bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid strongly inhibit prostanoid TP receptor‐dependent contractions of guinea pig gastric fundus smooth muscle
Authors: Xu Keyue , Shimizu Miyuki , Murai Chika , Fujisawa Miki , Ito Daichi , Saitoh Noboru , Nakagome Yutaka , Yamashita Mio , Murata Azusa , Oikawa Shunya , Ou Guanghan , Yoshioka Kento , Obara Keisuke , Tanaka Yoshio
Published: April 2022

The inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and linoleic acid (LA) on the contractions induced by five prostanoids and U46619 (a TP receptor agonist) were examined in guinea pig gastric fundus smooth muscle (GFSM). Tension changes were isometrically measured, and the mRNA expression of prostanoid receptors was measured by RT‐qPCR. DHA and EPA significantly inhibited contractions induced by the prostanoids and U46619, whereas LA inhibited those induced by prostaglandin D2and U46619. The mRNA expression levels of the prostanoid receptors were TP ≈ EP3 >> FP > EP1. The inhibition by DHA, EPA, and LA was positively correlated with that by SQ 29,548 (a TP receptor antagonist) but not with that by L‐798,106 (an EP3receptor antagonist). DHA and EPA suppressed high KCl‐induced contractions by 35% and 25%, respectively, and the contractions induced by the prostanoids and U46619 were suppressed by verapamil, a voltage‐dependent Ca2+channel (VDCC) inhibitor, by 40%–85%. Although LA did not suppress high KCl‐induced contractions, it suppressed U46619‐induced contractions in the presence of verapamil. However, LA did not show significant inhibitory effects on U46619‐induced Ca2+increases in TP receptor‐expressing cells. In contrast, LA inhibited U46619‐induced contractions in the presence of verapamil, which was also suppressed by SKF‐96365 (a store‐operated Ca2+channel [SOCC] inhibitor). These findings suggest that the TP receptor and VDCC are targets of DHA and EPA to inhibit prostanoid‐induced contractions of guinea pig GFSM, and SOCCs play a significant role in LA‐induced inhibition of U46619‐induced contractions.
Depression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Ma Tianjiao , Geng Yingying , Li Ping
Published: April 2022

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory spondyloarthropathy that can cause severe physical and functional damage. The risk of depression is higher in AS patients than in the general population. Depression in AS patients affects disease prognosis and is receiving greater attention. By mining the literature on depression in AS patients in China and other countries, we analyzed research gaps and flaws in this area. In this review, we describe current knowledge regarding depression status, pathogenesis, disease relevance, and treatment of depression in AS patients. The findings may help to prevent depression, improve treatment, and enhance chronic disease management in AS patients.
Long‐Circulating Theranostic 2D Metal‐Organic Frameworks with Concurrent O2 Self‐Supplying and GSH Depletion Characteristic for Enhanced Cancer Chemodynamic Therapy
Authors: Xu Rui , Saw Phei Er , Xu Lei
Published: April 2022

Two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention in cancer theranostics due to their ultrahigh specific surface area resulting in more radicals and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in chemodynamic therapy (CDT). However, their biomedical prospects are greatly limited by poor biocompatibility, low dispersion, weak stability, and the potential threat of their high immunogenicity. Moreover, rapid depletion of ROS by the high level of antioxidants (e.g., glutathione) in cancer cells severely limits the therapeutic effects of cancer CDT. Herein, a robust method is developed to improve the biomedical application of 2D nanomaterials via constructing a 2D nanomaterials delivery nanoplatform with hemoglobin‐based minerals biological coat for the safe encapsulation, long blood circulation, and controlled release of 2D nanomaterials. After intravenous administration and then internalization by cancer cells, the acidic microenvironment and high concentration of H2O2 can trigger rapid release of Cu‐T nanoscale metal‐organic frameworks (nMOFs) from Cu‐T@MH. Then, the released Cu‐T nMOFs with simultaneous high ROS production and GSH depletion endow the Cu‐T@MH nanoplatform with enhanced cancer CDT. Besides, the fluorescence recovery of tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrin in Cu‐T nMOFs during the GSH depletion process can accurately visualize the cancer therapeutic action.
Enhanced Hole Mobility and Decreased Ion Migration Originated from Interface Engineering for High Quality PSCs with Average FF beyond 80%
Authors: Gong Xiaoli , Li Haimin , Liu Xingchong , Zhao Dewei , Wang Hanyu , Ni Yafei , Lei Yue , Tang Yanling , Liu Shuqian
Published: April 2022

