bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluid Control in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Brolucizumab: An Analysis of the HAWK and HARRIER Phase 3 Trials
Authors: Regillo Carl , Singh Rishi , Hamilton Robin , Gedif Kinfemichael , Best Catherine , Koh Adrian , Holz Frank G.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is characterized by exudation of fluid from abnormally growing blood vessels in the macula. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is standard treatment for nAMD. Fluid resolution is used both as an indicator of disease control and to guide the frequency of treatment because of anti-VEGF therapy effectiveness in reducing neovascularization-related exudation. Herein reports a post hoc assessment of the HAWK and HARRIER trials comparing the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab with aflibercept in patients with nAMD. Materials and Methods: HAWK randomized 1,078 patients with untreated, active choroidal neovascularization due to AMD in the study eye to receive brolucizumab 3, 6 mg or aflibercept 2 mg. In HARRIER, 739 patients received brolucizumab 6 mg or aflibercept 2 mg. Brolucizumab was injected at weeks 0, 4, and 8, and thereafter q12w unless disease activity was identified (injection interval: q8w). Aflibercept was injected q8w after the loading phase, aligned with approved dosing at study initiation. The objective of this analysis was to assess effects of brolucizumab versus aflibercept on retinal fluid resolution during two phase 3 trials (HAWK and HARRIER) in patients with nAMD. Anatomical assessments for intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) were performed every 4 weeks by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Sustained dryness was defined as a patient being fluid-free (SRF and IRF) on ≥3 consecutive visits. Time to sustained dryness was determined by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results: At week 96, fluid resolution (absence of IRF and SRF) was achieved by more brolucizumab- (6 mg; 76.1%) versus aflibercept-treated patients (63.1%; p = 0.0002, HAWK); 75.4% versus 61.8% (p < 0.0001, HARRIER). More patients achieved sustained dryness with brolucizumab versus aflibercept: at 96 weeks, 87.9% (brolucizumab 3 mg) and 86.1% (brolucizumab 6 mg) versus 82.0% (aflibercept) in HAWK, and 91.2% (brolucizumab) versus 78.0% (aflibercept) in HARRIER. Sustained dryness was achieved faster and hence with fewer brolucizumab injections. Discussion/Conclusion: Brolucizumab dried the macula in patients with nAMD faster and to a greater degree than aflibercept. Achieving sustained dryness faster, and therefore with fewer injections, provides an opportunity for earlier decisions relating to treatment interval extension potentially reducing treatment burden.
Unilateral Axillary Lymphadenopathy due to Toxoplasmosis: A Ubiquitous Infectious Disease Important for Differential Diagnosis of Solid Malignancies
Authors: Doami Ryoki , Oura Shoji , Makimoto Shinichiro
Published: April 2022

A 30-year-old woman was pointed out for her right axillary lymphadenopathy in a medical checkup. Ultrasonography showed two swollen lymph nodes and the presence of lymph node hilum with a convex shape in the larger lymph node. Under the tentative diagnosis of lymphadenitis, the patient was initially treated with antibiotic therapy, leading to no improvement in her lymphadenopathy for 1 month. Positron emission tomography after antibiotic therapy showed a maximum standardized uptake value of 7.0 in the swollen lymph nodes without any other avidities. Neither mammography nor ultrasonography showed any abnormalities in the breasts. The serum IL-2R level was within the normal range. Despite the lack of malignant cells in the aspiration biopsy cytology specimen, the patient received lymph node excisional biopsy to avoid undertreatment. A postoperative pathological study showed a swollen lymph node with preserved lymph node structure, follicular hyperplasia, and lymphoid hyperplasia. The irregularly dilated germinal center had microglanulomas, tingible body macrophages, enlarged aggregation of monocytoid B cells with neutrophil interminglement, and no giant cells, leading to the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. A detailed interview after the lymph node biopsy revealed that she did not have any cats but had chickens and had her right forearm a little injured by the roof edge of a chicken coop 5 weeks before the medical checkup. Postoperative serologic testing to further confirm the toxoplasma infection showed elevated IgG and IgM antibody levels. Oncologists and infectious disease specialists should note this type of transmission of toxoplasma gondii and unilateral lymphadenopathy as an important clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis.
Günstiger Einfluss von Bifidobakterien auf die Reifung des Immunsystems beim Neugeborenen
Authors: Bengsch Bertram
Published: April 2022

