bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Markers of Adiposity During Childhood and Puberty Onset in Latino Girls
Authors: Pereira Ana , Ferrer Pedro , Binder Alexandra , Rojas Joanna , Michels Karin B , Corvalán Camila , Mericq Verónica
Published: May 2023

Context

Prepubertal adiposity is associated with earlier puberty. It is unclear when this association starts, if all adiposity markers are similarly associated, and whether all pubertal milestones are similarly affected.

Objective

To evaluate the association between different adiposity markers during childhood and the timing of different pubertal milestones in Latino girls.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Longitudinal follow-up of 539 female participants of the Chilean Growth and Obesity Cohort recruited from childcare centers (mean age 3.5 years) from the southeast area of Santiago, Chile. Participants were singletons born between 2002 and 2003 within the normal birthweight range. Since 2006, a trained dietitian measured weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and skinfolds to estimate body mass index (BMI) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention percentiles, central obesity, percentage of fat mass (%FM), and fat mass index (FMI, fat mass/height2).

Main Outcome

Since 2009, sexual maturation was assessed every 6 months to assess age at (1) thelarche, (2) pubarche, (3) menarche, and (4) peak height velocity (PHV).

Results

At thelarche, 12.5% were obese and 2% had central obesity. The median age of pubarche, menarche, and PHV were all associated with markers of adiposity at different time points during childhood whereas thelarche only with %FM and FMI. Adiposity clusters models showed that children with trajectories of high WC, %FM, and FMI during childhood were related with earlier thelarche, pubarche, menarche, and PHV but BMI trajectories only with menarche and PHV.

Conclusions

Higher WC, %FM, and FMI were associated with earlier age at thelarche, pubarche, menarche, and PHV. The effect of BMI was less consistent.
Root Rot: Linguistic Conflicts of Place and Agency
Authors: Kibbey Tyler
Published: May 2023

This article presents a counter-theoretical commentary on Paul Reed’s rootedness as an epistemological framework for quantifying the measurement and linguistic realization of place attachment. By examining researcher positionality and problematizing rootedness when examining implications for the study of queer communities, the author shows how the current rootedness framework fails to adequately account for social conflicts between place and agency. Moreover, the author presents a theoretical expansion or counter-theory complementing Reed’s rootedness notion rather than criticizing it. The author explores how personal evaluations of security and communal hostility might undermine current metrics for the study of rootedness in these populations and outline (up)rootedness and root rot as a means of accounting for these complexities.
The Making and Breaking of a Popular Front: The Case of the National Negro Congress
Authors: Arnesen Eric
Published: May 2023

Drawing together members of the American Communist Party and a variety of non-Communist progressives in the common cause of racial equality, labor rights, and antifascism, the National Negro Congress represented a visible example of the Popular Front (1935/1936 – 39) in action. This article explores how a Popular Front alliance came into being by tracing the events of 1935 that led Communists to eschew their prior sectarianism and non-Communists to recognize the value of collaboration with their now-former rivals. It also contends that contrary to what some recent scholarship argues, from the outset the Communist influence on the NNC's formation and operation was considerable — even decisive — and that after the signing of the 1939 Hitler-Stalin Pact, the party's new antiwar stance and its numerical dominance at the NNC's third conference in 1940 led to the collapse of the Popular Front alliance. Understanding the rise and fall of the NNC as a progressive coalition requires a critical evaluation of the role of the Communist Party in the NNC's accomplishments and failures.
Physiological and life history changes associated with seasonal adaptation in the cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis
Authors: Shaible Tierney M. , Matzkin Luciano M.
Published: May 2023

Many insects inhabiting temperate climates are faced with changing environmental conditions throughout the year. Depending on the species, these environmental fluctuations can be experienced within a single generation or across multiple generations. Strategies for dealing with these seasonal changes vary across populations. Drosophila mojavensis is a cactophilic Drosophila species endemic to the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert regularly reaches temperatures of 50°C in the summer months. As individuals of this population are rare to collect in the summer months, we simulated the cycling temperatures experienced by D. mojavensis in the Sonoran Desert from April to July (four generations) in a temperature- and light-controlled chamber, to understand the physiological and life history changes that allow this population to withstand these conditions. In contrast to our hypothesis of a summer aestivation, we found that D. mojavensis continue to reproduce during the summer months, albeit with lower viability, but the adult survivorship of the population is highly reduced during this period. As expected, stress resistance increased during the summer months in both the adult and the larval stages. This study examines several strategies for withstanding the Sonoran Desert summer conditions which may be informative in the study of other desert endemic species.
Organoids as a tool for understanding immune-mediated intestinal regeneration and development
Authors: Jowett Geraldine M. , Coales Isabelle , Neves Joana F.
Published: May 2023