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have made significant progress in power conversion efficiency (PCE) by optimizing deposition method, composition, interface, etc. Although the two‐step method demonstrates the advantage of being easy to operate, too much residual PbI2 not only forms defect centers, but affects the perovskite crystallization by arising more grain boundaries (GBs) due to the easy‐to‐crystallize nature of PbI2. And GBs in polycrystalline perovskite usually provide main channel for ion migration, leading to accumulation of charges at the interface to form a barrier, thus reducing carrier mobility and resulting in degradation of perovskite devices. Here, an organic molecule N‐(4‐acetylphenyl)maleimide (N‐APMI) is used to modify interface between perovskite and hole transport layer. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and nuclear magnetic resonance results show that ketone group (CO) in N‐APMI forms a strong coordination with Pb2+, which effectively reduces the residual amount of PbI2 nanoparticles on the perovskite surface, giving rise to improved crystallization of perovskite. Temperature‐dependent current response demonstrates that ion migration is effectively suppressed, and hole mobility validly increases from 10.74 to 19.48 cm2 V–1 s–1, leading to a champion fill factor (FF) of 82.5% (PCE 21.96%), and the maximum PCE of the device improves from 20.09% to 23.03%.
Association between a genetic index for lameness resistance and the incidence of claw horn lesions in Holstein cows
Authors: Barden Matthew , Anagnostopoulos Alkiviadis , Griffiths Bethany E. , Bedford Cherril , Winters Marco , Li Bingjie , Coffey Mike , Psifidi Androniki , Banos Georgios , Oikonomou Georgios
Published: April 2022

Background

This study aimed to determine the association between the lameness advantage genetic index and four outcomes: sole haemorrhage (SH), sole ulcers (SU), white line lesions (WL), and lameness during mobility scoring.

Methods

We enrolled 2352 Holstein cows from four predominantly housed dairy herds in the UK. Cows were mobility scored and foot lesions recorded at four time points from before calving to late lactation. Cows were genotyped and genetic indexes were assigned to each cow following national genetic evaluations. Lameness records and genetic indexes were matched for 2107 cows. Four separate multivariable logistic regression models, which included farm and parity as covariables, were used to quantify the association between the lameness advantage index and whether animals were affected by SH, SU, WL, or lameness.

Results

The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for one‐point increases in the lameness advantage index were 0.79 (0.72–0.86), 0.68 (0.59–0.78), 0.94 (0.84–1.04), and 0.82 (0.74–0.91) for SH, SU, WL, and lameness, respectively. The same trends were present when the sire's lameness advantage index was evaluated in place of the animal's own, although the strength of this association was generally weaker.

Conclusion

The lameness advantage index is associated with SH, SU, and lameness, therefore selection on the lameness advantage index could be considered in herds aiming to reduce lameness. Where genomic testing of heifers is not conducted, sire lameness advantage index may still be effective to reduce SH and SU incidence.
Reactions of a Dimethylxanthene‐Derived Frustrated Lewis Pair with Silanes and Stannanes
Authors: Zulkifly Ili , Protchenko Andrey V. , Fuentes M. Ángeles , Hicks Jamie , Aldridge Simon
Published: April 2022

The reactivity towards Si−H and Sn−H bonds of a dimethylxanthene‐based frustrated Lewis pair featuring −PiPr2 and −B(C6F5)2 functions in the 4‐, and 5‐positions is reported. In the case of silanes, greater steric bulk appears to impede reactivity, with only PhSiH3 and SiH4 showing unambiguous evidence for Si−H bond activation. In the case of PhSiH3, the silylphosphonium borohydride 1iPr(SiH2Ph)(H) is formed by Si−H bond activation across the P/B manifold. 1iPr(SiH2Ph)(H) loses PhSiH3 in hydrocarbon solution and therefore can only be crystallized from the neat silane. On heating, it undergoes a metathesis process leading to installation of the −SiH2Ph function at the 5‐position of the xanthene scaffold, with accompanying migration of the boryl group (as Piers’ borane, HB(C6F5)2) to the phosphine. Similar chemistry is observed with SiH4 (although occurring much more readily), and such processes are thought to be mechanistically similar to related rearrangements occurring with the boranes HBpin and HBcat. By contrast, the activation of the weaker Sn−H bonds found in stannanes occurs more readily, even for bulkier substrates, and the stannyl‐phosphonium borohydrides 1iPr(SnnBu3)(H) and 1iPr(SnPh3)(H) are obtained from the room temperature reactions with nBu3SnH and Ph3SnH, respectively.
Publishing Mathematical Books of Parisian Calculatores (1508–1515)
Authors: Levy Alissar
Published: April 2022

Between 1508 and 1515, mathematical book production in Paris was particularly high and largely addressed to the Parisian calculatores: a group of masters and students mostly related to Parisian colleges of the Iberian tradition, such as Sainte-Barbe, Coqueret, and Montaigu. The mathematical publications of Pedro Sánchez Ciruelo, who taught in Paris during the last years of the fifteenth century, were a main inspiration for these Parisian calculatores; they also published several other books by themselves, mostly on arithmetic, proportions, and astronomy. This induced the development of a Parisian market for the publishing of the calculatores’ mathematical books, mainly supported by printers and booksellers who did not published scholarly mathematical texts in other periods. This paper will question who the actors of this market were, why they published mathematical books, and how they contributed to the development of mathematical teaching in Paris.
Printerly Ingenuity and Mathematical Books in the Early Estienne Workshop
Authors: Oosterhoff Richard J.
Published: April 2022

