bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Nanohybrid Containing Cyan‐Emitting Copper Nanoclusters and TiO2 Nanoparticles: Tuning of Optoelectronic Properties
Authors: Bairagi Dipayan , Hazra Soumyajit , Basu Kingshuk , Banerjee Arindam
Published: August 2022

Nanohybrid materials are designed to cover up the weaknesses of individual components. In this current work, an environment‐friendly synthesis was used to produce a cyan‐emitting copper nanocluster (Cu NC) with a quantum yield of 8.7 %. This negatively charged nanocluster was successfully used to make a nanohybrid with anatase titanium dioxide mesoporous nanoparticles having Lewis‐acidic pores. The nanohybrid formation was characterized by time‐correlated single‐photon counting studies (TCSPC), solid‐state UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy and valence band X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A systematic increase of Cu NC loading on the TiO2 showed an increase of current from a range of 10−7 A (in native TiO2) to 10−4 A (1 : 10 Cu NC‐TiO2 hybrid). Interestingly, the photocurrent response of TiO2 also dramatically improved from 8.9×10−3 mA to 4.1 mA in1 : 10 Cu NC−TiO2 hybrid. Systematic variation of their weight ratio vividly demonstrated that 10 % w/w TiO2−Cu NC hybrid was the most effective current generator, keeping the semiconducting and photovoltaic nature intact. The increase in photocurrent can be attributed to the long‐lived electron‐hole separation in the nanohybrid system.
Adsorption of Organic Dye onto Mesoporous Aluminosilica Monoliths: Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Al‐Hazmi Ghaferah H. , Refat Moamen S. , Shahat Ahmed
Published: August 2022

In the present study, high order aluminosilica monolith (HOASM) composite with high alumina content (Si/Al=1.5) was fabricated through a reproducible, simple, and one‐pot synthesis strategy. Achieved was a realistic control over the cubic Ia3d geometry of aluminosilica monoliths using microemulsion phases of copolymer P123 as soft templates. The geometrical and textural pore structures of the HOASM composite were characterized with various tools of EDX, FESEM, HRTEM, XRD and N2isotherms. The quantity of aluminum species present in the walls of the silica pore structure has a substantial impact on the acidity of nanoadsorbent. The HOASM nanoadsorbent was used as a removal of Crystal violet (CV) from wastewater. A major contributing factor to the improvement of the coverage of the HOASM composite adsorbent surfaces were the multi‐directional pores (3D) and the mesostructural geometries of the aluminosilica adsorbent. The performance factors like temperature, adsorbent dose, concentration, pH, and contact period, were all examined to evaluate the CV dye adsorption. It was found that, at a pH of 8, the greatest CV dye adsorption on HOASM composite was achieved. The optimal concentration for CV adsorption was 1.5 mmol/g, and the adsorption isotherm matched the Langmuir model, though the adsorption kinetics were matched to a pseudo‐second‐order model. Thermodynamic experiments have shown that the CV dye adsorption on the HOASM composite is endothermic and spontaneous.
Long Shelf‐Life Efficient Electrolytes Based on Trace l‐Cysteine Additives toward Stable Zinc Metal Anodes
Authors: Huang Cong , Zhao Xin , Hao Yisu , Yang Yujie , Qian Yang , Chang Ge , Zhang Yan , Tang Qunli , Hu Aiping , Chen Xiaohua
Published: August 2022

The unstable anode/electrolyte interface (AEI) triggers the corrosion reaction and dendrite formation during cycling, hindering the practical application of zinc metal batteries. Herein, for the first time, l‐cysteine (Cys) is employed to serve as an electrolyte additive for stabilizing the Zn/electrolyte interface. It is revealed that Cys additives tend to initially approach the Zn surface and then decompose into multiple effective components for suppressing parasitic reactions and Zn dendrites. As a consequence, Zn|Zn symmetric cells using trace Cys additives (0.83 mm) exhibit a steady cycle life of 1600 h, outperforming that of prior studies. Additionally, an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% for 250 cycles is also obtained under critical test conditions (10 mA cm−2/5 mAh cm−2). Cys additives also enable Zn–V2O5 and Zn–MnO2 full cells with an enhanced cycle stability at a low N/P ratio. More importantly, Cys/ZnSO4 electrolytes are demonstrated to be still effective after resting for half year, favoring the practical production.
No longer invisible
Authors: Thomas Cornell
Published: August 2022

In a real teaching and learning community of learners, the belief exists that all can and will learn, that the teacher has the ability to connect new information with the knowledge base of each student, and that students will become empowered to make their own connections. This premise is built on a foundation that sees each student as a unique human being with the ability to grow. They are not cloaked by some set of generalized characteristics. They are not invisible.
Heterogeneous alternative catalysts: A bibliometric and systematic evaluation of their application in solar photocatalytic processes
Authors: Cahino Arthur Marinho , Rocha Elisângela Maria Rodrigues , Vidal Iana Chaiene Araújo , Pereira Samara Teixeira , Quirino Amanda Gondim Cabral , Nascimento Raqueline Caldas do
Published: August 2022

