practice, this new instrument may facilitate the emergence of effective intervention strategies for alleviating parental worry about children and its negative impact on children's mental health.
Indentation and abrasion in glass products: Lessons learned and yet to be learned
Authors: Varshneya Arun K. , Macrelli Guglielmo , Yoshida Satoshi , Kim Seong H. , Ogrinc Andrew L. , Mauro John C.
Published: December 2021

Glass has provided many life‐changing products over the past millennia to improve the quality of human living. In this “International Year of Glass 2022” paper, we review the applied science and technology of indentation and abrasion damage in glass, highlighting its practical importance for commercial products. We briefly review what has already been learned from the several hundred high‐quality publications on this topic. Though glass products have hard surfaces, indents, and abrasion arise upon contact with other glass and materials during manufacturing, transportation, subsequent user handling, and vandalism. The mechanical response of glass to impact is elastic–plastic, which generates several modes of cracks upon indentation. The science of deformations and stress generation is discussed in terms of theories by Hertz, Boussinesq, and Yoffe. The hydrostatic and shear yield strengths of the glass are suggested to be the more important parameters that govern hardness. Commercial opportunities for repairing or reducing damage from indents, particularly using diamond‐like carbon coatings, are briefly discussed. Finally, challenges that lie ahead for a sustainable future of the Earth with increased commercial utility of beautiful glass products from increased damage resistance are outlined with emphasis on network topological principles and hard coatings.
Formation of acrylamide in microwave‐roasted sorghum and associated dietary risk
Authors: Sharanagat Vijay Singh , Nema Prabhat K. , Singh Lochan , Kumar Ankur
Published: December 2021

The effect of microwave roasting parameters (300, 450 and 600 W; 5, 10 and 15 min) on acrylamide content in sorghum grain was determined using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)‐photo diode array (PDA) detector coupled with C‐18 column. Samples roasted at 300 and 450 W did not possess acrylamide, whereas 600 W (15 min) favoured formation of 2740.19 µg/kg of acrylamide, levels far exceeding the defined European Union (EU) limits. The chronic daily intake (CDI) for acrylamide through consumption of such grain flour was 3.25–9.5‐fold higher to Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) defined high exposure limits. The margin of exposure (MOE) values ranged from 4.3 to 12.76 and from 11.07 to 32.27 for neoplastic and neurological effects, respectively, demonstrating high exposure and serious health concerns associated with dietary intake of this toxicant. This study assesses the risk for the Indian population and highlights the importance of optimising process parameters for food product to minimise such exposure risks.
Familial risk and heritability of intellectual disability: a population‐based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Lichtenstein Paul , Tideman Magnus , Sullivan Patrick F. , Serlachius Eva , Larsson Henrik , Kuja‐Halkola Ralf , Butwicka Agnieszka
Published: December 2021

Background

Intellectual disability (ID) aggregates in families, but factors affecting individual risk and heritability estimates remain unknown.

Methods

A population‐based family cohort study of 4,165,785 individuals born 1973–2013 in Sweden, including 37,787 ID individuals and their relatives. The relative risks (RR) of ID with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained from stratified Cox proportional‐hazards models. Relatives of ID individuals were compared to relatives of unaffected individuals. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate heritability.

Results

Relatives of ID individuals were at increased risk of ID compared to individuals with unaffected relatives. The RR of ID among relatives increased proportionally to the degree of genetic relatedness with ID probands; 256.70(95% CI 161.30–408.53) for monozygotic twins, 16.47(13.32–20.38) for parents, 14.88(12.19–18.16) for children, 7.04(4.67–10.61) for dizygotic twins, 8.38(7.97–8.83) for full siblings, 4.56(4.02–5.16) for maternal, 2.90(2.49–3.37) for paternal half‐siblings, 3.03(2.61–3.50) for nephews/nieces, 2.84(2.45–3.29) for uncles/aunts, and 2.04(1.91–2.20) for cousins. Lower RRs were observed for siblings of probands with chromosomal abnormalities (RR 5.53, 4.74–6.46) and more severe ID (mild RR 9.15, 8.55–9.78, moderate RR 8.13, 7.28–9.08, severe RR 6.80, 5.74–8.07, and profound RR 5.88, 4.52–7.65). Male sex of relative and maternal line of relationship with proband was related to higher risk (RR 1.33, 1.25–1.41 for brothers vs. sisters and RR 1.49, 1.34–1.68 for maternal vs. paternal half‐siblings). ID was substantially heritable with 0.95(95% CI 0.93–0.98) of the variance in liability attributed to genetic influences.