Even though the first press in Paris was set up in 1469, in rooms owned by the Collège de la Sorbonne, it took some time before the University'scursus ordinariuswas regularly set in print. One of the first concerted efforts to reconfigure textbooks using print was carried out by Wolfgang Hopyland Johann Higman, beginning in the late 1480s. Their press—and their collaboration with the circle of Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples—was taken up by the elder Henri Estienne and then Simon de Colines, who transformed the press into one of the most illustrious cases of the printing art in Europe, alongside Manutius and the later Estiennes. This chapter focuses on the routine claims these printers made about publishing theSphaeraof Sacrobosco and their own artful labors. It similarly examines their remarkable frontispieces within the context of a nascent tradition of astronomical frontispieces. Printerly claims to ingenuity and the relation of books and observation in these frontispieces undermine old historiographical dichotomies that oppose craft knowledge and book knowledge.
The Iberian and New World Circulation of Sacrobosco’s Sphaera in the Early Modern Period
Authors: Ulla Lorenzo Alejandra
Published: April 2022

The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the circulation of Sacrobosco’sTractatus de sphaerain early modern Iberian Peninsula and New World printing. We will present a survey on the locally active printers and publishers who contributed to the circulation of theSphaerathanks to the information now offered by theIberian Booksdatabase. This will be followed by a general discussion about the professional profile held by the printers and publishers who took part in the publication and circulation of the text in the Iberian Peninsula and America. Both markets were probably related through Seville. With this group of printers and publishers in mind, we will analyze what can be inferred from their production in terms of their approach to publishing, what audience were they generally targeting, their commercial scope, and how theSphaerafit into their general production and commercial plan.
Evaluation of CV Inflammation and Infection
Authors: Giubbini Raffaele , Milan E. , Singh V. , Di Carli Marcelo F. , Dondi Maurizio , Carvajal I. , Alexanderson E. , Rodella C. , Paez Diana
Published: April 2022

Early diagnosis of endocarditis has an important prognostic value because a delay in antibiotic therapy and cardiac surgery may adversely affect clinical outcome. However, its diagnosis remains a challenging one.
Emerging Applications
Authors: Di Carli Marcelo F. , Giubbini Raffaele , Williams M. , Bertoli M. , Dondi Maurizio , Paez Diana , Milan E.
Published: April 2022

Cardiovascular imaging has recently expanded to the search for unstable plaques at high risk of rupturing and causing acute coronary events. A vulnerable plaque has been described histologically as a plaque with a large lipid core, a thin fibrous cap, and inflammation at the margins of the plaque. One of the most interesting recent findings is the discovery that plaques exhibiting high-risk characteristics may be associated with inducible myocardial ischemia even in the absence of luminal obstruction. Currently, anatomical and functional imaging of coronary atherosclerosis can be performed with computed tomography angiography and positron emission tomography, as briefly reviewed in this chapter.
Managing Peace Researchers: Lene Kristin Borg and Grete Thingelstad
Authors:   Interviewed by Stein Tønnesson
Published: April 2022

In this conversation with Stein Tønnesson, former PRIO administrative director Grete Thingelstad (b. 1958) and the current one, Lene Kristin Borg (b. 1967), discuss the challenge of managing academics (“herding cats”). They describe PRIO’s historical change from a disorganized to a highly organized research institute and from a tiny group of government-funded researchers to a sizable project-funded research institute.
A Migrant in the Common European House: Pavel Baev
Authors:   Interviewed by Stein Tønnesson
Published: April 2022

“The beginning of the Brezhnev era was full of hope, full of expectations.” The adult life story of Pavel Baev (b. 1959) began with a privileged education in 1980s Moscow. In this interview, he recounts his experience with Mikael Gorbachev’s reforms, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. His research for Gorbachev’s “European House” brought him to Oslo, where he became PRIO’s main expert on Russia.
Creating a Third Space in the Cyprus Conflict: Mete Hatay
Authors:   Interviewed by Cindy Horst
Published: April 2022

“Seeing victim become perpetrator, perpetrator become victim … triggered … questions in my mind.” In this interview, Mete Hatay (b. 1962) reflects on his life as a Cypriot peace researcher, deeply affected by the 1974 partition. Over the years he has come to look beyond the Greek Cypriot/Turkish Cypriot divide and discover multiple conflicts of interest and identity along many dimensions. Mete Hatay has been a researcher at PRIO’s Cyprus Centre since its inception in 2005.
Johan Galtung at 90: His Enduring Legacy to Peace Research in Oslo
Authors: Essay by Nils Petter Gleditsch
Published: April 2022

The book Lives in Peace Research begins and ends with PRIO’s main founder. This article by Nils Petter Gleditsch, written on the occasion of Galtung’s 90th birthday in 2020, takes stock of Galtung’s momentous contributions to peace research and his influence over the years. PRIO’s motto today, ‘Independent • International • Interdisciplinary,’ clearly reflects a heritage from its founder.
Pioneer and Patron of Social Science and Peace Research: Erik Rinde (1919–1994)
Authors:   Portrayed by Lars Even Andersen
Published: April 2022

In this essay, Lars Even Andersen describes the role of the businessman Erik Rinde (1919–1994) in financing and steering PRIO during the institute’s early period. The essay also explains the relationship between PRIO and the Institute of Social Research (ISF), which had been founded with support from Erik’s brother Sigurd. PRIO was a department at ISF before becoming an independent institute.
The Lifelong Peace Advocate: Marek Thee (1918–99)
Authors:   Portrayed by Marta Bivand Erdal
Published: April 2022

