bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holmium laser versus cold knife visual internal urethrotomy for management of short segment urethral stricture: a prospective randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ali Maged M. , Kamel Mostafa , Ragab Ahmed , Abd Alraheem Abdulbasit , Sakr Ahmed
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To report the safety and efficacy of holmium laser and compare its results with cold knife visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) in the management of short segment urethral stricture.

Methods

This prospective randomized study included 66 male patients aged more than 18 years, with short segment bulbar urethral strictures < 2 cm from March 2020 to March 2022. The patients were randomized into two groups each containing 33 patients. In group A (Cold knife group), Sachse cold knife was used for stricture treatment. In group B (Holmium group), internal urethrotomy was done with Ho:YAG laser. Patients were evaluated before the operation and followed up after the operation at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months by physical examination, IPSS, PVR, Qmax and retrograde urethrography.

Results

There was significant improvement in the mean values of IPSS, PVR and Qmax in both groups. There was no significant difference between both groups in the mean values of IPSS, PVR and Qmax during follow-up visits. However, at the end of follow-up at one year there was statistically significant difference between both groups in the mean values of IPSS, PVR and Qmax due to higher recurrence rate in cold knife group than laser group. The overall complication rate is significantly lower in laser group (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

Holmium laser VIU is an effective and safe treatment option for short segment urethral stricture with shorter operative time, less complication rate and less recurrence than cold knife VIU.
Intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomosis in segmental resections for colon cancer: a retrospective cohort study of 328 patients
Authors: Cuk Pedja , Büyükuslu Musa , Möller Sören , Verwaal Victor Jilbert , Al-Najami Issam , Ellebæk Mark Bremholm
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) technique possibly results in enhanced recovery and reduced morbidity rates compared to the extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) technique. This study compared the short-term morbidity rates of IA versus EA in segmental resections for colon cancer.

Method

We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients from 2015 to 2020 using the IA or EA technique at a single Danish colorectal center. Comparative outcomes of interest were surgical efficacy and short-term morbidity rates. An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis of clinically relevant outcomes was conducted to explore potential baseline confounding.

Results

We included 328 patients, 129 in the EA and 199 in the IA groups. There was no significant difference in preoperative baseline characteristics between the two groups. The rate of overall surgical (16% in both groups, p = 1.000) and medical complications (EA: 25 (19%) vs. IA: 27 (14%), p = 0.167) was comparable for both groups. The IA technique did not cause a reduction in operative time (EA: 127.0 min [103.0–171.0] vs. IA: 134.0 min [110.0–164.0], p = 0.547). The IPTW analysis indicated that having an IA caused a reduction in the rate of major surgical complications (RRRadjusted = 0.45, 95%CI [0.29–0.69], p = 0.000).

Conclusion

Adopting IA for colon cancer resulted in similar overall morbidity rates without increasing the duration of the surgical procedure compared to EA. The IA technique had a probable protective effect against developing severe surgical complications. However, this must be interpreted cautiously, limited by the retrospective study design.
How do Sector Level Factors Influence Trust Violations in Not-for-Profit Organizations? A Multilevel Model
Authors: Gillespie Nicole , Anesa Mattia , Lizzio-Wilson Morgana , Chapman Cassandra , Healy Karen , Hornsey Matthew
Published: May 2023

The proliferation of violations within industry sectors (e.g., banking, doping in sport, abuse in religious organizations) highlights how trust violations can thrive in particular sectors. However, scant research examines how macro institutional factors influence micro level trustworthy conduct. To shed light on how sectoral features may influence trust violations in organizations, we adopt a multilevel perspective to investigate the perceived causes of trust violations within the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, a sector that has witnessed a number of high-profile trust breaches. Drawing on interviews with board members and senior executives of NFPs with cross-sectoral experience, we analyze the causes of trust violations to inductively develop a conceptual model of the multilevel factors contributing to trust violations in NFPs. Our model highlights how trust violations have their roots in sectoral-level factors, which trickle-down to influence the ethical infrastructure at the organizational-level, and in turn individual-level factors and violations. We identify how three NFP sectoral features influence trustworthy behavior: corporatization, resource scarcity, and assumed moral integrity. Our findings speak to the importance of looking beyond the organization to understand both the causes and prevention of trust violations and developing the concept of sector-level ethical infrastructure.
The Organised Theft of Medicines: a Study of the Methods for Stealing and Reselling Medicines and Medical Devices in the EU and Beyond
Authors: Dugato Marco , Sidoti Cosimo
Published: May 2023