Immune-microbe interactions early in life influence the risk of allergies, asthma, and other inflammatory diseases. Breastfeeding guides healthier immune-microbe relationships by providing nutrients to specialized microbes that in turn benefit the host’s immune system. Such bacteria have co-evolved with humans but are now increasingly rare in modern societies. Here we show that a lack of bifidobacteria, and in particular depletion of genes required for human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) utilization from the metagenome, is associated with systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation early in life. In breastfed infants given Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001, which expresses all HMO-utilization genes, intestinal T helper 2 (Th2) and Th17 cytokines were silenced and interferon β (IFNβ) was induced. Fecal water from EVC001-supplemented infants contains abundant indolelactate and B. infantis-derived indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) upregulated immunoregulatory galectin-1 in Th2 and Th17 cells during polarization, providing a functional link between beneficial microbes and immunoregulation during the first months of life.
Today’s Mistakes and Tomorrow’s Wisdom… in the Management of T1b Barrett’s Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chan Man Wai , Nieuwenhuis Esther A. , Pouw Roos E.
Published: April 2022

Background: Given the limitation that endoscopic resection only enables local intraluminal treatment without lymphadenectomy, the standard treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) with invasion of the submucosa (T1b) has long been surgical esophageal resection. However, in recent literature, the risk of lymph node metastases (LNM) associated with T1b EAC appears to be lower than previously assumed, and endoscopic management is increasingly being considered a valid and less invasive alternative to surgery. Summary: Surgical esophageal resection performed after radical endoscopic resection of T1b EAC often does not show any residual tumor or LNM in the resected specimen. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with surgical esophageal resection, endoscopic management with strict surveillance protocols has been more widely applied provided that the initial tumor was radically removed by endoscopic resection, reserving surgery for those cases where the additional risk of surgical esophageal resection is justified. These are the cases where intraluminal recurrent neoplasia is found that cannot be retreated endoscopically or cases with locoregional LNM detected during follow-up. In the future, selection of patients who can safely be managed endoscopically and those who may benefit from additional surgery after endoscopic resection of T1b EAC may become more tailored, using risk prediction calculators or sentinel node navigated surgery. Key Messages: Management of patients with T1b EAC is shifting from surgical treatment to less invasive endoscopic treatment strategies, including watchful waiting approaches. The risk of LNM of T1b EAC appears to be lower than long assumed. In the future, management of T1b EAC may become more individualized based on tools to predict LNM risk per patient case.
ILD: VOC-Analyse des Atemabdrucks als vielversprechende Methode der nicht invasiven Diagnostik
Authors: Drakopanagiotakis Fotios , Günther Andreas
Published: April 2022

Background: Fibrotic Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a heterogeneous group of chronic lung diseases characterized by diverse degrees of lung inflammation and remodeling. They include idiopathic ILD such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and ILD secondary to chronic inflammatory diseases such as connective tissue disease (CTD). Precise differential diagnosis of ILD is critical since anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, which are beneficial in inflammatory ILD, are detrimental in IPF. However, differential diagnosis of ILD is still difficult and often requires an invasive lung biopsy. The primary aim of this study is to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) patterns in exhaled air to non-invasively discriminate IPF and CTD-ILD. As secondary aim, the association between the IPF and CTD-ILD discriminating VOC patterns and functional impairment is investigated. Methods: Fifty-three IPF patients, 53 CTD-ILD patients and 51 controls donated exhaled air, which was analyzed for its VOC content using gas chromatograph-time of flight-mass spectrometry. Results: By applying multivariate analysis, a discriminative profile of 34 VOCs was observed to discriminate between IPF patients and healthy controls whereas 11 VOCs were able to distinguish between CTD-ILD patients and healthy controls. The separation between IPF and CTD-ILD could be made using 16 discriminating VOCs, that also displayed a significant correlation with total lung capacity and the 6 min’ walk distance. Conclusions: This study reports for the first time that specific VOC profiles can be found to differentiate IPF and CTD-ILD from both healthy controls and each other. Moreover, an ILD-specific VOC profile was strongly correlated with functional parameters. Future research applying larger cohorts of patients suffering from a larger variety of ILDs should confirm the potential use of breathomics to facilitate fast, non-invasive and proper differential diagnosis of specific ILDs in the future as first step towards personalized medicine for these complex diseases.
Vitamin K2 and D in Patients With Aortic Valve Calcification: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial
Authors: Diederichsen Axel C.P. , Lindholt Jes S. , Möller Sören , Øvrehus Kristian A. , Auscher Søren , Lambrechtsen Jess , Hosbond Susanne E. , Alan Dilek H. , Urbonaviciene Grazina , Becker Søren W. , Fredgart Maise H. , Hasific Selma , Folkestad Lars , Gerke Oke , Rasmussen Lars Melholt , Møller Jacob E. , Mickley Hans , Dahl Jordi S.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Menaquinone-7 (MK-7), also known as vitamin K2, is a cofactor for the carboxylation of proteins involved in the inhibition of arterial calcification and has been suggested to reduce the progression rate of aortic valve calcification (AVC) in patients with aortic stenosis.

Methods:

In a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, men from the community with an AVC score >300 arbitrary units (AU) on cardiac noncontrast computer tomography were randomized to daily treatment with tablet 720 µg MK-7 plus 25 µg vitamin D or matching placebo for 24 months. The primary outcome was the change in AVC score. Selected secondary outcomes included change in aortic valve area and peak aortic jet velocity on echocardiography, heart valve surgery, change in aortic and coronary artery calcification, and change in dp-ucMGP (dephosphorylated-undercarboxylated matrix Gla-protein). Safety outcomes included all-cause death and cardiovascular events.

