bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Florfenicol and Oxytetracycline Administered in Feed to Control Cisco Mortality Associated with Aeromonas salmonicida Infections
Authors: Cupp Aaron R. , Tuttle-Lau Maren T. , Leis Eric , Wolfe Samantha L. , Smerud Justin R. , Oliver John W. , Erickson Richard A. , Hannah Austin P. , Johnson Aaron E. , Nelson Rachel G. , Standish Isaac , Wils Joel M. , Gaikowski Mark P.
Published: March 2023

Two medications (one with florfenicol and one with oxytetracycline) that are approved in the United States to control mortality due to furunculosis associated with Aeromonas salmonicida were assessed to determine their efficacy in medicated feeds to treat A. salmonicida-infected Cisco (also known as Lake Herring) Coregonus artedi. Cisco were subjected to static infection baths containing A. salmonicida or a sham control and then were distributed to replicate test tanks within four treatment groups: (1) fish infected with A. salmonicida and treated with 15 mg florfenicol·kg body weight (BW)−1·d−1, (2) fish infected with A. salmonicida and treated with 83 mg oxytetracycline·kg BW−1·d−1, (3) fish infected with A. salmonicida and treated with a nonmedicated control feed, and (4) uninfected fish treated with a nonmedicated control feed. Medicated and comparative nonmedicated feed rations were administered at 2% BW/d for 10 consecutive days in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug label, followed by a 7-d postdosing observation period using only nonmedicated feed. Cisco that were infected with A. salmonicida and treated with florfenicol (79% survival) and oxytetracycline (85% survival) had significantly higher survival than A. salmonicida-infected fish that received no medicated treatment (3% survival). No statistical difference in Cisco survival between the two medicated feed types was found. Aeromonas salmonicida was not detected in the kidney tissue of any surviving fish treated with medicated feeds at 7 d postdosing using quantitative PCR analysis. Overall, this study demonstrated that florfenicol- and oxytetracycline-medicated feeds were effective A. salmonicida treatments for Cisco. Outcomes may inform ongoing propagation efforts for Cisco restoration within the Great Lakes basin.
Application of a nurse‐led transitional care programme for patients discharged with T‐tubes after biliary surgery
Authors: Wang Meng , Hua Jieyu , Liu Yanli , Liu Tao , Liang Hongyin
Published: March 2023

Aim

Nurse‐led transitional care programmes (TCPs) have been shown to facilitate patient recovery in several illness settings, but its role among patients discharged with T‐tubes remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a nurse‐led TCP among patients discharged with T‐tubes.

Design

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary medical centre.

Methods

From January 2018 to December 2020, a total of 706 patients discharged with T‐tubes after biliary surgery were included in the study. Patients were divided into a TCP group (n = 255) and a control group (n = 451) based on whether they participated in a TCP. The baseline characteristics, discharge readiness, self‐care ability, transitional care quality and quality of life (QoL) were compared between the groups.

Results

Self‐care ability and transitional care quality were significantly higher in the TCP group. Patients in the TCP group also exhibited improved QoL and satisfaction. The results suggest that the incorporation of a nurse‐led TCP among patients discharged with T‐tubes after biliary surgery is feasible and effective.

No Patient or Public Contribution.
Ultrasound‐guided injection of the elbow: Cadaveric description for the proximal to distal approach
Authors: Ricci Vincenzo , Mezian Kamal , Chang Ke‐Vin , Mittal Nimish , Kara Murat , Naňka Ondřej , Özçakar Levent
Published: March 2023

Background

Ultrasound (US) guided intra‐articular elbow injections are commonly performed in clinical practice.

Objective

To describe a proximal to distal approach for US‐guided intra‐articular elbow injection.

Design

Cadaveric study.

Settings

Academic institution.

Methods

Both elbows of a single cadaver were injected with green‐colored water‐diluted latex dye using the US‐guided proximal to distal approach. In the left elbow, the needle was kept in situ; in the right elbow, the needle was removed. Subsequently, a layer‐by‐layer anatomical dissection was performed in both elbows.

Main Outcome Measures

Presence and distribution of the latex dye and location of the needle tip within the elbow joint capsule.

Results

Anatomical dissection of both elbows confirmed the correct intra‐articular position of the needle tip in the left elbow as well as correct placement of the latex dye bilaterally. During layer‐by‐layer dissection of the left elbow, the position of the radial nerve was observed anterior to the needle.

Conclusions

This cadaveric observation demonstrated that the US‐guided proximal to distal approach is a convenient technique to access the elbow joint. Compared to the previously described techniques, the in‐plane, proximal to distal approach may provide excellent needle visibility during the entire procedure, precisely targeting the articular space. The preliminary data need to be validated in additional clinical studies.
Polyaniline‐Based Memristive Devices as Key Elements of Robust Reservoir Computing for Image Classification
Authors: Prudnikov Nikita V. , Kulagin Vsevolod A. , Battistoni Silvia , Demin Vyacheslav A. , Erokhin Victor V. , Emelyanov Andrey V.
Published: March 2023