The theft of medicines is a significant component of the illicit trade in pharmaceutical products. Besides small-scale thefts committed for personal usage, organised criminal networks are increasingly targeting high-priced medical products, either to reintroduce them into the legal supply chain or sell them on the black market. This crime has considerable implications that extend beyond the value of the stolen goods, including harmful impacts on citizens’ health, legitimate companies, and national health systems. However, knowledge on organised theft of medicines remains limited. This paper employs a crime script analysis approach, based on interviews with relevant stakeholders and case studies retrieved across European countries, to examine the most commonmodi operandiin the organised theft of medicines and medical devices. Potential policy implications are also discussed.
Homicide-Suicide in Italy Between 2009-2018: An Epidemiological Update and Time Series Analysis
Authors: Colasanti Marco , Ricci Eleonora , Cardinale Alessandra , Amati Federica , Mazza Cristina , Biondi Silvia , Ferracuti Stefano , Roma Paolo
Published: May 2023

Homicide–suicide is an event in which an individual murders one or more persons and then takes his/her own life. The present study aimed to assess the incidence of homicide-suicide in Italy over a 10-year period (between 2009 and 2018) and to compare its findings with national and international data. Furthermore, a time series analysis was carried out employing an autoregressive integrated moving average model. Data regarding homicide-suicide cases were collected from press agencies and four major Italian newspapers. In the considered time frame, 368 cases of homicide–suicide were identified, with a total of 808 deaths. Findings aligned with international data, highlighting that the murderer is typically an older male who, for romantic jealousy, kills with a firearm his current or former female partner. The average rate of homicide–suicides was 0.06%, showing an increase compared to the previous decades. In addition, the forecasting model predicted a further increase in cases in the coming years, highlighting the need to systematically gather data on this phenomenon.
Bioremediation of chlorpyrifos residues using some indigenous species of bacteria and fungi in wastewater
Authors: Elzakey Eman Mohammad , El-Sabbagh Sabha Mahmoud , Eldeen Eman El-Sayed Nour , Adss Ibrahim Abdel-Aziz , Nassar Atef Mohamed Khedr
Published: May 2023

Pollutants cause a huge problem for humans, animals, plants, and various ecosystems, especially water resources. Agricultural, domestic, and industrial waste effluents change the water quality and affect living microorganisms. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify possible microorganisms in wastewater as potential bioremediation agents of pesticide residues. Wastewater samples were collected from El-Khairy agricultural drainage, which receives agricultural and domestic wastes. Bacteria and fungi species were isolated as clean cultures. Wastewater samples were analyzed for pesticide residues via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) system. Results uncovered the presence of ten pesticides ranging from 0.0817 to 28.162 µg/l, and the predominant pesticide was chlorpyrifos. Along with that, about nine species (3 bacterial and 6 fungal) were relatively efficient in the removal of chlorpyrifos residues up to 2000 µg/l with removal percentages ranging from 24.16 to 80.93% under laboratory conditions. Two bacterial isolates proficiently degraded significant amounts of chlorpyrifos: Bacillus cereus strain PC2 (GenBank accession No. MZ314010) and Streptomyces praecox strain SP1 (GenBank accession No. MZ314009). In-site bacterial and fungal isolates defined in the current study were proficient in cleaning wastewater of chlorpyrifos pesticide residues.
Human impact on forests in early twentieth century Finland
Authors: Aakala Tuomas , Kulha Niko , Kuuluvainen Timo
Published: May 2023

Context

In northern Europe, changes in forest ecosystem structures are commonly attributed to the ubiquitous impact of modern forestry. However, the starting point for modern forestry was not a pristine forest, but landscapes influenced for centuries by diverse human activities.

Objectives

Our aims were to (1) describe spatial patterns of forest structure and species compositions over large scales in 1920s Finland, and to (2) analyze how these characteristics were influenced by human population and past land-uses.

Methods

We mapped ca. 3000 systematic sample plots measured in the first Finnish National Forest Inventory (1921–1924) and produced a series of maps of large-scale variation in forest characteristics in upland forests. We analyzed forest age and size structures, and species compositions relative to human population and land-use data.

Results

We found strong geographical and regional gradients in forest age and size structures, and tree species composition. Depending on the variable, these characteristics were at the stand-level best explained by human population density, reflecting the long history of various forest uses. Tree species composition was clearly associated with site productivity, but also with the history of slash-and-burn agriculture and forest grazing.

Conclusions

Forest landscapes in the early twentieth century Finland exhibited a strong human fingerprint, visible as the abundance of young forests in populated areas, while in remote areas forest characteristics typical of natural forests prevailed. These gradients in human impact a century ago are still reflected as legacies in forest structure, a situation that needs consideration in management and restoration.
Prescribed and Penalized: The Detrimental Impact of Mandated Reporting for Prenatal Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Work Erin C. , Muftu Serra , MacMillan Kathryn Dee L. , Gray Jessica R. , Bell Nicole , Terplan Mishka , Jones Hendree E. , Reddy Julia , Wilens Timothy E. , Greenfield Shelly F. , Bernstein Judith , Schiff Davida M.
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Some states, including Massachusetts, require automatic filing of child abuse and neglect for substance-exposed newborns, including infants exposed in-utero to clinician-prescribed medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD). The aim of this article is to explore effects of these mandated reporting policies on pregnant and postpartum people receiving MOUD.

