bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone to prevent kidney scarring in acute pyelonephritis: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rius-Gordillo Neus , Ferré Natàlia , González Juan David , Ibars Zaira , Parada-Ricart Ester , Fraga Maria Gloria , Chocron Sara , Samper Manuel , Vicente Carmen , Fuertes Jordi , Escribano Joaquín ,   on behalf of the DEXCAR Study Group
Published: January 2022

Background

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood and is associated with long-term complications. We aimed to assess the effect of adjuvant dexamethasone treatment on reducing kidney scarring after acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

Methods

Multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) where children from 1 month to 14 years of age with proven APN were randomly assigned to receive a 3-day course of either an intravenous corticosteroid (dexamethasone 0.30 mg per kg/day) twice daily or placebo. The late technetium 99 m-dimercaptosuric acid scintigraphy (> 6 months after acute episode) was performed to assess kidney scar persistence. Kidney scarring risk factors (vesicoureteral reflux, kidney congenital anomalies, or urinary tract dilatation) were also assessed.

Results

Ninety-one participants completed the follow-up and were finally included (dexamethasone n = 49 and placebo n = 42). Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. Twenty participants showed persistent kidney scarring after > 6 months of follow-up without differences in incidence between groups (22% and 21% in the dexamethasone and placebo groups, p = 0.907). Renal damage severity in the early DMSA (β = 0.648, p = 0.023) and procalcitonin values (β = 0.065 p = 0.027) significantly modulated scar development. Vesicoureteral reflux grade showed a trend towards significance (β = 0.545, p = 0.054), but dexamethasone treatment showed no effect.

Conclusion

Dexamethasone showed no effect on reducing the risk of scar formation in children with APN. Hence, there is no evidence for an adjuvant corticosteroid treatment recommendation in children with APN. However, the study was limited by not achieving the predicted sample size and the expected scar formation.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02034851. Registered in January 14, 2014.

Graphical abstract

“A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.”
Desert truffle mycorrhizosphere harbors organic acid releasing plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria, essentially during the truffle fruiting season
Authors: Arenas Francisco , López-García Álvaro , Berná Luis Miguel , Morte Asunción , Navarro-Ródenas Alfonso
Published: January 2022

Desert truffle is becoming a new crop in semiarid areas. Climatic parameters and the presence of microorganisms influence the host plant physiology and alter desert truffle production. Desert truffle plants present a typical summer deciduous plant phenology divided into four stages: summer dormancy, autumn bud break, winter photosynthetic activity, and spring fruiting. We hypothesize that the bacterial community associated with desert truffle plants will show a seasonal trend linked to their plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) traits. This information will provide us with a better understanding about its potential role in this symbiosis and possible management implementations. Bacteria were isolated from root-adhering soil at the four described seasons. A total of 417 isolated bacteria were phenotypically and biochemically characterized and gathered by molecular analysis into 68 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). They were further characterized for PGPR traits such as indole acetic acid production, siderophore production, calcium phosphate solubilization, and ACCD (1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxilatedeaminase) activity. These PGPR traits were used to infer functional PGPR diversity and cultivable bacterial OTU composition at different phenological moments. The different seasons induced shifts in the OTU composition linked to their PGPR traits. Summer was the phenological stage with the lowest microbial diversity and PGPR functions, whereas spring was the most active one. Among the PGPR traits analyzed, P-solubilizing rhizobacteria were harbored in the mycorrhizosphere during desert truffle fruiting in spring.
Detection of impurities in dietary supplements containing l-tryptophan
Authors: Karakawa Sachise , Nakayama Akira , Ohtsuka Naoto , Sato Katsuma , Smriga Miro
Published: January 2022

Impurities in nine dietary supplements containing l-tryptophan were evaluated using an HPLC methodology. In five tested products, the total impurities were higher than the thresholds described in the Food Chemical Codex or implemented in the EU for pharmaceutical grade l-tryptophan. In addition, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to specifically test for the presence of 1,1′-ethylidenebis-l-tryptophan (EBT). None of the tested products contained detectable amounts of EBT. High amounts of unidentified impurities in some dietary supplements point to potential health risks.
Neurological emergency at the COVID-19 pandemic: report from a referral hospital in Eastern Piedmont, Italy
Authors: Varrasi Claudia , Fleetwood Thomas , De Marchi Fabiola , Vecchio Domizia , Virgilio Eleonora , Castello Luigi Mario , Avanzi Gian Carlo , Sainaghi Pier Paolo , Mazzini Letizia , Cantello Roberto
Published: January 2022

Background

The pandemic implied dramatic changes in public health assets. In Italy, some Stroke Units were transformed into sub-intensive COVID-19 Units, making the management of neurological patients demanding. We described how the flow of neurological emergencies was affected by the pandemic impact.