One of the remarkable features of the emerging neuromorphic systems is the ability of implementing in‐memory computing which is demonstrated using memristors to realize both memory and computation functionalities within a single element. However, biological neural systems exhibit many other outstanding computing capabilities, among which one is the sensitivity to temporal parameters of neural activity. The identification and the realization of systems able to imitate this ability is still a very challenging perspective. Herein, polyaniline‐based organic memristive devices endowed with volatile resistive switching, complex temporal behaviors and capable of processing 4‐bit sequences of data with reliable separation of states are demonstrated. Thanks to this ability, such devices can be key elements in a reservoir layer of a network to map high‐dimensional input signals to a lower‐dimensional feature space. Herein, it is demonstrated through simulations that this type of device could be a valuable element for the realization of a reservoir computing system for the classification of handwritten digits from MNIST dataset. The model suggests that the electrical properties of the polyaniline‐based organic memristive devices ensure the realization of a system able to correctly classify handwritten digits and to be tolerant to considerable overlapping of neighboring reservoir states.
Computational study of the atmospheric oxidation and global warming potential of thionyl fluoride
Authors: Gao Keli , Hou Hua , Zhang Mi , Zhou Wenjun , Wang Baoshan
Published: March 2023

Thionyl fluoride (SOF2) is the dominant decomposition by‐product in SF6 under electrical discharges and a novel fluorinating reagent for organic synthesis to replace sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2). Since both SF6 and SO2F2 are strong green‐house gases, for the sake of environmental concern, tropospheric oxidation of SOF2 by OH radicals in the presence of O2 has been investigated using various computational methods including density functional M06‐2X, coupled‐cluster (CCSD), the explicitly correlated RCCSD(T)‐F12, Gaussian‐4, ROCBS‐QB3, and Weizmann‐1 theories. The SO bond association between SOF2 and OH proceeds via the barriers of 1–3 kcal/mol to form various shallow wells HOSOF2 (−3 to −8 kcal/mol) linked by Berry pseudorotations and followed by HF‐elimination. Interception of the HOSOF2 adducts by O2 produce HO2 and SO2F2 predominantly via the concerted SO bond association/dissociation and proton‐transfer. The atmospheric lifetime and radiative efficiency for SOF2 were calculated to be 1.2–1.5 years and 0.223 W/m2/ppb, respectively. The global warming potential of SOF2 was estimated to be 169–211, as indicative of an eco‐friendly gas. However, the environmental impact of SOF2 should take into account the production of SO2F2 and HO2 due to oxidation.
Supramolecular Chiral Nanozymes with High and Switchable Enantioselectivity
Authors: Wang Chu , Yuan Ganyin , Wang Chao , Sun Xiaohuan , Hang Pengyuan , Xi Zheng , Han Jie , Guo Rong
Published: March 2023

Understanding and manipulation of catalytic enantioselectivity have emerged as a paramount challenge for decades. Inspired by nature, nanozymes with enantioselectivity have been designed. However, the role of the spatial arrangement interplayed in enantioselective catalysis is rarely paid attention, let alone the manipulation of enantioselectivity switch under this context. Herein, the supramolecular chiral nanozymes composed of P/M‐polyaniline (P/M‐PANI) nanotwists and Fe3O4 nanoparticles without any chiral molecules are constructed. Taking the catalytic oxidation of 3,4‐dihydroxy‐d
/
l‐phenylalanine (d
/
l‐DOPA) as a model reaction, P‐PANI–Fe3O4 nanozymes are demonstrated to show better catalytic efficiency toward D‐DOPA, whereas M‐PANI–Fe3O4 nanozymes show preference to L‐DOPA. Intriguingly, through the simple modulation of the Fe3O4 nanoparticle density on P/M‐PANI–Fe3O4, the unprecedented enantioselectivity switch of the as‐designed nanozymes is achieved. Moreover, the select factors of P/M‐PANI–Fe3O4 toward d
/
l‐DOPA are determined to be significantly larger than that of commonly used chiral ligands (such as d
/
l‐phenylalanine)‐modified Fe3O4 nanozymes, indicating the superiority of spatial arrangement‐dominated supramolecular chirality over molecular chirality in enantioselectivity. This finding discloses the role that the spatial arrangement‐directed chiral scaffolds interplay in the enzymatic catalytic process and open a new avenue for the facile design of smart nanozymes with controlled enantioselectivity.
Are table scraps really that bad for dogs?
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: March 2023