Methods

We used modified grounded research theory, literature findings, and constant comparative methods to extract, analyze and contextualize perinatal experiences with child protection systems (CPS) and explore the impact of the Massachusetts mandated reporting policy on healthcare experiences and OUD treatment decisions. We drew from 26 semi-structured interviews originally conducted within a parent study of perinatal MOUD use in pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Results

Three themes unique to CPS reporting policies and involvement emerged. First, mothers who received MOUD during pregnancy identified mandated reporting for prenatally prescribed medication utilization as unjust and stigmatizing. Second, the stress caused by an impending CPS filing at delivery and the realities of CPS surveillance and involvement after filing were both perceived as harmful to family health and wellbeing. Finally, pregnant and postpartum individuals with OUD felt pressure to make medical decisions in a complex environment in which medical recommendations and the requirements of CPS agencies often compete.

Conclusions for Practice

Uncoupling of OUD treatment decisions in the perinatal period from mandated CPS reporting at time of delivery is essential. The primary focus for families affected by OUD must shift from surveillance and stigma to evidence-based treatment and access to supportive services and resources.
Do citizens support the transformation of urban transport? Evidence for the acceptability of parking management, car lane conversion and road closures from a German case study
Authors: Lanzendorf Martin , Baumgartner Annabell , Klinner Nora
Published: May 2023

Facing the challenges of motorised traffic, many cities around the globe started implementing measures to transform their urban transport systems. One of the major challenges for the success of adequate policies is not only their effectiveness but also whether they are accepted by city residents. With a quantitative case study in four neighbourhoods in Frankfurt am Main (N = 821), this article investigates the acceptability of three measures: (i) parking management, (ii) the conversion of car lanes into cycle lanes and (iii) the closure of an inner city arterial road to car traffic. The results show a surprisingly high acceptability for all measures if the benefits for local residents are tangible. Thus, successful policy packages may combine push measures with either pull measures, as suggested frequently in the literature, or with improvements for other land uses (e.g. re-using former car-parking spaces for non-transport purposes, such as greenery or seating areas). Furthermore, the perceived effectiveness, daily travel practices and intentions to reduce car use, the built environment and, to a lesser degree, socio-demographics explain differences in acceptability by population group.
Prevalence and significance of indeterminate calcitonin values in patients with thyroid nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Piticchio Tommaso , Frasca Francesco , Trimboli Pierpaolo
Published: May 2023

Background

Although calcitonin (Ctn) measurement is recognized as the most accurate diagnostic test for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), its routine execution is not universally accepted for several reasons, including the lack of recommendations for managing indeterminate Ctn values (ICV); such as 10-to-100 pg/mL. This study aimed to gather data on 1) the frequency of ICV among patients undergoing Ctn test and 2) the MTC rate among patients with ICV.

Methods

This review was conducted according to the Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched, with no language restrictions. The final search was completed on January 2023. Then, quality assessment and proportion meta-analyses were performed.

Results

The online search retrieved 233 articles and 15 were included for quantitative analysis. The risk of bias was low. The number of patients undergone Ctn testing was 29,533. The pooled percentage of those with ICV was 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.2–2.3). The pooled proportion of MTC incidence among patients with ICV was 9.6% (95% CI:5–14.1). Heterogeneity was explained by the covariates of Ctn assay sensitivity and the resection rate. The subgroup with Ctn 10–20 pg/mL showed a significantly lower MTC rate than the subgroup with Ctn 20–100 pg/mL.

Conclusions

The percentage of ICV among patients with thyroid nodules who underwent Ctn testing is negligible. The rate of MTC in patients with ICV cannot be overlooked. Among the ICV intervals, the risk of MTC increases significantly when Ctn is above 20 pg/mL.
The forward–backward envelope for sampling with the overdamped Langevin algorithm
Authors: Eftekhari Armin , Vargas Luis , Zygalakis Konstantinos C.
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we analyse a proximal method based on the idea of forward–backward splitting for sampling from distributions with densities that are not necessarily smooth. In particular, we study the non-asymptotic properties of the Euler–Maruyama discretization of the Langevin equation, where the forward–backward envelope is used to deal with the non-smooth part of the dynamics. An advantage of this envelope, when compared to widely-used Moreu–Yoshida one and the MYULA algorithm, is that it maintains the MAP estimator of the original non-smooth distribution. We also study a number of numerical experiments that support our theoretical findings.
Pore-Scale Evaluation of Physicochemical Interactions by Engineered Water Injections
Authors: Shapoval Artur , Zhuravljov Aleksandr , Lanetc Zakhar , Rahman Sheikh S.
Published: May 2023