Conclusions

The risk estimates will benefit researchers, clinicians, families in understanding the risk of ID in the family and the whole population. The higher risk of ID related to male sex and maternal linage will be of value for planning and interpreting etiological studies in ID.
Evidence from automixis with inverted meiosis for the maintenance of sex by loss of complementation
Authors: Archetti Marco
Published: December 2021

The adaptive value of sexual reproduction is still debated. A short‐term disadvantage of asexual reproduction is loss of heterozygosity, which leads to the unmasking of recessive deleterious mutations. The cost of this loss of complementation is predicted to be higher than the twofold cost of meiosis for most types of asexual reproduction. Automixis with terminal fusion of sister nuclei is especially vulnerable to the effect of loss of complementation. It is found, however, in some taxa including oribatid mites, the most prominent group of ancient asexuals. Here, I show that automixis with terminal fusion is stable if it is associated with inverted meiosis and that this appears to be the case in nature, notably in oribatid mites. The existence of automixis with terminal fusion, and its co‐occurrence with inverted meiosis, therefore, is consistent with the hypothesis that loss of complementation is important in the evolution of sexual reproduction.
Variability in early development and growth of Great Lakes burbot: developmental patterns in cultured and wild‐caught larval burbot
Authors: Ritz Thornton A. , Leonard Jill B.K.
Published: December 2021

Throughout the Great Lakes, burbot Lota lota are a native, high‐trophic level predator that plays a substantial ecological role. L. lota spawning occurs during wintertime and early spring with length‐at‐hatch of 3 mm. Wild‐caught larval L. lota were obtained from three different locations: Lake Superior Keweenaw Peninsula, Ontonagon, Michigan (LSKP), Lake Michigan Midlake Reef (LMMR) and the St. Clair‐Detroit River System (SCDR). Adult spawning L. lota were captured from the Sturgeon River, Pelkie, Michigan (LSSR) and were artificially fertilized; eggs were retained and reared in a laboratory setting. Throughout the first 10 weeks of development, cultured larval L .lota were randomly selected and photographed to measure morphological features. These features were contrasted between cultured larvae and wild‐caught larvae to understand developmental variability in L. lota. From patterns discerned in both cultured and wild‐caught larval L. lota we demonstrated the importance of asynchronous hatching, source location, and variability in larval L. lota development. Comparisons of wild‐caught larval L. lota showed morphological differences, as well as variability in stage and size based on sampling month. These results established that larval L. lota development in the Great Lakes is highly flexible and both species‐specific and environmental processes create the observed variability. The impact of this variability on L. lota populations must be explored to further understand this native Great Lakes species.
Distribution of neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage populations induced by the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 in blood and periodontal tissue early after periodontitis induction
Authors: Kim Ae Ri , Bak Eun‑Jung , Yoo Yun‑Jung
Published: December 2021

CXCR4, a CXCL12 receptor, is expressed on epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells. The CXCR4‐CXCL12 interaction is related to the migration of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. Periodontitis, an inflammatory disease mainly caused by gram‐negative bacteria, is characterized by infiltration of circulating inflammatory cells and alveolar bone (AB) loss. To investigate whether CXCR4 is involved in the distribution of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages early after periodontitis induction, we examined the effects of AMD3100 (AMD), a CXCR4 antagonist, in ligature‐induced periodontitis mice and LPS‐injected air pouch mice. The periodontitis study was accomplished in control (C), periodontitis (P), and P + AMD groups. Periodontitis was induced by ligation of the mandibular first molar. AMD was intraperitoneally administered daily beginning the day before ligation until sacrifice on the third day after ligation. The air pouch study was accomplished in C, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS + AMD groups. Air pouches on mice backs were formed by subcutaneous injection of sterilized air. AMD was administered and then LPS was injected into the air pouch. For the detection of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in blood and air pouch exudates, flow cytometry was performed with anti‐Ly6G/anti‐CD11b antibodies (Abs) and anti‐CD115 Ab, respectively. In periodontal tissue, Ly6G+ cells and CD115+ cells were counted by immunohistological analysis. AB loss was estimated by the periodontal ligament area in the furcation. In the periodontitis study, the P group showed higher numbers of Ly6G+ cells and CD115+ cells in blood and periodontal tissue than the C group. The P + AMD group showed a greater number of Ly6G+ cells and CD115+ cells in blood, but not in periodontal tissue compared to the P group. There was no difference in AB loss between the P and P + AMD groups. In the air pouch study, the LPS group had higher levels of Ly6G+CD11b+ cells and CD115+ cells in both blood and exudates than the C group. The number of these cells in the LPS + AMD group was higher in blood than in the LPS group, but not in the exudates. The CXCR4 antagonist further increased neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage populations in the blood, but did not alter the levels in the periodontal tissue and exudates in mice with periodontitis and LPS‐injected air pouches. These results suggest that during inflammatory conditions such as periodontitis, CXCR4 is involved in the distribution of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in the blood, but not in inflamed peripheral tissues.
Low genetic diversity and population connectivity fuel vulnerability to climate change for the Tertiary relict pine Pinus bungeana
Authors: Guo Jing‐Fang , Wang Baosheng , Liu Zhan‐Lin , Mao Jian‐Feng , Wang Xiao‐Ru , Zhao Wei
Published: December 2021