Georgina Mills reports on new research that suggests certain human foods may protect dogs against chronic enteropathy.
Determination of in vitro hepatotoxic potencies of a series of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) based on gene expression changes in HepaRG liver cells
Authors: Louisse Jochem , Fragki Styliani , Rijkers Deborah , Janssen Aafke , van Dijk Bas , Leenders Liz , Staats Martijn , Bokkers Bas , Zeilmaker Marco , Piersma Aldert , Luijten Mirjam , Hoogenboom Ron , Peijnenburg Ad
Published: March 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are omnipresent and have been shown to induce a wide range of adverse health effects, including hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, and immunotoxicity. The aim of the present work was to assess whether human HepaRG liver cells can be used to obtain insight into differences in hepatotoxic potencies of a series of PFASs. Therefore, the effects of 18 PFASs on cellular triglyceride accumulation (AdipoRed assay) and gene expression (DNA microarray for PFOS and RT-qPCR for all 18 PFASs) were studied in HepaRG cells. BMDExpress analysis of the PFOS microarray data indicated that various cellular processes were affected at the gene expression level. From these data, ten genes were selected to assess the concentration–effect relationship of all 18 PFASs using RT-qPCR analysis. The AdipoRed data and the RT-qPCR data were used for the derivation of in vitro relative potencies using PROAST analysis. In vitro relative potency factors (RPFs) could be obtained for 8 PFASs (including index chemical PFOA) based on the AdipoRed data, whereas for the selected genes, in vitro RPFs could be obtained for 11–18 PFASs (including index chemical PFOA). For the readoutOAT5expression, in vitro RPFs were obtained for all PFASs. In vitro RPFs were found to correlate in general well with each other (Spearman correlation) except for the PPAR target genesANGPTL4andPDK4. Comparison of in vitro RPFs with RPFs obtained from in vivo studies in rats indicate that best correlations (Spearman correlation) were obtained for in vitro RPFs based onOAT5andCXCL10expression changes and external in vivo RPFs. HFPO-TA was found to be the most potent PFAS tested, being around tenfold more potent than PFOA. Altogether, it may be concluded that the HepaRG model may provide relevant data to provide insight into which PFASs are relevant regarding their hepatotoxic effects and that it can be applied as a screening tool to prioritize other PFASs for further hazard and risk assessment.
A Meta‐Analysis of Endoscopic Stenting Versus Surgical Treatment for Malignant Gastric Outlet Obstruction
Authors: Del Nero Lorenzo , Sheijani Afscin Djahandideh , De Ceglie Antonella , Bruzzone Marco , Ceppi Marcello , Filiberti Rosa Angela , Siersema Peter , Conio Massimo
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim

Surgical gastrojejunostomy (GJJ) and endoscopic stenting (ES) are the two most available treatments for palliation of malignant gastric obstruction (MGOO). The aim of this study is to compare these two techniques regarding efficacy, safety, time of hospitalization and survival.

Methods

We performed a literature search from January 2010 to September 2020 to identify available randomized controlled studies and observational studies that compared ES and GJJ for the treatment of MGOO.

Results

A total of 17 studies were found. ES and GJJ showed similar technical and clinical success rate. ES was superior to obtain early oral re‐feeding, shorter length of hospitalization and a lower incidence of complications than GJJ. Surgical palliation had a lower recurrence rate of obstructive symptoms and longer overall survival than ES.

Conclusions

Both procedures have advantages and disadvantages. Probably we should not find the best palliation but the best approach based on the patient characteristics and tumor type.
Cardiovascular endurance and psychosocial health predict short- and long-term BMI-SDS reduction: results from the CHILT III program
Authors: Eisenburger Nina , Ferrari Nina , Friesen David , Haas Fabiola , Klaudius Marlen , Schmidt Lisa , Vandeven Susanne , Joisten Christine
Published: March 2023

This longitudinal study analyzes data from the Children’s Health Interventional Trial (CHILT) III, an 11-month juvenile multicomponent weight management program. The objective is to identify predictors of changes in body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS), so as to further enable the advancement of existing interventions with sustained impact. This study’s sample consists of 237 children and adolescents with obesity (8–17 years, 54% girls) participating in the CHILT III program between 2003 and 2021. Anthropometrics, demographics, relative cardiovascular endurance (W/kg), and psychosocial health (i.e., physical self-concept and self-worth) were assessed at program entry ($$t1$$

t
1

), end ($$t2$$

t
2

), and one-year follow-up ($$t3$$

t
3

; n = 83). From $$t1$$

t
1

to $$t2$$

t
2

, the mean BMI-SDS was reduced by −0.16 ± 0.26 units (p < 0.001). Media use and cardiovascular endurance at baseline and improvements in endurance and self-worth over the course of the program predicted changes in BMI-SDS (adj. R2 = 0.22, p < 0.001). From $$t2$$

t
2

to $$t3$$

t
3

, mean BMI-SDS increased ($$M = 0.09 \pm 0.29$$

M
=
0.09
±
0.29

, p = 0.005). Changes in BMI-SDS from $$t2$$

t
2

to $$t3$$

t
3

were associated with parental education, improvements in cardiovascular endurance and physical self-concept, and BMI-SDS, media use, physical self-concept, and endurance level at program end (adj. R2 = 0.39, p < 0.001).

  Conclusions: This study highlights the need for comprehensive, sustainable weight management approaches, in order to sustain the initial treatment benefits. In this context, improvements in cardiovascular endurance and psychosocial health could be essential strategies to pursue in practice, as they significantly predicted reductions in BMI-SDS – both pre- to post-intervention and at follow-up.

Trial registration: DRKS00026785; date of registration: 13.10.202, retrospectively registered.

What is Known:

• Childhood obesity is associated with the onset of noncommunicable diseases, many of which are likely to carry into adulthood. Thus, effective weight management strategies for affected children and their families are vital. However, achieving lasting positive health outcomes with multidisciplinary weight management programs remains challenging.