Engineered water injections have gained a lot of interest as an economic and effective method of improving the oil recovery. However, the complexity of the physicochemical interactions between the brines of various compositions, oil and rock has led researchers to provide multiple ways to explain this phenomenon. In this work, we evaluate the previously suggested mechanisms, namely wettability alteration and emulsification, against high-resolution micro-CT coreflood observations in a limestone sample. This is achieved by integrating the effects of above-mentioned mechanisms into a volume-of-fluid simulation by using geochemical modelling and experimental measurements. This has allowed us to explain the effect of capillary force affecting mechanisms, whereby we were able to achieve 6% increase in recovery factor. We have also observed that these mechanisms have limitation in improving recovery due to fingering and subsequent formation of the stagnation zones inside the core samples. When viscous effect is considered in numerical study, 22% increase in recovery is achieved by reorientation of the main flow paths and mobilisation of the previously unconnected oil clusters. This result is closer to 24% increase in recovery factor which was observed in experimental study and signifies that viscosity increase due to emulsification is an important mechanism of engineered water injections.
Relation Between Interface Geometry and Tensile Shear Strength of Ultrasonically Welded Joints
Authors: Arweiler-Böllert Sophie , Liesegang Moritz , Beck Tilmann , Jungbluth Julia , Schmeer Sebastian
Published: May 2023

The reliable use of ultrasonic metal welding requires a thorough understanding of the relevant bonding mechanisms. This article presents an approach to systematically investigate the relation between the mechanical properties and the interface of selected Al/Cu and Al/GFRP joints. The hypothesis is that the microstructure and tensile shear strength of the specimen can be related to their interface properties presented by contact stiffness and damage initiation traction. For this purpose, the mentioned hybrid material systems were ultrasonically welded using specific parameters to achieve defined levels of mechanical joint strengths. Micro sections and fracture surfaces were characterized to identify the interface geometry at certain strength levels. The main findings were different shares of bonded areas in the interface and characteristic micro geometries. Microscale finite element models of representative samples were developed to determine the stress and deformation behavior in the interface under tensile shear load and to compare the influence of the interface geometry on contact conditions to a simplified model. The simulations provide information about the influence of different damage initiation tractions and geometrical characteristics in the joints’ interfaces, as well as their contribution to the overall joint strength. For prospective industrial applications, they can serve as basis for further development of a contact model on component scale.
3D-Druck zur Miniaturisierung von chromatographischen Anwendungen
Authors: Kortmann Carlotta , Habib Taieb , Solle Dörte , Bahnemann Janina
Published: May 2023

3D printing as a tool for prototyping is already well established in many areas of biotechnology. Whether for the production of individual laboratory devices, for the development of biocompatible devices for cell cultivation or even lab-on-a-chip systems for miniaturization and reduction of consumables – the technology is now used by many research areas within biotechnology. However, there is one area where 3D printing is still comparatively underutilized: chromatography. Here, we explain the potential and possible applications of 3D printing for the development of miniaturized chromatography systems.
Transcatheter closure of postsurgical aortic pseudoaneurysms guided by three-dimensional image reconstruction: a single-centre experience
Authors: Hegeman Romy R. M. J. J. , Swaans Martin J. , Kara Basak , Heijmen Robin H. , Smeenk Hans G. , Timmers Leo , Sonker Uday , Klein Patrick , Berg Jurriën M. Ten
Published: May 2023

Background

Postsurgical thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms (PTAPs) are a potentially lethal complication after cardiac or aortic surgery. Surgical management can pose a challenge with high in-hospital mortality rates. Transcatheter closure is a less-invasive alternative treatment option for selected patients, although current experience is limited.

Aims

We aimed to evaluate procedural and imaging outcomes of our first 11 cases of transcatheter PTAP closure with the use of closure devices.

Methods

Patients with a high operative risk who underwent transcatheter PTAP closure at our centre from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively included. Suitability was evaluated on preprocedural computed tomography (CT) scans and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. All procedures were performed in the catheterisation laboratory. Intraprocedural aortography and postprocedural CT scans with 3D reconstructions were used to evaluate PTAP occlusion.

Results

Eleven consecutive patients with a high operative risk and a history of cardiac/aortic surgery who underwent transcatheter PTAP closure were included. PTAPs were predominantly located at the proximal or distal anastomosis of a supracoronary ascending aortic vascular graft or Bentall prosthesis (82%). Implanted closure devices included Amplatzer Valvular Plug III (82%), Amplatzer septal occluder (9%) and Occlutech atrial septal defect occluder (9%). No periprocedural complications occurred. After device deployment, residual flow was absent on aortography in 64% and minimal residual flow was present in 36% of patients. Subtotal or total occlusion of the PTAP on follow-up CT ranged between 45% and 73%.