The traditional view of immune cells is that their role within the body is to combat infections; however, it is becoming increasingly clear that they also perform tasks that are not classically associated with inflammation and pathogen clearance. These functions are executed deep within tissues, which are often poorly accessible and subject to environmental variability, especially in humans. Here, we discuss how multicellular 3D systems in a dish – organoids – are transitioning from a proof-of-principle approach to a timely, robust and reliable tool. Although we primarily focus on recent findings enabled by intestinal organoids co-cultured with lymphocytes, we posit that organoid co-culture systems will support future efforts to disentangle the interactions between a plethora of different cell types throughout development, homeostasis, regeneration and disease.
Heme-deficient primitive red blood cells induce HSPC ferroptosis by altering iron homeostasis during zebrafish embryogenesis
Authors: Lv Peng , Liu Feng
Published: May 2023

The crosstalk between hematopoietic lineages is important for developmental hematopoiesis. However, the role of primitive red blood cells (RBCs) in the formation of definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) is largely unknown. Primitive RBC deficiencies in mammals always lead to early embryonic lethality, but zebrafish lines with RBC deficiencies can survive to larval stage. By taking advantage of a zebrafish model, we find that the survival of nascent HSPCs is impaired in alas2- or alad-deficient embryos with aberrant heme biosynthesis in RBCs. Heme-deficient primitive RBCs induce ferroptosis of HSPCs through the disruption of iron homeostasis. Mechanistically, heme-deficient primitive RBCs cause blood iron-overload via Slc40a1, and an HSPC iron sensor, Tfr1b, mediates excessive iron absorption. Thus, iron-induced oxidative stress stimulates the lipid peroxidation, which directly leads to HSPC ferroptosis. Anti-ferroptotic treatments efficiently reverse HSPC defects in alas2 or alad mutants. HSPC transplantation assay reveals that the attenuated erythroid reconstitution efficiency may result from the ferroptosis of erythrocyte-biased HSPCs. Together, these results illustrate that heme-deficient primitive RBCs are detrimental to HSPC production and may provide potential implications for iron dysregulation-induced hematological malignancies.
Cell competition from development to neurodegeneration
Authors: Costa-Rodrigues Carolina , Couceiro Joana , Moreno Eduardo
Published: May 2023

Cell competition is a process by which suboptimal cells are eliminated to the benefit of cells with higher fitness. It is a surveillance mechanism that senses differences in the fitness status by several modes, such as expression of fitness fingerprints, survival factor uptake rate and resistance to mechanical stress. Fitness fingerprints-mediated cell competition recognizes isoforms of the transmembrane protein Flower, and translates the relative fitness of cells into distinct fates through the Flower code.

Impairments in cell competition potentiate the development of diseases like cancer and ageing-related pathologies. In cancer, malignant cells acquire a supercompetitor behaviour, killing the neighbouring cells and overtaking the tissue, thus avoiding elimination. Neurodegenerative disorders affect millions of people and are characterized by cognitive decline and locomotor deficits. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and one of the largely studied diseases. However, the cellular processes taking place remain unclear.

Drosophila melanogaster is an emerging neurodegeneration model due to its versatility as a tool for genetic studies. Research in a Drosophila Alzheimer's disease model detected fitness markers in the suboptimal and hyperactive neurons, thus establishing a link between cell competition and Alzheimer's disease.

In this Review, we overview cell competition and the new insights related to neurodegenerative disorders, and discuss how research in the field might contribute to the development of new therapeutic targets for these diseases.
Displacement experiments provide evidence for path integration in Drosophila
Authors: Titova Anna V. , Kau Benedikt E. , Tibor Shir , Mach Jana , Vo-Doan T. Thang , Wittlinger Matthias , Straw Andrew D.
Published: May 2023

Like many other animals, insects are capable of returning to previously visited locations using path integration, which is a memory of travelled direction and distance. Recent studies suggest that Drosophila can also use path integration to return to a food reward. However, the existing experimental evidence for path integration in Drosophila has a potential confound: pheromones deposited at the site of reward might enable flies to find previously rewarding locations even without memory. Here, we show that pheromones can indeed cause naïve flies to accumulate where previous flies had been rewarded in a navigation task. Therefore, we designed an experiment to determine if flies can use path integration memory despite potential pheromonal cues by displacing the flies shortly after an optogenetic reward. We found that rewarded flies returned to the location predicted by a memory-based model. Several analyses are consistent with path integration as the mechanism by which flies returned to the reward. We conclude that although pheromones are often important in fly navigation and must be carefully controlled for in future experiments, Drosophila may indeed be capable of performing path integration.
Development and Initial Validation of a Measure to Assess Self-Efficacy to Reduce Sedentary Behavior
Authors: WHIPPLE MARY O. , BERGOUIGNAN AUDREY , HOOKER STEPHANIE A.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and construct validity of a measure designed to evaluate self-efficacy to reduce sedentary behavior (SB).

Methods

Initial instrument development was based on semistructured interviews and in-depth review of existing measures of self-efficacy for physical activity (PA). Items were drafted by the study authors and reviewed by SB experts. Participants recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk completed the pool of items and the Exercise Confidence Survey and provided self-reported PA, SB, and demographic information. The sample was divided into two random halves, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed on each half, respectively. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) was calculated for the final scale. Initial criterion validity was examined in relation to self-reported SB and PA. Analyses were conducted in SAS 9.4 and Mplus 8.3.