Endemic species are important components of regional biodiversity and hold the key to understanding local adaptation and evolutionary processes that shape species distributions. This study investigated the biogeographic history of a relict conifer Pinus bungeana Zucc. ex Endl. confined to central China. We examined genetic diversity in P. bungeana using genotyping‐by‐sequencing and chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA markers. We performed spatial and temporal inference of recent genetic and demographic changes, and dissected the impacts of geography and environmental gradients on population differentiation. We then projected P. bungeana's risk of decline under future climates. We found extremely low nucleotide diversity (average π 0.0014), and strong population structure (global FST 0.234) even at regional scales, reflecting long‐term isolation in small populations. The species experienced severe bottlenecks in the early Pliocene and continued to decline in the Pleistocene in the western distribution, whereas the east expanded recently. Local adaptation played a small (8%) but significant role in population diversity. Low genetic diversity in fragmented populations makes the species highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in marginal and relict populations. We suggest that conservation efforts should focus on enhancing gene pool and population growth through assisted migration within each genetic cluster to reduce the risk of further genetic drift and extinction.
Why could sleep medicine never do without polysomnography?
Authors: Gauld Christophe , Micoulaud‐Franchi Jean‐Arthur
Published: December 2021

Given the clinical, methodological, conceptual and modelling challenges within the field of sleep medicine, polysomnography (PSG) has emerged as a central diagnostic tool over time. It has been highly beneficial to clinical practice over the years, thanks to the scientific data that it provides. More recently, sleep medicine has sought answers in precision medicine, broadening its quest for biomarkers that take into account environmental factors, big data, and nosological refinement. However, despite these innovative developments that are relatively independent of PSG, sleep medicine remains intimately associated with the latter. The aim of this paper was to show the central role of PSG for sleep medicine. Indeed, PSG is central to sleep medicine, not only due to the empirical data it provides but also because it represents an obligatory passage point (OPP) within the discipline. It crystallizes debate, pulls disparate types of data together, and facilitates a common language for the different specialties involved in sleep medicine, thereby lending legitimacy and credibility to the specialty. Thus, the role of polysomnography as an OPP in the field of sleep medicine reinforces the discipline, especially because critics (e.g., of the Apnea Hypopnea Index) cannot easily find fault with it.
Novel clonality assays for T cell lymphoma in cats targeting the T cell receptor beta, T cell receptor delta, and T cell receptor gamma loci
Authors: Radtanakatikanon Araya , Moore Peter F. , Keller Stefan M. , Vernau William
Published: December 2021

Background

T cell clonality assays in veterinary medicine currently target only the T cell receptor gamma (TRG) locus. Existing assays have suboptimal sensitivity because of insufficient primer coverage of all possible rearrangements.

Objective

Develop higher sensitivity clonality assays targeting the TRG, delta (TRD), and beta (TRB) loci in cats.

Animals

Cats with histopathologically confirmed lymphoma (n = 89), non‐lymphoma (n = 35), and possible hepatic small cell lymphoma (n = 31).