Methods

We analyzed accesses to the Emergency Department (ED) of the “Maggiore della Carità” Hospital, Piedmont, Italy, during a period of 8 months (COVID time; March to May 2020 and October 2020 to February 2021) and analyzed the admissions to the Neurology Unit and the underlying diagnosis. We also evaluated potential changes in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the same period. These variables were compared with two equivalent periods of time (2019–2020; 2018–2019).

Results

During the COVID time, there was a clear-cut reduction of the total ED accesses compared to NoCOVID times. However, admissions for acute neurological conditions showed a mild but non-significant decrease (6.3%vs.7.3%). The same applied to acute ischemic stroke, which represented the most common condition (47.7%). The proportion of patients who underwent emergent reperfusion therapies remained unchanged. Furthermore, no difference was found in door-to-needle and door-to-groin intervals between COVID time and NoCOVID times. On the contrary, the onset-to-door interval was significantly longer during the COVID time (p value: 0.001).

Discussion

While the percentage of admissions following an ED access grew dramatically, those to the Neurology Unit showed overall only a slight non-significant decrease. This finding implicitly reflects the serious and urgent nature of many neurological diseases, compelling people to access EDs at any time.
Regional now- and forecasting for data reported with delay: toward surveillance of COVID-19 infections
Authors: De Nicola Giacomo , Schneble Marc , Kauermann Göran , Berger Ursula
Published: January 2022

Governments around the world continue to act to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The rapidly evolving situation compels officials and executives to continuously adapt policies and social distancing measures depending on the current state of the spread of the disease. In this context, it is crucial for policymakers to have a firm grasp on what the current state of the pandemic is, and to envision how the number of infections is going to evolve over the next days. However, as in many other situations involving compulsory registration of sensitive data, cases are reported with delay to a central register, with this delay deferring an up-to-date view of the state of things. We provide a stable tool for monitoring current infection levels as well as predicting infection numbers in the immediate future at the regional level. We accomplish this through nowcasting of cases that have not yet been reported as well as through predictions of future infections. We apply our model to German data, for which our focus lies in predicting and explain infectious behavior by district.
The scar: the wind in the perfect storm—insights into the mysterious living tissue originating ventricular arrhythmias
Authors: Pandozi C. , Mariani Marco Valerio , Chimenti C. , Maestrini V. , Filomena D. , Magnocavallo M. , Straito M. , Piro A. , Russo M. , Galeazzi M. , Ficili S. , Colivicchi F. , Severino P. , Mancone M. , Fedele F. , Lavalle C.
Published: January 2022

Background

Arrhythmic death is very common among patients with structural heart disease, and it is estimated that in European countries, 1 per 1000 inhabitants yearly dies for sudden cardiac death (SCD), mainly as a result of ventricular arrhythmias (VA). The scar is the result of cardiac remodelling process that occurs in several cardiomyopathies, both ischemic and non-ischemic, and is considered the perfect substrate for re-entrant and non-re-entrant arrhythmias.

Methods

Our aim was to review published evidence on the histological and electrophysiological properties of myocardial scar and to review the central role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in assessing ventricular arrhythmias substrate and its potential implication in risk stratification of SCD.

Results

Scarring process affects both structural and electrical myocardial properties and paves the background for enhanced arrhythmogenicity. Non-uniform anisotropic conduction, gap junctions remodelling, source to sink mismatch and refractoriness dispersion are some of the underlining mechanisms contributing to arrhythmic potential of the scar. All these mechanisms lead to the initiation and maintenance of VA. CMR has a crucial role in the evaluation of patients suffering from VA, as it is considered the gold standard imaging test for scar characterization. Mounting evidences support the use of CMR not only for the definition of gross scar features, as size, localization and transmurality, but also for the identification of possible conducting channels suitable of discrete ablation. Moreover, several studies call out the CMR-based scar characterization as a stratification tool useful in selecting patients at risk of SCD and amenable to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

Conclusions

Scar represents the substrate of ventricular arrhythmias. CMR, defining scar presence and its features, may be a useful tool for guiding ablation procedures and for identifying patients at risk of SCD amenable to ICD therapy.
Take Me to (the Empty) Church? Social Networks, Loneliness and Religious Attendance in Young Polish Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Okruszek Ł. , Piejka A. , Żurek K.
Published: January 2022

A significant body of research supports the relationship between religious attendance, objective and subjective social networks characteristics, and mental well-being. This trajectory may be particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, the current study examined the relationship between religious attendance, social network characteristics, loneliness, and mental well-being in a sample of 564 young adults (aged 18–35 years) soon after the first COVID-19-related restrictions were imposed in Poland. In line with previous findings, both frequent (FAs) and infrequent religious attenders (IAs) reported more people in their social networks compared to non-attenders (NAs). Further analysis revealed full mediation of religious attendance (FAs vs. NAs) via social network size on loneliness and mental well-being. This pattern of results was still observed after the exclusion of worship-based affiliates from the social network score. A follow-up survey carried out one year later (N = 94) showed that all three groups of participants (FAs, IAs, and NAs) reported increased loneliness and decreased mental well-being. Taken together, these findings show that the influence of religious attendance on social functioning cannot be attributed solely to congregational relationships.
Task complementarity in academic work: a study of the relationship between research, education and third mission tasks among university professors
Authors: Reymert Ingvild , Thune Taran
Published: January 2022