Results:

From February 1, 2018, to March 21, 2019, 365 men were randomized. Mean age was 71.0 (±4.4) years. The mean (95% CI) increase in AVC score was 275 AU (95% CI, 225–326 AU) and 292 AU (95% CI, 246–338 AU) in the intervention and placebo groups, respectively. The mean difference on AVC progression was 17 AU (95% CI, –86 to 53 AU;
P
=0.64). The mean change in aortic valve area was 0.02 cm
2
(95% CI, –0.09 to 0.12 cm
2
;
P
=0.78) and in peak aortic jet velocity was 0.04 m/s (95% CI, –0.11 to 0.02 m/s;
P
=0.21). The progression in aortic and coronary artery calcification score was not significantly different between patients treated with MK-7 plus vitamin D and patients receiving placebo. There was no difference in the rate of heart valve surgery (1 versus 2 patients;
P
=0.99), all-cause death (1 versus 4 patients;
P
=0.37), or cardiovascular events (10 versus 10 patients;
P
=0.99). Compared with patients in the placebo arm, a significant reduction in dp-ucMGP was observed with MK-7 plus vitamin D (–212 pmol/L versus 45 pmol/L;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

In elderly men with an AVC score >300 AU, 2 years MK-7 plus vitamin D supplementation did not influence AVC progression.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03243890.
Silencing the Land: Joshua as a Military Ritualist
Authors: Haigh Rebekah J.
Published: April 2022

In Joshua’s opening military salvo at Jericho (6:8–21), he institutes a strange, oft-overlooked act of communal speechlessness. This absence of speech can be understood as itself a kind of ritual speech. As this paper will argue, Joshua can kill things with and without words. When seen against a backdrop of Near Eastern magic and divine warfare, Joshua emerges as a powerful ritualist, someone who weaponizes speech and speechlessness in service of military victory. As with Joshua’s adjuration in the Aijalon battle (10:12–14) and his curse over Jericho (6:26), his wordless march around the city can be understood as a ritual act with the performative force of cessation. The silencing of the land is both his ritual objective and the ultimate goal of conquest (11:23).
Uncovering the Unknown Known
Authors: Lindemann Thomas
Published: April 2022

This review article provides an overview of the way in which three recently published edited volumes study emotions in International Relations; how they define and operationalise emotions;and how they make sense of the link between emotional framings and international violence. It is argued here that much progress has been made but that future research would benefit from a more detailed examination of the articulation between the social and the dominance of a certain emotional framing in a given (inter)national setting. Thus, emotions should not be considered as “independent variables” but as embedded in social structures and practices that favour or disfavour the expression of given emotions.
Religious Practice and Social Services in an Ottoman Sufi waqf Foundation
Authors: Güner Zülfikar F. Cangüzel
Published: April 2022

This article investigates the endowment (waqf) foundation established by an Ottoman Sufi master of the Jilwatiyya order, ʿAzīz Maḥmūd Hudāʾī (1541–1628), and the impact of his philanthropic works on religious, social, and cultural life in sixteenth and seventeenth-century Istanbul. While providing his disciples with space for spiritual training in his Sufi lodge, Hudāʾī’s waqf also funded public services at his mosque. In contrast to the perception of the Ottoman Empire as an “Oriental despotism,” this article sheds light on the development of Hudāʾī’s waqf foundation as part of a public sphere and foci of the vibrant civil society that emerged in Ottoman lands. Such investigation also aims to demonstrate how the philanthropic work of a single individual living in Ottoman Istanbul could provide a space for solidarity building and collective activities among local communities and spur their engagement in civic services and additional charitable donations.
The Law of the Sea in the Age of Building an Appropriate Arctic Ocean Governance Addressing Climate Change Issues
Authors: Rafaly Vonintsoa
Published: April 2022

Polar regions stand out due to the presence of rare and sensitive ecosystems, their vulnerability to climate change and other environmental threats and their importance for Indigenous communities, at the regional level, and for humankind as a whole. The Arctic region, is experiencing unexpected issues as a result of climate change effects. The law of the sea, as a prerequisite for ocean governance, constitutes a solid foundation for establishing an appropriate governance in this region to tackle current and future climate change issues. Therefore, the practice of the law of the sea in the region will be explored and the consideration of Arctic region’s specificities on this practice will be analysed.
Multisensory Perception and Learning: Linking Pedagogy, Psychophysics, and Human–Computer Interaction
Authors: Gori Monica , Price Sara , Newell Fiona N. , Berthouze Nadia , Volpe Gualtiero
Published: April 2022