Methods

Molecular clonality assay development utilizing our recently reported topology and expressed repertoire data of the T cell receptor loci in cats. Determination of clonality status of lymphoma, non lymphoma, and possible hepatic small cell lymphoma samples, and calculation of assay sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The new multiplex TRG assay yielded the highest sensitivity (95.5%). All assays yielded 100% specificity except for the new multiplex TRG assay (97.3%). The combination of the new TRG and TRB assays yielded sensitivity of 98.9% and specificity of 97.0%. The new TRG assay detected clonality in 17/31 possible small cell lymphoma livers, whereas an existing TRG assay detected clonality in 6/31 livers.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The assessment of multiple T cell loci compensates for the potential shortcomings of individual assays. Using a combination of molecular clonality assays will increase the overall sensitivity for the diagnosis of T‐cell lymphoma in cats, especially intestinal, and hepatic small cell lymphoma. Hepatic small cell lymphomas detected by the new TRG assay utilized rarely expressed V and J genes not recognized by previous assays, likely indicating unique biology of hepatic small cell lymphoma in cats.
The COVID‐19 pandemic and access to health care in people with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Deng Danny , Liang Amy , Chui Juanita N. , Wong Germaine , Cooper Tess E.
Published: December 2021

Aim

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on access to health care for patients with CKD.

Methods

MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to July 2021 (PROSPERO CRD42021230831). Data relevant to access to health care before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic were extracted, including outcomes related to access to general nephrology consultations, telehealth, dialysis services and kidney transplantations. Relative and absolute effects were pooled using a random effects model to account for between‐study heterogeneity. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach.

Results

Twenty‐three studies across five WHO regions were identified. Reductions in transplantation surgeries were observed during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared with the pre‐COVID‐19 era (risk ratio = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.51–3.06, I2 = 90%, p < .001). Additionally, six studies reported increased use of telehealth services compared with pre‐COVID‐19 times. Four studies found reduced access to in‐person general nephrology services and six studies reported interruptions to dialysis services during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest COVID‐19 pandemic may have led to reductions in access to kidney transplantation, dialysis and in‐person nephrology care. Meanwhile, whilst the use of telehealth has emerged as a promising alternate mode of health care delivery, its utility during the pandemic warrants further investigation. This study has highlighted major barriers to accessing care in a highly vulnerable chronic disease group.
Floral preferences of mountain bumble bees are constrained by functional traits but flexible through elevation and season
Authors: Sponsler Douglas , Kallnik Katharina , Requier Fabrice , Classen Alice , Maihoff A. Fabienne , Sieger Johanna , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf
Published: December 2021

Patterns of resource use by animals can clarify how ecological communities have assembled in the past, how they currently function and how they are likely to respond to future perturbations. Bumble bees (Hymentoptera: Bombus spp.) and their floral hosts provide a diverse yet tractable system in which to explore resource selection in the context of plant–pollinator networks. Under conditions of resource limitation, the ability of bumble bees species to coexist should depend on dietary niche overlap. In this study, we report patterns and dynamics of floral morphotype preferences in a mountain bumble bee community based on ~13 000 observations of bumble bee floral visits recorded along a 1400 m elevation gradient. We found that bumble bees are highly selective generalists, rarely visiting floral morphotypes at the rates predicted by their relative abundances. Preferences also differed markedly across bumble bee species, and these differences were well‐explained by variation in bumble bee tongue length, generating patterns of preference similarity that should be expected to predict competition under conditions of resource limitation. Within species, though, morphotype preferences varied by elevation and season, possibly representing adaptive flexibility in response to the high elevational and seasonal turnover of mountain floral communities. Patterns of resource partitioning among bumble bee communities may determine which species can coexist under the altered distributions of bumble bees and their floral hosts caused by climate and land use change.
What to do with device‐detected atrial high‐rate episodes: Summary of the evidences
Authors: Özge MERT Gurbet , Kepez Alper , Uğur MERT Kadir , Görenek Bülent
Published: December 2021

Cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs), that perform atrial sensing via an atrial electrode, commonly detect self‐terminating atrial arrhythmias. Nomenclature of these arrhythmias is defined as atrial high‐rate episodes (AHREs) and subclinical atrial fibrillation (SCAF). We have provided a comprehensive summation of the trials regarding the incidence and adverse outcomes of AHREs. The reported incidence of AHRE varies considerably (approximately 10%–70%) between studies depending on the definition of AHRE, duration of follow‐up and the clinical profile of the population. There is increasing evidence related with the association between AHREs’ and stroke and/or systemic embolism. However, risk of stroke and/or systemic embolism seems to be less than the risk associated with clinical AF. There is still lack of sufficient evidence related with oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with AHRE to reduce thromboembolic risk. Although, the strongest association of OAC treatment with reduction in stroke has been reported to be observed among patients with device detected SCAF episodes of >24 h; it is still questionable whether AHRE is a direct cause of thromboembolic event or just a marker of increased risk. Results of ongoing randomized clinical trials (NOAH‐AFNET 6 and ARTESIA) will provide robust evidence on effect of OAC therapy on AHREs.
Comparing the soybeans (Glycine max) vegetation length in the Polish official variety trials
Authors: Osiecka Agnieszka , Przystalski Marcin
Published: December 2021