In this portrait of Marek Thee (1918–99), Marte Bivand Erdal tracks his dramatic life. As a young rebel, he lost his Polish citizenship and was refused entry into Poland from Danzig/Gdansk (then part of Germany). He then found his way to Palestine and thus, paradoxically, was saved from the holocaust. After the Second World War he served as a Polish diplomat in the Middle East and Indochina before becoming a professor of international affairs in Warsaw. In 1968, anti-Semitism again deprived him of his citizenship. He joined PRIO in Oslo and worked there until his retirement.
The First Steps in the PRIO-Uppsala Connection: Peter Wallensteen
Authors:   Interviewed by Siri Aas Rustad
Published: April 2022

“PRIO was the engine of our Nordic peace research network.” In this interview, Peter Wallensteen (b. 1945), who served as the first Dag Hammarskjöld Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at the University of Uppsala from 1985 to 2012, expounds the history of the unique collaboration between PRIO and the Department of Peace and Conflict Research in Uppsala, with its famous conflict database.
Infinitesimal Variation Functions for Families of Smooth Varieties
Authors: Favale Filippo Francesco , Pirola Gian Pietro
Published: April 2022

In this paper we introduce some variation functions associated to the rank of the Infinitesimal Variations of Hodge Structure for a family of smooth projective complex curves. We give some bounds and inequalities and, in particular, we prove that if X is a smooth plane curve, then, there exists a first order deformation $$\xi \in H^1(T_X)$$

ξ
∈

H
1

(

T
X

)

which deforms X as plane curve and such that $$\xi \cdot :H^0(\omega _X)\rightarrow H^1({\mathcal O}_{X})$$

ξ
·
:

H
0

(

ω
X

)

→

H
1

(

O
X

)

is an isomorphism. We also generalize the notions of variation functions to higher dimensional case and we analyze the link between IVHS and the weak and strong Lefschetz properties of the Jacobian ring of a smooth hypersurface.
Liposomales Bupivacain – kein Durchbruch in der postoperativen Schmerztherapie
Authors: Otremba Berit , Dinges Hanns-Christian , Schubert Ann-Kristin , Zink Wolfgang , Steinfeldt Thorsten , Wulf Hinnerk , Wiesmann Thomas
Published: April 2022

Eine der größten Limitationen in der Anwendung von Lokalanästhetika liegt in ihrer begrenzten Wirkdauer. In den letzten Jahren wurden liposomale Formulierungen mit prolongierter Freisetzungskinetik entwickelt, um die pharmakologische Wirkdauer der einzeitigen peripheren Regionalanästhesie („Single-shot-Verfahren“) zeitlich „zu strecken“ und somit eine verlängerte Therapiedauer zu bewirken. Im Fokus stehen hierbei insbesondere das Erreichen einer postoperativen Schmerzfreiheit von mindestens 24 h (oder besser sogar 48 h) und dadurch eine frühzeitige Mobilisation der Patienten unter Bedarfsmedikation bei allenfalls geringfügig erhaltener sensorischer Blockade und ohne motorische Einschränkungen (so zumindest die Idealvorstellung). Eine solche moderne pharmakologische Option mit theoretisch deutlich verlängerter Wirkdauer findet sich hierbei in der Gruppe der Amidlokalanästhetika, das liposomale Bupivacain. Bedingt durch einen multivesikulären Liposomenaufbau führt die retardierte Freisetzung der aktiven Komponente Bupivacain-HCl zu einer theoretischen pharmakologischen Wirksamkeit bis zu 72 h. In bisherigen Studien zeigte sich dabei konsistent ein vergleichbares Sicherheitsprofil zum herkömmlichen Bupivacain-HCl. Seit 2011 ist das liposomale Bupivacain unter dem Handelsnamen Exparel© (Fa. Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, NJ, USA) von der amerikanischen Food and Drug Administration (FDA) zugelassen. Die Anwendung ist derzeit jedoch auf lokale Wundinfiltration, „Transversus-abdominis-plane“(TAP)-Blockaden und interskalenäre Nervenblockaden des Plexus brachialis beschränkt. Im Jahr 2020 erteilte auch die Europäische Arzneimittel-Agentur (EMA) dem Einsatz des liposomalen Bupivacains für Blockaden des Plexus brachialis oder des N. femoralis sowie als Feldblock bzw. zur Wundinfiltration zur Behandlung postoperativer Schmerzen eine Zulassung. Bislang zeigte sich die Studienlage zur klinischen Effektivität des liposomalen Bupivacains stark heterogen. Aktuelle Metaanalysen, welche die Ergebnisse randomisierter, kontrollierter Studien zur analgetischen Wirksamkeit des liposomalen Bupivacains in verschiedenen Anwendungsbereichen zusammenfassen, weisen nun konsensuell keinen klinisch relevanten Benefit durch die neue liposomale Formulierung nach und erbringen ausreichend Evidenz, um den Diskurs um das liposomale Bupivacain beenden zu können. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, dem Leser einen aktuellen evidenzbasierten Überblick zu dieser Substanz zu geben.
Convergence of estimative density: criterion for model complexity and sample size
Authors: Sheena Yo
Published: April 2022