The present study sought to objectively demonstrate how a researcher can, in a structured way, select relevant articles about alternative heterogeneous catalysts in photocatalytic processes. Therefore, the ProKnow‐C (Knowledge Development Process – Constructivist) method was used to systematize the results found, with the application bibliometric and systematic analysis techniques for the evaluation of the results. The search string adopted as criteria was: solar photocatalysis AND heterogeneous catalysts OR alternative catalysts AND effluents. The databases were Web of Science, Science Direct and Scopus. The final bibliographic portfolio obtained for the research theme was made up of 19 articles. It was possible to verify advances in the number of publications on the theme over the evaluated period, with the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry standing out in the final portfolio. Evaluating each article in the portfolio individually, it was possible to verify that most studies use combinations of catalysts already reported to create an alternative material to those already investigated in the literature. Those that use waste as catalysts chose to source this material from treatment plants and the steel industry. Around 58% of the papers used hydrogen peroxide in their processes, while 42% chose not to use it. Finally, approximately 63% of the papers in the portfolio used synthetic effluent in their processes, while the rest (37% of the research) chose to use real effluent. The results obtained in this research by applying the method can contribute to studies related to heterogeneous photocatalysis by alternative means over the years.
Association of placental and umbilical cord characteristics with cerebral palsy: national cohort study
Authors: Ebbing C. , Rasmussen S. , Kessler J. , Moster D.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders usually diagnosed in childhood. A substantial proportion are thought to be caused by antenatal events. Abnormalities of the umbilical cord and placenta are associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, but it is unclear whether these conditions also carry an increased risk of CP. We aimed to determine whether abnormalities of the umbilical cord or placenta are associated with CP and assess if these associations differ by sex of the child or gestational age at birth.

Methods

We performed a national cohort study by linking data from The Medical Birth Registry of Norway with other national registries. All liveborn singletons born between 1999 and 2017 (n = 1 087 486) were included and followed up until the end of 2019. Diagnoses of CP were provided by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and the Norwegian Patient Register. We used generalized estimating equations and multilevel log binomial regression to calculate relative risks (RR), adjusted for year of birth, and stratified analyses were carried out based on sex and gestational age at birth. Exposures were abnormal umbilical cord (velamentous or marginal insertion, single umbilical artery (SUA), knots and entanglement), and placental abnormalities (retained placenta, placental abruption and previa).

Results

A total of 2443 cases with CP (59.8% males) were identified. Velamentous cord insertion (adjusted RR (aRR), 2.11 (95% CI, 1.65–2.60)), cord knots (aRR, 1.53 (95% CI, 1.15–2.04)) and placental abnormalities (placenta previa (aRR, 3.03 (95% CI, 2.00–4.61)), placental abruption (aRR, 10.63 (95% CI, 8.57–13.18)) and retained placenta (aRR, 1.71 (95% CI, 1.32–2.22))) carried an increased risk of CP. Velamentous cord insertion was associated with CP regardless of gestational age or sex. A retained placenta was associated with a 2‐fold increased risk for CP in males, while the associations of SUA and cord knot with CP were significant only among females.

Conclusions

The detection of placental and umbilical cord abnormalities may help identify children at increased risk of CP. The associations between placental or umbilical cord abnormalities and the risk of CP do not vary substantially with gestational age at birth or sex of the child. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
A previously unknown Argonaute 2 variant positively modulates the viability of melanoma cells
Authors: Linck-Paulus Lisa , Meißgeier Tina , Pieger Katharina , Horn Anselm H. C. , Matthies Alexander , Fischer Stefan , Meister Gunter , Sticht Heinrich , Kappelmann-Fenzl Melanie , Bosserhoff Anja K.
Published: August 2022

In malignant melanoma, a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, many microRNAs are aberrantly expressed contributing to tumorigenesis and progression. Further, deregulation of microRNA processing enzymes, like the miRNA-binding protein Argonaute 2, significantly impacts microRNA function. This study characterizes a novel splice variant of Argonaut 2, AGO2-ex1/3. AGO2-ex1/3 is substantially expressed in different melanoma cell lines and patient-derived tissue samples. It is a mature mRNA, which is translated into an N-terminally truncated Argonaute 2 protein form. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the PAZ, MID, and PIWI domain largely retain their structure in AGO2-ex1/3 and that the truncation of the N-terminus leads to an increased interdomain flexibility. Expression of AGO2-ex1/3 provides a survival advantage for melanoma cells while the knockdown causes significantly reduced proliferation and increases apoptosis. RNA-sequencing revealed that in cells lacking AGO2-ex1/3 expression many miRNA target genes are deregulated, implicating a considerable role of AGO2-ex1/3 for miRNA function. This study inaugurates insights into an important role of a so far unknown splice variant of Argonaute 2 for the miRNA pathway as well as the mechanisms which drive growth and survival of melanoma cells. This knowledge provides the basis for potential new promising therapeutic targets focusing on small RNA-mediated gene regulation in melanoma.
Between Protest and Counter-Expertise: User Knowledge, Activism, and the Making of Urban Cycling Networks in the Netherlands Since the 1970s
Authors: Dekker Henk-Jan
Published: August 2022