Results

Data were collected from N = 818 adults (47.6% women, mean (standard deviation) age, 37.8 (10.6)). EFA results strongly supported a one-factor scale. Items with low factor loadings (<0.65) were dropped from the scale; 10 items were retained. CFA demonstrated that the 10-item measure fit the data well, but one item had a low factor loading. A final scale with nine items was retained, with good fit to the data (χ
2(27) = 90.79, P < 0.0001, comparative fit statistic = 0.97, root mean square error of approximation = 0.08 [90% confidence interval, 0.06–0.09], standardized root mean square residual = 0.03), and all items had high factor loadings (>0.70). Internal consistency reliability was high (α = 0.91). Self-efficacy to reduce SB was significantly and positively correlated with exercise confidence (r = 0.32–0.38, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

We developed a nine-item measure of self-efficacy to reduce SB that demonstrates strong initial psychometric properties. Although related to exercise self-efficacy, self-efficacy to reduce SB represents a distinct construct.
Individualized Mental Fatigue Does Not Impact Neuromuscular Function and Exercise Performance
Authors: HOLGADO DARÍAS , JOLIDON LÉO , BORRAGÁN GUILLERMO , SANABRIA DANIEL , PLACE NICOLAS
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Recent studies have questioned previous empirical evidence that mental fatigue negatively impacts physical performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the critical role of individual differences in mental fatigue susceptibility by analyzing the neurophysiological and physical responses to an individualized mental fatigue task.

Methods

In a preregistered (https://osf.io/xc8nr/), randomized, within-participant design experiment, 22 recreational athletes completed a time to failure test at 80% of their peak power output under mental fatigue (individual mental effort) or control (low mental effort). Before and after the cognitive tasks, subjective feeling of mental fatigue, neuromuscular function of the knee extensors, and corticospinal excitability were measured. Sequential Bayesian analysis until it reached strong evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis (BF10 > 6) or the null hypothesis (BF10 < 1/6) were conducted.

Results

The individualized mental effort task resulted in a higher subjective feeling of mental fatigue in the mental fatigue condition (0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39–0.62)) arbitrary units compared with control (0.19 (95% CI, 0.06–0.339)) arbitrary unit. However, exercise performance was similar in both conditions (control: 410 (95% CI, 357–463) s vs mental fatigue: 422 (95% CI, 367–477) s, BF10 = 0.15). Likewise, mental fatigue did not impair knee extensor maximal force-generating capacity (BF10 = 0.928) and did not change the extent of fatigability or its origin after the cycling exercise.

Conclusions

There is no evidence that mental fatigue adversely affects neuromuscular function or physical exercise; even if mental fatigue is individualized, computerized tasks seem not to affect physical performance.
Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes
Authors: Alkemade Puck , de Korte Johannus Q. , Bongers Coen C. W. G. , Daanen Hein A. M. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Janssen Thomas W. J. , Eijsvogels Thijs M. H.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To compare the impact of hot-humid environmental conditions on performance outcomes, thermoregulatory responses, and thermal perception during exercise between elite para- and able-bodied (AB) athletes.

Methods

20 elite para-athletes (para-cycling and wheelchair tennis) and 20 elite AB athletes (road cycling, mountain biking, beach volleyball) performed an incremental exercise test in a temperate environment (mean ± SD: 15.2 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity 54 ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9 ± 1.6 °C, 72 ± 5%). Exercise tests started with a 20-min warm-up at 70% of maximal heart rate, after which power output increased by 5% every 3 min until volitional exhaustion.

Results

Time to exhaustion was shorter in hot-humid versus temperate conditions, with equal performance loss for para- and AB athletes (median [IQR]: 26 [20–31]% vs. 27 [19–32]%; p = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), whereas Tgi responses in para-athletes were similar between conditions (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4, p = 0.74). Para- and AB athletes showed similar elevations in peak skin temperature (p = 0.94), heart rate (p = 0.67), and thermal sensation score (p = 0.64) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions.

Conclusions

Elite para-athletes and AB athletes demonstrated similar performance decrements during exercise in hot-humid versus temperate conditions, whilst Tgi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large inter-individual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.
Qualitative assessments of density and background parenchymal enhancement on contrast-enhanced spectral mammography associated with breast cancer risk in high-risk women
Authors: Xu Cong , Jiang Meiping , Lin Fan , Zhang Kun , Xie Haizhu , Lv Wei , Ji Haixia , Mao Ning
Published: May 2023

Objective:

To investigate the correlation between the risk of breast cancer for high-risk females and the density and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM).