For a parametric model of distributions, the closest distribution in the model to the true distribution located outside the model is considered. Measuring the closeness between two distributions with the Kullback–Leibler divergence, the closest distribution is called the “information projection.” The estimation risk of the maximum likelihood estimator is defined as the expectation of Kullback–Leibler divergence between the information projection and the maximum likelihood estimative density (the predictive distribution with the plugged-in maximum likelihood estimator). Here, the asymptotic expansion of the risk is derived up to the second order in the sample size, and the sufficient condition on the risk for the Bayes error rate between the predictive distribution and the information projection to be lower than a specified value is investigated. Combining these results, the “p/ncriterion” is proposed, which determines whether the estimative density is sufficiently close to the information projection for the given model and sample. This criterion can constitute a solution to the sample size or model selection problem. The use of thep/ncriteria is demonstrated for two practical datasets.
Evaluation Challenges for the Application of Extended Reality Devices in Medicine
Authors: Beams Ryan , Brown Ellenor , Cheng Wei-Chung , Joyner Janell S. , Kim Andrea S. , Kontson Kimberly , Amiras Dimitri , Baeuerle Tassilo , Greenleaf Walter , Grossmann Rafael J. , Gupta Atul , Hamilton Christoffer , Hua Hong , Huynh Tran Tu , Leuze Christoph , Murthi Sarah B. , Penczek John , Silva Jennifer , Spiegel Brennan , Varshney Amitabh , Badano Aldo
Published: April 2022

Augmented and virtual reality devices are being actively investigated and implemented for a wide range of medical uses. However, significant gaps in the evaluation of these medical devices and applications hinder their regulatory evaluation. Addressing these gaps is critical to demonstrating the devices’ safety and effectiveness. We outline the key technical and clinical evaluation challenges discussed during the US Food and Drug Administration’s public workshop, “Medical Extended Reality: Toward Best Evaluation Practices for Virtual and Augmented Reality in Medicine” and future directions for evaluation method development. Evaluation challenges were categorized into several key technical and clinical areas. Finally, we highlight current efforts in the standards communities and illustrate connections between the evaluation challenges and the intended uses of the medical extended reality (MXR) devices. Participants concluded that additional research is needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of MXR devices across the use cases.
Surgical treatment of deep-lying ano-/rectovaginal fistulas using a de-epithelialized “Singapore flap” (pudendal thigh flap)
Authors: Sauseng Siegfried , Kresic Josip , Mayerhofer Marcel , Ribeiro Skreinig Marilia Aislynn , Kamolz Lars-Peter , Spendel Stephan , Schintler Michael , Imamovic Arvin , Pfeifer Johann
Published: April 2022

Background

Rectovaginal fistulas represent 5% of all anorectal fistulas. For affected women, this pathology is associated with a reduction in quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem. Most commonly used methods of surgical closure have high recurrence rates or permanent perineal complaints, which in turn lead to negative effects on QoL and self-esteem. A fistula closure, using the “de-epithelialized Singapore flap” (SF), can be a good alternative therapy strategy.

Method

Our retrospective case series processes the long-term results of seven patients who were operated on for ano-/rectovaginal fistula using the SF. All patients underwent surgery at the University Hospital Graz, between May 2012 and July 2015. The data of the surgical follow-up examinations were collected and an additional telephone survey was carried out. The procedure is presented based on a structured description. All procedures were performed jointly by the Department of General Surgery and the Department of Plastic Surgery.

Results

The average age of the seven patients was 46.14 years (23–72 a). Five patients had a total of 12 previous operations with frustrating results. Of the seven patients treated, six had a permanent fistula closure (85.7%). The results of the telephone survey (n = 6) showed a high level of patient satisfaction (100%), and an improvement in QoL (83.3%), through our surgical method. In our cohort, neither urinary nor fecal incontinence occurred.

Conclusion

The treatment of an ano-/rectovaginal fistula using the “de-epithelialized pudendal thigh flap” (Singapore flap) is a promising treatment alternative. In particular, patients who have had previous proctological interventions show a benefit from this procedure.
Retention in care and viral suppression in the PMTCT continuum at a large referral facility in western Kenya
Authors: Humphrey John M. , Songok Julia , Ofner Susan , Musick Beverly , Alera Marsha , Kipchumba Bett , McHenry Megan S. , Carlucci James G. , Park Jun , Mwangi Winfred , Yiannoutsos Constantin , Bakoyannis Giorgos , Wools-Kaloustian Kara
Published: April 2022