In this review, we discuss how specific sensory channels can mediate the learning of properties of the environment. In recent years, schools have increasingly been using multisensory technology for teaching. However, it still needs to be sufficiently grounded in neuroscientific and pedagogical evidence. Researchers have recently renewed understanding around the role of communication between sensory modalities during development. In the current review, we outline four principles that will aid technological development based on theoretical models of multisensory development and embodiment to foster in-depth, perceptual, and conceptual learning of mathematics. We also discuss how a multidisciplinary approach offers a unique contribution to development of new practical solutions for learning in school. Scientists, engineers, and pedagogical experts offer their interdisciplinary points of view on this topic. At the end of the review, we present our results, showing that one can use multiple sensory inputs and sensorimotor associations in multisensory technology to improve the discrimination of angles, but also possibly for educational purposes. Finally, we present an application, the ‘RobotAngle’ developed for primary (i.e., elementary) school children, which uses sounds and body movements to learn about angles.
Early Latin Poetry
Authors: Elliott Jackie
Published: April 2022

This analysis explores aspects of the extant fragmentary record of early Roman poetry from its earliest accessible moments through roughly the first hundred and twenty years of its traceable existence. Key questions include how ancient readers made sense of the record as then available to them and how the limitations of their accounts, assumptions, and working methods continue to define the contours of our understanding today. Both using and challenging the standard conceptual frameworks operative in the ancient world, the discussion details what we think we know of the best documented forms, practitioners, contexts, and reception of Roman drama (excluding comedy), epic, and satire in their early instantiations, with occasional glances at the further generic experimentation that accompanied the genesis of literary practice in Rome.
Proximal vs. Total Gastrectomy: Is There a Difference in Quality of Life for Patients?
Authors: Irfan Ahmer , Yang Tianjiao , Bowring Mary , Blair Alex B. , Duncan Mark
Published: April 2022

Background

Proximal gastrectomy (PG) has been excluded from the arsenal of western surgical oncologists for fear of bile reflux and diet intolerance. However, it is often an appropriate, less morbid operation for patients requiring resection of a proximal gastric cancer.

Methods

Between 2013 and 2017, we performed 19 PG and 37 total gastrectomies (TGs), of whom 15 and 25 were alive at the time of data collection. In this single-center series, we present findings of a 10-question interview of patients who underwent proximal (n = 8) or TG (n = 16) regarding postgastrectomy food-related symptoms, based on a modified version of the validated Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale.

Results

Out of 7 Likert scale questions, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding bile reflux, early satiety, appetite, energy level, physical activity limitations, pain, or general dissatisfaction with their surgery. Patients from both groups reported eating similar amounts of their preoperative volume per meal and overall food volume for the day. Both groups reported eating a similar number of snacks and meals throughout the day. Food satisfaction scores, calculated by summation of the Likert scores, were not different.

Conclusion

Although limited by the small population, we did not find a clinically relevant difference in food-related symptoms comparing PG and TG patients. This pilot study suggests that PG is an appropriate alternative to TG in certain populations. Anecdotal beliefs regarding potential bile reflux or diet intolerance should be reconsidered.
Major court and tribunal decisions in Australia in 2021
Authors: Golding Gabrielle
Published: April 2022

This 2021 annual survey of Australia's significant court and tribunal decisions spans five key areas. First, the focus is on the High Court's clarification around how employment status is to be determined. Secondly, it examines decisions that have continued to arise out of the Coronavirus pandemic with respect to dismissals stemming from mandatory vaccination policies, an employer's liability in respect of an employee's death caused by Coronavirus, as well as a series of cases involving Australia's major airline, Qantas Airways Ltd (Qantas). Thirdly, consideration turns to developments in general protections and the first application for a stop sexual harassment order made to the Fair Work Commission. Fourthly, it reviews recent decisions concerning out-of-hours conduct and connection to employment. Finally, decisions giving rise to record penalties for contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) are evaluated.
Situating Shadowing in the Framework of Deliberate Practice: A Guide to Using 16 Techniques
Authors: Hamada Yo , Suzuki Yuichi
Published: April 2022

Shadowing is the act of vocalizing the speech one is listening to as simultaneously as possible. The primary function of shadowing is learners’ listening skill and pronunciation skill development. Despite the importance of second language (L2) listening skills, this pedagogical technique has not received focal attention in the field. In this paper, shadowing is situated in the framework of systematic and deliberate practice, which is supported by an L2 acquisition theory called the skill acquisition theory. Based on this framework, a total of 16 different primary types of shadowing are classified into shadowing for phonological processing and shadowing for intake through meaning-focused processing. The proposed classification and guideline will be useful for teachers to adapt a variety of shadowing techniques for their teaching context and learners as well as highlighting shadowing as an important pedagogical tool of teaching bottom-up listening skills.
Design of active fault-tolerant control system for Air-fuel ratio control of internal combustion engines using fuzzy logic controller
Authors: Riaz Umar , Amin Arslan Ahmed , Tayyeb Muhammad
Published: April 2022

Background:

Fault-Tolerant Control Systems (FTCS) are used in critical and safety applications to improve performance and stability despite failure modes. As a result, costly production losses related to unusual and unplanned shutdowns can be prevented by incorporating these systems in the critical process plant machines. The Internal Combustion (IC) engines are highly used process plant machines and faults in their sensors will cause their shutdown instigating the need to install FTCS in them.