One of the best methods to achieve soybean cultivation success is to cultivate varieties with proper vegetation length. In the present work, vegetation length from a Polish soybean series of field trials conducted in years 2017–2020 was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model. It is shown that the tested varieties differ in terms of the vegetation length. In the analysed series of field trials variety, ‘Erica’ had the shortest vegetation length, whereas variety ‘Naya’ the longest. The difference in the vegetation length for these two varieties was 21 days. Moreover, by adopting two stability models to the generalized linear mixed model setting, stability of the vegetation length was studied. It is shown that variety ‘Aurelina’ was the most stable among tested varieties. Moreover, using mixed model factorial regression, it is shown that temperatures in May, June and September and total precipitation in June and August had significant influence on vegetation length in the analysed series of field trials.
Acting and believing on the basis of reasons
Authors: Blake‐Turner Christopher
Published: December 2021

This paper provides an opinionated guide to discussions of acting and believing on the basis of reasons. I aim to bring closer together largely separate literatures in practical reason and in epistemology. I focus on three questions. First, is basing causing? Causal theories of basing remain popular despite the notorious Problem of Deviant Causal Chains. Causal theorists in both the epistemic and practical domains have begun to appeal to dispositions to try and solve the problem. Second, how unified are acting and believing on the basis of reasons? I consider an important challenge to their unity due to Setiya. I sketch a response, which posits unity of causal structure across acting and believing on the basis of reasons. Third, how does acting or believing on the basis of a good reason relate to acting or believing on the basis of a reason simpliciter? I generalize a recent argument of Lord and Sylvan's to include acting as well as believing. The conclusion is that, for both believing and acting, ing on the basis of a good reason does not amount to ing on the basis of a reason that just so happens to be good.
More than agents: Federal bureaucrats as information suppliers in policymaking
Authors: Shafran JoBeth S.
Published: December 2021

Bureaucrats are frequently conceptualized as agents of Congress, with much focus placed on their expertise as policy implementers or evaluators. That same expertise, though, allows bureaucrats to supply Congress with information throughout the policy process. Bureaucrats are just one of the many actors that compete to supply Congress with information to define problems and develop solutions. Congressional committees must prioritize all available information, deciding what to attend and what to ignore. I argue that bureaucrats are more likely to testify at hearings when there is (1) limited availability of alternative information sources, (2) the information they hold is necessary for achieving committee goals or tasks (ex. agency oversight), and (3) the information they have can alleviate diverse committee workloads. Using a new dataset of witnesses testifying at congressional committee hearings, I find that the prioritization of bureaucrats as witnesses is explainable in terms of policy area, committee type, and committee agenda.
Gaussian Process Modeling for Dissolution Curve Comparisons
Authors: Pourmohamad Tony , Oliva Avilés Cristian M. , Richardson Robert
Published: December 2021

Dissolution studies are an integral part of pharmaceutical drug development, yet standard methods for analysing dissolution data are inadequate for capturing the true underlying shapes of the dissolution curves. Methods based on similarity factors, such as the f2 statistic, have been developed to demonstrate comparability of dissolution curves, however, this inability to capture the shapes of the dissolution curves can lead to substantial bias in comparability estimators. In this article, we propose two novel semi-parametric dissolution curve modeling strategies for establishing the comparability of dissolution curves. The first method relies upon hierarchical Gaussian process regression models to construct an f2 statistic based on continuous time modeling that results in significant bias reduction. The second method uses a Bayesian model selection approach for creating a framework that does not suffer from the limitations of the f2 statistic. Overall, these two methods are shown to be superior to their comparator methods and provide feasible alternatives for similarity assessment under practical limitations. Illustrations highlighting the success of our methods are provided for two motivating real dissolution data sets from the literature, as well as extensive simulation studies.
Natural killer cell receptors and ligand variants modulate response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Closa Laia , Xicoy Blanca , Zamora Lurdes , Estrada Natalia , Colomer Dolors , Herrero Maria J. , Vidal Francisco , Alvarez‐Larrán Alberto , Caro Jose L.
Published: December 2021