Conclusions

Although subtotal or total occlusion of the PTAP was found at follow-up in only 45–73% of cases, transcatheter PTAP closure guided by preprocedural 3D reconstructions can offer a valuable minimally invasive primary treatment option for patients who otherwise would face a high-risk reoperation.
Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Five Pretreatment Methods on Morphological and Methane Yield of Groundnut Shells
Authors: Olatunji Kehinde O. , Madyira Daniel M.
Published: May 2023

Agricultural residues have been identified as potential substrates for anaerobic digestion, which indicates them as alternative energy sources. But enzymatic hydrolysis of these residues has been observed as the rate-limiting step due to their recalcitrant characteristics. Therefore, pretreatment before anaerobic digestion is required to reduce the retention time and increase the methane yield. This study investigates the influence of thermal, alkali, acid, nanoparticle additive, and combined pretreatments on the methane yield of groundnut shells. The effect of pretreatment methods on the structural arrangement was investigated with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared, and methane yield was investigated after anaerobic digestion at mesophilic temperature. The morphological analysis shows that all the treatment methods alter the microstructural arrangement of groundnut shells at varying degrees, except the particle size reduction, which does not significantly influence them. Cumulative methane yields of 222.92, 214.00, 171.02, 140.99, and 261.36 ml CH4/g VSadded were recorded for thermal, alkali, acid, nanoparticle additive, and combined pretreatment methods, which represents 112.77, 70.03, 40.18, and 159.85% improvement compared to the untreated substrate (100.58 ml CH4/g VSadded). Combined pretreatment was found to release the highest cumulative yield, and thermal pretreatment produced the least retention period. Therefore, combined and thermal pretreatments could be a bright means to deconstruct the recalcitrant characteristics of lignocellulose feedstocks arrangement to reduce the retention period and improve the methane yield. These methods can be experimented with further at the industrial scale to establish economic viability.

Graphical Abstract
An insight on sources and biodegradation of bioplastics: a review
Authors: Pooja Nag , Chakraborty Ishita , Rahman Md. Hafizur , Mazumder Nirmal
Published: May 2023

Durability and affordability are two main reasons for the widespread consumption of plastic in the world. However, the inability of these materials to undergo degradation has become a significant threat to the environment and human health To address this issue, bioplastics have emerged as a promising alternative. Bioplastics are obtained from renewable and sustainable biomass and have a lower carbon footprint and emit fewer greenhouse gases than petroleum-based plastics. The use of these bioplastics sourced from renewable biomass can also reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, which are limited in availability. This review provides an elaborate comparison of biodegradation rates of potential bioplastics in soil from various sources such as biomass, microorganisms, and monomers. These bioplastics show great potential as a replacement for conventional plastics due to their biodegradable and diverse properties.
On Social Media Design, (Online-)Time Well-spent and Addictive Behaviors in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Authors: Montag Christian , Elhai Jon D.
Published: May 2023

Purpose of the Review

Social media attracts billions of users worldwide, and research has investigated how screen time or time spent online is linked to well-being. Additionally, addictive-like behaviors towards the social media platforms are a focus of many studies. However, related research often neglects the simple fact that social media companies have willingly created immersive online environments with the aim to “persuade” users to spend as much time possible on their social media apps to watch ads and enlarge their digital footprints.

Recent Findings

We think that it is of utmost importance to better understand how the many design elements on social media platforms—ranging from the like-button to endless scrolling—impact the psyche and behavior of users. Such knowledge will not only help to better understand how problematic social media use evolves but will also provide important knowledge on how more healthy social media platforms could look like in the future. In this context, the present article also critically reflects the time well-spent initiative by the industry.

From our view, the many problems around social media will only be solved if the data business model is abandoned. As long as companies base their business model on the digital surveillance of people’s lives, no changes towards healthier social media platforms can be expected.
A decoupling method for solving the multi-agent path finding problem
Authors: Liao Bin , Zhu Shenrui , Hua Yi , Wan Fangyi , Qing Xinlin
Published: May 2023

Many existing multi-agent path finding (MAPF) solvers focus on completeness, speed, or optimization. However, completeness and rapidity are usually in conflict with each other, which makes these algorithms far from satisfactory in practical applications. Motivated by this realistic requirement, we propose an efficient decoupling method to accelerate the solution of large MAPF problems. First, we define the concept of ‘non-essential vertex’-vertices which are not needed to solve a MAPF problem, and a scheme to identify them. Then, a decoupling scheme based on ‘non-essential vertex’ is proposed, which will assign higher priorities to agents whose goal positions are non-essential vertices and lower priorities to agents whose start positions are non-essential vertices. That is, invoking our decoupling algorithm can decouple any given MAPF problem into three subproblems while maintaining the completeness of the solution. All three sub-MAPF problems can be solved sequentially by a complete solver (e.g., CBS or EECBS, etc.), and two of them can also be solved by a prioritized planning algorithm. We have conducted several experiments in different workspaces, and the statistical results show that the proposed decoupling method significantly improves the speed and success rate of existing MAPF solvers with almost no degradation in solution quality when solving problems with high agent density. In addition, the solving efficiency can be further improved if the prioritized planning algorithm is invoked to solve the first and third sub-MAPF problems.
Tele-neuropsychological Assessment of Children and Young People: A Systematic Review
Authors: Walker Elise J. , Kirkham Fenella J. , Stotesbury Hanne , Dimitriou Dagmara , Hood Anna M.
Published: May 2023