Introduction:

In this paper, an Active Fault-Tolerant Control System (AFTCS) based on a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) is suggested to improve the reliability of the Air-Fuel Ratio (AFR) control system of an IC engine.

Methodology:

For analytical redundancy, a nonlinear Fuzzy Logic (FL) based observer is implemented in the proposed system for the Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) unit for nonlinear sensors of the AFR system. Lyapunov stability analysis was used for designing a stable system in both faulty and normal conditions. To evaluate its performance, this system was developed in the MATLAB/Simulink platform.

Results:

The simulation results show that the developed system is robust under sensor fault conditions, retaining stability with a minimum decrease of AFR. This study's comparison with the existing literature demonstrates that the proposed system is effective for maintaining the AFR in IC engines during sensor faulty conditions thus reducing shutdown of engine and production loss for increased profits.
Learning in the Time of COVID: Undergraduate Experiences of a Mid-Semester Transition to Virtual Learning due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Reid Morgan P. , Ghose Sarah M. , MacPherson Ashley R. , Sabet Sahar M. , Williams Claire M. , Dautovich Natalie D.
Published: April 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented mid-semester transition to virtual learning. Instructors and students had to adapt to new ways of delivering and receiving course material.

Objective

The present investigation examined whether course format and sense of belongingness were associated with learning satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as racial/ethnic or gender identity differences in academic experiences during this time. The current study also explored student perceptions of instructor support, changes in workload, and changes in learning.

Method

Undergraduate students ( N = 157) responded to quantitative and qualitative items regarding their academic experiences during the first semester of the pandemic in an online survey.

Results

Blended courses were associated with poorer outcomes than solely synchronous and asynchronous courses. There were no racial differences in academic experiences; however, women had more positive academic experiences than men. Greater academic and campus belongingness predicted better academic experiences. Students perceived clear, frequent instructor communication as vital to their success.

Conclusion

Students’ experiences with virtual learning varied depending on instructor and student factors.

Teaching Implications

Instructors can improve their students’ experiences with virtual learning by providing frequent, clear communication, resources on effective study and time management skills, and a sense of community.
Detecting Examinees With Item Preknowledge on Real Data
Authors: Belov Dmitry I. , Toton Sarah L.
Published: April 2022

Recently, Belov & Wollack (2021) developed a method for detecting groups of colluding examinees as cliques in a graph. The objective of this article is to study how the performance of their method on real data with item preknowledge (IP) depends on the mechanism of edge formation governed by a response similarity index (RSI). This study resulted in the development of three new RSIs and demonstrated a remarkable advantage of combining responses and response times for detecting examinees with IP. Possible extensions of this study and recommendations for practitioners were formulated.
“Perfectly supportive in theory…”: Women’s perceptions of partner support while breastfeeding
Authors: Johnson Katherine M. , Slauson-Blevins Kathleen S.
Published: April 2022

Breastfeeding is an important public health issue that significantly intersects with work, gender, and family relationships. Prior research has focused on partner dynamics in the breastfeeding family and specifically shown that male partners heavily influence women’s breastfeeding decisions and experiences. Much of this research emphasizes net gains of men’s involvement in breastfeeding. While acknowledging the importance of involved fathers early on, we argue for recognizing the dual potential for men’s involvement in breastfeeding to be both affirming and undermining to their breastfeeding partners. As part of a workplace case study, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 32 women who were currently or recently breastfeeding. We identified four major themes: (1) encouraging/discouraging breastfeeding, (2) acknowledging/overlooking breastfeeding labor, (3) supporting/undermining breastfeeding decisions and goals, and (4) assisting with/avoiding domestic labor. Education directed at men should address the issue that not all intended support actions may be perceived as supportive by breastfeeding women and should provide concrete guidance on how men can be supportive, centering the needs of breastfeeding women.
Infrastructure, feral waters and power relations in rural Romania
Authors: Dorondel Stefan , Posner Cristina
Published: April 2022