Methods:

Females at high-risk, without breast cancer history and received CESM from July 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. The longest follow-up time was 4.5 years, and patients who developed breast cancer with maximized follow-up time were classified as cancer cohort, while females who did not develop breast cancer were categorized as control cohort. These two cohorts were one-to-one matched in age, family and/or genetic history of breast cancer, menopausal status and BRCA status. The density and BPE at CESM imaging were assessed. Conditional logistic regression was applied to evaluate the relationship between imaging features and breast cancer risk.

Results:

During the follow-up interval, 90 women at high-risk without history of breast cancer were newly diagnosed. Compared with minimal BPE, increasing BPE levels were associated with the risk of breast cancer among high-risk females in a time interval of 4.5 years (mild: odds ratio [OR]=3.2, p = 0.001; moderate: OR = 4.0, p = 0.002; marked: OR = 11.2, p < 0.001). In addition, females with mild, moderate or marked BPE were four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than females with minimal BPE in a time interval of 4.5 years (OR = 4.0, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Qualitative CESM BPE assessment may be useful in the prediction of breast cancer risk among high-risk females.

Advances in knowledge:

• Qualitative CESM BPE assessment may be useful in the prediction of breast cancer risk among high-risk women during the follow-up period of 4.5 years. • The significance of breast density as an independent risk factor is not fully established for high-risk women during the follow-up period of 4.5 years.
Effects of non-contact electric fields on kidney and liver histology in tumour-induced rats
Authors: Alamsyah Firman , Firdausi Nisrina , Nugraheni Subekti Evi Dwi , Fadhlurrahman Ahmad Ghitha , Nurhidayat Luthfi , Pratiwi Rarastoeti , Taruno Warsito Purwo
Published: May 2023

Background: A novel modality of cancer treatment based on exposure to non-contact electric fields has been developed to reduce the cancer incidence. However, the safety of this electric field exposure on vital organs has not been fully investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe the safety of the electric field exposure on kidney and liver structures.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into one control group and three treatment groups. Animals were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene for mammary tumour induction and exposed to non-contact electric fields individually for 10 hours a day for three weeks. Fresh samples of kidney and liver were collected for observation of structural damage in both organs. Both organs were prepared for histopathological cross-sectioning using the paraffin method and Hematoxylin & Eosin staining followed by histological scoring using the post-examination masking method.

Results: Damages found in the kidney were as follows: thickening of Bowman capsule, karyolysis, karyorrexhis, pyknosis, cloudy swelling, epithelial sloughing, inflammation, haemorrhage, and congestion. The thickening of Bowman’s capsule was significant, but other damages to the rest of kidney tissue were not significant. In addition, the number of inflammations and haemorrhages in the kidney structure of the placebo group was the lowest and significantly different compared to the other three groups. All damages to the kidneys were also found in the liver, but each showed a different degree of damage. The damages to the liver caused by exposure to the electric fields were not significant.

Conclusions: Together with the effects of DMBA administration, exposure to non-contact electric fields can cause thickening of Bowman's capsule in the glomerulus of the kidney, however, in other kidney tissues and in the liver, exposure to this electric field was safe. It can even decrease the number of inflammations and haemorrhages in the organs.
Obesogenic Environment in the medical field: First year findings from a five-year cohort study
Authors: Andoy-Galvan Jo Ann , Sriram Shyamkumar , Kiat Tey Jin , Xin Lim Zig , Shin Wong Jun , Chinna Karuthan
Published: May 2023

Background: Doctors with a normal BMI and healthy living habits have shown to be more confident and effective in providing realistic guidance and obesity management to their patient. This study investigated obesogenic tendencies of medical students as they progress in their medical studies.

Methods: A cohort of forty-nine medical students enrolled in a five-year cohort study and was followed up after one year. At the initiation of the cohort, socio-demography and information on anthropometry, accommodation, eating behavior, stress and sleeping habits of the students had been recorded.  Follow-up data were collected using a standardized self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Thirty-seven percent of the students in the cohort are either obese or overweight in the one-year period. A year of follow-up suggests that there is an increase in BMI among the male students (P=0.008) and the changes are associated with changes in accommodation (P=0.016) , stress levels (P=0.021), and sleeping habits (P=0.011).

Conclusion: Medical education system should seriously consider evaluating this aspect in the curriculum development to help our future medical practitioners practice a healthy lifestyle and be the initiator of change in the worsening prevalence of obesity worldwide.
Comparative evaluation of Chlorhexidine and Triphala with Rajat Bhasma jelly as against Chlorhexidine mouth rinse in prevention of bacterial accumulation in fixed orthodontic assembly: A randomized interventional study
Authors: AGARWAL NISHU , Daigavane Pallavi , Kamble Ranjit
Published: May 2023

Background: By offering numerous mechanical retention sites, fixed orthodontic treatment increases the build-up of bacterial plaque, rendering teeth more susceptible to gingivitis and periodontitis.

Chlorhexidine is a frequently utilised adjuvant to mechanical oral hygiene techniques and is regarded as the gold standard. As compared to chemicals and allopathy, nowadays patients are showing great inclination for the herbal products.