The coronavirus pandemic identified a clinical need for pediatric tele-neuropsychology (TeleNP) assessment. However, due to limited research, clinicians have had little information to develop, adapt, or select reliable pediatric assessments for TeleNP. This preliminary systematic review aimed to examine the feasibility of pediatric TeleNP assessment alongside (1) patient/family acceptability, (2) reliability, and (3) the quality of the literature. Between May 2021 and November 2022, manual searches of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were conducted using terms related to “pediatric” and “tele-neuropsychology.” After extracting relevant papers with samples aged 0–22 years, predefined exclusion criteria were applied. Quality assessment was completed using the AXIS appraisal tool (91% rater-agreement). Twenty-one studies were included in the review, with reported qualitative and quantitative data on the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability extracted. Across included studies, TeleNP was completed via telephone/video conference with participants either at home, in a local setting accompanied by an assistant, or in a different room but in the same building as the assessor. Pediatric TeleNP was generally reported to be feasible (e.g., minimal behavioral differences) and acceptable (e.g., positive feedback). Nineteen studies conducted some statistical analyses to assess reliability. Most observed no significant difference between in-person and TeleNP for most cognitive domains (i.e., IQ), with a minority finding variable reliability for some tests (e.g., attention, speech, visuo-spatial). Limited reporting of sex-assigned birth, racialized identity, and ethnicity reduced the quality and generalizability of the literature. To aid clinical interpretations, studies should assess underexamined cognitive domains (e.g., processing speed) with larger, more inclusive samples.
Oxidative Molecular Layer Deposition Tailoring Eco-Mimetic Nanoarchitecture to Manipulate Electromagnetic Attenuation and Self-Powered Energy Conversion
Authors: Shu Jin-Cheng , Zhang Yan-Lan , Qin Yong , Cao Mao-Sheng
Published: May 2023

Advanced electromagnetic devices, as the pillars of the intelligent age, are setting off a grand transformation, redefining the structure of society to present pluralism and diversity. However, the bombardment of electromagnetic radiation on society is also increasingly serious along with the growing popularity of "Big Data". Herein, drawing wisdom and inspiration from nature, an eco-mimetic nanoarchitecture is constructed for the first time, highly integrating the advantages of multiple components and structures to exhibit excellent electromagnetic response. Its electromagnetic properties and internal energy conversion can be flexibly regulated by tailoring microstructure with oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD), providing a new cognition to frequency-selective microwave absorption. The optimal reflection loss reaches ≈  − 58 dB, and the absorption frequency can be shifted from high frequency to low frequency by increasing the number of oMLD cycles. Meanwhile, a novel electromagnetic absorption surface is designed to enable ultra-wideband absorption, covering almost the entire K and Ka bands. More importantly, an ingenious self-powered device is constructed using the eco-mimetic nanoarchitecture, which can convert electromagnetic radiation into electric energy for recycling. This work offers a new insight into electromagnetic protection and waste energy recycling, presenting a broad application prospect in radar stealth, information communication, aerospace engineering, etc.
Sanae-Inoue Itoh 1952–2019: a memorial note for a pioneer researcher of plasma bifurcation
Authors: Fujisawa A. , Kasuya N. , Kosuga Y. , Nagashima Y. , Sasaki M. , Yamada T.
Published: May 2023

This memorial note for Professor Sanae-I Itoh presents her specific achievements in physics research alongside her wider record of accomplishment in the field of magnetically confined plasmas. The topics include bifurcation phenomena (e.g., H-mode and improved confinement modes), turbulence-generated structures (e.g., zonal flows and streamers), and fundamental concepts and processes in plasma turbulence (e.g. nonlinear couplings and energy transfer. The note focuses initially on results obtained through her integration of theory, simulation, and experiment, particularly those arising from a low temperature plasma facility at Kyushu University. We then describe contemporary challenges in plasma turbulence which Sanae addressed with great interest, and consider some of the perspectives that were opened by her achievements.
Analyses of fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves for virome profiling of mosaic diseased trees from the Western Cape Province (South Africa)
Authors: Bester Rachelle , van Niekerk Carla , Maree Hans J.
Published: May 2023