Around 1970, high numbers of traffic casualties among cyclists led to the creation of numerous local protest movements in the Netherlands. While activists employed protest strategies, their main interest lie in the way they exemplify a highly successful instance of “lay expertise”; the idea that users of a technology have a fundamentally different and valuable perspective on a technology than experts or system-builders. Specifically, cyclists claimed to be more knowledgeable about cycling conditions and safety than the state-employed engineers and traffic experts who built the roads and cycling path network. A key actor in this story is the Dutch Cyclists’ Union (Fietsersbond), a national platform of local action groups formed in 1975. These activists used the cycling experience of everyday utilitarian cyclists to compile maps and blacklists of locations where cycling was dangerous, unpleasant, uncomfortable, or otherwise discouraging. In doing so, they successfully claimed legitimacy as a valuable knowledge partner for local engineers and policymakers. As a result, they gained some level of influence within local governments, a relation which in the intervening years has only grown stronger. This case study shows how users can shape socio-technical systems bottom-up, and can therefore to an extent be seen as a successful example of co-construction of technology.
Tabu-DART: a dynamic update strategy for efficient discrete algebraic reconstruction
Authors: Frenkel Daniel , Six Nathanaël , De Beenhouwer Jan , Sijbers Jan
Published: August 2022

In X-ray computed tomography, discrete tomography (DT) algorithms have been successful at reconstructing objects composed of only a few distinct materials. Many DT-based methods rely on a divide-and-conquer procedure to reconstruct the volume in parts, which improves their run-time and reconstruction quality. However, this procedure is based on static rules, which introduces redundant computation and diminishes the efficiency. In this work, we introduce an update strategy framework that allows for dynamic rules and increases control for divide-and-conquer methods for DT. We illustrate this framework by introducing Tabu-DART, which combines our proposed framework with the Discrete Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (DART). Through simulated and real data reconstruction experiments, we show that our approach yields similar or improved reconstruction quality compared to DART, with substantially lower computational complexity.
Multiplatform molecular analyses refine classification of gliomas arising in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Lucas Calixto-Hope G. , Sloan Emily A. , Gupta Rohit , Wu Jasper , Pratt Drew , Vasudevan Harish N. , Ravindranathan Ajay , Barreto Jairo , Williams Erik A. , Shai Anny , Whipple Nicholas S. , Bruggers Carol S. , Maher Ossama , Nabors Burt , Rodriguez Michael , Samuel David , Brown Melandee , Carmichael Jason , Lu Rufei , Mirchia Kanish , Sullivan Daniel V. , Pekmezci Melike , Tihan Tarik , Bollen Andrew W. , Perry Arie , Banerjee Anuradha , Mueller Sabine , Gupta Nalin , Hervey-Jumper Shawn L. , Oberheim Bush Nancy Ann , Daras Mariza , Taylor Jennie W. , Butowski Nicholas A. , de Groot John , Clarke Jennifer L. , Raleigh David R. , Costello Joseph F. , Phillips Joanna J. , Reddy Alyssa T. , Chang Susan M. , Berger Mitchel S. , Solomon David A.
Published: August 2022

Gliomas arising in the setting of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are heterogeneous, occurring from childhood through adulthood, can be histologically low-grade or high-grade, and follow an indolent or aggressive clinical course. Comprehensive profiling of genetic alterations beyond NF1 inactivation and epigenetic classification of these tumors remain limited. Through next-generation sequencing, copy number analysis, and DNA methylation profiling of gliomas from 47 NF1 patients, we identified 2 molecular subgroups of NF1-associated gliomas. The first harbored biallelic NF1 inactivation only, occurred primarily during childhood, followed a more indolent clinical course, and had a unique epigenetic signature for which we propose the terminology “pilocytic astrocytoma, arising in the setting of NF1”. The second subgroup harbored additional oncogenic alterations including CDKN2A homozygous deletion and ATRX mutation, occurred primarily during adulthood, followed a more aggressive clinical course, and was epigenetically diverse, with most tumors aligning with either high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features or various subclasses of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. Several patients were treated with small molecule MEK inhibitors that resulted in stable disease or tumor regression when used as a single agent, but only in the context of those tumors with NF1 inactivation lacking additional oncogenic alterations. Together, these findings highlight recurrently altered pathways in NF1-associated gliomas and help inform targeted therapeutic strategies for this patient population.
The optimal route of progesterone administration for luteal phase support in a frozen embryo transfer: a systematic review
Authors: Almohammadi Abdulla , Raveendran Ainharan , Black Mairead , Maheshwari Abha
Published: August 2022

Objective

To investigate the optimal route of progesterone administration for luteal phase support in a frozen embryo transfer.

Design

Systematic review.

Patients

Women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Interventions

We conducted an extensive database search of Medline (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Trials Register using relevant keywords and their combinations to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the routes (i.e., oral, vaginal, intramuscular) of progesterone administration for luteal phase support (LPS) in artificial FET.