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although survival rates have improved, response to these treatments is highly heterogeneous. Variations in response rates may be due to different causes such as, treatment adherence, mutations in the BCR‐ABL1 gene, clonal evolution and amplification of the BCR‐ABL1 gene, but innate immune response is also considered to play a very important role and, specifically, NK cell activity through their receptors and ligands, could be determinant. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the role of different activating and inhibiting KIR genes as well as the activating NKG2D receptor, present in NK cells, and also their respective ligands, HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐G, ‐F, MICA and MICB, in the progression of 190 patients with CML and treated at two hospitals from Barcelona between 2000 and 2019. Early molecular response (EMR), major molecular response (MMR) or MR3.0 and deep molecular response (DMR) or MR4.0 were correlated. As control samples, healthy donors from the Barcelona Blood Bank were analyzed. The presence of KIR2DL2/KIR2DS2 was associated with the achievement of EMR, MR3.0, and MR4.0. Carriers of the higher expression NKG2D variant and MICA*009:01 were also likely to achieve molecular response (MR). The most remarkable difference between CML patients and controls was a higher frequency of the lower expression NKG2D variant in CML patients. In summary, our results showed that activating NK receptor phenotypes might help to achieve MR and DMR in CML patients treated with TKIs although confirmatory studies are necessary.
NATURALISM AND RELIGION: HUNTING TWO SNARKS?
Authors: Drees Willem B.
Published: December 2021

Lewis Carroll's poemThe Hunting of the Snarkhas as its subtitleAn Agony in Eight Fits. Agony: struggle, violent and painful contest, the pangs of death. Many think of confrontations over naturalism and religion as a struggle, to be or not to be. Others think the situation is not that bad. Perhaps religion and naturalism may co‐exist. Some even speak of “religious naturalism.” In the poem, the hunt for the snark fails. The hunters do not know where to look, nor what to look for. Do we know how to understand the key terms, naturalism, religion, and religious naturalism? This exploration serves to introduce the articles in this thematic section, drawing on the 2021 conference of IRAS. Its title, “Naturalism—asReligion,withinReligions,withoutReligion,” asks about the way naturalism might function, as a replacement of religion, as an incentive for reform, or as a reason to reject religion.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTIC OF STARFRUIT-RED GUAVA FRUIT LEATHER AS AFFECTED BY THE ADDITION OF ARABIC GUM
Authors: Farasara Rahmawati , Fachriah Kharimatul
Published: December 2021

Fruit leather is one of the processed fruit products. It’s shaped similar to thin sheets that can be rolled, has an elastic texture, and has a specific flavour. One of the suitable fruit that can be processed to fruit leather is starfruit and guava. The aim of this research was to study the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the fruit leather made from starfruit (Dewa variety) and guava which were added with Arabic gum with different concentration (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 2.5%). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) at α = 0.05. The result showed that the addition of Arabic gum had a significant effect on tensile strength, water, ash, vitamin C content, and pH value, but it did not has a significant effect on crude fiber, water activity content, total bacteria, and total yeast and mold. While the addition of Arabic gum had a significant effect on color and texture sensory test. The best fruit leather was determined based on the physicochemical and sensory test, and it showed that the addition of 0.5% Arabic gum was the best. Characteristics of the best starfruit and guava fruit leather were tensile strength value 437.38 gf, water content 7.38%, ash content 2.02%, vitamin C content 77.08%, crude fiber content 1.85%, pH value 4.22, water activity value 0.48 , total bacteria < 2.5 CFU/g, total yeast and mold < 1 CFU/g with golden yellow color, slightly strong starfruit aroma, strong starfruit flavor, and elastic fruit leather texture.
TROPICAL REHABILITATION FOREST CONTROL ON WATER CHEMISTRY PATTERN IN BINTULU SARAWAK MALAYSIA
Authors: Rosli Noraini , James Gerusu Geoffery , Jui Heng Roland Kueh
Published: December 2021