What is New:

• According to this study, short- and longer-term BMI-SDS reductions are associated to cardiovascular endurance and psychosocial health. These factors should therefore be given even greater consideration in weight management strategies, as they may be important not only in themselves but also for long-term weight loss (maintenance).
Prediction of complications in health economic models of type 2 diabetes: a review of methods used
Authors: Li Xinyu , Li Fang , Wang Junfeng , van Giessen Anoukh , Feenstra Talitha L.
Published: March 2023

Aim

Diabetes health economic (HE) models play important roles in decision making. For most HE models of diabetes 2 diabetes (T2D), the core model concerns the prediction of complications. However, reviews of HE models pay little attention to the incorporation of prediction models. The objective of the current review is to investigate how prediction models have been incorporated into HE models of T2D and to identify challenges and possible solutions.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from January 1, 1997, to November 15, 2022, to identify published HE models for T2D. All models that participated in The Mount Hood Diabetes Simulation Modeling Database or previous challenges were manually searched. Data extraction was performed by two independent authors. Characteristics of HE models, their underlying prediction models, and methods of incorporating prediction models were investigated.

Results

The scoping review identified 34 HE models, including a continuous-time object-oriented model (n = 1), discrete-time state transition models (n = 18), and discrete-time discrete event simulation models (n = 15). Published prediction models were often applied to simulate complication risks, such as the UKPDS (n = 20), Framingham (n = 7), BRAVO (n = 2), NDR (n = 2), and RECODe (n = 2). Four methods were identified to combine interdependent prediction models for different complications, including random order evaluation (n = 12), simultaneous evaluation (n = 4), the ‘sunflower method’ (n = 3), and pre-defined order (n = 1). The remaining studies did not consider interdependency or reported unclearly.

Conclusions

The methodology of integrating prediction models in HE models requires further attention, especially regarding how prediction models are selected, adjusted, and ordered.
Patientenanwaltschaft und Psychiatrie
Authors: Dunkel Florian
Published: March 2023

Patientenanwaltschaft und Psychiatrie müssen sich weiterhin um ein gegenseitiges Rollenverständnis bemühen. Beide Berufsgruppen haben bei ihrer Rolleninterpretation einen beträchtlichen Gestaltungsspielraum. Procedural Justice (PJ) und Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ) enthalten dafür wertvolle Grundüberlegungen, die ein entsprechendes Bewusstsein erzeugen und eine darauf bezogene selbstreflexive Haltung fördern. Nach der TJ haben sich die Professionen stets die Frage zu stellen, welche Folgen ihre Rollengestaltung im Unterbringungsverfahren aus therapeutischer Sicht für Patient:innen hat. Im Sinne der PJ können beide Berufsgruppen einen wesentlichen Beitrag dazu leisten, dass Patient:innen im Verfahren Gerechtigkeit und Fairness erleben, was entscheidend für den Therapieerfolg sein kann. Dadurch haben beide Professionen maßgeblichen Einfluss darauf, ob das Unterbringungsverfahren therapieschädlich wirkt oder therapeutisches Potenzial entfaltet.
A stochastic exposure model for seismic risk assessment and pricing of catastrophe bonds
Authors: Mistry Harsh K. , Lombardi Domenico
Published: March 2023

Risk-based catastrophe bonds require the estimation of losses from the convolution of hazard, exposure and vulnerability models. These models are affected by different uncertainties that arise from the definition of their input parameters. In this paper, we propose a stochastic approach to treat the uncertainty in the asset location and attributes of the exposure model. The proposed method uses the Monte Carlo sampling approach to generate a stochastic exposure database, where each asset location is generated randomly within the geometric bound of the administration, while the asset attributes (i.e. construction type and material, number of storey, building activity type and number of dwelling) are sampled from distributions built from census data. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the spatial resolution of the exposure model on the average annual losses (AAL) and catastrophe bond prices. To this end, we implement four exposure models, with spatial resolution at the asset, municipality and province levels, on a study region comprising ten provinces in southern Italy. Compared to the proposed model, the exposure model where assets are relocated and aggregated at the geometric centroid of the municipality underestimates AAL by $$8\%$$

8
%

, while a higher difference (up to $$20\%$$

20
%

) is observed for the exposure model where assets are relocated and aggregated at the geometric centroid of the province. We also consider an exposure model whose asset locations are extracted from publicly available building footprints. Yet, this latter model was incomplete for some provinces resulting in underestimation of AAL up to $$90\%$$

90
%

. Differences in catastrophe bond prices obtained from the four exposure models are less evident, with the exposure model built based on the building footprints showing a difference up to $$9.5\%$$

9.5
%

.
Quality of life and ability to work of patients with Post-COVID syndrome in relation to the number of existing symptoms and the duration since infection up to 12 months: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lemhöfer Christina , Sturm Christian , Loudovici-Krug Dana , Guntenbrunner Christoph , Bülow Marcus , Reuken Philipp , Quickert Stefanie , Best Norman
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Following SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, patients may suffer from long-lasting symptoms regardless of disease severity. Preliminary results show limitations in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to show a possible change depending on the duration since infection and the accumulation of symptoms. Additionally, other possible influencing factors will be analyzed.