Main outcome measures

Clinical pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage.

Results

Four RCTs with 3245 participants undergoing artificial endometrial preparation (EP) cycles during FET were found to be eligible. Four trials compared vaginal progesterone with intramuscular progesterone and two trials compared vaginal progesterone with oral progesterone. One study favored of vaginal versus oral progesterone for clinical pregnancy rates (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22–0.92) and other study favored intramuscular versus vaginal progesterone for clinical pregnancy rates (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.21–1.76) and live birth rates (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28–2.05). Tabulation of overall evidence strength assessment showed low-quality evidence on the basis that for each outcome-comparison pair, there were deficiencies in either directness of outcome measurement or study quality.

Conclusion

There was little consensus and evidence was heterogeneous on the optimal route of administration of progesterone for LPS during FET in artificial EP cycles. This warrants more trials, indirect comparisons, and network meta-analyses.

PROPERO No

CRD42021251017.
Willingness, preferences, barriers, and facilitators of a multimodal supportive care intervention including exercise, nutritional and psychological approach in patients with cancer: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Avancini Alice , Trestini Ilaria , Tregnago Daniela , Belluomini Lorenzo , Sposito Marco , Insolda Jessica , Schena Federico , Milella Michele , Pilotto Sara
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Supportive care, including exercise, nutritional and psychological support, is becoming increasingly important in cancer given their impact on ‘patients’ quality and quantity of life. The purpose of this study was to explore willingness, preferences barriers and facilitators for a multimodal intervention in patients with cancer.

Methods

An anonymous questionnaire was proposed on randomly selected days to the patients visiting the cancer outpatients’ facilities at the Oncology Unit of the University Hospital of Verona. The questionnaire investigated willingness, preferences, barriers, and facilitators associated with participation in a multimodal program designed for patients with cancer. Exercise level was estimated using two open questions, nutritional risk was identified using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, while distress was evaluated with the Distress Thermometer.

Results

Based on 324 participants, 65% were interested in starting a multimodal intervention. Patients declared to prefer to receive instructions from dedicated experts, with a face-to-face approach, and during the anticancer treatment. Treatment-related side effects were the major obstacles for a multimodal program, while the availability of a specialized staff as exercise kinesiologists, dietitians, and psycho-oncologists was found to be an important facilitator for increasing ‘patients’ participation.

Conclusion

Patients patients with cancer are interested in participating in a multimodal supportive care program specifically designed for them. Information from this study may help to design a tailored multimodal intervention for patients with cancer.
Plasma transthyretin is a nutritional biomarker in human morbidities
Authors: Ingenbleek Yves
Published: August 2022

Transthyretin (TTR) is a small liver-secreted plasma protein that shows close correlations with changes in lean body mass (LBM) during the entire human lifespan and agglomerates the bulk of nitrogen (N)-containing substrates, hence constituting the cornerstone of body building. Amino acids (AAs) dietary restriction causes inhibition of TTR production and impairs the accretion of LBM reserves. Inflammatory disorders result in cytokine-induced abrogation of TTR synthesis and urinary leakage of nitrogenous catabolites. Taken together, the data indicate that malnutrition and inflammation may similarly suppress the production of TTR through distinct and unrelated pathophysiological mechanisms while operating in concert to downsize LBM stores. The hepatic synthesis of TTR integrates both machineries, acting as a marker of reduced LBM resources still available for defense and repair processes. TTR operates as a universal surrogate analyte that allows for the grading of residual LBM capacity to reflect disease burden. Measurement of TTR is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive micro-method that may be reproduced on a daily basis, hence ideally suited for the follow-up of the most intricated clinical situations and as a reliable predictor of any morbidity outcome.
Technical Methods for Social Robots in Museum Settings: An Overview of the Literature
Authors: Hellou Mehdi , Lim JongYoon , Gasteiger Norina , Jang Minsu , Ahn Ho Seok
Published: August 2022

Robots have become increasingly present in our daily lives, and we see several settings wherein this technology might positively impact people. One of these settings, and the focus of this paper, is the museum. This paper provides an overview of the literature on how robots can help people within the museum context and explores the state-of-the-art methods or technologies employed by researchers to allow robots to interact within this environment. Five key features were found to be essential to integrate into social museum robots: social navigation (including safe and successful motions); perception (how robots can use visual skills to understand the environment); speech (verbal communication with visitors); gestures (non-verbal cues) and behavior generation (how the robot combines the four skills to adopt different behaviors). The paper subsequently analyzes the integration of these features into robotic systems for a complete and appropriate collection of behaviors in the museum setting.
Implications of Magnetic Properties in the Concentration and Distribution of REEs in Beach Placer Monazites: A Case Study from Chhatrapur Coast, Odisha
Authors: Yugandhara Rao A. , Panda Niroj K. , Ramesh Kumar K. , Sinha D.K.
Published: August 2022