The material relics of socialism continue to affect present-day rural Romania. This article explores the nexus of socialist/post-socialist agricultural infrastructure, groundwater, soil transformations, the privatization process and the constitution of power relations along the Lower Danube rural areas. Positioning ourselves in the anthropology of infrastructure, we document both ethnographically and with Geographic Information Systems tools the social and political consequences of broken agricultural infrastructure in a village located on the banks of the Lower Danube, Romania. We show how the local political elite is able to exploit the surfacing of groundwater in their favour, resulting in economic loss only for small landholders and villagers without power. The interface of the multiple temporalities inherent in infrastructure with the various materialities of groundwater – its propensity to leak, infiltrate and surface – precipitated the emergence of a new ecological order. The new hybrid ecology is made up of pre-socialist feral groundwater, the socialist ‘hydraulic society’ that reclaimed agricultural land, and the post-socialist political economy. We engage a more-than-human perspective in order to offer a more sophisticated – and realistic – picture of post-socialist rural power relations.
Detection of exosomal miR-18a and miR-222 levels in Egyptian patients with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Elghoroury Eman A , Abdelghaffar Esmat E , Awadallah Eman , Kamel Solaf A , Kandil Dina , Hassan Eman M , Hassan Mirhane , Kamel Mahmoud M , Gomaa Mohammed M , Fathalla Lamiaa A
Published: April 2022

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. For improving the prognosis as well as reducing the rate of mortality, early diagnosis of HCC is a must.

Aims

This study was conducted to assess the ability of the serum expression of exosomal miR-18a and miR-222 to differentiate and diagnose patients with HCC, patients with liver cirrhosis, and healthy controls.

Methods

This study included 51 patients with liver cirrhosis, 51 patients with HCC on top of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and 50 healthy controls.

Results

miR-18a and miR-222 were assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. MiR-18a and miR-222 levels were significantly higher in the liver cirrhosis and HCC groups than the control group ( p ˂ 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis ( p = 0.4 for miR-18a and p = 0.1 for miR-222). ROC curve analyses to evaluate the diagnostic performances of the two miRNAs as important noninvasive diagnostic markers revealed a best cutoff value of 2 for miR-18a to differentiate between liver cirrhosis, HCC, and healthy controls. And for mir-222, a cutoff value of 1.7 and 1.9 showed the highest specificity for discrimination between liver cirrhosis, HCC, and healthy controls, respectively. Moreover, logistic regression model revealed that miR-18a expression was independent predictive factor in HCC patients ( p = 0.004), while miR-222 expression was independent predictive factor in liver cirrhosis patients ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion

miR-18a and miR-222 were significantly discriminative markers between patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC and healthy individuals. Therefore, they have a prognostic rather than a diagnostic value. Moreover, miR-18a and miR-222 could be useful in identifying liver injuries, including fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Analysis and numerical investigations on the temperature-dependent creep behavior of polypropylene matrix composite used for coating of offshore pipeline
Authors: Pagore Ismael F , Kol Guy R , Betchewe Jean G
Published: April 2022

In this paper, the effect of temperature on the creep-recovery behavior of a polypropylene matrix syntactic foam material under low stresses is analyzed. Previous dynamic mechanical analyses have shown that the mechanical response of the composite material is strongly time dependent with the polymeric nature of its matrix despite a high volume fraction of hollow glass microspheres. The permanent deformations are more pronounced at the higher temperatures. With the low level of the applied stress, the results lead to the assumption that the microcracks can be generated in the matrix of the composite material. Under the effect of temperature gradients in the offshore environment, the response of the material could evolve from a linear viscoelastic behavior to a behavior of which one part could be associated with the viscoelasticity of the matrix and a second with its viscoplasticity. We propose to use hooke, spectral triangular, and Zapas-Crissmann models to predict the overall creep response of a polypropylene matrix syntactic foam at the different temperatures. The results showed that the creep deformation at the higher temperatures conforms well to the global model including a power law that takes into account the permanent deformations of the polypropylene matrix composite of syntactic foam material type.
Development and fabrication of continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic porous composite structures with different infill patterns by using additive manufacturing
Authors: Maqsood Nabeel , Rimašauskas Marius
Published: April 2022

Additive manufacturing is a development of fabricating 3D parts layer by layer with complex geometries and utilized in numerous engineering structural applications. Fused deposition modeling technology provides higher design flexibility with aim of low cost and simplicity of material conversion to generate the composite parts. Previous studies have mainly focused on the manufacturing and characterization of continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CCFRPCs) structure for fully dense and solid part structures and no study has been reported for porous CCFRPC parts. In this study, CCFRPCs porous structures were manufactured using FDM technology. The porous structures were fabricated with one perimeter shell by using two different types of infill patterns (grid and triangular) at three different infill densities levels (20%, 40%, and 60%). The reasons for developing such lightweight porous composite structures with continuous carbon fiber are the reduction of mass, efficient material utilization, energy consumption, and less waste generation. This study investigated the effects on tensile and flexural properties of composite specimens under uniaxial tensile loading and flexural loading, respectively. Fracture interface of the printed porous composites were examined and explored using optical microscope after performing mechanical tests. The experimental results demonstrated that infill pattern and density levels greatly affect the mechanical properties. The specimen printed using grid infill pattern with 60% infill density exhibited highest strength level in term of mechanical test and showed maximum tensile and flexural strength of 162.9 MPa and 127.24 MPa, respectively. While triangular infill pattern with 60% infill density level revealed the maximum tensile and flexural strength of 152.62 MPa and 117.53 MPa, respectively. Hence, from the results achieved in this study showed great potential and ability to replace fully dense and solid structure by the porous structure.
Motor Coordination and Strategic Cooperation in Joint Action
Authors: Bars Solène Le , Bourgeois-Gironde Sacha , Wyart Valentin , Sari Izel , Pacherie Elisabeth , Chambon Valérian
Published: April 2022