Professors have multiple responsibilities and tasks. They should contribute to research, teaching and ‘third mission’ activities such as commercialisation of scientific knowledge and industry collaboration. These tasks are expected to be complementary and that synergies between different tasks can lead to positive outcomes. But are professors’ work tasks really complementary or are they rather characterised by trade-offs, and what are the implications of having multiple tasks for academic performance? This study of tenured academic staff in Norwegian universities, observe that there are many positive associations between academic tasks. The data supports the assumption that student supervision is positive for research performance, as is research collaboration with public and private organisations. We also find a positive association between student supervision and participation in third mission activities, but only with research collaboration and not commercialisation activities. The data also indicates that the combined effect of participation in third mission and teaching activities is neither negative nor positive for research performance, and as such we do not find indications that having multiple task is negative for work performance in the form of research output.
Hierarchical sparse Cholesky decomposition with applications to high-dimensional spatio-temporal filtering
Authors: Jurek Marcin , Katzfuss Matthias
Published: January 2022

Spatial statistics often involves Cholesky decomposition of covariance matrices. To ensure scalability to high dimensions, several recent approximations have assumed a sparse Cholesky factor of the precision matrix. We propose a hierarchical Vecchia approximation, whose conditional-independence assumptions imply sparsity in the Cholesky factors of both the precision and the covariance matrix. This remarkable property is crucial for applications to high-dimensional spatiotemporal filtering. We present a fast and simple algorithm to compute our hierarchical Vecchia approximation, and we provide extensions to nonlinear data assimilation with non-Gaussian data based on the Laplace approximation. In several numerical comparisons, including a filtering analysis of satellite data, our methods strongly outperformed alternative approaches.
COVID-19 vaccine literacy in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases
Authors: Correa-Rodríguez María , Rueda-Medina Blanca , Callejas-Rubio José-Luis , Ríos-Fernández Raquel , de la Hera-Fernández Javier , Ortego-Centeno Norberto
Published: January 2022

COVID-19 related infodemic is a threat to the successful COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. This might be especially apparent for patients with autoimmune diseases since there is no data available about the balance between benefits and risks of the newly developed COVID-19 vaccines in this population. We aim (i) to evaluate vaccine literacy skills in a population of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, (ii) to examine the potential associations between vaccine literacy skills and sociodemographic characteristics and (iii) to analyze the relationships between attitudes, perceptions and beliefs about current vaccinations and vaccine literacy skills and sociodemographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (92% females; 49.5% of patients in the 31–50 years age category). The vaccine literacy levels were determined using the Health Literacy about Vaccination in adulthood in Italian (HLVa-IT). Sociodemographic characteristics including gender, age, country and area of residence, civil status, socioeconomic status, educational attainment and occupational status were evaluated. The mean vaccine literacy functional and interactive-critical scores were 2.59 ± 0.74 and 3.07 ± 0.60, respectively. The vaccine literacy interactive-critical score was higher in females than in males (p = 0.048). Interactive-critical scores were associated with the area of residence, civil status and socioeconomic status, with the highest score in urban area of ≥ 100.000 inhabitants (p = 0.045), in widow patients (p = 0.023) and in patients with high socioeconomic status (p = 0.018). Significant differences were observed between the different education levels, for both the functional and the interactive-critical scores (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively), the highest score was observed in patients who completed a university degree. The level of vaccine literacy for functional and interactive-critical scales were medium. Area of residence, civil status and socioeconomic status represented determinants of vaccine literacy interactive-critical scale. Educational attainment also contributes to vaccine literacy functional scale. Insight into these factors is required to ensure an optimal vaccine literacy level in patients with autoimmune diseases.
School-related Subjective Well-being of Children with and without Special Educational Needs in Inclusive Classrooms
Authors: Goldan Janka , Nusser Lena , Gebel Michael
Published: January 2022

Given the importance of schools as socializing institutions, a key dimension of children’s subjective well-being (SWB) is their perception of school-related aspects. This study complements previous literature on various determinants of children’s SWB by focusing on students with special educational needs (SEN). Due to academic challenges, stigmatization, and exclusion, they are at risk of experiencing reduced SWB. With the implementation of inclusive education around the globe, students with SEN are more frequently enrolled in regular schools, and a question arises regarding how students with SEN assess their school-related SWB in inclusive settings. Drawing on longitudinal data from the National Educational Panel Study in Germany (NEPS) we systematically investigate the effect of the SEN status on various facets of school-related SWB measured in Grade 4 of primary school. Applying a propensity score matching approach, we contrast children with SEN status to children without SEN status who are comparable in a rich set of observed confounding variables. We find that at the end of primary school, students with SEN report being lesssatisfied with life in general, being lesssatisfied with schooland theirfriendsthan their comparable counterpart without SEN. Moreover, they experience moretirednessand feelings ofloneliness, and show lower levels oflearning enjoymentandtask mastering. The potential mechanisms leading to lower school-related SWB are discussed.
Die Rolle der B-Lymphozyten bei Patient*innen mit systemischem Lupus erythematodes
Authors: Zenz Sabine , Brezinsek Hans-Peter
Published: January 2022