The concentration of monazite, a rare earth and thorium phosphate, in the heavy mineral-bearing sands of Chhatrapur coast varies from 0.09 to 0.16%. Under the microscope, monazite displays color variation from colorless to various shades of yellow, green and brown. The color variation is further reflected in the chemistry of individual grains. Such monazites of distinct colors and different chemistry also show variation in their paramagnetic properties. Representative detrital monazites separated under varied magnetic field strength were analysed for their rare earth elements, Th and U content. The electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) data indicate that monazites separated under low magnetic field strength (separated at 0.80 amps) are characterized by their higher Nd, Sm, HREE, Y and U as well as low Th content, whereas those separated at 1.10 amps contain low Nd, Sm, HREE with negligible Y and U content as well as higher Th content. The wider variation in the concentration of different rare earths in varied magnetic field strength is a function of varied magnetic susceptibility of individual elements. Hence, the physical method for separation of monazite using magnetic properties may facilitate to segregate the monazites of a particular chemical composition with respect to their constituent elements like U, Th and rare earths based on their magnetic properties.
L718Q/V mutation in exon 18 of EGFR mediates resistance to osimertinib: clinical features and treatment
Authors: Li Meihui , Qin Jing , Xie Fajun , Gong Lei , Han Na , Lu Hongyang
Published: August 2022

Osimertinib, a mutant-specific third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is emerging as the preferred first-line of treatment for EGFR-mutant lung cancer. However, osimertinib resistance inevitably develops among patients treated with the drug. The modal resistance mechanisms of osimertinib include the occurrence of epithelial transition factor (c-MET) amplification and C797S mutation, whereas rare mutations are presented as case reports. Recently, the L718Q/V mutation in exon 18 of EGFR has been reported to contribute to one of the possible mechanisms of resistance. The clinical features and subsequent treatment strategies for this mutation require further research. This study retrospectively enrolled NSCLC patients with the L718Q/V mutation from 2017 to 2021 at the Cancer Hospital of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), as well as additional patients with the same mutation from PubMed literature, to summarize the clinical features of the mutation. The association between the detection of L718Q/V and resistance to osimertinib, as well as impacts on the therapeutic process and outcome, was analyzed. We included a total of two patients diagnosed at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and twelve patients from the literature. Of the fourteen total patients, 64.3% were male and 35.7% were female. The average age of the group was 60.2 years (range 45–72). A history of tobacco use was common among the group. In all of the cases we considered, the L718Q/V mutation was secondary to the L858R mutation. The second-generation TKI afatinib was found to provide a high disease control rate (DCR) (85.7%, 6/7) and relatively low objective response rate (ORR) (42/9%, 3/7). The median progression free survival (mPFS) for this treatment reached 2 months (1–6 months). The patients failed to benefit from chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy or other TKI medications. Due to the limited number of cases considered in this study, future studies should explore drugs that more precisely target the L718Q/V mutation of EGFR exon 18.
„Möchten Sie uns abschließend noch etwas mitteilen?“ – Auswertung der offenen Abschlussfrage in einem sozialwissenschaftlichen Survey
Authors: Boscher Claudia , Steinle Johannes , Raiber Lea , Fischer Florian , Winter Maik H. -J.
Published: August 2022

Hintergrund

Surveys schließen häufig mit einer offenen Abschlussfrage. Obwohl diese sich als multifunktionaler Bestandteil von Befragungen etabliert hat, wird sie selten ausgewertet. Dabei ermöglicht sie Erkenntnisgewinn im Hinblick auf methodische und inhaltliche Aspekte.

Ziel

Es wird anhand eines pflegewissenschaftlichen Surveys untersucht, inwiefern die Befragten in der offenen Abschlussfrage Themen aus dem Fragebogen erneut aufgreifen und für welchen Zweck sie diese Frage nutzen.

Methodik

Datenbasis ist eine repräsentative Querschnittsbefragung zu den Vorstellungen von „guter“ Pflege und pflegerischer Versorgung von 65- bis 75-Jährigen. Den schriftlichen Fragebogen, bestehend aus geschlossenen bzw. Hybridfragen, beantworteten 25 % der 2500 Befragten. Die offene Abschlussfrage wurde mithilfe der inhaltlich-strukturierenden qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Die Abschlussfrage wurde von 23,4 % (n = 146) der Befragten beantwortet. Die meisten nutzten die Abschlussfrage für themenbezogene und persönliche Ausführungen. Thematisch stellen Angaben zum Gesundheitszustand die größte Subkategorie dar. Zudem wird über Pflegevorerfahrungen sowie über Wünsche und Sorgen mit Blick auf eine eigene Pflegebedürftigkeit berichtet.

Schlussfolgerung

Die vergleichsweise hohe Item-Response-Rate deutet auf das Bedürfnis hin, über persönliche Erfahrungen zu berichten. Die häufigen Äußerungen zum Gesundheitszustand könnten auf einen Reihenfolgeeffekt hindeuten, da Fragen zu Gesundheit und Lebensqualität das Ende des Fragebogens bildeten.
The Potential of Cell Sheet Technology for Beta Cell Replacement Therapy
Authors: Hermanns Carolin , da Silva Filho Omar Paulino , Vaithilingam Vijayganapathy , van Apeldoorn Aart
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

Here, we review the use of cell sheet technology using different cell types and its potential for restoring the extracellular matrix microenvironment, perfusion, and immunomodulatory action on islets and beta cells.