Commercially available herbal mouhrinses are emerging in the market. Due to their lack of purity, these is a need for more herbal alternative mouthrinses like Triphala.

As known, silver coated wire has antimicrobial and antiadherent properties, still not commercially available. Some reasons could be cost, toxicity levels, etc. Thereby, to evaluate the effects herbal mouthwashes in adjunct with herbal form of silver i.e. Rajat bhasma, present study has been taken up to check the antimicrobial and anti-adherent properties with various combinations

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the efficacy of chlorhexidine mouthrinse and Rajat bhasma jelly as an antimicrobial agent

2. To evaluate the efficacy of Triphala mouthrinse and Rajat bhasma jelly as an antimicrobial agent

3. To compare the antimicrobial potency of chlorhexidine, triphala with rajat bhasma jelly combinations as against chlorhexidine on bacterial accumulation (streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus).

Methods: Plaque will be collected from the left molar to right molar of the upper arch with a disinfected curette at 3 time periods:

T 0 = just prior bonding, following full prophylaxis.

T 1 = one month following bonding.

T 3 = two months following bonding Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli will be quantified by colony count procedure.

Expected results: Patients receiving orthodontic treatment experience a greater reduction in plaque buildup attributable to the synergistic effects of rajat bhasma and different mouthrinses.

Conclusion: It is expected that, Rajat bhasma and triphala being ayurvedic products cause no harm and show plaque reduction.

Trial number: CTRI/2022/07/044130
Too-Many-Oids: The paradox in constructing an organoid ethics framework
Authors: Barnhart Andrew J. , Dierickx Kris
Published: May 2023

Background: The field of organoid ethics is complex and multifaceted, and the need for flexibility and adaptability in the face of its moral complexity is of great importance. Certain kinds of organoids may be deemed morally controversial due to their intrinsic characteristics (e.g., brain organoids, embryoids, or organoid intelligence models) and debates are underway over their possible moral standing. Furthermore, different domains of organoid applications, such as transplantation, precision medicine, or disease modeling have fundamentally different moral concerns.

Methods: In this paper, we argue that it is a mistake and near impossible to develop an overarching, all-in-one ethical framework that can sufficiently cover the myriad of organoid moral contexts. We first identify different ontological categories of organoid technologies along with morally problematic properties. We then present different moral contexts in which the organoid technologies are applied.

Results: Constructing an organoid ethics framework that can both consider all the relevant moral properties and contexts, and be a useful ethical lens for moral examination may lead to a paradox; the more relevant moral contexts the framework tries to incorporate, the more abstract and less useful the framework becomes.

Conclusions: It may be more useful for bioethicists to take on more collaborative and contextual approaches for organoids ethics.
The feasibility of establishing parent support groups for children with congenital Zika syndrome and their families: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Smythe Tracey , Reichenberger Veronika , Pinzón Elisa María , Hurtado Isabel Cristina , Rubiano Luisa , Kuper Hannah
Published: May 2023

Background: The 2015 – 2016 Zika epidemic highlighted gaps in health and social care services for parents of children with developmental disabilities. In response, we developed the ‘Juntos’ intervention, a 10 week community-based early intervention support group for parents of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The intervention's components include participatory learning sessions, practical skill acquisition, peer support, and psychological support, aiming to improve caregiver’s knowledge and confidence in caring for their children. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing ‘Juntos’ in Colombia.

Methods: Two facilitators delivered ‘Juntos’ to four groups of 8-10 caregivers between 2017 and 2018. One researcher observed each group. Data were collected from: observation notes from 40 sessions, focus group discussions held after each session, pre- post intervention questionnaires with 34 caregivers, and semi-structured interviews conducted with four facilitators, 12 caregivers and three stakeholders. We used the Bowen framework in data analysis.

Results: The feasibility evaluation revealed that 'Juntos' was highly acceptable and in demand among the target population. The intervention was predominantly delivered with fidelity. Practicality was facilitated by providing transport costs and selecting convenient locations. Additional organisational and social media support was required for successful implementation. Community health worker training may support integration and the established groups could facilitate programme expansion. However, participants perceived lack of prioritisation as a limitation within existing health systems. Participants’ knowledge and confidence to care for their child improved after programme enrolment.

Conclusion: The 'Juntos' intervention demonstrated high acceptability, demand, and practicality in supporting parents of children with CZS in Colombia. However, its implementation faces challenges due to existing gaps in health system support for children with CZS.
Fuerzas Armadas, la opinión pública y el algoritmo: Actores principales de la defensa nacional en España
Authors: Ibáñez Ángel
Published: May 2023