Der systemische Lupus erythematodes (SLE) ist eine Autoimmunerkrankung, die durch chronisch-rezidivierende Verläufe und ein breites Spektrum an klinischen Erscheinungsbildern gekennzeichnet ist. Pathophysiologisch wird dem B‑Lymphozyten, aufgrund seiner überschießenden Reaktion mit gestörter Autoantikörperproduktion, eine tragende Rolle in der Auslösung und der Aufrechterhaltung der Erkrankung zugeschrieben. Aufgrund unseres besseren Verständnisses über diese Krankheit und einer präziseren Labordiagnostik wurden 2019 die ACR(American College of Rheumatology)/EULAR(European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology)-Klassifikationskriterien überarbeitet, um auch in der Frühphase des SLE Patient*innen rechtzeitig zu erkennen. Im Gegensatz zum diagnostischen Vorgehen sind neue Therapieansätze bisher nur begrenzt erfolgreich. Unsere Arbeitsgruppe beschäftigt sich intensiv mit der Charakterisierung der B‑Zell-Subpopulationen, ihrer Aktivität bei SLE sowie dem Ansprechen auf die medikamentöse Therapie. Ein erster Schritt war es, die verschiedenen B‑Zell-Subpopulationen im peripheren Blut (naive B‑Zellen, Prä- und Post-switch-B-Zellen, Gedächtnis-B-Zellen und Plasmablasten [Vorstufe von der Plasmazelle]) bei Patient*innen mit niedriger Krankheitsaktivität zu identifizieren und eine mögliche Korrelation zum weiteren Krankheitsverlauf des SLE zu eruieren. Es zeigte sich bei den Analysen, dass Patient*innen, die einen hohen Anteil an naiven B‑Zellen im Blut aufwiesen, nach 3 Jahren einen moderaten bis hochaktiven SLE hatten. Die Konsequenz daraus wäre, dass das therapeutische Ziel beim SLE neben der Induktion einer Remission bzw. einer niedrigen Erkrankungsaktivität auch die Verminderung der naiven B‑Zell-Population sein sollte. Dies müsste in einer prospektiven Studie aber noch bestätigt werden.
An integrated gasification plant for electric power generation from wet biomass: toward a sustainable production in the olive oil industry
Authors: Aguado Roque , Vera David , Jurado Francisco , Beltrán Gabriel
Published: January 2022

This research work proposes an integrated gasification plant for simultaneous generation of renewable electricity and drying of olive pomace, a thick sludge with a moisture content close to 60–70% (wet basis), which constitutes by far the most abundant by-product in the Spanish olive oil industry. Due to its massive rate of production and increasing associated transportation costs, olive pomace management currently represents a substantial expense for oil mills. The integrated gasification plant, which can be installed directly at oil mills, consists of a pelletizer, a downdraft gasifier under autothermal operation fueled with dried olive pomace pellets, a producer gas cooling and cleaning unit and a microturbine as power generation unit. The wet olive pomace continuously produced in oil mills is eventually dried in a co-current flow rotary drum dryer with the hot exhaust gases leaving the microturbine at temperatures close to 300 °C, allowing a self-sufficient operation of the integrated gasification plant. The integrated gasification plant was modeled using Aspen Plus® process simulator. The developed model was validated against experimental and simulation results of relevant works. Under optimum operating conditions, the electrical efficiency of the proposed plant is 18.8%, while the additional drying stage allows achieving an overall efficiency of 51.0%. Electricity consumption by the pelletizer and ancillary equipment represents 10–20% of the net electric power generation from the microturbine. However, since the integrated gasification plant is fueled with an inexpensive by-product of olive oil production that is massively produced on-site, the plant performance parameters are remarkably satisfactory.
Determinants of e-waste composition in the EU28 + 2 countries: a panel quantile regression evidence of the STIRPAT model
Authors: Boubellouta B. , Kusch-Brandt S.
Published: January 2022

Previous studies have examined the relationship between total e-waste generation and its determinants. However, e-waste categories have not received appropriate attention, and thus important information is missing for policymakers. This paper advances the state of knowledge by studying e-waste categories individually. Statistical data of e-waste in the EU28 + 2 countries over the period 2000–2015 is disaggregated into single categories, namely temperature exchange equipment, screens and monitors, lamps, large equipment, small equipment, and small IT and telecommunication equipment. To examine the main driving forces of e-waste in each category, the STIRPAT model (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) and the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis are applied, using panel quantile regression as main method and pooled OLS to control robustness of findings. Results show that population, renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and urbanization are positively correlated with all e-waste categories. Renewable energy exploitation is a major e-waste driver of large and small equipment, screens and monitors, and small IT. Interestingly, an inverted U-shaped relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and the quantity of e-waste was found across all e-waste categories for most regressions when using the quantile regression method (28 out of 30 quantiles), and for all regressions when using the pooled OLS method. This confirms the EKC hypothesis and indicates that e-waste of all categories increases with GDP up to a certain level (turning point) but then decreases when GDP continues to grow.
Plus/minus p-adic L-functions for $$\mathrm {GL}_{2n}$$
Authors: Rockwood Rob
Published: January 2022