Recent Findings

Cell sheets can be produced with different fabrication techniques ranging from the widely used temperature responsive system to the magnetic system. A variety of cells have been used to produce cell sheets including skin fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells.

CST would allow to recreate the ECM of islets which would provide cues to support islet survival and improvement of islet function. Depending on the used cell type, different additional supporting properties like immunoprotection or cues for better revascularization could be provided. Furthermore, CST offers the possibility to use other implantation sites than inside the liver. Further research should focus on cell sheet thickness and size to generate a potential translational therapy.
Political Fragmentation and Coalition Alignment effects: Evidence from health Transfers to Italian Regions
Authors: Auteri Monica , Cattel Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Do government parties positively discriminate in favor of swing or aligned sub-national units while allocating public resources? This paper integrates these two strands of the literature and makes a new contribution by incorporating the insightful perspective of the political fragmentation approach. Using a dataset of Italian regions between 2001 and 2011 constructed from primary sources and a new index of fractionalization, based on Golosov (Party Politics 16(2):171–192), we empirically find that it is the fragmentation of the aligned recipient government that affects the final amount of resources, rather than the alignment itself. Quasi-formula-based grants do not remove the arbitrariness that allows for politically motivated targeting.
Pharmaceutical markets in Japan and the United States
Authors: Comanor William S.
Published: August 2022

Although the United States and Japan are the two largest markets for branded pharmaceuticals, their structures and market performance are quite different. Like its European counterparts, a Japanese government ministry sets the prices paid to national and international drug companies. In contrast, US prices are set largely through negotiations between private health insurers and drug companies. Related to these different structures are quite different results. In particular, for pharmaceuticals sold in both countries, US prices are about twice what they are in Japan. Since many of the same companies sell pharmaceuticals in both countries, these differences require an explanation. A frequent one offered is that Japanese authorities exercise their inherent monopsony power to obtain the low prices, which private insurers in the United States are unable to impose. While correct on the surface, this explanation fails to confront deeper policy issue concerned with promoting public health. Because pharmaceutical research and development is a global public good, there are strong incentives for buyers to “free ride” on the outlays of others. Under those circumstances, global R&D outlays, based on country-specific incentives, would be set below optimal levels, and the supply price of substantial pharmaceutical innovation would not be covered. Because the US market is more than half the world total, its incentive structure is fundamentally different from that of Japan. Indeed, higher US drug prices, which drive worldwide incentives, are needed to promote current numbers of new pharmaceuticals introduced in both countries.
Evaluating R&D efficiency of China’s listed lithium battery enterprises
Authors: Bai Shizhen , Bi Xinrui , Han Chunjia , Zhou Qijun , Shang Wen-Long , Yang Mu , Wang Lin , Ieromonachou Petros , He Hao
Published: August 2022

Promoting the growth of the lithium battery sector has been a critical aspect of China’s energy policy in terms of achieving carbon neutrality. However, despite significant support on research and development (R&D) investments that have resulted in increasing size, the sector seems to be falling behind in technological areas. To guide future policies and understand proper ways of promoting R&D efficiency, we looked into the lithium battery industry of China. Specifically, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used as the primary approach based on evidence from 22 listed lithium battery enterprises. The performance of the five leading players was compared with that of the industry as a whole. Results revealed little indication of a meaningful improvement in R&D efficiency throughout our sample from 2010 to 2019. However, during this period, a significant increase in R&D expenditure was witnessed. This finding was supported, as the results showed that the average technical efficiency of the 22 enterprises was 0.442, whereas the average pure technical efficiency was at 0.503, thus suggesting that they were suffering from decreasing returns to scale (DRS). In contrast, the performance of the five leading players seemed superior because their average efficiency scores were higher than the industry’s average. Moreover, they were experiencing increasing scale efficiency (IRS). We draw on these findings to suggest to policymakers that supporting technologically intensive sectors should be more than simply increasing investment scale; rather, it should also encompass assisting businesses in developing efficient managerial processes for R&D.
Repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation modulates the brain–gut–microbiome axis in obese rodents
Authors: Ziomber-Lisiak Agata , Talaga-Ćwiertnia Katarzyna , Sroka-Oleksiak Agnieszka , Surówka Artur D. , Juszczak Kajetan , Szczerbowska-Boruchowska Magdalena
Published: August 2022

Background

Complex interactions between the brain, gut and adipose tissue allow to recognize obesity as a neurometabolic disorder. The recent data have shown that gut microbiota can play a potential role in obesity development. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive technique to modulate the activity of cerebral cortex and other connected brain areas also in context of appetite control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repetitive anodal tDCS (AtDCS) of prefrontal cortex on feeding behavior, metabolic status and selected phyla of gut microbiota in rats with obesity induced by high-calorie diet (HCD).