Estudios demoscópicos vienen dando a conocer que las Fuerzas Armadas, junto con los cuerpos y fuerzas de seguridad del Estado, son la institución que concita mayor respeto y consideración. Tales estudios también ponen de manifiesto una distorsión social de ese sentimiento, al no corresponderse con la actitud de colaborar voluntariamente con ellas para defender militarmente a España. Con este artículo se han buscado las causas que han producido tal distorsión social, de acuerdo con lo que la población entiende por conflicto armado, las tramas que tejen las guerras o el papel de las Fuerzas Armadas. A partir de un análisis de fuentes secundarias proporcionadas por el Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, la lingüística y la prensa digital en los últimos años, se concluye que el algoritmo, y con él la inteligencia artificial, tanto en el aspecto armamentístico como en el de las nuevas
Optimising Electric Vehicle Charging Station Placement Using Advanced Discrete Choice Models
Authors: Lamontagne Steven , Carvalho Margarida , Frejinger Emma , Gendron Bernard , Anjos Miguel F. , Atallah Ribal
Published: May 2023

We present a new model for finding the optimal placement of electric vehicle charging stations across a multiperiod time frame so as to maximise electric vehicle adoption. Via the use of stochastic discrete choice models and user classes, this work allows for a granular modelling of user attributes and their preferences in regard to charging station characteristics. We adopt a simulation approach and precompute error terms for each option available to users for a given number of scenarios. This results in a bilevel optimisation model that is, however, intractable for all but the simplest instances. Our major contribution is a reformulation into a maximum covering model, which uses the precomputed error terms to calculate the users covered by each charging station. This allows solutions to be found more efficiently than for the bilevel formulation. The maximum covering formulation remains intractable in some instances, so we propose rolling horizon, greedy, and greedy randomised adaptive search procedure heuristics to obtain good-quality solutions more efficiently. Extensive computational results are provided, and they compare the maximum covering formulation with the current state of the art for both exact solutions and the heuristic methods.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms–Discrete.

Funding: This work was supported by Hydro-Québec and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Discovery Grant 2017-06054; Collaborative Research and Development Grant CRDPJ 536757–19].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0185 .
Selling kidneys
Authors: Ellis Peter , Ellis Hannah
Published: May 2023

This article covers the legal issues that arise when human organs are bought or sold in the UK. What this means for kidney care professionals is also considered, and how they may need to practice more defensively if they have concerns about a potential donor
Embracing Multicultural Education: How Preservice Mathematics Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Multicultural Pedagogies Differ From Their Non-Mathematics Peers
Authors: Gromlich Matthew D. , Wiens Peter D. , Whitesides Heather
Published: May 2023

Secondary subject subcultures, differing in status, perceived sequentiality, and scope, have been shown to form within departmental content areas. This study aimed to determine if preservice secondary teachers also exhibited attributes of secondary subcultures. Through the Teacher Multicultural Attitude Survey and the Culturally Responsive Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale, this study revealed that subcultures also occur within preservice teachers, specifically preservice mathematics teachers and preservice English teachers, with regards to multicultural awareness and attitudes. The results from this study support the need for purposeful and consistent focus on multicultural education and Ethnomathematics education in mathematics education programs. In doing so, secondary mathematics students can obtain a robust background in multicultural education before entering the PK-12 classroom. When they do enter the PK-12 classroom, they will be able to empower all students that they teach.
Teaching Practices to Support the Transition of Students With Intellectual Disabilities to Adulthood
Authors: Abu-Alghayth Khalid , Alshahrani Basmah , Catania Nicholas
Published: May 2023

There is a great need to provide transition planning and enhance the success of individuals with intellectual disabilities in employment and independent living through appropriate practices. This study aims to explore the essential components of effective transition services that teachers should include in their instruction of students with intellectual disabilities. A descriptive quantitative research design was utilized, and data were collected through an online survey from 102 teachers of students with intellectual disabilities. The findings indicated that participants sometimes included most of the five essential components of effective transition service components in their teaching. No statistically significant differences were found in participants’ responses based on school type, years of teaching experience, or qualifications. However, statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants in responses to two of the main components, namely, student-focused planning and interagency collaboration, with male participants reporting higher mean scores than female participants. The study’s implications for practice and future research are also discussed.
TECNOLOGIA E EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA: UM ESTUDO SOBRE POSSIBILIDADES DAS TIC COMO FERRAMENTA PEDAGÓGICA
Authors: Carneiro Pinheiro José Caio , Alves Nogueira Souza Suzana , Borges de Andrade Carla
Published: May 2023

O presente artigo teve como objetivo investigar e apresentar o uso das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TIC) na Educação Física escolar, explorando as possibilidades de sua aplicação. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica, de caráter descritivo e abordagem qualitativa, a partir da qual foram selecionados quatro artigos, com recorte temporal de cinco anos (2016-2021), que exploram a utilização de diferentes TIC no ambiente escolar; e se optou pela análise descritiva para o tratamento analítico dos dados. A partir da análise, constatou-se que, por meio das TIC, os professores conseguiram proporcionar aos seus alunos uma metodologia inovadora que despertou interesse nas aulas de Educação Física, apesar dos entraves referentes à falta de recursos e pequena capacitação de professores na utilização de aparatos tecnológicos.
Characterization of different endoscopic imaging systems in ultraviolet range for combustion applications
Authors: Shahbaz M. A. , Kaiser S. A. , Schütte M. , Berg T.
Published: May 2023