With rapid development in South East Asian countries, there is a risk of serious degradation of stream water quality in areas  adjacent to developing city areas, where basic information on toxic heavy metals and acidic compounds (NO3- and SO42-) concentrations and spatiotemporal variation is still unknown in these areas. The concentrations of water quality parameters, major ions, and heavy metals were examined from selected stream in a rehabilitation forest near a developing city having petroleum refinery facility in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The concentrations of water quality parameters, major ions, and heavy metals were examined from twelve stream locations in a rehabilitation forest near a developing city with a  petroleum refinery facility. Analyses suggested that there is no clear tendency that is detected in  heavy metals and basic water properties (EC, DO, BOD, COD, alkalinity and pH) except for turbidity, total suspended solids,  and major ion which were high during rainy seasons. Annual means of SO42-, NO3- and NH₄⁺ concentrations were 6.34, 1.05 and 0.24 mg/L. The concentration in K+, Mg2+, Na+ and Ca2+ were 0.61, 1.21, 2.82 and 1.12 mg/L during hot and rainy season. The mean  concentration in almost all heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) were less than 0.01 mg/L. The concentrations of water quality variables in all samples collected across the seasons except for turbidity found within the permissible limit by the WHO and NWQS for Malaysia. Rehabilitation forest might give a positive impact in preserving water quality especially for COD and major ions except SO42-.
ULASAN: PEMBANGUNAN TEKNOLOGI PENGGASAN DAN PENGGUNAAN
Authors: Rahim Muhammad Roslan , Trisasongko Annisa Palupi , Mohd Jaafar Mohammad Nazri , Othman Norazila , Ramli Yahaya , Abdul Malik Muhammad Syahiran , Said Mazlan
Published: December 2021

Gasification technologies have the potential to produce clean and efficient energy sources. This technology is capable of producing synthesis gas from low or negative carbon -based raw materials such as coal, petroleum coke, high sulfur fuel oil, waste or waste materials and biomass. The gas produced from the process is used to replace natural gas to generate electrical power, or acts as basic raw material for producing chemicals and liquid fuels. Gasification is a process which utilizes heat, pressure, and steam to convert materials directly into gases, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases. Despite differing in various aspects, gasification technologies have four common engineering factors such as atmospheric gasification reactors (oxygen or air content level), internal and external heating, reactor design and operating temperature. Raw materials, either in dry form or small granules, are fed into the reactor chamber called gasifier. Raw materials subjected to heat, pressure as well as an environment with rich or low oxygen content. Hydrocarbon gas (also known as Syngas), liquid hydrocarbon (oil) and coal (carbon black and ash) are the three main products of gasification. Syngas can be used as a fuel to produce electricity or steam, or acts as a basic block for various types of chemicals. When mixed with air, Syngas can be used in petrol or diesel engines with slight modifications to the engine.
The Cavitation Issue in Asymmetrical Axial-Piston Pumps
Authors: Costa Gustavo Koury , Sepehri Nariman
Published: December 2021

Pump-controlled single-rod hydraulic actuators have long been the subject of intensive research toward building valve-less, more efficient systems. The main challenge is to deal with the uneven flows into and out of the differential cylinders. Over the past few years, several hydraulic circuits providing flow compensation have been proposed using hydrostatic pumps with identical input and output flows. However, one alternative solution would be to use a pump, whose input/output flow ratio matches the area ratio of the differential cylinder. Typical design and prototyping of the so-called asymmetrical pumps have been well reported previously. In this paper, we theoretically study the flow behavior in a common design of asymmetrical axial-piston pumps and demonstrate some serious internal flow characteristics that can drastically limit the performance and range of operation of these pumps. Cavitation is the main problem to be addressed, and cannot be overlooked because of the very nature of the pump design.
Interpretable Machine Learning in Damage Detection Using Shapley Additive Explanations
Authors: Movsessian Artur , Cava David García , Tcherniak Dmitri
Published: December 2021

In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have gained popularity in structural health monitoring (SHM). These have been particularly used for damage detection in a wide range of engineering applications such as wind turbine blades. The outcomes of previous research studies in this area have demonstrated the capabilities of ML for robust damage detection. However, the primary challenge facing ML in SHM is the lack of interpretability of the prediction models hindering the broader implementation of these techniques. For this purpose, this study integrates the novel Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method into a ML-based damage detection process as a tool for introducing interpretability and, thus, build evidence for reliable decision-making in SHM applications. The SHAP method is based on coalitional game theory and adds global and local interpretability to ML-based models by computing the marginal contribution of each feature. The contribution is used to understand the nature of damage indices (DIs). The applicability of the SHAP method is first demonstrated on a simple lumped mass-spring-damper system with simulated temperature variabilities. Later, the SHAP method has been evaluated on data from an in-operation V27 wind turbine with artificially introduced damage in one of its blades. The results show the relationship between the environmental and operational variabilities (EOVs) and their direct influence on the damage indices. This ultimately helps to understand the difference between false positives caused by EOVs and true positives resulting from damage in the structure.
Propagation of leaky Rayleigh waves along a curved fluid–solid interface
Authors: Li Shan , Song Yongfeng , Turner Joseph A. , Li Xiongbing
Published: December 2021