Medical records of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV and their infants attending a large referral facility in Kenya from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed to identify characteristics associated with retention in care and viral suppression. Women were stratified based on the timing of HIV care enrollment: known HIV-positive (KHP; enrolled pre-pregnancy) and newly HIV-positive (NHP; enrolled during pregnancy). Associations with retention at 18 months postpartum and viral suppression (< 1000 copies/mL) were determined. Among 856 women (20% NHP), retention was 83% for KHPs and 53% for NHPs. Viral suppression was 88% for KHPs and 93% for NHPs, but 19% of women were missing viral load results. In a competing risk model, viral suppression increased by 18% for each additional year of age but was not associated with other factors. Overall, 1.9% of 698 infants with ≥ 1 HIV test result were HIV-positive. Tailored interventions are needed to promote retention and viral load testing, particularly for NHPs, in the PMTCT continuum.
Findings From a Community Survey of Individuals Who Engage in Pup Play
Authors: Wignall Liam , McCormack Mark , Cook Taylor , Jaspal Rusi
Published: April 2022

This study presents findings from a community survey on pup play. Pup play is a kink activity and a form of role play that is growing in popularity internationally, and gaining increasing attention in sexology, yet prior research on pup play has almost entirely employed qualitative methods and primarily involved gay and bisexual men. Using survey data of 733 pup play participants primarily from the US, but also internationally, this study reports on the demographics of participants, how they engage in pup play, its social and sexual elements, and how it relates to social identity and mental health. Unique pup names and identifying with breeds of dogs were used to foster a sense of individuality within pup play, while the majority of participants owned and wore gear when engaging in pup play. We also found significant associations between being younger and identifying as a pup. Most participants reported that pup play improved their mental health. Binary logistic regression analyses indicated that having a mental health diagnosis was associated with identifying with a more social style of pup play and self-reporting the mental health benefits of pup play. We find that the conceptualization of pup play in the existing literature to be accurate to this international sample and highlight areas where further research is needed, alongside limitations of the study.
Social Perception of Non-Binary Individuals
Authors: Hansen Karolina , Żółtak Katarzyna
Published: April 2022

People can express their identity in different ways, one of which is through language. Non-binary individuals often speak in a gender-neutral way and use specific language forms. Language use not only reveals their identity but also can shape how others perceive them. The present study’s purpose was to analyze how non-binary people are perceived through the language they use. The research was conducted in Polish, a language that is especially challenging for non-binary individuals because it has many gender markers. To avoid using gendered forms, they often use a specific form of passive voice. In an experiment, participants (N = 130, 102 women, 28 men) read a gendered (feminine or masculine) text and a gender-neutral text with passive voice. Most gave a masculine name to the person in the neutral text, but addressed them in a gender-neutral way when asked to react to them in presented scenarios. The gender-neutral text was evaluated as being less comprehensible than the gendered texts, and the non-binary person was rated less competent and colder than a man or a woman and was less socially accepted. Furthermore, the negative evaluation of non-binary people seemed to be attributable to unfamiliarity with gender-neutral language and its lower comprehensibility. More research is needed to understand these perceptions better and to be able to prevent their potential negative consequences.
Demographic patterns of the tropical baitfish Spratelloides delicatulus (Order: Clupeiformes) across the Great Barrier Reef shelf and at multiple latitudes
Authors: Kingsford Michael J. , Hartog-Burnett Kynan , Woodcock Emma J.
Published: April 2022

Clupeiformes are the most important food fish in the world, and provide a key trophic link in marine food chains. Here we describe broad scale patterns of clupeiform demographic characteristics of the delicate round herring sprat Spratelloides delicatulus on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Sampling was conducted over 10° of latitude and two seasons at multiple distances across the GBR shelf. The oldest S. delicatulus sampled was 152 days and the maximum standard length was 74 mm. Age and length maxima increased with latitude conforming with ‘counter gradient theory’ and these patterns were consistent between years. von Bertalanffy relationships showed that growth rates were highest at Northern GBR sites; growth coefficients ranged from 2–6 K year−1, and were lowest on southern reefs, i.e. ‘tropical gradient of growth’. Daily survivorship ranged from 91–97% day−1 at all sites. Hatching dates estimated from counts of daily otolith increments indicated a prolonged spawning season of at least 9 months. Reproductive development indicated a size-based relationship. Males and females matured at similar sizes ranging from 36–38 mm, but fish from southern sites were 30–40 days older. Tropical clupeiforms live fast and die young, and patterns of abundance, composition and demography followed strong environmental gradients which conformed to some existing models.
Stirring a Secret Sauce: A Literature Review on the Conditions and Effects of Authentic Learning
Authors: Nachtigall Valentina , Shaffer David Williamson , Rummel Nikol
Published: April 2022

The present conceptual literature review analyzes 50 studies that systematically examined the effects of authentic learning settings on cognitive or motivational learning outcomes. The analysis focuses on describing the context of the studies, the design elements of authentic learning settings, and the pursued intentions of authenticity. The review further describes the effects of authentically designed learning settings on cognitive outcomes, motivational outcomes, and learners’ perceived authenticity revealed by previous research. Building on these findings, we conducted Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA) of contrasting cases to identify design elements and intentions of authenticity characterizing studies that show high effectiveness for cognitive and motivational outcomes versus those with low effectiveness. The ENA results suggest, for instance, that providing authentic materials (as a design element of authentic learning settings) to resemble real-life experiences (as an intention of authenticity) could be a double-edged sword, as they feature both authentically designed learning settings with low effects on cognitive outcomes and settings with high effects on motivational outcomes. Overall, the results of the present literature review point to critical limitations of previous research, such as a lack of clear definitions and operationalizations of authentic learning. Consequently, we draw specific conclusions about how future research could improve our understanding of how to create and implement powerful methods of authentic learning.
Welcome to the era of vague news: a study of the demands of statistical and mathematical products in the COVID-19 pandemic media
Authors: Gal Iddo , Geiger Vince
Published: April 2022