Methods

32 female Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 subgroups depending on diet effect (lean versus obese) and type of stimulation (active versus sham tDCS versus no stimulation). Feed intake, body weight, blood lipoproteins and leptin levels as well as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in intestines and stool were examined.

Results

HCD changed feeding behavior and metabolic parameters typically for obesity-related ranges and resulted in an abundance of Firmicutes at the expanse of Bacteroidetes in the large intestine and stool. AtDCS decreased appetite, body weight, and cholesterol levels. In addition, AtDCS reduced ratio of the average number of Firmicutes to average number of Bacteroidetes in all examined tissues.

Conclusions

Repetitive AtDCS is not only effective for appetite restriction but can also modulate gut microbiome composition which demonstrates the existence of the brain–gut–microbiome axis and points at this technique as a promising complementary treatment for obesity. However, the effects should be further replicated in human studies.
Discerning preschool teacher’s experiences to enhance children’s participation in mathematical play activities
Authors: Svensson Christina
Published: August 2022

This study analyses teachers’ discernment of children’s mathematical knowledge development during preschool play activities and defines how children’s pre-knowledge supports or limits their learning possibilities. In total, two preschool teachers from different preschools participated in this research study. The data consists of two documentations of children’s activities, written notes, and reflections from these two participated preschool teachers. The teachers chose the samples and defined them as important examples of how to merge mathematical knowledge development in free play. Using variation theory, the focus was to define what aspects of children’s mathematical knowledge development were offered and how teachers discern children’s pre-knowledge. The results show how the preschool teachers discern children’s pre-mathematical knowledge in relation to development of abstract abilities, and the importance of identifying their participation in free play situations for promoting mathematical understanding.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Metallothionein ameliorates airway epithelial apoptosis upon particulate matter exposure: role of oxidative stress and ion homeostasis
Authors: Li Bin , Huang Nannan , Wei Shengnan , Meng Qingtao , Wu Shenshen , Li Xiaobo , Chen Rui , Aschner Michael
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To investigate the mechanism underlying particulate matter (PM) exposure-induced oxidative stress and potential rescue strategies against pulmonary damage in this context.

Methods

A combination of omics technology and bioinformatic analysis were used to uncover mechanisms underlying cellular responses to PM exposure in human bronchial epithelia (HBE) cells and imply the potential rescue.

Results

Our results implicated that oxidative stress, metal ion homeostasis, and apoptosis were the major cellular responses to PM exposure in HBE cells. PM exposure disrupted oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-related gene expressions in HBE cells. Rescuing the expression of these genes with supplemental coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation; however, it only partially protected HBEs against PM exposure-induced apoptosis. Further, metallothionein (MT)-encoding genes associated with metal ion homeostasis were significantly induced in HBE cells, which was transcriptionally regulated by specificity protein 1 (SP1). SP1 knock-down (KD) aggravated PM-induced apoptosis in HBE cells, suggesting it plays a role in MT induction. Subsequent studies corroborated the protective role of MT by showing that exogenous MTs supplement demonstrated effective protection against PM-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HBE cells. Importantly, exogenous MTs supplement was shown to reduce ROS generation and apoptosis in airway epithelia in both HBE cells and a PM-inhaled murine model.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the impact of MTs on airway epithelia by suppressing oxidative stress and maintaining metal ion homeostasis is beneficial in attenuating damage to pulmonary cells undergoing PM exposure.
Why AI is a Threat to the Rule of Law
Authors: Rosengrün Sebastian
Published: August 2022

This paper will argue that recent developments in AI technology and its role in digital capitalism threaten the rule of law. AI (or the companies who control it) promotes and monetizes free speech, political competition, and other aspects of democracy, while our societies have been shifting towards a “rule of code,” i.e., a system in which source code is able to put meaningful restraints not only on any individuals and institutions within a society, but also on law and the State. Based on Lawrence Lessig’s “Code is Law,” this paper will draw a more elaborated picture of “regulating AI” according to which AI is not only something that is to be regulated but also something that actively regulates individual and institutional behavior. From this background, it will be argued that, given the interdependence of governments and big tech corporations, free and open societies need to regain control over source code and the critical digital infrastructure to avoid being regulated by private companies that develop, control, and promote AI.
COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A review of maternal and infant benefits
Authors: Lamptey Emmanuel , Senkyire Ephraim Kumi , Banoya Moses Tia , Yaidoo Stanley
Published: August 2022

Pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit and their babies born prematurely. Clinical trials excluded pregnant women from the vaccine and safety data were limited. However, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and their babies including evidence of maternal transfer of antibodies. In addition to these benefits, the vaccines are proved to be effective for both the pregnant women and infants. The current evidence supports the safety, immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine and its effectiveness in reducing the theoretical risk of the infection among pregnant women and their infants. This review summarizes the recent data on the beneficial effects of COVID-19 immunization on both the pregnant mother and infant.
Is Latin America Missing the Links Between Procurement, Sustainability and Human Rights?
Authors: Treviño Lozano Laura
Published: August 2022