Naturalistic joint action between two agents typically requires both motor coordination and strategic cooperation. However, these two fundamental processes have systematically been studied independently. We presented 50 dyads of adult participants with a novel collaborative task that combined different levels of motor noise with different levels of strategic noise, to determine whether the sense of agency (the experience of control over an action) reflects the interplay between these low-level (motor) and high-level (strategic) dimensions. We also examined how dominance in motor control could influence prosocial behaviors. We found that self-agency was particularly dependent on motor cues, whereas joint agency was particularly dependent on strategic cues. We suggest that the prime importance of strategic cues to joint agency reflects the co-representation of coagents’ interests during the task. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in prosocial strategies in agents who exerted dominant motor control over joint action, showing that the strategic dimension of human interactions is also susceptible to the influence of low-level motor characteristics.
Biomass-based activated carbon for CO2 adsorption–A review
Authors: Maniarasu R. , Rathore Sushil Kumar , Murugan S.
Published: April 2022

Biomass can be converted into energy, fuels, and value-added products by adopting proper conversion or production methods. For many years, biomass has been considered to be a good candidate for producing biochar or activated carbon. The awareness created on mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the major cause of global warming, necessitated developing potential methods and materials for curbing CO2 originating from various sources. Adsorption is the most viable option to mitigate CO2 by using activated carbon which can be derived from various biomass sources. In recent years, activated carbon has been produced from different biomass substances by varying carbonization and activation duration, carbonization and activation temperature, impregnation ratio, and the concentration of the activating agent to improve its surface area and porosity. This review article provides a comprehensive review on utilization, production and characterization of biomass-based activated carbon for CO2 adsorption. Initially, the article discusses the review of research works carried out on utilization of biomass-based activated carbon for CO2 adsorption. Furthermore, the article presents the research works carried out on surface textural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and maximum adsorption capacity of activated carbon obtained from different biomass substances. Finally, the article presents the research works carried out related to the biomass-based activated carbon and the parameters significantly enhancing the CO2 adsorption performance.
County-Level Factors Matter: The Role of Contextual Factors in Foster Youths’ Extended Foster Care Participation and Human Capital Outcomes
Authors: (Ethan) Park Sunggeun , Okpych Nathanael J. , Harty Justin S. , Courtney Mark E.
Published: April 2022

Extended foster care (EFC) is an important policy that supports human capital attainment for foster youth transitioning to adult independence. Previous studies have examined youth- and policy-level factors’ influence on EFC participation and human capital outcomes (e.g., education, employment). Still, few studies have examined contextual factors (e.g., county characteristics). We explore how local contexts, or county-level attributes, influence youths’ EFC participation and human capital outcomes (i.e., postsecondary education enrollment and earnings). We analyze two datasets from California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study: survey data with rich youth-level information ( n = 529) and state child welfare administrative data with a larger sample size ( n = 2392). After controlling for a wide range of youth characteristics and adjusting between-county variations, regression results find that several county characteristics predict youths’ EFC participation and human capital outcomes at age 21, such as political atmosphere and worker’s satisfaction with cross-system collaboration. We conclude with a discussion of implications for research and practice.
Contextual Factors Associated With Women's Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Tajikistan: Findings From the 2012 and 2017 Demographic and Health Surveys
Authors: Zainiddinov Hakim
Published: April 2022

The study employed data from the 2012 and 2017 Tajikistan Demographic and Health Surveys to examine two time periods on media access, interview setting, and sociodemographic predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV) justification attitudes among representative samples of women aged 15–49 years old (9,656 and 10,718 women, respectively) in Tajikistan. The odds of justifying IPV were higher for women who had access to radio and lower for those who had access to newspaper and television. The presence of the husband and other women during the interview was associated with lower justification of IPV. The findings emphasize the importance of contextual factors in developing effective IPV intervention policies.
Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Test is Not the Test to Use in Nonclinical Safety Assessment
Authors: Gauvin David V , McComb Margaret , Tapp Rachel , Yoder Joshua , Zimmermann Zachary J.
Published: April 2022