Methods

The study population consisted of patients (18–65 years) presenting to the Post-COVID outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Jena, Germany, between March and October 2021. The HRQoL was assessed by the use of the RehabNeQ and the SF-36. Data analysis was descriptive with frequencies, means, and/or percentages. In addition, a univariate analysis of variance was performed to show the dependence of physical and psychological HRQoL on specific factors. This was finally tested for significance at an alpha level of 5%.

Results

Data from 318 patients were analyzed, most of whom had 3–6 months of infection (56%) and 5–10 symptoms persisted (60.4%). Both mental (MCS) and physical sum score (PCS) of HRQoL were significantly lower than those of the German normal population (p < .001). The number of remaining symptoms (MCS p = .0034, PCS p = .000) as well as the perceived ability to work (MCS p = .007, PCS p = .000) influenced the HRQoL.

Conclusion

The HRQoL of patients with Post-COVID-syndrome is still reduced months after infection and so is their occupational performance. In particular, the number of symptoms could have an influence on this deficit, which would need to be further investigated. Further research is needed to detect other factors influencing HRQoL and to implement appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Parallelisation of decision-making techniques in aquaculture enterprises
Authors: Ibáñez Mario , Luna Manuel , Bosque Jose Luis , Beivide Ramón
Published: March 2023

Nowadays, theArtificial Intelligent (AI)techniques are applied in enterprise software to solveBig DataandBusiness Intelligence (BI)problems. But most AI techniques are computationally excessive, and they become unfeasible for common business use. Therefore, specific high performance computing is needed to reduce the response time and make these software applications viable on an industrial environment. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the improvement of an aquaculture BI tool based in AI techniques, using parallel programming. This tool, called AquiAID, was created by the research group of Economic Management for the Sustainable Development of Primary Sector of the Universidad de Cantabria. The parallelisation reduces the computation time up to 60 times, and the energy efficiency by 600 times with respect to the sequential program. With these improvements, the software will improve the fish farming management in aquaculture industry.
Optimality Conditions for Mathematical Programs with Orthogonality Type Constraints
Authors: Lämmel S. , Shikhman V.
Published: March 2023

We consider the class of mathematical programs with orthogonality type constraints. Orthogonality type constraints appear by reformulating the sparsity constraint via auxiliary binary variables and relaxing them afterwards. For mathematical programs with orthogonality type constraints a necessary optimality condition in terms of T-stationarity is stated. The justification of T-stationarity is threefold. First, it allows to capture the global structure of mathematical programs with orthogonality type constraints in terms of Morse theory, i. e. deformation and cell-attachment results are established. For that, nondegeneracy for the T-stationary points is introduced and shown to hold generically. Second, we prove that Karush-Kuhn-Tucker points of the Scholtes-type regularization converge to T-stationary points of mathematical programs with orthogonality type constraints. This is done under the tailored linear independence constraint qualification, which turns out to be a generic property too. Third, we show that T-stationarity applied to the relaxation of sparsity constrained nonlinear optimization naturally leads to its M-stationary points. Moreover, we argue that all T-stationary points of this relaxation become degenerate.
Effects of continuous positive airway pressure and mandibular advancement appliance therapy on sleep bruxism in adults with obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot study
Authors: Li Deshui , Lobbezoo Frank , Kuang Boyuan , Hilgevoord Antonius A. J. , de Vries Nico , Aarab Ghizlane
Published: March 2023

Study objectives

This study aimed to investigate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) therapy on rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA), a biomarker of sleep bruxism (SB), and to compare the effects of CPAP with MAA in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

This cohort study included individuals with OSA who received treatment with CPAP or MAA. Polysomnographic recordings with and without therapy were performed in each individual. Statistical analyses were performed with repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

A total of 38 individuals with OSA were enrolled, 13 on CPAP and 25 with MAA, mean age 52.6 ± 10.6 years, 32 men, mean baseline apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 26.5 ± 15.2 events/hour, mean RMMA index 3.5 ±events/hour. In the total group, the RMMA index decreased significantly with CPAP and MAA therapies (P < 0.05). The changes in the RMMA index with therapy did not differ significantly between CPAP and MAA (P > 0.05). The RMMA index decreased in 60% of the individuals with OSA, and the changes ranged widely, with a median of 52% and an interquartile range of 107%.

Conclusions

Both CPAP and MAA therapies significantly reduce SB in individuals with OSA. However, the interindividual differences in the effects of these therapies on SB are large.

Clinical Trial Registration:https://trialsearch.who.int (NL8516); April 08, 2020
Mindfulness for Global Public Health: Critical Analysis and Agenda
Authors: Oman Doug
Published: March 2023

Objective

The modern mindfulness movement and the public health field are aligned in many approaches, including recognizing psychosocial stress impacts and physical-mental health linkages, valuing “upstream” preventive approaches, and seeking to integrate health promotion activities across multiple social sectors. Yet mindfulness is conspicuously absent from most global and public health literature and practice, suggesting unfulfilled potential. This paper analyzes the mindfulness field from a public health perspective, with the aim of identifying evidential and conceptual bases, methods, potential consequences, and initial research and action agendas for greater integration of mindfulness approaches into global, national, and local public health efforts.