We generalise Pollack’s construction of plus/minus L-functions to certain cuspidal automorphic representations of $$\mathrm {GL_{2n}}$$

GL

2
n

using the p-adic L-functions constructed in work of Barrera Salazar et al. (On p-adic l-functions for $$\text {GL}_{2n}$$

GL

2
n

in finite slope shalika families, 2021). We use these to prove that the complex L-functions of such representations vanish at at most finitely many twists by characters of p-power conductor.
A state of health estimation method for electric vehicle Li-ion batteries using GA-PSO-SVR
Authors: Zhi Yue , Wang Heqi , Wang Liang
Published: January 2022

State of health (SOH) is the ratio of the currently available maximum capacity of the battery to the rated capacity. It is an important index to describe the degradation state of a pure electric vehicle battery and has an important reference value in evaluating the health level of the retired battery and estimating the driving range. In this study, the random forest algorithm is first used to find the most important health factors to lithium-ion batteries based on the dataset released by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Then the support vector regression (SVR) algorithm is developed to predict the SOH of a lithium-ion battery. The genetic algorithm-particle swarm optimization (GA-PSO) algorithm is brought forward to optimize the parameter values of the SVR, which could improve the estimation accuracy and convergence speed. The proposed SOH estimation method is applied to four batteries and gets a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.40% and an average absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.56%. In addition, the method is also compared with genetic algorithm-support vector regression (GA-SVR) and particle swarm optimization-support vector regression (PSO-SVR), respectively. The results show that (i) compared with the PSO-SVR method, the proposed method can decrease the average RMSE by 0.10%, and the average MAPE by 0.17%; (ii) compared with the GA-PSO method, number of iterations under the proposed method can be reduced by 7 generations.
Model-Based Radiation-Free Assessment of Scoliosis: A Principle Validation Study
Authors: Roy Susmita , Grünwald Alexander T. D. , Lampe Renée
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Adolescent scoliosis is one of the common pediatric spinal diseases which has a high risk of progression due to the rapid growth of the skeleton during the growing stage therefore needs regular clinical monitoring including X-rays. Because X-rays could lead to ionizing radiation-related health problems, an ionizing radiation-free, non-invasive method is presented here to estimate the degree of scoliosis and to potentially support the medical assessment.

Methods

The radiation-free body scanner provides a 3D surface scan of the torso. A basic 3D structure of the human ribcage and vertebral column was modeled and simulated with computer-aided design software and finite element method calculation. For comparison with X-rays, courses of vertebral columns derived from 3D torso images and 3D models were analyzed with respect to their apex positions and angles.

Results

The methods show good results in the estimation of the apex positions of scoliosis. Strong correlations (R = 0.8924) were found between the apex and Cobb angle from X-rays. Similar correlations (R = 0.8087) was obtained between the apex angles extracted from X-rays and the combination of torso scan images with 3D model simulations. Promising agreement was obtained between the spinal trajectories extracted from X-ray and 3D torso images.

Conclusions

Very strong correlations suggest that the apex angle could potentially be used for scoliosis assessment in follow-up examinations in complement to the Cobb angle. However, further improvements of the methods and tests on a larger number of data set are necessary before their introduction into the clinical application.
Do preservice teachers cheat in college, too? A quantitative study of academic integrity among preservice teachers
Authors: DiPaulo Donald
Published: January 2022

Research has found that academic dishonesty (AD) is common among college and university undergraduate students worldwide (International Center for Academic Integrity, 2021). Two variables found to have a significant effect on student cheating were students’ attitudes toward AD and perceptions of peer engagement in AD (McCabe et al., 2012). This quantitative research study examined preservice teachers’ attitudes and behaviors related to academic dishonesty. Utilizing three parts of the Academic Integrity Survey, this study analyzed data from 62 preservice teachers enrolled at a university in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States that were preparing to teach students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades in both public and private schools. Data analyses examined the frequency rates at which preservice teachers self-reported engaging in academic dishonesty, as well as the relationships that existed between preservice teachers’ attitudes toward academic dishonesty, perceptions of peer engagement in AD, and self-reported engagement in AD. Results showed that rates for self-reported engagement in academic dishonesty among preservice teachers were similar to those found for undergraduates in other majors, with attitude toward behavior found to be significantly associated with and predictive of self-reported engagement in academic cheating among this group of preservice teachers.
„Sie wissen ja, welche Schätze sie im Kollegium haben“ – Der Einsatz förderpädagogischer Lehrkräfte in Grundschulen aus der Perspektive der Educational-Governance
Authors: Wolf Lisa Marie , Dietze Torsten , Moser Vera , Kuhl Jan
Published: January 2022