Ototoxicity and ocular toxicity screening are but two examples of specialty product lines that are often employed as Tier II or III nonclinical safety/hazard screening assessments. Compared to the regulatory guidelines that govern over standard toxicology or neurotoxicology programs, there is a paucity of regulatory strategies to address these specialized product lines. With respect to ototoxicity testing, we argue for the inclusion of the “least burdensome principles” adopted by the US FDA in providing the most pragmatic, efficient, and directed identification of potential harm to auditory function in the nonclinical safety arena. We argue for the exclusive use of the auditory brainstem response and the exclusion of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in these Tiered II safety assessment programs. The inclusion of both are a burden on operational staff and, due to the extended episodes of anesthesia required to conduct both assays, this strategy poses a health and welfare concern for the selected animal species to be used. The DPOAE does not provide any sufficiently valid or reliable data above and beyond the gold standard ABR data, followed by complete oto-histopathology and cytocochleogram combination designs.
Early detection of anxiety problems in childhood: Spanish validation of the brief Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale for parents
Authors: Orgilés Mireia , Morales Alexandra , Espada José P , Rodríguez-Menchón Miriam
Published: April 2022

The small percentage of children with anxiety problems who receive psychological treatment, and the negative psychological consequences associated with these problems highlight the need for early detection. Although assessment instruments with appropriate measurement properties exist, they tend to be extensive, making it difficult to apply them in clinical settings, schools, or primary care practices. This study aimed to adapt the Spanish brief version for parents of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-P-8). For this purpose, information on 215 children between 8 and 12 years of age was reported by 163 parents. The Spanish version of the SCAS-P-8 adequately fit a one-factor structure, χ2 = 44.25; df = 19; comparative fit index = .97; Tucker–Lewis index = .96; root mean square error of approximation: .07 (.04, .09); standardized root mean squared residual = .08. Evidence of internal consistency of the total SCAS-P-8 score was good ( α = 0.82), and the direct correlations obtained between the SCAS-P-8 and internalizing problems showed evidence of convergent validity. Moreover, the appropriate measurement properties of the SCAS-P-8 were shown to be independent of gender. Differences in sociodemographic variables and SDQ-P between children with anxiety symptoms and those without anxiety symptoms were also discussed. Information reported by parents can help the clinician carry out an accurate diagnosis. A brief assessment scale can be easily applied in schools or primary care settings.
Examining behavioural intention towards organ donation in Hong Kong
Authors: Rochelle Tina L , Ng Judy SC
Published: April 2022

Although many people report favourable attitudes towards organ donation, Hong Kong has one of the lowest rates of organ donation globally. The present study examined behavioural intention towards organ donation. A convenience sample of 225 Hong Kong Chinese adults (118 = female) aged 18–82 years were recruited to an online survey. Behavioural intention, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, knowledge and altruism were examined. ANOVA was conducted to examine key differences based on behavioural intention, regression then examined predictors of behavioural intention to donate before exploratory analysis examined the mediating role of subjective norms on the relationship between self-efficacy and behavioural intention. Findings revealed over one third (38%) of respondents were actively registered as organ donors. Women were significantly more likely to be registered as organ donors. Subjective norms and self-efficacy were strong predictors of behavioural intention to donate, and subjective norms significantly mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and behavioural intention to donate.
Once upon a time in quarantine: Exploring the memorable quarantine hotel experiences of Chinese student returnees during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chia Kei Wei , Xiong Jia
Published: April 2022

During the pandemic, many hotels convert into isolation centres for the purpose of quarantine. However, the memorable experience in the context of quarantine hotel (quarantel) remains unexplored. Thus, the purpose of this research was to explore the memorable quarantel experiences of Chinese student returnees during the COVID-19 outbreak. The research was qualitative in nature, involving 26 in-depth interviews conducted through snowballing. The data was then analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed six themes – (1) staff, (2) room, (3) hygiene and disinfection, (4) food, (5) healthcare and (6) location – with 20 underlying attributes pertaining their experiences. Some themes (e.g. hygiene and disinfection and healthcare) and attributes (e.g. ventilation and Chinese food therapy) were found to be unique experiences with significant functions that newly added in the context of quarantine hotels. Besides, differences existed between operational guidelines of quarantine hotels and actual guests’ quarantine experience. The research allows hotel operators to better understand guests’ concerns during the quarantine period and offers managerial implications to improve hotels’ performance during and after the pandemic.
Cultural heritage and tourism. A comparison of two destinations in Southern Moravia
Authors: Šťastná Milada , Vaishar Antonín
Published: April 2022

This paper addresses the question: why do two destinations with extremely valuable cultural heritage gain attractions have completely different tourism traffic results? The main aim of this paper was to find the various causes of this inequality. The comparative method was used and Lednice and Dolní Kounice in Southern Moravia were selected as case studies. Statistical data and strategic documents on regional and local levels were analysed. The study showed significant differences in the strategic conceptual plans. Dolní Kounice was a more popular destination for suburban tourism for the inhabitants of Brno, the historical heritage was only an added value. In the case of Lednice, the use of its heritage for tourism was one of the main development priorities. This paper further noted that cultural tourism is often seen as a sector of the economy rather than a part of the culture.