A characteristic equation is derived for a leaky Rayleigh wave (LRW), propagating on a curved fluid–solid interface. The equations of motion for the curved solid and fluid are formulated using the constitutive equations of a homogenous isotropic curved solid and an inviscid fluid, respectively. The displacement potential functions are used to simplify the derivation. The interface conditions are used to ensure continuities of the mass, momentum, and energy across the interface. Then, with the consideration of the interface radius of the curvature, the characteristic equation for the LRW is established and solved numerically by Muller's method. One important outcome is that there is weaker directional dependence for the velocity of the LRWs on the radius of curvature in comparison with the Rayleigh waves at an air–solid interface. However, the numerical results show a strong directional dependence for the attenuation due to the LRW leakage on the complex curvatures. Moreover, a quantitative relation between the curvature and attenuation caused by the leakage for different materials is shown. The results are significant especially with respect to relevant future applications of ultrasonic testing.
Acoustic characteristics of looped-tube thermoacoustic refrigerators with external and in-built acoustic drivers: A comparative study
Authors: Chen Geng , Xu Jingyuan
Published: December 2021

Thermoacoustic refrigerators (TARs) are in the first place acoustic systems. It is indispensable to conduct an acoustic analysis of the entire system before a thermodynamic analysis of the thermoacoustic core. This study focuses on the acoustic characteristics of looped-tube TARs integrated with single (or dual) external (or in-built) acoustic driver(s). System-level acoustic models are established for the looped-tube TARs, and their acoustic performances are discussed and compared. Results show that looped-tube TARs with a single acoustic driver have a standing-wave acoustic field no matter whether the configuration is symmetric or not. The eigenmodes of the TAR are not influenced by the location of the external acoustic driver but are affected by the location of the in-built acoustic driver. New pairs of resonance and anti-resonance frequencies show up for TARs with an asymmetric configuration. Compared with looped-tube TARs with a single external (or in-built) acoustic driver, looped-tube TARs with dual external (or in-built) acoustic drivers have the same (or different) eigenmodes. A standing-wave acoustic field is present inside the loop only when the two acoustic drivers work in in-phase and anti-phase modes. At other phase differences between the two acoustic drivers, the acoustic field inside the loop becomes hybrid, containing both standing- and traveling-wave components. The theoretical methodology and analytical results in this study are valuable in comprehending the acoustic behavior of electrically-driven looped-tube TARs, providing useful guidelines for the active control of acoustic field and heat transport in the thermoacoustic core.
Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Combined With Resistance Training or Neuromuscular Electrostimulation on Muscle Cross-Sectional Area
Authors: Bergamasco João Guilherme Almeida , Alvarez Ieda Fernanda , Biazon Thais Marina Pires de Campos , Ugrinowitsch Carlos , Augusto Libardi Cleiton
Published: December 2021

Context: Low-load resistance training (LL) and neuromuscular electrostimulation (NES), both combined with blood flow restriction (BFR), emerge as effective strategies to maintain or increase muscle mass. It is well established that LL-BFR promotes similar increases in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and lower rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and pain compared with traditional resistance training protocols. On the other hand, only 2 studies with conflicting results have investigated the effects of NES-BFR on CSA, RPE, and pain. In addition, no study directly compared LL-BFR and NES-BFR. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of LL-BFR and NES-BFR on vastus lateralis CSA, RPE, and pain. Individual response for muscle hypertrophy was also compared between protocols. Design: Intrasubject longitudinal study. Setting: University research laboratory. Intervention: Fifteen healthy young males (age = 23 [5] y; weight = 77.6 [11.3] kg; height = 1.76 [0.08] m). Main Outcome Measures: Vastus lateralis CSA was measured through ultrasound at baseline (pre) and after 20 training sessions (post). The RPE and pain responses were obtained through modified 10-point scales, handled during all training sessions. Results: Both protocols demonstrated significant increases in muscle CSA (P < .0001). However, the LL-BFR demonstrated significantly greater CSA changes compared with NES-BFR (LL-BFR = 11.2%, NES-BFR = 4.6%; P < .0001). Comparing individual increases in CSA, 12 subjects (85.7% of the sample) presented greater muscle hypertrophy for LL-BFR than for the NES-BFR protocol. In addition, LL-BFR produced significantly lower RPE and pain responses (P < .0001). Conclusions: The LL-BFR produced significantly greater increases in CSA with significant less RPE and pain than NES-BFR. In addition, LL-BFR resulted in greater individual muscle hypertrophy responses for most subjects compared with NES-BFR.