Der Beitrag untersucht aus der Perspektive der Educational Governance, wie und durch welche Akteure des Mehrebenensystems Schule der Einsatz förderpädagogischer Lehrkräfte an Grundschulen im Kontext inklusiver Bildung gesteuert wird. Die Grundlage hierfür bilden Erhebungen in vier deutschen Bundesländern, die von 2018 bis 2021 durchgeführt wurden. Es zeigt sich eine als „fragmentarisch“ bezeichnete Steuerung, die sich vornehmlich auf Maßnahmen der Inputsteuerung beschränkt und Elemente der Outputsteuerung weitgehend außen vor lässt. Innerschulisch können verschiedene Verhandlungsmodi über den Einsatz der förderpädagogischen Lehrkräfte gefunden werden. Es erfolgt eine Verlagerung der Verantwortung für die Ausgestaltung inklusiver Bildung auf die Einzelschule und insbesondere auf die förderpädagogischen Lehrkräfte.
Dynamics of Nitrogen Gaseous Losses Following the Application of Foliar Nanoformulations to Grasslands
Authors: Hube Sara , Salazar Francisco , Rodríguez Marion , Mejías Jaime , Ramírez Luis , Alfaro Marta
Published: January 2022

Increasing rates of nitrogen (N) conventional fertilizer have led to increasing risks of N losses to the atmosphere, mainly as ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar N-based nanoformulations on the dynamics of N2O and NH3 emissions from grasslands. Six N treatments (50 kg N ha−1) plus a control (n = 4) were tested on a completely randomized design: granular urea (Urea-g), dissolved urea (Urea-d), dissolved ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and nitrate-, urea-, and ammonium-based nanoformulations (NO3-F, Urea-F, NH4-F) applied as foliar spray to intact soil cores maintained under controlled conditions. In addition, a control N = 0 was included. Cumulative emissions of N2O and NH3 (mg N m−2) were measured using dynamic/static chambers. Effects on yield and soil available N were also quantified. Volatilization of NH3 was the main N loss pathway (ranged from 2 to 51% of the N applied). Higher emissions were observed with NH4-F and low emissions in the nitrate-based fertilizers. Direct N2O losses were low compared to NH3 losses, varying between 0.07 and 0.25% of the N applied. Due to high NH3 losses, indirect N2O losses were 0.3 to 2.8 times greater than direct N2O losses. There was no effect of N treatments on soil available N or pasture yield. The application of a NO3-foliar formulation emerges as a potential alternative for the mitigation of integrated N gaseous emissions. Ammonium-based nanoformulations require improvements in order to reduce losses. Further studies should include yield evaluations under field conditions, cost–benefit analysis, and potential impacts in the agri-food chain.
Eliminated routine postorthotopic liver transplant antibiotics in uncomplicated patients leads to equivalent safety outcomes
Authors: Yau Jesica , Dann Jillian , Geyston Jennifer , Hall Heather Cox , Pelletier Shawn , Sifri Costi D.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate safety and efficacy end points of a postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis protocol in liver transplant (LT) patients, which was revised to limit antibiotic use.

Methods:

In the routine antibiotics group (RA), patients routinely received prophylactic antibiotics for around 3 days postoperatively for a variety of rationales, versus the limited antibiotics group (LA), in which patients received antibiotics for the treatment of secondary peritonitis. Patients were included if they were 18 or older and underwent liver transplant between January 2016 and September 2019. In total, 216 patients remained after exclusion: 118 patients in the RA group and 98 patients in the LA group.

Results:

We detected a significant difference in the primary end point of postoperative antibiotic days of therapy. The median days of therapy was 2 for the RA group and 0 for the LA group (P< 0.005). Significantly fewer patients received only intraoperative antibiotics in the RA group versus the LA group: 42 (35.6%) versus 76 (73.5%) respectively (P< .005). There was no significant difference in secondary or safety outcomes, including surgical site infections.

Conclusions:

This study provides evidence that limiting the duration of prophylactic antibiotics postoperatively and treating most patients with only intraoperative antibiotics is safe.
Evaluating ex situ rates of carbon dioxide flux from northern Borneo peat swamp soils
Authors: Low Ying Si Eliza , Chadwick Michael A. , Smith Thomas E. L. , Sukmaria Sukri Rahayu
Published: January 2022