Endoscopic optical diagnostics for IC engines offer the advantage of
retaining the full operating range and thermal properties of the
production engine. The custom-designed modular hybrid UV endoscope
system is optimized for application in IC engines.; however, its
hybrid refractive/diffractive relay element is expensive and has a
narrow operating wavelength range. To make the endoscopic imaging more
universally applicable, the hybrid relay element of the mentioned
endoscope system was replaced by commercial UV camera lenses, and
several combinations were characterized in terms of resolution,
brightness, and chromatic aberration. With an unintensified CCD
camera, endoscope systems using commercial camera lenses had better
resolution at investigated magnifications of 0.5 and 1. However, with
an intensified camera, the system with the hybrid relay lens had the
best overall performance in its design wavelength range. Selected
imaging systems were used in a spark-ignition engine to image OH∗–chemiluminescence, with
results consistent with those from bench-top characterization.
Fast phase error correction with reference beam-assisted LDPC coding for collinear holographic data storage
Authors: Yu Qin , Wu Fei , Zhang Meng , Xie Changsheng
Published: May 2023

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding is a significant technique for ensuring data reliability in phase-modulated holographic data storage. To accelerate LDPC decoding, we design reference beam-assisted LDPC coding for 4-level phase-modulated holography. The reliability of a reference bit is higher than that of an information bit during decoding because reference data are known during recording and reading processes. By considering the reference data as prior information, the weight of the initial decoding information (i.e., log-likelihood ratio (LLR) information) of the reference bit is increased during LDPC decoding. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through simulations and experiments. In the simulation, compared with the conventional LDPC code with a phase error rate (PER) of 0.019, the proposed method can reduce bit error rate (BER) by 38.8%, uncorrectable bit error rate (UBER) by 24.9%, decoding iteration time by 29.9%, the number of decoding iterations by 14.8%, and improve decoding success probability by 38.4% approximately. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed reference beam-assisted LDPC coding. The developed method can significantly decrease the PER, BER, the number of decoding iterations, and decoding time by using the real captured images.
Strain engineering of the electro-optic effect in polycrystalline BiFeO3 films [Invited]
Authors: Blázquez Martínez Alfredo , Grysan Patrick , Girod Stéphanie , Glinsek Sebastjan , Aruchamy Naveen , Biswas Pranab , Guennou Mael , Granzow Torsten
Published: May 2023

Electro-optic thin film materials, which change their refractive index upon the application of an electric field, are crucial for the fabrication of optical modulators in integrated photonic circuits. Therefore, it is key to develop strategies to tune the linear electro-optic effect. Strain engineering has arisen as a powerful tool to optimize the electro-optic coefficients in ferroelectric thin films. In this report, the electro-optical properties of polycrystalline bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) thin films are studied. The electro-optic coefficients (reff) of low-cost solution-processed BiFeO3 films under different substrate-induced thermal stress are characterized using a modified Teng-Man technique in transmission geometry. The influence of poling state and substrate stress on the electro-optical properties are discussed. The films show a notable piezo-electro-optic effect: the effective electro-optic coefficient increases both under compressive and tensile in-plane stress, with compressive stress having a much more profound impact. Electro-optic coefficients of 2.2 pm/V are obtained in films under a biaxial compressive stress of 0.54 GPa.
Abnormal functional asymmetry and its behavioural correlates in adults with ADHD: A TMS-EEG study
Authors: Avnit Amir , Zibman Samuel , Alyagon Uri , Zangen Abraham
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Abnormal functional brain asymmetry and deficient response inhibition are two core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated whether these symptoms are inter-related and whether they are underlined by altered frontal excitability and by compromised interhemispheric connectivity.

Methods

We studied these issues in 52 ADHD and 43 non-clinical adults by comparing: (1) stop-signal reaction time (SSRT); (2) frontal asymmetry of the N200 event-related potential component, which is evoked during response inhibition and is lateralised to the right hemisphere; (3) TMS-evoked potential (TEP) in the right frontal hemisphere, which is indicative of local cortical excitability; and (4) frontal right-to-left interhemispheric TMS signal propagation (ISP), which is reversely indicative of interhemispheric connectivity.

Results

Compared to controls, the ADHD group demonstrated elongated SSRT, reduced N200 right-frontal-asymmetry, weaker TEP, and stronger ISP. Moreover, in the ADHD group, N200 right-frontal-asymmetry correlated with SSRT, with TEP, and with symptoms severity. Conversely, no relationship was observed between ISP and N200 right-frontal-asymmetry, and both TEP and ISP were found to be unrelated to SSRT.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that abnormal frontal asymmetry is related to a key cognitive symptom in ADHD and suggest that it is underlined by reduced right-frontal excitability.
Early versus late amniotomy during induction of labor using oxytocin: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Halouani Ahmed , Masmoudi Yassine , Hamdaoui Rym , Hammami Aymen , Triki Amel , Ben Amor Anissa
Published: May 2023

Objective

To assess the effect of early amniotomy on labor duration, maternal and neonatal outcomes during induction of labor (IOL).