Public procurement is a process whereby the public sector buys from private suppliers the goods, services and works it needs to accomplish its functions. It aims to obtain the best ‘value for money’, ‘in a timely, economical and efficient manner’.1 This traditional procurement’s goal was re-defined by scholars and policymakers to give space to non-economic objectives through the so-called sustainable public procurement (SPP).2 SPP pursues economic, environmental and social objectives within the purchasing process.3 Therefore, ‘social’ is one of the three dimensions that makes sustainability possible, and human rights are the backbone of social sustainability.
A mapping method for anomaly detection in a localized population of structures
Authors: Lin Weijiang , Worden Keith , Maguire Andrew E. , Cross Elizabeth J.
Published: August 2022

Population-based structural health monitoring (PBSHM) provides a means of accounting for inter-turbine correlations when solving the problem of wind farm anomaly detection. Across a wind farm, where a group of structures (turbines) is placed in close vicinity to each other, the environmental conditions and, thus, structural behavior vary in a spatiotemporal manner. Spatiotemporal trends are often overlooked in the existing data-based wind farm anomaly detection methods, because most current methods are designed for individual structures, that is, detecting anomalous behavior of a turbine based on the past behavior of the same turbine. In contrast, the idea of PBSHM involves sharing data across a population of structures and capturing the interactions between structures. This paper proposes a population-based anomaly detection method, specifically for a localized population of structures, which accounts for the spatiotemporal correlations in structural behavior. A case study from an offshore wind farm is given to demonstrate the potential of the proposed method as a wind farm performance indicator. It is concluded that the method has the potential to indicate operational anomalies caused by a range of factors across a wind farm. The method may also be useful for other tasks such as wind power and turbine load modeling.
Brandom on Hegel and the Retrospective Determination of Intention
Authors: Levine Steven
Published: August 2022

In this paper I examine Brandom's account of Hegel's claim that the content of an intention can only be determined retrospectively. While Brandom's account, given in Chapter 11 of A Spirit of Trust, sets a new standard for thinking about this topic, I argue that it is flawed in three important respects. First, Brandom is not able to make sense of a distinction that is central for Hegel, namely, between the consequences of an action that ought to have been foreseen by an acting agent, given the right of objectivity of the action, and unforeseeable consequences that are completely contingent. Second, Brandom incorrectly conceptualizes the disparity and unity that all actions display as temporally successive features of an action, rather than as speculatively identical features. Third, Brandom's account cannot make sense of cases of retrospective determination that involve self-deception, and this demonstrates that he misses something critical about Hegel's account of action, namely, that action is expressive of the logic of essence.
Association of an evolutionary-concordance lifestyle pattern score with incident CVD among Black and White men and women
Authors: Mao Ziling , Troeschel Alyssa N. , Judd Suzanne E. , Shikany James M. , Levitan Emily B. , Safford Monika M. , Bostick Roberd M.
Published: August 2022

Dietary and lifestyle evolutionary discordance is hypothesised to play a role in the aetiology of CVD, including CHD and stroke. We aimed to investigate associations of a previously reported, total (dietary plus lifestyle) evolutionary-concordance (EC) pattern score with incident CVD, CHD and stroke. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to investigate associations of the EC score with CVD, CHD and stroke incidence among USA Black and White men and women ≥45 years old in the prospective REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (2003–2017). The EC score comprised seven equally weighted components: a previously reported dietary EC score (using Block 98 FFQ data) and six lifestyle characteristics (alcohol intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, waist circumference, smoking history and social network size). A higher score indicates a more evolutionary-concordant dietary/lifestyle pattern. Of the 15 467 participants in the analytic cohort without a CVD diagnosis at baseline, 1563 were diagnosed with CVD (967 with CHD and 596 with stroke) during follow-up (median 11·0 years). Among participants in the highest relative to the lowest EC score quintile, the multivariable-adjusted hazards ratios and their 95 % CI for CVD, CHD and stroke were, respectively, 0·73 (0·62, 0·86;Ptrend< 0·001), 0·72 (0·59, 0·89;Ptrend< 0·001) and 0·76 (0·59, 0·98;Ptrend= 0·01). The results were similar by sex and race. Our findings support that a more evolutionary-concordant diet and lifestyle pattern may be associated with lower risk of CVD, CHD and stroke.
Half Real: Presence and Absence in Mexico's Juzgado General de Naturales
Authors: Premo Bianca
Published: August 2022

This article centers on the materiality of Indigenous legal interactions with the viceroy in the special colonial court, the Juzgado General de Naturales, which was located, at least ostensibly, inside the viceregal palace in Mexico City. The partial destruction of the palace during a riot in 1692—a year that roughly bisected Spanish colonial rule in Mexico— serves as a focal point for exploring the dynamic history of personal encounters and physical space in the viceregal jurisdiction from the court's founding in the late sixteenth century through the eighteenth century. It surveys the architectural features of the palace, traces the viceroys’ disappearance from audiences with Indigenous subjects at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and charts native petitioners’ own growing reliance on proxies and papers rather than appearances in the court. By focusing on physical presence within the Juzgado’s operation, the court reveals itself as a space of absence and abstraction as much as pomp and procedure.