This study quantified CO2 emissions from tropical peat swamp soils in Brunei Darussalam. At each site, soil was collected from areas of intact and degraded peat and CO2 flux, and total organic content were measured ex situ. Soil organic content (~20–99%) was not significantly different between intact and degraded forest samples. CO2 flux was higher for intact forest samples than degraded forest samples (~1.0 vs. ~0.6 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1, respectively) but did not differ among forest locations. From our laboratory experiments, we estimated a potential emissions of ~10–20 t CO2 ha−1 y−1 which is in the lower range of values reported for other tropical peat swamps. However, our results are likely affected by unmeasured variation in root respiration and the lability of resident carbon. Overall, these findings provide experimental evidence to support that clearance of tropical peat swamp forests can increase CO2 emissions due to faster rates of decomposition.
‘A real revolution’: Ireland and the Oxford Group/Moral Re-Armament movement, 1933–2001
Authors: Whelan Bernadette
Published: January 2022

During the twentieth century, Ireland, north and south, was infiltrated to varying degrees by a transnational quasi-religious and political movement, Moral Re-Armament (M.R.A.). From its founding in the early 1920s by an American evangelist and former Lutheran pastor, Frank Buchman, through the peak of moral revivalism in the 1930s, its Cold War work after 1945 and its reinvention as a secular, multi-faith, reconciliation organisation in the 1960s, this article examines M.R.A.'s structural and ideological origins and its evolution in Ireland, the U.S. and Britain. Based on primary source materials, it argues that Ireland, characterised by two ideologically narrow cultural and political monoliths, was not immune to external spiritual and quasi-political influences and that M.R.A.'s activities in Ireland confirm these distinctive religious and political cultures while also revealing similarities. Moreover, it reveals that non-governmental M.R.A. adherents were in advance of governments in their desire for peaceful solutions to the Irish partition issue and the Cold War more generally. The article, therefore, examines an international movement which had personal, national and global significance within the context of transnational religious, political and foreign policy studies as well as the national narratives of Northern Ireland and Ireland.
On wedge-slamming pressures
Authors: Jain Utkarsh , Novaković Vladimir , Bogaert Hannes , van der Meer Devaraj
Published: January 2022

The water entry of a wedge has become a model test in marine and naval engineering research. Wagner theory, originating in 1932, predicts impact pressures, and accounts for contributions to the total pressure arising from various flow domains in the vicinity of the wetting region on the wedge. Here we study the slamming pressures on a wedge and a cone, impacting on water keeping a constant, well-controlled velocity, throughout the process, using high-fidelity sensors. Pressures at two locations on the impactor are measured during and after impact. Pressure time series from the two impactors are discussed using inertial pressure and time scales. The non-dimensionalised pressure time series are compared with sensor-integrated averaged composite Wagner solutions, Logvinovich solution (Hydrodynamics of Flows with Free Boundaries. Naukova Dumka, 1969, 4.7), modified Logvinovich solution, and generalised Wagner models. In addition, we provide an independent experimental justification of approximations made in the literature in extending the Wagner model to three dimensions. The second part of the paper deals with pre-impact air cushioning – an important concern since it is responsible for determining the thickness of the air layer trapped upon impact. Using a custom-made technique we measure the air–water interface dynamics as it responds to the build up of pressure in the air layer intervening in between the impactor and the free surface. We show both experimentally and using two-fluid boundary integral simulations, that the pre-impact deflection of the interface due to air-cushioning is fully described by potential flow.
Global stability analysis of flexible channel flow with a hyperelastic wall
Authors: Herrada M.A. , Blanco-Trejo S. , Eggers J. , Stewart P.S.
Published: January 2022

We consider the stability of flux-driven flow through a long planar rigid channel, where a segment of one wall is replaced by a pre-tensioned hyperelastic (neo-Hookean) solid of finite thickness and subject to a uniform external pressure. We construct the steady configuration of the nonlinear system using Newton's method with spectral collocation and high-order finite differences. In agreement with previous studies, which use an asymptotically thin wall, we show that the thick-walled system always has at least one stable steady configuration, while for large Reynolds numbers the system exhibits three co-existing steady states for a range of external pressures. Two of these steady configurations are stable to non-oscillatory perturbations, one where the flexible wall is inflated (the upper branch) and one where the flexible wall is collapsed (the lower branch), connected by an unstable intermediate branch. We test the stability of these steady configurations to oscillatory perturbations using both a global eigensolver (constructed based on an analytical domain mapping technique) and also fully nonlinear simulations. We find that both the lower and upper branches of steady solutions can become unstable to self-excited oscillations, where the oscillating wall profile has two extrema. In the absence of wall inertia, increasing wall thickness partially stabilises the onset of oscillations, but the effect remains weak until the wall thickness becomes comparable to the width of the undeformed channel. However, with finite wall inertia and a relatively thick wall, higher-frequency modes of oscillation dominate the primary global instability for large Reynolds numbers.
WIGGLE MATCHING WITH CORRELATIONS
Authors: Muzikar Paul , Heaton Timothy J
Published: January 2022