In this article, we report on a typology of the demands of statistical and mathematical products (StaMPs) embedded in media items related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The typology emerged from a content analysis of a large purposive sample of diverse media items selected from digital news sources based in four countries. The findings encompass nine categories of StaMPs: (1) descriptive quantitative information, (2) models, predictions, causality and risk, (3) representations and displays, (4) data quality and strength of evidence, (5) demographics and comparative thinking, (6) heterogeneity and contextual factors, (7) literacy and language demands, (8) multiple information sources, and (9) critical demands. We illustrate these categories via selected media items, substantiate them through relevant research literature, and point to categories that encompass new or enhanced types of demands. Our findings offer insights into the rich set of capabilities that citizens (including both young people and adults) must possess in order to engage these mass media demands, critically analyze statistical and mathematical information in the media, evaluate the meaning and credibility of news reports, understand public policies, and make evidenced-informed judgments. Our conclusions point to the need to revise current curricular frameworks and conceptual models (e.g., regarding statistical and probability literacy, adult numeracy), to better incorporate notions such as blended knowledge, vagueness, risk, strength of evidence, and criticality. Furthermore, more attention is needed to the literacy and language demands of media items involving statistical and mathematical information. Implications for further research and educational practice are discussed.
Validation and Practical Application of a Data Reduction Software for the Analysis of Data from Stress Relief Tests
Authors: Saltarin Simone
Published: April 2022

In his work "Rock Anisotropy and the Theory of Stress Measurements", Amadei (1983) highlights the importance of the correct geological-technical characterisation of the rocks involved in open pit or underground excavation works. At the laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnology (IGG-CNR, Polytechnic of Turin), a data reduction software has been developed which, based on the theory developed by Amadei, allows the estimation of the main stresses acting in selected volumes of rock, on the basis of strains resulting from over-coring, possibly taking into account the transverse isotropy of the material. This paper, after listing the most popular techniques for assessing the state of stress in on-site rocks, focuses on the stress relief method. In particular, the validation tests of the software, called BM2000, are presented, comparing the calculated results with those published by Amadei and with those provided by two software packages from the literature (Smith82, STRESsOUT). After having outlined the input data and the necessary adjustments for their application in the aforementioned software, the results obtained showed excellent correspondence, for the cases of both isotropic and transversely isotropic rock.
A Logic for Conditional Local Strategic Reasoning
Authors: Goranko Valentin , Ju Fengkui
Published: April 2022

We consider systems of rational agents who act and interact in pursuit of their individual and collective objectives. We study and formalise the reasoning of an agent, or of an external observer, about the expected choices of action of the other agents based on their objectives, in order to assess the reasoner’s ability, or expectation, to achieve their own objective. To formalize such reasoning we extend Pauly’s Coalition Logic with three new modal operators of conditional strategic reasoning, thus introducing the Logic for Local Conditional Strategic Reasoning $$\mathsf {ConStR}$$
ConStR
. We provide formal semantics for the new conditional strategic operators in concurrent game models, introduce the matching notion of bisimulation for each of them, prove bisimulation invariance and Hennessy–Milner property for each of them, and discuss and compare briefly their expressiveness. Finally, we also propose systems of axioms for each of the basic operators of $$\mathsf {ConStR}$$
ConStR
and for the full logic.
Facilitators and Barriers to the Sustainability of a School-Based Bullying Prevention Program
Authors: Herkama Sanna , Kontio Mari , Sainio Miia , Turunen Tiina , Poskiparta Elisa , Salmivalli Christina
Published: April 2022

The long-term sustainment of bullying prevention programs has rarely been investigated. This study addresses this gap by identifying facilitators and barriers to the systematic implementation of KiVa antibullying program in real-life conditions, after an evaluation trial. The study is based on focus group interviews with teachers from 15 Finnish primary schools implementing the KiVa program. The schools were selected based on the annual KiVa survey data, with the criteria of long-term involvement in delivering the program and reaching successful outcomes in terms of decreasing trends in bullying and victimization. By utilizing thematic analysis, we identified program-related, organizational, and contextual facilitators and barriers to sustainability. The results stress the importance of organizational factors in promoting program sustainability.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Alcohol Overconsumption at 2 Years After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Siikaluoma Lara , Stenberg Erik , Raoof Mustafa
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Alcohol overconsumption remains one of the adverse effects associated with bariatric surgery. Many previous studies have used subjective methods to evaluate the prevalence of alcohol overconsumption. In 2018, Örebro University Hospital started to use phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 (PEth) as a screening tool pre- and postbariatric surgery. Research exploring alcohol use after bariatric surgery assessed with PEth is scarce.

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of alcohol overconsumption in bariatric surgery patients measured 2 years postoperatively with PEth and to identify possible risk factors associated with alcohol overconsumption.