Methods

This paper reviews scientific and scholarly literature on the currently existing and potential relationships between mindfulness and public health, with special attention to 14 dimensions of potential tension or alignment.

Results

Several alignments were noted above. However, the mindfulness field is substantially lagging on multi-level interventions (e.g., both individual and collective levels), cultural and religious adaptations, and epidemiologic underpinnings. Both mindfulness and public health initiatives are in need of efforts to promote intercultural, interreligious, and intercontemplative competencies, in developing interventions to address pathogenic factors in the collective attentional environments in society, and in attending to religious and spiritual factors.

Conclusions

Full public health uptake will benefit from several additional lines of research and innovation, especially greater attention to cultural and religious adaptation, with attention also much needed to multi-level interventions and epidemiologic foundations.
Die Artenkenntnis von angehenden Biologie- und Sachunterrichtslehrkräften zum Ökosystem Wattenmeer
Authors: Schmäing Till , Grotjohann Norbert
Published: March 2023

Für das Verständnis und den Schutz von Ökosystemen ist die Kenntnis von in diesen vorkommenden Arten wichtig. Die Artenkenntnis von Schüler:innen in Deutschland hat in den letzten Jahren abgenommen. Als ein Grund dafür wird in der Literatur die mangelnde Artenkenntnis von Lehrkräften angeführt, allerdings ist diese bisher nur wenig erforscht. Da vor allem dem Biologieunterricht für die Vermittlung von Artenkenntnis eine besondere Relevanz zukommt, liegt es im Erkenntnisinteresse der biologiedidaktischen Forschung, die Artenkenntnis von angehenden Lehrkräften zu untersuchen. In dieser Studie wurde mit einer inhaltlichen Bezugnahme zum UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe Wattenmeer ein heimisches Ökosystem ausgewählt, welches sowohl im schulischen als auch im außerschulischen Bereich ein hohes Potenzial für die Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung besitzt. Insgesamt wurden 206 Lehramtsstudierende der Unterrichtsfächer Biologie und Sachunterricht (M = 23,4 Jahre) mit Zeichnungen zu ihrer Kenntnis von 18 Tierarten aus diesem Ökosystem befragt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Artenkenntnis im Durchschnitt gering ist. Die mit Abstand bekannteste Tierart ist die Silbermöwe, der Bäumchenröhrenwurm ist hingegen nahezu unbekannt. Ein ungepaarter t-Test belegt, dass es zwischen der Artenkenntnis von Bachelor- und Masterstudierenden keinen signifikanten Unterschied gibt. Zudem illustrieren weitere ungepaarte t-Tests den signifikanten Einfluss von privaten Erfahrungen im Wattenmeer auf die Artenkenntnis, ein Einfluss von Erfahrungen aus der eigenen Schulzeit ist hingegen nicht vorhanden. Aus einer Korrelationsanalyse geht der positive Zusammenhang zwischen der Artenkenntnis und der Naturverbundenheit hervor. Im Allgemeinen wird von den angehenden Lehrkräften die Relevanz der Artenkenntnis für Lehrer:innen als eher hoch und für Schüler:innen als eher gering sowie das Wattenmeer als geeigneter außerschulischer Lernort beurteilt.
Towards a better understanding of the characteristics of fractal networks
Authors: Zakar-Polyák Enikő , Nagy Marcell , Molontay Roland
Published: March 2023

The fractal nature of complex networks has received a great deal of research interest in the last two decades. Similarly to geometric fractals, the fractality of networks can also be defined with the so-called box-covering method. A network is called fractal if the minimum number of boxes needed to cover the entire network follows a power-law relation with the size of the boxes. The fractality of networks has been associated with various network properties throughout the years, for example, disassortativity, repulsion between hubs, long-range-repulsive correlation, and small edge betweenness centralities. However, these assertions are usually based on tailor-made network models and on a small number of real networks, hence their ubiquity is often disputed. Since fractal networks have been shown to have important properties, such as robustness against intentional attacks, it is in dire need to uncover the underlying mechanisms causing fractality. Hence, the main goal of this work is to get a better understanding of the origins of fractality in complex networks. To this end, we systematically review the previous results on the relationship between various network characteristics and fractality. Moreover, we perform a comprehensive analysis of these relations on five network models and a large number of real-world networks originating from six domains. We clarify which characteristics are universally present in fractal networks and which features are just artifacts or coincidences.
Towards 3D Scene Understanding Using Differentiable Rendering
Authors: Periyasamy Arul Selvam , Behnke Sven
Published: March 2023

Deep learning methods have achieved significant results in many 2D computer vision tasks. To realize similar results in 3D tasks, equipping deep learning pipelines with components that incorporate knowledge about 2D image generation from the 3D scene description is a promising research direction. Rasterization, the standard formulation of the image generation process is not differentiable, and thus not compatible with the deep learning models trained using gradient-based optimization schemes. In recent years, many new approximate differentiable renderers have been proposed to enable compatibility between deep learning methods and image rendering techniques. Differentiable renderers fit naturally into the render-and-compare framework where the 3D scene parameters are estimated iteratively by minimizing the error between the observed image and the image rendered according to the current scene parameter estimate. In this article, we present StilllebenDR, a light-weight, scalable differentiable renderer built as an extension to the openly available Stillleben library. We demonstrate the usability of the proposed differentiable renderer for the task of iterative 3D deformable registration using a latent shape-space model and occluded object pose refinement using order-independent transparency based on analytical gradients and learned scene aggregation.
Confronting the 'Dirty War' in Argentine Cinema, 1983-1993
Authors: Burucúa Constanza
Published: March 2023