Virus-like symptoms on fig tree leaves are a common occurrence worldwide and has mostly been attributed to fig mosaic disease (FMD). Even though only fig mosaic virus (FMV) has been shown to cause FMD, many other viruses have been identified in diseased fig trees. In 2021, total RNA was extracted from fig leaf samples displaying symptoms of mosaic and chlorotic mottling and was subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to construct the first virome profile of a South African fig tree. Bioinformatic analyses identified FMV, fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV1), fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV2), fig latent virus 1 (FLV1), fig badnavirus 1 (FBV1) and grapevine badnavirus 1 (GBV1) in the data. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted, for these viruses, on 24 additional fig leaf samples collected in the Western Cape. FBV1, GBV1, FMV, FLMaV1, FLV1, FLMaV2, and fig fleck-associated virus (FFkaV) were detected in 100%, 96%, 92%, 54%, 46%, 21%, and 12.5% of the samples, respectively. This is the first report on the presence of FMV, FLMaV2, FLV1, FFkaV, FBV1 and GBV1 in South Africa and offers a preliminary insight into the virus status of fig trees in the country.
A Novel Caffeoylquinic Acid from Lonicera japonica Exerts Cytotoxic Activity by Blocking the YAP-CTGF Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shen Wanying , Wei Xiaofang , Li Yangfang , Liu Chenxiao , Ge Lanlan , Yao Jie , Zeng Xiaobin , Tang Xudong
Published: May 2023

We have purified a novel caffeoylquinic acid named 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Caprifoliaceae. However, the biological function of 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester is still unknown. Here, we found that 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and it displayed less toxicity to a normal liver cell line. Mechanistic studies showed that 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester diminished the expression of YAP at the mRNA level. Overexpression of YAP significantly rescued HepG2 cells from the 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester–induced suppression of proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the YAP downstream target gene CTGF was significantly repressed upon 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester treatment, which was ameliorated by YAP overexpression. In addition, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester decreased the expression of β-catenin as well as CDK4/6. Collectively, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester exerts antihepatocellular carcinoma activity by inhibiting the YAP-CTGF pathway which controls the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway might be another pathway by which 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester exerts antihepatocellular carcinoma activity. As a novel natural compound, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid isobutyl ester might be a promising agent for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.

Graphical Abstract
Experimental and numerical evaluations of the bond behaviour between ribbed steel rebars and concrete
Authors: Biscaia Hugo C.
Published: May 2023

The study of interfacial behaviour between ribbed steel rebars and concrete is a subject that has been widely studied. However, the definition of the bond stress distribution throughout the embedded length of the steel rebar is still controversial due to the difficulty of experimentally obtaining such distribution for a fixed load magnitude. It is also undeniable its relevancy for the better understanding and model reinforced concrete (RC) structures. So, the definition of the local behaviour between the ribbed steel rebar and concrete is critical to correctly simulate the adherence between both materials. In this matter, the local bond-slip models recommended in codes seem to satisfy some researchers while others suggest prudence in using them. Therefore, only choosing the correct bond-slip relationship may lead to exact interpretations and conclusions of the structural behaviour of a concrete structure but with the existing different bond-slip types, researchers can be misled inadvertently. This work aims to clarify some of these aspects by numerically simulating several pull-out tests under different conditions and checking their influence (or not) on real-scale specimens. After the validation of the numerical model through a proposed new bond-slip relationship, other parameters were studied also. Although the type of the bond-slip relationship influences the detachment of the steel rebar from the concrete, the yielding of the former material was found to be the main parameter that masks the differences in the behaviour of real-scale RC structures when different types of bond-slip relationships were considered in the numerical simulations.
Intraradicular Diameter, Remnant Dentin Thickness, and Endodontic Post to Dentin Distance: CBCT and Microscopic Analyses
Authors: Souza Júlio C. M. , Soares Catarina , Fernandes Valter , Carvalho Oscar , Silva Filipe , Özcan Mutlu , Henriques Bruno
Published: May 2023

The objective of this work was to measure the tooth root canals’ diameter, remnant dentin thickness, endodontic post to dentin distance, and resin-matrix cement layer after three types of root canal shaping. Thirty extracted human premolars were endodontically treated and groups of specimens were divided according to the cementation with two different endodontic posts as follow: A) Fibio Fiberglass Post™, Anthogyr, France; B) multi-filament GFRC (Rebilda GT™, VOCO, Germany). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and conventional X-ray analyses were performed before and after the endodontic post cementation. After cementation, specimens were cross-sectioned and inspected by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy at magnification ranging from × 30 up to × 2000. Changes in shaping of the root canals caused a decrease in the thickness of the remnant tooth tissues. CBCT and microscopic analyses also revealed a clear variation of resin-matrix cement around the glass fiber-reinforced composite (GFRC) posts. A multi-filament GFRC post provided an adequate distribution of filaments although the resin-matrix cement revealed a high volume among the filaments. An increase in thickness and volume of resin-matrix cement was noticed at the coronal third since the fitting was compromised due to tooth anatomic variations and root canal preparation. Defects such macro-scale pores, cracks, and voids were also detected by microscopic analyses. The root canal shaping can promote a decrease in the thickness of the remnant tooth tissues that can increase the risks of clinical failures by fracture. The thickness and volume of resin-matrix cement varied around both GFRC posts and increased from the apex up to the coronal third due to the lack of fitting.