Methods

This was a randomized controlled trial, conducted over a period of eight months at a monocentric site. Singleton pregnancies in nulliparous and parous patients with cephalic presentation and Bishop score ≥ 6 were enrolled in the study. One hundred participants were randomized into two groups: early amniotomy (initiating IOL with amniotomy followed by oxytocin) versus late amniotomy (initiating IOL with oxytocin followed by amniotomy 4 hours later). The primary endpoint was the time to active phase (cervical dilation ≥ 5 cm) during IOL. Secondary outcomes were time to vaginal delivery, mode of delivery, and maternal and fetal outcomes.

Results

Early amniotomy reduced time to active phase by 2 hours and 46 minutes compared to the late amniotomy group (3 h 42 min vs. 6 h 28 min; p<0.0001). It also reduced time to vaginal delivery by 2 hours and 52 minutes (5 h 17 min vs. 8 h 9 min; p = 0.0003). The rate of cesarean section (CS) for failed IOL was significantly lower in the early amniotomy group (31.2% vs. 70.0%; p = 0.02), without any significant difference in the overall rate of cesarean section between the two groups (32.0% vs. 40.8%; p = 0.36). There was no significant difference in maternal or fetal outcomes.

Conclusions

Early amniotomy in IOL significantly shortens the time to active phase as well as the overall duration of labor without compromising maternal and neonatal safety.
Pigs’ capacity to experience feelings and to suffer from tail lesion, ear lesion and lameness: Exploring citizens and pig farm and abattoir workers’ knowledge and perceptions
Authors: Lemos Teixeira Dayane , Salazar Laura C. , Enriquez-Hidalgo Daniel , Hötzel Maria José
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perceptions of pig farm and abattoir workers as well as lay citizens regarding (1) sentience and (2) positive (intelligent and friendly) and negative (gluttonous, stubborn and dirty) attributes of pigs. We also aimed to investigate the (3) knowledge and perceptions of pig farm and abattoir workers on tail lesion, ear lesion and lameness in pigs and (4) the opinion of lay citizens regarding the likelihood of tail lesions, ear lesions, and lameness causing suffering in pigs and affecting meat quality. Chilean pig farm workers (n = 116), pig abattoir workers (n = 95), and lay citizens (n = 708) were invited on farm, at the abattoir and in public places, respectively, to participate in a survey. Answers were indicated using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = totally disagree; 4 = totally agree). Data were analysed using generalized linear models, including recruitment place and socio-demographic data as predictor variables. Female and lay citizens attributed pigs a higher capacity to experience feelings than male participants and pig farm and abattoir workers (p < 0.05). Lay citizens and workers recruited on farm described pigs as being more intelligent and friendly than those workers recruited at the abattoir (p < 0.001); recruitment place and sex were not associated with participants’ perception regarding negative attributes of pigs (p > 0.05). Most lay citizens considered that tail lesions, ear lesions and lameness are likely to cause suffering in pigs and older participants had higher odds of agreeing that tail and ear lesions are likely to affect meat quality (p < 0.05). Finally, the risk factors for tail lesion, ear lesions and lameness pointed out by pig farm and abattoir workers is in line with what has been suggested by experts. Our findings contribute to understand the perception and values of all stakeholders regarding animal welfare, as it is crucial to improve the sustainability of animal production systems.
Design and synthesis of multi-functional small-molecule based inhibitors of amyloid-β aggregation: Molecular modeling and in vitro evaluation
Authors: Radwan Awwad A. , Alanazi Fars K. , Raish Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Amyloid-β1–42 (Aβ42) peptide aggregate formation in the brain plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. According to published research, the Aβ monomer’s amino acid residues KLVFF (16–20) self-associate to create antiparallel β-sheet fibrils. Small compounds can prevent self-assembly and destroy Aβ fibrils by attaching to the Aβ16–20 regions of Aβ42. To enhance biological characteristics and binding affinity to the amyloid beta peptide, β-sheet breaker small molecules can be developed and modified with various scaffolds. In the current study, a novel series of 2,3-disubstitutedbenzofuran derivatives was designed and created by fusing the benzofuran core of a known iron chelator, neuroprotective, and neurorestorative agent, like VK-28, with a motif found in the structure of a known muscarinic inhibitor and amyloid binding agent, like SKF-64346. Measurements of the binding affinity and in vitro aggregation inhibition of the Aβ42 peptide were made using the thioflavin T (ThT) test. Using AutoDock 4.2 software, molecular docking studies of the synthesized compounds were performed on the monomer and fibril structures of amyloid beta peptide. The compounds 8a–8g exhibited strong binding energy and affinity to Aβ fibrils as well as a 50%–67% reduction of the growth of Aβ aggregation. Finally, the positive traits of our recently synthesized compounds make them excellent candidates for additional in vivo testing as a "β-sheet breaking agent."