An examination of Argentina's 'Dirty War' in films made after the advent of democracy in 1983.
Misleading Ballot Positions and Invalid Votes
Authors: Lee Ha Na , Song B. K.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study how a combination of random ballot ordering and concurrent elections can increase invalid votes in the context of South Korea. In South Korea, elections for the nonpartisan superintendent of education are held concurrently with other partisan races. Whereas the ballot order for candidates in the nonpartisan superintendent of education elections is randomized and rotated, this order for other partisan races is determined according to the number of seats each party has in the national legislature. In this study, we found that a match between candidates’ partisan preferences and their ballot positions decreases invalid votes. Our findings suggest that combining two different ballot-order schemes for concurrently held elections can confuse voters and increase invalid votes.
Scaling of pressure fluctuations in compressible turbulent plane channel flow
Authors: Gerolymos G.A. , Vallet I.
Published: March 2023

The purpose of the paper is to identify Mach-number effects on pressure fluctuations$p'$in compressible turbulent plane channel flow. We use data from a specifically constructed$(Re_{\tau ^\star },\bar {M}_{{CL}_x})$-matrix direct numerical simulation (DNS) database, with systematic variation of the centreline streamwise Mach number$0.32\leqslant \bar {M}_{{CL}_x}\leqslant 2.49$and of the HCB (Huanget al.,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 305, 1995, pp. 185–218) friction Reynolds number$66\leqslant Re_{\tau ^\star }\lessapprox 1000$. Strong$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$effects (enhanced by the increasingly cold-wall condition) appear for$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}\gtrapprox 2$, for all$Re_{\tau ^\star }$, very close to the wall ($y^\star \lessapprox 15$). Compared with incompressible flow at the same$Re_{\tau ^\star }$, the wall root-mean-square$[p'_{rms}]^+_w$(in wall-units, i.e. scaled by the average wall shear stress$\bar {\tau }_w$) strongly increases with$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$. In contrast, the peak level across the channel,$[p'_{rms}]^+_{PEAK}$, slightly decreases with increasing$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$. In order to study the near-wall coherent structures we introduce a new wall-distance-independent non-local system of units, based for all$y$on wall friction and the extreme values of density and dynamic viscosity, namely, for cold walls$\{\bar {\tau }_w,\min _y\bar {\rho },\max _y\bar {\mu }\}$. The average spanwise distance between streaks, scaled by this length-unit, is nearly independent of$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$at constant$Re_{\tau ^\star }$. Using the in-plane (parallel to the wall) Laplacian$\nabla ^2_{xz}p'$we find that the$(+/-)\text {-}p'$wave-packet-like structures appearing inside the low-speed streaks ($y^\star \lessapprox 15$) with increasing$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}\gtrapprox 2$are part of a more complex wave system with spanwise extent over several streaks, whose spatial density decreases rapidly with decreasing$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$or increasing$y^\star$. These$p'$wave packets appear to be collocated with strong$(+/-)$-$v'$events and could be responsible for compensating towards 0 the negative incompressible-flow correlation coefficient$c_{p'v'}$, with increasing$\bar {M}_{{CL}_x}$very near the wall.
A model for an epidemic with contact tracing and cluster isolation, and a detection paradox
Authors: Bertoin Jean
Published: March 2023

We determine the distributions of some random variables related to a simple model of an epidemic with contact tracing and cluster isolation. This enables us to apply general limit theorems for super-critical Crump–Mode–Jagers branching processes. Notably, we compute explicitly the asymptotic proportion of isolated clusters with a given size amongst all isolated clusters, conditionally on survival of the epidemic. Somewhat surprisingly, the latter differs from the distribution of the size of a typical cluster at the time of its detection, and we explain the reasons behind this seeming paradox.
Numerical studies of supersonic flow over a compression corner
Authors: Holmes S. C. , Squire L. C.
Published: March 2023

Numerical solutions of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are presented for the shock/boundary-layer interaction which occurs with the attached, near-adiabatic, turbulent flow of air over a two-dimensional compression corner of 11° at a Mach number of 2·5.

It is shown that for this near-adiabatic flow, the isenthalpic and non-isenthalpic Navier-Stokes equations produce solutions which are very similar in respect of the velocity,pressure and density fields.

In the first part of the work, two different upstream, or approaching boundary-layer profiles are considered: one with a normal full velocity profile and the other with a less full velocity profile corresponding to a boundary layer that has developed in an adverse pressure gradient. Several turbulence models are compared using the isenthalpic form of the equations (because the computations are more economical). It is found that agreement with previous experiments (such as in the location of the shock and density profile predictions) is improved in the vicinity of the interaction using the non-equilibrium Johnson-King model compared to the equilibrium models of Baldwin-Lomax and Cebeci-Smith.