Graphical Abstract
On Classical and Bayesian Reliability of Systems Using Bivariate Generalized Geometric Distribution
Authors: Abbas Nasir
Published: May 2023

The study of system safety and reliability has always been vital for the quality and manufacturing engineers of varying fields for which generally the continuous probability distributions are proposed. Bivariate and multivariate continuous distributions are the candidates while studying more than one characteristic of the system. In this article, an attempt is made to address this issue when the reliability systems generate bivariate and correlated count datasets. The bivariate generalized geometric distribution (BGGD) is believed to serve as a potential candidate to model such types of datasets. Bayesian approach of data analysis has the potential of accommodating the uncertainty associated with the model parameters of interest using uninformative and informative priors. A real life bivariate correlated dataset is analyzed in Bayesian framework and the results are compared with those produced by the classical approach. Posterior summaries including posterior means, highest density regions, and predicted expected frequencies of the bivariate data are evaluated. Different information criteria are evaluated to compare the inferential methods under study. The entire analysis is carried out using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) set-up of data augmentation implemented through WinBUGS.
Latent Modes of Nonlinear Flows
Authors: Cohen Ido , Gilboa Guy
Published: May 2023

Extracting the latent underlying structures of complex nonlinear local and nonlocal flows is essential for their analysis and modeling. In this Element the authors attempt to provide a consistent framework through Koopman theory and its related popular discrete approximation - dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). They investigate the conditions to perform appropriate linearization, dimensionality reduction and representation of flows in a highly general setting. The essential elements of this framework are Koopman eigenfunctions (KEFs) for which existence conditions are formulated. This is done by viewing the dynamic as a curve in state-space. These conditions lay the foundations for system reconstruction, global controllability, and observability for nonlinear dynamics. They examine the limitations of DMD through the analysis of Koopman theory and propose a new mode decomposition technique based on the typical time profile of the dynamics.
Business Model Innovation
Authors: Markides Constantinos
Published: May 2023

Digital technologies have allowed for the proliferation of new business models, something that has attracted the attention of academic research. Much of this research has focused on (i) understanding what a business model is and its theoretical connection to the concept of strategy, and (ii) exploring what business model innovation is and what its sources and outcomes are. Less work has gone into studying the issues that established firms face in business model innovation – such as how to respond to the arrival of a disruptive business model in one's industry, or how to compete with dual business models or how to migrate from one business model to another. This Element approaches the topic of business model innovation from the perspective of the established firm and examines the unique strategic and organizational issues that big, established companies face when a new business model enters their markets.
A lacuna in Irish historiography: the Irish peregrini from Eoin MacNeill to The Cambridge history of Ireland and beyond
Authors: O'Hara Alexander
Published: May 2023

This article highlights some of the historiographical trends over the past one hundred years in how the Irish diaspora in early medieval Europe has been studied. The role of the peregrini, the Irish monastic exiles who left Ireland for Britain and continental Europe from the sixth century onwards, has to some extent been marginal and tangential to the historiography of this island. Forms of modern ‘Irophobia’ in some scholarship have also led to an obfuscation of the early medieval religious and ethnic landscape by seeking to minimise Irish cultural influence. The article argues that by contextualising the phenomenon of Irish clerical exile in Europe within broader theological and comparative frameworks, further research in this field has the potential to clarify the influence of the Irish and to show how the experience of exile contributed to the formation of both Irish and European identities in the middle ages.
Overlords, underlords and landlords: negotiating land and lordship in plantation Munster
Authors: Smith Margaret K.
Published: May 2023

This article explores the legal strategies of negotiation employed by Gaelic lords in early modern Munster through a case study of the O'Driscoll lordship of Collymore, County Cork. The late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries produced an environment of intense legal contestation, as indigenous legal practices and hierarchies were methodically attacked by the colonial administration. But, as English administrators attempted to eradicate Irish legal precedent (and with it the legitimacy of the Gaelic aristocracy), Gaelic lords responded with new and often innovative legal strategies. The territory of Collymore presents a microcosm of the legal tensions produced by and under the Munster plantation, subject to competing claims by rival O'Driscoll heirs, MacCarthy Reagh overlords, ‘Old English’ neighbours and incoming planters. This article offers a reconstruction and analysis of the complex legal disputes surrounding Collymore. It argues that through otherwise routine legal interactions like inheritance disputes and chancery suits, Irish lords reframed their authority in the vocabulary of English law, trading tanistry for primogeniture and the language of overlordship for that of landlordship. Through these rhetorical and theoretical shifts, they attempted to redefine the very basis and nature of their authority.