Methods

This was a register-based retrospective, observational cohort study with PEth results collected from medical records at Örebro University Hospital. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery between January 2016 and June 2019 and who were registered in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg) were included.

Results

PEth results from 410 bariatric surgery patients were identified. PEth values significantly increased from baseline to the postoperative follow-up (from 3.0% before surgery to 8.3% at the 2-year follow-up). In a univariate logistic regression analysis, the associated risk factors were found to be male sex (odds ratio, OR 2.14), older age (OR 1.06), and hypertension (OR 3.32).

Conclusion

The prevalence of alcohol overconsumption measured with PEth 2 years after bariatric surgery was 8.3% and was associated with male sex, older age, and hypertension. More studies are needed to validate the results of this study because it is not known whether PEth values are affected by bariatric surgery.

Graphical abstract
The fractional variation and the precise representative of $$BV^{\alpha ,p}$$ functions
Authors: Comi Giovanni E. , Spector Daniel , Stefani Giorgio
Published: April 2022

We continue the study of the fractional variation following the distributional approach developed in the previous works Bruè et al. (2021), Comi and Stefani (2019), Comi and Stefani (2019). We provide a general analysis of the distributional space$$BV^{\alpha ,p}({\mathbb {R}}^n)$$BVα,p(Rn)of$$L^p$$Lpfunctions, with$$p\in [1,+\infty ]$$p∈[1,+∞], possessing finite fractional variation of order$$\alpha \in (0,1)$$α∈(0,1). Our two main results deal with the absolute continuity property of the fractional variation with respect to the Hausdorff measure and the existence of the precise representative of a$$BV^{\alpha ,p}$$BVα,pfunction.
A wavelet convolutional capsule network with modified super resolution generative adversarial network for fault diagnosis and classification
Authors: Monday Happy Nkanta , Li Jianping , Nneji Grace Ugochi , Nahar Saifun , Hossin Md Altab , Jackson Jehoiada , Oluwasanmi Ariyo
Published: April 2022

The study of fault diagnosis and classification has gained tremendous attention in various aspects of modern industry. However, the performance of traditional fault diagnosis technique solely depends on handcrafted features based on expert knowledge which is difficult to pre-design and has failed in several applications. Deep learning (DL) has achieved remarkable performance in hierarchical feature extraction and learning distinctive feature of dataset from related distribution. However, the challenge associated with DL models is that max-pooling operation usually leads to loss of spatial details during high-level feature extraction. Another concern is the low quality characteristics of 2D time-frequency image which is mostly caused by the presence of noise and poor resolution. This paper proposes a modified wavelet convolutional capsule network with modified enhanced super resolution generative adversarial network plus for fault diagnosis and classification. It uses continuous wavelet transform to convert raw data signals to 2D time-frequency images and applies super resolution generative adversarial technique to enhance the quality of the time-frequency images and finally, the convolutional capsule network learns the extracted high-level features without loss of spatial details for the diagnosis and classification of faults. We validated our proposed model on the famous motor bearing dataset from the Case Western Reserve University. The experimental results show that our proposed fault diagnostic model obtains higher diagnosis accuracy of 99.84% outweighing most traditional deep learning models including state-of-the-art methods.
Formal institutions, ICSID arbitration and firm performance: evidence from Latin America
Authors: Enriquez-Perales Sarela , García-Gómez Conrado Diego , Díez-Esteban José María , Bolaños Edmundo R. Lizarzaburu
Published: April 2022

This paper analyzes how a country’s formal institutional quality impacts the performance of listed companies across different Latin American countries (namely, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Chile) and industries. Latin America provides a unique setting to address this question due to the region’s high institutional instability. The sample consists of 571 large listed companies, with a total of 8576 observations, for the period 2004–2019. Results show that the quality of a country’s formal institutions is positively related to firm performance, measured through two alternative variables (ROA and Tobin’s Q). Additionally, countries that are signatories of the ICSID agreement provide companies with a more stable environment in which to do business, which ultimately has a positive impact on their performance. However, as the number of cases recorded before the ICSID increases, the relationship turns negative. The paper provides a more comprehensive understanding of formal institutions by considering six alternative governance dimensions. Moreover, international arbitration is found to be a substitute for formal institutions in Latin American countries.
On Intellectual Independence: The Principal Aim of Universities in New Zealand
Authors: Shephard Kerry
Published: April 2022

New Zealand's Education and Training Act (Education and Training Act 2020 establishment of institutions, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0038/latest/LMS202213.html, 2020) confirms that the principal aim of universities is to develop intellectual independence. The act does not stipulate what intellectual independence is or how universities are to develop it. This article explores what intellectual independence might mean in the context of student learning in New Zealand, and what is known about how it could be developed and about how university teachers might confirm that they are developing it. The article provides a conceptual commentary and a model of intellectual independence, designed to encourage debate on this important and pressing higher-education policy issue. The model proposes that intellectual independence is the consequence of students learning the skills and dispositions to think critically, as an independent guide to their own beliefs and actions, and that the Education Act provides a challenge to higher education to contribute positively to the further development of an intellectually-independent critical citizenry.