The second part of the work examines the effects of turbulent Prandtl number (Prt) modelling for this flow using the non-isenthalpic form of the Navier-Stokes equations. Three models for the turbulent Prandtl number are tested. It is found that modelling Prt affects the velocity, pressure and density fields only very slightly, and that the main impact is on the prediction of temperatures very close to the wall. The adiabatic wall temperature variation through the interaction has been measured experimentally and compared with the predictions. The best agreement was obtained using Wassel and Catton's model for Pr, rather than the familiar assumption that Prt = 0·9 everywhere in the flow.
In-flight evaluation of Mach number at hypersonic speeds
Authors: Brailsford E. N.
Published: March 2023

The prime need to know Mach number in flight is likely to be for the efficient operation and control of air-breathing propulsion units. The errors incurred by the use of the analytical expressions, which have been developed for supersonic flight, are quantified and shown to be increasingly serious for speeds in excess of M = 5.5 approximately. Systems for calculating this parameter in flight are reviewed and compared. It is shown that three out of the four systems identified are capable, potentially, of registering Mach number to a good precision. In each case, to achieve optimum precision requires a good knowledge of ambient air temperature. Such knowledge is likely to be available from meteorological satellites.
Lighter-than-air developments in the United Kingdom
Authors: Nayler A. W. L.
Published: March 2023

A small, but increasingly active, lighter-than-air industry has developed in the United Kingdom over the last 20 years. One of the five companies now involved has built more conventional helium filled airships than the rest of the world's manufacturers put together. Two others have supplied over 100 hot air airships — mostly to orders received from outside the UK.

Current LTA designs and activity in the UK are described.
Unsteady effects of camber on the aerodynamic characteristics of a thin aerofoil moving near the ground
Authors: Zedan M. F. , Nuhait A. O.
Published: March 2023

The effect of camber on the aerodynamic characteristics of an infinitely thin aerofoil approaching the ground is studied using a numerical model that accounts for the unsteady nature of the flow. The wake is computed as a part of the solution and the image technique is used to account for ground effects. The results indicate that relative deviations of lift and moment coefficients, from corresponding values far from ground, decrease as the camber ratio or angle of attack increases. Moving the location of maximum camber backward has a similar effect. Meanlines of NACA 4-digit series showed smaller deviations compared to NACA 6-digit series meanlines. Increasing camber ratio or moving maximum camber backward causes the wake trajectory to be lower. The steady ground-effect approach is inaccurate and may give erroneous results for plates with high camber ratios at small angles of attack, especially near the ground.
Experiments on Space Shuttle Orbiter models in a free piston shock tunnel
Authors: Krek R. M. , Stalker R. J.
Published: March 2023

Heat transfer and pressure measurements were made on a model of the United States Space Shuttle Orbiter in the University of Queensland's T4 shock tunnel at three angles of attack, with stagnation enthalpies which varied by a factor of 11, from 2·1 MJ/kg to 23 MJ/kg and normal shock Reynolds numbers which varied by a factor of 38, from 2·1 x l04 to 8·l x 105. Leeward pressure results were obtained for comparison with flight data and equilibrium calculations, but the majority of the experiments were conducted to investigate the heat transfer distributions around the shuttle model. Both the windward and leeward heat transfer results exhibit the onset of transition to turbulent flow. The leeward results are compared with flight data as well as with conventional wind tunnel data, and are used to establish trends associated with variation in the major flow and geometry parameters. It was found that although high enthalpy effects could be important, Reynolds number effects played a dominant role in determining the flow.
Some experimental aspects of the flow induced vibration of a cantilever mounted across two streams of air at right angles
Authors: Jubran B. A
Published: March 2023

Some of the experimental features of the dynamic response of a cantilever subjected to two streams of air at right angles to each other are reported. The cantilever is mounted across a mainstream flow while subjected to another jet injected parallel to the test cylinder.

The dimensionless vibration displacement amplitude was measured in the transverse direction (lift force direction) as well as in the streamwise direction (drag force direction) while varying the secondary jet flow velocity. It was found that in the vicinity of the cylinder a secondary jet can be used to reduce the dimensionless transverse vibration displacement amplitude in the lock-in region and increase it outside the lock-in region. The effect of jet injection on the streamwise direction vibration is to increase it for all reduced velocities considered.
Re-Evaluating Machine Learning for MRP Given the Comparable Performance of (Deep) Hierarchical Models
Authors: GOPLERUD MAX
Published: March 2023

Multilevel regression and post-stratification (MRP) is a popular use of hierarchical models in political science. Multiple papers have suggested that relying on machine learning methods can provide substantially better performance than traditional approaches that use hierarchical models. However, these comparisons are often unfair to traditional techniques as they omit possibly important interactions or nonlinear effects. I show that complex (“deep”) hierarchical models that include interactions can nearly match or outperform state-of-the-art machine learning methods. Combining multiple models into an ensemble can improve performance, although deep hierarchical models are themselves given considerable weight in these ensembles. The main limitation to using deep hierarchical models is speed. This paper derives new techniques to further accelerate estimation using variational approximations. I provide software that uses weakly informative priors and can estimate nonlinear effects using splines. This allows flexible and complex hierarchical models to be fit as quickly as many comparable machine learning techniques.