Wiggle matching is an important and powerful technique in radiocarbon dating that can be used to improve the precision of calendar age estimates. All radiocarbon determinations require calibration to provide calendar age estimates. This calibration is achieved by comparing the determinations against a calibration curve $\mu ( \cdot )$ to calculate the probability the sample arises from any particular calendar age t. Wiggle matching involves the calibration of a set of radiocarbon determinations taken from samples with known separations between their calendar ages. Since the calendar age separations between samples are known, all the calendar ages are known functions of one particular age, ${T_1}$ — commonly the most recent calendar age. Dating the sequence then reduces to considering $p({T_1} = {t_1}|data)$, the probability of the calendar age ${t_1}$ given the set of radiocarbon determinations. In previous work, a Bayesian approach has been used to derive a nice formula for this quantity under the assumption we have independent pointwise estimates of the calibration curve $\mu (t)$. In this paper, we derive a generalization of this formula showing how to incorporate covariance information from the calibration curve under an assumption of multivariate normality.
The Ruins of Jerusalem: Psalm LXXVIII, the Crusades and Church Reform
Authors: ALLINGTON RICHARD
Published: January 2022

Psalm lxxviii is one of the most prominent biblical texts associated with the crusades. Most previous scholarship has focused on the intersection of the violent language of the Psalm with the violence of crusading. This article, however, examines the use of Psalm lxxviii by crusade preachers in the context of the history of its medieval interpretations. It uncovers an established medieval tradition of using this Psalm to preach reform rather than vengeance, which crusade preachers maintained when they employed this text to encourage crusading. This finding emphasises the important role that the Church reform movement played in shaping the emergence and development of crusading.
Stable transport of relativistic electron beams in plasmas
Authors: Yao H.B. , Yang X.H. , Zhang G.B. , Ma Y.Y. , Wang S.W. , Xu H. , Cui Y. , Zi M. , Ma Z. , Jiang L.
Published: January 2022

The long-distance stable transport of relativistic electron beams (REBs) in plasmas is studied by full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Theoretical analysis shows that the beam transport is mainly influenced by three transverse instabilities, where the excitation of self-modulation instability, and the suppression of the filamentation instability and the hosing instability are important to realize the beam stable transport. By modulating the transport parameters such as the electron density ratio, the relativistic Lorentz factor, the beam envelopes and the density profiles, the relativistic bunches having a smooth density profile and a length of several plasma wave periods can suppress the beam-plasma instabilities and propagate in plasmas for long distances with small energy losses. The results provide a reference for the research of long-distance and stable transport of REBs, and would be helpful for new particle beam diagnosis technology and space active experiments.
It’s About Power but Also Norms: A Pedagogical Approach to Teaching About the American Presidency
Authors: Harbin M. Brielle
Published: January 2022

Introductory undergraduate courses in American politics often center the Constitution and focus on fundamental principles, structures, and processes. Unfortunately, this focus allows less space to discuss the role that norms play in supporting formal rules and institutions in the American political system. As a political science professor teaching an introductory course on American politics in 2019 and 2020, I became acutely aware of the limitations of this course design. This context showcased the ways in which many of these norms are taken for granted by many, including American politics scholars. Moreover, it sparked conversations among my colleagues about whether we should adapt to the moment and update our instruction to place greater emphasis on norms to contextualize the present political moment for our students. My answer was yes. However, doing so requires instructors to be attentive to issues of objectivity, authority, and partisanship. This article shares strategies that I plan to implement when I teach this course again. In particular, I discuss three guiding pedagogical principles when teaching about presidential norms. I then provide discussion questions that instructors can use to spark conversations about the relationship between adherence to presidential norms and the stability of American political institutions.
Pathways from insecure attachment to paranoia: the mediating role of emotion regulation
Authors: Partridge Olivia , Maguire Tess , Newman-Taylor Katherine
Published: January 2022

Background:

Paranoia is common across the clinical and non-clinical spectrum. Cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis currently yields modest results, warranting research into symptom-specific maintenance factors to improve outcomes. There is strong evidence of a relationship between insecure attachment and increased paranoia, but little is known about the mediating mechanisms. Emotion dysregulation is associated with both insecure attachment and paranoia, and a candidate causal mechanism.

Aims:

This study aimed to determine if emotion dysregulation mediates the association between attachment and paranoia.

Method:

Sixty-two individuals with elevated paranoia were recruited from NHS services and community settings across the South of England. Mediation analyses were conducted on trait attachment, emotion regulation and paranoia variables, which were collected at one time point.

Results:

As predicted, emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and paranoia, and between attachment anxiety and paranoia. Emotion suppression did not mediate the relationship between attachment avoidance and paranoia, possibly due to power. Attachment avoidance correlated with deactivating emotion regulation strategies (e.g. lack of emotional awareness) and attachment anxiety correlated with hyperactivating emotion regulation strategies (e.g. impulse control difficulties). Both deactivating and hyperactivating strategies correlated with paranoia.

Conclusion:

Emotion dysregulation is not routinely targeted in cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis. This study suggests that incorporating emotion regulation strategies in therapy may improve clinical outcomes. Experimental studies are now required to support a causal argument, and pilot intervention studies should investigate if emotion regulation skills development (aligned with attachment style) is effective in reducing non-clinical and clinical paranoia.